It was a normal day in the ever so empty home of the spirits. Barely any sound was ever heard at this place and-contrary to the name- not even find flowed in this part of the realm.
Inside such a bland place, a sigh sounded out.
“Hah…” It was mine.
It’s always the same, no matter how many days pass. Day-in and day-out always silence and the occasional cry of desperation from a dying spirit.
“Screiaghhhh!” There it is again, the sound of something dying. Only this time I was the culprit.
For the past few days I’ve just been mindlessly killing a few spirits here and there. It always interests me how they spend their last moments. Some just give up and bend over while others refuse to die until their last breath, kinda like me. Not that their efforts ever bear any fruit.
The truth is-from my observations at least- that they often behave the same as us humans. Well not “us” since I’m not a human anymore but still… it’s fun. I could never have known that observations of living creatures were so fascinating. They are even more diverse than humans! Or any creature I know of at least.
They come in all shapes, abilities and even colors apparently. I saw a red one a couple of days ago just taking a stroll in my territory… didn’t fight it though since it was a rank above me and I’d probably be dead by now.
By the way, it seems I have a territory now too! Though its size is laughable considering I can walk from one side to the other in a minute or two. It comes in handy at least for when I just want to relax since other Infants don’t come close for some reason. Maybe they can tell I have great power! or something… I don’t know.
But still… I now think I get how skills work. It’s quite simple really. Skills, from what I can tell are split into two categories, magical and physical. Well “magical” is a vague description, the truth being that anything that isn’t in the physical category is probably put there. This means that my {Curse} is a magical skill even if it has nothing to do with magic.
In essence, both types work in the same but slightly different ways.
A [skill] is pretty simple. They work as a way to focus one’s power. Meaning that even if someone doesn’t know how to… let’s say cast a spell has a magical skill, he’ll still be able to use it to get the desired result. As long as one is able to do it, the skill will work, meaning that as long as you meet the requirements you can use a skill. If you have 100 mana and a spell you don't know how to cast cost’s 99, as long as you have the skill for it, even with you never having practiced magic before, the spell will be cast.
Of course though if you don’t meet such requirements, even if you have the skill you won’t be able to use it.
The same goes for physical one’s. If you don’t have enough muscle you won’t be able to use a skill for a powerful strike. You can’t create something out of nothing after all.
Unless you are spirit of course.
Not to mention that skills really do get stronger the more you understand and use them! After all, my {Curse} is much stronger now than it was at the start. The only major change though is the amount of time a curse is in effect. I tested that by crippling a big spirit and then taking away its sense of touch and then pressing my teeth against its neck. It took around five minutes till it started squirming around and yelling from the pain. That alone proved my point.
Anyways, back on topic. This killing spree of mine seems to have attracted some “special” characters. Those spirits would-in human terms- classify as hoodlums, with their characteristics matching that description. One is somewhat lanky and with an actual afro. The other two look alike with the matching shapes and same colored eyes. Not to mention those bone swords they are carrying.
‘How did they get that?’
The last one,probably the boss since he’s walking on the front, is embodiment of the word bulky, with thick shoulders, a ‘very’ wide body and a round head. Mans built like the wall with humpty dumpty on top.
Anyway these “hoodlums” or whatever are currently approaching my territory, a wide expanse of earth on the edge of a plateau-like clearing. From the way it looks though, they probably know that it is. Are they looking to kill me and take over? I mean, I know it’s a nice place and all but they can’t have it… it’s mine. It seems I’ll have to show that to them.
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“They passed inside” My voice filled the ever so silent spirit realm.
They trespassed inside.
It’s justified now.
Not that it needs any justification since killing is part of this world. Besides, what difference does it make to kill them outright or just condemn them to death.
But whatever that’s not the actual reason I’m going to kill them.
The truth is, I’ve had this feeling since my last kill. No, calling it a feeling does it no justice, it’s a yearning. A yearning for evolution. I can tell now, how close I am to the next step up. Thankfully these guys appeared at the best possible time… they’ll be my stepping stone towards the next rank.
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They approached me
Remained standing while glaring at me
And finally started speaking… speaking?
“Kill-friend-you?” The boss spirit said in a very very hoarse voice.
What did he mean though? Is he asking if I killed my friend? Or is he talking about his friend? Anyway I don’t know. In the first place why is his speech so cut off and barbaric? I mean both that BAKK’s voice and that woman’s wording was normal. I guess even at that there are exceptions.
“Are you asking If I killed your friend?” He looked dumbfounded.
“Words-hard-smart” Ok he’s losing me there. Was it too hard to understand?
“Ehem, Me-kill-you-friend?” Will that work you brick!
“YES” How… just how.
