Chapter 655: Vessel of Demons
Oren believed he could win, but even if he was at peak condition, that could not be more than just a belief against a deme-ranker. While he was trying to stand up, failing repeatedly, he repeated the difference in their strengths. It has not been long since Oren reached the rei-rank thanks to the training, but even then…
"Rei-rank," muttered Oren as blood leaked from his mouth, turning his voice hoa.r.s.e. "Vetus-rank," he continued while his arms failed to lift his body and slammed to the clouds again. "Deme-rank!" shouted Oren as he clenched his fist with frustration, the clouds beneath him turning red.
"Do you think that shouting the ranks will make you overcome them?" asked Jono as he walked toward Oren, who was lying down. "I was hailed as a genius the moment I was born, but I needed years to reach the deme-rank. You should be familiar with what their names imply, right?"
Oren was losing consciousness but forced himself to remain awake despite the lost blood. Jono was still talking down to him while pointing the sword, ready to strike.
"Neo-rank is for the newly awakened, who have yet to form a true connection with the universe. Rei-rank is for those who rose above the others and advanced past their limits. Vetus-rank is for those who overcame life and death and were experienced enough to form a mana-essence. As for the deme-rank, those who managed to make the essence leave their body to form a domain."
"And what do I do with this lesson?" turned Oren toward Jono and glared at him with hateful eyes. "Do you want to show me the difference between us?"
"The bigger a domain, the closer an awakener is to forming a connection with the stars and becoming an Astra-ranker, who forms a constellation. Of course, you are a genius too, but no genius can transcend more than one rank."
As he finished his words, Jono flipped Oren over with his leg. Then, the sword"s tip rested over his heart, waiting to be pierced. But instead, the two stared into each other"s eyes, knowing that the next few minutes would change their lives forever. Oren knew that he might die here, and he was alright with dying while defending his family.
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On the other hand, Jono was hesitating about whether he should kill the creator"s younger brother or keep him alive.Although the creator was their enemy, his mother clearly stated that the man should not be angered at all costs. This whole family was a bunch of abnormal people, as he knew, and even this younger brother was one of them.
"How did you manage to contract Abyssal Spirit, who cannot be contracted?" asked Jono with interest. Of course, most spirit contractors knew that the Divine Layer had the most powerful spirits, but that was while excluding the Abyss.
The Spirit"s Realm was divided into several layers, and the Divine Layer was the strongest. However, there were spirits in the Abyss that refused to abide by the will of their Sovereign, thus banished. Finally, however, this legendary spirit agreed to contract this youth.
"Lancelot says because he doesn"t like your face," said Oren with a b.l.o.o.d.y grin, and Jono was angered for being mocked like that. His sword shifted and stabbed the insolent youth in the arm, but he only winced.
"Answer seriously, or the next hole will be in your heart," said Jono as he tried to understand what was special about the youth before him. "How did you contract an Abyssal Spirit while the whole world failed?"
"Pierce my heart if you want to because I have no answers," said Oren as he grabbed the wound on his arm. "I will not beg for my life if that is what you seek."
Jono wondered what this man had that made him so prideful. Is it that he was pampered by influential people ever since he was young, making him a narcissist? Another possible reason might be his brother, who was the creator.
"You are an empty person, Oren Silvera. Your pride and your convictions have nothing to back them. You spent all of your life in the safety of your brother"s shadow, and now you think you are some n.o.ble warrior for being so ready to die."
"I did spend all of my life in his shadow," Oren paused before answering. "However, I changed, trained, and did everything I could to ensure that when he gets back, brother will find the same place he left!"
"That did not work out so well in the end," said Jono as he shifted his sword toward his neck. "Do you know why I want to kill you suddenly?"
"Do enlighten me."
"You are a threat to the world"s safety and a vessel of demons. The fact that you have contracted an Abyssal Spirit proves your capability of being their gateway into this realm. As for the spirit you contracted, it is no other than the dark knight who wreaked havoc for its self-righteous beliefs."
"If I am so dangerous, then why are you hesitating?"
"I am rejudging whether you are even a threat. After all, the last few minutes proved that you are nothing but a child. Your mother is still in danger, and your brother is fighting against a G.o.d. Yet here you are, accepting death so readily."
"I cannot move my body anymore," said Oren after a pause, his voice tinted with helplessness. "I want to move and protect them, but my body fails me."
"Then, is provoking me into killing you sound like the right thing to do? Are you unable to beg for your life or find an underhanded method to survive?"
"I…"
"You cannot do that because Lancelot will devour you when your determination breaks and you take a step back; this is why you need to be killed."
Jono pushed the sword to stab the boy"s neck, and the latter closed his eyes, prepared to die. However, Jono stopped the blade when it broke his skin, only causing a droplet of blood to taint his cloudy sword.
"I will let you live," said Jono, surprising himself. "I want to see how this end of yours will be. Are you going to prove me right and become the vessel of demons? Or are you going to rise above that?"
"I don"t need pity," glared Oren at him, but Jono retracted his sword.
"The weak always does," said Jono as he took several steps back. "This domain will be your prison for a few days until this is over. You can try and break free, but I doubt it would be enough. I will go ahead and finish our mission."
"Wait! Don"t leave!" shouted Oren from behind him, but Jono kept marching toward the clouds" end. "I said wait…."
The voice was different now, and it compelled Jono to turn back toward Oren. The youth who couldn"t move to save himself earlier was standing up because Jono mentioned his mother.
"I have yet to lose, and I have yet to die."
"I know because I spared your life. Remember that from this day on, the only reason you are living is that I spared you. So seek me in Alka, and let me see how strong you can be."
"What are your reasons for this?" shouted Oren as he tried to steady his body, and Jono shrugged in response. "Are you trying to lure me like you want to do with my brother?"
"You are far from being worthy, Oren Silvera. However, you are indeed like the creator in a single aspect. For some reason, the world wants to see what you will become later on, and I am the same."
After that, Jono left the cloudy s.p.a.ce, and Oren did not scream or chase after him. His clouds ended, and Jono walked back into the underground tunnel, where a man was waiting for him. His cloak hid his face, but Jono knew his ident.i.ty.
"It is meaningless to threaten us into coming here and then come here yourself," said Jono without pausing and looking back at the clouds that contained Oren. "He is inside if you want to talk to him."
"I just had to make sure Oren doesn"t die because of unnecessary emotions," said the man with a grin. "I wonder if I am why you spared him, or if it was as you have said?"
"I could"ve killed him before you even arrived, but I did not," said Jono while standing a few feet away. "What are you doing on Earth, villainous prophet?"
"Now, now!" exclaimed the man while walking toward the clouds. "You are painting me as a villain of some sort while I just came here to see my lovely hometown."
"The hometown that you worked hard to see destroyed?"
"The people of this world need to realize that this world is changing, and their lives are at stake. Otherwise, we will never have a chance against Nameless."