The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

He sidestepped the sneak attack and was about to pull back, when a powerful fist smashed towards him.

Fortunately, his fast reflects kicked in, causing him to block the incoming fist with his arm. But the brutally damaged hand of the demon still landed on him, and sent him sliding back across the floor, a few meters away.

Luckily for him, Damien managed to keep his body stable and did not fall over even as the momentum pushed him back. He was as sturdy as a mountain against the wind.

'Superhuman Strength alright. It's ability is not for show.' He thought as he stood up and adjusted his posture. The daring smile still on his lips.

"..."

Juliette, who had her heart stuck at her throat in fright, finally breathed in a sigh of relief. She once again realized she was still weak. She could not even follow their attack patten at all.

Meanwhile, Damien checked his arm and saw that even with Superhuman Strength, the demon could not even bruise him. His defenses were naturally high after all.

He then suddenly laughed to himself, flexing his muscles and loosening his joints. His laugh was low, yet bone chilling cold.

It was like a death sentence to anyone who was unfortunate to be facing him.

And indeed. Damien was about to end this fight once and for all right now. Time was of the essence after all. He did not forget that.

"Skreee..."

The demon checked its right hand, which was even more damaged due to its sneak attack. But it was not worried, it would heal.

What it was worried about now was Damien.

His presence was now a threat towards its life. It's instincts screamed at it to pull back, yet it saw no hope even then.

Hence it continued to screech out in warning, in hopes of trying to scare back the prey. No, the predator after its life. "Skreee..."

"Not today buddy."

Damien whispered under his breathe, right before charging towards the demon at full speed. His speed was monstrous, and wind stirring.

...!!!

Both the demon and Juliette were surprised.

Especially so, as Damien was functioning under the effects of adrenaline, which boosted his speed and strength even more!!

He crossed the few meter distance between them instantly. The demon, in a fit of panic, sent out it's left hand to piece towards his rushing figure in anger.

But Damien had other plans for it.

Thus, right before he arrived near the demon, he slid across the ground and intended to pass by, right in between its leg.

But instead of just simple sliding in between the demon's legs, he spread out both of his hands. He used them to mimick a hurdle, and tripped the demon.

Thanks to his speed, and momentum, he was able to achieve his goal just as he went by its legs, resulting in it falling face flat on the ground.

"Gotcha!!!"

With quick movements, Damien stopped his momentum and hurriedly jumped on the demon's back and held its left hand as fast as he could.

And without rest, or catching his breathe, he twisted the arm, not caring about breaking any bones or hurting the poor demon.

He twisted with all his might, then pulled it towards the demon's right shoulder blade. His intentions were clear.

A smile of pleasure and excitement on his lips, he sunk the spear-like blades fingers deeply into its right shoulder bone.

"SKREEEEEE!!!!"

He used his full strength, resulting in the bladed fingers sinking completely into the demon's right shoulder. Not much resistance was felt.

"Hahahaha!!!"

The pain caused the demon to hurriedly stand up and pushing Damien back. But the daredevil only laughed it off and slowly stood up.

He carefully watched as the demon fell back down due to its... posture. The left hand was combined with the demon's right shoulder. Getting up was going to be quite the chore.

Especially so, when it's fingers on its right hand were broken and almost shattered. And it's wings being too small to lift it off the ground.

The poor thing could only scream in pain and agony as Damien moved closer to it.

With every step he took, it dreaded for its life and desired to be spared. But Damien did not speak the demon tongue. But even if he could understand it, he still would not spare it.

Not a chance in hell.

He climbed atop its back, and looked down on its pain-filled eyes. He only smiled, and the more he watched, the more his smile got more and more excited.

Luckily, Juliette was faced with his back. But she knew Damien for over ten years. She knew what expression he currently had.

And she was used to it.

Just that, personally seeing him so ruthless for the first time, made her heart skip a beat. She was not sure whether it was fear, or excitement.

But for now, she desired no answers.

As for Damien himself. He stretched out both his hands towards the demon's antennas, which each held one of its eyeballs.

He then held onto each eye with his hands, grasping them gently. His voice was also low and gentle as he spoke, "You demons like preaching darkness everywhere right?"

"Don't worry, allow me to help. I'll make sure darkness, is the only thing you see from here on out." He smiled, or rather smirked at the demon and put more strength in his hands.

Crunch~

Crunch~

Two unpleasant sounds rang out within the silent battlefield. Loud enough for even Juliette to hear it from where she was.

She hurriedly covered her mouth and turned her head away. Her face was pale, and her body was trembling slightly. She was terrified.

"SKREEEEEEEEE!!!"

The demon let out an even more powerful screech of pain, agony and terror.

One could hear all these emotions from its cries alone, let alone from its squirming body.

But Damien's figure stood powerfully above the demon, making sure that it could only scream and not move around too much.

He only watched. Like a devil prosecutor.

His smile replaced by extreme indifference as he continued watching. From excitement, to disgust, to disdain. To ultimately no reaction whatsoever.

He watched for a few more seconds until the demon calmed down by itself, and lost all strength to retaliate.

At this time, Damien finally got off its body and moved towards a small pile of rocks. He picked out one extremely sharp rock and tested its weight with his hand.

It was quite heavy, but for someone like him, not that much of a problem. Thus he nodded with a light smile, and moved towards the demon lying down on the floor.

It was time to end this fuss.

The demon that made him stress, and tortured him last time, finally got what it deserves. Anymore, and he would terrify Juliette. Or possibly traumatize her.

Unfortunately, the young woman was more than just terrified at this point. And Damien had yet to be aware of that fact.

But, what would it change even if he were aware of that fact?

Damien moved towards the demon and knelt down on a single knee besides it. He had no words to say to it. Nor did he feel like beating down on an already dead dog.

Hence a simple death would end it all. After that, they would look for the opponent that Juliette was supposed to defeat and end this trial as soon as possible.

If, possible.

"..."

He raised the sharp stone and was about to stab it towards the oval head of the demon. It was the place with the demon's core, it's heart, it's central key point.

But then...

"Damien!!!"

...!!!

But right then, thanks to Juliette's cry calling out to him desperately, and his instincts kicking in, he found himself avoiding a calamity.

They both helped him raise the sharp stone a size wider than his waist, to cover his head as fast as he could respond.

As for why?

Boom!!!

Damien did not see what it was. But it was red and so powerful, it rivaled a grenade going off. Both in power and momentum, thus pushing him away from the dying demon.

And of course, dealing even more blunt damage to the already dying demon. It was way beyond its last breathe at this point.

While Damien's body was flung out of the explosion like a rag doll, and sent rolling on the ground like a broken kite.

Juliette did not even realize when, but she was already running towards him at full speed.

She did not know what she was going to do once she was there. But she had to know. She had to verify whether her Damien was still alive!!

And to be besides him. No matter how unreasonable her thought process was. She was not thinking sanely after all. Fear was driving her every movement.

'Please please, God I beg of you, please keep him alive. Please!!' She prayed mid sprint, ignoring the newly appearing entity that attacked Damien just a moment ago.

To her, the world was now Damien.