--- Chapter 160 ---
Huo Yuhao strolled on the street of Capital City, Grodunberg.
He whistled in pleasant tones while having a menacing halberd on his shoulder.
"London Bridge is falling down."
"Falling down, falling down."
"London Bridge is falling down." Huo Yuhao arrived at the Royal Palace's front gate, staring at the majestic walls with a smile.
"My fair lady..."
BOOM!
Huo Yuhao blasted through the wall and walked inside casually, ignoring the bewildered gazes of the royal guards. Rosa followed him from behind and tied the royal guards with her shadow thorns, pinning them on the ground.
"Rosa, where is the garden?" He asked the elite shadow.
Rosa pointed her finger at the west wing of the Royal Palace and answered, "There. The Royal Palace garden is there."
Huo Yuhao strode lazily like this was his house and used Observation Haki to check this place. "Not bad. Some guests are high and mid 9th Class Devil Warriors."
"Hmm?"
"Three."
"Three?" Rosa tilted her head when hearing Huo Yuhao's statements.
"Yeah, There are three people who could detect my observation technique. Probably the family heads." Huo Yuhao finished his words, which left Rosa silent for a moment.
The only people that met Huo Yuhao's criteria are Aiden Narmos, Gale Narmos's Father. Alexandra von Admante.
And lastly, Terresa's royal older sister, Lily de Kemos. The current Ruler of the Karuta Empire.
"Well, let's greet them first." Huo Yuhao kicked the ground gently and soared to the sky, skipping the distance between the front gate and the Royal Palace's Garden.
He frowned slightly and felt an illusion barrier to prevent weak-willed people from entering the garden. Plainly put, only 9th Class Devil Warrior and above could walk in and out freely, which makes him rather intrigued.
It has nothing to do with Illusion Skill but is more like specific placements of items across the garden to confuse. The Royal Palace Garden is a formation of arrays that could disorient all five senses.
However, this was far from enough to trick Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao broke the formation array and arrived at the green path of grass, looking around calmly. "In case something unpleasant happened later." He prepared the lost badge of the Karuta Empire's 2nd Emperor in his pocket.
"Who are you?" Someone suddenly blurted.
Huo Yuhao turned around and saw a middle-aged man with an unkempt yet sage-like white beard. "That's my question."
"Who are you, old man?"
Swoosh!
Bam!
Huo Yuhao lifted his elbow and received a kick from this oldie. He used the energy from his enemy and bounced it back in a skillful uppercut.
Crack! Boom!
"You're not from around here..." The middle-aged man squinted his black eyes. "That technique, I've never seen it."
"As if you-!"
"I have no qualms with you. After taking Alexandra away, I'll be back to the Admante Family." Huo Yuhao flashed to the middle-aged man and struck him in the abdomen, shutting the nerves inside his body for a few minutes.
"So stay there, old man."
He walked away, leaving the unknown middle-aged man speechless.
"Um, my liege." Rosa appeared from the shadows.
"That man is Royal Palace's Head Guard. Helmut Gorden."
"Is he important?" Huo Yuhao returned with a yawn.
Rosa fumbled with her fingers and answered, "No, not really. He somewhat trained me in the past to reach 5th Devil Warrior."
"Then, he doesn't mean anything to my plan."
Huo Yuhao continued to move around the Royal Palace Garden until a crowd of people caught his attention. He stopped and met with a familiar-looking woman's eyes.
At the same time, Alexandra von Admante halted her step and gazed upon a black-haired young man with deep scarlet eyes. Her hand was "instinctively." shaken by his sudden appearance.
'No! No, This can't be!' Alexandra thought to herself.
She tried to calm down.
'I-I haven't prepared myself yet. At this point, I'll lose my control-!'
It was too late.
A black flash skipped through the garden and caused a strong gust of wind. Everyone in the Family Gathering Event simultaneously moved their gazes to the sources, finding Huo Yuhao with his halberd.
