With the added help of the system, the second body finally reached the bare minimum requirements.
The system executed a pre-programmed command before its processing power was completely depleted.
All of this was according to its calculation, so the system's artificial intelligence reverted back to the very basic after making sure that everything was in order.
Out of nowhere, Reign's second body convulsed violently.
It was as if it was being destroyed from within: veins inflamed, skin turning red, and white mist releasing as the blood inside boiled.
The pressure became unbearable after a couple seconds, causing the body to swell like an overfilled balloon until it could no longer hold the strain.
BURST!
Blood spurted in the air, scattering fragments of flesh and bone in all directions.
Amidst this gruesome display, Reign's soul floated from the destroyed body , but it was now different from before.
The soul was surrounded by an invisible barrier, shielding it from the laws of this world.
This barrier had been created by sacrificing a body capable of ascending to Demon Lord status.
While it might pale in comparison to Reign's real body in terms of strength, it still qualified to ascend to Demon Lord status.
His soul drifted slowly towards his real body who was still bound the the dark chain.
"Papa!" The body spoke, its voice tinged with recognition and excitement the moment it saw Reign's soul.
The meta-human had imprinted on Reign as her father, much like a chick hatching from an egg and imprinting on the first thing it sees.
This bond was immediate and unbreakable, tying her loyalty to him instinctively
After reaching the chest part, a sudden force sucked the meta-human soul, making room for Reign's true essence to reassert itself.
Normally, such fusion would be difficult, as two souls would fight each other.
However, the meta-human knew her place and did not resist at all.
With the internal struggle settled, Reign's consciousness flooded back into him.
"AGGHHHHHHHH!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room like thunder
It felt as though his mind was being assaulted and pierced by tens of thousands of needles, each puncture sending waves of excruciating pain through his skull.
They all sensed that something was wrong, but it was too late.
As the dark red aura burst through the room and touched them, they collapsed to the ground. Fear gripped their hearts, triggering heart attacks.
Everyone unlucky enough to be near Reign started dying one by one. Even gas masks couldn't protect them from his deadly aura.
The air was filled with the crackling energy of sparks, their sharp snaps and bursts weaving together that filled the surroundings .
In the center of it all stood a solitary figure, exuding an imposing and intimidating presence.
Anyone unfortunate enough to see this form would undoubtedly cower in fear, as its appearance alone was enough to instill nightmares in even the bravest of souls.
A black aura filled the hollow parts of his bones, and arcs of crackling red lightning danced around him, each one deadly enough to kill a normal human.
Behind his back, a pair of demon wings unfurled with a wet, jelly-like texture, glistening with a crimson electricity that crackled and hummed with power.
It was as if the electricity was suspended inside the wings, and was held together by the jelly like texture.
At the tip of each wing, razor-sharp claw-like bones protruded downward, gleaming ominously in the dim light.
"So this is the power of a demon lord..." he murmured, stunned by the energy coursing through him.
What he possessed now surpassed anything he had ever imagined. His old self paled in comparison to his new body
He had transcended his former limitations, becoming something altogether more powerful and better in every way.
The power he wielded now was so vast, so overwhelming, that he could annihilate his old self with nothing more than a flick of his finger.
'Now I understand. These cores are like fuel tanks, holding onto all this energy. But it's that thing in the middle that really does the heavy lifting. It takes all that stored up power and kicks it into high gear, making it stronger and more efficient,' he thought to himself, a spark of realization igniting within him.
It's a perfect symbiosis. Each component works in harmony, unleashing his true potential.
'No wonder I couldn't even activate my Domain against that bitch. The gap between a demon lord and a Peak Upper Level demon is just too huge to compare,' he chuckled to himself, feeling lucky that he did not fought her back then.
He knew deep down that he had made the right decision and played his cards wisely.
"System, how strong am I now?" he inquired, his frustration with the system having subsided somewhat after seeing that everything had worked out in the end.
However, he did not receive any response at all.
He attempted to ask the system again, posing even simpler questions, but no matter what he did, there was no reply .
'What's wrong with it?' he mused inwardly, finding it odd that the system was not responding.