The Demon Monarch System

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[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—it 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.