The Demon Monarch System

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Apollo didn't even think to glance at the messages in his view, because he was more shocked by the state of Ouroboros's body. He was nearly 20 times larger than he was before. On top of his baffling length, he also possessed two additional heads. 

Each one of them possessed a unique aura that seemed to be one-third of a whole. In other words, each of Ouroboros's heads possessed a distinct power. And, after listening to the name of his bloodline, Apollo could infer just what those sensations were.

'Immortal Sin Hydra,' Apollo thought with a content expression. The feeling that emanated from Ouroboros was his potent Sin signature. The left head possessed an ability linked to Gula, whereas the right head possessed an ability linked to Avaritia.

However, the middle head, Ouroboros's supreme head, possessed a new Sin altogether.

"Boros," Apollo called out.

Ouroboros's middle head lifted immediately, staring directly into Apollo's eyes, which remained calm throughout the entire process. Gradually, the pain in Ouroboros's eyes subsided as the prior amethyst color changed into a deep crimson, nearly the color of fresh blood.

"Master," Ouroboros hissed as he licked Apollo's cheek. 

Two matters caused Apollo's expression to change drastically. One, Ouroboros no longer sounded like a pure child. Although it was a tone that still belonged to a child, it one was that fit a 12-year-old rather than a toddler.

Second, a notification appeared before Apollo's eyes when Ouroboros licked his cheek.

〈System: Ouroboros has replenished roughly 1% of your Ira Volume.〉

Though the amount appeared inconsequential, Ouroboros didn't intend to transfer any Sin to Apollo. If he did, the number within Apollo's view would skyrocket at an abnormal rate.

Still, Apollo placed his hand against Ouroboros's head and chuckled once again. His transformation was truly leagues above the rest. This impression was further enhanced once Apollo examined Ouroboros's new stats.

「Name: Ouroboros [Companion]

Race: Greater Demon (00.00%)

Title: Creature of Legend

Bloodline: Immortal Sin Hydra [Infancy] (Aura of Convergence)

Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,000,000 units

Sin Volume: 75,000 units (25,000 per head)

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Strength: 2,250.0

Agility: 2,250.0

Intelligence: 2,250.0

Vitality: 2,250.0

Perception: 2,250.0

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-[«Traits»]

«Infant Hydra Body»

«Endless Conversion»

«Seamless Assimilation»

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Gula: Primary [Endless Devouring]

Avaritia: Primary [Unfading Appetite] 

Ira: Primary [Unknown] 」

...

Just the value of Ouroboros's reserves tripled. Not to mention, each of his heads now possessed an independent Sin Volume, totaling 75,000 units! Furthermore, unlike the others, Ouroboros possessed something known as a Hydra Body, which supported Sin Vessel without a stigmata's involvement.

Aside from the midnight blue scales with a silverish tint all over his body, there were no other markings. Even the horn atop Ouroboros's head merged into his body, creating several pointed scales.

"W-What is that?!" Valac shouted suddenly.

His eyes trembled as he stared at Ouroboros's gargantuan form. Besides Apollo and Fuhrer, the rest were used to Ouroboros's tiny form, so this change came as a shock.

Hence, Valac's exaggerated reaction.

"That is the genuine form of this beast. A fabled creature, the mighty serpent with countless heads; an immortal creature born from Sin itself," Fuhrer responded with a complex expression.

He had several run-ins with Ouroboros's mother, but the emanations coming from Ouroboros eclipsed his mother's bloodline. Whereas his mother possessed 7 heads, Fuhrer sensed a much greater power in Ouroboros.

During their first meeting, Ouroboros's mother only possessed two heads. Yet, Ouroboros awakened three during his initial awakening, which was the maximum number the infant stage of this bloodline could produce.

This anomaly caused Fuhrer to pay close attention to their interaction. 'The young Lord is truly lucky. This bloodline should be on par with his.'

Meanwhile, Apollo worried about another matter. "Are you able to return to your earlier form? This current state isn't suitable for travel."

"Return?" Ouroboros muttered before nodding slowly. "I can try."

Suddenly, the cavern trembled as Ouroboros's enormous body moved, slithering in a circle. Compared to before, the process was much slower, but Ouroboros reduced in size as he moved, eventually shrinking to a size of 1 meter.

