《A Universe of Bloody Evolution》


 Prologue

    Looking up from his mahogany desk and the various data pads scattered around, Geron sighed, massaging his forehead and the two horns that rested on it. "Here she comes again," he grumbled, eyes darting to the smooth, deep blue door in the corner of his small office.


    How long had it been since her last visit to the Citadel of the Six, a cycle? Maybe two? Geron wasn''t sure¡­ Unlike all of his other siblings, Nikra despised staying in the home they all built together for longer than strictly necessary.


    Not without a good reason. He sighed, not for the first time pushing the gnawing guilt into the deep recesses of his mind. It''s for the best; she is a danger to everything we created over the millennia. She needs to be isolated until she comes to her senses again.


    Spinning around in his armchair to face the wall covered in various screens, Geron waved his hand. At once, every image shown faded away, be it various planets, major cities, or even the homes of a few more important families. There was no need to give his sister more ammunition to fire at him than needed¡­


    After all, their last conversation didn''t end all that well. Geron had to spend hundreds of hours repairing the damage to his part of the Citadel.


    I wonder how many of you I will need to repair this time. He grimaced, scanning the various shelves scattered across his small study that held countless priceless artifacts Geron had created during his life.


    He could try to shield them with his power, but such action only painted an even bigger target on his possessions. It was much better just to let Nikra rage and destroy only a few artifacts than to have them all reduced to ash.


    Let''s just get it over with. Geron took a deep ¡ª if unnecessary ¡ª breath and spun around again, just in time to watch the door slide open.


    "Sister," he tried to smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"


    Nikra, one of the Six, once had been called one of the most beautiful beings in existence. Not a surprising fact, as the first of his siblings perfected her true body for countless cycles. She took the best features from every race across the entire multiverse and then adapted them to fit her body.


    Only that Nikra didn''t exist anymore. Gone were her broad smiles and shining bright eyes when she met one of her siblings. Instead, in her place stood this.


    A mass of living darkness that still kept Nikra''s body in somewhat humanoid form. It covered everything, not giving away even an ounce of the sister Geron once knew. Wisps of shadows danced across her entire frame as they tried to suck every bit of light out of the room.


    How far you have fallen, my dear sister. Geron gently shook his head. With every visit, he had seen less and less of the Nikra he knew, and evidently, the day had finally come when nothing remained. Just like I expected, you now hide the taint of one power under another.


    "Oh, spare me the pleasantries, Geron!" Nikra spat, the room darkening even further. "You know well why I''m here. I accepted everything you have done, never acting out, but you have finally crossed the line. I had enough!"


    Geron closed his eyes momentarily. "I fear you have me at a disadvantage, dear sister. I have no clue what you''re talking about."


    The entire room shook in response, cracks spreading across the marble floor. Even enchanted and created by Geron''s power, it stood no chance against Nikra''s rage.


    "Don''t play games with me, brother," she hissed, shadows slamming into his desk, breaking it in two. "I accepted it when you took away my position as the Leader of the Six. I turned my eyes away as you whispered sweet words into the ears of our siblings so they would all turn their backs on me. For the Void, I even stopped coming back to our home¡­"


    Every word was like a star slamming right into Geron''s gut, and yet, his form never wavered, his eyes never leaving Nikra''s shaking body. It''s for the best, he repeated like a mantra, even when his sister''s voice almost broke when she mentioned their home.


    "Obviously, it wasn''t enough for you," Nikra growled, her piercing gaze felt even behind the cover of shadows. "Of course, you had to go and try to take away the last thing that was mine. You don''t even care that you broke our pact, the pact that the Six of us created together. Do you remember what it said, Geron? Do you?!"


    He did, of course, he did. He even knew the exact rule that Nikra was referring to. Geron was the one to propose it during their council after all.


    "Point seven," he gulped, knowing well that he owed Nikra at least this much. "No member of the Six will interfere in the mortal affairs of the followers of another member of this Pact."


    "And yet, you did," his sister whispered before she exploded again. "They were mine, Geron! They chose to follow me, but you just couldn''t accept it, right? You had to take them away. Just like you did with our siblings, just like you took everything else I loved away."


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Silence fell upon the room, now completely shrouded in darkness. Geron''s gaze dropped to the cracked floor, every bit of guilt he pushed away throughout the cycles now rushing to the forefront of his mind. Was I right? Was it really worth it?


    "You know," Nikra spoke again, breaking Geron from his trance. Her voice came out softer than what he had heard in a long time. "I always thought that you, of all our siblings, would have my back. I thought that as the second oldest, you understood my burden, but obviously, I was wrong," she chuckled, a bitter and hollow thing. "Instead of helping me, you stabbed me in the back. All because you fear what I represent even more than I do."


    "How pathetic," she sneered, darkness lashing out once more, destroying every item inside the room. "But at least you got what you always wanted, eh? I have nothing to give anymore, so I think it''s high time I started to take. Give you a taste of your own medicine."


    "Nikra, sister..." Geron tried, anything to stop the speeding train from crashing.


    His sister raised her shadowy palm, a ball of crackling darkness forming above it. ¡°No, Geron,¡± she murmured. "You had your chance, a lot of them. Now it''s my turn to act."


    In the blink of an eye, the darkness crashed into the screen behind him. It went on and on, obliterating everything in its path until only a large hole remained. It opened Geron''s entire office to the deep space filled with shining stars.


    Soft steps brought his attention back to Nikra, who slowly approached the new exit. She stopped right next to it, her form shifting around to face him.


    "I hope you are happy, brother," she spat. "Remember this feeling well because you won''t experience it again for a long time. I will make sure of it."


    With her part said, Nikra''s body shot through the hole, disappearing into the vast galaxy.


    What have I done¡­


    <hr>


    "So you finally decided to come out and face me," Nikra''s dark and twisted voice boomed through the area. Even with the two of them standing high in the air, Geron didn''t doubt for a second that everyone on the battlefield below could see and hear them.


    Yet another burning planet to add to the list.


    The Old One of Creation and Light sighed, taking a few steps toward his twisted sister. "It''s partially my fault that billions died at the hands of shadow constructs. It is only fair that I will be the one to put an end to this."


    The darkness that made Nikra''s body spasmed at his words, expanding even more. At this point, it didn''t even remind Geron of anything humanoid, just an amalgamation of different creatures straight out of the darkest parts of the multiverse.


    "And yet," the darkness exploded in laughter. "Yet for weeks, you hid behind our siblings like a worm while the cities of your followers drowned in blood. Was it too much when you felt their light disappear? Or was it the guilt that didn''t let you stand against your dear sister?"


    Geron took a deep breath and extended his four hands, blades of light forming in each. "I''m sorry to say, but you are wrong, Nikra. I was always there at Citadel, waiting and hoping you would come to your senses and realize what you have done¡­ Obviously, you didn''t, and now the time has come to end this, once and for all."


    Tens of shadowy limbs erupted from Nikra''s body, all sharp and ready to strike. "So be it," the monstrous head growled.


    Like one unit, the two eldritch forces moved, colliding in the middle. Shockwaves created by their every clash killed thousands of beings on the planet underneath them. A planet that soon, like every other visited by Nikra, would be left forgotten, broken.


    A necessary sacrifice to stop this madness. Geron gritted his teeth, his arms moving at speeds only ever matched by his siblings to deflect the thousands of strikes thrown in his direction.


    They fought like never before, blurring out of view as soon as powers connected. There was no point in trying any complicated techniques. The simplest manifestation of their power, speed, and strength was enough to twist the fabric of reality and shred away what once was a beautiful planet.


    Even though we are like two sides of one coin, light and darkness, you were always the stronger one, Nikra. The strongest of us all despite only ever using half of your destined powers.


    I should never stand a chance against you in a one-on-one fight. Geron chuckled bitterly, cutting off yet another chunk of darkness from his sister''s body. But I''m not truly alone today, am I now?


    <hr>


    Geron descended onto one of the many rocky pieces of the planet their battle destroyed. His steps never wavered as he walked toward the fallen figure before him. For the first time in a very long time, his gaze settled on the sister who, not that long ago, was hidden behind layers of darkness.


    What happened to you? Geron swallowed, scanning every inch of Nikra''s body.


    Gone were the dusky skin and her luxurious deep violet hair that became Nikra''s most recognizable feature in the past. Instead, her entire frame was covered in scarred black flesh, without a hint of hair anywhere on her scalp. It was as if she melted her skin and let some vulpines chew on it for days.


    To think that the Void can corrupt even the strongest being in existence. Geron shook his head lightly, stopping a fair distance from his shaking sister.


    "Of course," she suddenly whispered, voice raspy and filled with pain. "Even without half of my power, you could have never beaten me alone before. But you''re not alone, are you, brother? I can feel their Essence clinging to you like a second skin¡­"


    Geron shook his head, coming just a few steps closer. "It doesn''t matter now. You have made your choice, and we made ours. I''m truly sorry that I ever let this progress to this point. I just hope that one day you will find it in your soul to forgive me."


    Clasping his hands, he reached deep within himself and pulled on the endless pool of Essence he and his siblings had prepared for this exact moment. "Kartroma Dar," he muttered, watching as five pillars, all covered to the brim with the symbols of the First Tongue, erupted from the ground and encircled Nikra''s fallen form.


    "It''s the end, Nikra. Goodbye¡­¡± A whisper was all he could get out as transparent golden walls slid into place between the pillars. They shone brightly, illuminating the area like a star, and he quickly averted his gaze, refusing to look at what was essentially his fault any longer.


    "No," Nikra snapped, her voice forcing Geron to meet her ruby, slitted gaze as she rose to her knees. "It''s just the beginning, brother. After all, what is the point of my fear if I have nothing to lose anymore."


    No! He tried to scream. Only it was too late as Nikra''s flesh cracked and exploded in a deep crimson flash, plunging the entire Universe into eternal darkness.


    The era of the Void has come.

 Chapter 1. Almost normal

    "And what if we fail? Do you want us to leave our people to die? Just like that?"


    "You didn''t seem to care when we manipulated and killed them to suit our needs. Why care now?"


    "That was a mistake, sister. A mistake that cost us dearly."


    "I know that better than anyone alive, Geron¡­ Now... Now, just pray this works because if we fail, it''ll be the end of everything."


    ~ Nikra and Geron, ages ago.


    <hr>


    Leo awoke with a gasp, sweat pouring out of his body as he instinctively rolled to the side. "Bloody hell," he groaned, his back meeting the hard wooden floor of his bedroom.


    Disentangling himself from the fallen covers, he climbed to his feet, rubbing his shoulder where he just added yet another bruise to the collection.


    Another day, another fall. He scowled. Stupid dreams.


    Oh, how Leo hated those things. They crashed into his life with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and refused to leave for almost two weeks now. Unlike any other nightmares, he could remember them all perfectly: the conversations between two siblings, the bloodshed their battle caused, and then, of course, the damned crimson flash.


    For some reason, his body always decided to wake up right after the explosion of light and use some kind of fight-or-flight response to dodge it. Spoiler, it never worked, and only ended up with him on the cold floor. At this point, just sleeping on the ground seemed like a good idea. Maybe this way, he could get some proper sleep.


    Like that''s going to happen. Not with my luck. Leo snorted, throwing on a new shirt and sweatpants before leaving his small bedroom. It only took a few steps through the house''s only corridor to arrive at the way too-large living room.


    "Dreams aside, I really need to clean up this place," he grimaced as his eyes scanned the various clothes and dirty dishes scattered across every surface of the mostly bare room. Hell, he could barely see his couch.


    What can I say, it''s been a long week.


    For the record, maybe Leo shouldn''t have listened to his sister and become a reporter just because he wanted to have some impact on the world. As much as he loved his job, sometimes it just became too much.


    "At least it''s Friday, and my new story is finished. No more all-nighters," he muttered, his eyes darting between the arch leading to the kitchen and the mess around him. Mom and Lily would kill me if they saw this, but¡­ breakfast or rather dinner first, cleaning later.


    <hr>


    "This got to be some kind of a joke¡­" Leo muttered as he scrolled through a web forum his foster sister sent him a few days ago.


    Just like Lily mentioned, he wasn''t the only one who suddenly went on a wild trip during his dreams. Hell, some of those people even managed to describe parts of his dreams perfectly.


    But come on. Another pandemic? We''re having some weird dreams, not falling ill left and right. He shook his head, running a hand through his short, black hair.


    As much as the journalist within him wanted to figure out this mess alone, the rational part of his mind knew that there was not much he could do. While he doubted it was a pandemic, there were people out there who were better qualified to prove or deny those claims. He was no scientist.


    Still quite interesting. Leo mused as he closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair. Sometimes, he really hated Lily for putting her conspiracy theories in his head. One had to wonder where she even got some of her ideas.


    "Bloody woman," he grumbled, even as his lips formed a small smile at the thought of his sister. His eyes closed, memories resurfacing, but he didn''t have much time to enjoy them because his phone decided to ring right at that moment.


    Glaring at the small device, he sighed. "Speak of the devil, and she shall appear," he murmured dryly, putting the phone beside his ear. "Lily?"


    "What''s up, little brother!" Leo winced as his sister''s all too cheery and too loud voice came from the speaker.


    "Hello to you too. And for the record, I''m older. Really, how many times do we have to do this," he rolled his eyes, his voice as dry as the desert. Sometimes, he wondered how this woman managed to help him recover from the darkest period of his life. "Any particular reason you called me?"


    "I hear you''re as rude as ever. Can''t I just call to talk with my favorite brother?"


    Leo shook his head. Lily just loved to provide him with free ammunition against her with each sentence that left her mouth.


    "Yes, you can, but I hope you don''t mind me telling Nick that I''m your favorite. I''m sure he will be delighted," Leo smirked.


    "You''re mean, you know that, right?" Came the instant response, and his smirk widened even more.


    She huffed into the microphone, "Anyway¡­ Any plans for the weekend? Finally decided to leave the house?" She prodded. "Maybe you found a date?"


    Not this again, Leo almost groaned as he stood up from the lone dining table in his living room. He still had to get ready for his daily run.


    Entering the corridor, he answered slowly. "Lily, how many times do I have to tell you that I don''t care about dating or going out in general? I have better things to do."


    A loud groan echoed from the other side, "Bloody hell. Leo! You''re twenty-five, and you live like some ancient hermit!" She promptly ignored his shout of denial and continued. "For the love of God, live a little! If it wasn''t for us or your work, you''d practically never leave the house!"


    "That''s just not true," Leo scowled, approaching the wardrobe in his bedroom.


    "Okay, maybe I''m exaggerating a bit, but my point still stands. And let''s not forget your freaky dreams. How am I supposed not to worry about you?" Lily said, her voice as soft as fresh snow.


    Of course, she had to bring this up. He sighed and sat on his soft bed, running shorts and shirt in hand.


    "I''m fine, Lily. Really," he almost whispered, lying down on his covers. "The dreams are weird, sure. But there isn''t much we can do about them. Just have to wait for people smarter than us to figure out what''s going on."


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    His sister breathed into the microphone. "I hate it when you''re right¡­ Anyway, are you ready for tomorrow?"


    Sitting up, Leo blinked in confusion.


    "Tomorrow?" His brow furrowed. Was he forgetting something?


    "Yes, tomorrow," Lily repeated as if talking to a child. "Remember, the tournament that takes place in London? Do I really have to remind you each time we talk?"


    Right. Leo almost facepalmed. How could he forget? His sister, Lily Hale, athlete extraordinaire ¡ª her words, not his ¡ª had advanced to the regional finals that would take place in London.


    Tomorrow.


    Fuck.


    "No, I remember. I''ll be there, no problem," He spoke up instantly as the realization hit him. "I already finished the story for Monday, so I have the rest of the weekend off."


    God forbid he even thought about missing the event. Lily''s rants were legendary, and he had already gone through enough of them to last a lifetime. Enough was enough.


    "Good," she replied, and Leo could feel her smugness even through the phone. "Once I crush everyone, we can hit a bar or a club. I know a few around here. Hey, maybe we''ll even find you a date. What do ya think?"


    Again, really? Leo groaned as he changed into his running clothes. His sister was on a roll today. Though her constant shots at his love life were getting quite old lately. He expected more from his little sister.


