96 Chapter 96: Ambition

With his eyes closed, Derik nodded casually at the words of his guardian spirit Demos while considering the possible outcomes a confrontation. In his opinion, even his new and improved silver level secret combat technique: the shriek of the dead still can't compare to actual silver realm attacks, even peak grade bronze realm experts can defend against it. He ransacked his mind in search of a possible reason why Demos will ask him to return to the moonlight forest and compete with the four kingdoms, as an individual... With no backing! He slowly opened his eyes and gave Demos a questioning look. "It's safe to assume you have a way to make me strong enough to compete with numerous silver realm mages and warriors?" Derik asked casually with a small smile on his face while partially focusing on replenishing his strength. Demos laughed out loud and shook his head in disagreement. He moved his hand in a circular motion and a mirror appeared. The mirror was soon divided into four parts and each part showed intense battles raging on in different parts of the moonlight forest which now looks like a corroded arid wasteland. The trees had turned grey and all the leaves withered away. The sunlight penetrated this wasteland but still couldn't change the color of the soil which still had slight traces of death aura radiating of it. Expedition troops fought fiercely against undead monsters which charged on fearlessly. On one part of the mirror was Cyrus who had taken of his limiters, battling with numerous level 30 corroded beasts with the other members of the team acting as support. The fact that these monsters were corroded by the death energy did not make them any stronger, it actually weakened them and made them quite thoughtless. The only positive side to this enhancement was that they all had one goal now and finding living beings would not be difficult, they could practically sniff them out. So to cover up their reduced strength, they used sheer volume. If not, the various expedition troops would have wiped out all the beasts in the moonlight forest. Derik's expression turned frosty as he tried to put the pieces together, it did not take long for him to realize that the calamity that has befallen the expedition troops of the various kingdoms were all because of him! How stupid could he have been to think that summoning a passageway to the underworld in the realm of the living will not have any negative effects! This explained why the forces of nature tried as much as possible to prevent him from doing this! His eyebrows knitted together as his frosty gaze fell on the Angel of death. He could tell that Demos was aware of this side effect but decided to remain silent about it all through the time he guided him through the learning stage. He remained still and continued absorbing the death aura in the air while waiting for Demos to explain himself "It was necessary... You wanted power? That's what I plan to give you... Inborn power is excellent but external sources of strength are also very necessary for you to protect yourself until you reach a realm in which no man can harm you again!" Demos snickered evilly. A sinister smile appeared on his charming face as he slowly approached Derik. "Don't be fooled, kid... There is no such thing as evil... There is only good and a lesser good... You have been good all your life, given your heart out to a bunch of people who definitely did not appreciate it and look at where it's got you...Betrayed... Rejected and Dejected... If it weren't for my intervention you would have been dead... The least you can do as a sign of appreciation is to hear me out and understand how my mind works... If you find it reasonable then I suggest you adopt it for yourself" Demos said with a confident smile on his face. Seeing this Derik frowned for a while and ended up agreeing after thinking about it, by the way, he owed this guardian spirit his life, it definitely wouldn't kill him to listen to what Demos has to say. "Very well then" Derik answered indifferently. Hearing this, Demos' purple eyes lit up but only for a second. As guardian spirits, they are allowed to manipulate their hosts if their understanding of their guardian spirits has not reached a certain level. After Derik was killed in the battle between him and the two fleeing members of the Salvor family, Demos was left with only two choices. Risk everything including his strong grip over Derik's actions or let him die and hope that the next host will possess as many special qualities which Derik possessed. And as someone who wasn't too keen on gambling, Demos chose the first and preserved Derik's soul, losing his grip over the kid's actions in the process. Although this is a move he still regrets up till now, its the best he could do at the moment, how sure is he that his next host will possess the werewolf ability along with side magic capabilities and in-depth melee combat training? He just couldn't risk it. The best he can do now is guide Derik using logic and words, hoping that this kid will listen to his advice and reach his peak before the danger arises. Demos waved his hand, conjuring a throne made of bones and sat down. Seeing this, an excited smile appeared on Derik's face and he spoke first "You definitely have to teach me that!" Derik snickered.In response, Demos only laughed and rolled his eyes. "Derik, there is no such thing as good and evil... One can only pick the lesser good for noble reasons and still be tagged evil. These people you pity, the expedition troops of the various kingdoms are elites of their various kingdoms who have all had their fair shares of murder and bloodshed... To protect this world from what is to come... This world needs someone who can protect it... We angels and guardian spirits are only creations of the