Netori: Reborn as the Human Aphrodisiac

It wasn't just about the debuff. A Pyromantic Thesis' power and potential depended on the Inner Flame that shaped it. Though flawed and far from completion, Mithras' Thesis came from the Violet Flame, making it equal to a tyrant-class ability.

And as the Million Snakes of the Burning Hell roasted him from the inside out, Mithras' current Sid Level…had ballooned to over 500,000 units—a hundred times more than the initial value!

It was a temporary state that he'd lose soon and pay for with severe consequences. But in this very instant, Mithras wasn't just abusing anti-female cheats. He was quite simply…the strongest man in the Purple Dawn Continent.

Or was he really? One begged to differ, and as Mithras' hammer aimed at Akamana's face, a colossal figure appeared at the Human Aphrodisiac's back, swinging an ebony war hammer at Mithras' skull!

Yet faced a blow that carried enough force to split mountains and overturn the seas, Mithras stayed composed, phasing out of the way with Flame Displacement, and reforming at the newcomer's left.

The Great Smelting Hammer swung at the colossal figure's knee, but with transcendent reflexes, it sent its shield crashing into Mithras' hammer, causing strident metallic noises to reverberate across the royal palace.

Overwhelming vibration waves blasted in all directions, sending rocks and boulders flying upward as Mithras flew back. The colossal figure, on the other end, stayed as stoic as a mountain, not budging one bit.

"Following your Evolution, you've unlocked two divine talents, one that halves the attributes of the females and lower-class males you target, and another that lets you release 150% of your strength in each strike with virtually no energy cost.

Mana being a woman cannot resist that ability. But as a male Superior Being, it is useless against me. So young guru, my sincere apologies…" here, the colossal figure threw its dark cloak out of the way, revealing its appearance.

Over three meters tall, with a long mane of dark hair, chalky-white skin that shimmered with an icy glow, and a piercing pair of cold-blue eyes, the undead giant would have looked handsome if not for his outrageous size and the foul stench of rot and death that surrounded him 24/7.

Still, the elegance that he'd cultivated in life followed him in death, making onlookers face him with a mix of admiration and terror.

And as he stepped forward, raising his ebony shield and war hammer, corrupt waves of divine power erupted from his armor, covering the scene and causing the shadows of demons and ghosts to form and slither on the ground.

"Young guru, my apologies. As a warrior, it is my honor to trade blows with one so gifted. And as a man who failed to protect his family in life, I can only admire how far you're willing to go, and the sacrifices you've made to ensure your loved ones' safety.

Preventing a seedling from blossoming into a legend is always a tragedy—especially one whose heart hasn't been ruined by power and quick success. But since your hammer threatens my liege, I have no other choice…but to end your story.

Belphegor di Angra, contemporary Knight of Ahriman, pays his regards." The First Zealot made his entrance, and as his frigid voice boomed across the scene, Mithras was shocked to see…that the first Zealot too stood at the peak of Blood Longevity.

Worse, just like Vel'Asha…his Sid Level…was at 1,000,000 units!

How did the Grand Priestess manage to create a powerhouse of that level? Simple, by combining the mantras she'd used to create the Ricimer undead with Ahriman's boons.

900 years ago, after slaying her father, Akamana performed austerities to Ahriman, hoping to have the Antigod of Malice resurrect her mom and brother by restoring their souls and granting the undead bodies she'd created for them partial divinity. The result was a semi-disaster.

Ahriman had no interest in saving Akamana's mother and incensed that she'd request such a thing from a Wrathful God, Ahriman destroyed her mother's soul entirely—ending Akamana's hopes.

But for her brother, the Astral Pulse Naifem with Dark Preceptor potential, the Antigod had other plans, not only completing the request but granting Belphegor a boon that so long as he fought in his name, he couldn't be killed by mortals.

Ahriman then went a step further, granting Belphegor a substantial portion of its blood so he'd be reborn an Undead Demigod. All these gifts made some suspect the new knight was about to get porked by the genderfluid Wrathful God. This would soon be proven true. Adding a layer of loathing in the Grand Priestess' heart.

Sadly for Ahriman, the hatred of witnessing his mother's soul break down, plus the deeply rooted desire to protect his sister made Belphegor immune to the Antigod's charms. So he'd never reciprocate Ahriman's affection—a tragedy on so many levels.

Now Belphegor lived to destroy the Grand Priestess' enemies, only intervening when he considered she was no longer in control of her fate. Said otherwise, Belphegor making his move was the undeniable proof…of Akamana's defeat.

Mithras' thoughts were simpler. A new enemy had appeared. Another head that needed to be broken. That head just happened to be studier than the average skull. So if it wouldn't go down with one swing…he just had to keep hammering at its skull till it broke into a blast of splintering bones.

"Mithras di nothing, the contemporary One-Man Brothel. Dunno if I'm the first. But while there might have been many before me, of all man-whores under the blue sky, I shall be the greatest," Mithras said in a calm and cheerful tone, shrugging off the searing pain tearing through his organs to face the Knight Ahriman.

Meanwhile, the Queen Mother faced the Undead Ricimer, her bare fists crashing into the fallen emperor's hammer and causing berserk energy waves to crash monuments and rend the earth.

But as the clash progressed, Vel'Asha's blows softened, her body turning sluggish as the Great Smelting Gene worked its magic. Ricimer gained ground, pushing Vel'Asha back with a series of murderous swings.

*BANG*

A group of 30 flaming cougars burst into smithereens. The last of the horde summoned by Vel'Asha, all crushed by the fallen monarch's hammer. A field of blood and gore rose subsequently, and just like Akamana before Mithras, Vel'Asha's attributes dropped at an alarming rate.

Still, the Queen Mother stayed composed, teleporting out of the way, and letting go of all aggressivity.

Yes. In an incomprehensible turn of events, Vel'Asha just let go of her battle intent, joining her hands in a prayer sign as she awaited Ricimer's next move.

The true form of a Blood Aristocrat only revealed itself at Blood Longevity and awakened completely at Blood Authority. And so, in the heydays of the empire, Blood Longevity was the demarcation line between the seniors and the juniors. With the elders all sitting at Blood Authority at the very least. Ricimer himself died at the seventh level of Blood Authority. With a Sid level of 800,000 units.

Akamana brought him back with that strength, but as a flawed undead, the emperor lacked divine secrets and a complex thought process.

Had Ricimer been his past self, the fight might have ended differently. But as a straightforward undead, the emperor swung without a care for the Queen Mother's strange actions—sentencing himself to death.

[Three Steps of the Preserver]

With a radiant smile, Vel'Asha took a series of leisurely steps forward. With the first, she ballooned to 100 meters tall. With the second, she could cover a nation, and by the time she took the third, the whole of creation seemed trapped underneath her heel.

The Queen Mother's heel crashed into Ricimer, making the undead monarch burst into blood particles—destroyed instantly!