Aengus had just finished devouring Frostbane City, bringing his level to 945. The journey had proven fruitful, but there was no time to linger.
Next, he set his sights on Crimson Shard Fortress, a den of the vilest demon mercenaries.
Without hesitation, he initiated Omni-Devour. The black hole roared to life, consuming everything in its path.
Suddenly, Manas's voice rang out, filled with urgency.
"Master, my predictive abilities have detected danger. Perhaps it's a trap. We should leave immediately," Manas warned, her tone grave.
Aengus raised an eyebrow but continued his devouring without pause.
"Who could possibly sense my presence? Is it Lucifer, or perhaps the Demon God himself?" he wondered aloud, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"That I cannot say, Master. But I implore you to leave. Whatever this is, it could pose a significant challenge," Manas said desperately.
Aengus's expression remained calm as his mind calculated. "How much time do I have left?" he asked, already weighing his options.
"Closer to a minute," Manas replied quickly.
Aengus smirked. "That's enough."
With that, Aengus's expression darkened, and the sky mirrored his ominous aura.
"RUMBLE!"
An apocalyptic force seemed to descend as the black hole spiraled with increasing intensity, expanding to an even larger size.
Aengus channeled his mana at its maximum capacity, unleashing the full power of Omni-Devour. The force grew colossal, akin to a world-devouring entity, straining his soul slightly under the immense pressure.
But Aengus's unrelenting resolve kept him focused, his composure unshaken.
Within seconds, the Crimson Shard Fortress was devoured. The land beneath it was hollowed out, leaving behind a massive blackened lake, as the desperate struggles of the mercenaries were silenced.
Unfortunately for Aengus, he had only gained 10 levels, bringing him to Level 995, as the energy required for each upgrade had grown astronomically.
Current Level: 995
Suddenly, Aengus became alarmed as faint fluctuations in the spatial fabric reached his senses—a subtle ripple only detectable due to his mastery over Space Laws.
A smirk tugged at his lips, but he had no intention of engaging with whoever it was before reaching SSS Rank.
The formidable Demon God slumbered in the Abyss, and Aengus knew that taking risks now, when he was so close to success, would be foolish. He needed just five more levels, and until then, patience was his ally.
"When the time comes," he thought with a cold resolve, "Beelzebub will be my first target."
Without hesitation, Aengus erected a powerful Spatial Barrier, cloaking his presence from detection. Using his mastery over space, he began taking multiple detours across dimensions, confusing anyone attempting to track him. His movements became unpredictable, ensuring that even those with Space Law mastery would take months to locate him—if they could at all.
Satisfied with his precautionary measures, Aengus continued his journey to his Domain.
As soon as Aengus vanished, seven powerful figures emerged from the fractured space where he had stood moments ago.
Standing at the forefront was Demon Lord Lucifer, his icy demeanor radiating authority. Flanking him were six of the Primordial Demons, their expressions dark and menacing.
With their arrival, the surrounding landscape transformed. Gigantic ancient rock pillars, arranged in a massive circular formation, rose from the ground as far as the eye could see. These pillars glowed ominously with dark red malevolent energy, exuding an oppressive aura that seemed to choke the air itself.
Lucifer's gaze sharpened, brimming with cold intent as he surveyed the area. His piercing blue eyes, almost like an ethereal force, seemed capable of rending through the void itself as he attempted to trace the remnants of his prey.
But his efforts proved futile.
The prey he had meticulously prepared his trap for was gone—utterly and completely. Not a single trace of Aengus remained, nor was there any lingering energy to track.
Lucifer's face darkened like a storm cloud, his pride taking a massive blow. His prey had escaped, and the perfect trap he had painstakingly prepared had amounted to nothing.
"How?!" Lucifer snarled, his voice reverberating with restrained fury. "How could he sense our presence before we arrived?"
The Primordial Demons exchanged uneasy glances, their silence a reflection of their Lucifer's growing rage.
"Where's is the enemy you speak of, Lucifer?" Beelzebub asked, narrowing his eyes.