Chapter 3: Copycat

Invel

I was shocked to know that the book I was holding is possessed by the past Demon Lord, but how did I get this? Did my mother gave this to me or Vandross? I don’t think he’s the one because he’s also confused about its powers. So how? 

I can’t tell the face of Miss Minerva if she was just shocked or afraid of what she just heard. So I asked her, “Hmmm… Is there a problem possessing this relic Miss Minerva?”

She just nodded and said, “They said the one who possesses the relic will be the candidate for the next demon lord who will bring peace in Zennery.”

Then suddenly a low voice from my back spoke and said, “Ahhm? I thought this is the time for bath? Why is he excepted from the daily routines?”

It was Zyrel who just came out of nowhere and I was almost scared to death. How did he get there without being noticed by Miss Minerva? 

Miss Minerva scratched the back of her head smiling at Zyrel and said, “Oh! Come on, Zyrel, of course he’s not excepted. We’re just having a little chitchat, that’s all.”

Zyrel turned his back and said, “Perhaps I heard what you just talking.”

I was shocked hearing that he heard our conversation, a small anger came up from me and told him, “Isn’t it nice to listen to others conversation?”

Zyrel looked at me with a pale look. “I just happened to be near so I heard your loud irritating voice and stood at your shadow.”

“Stood at my shadow?” I confusedly ask him.

Miss Minerva told me that Zyrel has the ability to sneak behind someone. He uses the shadows to teleport from one place to another and attack from beneath. 

I looked at Zyrel and said, “That was really an incredible technique! Can you teach me how to do it? Can you? Can you? Please!”

Zyrel smirked and said, “Just shut up. You can’t use this technique without proper training and I’m not going to teach you.”

He moved away from me and looked at me again. He was starting to perform some hand technique and suddenly he vanished. He showed up behind me and hugged me with one arm at the back.

It was kinda awkward. I felt like my cheeks were burning while he was hugging me not until he aim his knife as if he was about to cut my neck. 

“Zyrel stop playing with knife. Invel might get injured.”

Zyrel took his knife and apologized to me. He just got carried away. “So what do you say about my technique?”

PELEP PELEP PELEP…….

I heard those weird sound over and over until Miss Minerva touched the weird looking mask at the wall. She started to talk to it I think that is a telephone in this world.

 I saw Miss Minerva’s shocked expression when she answered the phone call and said, ”I’m about to go to Baldor. Zyrel take in charge with the mansion for me okay.”

Zyrel nodded as Miss Minerva rushed to the door and leave.

I whispered to Zyrel, “Hey Zyrel? Do you think something bad happened?

Zyrel looked at me and said, “If you want to know the answer just follow her but please take a bath first. You stink.” He then covered his nose and guided me to the bathroom.

"A-ahhm Zyrel? That skill you used a while ago, it was so cool"

He was surprised with what I said and gave thanked me.

He’s nice. I thought he would be a meany guy but his not. Maybe we could be good friends. 

I looked at him and asked, “Did you see Miss Minerva’s face after she receive the call? I think there’s something bad happened? Care to join me and go there after I took a bath?”

He looked away as I stripped my clothes and said, “Miss Minerva told me to take in charge here so I have to follow her instructions.”

“We can just use your ability to go back here first before them. Please?”

He left the bathroom without agreeing to what I asked him. He’s nice sometimes but he’s sometimes a moody guy. 

After I took a bath, I went to my room and changed clothes then someone knocked at the door. I asked if who was it but no one’s responding. I got nervous because no one’s responding but there’s someone knocking at the door. I took the broom and opened the door and saw Zyrel. 

“Sh*t! Zyrel, you scared me to death. I thought you were a bad guy!”  

“I was knocking here for about 15 minutes yet you’re not responding.”

“It’s because you’re not introducing yourself you dummy.”

He took my arm and he started to run and said, “I ordered one of my friends to stay at the house while we’re gone, but this doesn’t mean I agree with you. I’m just curious of what’s happening even if you’re not here, I’m still going.”

I gave him a little smirk, “Fine! Don’t be so defensive”

“I’m not being defensive”

 ”Yes you we’re”

“I’m just explaining it”

 ”Still your being defensive”

 “Ugh! Just shut up”

Zyrel stopped running and then realized something. He asked what do I mean when I said we’ll use his ability to get there fast. I showed him that I can now use Shadow Sneak and he was shocked on what I just did.

“H-how did you? Are you?” Zyrel was shocked. It was the first time I saw him with such a face. 

I ran towards the forest and told him “I can explain later for now let’s head on to the Baldor” 

We’ve arrived at the dark spot of Baldor and saw Miss Minerva and Vandross trying to stop….. A CHILD!? 

His hair was blue and his eyes were red. He was wearing a blue jacket with a fading black at its end. 

Miss Minerva screamed, “What do you want now Liberus? You’ve already defeated Baldeus—the strongest fighter of Baldor?”

I was shocked to hear those words from Miss Minerva. That child defeated the strongest in the Village? How is it even possible? 

Liberus laughed at Miss Minerva and said, “You called that the strongest? I didn’t even use the power of my relic and you called that the strongest? By the way just to inform you, I saw a huge flame and taught it would be an honor to fight someone that powerful.”

I looked at Zyrel and asked him, “Should we go help them? I think I’m the one he was describing who cast the huge fire spell.”

Zyrel replied with his usual voice, “Just do whatever you want, I just want to see what’s happening next.”

I looked at him with a teasing face, “Just tell me if you’re afraid and I’ll go.”

