Chapter 190: Instinctive Guide (III)

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〈System Alert! The Iraym Bloodline of Hellfire Domination is now awakening.〉

An accumulation of Ira burst from Apollo's body as he underwent a rapid change. The transformation he experienced during the selection trial and during his initial change was just a basic form. In comparison, what he was turning into now was far stronger.

Even in the Nihilistic Rings, a demon that possessed a bloodline meant it was above the norm. As for Apollo's bloodline, it was an understatement to just call it above the norm. Any bloodline with the moniker "Dominator" attached to it meant it resided at the pinnacle of the demonic spectrum. 

If it was to be put in comparison with the ranking of Astarat, it would be the equivalent of the Empyrean Dragon's bloodline just far stronger. After all, when it came to demons, there was no need to exercise restraint. They grew to the height of their power without the Nihilistics Rings forcefully placing protective restraints on them. 

On the other hand, Astarat's current state was incapable of handling foreign beings' true power. Thus, it placed these restraints on them to protect itself. Just the damage caused by the invasion of the Terrors was enough to deal with. If it needed to deal with the destructive nature of demons as well, then its demise was nigh. 

On the other hand, as the Lesser Ifrits witnessed Apollo's change, they were overcome by greed. They all sought to devour this sensation Apollo was exuding. However, when they saw Apollo's current appearance, they stopped in their tracks.

On top of the strangle flame-like markings covering his left chest and arms, two horns flowing with magma appeared on his forehead. At the same time, both his eyes pulsated with a crimson-golden light.

'Power, this is power,' Apollo thought as he clenched his first. However, the change was far from done. 

〈System Alert! With the appearance of your Iraym Form, an item of unspoken origin is awakening.〉

Due to the disappearance of the weapon, Apollo had long since pushed the matters of it to the back of his mind. However, now that he took on a strong demonic form, the knuckles reappeared. Except, when they showed themselves, Apollo wasn't sure what to call them.

Under their new appearance, they couldn't quite be called knuckles nor could they be called gauntlets or claws. First and foremost, they were too form-fitted to his hand. Additionally, although the material was comfortable around his fingers and extremely malleable, its lethality didn't seem compromised in the slightest.

In fact, it was far sharper than the first knife Azridan gave him. While wielding this weapon, Apollo felt he could conquer all. However, since he was still in the state of transforming, he couldn't move yet.

Only after the flame sigil on his chest connected to the rest of the stigmata could he move again. This time, he moved with pride. While fast, he didn't move at a rushed pace.

As he balled his hand into a fist, the sound of sharp metal striking together sounded. In response, the nearest Lesser Infit threw its own destructive punch. Upon collision, pin-drop silence pervaded, and then a sonic boom exploded.

Both sides were thrown back a few steps. However, in comparison to before, Apollo was left in a better state. Even though he was still at a loss, it was minimal. In this exchange, he lost just under 1%. 

"That was wrong," Apollo muttered. In his last blow, he didn't control the new strength flowing through him properly. Hence, why he was still at a loss despite awakening this bloodline. Most of his power dispersed before the attacks collided.

Just because he experienced an increase in strength, it didn't mean it was clear sailing from here on out. He still needed to acclimate to the current power and claim it as his. Until then, he would continue to fail in his attempts at overpowering an Ifrit.

On the other hand, as Ouroboros saw Apollo's change. He was stimulated as well, "I can change here too!"

Ouroboros leapt off Apollo's shoulder and slithered across the floor. Similar to last time, his body expanded. Since Apollo had been feeding him copious amounts of Crystallized Chaos, his true form was larger than his prior transformation.

Yet, even after reaching 2 meters, he wasn't done changing. The scale atop his head that was different in nature from the rest shimmered and protruded into a horn. Furthermore, 2 small yet pure silver wings appeared on Ouroboros' back. Once this happened, his transformation stopped there.

"Master, I will help you fight," Ouroboros exclaimed. Before awaiting Apollo's response, he rushed forward while still low to the ground. When he arrived before an Infrit, he whipped his tail and sent one flying. Even after guarding, the Ifrit was still sent sliding backward.

As he watched this, any worries he held for Ouroboros were dispelled from his mind. Based on what he was seeing, Ouroboros already had a substantial grasp of his strength. Naturally, this was due to the innate instruction of his species. 

He didn't require any to teach him. Through the bestial knowledge instilled in his bloodline, Ouroboros was capable of regulating himself. Thus, as long as he was in the Nihilistic Rings, he was like a fish thrown into a pond. To summarize, he let hell loose upon his opponent.

On the other hand, as Apollo incessantly clashed with his opponent, he started to understand the flow of the energy. Fortunately, before venturing here, he connected his two power sources together. If he didn't, his meridians wouldn't be able to withstand the ferocity of the energy flowing through him. 

This time, as Apollo punched, he summoned a layer of Hellfire. Although an Ifrit specialized in Hellfire as well, a strange sight to behold happened. As the Ifrit used Hellfire as well, upon collision, Apollo's sapped strength from it.

Needless to say, this scene originated from the "Hellfire Dominator" of his bloodline. Any and all Hellfire under a certain threshold would be subject to his control. Of course, he wasn't the only demon in the Nihilistic Rings that was of this bloodline. But, he was the only abnormality there was.

As insinuated by the system's words, this was simply his first form. Even Saehtyn was an evolved demon. Except for a Greater Demon, based on the number of paired horns present on a demon, you could tell how many times they evolved. As for Saehtyn, he had 3 pairs. In other words, he was a Noblesse.

On the other hand, now that the Ifrit was enraged by the losses it was suffering at Apollo's hand, it opened a pair of decrepit wings. Afterward, it flapped them and created a cloud of soot to block Apollo's vision. Sadly, with a powerful clap, the cloud was dispersed.

Be that as it may, it was already before Apollo by the time the cloud extinguished. Once again, a barrage of vicious blows ensued with Apollo pushing the Ifrit marginally with each clash. And, because of this, Apollo's attacked with continually increasing vigor. 

The thunderous echoes of his blows reverberated throughout the Ifrit's body. 

Against this barrage, the Ifrit was now put in Apollo's previous predicament. With overarching strength, he pummeled the Ifrit into the ground. Amid his actions, the cruelty in his eyes grew.

From a fist, Apollo started to use his hands as a sharp spear. Not to mention, the stellar material of the gauntlet further augmented this action. Numerous gaping holes appeared in its chest Apollo continued to impale him.

The fury of all his losses was being returned. Moreover, what he lacked became apparent to him. He sought to go against a demon in his human form. As Azridan warned him before, a human's physique was incomparable to the power a demon could contain.

Now, since this issue was resolved, Apollo could retaliate. Yet, the more he fought, the faster he grew tired. This is where his damaged Vitality took its toll. Unlike the Ifrit who possessed an exuberant Vitality, Apollo's luminescent flame was dwindling.

In this form, one thing he lacked was restraint. All of his blows were fueled by a surplus of energy. Luckily, Ouroboros was by his side. He appeared after killing his opponent and together, the two slew Apollo's opponent.

Upon its death, Apollo nearly jumped for joy.

〈System Alert! Level and Experience have been temporarily unlocked while in this world.〉

Afterward, Apollo's experience bar increased to 13%. Not only did he receive experience from his own kills, but Ouroboros' victories as well. Despite the budding exhaustion, to learn he could gain experience again, that was too much of a shock!

By the time the two killed all 11 Ifrits, Apollo's experience meter reached over 70%. Equally, as they fell, Apollo absorbed their internal Ira. 

Now that combat was over and he took on this demonic form, the path to his destination was much more manageable!