《Ascension: Demon Monarch System》 1 The Systems Chosen Liege 1 The System''s Chosen Liege ''----'' ''In a run-down building numerous people with unkempt appearances and stained clothing could be seen sleeping peacefully. Though the setting betrayed the atmosphere of the room their rest seemed to be uninterrupted by the poor conditions.'' ''Unfortunately that couldn''t be said for one of the boys. 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 accompanied their overbearing sun.'' ''"At least I get to see this beautiful sight before another hellish day. I just hope I don''t get a cruel family member today. That seems to be happening more 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 Clarice. Yeah I couldn''t sleep. It''s the same dream over and over again. I don''t know what it means. But today something felt different. Inside the dream the darkness usually just surrounds me but today I felt like I was consumed. I don''t know how to explain it."'' ''Clarice smiled and cupped his cheeks "Don''t worry. Just take a breather and release the angst from your mind. I know these days our duties have become tougher. I also know that they''ve been especially hard on you."'' ''In response Apollo nodded. It was the truth the strain they put him through far surpassed any other serf. 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 while later the repeated tapping of heels and boots could be heard in the distance. Due to the sounds every last 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 Clarice 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 Clarice. Your words always make me feel good. I appreciate you. It is because of you I find the strength to withstand my pain. My um family abandoned me but you''ve been here over the past few years " Apollo smiled in return thanking her.'' ''Shortly after the door burst open. The ajar door reveals a lady dressed in crimson robes. Her lilac hair was hidden by a magus hat of matching color. She looked around with her gaze soon falling on Apollo.'' ''"What a surprise everyone is awake today. To commemorate this special occurrence I think I''ll pick a lucky individual to receive extra work today. Ah it''ll be you!" the lady smiled. As they followed the path of her arm her outstretched arm holding her wand fell on 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 " Clarice 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 serve as a target for our training practices. Anyway come along we need to go."'' ''After leaving her piece she performed an about-face and exited the dilapidated premises. From the serf quarters to the training grounds was a decent trek. And because none of the serfs were experienced in magic it was even longer.'' ''In light of this Verina came early without fail to account for the physical travel. If it was her alone she would have performed a simple flight spell. Nevertheless she was unable to do so.'' ''In exchange she mumbled to herself while also shaking her head. As the serfs behind listened they heard her complain about being in charge of this menial task. Additionally the everyday occurrence of kicking her feet could be seen as well. This signified the targeting of a specific individual.'' ''Clarice turned towards Apollo and mouthed "I''m sorry." However Apollo didn''t blame her. She offered to stand in it was just Verina''s decision not to accept it. Truth be told he expected this much. With this he focused his attention on the gravel road while ignoring the stagnant view of the distance seen everyday.'' ''Not too long after they made it to the training ground. Upon arrival there was a large collection of kids. As Verina prepped the shoddy defensive equipment for the serfs she also dealt with the other kids.'' ''"As per usual those who are studying to become 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 the only youths left were dressed in cloth apprentice mage robes. 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 similar 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 spells sequences just for today. If Mom and Dad were here they''d witness a pleasant sight."'' ''"Begin!" Verina announced.'' ''Immediately after Melina lifted his wand while chanting. At the tip of her wand a fist-size ball of flames grew to a size reminiscent of a head. Once it was primed she released it.'' ''When the hit landed on Apollo''s chest he winced. Small 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.'' ''Without delay she released the chain of lightning. Naturally with all those volts running through his Apollo roared in pain.'' ''His screams drew the attention of Verina who raised her eyebrow in shock. ''Fire and Lightning. A super offensive combination. 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 an obscure aura of darkness exuded from his body. Subsequently the aura broke the lock Verina placed on everyone.'' ''He rushed towards Melina with intent to kill. On the other hand Melina froze. The weakness of an apprentice mage was close combat and now that Apollo was rushing at her she didn''t know what to do.'' ''By the time he reached her she already started hyperventilating. Although she knew he didn''t possess a body fueled by Mana those eyes and that aura; they scared her. Fortunately for her at the last moment Verina intervened.'' ''She cast another immobilization spell on Apollo. However to her surprise it didn''t stick to his body. The weird aura around his body deflected the spell. Therefore she took on more straightforward means.'' ''"Yield now or I will attack!" Verina exclaimed.'' ''Yet her words appeared to enter some void because Apollo didn''t reply in the slightest. He seemed hellbent on attacking\xa0Melina. Left with no other choice in her eyes Verina conjured a spell.'' ''''This boy is out of hand we might as well get rid of him. If immobilizing spells don''t work on him¡­ there''s no other way to control him '' Verina inwardly thought. At that moment she stopped restaining herself.'' ''A large earth spire pierced through Apollo''s torso as he regained focus. Eerily there was a smile on his face.'' ''"This...is the darkness that consumed me. Maybe I can finally rest no more nightmares " Apollo muttered.'' ''Clamor could be heard as everyone watched this scene. But that wasn''t what Apollo paid attention to. There was a voice in his head talking to him! It possessed a regal aura that also felt quite familiar to him.'' ''[Ah finally. It has happened. You have been awakened. Now I have chosen a warden for you. I need you to go and grow strong. It has been vacant for too long and they have yet to fulfill the qualities. You must remember you are one of them. The world a¡­ De¡­ Mo... Tem¡­ awaits you.]'' ''Towards the end Apollo didn''t catch the end of the message. His waning consciousness gave out.'' 2 Birth of the Current Warden 2 Birth of the Current Warden ''Eons before Apollo''s awakening '' ''The Lords and Archdemons fought to claim authority over a Ring in the Nihilistic Demon Worlds. These demons of untold power clashed to establish their superiority.'' ''At first the numerous demon races were divided but under the efforts of the first Demon Monarch everything was overwhelmed into a direct order.'' ''Unfortunately after their reign ceased the situation devolved. Countless individuals attempted yet no one could succeed him. This led to internal strife and brutal confrontations.'' ''Similarly deep inside a mausoleum a disturbing scene took place. The structure filled with monumental archaic pillars trembled from repeating shockwaves. For years a set few rivals on the path to hegemony raced under established principles but today a new route was taken.'' ''"This is the result of your paltry actions " an ominous voice echoed throughout the atmosphere of the mausoleum grounds.'' ''"No this is the result of your cowardly ways " a voice retorted. However the voice seemed distorted by pain.'' ''"Incorrect for far too long we have fallen motionless under you! You claim to be the Demon Monarch but that is untrue! You''re inferior to the one in the legends. The mantle you possess is incomplete! While you may have prevailed over us in the attempt to claim that title in my eyes you''re not worthy " a towering demon with long abyss black hair and deep nefarious eyes glowered at a kneeling entity.'' ''Within that kneeling entity''s eyes there was a boundless hatred germinating indignance and signs of unrivaled power. Although he was supposed to be without contest that couldn''t be said in this current situation. Due to the actions of the ominous voice''s lackey he was unable to tap into any of his suppressed powers.'' ''Another lackey chimed in "He is right! You''re simply a candidate! The fact you call yourself the Monarch of us higher demons is just due to your insufferable arrogance we never accepted that fact. Now look at your situation; kneeling before us unable to do a thing!"'' ''Cold laughter spread in the expansive mausoleum bouncing off the frigid floors. When he heard this laughter vexation rose in the eyes of the kneeling figure. All he needed was an instant and this situation would be corrected.'' ''Regrettably that didn''t happen. Contrarily the grand structure and towering pillars trembled due to the laughter''s vigor. The extent of their powers was so great even the world seemed to cower before them.'' ''"P-preposterous! You all are insolent! I AM the Monarch! None of you have been able to beat me! Therefore you resort to vile tactics and injure me the moment I was about to complete the inheritance.'' ''"Why don''t you undo these shackles and stop cowering behind the fear birth by your inadequacy! To attack the Monarch is to go against the order of the demon " uttered the kneeling demon enraged beyond reason as 3 grotesque arms pierced deeper into his chest and torso.'' ''Each word resulted in black blood sputtering and trickling down his scowling countenance. He was confused by the situation; he who was lauded as the Demon Monarch was in a predicament where his end was in sight!'' ''Although it was only for a moment he lowered his guard to advance further. However in that short instant he was taken advantage of and this was the result!'' ''"Laughable! Truly laughable Azridan. Why don''t you shut your mouth fool!" another lackey interjected. Their deep violet body illuminated with golden symbols signifying the use of a technique.'' ''In light of Azridan''s irritating words the colossus of a demon threw a punch at his jaw an explosive boom resounding for miles to come.'' ''"Do you understand now?" The first voice spoke but paused for a moment.'' ''"This is it Azridan; the order of the demon is for those under us. We who have mastered at least half of the Sins to the pinnacle are untouchable. To mention the orders of the demons before us is amusing. Originally you weren''t one of us yet you rose to the height of us higher demons."'' ''Unlike the others his skin was pale white with obsidian spurs piercing from his limbs. His entire physique radiated power. Not to mention an insufferable dripped from him.'' ''"You haven''t even become an absolute! How can you claim to be the Monarch if you have yet to enter the realm of the absolutes! The Monarch is to be irrevocable and yet you''re incapable of invoking that feeling. If you were able to this event wouldn''t have taken place " added the second voice.'' ''"Sorry to say but the tides of change have taken place. You''re no longer suitable to reign supreme here over the demons. We have stagnated for far too long and threat lurks in the distance. From this point onwards I''ll take upon this mantle and propel the race in the right direction. Sleep well my old friend."'' ''While the white colossus of a demon stood behind the others the three who pierced Azridan''s body released catastrophic energy limited to Azridan. Immediately infernal cracks appeared on his body originating from his pierced torso. At the same time the inviolable chains binding him tightened around his body giving him an idea of just what these were. When he sensed the origin of the chains his eyes widened.'' ''"You three have made deals with them!? Are you insane! They''re not to be trusted. They seek our downfall. You''ll just be dooming the demon race if you form ties with them! Both of us can''t exist you know this!" Azridan roared with crimson eyes. He tried to break the chains but the origin was unfathomable.'' ''Much like anyone else who would attempt to break them he too was powerless when it came to these chains. In order to do so would require the Monarch''s complete inheritance.'' ''"The demon race? Why would they become privy to these events? We have already cordoned off the surrounding space. No one can sense what is happening. But don''t worry we''ll take good care of the race. As for you we simply want what you possess " one of the figures chuckled.'' ''"You speak drivel! Do you truly believe I''ll allow you to succeed? If I''m to perish...so shall my belongings. Your efforts will be in vain!" Azridan roared.'' ''''Rmmmmmmbbbblleeeee!'''' ''"Foolish! Are you trying to take this palace with you? That is simply selfish. Do you not want to see the prosperity of us Demons?" scowled another as they caught wind of Azridan''s actions. He was attempting to destroy everything he had created.'' ''"Witness the prosperity? How can I do so in my death? Since you seek to betray me then you shall build your own empire as mine is destroyed! My feats are not for ignoble fools to enjoy; do it all yourselves!" Azridan spat venomously.'' ''At the same time the aura of his self-destruction reached the peak. However before it happened an anomaly took place; Azridan''s body and the demonic possession he threatened to destroy both disappeared after a fluctuation enveloped him.'' ''Surprisingly instead of dying he continued to exist. The blast was inverted destroying his body but retaining his soul. In consequence he didn''t possess any power whatsoever it was as if he was stripped bare.'' ''Shortly after he felt arcane forces interacting with him. Inside this boundless nothingness he found himself being changed at the core.'' ''It was unknown how many countless years had passed but finally he felt familiarities. Unaware of his actions he found himself gazing at two ethereal objects.'' ''At that time a voice causing even him to grovel in subservience sounded within his soul.'' ''[You fulfill the requirements needed to act as its current warden. Join with the awaited one and groom him with your experience. Failure to comply will cause me to wipe your free will this is not a request but a command.]'' ''"Ah... very well I''ll retain my free will " Azridan muttered making the smartest choice. Any contention to the voice was trivial in his eyes. Moreover he didn''t think to question the origins of the voice due to its unquestionable regal aura.'' ''Soon enough attention turned back to the familiarities inside the balls of embers¡ªsouls so to speak. It was faint but growing. Inside the souls he could feel feelings he knew all too well¡ªintense hatred and death.'' ''Furthermore after a brief moment the two weakened souls started to merge with the dominant one enveloping the smaller one. Surprisingly there was no rejection it seemed as if it was a natural occurrence. The two souls accepted each other!'' ''"I feel a resonance. Perhaps everything is not over " Azridan thought. When the souls merged a set of instructions entered his mind.'' ''Now that his choice was made unknown fated events were set in motion. The one fated to ascend would be chosen but in truth this scenario was destined to come about.'' ''After everything was said and done an even greater conflict remained outside of what they understood. As such the unknowing liege was born.'' 3 New Beginning, The Two Meet 3 New Beginning, The Two Meet ''----'' ''"U-ugh..." A low pained groan passed through the stifling atmosphere. After doing so Apollo opened his eyes to find that he couldn''t see anything. He was surrounded by darkness!'' ''As he realized this a slight panic entered Apollo''s already unsound mind. Furthermore a feeling of itchiness crossed his chest. And after that his chest burned. Wherever he was the lack of air made it a monumental task to breathe.'' ''''Where am I? Why does it hurt so much¡­'''' ''He blinked but he was unable to tell. Whether opened or closed the darkness looked all the same to him. Then it hit him. Not only did it feel hard 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 had paralyzed him.'' ''After closing his eyes Apollo calmed down. He twitched his arm and was thankful 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 an iota of light to enter.'' ''However as if some sort of trigger the moment the ray of light met his pupils his body stiffened once again but this time was different. A flood of memories similar to a panoramic movie scene bombarded his mind causing a faint headache.'' ''"Apollo...Kaiser. Where are these memories coming from? These aren''t mine. Wait Astarat? Is that the name of this darkness? No that can''t be right. These dark scenes take place in the light of day so may this is another world?" Apollo continued to question amid a marvel taking place in his mind.'' ''Numerous harrowing scenes repeated in his mind. The prior owner of this body would be beaten senselessly until black and blue 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 place.'' ''"How sad you were thrown away as well. No one cared for you and now you''re just gone. For what because your body was no good; because you were ill? That is not fair!"'' ''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 instances where the former Apollo was buried alive by his peers and left to struggle and ultimately find his way out.'' ''Unfortunately this time was different. This particular beating was too severe causing him to fall unconscious under the rubble. While unconscious the lack of oxygen ultimately led to his doom. Hence the appearance of this Apollo from another world.'' ''"P-people are disgusting! Even though we''re harmless they still abuse us. Someone needs to show them what it is like " Apollo muttered while hammering the stones above him.'' ''Due to his vehement pounding small pieces of rubble fell into his eyes paining him but his judgment was clouded by anger. In comparison the burning in his eyes meant nothing to him. ''Despicable people!'''' ''At that moment an unfamiliar voice spoke to him. Moreover their words resonated deeply with Apollo.'' ''[Do you see the world around us which despises the weak? They are hypocritical beings. The state of this world is horrible yet they foster individuals who prey on each other instead of ridding the world of that plague. Under these false notions of protection one must uncover the world for what it is; deceitful!]'' ''"Yes...this world is just the same as the one I came from. Will I suffer death again?"'' ''[No what you shall do is take your fate into your own hands and stand above everyone! Will you ascend to a mantle achieved only once before? If so do you accept the presence of the Demon Monarch System?]'' ''"Demon...Monarch System? What is that? Will it help me be strong?" Apollo questioned pausing his pounds.'' ''[Yes it is your path to undeniable strength but it alone cannot make you strong. You must be ready to face pain and tribulation to become strong.]'' ''"I-I am 10 years old but I have already seen two deaths. What other 10-year-old can say that? I...I will accept because I want to obtain strength! Will you help me do that?"'' ''[With pleasure I will help you become strong. However you must strive to activate more of the system. It relies upon you and as of right now it isn''t at its greatest strength. Activate...Demon Monarch System!]'' ''A shockwave emanated from the body of Apollo which caused the rubble that covered him to turn to dust. A moment later Apollo began climbing out of the human-sized ditch. As he exited he coughed continuously.'' ''Due to the coughing fit his throat still stung but fresh air entered his lungs generating 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) Lvl.1'' ''Name: Apollo Kaiser'' ''Race: Human'' ''Age: 10'' ''Level: 1'' ''Experience: 0/100.'' ''Health: 2/10'' ''Stamina: 10/10'' ''Body Cultivation Realm: N/A'' ''Physique: Mortal (Low)'' ''Zuls: 1'' ''Strength: 1.0'' ''Agility: 1.0'' ''Intelligence: 8.0'' ''Vitality: 1.0'' ''Stat Points: 0.0'' ''The screen only showed him his stats and nothing else. There were no skills no background information. Nothing that told him of the background information related to this world.'' ''[These are your current stats. However what you need to aim for is the 3rd level of the system. I will give you let''s say approximately 5 years to do so. That is when you will be of age to achieve the next level. At that time train yourself well. I will be providing missions that will assist you.]'' ''?System Alert! First Main Mission!?'' ''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 becoming the monarch of the demons.'' ''Objectives:'' ''-Achieve the 3rd Level of the Demon Monarch System. (0/1)'' ''-Reach Zul Warrior Realm. (0/1)'' ''Time Limit: 5 years'' ''Rewards: ???? ???? ????'' ''"Wait¡­do you know about this world?" Apollo tried searching through the memories he saw earlier only to realize all he could remember was the consistent bullying and apparent shunning. The knowledge of this world and its history was vague¡ªnearly nonexistent. This young boy was barely taught anything.'' ''[I do but it seems as if I''m prohibited from telling you. Nevertheless I can disclose the reasons being. One your mind is unfamiliar to the body at the moment due to the abrupt injection. Two there is not much that this young boy knows. It seems he was deemed a lost cause making his family''s focus lay elsewhere.]'' ''"Oh okay and my mission?" a small frown appeared on Apollo''s lips. In addition to being confused hearing those last words left a sour taste in his mount.'' ''[Yes here.]'' ''?System Alert! First Mission!?'' ''Quest Name: Knowledge of the New World'' ''Quest Information: Although you have become an outcast in your family that does not stop you from seeking knowledge. Return to your family and obtain information about this world.'' ''Objectives:'' ''-Attend the family lessons in which knowledge is imparted until what you need to know is clear.'' ''Reward-'' ''- 100 Experience'' ''- .5 Intelligence Points.'' ''"A mission...but how does this make me strong? Also this body has an illness...how can it train? And...and...what should I call you?"'' ''[It is what guides you to pursue power. Now pertaining to your body you asked for my help and my assistance is what you have received. As for what to call me Azridan will suffice. I am the warden of your system.]'' ''''Azridan...huh.'' Apollo thought to himself rubbing his chin. He felt this name sounded kind of cool.'' ''[Anyway it is time for you to head back. This body has been here all night. It''s near a state of full collapse again.]'' ''"Okay okay. I will go home."'' ''From a single step Apollo''s body staggered. Although he felt a semblance of energy in his body it was in a terrible state. His leg had a large gash on it with multiple bruises surrounding it.'' ''"Children here are mean...my leg is almost broken from the stones they piled on top of me " Apollo muttered as he winced in pain.'' ''Along with the pain Apollo continued to drag his battered body towards the manor in the distance. Occasionally he would perform small hops due to the pain in his right leg. When it became too much he gave it a break.'' ''Soon enough he reached the back gates of his family''s mansion. Gazing at the slightly familiar gates Apollo froze.'' ''"Some things are coming back to me now..."'' 4 Mean Children 4 Mean Children ''----'' ''As he stood in front of the ivory gate of the mansion before him Apollo remembered this place. It was "home" but it never felt like it. Although the previous owner of his body grew up here the lack of pleasant memories was jarring.'' ''This town he grew up in was known as Verdacre; filled with towering vibrant trees that provided copious amounts of shade for miles to come.'' ''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 nothing compared to the true powers of this world they could hold their own with other bordering town nobles.'' ''"The Kaiser Family...my old life had magic and spells knights and mages but here I don''t think that is what exists."'' ''It wasn''t before long that he entered the gates. Upon doing so Apollo was immediately given odd looks as he limped through the courtyard. His clothes were torn and his hair was matted. At a glance it seemed he had been through a tough battle but upon closer inspection the dirt that covered his clothes didn''t appear to originate from battle.'' ''"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 " reprimanded a slightly stern-looking man.'' ''Apollo paused glancing at the man with a foul look "Uncle I did not stay out all night! You know deep down how I am treated! Don''t act like you know nothing."'' ''The hate Apollo fostered ran deep and as such an outburst came 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 a male looking to be of equal age. Shaking his head he stopped him.'' ''"You see the state of his body just drop it. He is only speaking out of anger. It''ll do you good to pay him no mind as you are now you look silly " the newcomer said as he glanced at Apollo.'' ''"Hurry along to your living quarters and attend to your body unless you want to lose that leg of yours. With your current body your weak bone structure can barely support training " continued the newcomer as he dejectedly sighed.'' ''"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 like this? Where is the proper home training?!" argued the stern-looking man.'' ''"Oh? So tell me then Ashur...how exactly do you want to punish him?"'' ''At the question the slightly irritated Ashur stumbled glancing at Apollo. Now that he gave him a proper look he was unable to think of a proper answer.'' ''''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 succinctly yelled.'' ''Apollo limped forward gritting his teeth and clenching his fist en route to his room. However as he limped Danyul''s face shifted to a downcast expression as he sighed. Within his eyes lingered a heavy melancholy.'' ''As he turned to leave he muttered 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 3 people. It had a simple plush mat as a bed a counter and a lamp.'' ''When he turned his head Apollo saw a small container of cream prompting him to claim it. When he did the system granted him even more information on the item.'' ''Item Name: Healing Ointment'' ''Rank: Rank 1 Medicine'' ''Grade: Poor'' ''Effect: When smeared on open wounds restores 2 Health.'' ''Sub-effect: Closes minor wounds in 2 hours.'' ''Uses: 10/10'' ''"Oh the system provides information like this...neat. Hey Azridan if I use this 4 times will I be all healed?"'' ''[Well it''s an ointment. You can use it that way but I don''t advise you to rely on this poor thing in the future. You should find better alternatives. Of course when you grow properly that will all present itself.]'' ''While listening to Azridan Apollo applied the ointment on the bruises of his body and the gash on his leg. After several uses Apollo''s Health increased from 2 to 8 in an instant.'' ''"It feels better I 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?]'' ''Soon in 2 hours Apollo''s Health restored to it full value as he stood up from his bed.'' ''"Azridan¡­what is a Zul?"'' ''[Oh that will be taught in your mission. Speaking of which didn''t you forget about that?]'' ''"No I don''t think it''s time yet I didn''t he-"'' ''As he spoke a loud bell chimed throughout the mansion as Apollo stood up leaving the room.'' ''"That...I think it''s the bell for daily training sessions and teaching classes."'' ''[Ah yes yes..]'' ''Upon hearing the bell Apollo approached the training field. In due time he saw both Danyul as well as a group of children kneeling before them. 