"Alexandra von Admante, remember my words back then?" Huo Yuhao questioned the Admante Family's head. "I'll put a leash on your precious neck."
"What the hell!"
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" A man around Alexandra's age walked forward and faced Huo Yuhao. He possessed white hair and deep green eyes.
"Noisy." Huo Yuhao waved the halberd, causing a shockwave that blasted the man away.
BOOM!
Everyone was stunned.
The explosion left a deep crater on the ground, causing dirt and grass to fly everywhere.
"Theo..." Alexandra's eyes shone dimly with devilish light. She suddenly rushed toward Huo Yuhao and tried to launch an inner energy blast, which seemed powerful enough to wipe the entire garden away.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao doesn't need to enter a specific stance and lift his right hand. He slapped Alexandra's wrist away and slammed her to the ground.
However, Alexandra used her other hand to support herself and launched a vicious kick to Huo Yuhao's crotch.
"Okay, that's dirty." Huo Yuhao sidestepped and watched the inner energy blast erupt from Alexandra's restrained hand.
BOOM!
The inner energy soared to the sky and exploded like a thousand fireworks.
Like a whirlwind, Alexandra freed herself from Huo Yuhao's grasp and reappeared a few meters away. Her face flushed with redness while grabbing the throbbing wrist once gripped by him.
"You've become stronger, Theo~!"
"Much stronger than before."
"That's why I should use more strength to kill you..." She gave Huo Yuhao a small smile, having the whole garden tremble under her pressure.
Huo Yuhao was indifferent and replied, "Like it was important. Stop babbling shit and come to me, crazy woman."
"Crazy woman..?" Alexandra giggled amusingly.
"Yes, you're right. I'm a Crazy Woman~!"
BOOM!
Lily de Kemos observed the situation unfold and used her Devil Force to manipulate the plants in the Royal Palace Garden. She didn't want Alexandra to create more damage, but it was too late.
Alexandra released even more powerful pressure from her body and forced anyone with cultivation lower than mid-9th Class Devil Warriors to kneel on the ground. These people couldn't breathe and looked at Alexandra like she was a monster.
Yet, Huo Yuhao stood there just fine. He wasn't affected by Alexandra's monstrous presence.
And Instead.
An equal pressure was released from Huo Yuhao's body, causing a clash in the Royal Palace Garden.
Alexandra's bright yet illusionary white aura clashed with Huo Yuhao's shadowy black energy.
Crackle!
The thunderous clap occurred between them, catching everyone off guard for a moment. The sight before them is too shocking at this moment.
"Alexandra, you..." Lily de Kemos couldn't fathom the depth of their powers. "You have broken the taboo."
"The 10th Class-!"
BOOOOOOOM!
Upon finishing her words, Lily could feel an eruption of inner energy and create plant barriers for everyone. She clenched her hand tightly and groaned because it was too much for her.
She coughed a mouthful of blood and saw an unknown woman standing before her. This woman's back looks awfully similar, but her black hair gives the same sensation as the young man that faced Alexandra von Admante.
The woman didn't open her mouth and gave Lily a gentle smile filled with regret. 'Still soft-hearted as always, Elder sister.' Rosa thought while using Shadow Manipulation to cover everyone.
'We don't belong in the same world anymore, but I'll fulfill my regret the best I can. After that, my only purpose and well-being are to serve my liege.' She added while moving her gaze to Huo Yuhao.
Alexandra's eyes widened when she witnessed her younger brother resist the presence of the 10th Class Devil Warrior. She lifted her hand and created several weapons out of nowhere, throwing them at him.
Huo Yuhao waved his free hand like a flowing water and created a domain around his foothold. Looking at the incoming weapons that accelerated even further, he coughed air from his lung and coated his hand with Armament Haki.
"Flowing Waves: Sphere."
BAM! BAM! BAM!
His fist moved like sea waves, devouring all weapons thrown by Alexandra. It's one of the basic combinations between Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist and Gathering of Ten Thousand Waves.
