Death Heir’s Devouring System

'Realistically speaking, what are the chances that I managed to beat Champion in a fair battle?'

Azrael thought, recalling the few times he had seen them display their power on full stop.

A subtle smile spread across his lips a moment later.

"Yeah, if I play fair, there is no chance to slow them down even for a single minute."

Using the VR gear, he opened a popup informing him how many more Chosen were in the game.

The Crimson Accord had 38. The Iron Howl had 9, and the Ashen Vow a measly four.

Since the few members of the Iron Howl weren't at their base, he assumed that they had gone after the Crimson Accord in an attempt to get their flag back only to fail miserably.

A second later their number lowered even more, going from 9 to 8.

"By the time any Chosen appeared, the Iron Howl would have lost most of their players."

Coming up with a plan, he flicked his finger, calling forth Frostflare Flint.

"When in doubt, let it burn." He grinned menacingly.

*****

[Go and have your teeth broken again!]

[If you really comfort him again, I will donate a generous sum!]

"What the hell am I doing?" ArcLancer muttered as he sprinted towards the Iron Howl base.

Facing several money issues, he was in desperate need of cash, and from the way things were going, he wouldn't be able to keep the attention of his audience unless he went to fight again with the featureless veil.

That was why he had found himself running with most of the Crimson Accord towards the Iron Howl's base in search of the man. From early expeditions it became known that the Ashen Vow flag wasn't on the podium it was supposed to be on. They must have used some kind of trick to hide it.

Nevertheless, that meant to win they would have to steal Iron Howl's flag once more to secure their victory.

Taking a deep breath, ArcLancer observed the people that were running next to him.

'Some of them are Champions, thank goodness. As long as I stick to them, I should be fine.'

Just as he thought that, a message echoed in the heads of the Chosen still in the game.

[The Iron Howl's flag has been claimed!]

"Again?!" One of the Champions next to ArcLancer cried out loud.

"The Ashen Vow is now in the lead again; if this goes on, they will win! There is no way that we, the Crimson Accord, can allow that to happen! What will the boss do to us if we do?!"

With the possibility of loss, the Champions sped up, leaving the Proven behind.

"Don't leave me alone!" ArcLancer shouted, accelerating in an attempt to catch them.

While this was happening, his views were steadily growing, putting him on the trending page once again.

[Wait, the Ashen Vow are in the lead for the second time!]

[Maybe they will be able to win!]

[Dream on! There is no way the Crimson Accord will ever lose to such weaklings!]

[Don't you remember that the scary Proven is on their team? He might be able to make the impossible possible!]

ArcLancer was about to attempt to enrage them further, but the scent of fire reached his nostrils, and unnatural coldness seeped past his armor, making his blood turn cold.

'What is this?'

A second later his eyes enlarged, witnessing a blue forest fire that was in the middle of destroying the Iron Howl's base.

'Did someone cause this intentionally?' ArcLancer gulped audibly, guessing who it would be.

[Go in!]

[Don't get cold feet now!]

His instinct for self-preservation screamed that going in was a terrible idea, but the promise of boosting his views and filling his wallet was more than enough to push him forward.

Rather than the burning sensation he expected, he found himself shivering like he was in the middle of a raging blizzard.

Going past a burning tree, ArcLancer's breath caught witnessing the scene beyond.

The Iron Howl's flag waved quietly in the air, a menacing figure with a bloody veil standing just before it.

This was Azrael; he was in a bad situation, having been surrounded in a half-circular formation by three Champions.

A Proven faced people far beyond his Level, yet his featureless veil as well as his calm demeanor betrayed no emotion.

"Why are they hesitating? Kill the bastard!" ArcLancer shouted, gaze shifting to the Champions.

Their gazes weren't on Azrael's figure. Instead, it was on his scythe.

Despite the game being only an hour long, they had found the bodies of several Champions on the battlefield. They had taken great caution to study the way they had died in order to be ready for anything that their enemy could throw at them.

And one of the slain Champions… had fallen by a scythe's blade.

A very rare weapon type that they hadn't witnessed anyone being able to use up until now.

"This Proven has killed a Champion?"

"He must have ambushed her!"

"Are you sure? What if he has a very powerful weapon and uses it on us? I can't afford the 24-hour countdown after death to respawn!"

Something never seen before was occurring: a group of Champions were hesitating to face Azrael, who was a measly Proven, out of fear for their lives.

This certainly wasn't something that Azrael had expected, but he was going to take advantage of the opportunity nonetheless.

The instant the smoke of the fire that he had caused obscured his figure, he moved without hesitation.

He spun, took firm hold of the flag, and dashed out of the area as fast as possible.

[The Iron Howl's flag has been stolen!]

Cursing inwardly that they had allowed their hesitation to hinder their movement, the Champions launched at the place Azrael had been just a few seconds ago.

They had to take the flag at all costs in order to win!

A shockwave resounded in the area the moment their attacks collided with the spot, carving a large crater in the rock.

Yet to their horror, Azrael was nowhere to be found, nor was the flag he had just stolen.

Making use of [Ghostwalk] in combination with the raging flames all around him made it possible to escape the senses of those that were beyond him.

Azrael had disappeared among the raging inferno like a ghost.

And ArcLancer, unable to keep his eyes on the figure anymore, shivered in horror. A very bad feeling gnawed at him.