Bro, I'm not an Undead!

A man without the look of shame or worry was a terrifying existence to see, especially when his body was partially set alight, with burns and dark patches over his skin.r

Who knew beating off in front of a group of people couldn't bring one to even show some level dignity by hiding themselves afterwards?r

The juices were gone after all.r

Within the safety of the glass, one of the guards hurriedly covered Terese's eyes while the other rushed in front of her as backup. This wasn't child friendly content after all, and they would rather suffer the consequences later. Inevitably.r

Alaris gaped in subdued shock while Lemorine grimaced while vehemently shaking her head. r

She gave a command to the large lizard, the creature opening its mouth as it spat out three black beetles that rushed in the done-jerking-off jerk's direction and exploded into fine powder that rapidly spread through the air!r

Instantly, the image of Stephin was engulfed in the powder, being obscured from view while a second later, his gut wrenching scream was heard.r

The lizard followed after the beetles it had sent towards the evaluator's way and stomped its foot at the man!r

Lemorine fully expected Stephin to resist but surprisingly, as the powder cleared, Stephin's body was revealed unconscious under her lizard's suppression.r

'He didn't fight back?' she thought while relaxing, a portion of her thoughts wandering to the hope that she hadn't squashed the tall man's erect gentleman.r

​ "Thank you, Lemorine," Alaris said as he sighed out in relief.r

Unfortunately, he couldn't say this with a smile as this... was unprecedented.r

What the heck was that?!r

A quick analysis told him that this probably had to do with the smoke that the creature he had just killed released and also, with the image of that enormous creature having spinning eyes...r

It was definitely connected in an unsettling way.r

But all this wasn't the thick of it.r

Alaris turned to Skullius who also looked to be surprised, but with no concern whatsoever.r

His white eyes were as blank as could be and right now, he was deep in thought.r

'The effect of this weird skill seems to have evolved again and I really don't know if its for the best or the worst...' Skullius thought while looking at the description of the new skill of his with the guidance filed.r

~~~r

[Ungodly Passion of Debauchery | Lv.1]r

A flame generated for the righteous goal of granting a blurred line between agony and ecstacy rests at your fingertips, with the capacity for unimaginable destruction.r

Every use of the skill can generate up to 40 allies out of the burned targets, with a 50% boost to their overall power. In addition, among the affected allies, there is a possibility for one who accepts the prodding will of DESIRE to be baptised to the Passion of Debauchery, attaining a temporary shift in their racial characteristics to that of a FITTING denizen of the Null Verse.r

-Caution-r

Differences in strength and level of skill determine success or failure.r

Mana Requirements: 3000 Mana Points.r

Duration: 10 minutesr

Cooldown: 30 minutesr

~~~r

This was certainly a peculiar technique.r

One geared towards increasing the army of burning allies he could create and even inviting a creature from the Null Verse.r

It had a longer duration of effect and a halved Cooldown, which was definitely a big improvement.r

'Even with this explanation, I still feel like a lot is missing. The guidance field just won't give me the entire detail,' Skullius thought while analysing everything he could.r

Still though, among all the things that happened in the end there, he was more interested in Alaris' sword move than this new skill of his.r

"Would you happen to know what happened to Stephin?" Alaris asked, breaking Skullius from his vault of thought.r

He had a concerned yet... intrigued look on his face.r

Frankly, bringing Stephin for the Aptitude Evaluation Test wasn't so much based on deep rooted sense of camaraderie than it was strategic, for Stephin's benefit and, or for the examinee.r

With the long armed man's personality, he was more likely to be caught by surprise or beaten outright, though such was yet to happen, until now.r

Alaris felt that being walloped one time would be good.r

Perhaps that would break his prideful streak.r

"I'm not sure. I didn't intend for that to happen. I too was surprised," Skullius answered truthfully.r

Alaris paid attention to his facial details. r

"I see. And that giant creature...?" r

"I don't know either..." Skullius said.r

"Hmmm. Very well," Alaris said.r

'Maybe I should have asked that young Mage to join us after all. Perhaps an battle between Mages with such different strengths would have benefitted both of them,' Alaris thought as he turned.r

