7. A Hero’s Birth.

7. A Hero's Birth.

"Damn it."

Kevin realized with a jolt that he had left his sword in the carriage. His clumsiness and failure to grasp the gravity of the situation only worsened the conditions.

"Think! Think! Think! Think! Think, Kevin, think! Think of something quickly!"

His mind descended into complete chaos.

It was at this moment that the demon, gripping Andrew by the neck, glanced over his shoulder. A sense of danger tingled within him.

The intelligent demon swiftly detected the shift in the situation. Sensing the imminent threat, the demon chose to cease tormenting Andrew and swiftly corrupt him, turning him into a servant.

The demon was already too weakened to resist another human.

The reason was that he had pushed his 'incomplete' Baron form to its limits. Any moment now, he would endure significant damage, potentially fatal. This was the price he paid for the power he had gained, albeit temporarily.

But he didn't care; the demonification of Andrew was of greater importance to him.

A swirling black miasma began to flow and dance around the demon's palm.

Pointing his finger towards Andrew's forehead, the demon grinned.

Andrew, teetering on the edge of death, was already broken both physically and mentally. Consequently, he began absorbing the miasma into his own body.

The demon's face lit up with satisfaction. The immense effort he had exerted to capture this creature was paying off. The demon at the Baron level would now have a servant nearly as powerful as himself. Not only would this enhance his reputation among his peers, but it would also expedite his ascent through the ranks.

The mere thought brought forth a laugh from the demon.

*Cough

Splurt-

Thud-

However, a problem arose. Before the demon could fully corrupt Andrew, a human hand pierced through the demon's chest, clutching his newly formed core.

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

"AGHHHHHHHHH!"

The demon cried out in excruciating pain.

"Huff... huff... filthy demons."

Kevin spat on the black, now formless, mass of flesh that was once a humanoid figure.

He had utilized his affinities to the fullest in order to get close to the demon. He employed the wind to muffle his footsteps, lightning to cover the distance, and ice to shatter the tough core in his grasp.

However, his objective was different—he aimed to save Andrew.

"Huh? Andrew!"

Kevin looked upon Andrew's maimed body, devoid of charm, missing two hands and a leg. Andrew resembled a lifeless corpse.

Struggling with the remaining traces of miasma, Andrew turned his gaze toward Kevin and managed a faint smile.

"H...how...was...the show?"

Kevin momentarily didn't grasp Andrew's intention, but then it dawned on him.

When Andrew's limbs were severed, Kevin stood there, motionless with shock. From Andrew's desperate perspective, it appeared as if Kevin was deriving some sort of sick pleasure from the gruesome sight.

This was the effect of miasma.

Demons were not fundamentally different from humans, except for their superior attributes. Greed, envy, pride, and lust—everything that humans possessed—were also present in demons, but amplified to an extreme degree.

However, there was a side effect to this amplification. Since every demon experienced intensified emotions, their actions often became excessive and overkill.

Cowardice was no exception. Demons below the rank of count never engaged in fights with opponents stronger than themselves. Power was the paramount factor, and the one who possessed the most power could make others bow their heads. That's why demons always fled from losing battles.

All of this was due to the demonic energy inherent within them.

At present, Andrew was suffering from the same effect as he transformed into a demon. Although to a lesser extent, his body absorbed the demonic energy known as miasma.

His envy of Kevin's affinities, his lust for the village chieftain's granddaughter, his greed for monster cores, his pride in being the strongest in town—every negative thought fueled the power required for the growth of demonic energy.

His body rapidly began regenerating and morphing into a more demonic form, but there still remained a flicker of sanity within him that resisted the miasma's influence.

Kevin furrowed his brow upon noticing this. He knew he had to act swiftly, or else Andrew would be reborn as a full-fledged demon.

"Do me a favor, Kevin," Andrew's voice rang out, clear and resolute.

His words had a soothing effect, even as the demonic energy continued to surge.

"Kill me."

Andrew closed his eyes, no longer wishing to gaze upon the person who failed to come to his aid.

Kevin, clouded with conflicting thoughts, instinctively grabbed a nearby sword lying on the ground and plunged it into Andrew's heart.

Splurt-

Cough-

Andrew coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"I-..."

Kevin, realizing what he had done on an unconscious level, panicked. He wanted to deny his actions and help Andrew in any other way possible. But it was too late.

The deed had already been done.

"I hate you, Kevin."

Those were Andrew's final words before the light faded from his eyes.

The surroundings fell into a deafening silence. Even the wind ceased its whispers.

Thud-

Kevin knelt before Andrew's lifeless body, his head bowed low.

Tip-tip-

A few drops of rainwater splashed onto the ground, and soon rain began to pour.

It remained unclear which rain was falling.

Was it the rain cascading from Kevin's tear-filled eyes, or were they the clouds weeping above in the sky?

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

However, one thing was certain—Kevin wept.

He wept and wept...

With each tear that fell, the rain intensified in its fervor.

His gaze fixated upon Andrew's lifeless body.

A twisted smirk adorned Andrew's face that stabbed Kevin's heart with sorrow.

Perhaps he cursed his luck, the god he once believed in, or even himself? No one knew, or rather, no one was there to know, except for Kevin.

Kevin employed his senses to survey and absorb his surroundings.

And what he beheld was a multitude of horrors. Countless humans lay strewn across the ground, each in a different state of despair.

Claw marks etched into their chests, terror etched upon their faces, bodies decapitated, women splayed with torn garments, some cradling their children in their final moments, homes reduced to charred ruins, shattered structures, forests consumed by flames, lifeless animals, and slain demons.

The more he observed, the more memories of the once-joyful town flooded his mind.

His grandfather, who had rescued Kevin from the treacherous forest on that fateful night and welcomed him as family. His uncle, who had cared for him like a true father figure.

John's daughter, the object of his affection. Her smile had served as his motivation, inspiring him to conquer any obstacle.

Now, the three of them lay upon the earth in varying states of devastation.

Kevin felt utterly powerless.

Kevin was enveloped by hopelessness.

Kevin was tormented by regret.

Kevin was being consumed by the darkness.

Deeper and deeper he sank...

With each passing moment, his body emitted a unique aura—a palpable energy so potent that even the raindrops from the heavens failed to touch, let alone reach him.

A vivid spectrum of blue, orange, red, white, and golden hues blanketed the land.

Crackling lightning surged within his form, ice particles cloaked the earth, and a fiery storm blazed within Kevin's eyes. The space surrounding him distorted and shifted.

"Demons... demons... demons... demons..."

He repeated the words in an almost trance-like state.

And then, it happened.

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

Kevin bellowed with all the strength he possessed.

His body exuded a malevolence so potent that any demon within proximity would flee, their fear causing their bladders to tremble.

Kevin vowed to exact vengeance for everything he had lost.

His family, the villagers, the women and children, the innocent creatures, and his cherished best friend.

For all that the demons had stripped away from him, Kevin found himself in the depths of despair. His sole purpose now was to annihilate demons, his sanity completely forsaken.

Unleashing the full extent of his affinity powers, Kevin stood prepared to unleash chaos upon the world, devoid of any semblance of direction.

His desire burned fiercely to deliver justice to his fallen brethren.

The storm surrounding Kevin intensified, a testament to its unforgiving presence.

However, a single sound brought everything to a halt.

<Ding! >

<The host for the system has been found!>

<Kevin Finnair has been selected for the system.>

<System initiation in progress...>

From this pivotal moment in the history of Ventra, a seed of hope was sown—the hope that someone would rise to bring justice, the hope that the tyrannical reign of the Demon King would be brought to an end...

It was at this moment that a Hero was born.

[A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! And if you did, please lend me your POWERRRR!!]