It's a basic technique, yet the most versatile usage as Flowing Waves could do more than just a defensive move.
Alexandra frowned and created another row of weapons, increasing the power and numbers twofold. "Arms Ballistic." She looked at Huo Yuhao with great expectation.
"Flowing Waves: Tsunami."
An imaginary image flashed in Alexandra's eyes.
Huo Yuhao's movement started very slowly and delicately. After all, he only took one step forward.
Then, it becomes more intense and powerful each second. A raging wave that swept everything without discerning the origin.
Every weapon pointed at him has crumbled into dust.
"..." Alexandra.
"Arms Ballistic: 10.000 Weapons of End."
'I won't hold back anymore.' Alexandra manifested ten thousand weapons in the sky and covered the sunlight, creating a looming shadow on the ground. A big mistake.
Huo Yuhao manipulated the scattered shadows and dragged them out with his halberd like a shovel. He bent his entire body and lashed out, lifting a curtain of darkness.
The curtain of darkness enveloped Alexandra's weapons and drowned them in a muddy-like substance.
SWOOSH!
Facing the vicious substance, Alexandra coated her weapons with Greater Inner Energy but noticed Huo Yuhao's aura and energy swallowed half of it.
'His inner energy seemed to possess an "absorbing." quality.'
'How weird...'
'Theo should have possessed "Bouncy Air." Devil Force and flexible inner energy, if I remember correctly, but this darkness. No, this shadow is completely different.'
Alexandra fell into bewilderment. Her youngest brother should be a worthless Devil Warrior with useless devil force, which fortunately has crippled when the monster race destroys his Devil Source.
Devil Source is essential for Devil Race(Kroman) to become stronger, and losing it is basically a death sentence for waiting. They might retain all the power cultivated before getting Devil Source was "completely." destroyed, but it would slowly wither and be unusable after one year.
More than one year has passed, but Theomars became more powerful instead of losing his inner energy. Something isn't adding up.
Amused by this situation, Alexandra didn't realize Huo Yuhao was under her chin already.
"Pretty arrogant of you to face me so casually." His voice brushed Alexandra's ears.
BAM!
Alexandra felt a heavy blow strike her chest.
"Theo, since when did you become so petty." She puffed an air out and looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Petty? Look in the mirror, bitch." Huo Yuhao returned while waving his halberd at her. "Look in the mirror and see your actions years ago."
"Yep, those memories. I'll make you experience it."
Alexandra's eyes turned colder alongside her aura, shining dimly with bloodlust. The sky changed suddenly and filled with colorful aurora.
The aurora descended and covered Alexandra, wrapping her in white armor with touches of greenish color. She looked at Huo Yuhao silently and teleported to his side.
Huo Yuhao expected this when using Observation Haki and ducked down, waving the halberd wildly.
Clank!
"Illusion Weaponry..." Alexandra opened her mouth.
A million weapons appeared and struck the ground.
KABOOOOM!
The whole city of Grodunberg was shaken by this attack, causing several cracks in the Titania Bolos itself. Floating in the sky, Alexandra looked down with flushed cheeks and let out a small moan, "Ah, finally..."
"Theo is..."
"Theo is what?" Huo Yuhao appeared behind Alexandra and smacked her down.
BOOM!
Another earthquake shook the city.
"..." Alexandra couldn't believe what just had happened.
She sat in a deep hole and stared at the light path ahead of her.
"He should have died."
"Theo should have died."
"I'm sure... That attack, even peak 9th Class Devil Warrior, will die upon experiencing the initial burst."
Wiping herself on the lips, Alexandra could feel a small scratch that her youngest brother had inflicted. It's small but successfully drawn out of her blood.
Just one drop.
One drop of blood makes Alexandra realize something.
Crack!
The warm and loving image of her youngest brother, Theomars von Admante, broke into pieces.
"No!" She shrieked hysterically.
"STOP!"
"DON'T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME!!"
"THEO!!!"
The image crumbled and was "slowly." replaced with a helpless image of young Theomars in a cage.
