Even after that showing, and their newfound confidence, the results from the remaining victims was disappointing. Every last one of them was killed as they couldn't properly control the power and would transform into that mindless, frenzied drone.
To be completely honest, I had also hoped that at least one of them was capable of following her example. When an Anti-Light member eagerly stepped on to the platform to try his turn, I was relieved. I was sure to get more results from them rather than basic civilians.
After two more hours, with the first rays of sunlight threatening to peak over the horizon, I could safely say, I was thoroughly exhausted. Out of the 200 between the Anti-Light and captured civilians, only nine were able to retain my power. I, personally, felt disappointed in those low numbers at first, but then I quickly got over it once I remembered this was unprecedented. The fact that I got any was a miracle in itself.
I turned to leave in order to consume my ever nagging hunger, but was stopped when I noticed a kneeling Gerald on the platform. Surely he doesn't plan....
"My lord, if you'll permit me, could I, too, have your power as well?" He asks.
I start to decline his offer until I think about it for a second. He was the strongest of all the members, but with this new development, the others were sure to outclass him. Plus, I wanted to see what would happen if someone his power tried to obtain my power.
I turn to his kneeling body, and I prepare myself to do this one more time. My tongue darts out, stabbing him and starts the process. As he is a different stature of the others, I don't hold back, pouring quite a bit of mana into him, much that far surpasses the others. My intent is that even if he should turn into a frenzied version, I would keep it alive until it was much more reasonable, as he was too valuable to kill.
However, what came next surprised me. His own mana welcomed my own, combining in unity. Then, it greedily starts to sap my mana further. Interested, I oblige, feeding him even more. While I was focused on him, unbeknownst to me, a calamity was happening around us.
The very air around us began to become violate as the dark shadows began to surround him. Thunderclouds overhead begin to form, threatening to strike us down. The world itself shimmered, as it recognized a threat.
All of this went ignored as he continued what he did with Gerald. He noticed that as he continued to pour his mana into Gerald, that his body not once threatened to bubble. Then, his instincts told him to stop, as he paused feeding him mana and backed off.
In doing so, everything seemed to calm down as Gerald collapsed on the ground. He stepped back, watching Gerald for any changes, but it seemed like he was unconscious. He momentarily pondered on why he felt the need to stop until he felt it. A hunger so great it wracked his entire body with pain.
His hunger was so great, it blinded him. He could feel himself drifting off to be no different from the mindless beasts he put down today. In an effort to not make everything he did for the past hours pointless; he threw open a Kumon back to the demon realm. With my mana all spent up, my mind blanks out.
I come back to mid-swallow as my mind refocuses. The events of the past hour came back to me, as I was just a mad being intent on consumption. It mattered not who I came across, as they were all just means of food. Whether they were Archdemons, demons or even imps. Overall, he could say that he consumed around hundreds of demons and Archdemons. Interestingly enough, he even consumed something greater.
Those three Demon Lords he had no choice but to run from prior encountered him again. Only this time, he stayed and fought them as he had no reasoning. He remembered as he ignored their attacks and abilities, brute forcing his way until he somehow got a hold of one. Their faces of absolute horror as he consumed their companion in front of them. The massive boost in power helped him alleviate his hunger and give him the necessary strength to capture the second of the two, causing the last one to flee.
Once he was half-way through swallowing the Demon Lord, did he regain control. It was the first time I lost control of myself over hunger, and I was planning on making it my last. I was never going to get low enough on mana to reach that point again. I shouldn't be here when the other Demon Lord returns, or he'll no doubt have reinforcements.
I focus on the planet where the Anti-Light were, and pray that this works, before activating Kumon. Sure enough, I step right back on to the platform where the ritual originally took place. I immediately notice that a podium has been erected in the spot where I'm standing. Many members of the Anti- Light were already prostrate in front of it.
