Chapter 20 - 20: Shadow Phantom Eminent

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 20: 𝕾𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖜 𝕻𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖔𝖒 𝕰𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖓𝖙

'Move! Move! Move! Move! Move!'

His body would not respond, no matter how hard he commanded it. He had just watched his mother die again and couldn't do a thing. He was truly pathetic.

'Help me Phantom!' He cried out as his only means of hope now.

{There is nothing I can do}

{Phantom}

Strength: 32

Agility: 15

Senses: 4

Stress: 100

Cursed Mana: 00

{You gave reached your limits and there is nothing left to do}

'Then heal me, can't you do that?' Hex was desperate.

{I can, but you lying here will be much safer. The dragon will think you are dead then when it's done we will be safe}

'You disgusting piece of trash, my mother just died in front of me and you are telling me this!' Hex snapped. 'I thought I was a coward but you're a bigger coward than I was! I hate you!'

{There is nothing I can do, I wasn't created to harm you}

'If you are not created to harm me, then why am I crying, why am I fucked up! For crying out loud I am feeling hell why can't you understand!' Hex's tears tripled as he had reached the point known as mental dilapidation. 'I am already dead inside, my heart my life from here on out is dark!'

'I thought of you as..... As.... As.... I thought of you as a brother, all my life I hid almost alone, had few to stand up for me and all to laugh at my failures, I was beaten, wounded, head smashed on the walls, dumped in a dumpster, kicked and spat at because I was weak.'

'You took that all away from me! I was having so much fun with you before I realized you were a cowardly, dickhead!'

Hex bit his lips once more, causing the blood to worsen; the misery he had within was indescribable. 'After hearing all I have to say can you say you haven't harmed me?'

For a while, the Phantom had no notification bars; maybe it was not sure how to respond. But soon enough it replied.

{No, I am not a person}

{I am unable to empathize like you do}

{You are correct. I am somewhat of a system.}

{I make you stronger, to protect my existence and yours}

{Maybe you deserve more; you were given another chance at life, but it was not to battle these dragons on an equal footing.}

{I would like to give you a chance against my progam, to empower you! Do you accept?}

"Give me the fucking power!"

//Stars//

The dragon marched slowly to the woman lying in the floor barely clinging to life.

The shard dragon would have gotten to her much earlier but this was the type of dragon it was, a slow but dangerous type. Soon enough it would get it's meal.

"Hey big oaf, who said I was fucking done shoving your ass to hell!"

The dragon paused it footsteps a new energy had swelled into the vicinity.

It turned to see Hex encircled by dense, purple wisps of smoke. He had an old and sinister countenance.

He was hungry for blood now!

The dragon gaped wide, sending several shards flying at Hex.

Fwooosh!

Hex analyzed every shard that came his way. Thanks to the Phantom he was back to his feet but it came at a cost.

He had to completely destroy his left hand converting it to Mana for usage. While his stress was still at hundred.

As a result, even standing caused him to feel an agonizing strain, as if a massive weight had been put on his back.

"I will send your corpse to hell!" Hex screamed throwing his right first and pairing every shard with a punch. As his fist collided with the shard, it effortlessly shattered them into dust.

"You fucking old sack!" Hex stomped his foot into the ground, driving himself forward with incredible speed while smashing any shards that came his way.

The dragon's expression was filled with terror and amazement. Never had it feasted it's eyes upon a being this powerful.

'Run faster, ignore all the pain, get close and punch it's head off!' Hex recited to himself as his mantra.

Swooosh!

The dragon ceased its assault, whirling and pushing its tail toward Hex.

"You think I will fall for that!" Hex does not dodge; instead, he uses his cursed Mana and newly discovered power. Wrapping both hands around the tail. He tugged on it hard, ripping it from the dragon's ass, causing blood to shower everywhere.

RIEECCCHHK!!!

The dragon cried out in pain stumbling back after this sudden attack. This was no longer the man it faced before.

The dragon opened its mouth again to fire its shards, but it was too late; Hex had already soared into the air, his hand stretched out for the punch of a lifetime.

Splooooosssh!

As his fist struck the dragon's face, the power and Mana completely obliterated it's huge skull. Turning it into blood, with fragments of flesh flying everywhere.

Bumf!

Hex was all that remained standing when the dragon's body crashed to the ground.

{Phantom absorption}

'I did it, I killed the dragon and owned revenge!" As his gaze returned to his mother, Hex's eyes welled up with tears.

She was still alive, observing him with eyes full of hope and contentment.

He was still a child, yet his behavior mirrored that of an adult.

{Is Master Hex satisfied now?}

Hex nodded eagerly in response to the Phantom's query. 'You said you didn't have a name right, how about Shadow Phantom?'

{Yes, I would very much like that obvious name}

{Shadow Phantom}

Finally won against the Cursed Dragon! Mission accomplished!

𝕻𝖍𝖆n𝖙𝖔𝖒 𝟐𝟎