CRACK! KACHA!
"Kukuku."
"I'm free... Again." An excited small appeared on Alexandra's beautiful face. It was a feral grin, loaded with lust and possessiveness over someone.
Raising from the rubble, Alexandra stretched her body and yawned in satisfaction.
"I have been sleeping for too long~!"
"Mmm, it's good to be back."
"How long has it been? One year? Hmm, around one year and six months."
"Anyway, where is my beloved Theo~!"
BOOM!
The hole suddenly expanded, morphing into a platform for Alexandra to walk out.
[Ding! You have triggered a Quest]
[Name: Alexandra von Admante's True Self]
[Description: Alexandra von Admante has been suppressing herself to protect Theomars from her dark passion. Now that suppression has morphed and unshackled, releasing the unstable woman with the "extremely." possessive desire to love Theomars again!]
[Objective: Shut down Alexandra von Admante completely(0/1)]
[Reward: 1x Random Item of All Grades, Beast King's Core, A drop of Fairy Tree's dew]
[Penalty: Death]
[Do you want to accept the Quest?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes." Huo Yuhao accepted while scanning Alexandra's current condition.
[Name: Alexandra von Admante]
[Age: 27]
[Race: Pure-Blooded Ink Devil(Mid)/Ancient Devil(Locked)]
[Cultivation: 10th Class Devil Warrior(High/Unsealed)]
[Description: The 1st Young Lady and the current Head of the Admante Family. An inborn sadist with no bound, liking "her beloved brother Theomars von Admante." and "Theomars's cries." to the extreme despite having a dual personality disorder]
Alexandra stood on a rock pillar and stared at Huo Yuhao sensually, licking her lips with excitement. "Ah, this is killing me~! I want to violate and make you cry, Theo~!!"
"And let's make it interesting..."
Alexandra waved her hand and warped the world around, changing the air into a cage between Huo Yuhao and her. She grasped the air like it was a weapon and "magically." wielded a grotesque-looking sword.
Alexandra's Devil Force is called "Illusionary Manifestation." which allows her to turn imagination into reality. Even though Alexandra couldn't change other wills freely and something that wasn't hers, she could still trap them in her domain and overwhelm them until they fell under her reign.
She could manipulate anything that has become hers.
That includes living and dead things, with one exception.
Someone that she couldn't manipulate after awakening her Devil Force 19 years ago. Theomars, her beloved younger brother.
Her Devil Force couldn't affect him.
That's why she was so obsessed with him.
That's why she manipulated everyone to be a mean and borderline maniac about him.
That's why she wanted him to be by her side forever.
A toy that will never break.
"What an annoying smile." Huo Yuhao commented casually.
"Hmm?" Alexandra tilted her head.
"I wonder what kind of faces you'd make later when I defeat you." He added while pulling out a scroll from thin air. "Because I won't hold back to this pesky world's limit anymore."
"Dragons would never drop their standard this low..." Huo Yuhao continued with disgust.
"Huh??"
Alexandra blinked in surprise before laughing because that was the funniest joke she had ever heard.
"You're only a low 9th Class Warrior."
"Just give up, Theo."
"Give up and become one with your sister again."
"I'll lower your punishment-!" She was about to finish her words, but an eruption of energy occurred abruptly.
[You have forcibly created "Spirit Circuits." with All Transforming Ink]
[You have used the "Universal Breathing Technique." to expand "Spirit Circuits." to the highest level]
[You have ignited Ogre King's Power]
[You have used Devil Trigger]
[You have broken the "Devil's Taboo." and reached the 10th Class Devil Warrior Realm. This effect would only last until the "Devil Trigger." deactivated]
[Devil's Taboo "Devil Dragon God of Adversity." have been activated]
Upon activating Devil Trigger, Huo Yuhao's whole body was "quickly." swept over by a violet-colored flame. Gleaming dark silver scales have grown on his skin. And three pairs of massive wings, each fused into a trident-like structure and possessing a segment ending in an opening designed to expel scorching devil-draconic energy.