Though he still was much larger than before, Apollo found this length sufficient. Apollo's shoulders were broad enough to support Ouroboros comfortably. 

"Come," Apollo said while lifting one hand. 

Immediately, Ouroboros flew towards Apollo, wrapping around his shoulders until his head pressed against Apollo's neck. However, when he slithered up Apollo's shoulders, the surface beneath his feet cracked.

Whereas his length could be reduced, his weight couldn't. 

Therefore, Apollo had to exert some strength to rectify the increase in weight. Soon enough, the cracks stopped spreading.

"It appears you've become quite a hefty boy, huh?" Apollo teased. He also scratched Ouroboros's top scale.

"Stop! Don't tease me, Master," Ouroboros complained in response, even licking Apollo's cheek, which caused Apollo to receive another small boost in his remaining Ira Volume.

"Don't worry. I prefer this form," Apollo said. 

Soon, a question popped into Apollo's mind. 

Since every member of his household awakened a bloodline during their evolution, Apollo's curiosity grew. 'I guess bloodlines must be paramount to the household's success.'

Eventually, Apollo turned toward Fuhrer.

"What is it, my Lord?" Fuhrer asked once he noticed Apollo's inquisitive expression. It was clear that Apollo held some questioned that required addressing.

"The bloodlines. What's the information behind them?" Apollo asked.

"Information? You mean regarding the hierarchy and importance?" Fuhrer questioned in response.

"Correct. Everyone now possesses on, so it's only right that I sift for information regarding it, no?" Apollo said with a soft chuckle. A lack of knowledge moving forward was simply unacceptable.

"Very well. First, you need to know bloodlines aren't linked to a demon's state unless revealed otherwise. They can awaken in varying degrees with differing utilizations. For example, Typhir's bloodline is simply at the third degree," Fuhrer said.

After a short pause, he then continued, "However, there are some anomalies to what I just disclosed. And, one such anomaly sits upon your shoulders as we speak."

"I'm aware of that. Ouroboros's bloodline is linked to his state and carries a unique classification system," Apollo admitted.

Unlike the other demons, the system labeled Ouroboros as Apollo's companion. A companion eclipsed the ranking of a follower based on the system's categorization unless the follower possessed a special role, such as the Leader or Guardian position in the household.

Still, the special privileges of these roles differed from the option granted from a companion relationship. Because of this relationship, Apollo received background knowledge during Ouroboros's awakening regarding his bloodline.

While the bloodline fell under normal classifications, the awakening path didn't. Instead of degrees, the bloodline only possessed four stages, and they were each linked to Ouroboros's maturity.

The infancy stage, also known as the first stage, was Ouroboros's current stage. It allowed up to three heads to be awakened, which typically appeared at the end of the stage. However, because he had once tasted Apollo's absurd bloodline and carried a fragment of his soul, Ouroboros's bloodline was purified.

The next stage was the adolescent stage, which allowed up to five heads. As a unique trait of the bloodline, each head possessed a single Sin and was comparable to an ancient Archdemon. 

Beyond the adolescent stage existed the adulthood phase. A maximum of seven heads could be awakened, and each of them were comparable to an ancient Noblesse. As mentioned before, Ouroboros's mother attained this stage.

A stage existed beyond this phase, but was a stage of legend. Even until now, there has never been a record of a hydra reaching this form. Hence, why it possessed the reputation of being a myth. Still, it was known as the stage of ascendancy.

If achieved, it strengthened the bloodline to level on par with Apollo's Conqueror bloodline. 

Outside of this unique situation for beasts, normal bloodlines were separated into four classifications―Minor, Major, Perfected, and Pinnacle. In the current age, the highest bloodline awakening was at the Major level.

As for Pinnacle Bloodlines, there were only five to be recorded in the history of the demons. And, two of them existed inside the cavern.

Once Apollo received all the knowledge of the bloodlines, he was satisfied. For the most part, it was just as he suspected.

'So the bloodline and aura grades are linked. No wonder the system only judged Typhir's aura once his bloodline activated,' Apollo thought to himself.

Though a demon could awaken an aura without a bloodline, wielding it beyond the second degree was impossible since it required a bloodline as a catalyst to crystallize the Cardinal Sphere and contain the source of the aura.

Eventually, Apollo moved his attention away from this subject, and back to the reason they came.