Meeting The Previous Shadow Monarch

"Sys, what are my chances of winning against that creature?"

[Notice: 95% probability of losing and 5% probability of winning]

[DANGER!]

[DANGER DETECTED!]

[!!!!SYS SUGGESTS HOST RETREAT!!!!]

A bewildered expression adorned Damien's face upon realizing his chances of victory were a mere 5%.

That was utterly preposterous.

"Human... You shall pay the price for defying me... Perish."

[Divine Judgment – Unique Ability]

Damien swallowed hard.

He had been certain he could endure the attack, but now it seemed utterly impossible. He had almost no chance of prevailing against this assault.

Suddenly, a system prompt appeared.

[Ding! All conditions have been met!]

[The lineage of the Shadow Monarch: 'The Ruler' has been obtained!]

[Initiating the Ascension process]

The Ruler: In the primordial era, when light and darkness reigned supreme, the Absolute Being divided the light to create the Rulers and split the darkness to create the Monarchs. As the Monarchs were born to bring about destruction, and the Rulers were born to safeguard the world, it didn't take long for them to engage in a devastating war against each other.

The Shadow Monarch originated from the lineage known as 'The Rulers,' forged by the Absolute Being.

After the demise of the Absolute Being, a Black Heart was bestowed upon Ashborn as a safeguard. In the event of a rebellion, Ashborn, the most trusted Ruler and the angel, would lead the charge against the rebels. Following the Absolute Being's demise, Ashborn rallied his army and attempted to combat the rebels, only to see his forces perish, decimated by the Ruler's army. That was when the Black Heart activated, enabling him to become The Shadow Monarch. Subsequently, he joined forces with the Monarchs to wage an endless battle against the Rulers and their armies.

[NOTICE: THE PROCESS WILL INITIATE IMMEDIATELY]

– Ba-Dump!

A solitary heartbeat resonated across the battlefield once again as dark mana swirled around Damien, enveloping him entirely.

Silence.

Silence permeated everything as combatants from all around the world ceased their fighting and turned their attention toward Damien, shrouded within the black cocoon crafted from purplish raw mana.

"What is this human attempting? Is this his final gambit? Entertain me, human," the Seraph grinned, hovering in the sky with his colossal sword aimed at the cocoon encasing Damien. He eagerly awaited what this human would unveil. At the very least, he would grant the human an opportunity to retaliate—a true sadistic wretch.

[NOTICE: COMMENCING THE PROCESS]

[3... 2... 1...]

[PROCESSING!]

[NOTICE: BIRTH OF A NEW RULER, THE ANGEL OF DEATH HAS COME INTO BEING!]

Deep in slumber within the cocoon, Damien lost all sense of time.

He had found himself in a similar predicament before, when he perished.

Was he dead? Nah, he was certain, for he could sense a pair of purple eyes peering at him from the distant abyss in which he floated.

"So, you refuse to reveal yourself?" Damien spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the direction from which he felt the piercing gaze.

A moment later, a female figure materialized in front of him. She possessed long black hair cascading down to her hips, a charming oval face, and unique purple eyes, complemented by fair jade-like skin. She exuded a beauty unparalleled.

"Greetings, Damien. We finally meet. It's earlier than anticipated," she spoke, her gaze fixed on Damien to gauge his reaction. However, instead of a response, she was met with a punch hurtling toward her, enveloped in mana.

"Who are you?! How dare you assume my mother's appearance!" Damien exclaimed, his movements surpassing the speed of light as he appeared before his 'supposed mother,' his fist poised to strike.

Though he didn't actually intend to harm her, his anger was unmistakable.

"You already know who I am, don't you, Damien?" the woman spoke, her tone devoid of emotion, effortlessly blocking the incoming punch.

Damien appeared taken aback before retracting, his eyes fixed on the woman, awaiting an explanation.

However, it seemed he had already deduced the truth long before.

In an instant, the surroundings transformed, and they found themselves within Damien's room. He gazed at the figure standing before him—a majestic being adorned in colossal black armor, a cape blending seamlessly with the darkness as it billowed. The being's resplendent purple eyes shone through the helmet as they surveyed Damien.

"I am Ashborn, The Monarch of Shadows. The King of the dead, who reigns over them... and governs the Deepest Depths of Darkness... I have been observing you closely since you assumed control of this vessel, Damien," a faint flicker of interest danced within Ashborn's eyes as he scrutinized Damien, who regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.

"So, you are aware of my transmigration into this body, I presume?" Damien inquired, to which Ashborn nodded in affirmation.

"Thus, you must also be privy to my memories from my previous life?"

Once again, the Shadow Monarch nodded.

"Yes, I have witnessed your memories from your past life, and I must admit, I was astounded to discover that my world was nothing more than a work of fiction, penned by an author who labeled it 'solo leveling.' I never fathomed such a possibility, but as I delved into your memories, everything became increasingly clear." Ashborn gazed at Damien, relaying his revelations derived from the memories.

An eerie silence settled within the room as Damien contemplated how to broach the subject with Ashborn. Finally, he decided to seek answers. "Um, Ashborn, is there any way to resurrect my mother?" he inquired, his gaze fixed upon the Shadow Monarch.

"I possess no knowledge pertaining to that matter," Ashborn replied, shaking his head. Damien let out a sigh, his expression crestfallen, until he heard the following words.

"But... there might be a possibility to revive your mother once you attain transcendence, becoming a being that surpasses time and ascends. It could hold the key you seek. However, let me ask you again, Damien, are you truly determined to venture out once more, facing arduous challenges in your pursuit of reaching the pinnacle, when you can have everything you desire in this world? You could revive your mother, reunite with the village, your Grandpa Xander, and Grandma Chiyo. You can have it all. Why subject yourself to further suffering out there?" Ashborn inquired, changing the surroundings to depict Damien and his mother sharing their favorite dish, 'kimchi jigae.'

"Ashborn, I cannot turn back now. My aspiration to become the strongest entity in this world remains unfulfilled. I yearn to venture forth, etch my name in the annals of history, and ascend to the zenith of power. I crave fear and reverence. It is the very essence of my dreams. I am fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead. I must walk on this path. It is what my mother would have wanted."

Damien smiled and shook his head, imagining his mother scolding him if he were to choose to stay behind.

Ashborn smirked, turning his back to Damien and striding toward the boundless darkness.

"Very well, I shall honor your decision. I shall now return to my eternal slumber. However, you, THE SHADOW MONARCH, shall endure as an immortal. Thus, I doubt our paths shall cross again. And be wary of this system and the goddess you have encountered. They are not as simple as they may seem. Farewell, Shadow Monarch," Ashborn uttered, fading into the shadows, leaving Damien gazing at his vanishing figure.

"Goodbye, Ashborn. I shall not disappoint you."

[NOTICE: THE PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AWAKENING THE ANGEL OF DEATH]

—————————————

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