I created my own system

Chapter 411: Evolving Monster

The imperial palace—

A place protected by blessings bestowed by the heavens themselves—

Crumpled beneath Lorenzo's artifact.

A crimson gem embedded with the flesh of Nirvana pulsed violently in his grasp.

The moment its power activated, the authority protecting the capital distorted.

Then shattered.

The heavenly barrier fractured into countless pieces of light, allowing Lorenzo to step inside.

"Such a big place," Lorenzo muttered casually as he walked through the palace halls.

Every pillar he passed collapsed instantly.

Walls twisted apart.

Ancient marble cracked beneath the pressure of the artifact surrounding him.

Destruction followed him effortlessly.

Soon enough—

His destructive sphere finally halted.

A figure cloaked in darkness emerged before him.

The temperature instantly rose.

A pair of ruby eyes pressed heavily upon the King of Aileen.

The surrounding shadows trembled violently as black flames coiled around the figure like living serpents.

Yet despite the pressure—

The dignity of a ruler still remained within Lorenzo's posture.

"Oh," Lorenzo said with a faint smile.

"So the ancient being finally speaks."

Hearing those words, Alicia immediately halted.

Her expression shifted into confusion and suspicion.

Then—

Two blazing wings erupted from her back.

The flames spread outward beautifully, resembling living fire given form.

"You go no farther."

Her voice echoed sharply throughout the ruined halls.

However—

Lorenzo looked unimpressed.

His expression remained calm despite the overwhelming heat pressing against him.

Then he smiled.

"You are not the one I came for."

He slowly raised one hand.

And soon enough—

A creature bearing Apollo's demonized form emerged from the darkness.

Alicia immediately became rigid.

The moment she sensed it, her instincts screamed danger.

Now she understood what kind of chimera stood before her.

"Keep her occupied," Lorenzo ordered casually.

And before Alicia could even react—

A shadow lunged directly toward her neck.

BOOM!

A pillar of flames erupted violently, intercepting the attack midair.

However—

A black blade suddenly sliced straight through the fire itself.

Alicia's eyes narrowed.

She wasn't surprised.

Instead, she calmly waved one hand.

The sword instantly lost cohesion and shattered apart.

Then she flicked her fingers.

An invisible force slammed into the enemy, sending it crashing violently across the ground.

She wanted to pursue Lorenzo.

Wanted to stop him before he entered deeper into the palace.

But the mad king merely continued walking toward the throne chamber without even glancing back.

"Damn that fox..." Alicia muttered irritably.

Outside—

The war did not explode.

It locked.

Like two enormous gears grinding endlessly against one another—

Unyielding.

Above the fractured capital, the clash between the Four Dukes, the Archduke, and the Pillars of Aileen shook the skies without conclusion.

Power collided against power.

Authority against authority.

Yet neither side managed to gain ground.

The first batch of Pillars had been pushed back under the synchronized assault of the Archduke and the Four Cardinal Dukes.

Their coordination was flawless.

Every spell.

Every movement.

Every attack.

Perfectly aligned.

And so—

From the original five Pillars, another five descended onto the battlefield to reinforce them.

The remaining seven stayed hidden, waiting patiently for an opportunity to interfere.

Storms of mana tore through the heavens.

Lightning froze midair—

Then shattered apart.

Space bent unnaturally—

Then violently snapped back into place.

Time itself stuttered—

Then corrected itself moments later.

A perfect stalemate.

Back inside the palace—

Alicia exhaled sharply while flames coiled around her blade.

Standing before her was the creature.

Their battle had already entered a stalemate, something that genuinely confused Alicia.

She was certain her attacks should have killed it already.

Yet strangely—

Nothing happened.

Again, she flicked her fingers.

An invisible force crushed against the chimera's body, causing several bones to crack apart violently.

With the enemy suspended midair, blazing flames descended toward it intending to finish the fight.

However—

A murky black shield suddenly materialized.

The flames collided against it and dispersed instantly.

"Wait... this is—"

Alicia's body immediately tensed.

She instinctively tried to raise another barrier.

But before she could—

Several bullet-like projectiles shot through the darkness and slammed directly into her chest.

Her body jerked backward violently.

The impact momentarily stunned her.

"Damn it... I got careless."

She attempted to move.

Failed.

Her body immediately reacted, trying to defend itself from the foreign energy invading her system.

However—

Her enemy refused to give her even a second to recover.

The chimera attacked more ferociously.

Like a starving wolf finally locking onto wounded prey.

Despite the pain, Alicia continued dodging and blocking desperately.

Each movement felt heavier now.

More exhausting.

Still—

She couldn't stop.

Because the moment she did—

She knew she would die.

Darkness erupted violently across the battlefield.

