[Ascended Demon's Core] [+1000% All Stats] is what my appraisal skill shows hovering over the largest black orb.
My curiosity grows at the sight of this, as pretty much all of the gear I'm wearing far surpasses this buff. However, a greater and Arch Demon's core both fall with it, surrounded by shattered blood-bonded gear from the demon that surpassed 5000% buffs.
There must be a reason that it had all three, it definitely wasn't for the stat increases.
I follow the falling gear downward by deactivating my Astral Form.
From a staggering 2600 meters in height, the pure mana and divine energy form compacts and shrinks back down into my Greater Form, then back into nothing more than my physical body.
Green and yellow threads spin in my core, and they fight for dominance inside my body, causing violent microscopic tears all over my flesh every second.
My entire being feels hot and unnatural, but I can tell that if I let up on regenerating for even a second, the energy inside will tear away every bit of physical matter holding on.
It's a very odd sensation, as every second I continue to hold on, my True Core attempts to adapt to the changes taking place. My Divine Absorption ability continues to morph my genes, making it slightly easier to stay standing with these many green threads ravaging through me.
This doesn't stop me from reaching forward and touching the Ascended Demon's Core, watching it fall into my open palm.
All over this small Noble Grade Demonic world, Knights, Commanders, and Generals from the Vermillion Family seek out fledgling Demons that have made it through the incubation process on a world owned by the collective Five Great Families.
This Demon and thirty-four others were chosen and brought back to the Demonic Realm.
Memories rush through my mind of the vast world filled with Demons, Demonic Beasts, civilizations, and most awe-inspiring, the five massive black towers that resemble the throne here on the human world.
40 years of Demonic combat training go by, teaching these new recruits how to awaken their bloodlines, and many missions to far regions in the Demonic Realm are ordered by the current Generals in charge.
Even outings to other worlds are required to build knowledge and experience.
Other new groupings of first and second class Demons are brought to this realm as well, but their training is done separately, as everyone knows that the hierarchy must be followed and those above are worth far more than those below.
"Oh yeah, and saved the entire human world."
As he lets out a chuckle and I'm still wide-eyed coming back to reality, a familiar ancient voice rings in my ears while I see silver text fill my vision.
[Round 2 of 2 Shall Commence]
[Round 2 of 2 Title: Soul Stairs]
[Objective: Climb to the Top, and Assimilate with the Throne.]
There's a shift in the air, and the entire silver pillar in the center of the room vibrates.
I see it shifting in color near the top, to a dark green, and my gaze follows it down until it hits the floor with a far lighter green that is almost clear.
The moment it hits the floor, a small archway opening in the silver pillar appears, showing the entrance to the staircase.
As the wave of fresh green threads begins to come near, I feel the dormant purple ring on my finger ripple with emotions ranging from relief, to excitement, to nostalgia.
I reply, feeling the 160 million pairs of eyes all around the world stare through mine.
"Let's do it. Let's Claim the Throne."