[Chapter 144: Radiant Sovereign]
Daniel scanned the entire farm; not a living soul remained -- not even a single corpse. Every last body had been sacrificed. The flesh giant had been reduced to ashes by flames infused with the true power of the Sovereign Flame. Only a shattered head left a faint remnant behind.
That was just as well. With no corpses to deal with, it saved him some trouble.
Daniel took flight and quickly left the place.
...
"Why did you come all of a sudden?"
Amanda opened the garage door as Daniel's Cadillac pulled in. Daniel's house had been reduced to ruins by members of the Brotherhood of Saints. Since Francia was staying at Cross Hall, Daniel had chosen to stay at Amanda's place for the time being.
After parking the car, Daniel stepped out. "I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"
"Not at all. I'm actually really glad you came."
As Amanda spoke, she reached out to take Daniel's arm. But as she got closer, her steps faltered.
She frowned. "Why do I feel a chill when I'm near you? You seem... terrifying all of a sudden."
Daniel smiled. "Just let me take a shower and you'll see."
"I'll go get the hot water ready." Amanda quickly headed toward the bathroom.
Daniel didn't even know how many people he had killed tonight. The lingering might and killing intent of the slaughter still clung to his body. It would've been strange if Amanda hadn't noticed.
Still, Daniel could quickly dispel such killing intent.
...
Amanda's newly rented house was clearly much nicer than her previous one. It was obvious she'd been doing well lately.
Lying back in the bathtub filled with hot water -- prepared by Amanda -- Daniel felt his muscles begin to relax. He had already consumed an Elixir on the way here, which helped ease the soreness and fatigue.
Soaking in the warm water, Daniel entered the System.
[Merit points: 1,246,500.]
Seeing his merit points break the seven-figure mark again, a smile crept onto Daniel's face.
He had spent 100,000 merit points earlier upgrading his Rite of Divine Empowerment. Now, with over a million points, he could upgrade it again. But for the moment, Daniel wasn't in a hurry.
His attention was fixed on his Exorcism Level.
"Exorcism Level, upgrade!"
[Exorcism Level: Throne Ascendant (Lesser Ascendant Order).]
[Merit points: 926,500.]
"Continue!"
[Exorcism Level: Radiant Sovereign (Lesser Ascendant Order).]
[Merit points: 286,500.]
With his Exorcism Level advanced two lesses Orders, Daniel's strength surged accordingly. At the same time, without needing to offer sacrifices to the Moth Monster, all the fatigue and soreness melted away. The killing intent and Evil energy from the slaughter vanished completely, dissipating into nothingness.
With over 280,000 merit points still available, Daniel turned to his Spells.
"Five Thunder Doctrine, upgrade!"
[Five Thunder Doctrine: Fifth Tier.]
[Merit points: 186,500.]
Now fully awakened, the Five Thunder Doctrine was even more formidable. Especially when combined with his Rite of Divine Empowerment and Golden Aegis Rite, its power was devastating. It would completely crush the flesh giant without effort.
Upgraded to the fifth tier, its strength now entered a whole new realm of ferocity.
It was just too bad that spell-type abilities like Golden Aegis Rite and the Incantation for Purifying the Soul couldn't be upgraded directly. Their power scaled automatically with his Exorcism level, which made Daniel regret not being able to enhance them further on their own.
"Status!"
[Host: Daniel Cross]
[Body Constitution: Thunder Body]
[Exorcist Level: Radiant Sovereign (Lesser Ascendant Order)]
[Skills:]
[Sanctum Blade Technique: Fourth Tier]
[Prayer Seal Crafting Art: Fifth Tier]
[Spiritual Perception Technique: Fourth Tier]
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Fifth Tier]
[Artifact Forging Art: Fourth Tier]
[Sacred Alchemical Transmutation: Fourth Tier]
[Five Thunder Doctrine: Fourth Tier] (Celestial Thunder, Terran Thunder, Abyssal Thunder, Pyric Thunder, and Tempest Thunder)
[Spells:]
[Divine Incantation for for Purifying Souls]
[Golden Aegis Rite]
[Inner Sanctification Rite]
[Body Absolution Rite]
[Seven Lamps of Dominion Rite]
[Merit points: 186,500]
Glancing over his current status, Daniel exited the System with satisfaction.
