Alternate Self

The demon breathed.

"You are a strange strange girl. I can no longer sense any fear from you." A menacing aura surrounding his figure, "There's nothing for me to gain from keeping you alive anymore. Now then, farewell."

Amaya tried to pry free from his grip, but it was just too powerful.

The demon's right arm tensed up, charging for a strike. This strike would deal the finishing blow.

Suddenly, there was a voice. A voice that only Amaya could hear. It echoed through-out her mind.

"Let me take over."

As confused as Amaya was, she didn't have time to figure out what was happening. Slowly, her vision began to darken, like her consciousness was being swallowed by a shadow. At the same time, she could feel herself losing control of her body, like another being was taking over. Like she was being possessed.

'What's...going...on?' These were her final thoughts before she fully lost consciousness.

As the demon was about to deal the finishing blow, Amaya slipped away from his grip. Firmly, she slammed a kick against the side of his neck. Right after, she kicked his chest. The impact was enough to push the demon back.

He grinned with excitement.

"You're very aura has changed. Interestinnng. Soo interestinnnng"

In this moment, it an entirely different person in control of Amaya's body. One that wore a blank, expressionless face. The look in her eyes was cold as winter.

"...."

"I reaaaly wasn't expecting you to pack power in your attacks like that. That reallyyyy hurt."

"....."

"No matterrr, I will be ending this now."

An unexpected statement flew from the mouth of Amaya.

"I should mention, you're not fighting the same girl anymore." her expression remained blank.

This struck the demon with a slight confusion.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Amaya straightened her stance and raised her fists.

"This body has lots of limitations. Self-doubt, emotions, ideals. They all hold this body back from what it's really capable of." colder than ever, her eyes nearly shined under the moonlight, "I am the version where these limitations don't exist. I am what this body is capable of at the moment."

The demon's aura intensified and it started to pulsate. The sheer blood-lust became visible on his face, it twisted around with a grin. Razor sharp teeth became visible.

"Allowww me to test your strength. Ooohh, I cannot wait to sink my teeth into your neck."

"...."

"Here I come. Be readyyy."

Instantly the demon's figure vanished from sight, then appeared right next to Amaya. A deadly fist swung straight at her face, ready to bash in. The force behind it was enough to kill even an S-rank adventurer.

By the length of a hair, Amaya ducked underneath then countered with an uppercut, so powerful that it snapped the demon's jaw out of place.

As he tried to attack with his claws, Amaya maneuvered around. She threw three separate jabs at his body, before slamming her elbow into his face.

The attacks didn't end there.

The demon had no time to react as an avalanche of kicks came down on his face. At the end of it all, he was left on his knees, out of stamina, breathing rapidly.

"....What are you?..."

"I'm Amaya...Well, I suppose I'm not necessarily her. Maybe I'll just go by the name 'Maya.'"

"Your power, you're only B-rank...So how....how are you fighting like that??"

It was a simple answer all together. The demon just wasn't as strong as he thought he was.

His durability was likely on the level of an S-ranker, but his speed and strength were only B-rank. An opponent like that, Maya could easily excel against.

"It's not my intention to come off as cocky. But I'll say this: I simply excel in combat. I'm fairly confident that nobody can beat me in terms of quick-thinking. Not unless they outmatch me by a long shot."

"I lost. Insterestinnnnng."

Maya walked over to the demon, glaring down at him. He was out of energy and could no longer rise to threaten her. It was time to end things off. Maya tore one off. Then using its edge, she impaled the demon straight through the face.

Shank!

[Exp >>>>]

[Leveled Up]

[Level 7>>> Level 8]

The biggest threat was finished. Now, the only ones remaining were the cultists.

Equipped with dagger's, they all charged at Maya. The first one swung her throat, but missed as she side-stepped it. She smashed her palm against his throat and stole the dagger out his grip. In a single slash, she beheaded him.

[Exp >>>]

From all angles, the other cultist slashed away at her, but their attacks were to slow. Maya leaped around side-to side, narrowly evading the blades. One very close to striking her, but passed right in front of her face, cutting a strand of her hair. With some effort of dodging, Maya made her way around the enemies. She was in position for a perfectly lined-up attack.

['Burst' Activated]

Quicker than any of the cultist could track, Maya dashed passed them, slashing their throats in the process. Blood spurted into the air as their bodies dropped heavily. With that, seven separate enemies were killed.

There was just one more left and that was the masked woman who had been watching everything play out.

"Your strength is very impressive. I can see that you are skilled." she said.

Maya had nothing to say, she only stared blankly.

"...."

"I can sense something off about you." She gazed upon Maya, studying each and every feature of hers. Hair, eyes, face, nose, posture. The masked woman observed every detail, not ignoring anything, "You're Unique. You're just like a monster, except you have a human body." The woman went on to point out something else, "Not to mention your hair. And eyes. You resemble Zenobia."

"There's nothing unique about me. I'm just a girl that knows how to use her bodies capability's." Maya replied.

But this exact reason is why she was unique.

"Self-doubt, emotions, Ideals, you said that you removed all of these things that limit you. A girl your age isn't capable of something like that." The masked woman held her hand out, welcoming a handshake, "Our organization would welcome you. Come, join us, the dark mages."

It was a good offer. If Maya were to agree to this, she'd be let off the hook. It was generous of the masked woman, especially when the fact remains that her allies were just killed. Then again, the woman didn't care much about them to begin with.

Maya came to decision. There was no chance that she'd ever join a cult of psychopaths. Especially after seeing how they're all just tools to each other. Who's to say they wouldn't sacrifice her. And also, Amaya probably wouldn't enjoy this decision being made for her.

"I'll pass." said Maya.

Even if the woman in front was masked, it was easy to sense her intentions.

Her hand clenched the hand to her dagger, the blade began to vibrate with a dark energy.

"That's a shame. I suppose I'll have to end your life. You already know too much."

"I understand." Maya replied.

[Gut Feeling]

At the perfect moment, Maya jumped over a sharp gust of darkness. The force which it held was immense. Exactly fifteen different trees were spilt apart by it.

Instant death for her was avoided, but just barely.

The masked woman sheathed her weapon and sighed.

"You're definitely something. It's too risky to fight you, seeing that I don't know your capabilities. You get to live for now." Her tone deepened a bit, in a way that could've intimated anyone else, "Furthermore, I promise you this: You'll pay for trying to get in our way. Someday, you and I will meet again. And you will not survive."

A thick fog appeared, swallowing the masked woman. The way she faded form sight was almost mysterious. Swiftly, the fog vanished, the woman was gone. Not one piece of evidence remained of her, aside from the trees she demolished.

Maya stood still, observing the corpses scattered across the mud. These cultists weren't the brightest people. The fact that they were willing to throw their lives way proved that. But this was exactly what made them dangerous. People who have no value for life were bound by nothing.

One thing was for certain, they were going to be an issue in the future.

"When the time comes, will you be able to handle them?" Maya asked Amaya.

But of course, Amaya couldn't hear this. She was in a slumber, in a place withing her mind.