The Demon Monarch System

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While still impaled in the wall, Apollo was left in a dazed state. Just a single hit and he was rendered into a state he had barely been before. Typically, it would take much effort for him to be made defenseless. Yet, with one simple action, Fuhrer did just that. Additionally, Apollo felt conflicted based on what he saw.

Just before impact, Apollo was sure he didn't feel a blow for a while. Even as he witnessed Fuhrer's actions, he didn't feel the strike land on him until he was already mid-flight. 

Naturally, this was attributed to Fuhrer's skillful display of control. Not only did he dexterously reverse his grip while also attacking, right before it touched Apollo's torso, but he also retracted the blow. To summarize, Fuhrer never actually hit Apollo!

Simply using the air pressure from his attack, he was able to cause this type of damage to Apollo. Consequently, as his ribs healed, Apollo gasped for air. He was sure one of his ribs punctured a lung. Luckily, the inner damage was being healed by sacrificing copious amounts of Pure Demonic Anima.

'How is this the strength of a Greater Demon? I'm pretty sure those two demons from before aren't capable of this in the slightest. What is Fuhrer's true power,' Apollo inwardly thought.

"You must be confused. I guess at this point, you should be wondering how someone who is at the Greater Demon phase is capable of doing this right? First, I have been alive for over 100,000 years, do you truly believe a Greater Demon is what I am?" Fuhrer smiled while shifting eyes between the indent on Apollo's chest and his wordless expression.

Amid the process, Apollo coughed continuously. Moreover, he relented from his dazed state and looked at Fuhrer with a solemn gaze. On the other hand, Fuhrer shook his head with disappointment. Truthfully speaking, even though he knew Apollo was merely a Lesser Demon, he expected more out of him. 

After all, he didn't just possess the Iraym Bloodline, he also sought to chase the Monarch position. In the beginning, he didn't have a desire to accomplish such a thing, however, as he experienced untold pain and embraced Azridan's company, he found himself looking forward to claiming this title.

Thus, Apollo didn't just look at Fuhrer with apprehension, he was crestfallen by his own weakness. Fortunately, with his personality, all this did was stimulate the stubborn trait in him.

"Boy, I must tell you, your physique is subpar. You may be stronger than some Lesser Demons, but this just won't suffice. Your senses are too dull, I can't even count that as a real blow. Your use of the Iraym Bloodline is nonexistent. So many issues to correct," Fuhrer sighed but deep in his eyes was excitement.

"I understand this Fuhrer," Apollo uttered through his pained groans. Surprisingly, unlike other times when he was told he was weak, he didn't experience a flare of anger. Obviously, it was partly due to the large chasm separating his and Fuhrer's power.

However, the real reason lay in the fact Fuhrer's words carried genuine feelings. This was most likely his style of teaching. In his mind, the worst thing to do was drown a student with praise when it was undeserved. If one did this, they would only give birth to a complacent fool.

Nevertheless, after Apollo responded, Fuhrer took a moment to assess how he handled the blade's strike and even broke down the weaknesses.

"When I attacked, I feared that one hit would have broken you. Because of this, you should have witnessed me withdrawing. But, truthfully, I did so long ago. When I saw how long it took you to register this fact in your mind, I then understood how lacking your mental acuity is," Fuhrer said after some thought.

He then continued, "Let me ask you a question, do you perhaps, think you should give up on your road to power? If I'm to be honest with you, your starting point seems rather...underwhelming."

In exchange, Apollo frowned. This wasn't what he sought, he didn't want to give up. In fact, after coming all this way, he couldn't give up. How could he let his dedication thus far fall short? After much effort, he removed himself from the walk and shook his head, "I can continue! Just one strike isn't enough to deter me."

"Good, at least you have the mettle needed. Well then, don't blame me for being impolite," Fuhrer smirked. He then continued, "Then let me tell you the first issue. Like a flame, everything about an Iraym should flicker. If you can't accomplish this, how can you call yourself the dominator of Hellfire? When it appears, you are to be one with Hellfire. Sadly, this is easier said than done. You should have been practicing this since birth."

