Chapter 133: A Battle For Territory

The battlefield was silent. Not peaceably, but the field became silent as everybody else around the two combatants realized something was going to occur.

Tanaka stood a few meters away from his opponent, his wyvern wings unfurling from his back, blood dribbling down his body from the various injuries from their fight, but his eyes were sharp and clear. Rhazek slowly raised his head up. The grin returned on his face.

"So this is what you became."

Tanaka flexed his claws. "And you’re still standing."

"I am the king of Varkesh." Rhazek’s crimson eyes flared with intensity. "I don’t kneel."

Tanaka’s muscle on his face tightened. "Neither does Eldoris."

Rhazek sprang into motion. Tanaka moved at the same time. The earth trembled beneath them. Rhazek shot forwards, a claw lined with dark demonic energy slashing towards Tanaka who twisted his body to the side, the former Demon Lord’s attack slicing through Tanaka’s scales instead of his chest. Tanaka retaliated with a slash of his own claws. Rhazek blocked, and with the force of the impact, the two combatants were sent flying back.

Tanaka unfurled his wings and used Water Movement to propel himself across the battlefield in an erratic path before turning sharply to face his opponent. Rhazek followed suit. Their bodies crashed into each other again and again, claws meeting claws, fists connecting with scales, a kick sent Tanaka flying back, crashing into a boulder before regaining his stance. Rhazek was already on him.

Tanaka raised both of his arms to block the incoming fist of the Demon Lord, the impact sending him crashing into the earth underneath him. The land beneath cracked. Rhazek grabbed hold of Tanaka’s arm and spun him around, tossing him across the battlefield. Tanaka dug his claws into the earth to stop his motion. He looked up to see Rhazek charging at him again.

Tanaka inhaled. "Storm Lord." A bolt of lightning shot from the heavens and struck Tanaka. Rhazek pushed through the electricity and his demonic aura surrounded his body, allowing him to withstand the storm long enough to get close to Tanaka. He swung at Tanaka, who ducked the attack, the Demon Lord’s claws coming within inches of his head. Tanaka retaliated by driving a fist into Rhazek’s abdomen. The air was forced from the former Demon Lord’s lungs as Tanaka delivered a second blow, then a third, the wind helping his blows to increase their power. Rhazek blocked the fourth. He let out a smile.

"You are too easy to read."

Rhazek seized Tanaka’s wrist. Dark energy coursed through his arm. Tanaka gritted his teeth as the attack tried to rip through him, but Abyssal Purification quickly tore up the corruption before it could reach his Magic Core. Tanaka drove his other claw into Rhazek’s shoulder, forcing him to release Tanaka. Tanaka took a step back, the two kings standing apart from each other again. Neither spoke, both knowing what the other was thinking. Their techniques were no longer of use. Tanaka’s Endless Abyss throbbed within him, as did Rhazek’s demonic aura.

It was Rhazek who acted first. "Demon King’s Authority." The battlefield trembled. A pressure settled over the field. Tanaka’s body grew heavy. The earth beneath him cracked. The air surrounding Rhazek seemed to obey his every command as his demonic aura expanded to fill the battlefield. Tanaka gritted his teeth. So this was the true power of a Demon Lord. Rhazek raised a hand. "Bow." Tanaka’s body was forced to the ground. His claws dug into the earth as all his instincts screamed at him to rise. Tanaka pushed himself up, slow at first, then with a grunt he pushed himself up until he stood tall. Rhazek’s eyes widened.

"You are still moving?"

Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "It’s my territory." Tanaka opened his Endless Abyss, and the pressure around him began to dissipate, not because Rhazek’s power was diminishing, but rather because Tanaka was devouring it. Rhazek quickly realized what was happening.

"You’re eating my authority."

Tanaka’s power swelled. "I told you," his eyes darkened, "I’m a Devourer."

The battlefield exploded. Endless Abyss devoured the dark energy surrounding Tanaka, removing Rhazek’s authority from the battlefield. Rhazek roared in fury and rushed at Tanaka, activating Abyssal Assimilation. His entire body became covered in darkness, as if he were consumed by it. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the Demon Lord was becoming one with the corruption around him. His speed increased. His power increased. Tanaka barely had time to react as a punch from Rhazek sent him flying, crashing into the earth and rolling a few times before coming to a stop.

