Chapter 182: Emotions ; Faule Mette (1/2)
Joseph and I both look into one another's eye without either of us making any movements.
I had been suspecting him of having set up a trap from the moment I entered the castle, but, I have yet to encounter such a thing.
Well, I've had enough of waiting around, so I will just finish him off in one go.
Taking in a deep breath, I activate Time-Stop.
As expected, everyone immediately freezes in place.
I then make haste in killing all three of the knights by directly chopping their heads off before attempting to do the same to Joseph.
However, something unexpected occurs, forcing me to retreat a few steps back.
The strange energy in Joseph's body seems to be unaffected by Time-Stop, as it continued to move and even 'sensed' my arm while it was approaching Joseph's neck.
Thus, not willing to risk my body, I decided to retreat for now.
Soon, the Time-Stop deactivates.
Joseph for once shows a change in expression as he gets a little startled by the abrupt death of the three knights.
”What did you do?” he asks.
”Why should I tell you?” I respond before preparing to rush toward him.
Realizing my intentions, Joseph gets into a defensive stance, prepared for any sudden assaults that I might make.
I directly utilize Blink to appear in front of him and use my left arm to throw punch coated with Destruction at his face, while amplifying the force.
The energy around Joseph attempts to move into my arm, but the Destruction obliterates it before it can do so.
As a result, my punch directly contacts Joseph's face, launching him off his feet.
His body soars through the giant room before inevitably crashing into the wall with enough force to form a crater on it.
Seeing him cough out blood before weakly falling to the ground, my expression turns strange as I say,
”I expected you to be stronger than this. Much stronger.”
Looks like not all Unknowns are ridiculously powerful like Gula and Ophis.
Now that I think about it, Joseph mentioned something regarding memories. Does that mean that he wasn't always an Unknown?
As these thoughts cross my mind, I notice that my sight seems to be getting hazy as a feeling of drowsiness overcomes my mind.
What's going on?
{WARNING: Mental interference detected.}
Seriously? How do I deal with it?
{Activate Berserk.}
Berserk, huh? Then, I suppose I will make use of one that is still in the First State.
As I focus on the energy within my body, a surge of adrenaline rushes through my body as my drowsiness gets washed away, while my senses are enhanced.
{Berserk: Tormentor activated.}
Huh? It doesn't seem like my thoughts are being affected in any way. Have I finally become able to remain clear-headed in this state?
Deciding that this is worth looking into at a later interval, I shift my focus back to Joseph who is now frowning while glaring at me.
”You see, Joseph,” I say while approaching him, ”I believe that you deserve some pain in return for all the trouble you've been causing me.
”Don't you think so, too?”
Hearing my words, Joseph seems to realize something as his eye widen before he says,
”How?”
”Hm?”
”How are you still standing?”
”Oh! Are you surprised that whatever that power you used on me didn't work?”
As a response to my words, Joseph remains silent while still glaring at me.
Now, how should I torture this man that seems to lack most, if not all, emotions?
”Dad!” the voice of a girl suddenly reaches my ears, causing both Joseph and me to shift our attention toward the source of the voice.
There, standing in the middle of the room is a blue-haired girl that seems to be 18 years old.
Her expression is that of horror and trepidation as she glances at the mutilated bodies in the room before looking at me.
Beaming her a smile, I turn my head to look at Joseph before asking,
”So, you have a daughter, huh?”
Before Joseph can say anything as a response, I turn my head back to face the girl and mutter,
”Let's see if you really feel nothing…”