"While you were dilly-dallying, my talented self just acquired an ability."
How else could he hit on Kerioth's reverse scale if not by talking about talent? It was his mistake not really knowing who Kerioth really was years ago, but the current encounter made him sure of one thing.
Kerioth was nothing but an insecure bully, a psychopath who wants to drag down people who are ahead of him, an individual drowned by envy.
Most of the humans identified who got converted as demons share the same despicable dispositions.
Apparently, these converted humans are considered great demon resources.
Though normally weak, humans are still the most advantaged of all other creatures.
Humans may not be living mana like the dragons; they neither have the long-lasting beauty, wisdom, and affinity with nature as the elves nor do they have the first-class craftsmanship of the dwarves. Even they fail when it comes to the physical strengths of beastmen and orcs.
But for some unknown reason, humans are the closest to the divine. They are each given a talent and the Guardian's divine providence. This gave them the growth ticket to develop rapidly.
In terms of vessels, they are the weakest but also the most basic. These vessels can easily adapt to whichever power they are forced to contain, especially with mana, which is the basic energy of all life forms.
This is the so-called preferential balance of the universe. In some ways, it was no wonder the other races were resentful.
However, when things go well and with due cooperation, the demonic race is capable of converting these blessed humans into their own. It was like, and as easy as, transferring from one religion to another.
The weak but adaptable vessel could contain several forms of power.
Just by renunciating one's world and signing a contract with demons in the name of their own Guardian and being subjected to their Malice, humans could acquire power beyond a normal degree. In some cases, this means multiplying their own strength tenfold or more.
And that's what happened to the enemy in front of him—as with all others like him, Kerioth is both a traitor to humankind and to the world, Lohiya.
Nonetheless, though changing one's affiliation is a piece of cake, demonization still requires a tedious process due to the innate limitations of the human body.
It's total rocket science; the basic phase involves cell reconstruction. Evolving comes with a price, and it is evolution because the process is gradual.
For humans who are adaptable to malice, mana, or any kind of power, the required process takes a little less than two years. But ---
"I guess talent is a prerequisite, even for those who call for desperate measures. Kerioth, my ability is to see one's flaw; isn't that very like me? That's why I know now."
"…"
"You are incomplete, Kerioth."
He made sure to stress every single word loudly, enough for everyone in the vicinity to hear. His smile grew wider as Kerioth's eyes narrowed.
"You're a partially-done, second-rate, half-human with a crappy mana core! You are even weaker than the ones under you! Even if I am still human, my value remains higher. Why is that?"
He cannot determine one's strength, of course, but no one would know he's bluffing unless they could read minds.
The equation of a perfect lie is truth plus falsehood multiplied by the coefficient called one's reputation. It is optional but totally recommended to add a fine mix of exaggeration, threat, and excellent acting, like how one does phishing.
Based on Kerioth's current facial expression and how cold the surroundings became due to the scary aura, it seemed that either the truth or his reputation were extremely high.
Of course, he expected torture as a reward for his provocations, but he didn't loosen his lips without a plan either.
"Keuk --!"
A barrage of attacks hit him in multiple places and in such quick succession that he didn't have time to even make a sound. While covering his head with the remaining working arm, he also continued to run his mouth.
"You've crossed the line, Argus."
"Hah, urgh! T-the truth only needs to take one step if the line is short."
"You really want to die?"
"Better do it fast while your so-called subordinates haven't put our worth on a scale yet."
"You think I'm afraid of what the dogs do?"
Kerioth was released and then betrayed Lohiya a year after the Abyss appeared.
During that time, ability users were rare. And with Kerioth being a no-name and commanding only a platoon of demons, it could be inferred that he was converted before he could have received a blessing. If he had, he would have been equal to the likes of Khansach Raz, who was said to have climbed the demon nobility right from the get-go.
As guided by his ability, one of his plans is to stir the surrounding demons to weigh his and Kerioth's usefulness, or at least make them think that keeping him alive would eventually be a good card for them.
If he were somehow converted, he would be able to retain his abilities, and he'd become a valuable asset.
Of course, he wasn't putting all his stake on the chance that the demons would be smart enough to consider it; after all, he has keenly told Kerioth there's no way in hell he will get converted.
But that little talk was enough for Kerioth to get closer to the position he wanted him to be in, though his physical body had to pay the price.
"Grahhh!"
Just when he thought that he had already gotten used to the pain of having one arm disjointed and hanging, his left knee was stomped hard, turning it into a figure that is bad for the kids to look at.
"Heuk, heuk ---."
Kerioth, whose irritation seemed to dwindle, smirked when he continued to crawl forward with only an arm and leg, as if retreating.
"Is it your plan to put a wedge between me and my dogs, so they'd think you are more beneficial to keep than me?"
"Hak --"
"Hahahaha! Did prison reduce your cognitive function to this, Argus?"
"…"
"I commend you for trying; well, I guess you're not really wrong; I am indeed incomplete. But it's common knowledge in the demon realm that conversion takes time for some. Unlike them, demon dogs, the extent of my power is just a matter of time. So even if they know, what can they do about it?"
Kerioth's smile went wider and more ominous. Talking to him, who hasn't paid a tiny bit of attention, must have been so boring that Kerioth had to grab his hair and raise him off the ground.
Gravity took a huge toll on his arm and leg, which dangled lifelessly from his body.
"Grahhhh!"
"You think they'll prefer a greenhorn like you just for a trivial ability? They may be insignificant beings, Argus, but they have a keen sense of dominance and authority."
He talked about their weight in usefulness, but of course he would not even tip the scale against Kerioth, who is in his third year as a demon.
The fact was obvious, yet he carried on with the taunts just for the opportunity he was aiming for.
Through gritted teeth, he struggled to say his last response.
"T-to be h-honest? N-not really. Heh."
Kerioth's eyebrows narrowed, but the displeasure was instantly wiped away as he got startled by his next actions.
Using his working hand, he activated the flare stuck on his belt and pointed it right towards Kerioth's face.
Bang!
The red flare exploded on Kerioth's head and entirely covered it with dust and smoke.
There's no way it would do any physical damage to Kerioth, but it was enough for him to get distracted and be in the position he has been directing Kerioth to all along.
The useless talks and little stunts obstructed Kerioth's vigilance towards his surroundings.
His remaining strength was used to issue the request.
"Do it, sir!"
Click. Boom!
He felt the air on his side waver as a tiny yet dangerous object went swooshing past towards the inattentive Kerioth.
The bullet eventually hit the spot, which was Kerioth's largest flaw. Everything went according to his plans based on the clues given by his ability.
"Arghh!"
He was thrown helplessly and couldn't help but howl in agony when his doll-like body hit the ground. But the sound he made was drowned out by Kerioth's dreadful bellowing, whose eyes and mouth both opened wide, looking at the perfect hole in his torso.
It was the first time in three years that Kerioth felt and expressed such terrible anguish; the process of absorbing the demon's malice wouldn't even compare.
"GRAHHHHH!"
Meanwhile, he was lying down, finally feeling the exhaustion that he was doing his best not to mind. He somehow moved his head to the side and caught the eyes of the person who pulled the trigger at his signal.
"Crazy kid."
"Heh, good job, sir."
He cheekily mumbled to his smiling team leader, who had just regained consciousness.