Chapter 5: Powerless (1)

Chapter 5: Powerless (1)

"Huff huff"

That was rough. I look at my shattered fist; there's no blood coming out, but it still looks pitiful. To think that I have to exert my strength to such an extent. I look down at the battered golem.

He is a dangerous foe for me right now, and if there are any mishaps, I might be the one lying down there.

Imaginary Art

The mind is the greatest weapon that all lives have and with the birth of energy like mana or demonic energy comes the ability for thoughts to become reality. That's what Imaginary Art is all about: to change things with thoughts alone

You imagine something and it will manifest; you want more arms, then you will have more arms; you want your fireball to be alive, then it will be as alive as a dog. It's a very simple concept, but only for those who could shift their mind, treating mana the same as a tail and instinctively knitting their mana based on their feeling, their perception of that thing, how it was structured and how it functioned.

But using this technique only required a minimum amount of strength; the hard part is to experience and gain enlightenment to unlock this skill. But as demon king, I have already wielded it a couple of times so I just need to remember the sensation to recreate it, though barely.

Using it continuously will cook my brain, turning it into a delicacy because of the constant focus, so I could only use it for a moment. Actually, controlling mana is already a hassle itself due to this body's deformed mana core and veins. I can at best control about 70% of the mana.

Well, it is much better than this golem, who can only control 20% of his mana.

There is actually a different way to use the imaginary art, but I would prefer not to because it is too risky.

Growl~

"Ah, hungry."

This body was already in poor condition from the start; now I should find something to replenish myself.

"Oh, there was a human with an ability nearby."

It might not be able to improve my state, but at least I will have a nice meal.

******

In a confined room with dimmed light, a groan could be heard.

"Ugh, where am I?"

What's just happened? Why am I sitting down? I got knocked out by that punch. HOW am I a D rank and yet I lose to an F rank?

"Oh, hello there."

Surprised by the voice, he looks up and sees a man wearing an apron with a scissor.

"YOU-UGH, what the—?"

Rango's face turned pale when he realized something is not right; his arm—

"WHERE ARE MY ARMS?"

"WHAT DID YOU—"

"Noisy"

A cutting sound could be heard. Rango felt a chilling pain from his throat and felt something warm streaming out. Then it become hard to breathe-

"KUAH KUAH"

Finally shutting up, I cleaned up the scissors with my apron after I slit his throat, watching him choke on his own blood for a little bit, and then I proceeded to put my hand to his throat, healing it.

"HUFF HUFF BLEURGHH"

Blood, tears, vomit, and... All dripping down to the floor—this guy is a little weak, isn't he? At least most of the humans I tortured don't wet themselves like that.

"Huff huff"

"Calm down?"

He began to look at me again, but not in rage but in dread.

"Good, now here's the deal."

"You, from now on, will become my slave."

It seems that I have been gone for a very long time. I don't remember people wearing this kind of thing during my time, and this gun looks weird. It can be imbued with mana, thus making it stronger. So many things have changed, so I need a guide.

I don't have enough mana for an enslavement mark so I must use another solution.

"Or else I will begin to "tame" you." I pointed my scissors right below his abdomen.

Seeing this, he shuddered, then nodded his head multiple times.

"Yes, good, good. Now tell me... No, from now on your name will be Gollum."

He looked confused but still nodded his head

"I guess you must know that I am not Issac."

"Yes."

"Then do you know who I am?"

"….a demon?"

"Oh, you are smarter than I thought."

"?"

He is quite smart despite his stupid face and behavior; that is good, I need a smart slave.

"But you see, I'm no ordinary demon; I'm a primordial demon from hell who just awakened from a long slumber."

"Sadly, I cannot fully use my full power due to the restriction."

I'm just bullshitting at this point; I must instill fear so that the odds of him betraying me are minimum. I doubt that if I talk about nicknames like Devourer or Lord of the Fly, he would find it hard to believe.

So let's just stick with the small achievements.

"So I don't want to tolerate any insolence, you hear me?"

"Yes."

"Fix it."

"Yes, sir."

"Good"

It seems that I have myself a smart slave.

