"Kid, do you know? Lord Buz here despises anyone interrupting my meals!"
The one-horned Devil sank its teeth into the face of a lifeless woman, whose final expression was one of terror. Chewing with a chilling sound, it spoke in a sinister tone.
"This town seems to have more stray Devils than usual. This is the second one in three days."
Witnessing this horrifying scene, even Blake, accustomed to killing, couldn't help but feel nauseated.
"Rei'er, scan its information."
"Understood."
With this brief exchange, a familiar light screen appeared before Blake.
Stray Demon: Buz
Age: 85
Power Level: Advanced Mid-tier Devil
Luck Value: 25 (20)
"Stronger than a random passerby, huh? A mid-Class Devil—seems like a good challenge for me."
As Blake coldly observed Buz, who didn't regard him as a threat and was still engrossed in devouring human flesh, his crystal-blue eyes narrowed slightly.
Buz wasn't worried about Blake escaping because he had already set up a barrier here, explaining why the area was deserted. Although it was a simple barrier, with Blake's strength, escaping would be impossible. In Buz's eyes, the boy was already dead.
However, Blake had no intention of running.
Ding!
Task issued: First kill of a mid-Class Devil, Buz. Reward: 50 Luck Points. If the Luck Plunder ability is used to kill, the reward will be reduced to 10 Luck Points.
"A task, huh? This is basically free Luck Points."
Listening to the system prompt in his mind, Blake's lips curled into a faint smile as he slowly walked toward Buz.
"Hmm?"
Noticing this movement, Buz frowned. Realizing that the boy wasn't frightened but instead stared at him with a predatory gaze, Buz's rage erupted.
"Arrogant brat, die for Lord Buz!"
In an instant, Buz tossed aside the half-eaten head, bent his body slightly, and lunged at Blake like a cannonball. His jagged blade swung downward with a howling wind, aiming to cleave Blake in two.
A mid-Class Devil's strength is roughly ten times that of a low-Class Devil. Moreover, Buz was on the stronger end of mid-Class Devils.
For an average low-Class Devil, this strike would mean instant death. Unfortunately for Buz, Blake was no ordinary person.
Activating Perceptual Distortion to its full extent, Blake had already slowed Buz's perceived speed significantly without the Devil even realizing it.
With a simple sidestep, Blake effortlessly evaded the attack. Though his magic power as a Aether magic translated to a low-Class Devil's energy, the quality and quantity of his converted magic far surpassed that of Devils. After all, Aether energy was far superior to magic, making it impossible to compare equally.
His body, refined by the Body Refinement Pill, was far stronger than before. Against Buz, whose movements were slowed by Perceptual Distortion, Blake could easily predict and dodge his attacks.
Bang!
Crack!
Even so, Blake was startled by the sheer force of Buz's missed strike. The pressure from the magic-infused swing alone gouged a deep trench into the concrete ground, showcasing its destructive power.
Had he tried to block it directly with his Frost Whisper Sword, it would likely have shattered.
With his crystal-blue eyes flashing with focus, Blake dodged another blow. Although the Frost Whisper Sword was sharp and durable, it was still just an ordinary weapon. The Perceptual Distortion couldn't weaken the Devil's raw strength, so blocking wasn't an option.
"Hey, kid! Is dodging all you can do?!"
After several failed attempts to land a hit, Buz's frustration boiled over.
"Dodge? No, it's just that your attacks are too weak to bother with," Blake replied coldly, as though he didn't take Buz seriously.
"You brat! You're asking for death!"
Buz, his rage erupting like a volcano, launched another strike, forcing Blake back. His horn then began to glow as immense magic power gathered at its tip.
In the next moment, under Buz's malevolent gaze, a thumb-sized gray beam shot toward Blake at close range. Buz imagined the scene of the boy being obliterated, confident that no one could dodge such an attack from this distance.
However, instead of panicking, Blake smiled wickedly and raised his left hand.
Clang!
In Buz's shocked gaze, his ultimate attack was completely absorbed by the black ring on Blake's finger.
Then, Blake calmly raised his right hand, pointing it at Buz. A gray beam shot forth, piercing through the Devil's heart.
Splurt!
Crimson blood sprayed from Buz's chest as disbelief and hatred contorted his face. He had been killed by his own attack?!
Ding!
Task completed. Congratulations, Host. 50 Luck Points awarded. Current Luck Points: 155.
"Indeed, the artifact 'Judgement Ring' is quite useful for my current self. A victorious first battle, I'd say."
As the system's voice faded, Blake exhaled lightly. From the start, the battle had been under his control. Using sensory dampening and feigned weakness, he had baited Buz into unleashing his strongest attack, only to turn it against him.
"Mid-Class Devils may be fodder in the original story, but their destructive power is nothing to scoff at."
Surveying the cracked and ruined concrete around him, Blake shook his head. "I still have a long way to go."
Looking at the gouges and cracks across the concrete ground, Blake shook his head. He realized how far he still had to go.
"I should grab some food and head back. I'm starting to get hungry."
Muttering to himself, Blake left the scene. The barrier dissipated following Buz's death, saving him the trouble of removing it himself.
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(A/N: Throw your power stones and comment on this book, please! It will motivate me!)