Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
"Sir! It's time you leave." a male voice from the other side of the door announced.
"Thank you, Glaid."
*********
Shinjuku Core Weilders Society.
"What's he doing here...?"
"Who is he?"
"You don't know, you kidding right?"
A young man walked in the main corridors of the core weilders complex catching everyone's gazed. His around 190 cm tall. Black messy hair that refuse to stay down, and had the eyes of some who belonged to the military. Wore a newly bought uniform of the Core Weilders Society.
"Seriously why is everyone so worked up for just a random guy."
"Since you are helpless, I will tell you who he is. That young man over there is Kuragari Makashibi."
"Did you just say Makashibi?"
"Indeed, the Makashibi clan has been trusted to rule the Japan's Core Weilders Society for reasons unknown, but what's for sure is that all are the members of the clan are First grade and above."
"Woah, for real first grade and above."
"The figure you are witnessing in front of your eyes, is the one and only Merit grader amongst seventy nine across the planet."
"A merit grader? No way."
"Japan has six merit graders including him, these guys are rarely seen."
"You didn't have to tell me that, I can tell by myself and what's with this enormous power surging from him."
"First time meeting a merit grader I see."
"Right this way sir." a woman announced, showing Kuragari a door that leads to other rooms.
"I am finally here, this time, I wont lose to you." he though.
******
Tri-ring
[Corrupted Spirits Eliminated]
[+15 Corrupted Souls]
[300 EXP]
[Level Up]
Kaito had realized something was wrong, the last time he level up he noticed the more he grows the slow he levels up. Is it because the corrupted core spirits have gotten weaker.
"This might be easier that expected."
He glanced at the blue screen.
[Corrupted Souls: 109]
"This is gonna be a long journey.
Through out the journey Kaito had discovered he didn't need to allocate points to Agility or Stamina, the air around this place is thick ever since he lived here day by day fighting, walking and sprinting automatically increased his support attributes.
He crouched behind a jagged rock formation, sensing something might be close. With core energy Kaito is able to sense movements of anything that synchronizes with Core energy.
"Who's there?"
No answer. What was he expecting, he is in the corrupted lands, but for that moment he sensed it, something felt different, this energy he felt wasn't of a normal Corrupted Core Spirit. Could it be a human, no something way creeper.
The air around shifted, thickening and folding like fabric gathered by invisible hands.
Something terrifying emerged slowly, forming into a visible shape. It was too tall, it's body was thin, it didn't seem to have a skin or maybe it hid under the darkness that circulated covered it. Streamline head covered with darkness, white unhuman eyes that screamed danger. Something shocked Kaito the moment his eyes looked where the creature's chest was suppose to be. There was literally nothing, a hole it seemed like. Kaito could see right through it.
"What is that thing?"
"Hmm..., I lost again.....?
Kaito swallowed hard after hearing that. "It talks!?"
The creature turned, discovering Kaito's whereabouts.
"A human, here?" it said analyzing Kaito with interest. "Interesting."
Kaito switched to fighting stance, ready to handle what's about to come.
"I am not interested in humans."
"What do you mean, you are a corrupted core spirit, right?"
"Yes I am."
The simplicity of the answer chilled him more than any threat could have.
"Then you know I don't stand a chance against something like you, so if you are here to kill me, just do it."
*******
Silence followed.
"GAH..GAH..GAH..GAH..GAH!" the creature laughed.
"Fine If that's what you want."
WHOOSH!
Actually, he could only sense that he had seen it lunging towards him, but his eyes couldn't really pick up on anything tangible.
The creature that was definitely in front of him had gone with the wind before he had noticed it. Kaito hurriedly scanned his surroundings, but he couldn't find a single trace of the creature.
With terrifying speed the creature appeared behind Kaito, arm raised.
SLASH!
"Huh, where did he went of to? " the creature thought.
"Double Dash, can be used for evasive interesting."
The creature turned behind glaring at the source of the voice.
"Aright...think, I can't just dash blindly and spam blasts. That drains Core energy too fast, and it also invites fatigue to the party."
"What's with this human's speed."
"How long do you think you can last in the corrupted lands."
"As along as it takes to get out of here."
The creature smirked. It's white plain eyes turning red at the moment.
"Since I changed my mind I think I will add to my dinner manual." it said.
Whoosh!
The creature lunged with terrifying speed, attempting to knock Kaito with one strike. Adrenaline refused to agree with that kicking his instincts, he jerkly activated "Double Dash" charging forward to take the creature head on.
SLASH!
BAM!
SLASH!
BAM!
Keow!
"Dammit!"
Kaito immediately darted backwards as his "Double dash" skill suddenly fainted. Of course it's not surprising, it has been a couple of minutes since he obtained the skill. Core energy draining this fast is part of the process, yet how satisfying it might seem Kaito only felt pity for being foolish enough to believe he can just spam skills the way he did.