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 " chided a young boy elbowing another in his side. He had a chubby face squinted eyes and light brown hair. Although not handsome he was above average but he looked mischievous. 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 has come out haha " Axel chuckled.'' ''However little did they know last night when they abandoned the boy he had died. Instantly feelings of hatred belonging to the previous owner of the body seethed. Apollo exhaled heavily trembling with fury; the overflowing indignance inside him was threatening to explode forth.'' ''''It''s them they are the ones who caused you to die Apollo. Although I was thinking of minding my business. It seems even after becoming the cause of his death they won''t let him be. But that is their mistake I will get power and I will make you kneel '' Apollo thought as he clenched his fist.'' ''"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 glanced at Apollo who took a seat in the back. Similarly 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 to complete 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 the time for cultivation is near."'' 5 Learning 5 Learning ''----'' ''"You guys are old enough. At this age it is imperative you understand the state of this world. First and foremost...it is not a very good one " Danyul solemnly stated.'' ''"As you should all know our planet is known as Astarat. Inside this world there are multiple towns cities provinces countries and continents. However they are not all inhabited by us humans. This planet was invaded and the events that were recorded were terrible."'' ''A 10-year-old interjected raising his hand. His face was still childish but there were hints of handsomeness appearing on his cheeks. His name was Aaron and unlike the others he was the only one who interacted with Apollo.'' ''They were cousins Apollo''s father was Aaron''s mother''s younger brother. Both before and after his demise the two grew up together.'' ''"Uncle uh what was it that invaded the world and where are they from?"'' ''"Hold on can''t you see I''m explaining...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 a planetary-mass collided with our world but the future soon unveiled that as untrue.'' ''"According 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 millennia later. Ignorant to both their true origins as well as names we simply dubbed them what we call them now¡ªTerrors; overcomers of Worlds personifications of death terror and destruction " Danyul grimly shared.'' ''"Whoaa! Sounds cool..." muttered a few kids causing Danyul to shake his head exasperatedly.'' ''"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 overcome? 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 was commandeered and transformed completely!'' ''"Their very existence caused plague 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 of land which stretches across all continents and comes in contact with at least one side of them; events beyond your imagination took place 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."'' ''"Woah! Where is it located what''s in this forsaken land? 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 it commendable that he sought knowledge.'' ''"Cultivation is an art that didn''t exist previously. At first it was developed to combat the onslaught of the Terrors millennia ago but now it has also become 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 essences comprised of numerous elements and with those esteemed figures there now exist ways to absorb and claim them as our own.'' ''"You must remember though among methods there is a minute to a large 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 that will be determined by the Grand Elder. He will be performing your talent assessment to find out your physique grade in an hour."'' ''''Physique...the system had a column about that. What was it¡­? Oh right Mortal.'''' ''"Uncle what does having a Mortal Physique mean?" Apollo asked yet another question his curiosity appeared to be unparalleled.'' ''"It just means your talent is amongst the lowest possible. The absolute bottom would be a Low Tier Mortal Physique " Danyul succinctly answered.'' ''"Oh¡­" Apollo blankly nodded.'' ''''So my talent is weak. I have a Low Tier Mortal Physique. I don''t think I should participate in the Talent Assessment. I don''t want to be embarrassed again¡­'''' ''"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 a rogue cultivator."'' ''"As for us all we know at this moment is Body Cultivation. After all the methods to undergo Soul Cultivations rest with Academies Great and Supreme Families. Never mind that back to the matters at hand everyone when born starts off within the 1st rank of the Mortal Realm."'' ''''Hm? Why do only these people possess the method to do so? I thought it was imperative they go against these things known as Terrors. In that case wouldn''t it be best they circulated the methods to improve the overall strength of their human race?'' thought Apollo as he pondered the information given.'' ''''Ding!'''' ''?System Alert! Status Update?'' ''?Body Cultivation: N/A ¡ú Mortal Realm Rank 1?'' ''"To quantify this realm we use the term Zuls. Each of the first 4 ranks of the Mortal Realm is reached after your body can withstand 10 additional Zuls of Force. Meaning until you can withstand or wield 11 Zuls of Force you are still a Rank 1 Mortal."'' ''To put it in perspective one Zul would equate to what is known as 5 Kg of strength. In other words a strike from Apollo at this point would be one different than dropping a 5 Kg weight on one''s toe. However when thinking about this one must take into account the sturdiness of the opposing side''s physique. Hence in reality that would turn out to be negligible at best.'' ''''Oh...that''s what Zuls are."'' 6 Level Up 6 Level Up ''----'' ''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.'' ''"Yooowww! 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.'' ''"That pretty much covers up what you need to understand about both cultivation and the history of this world for now. Oh right the stage after the Mortal Realm is the Zul Warrior Realm. This realm is where most of the family presides you all should aim for this.'' ''"For now you may practice on your own with the wooden weapons over there until I seek you once again. We will greet the Grand Elder and perform the Talent Assessment " Danyul said as he walked into the distance heading deeper into the courtyard.'' ''?System Alert! Mission COMPLETE!?'' ''?You have been rewarded 100 Experience and .5 Intelligence.?'' ''?Congratulations you have leveled up and reached Level 2.?'' ''[You now have a vague understanding of this world. Your Intelligence should be sufficient to allow you to see the vague memories now.]'' ''"Okay how do I pull up the system?" Apollo asked failing to bring up the interface from before.'' ''[Merely utter "System Interface" or in the future just will it with your mind. After all who wants to look like a blubbering idiot talking to themself?]'' ''"System Interface " Apollo whispered.'' ''----'' ''(Demon Monarch System) Lvl.1'' ''Name: Apollo Kaiser'' ''Race: Human'' ''Age: 10'' ''Level: 2'' ''Experience: 0/200.'' ''Health: 12/12'' ''Stamina: 13/13'' ''Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Mortal'' ''Physique: Mortal (Middle)'' ''Zuls: 1'' ''Strength: 1.1'' ''Agility: 1.1'' ''Intelligence: 8.6'' ''Vitality: 1.1'' ''Stat Points: 2'' ''"Oh just leveling up once increased my physique to the Middle Tier. I don''t understand how it works I need a little more information " Apollo determined.'' ''"Azridan how does leveling work? And can you explain what is rewarded per level?"'' ''[Sure I will do you one better. First let''s start with your levels. Currently every level will result in stats. Your level is largely related to your physique. Starting from level 2 after certain milestones your physique will increase which will also give rewards depending on the immensity of the increase.]'' ''[Right now your physique is Mortal Grade. Hence you get 2 free stat points per level and .1 additional stats to every stat. Additionally each stat point is equal to a .1 value increase in a stat.]'' ''"How long before I reach the Top Tier Mortal-Grade physique?"'' ''[Unfortunately that is undetermined. It isn''t based on a set increment and instead each advancement appears to be arbitrary or at least it seems that way until you unlock your Foundational Chart.]'' ''"Oh I think this is my last question Zuls. They are what indicate my cultivation level...how does the system calculate it?" Apollo questioned.'' ''[That''s only for the duration of the Mortal Rank. Zuls as a whole could be seen as the strength of your body. And to determine that your conversion rate is currently .6 Strength is equal to 1 Zul. For the most part the number will round if below a certain threshold.]'' ''''I see. You say currently that means that it can change!'' I understand now '' Apollo responded.'' ''[Yes. Now about that Talent Assessment it would be appropriate for you to go in order to understand a few things. It''ll be a vital experience in order to begin your journey and broaden your view of this world.]'' ''?System Alert! Mission Alert!?'' ''Quest Name: Talent Assessment Appearance'' ''Quest Information: Although there is bad blood between you and your family your growth comes first. Attending the talent assessment will reward you with something you need.'' ''Objectives:'' ''-Attend the Talent Assessment. (0/1)'' ''-Participate in the Talent Assessment. (0/1)'' ''Reward-'' ''- 100 Experience'' ''- 2 Stat Points.'' ''"Ugh...Do I have to go anyway? The system already told me what I needed to know. If I do have to I hope there are others just as bad as me...that would be less embarrassing " Apollo grumbled.'' ''[You need not worry about others'' opinions. There are more pressing matters. You have a grander purpose didn''t a voice talk to you.]'' ''[Nevermind since you are at the training field already we might as well capitalize on it.]'' ''?System Alert! Daily Mission?'' ''Quest Name: Arduous Training (Beginner Level)'' ''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 100 staff strikes. (0/100)'' ''-Execute 50 squats. (0/50)'' ''-Run 1km. (0/1)'' ''-30 minutes of stance training. (0/30)'' ''Reward:'' ''- 25 Experience'' ''- .1 Strength'' ''- .1 Agility.'' '''' ''"Um...what? Azridan why do I have to do so much training? And that Beginner level tag...does this mean this gets harder?" Apollo stammered. Until now in both lives he had yet to partake in any type of training.'' ''[You call this minuscule amount of training a lot? It is merely what I believe your body can handle. In my eyes even an infant demon can easily complete this.]'' ''In response Apollo sighed with a bitter smile. He wanted strength but all this just sounded like torture to his unsuitable body.'' ''"Wait infant demon?" Apollo blinked "What is that?"'' ''[Ah never mind that. Don''t worry about such questions right now.]'' ''"Okay¡­" Apollo nodded walking over to the weapon''s barrack. Due to the task at hand Apollo picked up a wooden bo staff taller than him. Frankly speaking his small frame was no larger than 4''5 due to the presence of his prior illness; compared to others his age he was a pipsqueak.'' ''When he raised the staff he found it slightly heavy. Although etched on the side was a note that read "training staff" the system gave a further evaluation.'' ''Item Name: Training Staff'' ''Rank: Rank 0 Weapon'' ''Grade: It''s a stick.'' ''Attack: 1'' ''Weight: 2 Zuls.'' ''Requirement: 1.2 Strength 1.2 Agility.'' ''?System Alert! Strength is insufficient stamina will be reduced 50% faster.?'' ''"What?" Apollo frowned before continuing with a low strained grumble "Increase Strength and Agility by 1 point."'' ''?System Alert! Strength and Agility have both been raised to 1.2?'' ''?Stamina penalty has been lifted.?'' ''?Zuls: 1 ¡ú 2?'' ''"Haha look at that idiot. The staff is bigger than him. I bet his wrist will snap within 2 minutes "\xa0Dylon cackled clutching his stomach from the obscene laughter.'' ''Similarly Axel turned his head presenting 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?"'' ''[Do not follow his directions the sword is not allowed. While it is a marvelous weapon it is not your weapon. Do not train in it exclusively; take up the staff.]'' ''"Uh it''s ok Aaron...thank you. It may not seem like it but I will be fine with this. Although I''m weak it won''t be like that forever. I would like to achieve my own strength as well. I will find my way " Apollo resolutely declined.'' ''After maneuvering the staff he approached 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 glared at the group of the boys with clenched fists. Walking up to them he muttered. "One day...you will regret how you treat Apollo."'' ''Upon leaving this message he departed in the direction of Apollo causing Axel and Dylon to narrow their eyes. They couldn''t see how that scenario could ever come about and quite frankly they didn''t really much care.'' ''"1...2...3...5...10 " Apollo struck the staff against the training post groaning each time he did so. Every successive strike caused his bones to vibrate inducing him to clench his jawn. On the other hand Aaron appeared next to him with a training sword in his hand.'' ''"May I train next to you?" Aaron asked.'' ''"Yes " Apollo glanced at Aaron offering a small nod. In his memories he realized Aaron was one of the select few who tended to him. Oftentimes he would even share the excess of his meal with Apollo.'' ''After receiving an answer Aarron took a stance chopping the wooden sword repeatedly. Along with each slash he shifted his steps back and forward. He was 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.'' 7 Pain 7 Pain ''----'' ''"Agh it hurts¡­" Apollo whimpered as he struck the post continually. The pain bought frequent pauses in his strikes. Not to mention the unfamiliar movements made his shoulders ache profusely. Moreover the repeated impacts triggered small tears in the webbing of his hands.'' ''[I understand it hurts but do continue. You must remember pain is only temporary while the strength you desire will be forever. Will you really stop at the beginning?]'' ''''No...but it hurts!'' Apollo complained in anguish. As he thought about it Apollo''s eyes filled with aggravated tears. However recalling the scorn he received as well as the treatment he found the strength needed to continue. Thus he resumed the staggered strikes'' ''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 meekly accept.'''' ''Intrigued by Apollo Danyul remained in the background rubbing his chin as he observed Apollo''s 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 the last of the strikes his body trembled visibly with faints smears of blood under his palms. With the last strike he dropped to his knees powerlessly.'' ''As Danyul witnessed this he nodded commending 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!?'' ''[It is best you begin your run now.]'' ''Although it took a moment Apollo ultimately nodded. Staggering to his feet he began a light jog around the training area. Due to this being his 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 cultivating later 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 does promote endurance when done properly. Beyond that it also tempers the lungs inducing faster respiration of Natural Essence. 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 " Danyul commanded 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. As such a good deterrence they shut their mouths.'' ''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 10 laps without pause.'' ''Although they began after Apollo they began lapping 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 the lack of response the other kids found teasing him to be boring sucking their teeth in response. With this becoming a buzzkill they focused on running as they chatted amongst themselves.'' ''"Hey Apollo are you ok?" Aaron asked as he ran up to him placing 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 accompany you we can take our time " Aaron exclaimed when he noticed Apollo''s terrible breathing pattern. It looked like he was on the verge of collapse.'' ''Without any other choice Apollo nodded continuing his run. As a result their pace slowed. With the new pace it took Apollo over 10 minutes from start to finish to complete his 1km run. By the end of it his breathing was ragged and his rags of clothing were soaked. Unlike the others Danyul didn''t force him to continue.'' ''''My idol''s son...do you have the talent inside you? I hope you do so you can change your image within the family. Even now unlike the others your body is only in the 1st Rank of the Mortal Realm.'''' ''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 in comparison Apollo was only able to wield 2.'' ''This was the large 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 so heavy too. How can I do squats and stances? I have no more energy '' Apollo complained 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 claim that mantle so get up!]'' ''Amidst Azridan''s motivation Apollo closed his eyes recollecting 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 rosed 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 the stance training. Surprisingly enough when it came to the stances a small clip played in Apollo''s mind. Thus Apollo copied the demonstration.'' ''He spread his feet lowering his center of gravity until he took a horse stance with tucked arms. While shifting the weight back and forth Apollo''s hands also made obscure hand seals.'' ''However instead of fatigue from holding these stances Apollo''s body felt at ease. In pain but at ease.'' ''[Correct form it seems you are a natural when it comes to shifting your force. Even though it is minuscule to do this is surprising enough.]'' ''Similar to Azridan''s surprise Danyul''s face lit up. He was shocked by what Apollo was doing.'' ''"Stance training? 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. This is interesting¡­he is using that small amount of force to train his muscles."'' ''Danyul nodded rubbing his chin thoughtfully ''If he shows at least a semblance 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!?'' ''?You have been rewarded 25 Experience .1 Strength and .1 Agility.?'' ''?Experience: 25/200?'' ''Upon completion 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 clapping was heard gathering everyone''s attention. This included the children who finished their 10 laps not long after Apollo finished his one.'' 8 Talent Assessment 8 Talent Assessment ''----'' ''The sound of the loud clapping 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 clasped 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 glanced 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 the lack 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 blames 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 displaced frustration. It was a funny sight however. In comparison 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 pillars but Apollo removed his gaze and looked deeper.'' ''Located inside were a large number of stairs leading up a platform. There was one extremely aged looking male standing at the top his true age unknown. Accompanying him were 8 additional family elders with four on each side of him.'' ''"Welcome my young generation " spoke the old male as he opened his eyes observing the youths.'' ''"You guys should understand what will take place 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 explain 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-explanatory 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 your largest potential increase can be determined by its initial state. One by one you will come up and place your hand on the stele behind me to determine such things."'' ''After disclosing the information Kayn motioned to the large 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 clamor began. To be first was always accompanied 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 glanced around then leaned forward with a compelling reason "Don''t you want to look brave and cool before the girls?"'' ''A light of realization flashed 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 his comical expression ''What a funny guy he thought he was.'''' ''With haste Dylon placed his hand on the stele. A faint blue light began emanating from the stele. It rose to the first inscription until it illuminated completely 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 becoming 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 placed 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 glancing 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 place your hand on the stele. Your talent should do fairly well " Ashur responded spurring Axel to act quickly.'' ''Similar to others Axel placed 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 platform 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 exclaimed rubbing his chin with an interested gleam in his eyes.'' 9 Pity 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 elation 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 platform to boast amongst his small circle.'' ''Subsequently while Axel descended the petite girl looked up at the platform. 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 serene lakes.'' ''Nearby Kayn Cynthia gazed at the small girl growing closer. "Hmm Lily is coming. 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 platform Lily quietly nodded her head as she stepped up to the platform. 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 placed 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 the last 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 platform 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 bad lad. 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 accepting 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 to come here¡­'''' ''[Lad¡­]'' ''In his mind there were different thoughts playing. 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 become 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 become 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 circular pills. They were slightly small no larger than a marble and completely white in color. At a glance 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 come on accept 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. So come take these. I don''t like seeing you sad."'' ''Left with no other choice Apollo finally accepted 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.'' 10 Mortal Realm 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 particularly capturing about him. His eyes were a dull grey color but compared to the initial state they seemed to possess more vitality. Furthermore depending on the angle of light his hair looked to be both black 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 formulate a quest accordingly.]'' ''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 how comes the amount of training has increased compared 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 to come to terms with difficult training. Thus \xa0Apollo gathered his gear and headed to the training area bright and early. When he reached there it was near empty except for Aaron slashing 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 related to the mind. Strength increases Zuls. Vitality increases Health. However Strength and Vitality combine 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 without complaints 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 played 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 how come 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.'' 11 Natural Essence (I) 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 occurring issue.'' ''Several moments later 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 overly large 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 rather large 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 glancing at the newcomer. "Oh it''s you Apollo. What have you come for?"'' ''"Hello Uncle I''ve come 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 glancing 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 becoming 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\xa0Body 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 occurring energy that subtly shifted the advancement of the planet. 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 placed 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.?'' ''?Congratulations 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 the command 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 stat combine to create other ones?'''' ''[Yes but that will present itself at a later 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 hate laced 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 it come 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 glancing in Apollo''s general direction "Unlike the other kids...he''s seeking knowledge for himself. Alright I think I should give my plan 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 was comparing 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 quite comical¡ªhe was laid flat on his butt!'' ''"Huh..?"'' 12 Difference 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 much larger 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 accident I wasn''t trying to do that " Apollo defensively uttered while also rubbing his throbbing butt.'' ''"Oh...it''s ok " Lily succinctly 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 this large?'''' ''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 glance.'' ''"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 the last part. His tone came off as playful 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 blank 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 incoming.'' ''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 the late 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 calculate the difference between talent levels.'' ''''There should be roughly a 50% increase in strength accumulation speed between large 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 accurate assumption.'' ''Aaron leaned closer between the two "Woah did she tell you before?"'' ''Apollo glanced 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 his comprehensive 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 contemplation. His rational mind told him the difference was currently far too great.'' ''Similar to the other the trio claimed their seats. Before them everyone in the younger generation could be seen walking to a large 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 blank 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?"'' 