Albedo handed Luke the recording and ordered him to bring Jin to his domain. Seeing all the officers collapse made Luke skeptical at first. After all, these were awakened individuals, either at starting silver rank or peak bronze rank.
"Can I do anything infront of such powerful awakened? I can't even go past level 8."
Luke questioned Albedo's order, feeling as though he had nearly lost all his confidence. After years of training, this was all he had achieved. It felt like he had reached his limit.
"That's exactly why, I am sending you."
Albedo fondled on his head.
"The meaning of leveling is to understand yourself more. That is the way to reach 'Harmony'. You have lost your way, child. But I believe that you may found your own way in this."
****************
"Jin, you entered the human realm through the gate without permission. For that I am giving you two options. Either you came with me without resisting, or I will take you back forcefully."
"But that's not me." Jin said with confidence.
"What do you mean, it's not you? The face is the same."
"Hay, first look at my spiritual energy output. Then deside for yourself."
"Your spiritual energy output.... Alright."
Luke pulled a device from his pocket—a single lens. He carefully placed it over his right eye.
"Your spiritual energy is.....What!? It's only 48."
Luke was stunned by Jin's spiritual energy output. Even those awakened with the weakest soul purity had an output of over 100, but Jin's was simply unbelievable.
'He may not be the target. But he has red eyes.' Luke glanced at the spiritual energy reading machine, 'No. It must be someone else. I mean his spiritual energy output is'
"Too low!" he mistakenly talked aloud.
"Excuse me! So what if my spiritual energy output is a little low." Jin busted with anger.
"Sorry, but it's more than a little low. Like it's the lowest."
Luck laughed unintentionally.
'Is this punk trying to pissed me off?'
Luke immediately controlled his laughter.
"So.....Hm... about your answer, I think I made a mistake...?"
"An answer... Take me if you can."
"What?"
Jin put his hands in his pockets.
"I am not gonna use my hands in this fight. If you can force me to use my hands, you win. I will go with you."
Jin's statements pissed Luke off.
'This 48, think to highly of himself. Maybe I can play for a bit.'
"So, that is the rules. Don't you think you are in the disadvantage."
"Hahaaa..Oh don't warry, you are too weak for that."
'That's it ! Now I may go a little further then intended.'
Luke unleashed a highly dense spiritual energy, sending a powerful air current sweeping in all directions.
'Although his spiritual energy output is in 100k, his control is sloppy.'
"Now that you are the weak one here, the first move is your." Jin taunted.
[Demonic Arts:Aspect of the Devil, demon's eye]
Luke's eyes transformed, glowing with a sinister, demonic light as his focus sharpened. His gaze pierced through the physical, locking onto Jin's very soul. It was as if he could see beyond the surface, into the depths of Jin's essence, searching for any trace of weakness or hidden power. The intensity of his stare carried a weight that felt almost oppressive, as though Luke's demonic energy was reaching out, grasping at the core of Jin's being.
'Ah...T-This felling....is it fear. So that's demonic energy.'
Jin's breath became ragged, each inhale labored as if the air itself had thickened around him. His pupils were wide with panic, darting around as beads of sweat formed on his brow, trailing down his face and dripping from his chin. His body trembled slightly, overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere. Fear gripped him completely, freezing him in place as he felt the weight of Luke's dark presence bearing down on him, crushing his will to move or even think clearly. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to obey.
"See now. Are you still gonna call me weak."
Seeing the terror etched on Jin's face, Luke smiled darkly. He turned away, setting off to track down the real intruder.
[Mathematician: fear resistance ×10000]
"If that's all you got. I am going to call you weak, again."
'What!? He can still talk!' Luke turned to Jin, again, 'Why is he fine?'
"What's wrong. Did you forget the rules."
"Fine then!"
[Demonic Arts: Gate of the underworld]
gigantic gate materialized behind Luke, an imposing structure crafted from a gruesome collection of skeletons and decayed human flesh. The skeletal remains twisted and intertwined, creating an eerie framework that loomed ominously in the air. Patches of rotting flesh clung to the bones, giving the gate a macabre texture and an unsettling aura. The air around it seemed to thrum with a dark energy, as if the very essence of the fallen had been harnessed to form this nightmarish entrance.
