Chapter 358 Demon King's Prophecy?
The World has deemed that Commanders and Generals should have a certain level of strength. The World's inhabitants have deemed that Commanders and Generals HAVE a certain level of strength. Through Titles, the World reciprocates and adds to the Holder's strength.
It is different for Unique Titles though.
'Doesn't look all that strong. But the Monster's Aura... A Commander's? No. It almost seems like... A General's Aura. But there's no way. An unknown Monster being a General... I've never even heard of a white-scaled Monster.'
The World does not know of the Evolving Monster or the Devourer yet.
Since leaving the Dungeon, Mark hasn't been able to use Aura properly. It would start oozing out his body at times, but that has changed.
The Evolving Monster has only Devoured a couple of note-worthy enemies since leaving the Dungeon.
The Olga. Due to its massive size and great reserves of Mana, Devouring it increased the Devourer's Vigor, Endurance, and Mana Stats.
The Orcish Fiend known as Lin. Acquiring the High Elven Pupil made the Devourer's Sense Stat increase by bounds and leaps.
There really wasn't much else, which left the Devourer starving.
The Evolving Monster hadn't Evolved either since leaving the Dungeon.
Yet, Mark had grown much, much stronger.
His fighting style and Skills had evolved.
But the most important thing that led to him being compared to...
'A Commander? If that's what it is, then I can take it. A General though...'
His Aura and Status were thought to be superior to those of a Commander! How could that be, when Mark couldn't defeat Lin nor Ani by himself?
Status.
What Mark had acquired the most of since leaving the Dungeon was Status.
The World didn't know of the Devourer yet.
But some already did.
Like a treasure searched for and coveted by pirates. Despite the treasure being unknown, the fact that it is "Searched for" gives that treasure value. And therefore, Status.
Currently, Mark was an existence coveted by three of the strongest beings inside the Monster Realm.
The Demon Lord of Pride, Gaavah, who had orchestrated his Rebirth.
The Demon Lord of Sloth, whose interest only grew after learning from one of his Generals that two Commanders had disappeared after pursuing the Devourer.
The Demon Lord of Lust, who was quite curious about the Devourer, since Sloth's Commander was pursuing it.
Three of the strongest knew of his existence.
More than that, they were interested in him. Though interested with varying degrees.
The Titles of "Commander" or "General" give a certain amount of Status. They are, so to say, pre-determined roles.
Unique Titles, on the other hand, vary greatly in the amount of Status or Aura they hold or produce.
Of course, the Demon Lords weren't the only ones interested in the Devourer.
The Spirit that ruled over the Forest Of Yarnha. A Spirit that has been around for centuries.
The General of Gaavah, Draconia. A Descendant of Dragons.
The Vampire Lord, Descendant of Dracula, and Demon King Candidate, Raven.
Not many knew of the Devourer.
But those who do know of the Devourer hold such Status that even their interest alone is enough to give value to the treasure.
"You killed my pet." The 'Ex-General' whispered as he cracked his whip.
He very much looked like a Human, if it wasn't for the one horn on his head. His white beard was long and thick.
The white-scaled Monster looked to its left for a second.
"Fresh wounds, and scars... That's no way to treat your pet, Used-To-Be-General." Mark cracked his neck.
A reddish Aura started oozing out of the "Ex-General's" body.
"So this is a fight to the death?"
"OF COURSE IT IS!"
The white-scaled Monster smiled widely at the answer.
"Good. Let's keep it simple." Mark whispered.
The Devourer leaped forward as its enemy's whip was covered by Aura before being swung.
***
Sometime earlier, thousands of miles away.
The sun was shining up above the peaceful city.
The medieval buildings made of stone and wood that filled the city reached more imposing heights by the year.
On various buildings, different flags and banners showcased various Crests.
The streets that separated those buildings got narrower and scarier with time.
On the busiest of those streets, one filled by merchants and vendors conducting business,
"Can't you hear me? Can't you hear me, people?!" She shouted.noVE(lb-1n
Eyes were rolled, and gazes were directed away at her arrival.
'This old hag again?'
'Ugh... Just when we were about to seal this deal!'
'The hag? Maybe it's a sign that I shouldn't buy this...'
