3.Explosive Strength con't

Chapter 3: Explosive Strength Continued

To Damon, the chaos of battle was nothing short of exhilarating. The Vulccan ape king loomed over its fallen subordinate, pounding its chest in a macabre display of dominance. Each thunderous beat echoed through the clearing, the vibrations resonating in Damon's bones. The ape roared with primal fury, plunging its massive hands into the subordinate's chest and ripping out its heart, devouring it in a grotesque ritual. Dark fluid streaked its face as its demonic energy spiked.

"It consumed its own kind," Damon murmured, his smirk widening. "Now this is getting interesting."

Before the thought fully registered, a powerful blow sent him hurtling through the air. He twisted mid-flight, bracing for impact, but the Vulccan ape king was relentless. Its massive hand caught him midair, slamming him into the ground with a force that cratered the earth beneath them.

When the dust cleared, the ape king froze, staring at its hand—or rather, where its hand had been. Damon stood tall, gripping the severed appendage, his grin dripping with malevolent delight.

"Did you think I'd let that slide?" Damon growled, his voice brimming with unshakable confidence.

Activating Void Flow, Damon's palms ignited with swirling void energy, casting an otherworldly glow over the battlefield. The ape king bellowed in defiance, spewing molten lava in a desperate attempt to repel him. Damon danced through the searing streams with ease, his movements a blur. He closed the distance in an instant, landing on the beast's massive chest. With a barrage of devastating blows, he crushed its ribcage, each strike accompanied by sickening cracks.

The Vulccan ape king thrashed wildly, despair and fury evident in its glowing eyes. Demonic beasts gathered in the shadows, watching in stunned silence as the young warrior overwhelmed their leader. Even they, creatures of instinct and chaos, understood the unrelenting power Damon wielded.

"Now, let's finish this," Damon said, his voice cold and resolute. His elbow, infused with spiraling spiritual energy, came crashing down with devastating precision. The beast's skull shattered under the impact, its anguished roar cut short.

The clearing grew silent, save for Damon's heavy breathing. He sat beside the ape's lifeless form, his chest rising and falling as he fought to rein in his bloodlust. With a sudden surge, his energy erupted skyward, a column of light that pierced the heavens. Its presence reverberated through the realm, striking fear into the hearts of the living.

Ancient tombs trembled. Forgotten champions stirred in their graves, awakened by the echo of Damon's strength. Across the realm, powerful entities retreated into seclusion, unable to bear the weight of the aura that now blanketed the land.

Damon, oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed, leaned forward and plunged his hand into the Vulccan ape's chest. He extracted its demon core—a swirling orb of fiery energy—and examined it with interest. Without hesitation, he swallowed it whole, feeling its energy settle atop his spirit core like a crown.

"Another step forward," Damon muttered as he wiped his bloodstained hands on the grass.

When Damon returned to the camp, Emily was waiting. Her sword gleamed in the firelight as she pointed it directly at his throat.

"Who are you, and why do you look like my brother?" she demanded, her voice sharp and trembling.

Damon's eyes narrowed. "What nonsense is this? If this is some kind of joke, stop it now."

Emily didn't lower her blade. "That energy… it's not human. Why do you wield such pure demonic power?"

Damon tilted his head, a mix of amusement and irritation flashing across his face. "So, you noticed. Impressive. But don't worry—it's mine to control. And if you tell anyone, not even your abyssal creatures will protect you."

The threat hung in the air, his words carrying an undeniable truth that made Emily shiver. Slowly, she sheathed her sword, though the unease in her eyes remained.

Damon flopped onto the ground, his stomach growling audibly. Emily raised an eyebrow. "Hungry? Too proud to ask, I see." She reached for a piece of roasted meat, biting into it with satisfaction.

Just as she took another bite, Damon's hand darted out, snatching the meat from her grasp. In an instant, he devoured it, leaving only the bone behind.

"How dare you starve this young lord!" Damon declared dramatically, brandishing the bone as if it were a weapon.

Emily's fist collided with his head. "I'm your sister, not your servant! Why steal my food when there's plenty?"

Despite her irritation, she couldn't help but notice the lightness in Damon's expression. He seemed unburdened, as if a great weight had been lifted.

"What happened to you out there?" she wondered aloud. But Damon only leaned against a tree, smiling to himself as he began circulating his energy.

The demon core within him acted as a filter, refining his spiritual energy to a purer state. Though his cultivation was slower, the resulting energy was far more potent. He reveled in the sensation, his connection to the realm deepening with every passing moment.

Hours later, Emily shook him awake. "Damon, it's time to go."

The mist raven hovered nearby, its wings casting shadows over the campsite. Damon climbed aboard, his senses sharper than ever. As they soared through the sky, he felt the realm's energy calling to him, drawing him inward.

Before he realized it, his consciousness drifted. He stood atop a blood-red lake, its surface reflecting the fiery sky above. In the distance, a massive willow tree stretched toward the heavens, its roots entwined with skulls. Damon's breath hitched.

"This… is mine," he whispered, recognition dawning.

The willow tree was a relic of his past life, a creation of his own hands. He approached it reverently, his steps hesitant. He reached out to touch its bark, but there was no response.

"Have you forgotten me?" Damon asked softly, a pang of sadness in his voice.

Determined, he sliced his palm and pressed it against the tree. The bark absorbed his blood eagerly, drawing his energy with an insatiable hunger.

"Take what you need," he urged.

The tree awakened, its colors brightening as its essence surged. From its core, a figure emerged—a woman with flowing green hair and eyes as deep as the forest. She gazed at Damon, tears streaming down her face.

"Master," she whispered, her voice trembling with joy.

Damon grasped her hand, his heart swelling with emotion. "You've waited for me," he said, his voice barely audible.

The willow tree's spirit smiled. "There's no time to linger, Master. Take this."

A glowing fruit materialized in her hand, its energy pulsing with life.

"This contains a seed of my essence," she explained. "Split it in two—your current body cannot handle its full power. With it, I can manifest in your world."

Damon nodded, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady.

For the first time in this life, he felt complete. He had his family, his strength, and now, his greatest treasure.