Chapter 96: News of Premature Departure

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Amid the refinement of the Spirit Heart Core, the days passed continuously. Although the process was many times slower than typical cultivation, it was offering far greater benefits. Apollo's body went through gradual but earth-shattering changes. The different elements contained within the core prompted different effects to take place within his body.

During the entire process, Apollo didn't once move from his seated position. The state of his body was sustained by the Natural Essence slowing his bodily system; a sign of his cultivation base increasing and coming in contact with the next state. Be that as it may, the Spirit Core was dulling at a faster rate than before.

As his experience meter reached 50% full, he became acclimated to the cycle of absorbing the energy. Hence, the increase in speed. Additionally, his body began autonomous absorption of the ambient Natural Essence, converting it to the infant Hellfire internally.

Apollo's eyelids trembled for a moment and then opened. The Spirit Heart hadn't been completely absorbed but there was an interruption—Kayn had appeared before him purposely flaring his aura to awaken Apollo.

"What is it?" Apollo tilted his head upwards gazing at Kayn with curiosity as well as discontent. Needless to say, he didn't appreciate being interrupted. Much less when he was coming in contact with a crucial barrier.

"We'll be gathering and leaving shortly after. You'll have about a day to prepare yourself." Kayn informed Apollo. Above their heads, the luminescence of the sky dimmed symbolizing the day nearing its end. In response to this information, Apollo's curiosity deepened.

"Already? Is there not 6 months before the academy trials begin? Why are we leaving so soon?" Apollo tilted his head in confusion. How long would the journey be for them to have to leave so soon? While he understood the world was vast, such a long time should be substantial enough to scour the entire world.

"6 months? How long have you been in this state? There's only 3 months remaining until the start of the trials. As for the reason we're leaving so soon, that's simple; the journey itself will take 2 and a half months. This includes some of my owns plans but mostly due to the fact the trials don't take place in this domain. Instead, it takes place on common ground."

'It has been 3 months? That's odd… It felt as if it was a couple of days. Have I become so oblivious to time? I'm not sure if I should be pleased with this or not. While entering a state detached from the world allows me to cultivate unabated, if too much time passes situations could arise in the future.'

"The trial will take place in the center of the 4 continents, at the area where all of them join. In our current position, we exist on the farthest west side. This reason being why we must depart early," Kayn responded. Crossing his arms behind his back, he examined Apollo's current conditions curious as to why he couldn't discern what they were.

While he could ascertain he had yet to enter the Zul Warrior Realm, he couldn't determine whether or not he was close. "How far are you from awakening your dantian?"

Apollo remained quiet for a moment. While doing so he checked the current contents of his experience bar.

«Experience: 1,743,560/2,000,000.»

'Hmm, 3 months has passed but there is still a small gap in the experience. Why does it seem like the absorption rate doesn't add up? It's as if a part of the experience is being directed elsewhere.'

While Kayn chalked this pause up to him determining his internal state, he awaited the answer. Soon enough, their gazes met and Apollo gave him an answer. "I should be fairly close. If I wasn't interrupted before it would have taken no more than a few days at most."

"Hmm, I see. Very well. We depart tomorrow. This time around there are 10 of you participating in the trials. Continue with your actions but don't get too enthralled with it. We'll have to leave punctually," Kayn paused and nodded to Apollo before walking away. His leisure pace seemed to cross a large distance with small steps.

'My momentum has already been disrupted. Rather than continuing, let's get another matter out of the way.' Apollo retrieved numerous Demonic Essence Pellets from his spatial couch. With all the achievements he had accomplished and tasks he had completed, he possessed a rather large collection of them.

It was time to complete another matter he would eventually come in contact with—entering the realm of the Lessers. In other words, becoming a Lesser Demon. One after another, he consumed the pellets as if he was inhaling them.

Now that his meter had breached the 90th percentile its increase was akin to a snail's pace with each pellet consumed. In fact, as he watched the meter grow he feared he didn't possess enough Demonic Essence Pellets to finalize the evolution. It was a matter put off long enough, therefore, he hoped this was not the case.

«Racial Evolution Meter: 94.85%»

«Racial Evolution Meter: 95.35%»

«Racial Evolution Meter: 98.17%»

As the remainder of the pellets thinned, the increase slowed to a negligible rate. In light of this, Apollo threw caution to the wind, shoveling them into his mouth en masse. At this point, a single pellet was only capable of offering a less than a .10% increase; it was an infuriating experience.

«Racial Evolution Meter: 99.02%»

"I'll have to place my hopes in you, don't fail me!" Apollo closed his eyes stowing the last of his faith into the 2 handfuls of Demonic Essence Pellets in his grasp—the last of his repertoire.

Apollo threw his head back and swallowed the pellets. The essence flowed through him in a rushing stream. Immediately after, a torrential destructive aura billowed forth from every orifice in his body. The rhythmic thumping of his heart thrummed with vigor.

At the same time, at the sacrifice of every pellet in his possession he had accomplished it—the notification he was awaiting appeared, appeasing his taut nerves. However, a string of messages appeared alongside it raising vital questions.

〈System Alert! «Racial Evolution Meter: 100%»! Evolution is now a possibility.〉

〈System Alert! Stage of Demonic Conduct has reached the baseline for evolution.〉

〈System Alert! All stats have surpassed 100.0. The baseline requirement for your physique has been met.〉

〈System Alert! All conditions to facilitate evolution into a Lesser Demon has been met.〉

〈System Alert! Take precaution, now commencing comprehensive race change.〉

'Conditions? I was never told about this? Does that mean if I didn't perform those prior actions I would have never been able to evolve?' The notifications prompted Apollo to dissect the information given. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it to be the case. If not, why would the system mention it to him?

[That's partly correct. All of your actions were necessary, however, as a demon walking the initial path of wrath, you must learn to approach hatred and malice with the matching behavior. Hence, you needed to advance upon the Demonic Conduct. As for your physique, I've told you, a demon possesses a physique that is not to be underestimated.]

[The same can be said for becoming one. In the event that your capabilities weren't up to par, in simplest terms, you'd die. Your body would implode due to it being incapable of sustaining the new functions. Nevertheless, you'll become privy to what I mean in a moment. I'll be here when you awake. Heh heh heh.]

"Why the ominous chuckle? I don't like the sound of i- Eurghhhh…." Apollo's eyes rolled back in pain as the scene from before repeated just of a larger magnitude. Within seconds, he lost his superlative control of his body entering a brief world of pain before losing consciousness.

Large changes began taking place to both his interface as well as his body itself. When he would, what was to welcome him would forever shock him.