Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 502

Chapter 502: The End Times – II
“How many days have passed…” Asura’s dry, hoarse voice echoed in the quiet halls.

The black wolves that hung above his throne and the broken walls held together with replacement stone.

This fort-like mansion was the current headquarters and base of the Silvaran army.

Wolfsheim suffered great devastation.

From the first day of battle, the undead horde carried weapons and abominations. These deformed creatures did not sleep, did not fear death, and used them like suicide bombers to destroy the main cannons of the port.

“Asura… it’s been two weeks.” Helia’s face looked pale, her long fluttering wings now missing several feathers and lacking the same gloss and lustre she once had.

It wasn’t only his beloved Phoenix, but Lorem and Verana were now resting in the medical room created in his mansion for the injured nobles.

‘Damn it…’

A bomb filled with thousands of poisonous spines exploded in the face of Lorem.

She used her divine flames to burn most away, but because of the force, she ended up losing her left arm. However, thanks to her bloodline as a phoenix and the healing properties of Asura’s world tree. They reattached her arm upon surgery, but now she couldn’t fight and needed time to recover.

Verana fought to exhaustion, using her vampiric bloodline to the limit, and now her hair became pure red, yet looked brittle and lifeless.

‘Those two won’t be able to fight for a long time. I should send the two away…’

“I see… can you give me a report on the current battlefront situation?”

His hands flicked a quill across several parchments, some death reports, material requests and other documents seeking reinforcements or aid from the capital.

“We are currently pushing the enemy back, though their numbers seem to no longer be endless. Casualties over the past few days are in the low thousands.” Danos Odon, from the side with an eyepatch, read the report while he looked gaunt.

“However, the enemy now numbers less than 150,000. Thanks to your highness adding holy magic to the armies weapons, and allowing the saintess to assist in battle the enemy will soon lose their ability to overwhelm us.”

“But Danos… at what cost?”

“Your Highness, we are doing our best. Even You have limits!” Manfried called out and banged the huge stone table, his eyes watching the weak and pale Asura with tears in his brown eyes. They all knew how much Asura was sacrificing right now and the pain he was suffering.

To heal them, he shared their sensations and felt their hunger, agony and mental damage.

Yet their King focused not on his suffering but on the people, his beloved women and the war effort.

Food.

Supplies.

Casualties.

These were the focus for Asur, and now, his body has become like a tower that spreads his life force to the soldiers, saving countless lives. Yet it spread his power thin, and he changed the tactics to a slower one and became a battle of attrition.

‘My father mentioned that his reserve knights would soon travel north… there are two thousand. But it feels they are nothing more than fodder.’

‘I should send for more light mages, so I can fight again…’

Although fusing with a world tree increased his vitality to extreme amounts, Asura himself had limits and needed moments to rest.

Right now, over 5000 troops are being healed by his aura, from those with missing limbs to others with damaged organs.

‘Frustrating!’

“How long to help the current soldiers recover to a level where regular mages can heal them?”

“Your Highness…” Alexander’s voice sounded low—he held the current medical reports and helped with triage and simple wounds.

War was nothing like the battles Asura experienced in the past.

If those battles were fun, enjoyable fights with the strong.

Then, this was a dreadful fight with death, sending people to die in a blender that cared nothing for strength, cause or will.

‘Father… Mother, now I understand your faces, and how you acted back in the past.’

Asura thought back to his life as Sura, with Helliana and Lorem, as their world suffered a great attack from an upper world.

No matter how they struggled or fought, no matter what resources or powers they scraped together. In the end, they could only flee without broken hearts and minds!

The realisation that no matter how strong he was right now, killing everyone on the enemy side and swooping in like a hero couldn’t be done. Because he knew the enemy held two cards that were equal to or stronger than he was.

‘I can only be thankful for one thing…’

‘The fact that expending so much vitality is spiking my limits… and allowing the dense energy of life to strengthen my body.’

The sad truth is if he told his wives that to save the troops… the cost he paid would make them stop him instantly.

[Father… you need to stop…]

‘Noir? You know I can’t!’

