The Demon Monarch System

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"Forgive me if I misunderstood you young Lord, but did you just say internal strife of a Household?! What particular Household are you referring to?" Fuhrer questioned in shock. After all, he was the strongest advocate against forming a Household. Although some time has passed, the same threat remains, or at the very least, a remnant of said threat.

"I'm referring to our Household. Don't you believe it's time we come together under one mantle? Not only will it solidify our standing, but it should also form a beacon for the others of the Lost Council to locate us. According to your past explanation, of course," Apollo responded while also removing his foot from Valac's back.

A sigh of relief sounded from Valac's lips but not before his body was frozen in place by the presence of the Adamantine Servitude washing over his body. Gradually, any prior defiance was being rewritten with absolute loyalty towards Apollo's order. While his personality wasn't being affected in the slightest, since it was a matter of Valac's innate disposition, Adamantine Servitude only adhered to Apollo's word.

Otherwise, Adamantine Servitude remained in an inactive state until Apollo's targeted stimulation. Be that as it may, Valac no longer possessed any intention of going against Apollo, because from what he felt, doing so was only welcoming an early death.

The others didn't experience it directly, but he did. The Sin Energy Apollo utilized was lethal, carrying all intents to kill once it permeated Valac's body. If he didn't give in, the chance of him not being alive right now was astronomical!

'He's even worst than the Old Monarch. At least he pulled back his strikes at the very moment of death, but my young Lord didn't even put this matter in place as a precaution! What would happen if I were to die? Would I be forgotten and replaced? Is my position so interchangeable?'

In light of these dark thoughts and looking questions, Valac could only shiver due to the answers his unsettled mind generated. 'As long as I am obedient, then I don't need to worry about those questions,' Valac told himself.

Afterward, he continued to listen to Fuhrer and Apollo's conversation. After all, the matter of becoming a Household was extremely important. Even though there were enticing benefits attached to the privilege, there were also glaring vulnerabilities. 

"Yes! I remember my past explanation vividly. But, while you have grown, the prior risk still exists. We should at least wait until the risk is complete resolved by your growth, At that time, it won't be too late to register as a Household, and an overwhelmingly strong one at that.

"Why can't we just do so right now and weather the storm? Aren't you the one who taught me that higher risks meant higher rewards? If I don't take this risk, then won't my next evolution take even longer than my previous one? There's just too much to accomplish!" Apollo vehemently retorted.

Because of this, Fuhrer fell silent with a difficult expression. Obviously, some complex thought ran through his mind, some of which he contemplated divulging to Apollo. However, if he was to learn and come in contact with them, then this is some vital information for Apollo.

"Some of the Lost Council resents the Old Monarch for just leaving us. The devolving situation of the internal strife contributed to the death of some of their families. As such, they vowed to never take part in the demonic civil issue ever again. But, their palpable hatred still remains," Fuhrer revealed.

However, as he started to continue, Apollo interjected with his own thoughts, "So what you mean to say is that by forming a Household occupied by you Furcas and Valac, the others will infer that I have a relation to the Old Monarch?"

"Precisely. And, during the test, there is a chance of you being the target of their ire. There is even a chance of them going overboard to placate their vengeance. One such example is Asteroth you seek. Some of these demons retain more power than I do because their source wasn't used to protect the Nihilistic Rings," Fuhrer admitted with a pained expression.

In truth, he missed reveling in his own power and being unquestioned while next to the Old Monarch. In his eyes, his current predicament was a fall from grace. From invoking reverie to barely being able to compete in power level was a truly devastating reality. Thankfully, Fuhrer's mental state was by no means fragile.

"I don't see the issue with that. In fact, I believe that is my purpose. Perhaps the Old Monarch has left issues for me to correct in order to prove my ability. Wasn't it you that said his disappearance was bizarre and not even his body was found? The only thing that happened was the sealing of the lost realm," Apollo commented.

To Fuhrer, this explanation made sense. 'Now that I think about it, my old friend is the type to leave many intricate tests, even if they might not seem like it on the surface. Perhaps I should allow him to truly form the Household.'

Suddenly, Apollo's eyebrows when he listened to Azridan's message.

[Did I hear you wish to form a Household. Lad, have you already become a Greater Demon? Although I healed myself, there seems to be some lingering issue. Something obscures my analysis of your presence. Besides, I know that voice talking, it's so familiar.]

'Yes you do, it's Fuhrer. Don't you remember him?' Apollo questioned.

[F-Fuhrer?! Old Man Erus?! You jest. That ancient guy is still alive?]

'Very much alive. In fact, there are no signs of his death any time soon. He has overseen my current training. Hence, why I managed to accomplish my promise to you. I evolved,' Apollo answered.

For a while, Azridan was silent as he reminiscent his younger days. Hearing the name Fuhrer sparked a surge of memories. Their resurgence brought happiness, which was long vacant from his life after experiencing the treachery of betrayal.

[May I speak with him for a moment?]

'You may, but how? Do you wish to take control of my body once more? When it comes to this, only you manage to make in on my list of entrusted individuals.'

[I will try, but your body is even more impenetrable. It might be difficult for my current state to hold assimilation. Nevertheless, I have some stuff to reveal.]

Once Apollo gave his consent, his body trembled before exuding a dark breath. His eyes then closed momentarily before going through a lurid change. Black veins surround his eyes as they turned completely black with the absence of pupils.

Then, a distorted voice echoed from his throat, "Fuhrer."

The change in his voice caught Fuhrer off-guard, causing him to glance at Apollo oddly. "What is it, young Lord? And, why does your voice sound so... bizarre?"

Before answering, Azridan's tried to control Apollo's body to the best of his ability. First, he coughed, which caused the subtle change in his voice then he resumed his attempt, "This isn't Apollo."

As soon as that phrase left his left, everyone jumped back while preparing for battle. The first thought running through their mind was that one of the Sin's sentience managed to take control of his body. If so, then only chaos would ensue, seeing as each one was the embodiment of seething corrupting.

Fortunately, Azridan raised his hands to show his harmless intent, "I just wish to talk with you Fuhrer. It is your old student."

Upon hearing these words, Fuhrer's body quaked while his hand slid from his hilt. "My old student? Do you mean...is it you, boy? Azridan, is that you?"

"It is me, Master. Forgive my current state for my body is no more. Therefore, I must use this young's boy's vessel to get in contact with you," Azridan said with a grimace, but continued to talk through his expression, "Allow me to show you the travesty that remains."

Azridan held out his hand until Fuhrer grasped it. Immediately, an influx of imaged flashed before Fuhrer's eyes. It detailed the experiences of Azridan, even revealing his obscured meeting with the Old Monarch.

  Finally, after a few moments, their hands separated. Surprised filled Fuhrer's face, "So you're the reason he possesses those Stigmata. Your death was abstained, placing you in a state of perpetual existence. You were chosen as the guide!"

"I was. But as you see, there are others who wish to enter that forbidden place. However, even wasn't unable to unlock its core part. However, there was a message, that only the child carrying the blood of domination can enter that place and those he permits. I believe you should allow this body to carry out his desire of creating a Household.

"What about the looming danger of the ones who killed you? According to what I saw, they were all infinitesimally close to evolving into Daemos."

"Close, but never truly taking the step, as with I. They've yet to understand the truth with their clouded judgment," Azridan replied. "Regardless of their power levels, they're susceptible to their source, so their mind won't survive the attempted sublimation."

Unlike the rest of the states, to become a Daemos required one to merge with the Primal Source of a Sin and create a Daemos Soul sublimated with your chosen combination of or singular Sin.

However, this also welcomed the demon to the purest state of the Sins. Compared to this, the earlier trials were but a drop in the boundless ocean. During this merge, it was easy to lose one's self without sufficient willpower.

"I understand what you want. You want to draw them to Apollo's position through the creation of the Household. But that doesn't seem to be everything."

"Correct. None of them possess an understanding of the Void. So if we can recover a certain amount of your strength, they'll never really come close to your position unless you will it. But, the inevitable danger will also spur Apollo's thirst for power. It'll hasten everything."

"I see, so all of this is in the written events. Very well. Rest for now, we'll talk once we get the chance in the Nihilistic Rings. In the meantime, allow the boy to begin the process."