Black Moon – 3
[Huh!?]
I succeeded in landing a blow this time. I laughed again as I embraced Solas, who appeared on my outstretched arm.
“Do you still think that way?”
“Myu.” Solas’s appearance was a little different now. In the process of being devoured, part of his body was lost. He used his power to eat at him from the inside, recovering what he had lost. Now, he seemed stronger than before.
[The spider’s power oppresses me…?]
“You don’t have the power of Jealousy, right? This guy has it.”
[How many times have I not eaten what I wanted? This has become fun…]
The other me leaned into position, a sword made of black mana in his hand. The power he exuded began to change at that moment, converging into one sharp line with the sword.
[I will surely devour you.]
“Who can say if that’s true.” His desire was increasing, the energy of his Gluttony increasing in density. It seemed like there was no end to that magic. But it was no different for me. As his power increased, so too did my Jealousy. It wasn’t hard for me to copy his power since I already had the same one.
[Annoying!]
His sword cleaved down. I knew because I, too, was him, how miraculous the trajectory drawn by that sword was. How great the power it held was.
“Kh!” My sword drew the same trajectory in the same. Sword and mana clashed in the center, causing a roar that threatened to collapse the dungeon. But it was the other me who was pushed back this time.
[Fuck, my arm…!]
“It won’t be that easy!” I had to get back this formidable power I lost. I had to transcend the past to forge the future.
[You can’t make me lose my power like Lucifer!]
“This is my power, the power of Baal!” Another violent crash resounded throughout the dungeon. Solas rushed into the gaps I created to tear at his flesh. Predation clashed with Predation, causing a terrible explosion.
“Khak!”
[Khh…!]
Each time I hurt my foe, and he hurt me, my Jealousy was aroused. Mana rising without end restored me and strengthened me. With this unacceptable enemy before me, I was the master of Jealousy.
[Yes, this is how I am. The evil lord couldn’t be otherwise! I won’t make any concessions, either! Your heart is nowhere near as strong as the one I have now!]
“Let’s put it to the test, then!” I could only guess what kind of thoughts I had in the past and what kind of heart I had. But my heart wasn’t as strong? Stupid! Just as I had no idea what happened to him in the past, he had no way of knowing the struggles I went through.
[It’s getting stronger…!]
“You, as the king, should know that Jealousy is a sin that stands shoulder to shoulder with Gluttony!”
[There’s no way I would use such a foolish power!]
“Would you deny yourself, Baal?!” My strength was elevated beyond a realm that I never reached in the past. My body, my swordsmanship, and my mana were boiling. It was only natural—the stronger the enemy, the stronger the Jealousy. Against the demon lord, I was experiencing rapid growth. I wondered if it would be the last before I reached the sky above me.
[Ha! Jealousy…is that Jealousy?! Are you so envious of my sword, of my mana, of me?!]
“The more pathetic I feel, the more jealous I feel of myself who was perfect in the past. I don’t care about the time that has passed, I can’t stand the anger rising inside me!” The explosions caused by mana colliding with mana rattled out like machine gunfire. Our skins tore up and regenerated as our muscles cried out for more mana.
[Lucifer couldn’t handle Jealousy properly. Even his Pride was incomplete…I was wrong.]
“Since I’m also Baal, I know the mistakes we’ve made. We’re not so smart, are we? But in the end, we always ate everything to survive!”
[I’ve always had to engorge myself to survive and protect what I love. I surrendered myself to desire and managed to survive somehow. Now I stand here!]
“So do I!” The speed at which I swung my dagger gradually increased to catch up with that sinister black mana sword. I had to be even faster and sharper.
[It’s unpleasant to think that I was a teacher for you. I’ll have to take even more.]
“I’m just taking back what was originally mine!”
[How funny!]
“If there is something you can eat in front of me, you should devour it!”
[Yes, that is the core of me! I am Baal, so I…!]
“No, I am Baal!” I didn’t care that I could feel myself reaching my limit from the elevating mana in my body, causing me to creak as I moved. I needed more mana, more power! The moment my limit was reached, my body began to shine, changed by the power. The powers of Jealousy, Gluttony, and Greed assimilated into me, emitting a violent wave. There was no other demon who had three powers at once before. Once there was a man who had two, but he was crushed by his own powers, just like Lucifer, and countless before him. But I was different. If there was anything I needed to eat in front of me, anything I should have, anyone who was stronger than me! I would devour it all.
“Hey!” I carved my way through the air, matching his movements. At the end of my path was his abdomen.
[Kahaak!]
The dagger of absolute death stuck into him. His sword tried to cut my throat at the same time, but Solas bit into it and swallowed it before it could cut me. It was thanks to the fact we shared the same consciousness that it was possible. However, he didn’t care that his attack had failed. He only looked down at the dagger sticking out of him.
[This weapon…its existence is a miracle.]
“Isn’t it?” I licked the blood off my fingers, the taste of it almost unbearably sweet.
[But…Heaven can’t do that. Even if Michael doesn’t know…!]
“I know, so don’t worry.”
[…No, it doesn’t matter either way.]
He stretched his arms out with a smile, admitting the game was over.
[If you devour me, you’ll know.]
I activated the energy of Predation. The Baal of the past closed his eyes.
[I can win now. I can eat it now…!]
Agreeing with him quietly, I devoured him whole.
“Thank you for this meal.” A violent explosion of energy occurred. The power of the past that had been sealed was absorbed into me, digested by the power of Predation. My mind was shattered as countless pieces of information were mixed and organized together. I could feel my powers growing, changing dramatically.
[Your level has risen several times!]
[Magic increased by 857.]
The moment I could feel the change had finished, I slowly opened my eyes and examined myself. The clothes I was wearing changed, now I was cloaked in the same black attire that my past self was wearing.
[Evil Lord (????/????) – Defense ????, boosts magic power.]
Only
It wasn’t that the status couldn’t be read, but rather it had an ability that couldn’t be recorded as a status in the first place. It had a power inexpressible with numbers, one I could only vaguely feel in wearing it.
“Now I have what I need.” Now that I defeated the true boss of Area 7, the Black Place was absorbed into the underground. I grabbed onto my past and was now reborn as the complete Baal, able to fully grasp all the work and power I had achieved in the past. The stat of destiny was now to be revealed to me, with this new rebirth.
[Destiny stats have been released.]
[All seven areas of the Black Palace have been gathered.]
[Construction of the Tower of Destiny has begun.]
Subsequently, a notification window appeared, ruining the mood.
[Collect gold coins to complete the tower.]
…Perhaps I should see Belphegor.
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