Ashton's adventure in the Outside World taught him many things. He had learned a lot of things that he would otherwise never learned had he remained inside the protective bubble of the Last Bastion.
One of those things is the fact that Humanity never really had an idea about the upper limits of what the foreign races can grow into...
It's a common language that the strength of Demons is based on their 'maturity' represented by the number of horns they have as well as their bloodline. Angels on the other hand based their strength on how many pairs of wings they have and how big their halos were.
For demons, a pair of horns represents Infants, 2 pairs are Teenagers, 3 pairs would be Young Adults, 4 pairs are Adults, 5 pairs are Elders, and 6 pairs ars Ancestors.
At least, this is what most humans believed in the entirety of it. That's wrong though.
There are upper limits to the strength of demons that Humans don't know, the same way how they also didn't know that demons built a Capital City for their civilization, located at the Extreme North called Qlipoth.
Demons whose bloodline is considered rare and full of potential have the chance to go past the known limit and grow to increase the purity of their bloodline where it'd be considered a Noble Bloodline, even by Demons' standards.
This is represented by their horns coiling around their head, forming a crown that represents nobility amongst their kind.
Demons who reached this level of maturity are appropriately called Demon Princes/Princesses.
And if there are Prince/Princesses, there'd be Kings and Queens for sure...
Emperors and Empresses might also appear...
Maybe even a Demon God...who can say?
But the fact of the matter is, humans had no idea that there are way stronger demons around. Angels too for that matter, as these two races have been at an age-old war.
This is Ashton's first encounter with a Demon Prince...well, if this could even count as an 'encounter' even as he just fled at the mere sight of the thing.
Ashton learned about the Royal Bloodlines of Demons thanks to the hoard of the Undead Dragon he killed back in the nest.
In that treasure hoard, he found a sealed letter which he opened and read. The language used is the same as humans but the letter came from a Demon Prince - the writer addresses himself as such.
It was a love letter for the Undead Dragon - who turned out to be female. She's being courted by a Demon Prince and that hoard she has, most of them came from the Prince himself.
What really solidified the proof to him was the painting of the Demon Prince included there. The painter accurately captured the essence of the Prince's charm which allowed Ashton to discover the peculiarities for himself.
A Demon Prince's crown can never be worn off since it's made out of its horns. This is the most obvious tell...
This and the appearance of another Demon Prince just now, pretty much-confirmed everything. There is Nobility among Demons that doesn't just represent status but also strength.
Just from a single glance, Ashton could tell that there's no way he's beating that guy anytime soon. If the Prince's very presence could terrify him this much, how could he even think about shooting him?
Furthermore, this also confirms Ashton's worst fears coming true; that someone from the Capital City of Demons indeed came here and was plotting something.
He already suspected this the moment he saw a semblance of order in the city. After all, only those who carried true authority can whip the demons into shape and make them obey orders.
With the Demon Prince being there, the difficulty of his mission was raised to its upper limit. It became so difficult that Ashton doesn't think he could do it.
He's stressed. How can he not be? His journey back home just got even more dangerous than it already is.
He couldn't have expected to meet a Demon Prince on the road. Hell, how was he supposed to tip-toe around that guy when even at him minimizing his presence and all, the Demon Prince still sensed him?
Plus, the Demon Prince was already suspicious...
Ashton doesn't believe that the prince would just drop the matter like that. It's obvious that whatever his mission is which required him to be stationed in this city, was important and he wouldn't like it if there are unaccounted variables around.
He knows that the Demon Prince would raise his vigilance from now on, which means that it's pretty much impossible for him to sneak around the city. The moment he steps out of the library, he'd be exposing himself.
This is probably the biggest crisis that Ashton faced in his entire life, counting the previous one as well.
Ashton's currently pacing around the room, trying to figure out a way how he could escape this.
In the end, he had no idea in mind that he could make use of.
That sucks, especially since there's no other way out of this aside from crossing the city itself. Whatever he does, he'd have to go through the city if he wants to move on.
Ashton scratched his head in irritation and slumped down on the couch.
He's in a really bad spot right now. He doesn't have many options.
'How about I try fighting him...'
That idea leads him straight to the Simulation Zone. Not even five minutes later, he withdrew, face incredibly ugly as he could feel every inch of his body suffering from phantom pains.
Totally outclassed...that's the result of his attempts.
The Demon Prince thrashed him around like a ragdoll, blew him up with a single palm strike, severed his head off, and so on...
He couldn't even draw out his guns, not to mention shoot. The Demon Prince was way too fast, he's not teleporting it's just pure speed and he's totally outclassed.
Not even his 1-star Phenomenon Rank Firearm Proficiency could make a difference in the fight. He couldn't shoot his guns nor cast a spell. The Demon Prince was way too quick and decisive that he couldn't do anything at all.
'Damn it...' Ashton cursed silently.
This situation really felt horrible. The expeditioners were lucky, he couldn't help but envy them since they didn't have to deal with a Demon Prince unlike him.
'It seems that I'd be stuck here for a very long time then.' He concluded, 'At most, I can go outside for five minutes before running the risk of exposing myself. Aside from that, I wouldn't be able to do much.'
'Why is my luck so bad?' Ashton lamented to himself. 'Was all the Cthulu-shit weren't enough? Why must I suffer from this too?'
Ashton shook his head and released his perception past the walls of the library. The scene outside revealed itself to him. He adjusted the perspective and pointed it to overlook the city.
There's not much he could do. He could only observe like this. He can't move the library past this since he doesn't have that kind of ability.
'Great, he's looking over here.' Ashton grumbled as he saw the Demon Prince at his tower gazing at the spot where he disappeared. 'Drop dead will you? Please? I wanna go home!'
If only his whining and complaining could actually happen, sadly that's now how the world works.
At the end of the day, since the situation has come to this, there's only one choice left for him.
And that's to grow stronger again.
Time is on his side here. With how rare Noble Demon Bloodlines are, there's little to no chance that there's another Demon Prince in there. This meant that the only threat in that place is that lone Demon Prince.
It's time for another seclusion. What else could he do? As much as he loves to hasten his journey back home, he couldn't do that.
He'd be busy again. He needs constant pressure so this means he'd be fighting this Demon Prince again and again in the Simulation Zone to strengthen himself.
Ashton would again, subject himself to a lot of pain. He could already feel it in his bones. As much as he'd like to not do that, there's no other way.
He has to pay attention to the activities of the Demonic City from where he is as he works hard on cultivation. The stronger he gets, the better.
This wouldn't be fun. Suffering defeat after defeat under the same hand was never fun. Yet it has to be done.
He made a promise after all, to himself and Aria. There's no turning back now.
The Demon Prince can look in this direction as much as he wants, Ashton wouldn't go out unless he has enough power to at least protect himself against the demon.
He can't see through the library anyway. The most this demon could do is to glare in this direction and he can do that all he wants.
Ashton would settle these grievances once he's ready and strong enough to face him, it's only a matter of time.
