Sly watched as the Elven prisoners grouped up around each other, facing both him and the three beasts. He snorted in amusement “Can’t trust me huh? It’s okay, I wouldn’t trust me either.” He studied the three lions as they snarled towards the Elves before turning towards him, a lone snack was easier than fighting a pack.
He grimaced and glanced up at Satan “Some fucking welcome.” Aura engulfed his body as his armour appeared, blades of aura formed in his two large hands and half a dozen more held up by tendrils of Aura. He inspected one of them.
Greymane [Level 89]
Sly shouted out in challenge causing the three beasts to charge, they moved to surround him but he didn’t stand still either. He charged them with an [Aura Surge] causing him to crash into the beast in the middle, aura violently blasted out from his armour as he came out of the movement skill sending the beast flying backwards.
The Greymane to his left leapt up at him with claws ready and fangs bared, quickly turning around he swatted the beast out of the air with his back blades sending the now bloody beast flying off towards the Elven prisoners.
The third beast charged under his guard and bit down on his right leg causing him to lose balance, Sly fell crashing back into the ground as the Greymane let go of his leg and pounced to stand on top of him. His swords met the beasts claws as it tried to claw at his chest, each side pushing at the other in a battle of strength.
Sly willed his back blades to lunge at the beast from multiple sides but it saw the attack coming and leapt away and out of range, he tried to stand but the first Greymane returned by pouncing to his left and biting down onto his left arm. The third beast leapt back onto his chest pushing away his packmate to get the first bite.
Sly willed his back blades to stab into the beast pulling on his left arm getting a hit on it’s neck, torso and back. The Greymane roared out in pain but only pulled harder on the [Aurei Armour] causing tears to appear on the solid Aura. Sly tried hard to push off the one on top of him with his legs while holding it’s head back with his right hand and it’s claws tied up with his remaining back blades but the beast just wouldn’t back off.
The sound of cracking reverberated through the field as the Greymane tore off Sly’s left Aurei arm revealing his actual one, the Aura dissipating the moment it got disconnected from the main body. Sly tried to regenerate it but the Greymane was faster, quickly it clawed away at his arm causing him no small amount of agony as the large claws sunk deep into his flesh.
Sly shouted out in pain as he pushed off the Greymane that held him down, he turned and stabbed at the one to his left with his back blades but it only leapt away and out of reach. He moved his back blades defensively trying to keep the beasts away as he regenerated his left Aurei arm but his actual was damaged to the point where he could barely move it anymore.
“The hell is with these things? They’re too fast for their level!” Sly declared as he studied the agile Greymanes while they snarled at his blades, swatting them aside with their claws before another joined in trying to keep them back.
One of them though was lacking in it’s previous speed, the wounds dealt to it and the bleeding they caused left it slow. Sly noticed this and immediately made an opening for himself, with a single [Aurei Charge] he sent the unhurt Greymane flying back before turning to block the other.
The hurt beast lunged with it’s claws as Sly appeared out of his ability but he was ready, using his back blades to parry it’s claws and entangle it’s legs he charged it with his working right arm and stabbed his Aurei blade deep into it’s chest. The beast gave out one last snarl before falling to the ground dead.
Sighing in relief Sly was about to turn around to face the other only to feel a sudden heavy weight on his back, the beast had snuck up behind him and leapt to his back. It held on tightly with it’s claws while biting down onto his back blades, it ripped them off two by one by three before Sly could retaliate with them.
“God damn fucker! Get! Off!” cursed Sly as he turned around trying to shake the heavy beast off him. The Greymane held on and bit down onto his armour’s headless torso, slowly ripping off the chunk it held in it’s jaws and revealing Sly’s head.
The beast snarled and bit down at his head only to whine in pain, Sly had [Aurei Surge]d backwards and into one of the gates breaking many of the beast’s bones. Quickly he reached back with his good arm and grabbed hold of the Greymane’s lower jaw, the beast bit down on his Aurei hand in natural response but it’s grip had loosened from the damage it had taken.
Sly pulled the beast off his back and slammed it down to the ground in front of himself, he held on to this lower jaw even tightening his grip as he stepped to it’s side while it trashed and clawed away trying to pull away and stand up. He stomped down with his left foot onto it’s neck causing it’s trashing to intensify.