13 Unfair 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 exclaimed as a slight smirk appeared on his face directed at Apollo.'' ''Without hesitation the chef gave a jovial nod. A piping hot plate 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 blatant 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 clasped 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 will come 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 glaring 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 slamming 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 you come 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."'' ''Similarly 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 slammed 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 to lash 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 placed 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."'' 14 Standing His Ground 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 declared. 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 matter laughable.'' ''"Fight you? Haha are you stupid? Do you want to be hurt so badly?" Axel laughed 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 glaring 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 you coming?"'' ''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 can come 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 delay. From his resolute gaze it was clear he meant what he said. The question was¡ªcould he deliver?'' ''Meanwhile the commotion 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 escalated 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. Similar 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 the commotion before it escalates?"'' ''"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 spirit lad 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 claim.]'' ''?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 Task completed.)'' ''-----'' ''"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 relatively 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 delay Apollo sidestepped out of Aaron''s shadow.\xa0thrust the staff at Axel''s chest. Raising his eyebrows Axel chopped using his hand as a blade.'' ''''Krtch!'''' ''The training staff snapped in two pieces however this didn''t come as a surprise. Aaron spun and delivered two quick kicks which Axel blocked with his hands. While Aaron occupied 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 outcomes.'' ''[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 vigilant. In due time Axel''s dangerous kick came.'' ''Surprisingly Apollo pulled a tactic. According 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? That lad 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 incoming punch. Once again he rose a guard and performed the same maneuver.'' ''''Wham!'''' ''Axel''s punch landed 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 place. Yet he seemed to be enjoying this too much.'' 15 Punishment 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 delay 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 overcome 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 Apollo landed harshly. Even after landing he continued to tumble for a while to come. 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 placed 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 glared 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 placed 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 relayed the events they watched unfold. However in response Kayn''s attention fell on the 3 in mention.'' ''"Apollo Aaron Axel do you care to explain 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 clashing. 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 slap on the wrist. He looked at Axel''s teasing expression and clenched his fist. His small body trembled uncontrollably.'' ''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 his last 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 slap.'' ''In turn Apollo glared before walking away. However he was stopped in place 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 \xa0"Then take it away. I don''t care. When compared 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 place 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 " Kayn commanded as he left with steady steps.'' ''The crowd followed his orders without delay. However Aaron empathetically looked at Apollo who had a blank 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 glad you accept so early on.]'' ''This chapter is edited. If it doesn''t match the flow of the chapter after it this is the reason why.'' 16 Exit 16 Exit ''----'' ''The numerous messages following the completion 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.?'' ''?Congratulations Level 4 has been achieved. Attributes increased by .1 and 2 Stat points have been rewarded.?'' ''?Congratulations 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 glance 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 increase 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 blame me I didn''t create this blasted 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 and a 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 necklace 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 Necklace'' ''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 elated! If he played his cards right then playing 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 necklace 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 hiccups on our way.]'' ''Right after Apollo placed 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 it comes to it embrace destruction; that is all you can rely on. I will mold you into the being needed to truly become the Demon Monarch!]'' ''"I want power " Apollo responded. An ardent desire burned in his eyes as he remembered that dark aura that encapsulated 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 accept."'' ''[Very well. From this moment onward I deem you the successor of I the former Demon Monarch Azridan T''hkrain. After your change we''ll leave.]'' ''?System Alert! A race change has commenced. 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 acceptance 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 once completed 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 becoming a Demon.]'' ''"So different. But other than that my body feels " Apollo paused then recounted the events that transpired last 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 successor 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 Successor'' ''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.'' ''This chapter is edited. If the flow and events don''t match this is why.'' 17 Survival (I) 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 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 place last 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 resemblance 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 should come 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 these last 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 become 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 placing 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 was lacking 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 is lacking 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 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-..."'' ''Cutting her words short a melancholic sigh escaped her lips. She missed both her younger and older brother yet she was unable to see either of them.'' ''"If Uncle was so talented why did they treat Apollo in such a way?"'' ''"Well you see sweetie not everything can be explained 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 blame should be placed upon those Terrors. But the family is too scared. As a result he became the subject of their scorn."'' ''"Tch...cowards looking for someone else to blame " scoffed Aaron as the look in his eyes changed. They were slightly cold.'' ''"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."'' ''----'' ''Passing through the gates of the Kaiser Family residence Apollo looked into the distance. Ignoring the populated 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 were all one-dimensional and from the books. 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 a large 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 " answered Apollo before following Azridan''s directions. Turning east he began his trek into uncharted areas for him. Although it was a new sensation for him¡ªtraveling; 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 tree cast shadows among each other giving it an ominous atmosphere.'' ''[Rememeber to avoid Rank 1 Spirit Beasts at all costs. Seek Mortal Beasts which are just extremely weak versions of Rank 1 Spirit.]'' ''"Okay " nodded Apollo 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.'' ''Making his presence as sparse as possible Apollo crept past this area heading towards another part of the forest outskirts.'' ''[Although it isn''t advised to engage in combat 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 hand combat. Once you complete 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 succession.'' ''Task-'' ''-Kill 5 000 Rank 0 Mortal Beast or above monsters. (0/5 000)'' ''-Reach the Rank 5 Mortal Level. (Incomplete)'' ''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." exhaled Apollo.'' ''Settling his belongings under a large tree Apollo marked it. With that he returned to searching 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.?'' ''?Body is in prime battle state.?'' ''Monster Name: Red Fox'' ''Cultivation: Rank 0 Mortal Beast (On par with Rank 3 Mortal Cultivator)'' ''Health: 50/50'' ''Chance of Defeat: 49%'' ''Widening his feet into a horse stance Apollo shifted to the side as the fox dashed past him. 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...'''' 18 Survival (II) 18 Survival (II) ''----'' ''Due to the small body of the fox it was able to manipulate 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 shortcomings seem 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 played out differently. With precise directions and astonishing timing Azridan guided Apollo and informed him when to react.'' ''Leaning back Apollo dodged under Azridan''s orders; except this time he followed up with an attack of his own.'' ''Gripping the ankle of the foxes hind legs Apollo slammed the fox into the ground. Instead of letting it go 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 place are agility types then I need to close the gap. Increase Agility by 4 points.'''' ''?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 clash the red fox beast pounced once again. Only this time Apollo responded by ramming his shoulder into its torso. Rolling against the follow he climbed atop as he pinned it to the ground. Picking up a sizable 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 perishing from this world.'' ''[I see there is a fire inside you young lad. In that case you should attune well with what I am to teach you. Harness it properly and you will see your growth becoming unhindered.]'' ''However dropping the rock instead of responding; Apollo''s hands trembled. He lost himself momentarily and didn''t realize he had blanked 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 fret lad you will get used to it.]'' ''"O-okay " nodded Apollo as he looked at his hands. However yet and still there was the recurring urge to regurgitate. The mangled mess on the floor and the metallic smell of blood were foreign to him.'' ''Taking a breather Apollo recounted the situation while examining his surroundings. ''Killing...is a hard thing to do. How does one get used to this? But I''ll have to if I want to be strong. From what I''ve learned this world isn''t for the fainthearted.'''' ''It wasn''t long before once again Apollo found himself embroiled in combat with another Rank 0 Mortal Beast. This was his first day and combat wasn''t something he was entirely familiar with. Hence the time spent in combat with a single beast was longer than it should''ve been. Not to mention he accrued many small injuries along the way.'' ''Luckily the pendant aura donned around his neck released an aura that continuously healed him. Like this the time passed and the sky began darkening. Of course the inevitable happened; Apollo''s stomach began grumbling.'' ''[If you are going to survive then you''ll need to learn survival skills. Pick any one of the 12 monsters you have slain today. I will walk you through the process of handling them.]'' ''It went without saying Apollo immediately picked the largest 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 black object. However when it landed it pierced the ground cleanly. It''s shape possessed a natural curve while the handle was only large enough to situate 4 fingers. Tapping his finger against the tip Apollo winced.'' ''"What a sharp knife!"'' ''Item Name: Vantablack Knife'' ''Tier: Rank 2 Artifact'' ''Effect: While this weapon may be used for battle this is not its intended purpose. 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 becoming Spirit Beast all of their gathered essence coagulated 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 when compared to a Mortal Beast.'' ''From Apollo''s movements there was an utter lack 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 flavorful meaty smell filled the atmosphere however the smell was masked by the stench of blood. In a few moments after cooked he began devouring his meal. Compared to before in the Dining Hall the experience rewarded was small but the quantity was much larger so that made up for the quality.'' ''After eating his belly was satisfied as he stretched. 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 vigilant. 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."'' ''[Good you may rest. But I''ll be locking your conscience in a semi-active state.]'' ''Nodding Apollo drifted to sleep shortly after. 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.'' 19 Apollos Story (I) 19 Apollo''s Story (I) ''----'' ''Danyul approached the room Apollo stayed in prior. He hadn''t seen the fellow all day. In truth now that his presence appeared on the family training ground Danyul expected him. Although he wouldn''t receive the cultivation resources 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 a commendable 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. Frowning slightly 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.'' ''Rubbing his chin he approached the only other place he could think of Apollo heading to¡ªAaron''s house ''It''s quite possible that he is there. It goes without saying Aaron is the only one who treats him correctly. In the future those two... never mind '' thought Danyul as he shook his head. It would be a shame if his thoughts came to fruition.'' ''Arriving Danyul knocked on Cynthia''s door waiting for an answer.'' ''"Who is it?" asked Cynthia.'' ''"Danyul Sister Cynthia."'' ''"Oh Danyul what brings you here? Aaron''s asleep. He''s pushing himself beyond his limits these days... I feel like... I feel my little boy is changing " remarked Cynthia 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 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 " responded Cynthia as she shook her head.'' ''"He''s not here? Then where is he?"'' ''"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 " responded Cynthia with a concerned tone. 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?!" exclaimed Danyul 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 already living in a foreign place? I understand why he doesn''t view this place as a home. I don''t blame him; it should be the only place 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. My brothers died and 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; virtually leaving him an orphan in his own family!" barked Cynthia. 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¡­" muttered Danyul 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¡­" murmured Danyul 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 to combat 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."'' ''"Don''t worry. Deep in my heart I know that boy is strong. He will become a great one. 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?" mused Danyul.'' ''"Correct I believe that will happen in the future. And should that ever happen depending on his affection towards this family you all may come to regret your decisions. If it was up to me you should repair your relationship. After all he should be aware of who it was that bestowed him that ointment " replied Cynthia as she turned towards the distance gazing into it with a meaningful look.'' ''''Make them proud '' thought Cynthia. 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.'' 20 Changes (I) 20 Changes (I) ''----'' ''Slamming a rather large wolf a teen stabbed an obsidian knife through its eyes. There was a hint of maturity peering into his eyes as he looked emotionlessly at the dead wolf before him. From that initial day approximately 8 months had passed since that conversation.'' ''?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 hand combat 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 " curtly replied Apollo as he tossed the wolf aside. Within his gaze was a budding indifference. The past experiences of these many months were far from uneventful. Albeit still not a match for the beginning level of others he made a large advancement.'' ''----'' ''(Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2'' ''Name: Apollo Kaiser'' ''Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step)'' ''Title: Azridan''s Successor'' ''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 '' mused Apollo while his eyes shifted into the distance.'' ''Compared to a few months prior he was going through a change originating in 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. 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 them 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 say lad your heart is commendable. Your complaints have ceased over the past couple of months. I''m surprised by the fact.]'' ''"Ah. Azridan I have a request. I want to try fighting a Rank 1 Spirit Beast today. It is tiresome continuously fighting Mortal Beast. Even at the peak of their rank they reward less experience than Rank 1 Spirit Beast meat " stated Apollo as he shook his wrist cracking his knuckles.'' ''[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.]'' ''Heeding his word Apollo extended his arm a sizable obsidian knife sliding down into his grip from his sleeve. Situated in his hand Apollo dexterously twirled it.'' ''His eyes emitted a faint battle intent as they shimmered with a purple hue. Kicking off his back foot Apollo sprinted into the distance seeking the Spirit Beast that inhabited this environment.'' ''Rather than shifting the foliage out of his path Apollo cut the stems of the large plants. This was the 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 the latter two.'' ''Stepping on a branch a low crunch echoed into his surroundings. At that moment Apollo halted his steps as he focused exclusively on his hearing. He heard it. There was a low but exaggerated breathing noise coming towards him along with the rhythmic thudding of powerful feet.'' ''Entering a fighting stance Apollo readied himself for confrontation. A large wolf much larger than the ones he previously went up against appeared. Its appearance was slightly ferocious with two extremely large 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'' ''Chance of Defeat: 22%'' ''''A 22% chance of me defeating it. It is calculating based on our cultivation difference. However I have come to realize that these calculations are erred.'''' ''Holding the Vantablack Knife in a reverse grip Apollo lifted his other hand openly. He was ready.'' ''Apollo kicked off his back foot initiating engagement; the momentum was in his hands. Reacting the Twin Fanged Wolf swiped its claw sending a burst of wind billowing toward Apollo. Reacting quickly he abruptly sidestepped with his left foot dodging.'' ''In a fluent moment he dashed forward with the collaboration of his right foot. Plunging the knife into the rib of the Twin Fanged Wolf Apollo wrenched it causing a large gash resulting in the pained howl of the beast.'' ''?Critical! 35 damage dealt.?'' ''?Critical! 40 damage dealt.?'' ''Ignoring the messages Apollo parried the following swipe of the wolf shifting his feet. 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. Rushing he slid under the next swipe of the wolf as he sliced its underbelly.'' ''?Vital Attack! 75 damage dealt.?'' ''Gripping the floor Apollo jumped performing a flip stabbing the knife into the wolf''s back. Another painful whimper sound. Unfortunately for it Apollo slit its throat ending the battle there and then.'' ''?Fatal Damage! 100 damage dealt.?'' ''Thrusting the knife the blood covering its metallic sheen splattered across the ground. 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.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 32. You have been rewarded .1 attributes and 2 Stat points.?'' ''[Excellent movements young lad you move like a demon in the night. It seems you were indeed made to travel the path of a Demon.]'' ''"Mn " silently nodded Apollo as he bent down fileting 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 the late 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 Peak Rankers 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 to complete the quest.]'' ''"Yes I will continue deeper slowly." decided Apollo as he vigilantly entered deeper into the shadowy forest. The difference between a Spirit Beast and Mortal Beast''s experience was astounding he needed more.'' ''[Hmm since you''re close. It''s important to give a reward for when you accomplish it.]'' ''''Ding!'''' 21 Heading Deeper 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 place. 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'' ''"A Quest Azridan?" asked Apollo as he looked at the window before him skeptically. It didn''t seem to be hard to complete this. After all it was in line with his intentions.'' ''[Indeed. However don''t view it as one and just simply a reward. But it would seem I am unable to do that unless you complete things. I guess this is some type of restriction.]'' ''''I guess so. Hmm... it kind of sounds like Azridan isn''t aware of everything pertaining to this system? Then... I wonder...'' mused Apollo as he continued to venture slightly deeper into the territory of the Spirit Beasts.'' ''''I don''t need to worry about the Vantablack Knife however I do need to stay wary of possible Rank 2 Spirit Beasts. I don''t think I possess the current means to combat them '' silently mused Apollo as his eyes surveyed his surroundings.'' ''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.'' ''Calming his nerves the events of the past year played in his mind. Although incomparable to Spirit Beast he had dealt with numerous Mortal Beast teetering on the edge of becoming Spirit Beasts.'' ''Raising the knife near his chin Apollo waited for the opportune time. The advantage in numbers caused his thoughts to shift to a passive-aggressive approach.'' ''''I''ll use counterattack in the situation.'''' ''[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 his 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.'' ''The knife entered one of the wolves'' eyes while his left foot kicked the other wolf''s jaw. Painful yelps and howls were heard. However Apollo retaliated by stabbing them in the throat causing them to emit sputtering howls.'' ''Blood splattered on his cheek however Apollo looked at the other wolves. He made quick work of these wolves by counterattack 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 similar to game mechanics attack on vital areas caused criticals and beyond as did extreme damage in a small window.'' ''However this time all 3 of the remaining wolves pounced on him at once. But thinking quickly Apollo struck the knife against the ground before grabbing a clump of dirt.'' ''Weaving between two of the wolves his movements were slightly lacking. His momentary faltering in finesse caused him to be nicked by the other one''s claw; he clenched his jaw as he tossed dirt in the eyes of the Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf.'' ''''I''m still slow but...I don''t think I''ll lose.'''' ''Compensating for the temporary wound on his left thigh Apollo stamped his right foot whipping his arm slashing the jaw of Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. All the while he remained wary of the Middle Stage Spirit Beast.'' ''Compared to the other''s its movements would definitely prove to be difficult to handle. Hence Apollo stuck close to the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves to limit the activity of the leader.'' ''''Hooowwwooo!'''' ''Lifting its head one of the wolves made an abrupt howl. Taking this as an opportunity Apollo''s eyes sharpened as he pounced on it. Holding the Vantablack Knife in a reverse grip he stabbed and jaggedly dragged the knife through its throat mutilating it.'' ''Jumping a swipe landed across that same wolf''s eyes. Its partners aimed at Apollo however their actions backfired; a pained whimper escaping the further damaged wolf. Stabbing its eyes Apollo put an end to its misery.'' ''?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?'' ''?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?'' ''?Experience: 180/3 200.?'' ''Kicking off the wolf''s back Apollo slashed the next Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf eyes as he landed causing it to lose sight. Its wounds dripped with blood as it also held on by a thread of health. Slashing its throat Apollo ended this one as well.'' ''?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?'' ''?