Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Asura's raven hair danced from the explosive red cloud consuming the area. The assassins rapidly wrapped around him, seeming to have found their target. He felt their aggression increase the moment he appeared.

'Figures... I just want to hunt some monsters.'

His crimson eyes locked on the assassins, realising his first guess was wrong. Most of them were only stage two, with only three reaching a level that might cause him a little danger.

Their powers ranged from a weak Stage Two to a strong Stage Three.

Asura recognised the men because of their elaborate outfits and the sun on their robes.

These guys appeared in his past life. Then, they slaughtered half the competition entrants. He felt a little frustrated remembering the past. They forced him to hide in the dirt, drinking muddy water because of these bastards.

'Well, that guy standing to my north might be a little difficult. The rest of them are simply garbage for me to devour.'

Not wasting time, Asura's body pushed off the ground with immense speed, twisting Lumeris Nova in an arc and dashing towards his target—the weak Stage Two cultists.

Three daggers, each with a strange light, danced towards him as the rest of the team, Asura, planned to slaughter and loot. Their bloodlust was like a child playing tricks. He smiled calmly as his tail flicked against the daggers, deflecting them. His claws stretched forward as his feet left indents in the earth, kicking the assassin in his throat.

"Ngaa.. ahh."

"What the fuc- Ahhhhhh...."

Two assassins felt an abrupt force attack their mana cores... a sharp claw sliced through one neck while a powerful foot crushed the other. Their heads suddenly rolled on the ground as Asura's mouth opened; with a loud cackle, he swallowed their mana cores in the red smoke hidden from the outside.

Three down.

⁜ Gained 1500 Essence from devouring the enemy!

⁜ Cultivation Progress Increased: +1%! (70%)

"Hmm... Stage Two only gives 500 each."

The stronger assassins burned their mana with a flash of beautiful aura.

A heavy force pressed down on Asura's body, his armour cracking slightly because of the leader's Stage Three bordering Stage Four density. However, it was inferior to Sigurd and Lucretia!

His pupils flashed, watching the dozen dagger strikes dance towards him from various positions.

'They fight like idiots... It's too basic.'

Suddenly, Asura twisted Lumeris Nova into a defensive stance. 'If you underestimate a student at a higher stage, even if they lack pure battle experience, the result would still lead towards one conclusion—death.'

Strange masks covered the eyes of the assassins, hiding their identity. Yet, Asura could feel their contemptible gaze treating him like garbage.

"Let's test my power."

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Soulfire Blade

The red and black flames burst out from the blade of his sword-lance, the intense heat causing the air to ripple. The assassins stepped back, realising it was a dangerous technique. However, Asura had no intention of letting them escape.

Instantly, their magic daggers swarmed him.

Yet, Asura stood still, watching their attacks easily dance towards him. A small smile spread across his face.

—Soulfire Blade! Explosion

He swung his lance casually, unleashing the skill.

In a split second, their blades melted and broke apart like paper. These assassins screamed in agony as the flames dealt damage to the casters and burnt their souls. It wasn't enough to kill them, but the moment the weaker assassins flinched, Asura's back exploded with beautiful and eerie wings; flapping with great power, he flung towards them, holding his sword-lance.

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Blood Reaper Claws

An intense force blasted from Asura's extended palm as invisible black energy pulsated like twisted claws; they spread from the ground, grabbing most of the assassins.

However, the leader easily slipped out, his body vanishing completely. The sharp thorns and edges of the claws began ripping apart the assassins. Each cut caused their bodies to burn as the Soulfire penetrated their wounds and slowly devoured their souls.

Their agonising screams echoed, but Asura remained silent, his body flying towards them, ready to kill them all.

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Blood Reaper Lance

The invisible claws matched the movements of Lumeris Nova in a deadly arc. Horrifyingly, the black claws gnawed, crushed, stabbed, and tore at the assassins, following Asura's movements. Asura smiled cruelly as the flames danced within his crimson eyes; his wings flapped behind him, making him seem like a fallen angel or devil.

He was learning how to control his skills and spells. Even the first two he learned could change according to his will... The claws finally became red and blue lances, hovering over the broken assassins before piercing their throats.

This time, Asura tried to devour them using his hand. Because if he had to shout or scream each time and swallow with his mouth, it would become troublesome to hide.

⁜ Gained 5500 Essence from devouring the enemy!

⁜ Cultivation Progress Increased: +6%! (76%)

'This feeling is amazing.'

Asura's eyes were glowing bright red, but Asura 2 and 3 warned him. He felt their aura, thanks to the two warning him, as immense power pushed down from above. The leader and two Stage Three assassins dropped, holding short swords aimed at Asura's back and vital organs.

