novelraw Chapter 549: Authority Rejected Instantly
Chapter 549: Authority Rejected Instantly
Haron didn’t hesitate this time. The moment Rachel stepped into the arena, his aura surged, rising like a tidal wave as he slowly lifted his head.
He locked eyes with her and roared.
[Royal Roar]
The sound tore across the arena, overwhelming and absolute.
Every chimera within its reach dropped instantly to their knees, their bodies trembling under the crushing authority.
But when it reached Rachel...
Nothing happened.
Haron’s grin faltered.
Rachel stood still, unmoving, as if the roar hadn’t affected her at all.
Silence stretched between them.
"What the hell...?" Haron muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Why didn’t you kneel?"
A flicker of irritation crossed his face as he raised his claw, gathering power once more.
[Royal Mark]
A crimson sigil shaped like a lion’s head formed in the air, glowing with a sinister light. With a sharp motion, Haron hurled it toward Rachel.
The mark was meant to bind her as his prey. Once marked, he would always know her location, and her strength would be steadily suppressed.
Rachel’s eyes widened. She tried to dodge, but it was too fast.
The sigil struck her and sank into her body.
For a brief moment, everything stilled.
Then... Both Rachel and Haron tilted their heads in confusion.
Rachel blinked, glancing down at herself before looking back at him. "Is that supposed to do something?"
Haron froze.
What the hell just happened?
He could feel it. The mark had taken hold. He could sense her location clearly.
But...
"Why aren’t you weakened?"
His expression darkened as he focused, scanning her more carefully this time. His eyes sharpened, searching for any clue.
"The only reason it would fail..." he murmured under his breath, "is if the target has a higher bloodline..."
His eyes widened. "Could it be that...?"
Rachel heard him and smirked.
Her God Physique had already evolved her body beyond mortal limits. Of course her bloodline surpassed his.
But she didn’t bother saying it.
Instead, she moved.
Her aura shifted as her ability activated.
[Lovely Aura]
A soft yet overwhelming presence bloomed around her, pushing back the oppressive, demonic atmosphere radiating from Haron.
The suffocating pressure in the arena eased, replaced by something warm, yet no less powerful.
Rachel exhaled lightly. "Finally... that disgusting aura of yours is gone."
Her eyes sharpened. "Now we can get serious."
She rushed forward.
As she moved, [Lovely Darling] activated instinctively.
This ability strengthened her body in proportion to the love directed toward her.
This was basically the core of her God Physique. It amplified her power to an absurd degree.
Sianor and the others were watching. Worried.
That was enough.
By the time she reached Haron, her strength had already surged far beyond its previous limits.
She twisted her body mid-step and drove her fist forward in a clean, precise strike.
[Love Punch]
The blow landed squarely against Haron’s chest.
The impact itself wasn’t explosive, but it didn’t need to be.
Infused with her [Lovely Energy], the attack carried a different kind of effect. The physical damage was reduced...
But the pain... The pain was multiplied. And Rachel hated him.
She pushed that multiplier to its absolute limit.
For a brief second, Haron didn’t react.
His body held.
Then his mouth opened...
"AARGHHH!!"
The scream tore out of him, raw and uncontrollable.
His claw slammed into his own chest, digging in as if he could rip the pain out from within.
Flesh split under his own strength, his body convulsing under the overwhelming sensation.
Ironically, the damage on his chest now came more from his own claws than from Rachel’s strike.
The pain was that intense.
Haron had fought in countless wars. He had endured wounds, curses, and torment beyond what most could imagine.
But this...
This was different.
He had never felt anything like it before.
Rachel stepped back slightly, a grin spreading across her face.
"So that’s all it takes?" she said, her tone laced with mockery. "A Beast Demon Lord... crying over a little pain?"
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "How laughable."
Haron lifted his head slowly, his breathing ragged. His gaze locked onto her, fury burning through the lingering shock.
"You... woman..." he growled, his voice strained. "How dare you... do this to me, the Beast Demon Lord..."
His jaw tightened as he forced his body to steady itself. Dark energy surged within him as he drew upon his power.
[Demon Lord Mana]
Unlike ordinary demons, Haron’s mana as a demon lord was denser, more refined, and far superior. It flooded through his body, accelerating his recovery and suppressing the damage.
The torn flesh began to mend. His posture straightened.
Outwardly, he regained control.
But the pain lingered deep into his mind. It no longer dulled or faded. It burned.
Haron’s expression twisted. "I’ve had enough... of playing."
He raised his arm and roared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield. "All of you... come. Now."
Behind him, the demon gate shuddered violently. Its surface rippled like disturbed water before splitting open, releasing a torrent of creatures.
They poured out in waves.
Wolf-like beasts with four glowing red eyes and six legs hit the ground first, their bodies low and predatory.
Behind them came hulking, turtle-like abominations, their shells cracked and jagged, their limbs replaced with writhing tentacles that dragged and slithered across the earth.
Then more followed, dozens upon dozens of grotesque, unnatural forms. Each one was different. Each one monstrous.
And every single one of them knelt before Haron.
A wide grin spread across his face as he extended his arms, basking in the sight of the gathered horde behind him.
"Woman," he said, his tone laced with dark amusement, "I applaud you for forcing my hand. Truly."
His gaze sharpened. "And for that... I’ll show you the true power of a demon lord."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "A demon lord’s strength isn’t measured by personal might alone..."
His arm shot forward. "But the power to command an entire race. Go! Destroy them!"
The words rang out like a decree.
The ground trembled as the demonic army surged forward.
Claws ripped into the earth, tentacles lashed wildly, and jaws snapped as they rushed Rachel from every direction, an unstoppable tide of chaos and fury.
"Move!" Sianor shouted, his voice cutting through the panic. "This isn’t a tournament anymore. This is war! Go, go, go!"
At his command, members of the grand factions flooded into the battlefield, meeting the advancing horde head-on as the clash erupted into full-scale conflict.