Supreme Paragon Reborn: Humanity's Rise To Galactic Supremacy-Chapter 342: Devil’s Demand

Devil wordlessly nodded before the two pounced on the creature.

"You have to die! Pay for your sins!" Still spasming from pain, the Monarch redirected its limbs towards the two.

Like whips, they held tremendous power. Capable of shattering even the hardest rocks with a single strike.

Since Devil didn’t have to worry about physical harm, he took the lead, absorbing most of the damage while keeping his owner protected behind him. His claws blurred, moving with uncanny precision, carving one limb after the next.

"What happened? Didn’t you like the image of your alien kind being slaughtered?" Devil asked, taunting the creature.

From the first interaction it had with Michael, the soul weapon had felt that his owner had taken millions upon millions of alien lives. How such a feat was possible was irrelevant at the moment. All that mattered was winning the current fight.

"Monster!" The Monarch bellowed. "Didn’t even spare his own kin!"

Before Devil could recontextualize the meaning behind the alien’s words, Michael neared the Monarch. Firing with his shotgun from close to point-blank range.

While the blast delivered harm, it only escalated the alien’s descent into further madness.

"AAAAHHHHHH!"

Like countless blades, the limbs moved fast enough to tear skin.

"Goddammit!"

Devil cursed, being blown back.

"Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve fought alongside the brat. When I’m in this form, he doesn’t have a sword in hand..." Devil realized.

Numerous wounds marred Michael’s figure. Regardless of how wounded or defenseless the Monarch was, it would all be meaningless if he fell before delivering the final blow.

Unwilling to prolong the battle, Michael gritted his teeth, moving forward.

Swoosh!

Dozens of blows collided with his physique. The shared intensity was so great it almost blew him off his feet. Nevertheless, he remained unshaken, like a firm pillar.

"You have repressed humankind for far too long." Michael’s eyes blazed crimson. "It’s high time someone put you to rest."

"Brat!" Seeing that Michael was able to withstand the whiplash and move despite it, Devil assumed his sword form and went towards his owner’s grip.

"DIE!" The Monarch demanded.

"No."

Michael’s injuries mounted. But it didn’t matter. Regardless of how hurt he got, he would be able to heal with cultivation after slaying the tyrannical being.

"More." He muttered coldly. Pushing his body past its limits like never before, his eyes blazed a deeper hue of crimson.

[Warlock has leveled up!]

[Warlock has leveled up!]

[Warlock has leveled up!]

For the first time, Michael managed to level up his Epic ranked technique. Such a long time had passed since acquiring it that he almost forgot it was possible to increase its level.

Ironically, the reason for the technique’s stagnation seemed to be that he had never been truly pushed to the brink.

But now it seems it leveled up as naturally as he breathed. It didn’t take long for a new window to appear in front of his vision.

[Warlock has evolved!]

[Warlock → Archwarlock]

[Technique: Archwarlock]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Description: In addition to the physical wounds you accumulate, injuries to your mind and spirit will cause more of your being to be infused with the madness of unyielding purpose, fueling you with further power.]

Within the menacing blaze of his crimson eyes, a faint golden hue began to emerge.

Step after step, the Monarch grew more desperate, Michael more unwavering.

Ultimately, when more flesh had been stripped away from his body than remained, Michael finally reached the tyrannical alien.

Plunging Devil deep, he twisted the sword, bringing an end to the miserable life of the parasitic Monarch.

The spread-out limbs, buried too deep in the ground to be retrieved and used in battle, trembled violently before going limp, signaling the end of the struggle.

Clang!

Unable to hold the sword any longer, Devil slipped from Michael’s hand and fell to the ground.

Assuming its full form, Devil grabbed Michael by the shoulder, or what was left of it, preventing him from collapsing.

Pant... Pant... Pant...

"That was... a bit too close for my liking." Michael chuckled darkly, his eyes unfocused.

Had he arrived as a Late Grandmaster rather than a Peak Grandmaster, and if his Warlock technique hadn’t evolved into an Archwarlock, he might have truly died.

Of course, everyone would have called what occurred in this battle an impossibility.

A Lord neutralizing a Monarch was an incredibly rare occurrence, yet Michael had achieved it while still a Grandmaster.

"Less chuckling, more meditating." Devil growled.

"You look fucking miserable, like a zombie recently crawled out of the grave."

With a scoff, Michael settled onto the hard ground. The spiritual energy the Monarch had contained had now been unleashed in the underground chamber.

It was more than enough to both mend Michael’s grievous wounds and allow him to ascend to the Lord realm.

While he did his best to cultivate throughout the pain, Devil inspected the surroundings. Despite how sadistic the creature might appear, his owner was in a near-death state, and it was vital nothing snuck up on them.

"How utterly disgusting..." Devil frowned, watching the withered limbs of the Monarch quickly rot.

The fact that a horrifying monster like himself was repulsed by the alien’s remains spoke volumes about its sickening nature.

"And to think this thing had been right under everyone’s noses all this time, seeping off so much energy..."

Unwilling to speak more, cautious of disturbing his owner’s cultivation, Devil settled close to Michael.

He watched as Michael’s flesh began to regrow, injuries healing at an extraordinary speed.

Gradually, the natural color returned to his face, and his breathing became more stable.

Only once Devil was certain his owner had escaped the near-death state did he speak.

"Hey."

Devil’s call out made Michael halt his cultivation, his eyes prying open.

"What?" By the tone of his voice, it was clear he was still exhausted.

Devil’s singular black pupil narrowed to the size of a needle.

"Given how long we’ve spent together, how much we’ve fought side by side, and the fact that I’m an integral part of your very soul... I believe, out of everyone, I deserve to know. And I expect a truthful answer, without any half-truths or evasion."

Devil paused briefly.

"Are you a Regressor?"