Aura flowed to his hand regenerating what the beast bit away as he pulled with all his might, it’s cries and whines of agony were followed by the crunching of bone and tearing of flesh as Sly broke off it’s lower jaw. He threw it aside and watched as the beast shook with shock while thrashing on the ground, he briefly stepped back while summoning a blade in his right hand.
With a quick and well timed lunge he stabbed into it’s head killing it on the spot, it’s body going limp and falling bloodily to the ground. Sly stepped back and collected his scattered breathing while studying the situation, the last Greymane was surrounded by the Elves while three of them kept watch on him.
They confused the beast by clattering their sword and shield together while surrounding it, causing it to snarl and turn on the spot not sure as to what to do.
Sly studied the situation, neither could attack without taking heavy damage. The Greymane was too massive for them to get too close to and the beast couldn’t just charge through without taking severe damage to it’s legs. It was a stalemate.
Sly thought of what to do now, attack the Elves while he could or help them slay the beast?
He glanced up at Satan and the others around him, each watching him attentively. It was obvious to Sly what they expected him to do, to take advantage of the stalemate and devastate the Elven prisoners.
Sly chuckled to himself (“What’s the point? This is too much damn effort, what do I gain from killing these badly fed soldiers wearing scrap?”) he took a deep breath and stepped forward, each step growing longer and longer before he leapt up into the air. With sword in hand he surged down onto the beast sending it’s body crashing into the ground, his sword deep inside it’s back.
The Greymane whined and snarled as it tried to claw at the ground with it’s front paws, it’s spine was shattered from the attack causing it’s lower body to go limp. Sly tried to pull his sword out but it was stuck on something causing the creature no small amount of agony. Grimacing at the extra effort he dissipated the sword and summoned another, the Greymane had crawled away a few feet by then.
Sly stalked over to stand above it again then stabbed down into it’s head killing the beast, he then rose back up and glanced around. He was surrounded by Elven warriors, skin and bone from malnourishment and wearing scrap armour and rusted weaponry. Twenty six out of the twenty eight remained, the beast having killed off two as they tried to surround it.
Sly saw the hatred in their eyes, he was a Devilling himself after all. They stood around him with shields ready and swords held tight, he could feel the fear and anger on them with his aura. Only one question went through their mind, who would he choose to kill first?
Sly snorted “Well? Is that all you’ve got? Pathetic.” His words confused many of them where they should have angered them, he had released his [Aurei Armour] and wasn’t looking at them but instead up at Satan himself. “What’s the point of this? Why do I need to go through the change? What’s your business if I don’t want to take the risk?” he shouted out with a mana imbued voice.
Satan had sat back down in his throne, he watched with narrow eyes while leaned forward. “You are a descendant of Wrath, you are a Devilling in both body and soul. Even if you have been raised in different ways I shall not accept your foolishness, to allow you to throw away such a chance! To become a Devil is to be reborn as your true self! To become who you are meant to be! You should be honoured to have that chance no matter how slim!” he slammed his fist down onto his throne’s armrest causing the stone to shatter.
Sly flinched at the sudden wave of aura but held his ground “Accept?” he chuckled coldly while staring down at his hands “What is there to accept?” he spoke now barely a whisper unheard by anybody else but himself.
“Take up arms Zeokul! Break away from that disguise you hold on so tightly to!” Satan shouted causing the crowd to cheer, calling out for him to slay the prisoners.
Sly lowered his arms as two daggers appeared out of his sleeves and into his hands “Zeokul?...Who is Zeokul?...” he continued to speak to himself.
“Maybe you require more incentive?” asked Satan as he waved a gesture, a couple more gates opened allowing in a dozen more prisoners. “Well Zeokul? What will you do? I have prisons full of scum to send your way, will you fight and accept the change or will you die a miserable death?”
Sly didn’t respond, he stood frozen still.
Satan sighed “If you don’t attack they will…They will be going free if they survive the whole day after all…” he reminded the prisoners making many of them wake up from their daze. Multiple Elves charged forward with shields ahead and swords ready, still surrounding Sly they lunged at him with their rusty blades.
