《Gonna Be a Demon King!》 Chapter 1- Echoes of War and Memory Wow, so thats what my intestines look like Those words escaped the lips of a youth sitting on the ground with his back against a broken wall. All around him, the ground trembled with one deafening explosion after another, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and blood. Waves of magical energy surged and clashed in every direction, painting the sky in vivid, otherworldly hues. Yet, amid this violent storm, he seemed eerily detached, his mind fixated on the surreal spectacle of his own innards. Everything from his left shoulder downwards had been deleted from existence, while an elbow-length stump was all that was left of his right arm. Scars covered his face and his body, blood slowly trickled out from his right nostril, while one jagged scar tore through where his left eye once was. This young man was clearly on the verge of death. Raising his head, he took in the sight of the scenery before him. War. Carnage. Bloodshed. The ground was littered with blood, corpses and weapons. Red was the new colour of what was once a tranquil, rich plain, which had now become the stage of a full-blown war. The air which would normally be soft and carry a gentle breeze was now deafening loud. The sound of explosions drowned any other sound in the area, something no survivor will ever forget. From this youths position, he could see the ordinary-looking Humans, the long-eared Elves, the scaled Dragons, winged Angels and the horned Demons. It was a five-way battle where tens of millions of them ruthlessly slaughtered each other. And this man lying here in a pool of his own blood was just a random human soldier. From the torn badge on his right shoulder, it could be seen that he held of Sergeant. His rank wasnt too high or low considering he was just an Intermediate Grandmaster Realm existence, a Level 390. This youth was a child soldier who was drafted during mass conscriptions of every able-bodied youth in his village at the time, regardless of gender. Because of this, this young boy who could barely see his adulthood on the horizon was now embroiled in a war on a planet far from home. Had fate been kinder, this young boys life would have been one of quiet simplicity. He would have woken each morning to the soft light of dawn, his hands roughened from tilling the soil, planting crops that would sustain his family and village. The scent of earth and fresh grass would have been his daily companions, his heart content with the rhythms of rural life. In the evenings, he would have gathered with his friends beneath the golden light of a setting sun, their laughter echoing through the fields as they played until darkness fell. Among them was a girl with bright eyes and a smile that had always warmed his hearthis childhood sweetheart. They had grown up together, their lives intertwined like the vines in the fields they worked. He had often imagined a future where they would marry, build a life together, and raise children of their own. But now, as he sat amidst the horrors of war on a distant, alien planet, those dreams felt like a lifetime ago. She, too, had been drafted into this unforgiving conflict, sent to fight on a different planet. He used to wonder where she was, if she still thought of him, or if she had moved on, assuming he was lost forever in the vastness of the universe, but eventually, those thoughts faded from his mind. The boy had never been trained for war. His skills were those of a simple villagercommon, unremarkable, and he lacked the talent for the arcane. When the time came for him to fight, he had no choice but to pick up a weapon, so he chose a sword, like the knights in the bedtime stories his father once read to him. He fought desperately, with no natural gift for battle, but with a stubborn will to survive. He killed many, and nearly died dozens of times, each brush with death leaving a new scar across his battered body.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Through sheer determination and the accumulation of small merits, he clawed his way up a few ranks, eventually earning the title of Sergeant. But even that hard-won rank offered no safety on this battlefield where survival was a distant hope. Here, among Level 700s who could sink entire islands and Level 900s who could split the continent apart; this poor Level 390 boy was nothing more than cannon fodder. The battle raged on, but he had been knocked out, caught in a brutal pincer between squads of angels and demons. His entire squad was wiped out before his eyes, and the two enemy leaders tag-teamed him, defeating him with merciless efficiency before turning on each other in a deadly clash. As consciousness slipped away, the boys thoughts drifted back to her, to the life they might have had, and the peaceful future that now seemed so far out of reach. Feeling his vision dimming, a bitter thought crossed his mind. FinallyIm done with this fucking war! As his strength ebbed away, the cacophony of the battlefield seemed to fade into a distant murmur. The world around him, once filled with the roar of explosions and the clash of magic, grew eerily quiet. There was no dramatic finale, no blaze of glory. His death was silent, almost insignificant, lost amidst the chaos of the war that raged on around him. He was just another fallen soldier, another number added to the ever-growing toll, one more body among millions, his life extinguished without fanfare. And as his eyes finally closed, his last breath left his lips unnoticed, swallowed by the endless storm of violence that continued without pause, uncaring of the life that had just ended. 󡡡󡡡 The Universe. All of space and time and their contents, comprising all known existences, any fundamental interactions, physical processes, constants and all forms of energy and matter. The Universe, in its vast and intricate expanse, operated through a myriad of Universal Laws and Aspects, guiding the natural order of existence. However, even these cosmic processes were not without flaws. Perfection was an illusion, after all. Ordinarily, when a person died, their soul would be claimed by the Law of Death and ushered into the cycle of reincarnationprovided it wasn''t stolen during the brief moment before the Law of Death acted. Unless the soul had been branded or protected by special measures, its memories would be wiped, converted into energy, and used to recreate the soul anew into a completely different existence. The newly forged soul would be distributed to incarnate into a completely different body, possibly even from a different race. But as stated before, flaws could occur in the Universe''s processes. On the first day of Year 9013 of the 50th General Calendar, such a flaw manifesteda gravitational error on a certain Apex World within a high-level dimension. [System Alert: Gravitational Error Detected] |Origin: Apex World, Dimension 7589 Time Stamp: Day 1, Year 9013, 50th General Calendar, 1907th Cosmic Cycle. | [System Alert: Reincarnation Path Distortion Detected] |Impact Zone: Sector 22-B, Reincarnation Path Status: Energy condensation observed within the affected sector. | This error triggered a surge of energy that rippled across space-time, distorting its fabric and affecting a section of the Reincarnation Path. Within this distortion, a portion of the energy condensed rapidly and seeped into a newly formed soul, which was about to be sent out for distribution. |Error Resolution Matrix Activated. Containing energy| Within seconds, the System contained the excess energy, but the damage was done. [System Alert: Nascent Singularity Formation Detected] |Soul Classification: Infant. Immediate Action: Stabilization protocol initiated. | The newly minted soul had absorbed a substantial portion of this energy, transforming it into a Singularitya rare and dangerous anomaly embodying the error that had just occurred in the Universe at that point. Singularities, alternatively known as Irregulars or Anomalies, were flaws within the Universe''s designuncontrollable "Bugs" in the "Code" of the Cosmos. These rare cases were points of unpredictable growth, each so saturated with bugs that the laws of the Universe responsible for balancing things out and preventing bullshit from happening completely and catastrophically break down around them. Such immense power was far beyond what the Soul Core of the newly minted soul could withstand. As such, it shattered, erased from existence. The energy within the fragile Soul Shell threatened to explode, and the System, sensing the impending error, acted swiftly to prevent it. [System Directive: Soul Core Replacement Required] |Search Parameters: Recently deceased soul with sufficient energy levels. Match Found: Human Soul from Planet 5622-AD, Dimension 6501 Action: Condense and transfer Soul Core. | A stronger Soul Core was requiredone that could endure the overwhelming energy of the Nascent Singularity long enough for it to fuse with the existence. At that precise moment, a random human perished on a distant planet, and their soul, claimed by death, entered the Reincarnation Path. The Soul had not yet been wiped and the energy from their previous existence still lingered, unspent. The System picked this soul, whose energy was enough to withstand the power of the Nascent Singularity, condensed it into a Soul Core and directly transferred it into the Soul Shell that was on the verge of collapse. [System Report: Soul Core Transference Successful] |Soul Status: Nascent Singularity stabilized340 Mortal Levels consumed. Memory Status: Retained. Permissible within error tolerance. | The Nascent Singularity bore down on the Soul Core, and out of 390 Mortal Levels the Soul possessed, 340 of them were consumed to withstand the Singularity. Since the soul had been selected immediately upon entering the Reincarnation Path, its memories remained intact, however, this was within the range of permissible errors, and thus the Universe allowed it. With the Nascent Singularity stabilized, the System performed a final crosscheck for any remaining errors. |Logging Existence of New Singularity Existence in Alatheia Universal Database. | [System Finalization: Error Containment Complete] |Crosscheck Results: No additional errors detected. Soul Status: Ready for distribution. | Finding none, the soul was released for distribution as originally intended, and the Universe resumed its operations as though nothing had ever gone awry. Chapter 2-Re: Born Xaren felt his mind drifting in a foggy void, trapped in an endless, surreal dreamscape. The dream was a jumble of images and emotions, strange and nonsensical, but it was gone instantly when a sharp, throbbing sensation pierced the haze, dragging him to consciousness. He awoke suddenly, disoriented and unable to recall anything from his dream. The first thing he noticed was how wrong everything felt. His body was confined in a cramped space, surrounded by air that stank of a rancid, sticky fluid. There was no light, only darkness pressing in on him from all sides. Instinctively, Xaren tried to call out, but the moment he opened his mouth, he choked on the foul liquid that flooded his lungs. Panic seized him as he thrashed about, trying desperately to escape from drowning in this liquid. His hands struck somethinga wall, or at least something like it. It was soft and had an elastic feel. Ignoring the strange discomfort gnawing at his body, Xaren pounded on the wall with all his strength, clawing at it with his nails until it finally tore open. A sliver of light seeped through the gap, igniting a spark of hope within him. He shoved his hands into the tear, prying it wider until the viscous liquid around him began to drain out. Gasping, he coughed up the fluid that had filled his lungs, then widened the gap just enough to squeeze his body through. He tumbled out onto the ground, landing in a small pool of the same vile liquid. The first thing that struck him was the strange lighting of his surroundings. Rainbow? Blinking, he looked up and saw a sky that was crimson, not the familiar blue of his memories. It was dotted with countless stars and nearly a dozen moons, each a different colour, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. He turned to see what he had just emerged from and was met with the sight of a massive flesh cocoon, pulsating faintly as it lay torn open. Xaren was utterly confused. His last memory was feeling his life slip away on the battlefield, and now here he was, crawling out of some grotesque cocoon. Where the heck am I? Arent I supposed to be dead? Im pretty sure even my Tenacity skill couldnt keep me alive with those wounds. So where is this? The afterlife? Underworld? Xaren looked around to take in more of the sight around him, and he saw he was on a beach of some sort. Unlike the white sand in his memories, this beach had bright yellow sand particles, large and coarse, resembling the coal he used to burn for warmth at night. These strange particles emitted a blue gas that drifted lazily into the air, and some of them had melted into a blood-red liquid that flowed sluggishly into the crimson ocean before him. Yellow sand that smokes blue and melts into red? What sort of crazy place is this?! But rather than the chemical reactions he could not comprehend, what surprised him the most was the sheer number of flesh cocoons on the beach with him. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of them, lined the shore as far as he could see. Some were cocoons of flesh, and he spotted a few that looked like giant chicken eggs here and there. Their colours were different as well, having black, red, and even purple and silver.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. On a side note, his own cocoon was dark red. The oceans tide seemed to be pushing these cocoons and eggs onto the beach, depositing them haphazardly among the yellow sands. Xaren tried to get to his feet, but the discomfort in his body from earlier came back and he lost control of his limbs, falling to the ground. Imsmaller? His sense of balance was off due to his body size being greatly different. Xaren wasnt the tallest guy around, but the last time he checked his height, he was around 510. Right now, however, he was pretty sure he was at least one foot shorter. Just before he turned his gaze down to try using his hands to force himself up, he heard a loud cracking sound and turned around to see one of the giant eggs right next to his cocoon splitting open. A small, clawed hand burst through the surface of the egg, jagged nails digging into the shell as it pried it apart. The sound of the cracking intensified, echoing across the strange beach. The creature inside fought its way out with raw, primal strength, ripping and tearing at the egg with fierce determination. As the shell finally gave way, the creature emerged, covered in a slick, viscous fluid that dripped from its tiny, muscular frame. Its eyes, glowing with a faint, eerie light, blinked open as it surveyed the surroundings, hissing softly. It was small, barely a few feet tall, with sharp features and sinewy limbs. It stretched, shaking off the remaining pieces of the shell before taking its first steps on the yellow sand. All around Xaren, the same scene repeated itself. Thousands of eggs and cocoons were beginning to hatch, each one releasing a different creature. Some creatures clawed their way out with sharp, pointed talons, while others used their horns to pierce through the shells. The air was filled with the sound of cracking, tearing, and the guttural cries of newborn creatures as they emerged from their fleshy prisons. Some of them were humanoid, staggering to their feet with unsteady gaits, some had beast forms with their four limbs on the ground, while others had humanoid bodies and beast heads. There were some that looked like insects with many legs and tiny wings cases on their backs. Their skin tones varied as wildly as their forms. The majority were blackish-red, the colour of dried blood, but others had dark grey, cyan, or even layered skin that overlapped like scales. The beach, once eerily quiet, was now alive with movement and noise. At the sight of this, dread washed over Xaren like a cold wave. He recognized these creatures. Demons!!! Xaren had somehow ended up in what could only be a demon-hatching ground. Surrounded by thousands of newly born demons, each one potentially dangerous and hungry, Xarens first instinct was to run. He had just been killed by a demon and an angel teaming up against him, and he had no desire to face another encounter, especially not here, where he could get jumped by thousands of hungry demons wanting to devour his soul. He tried to push himself up, summoning all his strength into his arms. But as he moved, something caught his eyehis own arm. h..uh? A dumbfounded sound escaped his lips as he stared at his skin. It wasnt the familiar human flesh he remembered. Instead, it was a cold, slate grey. Raising his gaze, he looked at the nearby demon who was scratching its head in confusion and saw that its skin was also grey. Whats more, this Demon had a pair of small horns on its head and seeing them, a thought came to Xarens head. No wayright? Slowly, almost fearfully, Xaren raised his hand to his head. His fingers trembled as they touched two small, pointed protrusions growing from the crown of his skull. They felt like bones but were also harder than bones. The tips were also a bit sharp and he felt he could cut himself on them. At that point, Xaren didnt need to think too much. Im in a demons body As soon as he grasped this realization, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his skull. Xaren clutched his head, doubling over as a guttural cry tore from his throat, a sound more primal and rawer than anything he had ever heard himself make. The pain was unbearable; like his skull was splitting apart as foreign memories flooded Xaren''s mind, overwhelming him with information. All around him, newborn demons clutched their heads in agony, writhing as their heads were flooded with strings of information. In reality, the pain was not coming from their heads but their Souls! The soul was one of the three major aspects of ones existence, alongside their physical body and their energy core. The energy core was within the body, and the body was intricately connected to the soul. Soul-based phenomena were often reflected in the physical body via this connection. An example would be Skills. Skills were basically specialised proficiencies and abilities that existences possess through various means. They could be acquired by training & experience, one could create skills too depending on the situation, and most often; innate talent was a huge factor in the type and power of skills gained. Each skill was a Rune on the wielders soul that was a combination of energy, Experience, and a few other things. Through the bodys connection with the soul, the power of these runes could be exhibited through their bodies. Chapter 3-True Name Skills would be a focus later; as right now, the focus was on Xaren who was feeling pain in his soul and that pain was reflected in his physical body in the form of a migraine. The information flooding his head allowed him to understand exactly what was going on here. The first thing that entered his head was a name. Well, calling it a name was a bit of an understatement as it appeared to be more of a sentence than a name. Xarenthe Zogakoth Uth''tag Manoz Virgath Nerazid Ascelin. Thanks to the information that came alongside it, he understood that this was his True Name. By gaining this True Name, the reality that he had become a demon in both body and soul sunk in. A true name was the closest thing to any existences soul, and touching their true name meant touching their soul. One must protect one''s true name from being fully known, especially in cases where said true name is given by one''s parents. If someone knew your full true name, they could exert control over you in many ways, from your thoughts to your actions. They could even make you kill yourself! This was why the names that people knew each other by were only just segments of their true names. This also applied to Demons as well, with their very lengthy names. Mixed in with his true name, was the name he possessed in his previous life. Xarenthe. His soul retained that name though he didnt know why, and it had now mixed into the true demon name he possessed now. Since he was used to it, he was going to continue identifying himself as Xaren. Next, was information about his location. He was in one of the hatching grounds for demons. The Demons here had all apparently either been laid as eggs or live born, then put into these incubation cocoons and sent here. As for why they were sent here, this wasnt included in the information. What was included, however, was what Xaren could only call a Survival Guide. The information was sparse yet critical, offering rudimentary instructions on fighting and the basics of magic power and demonic energy manipulation. The guide also offered the art of improvisationturning sharp rocks, shattered bones, or even fallen branches into weapons of desperation. Basic foraging knowledge was also included, with tips for stalking prey. Social dynamics seeped into his awareness, less taught and more instinctively known. The pecking order among demons was absolute, a structure bound by strength and authority. There was also a warning echoing at the end of it all: practice or perish. This Survival Guide, no matter how deeply ingrained, could be dulled, forgotten if left unused. Xaren couldnt help but feel the guide''s dry, emotionless tone in the back of his mind, as though it had been left by some cold overseer with no personal investment in their survival. Thats probably the case. As he mentally perused the Survival Guide, he came across something else he found crucialthe key element that made up more than half of the information now etched into his mind, and the primary reason he was able to comprehend it all. Languages. Hundreds of them. Each demon here had different languages imprinted into them, and Xaren didnt need to think too much to guess the reason. Lets say this place is where the demons mass produces soldiers which they use to conquer worlds, then these languages are so those demons can communicate with the natives of those worlds, or demons from other worlds who might have different languages. From his perspective, Xaren would say that he had an intermediate-level understanding of each language in his head. He was basing this off the language of his home world which he had grown up speaking, and was also part of the languages imprinted just now.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Did the demons win the war? I was sent off-world when things were at a stalemate. Sighing softly, Xaren looked up at the sky above him and he wondered what kind of world this hatching ground was on. Is this perhaps the Infernal Dimension? Angels, Demons, Humans, gods, Elves, Dragons, Dwarves, Beastmen, Giants, Spiritsthese races were the top dogs in the Universe. Aside from humans who saturated the Main Dimensional Plane, most hailed from different Dimensional Planes, each hosting an array of worlds beyond imagination. The demon race was a race on the negative side of the polarity spectrum of the Universe, inherently possessing strong bodies and their signature negative energyDemonic Energy. The Dimension from which the demons came was called the Infernal Dimension. But it was more commonly referred to as Hell or theAbyss. A never-ending dimension of hellish worlds, with exponentially increasing demonic energy and miasma concentration the deeper one went into the abyssor so Xaren was told. The strengths of the demons found within the Abyss also increased the deeper one went. With this sight around him, crimson skies and multicoloured moons above, as well as a sulphurous beach, Xaren felt this was probably the Abyss. Abysshuh? His voice was still hoarse as he spoke, but it was much easier to talk now. Xaren looked down on his hands, at his black claw-like nails and sighed softly. Was he attached to being a human? Xaren couldnt say. Hed seen the beauty and ugliness of all the races during the war and had come to understand that in judging a person, race didnt matter much. But many did not have this understanding. Oh well, thinking about this now is hardly a priority. Xaren tried to get himself to his feet once more as that thought crossed his mind. His main priority now was to adapt. He didnt know why, but he had become a demon, and that could not be changed. In this unknown environment and unknown world, he had to adapt to his transformation. Thinking the way he did as a human might lead to him dying without knowing how if he wasnt careful. You dont truly appreciate the gift of life until youve tasted death. Regardless of whether it was luck or fate, the fact remained: he was alive. The most important thing was for him to treasure this life. Survival was the main goal. At their core, most living beings would abandon their morals and principles if survival demanded it. Xaren simply aimed to bring that reality to the forefront of his own existence. Xaren got to his feet and steadied himself, before moving over to the cocoon he fell out of and sitting back down inside it. His first agenda on his survival path was to know what cards he had. To do that, he needed to check his Status board. There existed something called the Devour Class System, and it encompassed the entirety of the Universe. By claiming an opponents life, one takes a portion of their Soul Energy, Regular Energy, Life force, future potential (if any) and a few other Existential Records that are all combined into Experience (EXP), increasing their own Level. There were two key metrics within the system, the numerical Level and the Existence Level, also called the Existence Realm. Levelling speed/efficiency was influenced by a variety of factors, from ones innate talent to certain skills and titles that could either boost the efficiency or even reduce it. Each person had a Status Board that showed their power and existential records which have been computed in the form of stat values. And that was precisely what Xaren wanted to check now. |Name- Xaren Ascelin Race- High-Demon Gender- Male Age- 10 Level- 50 Existence Level- Silver (Intermediate) Titles- Unranked Newborn Demon, Irregular. Class- None HealthC D- Energy- D+ StrengthC D- AgilityC E+ Durability- E+ Intelligence- D- Condition- Normal. Magic Tiers- Fire Tier 0, Darkness Tier 0, Gravity Tier 0, Space Tier 0. Skills- Language Comprehension, Energy Control, Energy Blast, Swordsmanship (P), Gravity Magic (T), Gravity Sphere, Tenacity. Unique Skills- Child of Gravity. | Xaren began reading the status from top to bottom. His true name flashed for a moment, before disappearing, being replaced with just Xaren Ascelin. Personally, he preferred it to be just Xaren. Next, his race was the first thing that surprised him. He didnt have extensive knowledge about other races'' special characteristics, but he knew what High-Demons were. In his previous life, he was a normal breed of Human, not High-Human, Arch Human, or even the legendary Elder-Breed Human. But it seems his starter pack in this life was better than the last one. A High-Demon was just like a High-Elf, a superior breed of demon. Everything about them was higher, from their stat multipliers to their energy quality. For Xaren, energy quality was something very important. He had average quality before, but with sheer hard work, he managed to make it above average, increasing his consumption efficiency and damage. His Gender was pretty obvious; with the little guy between his legs, itd be weirder if anything else showed up there. Its a bit chilly without trousers though Such a thought crossed his mind as he moved on to the age tab. 10? But I just came out of the Incubati-! His thoughts halted abruptly as the information imprinted in his mind resurfacedan explanation that demons here were either laid as eggs or live birthed, then placed into these incubation cocoons and sent to this place. Xaren didnt know his full appearance yet, but judging from the size and proportion of his limbs and torso, he was certainly not the size of a typical ten-year-old. He pondered over the information he had, connecting the dots. As far as I know, most demons age slower than humans since they have longer base lifespans. A realization began to dawn on him. Could it be that these incubation cocoons are meant to accelerate their growth? Chapter 4- A Newborns Struggle Could it be that these incubation cocoons are meant to accelerate their growth? It made senseif demons naturally aged slowly, these cocoons could be a means of speeding up their physical development, preparing them for survival in the harsh, abyssal environment. The demons might have devised this method to ensure their young were strong and capable as soon as they emergedor probably to gain more soldiers faster. Xaren thought the latter was the more likely reasonespecially given the fighting knowledge in the Survival Guide they imprinted in their souls. He then moved his eyes down to the next thing on his status. His Level. 50? Thats surprising Hed heard rumours about some people being born with high levels from birth; mostly children of High-Ranking elves and dragons, but it seemed it applied to demons as well. 50 wasnt worth much in the grand scheme of things, but for a newborn, that was a lot. I feel a bit sad having to work my level back up again though In his past life, he was an Intermediate Grandmaster at Level 390. Among the Existence Realms he knew of, that was the fifth one, with the Master, Gold, Silver and Bronze realms under it in descending order. What kind of power did Grandmasters possess? If you gave the previous Xaren an average city of around two to three thousand square kilometres, he could have turned it into a pile of ruins in a few minutes. While that sounded strong, it was nothing when compared to Transcendent Realm existences that could vaporize entire countries. The ability to destroy a city is insignificant next to the power of a Transcendent. Xaren thought this as he remembered the General of the army division that he was a part of had to order a full retreat for all twenty thousand men of the division when their base was attacked by a demon. Just 1 High-Rank Demon. From what he saw that day, Xaren became convinced that High-Ranked Demons and Angels all possessed god-like power. Coming out of his reminisce, he returned his focus to his stat values. Normally, Levels 1-20 (Bronze Realm) had F rank stats, Levels 20-50 (Silver Realm) had E rank stats, and Levels 50-100 (Gold Realm) had D rank stats. Each Stat had three sub ranks, the Negative sub ranks X-, the Neutral sub ranks X, and the Positive sub ranks X+. His having a D+ stat at Level 50 was already high, as that was the kind of stat hed expect to have at around Level 80 instead. Moving on, his gaze went to his Magic Tiers and he couldnt help but react with surprise at the sight of the two rare attributes there. In his past life, he had four elements; Water, Earth, Wind and Fire. However, they all remained Tier 1 until he died, and since they were Tier 1, he was stuck at using basic spells. Trying to use anything higher than ones Tier usually resulted in a backlash on failure, which would prevent one from casting spells for a short time since their energy circuitsthe network of circuits that sends energy from ones energy core throughout ones body and soul, just like how the heart sends blood throughout the body via veins and arterieswould be fried.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Next up, was the Skill tab. I have 7 skills?! Thats a lot to start with! Previously, he started with just 3, and in the years of fighting, he gained other skills, totalling a number of 9 by his death. All of them were common and uncommon skills, with the only Ultra-Rare skill he had being Tenacity. Perhaps due to his will to survive and his efforts to drag himself out of close shaves with death, he gained a skill that embodied having cockroach-like vitality. The Tenacity skill was the reason why despite having his arms severed, his eye blinded, and his innards spilling out onto his legs, he was still alive for over 20 minutes before his body finally lost too much blood and was unable to sustain itself. In this life, he retained this skill and he was very happy about it. My other skillsto think I would see the day that Id have not only a Peak Grade skill but also a Transcendent Grade. Skills had Ranks and Grades to them. The Ranks were Normal>Uncommon>Rare>Ultra-Rare>Unique. The Grades were Low-L>Mid-M>High-H>Extreme-E>Peak-P>Transcendent-T. Certain skills below the Unique Rank could have Grade modifiers attached to them. For example, Fire Magic(L) or Fire Magic (Low). In Xarens case, the T beside his Gravity Magic skill was enough to let him know which attribute was going to be his main affinity. Its a rare attribute and all, but my information on it is limitedId have to be self-taught until I can get out of herewherever here is. Xaren thought of this before pondering his other skills which were all pretty self-explanatory. Energy Control made energy manipulation easier, and faster and allowed him to do more complex things; Energy Blast condensed energy and fired it out as a projectile; Swordsmanship basically amplified everything he did with a sword, from increasing his damage to reducing the strain and cost of using techniques. If the languages imprinted in his mind not too long ago were the Basic and Intermediate textbooks for those languages, then the Language Comprehension skill added the Advanced and Expert textbooks on top of that. With it, even if he encountered a language not in his default repository, he wouldnt take long to learn the language. Understanding forgotten languages and the like would also be easier with this skill. The Gravity Magic skill was the same as his Swordsmanship skill, just for that particular school of magic. He didnt know what Gravity Sphere did so he took a look at the description to see and his jaw dropped. |Gravity Sphere; Type: Rare Active Skill Description; Conjures a dense, pulsating orb of gravity magic that attracts enemies within a certain radius. Once drawn to the orb, enemies are enveloped in a constricting sphere of gravitational force. The sphere then rapidly contracts, intensifying the gravitational pressure and crushing the trapped foes with overwhelming force. This skill not only inflicts substantial physical damage but also can incapacitate enemies by distorting their spatial awareness and mobility. | Wowjust wow. That was all Xaren had to say to the sight of this skills description which was far greater than whatever he could have expected. Finally, Xarens eyes went to the last tab of his status board. He previously didnt have this tab as he didnt have any Unique Skills, but now, his story has changed. Gravity again, huh? He looked through the Unique Skills Description, noting that its type was Unique Series Skill and not just Unique Skill. Is that a special type of Unique Skill? Just as he asked himself that question, he heard a noise coming from the outside and moved to peek out of his cocoon in an attempt to see what was going on. However, before his head could even come out, a newborn demon spotted him through the tear in the flesh cocoon, before picking up one of the stones on the ground and charging towards him with a roar. ?! Xaren was momentarily shocked at being attacked unprovoked, but that didnt dull his reactions. The attacking demon jumped in the air and slammed the giant stone down towards his head, however, Xaren shifted his body to the side, allowing the demon to hit the floor of the cocoon instead. Before the demon could even get up, Xaren threw his right fist forward, punching the side of its head. The force knocked its body to the wall of the cocoon opposite him, but due to its size, Xaren was still well within the reach of the demons hands. Xaren quickly kicked the demon out of the cocoon and got out of it, before looking around to see that almost all the demons in sight were fighting each other. But why? Is this some sort of newborn ritual? He asked himself this as he turned to the demon he had punched and saw it was still unresponsive. Xaren leaned in a bit for closer inspection, all whilst keeping his fist pulled back in case he needed to throw out another punch. This proved to be unnecessary as the little demon was completely knocked out! In one punch? Chapter 5-Soul Devouring Xaren was born as a Level 50, so he was going to be prudent and assume that the other demons had similarly high base levels. But he was pretty sure that the one who just attacked him certainly did not, as there was no way he could one hit K.O. a Level 50 like himself. It would have been nice if he could perceive energy, then hed be able to gauge their Existence realms based on the energy they emanated, but it should not be forgotten that he just emerged from his incubation cocoon not too long ago. His energy circuits hadnt yet awakened or activated, and he couldnt even sense his own energy, much less another persons. KRAAaaa! He heard a roar coming from behind and abruptly turned around, however, his foot got caught on the legs of the unconscious demon on the floor and he tripped, falling onto the ground. The little demon that was about to stab him with a broken shell shard froze as its target suddenly fell to the ground, and it stared at Xaren in confusion for a good 10 seconds. Then it roared once more and tried to stab him with the broken shell like it originally intended, but Xaren rolled his body out of the way and the demon stabbed the ground instead. The shell shard shattered to pieces upon impact with the hard ground and Xaren quickly got to his feet, stumbling a bit as he had unconsciously tried to move the way he used to in his past life. Remember Xaren, youre in a kids body. Its not as strong as your former body. Xaren mentally chanted his mantra, grounding himself in his new reality as he lashed out with a swift kick, connecting with the stomach of a demon in an impact that knocked the air out of its lungs. Just like the previous demon, this one was knocked out in a single hit. But there was no time to celebrate; another demon lunged at him and he sighed as he jumped back to avoid the punch. This time, he was able to keep his balance and not stumble like before. The demon charged forward and threw another wild punch, but Xaren dodged, before grabbing its outstretched arm, pivoting on his heel and flinging his attacker over his shoulder. As the demon hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud, Xaren grabbed a nearby rock, smashing it against the demon''s skull before it could recover. He repeated the motion with ruthless efficiency until the demon stopped moving. Just as he finished off that one, a thunderous roar caught his attention. He turned to see a fourth demon charging at him. Give me a fucking break! Xaren recognized that this demon was unlike the other humanoids who attacked him. It had a humanoid body, but its head was that of a bull, complete with large, menacing horns. Bull Demons have powerful strength. That little trivia came to his mind as the bull demon charged at him with its head pointed forward, and Xaren dodged the charge at the last moment, before seizing the demons left horn with his left hand. Without hesitation, he drove his right knee into the demons neck, but it didnt go down as easily as the others. He aimed for another knee strike, but the demon thrashed about, causing his knee to miss its neck and strike the horn instead. **CRACK! GAR!! The demon roared in pain, swinging its fist toward Xaren. He parried the blow with his right hand, then used the same hand to strike the base of the cracked horn, snapping it off just as the demons other fist slammed into his side.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Xaren tumbled to the ground, rolling forward to avoid the demons follow-up stomp. Quickly getting to his feet, he gripped the broken horn like a dagger. It was curved and about 30 cm longjust enough for Xaren to adjust his hold, maximizing its offensive potential. The bull demon charged at him again, and just like before, he was able to sidestep its charge at the last moment. He slashed the horn across the demons flank and it roared, stumbling, giving Xaren an opportunity to drive the horn into the back of its knee, forcing it down. With a quick leap onto its back, he plunged the horn into the base of its neck. The demon thrashed briefly before collapsing, lifeless, at his feet. Phew Xaren kept up his guard, but it seemed the other nearby demons were all too busy fighting each other to consider him. Suddenly, his nose seemed to perceive a tantalizing scent, and he turned around, trying to find the source. He saw a small ball of black light floating on top of the body of the demon whose head he had bashed to death, and a single thought came to his mind. ASoul? Hed heard demons devour the souls of their enemies in battle, and he had indeed seen some demons making strange motions after killing. But since he couldnt see souls, they always looked silly to him. Turning to the bull demon at his feet, he saw that ones soul had emerged as well and was just silently floating there, waiting for the law of death to claim it. Xaren unconsciously reached out to it, grabbing the soul and looking at it in silence. Demons eat souls, right? I know they eat normal food so it''s not their main form of sustenance, and the Mid-Rank demons I saw made it look more like a hobby than anything. But before that, I doubt my mouth can open wide enough to eat this thing The bull demons soul was large enough to fit in his palm. Xaren was curious. Hed seen the expressions on the faces of some more humanoid demons when they ate souls and they seemed to be in ecstasy. That state had even given him openings to kill some of them, so he was curious about how souls tasted that they could get so unguarded. Xaren slowly brought the soul closer to his mouth, trying to bite it like a fruit, but the moment it touched his lips, the whole thing was sucked into his mouth like dirt being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. ?! The flavour was unlike anything he had ever tasted, both intoxicatingly rich and deeply satisfying, as if every essence of the bull demons life force was compressed into that single moment. The sensation was over as quickly as it began, leaving Xaren breathless, eyes wide with shock and a newfound understanding of the dark hunger that demons harboured. His gaze shot in the direction of the other soul, and he rushed towards it and grabbed it, devouring it without a word. That same intoxicating feeling returned and Xaren turned his gaze towards the two unconscious ones on the floor. He used the horn in his hands to end their lives and ate their souls, and it was only after the fourth soul that he snapped back to his senses. damnnow I see why they do this The taste lingered, sweet and addictive, as if calling out to him, tempting him to devour more, but he smacked his head with the horn in his hand. Focus, Xaren. He turned around and saw that the thousands of demons around him were all fighting each other, trying to kill themselves for souls. Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed through the air, drawing Xarens gaze to the ocean. His eyes widened as he saw the tides swelling ominously, rising higher with each passing second. Tsunami! He barely had time to speak the word before his instincts kicked in. He bolted, muscles coiling like springs as he sprinted across the beach. Xaren navigated through the shells and cocoons, ignoring the waves of fighting demons as his mind focused solely on escape. Thanks to his E+ Agility, Xaren moved faster than the other demons, his speed giving him a crucial advantage. He effortlessly outpaced those who were persistent enough to chase him, leaving them in the dust. