My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

As Nova slept peacefully, completely unaware of the events unfolding beyond Forstholme, a storm was quietly gathering over the entire Auerth Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Vaunis Branch of the Twilight Order had fallen into complete unrest.

....

Vaunis — Twilight Order Headquarters

Inside a vast conference hall, five figures sat around a long black table. The atmosphere was so heavy that no one dared to speak carelessly.

Among them was Enzo, whose expression was unusually grim as he listened to his subordinates report the increasingly dire situation.

Aside from him, the other three branch executives seated at the table were all Peak Grandmasters, each possessing strength comparable to Enzo’s own.

At the head of the table sat the Branch Leader...”Leon Vance.”

An overwhelming aura silently radiated from his body, so powerful that it dwarfed the presence of everyone else in the room.

There was no doubt that Leon had long since surpassed Level 1000, placing him in a realm above grandmasters.

He possessed a broad, muscular build with short brown hair and an ordinary face that was neither particularly handsome nor unattractive.

Yet despite his average appearance, no one present dared meet his gaze for long.

The solemn expression on his face alone was enough to make everyone understand one thing...

Whatever crisis they were about to discuss was far more serious than anyone had anticipated.

The First Executive, a timid-looking man whose appearance belied his immense strength, broke the silence.

”Leader... we have confirmed the intelligence.”

He took a deep breath before continuing.

”Demon General Azren and Demon General Voren are currently in possession of the Heart of Demon Lord Raze. According to our latest reports, they are hiding somewhere in eastern Aureth.”

His words caused the atmosphere in the hall to grow even heavier.

The Second Executive, a composed-looking beautiful woman, spoke next. Although she remained calm, the nervousness in her eyes was impossible to hide.

”We’ve already contacted the other Twilight Order branches. The nearby Branch Leaders and their elites should arrive within two days.”

She paused briefly.

”We’ve also informed main Headquarters. They have promised to send reinforcements as well, should a full-scale battle become unavoidable.”

The main headquarters of the Twilight Order was located in Valedyrn, the strongest kingdom on the human continent Kaelor, where the Emperor of Humans resided.

Leon Vance slowly nodded before asking,

”What about the Blood Moon Cult?”

The Third Executive answered immediately.

”They’re helping the two Demon Generals remain hidden. Their only objective is to deliver the Heart to the Abyss as quickly as possible, which is why the generals have been avoiding unnecessary battles with us.”

He continued grimly, ”If we attempt to stop them before they reach the Abyss Gate, a large-scale war is almost inevitable.”

The Abyss Gate was located along the western border of the Kaelor .

It served as one of the permanent gateways connecting the mortal world to the Abyss. Ordinary humans couldn’t enter it, as the gate rejected anyone lacking demonic energy.

The only known exceptions were individuals possessing exceptionally powerful Darkness Affinities.

Similar Abyss Gates existed on every continent.

However, they weren’t the demons’ only means of travel. High-ranking demons possessed the ability to create temporary portals, allowing them to freely enter or leave the Abyss without relying on the gates.

Leon’s expression darkened.”What do we know about the Heart... and what exactly are they planning?”

The Fourth Executive, an elderly man with a long white beard, slowly opened his eyes before answering.

”As you already know, Leader, the Blood Moon Cult has spent hundreds of years spreading chaos across the continent. They orchestrated countless massacres, destroyed entire cities, and sacrificed innumerable innocent lives.”

”Although the Twilight Order successfully thwarted many of their operations...”

He clenched his fist.”...they still managed to gather enough life force because of our unfortunate situation with supreme leaders.”

The old man’s voice grew heavier.

”Their intention is to use that life force, together with the Heart of Demon Lord Raze, to resurrect him.”

He paused for a brief moment before finishing.

”They plan to fuse the Heart back into his original body... the corpse that has remained preserved within the Abyss ever since his death safely in secret even form other demon lords by those two generals.”

”We all know what happened after the fall of Demon Lord Raze,” Leon began, his calm yet commanding voice echoing throughout the silent conference hall.

”When he was defeated, his two most loyal generals disappeared along with his heart. For centuries they remained hidden, waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring their lord back.”

His gaze swept across every executive before continuing.

”Now they have finally gathered enough life force. Their destination is the Abyss, where Raze’s body has been preserved all this time. Once they reunite the Heart with his corpse, they will attempt to resurrect the greatest Demon Lord in history.”

A heavy silence descended upon the room.

Every person present understood the weight of those words. The mere thought of Demon Lord Raze returning to life was enough to make even Peak Grandmasters feel a chill run down their spines.

Enzo was the first to break the silence. Looking at Leon with an anxious expression, he asked, ”Leader... what should we do?”

Leon remained quiet for a few moments before slowly rising from his seat. An invisible pressure spread through the hall, instinctively forcing everyone to sit straighter.

”We have no choice but to face them,” he said solemnly. ”However, do not mistake our objective. Even I am no match for Demon General Azren or Demon General Voren. Both of them stand far above my current level.”

He paused before continuing.

”Our mission is not to defeat them. It is to delay them. We must stall their advance and create enough time for our superiors and the reinforcements from the other branches and headquarter arrive. That is the only chance we have.”

The four executives exchanged solemn glances before nodding in agreement.

Leon wasted no time issuing his next orders to his vice-comander Enzo.

”Immediately contact His Majesty and explain the situation in full. The royal gaurds must be mobilized at once.

Every Twilight Order member stationed within the Aureth Kingdom is to be recalled and placed on the highest level of alert. We cannot allow the enemy to reach the Abyss Gate without resistance.”

”Understood, Leader,” the four executives answered in unison.

Leon then turned his attention back to Enzo.

”One final question. According to our latest intelligence... how many enemies are we expecting?”

Enzo looked down at the report in his hands. His fingers tightened around the parchment as he took a deep breath.

”...Several thousand,” he answered grimly. ”The Blood Moon Cult has gathered nearly all of its forces under those generals.

Alongside them are countless corrupted demonic beasts, low and high-ranking demons, and the two Demon Generals themselves.”

The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.

Several thousand enemies...Two Demon Generals...And behind them, the resurrection of Demon Lord Raze.

Leon slowly clenched his fist, his powerful aura silently filling the conference hall.

”Then prepare yourselves,” he said, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve. ”From this moment onward, this is no longer merely the Twilight Order’s battle.”

He looked at every executive before declaring in a firm voice,

”It is a war for the survival of the entire Aureth Kingdom and entire world if not stopped here.”

It was evident that something big was about to occur in the Aureth Kingdom—something that would shake the entire world.

Great powers that had remained dormant for decades, or even centuries, would soon learn of it. However, nobody knew that something even more unexpected was about to take place within the Aureth Kingdom.

++++

[A/N]

I know many of you have a few questions. Please be patient—I’ll explain everything about the Demon Lord Raze in detail, including why he was considered the strongest of all the Demon Lords.

**

Thanks for reading....