CHAPTER 28: CONTAMINATED BUT EVOLVED

Pyraegon whispered, "Now," his voice low and final. "We begin."

He charged in again, darkness shrouding his attacking palm. This time, his movement carried even more authority. He growled another verbal proclamation in honor of Hadas, "You all would crumble under just one foot of my father." The sentence made it sound like a hadas was one fearsome giant.

Eldrick’s mind darted through everything that had unfolded. Pyraegon had fought with his fist although, showcasing just one impossible ability. "Does that mean killing him would only make him stronger?" he whispered.

This time, Eldrick didn’t wait for Pyraegon’s strike. "Go to hell—you and your father!" he roared, taking a defensive stance.

"Me and my father are hell," Pyraegon smirked.

BOOM! His fist cloaked in dark aura collided with Eldrick’s palm, and in that instant, Eldrick realized he was at a disadvantage.

The punch was massive—strong enough to obliterate a quarter of a planet. But thanks to his Shock Absorber ability, which was crawling to its limit, Eldrick transformed the impact into vibrations and channeled them through his feet. But only then did he realise he was mid-air.

’Damn it. If I release it into the air, it’ll explode. That impact... I need my legs,’ he thought.

The world seemed to pause. The only thing in his control was the vibration within him. He forced it upward, toward his palm, like pushing a silent bomb. His heart pounded with fear of what would happen if he lost control. ’If I’m losing my arms, I’m taking yours too,’ Eldrick thought. His expression turned from dread to fury.

He caught Pyraegon’s arm with both hands—then BOOM.

"Arrggh!" he moaned.

Agony exploded in Eldrick’s head, but his eyes still locked onto Pyraegon’s face, searching for a flicker of pain. There was none—only domination.

"What...?" Eldrick whispered, looking at where their hands had clashed. He was certain his palms were blown to ash. Yet Pyraegon’s hand was covered only in his stagnant, blood-tinted air. But when the blur cleared, Pyraegon’s arm appeared unscratched.

"Make sure your last prayers carry the shiver in Hadas’s name," Pyraegon purred, sending Eldrick flying backwards through the air with a mere flick of his finger to Eldrick’s forehead.

"Aaah!" cried the demon clan—fear and shock echoing like thunder across the land. Questions rippled through their minds: He’s only the son—what would the father be?

Far away in the dungeon, Hadas sat on his throne smiling like a man who had achieved everything he craved. Dolonides stood beside him, standing still like a living frozen statue.

Visually, Hadas’s broken skin seemed to renew itself—not perfect like a child’s, but fresher. His teeth whitened, as though time reversed from decay. Even his bones strengthened.

"Keep up the good work, children," he smirked, then chuckled devilishly.

He wasn’t absorbing fear like food. He was absorbing it like a god. Every emotion of fear harbored in the heart of any man was fuel—divine fuel.

Back in the demon clan, people retreated to their homes, slamming windows shut as fear shook their hearts. Soon, the land was deserted.

Eldrick still spun mid-air, until his back collided with something solid, halting his shameful descent.

Allen.

"Having problems, my king?" Allen smirked, descending like a savior from the skies with Eldrick in his arms.

Eldrick looked up at him, tears welling as he transferred the vibration form the impact to his arm again. BOOM. His arm shattered, leaving only an elbow-length stump with bones clearly visible and broken.

"Hmm," Allen hummed, gaze tilting in disgust as he lowered Eldrick to the ground.

"You must be the boy Kealion talked about—the new host of the Copy System?" Eldrick smirked after studying allens unusual figure, crying like a child in Allen’s arms, pain registering deeper by the second.

"Yes," Allen smirked, setting him gently down.

"Run... Save your destiny from being shattered. Run," Eldrick warned, fear burning through him like wildfire.

"Leave this to me," Allen replied, confidence blazing in his voice. "Elara!"

"My lord!" she replied, running up from behind. Her eyes locked onto Pyraegon who gaze on them from above like a god gaming insects.

"Take him to the Water Healing Clan for treatment."

"Yes, my lord."

"Can you carry him?" Natasha teased from behind.

Elara narrowed her eyes, flames of anger flickering in her gaze. "I may not be able to," she said, stomping her foot. The earth beneath Eldrick rose into a rocky bed hovering mid air. "But the earth can."

"Hmph," Natasha puffed, walking past.

"Don’t kill him," Eldrick warned weakly. "If you do, he’ll resurrect stronger."

’Interesting,’ Allen thought. ’Expected nothing less from a son of Hadas.’

"System, activate Black Tongue ability," he whispered. I’m going to copy that ability no matter what.

