Re: Devil - Volume 1 Chapter 9

I was surprised to find out that the big imp had evolved at some point of time. I assumed that was why the day before I hadn’t seen the big imp and his lackeys at all.

[Let me test out my new skill. [Insight]!]

[Insight]

Level 3 – No Name – No Title

Species: Greater Imp (Common)

Unranked

Skills

Enhanced Fist

Lesser Toughness

[Ho, why is there a mark besides the skills?] I checked the mark.

[Enhanced Fist]

Description: When attacking using your fist, your attack will be multiplied by 1.5.

[Lesser Toughness]

Description: Passive, increase vitality and constitution by a little bit.

[Wow, the new skill [Insight] is very neat. First of all, now I can see a more complete information about the target. Second, there is now a description of the skill. Lastly, when seeing the first two effects I think there will be also a boost when using [Insight] on an object. Worth my suffering.]

[Now back to the main problem. The big imp has somehow evolved into a Greater Imp. Hmm So that’s how a Greater Imp look like.]

One thing for sure, the big imp was now larger than the rest of the imps, even me. His skin’s color stayed the same and the horn and tail were longer but what I found interesting was that I could see something growing from his back. A pair of wings?

Seeing that there was no objections, the big imp proclaimed that he was the leader here and everyone must obey him.

Just as he wanted to started his reign, he sensed me and saw me. He frowned upon looking at me.

“Hello Leader ~ ” I said to him in sarcasm. “You are not expecting me to obey you right? You are not the only one that has evolved.” I grinned at him.

The other imps also finally noticed that I was also different from them and realized that I had also evolved.

The big imp’s face turned ugly and furthermore his feature made him even more uglier.

“I do not like disobedient pawns. That reminds me, I have not pay you back for killing my minions. Let me give it to you now.”

The big imp clenched his fist and orang-colored light enveloped his fist. He activated the skill [Enhanced Fist] and wanted to use it on me.

He dashed towards me and punched. Unfortunately for him, I was unlike the dying imp. I could see his fist coming towards me clearly and it was also slow for me.

Due to our sizes, his fist was in the downwards direction. I easily dodged it by sidestepping to his side.

His fist broke the floor of the cave. I countered by punching his stomach. I could actually impaled him with my weapon on the other hand but doing that would cost me a punching bag.

My fist hit his stomach and as expected because of his [Lesser Toughness] skill It had a little effect on him but I discovered that there was a burned mark on his stomach.

“Kuak… You little …” He glared at me while his hand was pressing on his stomach.

[Neat, I think it was [Greater Fire Body] that made the burned damage.]

“What now? give up ? Leader ~” I taunted him until his look was like wanting to throw up a mouthful of blood. Now he is glaring at me with his bloodshot eyes and he screamed while proceeding to try to punch me.

We continued with our exchange of fists or specifically me beating him like a punching bag. The result was that I could now roughly guess my strength compared to my previous evolution and adapted a bit with it.

I was getting bored with the big imp and my goal was already completed. So, I was thinking of landing the finishing blow lest he will keep bothering me in the near future.

Just when I wanted to land the killing blow, a hand bigger than me grabbed my fist and restrained me.

“That’s enough imp!” Who else if it was not Olgur.

“2 imps had successfully evolved before their first “war” hehe. Count Andromalius would be very happy. Now then, you both should stop playing around or I don’t mind eating 2 slightly bigger imps.” His mouth was grinning but his slitted eyes said otherwise.

“Tch…” [Of course, now that the general is here, it is better to lay low for now. Who knows in the future I can kill him silently.]

I and the big imp retreated for now, me being unscathed and the big imp supported by his lackeys.

“Good. I am here to remind you maggots that tomorrow will be your first war. There are now 29 Imps with 2 have already evolved. As I said before,” he smiled deviously.

“Those that are the weakest will be the cannon fodder for the Count’s army. How do we ensure it? Hehe with this!” He conjured a black substances (I felt that it was demon essences) with the form of a particular symbol on his hand.

