Bets felt like his lungs were burning. But he kept running and dragged any of his classmates who couldn't run along. There was no one left behind.
He knew that despite the confidence Professor Chain had spoken with. The chances of him coming out alive were as close to zero as they could get.
How could this all happen out of nowhere? It was supposed to be another training camp for young exorcists! To learn how to fight against low class demons.
"I -I can't run anymore," said one of his classmates. It was a young female with a small body.
Normally with their Ord, an exorcist would be able to run longer than the average person. But they were already sowhat tired due to running from the Exorcist Academy to here.
Bets didn't say anything to her and put her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and they continued running. He wouldn't let Professor Chain's sacrifice and trust in him be in vain.
'We need to get out of this forest!' It was dark, but Bets knew how to navigate himself. When he was younger, he morized the star signs in the sky and used them as navigation.
As long as they get out of here, they will be able to call for help.
But as they arrived outside of the forest. They were greeted by the sll of grass. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They still kept running. But so still celebrated.
"We're finally out of that hell hole!"
"Do you think Professor Chain will survive?"
"What should we do now?"
They were talking with ease. As if a weight was off their shoulders.
But Bets' heart almost stopped when he saw sothing far in the distance. He slowed down from running until he was just walking, and then he stopped.
On the grassy field, there was a creature the size of an elephant that had a tallic shine to its skin. It looked like a lizard with the tip of its tail shaped like a mace.
Bets' heart drowned in despair and he felt his knees weaken.
The tallic lizard turned toward them and flickered its tongue. The creature started slowly stomping toward them. Each step seed to almost shake the earth.
No one ran away, and so started crying. Their spirits got crushed.
"Damn it!
This is so damn unfair!"
"After all this!"
Bets didn't say anything. He just stood there and stared at the creature.
It was likely a middle-class demon. But likely had so strong defenses, and used its mace-like tail to attack.
On the other hand, they were all students and none had developed their special abilities.
Actually, they hadn't even learned how to use their Ord that well. The best among the students in the group was Bets, and he knew that.
He put down the girl from his shoulder and cracked his fingers. "Seems like we will need another sacrifice. I will hold it back-"
"Screw that!" Yelled out another mber of the group. He was a classmate with wild dark hair and rows of sharp teeth like a shark.
From what Bets rembered of him, his na was Gem. He was a delinquent. Also a mber of one of the four great clans, the Kuro Clan.
The delinquent clasped his hands. Ord swirled around him and rained on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Asked Bets. They didn't have the ti to ss around with useless things. Wasting Ord like that was counterproductive.
"Well! It's do or die you buff bastard! So I'm going to create my special ability right here and now!" The delinquent smirked. I co from a clan where their abilities mostly are just creating things from their shadows. So I already know my ability, creating it now or later doesn't matter.
Then I will buy you so ti, Bets walked in front of the group as the mid class demon charged toward them. He rolled up his sleeves and took a sumo stance.
Despite what many might assu from his stature he had never been in a fight before. Sure the villagers used to be afraid of him, but no kids ever picked on him. Sotis he wished they did, at least that way he would have had soone to talk to. Even if the talks would have been them picking on him.
He chuckled at the thought of his past self. If this was a week before, he wouldnt have minded dying. Not like anyone cared for him either way. So what did it matter? But that had changed. He wanted to live!
The chess gas he and Kon played ca to mind. He had finally found a friend, soone who doesn't seem intimidated by him. While thinking of playing chess, the Ord inside his body bubbled up. Unconsciously, at the ti of danger where his life hung by a thread. Bets found an inkling of inspiration.
To complent his strong body, he always thought he would use his Creator affinity to build an armor that would increase his power or sothing like that. Beco the cheap version of a Warrior affinity.
But since it was so close to death, he ca to a scary realization. Even if he created armor, demons were naturally born stronger than humans. The tallic lizard was charging him. No matter how strong a human was they wouldnt be able to pick this thing up and lift it.
No, Ive been looking at this the wrong way. I also assud what other people did about . Just because I was born strong didnt an that my life had to center around sothing like that! A special ability was an expression of soones deepest desires and supposed to be sothing they liked.
There weren't a lot of things he liked. But the most fun monts in his life were when he was playing chess against Kon.
Two friends, not worrying about anything, and just playing chess. Even as he started manifesting sothing about it inside his body.
He felt another energy, sothing deep inside himself. It felt like the fire of life itself. Bets knew the na of his ability already.
If the next chess ga cos. I will play every day, and enjoy it as if my life depends on it!
{Kings Ga!}
A translucent king chess piece manifested inside his heart and the rest of the set of pieces manifested in his mind. He could call those pieces to reality whenever he wanted.
Summoning a pawn in his hand, he threw it at Gem.
What the hell?! Im in the middle of sothing you bastard! Gem yelled out as the pawn hit him on the head.
Bets liked how the delinquent was no longer afraid of him.
Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just hold that thing in your hand and say: I accept. Bets dismissed his worries.
They were about to beco a mush of bones and flesh in a little bit. So he didnt have the ti to explain everything. Even if he did explain it, he doubted Gem would understand anything.
Fuck! If we die, Im haunting you! Gem took the pawn in his hand. I accept!
The pawn turned into light particles and fused with Gems body. Ord burst out and it had gotten a bit stronger.
Bets breathed out a sigh of relief he didnt know had been holding. But he didnt have ti to celebrate his ability to work as he had intended. This was deep into enemy territory.
When a pawn was deep into the opponents field, it had a special ability.
{Promotion Queen!}
The Ord gushed out of Gem like a waterfall. His Ord amount had multiplied in one fellow swoop. Even the delinquent himself was wide-eyed at how much energy he had. But not long after he winced. This is too much Ord! I cant control it!
Doesn't matter! Create your ability! Use that Ord to make a powerful ability that will sohow help us handle this! Bets took a deep breath and took out a sword, sothing that was given from the academy for free to its students.
Creators were the only affinity with the ability to imbue Ord into items. Though it was sothing that required training. Except for Bets, and Sei, no one else had been able to do it.
The beast finally was within arms length and Bets swung it straight toward its neck.
Clang!...The sound of tal eting rang out and the sword snapped in half. Shit!
The tallic lizard opened its mouth, and Bets could sll the bad rotten stench of its mouth coming from the demon. His life flashed before his eyes.
Was this the end?
He would have liked to play one last ga against Kon and have a decisive victory. But that seed like it would no longer be the case.
{Shadow Wolf!}
Gems voice rang out, and just as the tallic lizard was about to bite down on Bets.
A giant wolf head sprouted from the demons own shadow and bit down on its midsection. The demon scread in pain, which gave Bets enough ti to jump back.
Cold sweat drenched his clothes as his arms shook. His legs buckled and he almost fell to his knees. Holy shit! That was close!
The delinquent went and walked next to him. Gem was a little pale, and looked like almost all of his Ord had drained from his body, but he had a smile on his face.
What took you so damn long? To Bets every minute had felt like an eternity when he was about to be chomped by the demon.
The hero always saves the day at the last second, Gem said between heavy breaths.
The tallic demon was bleeding from its stomach. It seed like luckily that was its weak spot. Despite still being at sowhat of a disadvantage. Bets felt like he could finally take a breather and kill this demon!
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