The Damned Demon

His arms were crossed over his ribcage, his head held high, and his shoulders squared. Even if his head was just a flaming skull, people could feel that he was daring anyone to question him just by feeling his gaze.

They remained silent, staring up at him with a mix of shock, fear, awe, and respect.

They were shocked out of their wits because they witnessed him surviving the impossible.

Their soul shuddered in fear upon staring at his charred black figure, giving him the appearance of a death god risen from the ashes. The dark green flames blazed fiercely on his skeleton body, illuminating the darkness within his eye sockets and casting an eerie glow on not only the surroundings but on them as well. They couldn\'t even make sense of what his exact powers were, but they all guessed that it all had to do with his mysterious bloodline.

At this point they were just too frightened to ask or think about it.

They lowered their heads in a sign of shame, respect and awe, not daring to meet his gaze. They felt in their bones that they were in the presence of true power and that they should show respect to the man who might change their future.

They knew he was rightfully angry at them for mocking and looking down on him for all these years. There was no end to the amount of contempt and disdain they showed to him. No amount of words could describe the regret they were feeling now.

They looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to say or do in response to his bold statement.

Rowena felt a sense of relief wash over her. She couldn\'t remember the last time she felt this anxious about something. She had tried to stop him from fighting, fearing that he might die and she would break the last thing her father had made her promise. However, seeing him defeat a spirit considered to be undefeatable, her emotions began to shift.

She didn\'t know why but she felt something swelling in her chest as she saw Asher standing tall and imposing, his skeletal body still engulfed in hellish flames and the raw power and determination in his eyes. She knew that he had proven himself as a worthy and powerful demon before everyone, just like he said he would.

He had told her this a month ago, during the dance. But at that time, she had no reason to take his words seriously, though she acknowledged his determination.

Did her father know this all along and took him in as a cripple, waiting for him to wake up one day? Did her father really sacrifice himself for not only the present but for the future of this realm? She felt complicated emotions thinking about it, though she felt as if she finally realized some answers to why her father made her marry him.

Rebecca\'s face had become a pale gray after a wave of shock washed over her as she watched Asher defeat the nightmarish Hell Maiden.

She felt a sense of disbelief that someone like him, who she had thought was a lowborn, could achieve something that broke their beliefs.

She felt her pride bruised as she realized that she had underestimated him or that he had fooled everyone into underestimating him.

She was 100% sure he was going to die, but why didn\'t he?! How come she or nobody else knew if he was a monstrous genius? How come he only acted now? Was he playing dumb all this time, or was this all a strange coincidence?

Whatever it was, she had never felt so threatened by someone, even if their current strength was way below hers.

With such a powerful bloodline, who could possibly match his potential? What will happen to her dear son\'s dreams? They made a point to the queen about how she should pick a new consort since her present one was of low origins. But now, that point was rendered invalid. Instead, because of what they said, Rowena didn\'t even have to look for anyone else.

Who else other than him passed the 7th summoning? Nobody.

And as she felt Asher\'s derisive gaze on her, she clenched her jaws. She could feel him laughing and mocking her. Her hate and anger towards him only increased as she realized that Asher was an unpredictable force that could very well challenge her status and power. She reassured herself that this was not the end.

Asher\'s eyes flicked over the crowd, taking in their fear and uncertainty. He let out a low, satisfied chuckle, relishing in them cowering before him. He let the silence hang in the air for a moment longer before turning around as the damned flames on his body began to die down before rapidly restoring the flesh and skin on his body.

He was half naked since Hell Maiden\'s flames reduced most of his attire to ashes, but fortunately, he was able to use his own flames just in time to shield the lower half of his attire. However, the women in the hall couldn\'t help but swoon upon seeing his sizzling naked torso and flushed face. For some reason, he seemed far more attractive than ever and any other man.

His striking figure with a tall and athletic build that exuded power and grace. His dove-gray skin was smooth and flawless, with a hint of metallic sheen that caught the light in a mesmerizing way. His features are chiseled and defined, with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and full lips that hint at a fatally charming streak.

His every step and gesture exuded confidence and charm. His voice was deep and domineering, giving off a magnetic presence that drew their attention to him, making it impossible not to be charmed by his charming demeanor.

Even though they considered his race to be an alien one, his appearance had a hint of mystery and danger. His gray skin was unique and attractive, and his features were well-defined.

However, his eyes were his most striking features, with deep, dark yellow pools that seemed to hold dangerous secrets. They were framed by thick, black lashes that gave him a mysterious and alluring look. His hair was a striking contrast to his gray skin, long, white, and flowing like a silver waterfall, framing his face perfectly and adding to his allure.

Even Sabina\'s fair cheeks began to slightly flush upon seeing his muscular torso with well-defined eight packs, especially seeing the veins under the surface of his gray skin.

Ceti never expected him to possess such a powerful and intimidating appearance. The veins on his biceps gave him a raw and primal look as if he was a being of raw power and energy. She shook her head, wondering why she was even staring at that pervert\'s body.

However, she had no idea that her mother, Merina, who was silently standing in a corner, had her blood flow increase for some reason.

The rest of them came out of their stunned state and couldn\'t even begin to imagine how their future was going to change.

Some even fell to their knees just by being awed by what they saw. They felt as if they stood witness to the birth of a legend. They knew the royal consort was not that strong now but seeing his godly talent, they had no doubt he would rise up to be someone who would shake the entire realm within a century or two.

Some were already feeling that he might become much more than just a royal consort. Nobody dared to respond to his question because they knew his worth couldn\'t be questioned anymore.

Even if he had stopped at the 6th summoning, people would respect him just like they would respect the royal members of House Drake.

But now that he had achieved the impossible, their respect for him skyrocketed far more than any one of the members of the three Great Houses.

Duncan Doru, standing with his hands behind his back, had his eyes visibly shaking, unable to maintain a calm mind as usual, "The prophecy…was right after all…"