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed that others had also noticed the impending danger, and soon, the entire beach was a frenzy of demons fleeing for their lives. Got to get to high ground fast...! Xaren sprinted through the rocky terrain, his breath coming in sharp bursts as he pushed himself toward the forest. His legs pumped furiously, vaulting over jagged rocks and scrambling up the steep incline. The rumbling of the rising ocean grew louder behind him, a constant reminder of the impending danger. Reaching the edge of the forest, Xaren didnt slow down. He ducked under low-hanging branches, his feet barely touching the ground as he wove through the dense foliage. The air grew cooler as the canopy thickened, but he kept moving, instinct and experience driving him deeper into the safety of the woods. Behind him, the tsunami crashed onto the beach with a deafening roar. The crimson waves engulfed everything in their path, swallowing the incubation cocoons, broken eggs, and demon corpses without mercy. Xaren paused at the edge of a small clearing, glancing back just in time to see the last remnants of the beach disappear beneath the churning waves. He spotted some little demons who couldnt get away fast enough being claimed by the ocean, and just when he thought they could try swimming back, giant shark monsters devoured them whole. ?! The sight sent a shiver down his spine, but he quickly turned away, pushing forward into the heart of the forest. Damn I survived thatbut the real challenge is just beginning. The further he went, the quieter it became, the chaos of the beach fading into the background. Chapter 6-Day 15: Begin. Xaren, dressed in roughly skinned wolf pelts tied together, carried a small rabbit-sized monster on his shoulder as he ran on the hot ground, carefully observing the area around him. Walking through the forest darkened by the tall tree canopies, he twisted his body to avoid the branches of distorted trees. In his vision, these trees gave off faint demonic energy and he could tell that they were demon plants. If he mistakenly touched them, theyd come alive and wrap around his body to capture him and suck the life out of him. Hed seen no small number of demons suffer this fate. But they give off demonic energy so I can tell them apart from regular trees. Such a thought crossed his mind as he moved through the dark trees and spotted a location with dense black spiderwebs. Theres a spider demon here now? Xaren understood that a new demon had made a lair in the area he was in, and just then, he spotted the creature hanging atop a tree, watching him with its eight crimson eyes. The two engaged in a silent stare down and after a minute, the spider demon slowly retreated into the cover of the trees, having discerned that fighting Xaren was not worth it. Xaren turned around and retracted his demonic energy, continuing on his path, coming to a huge tree at the edge of the forest. This huge tree was already dead and decayed, but there was a naturally formed hole at its roots, which had become Xarens residence. Xaren arrived at the tree hole and spread out a wave of demonic energy, scanning it to find out if anything had entered while he was away. Nothing. Thats good. He retracted his energy and entered inside it, before putting down the prey on his shoulder and letting out a long sigh of relief. Day 15: Begin. Like Xaren said, it had been 15 days since he had awakened in this place and he had adapted to life here. Although there were dangers in terms of the environmentlike the demon plantshe could avoid them if he was careful. In the past two weeks, Xaren had made small progress in getting used to his new abilities. For starters, his energy circuits had completely awakened and he could sense not only his own energy, but the energy of other beings, provided they didnt have methods to conceal it completely. With it, he once again affirmed that he had far more energy than a level 50 should have, and noted that in addition to demonic energy, he still possessed magic power. Devouring those souls helped a lot The four souls he had devoured on Day 1 had been key in allowing him to awaken his energy circuits by night-time, and he guessed this might be the reason the little demons instinctively fought each other to gain souls.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. His Energy Control skill really gave him a lot of energy manipulation assists, allowing him to get the hang of using demonic energy for basic things in less than a week. Since he had magic in his previous life, he knew how to manipulate it even better than what the Survival Guide stated, and was able to recover that ability in less than half the time it took him to get used to demonic energy. The next thing he focused on was increasing his combat power. Although most of the demons he had encountered here were all lower level than him, he was surely not the only level 50 as there were tens of thousands of little demons scattered all over the massive forest. Those demons behind that wall That thought reminded him of when he was exploring the forest, trying to find a new place to sleep on Day 3. He had sensed demonic energy activity up ahead and peeked through some bushes to find out what it was, and to his shock, he discovered there was a translucent wall right in front of him. The reason he was shocked was because although the wall was clearly made with demonic energy, he didnt perceive it until he saw it with his eyes. Behind that wall, he saw two demons fighting and the energy they gave off put them at Level 80 at minimum by his estimation. One of them immediately sensed his gaze and Xaren didnt hesitate to turn tail and run. Hed been the victim of a situation where two opponents stopped fighting each other just to take out a third party together so he didnt waste a second. However, this time, the demons did not follow him. It wasnt that they didnt want to, but that they couldnt! The translucent wall he had seen prevented them from getting to the section of the forest he was in, and conversely, Xaren could not enter that section of the forest. The demons were separated for some reason Xaren didnt know, and he didnt spend time trying to find out why. Instead, he focused on trying to level up but this was a herculean task. The reason was that his level was far higher than everything he encountered. From gauging their energies, Xaren estimated the demons he encountered were all Levels 20-25 and this was a problem for him as he couldnt gain EXP from anything less than half his level. So, they needed to be above level 25 for him to gain any EXP to level up. Because of this, Xaren only went out to forage for food like he had just done, and spent most of his time trying to get used to his new skills and magic. My magic power efficiency is higher than in my past life, but my demonic energy efficiency is off the charts Such a thought crossed his mind as he removed the rope where he hung demon horns on his waist and placed it on the ground, before constructing a small fireplace with sticks and using basic fire magic to light it up. Hed been attacked by many demons during his hunt for food, and those demons served as training dummies for him to test his new skills and magic, with him taking their horns as trophies and spare weapons. My Fire Magic is Tier 1 now. Xaren looked at his status as he skinned the wild monster he just killed, remembering his attempt to cast the basic fire magic spells he knew. I succeeded so easily I was dumbfounded. His previous magic affinity had been abysmal, but this High-Demon body of his had a good talent for magic, at least from his perspective. Xarens flames generated with fire magic took on a dark red hue, and when he was done experimenting with fire magic and used darkness magic, they changed to black! Using Darkness magic wasnt hard as that seemed to come instinctively to demons, but he was surprised by the change in his flames. Never expected to use dual elemental infusion so easily either. The black flames were a result of mixing the Darkness magic with his Fire magic, and this was a technique that according to some soldiers who could use magic, was pretty advanced. The most Xaren could do with it was shoot fireballs and spears though. He didnt know any spells besides Tier 1 Fire spells, and all his uses of Darkness magic besides infusing it into his flames were for restraining opponents and firing darkness projectiles. Xaren had seen Darkness mages do this before, so he tried to copy them and was only able to succeed in doing those two. As for the Gravity and Spatial magic, Xaren had zero idea on how to even start with those ones. He tried to use his skills and they worked the same way they did previously. Energy blast is strong enough to fell multiple large trees. It took me five days, but I finally managed to get Gravity Sphere to work. The results were very gory. Xaren remembered how the little demons he encountered were squashed in the sphere of energy, along with the lethargic feeling that hit him right after. The Gravity Sphere skill consumes a lot of energy, probably because of how powerful it is. I tried to see if I could use the feeling from using Gravity Sphere to work some Gravity Magic but I had little success. I was able to activate the Child of Gravity skill, but merely activating it took 30% of my demonic energy, and consumed a little bit of it to keep active. Chapter 7- A New Arena The skill description gave him a general idea of what he could do with it, and by using it every day, he was able to do some basic stuff. After eating his hunt for breakfast, he stepped out and moved towards a rock hill to start his daily training. First, a normal punch. He balled his right fist and threw it forward, punching the rock. As Xaren''s fist collided with the rock, the force of the impact reverberated through the stone with a dull, resonant thud. The surface of the rock yielded under the pressure, splintering outward in a cascade of jagged lines. Thin, web-like cracks spidered across the rocks surface, radiating from the point of impact in a chaotic pattern. Now, with the skill. Taking a deep breath, he circulated his energy through his circuits and activated the Unique Skill, sighing as he felt 30% of his energy disappear. Reminding himself it was the cost of the power boost, he infused demonic energy into his arm and in seconds, a dark red aura covered his forearm. He repositioned himself and unleashed a powerful punch against the rock. **BOOM! The impact was explosive. Birds on trees flew away and wild monsters scampered out of the area as the sound echoed through the air. The surface of the rock buckled under the force, and spiderweb-like fissures erupted from the point of contact, quickly expanding and deepening. The concentrated energy from his strike drove through the cracks, creating a deep, gaping hole in the rock. Chunks of debris were blasted outward, and the surrounding area was showered with fragments as the once-solid barrier crumbled into a jagged opening. Is this really the power boost from doubling gravity? Xaren understood that gravity was the force keeping him grounded and preventing him from floating away. With his skill, he could amplify this force up to twice its normal strength. He surmised that as he grew stronger, he might be able to achieve even greater feats, but for now, his maximum increase was 2x, while his decrease was limited to 0.5x and it was only for a few seconds. I can use the reduction to achieve speed bursts, and the increment to increase my power at the point of impact. When he activated the 0.5x gravity reduction, he felt a sudden, disorienting lightness in his body. His movements became more fluid and effortless, and he experienced an odd sensation of floating slightly with each step. It was easier to leap and he could manoeuvre with less effort, however, keeping his balance became harder due to his altered weight. Need to get used to this. As Xaren continued his tests, he noticed an unsettling sensation above him. A surge of demonic energy rippled through the air, drawing his gaze skyward. He saw a massive vortex forming in the sky, its dark, swirling tendrils stretching ominously from a distance. Surrounding this central vortex were multiple smaller whirlpools of energy, creating a dark swirl in the skies. Suddenly, the loud roars of countless demons filled Xarens ears and he saw as they began to be violently pulled toward the vortex, like leaves caught in a whirlwind.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Xaren watched in shock as the vortex''s pull intensified, drawing in only the older and stronger demons, those behind a translucent barrier. The weaker demons outside the barrier, even those right at its edge, seemed unaffected, their panicked movements trivial in comparison. So, it''s after those guys? Even so, lets move further away. Xaren had just made that decision when he felt a peculiar lightness in his body and furrowed his brow. I switched off my skill, didnt I? He checked again, confirming that his gravity manipulation was indeed deactivated. But why did he still feel so light? Xaren had a bad hunch, and unfortunately, they usually tended to be correct. A sinking feeling gripped him as he turned back to the vortex. No way, right? As if replying to him, a sudden force began to drag at him. Fuck! Xaren cursed under his breath and swiftly activated his gravity skill, trying to increase his weight to counter the pull. For a few desperate seconds, the increased weight resisted the force, but it wasnt enough. The pull continued, dragging him toward the swirling darkness. Instinctively, Xaren grabbed onto a nearby tree, his hands gripping the bark with white-knuckled intensity. He used his skill intermittently, boosting both his and the trees weight in a frantic bid to stay anchored. Still, the vortexs force was relentless, and the roars of the demons being sucked from the forest behind the barrier became a harrowing soundtrack to his struggle. I was planning to wait for the other demons to level up so I could kill them and gain EXP to reach level 100 before trying to leave. Theres no way Im letting myself be dragged into some unknown place before that! He clenched his teeth, every muscle straining against the overpowering force, determined to hold his ground. Xarens persistence paid off as after a few minutes, when his energy could barely hold up any more, he noticed the vortex begin to shrink. Good! For a moment, he glanced back and in that second, he caught a flash in his peripheral vision. What was that?! Answering his thoughts was a deep voice that came from behind. Oh wow, look at this little one struggling. ?! Xaren slowly turned his head and came face-to-face with a towering figure that loomed over him, twice his height. Standing over 7 feet tall, the behemoth had a hulking frame, a beard of flames, and two curved horns protruding from its head. Its powerful legs, ending in hooves, supported its bulk, while a pair of reversed wings sprouted from its back. Crimson eyes filled with mirth stared at him and Xaren felt his blood run cold. A Higher ranked demon!? The demon arched a brow when he saw the realisation in Xarens eyes, before chuckling as he raiseda finger. Moving the finger towards the tree Xaren was holding onto, the demon flicked his finger and this casual flick shattered the tree trunk into splinters. ??!! Xaren lost his hold and the vortexs pull took over, pulling him towards the sky. Suddenly, he felt a firm grip on his arm. Turning his head, he saw the demon who had shattered the tree clutching him tightly and propelling them both towards the vortex. In mere moments, they were pulled inside and the world around Xaren swirled into a dizzying blur, a kaleidoscope of colours and shapes that twisted violently, making his head spin. For an instant, his vision went blank, then it snapped back into focus in the next. He found himself in a sprawling clearing, surrounded by a sea of thousands of demons. Looking around, he spotted some of those who had been pulled through the vortex alongside him. Before he could fully grasp his new surroundings, the demon who had seized him took to the skies and flew forward with a speed that made Xaren''s head reel, and the ground below rushed away at a dizzying speed. When his senses finally stabilized, he was faced with a grim scene: four imposing, higher-ranked demons now stood in front of him. The one who held him, raised his body to face the new four faces as he spoke. Hey, guys, check out this little one I found. The demons voice was filled with amusement and Xaren felt his heartbeat rapidly accelerate. Whats with this situation?! Was resisting the vortex some kind of crime!? Ignorant of Xarens inner thoughts, one of the demons who held a box of weapons turned towards the fire demon holding Xaren and spoke with an exasperated tone. Flochwhat the hell? Put that guy back with the others. Dude, at least hear me out. You certainly wouldnt say that when I tell you how I found this guy. The fire demon called Floch spoke to his weapon-carrying friend, shaking Xarens body as he continued. I found him in the newborn section. And yet, the vortex was pulling him! The heck are you talking about? The vortex only pulls Level 50s and above. Its been barely two weeks since the last batch should have hatched. Theres no way he got to level 50 in two weeks. The only demoness among the four replied to Floch, before turning her eyes towards Xaren. My Partial Appraisal shows hes Level 52 From the words of these demons, Xaren realised the reason for the barrier that separated the forest. The demons beyond that barrier were from a previous batch that had hatched and theyd been there long enough to surpass Level 50. Chapter 8- Into the Chaos When the newborn demons got to that level, the higher-ranked demons picked them up through the vortexes, but since he was born as Level 50 and had gained 2 levels from killing a bunch of Level 30 demons last week, he was pulled by it as well. This demon called Floch was monitoring the vortex and noticed him resisting its pull, leading to the current situation. Are you sure hes from the last batch? Come on. The dividing barrier was created by Their Excellencies, no way a little demon like this one could break it and return to the newborn side. The other demons conversed among themselves, and after a moment, Floch spoke, mentioning something about Xaren that shifted their interest from mild curiosity to intense intrigue. He was using a magic spell too. Waitwhat?! The demoness snapped her head toward Floch, her voice filled with disbelief. Floch nodded confidently, poking Xarens back with a finger as he explained. He was holding on to a tree and when I destroyed the tree, I felt unfamiliar magic coursing through it. After grabbing him again, I checked and saw the energy signatures were the same! Floch then turned his crimson eyes towards Xaren and asked. You were using a magic spell, werent you? yes. Xaren was actually using his Unique Skill, but this fire demon mistook it for a magic spell. He didnt bother correcting him though. He simply agreed with Floch, since he wasnt sure if refuting his claim would get him in trouble. Who knew if this guy was one of those bad-tempered ones who didnt like it when people said he was wrong about something? Floch seemed convinced and had only questioned Xaren just so the other higher-ranked demons would believe. A Level 52 in the newborn section who can already use spells? Whats more, hes a High breed as well. ?! Four pairs of eyes turned to the demoness with the partial appraisal skill after they heard her call out Xarens race breed. Then, three looked at each other and had a moment of shared understanding. This guy, he might be one of them? I was thinking the same thingHes definitely one of them. Three of the other four demons nodded in affirmation to Flochs words, and Xaren silently wished they didnt mistake him for anything thatd cause him trouble. Thankfully, he had a chance to find out who ''them'' were since one of the five demons around him was just as confused as he was. Whos them? This idiot, are you in this Galaxy at all? Floch casually insulted the one who asked the question, shaking his head as he explained. Dont you know that sometimes, Nobles often mix their kids in with the normal ones? They seal away anything that can be used to identify their family and let the little demons survive in the outside world for years, before taking them back after theyve reached a certain level. Ive seen some High-Rank demons do that. Especially the ones from Upper-Class nobility.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Flochs explanation brought understanding looks to the eyes of both Xaren and the other confused demon. It sounds plausible. Those Upper-Class guys are all Greater and Archdemons after all Who knows if this guy is really a High Demon? He might be an Archdemon or even a legendary Elder-breed but with a sealed bloodline. When the demoness said this, Floch laughed a reply. PfftElder breeds are the stuff of legends. They are legends for normal demons like us. Nobles have Elder breeds among them, the demoness retorted. She then reached out and plucked Xaren from Flochs hold, setting him on the ground. Noble or not, hes gotta fight. Those are orders from Their Excellencies and even Nobles cant do shit about that. She held up her hand and grabbed the air beside her, causing the space to distort into a swirling portal from which she pulled out some pieces of clothing. Put this on. Its enchanted for basic defence. Not like youd know what enchantments are anyway. After saying her piece, she pulled out a large box filled with similar-looking clothes and walked away to distribute them to the other demons. The one who was carrying a crate of weapons looked Xaren over before asking, What weapon do you think you can use? sword. Hmm Oh, well see. Pick one of these. Xaren did as instructed, picking a plain sword from within the crate and just like the demoness before, the demon left to go distribute the weapons to the other unranked demons. Having been given clothes and a weapon, Xaren quickly put them on, sighing in relief that he could finally get proper clothes and not the rough wolf pelts hed been wearing all this while. The clothes they gave him were a simple pair of black trousers and a shirt. According to that demoness, they were enchanted for basic defence and Xaren could sense the faint demonic energy on them. Theyre distributing armour-like clothes and weapons. She also said something about us fighting. That means theyre about to throw all of us here into a battle! Just like that? He arrived at that conclusion and turned his eyes towards Floch who was watching him with an amused grin. Well, arent you a smart little critter The grin of a fire demon was definitely NOT something Xaren wanted to see ever again. Although Xaren wanted to leave the vicinity of these higher-ranked demons, he couldnt do so as they had not explicitly directed him to. Demons are very hierarchal. Unranked, Low-Rank, Mid-Rank and High-Rank. Theyre very strict about their hierarchy. Glancing at Floch who was now discussing something with the other demons, near him, Xaren wondered what rank they were. The demonic energy they emanate is insane. He looked forward and saw the thousands of unranked demons all quiet as the demoness who appraised him earlier, as well as several other adult demons silenced them with their powerful auras. Anyone who still acted unruly was mercilessly beaten on the spot! A chilling display of power that effectively quelled any further disobedience. Once the unruly were subdued, the demons began distributing enchanted clothes and weapons, the process taking nearly half an hour, due to the sheer number. When they finished, Floch was about to address them but a streak of light suddenly shot down from the sky, crashing into the ground with meteoric force. The impact released shockwaves that sent hundreds of unranked demons sprawling, the earth trembling beneath them. As the dust settled, Floch''s expression shifted, his previous casualness giving way to deference. He, along with all the other demons, bowed their heads slightly as a towering figure emerged from the cloud of debris. The demonic energy emanating from this newcomer was suffocating, eclipsing all others present. Xaren''s blood ran cold, and sweat began to bead on his forehead as he instinctively understood the magnitude of the power before him. High-Rank Demon... There''s no doubt about it! The thought screamed through his mind. The aura exuded by this being was one he could never forgetan overwhelming presence that seemed to whisper death as the only option for those who dared oppose it. The High-Rank Demon turned his gaze toward Floch, his voice a low rumble that carried an undeniable command. Are they all armed?" Floch nodded respectfully. "Yes, they are prepared." The High-Rank Demon then raised his voice, its deep resonance demanding the attention of every demon present. "Listen up! Are you ready to fight?! To gain souls to devour and grow stronger?!" At first, there was only silence, a collective hesitation born from fear of the mighty presence before them. The demons eyes narrowed, and he asked again, this time infusing his voice with demonic energy that reverberated through the air like a sonic wave. [Are you ready?!] This time, the silence shattered. Roars erupted from the throngs of demons, their voices rising in a chorus of primal eagerness. At the sight of this, a wicked grin spread across the High-Rank Demon''s face. [Good. Then fight!] With a wave of his hand, the demon conjured a magic circle with six rings of purple light spinning around it. The fabric of space distorted and then tore open, creating a swirling portal that quickly stabilised to reveal a chaotic battlefield on the other side. Explosions rocked the landscape, and the sounds of battle were faintly heard through the spatial rift. [Charge! Fight, fight, fight!!!] The High-Rank Demon bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder as he spurred them on. Without hesitation, the unranked demons charged towards the portal in droves, their eyes alight with the promise of battle and the hunger for souls. Join them. Well see if you survive. Floch spoke as he pushed Xaren into the crowd. Immediately, Xaren found himself swept up in the rush, adrenaline surging as the horde of demons surged forward into the chaotic fray that awaited them on the other side. Chapter 9- Angels, Elves, and Giants Calling the situation at the other end of the rift wild was putting it mildly. There was no strategy in this battle, it was a dogfight. Just like how most battles end up. Xaren gripped the sword he had collected and looked at his surroundings as he thought this. Hed managed to get used to his new body in the past 2 weeks, however, this was his first time wielding a sword in this life. He was worried about weight and other things but his worries vanished like smoke when he felt the Swordsmanship skills effects activate. Xarens body adjustedhis stance becoming more grounded and balanced, his feet naturally finding the perfect spacing. His grip on the weapon shifted, firming up in a way that felt both secure and flexible, allowing for greater control and fluidity of movement. It was as if his muscles remembered techniques he learnt in his past life despite knowing this was not the case. Taking a breath, Xaren rushed forward as he analysed the enemies before him. Flying beings with radiant white feathered wings, their forms covered by a soft, golden light. Their expressions were stern, and they wielded swords of pure energy, hacking and slashing at demons and monsters. Tall and slender beings with sharp, angular features and long ears, firing longbows of magic that knocked flying demons out of the sky. Amidst them, the occasional giant towered, their massive frames casting long shadows over the battlefield. With stone-like skin and clubs the size of trees, they were behemoths of brute strength, crushing anything in their path. Angels, Elves andare the giants our allies? Answering his question was a tall giant who wielded a giant club to bash ten demons out of the sky in one move. Clearly not. Just as he thought that, someone cried out loudly as if threatening him and charged towards him. DIE!! A wingless angel? Must be unranked then. Xaren made this analysis as he kicked off the ground and used his gravity magic, lessening his weight to give himself a speed burst. ?! The angels eyes widened and he swung his light blade frantically, trying to stop Xarens charge, but Xaren tilted his body to dodge the blade and then swung his sword. Xarens blade slashed the angels neck as he dashed past him, then he killed his momentum before lurching back and stabbing the angel from behind, ending their life. [Level Up] Finally! Without a seconds delay, Xaren dashed forward, using his sword to slice the arrows fired at him by some elves while his second hand conjured a magic circle. Dark Bind! He called out and the single-ringed magic circle flashed, right before a similar one manifested underneath the legs of the elf and released tendrils of darkness that latched onto their limbs to hold them down. While he was distracted by the tendrils, Xaren conjured another circle and with a short chant, he fired a ball of black flames at the elf.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Fire Magic: Fireball! The ball of black fire tore through the air at breakneck speed and collided with the chest of the elf, exploding right after and sending charred flesh flying. Xaren dashed forward with a short burst of speed, running his hand across his blade as he cast a Fire Infusion spell on it. His blade was engulfed with black flames and he swung it down on the back of an angel fighting against a demon beast, tearing through the angels shoulder with ease and sending white blood spraying. Just before he could pull out his blade to deal the finishing blow, Xaren sensed danger and let go of his weapon without hesitation, jumping to the side to avoid the beam of light that pierced the ground where he stood a second ago. He looked up to see another angel attack from above, but before he could even say a word, the demon beast he had aided leapt at that angel to distract it, giving Xaren time to get his sword and finish off the one on the ground. Then he used gravity magic to lighten his body and jump in the air, doubling the weight of his blade as he brought it down on the back of the angel trying to fend off the demon beast. GAK!! The angel screamed out in pain and the demon beast seized the opportunity, swiping its claws and slashing the angels chest. Blood sprayed out, but the angel wasnt dead yet. He tried to use light magic but Xaren launched a fireball at his magic circle, destroying it. And like everyone whose magic was destroyed before they completed the casting, the angel faced spell backlash. The demon beast roared and swiped the angels neck, while Xaren launched another fireball that finished him off. [Level Up] x4 ?! I knew he was higher since he took many attacks without dying but 4 levels? Xaren had only just killed his third opponent, but he was already level 58. Just as he moved his gaze to the angels corpse, he saw a floating ball of light atop its back and he remembered that he hadnt taken any souls so far. Grey demon helped. Take it. The demon beast growled those words before turning around and charging towards a nearby group of elves, while Xaren quickly reached out to the angels soul. Is this safe to eat? Angels were light beings. They were on the positive side of the universes polarity spectrum and last he checked; their powers were a bit harmful against beings on the negative side. Xaren covered his hand with demonic energy before reaching for the angels soul, and as his fingers closed around it, the demonic energy latched onto the soul, tendrils of darkness seeping into the radiant sphere. In seconds, the once-brilliant soul was corrupted, its light extinguished and replaced by an ominous pitch-black hue. Without hesitation, Xaren devoured the corrupted soul. As it entered his body, his eyes widened in shock as he felt magic power coursing through him. His magic power increased slightlya change so subtle it would normally go unnoticed. But this slight increase was substantial enough that Xaren felt the difference. This was no ordinary boost; it signified an increase in his energy stat level. Demons like Xaren devoured souls to grow stronger, and these souls, essentially concentrated forms of energy, directly contributed to the enhancement of their stat levels. Each Stat had three sub ranks, the Negative sub ranks X-, the Neutral sub ranks X, and the Positive sub ranks X+. Within each sub-rank, there were Stat Levels that number 1-100. When one gains a stat; D- for example, that stat is at D- Level 1. With every main level increase, that stat D- Level increases, eventually reaching Level 100, whereupon, one gains the D Level 1 stat. Take that to D Level 100 and one gains the D+ Level 1 stat, and so on. In Xarens case now, this soul had taken his D+ Level from 8 to 16 in one jump, so he felt the increase which should have been gradual and unnoticeable. His eyes glinting, Xaren charged at the elves nearby and together with the demon beast from before, defeated them; however, this time, Xaren let the demon beast have the last blows. The two exchanged a look and then jumped at another group of elves, killing them and devouring their souls. Just when Xaren was about to pick up one of the souls, it suddenly flew out of his reach and into the air, surprising him. What? Mid-Rank demon, collect 1 soul for every five. The Demon beast explained to help him understand and Xaren turned to where he saw the soul fly and indeed, there were a group of Mid-Rank demons with some strange-looking devices in hand. So, the souls we devour are our pay and they take one in five as tax? He analogised it as such, before noticing that the Mid-Ranks werent fighting, they were just floating in the air and observing the battlefield. Most of the Low-rank demons werent fighting as well. Xaren turned and saw that on the angels side of things, the Mid-Rank angels were also silent, warily watching the Mid-Rank demons while the Low-Ranked ones who had gained wings ordered the unranked ones. Whats going on? He wanted to ask the demon beast but he saw that it had already charged at a trio of angels so he just shook his head and joined it. Xaren conjured a magic circle of flames and lightened his body with gravity manipulation, allowing him to move with extra agility. Wait a secIm using gravity manipulation without using my Unique Skill? It finally occurred to him that this was indeed what had been happening and a quick glance at his status board saw the 0 in his Gravity Magic Tier had now become 1. When did it change? Chapter 10- “I’m Gonna Be a Demon King!!!” Xaren pondered his Gravity Magics increase as he and the demon beasta humanoid leopard-like creature with long, razor-sharp clawsdashed forward and slashed at one of the angels, forcing it to retreat. Xaren hurled the sphere of black flames at another, and the flames licked at the angel''s pristine wings, causing it to cry out in pain. The angels retaliated, their weapons glowing with holy energy, but Xaren''s gravity manipulation gave him an edge. He shifted his weight, dodging a strike, and then intensified the gravity around his sword, adding extra force to his next swing. The blade cleaved through an angel''s defences, sending it crashing to the ground. [Level Up] x2 He died from just that? Must have been the kinds with low durability. Xaren reacted with mild surprise as his level hit 60, and just then, an extra notification appeared in his field of vision, informing him of an ability of his skill which he could now use. Is this how Unique skills work? He thought this as he used his demonic energy to activate the Child of Gravity skill and reached out with his left hand, focusing on this newfound power. One of the angels attempted to strike the demon beast from behind, but Xarens dark red aura enveloped the holy light blade and pulled it towards him. Makes sense. Even if you throw something up, it always comes down because of gravity. This is me controlling the force that attracts it to the ground. He understood this as he attacked the weapon-less angel with his black flaming sword, decapitating them in a single strike. The demon beast finished off the last angel with a ferocious swipe of its claws, and together, they stood victorious. ***BOOM! Suddenly, a massive explosion reverberated from above, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the air. Xaren''s head, along with everyone else''s, snapped up to the sky. There, they saw ita scene of terrifying grandeur. The clouds parted, and giant cracks spiderwebbed across the sky itself. A barrier shimmered under the immense pressure of some unknown force, struggling to hold back whatever lay beyond. **BOOM!! Another thunderous explosion echoed, and the cracks in the sky widened. The faces of the angels turned pale, and even the Mid-Rank demons gazed upward in shock and disbelief. *KABOOOMM!!! A third, deafening sound rang out, and the sky shattered like glass. The atmosphere itself parted, revealing the sea of stars above, vast and infinite. Xarens heart raced as he felt the overwhelming, immense and terrifying presence that the world itself was trying to keep out, begin to seep through. [Your Excellency!?] The voice of the High-Rank demon from earlier cut through the tension, just barely reaching Xaren''s ears. F-Floch and the others mentioned something about Their Excellencies earlier. Is this guy... one of them? Xarens thoughts stumbled over themselves, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of what was happening. Then, the overwhelming presence descended upon them all. It was as if the very air was drenched in demonic energy, thick and suffocating. The sky darkened, and black lightning began to rain down from above, each bolt striking down Mid-Ranked angels with deadly precision.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. [Hail the Demon King of Truth!!!!!!] The High-Rank demons voice rang out in exultation, shaking Xaren to his core. The Low and Mid-Rank demons snapped out of their shock and began cheering wildly, their voices rising in a chaotic chorus. The Demon King of Truth has arrived! Hail Demon King Gazer! Glory to Demon King Gazer! Demon King!!! Their cries echoed across the battlefield, a roar of triumph and reverence that seemed to shake the very earth. The man in the sky appeared almost human, floating with a commanding presence. But there was no mistaking what he truly washis five pairs of bat-like wings extended from his back, three dark, twisted horns jutted from his head, giving him a fearsome appearance, while a long, serpentine tail coiled and uncoiled slowly from his lower back. His arms were crossed, and as if to magnify his already terrifying presence, a third eye opened on his forehead, glowing with an eerie light. This eye seemed to pierce through everything below, scanning the entire battlefield with a gaze that held both immense power and unnerving coldness. Xaren''s emotions churned within him, a turbulent mix of awe, fear, and something else he couldn''t quite name. The sight of this beingthis Demon Kingstruck him to his core, making his blood run cold and his heart pound in his chest. Before this Demon King, the energy he once believed to be god-like, that of a Transcendent High-Rank Demon, now felt insignificant in comparison. All his life, Xaren had known High-Rank demons to be the pinnacle of demonkind. Their levels ranged from 900 to 1000the highest levels he believed possible and this understanding had always reinforced the idea that they were the apex of power. But to think there was something even fiercer! He could barely comprehend what his senses were telling him. This boundless energy had no end, an abyss that threatened to devour him if he tried to probe any deeper. Xaren felt fear, but beneath that fear, there was endless admiration. Such power... Its beyond anything I could have ever imagined. And then, there was desirean insatiable hunger for that strength. If I had such power, nothing could threaten my survival... I''d never have to fear anything again! In this second life, Xaren had set one simple goal for himselfto survive, no matter what. And now, he couldnt help but crave the overwhelming power he sensed before him. Suddenly, the Demon King of Truth, Gazer, turned his gaze and scanned Xarens area of the battlefield with his third eye. And then ?! he locked eyes with Xaren. The Demon Kings lips curled up ever so slightly, and he spoke words only Xaren heard in his soul. |So thats where you wereSingularity. | w-wahat? Xaren was confused. What was going on here? What the hell was a Singularity? Was this because he had reincarnated? Did the Demon King somehow sense that? Whatever questions he had, Xaren received no answers as the Demon King just laughed and turned his gaze towards the distance where beams of light streaked across the sky. High-ranked angels had appeared, and when they took in the sight of the Demon King, their faces turned as white as their wings. How?! The Worlds repulsion force shouldnt let a Deity enter here! He destroyed the Worlds repulsion! Stay calm! A Demon King cannot wield his full power in a Lower World like this without risking its destructionand the death of every demon on it! The angels tried to calm themselves, but the Demon King merely laughed, raising his hand with a chilling confidence. Dark lightning crackled at his fingertips, sweeping across the High-Ranked Angels and reducing them to charred remnants in an instant. Uooooo! Demon King!! His Excellency!!! The demons erupted into wild cheers. Xaren''s heartbeat quickened. The lightning didnt just annihilate the High-Ranked Angelsit vaporized hundreds of lower-ranked ones as well. And it didnt stop there. The bolt struck the ground, triggering an explosion that shook the earth like a violent earthquake. The cheers of the demons grew louder and the Demon King continued to watch in silence as they fought. Xaren continued to fight as well since he was attacked by frenzied unranked angels who felt the world was ending and he continued to kill, using his gravity magic for weighted impacts with his blade. Amid the chaos, a sudden notification flickered in his vision. [The Demon King of Truth gazes at you with intrigue.] A shiver ran through Xarens body at the unexpected message that appeared in his field of view. |I see, so thats your nature. I wonder what Grade youd turn out to be. | Once again, Gazers voice rang in his head and when Xaren turned to the sky, he saw the Demon Kings third eyelid close, its bright demonic light ceasing. |Do your best to survive, Singularity. Then, we shall meet again. | With that, Gazer turned his eyes to the fractured atmosphere and soared into space, leaving behind a trail of lightning that ignited cheers among the demons. Xaren stood silently, absorbing the overwhelming sensation of power he had just witnessed. The term: ''Their Excellencies'', mentioned by Floch and his friends suggested that Gazer wasnt the only Demon King out there. The power Xaren had seen was awe-inspiring. If all Demon Kings possessed such might, what could possibly challenge their supremacy? The high-ranked angels he had previously deemed god-like were insignificant in comparison. At that moment, Xarens resolve hardened. He yearned for that incredible power. Determined to reach such heights, he vowed to himself. Im Gonna Be a Demon King!!! Chapter 11-Gazer’s Observations Before I become a Demon King, I gotta survive this battle! Xaren shouted as he jumped at an elf and stabbed his blade through their unguarded back, twisting the blade inside before bringing it out. The elf still wasnt dead so Xaren used his gravity to double the force around his fist and punched the spot where he had stabbed, knocking them onto the ground before stabbing the elf again. Suddenly, the sound of a horn trumpet was heard and cheers erupted from every demon in sight. Xaren ignored them and continued attacking every angel and elf in sight, and eventually, he ran out of foes as they began retreating. What level am I now? Xaren questioned as he opened his status board and glanced through it. |Name- Xaren Race- High-Demon Gender- Male Age- 12 Level- 65 Existence Level- Silver (Superior) Titles- Unranked Newborn Demon, Irregular. Class- None HealthC D- Energy- D+ StrengthC D AgilityC D- Durability- D- Intelligence- D- Condition- Exhausted. Magic Tiers- Fire Tier 1, Darkness Tier 0, Gravity Tier 1, Space Tier 0. Skills- Language Comprehension, Energy Control, Energy Blast, Swordsmanship (P), Gravity Magic (T), Gravity Sphere, Tenacity. Unique Skills- Child of Gravity. | Level 65? And my stats are all D-Rank now. Xaren remembered how long it took him to reach Level 65 in his last life and sighed, deciding to stop thinking about this otherwise hed just make himself depressed for no reason. Well, most of what I know comes from there so theres no way I can just forget it. Still, he understood that most of what he knew might not be accurate, especially about other races and not just the demons. I doubt the Demons are the only ones with Kings. Itd be prudent to assume the other races have Kings as well. If we use a feudalistic setting, there are usually Lords of territories under Kings, so Im guessing the Demons have Lords as well. Xarens guess was correct as there indeed existed Demon Lords under the Demon Kings. He was also correct in assuming the other races had Kings as well. These Lords and Kings were all called Race Rulers. Are there any other Ranks below the Lords as well? He asked himself this question, but he didnt have the answer. Maybe I can find out from Floch and the othersUnauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Xaren wondered if Floch would remember him, especially considering there were thousands of unranked demons everywhere. Itd be nice. Maybe I can get to ask some questions and know more about the hierarchy. As he watched the sky, now mending itself after the Demon King''s departure, the thought crossed his mind. 