The man with the hoodie had expected this kind of answer; therefore, he prepared a countermeasure.
''I have a method to make you stronger-"
Before the man could finish, Kevin stopped him. He raised his head and asked.
''Did you take me for an idiot?"
'It is exactly because you are the dumbest of the three I've approached you.' The man thought inwardly while he ignored Kevin's question and used his second trump card; this one would work; there's no doubt about it.
''I can make you stronger like Alexander.''
''Not stronger than him?" Kevin asked, obviously interested.
The man with the hoodie lowered his head and chuckled.
'This idiot has taken the bait. Hihihi! He will be easy to manipulate than I thought.'
''Well, let's start with a moderate objective first. Will you hear me out first?" The man declared while looking into Kevin's eyes.
Even though he was drunk, Kevin felt a chill run down his spine when his cloudy eyes met those wicked green eyes, he sobered up instantly, and as if he was under a spell, Kevin declared.
''Ok, I don't mind hearing what you have to say but make it quick because my siblings will start searching for me soon.''
The man with the hoodie nodded while snickering inside.
'With your age, you're still afraid of your siblings. Well, it doesn't matter. I'll use you to get them. Kukuku, it will be fun.'
°°°°°°
In one of the dungeons on the outskirts of the Drexia Empire was a girl with her face covered. She had joined the Chaos organization three years ago, and after undergoing harsh training and proving her loyalty, it was finally time for her first mission.
Because it was only a small village, only a hundred and fifty people, nobody paid attention to this. She thought the outside world would welcome her, but it was not really different; people called her a witch and the cursed child. She resented the world, and she would gladly destroy it; just because she was different, she wielded a different element, the dark element, and she became an outcast. Therefore her resentment grew beyond words, and she gladly joined the dark world; when they approached her today, she was about to start the revolution that would turn the whole world upside down. Minerva was ready.
As soon as Minerva entered the dungeon, she could feel that the mana flow had completely changed. As with any dungeon, the environment inside was completely different from the outside world.
"…."
Minerva held her breath and looked around the interior of the dungeon. It was a weird place; a mountain range of dark rocky masses surrounded the area, and all the rocks were sharp to the point that there seemed to be no place to even step on.
Something was not right. Minerva thought. Because she had entered many dungeons, she knew. This place was not a dungeon.
The sound of her feet stepping lightly on the stone floor echoed loudly in a quiet space filled with only the sound of the wind whispering in her ears.
'This must be why they told me it was not a normal dungeon.' She mumbled and kept walking forward.
After walking for such a long time, she finally arrived at the place she had sought.
"The altar."
It was a huge temple painted in many shades of color. In this place, where there was no trace of civilization, let alone living things, the existence of such a structure stood out a lot. It was an old temple that seemed unmaintained, yet a fire was burning in the braziers.
Avon followed the stair and walked down the hallway. After she entered the innermost altar, Minerva looked around, and finally, her eyes landed on a flickering shadow atop the altar.
Suddenly, there was an explosion of light.
BOOM!
A blinding light forced Minerva to shut her eyes temporarily, and before she could even open them, she heard the scariest wail she had ever heard.
Forcibly opening her eyes, she was confronted with a fearsome beast of heat and smoke. Two clouded eyes stare at her with a harrowing excitement, and another wail rages from its fetid mouth as if it were a battle cry.
Six curved horns adorn its curved head, which itself is mostly hidden below a hood. A wheezing breath escapes the creature's crooked nostrils set within a broad nose.
Its curved head sits atop a compact, robust body. Shadowy curls coil around its torso, seemingly like a reminder of some event in the past.
The creature moves forward slowly; its two legs lumberingly carry its glowing body with calm energy. A jagged tail follows behind it, and a bright light on its tip dances like a lure.
Four bat-like wings extend themselves fully. Skin covered bones, and greasy membranes stretch upward before curling up.
At that moment, Minerva lowered her head as a chilling sensation pricking into her skin. Her heart was pounding wildly, and her hands and feet trembled. It was hard to even lick her lips because of the sudden chill, and tears seemed to drop from her eyes.
It was simply the feeling of 'fear'.
It was also the first emotion she felt since becoming a Numbers, who should generally be lacking any semblance of emotions.
The fear was so overwhelming that Minerva felt like she was not wearing anything and was standing in the middle of a snowy field.
Taking a deep breath, she breathed in and out repeatedly to control her fear, and after she succeeded, she lifted her head and stared into the demon's eyes.
Minerva opened her mouth, forcing her trembling voice to come out.
"Are you… a demon?"
-·········.
The demon did not answer. But Minerva knew it had turned its head and stared at her.
And then there was a changement; the demon switched form, turning into a shadow before changing to another form; this time, the demon turned into a colossal skeleton. Between its sharp ribs, a gloomy bonfire burned quietly.
''Welcome human that got the Chaos God's blessings.''
Surprisingly, the demon could speak.
Minerva concealed her shock and lowered her head in the form of submission.
''Greeting demon, I'm Minerva, the newly promoted Numbers, I'm Seven.''
''Indeed, I'm a demon from Hell. As a servant of the Chaos God, I've accepted his apostle call and got reborn in this form.''
''It's that so?"
Minerva was able to grind a lot of information from this small exchange. To think this was not his real form. How scary will the real thing be? She wondered but quickly shook her head; she did not come here for this; she only had one goal, which was to feed and awakens this thing to send it on a rampage.
''I have brought the sacrifices.''
''Hohohoho! You're good human. I like you. Bring the sacrifices out.'' The demon ordered.
Minerva nodded before her shadow expanded, from which many people came out from. More than a hundred people came out unconscious, from 8 years children to older adults.
The demon laughed satisfactorily before swallowing everything, but the demon was still not satisfied.
''I want more.''
Minerva sighed before bringing out this time an adventurer, someone closer to the Saint Realm.
The demon laughed and began to toy with the poor man; he was forced to wake up and found himself in a bloody state.
''It hurts! It hurts so much! Please, make it stop; it hurts so much! I... I can't make it stop! There's too much blood, and it hurts so much; please make it stop.
I should move; there's no point standing like this. If I can stand, I can move, now come on, body, move! Move! Why won't it move? Is this really me end?
This is so annoying! Why am I so weak? I can make it out of this mess; I know I can. So why am I still here? Come on, stupid body, stop being so weak. I can make it. We can make it; just stop being weak.
I'm so dizzy; everything is spinning around me. I feel like.. I think I might pass out. No, no, I can't pass out. I'll lay down on the floor to save my energy. This'll do, for now. But everything is still spinning. No matter, somebody will find me soon and then everything will be alright.
It'll be over soon. There's no saving me anymore; I'm too broken. I just wish I wasn't alone. Maybe.. maybe somebody will still find me; there's still time. Yes, please find me; I don't want to die alone.
I'm so sleepy. I guess I'll rest my eyes for a little while, just a little while. I may never open them again, but we'll find out soon enough. First, I must rest.''
That were the man's last words before darkness swallowed him forever, and the demon was reborn and was ready to go on a rampage.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m