Soon, the corruptive energy surrounding the chimera began materializing into weapons.

Alicia stared carefully at the creature before her.

However—

It was no longer merely a creature.

It had become a fusion of nightmares.

An undead chimera continuously evolving throughout battle itself.

The black energy surged violently once more.

Its body twisted grotesquely.

A lion's frame.

Draconic scales.

A serpent's tail writhing behind it like a living whip.

Its eyes burned with hollow intelligence.

Far too aware for something already dead.

Its knight-like appearance had vanished entirely, replaced by a grotesque combination of stitched monstrosities.

And with this new body—

It began slowly approaching her.

Each step cracked the ground.

Each breath carried decay itself.

Alicia narrowed her eyes.

"…You've got to be kidding me."

The chimera suddenly moved.

Fast.

Far too fast for something that large.

Alicia twisted sideways just barely avoiding the massive claw that carved through stone like paper.

Flames erupted beneath her feet as she launched herself backward.

Heat distorted the air around her.

She counterattacked immediately.

A concentrated arc of fire slammed directly into the beast—

And dispersed.

Not resisted.

Not blocked.

Absorbed.

Alicia's eyes widened slightly.

"…Of course you can do that now."

The chimera's jaw slowly opened.

Then—

A beam of corrupted energy erupted forward.

Alicia crossed her blade instantly.

BOOM!

The impact tore through multiple pillars behind her, leaving trails of destruction throughout the palace halls.

More attacks followed.

Slowly—

Her body finally began recovering from the paralysis.

Another wave of energy shot toward her.

This time she dodged nimbly.

The ruins behind her disintegrated instantly as she skidded backward across shattered stone.

She clicked her tongue irritably.

"Tch... annoying."

She wanted to use more power.

But couldn't.

Her body condition prevented it.

Now she was left fighting only with what she could currently handle.

Then—

Another presence arrived.

Alicia felt it before she even saw it.

A shift.

A weight.

A familiar pressure.

Her head snapped toward the side immediately.

"…Emilia."

The princess stepped calmly through the ruins despite the chaos surrounding them.

Her aura felt heavier now.

Sharper.

More refined.

The earlier battles had not weakened her.

They had polished her further.

"You're still standing," Emilia said quietly.

Alicia smirked faintly despite her exhaustion.

"Disappointed?"

Emilia didn't answer.

Instead—

She raised one hand.

The chimera instantly responded.

Two against one.

The pressure doubled immediately.

Alicia's flames flared instinctively as both enemies moved simultaneously.

The chimera lunged.

Emilia followed.

Perfect coordination.

No wasted movements.

Alicia blocked the beast—

But Emilia's strike slipped through her defense.

A shallow cut opened across Alicia's side.

Warm blood slowly poured out.

"Finally," Emilia said mockingly.

"Some color."

Alicia jumped backward, breathing noticeably heavier now.

"…Yeah. Jealous? Want me to paint one for you too?"

Her breathing became increasingly difficult.

Yet she still refused to retreat.

Her stance lowered.

Flames intensified violently around her.

If she was going down—

Then she would make it hurt.

Alicia stood alone.

Still forcing her body to heal itself while fighting.

The chimera lunged once more.

Alicia prepared to dodge—

When suddenly dark energy completely engulfed the beast.

A monstrous roar erupted.

Its body transformed again.

Its humanoid form returned.

Alicia's eyes widened.

"It can change?"

A black blade slowly descended from the creature's arm.

Heat intensified immediately.

Black flames violently spiraled around Alicia's body, distorting the air with unbearable pressure.

Sweat mixed with soot across her skin as her breathing became ragged.

Across from her—

The Chimera Knight slowly straightened.

Towering.

Monstrous.

Its armor fused directly into flesh itself.

Draconic scales lined one shoulder.

A lion's maw protruded grotesquely from its chestplate.

Serpentine tails writhed behind it endlessly.

And now—

Alicia finally understood.

It had never transformed.

It evolved.

Again and again.

All the creatures stitched into its flesh had merged together.

From beneath its helmet—

Dozens of crimson eyes glowed within the darkness.

The creature radiated pure corruption.

Alicia wiped blood from the corner of her lips.

"…You're uglier the longer I stare at you."

The Chimera answered with a monstrous roar.

SKRRAAAAAAA—

The sound alone ruptured the ground beneath them.

Nearby ruins exploded outward as violent pressure waves swept through the streets.

Alicia reacted instantly.

Black flames erupted beneath her feet.

BOOM!

She vanished the moment a massive claw descended where she previously stood.

The battle was taking its turning point when suddenly -

"Oh"

A voice full of surprise came in.

"Emilia, still alive"

That familiar tone made Alicia look up and there walking amongst the rumble, a dazzling pair of golden eyes look at her.