Death Heir’s Devouring System

"Is the Reaver monster casting a mental gaze over our heads?" One of the Champions muttered, seeing the countless bodies before Azrael.

"I don't think so. I am quite resistant to these kinds of things, so I would know," Another replied.

At that moment, a bald man ran towards them, a crimson trail left behind in his wake, as he used the little strength in his limbs to get away from the pursuing monsters.

This was Chunk. Just when he stumbled and fell to the ground, he saw his life flash before his eyes.

Only a second later, to witness the torn torso of the monster that had been in the middle of pursuing him.

"Are you part of Alexander's squad?" the Champion who saved him—a woman with purple hair and tired eyes—asked him.

The man raised his eyes, making eye contact with her.

"Yes." He spoke with a shaky breath. "Please save Azrael and Alexander—they are still in the middle of the melee!"

The woman's eyes widened.

"This is Azrael? He is taller than the last time I saw him," she muttered before her figure blurred into the air.

Azrael continued panting, barely clinging to his consciousness. If he were to faint now, he would be dead.

"Did I kill them all?"

He asked himself, raising his gaze, but it was no use. His vision was blurred and painted crimson; he was barely able to perceive the world a few meters ahead.

All he was able to witness were the endless corpses left in his wake.

Just when he felt like he was about to fall, a voice brought him back.

"Azrael?"

His eyes enlarged as he recognized the voice. How couldn't he?

This was without a doubt Iris—the woman who had refined his scythe skills to the next level when he had still been Marked.

"Instructor Iris? What are you doing here?"

She scoffed slightly as she approached.

"We are the reinforcements."

Before he could respond, she called forth a potion and poured its contents over his head.

In a flash, his wounds closed, and even his vision cleared. Feeling his vitality restored, he used [Blood Manipulation] to get rid of the blood that had clung to his body.

To his surprise, he had to shift his glance downwards to make eye contact with her. In the few months they hadn't seen each other, he had grown quite a bit taller.

Iris moved her gaze briefly, surveying the numerous corpses under their feet. Then her lips curved into a smile.

"To think you are able to do this just after becoming Proven… You are quite the monster, alright. I can see why Seyra is eager to invest in you."

Even with his injuries restored, he was still far from his peak condition. He wasn't sure how he should respond to the compliment.

And Iris didn't seem to give him time to think as she took a step forward.

"Watch, boy. Witness the might of the Champions. The next step in your pursuit of power."

Before Azrael could utter another word, she vanished from his view.

A heartbeat later, he spun, gazing over the Reaver monster that Champion Alexander had been keeping busy until now.

What Azrael saw stunned him. While his squad leader was resting to the side, getting help from a skilled healer, four Champions were battling the Reaver monster, unfazed.

For the first time, he could witness a battle against such formidable forces without constantly looking over his shoulder.

What he witnessed shocked him.

It wasn't just the immense strength of these people. They moved flawlessly, like an oiled machine created for a singular purpose. Slaughtering monsters.

Iris, being at the front, moved her giant scythe, carving through the enemy defense like butter. Every single move, every swing, every step was perfect. No matter how much Azrael tried, he wasn't able to perceive a weakness in her battle technique.

Another Champion, a step back, assaulted the monster with endless ranged attacks. Each projectile that hit echoed like a missile, causing smoke to rise from the monster's body.

The third had positioned himself behind the monster, striking when it least expected it.

And the fourth—a woman with blonde hair and emerald eyes—moved like the wind, dancing between the enemy attacks, effortlessly keeping the monster's attention on herself and healing her allies when needed.

Harbinger, the Reaver monster that was of the same power parametrics as the King monster Azrael had witnessed in his first Rift, was completely and utterly powerless.

The smug expression it had before was nowhere to be seen, with numerous injuries gashing blood from its gigantic body. No matter how enraged it got, it was never able to land a single serious hit on the Champions.

Finally, once the last of its strength drained, it let out a mighty roar before collapsing to its knees and then hitting the ground lifelessly.

'Champion Alexander was about as strong as these Champions… but to think that the number advantage and perfect teamwork would make such a difference.'

In a way, it was almost amusing. This wasn't the first time he had witnessed such a scene. In his first Rift, he had seen a knight patrol slay a monster of Reaver Danger Level as well. Yet, the fact that he wasn't in a rush to escape this time allowed him to observe and understand the battle far more deeply.

It would be beneficial to make alliances with individuals wielding similar power to himself… Or use several Remembrances for the job—that too could work.

"Bringing the Death Knight under my control will be my highest priority from now on," Azrael decided.

"Are you alright?" Once the monster fell, the blonde woman who had held the monster's attention appeared by his side.

Before he could even answer, she reached upwards and put her soft palm on his exposed chest, healing him further.

This, unlike the healing items he had used since, felt more significant. Even his exhaustion seemed to ease slightly, his mind clearing.

"Thanks for the help," he nodded in appreciation.

"You're welcome." A beaming smile appeared on her face as she pointed behind him.

"But to be honest, you are the one we have to thank."

She was pointing towards the still-standing structures and the Forsaken that had felt brave enough to watch from a distance.

There were more than the eyes could count, and all of them were locked onto him—not on the fallen Reaver monster or the breathtakingly beautiful Champions, but on his figure alone. Some had even taken a recording device, aiming to record the entire exchange, memorizing Azrael's actions for eternity.

"Had it not been for you keeping the monster waves at bay single-handedly, many would have died."

It certainly felt strange; so many eyes were on him, and even the Champion, who could easily rival a model, gazed at him with admiration. Yet Azrael didn't feel anything.

'I didn't do it to save them. It was to save myself. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take the credit, though.'

Just as he thought, Alexander, still exhausted but healed, approached his side.

"I personally thank you for your help."

A warm smile spread across the man's lips.

"When we return, expect a large reward for your efforts."

Now those were words that Azrael could get excited about!