"You see, those people with pitch-black eyes were demonic humans."
"And you said that they kidnapped your friend, right?"
Dahlia nodded.
Doron continued, "Then, is your friend a child like you?"
Seeing her nod again, Doron sighed and said, "Then I'm sure. There's only one reason whenever demonic humans kidnap children- it's to nurture suicide soldiers."
Dahlia stopped herself from crying and stared straight at Doron.
Scratching his bald head, Doron had a difficult expression on his face.
"Hmmm, where do I start?"
Seeing Dahlia's determined eyes, Doron spoke slowly, "I can sense aura from you. So you must be aware of mana, right?"
"You see, aura and mana are the types of energies that a mortal can handle. However, there are also other types of energies."
"They are at a much higher level, only able to be utilized by higher beings."
"Divine power which only Gods and Angels could utilize."
"Demonic power which only Devils and Demons could utilize."
"Divine power…? Demonic power…?" Dahlia muttered absentmindedly as she continued listening to Doron.
"Demonic power is a kind of energy that can only be utilized by higher beings. Although a mortal could utilize them, it was not without repercussions."
"Repercussions?" Dahlia asked.
Doron nodded and continued, speaking as gently as possible, "Mortals like humans when forcibly fed pure demonic power, would lose control of themselves and turn into crazy creatures who endlessly crave for blood."
"The reason why demonic humans kidnapped children was to nurture them into suicide soldiers. Children still have a lot of life force since they are still young, feeding them pure demonic power would cause their strength to rapidly rise in exchange for the hastened depletion of their life force."
'Then they would be used to initiate a war… Those wretched demonic humans must be planning something again.' Doron's eyes flashed with hatred.
"Hic…"
Hearing Doron's words was enough for Dahlia to realize just what situation Regis was in.
Doron snapped out of his thoughts and caressed Dahlia's hair.
"Hey, don't worry. We still have time, okay?"
"You're friend must've been really brave. Did he sacrifice himself for you?"
Dahlia nodded as she cried helplessly.
Doron smiled and said, "Then he must've really loved you."
Dahlia paused, peeking at Doron through the gaps of her fingers.
"R-Really?"
Doron giggled, "Of course! Why else would he have sacrificed himself? Of course, he loves you!"
"This is precisely the reason why you need to gather yourself. Fortunately, I'm a warrior. I could train you so we could go and save your friend!"
Although he said that, Doron knew that once a human was forcibly fed pure demonic power, there would be no way out for them.
However, he also knew that telling her that would only lead to her breaking at that moment.
***
'Perfect Adaptation, huh…'
Laying on the ground, Regis closed and opened his hands repeatedly.
After all the children awakened demonic power, they were led into tents that served as their residences.
There were about ten children per tent.
Regis looked around, observing the children he was with.
All of them were already sleeping soundly.
'Strange…'
Regis thought.
Even though every child collapsed instantly upon arriving in their tents, he did not feel tired at all.
In fact, he even felt energized especially with every complete circulation of the demonic power throughout his body from his heart.
Although he knew of demonic power from fairy tales, his understanding of it was only rudimentary.
A power used by demons.
That was all he knew.
'Although I don't know the specifics, I'm sure that everything that's happening is because of my gift…'
[Perfect Adaptation]
A gift that was a mystery to him.
'Anyways, there's no use in thinking too much. I'll just see how it goes.'
Regis thought as he closed his eyes.
He did not really have any difficulties sleeping since this tent was way better than the ones he slept in back in the slums.
***
The next day…
'Shit…'
Regis thought as he looked at the old lady that was tied up before him.
He felt as if he underestimated the demonic human's camp.
Or maybe the gift he awakened distracted him from his bitter reality.
Either way, he was not sure.
However, as he looked at the scene before him, he realized just what situation he was in.
Behind the old lady was a table with a mountain of bread on it.
"Before you can have your meal, you must kill the person in front of you."
The demonic human leader's voice sounded.
Bawrrrr—
Feeling his stomach rumbling, Regis swallowed subconsciously.
'Am I really going to do this?'
He asked himself deep inside his heart.
Although he was born in the slums and had seen lots of injustice since his birth, killing another human being was another matter altogether.
After all, stealing was the most evil thing he did back in the slums.
His hand trembled as sweat drenched his back.
Ba-dump! Ba-dump!!
The noises of his heartbeat deafened him.
He subconsciously took a step back.
Pat—
"Kid, take another step back and your head will be sent flying."
A demonic human in black clothes threatened as he pushed Regis towards the tied-up old lady.
Feeling overwhelmed by everything that was happening around him, along with the hunger that relentlessly assaulted his whole being, Regis picked up the dagger on the ground.
Regis did not know what to do, so he just rushed towards the old lady.
"Arghhhh!"
He screamed as he closed his eyes tightly, afraid to face his reality.
However, as he neared the old lady, he could not help but take a peek.
He was able to see the expression in the old lady's eyes.
Even though she was tied up and gagged, her eyes seemed to be telling him something.
It was not eyes that were filled with fear, nor was it eyes filled with anger.
It was gentleness.
Looking into her eyes, Regis trembled.
The panic that was covering his entire being slowly subsided as his mind cleared up a little bit.
After a short while, he was able to slowly calm down.
He slowly lowered the dagger in his hand.
Turning around, Regis walked towards the demonic human who threatened him earlier.