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?'' ''?Experience: 240/3 200.?'' ''Hiding under its body for a moment Apollo sucked a mouthful of its blood as he then moved. Sprinting towards the last and largest wolf his gaze sharpened once again. Retaliating it dashed at an even quicker pace towards him. Noticing this small difference Apollo began evaluating.'' ''''It would be slightly more difficult to deal with if I wasn''t 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 smells 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 blows compared to the other as its increased small stage resulted in higher capabilities. Nonetheless 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¡­" pondering his own questions Apollo began dealing with the corpses of the Spirit.'' ''His luck wasn''t good at all. After harvesting the flesh and heart searching the beasts'' innards he didn''t find any Essence Core. However shrugging Apollo didn''t mind it. For one he didn''t even know what it looked like nor what it did.'' ''Retiring to his poorly made living area Apollo 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 " asked Apollo 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?" once again inquired Apollo with a slightly curious expression. Although he was becoming cold that childish curiosity still existed.'' ''[Ah that''s a good question. Why do I know so much... perhaps I once walked this world before? Although... I''m not exactly sure if my words are correct. It all seems surreal so to speak. Don''t worry in the future we will come to understand the connection between my world and here. Perhaps we''ll understand more as the system continues to level up.]'' 22 Cultivation Realms 22 Cultivation Realms ''----'' ''Pondering Azridan''s earlier words mumbled Apollo 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."'' ''Ripping another piece of meat he devoured it. The more he entered combat the hungrier he felt; seldom did the food go to waste as his day was spent on the edge of combat 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?" asked Apollo as he turned his gaze toward the center of the forest. Based on Azridan''s words a large danger was located in the distance. However deep down Apollo had to suppress to urge of curiosity. How strong were the higher cultivated existences? Even then why was the situation with Terrors never resolved?'' ''[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 Knight or a subpar early-stage Zul Commander. 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?" pleaded Apollo as he wiped his licks. The previous copious amounts of meat had dwindled to nearly half.'' ''[What exactly do you want to know?]'' ''"Uh tell me about the stages and the different names of it. Mm maybe how it is done also? I probably won''t understand what they entail so just this will suffice " determined Apollo after pondering it for a moment.'' ''[Well then let me begin from body cultivation first at this is what you''ll immediately come 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 universe automatically ingest what is known as Natural Essence; a basic component 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 in 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 the complete 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 will come.]'' ''"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 to come into contact with otherworldly creatures namely known as Spirits. These Spirits then become your partner assisting you in combat 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 " curiously asked Apollo. There was a fervent expression of interest plastered across his face as his eyes gleamed.'' ''[Complete the first mission I gave you and you will find out.]'' ''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 to complete that mission as soon as possible. But first how much longer before I complete 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 succession.'' ''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'' ''Elapsed 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 experience comes from me ingesting my meals so I am not worried about that part. As for the first objective I 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 '' silently mused Apollo.'' ''A couple of months after receiving his quest once his body acclimated to these surroundings; Apollo adopted his current schedule. It was in Apollo''s daily agenda to slay 10 monsters which then increased steadily almost reaching 20. Using this tactic he had nearly scoured the complete 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 " mumbled Apollo as he sat for a moment recollecting his thoughts and recovering his stamina.'' ''''Although I don''t lose health often 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 both your cultivation level and physique. Once you advance the solution will present itself. For now just focus on mastering your foundational stats. Doing so will reward you in the long run. Also you will soon need to take up the staff again until you reach the state to receive your weapon.]'' ''"Okay " answered Apollo as he rose to his feet from his seated position. Azridan''s information once again rejuvenated him to continue on his training.'' 23 Late Stage Battle 23 Late Stage Battle ''----'' ''In a flash 2 days went by. However unlike before where Apollo used the Vantablack Knife 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 which became saturated with Natural Essence. Vegetation did as well due to it become part of their respiration cycle.'' ''Using the knife he carved it into a suitable shape similar to the bo staff he used back at the family estate. Wielding it Apollo familiarized himself with its crude shape through battle continuous battle.'' ''Lunging forward he thrust his crudely made staff at the eye of a Late Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Moving its head to dodge the abrupt attack the Twin Fanged Wolf opened its mouth to use a soundwave attack. Although unblockable it wasn''t impossible to evade. Hence Apollo twisted his body avoiding the sound burst. Retaliating Apollo flicked his wrist causing the staff to ultimately find its way to its intended target; the wolf''s eye.'' ''Retreating with quick hurried steps Apollo silently examined the wolf''s movements. This was reacting differently from the other ones.'' ''''This beast must be closing in on the Late Stage of Rank 1 '' as he thought this to himself the wolf opened its mouth. In the center a condensed orb of Natural Essence began to accumulate.'' ''[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 '' mentally replied Apollo as he braced the staff behind his body shifting his weight to his toes in order to react at any moment.'' ''Rising and falling the wolf''s chest moved as it fired the small orb of Natural Essence at Apollo 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 orb landed 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 slammed against Apollo''s crossguard arms before his chest. The sound was slightly overwhelming as his arms were sliced continuously by the threads of Natural Essence within the orb. Sucking in a sharp breath Apollo felt the pendant around his neck instantly begin its purpose.'' ''Landing on the floor his arms fell limp for this short period. They had suffered entirely too much damage. Nevertheless this didn''t stop Apollo''s pursuit; mad dashing forward he rammed into the side of the Late Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Unfortunately the wolf responded by headbutting his torso causing him to fly through the air.'' ''Landing he coughed up blood as he rebounded to his feet gritting his teeth. ''This wolf is my last kill yet it is proving to be difficult. Tch...annoying. Is it too much to handle a Late Stage Rank 1 before becoming a 4th or even 5th Rank Mortal?'''' ''?-76 Damage received. 60/136 Health remaining.?'' ''[The issue lies in the fact that as these beast advance they become able to innately handle Natural Essence without practice due to both primal instincts and the condition of their physique.]'' ''''Ah I thought as much '' mentally responded Apollo whilst glaring at the wolf. In truth he wanted nothing more than to kill this beast as quickly as possible. This had been the largest amount of damage he had suffered in one sitting. Luckily the Resplendent Jadeite Necklace was in his possession or I fear he might have found himself in a perilous situation.'' ''Dropping half of the splintered staff Apollo withdrew the Vantablack Knife as he murderously gazed at the wolf. Adopting this 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. Arriving before the wolf he kicked his foot once again performing an arc step. At this moment this was one thing on his mind; kill.'' ''Adopting an attack and retreat tactic soon the wolf''s body was riddled with both slash wounds and jagged gashes as it unsteadily moved toward Apollo with bared fangs. Smiling in the same manner Apollo''s sharpened canines were slightly apparent.'' ''Preparing to end the battle Apollo 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 preemptively accelerating.'' ''Waving his hand he flung the knife directly inside the wolf''s mouth. The knife pierced its skull from the inside putting an end to its existence. 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.?'' ''?Congratulations 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 Successor'' ''Age: 11'' ''Level: 36'' ''Experience: 140/3 600.'' ''Health: 139/139'' ''Stamina: 139/139'' ''Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 3 Mortal'' ''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?'' silently mused Apollo as he scrutinized the layout 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 does that mean possessing a higher talent is better before seeking to enter the Zul Warrior Realm?'''' ''[Precisely. What many don''t know is when testing for talent 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 talent later.]'' ''''Soul Talent... then I can assume the physique everyone mention is instead split into two parts. Soul and Inner?'''' ''[Correct. However 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 beasts Natural Essence fluctuations have alerted them. Prepare for confrontation.]'' ''"People? Could it be mercenaries or the like?" mumbled Apollo as he retreated and hid behind a tree while making his presence sparse. Not much later a snap of a branch was heard as multiple figures landed where Apollo once was.'' 24 Encounter 24 Encounter ''----'' ''Glancing around an older male scrutinized his surrounding. His brown hair flowed to his shoulders while his broad shoulders complimented 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?'' bending down he tapped his finger against one of Apollo''s footprints. It had been a hasty job hence Apollo was unable to cover his tracks completely. Not to mention the newcomer''s senses seemed to be rather sharp.'' ''"The footprint was originally rather small seeming to belong to a child. But why would a child be out here alone? There''s no other set of footprints. In other words I smell talent " chuckled the man as he gazed toward a certain before continuing. 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 " stated the man as he rose to his feet with an unmoving gaze.'' ''[I sense no malicious intent from him. Not to mention his cultivation...well even if he did it wouldn''t matter in your case. Nevertheless I deem it fit for you to show yourself.]'' ''Acknowledging Azridan''s words Apollo''s childish figure appeared from behind the tree as he gazed upon the new group which stood not too far away.'' ''''Ah so it is a child. He seems rather thin. But...those fluctuations earlier came from at least a Late Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast. In other words he should be experienced in battle to slay it '' thought the man as he glanced toward the large body under one of the trees.'' ''"Do you hail from a family? This place isn''t something a child such as yourself should enter willfully. You should know there exists beast beyond your capabilities here " commented the man 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.'' ''[Don''t say you do. Answer no but also tell him your real age. If I''m reading correctly his words carry an intent.]'' ''"11. No I don''t. My name is just Apollo " briefly uttered Apollo as his near emotionless gaze looked into the man''s eyes. Frankly speaking Apollo truthfully didn''t view the Kaisers as his family. After all he wasn''t the original Apollo to begin with and their treatment was appalling. On the other hand he saw desire within those silent eyes.'' ''"I see. In that case why don''t you formally travel with me? Would you like to experience what lurks within this place? As you can see I have come to collect an odd bunch behind me " stated the man as he pointed behind himself.'' ''There stood a group of members behind him possessing a variety of ages genders sizes and most of all cultivations. Glancing over at them Apollo remained untrusting and simply examined them. The youngest seemed to be just slightly older than him.'' ''"Pardon my rudeness. All over you... introduce yourselves. Well after I do so of course. My name is Irauk. Just a simple wanderer " smiled Irae as he glanced towards the apparently awkward bunch behind him. The first to step forward was a short pudgy boy with glasses 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 " murmured Rhett as he retrieved a piece of dried spirit beast mean and began munching on it. In response Irauk simply stared blankly.'' ''"I''ll keep my introduction short. I am Adeon and I don''t know you " replied a taller male with a rather brusque personality. Offering Apollo a rather cold shoulder. Scoffing 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 amazing? I don''t think I''ll lose to anyone in my age group " proudly replied the crimson hair girl with golden eyes. Her figure was beginning to hold the maturity that came with age. However her prominent trait was her personality¡ªcompetitive.'' ''"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 " respectfully replied the gray-haired youth before him. His body was on the lean side however his physique and temperament hid strength.'' ''Lastly the last person stepped forward but only slightly. It was a female looking to be between both Rhett''s and Nadida''s age. Her childish features were still present and she was only a bit taller than Apollo. However her cerulean eyes hid a bashfulness.'' ''"I-I''m Socorra. I hope you can stay " briefly remarked Socorra 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 " added Nadida while peering over to Irauk.'' ''However Apollo remained slightly shocked. Everyone possessed their own personalities but they had also just met. Why are they disclosing so much about themselves? ''This group of people is rather...awkward. I think.'''' ''"So what is your answer?" inquired Irauk as he interrupted Apollo''s thoughts. Glancing at him he quietly weighed the situation.'' ''''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 blank stare. As he was uncertainty entered his mind ''So...what do I do?'''' ''[This time... well you accept. If they take you deeper you''ll receive the chance to battle and witness battle between higher assailants. Furthermore you never know what you learn.]'' ''"I''ll...I will come 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 plan? Maybe one more...'' thought Irauk 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?'' Additionally there was this subtle voice in his mind telling him to join them on this small journey.'' 25 Distant Inner Region 25 Distant Inner Region ''----'' ''''This Zephus Domain...it''s as bad as the records describe. I can sense it from here '' thought Irauk as he looked into the distance from a certain point in the forest. This was the single most area closest to 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''t come here to scope out the current situation of Zephus. I need to meet someone these youths are simply additions I can''t give up based on what I see inside of them '' mused Irauk whilst glancing behind him.'' ''He limited his speed to what they could all handle. However he was also subtly testing Apollo. Although he perceived drive within him he needed to be of certain capabilities to fulfill the qualifications he was looking for.'' ''''His speed seems to surpass that of a regular Rank 4 Mortal but he has yet to reach the Zul Point albeit infinitesimally close. Perhaps he is an agility-type. Nevertheless I''ll subject him to two more tests later '' formulated Irauk while ceasing his steps.'' ''''He stopped? Have we reached his intended destination?'' mentally noted Apollo while examining his surroundings. The trees nearby all possess various signs of battle. Scars were located upon the trunks while the ground was missing large patches in random spots.'' ''"Oh? It was a beast battle " chuckled Irauk. The ambient aura remaining in the area was that of beasts from the vicinity. Even if it was covered he possessed the means to separate threads of different aura. Not to mention there were minute differences in the beast and human signatures.'' ''[Careful. There are Rank 2 Spirits Beast of all stages in this area. I''m even perceiving some at the 3rd Rank. It would seem this is the furthest extent of the inner region before reaching the central area I forewarned you about.]'' ''Forming a smug smile Irauk turned towards the bunch "You five Rhett Ragnvald Soccora Nadida and Adeon shall separate and take down at least 10 Spirit Beast each. However you all must bring back cores at least 2 levels higher than your current cultivation. Those of you who fail... I''ll be eating your share of the food." His last words seemed to be aimed at Rhett as his body shivered in terror.'' ''"N-not the food! I will kill everything!" scowled Rhett while disappearing into a gust of wind similar to a frightened cat.'' ''''F-fast... How can someone so pudgy move so fast?'' incredulously thought Apollo while shifting his gaze to the other retreating figures. From their current movements it was clear none of them used their entire strength earlier. Meanwhile Apollo frowned slightly.'' ''''It would seem I''m still weak '' he thought while clenching his fist. In comparison he was the youngest amongst them but his sights were set high. As a result he felt a blow to his pride when he realized the disparity.'' ''[Those thoughts aren''t completely 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 to compare myself to others. Under normal circumstances I think I would be on par with them if it wasn''t for whatever sickness plagued my childhood '' responded Apollo.'' ''[No need for what-ifs. Simply take hold of what you''ve been given and mold a future that you deem to be irrefutable.]'' ''"As for you I have something else I would like you to complete. Have you ever done battle with a Rank 2 Spirit Beast " spoke Irauk interrupting Apollo''s thoughts and responses.'' ''"No...that''s... I''m not capable of fighting one " replied Apollo with a wary expression. Did he just enter the grasp of a madman? ''He wouldn''t dare subject me to what I think he wants to...'''' ''"Oh? Said who? I would like to witness you surviving against one. Come along let''s find a type which is suitable for you " amusedly smiled Irauk while vanishing and appearing next to Apollo picking him up.'' ''Shocked Apollo widened his eyes as he failed to formulate words. It wasn''t due to his brain short-circuiting but rather the force of the wind was too much for him to move let alone speak. The speed at which Irauk was traveling was simply insane!'' ''''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 much larger than a fully grown human male. It''s violent fur and red eyes stared cautiously at the two newcomers. 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'' ''Chance of Defeat: 1.2%'' ''''1.2%?! I''ve never seen a percentage so low. The chances are abysmal. What does he expect me to accomplish in this situation? As for that Health I can''t do anything about that...'''' ''"We''ve arrived and the beginning of another quadrant of the inner region. This will be your opponent. It isn''t fully grown. Therefore its defense will be rather low when compared to a mature beast. Naturally this is in light of the Rank 2 category so it will still remain an extremely large challenge. However what I''m asking you to do isn''t defeat it but rather survive for...let''s say 5 minutes. Wait no 10 " instructed Irauk as he leisurely leaned against a tree while picking Apollo up by the waist of his pants and tossing him.'' ''Landing in front of the bear he frowned and immediately dodge. Viewing him as dangerous the bear pounced on Apollo swiping his claw. Its speed was not to be underestimated. This was the sole reason he didn''t seek to confront Rank 2 beasts.'' ''''D-damn! How does he expect me to deal with this '' frowned Apollo while retrieving the Vantablack Knife from his waist. The knife only heightened the bear''s sense of danger angering it further. A light yellow gleam appeared on its violet fur. Grimacing Apollo knew exactly what this sign foretold.'' ''''Oh? This beast can invoke its natural ability already? It seems I may have picked a target slightly out of his league for this challenge '' thought Irauk as he began moving his foot. However he stopped his current actions as he noticed something and became pleasantly surprised by the events taking place.'' ''----'' ''[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.]'' ''"Phewww..." inhaling and exhaling a gleam circulated within Apollo''s eyes as his demeanor changed. It was returning to its earlier callous state. As for the bear its appearance changed in his image. It was as if he was projecting someone else''s figure on the bear. He now looked at it like prey.'' '''''' 26 Rank 2 Spirit Beast 26 Rank 2 Spirit Beast ''----'' ''Gazing coldly at the earthen yellow glow surrounding the Violet Stone Bear Apollo tightened his grip around the knife while raising it under his jaw. His eyes scrutinized every last movement the bear made. Unbeknownst to him an effect of his over 10 Intelligence was showing.'' ''[You are entering the Sensitive Instinct state. This requires you to have at least 10 Intelligence. Unfortunately it can''t be held for long. Do you best to end the fight before it elapses.]'' ''"Okay " calmly stated Apollo before taking a cautious step which then turned into an abrupt dash. Growling in response the Violet Stone Bear slammed 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 "felt" the flow of Natural Essence and weaved between the two earth spike like a slithering snake. His movements were fluid. 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. He possessed an initial mastery of his emotions in this state.'' ''''Fwoosh!'''' ''Swiping his arm the Vantablack Knife cut through the earthen spike like slicing through butter. After all a Rank 2 Spirit Beast bones were much harder than the surface they walked upon. In order to strengthen the spike to that degree an even larger amount of Natural Essence needed to be imbued.'' ''Kicking off his back foot Apollo dashed forward uninterrupted. The cub had reached its limit. Due to it lacking in maturity its control over Natural Essence wasn''t that great when it came to endurance.'' ''Holding it in a reverse grip Apollo punctured the cub''s torso as he breezed past its side. A long gash appearing on the side of its torso. 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]. Nevertheless 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 gone through their 2nd awakening.'''' ''"Is my attack ineffective?" murmured Apollo as he glanced at the glow while also directing some attention toward the battle 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...which will last longer. My stamina or its health?'' mused Apollo as he shifted 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. Bracing himself he retreated a few steps taking note of the changes.'' ''''What''s that?'''' ''A more complete earthen armor surrounded the bear. Furthermore a rock helmet appeared on its head. While the armor didn''t cover everything it covered all vitals. It''s head back joints and torso were protected.'' ''"Luckily I possess this knife. However its new should also present a large drawback. A hindrance to its speed¡ªit should essentially be a stone fortress due to its joints solidifying " muttered Apollo as a sharp gleam danced in his eyes as they darted back and forward.'' ''[Sound judgment. It had indeed sacrificed copious amounts of speed to protect itself after deeming your knife to be of grave danger. In doing so it 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 become compensation. Dashing back and forth he took 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¡ªthis is what happened when you were pinned against your bane¡ªyou suffered.'' ''Using its limbs as springboards Apollo gained momentum from the bear cub''s movements.'' ''"Groooahhh!" It roared indignantly a few times as the fact that it couldn''t land 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 beast beyond his level. Granted they needed to be in line with his strengths.'' ''''Krrk!'' ''Krrrk!'''' ''Repeated cracking sounds echoed from the Violet Stone Bear''s Earthen Armor as the Vantablack Knife turned into its worst nightmare. The obsidian weapon 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 minisculely. By now he had chipped away at 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 young lad 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. If it''s like this then¡­'''' ''Changing his modus operandi Apollo stopped any excessive movements and instead stuck close to the beast. Any movement it made he began mirroring it 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 become sloppy. Not to mention it was a cub and barely possessed experience. Capitalizing on this information Apollo lowered its health to 5% in just 3 more minutes. Luckily the Resplendent Jadeite Pendant was mitigating just enough stamina consumption to remedy his use.'' ''At that point the movements of the cub became an utter mess. Its mangled armor was falling over while it struggled to stand with all the cuts to its joints. It was now or never. Throwing caution to the wind Apollo performed an arc step and lunged forward as he thrust with all his might.'' ''''Pucht!'''' ''?Fatal Damage! You have dealt 100 damage.?'' ''?Congratulations you...?'' 27 Continuous Level Up, Foundational Chart 27 Continuous Level Up, Foundational Chart ''?Congratulations you have killed an Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast.?'' ''?Congratulations 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.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 37.?'' ''?Congratulations¡­.?'' ''The congratulatory 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.'' ''Clapping 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 accept 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: Flawless'' ''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.'' ''?Flawless 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 flawless pill were rather astonishing. Not to mention the repeated windows appeared before Apollo.'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 38.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 39.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 40.?'' ''?Congratulations...?'' ''In an instant Apollo increased by over 8 levels. The Flawless 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 place 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 placed 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 " commented Irauk as he clasped 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 particular.'' ''?System Alert! Mission: New Perspective COMPLETE!?'' ''?Congratulations 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 Successor'' ''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 irregular. 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 become better. It requires less strength to transfer into a Zul now situated at .4 Strength. As for the rest it''s pretty self-explanatory if you calculate it on your own.]'' ''''I understand it however there''s still 5 extra unexplained 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.'' 