Then the symbol scattered towards 15 imps and embedded itself in their bodies. A mark was formed on their chests.

“With this, I could forcibly summoned you on to my battlefield with many baron ranked demons gagaga. Don’t worry we will have use for you!”

The 15 imps were shocked and wanted to rebel but the symbol shined and restrained their bodies.

“We don’t want you to die or flee shall we? The mark will ensure that you will stay alive until the war. Gagaga.”

“The rest of you will be transported normally within Hell’s choices and for the both of you. Now that you have already evolved, you both may or may not be in the same group with the imps. It will be random and you could die miserably.

However, if by some any chances you both can return alive, The Count will offer you positions in his army. That is all!”

He turned his back away and left the cave with his normal ground shaking steps.

[Hmm… that’s weird, it seems that my evolution is normal? or was I not special enough to be paid attention to? Bah.. either way it works for me.]

I saw Inpuji on the entrance of the cave and walked towards him but not without looking down on the big imp and also ignoring him as wel as grabbing my weapon.

“You!!! Don’t let me find you in the war.” He growled.

I scoofed him off and asked Inpuji “What was that all about anyway especially the mark/symbol?”

Inpuji replied “Of course if it isn’t my favorite weird imp and you are as well curious. Let me explain it to you shortly.”

He explained to me and I more or less understood what was going on. The symbol was made out of a bit of the Count’s essence and aside from ensuring your life before the war, the mark main effects would be activated in the war. With the base of an imp and a little bit of marquess’ essences you could cause an great explosion that would effect demons under count ranked in the battlefield. Suicide Bomber if I may say.

“But this batch can be categorized as special. 1 Greater Imp and 1 Lesser Fire Imp are already a great result and yes I was the one that used [Sage’s Insight] on all of you and gave out the 15 imps that were the weakest to Olgur.”

I didn’t care about the last part of the sentence but I was shocked when he said Lesser Fire Imp. I was actually a Lesser Infernal Imp. Was there any problem/somehing that made my [Status] false?

A certain woman crossed my mind. Was it her? [I see so that’s why I am treated like normal.]

“You are a weird imp but I am very happy that you listen to your elder and heed my advice.” He nodded his head repeatedly. “I suggest you don’t do anything strenous to your body until the war. You don’t want to be unprepared, no?”

After a short conversation with Inpuji, he went back to sleep. [Really? only sleeping? I am questioning why are you even still alive.]

[I think I will hunt some ants again. I already know where the nest is and it is more convenient than searching for beasts.]

Making up my mind, I went to the nest of the ants and after that as usual I was targeting the ants that went out to forage for food.

After some hunting…

After evolving into Lesser Infernal Imp, Hunting was easier than when I was a Normal Imp. I had hunted 10 Ants and I didn’t need to even break a sweat. With a new better weapon and also enhanced skills I would be damned if I could not even have any improvement at all.

But unfortunately, [Status]

Level 8 – No Name – Lesser Challenger

Species: Lesser Infernal Imp (Uncommon)

Unranked

Skills

Enhanced Shadow Claw

Insight

Greater Fire Body

Lesser Skin Hardening

Compound Eyes

Lesser Speed Movement

With 10 ants I was only able to level up 7 times to level 8. The amount of essences that I needed were staggering so to say.

On the bright side, during the hunt I tried using [Compound Eyes] and [Lesser Speed Movement]. The former made me be able to see 180 degrees clearly and the latter made my agility increased by 1.5 times. Both of the skills in terms of usefullness would be very broken if I could upgrade it again.

Satisified with my hunt for today, I went back to the cave preparing to rest and preparing for my first war.

The next day…

[You are summoned by Hell to partake in the war. Checking demon… Unranked demon… Obligatory participation… under Count Andromalius…]

A summoning circle appeared around me on the ground.

“Tch … Count Andromalius … If I get the chance I will not work for anyone for free.”

I could feel my body being transported somewhere.