Chapter 48

Cha Hae-In wiped the sweat from her brow, sheathing her sword. "We have rid New York of the Monarchs, Sir. The city is yours."

Goto Ryuji, with his katana still glowing faintly from the battle, nodded in agreement. "Their power was not that impressive Sir, if they have fought you they would not last a single second"

Go Gunhee, flames still flickering around his fists, added, "We have upheld your honor, Sir. The Monarchs have been defeated."

Kade's eyes, however, held a hint of something that made the trio's triumphant expressions falter. He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze penetrating. "You misunderstand," he said quietly, but his voice carried the weight of a hammer. "What you defeated were not the true Monarchs. They were merely vessels."

A heavy silence fell over the trio. The realization hit them like a cold wave. They had not truly defeated the beings that posed the greatest threat to their world.

Cha Hae-In's eyes widened. "Vessels? But their power…"

Kade nodded. "Yes, their power was immense. But it was a fraction of what the true Monarchs possess. The beings you fought were extensions, proxies sent to test our strength and weaken our resolve."

"From what you told us Sir, Reed was also a vessel of a Ruler, how come the Monarch's vessel is much stronger?"

"Oh that's simple, the Ruler's vessels only have their blessings, where as the one you fought is the actual Monarchs controlling their vessels, so you're actually right in saying you beat them, you just didn't beat them in their actual body"

Goto Ryuji clenched his fists, his katana trembling slightly as he felt he had disappointed his master again. "Then where are the real Monarchs, sir?

Kade's gaze turned towards the horizon, a distant look in his eyes. "The true Monarchs reside in their own realm, preparing for their full descent. They used these vessels to gauge our capabilities and to sow fear…well, not us but these other humans, they do not know just who they're facing"

Kade placed a hand on Gotto's shoulder. "Do not be disheartened. Your victory here was still significant. It has shown me your potential and your dedication, giving me enough reason to increase your power even more as a reward"

With this, Gotto felt his whole being shaking as he felt his master's kind words, his tears almost burst out, "Yes sir, I will make sure to defeat them on their full power to show you that you did not make a mistake by making me your subject"

Kade just chuckled hearing this, not knowing just how all his subject felt towards him, to them he was their god, their ruler and their everything, to recieve a praise from their master is the same as plant recieving sunlight.

Although the battle was over, Kade did not like the fact that they sent their mere vessel to test them, "Since you sent your pets to me, let me do the same"

With that, he grinned and walked towards Thomas, who was still rubbing his stomach from the kick he received earlier.

Meanwhile, In a dark and twisted realm far from Earth, the true bodies of the Monarchs lay in a massive, ominous chamber. The air was thick with a malevolent energy. The Monarchs were in various states of rest, their true forms recovering from the damage they recieved from getting their vessels killed.

"We underestimated them," the Monarch of Frost said, his voice laced with pain and anger. "I did not expect that human to show up, he was supposed to be in different continent"

The Monarch of Plagues hissed in agreement. "But it was just a vessel. We will be ready for him next time."

Before they could continue their conversation, a sudden ripple tore through the fabric of their realm. An open space rift appeared, its edges crackling with dark energy. From the rift, Thomas Andre emerged, his eyes glowing with an eerie, black light.

The Monarchs recoiled in surprise and anger. "A human dare enter our domain?" the Monarch of Beasts roared, rising to his feet.

Thomas Andre grinned, his body radiating with the power bestowed upon him by Kade. "The master did not like what you did"

Without hesitation, he charged at the Monarch of Beasts, his fists covered with a black, symbiotic flesh.

The clash was immediate and violent, the force of their blows sending shockwaves through the chamber.

Thomas Andre's strength multiplied by who knows how many times. He fought with a ferocity that matched the raw power of the Monarchs. The Monarch of Beasts lunged at him, claws extended, but Thomas dodged with inhuman speed and countered with a devastating punch that sent the beast sprawling.

The Monarch of Plagues joined the fray, unleashing a swarm of toxic locusts that enveloped Thomas. For a moment, it seemed like he was overwhelmed, but then dark tendrils erupted from his body, shredding the locusts to pieces. He turned his attention to the Monarch of Plagues, a savage grin on his face.

"Were you trying to tickle me?" he taunted, launching himself at the Monarch of Plagues. Their clash was a whirlwind of dark energy and toxic fumes, each trying to overpower the other.

The Monarch of Frost, still weakened, attempted to freeze Thomas in place. Icicles formed in the air and shot towards him, but Thomas shattered them with ease. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between them and delivered a powerful kick that sent the Monarch of Frost crashing into the wall.

The Monarchs regrouped, attacking Thomas Andre simultaneously. The chamber echoed with the sounds of their battle, a cacophony of power and destruction. Thomas fought valiantly, but the combined might of the Monarchs began to take its toll.

At one point, the Monarch of Beasts managed to slice through Thomas's neck, severing his head from his body. The Monarchs paused, watching as his head rolled away. But to their horror, black tendrils emerged from Thomas's neck, slithering across the floor to retrieve his head. The tendrils reattached it to his body, and Thomas stood up, unscathed and grinning.

"You'll have to do better than that," he said, his voice filled with dark amusement.

Fueled by Kade's power, Thomas's attacks grew even more fierce. He targeted the Monarch of Frost, his fists striking with bone-crushing force. The Monarch of Frost tried to defend himself, but his injuries slowed him down.

With a final, powerful blow, Thomas severed the Monarch of Frost's arm. The Monarch howled in pain, collapsing to the ground. Dark, icy blood oozed from the wound as the Monarch writhed in agony.

Suddenly, a dark rift opened behind him, and Thomas turned to see Kade's form materialize. Kade surveyed the scene with a satisfied smile. "You've done well, Thomas."

Thomas nodded, stepping back to join his master. "They're weakened, but they'll recover. We need to finish them."

Kade's eyes gleamed with playful smile. "We will. But for now let then suffer, we'll let them know just how scary humans can be"

With a final glance at the writhing Monarchs, Kade and Thomas Andre stepped through the rift, returning to their own realm. The Monarchs were left to lick their wounds and plan their revenge, if opportunity present itself…too bad it won't