"I need to flicker," Apollo muttered. As the words repeated in his mind, he conjured hellfire in the palm of his hand. As he looked at the dying embers on the edge of it fade to nothingness, the ball of flames reflected in his eyes. 

While he tried to comprehend this matter, Fuhrer remained silent. He allowed him a brief period to process this information. Moreover, when he posed this wager, he never mentioned a time limit. He just announced that Apollo needed to withstand all his blows.

When the flames died out, Apollo closed his eyes and took a breather. Once he opened them, they flickered with lively energy. Although he didn't understand what Fuhrer meant completely, at least he grasped the need to know. Hellfire wasn't just a means to attack people.

It could also be used as a source of power. However, this depended on both the Sin Power in one's body and the mastery they held over the flames. If either of these things lacked, then it would only spell doom for one. This is because an uncontrolled Hellfire could damage even the user themselves. Thus, why many demons outside of this Iraym didn't practice this ability.

"Again, I am ready!" Apollo exclaimed. This time, before Fuhrer moved, Apollo had already put up a guard with a focused gazed. If push came to shove, he was sure he could handle at least one blow now.

But, Fuhrer smiled at this, "You don't possess the Absolute Barrier of the prideful demons, do you think the physical means you are utilizing will stop my advance? Let me show you what happens when one practices the Tenebrous Way."

Immediately after, the aura that was contained in his afterimage from before flowed into his sword. Once it reached saturation, Fuhrer smiled and took a feint step. Afterward, he left a ringing sonic boom in its place. By effortlessly tearing through space, he arrived before Apollo.

Fuhrer then dropped his stance and pooled most of his strength into his forearms. As he moved his arms in one fluid motion, he flicked the weapon guard on his blade. It only moved a short distance, yet Apollo once again found himself stuck inside the wall.

In fact, he was much deeper than before. To top it off, his forearms were bent out of place! In other words, Fuhrer showed him that this type of guarding was suboptimal for a demon. Some of those demons possessed strength so overwhelming, they could explode other demons with a single strike.

Hence, Fuhrer wanted to drill this matter into his mind now. This way of thinking didn't suit a demon who wished to enter past the Noble Boundary! Luckily, Apollo was gasping this time because all of the force was aimed at his arms. Additionally, Fuhrer controlled the blow so that it would spread beyond them.

"That makes 2," Fuhrer chuckled. By now, Apollo could tell the earlier hostile appearance was a front. He was sure that was some type of test to examine his mettle. Once again, Fuhrer pulled his blows. Be that as it may, Apollo still felt this demon standing before him was an insurmountable opponent.

When he attacked he couldn't see it. And when he slowed down to allow Apollo the glory of doing so, he found no weaknesses to exploit. When he struck, it was like he was void of any openings.

'Does this have something to do with this Tenebrous Way, he uttered?' Apollo thought to himself. At the same time, the system finally finished generating information on Fuhrer. As Apollo looked at it, his eyes widened. His earlier speculation was far away from what he thought to be the truth.

Demon Name: Erus Fuhrer 

Demonic Power: Peak Greater Demon (Sealed Daemos)

Demonic Standing: Knight (Ancient Arch Lord)

Title: Lord Tenebrous, Guardian of the Tenebrous Sword.

'A Daemos...isn't that what Azridan said one needs to become to take up the Demon Monarch mantle? Could this perhaps be...the true Demon Monarch?' Apollo marveled.

"Are you," Apollo paused to collect his thoughts before continuing, "the Demon Monarch? I mean, are you the one of the past?"

In response, Fuhrer smiled and dropped his sword to his waist, "Do you believe I am? Has something told you my true power? This assumption is only possible for one who has seen it would come to that immediate conclusion. So tell me, how have you seen my sealed power? I can't access it, so it shouldn't be able to be seen."

Slowly, Apollo muttered, "Because you are a piece."

Fuhrer's eyes widened once hearing this. Furthermore, he understood what drove this youth to him. It wasn't Azridan, it was something woven much deeper!