The fight with the strongest demon of the former group of 4 demons was finished, I finished also checking my new stats and skills.
As I've killed my target, I took back my true appearance and species.
Then, I heard some noise behind me, it was the last 2 demons, the 2 weakest of the group, they had a scared yet malicious look on their face.
"Give us your sword ! And don't move an inch or they're done for !"
One of them shouted at me, they had a smile as they held a woman each in hostage with a knife near their throat, they expect me to obey nicely? Think again.
I took a step forward and as I was giving them a death stare, a very strong aura started to be emitted from my body, and them the 2 demons were shaking, they were scared before but now they're terrified.
They're so terrified they managed to almost let go tye women they held in hostage, at least now they could just run away, but they were also terrified by the aura I emit because of the 「 Aura of Authority 」.
I sigh a bit and decide to test the 「 Black Fire 」skill I just got, casting 2 black fireballs to the sky, the demons wanted to move but they were so afraid they could barely move, it was not that strong when the demon used that skill on me, maybe the effect depends on the gap of power between me and those who feel my aura.
After I cast the black fireballs, I shot them to the demons, they backed down and screamed in pain as the black flames were consuming them, burning them alive.
Hopefully as the women weren't my target, they didn't seem to be hurt by the black flames, but because of my 「 Aura of Authority 」they could also barely move.
So I stop the use of 「 Aura of Authority 」so they can calm down a bit and probably run away, and they did take deep breaths to calm down.
As they finished calming down, the demons drew their last breath and the black flames continued consuming their body like to turn them into ashes.
「 The conditions are met, activating 'Betrayer' . 」
「 The conditions are met, activating 'Betrayer' . 」
「 Congratulations ! Your stats grew stronger, check your new stats. 」
「 Congratulations ! Your stats grew stronger, check your new stats. 」
"Are you alright?"
I asked the 2 women while those notifications appeared.
They looked at me with a worried look, and now I look them closer, one of them is a beautiful black haired woman with a good and pure looking body, the other seems to be a pretty blonde half-human half-cat woman, with her hair and tail.
Then the human one nod in approval to my question and after some seconds she decided to answer with words.
"Thank... thank you... for saving us... but... who... who are you...?"
The other woman looked at me with the same question into her eyes, I sighed and and looked them both.
"Who I am isn't important right now. You're safe now it's all that matters."
I said with a calm and cold voice, after all I don't want them to know I am a half-human half-demon, they would immediate look me with disgust and hatred like the others.
But they didn't seem convinced but then one pointed behind me.
"Watch out !"
She shouted, I turned back immediately, I wanted to guard but what was behind me was too close, he managed to punch my face before I could guard up.
I backed down a bit and looked at what punched me, it was an adventurer, surprisingly as I expected it to be another demon.
The worst part isn't the punch I received, it was a bit weak, but because of it my mask fell, revealing my face, a pale skin, black hair and red serpentine eyes, yet pretty much human.
The truth was revealed to both woman and the adventurer that punched me, the masked adventurers is a half-human half-demon, the adventurers looked me with a malevolent smile, like he was waiting for this.
And then I recognized him, it was Arson, and he came with his party of 4, the rest of the group looked at me with disgust.
Arson looked me down as I got back up, looking him as I realized my mask was off.
"Well, well, well, looks what's behind the mask !"
He laughed out of satisfaction.
"Now we know you're an abomination, you can say your adventurer life's goodbye !"
He laughed and mocked me, and something began boiling inside me, the anger, the rage, my eyes went brighter as I looked him, my 「 Aura of Authority 」activated itself, and the confident look of Arson turned into a face of worry.
"I wanted to set all you did to me aside, I wanted to try and understand you."
I said as I took my sword, all the party took a step behind.
"But... you went too far this time... you crossed the line... Arson !"
I shouted out of rage as my eyes could tell the murder will inside me, the will to shut up Arson once and for all.
"Hey... hey... what do you think you're doing ?"
He asked me as he seemed less confident.
"You want to take everything from me ? You try to take out my adventurer life... it's everything I have left... that keeps me human."
"You were never a human ! Just an abomination, and that's my duty to eliminate abominations !"
He said, finding the bravery to answer, I smiled a bit, I feel strange, I want to kill him, I want to take everything from him, I want to be him, and erase his life.
Is that a side effect of my Unique Skill ? Who knows.
"You followed me just because you wanted to threaten me and settle what's between us once and for all...?"
I ask as he replied with that disgusting arrogant look on his face.
"I just wanted to knock you out and take the fame for completing your mission ! But now it's even better as I can move you out of my way !"
"Fine... but you're also on my way... so let's settle this..."
I took a step forward him, and another, and another, slow with still my 「 Aura of Authority 」as I said.
"Once and for all..."
And then I stopped.
"Just the two of us, right here... right now !"