My sudden appearance only increased their devotion. I ignore them as their prayers have no meaning to me, but I feel a massive presence approaching me. To my pleasure, it was Gerald, followed by the young black-haired girl, who curiously didn't exhibit a presence at all.
They kneel before me, as I await what they have to say.
"Lord Nidhogg, you grace us with your presence once more. We are honored." Gerald says. Contrary to how I first felt, this was getting to be more annoying the more he continued like this, but I could tolerate it until I felt like addressing it. But now, I had other concerns.
"Where are the others?" I ask him.
"They are still slumbering. I apologize on their behalf." He says holding his head down further.
"Don't bother, it just shows the difference between everyone." I say as I look to the young girl. She flinches under my gaze, but I don't fault her, this is probably her first time actually seeing me.
"And you are?" I ask as I never bothered to get their names before as they were most likely dead from the experimentation and therefore not worth remembering.
Being sensitive to emotions, I can feel her nervousness, however, it wasn't close to being fear. So she manages to speak clearly in front of me, "My name and will are whatever you want my lord."
I pause at her words. I can control myself as I chuckle at her words. "You're smart, young one. You speak and act older than what you really are." I respond actually impressed with her.
"Thank you, Lord Nidhogg." She says, kneeling further.
"As for your name, you shall be known as... Lenatti." It was the name of one of my victims in my past life. The only one I killed that didn't look like my parents. Her boyfriend looked like my father, and she tried to get in my way as I attempted to leave the scene. I pushed her out of the way and her head struck the cement a little too hard. This girl resembled her, in both her boldness towards me and her hair. Hopefully, she doesn't suffer the same fate as the last Lenatti.
"Thank you. I will not bring shame on this name that you have gifted me." I nod as I scan over everyone present. I wasn't one to like repeating myself, so I decided to wait till the others wake up before putting up the next issue.
"Now, have you figured out what you can do?" I ask them, curious to hear what they can do.
Gerald proudly stands, "Yes, as if instilled in our very beings, our powers and what we can do was known to us as soon as we woke. So far, both me and Lenatti here are capable of manipulating the souls in everything around us. We can use it enhance our own strength, or magic. Apparently, what differentiates us, is when we have an object that we especially have a bond with, which allows us to fully bring out the power you've given us." He explains.
Fully bring out the power of manipulating souls? That had a ring to it.
"From this point forward, you guys are to be known as Fullbringers." I announce to everyone. "Now, what is your object that you have a bond with and the power you gain from it?" I ask turning to Lenatti.
"My teddy bear. Once I extract the soul from it, he transforms into a ten-foot bear which activates my ability Spread Fear. Any who lay eyes on him, are invoked with fear. Those who are feared can be controlled by me." She explains.
"Quite impressive. Although from your explanation, I can already tell you that you will need to train yourself as it will be clear to target you instead of your teddy bear. You can't solely rely on him for protection." I advise her.
"Yes, I will train intensely." She says falling back.
"And you?" I ask Gerald.
He smiles proudly, "At present, I do not have an object bound to me, and have instead found immense pleasure and pride in my powers that were bestowed on me through my belief in you. Therefore, they have granted me the ability Through Him All Things Are Capable. By stating my belief in you, I can make anything possible." He explains.
I'm sorry. What.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask.
"I think it's better to show you." He says, as his mana flares. "I believe that through my lord, it is now nighttime." He shouts into the air. No sooner than speaking those words, does the sun immediately darken and transform into the moon. Crickets begin chirping around us as the world grows dark.
I look back at him in disbelief. His power was wayyyyyy better than my own.
"I...impressive." Which is all I can manage to say in response to his actions.
"Through my lord, I believe it's back to being day again." He says with a bow, returning the sun back into the sky. "I will say that his requires a lot of mana. So, I doubt I can do this more than three times at present." He admits.
Holding back my jealously at the fact that he could even do it once, I decide it's better to not ever address his attitude towards me. If these two are like this, I could only imagine what the others were like.