"And now- "
[Demonic Arts: summoning, demon dogs]
The hell gate swung open, and Luke bit down hard on his own hand, blood and flesh gushing out. His blood and flesh began to take shape, molding into hound-like forms. The lifeless bodies formed from flesh, bone, and blood were soon infused with the spirits of demon dogs, bringing the grotesque creations to life.
The hell gate swung open, and Luke bit down hard on his own hand, blood and flesh gushing out. His blood and flesh began to take shape, molding into hound-like forms. The lifeless bodies formed from flesh, bone, and blood were soon infused with the spirits of demon dogs, bringing the grotesque creations to life.
The flesh of the dogs was rotten, with patches where bone was completely exposed. Their eyes were sunken, some even drooping from their skulls. They boasted razor-sharp fangs, capable of tearing through Jin's flesh with ease. An unbearable stench emanated from the hounds, a nauseating reminder of their decayed forms.
"Ah..disgusting. What are those now?" Jin was disgusted by the creatures.
"It is a summoning type demonic Art. I summoned these lesser demon from the underworld."
"Demons Aa....I see."
Demons are creatures from the underworld, or more accurately, beings sealed within its depths.
'Demon's can not enter in the human realm. Since their original bodies can't leave the underworld. So I suppose he created those artificial bodies from his flesh and blood. And let those demon spirit possessed them.'
"Now, attack."
Luke commended the lesser demons to attack Jin.
A dozen of dog ran towards Jin. Barking and howling.
[Mathematician: durability × 50,000]
The dogs jumped at Jin, bitting his body by their deadly shape fangs.
"What!?... How!?"
Luke didn't believed what he saw.
A lesser demons fangs can't penetrated Jin's flesh.
'Is that a defensive type skill !?' Luke thought.
[Mathematician: demon dog's life× 0]
Jin blinked once, and in that instant, all the lesser demons collapsed, lifeless. The artificial flesh melted away, dissolving into nothingness.
"Well. This is boring, got other tricks?"
'W-Wh... What just happened. All the summoned demon died at once. And I didn't even see how.'
Luke struggled to grasp the situation, but it was futile-he couldn't see anything clearly. The demon dogs charged at Jin, biting him fiercely before collapsing dead.
'Is it poison, or cursed Arts.'
Luke pondered for a moment but quickly dismissed the idea. Demons, regardless of their rank, were immune to all poisons, and curses.
'An art that kills everything within a radius.'He heard about such arts, but Jin was not using any spiritual energy, 'Most be a skill then. It has to be one.'
"What's wrong. Are we done playing already." He sighed, "And here I was thinking we can play a little more."
'Bastard, he is just playing with me. Well no metter. Since no skill or art can effect my demon claws.'
[Demonic Arts: Aspect of the Devil, Demon claws]
Luke's arms were shrouded in a thick black fog, transforming into a demonic manifestation.
Luke surged toward Jin, his demonic claws poised to strike as he lunged at him.
[Mystical art: light barrier]
A thin barrier appeared in front of Jin, shielding him from the attack. Though it was merely an elementary rank barrier, typically used by newcomers for practice, Jin's ability rendered its weaknesses irrelevant.
[Mathematician: barrier durability × 20,000]
The barrier strengthened beyond its usual limits, and Jin felt confident that Luke could never break through it.
Luke dashed forward, showing no hesitation in front of the barrier. He slashed with his claws, and upon contact, the fortified barrier crumbled instantly.
'Ohhh, he break my barrier!' he looked at Luke and smiled, 'I suppose it will be worth my time.'
Without pausing, Luke swung his claws once more.
[Mystical art: light barrier]
Jin made another thin barrier. Some as the previous one.
"You fool. Same thing again. Are you looking down on me."
Confidented Luke striked again.
[Mathematician: Luke's claws ability × 0]
But this time, the results were different. The barrier not only remained intact, but it showed no signs of even being dented.
"W-What!?"
"So that claws of your nullified any arts that it touches right. But that's not gonna work again."
'What the. How is he doing it. He countered my claws ability.'
Luke attacked relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of strikes toward Jin. Yet, it was all in vain; the tiny barrier remained completely undamaged.
'Damm it! Why can't I break it?"
Luke was frustrated.
