The Demon Monarch System

----

Apollo exhaled with a euphoric expression as the sensation of boundless carnage spread through his body. Compared to his other usages of this technique, Apollo sacrificed a truly shocking amount of Stamina to produce this carnage.

It was so potent that the staff braced against his arm emitted a faint tremble from the incursion of the irregular energy. A moment later, the momentum surged, which caused snaking crimson wisps of energy to circulate around the weapon.

Suddenly, his expression was replaced by a grim appearance. His eyes shot open and Apollo dashed towards the ape. The immense pressure of his stomp caused the ground to shatter, taking Cynthia, Danyul, and Ashur by shock.

Based on what they saw, the aura Apollo emitted was even more dangerous than some Zul Knights. The feeling of his appearance painted him as nothing more than a murderous beast who sought destruction!

Not to mention, the technique he used far outclassed the aura of the techniques available to the family youths. Much less one who wasn't allowed to enter the build that contained these arts.

Hence, his actions rose many questions in the mind of these three, especially Danyul and Ashur, who were partly horrified by what they witnessed.

'Did he happen to chance upon a fortuitous encounter in this forest? I don't recall this a technique like this in our collection,' Danyul thought as he watched Apollo close the distance between him and the ape at an unimaginable speed.

Initially, since this beast was Rank 2, Danyul didn't believe Apollo was his match. But now, his opinion was slowly changing as it appeared withheld some of his ability. Not only did this scare Danyul, but he thought of something else.

'Could he… have recovered a talent on par or even stronger than his father? If he is truly a Zul Knight, then to reach that state before 15 is unprecedented! It's most likely on par with those ruling family talents,' Danyul thought to himself.

"Damn it! Just where did this child come across a terrifying technique like that? It's not something he should have," Ashur scowled with reddened eyes while repeatedly glancing between Apollo and Axel.

Admittedly, he felt Axel deserved such an overpowered technique instead of Apollo. If that was the case, then Axel's worth would increase to new heights. Precisely because he was one of the youths with a favorable chance to partake in the upcoming competition.

"I'm not sure. Maybe it's an inheritance left behind by his parents. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter much," Cynthia replied. However, Ashur on the other hand, just narrowed his eyes.

Meanwhile, although Apollo was brimming with a ton of strength, his facial features contorted in pain. While he spent over two years honing this technique, reducing the amount of stamina needed to use it, his current actions were outside of his usual behavior.

The veins in his left arm swelled and writhed under his skin as they contained the pure carnage within Apollo's body. However, this was also the longest he had even contained the savagery of this skin.

'Did I perhaps utilize too much? It feels like my arm is being torn apart,' Apollo internalized, glancing at his trembling arm. Fortunately, most of the pain from this action was reduced by his Resistance trait.

[Well, you did instill over two-thirds of your stamina into this strike; you've never done that after raising your level. Naturally, you should have expected small side effects, albeit not to the extent of being debilitating.]

"True," Apollo said in response as he arrived before the ape, whose eyes wished to rip apart many times over. Still, Apollo remained unperturbed by the look given to him.

In fact, right before he confronted the Spirit Beast, Apollo's appearance became savage. If compared to the expression of the ape, even the ape felt a sense of dread during the final moments leading up to Apollo's strike.

A deathly silence occurred as Apollo muttered something to himself with a murderous glint in his eyes, "First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave."

Fluidly, Apollo swung the staff upward in a diagonal path, causing a terrible shockwave to burst from his weapon followed by a wave the color of dried blood with bright crimson arcs of energy around it.

Boom!

The ape sensed the danger the wave carried, but in its current situation, it was too close to the attack to erect any proper defense. Therefore, it settled for the only thing it could do. Cross its arms and use its body augmented by Natural Essence to defend.

Sadly, the technique Apollo employed was ridiculous, to say the least! The Natural Essence covering its arms was akin to fragile glass, shattering as soon as the wave came into contact.

An enraged roar echoed from the ape's throat as it tried its best to resolve the terrifying blow, but naturally, that didn't happen because this was a power beyond this world.

Pucht! Pucht! Thud!

While the instant kill Apollo desired didn't take place, the arms of the beast were rendered useless, falling to the ground with two loud thumps!

'As expected of a Rank 2 beast. Despite investing so much into that strike, I didn't manage to kill it in one hit. Truly superior in both offense and defense,' Apollo thought while taking a deep gasp.

The aftereffects of suddenly consuming two-thirds of stamina assaulted him in a torrent, though it wasn't as bad as he expected, since the pendant released a continuous stream of vitality to heal him.

Nevertheless, his momentary exhaustion was more than worth it once he saw just how much damage he inflicted.

「Monster Name: Infernal Earth Ape

Cultivation: Middle Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

Health: 1,728/7,800 」

〈System Alert: Critical Strike dealt. The effectiveness of the attack has risen by 50%.〉

〈System: 6,072 Damage dealt!〉

'Oh? Not just vital areas, but overbearing damage permits some otherwise critical damage as well.'

〈System Alert: An extreme portion of your stamina has been exhausted. [Stamina: 1,445/4,500].〉

'There's still a considerable amount left,' Apollo thought with a faint nod before narrowing his eyes.

Though the ape's arms were severed, it was by no means useless, nor did it await its demise. On the contrary, the ape released an enraged retaliation spurred on by its unwillingness to perish.

Aaron watched as the ape unleashed an astonishing fire blast and rushed forward, intending to help, but Apollo merely shook his head. "Stay."

Afterward, Apollo walked directly into the flames with a faint smirk. While doing so, he did something that caused a shocking reaction.

'Use the remaining points on Strength,' Apollo ordered the system. As a result, his actions precipitated the first shocking change in his Juvenile Demon Body.

〈System Alert: Congratulations, your Strength Attribute has surpassed the requirement. [Requirement: 100].〉

〈System Alert: First ability of your Juvenile Demon Body unlocked!〉

〈System Alert: The Fiendish Force now flows through you.〉

Immediately, Apollo's attention returned to the information on his Juvenile Demon Body.

「Juvenile Demon Body - Trait

Rank: *Unique

Information: A derivative demon body unique only to youth. You have received a strengthened physique after completing more than two-thirds of the demonic change.

«Incomplete Demonizing» - The basic technique of a demon can be utilized. The effects of all attributes shall be increased to a unique threshold. (Stronger than a human, but weaker than a demon.)

«Resistance» - Immunity to lower toxins and your perception of pain has decreased.

«Fiendish Force» - Increases the effects of your strength by 25%, moving you closer to the domain of the Lesser Demons.

«Reach 100 Intelligence»

«Reach 100 Agility»

«Reach 100 Vitality»  」

'A 25% increase,' Apollo thought before appearing out of the stream of flames with a delighted expression. Without a care for the aftereffects of a second usage of the Demonic Massacre Wave, Apollo used the remainder of his stamina to unleash another.

Unable to defend against this next one after losing its arms, the Ape could only accept the inevitable. The Demonic Massacre Wave tore its body to shreds in mere seconds!