Chapter 38: Extinguished

"You… you should have stayed dead, motherfucker!"

"I told you…

…I still am."

[Reader of Fate: Craze the Third, screams that Zero never dies!]

With the snap of Zero's cloaks snapping through the dark alley, his long nails slowly revealed themselves; almost creating some sort of disgusting squelching to whisper straight into Joseph's ears.

"What… what kind of abilities did you gain from the Bubble, you fucker!?"

The powers and abilities that people received from the Bubbles vary from person to person. Some are similar, and some are completely different. Joseph was one of the most direct, simplest, and most common ones– Enhancement.

When he luckily found a small Power Bubble randomly floating around the Safe Zone a few years after humanity's nigh extinction from the Bubble Calamity. What most people don't know, however, was that popping a Power Bubble was not as simple as it seems…

…one's consciousness would disappear and be taken somewhere else– a sort of white room. One wouldn't really remember much about the time spent there, but it was some sort of challenge of survival that felt like weeks; slayers could remember that much.

Their consciousness would return back to the real world; not even a second passed with the Bubble still entering their pores. After that, well… they become completely different.

As for Joseph's case, he found himself capable of overtaking most of the monsters that come out of small-sized Bubbles– he became faster.

Natalia Woods was in the same category– except she got the whole package and was capable of destroying an entire building with a single kick. One might think it was unfair, but she became the very reason why Concretespire became possible.

There were a lot more abilities out there.

Slayers that can manipulate and summon the elements to their will, the Elementals.

Slayers that could move objects with their mind, the Telekinetics.

Slayers that can transform their bodies into a beast-like state, the Morphers.

Zero would probably belong to the latter category as his nails grew like blades… but Joseph really hasn't seen someone survive a direct hit to the heart… twice.

But if Joseph has learned anything throughout his years as a slayer, it was that if your enemy doesn't fall… then you're not just hitting them enough.

And so, with that thought, Joseph made the first move– gritting his teeth at the pain from his foot as he leaped forward like some sort of cheetah. And with the short distance between him and Zero, it didn't even take a second for his blades to reach both of Zero's ankles– cutting the back of them before he could even react.

"Now it's fair, motherfucker!" Joseph immediately pivoted and turned around using his knuckles; his eyes already lowered to the ground as he expected Zero to be groveling with both his ankles cut.

But alas, contrary to his expectations… Zero still remained standing; his head, slightly turned back as his eyes once again stared at him like he was some sort of prey.

"W… what?" Did his daggers not go all the way through? Was it because of Zero's cloak? Numerous thoughts were now circling and racing through Joseph's mind as he very slowly and carefully stood up; Zero's eyes, still following him as he did so.

Even if Zero could survive a knife through the chest, he would have still lost his balance if his ankles were cut– even if it wasn't fully damaged, he should have fallen just from the sheer pain alone.

So… why was he just casually turning around towards him right now?

"..." Zero then very slowly stepped forward… slightly tumbling as he did so.

"!!!" He's hurt! Joseph immediately thought as he once again rushed towards Zero; this time, he was truly going for the kill. His daggers, aiming only at Zero's eyes.

"Too fucking slow!" Joseph then tilted his head down as Zero threatened to maul his face off; his long sharp nails, only brushing the surface of Joseph's skin as he moved to his side.

Zero was about to bite Joseph's neck as he got near, but before he could do so, Joseph pulled his cloak down; causing him to finally fall with his back on the ground.

"Got you, fucker!"

And with him completely defenseless, Joseph tightened his grip on both his daggers as he slammed them straight towards Zero's eyes; letting a small and disgusting squelching sound to whisper in the air.

Well… at least that's what it would have sounded like if Zero wasn't able to block the two daggers with his arm.

"Wha–" And before Joseph could even say his favorite set of words again, he found himself unable to speak and fully closed his mouth… as Zero's sharp fingers penetrated the bottom of his jaw; almost like a hook as they went through the opening of his mouth.

And without letting Joseph react any further, Joseph's blood rained down on Zero's face as he completely tore off his jaw.

Joseph didn't have to be sad for long because of his lost jaw, however, as another jaw welcomed him– Zero's jaw which immediately gnawed at his neck not even a second after.

[Proceeding to Absorbed the Devoured's skills…]

[...]

[.....]

[Skill: Enhanced Speed Lv. 3, Gained!]

[Host Level, Up!]

[Host Level, Up!]

[Would you like to distribute your Status Points?]

[...]

[.....]

[Failure to answer within the allowable time: Automatically distributing Status Points.]

[...Can't add any more to Intelligence. Determining Host's needed Status.]

[Adding 2 points to Mana.]

And while a barrage of texts once again bombarded Zero's eyes; he continued to devour Joseph without stopping for even a single second.

Almost. Although everything happened so fast, his existence was almost extinguished tonight. If it wasn't for him injuring Joseph before the fight, then Zero was sure that he would be the one lying on the ground being feasted upon by his maggots.

He truly wasn't expecting Joseph to be able to move like that– his aura wasn't that prominent; weaker than the scent of the leader of the Wind Mafia, Hector. Meaning he should have been weaker than Zero.

This is the first time he decided to try and fight a slayer head-on… and he almost lost. Zombies are extinguished when their brains are damaged– and Joseph almost did just that. He... lacked real battle experience against slayers.

"..." Zero then raised his arm to look at the two daggers that almost claimed his existence. These humans… they truly are interesting creatures, he thought as he pulled the daggers out.

These daggers, they are his now. Zero then sat up as his teeth finally left Joseph's body, before using the two blades to completely split his body in half so that he would be able to get Joseph's belt; which he used to hide the daggers.

"...Oh," but then they unfastened as he grabbed them, Zero realized that he didn't really need to cut Joseph's body in half,

"...Thank you for the meal and the weapons," Zero then once again nodded to the corpse as he finally stood up. Unlike in the normal parts of the Safe Zone, Zero would probably need to hide or devour the body whole… but here, in the slums?

The birds, rodents, and the maggots would feast on him before anyone would find him. And if someone does, they would probably just walk over his corpse.

This place… the Red Light District… Zero was truly starting to like it.

Zero then wore the belt with a little difficulty, before sheathing and hanging the daggers on his waist– completely hidden due to his cloak. These daggers will be a fine addition to his outfit, Zero thought… But still, he had another weapon that somewhat grew eerily attached to; and he wanted it back…

…the halberd he left in Charlotte's apartment.