**Chapter 15: The Ultimate Battle Body**
As Damon approached the ominous gates of the Devil Palace, he cast a fleeting glance at "Anon," who seamlessly melded into the shadows, fully attuned to Damon's silent commands. With an elegant stride that exuded strength, Damon caught the group off guard. Weapons were drawn in a swift, panicked motion, all pointed at him.
"Why are you so frightened? Put away your weapons, little mice," he taunted. The group leader, shaken, sheathed his weapon, yet the others remained defiant. The tension escalated quickly; in a blur, Damon struck, severing heads from shoulders, leaving only the group leader alive. The man stood frozen, staring at the lifeless bodies of his comrades, unable to process the brutality. He swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of his decision. "Let's continue our journey," Damon urged, a quiet fury simmering within him. He had longed to rid the world of such arrogance.
The group leader, desperate for forgiveness for his fallen comrades' rudeness, found no sympathy from Damon, who was singularly focused on his mission. Just as he neared the palace, five experts from the Commander realm leapt forward, their energy crackling ominously.
"Conceal your power or face the consequences," they warned, as if sensing a hidden treasure within him that amplified his energy. The group leader stepped in front of Damon, attempting to placate the aggressive experts. "Esteemed ones, do not take offense; they are merely frogs at the bottom of a well," he said, deferring to their strength. The experts, recognizing the leader's formidable presence, stepped aside, allowing Damon to stride into the palace.
"Esteemed one, please be patient. The Lord of the Devil Palace has requested an audience with you," the group leader stated reverently. Damon's presence had drawn attention, compelling sect members and four esteemed elders to emerge from their secluded chambers, drawn by the scent of a treasure that could grant them longevity.
As Damon approached the Lord of the Devil Palace, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Palace Lord. I have returned from my mission."the group leader greeted The lord, A powerful figure in the mid-Emperor realm, scrutinized Damon, intrigued. "Hmm, you are a strong lad," he remarked with a smile, contemplating the possibility of taking Damon as his personal disciple.
Damon respected the lord for his accomplishments, but before he could respond, he sensed the approach of four elders from the early Emperor realm. Instinctively, he drew Avalonia,"He is mine." One elder lunged forward, seeking to seize Damon, but he swiftly activated "Crazed Zoom," evading the grasp.
"How dare you!" the palace lord thundered, rising from his seat in fury. "You no longer fear me?" His energy surged, forcing everyone to their knees, yet Damon remained standing, unfazed, pondering whether to unleash his full power. "I cannot deny it; I want you to join me. You have been granted the opportunity to serve directly under the Lord of the Devil Palace," the lord proclaimed.
"No, Lord! He possesses something within him! If we consume it, oh, the longevity!" one elder cried, consumed by greed. "Master, do not recruit him! Let's consume his flesh and transcend our realm!" The palace lord's gaze shifted back to Damon, sensing the energy the elders spoke of, yet he still extended his offer. "My invitation stands; how everything unfolds depends on you."
"You see, I am not a man to be conered. If you want something, come and take it—but I hope you leave your heads intact," Damon retorted, recognizing it was time to make his exit. He swiftly employed "void Rotation," blocking the five elders as they closed in from all sides. His hands moved with a speed that surpassed their expectations,but they where emperor realm experts, his hands was immediately sent flying.as he activated "Void Flow" and "Crazed Step," he escaped their grasp, retrieving his hands with ease.
Unbeknownst to them, Damon began to feast on his own flesh, laughing maniacally. "Just that little act turned your stomachs? I thought you wanted to consume me!" With a flick of Avalonia, he sent it spiraling toward his foes, moving with a grace that seemed almost instinctual. One elder, desperate and close to death, lunged at him. "Don't worry, I will prepare your flesh well, my friend. Roasted humans have always been a pleasure," he sneered.
In a wild burst, the elder executed "Devil Dive," launching himself and Damon out of the building. But Damon had grown weary of the chase; he knew survival was uncertain, yet he refused to relinquish his body to this fiend. With a swift stab, he plunged his hand into the elder, repeatedly striking. "I am really having fun," Damon grinned as he flung the elder to the ground, executing his own version of "Demon Dive."
The elder, stunned, watched as Damon unleashed a flurry of attacks, landing heavily on his chest. Blood poured from his mouth, and he felt his head ready to burst. Damon kicked him away just as two more elders approached, wielding a two-handed sword. "Damon, I believe it's time to stop playing around," a voice echoed in his mind, but Damon ignored the warning.
Activating "The Brain of Madness," he reveled in the chaos. "This is magnificent! I can feel everything!" In a flash, he vanished, seizing the first elder of the Demon Pavilion. "Allow me to demonstrate; you should feel honored." With a twist of energy, Damon caused the elder to explode in a shower of gore.
The remaining two elders, consumed by rage, charged at him. "Leave your head for me!" they screamed, unleashing their strongest techniques: "Devil Pulse" and "Fist Demon." But Damon, lost in his frenzy, welcomed the challenge. He knew the backlash from his skill was imminent, but nothing could dampen his exhilaration as he unleashed "Dance of the Shuras," colliding with the two elders, delivering a barrage of punches and slashes.
"Why is this child so strong?" one elder gasped, as Damon unleashed a flurry of skills, severing the third elder's hand. Distracted by his own injury, the elder barely registered Damon's next move. Seizing the opportunity, Damon yanked the old man's head down, aiming for a decapitating strike. The second elder barely managed to block the lethal blow, sweat dripping from the third elders eye brows as he realized how close he had come to death. The battle unfolded into a terrifying spectacle, each moment a testament to Damon's relentless strength and the elders' growing desperation.