The Demon Monarch System

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A dark orb filled with a dense metallic liquid congregated inside its colossal maw. The tyranny of this attack's presence alone resulted in minute spatial warps. This was due to the sheer heat exuded from it. Unfortunately, Cynthia couldn't dodge. For if she did, it would travel towards the one located directly behind her—Apollo!

'Faster, faster, faster…. This is too slow!' Apollo thought as the experience meter, while filling rapidly, it wasn't far enough.

Furthermore, from what he sensed, the orb was a fusion of Dark, Metal, and Fire Essence, and a steep amount at that. Approximately 1% of the beast's complete reserves.

While it sounded small on the grand scale of things, this wasn't a simple Spirit Beast. Just 1% of its reserves rivaled the  desperate attacks of the Rank 2 beasts Apollo witnessed before.

After all, the presence of its bloodline turned this wyvern into an insurmountable opponent. Not just its reserves, but even its attack power was improved beyond a typical Rank 3 Spirit Beast.

"ROOARRGHH!!!"

The Wyvern first launched the large despair-inducing sphere then flapped its wings causing black winds to slice the orb into smaller portions. Now minced, a hail of these explosive orbs traveled towards all that threatened to pry away its treasures.

Eventually, the elders looked towards the position of the kids and roared.

"NOOOOOO!!!"

There was absolutely no way for them to defend against such an attack. There were too many smaller orbs to deal with and the speed they traveled at was astonishing!

Nevertheless, Danyul  spun his staff attempting to deflect as many orbs as possible, but each hit caused him to take one step back, suffering losses with each action made.

On the other hand, Cynthia executed a flurry of strikes, mixing her wind and water essence as one to unleash a torrent of strikes at the epitome of her abilities.

Still, it was impossible for them to resolve every last incoming projectile. Therefore, most of the orb landed near Aaron and others, destroying the ground and anything it came in contact with.

The best Lily and the others could do was take cover amidst the rain of terrifying death orbs while channeling everything they had into bolstering their Essence Aegis technique.

Meanwhile, Apollo was in a much different situation. Since this was a technique unavailable to him, Apollo was forced to bear the shockwave with his body while continuing to absorb the experience at a monstrous rate.

Fortunately, he had Cynthia protecting him from any direct hits from the endless maelstrom of orbs.

However, unlike them, the Wyvern could sense something taking place and focused its attention on the incident.

'Almost…' Apollo's expression grew increasingly solemn with each passing moment. It was now a race between the rate his experience was filling and the rate at which the Demonic Earthflame Wyvern was capable of unleashing its onslaught.

〈System Alert: External Absorption has ramped up the absorption rate due to sustained usage of the ability. It will continue to increase with each passing tenth of a second, but so will the strain.〉

"A-arrrghhh…"

Eventually, Apollo started to roar in pain as the absorption rate increased one-fold, then two―all the way up until the point where Apollo was absorbing Experience at 10 times the prior rate.

Given that change, the rapid influx of both increased experiences and attributes caused Apollo immense discomfort followed by an indescribable sensation. However, because the system was too occupied with monitoring the absorption process, it didn't have time to list the reason behind this situation just yet.

All of a sudden, Apollo's expression changed as he felt an odd feeling intensifying in the pit of his stomach until he could no longer keep it at bay.

"Kheuk…" Apollo vomited blackened blood as the cluster of experience undulated and inundated his body all at once. As a result, a string of notifications appeared before Apollo's view.

〈System: Congratulations, you have reached Level 95.〉

〈System: 0.7 Attributes and 0.8 Stat Points rewarded.〉

〈System Alert: A large influx of attributes has caused substantial effects.〉

〈System Alert: Congratulations, as your Vitality and Agility have both surpassed 100, you have unlocked the corresponding abilities within the Juvenile Demon Body.〉

〈System Alert: Health and Stamina replenished entirely as an effect of breaching 100 Vitality.〉

「Juvenile Demon Body - Trait

Rank: *Unique

Information: A derivative demon body unique only to youth. You have received a strengthened physique after completing over 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»

«Demonic Gait» - Increases the effects of your agility by 25%, moving you closer to the domain of the Lesser Demons.

«Sacrificial Vigor» - Increases the effects of your vitality, bridging the gap in your previously lacking resilience. Allows you to convert health into strength when it is needed. 」

'Interesting,' Apollo thought as he dumped the remaining stat points into the sole stat which had yet to near 100 points. Until now, Intelligence wasn't his main focus since it barely produced any use as of right now.

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(Demon Monarch System) Lv.2

Name: Apollo Kaiser

Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [84.56%]

Title: Azridan's Successor

Age: 14

Level: 95

Experience: 100/600,000

Health: 5,175/5,175

Stamina: 5,175/5,175

Strength: 115.0

Agility: 101.0

Intelligence: 87.5

Vitality: 103.5

[«Traits»]-

«External Absorption»

«Juvenile Demon Body»

«Tenacious Shadows»

[«Techniques»]-

«Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos»

«Nine Infernal Annihilations»

Stat Points: 0

...

Fwooosh!

Apollo didn't waste any time after completing the absorption. Turning into a dark blur, with the help of his new trait, even Apollo was surprised by what he was accomplishing!

Within a fleeting moment, he appeared before an incoming orb before tilting his wrist. The orb slid past the Dark Cutter before veering towards the wall. Apollo then looked at the last 3 orbs to fall and moved rapidly, operating the Partial Shade Silhouette at maximum potential.

Zinnggg! Zinggg! Ding!

Although part of Apollo's arm went numb, the increase of over 10 Strength allowed him to deal with the weight of the attack. Sadly, the Dark Cutter wasn't as well off, now bearing apparent cracks after going against the wyvern's strong attacks.

As a result, Apollo eyed Danyul's weapon before virtually appearing next to him in the next instant. Due to him stopping, the others were able to digest his movements in utter shock.

Just how much had he grown from absorbing essence cores?!

"H-how are you so fast?" Danyul's exclaimed with a baffled expression. He failed to understand how Apollo was capable of this. In response, he lifted his hand to Danyul, stopping his words in their tracks.

"No time. Hand me your staff. I need it. My weapon is no more."

Before Danyul could answer, Apollo placed his hand on the staff and ripped it from Danyul's grasp before vanishing yet again.

Once he held the staff, Apollo tightened his grip and shook it, causing the frozen blade to shatter. Meanwhile, the wyvern roared madly once it sensed that its attack failed to kill even a single person.

"Apollo… w-what… is this all from absorbing the cores? This is much more shocking than I would have guessed," Cynthia muttered in awe while glancing at Apollo's imposing back.

Conversely, he locked eyes with the Wyvern. A deathly silence of palpable tension took place before Apollo broke it. "Just me and you, aunty. The others will only become a nuisance in this fight."

Immediately, everyone's expression turned comical as they heard Apollo's bizarre comment.