Ascension King

Chapter 8: Continued Engagement

Damon smiled, his eyes glinting with a cunning light as the heavenly demon withdrew his sword. He approached Damon cautiously, eager to keep his distance from the boy's schemes. As he gently lifted Velma from Damon's arms, a wave of concern washed over him. Something was different about her. "How did this child unlock the Seven Poison Body?" Blaire exclaimed, visibly shocked. He raised his gaze to find Damon had vanished, leaving him with Gerald, who wore an apologetic expression, though anger simmered beneath the surface due to the disrespect he felt. Just as Blaire opened his mouth to speak, Velma stirred, blinking awake and looking up at her father.

"Ehh, why are you carrying me?" she shouted, startling the heavenly demon, who gently set her down.

"You fainted. What exactly happened?" Blaire inquired, concern etched on his face.

"All I remember is grabbing Damon in mid-air as we both fell," Velma replied, her voice still shaky.

Blaire's emotions swirled chaotically, but he knew the only way to regain his composure was to recruit this young demon.

"Father, he is definitely the one I want to marry!" Velma declared, her voice ringing out through the stunned silence. The room was frozen, everyone reeling from the whirlwind of events unfolding in one ceremony.

"What's next, a dragon's carcass falling from the sky?" someone muttered, breaking the stillness.

"Hey, don't jinx it!" the onlookers exclaimed, their voices a mix of disbelief and amusement.

Gerald, desperate to escape the tension, attempted to flee the scene. "Then their engagement is settled, and as compensation for what my grandson did to your daughter," he interjected hastily. Blaire seized this opportunity, recognizing it for what it was.

"Oh, my beautiful daughter! Just look at what he did to her! Who knows the despicable things he has done? He must take responsibility!" Blaire lamented, adopting a victim's tone as if he had been robbed. Yet, Velma no longer felt like a victim.

"Hohoho, it is settled then!" Maxwell, Damon's grandfather from the panda sect, strode in, as if he and Thomas plans had aligned perfectly. The two men exchanged knowing glances, laughing together, reveling in the unfolding night filled with unexpected blessings.the celebration soon came to an end.

Years passed by, and Damon turned seventeen, blossoming into a striking young man, his strength evident as he matured like fine wine. He had honed his skills to the pinnacle of a soldier's realm and devised a skill he called the "brain of madness," a contingency for when challenges surpassed his endurance.

"Anon," he called, summoning his loyal seventh-rank jaguar, who emerged with a graceful gait. Damon affectionately ruffled the creature's fur, a bond forged over many years, especially as they both surged in strength. Together, they made their way back to the mansion, where Damon had important news for his family. He yearned to explore the world, driven by a fierce determination to eradicate the thieves haunting his bloodline.

Upon entering the mansion, he was met by attentive servants who offered him a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow. Taking a deep breath, he approached his mother's room, steeling himself for the revelation he was about to share. When he stepped inside, he found both his mother and father there, an opportune moment to break the news to them together.

"I have plans,I want to explore the world" he announced, his voice steady. His father's smile revealed he had anticipated this day.

"Make me proud, my child. Always follow the way slaughter," Gerald advised, his tone serious. "Now kneel."

Damon knelt, feeling the weight of the moment as his mother's eyes filled with tears at the thought of her baby leaving. Gerald began to chant in the ancient tongue of the Void People, and as he did, intricate tattoos appeared on Damon's skin. Surprised, Damon pondered the once-great legacy of the Void Dragon clan, now reduced to such a fate. The mark was a legacy passed down to signify life or death for every male in the clan.

Rising, Damon walked over to his mother, wrapping her in a comforting embrace as he presented her with three peculiar fruits. "You can have as much as you want," he encouraged her, unaware of the chaos about to unfold.

Without hesitation, Dora took a bite. "Son, I don't feel anything—" she began, but suddenly clutched her stomach.

Gerald rushed to her side, panic etched across his face. "Damon, what did you do?"

Damon merely glanced at him, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I think you'll want to step away ." In an instant, Dora was engulfed in purple flames, her screams piercing the air as the fire retreated into her chest, igniting her heart demon. The Panda Sect's lineage was known for its formidable heart demons, and in Dora's case, it manifested as a split personality, one now unleashed with fervor.

"Haha! Finally, my handsome son, you've set me free!" the doppelganger exclaimed, stepping forward to embrace Damon, a reflection of his mother. Dora, witnessing her transformation, felt an overwhelming surge of power as she ascended to the King realm, tears of joy welling in her eyes. She realized she could dream big once more, unshackled from limitations.

Gerald watched from the sidelines, a bemused expression on his face. "So now I have two wives," he said, beaming with delight. Damon rolled his eyes, aware of how pleased this made his father.

"Though it's bittersweet, I must say my goodbyes. My journey ahead will be long and arduous." Gently, he placed a bracelet on his mother's wrist—a device to keep the doppelganger in check—before hastily departing the mansion.

"Damn, what is that thing?" he muttered under his breath as he sprinted toward the city of Lymhrst, the bustling merchant hub nearest to the Demon Continent.