His limbs had grown more muscular, having spikes on each joint, flaring with a fiery aura. And A lean yet muscular dragon's tail with a sharp trident-like end also grew from his upper butt.
Huo Yuhao's head developed a twisted dragon horn, having grooves connected to his eye socket. His eyes have red irises and blue sclera now. And his chest has three horizontal gaps that expel pressurized energy particles like a jet engine.
[Ding! The Darkest Star's Halberd was "directly." influenced by Host's Devil Taboo and evolved into "Ego's Weapon." in an unorthodox manner]
[You may name your Ego Weapon]
"Dosa." Huo Yuhao said, causing the Darkest Star's Halberd to tremble and release intense purple light. The weapon did become 100x heavier than before but stayed normal when he wielded it. Nothing changed besides the ax's end, which gained a liquid-like state.
"This is..." Alexandra was speechless.
"How could-!"
BAM!
Huo Yuhao used Extreme Lightning Mirage and punched her in the face mercilessly. She was caught off guard and felt a barrage of punches raining down her body, but she couldn't do anything because his movement was too fast to follow.
"Weaponry Barrage: 9 billion droplets of the universe." Alexandra escaped by teleporting herself out of Huo Yuhao's reach, creating an attack that enveloped the whole planet in darkness. A droplet of rain from the sky, but it's not water.
"Ink Domain: Erase." Huo Yuhao swiped the halberd in his hand, using the weapon's tip like a brush. The All-Transforming Ink expanded and erased Alexandra's manifestation like nothing.
BOOM!
The ink exploded with everything swallowed by it.
Alexandra wasn't surprised by this, charging forward with several puppets she had conquered at a young age. Some of them are people with 10th Class Devil Warrior realms.
Huo Yuhao pulled the Fairy King's Canvas open and said, "Come, Heaven Devouring Ink Serpent."
SHINING!
The massive serpent jumped from the scroll and crashed on Alexandra's puppets, smashing them onto the ground.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Huo Yuhao charged toward Alexandra again and swung the halberd at her with full power.
"THEO!" Alexandra furiously shouted, summoning a spear that could match Huo Yuhao's weapon.
CLANK! BOOM!
They are already several thousand miles away from the Capital City, but the shockwaves still affect Grodunberg.
Huo Yuhao exchanged blows with Alexandra, countering her attacks with the flowing-like move possible. He observed her mastery over the spear and tried to find a weakness.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
Their silhouettes danced in the sky.
'Why?!' Alexandra put on a frustrated expression.
She thrusts her spear rapidly and watches Huo Yuhao effortlessly dodge them all. And then she saw an opening.
"THEO!"
Alexandra smiled widely and lunged the spear forward, expecting it to hit him flesh. However, the reality is sometimes far different for everyone.
Huo Yuhao lodged Alexandra's spear between his elbow and stabbed the halberd into her stomach. "Fool."
"You're perfect at everything, huh? No wonder I don't see any loopholes in your movement. I bet you never lost to someone in your life."
"And that's your biggest flaw. If you don't have a weakness or opening, I can make one by baiting you."
"Now die..." Huo Yuhao used Inner Destruction powered by all his energy to blow Alexandra's stomach.
"I'm Immortal!" Alexandra chanted, causing her body to shine in dreamy white light.
BAM!
Her stomach was "brutally." blown away, leaving a small portion of it but following her chants. She regenerated quickly.
The "Devil Force: Illusionary Manifestation." could also be applied to her body.
"You're cheating." Huo Yuhao sneered upon seeing this.
Alexandra grinned and replied, "Blame the game, not the player, Theo~!"
"Is that so?"
"Remember those words well, then."
"Gathering of Ten Thousand Waves, Third Chapter: Never Ending Cycle..."
"Of Destruction." As Huo Yuhao finished his words, the energy he once poured into Alexandra's body began to react weirdly.
"ARRGGHH!" Alexandra felt immense pain. Rapid explosions kept happening in her stomach.