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Author: Let the games begin! Mhuahahahaha!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9RqWEEuNw
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(“Admit it boy, you need my help.”) said Kali in Sly’s head as he spun around to parry multiple swords with his daggers, each Elf being more experienced that him in combat yet his raw strength shattered their rusty weapons forcing them to back off but more Elves moved in following their comrade’s initiative.
“Accept the gift I offer you Zeokul! Release yourself of your doubt, let your instincts take over!” exclaimed Satan as a thin almost invisible dark purple smoke began form around his throne, it slowly moved down through the coliseum and into the field.
The Elves didn’t notice the smoke until it was too late but it didn’t seem to do anything to them, although they still backed away from fighting as that registered in their minds. Giving Sly some breathing room.
Sly could only back away so far from the thin smoke as it engulfed him, his eyes began to water as he tried to hold his breath.
(“That is miasma little fool, breath it in, feel it as your mind blanks out of all empathy and love only to be filled by bloodlust and hatred! Give in to your change and become the monster that you are! Or would you rather die? The weapon is in your hands, what will you do?”) Kali continued to speak in Sly’s mind
Sly continued to hold his breath as he felt his legs waver.
(“Will you choose your bloodline? Will you choose your own dignity? Or will you choose your friends? Accept my help Hero, become the undoing of these vile beings and I shall aid you in your quest to better this world.”) said Kali as her voice became hazy.
Sly couldn’t hold on any longer and took a deep breath, midway he stopped himself but it was too little too late. The haziness in his mind immediately cleared as the miasma entered his body, he felt power coursing through his veins.
“Do you feel it Zeokul? The power coursing through you? That is only a taste of what you could achieve! Accept the change! Risk it and become the Devil you’re supposed to be!” exclaimed Satan with a wide grin as he watched.
The Elves calmed down as they noticed that the miasma didn’t affect them, they steeled themselves and advanced.
(“What do you hope to achieve Hero? To be destroyed by the change? To die by the hands of these forgotten? Use the power I gave you, deny the change and become the monster. With the end of the Dezol will come peace, for the Dezol to end you require to accept me. What will you do?”) Kali continued to pester him.
Sly empowered by the miasma became several times faster, he bobbed and weaved around the prisoners. His daggers clashed with shattering swords and shields, pierced makeshift armour and met flesh.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“That’s it my boy! Let go of your fear! Fight with all you have! Let your instincts guide you, don’t matter where your blade lands as long as it does!” Satan rose from his seat, he watched in excitement as the battle truly began.
Kali chuckled in his mind (“Let go of your fear? Oh little Hero but isn’t fear all you have? Fear of death itself? Is that not why you still fight? Why do you have to endure it any longer? Allow me to aid you, accept my gifts and be free of your fear. The power I offer you is holy, it’s nature right. Smite down these accursed beings with it and all will be well!”)
Sly grinded his teeth as he continued to clash with the Elves, a whirlwind of blood and death. He tried to ignore their words, he tried to shut out their voices as he fought to survive.
“What holds you back my boy? Is it fear? I sense it in you! Are you such a coward? Will you allow fear to determine who you are!?” Satan declared as his voice boomed throughout the cavern, the entire sentence echoed through.
But a single word repeated itself inside Sly’s mind (“Coward…coward…”) he thought to himself, the very fibre of his being trembling as he faced death left and right.
(“Are you a coward? You are aren’t you? You cannot take the risk of going through something like the change, it is just not you. You don’t fight because you enjoy it, no you no longer do. The fear of death without another chance…you reek of it.”) Kali’s voice grew louder as Sly fought, surrounded by enemies left and right, in and out. He felt like he was losing his mind.
“Coward…” said Sly after dispatching two more Elves “What do you know?”.
(“I know all there is to know about you, my Chosen.”) replied Kali.
Satan chuckled “You are my blood, I know you as if I was looking at myself! Trust me Zeokul, you will thank me later for this!” he grinned as he watched Sly near the last straw of his sanity.
Evading to the left Sly slashed open a prisoner’s throat, continuing into a spin he slashed away two blades as they lunged at him before coming to a stop to parry a third. He chuckled coldly “No…No you don’t…You know nothing about me, I grow tired of this!” he exclaimed loudly while slashing the blade aside, he lunged at the prisoner stabbing him several times in the chest before kicking him aside.
