Mobius Mountains (3)

The tentacles on Vivian's face wiggled slightly as she let out a soft chuckle.

Although she couldn't see Ramirez's actual appearance because of her demonic eyes, she could at least see that he no longer sported a humanoid blue-colored nervous system shape.

He was now a 5-meter-tall blue-colored primordial beast but was missing his left leg so he was on his knees.

Aside from his overall blue appearance, his face no longer resembled a human but a beast, he had red eyes, long sharp teeth, two long curved white horns on his head, and his head except for his face was covered with white-blue fur.

His body was no different either.

His upper torso had a muscular humanoid shape but his hands were beast-like with long black claws, he had dragon-like wings with thick white-blue fur, and his shoulders, chest and forearms were also covered in thick fur. 

Meanwhile, his lower body was truly that of a beast. His legs, although shorter for his upper body and no longer humanoid, were bulging with muscles and with long black claws designed to pounce on prey, and he also had a tail.

"So that's the Tamer's Class Magic [Beast Transformation], huh," Vivian said and a few of her eyes glanced at the human leg on one of her hands. "I didn't know it doesn't repair missing limbs."

[Power Throw].

Woooh! Vooom!

She suddenly threw the leg at Ramirez and then charged.

Ramirez moved to the side to evade his leg as he activated a spell and a skill.

[Beast Howl].

He let out a loud roar and Vivian felt an invisible wave brush all over her body.

[Blood Drinker].

A translucent red light appeared on his body before disappearing.

BOOOM!

A small wave erupted between Vivian and Ramirez when they clashed.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

Bam! Chak! Pah! Bam! Bam! Chak! Pah! Bam! Bam! Chak! Pah! Bam!

Vivian's wounds were healed as she transformed into a 5-meter-tall Demon and they both quickly started exchanging blows. She would punch, and stab and claw with her nails. Meanwhile, Ramirez, on the other hand, would punch and claw. 

[Poison Storm].

Psssh!

An incantation circle with a diameter of 10 meters appeared above them and green mist began descending.

Noticing that Vivian's speed began to weaken, Ramirez immediately lunged over and then grabbed onto her neck and tentacles before biting down.

Chaa-riiiip!

"GYAAAAHHHH!!!"

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

He ripped out a chunk of Vivian's front face with his teeth, causing her to howl in agony. And before she could get a chance to recover, let alone counter, he immediately switched to punching and clawing her face relentlessly as they were engulfed in the green mist.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

And every time he Vivian would heal her wounds, he would immediately activate a skill.

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

A huge chunk of Vivian's face was obliterated and he resumed punching and clawing while the green mist continued to cover them both.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

The same thing happened.

Vivian, who felt helpless due to Ramirez's relentless attacks and the [Poison Storm] keeping her weak that she couldn't land a proper heavy blow to push him off, was beginning to panic as her consciousness was switching on and off from dying and reviving.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

WHY ISN'T HE BEING AFFECTED BY THE GREEN MIST…?!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

I CAN'T TAKE A BREAK…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

I CAN'T DIE HERE…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

I CAN'T EVEN ACTIVATE [GREATER ORIGIN ENCHANT] AND [HALO]…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

I'LL RUN OUT OF MANA BEFORE HE DOES…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

THINK…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

FUCKING THINK…!!!

[Power Fist].

Riiiip!

Bam! Chaak! Pah! Bam! Chaak! Pah!

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

Instead of just healing, Vivian also transformed into a 10-meter-tall Demon, distancing Ramirez from her face.

Ramirez, who landed on Vivian's stomach, was caught in a surprise. As a veteran, he knew that a Demon's natural height was 6 meters. And if the Demon wanted to go beyond that, they would have to cast [Chaos Enchant] first and then cast [Chaos Transformation] in order to reach anywhere between 6 to 18 meters.

Vooom!

He regained his bearings. He used his claws and remaining leg to propel himself and flapped his wings as he rushed towards Vivian's head.

[Greater Origin Enchant].

Dark red lighting appeared on Vivian's hand.

[Halo].

A golden ring that was appropriate for Vivian's 10-meter-tall body began to manifest on her back and it continued to grow as the dark red lightning was being absorbed.

Ramirez was taken back, causing him to falter for a moment.

He didn't notice the odd color of Vivian's Chaos lightning. But for the [Halo], although he wasn't affected by its charm effect, he was too stunned to see it.

"Mar-How…?"

[Greater Origin Enchant].

Dark red lightning appeared on Vivian's hand once more.

[Explosive Claw].

BOOOOM!!!

Ramirez's body turned into a mist of blood.

Vivian quickly deactivated [Halo].

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

She transformed back to a 3-meter-tall demon and was on her knees and panting.