"I-I can't feel-!"
Before Alexandra could finish her sentence, Huo Yuhao smashed her jaws and cut her tongue. His speed is equal to light itself at this moment.
Huo Yuhao struck Alexandra's chest with a halberd and spread All-Transforming Ink into her body. He used Titania-inspired techniques to nullify one's ability by creating Ink Domain near Alexandra's beating hearts.
'No, I can't-!' Alexandra panicked for the first time in her life.
BAM!
COUGH!
Alexandra coughed blood from her mouth.
"Oh well, your Devil Force also has rules." He commented while pulling Alexandra's white hair, forcing her to see his red eyes.
"Let me guess... You need to "verbally." chant something to manifest it."
"Am I right?"
"Haha." His laugh penetrated her ears.
"After receiving excessive damage, you declared that you are immortal."
"Furthermore, you also wanted to declare, "I don't feel pain." when experiencing my trick. However, I stopped you."
"Blame the game, not the players..." He pushed the halberd even deeper.
"No?"
"!!!" Alexandra glared at him. She tried to contact her puppet through the mental link and felt their presence disappearing because Heaven Devouring Ink Serpent had swallowed them all.
Huo Yuhao dragged Alexandra to the ground and ordered the Heaven Devouring Ink Serpent to deal with Alexandra's remaining attacks.
Struggling for the last time, Alexandra summoned her sisters mentally and ordered them to ambush Huo Yuhao. They would create an opening for Alexandra to regenerate her mouth and tongue.
SWOOSH!
The four young ladies appeared, surrounding Huo Yuhao with a flat expression.
'GO!' Alexandra groaned in pain.
Her eyes squinted in hope.
"Pathetic bitches..." Huo Yuhao grinned indifferently.
"Kneel."
"YES, MASTER~!!" The four young ladies kneeled on the ground and moaned happily, leaving Alexandra stunned.
'N-No. It can't be!' Alexandra couldn't believe her eyes.
Huo Yuhao laughed maliciously and said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. All young ladies of the Admante Family except you have become my faithful slaves. I had such a good time breaking and training them to this state."
"Thanks for sending Harmonia and Triana a week ago, making my goals easier."
"It's quite nice scenery, right?" He forced Alexandra's eyes too wide open to see her sisters kneeling on the ground shamefully, exposing their rears to the world.
'No! I'm the goddess of this world!'
'I always win!'
'I can still win if my Devil Force is activated-!'
"No, you can't." Huo Yuhao choked Alexandra's neck.
"Let me show you the power of my Devil Force, Alexandra~!"
"Forced Plundering."
[You have stolen "Illusionary Manifestation." from Alexandra von Admante]
[Random Devil Force assigned to Alexandra von Admante]
[Alexandra von Admante has accepted the "Ultimate Breeding Vessel." Devil Force]
"AAAAH!" Alexandra moaned, trembling on the ground.
Huo Yuhao smiled because Forced Plundering is a double-edged ability that allows him to steal someone's Devil Force and compensate with a new one. It's Luck-Based Devil Force, giving his enemy a random Devil Force.
Also, the plundered Devil Force will become defective after a certain amount of usage.
If his enemy's luck is 10-90% lower than his, they will obtain fair compensation like all the slaves he had tamed.
If his enemy's luck is 91-100% lower than his, they will obtain a weaker Devil Force. Unfortunately, Alexandra's luck is much lower than his Ex Rank Luck.
Huo Yuhao expanded his senses and said, "Everything that occurred because of "Illusionary Manifestation." after I met with Alexandra von Admante will return to normal, beside Alexandra herself."
[1st Rule applied]
[You have two more Rules left to use]
[Please use them wisely, Host]
"Well, I expected this much." Huo Yuhao accepted Evo's notification calmly.
"It's not that important now, though."
"What is important right now is… Alexandra~!" Huo Yuhao smiled at the eldest sister of Theomars.
"Let's have fun~!!"