Chapter 77

I'm posting some chapters ahead of time on my discord server: https://discord.gg/r2VSvS5kaH

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The battle became even. Yes, Quaresha was one of the weakest among the monarchs, but it is to be kept in mind. Even one monarch is capable of destroying planets. Her fellows didn't appreciate it though.

To be kept up by a mere shadow soldier. This was embarrassing for the woman. Her emotions were playing tricks on her. While the ant managed to tame his own, he also used the Monarch's to his advantage.

*Slick*

The Plague Monarch was struck by yet another purple spike. Her rage issues were too obvious to avoid using them as a weapon. She charged with rage, blurring her mind. Beru just HAD to use this moment and his new ability.

'This woman is stupid.' But Beru couldn't say the same about others. Well, maybe except for the Beast Monarch... Even then, he at least had strength.

In particular, the Demon Guy seemed a lot stronger than others. Garan, or whatever he was called, still hasn't done the same as Plague and Beast Monarchs. He was fighting against the newbies, Aldir and Agrona.

They were a new addition to the army, but Beru had to admit it. They were insanely strong, even stronger than him. He couldn't imagine beating any of them since their techniques were so diverse…

But they had been fighting against Baran for too long, and he hadn't manifested his soul. Is he the second strongest of the bunch?

'Damn it.' The ant king cursed in his mind.

At this rate, they won't be able to defeat monarchs. There are also those brain-washed Asuras messing with them. Their own former Asuran legion was having a tough time managing them.

There was also a constant bother in the ant's mind. How was their liege doing? From these terrifying roars and thunders, he could understand there was a large battle. But was he winning against the dragon monarch?

Other soldiers had the same question.

'It's useless to think about it now.' Thought Beru after intercepting the woman's mana hand with a purple spike.

The connection between them was strong. There was no doubt in Beru that their liege could come up victorious. This victory, however, depended on them as well. They should stop those monarchs as much as they can.

'Marshal Beru is putting up a good fight.'

While Beru was fighting with the Plague Monarch. Aldir and Agrona were having an internal conversation with each other.

'Yes, but we are falling behind. We still couldn't figure out this guy.'

'That's indeed a problem.'

These two were attempting to deduce the monarch's abilities, the full extent of power, endurance, and, most importantly, their fighting style. Before arriving here, they had no idea about their enemies. Thus, they have to figure it out during the battle.

'Have you tried using the Soul Fire?'

'It was completely useless.'

Then they had to find a different way to hurt the Monarch of White Flames. Aldir mentally told Agrona something else and disappeared. Baran's eyes still followed the Asura, but Aldir's speed was not enough to confuse the eon old being.

It was a scary sight how the Monarch's eyes were deadlocked onto him.

*Burst*

Aldir further increased his speed and created the sword in his hand. In the blink of an eye, he was already next to Baran, his sword's tip touching the monarch's neck.

*Clack*

The sound of metallic substances clashing into each other resounded in Agrona's eyes. He created the ball of dark flames and threw it at the monarch. Aldir, seeing this, jumped away from his target.

Baran took the hit, expecting it to be another attack of Soul Fire. It was, but with a little trick.

The ball of fire expanded and covered the entire area. Baran inside the bulb was fine. This fire was not damaging him much. Sure, it burned, but it would just take a lot of effort to simply burn him.

[How pathetic, I'm the Monarch of White Flames. The ruler of the demon world! You think this kind of flames can kill me?!]

He easily swept away the flames, opening his eyes to what was going on around him. The two of his foes were standing next to each other, with one of them pointing a finger at him. Baran aimed his dagger at him in an effort to make fun of him even more.

[Have you lost your mind all of a sudden?]

Aldir shrugged, "Maybe. After all, you really should be mentally unstable to blow yourself up."

[What?]

*Boom*

Agrona and Aldir, together with Baran, indeed blew up. The three-eyed shadow used his technique of World Eater to damage the monarch, despite its area of damage covering him and Agrona. He just thought this was worth a shot.

The chain reaction between mana particles started immediately after Baran dispersed the Soul Fire. Explosions like this, starting from a small dot and then expanding continuously for a long time. tearing apart everything.

The shadow soldiers would survive, and the Monarch probably as well. But they must suffer at least some sort of harm.

The explosion traveled kilometers away in a matter of seconds. Only the dust remained as evidence of what had been. The shadow soldiers soon reformed to their previous forms, instantly they began to inspect their surroundings.

Baran was still standing, but this time something in him definitely changed.

His head was almost burning with white flames. His grin turned demonic. His eyes turned bloody red. His body also increased its size… But most importantly, his aura intensified.

[Change of plans.]

The shadows weren't the only ones having internal conversations among themselves. The monarchs were doing the same, and currently, Baran just finished talking with another monarch named Yogumunt. The Monarch of Transfiguration.

[Beast and Legia shall join Antares. We will take their opponents instead.] Baran announced loudly for the shadows to hear.

