21 Mystical Encounter and More power ups

'LockHeart, huh? Interesting,' Guy mused as he looked at the pair of mother and son. He was taken aback a bit when he heard the word 'LockHeart,' and an image of a guy with auburn hair flashed in his mind.

He still remembered the day when he met that person, and it wasn't pleasant in the slightest.

Just like any other day, Guy was chilling on his chair, looking at the sky with pure boredom. He was bored, why, you ask? Because there wasn't anything fun. He knew the Tenma War would occur in 15 years, but he couldn't hide his boredom. He was weary of being strong, why, you ask? Simply because there weren't any worthy opponents. He could fight Milim or Velzard, but he needed a new adversary.

That's when... suddenly, he felt a tremendous power coming from right outside his castle. He couldn't pinpoint the exact source of this immense power, though he knew whatever was outside his castle was something grander than him. Heck, if his assumption wasn't wrong, the being outside his castle was above even Veldanava or Ivarage.

Misery and Rein were pinned on the icy floor because of the overwhelming pressure they were experiencing.

Velzard, who was sitting on the armrest of the icy throne, was also stuck there. She couldn't move. As a true dragon, it hurt her pride that she couldn't even budge an inch. It was the worst humiliation a true dragon could experience. Though she had to admit, whoever was behind this power was way above her league. Even Guy Crimson, who was supposed to be her rival, was nailed to the throne without being able to move.

'What is this? I've never experienced something like this before. Even my big brother wasn't this strong!' Many questions passed through her mind. They were all left unanswered, but then the door to the Chamber room swung open.

creak

Suddenly, the unknown pressure vanished like it had never existed. A human stepped into the throne room. Misery and Rein had already passed out because of the tremendous pressure they had endured.

Guy and Velzard looked at the human figure that had just walked into their chambers as if he were on a field trip. But they didn't voice anything. They concluded that he was the one behind it.

The human had a perfect face that seemed to have transcended mortal boundaries. He was tall, standing there at 6'9", and his T-shirt couldn't hide his well-trained muscles as they bulged out a bit. He had a silver sword on his waist that shone with a sharpness that could cleave anything apart with just a stroke.

He appeared to be but a simple human. But the two could tell that if they made a move or attacked the human in front of them, they would be sliced before they even knew what had happened. 'Is this guy still called a human?' Guy looked at the human in front of him. He gazed straight into his eyes and what he saw was a gaze full of wisdom and experience that surpassed his own. He knew the guy was the real deal.

The human stopped in front of Velzard and Guy and looked at them as if judging them. He nodded and said, "My name is Asher... Asher LockHeart. Would you guys be interested in a deal I have?"

'Interesting,' Guy mused as he looked at the human in front of him. He wasn't going to say no. Why? Because it was a deal, and he had something in mind. "I will accept once you have defeated me in a battle," Guy suggested while looking at Asher, his aura leaking and shaking the entire palace. Why did he want to fight? Simply because he wanted to know the full extent of Asher's power and perhaps copy his abilities.

Sensing what was going on in Guy's mind, Asher grinned mysteriously and said, "Sure, let's dance."

That day, the world experienced something it would never forget. The world literally shook for seven straight days as tsunamis and earthquakes occurred all over. The cause? No one knew. Only the most powerful people in the world knew what had happened that day, and it made them realize that they were mere ants compared to beings outside their reality.

———-

Back to present.

'If he is related to that guy, then that would explain his enigmatic powers and growth. I need to get him on our side before Rudra gets his hands on him,' Guy thought as he casually erased millions of angels pouring down from the sky.

"ARISE," Damien muttered as he summoned the dead angels that had been killed by them. His army was expanding at an alarming rate. Though he didn't have a problem now. Because of the black heart, he nearly possessed infinite mana that could be used to create an ocean of an army.

"KUHAHAHAHA, TAKE THIS AND THIS!" Milim exclaimed as she threw numerous Dark Holes at the angels, slaughtering them with a maniacal grin on her face.

