Reborn As An Evolving Monster

Chapter 363 Like a Cockroach

Both shin bones, broken.

Every finger, broken.

Left elbow, broken.

Multiple internal organs, torn.

Three ribs, crushed.

Left eye, gouged.

Six dark daggers had been implanted into various spots over both his arms.

"Why... Why are you... Why are you doing this?" The Ex-General of the Tyrs struggled to even whisper the words through the pain.

 "Why? Because your life is mine. You tried to kill me. Plus, that whip hurt a lot. You also used it on your own pet. As far as I'm concerned, I'm more than justified."

"But what... Why...? What is it you're looking for? Do you want me to apologize? Do you want me to-"

"What I want? I don't want anything."

"Then... Why...?"

"Why? Umm. I just feel like it, I guess." The white-scaled Monster answered as it shrugged.

"Just feel... Like it?" 

"Yeah, you see..." Mark crouched in front of the old man who still lay with his stomach against the ground. "Thinking isn't as easy as people make it out to be. Up to now, I've been... Repressing some thoughts. I won't be doing that anymore. No matter how fucked up it is, I'll allow myself to think it. I won't run away from my thoughts or feelings... No matter how dark they get. Understand?"

By the look in the Ex-General's eyes, it was clear that he didn't get it.

"There's resistance sometimes. Things I don't want to think about. Things I don't want to admit... Not even to myself. That's when you come in. It's easier to move past the resistance with you around."

"What... I don't-"

"You're like a pen that I push on with my thumb as I think. Or a plate. Or... Anything really. So-"

"I understand..." The old man interrupted. "I understand that I was wrong."

"Mm?"

"I thought... I thought you were weak. I was mistaken. I thought I could... Do whatever I wanted. But you turned out to be strong. Too strong. You-"

"No, you're wrong."

"Huh? But I-"

The old man's heart dropped as his chin touched the ground.

"You didn't think that I was weak." The white-scaled Monster said, its foot on the Ex-General's head. "You thought that you were strong." Its lips curled. "There's a difference."

"I THOUGHT THAT I WAS STRONG! I WAS WRONG! I'M SORRY! I AM! I..." The old man's begging grew louder as he felt the pressure pushing down on his head increase. "I SHOULDN'T HAVE ATTACKED YOU! I SHOULDN'T HAVE BLAMED YOU FOR..."

 The pressure increased further!

The Ex-General's begging stopped. He was convinced that it was only a matter of seconds now. A matter of seconds before that harrowing sound resonated. Before that harrowing -Crack- resonated, this time coming from his skull being crushed.

But before there could be any pain, the foot was raised off.

The Ex-General was left panting for air as the white-scaled Monster took a step back.

"Please... You're strong... I was wrong... Why are you... Toying with... A weakling like me...?"

"A weakling, huh? Yeah, I guess you did turn out to be pretty weak. But..." Mark crouched. "You didn't think of yourself as weak. You're just saying that to save yourself. Even if I let you go, you'll that I was stronger than you, and not that you were weaker than me."

"What... Does that mean?? You're strong! That's all there-"

"Strong?"

"YOU ARE! THAT'S WHY I'M ON THE GROUND AND YOU'RE-"

The old man's words were replaced by screams, as a tooth of his had been swiftly and forcefully pulled out.

"Shh. Give me a second."

The old man shivered, and his throat froze. The screaming ceased instantly.

Its tone, its voice, the expression on its face, its eyes. For the Ex-General, everything about the white-scaled Monster pointed to a cold, cold emptiness. 

The old man quietly waited. As the white-scaled Monster stared at him silently.

It was staring at him. But the Ex-General could tell that it wasn't looking at him.

If only he had recovered more!

You're strong-

Strong? Strong. Strong?

Strong. Strong. Strong. Strong. Strong. Strong. 

"If I was strong, nothing would have gone wrong. If I was strong..." Mark talked absent-mindedly. "If I was strong, I wouldn't have lost them. If I was strong, I wouldn't have lost anyone. If I was strong, I wouldn't have hurt them. If I was strong, I wouldn't have let them down. If I was strong, I wouldn't have needed to bluff with their name. If I was strong, I wouldn't have needed help. If I was strong, I wouldn't have lost control. If I was strong..."

The white-scaled Monster suddenly grabbed the old man by the mouth.

"I'm weak. I want to be strong. I'm weak. I want to be strong. I'm weak. How strong is strong enough? I'm weak. What do I want strength for? I'm weak. I'm-"

"FUCK YOU!" 

STKSCHH-

Smoke and dust filled the space between the two, after a red flash shone for a split second.

Red Lightning.

"SERVES YOU RIGHT! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" The Ex-General shouted.

His attack had connected!

The smoke and dust settled, slowly revealing the white-scaled Monster that had been launched a dozen meters away.

"HA! EAT THAT, DICKHEAD! HA-"

Cough-

The Ex-General shouted before a drop of blood went down his mouth as he coughed.

Its right arm and side had been charred.

"DID YOU THINK MY MANA WOULDN'T RECOVER, DUMBASS?"

Burnt to a crisp.

"DID YOU THINK I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR RAMBLINGS FOR NO REASON?"

The scales seemed to have been melted off, while the rest was scorched.

"DID YOU THINK-"

"I want... To be strong."

"You're still...?"

"I- I- I- I Want to be strong."

"What is-"

"D-D-D-D-Did you know? Cockroaches..." The white-scaled Monster slowly pushed itself off the ground. "Can survive for weeks... Even after losing their heads."

"What the fuck is he on about-"

The Ex-General's eye widened, as the burnt skin and muscles melted off the bones. As new tissue was formed rapidly. As new scales replaced those that had been lost.

"I want... To be strong."

"FUCK YOU!"

A red light shone once more in the middle of the dark forest once more.