Retribution
BOOM
With a speed many times faster than what is needed to break the sound barrier, Aster dashed at Carl who was on the bottom of the big crater he had created.
The dozen meter distance between them was crossed in an instant.
BAM
Aster punched Carl in the gut.
Wind hissed as the demon was sent flying. He flew for about 80 meters before flapping his wings and stopping his flight.
The demon spit on the ground before staring amusingly at him. Surprisingly, he wasn't damaged seriously by Aster's current strength.
[[Strengthen [EX]] has been activated]
[[Berserk [EX]] has been activated]
[Strength: 1400]
[Physical attack: 8400]
'My physical attack was originally 2800 after the strength boost from strengthen, then doubled after using berserk, making it 5600. Then I used battle cry and got 100% of my base physical attack or 2800.'
'Even then that demon looks ok.'
"It's a particularly strong Greater demon, you need my help." Auryon says as she leaped next to him without making any sound.
"Where is your daughter? Don't you have to take care of her?"
"She is safe so don't worry."
'How is she exactly safe on this island?'
Aster was about to ask more but he had a brilliant idea.
'Using a pride demon as a training dummy would surely be ironic.'
With a smirk he said "I have an idea."
"How about you teach me what you were going to teach right now? We have a perfectly fine training dummy here."
Auryon facepalmed as his eye flashes red with a hint of orange.
"Confidence is sexy and all but you really shouldn't underestimate a Greater demon."
Then she smirked too.
"But I like it. Let's do it."
'Haha, prepare to get pounded, Carl. You will become a stepping stool for me-'
The demon vanished without a trace before appearing right in front of his face.
SWOOSH
BAM
[-194 hp]
"Ahahaha, I told you not to underestimate a greater demon." She kneeled over, wheezing as Aster got plummeted to the ground by Carl.
[-101hp]
[-604 hp]
The pride demon's eyes blazed with silent fury. He had been compared to a training dummy, that was even worse than before.
'I got humbled real quick.' Aster thought as he saw a barrage of fists raining down on him.
[-209 hp]
[-142 hp]
He couldn't block, evade or attack back since he has been shackled by ominous purple chains.
"Uh, help?"
"Nah, you got yourself into that mess by yourself so save yourself." She giggly says.
"Understand that as an exam."
[Hp: 2,907/6090]
'What to do, what to do'
'Hmm.'
'Demons are considered pretty sinful right?' Aster wouldn't know as he can't decipher souls of demons yet.
He opened his mouth and said to the demon "I wanna ask you something."
"SHUT UP AND JUST DIE ALREADY."
[[Taunt] has been activated]
"What have you done? Did ya rape someone or killed a few innocent children? Or are you too saintly of a demon to do that." He nonchalantly asked, trying to provoke the demon into spilling his evil deeds.
'The more I know about you, the more I can judge you better.'
"Hah!? Of course I have sired a shit ton of children unlike you pathetic cunt!"
"With consent?"
"The fuck are you talking about?"
Aster grimaced 'That's all I need to know.'
'But lemme provoke him one last time.'
"Ehh, you know, the way you are gracefully beating my face into a pulp makes you seem like an angel."
"What bullshit are you spewing now?"
"Just kidding, I fucking hate you."
[[Retribution] has been activated]
The world darkened like a thin black veil was cast before everyone's eyes, Auryon stopped laughing and Carl stopped his assault.
"What on the earth?" She whispered.
The wind howled, the waves became silent and everything else went quiet. The silence was deafening.
[Complainants has been summoned]
An orb made out of pale white light arose from the ground and then took the shape of a young woman.
Her overall silhouette along with her pitch black eyes was visible. Tears of darkness flew down on her face. The rest of her facial features were not visible and it seemed she was wearing some kind of a dress.
"Dear judge, please kill that demon." She pleaded.
Her voice sounded like an echo, desperate to let her sufferings be known.
"Me and my family were ordered to move to a different city in construction but we ended up in possession of that fiend. Please, kill him"
One more spirit arose.
"Please, he took my sister away."
One more
"Please, my son, h- he, he was killed by that bastard."
And then another arose. Eventually, the whole beach was surrounded by pale ghosts.
"Whoa"
'There are at least a thousand of them.'
"WE AWAIT YOUR JUDGMENT" All of them spoke before turning into mist.
The fog inched towards Aster then covered him.
The purple chain melted off, granting him movement.
He felt stronger, much much more powerful than before.
The fog became pale light and engulfed Aster.
'This wasn't in the skill description. How? Why?'
Carl's face became sickly pale, paler than what it used to be.
He fell down and crawled away.
"This… this power…what?"
[Please kill him]
[I beg you]
[Look at that pathetic bastard cowering before your might, finish him!]
[Make it as painful as possible]
The dead whispered in Aster's ear, urging him to make his move.
'If that's what you all want then very well.'
He stared down at Carl before flashing a toothy grin.
"That's retribution for ya."
Then he kicked him with all of his strength.
He was sent flying inland, hitting the scorched ground and splitting it apart.
'Ah shoot, the flesh is gonna gobble him up!'
However, contrary to his expectations, Carl was fine. He was literally standing on the flesh but it was not attacking him.
Carl screamed in desperation."ARGHHH"
He vanished and appeared in front of Aster again.
"Sorry, but I'm not falling for the same trick twice."
Deep down, he sincerely hoped that it was because he improved and not because he got a buff although it was more likely to be the latter.
He grabbed Carl's arms by the wrist to prevent him from ramming into Aster.
HISS
"AAAAAAAAAAAA"
He kneeled down. Vibrant purple colored smoke hissing from where Aster held him.
Aster pinned him down and started pounding away.
BAM
BAM
BAM
Their roles were now reversed.
At some point, Aster had found a few flesh tentacles heading his way.
He charged up a few fireballs but then something interesting happened.
A few strands of pale smoke protruded out of him and encircled the bright orange flame.
The fireball twisted and reformed into something different.
A pale flame of justice encased in a harrowing darkness of hatred. It gave off an eerie feeling.
Awestruck, Aster sent it towards the advancing flesh.
BOOM
It exploded into a raven black flame dome, incinerating everything inside it.
'Holy shi- not even ash is left'
He glanced downwards at Carl, now bruised and battered.
Burn marks were all over his face, forever signifying the punches Aster threw at his face.
He grinned. 'Looks like I have an epic of concluding this judgment session.'
He jumped upward and charged a flame stream.
[[Fire stream] has been activated]
An endless torrent of pale flames with dark outline shot erupted from his palms.
[You have killed a Rank 3 Awakened Greater demon]
[The Complainants are satisfied with your judgment]
[The judgment session is now over]
The color returned and the calming sound of waves was able to be heard again.
[The dead has dragged the greater demon: Carl away to the pits of hell]
[You will not gain anything from your kill]
'Say what?'
[The Complainants will now return to afterlife]
The pale glow subsided and Aster was left a bit pissed off. However, his mood brightened up with the next messages.
[The Complainants are grateful for your work]
[They have left you a gift]
[You are now the spiritual owner of the room 101 in the apartment #113 in Division 2]
[You are now the spiritual owner of the dog 'Chuck']
[You are now…]
***
[Some residue of the spirit of the dead is left within you]
[+10 attributes for every attributes]
[You have acquired an ability: Phantom flame]
[Some Complainants have decided to stay]
[They have vowed to become your assistants]
[You are now able to appoint [Jury]]