Death Leveling Chapter 30

[ … words ]

Peacefully, we all slept in a small camp we set up—we were near our destination, just an hour or two more of walking and we’d be there with our delivery.

The things on my mind weren’t so serene, however—I was starving!—and not just, I was also desperate to experiment more with my new body.

“Ah… does no one want my organs?!” I quietly whispered to myself whilst trying to fall asleep, knowing I no longer even needed to close my eyes for anything.

Even though sleep wasn’t a necessity anymore, I could still do it, but it was no longer something I could “just do”—there’s no physical tiredness, so I’d need to commit to it like it’s war.

An hour… two hours… a hundred sleepless hours… eventually started feeling like a college student that was about to have their exams.

Then suddenly!!

“Hus…h…” my right eye immediately flinched from the sound—that wasn’t an animal, I could tell.

The way I feel and hear—it’s like I’m a beast—nothing would get past my hearing or vision.

Instead of waking anyone up, a devilish grin slowly crept up.

I began twisting my hand—veins started popping up, and unheard-of sharpness surrounded my hand.

Silently, I walked up to the entrance of my tent, peeped an eye and noticed—it was them, exactly the people I’ve been unspokenly waiting for all this time!!

Just a small peek made one of them notice me—was I activating their instincts?—is that it, darling?

Rather than doing anything…

“Boo!” I whispered just loud enough for him to clearly lock eyes with me.

Abruptly, a sadistic good-for-nothing grin wholly embraced my expression—depraved and lifeless, clearly hinting at the degeneracy inside my head.

He began walking backwards… clumsily… then fell over like an idiot.

I almost wanted to laugh, but I knew I shouldn’t wake up my emergency food— I mean, my teammates.

“One… three…” my eyes went up as I focused on reading the MANA in this area…

“Five of them…”

The organ hunter heard me counting, but what could he do about it?—the little guy was frozen on the ground, probably shaking and thinking about his beloved family.

Before pouncing on them, an unpleasant realization made my eyes blank out: I could only do this because it’s Nemo rather than Ariel—strangely felt powerless because of this passing cloud, knowing I’m at the mercy of someone’s weakness.

Nemo would definitely notice him had he touched his barrier, but Ariel would’ve undoubtedly seen him coming from a mile away—and my bloodlust?—I am trying to focus it solely on the trespassers, but I’m certain I couldn’t show it off around anyone genuinely powerful without being instantly noticed.

Then, still with dead-eyes had had no life in them, I started glaring at the pissant—before he could do anything, I was outside the tent—hooked him on my bicep and as quickly as I physically could, without killing him, I carried him as far away as possible.

Went past the other four hunters—they immediately turned, trying to lock their eyes with me as if they’re about to have a fight with me—arrogant little shits, aren’t they?!

“Tsk!” I voiced instinctually, insulted that they considered this a fight whatsoever.

“AA—” right as one of them attempted to scream, I put my right foot on a big rock from behind and used it as a trampoline to get next to him.

“Ueeah!!—” blood began gushing out of his throat—using my right hand I sliced his vocal cords to shut him down from making any sounds.

The guy next to him instantly tried to attack me, but before he could do anything, using my other hand, I sliced his vocal cords as well—both of my hands were inside their throats—quickly pulled my hands out and turned my head sideways to the other two.

“How cute… you’re shaking?” I coldly stated, quietly with a grin that never left my face.

I didn’t let them reply—trampolined next to them as well, slicing their vocal cords in the process.

Held my hands up as if performing a requiem, with all five of them gasping for air on the ground; only one of them still had their cords intact.

“Now…” I wonder how long it’ll take for them to die in this situation. Seeing them like this really does…

The sinister grin I had… transformed even further.

Instead of devouring them, by their clothes I began dragging them across the dirt—had to get as far away as possible before conducting my little experiments—can’t let anyone overhear this, let alone catch a glimpse of it, can I?

“This should be good enough…”

Ah… is this one dead?—put two fingers on his neck, in search of a pulse.

“Dead…” you guys really are weak, you’re batshit insane for constantly trying to hunt down people coming from the Im City—or do you even know who’re your targets?—my eyes went up yet again, trying to recall my past encounter with these people.

“Heh…” I guess you just target people at random—remembered their surprise at X being a System user.

Then one by one… I bit them.

This was an obvious experiment I had to do—that’s how I became what I am, right?—I need to see if I can create offspring.

My transformation took days though—I can’t wait for that long, and I’m not exactly keen on creating copies of myself without at least keeping tabs on them.

And this one… I guess I’ll just devour the dead one—or some of it—will it empower me?—or do they need to be properly alive?

So many questions lingering—will need to conduct many experiments to understand what I can do properly.

Dropped on the floor upon devouring one of them—palmed my face and started impatiently waiting for something to happen.

After an hour or two passed…

All of them were dead…

Yet…

All of them were breathing.

Their wounds weren’t healing, but they were all breathing as if they’re still alive.

“Interesting,” I whispered to myself.

Moved my hand behind one of them, grabbed him by the clothes and started holding his body up—sharpened my left hand and then pierced his skin.

Gently, my hand rubbed his heart—it wasn’t beating, just like mine.

He is dead, yet breathing—just like I am.

Knew time was running low—had to make my decision.

Took a deep breath with my lifeless lungs, and then made up my mind.

Walked up to one of them, then yet again my hand sharpened like a blade—got on my knee, then decapitated one of them.

Instantaneously, flinched—killing him made a wave of MANA wash over my mind.

“Interesting…”

Then his body began burning up—nothing was left, just pure white ash.

Proceeded to decapitate two more, leaving just one corpse behind—a walking corpse, I say.

Did attempt to devour them instead, but their flesh was repulsing—because I had bitten them?—likely.

Left—couldn’t be away for any longer, couldn’t risk any of them waking up before I got back to the camp.