Inside the circular space the black smoke made was bright. Inside that small space stood Night in the middle standing firm on the ground which had also turned dark like the black smoke. The sound of Night's calm breathing was all that could be heard.
Eyes closed, Night tried to feel any changes in his body as Rafael imbued itself in Night's soul. To his surprise, there were no apparent changes in his body. And it remained that way as the bright light faded.
"What is that supposed to be for?"
With an eyebrow raised, Night looked down on his hands and activated his mana perception only to be disappointed after seeing the same amount of inner mana he had.
[Master, I have finally become one with you.]
Night almost jumped after hearing a sudden child-like voice in his head.
"W-who?"
He did not even bother to look around because after the light disappeared his surroundings have turned pitch black that made it impossible for him to see anything.
[It's Rafael, master. After becoming one with you I can finally converse with you without any kind of skills needed.]
A jolly tone and a cheerful voice made Night look up at nothing and thought to himself:
'Did I make the right decision?'
[You are so bad, master! After finally being one with you, master is not the least bit happy?]
"Nope. Not at all. And can you stop saying that you became one with me?"
Night scratched the back of his head after Rafael grumbled because of his words. He did not know why, but he somehow unintentionally pictured a child-looking Rafael pouting and huffing at him.
Night, stopped his movements after seeing the black smoke starting to dissipate into nothingness.
"Oh, it's finally lifted-"
Night didn't manage to finish his sentence.
"Shit."
He took a few steps back and cursed. A Chaos creature was standing a few feet in front of him.
The Chaos creature which had its eyes gleaming with excitement and at the same time showing him extreme hostility and distaste was a python.
Looking at the python, Night couldn't help but frown at the monster with a snake head and a body of a lizard. The python hissed and Night narrowed his eyes as his frown deepened. Both of the two beings were showing overt distaste toward the other.
Rafael has not said anything ever since their conversation ended quiet bad earlier.
Night, who had no chance in winning in a fight with a python as he was a newly created Legion a few minutes ago, had his chances of surviving become lower as he had no weapons in hand.
'Uhm... Rafael? I need help?'
Uncertain with his decision, Night had asked Rafael for her help.
Night only spoke to her in his mind, careful not to do anything that could lead the python to attack him.
[You have no weapons in your inventory, master. However, you have something that can help you fight that python.]
It took a few moments for Rafael to respond, but it was enough to bring a slight relief in Night's mind.
'Yeah, which is?'
Clenching his fist, Night slowly bent his knees. He felt like he already knew the answer.
[It's something that ordinary humans do not have.]
Something that ordinary humans don't possess. At that moment, the sides of Night's lips rose. The thousand lights have started to flow in Night's body. From his center core, his inner mana flowed to his lower core and helped his body become reinforced with mana.
Night was an augmenter.
The python flinched after realizing that something have changed in Night. The surrounding air started to feel hot and there were barely visible white smoke flowing out of his body. Night's stance was now lower than when he was standing peacefully earlier.
'It's hot!'
Night's body was hot. He felt like he was boiling inside. The inner mana which reinforced his body was hot as if it had been boiled before.
Night gritted his teeth.
'It's damn hot. But it's bearable.'
A smirk appeared in Night's face through his gritted teeth.
He might be feeling as if his body was on fire, but he wasn't actually burning. No, in fact, he was burning with strength overflowing in his body.
The python hissed at Night again before silence befell between them. The sound of the cold night breeze and the distant howls of Chaos creatures along with the occasional crickets of the insects made the area not as eerie as it actually was.
The python's legs bulged and the ground beneath its feet started to dug a hole. Night didn't let this small change slip past him. And before the python could lunge at him, Night had already dashed forward.
The python did not expect Night to take the initiative as it flinched right before unleashing the power it was mustering in it's legs.
The monster's plan to lunge at Night changed into dodging the attack coming from him. But with a swift movement, Night had followed the path the python had dodged to.
He had predicted the direction where the python would dodge and because of that it gave him an advantage.
