God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The {Black Dragon of Crimson Sky} was a sword technique of pure aggression, meant to take advantage of the user’s overwhelming strength to deal even more damage and cause more destruction.

Since it was unique to Cain, it employed two sources of energy; his Ki and Demon Matter.

Although Demon Matter did manifest physically, Ki was more of an energy source than anything else.

Demon Matter was meant to empower his attacks through the blade itself while his Ki could extended beyond his blade to create energy attacks. But that didn’t mean his Demon Matter was completely bound to his blade.

No, such was far from the truth.

The nature of Demon Matter was devouring. It was fundamentally a twisted source of energy that could profane other forms of energy and turn them into Demon Matter.

It had done this to the Devil Essence within Cain’s body, turning it all into Demon Matter.

That was how it behaved within him.

Outside his body, it becomes an agent of pure destruction and mutilation, violently destroying anything and everything it comes across.

And that includes other forms of energy, even down to physical objects.

Of course, this aspect of its nature was not extremely pronounced and would only become apparent when there are large amount of it.

In that moment in the sky, surrounded by the roaring wind, Cain’s reserves of Demon Matter had ballooned far beyond what he had originally possessed.

And every single drop of it was poured into that one attack.

"Black Dragon, Annihilation."

A single swing of {Eidwyrm} had created a bean of energy so devastating, it bored right through the beast down to the forest and into the ground, passing through thousands upon thousands of meters until it reached the very depths of the planet.

The killing blow had been dealt as the internal structure of the mammoth beast was instantly vaporized and turned into crimson steam that lingered before vanishing with the wind.

All that was left behind, were the bones and wooly coat of the beast that still had the wound Cain had left behind in the creature’s insurmountable defenses.

***

{Congratulations to Host. You have slain a Tier 3 Deadly grade Anchor Sovereign Beast}.

***

His energy now completely spent, Cain felt his transformation coming undone at the seams.

However, he was too spent to care as he fell from the sky.

The wind rushed around him.

Just before he could reach the ground, a pair of gentle arms wrapped around him.

Cain couldn’t help but chuckle,

"Now you decide to come out?"

He glanced up.

In the soft glow of night, Evangeline seemed even more beautiful than ever.

Her lips were tightly pressed together,

"That was quite the battle."

Her gaze traveled off into the enormously deep crater Cain had left behind.

If one were to peer off its edge, all they would be able to see, would be an endless sea of boiling magma.

She tire her gaze away and turned to face him with a bitter smile,

"That was a Tier 3 creature you just defeated, you know."

Cain’s eyes narrowed, "A Tier 3, huh... No wonder."

Evangeline shook her head and gently ran her fingers through his long hair,

"You did well."

Cain sighed and placed a hand on his head,

"Encountering a Tier 3 beast so casually."

Evangeline shook her head,

"It was not random."

Cain’s eyes narrowed, I can think of only one reason why it will be here. But if that is the case, then things are definitely more complicated than I hoped."

Evangeline smiled,

"Do you still want to try talking things out?"

Cain answered without hesitation,

"I do. Despite everything, I still do."

He paused for a moment then lifted his gaze,

"Am I being too naive?"

Evangeline shook her head,

"No."

Cain sighed then sat up.

He has been gravely injured after the battle. However, he was already recovering.

He limped over to the remains of the {Anchor Sovereign Beast}.

The creature had been a tough nut to crack, quite literally.

Despite its death, its bones had remained completely unharmed, instead now covered with glowing yellowish brown runes.

The same was true for its coat, only that it had been damaged a bit. There was a hole in its chest region where he had stabbed for his final attack. That hole was relatively small compared to the larger hole at its back.

Even more terrifying was the hole he had made on the ground that has cut beyond the planet’s crust.

He trwmbled a bit.

In the end, he had been able to discover the limit of the beast’s defense.

He sighed then placed both the bones and the coat into his inventory.

He stretched his arm forward and the space directly before him cracked open to reveal an enormous mutant creature.

Patting Ruby lightly on the head, he leapt up and into her back.

Then he turned to Evangeline,

"What do you say to going on a ride with me?"

Evangeline chuckled as she rose up and lightly dusted her hands,

"I think I can walk for a bit." she said as she mounted the Mutant Beast as well.

Ruby let out a low growl then began sprinting through the night.

***

Standing on a large spire made of a strange dark chitinous material, Traxillion, the general of the Redscale Army, and right hand advisor to the Ant Queen, stood.

Beside him, was the one he was born to serve forever.

The Ant Queen Anathe was truly a beautiful creature. More beautiful than any other creature he had ever seen.

"Hm. Our friend Cain surely hasn’t been slacking off."

Traxillion bowed its head,

"Your wisdom knows no bounds, my Queen. Forgive me for my doubt."

Anathe shook her head,

"It is only normal to be a bit doubtful. You have nothing to be forgiven for."

Anathe turned forward, her eyes trained to the far distance,

Traxillion turned his gaze as well, a faint killing intent in his black eyes,

"Still. I never thought the Anchor Sovereign would fall. We placed him there to guard against the Bat Empress and the Direwolf Lord. He represented one of the greatest tools in our hands. It is indeed a waste."

Anathe shook her head,

"No. Our enemy has revealed most of his hand. With this information, we can prepare for his arrival more adequately."

Traxillion trembled as he bowed his head even lower.

Although his queen was incredibly beautiful, she was also equally just as terrifying, perhaps even, the most terrifying creature had ever laid his eyes upon.