Journey to Become the Zenith

The Blood Monarch’s Trial

’It’s been a while since an incarnation was able to access this path. So I better have as much fun as I can.’

Azriel thought this while staring at Victor with burning crimson eyes.

The endless white world around them remained silent and boundless, yet beneath that silence existed something ancient. Countless traces of will lingered inside the soul realm. Faint echoes of lives long ended drifted invisibly through the air like whispers buried beneath time itself.

All the incarnations connected to this soul remained here after death.

Their physical bodies had long since vanished into dust.

Kingdoms they built had collapsed.

Empires they conquered had disappeared.

Even their names were probably forgotten in many eras.

Yet their consciousness endured.

An existence between life and death.

A blessing...

And a curse.

Azriel slowly rolled his shoulders while grinning viciously.

”So,” he said casually, ”what kind of technique do you want to learn?”

Victor remained standing calmly across from him.

The white floor beneath their feet reflected faint ripples with every movement.

”Who do you want to face first?”

Azriel tilted his head slightly before continuing.

”Don’t worry. Even though the current you is weak, in this place you can return to Demon Lord Anos.”

Victor’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.

Azriel spread his arms dramatically.

”Basically, everyone here can return to their peak state.”

His voice echoed through the empty world.

”Even the weapons you once used can be replicated.”

The moment he said those words, the grin on his face widened further.

Because he already knew what Victor would do next.

Even though each incarnation possessed different personalities and lives, their essence remained fundamentally identical.

Battle.

Growth.

Challenge.

That hunger never changed.

As expected, the instant Victor understood the rules of this place, his aura shifted completely.

A dark pressure suddenly exploded outward.

The white world trembled.

Victor slowly closed his eyes.

Then—

His body began changing.

His figure grew taller.

Broader.

Stronger.

The handsome young human disappeared as black energy surged violently around him like living flames.

Two massive horns curved upward from the sides of his head.

Dark markings spread faintly across his skin.

His golden eyes sharpened into something ancient and tyrannical.

The pressure radiating from him became suffocating.

Victor...

No.

Demon Lord Anos had returned.

For the first time since reincarnating into a fragile human body, he felt it again.

Power.

True power.

Mana surged violently through every part of his existence like an endless ocean released from chains.

His muscles tightened instinctively.

The surrounding air distorted.

Even breathing felt different.

Lighter.

Freer.

Anos slowly looked down at his own hands.

Then clenched them.

BOOM.

The space around his fist cracked faintly.

A deep breath escaped his lips.

”...So this is what I lost.”

For a brief moment, intoxication appeared within his eyes.

The difference between his current seventeen-year-old human body and his former peak state was beyond enormous.

As Victor, he constantly restrained himself because his immature human vessel could not handle excessive mana.

But here?

There were no such limitations.

Inside this realm, his soul remembered perfectly what it once was.

Anos closed his eyes briefly.

Memories surfaced naturally.

Battlefields drowned in blood.

Armies kneeling before his throne.

The fear of gods.

The screams of enemies crushed beneath overwhelming might.

It would have been easy to lose himself in this feeling again.

Too easy.

But after several seconds, Anos slowly exhaled and stabilized his emotions.

The violent aura surrounding him settled under perfect control.

Azriel watched this quietly before nodding approvingly.

”Good.”

Anos looked toward him calmly.

”Most people would have lost themselves immediately after regaining that much power.”

Anos snorted lightly.

”I’m not most people.”

Azriel burst into laughter.

”Hahahaha! Damn right you aren’t.”

The Vampire Emperor’s crimson eyes gleamed brightly with excitement.

Now that Anos had fully returned to his peak state, the atmosphere between them transformed completely.

This no longer felt like a teacher guiding a student.

This felt like two ancient monsters standing face-to-face.

Anos slowly raised his head.

A smile identical to Azriel’s appeared on his face.

Wild.

Excited.

Dangerous.

The same battle-hungry grin.

Azriel noticed immediately and clicked his tongue.

”That expression really never changes across our incarnations.”

Anos ignored the comment.

Instead, he stretched his neck lightly.

CRACK.

The sound echoed sharply.

Even his movements carried overwhelming pressure now.

Then—

Dark mana gathered within his right hand.

The white world trembled again.

A massive broadsword slowly materialized.

