The Demon Monarch System

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Unlike the rest of the Essence Cores Apollo had come in contact with, this Spirit Heart was exceptionally large, therefore requiring a unique method to absorb it. This method involved a focused utilization of his Absorption trait.

Apollo's trait targeted the Spirit Heart alone rather than focusing on the ambient Essence in the air. But, this process was dreadfully slow due to how condensed the outer shell was. It took some time for Apollo's Absorption trait to penetrate the durable coating and access the fruitful essence within.

Nevertheless, the parameters of the benefits were highly worth it in Apollo's eyes. Just the fact that it would increase his attributes by 29 points was shocking. However, Apollo had yet to confirm whether the 29 points were individually or collectively applied to his stats.

If it were the latter, it would make his evolution as well as the beginning of his stigmata training much more straightforward. Even if it was the former, it only meant that Apollo would have to rely upon the rewards of completing his evolution to support his stigmata.

After all, his earlier incomplete transformation had turned his body into something completely different. Alas, Apollo didn't wish to dwell on this curiosity or get his hopes up since the outcome could be underwhelming.

Thus, Apollo directed his full attention to absorbing the core, which continued to dull at an accelerated pace.

Once his experience bar reached fifty percent complete, he became acclimated to the cycle of absorbing the energy resulting in both a hastened and autonomous absorption of Essence. After cracking the outer shell, Apollo didn't need to place as much focus on absorbing its contents. Additionally, his body began autonomous absorption of the ambient Natural Essence.

Suddenly, Apollo's eyelids trembled for a moment and then opened. The Spirit Heart hadn't been wholly absorbed, but there was an interruption—Kayn had appeared before him, purposely flaring his aura to awaken Apollo.

"What do you want?" Apollo asked in a cold tone while tilting his head upward. Needless to say, he didn't appreciate being interrupted, much less when he was coming in contact with a crucial barrier.

"We'll be gathering and leaving shortly after. You'll have about a day to prepare yourself."

"Already? Is there not six months before the academy trials begin? Why are we leaving so soon?" Apollo tilted his head in confusion. How long would the journey be for them to have to leave so soon? While he understood the world was vast, such a long time should be substantial enough to scour the entire world.

"6 months? How long have you been in this state? Only three months remain until the start of the trials. As for the reason we're leaving so soon, that's simple; the journey itself will take two and a half months. This includes some of my plans, but mostly due to the fact the trials don't take place in this domain. Instead, it takes place on common ground."

'It has been three months? That's odd… It felt as if it was a couple of days. Have I become so oblivious to time? I'm not sure how to feel about that. While entering a state detached from the world allows me to absorb this energy unabated, I could see some drawbacks with this.'

"The trial will take place in the center of the four continents, at the area where all of them join. In our current position, we exist on the farthest west side, which is why we must depart early," Kayn responded. At the same time, he crossed his arms behind his back and continued to observe Apollo.

While he could ascertain he had yet to enter the Zul Warrior Realm, Kayn couldn't determine whether or not he was close. "How far are you from awakening your dantian?"

Apollo remained quiet for a moment. While doing so, he checked the current contents of his experience bar.

«Experience: 1,743,560/2,000,000»

'Hmm, three months have passed, but there is still a small gap in the experience. Why does it seem like the absorption rate doesn't add up? It's as if a part of the experience is being directed elsewhere.'

Meanwhile, Kayn took the silence as Apollo estimating his current progress, so he awaited the answer. Soon enough, their gazes met, and Apollo gave him an answer. "I should be fairly close. If I wasn't interrupted before, it would have taken no more than a few hours at most."

"Hmm, I see. Very well, pardon my intrusion. Although, you could just continue the process once we arrive at the first checkpoint," Kayn said before leaving the courtyard at a leisure pace.

'Meh, since Kayn disrupted my momentum, let's take the opportunity to finish what needs to be done.' Apollo retrieved numerous Demonic Essence Pellets from his spatial couch, amounting to approximately twenty-five of them.

Surely, with the remaining Demonic Essence Pellets it was time to bridge the small gap and complete one of his objectives—entering the realm of the Lessers, in other words, becoming a Lesser Demon. He consumed the pellets after another as if he was inhaling them.

Now that his meter had breached the 90th percentile, its increase was akin to a snail's pace with each pellet consumed. In fact, as he watched the meter grow, Apollo feared he didn't possess enough Demonic Essence Pellets to finalize the evolution. It was a matter put off long enough; therefore, he hoped this was not the case.

«Racial Evolution Meter: 94.85%»

«Racial Evolution Meter: 95.35%»

«Racial Evolution Meter: 98.17%»

As the remainder of the pellets thinned, the increase slowed to a negligible rate. In light of this, Apollo threw caution to the wind, shoveling them into his mouth en masse. At this point, a single pellet was only capable of offering a less than a .25% increase; it was an infuriating experience.

«Racial Evolution Meter: 99.02%»

"I'll have to place my hopes in you, don't fail me!" Apollo closed his eyes, stowing the last of his faith into the remaining set of Demonic Essence Pellets in his grasp—the last of his repertoire.

Apollo threw his head back and swallowed the pellets. The essence flowed through him in a rushing stream. Immediately after, a torrential destructive aura billowed forth from every orifice in his body. The rhythmic thumping of his heart thrummed with vigor.

At the same time, at the sacrifice of every pellet in his possession, he had accomplished it—the notification he was awaiting appeared, appeasing his taut nerves. However, a string of messages appeared alongside it, raising vital questions.

Ding!

〈System Alert: Verifying the accomplishment of all prerequisites.〉

〈System Alert: Demonic Meter: COMPLETE! Demonic Conduct Stage: SUFFICIENT! Attributes: PASSED!〉

〈System Alert: All conditions have been met. The first evolution is now taking place.〉

'Conditions? I was never told about this? Does that mean if I didn't perform those prior actions, I would have never been able to evolve?' The notifications prompted Apollo to dissect the information given. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it to be the case. If not, why would the system mention it to him?

[That's partly correct. After all, you're no ordinary demon, nor are you in the environment of one. Therefore, certain unorthodox steps are required to ensure that you'll survive in a setting as miserable as the Nihilistic Rings.]

[Truthfully, you should have gleaned this information from the fact that the Infernal Ira Stigmata requires a certain amount of Vitality. If you were to change into a Lesser Demon before strengthening yourself to your current state… there would be zero chance of survival.]

[Now, enjoy the process. I'll be here to wake you up when it's done. Heh heh heh.]

"Why the ominous chuckle? I don't like the sound of i- Eurghhhh…." Apollo's eyes rolled back in pain as he fell to his knees. It felt as if every bone in his body was being crushed followed by the boiling of his flesh. At the same time, he could feel extreme discomfort deep in his body.

There were undoubtedly large changes taking place.