Chapter 421 - 421: Demonic Ascension
Gone was the instability that had been holding Michael back.
In its place surged raw power, flowing through his veins… Power no Radiant Lord was ever meant to wield.
Windows flashed before his eyes.
[Demonic Form]
[Demonic Technique: Distorted Physique]
[Rank: Supreme]
[Description: Your body has attained demonic capabilities. The basic attributes, Strength, Agility, and Stamina, are elevated by a factor of 1,000%.]
Michael stood much taller than before, his towering frame appearing more like a fearsome monster than a human. Yet despite the abrupt change, at the core of his being, he felt right at home.
The enormous tentacle he lifted with a single arm no longer seemed to weigh like a mountain.
Curious, his bottomless eyes shifted, gazing at the most important information in his status.
• Strength: 140,000 (14,000)
• Agility: 135,000 (13,500)
• Stamina: 140,000 (14,000)
Unable to contain his excitement, his lips parted into a wide, terrifying smile, void of any warmth.
With these numbers, no Lord… Regardless of their stage, could ever hope to overwhelm him…
Perhaps even the weaker Kings and Queens would be unfit to challenge him in a physical confrontation.
And the best part… There was so much more to come.
[Demonic Technique: Egoistical Restoration]
[Rank: Supreme]
[Description: Your presence accelerates your own recovery tenfold while reducing the natural healing of all beings within a one-kilometer radius by half.]
The wounds that had threatened to end his life just moments ago had recovered.
His limbs were whole, his torso intact. Even the blood loss had been negated, every drop of his life force restored to full capacity in mere seconds.
Unless he was killed in a single strike, he was basically invincible.
[Demonic Technique: Tyrannical Will]
[Rank: Supreme]
[Description: No mind or soul attack shall prosper against you. Inferior beings naturally feel more inclined to serve your every command, with no regard for their self-preservation.]
Not just feeling it, but radiating it.
An authority that no sane being would dare to challenge or defy.
This was Michael.
[Demonic Technique: Corrupted Mind]
[Rank: Supreme]
[Description: When you have assumed Demonic Form, besides the seven sins, you are incapable of feeling any other emotions.]
But the most liberating thing of all was that there was no trace of hesitation or doubt lingering in his mind.
Everything had suddenly become simple… There was no need to overthink it anymore.
Almost like he had opened a third eye, granting him a new perception of life.
His soul made a demand?
Then Michael would grant it.
After all…
Who would dare defy him?
Casually, Michael threw the gigantic tentacle to the side, nonchalantly taking a stride forward.
The Monarch instantly became alarmed. Despite the alien's overwhelming size, it inexplicably began to feel small in the presence of the human before it.
The alien had been under a mind haze until recently… Was its life really going to end so prematurely?
No!
Rage overwhelmed its fear, and another tentacle lifted off the ground, surging toward Michael from the side.
Shifting his gaze, Michael observed the incoming strike.
It felt slow.
The shape of his right hand twisted, remodeling into a claw, similar to the ones Devil possessed.
"So I can do that too… interesting." He chuckled.
The tentacle was about to reach its target.
Amused, Michael swept his arm upward. Not bothering to pay attention to the Monarch's limb.
Whoosh!
Abruptly, the kilometer-long limb met an immovable object.
Michael's slash carved through the tentacle in one swift motion.
Severed but still carrying its inertia, the limb was flung across the air, painting the ground beneath it with dripping blood.
Coming to a stop, it crashed against one of the tower-like pillars, causing fractures to spread outward until the structure was reduced to rubble, collapsing to the ground and weakening the stability of the hollow valley.
The Monarch stared at its severed limb in shock.
If the being hadn't wasted so much time devouring the spiritual crystals on the ceiling and learned to speak the human tongue instead, it could have attempted to negotiate.
Yet sadly, now it had no choise but to fight against Michael, losing much in the process.
Not that Michael would have agreed to any demands an alien ever made, either way.
"Was this all you could manage?" Michael's voice echoed, his tone laced with mockery. "Pathetic!"
Cracking his neck, he bent his knees, his legs brimming with primal power.
"My turn."
BOOM!
The soil behind him shattered into deep crevices.
In desperation, the Hreh'tar repositioned its limbs into a defensive stance.
Ignoring its frantic movements, Michael struck.
Overwhelmed, the kilometer-long monster was swept off the ground and sent flying to the side.
Before it could collide with any hard surface, the Monarch spread its tentacles apart, creating a web-like pattern that lessened the carried energy.
The Monarch had survived the impact and remained surprisingly whole.
Slowly, a new instinct surfaced within the monster… opportunity.
Given Michael's strength, if it were to devour him, wouldn't that grant it everything it needed to evolve into a Titan?
A twisted grin spread across its hidden face, reveling in the convenient chance to reach even greater heights.
However, its good mood didn't last long. Michael moved faster than the alien could perceive, slipping directly beneath it.
"Just because I am in this form doesn't mean I can't use my regular techniques."
Powerful lightning coursed through his figure, illuminating his inhuman smile.
"Lightning Surge."
The effect of the Epic technique lasted but a single second…
More than enough.
The Monarch's vision blurred, along with its monstrous form, caught in Michael's momentum from his leap.
The two struck the ceiling of the hollow valley, shattering through it before continuing their propelled ascent toward the surface.
Reaching unreasonable speeds, they seemed to traverse hundreds of kilometers across hardened ground until finally they were greeted by light.
Or more accurately, lava… both emerging from the lava lake positioned near Venus' capital.
Still midair, the Monarch observed the surroundings in utter shock.
Until its senses locked onto Michael again.
His mouth was open wide, letting out a horrifying laugh, reveling in his own power.
At that moment, it wasn't clear who the monster was supposed to be…