Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

However, as the Main Menu transmigrated with Simon to a new world, the [Shortcuts] option went a transformation of its own. Although its essence remained the same, its operation became more enigmatic.

The option became the bridge that gapped the possible with the impossible, a gateway to harnessing the extraordinary at a moment's notice.

The [Shortcut] option much like all the other options of the Main Menu, was no longer bound by the game's mechanics, and its interface had evolved into a canvas of infinite potential. It was as though it had adapted to the new world's rules, blending seamlessly with the fabric of reality.

It now harboured an extraordinary space within it, a mystical vault where Simon could store all of his skills, abilities, and magic. However, this wasn't just any storage; it was a place beyond the boundaries of conventional reality.

Within this ethereal expanse, the laws of the world were suspended, and time itself lay in a perpetual stasis. Every skill, spell, or ability he stored remained frozen in a pristine state. There were no diminishing returns, no cooldown periods, and no traces of wear and tear on his powers.

It was as if the moment they entered this space, they existed outside the confines of causality and entropy.

In the world of Althaea, casting a spell or using an ability required a constant flow of mana to sustain it, and the magic gradually deteriorated over time. However, within the sanctuary of [Shortcut], such laws held no sway.

Every enchantment, every incantation, and every ability was preserved in its purest form, as if time had stopped. It was a domain where the effects of any action didn't fade away, where each spell remained as potent as the day it was first cast.

The Amalgamation magic- [Dark Infernal Blaze] was one of the magic that was stored inside the [Shortcuts]. And since it was already cast, Simon just had to tap on the option and the skill and magic would manifest in front of him with just a will.

What's more, it was an instant invocation, he did not need to sift through the vault and go through each and every skill assigned there. Instead, all it needed was just a thought from him and the said magic would manifest, given that it was already stored inside the [Shortcuts].

This was the most remarkable thing about the option, the instant invocation. In the heat of a moment, when every second counted, Simon could tap into the repository of powers and bend time to his advantage.

Abilities that would typically require lengthy incantations or preparations could be summoned in an instant. Right now, Simon only had a few a magic stored inside the enigmatic space of the option but with time as he grew stronger and his magic progressed, he would be able to store more and more magic inside [Shortcuts].

He was right when he thought that this option could become another one of his trump cards. Simon glanced at the huge fireball above him and came to the realisation.

This was the first time he was putting the option into practice and since the magic was no longer held down by the laws of the option that sealed it in a state of stasis, it could detonate any second.

As such, time was of essence here.  With each passing second, the magic's instability increased. The golden flames clashed violently with the dark magic, creating an unpredictable and dangerous situation.

Given how the magic was unable to keep its shape any longer, it was clear that the two attributes repelled each other and would soon erupt in a violent eruption.

Simon willed the flaming conflagration downward, directing it toward the sealed Abomination. The creature sensed the imminent danger and emitted a deep, ominous growl that resonated through the area.

Simon did not stay put to marvel at the might of his magic, instead, he turned around and fled using all of his might. The reason for that was simple, the Amalgamation Magic- [Dark Infernal Blaze] was not a complete magic, the two attributes were still far from achieving harmony and still repelled each other.

The volatile energy that had been building inside the magic had reached its peak and could no longer be contained. What's more, Simon had been training and tempering with the magic in the past few months, supplying it with all of his mana every day.

The magic which was the size of a football when it was still inside the [Shortcuts], had grown up to a colossal size in just a fraction of a second when it was brought out. Given all this, one could understand how powerful the explosion would be.

There was no need to even think further, Simon turned around and fled with all of his might, the beat of his wings and the tearing noise of winds echoed in the eerie silence of the desolate snowlands.

And then it happened.

The moment the magic came into contact with the sealed Abomination, chaos erupted. The opposing forces of infernal flames and dark arcane energies clashed violently, creating a cataclysmic explosion of blinding brilliance.

The shockwave swept through the land with devastating force, annihilating everything in its path. In the wake of the cataclysmic explosion, the world seemed to shudder and convulse.

A shockwave, a monstrous wall of force, surged outward from the epicentre, distorting the very air it touched. The land itself quivered, as if protesting the violence inflicted upon it.

That was not all, as the violent clash of infernal flames and dark arcane energy reached its peak, the very ground beneath them seemed to liquefy, and then erupt in a titanic upheaval. The once-sturdy landscape crumbled like brittle parchment, sending colossal plumes of dust and debris billowing into the heavens.

The brilliant light, an amalgamation of golden flames and dark magic, blossomed into an awe-inspiring spectacle. It painted the sky in an iridescent tapestry of colours that no artist's palette could hope to replicate.

The very fabric of space strained and buckled under the immense pressure, creating rifts that pulsed with unnatural energy.

Simultaneously, the shockwave roared outward, a tsunami of pure devastation. Mountains crumbled into cascading avalanches of ice and rock. Snow, rocks, and the very earth itself were swept away like leaves in a tempest.

The previously pristine, untouched terrain was marred by deep chasms that fractured the earth. The unfortunate creatures caught in its path had no chance of escape; they were reduced to ashes in an instant.

The shockwave, an unstoppable force of devastation, coursed through the snowy expanse with unrelenting fury. It hit Simon who was already tens of kilometres away, causing him to take a brutal tumble down to the ground.

All the snow that was swirled into the atmosphere above, rained down at him, burying him underneath.

.

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After a while, as the rumbling of the ground stopped and the aftereffects of the magic settled down a bit, Simon tunnelled himself out through the snow. Blood oozed out of his body and there were severe burns marring his skin. Some of his hair too got burnt in that heatwave.

Thankfully, much of the power and force of the shockwave had been neutralised, all the injuries he suffered were just superficial and would be healed soon after by his recovery skills.

"This…" Simon stood amidst the desolation, his heart heavy with a sense of awe and trepidation. Everywhere his eyes roamed, they encountered nothing but the aftermath of sheer devastation.

The brilliant display of golden flames and dark magic had scarred the very fabric of space itself, leaving it looking fragile and stretched to its limits. Unnatural rifts and tears, like jagged scars in the world, pulsed with an eerie and otherworldly energy, stubborn remnants of the explosive power that had torn through this once-pristine realm.

Mountains, once towering symbols of stability and endurance, now lay in shattered ruins, their once-mighty peaks reduced to rubble that choked the ground.

Simon couldn't help but be overcome by a profound mixture of emotions. Awe, for he had wielded power on a scale beyond his wildest imagination. Trepidation, for he now understood the terrible potential of this newfound magic.

In this moment of reflection, he shivered at the realization that if he had tested this devastating magic within the confines of his carefully constructed dungeon, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

The very thought of such wanton destruction taking place within the heart of his home sent a chill down his spine.

Simon understood more than ever, the weight of the power he held in his hands. It was not a force that should be wielded by a Demon Earl, that kind of power could even kill some low levelled Demon Dukes.

What kind of concept was killing a Demon Duke with a single attack?

It needs to be mentioned that in this current era, with the Demon Archdukes taking a back seat, a Demon Duke was basically the uncontested ruler of the Demonic Continent.

Whether it be their power, the legions they commanded or their influence, no other demons could match it. They were like the absolute beings of the demon continent in the current era.

Even putting everything else aside, just the fact that they were beings who had stepped into the level 700 realm spoke volumes about them. It was a common knowledge amongst the beings of this world that once one enters level 700, it becomes incredibly hard to kill them.

Not only do they possess multiple high ranking regenerative skills, but they can even manipulate the mana in the surroundings to restore their expanded mana thus allowing them to keep on fighting.