159 The Devourer's Fangs
"You can't hear me, can you?"
Following Zephyr's question, nothing other than growls and roars.
"Then you've lost control?"
The Monster stepped forward before stumbling.
'An increase in Mana. Endurance and Vigor probably weren't affected much. Those Monstrosities disappeared as soon as I kicked him to the wall...'
Zephyr directed his gaze to his left arm and the Spear his hand left.
'He shouldn't have anything new left to use.'
The Hunter directed his gaze towards the growling Monster once more.
Towards its dark eyes.
The heel of Zephyr's cracked Spear hit the ground with a bang.
"I'm satisfied." He declared.
The Monster breathed heavily.
It didn't let its guard down for a second.
"You might not understand your Titles for now, but it seemed to me that the level of cohesion between you and them isn't too bad. I expected them to work against you. Your Greed and Gluttony. In the end, you surpassed my expectations."
"You can stand proud, Devourer..."
Zephyr planted his Spear in the ground.
"You have passed my Test, and piqued my interest."
His hands took hold of the helmet that covered his face.
"You know me as a Monster Hunter. There's no reason for you to know me as anything else. You have piqued a Monster Hunter's interest and curiosity. You can take pride in that as well. Most Monsters will never-"
A dark sphere appeared in front of the Devourer's mouth.
Almost instantaneously, a ray of Dark Light made its way to the other side of the Boss Room.
RWAAAA-
The Monster roared.
Another portion of the Boss Room's walls had been disintegrated.
"Not as wide an area of effect as the previous one. Running out of Mana?"
The Monster's leg twitched.
Its dark eyes immediately turned in the direction the voice came from.
"Even my little speech wasn't enough for you to take back control?"
Growl-
"Then, following the General's guidance, I will give you some more time. Time for you to fulfill this Test's second requirement."
The Monster leaped forward.
"Take back control over your own body."
Zephyr remained unmoving.
"Your Unique Titles are nothing more than the manifestation of your own Greed and Gluttony. They will make you powerful. Much more powerful, but..."
The Devoured swung its claws.
"They will be your downfall if you can't tame them." Zephyr added as he dodged.
The Monster threw a kick.
"I imagine there is no harm in this..."
It was blocked.
"Those Titles were created..."
Punch-
"By giving you a portion..."
Block-
Tail Flick-
"Of the Deadly Sins."
Zephyr jumped back.
He widened the distance. Not because he was in any difficulty, but simply to make time for what he wanted to say.
"In your blood, runs a piece of both the Sin Of Greed, and the Sin Of Gluttony. In your blood, runs a portion of the Weapons used by two Demon Lords. It's only a small portion, but the stronger you get, the more powerful those Titles will become. The Demon Lords utilize the Sins to gain great power. You understand, don't you?"
The Monster remained unmoving.
"Demon Lords have an ability that the vast majority can ever obtain. Thanks to the Deadly Sin they hold..."
Growls occasionally left its mouth.
"They can weaponize their own emotions and ambitions. Truly weaponizing them, and turning them into power."
The Monster stopped growling.
Zephyr took that as an indication that control was being taken back.
"Since you still don't know much, not even about Titles, this probably won't make much sense to you. But just like Magic, these must..."
The Devoured ran forward.
"Mm. Still not listening?" Zephyr asked as he easily launched the approaching Monster away.
Growl-
"Your Lord, or rather, General Draconia's Lord, is the Demon Lord Of Pride. He holds the Deadly Sin Of Pride. Do you understand what that means?"
The Monster's approaching fist was stopped by an open palm.
"It means that Pride is most important to them. Nothing stands above Pride. That's how it is for them. Understand?"
A succession of unsuccessful attacks was thrown Zephyr's way.
He dealt with the Monster's haggard movements without breaking a sweat.
"Pride, above all else." Zephyr said as he took hold of the Monster's neck.
Squeeze-
Raise-
Choked growls resonated.
"Pride that pushes one to prefer death over being controlled."
Zephyr brought the Monster's face closer to his.
"That's what Pride wants. That's what the General wants. That's what they expect. And that's why..."
Three consecutive punches landed on the Devourer's stomach.
"They would rather you dead, than unable to control your own Greed or Gluttony."
The Evolving Monster extended the claws on its right hand.
"They won't ever allow Pride to lose to any other Sin."
Zephyr held the Monster's body tightly.
Crack-
With his right hand, no less. The side that, therefore, practically hadn't been damaged.
"This isn't a Test of Power anymore, but one of Will."
The Evolving Monster's claws approached the hand holding its body hostage.
Zephyr watched those claws closely.
He expected them to break upon coming into contact with his Armor, just like they had previously.
Still, Zephyr felt he couldn't lower his guard.
'What is he-'
Once those sharp claws were centimeters away from Zephyr's Armored wrist, they changed.
Not just those claws.
The Evolving Monster's whole hand changed.
It transformed.
Thumb seemed to morph into a lower jaw.
Fingers into an upper jaw.
The Evolving Monster's hand had morphed into a mouth full of fangs, resembling an Inferior Wyvern's.
'Claws or fangs, they're made of the same Material. They won't be able to-'
Crack-
Zephyr hurriedly let go and jumped back.
His eyes, wide.
His surprised face, exposed for all to see.
"That easily...? What did...?"
The sharp fangs had left holes in his Armor.
Blood dripped down his arm.
The injury was a superficial one, but it did seem like a bad omen.
Meanwhile, the Monster remained unmoving.
A tongue exited its second mouth.
Lick-
The tongue licked the steaming blood.