28 Small Test 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 this lad''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 become my saving grace!'' inwardly thought Irauk while his expression remained unmoving. His training throughout the year resulted in a trained manipulation of his emotions. Or as they called it in their world a Serene Heart.'' ''"Nonetheless that was nothing short of an exemplary 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 relayed 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 glanced at the size of the pouch. It fit comfortably 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 accomplish 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 slaying one monster? After I recover I can slay more¡­'' thought Apollo while glancing 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 glad to see you aren''t a foolish lad who believes he can handle anything thrown at him. That battle was to your advantage and even then you just barely managed to slay 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 foot landing 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 a later 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 to complete 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 I come from the environment alone was capable of changing any and everything into a demon. Of course there remained a large divide in powers one was capable of achieving based on certain things.]'' ''"Shape up lad 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.'' 29 Variants 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 Vantablack Knife reactively.'' ''It was a large 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 circulated 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 it lacks a bloodline it should still exhibit commendable battle capabilities.]'' ''''So a variant is stronger than a typical monster? As for elements... I''m not aware of it. You''ll need to explain 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 occur 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 occurred 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 acceleration increased greatly. A small foot was left in place 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 acceleration. However a human''s bipedal body worked differently.'' ''Performing a short step Apollo pivoted to the side landing a slash on the hind leg of the wolf causing an enraged howl. Remaining calm Apollo spun and delivered a second cut before moving away. Glaring 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. A large 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 Vantablack 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 Apollo launched a large amount of soil at the beast. Its actions had already been calculated 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 slashes that drained both his stamina and the beast''s health in tandem.'' ''Luckily his stamina could facilitate him doing this due to its large increase. It wasn''t long before the beast''s health fell under 20%. However at that point it fell into insanity. A large stream of lightning arcs danced around its body before spreading outward.'' ''Reacting with the Natural Essence it became volatile. A sense of danger encroached upon Apollo causing him to retreat with haste. Without delay 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 blast 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''t land 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!'' ''?Congratulations you have killed a Variant equivalent to a formidable Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast.?'' ''?700 (350 + 350) Experience has been received.?'' ''?Congratulations 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.'' 30 Departure 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 flared 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 glanced 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 similar to the earlier thunderous explosion sounded alerting both Nadida and Apollo. Just a simple motion had produced a sound similar to essentially a Rank 2 Spirit Beast last 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 to come " commented 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''ve completed 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 a competitive gleam in her eyes before glancing 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 spoiled lass " 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 similar to Apollos except it was slightly larger. 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 their labor. They had all completed the task. However hilariously Rhett only completed 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 to complete a task.'' ''"It is okay. Sooner or later 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 glanced 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 place to try and reprimand the teacher. Watch your words and be respectful " commented Ragnvald as he looked at Adeon with a stern expression. On the other hand Irauk focused on Apollo.'' ''Clasping his hands behind his back Irauk glanced 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 blank expression earlier when I mentioned that beast being a variant. It seems you lack 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 relaying a simple answer. Disappearing from where he stood Ragnvald followed after Irauk.'' ''"B-bye Apollo! See you in a few years " exclaimed 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 blank 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 alarming admiration towards food.'' ''Adeon on the other hand simply spared him a glance 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 place to rest. It wasn''t long before he found a place.'' ''"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.'' 31 Mysterious Scene 31 Mysterious Scene ''----'' ''Kicking off the branches of a colossal tree repeatedly Apollo worked his way up towards a position relatively hidden from sight. The tree''s branches were strong enough to support his weight while one of the largest branches amongst the top was suitable for him to lay on.'' ''[Hmm a fine choice. I have yet to perceive an aerial beast inhabiting this place. 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 rather comfortable. If we do run into those beasts then my earlier training should allow me to react in a suitable manner " commented 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 the last 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 needs components; 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 singular 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 it comes to combat.]'' ''"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 becoming a Zul Warrior. The quicker it happens the stronger your affinity with that element. Of course that''s only when it comes to Natural Essence. You''ll come 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 you come 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 glanced 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 its lack 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 blanketed his body. At the same time a few beings caught wind of an ominous stench.'' ''----'' ''''Thud!'' ''Bang!'' ''Booom!'''' ''Abruptly slamming 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 place 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 such large 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 flash 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¡­."'' 32 Burned Bridges 32 Burned Bridges ''----'' ''Two extremely large 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''re competing 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. It laid in wait behind the combative beasts.'' ''"I see a type of plant of some sort. Its shape is weird it looks more so like a root rather than a plant. 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 it comes 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 succeed 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 flashed 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 accomplish 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 place on a completely 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 was completely incapable of handling.'' ''Monster Name: Scarlet Flame 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 Flame Panther lacked in the speed department it made up for it in wide-area attacks. Its flames threatened to incinerate the area. Luckily the presence of natural Essence changed the layout 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 blasting 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 dealt large 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 plant 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 become complacent. Even now the risks remain unimaginable. But like they say with great risk comes 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!!"'' ''Six large crescent wind blades shoot from the wolf''s mouth as it howled. Growling back the panther released a flame orb. The ensuing matter was a conflict of forces! The wind blades and orb of flames caused a massive explosion. Unfortunately it didn''t come 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 collapsing. 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 Vantablack 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!]'' 33 Ray of Light 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 Flame Panther fired a torrent of small flame orbs that landed on multiple trees. The repeated blasts ignited the tree of mention into a fiery blaze. 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 he landed upon wasn''t wrapped in an inferno. Stabbing the Vantablack 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 Wolf launched 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 a common 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 them competing for that item.]'' ''''I know but what do I do in this situation¡­ Here they come!'' thought Apollo as the wolf and panther dashed towards the position he would be landing. 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 place. 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 place! 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.'''' ''Slashing the weapon three times 3 arcs of ominous aura traveled and collided with the opposing launched attacks¡ªit was a contest of power. At that moment a surprising scene took place. The arcs Azridan launched only caused the attacks heading for him to redirect.'' ''Kicking off the next tree he increased his speed and landed right before them with an unsettling smirk. Switching his grip he turned into a blackened crimson blur and entered hand to hand combat. To survive he''d have to eliminate their use of Natural Essence. In other words he''d have to keep their body occupied 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 this lad 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 occurring. 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 are completely 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.'' ''[Young lad 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!" exclaimed Apollo as a shred of light returned to his infuriated eyes.'' 34 Torturous Mutilation 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 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 black 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: Placing 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 to last long enough for the imprisonment to constrict the enemy.'' ''[?Grade Bonus?]-'' ''?Grade I? - Increases the maximum range of the lightning imprisonment to 30 square meters.'' ''?Grade II? - Shortens the time until entrapment to 3 seconds.'' ''?Grade III? - Allows the imprisonment to be split in two effectively trapping up to two beings within this talisman''s 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 of combatting almost all Rank 4 and below Spirit Beasts.'' ''[Oh this talisman¡­ It''s absolutely what you need. However you''ll still need to last for 3 seconds while it activates. Do you understand what that entails? You''ll have to engage in combat 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 slapped the talisman on the mutilated ground before him. A small ripple undulating 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.'' ''"Awwwwoooo!"'' ''"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 Vantablack 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 had come. Small crackling sounds emitted from the talisman on the floor.'' ''''Pzzt!'' ''Pzzt!'' ''Krrrrrrrklee!'''' ''A large 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 circulated their Natural Essence to the limited. Terrible aurae appeared as they launched 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 a large and harrowing wind blade 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 blade landed on his body albeit not properly. At the last 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 in comparison 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 mutilated 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.'' 35 Blood Tempering Ginseng 35 Blood Tempering Ginseng ''----'' ''?Congratulations 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'' ''?Congratulations you have reached¡­ Level 55.?'' ''?Congratulations 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 flashed 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 Vantablack 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 place. 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 felt comfortable to an extent.'' ''[At the moment no. For now just focus on trying to manipulate 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 state lasts 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: Flawless'' ''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.'' ''?Flawless 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 the large wound on his shoulder. Although it had become numb it seemed to have become 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 glanced 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!]'' 36 Tyrannical Reformation 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 manipulate was small in amount. Hence both time and the healing process moved at a slow pace.'' ''5 minutes later the state elapsed 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 a complicated thing and this would take time.'' ''[If you had become 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 relaxed as he relinquished his thoughts; the exchange was worth it. Although he inflicted large 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 a large number Apollo once again quickened the process.'' ''For many hours this took place. 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 plan. 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 soon coming 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 plan--we''ll be demolishing your physique. I''ll need to prepare you for the future. If you are to succeed in my path of cultivation then the first step will be the most horrendous. Hence let''s get you acclimated to torturous levels of pain. You nearly losing an arm will feel like child''s play in comparison.]'' ''Azridan''s tone sounded both spirited as well as serious. Within his serious message seemed to be a desire laced 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 play? If that''s the case¡­ then I think I''ll need to reevaluate our relationship. I think you just seek to abuse me " muttered Apollo in a slightly joking manner as afire blazed within his eye before continuing "What do you suggest?"'' ''[Excellent lad! 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. Place 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. Placing it between his hands 2 dark black 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 discomfort yet that wasn''t the case. But how could that happen when the one utilizing these flames was the one lauded as the Demon Monarch? A title which insinuated a lifetime of struggle as well as accolades.'' ''[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 flames 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 glanced 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 blankly Apollo nodded and opened his mouth after much difficulty. His mind went through copious amounts of deliberation in an instant. A moment later the large 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.'' ''Black 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 blackout.'' ''[He lasted 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 place inside Apollo. That makeshift concoction Azridan fed him would give birth to something that would soon enough defy reason.'' 37 Rapid Advancement, Blitz (I) 37 Rapid Advancement, Blitz (I) ''----'' ''Apollo''s body writhed in pain continuously as changes took place inside him in more ways than one. It was certainly a spectacle happening as he laid upon the floor. Time once again became a foreign concept as his conscience traveled to a blackened 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 large 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 the landscape. 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 place.'' ''[It seems my concoction was a little too potent. However it succeeded nonetheless 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''ll come to understand what I meant by it had succeeded.]'' ''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 glanced at the notifications that he had received while unconscious. But as he checked his mind once again wandered and pondered that earlier replaying scene. ''What could that have been? And those large 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 regulate your level. However take heed you have fainted due to unbearable anguish.?'' ''?Congratulations your race change has progressed slightly. [46.82%]?'' ''?Congratulations your Foundational Chart has been upgraded providing information on both your current and succeeding 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 becoming steeper. Hopefully the rewards from whatever tasks I need to complete in the future scales as well.'''' ''Meanwhile the notifications continued to flash before his eyes. The next one he wasn''t within his estimations albeit truthfully speaking this entire matter wasn''t.'' ''?Congratulations 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.'' ''?Congratulations 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 Successor'' ''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 a large 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 so large? It''s astonishing. I feel as if I can slaughter 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 you complete your quest. After all I believe it''s time you receive what I need to give you.]'' ''?Objective [Reach Rank 5 Mortal] has been completed.?'' ''"All that''s left is to deal with the large 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.'' ''This is the chapter from yesterday. I was caught up with some things.'' 38 Rapid Advancement, Blitz (II) 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 Vantablack 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 becoming hellbent on finding victims of his ire.'' ''In a short 10 minutes Apollo had slain as many Spirit Beast as he would typically slay 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 Vantablack Knife. To put it differently he had finally become a force to be reckoned with amongst the low-level Spirit Beast community.'' ''"This isn''t fast enough " muttered Apollo. Although his speed was fast it wasn''t up to his standard within his desires. The distance from completing 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 regular 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 hand combat.'' ''''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 welcomed it. Dropping his defenses Apollo went on the pure offensive.'' ''''Boom!'''' ''A Twin Fanged Wolf''s body slammed 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''ll come 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 to complete 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 population 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 plague 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 place inside. Sadly I''m not entirely sure what type of beasts they are so remain vigilant.]'' ''"Its spiders " replied Apollo as he replied to Azridan''s comment.'' ''[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 manipulate Natural Essence. You simply lack knowledge of its usage and feeling. It''s like you said a sixth sense. A premonition of danger or even grasping what lays 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 flabbergasted by the expansive layout before him. Journeying through a small passageway he found himself in the heart of a sticky situation.'' 39 Encirclement of Breeding Spiders 39 Encirclement of Breeding Spiders ''----'' ''Tightening his grip on the Vantablack 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 similar to soot in color possessed long slender legs that shimmered with a metallic luster. However the unsettling part was their overly large 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 to come 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 place? 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 glanced 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 recommend 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 Vantablack 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 slamming the Iron Widow into another one. A surprising scene took place 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 Vantablack 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. Glancing 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 newcomers 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 newcomers " 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 a larger 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 their commander. 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!" exclaimed 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 slashed it off at a length similar to his knife.'' ''Dashing forward his eyes remained focused. All vital areas became his target.'' ''''Splich!'' ''Pucht!'' ''Bang!'''' ''Rapidly he slashed 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 Vantablack Knife.'' ''However as he slashed its limb as large change took.'' ''''SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH!'''' ''The largest spider emitted a loud screech that riled all of the surrounding Spirit Beasts.'' ''"Tch¡­"'' 40 Poisonous Threads, Venomous Rain 40 Poisonous Threads, Venomous Rain ''----'' ''''SCREEEECH!'''' ''A loud and terrifying screech sounded from the largest spider beast as the spiders all ceased actions and scurried into various positions. It didn''t seem orderly however there were traces of properly planned 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 placement 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 calculated 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 claim 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 had comprehended 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 glanced at his dwindling stamina. He was making too many movements! If it continued like this he wouldn''t last 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 dealing large 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 Vantablack 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 the large 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 slashed 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 accumulating 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 first commitment of the feat. After achieving it again there hasn''t been another indication '' thought Apollo as he glanced 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 slaying 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!'' ''''Sccreeeech!'' ''Screeeeeeccch!'' ''Krrrrrrrk!'''' ''2 extremely unsettling screeches and the ear-piercing ringing of its grinding legs sounded as once again the mass of spider made large movements. Only this time their actions were different in purpose.'' ''Appalled by the change Apollo quickly attempted to slay two extra spider beasts before whatever they sought to do was complete. Yet his attempts were thwarted.'' ''[I sense fluctuations of Natural Essence! But this is coming from each beast they''re using their essence. Be on guard. Whatever is to take place 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 coagulated until it formed a large sphere whose toxicity was off the charts.'' ''Opening its pincers the leader spider launched a large sphere of its own. As they collided it exploded and caused a large rain of venom within Apollo''s general area. Reacting quickly Apollo hissed in pain as splatters landing on his robes and skin burrowing holes through it.'' ''Hiding under the carcasses Apollo guarded against large 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 mutilated carcasses. There was a large 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 moss-layered wall.'' ''Noticing his intent the spider made its move screeching. Surprisingly it moved like the wind!'' 41 Premature Destruction! 