The villagers, a mix of fear and confusion etched on their faces, scattered from the village, while the massive metal gate slammed shut behind them with a resounding clang.
Inside, the air crackled with tension.
"John." Aaron, began, his voice firm.
"How many fighters do we have? And what's their combat strength?"
John replied, "We have ten, my lord. All Awakened realm."
Aaron's gaze swept over the small group. "This will have to suffice." He turned to Lilly, who hefted a large, heavy bag from behind her. She placed it before Aaron. "These are cores from the monsters I've slain over the past year. Absorb them; increase your strength. The Demon Kingdom holds six cities across the continent. Two have already fallen to the monsters. We must seize the remaining four."
Egon, his face lined with worry, stepped forward. "My Prince, the capital city is among them. It boasts a thousand soldiers, at least. We have nothing." A sad smile played on his lips.
Aaron's eyes hardened. "You ten will be my personal guard. I'll gather my army from the forest." He paused, his brow furrowed. "Where's Emily?"
"Emily is on the first continent, at the newly established Academy," someone answered.
"Ah, yes, she mentioned that. Change of plans," Aaron declared, his voice ringing with resolve. "After I conquer the forest, I'll retrieve Emily from the first continent. Then, we'll strike the Demon Kingdom." He handed the bag to Egon. "Distribute these cores evenly." With that, he ascended into the sky, his form a dark silhouette against the fading light.
__
Twenty miles from the village, the ten villagers halted, their chests heaving, their breaths ragged. The dense forest surrounded them, a silent witness to their fear.
"That was terrifying," one of them gasped. "I thought he'd kill us all."
"Why be afraid?" another scoffed. "He's a fool to let us live. Let's return to the Demon Kingdom and inform King Zukor of this news."
"Yes, you're right," a third agreed. "We'll show them all."
"Come on!"
BAM!
Suddenly, a deafening BAM! echoed through the trees. The villagers froze, their eyes wide with terror.
"What was that?" one whispered, his voice trembling.
WHOOSH!
A whooshing sound pierced the silence. They spun around, but saw nothing.
"Where are we?" another asked, his gaze darting from tree to tree.
"That's not the problem," a fourth said, his voice strained. "Something's hunting us."
WHOOSH!
"This thing's toying with us," a villager added, his eyes filled with dread.
BAM!
They looked up, their eyes locking onto a massive, black-skinned monster perched on a branch ten meters above them. Its green eyes glowed with an eerie light.
"It's a Protean!" one of them screamed.
"Are you sure?" another asked, his voice shaking.
"I know that kid wouldn't let us escape so easily," a third replied. "Shit! We can't fight it."
Protean landed with a thud, morphing into a dark elf.
"You knew I'd attack? Impressive," he said, his smile chilling. He walked towards them.
"You! What are you doing here?" one of them demanded.
"Isn't it obvious?" Protean asked, feigning confusion. "I'm here to kill you all. It's that simple."
"You bastard!"
Whoosh!
A villager's head hit the ground, followed by his body. The remaining nine stared in horror.
"What... What... What realm are you in?" a demon stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
"I don't have a specific realm. My powers are calculated by the form I take and my master's powers," Protean replied, and with a blur, he launched himself at the remaining nine.
Screams of terror filled the forest.
Moments later, Aaron landed before the Protean, who sat on the ground amidst a gruesome scene of dismembered bodies and blood.
"You're quite brutal," Aaron remarked.
"We can go now," Protean said, standing.
Aaron nodded and extended his hand to the right, the space distorted, tearing open to form a gateway.
"No magic circle anymore?" Protean asked.
"Not needed," Aaron replied, walking through the gateway.
"What about the bodies?"
"Let the animals have them," Aaron said flatly, disappearing into the portal.
___
In the Flesh Eaters' Forest on the first continent, the gateway shimmered and Aaron and the Protean stepped through.
"It's been a year. I wonder what's changed," Aaron muttered, examining his hand.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: Aaron Lucian.}
{Realm: ?? .}
{Class: All Class.}
{Race: Half Elf/ Half Demon.}
{Strength: 100,000.}
{Agility: 100,000.}
{Defense: 100,000.}
{Endurance: 100,000.}
{Affinity Mastered: Fire. Wind. Darkness. Water. Death. Earth. Lightning. Poison. Ice.}
{Attack: 100,000. Critical - 200,000. Combat mode - 500,000.}
{Health point: 100,000.}
{Intellect/ Wisdom: 100%.}
{Spells: Inferno - (high-stage). Fire Bullet - (high-stage). Wind walk - (high stage) Blood absorber -(High Stage) Sword king-(High stage). Mimic - (High stage). Kings' Aura -(High stage). Space manipulation- (High stage). ETC!!.}
{Improvement: You are beyond this world.}
{Resistance: Poison: 100%. Darkness: 100%. Death: 100%. Light: 50%. Fire: 100%. Water: 100%. Earth: 100%. Wind: 100%. Magic: 50%. Ice: 100%. Lightening: 100%.}
Aaron blinked, stunned. "Is this still my profile? Or some god's?"
Whoosh!
He turned to his right. "What is it, Alter?"
"How do you know it's me?" A small rat transformed into a human.
"Your energy. It's good you're here. Send word. I want to see all the kings by noon. Or their races won't survive the night."
Alter nodded, morphing into a skeleton eagle and soaring into the sky.
"What now?" Protean asked.
"Killing an abomination," Aaron replied, his eyes narrowing, sensing a powerful presence deep in the forest.
"A Great Demon or Beast King?" Protean asked, excited.
"Yes. You'll need the experience," Aaron said, walking into the forest.
Protean followed, and after hours, they reached their destination.
"It's here," Aaron said, looking around.
-Who dares enter my territory?- a demonic voice boomed.
A ghostly figure, armed with a saber, approached. Its red eyes locked onto them.
"A ghost?" Aaron asked, surprised.
-I am not a ghost! I'm a wraith! What are you doing here?-
"A Great Demon, but surprisingly weak."
The wraith frowned. -If you won't state your purpose, I'll kill you!- it charged.
"Should I--" Protean started.
"No, leave this to me," Aaron interrupted, stepping forward.
"I hope you survive my attack."