creator which are meant to serve a certain purpose so our potential of growth is quite close to zero... We were born powerful, we can never grow beyond the power given to us... There is a limit to what we can do... But you all... Humans... Even though you all are creations of the creator such rule does not apply to you, because there are other forces in this world which do not answer to the creator but still influence you all in a positive way" Demos explained carefully and slowly. Hearing this, Derik shook his head repeatedly while trying to process everything he has heard so far... "You are trying to say that we humans can rise to the level of guardian spirits and stand as your equals?" Derik asked excitedly. "Yes!... You can rise even higher and if possible... You may reach the level of the creator... He did create you all in his image... Your potentials are limitless like his as well...." Demos said while nodding to Derik's question. "That is the ultimate goal of we guardian spirits, to assist his host and nurture his strength until he reaches a level where the only being he or she will ever be worried about is the creator and whatever it is that is coming..." Demos laughed Hearing about the foreign evaders made Derik's blood boil and he could not help but worry about beings which even made guardian spirits worry... How can the inhabitants of earth possibly fight against them? "Are there top tier masters at realms higher than the gold realm still alive?" Derik asked after pondering on the issue for a while... Rumors of legends who broke past the realm of mere mortals such as himself and made it into the realms of demi gods were not rare but the funny things about these tales are the fact that these top tier masters always vanish after the get to this godly realm. If these rumors are true, then the earth has a chance against these foreign invaders. "Yes... Legends who have made it to the Demi god realm all exist..." Demos nodded in agreement. "I assume you wish to know where they have only be heard of in stories and have never been seen in person... The answer is simple... Once a mortal breaks into the demi god realm, the secrets of the world are revealed to them, yes! that includes the impending danger... Knowing something like this will soon befall their homes, these people go into secluded cultivation in a bid to increase their strength as fast as possible... Yes, they do not bother themselves with the little struggles going on in the world right now"Demos explained. He decided not to rush and let Derik digest the information before continuing "My point is this... In all those stories concerning these demi gods... Which has been truthful, honest and upright at all times?... None I presume... So here's what I'm trying to say... You are naive, Derik... Slaughtering the thousands to save the millions those not make you evil... In reality, these are sacrifices necessary for one to move forward... More times will approach where you will have to kill the weak and innocent so as to increase your own power... Ans I hope on that day, you will look back on my words and do what has to be done... Its simple logic... Should a powerful warrior die simply because he chose to sacrifice himself to protect the weak... After his death... Who will defeat the powerful foe responsible for his death... The weak people he died protecting? Definitely not! Wouldn't it be more profitable if a portion of those weak people is slaughtered in a bid to grant their champion enough power to defeat their foe and protect the survivors?" Demos explained while staring at Derik, hoping to get a reaction. Meanwhile, Derik frowned greatly while considering Demo's words. He knew this guardian spirit was making sense and can be considered very effective but he didn't know how someone will utilize such a cruel method to attain power. At this point he even began considering this method, what else does he have to lose? He has already lost his family and the people he called friends. He needs to get to the silver realm as soon as possible and aid Gerald in taking the throne! Jumping from the bronze realm to the silver realm in just ten years without any external factors is the definition of impossible. He bit his lips in anger and tried really hard to come up with a reason to reject Demos's views while watching the kingdom expedition troops battle. Purpose! That's right! The main reason people attain power is to protect the weak not slaughter them for their own selfish gains! "Yet, these selfish gains are what makes you strong and what will give you the strength to keep these people safe!... You are running out of time here, Derik... Consider my words and make the right choice..." Demos said He got on his feet and tore a hole in it, just the right size for Derik. "Sacrifices... Are meant to be made in order to achieve greater results... As for the dungeon... You have a head start... Dive into the sky rifts and clear that dungeon... I'll guide you to the best of my abilities and keep you safe... And finally... When in need of assistance, you do not need to summon the gate of the underworld... Create a small opening through which the shadow lurker can help you from this side. It saves energy... The same goes for your avatar... Summoning the full thing is beyond your current power now... Start small..." Demos said with a charming smile on his face... Hearing his words Derik nodded and got on his feet. He placed his palm on the coiled up body of the shadow lurker, informing it that he was leaving telepathically but it still didn't respond. "I'll consider your methods for now... Only because time is not on my side... Goodbye Demos... It was nice seeing the real you again" Derik laughed before walking into the tear in the space confidently with a single goal on his mind... Clear the dungeon!