[ Monster Breeding ]
Level: 2
Dimensional Space: 100m (diameter)
Summonable Units:
– Fire Toads & Flame Serpents: 5x (Power Level: 7)
– Hellfire Wolves: 40x (Lesser Demons)
—
Aengus observed the newly summoned Hellfire Wolves with satisfaction. They appeared fully healed, as if some mysterious magic had restored them.
However, the Fire Toads and Flame Serpents were low-level creatures, so he decided to synthesize all five of them. The result:
[Pyrotoad Serpent]
Description: A hybrid species combining the amphibious traits of a toad with the elongated, flexible body of a serpent
Power Level: 20
The creature stood 10 meters long and 7 meters tall, with the body of a snake and the grotesque head of a toad. It looked strange, but what mattered was its power—now at level 20, comparable to that of a lesser demon.
“Awooooo…”
The Hellfire Wolves howled in unison, ready to obey whatever command they were given, like obedient yet incredibly dangerous pets.
His subordinates watch in awe as the magical and incomprehensible thing played before them. It was known to all, how hard it was tame these Hellfire Wolves, but their lord had done it so effortlessly.
Lord Aengus is so powerful
They all felt pride and their confident soared. As long they stay by Lord Aengus’ side, what’s there to fear?
Aengus could feel the strain on his Mana reserves after reviving and maintaining the summoned units outside of their dimensional space. Realizing that his resources were finite, he knew he needed to maximize the use of his forces before his energy ran too low.
“Let’s go. We need to move deeper,” Aengus ordered, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. His newly evolved subordinates—Hellfire Gillians and Double-Headed Hydras—bowed respectfully, their monstrous forms looming behind him as they followed in disciplined silence. The Hellfire Wolves, now under his control, prowled alongside them, their eerie flames flickering in the dim light.
It was a fearsome sight. The group moved like a dark tide through the forest, an unstoppable force. Smaller creatures, sensing the danger, scurried away or hid in terror, their instincts warning them of the approaching doom.
After some time, they encountered another swarm of Hellfire Wolves, around 30-35 in numbers. The Hellfire Wolves, known for their pack mentality, were unprepared for what they faced today. As Aengus gave the command, his legions and subordinates launched a coordinated attack.
The opposing wolves were bewildered, caught off guard by the betrayal of their own kind. They fought back with ferocity, their flames burning dark, but they were outmatched. Aengus’s forces overwhelmed them with sheer numbers and superior strength.
When the last of the wild Hellfire Wolves fell, Aengus stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with purpose. He synthesized the defeated wolves with his legion and subordinates, pushing them further towards greater power.
The grueling process was painful, but the rewards were undeniable. The amalgamated creatures emerged stronger, their ranks creeping closer to that of a Greater Demon ranm, though still needing further upgrades to fully achieve it.
“Thank you, my lord, for your blessing!” His subordinates roared in unison, their voices echoing through the forest. The thrill of power surged through them, dulling the memory of the pain.
“Rise up. We need to continue,” Aengus commanded, his voice calm yet unyielding. He had depleted nearly half of his Mana, but there was still time. He was determined to strengthen his forces enough to conquer the nearby unconquered tribes and territories before he had to return.
As they pressed onward, they soon found themselves facing a new challenge—a group of demonic Nagas. These creatures were formidable, nearly 20 meters tall with giant, muscular snake bodies that coiled and twisted with latent power. Their eyes gleamed with malevolence as they watched Aengus and his legion approach.
Aengus paused to survey the scene. There were six Nagas in total, each one radiating an aura of Nether Energy. They each had five similiar heads with sizzling forked tongues in motion.
[ Appraisal ]
[ Species: Viperscale Naga ]
[ Description: They are vengeful type of creature that stays in groups. Be careful of their numbers, as you might be deceived ]
[ Rank: Greater Demon ]
[ Abilities:
1. Poisonous Miasma Control.
2. Body Duplication.
3. Armoured Black Scales
4. Naganian Transformation.
Aengus now fully grasped the previous reminder as he reviewed the details. These creatures could duplicate their bodies, creating perfect copies—not illusions but real, tangible forms. This meant they could multiply into two, transforming into twelve Greater Demons in mere moments.
