Skills:
– [ Active: Doombringer Fortification (C) Hellfire Dive (C), Earth Manipulation-12(D), Azure Ghost Blade (D), Venomous Ripper (D)]
– [ Passive: Blazing Purge (D), Predator’s Instinct -23 (E), Health Regeneration -4 (E) ]
[ Special skills: Monster Breeding (Level-1) ]
[ Demonic Abilities: Gluttony of Darkness (Basic), Darkness Pulse (Basic), Darkness Veil (Basic), Darkness Haki (Basic), Heart of Darkness (Peak), Blood Regeneration (Basic)]
[ Unique Skills: Appraisal (Basic), Skill Absorption (Mythic), Universal Synthesis (Ultimate) ]
“Master, these were the best fitting combinations so far. You need to gather more skills to upgrade the rest,” MANAS reported, noting the slight displeasure in Aengus’s demeanor.
Aengus shrugged, his expression indifferent. “It’s fine… I can manage for now.” He won’t be able gain anymore skills in Demon Land anyway. All he Could absorb were the Demonic Abilities.
Then, he moved deeper into the dark forest, the dense canopy above casting eerie shadows on the ground. The forest seemed to respond to his presence, the air growing colder and the silence more oppressive. His muscles rippled with suppressed power, ready to be unleashed on whatever demonic creatures crossed his path.
Butler Yu and the lesser demons trailed closely behind, their eyes filled with a mix of caution and eagerness. Even though Aengus had intentionally slowed his pace to accommodate them, their effort to keep up was evident.
Ahead, Aengus spotted a large group of demonic creatures. A grin spread across his face as he realized that the hunt was about to begin.
[ Appraisal: ]
[ Hellfire Wolf ]
[ Rank: Lesser Demon ]
[ Abilities: Hellfire Control ]
—
“Perfect!” Aengus grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Before him, nearly a few dozen Hellfire wolves prowled in packs, their eerie black flames flickering ominously, casting shadows across the darkened terrain. These creatures were ferocious, their very presence capable of turning lesser beings to ashes within seconds. The flames that wreathed their bodies were most intense around their heads, as if their very thoughts burned with a malevolent fire.
His subordinates, standing a short distance away, watched the scene with growing apprehension. The Hellfire wolves were legendary for their deadly power, and the thought of facing them filled the men with dread. Yet, as they nervously glanced at their lord, Aengus, they couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. He stood fearless, exuding a calm confidence that made them want to stand tall by his side. But they knew all too well that their power was insufficient to fight alongside him in this battle.
“All of you stay here,” Aengus commanded, his voice firm but reassuring as he looked down at his subordinates. “Very soon, you all will be powerful. Then you can help me in my cause.”
With that, he charged forward, storming directly into the heart of the pack. The Hellfire wolves growled menacingly, their flames crackling louder as they closed in on him. But Aengus was undeterred. The black flames surrounding the wolves were inextinguishable to most, but to him, they were nothing more than a minor obstacle.
Crunch… Punch!
With raw, unmatched physical strength, Aengus began crushing the skulls of the wolves, his fists smashing through their heads like they were mere watermelons. The dark flames that would have incinerated anyone else licked harmlessly at his skin, repelled by the invisible force of his Blazing Purge. His defenses were impenetrable, his body a fortress that the wolves’ fiery wrath could not breach.
Butler Yu and the other subordinates watched in awe, their fear giving way to admiration as they witnessed the sheer power of their lord. However, they soon noticed that the remaining packs of Hellfire wolves had turned their attention fully to Aengus, their eyes blazing with fury.
Aengus welcomed the challenge, his grin widening. He moved with lethal precision, his legs delivering bone-shattering kicks that sent wolves flying. With his [ Venomous Ripper ] skill he sliced through the beasts as if they were mere vegetables, their black blood splattering across the already darkened ground, staining it further.
6, 13, 21, 36, 56…
By the time he had thrashed and slain nearly 60 of the Hellfire Wolves, Aengus paused to survey his surroundings. His body was covered in the blood and gore of his enemies, but with a simple thought, his [ Blazing Purge ] Skill activated once more. An invisible forcefield surrounded him, incinerating the blood and flesh clinging to his body, purging it in an instant. As the remnants burned away, his form was revealed once more—clean, unscathed, and as handsome as ever. The black coat he wore, now free of stains, only added to his mysterious, almost otherworldly aura.
