Death Heir’s Devouring System

Managing to descend faster than they had ascended, the Chosen quickly shot south toward the camp Seraphina had established.

"So now that we're on the ground, care to enlighten me?" she said, running to his side, eager to hear what had gotten him so shaken.

"You know that the Danger Level represents change in behavior and not just the amount of Corruption an abomination can use, right?"

She suppressed a scoff, being one of, if not the most, knowledgeable person in her branch at the Elite School. Few knew as much as she did.

"Naturally. Feral monsters are mostly brainless, relying solely on instinct. Savages are a little more intelligent, being able to use tactics like ambushes, groups, or making use of the terrain. Reavers display a form of leadership, being able to rule those lesser than them. While those classified as Apex often rival human intellect, adapt to any situation, and force every being in their territory to bow to them with no room for defiance."

Azrael nodded. "What about the ones beyond that?"

"You mean Calamities? Little is known about them, since even the strongest humans can't afford to observe or study their movements carelessly. All we know is that they take the Apex's rule to another level, not just ruling but having an actual environmental impact over the land. Bending the surroundings under their Corruption, they can change and shape the environment at will."

He wasn't surprised, by the knowledge the woman that was often regarded as an angel possessed.

"Yes, they alter their surroundings as they see fit, causing things to appear unnaturally—like storms forming without any warnings or tsunamis capable of leveling entire countries." He smiled bitterly. "Now… does that sound familiar?"

Seraphina arched an eyebrow, her mind slowly connecting the dots.

"You mean the lava ocean tides to the east and the Taintstorm to the west?" She shook her head. "If we were in the human realm, that could be the case. But in the cursed planets we entered through the Rift, things don't work that way. The natural state of this world is corruption, which causes all the unexplainable behavior, not some powerful beings."

Azrael heaved a sigh.

"Yes, that was my initial assumption as well. However, according to Isolde, there are two very powerful souls—one on either side. Not only is she able to sense them from such an impossibly far distance, but it also aligns with the story of the kingdom battling the 'gods.' All this time, they weren't fighting gods but two Calamity Danger Level monsters that have cornered them between themselves. Just by existing, they caused the nearby lands to wither away due to their saturated Corruption."

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't interrupt.

"After fighting against them, they eventually realized that defeating them was impossible. So, left with no choice, they decided the only way to beat a monster… was to create a monster of their own."

His gaze darkened, fixed toward the far south.

"The canyon that turned into a Blood Lake—it's where they discarded their Queen. Then, they began filling the place with corpses. She slowly consumed the blood of the sacrificed subjects, growing stronger. Given enough time, she will ascend to the next Danger Level."

The winds grew fiercer as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the scenery before the lands were embraced by darkness.

"The two Calamity monsters on either side are at a stalemate—not bothering each other. But if the Reaver Queen becomes the Apex Queen, won't that pose a threat? A being just one level below their own. No doubt they would move to eliminate her, bringing the lava ocean and the Taintstorm to the Golden Lands. Surrounded by monsters we can't defeat on every side, we would perish in an instant. I doubt there are humans strong enough to survive all that."

Their conversation was quickly picked up by the other Chosen traveling with them. The more they talked, the more goosebumps appeared over their bodies, their spines turning cold.

"Wait," James interjected, spotting a flaw.

"Your theory is far-fetched but has a lot of merit, I admit," he said, raising his voice partly out of not agreeing and partly to calm the others.

"Even if all that is true, you're still missing a detail. The Queen failed to ascend—the kingdom hasn't poured enough blood into the canyon. The Blood Lake wasn't enough for her to ascend to the next level, and from what we've seen, this conflict ended hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago. If she hasn't evolved yet, what makes you believe she will anytime soon?"

Truthfully, Azrael would have preferred to be wrong, to be mistaken, and that this was just his paranoia talking. After learning that the one he had spent all his life with had been a Skinwalker, he had always kept an open mind, searching for things that seemed out of place—things hidden in plain sight.

That open mind screamed at him. The more time passed, the more he began to understand, the more dots he connected. He grew more certain of his theory.

"You haven't been to the Blood Lake. No one here has, only me. So, you wouldn't know." His tone lowered. "The blood in it is more than enough. It's more like a sea, not just a mere lake. The reason the Queen failed to ascend wasn't due to a lack of blood."

Extending his hand forward, he called forth a beautiful crimson flower, one that held an unbelievable amount of blood, so much so that Azrael didn't doubt this single thing could fill the Blood Lake all over again.

Heartroot.

"One thing stopped her: the second chance she craved to make things right, to return to her land and spend time with her family and subjects, not as a monster, but with little of her sanity left."

The Chosen felt an unbearable dread wash over them as they stared at the flower Azrael had kept secret from everyone.

"When I harvested it from her body, I found it strange that there was so much blood in it. Why hadn't it gone toward her body if she wanted to evolve? Now I know—she hadn't longed for it, and her heart stopped her from doing so."

James's face lost color, his gaze sharpening on Azrael.

"You mean... the only reason the lands haven't descended into pure madness is this flower... the one you are holding right now?"

A shiver ran down his spine.

"What have you done?"

Dispelling the item since it drained his power at an alarming rate, Azrael answered without looking back. Not anymore.

"I have unleashed hell."

Not a single word was uttered after that. Whether Azrael's speculation was true or not didn't matter. The mere possibility was enough to send everyone into a life-or-death state.

Nights and days passed, their legs running at a ruthless pace. Muscles screamed, bones ached, and wounds appeared. Not a single complaint was heard. Isolde used her powers to the best of her ability, guiding the Chosen through the safest paths she could. At the first sight of a well, they entered and moved through the tunnels, uncaring about preserving the interior or keeping quiet.

Due to their lack of carefulness, several monsters appeared in their path, moving with the intent to slay them. However, the monsters quickly fell, lifeless and defeated. The Chosen didn't have time to waste, pouring every energy they had, they swiftly dispatched their foes.

The eerie green flames cast by the torches along the walls messed with their perception. Without another choice, they gritted their teeth and kept going.

When their eyes began to blur from exhaustion, the sight of the Golden Lands appeared on the horizon.

The expedition team was going to rest for a day, then send the whole camp after the Death Knight. It hadn't been that long; it should still be near the Ruined Kingdom. Once they located it, they would attack with everything they had and hope for the best. Should they encounter any Proven, they would keep silent about the looming danger ahead. Learning about it could make them force the Marked to do their bidding in their goal of slaying the King.

This would interfere with their mission of killing the Death Knight that absolutely couldn't be allowed!

Just as Azrael's plan was beginning to take shape on the best course of action, Isolde's words came down on him like a thunderclap.

[I sense the base from here… There are Proven there.]