Chương 80: 78th Adversary: Parasite Demons
"Parasite Demons?"
The trio of Hina, Ace, and Sora were confused. It was the first they'd heard the term. Momo's eyes were locked on Jason.
"I knew it. So you really are a Parasite Demon."
"What's a Parasite Demon?"
Hina was still confused.
"Parasite Demons are a very dangerous race of demons. They're different from other demons who gain strength from negative energy. They are also naturally weaker than most demons, and less talented as well."
Momo explained.
"If they're weak and not talented, then why did you call them dangerous?"
Sora asked.
"Listen, brat. There are many forms of strength in the world. The most dangerous beings aren't always the ones with the most impressive physical attributes. It's the ones that possess skills that can make strength worthless."
Ishma jumped in.
"Parasite Demons possess an inborn skill called Soul Eye. They have the ability to see one's soul with their third eye and can take over that soul by transferring their own souls into their targets. In other words, they can transfer their souls to other living beings. The most terrifying thing is that once they take over a body, that soul is devoured and becomes fuel to make the Parasite Demon stronger."
"Wha?!"
The trio was shocked. This was indeed incredibly terrifying. Transferring and devouring souls to increase their strength; such abilities shouldn't exist.
"Wait, then Jason is the same?"
Jason turned around and faced everyone. He slowly moved the hair away from his forehead and revealed a third eye. They backed away on reflex.
"Then the abilities that Jason has…"
"I stole them from two Inborn Ability Users. The first one allows me to multiply myself. The second one allows me to gain the properties of a puppet or doll. When I fused them I gained the ability to summon countless puppet soldiers with a will. In other words, I can create an army of puppets and control them as the puppeteer."
Jason explained.
"So that's why we couldn't leave any damage on you. If you control your own body like a puppet you can repair your limbs no matter how bent up they get."
"Ah, I can actually take damage. It's just that you all were too weak to really hurt me."
"What?!"
The trio flared up at Jason.
"Calm down."
Miko said. He stared at the man in front of him.
"Even though Parasite Demons are naturally weak, after completing countless soul transfers they can become incredibly strong from all the abilities and power they stole. However, this process is long because they can only steal a small portion of their host strength. Yet, you feel like an immovable mountain. Just how long have you been alive and how many souls have your eye devoured? I'm really curious."
"Hahaha! Sorry to burst your bubble but even I don't know the answers to your questions."
The man responded. Leon stepped forward and stood in front of Miko.
"Just now, you tried to enter my son's soul."
His eyes narrowed.
"Do that again and I assure you, this jungle will be reduced to a sea of flames by the end of the day."
"Hahaha."
The man laughed at Leon's threat.
"Sorry, Sorry. I just wanted to tease my guests a little."
He smirked.
"Father, don't get caught up in his pace."
Miko warned his father after seeing that he was getting angry.
"My name is Miko. I'm the one who asked Jason to arrange this meeting."
"Yeah, I already know that."
The man placed his hand on his chest.
"After awakening countless years ago, I've chosen the name Oden to represent myself."
"Awakening? Jason mentions the same thing before. What is it?"
Ace asked.
"Parasite Demons are born without what you would call a personality, something that makes them an individual. After birth, their Soul Eye sends out a signal in search of kin. Once their kin responds to the signal they become linked to that person on a spiritual level. They and that person then form a single entity made up of multiple bodies. In other words, their mind and body become one."
Layla explained. The trio immediately recalled the hooded group who brought them here. Even though they were all different people, they moved like one entity. This would also explain why there were two sides to this town.
"Then, What about Jason and others? They clearly have a personality of their own."
"That's because we're awakened."
Jason replied.
"There's a way for us to break away from a cluster and become an individual."
He pointed at his third eye that was hidden behind his bangs.
"We have to transfer our soul into another body and devour their soul."
In order to truly start living as a person, they needed to devour the soul of another. No matter how you looked at it, this was a vile race of demons.
"By the way, it's not like we become the person we first devour. We just obtain self-awareness and develop a personality from there by observing our environment like every other person."
Oden casually added. He stood up and stretch his body.
"Now then, now that the introductory lecture is over…how about we get down to business, Miko?"
He walked over to Miko but was blocked by Leon.
"Father."
Leon glared at Oden and stepped aside. Oden only smiled in response.
"I heard you have a proposition for us. I kinda have an idea of what you want to offer, but I'm willing to listen to either way since you're with Jason."
"Then, let's get to the point."
Miko smiled.
"I want you and your people to join my country."
"I refuse."
"Reason?"
"You should already know what kind of work we do."
"Of course. You're mercenaries. People hire you to secretly kill and replace their enemies and act how they want you to bring them great benefits."
Oden found the way Miko worded his job amusing.
"Then you should understand that we can't belong to a single person. That would be bad for business. For my people and me, business is always first. So unless you can offer us a deal we can't refuse, then I'm afraid that we can't work for you."
"I think you're misunderstanding my intentions, Oden."
"How so?"
