Civilization

"Kill them all." - Belial

Just like before the world dyes in red, however, instead of the walls of text layered on top of every living creature, I only see a singular word on every enemy. Shining scarlet in this world of blood, the word 'Kill'. I knew what that word represented. I just need my spear to reach it. To reach each and every single one of those words.

Without a second thought, my body moves. Staring at the closest fishman, my spear naturally draws towards the glowing words on its neck, stabbing through it in one fluid movement. As casually as breathing, my spear slices the side of its neck, spinning around my waist. The butt of the spear bashes into the chin of a mace-wielding fishman lifting its whole body upwards. Pushing the spear along my waist once more, I let the blade spear slice through the glowing 'Kill' on its neck, before taking a step forward and penetrating the chest of another.

With each step forward or to the side, my spear naturally pierces through the neck, head, or



chest of the fishmen.  Killing them instantly and reaching Gibing and the others within minutes and just as my spear pierces through the last fishman between us, Belial warns me.

"Look behind you. That monster is different from the rest. Not only are the Banshees helping it, but it still has its own consciousness. A warrior from the depths. Merge with me, let's kill it. Burn it until it becomes just ashes." - Belial

Turning around, I face the orange fishman. My breathing accelerates and my hert pounds against my chest. 10 Banshees, float above the orange fishman, with opaque thin blue lines attached from their fingertips to the fishman. Its eyes glow golden as it reveals its thin sharp white teeth.

"Kin…gst…on! Ar…e you… okay?" - Ken

Ken's voice drowns and muddles its way through my ears. I could barely make out the sentence as my whole body shakes. Placing his hand on my shoulder, I twist around bringing the tip of my spear dangerously close to his eye before Gibing and David grab onto my arm. Their strength although lower than mine, was able to stop my movements temporarily, giving me enough time to react, stopping my attack.

"What are you doing! Don't worry about these insects. Go, merge with me. Let us kill everything in our way." - Belial

"K…ill." - Kingston

A rush of bloodlust surges through my body as Belial speaks to me. Like a dragon ready to roar, I feel my thirst for blood and battle, ready to burst out upon the people with me. Wrestling free from Gibing and David's hold, a scream escapes my lips and the entire tunnel shakes in unison.

Hearing my call, the monster's shriek pierces through, penetrating into my ear and rocking my brain. Gripping my head and through my dazed state I hear everyone arguing about something. Their voices resonate in my head as my knees wobble down and Belial's voice quietens.

"KINGSTON! Get a grip!" - Gibing

"You are going to kill us! What are you doing?!" - David

"He can't hear us properly. It's that state of rage he gets into sometimes in battle." - Ken

"How did he escape from it before?" - Kaede
"He didn't. Either the ability ran out or he was knocked unconscious." - Yor

"Well, we can't leave him like this. We need to try something right?" - Frank

"We can try, but it's going to be difficult. He just threw both Gibing and David off him, and that monster in front of us looks as excited as Kingston to fight." - Gopopo

"We fight, right? David and I will just try to hold him back, keep him occupied for as long as we can. Frank, Ken and Kaede will have to deal with the monster with Yor and Gopopo providing support when they can." - Gibing

"Not possible, Gibing. We can't even hurt the ghost monsters flying above the orange fishman. Even if we try to defend against that monster, sooner or later we will lose. We need Kingston to fight the monster. During the small fight he had already, I noticed that some things have changed, and his spear was able to deal damage to the ghosts. Either we guide him towards the orange monster or we retreat and hope they fight anyway." - Yor

"Are you saying we leave him?" - Kaede

"We can't. Kingston has done a lot for us, we can't just leave him here." - Ken

"I'm not suggesting we just leave him. I'm saying we retreat and keep an eye on the situation, looking from afar and waiting for the right time to jump back in. Right now, he is attacking anything and everything including us which means he can't see through his rage." - Yor

"I agree with Yor. Kingston already left him to make the decisions during fights and this decision is just one of the many Yor will have to make. Retreat now and then come back to help him once we confirm that he is fighting against the fishman. Both Gibing and I can see in the dark, so it won't be hard to determine when we need to come back." - Gopopo

"Ken, let's go back. I know it feels wrong, but we need to be safe first if we want to help Kingston get out of here alive. "  David

"But-" - Ken

"Le…ave…" - Kingston

Through the cracks between my lips, I spoke to everyone. However, a splitting headache causes me to collapse to my knees. Dropping the Dark Spear, I grasp my head in pain and howl to the ceiling, causing small rocks and dirt to fall onto the ground. Kneeling beside me, Ken places his hand on my shoulder and looks at my face distorted in pain and anger.

"KINGSTON! Are you okay? What's happening?" - Ken

"Le…ave. Every…one." - Kingston

"Why? How are you going to be okay fighting everything down here." - Ken

"I SAID LEAVE!" - Kingston

I push Ken away from me as Belial's voice creeps into my head once again. Strangely, my body calms down at the sound of his voice. The pain and the headache dissipate like a wave going back into the ocean. My breathing slows, and I grab the Dark Spear, standing up and turning my back to everyone facing the monster that stops our advance. Belial's face

"Activate it, Kingston. You can feel it, can't you? The rage inside you subdued because of me. I can help you. Just merge with me." - Belial

"Belial… If I activate the skill to merge with you. What happens to everyone behind me. Would I lose consciousness and kill everything around me?" - Kingston

"No, instead you will gain power. Enough power to decimate your enemies." - Belial

"I'm confused. What is your endgame? Why did you approach me? Why are you searching for the other demons? Why me?" - Kingston

"I wondered why you didn't ask me this before. If you think you are special, think again. You were just the most convenient chess piece I could access right away. Giving you power will help you, and it will help me, nothing more and nothing less. As for my objective, I merely want to reunite with my brethren. Destroying things along the way is more of a pastime than anything." - Belial

"I see… Then, you won't hurt the people I care about?" - Kingston

"No guarantees. I do what I want but you are still in control unless you summon me directly from the seal, which is different from merging with me." - Belial

"Alright then. Gibing! Take everyone and move back a bit, I don't know what will happen so I want everyone to be safe first. Move them back and keep them safe, I'll do my best to not allow anything to get past me and if… If I start attacking you guys, kill me. Don't worry about me and just kill me so that I won't hurt anyone else. Can you do that?" - Kingston

Without looking back, I ask Gibing an important question. My eyes fixated on the fishman monster as a blue aura starts to congeal around its body. The banshees were giving the monster more and more power, one by one vanishing into thin air erupting the aura in a blue flash. My grip on the Dark Spear tightens as I await Gibing's answer.

"...Alright. David, Ken, Kaede, Frank, Gopopo and Yor, let's move back." - Gibing

"Kingston! Don't do anything reckless." - Ken

"Ken! Kingston knows what he is doing." - Kaede

"Let's move. David and Gibing keep an eye on the front. Frank bring up the rear with Ken and Kaede. Gopopo observe the surroundings." - Yor

"Come back to us. Safe and sound, Kingston." - David

p "I'll do my best, after all, this is 100% reckless." - Kingston

I stand my ground, not looking back, and let out a sigh. I look at Belial's floating figure, his smirk grows wider as he realizes my intentions.

"COME!" - Belial

Letting go of the Dark Spear with my left hand, I bring it close to my face covering my vision, only allowing me to see through the gaps of my fingertips. Gathering my energy, and feeling the blood flowing through my veins, creating a mysterious mixture of black and crimson auras drifting out of my palm. It covers my whole face and slowly I feel another heartbeat pounding alongside mine.

"Demon… Trigger." - Kingston

"Demon Trigger!" - Belial