Demon King
chapter-38

Fallen (2)

He continued laughing, then faced me with a grin.

“The Fallen are those who fall. They were humans who opened their eyes and found themselves as monsters. In other words, they are like you.”

I didn’t think I was alone in this world, but it felt different to have your existence explained by your opponent. I felt like I was being hit hard by a sledgehammer.

Fallen… they even had a name for people like us.

My first thought was, Have I ever encountered a Fallen?

However, thinking about that now is unproductive. I should focus more on how to solve this situation.

How did he know I was a person? I would have asked him more, but his expression says he had no intention of explaining further.

“I didn’t find any artifacts I was looking for, but instead, I found a Fallen. I am very lucky.” He licked his lips.

It’s the first time I’ve experienced this. The enemy knows me, but I don’t know about him. The fact brought me discomfort.

How did I know he was an enemy? Because he hasn’t dropped his weapon and he continued to grin menacingly.

“But you’re lucky, too. You became a goblin. I heard that someone woke up as an ogre.”

“What happened to him?”

“He’s dead. He couldn’t understand his situation and ran back to human society.”

He lifted his dagger to his mouth. The dagger then glowed blue.

“I can’t miss out on such delicious prey…” he said.

The meaning was clear. He was looking at me as a “delicious prey.”

“Why? Even if you know I was once a human, too?”

“That’s what makes you more appetizing. God, you really don’t know anything.”

So, there was a lot more I didn’t know? I wanted to get more information if possible. However, it is only in the comics that a villain would tell you all the information you need to know.

“So,” I asked him, “does that mean that the Fallen are- Ik?!”

As I was speaking, the man threw a dagger at me and rushed at me while holding another dagger. I dodged it by centimeters and shot Black Lightning at his approaching figure.

Then, something like a shield appeared in front of him. The shield broke, but the lightning bolt was weakened and failed to stop him completely.

“What, you’re strong!” He exclaimed as he lunged at me, aiming for my neck.

However, I have planned for this. A steel spear suddenly shot out from the ground and pierced his leg through.

He screamed pitifully in pain and grabbed the spear. As he did, I concealed myself with Surprise and Fairy Tale.

When he looked at the spot where I was, he raged.

“Oh, my God! This kid attacked me then ran away? Shh- it hurts! Damn it!”

Okay. He thought I was gone. He wouldn’t be able to find me.

I’ve played hide and seek with a troll with a strength incomparable to his.

I went behind him. Among the humans I’ve met so far, he’s been the fastest and the stealthiest, but he couldn’t sense me.

My skills were definitely higher than his. It would have been dangerous if my Surprise was still at a low level.

I would be lying if I said I did not hesitate to kill him…

But what could happen if I saved him? Would he thank me, saying he will never forget me, and never come back?

No way. His malicious eyes were telling. If I let him escape, he would be more dangerous next time. Moreover, maybe he will not be alone when he comes back.

I bit my lips and charged Blood Shadow with a Power Attack.

I swung horizontally, cutting his neck off.

It was somewhat sad that there was no big difference between cutting his neck and that of the monsters. The texture of their flesh and bones felt the same.

[You gained 127,400 experience.]

[You acquired 163 gold, 17 silver, 55 bronze.]

[Randomly acquired three items from the enemy’s inventory.]

[Level up!]

[Lower Leadership has become Lv10 and evolves to Intermediate Leadership. The number of units you can control increases, and you can also increase the abilities of those under your control.]

I immediately understood what he meant by “delicious prey” as soon as the alerts popped up.

A large amount of experience, plus the money that he had. And three random items from his inventory…

I was convinced that this would happen when a human kills a Fallen or vice-versa… maybe even when a human kills another human.

I have a rough idea of how human society is right now.

As such, my motivation for growing stronger increased.

“Hoo.”

To get stronger, I need to do this.

I took a deep breath to calm the Ebon Heart that was thumping.

Then, I picked up the man’s head.

“Shit.”

And opened my mouth wide…

[Strength has risen by 2.]

[Magic has risen 5]

[You have acquired the skill Beginner Poison Creation. Consumes mana, turns your saliva into poison. When applied to a weapon, toxicity persists until the saliva dries. Using the skill or taking poison damage and surviving will increase the skill level. The higher the level, the stronger the toxicity and retention time.]

