Chapter 448 - Dominator Vs. Suppressor (I)

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Inside the Archaic Ira Ruins…

Apollo's expression underwent a drastic change after the system revealed Fuhrer's information. At first, he thought it would only display his current stats, but Apollo underestimated the use of the Demon Monarch System's 6th level.

He wasn't aware of it, but the system was near completion because it only possessed eight levels. However, what followed the awakening of the 8th level was still unknown, just as the creator was.

'You've got to be kidding me. Are these the parameters of a Daemos at the zenith of that state?' Apollo muttered in astonishment. His eyes widened as he marveled at the information of Fuhrer.

「Name: Erus Fuhrer [*Follower]

Race: Greater Demon (100.00%)

Title: Infernal Slaughterer, Lord of the Tenebrous Sword

Bloodline: Void Tartarean (Aura of Suppression)

Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,000,000 units [10,000,000,000 units]

Sin Volume: 50,000 units [750,000 units] 

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Strength: 3,750.0 [125,000.0]

Agility: 3,600.0 [120,000.0]

Intelligence: 3,600.0 [120,000.0]

Vitality: 3,450.0 [115,000.0]

Perception: 3,600.0 [120,000]

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-[«Traits»]

«Phantasmal Daemos» 

«Daemos Demon Body» [Sealed]

«Void Immersion»

«Tenebrous Assimilation»

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Ira: Late [Flawless] (???)

Superbia: Late [Flawless] (???) 」

...

At most, Fuhrer could only draw upon 3% of his power, yet his statistics put the current demons in Apollo's possession to shame. Not to mention, although he was an individual with a berserk bloodline, his attributes were balanced, with a slight favor towards strength and agility.

However, that was to be expected since most berserk bloodlines used vitality as a source to amplify these two combat aspects. 

Without a doubt, Apollo knew a spar against Fuhrer could only be done while using a weapon. All of Fuhrer's attributes were higher than his. Apollo's stigmata were stronger than Fuhrer's, but they consumed a constant supply of his Ira.

Therefore, he glanced towards Ouroboros. "Refill my Ira Reserves, Boross"

"Yessss," Ouroboros hissed before sinking his fangs into Apollo's neck.

Immediately, Apollo's eyes widened as they surged with a crimson glow. A stream of messages appeared within his view as his Diabolic Heart experienced a significant influx of Ira.

Apollo didn't expect the surge to be so quick because he didn't know that Ouroboros's bite increased the flow of his Ira to finish off the infusion within a short timeframe.

Ouroboros retracted his fangs within seconds as Apollo's body surged with Ira, indicating his refilled Sin Vessel. Apollo clenched his fist as his Iraym Form strengthened.

In the next moment, his Infernal Ira Stigmata thrummed with power as Apollo created some distance between him and Fuhrer. "You don't need to take it easy at all. Treat me as a genuine opponent."

"Are you sure about that?" Fuhrer replied with an arched brow. Although he wasn't planning to hold back, he wasn't planning on treating Apollo as a genuine opponent, either. He merely wanted to gauge Apollo's true strength.

"Certain," Apollo nodded as a dark gold hue emitted from his spine. His Dauntless Vertebrae released a steady stream of Superbia throughout his body. Unlike before, his Cardinal Sphere pulsated just before the two Sins collided.

Instantly, the pulse forced the Sins to remain in place.

Meanwhile, Apollo's form remained unchanged. It was neither his Iraym nor Suprana Form. Instead, it was a form that made Fuhrer's eyes widen in shock.

"L-Lord Astraval?" Fuhrer muttered but soon caught himself while shaking his head. It was a momentary lapse in judgment, but seeing Apollo adopt the form that came with his bloodline overwhelmed Fuhrer for a moment.

'I should've expected that his original demonic form would return after awakening his bloodline,' Fuhrer internalized while placing his hand on the hilt of Brynhildr.

Similarly, Apollo raised his hand towards Typhir, which caused Gram to vibrate and shoot into his palm. "I'm ready."

"Likewise," Fuhrer said as his body released a mysterious aura that blended with the void seamlessly. Now that Apollo was aware of Fuhrer's traits, he understood what this aura was. It was Fuhrer's Void Immersion that allowed his body to blend with the void with no faults. 

