Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

In an instant, the icy crescent dissolved into nothingness.

Ethan's pupils contracted at that sight.

His attack had been devoured.

A heartbeat later, the other skulls swerved mid-flight and adjusted their trajectories with disturbing intelligence.

Their eerie wails intensified and filled the sky with a chorus of spectral torment as they closed in.

Ethan's instincts screamed at him. He twisted in midair and pushed his speed to the limit.

He narrowly avoided one of the flaming skulls as it zipped past his shoulder.

But the residual force burned a hole through his sleeve and its edges curled away as if devoured by invisible teeth.

This is bad, he thought as his mind continuously raced.

I can't keep dodging forever. I need a plan.

Then, as if fate itself had smiled upon him, a golden chart unfurled in his mind space as it glowed with ethereal silver symbols.

The voice of the long-forgotten Auralis Prime, the spirit of the Eterna Nexus, echoed in his consciousness.

[Detected an Extra-Terrestrial Void Nihility Demon.

The entity before you is but a fragment of its consciousness, having pierced through this Small World's boundary.

While its true form is a Grade Six being, its current manifestation is only equal to a peak Grade Three entity, albeit with some unique abilities like its Netherflame of Eternal Woe which is the most dangerous among them.]

Ethan's eyes widened as the information flooded his mind. A Grade Six being?

The sheer scale of the threat was staggering. He hadn't thought that this evil entity was this strong, even stronger than his Master Nyx.

But he also heaved a sigh of relief as it was currently only equal to a peak Grade Three entity took some of his worries,

But Auralis Prime wasn't done.

[You would have been defenseless against those flames if not for the Astral Purge Essence stored in the washbasin-shaped soul crystal within your soul.

Successor, remember this.

The Astral Realm is both the nourishment and the absolute bane of these creatures, just as it was for the demon face the Eterna Nexus destroyed eight years ago.

Use it wisely, but only when the demon is off guard. A second attempt will fail if it becomes aware of this treasure.

Also, a Sky realm Blood Slave is spying on this battle at this very moment. Judging by its soul waves, the Eterna Nexus can confirm that it is definitely not an enemy.]

[Finally, a warning. The Eterna Nexus will enter a deep slumber.

To awaken even five to ten percent of its core energy, you must nourish it with significant amount of your soul power.

One last piece of advice, feel the Netherflame with your bare hands.

Recall the faint sensation you experienced earlier—the awakening of your Devil Bloodline. Use it.]

Ethan's mind reeled from the influx of information but he quickly categorized his priorities.

First, he had a method to end this entity.

The purple Astral Purge Essence within his soul was not just some strange liquid housing a lingering curse.

But it was a weapon and a final answer to the existence of this sinister and evil Void Nihility Demon.

Second, he needed to grasp the Netherflame with his bare hands.

What kind of insane idea was that?

Did Auralis Prime expect him to willingly touch a fire that could erase his very being?

Yet… I can remember that feeling I felt earlier just moments ago.

That dreamy and almost intoxicating sensation when I had absorbed the Dark Soul Energy from the undead commander?

Ethan knew that it had been fleeting, but unmistakable.

The third piece of information was the most unexpected.

A Blood Slave was watching this battle from the shadows.

And one at the peak Rank Four existence—Sky Realm. According to Auralis Prime's analysis, this being was not his enemy.

Ethan frowned as numerous thoughts raced in his head while he dodged the crimson skulls.

Who could that be?

Then, his thoughts clicked.

The old carriage driver?

The little duchess had sent them alone on this perilous journey, but had she really left them defenseless?

Normally, people traveled in entire retinues, with warriors, mages, and healers all grouped together for protection when they traveled between the different regions of a continent in this world.

Yet, she had sent the three of them alone in this long and perilous journey.

Was this Blood Slave her hidden safeguard?

Ethan filed the thought away for later. Right now, he had a battle to win.

With newfound resolve, he executed a sharp turn in midair and did the unthinkable as he stopped dodging.

His dark magic surged through his body and pooled in his left hand.

He concentrated and wrapped his arm in his own dark energy like a glove as he suppressed his natural instincts that screamed at him to move away.

The skulls with the gray Netherflame of Eternal Woe burning within their hollow eye sockets streaked toward him.

He clenched his jaw and focused on the silver spots in his mind space—the sacred, untainted energy that had always been present but one that he could feel now.

Then, he reached out toward the skull and caught it with one hand.

His left hand met the flames head-on.

Agony.

Pure, searing agony flooded his veins.

His nerves screamed and his muscles convulsed, and for a brief moment, his mind teetered on the brink of collapse.

Yet, beneath that pain, something else stirred.

A deep pulse emanated from his chest. A sensation unlike anything before.

His dormant Devil Emperor Bloodline roared to life.

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A small silver vortex formed over his palm and spiraled outward in an intricate pattern.

It absorbed the Dark soul energy of the skull as it drank in the corruption like a ravenous beast.

At the same time, a silvery sacred, and dreamy fire erupted from his fingertips and clashed against the cursed gray flame.

The pain vanished in an instant. Instead, an insatiable hunger consumed him.

The crimson skull flickered as its wretched flames dimmed in confusion.