“Hou~ He’s not half bad, that No 17”

The Demon General, Altrock Zoltive commented, watching as ‘No 17’ the test subject for the re creation of the Maou. The roll he pulled off to negate damage was quite good, considering that the No 17 didn’t have much combat experience.

General Altrock, the Scarred Executioner, as he was popularly known, was a big man, with a huge and beefy figure. His rippling muscles were barely held in by the latex like cloth covering his forearms. He wore a big and bulky armor, which was crimson red in color. His long black hair was let loose, and his clear blue eyes stared directly at No 17, as if not wanting to let him out his sight. His face was filled with scars, new and old, which would make anyone cringe in fear. An appearance worthy to be called as the General of a Demon army.

“Ou… Quite smart. To lay back and observe rather than attack like an idiot. But there’s some conflict in his movement.. like something’s interfering.”

The battle expert commented, gazing at No 17’s instinctual movements. He cocks an eye towards Augustus, indicating his involvement.

“I merely gave him some basics on how to fight. Just like the No 18”

The Professor muttered, his eyes facing down. Most were subservient in front of this person, who dominated the battlefield with sheer strength and charisma. Even the Professor wouldn’t want to offend someone so strong.

“Like No 18? Although from what I can see, No 18’s movements are smooth, as if it were pre programmed. He was waiting for an attack. Waiting. “

He put extra emphasis on the word, in order to question Augustus. Augustus looked down, grinding his teeth. Of course, he had given No 17 the orders to rush straight in, so that No 18 could do a perfect counter and win. He didn’t want No 17 to win, even if it meant denying the revival of Ascalon. The hatred Augustus held for the humans was so great, that he didn’t want the result of a human project to influence the demons. An irremovable mistrust, that had taken root in his heart.

Altrock continued to watch the fight, intrigued about how No 17 fought.

“Haha! Now that’s how you do it! To think he would use a more lethal choke to get rid of the constraint… But, what was that Augustus ? Did you interfere?”

Altrock questioned Augustus yet again, because suddenly, No 17’s face had contorted in pain. But, even Augustus was surprised, and staring intently at the match, leaving the question unanswered. Chuckling, Altrock turned his attention back to the match.

“There it is again. He clutched his head, as if he were in pain. Oh~to! No 18 moved in. The match is over.”

Altrock spoke so, getting up from the seat he had occupied.

No 17 crashed against the one way mirror that hid their room, and bright shards shot off into every direction. Altrock fixed his eyes on the boy, whose eyes swept across the room, until stopping on the woman with blonde hair.

And then, berserk took effect.

Altrock, who had been in countless battles, had seen the effect of berserk more than a few times. The blackening of the sclera, and the reddening of the iris. A nostalgic scene. Altrock sighed, disappointed that such a great talent had been lost.

And, for the first time in years, Altrock was surprised. He noticed something different about the boy. The edges of his left eye were being encroached by the curse that had taken root in him. The iris had spots of red on them, but not red.

“Incomplete… berserk?”

The words from the Professor confirmed Altrock’s suspicions. This boy, he was truly a gem!

Wha-what?! What am I doing?

My consciousness snapped back, and I looked around wildly. For some reason, my entire body felt painful, especially my chest. I looked around wildly, trying to find where I was.

It was a bright room. The walls and the floor reflected a bright light. On the floor, countless shards of glass were scattered, glittering like diamonds.

Where am I?!

My head hurts. It feels like it’s splitting. Sensing some people, I look around, and see them.

A person, wearing red armor, with long black hair. The moment I saw him, terror struck me. My lungs felt like they were going to burst. I couldn’t breathe. What an oppressive aura. But, my eyes moved, drawn in by that waving blonde hair.

Kill her.

The voice resounded in my head, echoing again and again.

Why? Why should I kill her!?

Just kill her. It’ll be all right.

What’ll be alright?! Who is she?! What am I doing here?! Where am I ?! Who am I?!

I noticed something black flowing out of my body. From the pores of my skin, the fumes rose, and I could feel it. It was like a part of me, as if I had expanded like the gas.

