Chapter 7 7. A Hero’s Birth.

"Shit."

He forgot his sword in the carriage.

Realization hit hard Kevin. His clumsiness and not understanding the gravity of the situation made the conditions worst.

'Think! Think! Think! Think! Think Kevin, think! Something quickly!'

His mind became a complete mess.

It was at this moment that the demon holding Andrew by his neck, glanced at his back. He felt that there was something and it was dangerous.

Intelligent demons were quick to pick the change in the situation. Feeling the danger near, the demon decided to stop tormenting Andrew and quickly corrupt him to become his servant.

He was already too weak to fight another human.

The reason was that he used his 'incomplete' Barron form to the fullest and anytime from now, he will sustain great damage which can even kill him. It was the price for him to pay for the power he gained for a limited time.

But he didn't care, Andrew's demonification was more important to him.

Black-colored miasma started flowing and dancing around the demon's palm.

The demon pointed his finger toward Andrew's forehead.

Andrew who was on the verge of death was already broken by both his body and his spirit, because of which he started absorbing the miasma inside his body.

A grin appeared on the demon's face. The sheer amount of power it had used to capture this beast was paying off. The Barron-level demon will now get a servant who is nearly as powerful as himself. This will not only give a boost to his reputation amongst his peers but also help him to climb the ranks faster.

The mere thought made the demon laugh.

*Cough

Splurt-

Thud-

But there was a problem, and that was before he could corrupt Andrew completely, a human hand pierced through his chest and caught his newly formed core.

Before the demon could even understand what was happening, his black-colored core was destroyed by Kevin.

"AGHHHHHHHHH!"

The demon cried in agonizing pain.

"Huff… huff… filthy demons."

Kevin spat on the black meat paste, which previously had a humanoid shape.

He had used his affinities to the fullest just to come closer and kill the demon. He used the wind to block the sound of his footsteps, lightning to cover the distance, and ice to break the tough core in his palms.

But his goal was different, and it was to save Andrew.

"Huh? Andrew!"

Kevin looked at Andrew's amputated body, missing his charm, two hands, and a leg, Andrew looked like a corpse.

Fighting with the little amount of miasma, hearing Kevin's voice, Andrew looked at Kevin and said with a slight smile.

"H…how…was…the show?"

Kevin didn't understand what Andrew meant for a second but then he realized.

At the time when Andrew's limbs were severed, Kevin stood there and watched it. He was frozen due to the shock but from Andrew's point of view, who was in desperate need of help, it looked more like Kevin was enjoying the sight.

This was the effect of miasma.

Demons were not different from humans, except for their stats being superior.

Greed, envy, pride, lust, and everything that humans had was the same for demons, except for its amplification.

But this had a side effect, as every demon had amplified emotions their actions were overkill most of the time.

It was the same for the cowardice, as no demon below the rank of count ever took a fight with someone greater than themselves. Power was everything, the one who holds the most makes others bow their heads.

This is why demons always flee from the losing battle.

This was all because of the demonic energy they had within themselves.

And right now, Andrew was suffering from the same as he was becoming a demon. Albite low, his body did absorb the demonic energy that is the miasma.

His envy of Kevin's affinities, lust for the village chieftain's granddaughter, greed for monster cores, pride for being the strongest in the town, and every negative thought, supplied the power to the demonic energy required to grow.

His body rapidly started regenerating and changing into more like a demon but there was still some sanity inside him that fought with the miasma.

Kevin frowned as he noticed this. He knew he had to take action right now, otherwise, Andrew will be reborn as a demon.

"Do me a favor, Kevin."

Andrew's voice was clear and loud this time.

His vocals were healing and the demonic energy was growing with each passing moment.

"Kill me."

Andrew closed his eyes. He didn't want to see the person who didn't come to his help.

Kevin, who was still clouded with thoughts, subconsciously took a sword lying on the ground nearby and thrust it inside Andrew's heart.

Splurt-

Cough-

Andrew coughed a mouthful of blood.

"I-…"

Kevin who realized what he had done subconsciously, panicked.

He wanted to deny and help Andrew in any other possible way. But it was too late.

He had already done the deed.

"I hate you, Kevin."

Those were the last words Andrew said and the light in his eyes dimmed.

The surroundings became deadly silent.

Even the wind didn't make any sound.

Thud-

Kevin knelt with his head down in front of Andrew's dead body.

Tip- tip-

A few water droplets fell on the ground and rain started falling.

It was unclear which rain it was.

Was it the rain falling from Kevin's eyes? Or were they the clouds in the sky?

No one knew, or rather no one was there to know, except for Kevin.

But one thing was clear, and that was, that Kevin cried.

He cried and cried…

The more tears fell the intensity of the rain increased.

He looked at Andrew's dead body.

There was a mocking smile on his face.

Maybe he cursed his luck? Maybe the god he had faith in? or Kevin?

No one knew, or rather no one was there to know, except for Kevin.

Kevin used his senses to look and feel his surroundings.

And he saw many things. Many humans lie on the ground in different conditions.

Claws pierced in the chest, horrified look on face, headless bodies, women lying with tattered clothes, some holding their children before death, burned houses, broken houses, burned forest, dead animals, and dead demons.

The more he looked the more he was reminded of the happy town.

His grandfather, who saved Kevin from the deadly forest that night and adopted him, and his uncle, who took his care like a real father.

John's daughter, who he had a crush on. Her smile gave him the motivation to do anything.

Now the three of them were lying on the ground in different conditions.

Kevin was helpless.

Kevin was hopeless.

Kevin was dying with regret.

Kevin was drowning in the darkness.

Deeper and deeper and deeper…

With each passing moment, his body was radiating a special aura.

An aura so strong that the rain falling from the sky was not able to reach his body let alone touch him.

Blue, orange, red, white, and golden aura spread across the land.

His body started cracking lightning, ice particles covered the land, and a storm of fire was burning in Kevin's eyes. Space around Kevin started twisting and shifting.

'Demons… demons… demons… demons…'

He kept muttering.

And then it came.

"I WILL KILL THEM ALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"

Kevin shouted with everything he had.

His body was oozing a killing intent so strong that any demon in the vicinity will run away pissing in their pants.

Kevin swore to take revenge for everything.

His family, villagers, women, children, animals, and his best friend.

For everything, the demons had taken from him.

He was now at the bottom of the abyss. His only goal was to kill demons. No rational thought came to his mind and he completely lost his sanity.

Releasing all the power of affinities, Kevin was ready to run havoc, without any direction.

He wanted to bring justice to his dead brethren.

The storm around Kevin, increased its intensity to let the world know its presence.

But this all stopped because of a single sound.

<Ding!>

<The host for the system is found!>

<Kevin Finnair, has been selected for the system.>

<System initiated…>

From this moment onwards in the history of the world of Ventra a seed of hope was born, the hope that someone will bring them justice, the hope that someone will end the tyranny of the demon king…

It was at this moment that a Hero was born.

***

[A/N: I bet you liked it! And if you like it then please lend me your POWERRRR!!!

I am participating in WPC so, please lend me your POWERRRR!!!" And yes it is Academy related, just wait for a chapter or two. (^^)]