The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 220: Monster Attack (Part 2)

The forest closed in around them, its oppressive shadows stretching far beyond the reach of the waning sunlight. It was right after this forest... then they would get to the next town.

Rem’s footsteps were measured, each one deliberate as he led the group through the thick underbrush. He could feel the tension mounting in the air, a quiet hum that vibrated through his skin — a warning of what was to come.

His senses were always sharp, and as they moved deeper into the heart of the forest, his instincts told him it wouldn’t be long before the monsters returned. The ones they’d fought earlier were only the beginning.

"Keep moving," Rem said, his voice calm but firm. He could feel the weight of Kiara and Luke’s gaze on him as they followed.

Kiara was the first to speak. "You’re not worried, are you? We just cleared a good number of them. We’ll be fine."

Rem shook his head slightly, though he didn’t break his stride. "You’ve been trained well, but this place... it’s full of things far worse than what you’ve already faced. Stay alert."

The eerie quiet of the forest pressed in, and every crackling leaf beneath their feet felt amplified, each step more ominous than the last.

Rem’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his blade, though his mind wasn’t on the weapon. His focus was on something deeper, a cold pull in his gut that signaled the approach of more monsters.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Before he could give the order to pick up the pace, a distant howl shattered the silence — a long, guttural sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, sending ripples through the undergrowth.

They had just broken through a small thicket when a massive shadow darted through the trees, followed by another, and then another.

The creatures came into view: twisted, four-legged horrors with scales like jagged iron, their eyes glowing red with malice. Their mouths dripped with saliva as they snarled at the group.

Rem’s eyes narrowed as he calculated the situation.

These were no ordinary beasts. These were apex predators of the forest, the kind that only appeared when provoked or desperate. He didn’t have the luxury of time to deal with them one by one. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Kiara, Luke — keep moving," he barked, his voice low but commanding. "I’ll hold them off."

They hesitated for a moment, but Rem’s unflinching stare left no room for argument. He didn’t wait for them to respond. With a swift motion, he drew his blade, the gleaming edge reflecting the faint light filtering through the trees.

One of the monsters lunged, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. Rem didn’t flinch. He sidestepped in one smooth motion, using the creature’s momentum against it.

His sword flashed, cutting through the beast’s side. Blood splattered the ground, and the monster let out a sharp screech, but Rem didn’t slow down.

He wasn’t just relying on his swordsmanship. A deep, dark energy stirred within him — an energy that had been with him for longer than he cared to admit. It was the power of his soul energy, souls he had absorbed from the Monster Monarch System, a power he had learned to control and shape over time.

As the monster fell, its soul wrenched from its body in a swirl of black mist.

[Would you like to absorb the Dead ’HornedHound’?]

[Y/N]

Rem reached out with his will, guiding the essence into himself. It felt like a rush of cold wind surging through his veins, a sharp, exhilarating sensation that made him feel alive.

The beast’s soul was quickly absorbed into his being, merging with his own energy, strengthening him.

"Another one," he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the forest. The remaining monsters closed in, circling him with calculated precision. But Rem was far from concerned.

The next beast lunged at him, jaws open wide, intent on tearing him apart. Rem reacted without thinking.

His body moved with precision, faster than the creature could comprehend. His sword swung through the air in an arc, cutting deep into the monster’s throat.

The beast’s death cry echoed through the trees before it collapsed in a heap, its soul ready for the taking.

With a surge of power, Rem reached out, and once again, the essence of the creature flowed into him. His energy spiked.

He staggered for a moment, pushing through the wave of dizziness.

He heard Kiara’s voice behind him, sharp and urgent. "Master! More of them are coming! We have to keep moving!"

But Rem didn’t answer right away. He stood still for a moment, focusing inward, allowing the rush of energy to settle.

The power of the absorbed souls simmered beneath his skin, ready to be wielded. He could feel his strength multiplying with each new soul, the monster essence blending into his own energy.

He turned back to the incoming monsters. The familiar thrill of battle surged through him.

As the next wave of creatures approached, he smiled — a rare, grim expression — and charged forward. His body was faster, stronger than before.

His blade sang through the air as it cleaved through the first monster that dared to approach. Another fell, then another, as he danced through the battlefield with ruthless efficiency. Each soul he absorbed fed into him, pushing him beyond his previous limits.

But as the last of the creatures crumpled to the ground, Rem felt something more. A sense of unease prickled at the back of his mind.

There were still more, and not just any monsters — these were different.

He knew they were closing in.

The energy from the defeated beasts still swirled within him, but Rem was already planning his next move. He needed to move faster.

He couldn’t afford to linger in the forest. They were too close to their destination to be delayed now.

"Move!" Rem shouted, urgency creeping into his voice. He turned and sprinted forward, his mind focused on the path ahead.

Kiara and Luke were already ahead of him, running in tandem, their eyes darting nervously behind them. Rem could feel their tension, but he knew they were still untested compared to what lay ahead.

As they pushed forward, the shadows around them deepened, and the faint howls in the distance grew louder.