111 Chapter 111: Greater understanding 1

Elves are considered the weakest race in terms of potential yet the most favored race on this planet. As elves had low magic potential and weak bodies, they start at very low realms and find it extremely difficult to progress but as nature is on their side, they are blessed with an insane long life which practically covers their weakness perfectly.

The elven race expedition team is made up of people like Isabel who is over a hundred years old just a few years away from reaching the two hundred years threshold! Yet she looks like a lady in her early 20's or 30's.Amongst the elven race expedition team, Elsa is considered a prodigy, reaching the peak grade of the bronze realm in just 50 years!

Compared to other elves, her growth speed is really amazing. That is why Isabel brought her along in a bid to help improve her experience and understanding of her power

......

Derik sat neatly on the bare floor with both legs crossed. After his limiter removal timed out, he realized he wasn't as weak as he usually felt and wondered if the 8 souls belonging to the peak grade bronze realm warriors are the reason why he is able to escape this harsh fate. Yes! He knew he wasn't at his peak but he wasn't entirely useless right now.

Derik's pale body remained still like a mountain as he dove deep inside his thought, pulling himself into his little temporary domain where all his consumed souls are kept. His consciousness swayed in the darkness and quietly observed all that resided in it.

"This....." Derik muttered lazily as he didn't really find anything strange.

He knew that in order to progress in the realm, although absorbing enough energy is quite important, it is also necessary for someone to deepen their understanding of their power. To be honest, if given a chance he would choose to understand the secrets of the death element over accumulating energy.

As so many people thought he rose quickly in the realm due to his ability to steal the souls and energy of his victims but this assumption is quite wrong. The truth remains that Derik could only grow so fast because his understanding of his element grew by leaps and bounds because of his near-death experiences. This is a cheat only available to people who practice the element of death.

"Having troubles understanding the element of death?" A soothing voice echoed from behind.

Startled by what the voice, Derik quickly turned to meet Demos' charming smile. The Angel of death's pitch black hair with purple streaks fluttered in the wind and his darkish purple fiery eyes which looked identical to that of Derik burned fiercely. A wild grin appeared on his face as he stared at Derik with hints of respect in fiery eyes.

"Why do you still fear... Even in your own domain?... It doesn't look good on you kid" Demos laughed.

His black robes with purple designs swayed in the wind and the bone-chilling black scythe silently followed behind, matching Demos' movement speed.

"Will it kill you to appear right in front of me? Why do you always have to make such an entrance" Derik furrowed his eyebrows.

Demos laughed and flew past Derik and plunged further into the darkness in this domain, leaving Derik behind.

Derik hesitated a bit and chased after Demos

"Yea... I can't seem to progress in this area... I feel like there is nothing more to know about death!" Derik sighed

"Nothing more? Then let me ask you this... In the face of death, how do most people react? " Demos' voice echoed from within the darkness.

"Eeeeeehhhhm... They get scared and flustered... Most of them become desperate and sloppy..." Derik thought for a while before answering the question.

His body flashed and he quickly appeared next to Demos with complicated emotions on his face as he stared down on all nine souls in wandering around aimlessly in his domain.

"Can you still feel those negative emotions on them?" Demos asked while stealing a glance at Derik with hopeful eyes.

Hearing this Derik frowned and his eyes narrowed. He dove deeper into the darkness and stood within all 9 condemned souls. He quickly sat down cross-legged and dove into deep meditation, trying to grasp every single emotion these souls felt.

Initially when he arrived, he could only sense the sinister and diabolic death aura from then but now things changed. He broke through the stench of death aura around them and dove even deeper.

Fear, pain, anguish, disappointment, regret, grief and all sorts of negative emotions flooded out of their bodies and broke into Derik's mind making it chaotic. His body trembled greatly and the light in his fiery eyes dimmed considerably.

"Crap!" He hissed, gasping for air.

The negative emotions threatened to break his mind and will from within and he didn't know how to deal with it!

"When I asked you to flee from Samael... What did you feel when you decided to battle him even when there was a very high chance of you perishing?" Demos' voice echoed in his chaotic mind.

"W-wh-at?" Derik stuttered as he continued to battle the negative emotions in his mind.

"Answer me!" Demos roared

"Nothing! I felt nothing!... I only thought of the possible futures with Samael in it and considered it necessary to kill at that point in time" Derik cried out.

"Excellent! A calm mind and heart in the presence of adversity is the mark of a great warrior! Steady your heart and mind... Taking in all that negative emotion around you... Channel it into a singular goal and you will be shocked by how much power you can summon!"

Hearing this, Derik stopped struggling and let the negative emotions flow into his mind unrestricted. The darkish purple flames in his eyes lit up and burnt fiercely. His body quivered as black ancient runes were slowly embedded on his body.

"Amazing..." Derik said with an indifferent look on his face. He quickly got on his feet and looked at Demos with uncertain eyes.

"I deemed you ready when you subdued your fear and fought fiercely against Samael... A person who fears death can never overcome it. I'm truly glad you have come this far... I don't regret sacrificing a portion of my power to return your life that year!" Demos laughed.

Hearing this Derik was touched, he smiled and bowed slightly

"I'll be leaving first then" He muttered

.........

While Derik meditated in silence, ancient purple markings appeared on his body and his body trembled greatly. Violent and bloodthirsty aura burst out of his body all of a sudden.

"Get back... All of you!!!!" Isabel screamed in fright, grabbing on to Elsa as she retreated.

The others reacted quickly also, dashing away while staring at Derik with frightened looks on their faces.

"What kind of evil power does he cultivate?... How can someone master an element so sinister and diabolic!" Elsa screamed in fear!

The aura spread forth like a plague for a while forcing Isabel and the other elves to retreat even further into the forest, after a while its advance stopped abruptly and all the violent aura retreated into Derik's body.

His eyes yanked open and his fiery purple eyes burned brighter than ever. He remained seated in the cross-legged position until the elves. Seeing the fearful looks on their faces, Derik frowned slightly and sighed. He knew that something may have been triggered while he cultivated under Demos' guidance. He didn't really care either, all he knew was that his harvest this time was bountiful. But what trouble him the most are the drawbacks of using such a marvelous ability.

He was getting used to this give and take conditions which are attached to most of his abilities, considering it as a law that should guide the living. He pushed away those thoughts right there and got on his feet, staring at Isabel indifferently.

"Let's move... With the help of my friend, Cyrus... The expedition team of the Gyro kingdom shouldn't be far behind" Derik said.

Just like Demos, Michael was also a guardian spirit. So it was only natural for him to be able to guide the Gyro expedition team through the forest safely just like Demos has been doing for him.