Chapter 695: Chapter 696: Horde A beam of light descended from the heavens, engulfing his form as broadcast orbs poured from the sky, swirling around him in a slow orbit that followed the radiant glow. He didn’t change his expression. His face or rather, the absence of one remained calm. He was faceless, a darkness given shape. From the outside, he appeared as nothing but darkness, a silhouette molded into the vague form of a man. Those who saw him couldn’t tell if he was male or female, tall or short. In truth, he appeared different to everyone who looked upon him. This was Amon the infamous, supposedly immortal demon lord who had slain the heir of House Ravenscroft inside their very citadel, right under the nose of Godwin Corbin Ravenscroft, a man of the Seventh Class advancement. He had invaded and killed the grandson of one of the most powerful beings in the world. How could such a name not be known? Yet, strangely enough, the name was all that was known about this enigmatic figure. No one knew what his powers were, what attribute he wielded, or what weapon he favored. Only one fact stood uncontested: Godwin the Singularity had failed to kill him. Grand Duke Brightwater had failed as well. He had crossed paths with hunters and heroes with long histories of slaying demon lords, yet he still lived. To add insult to injury, they were watching him now, powerless to act. His gaze was fixed on the bridge ahead as these thoughts drifted through his mind. A mysterious and unkillable enemy known only by a name. ’How could they not fear... Fear of the unknown is the most primordial of fears.’ Damon was sure of it. What made the Duhu Mountains so terrifying was the mystery, their inability to comprehend the horrors lurking within. ’Ignorance is darkness... and we all fear the dark.’ Just as he didn’t know what lay beneath the shadowed waters below the bridge, only that whatever dwelled there was powerful. His eyes locked on the large island hovering at the center of the arena. That was where the entrance to the World Dungeon lay. To reach it, everyone had to cross the bridge unless they could fly, though that would be most unwise. The sky above was gloomy, heavy with sorrow, as though the heavens themselves were on the verge of weeping ready to drench the world with their grief. "How sad the heavens must be to watch all the blood that is shed on this beautiful earth." He raised his hand, clenching his fist slowly. "Man can create beauty but chooses to live in ugliness." His gaze turned toward the floating orbs, taunting the audience watching from afar, knowing every one of his enemies was witnessing this. "You fight needlessly. You deceive children with beautiful promises of elegant rewards, yet you send them to face me... death." Damon knew the world was watching. He made sure his voice was cold and empty. His role as Amon was to embody an overwhelming force of violence, an invincible villain. A demon lord. However, what kind of demon lord ruled without minions? That would be as blasphemous as calling the Goddess of Doom a false god. "You made one mistake... do you know what that is?" His voice was husky and chilling, heavy with certainty. Here and now, he was untouchable. Even if they managed to kill him, it would only cause his true body a brief moment of unimaginable pain, nothing he wasn’t already used to. "This arena was built to show your goddess races killing demons... a shame you didn’t anticipate I’d be here." He walked toward the edge of the bridge, gazing into the dark waters below. The light still illuminated him, casting a white glow upon a form born of darkness. He lifted his hand slowly, a thin smile curling across his unseen face. From the depths, red eyes shimmered to life dozens, then hundreds. His senses reached out, brushing against the minds of the demon beasts below. The water began to boil. Damon pushed his Demon Dominate skill to its limit, pressing his will upon the simple, savage consciousnesses beneath. "Demon Dominate," he whispered. "Rise." From the depths, a massive shadow surged upward. A dark head broke the surface, followed by a monstrous body that sent waves crashing against stone. Water splashed violently, spraying the banks and cracking the rocks beneath its weight. Its scales were rough and brown with jagged black patches, its long serpentine body glistening under the light. Venom dripped from its fanged jaws. Large webbed claws dug into the ground as it loomed before Damon. No, before the faceless entity that had mastered it. Damon or rather, Amon, as the world now called this avatar stood before the beast. It was vast, powerful, easily at the peak of the Third Class, and it was not alone. Dozens more stirred in the depths. Strange, bipedal demons surfaced next scaled like fish, with wide ears, webbed limbs, and eyes like molten coals. They towered over men effortlessly, their bodies glistening with damp, black sheen. All these demons now bowed to him, bound beneath his control. He turned, and behind him, more figures emerged from the shadows. A vast horde gathered from every direction, drawn by his call. These were the demons he had summoned while hiding in the shadows. Now that his preparations were complete, his army stood assembled, a chaotic tide of creatures united by his will. This was his demon army... or rather, a horde of demons enslaved under Demon Dominate. His gaze drifted once more to the dark waters and the colossal beast he had raised. Not all within were demons, some were monsters beyond his influence, and he could not dominate them. A shame, truly, since he was here to aura farm. ’I just can’t let them live now.’ 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 He looked at the creatures still lingering below and gave his command. "Kill them all." There was no hesitation. His controlled demon beasts dove into the water, roaring and shrieking as chaos erupted. Waves churned violently, crimson foam rising as the massacre began. The water soon turned red blood, flesh, and torn limbs mixing with the water until it became a thick, murky stew of death. Silence followed. Damon stood amid the stillness, surrounded by his demon horde. This, this was power. He had power. This was domination. This was the Usurper. He took by force and therefore feared none. Just as he prepared to march his army across the bridge, he stopped. Slowly, he turned. From the distance, a small group of demon youths approached him.