󡡡󡡡 Interstellar Operations Spaceship Type 79. Planet Zorix 1I Gravitational Field Sector 98 January 15th Year 9025 of the 50th General Calendar Demon King Gazer appeared on the elevated platform with a flash of lightning. His feet touched down on the floor and he took fast steps forward, passing by the rows of demons bowing their heads. Your Excellency. These Demon Lords bowed before Gazer and he acknowledged them with a nod. Just then, the lights of the spaceship glowed and a hologram appeared before Gazer as he moved. [Oy, Geezer. What are you doing in that backwater sector? Weve got issues on the frontlines here.] The figure of a woman with twisted horns just like his appeared, and she asked this question with a raised brow. We had a new batch of demons coming in today so I showed up to give them a morale boost. Gazer replied as he continued walking down the long hallway and hearing his words the woman responded with a frown. [You could have sent any random Peak Rank Demon and thatd have been enough. Whyd you have to go yourself?] She listed the name of another Demon Rank that was right above the High-Rank, but below the Demon Lord rank in her words, and Gazer replied to her question with a light smile. Wanted to see if there was anyone promising. There were a few incognito Nobles hidden amongst them. That, was a big FAT lie. Gazer had been scouring worlds because he was looking for the Singularity Existence that had been created because of something he did in an Apex World 12 years ago. Though the woman on the other end of the line doubted Gazer, she didnt show it and just went along with him. [Those guys still do that thing? Seriously, if they wanted their kids to learn the reality of life and war, weve got better battlefields where noble bloodlines are needed. Especially those damned Frost Demons! The Fire Giants of Sector 38 are a fucking nuisance!] The woman cursed at the fire giants of that Sector who decided to ally with the humans there, unlike in many other sectors. [So? You see anyone worth their salt? That place is meant to weed out the useless newbornsthats why we have the Higher-Ranked demons observe onlyso there should have been some few useful ones who showed promise.] I cant tell that in a single battle, you know? Some might be flukes. [But you can at least see if theres some latent power in them, cant you? They dont call you GeezerI mean, Gazer, for nothing.] Gazer sighed and shook his head when he heard the woman purposely miss his name, but he still answered her question. I can, and I saw a few. There was one who was really good with wind magic, and we had a few lightning users. Some Straga demons showed promise as well. There was one who used gravity in a really intriguing way. He used his gravity magic to pull the darkness element into his flames, creating black flames with stronger firepower. The funniest part was that he didnt seem to realise what he was doing. The man chuckled as he spoke and hearing him, the woman on the other end of the line had her eyes widen in surprise. [He used Gravity to pull in the elements themselves? You sure you were looking at an unranked? Using gravity to pull in intangible things like elements is some high-level stuff.] Not really though. At least, not for that guy. He probably has a Unique Series Skill. You know how Series Skills have passive effects that manifest without the user realising it, even if the skill hasnt been awakened. Gazer calmly spoke on the reason for Xarens success in infusing his fire and darkness attributes; a passive attraction force of his Child of Gravity skill. The man entered a room and picked up a few items, wrote down some orders on a paper before holding up his right hand to conjure a magic circle. Give me your coordinates. [Hmm? Youre coming over now?] Were you not the one who wanted me to? [Oh, yeah, I did.] The Demon Queen chuckled as she spoke, before calling out the spatial coordinates of her location for Gazer who inscribed them into the magic circle he was conjuring. Within seconds, a spatial gate was born and the man stepped into it, disappearing from the sector. 󡡡󡡡 The battle was concluded. And how many hours have passed after that? Xaren couldnt tell. He was more focused on the reward he was receiving. As for what that reward was, it was armour. Actual armour, and not clothes enchanted for basic defence. They even tossed in a weapon too. The Mid-Rank demons had been tasked with observing the battlefield, so they were able to notice unranked demons who had performed particularly well. Xaren was one of the ones they noticed as he had a high number of kills compared to his cohorts. He also displayed far better skill than them. He briefly wondered if his skill level, which far exceeded the basic fighting knowledge in the Survival Guide, would draw any questions. However, it quickly became clear that the Mid-Ranked demons simply didnt care. As for why he had not tried to limit himself to prevent any suspicion, that would have been counterproductive and mightve put him in danger. Trying to purposely limit himself was quite hard, and given that some Mid-Rank demons already saw him as an anomaly, doing so mightve been whatd make them suspicious. Lastly, if I did that, I wouldnt have gotten proper gear. Rewarding him with new gear was their way of saying: If you could perform well with those basic stuff, take this higher-level stuff and perform better. Oh, and as a side piece, heres an extra set of clothes. Chapter 12- New Gear and World Hierarchies Xaren got an extra pair of enchanted clothes, and they even gave him boots too, ending his barefoot days. He did gain a few injuries from stepping on broken blades during the earlier fight, but those were all healed when the High-Rank demon in charge of Xarens division waved his hand and cast AOE healing Black Magic. It wasnt full body armour; A piece to cover his torso, shoulder pads, forearm and shin guards, and partial armour covering his joints. The sword they gave him, was clearly of much better quality than the previous standard issue blade. Elven runesCrazy! Indeed, they had given him a Runeblade. The sword originated from a high-profile elf from this world who had been killed before Xaren had come out of his cocoon. But although it was a Runeblade, the weapon was crafted for an elf whose level was below 200. As such, the Mid-Rank demon who acquired the sword couldnt use it since Mid-Rank demons were all Levels 700-899. The sword was useless to him so it was just lying around gathering dust, literally. Xaren had to use a rag to clean the dust off the blade. When the Mid-Rank demons were issuing rewards, the one who had the blade remembered it and tossed it to Xaren. "Take this as part of your reward," he said dismissively. It was useless to him, but to Xaren, it might as well be gold. After gaining his weapon and armour, Xaren didnt hesitate to put them on, and when he glanced at his reflection created by a silver shield lying around, he felt he really looked like a soldier. A child soldier, that is. This was the first time Xaren was properly looking at his new appearance, as he had been busy trying to survive and learning his Skills to bother in the past 2 weeks. His skin was as grey as he remembered, and his body was short yet well-proportioned. Two small horns protruded from his forehead, curving slightly backward. His facial features carried a hint of childishness, and his dark red eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and determination. Oh, it looks like someone just changed my skin colour to grey. His face didnt look much different from his previous self. If he had to say, his looks were even more refined than he remembered himself having as a child. Just as he was checking himself out in the mirror, a voice rang out from behind him. Oh, looks like you survived. A large shadow was cast over him and Xaren turned to see the fire demon Floch standing behind him, holding a giant ball of black light that made Xarens stomach rumble. Floch put the ball of light into a magic pouch hanging from his waist, before leaning in to observe Xaren closely. Since you survived, it means youve passed the first selection. selection? Xaren asked cautiously. Youre a smart one, so you should have realised whats going on here, Floch replied, crossing his arms. Tossing you all into this battle was to see how ready you are to fight at any given moment. It was also to pit you against the opponents youd be facing off in the future, and to weed out the useless ones amongst you lot.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Xaren had the question of them considering that not everyone was born to be a fighter, and there could be some promising supports or many other useful occupations that had died since they were considered useless, but he kept his thoughts to himself. The demons had their way of doing things, and one unranked demons words werent gonna change them. He was more concerned with himself. From the words of the High-Rank angels earlier, this world was a Lower World. Worlds/Planets had rankings. There were Lower ones and Higher ones, which were sometimes called Secondary and Primary planets. Higher Worlds were worlds with higher quality ambient energies, and stronger gravity and the existences living on those worlds were also stronger than average. These worlds existed to accommodate powerful beings like the Demon King from earlier. It was the Universes way of saying Hey, I made this world strong enough for you to go wild on, so dont go to Lower Worlds you could destroy on accident and cause trouble there. Lower Worlds had lower power limits, meaning beings above a certain level of power couldnt enter lower worlds without either sealing their powers or being kicked out by the worlds defensive laws, and Causality. One of those defensive laws was the Repulsion Law, which created what was known as the World Repulsion Force. It was what had tried to keep Gazer out earlier, and though the Demon King was able to destroy it, he had limited his strength greatly so he could enter the atmosphere. In a higher world, he wouldnt need to go through all that stress. The ambient energy pressure on higher worlds was strong enough that if one wasnt born there and tried to enter from outside, they wouldnt be able to withstand it unless their level was high. As far as Xaren knew, the World ranks were: Lower>Middle>High and hed heard a General mention the existence of a Prime world before. But anyway, this Lower World doesnt seem to be the kind of place where the demons would train their promising forces Xarens skill level in his past life was certainly above average, which was impressive considering he was self-taught. But if he wanted to become a Demon King, he needed more than that. I also need to learn proper magic too. If the demons saw him as promising and decided to invest in him, he would most likely be taught proper magic and more advanced fighting skills which would be greatly beneficial. Returning his focus to Floch, he asked hesitantly. um, how do I address youSir? ? Floch looked at Xaren in confusion for a moment, before understanding dawned on him and he burst out laughing. Pfftthis kid. I couldnt be bothered about that. Im just a Mid-Rank. But if you encounter a High-Rank demon, you gotta be VERY respectful. Every High-Rank demon you see is a Sir. Repeat after me; Sir!! Sir!! Xaren echoed quickly. Thats the spirit! Floch nodded approvingly. He then leaned closer, carefully scanning Xarens energy to estimate his level. Yourelevel 60? 70? 65. Oh, right in the middle. How many angels did you kill to go up nearly 15 levels? I know they give us more EXP, but it must have been a lot to increase that much in one jump. Flochs words revealed something that Xaren wasnt aware of before, that demons got more EXP from killing angels. The reverse was also the case, and this was one of the many reasons behind the eternal enmity between the two races. Demons saw angels as feathered EXP packs, and the angels saw the demons as malevolent EXP packs. What are you doing, Floch? Another Mid-Rank demoness approached after seeing Floch, and Xaren recognized her as the one who had given him the enchanted clothes earlier. Oh, isnt this that one from before? Hes Level 65 now, she observed. Yeah, I was just asking how many kills he racked up, Floch responded, grabbing Xaren by the arm and effortlessly lifting him as he continued. He seems like he has promise so Id pick him up and keep him around. *KPAK! The demoness slapped the back of Flochs head as she reprimanded him. Hes not a pok*mon you idiot, put him down. Floch, startled, released Xaren, who landed back on the ground with a slight stumble. She then shifted her focus to the more important task. The High-Ranks are calling us. Lets go. Oh, okay. Floch responded and then flapped his wings to prepare for flight, only to remember he didnt know what Xarens name was. Turning back, he asked. Whats your name, kid? Dont be an idiot and tell me everything, just pick a segment to use. The fire demon remembered some unranked demons beginning to call out their full true names when he asked them this before and sighed as he warned Xaren. Naturally, Xaren already knew not to tell his full true name and just gave the five-letter name he had retained from his past life. Xaren. Xaren, huh? Im Floch. Hopefully, you dont die in the coming battles and successfully become a low rank. With that response, Floch flew away with the demoness. As the fire demon vanished beyond his field of vision, Xaren silently pondered his words. He said coming battles. Plural. That means this is just the beginning. Sure, they were trying to weed out the newborn demons without potential, but even if one showed promise, there was another requirement to be taken out of this Lower-Level battlefront world. He had to reach Level 100 and become a Low-Rank demon. Chapter 13-Morning Battle Call Upon reaching Level 100, hed gain his first pair of wings which would stick with him, from the Master, through the Grandmaster, Epic, Legendary, Sovereign and finally Transcendent Realms. Above that, the number of wings would increase. Anyway, right now, Xaren was unranked, and to leave this world and be taken to somewhere better where theyd actually consider giving him even advanced fighting training, he needed to become Low-Rank. For now, I need to become a Gold Realm. Each Existence Realm had three stages, Inferior, Intermediate and Superior. When one entered a Realm, one started from Inferior and when one reached the Superior stage, one needed to get to the next realm to continue levelling up. The Bronze, Silver and Gold realms were often called the starter realms, and right now, Xaren was a Superior Silver Realm. He estimated that by Level 70, hed need to become an Inferior Gold to progress any further. When most people reach the peak of their Existence Level stages, they face walls and become unable to level up. If the peak of a stage could be likened to some sort of barrier that prevented the persons power from going to the next stage, it could be broken forcefully by absorbing so much power that the barrier would not be able to take it anymore and end up breaking. But until that is done, one cannot level up. As a demon, I guess itd be souls, then. Souls or Id use the method I used previously to absorb energy and use it to break the barrier. Entering the Gold realm wasnt a challenge from Xarens perspective; getting to the Master realm, however, could be a herculean task. Xaren remembered the stress he previously went through to enter the Master realm and sighed. This body is a High-Demon, it should be a lot easier for me to do so this time. He certainly hoped he wouldnt need to spend months at Level 99 again. Xaren had this thought as he headed towards the place where the unranked demons were congregating, and he felt some rather unpleasant gazes coming from the Low-Ranked demons supervising them. Tracing their gazes, he noticed they were more focused on the Runeblade he was with than on him. Low-Rank demons were Level 100-699, and for these Low-Rank demons still below Level 200, Xarens Runeblade was a weapon that was very useful to them. Some wanted to bully Xaren for it, but they remembered seeing Floch and that other demoness with him earlier and thought that they had their eyes on Xaren, as such, they held themselves back out of fear of pissing off a Mid-Rank. Not knowing why they just stared at him without trying anything, Xaren followed the unranked demons to the wooden huts and stone buildings that served as their barracks. As a performance perk, he was assigned a hut for himself and didnt need to share it with four other demons.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Xarens level 65 body did give him superhuman strength, but he was still a bit exhausted after the days battle so he didnt take too long to sleep. Years of fighting in his previous life had allowed him to possess the ability to sleep with one eye open, but perhaps his mental fatigue had accumulated over weeks without proper sleep in the Abyss, and he soon fell into a deep sleep. When he awakened, it was barely 5 am and within a few minutes, the Low-Rank demons blared a siren to wake the unranked demons up. They were congregated in the ruins of the previous days battles, and there, the Mid-Rank demons explained that for this day, only the unranked would be fighting. The goal of the battle was to recover territory that had been lost to the elves when the last batch of unranked demons failed to protect it, so they, alongside that batch of unranked were going to fight for it. Apparently, the Low and Mid-rank demons were going to be present, but only to keep the stronger elves in check and kill anyone above Level 100 who tried to join the battle. The demons were very serious about letting only the unranked fight. So, were the reinforcements. Xaren thought this as they had their breakfastsome meat and waterdistributed for them before the High-Rank demon from the previous day showed up again and cast the Spatial Gate magic that would send them to the battlefield. 󡡡󡡡 Leading the troop with Xaren was a burly fire demon who looked so big, that Xaren wondered if he was really unranked. Im Langa! Im your Captain! This demon was armoured and had a helmet and a round shield at his back. He wielded a long sword and Xaren was genuinely curious what level this demon was at. There were only ten Captains among the unranked demons, and each one was outfitted with armour and weapons of clearly higher quality. Xaren would have been picked as a Captain as well, but the Captains were selected during the time he was talking with Floch so they picked someone else instead. Compared to yesterday, a good number of the unranked have actual armour, even if its only partial. Xaren made this observation as Langa explained their objective, pretty much just repeating the words the higher-ranked demons had said earlier. The front line has already started attacking. We will descend in the middle of the battlefield. It was a similar situation to the previous day where they were thrust right into the ongoing battle. After saying this, Langa beat his chest and added, I will always be at the front. Just follow me. With that, the sound of trumpets was heard and the demons charged through the spatial gate behind Langa. Follow me! Uoo! Lets go! Souls!! Kill elves!! Tear their long ears!!! Xaren heard the battle cries that almost made him laugh as he sprinted toward the spatial gate. As he passed through it, cold air filled his lungs, and he looked up to see an expanse of white plains marred by black smoke and blood splatters. The battlefield was a grim sight. Charge!! Langa''s voice rang out as he filled his sword with demonic energy, hacking and slashing through elves with ruthless efficiency, beheading them in a single strike. Oh, this guy seems strong. Xaren honestly thought that. But it was also only for a moment. GROOARRR!! A thunderous roar reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath them. The earth erupted as an enormous humanoid creature, hidden underground, burst forth. The Lesser Giant was about five meters tall, and despite its massive size, it moved with alarming speed. Langa, leading the charge, barely had time to raise his shield. The giants sword, however, was faster, cleaving Langas body in two with a single, brutal strike. In mere seconds, the demons around Langa were reduced to nothing more than mangled remains as the giant fully emerged from the ground, roaring once more. Damn, one hit K.O! Xaren internally exclaimed, right before he made eye contact with the giant. Silence reigned for a split second, and then the giant threw its body at Xaren. There was no way to stop its charge. Xaren knew that if the giants sworda weapon wielded by a race with inherently high strengthreached him, it would be the end. He quickly lightened his body with gravity magic and leapt to the side. The Lesser Giants sword crashed down, slicing the demon behind Xaren clean in two. The giants eyes, however, remained fixated on Xaren, and there was a new intensity in them. Xaren had dodged an attack that even Langa who was their leader couldnt escape. The giant turned and swung his blade, at a low height, aiming to sever Xarens upper body but Xarens lightened body enabled him to jump high enough to avoid it, before kicking off the blade and using the momentum to dash toward his towering opponent. Fire Magic: Weapon Infusion. Black flames engulfed Xarens sword as he swung it at the giants thigh, eliciting a roar of pain from the hulking creature. Damn, the magic conductivity of this weapon is nice. Xaren noted, satisfaction creeping into his thoughts. He swiftly jumped back, narrowly evading the giants retaliatory slash and as soon as his feet touched the ground, he leapt to the side again, dodging the giants follow-up overhead strike that left a deep fissure in the earth. Chapter 14- "Don’t call me that cringe name!" Xaren had dodged the giants strikes three times and now, he could feel the gazes of the other demons near him and the rage of the giant. Alright, lets aim to counter after dodging. Attack the leg and break his stance. He recited the simple strategy he had used to fight giants in his past life while the giant roared and drew the attention of more elves to them. The elves charged with swords, while some stayed behind and fired arrows from crossbows. In response, a part of the demons roared and charged towards them, while another part charged towards the lesser giant. Three of them swung their swords aiming for his legs just like Xaren had done, but the giant didnt stay still and jumped into the air to dodge the attacks. After landing, the giant swung his sword while activating a skill, prompting the demons to retreat hurriedly. However, one of them got hit and the demons upper body was sent flying. The other two didnt care for their comrades death and charged at the giants legs again, but it was pointless as the giant was now protecting his legs. The giant kicked the two demons away before jumping towards Xaren who quickly lightened his body with gravity magic and dodged to the side to avoid its sword that hit with the force of a truck. Hitting the legs is no good because of the others. Now it''s actively protecting them. So lets try aiming higher. Xaren thought as he used gravity magic to lighten his body and dodge one of the giant slashes, before jumping onto the giants hand and running up the limb. Fire Magic. The giant moved his other hand to flick Xaren off, but Xaren jumped before he could be knocked off and completed his magic circle. Fire Spear. The spear of black flames manifested before Xarens hand faster than the giant could react, forcing it to close its eyes in a desperate attempt to protect itself. But that decision only sealed its fate. Instead of throwing the spear, he clutched his flaming sword tightly and launched himself at the giants face. The massive creatures eyelids, now shut in futile defence, were a perfect target for his Runeblade. With a swift movement, Xaren drove his sword into the giants eye, the blade sinking deep into the soft tissue. The black flames surrounding the weapon roared to life, igniting the eye from within. A guttural, earth-shaking scream tore from the giants throat as it stumbled back, clutching at its face in agony. Xaren threw the flame spear at the giants forehead and twisted his blade to ensure maximum agony, but just as he pulled it free, the giants other arm grabbed his body and flung him to the ground. Instinctively, Xaren coated his body with magic power but even then, the force of his fall made him feel pain and shock that seemed to break his body. If he was unarmoured, he mightve lost consciousness! Xaren raised his body with small difficulty, looking up to see the Lesser Giant thrashing around. Chance! He rolled on the floor to avoid the giant sword that threatened to split him in two before infusing more magic power into the Runeblade and kicking the ground to dash towards the giant in a burst of speed.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Runeblade greedily sucked his energy and its blade engulfed in black flames gleamed with sharpness. Holding out his right hand, Xaren locked onto a chunk of earth that the giant had scattered when it emerged from the ground and used his Child of Gravity skill to attract it. Dark red energy enveloped the rock and it flew through the air, heading towards Xaren, however, the giants left leg was in between Xaren and the rock. The rock, lacking intelligence or homing capabilities, continued in a straight line and struck the back of the giants knee, destabilizing its footing and bringing it down to one knee. Seeing the giant''s head drop to his level, Xaren quickly lightened his body with gravity magic and leapt into the air. Shift magic power into the sword to increase its weight and SWING! He instructed his body as he brought down his blade towards the neck of the giant with all his might. The blade cleaved through flesh and bone, splitting the neck as blood erupted like a fountain. Xaren couldn''t land properly, tumbling to the ground, but he used his sword as a cane to rise and as if on cue, the massive body of the giant toppled with a thunderous crash. The surrounding demons gulped air. Even the demons that were still in the middle of fighting were looking at Xaren. And then, all of them started to yell loudly. Woohoo! Grey Demon! The giant is dead! Giant Slayer! Black Fire Demon! Blade of Darkness! ''Dont call me that cringe name!'' Xaren thought, trying to ignore the odd titles the demons had already started to give him. He quickly got to his feet and turned to pick up the giants soul, devouring it without a seconds hesitation. Gripping the Runeblade in his hands tightly, he infused more energy into it and turned towards the direction where more elves were charging from beyond the white plains. Thats the direction of the city were aiming for, right? Taking a deep breath, he glanced at the demons nearby who were looking at him with expectant eyes. In demon society, merit and might made right, and Xaren had shown he had might. Now, they were looking at him like he was to be their new leader after Langas death. Not wanting to break the momentum, he held up his sword and yelled aloud. Charge!! The demons roared loudly and charged at the elves after him, their bloodlust palpable as they surged forward, eager to spill more blood and claim the souls of their enemies. The unranked demons, emboldened by Xaren''s victory over the giant, unleashed their fury on the terrified elves in what could only be called a massacre. 󡡡󡡡 Mid-Rank fire demon Floch silently glared at the sky. Although it seemed like it was just filled with clouds, it was different in his perception. He could sense the airships of the elves with Level 100+ soldiers hidden behind the clouds. They could also sense his presence, as well as his look which dared them to attack. As he expected, they didnt risk it, especially as Floch was currently seated on the severed head of a dead Greater Giant. The demons we sent here are only a few thousand, and they should be able to deal with the elves in the plains. The main battle would begin when they get to the city. The number of unranked demons that were on this planet, Zorix 1I numbered in the millions, and they were all scattered across numerous battlefields. In the end, this territory is not worth much. This battles only goal is to train the newbie demons. He said this aloud and in the next moment, a voice rang out from behind him. [They dont need to know that.] ?! Flochs eyes widened and he hastily turned around. By the time he faced the figure that had suddenly appeared behind him, his head was bowed and he was down on one knee. Sir Naephas. Naephas, the High-Rank demon in charge of overseeing this continents battles nodded to acknowledge him, before glancing at the plains where Xaren was fighting. [Lord Xynax said he wanted me to pick some promising newbies and bring them to him. Ive found two already, so I came to observe and see if I can find the remaining three.] Naephas was only on this world temporarily, because of the new batches of demons who had just come in from the hatching grounds. After a few weeks or months, he was to return to the Mid-Level world he was in before, and Naephass superior in that world had passed down an order which led to his presence here. [Has anyone caught your attention?] Naephas posed this question to Floch and the fire demon almost responded like he usually didthat there was none. But this time, he paused and thought of a certain little grey demon. Sir, theres one who might interest you. He explained the circumstances in which he found Xaren and hearing this, Naephas just sighed. [Its probably a Nobles kid. But who knows, he might turn out to be an ordinary folk. Nobles arent the only talented demons out there, after all.] The High-Rank demon used magic to observe the entire plains, rubbing his chin as he spotted some demons making waves. A leopard demon beast tearing through elves with his claws, a white-haired little demoness, dismembering elves left and right with imperceptible slashes and a grey demon leading other unranked demons in a charge. Those ones seem good. But the battle is just beginning, lets see how they fare until the end. Chapter 15- New Squad We won! Its our victory! Uooo! Woohoo!!! The demons raised their weapons and cheered, with some jumping while holding souls in their hands. Xaren smiled wryly at the sight of the demons strange ways of celebrating, before sitting down on a rock with a sigh. Whew Ha Im fucking exhausted. He muttered as he opened his status to see his current level, however, his expression rapidly darkened when he saw his Titles tab. |Titles- Unranked newborn Demon, Irregular, Lesser Giant Slayer, Black Fire Demon, Blade of Darkness. | ''They already stuck'' Many demons had been shouting ''Black Fire Demon'' and ''Blade of Darkness''. Even those who hadn''t seen him kill the giant began shouting it as well, and soon, hundreds of demons were screaming this out as they fought. Things like this were what made titles stick, and whether Xaren liked it or not, there was nothing he could do about it. After inspecting his status, he raised his gaze and began looking around for what to use and clean the blood off his sword when he caught sight of a familiar figure. Isn''t that the demon beast from yesterday? The demon beast, with a head that was a mix of humanoid and leopard features, sensed his stare and turned toward him, recognition flashing through his yellow eyes. Grey demon. Its Xaren. Xaren corrected him, mildly surprised that the demon beast remembered him at all. The demon beast then tilted his head to the side, as if contemplating this new information. Grey demon is Xaren. He repeated, nodding slowly in understanding. Then, pointing to himself, he added, Bjorn. Xaren gave a nod in return and raised his balled fist in a gesture of camaraderie, but Bjorn blinked in confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the greeting. After a quick explanation from Xaren, Bjorn''s eyes lit up in comprehension, and he returned the gesture with enthusiasm. Not long after, Bjorn moved on, eagerly sharing this newfound greeting with another demon, the sight drawing a rare, amused smile from Xaren. Like a child who just got a new toy and wants to show everyone That was how Xaren saw Bjorns actions, and they werent too far off from reality as unlike the reincarnated Xaren, Bjorn and the others were genuine children. Oh well, not like Im far off. I didnt even reach adulthood before. Also, Im probably the youngest demon here since these guys are most likely all from previous batches. Indeed, he was. Just then, a Mid-Ranked demon appeared in the sky and gave the order to gather, with the unranked quickly rushing to congregate. The scene of the disobedient being beaten up was fresh in their minds, so they were quick to comply. [Alright, listen up pipsqueaks. Your fight here is just beginning. The goal is to get back that city in the distance so youd be fighting a siege battle tomorrow. Not like half of you know what that is.] The demon yawned, his tone dripping with boredom as he adjusted his magic to make his voice even louder. [Where are the ones who were under the dead guy called Langa?] At the mention of their fallen captain, Xaren and the few others who bothered to remember Langas name raised their hands. The Mid-Rank demon nodded before effortlessly lifting them into the air with his magic, gathering them up like stray cattle and depositing them in another part of the plains.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. [Your Captain died so you all would join another Captains troop. She is your new captain.] The Mid-Ranked demon pointed at a young demoness seated on a rock, hugging a Runeblade similar to Xarens. She had long white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of silver, contrasting sharply with her tanned brown skin. Her obsidian black eyes, seemed to absorb the light around them, giving her an air of quiet intensity. In response to the Mid-Ranked demons words, she offered a simple nod, casting a quick, assessing glance at the demons who had just been unceremoniously placed under her command. [Moving on, some of you had good performances today so youve got extra rewards.] The Mid-Ranked demon unfurled a piece of parchment and scanned the crowd below, chanting something under his breath. His magic pulsed outward, washing over the unranked demons, and moments later, Xaren and several others noticed glowing markers hovering above their heads. [You all get weapon and armour upgrades, and ehwhat else was there again?] The demon squinted at the parchment before nodding to himself and continuing. [Ah, right. Youre exempt from soul tax tomorrow, and you get ten angel souls each. Lastly, theres a pouch of silver coins. Better keep that one safe since itd be useful on main Battlefront worldsif you live long enough to get there.] Hearing the demons words, Xaren found himself more concerned about why everyone and their mother kept saying things like if you live long enough or if you dont die before then, than the rewards being listed. Just how high is the mortality rate for unranked demons? He just had this thought when a pouch of coins landed squarely on his head and snapped him out of his thoughts. A scroll followed, which he opened to reveal runic inscriptions he couldnt decipher. However, the bold words at the top: Infuse Demonic Energy to Retrieve Souls, were clear enough. This magic scroll was a method that demons used to store souls they werent devouring immediately, preventing them from being claimed by the law of death. As he examined the pouch more closely, he realized it was a low-level magic pouch, capable of holding the scroll and even large enough to fit his Runeblade. He tied it securely to the inner part of his armour, just as the Mid-Ranked demons magic wrapped around him once more, lifting him into the air and dragging him over to where he would receive his armour upgrade, as well as get marked so the Soul attractors didnt take souls from him tomorrow. 󡡡󡡡 His Runeblade was already good enough for his level and any upgrades would have made it too powerful for him to use, so they did nothing to it. His armour, however, got proper enchantments which increased their defensive power by 2x. After being marked so the Soul attractors would avoid him, Xaren rushed to bed to rest his mind and body. The next morning, they were jolted out of bed by a siren once more and after a meal that was just enough to prevent any stomachs from growling, they were sent into battle again. Despite taking a hands-off approach to the fighting since it was meant to level up the Unranked, the higher demons still gave certain orders. For example, the troop Xaren was in was given a special assignment. To begin retaking the city, the demons had to first take out the fortress on the way to the city. Only after taking down this fortress could they attack the city without worry of a pincer attack so they were striking it first. The siege battle has started. While the enemies are focused on defending the front, wed use that opportunity to attack their rear. Securing the Rune Magic control room and opening the gates is our task. Xarens troop captain, whose name he discovered was Ilya, spoke and the demons around Xaren all nodded silently. The troop had been split up, and she was talking a small group of more experienced Unranked demons for this, with Xaren being the only new batch demon in it. When his armour was being upgraded, some of the higher demons recognized him as the Runeblade guy and they made him join this small group on this mission. There were about 200 of them, and they silently watched as the rest of the unranked demons attacked the front of the huge stone fortress. Their numbers were in the thousands, and the sight of thousands of demons charging towards them alongside several siege towers made of steel charging at the same time was really overwhelming. Well, they look tiny from up here. Xaren thought as he watched the crown on the ground from his position on an airship high up in the sky. He and the other demons meant to enter the fortress were all being dropped into the fortress from above and they were awaiting their drop. After a few moments, Xaren removed his gaze from the ground and looked around to study the airship they were in. It was equipped with advanced magic-tech mechanisms, and beneath his feet, runes glowed softly on the floor, a sign that the teleportation platform they were standing on was activating. "Get ready. Were being dropped directly into the fortress courtyard." Ilya''s voice cut through the silence and a moment later, the runes under their feet flared to life. The teleportation system integrated with the ships hull crackled, casting a shimmering net of demonic energy over each demon. Xaren felt a tug in his chest as the mechanism activated, and the now-familiar sensation of spatial displacement washed over him. His vision went dark for a few seconds, and when light entered his eyes again, he was falling through the air, right above the fortress courtyard. As they dropped toward the ground, the air shimmered around them, revealing wind enchantments cast on them that slowed their descent, cushioning them. Ilya touched down first, her feet barely making a whisper against the stone as the rest of the group followed. The scent of trees filled their noses, and the elves who were scurrying about, moving supplies and organizing their defences, turned to them in shock. The fortress courtyard was filled with towering trees that seemed out of place in such a militarized setting. The roots of these immense trees curled and twisted through the stone pathways, their broad trunks rising high enough to block parts of the sky. Chapter 16-Treants The presence of these trees, though beautiful, was impractical for a fortress meant for defence. If the elves werent the ones manning this stronghold, it would have been an absurd sighta forest growing inside a fortified keep. But for the elves, this greenery was not for decoration, but something far more dangerous. One of the mage elves standing near the centre reacted upon the sight of the demons suddenly appearing in this part of the fortress. His cloak billowed as he raised a hand, muttering an incantation under his breath. Magic power filled the air, and the trees around them began to stir. Suddenly, the once-still trees groaned as their bark split open, revealing glowing eyes and mouths formed from twisted branches. These were no ordinary trees, but Treantssentient tree guardians, fiercely protective of their elven masters. The Treants shifted their massive limbs, twisting their branches into thick gnarled fists. As the trees came to life, the elves scattered in panic. Many of them were simple attendants, supply personnel or scouts, ill-prepared for direct combat. Their shouts of alarm echoed through the courtyard as they sprinted toward cover. The few elven combatants present were quick to act, drawing their ornate crossbows and unsheathing their curved swords. Without hesitation, they charged at the demons, losing arrows infused with magic as they closed the distance. Ilya was the first among the demons to move. She was also the fastest. Wind pooled at her feet and launched her body forward, allowing her to close the distance and swing her Runeblade, beheading two elves in an instant. ?! I didnt even see her sword move! Xaren couldnt help but be amazed by her speed, but this was only momentary as his focus soon turned to the Treants before him. The elven mage cast another spell and sensing it, both Xaren and Ilya reacted with recognition, though their expressions were starkly different. Xaren was calm, but Ilyas stoic expression turned into a frown. The spell the mage had used was called Pack Unity; one that grouped the Treants into packs and increased the strength and coordination of each pack. Their power, speed and durability were also enhanced as well. Having seen this spell used by elves before, Xaren recognized it, along with the glaring weakness: the spell functioned by linking the Treants to a single leader, a linchpin among them. The leader was the source of the buffs that enhanced the entire pack. Take down the leader, and the rest would crumble. And it seemed that Ilya knew about this weakness as well. They are using Pack Unity. Try to get rid of the Leaders! But finding the leader was no easy task. The first problem was that the leaders looked exactly the same as the normal ones. Because of that, not even Ilya who had given the order expected much. It was very difficult to differentiate the leader at a glance. Whats more, the battlefield was a chaotic mess of movement and sound, with Treants, elves and demons fighting everywhere. Xaren narrowed his dark red eyes, filtering through the chaos of clashing demons and elves, observing the towering Treants for the subtle clues hed learned to watch for. Years of fighting in a brutal five-way war had given Xaren a lot of experience with the techniques and spells commonly used by the races involvedat least in their lower ranks.