Chapter 5

After listening to Lila’s story, it made me realise how frail and weak this girl really is, despite how strong she is physically but emotionally she’s a wreck. A heart so fragile that in order to protect her inner sanctuary, she’s willing to push everyone away so she doesn’t get hurt anymore.

But what can I do to save her, to make her come out of her shell, that maybe getting hurt is a risk she must take for her to finally become happy. Sure there are bumps on the road to happiness but in the end it will be worth it I guess? But what right do I have to say that to her?

Me a person so broken that even now, I can’t bring myself to trust anyone. I’m even scared to trust myself. I’m nothing but a monster unable to feel, all I can do is pretend. I want to help her, not because I want to but because doing so might heal me. Heal my empty heart.

I’m nothing but a selfish prick, doing everything for my own convenience. Uttering words of comfort that I don’t really mean will be like shitting on her resolve. She opened up to me, me a heartless monster. I guess all I can do is be by her side.

I held Lila tighter while she cried. 

All of the pain she felt she washed it away with her tears.

She sighed suddenly, her sobbing has stop slightly and she shuddered in my embrace and sigh again in contentment.

“Normally people would offer words of comfort you know” Lila whispered timidly.

“Well I’m sorry that I’m not Mr perfect” I retorted.

She shakes her head against my chest. “I don’t think I wanted to hear some anyway. Besides I don’t think it suits you, mumbling some half assed words of comfort”

“How would you even know, its half ass” I mumbled.

“Because, while listening to my story, you didn’t sound so surprise or saddened by what happened to me. It just feels like you’ve seen or heard stories that are the same or similar to mine that you couldn’t bring yourself to care anymore”

“That’s not all true.” I quietly said.

“It’s just. I don’t know when it happened but I lost the ability to empathise towards other people troubles and sufferings. After listening to their tragic story, I feel nothing. Empty, I feel empty and it scares me. All I can somehow care is myself. I’m a horrible person Lila. If someone gave me a choice, to sacrifice all the people in the world in order to save mine, I-I thi- think I’d chose my life over theirs.” I confess suddenly.

“Hey, I don’t think that’s true”

I looked at her in the eye and whispered in a defeated voice “How would you know? You don’t even know me Lila”.

“No but I trust you. It’s not that you can’t feel anything anymore Meruem. It’s just that, you close your heart to the suffering of the world. It still there, hidden deep within you.” She said while poking my chest with her finger as if to iterate her point.

“You might be right Lila” I smiled. “But what if you’re wrong. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. I’m sure there are other’s much better than me”

“You might be right, there are others better than you but are they better for me? Meruem”

“I-I I don’t know” I stammered, hanging my head.

Lila lifted my chin up using her hand and kissed me. My eyes widened in surprise at the softness of her lips. I could feel her sincerity in the way she felt about me through this kiss. I sigh deep in my heart and decided to take a gamble with the woman in front me. I guess our role has been reverse, it was supposed to be her that needs saving but instead I got saved instead. Oh what a twist of fate.

“Thanks” I whispered. After we broke off our passionate kiss. I rested my forehead on hers and sighed with contentment.

Suddenly Lila laughed. “I really would like to stay like this forever Meruem but we have an unexpected guess that would like to ruin our fun”

Bewildered I cast her a questioning look.

Her ears twitch. “Hmm I think that’s a Lion Bear that’s headed this way towards us. Don’t worry they are not that dangerous. I think they are only level 5, so I could defeat them in no time. Wait here.”

As she slowly stood up, my right hand shoot up and held her own. “Wait let me take care of it. I want to get strong. I need to earn my levels quickly Lila. Promise me you won’t interfere”

“I’ll think about it” Lila replied.

“Lila” I answered back like a whiny bitch.

“What level are you now Meruem?” she asked, slightly tilting her head upwards as if thinking about something difficult.

“Three” I said timidly, embarrass by my low level.

“Fine, but if you get in trouble, I’m saving your ass. GOT IT” she said seriously while looking at me with her deep blue eyes.

“Yes ma’am” I smiled.

First I need to check up stats first.

