Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Verana watched Asura's figure from the distance. She saw scenes of Asura devouring the man once revered as the greatest swordsman, with skills on par with those of the sword saintess.

However, she felt no disgust or doubts in his state.

From the moment she felt his magic and aura distort upon returning from the East, Verana knew something had happened. She would never judge Asura. Her only worries were whether she might lose him once again.

'I do not understand why my Asura suffers. However, I can feel nothing but pain from that heavy, dark aura that surrounds him.'

Her eyes followed Asura, who stood in silence.

The victory of Siegfried didn't seem to mean anything to him. Instead, he sat alone on a large rock, letting the wind blow through his long raven hair as if waiting for something.

Neither of them moved for the longest time—in silence. Verana watched him. Her thoughts became silent, and her breathing slowed down. All she saw was him. While he seemed to sink into a moment of self-reflection, his eyes closed lightly, and his head fell slowly down to his chest.

Eventually, Asura's figure swayed.

His heavy, tired body crumbled, and he fell asleep on the large boulder.

'... My Asura...'

As he slept, Verana quietly stood up and made her way closer to Asura.

She stopped just a step away from him.

"You haven't changed even after becoming so strong, such a gentle soul," she whispered.

Asura didn't kill this man for some grand reason.

Verana knew this from his words and his actions after the murder. She crept closer, placing herself just beside him and sat down while humming a soothing song. A song that Karen, their maid, used to sing to calm her and Verena as children.

Before long, Asura's shoulder drooped slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Verana leaned back against the boulder and looked at the dimming sky.

'Asura...'

She could only be happy because his head now rested on her thighs, and he looked so peaceful compared to earlier in the day while killing the dying old man.

Verana didn't care what he did, as long as he lived, smiled and was happy. She could do anything to support him. No matter the cost.

After a long pause, she looked down at his face and asked herself, 'Perhaps, if it would help you live and smile without sadness... Would you hate me for killing those that might make you feel unhappy?'

However, the sleeping Asura had no answers to give.

***

Asura found himself in the middle of the forest, curled on the stone. Yet his body felt comfortable and his cheeks warm, with the familiar scent of sweet jasmine and vanilla. "Verana was here. Did my actions worry her?"

He never once stopped being in control of his actions. Instead, it felt that Azoth's soul becoming damaged and now linked by an extremely thin and weak connection caused him to stop limiting himself. Asura no longer felt the need to hold back. So the moment he saw Lorem bleed, something deep inside his soul stirred.

'A dark feeling that wanted the world to burn. Just for allowing her to get wounded? Man, I am a little too obsessive with my wives.'

Sighing, he muttered, "I like to think this is just a passing feeling. The rage was a surprise. But I know it wasn't. Those feelings linger even now after killing him."

After taking a deep breath, Asura willed himself to wake up slowly.

The traces of Verana seemed to fade. She never tried to take credit or force him to face her. Asura realized that despite her powerful feelings and words, Verana would always make time or situations for the other girls—well, the ones she approved of, anyway.

As he woke up, the light wind seemed to have blown him away. The comforting, soothing sensation was now gone, and his mind became clear.

Asura could still remember the sensation of breaking the neck of that old man.

The taste of his soul and the feeling of ripping the last drop of dragon blood from his body.

A sweet yet sour flavour close to citrus, coupled with the rich flavour of fine wine and a hint of bitter ale.

In fact, Asura could feel the magic stolen from the dead man coursing through his veins. Although weak, his draconic heritage told a solemn tale about who killed Xavida's father. The blood stolen from his heart now flowed through Asura's veins.

'Does this make me her father's killer by proxy? How complicated. But that lovely girl would just say something like, 'Hehe, you smell like my dad now, too. I'm so happy.' and then fawn on me more.'

At his thoughts, Asura couldn't help but chuckle.

"What a wonderful daughter you created. Sorry that my foolish mistake took you from her side. In return, I will watch over her for eternity."

The surrounding temperature seemed to rise, and the nightly winds grew still. It was as if the world had stopped in response to Asura's will. He raised his left arm to stare at his open palm.

"Destiny, strings of ate, huh? What an interesting theory, but I hate things like fate and destiny."

Azoth's memory of the day in the ruined temple didn't paint a clear image. Asura didn't know what happened, why the Elven princess attacked, or who killed Muru and Azoth, but something didn't feel right.

'From the power I feel from just a partial amount of Devil's Aura, Azoth couldn't have died so easily. There was something, something I cannot see from these faded memories.'

There was only one thing he saw clearly: the one who carried the blade that took Muru's life was male. It wasn't the princess as he first thought.

'The princess was just a poor girl who fell in love with a devil. Someone used that deep, lonely girl's love in order to kill Azoth.'

The thought brought a foul taste to Asura's mouth.

"An unknown third party," he muttered. "They hid their traces until now, which means they are very skilled at hiding their presence."

Asura began walking back, although his aura still felt heavy and dark, which was now his natural self; the effect of his devil's shroud, he named it, the aura that clung to his limbs and flesh, but rather than core power.