(“You have no choice, it is either risk death or becoming a dog through the change…Or join me. How difficult is it to choose?”) asked Kali with a chuckle.
Sly took in heavy breaths as he stood staring up at the cavern’s ceiling, suddenly he shouted out expanding all his Aura in a single cry. His Aura surged out from his body like an explosion, it crashed into the prisoners surrounding him and carried them with until slamming them into the coliseum’s walls.
The attack did little but push them away, the prisoners quickly rose back up and began to re-approach his position. Having already abandoned themselves to their deaths, even those who lost their weapons or where already injured, fearlessly they charged the single warrior.
Sly watched with awe as the maddened prisoners charged at him like a tidal wave, he grimaced at their ability to accept what he could not. Like a lump of cement in his chest his fear kept him from accepting what he was, from accepting what he needed to become.
(“This is your last chance Hero, agree to my terms or die a fools death. You cannot defeat all these suicidal Elves alone, you will not survive the change either. Accept it or die.”) Kali gave her ultimatum.
Satan opened his mouth to speak but a sinister chuckle left him speechless, Sly laughed wholeheartedly as the Elves halted their charge disturbed by it.
“Fine! You leave me no other choice then!? I’ll do it! I’ll fucking do it!” He grinned madly but he couldn’t hide the fear, yet he had to ignore it.
(“Then do it, you know what to do. Allow them to bring you to near death then activate your power! The change will be denied but you mustn’t worry! The power I shall imbue you with, you will slay them all! The entire continent of Ruk will disappear before you!”) Kali exclaimed, the Goddess of destruction’s tone ecstatic.
Sly’s eyes widened with amusement as his laugh lowered to a cold snicker, his skin began to crack as violet lines of bright light formed all over his body. Seeing this the Elves continued their charge, each one ready to die if it meant saving any of their comrades.
Sly took a deep unending breath as he took in the miasma, he sucked it in causing the field to clear almost instantly. (“You misunderstand me, I told you already…You don’t know me.”) his grin widened as Kali screamed curses in his mind, he chuckled “I’ve had enough…I accept my fate.” with his sanity having snapped Sly ignored his fear entirely and let go.
As he fell to his knees he asked himself (“What would they think of me if I died here? ”). Miasma suddenly began to ooze out of the cracks on his skin, it engulfed him before thickening then solidifying.
Satan raised his hand willing his Aura into the field, each prisoner was crushed to the ground from the pressure he created. He stepped forward then jumped off, landing at the bottom surrounded by Elves held down by his Aura. He walked forward and approached what was left of Sly, a large smooth sphere of dark purple.
Satan smirked “He accepted it.” he announced causing the crowd to break their silence and cheer louder than ever before “Now let us see what will emerge, another hound for the stables or a Devil for the legion?”. He placed his right hand over the sphere and surrounded it with his Aura “I will speed up the process but the end result…It is all up to him.”
Guards swarmed into the field carrying away the prisoners as Satan stood by the sphere of solid miasma, it began to pulse bright violet light. Like a heart it began to beat, visibly pulsating with light and audibly making the sound.
Satan lowered his hand as the sphere suddenly burst into smoke, the miasma spreading back all over the field. The crowd began to slam down their feet, they waited expectantly while making a chorus of sound. Satan sent out a burst of his aura instantly clearing the field and revealing himself and what else lay within.
“What is your name?” Satan asked.
With shoulder long dark purple hair, pitch black eyes with violet slits and light violet skin the being looked up at him and grinned revealing rows of black fangs. “Zeokul.” He replied with glee, a whole foot taller than before with a pair of long black horns coming out of his forehead and curling back. A pair of leathery wings had burst out from his back and through his armour, almost three times his own width, their limbs black and netting a bright violet.
Zeokul reached back and stretched back his leg armour releasing the tail within, a long thin black tail ending in a violet arrow-head shape.
Satan gestured at him “How do you feel?” he asked.
Zeokul smirked “Your sales pitch was horrible but I feel great, better than great actually!” he announced while stretched out his arms (“I am in the mood for a good spar...Is it weird that I already want to beat something up?”) he then thought.
Satan opened his arms wide “And so here he stands! A newborn Devil of the legion of Wrath!” he exclaimed causing the crowd to cheer yet again.
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Barik
Devil’s Eye, Blood Pack Dungeon Base.
Kyle followed Skill into the main hall with Lilior sitting on his head, she quickly grew tired of walking and announced that specific spot as her personal perch. Birse sat above his throne discussing something with Cherry, Steph and Seren and some others on the VCDs they held.
“Yo.” Greeted Kyle as they approached them.
Birse looked up from the VCD in his hand, he glanced at Kyle then at Lilior “That Lilior?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Replied Kyle.
“Yup!” replied Lilior.
“I guessed, how did that happen?” Birse then asked.
“You guessed!? How the fuck did you guess that!?” exclaimed Skill in frustration.
Birse glanced at him briefly “Should your fragile mind catch a glimpse of my own then help you gods.”
“Eh, short story is she used the mana in her core and made herself a body. Up side she can travel with me now, down side I don’t think we can respawn at her anymore.” explained Kyle.
Birse groaned in frustration “Great, just what we needed. We’ve got other problems at hand right now too…” he handed Kyle the VCD.
Kyle took it and looked through “Who’s on the other side?”
“It’s me.” said Death “And unless we come up with a plan, we’re fucked.” On the other side of the footage being shown were five Drakes and their riders surrounding many hundred warriors both Esfeltian and Dezol.
“You can say that again.” said Seren as she showed the footage on her VCD “This is CH’s view at Carn.” The same thing was happening at Carn’s spawn point, several Drakes and their riders surrounding hundreds of terrified soldiers from both sides.
“So as we feared they too are affected by the grand quest…” Kyle sighed “Then why didn’t the giant Ram demon or the Lesser Demons respawn?” he asked while glancing between the two devices.
“My guess is that they’re too dumb to be considered for it, they’re more beast like than us so the quest doesn’t regard them.” Birse explained.
“Makes sense, so what do we do now?” Kyle asked.
Everyone’s gaze turned to him “We were hoping you could finally explain what that creature was that killed them before.” said Cherry.
“Ah…” Kyle chuckled awkwardly, he told them what happened, he told them the whole story. Kyle told them about the Nogitsune, about his family and how it affecting all of them. He told them about the Gods and their plan, about the Avatar and it’s power.
Birse whistled “Dayum that’s some baggage, shit no wonder you locked yourself away. You aight now though?”
“Yeah, sort of. Getting over something like that…well time is of the essence, so let’s not waste it on that crap. Got any plans on how to deal with the Empire?” asked Kyle dismissing the conversation.
Birse leaned back in his throne “Not really…With Dagon temporary gone and by that I mean gone for a few years at least, that leaves Lucifer, Legion and Lilith capable to fight a Drake. That’s what Lucifer said at least, so that makes it what? Twelve versus three? I don’t like those chances and neither did he.” He sighed in exasperation “Speaking about Lucifer we should probably report in, maybe he’s got a plan or something.”
“I’ll go back to checking Lilior’s new abilities, fill me in on the details alright?” said Kyle as he turned to head back to the core room.
“Yeah good idea, we’ll keep watch.” Replied Seren while waving the VCD in her hand.
“Please don’t change form again! I don’t think my mind can take it!” declared Skill as they walked away.
“Hmph! I change form however I please!” was Lilior’s response as they turned into a side doorway taking to the core room, large metal doors laying wide open.
Kyle snorted “When’d you get this sassy?”
Lilior turned back around as her wings shone through the room giving it light “Does master disapprove? Those ‘anime’ things master Sly showed me had many that speak like this in them, is it not normal?” she asked.
“Speak however you like, won’t bother me.” said Kyle as he opened her character window “Now let’s see what your other skills can do.”
“Okay!” replied Lilior as she laid down on his head with arms crossed under her chin.
Name: [Lilior]
Level: 124
[HP: 200/200] [MP: 3300/3300]
Race: ({Ascended} Fae) – (Slime)
Class: [Living Dungeon] - [{Slime} Shapeshifter]
Shared Passives: [Slime Body], [Monster Core], [Devour]
Shared Actives: [Ooze], [Surge], [Absorb]
Racial Passives: [Ascendant]
Racial Actives: [Dazzle]
Class Passives: [Dungeon Domain], [Fae Wings], [Copy]
Class Actives: [Summon minion], [Fae Blessings], [Shapeshift]
“Here I’ll open up the shared skills for you to read through while I read your new ones.” said Kyle as he willed the skill details to open then willed to share them with her making them disappear from his line of sight. “Guess I’ll continue where I left off.” He began going through the remainder of her skills.
