"what the fuc-"
...
(Vance Pov)
Before I could finish my sentence a snap of a twig behind me alerts me of someone or something's presence.I immediately stand up and turn around to see a bear standing on its back feet showing its height of 8 feet.The bear had grey fur all around except on his belly where there was black fur with ferocious teeth that were so long that they escaped from the bears mouth.
The bear looked down on me then a roar so loud that the trees shook came from its mouth.Usually I would run but I felt I needed this battle as if the power inside me was trying to escape its confines.
So I did something stupid I ran towards the bear my capabilities were increased but I knew for sure my strength wasn't more than the bears yet I still ran towards it.Just as I began to regret trusting my instincts something happened the surroundings turned grey and the bear that was just one foot in front of me slowed down.
Even though I was confused I was not one to care for the means and started attacking the bear while dodging the extremely slow attacks from the bear.Though I soon realized that my sword wasn't doing any damage I also felt something draining out of me the longer this grey environment lasted.Realizing I was on a timer I tried even harder but still the weapon was doing no damage.
Soon I realized that the sin of sloth elongated his nails to use as a weapon so I tried to do the same I imagined what I wanted to happen.After a minute of just dodging and focusing I felt my nails elongate and sharpen. I immediately tried to slash at the bear, I thought I missed because I didn't feel anything but when I looked back the bears top half of the body was on floor.
I felt something wet fall onto my arms and looked down it was blood, raining from the fountain that was the bears bottom half of the body.After I cleaned up I realized that my strength increased so I tested everything I could think of stamina,speed,dexterity and even intelligence and everything was better than it was before.
I decided to go to sleep for tonight and think about what I am going to do tomorrow, I ate the bear for dinner yes the whole thing and slept.
The next day when I woke up I felt stronger again so I did the tests again and my abilities has increased again not as much as when I killed the bear but still enough to notice.I decided I would train my abilities until I felt comfortable with them.
... one year later...
Throughout this year I realized I could control anythings speed even concepts like time, either slowing it down or speeding it up or even completely stopping it.Of course stopping something completely is extremely hard for example I could slow down time but I can't stop it because the concept is extremely difficult to even touch let alone stop.
My strength also received a boost this year not only from hunting for dinner but sleeping.I slept as soon as I was done doing whatever I was doing either it be practicing control for the energy I use for spells or hunting.
'I wonder what rank I belong to now?' there were ranks for every demon who received a blessing form a sin.The ranks went like this:
-Dreg
-demonling
-true demon
-arch demon
-devil
Dregs are any demon that received a blessing every demon was at this level.Demonlings are demons who practiced their sin all the time any demon could reach this level as long as they were dedicated to their practice they were usually foot soldiers.
True demons were when they started to actually be strong enough to have a say in things true demons could destroy buildings with all their strength this was also when getting stronger required talent rather than just effort.Arch demons were terrifying beings who could fight an army if they pushed themselves as hard as they could.
Devils were practically deities they could choose whether to destroy your kingdom at anytime they wanted.One punch could destroy cities, one full powered strike could destroy a kingdom.
Based on my power I would say I was about a true demon in strength.When I finished thinking about this I exited the forest and saw what used to be a dirt road turned into a stone path.I knew things would change but wasn't this a little too much?They built a whole new road within a year a stone one too.
I shrugged and started walking down the path but before I could take even ten steps I sensed an ambush ahead assuming it was bandits I sighed 'Somethings never change.' and started walking forward.When I was right in front of the people on the road they jumped out and surrounded me " give me all your mon-" one man started but before he could finish his head hit the floor along with all of his friends.
I felt a liquid fall on my arm but I didn't need to look down to know what it was 'This seems to be familiar haha' I chuckled while walking.Leaving the pond of blood for someone else of course I searched them but couldn't find anything of value except their swords.
Sigh 'Now I need to clean up again I really need to find a way to keep clean while fighting.' As I was thinking this I saw giant stone walls with a gothic theme at the end of the path.'I hope there are baths in the town I could use.'
As I was walking toward the town I sensed a single cart coming up the path behind me and decided I would talk to this person about what happened in the year I was gone.