This time, wiping out the Brotherhood of Saints had truly been worthwhile.
...
Knock, knock...
The bathroom door was knocked on lightly.
Amanda's voice called out, "Can I come in?"
After Daniel's permission, Amanda pushed the door open and stepped inside. She looked genuinely relieved.
"That feeling is really gone."
Before she could say more, the nightgown slipped off her shoulders on its own, the fabric pooling at her feet.
Daniel's eyes traced the slow descent of Amanda's nightgown as it pooled around her ankles, revealing the smooth curve of her hips and the arch of her back as she stepped into the steamy bathroom.
Amanda moved with deliberate slowness, her bare feet padding against the damp tiles as she approached the tub. Her hips swayed slightly with each step, the steam curling around her thighs. Daniel's breath caught.
Bracing one hand on his shoulder, she lifted a leg over the rim, but then yelped when he suddenly grabbed her waist and hauled her in, water sloshing over the sides.
Amanda landed half in his lap, gasping as the heat enveloped her. "You-"
His mouth cut her off, hot and insistent. Her nails dug into his shoulders as their bodies slid together underwater, her knee hooking over his hip to grind against his erection.
The kiss broke only for breath, but she didn't pull away -- her lips hovering before finding his again, slower this time. Her fingers started tracing his collarbone before sliding lower, nails scraping lightly over his chest.
As her hips rolled against him, the slick friction drew a groan from his throat. Water sloshed over the edge of the tub as her hand found his cock beneath the surface, stroking him with firm, practiced twists.
He growled low, tilting his head to capture her nipple in his mouth, sucking hard enough to make her gasp. Her other hand tangled in his hair, holding him there as she arched into the sensation.
His hand found her clit, and started teasing it. While his other hand found slipped between her folds.
"Fuck- Daniel-!" Amanda's breath hitched as Daniel's fingers circled her clit, applying just enough pressure to make her thighs tremble.
"God, you're so fucking wet," he murmured against her lips before biting her lower lip.
She moaned into his mouth, her hips grinding down against his hand.
Daniel chuckled darkly, slipping two fingers inside her with a slow, deliberate thrust. Her walls clenched around him instantly, and she whimpered, nails digging into his shoulders.
"Fuck! Yes," Amanda gasped, her head falling back as he added a third finger, stretching her deliciously. The water sloshed as she rocked against his hand, her thighs shaking.
Daniel's cock twitched against her thigh, aching and neglected. He withdrew his fingers, gripping her hips to lift her slightly. "Ride me," he ordered.
Amanda didn't hesitate. Guiding his cock to her entrance, she sank down onto him in one fluid motion, both of them groaning at the sensation, her tight heat enveloping him, his thickness filling her perfectly.
"Fuck," Daniel hissed, hands tightening on her waist as she began to move, rolling her hips in slow, maddening circles.
She leaned forward, her breasts brushing his chest, her lips brushing his ear. "You feel even better than the last time," she whispered before nipping his earlobe. "So fucking deep-"
Daniel growled, thrusting up into her hard, making her cry out. "Then take it," he snarled, gripping her ass to control her pace, driving into her with punishing strokes.
Amanda arched back, her breasts bouncing with each movement, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. When his thumb found her clit, rubbing tight circles, she clenched around him, her moans pitching higher.
Amanda's moans turned desperate, her body tightening around him as pleasure coiled low in her belly. "I'm close- so close-"
"Let go," he demanded, thumb finding her clit again, rubbing tight circles.
With a sharp cry, she shattered, her walls pulsing around him as her orgasm ripped through her. He flipped her onto her hands without pulling out, driving into her with rough, desperate strokes.
Amanda's thighs trembled against Daniel's hips with each deep thrust. His cock stretched her deliciously, the thick length dragging against her inner walls in a way that made her breath hitch. She could feel every ridge, every pulse of his arousal as he filled her completely, the angle just right to brush that sweet spot deep inside that made her vision blur.
