The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 226: Darren’s Oversight

Darren surged through the forest like a force of nature, his heavy boots pounding against the earth with a relentless rhythm.

Twin axes rested in his hands, their gleaming edges catching slivers of moonlight that filtered through the thick canopy above, it had taken a lot of time to scout them in this forest but he was finally on the right path.

Around him, faint traces of soul energy shimmered in the air, coiling and uncoiling like a restless serpent.

He could feel them now — their presence as vivid as a flame in the dark. Three distinct signatures, flickering with life.

The strongest of them, a blinding beacon, had to be the man they spoke of—the cloaked enigma who had reduced his squad to ash.

Darren’s lips curled into a snarl, his fingers tightening around the hafts of his axes.

"Cocky bastard," he muttered under his breath, his voice a low growl.

The soul energy coursing through his veins began to swell, wrapping his body in an aura of shimmering light.

With a sharp exhale, Darren released a burst of energy, propelling himself forward at an inhuman speed.

Trees blurred past him, the undergrowth crunching beneath his weight as he cut a path straight toward his target.

The memory of Garth and Calen’s battered faces gnawed at him. His pride as their leader demanded justice, retribution for their humiliation.

But beneath that, a darker, more personal desire churned — a need to prove himself against an opponent of this caliber.

As he neared the edge of the clearing, the three signatures became clearer, their energy pulsing like steady heartbeats.

Darren slowed, crouching low as he moved through the last line of shrubs. He could see them now: two smaller figures, standing near a campfire, and the larger one — his target — sitting with his back to the flames.

Rem. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The hooded figure’s presence was unnerving, even from a distance.

His posture was relaxed, almost casual, but Darren could feel the latent power radiating from him. It was like staring into the eye of a storm — calm on the surface, but deadly beneath.

Darren’s jaw tightened. He wouldn’t give this man the chance to react.

With a sudden burst of speed, he launched himself forward, axes gleaming as he swung them in a deadly arc.

But in a heartbeat, everything changed.

Rem moved faster than Darren thought possible. One moment, he was seated by the fire, seemingly unbothered by the world around him.

The next, he was on his feet, his arm shooting out like a coiled spring.

Darren didn’t even see the strike coming. A sharp force slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling backward through the air.

He crashed into a tree with enough force to splinter the bark, the wind knocked from his lungs.

Gasping for breath, Darren looked up to see Rem standing at the edge of the clearing, his hood still obscuring his face.

His stance was relaxed, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other hung loosely at his side.

"You must be the welcoming committee," Rem said, his tone light but laced with an undercurrent of menace.

Darren wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes narrowing. "You’re quick. I’ll give you that."

"And you’re loud," Rem replied, tilting his head. "I heard you coming a mile away."

The taunt stung, but Darren refused to let it show. Rising to his feet, he rolled his shoulders, his axes glinting as he adjusted his grip. "You won’t be so smug when I’m done with you."

Rem chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Bold words. Let’s see if you can back them up."

Without another word, Darren charged, his soul energy flaring around him like a roaring fire. He swung his axes in a series of precise, calculated strikes, each one aimed to cripple or kill.

Rem met him head-on, his movements fluid and controlled.

He sidestepped the first swing, deflecting the second with a sharp, open-handed strike to Darren’s wrist. The force of the blow sent the axe spinning from Darren’s grasp, embedding itself in the ground several feet away.

Darren snarled, bringing his remaining axe around in a vicious horizontal slash. But Rem was already moving, ducking beneath the strike and countering with a swift kick to Darren’s ribs.

The impact sent Darren stumbling backward, his grip on the remaining axe faltering.

"You’re strong," Rem said, his tone almost conversational. "But strength alone isn’t enough."

Darren didn’t respond. Instead, he lunged forward, releasing a burst of soul energy to enhance his speed.

His axe came down in a powerful overhead strike, the force behind it enough to split the earth.

Rem caught the blade with his bare hand.

The sight froze Darren in place. The edge of the axe rested against Rem’s palm, but it didn’t cut — it didn’t even leave a mark.

Instead, the shimmering aura of Rem’s own soul energy seemed to absorb the impact, neutralizing the attack entirely.

"You’re wasting your energy," Rem said, his voice calm. "If you keep this up, you’ll burn yourself out before you even touch me."

Darren growled, yanking the axe free and taking several steps back. His chest heaved with exertion, sweat dripping down his face.

"Damn you," he muttered, his voice low.

"Is this really worth it?" Rem asked, his tone shifting to something almost akin to pity. "Chasing a bounty for a thousand silver? You’ve already lost more than you’ll gain."

Darren’s grip on his axe tightened. "This isn’t about the money," he spat. "It’s about my pride."

Rem sighed, shaking his head. "Pride is a dangerous thing. It gets people killed."

"Then we’ll see who dies first."

With a roar, Darren unleashed the last of his energy, pouring everything he had into one final charge. The ground beneath him cracked as he pushed off, his axe trailing a blazing arc of light as he swung it toward Rem’s neck.

But Rem was faster.

In a blur of motion, he stepped inside Darren’s guard, his hand lashing out to strike the larger man’s wrist.

The axe fell from Darren’s grasp, and before he could react, Rem delivered a swift, precise blow to his chest.

The force of the strike sent Darren sprawling to the ground, his body skidding across the dirt before coming to a stop. He lay there, gasping for air, his vision swimming.

Rem stood over him, his expression unreadable beneath the shadow of his hood. "I told you," he said quietly. "Strength alone isn’t enough."

Darren tried to rise, but his body refused to obey. His energy was spent, his pride shattered.

As the darkness of death crept in, the last thing he saw was Rem standing atop him, his eyes glowing menacingly.