...…..
As he looked over his system interface, Azmodeus realized that he didn't even need to acquire so much Evolution Essence. After all, the number of stat points he gained from mere assimilation was enough for his power to achieve a level similar to what the Giant Gorilla possessed.
Speaking of the gorilla…
"Die, Human!!!"
A loud, thunderous roar reverberated, shaking the very foundation of the expansive valley that they found themselves in!
Its powerful fists came flying down from above as it incorporated every ounce of power into those massive hands, aiming to destroy the entirety of the valley!
It would not allow any place to be made available for the tiny human to hide behind!
However, in the end, nothing it did seemed to make even the slightest difference, as both of its arms were chopped off in a matter of an instant.
"!!!"
It looked down at its arms and saw them both falling out of the sky; blood gushed out of two gruesome wounds where its arms used to be!
The gorilla understood right then and there that the human had somehow become stronger than it was.
And it was through this understanding that it decided that if it couldn't win, then it would simply take everything down with it!
"Monster!!! Die!!!" It bellowed.
WAAAA!
A level of energy capable of killing even a Late Core Formation Realm Expert was unleashed from the core of the beast!
It was prepared to go Supernova if it meant that it could take out the monster in human skin as well!
However…
"Futile."
Following the uttering of a voice bereft of emotion, a sword strike unlike any other was unleashed from the human's tiny frame!
SHING!
The sword arc blitzed toward the gorilla, cleaving it right down the middle, which subsequently dispersed the buildup of purple Qi inside the core of the beast.
SLASH!
However, the Sword Arc didn't stop with just that, as it found its way blazing toward a mountain range in the distance, chopping off the tip of the tallest mountain before dissipating in thin air.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the war-torn valley, in the midst of countless claw scratches and sword marks, a young boy wearing dark red and black armor watched the plethora of pop-ups appearing in front of him.
BLING!
*Ding!* *You have killed a Spiritual Beast in the Middle Core Formation Realm!*
*Ding!* *You have obtained 5 Billion Evolution Essence!*
*Ding!* *Your Evolution Essence Bank has surpassed the 21 Billion Mark.*
*Ding!* *Would you like to Assimilate or roll for one of the Abilities of the being you just killed?*
"Roll for one of its abilities."
Azmodeus opted to change things up for once, as there was one particular Trait that he wished to obtain from the Gorilla.
Luckily for him, at the end of the spinning of a wheel with over fifteen different options, he acquired the Trait he was looking for.
Namely, it was the 'Death Beam' Trait that the gorilla used to vaporize dozens of miles of the Great Seperado Forest.
Furthermore, the best part of it all was the fact that he obtained this Trait on his first try!
He was prepared to burn through billions of Evolution Essence in order to acquire it, but in the end, he got it on the first roll!
On a side note, he was prepared to touch the gorilla and obtain the Death Beam Trait that way, but after looking at the 40 Billion Evolution Essence price tag, that idea was thrown out the window as fast as that…
Nevertheless, it was time for him to head back to the Frontier Gates of Yellowcreek City, as everyone there was likely freaking out at the sudden disappearance of their General.
Azmodeus predicted that to be especially the case for the two young women who, not even a few minutes ago, were shoving food in his mouth within a cute little cafe.
They're definitely going to give me quite the earful after I return, huh…?
Following these thoughts, he prepared to pack his things up and go back to the city. However, out of nowhere, a figure in long black robes, wearing an expressionless white mask, materialized from thin air.
"So you are the one… Very well, you will be coming back with me."
The raspy voice of the mysterious man resounded as he phased in front of Azmodeus at a speed that had already surpassed human limits!
"!!!"
Azmodeus tried to resist the abrupt movements of the mysterious man, but just like a gnat resisting the gravity of a planet, he didn't last even half a second before being knocked out cold.
"This boy will make for good pill material, and after torturing the information out of the Twilight Assassins Leader, I was able to learn of such a prime existence," the unknown man said with a content aura leaking from him.
After hundreds of years searching for something that could be used to make his Heaven-Defying Dan Pill—all so he could increase his talent and breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm—he finally found something perfect!
"I should really go and thank the leader of the Twilight Assassins later."
Flowing these relaxed words, he put the armored boy on his shoulder like a bag of potatoes before darting in the direction of a far-off location like a shooting star.
...
A few hours passed since the moment that the General was abruptly kidnapped by an unknown man in a black robe.
Inside a dark space with a large sigil in the center of the room, a boy awakened like a sword stabbed into the ground.
"..."
Azmodeus wore a calm and composed expression as he calmly scrutinized his surroundings, attempting to discern where he was.
He couldn't see any visible walls, and there didn't appear to be anything other than him and indecipherable markings in the shape of sigils, all of which were located in the middle of the impermeable material that he found himself standing on top of.
Just as he was about to switch up his way of comprehending the situation he found himself in, a deep and raspy voice sounded out from the confines of this mysterious space:
"Do not fret, boy, for your suffering will only last for a few days, as although the searing heat from my pill flame will be painful, you won't even notice it due to the swift cutting off of your pain receptors."
...….