You are fragile.

  You are a kind boy who worked hard and never turned down a cry for help. Yet your efforts were misguided. In your attempt to gain the love of the people who never saw you as a person, you drained all of your motivation and used your potential as a shield against their abuse. You tried so hard to earn their love that you neglected to see the cracks forming in your heart. Those very same cracks will destroy you if you can't open your eyes from the misguided ways of your family's influence.

  How long until you keep yourself intact? How will you keep living with these conditions? How will you move forward away from the family who broke you?

  It's only a matter of time until it breaks into pieces. You cannot stay sane for long.

  But if truly wished for freedom and independence...

  Then why don't you loosen up and cause some chaos?

  That's what I recalled from my strange dream. I'm still confused about the meaning of their words, yet I slowly understand. I don't know why I remembered it right now though.

  But maybe it has something to do with the horrifying scene playing right in front of us.

  A village consumed by burning houses, lifeless bodies lying on the ground, stands crushed by the rubble of the homes, and people screaming and crying in horror while running from the Wild Demons wanting to eat their flesh.

  It's just as Casia and I feared. The Wild Demon aimed at this very village and it didn't take us long what they intended to do after seeing his memories. If this was the sliver of "revenge" and "chaos" he wanted for his tormentors, I wonder what would happen if he could take it out on the other kingdoms in this realm.

  "Damn... This is not what I expect from any Wild Demon at all. Normally, they simply mind their business and attack others who would invade their territory or try to hunt them for no reason but to satisfy their hunger." Thurkith turned to me and Casia (who was now in his human form). "I don't want to be blunt here, but those humans are already a lost cause. There's a low chance we might find any survivors here. But right now, we have to detain that demon before it can leave the plains and enter one of the kingdoms nearby."

  That's true. If I recall, most of them were guilty of treating him like trash. It wasn't any different with Gabriel and he would have ended up like him if it wasn't for us. But on the other hand, do their crimes deserve death? I wanted to bring them justice and open their eyes to their wrongdoings and misguided ways, but not like this.

  "I hate to be that person, young Master. But I doubt that demon is giving us more time to ponder. If we want to avoid any more casualties, then you need to consider the sacrifices needed to stop that monstrosity!"

  Val was right. I don't know what came of me. I didn't want these people to live after everything they did to Gabriel and the Wild Demon. But I couldn't abandon them for that very reason. Regardless, I can't let my emotions delay it any longer. I need to find a compromise and fast!

  "One chance..."

  "Excuse me?" Val asked and I noticed him and Thurkith turn to me.

  "You two find any survivors. If you don't, kill all of the demons roaming around here," I ordered in the sternest tone I could give them. "Casia and I will talk to the demon immediately."

  Both of them gasped as expected. "Young master, I get he was an innocent soul. But don't forget..."

  "That he's now a heartless Wild Demon, I know," I said without turning around. "I already said "one chance" and that's the only chance he will have."

  I didn't hear Thurkith and Val's voice anymore. I doubt they were taken by the demons, but I know where they went. They knew my words weren't lies.

  I will give him mercy. But if he denies it...

  Then there are no more chances.

  I have to thank Thurkith for the remnants of the Wild Demon. With this, we could track him down throughout the burning village and since most of the damages were fresh, I have a feeling he didn't go too far. The only problem is the small demons obscuring our path. I feel like they're not mindlessly attacking us since they became hostile the moment they noticed our advances. Thankfully, Casia was still by my side as he quickly swept through the demons from the path. While I could take care of one of them with my spell, I'm still not strong enough to face a large number of them. Right now, I need to save my strength and prepare for the worst in case the negotiations fall through.

  "Vander, over there!"

  Casia pointed above us and when I looked, I gasped to see a familiar chimeric demon hovering above us. Crap... He's a lot bigger than Casia's dragon form. At this rate, he might be unstoppable for him or the other two to deal with. Regardless, I need to keep my cool.

  One chance. I only have one chance to stop this madness. One chance to give him mercy.

  I'm not like him. I can't hesitate now.

  "Casia, get his attention."

  "Got it."

  I covered my ears and backed away from Casia as he took a deep breath. Then, I closed my eyes and prepared myself.

  "GRAAAAAAAARRRRRRRWWWWWW!!!!"

