The Demon Monarch System

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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—he accomplished his task. He uttered a phrase albeit weakly, "Second Annihilation: Nether Severance!"

Sensing the immense feeling of dread emanating from the attack, the Wyvern screeched launching its own quintuple attack. Its five elemental affinities melded as one giving birth to an anomaly of an attack. Rushing to Apollo's aid, Cynthia held him in her embrace and dashed to the side.

The area was undergoing a scene of utter destruction! The walls were pierced allowing copious streams of lava to burst in. Not to mention, the Nether Severance actually triumphed over the Wyvern's attack albeit not immediately so. It first severed the connection between the two and then severed the supply of Natural Essence.

In other words, it attacked the Wyvern's body claiming its last bit of life. Watching this, Cynthia was appalled. Her brain threatened to malfunction, 'My nephew is the cause of this attack? Is this real? Just what was that? However… I won't be speaking of this with anyone else. The terror of that attack… it doesn't feel human in nature.'

"A-Aunty… you must claim those Natural Blessings. And-..." Apollo's voice was akin to a whisper, however, he soon stopped talking.

'Thump!' 'Thump Thump!' 'Thump Thump Thump!'

His heartbeat turned erratic; his expression blanked as he shifted his gaze instinctively. The Resplendent Jadeite Pendant rose and pointed in the direction of the Wyvern's body as if it sought to become one. Taking a faltering step forward, Apollo inched closer to the Wyvern's dead body.

As he grew closer, the welling desire within him bolstered. Arriving next to him, offering support, Cynthia gazed into his vacant eyes and then the Wyvern's body, "Do you wish to go there?"

"Yes…" Apollo raised his finger pointing there, with a slight nod. Offering him stability, Cynthia brought him before the towering body of the Wyvern. To which he placed his hand on his body but shook his head, 'This isn't what's calling out to me.'

'Blood...blood…absorb blood…' a phantom-like voice whispered into Apollo's ear compelling him to bend and take notice of a small pool of violent blood. Despite being called small, it was sizable enough for him to submerge himself in.

'Splash!'

Jumping in the viscous liquid, Apollo felt at ease for a moment and then he felt as if something drew in all the essence of the blood towards him. Half was absorbed by him whereas the rest was absorbed by the pendant. Although his experience didn't increase… his racial meter, as well as stats, did! Furthermore, there was an indescribable familiarity coursing through him.

[Hoh? Is this the lauded resonance? Interesting. But for it to be so, you'd have to have something similar to this beast's composition. You lad, are extremely queer. What other surprises do you possess?]

?System Alert! Bodily damage is being healed. Continue to submerge yourself.?

?System Alert! Incomplete properties being obtained.?

?System Alert! The item ?Resplendent Jadeite Pendant? is absorbing material capable of facilitating its evolution.?

?System Alert! Your racial change percentage has increased as well. Other matters are still being digested.?

'Splash!'

As Apollo reappeared, the color of the once vibrant pool was now dull. It seemed lifeless whereas Apollo showcased a dissatisfied expression, his body seemed to crave more although it had yet to process everything. Approaching the Wyvern's body, he stabbed his arm into the reverse scale searching for something and soon finding it.

In his grasp rested a core larger than his hands. Furthermore, it was one he had yet to see! The information displayed before him altered his expression completely. However, it was soon neutralized when he discovered the requirements to ingest it.

Item Name: Spirit Heart Core

Element: Fire, Darkness, Wind, Metal, and Earth

Rank: IV

Purity: First Cycle

Benefits: Upon completely absorbing the core's essence, it increases Strength, Intelligence, Agility, Comprehension, Perception, and Vitality by at least 25.0 points. Additionally, this core will give birth to affinities if one doesn't possess them.

Contained Experience: 849,745/1,000,000.

Approximation: ~29.2 Points in all categories.

Requirement: 1550 Zuls.

'This… why is its purity only in the First Cycle?'

[That's an easy question. It was newly evolved. Hence, while it had achieved the 4th state of Essence Core, it was unable to begin the refinement process. Hence, it is only the First Cycle. However, you must take note that a First Cycle Spirit Heart is incomparable even to a Complete Cycle Superior Core.]

'That's true. This thing contained up to 1,000,000 Experience. Not to mention, that battle only exhausted approximately 15% of its reserve. That number is frightening to think about. If I hadn't taken the risk to unleash Nether Severance… it may have had time to overwhelm my attack,' Apollo thought as he fell into a ponderous state.

[Who knows. It would have needed to overpower the principle that empowers that technique—something like that takes undeniable strength to reverse the order. Of course, what you did was not even 1% of the true meaning of that strike. When you come to understand, you'll realize the strength you hold.]

"Ahem… Hun, is your state better? If so, I've collected the Natural Blessings. Let's evacuate this area. It seems it will soon lose all integrity," Cynthia waved her hand before Apollo's face awakening him from his stupor.

Taking another glance at the Wyvern's body, Apollo frowned, unable to waste the blessed chance before him, "Are you able to stow this body?"

"Ah, you want it? If so then…" Cynthia removed another spatial pouch from her waist but this embroidery was different. It also gave off a feeling of expertise as if it was crafted from a skilled sage, "This is your father's old pouch. I've never used it but since you want this beast's body I believe the situation fits."

In an instant, the body was sucked inside and she handed it to Apollo who held it in a daze. His aunt seemed to retain most of his father's belongings, he wondered just how well their relationship was, "Do you miss him?"

"Who? Your father? Everyday…" a sorrowful and downcast aura appeared in Cynthia's demeanor that change quickly after, "However, he's left a fine specimen behind. I see him in you so I find myself happy at this moment, come."

Holding his hand, Cynthia evacuated the crumbling area. Large stones fell from the ceiling. In fact, one right on top of them.

'BOOOOM!'

Turning around and waving his arm without much preparation Apollo was surprised by the effect. One punch shattered the falling boulder! One must know, this was a special area fortified by Natural Essence, the hardness of the rocks need not be mentioned!

'Has my body strengthened from the blood? Then why hasn't any change in my stats taken place yet….that's weird. I'm curious as to what it will be like when fully adjusted.'

Soon enough, they exited the area and came in contact with the others. They sat with worried expressions. The large fluctuations and explosive noises had traveled out there as well. When Apollo and Cynthia appeared safe and sound, only then could they breathe a sigh of relief.

"Instead of recovering, this is what you do? It seems you lack faith in us," chided Cynthia. However, her expression betrayed her words; she was elated to find everyone in one piece.

"What the hell was those explosions?!" The question lurking in everyone's curious minds had been asked.