"Hay. Let's end it for today, alright." Jin suddenly spoke, "I have something to do. So let's continue this tomorrow."
"What do....."
[Mathematician: Luke's mobility × 0]
At that moment, Luke found himself unable to move.
"What..What did you do? I can't move!"
Luke's body was frozen, his ability to move severed. He fell to the ground, struggling to regain his mobility.
"You little... Released me!"
"I might, if you behave like a good kid."
"What, What do you want?" he asked.
"Nothing actually. You are an O.R.D.E.R awakened right?"
"Ya, so what?"
"Then you might know where is he."
"Who do you want?"
"I thing he goes by something like, The king of Malevolence."
"T-The ki-king of malevolence!"
Luke's face darkened with fear, and the source of his dread was a name. He had never encountered anyone, except Albedo, who could utter those names. While it wasn't officially a taboo, it was regarded as such. It wasn't a cursed name, but a honored one.
It was the name of a king, the master of a crown. Those who held a crown had names that could not be spoken by anyone—at least not without permission or by someone of equal strength.
Some kings like Albedo permitted everyone to speak his name. But some didn't.
If someone with lesser power were to speak their name, that person would surely die. It didn't mean the kings actively killed them; they didn't take commoners lives.
The kings had attained a level of existence where their names became power itself. When someone uttered their names, they tapped into a force equal to that power.
If a person were weaker than the name spoken, they would meet their end, crushed beneath the overwhelming power they could never hope to possess.
'He can speak their name. Is he...' he paused, 'No, he must be from the black numbers. Since only they are permitted to use his name.' Luke concluded.
"So, you know where is he?"
"Black palace, obviously."
"Oh. So he is in black palace. And where is this."
"No idea."
'Is he not from the black numbers.'
Luke was no longer sure about Jin's identity.
"Come on." Jin sighed, "What a let down."
"So you are the intruder," Noah said from the entrance of the graveyard, slipping a golden ring onto his middle finger.
"Now absolute imprisonment."
The golden ring shattered into multiple pieces, each fragment soaring around the graveyard. Gradually, they came together to form a shimmering golden barrier.
"Now you can no longer escape." said Noah.
"Platinum rank awakened, Noah Camael."
Luke was shocked by Noah's presence.
"Wait, is this because of our game? We were just playing around; we didn't mean any harm," Jin said, trying to clarify what he believed was a misunderstanding.
"I am not interested in what you two were doing."
Noah gazed at them, stoic and cold.
"I want you, intruder."
"Aha. So you wanna capture me. And you even used a high ranked artefact. You must be serious ha." he giggled, "Ok. Then lets make some rules."
"Rules you say."
"Yep. Here the rules. You need to stop me from going out side the barrier for 20 minutes. If you can, you win and if not then I win. So what do you think."
"Do you not understand, you are sealed inside the absolute imprisonment. A highest tier artefact that sealed the target inside this unbreakable barrier."
"I know, but I will be breaking it."
Noah unsheathed his sword. Without any emotions.
"Very well. Then, shall we begin?"
"Hahahaa.." Roma laughed, "Come on Noah, is this the strongest person you were talking about? This kid!"
"Roma, stop that. Pay some respect to the capital." said Maya.
"Yaya, respect and all. Enough with that, and let the bettle begin." Roma yelled.
Roma clutched his spear.
[Battle Art: Blink]
Roma suddenly vanished from his original spot and reappeared in front of Jin.
[Battle Art: serpent spear]
He thrusted his spear in lightning speed.
[Mystical art: light barrier]
[Mathematician: barrier durability × 1 million]
The spearhead approached the barrier, but just before impact, it veered to the side.
'The spear! It can move like a serpent.' Jin's eyes widened.
The straight spear began to move like a snake, slithering around Jin's body.
The spear pierced Jin's left leg, then traveled inside his body, tearing through his intestines, stomach, liver, and lungs before finally emerging as it pierced his heart.
'What? Is th...' Jin's mind goes blank.
"I am not done yet."
Without stopping, the spear penetrated Jin's neck from the front, emerging from the back before piercing through his right eye from the rear of his head.
Roma withdrew his spear from Jin's body, blood spilling from the countless wounds it left behind.
With a thud, Jin's body fell to the ground, blood pooling around him and creating a small crimson pond.