[Dazzle] (Set skill stats): Intensify the brightness of your wings blinding your enemies and dealing magic damage to Undead, Unholy and Dark beings.
Blindness duration: 8 seconds
Light damage: Master’s INT + 40
Cooldown: 350 seconds
Kyle shrugged at the simple skill “Short duration but would be effective as a distraction, the damage isn’t bad either.”
[Dungeon Domain] ((EXP 0%) Level 1 – Tier 1): Summon a crystal core through concentrating your mana and imbue it with your will creating a Dungeon Crystal. These cores aren’t sentient and will only follow commands given by the summoner, they will however naturally regenerate their mana and will be capable of doing anything a normal Dungeon can.
Cast time: 5 minutes.
Mana per crystal: 1200
Summon limit: 1
Kyle read the skill once, twice then thrice before speaking, his eyes wide and grin in full view “Hey Lilior read this, we need to test this first. If I’m right then we can use these as respawn points as we use to use your core!”
Lilior glanced over the skill “Hhmm, it sure looks that way. All I would need to do is tell it to focus on your souls while in range and gather them once they leave the bodies, the process of copying your bodies from soul memory happens on it’s own by the quest itself, if I don’t tell it to capture the soul that is.”
“This also means we don’t have to lump around a huge core to move our base of operations.” He sighed in relief then moved on to the next skill.
[Fae Wings] (Set skill stats):
Your wings are affected by [Shapeshift] twice as quickly as any other part of your body due to their make.
Your flight speed is determined by mana output allowed, there is no cap to this but you will lose your ability to fly if you run out of mana.
“There’s your flight ability, maybe you can weaponize that shapeshift buff on your wings?” asked Kyle.
“That would be weird…I like it.” responded Lilior.
[Copy] ((EXP 0%) Level 1 – Tier 1): Through touch you can shape shift into the being or object you have touched down to the very material.
Cast time: 60 seconds
Cost: 10 mana per second
Shift will fall apart if you run out of mana.
“Look at this one, this can be useful in emergencies and covert shit.” Said Kyle as he skimmed through the skill.
“Covert…dung?...” asked Lilior in confusion.
“Ah…No I meant…Nevermind.” Kyle dismissed with an awkward smile.
[Summon minion] ((EXP 0%) Level 1 – Tier 1): Monsters absorbed by [Dungeon Domain] are summonable through this skill.
Minion limit: 10 (Small), 5 (Medium), 3 (Large), 0 (Massive)
Available summons: X
“This is an interesting one too, seems like there is a limit to size difference between minions though. I wonder if it’s altogether or each?” Kyle murmured to himself.
[Fae Blessings] (Set Skill stats): The natural Fae chants to imbue a being with one of the elemental blessings.
Blessings:
Wind; Increase targets movement speed by 50%
Fire; Increase target’s STR by 10%
Earth; Increase target’s VIT by 10%
Water; Heal 35% of targets health and hide debuffs for 4 minutes.
Each blessing has a cooldown of 10 minutes
Different blessings can be present on a single target
Blessings can affect multiple targets at the cost of more mana.
Cost: 200 mana per cast (+100 mana per target).
“Lilior…You can increase my STR and VIT?....since when?...” Kyle asked as he read the skill.
“Since forever master but I don’t like the chants, Earth is dumb and Fire sounds weird!” exclaimed Lilior.
“The chants are set?” he then asked.
“No but I couldn’t come up with anything better…” she replied with an awkward smile.
Kyle sighed “That’s…You’re…Okay…” he held his face and rubbed his forehead in defeat “Let’s…let’s just move on to testing [Dungeon Domain], you done reading those?”
“Yeap!” she replied while raising her right arm up into the air.
“Alright then, let’s see what this can do!” he declared while pointing towards the centre of the room, a few awkward moments passed “Lilior?....”
“Yes master?...” she asked while looking down at him.
“That was your cue…” he said while lowering his arm.
“Oh…”