On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

[Layland's POV]

'Shredder?! Are you kidding me—Shredder?! Is there even such a straightforward Origin?! I thought the name of an Origin reflects the nature of ourselves—not what it allows us to do!'

I grit my teeth as I endure Jovenus' special attack. There are so many light fragments cutting my skin open, frying it, and damaging my armor—I don't know what to do in the situation.

Although I don't think the pain is unbearable, I still don't want to receive it silently. The damage it is inflicting on my body is no joke; I'll end up losing consciousness if I stay idle, which is something I don't want to happen.

Alas, I can't move my body. To be exact, I can move my body, but the course of the accursed light fragments makes sure that my current position is the safest position.

If I move my feet even an inch, I am sure one of the light fragments will cut a part of my body, which I don't want to be cut—my arteries. Staying put is the best option for me now, but luckily I have my own Origin.

'How many times have I been cut? 10—20 times? I don't know but... It is time to pay that bastard back.'

My Origin allows me to gain 10% of my stronger opponent's power without draining my opponent's power everytime I survive my opponent's attack.

The gain can be stacked, so after I manage to survive 10 attacks from my opponent, I will be as strong as my opponent. Once I am on the equal level with my opponent however, I will stop growing stronger.

Therefore, in Jovenus' case, I am not sure how much of his original power that he has sealed, but since I have survived more than 10 hits from him, I am now already as strong as the current him.

Since that is the case, I have stopped growing stronger—I can no longer feel the weird sensation of having a power that comes from nowhere coursing through my body. It is as exhilarating as it is satisfying.

'It feels like levelling up—not that I know if this is how levelling up in real life feels like,' I muse to myself.

[My Liege!]

'Rexorem?'

[Yes, it's me, my Liege! It is time for you to fight back.]

'I know. I am just waiting for an opportunity.'

[This can't be, my Liege. A King shall never show his weakness!]

'I am NOT a Ki—'

[Channel your Mana to the Magic Stone on me!]

I click my tongue in annoyance at Rexorem's nagging, but I still do what he told me to. He is a little bit confused for assuming me a Demon King, but he got the spirit—it is hard to hate this guy.

The moment I channel my Mana to the red Magic Stone on Rexorem's blade, I immediately feel something enveloping me. In fact, the moment I channel my Mana, I am immediately isolated from the rest of the world.

The light fragments produced from Jovenus' Origin can no longer cut me, as a crimson barrier has already encapsulated me, protecting me from them.

I am completely isolated, but I still can see and hear what is happening outside. Jovenus seems taken aback by what I can do, but he immediately develops a small smile on his face.

[How about this special ability of mine, my Liege? Do you find it useful?!]

"It is useful indeed... But can you stop shouting each of your word? I'm not deaf. Even if I was, you are directly speaking inside my head—it is very annoying!"

[Ah, my bad, my Liege... From now on, I, Rexorem—]

"I get it, so shut up."

[As you command, my Liege.]

I sigh as I right myself up. I have been kneeling on the ground while holding onto Rexorem's hilt that is stabbed in the ground, so it is time to regain my "tough" appearance.

As I am standing straight, I gaze at the glowing red Magic Stone on Rexorem then look at Jovenus who is still looking at me in wonder. I can hear many small comments made by the spectators, but I don't care enough about them to register any of the comments.

Stopping the Mana supply to the Magic Stone on Rexorem's blade—it is starting to suck me dry—I pull Rexorem out of the ground, then swing it to the side.

The crimson barrier also breaks at the same moment, so I accidentally make myself appear a bit cooler than I already I am.

I mean, with his power sealed or not, I believe none of these Demons dare enough to stand against Jovenus. Doesn't that make me cooler than them?

,m Nonetheless, as I point my sword at Jovenus, every soldier gasps in surprise for whatever reason.

"Hoho. To think that you can survive my Origin... You really are—"

"There is no way such a crappy Spell is your Origin."

Whoosh!

I cut Jovenus in the middle of his bullshit, then give him a circle kick to the head while simultaneously calling him out on his bullshit. He, unfortunately, managed to dodge my kick, and laughs as he reappears a few feet away from me.

"It is just as you said, Layland." The light in Jovenus' eyes sink down calmly. "It is not in our culture to tell each other what our Origin is. Therefore, I can't tell nor can I show you mine, don't you think so?"

Jovenus laughs softly. "Of course, the story is different if you are someone special to me."

The Second General, Jovenus: he has a black, long hair that is let loose; thin, delicate eyebrows; two slightly curvy horns on his forehead; a sharp chin that makes him look slightly like a woman; and a thin stature.

Our height is roughly the same. I am not saying that he is tall; in fact, he is the shortest out of the three Demon Generals. But anyway, what I want to address about his appearance is, how un-warrior-like he is.

I don't know if this is one of the qualities of being a Demon, but Jovenus and the other Demon Generals, despite their intimidating aura and stature, look like someone who doesn't have to struggle in life.

Who would think that such fine-looking, handsome men like them are heartless Demons who like destruction? No one!

They must have trained themselves, right? Where is the result of their insane training—where is the manliness?! Why is every Demon prominent figure a pretty boy?!

As I am too caught up in my thought, I unintentionally glare at Jovenus intensely. That, unfortunately, ends up in giving him a wrong impression.

"You look pretty eager to continue the spar, Layland," Jovenus comments with a smile. "You need not to continue this spar—I have approved you. You have survived my attack after all."

"Kuhum!" I am already awaken from my thought, but I am still not myself, so I clear my throat to bring out the real me. "Demons are creatures who hold grudge. You have done me good—it's time for me to pay you back."

Much to my horror, instead of summoning the real me who will gladly end the spar right here right now, I summon the accursed new personality that is heavily influenced by my Origin.

"Hoh? You know well about Demons." Jovenus nods his head. "Very well. You can come at me. I don't want to fight you anymore however, so I will do nothing and let you strike me once."

I want to say that will do, but I am afraid something along the lines of, "Are you looking down on me?" will get out of my mouth instead, so I don't say anything. If that word ever got out of my mouth, I am afraid I would die in a heartbeat.

I hold Rexorem vertically then channel my Mana into it as I think about what Skill I should execute. I actually don't have any Skill suitable for greatsword, but I can think of a Dagger Skill that will be applicable to greatsword.

[My Liege, don't forget to channel your Mana into my Magic Stone! Oh, I shouldn't have shouted!]

I have planned to do what Rexorem has just suggested, so I don't criticize him for shouting at me. I, after all, was too embarrassed to ask him if it was okay to do that, so I am glad that he confirms me "theory" that way.

Valeria has said that my affinity with Mana is off the charts, and earlier, it is proven right. When I channeled my Mana into the red Magic Stone on Rexorem, I could immediately understand what it could do just from how it processed my Mana.

Still, I am but a beginner Magic user, thus I still need someone to confirm my "theory." Therefore, I am grateful for Rexorem.

"[Wave of Death]!"

As I execute my Skill that allows me to shoot a Mana blade that will blow away my opponent, Jovenus stands still with his hand stretched to the front.

Different from the usual color, the red Mana blade goes straight at Jovenus like a flash, and reaches him a second after.

Boom!

My Skill blows Jovenus away as it hits him, and the crowd gasp in shock at that. All of them are unaware of the fact that I have just grown stronger, so none of them expected that to happen.

People say letting your senior hit you is the way to integrate yourself into their circle, but in my case, I do the opposite ... I wonder if I can really integrate myself into the army.