- Motives and Resolve

5 hours later...

In a certain cave, Edge was bound by chains while paralyzing needles were pricking his arms and legs.

When he came to, he looked around and inspected the situation he was in until he saw a man seated cross-legged on top of a stone in front of him.

As if sensing his gaze, the man opened his eyes and spoke:

"Good morning. I am sorry but I don't have food to offer you."

Edge was a bit startled at the man's words but he eventually calmed himself down.

"Why are you keeping me alive?" He asked.

Zex was not surprised at his straightforwardness. Instead, he developed more respect for the man as he declared: "I need information on Grimley!"

At these words, Edge's heart skipped a beat. "Are you going to attack Grimley?"

"Depends on what you tell me." Zex said while maintaining a cold expression.

Of course, Edge understood the meaning behind those words. It wouldn't matter if he gave true or false information, as he didn't know the bottom line of the man he was speaking with. Exaggerating things might cause the other party to not believe him, while selling the kingdom short may have the same effect.

So he decided to ask one more question:

"How confident are you in defeating the 4 remaining heroes who were with me?"

Hearing this, Zex jumped off from the rock and walked towards Edge.

Edge still had a straight face until the moment Zex took a step towards him.

Starting from his feet, a sharp and solid aura began to permeate and shroud Zex's being. Not only that but there were streaks of black flames swimming in the aura like snakes rising.

By the time Zex arrived a meter in front of him, The black flames completely overtook the entirety of the aura but were now focused onto the outlines of Zex's body like a dark transparent outer skin. He called this the [Black Flame Armor] which was a skill he created by applying his mastery over the principles of the [Blade Aura] on his Black Flames while taking various references from some novels and manga he read in his previous life.

Edge was staring at Zex as if he was a monster the entire time. He finally had an inkling as to how this demon was able to perform the techniques he taught to his students.

This man's level of control over the [Blade Aura] surpassed even his on the first step he made.

By the second, it no longer was a simple blade aura, but one that had another aura seemingly devouring it voraciously --- something that he could not accomplish even after years of training and research. He recalled that this was the aura the man in front of him used to parry his blow and break through his defense. Looking at it closer, he noticed that the black flames were greatly attracted to the [Blade Aura] as if it was food. He guessed that the man used this property to lock on his blow no matter how he changed the trajectory as well as pass through his defenses easily at the second strike, dealing a heavy blow to him which decided the victor of their duel.

By the third step, he saw a form he could only theorize but could not even understand its underlying principles nor imagine the process to even reach it. The mixture of 2 auras was perfect as if they were never separate auras, to begin with. The black flames have completely devoured the blade aura and taken its properties as its own. The [Blade Aura] was not made of mana. It was made of Chi or Life Energy. In this world, it costs stamina to generate. The Black Flames was using the [Blade Aura] as fuel to strengthen itself further. In other words, [Black Flame Armor] used both Mana and Stamina. Not only this, the consumption needed to balance the two was tremendous, along with another resource being drained rapidly to activate and maintain it --- Concentration.

At the final step, the aura no longer resembled an aura but an almost invisible coating on top of the skin. Think of it as a highly condensed liquid as thin as paper outlining a man's body.

However, despite how thin it looked, it contained a huge water tank in volume. As a reference, it looked like Armament Haki from One Piece or some Nen techniques in Hunter x Hunter which were 2 of the various references Zex used to arrive at this technique [1][2].

This condensed aura could be said to be the perfect equipment. The user would not easily be damaged even by the mightiest of blows while infusing or manifesting weapons with this aura could cut almost anything.

'The downside to this must be the consumption.' Edge hypothesized in his mind.

And just as he guessed, after a second or two, Zex was sweating bullets and the aura dissipated.

Edge sighed but he regained his calm expression.

"If you can maintain that aura for a long period, I am afraid only Drago could pose a threat to you. However, there aren't only 5 of us in the Kingdom of Grimley. Including us, there are a total of 16. 6 of those are only second to Drago. One is Arissef, I am one, and the other 4 are always protecting the throne."

Edge paused for a second and examined the facial expression of the man before him but there was no change at all.

"Drago may be the strongest but even he could not defeat the other 4 I mentioned if they worked together." He paused for a moment as if he was hesitating to say the following words: "I am guessing that you can learn the skills of others by some method."

Edge finally said what he was meaning to say in his heart. He already had suspicions during their battle but was convinced of it when someone he never taught would learn his unique techniques... and even surpass them in such a short amount of time.

