The World of Tactics

Chapter Twenty-Three VII: Glimpse Of Truth

"The truth, is demons are spiritually attuned from the moment that they come into being or are born. There was one such demon that had such a quirky nature. Intelligence was not a good description for it. Neither was it as cunning as the other demons since it had the strength to fend off competition demons that seek its throne. It does not seek to cause disasters or destruction, but it will not shy away from such action when its life is threatened.

The demon was as if at the stellar level of existence. Becoming incredibly strong at anything with the slightest effort. Even other demon lords dare not face this demon head-on. As time continues, this demon's fame increases in the demon realm and there is no other competing demon wherever this demon stays. Soon, this demon became an overlord and lord over a piece of land within the demon realm.

However, what is strange was that this demon chooses a human woman over all of the other attractive demon temptresses. Through incredible means, the birth of the halfling was possible and he was able to live peacefully within the other realm where the slightest of demons would be destroyed by the other realm. There were plenty of strong demons rushing through the sealed gate and gaining nothing, but their death in the end."

What pitiful fools. Ha! Huh? What is this? Did I write this? Who is this?

"Demon Lord Zargrollos?" Written by a demon overseer within the demon realm.

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OLD!

[Wolf Claws (Strong): Might +6, Hit +55, Crit +5, Weight=0.1, Durability: N/A]

[Wolf Fangs: Might +5, Hit +95, Crit +10, Weight=0.1, Durability: N/A]

NEW!

[Wolf Claws (Strong): Might +7, Hit +60, Crit +5, Weight=0.1, Durability: N/A]

[Wolf Fangs: Might +6, Hit +100, Crit +12.5, Weight=0.1, Durability: N/A]

The changes were minor unless someone looked closer, but Uzi's innate weapon each had a single increase in might along with an increase of plus five hits. Then there was also the increase in Uzi's wolf fangs critical, which had increased by two-decimal-five points. It was not as significant as the first time Uzi's innate weapon transformation as when Uzi's innate weapon mastery had reached rank C. However, this was already a good result and he also had a slight feeling coming from his six senses that Uzi's innate weapon would completely be transformed once the innate weapon mastery had reached rank A. Though slight, the feeling was there.

However, he completely ignored that feeling because he was in a rush to end this battle. He moved Goon ahead to attack the fourth zombie and managed to chip a good amount into the fourth zombie's health points; eighteen damage (Goon, EXP+70, Level Up). [HP+2][LCK+2] After Goon's action, it was his turn. He rushed forward and directly thrust his iron lance at the fourth zombie. His thrust was so strong that it completely burst the head of the fourth zombie (John Smith, EXP+60x2, Level up). [HP+1][SKL+4]

In normal times, this would not have happened, but he felt that there are some hidden rules in battle. For example, this thrust of his was not a critical attack, but because he was able to deal damage that exceeded the fourth zombie's current health points. The effect was that the fourth zombie's head directly burst open in a glorious mess. A true critical attack is Uzi's attack that completely ripped the zombie's head off of the zombie's body while the zombie's health points are still full. In that regard, he knows that there is a hidden mechanic that even if he was to target the weakness. There is no guarantee that it would be a critical attack.

As his turns ended and the turn directly skipped [Ally's Turn][2], then switched over to the [Enemy's Turn][2]. His skill directly receives quite an increase and his six senses become somewhat weird. Such that, just by wielding his iron lance. He felt that he easily parried or migrated and offset some damage from most of the bouts that he had with the enemies in the past. Likewise, he also felt that he could have attacked better with each bout that he had with the enemies that he faced in the past. This feeling is still featuring and becoming stronger with every second. Even now, his confidence is soaring above the sky.

While he was still high above the sky, it was already the enemy's turn. The fifth zombie targeted Uzi who was right adjacent. The battle turns out much better since the fifth zombie may have one of the highest levels, but the fifth zombie's defense stat is only thirteen points. Uzi already had a total might of twenty-six. To which Uzi also dealt the same amount of damage as Uzi's total might (Uzi, EXP+70, Level Up). [HP+1][LCK+1][RES+2] With this level, Uzi's magic resistance stat was finally capped. He would focus on Uzi's maximum health points and luck stat at the latter levels.

It was back to the [Player's Turn][3], again. He, however, did not move in to attack the fifth zombie because he had better things to do. He was attacking the cell's metal handlebars. Two attacks were all it took for him to destroy the metal bars on the side that he was facing. The reason why he did so was that he saw his mother's shadowed figure being hanged to the wall and the furious anger within him could not be contained. He had to at the very least break the metal bars to flush away a small part of the rising hot blood within him.

