Consume

In front of the Marquess, Shin's head was clear. His focus was solely fixed on the Demon.

At the moment, Shin had no regard for his own safety. 

He didn't even process Selena's sudden change in form. Nor did it register to Shin that the Marquess was a being, equal to a Sixth Star.

Shin had one goal, and one goal only.

To kill the enemy in front of him.

Looking at the Marquess, who seemed to have an expression of fear, Shin muttered to himself.

"Syzygy"

The air suddenly became heavy. The ground began to crack, as Shin's hair gradually turned white.

His eyes continued to glow an azure hue, as the blue-blazing embers that coated him like an aura continued expanding.

Shin could see the Marquess, who seemed to stand still the entire time, suddenly twitched.

But Shin didn't care what the Marquess was feeling.

He didn't care about anyone else, not even himself.

But this was a familiar feeling for Shin.

The cold calculating ruler that was merciless to his enemies, Artorius Castus.

The Marquess finally took a step back, and his severed arm seemed to slowly regenerate.

When the Marquess took that one step, Shin grabbed his face, lifting him up, and tightening his grip.

The Marquess tried to break free, clenching Shin's hand tightly, digging his claw on Shin's flesh.

Shin's hand started to bleed as the Marquess tried to break free.

Shin could feel the Marquess tighten his grip as well, as Shin's forearm started to turn a tinge of purple, due to the lack of blood flow.

It was a contest of strength, and Shin was clearly superior, given that his grip never faltered.

***

'What is happening…'

Selena couldn't comprehend the sight in front of her.

Shin had lifted the Marquess up like he was nothing.

It made no sense…

Shin had never displayed this kind of strength during their sparring sessions.

'How is he this strong?'

The Shin that Selena knew seemed like a distant memory.

No, the being that was clearly overpowering the Marquess didn't even feel like Shin anymore.

It was like a different person had possessed his body.

Suddenly, blood started to drip from the Marquess.

His eyes started to bleed as well as his nose.

It seemed like the Marquess was suffocating, due to the lack of blood flow.

'...What is Shin doing?'

For some reason, Shin lifted the Marquess' closer to his face.

Then…

"AGHHHH!"

The Marquess suddenly screamed in pain.

'What the hell?!'

Shin bit the Marquess face off, and he didn't even spit the flesh.

'Did Shin just…'

He ate the Marquess.

And it seemed like it didn't stop there, as Shin continued biting all over the Marquess.

"AGHH.. STOP, STOP."

The Marquess tried to fight back, attempting to tear Shin's arm off.

But it was futile.

Crash!

 Shin smashed the Marquess down on the ground. He got on top of him, and continued to devour the Marquess' entire being.

All the Marquess could do was attempt to push him Shin back. But it was no use, it seemed like the Marquess had already lost a fraction of power.

Blood continued to spray everywhere, as Shin's face was drenched in blood. Not his blood, but the Marquess'.

Selena's mouth twitched as she shuddered in fear at the disturbing sight.

This wasn't even a fight anymore.

No, it had never been a fight in the first place.

A fight was supposed to be an exchange between two people.

But this was no exchange.

The Marquess, a being that was on par with a Sixth Star, someone that had almost killed Selena, was helpless in the face of Shin

Shin seemed more like a Demon, than the Marquess ever was.

And what Selena feared the most, was the way Shin consumed the Demon.

He continued to devour the Marquess with a blank expression.

He was indifferent to the whole ordeal, as if it was just another casual day for him.

Selena never expected Shin to resort to this. She knew he'd devour Demons just to satiate his hunger, in the two years he was stuck in the Abyss.

But seeing it happen right in front of her was way too disturbing for Selena.

After all, she was a Demon herself, albeit a half.

Selena could stay silent, frozen in place, and before she knew it, the screaming had stopped.

Shin lifted his body up. 

Selena could see that Shin's features were coated with blood.

When Selena shifted her gaze from Shin to the Marquess, a shiver ran down her spine, causing the hairs on her neck to stand on end.

There was no sign of life on the Marquess, who laid on the ground.

There were bite marks all over, as his facial features contoured into something grotesque.

It was a disturbing sight.

Suddenly, Shin turned around and met her gaze. His face continued to stay blank, as he approached Selena.

Selena's body suddenly twitched, as her mouth continued to tremble.

She was afraid of Shin, afraid of this new form he took, afraid that Shin had lost all reason, and would attack Selena next.

As her wounds continued to heal from the Demonic energy, Shin continued to stride forward towards her.

'N-no… s-stay back..'

But Selena couldn't move, paralyzed with fear.

When Shin finally made it towards her, Selena closed her eyes and covered her head.

But to her surprise, she felt something warm wrapped around her entire figure.

When she opened her eyes, she realized that Shin had crouched down and embraced her, as Shin worriedly said,

"...Are you okay?"

Selena couldn't respond, taken aback by Shin's sudden gesture.

Her initial fear had turned out for nothing, it seemed like Shin was still himself.

Realizing this, Selena wrapped her arms around Shin as well, returning his embrace with a smile on her face.

"Yeah… thank you for saving me."

'And for not leaving me behind.'

Shin didn't respond, as he tightened the embrace.

Selena felt warm in the arms of Shin.

She could see his long white hair that cascaded around his neck, gradually returning to its original black-raven hue.

Shin's embrace suddenly lightened.

Then…

Selena could feel Shin's body had become limp.

"Shin?"

But there was no response.

"Shin?!"

Selena pulled away, and when she looked at Shin, he wasn't conscious anymore

"Hey, Shin!"

Selena continued to rouse his body, shaking him to try and get a response.

But it was no use.

Selena proceeded to check for Shin's pulse, placing her finger on his neck.

…

Thump-thump, Thump-thump

Selena breathed a sigh of relief once she felt his pulse.

It turns out Shin had passed out, most likely, due to the drawback of whatever that form he took was.

Selena proceeded to check his mana core to see how much mana he'd exhausted.

But, it was then when Selena realized something was different.

"Shin… you're…"

Selena was familiar with the change in energy from Shin's mana core. The same thing had already happened to her a few years ago.

Shin had broken through the Fifth Star.