[Dad… how many times will you die? The tree cannot keep forcing your heart to keep beating and saving your life! There will come a limit!]

The beautiful black-haired girl appeared in his sight, floating around the room while sitting beside him.

Noir spoke the truth.

Asura died at least once for every 200 soldiers he saved.

Thanks to this immense pressure, his current limit was at least double his limit a month ago. Not only that, but it grew by at least 10% each day that passed.

However… the agony, mental damage and effects from dying over 30 times started to corrupt and morph his soul.

Less human…

Each time, he came closer to the world tree and his phoenix bloodlines.

[Father, you cannot keep this up for more than a week! Something needs to change.]

‘Ah… but right now, I feel like I could fight that bastard on my own and win. That’s why I must abuse this and stop only at the moment before I fall apart.’

‘Promise me you won’t tell anyone… Noir. I beg you.’

[Dad… why are you so unfair… I even prepared to plant another tree for you… one containing your Phoenix and Demonic powers… to help you survive!]

‘Five days… ok?’

Asura felt horrible to force her to lie, to accept his request, yet the greedy thoughts of his non-human bloodlines gaining more power felt delightful.

He needed help more than anyone, yet the moment he spoke out… all hope might be lost.

“Asura…” A voice called out to him with a tinge of concern.

‘Hm?’

“Asura!” Xavida’s voice echoed as she looked into his eyes—he was so dizzy and out of it that he suddenly snapped back to the meeting room.

‘How long did I speak with Noir for… my mind became distant.’

[Dad…]

“S-Sorry, I was a little preoccupied with something.”

He gazed at the tired dragoness and felt guilt.

Her soft scales, usually a lovely pink, now a pale white, and her hair looked the same. She fought the hardest after coming to his side, her dragon breathable to destroy all evil…

Yet her dull eyes, haggard face and cracked lips felt like a dagger in Asura’s chest.

“It’s alright… I was worried you were suffering.”

Xavida never blamed him, her head leaning on his chest as she breathed heavier than usual. “Can I rest here…” He could feel their two hearts beating in sync… both weak and lacking their normal powerful thump.

‘I cannot keep doing this…’

“Everyone, I have to ask… can we hold on for five days. At the current rate can you buy me five days, Danos, Manfried, Alexander and you all who have fought brilliantly. Helliana, Xavida… Sigurd! If you can get me five days… buy that time…”

“I swear we can win this battle within the week!”

It was the first time since the battle began and started to turn against them that they all saw Asura’s eyes glowing with such light.

At first, his eyes became silver like his hair, but now they alternated along with his emotions, various colours and shades, but for the first time…

His crimson eyes returned and shone with a vivid colour.

“Well… if His Majesty makes sure to reward us…”

“Your Highness, I want some high class wine!”

“Darling… I want another child…”

“Asura, lets go on a date!”

The knights, his wives, and all of them began to announce their requests as Asura closed his eyes, and for the first time in two weeks, he laughed.

‘That’s right… in two days, the Arachne and monster armies will return, and the elves and orcs should arrive with my father’s troops.’

It was the moment the entire room and kingdom were waiting for.

The return of Asura Phoenix to his optimal form.

***

That night…

Although the light didn’t shine out of the windows and hallways of Wolfsheim… The army still shouted with hope when seeing the King walking the halls with purpose.

Many were glad to hear that Asura would lead another push.

There was a clear direction and hope.

It felt like his words of confidence, spoken with determination in his eyes, kept the darkness and undead horde at bay.

For once, since the beginning of this battle, hope shone brighter than at any other time, and the nobles and generals felt confident in their leader. Their resolve hardened, and they had conviction!

Meanwhile, in a small meeting room to the South of the capital, a group of handsome and well-dressed men conversed.

“His Highness has spent so much to keep our heirs and beloved knights alive, how can we sit here without fighting back!” A middle-aged noble, the baron of Cülyan to the southwest.

“I agree, since he chose this path and stopped the north from falling, we must aid both Drakkur and Fenix!”

“I concur!”

Thus, for the first time in the kingdom’s history.

The South moved to save the North!