Damien looked at her and thought, "She sure is enjoying this," as he killed a Seraph that had been aiming from his supposed blind spot. To be honest, now he could fight 3-4 Seraphs at a time without breaking a sweat. He had become more powerful than before, capable of standing against angels that could possibly rival an awakened Demon Lord.

[EXP GAINED]

[EXP GAINED]

[EXP GAINED]

[EXP GAINED]

Even after his awakening, the system didn't disappear, which made him question and recall Ashborn's words when he met him in the Shadow Realm. "The system and that goddess that you met are not as simple as they seem to be. Be careful."

"Huuuu," Damien exhaled a mouthful of air and said, "I will let my future self handle it..." He closed his eyes and extended his hands in front of him, activating his skill.

[Notice: Skill activated - Dark Matter Convergence]

In his hand, a black goo-like substance appeared. He opened his eyes and examined it closely. If someone were to see it, they would think, "What is that filthy thing?" But Damien, who knew its potential, grinned.

[Ding!! Host has created a mass of Dark Matter]

The grin didn't fade as he remembered something he had seen in his previous life, to be more precise, a sword that would be shattered in this world. He took a deep breath and exhaled. Everyone was busy fighting. Well, more precisely, having fun. Damien closed his eyes again. He stood right in the middle of the battlefield, but no one was able to attack him as his army kept the angels at bay. His army had already surpassed two million shadow soldiers and kept growing with each passing second. Mana gushed out of him like a dam had burst. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked in Damien's direction.

"Oye oye~~, what is he doing now?" Guy looked at the black-haired boy who stood in the midst of the battlefield with his eyes closed, completely carefree.

"KUHAHAHA, my rival is up to something interesting again," Milim laughed as she tore through the Seraph. Somehow, Damien had become her rival now.

"What is that human doing again? Sigh. I'm tired. I want to go home," Ramiris sighed. She had had enough for today and just wanted to retreat to her cave and rest.

Finally, Damien opened his eyes. His abysmal wings fluttered on his back, and his eyes transformed from purple to black, resembling a void. He uttered a few words, "From the mountain abyss, I come..."

"Hey, someone stop that guy! I sense an unknown terror in the words he's uttering," a Seraph said, evident fear in her eyes. She warned that if they didn't halt him, it would be their end.

Hearing the Seraph's command, all angels and Seraphs abandoned their fights and rushed toward Damien.

"Hey hey, where are you all going? Fight me some more!" Milim stomped her feet on the ground. She was not amused by this sudden change in focus.

"...and only death do I bring."

The angels continued closing in, but Damien's army barely held them back.

"My liege, we won't be able to hold them off for much longer. Hurry!" Khalf thought as he led the army, battling billions of angels. He didn't want to disturb his liege; he was determined to hold them back until Damien finished whatever he was doing. "I will hold them off, FOR MY LIEGE!"

ROAAAARRRR

"Touch not the sky... for by Heaven's will, I shall..."

The three Demon Lords had moved to the sidelines, sensing that something interesting was about to happen.

"Khuuu, we won't be able to hold them back much longer," Khalf struggled as he fought three Seraphs simultaneously. He couldn't deny that he wasn't strong enough yet. If it weren't for his regeneration ability, he would have died long ago. He glanced to the side and saw Jima in a similar situation, struggling as well.

While Khalf battled the Seraphs, one of them blitzed past him. "Oh no, you don't," Khalf growled and extended his huge hands to crush the intruder. However, before he could reach the Seraph, he lost track of the other two Seraphs he had been fighting. Khalf halted and looked around, but his eyes widened as he saw the two Seraphs appearing near his liege with swords in their hands.

"Die, you vile creature," they muttered simultaneously, aiming their swords at Damien's neck.

But just as it seemed Damien was finished, he spoke his last words, "...strip thee of thy wings!" The moment those words left Damien's mouth, an abysmal sword appeared in his hand, he opened his eyes, and a dark ray shot into the air from the sword he held , enveloping the entire surroundings in darkness.