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Blood Reaper Shield

A black shield created by the eerie energy formed around Asura as he turned around, his wings flapping behind him. The leader's sword shattered the shield, but Asura clenched his teeth, twisting his body and piercing his lance toward him using Lucretia's skills.

The huge red blade howled through the wind as it shot towards the leader's chest.

However, the leader reacted quickly, burning his mana and pulling a small dagger covered in dense magic. It repelled the lance, cracking the barrier.

Asura clicked his tongue as he pulled back Lumeris Nova, flicking his wings at the two others, trying to slash his sides with their deadly blades.

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Blood Reaper Claw

The invisible claws grabbed their legs, stopping their movement, giving Asura an opening to pull back, flying away with his wings, landing 30 yards away. Now, with an aura of magic surrounding his body, his left hand crackling with flames while his right arm jolted with dark lightning.

"You're quite skilled. For a filthy Silvarian brat." The leader said, his mouth showing a sarcastic smirk.

"..." Asura remained silent, his eyes locking on them.

The leader sighed. "I'll give you one last chance. Join us, boy. You have talent, so why waste your life here?"

"Join? Why should I join you?"

"Because we can make you stronger than you are now. We can help you reach the top. Isn't that what you want?"

'Top?' Asura laughed internally, his eyes flashing with irritation.

"It's about time I stop training, I guess..." Asura said with a flat voice, no sign of arrogance or self-confidence. It was like a monotone comment.

His beautiful wings flicked out before his body vanished from their sight.

They looked around, trying to find his figure, before a long, sharp tail penetrated the throat of the right male, tearing his heart out instantly. Asura's tail whipped the male, sending his corpse flying into the other Stage Three, the impact causing them both to crash into the ground.

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Blood Reaper Spear

Asura flew downwards, his wings flicking out, stabbing Lumeris Nova into the head of the Stage Three assassin. Blood splattered onto his handsome face as his eyes glowed with excitement.

⁜ Gained 20000 Essence from devouring the enemy!

⁜ Cultivation Progress Increased: +8%! (84%)

'Seems Stage Three humans give a lot more essence and progress...'

"Y...you are stage two. How can you break our mana barriers created with a Stage Three magic density!"

The leader showed emotions for the first time, but Asura knew this man was looking for a way to escape or kill him with a single blow. So instead of answering, he filtered through their pockets and collected even more red balls, now with over fifteen.

'With these, I can train Xavida outside, both combat and. Also, maybe it's time the prince waved goodbye.'

"You dare ignore a bishop of the falling sun!?"

Asura didn't turn to face the leader yet. Instead, he found his gains amusing. He felt the movements of the leader's magic and mana using his eyes of desolation, the golden orbs moving to follow the flow.

"What use is a falling sun anyway..." Asura said in a strange tone. His eyes became dull, and memories flooded all three of his parallel thoughts, dominating his mind.

Suddenly, his body vanished, teleporting behind the leader, his two clawed wings wrapping around the man's shoulders, the sharp blades digging into his flesh and pinning him down, then his tail slithered and smashed the leader's head before tightly wrapping around his neck, cracking the bones slowly with the intense pressure.

Asura's eyes seemed dull, a little insane, as a mana density far greater than usual crushed the leader. The mana density, far greater than his usual, squished the leader's organs until they popped first.

However, Asura didn't stop… his fists, one demonic, the other like white with various runes, smashed down, raining blows into the face and body of the assassin, denting the ground with their deep reverberating thuds.

Finally, Asura stopped after crushing his skull and smashing his ribs. He stared at the dead leader before shaking his head and laughing quietly.

'I lost control again. I need to keep my emotions under control.'

⟪Devil Arts⟫

—Soulfire Blade Devouring Flame

Lumeris Nova erupted with beautiful flames, melting the leader's body until nothing remained as the power filled Asura's body. The amount of stamina and magic restored by a Stage Three meant he couldn't even be tired anymore.

⁜ Gained 10000 Essence from devouring the enemy!

⁜ Cultivation Progress Increased: +5%! (89%)

Helia didn't speak, nor could she speak.

Because the moment Asura went berserk, she saw the past. Sura's past and what the cult of the falling sun did to him when they slept peacefully in luxury.

Only one thing caused her to feel agony...

Even after Lorem left the world, she became the pillar inside the monoliths. Sura was still being used as an experiment to revive their god.

If she saw these memories, then it was obvious Asura also saw them.

His body faded into the darkness, neither towards Xavida nor the previous zone. In Asura's heart, he needed to vent his anger before returning.