Whatever it seems I probably did huh, eh whatever the plan was to fight either way.
“You-now-d-” Before he could finish I rushed at him.
He tried to punch me but I dodged, unlike him I’m tall but unbelievably skinny so it was easy. Not to mention that I’m more of a speed type anyway so yeah I sidestepped his punch, from there I quickly kicked him with my now clawed legs to the stomach from which he started to bleed blue colored blood, the same as his eyes. Although apparently spirits don’t have any organs, the pain that is transmitted is still the same since our bodies are our souls.
The second I pulled out my leg I got to running again. It seems that at some point the twin looking guys started arguing and the lanky was watching so I targeted him. In an instant I went from the brick wall to the tree and did a flying kick with all my strength.
“Become weak” I screamed just before I hit him.
His eyes widened and the next second his head was rolling and I was crazed. Only three more.
The curse I placed on him was simple, I took away his ability to withstand attacks just briefly. It’s a simple but strong curse, for that reason it doesn’t last more than three seconds.
At my level at least.
“Grahhahaha” One of the twins screamed. Suddenly I felt the wind element around me surround it and with a *swish* something akin to my {Cleave} came at me. To the naked eye it was probably invisible, but I could see it. How could I not? It is an inferior version of my technique after all.
I fell down as fast as I could, barely dodging the blade of wind as I scrambled to get up. Not that I had the chance to do that since the secondI looked up a kick went flying at me. Dodging was impossible so I threw myself towards it.
“Augh” I let out a grunt as I felt my head spin, well not literally but just the pain. The second I landed I rolled to the side, a bone in my previous position. It seems the other twin came at me.
“This is more troublesome than I thought” I said, confusing them.
‘It’s time’ I thought. Breath in, breath out, breath in.
“Slow down” I screamed. For now I can’t specify a target for the curses so they just hit whoever hears the words. Apart from me of course.
Looking left and right I reaffirmed my speculation of that.’Sure enough, all three of them are under the effect’ even the big guy was slowed.
Despite the name, this curse doesn’t actually do something as complicated as slowing something down, that's magic after all… probably! It just messes with the target's perception of time so they react slower to outside stimulation.
‘Quick’ I had to act fast ‘the curse won’t last for long’. No matter what I had to kill both of them in the time given.
‘Cleave-Cleave, run to the right’ I sent out two {Cleave}s to each of them. Both hit but they dodged, the one farthest from me had the most time to react he only lost an arm while the other his lower right side, including the leg. He tried to find balance but I was already in front of him. With a strong kick to the side he lost a chunk from the left side.
I felt a *crunch*, ‘He died’ , with that thought in mind and with the urgency to evolve emerging again I quickly rushed to the other one. ‘It seems he’s still trying to overcome the pain, good’
He is vulnerable now! I rushed and he saw me, he put a guard up as fast as he could in waiting for my kick. I ran and ran until the very last second when I did a sliding tackle, taking one of his legs away.
‘He’s done for!’ I went for the kill.
*bash*
‘Huh… that’s weird, why am I in the air?’ I looked around. I was afloat for some reason, I mean wasn’t I supposed to be killing the guy? Suddenly I saw him. The hulking mass that the wall guy is. Had he hit me? Probably. The skinny twin couldn’t have thrown me in the air and, now that I think about it, isn’t my arm missing? Shoulder and all.
Wait, I'm falling.
With a grunt I landed on the ground. ‘Damn he sure hits hard, in fact isn’t he already healed? I need to take care of the skinny guy asap then. Thankfully my arm has already started regenerating so it should be fine’ . With such thoughts in my mind I started for the twin. Like before the big one went for a punch ‘he really is simple huh’ , I slid, going under his legs and making for the other. The curse had already worn off but it didn’t matter at this point, he was half-dead after all. He was on the ground just laying there so I went and, with all my strength, stomped on his head.
‘Three down. Only the boss left now.’ One away. Just one more and it’s over.
“You-strong-I-respect” he said.
“Why thank yo-
“So DIE” He yelled and rushed at me. The guy was running, I couldn't believe it. I guess I need to end this with one attack.
*Fuawho*
“Become weak, Cleave” The next moment he was missing a leg. I sprinted and jumped in the air. Due to him running prior to his amputation he lost balance and fell down.
“GUGH” He released a cry but it was too late.
“Goodbye and thank you”
One moment he was alive,
The next he wasn’t.
*Splat*
With a kick strong enough to “disintegrate” bone (not really) I had split his head in multiple pieces.
By now my hand had regenerated. I don’t know why but for some reason it always does. Maybe it’s a skill, who knows.
Anyways… It’s finally time huh. To EVOLVE.