Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 42 - : FORCES IN THE DARK
In a room with barely any light, dark and cold, human presence could be felt. Well, not just human presence—there seemed to be another presence sitting on a makeshift throne of some sort. His eyes were red like blood, his skin in no way human, red and hard. Two long horns protruded from his forehead. His body was extremely large, having the width of three heavily built men combined, but not looking fat as one would expect. Instead, his muscles were well-built and refined. His height was tall enough to be intimidating, and the aura and pressure he released only made matters worse. Standing in front of him were humans, positioned respectfully before the unknown creature.
"Lord Baron, Jacob is here," a human announced, walking in together with Jacob—the man who had battled Nemesis.
"Lord Baron," Jacob said, bowing his head respectfully toward the unknown being.
"Hmm, inferior being, tell me, what happened to you?" the unknown creature asked, his red eyes staring intently at Jacob.
"Yes, my lord, I had a battle with the player known as Nemesis and lost. But that is not all—I don't know how he did it, but he sealed my talent. I'm unable to use my talent or any water-related spells, my lord. Please, my lord, help me," Jacob pleaded, falling to his knees.
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"So you are saying this player sealed your talent? Very interesting," the loud voice of the unknown being rumbled. "Anything else that needs to be said concerning the fight with this unknown man?"
"My lord, Nemesis—the player behind this—actually lost it after I demonized myself. The rage in his eyes… My lord, I think he knows about our secret one way or another. I don't know if he knows of your presence, but I believe he is aware of our relationship, my lord," Jacob said, his head still bowed and his body still on his knees.
"I see. This player, Nemesis… He looks like a fun toy to play with. And what is his identity?" the unknown being asked once more.
"I do not know, my lord. I was unable to gain any information concerning him—his mask prevented me from doing so," Jacob replied.
"And who was supposed to investigate the background of this Nemesis?" the unknown being asked.
"It is I, my lord," a young man said, stepping closer to the unknown being and falling to one knee.
"Hmm… Kyle, was it? You are a promising lad who has never failed me once nor our great cause, so I hope your record remains untarnished," the unknown being said.
"I'm overwhelmed that you know the name of a lowly being like me, my lord. My lord, please punish me for disappointing you greatly. I have failed to uncover the identity of this player Nemesis. He has done well in hiding himself, as well as his identity. Little is known about him, my lord," Kyle admitted, his head bowed.
"Disappointing. So disappointing. To think that you lowly creatures can't get a single job done… How disappointing, yet I expect no less from backward beings like you all. But I am a merciful lord. I will pardon you this one time for your failure, Kyle. But know this—I shall not condone failure next time. So you better find out who this man is before our next meeting, or else your fate will not be a pleasant one," the unknown being warned.
"Thank you for your grace, my lord," Kyle said before retreating backward to stand with the other humans.
"How goes the descent of our god—the one willing to purify and show this world his grace and infinite mercy? Tell me, how is the progress?" the unknown being asked.
"My lord," an aged man stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "There is progress, although slow, but not enough to worry about. The will of our world is strongly resisting the opening of a dimensional rift that would allow the safe passage of the great army meant to purify the world, my lord," the aged man explained, his head bowed.
"Hmm… Very well. Try as much as possible to speed up the process. The faster your world is harnessed, the quicker it is to prepare against the great annihilation of worlds," the unknown being said.
"Well then, you may all leave. This meeting has come to an end," the unknown being declared.
"My lord, pardon my actions, but please… how can I rectify my predicament? Losing my talent will place me at a great disadvantage," Jacob pleaded, his head still bowed.
"Oh, you… Well, you don't have to worry much about it. I have a perfect solution for that," the unknown being said.
"Take him and turn him into a demon beast. He will at least be useful in that way," the unknown being ordered one of his guards—who was just like him, except with a less built body, shorter height, and shorter horns.
