Chapter 76

I'm posting some chapters ahead of time on my discord server: https://discord.gg/r2VSvS5kaH

Double update today cuz I feel like it. Tbh I want to concentrate more on writing tomorrow, I have 2 chapters left to write and it's finished. *Currently on 83th chapter*

So double update today, and tomorrow none. Pls forgive me for this cheating.

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[Charge.]

*Stomp*

The giants began to run at each other, followed by their armies. The figures that could easily touch the skies were moving faster than their own armies. On one hand, thousands of black-lightnings were violently rolling on one side, crashing into the new land. On the other side, the ocean was evaporating.

Each of those steps was causing a thin layer of the ground to peel off like the skin of an apple.

*Ka-Boom*

The giant shadow figure immediately went for the punch and successfully delivered it to the dragon's face.

Antares grabbed onto the chunk of black mass tightly. He took him down on the ground and began to wrestle with him.

*Rumble*

It evolved into a struggle for dominance in which each side tried to gain the upper hand and render the other helpless. Their armies were nowhere to be seen, and during this process, they had already moved kilometers from the original battle scene.

*Bang*

The dragon swept away the giant figure with its tail. Ashborn was thrown away by the impact. Because of this giant appearance, he wasn't as mobile and couldn't stop rolling immediately. When he stopped it, Antares with his giant claws, dug into his armor and pinned him to the ground.

The dragon's mouth lit up, meaning he was preparing to attack him with the Breath of Destruction.

Instantly, Ashborn used his leg to push the dragon off himself. Antares was flipped forward, and he fell to the ground on his back. His eyes still noticed the figure that had just stood up.

The dragon rose to his feet in a flash. It was surprising how Antares was still more mobile than Ashborn. This was so because it was the natural form, as opposed to Ashborn's, which was essentially a set of armor that served as a puppet controlled by Ash.

A desperate battle ensued.

Whenever they collided, the ground quaked and the heavens rocked. Who knew on which continent they were now? They were deformed in an unrecognizable way. Every plot of land was being showered by dark lightning and flaming boulders.

The power of destruction and the power of death were clashing with each other once more. Their strength was even, and throughout the battle, nobody, even for a few seconds, could hold an upper hand over another.

This battle was heard all over the planet, and the shadow army kept going strong against the monarch because of it.

It felt like a motivational speech; their lord was continuing the battle despite the disadvantage. Their losses were many, and the rest of the monarchs were slaughtering them, but they weren't let down by the strongest shadows.

They were surprisingly putting up a good fight... until the monarch manifested their souls.

The first one who couldn't hold out anymore without trying more was the Beast Monarch. He manifested his soul and transformed into the giant wolf with snow-white fur.

*Growl*

The wolf was gritting his teeth and growling at the shadow in front of him. Windsom in his dragon was slightly bigger than the wolf, but this couldn't be said about the strength. The former Asura was feeling pressured.

[You mere bugs...won't give up, will you?]

"Oh well, we surely won't run away like the scared puppy you are."

With a draconic grin, WIndsommocked the Monarch of Beastly Fangs. The albino wolf became enraged by this and recklessly charged the shadow dragon. The dragon retaliated by taking flight and continuing to attack the monarch from above.

*Burst*

Another energy blast from Windsom was aimed at the Beast Monarch. Latter took a hit from the attack, but it turned out to be only a scratch. His white fur was just a little burnt.

[You can't harm me with those punny att-]

The Beast Monarch's face was blasted with a much more powerful attack this time. For a second, he even lost the feeling of gravity. His mind was feeling a little bit dizzy.

"Compared to the Monarch of Destruction, you are nothing. Be happy that my lord has deemed unnecessary in his kill list... "

[You... You bastard! I'll rip you to shreds!]

Instantly, the difference in height became non-existent. In order to successfully catch the flying dragon, the wolf dug his legs into the ground and leaped up. His body weight, on the other hand, helped to bring down the prey, while his teeth were tightly dug into the dragon's feet.

*Boom* *Bang* *Thud*

The enraged monarch slammed the dragon to the ground with all his might. He began to tip and tear. He cut off the limbs and even the head, but it still regenerated. Everything around was becoming a mess.

The Beast Monarch recklessly continued crossing his claws and making deeper and deeper cuts, leaving behind the evidence of these cuts on the ground.

'I can't let him continue doing this!'

The monarch was standing on the Windsom, not letting him move anyhow. The wolf wasn't giving the dragon breathing space. This had to be somehow changed.

'He's too strong!'

Windsom cursed inwardly. The Beast Monarch was definitely one of the most physically-oriented among the monarchs. His pure physical strength was probably only second to Antares and Ashborn. He just couldn't move him at all.

The dragon realized he needed help from other shadows. Through the connection, someone felt the call for help and arrived.

*Slick*

The dark spike rose from the ground and hit the wolf's red prying eyes. He screamed in pain and turned to face whoever attacked him. At this moment, his second eye was hit by something else.

*Swish*

Something very fast blitzed past the wolf's face. While it was blinded, Windsom used this moment to escape. He kicked away the Beast Monarch just when he concentrated on regenerating the eyes.

"Thank you, Uto, Hawky."

