The Incubus System Chapter 701. Encounter (Patreon)

The Incubus System Chapter 701. Encounter

But our conversation had to be interrupted, the urgency of the moment breaking through our thoughts like a sudden thunderclap. "Sarael! New wave!" Andrew shouted. His urgency was clear in his tone.

Sarael and I turned to face Andrew, the tension in the air palpable. But rather than him, my sight caught something else.

My eyes scanned the horizon in search of any sign of danger. And then I saw them: a horde of demons coming from a distance, their forms a writhing mass of darkness that seemed to stretch out across the sky like a malignant cloud.

They came like a swarm of ants detecting sugar, their movements were coordinated and precise as they made their way toward us fiercely. Their numbers were so great that they seemed almost unstoppable. Three other demon generals stood by in the front line, their expressions set in grim determination as they prepared to face the oncoming horde.

Sarael turned around. I could see the fierce determination etched onto his face before his face completely facing the horde. His eyes were bright with an inner fire that spoke of fierce loyalty to his cause.

"We will handle them," he said with a confidence that was both reassuring and awe-inspiring. "Just concentrate on your job," he added, his voice taking on a more emphatic tone. "Your Highness," he said, with an emphasis on my title that left no room for doubt about his respect for me. I knew he mentioned my status on purpose, to remind me that I am Lord Damon and Lord Erebus’ descendant. Reminded me of my responsibilities.

And then, just as he finished speaking, his hand was raised and a skull in his hand glowed with an eerie green light. I knew that this was a sign that he was ready to summon his undead army once again.

“You don't have to remind me,” I retorted in a low voice. With a flick of my wing, I backed away from the impending battle, from the crack. My mind focused solely on my task. I knew that I had to act quickly to cover up the crack before it was too late.

‘Guys, I will use my Dark Energy to cover up the crack!’ I announced via telepathy to all of my servants, pets, and partners, trying to sound as confident as possible even though my heart was racing with anxiety. I knew that this was a risky move, but I had no choice.

Without wasting any time, I raised my palm toward the crack.

"Dark Energy," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the din of battle.

As soon as I said those words, a dark aura enveloped me, and my power surged forward toward the crack. But something was wrong. Instead of covering up the crack as I intended, my energy seemed to be getting sucked into it. I could feel the raw power leaving my body at an alarming rate, draining me of my strength and vitality.

I gritted my teeth and tried to push forward, but it was like fighting against a hurricane. The more I pushed, the more my energy got sucked into the crack, leaving me weak and vulnerable.

Not only that. The pain… I felt like being crushed, squeezed from all directions. All my muscles felt tense as if I were being forced to hold a weight that far exceeded my strength.

The energy flowed out of me in waves, pulsing toward the crack and filling it with my power. Slowly but surely, the crack began to shrink. It was as if I were patching a hole in the sky, pulling the edges together, and sealing it shut. The edges drew together and the gap between the worlds grew smaller and smaller. I could feel my power draining away with every passing moment, but I refused to stop until the crack was fully closed.

The announcement inside the red boxes kept appearing in front of me.

[Warning! Your DP is dropping fast!]

[Warning! Your DP is dropping fast!]

[Warning! Your DP is dropping fast!]

“Shut up. I know that…” I hissed in a low voice. But that announcement indicated how bad my situation was.

The sweat on my forehead dripped down in rivulets, tracing paths through the grime and dirt that had accumulated on my skin. My hands trembled, causing my fingers to twitch and dance with exhaustion. Every beat of my heart pounded in my chest, causing my whole body to shake as if I had been thrown into a tumultuous storm.

My DP was draining rapidly, and I could feel my reserves dwindling with each passing moment. This was not the first time I had pushed myself to my limits, but this was different. I knew this feeling all too well, the feeling of danger looming just around the corner.

Despite my training in the Abyss, I had never experienced this kind of exhaustion before. It was a different kind of tiredness, something that went beyond just physical fatigue. It was an emotional and mental drain, and it left me feeling hollow and empty.

I tried to ignore the trembling in my hands and the rapid thumping of my heart. I gritted my teeth and focused on the task at hand, but the feeling of unease lingered in the back of my mind. I knew I couldn’t run from this.

'I can't believe Lord Damon has been doing this gradually for a thousand years!' I screamed internally. This was a valid reason why his health had decreased. Now, I understood how strong he was. I didn't just refer to his power, but his mind.

My Dark Energy finally closed the crack completely. A wave of relief washed over me. But it was short-lived, as I saw the demon hunters entering my Devil Space. My servants and pets tried to fend them off, but there were too many of them. They had increased in number since the last time I encountered them, and it seemed like their recruitment drive had been quite successful.

I lowered my hands and panted in extreme exhaustion. Slowly, I lowered my body, and my wings moved slowly as if they refused to move. No, not only them but also my whole body. My wings trembled as I landed on the hard concrete ground, my legs buckling under me with a loud thud. I tried to catch my breath, gasping in extreme exhaustion as beads of sweat dripped down my forehead. My whole body ached with a dull pain, and my wings felt heavy as if they were made of lead.

Quickly, I deactivated my Demon Lord aura to avoid the demon hunter detection. But, just as I was about to collapse, a voice jolted me back to reality. It was a deep, masculine voice, and it spoke with a hint of fear.

“The Great Demon…” The voice trailed off, leaving a tense silence that hung heavily in the air.

I slowly turned my head, my eyes focusing on the source of the voice. There, standing a few feet away from me, was a demon hunter, his face hidden under the shadows of his hood. But even in the darkness, I could feel his eyes boring into me with a mixture of shock and awe.

And then I recognized him - it was Larry.