Conquering The Novel

The rain poured heavily, and a storm loomed on the horizon. The trees in the Zia woodland swayed under the storm's force.

In the midst of it all, Ares stood unaffected by the raging weather, his grip firm on his sword, lost in a daze with emotionless eyes.

Rose was initially happy to see Ares's return, but when she noticed his battered appearance, her smile began to fade. His clothes were stained with blood, and his injured body showed signs of rapid healing from his regeneration skill. But what troubled her more was his expression, one of profound loss.

'What could he have gone through to wear such a look?' Rose wondered, her concern evident in the fluttering of her hair in the strong winds.

As she contemplated, Elaine finally emerged from the gate as well, and the gate soon vanished completely.

"Why did that illusion end so soon? It was just getting interesting—" Elaine began to speak, but her words trailed off as she noticed Ares covered in injuries.

"A-Ares, are you alright? Your injuries—" She rushed forward with concern, but Ares halted her with a gesture before turning to Rose and giving a command. "Ready the chopper. We're leaving."

The abruptness of his order left them both startled.

!?

"But the weather isn't stable for—" Rose began to argue about flying in the heavy rain and storm, but as she met Ares's gaze, she felt a chill down her spine. Her survival instinct kicked in, warning her of impending danger. While fleeing from her enemies and surviving for so long had honed her survival instinct.

Her senses screamed danger when she looked into Ares's eyes. She knew that if she didn't comply with his request, something bad might happen to her.

Gulp—

'Tch! Who cares, let's just do what he says,' Rose thought, quickly assuming her position in the pilot seat, her fingers tapping nervously on the controls. Ares wasted no time in taking his seat, his expression remained unreadable amidst the chaos of the storm.

Meanwhile, Elaine's heart sank at Ares's injuries, a pang of guilt gnawing at her. She blamed herself for being distracted by the illusions while Ares faced danger alone.

'It's... its all my fault. I was so busy enjoying those fake illusions that I wasn't there for him when he needed me,' Elaine pondered with a somber expression. 'If I hadn't been distracted, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt.'

As Elaine wrestled with self-blame, a message from her constellations appeared, urging her attention.

[There seems to be something amiss about this current situation. His injuries appear to be from a sword, yet Belphagor isn't known to wield one.] The message highlighted. [Moreover, Belphagor barely withstood your attack.

It's doubtful that he, the weakest among the demon lords who had just recently released, could endure your strike and still retaliate to injure Ares, who single-handedly defeated Pazuzu.]

!!

"...Yeah you are right, that bastard might have resorted to some sort of trickery to injure him. How could someone weaker than demon lord Pazuzu cause my Ares so much harm?" Elaine gritted her teeth in frustration as she followed Ares and settled into her seat.

"Wow. I didn't expect this chopper to have these functions as well!" Rose exclaimed, relieved to see the chopper equipped to handle extreme conditions. The chopper's dashboard displayed an array of buttons and switches, including weather control spells and a magical barrier to protect against the elements.

As she took off, an awkward silence settled in the cabin, with neither Elaine nor Ares in a good mood. Rose couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. 'What's with this atmosphere? Shouldn't they be celebrating Belphagor's death?' she wondered, forcing an awkward smile. But then, realizing something, she spoke up.

"Ah, Ares, it's almost time for the scheduled gathering of the monarchs on the floating island. If you're planning to attend, we don't have any time to waste. We should leave for there right away," she suggested, awaiting his response.

"...Alright, let's head to the floating island," Ares agreed tersely.

***

Ding!—

As they journeyed, a barrage of notifications from the system vied for Ares's attention, something he had been purposefully overlooking for quite some time.

'Did Eris give me this game-like system to make me stronger for her plans?' He hesitated before reluctantly opening the system interface.

Ding!

{Your proficiency with the sword has increased!}

{Your proficiency with the sword has increased!}

{Your proficiency with the sword has increased!}

{Congratulations! You have ascended from a Magic Swordsman to the revered rank of Sword Saint!}

{Congratulations! Your Snake Movements has evolved into Shadowstep!}

{Congratulations! Your skill "Fell Crescent" has evolved and ascended to its ultimate form: "Eclipse Blade!"}

{Congratulations! You have defeated Demon Lord Belphagor!}

...

**{New Abilities Acquired - Demon Lord Belphagor's Legacy:}**

1. Shadow Veil:

- Description: By channeling the shadows around them, the user can shroud their presence, making it difficult for enemies to discern their location. They can seamlessly blend into the darkness, evading detection and moving with unparalleled stealth.

2. Mirage Shift:

- Description: The user can conjure illusions of varying complexity, ranging from simple distractions to elaborate scenarios. These illusions can take the form of objects, creatures, or even entire environments, creating confusion and disorientation among foes.

Ding!

{You've gained the gift "Celestial Sword Descent"}

-Description: This gift allows you to summon an ethereal sword that descends from the heavens, delivering precise and divine strike with unparalleled power.

***

[STATUS]

NAME : Ares

RACE : Human

ELEMENT : [Electricity] [Psychokinesis]

PROFESSION : [Sword Saint ★☆☆]{New} [Archer ★★★★☆]

TITLES : [The Executioner] [The Youngest Swordmaster] [The Demon Slaver] [The Hydra Slayer] [The Demon Lord Killer] [A Chosen One]

Rank : S+

Strength : A+

Agility : S

Stamina : A+

Mana Capacity : A

Luck : B

Charm : A+

◆

Abilities : 1. [Universal Language]

2. [Photographic Memory]

3. [Regeneration]

4. [Ruler's Authority: Level 1]

◆

Stolen Ability: 1. [Wings Of Pazuzu]

2. [Shadow Veil]

3. [Mirage Shift]

◆

Skills: 1. [Eclipse Blade★☆☆}{New}

2. [Cross-Sword Thunder Blitz★☆☆]{New}

3. [Shadowstep★☆☆]{New}

4. [Hawkseye★★★★☆]

5. [Static Electricity★★★★☆]

6. [Location Swap★★★☆☆]

7. [Atomic Slash★★★★☆]

◆

Gift: 1. [Eye Of Chaos★☆☆]

2. [Gigantomania★☆☆]

3. [Celestial Sword Descent★☆☆]

***