'It's more like a booster, something that empowers you base strength. Like an external power-up.'

"Let's go back. Tonight, I have to change my plans."

Asura closed his fist and then relaxed it, feeling the distortions in the surrounding atmosphere grow still and quiet. 'For now, I will accept the strength given by Azoth, and start looking for any clues of those behind his death, so that when we finally meet once again, I can give him closure.'

[Little elf, I will come to play tomorrow night. Make sure you dress pretty for me, or I will spank you.]

[Zzzzz]

'Maybe I shouldn't have teased her, so she might get excited and try to hunt me down.'

Asura grinned slightly as he finally arrived at the edge of the forest, able to feel Verana's presence from the depths of the forest all the way to the exit.

He could only smile to himself before heading toward Mu Xue and the girls who seemed to have grouped.

"No rest for the wicked, huh?"

****

"Asura!?"

"Darling!"

"Husband!"

Asura appeared from the forest with a calm look. His body still emitted that heavy atmosphere, yet the three women didn't seem to care as Xavida, Mu Xue, and Lorem rushed to him.

They didn't ask where he was or what he did.

Instead, Xavida embraced him, sniffing his shirt and hair as if searching for something. Mu Xue and Lorem looked at him with warm smiles but didn't push for answers because Asura's complexion made their hearts flutter.

His face seemed more handsome when giving that faint smile, his narrow crimson eyes watching each of them filled with affection.

"Your wounds, are they alright?"

His hand stroked the slightly discoloured wounds of Lorem—the light white discolouration was almost unperceivable, but enough that his eyes could pick up. Lorem blushed, feeling his fingers rubbing her sensitive new skin.

"T-they are alright, don't worry, darling! Mu Xue and the girls helped me heal after letting that bastard go."

"Hmph, what an ungrateful pig. Husband should have broken his bones, and I would have skinned him alive."

"There is no need for such terrible things, Xavida," Asura laughed.

"Are you both unharmed? Was the west not dangerous, my two lovely girls?"

Asura asked with a soft voice as he turned to Mu Xue and Xavida.

He rubbed the sides of their heads as both girls nuzzled his palms and began purring like kittens; while they didn't notice, Asura created a shadow clone that snuck towards Lucia's clone and hugged it. He didn't want any of the women to feel unappreciated.

'Crap. I'm really becoming a skilled and perverted playboy, aren't I?'

"Mmmm, husband's hands are the best." Mu Xue's body shivered at the feeling of her lover's loving touch. "We are fine. Barbatos crushed the enemy and the older knights. They all treat me like some kind of delicate vase."

"They ran when I turned into a dragon, hehe," Xavida answered with a cheerful voice as she nuzzled into Asura's arms.

"That's good to hear."

"..."

"What's wrong, husband?"

Xavida looked at Asura as she felt his expression grow serious, even though his touch and presence never wavered. "Hmm? *Sniff* You smell more comforting now, hehe. I don't want to let go."

"What smell are you, stupid? Stop hogging his body, lizard girl!" Lorem seemed to bicker like a teenage girl

"I am not. Husband, if you let her go, I will become naked and hug you all night."

"W-wait, hey! Xavida, don't force him into bed with you..."

"Smelly bird woman! Go lay some eggs in a tree. Tonight is Xavida's night!"

Asura felt happy while listening to their quarrels and fusses, yet he could feel an aura approaching from the distance—a familiar one that he had learned well during his days in the capital city.

"Oh my husband, these women cling to you like cats, dogs and birds." Verana's voice spoke with a sarcastic and elegant tone, yet Asura could only feel the warmth from her voice even if she spat poison. "Your presence seemed strange and worried me, my dear husband."

The moment Verana appeared in front of the four, the atmosphere seemed to freeze over. Her deep scarlet eyes grew cold at the sight of her husband surrounded by her fellow wives.

However, this was only an act to become the needed evil and let the girls ally against her.

"Stop fighting; it is not a pleasant sight."

Asura chuckled as the three women returned to his side. Yet, they were not fools and noticed that Verana didn't move one inch toward them. Also, her face showed only happiness, her loose cheeks, lips curled into a warm smile, and loose, droopy eyes without their usual sharp look as she followed up. "I'm glad you all made it back safely."

'A far cry from how she would normally speak to the other girls.'

Asura couldn't help but shake his head at his wife's actions. Still, he knew Verana cared for the girls in her way, even if it was because he loved them.

"A-ah, thank you, sister Verana," Xavida smiled without a sign she cared, and dashed towards Verana and hugged her tightly. "It was fun when you stood in my dragon form and killed the bad guys together!"

"Ack... Girl, don't be so loud." Verana sighed, her face a little red as she looked at the grinning Mu Xue and Lorem, who dropped their act the moment Xavida jumped into her arms.

'These girls' alliances and rivalries are so hard to track!'

Asura felt confused.

Sometimes, they would fight, and other times, they would act closely. But he thought Xavida was just honest and probably really enjoyed flying around as a dragon while someone was there to see her look cool.

Their relationship seemed to hang on to a delicate balance that Asura needed to maintain.