  Even in his human form, his roar was loud enough to break my ears if I didn't cover them. But at least it was enough for the large demon to turn around and see us.

  "It's up to you now, kid. Be careful."

  I nodded. "I will. Thank you and keep your guard up."

  I slowly approached the chimeric demon. I could tell from his yellow eyes how much hostility he placed on this village after years of neglect and torment. I felt sorry for him. I wished I could have saved him the same way Casia did for Gabriel. But I'm only giving him one chance. That's it. There's no turning back. I glare at the demon just as his eyes lock with mine.

  "YOoU'Re...FAMiliAR...YoU're...LiKE Me... BuT noT."

  I don't know what he's talking about. But I shouldn't get to me easily. I need to focus and finish this immediately.

  "I will cut to the chase. I know why you're here. I know who you were before you turned!"

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  I didn't hear a gasp or screech from his voice. But I could tell he was surprised that I knew his past self. "So yOu kN0W...thE huM@n5 wh0 hUr7 m3. THeN... Y0u jo1n mE... IT's fUn... t8 k1lL."

  "I can see that. I understand how much you suffered, how you didn't gain the love and attention your parents and the village have for you due to their pride and arrogance," I said. "I'm also disgusted how they're careless to the different people visiting them and the kids who were also bullied and sacrificed were treated the same way as you."

  "Th3N... YoU k1Ll? y0u wAnT...t0 aVeNgE uS?"

  I took a deep breath. I guessed he was expecting me to help him kill the rest of the villagers. But I already made up my mind.

  "I wish I would. However, I refused to stoop to your level out of revenge. There are much better ways for these humans to face justice and you killing them isn't helping your case." I raise my hand to him without showing my fear to him. "Please... You have to stop this madness. Stop killing these people and go back to the Demon Territory! If you do, I promise we can find a way to give them true justice..."

  "How? By turning to those soldiers who visited us and didn't listen to me at all?!"

  !

  I didn't expect his true voice to come out from his demonic body. According to Casia, most demons who were recently turned have little remnants of their past selves with their sentience draining out of their transformed bodies. But this guy... He managed to retain his sentience after his transformation was complete. I thought I knew everything about them. But seeing this might be enough to shock Casia and the other demons just hearing his voice.

  More importantly, he mentioned something about the "soldiers" visiting his village. Were they the same ones Casia mentioned before?

  "After my parents decided to throw me in that place, I tried everything to convince them. I even tried to ask the grown-ups in the army! I begged them to do something! Tell my parents and the other grown-ups not to throw me away! But all they said was it was for the good of the village and I would be helping them by disappearing and becoming demon food! In the end, I'm nothing but trash to them!"

  ...

  So not even the soldiers could help him. I heard some of the humans in this realm didn't care too much about demons due to their reputation as dark servants of Our Goddess, but the fact they were willing to ignore humans whom they thought as "weak" disgusted me to the core. Damn... They said the world outside of the territory was full of light. But I didn't expect how much corruption spread without my knowledge.

  "You're a demon, yet you're like me. You hated those humans, right? They also treated you like trash and never acknowledged your hard work even if you give up everything to make them happy. Are you unhappy with your life? Do you wish to erase them out of your life to take back your dignity and get back at them? I promise you will be happy once your so-called family is gone."

  What a tempting offer. I don't know of my past. I know I wasn't a demon before. Everything he said was true about my human life and I didn't want to go back even if I chose to become human again. If I wanted to go back, I only wanted to see retribution for the people who drove me to the darkness. However...

  "How am I supposed to be happy if all you're offering is more blood to be shed?"

  "What do you mean? You wanted revenge on those people who hurt us... Abandoned us for their so-called traditions! Why do you think we became demons in the first place? The gods abandoned us when we needed them! So we will use this chance to take revenge on them along with humanity that betrayed us!"

  I sighed. "I want to correct you on something. You're right about everything about me. But there is one thing you don't get and that is the reason why I become a demon. I don't know the true reason behind my transformation and I don't know why I was living as one at all. Yet all I know is that all those people in my past, the misfortune I've endured... They're irrelevant to me now. All I care about now is to live my life regardless if I'm a demon or not and I live no matter who or what anyone says! Killing and torturing my tormentors aren't gonna help me move on from my past trauma. Rather, we'll just end up like them, but worse! If you really want real karma, then why don't you stop right here and stop this madness this instant?!"