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 a large number of such limbs covering the floor. Hence he entered a playing 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 glanced behind him at the rampaging spider. The information he learned about it didn''t unsettle him. In fact he felt if he could complete his plan''s he''d be able to combat 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 calculated 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 plan 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 their combat ability are not to be underestimated. In fact they are incomparable. You''ll come 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 mutilate the large 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 causing large rocks to fly.'' ''''I can''t get hit by that¡­'' thought Apollo as he jumped and landed on a regular spider beast. Jumping between them he weaved and spun in the air throwing the spider legs accurately something piercing multiple legs with one throw. His experience bar began to visibly climb.'' ''A short moment later 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.'' ''?Congratulations 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 and launched the beast into a large 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 a large 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 black spinnerets.'' ''Rooting itself on the ground by stabbing its legs inside the Window Queen launched 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 manipulating 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 net covering all of Apollo''s paths. But as they did so they vibrated and ejected poison everywhere. Some of which landed upon Apollo; specifically his right eye.'' ''"A-agchhh¡­" gripping his eye Apollo retreated. His vision blackened 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 plan will become 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. Glancing up he gazed into the infuriated eyes of the Widow Queen.'' ''"Kill¡­"'' ''[!! This aura...]'' 42 Fury Collides 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-black 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 accelerated further and stab the Vantablack 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 successive 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 mutilated 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 place here. Could it be because of that? I see..]'' ''Spinning the Vantablack Knife to a reverse grip Apollo stabbed and slashed 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 unacceptable!'' ''''Splich!'''' ''A short moment later 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 Vantablack Knife through the exposed wound on the exoskeleton Apollo''s actions garnered the reaction he sought. Acting haphazardly the Widow Queen began flailing 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 slashed 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 have come 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 platform 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 occupied. I suggest you destroy them all. While the fall won''t deal large 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 flared.'' ''[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 the last 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 occurred as Apollo reached Level 71.'' ''?Congratulations 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.'' ''The next two chapters will be uploaded soon. Currently occupied they should be uploaded by 9 PM EST 11/5/2020. Bear with me for these few hours. The next few chapters include important events for the MC.'' 43 Clouded Perception 43 Clouded Perception ''----'' ''The Queen Widow''s lifeless body fell before Apollo as he blankly stared at it. His unfocused gaze didn''t seem to be looking at its body but rather inside it. A shining core with dual colors laid 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 slash and a few stabs; that''s all it took to slay 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 them coming 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 annihilated. 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''s completion bar was only a sliver from being complete. 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 becoming a blur while his mind was droning.'' ''At this point he was acting on pure instinct¡ªthe desire to become stronger. It was so much so he began to mindlessly mutter a single phrase throughout each kill. Furthermore his voice was becoming increasingly guttural as if it was the world''s worst pain to talk at this moment.'' ''"I...murder for power...become...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 and landing 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 become 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 both lacerate 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 this lad. 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 well lad. 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 the large pool of blue liquid and mutilated 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 while later 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 of completely 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 a large 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 Vantablack Knife Azridan made some calculations then performed a decisive action. Imbuing the Knife with a small piece of crimson thread. He slashed the entrance of the cave causing it to collapse. That small thread then melded with the rock and shifted properties continuously.'' ''It melted the rock until molten then cooled it until hardened into blackened rock. Afterward it began possessing a metallic sheen as the integrity of it was reinforced. Deeming it to be of suitable strength and something newcomers 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.]'' 44 Newfound Resolve 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 is commendable 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 relatives.'' ''"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 imbalances.'''' ''"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-mutilating 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 a large 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 increasingly large. 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 place 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 exemplary boost in these 2 aspects; you may very well possess the means to combat those above you " spoke Danyul.'' ''"I see " nodded Aaron before turning towards Lily and motioning towards her as well lamenting 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 glanced at Apollo''s old courtyard. Clenching his fist a deep melancholy 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 flashed 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 placed 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.'''' 45 Awakening, Shortening the Gap 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 regularly see as his eyes continued to adapt.'' ''Beyond that his body still ached from the previous. However above all; his mind felt irregular. 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 young lad. 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 place! Perhaps in the future you''ll become 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 calculations. 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 revelation 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 relatively stronger.'' ''Raising his hand he tapped his hand against his eye. He recalled this being the trigger of him blacking 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¡­ complete 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-explanatory. All you need to do is take notice of your body. I''m sure you feel the differences. You have indeed completed 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 place " 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 to complete the tasks Azridan had in store for him.'' ''[That is the complete 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 become 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 incomplete thoughts.'' ''[Partly however that isn''t the whole story. Never mind you''ll come to learn about it in the future. Especially so now that you''ve completed the quest.]'' ''"Completed the quest?" muttered Apollo as he remained in shock. ''Wasn''t there slightly over 1 000 beasts needed to complete that? Then is Azridan trying to say within that breeding ground resided that many beasts? And I happened to slay 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 the completion of your extraordinary feat you have received a bonus 50 000 Experience 5 Demonic Pellet and 5 Spirit Shards.¡µ'' ''¡´System Alert! You have completed 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 rather large 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.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 79.?'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 80.?'' ''?Congratulations 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 Successor'' ''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 a complimentary 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 before completing 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 successor.]'' ''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...?'' 46 Excruciating Pain, Determined Path 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!" exclaimed Apollo as he stood up holding his head. However as he calmed down and regained clarity he realized there were two ridiculous tablet-like walls of words within his mind.'' ''One was archaic and completely obsidian with crimson writing with a large 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 a compilation 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 pillar 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 successor 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 Flames 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 flames 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 also lacked 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 becoming 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?" exclaimed Apollo. At this point he was becoming 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-mutilating 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 recommend is to keep your goal in mind at all times. You''d be surprised what a singular 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. Emulate the set of circulation pathways and hand seals to begin familiarizing yourself with Natural Essence.]'' ''"The set of circulation 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 the large 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 circulate 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 his complete 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 slammed opened his eyes and coughed up a mouthful of blackened 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.]'' 47 Experiencing the Pains of Cultivation 47 Experiencing the Pains of Cultivation ''----'' ''[Before you continue allow me to explain 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. The latter isn''t recommended due to it requiring extremely large 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 to come to terms with it.'' ''[Oh stop your complaining. 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 in comparison. 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 place 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 you complete that task we''ll address the Essence Cores and how they''ll play 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 " commented 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 flash 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 undulating appears then you''ve perfectly completed 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 exclaimed 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 becoming 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 hours later 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''ll come in contact with is fire. It is the single most potent force in tempering one''s self when accompanied 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''ll come 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?.]'' 48 Monarch’s War Path Record 48 Monarch¡¯s 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 ''What language 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''ll come 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 flames.?'' ''''These mantras¡­'' though Apollo as he uttered them slowly. Sure enough uttering these mantras caused a reaction from the system as it presented a large 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 Annihilations?'' ''.'' ''.'' ''.'' ''"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 relaying information Apollo wasn''t previously privy to.'' ''Technique Name: Baleful Steps - Phantasmal Daemos'' ''Rank: Demonic (High-Profound Art)'' ''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 can last in the state. Performing the first step the ?First Phantasm: Partial Shade Silhouette? allows one to begin comprehending 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 Annihilations'' ''Rank: Demonic (Low Earth Rank)'' ''Type: Martial Art'' ''Level: 1/9'' ''Active: As the name sounds this consists of nine tiers. As long as one''s comprehension and physique keep up with this technique you''ll be able to wield the Annihilations. It all begins with the first strike; The First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave.'' ''?Demonic Massacre Wave? - Channeling the inner vitality sacrifices it in exchange for large 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 annihilates those who oppose it. Nine to conquer all and walk the path of the warring flames.?'' ''"I want to practice these! How can I increase my stats as soon as possible?" exclaimed 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 delay 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. Glancing around he spotted blaring 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 slain 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 Flame 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: Upon completely 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: Upon completely 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 is larger. 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 place within the forest.'' 49 Enclosing Baseline 49 Enclosing Baseline ''----'' ''After becoming 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 and comparable to slaying 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 becomes harder rather than easier despite you becoming increasingly familiar with it. This is due to the nature of the subsequent meridians. They start finer in comparison 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¡ªemulating 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 to complete them all! Treat it as you would the Mortal Realm¡ªlaying the foundation for your future advancements. Just circulate the essence through the opened acupoints.]'' ''"Okay I''ll try to do so " replied Apollo before aiming to complete the task. Drawing in the Natural Essence Apollo felt his skin breathing. The sensation was incomparable to that minuscule feeling felt at the beginning. It was like comparing a trickling stream to a river it couldn''t be done!'' ''The continuous undulations of his pores coaxed the Natural Essence into gathering at a more rapid pace. Soon enough it coagulated and entered the meridians and flowed throughout him.'' ''In truth this was the first time he was manipulating ambient Natural Essence inside himself. Prior to this event it didn''t penetrate his body properly throughout the past month as they were insufficient to form a basic circulation 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 calculating how fast and well the Natural Essence circulated 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 become the hopes and dreams of certain families to achieve a higher status.'' ''''Let''s see how it feels to circulate the Natural Essence.'''' ''Becoming 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 rather large 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 to complete 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 months later 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 balanced 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.'' 50 Overbearing Demonic Techniques 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 glanced 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 Successor'' ''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 a later time when they''re needed. It also seems the improvement of my Vitality isn''t as large 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: After coming 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 he comprehended 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 I comment on that " stated Apollo as he exhaled creating a white jetstream. The first action needed was to stimulate 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 revelation. 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 not completely. Upon death only part of your silhouette should be apparent. Of course this technique becomes stronger during the night.]'' ''"So I was correct the reasoning behind the technique is to emulate darkness. Only I must become 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 slash his target. Naturally the style of this attack warranted a few worrisome aftereffects.'' ''''BOOOOOOM!'''' ''Slashing the Vantblack Knife a large 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 place.'' ''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 place your hand upon the wall.]'' 51 Encounter with Strangers 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 place 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 every last crevice in the rocks. Not a semblance 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 penetrate 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 too large. 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 Vantablack 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 place. 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 slashing his weapon. In the next moment a Rank 1 Spirit Beast fell before him¡ªbisected.'' ''[It is acceptable. 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 mutilated 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 while later 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 assailants. 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 speculations.'' ''''Could it be that experience is calculated 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 the latter is plausible. It should be the former '' thought Apollo while twisting his body to avoid 3 incoming 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 elation.'' ''''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!" exclaimed Apollo as his jubilant expression incited the surrounding Natural Essence to flow towards his blade. 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 place an extremely large role in your parameter calculations. Hence I recommended you pay attention to it in the last 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 placed 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.'''' 52 Three of Questionable Morals 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 their commander. 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 newcomers to arrive. Based on his infantile perception they seemed to move at a pace faster than him especially true for one particular incoming person.'' ''''Whoosh!'' ''Whoosh!'' ''Whoosh!'''' ''The three grown figures appeared before Apollo their expressions plagued with shock. They couldn''t understand why this small child was the only one remaining in their sights. Those fluctuations albeit weak couldn''t have come 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 vigilant. 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 glancing 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 slaying 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 a lad as young as you slaying 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 explain the lack 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 glanced to the side "And the other?"'' ''"Hmm?" turning back Krone gave the other a signal prompting them to utter introductions.'' ''"Tis'' Slaid under the captain " said the lanky male spouting multiple throwing knives between his slender fingers. His cold black eyes inspected Apollo.'' ''"As fer'' me I''m Vren. Nice ta'' meetcha " spoke the last stalwart figure sporting an overly large 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 recommend 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 acceptance Apollo clasped his hand.'' ''"If it is so then come 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: Slaid'' ''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 balanced 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 words laced 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.]'' 53 Into an Awry Situation 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 incoming 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 Slash!" roared Vren as his greatsword became encased in an earthen yellow hue before landing on the spine of the Violent Stone Bear. Although it wasn''t enough to render it immobile it dealt substantial damage!'' ''Following up Slaid 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 net which continued to lacerate the spirit beast.'' ''"Haha how can I be left out of the fun?" unsheathing two sabers from his waist Krone dashed forward at breakneck speeds comparable 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 they landed upon bubbled seemingly cooked from the temperature of the strike. Rather than joining it Apollo dissected their actions. He noted their strengths and weaknesses.'' ''''Slaid''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 speculate 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 manipulate trace amounts of the fire element.'''' ''[Well that''s easy to explain. As you saw your cultivation method can help determine the elements you train with. However in a regular 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 become privy to.]'' ''''I see. Although...Azridan you omit a lot of information. It wouldn''t hurt to give me some extra details would it?'' complained 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 Vantablack Knife from his waist Apollo initiated a battle of his own. After all why would he give up the chance to accrue 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 slaying the beasts if he used the hit and run style of battle. However that weapon¡­'' thought Krone as he glanced at the Vantablack Knife in Apollo''s grasp. From the workmanship alone he felt it to be of a decent grade.'' ''''Rank 3?'' thought Krone before glancing 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 the lack 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 stellar.'' ''To the unlearned eye it would be perceived exactly how Krone did. On the other hand a flash of desire appeared within Slaid''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 Slaid to remain in place. Instead of joining they stood in place spectating Apollo''s battle with a late-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 Apollo landed strike after strike on its joints then proceeded to mutilated its Lesser Earthen Armor. As the large 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 claiming 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 become our fourth and let us journey across the border."'' ''Gazing in the direction Krone pointed Apollo looked at the border of the central region. According 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!"'' 54 Foolish Coveting, Mindless Mistakes 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 acclimated 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. The lad 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 plans.'' ''"He may not be a warrior but he understands the ways of killing " uttered Slaid as he glanced at Krone approaching Vren before wrapping his arms around his shoulder.'' ''Dragging Vren to the side Krone relayed 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 Slaid 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'' plan. Hehehehe I like it. I''ll get me some fine ladies 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 play along. If my plan 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 a large family but perhaps that may be true. I''ll have to make sure. Usually those types of heritages have precautions set in place.'''' ''"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 flashed 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 welcome to journey with us " chuckled Krone before turning around Slaid and Vren in tow. With this he crossed the border into what would soon become 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-'''' ''"Aowwwoooo!"'' ''"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 Vantablack 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 occupied 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 I commend 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 coming to a skidding halt that revealed its appearance. A beast similar to a lynx except it was multiple times large. 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: Incalculable.'' ''''Incalculable? 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 slammed 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 is comparable 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 similar 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 similar to what our demons use. If I''m not mistaken then¡­]'' ''''Skrreeeeeeeeeee!'''' 55 Insane Youth (I) 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 newcomer 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 blades made contact with the Storm Colossus Lynx''s pelage. However its durability was not to be looked down upon. Deep gashes formed on its limb but it ignored this damage; glaring at Krone with murderous eyes crackles of lightning fluttered in the wounds.'' ''On the other hand glancing 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 blade. ''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 Slaid glanced at Apollo at the corner of his eye before retrieving large 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 Slaid 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 Slaid''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 in comparison 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 his combat 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 slash covered in a dense yellow aura. Compared to earlier it was clear he channeled much more Natural Essence within the blow. Hence it was incomparable 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 newcomer 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!'''' ''[Incoming it''s an aura we''re entirely familiar with.]'' ''With halted steps Apollo looked down at the second newcomer. In fact it was the absolute bane in this situation.'' ''"Oh fuck! Is that a Zephyr Wolf? And it''s Rank 3?" cursed Slaid as he retreated focusing his attention on the incoming large azure-colored wolf. Its stampeding paws battered the ground as it turned into a gust of wind.'' ''Throwing caution to the wind Slaid was encased by a shell of wind as an obscure gleam flashed 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 calculated 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 occupied 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 Slaid he uttered a brief sentence "Keep it occupied I''ll deliver the killing blows." After all how could he squander this sublime chance?'' ''Squinting with slight amounts of contempt Slaid 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 Slaid 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 the latter 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 Slaid keeping its movements restricted; Apollo was able to unleash an unabated stream of deadly attacks.'' ''Each slash opened the flesh of the Zephyr Wolf causing its eyes to go crimson. On the other hand each slash caused indiscernible nicks in the Vantablack Knife. Luckily this beast didn''t specialize in defense; if so there was a chance of this weapon flat 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 Slaid capitalized on this matter.'' ''He unleashed a flurry of throwing knives aimed at its joints. The attacks lowered its speed further now allowing Apollo to land even more harrowing cuts. A few instances later 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!'' Slaid 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.'' ''?Congratulations! 