Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Clang!

With a loud echo, the black axe deflected the cultist's attack.

The blow forced the cultist to jump back, revealing his face. He had pale skin, sunken eyes, dark iris, and blue lips, a shocking look with dark circles around his eyes.

"Grrrr, who are you!" Grom'Gaius lifted his axe, angry at the sudden attack and poison used. He knew the look of that smoke that assaulted Asura. It was the drug that claimed the lives of his brothers.

'This man might have killed them all, but he gave them a warrior's death. He spared those not infected! I will accept my loss.'

Grom showed his honest and loyal nature by protecting Asura. Like he did with Alan, Grom now believed himself to be Asura's subordinate.

"If it isn't the filthy orc who won't let me sleep with his wives~ hoho."

The cultist performed a bow, holding the top hat on his head while using the cane sword as his walking stick. "I am the archbishop of the eastern church. I despise the prophecy and stupid false son; thus, I created a poison that could kill anyone who has dirty bloodlines! Only humans should reign supreme!"

"You killed my brothers!"

Grom rushed forward, his blows brutal and filled with a furious rage. However, the archbishop just danced around him. He used his cane to deflect the force of Grom's attacks. While twirling around Grom's body, stabbing his unprotected back several times.

"Useless fool, do you think mindless rage is power? Ah... all that size and thickness, yet you just jam it inside. Your poor wives!"

"Heh, my wives love it. You could never reach those depths, human!"

Grom didn't mind the cultist's taunting words. He continued to fight with all his strength, causing the archbishop to frown.

"Ah, I know how to make you suffer!"

He used his cane sword to stab Grom in the leg, causing him to kneel before him. The very feeling of kneeling to this monster, the man who tried to seduce and touch his women, infuriated Grom, causing his chest to tighten. His eyes filled with rage, turning bloodshot.

"You dare!"

Grom lifted his axe to cleave the archbishop in two, only for the cultist to use his cane sword to block the axe with the tip. A small magic flicker the moment he did, causing Grom's arms to drop the axe after being electrocuted.

"Hehe, you like to play with your food, don't you? Well, I have some fun too."

The archbishop raised his free hand, aiming it towards Grom's head.

"You know what this vial is, right? The green death that you and your human friend tried to stop being produced."

Grom's eyes widened as he felt his body go limp. He didn't want to die here. He wanted to return to his clan to see his children again. Grom closed his eyes and refused just to accept this fate.

"Hmph!"

A powerful voice resounded as Asura grabbed the archbishop's hand before he could use the vial. The force in Asura's hand caused the archbishop's face to transform. He looked astounded. "H-How!? Y-Your magic is sealed!!!"

"Oh? You think I need magic to kill you?"

Asura sneered as he grabbed the cultist's throat with his free hand and squeezed tightly. His nails dug into the cultist's throat, causing blood to drip out. The archbishop tried to resist but couldn't escape Asura's grasp.

However, he wasn't just some run-of-the-mill cultist—his right foot kicked his cane, which caused the fallen vial to explode beside Grom.

"Shit!"

'He saved me!?' Grom's dazed eyes opened, noticing the green cloud and Asura's powerful arms pushing him away.

The cultist fell to the ground while Asura rushed to Grom and pushed him out of the range of the green smoke. Though already infected, Asura felt this vial was different. He wasn't lying when saying it was special.

Blood poured from Asura's nose and lips, his eyes bloodshot and pitch black, and only his dark red pupils remained as if his iris had vanished into the darkness.

"You're lucky I am immune to this damn poison!"

Asura dragged Grom out of the smoke, leaving the archbishop behind, who laughed hysterically.

"You fool! This isn't a poison! This is the catalyst that turns the world into my playground!"

Clang!

The cultist attacked Asura from behind, his wings blocking the cane with their sharp claws.

"You're still able to fight!?"

The archbishop attacked with his cane repeatedly, his attacks swift and precise. He kept Asura on the defensive as he tried to deal with Grom's injuries. The green smoke was toxic, but it wasn't lethal.

However, that wasn't the case with Grom. If only a little entered his body, it would finish him. Thus, Asura's wings and tail became like swords, deflecting, blocking and dodging the cane empowered by lightning.

"Haha, I am immortal! I am invincible! I am a god!"

The cultist cackled madly as he continued to attack Asura. However, Asura's attacks were getting faster and stronger, as if he was adapting to the archbishop's fighting style.

Thankfully, due to the cultist's madness. He didn't realise, only seeing the flicks of blood and flesh from the wounds he inflicted. However, those wounds healed rapidly each time Asura used a different wing to absorb the blade.

