The Demon Monarch System

----

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.

Not to mention, too much of Apollo's aura lingered around. His repeated use of the Partial Shade Silhouette left traces of him everywhere. Hence, the Dark Shadow Does released their wrath upon the first humans in their sight—the trio of Krone, Slaid, and Vren.

"Fuck! We dun' fell victim to his wicked scheme! This child is ruthless. We must kill'em; murder that kid," bellowed Vren as he became manic smashing his broadsword in a frenzied manner. The situation no longer warranted the conservation with the addition of Apollo.

Meanwhile, Krone frowned as he scrutinized the descent of Apollo amongst the trees. Using their branches as covers, he evaded the sights of the spirit beasts for the moment. At the same time, a wicked smile appeared on his lips as he twirled the Vantablack Knife between his fingers.

"What do you intend to do!?" Krone slashed his saber creating crimson whirlwinds attempting to slice Apollo into mincemeat. Regrettably, by the time they reached Apollo, he was in a different position in the air. Surprisingly, he was able to use the shadow silhouette as a means to perform minute aerial movements.

[Oh? Lad, your proficiency in this skill is rising. I didn't expect you to execute minute void maneuvers. Interesting, you intrigue me. Just what will you be capable of at the use of the third step?]

'The third step? I'm curious as to what it is exactly.' Apollo dodged another burst of crimson energy. Looking down on Krone from above, Apollo smirked, "Why, I intend to kill you of course. Did you think I was oblivious to your negative intention? Do you take me as some type of helpless child? Tch.."

"Dammit!" yelled Krone, as a crimson glint filled his eyes with his shoulder-length hair fluttering in the wind, "If we are to die, you'll be accompanying us. Killl!"

A thick coat of crimson energy engulfed Krone's sabers as his physique and vitality began to visibly weaken. In exchange, his aura bolstered to a degree unnatural to the Zul Warrior Realm. In these dire straits, he was utilizing a forbidden technique.

"What?! Boss… dun use shit like that. You know forbidden techniques rob the lifeforce," shrieked Vren as hints of worry entered his eyes. A forbidden technique was not something to use lightly. Depending on the level of it, the most diresome of drawbacks could be death.

"In this situation, we are left with no other choice! Look at the ocean of beasts! How do you suppose we survive this? So be it, if we are to die… we will. However, I will not go down without taking that damnable youth with us, Vampiric Technique: Sacrificial Murder!"

'Ziiiiiiiiiiiing!'

The aura coated the saber became sonorous as a savage feeling pervaded the atmosphere. A torrent of murderous intent flooded Krone's mind as he dashed into the heart of the beast horde.

Chuckling, Apollo's eyes gleamed with battle intent. "I can see it! You're desperate straits. You're exhausted… Killll!" bellowed Apollo as each of his steps left a harrowing footprint in the reinforced bark.

"Fuck it all! No more holding back," bellowed Vren as rock spurs formed from within and pierced his skin around his joints, "Transformation: Earthen Thorns."

Clicking his tongue, Slaid threw caution to the wind as well, activating a technique that didn't distinguish between friend or foe, "Serrated Winds: Tempestuous Ruins." Violent winds carrying a silver glint circulated around him as minute cuts opened on his skin.

Landing on the ground, Apollo's stamina plummeted drastically. In turn, a dreadful aura burst from his weapon but didn't run rampant. Instead, a playful smirk appeared on Apollo's face. A black shadow, that's all that was seen of his as he zipped through the minute opening between the spirit beasts.

"Fast!" uttered Slaid with widened eyes. Even he wasn't capable of this speed, it was also as if Apollo was utilizing elements beyond his own, 'We have to kill this youth. Even if our cultivations take a hit, it's better to escape alive.'

"Dieee!!" A crimson haze fired from Krone's sabers aiming at the maneuvering Apollo. The unlucky Dark Shadow Does grazed by this haze—even in the slightest—were reduced to dry carcasses. In the next moment, Vren and Slaid unleashed their attacks as well. Aimed at one point, three attacks billowed at Apollo.

Instead of fear, Apollo chuckled, "Just kidding." His body phased out of this spot! He had tricked them! Their reserves were used to make suicidal attacks and yet they were played by the youth.

"What?! This damn child!!" roared Vren. However, behind them, a crouched nebulous Apollo came into appearance amid a skidding halt. The Vantablack Knife was engulfed in an even more terrifying aura. The backs of the defenseless three were exposed.

"Unbeknownst to you, you walked into the grasp of a demon with malicious intent. Now, die in my embrace! First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave" bellowed Apollo in an unhurried manner which only accentuated their dread.

A massacring wave continued to gain momentum as it billowed forward. It contained a faint heat that warped the immediate space while also exuding a torrential feeling of death.

"Noooo!" roared Krone as he turned and executed two abrupt slashes which didn't amount to much. Noticing this, in the minute window he changed his actions. He poured the last bits of his modified Natural Essence into his saber and launched it towards Apollo.

[Dodge that. NOW!]

"I…-"

'Skrrrrrrrrrreee!' 'Pucht!'

The saber grazed against the wave causing a sonorous ring disorienting everyone. In the next moment, the same arm he nearly lost before was pierced through. Only, this time even his bone was pierced through. Gritting his teeth, Apollo held on trying his best not to succumb to the madness welling up inside him.

[Again? This is happening too often. Why is this so? Apollo, control it! Do not enter that state this time.]

"I'm….trying.." uttered Apollo through clenched teeth. But a crimson shade crept into his eyes as he glanced at the bisected bodies of the trio as well as the swarm of beasts behind them. Unbeknownst to him, he used over 1,500 stamina to empower that strike. Hence, its size was something that appalled nearly everyone.

Inching closer, he noticed signs of life in the trio. After all, the vitality of Zul Warriors was incomparable to Mortal Realm cultivators. Not to mention, the properties of the technique Apollo executed seared their wounds shut. At the same time, repeated messages from this kills of the Spirit Beast sounded.

"You...you're the cause of my arm, so you die first," uttered Apollo as bent down stabbing the knife into the left eye of Krone before giving it an unhurried twist. Painful screams sounded from Krone's throat, however, Apollo clenched it shut and stared him in his single good eye.

"Do you understand what your actions get you? Death! A slow one," Apollo then dealt with the second eye before digging his fingers into the sockets. Enacting the twisted thoughts flooding his mind from seemingly nowhere. Soon enough, Krone's body remained unmoving—dead. In that period, Vren, the one who bore the brunt of the attack, died. However, Apollo's true target remained alive.

[Lad, sometimes you surprise me. Why are you able to enter this state and why do you exude such demonic traits?]

"You. You deserve the most painful death of them all. You don't know me yet you mention my parents who I was unfortunate not to know," approaching step by step Apollo bent down before Slaid whose eyes filled with unconcealed terror.

"S-stop...you're too cruel. Just kill m-"

'Crcck!'

Stepping on his jaw, Apollo shattered it dealing with his ability to formulate words. At the same time, a system notification sounded capturing his attention extricating his cold gaze from Slaid.

〈System Alert! Due to your actions, you have...〉