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 the last strike on but¡­'''' ''With a small smirk Apollo dashed towards the Storm Colossus Lynx without pause. At the same time Slaid 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 three launched 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 large 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 claim 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 was lacerated 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.]'' 56 Unfair Split 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 relayed his plan. 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 claim the experience. Tis'' but a little hiccup in your grand journey~. Don''t be afraid of a scratch.]'' ''''What do you mean hiccup? 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 blade 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 accordance 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 in large 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 Vantablack 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 a large explosion.'' ''"M-madlad!" exclaimed 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 place 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 account 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...irregular. What possessed you to commit 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...'''' ''Glancing 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 irregularity 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 almost commanding 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 be compensated?" 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 become mine and you''ll become my nice little slave. 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 my compensation 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 a large portion?"'' ''"It is quite simple and I shouldn''t have to explain it. Without me you guys would have without a doubt died. No perhaps you would have never ventured here in the first place. In other words your plans 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 you lack 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 plans. 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.'' 57 Enraged, Reverse Scale 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 glanced 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 glancing toward Vren''s comical 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 balanced in both Natural and Spiritual Essence. Only¡­ those rarely appear in circulation " countered Krone as he began mulling over the scarce circulation of cultivation resources for straggler cultivators.'' ''In Astarat there remained two types of currency; credits and the forms of spiritual gems. The latter was more so circulated throughout the high cultivation world whereas the former was more for the ones who favored hard currency. In some places 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 Slaid as he played 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.'' ''?Congratulations 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 Successor'' ''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 Annihilations?'' ''Stat Points: 41'' ''Satisfied with what he saw he paused before asking a question laced 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 being large my body still needs more food; you four have eaten a large 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. According 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 Slaid 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 Slaid''s words from the abrupt change in his aura. Clenching his fists he glared daggers at Slaid.'' ''[Insolence! Kill him! Dismember his body. Mutilate 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. Blasphemy 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?" languidly answered Slaid sporting an amused expression. It was clear he took him lightly. But they underestimated the thoughts which circulated 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? This lad...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 Slaid. 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 place " stated Slaid 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 place.'''' ''"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 welcome 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 Slaid 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!'' 58 Insane Youth (II) 58 Insane Youth (II) ''----'' ''Rather than confronting them who were a few stages higher than him Apollo had other plans 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''ll come 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.]'' 59 Primary Massacre [Gore] 59 Primary Massacre [Gore] ''----'' ''Witnessing Apollo''s descent the eyes of the trio widened. They were under the impression that he vanished amid the clamor of the beast horde. Naturally their thoughts turned out to be terribly mistaken as the shadow of his figure appeared from laying 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.'' 60 Demonic Conduct [Gore] 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 clarification 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 accelerated from your intense murderous intentions. After all it isn''t everyday one can commit such misdeeds. Nevertheless it is how it sounds. It pertains to the actions a demon would commit.]'' ''"Such as?" Apollo fired back with an abrupt question. His curiosity had still yet to be appeased.'' 61 Amassing Cultivation Resources, Plundering 61 Amassing Cultivation Resources, Plundering ''----'' ''At first his movements were harsh and unnatural. However as Apollo acclimated to the saber he began to utilize it better. A sign of his comprehensive 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 black blade 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!'''' 62 Limitations 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.?'' ''.'' ''.'' ''.'' ''?Congratulations you have reached Level 90. .5 Attributes and 5 Stat Points have been rewarded.?'' ''?System Alert! Changes have taken place due to you reaching a late threshold. For more information look to the Foundational Chart.?'' ''"Ugh...are you serious? This is the limitation? Then...isn''t combat 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.'' 63 Changes (II) 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 place. 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 large changes took place 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.'' 64 Unexpected Reunion 64 Unexpected Reunion ''----'' ''As Apollo grew closer the clamor of battle could be heard. Undoubtedly from what Apollo discerned multiple people should be undergoing battle. The sounds were becoming increasingly distinguishable; they were reminiscent of weapons clashing.'' ''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.]'' 65 Distant Mind 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 " nonchalantly 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."'' 66 Apollos Story (II) 66 Apollo''s Story (II) ''¡­.'' ''Glancing 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 to last 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."'' 67 Into the Central Area (I) 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 blank as he contemplated 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 young lad don''t worry you will come to see just how nonsensical this can be. In the meantime just continue to let the circulation method of the Infernal Ira Stigmata damage and cleanse your physique. Once that process is complete it should align with proper timing.]'' ''''Did you say damage?'''' 68 Into the Central Area (II) 68 Into the Central Area (II) ''¡­.'' ''Compared to the previous Infernal Apes the newcomer was near twice their size. Moreover there was a mix of bright orange reddish flames being ejected from its eyebrows. It was clear to see that this new Infernal Ape triumphed over the rest with ease.'' ''Gazing at the incoming Infernal Ape Apollo felt no negative feelings whatsoever and instead welcomed 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 classified as kids.'' 69 Revelation of Annihilation 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 irregular Natural Essence stimulated 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.'' 70 Questions 70 Questions ''----'' ''Sitting down outside of the battlefield Apollo began mediating and circulating 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.'' 71 Exploration 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 circulating 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 " commented Apollo with a look of understanding. His Intelligence stat wasn''t for show. It subtly increased all things to do with his mind.'' 72 Delegating Leadership, Harboring Indignation 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 circulation pathways ''If it''s like this the high levels of Fire Essence should accelerate my progress. It is less tedious than the manual separation of this particular element and absorbing it.'''' ''[It is indeed beneficial to you. After all this flame 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 the later stages.]'' 73 Potential Danger 73 Potential Danger ''----'' ''''Splich!'''' ''The thrown Vantablack Knife stabbed into the forehead of a salamander. 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 flame it swiped its claws causing a triple-layered flame wave.'' ''''Ding!'' ''Ding!'' ''Whoosh!'''' ''Parrying two of the three waves Apollo sidestepped dodging the last 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!'' 74 Serendipitous Discovery 74 Serendipitous Discovery ''----'' ''"Oh me? I''m just a lacking 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.'''' 75 With Light Befalls Darkness (I) 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 slay 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 slay the beast."'' 76 With Light Befalls Darkness (II) 76 With Light Befalls Darkness (II) ''----'' ''''I retrieved these from Slaid''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.'' 77 With Light Befalls Darkness (III) 77 With Light Befalls Darkness (III) ''----'' ''[Oh shit. Pardon my foul language 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 become 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.]'' 78 Claiming Dominance 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 Earthflame Wyvern was capable of unleashing its onslaught.'' ''?Experience: 455 500/500 000?'' ''?Experience +500?'' ''?Experience +500?'' ''Before even one second could elapse 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.'' 79 An Aura Defying Logic 79 An Aura Defying Logic ''----'' ''"Here''s the plan " 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 Earthflame 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 a large 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 placement. Amid their rapid movement Apollo continued to divulge his inner thoughts.'' 80 Second Annihilations Overbearing Destruction 80 Second Annihilation''s Overbearing Destruction ''----'' ''Apollo''s arms first disfigured and then underwent a partial demonizing! Metallic bone spurs jutted from his elbows as his hands enlarged. 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 slash.'' ''The energy birthed by that slash hurtled forward and robbed the space it passed of every iota of vitality further empowering itself. Regrettably an instant later 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 accomplished his task. He uttered a phrase albeit weakly "Second Annihilation: Nether Severance!"'' 81 Minute Differences, Addition 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 glanced 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 place!'' ''"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.'' 82 Contemptuous Rivalry (I) 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 necklace seems to be related 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 Necklace'' ''Rank: Tier 7 Spiritual Artifact'' ''Grade: Excellent'' ''Information: After a partial awakening the jadeite necklace 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%.'' 83 Contemptuous Rivalry (II) 83 Contemptuous Rivalry (II) ''----'' ''''Hoh? Kaiser rats? That''s an interesting set of words. It seems these newcomers 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 incoming 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 haughty laughter 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 Krystella " a murderous gleam flashed through Cynthia''s eyes her tone turning venomous.'' 84 Madman Amongst All Youths 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 and lastly 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 claim what you seek or you fall short and as it is now I seek a beautiful woman " Myrin smirked his gaze becoming increasingly salacious. Surprisingly Krystella was unperturbed by the fact he fancied Cynthia. In fact she took pleasure in this.'' 85 Beheading A Serpent (I) 85 Beheading A Serpent (I) ''----'' ''Rushing into the distance a pair of disgruntled faces glanced 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 fun comes in " Krystella chuckled licking her lips in the process as she glanced 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 become my victim. It''s regrettable but it''ll be worth it if I''m able to savor his unique taste " Krystella licked her nail as a malevolent gleam passed through her eyes.'' 86 Beheading A Serpent (II) 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 place. The only continued interaction being with a voice she wasn''t privy to.'' 87 Beheading A Serpent (III) 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 plans huh. From this day forward everything is bound to change.'''' ''A silence followed as he shifted his gaze.'' ''[Hoh? You have an incoming 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.'' 88 A Vipers Bite. 88 A Viper''s 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 a late state Zul Warrior and he has yet to enter that realm! How can this be so?" Sallaya sprang to her feet slamming her hands on the table before her. While Apollo''s aura paled in comparison to theirs it seemed to possess the faint ability to stimulate the atmosphere around him into subservience.'' 89 Exorbitant Malicious Demands 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 rather large. 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 access to the entirety of the family''s treasury.'' 90 Overture to Ones Demise (I) 90 Overture to One''s Demise (I) ''----'' ''"How could you allow him to follow through with those abominable desires?" Sallaya 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 the law of the world wrapping her mind around potentially losing her progeny was a hard pill to swallow.'' ''Staring at her silently Kayn sighed in lament shaking his head without end. A peculiar glint appearing "You know the price of being born into this world. It is the land 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 relationship from the beginning.'' 91 Overture to Ones Demise (II) 91 Overture to One''s Demise (II) ''----'' ''"Haah...haah¡­" Apollo and Aaron laid 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 place. We''ll just have to train harder to temper that shortcoming out of you. Maybe in a regular society kindness wouldn''t be a shortcoming but here...we can do without " Apollo stated in a candid tone.'' 92 Overture of Ones Demise (III) 92 Overture of One''s Demise (III) ''----'' ''?System Alert! You have been bound to a weapon of unknown potential as well as origins! Information regarding this weapon has been placed 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.'' 93 Five Against One 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 tribulations."'' ''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 two large 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 the last one clamor 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.'' 94 Suffering Defeat In The Worst Way 94 Suffering Defeat In The Worst Way ''----'' ''A shift in their movements occurred. Axel took Apollo''s front whereas the other landed on all of his sides. However while this took place some of the elders frowned and glanced in Kayn''s direction. They couldn''t overcome 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 it comes 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."'' 95 Ample Demonic Conduct 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 becoming 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.'' 96 News of Premature Departure 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 place 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 and coming 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 acclimated 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.'' 97 Entering the Lessers 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 that lad we are departing today and not to get too caught up in cultivation. If he delays any longer there is a chance of us missing the deadline and that is unacceptable."'' ''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.'' 98 In Preparation for the Unknown 98 In Preparation for the Unknown ''----'' ''"Are you ready for your first steps into the future?" Cynthia asked both Apollo and Aaron placing 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 circulating 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 glanced 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?'''' 99 Misconstrued Words 99 Misconstrued Words ''----'' ''The hostile atmosphere between the two families reached a peak soon after coming to a standstill. However even then the potent animosity was still prevalent. Kayn''s aged eyes blazed 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 the last 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 outcome would have been undesirable for both sides " Kayn chuckled shifting his gaze to the collection of people behind Abram.'' 100 Tempering Before The Determining Event 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 similar to regular 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.'' 101 Reclamation of Glory 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 related 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 place. 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.'' 102 Letting Loose, Coaxing Feeling 102 Letting Loose, Coaxing Feeling ''----'' ''Unlike the others Apollo didn''t wait for them to come 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 exclaimed trying his best to catch up. Unfortunately they existed on two different planes. His Agility eclipsed that of all the youths who cultivated under a Heaven-Grade cultivation method.'' 103 Nearing the Zephus Capital 103 Nearing the Zephus Capital ''----'' ''''Hm after further thought there''s too many eyes around. I''ll explore this idea when I come into alone time.'' Apollo determined weighing the situation at hand. He didn''t want to have to explain 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 place 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 impeccable 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.'' 104 Entering the Zephus Capital 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 place. 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 encompassing the city he discerned two colossal beasts circling the skies. By colossal he meant their two bodies alone blanketed the city but oddly enough their bodies didn''t prohibit the sunlight from entering. It was a mystifying sight.'' 105 Independent Space, Touching Upon Sin 105 Independent Space, Touching Upon Sin ''----'' ''"This Natural Essence...it''s so pure! What the heck? Why haven''t we come here sooner?" Aaron exclaimed 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 you come across one " Kayn said as he shifted his gaze around in search of something.'' 106 Deaths Fleeting Embrace, Ira Converges 106 Death''s 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 to come 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.]'' 107 An Anomaly Awakens 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 succumbed 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 to come 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.]'' 108 Mutated Infernal Nucleus, Insufferable Backlash 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 place 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''t completely rectify this issue. This world lacks Demonic Anima! Imbecile!!]'' 109 Sacrificial Imprint, Forming the Stigmata 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 clarity. 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.'' 110 Summoning Circle Invocation, Imploring Voice 110 Summoning Circle Invocation, Imploring Voice ''----'' ''?System Alert! The rewards for the completion of your quest is currently being calculated. After the process is done you will be awarded. Furthermore additional rewards will be given due to your irregular way of overcoming 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 become a full-fledged Lesser Demon your worries should have lessened a great deal.]'' 111 An Omen and Blessing, Rare Demonic Species 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 other large turbulence there was a looming shade encompassing 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.'' 112 In Light of the Upcoming Absence 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 flashing 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 become a Lesser Demon you''re unfamiliar with what comes 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'' 113 Partially Understanding Demons 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.]'' 114 Assumptions Lead to Overwhelming Expectations (I) 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 place of Natural Essence.'' ''In its own right this type of energy was both volatile 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 in combat. 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.'' 115 Assumptions Lead to Overwhelming Expectations (II) 115 Assumptions Lead to Overwhelming Expectations (II) ''----'' ''As far as Kayn''s outlandish 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 explain remember I mentioned the Spirit Cultivators possessing the ability to control beast¡ªthat is their names Contracted Beast " Kayn stated.'' 116 Arrival at Pangea Island 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 glare. Now that the ship had ceased movement many of the components 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.'' 117 A New Stage, Initial Grand Scale 117 A New Stage, Initial Grand Scale ''----'' ''After Gabriel urged them all to depart the doors exiting the hull of the ship opened extending many large 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 place.'' ''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 clamor 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.'' 118 Sapphyr 118 Sapphyr ''----'' ''"Hm an Intermediate Cultivation Room? Are the effects that great?" Apollo muttered claiming 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 in comparison to the effects of these rooms. The formation coupled with the density of Natural Essence on this island transforms them into an insurmountable benefit " Kayn added while glancing 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 holy land 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.'' 119 Actions Done In the Shadows 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 place.'' ''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 uncontrollable. Naturally this was another reason the system had yet to reveal the prompt he sought.'' 120 Obtaining A Favor 120 Obtaining A Favor ''----'' ''Unfortunately this thought didn''t fit this script for long; the timer on the room blared 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.'' 121 Demonic Animas Innate Ability 121 Demonic Anima''s 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 claimed 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 other large occurrence would take place but it didn''t.'' 122 Seeking Comprehension From Ouroboros 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''ve come 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 related 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 classified as a Demi-human could his body perform this. Moreover this principle was something unheard of until him.'' 123 Grand Scale Disturbance 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 similar 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 similar to the Spiritual Essence? If so perhaps I''ll be able to achieve this level early but then again this is only relative. When in comparison to those others then I''m lacking. After all from Sapphyr''s words I''m willing to bet the youths of the higher families have already entered that stage.'''' 124 Hostile Environment 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.\xa0Of 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 accompanied 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?" Claire asked Aeon who was silently sizing Apollo. For a moment he remained silent trying to accurately gauge Apollo''s strength.'' 125 Malice of the Top Glory 125 Malice of the Top Glory ''----'' ''Amidst Apollo and Typhir''s blank expressions Xezym''s half-hidden appearance came into view. Furthermore rhythmic tapping of heels could be heard from down the corridor. The large 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 assailants 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.'' 126 Stumbling Upon An Incomplete Ability 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 plastered 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 flared firing a lengthy scolding at Apollo.'' ''At the mention of that name Apollo''s fingers tingled once again except it was more intense than the last time. "Meh they''re just the offsprings of the Great Families " Apollo shrugged treating this situation as an insignificant occurrence. As a result Sapphyr looked at him bewildered.'' 127 Seeking Guidance, Enlightenment 127 Seeking Guidance, Enlightenment ''----'' ''"Xezym if you''d like you''re more than welcome to accompany me into the room. In fact I think you should " Apollo nodded in accordance 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¡­ My lady are you sure about this? This youth is too excited to be surveilled by me. I think he has other plans. 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 upcoming trial understand?" Sappyhr said after a short deliberation.'' 128 A Grand Shock 128 A Grand Shock ''----'' ''23 hours later '' ''"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 flashed in his eyes but dissipated shortly after. Needless to say Xezym discerned this silently.'' ''"Nearly one day. There is still time for you to make last-minute touch-ups but there really isn''t much to accomplish in the approaching two hours. After all it appears you''ve made some type of breakthrough during this session correct?" Xezym glanced 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 speculated extricating his gaze from Apollo.'' 