Strongest Superhuman System - Chapter 385

Chapter 385: Demon Summoner
Tears welled up in Talia’s eyes, and Selina felt a pang of guilt as she realized she might have gone too far with the kid.

“Alright, kid. Sorry, sorry. Your shoulder hurts, right? I’ll look at it before I take you… just relax.”

Selina tried to take a look at the shoulder. Meanwhile, on the other side of the small clearing, James was still trapped under the burning tree. His eyes fluttered open as he felt heat on his face, and his eyes widened when he saw the fire burning beside him. James reached up to try and move the tree, but there was barely any strength left in his arms. He managed to lift the tree slightly, but after some time, his hands gave out, and the tree dropped on him again.

“Gah!”

James cried out in pain as he looked to the side. There, he saw Talia being manhandled by Selina as Selina tried to check the shoulder, and he knew that if he didn’t get out now, Selina would take Talia!

Come on, you have to get up!

James tried to lift the tree again, but the same thing happened. He was utterly spent.

‘Use us.’

A voice whispered into James’ ear, and he shook his head in anger, ignoring the voice and trying to lift the tree again.

‘You know you can easily do that. Just use us.’

I won’t! I’m going to be a hero! I don’t need you!

Around James, apparitions and ghosts began to materialize as ethereal beings made from a white fog. The entire clearing filled with them as they floated closer to James, speaking in unison.

‘You are only weak because you refuse to use your mana. Use us, and you will become stronger. You could become the strongest in the world! Stronger than any hero!’

“Heroes don’t make contracts with demons!”

James suddenly shouted angrily at the apparitions. He wasn’t surprised by the appearance of the ghosts. This was normal to him. Ever since he received his blessing from Thanatos, he had been able to see ghosts and apparitions. They followed him around, spoke to him, and even tried to teach him sometimes. But that would have been okay if it was the only thing happening. Besides the ghosts, there were seven other beings that sometimes tried to speak with James. These were the seven deadly demons, each representing an aspect of sin. They were meant to be James’ contractors, who would help him become stronger.

James was a summoner-type superhuman — just like Talia — and these demons and ghosts were the entities he could summon. But James didn’t like his power. He didn’t see it as something hero-like and hated that his power only made him see demons. So James swore he would never make a contract with any of those demons. He was going to become a hero using only his own power and would be better than any other superhumans out there!

But reality was not kind to James. Without making a contract with a demon, James was incapable of becoming stronger. His mana was locked away inside his body, and he could only use his physical strength to a limited level. Without that mana, James only had the stamina and durability of a regular B-class. His strength, agility, and durability were greatly reduced, and there was no chance he would ever become the hero he wanted to be.

‘Your powers are a gift from our lord Thanatos. He has granted you the seven sins to do with as you wish. Why do you refuse them?’

“I don’t want them! Help me take this log off me! I need to save Talia!”

James tried to lift the log again, but once more, he failed. The ghosts floating around him continued to talk in unison as they berated him.

‘You are weak without our power. Use it.’

‘Give it a chance; you never know if you might like it.’

‘The seven have been waiting for you. Should you not give them a chance?’

‘Why would you want to be a hero when you can possess the power of hell itself? Heroes are old-fashioned.’

‘Accept us! Accept us! Accept us! Accept us!’

The apparitions all began to chant together, floating around James. Their chant became louder and louder, echoing in the large forest and sinking deep into James’ mind with every iteration. James felt overwhelmed by their screams, and he turned to look at Talia again as he felt his resolve breaking.

Can he even be a hero if he can’t save one person?

“Accept us! Accept us! Accept us!”

“FINE!”

The apparitions all stopped their chanting as James suddenly shouted. They stared down at James, wondering if they heard right, and James turned to them with a hard look in his eyes!

“I’ll take the contract! So help me! I need you to get this log off me!”

“Begone, fools. Do not sully my eyes with your presence.”

A deep voice suddenly spoke up, and all the ghosts and apparitions screamed in horror as they floated away from the clearing, disappearing in no time at all as a new being appeared from the darkness of the abyss. James felt a great pressure pressing down on him as he saw the newcomer. It was a muscular man, his skin looked like it was carved from grey metal and he had intimidating black eyes and a chiseled chin. He was naked, but there were no genitalia on his body. Instead, he wore a proud smile on his face.

“Pride?”

James recognized the demon immediately and called its name, and the demon’s proud smile widened.

“Yes, mortal, you are in the presence of Pride. Rejoice, for there is now some meaning to your worthless existence.”

The large man spoke as he allowed his eyes to roam over James’ body before looking at the log that was on him.

“You foolish mortal, to allow something this trivial to hold you down. Have you no pride as a man?”

James stared up at the demon with wide-eyed confusion, and the demon only chuckled.

“Oh yes, I suppose a child like you would not understand the splendor of my words. You are forgiven this once. Tell me, do you still hold onto that foolish delusion of heroism?”

James looked away. The flames from the fire licked at his skin, and he scooted a little bit to try and get away from it. It didn’t really help, but it managed to buy him a few more seconds. James spoke up angrily, but he couldn’t look the demon in the eyes since he knew he needed the demon’s help right now.

“Being a hero isn’t foolish! I’m going to be greater than KING!”

Pride burst out laughing once he heard James say that. The boy wanted to be a hero! He wanted to be greater than KING!?

“Stupid boy! Why be a king when you can be a god? I fail to see a child assimilating the full meaning behind my grand words but try your hardest.”