"Haa…"

"Haa…"

She glanced around if there were any signs of Ramirez.

He's finally dead…

"Haa…"

Fuck…!

How many have seen that giant [Halo] of mine…?!

I must make sure not a living thing survives…!

"FUCKING HELL!!!"

She got up and activated spells.

[Greater Origin Enchant].

[Halo].

Vooom!

***

Sometime later…

Vivian was in her 5-meter-tall Demon form as she casually strolled amidst the ruins of what used to be a human settlement and held 6 six people on her hands.

There were people from different genders and age groups.

The child and women were crying. Meanwhile, the men remained silent.

Vivian stopped and shook her hand that carried the child.

"Stop crying! So noisy!"

When the child stopped crying, she resumed walking until she finally reached the center of the human settlement.

She released one of her captives which was a man in his mid-30s.

"Do you swear fealty to me?" 

Ba-riiiip!

The man took too long to answer so she obliterated him with [Power Claw], causing everyone to stare in horror. The child and women bit their lips to suppress the urge to cry.

Vivian let out a sigh.

I didn't expect that not everyone could speak the Zonian language…

This is annoying…

She released another person. This time around, it was a man in his early 40s.

"Do you swear fealty to me?"

"I SWEAR! I SWEAR TO SERVE AND HONOR YOU WITH ALL MY LIFE!!!"

Oh lucky~…!

Finally, one who speaks Zonian…!

Vivian nodded in satisfaction.

Now let's try this…

She reached out to him with one of her hands and activated a spell.

[Greater Origin Blessing].

A dark-red lightning enveloped his body.

Ding!

'You have gained 1 minion!'

Ding!

'Unlocked [Chaos Lord] Lore!'

Vivian ignored the messages that flashed in front of her and focused on her minion.

I can feel his presence…

As if there is this invisible thread connecting us…

As for the man, he was completely speechless. He already witnessed how powerful Vivian was and how cruel she could be. However, he didn't expect this.

He fell down on his knees and slammed his head on the ground as he prostrated.

"I, CARLITO, SWEAR TO SERVE YOU FOREVER, OH GREAT GREATER DEMON…!"

Two of the captives who could understand Zonian and knew about demons also became speechless.

He found out right away…?

But then again, as a Greater Demon, the Affinity I give --…

"What affinity did you get from me?"

Carlito raised his head a bit and peeked before slamming his head against the ground once again.

"CHAOS AFFINITY, OH GREAT GREATER DEMON…!"

"Not Origin Affinity?"

Carlito raised his head a bit once again.

"Would you fucking stop that and just talk to me normally?"

He slowly raised his head fully and straightened his back but remained kneeling on the ground.

"I don't know what's Origin Affinity, Oh Great Greater Demon…"

"Stop calling me 'Oh Great Greater Demon'. Master would do."

"Yes, Master…"

"Can you feel my presence?"

"Yes, Master…!"

So he can feel my presence as well…

I guess this is why the Temple of Priests is able to hunt down their leaders or nests…

Too dangerous…

Vivian recalled some of the things she learned back at Training Camp and the Training Course.

The Master can control the minion to some extent…

She issued a mental command.

Blaaak.

Carlito transformed into a 5-meter-tall Demon, destroying his clothes in the process.

"Can you create minions as well?"

"Yes, Master, once I learn [Chaos Blessing]."

He doesn't have [Chaos Blessing]…?

"What Chaos spells do you have?"

"I have [Chaos Enchant] and [Chaos Transformation], Master..."

This wasn't taught at Basic Training and the Training Course…

So a minion immediately gets the transformation spell, huh…

And plus, I thought it would be like my experience…

I started only with the enchant spell...

"Do you feel stronger?"

"With this power you gave me, Master, I'll definitely become --"

"I'm not asking about that. I'm asking if your Physical and Magic Force increased."

"Sorry Master, but no... However, once I start training my [Chaos Mastery], I'll definitely grow more powerful…!"

So a minion automatically gets the enchant and transformation spells but no extra stats…?

"Aside from Chaos, what other Magic Art Affinities do you have?"

"I have Wind and Earth, Master…"

"I see. I want you to hit me."

Carlito's face became pale.

"Hit you…? But… I can't… I wouldn't dare…"

Pah.

Vivian slapped his head.

"Quit wasting my time."

"Please forgive me, Master…!"

Pah.

"What did I just say?"

Although the slaps were so light, the difference between their stats was so high that it was enough to almost tore his head away from his body, leaving him in a daze.

Woooh!

Carlito finally threw a punch at Vivian. However, the moment his punch was about to connect, it stopped a few millimeters away, as if some invisible force was preventing it.

"Interesting," Vivian said and nodded. "Now try cursing at me."