The battlefield was silent save for the crackling of dying flames. Aengus stood tall, his presence a stark reminder of the power he wielded, and his subordinates couldn’t help but feel that they were following someone destined for greatness…
As the last of the Hellfire wolves fell, Aengus nonchalantly activated his Skill Absorption ability. Dark energy pulsed from his hand, intertwining with the fading essence of the wolves. One by one, he absorbed their powers, feeling a surge of intense heat as the Hellfire Control ability took root within him. The flames that had once been his enemies’ weapons were now under his command.
Satisfied, he straightened up and called out to his subordinates, his voice ringing with authority, “Come here!”
The group hesitated only for a moment before hurrying toward him, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension. Butler Yu, ever the loyal attendant, stepped forward and spoke, “My lord, what do you want us to do?”
Aengus’s gaze swept over them, his eyes sharp and calculating. “I’m going to merge you with these beasts to make you stronger. Are you willing?” His tone left no room for hesitation, and the implied threat hung heavy in the air. Any sign of disloyalty would be met with swift, lethal retribution.
Butler Yu and the others felt a shiver run down their spines. The intensity in Aengus’s voice and the cold glint in his eyes made it clear that failure to comply was not an option. They nodded eagerly, though a sense of fear lingered beneath their anticipation. None of them knew exactly how their lord intended to achieve this transformation, but the prospect of gaining strength—of standing tall beside the man they revered—was too tempting to resist.
“Butler Yu, you’re first in line,” Aengus declared, his gaze locking onto the older man.
Butler Yu, ever dutiful, bowed deeply. “Thank you for the opportunity, my lord,” he said, his voice steady despite the trepidation gnawing at him. He stepped forward, positioning himself beside the fresh corpse of a Hellfire wolf, its body still smoldering with residual flames.
Aengus approached, calm and steady.
“Brace yourself, for this might be painful,” Aengus commanded, his hands beginning to glow with an ethereal blue light…
“Synthesis!” Aengus commanded, his voice echoing with authority. Instantly, the merging began. Butler Yu and the Hellfire Wolf fused together, and a spine-chilling scream of agony pierced the air. The pain was intense but brief, quickly replaced by a seamless transformation.
Butler Yu, once a fish-scaled humanoid demon, was now an intriguing amalgamation of his former self and the Hellfire Wolf. The other demons watched in rapt fascination, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. They had never witnessed such a transformation before.
As the process concluded, Aengus activated his Appraisal skill to inspect the results.
[ Appraisal ]
Name: Yu Elvedaro
Species: Hellfire Gillian
Rank: Lesser Demon
Abilities:
– Hellfire Control
– Water Breathing
Aengus surveyed the new form of Butler Yu with satisfaction. The demon now bore the head of a Hellfire Wolf, while his body was a blend of scales and fur, creating a fearsome and unique appearance—a true hybrid of two formidable species.
The surrounding imps and lesser demons gaped in amazement, their respect for Aengus deepening with each passing moment. The newly transformed Yu Elvedaro, now a tall and muscular demon, stepped forward and bowed deeply before Aengus.
“Thank you for this precious gift, my lord. I vow to serve you wholeheartedly.”
“Rise!” Aengus commanded, his tone indifferent but commanding. “I expect nothing less of you,” he added, reinforcing his expectations.
“Now, send the others one by one, and make it quick. We are not done yet.”
“Yes, my lord,” Butler Yu responded, his voice filled with reverence.
With a nod, the Crocodile demons stepped forward. Aengus performed the synthesis once more, transforming them into Double Hydras with Hellfire control and the explosive strength of Lesser Demons. The fish-scaled demons also underwent transformation, becoming Lesser Demons similar to Butler Yu.
In total, Aengus now commanded ten Double-Headed Hydras and six Hellfire Gillians. The newly transformed demons bowed in respect and gratitude, their worship of Aengus evident.
“Rise,” Aengus said, a grin spreading across his face. “This is just the beginning!” His eyes gleamed with ambition as he prepared to push his power and influence even further.
He examined the last of the half-dead wolves corpses and moved forward to put them to good use.
Activating the long-forgotten skill [ Monster Breeding ], he transported the half-dead bodies into the dimensional space for reproduction.
