Chapter14: Who Are You?
The Vulcan ape loomed larger and more ferocious than ever, beating its chest wildly as it dragged its remaining comrades under its fierce control. Those apes who had escaped Damon's grasp were haunted by vivid, visceral memories of their fallen brethren—each recollection a cruel reminder of the violence they'd enacted. The apes howled in rage, some flinging themselves from tree to tree, while others jumped in frantic agitation.
Amidst this turmoil, Damon stood unperturbed, his clones arrayed beside him. One clone bore an expression of wrath, another wore a mask of confusion, lost in its own fog of forgetfulness, while the last clone grinned broadly, a gleam of mischief in its eyes.
The Vulcan apes surged toward Damon and his clones, a wave of primal fury. Without hesitation, the smiling clone darted to the left and whispered, "String Devil," eliciting a ripple of surprise from Damon.
In that moment, the Vulcan apes felt themselves ensnared, invisible threads wrapping around their bodies. They grasped at what they could not see, panic growing as they were yanked forward with astonishing force. "Ooh, this clone is insane!" Damon chuckled, delight blooming on his face as fifteen Vulcan apes were pulled toward the smiling clone. Without needing a command, the clone detonated, a violent explosion that obliterated the unfortunate apes in an instant.
"Amazing!" Damon exclaimed, clapping his hands in glee, momentarily lost in his own madness. His gaze then turned to the rank 4 Vulcan ape, which stared back with unyielding intensity.
But beneath the surface of Damon's chaotic mind, an unsettling urge brewed—an insatiable craving for a deeper connection with his soul. The endless void within him swirled, compelling him to embrace the madness.
With a devilish laugh, Damon activated Crazed Steps, his movements becoming unpredictable, bordering on nonsensical to any sane observer. As he reveled in his descent into insanity, he spun with abandon, each rotation sharpening his madness until it peaked at 60%.
His movements grew more provocative, filled with an eerie charisma, and in an instant, he closed the distance to the rank 4 Vulcan ape. The creature's expression twisted with rage, clawing at the ground in desperation as if cursed by the very essence of Damon's chaos.
Suddenly, the Vulcan apes perched in the shadows of Raksha Forest seized rocks, hurling them at Damon. The missiles soared overhead, exploding like fireworks, illuminating the darkening sky. "So beautiful!" Damon marveled, his perception slowing in the chaos. "It sings madness to my brain." He watched as the rank 4 Vulcan ape gathered energy in its fists, arms pulsating with intimidating power.
Elsewhere in Raksha Forest, a middle-aged man and a young woman cautiously navigated the shadows, an aura of haunting strength surrounding them. "Father, how much longer must we walk? Why couldn't we just take a flying mount or our carriage?" the girl pouted. Her dark hair framed her face, and her striking purple eyes sparkled with frustration, a stark contrast to her beauty.
"Calm your heart, Velma," her father replied, a gentle smile dancing on his lips. "We'll soon reach our destination." He offered her a bottle of water, a small gesture of comfort before quickening his pace. Just then, a colossal explosion erupted nearby, drawing his attention.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, pivoting toward the sound. Without waiting for a response, he dashed forward, Velma gliding effortlessly behind him, an eerie silence enveloping them.
As they neared the source of the chaos, the roars of the Vulcan apes intensified. "This is madness! Who dares provoke such a creature?" he mused aloud. "They may be savage beasts, but their agitation... this isn't normal." He smiled, an unsettling excitement flickering in his eyes. "I must see what awaits."
Velma felt a pang of trepidation clawing at her. "If I weren't with my father right now, could I truly handle such chaos?" Her heart raced, ignited by both fear and curiosity. She quickened her pace, compelled forward by an inexplicable urge.
Amidst the tumult, Damon shouted, "Switch!" The confused clone took its place, its sadistic grin stretching wide as it extended its arms in embrace. The moment the rank 4 Vulcan ape struck, another thunderous bang reverberated through the forest. The shockwave shattered the ground, uprooting surrounding trees.
The rank 4 Vulcan ape was sent flying through the air, coming to rest amidst the wreckage. Realizing its failure to harm its enemy, it sprang back into action, leaping toward the smoke that concealed Damon, who stood defiantly, one clone manifesting wrath while he reveled in the thrill of madness.
As Velma and her father drew closer, disbelief washed over them. A single boy was at the center of this chaos. "Father, is this normal?" Velma exclaimed, anxiety etched on her face. "I can't sense even a hint of sanity in him. He's a walking disaster!"
Her father's eyes sparkled with intrigue as he observed Damon. "Oh, thank the heavens! Perhaps this is a sign for me to take on a new student." He was captivated by the boy's fierce fighting technique, marveling at the aggressive beauty of the chaos unfolding before him. Yet amidst this admiration, a primal urge stirred within him to claim the boy for himself.
Suddenly, the wrathful clone materialized before them, a confrontation growing inevitable.
"How bold of you," the middle-aged man observed, looking directly into the clone's eyes, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
Velma's heart raced, and a shiver coursed through her. "He—he noticed us! How is that even possible?" she wondered, glancing at her father, fear anchoring the depths of her being. "This boy is far more frightening than we anticipated."
The middle-aged man seized the clone's face with surprising ease, flinging it aside with a casual motion. It crashed beside Damon, who glared with an intensity reminiscent of stormy skies.
"I haven't shown my presence yet. This child—who has not exceeded the Mortal Awakening realm—pinpoints my exact location," he said, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. He smiled. "I can't take it anymore; you're mine!" He leaped, landing on the rank 4 Vulcan ape with a force that burst it like a ripe melon, blood splattering onto Damon's form.
"Who are you, child?" The middle-aged man bent slightly to meet Damon's gaze, curiosity mingling with respect.
Damon, taken aback by the display of raw strength, felt a surge of agitation. "He's strong," he whispered inwardly, his face stoic, yet his mind racing with thoughts that felt far beyond him. "He's far above my league right now, but I won't back down."
"First, you interrupt my battle. Then you mock me with your gaze. And now you question me?" In the blink of an eye, Damon dissolved like smoke. His voice echoed in the depths of Raksha. "I am Damon Rim of the Void Clan, child of the Infinite Nothingness, the one who will rise to the top of Avalon!"
The older man laughed, a sound filled with an unexpected warmth that ricocheted off the trees. "Hahaha! Such bold remarks. Only if you knew the weight your words carry," he chuckled, a newfound admiration illuminating his features.
Velma, perched atop a nearby tree, gaped at her father, confusion washing over her. "Why isn't he moving?" she wondered. The sound of laughter echoed through the air, both thrilling and terrifying. Suddenly, Damon appeared before her, grinning with that unsettling mix of mischief and madness that left her breathless.