Aldir and Agrona widened their purple eyes. 'We can't let them do that!' That was what they thought, as they tried to alarm other shadows, but something didn't let them do that.

[Your attempts will be futile, I have already isolated this place from outside connections.]

The dark dome descended on them. Baran, Agrona, and Aldir were trapped inside this weird barrier. For Baran, it also disconnected other monarchs, but it was unnecessary since he didn't need their help anyway.

[Your lord will die today, and with him, you bugs shall perish as well.]

The monarchs made a bid on that as well, they wanted to separate the Shadow Monarch from his army and later in a group attack him. Since the Shadow Army can't survive without their summoner, this seemed like a perfect way to kill them all.

Killing Ashborn was not an easy task, but with at least three of them. It shouldn't pose a problem.

[For the time being, I'll play with you.]

Aldir tried to create the portal, but it failed. The monarch smirked at him in satisfaction.

[Yes, we are trapped here. You can't create the portal, unless I remove this curtain.]

The former Asuras looked at themselves. Their minds were racing, searching for solutions to this issue. Unfortunately, they had no idea how to remove the barrier.

'Maybe we should just exit out in a normal way?'

Agrona wanted to simply blitz out of the barrier. It was hardly believable that this would work, but without trying you'll never know. The problem was, that they first had to pass through Baran.

'You think we can do it?' Agrona asked Aldir.

'Hard to answer.'

At that time, Baran stopped standing back passively and finally made his move. Countless arcs of blue sparks buzzed and crackled within the wide mouth of the creature.

*Bzzzz*

Aldir and Agrona leaped away in different directions to avoid the blow. The chill-inducing light beam passed them, and when it hit the barrier, they realized they wouldn't be able to get out of this place.

This powerful beam couldn't do anything to that barrier.

Aldir dashed at his enemy and conjured the sword on the way. Baran sends another lightning beam toward him. This time, the shadow wanted to just sidestep and not lose speed by leaping too far away.

To his unluckiness, this electricity had a stunning effect. Just as one crackle touched his body, he froze in place.

'Agrona!'

'I'm on it!' The former Vritra created dozens of dark fireballs and bombarded the monarch with them.

Baran spat out more crackle from his mouth, and the attacks collided.

*Boom*

The attacks, containing a crazy amount of energy, exploded after colliding with each other. The explosion sent out shockwaves that sent both foes away. This won time for Aldir as well.

Aldir grabbed his sword and made another dash toward his enemy. He calmly evaded every attack Baran unleashed on him. From behind Agrona was supporting his affairs and intercepted every single lightning with his soul-fire.

If the shadows had hearts, they'd be beating at an unimaginable speed. Aldir was nervous, and despite his warrior past, this fight was just too much even for him.

*Swish* *Clang*

Their weapons collided. The ground beneath the two shook, and cracks began to appear. From above, Agrona joined the melee battle. Even if he wasn't as experienced as Aldir in melee fighting, he had his share of battles.

*Bang* *Bang*

Baran defended himself from their attacks and countered them with ease. His dual daggers worked in quick succession to protect him from behind and in front.

*Clang* *Crack*

Aldir instinctively moved his head back as he heard his mana-conjured sword crack. Baran's dagger sliced through and almost cut off his head. The unclosing eye of the shadow lit up and sent the plasma to Baran's hand.

*Slick*

The purple plasma melted through the flesh of the monarch. A grunt escaped Baran's mouth. Despite the injury, though, he never got distracted. The wound slowly began to heal up, yet, got stopped when Agrona threw a soul fire on it.

'Burn, damn it!' Agrona screamed in his mind, commanding his spell to expand.

The dark fire as if obeying its caster, did as it was told. It began to burn with great intensity, burning Baran from inside and out.

'Attack, don't rest!' Agrona leaped at the monarch and blurred behind him. He moved his hand around the monarch and trapped both his hands in a hug.

'Aldir do it! Put all your strength into this one!'

*Bang*

The three-eyed Asura broke the sound barrier as he approached his target. Another sword was conjured in his hand and it was aimed at the neck. He was planning to cut through that neck.

[Oh no, you won't.]

Baran broke the hug and moved his burning hand up. Instead of its initial attack, the sword, which was aimed at his neck, cut through the hand. The blood gushed out of it, and the flying hand was finally burnt to the ashes.

[These flames are drag.] In an instant, the monarch regenerated his entire hand and bashed Agrona with it.

The former Asura went flying and crashed into the barrier.

[Your resistance is futile, you won't be able to do anything.] Baran said as he punched the three-eyed shadow.

This punch shouldn't have been anything serious, but the shadows attempted to stand up. Their knees gave away and they fell on their chests.

'Wh-What is this?'

Their vision was becoming blurry, and they felt their magical energy disappear. Also, the connection...

'Our lord!'

[As I've thought, it wouldn't take much time.

The Shadow Bastard has finally fallen.]