"Correct." Zex did not refute.

At this, Edge's face contorted but he soon calmed down. To normal people, he was a freak of nature. A prodigy, a genius... it would be too complacent of him not to accept that there are more monsters out there with way better capabilities than him.

"Then I must warn you not to face Drago just yet. It would be best for you to learn more skills and refine them as you did with mine. At least find a way to maintain that perfect aura longer. Or else, you would not have any chance against him… even if you transformed to your demon form. Not to mention Arissef is with him. He is called the Demon Slayer for a reason and most demon lords we slew were killed mostly because of his abilities."

Edge had a stern look but was earnestly warning the man who held him captive. He had reasons for this. After all, he was imprisoned by the Kingdom and sentenced to death for killing a noble, no matter how justified his actions were. Despite all the years he spent serving the Kingdom, what that noble did was something he held a grudge for even if decades had passed from the moment he killed him. He never regretted his actions. Not even once. The only regret he felt was that he couldn't kill that noble twice or maybe even thrice.

"What do you ask in return for this information?" Zex asked. He knew about the grudge Edge had or at least the boiling feeling within him. He was able to feel the pain and the anguish the man felt as he devoted his entire being to improving and mastering his techniques throughout the years, including the emotions he had regarding the incidents related to that noble and those regarding demons. Zex felt the various emotions Edge felt as he was facing the challenges in his life that allowed him to, time and time again, break through the limits of a human. This was one of the prices he had to pay to use the Black Flames' 'Download' ability. It was like you were being tortured for things you never experienced yourself and made to suffer consequences and emotional baggage from actions you did not even make. However, he kept in his heart and mind that all these were worth it because of the skills he learned and the bundles of joy and accomplishment he also felt when the original owners were able to finally learn them.

Each skill he learned through this method was a different roller coaster each time. It was just that in such a period of chaos, pain and suffering outweighed and outnumbered the joy and luxury. He was beginning to think that if he was never into stories from games, novels, comics, and films in his previous life, imagining himself in every character's shoes he could, he might go insane at a far faster pace.

'Misfortune is always paired with great opportunity.' Zex lamented in his heart. In most of the stories in his previous life, for someone to be a hero, one must go through crucibles most people would not even dare imagine. In contrast, if he was to continue being the villain, he will have to go through worse and accept that his ending might even be torture itself.

Zex asked Edge for any request, not because he was feeling like a good Samaritan. He genuinely wished for Edge to pass on without worry so he would have one ghost less to have in his consciousness.

After hearing the question, the temptation to ask for his life rose in Edge's heart but he knew it was impossible.

So he mustered up the courage and prayed to any god listening that this wish is granted by the man in charge of his life right now.

"I beg of you… before you lay siege to the kingdom of Grimley, protect my daughter. Her name is Dhana. She works at a flower shop near the first fountain facing the west gate."

Edge stared into Zex's eyes as he told him his request.

Facing Edge's glare, Zex's heart felt like it was being clenched as his respect for the man grew exponentially. Deep within him, he wished that Edge would plead for his life. That there was a degree of selfishness in Edge's heart. That he would have more reason to kill him. He also wished that Edge was aligned with evil so he could make him his subordinate and become his first elite guard, instead. However, it was just not meant to be. Neither wish could be granted.

He took a deep breath and steeled his heart.

"I swear upon my true name: @#$&#+@-#&#! I shall do everything in my power to fulfill this request." Zex gave the man his word.

In his last moments, Edge was stunned at Zex's declaration and then finally smiled in relief as the man in front of him made a blade with his aura and ended it all swiftly.

System: You have killed a legendary hero from the Kingdom of Grimley, The Agent of Death, Edge. Experience + 1,500,000.

System: You have killed a legendary hero from the Chaotic Good alignment. Considered an Evil Action, Additional 1,500,000 Exp from [Repressed Evil].

You have gained 1 [Repressed Evil Fragment].

System: (Legendary Class)[Agent of Death] unlocked.

[1] Haki is the use of spiritual power to perform special and powerful feats that select characters in One Piece are capable of. Armament Haki is one of those feats, using spiritual power to reinforce certain parts of the body or weapons to bolster defense or attacks.

[2] Nen or life energy or aura techniques are those used by characters in Hunter X Hunter to perform feats like enhancing defenses, enhancing attacks, concentrating aura to certain body parts, infusing aura to items, etc.