I said, using my 「 Black Fire 」skill to create a circle of black flames all around us, preventing the other members of his party to interfere, I know a bit Arson and I know I can handle him alone, but his party, it would be more difficult.
The black flames were high enough to consume all of Arson's body if he was to cross the circle, he looked me with very less confidence than when he told me he's gonna move me out of his way.
"Leana ! Cast some water spell and come help me !"
He ordered to one member of his party that seemed to execute his orders as water came from outside the circle and went wetting Arson, but not having a single effect.
As it was obvious the previous water magic like skill didn't have any effect, there came another one, wetting Arson again and again, as his teeth started gritting as he seemed more enraged.
Me ? I was merely holding back from exploding out of laughter.
"Arson ! Even with my 「 Water jet 」skill the fire doesn't wipe out !"
Arson, wet and enraged looked me as I was merely laughing out loud because of the scene.
"What demonic trick did you use !?"
He asked me with anger, I sighed and got back my cool, although it was a bit difficult, I answered him.
"Nothing more but a skill, Arson."
"A fire skill can wipe out with water !"
"Yes, a normal fire skill could indeed."
I said, as I insisted on the word 'normal' indeed the black fire wasn't just any fire, it would have been too easy for him else.
He took a step back and drew his sword.
"You coward ! You're too scared to confront my whole party because you know you would lose !"
"Pretty funny words, coming from a guy that must have a party to fight one single person, worry not the flames are high enough so your party can't see your pathetic state once I'm done with you."
I said and a strange malevolence came from me as I pronounced those words, Arson was more enraged and charged at me with his sword.
I have my sword with me and with a knowing smile, I put my guard up, activating 「 Perfect Guard 」as a consequence.
Arson's sword, as he seemed to have used it to cut my head off, was blocked by a barrier that appeared then, Arson didn't just wait and let confusion grow inside him, he drew another blow with his sword.
And yet again, it was blocked by the barrier and with my stats versus his, I didn't even move a step back with his attacks, Arson took some steps back, understanding his attacks won't have effect on me.
As he backed down, it was an opportunity for me to attack, and I didn't let it slip out, as soon as Arson took one step back, I took some quick steps at his direction.
He was surprised but managed to guard before I could attack him again, his sword managed to block mine, however he felt the gap of Strength between us.
He struggled to keep my sword at distance as I didn't have much trouble advancing my sword closer to his body.
He struggled and struggled again, as our swords went closer and closer to his chest, out of options he managed to kick me in the stomach to make me move back.
I didn't block the attack and wasn't on guard so he managed to make me take some steps back, pretty good of him I will admit.
"Don't get overconfident of yourself because you have a little strength, I'll show you what true strength is !"
He shouted as a bright yellow aura started to be emitted from his body, the aura enveloped him like a coat as he seemed more confident.
"Now my skill 「 Armor of Justice 」is activated I'll resist easily half of your attacks, both magical and physical !"
I narrowed an eye, such skill was possible ? And it fell into his hands ? What a waste of potential, I swear.
However he's not very lucky, with 「 Execution 」his so estimated skill is merely a decoration now.
I smiled and charged at him as I said.
"Really ? Let's see then !"
And he didn't try to dodge my attack, I attacked him with my sword from his right side to his left side, I could cut his head off if he doesn't block my attack.
That's what he did, sensing at least some danger after his overconfidence, he moved quickly his sword to block mine, and as I expected, the difference of our strength was just as much as last time he blocked my attack.
Therefore he sure blocked my attack my his sword and mine were very close to his neck and he struggled again to keep my sword away from him.
I moved my sword away and as he did to me, I kicked him at the stomach, shooting him at a tree near the limit of the circle, he almost went flying and was about to fall as he managed to stay with his 2 foots on the floor.
"What... what is happening...? What kind of tricks did you use !?"
He tried to order me to answer that stupid question, although I already answered him I used skills, what a waste of time.
I walk to his direction, holding my sword as I look him with a cold expression, he tried to take everything away from me, I'll take his life as payment.
I stand ready to land the final cut with my sword.
"Any last words ?"
I asked, he gritted and seemed more enraged, his aura became golden and chains appeared all over his body, I took immediately some step backs and I could tell he was getting stronger.
"I will... I will end you ! I will fucking kill you ! I swear it with my own life !"
As he pronounced those words, his aura became greater, his fatigue seemed to have disappeared and the wind is blowing hard, as his aura tried to push everything away.
A golden sword appeared pointing his heart as his aura just got bigger, thicker and stronger, he made a vow.
A vow is something every creature can do, depending on the vow they can gain multiple things, but mostly power, and a vow to his own life can have unpredictable effect, but breaking it result in pure and simple death, that's why a few people uses it.
He guards up with his sword, his aura and new power clearly possible to feel, almost material and his power grew big enough so he's not affected by my 「 Aura of Authority 」anymore.
I smile and stand ready, because the second round promise to be quite thrilling.