At Level Three

“Just please, let me be my master, okay? I'll do everything you want me to do. Do you want me to always prepare breakfast for you in the morning? Or do you want me to clean your things and clothes every day? Just tell me what you want me to do for you, and I'll do that regardless of what.” I stared at Demon until we got out of the elevator, I followed him, but he just avoided me.

“Jesus, what happened here?” We were just stunned when we heard what Cloud said, and we turned to the first floor where many dead were scattered on the floor, and everywhere I looked there were corpses with burnt bodies to be seen. Therefore, I suddenly felt pain in my stomach and I just vomited in the trash.

“This will be done by the No Mercy group, and they are the only ones who can do it. As the days go by, their group gets worse. More and more people are being killed, and who knows if one of us suddenly disappears because of them.” Cloud said as they looked seriously at the corpses on the floor, while I couldn't look away from them.

“We have to act before they get ahead of us. They can't succeed and get to leave in this world. They have to pay for the sins they have committed.” Alpha said while Demon was beside him. Sexy laughed, so they all turned to her with a look of astonishment on their faces.

“Do you hear yourself? Maybe you forget that we are all the same criminals. And if you think of taking advantage of the level they have, doesn't it seem like you are no different from them because the only solution to rise to our level is to kill numerous people. As we see now, you also have to kill countless people before you can surpass their group. Unless you defeat and kill the black dragon.” Sexy said to them, so suddenly their faces were doubtful. I quickly approached them when I heard what Sexy said, especially about the black dragon she was referring to.

“What do you mean? What black dragon were you referring to earlier?” I was curious about her, so they looked at me, and then they exchanged glances with each other, and they laughed out loud. “What's funny about what I said? I seriously want to know about the black dragon.” I added, but they still laughed at me.

“You? Dare to kill the black dragon?” Cloud taunted me, so I looked him sharply in the eye and clenched one of my fists. Suddenly, Demon put his right hand on my shoulder, so I turned to him and faced him.

“If you can defeat me in a battle you have a chance to defeat the black dragon, and when you do that there is also hope that you will surpass the score of the members of No Mercy. But …” He stopped speaking for a moment, and he looked at me from head to toe, and then he grinned. “Even if you can fight Lily, you can't beat her.” He added, then they laughed again, so I felt even more insulted and humiliated myself. So, I just walked away from them and walked somewhere when someone suddenly stopped in front of me, so I stopped as well.

I slowly looked up at him, and he smiled horribly on his lips at the same time he dropped his sword on me, but I quickly avoided him and I sat on the floor while I looked at him.

I saw from the top of his head that he was also at level two and for him to rise to level three he had to first kill people like me at the lower level. Furthermore, I looked in the direction of Demon, Cloud, Alpha, Sexy, and Lily. Where they were all just watching us while there was a trace of frustration on their faces as if they were underestimating the ability I had.

I had to get Demon’s trust in me and for me to win his heart I had to prove to him that I was just a quick learner, and I was a good pupil of his. I think this is the opportunity for me to show them all that I can also rise to my level without the help of other heroes.

So, before the man could approach me again, I immediately pressed my watch without looking at what weapon would come out of my hand. Until I was just shocked when two daggers came out of my hand, and that wasn’t the weapon I expected to use at these times. So, I shook my head and bowed because I hit the wrong weapon.

I also noticed that they laughed at the dagger I was holding now, and even I couldn't believe in myself that with the amount of deadly weapon I could use, it was the dagger that came out of me. But since it's here, I have no choice but to use it and think of a way to knock him down with this weapon.

I stood up and bravely faced him. I was still nervous and scared, but I had to train myself in battles like this. Not only that, but I need to be a brave hero and I need to defeat the black dragon so that I can return to the world I came from.

We are slowly turning around now as the two of us face each other. I watched him from head to toe and noticed that his sword was shaking because of his hands. His face is also sweaty, and his whole body looks weak. Moreover, I noticed his deep swallowing as if he were very nervous. I saw his every weakness, and I was sure I could easily knock him down. So, I didn’t miss every second and I quickly ran behind him, which startled and confused him. When he turned to me, I immediately threw my two daggers at him. In less than five minutes, he immediately fell to the floor after my daggers hit his heart. I didn't have much trouble knocking him down, but I was exhausted, and I felt heavy. Probably because I was just forcing myself to be brave, even against my will to kill the person.

“Congratulations, you are in level three.” My watch said when I confirmed my victory. Lily ran towards me with a smile on her lips except for Demon who didn't change his facial expression and always had angry stares in his eyes.

“You did, Zdk! Congratulations!” Lily greeted me and hugged me at the same time, which surprised me.

“I knew that you could do that, so congrats because you're at level three now,” Sexy said to me as she held out her right hand to me. I smiled at her, and I was about to hold her hand, but Alpha shook hands with me, so I was surprised, and Sexy and I both looked at him.

“Cong … Congratulations.” All Alpha told me was with a serious face, and then he immediately let go of my hand.

I smiled and took turns looking at them. I know that Alpha doesn't want to congratulate me, but because he doesn't want another man to hold Sexy's hand, he just shook hands with me and pretended that he was happy for me. But somehow I still appreciated his greeting to me, at least even against his will he was still able to ease my mood. It’s not like Demon that even a smile on the lips is impossible or even pretending to be happy for me. Although there isn't and his username suits him.

“Why do you look at me like that?” Demon asked me once, he turned around and walked away. Lily and I looked at each other and we both just smiled at the same time we left, and we followed Demon.

“You did very well before. You were able to knock out the opponent in just five minutes.” Lily said as my mind sailed, and I was deep in thought. So, she tapped me on the shoulder and I turned my attention back to her. “Are you okay? You seem to be thinking deeply. I've been talking to you before, but your attention is something else.” She added.

“I'm sorry. What are you saying again?” I wondered with a brief streak of a smile on my lips.

I still can't believe that I've killed people twice, and I seem to have lost my mind that they are also human beings like me when I touched the weapons. Furthermore, I don’t know if it’s because of the weapons I’m using that I feel a strange heat in my body or because I’m determined to increase my level.

Until now, my mind still bothers me even though I won. I feel like my personality is gradually being tainted every time my level rises because its reciprocity is a shedding of blood and the sacrifice of one’s life.