CHAPTER 65- Half Demon

"What did I tell you?" Master's words faded into my ears; my entire attention was on Xavier, watching his every move.

His sword technique was nothing like I had ever seen. It was as if his blades were cutting through the air, devouring every living energy with every strike. The tip of his blade emitted dark purple energy, and the air itself was thick with the twisted smell of blood and flesh.

Where did he learn these sword techniques? So merciless, so cold and cruel. He killed 199 warriors as if he were just crushing ants.

"I doubt I can ever defeat him no matter how strong I get, Master." Those words escaped my mouth like a defeated whisper.

"You indeed have the potential to become the strongest human in history, Foxy." I looked up at Master, whose calm gaze was on Xavier.

"But that guy before you is half-dragon and half-demon now."

Demon? Master seemed to understand my confusion. It turned out there were still many things Master was hiding from me.

"Until a few days ago, demonic energy was like a mold that covered Xavier, but it was never his own. As a result, despite having it within himself, he couldn't use it. But by accepting that mold-like demonic energy inside him, he has become one with it. And the energy within Xavier is even more powerful than a demon's. So it naturally killed his status as a half-human and made him a half-demon."

Master's explanation was chilling. I turned my gaze down to where Xavier was. Naeson was kneeling before him, and Xavier looked up in my direction.

Our eyes met, and it took only a mere blink of an eye for the madness in his eyes to disappear. Blood was all over him, yet somehow, instead of looking dangerous... he looked enchanting.

His look at me felt as if he was asking, "Have I done well?" He seemed to want my recognition. There was a hint of fear too in his eyes - fear of being seen as a monster, anxiety about being feared by me, confusion about whether he was right or wrong because the excitement he felt while striking those who came after him was immense.

"If you want to kill him, I can help you. Because he is getting stronger every passing day and a day might come when his demonic energy will corrupt him," Master was right... he was right in a logical sense.

There was no guarantee that his madness wouldn't devour everything we were trying to protect in the near future. There was no guarantee that he wouldn't become like those demons who only sought after more power and blood. There was no guarantee that one day his sword wouldn't turn on me.

But why was it that despite all these variables... I didn't want to do anything that might harm him?

Again, I didn't start this because I could guarantee everything. Ever since the first time I met him in our past life when death was inevitable, there was something I realized.

When it comes to Xavier Alexux Aelric, there is nothing inevitable. Neither the fact that he might become a blood-hungry demon nor the fact that he might become the saint who will save the world.

"No, I don't want to," I replied. "Are you sure? You might regret it." Master double-checked with me and I just looked into his eyes.

"What worse can happen if he gives in to the malice of demonic power? He will destroy the world?" I paused momentarily and my eyes darkened, "This world is already doomed even without him doing anything."

Master found my answer odd and unexpected, but I meant every word I said. It was I who freed him from that hell, and it was also my duty to stop him from being bound to that hell again.

**************

Xavier felt a tight pain in his heart when he saw Selentia looking away from him. He couldn't understand how to explain that feeling but he was hurting. He had knocked out Naeson and looked at his unconscious body.

He mumbled, "She wanted to protect you... Is that because you resemble a hero?"

Xavier didn't feel any guilt while killing the 199 people. For him, it was a necessity.

They were the ones who came after him first and he didn't feel any remorse for killing them. Those people deserved to die even more painfully but he couldn't bring himself to be cruel in front of her.

What if she finds this side of him disgusting and wants to stay away from him? What would he do? What should he do?

He didn't want her to hate him but he didn't regret killing either. And he wouldn't stop himself from killing even more if necessary.

Xavier was clear in his conscience. He always had been - it was this clarity that had kept him going so far.

And suddenly he heard the unknown voice in his head again.

"You are becoming a demon slowly."

That voice laughed like a maniac, as if mocking Xavier.

"You are scared of being abandoned by her, aren't you?"

Xavier's eyes turned cold hearing that. He thought, "He can hear my thoughts."

As if to confirm his thoughts, the voice replied, "Of course I can hear your thoughts. Who do you think I am?"

Xavier scoffed, "For someone who is living inside me, you sure talk a lot."

"Ehhh, it's not me who is living inside you, you fucking bastard!" The voice retorted. "You are the one who is moving around with my power, you bloody thief."

Xavier's eyes widened upon hearing that. His chest started pounding and almost unconsciously the next words left his mouth.

