Chapter 4: Devil's Mercy
'He's repeating it. But why?'
A moment later, his question was answered.
If the fight before was a standard civilized death battle, now it was more like animals fighting for their life.
Instead of just spears, they used their teeth whenever they could and any other disgusting trick that could kill their opponent fastest.
Even his best friend Jak, had stabbed someone in the back with a spear. Piercing their lungs instantly, causing them to fall.
Their eyes were terrified when they died, almost like they regained back their consciousness. It was cruel.
Kaiser couldn't see his friend like this any longer and went to him as fast as he could.
He turned the dagger back into the ring as he didn't want to drop it.
Before Jak stabbed anyone else, he felt someone shove him from the side, but it had little effect.
'Oh no.' Kaiser finally understood something. 'He's stronger under the mind manipulation.'
Kaiser took a step back instinctively. The way his friend looked at him was no longer friendly or trying to hold his body back.
'That's… not my friend anymore. Is it?'
His heart instantly shattered.
Could his friend be saved?
'No, how can I save him? I can't get anywhere near killing the devil.'
'So, what do I do then?'
Kaiser was mentally and physically drained. He was beaten harshly and lost all his family and friends.
He was about to mentally crack when Jak's spear came rushing in towards his face.
He barely dodged to the left, the spear grazing his face.
It stung and blood dripped out, but he didn't have time to catch his breath as another strike came fast.
He dodged to the right this time, completely avoiding it.
Normally a regular-sized spear was about 6 feet long and Jak wouldn't be able to wield something like that. The mind control erased that conception, while the spear was disproportionate to his body it still moved fast and steady.
Jak's attacks were swift and repetitive with Kaiser barely dodging each one. He couldn't retaliate and was slowly building cuts on his body.
Uncontrollably, tears started forming in Kaiser's eyes.
'It hurts. It hurts so much.'
'Why is this happening to me? It doesn't make sense.'
He generally didn't believe in gods, but perhaps this is what was meant to happen.
Jak switched up his attack pattern and went for his foot instead.
Kaiser didn't expect this change and his foot was pierced and the bones cracked.
By this time, his mind numbed all the pain and most of the surroundings.
Except for when the devil spoke again, "Your friend is gone and will never be the same. Why not kill him?"
"Kill him?" Kaiser started laughing. It began slow but then became more manic over time.
His dad woke up, his head aching intensely. Blood was dripping down his face, but then he heard the screams of pain and fighting.
He remembered what was happening.
"I have to help Kaiser."
He got up shakily, almost falling over again, and walked past the platform so he could see what was happening.
What he saw was corpses and blood. There was so much of it, but he also saw his son. His playful son was now laughing manically while his friend was about to pierce his throat.
A sight he never thought possible.
He didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he could think of. He yelled.
"SON, PLEASE WAKE UP!"
Kaiser's insanity paused itself when heard his dad still alive. He was trying to save him.
If he was trying so hard then he had to as well.
Oddly, Jak stopped attacking.
However, the devil saw what all happened and was displeased.
"How dare you interfere in his transition."
The devil swiped his arm sending a pressurized slice of water toward Kaiser's dad, instantly slicing his entire right arm off and some of his chest.
Blood flowed out instantly. He was surprised as he never had a chance to react.
It was instant.
He felt himself fall to his knees. The control over his body was gone while regret consumed his mind.
His son looked at him dying, eyes wide.
"Honey, I failed to protect our son." He fell to the ground completely. Eyes losing focus, he finished, "I pray your heirloom will be enough."
Kaiser's last family member died.
When he first heard his dad, some courage built up. Unfortunately, due to his death, his mind took a turn for the worse.
There was only so much a kid's brain could take and this was the limit.
He continued his laughter from before. He lost his mind completely.
Jak attacked again but Kaiser didn't care this time. It was aimed for his gut but he didn't dodge. He let it pierce his body.
Even though he wasn't himself mentally, the feeling of a spear inside him didn't feel great.
His laughter never stopped since his mind crashed earlier. Refusing this to be reality.
Kaiser tried transforming his ring, but the dagger didn't come out. No, it was a spear of his own.
Without wondering why, he struck forward toward his enemy also piercing them. His hit cut through Jak's heart and out his back.
Kaiser's face was filled with blood of his own and now Jak's, his beloved best friend.
His face showed happiness, but inside, a part of him felt empty now. Like a road was crossed with no way back.
Even though he felt this, time seemed to stop when he saw Jak's expression.
Jak was relieved. Not angry, not sad, not even regretful.
"Was that not the right answer?" Kaiser questioned, coughing up blood.
"HAHAHAHA, that was so much fun to watch." The devil spoke, then jumped off the platform landing near the kid.
"Are you finally insane? I was being patient you know, but it is always fun watching the young ones go crazy."
Kaiser looked up at the devil, this was his next target.
Ignoring the devil's question, he started walking towards him. It was awkward as he still had a spear inside him and his foot was destroyed.
Blood made its way down his torn-up clothes and Kaiser himself started wanting to lay down and sleep.
The devil looked at him, satisfied.
"Yes, you did great child. For your great performance, I'll kill you for free. No need for thanks as I already took this village's happiness."
Kaiser didn't hear him. He only felt pain and wanted to continue forward. To kill his next opponent.
The devil walked in front of him and shot his hand toward his brain.
Kaiser couldn't do anything to stop him, he was barely awake.
As his long fingertips touched his forehead, Kaiser's spear, which was stuck in the dead Jak, suddenly shot toward the devil's head at the speed of light.
The devil was surprised by this and stepped back hurriedly, letting the spear strike the ground.
"You had something left? You impress me every chance you get, but this is as far as you go."
The devil was about to strike him again when his spear started brightening up.
The devil was annoyed now. This was taking more effort than it should have.
It was bearable for a moment, but soon it was as if another sun had descended. It was so bright that even having your eyes closed burned your pupils.
To the devil's dissatisfaction, it didn't dissipate for an entire minute.
When the light returned, the devil was furious. He was going to kill this boy painfully now.
However, when he looked around, the boy wasn't there anymore, and neither was that godforsaken spear.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone