The Demon Monarch System

Chapter 326 - The Aftermath

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"And what the fuck do you think you're chuckling at? Do you think you're in any better of a position? Do you see the mess you've caused? Not to mention, do you understand how close the excursion is? What is wrong with you all?" Sylvester barked, fury blazing within his eyes and he turned towards Apollo.

Similarly, Geneva frowned. The main thing she had asked of Apollo was not to cause trouble. Although she was aware of the rumors floating around the academy, she wasn't sure of the origin. And, since it hadn't escalated to a physical issue, he hadn't paid this matter any mind.

Unfortunately, that action appeared to be the wrong approach. Not only did the worst outcome possible happen, basically 80% of the team who was supposed to enter the excursion was out of commission. This made Geneva frown. After all, this was a larger purpose behind this task. It happened every year for a reason.

'If our ranking is too low, our resources and control of the nodes will be in jeopardy. I told this boy not to make any large moves,' Geneva thought, her frown deepening even further. Moreover, she felt a headache coming along. There were some instructors who advised against allowing Apollo to run around with monitoring.

  To them, he was a walking amalgam of trouble. If they could keep an eye on them, it would limit the amount of damage he could do. Not to mention, giving him disciplinary rights was an even worst decision. Regrettably, since he had been quiet since he received the privilege, they didn't possess the means to revoke his privilege.

But, if they wanted to do so now, it was a little too late. The purpose behind revocation would be to inhibit escalated issues and right now, they were in the midst of one. Therefore, the only decision they could make was to take another route.

Meanwhile, Apollo looked at the rage directed towards him and chuckled in return. His nonchalant demeanor in this situation nonplussed Geneva and the others. While she understood his disregard for life was becoming greater, she at least thought he was capable of fulfilling some tasks for her sake. 

Clearly, this wasn't true from what she witnessed. Nevertheless, as always, she was always curious about what odd thoughts were running through his mind as he engaged in these peril-inducing actions.

"Why do you find this funny? Do you understand what you have done?" Geneva responded, holding her hand up to keep Sylvester and Rezar in place. As Apollo's superior, they felt responsible for the acts he had committed. But, Geneva restricted them from acting. 

After all, unlike the other students, Apollo possessed a special deal with her. Thus, Apollo spared her a meaningful look that was blocked from the other with the way they stood.

"I do understand what I have done, I have responded to hostility," Apollo answered with a shrug. The more he acted like this, the more the urge to slap his arose in Geneva. However, in public, she was to uphold her image as a Headmaster. If someone of her position was seen laying hands on a child, it wouldn't be good for her reputation.

"Tch, that's not what I mean. You know exactly what I mean. Why must you be so extreme? You're condemning us by acting the majority of our participating students. Without them, our forces will be incomplete," Geneva rebutted, raising her voice in the process. Although she tried her best to keep calm, there were just too many spirit users out of commission.

It must be known, these Spirit Cultivators made up the majority of the force. Now that Apollo had damaged most of them, it was hard for Geneva not to react. Even if they had a deal, she couldn't possibly see how he would be able to reverse or rectify this situation.

  In her eyes, Apollo couldn't equate to over 50 Spirit Cultivators. As mentioned before, someone capable of summoning more than one SPirit was a rarity. In some cases, it could even be deemed a unique situation. But, just because they had more than one spirit, it didn't mean they were better off than someone else.

In the past, there had been a cultivator who possessed two Spirits, but he faced trials and tribulations like no other. Every time he advanced, it was like a bomb exploding in his mind. The sudden expansion of the Spirit's Spiritual Marks as well their Soul Temple became progressively worse. 

Furthermore, advancing became harder when each of the Spirits absorbed their innate Spiritual Essence. This left little to properly fortify his mind and each Spirit's consumption compounded on the other. In other words, compared to others, the time needed to advance was more than triple.

Therefore, even if there was the off chance of Apollo possessing more than one Spirit to utilize, and the fact that his potential was somewhere beyond a Paragon, he was still within his growth phase nonetheless. And, the growth phase was only useful when the individual lived long enough to surpass it because what good is a dead individual? 

"Responded to hostility?" Geneva parroted, bearing an incredulous expression. She was truly unable to understand just how Apollo's mind worked. 'It's like the ancient principle of an eye for an eye. Sadly, there will come a time when he learns that not every issue can be met with a reaction. When the other's forces are overwhelming, or their background uncontestable, then you'll end up in a perilous situation.' 

After the pensive state induced by Apollo's baffling words, Geneva continued, "That's the wrong way to look at things. I asked you to do one thing—stay out of trouble! Why is that so hard for you?"

"It's not hard for me. I don't seek trouble with anyone, it begets me and I handle it. Simple as that. Now, if you ask for my opinion, these individuals are all inconsequential and worthless. You shouldn't waste your time on people like them," Apollo responded, his straightforward and ultimately disrespectful came as a blow to everyone.

"WHAT?! Inconsequential?! We trained some of those individuals! Are you calling us inconsequential as well?" Rezar barked, consternation seething within his eyes. Had not for Geneva holding him back, he would have pounced on Apollo by now. Granted, if he wished to do so, he would have to get past Fuhrer first who prepared his weapon.

All of a sudden, Geneva paused and narrowed her eyes. She realized she overlooked a matter, but didn't address that until focusing on Apollo's previous words.

"Inconsequential? Why do you feel that is so?" Geneva questioned. Although Apollo's words typically sounded rude, due to the time she spent with him, she had learned that there was always another meaning behind them. Hence, it was much easier to act after understanding that meaning.

"The evidence is all there. If you raise someone incapable of controlling their desires, there will come a day where their actions bring about your doom. Think of it as my warning, or take no heed of it at all. Either way, I'll be able to sleep at night," Apollo shrugged again, brushing the matter aside. 

Every single person who partook in the siege on his residence exhibiting tendrils of Greed. In the process of absorbing it, Apollo came to realized some were stronger than others as it was accompanied by Envy. According to Fuhrer, those types of people were most dangerous. They were willing to do anything to obtain what they wanted.

But, of course, Apollo wouldn't reveal his evidence. It was too closely related to his secret.

On the other hand, once this matter was addressed, Geneva presented a question that made everyone reexamined the battlefield. "Do you have more than one Spirit?" Geneva asked. While she knew there was no way Fuhrer was a mere Spirit, she needed to keep up a facade.

There were some people who just weren't privy to the secrets surrounding Spirits. Only the families with ancestors dating back to the first generation possessed records of the deal they established with Spirits. 

Finally, everyone switched their attention between Valac and Fuhrer. Despite Valac's seemingly human appearance, the fluctuation of his energy betrayed his disguise. Unlike Fuhrer, he couldn't manipulate the nature of his Anima.

"It could be a possibility," Apollo grinned faintly and produced a round-about answer. At the same time, he glanced between them. "So what if I do, what does that change?"

"Change? Tch," Rezar scoffed, "If you have a second Spirit, we might as well toss you outside of this Academy. You're pretty much useless at that point.

"Hoh?" Apollo was intrigued by this answer. It was in direct contrast to what he assumed. Due to this expression, Geneva revealed the stigma surrounding Spirit Cultivators possessing multiple Spirit.

After some time, once he digested the information, Apollo nodded and looked in Geneva's direction. A confident yet playful smile appeared on his lips, "Do you think that issue plagues me as well?"

At first, Geneva wanted to refute his question, but she remained quiet and pondered a few situations. Only once she had cross-examined everything she remember, did she present an answer, "Well, you see. You're merely in the early stages of cultivation. Your boundless potential is assisting you now, but what happens when you require obscene amounts of resources? What will you do?"

"I'll obtain them and I'll continue to acquire strength and there will be nothing to stop me from doing so," Apollo answered confidently. Afterward, he recalled Valac and Fuhrer. In this situation, Valac was astute enough to know not to misbehave. 

"If that is all, may I go?" Apollo asked.

Truthfully, they didn't want to release him, but he was one of the few left capable of participating. At this point, he was immune to punishment.

"You may go," Geneva allowed but she added a clause, "However, you're under house arrest until I fetch you and Sylvester will be monitoring you."

In response, Apollo nodded. Now, all that was left was to deal with the mess left in the wake of this scuffle.