Unconscious But Safe

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Because of all the wounds on the Queen Widow's body, a shimmering crystal-like construct embedded within the spider's body caught Apollo's attention. There was a shining core composed of a mix of green and purple colors interspersed within its center. 

But, its state was partially murky, garnering Apollo's curiosity. Unfortunately, he couldn't perform any closer inspection due to the bout of weakness he felt washing over his body.

The aftereffects of his actions seemed to be appearing quickly. Just as Azridan said, his actions would ultimately end up with him suffering damage. But, in his current situation, that wasn't the worst consequence. 

There were still spiders remaining and after witnessing his earlier actions, they eyed him with the desire for the core in his hand. If any one of them managed to ingest the core then they were bound to evolve!

Hence, Apollo stored it quickly and raised his weapons in preparation for more battle. Although the sensation grew with each passing moment, Apollo felt he had some time before he was completely overwhelmed by weakness.

[Just try to hold on. You'll be safe as long as you can hold out until all of them are dead.]

"Right...murder," Apollo answered mindlessly. Not much attention was spared for his answer as he pulled a spider leg from one of the Widow Queen's orifices.

In the next moment, he turned into a blur, wreaking havoc amongst these much weaker spiders. His first target was dealt with in an instant, before tossing it against the others to disrupt their rush. Simple actions, yet they proved effective.

One slash and a few stabs; that's all it took to slay these beasts at the moment.

Now that their queen was killed. Their movements were in disarray. Not to mention, the way Apollo moved, there was no hope of them coming in contact with him. It would require agility at least on par with the queen, but none of them possessed that strength.

Steadily, his experience bar increased as fell into further madness. He didn't kill, he annihilated. Using the carcasses, in a frenzy, Apollo flung them around the rooms as if they were rag dolls. A continuous stream of notifications moved across his view as he swiped it away.

His actions destroyed multiple upon multiple beast eggs. In fact, his quest's completion bar was only a sliver from being complete. Sadly, that wasn't the only thing hanging on by a thread. His consciousness was waning by the instant and his vision in his left eye was darkening as well.

At this point, he was acting on pure instinct—the desire to become stronger. It was so much so he began to mindlessly mutter a single phrase throughout each kill. Furthermore, his voice was becoming increasingly guttural as if it was the world's worst pain to talk at this moment.

"I...murder for power...become...ruthless to survive," Apollo muttered as he splintered the ground with a strong propulsive force. Eviscerating yet another spider beast, he drove it into the wall before kicking off of it and landing on the next target.

Only a handful of eggs and spiders remained after experiencing his wrath. Yet, the spiders were intent on getting that core in his grasps.

[It's baffling. Is this the power I'm supposed to cultivate in this young one? I wonder, just how is he connected to the one who gave me my orders? And, could that be the First Monarch?]

A sudden change took place as Azridan pondered the mysteries of Apollo's origins. 

"Arrrrrgghhhhh!" Apollo roared to the sky as his body released an obscure shockwave. However, in exchange, that aura continued to both lacerate and sear the bodies of all the remaining beasts.

Finally, Apollo's rampage reached its end with him falling to his knees. There was no focus in his eyes, only the vacancy of unconsciousness. Be that as it may, his chest continued to heave, releasing a white cloudy breath.

[What?! Such a pure emission of Wrath for his level. Although it pales in comparison to the actual first level, just welding a semblance of it is shocking enough.]

At the same time, Apollo instinctively tried to struggle to his feet. However, his entire body felt like lead, as if it wasn't his to control anymore. It was an inexplicable sensation to him but there wasn't much he could do. He had utterly exhausted himself in the earlier fight.

That wasn't the end of it. His expression contorted into one caused by a rage-inducing pain. His veins writhed like snakes under his skin as his body swayed. Naturally, he had reached the extent of his capabilities. Committing a massacre of this extent in his fit of rage was already an indication of the power hidden within him.

[You have done well, lad. Now sleep. I will do my best to ensure your safety.]

Despite the stream of notifications before his eyes, Apollo was unable to perceive them. In the meantime, Apollo nodded ever so slightly in response to Azridan's words as his body fell forward in the large pool of blue liquid and mutilated bodies.

Under normal circumstances, he would've been confined to the spot he passed out in. Of course, these weren't normal circumstances.

A short while later, his body struggled to get up, but he soon did so. But as he stood, the signs of pain were nowhere to be found. Instead, a pair of dignified heterochromatic eyes appeared.

'Oh? It seems like the basic version of my eyes can appear? Interesting, but it's not like I can do much,' Azridan spoke as he controlled his body. With the current state of his body, as long as he didn't engage in combat, then Azridan had no worries while in control of Apollo's body.

Before leaving, Apollo's body traveled around the area collecting all Essence Cores from the monsters who possessed them. As for the Widow Queen, he paid special attention to its body before dragging along the stripped skeleton.

Soon enough, shadowy embers enshrouded Azridan before allowing him to disappear into the obscurity of darkness. Every time his body took a step, it seemed like the foliage he passed would decay.

However, the aura of life didn't seem to just vanish. Instead, it was funneled elsewhere. Every time this happened, his gait grew steadier; a firm posture returning to his limp body.

'I can also utilize this ability. Though I must say, it is unfortunate this world is so weak,' Azridan thought with a look of disgust.

Weak? If the top people of this world heard his words, they would have without a doubt rampaged indignantly. Azridan's words were blatantly blaspheming this entire world and the people on it!

Even the Terrors were unable to call this world weak as they were incapable of completely decaying its core and turning this world into one of their own! Hence, why they were limited to their current area of action. It if was like this, then how powerful was the world he came from?

Soon enough, Azridan located the area he wanted to bring Apollo to. After all, when he awakened, the things he was going to teach him would perhaps cause a large disturbance. Therefore, it was best to take precautions by retiring to an area out of the perception of stronger beasts. If he released what he was going to in their presence, there was a chance of them coveting it.

Looking down at Apollo's arm, Azridan examined to extent of Apollo's injuries before making plans.

Once he was inside the cave, Azridan imbued the Dark Cutter with a small piece of crimson thread. The surface of the knife bubbling with a mortifying heat and once it reached its peak, he sent a wave of infernal energy towards the cave entrance.

It collapsed whereas the wave melded with the rock and changes its properties until it reached an ideal state for Azridan's intention. 

Gradually, the rocks became molten lava but they didn't spew everywhere while under Azridan's control. Then, the lava cooled until it hardened into blackened rock.

Afterward, Azridan introduced it to yet another energy, which produced a metallic luster symbolizing its reinforced integrity.

After giving it a prodding knock, Azridan deemed it to be of suitable strength and something newcomers wouldn't be able to deal with even if they spent days attack it.

"The state of his body isn't horrible due to my actions. However, it'll take time for his mind to recover. When he awakes, we'll begin with the procedures. He'll be one step closer to what he desires," Azridan thought while sitting against a bare wall in the cave.

Azridan then relinquished control of Apollo's body and allowed it to go through the needed healing process. But, when he released control, Apollo shockingly uttered an odd name—"Erus...Fuhrer."

[Hmm? Why did he utter that name? And, why does it sound oddly familiar? Am I forgetting something important?]

Regrettably, Azridan was unable to remember the significance of this name.