Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 47: When Ego Takes Over

Chapter 47: When Ego Takes Over

Braun slowly lifted his face, his bloodshot eyes locking with mine as I stood motionless, my dagger glinting under the dim light. A sinister grin stretched across his face, wide and unnerving, like a devil reveling in chaos.

"Hehehehehe..." His low, raspy laugh began to rise, growing louder and more unhinged with each passing second.

I remained calm, my gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to make his next move. Hina and Yuri, however, were frozen, their faces pale with a mixture of shock and unease.

"Braun..." Yuri muttered, her voice trembling as she struggled to stand, blood still dripping from her lips.

"BWAHAHAHAHAH..."

The laughter escalated, echoing through the cave as an ominous orange aura began to swirl around Braun. It crackled and hissed like fire, wrapping itself around his body. His form began to shift—his hands grew lean, his nails extended into sharp claws, and his ears stretched into sharp, pointed tips, almost resembling those of an elf. Dark, pulsating veins etched themselves across his skin, and his entire body seemed to radiate an overwhelming, almost suffocating aura of power.

Hina’s eyes widened in disbelief as she took a step back. "What... What’s happening to him?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Braun’s transformation completed as he threw his head back, the orange aura now swirling violently around him. His laughter turned into a menacing roar that reverberated through the cave. He clenched his newly formed claws and sneered at us, a twisted satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

I stood tall, unwavering, my gaze fixed on Braun as I gripped the dagger tightly in my hand. My expression remained calm and unflinching, though the tension in the air was growing with every passing second.

Hina, her eyes wide in disbelief, stared at Braun in utter astonishment. "What in the world... is that?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly as she processed the raw power emanating from him.

Braun, his body radiating with an aura that was almost blinding, threw his head back and laughed maniacally. The sound echoed off the cave walls, reverberating in the stillness of the cave. "I HAVE NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!!" His voice boomed, the words filled with an almost childlike happiness. "THIS IS SO MUCH. I CAN RULE OVER THE WORLD WITH THIS!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHA...!!" His laughter grew louder, more demonic, as if he was drunk on his newfound strength.

"Arghhahhahah..." He groaned, savoring the sensation of power coursing through him, a grin splitting his face.

I couldn’t help but sneer, taking a deliberate step forward.

"So much happiness for a borrowed power, huh?" My voice was cold, cutting through his madness like a blade.

In response, Braun’s expression darkened. His laughter ceased abruptly, and his eyes narrowed into slits. With a guttural roar, he unleashed a fury-filled scream, a wave of aura surging from him. The force of the blast ripped through the air, sending a gust of wind that swayed both Hina’s and my hair. The cave trembled under the weight of his power, the very ground beneath our feet vibrating with intensity.

I stood my ground, the dagger in my hand ready, the calmness in my demeanor betraying the chaos unfolding around us.

"You did it, Braun... I knew you would," Yuri said, her voice filled with admiration as she approached his side, ready to fight alongside him.

But Hina’s voice cut through the air, sharp and unyielding. "Even after losing a hand, you still haven’t learned your lesson, it seems." She, too, took a step forward, positioning herself beside me, her stance firm and resolute.

Yuri turned to face Hina, her eyes narrowing with rage. "Shut the fuck up, you bitch!!" she spat, her voice venomous. "Now it’s the end for both of yo—"

*GUSH*

But her words were abruptly cut short. Her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth fell open as something struck her with terrifying speed. Blood erupted from her mouth, spilling in a crimson drops as a massive clawed hand tore through her chest.

The force of the blow made her froze in a place, the claws ripping through flesh and bone with sickening precision.

Hina stood frozen, her face a mask of disbelief. I, on the other hand, had already known this would happen. Braun’s twisted smile was all the confirmation I needed.

Yuri’s breath came in short, labored gasps as she looked down at the wound, her expression one of disbelief.

"But w-why...?" Her voice cracked, pain and confusion mixing in her words.

Braun’s laugh, devoid of any trace of remorse. "Because I don’t need anyone," he sneered, his voice laced with madness. "I’m alone enough now...I don’t need anyone anymore...eheheheh..." His laughter grew louder, more unhinged, as he pulled his hand from her body, the claws retreating.

Yuri’s body went limp, and with a final, shuddering breath, she collapsed to the ground. Her blood pooled around her like a ocean, the once vibrant red now darkening into a deep, sickening hue as her life drained away. The cave seemed to fall into a hushed silence.

Braun casually stepped over Yuri’s lifeless body, the blood staining the floor beneath him as he made his way toward us. His confidence was palpable, an aura of power radiating from him. He extended his hand and the Chopper flew back in his hand once more, the blade glowing with an ominous orange hue.

"Well then, who’s next?" Braun taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. Without waiting for a response, he leapt forward in a blur of motion, his body a streak of fiery orange heading straight for us.

I felt the shift in the air, the sudden rush of movement. Without hesitation, I bent my knees and dashed forward, my own speed a direct counter to his. Time seemed to slow as we closed in on each other.

*CLANG*

The clash was deafening.

Our weapons collided with a force so powerful it sent shockwaves through the cave, the sound of the impact echoing like thunder. My dagger met his Chopper in a brutal, metallic screech, the force of the strike reverberating through my arms.

Hina, standing a few steps back, instinctively clutched her ears, her face contorted in discomfort at the ferocity of the sound.

Braun’s laughter filled the space, sharp and taunting. "Hahahah! Now let’s see how you’ll handle this, you fucking brat!" His voice was filled with venom, his strength and arrogance boiling over.

I didn’t flinch. Instead, I met his glare with cold, unwavering resolve. "Killing your own comrades is all you’re good at," I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. The words hung between us, heavy with truth.

We stood there, weapons locked, eyes locked. His were bloodshot with rage, burning with an intensity that mirrored the fury of the moment. My own gaze, however, was like ice—cold, calculating, unwavering.