"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!

Die! Die! Die!"

The cultist continued to shout as he attacked Asura with reckless abandon. He no longer cared about his life or safety; all he wanted was to kill Asura.

Asura accepted all the archbishop's attacks with ease, enduring the pain as he watched the green gas vanish.

'Ugh... so much, to protect me?' Grom's eyes watched from behind. He could only see the blood and attacks from the crazed cultist. Not the speed of Asura's regeneration, which made him more impressed than ever.

In the distance, the sound of stone being broken apart echoed through the plains. Their attack on the fortress city seemed to be ongoing, while Asura could hear the deep calls of Xavida in her dragon form, so he didn't worry.

Asura continued to dodge and deflect the archbishop's attacks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.

He could see the gas no longer posed a threat to Grom and pushed him away before spinning with his black sword aimed at the archbishop's neck.

However, before his blade could land, the cultist vanished with a flicker of light.

"Bastard!"

Asura looked around but couldn't sense him anywhere. The archbishop disappeared with a mysterious power, and Asura couldn't find him anywhere.

"What's going on?"

"It's just an image. The real cultist won't leave my village, mighty warrior." Grom answered him, standing across from Asura. He and the several hundred orcs approached, all looking at Asura.

"You saved my life, Asura, mighty warrior."

Grom kneeled before Asura, along with the other orcs. They all bowed to him, showing their respect and loyalty.

"I am not worthy of your respect. I did that only to win your alliance to make life easier." Asura replied honestly, feeling a little awkward with them bowing before him.

"We do not care. You defeated me and showed our brothers a worthwhile end. Please accept our friendship."

Asura sighed deeply. He looked at the orcs and then at Grom, who grinned widely.

"Fine. I accept."

"Good!" Grom stood up with a wide grin. "We will join you in your war against the cultists."

Asura nodded in satisfaction. He knew Grom was smarter than he seemed; there would be something in return for this help, but Asura didn't dislike this orc. His cheeky smile reminded him of Glade so that he couldn't say no.

"Then may I ask if Alan is still alive?" Asura's voice was deep, a solemn echo.

"Haha, Alan is my brother. He fought hard and accepted us once he knew the truth!"

****

Asura stood in Maria Svesta's private room while the maid who had asked him to come waited, holding a book with countless documents and information.

"This book will give you the edge in dealing with the orcs and countering their plans. I cannot help anymore; otherwise, I might not live..."

"May I ask your name and who you work for?" Asura didn't trust her fully, but while flicking through the booklet. He learned about a strange vial of poison that would only affect those with non-human bloodlines.

Then he thought about entering the battle not as his normal self but in his liberated form from the start.

"My name is Alice, and I serve Alan but seek to help Maria escape the clutches of the filthy bastard Alistair!"

"Why?"

Asura's question caused Alice to look up at him. She saw his dark eyes gazing at her. "Because Alan loves Maria, and I love Alan."

He nodded, feeling her intense affection, and could understand why she would go to such lengths. Asira knew the feeling of loving someone that deeply. So he knew why she would risk it all for him.

"Understood, I will help you achieve that goal. But I also want to save this orc. Grom'Gaius, do you have any tips?"

"Save his people, the ones not infected. Let the infected die as warriors instead of weakening and becoming a shame to their clan."

"How should I do something like that?"

"Provoke them, crush his leadership, read document three, pages twenty and twenty-two."

Asura nodded, flipping through the book and reading it thoroughly before nodding. "I got it. I'll take care of it."

He left the room, with Alice instead heading to where Maria would be. Due to her low mana storage, the damage from taking the potion was even more intense on Alice. He used his void magic to vanish into the shadows while leaving her behind.

Now back at present, Asura felt a tinge of guilt for using the notes that the maid Alice prepared he motioned them to stand.

As he stood in front of Grom with his black wings folded behind him.

"Do not kneel. I do not seek dogs or slaves. But brothers who will fight beside me until the end."

Grom laughed loudly as he stood up and slammed his chest. "As you wish!"

The orcs cheered as they raised their weapons high in the air, echoing through the plains. Asura nodded with satisfaction before turning to leave.

"Where are you going?" Grom asked curiously.

"To crush the people who are attacking my women. Surely you can understand how furious that makes me feel, right?"

Asura gave Grom a cheeky smirk that seemed to ignite the orc's desire to fight.

"Hahahaha! A man who gets me! Let us fight, Asu'ra!" Grom said Asura's name like he would his own, which sounded a little strange, but he didn't mind.

While leading a compact unit of orcs, Asura headed back to the fort under siege.