The slap of skin against skin echoed in the steamy bathroom, mingling with their ragged breaths.
"Fuck, right there, right fucking there," she panted, her hands gripping the bath tub rim tightly.
Daniel growled, his own control fraying as he felt her walls begin to flutter around him. One hand moved between them, his thumb finding her swollen clit and rubbing tight, rapid circles. Amanda's breath came in sharp, broken cries as pleasure coiled tighter and tighter inside her, her thighs shaking with the effort to keep moving.
"Come for me," he ordered, voice rough with need, his thrusts turning shallow and relentless, driving the head of his cock against that sweet spot over and over.
Amanda's orgasm hit her like a wave, her body locked up, her back arching as she came the second time with a shattered cry, her walls clenching around him in rhythmic pulses. Daniel groaned, his own release surging as her tight heat milked him perfectly.
With a final, deep thrust, he buried himself to the hilt, spilling inside her with a guttural moan, his hips jerking uncontrollably as pleasure wracked his body.
They stayed locked together, breathing heavily, sweat and steam mingling on their skin as the water cooled around them.
Amanda collapsed against his chest, boneless and sated, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his shoulders as their heartbeats slowly steadied.
Daniel pressed a kiss to her damp forehead, his arms tightening around her. "Fuck," he murmured, voice still rough. "Let's shower?"
...
After the shower, and another round in the bedroom, lasting a long, intense time, Amanda collapsed like a used rag, completely exhausted.
"How did you suddenly become so powerful?" she panted, cheeks flushed.
Daniel smiled broadly.
Just kidding. Now that he was a Radiant Sovereign of Lesser Ascendant Order, taking care of one ordinary person was nothing.
Come to think of it, Daniel had improved so quickly over recent weeks that Amanda hadn't had time to adjust.
"Here, have this."
Daniel handed over a Spirit Transformation Elixir.
Amanda took it without question, popping it casually into her mouth.
But soon, her eyes widened in shock.
She sat up abruptly. "What did you just feed me?"
Daniel said calmly, "Don't rush it. Let the Elixir's power absorb fully."
Amanda fell silent but still looked shocked -- with a hint of excitement slowly seeping in.
After a moment, Daniel said, "Go look in the mirror."
Though puzzled, Amanda complied, her heart pounding with anticipation.
"Ah!"
An excited exclamation came from the bathroom.
Amanda rushed out, beaming as she threw herself into Daniel's arms.
"My skin! It's better! All the acne scars are gone! My skin feels softer, more delicate! Oh my god! What exactly did you give me? How is this even possible?"
"Don't get too excited. Have this one, too."
Daniel handed her a Foundational Reinforcement Elixir.
Amanda took it carefully, her hands trembling with anticipation.
"What is this for?"
"Just have it. And take it in the bathroom -- then take a shower afterward."
"I already showered today."
"Just do what I say."
"Alright."
Amanda obeyed without hesitation, disappearing into the bathroom once again.
Soon, another burst of excited exclamations rang out.
Even through the door, Daniel could hear her joy clearly.
Listening to Amanda's cries of delight, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Before, Daniel hadn't given Amanda these elixirs -- not just because they were scarce, but because he was reluctant to part with them.
Now that he'd become an Ascendant, his perspective had shifted. A few elixirs were nothing. Besides, Amanda was his woman.
Though it was supposed to be just three years, it looked like Amanda wasn't about to give him up anytime soon.
After a while, the sounds of bathing filled the room. But even the splashing water couldn't mute Amanda's excited outbursts.
Minutes later, Amanda stepped out, wrapped in a bath towel, her excitement barely contained.
"Look."
With a mischievous smile, Amanda let go, allowing the towel to slip off.
Daniel's eyes instantly took in the flawless skin before him.
Her blemishes and small moles had vanished completely. Already looking like a doll before, Amanda was now even more exquisite -- like a living porcelain doll.
Her beauty had improved by several levels, far beyond what her usual makeup could achieve.
"Daniel..."
Amanda threw herself into Daniel's arms with passion. "Kiss me."
*****
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