The two blurred next to Windsom, "Lord Windsom, I fear we won't be able to be much of a help."

The dragon wasn't asking for them to take care of the Monarch by themselves. No. He'd be the one to take on the giant wolf, he'll just need assistance. "Just distract him for me."

Uto beamed up, "Oh, we can do that. Hey, you barking doggo! I'm here!"

The shadow flew closer to the monarch. To his surprise, the monarch went aggressively more quickly than he expected. If he hadn't moved back just a little, he'd be split in half with the claws.

'Sh*t! This fatass is really fast!'

Maybe Uto overestimated himself. Those Monarchs were too strong for him to handle. He had to trust Windsom in this one and support him with all his might. After all, if they can't win, they'll only create more problems for their lord.

'And every other soldier is preoccupied with other Monarchs. This is bad...'

Lord Beru was still going up against the insectoid woman. The ant king was doing great all alone, but he was slammed into the ground too many times by that woman. She was forming giant fists out of mana and using them against the ants.

*Whoosh*

"SKREEE!" Beru roared out a powerful screech and flew towards his enemy at full speed. His roar contained all the rage he accumulated during this battle, and despite the heavy damage he took, Beru thrust his claws into the stomach of that woman.

[Guhh!]

She choked out the blood. Beru's attack definitely hurt her not only physically but also mentally. Her expression showed how her pride was hurt. The previous elegant face morphed into an ugly one.

[I should kill this child of mine.]

The edges of her mouth grew wider as she smiled. Her sharp teeth were on display, but something felt weird about her. When she finally opened her mouth and stuck out her weird sharp tongue, then it became clear.

Suddenly, her hair also turned green, and she began to take the shape of an insect. Her body was getting covered in scales.

"An ugly woman like you will never kill this devoted soldier!"

[Funny, then face me now. I might even praise you~]

Beru wasted no time. His claws were trying to rip this woman to pieces, but she became rather too quick. The monarch could follow his speed, but she was also stronger now. Her physical strength started to exceed his own.

*Bang*

The loud bangs from their slamming fists could be heard all over the battlefield. Each of their strikes connected with each other, thus intercepting them. No one did any real damage. The problem was that Beru was trying its best.

[Hahaha! How funny!] The Monarch of the Plague laughed hysterically. One of her hands morphed into a sharp scythe and, with it, she cut off Beru's hand.

*Swish*

His hand got separated for only a second before it returned to its original position.

[Tch, these annoying shadows.]

It was annoying for Quaresha. Those shadows had almost infinite regeneration and seemed literally unkillable. If only you erased their existence, that's when they disappear. However, it takes a lot of effort to take out soldiers like Beru.

And there are so many of those strong shadows. Just when and where did Ashborn manage to kill them? There's a literal horde of those strong ones. Compared to the others, the draconic soldiers seem particularly menacing.

They also had dragons in their army, but they simply couldn't erase the existence of shadow soldiers. They are more like dead meat.

[They are all useless, we have to deal with those bugs ourselves.]

Irritated Quaresha took her current battle a lot more seriously. She slashed and attacked Beru from all sides, and with most of her strength already regained, it felt too easy. The ant-king was unable to keep up with the speed, and his attempts to parry the attacks were unsuccessful.

*Bang* *Bang*

Beru was constantly being flown away from every attack slamming into his face. The creepy smile on the Plague Monarch made it humiliating for the Ant King. Yet his rage was useless, he couldn't use rage as a driving factor anymore. He had to act smart. In the past, he always won his fights head-on, but this time it wouldn't be enough.

'But what can I do?' The ant asked himself.

There were no particular qualities he was better at than this monarch. He was emotionally driven. He had raw strength and speed, which he valued over other abilities. They are now rendered useless, though.

[Why won't you attack me now, punny ant? The only thing you are doing is eating away your king's mana.]

Instead of making Beru more emotionally unstable. Quaresha's words made something click in Beru's mind. Yes, he was an ant... and so far he was only eating away his liege's mana. Eating was his answer.

He was devouring to grow strong before. So he shall do the same for his liege now.

"Kek, women." Beru, with the mischievous laugh, charged at the woman once more. Quaresha anticipated this attack.

[What? Did I drive you mad?]

In an effort to seize the ant king, Quaresha summoned a hand made of green mana. The latter sliced through it and blurred next to the monarch. In retaliation, the woman swung her hand at him. Something unusual happened.

Beru bit into her hand and ripped off a good chunk of meat.

[Huh?]

"Kekeke." Beru laughed joyously. How could he be so stupid that he forgot his past and how he acquired strength before. His main ability, which could devour someone's...

"I'm so sorry for my own foolishness, my liege."He then faced the Monarch of Plague, saying

"You come at me, old hag. I shall take you head on."

[Foolishness and only!]

The Monarch of Plague's already hurt pride finally cracked, and she attacked the Ant. However, right as she was approaching the Beru, something pierced her from all sides. Her eyes immediately went around to see many spear-shaped objects, and they all had a purple color.

[Did this ant...just copy my ability?]

And not only that, but Beru also used the woman's emotions against her! His battle intelligence finally bloomed with the humiliation he faced prior.

Now he was ready to rip and tear.