The Demon Monarch System

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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," Vren yelled angrily 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 Dark Cutter 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!" Krone scowled, 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 life force," Vren shrieked as hints of worry entered his eyes. A forbidden technique was not something to use lightly. Depending on the level of it, the direst drawback 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.

Apollo's eyes gleamed with battle intent as he released a chuckle. "Playing with this type of savage aura before me? You must be desperate! Killll!" Apollo bellowed as each of his steps left a harrowing footprint in the reinforced bark.

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

Slaid clicked his tongue and 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.

Regardless, Apollo welcomed their desperate straits. In return his stamina plummeted drastically, moving at an almost alarming rate. 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!" Slaid marveled 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!!" Vren roared. However, Apollo appeared behind them while coming to a crouched, skidding halt. The Dark Cutter was engulfed in a frightening that far outclassed the aura of Krone's strike.

Plus, 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" Apollo uttered in a slow, unhurried manner, which only accentuated their dread.

A black and red wave dripping with the nefarious intent of committing a genocide continued to gain momentum as it hurtled towards the three. It contained an unusual heat that wasn't of this world, but more than strong enough to warp the immediate space.

"Noooo!" Krone roared as he turned and executed two abrupt slashes which didn't amount to much. As a result, Krone changed his actions last minute. He poured the last bits of his modified Natural Essence into his saber and threw 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. However, Apollo only gritted his teeth, experiencing the effects of Resistance.

Still,  Apollo had to try his best not to succumb to the madness welling up inside him.

[Again? This is happening too often. Do not enter that state by any means right now!]

"I'm….trying.." Apollo responded 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.

Although faint, 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.

Simultaneously, the wave was unable to be stopped by anyone present, so repeated messages of his kills occurred.

"You...you're the cause of my arm, so you die first," Apollo said slowly before he bent down and stabbed 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 at him in his single good eye.

"Do you understand what your actions get you? Death! A slow one, at that" Apollo then dealt with the second eye before digging his fingers into the sockets. Enacting the twisted thoughts flooding his mind from seemingly nowhere, Apollo soon peeling the skin off his face, showing only the gruesome and bloody flesh.

Bang! Crrrck!

Afterward, he smashed his face in and ignored the message that followed. In that period, Vren—the one who bore the brunt of the attack—died. However, Apollo didn't mind as his true target remained alive.

[Well done, lad. What else do you have in store? Surprise me!]

"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."

Suddenly, Slaid felt overcome by an unspeakable fear. "S-stop...you're too cruel. Just kill m-"

'Crcck!'

Apollo stepped on his jaw, shattering it to dust, which dealt with his ability to formulate words. At the same time, Apollo finally spared the system notification a look, extricating his cold gaze from Slaid.

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