Death Leveling Chapter 32

[ … words ]

“Two deers… hmm…” I voiced while in bushes, stalking them and pondering.

“Would an animal transform as well?—or is this strictly a human thing?”

“First…” still in the bushes without being seen nor anywhere near them, I closed my eyes and allowed my bloodlust to garner and radiate—another quick experiment, for science.

Instantly, both of them started running—didn’t even glance at me, just running for their life.

“Heh.”

Without time to even blink, I got behind them and began comfortably squeezing their necks without even hardening my hands.

“One… two…” snapped one of their necks, whereas the other I pushed to the ground with no room for even the smallest of struggles.

*Aaaamm!!*

Bit one of them—got slightly vocal—and then let it go.

Unexpectedly—or expectedly—it began shaking and foaming out of its mouth, instantaneously unlike the times I bit human beings.

“Interesting reaction,” I glared at its body like it’s a case study—it was.

Then…

*Skreeeeeeeekkk!!*

I didn’t even notice it—my eyes went up from the deer, to the raven staring at me. Why isn’t it flying away?—can’t it feel my bloodlust?

Stood up whilst slowly slanting my head—step by step, went up to it in amazement—it’s really not terrified of me?—quite the curious creature you are.

The raven was sitting on a rock, glaring at me with its pitch-black eyes; I sat down on my knee and raised my hand for it. It’s genuinely not scared of me; I smiled, realizing.

Touched the raven and started gently rubbing its head… then I realized…

…is it MANA affinity?

The thought immediately prompted my hands to move straight on my mouth, and consequently my face started relishing in deep reflection.

It didn’t fly away—still continued its stare at me, so yet again my eyes went to it and…

…I lightly bit it.

Grinned—expectations rose this time; it wasn’t a mere experiment just for the sake of it.

“C’mon… c’mon…” I softly whispered to no one but myself.

Suddenly… its MANA… I could feel it inside my head yet again, just like with the human from earlier: it feels dark and odd, yet strangely intelligent and warm—is its MANA complementing mine?—it’s flowing so swiftly and uninhibited.

The process wasn’t long this time: just minutes later, it stood up, yet again behaving like a raven should—the difference was stark, however, this raven belonged to me.

“Haha… hahahhaha!!”

I began laughing… maniacally… and walking away from it.

Yet again, closed my eyes… this time suppressing my MANA and abandoning any reading of the surroundings—I caged myself to just my body, couldn’t feel or hear anything.

And so… focused on the raven… and the raven alone.

Its presence intensified in my head, and then abruptly the lid opened up—I could feel everything through the raven—surroundings, MANA, and I could even see from its eyes!

“Now… what are the controls?” I voiced to myself, with arrogance and excitement embracing every word.

I couldn’t exactly “command” it, but I could indirectly control it… on an intuitive level—wasn’t exactly an easy task, as it was like growing a new limb and trying to explain how you move it—you just do, simply do, without knowing how exactly it connects to you.

This prompted a thought: will it be like this with humans I transform as well?—will I be able to intuitively control them?

“Time…” I started dragging the deer to the camp, satisfied unlike ever before—how could I not be?—the fucking pranks I could pull with this shit!

The way I stepped was slightly comical as well—big steps, straight out of a cartoon; no wonder the organ hunters are so keen on hunting us—I definitely wouldn’t tolerate seeing myself walking around like this.

So, I just need to find humans with MANA affinity?

Moved my eyes up—a small habit of mine when I start thinking.

Could be it—MANA affinity is a real thing after all, Ariel did mention that I wasn’t compatible with their Systems because of that.

Got back to the camp and…

…what is Soyeon doing?—is she okay?

Sneakily went up to her; she was hitting two rocks trying to start a fire—did Nemo tell her to do it on her own?—no magic, eh?

I sat down next to her—she wasn’t noticing me even after that, so I just glared at her.

“AAAAAAAAH!! Why won’t it start?!” she yelled angrily.

She then proceeded to furiously hit the rocks with immense force—girl, that wasn’t going to start any fire.

Then I moved my hand next to her ear and, gently and diligently, touched her hair…

“AHHHHHBB—” she dropped down after a loud scream, then started crawling with her back facing the ground.

“D— Dante?!” yet again yelled in surprise. “You— you scared the living crap out of me!!”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah… what… were you doing?!”

“Oh, you just seemed a bit cute while crashing out—couldn’t resist playing with your hair.”

Stupefied, she glared at me without saying a word.

Mmm… I know what she’s feeling—no privacy with me, I’m sorry.

“I’m just messing with you,” I said playfully while letting out a small giggle, standing up and walking up to her.

“Let me give you a hand,” I reached out to her—my smile was warm, it had to be like this just this once.

She grabbed my hand and stood up.

“What’s up with you anyway, Soyeon, why are you trying to start a fire using rocks?—can’t you just use magic?”

I knew the answer already, but I didn’t care—I wanted her to explain herself, just for the sake of it like a clown.

“No…” she said slightly pensively; now I feel a bit bad!—look what you did!

“Nemo wants me to do it without magic—he said I need to learn survival skills because apparently ’we never know what might happen.’”

“Aww… you poor thing,” I whispered yet again, gently—can she pick up that I’m teasing her?—surely, she’s not tone-deaf, right?

“What— what’s up with you?!” she looked away upon blurting this line…

“Huh… what do you mean by that?”

Took a step forward… right next to her…

“Soyeon… are you possibly…”

She glanced at me for just a brief second…

“…blushing?”

What a mischievous man I am, doing this to her at a time like this.

Couldn’t resist but smile, playfully with faint wickedness hidden beneath the surface.