Ascension King

**Chapter 22: Reason**

A satisfied smile adorned Damon's visage, the echoes of his laughter reverberating through the vast emptiness of space. He contemplated the significance of this moment, recognizing it as an essential step toward the realization of his grand ambitions. Tang Chen, now transformed into a tree infused with a unique poison, had fulfilled his intended purpose, yet a new problem emerged—witnesses to the abduction. In a moment of urgency, he called forth Vivi, the embodiment of the willow tree of imagination.

"Do you have a strategy to remove us from this dangerous situation?" Damon inquired, his voice resonating with authority and expectation.

"Indeed, you possess a remarkable talent for landing us in dire predicaments, so yes, I do have a plan," Vivi responded, a hint of exasperation lacing her tone. "Do you recall all those bodies you so carelessly dispatched and discarded?"

Damon nodded briskly, his mind racing as he processed her words.

"Those corpses are ripe for transformation into corpse puppets," she continued, her voice unwavering despite the weight of their predicament.

"How does that assist us in our current plight?" Damon pressed, intrigued yet skeptical.

"Has your rebirth rendered you incapable of reasoning?" Vivi gently chastised him before elaborating. "We will convert one of those corpses into a puppet, inscribing runes upon it to employ an illusion technique. Your illusionary powers may be modest, but with my guidance, no one will uncover the ruse."

Joy surged within Damon as he swiftly gathered the corpses, his gaze fixed on the two he had chosen. He lifted one of his decapitated head, admiring its features. "I am such a handsome young man," he exclaimed, laughter bubbling forth. Just as he completed his thought, the eyes of the head snapped open, and the body it belonged to emerged, smirking as it did so.

Suddenly, roots coiled around the two bodies, light emanating from the spaces between them—a laborious yet promising process.

"There is something terribly amiss, Master. A remnant soul has been discovered within one of the corpses, and it seeks to dominate the puppet," Vivi reported, her voice tinged with trepidation. Even she, an ancient tree that transcended time and space, felt the weight of the situation.

"Let it be. Let us observe what unfolds," Damon replied, his gaze fixed intently on the transformations taking place.

Before long, more light burst forth from the roots, and the corpse puppet erupted from its confines. "Ah, finally!" it exclaimed, surveying itself with clenched fists before turning to Damon and kneeling in reverence. "Oh, Ayogiri of Madness, thank you for granting me this opportunity to serve you," it intoned respectfully.

"And who—or what—are you?" Damon asked, curiosity piqued as he studied the puppet, which bore an uncanny resemblance to himself, albeit with white hair.

"Master, I am you—a remnant soul. I am profoundly grateful for this chance," the corpse puppet replied, remaining in a bow, eager for direction from its master.

Damon stepped closer to the puppet and gently lifted it to its feet. "Welcome to the family, Asrat," he declared, and the puppet's joy was palpable as it reveled in the gift of a name. A beam of light enveloped it, cleansing its form and bestowing a sense of rebirth.

In a swift motion, Damon entrusted Asrat with the memories of Tang Chen, an act facilitated by Vivi's extraordinary ability known as "mind extraction." The stage was set for the next chapter in their unfolding saga. "All I desire is an exemplary performance from you, Asrat. Any foolish move shall lead to your demise, and I shall be the hand that delivers it." Asrat understood the weight of Damon's words; he knew they were uttered with utmost sincerity. With all due respect, he proclaimed, "I shall not fail you, Master!"

Meanwhile, outside the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, a commotion erupted. Despite the ongoing rankings, unease gripped the hearts of all present. Yet, they noticed that the Heavenly Demon Blaire remained unusually calm as the Fourth Supreme Elder voiced his outrage.

"Heavenly Demon, why did you allow him to abduct a child of the Tang family? Are you making a mockery of us?" The moment the Supreme Elder finished his tirade, he felt a pressure descend upon him unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.

"You may harbor anger, but I will not abide disrespect. When my son-in-law emerges, I will inquire, and should he wish to escape, you will never catch him," he stated calmly, releasing an aura of authority.

The Supreme Elders were taken aback by the revelation of Damon being the Heavenly Demon's son-in-law. "What strength does that child possess to defy us?" the First Supreme Elder queried, only to be met with a hearty laugh from Heavenly Demon Blaire.

"He may not defeat you, but I assure you, if he were to unleash his full potential, he would certainly leave with at least one of your heads and some limbs," Heavenly Demon Blaire declared proudly. This proclamation ignited unease in the eyes of all, particularly the Fourth Elder, who feared for Tang Chen's life.

As their conversation unfolded, the void at the center of the stage cracked open, and a strikingly handsome man emerged, nonchalant yet commanding the attention of all—spectators, contestants, and both regular and supreme elders alike. A shadow trailed closely behind him as he strode onto the stage without a care in the world. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his mind.

"Such an impulsive brat. Why couldn't you wait until the competition concluded?" Heavenly Demon Blaire's voice seethed with anger, yet Damon merely smirked in response, transmitting back, "I could no longer contain myself."

The Heavenly Demon was astounded that this young man could wield skills that transcended his realm. His thoughts turned to the demon born into the Aoki continent, envisioning the bloodbath that was soon to unfold. A sense of pride surged within him; he longed to demonstrate to the world that indeed, his son-in-law was the very embodiment of madness itself.