  I took a moment to catch my breath. I said what I wanted to say to the demon. This should be his final chance to back away from this madness. I waited for him to give me an answer. A choice that would give me an idea behind his actions. If he could stop now, then we should drag him back to...

  "Stop it? Why should I stop it when it's getting more fun by the minute?"

  ...I see.

  "They promised me fun and excitement if I joined them and wreaked havoc whenever I like! Why should I stop now if I let those horrible humans live?! Those people I once called my Mom and Dad... They were nothing but buzzkills who would never let me do everything! They called me "trash", but they just end up becoming red goo the moment I step on them!"

  !!!

  So his parents... Damn... He already got to them before we could!

  "Even before they turned into goo, they still kept calling me a "monster". Not trash, a MONSTER! The same goes for those kids hurting me, but they were like those cruel adults who were my parents! In this world, everyone accepts me as a monster! But in a good way. Someone who can stand up to those humans and fight back for ignoring and hurting me for years! How could I give up and let them go if I couldn't step on them like bugs?!"

  I hung my head as soon as I heard his answer.

  "Young Master, you should give it up," Casia said. "It's already too late for the young demon..."

  But just as I turned to him, I noticed something resembling a tentacle coming behind him. Without any thought, I jumped away from it just as it grabbed Casia and raised itself near the Wild Demon.

  "GRAAGGGHHHH!!! What is the meaning of this?!"

  My eyes widened to see that the tentacle came from the chimeric demon himself. Then, I heard more screams and I turned to see Val and Thurkith being held down by several Wild Demons nearby. Dammit... I was talking to him for a few minutes and his minions already took care of Casia's friends that easily!

  "You know, you still have a chance to join us. You hated those humans as their kind, so why do you keep helping them? These "so-called" demons are the total opposite of what a real Demon is! There's no point in sparing them if the others do the same with other kids like us. Why don't you join us so we can free those ungrateful humans a-"

  "One chance," I interrupted. "You got only one chance."

  "Huh? What do you mean by "one chance"? You and I were abandoned by humanity. We are all alike, so it's natural for me to ask you to join us. Plus, I only said we just have to k-"

  I turned around and shot a glare at the Wild Demon. "No, you don't understand. I already told you I'm not like you. We might lived in the same horrible condition, but you failed to know that I rather spare them the pain of consequences than shed blood to satisfy myself." I then raised my arm towards the tentacle Casia was trapped in. "And let me correct myself. I gave you one chance to surrender and keep living as a human. But since you're insisted on living as a bloodthirsty demon instead..."

  I let flames gather in my palm before I shoot it in the air.

  "...and I will treat you as any other Wild Demon who would threaten my family."

  As soon as I said this, the fireball made contact with the tentacle holding Casia and exploded into flames. I could hear him screeching in pure pain and it didn't take long for Casia to pull himself out of his bindings and fly to Thurkith and Val to free them from the pile of demons trying to maul them with his flames. It took a while, but they were also freed as they rushed to my side.

  "Thanks, guys. I thought I almost lost my demon life back there," Val sighed in relief.

  "Same here." Thurkith turned to me. "I'm surprised you didn't hesitate to attack him despite your insistence..."

  I sighed. "I said I'm only giving him one chance. I may empathize with his tragic fate, but I cannot excuse his decision to massacre his village. Even if Gabriel felt the same way, I doubt he would accept killing his parents as revenge for their treatment of him and other children lost within the darkness of the Demon Territory."

  I could hear the demon continue to screech until I heard his true voice again. "Bastard! You will pay for that! Why are you attacking me?! We've been abandoned by humanity! So why..."

  "Do I have to repeat myself? I hate everyone who would hurt me and my family. Gabriel already left this village, but you're hurting him by killing the people from his old home!" I pulled out the sword and aimed it at the demon above us. "You wasted your only chance of redemption. Now I have no choice but to follow my Master's advice..."

  I could feel the darkness gathering around us, probably from Casia transforming into his half-dragon form and Thurkith and Val preparing their abilities. Either way, there's no turning back now...

  "For massacring all of the humans living in the village good and bad, you shall not live any longer! As the Master of the Lavender, we will kill you and erase your presence from the land of the Goddess!"