CHAPTER 176: 176 - FIRST ENCOUNTER

"..."

Raven went silent, he was just staring ahead where he could feel a strong presence approaching.

FWIP—

He tightened his grip on [Nyx] and [Emmeranne].

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous even for a bit. But at the same time—

Thump- Thump- Thump-

His heart was beating in excitement.

Raven had been going against weaker opponents ever since he got in this forest. He was starting to get bored and was thinking of going back to the gate to just wait for the others.

He already fulfilled the goal in this field trip, after all.

The experience to kill, the exploration, he was ready to leave the forest. But now, something caught his attention—something interesting.

The moment that overwhelming presence drew closer, his boredom vanished as if it never existed.

His instincts screamed danger, yet his blood boiled in anticipation.

A thrill like this— he hadn’t felt it in a while.

Not since his fight against the boss monster of the [Labyrinth of the Nurturer].

Anyway—

FWOOSM—!!

Just then, another strong surge of aura reached Raven! It was from the same person. But this time...

"Hah... They’re not even trying to hide the fact they’re demonic."

Raven could feel a strong, sinister wave of demonic energy swirling within that aura! It was thick, oppressive, and almost intoxicatingly evil.

And in that moment—

TAP-

FWOOSH~

The one exuding it appeared before Raven.

"Hmm?"

It was a beautiful woman, her skin was shiny red, her eyes were black with crimson irises. And most notable of all— she had two sharp horns on her forehead, and red bat-like wings on her back.

(She was wearing something like a sexy lingerie, but Raven didn’t pay attention to that.)

The air around her was hot, almost suffocating. The scent of brimstone mixed faintly with something sweet— temptation itself.

It wasn’t a majin.

’It’s a demon...’

Raven thought, a frown appearing on his face.

"I didn’t expect that there would be a human here. I did sense a presence, but it was so weak I thought it was an animal."

The female demon stated, her tone playful, almost teasing. Her curious eyes studied Raven from head to toe, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

But Raven didn’t respond. He didn’t even blink. Instead—

’Sariel, appraise.’

He ordered that in his head.

Then a system window immediately appeared in front of him.

Swish~

=====

[STATUS]

Name: Amaris of the Lust Clan

Rank: D+

Mana Control: C-

Strength: D-

Agility: D-

Stamina: D+

Intelligence: D

Luck: D

Charm: S-

[SKILLS]

Entice

Mind Manipulation

[TRAITS]

Member of the Lust Clan

-Every member of the Lust Clan is beautiful.

Succubus

-Everyone in love with you will go crazy and fall completely under your control.

Seductive

-Makes everyone attracted to you.

=====

’She’s a rank higher than me.’

Raven’s brows squinted after seeing that. He didn’t even care that the demon in front of him was a succubus! His mind was analyzing her data coldly.

’She also has the same trait as Ruby... Seductive.’

That’s what caught his attention instead. He recalled Ruby’s aura— calm but mesmerizing— and compared it to the suffocating, lust-driven one before him.

Anyway, Raven was still confused how the one keeping an eye on him let a demon get near. Though, not long after that—

’Sariel... Is this the doing of the Transcend Beings?’

He came to that conclusion, his frown deepening.

[Uhh... Yeah, they said it was getting boring for them as well, so they sent that demon in your way. They also made the one watching over you switch with a different person for now, so you’ll be on your own for a few minutes.]

Then, Sariel confirmed it with that.

"Those bastards really do whatever they want, huh."

Raven grumbled, an angered smile forming on his face. His grip on [Nyx] tightened again, his blood pumping faster.

Then, at that moment—

"Have you already gone crazy just by seeing me? So that you’re talking to yourself? Well, I can’t blame you for falling in love with me that fast."

The female demon, Amaris, said that with an arrogant tone. A wide, creepy smile on her face as she looked at Raven, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

"...?"

Raven snapped out of his thoughts and just stared at her. His expression was unreadable, his eyes calm and sharp.

"Hmm, you’re good looking... I guess I could keep you as a pet for a while before killing you."

Amaris mumbled to herself. Her eyes got darker and her smile wider just thinking about ripping Raven’s body to shreds! She licked her lips slightly, her mana stirring.

"Come."

SWOOSH~

Amaris commanded that to Raven while exuding a strong force of mana, asserting dominance!

The air trembled, trees swayed violently, and dust scattered around them.

Though in that moment...

"[Emperor’s Aura]."

Raven muttered that.

And in a blink of an eye—

F W O O O O O M—!!!

A looming aura pressed down the whole surrounding!

"?!"

Amaris’ eyes widened.

Fwish~

Her stance shifted, and she immediately took a fighting posture. Her wings spread slightly, her tail curling behind her. Her eyes focused on Raven as sweat started forming on her forehead.

’W-What the hell?! I was sure he had no aura and very little presence! How can something this strong come from him?!’

She asked herself, bewildered. Her instincts screamed danger louder than ever before.

FWIIISH—!!!

Raven’s aura clashed against Amaris’.

The ground beneath them cracked, and the air vibrated as their power collided. The shockwave blew away leaves, dirt, and everything loose around.

’We’re on equal footing, this means we’re just about the same rank.’

Amaris analyzed after the initial clash of their aura, biting her lip in frustration.

But just as she thought of that...

F W O O O O O M—!!!

Raven’s aura grew even stronger, denser, and more suffocating!

And immediately— it towered over her like an unbreakable wall and completely obliterated her own aura!

"KEUK?!!"

Amaris flinched, her aura shattering as Raven’s pressure weighed on her body.

Her knees weakened and her breath growing heavy. Sweat rolled down her temples as her wings twitched.

"W-Who the hell are you...?!"

Amaris exclaimed, disbelief and confusion mixing in her tone.

"..."

Raven didn’t answer her. Instead, he just casually pointed his finger at her—

"You don’t need to know. Come at me."

Then he ordered that, his voice and eyes cold and steady.

That tone— it wasn’t arrogant, nor emotional. It was absolute.

"Gugh...!"

Amaris felt humiliated seeing a human, a boy no less, look down at her like she was nothing.

Her pride as a demon screamed in rage. Her blood boiled, and her vision reddened.

So fueled by anger—

"GRAAAAAHHHH—!!!"

SWOOOSH~

She released her aura again!

But this time, she focused it all around her body— concentrating, compressing it— to resist Raven’s pressure and boost her physical power.

Now, her body radiated violent energy, her wings flapping once as she forced herself to move forward.

And with that—

BAM!

Her foot crushed the ground beneath her as she kicked off! Dust exploded outward from her step.

"DIEEEE!!!"

Amaris roared and charged at Raven with blinding speed, her nails elongating into sharp claws midair, her killing intent thick enough to make the forest go silent.

"..."

Raven just looked at her calmly, [Thought Acceleration] was active, so she was seeing her in slow motion.

He opened his mouth, and calmly...

"[Vicious Lightning Sword Technique—]"

"[Cruel Slash]"

He muttered that.

ZOOOOOOOOM—

BOOOM!!!