One might find his casualness when dismissing the atrocity that Skullius had 'summoned' just like that weird, but he had every right to.r

In truth, Mages who focused on the Transmutation Patch could do worse and Alaris attributed this... to that.r

If the young Mage who was more talented than he thought wanted to keep his secrets then so be it.r

Lemorine turned to Skullius and gave a smile that spelled that she was glad to have battled against him, though regrettably losing some of her tamed beasts in the process.r

"Wait..." Skullius suddenly said, causing Alaris to turn. "Can I have an exchange with you?"r

The evaluator was surprised and frankly, a little disappointed.r

"I've already announced that you have passed. Is your ego so large that you won't accept a win like this?" the man said.r

"That's not it," Skullius responded. "I've taken an interest to your sword movements. Can I have one exchange with you... in swordsmanship?"r

The group within the frame of glass had been in the middle of getting out, a certain spoiled brat screaming at the guards claiming that there wasn't anything shown that she had never seen when Skullius' words reached themr

Silrat's mood had been soaring, his juices rising up when he stopped, his heart almost leaping from his chest.r

What the heck was this man trying to do now?!r

'You've passed damn it! You've passed! Leave it be!' Silrat called in his mind while giving an intense glare to Skullius.r

Alaris was dumbfounded.r

"An exchange in the sword?"r

"Yes," Skullius said as his figure flashed to the other side of the room, over to the compartment with the bunch of weapons.r

He grabbed three swords and flashed back to where he had been standing under everyone's gaze.r

Among the three swords he had taken, was one double edged one and two curved ones.r

He gave the double-edged sword to Alaris and held one of the curved blades.r

"I have assimilated many sword movements and tricks into my mind and body but I have yet to see them produce any effect I want..." Skullius said as he held his sword in both his hands, its bladed length in his palms.r

Alaris couldn't tell whether Skullius was serious or not.r

Incredible reflexes.r

Good form.r

Outstanding awareness.r

Willingness to engage in close combat.r

And now swordsmanship?r

This wasn't a recipe for creating a Mage!r

Lemorine couldn't believe the Hybrid Luman's words.r

This was absurd!r

Alaris said nothing to discouraged Skullius however. r

Now, if Skullius would show him anything remotely close to elite swordsmanship, he would now fully understand why Silrat supported this man.r

"Very well," Alaris said. "One exchange."r

Skullius smiled as he backed away with both swords.r

The tension rose once again with Lemorine warning the spectators to get back behind the glass.r

Skullius held out his sword and breathed out.r

With one hand holding the handle, he swiped his other hand over the blade of the sword as he coated it in mana.r

The white energy hissed as it engulfed the weapon, saturating it.r

But then...r

PWAAAA!r

Like a glass breaking, the entire blade shattered into bits.r

...!r

Everyone looked at this with a weird expressions. Most didn't know what had happened but Alaris did. r

He chuckled briefly.r

'I knew it,' Skullius thought. 'This isn't Demion's Dance. I'll have to learn proper mana appropriation for lesser weapons.'r

Correcting himself from the earlier mistake, Skullius grabbed the second sword and swiped his hand, mana pouring over it.r

This time, the sword didn't break, as the mana applied seemed just enough.r

'This is beyond fascinating...' Alaris thought as mana started to billow from his body, on his face, an excited smile appearing under his moustache.r

Skullius focused ahead, his breath blasting from his mouth as he crouched down, handling his sword at his side with his right hand firm on its hilt while his left hovered over its blade.r

His senses which experienced everything at twice the norm passively as a result of [Beyond the Hype], focusing on nothing but the man ten meters ahead of him.r

With his stance and control set, Skullius finally let it loose before the approaching clash - a dark crimson hue that poured from his <CURSED HEART> and <CURSED BLOOD>, coursing through his arms and hands until it infected the simple sword he held...r