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. From what he knew, the leaders in the Pack Unity spell were never the largest or the most aggressivethose were usually distractions. Instead, the true leader moved with deliberate caution. It didnt charge ahead recklessly, nor did it stay at the front lines for long. While the other Treants fought fiercely, the leader always fell back after a brief exchange, repositioning itself near the middle of the group. This ensured that the buff it provided could spread evenly across the pack, maintaining the coordination and strength of its allies. Xarens gaze flicked to a Treant that stood in the thick of battle but never committed fully to any one fight. While the others swung their massive limbs with abandon, this one seemed to retreat to a more central location whenever it had the chance, its movements measured as it watched over the others. That one! He charged forward, weaving through the combatants and using the chaos to his advantage. The moment the Treant stepped into the attack, Xaren was there, striking with his sword. The blade barely pierced the thick wooden hide, a shallow wound opening on its trunk-like body. But that was enoughhis demonic energy seeped into the wound, marking it. The Treant recoiled, retreating once more to its central position within the pack, but Xaren didnt give chase. Instead, he spun, running up the back of another Treant, and launched himself into the air, lightening his body with gravity manipulation. With his agility enhanced, he darted through the trees like a shadow, leaping between branches with ease. In mid-air, he spotted another leader among its pack and he used the falling body of an elf as a springboard to launch himself at it, striking again and marking it with a shallow wound. Like before, the creature pulled back, but Xaren was already gone, leaping toward the next. He moved like a blur, marking leader after leader. His strikes didnt deal much damage, containing just enough energy to tag them but not enough to be drawn into a prolonged battle. One particular target, however, threw him off. As Xaren slashed through the bark of a Treant he believed to be the leader, he leapt away, only for the creature to be felled moments later by another demons attack. Xaren paused in mid-air, watching as the other Treants movedunchanged, unweakened. "It wasnt the leader?" Clearly, Xarens observations hadnt been flawless. With the battlefield in constant flux and his movements never stopping, he couldnt afford the time to confirm every leader. Still, he carried on, marking five more, four of which he got right. After marking all those he observed as leaders, it was now time to begin attacking. Turning his attention back to the nearest marked Treant leader, kicked off the ground and dashed forward, using his gravity attraction to pull away the branches of the Treant in front of his target and taking advantage of his small body to jump in through the gap. Sensing his approach, the Treant leader moved, its vines lashing out but Xaren sliced them into pieces with the sharp edge of his Runeblade. Fire Magic: Weapon Infusion. Black flames burned on his blade and he swung it, unleashing a wave directed not at the leader but at the ones closest to it. The flames, born of darkness and fire, consumed the surrounding Treants, making them elicit screams of pain as they fell on one another. This caged the Treant in with its burning comrades on all sides, and Xaren quickly followed up, using his power to manipulate gravity around the leader, pulling it upward with tremendous force, and tearing it from the ground. The creature let out a shrill cry, its vines flailing as it was lifted into the air, away from the earth that gave it strength. Xaren hurled it onto a burning Treant and the flames spread onto the leader, then he jumped and doubled gravity on his sword before swinging it down, splitting through the leaders bark in one full-powered strike. The moment the leader fell, the change was instantaneousthe remaining Treants in that pack faltered, their movements slowing and their coordination breaking down. Xaren didnt waste time after making this kill, he jumped off the Treant''s corpse and landed on the floor, rolling right next to a Fire Demon using magic to burn the tree monsters. However, the ones he targeted still had a leader, so their durability was enhanced to the level where they could tank his flames. Grabbing the demons arm, he spoke. I can distinguish the leaders! Shoot the ones I tell you to. I also cant distinguish what?! The demon was about to answer reflexively when Xarens words echoed in his head. He turned towards Xaren in surprise but Xaren didnt waste time and pointed at the Treant leader of the pack. That one! The third one from the right! This demons firepower was higher than Xarens, owing to his higher level and greater flame affinity and that firepower showed itself as the demons fireball blasted into the roaring mouth of the Treant and exploded, killing it immediately. Luckily for him, the Treant just happened to roar then so he got a hit on the insides and dealt enough internal damage to kill it. Immediately, the movements of the Treants that were near the one that had just died became noticeably duller. It was true! Clearly, the demon had doubts and only listened because Xaren was a comrade, but now his doubts had evaporated. Just then, someone who saw this little interaction blitzed through the courtyard, sending elven heads flying as they moved. Xaren felt a gust of wind and he turned to see Ilya cutting off an elfs arms and taking the crossbow they held. She landed on the floor right in front of him and grabbed him as she spoke. Point them out for me! She didnt care how or why he could fish out the leaders. What mattered was that he could. The demoness pulled on his arm, making him face another group of Treants, before putting herself in front of him. She leaned her back on Xarens chest and head, loading the crossbow she just stole and pointed it forward. Xaren instantly understood why she did that and extended his arms beyond her shoulders, pointing at the leaders he had marked with his energy earlier. That one! That one! That one! Chapter 17-Serpents in the Dark The position Xarens fingers were pointing at and the direction Ilyas eyes were looking at overlapped and she pulled the trigger on the crossbow with a thunder-like speed. Each bolt she fired had a small whirlwind around it, tripling the speed with which it shot through the air and pierced the hides of the Treants. Xaren twisted his lips after the third, before grabbing onto her hand and redirecting her trajectory just as she pulled the trigger. He noticed one leader he had missed and changed her trajectory to make her shoot it before it retreated behind the cover of three others; whats more, the arrow she fired didnt just have a whirlwind but a flaming trail. It didnt diminish in speed, and its piercing power seemed to double, allowing it to easily puncture the bark of the Treant targeted. Then, Xarens black flames erupted, spread out across the Treant by the last burst of wind on the arrows and covered a section of its body in flames. what did you do? Ilya wasnt blind, so she could see that he had added flames. As such, her question was not about the flames, but the reason for the sudden spike in the piercing power of the arrows. I doubled its weight. Itd pack an extra punch, and wouldnt fall off easily Redirecting her hand, he made her pull the trigger and fire at one of the leaders who ripped out the arrow she shot in it earlier before finishing his statement. or get ripped out like that guy did. Ilya nodded in silence before asking him to point out the next one and they continued shooting the leaders while the Fire demon from earlier protected their backs from the elven mages who wanted to stop them. **PUK! PUK! PUK! The two emptied all the crossbow bolts on the leaders, and Xarens flames burst on impact, licking their barks with searing heat. These Treants were all at least Level 70, and they were all buffed so even with their combo, Xaren and Ilya couldnt take them down in a single strike. However, their actions still had a meaning. Ilya raised her voice and yelled. Demons! Concentrate your attacks on the ones that have arrows and black flames! Ou!! Lets go!! The leader Treants didnt look ordinary anymore and now had large signs differentiating them. Immediately after giving her order, Ilya tossed the empty crossbow aside and dashed towards one of the Treant leaders. Her speed was even faster than before, and Xaren felt like the air around her shimmered with an almost imperceptible disturbance, though he couldnt discern what exactly was causing it. As Ilya closed in on her target, the Treants seemed to react in a disjointed manner, their branches and limbs appearing to fragment and splinter in the wake of her approach. It was as if some unseen force was slicing and dicing through them, though Xaren could see nothing but the aftermath. He was sure it wasnt her as her hand remained on the grip of her sheathed Runeblade, barely moving as she ran forward. With all the Treants around her mysteriously losing their limbs, Ilya had free passage to the leader who swung its massive limbs with all its might. Yet, its powerful strikes were met with unseen counters, with Xaren barely catching sight of something dark at the point of impact. Ilya finally drew her blade with a single motion, cutting through the air in a blur. Each swing was accompanied by a gust of dark, whirling wind that carved out its bark. The Treant''s responses grew erratic as it not only had to watch out for Ilyas sword, but the invisible force slicing at it from all angles.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ilya stabbed her blade into the hole created by her and Xarens arrow combo, releasing a focused blast of wind that destroyed a huge chunk of its body. Then she swung her blade and cleaved through the injured part, slicing it in two. The surrounding Treants, now without their leaders buffs, faltered and began to crumble under the sustained assault from the other demons. Xaren, who had ignored Ilyas fight since the moment she drew her blade, darted among the towering Treants with dexterity granted by lightening his weight. He leveraged his agility and gravity manipulation to perform acrobatic feats, leaping from one Treant to another and with every bound, he drew his sword in fast but heavy slashes that carved through the bark of the creatures. His attacks were like a series of miniature explosions, causing splinters to scatter in all directions, forcing the Treants to recoil and stagger. By targeting the Treants closest to the paths the other demons needed to take, Xaren cleared the way for them to reach the leader Treants. Carack! We will mobilize a detached force! Take that grey demon! Ilya suddenly gave out this order and before Xaren could even figure out who Carack was, the Fire demon from earlier dashed over and grabbed onto him. Wait, arent we the detached force?! Why are we splitting again?! Just go! The demoness did little in the way of explaining to Xaren, instead focusing on charging at the newly appearing elves. They had almost gotten rid of all of the Treants, but it had taken too much time and the elves had sent forces towards this part of the Fortress to combat them. Carack pulled Xaren over to a broken part of the Fortress wall where eight other demons awaited while giving him the explanation he needed. The ten of us would use a stealth skill to sneak in and finish our mission while the others would hold the elves out here. Oh, that makes sense! Xaren responded and used gravity magic to lighten both their bodies, doubling their speed, much to Caracks surprise. You use some strange magic, grey demon. Its Xaren. And lets get going before any elves notice us. Carack spoke no more, instead grabbing a cloak and tossing it onto Xarens head. At the same moment, Xaren felt darkness magic wash over them, signalling the activation of the stealth skill. We Move! Normally, any mage elves or very perceptive warriors would be able to detect them, but this was a battlefield; this level of stealth was enough. While Captain Ilya is grabbing their attention, we will take over the control room. Carack repeated this for the sake of the other eight demons and they nodded in understanding. They had fought with Ilya before so they knew that whenever she said detached force she meant them, so they had gathered even though they werent sure what she wanted them to do. Even if they were young unranked demons without any proper training and just basic knowledge from their Survival Guides, these guys had garnered months of experience so they didnt fight thoughtlessly. The Mid-Ranks also didnt pick Ilya as their captain for no reason. Xaren and the other nine demons moved quickly, slipping through the broken wall and into the fortress. Their path resembled an old, neglected cave, filled with cobwebs and layers of dust that hinted at its long abandonment. Carack illuminated a small flame to examine their surroundings, meticulously studying the room''s structure before falling silent. Moments later, he took off down the corridor leading them down the path like he had an internal map of the place. They raced through the dimly lit passage for about five minutes, before rounding a corner and coming face-to-face with an unexpected foe. ?! It was a monster that resembled a serpent, with bark-like scales and gnarled antlers sprouting from its headan Elderwood Serpent. It hissed at them and lunged forward and Xaren couldnt help but curse as he jumped to dodge. Fuck! If a tree-like snake with fangs longer than its mouth came charging towards you, it was impossible to not curse. In addition, the bastard was huge. As Xaren dodged its bite, Carack engulfed his fist in flames and threw it forward. His fist collided with the monsters side and sent it flying, with two other demons lunging at it and swinging their hammers. *KRISSSAK!! The serpent made a noise that was somewhere between a hiss and a yell as it rolled on the floor, its eyes glowing as it lunged at the demons once more. Xaren infused his blade with flames and jumped at it, stabbing his blade into its side from the spot where the hammers had scattered scales. Can I use Attraction to pull out its internal organs? A moment after he had that thought, Xaren realized he had no idea what a serpent''s insides looked like and doubted he could accurately target them. Instead, he chose a more straightforward approach: channelling his flames through the blade and triggering an internal explosion. It went without saying that the serpent screamed agony, its massive body writhing violently in an attempt to dislodge Xaren. The other demons took advantage and attacked its head, launching a coordinated assault. Arrows flew, spells erupted and swords slashed in a flurry. The combined onslaught of weapons and magic overwhelmed the Serpent and its thrashing quickly grew weaker. Xaren then removed his sword and vaulted onto its body. Using gravity attraction, he yanked its head back and, with a fiery infusion, drove his blade deep into the weakened skull. The sword punctured the serpent''s brain and erupted from the other side, leaving no room for a final roar before the beast crumpled to the ground, defeated. [Level Up] Without a moments hesitation, Xaren retrieved the monsters soul while the others simply rushed forward behind Caracks lead. Not long after, they heard hissing sounds and Xaren glanced back to see half a dozen pairs of green eyes staring at them in the darkness. Of course, there are more of them Chapter 18-Battle of Control Room Xaren clicked his tongue in annoyance but quickly devoured the soul he had just claimed, then utilized his gravity magic to enhance his speed, propelling himself forward with renewed urgency. They emerged from the abandoned path and into the main halls of the fortress, meeting fierce elven resistance. It seemed that the fight with the Serpent below had alerted the elves so they were already waiting for the demons at the exit. Xaren and the demons forced their way through, their clashing blades and flying spells quickly lighting up the walls of the fortress. Despite the resistance and their injuries, the demons pushed onward, carving a bloody path through until they arrived at a tall hallway that stretched before them. Carack pointed to the door that was at the end of the hallway and yelled. We just have to get past that door! Hearing this, Xaren leapt onto the stone wall, his body lightened thanks to his gravity manipulation. Using his Attraction technique, he anchored his feet to the surface, propelling himself horizontally along the fortress wall. He swung his sword in a deadly arc, flames trailing behind as he decapitated a trio of elves who had attempted to block their advance. Their bodies collapsed in unison, clearing a path for the demons to charge forward unimpeded. Xaren didnt pause. He jumped back to the ground and sprinted toward the tall door at the end of the hallway, Carack beside him. Together, they slammed into it, pushing it open with force. As the heavy metal door creaked, they quickly turned back to their companions. Hurry! Get inside! Carack yelled, his voice urgent. The other demons dashed through the opening, leaving the elven soldiers chasing them behind. The door was a sliding door and was heavy, but one of the demons was a Straga type known for their strength, so with his aid, the door was closed in seconds. One of the elven soldiers had their legs caught in the door and cried out in pain, but the demons ignored it and focused on slaughtering the elves inside the room. As the last of the elves fell, their cries fading into the silence of death, Xaren lowered his sword, breathing heavily. He wiped the sweat from his brow, finally able to take in his surroundings. The room was as wide as a small hall and as high as a two-storey building. At the centre of the room stood three stone pillars, each arranged on a raised platform. Is this the control room? Xaren asked, his voice rough from exertion, and Carack nodded, stepping forward as his sharp gaze swept over the room. Yeah, this is it. We need to move fast to minimize the damage our forces take. He reached into a small storage pouch at his waist, pulling out an aged parchment. Without wasting time, Carack approached the mechanisms set in the far wall, referencing the parchment as he worked. First, he removed the elven sword stabbed into the mechanisms, an action taken by an elf who didnt want them to take control of the room. Unfortunately, during the time the demons temporarily held this fortress, they had discovered the backup controls and Caracks parchment held the instructions for them. He pressed a series of buttons, turning levers and making adjustments to the controls. His hands moved with ease, as though he''d studied this fortresss layout extensively. Once the mechanisms were in place, Carack moved to the platform in the centre of the room. His hand hovered over the orb resting between the three stone pillars, he infused it with magic power.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As the orb pulsed, growing brighter with each passing second, the runes on the walls around them flared to life. The system was ready. Returning to the control board, Carack grabbed a large lever and pulled it down with force. A distant rumble echoed through the walls as the mechanisms outside engaged, all the fortresss gates began to rise. Task completed. Now we just have to protect this place until our side conquers the fortress. If they left and the elves came in and closed the gates again, itd be troublesome. Also, to get out of this place, they had to fight through the elves waiting for them outside the door. Though the demons outside had little in the way of experience, they outnumbered the elves by a lot. Now that the gates had opened, the fortress wouldnt be able to serve as one, so they shouldnt have to wait for too long. After making sure the sliding door was properly sealed, the demons sat on the floor and began chatting amongst themselves. Damn, today was the same as always, huh? I got stabbed in the leg! Whaddya mean the same?! The demons burst into laughter when they heard the words of the one wrapping a torn cloth around his bleeding leg, and Xaren couldnt help but laugh along with them. Leaving this idiot aside. OY! Carack ignored the injured demon and continued speaking. We made quite the achievements. We should get a lot of merits from this. Also, the day we become Low-Ranked demons isnt that far. Hearing his words, the other demons nodded in affirmation, and one raised his damaged Warhammer and spoke. My hammer is cracked. I want a new one. While they talked, Xaren used the shirt of one of the dead elves as a rag to clean the blood of his sword. It was then that the subject of conversation suddenly shifted to him. Yo! Xaren, right? Whats with that magic that let you run on the wall? Carack threw this question to him and hearing it, the other demons eyes gleamed and they turned towards him with anticipation. Xaren had a short moment of silent contemplation before speaking. Its actually a skill, not magic. I can control the force that keeps our feet on the ground, so I changed the direction of the force to keep my feet on the wall instead. Oh, Ive heard of something like that before. I think the higher demons called it guravity? Its gravity, you dolt. Now focus on your wound. Carack shut the wounded demon up and tossed him a small healing potion vial, before returning his gaze to Xaren. Is that how you were able to make us faster earlier? He referred to when they were about to enter the fortress and Xaren nodded in affirmation before sheathing his sword. And you can use black fire magic too. How long have you been around? Xaren was about to answer Caracks question when a sudden loud noise reverberated through the room. The loud noise came from beyond the door and the demons reflexively stood up, their hands gripping their weapons as the pounding continued, growing louder and more forceful. Prepare for battle! Carack barked, and the demons rushed to the sides of the door. Then, with a deafening explosion, the door was blown off its hinges, chunks of stone and iron scattering across the room. But since the demons had moved away from the doors, none were wounded by this. Dust and debris filled the air, but through the haze, a massive figure stepped forward, wielding a Warhammer that seemed too large for any normal creature to carry. A Lesser Giant had burst through. Its long hair hung wild around its face, and its eyes burned a deep, seething red, glowing like embers in the dim light of the control room. Even though it was considered "small" for its kind, the giant still stood nearly 20 feet tall, towering over the demons. Its muscles bulged beneath its skin, each step shaking the ground beneath it as it swung the massive hammer with ease, sending a rush of air through the room. Demon rats!! The giant''s roar reverberated through the room, shaking the walls as he stormed in with heavy, thunderous steps. I will tear you all up! I will break your bones and GACK?! His threat was cut short by a pained gasp as one of the demons, seizing a fallen elf''s crossbow, unleashed a barrage of bolts at the giants knees. Carack followed with a blazing fireball, and another demon struck with a surge of lightning, causing a violent explosion that destabilized the giants stance. You cowardly demons! The giant screamed out, but the demons ignored him and continued attacking. There was no need to listen to the opponents speech. This giant must be stupid if he thought wed stand back and listen to him talk. Xaren thought this as he joined the demons in attacking, throwing balls of flame at the giants face to obscure his vision. Some of the demons attacked the elves who charged in along with the giant, while the others focused on the giant, with Xaren and Carack in the lead. The giant roared and charged forward. With his large strides, he only needed a few steps to reach the demons positions and force them to split up. Raising his hammer, he swung it down with force and the weapon carved a ten-metre-wide crater in the centre of the room with just one swing. The elves tried to tell the giant not to destroy the room, but he didnt listen and swung his hammer once more, aiming for Carack. Xaren used attraction to try and divert the hammer, but the sheer weight only made Xaren able to shift it by a few inches before he hit his limit. And hes lifting that thing so casually! Giants were known for their high base physical strength, so this wasnt something that came as a surprise. Chapter 19-Crushing Blows Xaren instead launched a fireball at the giants hands, and the explosion on impact succeeded in shaking its trajectory and making him nearly drop his hammer due to the heat. Perhaps I can try to heat the hammer and make it too hot? For a moment Xaren considered that, but when the giant turned towards him, he quickly dismissed that idea. The room was spacious, but its limits quickly became apparent as the giant covered half its length in just three strides. His enormous hammer swung through the air with crushing force. But rather than retreat, Xaren propelled himself forward, using his flames as jet boosters to close the gap. The giants hammer was at least 3 metres long, and though it had long reach, that strong point only applied when there was some distance from the opponent. If you closed the distance, then the attack range became limited, and the attack speed would also drop. And even more, if the weapon was that long hammer. It was impossible to grab it shortly and fight. The giant noticed Xarens intent and swung his hammer, sweeping it high to prepare for the possibility of Xaren jumping, but the giant couldnt be prepared for Xarens gravity magic. Xaren threw his lightened body into the air and he flew higher than the hammer, feeling it rip the air right under his feet. The giant needed a few seconds to retrieve the hammer, and Xaren only had those few seconds to attack. He poured magic power into his Runeblade to amp up the damage of his black flames, landing on the hammers handle and then using it as a boost to dash into the air. However, the giant was not as dumb as Xaren had thought he was earlier. Seeing Xarens incoming sword, the giant let go of his hammer and swung his fists that became free, blocking Xarens attack with his magic-encased fist. **BAMM!!! Xaren was blown back by the giants powerful strength, sent flying towards the ground with force while the other demons fired crossbow bolts and magic at its outstretched right hand, trying to damage it and prevent the giant from picking the hammer again. The giant lowered his posture and swung his left hand, generating a force that blew away some of the arrows fired at it, diverting their trajectories. He then reached out towards the fallen Xaren and grabbed him before the grey-skinned demon could get to his feet. Lightning cracked through the air with a deafening roar, striking the giants massive hand just as he reached for Xaren. The surge of magic power forced the giant to let go, but it wasnt a gentle release. You wanna save him! Here! With a snarl, the giant flung Xarens body through the air as if he were a ragdoll, hurling him directly towards the demon who had cast the lightning spell. The demons eyes widened in shock, their hand twitching as they had been readying another bolt, but Xaren''s rapidly approaching form forced them to cancel the spell. Xaren crashed into them mid-air, and the two tumbled to the ground in a heap, the force of the collision knocking the wind out of both. Carack saw the giant motioning towards them and sprang into action to divert his attention. With a sharp yell, the fire demon leapt into the air, flames igniting around his body. He twisted mid-flight and slammed his blazing fists into the giants back with an impact that knocked the giants head forward, forcing a guttural roar from its throat as he stumbled.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. You fire rat! The giants eyes blazed with fury, and he spun around, his massive hand reaching for the Warhammer once more. His thick fingers wrapped around the handle, and with a mighty swing, he brought the weapon crashing down toward the demons. Two demons tried to dodge, but the swing was too fast. The hammer connected with their bodies, smashing them into the stone wall with a sickening thud. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, unmoving. Lunging towards a third demon, the giant sent his fist barrelling through the air like a battering ram. The demon narrowly dodged, rolling to the side as the giants punch cracked the floor where they had just stood. Carack aimed for the giants hand which was gripping the hammer and threw another punch. His flames exploded on contact, searing the giants flesh and forcing him to drop the weapon with a loud noise as it hit the ground. But before Carack could follow up with another attack, an arrow shot through the air, its tip embedding itself deep into Caracks shoulder. He staggered back, clutching the wound as the pain spread through his body. The arrow had come from an elven archer hiding who was fighting the other demons, interrupting what could have been a decisive blow against the giant. The giant let out a bone-rattling roar that echoed through the fortress walls as his massive hand clenched around the Warhammer once more. His fiery red eyes blazed with fury, and his voice boomed like thunder as he turned his gaze toward the demons engaged in battle with the elves. "Useless long ears! It''s just five demon rats and 12 of you are struggling!" Without waiting for a response, the giant surged forward, hammer in hand, barrelling toward the demons like a battering ram. His powerful legs sent tremors through the ground with each step, and as he reached the group, he swung his colossal hammer in a wide arc. The demons scattered without hesitation, barely evading the crushing blow that sent shockwaves through the entire fortress upon its collision with the ground. The ground beneath them cracked and buckled under the sheer force of the impact, dust and debris erupting into the air as a deep fissure split the floor. An elf, pale and trembling, shouted desperately at the giant. "Careful, you brute! You''ll destroy the fortress!" The giant whipped his head toward the elf, his eyes narrowing in contempt as he bellowed. "Shut up! I''ll smash these rats how I see fit!" Ignoring the elfs warnings, the giant raised his hammer again, swinging it toward the nearest demon. His attacks were wild and relentless, each blow shaking the ground and sending shards of stone flying. The demons darted and dodged, keeping just ahead of the giants attacks as they struggled to find an opening. One demon, quick on his feet and seizing the moment, spotted the giant''s wounded kneethe one they had attacked right after the giant had entered the room. With a burst of speed, the demon dashed behind the giant and drove his blade into the back of the wounded joint. The blade bit deep, and a pained howl escaped the giant''s throat as his leg buckled beneath him, forcing him down onto one knee. The other demons didnt waste the opportunity and rushed in from all sides, slashing and bashing at the giants legs. Some targeted the hand holding the Warhammer, but the giant roared and punched them with his other hand, sending them flying. **BOOM!!! Flames and lightning hit the giants shoulders at the same time and the giant cursed and forced himself to his feet, gripping his hammer with both hands and moving to swing it. Gravity! ?! Xarens yell echoed in the giants ears and immediately, the giant felt the weight of his hammer double. Though the giant knew Xaren had done something, he had to attack Carack who was gathering demonic energy for a powerful attack so he poured more strength into his arms, determined to lift it despite the doubled weight. His muscles bulged, veins pulsing visibly as he forced the heavy weapon upward. But just as the hammer began to rise, Xaren inversed his gravity manipulation. With all the extra force the giant had been exerting, the sudden lightness threw him off balance. His arms shot up too quickly, the hammer flying up above his head with far too much momentum. Staggering backwards, the giants eyes widened in shock as he lost control of his weapon. The Warhammer arced wildly through the air, spinning as if weightless. CLEAR OUT!!! Carack shouted and the demons jumped with all their might, avoiding the fall of the hammer that bashed into the ceiling and then crashed down back on the ground with a deafening boom. It smashed onto the stone floor with great force, squashing three elves under its weight and shattering the ground, sending a shockwave through the fortress. If they werent on the ground floor, then they would have broken through the ground beneath them by now. The giant cursed under his breath, his footing now compromised, and in that brief moment of imbalance, the demons seized the opportunity. They rushed back in, launching attacks on the giants body, aiming for his arms and legs. Disarmed he may be, the giants arms and legs were weapons in their own right, so he coated them in magic power to increase their durability before taking wide swings at the demons. He punched one with enough force to send blood spraying from the demons mouth and was about to throw in a second attack when Carack, his shoulder still bleeding from the earlier arrow, leapt into the fray. With flames dancing around his fists, he aimed for the giants weakened knee and struck, forcing the giant whod been getting to his feet back down on one knee. The giant howled in pain and frustration and in that moment, Xaren charged forward. Chapter 20-Every Man’s Weakness Noticing Xaren darting towards the giant from his blind spot, Carack roused his flames and unleashed a searing wave of fire to keep the giants furious attention focused solely on him. It worked, but as he glanced toward Xaren, his eyes widened in shock, realizing where the grey-skinned demon was aiming. If youre a man, then this is surely a weakness!!! With a gravity-enhanced slash, Xaren brought his Runeblade down with all his might, slicing cleanly into the soft, vulnerable spot between the giants legs. The giants scream of agony was immediate and deafening, echoing off the stone walls of the fortress. His roar shook the very air, his legs trembling violently as he instinctively moved his hands to cover the grievous wound. But Xaren wasnt finished. With a swift pull, he yanked his blade free, blood splattering across the floor. Before the giant could react further, Xaren thrust his hand forward and used magic. Fire Magic: Fire Lance!!! The fiery spear materialized point-blank, slamming into the back of the giants hands with a searing burst of heat. The impact forced the giant hands away and Xaren pressed the attack, stabbing again with his gravity-enhanced sword, driving it deep into the giants flesh. This second strike caused the giants remaining strength in his leg to buckle, and his massive form began to sink toward the ground. As he keeled over, the giant clutched at his ruined groin, but Xarens brutal attack had already ensured that any hopes of mating with a female giant were gone forever. The giant dropping to his knees brought his head lower, and seeing the opportunity, one of the hammer-wielding demons leapt into the air and swung his weapon down with reckless abandon. The hammer shattered on impact, but the blow drove the giants head down even further, his neck now exposed. Xaren seized the moment, jumping high with his sword raised overhead. He plunged the blade into the giants neck, burying it deep into the thick, muscular flesh. He tried to twist the blade, but the giants skin resisted, too dense for a clean cut. Gritting his teeth, Xaren pulled with all his might, wrenching the sword free. The force of the pull sent him tumbling backwards, landing hard on his backside, but the wound he left behind was catastrophic for the giant. Blood erupted from the gash in the giants neck, spurting like a fountain, and before the giant could react, a bolt of lightning struck the open wound. The electricity sizzled through the exposed flesh, worsening the injury, and the giants body shuddered violently as his strength faded. As Xaren caught his breath, the faint sound of footsteps behind him made his ears twitch. In a flash, an elven soldier lunged from behind, blade gleaming in the low light. However, Xaren quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Dirt scattered beneath him as he completed the dodge, coming up just in time to see the elf recover and prepare another strike. Without hesitation, Xaren extended his hand and used gravity attraction, sending a surge of dark red gravitational power from his palm. The elfs body was caught in the invisible force and pulled violently toward him. Springing to his feet, Xaren met the elfs momentum with a swift slash of his Runeblade across their chest. The elf gasped in pain, but before they could react, Xaren followed with a powerful kick to their stomach, sending them stumbling backwards. He advanced, his sword cutting through the air in a diagonal arc. Two more strikes tore through the elfs defences, and the body collapsed lifeless to the ground.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. [Level Up] Xaren flicked the blood off his blade, turning his gaze back to the giant, whose body still shuddered from the brutal wounds. He saw that the demon who attacked the giant at the cost of his hammer had torn the giants skin and cracked his skull. Xaren locked onto that point and he crouched low before leaping towards the humanoid behemoth. His body cut through the air and he soared toward the spot where the hammer-wielding demon had struck, the fracture in the giant''s skull still faintly visible. Mid-flight, Xaren channelled every last bit of his demonic energy into his blade, feeling the heat surge through his veins as he reached beyond his current limits. The gravitational force around him multiplied fourfold, and his body, along with his sword, became impossibly heavy. With a bone-jarring impact, Xarens Runeblade plunged deep into the giants cracked skull. The immense gravity-enhanced weight of his sword didnt just pierce the skullit tore through it. The blade carved a vicious line across the giants forehead, slicing down through the bone and splitting halfway through its face. Blood poured out in a grotesque torrent, pooling on the stone floor as the giant''s body trembled one last time. The enormous figure swayed, its legs giving out as it collapsed forward with a deafening crash. The final, twisted expression frozen on the giants half-severed face was one of agony, its fiery red eyes dimming as death claimed it. Xaren tumbled to the ground, his body heavy and trembling from the effort. He gasped for air, his breath ragged and pain rippled through his chest as he spat out blood onto the dirt-streaked floor. It shouldn''t be forgotten that Xaren had taken two serious hits from the giant, and his tenacity skill had kept him moving, kept him fighting when his body was reeling from the damage. But now, as the rush of battle faded, Xaren felt every bruise, every cracked rib, every strained muscle. "Still alive" He muttered, his voice hoarse as he wiped the blood from his lips. [Level Up] x6 and stronger. Despite the pain, a small smirk tugged at the corner of Xarens mouth. Him receiving the EXP confirmed the giant was dead and no witchcraft was bringing it back. haha That thought reminded him of when he and his squad had barely managed to defeat a dragon in his past life, only for it to come back right after as an undead. Horrible memories should stay buried deep. As he thought that, the demons who had finished killing off the other elves rushed to deal with the wounded while some came over to help Xaren. Oy! Grey guy. Dont go dying on us now! its Xaren The fact that you have the strength to correct me means youre not dying. Good. The demon spoke as he inspected Xarens wounded body, passing him a potion vial. It was the lowest type of potion, but not many Unranked demons even had the luxury of seeing them, much less owning one. Drink it. The battle isnt over yet. True. The sounds of fighting could still be heard all over the fortress and Xaren had to gulp down the potion from the demon who said hed take one of Xarens coins as pay for it. Xaren nodded, accepting the potion from the demon who had agreed to trade it for one of his coins. The bitter liquid burned down his throat, and he winced as he sprinkled the remaining potion on his wounds. He then raised his eyes to the broken door, where he saw elves and demons fighting at the end of the hallway. Suddenly, the elves in the corridor seemed to be cut by an invisible force and Xaren blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing. Xarens eyes caught sight of something black and then he saw ita Runeblade similar to his own sliding out of a sheath with an elegant, deadly precision. As elven heads flew through the air and wind whipped against his face, the silhouette of the figure behind the sudden decapitations became clear. Ilya stepped into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of the giants massive corpse. Her shock intensified when she noticed the blood pooling around the giants groin, and her gaze swept over the demons present, all of whom were male. "...you guys could actually do that...?" The realization seemed to hit her hard, and the remaining conscious demons immediately turned to Xaren. Ilya quickly grasped that Xaren was the one responsible for the brutal attack on the giants vulnerable spot and she couldnt hide her surprise as she addressed him. "Youre a lot more ruthless than you look, grey demon." Xaren sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice as he corrected her. "Again. Its ''Xaren." 󡡡󡡡 [BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!] A booming laugh echoed through the sky, emanating from the orb clutched in the grasp of the High-Rank demon, Naephas. [HE ACTUALLY STABBED THE GIANT IN THE DICK!! IM ROLLING ON THE FLOOR HERE!! KAHAHAHAHA!!!!] The holographic image of a four-horned demon clutched his sides, laughing uproariously, and Naephas, the High-Rank demon generating the hologram, couldnt help but chuckle along. What do you think about him, Lord Xynax? [What do I think?! Bring him, Naephas! THE INSTANT YOU NOTICE HIS LEVEL SURPASSES 100 AND HE CAN USE AURA, I WANT HIM BROUGHT STRAIGHT TO ME!] Lord Xynax instructed Naephas, the High-Rank demon in charge of this continents battles on Planet Zorix 1I, and Naephas nodded in affirmation. Is there anyone else youre interested in, Lord Xynax? [Hmmthere are some; like that girl using wind magic. Id like to study that Unique Skill of hers. Add her to the list for now.] Naephas acknowledged the directive, and Xynax scanned the battlefield silently for a few moments before speaking up. [Thats all for now. Dont forget that grey demon! HAHAHA!!] With that final, booming laugh, Xynaxs voice faded, and the hologram flickered out of existence. Chapter 21-Around the Bonfire I Hamqua Fortress Unnamed Continent Planet Zorix 1I January 18th Year 9025 The night sky stretched like a vast canopy above the elven fortress, now conquered and teeming with unranked demons who relished in their victory. In the heart of the fortress courtyard, a bonfire raged, its flames crackling and consuming the massive wooden bodies of the Treants the elves once commanded. Their limbs, now reduced to firewood, fed the flames that licked the air, casting an eerie, orange glow over the demons who had gathered around it. The scent of roasting meat filled the air, carried on the wind along with the laughter and murmured conversation of the victorious invaders. Elven provisionsdelicate herbs and spices, along with freshly caught gamesizzled over the fire, filling the courtyard with the mouth-watering aroma of food that was being prepared for the weary but triumphant demons. Among the figures at the bonfire, the major players of the invasion sat, resting after the long day of battle. They were part of the detached force, the ones who had been dropped from the sky into the fortress compound. Two groups had formed: one that stormed the broken fortress walls to reach the control room and open the gates from within, and the other who had held the elven forces at bay until those gates could be flung wide open, allowing the flood of demon soldiers to pour inside. Xaren walked through the courtyard, his short figure casting a small shadow in the flickering light of the bonfire. His grey skin, marked with faint scars from the days battle that hadnt healed, blended with the dim lighting, making him almost a part of the darkness. His red eyes, though, gleamed as he surveyed the demons gathered around the fire. From the edge of the gathering, Carack, the tall fire demon with flames flickering at the tips of his horns, spotted Xaren and broke into a wide grin. He turned and shouted, his booming voice cutting through the chatter. "Hey, Xaren! Come over here!" Heads turned at the sound of Xarens name, and before he could respond, another demona burly, red-skinned figure with dark, spiked hairshouted out. "Xaren, right?! You drink?" Still not giving Xaren a chance to even get a word out, a third demon snorted. "Come on, the guys from the latest batch. I doubt his liver''s strong enough yet." Undeterred, the red-skinned demon tossed a flask in Xarens direction. "Catch!" Xaren caught it mid-air, his reflexes quick despite the exhaustion weighing on his limbs. The flask was worn, likely scavenged from the elves stores. He uncapped it, and the sharp, sweet scent of elven wine hit his nose. He paused for a moment, then shrugged. Wine was wine, after all. Thanks. He spoke with a nod, taking a swig of the potent drink before moving to join the group. Carack grinned, his fiery eyes gleaming as he continued the tale hed been telling when Xaren approached. The demons around the fire had clearly been enjoying his exaggerated storytelling, leaning in as he regaled them with his animated account.Stolen story; please report. So, this guy right here, Carack started, clapping a hand on Xarens shoulder before continuing. He headed straight for the giantand you wont believe thishe went for the balls! The other demons froze, their eyes wide with shock, and a collective groan of horror went up from the male demons. Instinctively, a few of them shifted uncomfortably, their legs tightening as though to shield themselves from the mental image. Y-you went for the One of the demons stammered, his voice trailing off as he looked at Xaren with disbelief. Another demon shook his head slowly, his brows raised in awe. Youre pretty brutal for how you look. One muttered, his eyes tracing over Xarens short, unassuming figure and this caused Xarens brow to twitch in mild irritation as he glanced at Carack. Is that really the part you were explaining? Carack, clearly enjoying the reaction he had elicited, nodded solemnly, as though the story was of great importance. Of course, thats the best part! How could I not tell everyone? Its not every day you see someone go straight for the kill like that. Xaren shook his head at Caracks words but shrugged. Come on, as long as youre a guy, thats definitely a weakness. Its a universal fact. The demons around the fire chuckled in agreement, one of them pointing at Xaren with a smirk. Hes got a point. Maybe I should get some sort of armour for that areajust in case we face some elves or humans who think the same way this guy does. Im telling you. I might just start learning some Earth magic, fortify that area, you know? Carack chimed in, still grinning and the group erupted in laughter, the sound rising above the crackling of the fire as they imagined the absurdity of the situation. Xaren, though still a bit miffed, couldnt help but smile. He was familiar with scenes like this from his human days, where he drank and chatted with other rank-and-file soldiers after big battles in which they were barely victorious. The camaraderie, the shared exhaustion, and the triumph of victory after the bloody battlethey were intoxicating in their own way. But alashow many of them lived long? Remembering those fun times also inadvertently reminded Xaren of the dark times, and how the members of his usual group died one by one. At the time he died, theyd gone from 25 to 5. Shaking his head, Xaren took a swig of the elven alcohol, as if trying to wash away the memories and then returned his focus to the demons in front of him. As the laughter of the demons died down, the conversation shifted to the events of the day. Carack leaned back on his elbows, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames as he spoke. That fight against the Treants earlier? Damn, that was something. Those wooden bastards were tougher than I expected. One of the demons whod been part of the group to enter the fortress nodded, his face serious. Yeah, if it wasnt for Xaren here, we mightve had more trouble picking out their leaders. Once they knew we were coming, they blended into the trees like shadows. Couldve been a real pain. Another demon added to his words. Yeah, but after Xaren and Captain Ilya marked them out for it, it was easy to spot em. Took em down fast after that. Xaren listened quietly, sipping the elven wine as the others continued to speak. It wasnt often he heard himself praised in such a way, but he wasnt one for gloating. His contributions to the battle were simply because he knew the Mid-Ranks were watching and like hed experienced, more contributions yielded more special rewards. Still, he appreciated the acknowledgement. Not to mention, a bunch of us really showed off today. That guy from the Western Wallwhats his name? he went full berserk mode. Took down dozens of elves single-handedly. One of the demons spoke, talking about another one of them who was part of the outside group and the others concurred. Yeah! Damn, he was something else today! As the fire continued to crackle, they continued talking and Xaren found himself easing into the atmosphere. The other demons around the bonfire were raucous, full of energy after the day''s conquest, and they happily recounted stories of their sides of the battle to the others. One of the demons sitting across from him, a stocky figure with thick, muscular arms and dark grey skin, spoke with a rough and booming voice over the sounds of the fire. "And then, just when the giant thought he''d crushed me, *bam*!" The demon slammed his fist into his palm, mimicking the impact. "Smashed his skull with my war hammer! Bastard didn''t see it coming!" The others around the fire chuckled, impressed. Xaren remembered this guy; The demon, who had introduced himself as Kravok, was the one who had bashed the giants head with his hammer and had gotten it broken in the process. Leaning forward slightly, Xaren couldnt help but ask, his curiosity piqued. Howre you planning to get a replacement for that hammer? I saw it shatter against the giants head. Kravoks grin widened as he reached to his side, pulling something from the shadows. He held it up for Xaren and the others to seea rune hammer, its surface glowing faintly with elven inscriptions. The handle was still clutched in a severed elven hand, the fingers frozen in a death grip. Already have one! Kravok said, laughing as he shook the severed hand loose from the handle and tossed it into the fire. Took it off one of the elven commanders during the clean-up. Figured it was only fair, seeing as he wasnt using it anymore. Chapter 22- Around the Bonfire II Took it off one of the elven commanders during the clean-up. Figured it was only fair, seeing as he wasnt using it anymore. The others chuckled at that, and Xaren raised an eyebrow, impressed. The elven rune hammer was clearly a fine weapon for someone below level 100, its intricate design and magical runes still pulsing faintly even after its former owners death. Not bad, Xaren said with a slight nod. Thatll probably serve you better than your last one. Damn right, it will. Kravok puffed out his chest with pride, holding the hammer aloft. This things enchantedhits harder than my old one, and it can probably smash through anything these elves throw at us. He had tested it with the remaining elves he could catch after acquiring it so he was sure of its performance. The conversation shifted again, moving between light-hearted banter and talk of the battle. The mood was lively, with demons exchanging stories of the days combat, when the topic of conversation fell onto Xaren. One of the other demons, a wiry figure with dark, ashen skin and glowing green eyes, leaned toward Xaren, his eyes glinting with curiosity. So, Xaren," the demon began, his voice laced with interest, howd you manage to get noticed by the rest of the demons? Youre new, right? From the batch that just arrived. Xaren didnt know how this guy found out about that. There were thousands of demons in each batch and there was no way this guy could say he knew them all. Perhaps sensing Xarens unspoken question, the demon further explained. Ive got a Partial-Appraisal skill, so it lets me see stuff like titles and one''s number of skills. Ohh, Xaren murmured, understanding now. It made sense he figured out since Xaren had the Unranked Newborn Demon title. The word Newborn was key here. Xaren took a swig from the flask and wiped his mouth before answering. Yeah, Im new. Only got pulled out of the newborn zone recently. He didnt know what the official name for the Hatching Grounds he was in was called, so he just used the words Floch had used a few days ago. Did you guys have a vortex? The one that sucked up everyone beyond the barrier and spat everyone out on a battlefield? Xaren asked, curious. The demons around him all nodded, some grumbling about how disorienting it had been. Yeah, I was stuck holding onto a tree, trying not to get dragged into the damn thing. A faint smile crept onto Xarens face as he recalled the moment, thinking of how comical he might have looked. A Mid-rank demon saw me dangling there, barely holding on. Guess he thought it was funny enough to keep me around, he added with a small shrug. There was a brief silence, and then the demons around the fire erupted in laughter. Kravok slapped his knee, nearly dropping his new rune hammer in the process. Youre a funny one, Xaren! One of the demons shouted, shaking his head. I thought I was the only one scared of that thing! Damn near thought we were all gonna get swallowed up! Another demon chimed in. Xaren just wore a wry smile as he gave his justification. I wasnt scared, just cautious. Thats all.