The Demon Monarch System

Chapter 21 - Heading Deeper

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Quest Name: New Perspective

Quest Information: Your talent is teetering on the edge of advancing into the Earth Grade, as that happens certain changes within you shall take place. In light of this, you'll also need to be rewarded to maximize the advantage

Objectives:

- 0/1 Reach Earth Grade (Low Tier) Talent

Rewards:

- Foundational Upgrade, Increased Essence Affinity, 3 Demonic Essence Pellet.

Time Limit: None

"Hm? My reward is a quest?" Apollo asked as he looked at the window before him skeptically. It didn't seem to be hard to complete this. After all, it was in line with his intentions, but still, it wasn't what he was expecting.

[Indeed. However, don't view it as a quest, but more of a reward. It seems that I'm unable to reward you without you have complete a task. I guess this is some type of restriction, so I have given you this quest.]

"I guess so," Apollo nodded after shrugging it off. However, this gave him another piece of important information, 'It kind of sounds like Azridan isn't aware of everything pertaining to this system? Then, I wonder...' Apollo mused silently as he continued to venture slightly deeper into the territory of the Spirit Beasts.

At the same time, he thought about a few slim possibilities. 'Since it's so durable, I don't need to worry about the Dark Cutter, however, I do need to stay wary of possible Rank 2 Spirit Beasts. I don't think I possess the current means to combat them.' 

The trees were growing thick with dew as he entered deeper into the forest. It wasn't long before Apollo noticed a gathering of wolves. They were the same type as earlier, the only difference was that their stages varied.

There were 4 Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves, and 1 Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Apollo's expression turned solemn as he tightened the grip on his knife. One wrong move could be the end of him.

As he recounted the events of the past year, he calmed his taut nerves.  Although incomparable to Spirit Beast, he had dealt with numerous Mortal Beast teetering on the edge of becoming Spirit Beasts.

Thus, he felt this should be no different. Apollo raised the knife near his chin and waited for the opportune time. The advantage in numbers caused his thoughts to shift to a more passive-aggressive approach.

'It is best to counterattack and not be impatient when dealing with so many enemies,' Apollo determined while monitoring the wolves' subtle movements.

[Keen insight there, continue with these thoughts. When they overwhelm you in both power and numbers, use your brain to counteract adverse situations.]

Two of the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves dashed toward Apollo causing him to shift one of his feet back as his eyes dashed back and forth between them. His gaze was focused as he leaned back, twisting his body in return.

While spun and dodged the incoming claws, the knife in his grasp entered one of the wolves' eyes while his left foot kicked the other wolf's jaw. Painful yelps and howls were heard. However, Apollo remained focused, there were far too many foes involved.

When they continued to pounce, Apollo retaliated by stabbing them in the throat causing them to emit sputtering howls. Unfortunately, in the process, he suffered two grazes on his shoulder and cheek.

Blood splattered on his cheek, however, Apollo ignored it and looked at the other wolves. He made quick work of these wolves by counterattacking their vitals.

?System Alert! You have killed 2 Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

«60 (30+ 30) Experience has been received.» x2

«Experience: 120/3,200.»

This was the method of striking he learned when he realized he was capable of causing more damage than the amount of Zuls of force his body could wield. It was similar to game mechanics; attacks on vital areas as well as extreme damage within a short window frame caused criticals. 

However, this time, all 3 of the remaining wolves pounced on him at once. Luckily, in battle mode, Apollo's mind was extremely active. He struck the knife against the ground before grabbing a clump of dirt.

He then weaved between two of the wolves. Sadly, his movements were slightly lacking. Due to a momentary faltering in his reaction, his thigh was lacerated by a wolf's claw. Nevertheless, he had a task to accomplish. Apollo clenched his jaw as he tossed dirt in the eyes of the Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf.

'This wound might affect me, but I can also diminish their senses as well,' Apollo inwardly toward as he watched two of the wolves howl when the dirt burned their eyes. 

In light of the wound on his left thigh, Apollo compensated by utilizing his right leg more. He rushed in, slashing the jaw of an Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. All the while, he remained wary of the Middle Stage Spirit Beast; the sole beast unaffected by the dirt.

Compared to the other's, its movements were a tier above Apollo's. Hence, Apollo stuck close to the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves to limit the activity of the leader.

'Hooowwwooo!'

Suddenly, one of the wolves made an abrupt howl. When its head raised, Apollo's eyes sharpened and he pounced on them almost immediately. He held the Dark Cutter in a reverse grip and stabbed forward. However, since he wanted to end this as quickly as possible, Apollo made jagged cuts while dragging the knife through its throat. 

In mere moments, the wolf fell but Apollo winced and sucked in a cold breath before jumping away.

?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

«60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.»

«Experience: 180/3,200.»

In the time it took for this to happen, the Middle Stage wolf was able to land a clean strike on his back.

Apollo's body trembled as his eye honed in on the wolf.

Simultaneously, Apollo made a move. The Middle Stage wolf dashed toward him and swiped but Apollo sidestepped. When the other wolf caught up, Apollo finally made his move. Both of the wolves attacked at the same time, but their actions backfired.

A pained whimper escaped from the weaker wolf as its head soon rolled on the floor. The wolf's strengthened claws made light work of its subordinates' neck.

?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

«60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.»

«Experience: 180/3,200.»

To recuperate for a moment, Apollo hid under the wolf's body. At the same time, he sucked a mouthful of its blood before moving. Since dirt didn't work, he needed to get closer. He had to take a chance.

'By any means necessary,' Apollo thought while witnessing the wolf's rapid dash. Its attack came quick but Apollo was seemingly prepared. 

As the wolf swiped, Apollo slid under it. However, in the middle of this motion, he kipped up spitting the mouthful of blood into the wolf's eyes and nose. The smell of the blood dulled its senses and the viscous texture took away it's sight.

In this debilitated state, Apollo attacked its vitals one after the other. It took many more blows compared to the other as its increased small stage resulted in higher capabilities. This meant he had to deal with frantic retaliations that were much more accurate than he expected. 

Nonetheless, with a painful and reluctant howl, it soon died.

?System Alert! You have killed a Middle Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

«110 (55 + 55) Experience has been received.»

«Experience: 350/3,200.»

"Hmm, the increase in experience doesn't seem to follow much of a pattern. The original value of Early is 30 while Middle is 55. I wonder about the Late and Peak Stages? Hmm..."  As Apollo pondered this matter, he dealt with the corpse of his kills.

His luck wasn't good at all. After harvesting the flesh and heart and searching the beasts' innards, he didn't find any Essence Cores. However, Apollo didn't mind it. For one, he didn't even know what it looked like nor what it did.

Apollo returned to his makeshift tent and prepared a fire as he began roasting the flesh. Unlike Mortal Beast, Spirit Beast's bodies began to autonomously permeate the Essence that gathered in their body to their muscle equally. So unlike before, there was no need for Apollo to focus on ingesting the heart.

"Azridan, I have a question. Were you from this world?" Apollo asked as he bit down on a sizable piece of meat.

[No, I am not. However, this world is connected to where I'm from in a sense or that's what I believe.]

"Oh, so how do you know so much about cultivation and such?" Apollo inquired with a slightly curious expression. Although he was becoming cold, that childish curiosity still existed.

[Ah, that's a good question, maybe it is because of this position I was given. To me, it feels like implanted information. It all seems surreal so to speak. Don't worry, in the future, we will come to understand the connection between my world and here. Perhaps we'll understand more as the system continues to level up.]