(Zack)
"GIVE! ME! MORE! EX! PERIENCE!"
I punch through the goblin''s head, then snarl at the others in frustration, before attacking them and ripping through them. Once they''re all dead, I calm down a little and pick up my sword from where I''d dropped it.
Three days! Three days, and I''ve acquired only two percent of the Experience needed to hit Demon Level 2! All of the strong monsters are hiding from me, too! The Shadow of Life''s probably ordered them to clear out from this area to avoid feeding me even more.
Once I calm down a bit more, I plop myself onto a tree that fell during my rampage and take a few deep breaths. I guess I''ve taken for granted my rapid Leveling. Admittedly, it probably is best if I slow down on that, since I''m not sure how much I can take before Power Jump hits again.
So maybe it''s a good thing that the higher a Class''s Rank, the more Experience they require? And the stronger I am, the less I obtain from kills?
Doesn''t mean I have to be happy about it, though.
Letting out a sigh, I focus on attempting to obtain Demon Form. Again. I managed to obtain Bloodpact just fine, but Demon Form seems to be a lot more difficult. I''m sure that using Demon Form will help me acquire more Experience.
Focusing on my Demon Voice, the Demonic Aspect I picked for Dark Knight''s advancement to the final Tier, I wish I''d picked Demon Wings instead. What''s done is done, though, so I continue to focus on my Demonic Aspect.
The requirement for Demon Form is that I allow my Demonic Aspect ''take over'' my body. With the Demon Wings, that means letting them fuse into me and spread their demonic power. With the Demon Voice, it''s a lot harder since it really isn''t a physical change.
At least two hours a day have been spent on this so far.
Okay, okay. At least four hours a day have been spent on this so far.
Just like earlier, I feel the shift start to take place, and I attempt to welcome it, letting it take over. Power starts to flood me, then fades away. Dammit! Again!
I''m getting close for sure, so I continue focusing on it. I continue doing so, despite the failures, knowing that I''m close. I have to be close.
A message appears in my vision as power fills me and a massive ripping sounds from behind me.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">New Skill!</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="50%">Demon Form</td>
<td style="text-align: center" width="50%">Active</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">Take on the form of a Demon, greatly enhancing your powers for the duration.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">Boost:</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">+10% to all Stats per Level of this Skill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">Duration:</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">60 seconds per Level of this Skill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">Cost:</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="1">5,000 Mana (decreases by 200 Mana per Level of this Skill)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Daaaaaaaaamn this is an expensive Skill! But I can feel a tail and wings, which are probably the source of the ripping feeling and sudden chill on my back. Turning my head, I confirm that my wings ripped open the back of my tunic when they manifested. They''re leathery and black with some red marbling close to my back. My skin''s crimson, now.
So''s my tail, which flicks out behind me. Long and slender, like a lizard''s, with a spike on the tip.
This is so fucking cool! I have wings now! I mean, they''re way more expensive than Nick''s, but who cares? I''ve got wings and can fly!
I flap my wings, taking off into the sky. It feels so natural, flying around. I keep a mental timer of how much time I have left in this form as I play around with my new, sky-bound freedom, soaring straight towards my temporary home.
This is fucking awesome! I covered the distance so fast! Time''s almost up, though, so I drop down to the ground the way Nik always has. Rather than touching down, though, I end up face-planting on the ground.
"Ooooow!" I moan I sit up, feeling my form fading away as I rub my cheek. "I need to work on my landings."
A presence moves in at a high speed, and I can hear them moving through the air. Spinning, I flick my knife at them, realizing only after I''ve thrown it that it''s not some form of flying monster, but Nik.
Thankfully, he catches the knife, rather than getting impaled by it.
"Sorry, Nik," I say as he lands. "Why do you look concerned?"
"What was that?" He asks. "I came for the checkup and saw you… like that. What was that?"
"Oh," I rub my head. "Heh. So Alexander – the Shadow of Life – tried killing me with an army of Goblins, a bunch of Bounty Beasts, and a Fallen Adventurer. Not necessarily in that order. Anyway, I reached Ascension, so I''m now Ascension 1. By the way – that''s what the ''Unavailable'' is on our statuses. See?"
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">Character Information</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">Dark of Fire</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%">Name:</td>
<td width="25%">Zack</td>
<td width="25%">Primary Class:</td>
<td width="25%">Demon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Level:</td>
<td colspan="1">251</td>
<td colspan="1">Ascension:</td>
<td colspan="1">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Title:</td>
<td colspan="1">None</td>
<td colspan="1">Unavailable:</td>
<td colspan="1">Unavailable</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Health:</td>
<td colspan="1">8,250/8,250</td>
<td colspan="1">Mana:</td>
<td colspan="1">5,300/5,300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Strength:</td>
<td colspan="1">775</td>
<td colspan="1">Intellect:</td>
<td colspan="1">311</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Endurance:</td>
<td colspan="1">501</td>
<td colspan="1">Willpower:</td>
<td colspan="1">363</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Vitality:</td>
<td colspan="1">825</td>
<td colspan="1">Wisdom:</td>
<td colspan="1">530</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1">Agility:</td>
<td colspan="1">366</td>
<td colspan="1">Perception:</td>
<td colspan="1">253</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
forever to Level, by the way," I tell Nik as I pull off the remains of my tunic and inspect them. "Other than attempting to be able to take on the Demon Form – that''s the Skill you saw me using that made me a Demon – I''ve been butchering things to hell and back. Still only Level 1, as you could see from my Status."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
easier Levels just because they''re hard? I''m going to see what it''s like to Level normally for once."
possible," Nik snorts. "I''m sure you''re already further than I''d be there. How much are you using the Skills for Dark Knight and such?"
personal information say that? Or are you just calling yourself one?"
Well, sort of! But he is, Nik, just like Normar.
lot of power to take them on by myself. That''s were Demon Form comes in."
powerful. I can fly, I have that tail, and they feel natural, like they''ve always been a part of me. No acclimation time."
all of my stats by ten percent per Level of the Skill. If I master it, I can become twice as powerful for ten minutes at a cost of 3,000 Mana."
anything with a lower Willpower than me, according to the information."
no memory of the Boundary when I was given the choice after the trial ended.
pissed if he''s not."
didn''t mention is that it''s draining on him. That''s probably the reason he hasn''t connected all of the Beastborn before. From the way he talked, I think he''d have no issue connecting them if it wasn''t so draining and there wasn''t such a high chance of them turning on the adventurers."