The Demon Monarch System

Astarat's War: Humans v. Terrors (I)

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Odessa and Nadida quickly appeared within the World Reclamation Task Force's headquarters after crushing the Teleportation Stone. Once they appeared, they rushed to the depths of the main building and burst through the door with frantic expressions.

Even though they hadn't verified Aaron's claims, it was enough to trigger their apprehension, given the fact that he was one of the most abnormal situations to grace their generation. It was a known fact that Aaron roamed the Endless Death Domain on a whim, and he would puncture deeper than his previous journey every time he did so.

Initially, the World Reclamation Task Force higher-ups found this peculiar because Aaron showed almost no signs of increasing power. Thus, they couldn't understand how his body ignored the zones atmosphere.

Nevertheless, having witnessed one of his journeys firsthand, both Nadida and Odessa understood that his situation was just too strange to put into words. Not to mention, there was an odd air surrounding Aaron, which was strong enough to influence these two.

Meanwhile, those within the conference room turned towards Nadida and Odessa after the minor disturbance they made. Upon first thought, the people inside intended to scold the two women, but Odessa spoke first before the room's occupants could voice their displeasure.

"We need to mobilize everyone, NOW!" Odessa screeched hysterically. There was only a two-second delay between crushing the Teleportation Stone and the effects of it activating, but in that small window, Odessa laid eyes upon something terrifying.

In addition to the enormous figure suspended in the sky, countless more miniature figures floated while attaching to tendrils extending from the gigantic figure in the sky. If it were in the past when Odessa was weaker, she wouldn't have any clue as to what she witnessed. But, after fighting Terrors for so long, she understood very well what that mass was.

"I believe the period of respite ends now! The entire Endless Death Domain is seething with Death Essence activity!" Odessa added.

Naturally, the individuals in the room didn't immediately believe her. After all, most of those present were strong enough to pierce near the center of that place. If the activity was truly as she declared, they should've sensed it by now. There was no way that someone with an inferior cultivation possessed senses surpassing their own.

However, Soren's eyebrow rose as he sniffed the air then stared at Odessa and Nadida with narrowing eyes. "You two… you've pierced the internal zone of the Endless Death Domain. Don't you know how catastrophic that could've been? That place is ruthless even to us!"

"That's the thing. We only took the chance because something inside the area changed, allowing us the opportunity to do so! This is my earnest discovery; the Terrors are ready to make a large move. I think their Disaster has finally amassed enough power," Odessa replied with a solemn expression.

Her tone was grim as she recounted the vast mass shrinking and eventually taking on a ballooned version of the Terror's figure. Though she had never seen Brukti, this was the only plausible explanation for the current situation.

"I see," Solomon answered in a deep voice while also opening his eyes to gaze around the room. He gave a faint nod while also standing from his seat. "Begin the preparations immediately. In the meantime, I'll take this opportunity to confirm Odessa's claims."

However, just as Solomon stood, Soren raised his hand and gestured for him to stop. "There is no need for you to do that. Everyone, take a look."

Silently, everyone within the room turned and looked through one of the spacious windows. Deep in the distance, a number of greenish-black lightning strikes surrounded by a frightening swirl of dense energies in the sky. As for the location, it was situated directly above the center of the Endless Death Domain and spreading quickly.

Even Odessa was shocked by this development. 'It's been no more than a few seconds, but the situation has already escalated to this level? At this point, there won't even be a need to alert everyone. They'll just have to look up, and that's it.'

"What kind of horrendous concentration is this?" Solomon muttered in exasperation. Just like what Nadida and Odessa experienced firsthand, following the initial presence of robust Death Essence, the density was rapidly thinning while leaving behind the same unsettling feeling.

"Gather everyone; NOW!" Soren commanded to all within the room before turning towards the east. As it was the area covered by his family, his first thought was to have everyone migrate to the center of the battlefield. After all, Soren had a feeling that all of the Terror's forces would be coming from a single front.

"It's really beginning," Nadida whispered with an exhausted visage. All the fighting for survival and maintaining a stoic attitude was taxing, both physically and mentally. Her one wish was for it all to end to give her the breather she needed.

Finally, everyone departed from the main headquarters, including Nadida and Odessa, since they needed to relay the order to their troops and have them prepare for imminent combat.

…

Meanwhile, the situation deep within the Endless Death Domain reached the height of its effects. The enormous figure eventually shrank to a Terror at least 5 meters tall. The entire inner zone shook from his absurd weight when he descended from the sky. Then again, this tremor was also caused by the sheer power emanating from their body in droves.

"Arise, my minions, for there is a great cause we must realize. This world will become ours rightfully and gain its name as the next birthplace of us Absorbeyns," Brukti announced. A slight stir occurred, steadily growing into a considerable reaction as countless unsightly beings roared to the sky.

Some of their appearances were akin to mud monsters emitting toxic fumes, while others possessed more complete bodies: either way, each type of being had an unmistakable role and reason for its creation.

'Some of you will cause destruction while some of you will bathe in it and perish as a vehicle for our great cause. For there are no successful conquests without sacrifices," Brukti said. Afterward, he raised his clenched to the sky, slowly opening it to reveal a marble-sized orb.

It was green and black, with the two colors improperly mixing. But more importantly, the marble felt alive because it pulsated in a rhythm reminiscent of a heartbeat. What's more, after each pulse, it drew in a considerable amount of Death Essence. The only indication of this happening was the minute growth it experienced.

Roarrrrrrrghhh!!!

Another wave of earth-shaking roars sounded within the Endless Death Domain, resulting in Brukti's gruesome grin.

"As we mark the demise of this race, we will also etch our uprising in stone. So, march my minions! Unleash all the terror sleeping within," Brukti bellowed, sending out a burst of Death Essence.

Acting in response, the tremendous concentration of Terrors began their march. Each step was taken in unison as if Brukti was the one orchestrating their movement. Furthermore, what started slow soon grew into a violent stampede of Terrors rushing towards the Catastrophe Line.

Meanwhile, Aaron hid in an inconspicuous area, covered by a large boulder as he gazed at Brukti leaping to the helm of the march. 'Although it may not be our target, it is still plenty powerful. Is this something that they can handle?'

Based on the Brukti's energy fluctuations alone, it was far stronger than a simple Heroic Spirit. Even the planet showed signs of succumbing to Brukti's influence, given that the protective principles were in an extremely fragile state. After experiencing Apollo's presence and clashes between the first ever Terror, the condition of Astarat's Source was not so great.

Only after the army of Terrors moved far away did Aaron encase himself in a shimmering brilliance as he took steady steps towards a construct resembling a corroded mausoleum. Pillars decayed by the surrounding energies littered his view, but Aaron paid them no mind. Ever since he obtained the power to neglect the energies present, this area was his goal.

'Let's learn of the secrets this planet holds. Why were you attracted here?' Aaron wondered. But, just before he entered, he froze and stared inside the abyssal entrance with a faint frown.

"I'm… scared?" Aaron muttered to himself. Despite wanting to take a step forward, something seemed to stop him from doing so. Being as he was the wielder of his emotions, Aaron could only perceive it as fear.

While Aaron dealt with this dilemma, Brukti watched as a large army of humans awaited his arrival at the Catastrophe Line. "Ahahahahaha! Bring it on!"

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