Ascension King

Chapter 24: All Out

Velma stood transfixed, her heart swelling with pride as she beheld her fiancé commanding the stage with an undeniable presence. He was truly remarkable. Yet, lurking in the shadows was someone who's heart was also captivated—Tracey. She observed the demeanor of this young man, feeling an inexplicable attraction, unaware that he was the very man her own sister was engaged to.

Damon shone brightly on the stage, the gaze of the Geniuses fixed upon him with a mix of disdain and fascination. Behind him stood the formidable Tang Chen, a figure of arrogance and respect. They all recognized Tang Chen's notorious defiance of authority, yet here he was, following Damon with an obedience that hinted at a deeper story—one that they could scarcely imagine. "What have you done to my nephew, you scoundrel?!" roared the Fourth Supreme Elder, his voice dripping with fury. But even in his rage, he dared not make a move in the presence of the illustrious Heavenly Demon, Blaire.

Damon, however, paid no heed to the elder's outburst. With a confident flourish, he declared, "Let us not waste any more time. All qualifiers, come at me!" His arrogance filled the air, igniting a spark of anticipation in the crowd.

The Heavenly Demon Blaire, momentarily taken aback, felt a thrill of curiosity about the unfolding drama and decided to let it play out. The First Elder, hovering gracefully above the ground, addressed the assembly with a commanding presence. "Such arrogance! Not even an ounce of respect for the Heavenly Demon. But that is not my concern today. The next test will be an all-out battle. Only the strongest shall prevail. We will be observing, and your performances will determine your rankings."

As the First Elder concluded his speech and returned to his seat, a wave of astonishment swept through the audience. They recognized that this battle would etch itself into the annals of history. A throng of spectators, both inner and true disciples, gathered to witness the impending clash, their blood boiling with excitement as they yearned to be the ones standing on that stage.

Bai Chi, the formidable rank one, seethed with anger at the demeanor of the man standing on the stage. It felt as though his pride had been publicly trampled. "Ha! Bai Chi, you've finally met someone more arrogant than yourself!" Veronica, the second-ranked, laughed heartily, her gaze shifting to Damon as she sensuously licked her lips. Bai Chi's fury flared; he recognized the toxic nature of this woman's mind and chose to dismiss her with silence.

In stark contrast, a quiet figure sat in the shadows, his expression betraying a mix of horror and disbelief. Blake Astron, ranked third, recalled the unspeakable cruelty he had witnessed at the hands of Damon when he was merely ten years old. The memory of that fateful day, when Damon had mercilessly cut the hands and feets of a young man during their bloodline awakening, sent Blake spiraling into a mental breakdown. "How can this devil be here? The very devil that even the most powerful experts could not contain!" His thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, panic tightening its grip around his heart.

Suddenly, he rose with urgency, his voice trembling as he declared, "Please, I wish to forfeit this match! I have no desire to witness the cruelty that is about to unfold!" The desperation in Blake's tone was palpable, eclipsing any concern for his dignity. He understood that even a living dog might have the chance to stand tall another day.

The audience turned their attention towards him, their expressions shifting to one of shock and disbelief. How could someone so resolutely arrogant be reduced to such fear? They knew Blake as a formidable contender, a man who had once fought for the top position and had earned the respect of the second supreme elder. The elder himself was taken aback, eager to intervene for his disciple, but he quickly recognized the terror etched on Blake's face.

Recalling the ominous words of the heavenly demon—who had warned them that if Damon desired to escape, not even the strongest could restrain him—he sank back into his seat, a grim realization dawning upon him. He knew Blake well enough to comprehend that his student would never retreat lightly, yet the fear he now witnessed was beyond anything he had anticipated. His attention shifted entirely to the devil on the stage.

Damon stood patiently, his demeanor calm as he held Avalonia in his hand. Suddenly, five figures descended onto the stage, exuding an aura of strength and determination. Bai Chi, the first-ranked; Veronica, the second; Ella, ranked fifth; Marvin Lewis, ranked seventh; Elric, fourth; and Yu Wei, thirteenth among the elite disciples, now gathered, ready to face whatever awaited them.

Without a moment's pause, Damon addressed the assembly, his voice resonating with a chilling confidence. "Welcome, people of the Heavenly Demon Sect. I advise you not to hold back, for I shall not restrain myself in any manner. I have come here to instill fear and carve out a name for myself."

Bai Chen, seething with indignation, erupted, "How dare you!" He surged forward, wielding his great sword with fervor. "Sword of Death, heed my call! Grant me your blessing, and together we shall vanquish this foe!" As his words echoed, armor materialized around him, transforming him into a formidable warrior.

Yet, Damon remained unfazed, gripping Avalonia with both hands. He unleashed a devastating strike upon the stage, causing it to fracture under the force. The spectators recoiled in horror, Bai Chen included, who barely managed to evade the onslaught, landing awkwardly on his rear, a wave of dread washing over him in the wake of such overwhelming power.

"I advise you all to come at me," Damon taunted, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Show me why you are considered geniuses."

With renewed determination, they sprang from their positions, weapons drawn and powers unleashed. Damon's laughter echoed maniacally as he activated "Crazed Step," vanishing from sight and reappearing behind Veronica. In a swift motion, he unleashed a "Void Punch Series," but Veronica, no fool, retaliated with a blast of fire, engulfing Damon.

In the chaos, Bai Chen followed suit, swinging his great sword down with all his might, sending Damon flying as a cloud of dust billowed into the air. They all held their breath, expecting victory, but as the dust settled, they were struck with disbelief; Damon was no longer in sight. Instead, he stood at Elric's back, and before anyone could react, he severed Elric's hand with a swift, brutal strike.

"Ahhh!" Elric's scream pierced the air, a raw expression of agony as he clutched his wounded arm. Damon, holding the severed hand aloft, laughed mockingly. "Such a fool—how does one lose an arm so easily in battle?"

Fear rippled through the crowd, and Veronica murmured, "What a madman." Bai Chen, now steeling himself, recognized the gravity of their situation. His arrogance had led him to this precipice, and he understood that survival depended on collaboration.

"Veronica, listen closely," he urged, his gaze fixed on Damon, unwavering. "We must work together. Whatever differences we have can be settled later. The man before us is a devil incarnate."

Even the spectators, once confident, now trembled at the sight of Damon, who stood there, a harbinger of chaos, clutching the remnant of his opponent as if it were a trophy of his unyielding prowess.