Yet, he remained undeterred, especially after his recent power-ups. The prospect of gaining Greater Demons under his command was too tempting to resist.
“My Lord, there are too many of them. Should we join you?” Butler Yu asked, fully aware that their current strength was no match for the Nagas.
“No need. I can handle them,” Aengus replied calmly, his mind already crafting a strategy to defeat the foes before him.
“B-But…” One of his subordinates began to protest, but Aengus cut him off with a sharp look.
His subordinates could do nothing but watch with anxiety. They were just beginning to grow stronger, and if something were to happen to their lord, it would be unbearable.
With a wave of his hand, Aengus retracted his legion into the Dimensional Space to conserve energy. Then, with steady, confident steps, he moved forward.
“MANAS, how many abilities can I activate at once with my current strength?” he asked.
MANAS responded with a flash, “Master, you can activate four abilities or skills simultaneously with your current strength. The number can increase if you use them more frequently, even exceeding the current limit.”
“Understood,” Aengus nodded, preparing to activate his abilities after a long time. He knew physical strength alone wouldn’t be enough to defeat them all.
“Doombringer Fortification!”
“Darkness Veil!”
With the first activation, his physical strength surged twelvefold, his muscles now covered with a sheen that radiated pure power.
With the second activation, he melded into the surroundings, becoming as stealthy as an assassin.
However, the Nagas were not so easily fooled. They immediately sensed something hostile but couldn’t pinpoint its exact location. This heightened their vigilance, causing them to watch each other’s backs warily.
Aengus then activated [Hellfire Control], summoning eerie, black, inextinguishable flames in his hand.
Boom!
He closed in on a Naga and delivered a powerful punch, sending it flying backward. Its tough scales shattered, and its body was engulfed in black flames.
“Hiss, hiss…” The other five Nagas reacted instantly, spewing poisonous miasma from their mouths, aiming it directly at Aengus.
The poisonous miasma spread rapidly, leaving Aengus with no apparent escape.
Yet, Aengus remained calm and composed. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a combination of Darkness Haki and Hellfire, instantly evaporating the toxic miasma.
Aengus grinned as he noticed the Nagas had doubled their numbers. It was clear they had just used their body duplication ability.
Now, Aengus found himself facing ten Greater Demons.
As the demonic Nagas lunged at Aengus with terrifying speed, their enormous maws revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs, the air around them grew dense with a suffocating pressure. They closed in from all sides, intent on overwhelming him.
But Aengus was prepared. With a swift motion, he conjured a massive black fireball, its dark flames swirling with malevolent energy.
“Die…!” he shouted, his voice reverberating with the force of his power. He slammed the fireball onto the ground with precise timing, right where the Nagas were converging.
At the last second, Aengus activated his [Aure Ghost Blade] movement skill. Though he wielded no sword, the skill allowed him to vanish instantly, reappearing a safe distance away, much like the elusive [Shadow Step].
BOOM!
The fireball detonated with a deafening explosion. The ground trembled as the powerful blast sent shockwaves through the air, hurling the Nagas backward with brutal force. Their colossal bodies, once protected by hardened scales, were thrown into disarray, the impact shattering their seemingly impenetrable armor.
The black flames engulfed the Nagas, burning with an intensity that threatened to snuff out their lives in mere moments. Their writhing forms struggled against the searing heat, their agonized hisses filling the air.
However, Aengus, ever mindful of his resources, quickly extinguished the flames before they could reduce the Nagas to ashes. He needed their bodies intact, knowing the power within them could still be harnessed. Allowing them to be completely consumed would render all his efforts meaningless.
As the last of the flames died down, Aengus surveyed the smoldering battlefield. The Nagas lay defeated, their once-mighty forms now charred and broken. But the energy that remained within them was still potent, ready to be claimed and used to further bolster his growing legion.
With a satisfied smirk, Aengus began to plan his next move, however an unexpected shout halted his actions.
“Wait… Please don’t kill my father. Sniff, please don’t!”
Aengus turned toward the voice, and what he saw left him momentarily speechless.
A little ahead of him appeared a smaller, dark, snake-like creature resembling the Nagas, but unlike them, it began to shift and transform. In a matter of moments, the creature took on the form of a young girl, appearing around 16 to 18 years old.
