Chapter 13

[ There are two alternate endings to this chapter, once you read the chapter please vote in the poll to decide which choice the MC made. ]

-” Hey, you. “ I prodded the small imp, who was sleeping on the stone slab.

-” What! I dug my share alright… “ The imp answered instantly in a whining voice. -” Oh, it’s not him. “ It mumbled when it realized that I was the one who woke it. -” Go bother someone else! “ The imp grew defiant instantly and waved its thin arms threateningly.

-” I… “ I was taken aback by its hostility and reflexively started to apologize, my old habit of avoiding conflict resurfaced. -” I want you to answer my questions! “ I somehow forced myself to change my voice, giving it a threatening vibe. I felt a bit of pride at my achievement, but the imp haven’t yielded.

-” Bother someone else diwb! “ The imp shrunk back, but responded in a challenging manner, with the arms extended and showcasing the claws. Other imps looked at us curiously, though seemed declined to intervene.

-” Just answer my questio… “ I started, opting for a compromise.

-” No! “ The imp interrupted me instantly and let out a guttural growl, while exposing its needle like teeth menacingly.

I was surprised by its unrelenting stance, and a sliver of doubt appeared in my mind. -’ What if it’s stronger than it looks? ‘ Faced with fierce opponent I took another step back and noticed the onlooking imps, I could feel their estimating gazes and realized that if I showed weakness I wouldn’t be able to pressure any of them into answering my questions.

I looked at a dauntless imp in front of me and a shocking comparison appeared in my mind. -’ What if I did resist back then? ‘ I reminiscence of the time when two of my classmates forced me into running errands for them, because I was too scared to fight back and how it ultimately ended, with bullying and me quitting the school...

I banished the painful memory and looked around, noticing gazes of the surrounding imps. With a shiver of fear I realized that some of them were looking at the items that I had gotten from the Soul Keeper…

My gaze wandered back to the defiant imp, it somehow seemed bigger and more menacing than a moment ago, especially its claws that glistened with the reflected infernal fire. I could feel a chunk of ice appearing in my stomach, I realized that if I shown weakness then I would become prey to the onlooking imps.

Still uncertain, I crouched and extended my hands forward. My gaze wandered over straight and long claws, which seemed wickedly sharp. -’ I don’t want to be a pushover again! ‘ I voiced the resolve in my mind and forcefully stifled my doubts.

-” Aiiiiii!!! “ My shrill, desperate cry resounded loudly as I began my charge, despite my previous experiences with fighting I still couldn’t gather any courage, so I just forced myself to run at the imp.

-” Tssrss! “ The imp didn’t shrink back from my charge, instead, it opened its maw and hissed threateningly.

My fighting experience was meager and I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just pulled back my arm, wanting to swing it at the imp when I get close.

Before I had a chance to attack the imp it suddenly jumped at me!

I was still surprised when countless teeth dug painfully into my shoulder, while claws raked against my chest. Furious assault made me trip and we rolled on the floor, while the imp relentlessly bit, chewed, slashed and kicked at me. It was like trying to hug a big, raging cat.

In panic I tried to push the ball of teeth and claws away from me, but it was impossible, the teeth anchored themselves in my shoulder, like a pair of spiked vices or a bear trap! A memory of a time where a goblin stabbed me relentlessly appeared in my mind as a similar type of despair descended on me.

-” Argrrr! “ An uncontained, guttural cry of pain escaped from my mouth as the flesh gave way to opponent's claws and torment of countless injuries made me want to escape, hide away from the pain. My weakening arms futilely tried to push away the frenzied imp, despair gave way to hopelessness and I wished for the ordeal to end.

As if hearing my inner thoughts the opponent suddenly stopped for a moment, the momentary relief allowed me to look at the imp, a terror engulfed my very being when I realized that it stopped biting my shoulder to go for my throat.

A momentary thought appeared in my mind. -’ I don’t want to be like that… ‘ A lone complaint made me want to change something about myself, to stop being a loser.

The menacing jaws opened widely and descended on my throat. I watched the event as if it was happening in a slow motion, fear of death froze me with one continuous thought .

-’ I don’t want to die! ‘

-’ I don’t want to die! ‘

-’ I don’t want to die! ‘

-” I don’t want to… “ A desperate scream left my throat as my impotent arms finally registered my urgent commands and moved. Somehow I gripped the opponent's throat in time and stopped the snapping maw fraction of an inch from my own. -” ...die! “ I roared as I rolled to the side, getting on top of my opponent, paying no heed to its claws leaving deep gashes in my forearms and painfully hard kicks to my gut.

All my consciousness seemed to compress into a singular resolve, to survive, to kill the threat. -” Aughrhgh! “ A bestial sounds rang from my throat as my hand closed around things throat. I barely registered wetness on my other hand, as it methodically began swinging up and down, spraying black blood everywhere.

I was heedless of my surroundings, there was only the enemy in front of me, one that had to be obliterated no matter the cost. So I stabbed it again and again and again with my claws…

A light pat on my shoulder broke my trance and I lashed at the possible threat, my claws whizzing through the air. My effort was rewarded instantly, with a swift strike of the club that hit me across the face and sprawled me on the ground.

