Re: Devil - Volume 1 Chapter 4
After the encounter with the Hell Maggot, There were no more hell beasts and I went back safely to the cave.
At the entrance of the cave, I looked up at the sky and still saw the same black cloud and red sky.
Strangely, I could not differentiate from day and night. Was there even the concept of time here in Hell?
As I wanted to go inside of the cave, I met Inpuji. It seemed that, he was waiting for the imps near the entrance.
“Hohoho, It seems that you are still alive.” said Inpuji.
I asked him about what has bothered me. He replied that we actually had the concept of time. It was just that in this layer black clouds were normal and covered the sky making it always dark.
He continued “Even so, Demons generally do not need to sleep. We are made of essences and that essences are the one that give us energy. Lower ranked demons probably need to sleep to restore the essences that were used up but higher ranked demons prefer to meditate than to sleep.
Both ways restore our essences but it would not increase it, we still need to devour each other to grow strong. So, these things are only for enjoyment.”
“By the way, you are really one strange imp. Normal imps don’t carry a weapon to fight. But even without [Inspect] I can see that you have devoured quite amount of beasts.”
I raised my guard up. [Damn I should have hid the spine somewhere]. “Don’t worry, there will be no trouble and continue growing up, you will not be cannon fodder in the war. Anyway, the war will be in 3 days, so do your best to survive weird imp. hohoho…” said Inpuji, as he started to close his eyes and snored.
[…]
I ignored him and went back inside the cave to rest. I sat beside the wall and not forgetting to hide my weapon, I meditated to restore my condition.
After a while, I woke up to see some imps had returned. There was 20 imps playing (fighting), sleeping, and other things. I [Inspect] the other imps.
[level 7] [level 16] [level 20] [level 12] …
[There are no noteworthy imps here. There isn’t even 1 imp that reached over level 30. Which reminds me, I don’t see the group of imps that was lead by the big imp].
I was feeling hungry and my stomach growled indicating me to find some meal. I got up, grabbed my weapon and wanted to go outside again when I heard loud noises.
The big imp came back with his bunch of lackeys. Totaling the imps to 31. Curious, I inspected the big imp. [Inspect]
Level 37 – No Name – No Title
Species: Normal Imp (Common)
I was surprised that the big imp was high leveled for an imp. It seemed what the general, Olgur had said, was true.
Behind the big imp, I could see one of the two imps that had left me alone with Inpuji following him.
[Oh , Now this is interesting].
Then Inpuji came back with 5 more imps, with one imp also the one that had left me.
“So all of you here are what are left from the 78 imps, 36 imps. Wait for a moment, don’t go out yet. First, I want to congratulate you for staying alive the first day. I already received the report from the general that all other imps had died. Now then, I want to explain about the war.
There will be war in 3 days and you all will be transported to the war / so called battlefield realm and will be part of the Count’s camp because you are inside the area that he ruled. As you are an imp, you will be transported to the weakest area where there will be no demons higher than baron ranked demons.
Hell will be the one that transport you to the war area. Higher contribution can make Hell (probably) notices you and give you authority. When you are transported and arrived at the location, there will be a specific conditions to survive (minimum) and also to win.
If you accomplish one of these condition, you can get out from the war and recuperate. That is how I survive until now. Do the minimum then get out.” laughed Inpuji.
He continued “For every time you are transported to a battlefield, there are different conditions and sometimes it can be a stalemate. That is why I can not say what will you face but the dead rate will be 70%. Olgur had one time transported to a battlefield with the condition last man standing, so that means kill everyone aside yourself.” grinned Inpuji.
“But of course, you will be lucky and your tasks will be only collecting essences or scouting enemy positions, or survive the onslaught from Heaven, or any other. I don’t know all of it okay but the conditions are set to benefit Hell and the demons.”
[Now that is intriguing, So the condition are set up for Hell? So Hell is the one that gives conditions?].
[I thought that the war will be like normal war, with 3 camps slaughtering each other, Isn’t this like a survival game?? It seems that even Inpuji and Olgur have not noticed it or do not care about it, but technically it is still war if you put 3 races into a dead pit where the strong survives].
Was there a reason for this so called war? [Urgh… It seems becoming a ranked demon is inevitable if I want to find out why].
Inpuji continued “… So that is why I can not say anymore about this war because even I don’t know what will happen. If you do not meet the minimum condition, well you know what the end is. That is all from me and I will be staying here until you experience your first war. Feel free to ask me any question. You are free to do whatever you want.”
After hearing all of that, I underestimated the severity of the war. [The war is not like what I have expected and at the end of the day, I still need to actively participate and do something].
My stomach growled once more, telling me that it was hungry. [Let’s just go hunt first].
As I wanted to go out, I was blocked by 3 imps, that were the lackeys of the big imp. “Hey, the boss wants the thing that you are holding, so give it to us.” grinned one of the imps.
I already felt annoyed because of the war and now I needed to handle this shit?
“Get lost.” I glared at the 3 imps. The imps flinched for a moment, but realizing they outnumbered me, they got angry.
“What do you say? Do you not want to live?” glared one of the imps. The other 2 imps circled around me, preparing to attack.
I looked to Inpuji and said “Can I kill the imps?”
“Feel free to do so, but an advice, don’t kill too many. They can be useful you know. The Count also need strong minions you know for his contri… kuk I am supposed not to say that. Ignore the last part.”
[Hmm, what did Inpuji say? The Count profitted from the imps? Tch… I see why the Count also needs minions, to get contribution and getting stronger. How, I don’t know but at least for now we are in a mutual symbiotic relationship].
I turned my head to the imp that was blocking the entrance. “I said it once more… Move.”
“You! Who do you think you are?! Kill him!” shouted the imp.
The 2 Imps around me simultaneously ran toward me. A second before the imps reached me and punched me, I backstepped and I raised my weapon. Then I slashed the imps head.
Blood spurted from the 2 headless imps. [Clean kill I must say]. Then I quickly targeted the last imp and launched a stab.
The imp was surprised and afraid seeing the 2 imps were quickly slaughtered. Before he realized what was happening, I already stabbed him in the chest then I raised my weapon.
[Can I eat the imps? got to get that essences]. I turned to Inpuji, who saw all of that.
He was surprised and then he clapped “kukuku I knew that you were one weird imp. Don’t worry you can eat those, you are the victor, It is normal that demons also cannibalize with each other to get stronger or fulfilling their evolution condition.”
I nodded and proceeded to eat the imps. I felt my body growing stronger after absorbing the essences. [Status]
Level 70 – No Name – No Title
Species: Normal Imp(Common)
Unranked
Skills
Sealed
Shadow Claw
Inspect
[My level reached level 70. Fair enough, the imps are weak anyway, oh yeah I need to ask Inpuji about the hell maggot].
“Hey Inpuji, how do you kill a Hell Maggot?”
The Inpuji awoke surprised after hearing the word Hell Maggot. [You are sleeping? How the hell can you survive long until now exactly?].
“Wha. What? Are you crazy , weird Imp? Normal Imp cannot even inflict damage to it much less killing it. They have skins that nullify blunt damage. They are weak to piercing or slashing but they have high vitality that you will be eaten before you can even kill it.” said Inpuji.
“Thanks.” I stepped out of the cave leaving Inpuji behind.
“I thought that you have potential weird imp but now I don’t know whether or not you are crazy. But If you really kill one, It will be interesting kukuku.” Inpuji muttered as he started to fall asleep again.