"I'm not here as an employer but as a boss in search of capable subordinates. I don't want your services alone."
He showed a huge grin.
"I want your everything."
"Pfft! Hahahaha!"
Oden burst out laughing. He patted Miko's shoulder in a friendly way.
"You got good jokes, Miko. I almost thought that you were serious."
"And if I were?"
"Then you would be a fool."
"Some of the greatest minds in history have been called fools, so I take it as a compliment."
Oden became silent and took his hand off Miko's shoulder.
"You're serious?"
Miko nodded.
"Ahh~."
Oden released an exaggerated sigh.
"Listen here, kid. Do you even know what we are? In the world's eyes we're vile creatures that need to be eradicated, and the few who don't want to eradicate us want to use us as tools. We don't trust easily. So why do you think we would work for you and you alone?"
"I admit I want to use you, but I won't treat you as tools."
"Then what? You'll treat us like friends?"
"I'll treat you like my people."
"So you'll be the king and we'll be your subjects? That's quite an arrogant thing to say."
Oden turned his back to Miko.
"Go back. We'll pledge ourselves to no one."
"But-"
"I said leave."
*Bam!*
The ground in front of Miko burst open and a crater opened there.
"...…."
Miko silently looked at the crater in front of him. This was Oden's way of telling him that if he got any closer, he would be laying in a crater like this.
"Ahh~."
Miko sighed as if he was disappointed. Just when everyone thought that he was going to turn around and leave, he did the opposite and approached Oden.
"Kid, do you have a death wish or something?"
Oden said without looking back.
"I wasn't done talking."
*Bam!*
Miko was hit by an invisible force and flung outside the building. He laid out on the ground with his chest stained in blood.
"So? But I am."
Oden started turning around.
"?!"
His eyes widened as a fist headed straight for his face. He quickly lifted his arm and blocked it.
*Bam!*
He blocked the attack but his arm started bending out of shape. He was forced to leap back to minimize the damage. He stood with one of his arm dangling.
"You bastard."
Leon stood there surrounded by a fiery crimson aura.
"Whose son did you think you just attacked?"
"Oh? I see. So he's able to act so arrogantly because of his overprotective parents."
Oden grabbed his arm and forced the joints to reconnect.
"You should've properly raised your kid, Daddy."
Leon kicked off the ground. Oden did the same thing. They both pulled their arms back and threw a punch.
*Bam!*
Their fist collided. Powerful shockwaves spread and blow everything away.
*BOOM!*
The building they were in exploded and debris flew everywhere while a dust cloud covered the area.
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
Explosive sounds could be heard coming from within the dust cloud. A crimson and an orange light flew out of the cloud and into the air. These lights started clashing with each other, being repelled, and clashing with each other again. These lights were Leon and Oden respectively.
"Cough! Cough! Damn, things went south pretty quickly."
Ace said while dusting himself off. He and everyone escaped from the building just before it exploded.
"Momo, how's Miko?"
Hina asked Momo who was checking on Miko.
"He has several broken ribs and there's a chance that one of his lungs was punctured."
She looked up at the two powerhouses in the sky. Leon and Oden were exchanging blows for blows without any concern for defense. Leon hit Oden with a burning fist to the stomach, which Oden replied to with a knee to the face. They started slugging each other, aiming for the other's vitals.
"I wonder how this will end?"
She mumbled.
"Damn it all to hell."
She quickly looked down and saw Miko with an angry expression.
"Miko, You should stay still I'm going to try and heal you."
"Even after I told him…"
Miko ignored her and forced himself to stand up.
"Even after I told him to stay calm, he still had to let his emotions get the better of him. That stupid father of mine!"
Everyone was shocked to see that Miko was angry with Leon instead of Oden.
"Ishma, Regis."
"Yes!"
Ishma and Regis transformed into their sword forms and appeared in Miko's hands. He clenched them and started pouring power into them. They emitted a green and azure glow. Miko's eyes turned demonic and his body emitted a crimson light. He leaped into the air and pointed both swords downward. The image of a crow and dragon entangling around a crimson demon appeared behind him for all to see. The images behind him turned into green, crimson, and azure flames. The flames wrapped around Miko and his swords.
"Mad Beasts of Avicii!"
He swung his swords overhead and three different colored flames flew upwards in the shape of a dragon, a crow, and a demon.
""?!""
Both Leon and Oden noticed the flames and flew back to avoid the three flame beasts. They looked down at the source and saw Miko floating using his dragon wings.
"As I said, I wasn't done talking."
"Oh, I thought you were out for the count. Looks like you're more than a pampered kid."
Oden spoke with a mocking tone.
"Oden, I know your type. You won't submit to anyone inferior to you because of your pride. But am I truly inferior to you?"
"Of course. You couldn't even withstand a small outburst from me. Of course, you're inferior."
"Then how about a little match between you and me? A match of souls."
"What?"
"Miko!"
Leon shouted.
"As I said, calm down."
Miko looked at him and said.