NameMeruemLevel3RaceHuman (Dark Child)TitleLila's LoverStatusGoodHealth10 (+500)Energy160Strength10Wisdom10 (+50)Speed10 (+300)Personal AbiltyChampion Posession

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So far it looks good. Wait I can see some new information. Let’s see.

“WHATTTTT??” I shouted in surprise.

Surprise at my sudden outburst. Lila held both of my arms and look at me with worried eyes, searching my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Ah nothing, don’t worry about it”

“Hmm sure” she replied, sceptical and still worried about me.

What do you mean Lila’s lover. Since when?

What the kiss?

I’m sure she don’t mean anything by it, maybe? Probably?

Arghh whatever, I can’t think about this now. I’m about to fight this Lion Bear monster that came to interrupt my fun.

Wait no, that doesn’t sound right. I was not having fun. Okay?

Let’s get that clear. I only did it because…. Because.

Was it really just for her sake?

Breaking me out of my thoughts was a loud roar as the monster broke out of the clearing and stood in its hind legs facing me.

The monster stood at 8 ft. tall and has the face of a lion, the body of bear and light yellow mane coiled around its neck. Its steel sharp teeth baring at me. Finally it stop standing and stood on all fours. Its sharp claws protruding out of his hands and feet.

Its stance looks like it was about to charge me and his mouth snarling while saliva was dripping out of it. The dribbles that hit the floor made a hissing sound and I gasped in alarm.

‘Shit don’t tell me, his saliva is acid. Yeah just my luck. Fuck me.’

Without waiting for any indication of an attack. I summoned Tibbers, my ultimate skill in Annie Form.

A portal out nowhere appeared and out came a gigantic bear, its height came around 9 ft. so Tibbers was taller than the monster. Its mouth full of metallic razor sharp teeth and it looks like its grinning. It has stitch mark on its chest down toward his belly. Tibbers was also envelop in molten fire and his eyes and mouth have flames coming out of it.

Honestly he looks pretty bad ass.

Is he stronger? That it’s the question.

‘Tibber’s stats reveal’ I invoke in my head.

Tibbers Health175Attack300Speed400

Ok I don’t think his stats is bad, maybe?

‘Shit that big ass Lion Bear is heading straight for us’

Panicking I shouted “Tibbers kick his ass. Show who’s the real alpha around this parts.”

“Careful of the Lion Bear’s air swipe attack” warned Lila in the side lines.

“Got it” I answered.

The Lion Bear seeing Tibbers as a threat bounded straight for him, The Lion Bear’s speed was unbelievable for a body its size. It almost feel like he wasn’t hindered by all those muscles. 

The Lion Bear tackled Tibbers and they both fell into the ground, both struggling to get a leverage on the opponent. But because the Lion Bear was a higher level compared to my summoned beast. He was quickly shredded repeatedly by the opponent using his potent claws empowered with its magical attack, called air swipe.

Three transparent claws would hover near his claws and fly towards my Tibbers, and that’s how Tibbers quickly lost his life.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Tibber’s!!! How could you, you monster. He was my friend. He didn’t do anything wrong!” I shouted in anger.

Surprise by my outburst the monster stop in its tracks and looked at me, bewildered by my strange antics.

Lila couldn’t help but stifle a giggle.

“I guess now you sealed your faith, beast. Prepare yourself. For I’m about to show you, why I’m called. Ripper of Faith” I smiled. This is it. This is my time. 

“First Skill: Disintegrate” I shouted. A fireball suddenly appeared in my hand and I hurled it immediately towards the beast.

My attack hit the beast but it merely just rubbed the part where the attack hit and grinned mischievously at me.

‘Well shit!!’

“Lila you’re dying like seal laughter is not helping” I complained at her.

“I can’t help it. HAHAHAHA. Because Lion Bears are immune to fire base attacks and you use a fire base attacks and and HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I can’t I’m dying, HAHAHA. And you tried to sound so cool too. HAHAHAHA NO Stop. Someone pls stop me. My stomach hurts. HAHAHA”

“Well fuck you too.” I said annoyed.

‘I’m fucked aren’t I?’