His heel clipped a jagged edge and he barely twisted in time to keep himself upright. His chest heaved violently, breath tearing in and out of his lungs like broken bellows.
[Double Dash Deactivated]
[Core Energy: 6/20]
[Warning: Severe Fatigue]
"Not now," he muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
The creature straightened slowly, rolling its neck with an audible "CRRK", as if loosening stiff joints. The red glow in its eyes pulsed, synchronizing with Kaito's racing heartbeat.
"So fragile," it said, "You burn bright… and fast."
WHOOM-
The air exploded as the creature vanished again.
"Left-!"
He twisted-
SLASH!
An unimaginable amount of pain rushed in like a tsunami wave.
"GAAH-!"
He stumbled backwards, barely catching himself on one knee. The creature reappeared several meters away, crouched low, one claw dripping blood that belonged to Kaito.
"GAH… GAH… GAH…!" it laughed . "You slower now."
Kaito clenched his teeth, forcing himself upright despite the shaking in his legs. No matter how he puts it in his mind the truth is still the truth, his losing. And he can seem to stand that.
"…Shut up."
Blue Energy flickered weakly around his fists, sputtering like a flame in heavy wind.
"Energy Blast… costs five," he whispered under his breath. "I can fire once… maybe twice."
The creature tilted its head, amused. Unlike other corrupted core spirits this one is cunning. It's not surprising to see it react the way humans do.
"Oh?" it said. "Planning already?"
WHOOSH-
It charged with terrifying speed cracking the ground beneath it's feet.
"ENERGY BLAST!"
FWOOOOOOM-!
A compressed bolt of blue light erupted from Kaito's palm, screaming through the air like a cannon shot.
BOOOOOM!
The blast detonated , shockwaves tearing the ground apart, dust swallowing everything in a violent cloud. Kaito staggered back, coughing. The way it seems he might have done it
"Did I?"
As dust was finally settling down, a hand shot out grabbing Kaito with monstrous force.
Kaito's throat tightened as he was lifted clean off the ground, feet kicking uselessly in the air.
The creature's face was inches from his.
"…Interesting,"
CRACK!
The creature slammed him into the ground, the impact drove the air from Kaito's lungs in a broken gasp.
"GUH-!"
Sounds of bones breaking could be heard from all corners of his body.
SLAM!
SLAM!
SLAM!
The creature hurled him across the battlefield like a broken doll. Kaito crashed through stone, rolled, bounced, and finally skidded to a stop in a shallow crater.
His vision blurred as his body began to refuse to move.
"Move," he growled at himself. "MOVE!"
He forced his body to stand despite the pain and broken bones. He rather die trying with everything he has instead of giving up.
The creature watched silently now.
"…You're still standing," it said.
Kaito laughed weakly, blood dripping from his chin.
"Yeah," he coughed. "And why exactly will I make it easier for you to kill me?"
He raised his trembling hand. Glowing with blue aura, he took his time preparing this one.
The creature's eyes widened a fraction.
"Oh?"
"DON'T-LOOK-DOWN-ON-ME!"
FWOOOM!
The blast fired like a spear, narrower, faster, tearing through the ground and ripping straight through the creature's hollow chest. The shockwave split the ground in two.
The creature staggered. Its body trembled.
This time no matter what, it has to be down, Kaito used all of his energy on that blast, if it survives there is nothing else he can do.
"GAH… GAH… GAH…!" It laughed.
Kaito's arm dropped limply.
[Core Energy: 0/20]
[Critical Exhaustion]
"…Damn it,"
The creature stepped closer, towering over him.
"That attack," it said slowly, "was close."
It leaned down, eyes glowing brighter.
"But not enough."
Kaito braced for the end.
Instead, the pressure lifted.
The creature stepped back.
"I will spare you," it said.
"…What?"
"I told you before, I don't eat humans, and yet..."
It turned away, darkness gathering around its form.
"...You amuse me."
The void swallowed its body inch by inch.
"Grow stronger, human and remember my name, Gazel Floorthorn."
"Next time we meet… I won't hold back." Its voice echoed as it faded.
WHOOOSH
Kaito collapsed flat on his back, staring up at the ruined sky, chest rising and falling as he gasped for air.
"…Spared,"
Seems that way, and it's unbelievable too. Corrupted Core Spirits are mindless creatures that only care killing but this, it's way too much for him to handle, a talking Corrupted Core Spirit that doesn't eat human flesh, that's definitely new. But can't shake the feeling of what it said before it left.
"That thing… wasn't even serious."
He glanced at the system.
[Corrupted Souls: 109]
"Long way to go"