Black bone-like metal formed the blade while crimson veins pulsed faintly across its surface. The weapon radiated a savage aura filled with death and violence.

This was Anos’ beloved sword.

A weapon forged from the bones of the young dragon he once killed.

Tempered further using the essence of a Vampire Lord.

The moment the sword fully manifested, a deep growl echoed faintly from inside the blade itself.

Azriel’s eyes brightened.

”Oh?”

Anos gripped the massive sword effortlessly before resting it over his shoulder.

The familiar weight made something inside him settle peacefully.

This weapon had accompanied him through countless wars.

Through victories.

Through massacres.

Through loneliness.

Even now, the sword recognized its true master instantly.

Anos lowered the blade slightly before pointing it directly toward Azriel.

A monstrous pressure exploded from the tip.

The white world rippled violently.

Azriel’s smile widened even further.

”So...”

The Vampire Emperor slowly cracked his knuckles.

”...you’re serious immediately.”

Anos smirked faintly.

”When am I not?”

Azriel laughed loudly again.

”Hahahaha! Fair enough!”

For a few seconds neither moved.

Yet the pressure between them intensified rapidly.

Invisible waves collided violently across the soul realm.

The white floor beneath them began cracking.

Anos studied Azriel carefully.

Unlike before, now that he stood in his peak state, he could finally sense how absurdly dangerous this vampire truly was.

Every movement.

Every breath.

Every flicker of aura.

Perfect.

Azriel felt less like a warrior and more like an ancient calamity wearing human skin.

Even standing casually, he radiated the feeling of someone who had slaughtered countless battlefields.

Anos narrowed his eyes.

”You really were near the top ranks.”

Azriel grinned proudly.

”Took you long enough to notice.”

Then his expression shifted slightly.

”But don’t misunderstand something.”

Anos stayed silent.

Azriel pointed directly at him.

”Inside this realm, dying isn’t the real danger.”

”...Explain.”

The Vampire Emperor’s grin slowly sharpened.

”If your will breaks during battle against your past selves...”

His crimson eyes glowed darkly.

”...you may lose yourself to them permanently.”

For the first time since arriving here, the atmosphere became genuinely heavy.

Anos’ expression did not change.

But his gaze sharpened slightly.

Azriel continued calmly.

”Our incarnations are not weak-willed beings. Every one of us carved our legends through endless battle and suffering.”

He stepped forward slowly.

”So if you challenge an incarnation carelessly...”

The pressure around him intensified.

”...you might stop being Victor entirely.”

Silence fell briefly afterward.

Then—

Anos suddenly laughed.

Low at first.

Then louder.

Azriel blinked once.

Anos rested the giant sword against his shoulder again while grinning fiercely.

”That’s even better.”

Azriel stared at him for a second before laughing wildly.

”Hahahahahaha!”

The entire soul realm shook violently from the combined pressure leaking from both monsters.

”Yes!”

Azriel pointed at Anos excitedly.

”That’s exactly the kind of answer I expected!”

Battle intent exploded between them.

Neither bothered hiding it anymore.

Anos rolled his shoulders once more.

Dark mana surged around him like a storm.

”So tell me something first.”

Azriel tilted his head.

”What?”

Anos narrowed his golden eyes.

”If I defeat you here...”

A dangerous grin slowly spread across his face.

”...do I inherit everything?”

Azriel smirked viciously.

”Everything I’m willing to acknowledge you deserve.”

”Tch.”

”What? You thought this would be easy?”

Anos chuckled softly.

”I was hoping it wouldn’t be.”

Azriel suddenly extended his hand.

Instantly, crimson blood energy gathered violently.

A long black spear materialized from swirling blood aura.

The moment the spear appeared, the surrounding space distorted heavily.

Anos immediately recognized it.

The weapon from the visions.

The spear that pierced through armies and shattered mountains.

Azriel spun it once effortlessly before aiming it toward Anos.

”Then come.”

The Blood Monarch’s crimson eyes glowed with overwhelming excitement.

”Show me whether the current incarnation deserves my techniques.”

Anos tightened his grip on the massive broadsword.

His horns gleamed beneath the pale white light of the soul realm.

The air around him distorted violently.

Then he smiled.

A savage smile.

The smile of the Demon Lord feared by countless races.

”So Azriel...”

Anos slowly lowered his stance.

”How about you give me all your techniques.”