I Became the Weakest Demon Prince!

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Author's Note:

This chapter is an experimental narration style. I've kept dialogues and actions in separate lines for better flow and readability.

If you like it (or don't), let me know in the comments!

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"YOU BASTARD! YOU KILLED TERY?!"

Cye's voice cracked with fury as he pointed a trembling finger at Noah.

Noah's grip tightened around the sword.

"Do you see anyone else here?"

His body was steady, but his mind…

'Oh god… I actually killed someone.'

The thought made his stomach churn.

He tried not to think about it, but the memory of Tery's body collapsing replayed in his mind was making him feel sick.

"ARGGGHHH! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

Cye snapped.

"Cye! WAIT—DON'T!"

Bertio grabbed at him, but Cye shrugged him off and charged straight at Noah.

Ten meters.Five.

Noah barely reacted as his stance was unsteady and his grip was weak.

Cye's eyes burned with rage as he closed in.

One meter—

Noah's body moved on instinct.

He thrust his sword forward with eyes squeezed shut.

Shlrrk!

The blade sank deep into Cye's chest, piercing through flesh and bone.

"Aghh… augh… you… damn… lowly… thing!"

Black blood bubbled from his mouth as his voice gurgled with rage. His claws lashed out, raking against Noah's arm, but the strength was already fading from his limbs.

Noah flinched at the demon's face so close to his and panicked as he kicked forward to push the body off his blade.

Cye staggered back.

His legs gave out and he collapsed.

He twitched for a few moments before going completely still.

Noah sucked in a sharp breath.

"Haaa… haaa… haaa…"

His chest heaved up and down.

"Tch… this idiot."

Bertio clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"I told him not to charge in like a rabid dog."

There was no grief nor anger in his voice just pure disdain.

"And you…"

His eyes flicked to the sword in Noah's hand.

"Hah. You don't even know how to hold that thing right, do you?"

His fingers twitched as he took a step closer.

"First time holding a sword? Heh" He chuckled.

"Figures. Your stance is pathetic."

He rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms lazily as if bored.

"Not that it matters." He cracked his neck while moving closer to him.

"I'll kill you and take whatever's left, and move on."

A slow grin spread across his face.

"Hurry up and die already."

He charged while bringing his arms forward.

Noah didn't move. He stood his ground and tightened his sword grip.

'Just like before, I'll wait for him to come close,then strike.'

Sweat dripped down his face.

The moment Bertio was within the range, Noah jabbed his sword forward.

Bertios twisted his body mid-charge and dodged it.

"Heh. Fool, do you really think the same move is going to work twice?"

Noah's eye widened and before he could react—

RIPPPPP!!

"GAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

Bertio's claws ripped his leather armour and left a deep gnash at his chest.

Noah felt a stinging pain and he stumbled back while gripping his chest.

"Shit!"

Bertio licked his fingers covered with blood and grinned.

"Not bad. You are delicious."

Noah's breath was shaky and his whole body was screaming in pain.

'If I stop now, I'm dead for sure.'

"Fuck it.. This is my last chance."

Gritting his teeth, he lunged forward recklessly, raising his sword high.

"AHHHHH!"

Bertio's grin widened, his twitching fingers stretched out.

"Hah! Stupid!"

The moment Noah swung down.

Bertio sidestepped.

SHLK!

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!!"

Bertio's claws ripped into Noah's stomach.

A sharp, burning pain shot through him.

His breath hitched as his vision blurred and his legs gave out.

He fell down while he used one hand to clutch at the wound, the warm blood spilled through his fingers.

His grip weakened.

Clatter.

The sword slipped from his grasp and hit the ground.

Blood pooled beneath him, soaking into the dirt.

'I...I screwed up.'

Across him, Bertio staggered, his breath was rough and uneven. A deep gash ran across his side with blood dripping down from it.

But he was still standing.

Still towering over Noah.

Still grinning.

"Hah... what did I tell you?"

Bertio's voice was hoarse, laced with amusement. "Prey should know its place."

He stepped forward and stopped right in front of Noah, his shadow swallowing him whole.

Raising his claws, he let them hang in the air, savoring the moment.

Noah tried to move, his body barely responding.

His fingers dragged against the ground as he reached toward Bertio's leg in a desperate attempt.

Bertio chuckled.