He leaves the last zombie under the care of Uzi, meanwhile. Uzi did a great job and completed the mission he was assigned quickly (Uzi, EXP+100, Level Up). The moment the last zombie was sent to the thereafter and the grid line faded away. Goon and Uzi were the same. Even though the whole basement prisoner was completely dark, his eyesight had been improved with every level that he gained. It might not be comparable to night goggles, but it was sufficient for him to see in the dark.

Just as he was about to enter through the huge gap that he made in the cell's metal bars. He vividly saw a lingering blue wisp the size of a kid. Once he got a closer look at it, he found out that it was his younger brother Hugo's face. Yet, the little piglet was gone. In replacement was a thin child with some part of the body that had protruding bone due to malnourishment. His heart broke and tears unconsciously flowed down his face. He would not have recognized that it was his younger brother if there was not the familiar unique freckles pattern.

However, his tears continued to flow even harder when he saw that there was another much smaller, lighter, blue figure that was in his clutch of Hugo. It was a thin figure, small, and there were some droplets of tears glistening slightly. It was Savannah and the tears came from Hugo's small figure. He just could not hold on to his weight as each part of his strength was sapped by his uncontrollable body. Savannah closed her eyes and her head tilted. His mouth slightly trembled as it opened up and uttered the cries of sadness, anger, and tragedy.

A thirty (mentally) year old man was crying his tears out. Ever since he was born, he could barely remember once when he was utterly crying with sadness or such. The only exception was when he was a baby when his bodily instinct would unconsciously cry for food and etcetera. No matter how old his mind was, his body was still a young child at the age of eleven. He could not have imagined how thin and how small they would become within just a year.

The terrible things that the two had gone through. In his heart, the two were just babies that barely knew the world. Only if he could not have imagined all of the coincidences, then he would have razed the world upside down just to find peace for his family. As his emotions become unstable, blood pumps vigorously into his veins, and the world within his eyes begins to spin slightly. He saw that the blue lights transformed into another scene before his eyes.

At the start of the new scene, Hugo, who was thin, was even thinner than before. Even Hugo's cheeks were completely melded inward. It was almost like Savannah's when he first saw her in Hugo's clutch. Savannah was on the thinner side, to begin with. When Hugo was crouching in the side corner, he could see the traces of Hugo's eyes. It had become quite sharp and witty, but even, more so, completely cold. Even the brows are completely defined. He could tell that this kind of situation, had forcefully changed the thinking and personality of the innocent little Hugo that he once knew. Hugo had matured greatly and he just could not stop his tears from flowing down.

Due to the surprise of his six senses playing a story in front of him, he had forgotten about his mother who was hanged on the wall. It was only when his mother, Lily, woke up with a cough did his concentration of the six senses come to a halt and the blue images of Hugo disappeared into the darkness. His mother was still coughing before turning to him at the same time that he turned to her. His mother said, "L-little Hugo? Sweetie? No, Johnny? Wha-"

His mother's voice was interrupted by her coughing. He quickly wiped his tears, stood up, and reached for his spear. Four 'clangs' and the two chains that were bounding his mother's hand and feet were broken with ease. His skill stat is so high at the moment and his controlled strength only broke the metal chains without hurting his mother. Likewise, he quickly rushes toward his mother, who did not even have the strength to stand up.

Just as he was about to begin his words, "Mother-" At that moment, he caught his mother.

He felt something coming back and it was his sixth sense. He realized that his six senses were coming back again and from the corner of his eyes was Hugo carrying Savannah from the back. This time, he found out that the two were much more solid. Even the shapes were more defined and the blueness was also considerably darkened. He could even tell the rags that the two were wearing. It was not just an important thing, but he saw how smart Hugo had become.

The start was quite sudden and he almost could not get it, but after a few examinations, he realizes that some situation must have happened that attracted Hugo's attention. After seeing a good opportunity, Hugo's bony frame squeezes through the metal bars. The same goes when Hugo manages to get Savannah out as well. It was like Hugo was taking a chance within a lifetime and this was exactly what Hugo was waiting for. A fleeting chance.

His mother was situated on his arm and her bony body figure was no better than Hugo and Savannah. He knew that his mother was not in the had to talk nor had the energy to do anything. He found a lead that had ignited his hope and he would not let this b****y opportunity get away if he did not follow the trails of his two younger siblings. He pursued the two blue figures, all the while carrying his mother on his back.