With his eyes locked on his opponent, Night clenched his fist tighter than he ever did in his whole life and without any hesitation he pounded the python in its face as it hissed at him.
After his fist came in contact with the python's face, it flew several meters away.
"Eh?"
Night, who landed on his feet with perfect balance looked at the python with eyes filled with surprise. His black hair was swaying with the wind caused behind his powerful punch. And the sound of the python's body thudding on the ground several times before landing made the dried leaves and twigs snap and crunch.
Night looked at his loosened fist, then back at the python, which was having a hard time standing back up. It was dizzy after receiving such a punch from the face.
However, it still managed to stand in its feet after recovering for a few seconds.
"I knew it. There is no way it will be that easy."
A little disappointed, Night raised his clenched fist and narrowed his eyes on his opponent.
This time, the python was the first to launch an attack. With a lizard's special characteristic – the ability to briefly speed up to its prey – the python bared its teeth at Night.
Night knew that he would receive an injury if he ever got bitten by the python, but his mind was telling him to guard rather than evade. Following his instict, Night took a step back, feinting the enemy that he was going to evade, but he swiftly changed his stance the moment before the python could successfully land an attack on him.
His arms raised to protect his head, the python swung its tail at Night and hit his arms.
The impact behind the python's attack made Night take a few steps back.
Night did not let the python have its time to be surprised that its plan to make Night fall for its feint of biting him have failed and immediately dashed towards it.
The python flinched from Night's fast and sudden movements and quickly tried to evade any incoming attacks, but it was too late for it to dodge.
Night slammed his palm on the python's head and made it fall to the ground to its back and with fluid movements, Night circulated more mana in his fists and started to treat the python as his exclusive first punching bag.
The python resisted and tried to scratch Night with its claws using its four limbs, but Night made sure not to give it the leisure to do so as he grabbed each of the python's front legs and gripped it hard before ripping it off the python's body.
Blood splurted on the ground and some even stained Night's already dirty rags as he continued to make the python unable to move.
A few minutes had passed and Night was still pounding his fists on the python.
[Master.]
The python's body was lifelessly lying on the bloody ground with no movements except for occassional twitching.
[Master!]
Night snapped out of himself and stopped his fist midair.
[It's already dead.]
Rafael informed. A tab appeared and floated in the air right after Rafael spoke in Night's mind.
[Congratulations in killing a Disaster rank Chaos creature: Python. Rewards will be given after the assessment!]
Night took a deep breath and got off of the python's dead body. Night's body tilted to the side and fell to the ground.
[Master! Are you alright?!]
Rafael's concerned voice rang in Night's head.
Night covered his face with his arm as his hands were covered in monster's blood. a minute passed and Night started chuckling to himself.
[Ma-master?]
Rafael called out cautiously, scared that Night might have lost his mind.
Fortunately, Night was still sane as he breathe a sigh of relief after laughing to the point of tears welling up in the sides of his eyes.
"I did it! I killed a Chaos creature!"
With a gleaming face Night punched upward to the night sky with a bright smile on his face.
[Uhm, master. Please don't talk too loud. You might attract other monsters nearby.]
Rafael reminded him and Night sat up without caring too much about Rafael's concern.
"Give me my rewards."
Night raised his hand with his palm facing the dark sky. And a second later his reward appeared in the air and fell to his hand.
It was a small box enough to fit a wristwatch inside.
'It's not actually a wristwatch inside, right?'
Night opened the box and with a golden light briefly lighting the area up before disappearing and the small box in Night's hand was now replaced with a short sword.
[Since, you don't have a weapon. I think a short sword for a reward is quite a good one.]
Night stared at the short sword for few moments before his eyes flew to the tab which appeared next to it.
[Item: Short sword
Rank: A
Description: A short sword owned by a man of great honor. It is said to bring luck to people who are bound to it.]
Night blinked several times at the tab before switching his gaze to the short sword in his hand.
'My first weapon is quite good?'