Chapter 11, One Punch!
----------------------------------------
“Shit!” Everett cursed, diving towards his right. Time seemed to slow in that moment, his eyes perceiving the naked mole rat with porcupine needles perfectly.
Everett truly did think that was a good description.
”An oversized naked porcupine mole rat… Never thought I’d see that in my life!” He chuckled, watching as the demon readjusted itself.
It had dashed past him and came to a screeching stop before it could ram into his wall.
”You’re pretty ugly…” He said, his adversary growling while it slowly stepped towards him.
“Remember, you control your kreus. If you wish for it, you can dish out more damage than should be possible at its expense, so don’t forget that!” Faceless said to him, Everett glancing over towards Reese who was somehow still meditating on the couch.
“It must be harder than I thought.” He muttered underneath his breath.
Slowly, he adjusted his body, bending his knees and bringing his fists up to shield his face.
”C-Come at me!” Everett voice rang out, both nervous, excited, and any emotion you could think of.
He understood that this might be something that would become commonplace, so he couldn’t chicken out.
Plus, he had a meditating girl to protect.
Although he was sure he wouldn’t lose, according to Faceless’ information, he didn’t want to grow cocky and think he was invincible just because he was more well off than most others.
So, in his mind, he prepared his best, his eyes tracking the demon perfectly as it jumped at him due to his provocation.
”Hup!” Everett inhaled, skipping to his side and reeling his arm back.
Bang!
He threw his fist, his entire body weight behind the attack.
Surprisingly, he really was as powerful as Faceless said.
The impact resounded throughout the whole room, Everett feeling the creatures skull fracture beneath his force.
It yelped briefly, before its face seemingly teleported into the floor and its rear end was lifted up into the air.
It wasn’t even a long or life threatening encounter…
A simple, full force punch was all it took to fell a real life demon?
He looked at the creature, barely breathing on the ground, completely unconscious with an unhinged jaw, fractured skull, and bleeding out brain.
It was guaranteed that his punch had given the demon a concussion…
Surely if he had aimed more for the brain instead of it’s cheek area, he would have killed it in one blow.
But, rendering it vegetable is also acceptable.
”I’ve never hit an animal before…” He said, kneeling to the ground and looking at the twitching body.
“It didn’t feel like I thought it would… but, I don’t think I’d come to enjoy doing this… it feels like slaughtering a helpless animal.” Everett said, placing his hands on the creature’s head.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
”That was quite brutal.” With one hand on it’s chin, and the other on the back of it’s head, Everett violently twisted, snapping the demons neck in one swift motion.
”Maybe when I reach level 1 I’ll be able to use my energy to deliver painless deaths. Revoking another’s life is already… not very nice. Forcing them to feel immense pain during it would be outright cruel.” He closed his eyes, standing up and turning away from the body.
”So, Faceless.” Everett called, shaking the chills out of his body.
In truth, he wasn’t very affected by the event mentally, but in his gut, it still felt wrong.
Though he understood it was a natural phenomena.
Murder isn’t something that can be easily handled by the average mind. Yet, his mind wasn't so average any more...
“That's me!” Faceless responded from the side, standing in front of Reese as she continued to meditate.
He stood directly in front of her, weirdly leering over her, examining the girl intently.
"Is there a way for me to absorb kreus from another without, you know... eating them?" Everett asked, turning back to the unmoving corpse behind him.
"The only two ways to absorb kreus at level zero is through consumption, and breathing it in! So, unless you want to get near the body and deeply meditate with a certain breathing technique... I'd recommend getting in the kitche-..." Faceless paused abruptly, craning his neck towards Everett.
"Put your hand on it's body and think of stealing all of it's life force." It said, walking to Everett.
"But I thoug-"
"Just try it!" Faceless cut him off enthusiastically, Everett frowning with a raised brow.
"Alright then." He mumbled, facing the demon and kneeling down to the ground.
He placed his right hand on its hide, closing his eyes and picturing the absorption of the creatures kreus. He pushed his kreus into his palm, and weirdly, he could feel a strange suction, a coarse and dirty energy entering his body.
"Why does it feel so... unrefined?" Everett asked, turning his head towards Faceless.
"Low ranked demons are physically and spiritually strong but mentally... weak, to say the least! Their kreus is muddled because of their low intelligence! Those with high kreus in all three aspects will have purer energy, and once you reach a certain point!... Let's say that's the gateway to level one!" Faceless smiled, being quite emotive with his hands.
"But I thought high kreus meant all would be increased?"
"Usually, indeed. Though at level zero, one of the aspects tend to be focused on more! But, weak demons are genetically engineered creatures! They don't have an incredible amount of kreus, but even without it, they are incredibly powerful physically because their intelligence was sacrificed purposefully!" Faceless answered with his finger raised.
"You said high kreus is the gateway to level one, but, Praegressus has high kreus, and you said it was detrimental?" Everett questioned, his hand still absorbing kreus from the demon, while he slowly circulated it throughout his body.
"Well, true high kreus. Praegressus was born with high kreus, but it's species wasn't genetically meant to have good mental capabilities, resulting in an imbalanced kreus reserve! It was a large creature with a just as large soul, so of course whenever it gains kreus, those two aspects would tend to be upgraded while it's mental was slowly left behind! And now, its still consistently growing and evolving due to the fact it is the concept of a rule! The embodiment of the law of evolution! So, even though it's kreus is indeed evolving, it's only evolving its two main aspects as of now! But, eventually, it will evolve to overcome this! When that happens, its mind will catch up with its body and soul, those two having reached the kreus limit for a level 0, and then!.." Faceless stopped.
"I would tell you, but I'd like it if you discovered the way to the next level on your own." He smiled, his jagged teeth showing. "But don't worry! I know for a fact that the gateways to level 3, up to level 8 are pretty easy to discover!"
Everett blankly stared at Faceless, sighing underneath his breath.
"Indeed everything can't be handed to me, so thank you. I might enjoy it..."
"You're welcome! Though, I really didn't think you'd be able to absorb kreus like that... You truly are an anomaly!"
"What's special about it?"
"I'll tell you when you discover the path to level one!"
"Eh, is all other important knowledge locked behind the level barrier..." Everett said sarcastically, having absorbed all available energy from the demon.
"Hmm, half of it yes!"
Everett could only shake his head, moving over towards Reese who sat peacefully on the couch.
He stood before her for a moment before taking a knee.
"You really were unbothered by all that weren't you?..." He muttered, standing up and falling onto the couch next to her.
He laid sprawled out, one leg on the couch and the other hanging off.
Slowly, he started circulating his kreus while his mind just wandered.
"Will this be my life?" He muttered, a small smile creeping onto his face while he looked at Reese's calm and unwavering face.
"I enjoy her presence... I could get used to this."
----------------------------------------