I struggled to keep the aura within me, as I argued with that voice. That voice knows something, my intuition told me. What, I don’t know.

I don't know... I don't know anything... Uaaak!

Kill the woman. All shall be alright.

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Urgh…!!

My right eye hurts. My vision is turning red. Something like sand is blowing across my eye, blocking it. It was at the corner of my eyesight, but bit by bit it was growing, threatening to envelop my eye completely.

I clutched at my eye, and the voice got more garbled. More inhumane.

Kill. Tear. Eat. Blood good. Flesh tasty.

Just kill? Will it be all right?

Kill her. Didn’t you give everything for that?

The voice replied, sounding clearer than ever. That’s right. It’s her fault. I just need to ki-

Why?

“Uaaaaagghh!”

The moment I questioned it, my head felt like it was split open. The pain was unbearable, like something was being weeded out from the center of my head.

It hurts.. The pain...Make it go away....

Kill. The pain will go away.

It will?

Just kill.

I looked forward, and half of my vision had turned red. In front of me, someone stood. Black hair, red eyes. He was running towards me, leaking killing intent. He wanted to kill me.

An enemy.

Kill.

Annoying.

The thoughts crossed my minds, as my hands tore into his chest.  He screamed, but my mind did not register it. My mind was fixated on the beautiful red liquid flowing out of his chest. I plunged both my hands in to his chest, and tore it open. The blood spurted out, drenching my face. It felt good, killing. It gives me peace of mind.

That’s right. Hate. Kill. Everything for Killing. Hatred shall help you.

Yes.. The voice is right. I just need to kill. The voice has already disappeared. I pierced through the white cage, and curled my fingers around the beating flesh. It was so fragile.

I crushed it, and pulled it out. He looked at me, his expression warped with agony.

Why? Why did I kill him?

“Kuak!”

The pain bloomed again.My head roared in pain, and the voice barraged me continuously, reminding me.

 I only need to kill. Hate everything.

But whom should I kill?

 The woman?

 The man?

The green guy?

Isn’t it simple?

Kill everyone.

I thought that, and my body exploded.

***********************

“Dispel Barrier”

Itsuki watched, as the air shimmered. He gasped, when a pure white building, that looked like a white box appeared, in the middle of the forest. Seemingly out of nowhere.

“What a strong illusion barrier. I had to use up one of my mana crystals”

Sstia spoke, opening her palm and showing the broken remains of a blue crystal. She heaved a sigh and turned towards the building.

“The demons are cooped up here, without doubt.”

“The trail vanishes here, so I concur”

Ssriel and Ssral agreed, and Itsuki stepped forwards, to enter the demon’s hideout.

Then, it happened.

Cracks spread across the surface of the white box, covering it almost entirely. Something trying to come out, Ssral thought. And come out it did.

Thick black tendrils burst out of the cracks, and out of the ground, like a geyser, they waved in the air, releasing a deadly atmosphere, and stiffened suddenly. Itsuki and the draconians jumped back, wary from the sudden change.

The tendrils split up into smaller ones, and embedded itself onto the surface where it came through.

Then, with a mighty heave, the entire earth and the box broke apart, swirling in a vortex. The ground before them became a whirlpool, with the mud and earth swirling around. Then, suddenly, everything broke free, and the blocks flew away into the distance. Itsuki sliced apart the blocks of white stone that came at him, guarding the draconians.

The dust swirled around, hiding the huge hole that opened up due to the tendrils. Four figures dashed out, and landed on the opposite side of the hole, watching passively.

“Demons…”

Ssriel spoke, utilizing his skill, Eagle eyes. But true terror would befall them at the existence that appeared from the dustcloud.

A boy stood there.  He looked to be of about 14 years in age. His long black hair waved around, in the dust. And clearly visible were his odd pair of eye. One that was like a blazing fire, the other that of a berserker’s. A pitch black sclera with crimson red iris. His shoulders and arms were stained with patches of black skin, ad around him, swirled a maelstrom of black miasma, one that would make even a draconian flinch.

He looked up, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

“Kill”