129 Enraged Lioness 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 occur. Before his very eyes both Apollo and Sapphyr''s lips locked.'' ''Similarly 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 hyperventilate 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!" Irauk laughed boisterously slapping 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 accidental her thoughts weren''t exactly rational.'' 130 Haughty Figures, Indifference Towards All 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 palace 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 claim a spot '' Apollo thought but didn''t dwell on the matter for longer than a moment.'' 131 Breakdown of Examination 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 glanced 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.'' 132 Uncertain Stipulations 132 Uncertain Stipulations ''----'' ''While undergoing their tests a majority of the youths present fell victim to the plague 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 Reclamation 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.'' 133 Feigned Gold Standard 133 Feigned Gold Standard ''----'' ''From the start of the test approximately 1 hour elapsed. 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.'' ''Similarly 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 clarity of mind.'' 134 Monstrous Duo, Reappearance 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 slashed 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 come up and test your comprehension. 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 place 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.'' 135 The Trials Begin! (I) 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 spontaneous comprehension. In other words if he left Apollo to comprehend the elements for longer there was a chance he could learn their even deeper forms. Of course to comprehend and actually utilize were two different concepts.'' ''To utilize you''d need to enact the comprehension on your body. This was the part that stumped many youths. If the body were incapable of moving accordingly then they''d have to wait until it reached the required level to utilize their comprehension.'' 136 The Trials Begin! (II) 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 platforms. With such a large remainder of contestants they''d have to implement a rather large 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 place. Unlike before certain members located above made their move. Moving at a speed that rivaled teleportation they arrived before the other youths.'' 137 Withstanding Spiritual Pressure 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 to come 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 glance this one would without a doubt knock some of the contestants off the platform.'' ''''BANG!'''' ''If the prior collisions were comparable to ramming into a stone wall then this one was glorified steel. Forget defending against it many of the participants were swept off the platform without a chance at resisting. As this happened there wasn''t the slightest change in Yvaine''s expression.'' 138 Inured to Death 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 relatively better states due to his earlier actions.'' 139 Mysterious History 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 platforms 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.'' 140 The Team Battles Arrive 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 exhilaration. They were enjoying the clashes that caused the ones surrounding them to become 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 exclaimed with an impassioned gaze her eyes blazed 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.'' 141 Entering the Labyrinth 141 Entering the Labyrinth ''----'' ''As the grand doors to the next trials opened a scene surprising to all took place. 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 the labyrinth''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 placed inside the labyrinth 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.'' 142 Deal with A Devil 142 Deal with A Devil ''----'' ''"Huh? Why is the stature of these beasts so large? 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%)'' 143 Advancing Forward, Perceiving Danger 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 Leone committed 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 the layout of the labyrinth 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 " Apollo commanded while firing an intimidating gaze.'' 144 Arising Interest 144 Arising Interest ''----'' ''In the stands above the trial platforms 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 similar 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 platform.'' ''Every inch of the platforms below came under the purview of their critique. Due to the way it was laid 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 accompanying team.'' 145 Ouroboros Influence 145 Ouroboros'' Influence ''----'' ''Upon hearing Apollo''s mental command Ouroboros who was sleeping under the collar 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 collar 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 incoming 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.'' 146 Atmosphere Laced With Oddities 146 Atmosphere Laced With Oddities ''----'' ''"U-uh¡­ Apollo what was that strike? Even from here it felt terrible " Nadida stammered looking at Apollo''s lax 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.'' 147 Forming A Plan 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!" Klaus 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 exclaimed. 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.'' 148 Offering A Deal 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 clapped his hand together. Not only did his aura flare but the look in his eyes changed. He now gazed upon the environment with apparent disgust.'' 149 An Addition 149 An Addition ''----'' ''"If I accept...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 " Elaia 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?" Elaia''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?'' 150 Plundering Points Amid The Labyrinths Restriction 150 Plundering Points Amid The Labyrinth''s 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 blanked. Right in front of them two teams surrounded by 3 large Dark Beast carcasses remained in combat. 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 place.'' ''"Precisely. To be honest this is the smartest choice. By reducing the competition they increase their chances in the long run " Apollo nodded finding these actions justified. Meanwhile the others were stupefied by his words.'' 151 Harbinger of Unsettling News 151 Harbinger of Unsettling News ''----'' ''"Typhir so it''s you " Apollo nodded standing at leisure. Although this was an odd response to a combative 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''s lax reaction.'' ''"Indeed it is I Typhir " he nodded. On his back the large 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''ve come 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 he\xa0randomly dropped nearby or was he actively seeking me out?'' Apollo mused gazing at Typhir with a thoughtful expression.'' ''"Talk " Apollo uttered.'' 152 Unforeseen Challenges 152 Unforeseen Challenges ''----'' ''Several moments had passed since leaving their initial spot and the trio had made ample progress.'' ''"Up ahead when we come 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''t completely instantaneous it required him to recall all the various paths. After all this labyrinth was exceedingly large.'' ''In comparison a human''s body wouldn''t even take up one-ten thousandth of the entirety of this layout. Nevertheless they still moved forward rapidly.'' ''Upon coming 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.'' 153 A Controlled Mind 153 A Controlled Mind ''----'' ''"Haiz I didn''t want to appear but I have accepted Kayn''s promise therefore I must abide by my words " Apollo uttered while glancing 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 her last straits.'' ''If he hadn''t intervened hat last attack Violeta launched 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 would come 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 Claire. She is no good '' Typhir surmised shaking his head.'' 154 The Terror Known As Apollo 154 The Terror Known As Apollo ''----'' ''After Typhir smirked he barely moved his shoulder but the compiled boosts to his strength caused it to enter a nonsensical realm. That small action caused Apollo to slam into the parallel labyrinth 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 second later he appeared before Apollo striking his greatsword 3 times. But while those strikes seemed to be plain 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 in combat 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'' 155 Death to Advance 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 places.'' ''"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.'' 156 Insignificant In The Eyes of Others 156 Insignificant In The Eyes of Others ''----'' ''Repeated clashes 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 incoming blow.'' ''Shockingly rather than a successful 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.'' 157 Wrath Sundering The Skies (I) 157 Wrath Sundering The Skies (I) ''----'' ''Several moments later '' ''"I thought our families were ruthless but this type of training...it''s ungodly " Clair 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 place to comment 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."'' 158 Wrath Sundering The Skies (II) 158 Wrath Sundering The Skies (II) ''----'' ''As soon as the foreboding feeling encompassing 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 towards committing a massacre.'' ''The people standing before him retained their lax 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 plan.'' 159 Wrath Sundering The Skies (III) 159 Wrath Sundering The Skies (III) ''----'' ''Outside the Dark Ruin Labyrinth '' ''"What the hell is that?" Sirius exclaimed with widened eyes. As he gazed down at the images one scene in particular 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 the labyrinth. Although it was taking some time his efforts in breaking through it were nearly complete. Unlike his usually lax demeanor something told him to act quickly.'' 160 Enigmatic Presence, A Calm Murderous Storm 160 Enigmatic Presence, A Calm Murderous Storm ''----'' ''"S-something is wrong I don''t understand why this feels like this. Also what is that black cocoon that boy has encased himself in " Claire 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-black abyss like crystal.'' ''"D-do...How is this affecting us?" Vellaria 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.'' 161 Tartarus Doors 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 extremely large quantities of different items to resolve the issue that follows right?" Ouroboros asked looking at Apollo.'' 162 Raining On A Parade 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 singular Grand Master level experts from penetrating 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 accessible.'' ''In other words the Supreme Families were not the people who set up the barrier in the first place. 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.'' 163 Identical Missing Pieces 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 glancing around Irauk conjured 11 wisps of golden flames and sent them into the bodies of everyone. This included the unaffiliated Xineen and Nadida. A gentle yet purposed flame 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."'' 164 Family Mysteries 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 to come 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.'' 165 Apparent Desires 165 Apparent Desires ''----'' ''Cynthia fell silent as she recounted the conversation between her and her late father. It was related 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 claimed 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.'' 166 Striking Another Deal 166 Striking Another Deal ''----'' ''Both Apollo and Odessa continued to stare at each other. Neither of them took a step back. The clash of two swelled egos took place. On one hand we had the ego birthed by their upbringing in an environment that lauded 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.'' 167 Prelude to the Academy Choosing Ceremony 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 balance 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.'' 168 The Chosen Academy (I) 168 The Chosen Academy (I) ''----'' ''"Is there something you want to say? I can feel you stealing glances over there " Apollo asked as he glanced 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 it come from your cultivation method? If it''s the latter 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.'' 169 The Chosen Academy (II) 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 already come 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.'' 170 Onward to Vermillion Night 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 of laughter. "Ahahaha it seems you''ve experienced the commemorative 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.'' 171 Scene Behind Sealed Doors 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 Island. Due to the advances in technology and innovative uses of both types of Essences special areas were made.'' ''This was why although Pangea Island 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 Island the small group behind Irauk chatted amongst themselves.'' ''"Apollo what type of seat did you get for the year? According 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.'' 172 Freshmen Orientation 172 Freshmen Orientation ''----'' ''The auditorium filled with her aura as she raised her hand. Accordingly the students before her fell into a kind of trance. While inside the trance their abilities were laid 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 penetrate 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.'' 173 A Diamond Pupils Ample Resources 173 A Diamond Pupil''s 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. Similarly 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 the last. 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."'' 174 Making A Decision 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.'' 175 Spiritual Lessons 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.'' 176 Pure Demonic Conversion 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 Glaive 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; commendable 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.'' 177 The Woes Of A Demon 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 elapsed 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.'' 178 Spiritual Connection of the Nihilistic Rings 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 similar to what he experienced inside the Lesser Cultivation Rooms it was also fundamentally different. Not only was it taking much longer to acclimate to this place but Apollo also wasn''t actually here with his physical body. This greatly contributed to his current afflictions.'' ''"W-what is this place¡­" Apollo muttered while looking in the distance. For miles to come 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 place was advanced along that spectrum.'' 179 The Lords Appearance 179 The Lords Appearance ''----'' ''As the large 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 placed 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 exclaimed. Without hesitation he dashed towards Apollo''s position.'' 180 Exhausted Link 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 were laid 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 to come 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''s last name?" Saehtyn pressed on.'' ''With a deep exhale Apollo spoke the demon tongue "T''hkrain."'' 181 Complete Reunion 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 implanted 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.'' 182 Inverse Absolute Engravement (I) 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 revelation 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 surpassed common sense.'' ''He wielded it as an extension of his body and as if he was breathing! He conjured countless ice blades and attacked Ragnvald. However it wasn''t controlled by his body but his mind! In other words Adeon could be seen as a prodigy.'' 183 Inverse Absolute Engravement (II) 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 the large 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. Nonetheless as Apollo examined the stigmata he learned more about it. The structure was a singular existence. In fact it was numerous odd demonic words weaved together but it was a language Apollo was unfamiliar with.'' 184 Spiritual Lessons (II) 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 overcome the noise.'' ''Furthermore as time went by the ringing seemed to grow more unbearable. While watching this Glaive 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 place."'' 185 Infant Heart of Wrath Matures 185 Infant Heart of Wrath Matures ''----'' ''After they were given the usual break Sapphyr once again activated the technique. This time was different compared 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 more complete 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.'' 186 Hellfire Strengthening 186 Hellfire Strengthening ''----'' ''Besides the germinating pain flowing through his body Apollo felt his actions were correct. According 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 afte 187 Orthodox Path to the Nihilistic Rings 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 singular notion he needed to evolve beyond a Lesser Demon.'' ''There was only so much he could accomplish 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 place 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."'' 188 Instinctive Guide (I) 188 Instinctive Guide (I) ''----'' ''After settling his condition in Ashiraem Apollo felt much more comfortable than on his last 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 entire combat ability. After all he would soon come 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.'' 189 Instinctive Guide (II) 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 similar that was a misconstrued notion. This was especially true for those of the Ifrit race. As mentioned by Azridan before while they lacked 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.'' 190 Instinctive Guide (III) 190 Instinctive Guide (III) ''----'' ''?System Alert! The Iraym Bloodline of Hellfire Domination is now awakening.?'' ''An accumulation 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. In comparison 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 in comparison 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 placing protective restraints on them.'' 191 Abnormal Demon Knight 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 and committing 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 so large.'' ''Nevertheless since the combat was over both Ouroboros and Apollo calmed down. Even after waiting for a decent period there were no signs of incoming enemies. Thus they took this opportunity to recuperate.'' 192 Infernal Pride of An Ancient Demon 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!"'' 193 Fuhrers Confrontation 193 Fuhrer''s Confrontation ''----'' ''Right before Fuhrer kicked off his front to accelerate 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.'' 194 Insurmountable Opponent 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 strike land on him until he was already mid-flight.'' ''Naturally this was attributed to Fuhrer''s skillful display 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!'' 195 Overbearing Guidance (I) 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 succeed 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 blade.'' ''Meanwhile Apollo took the time granted to him to stimulate 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¡­'''' 196 Overbearing Guidance (II) 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 the last strike could offer copious amounts of inspiration Apollo was conflicted.'' ''Although he didn''t know exactly what Fuhrer intended to do with his last strike he was sure it was something beyond his current knowledge. Yet be that as it may he still couldn''t overcome 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?"'' 197 Return To Astarat 197 Return To Astarat ''----'' ''"Your time left in this place is waning. Therefore allow me to show you a strike that will serve as the foundation of your comprehension " 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 overcome the other.'' 198 A Visit 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 place 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.'' 199 Convinced By A Paragon 199 Convinced By A Paragon ''----'' ''Shortly after the shockwave took place Elaia 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 irregular 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 '' Elaia thought as he glanced 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?"'' 200 Prime Contender 200 Prime Contender ''----'' ''Compared to the other areas Apollo had visited they paled in comparison to the Administration Hall. Firstly it wasn''t located on the Outer Barrack grounds it laid on unaffiliated campus grounds. To reach it both Odessa and Apollo had to circumvent the other barracks to arrive at this place.'' ''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 placed 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 to complete.'' 201 The Chosen Opponents 201 The Chosen Opponents ''----'' ''An instructor appeared. While similar to Glaive 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 newcomer 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 was complemented 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.'' 202 Going Against A Seat (I) 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 particular youth bore a striking resemblance 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 ''According 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.'' 203 Going Against A Seat (II) 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 his combat 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 overwhelming combat ability and wits to face all obstacles that may present themselves.'' 204 An Unnamed Strike 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 place.'' ''Compared to\xa0a 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 similarity to the time back in the Dark Ruin Labyrinth. Albeit the other incomplete part Apollo was able to summon his Sin Armament except this one was more direct than the rest.'' 205 Results of Battle 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 206 Introduction to Spirits (I) 206 Introduction to Spirits (I) ''----'' ''Just as Odessa told him before as Apollo became immersed in cultivation the bells symbolizing the beginning of class tolled. Moreover they were much louder than they typically were due to the special state of the class taking place 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 run later than 10 minutes. However this was a class everyone was interested in 207 Concealed Discovery 207 Concealed Discovery ''----'' ''Upon hearing this question both Glaive 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 " Glaive after giving the matter some thought. As he recalled Apollo didn''t come from a higher family so there was no way he was privy to certain matters that shouldn''t be addressed. Nevertheless 208 Visiting the Resource Hall 208 Visiting the Resource Hall ''----'' ''Not long after Glaive instructed everyone to cultivate class ended. However Geneva told a select few students to stay behind. When it was only her Glaive 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 when compared to regular students " Geneva announced while glancing around at the other students.'' 209 Exclusive Offer 209 Exclusive Offer ''----'' ''While waiting for Robyn to return Apollo leaned against the display 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 alarms 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 210 Road to Intent, A Beckon For All 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 211 The Umbra Night Institute 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 classes. According to her outside of the previous class you have been missing from the area. Thus 212 A Glimpse Into the Darkness 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 classes 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.'' 213 Gravity of Tethered Shadows 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 214 Glimpse Into Shadows Truth 214 Glimpse Into Shadow''s 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 place.'' ''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 215 The Second Step 215 The Second Step ''----'' ''While engulfed in the sea of darkness Apollo''s eyes gleamed with a dark yet radiant light. Even when compared 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 black.'' 216 Visit from A Child of War 216 Visit from A Child of War ''----'' ''For a while Apollo looked at Lucas silently. In addition to possessing plans 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 in comparison to Odessa and Alistair.'' ''Thus Apollo made his decision 217 Deterioration of Astarats Condition 217 Deterioration of Astarat''s Condition ''----'' ''As the two followed Geneva Apollo glanced 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 manipulated 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 revelation 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 could combat the instructors at the very least he wouldn''t consider breaking the rules. On the other hand 218 Curious Evaluation 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 flames directly.'' ''Afterward she sucked her finger with a pleased smile. It seemed as if she was tasting the most heavenly delicacy she had ever come 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 flames. While doing so she closed her eyes. When the process was done 219 Institutes First Attendance 219 Institute''s 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 place that she talked about earlier. Besides that she also gave a small compensation.'' ''"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 220 Expansion and Union 220 Expansion and Union ''----'' ''While the other groups entered the Umbra Night Institute Sapphyr stood outside for a little longer. Before entering inside she contemplated 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 unliket he rest the experienced she possessed with guiding others was lacking. 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 Spiriutal Cultivator stand out from the rest.'' ''"You mean