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I shook my head, still dizzy from the blow, and looked at the demon standing before me. I felt my sanity returning, making me realized that I was sprawled over ripped apart remains of the defiant imp and that the Overseer was the one who wielded the spiked club.

-” You with us again? “ The Overseer stated casually and rested the club on his shoulder, seeing that I wasn’t feral he continued. -” Good. I don’t mind my imps fighting each other, but I hope that you remember the rules… “

-” The rules? “ I repeated dully, still confused by what just happened.

-” Yes, rules! “ The Overseer affirmed and pointed his club at me. -” The killer has to do the loser’s share! “ The club traveled to the side, pointing at the remains. -” Now, get to eating and we are going to do some digging! “

-” What…? “ I asked weakly, refusing to accept the outrageous statement.

-” Don’t make me repeat myself! “ The Overseer exclaimed and his club whizzed in front of my face. -” Eat! “

Trying to disbelieve the reality I looked at the remains, noticing an insistent hunger growing in my very core, one which could hardly be denied. My eyes saw an agonizingly appetizing mist slowly wafting from the corpse. I tried to close my eyes, but it only made the mist all the more prominent and appealing.

[ Poll: Option 1 - It's wrong, do not eat that! ]

A wave of saliva appeared in my mouth and I almost jumped at the appetizing energy, but then a sudden memory struck me, of a  girl surrounded by the golden halo. -’ This is not me! This is wrong! ‘ A scream like thought froze me in my tracks and allowed me to stand up. I felt that I was going to lose something if I yielded.

-” No! “ I exclaimed defiantly.

-” What do you mean by a no? You want to get clubbed? “ The Overseer asked threateningly in surprise.

-” I am not going to eat! “ I stated with determination.

-” You stupid or something? “ The Overseer said reflexively and then continued matter-of-factly. -” Whatever, I hope you are not objecting to digging then? “ He whirled his club in a spiral, menacingly.

I almost shivered at the threat, but I somehow managed to stand my ground and state calmly. -” I will dig. “

-” Good choice. Come on. “ The Overseer gave out a satisfied grunt and urged me ahead. Most imps had a hungry look on their faces and were insistently looking at the remains, and as soon as I went away they rushed to the corpse and started consuming it with sickening sounds.

My gaze wandered around, noticing other, bigger, imps that didn’t bother rushing for a free meal, those looked at me curiously, their gazes were  different from previous evaluating glances.

I left the room and was led to a digging chamber… Suffice to say I spent there a lot of time, and I was on a verge of fainting from tiredness long before my shifts were over.

[ Poll: Option 2 - Anything for great power! Eat it! ]

Trying to disbelieve the reality I looked at the remains, noticing an insistent hunger growing in my very core, one which could hardly be denied. My eyes saw an agonizingly appetizing mist slowly wafting from the corpse. I tried to close my eyes, but it only made the mist all the more prominent and appealing.

A wave of saliva appeared in my mouth and I jumped at the appetizing energy, just as I was about to take a lick a sudden memory of a  girl surrounded by the golden halo struck me, making me hesitate. -’ This is...wrong? ‘ I froze reminiscing the recent events, wondering about who I was.

I shook my head, forcing the memory away. -’ I swore that I will change myself! ‘ I exclaimed my resolve in my mind and bent down to lick the sticky, awful substance.

The taste was fleeing, and I soon forgotten about it, marveling at a rush of energy coursing through my veins. Making me feel alive, making it seem like everything is possible.

Before I could comprehend what was happening the mist was no more, I consumed it all, but the hunger didn’t subside. On the contrary, the craving for more only grew stronger and I jumped at a thick, dark brown mist next to me.

Without warning I was thrown back, mindlessly, I jumped to my feet and tried again. To the same effect, something hard hit my head again and sprawled me on the floor. Few more blows followed and sudden rush of pain made me snap back.

-” Ai! Aiuuu! “ I exclaimed a pained protest.

The Overseer struck me again across my back and asked. -” You sane again? “

-” Yesss! “ I said quickly, shrinking at a sight of a club.

-” Good, let's go. Time to dig your share. “ Overseer said and motioned with his club, urging me ahead.

As I was leaving the chamber eyes of the imps were focused on me. When I looked at them small ones shrank away while the big ones looked at me directly, challengingly.

I left the room and was led to a digging chamber. After getting a pickaxe I started digging, easily breaking away chunks of the stone. -” Hm, remember that you have two shifts to do. Don’t slack. “ After a while the Overseer grunted with approval and left, seemingly satisfied.

I continued the task, marveling at a fleeing sensation of… mellowness that seemed to be just at the edge of my consciousness, but I couldn’t spare enough attention to explore it fully.

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Hey~, Author's here~

hope you liked today's chapter. I wonder what choice would you made considering that the humanity does not seem to be held in a high regard these days...

Cheers,

Mea

Ps Choose wisely.