Tanaka’s body ached, his Magic Core throbbing in pain. Rhazek loomed over him, delivering a second punch. Tanaka disappeared just in time, Water Movement carrying him to the side, the punch shattering the earth where he had been. Tanaka reappeared behind Rhazek, driving a claw into his back, but the Demon Lord turned, and Tanaka’s claws sliced through his chest, blood erupting from the wound. Rhazek staggered backwards. Tanaka didn’t stop. Storm Lord and Earth Impact combined to send Rhazek crashing to the ground, wind battering him from all sides. Tanaka crossed the distance between them and drove his claws into the Demon Lord’s chest again, but Rhazek’s regeneration quickly mended the wounds. Tanaka watched as the process took place, realization dawning on him. Tanaka didn’t have to overcome Rhazek’s regeneration, he had to devour it.

Tanaka opened Endless Abyss directly over Rhazek’s body, causing the Demon Lord to gasp in surprise. "What are you doing?" Tanaka’s claws found purchase on Rhazek’s body. "Ending this." The Abyss opened, and Rhazek fought back. Demonic energy erupted from the Demon Lord’s body, but Tanaka was unfazed. Demon King’s Authority exploded outward, trying to overwhelm Tanaka, but Abyssal Assimilation attempted to consume the energy within Tanaka’s Endless Abyss, and Crimson Blood Fang ripped through Tanaka’s scales.

Tanaka didn’t relent. His body shook violently as the energy poured into him, but he held on, his body’s regeneration repairing the damage as the energy was being devoured by Endless Abyss, fighting through the energy that was trying to get into his Magic Core, the powers opposing each other.

Rhazek’s expression changed. "You..." Tanaka’s claws tightened. "Your strength belongs to the king who survives." Rhazek roared. "Then survive!" The two kings unleashed everything they had. The battlefield was swallowed by darkness, wind and earth. For several seconds, all that could be heard were the sounds of destruction. Then, the darkness began to dissipate, revealing Tanaka standing tall, Rhazek on one knee, panting, his body covered in wounds that his regeneration couldn’t repair.

Tanaka stood before the fallen Demon Lord. "You won." Tanaka said nothing. Rhazek chuckled. "At least I chose a worthy king to lose to." Tanaka placed a claw against his chest. "I gave you a chance to leave." "I know," Rhazek closed his eyes, "and I would make the same choice again." Tanaka’s Endless Abyss opened, and Rhazek disappeared into it. No body, no soul, no skill, nothing of Rhazek’s remained on the battlefield. Everything that belonged to him was devoured, his demonic energy, strength, traits, experience, skills, Unique Skills, authority, and even his very existence was consumed by Tanaka’s Endless Abyss.

Tanaka staggered as the energy within him surged, his Magic Core expanding. Once more, it expanded. A great pressure emanated from him, his scales transforming, his horns growing longer, his wings growing larger. The crimson markings of his corrupted resistance spread up his body before vanishing into something deeper. Tanaka fell to one knee, and the world around him trembled. Then the Voice of the World spoke.

[Race Evolution Conditions fulfilled.]

Tanaka’s eyes widened.

[The individual known as Tanaka Eldoris has devoured a Demon Lord-class existence.]

[The requirements for the next evolutionary stage have been fulfilled.]

[Race Evolution commencing.]

The pressure intensified.

[Current Race: Abyss Devour Slime.]

[Evolution path confirmed.]

[Race evolved.]

[Abyss Devour Slime - Emperor Devour Slime.]

Tanaka’s Magic Core pulsed once. The pressure exploded outward.

[Class Evolution confirmed.]

[The individual has reached Demon Lord Class.]

[Rank has increased.]

[A-Rank - A+ Rank.]

Tanaka slowly raised his head to look over the battlefield. Rhazek was gone. Varkesh’s king had fallen, and Eldoris’ king had survived. The Voice of the World spoke its final words.

[The evolution of Tanaka Eldoris is complete.]

[Emperor Devour Slime.]

Tanaka looked towards the distant armies, the war for territory was over. Eldoris had held its land, its king had bested the king that sought to take it, and Tanaka Eldoris was no longer merely a monster king, but something else entirely.