I remembered the man had licked the dagger. Looking at its strange blue glow, I’m sure there was something in it, but I didn’t know it was poison.

Of course, it’s unclear whether his poison would have an effect on me. My Resistance is at Intermediate level.

I remembered that the man had spit on the dagger. Looking at the shiny blue saliva, I was sure there was something, but it was also poison.

Of course, it’s unclear if the male poison would have worked for me, more resistant to intermediate conditions.

I took advantage of the alert windows to cover my view as I continued my predation.

While I did it, nausea swelled, but I kept it down. I have to go through this. I can’t surrender.

I felt sorry for my life that I have to do this, killing another person and even eating them…

Endure. Endure. I endured.

Once done, I checked the man’s equipment and belongings on the floor.

First of all, the man’s dagger. His death ended its poison effect. I was able to check the information on his weapon, despite the absence of an emotion scroll.

Why? Perhaps store-bought items can be read without scrolls.

[Pink Murderer’s Fang (129/180) – Attack 100. Rarity – rare. Adds 50% attack damage when applied poison. Add 50% attack damage when thrown.]

The man was using his weapon effectively. When poison was applied, and the dagger was thrown, the attack power would total about 220.

However, his Throwing skill must be significantly lower than my Martial Arts level, that’s why I could avoid it.

If I had been hit by chance, it had enough power to make me suffer.

Next, I checked the light suit that the man was wearing. It had a childish name [Shadow Hidden in Darkness], but its rarity is also rare.

It was a good option to increase my speed, but its defense was only 150, so I decided to put it in the inventory first.

It would be a good thing to use this as a sacrifice armor and strengthen my Kessia’s Leather Armor.

Just before I put it in my inventory, something fell out of the suit.

It was a small metal trinket.

[Proof of Mine (179/1,850) Rarity – rare. When facing a Fallen, the user sees their identity. It was made by Artifact Master Lecati.]

This is it.

Obviously, this is what made it possible for him to distinguish the Fallen, such as me.

It’s good.

Since I have started exploring the dungeon, I have never thought that any of the monsters I killed might have been a human once.

I didn’t even consider the possibility.

But now, I know the existence of those who are Fallen, and I even have a tool to identify them.

At least, before going into battle, I have the opportunity to discover them without getting noticed.

Now, I would not get mistaken on who’s a monster and who’s a Fallen. There are others who were once human beings like me, those who would have experienced the same or maybe even worse suffering that I went through.

I swore that I would not kill or eat humans unless they were a threat to me.

The same should apply for the Fallen. The only difference they had from humans is that they found themselves in a monster’s body.

Unless they are hostile, I wouldn’t attack them first.

If possible, I would talk to them, build a friendly relationship, sympathize, and hopefully, I’ll get a comrade in this lonely war.

However, I quickly felt skeptical.

Will everything work out so well?

Are the Fallen more human than monsters, or was it otherwise?

I think I could empathize with them, but would it be the same for them?

There will be many of them who’d prefer the experience, gold, and items rather than a colleague. There will be many whose main aim was to get stronger.

Like the man who just tried to kill me.

But in the end, I decided to deal with them with the same standards as humans.

I have to put aside the romantic idea of being friends with other Fallen, but I’m not going to kill them for no reason.

If they want to kill me, I’ll kill them, too. But if they are reasonable, I’m also willing to talk to them.

I don’t have to think about this now. It’s just a waste of time.

After organizing my thoughts, I checked the new item I randomly acquired.

A steel dagger, a poison bottle, and an intermediate magic potion.

Only

I left the dagger and drank the poison (Beginner Poison Creation has become Lv3). I saved the intermediate magic potion.

What does it mean that this man reached 2F? It meant that human activities are gradually expanding inside the dungeon.

If I don’t hurry up, I may encounter stronger humans incomparable to this man.

I need to hurry.

The Pink Murderer’s Fang is tucked in my thighs, and the Proof of Mine has been tightly secured in the spaces in my armor, along with the pocket watch.

Finally, with my left-hand grasping Blood Shadow tight, I made my way through the aisle.

It’s time to face the higher-species.

Time is passing by.