"I... I don't know much about this place yet, but it's just darkness and mist everywhere," I said with a hopeless tone.
"The one who came to give me skills and food, I can't even tell if he's human or what; I couldn't see his feet, it was like he was floating in the air."
"And... I heard voices from the darkness both nights when I couldn't sleep from fear. I'm going crazy... Please, stop it."
"Don't make me talk anymore."
"I've been bullied my whole life and lived in fear of everything, but in the end, please let me die like a man."
The demon thought for a moment, but his sharp eyes remained fixed on me.
"Describe exactly what the person who came to you looked like, and tell me if you couldn't sleep because you were scared or for some other reason."
This is the point I wanted him to get to. But I was in so much pain. I didn't even know if I would pass out from blood loss. 'Endure it, if it hurts, acknowledge the pain. There are people waiting for you.'
"He wore a black general's uniform, but he didn't carry any weapons. And not just his feet, I couldn't clearly see his face either. He also wore gloves. But the gloves had joints, I couldn't tell if they were gloves or mechanical hands. He even grabbed me by the hair and threw me because I didn't follow him where he called me. His strength was considerable. As for not being able to sleep, how could anyone sleep in a place like this? Do you sleep, brother?"
"Don't ask me anything back."
Okay... I understand. You sleep too...
"Yes... Yes."
"I see a wound on your shoulder. Didn't they treat you?"
"Huh... treat me?" That was something I hadn't expected.
"Never mind... Now that I know what I wanted, I'll grant you a good death."
The demon slowly moved closer to me.
"Come closer. Please come within two meters of my dagger."
Unfortunately, when the demon was only about five meters away from me, he stopped and spoke to me mockingly.
"You haven't told me about your skills yet."
Damn it... that demon isn't simple; he must have caught on.
"The skill I chose is Unstoppable Willpower, and the random skill I got is Explosion Power."
I gathered all the strength I had in my legs and leaped with full Explosion Power towards the range where I could control the dagger.
Actually, my random skill was Explosion. In the first battle against a human, each of my steps became faster, and in his last breath, when that guy pushed me in fear and panic, I unintentionally used the Explosion Skill. I didn't know what his skills were, so I instinctively jumped backward, and the Explosion Skill activated, making me crash into the wall due to my own momentum. This skill must only be usable during combat. I tried using it while meditating in the room, but it wouldn't work.
He and the dagger were only five meters apart, so I jumped about two meters past the dagger. Now, the dagger and this damned demon were within my control range.
"Die, you non-human!"
Whoosh...
My dagger flew straight for his heart. What... Damn it, it was just the demon's shadow! I underestimated him.
"Haha... haha... haha... It's a Shadow Clone!"
"You're smart, but I'm smarter than you."
The demon reappeared from behind me and thrust his long sword through my chest, piercing me right through.
Thump...
The sight of a sword coming out of my chest was quite gruesome. It hurt terribly, it hurt like hell. Luckily, it wasn't directly in my heart. Since it happened, there's nothing I can do. I just used the Explosion Skill that I had unconsciously used in the first battle. This time, I know for sure how to use it.
"I don't give a damn what skills you have!"
Boom!
Using the floor for leverage, I leaped backward with full Explosion Power. The demon was right behind me, so he was carried along with me. Both the demon and I slammed into the wall. That was all my strength. I had no energy left, and I was losing too much blood. The dagger was far away from me... He was unlucky too. He hit the wall with a loud bang. As for me, having him there softened the impact a bit. The bad thing was that the sword stuck in my chest burst out completely from the front.
I really wanted to die, and I was on the verge of death. If I just gave up, I would truly die. But with misfortune came opportunity. I quickly grabbed the sword that had burst out of my chest and stabbed it straight backward through the hole in my chest. If I was right, blood would be spewing from his mouth onto my shoulder. But I didn't stop; I kept stabbing repeatedly. Behind me were screams of pain, and I was screaming too. I didn't spare myself either. I don't even know how many times I stabbed him. Besides stabbing with the sword, I also kept hitting the demon's head with my own, over and over. To be honest, I was just doing whatever came to mind in a panic. Only when I thought it was enough did I turn around...
I wanted to laugh out loud.
But I couldn't laugh; it hurt too much.
The demon wasn't moving anymore. I think he's dead.
"Will I live or die?"
If I don't die, I'll learn martial arts, even if it's just dagger techniques. I haven't even properly celebrated my victory. That bastard's eyes opened. If his gaze alone could kill me, I would be dead already.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Do you think you'll die so easily?"
"I left my shadow on you... you can't escape anywhere."
Thwack!
Annoying. I stabbed him directly in the eye. Actually, it was his forehead.
"Sorry, friend... you're not as pitiful as that other guy."
After that, I passed out. But I held the dagger tightly in my hand. I really liked this katana-like dagger.
Is it a dream...?
I'm at home. Mom, little sister... they're all together. Am I home? Did I win? Or did I die? Whatever it is, it's worth it. All I did was to meet them again... I absolutely didn't want to kill the first one. His daughter was waiting for him, but he was alone. Two people are waiting for me. Little sister... I'm right, aren't I?
"Mom... come here."
"I'll tell you everything I went through, son. I'm hungry now; I'll tell you while we eat. You wouldn't even believe it, Mom. Come, little sister too. You should hug me for a moment. I'm really tired."
"It's not time yet, my son..."
"Huh?"