"A match of souls? You mean you want to clash souls?"
Miko nodded.
"You'll try to take my body and I'll try to repel you."
"Miko?!"
Everyone was shocked by Miko's challenge. This seemed like suicide.
"Hahahaha! Are you retarded? I'm a Parasite Demon! We literally live for devouring souls. There's no way you'll win."
Miko grinned.
"I'm not stupid. I know that your race can't steal the bodies of just anyone. If you face someone who has a stronger will or soul than you, you can't take their bodies. Also, you can't take the souls of those superior to you. Meaning that if you can't take my body, then that means that I'm superior to you."
"Hahahaha! Fine! Let's do it!"
Oden was laughing but his eyes were filled with rage.
(This brat most likely practices Vita, which nurtures and strengthens the soul. So he believes he'll be fine in a clash of souls, but he's wrong.)
He grinned.
"I've been alive since the War For Supremacy. I've devoured countless souls. At my current level, only divine-level beings can withstand my Soul Eye. This little brat will be devoured in an instant!"
His third eye started glowing.
"Let's go!"
A light shot from his Soul Eye and seeped into Miko's forehead in a second. Miko froze, and Oden's body suddenly fell from the sky. Before it hit the ground, some hooded people came and caught his body.
"What happened? Did Miko win?"
"No."
Jason shook his head.
"Whenever we use our powers to transfer our soul, our bodies become lifeless like a corpse until we return. During that time, if our bodies are destroyed, we'll be forced to remain in the body we transferred our souls to."
He explained.
"That means if we destroy Oden's body…"
"Don't think about it. Did you forget where we are?"
Everyone looked around, they could see thousands of Parasite Demons glaring at them.
"...Well, my bad."
Sora said. They looked at Miko who was frozen in the air.
"Miko."
Meanwhile, Oden had successfully entered Miko's soul. He found himself standing in a valley full of life.
"What a girly soul. It fits his appearance."
He started walking around.
"Ah, there he is."
He saw Miko standing motionless in the valley with a blank expression.
"So this is the core of his soul. Heh."
He placed his hand on him.
"That was easy."
He said.
"Hm?"
That's when he noticed that the world had started to darken.
"What the?"
He looked at Miko and saw something dark and slimy oozing out of his body. He tried to move his hand away, but he was stuck. He couldn't take his hand off Miko no matter how hard he tried.
"What the hell?!"
The dark slimy substance clung to him and pulled him closer to Miko. He struggled and struggled but he was still being pulled in. His hand sunk into Miko's body, and from there it was over. His entire body was pulled inside in one swoop.
He suddenly found himself in a world of darkness. He couldn't see anything other than himself.
"What kind of soul does this kid have?! I've devoured millions but I've never seen anything like this?!"
He shouted frantically.
(You have some balls, mortal.)
A deep and powerful voice echoed in Oden's mind. At that moment, a gigantic pillar of crimson flames appeared in front of him. From it, he saw appear an enormous crimson cat monster with ferocious golden eyes and flames at its feet.
"What the hell?!"
(Silence, Mortal!)
The cat roared and it felt like Oden's soul was being crushed under a terrifying pressure.
(How dare you enter my master's domain?! I'll rip you to shreds!)
The monster cat roared in rage.
"Calm down, Beleth. I invited him here."
Oden saw an even more enormous being appear out of nowhere standing beside the cat. It had burgundy skin and neon azure hair. Looking at the being that made the monster cat look like a normal cat, Oden felt like an ant in comparison.
"What the hell are you?"
Oden asked with a trembling voice. He couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. From one angle the being looked like a muscular man, from another it looked like a beautiful woman, from another it looked like a child, from another angle it looked like a wise elder. His mind just couldn't comprehend the existence in front of him.
"Me? I don't think your mind can survive knowing the answer."
The being responded.
"Anyway, you came here to take this place over right? To devour us?"
(Pathetic Mortal, you dare?!)
The cat monster roared.
"I said calm down, Beleth it's a simple joke."
The being started petting the cat monster.
"Beleth, the great demon king and bringer of death under Satan…."
Oden mumbled.
"Well, then. I guess it's time to go back."
The being lift his mountain size hand.
"You've lost, Oden."
He swung his hand towards him.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh?!"
Oden screamed in horror when he saw the godly hand swung towards him.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Lord Oden?!"
The hood group was frightened when they saw their leader suddenly start screaming in their hands.
"Wha? I'm back? I'm back!"
Oden had an elated look on his face as if he had just avoided a great catastrophe.
"Yo."
He looked up and saw Miko floating in front of him.
"Looks like it's my win, Oden."
Oden looked at him with shock and horror, finally, his expression changed to one of respect. He went on his knees and kowtowed in front of Miko.
"I was completely defeated. You are far superior to me. Forgive my rudeness earlier, and please accept my allegiance as an apology."
Everyone was shocked to see Oden bowing before Miko. They started to wonder just what happened between the two. Miko wasn't surprised, he smiled and said-
"Welcome to Renacido."
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