'...What the hell is wrong with these people...how can they eat other human beings like they're a dish.'
I looked at others who were starting to eat it like it was the best dish they ever had. Meanwhile on the other hand, I had shaky hands and hadn't started to eat it. My palms were very sweaty as my anxiousness reached its peak, I could feel my racing heartbeat. I could already tell that if I look at it for a few more seconds I'll vomit. In an attempt to not break an act I slowly started moving my knife and fork towards it with trembling hands.
"Oh you're going to eat it, huh, I knew you were a murderer and had a few screw loose but that much is..... interesting to say the least."
Astaroth, who had been watching the entire spectacle in silence finally spoke up.
'I nearly forgot about your existence.'
"Why so? Did you forget who saved your life from your friend? Who gave you the ability of flight?"
'yes, yes, I do remember. Now can you help me one more time and let me out of this situation?'
"I can intervene in this situation but it will cost you"
'I am ready to pay any cost, after this far I'm not breaking my act.'
"I'll only require a fragment of one of your memory."
'Very well, I agree"
As soon as I said that I could feel a searing pain in my shoulder but I didnt react to it since, I wanted to keep this act running a bit longer.
Suddenly the entire place started shaking with an earthquake, the lights started flickering and the floor started rumbling. The dishes on the table dropped to the ground causing them to shatter and the 'food' to be wasted on the the ground, but that wasn't all the alarms were beeping red alert meaning there was something big going on here.
'What did you do?'
"Go ahead and figure it out."
I didn't knew what he did but it was probably some over the top thing.
"HURRY! THE IRON GATE IS BROKEN! INCREASE THE SECURITY TOWARDS THE OVERSEER ROOM AND THE LAB!"
An announcement was made through the hologram and suddenly everyone rushed out of the cafeteria and I followed behind but unlike them I wasn't going to the overseer office but somewhere else...the data center.
I was the last one to leave the cafeteria since I wanted an empty van. After finding one by standing there like a statue for 15 minutes an empty van finally arrived. I sat in the van and selected the data center.
I reached a large room with an open door. As expected there was no security near it as of right now. I hurriedly made my way inside thre were two researches standing there in front of it. Instead of killing them I simply knocked them out, I wasn't in the mood to kill today.
Inside the room were several computers that I gained access to through the researchers id card. I starting exploring through the file database, I searched Ethan's name on it but nothing came up. I tried again by searching rebellion but still nothing came up. Then I tried the cup of reincarnation, finally, some details showed up about it.
"It's seems you've been caught Julian Raymond"
As I look towards the door the overseer was standing there with multiple cult followers.
'oh well, guess it's time to finish my act.'
I removed my cloak and threw it in the air to distract them a bit but they weren't distracted and attacked me with swords in their hands. I grabbed one of them with his throat and break his neck. I picked up his sword and attack the others that were charging towards me. I slashed one of them in the chest while I struck my knee into the face of the one charging towards my right side. Seeing this some of them showed a bit of hesitation and started to back away slowly, whereas the overseer was standing there without a bit of hesitation.
I charged towards the overseer at my fastest speed, the ground where I was standing a few seconds ago was shattered. The sound of sword striking another of its kind was heard as the overseer pulled out his own sword. The sword was different from other cult members. It's hilt was decorated with flesh and the sword had eyes on its blade, those eyes rapidly close and open as if to observe their surroundings.
'What a grotesque weapon.'
He charged forward at a surpsingly fast speed and attacked me from above by jumping off the ground, I was able to block the attack with own sword enforced with the shadow magic but the ground I was standing on had cracks appear over it.
'Tch. There seems to be something special about that sword, I felt the spirit of a living being from it.'
"That's a soul infused weapon. Making a contract with a mythical being isn't the only way to channel magic. Weapons, relics or grimoires are another way to gain the power of magic. But these are more rarer than a contract, not to mention these catalyst have their own consciousness so they choose their master according to certain conditions."
'You're telling me this now!?'
"Be grateful, Julian. That weapon is a soul infused one, it has probably fed on 100+ souls, so it's probably near your level and it looks hungry for more."
He didn't speak anything after that. He probably wants me to figure it out myself.
The overseer charged towards me with that disgusting sword again. The position of his right hand told me he was looking forward to stab me but I couldn't let that happen.
CLANK! CLANK!
The sounds of swords clashing echoed throughout the room as both of us tried to kill the other. All the cult members didn't dare to help their overseer, it was as if they already knew I was going to lose, so it didn't matter if they interfered or not. Noticing that I was a little distracted while glancing at the other members, he kicked me on my face with enough force that I was sent flying through the wall and came crashing down to magnetic tracks of the van.
'My clothes can't catch a break, can they?'
I thought after noticing that my newly purchased clothes were torn in several places.
I concentrated mana on my feet, I felt my feet taking off from the ground. I flew towards the overseer and tried to slash him but he grabbed him from my throat and stabbed with his sword in my left shoulder. Seeing the opportunity I took out my knife that I hadn't been using for a while for this exact moment. I reinforced it with shadow magic and instant his sword was buried in my shoulder, I quickly stabbed all the eyes on the sword by holding the said sword in place by using all my strength.
'The eyes on the sword were probably reading my sword pattern and transmitted the perfect counter attack to this insane cult overseer.'
Now it was my turn to take revenge. I kicked him full force, sending him flying through the wall of the lab 'C-34' . I could see him crashing into the white torture room.
'Uh-oh'
I flew towards the white torture room at full speed. The ground of the room instantly shattered on his impact and the entire structure of the lab started collapsing. I could see the entire staff of the lab evaluating from the area only the miserable girl was standing in the corner of the torture room like a mannequin. She was looking at the fallen overseer like a child looks at a new toy. It was probably her first time seeing a human up close. Her gaze seemed haunting, I could see the gleam of excitement in her eyes as her lips parted slightly.
I finally landed their, I quickly rushed towards the girl putting her behind me. Her doll like face didn't show any kind of expression but her eyes seemed to shine with curiosity.
As I glanced away from her,
"Get out of here."
I said it to the girl, it might have seemed rude to say it like that but I wasn't exactly in the position to consider what to say and how to say.
Many cult members came rushing towards their overseer helping him stand up.
"Get him and the girl."
Many cult members came rushing towards us with weapons in their hand.
'there are about fifty cult members here and the overseer's too injured to fight. I should be able to deal with them.'
I thought as I began to chop them down one by one. Their numbers were many and their weapons did reached my skin inflicting wounds on my already exhausted body. More just kept coming and I kept slicing them without thinking much their numbers seemed limitless but my strength seemed too limited.
I was desperate to win, I was even considering making another deal with Astaroth but I hesitated, I didn't wanted to lose any precious memory.
On one hand I was deprate to win but on the other hand, I wasn't ready to make any sacrifice. Even after gaining so much help I was still arrogant and wanted to win with my own power. I was selfish...very selfish. Everything I ever did was out of pure selfishness. I never wanted to admit it, I was too prideful to admit that I wasn't good enough. I always wanted to be better than anyone....I wanted to be the best, I always wanted to stand at the top of the world alone....where no one could hurt me....no one could say anything to me without fear in their heart. Yet I never admitted I was weak.
Finally a part of ceiling collapsed and fell on the ground crushing nearly all of the cult followers that were present underneath it . I hurriedly rushed to the girl to check if she was safe.
I looked at her dull eyes.
'....So pretty.'
Her face looked beautiful.....so beautiful that she didn't seem human.....she looked otherworldly. I touched her shoulders gently. I could feel her cold and smooth skin through the hospital gown. She tilted her head slightly in confusion and curiosity. Looking at her face my heart felt calm, i didn't had the urge of killing all those oppose me....I just wanted to look at this beautiful face forever. From up close, I could see many scars on her upper arm reaching her back and neck.
Suddenly I saw a red liquid splatter on her face and clothes. Looking down I could see a sword peeking a hole out of my torso. I took another good look at her expressionless face as my eyes close and darkness consumed my consciousness.