Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate Chapter 42 CHAPTER 42: FORCES IN THE DARK

In a room with barely any light, dark and cold, human presence could be felt. Well, not just human presence—there seed to be another presence sitting on a makeshift throne of so sort. His eyes were red like blood, his skin in no way human, red and hard. Two long horns protruded from his forehead. His body was extrely large, having the width of three heavily built n combined, but not looking fat as one would expect. Instead, his muscles were well-built and refined. His height was tall enough to be intimidating, and the aura and pressure he released only made matters worse. Standing in front of him were humans, positioned respectfully before the unknown creature.

"Lord Baron, Jacob is here," a human announced, walking in together with Jacob—the man who had battled Nesis.

"Lord Baron," Jacob said, bowing his head respectfully toward the unknown being.

"Hmm, inferior being, tell , what happened to you?" the unknown creature asked, his red eyes staring intently at Jacob.

"Yes, my lord, I had a battle with the player known as Nesis and lost. But that is not all—I don't know how he did it, but he sealed my talent. I'm unable to use my talent or any water-related spells, my lord. Please, my lord, help ," Jacob pleaded, falling to his knees.

"So you are saying this player sealed your talent? Very interesting," the loud voice of the unknown being rumbled. "Anything else that needs to be said concerning the fight with this unknown man?"

"My lord, Nesis—the player behind this—actually lost it after I demonized myself. The rage in his eyes… My lord, I think he knows about our secret one way or another. I don't know if he knows of your presence, but I believe he is aware of our relationship, my lord," Jacob said, his head still bowed and his body still on his knees.

"I see. This player, Nesis… He looks like a fun toy to play with. And what is his identity?" the unknown being asked once more.

"I do not know, my lord. I was unable to gain any information concerning him—his mask prevented from doing so," Jacob replied.

"And who was supposed to investigate the background of this Nesis?" the unknown being asked.

"It is I, my lord," a young man said, stepping closer to the unknown being and falling to one knee.

"Hmm… Kyle, was it? You are a promising lad who has never failed once nor our great cause, so I hope your record remains untarnished," the unknown being said.

"I'm overwheld that you know the na of a lowly being like , my lord. My lord, please punish for disappointing you greatly. I have failed to uncover the identity of this player Nesis. He has done well in hiding himself, as well as his identity. Little is known about him, my lord," Kyle admitted, his head bowed.

"Disappointing. So disappointing. To think that you lowly creatures can't get a single job done… How disappointing, yet I expect no less from backward beings like you all. But I am a rciful lord. I will pardon you this one ti for your failure, Kyle. But know this—I shall not condone failure next ti. So you better find out who this man is before our next eting, or else your fate will not be a pleasant one," the unknown being warned.

"Thank you for your grace, my lord," Kyle said before retreating backward to stand with the other humans.

"How goes the descent of our god—the one willing to purify and show this world his grace and infinite rcy? Tell , how is the progress?" the unknown being asked.

"My lord," an aged man stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "There is progress, although slow, but not enough to worry about. The will of our world is strongly resisting the opening of a dinsional rift that would allow the safe passage of the great army ant to purify the world, my lord," the aged man explained, his head bowed.

"Hmm… Very well. Try as much as possible to speed up the process. The faster your world is harnessed, the quicker it is to prepare against the great annihilation of worlds," the unknown being said.

"Well then, you may all leave. This eting has co to an end," the unknown being declared.

"My lord, pardon my actions, but please… how can I rectify my predicant? Losing my talent will place at a great disadvantage," Jacob pleaded, his head still bowed.

"Oh, you… Well, you don't have to worry much about it. I have a perfect solution for that," the unknown being said.

"Take him and turn him into a demon beast. He will at least be useful in that way," the unknown being ordered one of his guards—who was just like him, except with a less built body, shorter height, and shorter horns.

Jacob, hearing the unknown being's words, was terrified. "No, my lord! Please, do not do this to ! I am still useful! Even without my talent, I can still rise above others and be of great use to you, my lord. Please, my lord! Do not turn into one of those beasts!" Jacob shouted at the top of his voice, pleading furiously, completely overco with fear at the thought of being turned into one of those monsters.

A demon beast—a low-level demonic creature with no mind of its own. The only thing the demonic beast thought about was carnage and destruction. That was the only instinct the demonic creatures had. Jacob didn't want to turn into one of those mindless beasts.

Seeing the unknown being not even listening to what he was saying, Jacob opted for the next best thing—running. He turned around and tried to flee but was knocked to the ground by Kyle and pinned.

"Where do you think you're going, Jacob?" Kyle said, his voice laced with cruelty.

"Let gooooo! I beg of youuuuu! Kyleeee, pleaseeee, pleaseeee! I don't want to turn into a beast! Don't let this happen to eee, please let goooo!" Jacob begged, tears streaming down his face.

"No can do, friend. I do not wish to face the Lord's wrath. Well, I will definitely miss you and your screams. Hah, feels so refreshing—would make a perfect ringtone if you ask ," Kyle said, his words as cruel as the smile on his face.

"I will kill youuu! I will kill youuu, Kyle, you damn bastard! This is all your fault! If you hadn't co to , I definitely wouldn't have been foolish enough to use the demonized form! I definitely wouldn't have been in all this ss, you fucking bastard! I hope you die a miserable death!" Jacob scread at Kyle, wrestling for freedom but unable to do so. Kyle pinned him to the ground perfectly.

"Well, if I were you, I'd be thinking about my own miserable end. Don't worry, you won't feel too lonely. I promise to co pay you a visit once in a while. Please do not break my heart and act like you don't know then," Kyle said before standing up, the guards of the unknown being already holding Jacob's hands and dragging him away. Jacob scread loudly, begging as he was dragged off.

'Hah, there goes another of my fun toys. I will miss you too, Jacob. I keep losing all my toys. How annoying,' Kyle thought, walking away along with the other humans after receiving the order from the unknown being.

---

Getting ho, Kyle fell onto his bed, extrely tired and preparing to rest, a big semifinal awaiting him the following day.

'Guess it will be against Nesis soon. Hopefully, his fight won't be as crazy as today's,' Kyle thought. Thinking of his match today made his blood boil.

'That bastard. I should have given him a more painful death,' Kyle thought. 'Although… he makes for a good toy, if I must say. Perhaps he might be the perfect replacent for Jacob. I an, I need to restock on my toys—I've been losing a lot of them lately. Tsk, I guess I'm being careless with my toys now,' Kyle complained in his head.

'That arrogant demon. "Lowly creatures"? Who does he think he is? Giving a second chance? Damn fool. I am the one who gives people second chances—or not. I decide who lives or dies. Taking my toy from without asking for my permission… I will make sure I give him the most painful death ever!' Kyle thought, extrely annoyed over today's eting.

'I should sleep well. I might have a go against a soon-to-be toy tomorrow. I shouldn't disappoint my toy. First impressions, they say, matter a lot. So I should be at my best against my toy—can't disappoint him, can I?' Kyle thought, anticipating his match against Nesis. Turning the lights off, Kyle soon fell asleep.

---

"Roarrr!" Jacob—no, the shadow of Jacob—roared, now turned into a demonic beast and placed in a cage.

Jacob, now a demonic beast, clawed at the cage and bit it, trying to break free and fulfill its innate desire for carnage and destruction. It wasn't the only demonic beast caged and trapped, though—there were several demonic creatures like it, roaring and trying to break free, reaching a thousand!

"Hmm, soon those inferior creatures that call themselves humans shall know what it ans to feel fear," the unknown being, Demon Baron Arjit, said, laughing loudly, waiting expectantly for that day of carnage.