Obviously, I tap yes. I feel a surge of essence in me, moving in a strange fashion. It's very similar to when I move my essence to create an essence weapon, but slightly different.
'Is this how you use a spell?'
Suddenly, a wall of earth surrounds me, while a water dragon covers my body. "Woah..." I mutter out, admiring the beauty of the water dragon while knocking on the earth wall to test its sturdiness.
After a second, the water dragons disappears, the wall then disappearing a few seconds later. "Awesome!" I cry out, excited by the, well, awesome skills!
"Why of course my lord. After all, we are ancients of the esteemed dragon race! Not only that, we gave you the best of the best we had! At least, the ones that your current body can handle." Alfred happily replies.
"While I can't say my earth wall will be as flashy as Alfred's water dragon technique, I will guarantee you that mine will be more useful!" Barron boasts pridefully.
"My lord, don't listen to that stupid rock-head. I can promise that my skill can instantly kill any being that isn't at the peak of Deity realm yet! While the skill you have is a watered down version, I am sure the effects will be similar!" Alfred retorts to Barron's attempt to show off.
"Hey, what did you call me?!?" Came the reply from a very mad Barron.
Before the two of them were about to bicker again, the place around me started to stretch out. "Wait...what's happening?" I dreadfully ask, remember this scene. I don't want to be sent back to the middle of that cave again!
"Oh it seems our time is up. My lord, I will have to warn you that the gate we set up on the planet you're on is rather unstable, so when you leave this place, you will be teleported to a random location. Please be careful" was the answer as I get kicked out.
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"Well, that was rude!" I say, looking around me. It seems that I'm in some dense, forest-y area. The first thing I do is check the skills the dragons gave me.
「Skill: Temporary Water Dragon Replica | C
「A replica of the strongest skill only an ancient water dragon could use. At full power, this skill could one-shot beings in the Deity realm and do substantial damage to a Demiurge. However, due to this skill only being a replica, this skill can only do substantial damage to a normal Demi-God and some light damage to a peak Demi-God. This skill can only be used 25 times. Uses left: 24」
「Skill: Temporary Earth Wall Replica | C
「A replica of the strongest skill only an ancient water dragon could use. At full power, this skill could survive a few hits from a Demiurge. However, due to this skill only being a replica, this skill can only survive 5 hits from peak Demi-Gods. This skill can only be used 25 times. Uses left: 24」
Holy-C RANK?!?!? I BARELY HAVE D RANKS, AND A REPLICA OF A SKILL IS ALREADY AT C RANK!?!? THEN HOW POWERFUL ARE THE ORIGINAL SKILLS!?!?
Well, very powerful it seems, just from reading the description. It's a shame it can only be used 25 times, but I'll take it. After all, these skills are going to be SOOOOO helpful for me in becoming a Demi-God.
I walk around, slowly of course. I might be pretty strong, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. After walking for a while, I spotted a tiger looking beast near me. However, this beast had fangs as blue as ice and fur as white as snow, the stripes making a nice contrast, with a face that looked arrogant. This beast was facing off against a being of a lower realm after all, what could possibly go wrong?
The beast was staring me down, releasing an aura that felt slightly stronger than mine.
A Demi-God!
At least, I think it's a Demi-God. I summon my stick, ready for battle. I mean, I might have an op skill to one shot it, but I still want to have my stick, just in case.
Both me and the tiger slowly walk around in circles, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
After a few seconds, the tiger tries to pounce onto me. I swiftly cast the water dragon spell, reacting to the tiger. Just before the tiger pounced on me, a blue streak zoomed forward and hit it right in the middle of its chest, knocking it a few feet back.
The tiger brutally crashed onto the ground, its elegant fur being colored red. Success!
I slowly walk closer to see the tiger barely breathing. It looked at me as I look away. Suddenly, I start to realize the position I'm in.
'I-I can't do this! I can't take the life of a living being!' I think, as I slowly stumble back. Maybe it's because of the morals that human society has imprinted onto me, or maybe it's because of my naïve kindness, which is usually hidden away until it's most inconvenient.
However, before I was about to walk away, I hear a voice in the back of my head. 'It's either me or the tiger.'
Right! What am I thinking! I, and every other being in the whatever realm we're in, will die if I don't finish this tiger off here. I walk closer to the tiger, looking away in guilt of what I'm about to do. While I accept that I have to do it, I don't necessarily want to, you know?
Hands shaking, a tinge of blue appears at the end of my stick. I thrust forward, the light in the tiger's eyes fading.
After that, I could no longer take it. I collapsed there, sobbing. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." is all I can mutter.
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After a few minutes, I find the will to get back up with bloodshot eyes. 'Calm down Caden. Remember, you had to do this. If you didn't, you would also let the next beast go, and the next, and every other one that follows. That wouldn't be very good, would it?'
Swallowing my guilt of killing a living thing for the first time, I continue on my hunt. 'I have the life of too many beings on my shoulder, I can't give up here.'
Even with that, I still can't walk properly. The face of the tiger keeps appearing in my head with every step. After a few steps, I walk back. At the very least, I can bury the corpse. After digging a hole for it, I see a skill core sticking out.
'This skill core...should I...?' I contemplate. While I know I need it, I...don't know if I can. My guilty conscience is doing all it can to stop me, but...I know. I know my conscience doesn't matter here. I mean, I'm no longer on Earth. I know I have to kill living beings but...I don't know if I can.
Look, I know, I know. Just a bit ago, I was talking like I'd kill anything for the fate of the universe, but...saying it is one thing, actually doing it is another.
As I hold the core, a singular thought pops up in my head. 'Is what I'm doing...truly right?' The core suddenly feels much heavier in my hand. 'Am I really doing this because I have no choice? Why can't I upgrade my skills to the max? Why can't I get stronger through daily missions? Why can't I think, why can't I that!'
'Stop. Stop thinking that way. You and I both know that would be impossible. How do I know this? Because I'm you, you idiot, now stop sulking!' I think to myself. Right. I needed to do this. The enemy is a force that's prepared for a 1000 years. If a few daily quests could finish the job, why would the dragons and the deities go so far?
With newfound conviction, I continue forward, albeit with a heavy heart. And the start of my newfound conviction? That's with the skill core I hold in my hand.