With ragged clothes and dirt all over her face, the old woman wandered the city from dusk to dawn every day.
Despite their disgusted looks. Despite the numerous times they spat in her way. Despite the fact that most moved away or to another street upon seeing her approach.
Despite her aching bones and muscles.
Despite her old age.
Despite all those things, she walked the city every day.
What drove her to do such a thing so frequently? So religiously?
"Can you hear me people? Listen. Listen!"
The hope of being heard.
The old woman suddenly stopped at the sound of,
Catch-
"Oho. Good reflexes, old hag." A handsome young man noted after the old woman had managed to catch the golden coin he had tossed her way. "Preach, preach. I'll listen."
She turned in his direction, and moved her head slightly from right to left, up and down.
"You're a scary one. I can see it, the darkness surrounding you. Your fate won't be a pleasant one. You'd better listen! Before everything changes! Before the world is destroyed! Before an endless night hides the sun and the stars!"
"Preach, preach! Hahaha!" The handsome young man shouted as he shook his fist in the air.
The old woman rang the bell in her hand.
On her grey and translucent eyes, the red light emanating from the young man's eyes was reflected.
"Tsk. The blind old hag again. Get the fuck out of here! Go preach in front of the whorehouses instead! We're trying to-"
The merchant's heart dropped as an arm was wrapped around his neck. It was wrapped in a friendly way, but... The merchant couldn't shake a feeling of-
"Come, now. Let's hear an old woman's ramblings. Why not?"
The busy street had suddenly turned silent.
"I... Uh... Sure?"
"Good!" The young man shouted as he clapped his hands. "Let's hear it, old hag."
But the 'old hag' did not start talking.
"What is ittt? Want another coin? More? Dry throat? Need some water?"
"Ohh, I know your type. You think this is a joke, don't you? All of you do! Inside your houses and cities, you believe yourselves to be in safety. You're not! Every day, creatures from the Monster Realm enter ours. It's been happening from frequently now, don't you think?"
"We're-"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, IMBECILE! We're what? We're away from the Border? You think that means we're safe? It doesn't! Oh, I can see it. To you all, the sky appears bright, but I can see the truth. A dark sky weeping tears of blood. It'll be your fault. How many times must I preach before you listen? The Age Of The Monsters. The First Demon King. Ohh, I can feel it. If we do not rise, if we do not fight, a new Age Of Monsters will come! With the Demon King's Return-"
"Pfff! Did she say fight? The old hag wants to fight? Pfahhahaah!"
"Imbeciles! Imbeciles, all of you!" The old woman started walking away as she rang her bell. "Hear, hear. A tale older than... Nay! A Prophecy! A future that must be avoided! It's approaching! It's..."
She walked away, her back hunched.
Only one of those listening followed.
"C'mon, tell me about it! Your Prophecy!"
"Ohh, child shrouded in darkness. What have you done to have such a smell?"
"Me?" The young man pointed at his face, smiling widely. "Nothing much."
"I've seen murderers, rapists, killers of men, women, and children. I've seen it all. But none like you."
"Is that so?"
"You're worse than all of them! All of them!"
"Hahaaa..." The young man scratched his head shyly. "Can I blame my father for that?"
"Hear!" The old woman shouted. She had decided to ignore the carefree young man. Those like him, she hated most. Those who listened out of boredom or curiosity, not concern. "I'm warning you! The end of times! An endless night! We must stand against the Monster Realm, before he rises again! The Heroes, the Saints, the Knights, send them! Exterminate! Demolish the Realm! Or else, the Demon King will walk the earth once more! The Demon King will rise again, and never will the sun rise again!"
She rang her bell frantically.
"The Demon King will swallow the Earth and the Sun! Everything will disappear, taken by the Demon King's malice! Everything will be destroyed! Corrupted! The Demon King will rise, again. Soon. I can feel it. Remember! Remember! Once the Demon King takes back its Body, its Blood, and its Weapons. Remember! Its Body, its Blood, its Weapons! With three, the Demon King will be whole! And if the Demon King were to be whole... A millennium of peace will end! The world will be plunged in darkness-"
Toss-
"Hear, hear..."
Catch-
"I'd like to see that happen." Raven whispered with a smile.
