Chapter 243: Internal conflict [2]

Once upon a time, there was a weak and timid boy, he wasn’t gifted with strength nor the wisdom of old. He was seen as a lost cause, a waste of space, a deadweight as the life he lived, and a reality he rejects. One day he was given a choice, a fresh start in a world far from his horrors. It was a place full of mystery, trials filled with misery, and where the divine saw the talent hidden in his eye

Yesterday that night

[Demonic mission: You’ve been granted a special mission after the Demon King put a bounty on the hero’s life!

Contract killer: This is a limited-time event for the Demon King himself requested the death of the hero. Due to the intensity of the mission, you’ll be granted the use of a demonic weapon created by Meltear himself. Before this demon came to be one of the four heavenly generals he was the esteemed prodigy of the Ifrit clan

Limited effect: The weapon given the name [Devil Trigger] is an otherworldly long-range weapon that can switch to its wielder’s desire. Made from the core of a rare black slime found in the depths of hell it can change form after form with such flexibility. Do note that this weapon is a living being (Ego) both powerful yet disastrous if the wielder succumbed to its will]

“Let me get this straight, you want me to kill the main character? What the fuck! There are a lot of things I can do but not this… no, no im not gonna do it—”

“How disappointing, so you’re only good at running away? I’m just asking for something simple why do you have to make a big deal out of this? You already know what im asking for, but you won’t even do it, you scared?”

He provoked him with his words but he didn’t succumb to his command, even though he’s turned he has never once been shackled. Morris even though he could easily do as his heart desires to grant him the gift he most desired out of everything he could give. Freedom, he could easily decline the mission but even so, what’s the reason that stopped him from deleting the request

“Shut up! Just because im weak you’re gonna use me as your scapegoat so all of this could go as planned. Do you think im low enough to kill the main character? You think you could manipulate me, get inside my hide, and make me do anything you say, but I’m not! I won’t, no matter what, I won’t be like you!”

Zeke was never afraid of Morris, to be honest, he’d seen him as a role model for how similar these two were. But the reason why he was shaking was the undeniable fact that Morris knew him more than himself. To him, he was a senior who trek the same path, and because of that he’s scared of the day he becomes this vile and utter disgrace of a man

“… be like me? Ahahahaha! You’re arrogant. I never wanted to be like this. I had no choice, you say that you don’t want to be like me, but deep down you know! You’re a pathetic excuse for a person, you don’t think you’re good enough,”

He walks closer to Zeke whilst he proceeds to berate every single one of his insecurities until he stumbles and fell to the ground. “You don’t know anything about me, what makes you think you’re right? You’re just like me, am I right? You’re just as sad and depressed as I am—”

He completely ignored him and slapped him not with his hand but by the impact of his words. “You’re a wuss compared to me, nothing but talk, wanna know what’s the worst part? You act all edgy, and ignorant because you know that when you start listening you realize you are nothing. You put up a mask to hide the real you, the sad, lonely, and worthless little boy who escaped the real world to this hell hole,”

’Fuck! I can’t even, god damn it! Why, just why can’t I even bury the things I want to be forgotten? What’s worse I had to get a reality check from a much more broken fucker, what can I do? Everything he said was right. I’m scared, talent can only get me so far, I don’t wanna die, I can’t… this world, no matter how shitty it is, it’s the only place that ever accepted someone like me,’

“Grow stronger,”

“What?” Zeke was confused by his sudden words of motivation and he couldn’t help but stare after hearing his indifferent tone

“Don’t give me that look, im an asshole but I assure you im logical. What separates us is that I take the risk, what the hell have you been doing? I fought harder battles, fights that I’ll die, but I grit my teeth, I wanted to change, so much… this world might be infested by gods but not even your prayers will get you by, do you want a miracle? Then be the miracle, and wipe your nose, you look like a fucking idiot,”

He quickly left as soon as he finishes what he had to say and left his subordinate rolling from the mud and cover with tears. “Man that would’ve been such an inspirational moment, but you had to say that last part? But I can’t deny that I look like an idiot, sigh… be the miracle huh? Hmmm, if we’re at the third trial, then Hugo already has a way to survive, I just have to kill him once, right?”

…

Present time

’Damn it, I knew he’ll be a wall, but I think I know the reason… as the knight of the empire he’s responsible to protect the hero, this is crazy! How do you expect me to win?’

“Devil Trigger, Shotgun Blitz!”

His weapon changed from his heart’s desire to a weapon that guaranteed his escape, the buckshot split in mere seconds and demolished the ground. The force behind such an explosion knocked him off of his grasp from the recoil he took. He quickly recovers midair when a pair of wings sprung out of his back making him do a 180-degree turn before firing another round

“Assault rifle,” He bombarded them bullet after bullet until the dust disperse and displays not a single person in range

[Behind you!]

A gust of wind suddenly came striking his back along with the arrival of a speeding target imbued with the wind. The spirits of the wind gather around as they saw the embodiment of Zephyrus the Anemoi of the West. The air around him grew harsher and on such short notice his body fell from the sky lacerated from every nook and cranny

“This is as far as you can go. Give it up, both of us know you’re out-skilled. I’ll be the bigger man and forgive you for what you’ve done,”

He came down from the sky and scour the forest for his wounded comrade but everywhere he looked Zeke wasn’t there. Suddenly it grew eerie when he continues to follow the traces of his crater, the light of the morning vanished out of the blue. He could see the moon through the skies shining brightly whilst the forest grew ever so dreadful

[System: The player Zeke Croft activates his blessing Twilight Hunter]

“Oh goddess of the moon grant your power to your faithful avatar. I can’t become your bow, instead, let me become your arrow. The hunter famous for her success, as the moon is present give me your divinity, Artemis,”

[Twilight Hunter: Once activated conjures darkness to the surrounding area, if the moon is present bring darkness to the land

Night Walker: If the wielder is inside the darkness every stat including accuracy will be increased by double

Twilight Seeker: If grace by the moon you’ll be granted stealth, bonus movement speed, triple stats, accuracy, critical damage/rate, and grants Death mark

Death mark: Targets damaged by the user will gain a ’Death mark’ a stackable debuff that increases damage taken and decreases defense by 10% with a maximum of 10 stacks]

“Ack!”

Silas couldn’t fathom what occurred as he suddenly felt an incredibly powerful sting on his arm. The moment he looks at his arm it had a gaping hole twice the size of Zeke’s chosen bullets. Its speed and precision were nothing he could easily ignore, thanks to his current skill as a paladin he recovered from his wounds. But what awaits him was bombardment on all sides bullets came flying and he could only do so block

“Give up Silas, I won’t back down. There’s nothing you could do to stop me… do you think I don’t know? Because your level is too large the moment you enter, you got restricted. I’ll be dead if you’re in your prime, but that doesn’t matter, the trial is in my favor–”

His voice echoed from everywhere and yet he was shocked when he’s been blown away by a gust of wind. No one could detect him not even Silas, but he came prepared for anything and the stored wind in his body was released all over. It knocked the trees, leaves, and even the terrain up to the sky where he reigns supreme over anything. He felt a slight tension arise when one part had a few airs taken away by what may seem to be a person

“Found you… Gale steps, Windbreaker,” He dashes forward with the wind by his side and raises his sword for what’s to come

But the moment he reaches his destination he saw nothing but a demonized monster shrouded in the same darkness as Zeke. When he was about to leave an explosion ensued from the insides of the monster rigged with his explosives. It knocked him back and in the second he lost control he undoubtedly saw Zeke from afar with a loaded rifle

“Devil Trigger, Black Hawk (Sniper),” His bullet fired a single bullet with all of his strength as it flew to its target

Silas imbued his sword with every bit of strength left in his arsenal to parry and redirect the bullet from ending his life. His blade shattered but what broke him was that he’s been played by a fiddle by Zeke of all people. It was a bet he made at the price of his life, he knew out of every attack he’d swung to the left and it flew. The target was then changed from his comrade to the person he’s been tasked to protect

“Hugo!!!”

The immensity of its speed couldn’t be dodged by Hugo’s current strength and he saw his life flash before his own. His chest was pierced, and the impact caused most of his bones to be broken whilst his blood oozed from such a wreck of a vessel. He was dead there was no way he could’ve survived, but as the main character of this world, it was far from over

“I knew it…”

[System: You’ve killed the hero!

Alert: A special effect given to the hero at the start of the trial has been triggered!

Outcome: The player Hugo Miller’s passive effect of ’Heroic preservation’ brings him back to life!]

He safely landed on the ground with Silas on his back, then suddenly out of nowhere, he’s been tackled by a group of elves. “That’s him alright! High elves this is the person I had suspicions of. But to think he’d be a devil, I was correct to alert you,”

Like always everything came together when he heard Morris’s voice behind the elves that pinned him down. “You’re under arrest, the moment we reach the elven kingdom you’ll be executed. But first, you’ll be personally interrogated by the King himself, he’s rather fond of capturing you, devil scum. Prepare for the worst you bastard of a man,”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep