Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Since before his reincarnation he was a human, consciously or subconsciously, he was trying to suppress the demonic side of him. However, doing so he was also suppressing his desires along with his strength.

One's desires and cravings were directly related to how strong one was or could become. this was especially true for the demon noble race who followed and abided with their desires closer than any other race.

Since Simon was suppressing his emotions along with his desires, he found himself somewhat lacking and unable to show the true potential of his race. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind of all thoughts and allowed that which was deeply suppressed in his heart, to flow and rage out.

The feeling at first started out as a small ember before flaring out to become a huge wildfire that prickled every nerve of his body. His blood felt like it was boiling and an innate urge to destroy his enemy flooded him.

There was no way he was going to lose to an enemy who has lost his rationality and life to a mere skill. Heck, he even felt a tingling sensation of excitement to fight against an opponent multiple levels higher than him.

This was his chance to fight someone above level 400 and increase his strength even further.

A notification sounded out in his mind, this was the first time that Simon had consciously activated the pride fragment. All the other times it was the fragment that had ruled his desires; however, after he stopped reigning in his emotions, he was able to activate it willingly.

With glaring crimson eyes, Simon glanced at the beast charging towards him.

ROARR… with a deafening cry, Jeeves who had now turned completely into a beast ruled by instinct, came punching towards Simon. His speed and strength were on a whole different realm and whenever he stepped, he would immediately leave a deep imprint on the ground.

A punch came towards the demon breaking the speed of sound.

BOOM… a force equalling that one was met by another force and the air was immediately burst apart near that area. Two fists, one huge and small collided with each other neither showing any signs of backing away.

A muffled creaking noise sounded and Simon felt his shoulders displacing, he took a vial from his inventory and immediately gulped it down.

[Elixir of Healing X1 had been used].

Storms of punches and kicks started pouring out like a wave as the combatants engaged themselves in a fierce battle.

At a glance, it seemed that the two were on par but if one looked carefully, one of them seemed to be at a disadvantage every time a punch or kick landed on him. He would then take something out from somewhere and instantly gulp down on it.

[Elixir of Healing X1 had been used]

[Elixir of Healing X1 had been used]

[Elixir of Healing X1 had been used]

[Elixir of Healing X1 had been used].

<br/>The process repeated itself again and again before the flow of the fight was broken apart when one party suffered a devastating blow. The beast was blown back by a fist that was covered by crimson and golden flames and crashed into dozens of trees snapping them in half.

Most of its furs were burned and there was a deep fist indent on its exoskeleton that protected the bead at the centre of its chest.

Compared to the butler, Simon was not better off, most of his clothes were torn and his skin was black and blue in some areas revealing the damage he had incurred from the exchange. Nonetheless, those injuries visibly and swiftly healed themselves after he drank the contents of the vial.

"I finally understand it now" Simon murmured something…

RUMBLE, a muffled thunderous noice echoed out and blue lightning promptly started gathering on his left hand. ZzzSSTtt… sparks emitted out of his hands and quickly shot out to target a nearby tree.

BANG… the tree was instantly zapped and erupted into a fire.

Simon's gaze next landed onto his opponent who was for some reason starting to struggle. The numerous pain and damage that he had dealt, was finally catching up to it.

"It seems that even when one turns into a mindless beast, one still understands the concept of pain. Then let me make it easier for you" Simon said before closing his eyes. 

The flames on his right hand instantly disappeared, replaced by the blue lightning. At this moment, he fell into a state of deep concentration where he only felt the presence of himself and his enemy.

CHIIII… slowly, the lightning covering his hands, started taking the shape of a bow. Although at first it was unstable and crumbled very fast, the bow was able to take shape after repeated tries.

At this moment, Simon opened his eyes, straightened his hands and pulled on the bowstring. An arrow made of lightning was swiftly conjured and strung on the bowstring. He then next pointed the arrowhead towards the beast ape and released it.

RUMBLE… the speed of the arrow was shocking to say no less and far surpassed any attacks that Simon knew in terms of speed. After transforming into a partial beast, Jeeve's sense of rationality was completely gone, all that he obeyed was his instinct that at this moment told him to dodge the attack no matter what.

The beast ape thumped its injured body and used its powerful hind legs to jump high up. The moment its figure moved from the place an arrow half a meter big came piercing at the now empty ground.

CRACKLE… a high pitched crackling noise echoed out, the arrow quickly bore through the ground and disappeared. Small pieces of rubble scattered everywhere after being blown away by the arrow.

From this attack, one could see how concentrated and devastating each lightning arrows were. Simon turned his gaze away only to see the beast land a few distance away. The attack earlier seemed unable to daunt it as it charged towards him, unfazed. 

Simon pulled the bowstring and conjured one lightning arrow after another when suddenly the beast opened its wide mouth and howled in a wild and rampant manner. the ripples spread from its roar, dispersed the mana powering his lightning bow and arrow.

It was the same mysterious attack that it had used against him not so long ago. However, unlike the previous time, he was prepared for such an event. When the beast charged at him and swung its wide hands in an attempt to pummel him to the ground, Simon instead of backing away, closed the distance between him and his enemy.

He exploited the difference in their body frames, aimed for the gap between his enemy's elbows and body to pierce him with his horns.

STAB… his horns that were as sturdy as his bones, swiftly pierced through his opponent's coat of fur and exoskeleton to pierce the bead at its centre.

The force from using a method of attack he was not used to, made his neck almost unable to bear the force. Nonetheless, this unexpected attack of his was able to do the trick and catch his enemy off guard who was only cautious of his magic attacks.

CRICK… CRACK... small cracks appeared on the bead and made the beast ape cry in agony. From this Simon was able to tell that his opponent's weakness was the bead on its chest. The effect was extremely palpable, after that attack on its bead earlier, the attack of the beast had noticeably slowed down.

Even when it attacked, it would spare some of its strength to guard the bead which had now lost the protection of its exoskeleton.

How could such an obvious action go unnoticed by Simon? He immediately conjured multiple flame spears and a lightning bow to give it no time to counterattack. The beast howled and utilised its peculiar skill to disrupt his magic, nonetheless, with his swiftly increasing mastery in lightning magic, he was able to conjure them faster and faster.

At this moment, the sky was clearing up and the horizon was starting to brighten up little by little indicating that the daybreak was soon. Two particular part of the forest was especially busy and had not even seen a second of rest.

In one part of the forest, a large patch of land could be seen burnt black with charcoals littering everywhere. Thick clouds of smoke shrouded the area released by the object that was seared by the remnant flames and lightning.

BANG… with a noise like the muffled thunder, an arrow pierced through the shoulders of the beast and exited out of it. A small gaping hole dripping with blood, was opened up in its already scorched and battered body.

The beast ape emitted a painful howl before succumbing to its death, its figure was riddled with small burnt holes, evident of the innumerable attacks it had suffered.

THUD… with a dull sound, Simon's body kissed the ground, his breathing ragged and he was covered in wounds and bruises. Nevertheless, the shine in his eyes showed that he had achieved something that should have been an inconceivable notion to him before today.

Lying face first opposite him, was the body of the being above level 400. Although it was just power borrowed from an incomplete imitation of some ancient symbol known as the [Beast Inheritance] it was still a power to reckon with.

He flashed a smile of content thinking about the progress he was making and his attempt on bridging the gap between him and the truly strong was slowly shortening.

Simon opened his [Main Menu] and swiftly purchased a vial containing a liquid from the shop and gulped it down.

[Elixir of Healing used X1].