Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

'Once her memories awaken, her abilities will start to unlock too. At that time, her aura will be released for hundreds of miles. Those strong demons and angels nearby will be able to instantly sense her. However, if her aura goes berserk due to her awakening then even those people might be able to sense her. At that time even I won't be able to protect her'.

Aldebaran sighed as he remembered those scenes from the past. Observing Simon, for some reason he didn't know why but he felt like the young man in front of him resembled that person.

"If you can really prove that you have the ability to shake this whole world, then it would be best that master stays with you" Aldebaran muttered with expectations flashing in his emerald green eyes.

He would be lying if he said that his hopes weren't ignited after seeing the intense determination of Simon to pass the trial. In some corner of his heart, Aldebaran wanted the young man to win and prove himself wrong.

However, he knew about the trial more than anyone; after all, he was the one who set it. And far as he could see, no matter what tricks or techniques Simon used, he wouldn't be able to take the last Tenth Step.

Cecilia who saw Simon fall down and bend till his nose touched the ground after the Seventh Step, couldn't help but tightly clench her snow-white hands. At this moment, his body was burned everywhere and blood-drenched his figure red. His majestic wings that looked so grand and mighty was bent in an unnatural way and bones could be seen coming out of them.

Seeing his ragged and beaten figure, Cecilia's face became pale and tears threatened to fall out of her eyes. However, she held onto her tears and observed Simon. She did not want her big brother to worry for her anymore and more than that, she wanted Simon to know that she had absolute belief and faith in him.

Fennel who was holding her hand tightly so that she wouldn't run towards Simon, finally released his grip. When he saw how anxious and worried Cecilia was for that young man, he couldn't help but pat her head consolingly.

"Grandpa Fennel will he be okay?" Cecilia asked biting her lips looking extremely concerned.

Fennel gave her a gentle smile and said "He will be alright. That man is someone destined for greatness. Even I am impressed by his incredible willpower and resoluteness to pass the trial even if it meant harming himself to this state in return. Cecilia, you have found an incredible big brother who is willing to go through so much for you".

Fennel closed his eyes and said. The next moment he opened them, it seemed that he had arrived at some conclusion.

"Huff'¦ Huff" Simon couldn't hear anything other than his hurried breathing. His eyes were hazy and he could only see a few meters around him. Blood started to leak out from his nose and mouth and his whole face had become red.

At this moment, he was in so much pain that he could no longer feel any sensation from his body. It was almost like somebody had given him a dose of anaesthesia. Reality was trying to elude him and a dream-like state that could relieve him of all his pain and suffering was trying to overwhelm his mind.

Even he did not know how long his consciousness would last as he had already gone far beyond his limits. But he knew one thing and that was he was very close to passing the trial set by Aldebaran.

Three more steps, he only to needed to tread three more steps. However, the last three were bound to be the most arduous ones. The power spike from activating all those skills was starting to diminish and would be gone soon.

Once the skills were disabled, the repercussions from activating all of them at once will come assaulting his already tattered body. At that time, it would become impossible for him to complete the last few steps.

Therefore he must finish the trial and finish it fast before that happens. He tried to circulate the mana inside his body but it felt sluggish and didn't respond to his commands well. His current state even failed to use magic and he couldn't even pick himself up.

Fixing his vision towards the front, a golden light started to flash within Simon's crimson eyes "I guess I have no choice but to use that. I don't know what might be the consequence of using it in my current state but I guess it would be better than losing Cecilia here".

Right after his words fell, the complicated runes like tatoos in his body started lighting up with a golden black lustre. From dim to bright before igniting.

The golden black tattoos on his body slowly started burning with a brilliant golden black light before swiftly disappearing into nothingness.

Simon was forced to use his trump card [Ancestral Symbol Ignition].

As soon as those markings in Simon's body ignited with a golden black radiance, Aldebaran widened his eyes in shock. His humanoid body made of coiling roots, shuddered intensely as if he had received the greatest shock of his life and he went into a stupor for a long time.

Previously, he didn't pay much attention to the markings on the young man's body since it was partially covered by clothes. But now that most of the clothes in Simon's body was burned and became tattered rags, he could clearly see the ancient markings on him.

"Aren't those Ancestral Symbols? T-That's impossible. How can it appear on him? Isn't he just a Demon Viscount".

As Aldebaran stared at those markings, they suddenly started to ignite with a golden black radiance.

"I am not mistaken, it actually is the skill Ancestral Symbol Ignition!! That brat had this skill? But how can it be'¦ one needed to possess Ancestral Symbol to ignite them. Does that mean that those markings on his body were Ancestral Symbol?".

He couldn't believe his eyes no matter how many times he stared at Simon. If his eyes weren't deceiving him, then those markings were genuine Ancestral Symbols.

What was an Ancestral Symbol? These were ancient markings possessed by only the holders of the Seven fragments. In other words, only those demons that are chosen by the fragments to be the next demon lord, can have those markings on their body.

Simon possessing one... what did it mean? Didn't it indicate that he was chosen by one of the fragments?  Of course, Aldebaran would be stunned beyond belief.

He remembered his lord once telling him that the Fragments are highly intelligent and choose its own master and only those demons that have the potential to reach the pinnacle of this world, are chosen by the fragments.

The young man being chosen by one meant that he had the possibility of becoming one of the pinnacle powerhouse of this world, a Demon Lord.

But Simon was just a Demon Viscount whose bloodline wasn't even that pure. Even with his incredible willpower and determination, the peak he would be able to reach was just a Demon Marquess.

Suddenly Aldebaran remembered those words that Simon had declared earlier. He couldn't help the wildly rising excitement in his heart to see the true limit of the young man in front of him.

Aldebaran who had thought that the trial would be impossible for Simon, at this moment started to believe that young man might be able to clear it.

Simon who was forced to kneel by the aura bearing down on him finally used the skill [Ancestral Symbol Ignition] that he only used once ever since reincarnating into this world. The last time he used it was when he was just a Demon Baron and was surrounded by a pack of Direwolves. At that time, after massively boosting each of his stats for a short period of time, it disappeared after leaving his body exhausted and unable to move.

The skill [Ancestral Symbol Ignition] temporarily fuses all the skills the user has, leaving them unable to use any skill after the duration ends. It not only leaves him unable to use any skill but also puts a heavy burden on his body.

Simon had previously activated all those stats enhancement skills at once that put a toll on his body along with the aura that was pressuring him, his body was strained and could crumble at any moment.

He did not know what the consequences would be after this but at this moment, he needed strength to overcome the obstacle in front of him. He did not have the time and strength to think about the repercussion after.

As soon as those markings on his body ignited, he could feel a flood of strength rushing through his body. And the pressuring bearing down on him lessened by lot. Gathering his strength, Simon got back up and used another blast of magic to take the Eighth step.

As Simon had predicted, the last three steps were the most challenging.

BANG'¦ just as he took the eight-step, Simon felt as if he was hit by a huge tidal that instantly swept his body away. His mind became blank and he lost vision for an instant. The pressure bearing down on could no longer be explained with words.

Using one skill on top of another put an immense toll on his body and his bodily function was steadily deteriorating. It was to the point where Simon was finding it difficult to breathe. His entire body was burned with cuts all over and he was having severe internal bleeding.. If it was any other Demon Viscount receiving this magnitude of injuries they would have already died or become unconscious.