"Belhier."

The voice laughed in amusement, "Oho~~~ You know me. I didn't think a clueless being like you could understand it so easily."

Xavier's face started losing its color, his body froze on the spot and he felt as if everything around him turned too silent and started fading into the background.

"So, now that you understand," Belhier's voice inside Xavier grew even clearer than before. "Take my offer, kid. You can have everything in the world. The woman you desire, the land you are standing on. You have nothing to lose either. Do you?"

Xavier's body started getting hotter and heavier, the power inside him was growing and getting more violent, as if realizing Belhier was doing something to him.

"Oh, this is interesting!" Belhier let out an amusing chuckle.

Pain inside Xavier's body started getting even stronger and he fell on his knees clenching his chest. Purple smoke started spiraling around him and he could feel it. A tremendous amount of demonic energy was building inside him.

"Ugh! Do something you fucking freeloader!!!" He screamed in pain.

"Who are you calling freeloader? Nevermind!"

"XAVIERRRRR!!!" Selentia called out his name, but Xavier was in too much pain to even reply. Blood started coming out of his nose, he trembled in agony.

"What a pain!" Belhier groaned in annoyance. "That girl, she is a descendant of Lunaria, isn't she?"

"Who is Lunaria?" Xavier groaned in pain, he dug his fingers into the mud in pain.

"Tsk Tsk! Tell her to stay away from you unless you want to consume her life energy to balance yours." Belhier's words brought Xavier out of his pain for a moment and he shouted.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Xavier shouted. "WHAT? NO!! YOU WILL DIE!" Selentia said trying to break through the thick dark purple smoke.

"You won't die from this. It's more like an enlightenment to reach the level of Demon General. You just need to clench your teeth hard, bear with the pain and focus on concentrating this demonic energy inside your core."

Xavier understood what Belhier said.

"I AM OKAY, CAPTAIN! SO STAY AWAY FROM HERE." Xavier pulled up his body which was getting crushed under the heavy pressure of demonic energy. He sat in a meditating position.

"XAVIER!" "Foxy, give him space, he is reaching the Demon General level. If you get inside this spiral, you will lose your life force." It was clearly Edwin's voice.

Xavier felt at ease after realizing Edwin was there for Selentia. He clenched his teeth hard, veins were popping out of his skin, turning bright purple. Xavier closed his eyes, bearing with the pain which felt as if his body was burning.

"Focus on the channel of energy, feel it, feel the energetic and chilling demonic energy. Remember the feeling when you first consumed death qi."

Xavier thought... "The first time I consumed Death Qi? Ahhhh, it was 10 years ago. When I ended up going on a rampage after those demon cult bastards tried to force demonic energy into me.

It was also the first time I killed... killed nearly 20 of those guys and as if naturally I started consuming the dark death qi.

It was chilling and brutal, powerful and exciting. As death qi settled inside me, I could feel my body getting lighter like a feather, I was enjoying the screams of those bastards.

And... I wanted more."

"Oho~ Interesting~ You are already concentrating this power in your demonic core. Hmmm~~ Also consuming the death qi surrounding you." Belhier laughed like a maniac and it was a laughter only Xavier could hear.

Black smoke started rising from the dead bodies surrounding them and dashed toward Xavier, gathering inside his body into a small core between his chest. It sent a chilling feeling inside Xavier which nullified the burning sensation from the demonic energy.

The smoke started calming down, and the pain went away from Xavier's body. His breathing was steady and his energy was stronger, far more disastrous.

Belhier's laughter echoed in Xavier's mind as he slowly opened his eyes. Selentia was far from him, being held back by Edwin. She looked scared... yes, she was scared, she was scared of losing Xavier.

And when she finally saw the purple spiral surrounding Xavier fading and her eyes found Xavier.

She felt a surge of relief taking over her. Shoving Edwin away, she ran toward Xavier and before Xavier knew it, Selentia's arms were wrapped around him.

His body froze and he felt his heart beating faster than before, his cold body warmed up from Selentia's warmth. She was slightly trembling and Xavier felt bad for being happy about her worry.

He wrapped his arms around her, he tightened his embrace. It was almost as if Selentia was letting herself melt in his arms, she dug her face into his neck.

They didn't say anything yet the silence spoke louder. Edwin watched those two melting in each other's embrace and he knew instantly.

"There is no way these two can give up on each other even if they end up standing against each other someday."