Shadow Monarch in Tensura

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: No Pain, No Gain

"So... Ummm... Can I ask a question?" Ultima asked.

"You just did..." I deadpanned, but she looked annoyed at me, so I chuckled, "Sure, what do you want to ask?"

"This machine," She began and looked me in the eye, "Are you a masochist?"

"..." Really? That's what she wanted to ask?

"What? Tell me a normal person that would make a machine to hurt themself and isn't a masochist..."

"Well, I don't enjoy pain, so no, I'm not a masochist."

"If you want to tell yourself that, then go right ahead..." She chuckled.

"How about you joining me then?" I asked with a smirk.

"Oh, there is no need, my lord. I already have all the nullification this machine should give you. But I can cheer you on from the sideline." She said, giving me a thumbs up.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Whaaat? Me? No, if my lord wants to become a masochist, I will support you, and if you want, I could be the sadist." She said, giving me another thumbs up.

My eyes twitched slightly, but I ignored her and decided to activate the machine.

It started warming up, so I stepped back and waited for it to start.

It should start in... 3... 2... 1... "Now!" Just as I said, I was blasted with a ray containing poison, paralyzing and petrifying effect with many others.

"ARGHHHH!!!" I screamed through my gritted teeth as I was hit with pain that would make all the others, like having my arm chopped off, look like nothing compared to this.

As it continued, I was trying my hardest not to fall on my knees. There was a small bit of pride in me that didn't allow me to kneel right now. It's as if I did; then I would admit defeat to a machine I created.

A machine that makes my resistance look like nothing in front of it...

I struggled for hours, constantly being blasted by it, but thankfully, my machine didn't fail me as I heard the Voice of the World, and a painful smile formed on my face.

{Resist Skill: [Abnormal Condition Resistance] has evolved into Resist Skill: [Abnormal Condition Nullification]}

Oh, thank god it's over. While I still feel the pain from before, I don't feel any new pain.

"Then it's time for the second machine," I said, deactivating this one and going towards the second one.

Unlike the previous one, this one was harder to make but should help me gain Physical Attack Nullification. It will shoot different weapons and attack me in different ways, two of them being slashing and piercing.

"Maybe you should take a break before doing that one?" Came Ultima's worried voice.

"No, if I'm doing it, then I should do it in one go," I said, and she stared at me.

"And you said you weren't a masochist..."

Well then, let's get this one going. I activated this machine and stepped back again.

It didn't take long before multiple types of weapons started flying towards me.

"Urgg..." I tried my best again to go through this. If it's for getting stronger, I can withstand some pain. I remember someone saying once: No pain, no gain...

If I see that guy, then I will have his head for it!

Hours went by, and I couldn't hear The Voice of the World, and I started thinking of going on a rampage and killing everyone in my sight.

More hours flew by, and finally, I heard it.

{Resist Skill: [Physical Attack Resistance] has evolved into Resist Skill: [Physical Attack Nullification]}

{Resist Skill: [Pain Resistance] has evolved into Resist Skill: [Pain Nullification]}

I turned off the machine and breathed a sigh of relief. My clothes were almost non-existent at this point, and I was covered in blood.

"So, my masochistic lord, I assume your little experiment was successful?" Ultima asked, looking at my body.

"Yes, yes it was," I answered, smiling as all my resist skills were maxed out. Unfortunately for me, there isn't any Holy-Demonic Attack Nullification, so I need to live with Holy-Demonic Attack Resistance.

"Then..." She paused, looking slightly uncertain, "Could I maybe take those machines?" She asked.

I thought about it for a moment before I understood why she wanted them, "I already gained everything I need from them, so you can take them."

"Yay! Thank you," She hugged me like a little kid who just got a birthday present, not like one of the strongest demons.

Actually, only a demon would be happy to get something for torture...

---

Sitting on my throne, a place I haven't been for a while due to being in my office. I thought about what I should do now.

Veldora is sealed, and I have gotten quite strong, but not strong enough.

The problem is I don't know how to get stronger. Of course, my magicules and strength are constantly increasing due to Black Heart, and I have gotten more skills, but I don't know where to go from here.

Out of all my skills, the only thing that could evolve at this moment is the Extra Skill: [Magic Manipulation] into the Extra Skill: [Law Manipulation].

The only thing I think that could trigger the evolution of the skill is if my proficiency in using magic would reach a level that would enable me to manipulate the world's laws.

That will probably take some time for me to achieve, but speaking of strength, I haven't checked my status for a while now.

_____

Magicules: 45,619,800

[Stats]

Strength: 7,540 + 18% = 8,897

Vitality: 6,973 + 18% = 8,228

Agility: 7,279 + 18% = 8,589

Intelligence: 7,105 + 18% = 8,383

Perception: 7,105 + 18% = 8,383

_____

"Nice," While the growth doesn't look like much, I noticed that all my stats increase by six points every ten days, similar to how I was doing the daily quests but without the need to do anything.

The same with my magicules, but I think I gain more of them now than from doing the daily quests. Even so, most of them come from my shadows killing, and now with Veldora sealed, the amount will slowly decrease over the years. I should probably hunt inside the cave instead of the forest now.

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Author's Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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