Civilization

"No! Kingston, you still haven't managed to completely control that skill yet." - Ken

"I know, but without it, I don't have the strength to fight this mon-" -Kingston

Without giving me time to even talk to Ken, the monster slashes at me with its claws. Luckily, I was able to block the attack as well as pull Ken closer to me, to protect him. I knock the monster away, and it disappears into the darkness, but I still feel its presence.

"Look there isn't much time and neither of us can face it." - Kingston

"I can call over Gibing and David. They can help. I'll ask Gopopo and Frank as well." - Ken

"No, the skeletons on that side of the wall are still coming over. Even without going over to that side I can still hear the sound of metal hitting stones and bones breaking. Bringing them over here to deal with one monster will weaken that side of the wall too much, especially since both you and Kaede can't help." - Kingston

"Still, if you go Berserk and can't control it, you will die. I don't even know if we can hold you down. The last time this happened we were lucky that we just finished fighting a pack of Crizannas. David and Gibing were able to restrain you, but that was because you only just went into that state. The longer you are in that state the stronger and more unstable you become. " - Ken

"Yeah, I understand, but there was that time I was able to control it." - Kingston

"Against a Jackalope! That monster was practically harmless once you activated Berserk, plus you were only in that state for a couple of seconds. Do you honestly think you can kill this monster in a couple of seconds?" - Ken

"Better to try it out rather than dying here thinking right?" - Kingston

"Alright. Just don't lose control." - Ken

"Can't guarantee that…" - Kingston

Name: Kingston

Race: Human

Health Points (HP): 30/50

Mana Points (MP):  7/9

Strength: 20

Vitality: 25

Intelligence: 18

Dexterity: 10

Agility: 25

Luck: 1

Skill: Sand Armor, Endless Rage, Cleave, Charge, Demonification, Buffalo Horns (Passive)

Equipment: Spear of Light (Unactivated),  Copper Chest Plate, Copper Arm Guard, Copper Leg Guard, Goblin Knife, Wooden Helmet

Ever since going to the mountain, the skill Demonification has worried me. I know I acquired it during that time, however, I have no knowledge of what happened and the only person I know that saw me during that time was Luke, Sylvia, and Ian at the end. However, Ian didn't know much about the process and Sylvia was only able to tell me that I was extremely unstable.

Not only that, I felt the demonic energy appear around my body every so often. Like a black wisp licking against my skin, sending chills down my spine each time. I don't want to go back into that state, but I don't know what else I can do to defeat this monster.

"Ken, make sure you run toward the Krepost the moment I activate Endless Rage, okay? I'm going Berserk soon." - Kingston

"Alright. Ready when you are." - Ken

I stay as calm as possible, breathing in slowly as I wait for the monster to engage me again. Suddenly, my blood runs cold. Turning around, I grab onto Ken and push him as hard as I could to the side, as I feel something sharp claw at my chest breaking through my Copper Chest Plate and tearing my flesh. Smiling, I grab onto the monster's thin wrist.

"Endless Rage." - Kingston

[ Endless Rage Activated ]

[ Spear of Light Activated ]

Just like before, the world around me becomes dyed in scarlet red, as my spear emits a bright ruby color. I feel the rage building inside me as images of Celine's head on the ground covered in blood and Kaede's bleeding stomach flashes through my head. Gripping onto the monster's wrist tighter as I clench my teeth. It starts to resist. Scratching and clawing at my arm.

KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL.

Blood-red words appear around me as they fly towards the shadowy monster covering it from head to toe.

NO!

STOP!

Letting go of the monster's wrist, I stab forth only for the monster to dodge to the side and disappear. The bloody words disappear along with it except, for one glowing 'KILL'. My eyes follow the moving word and a smile spreads across my face. Dirt crawls up my legs, covering the copper armor in a layer of dirt until it completely covers my whole body.

STOP!

Dashing forward, I aim my spear at the glowing word, narrowly missing as it moves to the side unnaturally. The monster blurs into existence with a confused look on its face. Its frown widens as I continue to stab towards the monster, chasing it down around the Krepost. Laughter escapes my mouth as I finally land a hit on the monster slashing its side. In retaliation, it uses a new skill. Launching a condensed ball of darkness at me, as it leaps into the air. Countering, I activate Cleave slashing at the ball only for it to explode in my face and blind me.

STOP!

Nevertheless, I keep my calm and wait for the moment it strikes. Slashing at my back and breaking through the Sand Armor, I quickly swing my spear around knocking the monster to the side. Leaping off the ground, I stab the spear downward, penetrating the glowing word and hearing the monster screech. Like music to my ears, I stab it over and over again, bringing out my Goblin Knife to further induce pain.

STOP!

STOP!

"STOP!" - Kingston

My body freezes. What am I stabbing at? This isn't the monster. A Xabaril?

As my thoughts are still a mess, I feel 3 sharp claws enter my back, penetrating through and coming out of the front. The shadowy monster takes its claw out and slashes me twice on my back. Letting out a scream, I roll forward, turning around to face the monster. A red aura forms around me, as blood runs down the side of my mouth.

How did it get behind me?

Why was I attacking a Xabaril?

Looking at the top right of my vision, I see that Endless Rage was still in effect. Am I conscious while the skill is active? Was I not conscious before? What was happening? I don't remember.

The monster screeches at me, charging at me with its arms spread out, claws scraping on the ground. Blocking the attack with my spear, I push the monster away and push forward immediately to retaliate. I strike the monster quickly, without allowing the monster to counterattack. Stab at its torso, sweep at its legs, and strike at its head.

However, after a series of attacks, it creates a burst of darkness around it, and a sphere of dark energy surrounds the monster. The red aura around me glows stronger, and I hear a voice…

"What are you waiting for…?" - ???

As if I knew the answer to that question, my hand moves toward my face, covering it as a word escapes my mouth.

"Demonification." - Kingston

The red aura around me rushes to my hand condensing around my face. The wooden helmet burns away, and I feel the red aura clinging to my skin. Without even seeing what appeared on my face, I felt like I already knew. A ruby skull and two twisting horns appeared around my head and yet the rest of my body wasn't covered in blood-red armor.

With the skull mask, I see the shadowy monster clearly, as if it was in the middle of the day, and with one thrust at a glowing word on its forehead, the monster disappears. It didn't disappear like how it was evading my strikes before, it disappeared after I stabbed it. A book appears in its place as it drops to the ground, but I stood still.

The whole world around me slows as a voice echoes in my ear.

"How was it?" - ???

"The taste of victory?" - ???

"Wasn't it sweet?" - ???

"It was easy, wasn't it?" - ???

"It could be like that forever." - ???

"Nothing would be what again." - ???

"Protecting someone would be easy." - ???

"No one would be a challenge to you." - ???

"KINGSTON!" - Ken

Breaking me out of my own mind, I hear Ken's voice, but before I could react, my skin starts to burn. The mask drips away, burning my face along with it. My scream echoes throughout the Krepost and in the distance, I hear David and Gibing's confused voices.

"KINGSTON! Don't worry, I got you!" - Ken

Ken grabs under my armpits, dragging my body towards the Krepost as I scream in agony. A cold liquid drips into my open mouth as I enter the Krepost doors and I finally quieten down.

"Are you okay…?" - Ken

"N-N-Never better…" - Kingston