Awakening The Demon's Heart

Chapter 12: Awakening the Demon's Heart

The Forsaken Monarch's spectral greatsword hummed with ethereal energy, its jagged edges gleaming under the eerie silver glow of the Blood Moon. Leon stood his ground, his breath steady, his mind sharp.

He had evolved-his body thrummed with new power.

[System Notification]

[Energy Drain has evolved into Crimson Harvest.]

[New Hidden Ability Unlocked: Blood Dominion.]

Leon clenched his fists, feeling the raw energy coursing through his veins. Blood Dominion allowed him to control the very essence of blood-his own and that of his enemies. Crimson Harvest would no longer just steal energy; it would devour and refine it, making his strength limitless as long as his enemies bled.

But the Forsaken Monarch wasn't finished.

The King's Wrath

The Monarch raised its greatsword, spectral flames igniting along its length. Then it vanished-only to reappear right in front of Leon.

Leon's instincts screamed. He barely managed to dodge as the sword carved through the air, leaving a burning void in its wake.

Too fast!

Leon twisted, slashing with Abyssal Fang, but his blade passed through empty space. The Monarch had already moved-behind him.

A wave of pure force slammed into Leon's back, sending him crashing into the stone floor.

[Warning: Damage sustained. Internal injuries detected.]

Leon coughed up blood, but he grinned.

"That all you got?"

The Forsaken Monarch descended like a vengeful god, its sword raised for a finishing blow.

Leon activated Blood Dominion.

The blood he had spilled on the battlefield responded.

The crimson droplets on the stone rose, twisting into chains of living blood, shooting toward the Monarch like serpents.

The chains coiled around its limbs, halting its movement for just an instant-an instant was all Leon needed.

Crimson Harvest Unleashed

Leon lunged forward, Abyssal Fang pulsing with dark energy. He activated Crimson Harvest, and the moment his blade touched the Monarch's form-

A torrent of power erupted.

The Monarch let out a low, distorted roar as its energy was ripped from its spectral body. The blood-red mist swirled into Leon, fusing with his own power.

[Absorbing High-Tier Revenant Energy...]

[Strength increasing...]

[Speed increasing...]

[Cultivation expanding...]

Leon's body changed-his muscles hardened, his vision sharpened. His presence expanded, exuding a terrifying aura that rivaled even the Monarch's.

The Monarch shuddered, its form flickering wildly. It raised its hand, summoning a dark storm of energy, but Leon was already upon it.

"I said..."

He slashed, carving a deep wound into the Monarch's chest.

"That's all you got?"

The corrosion effect of Abyssal Fang devoured the Monarch's spectral flesh. Black flames consumed its form, reducing its power bit by bit.

It tried to retreat-but Leon wouldn't let it.

He gripped the Monarch's tattered robe with one hand, lifting his other-his fingers curled into a claw. Blood Dominion activated.

The Monarch's own energy betrayed it, flowing out of its body in crimson tendrils.

Leon devoured it all.

The spectral form shrieked, the very air shattering under the force of its destruction. The Forsaken Monarch-a being that had ruled this forgotten realm for centuries-was being consumed alive.

The Death of a King

The Monarch gave one last desperate swing, aiming for Leon's neck-

Leon caught the greatsword with one hand.

The Monarch's glowing eyes widened.

Leon tightened his grip. The sword cracked.

With a final, savage twist, he shattered the weapon into dust.

The Monarch staggered back, its body rapidly deteriorating.

It looked at Leon-not with hatred, not with anger-but with something else.

Recognition.

The Forsaken Monarch spoke, its voice like distant echoes of the dead.

"You... are worthy... of the throne..."

With that, the Forsaken Monarch collapsed, its spectral form unraveling into countless motes of silver light.

The trial was over.

The System's Grand Reward

[Final Opponent Defeated.]

[Trial of Blood Complete.]

[You have been crowned as the new ruler of the Forsaken Throne.]

Leon exhaled, feeling the weight of what had just happened.

Then the system's voice returned.

[New Ability Unlocked: Abyssal Sovereignty.]

His heart skipped a beat.

"What...?"

The Blood Moon dimmed, and a massive black throne materialized behind him. The aura it exuded was overwhelming, ancient, divine.

Leon stared at it.

The Forsaken Monarch's throne was now his.

And with it, a power he could barely comprehend.

The Next Step

Leon turned toward the ruined battlefield. His body was different now. Stronger. More powerful. His enemies would soon learn.

This was no longer just about revenge.

This was about dominion.

And Leon Voss had just claimed his first throne.