This trait was the foundation of his Void Shuttling technique.

In spite of Fuhrer's actions, Apollo immediately went on the offensive. Two majestic dragon-like wings unfurled behind Apollo's back as he rushed towards Fuhrer at mind-boggling speeds. Compared to the earlier presentation of his wings, they were much smaller now since they weren't suitable for combat in that state.

Regrettably, by the time Apollo's sword met Fuhrer's possession, he only bisected a phantom image. Fuhrer had already stepped inside of the void, shuttling around on a circular axis.

Fuhrer didn't navigate far from his initial position since he was testing his perception. One thing Apollo needed to possess was overwhelming sharp sense. Thus, Fuhrer wanted to know how acute his senses were.

But, Apollo didn't use a conventional method to locate Fuhrer. He conjured a black sphere in his palm before crushing it an instant later, sending an overwhelming aura spiraling outward. The aura found Fuhrer's initial void entry location in an instant.

A moment later, the aura burrowed into the void and caused the entrance to crumble at a visible rate. Since using his perception to find Fuhrer took too much time, Apollo opted for the method of brute force.

'Oh? Is the young Lord trying to crumble this void channel and force me out? Unfortunately for the young Lord, I have several ways of employing the void for my use,' Fuhrer thought. 

Suddenly, many branching void channels appeared, forcing Apollo's aura to spread over innumerable branching paths until its effect became minimal.

Apollo realized this instantly since a link remained between his aura and the Cardinal Sphere. As long as it was within a specific range, it delivered feedback.

Eventually, Fuhrer's action caused Apollo to chuckle.

A terrifyingly sharp aura billowed from Apollo's body. He slashed Gram horizontally, causing a colorless arc of demonic energy infused with an abnormal energy to surge toward the void's entrance.

Whereas his first actions only used his Aura of Domination, Apollo infused some of his Tenebrous ability into the Nether Severance, creating an attack with the ability to sever the void itself!

Fuhrer's expression finally changed as he ejected himself from the void with an amused chuckle, "Not bad. You're becoming more intuitive in your movements. Very well, I shall show you something." Ait's just a shame that I'm 

Following Fuhrer's word, Apollo sensed a change in the surrounding area. A number of void entrances appeared around him.

"You said to treat you like a genuine opponent. So, I'll show you the technique that made me feared on the battlefield," Fuhrer exclaimed before disappearing immediately after.

When he reappeared, there were six other copies of himself, operating the second baleful step at maximum efficiency. Then, all of his mirages entered the void while their location shifted to form a perfect dome around Apollo.

Apollo's eyes narrowed once the positions of the voids shifted. 'What is he up to?'

Regardless, Apollo readied himself by pointing Gram forward with a focused expression. Apollo pushed his perception to its limits as he tried to sense Fuhrer's subsequent actions.

Since Fuhrer was an opponent of unforeseen attack methods, Apollo had to tap into his imagination. His Languished Perception activated as his eyes shifted between the voids rapidly.

However, although everything moved slower in his eyes, all Apollo saw was a black flash when one of Fuhrer's mirages appeared from within a void.

Whoosh! Ting!

Apollo stepped back, narrowly dodging a slash from the first mirage when a second one appeared, causing him to change the angle of Gram's width. Although it was a mere mirage, the weight behind the attack felt real.

After all, when pushed to its pinnacle, the second baleful step was a game-changer 

Fortunately, Apollo was beginning to realize this as he shifted his body at a ridiculous rate, yet still received damage from Fuhrer's attacks.

How was he supposed to handle this attack when Fuhrer's mirages appeared from one void and disappeared into another after initiating a strike?

Because of the speed and trajectory of the attacks, it felt like Apollo was dealing with 14 opponents and not 7.

Consequenly, Apollo used the Umbra Phantom Mantle as well. However, the disparity in their mastery was immediately noticed. Whereas Fuhrer instantly summed 6 mirages, it took Apollo a few seconds just to summon 3!

"Don't worry lad. I'm far from done!" Fuhrer chuckled.

Boom!

Apollo's feet sunk in the ground as an overbearing pressure bore down on him, suppressing his movements.

〈System Alert: Your Agility's effects have decreased by 50%.〉