"Still crawling? You really don't know when to quit."

Noah's fingertips finally brushed against his leg.

Bertio sighed, shaking his head.

"How pitiful. Do you really think that will change anything?"

His grin widened as he lifted his claws higher.

"Let me put you out of your misery."

He pushed forward, aiming straight for Noah's skull.

But—

His claws stopped just inches from Noah's eyeball.

Noah's breath froze. His wide eyes stared at the hand hovering in front of his face.

'Why.. did he stop?'

Bertio's fingers trembled, frozen in place.

"H-huh?" A flicker of confused crossed his face.

Then, suddenly, his fingers jerked violently, and his pupils shrank.

Something was wrong.

Noah looked down instinctively.

A black mark was spreading where his fingertips had brushed against Bertio's leg, pulsing like veins of darkness crawling up his pale green skin.

Bertio stumbled back.

"WHAT IS THIS THING?!"

His voice cracked.

A violent shudder ran through his body and he dropped on his knees.

His hands clawed at his own chest, his mocking grin twisted into horror.

"No... No, no—WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!!"

Noah sat still, watching.

At first, the changes were subtle. A slight shrinking in his arms. Then his shoulders.

Afterwards, it escalated.

His muscles withered, his once solid frame collapsing inward as if something was devouring him from the inside out.

"S-Stop!" His voice was hoarse and barely more than a whisper.

He tried to move, tried to attack, but his legs wouldn't listen.

His own body refused to listen.

His ribs pressed against his skin. His veins darkened. His razor-sharp claws turned brittle like dried bone.

Noah exhaled slowly. His wounds had stopped bleeding and Strength was slowly returning to his limbs.

But Bertio?

"I-can't... move..."

His wide, bloodshot eyes locked onto Noah.

"What...what did you do to me?!" .

Noah finally spoke.

"Who knows."

"..."

Bertio's lips parted as if trying to speak, but no sound came.

His body collapsed as his fingers clawed weakly at the dirt before he crumbled apart.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept through

And he was gone.

Blown into dust.

A leather pouch remained in that place.

Noah's wounds had almost healed and were now covered in dried scabs.

"I survived. Somehow. Barely. But I did it."

"This power... it works. But that was way too close."

Slowly, he got up and moved towards the pouch and grabbed it.

"It was a risky gamble."

The odds of pulling this off had been abysmally low.

From the moment Bertio had raised his claws, Noah knew he wouldn't be able to dodge. His body was barely hanging on and his strength had reached its limit.

Victory through brute force was impossible.

Which meant..

His only option was deception.

As soon as his fingers brushed against Bertio's leg, he activated 'Devour'.

After that, It was only a matter of time before he vanished.

Noah opened the pouch and found a handful of silver coins.

"That's good. I was wondering where I'd get some money, but this should cover it."

He clenched the pouch and hung it on his waist.

His eyes then shifted to the two corpses lying nearby—Tery and Cye.

"Since they're fresh, I should be able to absorb more strength than from older ones."

Stepping forward, he placed a hand on each body and activated 'Devour'.

After a while, both corpses crumbled into nothing. Sadly, he didn't find any items on them.

A faint surge of energy coursed through Noah's body and he felt a noticeable difference.

He reached for his sword and noticed cracks forming along the edge.

"Tch. Looks like I'll need a new sword."

He looked down at his chest and saw that torn leather armour was barely holding up.

"And some new armor."

The next few hours passed as Noah continued 'Devouring' the corpses scattered across the battlefield. With each use, the gains diminished, the energy trickling in weaker than before.

By the time he was done, he had scavenged a suitable steel sword and a chainmail armor from the remains.

"This should be enough. Devouring more corpses is pointless now. I'm barely gaining anything new."

His gaze swept over the battlefield.

Lifeless. Quiet. Blood and dust covered everything. The stench of death lingered in the air.

"Might as well find a place to rest… I'm exhausted."

His limbs felt heavier with every step, the soreness settling in now that the fight was over.

His stomach churned, not from sickness, but hunger. He hadn't eaten anything in a while.

Without another word, he turned away.

"If there were three, there could be more… and if they find me now, I won't survive another fight. I need to get out of here."

With no clear destination, he picked a direction and walked.

The battlefield faded behind him, swallowed by the wind.

Noah didn't look back.