Although the minion was afraid, he was more afraid of getting scolded and slapped by Vivian.

"Y-Y-You disgusting demon…! May the Elemental Gods d-d-destroy your soul out of e-existence…!"

Vivian issued another mental command.

Blaaak.

The minion turned back to his human form and he was now completely naked.

I don't know how much mana this guy has and I need to go back to the border checkpoint before the sun rises…

This has got to be my last experiment…

She issued another mental command, preventing him from using his transformation spell.

"Do you feel anything?"

Carlito nodded.

"Yes, Master… I... I can no longer use [Chaos Transformation]…"

"You can hear my mental commands?"

"Not exactly, Master… It's more like a feeling, Master…"

"Can you send me one?"

He shook his head.

"I can't, Master…"

"Try it."

Carlito's face crunched as he tried to send a mental command to Vivian.

And after waiting for almost a minute, she finally had enough.

"Stop."

Carlito relaxed.

"Yes, Master…"

Vivian revoked the mental command, causing Carlito's eyes to brighten.

"Master, I can finally use [Chaos Transformation]…!"

She issued another mental command.

Thud!

"AAAHHH!!!" Carlito cried in pain as he fell to the ground.

That's interesting…

She revoked her command and issued another one.

Blaaak!

The pain stopped and Carlito transformed into a 5-meter-tall Demon.

Vivian then sent out a mental order for him to get up and he got up.

"These humans," she said and presented one of them in front of his face. "What do you see when you look at them with your demonic eyes?"

"I… I see something like blue roots or veins all over their body, Master..."

Blue roots, eh…?

I don't know if the term nervous system doesn't exist in his vocabulary or in this world's vocabulary…

"Do you feel hungry when staring at them?"

Carlito stared at the person held in front of his face by Vivian. It was a woman in her mid-20s and the wife of one of his friends.

"She's… not bad, Master…."

"That wasn't my question," Vivian said in a cold voice.

"Yes, I feel hungry when looking at her, Master… She looks very tasty..."

"For food or for sex? Or both?"

"For food…"

Vivian pulled the woman away from Carlito's face.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak.

One of her giant demonic eyes reverted to its human form and she studied the woman.

"Well, to be fair, she's ugly. So I guess it was pointless."

No one dared to say a word, including the woman.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak.

Vivian's human eye turned back to its demon form.

"Tell me, who was that old man I fought."

"You mean Ramirez, Master…? He's our Village Chief…"

"How long has been your Village Chief?"

"He has been our Village Chief for at least 20 years, master…"

"20 years? The Aristocratic Nobles of the land allowed you people to stay here for more than 20 years?"

Carlito shook his head.

"Master, although 20 years seems a long time, most Rogue Settlers, especially the young ones, are like the wind who come and go… And if we're lucky to reach old age, we come to settlements like this…"

"But that still doesn't explain why the Aristocratic Nobles of the land allowed you people to stay here for 20 years and even let you build a fortified village."

"It was Ramirez, Master… He made a deal with the Lords of the Aristocratic Noble families in the nearby towns and villages… Instead of having unknown individuals come and go in these mountains whenever they want, Ramirez and us became their eyes and ears, and also their tools to do any dirty work…"

"There are other rogue settlements here?"

Carlito hesitated for a brief moment.

"Yes, Master… But this is the main or the largest… As far as everyone knows, Ramirez is the strongest being in these mountains and his name is believed to even be listed on the DG International Laws' database…"

"This Ramirez, where is he from? What's his background?"

"He doesn't talk much about his past, Master… But what we do know is that he used to be a Mercenary during his younger years… And as for what specific place he was active in, he said he's been all over…"

Vivian mused for a moment.

"Now, for your next task. I want you to gather all of the coins in this area as fast as possible and bring them to me."

"All of the coins, Master…?"

She issued a mental command.

Thud!

"AAAHHH!!!"

Carlito fell to the ground once again and cried out in pain.

Hmm…

I guess it would be quicker to have all of these people help in searching…?

It's not like they can escape though…

But some of them can't speak Zonian…

I think…

She was about to turn to the rest of the captives when she finally remembered Carlito who was still lying on the ground and writhing in pain.

"Oh…" she said and then revoked her command.

When the pain finally stopped, Carlito forced himself to quickly get up and then prostrated.

"Please forgive me, Master…! I promise to gather all of the coins right away…!"

After hearing no response from Vivian, he raised his head for a bit before finally getting up on his knees.

Vooom!

This is sad…

The first minion I ever made is not only weak but also an idiot…

Her eyes glanced at the remaining captives on her hands.

Yeah…

I would only feel dirty...

And just like what my father used to say…

If you start hanging out with losers, you'll eventually become one of them…