Multiple swords of different natures materialized out of thin air, all of them bathed in a dark crust and brimming with ominous energy.
5, then 7, then 10.
They gradually increased in number till Lucien couldn’t count them anymore. Suddenly, the blades rotated, shifting their aim to Vaelion.
Vaelion stared at the floating swords with empty eyes.
"I’ve always known you were a demon." He muttered, clenching his fists as he prepared for the pain he was about to feel.
"And stop calling me boy when I’m older than you." "I’m approaching my 30s."
Without hesitation, the swords struck Vaelion’s body in an instant from every angle.
Aaarghh!
His screams could be heard from a mile away, but the swords didn’t stop—one after the previous one, and another one after that.
They kept boring jagged holes into Vaelion’s body as his warm blood spurted out.
Eventually, the descent of the swords stopped, and Vaelion fell to the ground, his body completely lifeless.
"Filthy human."
––Wait, why am I saying or doing any of this?
Lucien’s inner self cried out. He didn’t know the reason behind anything he did. All he could feel was anger. Unwavering anger.
The cloak on Lucien’s body that had previously formed slowly deteriorated. Lucien felt fatigued from the entire battle, and his enormous hatred took a hit as well.
Eventually, Lucien gained control over his emotions. He stared at his palms that had been tainted by the blood that had spurted out of Vaelion.
"It wasn’t Wrath controlling me this time."
"No, it was something different. I had full control, but I just didn’t stop."
Lucien wondered as he slowly approached Vaelion’s broken sword in the distance. He gently grazed his fingers on its golden hilt that was surprisingly undamaged.
"Did his sword have any special powers I didn’t know?"
"And his habit of always sinking it into the ground suggests something. I’d better hold on to it for now."
As for Vaelion, his life was slowly departing. His fingers kept flinching, and eventually, he died with an evident face of disgust. His frown was so intense that wrinkles had slowly lined up around his face.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
He was dead.
"There’s no point in crying over the dead. He brought this to himself," Lucien muttered in an attempt to justify his actions.
"How could I have killed him?"
"No, he must have run into one of my swords."
Lucien fed himself lies that he knew were completely false, but that was the only way to keep him sane.
He picked up the supply pouch strapped to Vaelion’s side and took anything that he felt was necessary. A few supplements, an energy pill, and tiny weapons.
There wasn’t anything meaningful there. The weapons were completely useless against real humans, but they served their purpose when matched against wild animals.
"Look, he’s there! Corner and apprehend him. Division Captain Vaelion was right."
"He is a demon."
"He is our enemy," they all echoed in unison as they hurriedly approached Vaelion, bathed in a pool of his own blood.
Lucien immediately picked himself off the ground and stared at the massive group as they approached.
"No, no, I didn’t kill him!" Lucien screamed. He had finally lost it.
"Don’t call me a demon!" He launched himself at them and wound up his fist before landing an impactful punch on one of the soldiers.
"Get into formation. Surround him and don’t give him a chance to escape. He’s walked into our territory." The soldiers whispered to each other, slowly closing the gap between them and Lucien.
Lucien closed his eyes and realization struck.
’What am I even doing?’ He asked himself, utterly confused by his own unthoughtful actions.
’Think this through, Vaelion.’ He took in a deep breath, observing the soldiers as they slowly cornered him with caution.
"They’re afraid."
He launched himself towards one of the soldiers—the one that seemed the weakest, mentally.
The soldier flinched and backed away from Lucien, giving him just enough space to grab another soldier.
"This one will do."
"Hey, if you don’t want him dead, give me all your food and let me go in peace," Lucien proposed, placing his free hand on the soldier’s neck.
For a brief moment, silence was the only thing that could be heard, and then, the soldiers charged forward with even more determination.
’What’s wrong with these people?’ Lucien thought, slowly pulling away with the hostage soldier still pressed firmly against his body.
"I’m a demon, remember? I won’t hesitate to kill him."
"Not at all."
Lucien pressed his palm on the soldier’s neck, gradually increasing the force till it was just enough to make the soldier scream in pain.
The soldiers paused, hesitated, and for a moment, it felt like they were considering the life of the soldier that Lucien held hostage.
"If you were a true soldier, you would know that we don’t ever lose sight of the enemy even when our friends are at risk. It’s our code!"
They suddenly charged at him, and Lucien quickly tossed the hostage soldier aside and ran in the direction of the setting moon.
"What a twisted up way of justifying abandoning their allies," Lucien muttered as the army of soldiers couldn’t keep up with his enhanced speed.
The dark energy radiating from Wrath had become easier to manipulate and alter. It didn’t flow like the waves from a storm, but like water flowing out of a bucket.
It was more controlled, refined, and smooth.
After everything, Lucien had picked up on a few things. He could now manipulate the energy at will to a certain extent to enhance his physical abilities.
But even while being surrounded by soldiers in this era, he had never seen anyone use a spell or use their Mana as an enhancement except Vaelion.
The world was truly amazing. Lucien couldn’t find a word to describe the spark he felt. He felt alive, like nothing could stop him.
But that wouldn’t last for long.