The amount of EXP required for each level went upwards of a dozen times what was needed for the previous level, which was just absurd. Especially when considering that EXP acquisition was reduced for monsters or beings that had been killed too many times before.
For example, as Cassius had killed hundreds of thousands of Lesser Demons, the amount of EXP they allotted was abysmal at best. It was to the point that he would need to kill millions more of them to level up again.
And that number would only become ever more exaggerated in due time!
Yet, even with everything slowing down his rate of progress, Cassius was still progressing extremely fast. Keep in mind that the rewards gained per level up also became exponentially better. Just for reaching Lvl 73 from 72, he received cumulative stat points nearly reaching 1,000!
It was safe to say that if he kept progressing at his current rate, he would be breaking down the walls of the A-Rank with all of his stats.
As for his Agility stat… Well, it was unknown just how far it could be taken before the "fastest man in the world" title no longer belonged to Victor Rapido.
However, it was while idling away with his Lilith slicing through the necks of hundreds of Intermediate Demons that a sudden disturbance interrupted his flow. It was a deep, disturbing rumbling that shook everything for many tens of thousands of meters. Even the air itself visibly shook.
Nyxvoldar became oddly riled up when the rumbling began, even embroiling the other Evomons into a state mixed between agitation and excitement. After Cassius's repeated power-ups, their maximum number increased to 50, and every single one of them felt their non-existent hair stand on end at the arrival of an earth-shaking calamity.
The rumbling became so loud and deafening that it reached a zenith point.
Directly following that zenith point was a fast-moving object leaping from the distance into the desolate rubble of what used to be a City Square. Yet, as if the surroundings hadn't suffered enough, when the massive fast-moving object touched base with the ground, everything exploded skyward!
When the dust clouds cleared, a colossal demon over one hundred meters tall made its grand appearance known to all.
The Demon had a large gut belly and nothing covering its grotesque upper body. Only a thin, flappy loincloth was there to prevent any living organism from being scarred for life. On its head, however, lay a spiked goldish-red crown embedded into its skin, which worked to terrify any individual unlucky enough to witness its monstrousness.
To further cement that notion of monstrosity, a deadly red gleam was present inside its savage eyes. Although much stronger than the Kobold King, it did not possess even a fifth of the intelligence that the Kobold King had.
As a Demon, no matter its strength, it only knew one thing: death.
"RRRROOOAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!!"
Its soul-shaking bellow was terrible enough to split the sky and crack the earth, causing entire buildings to sink into chasms. However, even with all the damage to the vicinity, it had actually focused the majority of its vocal might on the lone human.
Yet, as if it didn't even exist, the human blankly stared at its violent display of power, which was certainly evoked to get him to quiver in fear.
With a cold, icy blue gleam in his narrowed gaze, Cassius calmly observed the system tag of this Demon.
[Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Level: Yellowish-Red]
"A Neutral A-Rank Demon… Yet you can't even achieve a full Red danger rating?"
Cassius's expression morphed in disdain, as even with his other attributes holding down his overall power level, the Lord Demon couldn't even cause the system to deem it a red threat. It truly was a big disappointment for the man who wished more than any other person to find a good fight and maybe even advance his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline.
However, let alone kill him, this behemoth wouldn't even be able to scratch him.
'I was hoping to locate an opponent of semi-intelligence so I could try out that "Are you looking to get face-slapped?" Skill, but it seems like I still have to wait…'
Cassius's only regret about this whole situation was the fact that this unintelligent being wasn't even all that strong… It was a… bummer.
"A bummer indeed," commented Cassius as he looked ahead and saw the Lord Demon lunge straight for him at ludicrous speeds.
Sighing, he asked, "Why do you yearn for the cold embrace of death so badly?"
All he received in response was another earth-shaking roar, then an even greater acceleration in speed. At this moment, the Lord Demon looked like a red cannonball moving at hypersonic speeds. And in less than a nanosecond, it would surely be at the throat of its target.
"...I guess I have no choice but to fulfill your wish."
An emotionless sigh echoed before a large gust of wind rolled out in all directions from Cassius's position. The Evomons, deciding to stay out of this insane battle, watched in silence as their Liege's breathing came to a standstill.
All of time seemed to freeze in the exact same moment that the Lord Demon's enormous fist reached a distance mere inches away from the tiny human's covered face. Yet, in the presence of the looming feeling of death, it couldn't even so much as react.
Like a reincarnated devil of speed, Cassius moved one step, performed a thousand slashes, then took another step. The sound produced from his steps hadn't even the time to echo out before the thousandth step lightly tapped against the back of the Lord Demon's head.
Before dropping to a nearby rooftop, Cassius coldly peered into the depths of the massive Demon's cruel eyes. Yet, for some reason, even though it was the Demon and he was the human, his eyes glowed far crueler…
It was like the difference between prey and predator.