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Cautious, huh? Sure, well call it that. Snickered another demon in response. But his tone quickly changed as he continued speaking. But truth be told, that vortex was a nightmare for all of us. I dont think anyone here didnt feel their heart skip a beat when they saw it coming. The mood shifted to something more reflective, and Xaren took the chance to ask a question that had been on his mind. How long have you all been here, anyway? How long since you got pulled out of the newborn zone? Kravok was the first to respond, leaning back and taking a swig from his own flask. According to the calendar in the barracks, six months now, give or take. Got pulled out of the zone and dumped here to fight for the fortresses. Been killing elves and taking names ever since. A few others nodded, chiming in. Same here. Six months. Before that, I had no idea how long I spent in the newborn zone. That place is hell. Literally, one of the demons grumbled with a gruff voice. Oh, I was counting my days so mines around a year. Some other guy told me he was there for six months before he got pulled out. Guess it depends on which part of the zone you start in, another demon added. Xaren listened, quietly piecing together their experiences. It seemed there was no fixed time for how long demons remained in the newborn zone. Some had spent a full year there, fighting for survival against other newborns, while others had only been there for a much shorter time. So, its different for everyone, depending on where they start, Xaren murmured to himself, but loud enough for the others to hear. That explains why some of you seem a lot more experienced. Kravok nodded, taking another swig of his drink as he replied. Yeah. The zone isnt just one place, after all. There are many zones scattered across different worlds, I hear. Some of us start in the easier areas, but others get dropped right into the thick of it. You learn quickly, or you die. Simple as that. The fire crackled in the background as the demons shared their experiences of the newborn zone, talking about the battles they fought and the enemies they had facedother newborns and monsters. Some spoke of monstrous creatures that roamed the deeper parts of the zone, while others reminisced about the desperate alliances they had learned to form with other demons just to survive. Xaren listened intently, absorbing the stories when Caracks voice suddenly cut through the conversation. You know, it wont be long now before we all ascend. Were close. Real close to becoming Low-Ranked Demons. His words, quiet, unlike his usual loudness, attracted everyones attention. There was a murmur of agreement, and the mood around the fire became a bit more serious. For unranked demons, the prospect of ascending to Low-Rank was a monumental step. Going Over Level 100 and gaining a Rank equated to greater power, higher status, and more freedom. Weve fought long and hard for it. Once we reach Low-Rank, things will change. Well be stronger, fasterbetter. Six months wasnt exactly a long time, but it shouldnt be forgotten that besides the time spent in the newborn zone, six months was all the time these demons had lived till now. But until then.... Kravok interjected before Carack could finish, swirling the wine in his mug. We just keep doing what we do. Fight. Survive. And grow stronger. As the meat sizzled and the scent of victory lingered in the air, they talked about more random thingsabout future battles, past victories, and what they hoped to achieve once they ascended to the Low Rank. The talk about Low Ranks reminded Xaren of something that gnawed at him ever since he discovered why the vortex had hurled them onto the battlefield. He waited for a lull in the conversation, then cleared his throat and began asking the question hed been mulling over for a while. "Hey, you guys know how we all got sucked into that vortex and dumped straight into the middle of the battlefield?" The group turned to look at him, nodding or grunting in acknowledgement and Xaren continued. "Well, there was like... a brief lull before I actually got dropped into the fight. Not sure if it was the same for you guys." Carack, the fire demon with flames flickering at the tips of his horns, leaned back, his sharp teeth gleaming in the firelight as he spoke. Nah, I got dumped right into the middle of it. I was confused as hell at first, but seeing as I''d been fighting for a year already, I just took out my weapon and fought anything that didnt look like me. Another demon, the lean, wiry one, snickered. You saying we all look like you, Carack? Got that same busted face? A round of laughter erupted from the group, and another chimed in, pointing at Caracks face. No ones ugly mug looks like yours, thats for sure! The banter carried on for a bit, with demons tossing light jabs at each other, but one of them eventually raised his hand. Hey, I think Xaren was trying to ask something important here, he said. They turned back to Xaren, who just chuckled at the sudden shift in focus. He waved it off and continued. Yeah, no worries. Anyway, like I was saying we all got dumped into the fight, right? And it was pretty much fight or die. But heres what Ive been thinking. What about the demons that arent born fighters? He paused for a moment, making sure everyone was listening. You know, the ones with skills that arent exactly suited for combat. Like, they could be good at making weapons or potionshell, even rune blades like mine or the hammer Kravoks wielding now. Chapter 23- Around the Bonfire III Like, they could be good at making weapons or potionshell, even rune blades like mine or the hammer Kravoks wielding now. Kravok, still holding his new elven hammer, let out a short laugh but gave a nod, silently urging Xaren to continue. Xaren looked around the fire as he asked, What happened to those guys? Did they get thrown into the battlefield, too? Would they even survive? Carack leaned forward, his expression far more serious now as he responded. Youve got a point. I also came to learn that not everyones born to fight. Back in my newborn zone, I saw a few demons who never lifted a weapon. All they did was make stuffarmour, weapons, you name itfor the bigger, stronger demons. Xaren wondered how theyd been able to source materials for weapons and armour, but he kept that on hold and tilted his head, intrigued with Caracks words. So, what about them? Did they get dumped in the battlefield too? Carack shook his head slowly, taking a moment to choose his words. Nah, they didnt. See, the fact that you dont know about this probably means you never ran into one of them. Heres the thinga few days, maybe a week before the vortex hit, some mid-rank demons started flying overhead, scanning the area. The others nodded, some with knowing expressions and Carack continued. At first, none of us knew what they were doing. But I figured it out after they took notice of me and the other guys here. Turns out, they werent looking for combatants like us. They were looking for demons with non-combat skills. Alchemists, blacksmiths, enchantersanyone whose skills arent meant for fighting but could still be useful. Those demons got taken out of the newborn zone early, way before the vortex hit. Xaren raised an eyebrow, his mind piecing things together. So they just take them out of the fight? Yeah. And they do more than that. Those guys get relocated somewhere elseprobably to a place where they can properly train and use their skills. Its not like the higher-ups are blind to the fact that not everyones cut out for battle. Those demons end up in special zones where they hone their craft. Eventually, they come back as low-rank demons responsible for making the weapons and gear we all use. After Caracks response, there was a hum of understanding from the others around the fire, and Xaren nodded slowly. So, they acknowledge those types of demons early on and take them out before things get rough. Exactly, Carack said, taking a sip from his flask. The demons left behind for the vortex are the ones who either dont specialize or have combat-related skills. If youre good with a hammer, sword, or spells, you stay. But if youve got the hands to forge a blade or brew a potion, they pull you out. Makes sense when you think about itthe war effort needs more than just front-line soldiers. Someones gotta make the gear we use.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Xaren thought back to the swords and enchanted clothes that the Mid-Rank demons distributed when he first arrived. He leaned back, his gaze shifting between the demons at the bonfire as he asked, So, all the standard weapons we got when we first arrived? Made by those demons. Carack finished for him before continuing. By the time they get done training, theyre producing the weapons and armour we rely on. Its all part of the bigger system. Finally getting an explanation, Xaren could finally put the matter out of his mind. It was easy to assume demons were all about brute force, but it was clear that there was a method to the madness, a structure that went beyond raw power. Guess we owe a lot to those non-combat demons. Carack chuckled, raising his flask and responded to Xaren. Exactly. So, dont go thinking were all just muscle heads smashing through everything. Its apparently a big, big world out there, and it takes more than just fighters to keep it running. The rest of the demons around the fire nodded in agreement, and Xaren found himself thinking about the broader scope of the demonic hierarchy. There was more to it than fightingentire worlds built on the foundation of all sorts of skills and talents, each one playing a role in the demonic war machine. Xaren turned his gaze back to the flickering flames as the demon who had taken on the role of chef began serving slices of roasted meat, its rich aroma filling the air. The first bite surprised himthe taste was far better than he had anticipated. Judging by the satisfied murmurs around him, the others agreed. As they dug in, the burly, red-skinned demon with dark, spiked hair puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his culinary skills. From now on, call me Super-Ultimate Chef Drogror! The group exchanged amused glances. One of the demons, chuckling as he chewed, shook his head. Drogror is long. Id just call you Drog. Yeah, Drog rolls off the tongue better, another added. Definitely. Chef Drog it is. Drogrors face fell, visibly deflated by the unceremonious shortening of his self-imposed title. He opened his mouth to protest but was quickly drowned out by laughter as the group continued bantering, clearly more entertained by their new nickname for him than anything else. For the next few minutes, they busied themselves with trying out the various elven delicacies they had scavenged. Kravok bit into something fiery red and instantly regretted it. His face contorted as the spice hit him like a punch, and he scrambled for his flask, chugging down a full serving of wine to quench the burn. Laughter erupted around the bonfire as Kravok wiped his mouth, still gasping. Carack laughed so hard he was clutching his sidesuntil he suddenly froze, mid-laugh, raising an eyebrow as his gaze shifted to something behind Xaren. Captain Ilyas out. Xaren turned around, following Caracks gaze to see Ilya, their squad captain, emerging from the darkened path leading back to the fort. The brown-skinned demon had a distant look in her eyes as she glanced around the camp, and her posture radiated the kind of tension that came after dealing with superiors in the army. Carack didnt waste a moment. He waved a hand to get her attention. Oi, Captain! Over here! Ilyas eyes settled on them, and with a small nod, she made her way over to the group. Xaren noticed how the other demons naturally shifted, subtly making space for her as she approached. When she arrived, she gave them a curt nod before plopping down beside Carack, who grinned at her like an old friend. Where were you, Captain? Xarens curiosity was piqued, but Carack answered before she could. All the captains were called in by the Mid-rank demons for a meeting. Guess theyre handing down orders for the next few days. Ilya nodded in confirmation, rubbing her forehead as if to ward off an impending headache. She was clearly exhausted, her muscles taut with the weight of whatever information shed just received. Yeah, theyre preparing for the next phase. The other demons all leaned forward, eager to get more details and Carack took the liberty of asking. So, when are we hitting the city? The air around the fire grew still as everyone waited for her answer. Ilya let out a deep breath, resting her elbows on her knees. The day after tomorrow. By dawn. Thats when well begin. The Fortress theyd just taken down today was built to protect the city, and now they were going to take it down next. Or rather, they took down the fortress first so they didnt get pincered when trying to take down the city. The Low-Rank Demons had already scouted the city and the reports from their scouting made the Mid-Ranks choose the 20th to attack. Theyll be giving us more detailed orders tomorrow, but were expected to be ready to strike the day after. A murmur went through the group after her words. Theyd all known a big battle was coming soon, but hearing it confirmed made the looming battle feel more real. The elves and giants in that city surely knew this fortress had fallen and they knew they were the next targets, so they were definitely fortifying the city in preparation. Although the Mid-Rank demons knew this, they still chose to wait a day before attacking, and that wait would increase the difficulty of the battle as the elves could even call in reinforcements. Thinking about the impending fight, Kravok spoke with a grin, though the edge of nervous energy in his voice was hard to miss. So, weve got a day to get ready, huh? Guess Ill be making sure my new hammers sharp. Chapter 24- Around the Bonfire IV So, weve got a day to get ready, huh? Guess Ill be making sure my new hammers sharp. Kravok said, his tone a bit nervous. Youll need more than just a sharp weapon for whats coming. Its going to be a full-on siege. Not just against soldierswere going to face their defensive magic, traps, and whatever else theyve got prepared. Ilya shot Kravok a wry look as she spoke, and for a moment, Xaren wondered if the demons couldnt just drop them in like they did today and get them to open the gates. Well, its a whole city so the scale is different. Wed need a bigger force What kind of resistance are we expecting? Xaren asked aloud and Ilya turned to him with a light frown, clearly recalling the details of the meeting she just came out of. They have a mix of a few human and predominantly elven forces. And giantslots of giants. The thought of fighting dozens of those building-sized creatures The demoness pressed her head to her temple and the others couldnt help but relate to her as they all had apprehensive expressions. Unlike today, theyd surely have a lot more numbers to deal with the giants so while Xaren expected the individual battles to be easier, things would quickly become a hassle if the giants grouped up. He felt it should be an order: Dont let the giants group up. Well be ready, Kravok said, his voice brimming with confidence, though his hand gripped the hilt of his new hammer a little too tightly. This bad boys gonna bash in plenty of giant skullsand the city gates first, he added with a strained grin. We dont have a choice. We either take the city, or we die trying. Ilya reminded them of the cold reality of their situation and the demons all sighed softly. The weight of the upcoming siege hung over them all, but for now, they pushed aside the dread, unwilling to let the night dissolve into gloom. Eventually, their conversation drifted to lighter topics and the group settled into a comfortable lull, their initial energy giving way to quiet reflection as the night deepened. Sometime later, a demon from a different group wandered over to join them. Xaren recognized him as one of those who had been part of the ones his group left outside when they headed to the control room earlier. The demon settled beside Kravok, dusting off the dirt from his cloak. He gave a weary sigh before speaking, his gravelly voice breaking the soft crackling of the fire. "Long day, huh? You lot shouldve seen the chaos outside the control room earlier." His eyes turned to Carack and Kravok as he chuckled, though it was more out of exhaustion than humour. "We were out there holding off the elveshad to make sure they didnt break through before you guys cracked open the control room. We were completely outnumbered for most of the fight, but we managed to hold the line somehow. He paused, his face darkening slightly. "Got hairy when the Giants showed up, though. One swipe from those things and... lets just say a few demons didnt make it." While Xarens group had gotten to deal with the strongest giant in the fortress, the others outside had to deal with multiple weaker giants.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Xaren could now understand why Ilyas face darkened at the thought of having to deal with more giants again. and Im sure it gets annoying when the elves join in Xaren muttered under his breath, but the newly arriving demon caught them and nodded. Exactly. While we had our hands full dealing with the giants, they hit us from multiple directions, sending squads to flank us. The demon took a sip from a flask someone passed him, before raising the flask in Ilyas direction and continuing. But we got our great Captain here, moving faster than any of us could keep up. Saw her take out an entire group of soldiers before they even knew what hit em." The mention of Ilya''s speed caught Xarens attention. Hed seen her in action earlier, beheading elves faster than the eye could see, but something had puzzled him. He glanced over at Ilya, who was quietly listening to the conversation, her arms resting on her knees as she stared into the fire. After a momentary hesitation, he shrugged and asked as casually as possible, "I noticed something strange when you were fighting earlier, Captain. Ilya turned to him with a raised brow and Xaren took that as his cue to continue. You were moving fast, sure, but there were these... black things, like thin blades, slicing through the air with you." His words caused a momentary pause around the fire. The demons all turned toward him, confusion etched on their faces. "What black things?" Kravok asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "No idea what you''re talking about, dude," another demon chimed in, scratching his head. But Xaren wasnt looking at the others. His gaze remained on Ilya, and her reaction told him everything he needed to know. A flicker of surprise crossed her otherwise calm expression and though she quickly composed herself, Xaren could tell that she knew exactly what he was referring to. Xaren remembered what he saw when they defeated the giant, and the door to the control room was blown open. When Ilya approached, along with her sword, there was this thin, dark, blade-like mass. It cut through the air, and some of the elves were dead before she even moved. Though he noticed this, the others, however, seemed genuinely clueless, exchanging puzzled glances. "Come on, you''re telling me there''s something flying around Captain that none of us can see?" Kravok asked, his tone skeptical, but Xaren didnt answer and that was pretty much an affirmation. The reason why hed noticed this thing despite no one else having seen it, was one even he didnt fully understand. Being a High-Demon, one of the pluses of his superior race breed was an advanced kinetic vision. Then his gravity powers enhanced them even further. It made him notice the pull of gravity on objects and bodies in motion. Due to the mass those thin Dark Blades carried, hed been able to notice that there was something there. Ilyas expression remained tense as the seconds ticked by, but before she could respond, one of the demons called out. Hey, look over there! The loud voice broke the tension as its owner pointed to another group sitting by a separate bonfire further off in the camp. A small commotion had started up, and several demons were standing, their voices rising as they seemed to argue over something. The attention of the group immediately shifted toward the disturbance. Whats happening over there? one demon asked, voicing the curiosity of the group. A few of the others stood up, craning their necks to get a better view. A couple of them started to head over, curious about the sudden argument. The cause of the commotion became clearer as they watched. Two demons were squaring off, their voices raised in challenge. One of them, a burly bull demon, seemed to be arguing about a piece of equipmenta set of armour, maybethat the other demon was holding onto. Their shouts carried across the camp, and it looked like things were about to escalate into a full-blown fight. Before the tension could boil over, a low-rank demon dropped in from the sky, landing between the two with a heavy thud. He was tall and larger than the two, with wings that folded neatly behind him as he straightened up. His presence alonethat of a Master Realm existence seemed to calm the situation. Enough. Whatever this is about, it can wait until morning. You want to fight, take it outside here. The low-rank demons voice cut through the noise like a blade, and Xaren was a bit surprised he didnt stop them but simply told them to postpone their fight. The two Unranked demons looked at each other, grumbling under their breath but clearly unwilling to go against the Low-Ranks words. After a few tense moments, they reluctantly backed down, and the low-rank demon nodded, his wings flaring slightly as he turned to leave. The group around Xaren relaxed, and the moment of tension diffused. But even as the others turned their attention back to the fire, Xaren could feel Ilyas gaze lingering on him for a moment longer. Clearly, hed touched upon a special topic. I was just curious. Maybe it had to do with her skill. Or its a Unique Skill. If so, it makes sense she doesnt wanna talk about it. The demoness eyes assessed him for some time, but just as quickly, she turned her attention back to the group, her expression unreadable. The fire crackled again, filling the quiet that followed the commotion. Chapter 25-Seige! Hamqua City Unnamed Continent Planet Zorix 1I January 20th Year 9025 The morning sun bathed Hamqua City in a golden hue, its rays gleaming off the roofs of the hundreds of buildings in the city. The air was filled with the scent of blood, burning flesh and ashes as the demon host gathered on the plains outside the city. Above the main gates, giants clad in heavy steel armour and elven mages combined their power to repel the invading demons. Layers of protective enchantments shimmered to life over the citys fortified walls, bolstered by the efforts of the elven mages. The elven archers nocked and fired magic arrows, raining them down on the thousands of unranked demons surging like a tide of shadows. Hold the line! One giant bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder across the walls and the other giant threw giant flaming boulders atop the demons. But even though they were unranked, a great number of these demons had been fighting for months now. They had learned to control their powers more effectively and were capable of conjuring demonic energy barriers to block such obvious attacks. Behind the demon lines, the Low-Rank demons barked orders, with some of them even yawning at the sight of the boring battle. Breachers, forward! One ordered, and the group of unranked demons he had reminded multiple times that they were the Breachers charged forward with their steel battering rams. These ones were older unranked demons who were over Level 90 and had powerful strength. Mostly animal-type demons. They drove the reinforced tools against the metal gates and the elven mages unleashed torrents of spells to stop them. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and shards of ice rained down, carving fiery paths and freezing swathes of the battlefield. One unlucky Demon was struck mid-stride by a bolt of lightning, their charred remains collapsing into the dirt. But the demons had their own mages too. Protected by a cluster of shield bearers, the unranked demons with magic-type skills unleashed their spells in response. Demons with grappling hooks and ladders rushed under the onslaught, dodging the arrows loosed by the elven archers above. A few fell, pierced by the glowing projectiles that detonated upon impact, sending shockwaves through the nearby ranks. But more continued, scaling the walls in a frenzy. Above the walls, the giants fought to push them back. One giant swung their club and sent multiple demons flying from the ladders, while another hurled boulders the size of wagons at them. Meanwhile, the elven mages worked tirelessly to maintain the magical barriers. Their hands trembled with exertion as they channelled streams of magic into the walls, bolstering their defences even as the battering ram thudded relentlessly against the gate. Suddenly, a squad of demons joined the fray, wheeling in improvised elven artillery and launching flaming projectiles over the walls. The bombs exploded upon impact, engulfing sections of the ramparts in roaring flames. Elves frantically scrambled to extinguish the fires, using water spells and buckets from nearby cisterns. The defenders did their best, fighting as hard as they could while hoping for reinforcements from other territories.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Alas, the only reinforcements that could come to them had been blocked by the lines of Mid-Ranked demons far beyond the citys region. Eventually, the siege reached its crescendo as the sun climbed higher into the sky. A squad of unranked demons with fire and ice magic was carefully guided to the front. They took positions near the battering rams and began to pour their spells without holding back. Waves of searing flames heated the steel until it glowed red-hot, only to be followed by an icy frost that rapidly cooled it. Over and over, fire and ice clashed, weakening the metal with each cycle. The metal gates, even with their magical reinforcements, began to buckle under the strain. Cracks spiderwebbed across the heated and frozen metal as the battering rams slammed against it with bone-jarring force. Finally, with a deafening screech, the gates gave way, shattering into jagged shards that rained down like shrapnel. Push forward! The Low-Rank demons ordered and the unranked surged through the breach with a roar. With the gates broken down, some of the demon mages charged in and to the sides, attacking the backs of the walls that were not protected by magic. They blasted sections of the walls into rubble, collapsing entire stretches and sending the defending elves tumbling to their deaths as they opened additional pathways into the city. With the gates down and the walls breached, the siege was effectively over. The Demons abandoned their siege equipment, swarming into Hamqua City like a flood of shadows, forcing the defenders to do the one thing they were avoidingC-meeting the demons in melee combat! In the streets of the city, chaos reigned. Unranked Demons, wild and bloodthirsty, overwhelmed the unranked giants and elves who had been the last line of defence. They grouped together in packs, overwhelming their opponents with numbers. Fights broke out here and there over who got what soul, leading to some of them being caught by the elves and dying, but surprisingly, those were the minority. One group of elven warriors stood their ground in a narrow alleyway, fighting valiantly and cutting down Demons left and right. But for every Demon that fell, three more took its place. The elves were surrounded, their formation broken, and the alleyway soon became a slaughterhouse. In the central plaza, the unranked giants, as tall as buildings, swung their massive clubs and axes, each strike sending bodies flying. One giant crushed a dozen Demons beneath his spiked hammer, roaring aloud, but the poor giant was soon taken down. The demons adapted very quickly. Dozens of them swarmed each giant, clawing and biting savagely. They leapt onto the giants backs, slashing at their necks and faces. The giants tried to shake them off, but their size worked against them. One by one, the giants fell, their bodies dragged to the ground under the sheer weight of the Demons. Once grounded, the giants stood no chance. The Demons descended on them in a frenzy, tearing through flesh and bone ruthlessly. The goal of the demons was not to conquer, but to exterminate, as extermination gave the precious EXP these unranked demons needed to overcome their levelling walls and gain a Rank. 󡡡󡡡 Amidst the chaotic series of battles of Hamqua Citys collapse, a small contingent of demons carved their way through the battlefield. Leading them was a tanned brown-skinned demoness, with long white hair and obsidian black eyes. She was the embodiment of the phrase; Small but Mighty, as wherever she passed, dozens of elves and giants fell. Compared to her 44 frame, these giants were ginormous. But her blade tore through their skin, pierced their flesh and split their bones. Behind her were four others, two moving like a well-rehearsed troupe of executioners, while the other two, though initially out of sync, were quickly adapting. Naturally, Xaren was among those two. He infused his gravity magic into his sword and cut through the necks of elves over and over. His grey skin seemed to blur in the smoke-filled air as he twisted and spun, his short stature making him harder to pin down. Just as he cut through an elf, a giant burst out from a nearby building and swung a massive club at him, but Xaren lightened his body and leapt to the side. He drove his blade deep into the giants calf, eliciting a roar as the giant collapsed to one knee. Before Xaren could regain his balance, something black flashed in his eyes and he looked up to see the giants head falling to the ground. Xaren caught sight of Ilyas white hair as she tilted her head to the side to avoid an elfs arrow, before kicking off the ground and blitzing towards the archer. They drew a sword and rushed at her, but she parried the sword easily and drove her blade through their chest, her eyes locked on her next target even as her current victim fell. A scream entered his ears and he turned to see Bjorn, the leopard demon he met in his first battle crushing the windpipe of an elf, before hurling the lifeless body into a group of nearby elves and scattering them like bowling pins. Xaren stretched out his left hand, and an invisible weight seemed to press down on the elves. Their movements slowed, and Bjorn didnt hesitate to hammer his fists into them, cracking their ribs like dry twigs under his blows. As Xaren rose to his feet, Carack and Kravok arrived beside him, both soaked in the blood of countless elves. Whyd you stop? Kravok queried. Needed a moment to rouse my magic. Xaren responded as he turned his gaze towards a nearby bronze statue. His attention then shifted to Ilya, who was rushing toward a group of a dozen elves standing with their backs to the statue. Deciding to turn those elves into his EXP, Xaren raised his left hand in their direction, then pulled back his arm with a command. Attract. Chapter 26- Flying without wings. Attract. The massive bronze statue groaned and shuddered, tearing itself free from the stone pedestal beneath it. It flew through the air like a missile, spinning as it barrelled toward the unsuspecting elves. Ilya, noticing the incoming projectile, leapt aside just in time and the elves, startled by her sudden movement, turned around, but their reaction was too late. The statue slammed into their backs with a deafening crunch, crushing bodies under its weight. Limbs and bones snapped, and several elves had their heads grotesquely flattened beneath the bronze mass. Those who didnt die instantly screamed in agony, writhing on the ground, only put out of their misery when Ilya swung her sword and relieved them of their heads. Watching this, Kravok, who was about to comment on Xarens magic, had his eyes widen and he took a sharp breath. Oh... I see what you were talking about yesterday, Xaren, Kravok muttered. Xaren turned to Kravok, but he offered no response. Ilyas slash had been a bit slower this time, just enough for Kravok to catch a glimpse of the strange phenomenon that Xaren had described the night before. Carack, meanwhile, was preoccupied with the nearby squad of elves whose souls he was feasting on, remaining oblivious to the discovery Kravok was processing. Ilya wiped her blade clean against the tattered remains of an elfs cloak before calling out to Xaren and Kravok who were just staring. What are you guys standing around for? Xaren opened his mouth to respond but stopped abruptly. His eyes widened, before narrowing immediately as he turned his gaze towards Carack who was licking his fingers. Carack! Do you want to fly? Carack blinked, thrown off by the bizarre question. Still, he responded with a raised eyebrow. Uh, I mean if I had wings, sure. Before he could say more, Xarens palm began to glow with dark red magic. He grabbed Caracks arm, his tone serious as he spoke. Well, youre going to have to try it without wings. Kravok, help me toss him! What? Wait, hold on! Carack protested, but Kravok, catching sight of the magic enveloping Caracks body, narrowed his eyes. He hadnt known Xaren long, but he at least knew Xaren wouldnt waste precious magic power on a joke in the middle of a battlefield. Got it, Kravok said, grabbing Caracks other arm without hesitation. Hey, wait a! Caracks protests were cut short as Xaren and Kravok heaved him skyward with their combined strength. The force of the throw sent him hurtling high above the rooftops, his body lightened by Xarens gravity magic. What in the?! Carack flailed wildly as he soared, his voice trailing off as he reached the peak of his arc. Carack! Flames from above, now! Hearing Xarens shout and the urgency in his tone, Carack snapped out of his confusion, instinct taking over. He extended his left hand, rousing his innate flame magic as a Fire demon. With a roar, flames erupted downward, a blazing torrent enhanced by his demonic energy. The flames poured toward the ground like a waterfall, but suddenly, they struck something unseen. The fire split apart, deflected as if hitting an invisible barrier, veering into two roaring streams that scorched the surrounding area. Yet the power behind Caracks flames was immense, and whatever had deflected them wasnt immune. GAARRRHHH!!! A scream of pain tore through the air, and the image of a massive figure flickered into viewa giant, its body previously cloaked by an illusion spell, now partially revealed and wreathed in flames. Ilya and Kravoks eyes widened in surprise, the understanding of Xarens seemingly random actions dawning on them. Without hesitation, the white-haired demoness charged forward, her Runeblade gleaming as she swung it. Despite only swinging once, four slashes split open the giants leg, cutting through flesh and bone with ease. Kravok followed close behind, slamming his Warhammer into the same leg Ilya just attacked. The crack of shattering bone resounded as the giant stumbled and fell to one knee. The giant gritted its teeth and swung its massive great sword, aiming to cut through Ilya and Kravok in one sweep. Before the blade could connect, Bjorn suddenly appeared in his path with a burst of speed. Xarens dark red magic power coated the leopard demons body, amplifying his strength as he kicked the giants inner arm with all his might, diverting the swing and sending the sword crashing into a nearby building instead. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.Carack, now back on the ground, extended both hands and released a stronger torrent of flame. The torrent blasted into the giants back, forcing it forward onto its hands. Xaren then lifted the bronze statue he had used earlier and hurled it towards the giants face. The heavy statue struck with a sickening crunch, shattering the giants nose and knocking its head back. At that moment, Ilya released a burst of magic power, using wind to give Kravok a boost in the air. The demon raised his warhammer above his head and with a roar, he brought it down on the giants skull, the impact cracking it open with a dull, wet thud. The area fell silent for a brief moment until two words appeared in Xarens field of view. [Level Up] Yeah, its dead. Xaren spoke with a relieved sigh and Carack dusted his arms as he walked over and spoke. Next time, warn me before you decide Im taking a flying lesson. Dont worry. Id make sure NOT to warn you. Hearing Xarens response, Caracks brows twitched. He was about to speak up when a loud noise rang out from behind, making him turn towards the source. Then he saw Kravok slamming his warhammer into the giants skull repeatedly. Give me some EXP! Come on, give me something! Ilya, Carack, Xaren, and even Bjorn paused for a brief moment, staring at him with equal parts confusion and disbelief. Bjorn then looked at the giants soul which was leaving its body and then turned to the others to ask. can giants survive without souls? pretty sure they cant. Xaren responded after some seconds, his confused gaze still on Kravok. Noticing the stares, Kravok turned towards them with a raised eyebrow and asked in a gruff voice. What? You cant tell me youre not getting frustrated too! These things arent giving us as much EXP as we need to hit Level 100! He gestured towards the fallen giant with his Warhammer, a distant look entering his eyes as he continued. We need something like that one from the day before yesterday. At this, Carack finally snapped out of his shock and retorted. Oy! Be careful what you wish for! I dont want to deal with another giant like that one With the way he acted, Xaren assumed that the memory alone was exhausting for Carack, only for the fire demon to spout something completely off-tangent. Who knows if Xaren would stab its balls again?! maybe I should toss you off the top of a building this time. Xaren sheathed his sword and coated his hands in magic power as he approached Carack, prompting the fire demon to run behind Ilya while laughing. Ilya just shook her head at the silly banter, while Xaren sighed and glanced at his status board. Kravok is complaining, but the enemies are still giving me good EXP. Probably because their levels are all higher than mine. For all the strength Xaren had shown in the past few days of fighting, he was the lowest-levelled person in Ilyas squad. All the others, Ilya included, were above Level 90, while he was still working his way up. Even Carack and Kravok who were below Level 90 had gotten there after theyd killed that giant in the fortress two days ago. But if this pace continued, Xaren was sure hed catch up soon enough. My levelling speed is far faster than it was in my past life. Is this another High Demon trait or is there something else? Maybe the demons used some magic to double the EXP we get or something? Xaren asked himself this as he glanced at Kravok who jumped from the giants corpse and landed amid a group of fleeing elves, scattering them with the shockwaves from his Warhammer. Carack spewed flames and Ilya used her wind magic to swirl them, roasting the elves a second after Kravok jumped out of the fray. After handling this lot, the group continued pressing forward and killing more elves as they regrouped with more members of Ilyas troop that had split up when they entered the city. The plan for them was to scatter and rack up kills on their own for a while before regrouping close to the Bell Tower building near the city centre. As they got closer, more demons from the troop joined up while pointing at their destination and calling out. Theyre retreating toward the Bell Tower! A lot of elves are heading that way! Taking stock of the situation, Ilya gave her order. Then we chase them and wipe them out. Chapter 27-Elven Summoners we chase them and wipe them out. The demons cheered as they heard Ilyas decision, their pace quickening as they hunted the fleeing elves. It didnt take long before they caught up to some of the stragglers and Ilya charged into the lead, her sword as fast as always, severing heads before the elves even registered her presence. Behind her was Xaren who reduced gravity to make himself faster and doubled it on impact to increase the power of his flaming slashes and stabs. Bjorn barrelled through their lines, his leopard claws ripping through throats as he shrugged o? retaliatory strikes with his thick hide that he reinforced with demonic energy. Kravoks Warhammer spun in wide arcs, the magic weight behind it brutally shattering elven skulls while Carack brought up the rear, his flames torching the feet of the running elves. They continued moving like this until they reached the building connected to the bell tower, a four-storey structure where the elves had barricaded themselves inside. Sadly, their barricade meant nothing before the power of a certain Gravity-manipulating manipulating High-Demon. Ilya scanned the building with her eyes, surveying the situation and quickly devising a plan. Some of you should climb and break in from the windows when we burst through the main doors. The rest, shields up and push the front! Just as she ordered, Xaren looked to the side and covered multiple large weapons belonging to dead giants on the floor with his magic power, before using Attraction and Repulsion to yeet them at the doors of the building. The doors shattered and the first line of elves behind it were crushed by the giant weapons. Immediately, the second line unleashed a barrage of magic spells, but the shield bearers of the troop absorbed the brunt of the magical bombardment, shielding them from ?reballs, ice shards, and wind blades hurled from above. Meanwhile, the climbers scaled the walls with ease, their claws and weapons anchoring them to the stone as they reached the higher ?oors. Within moments, they shattered the windows and poured into the building, taking the elves by surprise. In the brief moment of confusion upon detecting the demons attacking from behind, the elven spellcasters hesitated and their barrage weakened. Kravok seized the opportunity and leapt forward, slamming his warhammer into the ground and unleashing a powerful shockwave that sent tremors rippling through the entire building. Cracks split the ?oor, and chunks of stone and debris shot into the air. Xaren! Kravok called out but Xaren had already taken action. He used Repulsion on the debris, hurling the jagged stones at the elves. The projectiles tore through the defenders, smashing into heads, chests, and limbs, while Carack added a touch of flames to some of them, his magic igniting the bodies of those hit by the projectiles. Screams ?lled the air as ?re consumed the elves, their panicked movements only spreading the inferno further. As the demons began the slaughter of the ground and first floors, Ilya used wind magic to boost herself further, scaling to the second gallery floor and slicing through the necks of the elves she encountered. She left the ?oating souls behind without a second glance, focusing her attention on the structure itself. With a powerful slash, she carved through the ceiling above her, sending chunks of the ?oor above crashing down. The elves standing there plummeted to the floor she was on, and as they scrambled to rise, a sudden gust of wind burst forth from Ilya. When the wind subsided, all that was left within a five-metre radius of her position were bloody body fragments. The rest of the troop pressed the attack, systematically clearing ?oor after ?oor. Blood and ash painted the walls as they carved a path through the building. Eventually, their pursuit led some of the ?eeing elves to the Bell Tower itself. In the chaos, Kravok swung his hammer with reckless force, unintentionally smashing through the towers outer wall and creating a gaping hole. The team clambered through it, gaining access to the roof, where the remaining elves made their ?nal stand. More than a hundred elves lay dead by the end of the brutal skirmish, their blood soaking into the stonework. The building was eerily quiet now, the groans of the dying replaced by the crackle of lingering ?ames and the distant sounds of battle still raging elsewhere in the city. Ilya surveyed the scene with a narrowed gaze, before giving her next order to find the ones who fled from the windows and back doors. As the troop temporarily dispersed, only Ilya, Xaren, Kravok, Carack, and Bjorn remained atop the roof. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.Kravok broke the silence with a grumble, leaning on his hammer. All that e?ort, and I only gained one level. Same here. What a waste, Carack muttered, sighing as he cleaned his magic bracelet, wiping away the remnants of the battle while Bjorn, unbothered by their concerns, sat cross-legged, consuming the souls he captured. Xaren wasnt too far from them, sitting on the rooftop as he surveyed the citys skyline. Fires raged, smoke spiralled into the skies, and the sound of collapsing structures echoed in the distance. He said nothing, his expression unreadable as he took in the destruction they had wrought. Am I cursed to be stuck in war or something? Just as he thought that, he and the other four sensed a surge of magic ripple across the city, and their gazes turned to source on instinct. From their elevated vantage point, they could see it clearlya congregation of elven mages in the city centre. The elves were gathered in tight formation, chanting in unison as a glowing spell circle drawn with the blood of the giants and demons who had perished earlier materialized beneath them. Surrounding the mages was a defensive perimeter of giants and elven archers, holding o? the relentless waves of demons charging in from all directions. Giants were a race renowned for their large physical bodies, and they had the strength and durability to match. They also had race bonuses that signi?cantly ampli?ed their strength and durability, often beyond what their status boards re?ected. Yet, their large size, a symbol of power, was sometimes the cause of their downfall. Due to this, some High-Rank Giants acquired size manipulation abilities and tended to shrink their bodies. Xaren remembered a story he heard in his previous life, about an army division that had encountered what appeared to be a group of low-rank giants, their forms compact at a mere ?ve meters tall. Assuming an easy victory, the soldiers launched an attack, only to discover too late that these were high-rank giants in disguise. The entire division, numbering tens of thousands, was annihilated. In their shrunken forms, these giants traded some of their immense strength for speed, but for higher breeds like Arch and Elder Giants, they retained their full strength while gaining agility, becoming far deadlier. But the giants in the city centre were not of that calibre. These unranked giants, despite their intimidating size and brute power, were slow and vulnerable to being overwhelmed. That was what was happening before Xarens eyes. Dozens of demons swarmed each giant, exploiting their sluggish movements. Individually, these giants would probably win against the demons, but when dozens attacked simultaneously in such a con?ned space where the giants were forced to restrain their attacks to avoid harming their allies, they ended up being picked off one by one. But despite the mounting losses, the giants and elves held their formation, refusing to fall. They put everything into protecting the elven mages at the centre of the circle. Watching the scene unfold, Kravok gripped his Warhammer tightly and spoke. I dont know what kind of strange magic theyre casting, but I think we should stop them. The others nodded in agreement, and Ilya drew her sword silently, ready to act. However, Xaren was of a different opinion. Wait, guys. I think we should let them cast it. His words drew a chorus of incredulous stares, and Carack questioned him on behalf of the other three. What do you mean we should let them cast it? Why would you let your enemy cast their magic? Already anticipating this reaction, Xaren quickly explained his reasoning. Its because of the type of magic theyre trying to cast. Theyre using summoning magic. Shumonning magic? Kravok tilted his head, still confused. No. Summoning. Xaren corrected him with a small sigh, his eyes still fixed on the magic circle. Curiosity piqued, Carack temporarily withdrew the magic power he planned to use and asked. You recognize the magic? What does it do? It allows them to bring reinforcements here instantly. Other elves and giants who are really far away would cross the distance in an instant and come out of that magic circle. Hearing his explanation, the Demons remembered the spell that the High-Rank Demons had used to transport them into battlefields and they nodded, understanding that it was similar. How the hell do you even know its summoning magic? Carack asked, his disbelief evident. Still watching the magic circle the elves were conjuring, Xaren responded. Dont look at me like Im some sort of smartass. I only read it from a book I picked up from an elven mage I killed. Chapter 28- RUN! Xaren remembered that elven mage with the magic tomethe same tome that had helped him learn the basic spells he knew today. Unfortunately, his aptitude for magic in his past life was abysmal, so he hadnt bothered to read past the beginner-level spells. Instead, the book had been left to gather dust in his suitcase. I wish Id read more of it. Maybe there was some gravity magic inside or something useful... Lost in his thoughts, he almost missed the fact that the others were staring at him with curious expressions. Finally turning to them, he raised a brow and Ilya broke the silence with a question, her tone carrying a tinge of disbelief. Xaren, you can read? Caught off guard by the simplicity of the question, Xaren blinked in surprise. Of course, I can read. What kind of question is thaoh! Midway through his response, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He was supposed to be a newbie demon, fresh out of the newborn zone just days ago. And here he was, casually admitting to reading a booka magic book, no less! I slipped up. Either theyll think Im suspicious, or theyll think Im some kind of prodigy. Better steer this in a direction I can control. Making that decision in an instant, Xaren heaved an exaggerated sigh and feigned reluctance. He glanced at them as though debating whether or not to speak. After a moment, he sighed again and muttered. I have a skill That was all he said, but it was enough. The others immediately nodded in understanding, their curiosity satis?ed. Just as hed hoped, their thoughts turned toward the idea of him possessing some rare skill that allowed him to read. Well, I do have such a skill so it wasnt a lie With the slip-up neatly handled, Kravok shifted his attention back to the summoning magic. His eyes lit up as realization dawned. You want them to bring more elves here so we can kill more elves and get more EXP, right? Xaren turned to him, his dark red eyes narrowing in a mock-serious expression. Seems like this guys the real smartass. Kravok pu?ed out his chest, a proud grin spreading across his face. His moment of glory was cut short when Carack smacked him on the back of his head, rolling his eyes. You ?nally got something right for once, and now you think youre the smartest person in the world. Just as their banter picked up, Bjorn, standing silently to the side, suddenly spoke in his usual broken cadence. More elves, more EXP. More EXP, more levels. More levels, low rank is closer. He pieced everything together in his own way and then nodded to show his agreement with the plan to let the elves finish their summoning. Ilya, also eager to get to Level 100 as soon as possible, crossed her arms, her gaze scanning the chaotic battle?eld below. Then shouldnt we stop the other demons from killing the giants protecting the elves? Xaren shrugged nonchalantly, gesturing toward the glowing summoning circle as he responded. Oh, thats not really a problem. The spells almost done. He pointed at the circle, directing their attention to its the rings around it. From up here, we can get a clear view. Look at the ring of lightits nearly completed a full revolution. No matter how many demons are down there, they wont be able to break through the giants in time to stop it. In other words, we should be seeing a bunch of new arrivals pretty soon. Carack rubbed his hands together, a grin spreading across his face. Wow, I wonder how many elves? Or maybe giants? Most likely giants alone. Theyre using the blood of giants as the summoning catalyst for the spell. So, yeah, probably just giants. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Xaren responded, but when he mentioned the summoning catalyst phrase, Kravok tilted his head, confusion evident on his face. Summoning Catalyst? Carack seized the opportunity to make fun of Kravok, grinning mischievously as he shouted. Youre using too many big words, Xaren. Dumb it down for this idiot! Kravok smacked Carack on the back of the head with a heavy hand, muttering something unintelligible as Carack laughed. Xaren chuckled as well before o?ering a simpli?ed explanation. Basically, since the spell was cast using giants blood, whats going to come out of there are giants. Kravok scratched his head, counting on his ?ngers before he con?dently declared. They should bring at least twenty-?ve giants at level 90?ve for each of us. Hearing that, Xaren nearly fell over in shock. His head snapped in Kravoks direction, eyes wide in disbelief. What the hell do you mean ?ve giants at level 90?! You trying to kill me?! Kravok blinked, momentarily confused, before realization dawned on him. Oh, thats right. Your strange weight magic is the reason why you can rack up as many kills as us. Come to think of it... what level are you, Xaren? Xaren opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the magic power from the summoning circle surged again and he turned his gaze there. Seems the spell has completed. Seeing the pillar of light shooting into the sky, they all stood at the ready, filled with anticipation. Weapons drawn and glowing with imbued magic, each prepared for the onslaught they assumed was coming. Twenty-?ve giants. Twenty-?ve giants. Twenty-?ve giants. Kravok muttered to himself like a mantra, gripping his Warhammer tightly while Carack just laughed. Xaren, though silent, shared their anticipation. His thoughts churned with possibilities. How many enemies would emerge? Would it truly be a swarm of giants? Or was he wrong and it would be a mix of giants and elves? But as the spells energy began to coalesce and the light dimmed to reveal the fruits of its casting, Xarens eyes widened abruptly. From within the pillar of light stepped a single ?gure. One giant. 20 metres tall, he was. But he was still just One giant. For perspective, it would take at least ?fteen Xarens stacked atop one another to match his height. What? Just one? Kravok muttered, his voice laden with confusion. Ilya, Carack, Bjorn, and even the demons on the ground near the city centre were stunned into silence. The sheer amount of magic that had been poured into the summoning suggested an entire army, yet only a solitary giant appeared. Even more so, this giant had no magic power and no weapons. Is it defective? Carack mused aloud, frowning as he observed the giants lack of weapons. Even though giants were known for their comparatively weaker magic, they always had enough to amplify their ridiculous strengths even further. But this one was void of any magic power as far as they could tell. Xaren, however, felt something else entirely. His heart thudded in his chest as his eyes locked onto the giant, unmoving. Aura His whisper was barely audible over the wind, but Ilya, standing closest to him, caught it and turned her head. Aura? Whats that supposed to mean? Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Xaren continued to stare, his body tense. Below, the demons ?nally snapped out of their stupor. With roars and battle cries, they charged toward the lone giant, seeing it as an easy target. No no, no, no! Xarens breath quickened, and his heart sank. And then he screamed. NOOO!! DONT!! RUN AWAY!!!! His desperate cry echoed across the rooftop, loud enough that even his companions ?inched. But the demons below paid him no heed. Why should they? The giant was without magic, without weapons. To them, it was nothing more than an oversized, defenceless slab of meat. That was the consensus of around 80% of the demons who saw the giant appear. But this was a grave misassumption. None of them had reincarnated like Xaren did. None of them had knowledge from a previous life. They were still young and hadnt become able to properly differentiate Existence Realms. And that was why none of them realised what Xaren had realised when he stared at the towering figure. The unnamed giant stopped in his tracks, seemingly drawn by Xaren''s frantic scream. His massive head turned, and his gaze locked onto Xaren. For a moment, it felt as though the world itself had fallen silent. Then, the giant grinned. Slowly, he raised his colossal fist high into the air. No! RUN! GET OUT OF THERE!! Xarens voice cracked as he screamed again, but his warnings were too late. The giant brought his ?st down, and the ground beneath its knuckles cracked with a sound like the sky itself splitting. An unimaginable shockwave erupted outward, carrying with it a force that seemed to shake the very earth. The city centre instantly turned into a bloodbath. The collision unleashed a violent explosion of energy, the impact sending demons and other smaller giants alike ?ying as though they were nothing more than rag dolls. The force ripped through the air in powerful waves, ?attening buildings in its path. Stone and wood shattered, fragments scattering like deadly shrapnel. Entire structures crumbled, crashing down on those unfortunate enough to be beneath them. Dozens of demons screamed as they were crushed under the debris, their bodies squashed in an instant. Even those with rather strong magic power and demonic energy were helpless against the overwhelming blast. Their magic and demonic energy barriers shattered like glass and their bodies hurled through the air as if gravity itself had abandoned them. In the centre of the crater that was now the city centre, the giant stood unmoving as he raised his hand once more. On the rooftop of the bell tower building, Xarens companions could only stare in disbelief. What in the Abyss? Ilya whispered, her voice barely audible over the still-raging wind. That kind of power without any magic? Carack was visibly sweating, his fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Beside him, Kravoks arms trembled, the Warhammer in his hands feeling heavier than ever before. This tense silence was broken through by Xarens loud voice. Its Aura! That giant is using Aura! Ilya, her composure cracking, shouted back, asking the question all of them desperately wanted an answer to. What the hell is Aura?! But Xaren wasnt in a state to give a proper explanation. His gaze remained ?xed on the giant, his mind racing. In a strained voice, he spat out the words he knew theyd understand. That things a Master Realm Existence! Above Level 100! Low-Rank Giant! Chapter 29- When Running Isn’t an Option Aura A unique and independent energy type generated directly from an individuals energy core, similar to magic power but distinct in its nature and application. By default, aura was non-elemental, though it could resonate loosely with a persons elemental affinity, making it easier for them to align aura-based techniques with that element. Each beings aura had a signature colour, often mirroring physical traits like eye or hair colour and reflecting their personal essence. While the colour was purely aesthetic, it served as a unique identifier, making aura as recognizable as a fingerprint. Unlike magic power, aura was almost exclusive to Warrior-type combatants. Unlocking it, was something only existences above Level 100 were permitted to do. This 20-metre-tall giant indeed didnt possess any magic power; the result of a mutation. But in return, the giant had more physical strength than his peers and gained his aura faster. He was only Level 120, with some of his stats still at the D+ level. But his aura, amplified with his C- Strength Stat resulted in the devastating scene that played out before Xarens eyes. 󡡡󡡡 The moment the Low-Rank giant appeared, the Low-Rank demons outside Hamqua City sensed his presence and frowned. The Demons had not hidden their intentions to use this worlds war as a test for their new forces. Only Unranked Existences were to participate in the battle for HamquaThat was the warning message the demons had sent out to the elves and giants of this world. But the fact that they could sense a Low-Rank giant meant that their warning was ignored. The Low-Rank demons got to their feet and unfurled their wings, taking to the skies so they could survey the city. It was then that a voice rang out in their heads. [Do not interfere.] The demons froze mid-flight, their gazes snapping to the shattered remnants of Hamquas outer walls. There, they saw a familiar Greater Demon standing there, flanked by a few Mid-Rank Demons. "Sir Naephas?!" one of the Low-Rank demons exclaimed. The group of Low-Ranks immediately dipped their heads in deference, their wings trembling as they instinctively moved to descend. But Naephas held out his hand to stop them. Remain there, Naephas commanded. Fly higher and make yourselves visible to the Unranked below, but take no further action. Confusion flickered across the Low Ranks, but none dared question his order. They quickly did as he said. But Sir, even if its merely Level 120, its not something these Unranked should fight. Why not let the Low-Ranks deal with it? Floch, the fire demon who brought Xaren out of the Newborn zone, asked Naephas and the High-Rank demon shook his head silently. No. Just like you said, its merely a Low-Ranked giant. But the battles of the Unranked demons are all testsAdaptability, Intelligence, and the will to survive against overwhelming odds. I will not allow any interference from those above their rank. Floch went silent when he heard Naephas response. Sure, this was war, but it wasnt just about victory. For the demons, this war was a proving ground, a place to test and strengthen their forces. Numbers werent the goalwhat they wanted were powerful, resilient fighters. The other Mid-Rank demons nearby exchanged uneasy glances. They wanted to argue, to protest Naephas decision, but the words caught in their throats. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Each of them had their eyes on specific Unranked demons they believed showed promise. If they were seen as the ones who discovered these talents, then they would be rewarded. As such, they didnt want any of those they had marked to die here. But overturning Naephas decision? Impossible. Reluctantly, their gazes shifted back to the city below, where the giant struck again. Another devastating blow, another wave of destruction. Buildings crumbled like sandcastles, and dozens of Unranked demons were wiped out in an instant. The giant raised its fist for a fourth strike, and the Mid-Ranks could almost hear the splatter of blood, and see the broken bodies littering the ground from his strike. But Naephas? He saw something different. A sly smile curved across his lips. Lord Xynax always knows how to pick them. Some have already noticed my intentions. Floch and the others blinked, turning toward him in confusion. They followed his gaze to the battlefield below, scanning the chaos until they saw what he meant. A group of Unranked demons stood apart from the panic, their eyes fixed not on the giant but on the Low-Ranks hovering in the sky above. The Low-Ranks Naephas had ordered to do nothing but hover in place and make themselves seen. One of the Unranked on the rooftop shouted something to the others, and despite some of them visibly trembling, they broke into motion. They leapt across rooftops, charging straight for the Low-Rank giant. For a moment, the Mid-Ranks stared in stunned silence. These demons werent running from the slaughter. They were running toward it. 󡡡󡡡 Xarens mind screamed one word over and over as he stared at the massive figure towering above the ruined cityscape. RUN. Having experienced death once before, Xaren had no desire to face it again. His top priority in this second chance at life was survival, and fighting against a Level 100+ giant at his current level didnt fit into that plan. Especially as he was all too aware of the staggering power gap between the Gold and Master Realms. From Level 99 to 101, the power difference became multiplicative. Xaren didnt have an appraisal skill, but he was sure this giant surely had a C- Strength Stat, maybe even Health and Durability to match. The giants already terrifying physical capabilities were further enhanced by Aura, allowing him to unleash devastating force through brute strength alone, effectively compensating for his lack of magical prowess. The demons fighting his now were doing so because they had no choice. They had been too close when the giant attacked, trapped in his range. Most of the others were running, scattering like leaves before a storm. And Xaren he wanted to join them. But then a thought snagged in his mind. The higher-ranked demons had repeatedly stated that their battles would only involve Unranked existences as well. As such, he assumed that they would move to remove this Low-Rank giant that had suddenly appeared. Immediately having that thought, Xaren turned in the direction of the broken city gates, and in the process, his eyes caught sight of Low-Rank demons in the sky. They hovered above, their wings beating steadily, arms crossed, watching. Not fighting. At first, Xaren was happy to see them. They were clearly stronger than this giant, and if three of them teamed up, theyd make short work of the giant. But they didnt move. They didnt lift a finger. They just hovered there, their silence as loud as the giants earth-shaking steps. And thats when it clicked. Xarens expression contorted, his mind piecing things together. They werent here to help. They were here to watch. those fuckers are testing us even now He muttered the words under his breath and Ilya, standing beside him, turned with wide eyes. What? Theyre testing us, Xaren said louder, his voice tinged with annoyance as he pointed upward. Those Low-Rank demonsthey could kill that giant easily, but they wont. Look at them. Theyre just floating there, waiting. Watching us like were some experiment. Ilya and the others followed his gaze, their faces darkening as they processed the same realization. So if we run? Carack asked hesitantly, his voice low. Xarens lips twisted as he pondered the question before answering. I dont think theyll let us. Either they stop us, or they mark us as deserters Hearing his response, Kravok clenched his fists, his fingers digging into his palm. So, what do we do? That thing will crush us if we fight it head-on! he demanded, his voice laced with frustration. Xaren let out a string of curses under his breath as he looked at the city around them: crumbling buildings, shattered weapons, and debris scattered like confetti. In the distance, other demonsthose unlucky enough to be caught in the giants reachwere trying to fight him, drawing him attention and forcing him to split his focus. Xarens eyes narrowed as an idea began to form. We cant do it alone, but if we work with the other demonsuse them and the terrain to our advantageits possible The more he spoke, the calmer he got, his eyes spotting broken weapons from the dead unranked giants scattered across. We can use those Xaren said, pointing at the broken weapons before speaking to the others. See that? The giants before this one left their gear behind. We can use them. We can lure this giant into positions where we have the upper hand. Let him focus on the other demons while we hit him from blind spots. Youre serious? Carack asked, his voice trembling slightly and Xaren responded almost instantly. Dead serious. If we dont fight, we might end up dead anyway. So, we fight smart, not stupid. No one goes in alone, and no one tries to tank a hit. The group exchanged uneasy glances, as if deliberating if this was really a good idea. Finally, Ilya nodded and asked. All right. Whats the plan? Xaren exhaled deeply, regaining full calm as he turned to the giant and spoke. First, we get the other demons to fight it willingly. Chapter 30-Against the Giant Xaren and the other four had their shoes crunch against the crumbling edges of rooftops as they jumped across the wreckage-strewn cityscape. They ignored the devastation around them, focusing on the giant who had his back turned as he continued his rampage. His massive fists smashed into the earth, blowing away another set of demons. Just as the giant was about to swing again, his body froze and he turned his head, locking his brown eyes onto their quintet. Recognition flashed in the giants eyes as he saw Xaren, then, his lips curled up into a grin like before. You dare? Turning around fully, the giant raised his hand and threw a punch at them. The group froze for a fraction of a second, their expressions showing confusion. They were still over a hundred meters awaythere was no way the punch could reach them, right? But after having seen the ridiculous power of the giant before, they didnt need Xaren to warn them of the danger. On instinct, the five scattered, each leaping in a different direction just as a shockwave erupted from the giants hand. **BOOM!! The shockwave tore through the air, hitting the building they had been on moments ago. The structure crumbled instantly, its walls folding inward as debris rained down like an avalanche. Xaren landed on another rooftop, rolling for a bit before getting on one knee and reaching out with his left hand. Child of Gravity. He muttered the name of his Unique Skill, gritting his teeth as he felt the energy leave his core. Dark red light coated the falling fragments of the ruined building, keeping them afloat even though gravity should have brought them down. Then, he threw his arm forward and the fragments shot forward like missiles, streaking toward the giant. Seeing this, the giant raised his arms, coating them in his aura that solidified like a second skin. The fragments collided, shattering against his defences and raining harmless dust down at his feet. Telekinesis, huh? The giant muttered under his breath and though Xaren knew it wasnt telekinesis, there was no point correcting him. Instead, Xaren used his gravity powers to launch a sword belonging to a nearby fallen giant, but his opponent simply caught the enormous blade as if it weighed nothing. Xaren doubled the blades weight, but though it momentarily surprised the giant, it didnt have the intended effect. The giant let the sword fall, and then he swung his fist down on it, shattering it into useless shards with his aura. But before the giant could make another move, he sensed something from his left and turned just in time to see Ilya swinging her sword down at him. The giant raised his left hand to block Ilyas sword, then coated his right arm in aura to block Caracks flames. Kravok and Bjorn circled behind the giant to strike from the rear, but the giant sensed this and jumped forward, creating a distance they couldnt cross easily. Landing, he spun around and threw his fist forward, sending another shockwave and the two immediately scattered to avoid getting hit. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Before he could follow up the attack, Xaren tossed another set of building fragments at him while shouting at the others. Keep moving! Hit him from all sidesdont let him focus on one target! Ilya used wind magic to boost her speed as she ran up a building, getting to a perfect vantage point before firing wind bombs at the giants head, forcing him to shield his face with one arm. Carack lunged in from the side, aiming for the giants exposed flank, while Kravok struck at his legs, attempting to exploit his size. The giant swiped at them with his massive hands, but they moved out of his reach and seeing this, the other unranked demons froze in their tracks, their eyes wide as they took in the scene unfolding before them. Are they insane? Theyre gonna get themselves killed! Such were the words the unranked spoke as they retreated into the crumbled remnants of a nearby structure. One of them even noticed Xaren who had seemingly warned them about the giants strength now fighting it and couldnt be any more confused. Murmurs of doubt rippled through the surrounding demons, most of whom were scrambling to avoid being noticed by the giant sweeping building tops with each wave of his hands. Xaren happened to land beside some of such demons as he dodged one of the giants attacks, and he clicked his tongue. Expending some of his demonic energy, he doubled the weights of these demons, making them stumble as an invisible force pressed down on them. It created the illusion that his demonic energy was so strong that they struggled to stand in his presence, drawing enough attention to him. Pick yourselves up unless you want to get crushed by this bastard and die cowering like rats! The unranked demons nearest to him flinched, and those who were further away heard his shout and snapped their gazes at him with incredulous expressions. This bastard is trying to kill us, so, well kill him before he can! Hes strong, yeah, but if we swarm him, hell fall like the other giants! Xaren extended his left hand as he spoke, lifting the corpse of a fallen giant with some difficulty. He hurled the massive body right at the 20-metre giants face. Sensing this, the giant who was about to punch Kravok into a building, turned and reached out to push the corpse away. But as his hand moved, Ilya dashed in from the side, her speed so astounding that even the giant was caught off guard for a second. Ilya darted between the giants outstretched hand and the flying corpse, her blade slashing through the air. Blood sprayed in all directions. The first splash came from the dead giants body as Ilyas blade tore through it. But then, more blood followedfresh and bright red, spilling from the giants hand where Ilya had sliced it. The giant roared in pain, jerking back as some blood dripped into his eyes. Reflexively, he shut them, his free hand moving to wipe his face clean. Ilya landed on the ground, using wind magic to control her fall. Seeing as her boots skidded across the rubble-strew ground and blood dripped from her sword, the other demons looked on with awe. She did it She made it bleed. These unranked demons were simple-minded in the way that they respected the strong. Seeing Ilya draw blood from the giant that had been killing many other demons turned their expressions of fear to awe. The giant could bleed. It could fall. It could die. Those three sentences appeared in the heads of the majority of the unranked demons and with roars of their own, they charged at the giant, emboldened by the sight of the towering enemys vulnerability. Dont fight recklessly! Dont let it hit you! Always be ready to dodge! Xaren barked as the demons closed the gap, and the giant, one eye still closed from the sting of blood, let out a furious bellow. He swung his massive arm, sweeping across the battlefield in an attempt to crush the demons advancing on him. Spread out! Dont cluster together! Xaren shouted and the demons obeyed, scattering in every direction as the giants arm smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. At that moment, Ilyas troop who had scattered after the bell tower massacre began to regroup around her. Captain Ilya! The burly, red-skinned Drogror called out to her and Ilyas head snapped in his direction. She was momentarily startled to see them closing in, but she quickly composed herself. Circle its legs! Force it to divide its attention! The demons roared and charged under her orders, and Xaren, upon noticing this, nodded silently. Still, its not enough. We need more numbers Keep hitting it from different angles! Dont stop moving! Xaren shouted as he flung debris at the giant to keep him off balance, creating openings for the other demons to attack and cause small wounds with their combined attacks. Looking around, he spotted what remained of a water tanks standa hefty, jagged piece of metal, a bit bet, but otherwise intact. Perfect. He wrapped his magic around it and used Repulsion to hurl it at the giant with all the force he could muster. The metal frame spun through the air like a spear, aiming straight for the giants chest. But the giant sensed it and reached out, catching the projectile mid-air. His eyes snapped in Xarens direction, brows furrowing as he spoke. You just keep throwing things, dont you? Chapter 31- To Stagger a Colossus The giant snapped the metal frame in two with relative ease. Then, the giant crouched and leapt, his massive body hurtling toward Xaren like a living meteor. Xarens instincts screamed at him to move, and his body was even faster. He lightened his body with gravity magic and jumped with all his strength, pushing himself to his limits. But even his enhanced speed wasnt enough. The giant landed with a seismic crash, the sheer shockwave of his landing rippling outward like a bomb. Xaren was caught in the blast, his body flung like a ragdoll through the air. He smashed through several walls, each impact driving a sharp jolt of pain through his body. Dust and rubble settled around him as he lay amidst the wreckage. His entire body throbbed with pain and blood trickled from fresh wounds. Yet, despite the pain, he refused to pass outhis Tenacity skill forced him to remain conscious. Just like how a cockroach would remain alive and try to run even after being kicked into a wall, Xaren pushed himself to his feet and leapt to the side to avoid the giants crushing hand that came for him. But before the blow could land, Bjorn charged in from the side. Tordenkl?r! Bjorn bellowed, his voice echoing as his fists, surrounded by crackling lightning, collided with the back of the giants hand. The impact should have been devastating, but in the split second before Bjorns punch connected, the giants hand was coated in a dense layer of aura. The rebounding force sent Bjorn flying backwards, crashing into the ground with a grunt. The giant snapped his gaze towards Bjorn, raising his foot, but Ilya dashed forward in a blur, grabbing Bjorn and moving out just before the massive foot came crashing down. The ground quaked from the impact, but Ilya had already leapt to safety, landing several meters away. From another angle, flames erupted, licking the giants side and drawing his attention. The giant turned to Carack who poured flames from his hands, but before he could retaliate, Kravok appeared from behind, his Warhammer raised overhead. **BAAMM!! The heavy weapon smashed into the back of the giants head with a resounding crack, eliciting a roar of pain and anger. The giant stumbled slightly as Kravok used the momentum to vault off its head, landing on a pile of rubble some distance away. Other demons joined the fray, their attacks coming in bursts. Arrows flew, daggers slashed, and spells of varying potency were hurled at the giant, keeping him from focusing entirely on one target. The giant roared and raised his hand to swat away some of the attackers, but Xaren focused his magic on the limb and doubled its weight. Caught off guard, the giants swing slowed noticeably, creating a brief opening which allowed the other demons to strike at it. Swords slashed, claws tore, and a spear pierced deep into the flesh of the giants hand, causing dark red blood to spurt from the wound. The giant howled in pain, shaking his massive arm violently to dislodge the attackers. Xaren attempted to weigh the arm down again, but the giant wasnt caught off guard again. He infused his entire arm with aura, negating the gravity magic entirely and the backlash from the failed attack hit Xaren like a hammer, sending a sharp jolt of pain through his body. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The giants eyes darted around, finally spotting Xaren in the shadow of a collapsing building. Throwing his fist forward, he unleashed a shockwave that raced towards the grey-skinned demon, forcing him to jump away as fast as he could. But the giant didnt stop there. He launched into a barrage of attacks, his fists punching the air in rapid succession, sending tremors through the air that forced Xaren to stay light on his feet. Kravok saw an opening and charged, swinging his Warhammer with all his might at the giants back. The strike landed with a resounding thud, but the giants body shimmered with aura, deflecting the blow with ease. The giant turned his head slightly, an annoyed grunt escaping him as Kravoks hammer rebounded harmlessly off his back. Kravok was sure the giant intended to punch him out of the air, but suddenly, the giants body jerked to the side, as though an invisible force had gripped him. Turning his massive body, the giant spotted Ilya, her sword glowing with elven runes that amplified her wind magic which pulled the giants hulking form. Annoying The giant growled, before leaping to close the distance between them in a heartbeat, his immense form blotting out the sun as he bore down on Ilya. His palm swung down like a falling boulder, aiming to crush her outright, but Ilya jumped to the side to avoid it. She kicked off a nearby building and vaulted onto the giants hand, dashing up his arm as fast as the wind and leaving cuts into the giants thick skin. Though shallow, the cuts left blood spattering from the wounds, staining the giants arm in streaks of crimson. Enough of this! The giant roared, raising his other hand to swat her away, but as the massive hand descended, Ilya leapt off the giants arm. The giants hand struck his own arm with a heavy slap, a grunt of irritation escaping him as he smacked only empty air. Just then, Bjorn descended from above like a thunderbolt, his leopard fist glowing with lightning as he punched down on the giants crossed arms. The shock rippled through the air, forcing the giants muscles to strain and in that same moment, Kravok darted in low and struck the back of the giants knee with his Warhammer. The blow made the giants leg buckle slightly, causing him to stagger for the first time. The surrounding demons seized the moment, charging in with weapons and magic, hoping to capitalize on the giants stumble. But the giant wasnt going down that easily. He spun around with terrifying speed, his leg sweeping through the air in a massive kick. Kravok managed to leap away just in time, but the demons who followed werent so lucky. The giants kick ploughed through them like a battering ram, sending a cluster of bodies hurtling into the ruins of a collapsed building. Scatter! Xaren shouted, and the core grouphim, Ilya, Bjorn, Carack, and Kravokimmediately leapt in different directions. The giants gaze followed them, his eyes noting each of their movements as he deliberated who to go after. The wind girl. The telekinesis and Warhammer boys. Those three need to go Sweeping his hand through the air, the giant grabbed a handful of smaller demons nearby. His aura condensed into his grip, crushing them instantly as his eyes locked onto Xarens figure. The one with telekinesis needs to go first. The giant crouched and then lunged, his 20-metre frame barrelling toward Xaren with unstoppable force. Seeing the sudden shadow cast over him, Xarens heart pounded, his gravity magic already covering his body as he prepared to dodge. But before the giant could attack, his body jerked to a halt and he bent backwards to avoid a stream of flames that came from his side. Turning towards the source, his expression twisted into annoyance. More demons were coming, their numbers swelling, their attacks converging from all sides. Unsurprisingly Ilya, Carack, Bjorn and Kravok are not the only level 90+ demons around. There were others, they were just in another part of the city. They also werent the only ones who had figured that this was some sort of test after seeing the Low-Rank demons doing nothing but hovering in the sky and watching them. These other Level 90+ demons watched from afar to gauge the threat. But now, seeing the giant bleed and Xarens group hold their ground, they joined in. Having realised it was a test, they werent about to let Xaren and his companions steal all the gloryor the spoils. The flame demon whoa attacked first hurled a torrent of fire towards the giants face and another, wielding a lightning spear charged in low, aiming for the giants knee. A third struck from above, unleashing a hail of dark magic arrows that rained down like a storm. The giant growled, his aura surging as he deflected the attacks. He swung his arms to bat away the flames, shatter the spear mid-strike and block the arrows with his forearm. But even at his level, he couldnt fend off the attacks from around 10 Level 90+ demons at the same time, especially when surrounded. A blade of wind magic cut through his shoulder, shallow but enough to draw blood. A spinning chain whipped around his arm, leaving a streak of red. Another blow, a hammer this time, slammed into his side, forcing him to take a step back as blood spattered onto the ruins. Gnats! Chapter 32- Crushing Grasp Gnats! The giant roared, his voice shaking the battlefield. He twisted his body and lashed out, his massive leg sweeping in an arc to keep the demons at bay. And this created the perfect opening for a certain grey high-demon. A massive blade, the discarded weapon of another fallen giant, hurtled through the air like a missile. Its partially rusted steel glowed with Xarens signature dark red magic power as it pierced into the giants thigh with a sickening crunch. The giant let out a howl of pain, his hands instinctively reaching for the weapon embedded in his leg. Its not deep. I can remove it fast and block the wound with aura! Such were his thoughts, but before he could execute them, Kravok dashed forward, his warhammer glowing with demonic energy. Lets see you stand after this! Kravok bellowed, leaping high and bringing his hammer down on the pommel of the embedded blade. Xaren played support again, doubling the weight of Kravoks hammer at the last moment as the strike hit with a deafening clang, driving the large sword deeper into the giants flesh. Blood erupted from the wound, splattering across the ground as the giant howled again, louder this time. In a fit of rage, he swung his massive arm, catching Kravok in mid-air. The blow sent Kravok hurtling through the ruins, his body smashing through walls before disappearing into a cloud of dust. Kravok! Bjorn shouted, his voice echoing, but there was no time to check on him. The other level 90 demons seized the moment, launching another wave of attacks. Magic and steel struck from all sides, forcing the giant to defend. He staggered backwards, blood pouring from his wounds, his aura flickering like a broken shield. Roaring once more, the giant poured more aura into his arms and drove his fist into the ground. The earth erupted like a bomb, the shockwave tearing through buildings and scattering the attacking demons like leaves in a storm. The sheer force flattened the nearby structures, sending debris and dust spiralling into the air. As the shockwave tore through the battlefield, demons scrambled to block and dodge. Some of those skilled in wind magic like Ilya propelled themselves into the sky. Earth magic types erected walls of solid rock to shield themselves, then retaliated with stone spikes aimed at the giant''s torso and limbs. Fire magic demons focused their flames on the embedded giant sword, heating the metal and scorching the wound, hoping to worsen the injury. This giant, however, had a deep well of vitality, even for his level. He wasnt going down from just this. He infused his aura into his legs to block the flames, then reached out to snatch one of the fire demons. The captured demon struggled, but the giants grip was too strong. Ignoring the struggles of the demon in his hands, the giant hurled the demon upward at one of the wind magic users. The impact came barely a second later, knocking the wind-using demon out of the air and sending both of them plummeting to the ground. In the process, they also knocked down another demon who leapt into the air to attack the giant. The giant had splendidly taken out two birds with one stone. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. And he wasnt about to let his lucky stone go just yet. Despite the sword impaled in his thigh, his massive frame displayed surprising agility as he leapt skyward. He snatched two of the falling demons in mid-air before they could recover, then spun and hurled them like projectiles. One demon flew toward Ilya, who was mid-attack, and the other careened toward Xaren, preparing to strike from the opposite side. These were Level 90+ demons, in other words, they had strong attack potency that the giant could not easily ignore. Ilya and Xaren moved to save these demons from further harm. While Ilya used a gust of wind to cushion the incoming demons fall, Xaren used Gravity Attraction to pull them close to himself. The move spared the demon from crashing hard into the ground, though the distraction cost Xaren precious moments. Just as Xaren set the demon down, the ground shook violently. The giant landed with a thunderous crash and immediately crouched, his muscles coiling like a spring. Before anyone could even get an attack in, he lunged toward Xaren with terrifying speed, his injured leg barely slowing him down. If it was the Xaren of his past life, he would have noticed that the giant had activated a skillthe real reason behind his sudden bursts of speed. But even if he couldnt sense skill activations like before, Xarens danger senses were still in perfect working condition. Without hesitation, he abandoned the wounded demon, focusing entirely on lightening his own body and leaping away. But the giant was too fast. The edge of the massive hand grazed Xarens side and due to the speed, Xarens body was thrown onto the ground with a thud. Pain surged through him as he tried to roll away, but before he could move, the giants enormous hand closed around him, lifting him like a doll. Got you, bastard! The giant growled as he lifted Xaren, only for his arm to suddenly fall back to the ground as Xaren doubled the giants arm weight, along with his own. Though he stumbled, the giant quickly infused his arm with aura and forced Xarens gravity magic back. Xaren gritted his teeth and unleashed a blast of black flames, but the thick aura coating the giants hand absorbed the fire''s impact. The pressure around Xaren increased as the giants fingers began to close. He could feel his ribs groaning under the weight, the air in his lungs thinning. Fuck! Gravity Sph- Xaren couldnt complete his skill activation, as a blinding flash of light crackled from the side in that moment. Tordenkl?r! Burst! Bjorns voice rang out as his lightning-coated fist slammed into the inner part of the giants wrist. It broke the aura that was already weakened from Xarens flames, and the giants hand twitched involuntarily. In that same moment, several other demons leapt into action, their weapons slamming into the giant''s wrist, and simultaneously, another demon struck the embedded sword in the giants leg. The blade quivered, then pushed further through the flesh, piercing cleanly out the other side. Blood spurted from the wound, pooling on the ground and the giant let out a thunderous bellow, his grip on Xaren faltering. Carack took advantage of the moment, directing a stream of flames toward the giant''s face. The flames roared, forcing the giant to lift his free hand to shield his eyes. It was the opening everyone needed. Blades slashed, hammers struck, and arrows pierced from all directions, bombarding the giant relentlessly. Despite the aura protecting his body, the sheer volume of coordinated attacks drew blood, weakening his defence. Bjorn, seeing his moment, climbed the giants hand with the agility of a leopard. Reaching the enormous thumb, he grabbed hold and pulled back with all his might. Sparks of lightning flickered around his body as he growled with effort. *SNAP! The sickening sound of the giants thumb breaking reverberated through the air and the giant howled in agony, his grip on Xaren finally releasing. Xaren fell to the ground, his battered body screaming in protest as he hit the dirt. Pain radiated through every nerve, but he knew hesitation could cost him everything. Cockroach-like vitality indeed Xaren had this thought about his Tenacity skill as he lightened his body with gravity magic and kicked off the ground with all his might. Black flames surged around his Runeblade and focused his aim on a vulnerable spot he had targeted on a previous giant. The groin. The blade slashed cleanly through, and the giants scream of pain was deafening. The sound echoed across the city, drowning out even the roar of flames and the clash of steel. Xaren landed lightly on the ground, spinning around with his sword still ablaze. Changing his grip, he hurled the weapon toward the giant''s exposed back like a spear. The flaming sword tore through the air, embedding itself deep into the giants flesh. Flames erupted from the wound, spreading across the giants back as the massive foe staggered forward. The giant howled, his massive hand instinctively clutching his groin where Xarens blade had cut deep. His pained roar was soon joined by another as the flaming sword lodged in his back sent searing agony through his body. While the giant flailed to deal with the pain, Xaren seized his moment. He leapt onto the giants back, grasping the hilt of his sword and yanking it free with a sharp pull. The blade came loose in a spray of blood, and Xaren immediately stabbed it down again, aiming for another weak point. But before he could drive the blade in a third time, the giants body shifted. A shadow loomed over Xaren as the giant leaned backwards, intending to crush him against a nearby building. Chapter 33-Darkstorm Xarens danger senses kicked in and he pulled his sword free once more and leapt just in time, landing atop the building that now groaned under the weight of the giants crashing body. The structure crumbled in seconds, but Xaren had already leapt again, soaring through the air and landing atop the giants head. Dark flames ignited around his hands, and he slammed them down, setting the giants hair ablaze. The flames spread rapidly, scorching the giants scalp and sending him into a fit of wild thrashing. Just as Xaren did that, a burst of wind magic blew past him, fanning the flames and forcing the giant to claw at his burning hair. Ilya landed on the giants head, then grabbed Xaren by the arm and jumped off again landing on the floor nearby. Take it. Xaren blinked as she handed him a crudely made bottle with a familiar liquid inside, and as he looked at the bottles reflection, he saw a good amount of blood dripping from his nostrils. He didnt come out unscathed from being squeezed in the giants hand, the adrenaline had just prevented him from realising his bodys messed up state. Thanks. Xaren didnt hesitate to gulp down the potion bottles contents, and as he did that, he caught sight of Kravok leaping towards the giant in the corner of his eye. Despite his left arm hanging limp and broken, Kravok charged forward, his warhammer glowing as Caracks fire magic enveloped it. With a roar, Kravok swung the hammer with his one good arm. The flames intensified, and just as the hammer descended, Xaren acted, doubling its weight using his gravity magic. The blow struck the side of the giants head with devastating force, the impact echoing like a thunderclap, and the giant stumbling to the side, groaning in pain. Bjorn bounded onto the giants body at that moment, grabbed Kravok mid-fall, and carried him away from the battlefield before the giants erratic movements could crush him underfoot. As the giant tried to regain his balance, the ground beneath him suddenly cracked open. Thick vines erupted from the earth, wrapping tightly around his feet and rooting him in place. The giant bellowed in frustration, yanking his leg upward with tremendous force. The vines snapped, but as his foot rose, Ilya appeared again. She jumped onto the raised foot and sprinted up his legs, her blade blurring through the air as she ascended, leaving trails of cuts in her wake. Roaring, the giant raised his massive hand to swat her off like a bothersome insect, but before he could reach her, a coordinated barrage from the surrounding demons struck his hand. Blades, arrows, and magic collided with his wrist and forearm, forcing his hand away and leaving him momentarily vulnerable. With the path clear, Ilya continued her ascent, reaching the giants waist before launching herself off with a powerful leap, landing safely on the ground below. The giant coated his hand in aura, smothering the flames consuming his hair. But just as the fire began to die, Xaren leapt onto the giants shoulder, his sword flashing in the air as he swung with full force, slicing into the giants right ear. Blood streamed down as the giant roared, his hand reflexively moving to shield his ear. Xaren used the opening to dart across the giants back, reaching the other side. This time, instead of slashing, he drove his blade deep into the giants left ear. However, the giant used his speed skill this time, and before Xaren could pull away, the giants massive hand struck him with brutal force. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The impact sent Xaren reeling, and the giants fingers closed in to capture him. Xaren instinctively released a random burst of fire magic, but before even that reached the giants fingers, Ilya attacked the giants arm. Her timely strike gave Xaren extra time to not only escape but throw in a counter. Xaren lifted chunks of debris from the shattered buildings around them and hurled them at the giant. The rubble shot through the air, crashing into the giants body, but midway, their momentum suddenly ceased. The debris dropped unceremoniously to the ground. Xaren froze, his breath catching as realization struckhis magic power had been completely drained. Ilya noticed instantly, her eyes narrowing as she pieced it together. Xarens relentless use of gravity manipulation had sapped his reserves, and now, only the demonic energy he hadnt used against the giant was left. But even that would eventually run out as it wasnt even up to 40% of his maximum reserves. The white-haired demoness checked her remaining reserves, then scanned the area around, taking stock of the situation. The giant was wounded all over, but thanks to his immense vitality, he was far from defeated. She then glanced at Xaren, her mind thinking back to his question at the campfire two days ago. Then, she made her decision. Ilya darted towards Xaren who had just torched the giants hair again and grabbed his arm firmly. Im heading to the city centre. Draw the giant towards me! Without waiting for a response, she turned and sprinted in the direction of the city centre, as though fully confident Xaren could succeed in doing what she asked. She leapt over the ruins of broken buildings, and upon reaching the heart of the city, where the giant had first appeared, Ilya found a group of demons engaged in battle with a few remaining elven mages. The demoness wasted no time in joining the fray and helping to wipe out the elves, and after the last elf fell, Ilya addressed the demons in a cold, commanding tone. Take the souls and get out of here. Meanwhile, Xaren was still locked in combat with the giant. As the behemoth fended off attacks from several other demons, Xaren leapt onto his back and drove his sword into the giants shoulder. He sent a few chunks of debris smashing into the giants face, before jumping off his back and landing on the ground. Rolling a bit, Xaren quickly got up to his feet and shouted. Hey, you oversized bastard! YOU TWAT!!! The giant instantly snapped back. uh, oh Xaren realised far too late that he, out of every single demon in this city, was the one whom the giant wanted to kill the most. Not so surprising, considering hed made the giant go half bald, cut off his ear, and most of all, attacked his balls. The giant''s eyes flashed with rage and he unhesitatingly threw a shockwave punch at Xaren. The grey demon dodged nimbly, darting away, only for the giant to slam his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave that obliterated everything in its path. Demons were sent flying, some dying in the blast, but the giant didnt pause. He charged after Xaren. Xaren lightened his body and sprinted as fast as he could, the giant hot on his heels, knocking demons out of the sky as he moved. Thanks to those demons, the giants speed was slowed so Xaren was able to gain some distance, reaching the city centre before him. There, he saw Ilya standing atop the corpses of the fallen elven mages. Once she spotted Xaren, Ilya took a slow, controlled breath, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. A few nights ago, Xaren had mentioned seeing dark blades swirling around her during their fight for the fortress. At the time, everyone had been confusedexcept for Kravok, who had understood the significance of Xarens words earlier today. Now, Xaren wasnt just catching glimpses of those dark blades. He saw them in their full form. Blades of dark wind whirled around Ilya, spinning rapidly in a deadly dance. Demonic energy filled the air as she looked up with glowing eyes and called out. Unique Skill: Darkstorm! The moment Ilya invoked the skills Active state, the blades of dark wind around her accelerated to a speed so rapid that Xaren could not track them with his eyes. However, his instincts screamed danger and without hesitation, he used his gravity magic to lighten his body, leaping to the side. As he landed, he doubled his gravity to anchor himself to the ground. The giant, sensing the surge of Ilyas demonic energy, swung his focus toward her. But the moment he turned, the wind around her spun with such force that it created a violent vacuum, pulling the giants enormous body toward her. This was her Darkstorm Skills Pull Mode. By spinning the wind blades at their highest velocity, Ilya created a vortex that sucked in everything within a certain radius around her, forcing it into the storms core. The giant tried to resist, grabbing onto nearby buildings for support, but the vacuum was too strong. The structures themselves were pulled into the whirlwind, joining the storm of debris now hammering the giant''s massive body. Nearby demons who had ignored Ilya''s warning were also caught in the vortex, their bodies torn apart by the relentless winds. Rocks, fragments of buildings, and weapons littered the air, slicing through the giant''s skin. Xaren, acting quickly, used his gravity powers to lift weapons and discarded tools from the battlefield, hurling them into the storm to add to the attack. The giant coated himself in a protective aura, trying to withstand the shredding winds. He reached toward Ilya, determined to stop her, but the closer he got, the more the winds tore into him. It eventually reached a point where his aura skin was broken through and at that moment, Ilya thrust her sword forward. Darkstorm: Repel Mode. Chapter 34- Promotion Darkstorm: Repel Mode. The storm shifted. The winds that were pulling the giant inward abruptly reversed, creating a massive burst of force that sent him reeling backwards, his hand flung away before it could reach her. With a shift in the blades trajectory, Ilyas windstorm reversed. The spinning dark blades now created an intense outward force, hurling everything within reach away from her. The very same power that had pulled the giant toward her now sent him tumbling backwards, crashing into the ground with a violent impact. Even the giant couldnt withstand it, his massive frame tumbling backwards. As he fell, the other demons seized the opportunity, bombarding him with a relentless barrage of attacks. Xaren joined the storm, jumping onto the giants shoulder and using his skill. Gravity Sphere! The orb of compressed gravity expanded rapidly, and before the giant could even realise what was happening, the sphere collapsed in on itself. The gravitational pressure intensified, crushing the giant''s shoulder under the immense weight and rendering it half-useless. While having to deal with other attacks, there wasnt enough aura to protect his shoulder from Xaren. And his shoulder wasnt Xarens only target. Xaren ran down the giants body, using the momentum from the fall to reach the right knee. He unleashed another Gravity Sphere at the joint, destabilizing the giant and preventing him from standing. Then, with no hesitation, Xaren targeted the most vulnerable spot he had attacked earlier: the groin. The effect was immediatea roar of pain escaped the giants mouth, louder than anything heard so far. While the giant flailed in agony, Xaren climbed back up his massive frame, flames engulfing his sword. As he moved, he used his energy to lift rocks and debris, hurling them toward the giants face. One well-aimed strike hit the giants eye, forcing it shut in reflex. As the giants right eye opened again after the harmless stones bounced off his face, Xaren drove his flaming blade straight into it. A guttural scream erupted from the giant as Xaren twisted the blade deeper, pouring more of his demonic energy into igniting the eye from within. The black flames roared, consuming the sensitive tissue and the giant swung a massive hand in an attempt to grab Xaren, but other demons leapt into action, attacking the hand and distracting it just enough to keep Xaren safe. Ilya, who was breathing heavily after consuming all her magic and half her remaining demonic energy on her skill, looked up at the fallen giant and broke into a run. She couldnt boost her speed with the wind like before, but it wasnt necessary this time. The demoness ran up the giants left leg, heading for the head. Reaching the other eye, she slashed it open in one clean motion, then reversed her grip to stab directly down into the exposed flesh. With the last of her demonic energy, Ilya unleashed a skill inside the giants head. At the same moment, Xaren did the same. Wind Bomb! Gravity Sphere! Both blades shone with demonic energy as they unleashed their skills. The power surged through the weapons and into the giants skull, detonating inside with catastrophic force. The giants ears began to gush blood, the sound of his anguished cries fading as his massive body toppled backwards. With a thunderous crash, the giant lay still. He was dead. As Xaren caught his breath, he noticed a glowing notification appear in his vision. [Level up!] If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Level up!] [Level up!] Nearby, Ilya experienced the same. Notifications flooded her sight, each marking another level. The other demons who had attacked also received experience, though the rewards varied. Some didnt level up, others gained one or two levels, and the number who managed to gain up to three could be counted on one hand; Xaren and Ilya included. Xaren and Ilya, however, gained more than most, both breaking past level 100. From the giants lifeless body, a glowing orb of light emergedits soul. For a moment, the demons around stared in awe, preparing to claim it. But before anyone could act, the group of Low-Ranked demons who were in the sky descended, snatching the soul away. Stand down. One of them commanded, forcing everyone still with his demonic energy that eclipsed the giants aura. Weve been watching from the start. This soul will be divided among those who made the greatest contributions. Without waiting for a response, the Low-Ranked demons floated back into the sky, carrying the soul with them. The other demons could only watch, their frustrations mixed with the satisfaction of the victory they had just achieved. Xarens head ached as he weakly gazed up at the demon that had taken the giants soul, retreating into the sky. "Yeah, they better split that thing equally... or rather, wouldnt splitting it mean destroying the soul?" His muddled thoughts drifted to Ilya, who was sitting nearby on the giants face. Raising his hand with great effort, he called out to her. Ilya blinked in confusion but raised her hand in response. When Xarens palm lightly slapped hers in a makeshift high-five, she stared at her hand with an odd look. That... feels strangely satisfying. She murmured. Xaren laughed weakly, collapsing against the giants face as he replied. Thats the point. Then, without warning, a rush of magic power surged toward him, so potent it made his skin prickle. "Wait... what? What the hell his happ!" Xarens sentence cut off as a violent cough wracked his body, expelling black, viscous blood onto the ground. Dark, greasy grime seeped from his pores, leaving a slick, sticky trail over his grey skin as his body tried to expel it. His body convulsed, pain shooting from his bones to his heart. His back arched involuntarily as the pain intensified, growing unbearable with every passing second. With a sudden, violent rip, something broke free from his shoulder blades and tore through his skintwo bat-like wings. Small and fragile-looking at first, they quickly drew in the surrounding magic power, growing larger and more defined with each passing second. The sensation was alien, as though a new set of limbs had suddenly sprouted and demanded his brain learn how to move them. Nearby, Ilya experienced the same transformation. She fell to her knees, gripping the surface below her as her body convulsed. Dark fluid dripped from her as well, and the pressure in her back swelled until her own wings burst free. Hers were smaller but sharp-edged, shimmering faintly as they stretched wide and absorbed the ambient energy. Around them, other demons who had just levelled up beyond 100 experienced the same phenomenon. Wings of various shapes and sizes emerged from their backs, the chaos of transformation punctuated by gasps, screams, and the sound of tearing flesh. An unnatural wave of high-quality magic power surged into the area, and as their bodies absorbed it, their wings grew strongerfar stronger than they should have. When the transformations finally ended, the group collectively struggled to process their new abilities, their bodies trembling with both pain and newfound power. 󡡡󡡡 Standing on the broken city walls in the distance, High-Rank demon Naephas observed the scene with an amused grin. "Ha, that was a good one." He remarked, clearly entertained as his attention shifted to the lower-ranked demons who had arrived carrying the giants soul. Well, this one soul cant possibly be split across so many demons. They all worked hard, though, so they deserve a proper reward. With those words, he extended his hand, and the space in front of him warped as if bending to his will. Reaching into the distortion, he pulled out a stack of parchments and handed them over. Spread these souls among them. The giants soul goes to the gravity boy, though. Naephas instructed and the Low-Ranked demons took the parchments, their eyes widening in shock as they inspected them. The souls listed werent just generic onesthey were those of Level 100+ elves and angels. There wasnt a single unranked soul in the batch. Catching the looks on their face, Naephas raised an eyebrow. What? You have complaints? The group quickly shook their heads and responded in unison. No, Sir! Naephas wasnt just a High-Rank demon. He was an Upper-Rank Noble Demon as well. Even other High-Ranks would defer to him. They didnt dare have complaints. Not caring too much about the thoughts of these Low Ranks, Naephas looked back to the city and spoke. They did good work and good work deserves good rewards, though not everyone seems to think that way. He flicked his hand dismissively and continued. Anyway, these unranked little guysNo, they''ve just been promoted to Low-Rank now. Anyway, every single one of them who participated in the battle should get some souls. Let them improve their stats, especially the weaker ones. You know who deserves the most, thoughgravity boy, the wind girl and that hammer one too. Still facing the city, Naephas snapped his fingers and spear-like tendrils of spatial energy appeared in the air, each one descending with pinpoint precision. They skewered any remaining enemies, bringing a swift and bloody end to the stragglers. Yawning, Naephas gave his next orders. Retrieve the new Low-Ranks and move them to where they belong. All of them are going to receive weapon and armour upgrades. Theyll get three times the gold. And dont forget to give them potionsvitality energy recovery and stamina recovery potions. Make sure theyre well-prepared for the next fight. As the Low-Rank demons scrambled to follow his orders, Naephas turned his gaze toward Floch, who stood a bit behind him. Floch, youll handle teaching these newbies how to use their wings properly. Like a proper demon should. Yes Sir, Floch replied, bowing respectfully, and Naephas nodded in satisfaction. Spatial power wrapped around Naephas body and he disappeared in an instant, leaving nothing behind but the lingering distortion of his teleportation. Chapter 35- Forgotten Memories The sun cast its golden glow over the farm, painting the barley and wheat fields in hues of amber and gold. Beneath the shade of a solitary tree, a boy rested his back against the sturdy trunk. His arms were tucked behind his head, and his eyes were shutnot in sleep, though. The warmth of the day mingled with the cool shadows, creating a tranquil moment as the gentle rustle of leaves harmonized with the distant hum of the wind brushing the crops. Suddenly, the light dimmed. The boysXarensbrow twitched, his eyes fluttering open to meet the silhouette of someone standing before him. His gaze adjusted, and there she wasa girl, short like him, her outline crisp, yet her facial features were blurred, as if they refused to come into focus. What are you doing here, Ren? She asked in a soft voice that carried a tone of curiosity, and Xaren responded in a flat tone. Watching the field. The girl didnt seem satisfied with his answer. She crossed her arms, leaning closer as she said, You were sleeping. Xaren shook his head, sitting up straighter and stretching his arms before leaning back against the tree. No, I wasnt sleeping. If I was sleeping, I wouldnt have known when you arrived. Thats proof enough. Seeing how disinterested he was in continuing the debate on whether he was sleeping or not, the girl sighed and shook her head. Seriously, Ren. She plopped down beside him, crossing her legs and turning her gaze toward the glowing fields. The two sat in companionable silence for a moment, the serenity of the farm enveloping them. Then she spoke again, breaking the silence. Hmm, I understand why you like to come here. This is a pretty good spot to sleep. She spoke in a contemplative tone and Xaren just rolled his eyes at her words. Like I said, I wasnt sleeping. Seriously, this girl... Before she could respond to him, Xaren held up a finger to shush her, his gaze fixed on the movement he detected near the edge of the field. A bird fluttered down to perch on a stalk of barley, and then it began pecking it with its beak. Seeing this, Xaren reached for a stone from the bucket on his right side, tossed it up and caught it, before flinging it with practised precision. The stone struck the stem below the bird, startling it into flight. Surprised by the sight, the girl turned to him and sensing her gaze, Xaren shrugged. What? Didnt I say I was watching the field? Its to keep birds and animals from poking holes in our crops. Seeming to finally believe him, the girl posed another curious question. How many stones have you thrown today? Again, Xaren shrugged as he responded. I dont keep count. Ill pick them all up at the end of the day before I head back for dinner. So, youre actually doing some work. She spoke with a teasing tone and Xaren responded without a shift in his as he leaned back against the tree. Of course, Im doing work. And for the record, I like this kind of work. Id do it forever if I couldits easy and peaceful. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As he said that, the girl stood up, brushing off her dress. Forever, huh? That does sound nice. For once, we agree on something. Xaren quipped, his expression changing into a small smile for the first time today. At the sight, the girl laughed softly, but her laughter quickly quieted as her voice took on a darker tone. Im not so sure about that. Xaren frowned at the change in her voice. What do you mean? She hesitated a bit before answering. The adults were acting strange today. When I asked my dad about it, he wouldnt tell me, but I saw a paper in his room. It said theres a war happening. A war with demons. And its getting serious. Hearing her concern, Xaren scoffed and shook his head. A war with demons? Thats for the soldiers to worry about. Whats more, Its far from us, on another continent. It has nothing to do with us. The chances of us ever getting caught up in a war are zero. Xaren spoke nonchalantly as he stretched his legs forward and crossed them, his eyes remaining on the golden expanse of barely and wheat before him. So, dont worry about it. Ill just sit here watching the fields like always. No wars for me. No wars for us. The girl crouched down in front of him after he spoke, her distorted face tilting slightly as she reached out and wrapped her small hand around his own. Slowly, she intertwined their fingers. Just in case. You know, I hear war splits up families. Scatters people across distant lands. They lose their homes and sometimes, they never find their way back to each other. Xaren sighed after she spoke, rolling his eyes, but he didnt pull his hand away. Her fingers tightened slightly around his, and she continued, her tone shifting a bit. So, Im going to place a spell on you, Ren. Just in case we ever get split up by something like that. No matter where you are, Ill always be able to find you. Would you allow me to? To her question, Xaren shook his head, letting out a small laugh, dismissive yet oddly fond. Do whatever you want. But I told you, no wars for us. No fighting, no splitting up. Im just going to sit here, watching the fields like always. Thats all there is to it. The golden light of the fields stretched endlessly, the moment between them quiet, as though nothing could ever break it. I certainly hope so, the girl murmured, her voice full of hope. Xaren let out another long sigh and repeated himself for the third time. Like I said, no wars for me, no wars for us. The instant he said those words, the world seemed to crack like glass. Suddenly, images flashed before hima kaleidoscope of memories, cascading in rapid succession. Fields burned as smoke rose into the skies. Makeshift military training under harsh commands. The clash of weapons and cries of battle. Companions falling, their faces blurred yet unforgettable. Drinks shared in fleeting camaraderie, only for those same friends to be lost the next day. Endless fighting, endless near-deaths, endless promotions bought with blood. A final battle, his body battered, his innards spilling out and his life slipping away amidst the chaos. And thensilence. 󡡡󡡡 ??!! Xaren woke up with a start, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his disoriented gaze darted around the unfamiliar room. Rows of beds stretched out in neat lines, each dressed with crisp white linens. Cabinets stocked with neatly organized glass bottles and metal instruments gleamed under the soft ambient light and the faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering haze of his dream which he couldnt seem to recall. Leaning forward, Xaren rested his forearms on his knees, his breathing gradually evening out. Oh, youre finally awake? A voice broke the silence, coming from his right. Xaren turned to see a face that had recently become familiar staring back at him. Tanned-brown skin, deep obsidian eyes, and long white hair cascading freely down her back, reaching her waist. Unlike usual, it wasnt tied up and instead draped loosely over her shoulders. Ilya? Thats my name. She answered simply. Hearing her confirmation, Xaren exhaled deeply, glancing around the room before asking. Where are we? No idea. I only woke up about 13 minutes and 42 seconds ago. The specificity of her answer made Xaren raise an eyebrow. Thats oddly precise. Ilya simply nodded, raising a hand to gesture toward the space above his head. Following her direction, Xaren turned to see a clock embedded in the wall. The second hand was just completing its 14th sweep since the hour hand passed 1. Oh Xaren muttered, staring at the clock for a moment before his gaze shifted to the calendar next to it. The date printed on it caught his attention, and his eyes widened in shock. Year 9023? Until now, Xaren hadnt considered what year it wasor whether the calendar system he once knew was still in use. Now, the date confirmed both the year and its continuity. Its been 10, years Bad memories came rushing back. Memories of the fateful battle that ended his life. He remembered it vividly, perhaps because it had occurred on the very first day of the Year 9013. And now, this calendar told him it was January 23, Year 9023. By my count, Ive been alive in this new life for at least 20 days. I dont know how long I was unconscious, but if it was 3 days, then that means I was reborn exactly 10 years after I died. With that thought, Xaren exhaled deeply and shifted his focus back to Ilya, who appeared to be staring blankly into the air. Shes probably checking her status. I suppose I should do the same. And that he did. Chapter 36- Between Pessimism and Determination |Name- Xaren Race- High-Demon Gender- Male Age- 12 Level- 101 Existence Level- Master (Inferior) Titles- Low-Rank Newborn Demon, Irregular, Lesser Giant Slayer, Black Fire Demon, Grey Demon. Class- Graviton Swordsman HealthC D+ Energy- C- StrengthC C- AgilityC D+ Durability- D Intelligence- D+ Condition- Slightly Tired. Magic Tiers- Fire Tier 2, Darkness Tier 1, Gravity Tier 2, Space Tier 0. Skills- Language Comprehension, Energy Control, Energy Blast, Swordsmanship (P), Gravity Magic (T), Gravity Sphere, Tenacity, Danger Sense. Unique Skills- Child of Gravity. | My stats have changed more than I expected. I thought I''d only get one C- stat, but I''ve got two. Everything else, except Durability, is D+. After examining his stats, Xaren noticed something he had overlooked earlier, as it had been empty before. Oh, I got a Combat Class. Graviton Swordsman? He focused on the Class, and another diaphanous board appeared in his field of view, detailing its description. |Graviton Swordsman; Type; Uncommon Combat Class. Description: A warrior who integrates gravity magic into their melee combat. This class specializes in using weapons, particularly swords, to manipulate the battlefield with gravitational forces. Abilities: Enhanced swordsmanship with gravity-infused strikes, localized gravity manipulation to hinder enemies or enhance movement, and the ability to create gravity-based shields. | Gravity-based shields? That would be useful for defence, especially since my Durability is lower than my other stats. Xaren''s mind first focused on the defensive abilities of the Class, then moved on to the support and offensive aspects. After studying the Class, he turned to his Magic Affinity list and saw that his Fire and Gravity affinities had been upgraded by a Tier. Well, one''s main affinity can''t stay at Tier 1 when they''re a Master Realm. No surprise there. Guess I can use higher-level magic now without issues. I do have to learn said magic, though. He quickly glanced over that part and then scanned his skill tab, noticing a new addition at the end. Danger Sense?! I got an Ultra Rare Skill!? Xaren knew the Danger Sense skill. It had belonged to the Adjutant of his Brigades Commanding Colonel in his previous life. It was a sensory skill that would trigger an alarm in the user''s head in response to ''dangerous'' phenomena. Unlike other similar skills that required specific triggers, Danger Sense worked relative to the situation of its user, and alerted them to danger, or whatever would constitute a danger in their current situation. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Whether visible or hidden, imminent or distant, the skill would always detect danger relative to the situation. Whats more, it didnt cost too much energy to maintain. Are you that happy about becoming a Low Rank? Ilyas question broke Xarens train of thought, drawing his attention to her. She was staring at him with her obsidian eyes, her head tilted slightly in curiosity. Why do you ask? Xaren responded, mirroring her head motion. Well, you were smiling from ear to ear Her remark made Xaren realize she had mistaken his excitement over acquiring the Danger Sense skill for joy at reaching Low Rank. Rather than correcting her, he simply nodded and turned the question back to her. What about you? Arent you happy? I am. Just not as much as you seem to be, Ilya responded as she pushed the blanket off her legs and swung her feet to the floor. Rising from the bed, she continued. After all, becoming a Low Rank is just the beginning. Sure, were above Level 100 now, but levelling up is only going to get harder from here. Can you imagine how tough its going to be when we reach Level 200? 400? 800? She let out a small sigh, her expression thoughtful. When I think about all the effort itll take to reach those levels, it kind of dampens the excitement. Her pragmatic reason struck a chord with Xaren, though it carried a tinge of pessimism that he wasnt expecting. He leaned back slightly, his arms resting on the bed behind him as he observed her pacing slowly by her bedside, probably trying to regain feeling in her legs which hadnt been active for days. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke calmly, Yeah, its going to get harder. Xaren knew this from first-hand experience. But isnt that what makes it worth it? If it were easy, it wouldnt feel like much of an accomplishment. Ilya paused at his words, glancing at him over her shoulder. Her expression didnt change a bit as she responded. I guess. But its easy to say that now, when were still at the beginning. Lets see if you still think that way after weeks or years of grinding for every tiny gain. The young demoness recalled a conversation she had overheard months ago between two Low Mid-Rank demons. They had been mocking each other, and one had remarked about the other being over a hundred years old. A hundred years and still a Mid-Rank Demon? How many years would it take to reach High-Rankor higher? The mere thought stirred a wave of pessimism in her, a creeping weight that settled in her chest. She only snapped out of it when she heard Xaren chuckle at her earlier response to him, a sound that carried both amusement and resignation. Fair enough. But I think its better to focus on the progress weve made rather than worrying too much about whats ahead. We just became Low Rank. Thats worth celebrating, isnt it? As Xaren spoke, he climbed out of bed, stretching his arms and letting out a faint yawn. His gaze shifted around the room, taking in the neat arrangement of clean beds in the ward. The level of technology here is higher than I thought, he muttered the observation to himself, his attention settling on the devices placed neatly on the desk beside his bed. Each bed had its own desk, complete with high-quality equipmentat least, from his perspective. Level of techno-what now? Ilya tried parroting his words but gave up halfway, her brow furrowing in mild confusion. Xaren simply gestured around the room. The beds, the equipment, the whole room. Everything is higher in quality than the stuff weve been using up until now. When he explained it like that, Ilya nodded in agreement, glancing around. Compared to their previous accommodations, which felt like they belonged to a poor rural village, this place was more akin to a bustling citys modest three-star hotel. That makes sense. I guess this is the treatment reserved for demons whove gained a Ranknot the Unranked status we had before. Her reasoning was sound, and Xaren found himself nodding along as he continued stretching to work out the stiffness in his limbs. Ilya, however, wasnt done talking. Speaking of ranks, I think youve probably broken some kind of record. Youve only been out of the newborn stage for a few days, right? I overheard one of the Mid-Rank demons mentioning it before I lost consciousness. Ilyas words caught him off guard, and he stumbled slightly, nearly losing his balancenot because of the idea of breaking a record, but because she had inadvertently reminded him of a fact he had been trying to forget. In just eight days, he had achieved what had taken him nearly eight months in his previous life. Is this the levelling speed of a High Breed? Then how fast do Arch and Greater Breeds level up? Xaren was intrigued by the thought but knew it wasnt a question hed get answered anytime soon. Deciding to set it aside for now, he finished his stretches and turned to ask Ilya something. Before he could speak, the sound of a door opening caught his attention. From the far end of a short passage connecting to the ward, someone entered. Oh, you two are finally awake? Good. Any longer, and I mightve kicked you off those beds myself. Flochs familiar voice filled the ward as the towering 7-foot-tall Fire Demon strode in. His gaze landed on Xaren, and one of his eyebrows quirked upward. And youre bigger as well. When Floch pointed it out, Xaren noticed that his line of sight was a bit higher than before. It seemed his body had grown to accommodate the power he now possessed as a Level 101. Though hed only grown two inchesnow standing at 48he wasnt aware of the exact measurement. After all, he hadnt had the luxury or tools to check his height so far. Honestly, when I picked you up, I had a feeling youd be different. But its only been a few days, and youre already a Low Rank. Whats your secret? Xaren blinked in surprise at Flochs question. After a moment, he gave a small shrug and replied. I wish I knew. He had assumed his rapid levelling speed was tied to his Race Breed, but if Flochwho knew he was a High Demonwas asking, then it raised some doubts. Either his levelling speed wasnt due to his breed, or it was, and Floch simply wasnt aware of such a feature. To Xarens answer, Floch burst into hearty laughter. So even you dont know your secret. Bahaha!! Chapter 37-The Hierarchies This guy really enjoys laughing, doesnt he? Xaren thought silently as he observed the towering Fire Demon. Flochs laughter didnt last long, though, as he quickly toned it down and got straight to business. Anyway, congrats on becoming Low Ranks. Youre now proper Demons. Since both of you are warrior types, all thats left is to unlock your auras, and youll be off this world. ??!! Both Xaren and Ilyas eyes widened in shock at Flochs casual statement. While Xaren had assumed the Demons might train their promising recruits somewhere else, he hadnt expected to receive such treatment so soon. Ignoring their obvious shock, Floch gestured to the room around them and continued. This is where wounded Low-Rank demons are treated after battle. As you can see, the facilities are far better than what you had before. This is the level of care appropriate for Low Rankseven for you who are at the very bottom of the rank. At least in this portion of the Galaxy, this is the standard treatment afforded to Low Ranks in most places. Hearing this, Ilya furrowed her brows slightly before hesitantly raising her hand, as if she were a student preparing to ask a question. ? Umwhats a Galaxy? Ilyas question, seemingly so basic, made Floch pause and stare at her silently for a few moments. Just as she began to think she might have overstepped, the tall demon shook his head and replied. Im not the one whos gonna teach you that. He had mentioned it out of habit, but now that he thought about it, there was no reason to expect newly ranked demonswho hadnt even seen a fraction of the world they were into know what a Galaxy was. Still, it wasnt his responsibility to teach such things, and he wasnt about to add it to his plate. Honestly, Im just glad Im not stuck with General Knowledge teaching duty. Someone else will handle that. With a shrug, Floch continued. Anyway, do know that not every Low-Rank demon who promotes gets this kind of treatment. The two of you, however, have caught the attention of a very important higher-up, so you should consider yourselves lucky. Otherwise, youd be stuck here for years. Xaren nodded silently, the pieces finally falling into place. Flochs words explained why their situation didnt align with his assumptions. The question is, whos this Higher-Up? Floch didnt elaborate on that, though. Instead, he shifted the topic, a sly grin spreading across his face as he spoke to Xaren. By the way, since Im the one who found you, I got some pretty decent rewards. So, you better keep performing well. The better you do, the more I get rewarded. Dont worry, Ill help you out here and there since it benefits me directly. The candid nature of Flochs words made Xaren feel like he was overhearing something he wasnt meant to. A glance at Ilya showed she was feeling much the same, judging by the uncomfortable expression on her face. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. In the past few minutes, shes shown more expressions than Ive seen from her in days. Xaren noted this before shifting his attention back to Floch, listening as the man finally addressed the primary reason he had come. You, along with the other new Low Ranks, are going to be taking lessons with me on how to properly use your wings like a proper demon should. Flochs words reminded Xaren that he had indeed gained wings, though they had disappeared while he was unconscious. How do I bring them out? I guess thats what hes going to teach us Demon wings are useful for much more than just flying, so our classes will be very intensive. As for your horns, they have another purpose too, and Ill be teaching you about that. Flochs explanation made Xarens eyebrows shoot up. He hadnt considered that demon wings could serve any purpose beyond flight, nor had he ever imagined horns could have a use beyond aestheticsor in desperate situations, as makeshift weapons. Looks like I was pretty short-sighted about that. All right, put on some shoes and follow me, Floch instructed as he turned to leave, and the two quickly slipped on the boots placed neatly beside their beds before hurrying after him. Stepping outside, they found themselves in a compound filled with rows of buildings identical to the one they had just exited. At a glance, Xaren counted at least a dozen. The area bustled with activity, vehicles moving back and forth in every direction. Oh, I remember seeing those on that world I was on before. They were just starting to become popular. I think they called them cars or something like that? Beside him, Ilya stared wide-eyed at the vehicles. She had never seen anything like them before. Though she could sense immense magical energy radiating from the machinestheir obvious power source, their precise mechanics were utterly baffling to her, akin to rocket science. When youre done with your wings training, youll be assigned to a new unit in a different area. Thats where youll meet other new Low Ranks from across the continent. Youll stay there for the foreseeable future, taking missions and engaging in battles alongside your new colleagues. Once you unlock your auras, Sir Naephas will take over, Floch explained as they walked. Neither Xaren nor Ilya recognized the name Floch had mentioned, but the title Sir that preceded it was enough to tell them everything they needed to know: this was a High-Rank Demon. Even though youd learn this eventually, I might as well tell you now. It doesnt cost me anything, Floch said, holding up three fingers as he began to explain. We demons have three types of ranks. Nobility, Military, and Hierarchical. Our society blends Aristocracywhere nobles inherit titles and power from their ancestorsand Meritocracywhere authority is earned through achievements and ability. Pointing at Xaren and Ilya, he elaborated on the Hierarchical and Military ranks. You two are at the very bottom of the Hierarchical ranks as Low-Rank demons. In the Military Ranks, youre foot soldiersalso the lowest tier. Floch then shifted his gaze forward, continuing his explanation with a brief commentary on Nobility. Those born into nobility inherit their power and privilege. Even within the same Hierarchical rank, Nobility is always given preference. That said, theyre not allowed to throw their weight around in the Military. Some still try, but if theyre caught, it usually doesnt end well. With that explanation wrapped up, Floch got to the point of why hed bothered sharing this information. Just so you know, Sir Naephasthe one whos added you two to the list of those hes taking off this worldis an Upper-Class Noble. Neither Xaren nor Ilya knew the exact ranks within the nobility, but the term Upper-Class made it clear that Naephas held significant importance. This raised the obvious question: why would someone so influential oversee a low-level demon training ground? Floch answered before the question could even be voiced. Youre probably wondering why someone like him is stuck on this backwater planet, right? The answers simple. Just as unranked demons are tested to weed out the weak, some Nobles go through the same process with their children. In other words, his placement in this world was Naephas test. Xaren quickly pieced it together, while Ilya seemed more preoccupied with the notion of someone powerful enough to test a High-Rank Demon. Oh well, if this Naephas guy is taking us off this world, I might as well make the most of it. Ive been putting in effort already, but now Ill push even harder so they value me highly. Every effort he made now was toward the ultimate goal of one day becoming a Demon King. But for Xaren, that long-term ultimate goal was more a means to an end than an end in itself. In the short term, Xaren made awakening his aura his goal. Then I must surpass the strength I had in my past life. This was his second goal. In his previous life, he had died at Level 390, an Intermediate Stage Grandmaster. This time, Xaren wanted to surpass that level as quickly as possible. With these convictions set firmly in his mind, he followed Floch to the training area. It was located in the adjacent compound to the treatment centrea strategic choice, allowing swift access for those who sustained serious injuries during training. Upon arrival, Xaren and Ilya saw nearly 50 other demons standing at attention under the glow of the morning sun, all facing forward in disciplined silence. Floch instructed them to join the line and as they passed through the rows, their eyes caught on two familiar faces: Carack and Bjorn. They refrained from speaking to them and quietly took their places in the line while Floch strode to the front of the group and began his class. Chapter 38- Wings of Discipline Xaren stood among the other demons in the training yard, the morning sun casting long shadows across the compound. Floch''s booming voice echoed through the air, carrying authority and a tinge of amusement. "First lesson! Release your wings!" The group stood frozen, unsure of how to proceed. Wasn''t learning how to release their wings the whole point of being here? Why was Floch ordering them to do something they hadn''t been taught? Though the question lingered in their minds, none dared voice it aloud. Floch folded his arms, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of demons. Spotting a few with their eyes squeezed shut, as though willing their wings to emerge through sheer determination, he let out a short, mocking laugh. "Did you think your wings were just going to pop out when you wished for it? No! They''re an extension of your body, and like your arms and legs, they''re controlled by your brain. You just haven''t found the switch yet." He stepped closer, his sharp eyes narrowing as he issued his next command. "Close your eyes. Feel for it. Somewhere in your mind, there''s a part of you that instinctively knows how to control them. Find it, focus, and let them out!" Xaren obeyed, shutting his eyes and turning his thoughts inward. He concentrated on the memory of the first time his wings had emergedthe strange, alien sensation that had accompanied their appearance. Floch''s words made sense; it was like discovering a new set of limbs and trying to figure out how to move them. But understanding the concept didn''t make it any easier. It felt like trying to move a phantom limb he wasn''t entirely sure existed. He strained, attempting to reimagine the sensation of them sprouting from his back. Time blurred as he focused, and at some point, he felt a faint ripple of demonic energy surging through the energy circuits in his torso. The energy seemed to be seeking an exit, and as it reached the surface of his skin, there was a sudden, sharp snap. Dark, leathery wings burst from his back, unfolding wide in a dramatic, sweeping motion. The wingspan was about 1.5x his height, equating to approximately 7 feet (3.5 feet per wing). This size provided enough surface area for lift without becoming cumbersome or disproportionate. As for the base width near his back, it was about 1.5 to 2 feet per wing at the broadest point, tapering as it extended outward. This way, the wings were sturdy, while not hindering arm movement and overall balance. After studying them, Xaren faced forward and saw Floch nodding in satisfaction. "Good. Now retract them." Xaren frowned. Retracting them proved far harder. His wings twitched and shuddered, resisting his attempts to pull them back. Meanwhile, other demons began to release their wings as well, some with more success than others. Beside him, Ilya seemed to release her own dark-hued wings with effortless control, earning a nod of approval from Floch. In the meantime, Xaren tried to retract his wings again, but they stubbornly remained extended. "Come on, you kids! Don''t just stand there like a tree! Pull them back in before I startle you into it!" Floch barked aloud and before Xaren could ask what that meant, Floch clapped his hands together with a deafening boom. The shock of the sudden sound made Xaren''s wings snap shut on instinct, a wave of embarrassment washing over him. He wasn''t the only one who had their wings pop out or snap shut on instinct, and Floch laughed at the lot of them, his amusement dripping into his words. "See? Happens every time. That''s why you''ll also need to learn not to let your wings pop out whenever you''re startled. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. It''s undisciplined and could get you killed in a real fight." This phase of training lasted for days. Floch would test their control with sudden shouts, flashes of light, or even tossing pebbles at them. What Floch called a gentle toss felt more like a bullet to the inexperienced Low-Rank demons, leaving many teetering on the edge of a heart attack. Time and time again, most of the new Low-Ranks, including Xaren, failed miserably, their wings instinctively flaring out at every unexpected movement. "Again! Control your instincts. Your wings should NOT move unless you command them to!" Floch''s booming voice lingered in their minds, even haunting their dreams. At last, after countless attempts, Xaren finally mastered the art of releasing and retracting his wings at will. The relief of progress was short-lived, however, as Floch immediately moved them to the next phase of their training: flight. 󡡡󡡡 Flying, Xaren quickly learned, was nothing like he''d imagined. Floch''s voice, now a staple of both Xaren''s waking hours and restless dreams, cut through the air with its usual mocking tone. "Flap your wings, lift yourself off the ground, and don''t crash. It''s not that hard." It was THAT hard. The first time Xaren tried to take off, he flapped his wings too hard, launching himself into the air before tumbling down in a heap. Others fared no better. Demons flailed and spun in the air like drunken birds, crashing into each other or plummeting to the ground. All except Ilya. Xaren watched as she soared gracefully above the group, her movements smooth and controlled. He couldn''t help but feel a pang of frustration at how easily she seemed to grasp it. Floch, however, wasn''t impressed. "You there. You think I don''t know what you''re doing up there?" At Floch''s voice, Ilya froze mid-air and she temporarily lost control of her flight. Seeing this, Floch sported his usual grin. "You''re cheating with wind magic, aren''t you?" When Ilya didn''t respond, Floch snapped his fingers. Two of his subordinate Low-Rank demons appeared, clamping magic-restraining cuffs on her wrists. They moved faster than Ilya''s eyes could catch, and by the time she realised they''d snapped something on her wrists, she was tumbling to the ground. "Learn to fly the proper way, or don''t fly at all. At your stage, magic''s a crutch. You won''t always have it in a fight. You don''t have the necessary amount of magic for the Flight technique." From that point on, Ilya''s progress slowed, putting her on equal footing with the rest of them. Days turned into weeks as they learned to fly. Floch introduced gruelling exercises: races through obstacle courses, high-speed dives, and even aerial combat drills. The demons were pushed to their limits, often collapsing into exhaustion by the end of the day. 󡡡󡡡 After weeks of flight training, Floch introduced a new concept: using their wings as magic conduits. "Your wings aren''t just for flying. They''re built-in magic catalysts. Think of them like a wizard''s staffonly better because they''re a part of you." Floch explained, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. After speaking, he demonstrated by spreading his massive wings, which glowed faintly with magic power. A moment later, a burst of fire erupted from his palm, its intensity clearly amplified by the energy coursing through his wings. "Casting with your wings makes your magic stronger, faster, and more efficient. But it only works if your wings are out." He retracted his wings and cast the same spell again. The difference in power was stark, even though the same amount of energy had been used. "That said, you won''t always be able to rely on this. There''ll be times when you''re in a confined space, or situations where revealing your wings could jeopardize a mission. There are countless other scenarios where using them might not be ideal. It''s up to you to use your intellect and judge when to use them and when not to." Floch dismissed his magic power, his gaze hardening as he continued. "Still, you need to master this. On a chaotic battlefield, where it''s essentially a free-for-all, that one second saved on casting could mean the difference between survival and death." After this, he clapped his hands and began dividing the group based on their magical affinities. As a fire demon, Floch was best suited to handle those with fire magic, while other low-rank demon instructors were brought in for demons with different attributes. Xaren''s primary affinity lay with Gravity, but his proficiency with Fire wasn''t far behind, so he was under Floch during this period. Floch took the opportunity to teach him several new fire spells to expand his arsenal. At first, Xaren struggled to use his wings for casting. Channelling magic through his wings felt unnatural, like trying to write with his non-dominant hand. But with practice, he began to notice the difference. Once they got the hang of it, Floch ramped up the difficulty. "Time for some sparring! You''ll fight in the air, using magic cast through your wings. Let''s see who can stay airborne the longest." The skies of the training yard became a battlefield as the demons clashed, their spells illuminating the air. Xaren was knocked out of the sky more times than he cared to count, but each fall came along with a lesson for improvement. 󡡡󡡡 Finally, after months had passed, they came to the last stage of their training: using their horns. Not all demons had horns, but for those who did, Floch had special training in store. "Horns are energy amplifiers. They boost the power of whatever energy you channel through themmagic, aura, or demonic energy. But at your level, you can only focus on one type at a time." Xaren, who had a pair of small but sharp horns, found this ability fascinating. He practised channelling his magic through them, feeling the surge of power as his magic power became stronger. However, the effort was draining, and maintaining control was a challenge. Of course, Floch made sure they practised relentlessly, pushing them to use their horns in combat scenarios. At times, he restricted them to using only energy amplified through their horns, throwing them into a magic ring he conjured and forcing them to fight until only one remained standing. Injuries were inevitable, with demons making daily trips to the treatment centre next door. Yet, despite the difficulty of the training, it yielded undeniable results. 󡡡󡡡 It took over two months before Floch finally declared their training complete and the relief among the group was palpable. They had spent two gruelling months under his Spartan regimen, enduring physical exhaustion and mental strain. Their training ended on the 1st of April, exactly three months since Xaren''s rebirth. Chapter 39- Long Overdue Reward On the day they completed their training, Floch led the group of nearly fifty low-ranked demons directly from the training grounds to the administrative building. The building wasn''t far from their barracks, but the sight of a large group of low-ranked demons marching in formation behind Floch naturally attracted attention. The mid-ranked demons lingering near the building noticed them immediately. When they recognized Floch at the front of the group, along with the fresh batch of low ranks behind him, looks of understanding crossed their faces. One of them stepped forward, glancing at Xaren''s group as he addressed Floch with an amused grin. "Floch! Running your crazy wing training again, huh?" The comment drew a wave of realization through the low ranks. This wasn''t the first time Floch had subjected new low ranks to the gruelling training they had just endured. The mid-ranked demon shook his head and continued, his tone half-joking. "Most batches finish up in a month, but you took whatfive extra weeks this time? Seriously, it''s just teaching them how to fly and use their wings as magic catalysts. Why do you drag it out so long?" Floch raised a brow at the remark and replied with a question of his own. "The real question is why you take so little time to do it. Is it because you can''t be bothered to teach them properly?" His words drew a few chuckles from nearby demons, but there was no denying the truth behind them. Most of the mid-ranked demons, all of which had higher military ranks, didn''t bother to put in much effort when training the lowest-tier soldiers. Instead, they handed off the work to other low-ranked demons, preferring to supervise from the sidelines. Floch was one of the few who actually taught and trained them. "You lot just skim the surface since you couldn''t be bothered to care too much. But I teach them thoroughly. That''s why, despite always taking longer than you, I''ve never been reprimanded for it." The mid-ranked demon scoffed but had no rebuttal. Floch''s words were true. Despite pushing back schedules by a full month every time he trained a batch, none of the High-Ranked demons ever called him out for it. It wasn''t because they didn''t notice; they were well aware of the delays. Instead, it was because they tacitly approved of Floch''s methods. Reminded of this fact, the other mid-ranked demon merely sighed, shaking his head in resignation. Eager to steer the conversation away, he waved dismissively and spoke. "Just go and get these guys their new gear already." Floch smirked, brushing him off. "I was planning to without your reminder." With that, he turned and led the group to another section of the administrative building. This was where their proper demon army uniforms awaited themfar better than the rugged training clothes they had worn for the past two months. Inside, they were handed three sets of uniforms, each bearing the insignia of their new military rank, ''Private''. Along with the uniforms, they received three pairs of combat boots and standard-issue weapons, including two main weapons, daggers, and partial armour designed to layer over the enchanted fabric of their uniforms for extra protection. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. For Xaren and Ilya, who already had Runeblades and magic pouches stocked with potions and coins, those Runeblades were to be their primary weapons, while the standard-issue gear would serve as spares. Once the distribution was complete, Floch called out four namesXaren, Ilya, Carack, and Bjorn. "You four, with me. The rest of you, back to your barracks." The selected group followed Floch to yet another section of the administrative building, where they encountered a familiar face. A mid-ranked demoness, the one who had outfitted Xaren with enchanted clothes on his first day, was seated behind a desk. She looked up as they entered, exhaling an exasperated sigh. "Finally, you''re here," she muttered under her breath, then yanked open a drawer and retrieved several rolled-up parchments, unceremoniously tossing them toward the group. They caught them reflexively, and as they examined the items in their hands, she added with a dry tone. "Your rewards for killing that giant two months ago. You should''ve received them back then, but this idiot" she gestured toward Floch "dragged you straight into training before I could get these to you." The demoness''s sharp glare settled on Floch as she finished her complaint, and the fire demon turned his gaze away, attempting a poor whistle that fooled no one. Rolling her eyes, she plucked a key card from her desk and flung it at Floch''s head. When he caught it before it could hit, the demoness clicked her tongue. "That''s the key card to the special training rooms. Let them go use those souls in there." Turning her attention back to Xaren, Ilya, Carack, and Bjorn, she added a stern warning. "Don''t open those parchments until you''re inside the special rooms. Unless you''re in the mood to get bullied by stronger low-rank demons who want to snatch those souls from you." The four of them nodded silently, quickly tucking the parchments into their bags, hidden among their uniforms and boots. Without further delay, Floch led them out of the administrative building. Their destination: the special training rooms where they could safely use the souls. 󡡡󡡡 The souls they had been rewarded with were those of low-rank angels around their level, with a few from existences 10 to 20 levels higher. The absorption process wasn''t quick or easyit took the group an entire day to fully absorb the energy in those souls, ending with their stat levels increasing significantly. For Xaren, his durability, which had lagged behind the rest, finally caught up, reaching D+, while his health and agility inched closer to C-. The next day, after their morning drills and breakfast, they were herded onto a large bus. To Xaren, it was a curious, elongated version of the cars he had seen around the base. Their destination was the Outpost where their new unit was. Floch, however, did not accompany them. His job ended when he was done teaching them how to use their wings. He passed the group off to a Lieutenant, who would oversee their transition into active duty. And like so, Xaren''s group was relocated to a new Outpost, where dozens of other new low-rank demons from across the continent had already been stationed for over a month. 󡡡󡡡 Floch yawned and stretched as the long bus carrying his latest batch of recruits disappeared down the road. With his task finally complete, he turned back toward the administrative building. He spotted one of his friends nearby and was just about to sling an arm around their shoulder when the nearby space door in the lobby activated. From it stepped the figure of the High-Rank demon Naephas. At the sight of him, Floch and his friend quickly bowed and greeted him in unison. ""Gooday Sir."" Naephas turned when he heard them, and upon spotting Floch, he raised a brow. "Oh, are you finally done with your batch?" "Yes, sir," Floch replied with a nod. "Good. Come with me," Naephas instructed, already moving toward the staircase leading to the top floor where his office resided. Floch followed silently, his feet thudding against the polished floor as they ascended. "Your batch hasn''t been on any missions yet. The others who completed their wing training a month ago have already been on one or two missions and have fought one or two battles. Long story short, your group is weaker than the current average." Floch gave a quiet nod, acknowledging the critique without protest. Naephas continued. "While it can''t be helped, it wouldn''t do us any good to let them stay weaker. I''ll assign them missions to improve their skills and get EXP." Naephas reached out into empty air and space distorted, revealing the entrance to his subspace. He then grabbed some files from inside and tossed them towards Floch who caught them deftly. "One of those missions doesn''t involve direct combat for the most part, but it''s the most important of the lot. I''ll leave it to your discretion to select the right demons for that one. For the others, review the records of those in your batch and choose those capable of handling the tasks and battles outlined." "Understood, sir." After Floch nodded, Naephas was about to dismiss him, but he hesitated, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Since a few of those under Lord Xynax''s watch are among them" He raised a finger and traced a magic sigil in the air, giving it physical form before sending it floating towards Floch. "Once you''ve finalized your selections, attach this seal to the proposal sent to the Central Outpost. It will ensure the highest priority is given to it." Floch bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude. As the Highest Ranked demon present, any document bearing Naephas'' seal would be fast-tracked without question. "I''ll be expecting results, Colonel Floch." Floch''s eyes widened slightly at Naephas'' use of his full rank, but he quickly recovered, snapping a salute. "Yes, General." Chapter 40- Cinder Outpost Cinder Outpost Ohlion Continent Planet Zorix 1I April 3rd Year 9025 One very boring road trip later, Xaren and the rest of his batch finally arrived at their new Outpostthe place they would call home base for the foreseeable future. This was where they would be deployed for battles and assigned missions. The Cinder Region Outpost, much like their previous base, was an upgrade compared to the facilities they had access to as unranked demons. Upon arrival, they were ushered into the barracks and assigned dorm rooms. After settling in, they were given a short orientation tour of the facilities they should be aware of before being directed to the training grounds. By the time they arrived there, the afternoon drills were wrapping up. Xarens batch was split across different Army Companies. Each standard Company housed 200 to 250 soldiers, organized into 4-5 platoons, with each platoon further divided into 8-10 squads. Xaren, Ilya, Carack, Bjorn, and 11 others were placed in a platoon led by a Captaina low-rank demon like them but at a significantly higher level. The Captain introduced the newcomers to the rest of the Company and encouraged them to "get along and get to know each other" before departing. No sooner had the Captain left than one of the veteransa demon from the group that had been in the company longerstrode up to the newcomers. He was at least 5 feet tall, with very short black hair and similarly coloured eyes, along with sharp facial features. Xaren was chatting with his usual group of Ilya, Carack, and Bjorn when the demons loud, condescending voice cut through their conversation. I don''t know where you talentless lot, who took two months just to figure out how to use your wings, came from, but you need to learn the ground rules around here. His demeanour oozed an air of superiority, as if he were trying to establish dominance over the new arrivals. I, Ralguth, am the boss around here. Im the leader of this company, so youd better obey me. He puffed out his chest as he spoke, his cronies trailing behind him nodding in agreement with his declaration. Carack, however, tilted his head slightly and asked with a note of curiosity. Typically, the leader of a company is ranked higher than everyone else in it, but judging by your uniform, youre a Private like the rest of us. Private First Class, sure, but thats not exactly enough to lead a squad, let alone an entire company. So, tell me, Ralguthwas your position as leader officially appointed by the Captain who just left, or did you just decide to crown yourself? Ralguths brow twitched at the question, and he shot Carack a sharp glare. The silence that followed spoke volumesRalguth''s inability to claim outright that he was appointed by the Captain made it obvious that his so-called leadership was self-proclaimed. His cronies, standing behind him, glared at Carack as well, but their expressions betrayed unease. They knew they couldnt risk lying about something so easily disproven, as punishment for this would be severe. Carack, on the other hand, couldnt help but wonder why they even bothered with the facade in the first place. The whole charade seemed like they were just fishing for trouble. But despite having been seen through easily. Ralguth wasnt about to back down. Instead, he attempted to justify himself with a smug air of superiority. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. It doesnt matter. Ive been the one leading this company during battles, and its only natural for me to be the leader. Im a noble after allborn better than you common folk. Whats more, Im the strongest person here. Or Ralguth paused, his gaze narrowing challengingly. do you dare to contest that? At the mention of his noble status, Ilya and Xaren exchanged surprised glances. They both ignored him taunting them into a fight and recalled Floch mentioning how nobles occasionally sent their offspring to military outposts like this as part of their "tests." If Ralguth truly was a noble, it aligned with that notion. However, it hardly concerned them. Floch had made it clear that nobility couldnt throw their weight around in the military. So, even if Ralguths claim of nobility was true, it didnt grant him authority, and certainly not the title of leader. Even without that, Xaren didnt believe Ralguth could be appointed for anything within their platoon as he was nothing more than a Private. In demon military structure, companies are led by Captains, platoons by Lieutenants, and 4C16-man squads by Sergeants. Over the past few months, wing training wasnt the only thing Xaren had done. He had also gained a deeper understanding of demon society, leveraging Flochs willingness to share information with him. In conclusion: I have no reason to listen to this guy. With that thought, he and Ilya turned away, both opting to ignore the self-proclaimed leader. As for the other 11 members of their group, they weren''t fond of Ralguths attempt to boss them around, especially considering they were all low-ranking newcomers. His provocative words about challenging him hit a nerve. You think youre the strongest? One of them snapped, releasing a pulse of demonic energy in an attempt to intimidate Ralguth. Xaren turned his gaze toward the speaker and immediately identified him as a bull demon, the hot-blooded type. The guy looks ready to charge. The rest of the group wasnt far behind, a wave of murmured discontent spreading among them as they braced themselves for a confrontation. Watching this, Xaren spoke up. I dont think thats a good idea, but hey, do what you want. His voice carried little weight amidst the brewing tension, but he wasnt surprised no one was paying him any mind. Meanwhile, Ilya, wholly uninterested in the brewing conflict, had already walked off toward the weapon storage area, muttering something about needing to check something on her Runeblade. Bjorn, equally indifferent, had turned to strike up a conversation with some others who were gradually distancing themselves from the commotion. Carack, however, found the situation intriguing and decided to stay, curious to see how things would unfold. He also took the opportunity to remind Xaren of how he had complained about boredom and the lack of entertainment during their road trip. The reminder prompted Xaren to join Carack in spectating. Both of them stepped back a little, giving space for the would-be fighters to settle things themselves. 󡡡󡡡 As the first fight began and Ralguth unleashed his demonic energy, Xaren raised a brow in mild surprise. Oh wow. Seems he isnt all talk. These guys have been here for over a month, so theyve likely racked up more levels than we have. Carack remarked and Xaren nodded in agreement as they both watched Ralguth deal with his opponent in less than a minute. Well, they may have higher levels, but our stats are probably on par with theirs, Carack added and Xaren nodded in agreement once more. Thanks to their long overdue rewards for killing that Level 100+ giant in Hamqua, he and the others had Stats well above the average for their levels. If one of us fought him, how do you think it would go? Carack asked, turning his gaze away from the fight to glance at Xaren. Without looking away from the brawl, Xaren offered his honest assessment. Well, hes fast, and his striking strength is impressive. But he wouldnt land a single hit on me. As for you, if you keep your distance and avoid his initial charge, you could hit him hard with ranged magic. He seems to be strictly a close-range fighter. Satisfied with the response, Carack turned his attention back to Ralguth. After a moment, he asked again. What about Ilya? Xaren chuckled. Pfft He wouldnt even realize hed lost. As Carack and Xaren talked, the second demon, undeterred by the firsts defeat, lunged at Ralguth with a flurry of attacks, only to be promptly beaten into submission just like the first. The third demon, seeing the fate of his comrades, hesitated only briefly before charging in. But the result was the same. A punch to the face sent him reeling, and a quick follow-up knocked him unconscious. The remaining six demons exchanged uneasy glances. The fights had been decisively one-sided, and now, they were starting to think better of challenging Ralguth, whose strength was beyond their expectations. Around them, the silence from the rest of the 200-plus company members spoke volumes. Either they were too afraid to speak up, or Ralguth had already cowed them into submission. Some of them were even cheering Ralguth on. Three of the remaining demons, unwilling to back down, decided to take him on together. With a battle cry, they charged at him, thinking they could overwhelm him with numbers. Seeing this, Carack leaned forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "How about a bet, Xaren?" He sported his usual grin, clearly enjoying the unfolding scene. "Rather than betting on the outcome of the fight, let''s bet on how long it takes for the demons to lose." Both of them didnt think they could win against Ralguth anyway. Hearing Caracks suggestion, Xaren narrowed his eyes, studying the two sides of the fight about to unfold. "I''ll give them at least three minutes," he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Carack shook his head. Two minutes, max. Xaren snorted, shaking his head at the confidence in Caracks words. But as the fight began to unfold, his expression quickly turned dark. Chapter 41- The Art of Evasion Faced with the three, Ralguth, unfazed, dodged their attacks, before knocking them out one after the other. The first was hit with a spin kick, the second was thrown across the training yard and into a wall and the third barely grazed Ralguth before his jaw met with Ralguths fist. The last three staggered back, now completely unsure of their chances. As for Carack, turned to Xaren, holding up two fingers in front of his face. "Two minutes! I win!" he laughed triumphantly. Xaren groaned and muttered under his breath. "I''m never betting with you again." His grumbling made Carack laugh even louder, and the sound caught the attention of others nearby, including Ralguth, who, noticing their lack of focus, turned toward them. "What are you two laughing at?" Ralguth demanded with a frown. Hearing him, Xaren glanced at Carack before looking back at Ralguth with an incredulous look. Cant this guy see its ONLY Carack laughing and not me? Carack caught Xaren''s unspoken question and laughed even harder before replying to Ralguth. "Dont worry about us, just keep beating them up. Let me make more money." Xaren frowned, shaking his head. "Im not placing any more bets with you." "Come on, moneybagI mean, Xaren." Carack quickly corrected himself, but there was no way Xaren didnt catch onto that. His brow twitched as he turned to Carack with a glare. "Did you just call me moneybag?" Naturally, Carack feigned innocence. "No, it was definitely your imagination." Xarens veins throbbed at Caracks shamelessness. Meanwhile, Ralguth, visibly annoyed by their indifference, barked at them. "You two, how dare you ignore me?!" His loud voice drew Xarens attention back to him. "Ignore you? We didnt ignore you. He answered you when you asked." Xaren spoke while gesturing to Carack, who added with a mischievous smile, "Also, are you done fighting them? If you arent, hurry up so I can place another bet." Xaren shot him a look, clicking his tongue. "Like I said, Im not placing any bets with you again. Not even in your dreams" Carack whined, not ready to let go of his latest scheme. Come on, dude, you have a chance to win! Just go all in. Give me all your silver coins. Xaren simply rolled his eyes and said, You sound like a stereotypical demon right now, Carack. Carack blinked in confusion, not getting the point. What are you talking about, Xaren? I am a demon. Xaren let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head, not bothering to explain. Once again, Ralguth''s anger flared. The two of them, chatting and laughing while ignoring him, had clearly gotten under his skin. What Ralguth failed to understand was simple: they simply didnt care about him. He wasnt in charge, nor was he the one they were following. Until they were assigned a real leader, Ralguths game of king of the hill meant little to Xaren and Carack. They would follow whoever the superior officers decided was in charge, whenever they did. With that thought in mind, Xaren turned to Carack, his tone light but curious. Well, while this guy is playing king of the hill, and the superior officers are definitely going to split us into squads and choose someone else as leader, do you think Ilyas going to get selected as our leader again? Carack hummed thoughtfully. Hmm, Captain Ilya, huh? Actually, it would be nice if she gets picked again. Also, to have Kravok and the others in our group once more... A pity. Xarens eyes flickered with a touch of regret. Yeah, a pity. It had been two months since the battle of Hamqua, and Kravokdespite becoming a low-rank demonhad been sent to a different batch for wing training. Afterwards, hed been assigned to a different company, and they hadnt seen him since. As the two of them reminisced, Ralguths patience finally snapped, his anger boiling over. "You two think you can just talk and ignore me like I dont even exist? What do you think I am, some kind of joke?" Without waiting for a response, he raised his hand and two concentric magic circles manifested. With no chant, he cast the Tier 2 Fire Magic Spell, Grand Fireball, sending the mass of flames shooting towards Xaren and Carack, aimed to scorch them both. Both of them sensed the magic, their instincts kicking in as they jumped out of their seats just in time. The fireball whizzed past, searing their chairs and leaving scorch marks behind. Carack, his expression now devoid of humour, looked at Ralguth with disbelief. Dude, what the hell?! he exclaimed, his usual smirk wiped from his face. Unlike the others hed used unarmed physical attacks on, Ralguth just used magic. Whats more, he was attacked unprovoked. Even Carack, with all his nonchalance, would be pissed off. Xaren, on the other hand, couldnt help but chuckle at the irony of Ralguth using fire magic Carack, a fire demon. But his chuckle was not well-received. Ralguth, seething with fury, interpreted it as mockery. His hands clenched into fists, and his voice cracked with rage as he screamed. "Ill put you both in your place!" With a roar, he charged at them, fully intending to prove his superiority. Carack, realizing what was about to happen, quickly grabbed Xaren. "Xaren," Carack said, eyes glinting with mischief. "I havent counted the money I won from you yet. So, you fight him." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Before Xaren could react, Carack gave him a hard push, sending him directly toward the oncoming threat. Xaren stumbled slightly, now facing Ralguths furious advance. Oi, dude, what the hell?! Xaren shot a glare at Carack, but the fire demon was already sprinting off, his pouch of coins clutched in his hand as he made his escape. Ralguth, seeing his chance, swung a massive punch infused with magical power, aiming straight for Xarens chest. But just when Ralguth thought victory was certain, Xaren regained his balance in a flash, twisting his body to avoid the punch entirely. He landed a few paces away, casually brushing himself off as he turned to face Ralguth. Okay, dude, hold on, Xaren said, voice unbothered. I have zero desire to fight you. So, I dont know, you can go back to fighting them and becoming leader with them. Keep the spot. I dont really care about it. The last thing Xaren wanted now was to get tangled in some petty and pointless squabble that would make him look bad in front of his superior officer. But those words, far from diffusing the situation, did the opposite. To Ralguth, who had been trying so hard to assert his dominance and claim leadership, Xaren''s indifference was the worst kind of insult. It made his leadership feel utterly worthless, as though it didnt matter at all. And that sent Ralguths fury into overdrive. Fuelled by his wounded pride, Ralguth screamed and launched himself at Xaren again, fists raised, ready for round two. Seeing Ralguth even angrier, Xaren raised an eyebrow. "Dude, I said I dont want your position as leader. Im not trying to challenge you for it. So why are you still attacking me?" "Shut up!" Ralguth, seething with anger, unleashed a furious barrage of punches and strikes. But Xaren effortlessly dodged every attack, reaffirming that his earlier assessment of a fight with Ralguth was not born from overconfidence. Ralguth was a humanoid demon like Xaren, but he was at least a head taller and more muscular. But despite the speed and power behind his blows, Xaren danced around them, never giving him the chance to land a hit. Every punch that came at him missed by inches. He ducked, sidestepped, and leapt with ease, his movements smooth and calculating. However, Xaren got fed up and decided to make Ralguth payin the same way hed done to two unfortunate giants, though far less intense. His magic power stirred and he subtly manipulated the stones on the ground, using gravity magic to send them flying toward Ralguths head with such speed that the demon couldn''t even see them coming. Hmm, I can use this guy for control and precision training. It was, perhaps, a mercy for Ralguth that he couldnt read Xarens thoughts at that moment. Ralguth was momentarily stunned as the stones collided with his skull, each hit leaving him more disoriented. One of them hit him right on his nose and he staggered back, rubbing his head. "What the hell?!" Ralguth growled. "You''re the one doing this!" Xaren raised his hands in mock surrender, a wide, innocent smile on his face. "Who, me? What am I doing?" he asked, playing it up as if he were completely clueless. Then, in a split second, Xaren sent a stone rocketing toward Ralguth''s groin. The stone missed by a hair and instead struck his lap with a dull thud. Xarens expression shifted, and he muttered under his breath, "Ah, I missed." Immediately, he slapped a hand to his mouth, as if hed just said something he shouldnt have. Of course, his voice had been loud enough for Ralguth to hear, and the demons eyebrows twitched in frustration. It was abundantly clear that Xaren was making fun of him, and it pushed him past the breaking point. In a fit of anger, Ralguth attacked with a new ferocity, and with the aid of an active skill, his blows came faster and harder. But Xaren continued to dodge, never once even considering parrying the punches or kicks. He simply weaved around them, ducking under one swing, jumping over another, twisting his body to avoid every hit. Ralguths face twisted with rage as he tried desperately to land a single blow, but no matter how hard he swung, Xaren was always one step ahead. Eventually, Xaren found himself with his back pressed against the door of the weapons building. He acted surprised, his expression one of genuine confusion. "Well, that was unexpected," he muttered, as if hed just been cornered for the first time. Of course, there was no way Xaren didnt notice there was a building behind him from the shadow it cast on the ground. Seeing Xaren backpedal, Ralguth grinned, his eyes flashing with malicious glee. "Let''s see where you''re going to dodge now!" he shouted, his voice booming with confidence. With that, he infused even more magic into his punch, his fist glowing with a dangerous intensity. Though he didnt sense its activation as he wasnt to the required level for that, Xaren could tell that Ralguth was using a skill. He also knew he wouldnt get away unscathed if the punch connected. Naturally, Xaren lightened his body with gravity magic and leapt out of the way to dodge Ralguths faster, stronger punch. But just as he did, the door of the weapons building swung open inward.