 I was shocked when Zyrel shouted, “I’m not afraid! You’re the one he’s been looking for and not me so why don’t you just go there and leave me alone, OKAY!”

“Fine I’ll go! I’m sick being with someone who has powers and yet doesn’t want to use it to help others.” 

“I don’t have powers I just…”

I started to perform some hand formations and vanished in front of him, I sunk beneath the surface and now I’m at a dark realm all I can see is the Village above me it’s like I’m a moving shadow.

Am I underneath the surface? Oh! So this is the feeling of being a shadow. I think I can use this to sneak at Liberus back and then what? Kill him? 

I leaned towards Liberus shadow showing only my face underneath him and said, “Am I the one you’re looking for?” after I said those words I sunk back to the shadow. I saw him being confused and trying to find where the voice came from.

I was shocked seeing another being lurking in the dark abyss. It was Zyrel. I seriously looked at him and said, “So you finally made up your mind, scared cat?”

“No, I’m not!”

“Oh, yes you were.”

“You’re the one he’s been looking for I just came here to watch.”

I tapped his shoulders and gave him a little smirk before saying, “I know you’re a little bit concerned but don’t worry, you don’t have to help me if things got worst.”

He just pushed me and take his leave without saying anything. 

I decided to show my self in front of Liberus and ask him to stop bothering the people in the village. After I said those words he just laughed at me and said,

“A CHILD!? don’t play childish tricks against me and what are you planning to do? Cast some beginner fireballs? 

I was a little pissed with what he said. What’s wrong being a child? I mean he’s a child, too, you know. I’ve started to chant the word Eruption and a small crack opened beneath Liberus and started to blast with flames. I learned from the book that it can be used even if it is not a perfect incantation but the effect is not that powerful. Liberus noticed the sound of the crack and was shocked but he successfully defended my attack with his barrier. He countered my attacks with fireballs I was shocked seeing him cast spells without chanting. I can’t use any barrier instead I sunk into the shadows to avoid his attacks.

I have to admit it. He’s strong. We can’t fight like this, were just wasting magic power. Maybe I should use the Shadow Sneak and blast him from behind? I can’t use the Hell Fire Eruption cause it will take time to cast that spell. I try to focus and look at Liberus shadow. Without using the hand formation I sunk at the dark abyss and I saw Liberus trying to find me.

I moved towards Miss Minerva and Vandross location and informed them to evacuate the demons to a safe area. 

Vandross looked at me with his emotionless face and said, “If you can’t beat him just retreat.”

I nodded my head and saw Zyrel watching at the back. Is he scared? 

I want to go to him and ask him what happened but Liberus was destroying the villagers houses so I decided to ask him later and move towards Liberus.

I’ve arrived on where his shadow was and blast him with Eruption from behind. He flew through a building and crashed. His face looks terrible and said, “No one has ever lay a hand on me, I’m Liberus the chosen one to be the next demon lord for I possess the Demonic Relic that is suitable for it.” He then showed me a book and it was also named as Demonic Relic. I was shocked seeing there were other Demonic relic.

Then Liberus shouted, “Are you listening to me? Or are you trembling knowing that your opponent possess such powerful relic?”

Now is not the time to know the spells written in his Relic. I must attack first.

“Let the scorching hell rise and burn everything above. Turn everything to ashes. Hell Fire Eruption!”

He was shocked seeing the flames starting to rise from the grounds. He opened the book and start to chant,

“Darkness will rise and devour everything, bring them into an endless darkness, Dark Void!”

After he chanted those words, a huge void of darkness appeared from the ground and moved towards me it sucked everything it touches even my spell was sucked in. I tried to search for a counter spell from the Relic but I can’t find any I only have 4 pages. 

Liberus cried while smiling, “Seeing a worthy opponent die made me cry but how can you stop that thing from sucking you in once it reaches you?”

My dad always told me I’m a fast learner. I can learn things just by watching. I must try or else I’d die. 

“Darkness will rise and devour everything, bring them into an endless darkness, DARK VOID!”

I don’t know if it will work but I’ve tried, then suddenly a dark void opens in front of me making it’s way to the other void and start to suck one another. It make an explosion and both of it vanished. 

I saw Liberus face as if he can’t believe I’ve manage to cast the spell the same as he did. 

"But how?” Liberus asked putting his two hands in his head. “I know that there’s only one page in every spell from the Demonic Relic and I’m the only one who can cast that spell. So how?”

Even I can’t believe on what just happened, I make my way to Liberus and offered him a hand. “You’re good, but you use your powers to surpass everyone.”

Liberus calmly said, “Because I’m the next demon lord. And to do that, I have to be the strongest.”

“Being the strongest is not the basis of becoming a ruler. It’s to have everyone’s faith and trust on you.”

Liberus looked down and said, “I’m wasted, I’ve gave all of my remaining mana into that spell. Just kill me.”

I reached his hand and try to carry him at my back but I was exhausted too so I lay myself beside him and said, “Heyy? Care to have a rematch someday?”

Liberus smiled and said, “Once I gather all the other Demonic Relics, I’ll come at you and take your Relic then I will be the demon lord.”

I smiled back at him and said, “Then I guess I’ll find the others too and fight you again someday.”

“By the way, how did you cast the Dark Void. I thought there were only one page of that spell and I’m the one who has that page?” 

“Ohh? You mean my ability to learn just by watching? I guess I’ll call that ability “Copycat” since it’s like copying.”

Liberus stood up and so do I and we parted ways. 

Someday we’ll meet again and when that day comes I hope we can fight again and become friends.