"...Man. He failed, huh?"
Suddenly, a man in a tattered cloak with a cracked, laughing mask appeared from the shadows.
"Skill auto-activate: Appraiser," Noysd muttered, summoning a crackling orb of lightning in his palm—not a bolt, but a dense, humming ball.
{Done} the system responded.
> {NAME: ROKU JINKOHU
AGE: 103
RACE: DEVIL (50%) / ??? (50%)
STATS:
STR: EX+
SPD: SS-
INT: 150
DUR: EX+
WIS: C+
CHA: EXXX+ (TOO HANDSOME?)
SKILLS: MAGIC NULLIFY, CANCEL, ERASURE, TRANSFORMATION, ELEMENTAL MANIPULATION & CONTROL, ETC.}
"...So you're Roku, huh?" Noysd said in a low, ominous tone.
"Huh...? Wait... You're Noysd, right?" Roku's eyes widened before breaking into a fit of laughter. "Hahahahaha!"
Noysd said nothing—just stared.
"Hahahaha... Man, you're my kid! Noysd, Noysd... Hahahahahaha!" Roku laughed harder, slapping his knee.
"...Why?" Noysd asked coldly.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"...Why?" Noysd repeated, voice darker than before.
"Oh... that?" Roku grinned, wiping a tear of laughter. "Because she was pretty... and easy. Didn't expect the husband to be that clever, though. Hahahaha! That woman nearly offed herself just from bearing my child. Hahahaha!"
"Skill created: Body Strengthening, Soul Erasure," Noysd said, fists trembling.
{Done
2/2 Skills Created} the system confirmed.
"Auto-activate skill: Body Strengthening," he commanded.
{Done}
> Stat Changes:
STR: C → EXXX+
SPD: E → EX-
DUR: D+ → EXX+
Noysd cracked his neck, then began stretching—limbs tense, controlled. Silent. Focused.
He dropped into a stance.
"Ooooh~ My son wants to fight his old man?" Roku jeered, chuckling as he mirrored the stance. "This should be fun!"
Without a word, Noysd vanished from sight, blitzing Roku with shocking speed.
"The f—!?" Roku barely reacted as a bolt of lightning tore through his left arm, blowing a hole clean through it.
"SHI—!" Roku attempted to cast a healing spell, but Noysd drove a fist into his ribs—CRACK. The right side of Roku's chest caved in.
"Ahh! Hahahahaha!" Roku coughed up a fountain of blood, yet still laughed as his mask started to fracture. "Heh... you've got your mother's rage…"
"Why are you laughi—" Noysd began, but suddenly recoiled, his own left arm erupting in blood and pain. His ribs shattered as if crushed by an unseen force.
"Ahh... forgot to tell you," Roku said with a twisted grin. "Reflect Perfection. My passive skill. Any damage you deal to me? It comes back threefold. Perfect timing. Precise return."
Noysd's body shook with pain, but he didn't even flinch.
"Auto-activate: Great Heal," he muttered, taking a stance once again.
{Understood}
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! What now, huh?! You punch me—YOU die! You attack—I watch you break yourself! You can't win, son!"
"You're right," Noysd said.
He sprinted forward—faster this time.
"What the hell are you—!?" Roku shouted, trying to dodge.
Noysd's fist slammed into Roku's left rib. This time, he didn't hold back. He drove it in with the force of a storm.
"DEAD END, NOYSD! YOU'RE FINISHED!" Roku screamed—until his laughter died in his throat.
He vomited blood again—far too much. Something was wrong. Something was missing.
"W-What the... my... m-my heart?!" Roku stammered, stumbling back.
"..."
Noysd slowly opened his fist.
In his bloodied palm was Roku's still-beating heart.
"N-No—G-Give that back! That's mine! MY HEART!!" Roku screamed, crawling toward him in desperation.
But Noysd squeezed.
CRUNCH.
A flicker of blue flame burst from within the crushed organ. Glowing like a miniature sun—a burning sphere the size of a tennis ball.
It was Roku's soul.
"W-What are you doing?! Y-You monster! That's my soul!" Roku screamed, his body regenerating—but it was too late.
Noysd's eyes showed no emotion.
"No... This is immoral! You're evil! Vile! A demon!" Roku shouted, lunging forward.
"...Evil?....
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Well seems like i'm still alone....huh a phone ringing...hmmm...uh hu.....kay sure....conviently they say they are on a vacation for 22 chapters....oh well...
bye reader
to be continued