[System ability: Black Tongue activated]

Level 1 Upper Cursed Words

1. Break

2. Conceal

Level 1 Lower Cursed Words

1. Dream

2. Hibernate

Level 2 Upper Cursed Words

1. Forget

2. Don’t Move

Level 2 Lower Cursed Words

1. Undo

2. Redo

Level 3 Upper Cursed Words

1. Burn

2. Scatter

Level 3 Lower Cursed Words

1. Create

2. Destroy

Level 4 Forbidden Words

1. Obey

2. Die

[System Notification: Access to Level 3 Lower Cursed Words granted for surpassing previous battle limits.]

[System Alert:]

Potential Threat – Pyraegon.

Intimacy: Instill Fear

Threat Level: 80%

Race: Deity

"Haaah," Allen exhaled, tension swelling in his chest. "He’s a whole level above me."

Pyraegon scanned the empty demon lands. Only Allen and Natasha stood there. The silence in the arena was like that of a grave.

"Success. My father will be proud of me," he smirked. "But I must leave a visible scar—to keep that fear alive."

He descended slowly like a god, his wiry muscles resisting the wind, his night dark hair flowing like royalty. He landed with silent feet and walked toward Allen.

"Wait a second," Allen rasped, confusion itching his mind as he squinted. "Is that not Zarynth’s demon personality? Or am I hallucinating?"

Natasha stepped forward, realization dawning. The horns. The hair. The aura. The familiar presence.

"Elara did say they were summoned by a voice, but gave no other clue."

’Could it be Hadas? That’s the only explanation. His advertising him like a brand to build fear. There can be no other reason.’

"Hey, aren’t you Zarynth’s demon personality?!" Allen shouted clearly.

"Call me Pyraegon. Son of hadas."

’It seems his walks on a different part now. Living under the will of hadas. Certainly, he has been initiated’ Allen gritted, calculating in deep taughts.

"What’s Hadas like?" Allen asked, taking steady step forward.

Natasha stood still, the thought of an alliance between two devils freezing her blood.

"Finally, someone who cares," Pyraegon rasped with a cracked smile. "My father is God, Salvation—"

"That’s enough," Allen snapped. "I’ll answer that question myself—after killing you."

"Kill me?... Ha!" Pyraegon laughed, halting his stride. "How about I give you a free hit? Let’s see if you can scratch me."

Allen recalled Eldrick’s warning but smiled. "Sure you won’t regret that?"

"I’ll only regret it if you fail to even leave a wound."

Allen took a runner’s stance, lightning crackling across his body. ’You’re only making things more easier.’

"My lord, don’t you think it’s a trap?" Natasha warned, afraid to get too close to Allen since he was shrouded in lightning

"Don’t worry. In this prideful state, he wouldn’t dare cheat. That would stain his father’s name."

"All I need," Allen whispered, surging forward at light-speed. The impact cracked the ground beneath him, red lightning trailing behind.

Shlick...

His fingertips blazed past Pyraegon’s face, carving a thin line.

Allen stopped some distance behind, inspecting the blood on his nails like it was gold.

"Is his blood," he smirked, savoring slowly the blood on his finger.

[System has detected blood sample.]

[Do you want to access DNA?]

[Y/N]

"Yes."

Pyraegon wiped the blood off his face, fury igniting in his eyes. "You did wound me, but whatever you do, make sure my royal blood doesn’t touch the floor. It’s sacred."

[DNA Assessed.]

Source: Pyraegon

Race: Deity

Ability: Cruel Immortality (God-tier ability)

Warning: DNA is highly contaminated and and ranking is relatively hig. Coping might curse side effects

[Proceed with gene ability copy? Y/N]

"Contaminated gene..." Allen whispered. ’Risk is high, but the reward is worth it. It’s immortality we’re talking about.

He took a deep breath, decisions final in his heart. "Copy and synchronize immediately."

[Command executed. System fusing gene with blood.]

Allen’s body convulsed as if struck by divine lightning. He dropped to his knees, his body evolving. Aura surged. Strength, speed, and perception multiplied.

[Replication complete. Synchronizing...]

–New Ability: Cruel Immortality

–Physique: +1000

–Combat: +1000

–Mental: +1000

–Charm: +1000

Note: All system and gene abilities have been upgraded to SSS rank.

"What...?" Allen rasped, the pain vanishing from his body. The system’s words echoed through his mind. "What exactly is in this blood...?" He searched for side effects, but found none—though he knew such power could not come without a price.

"Hey!" Pyraegon shouted from just ahead, snapping him back to reality as he unleashed a punch more terrifying than any thrown before.

"Pay attention to the battlefield!"