"Now tell me everything you know about this world."

"Umm…well"

"…"

Maybe not

"Cough, sorry, sir, but I'm just a lowly thug; I don't know much."

Beelzebub, take it back; he really is a dumb shit. But he is the only informant right now so let's get the general view about this world first.

"Then answer my question."

"Yes, sir."

"Who is the one running this realm right now?

"Realm?"

Gollum was confused and, at the same time, afraid for he might do something if he didn't answer so he just said something he had in mind.

Oh, you mean earth, there are two powerhouses governing right now."

"First is the alliance of kingdoms that follow the monarchy system."

"Second is the central government that follows the democratic system."

I see, I see that I shouldn't care about this, and what is "democratic" anyway?

"So tell me about the powerhouse of this realm and their name."

"Yes, sir, there are the 5 families and the 10 supreme."

"The 5 families include Mortem, Zara, Chiyun, Padock, and Mamon."

Mortem? Is that this vessel's name? If so then why is this vessel from a great lineage, and it's so pathetic? ... Did he just say Mamon? MAMON!

"Mamon?"

"Um, yes, sir?"

"As in the demon king of greed, Mamon?"

"Who?"

What, does the knowledge of god and demons not reach here?

"...Do you know the six demon kings?"

"Ah yes, sir, do you mean 7?"

"...Name them all and their sin."

Rango was about to say when he noticed a weird expression on Beelzebub's face

'What, isn't he a demon, and why did he look so pissed?'

"Well, Lucifer for Pride, Helsinger for Cowardice, Asmodeus for Lust, Satan for Wrath, Leviathan for Jealousy, Solomon for Avarice, and Belphegor for Laziness."

"???????"

Beelzebub, for the first time in this life, felt his mind blowing.

Cowardice and Avidity

Not only was a new sin born, but another was upgraded?

In order to create a "sin," one must kill a god to do it, but how can one come out of nowhere? And how Mamon managed to change his name and sins.

"Don't tell me."

Even though I, who held the authority of Gluttony, have gone, the sin still remains, but without an owner.

And Mamon, who sees an empty throne, must have taken my place, and not only that, he fused it with Greed, thus birthing Avarice.

But why did he rename himself, and what's the deal with the Mamon family? Mamon isn't a common name, and it surely wasn't a prestigious name.

Or did Mammon get erased too, but why and by whom is it him again?

So many questions, yet all I have is a useless thug.

"Argh, my head."

"Are you okay, sir?"

"Shut up."

"Yes, sir."

Take a deep breath. I continue to question him.

"What about the gods?"

"Ah, sorry sir, but I only remember 7 names. Those other five are—"

"Just say it."

"Yes, they are Zoth, the Divine God; Susanoo, the Storm God; Heibi, the Deceit God; Tepes, the Immortal God;Atlas, the Sky God; Y-to, the Invention God; and Xiran, the Nature God."

Hm, they still have the same name with the same stupid nickname, unlike mine. The sudden revelation from before hit me like someone smashing my head to the ground.

To think that another sin was born and another upgraded. If I had known about this, I would have led my army much sooner to kill Mamon.

Thinking about that is useless now, for one flick of the finger from them will erase me entirely. I'm not joking, for I used to have such an ability like that.

"Is there any major event like a war or something?"

"There are many events, but I only remember the names."

"…"

I really want to crush his skull right now. How is this fucker looking so old and yet knowing so little?

This is useless, extracting information from this guy. I might as well use that time to figured out what can I do with this body besides using Imaginary Art

"Yes, sir, I shall take my leave now."

"What?"

"Nothing, sir; I was just joking."

'Dammit, I thought I could run away.'

Like hell, I would let you escape; you still have some uses left.

Standing up, stretching my body, I begin to make plans for the future. First, fix this body and awaken my phantom eye; second, gain knowledge about this world; third, evolve my ability. After building a proper foundation, I will begin to build a force and regain control over this realm. Yes, the grand feast awaits.

"Um, sir."

"What, you ruined my mood over here."

"Um, uh, can I get back my arm?"

"…"

Hmm, thinking for a while, I made my decision.

"No"

"….."