Jacob, hearing the unknown being's words, was terrified. "No, my lord! Please, do not do this to me! I am still useful! Even without my talent, I can still rise above others and be of great use to you, my lord. Please, my lord! Do not turn me into one of those beasts!" Jacob shouted at the top of his voice, pleading furiously, completely overcome with fear at the thought of being turned into one of those monsters.
A demon beast—a low-level demonic creature with no mind of its own. The only thing the demonic beast thought about was carnage and destruction. That was the only instinct the demonic creatures had. Jacob didn't want to turn into one of those mindless beasts.
Seeing the unknown being not even listening to what he was saying, Jacob opted for the next best thing—running. He turned around and tried to flee but was knocked to the ground by Kyle and pinned.
"Where do you think you're going, Jacob?" Kyle said, his voice laced with cruelty.
"Let me gooooo! I beg of youuuuu! Kyleeee, pleaseeee, pleaseeee! I don't want to turn into a beast! Don't let this happen to meeee, please let me goooo!" Jacob begged, tears streaming down his face.
"No can do, friend. I do not wish to face the Lord's wrath. Well, I will definitely miss you and your screams. Hah, feels so refreshing—would make a perfect ringtone if you ask me," Kyle said, his words as cruel as the smile on his face.
"I will kill youuu! I will kill youuu, Kyle, you damn bastard! This is all your fault! If you hadn't come to me, I definitely wouldn't have been foolish enough to use the demonized form! I definitely wouldn't have been in all this mess, you fucking bastard! I hope you die a miserable death!" Jacob screamed at Kyle, wrestling for freedom but unable to do so. Kyle pinned him to the ground perfectly.
"Well, if I were you, I'd be thinking about my own miserable end. Don't worry, you won't feel too lonely. I promise to come pay you a visit once in a while. Please do not break my heart and act like you don't know me then," Kyle said before standing up, the guards of the unknown being already holding Jacob's hands and dragging him away. Jacob screamed loudly, begging as he was dragged off.
'Hah, there goes another of my fun toys. I will miss you too, Jacob. I keep losing all my toys. How annoying,' Kyle thought, walking away along with the other humans after receiving the order from the unknown being.
---
Getting home, Kyle fell onto his bed, extremely tired and preparing to rest, a big semifinal awaiting him the following day.
'Guess it will be against Nemesis soon. Hopefully, his fight won't be as crazy as today's,' Kyle thought. Thinking of his match today made his blood boil.
'That bastard. I should have given him a more painful death,' Kyle thought. 'Although… he makes for a good toy, if I must say. Perhaps he might be the perfect replacement for Jacob. I mean, I need to restock on my toys—I've been losing a lot of them lately. Tsk, I guess I'm being careless with my toys now,' Kyle complained in his head.
'That arrogant demon. "Lowly creatures"? Who does he think he is? Giving me a second chance? Damn fool. I am the one who gives people second chances—or not. I decide who lives or dies. Taking my toy from me without asking for my permission… I will make sure I give him the most painful death ever!' Kyle thought, extremely annoyed over today's meeting.
'I should sleep well. I might have a go against a soon-to-be toy tomorrow. I shouldn't disappoint my toy. First impressions, they say, matter a lot. So I should be at my best against my toy—can't disappoint him, can I?' Kyle thought, anticipating his match against Nemesis. Turning the lights off, Kyle soon fell asleep.
---
"Roarrr!" Jacob—no, the shadow of Jacob—roared, now turned into a demonic beast and placed in a cage.
Jacob, now a demonic beast, clawed at the cage and bit it, trying to break free and fulfill its innate desire for carnage and destruction. It wasn't the only demonic beast caged and trapped, though—there were several demonic creatures like it, roaring and trying to break free, reaching a thousand!
"Hmm, soon those inferior creatures that call themselves humans shall know what it means to feel fear," the unknown being, Demon Baron Arjit, said, laughing loudly, waiting expectantly for that day of carnage.