    Well, not really¡­


    "Confident, aren''t you? Last time you said this, I had to spend the entire day watching you brood," he shot back, ignoring her teasing. That was the best way to deal with her.


    That or mentioning her very successful love life, which Lily just loved to rant about ¡ª to her brother, no less.


    Fight fire with fire as they say.


    Thankfully, his usual method worked perfectly. "Rude," she grumbled. "I''m going to win this time. I need this¡­"


    Shaking his head, Leo, now dressed, put on his headphones and slipped out of his room. "Right... I was just kidding. I believe in you."


    "Thanks," Lily beamed, and he could almost hear the soft smile on her face. "Oh, I almost forgot," she suddenly chirped. "Nicky is coming too. It has been a while since we three had some fun together."


    His hand froze as it reached for the doorknob.


    Nick coming to London? Alone? Lily had to be joking. Nick''s lovely wife barely let the man out of her sight. The thought of him traveling over a hundred kilometers without her seemed impossible.


    "Lily," Leo said as he stepped into the scorching sun, locking the door to his bungalow. "How the hell will Nick manage to get away from Ava for an entire day and drive to London? With they way they are, it should be impossible."


    Silence fell upon the line as he scanned the neighborhood and waited for the miraculous explanation.


    Living on the outskirts of the city really had its advantages. Cars just didn''t drive around here, and he could count the houses here on the fingers of his hands. For such an old street, it was incredible that so few people decided to settle here. Add the lush clearings and forests nearby, and it was heaven on Earth.


    Or at least it was to Leo.


    Here, he didn''t have to worry about people bothering him about each new story. He didn''t have to listen to the constant noise of the city. And what was most important, he didn''t have to worry about groceries thanks to the small shop at the beginning of the road.


    There was also the fact that he could go on a run, work outside, or just take a nap in the backyard without anyone trying to waste his time. That was definitely a plus, even in a city as small as Wolford.


    "I have no clue," Lily chuckled sheepishly, snapping him back to reality. "I was too excited to ask."


    You don''t say. Leo shook his head, stepping on the sidewalk.


    "Hey, maybe they wrote down a contract. Or he found something to bribe her with?" Lily giggled.


    "Bribe? With what? Being back before ten?" Leo snorted.


    "Maybe," Lily continued through her giggles. "They are weird like that."


    Letting out a long-suffering sigh, he ignored his giggling sister and the elderly woman sitting in the garden in front of a house he just passed. A woman that was waving right at him.


    Oh hell no. I''m not stopping so Gibson can interrogate me. Thinking quickly, he waved back and pointed at his headphones with the other hand. Now for the kill.


    "You know what, Lily?" Leo spoke again, raising his voice so even Mrs. Gibson could hear him. "We will just get the answer out of him tomorrow. Nick could never keep any secrets from us¡­ He is hopeless."


    "Bloody hell! Why are you screaming? Do you want me to go deaf?" She growled.


    Like you are one to talk. He rolled his eyes, finally getting past Gibson''s house. "Stop being dramatic. I was just dodging Mrs. Gibson. No way in hell I''m wasting ten minutes for a useless talk."


    Leo easily imagined Lily''s face scrunching in a grimace; they had both been in similar situations in the past.


    "Ohh, all forgiven then¡­ Anyway, as you''ve finally left your cave, you can tell me if it''s so hot in Wolford, too. For God''s sake, we''re in the middle of October, and it''s almost twenty-five degrees outside."


    "Please. Don''t even get me started on the weather," Leo grumbled, shuffling forward as the forest grew closer and closer.


    Lily snickered. "That bad, hmm?"


    His shoulders slumped. "Yeah. I swear, if it goes to shit tomorrow after an entire week of this heat, I will murder someone," he scowled, stopping where the sidewalk ended and the dirt track leading into the forest began. "And to make matters worse, I have to meet with Edward later."


    She hummed. "Oh, right. He is coming today¡­ Are you ready? He hasn''t been there for what? Two, three weeks?"


    He sighed, leaning against the nearest tree. "What is there to be ready for? We''ve been trying to mend our relationship for over two years now. At this point, those meetings are like a chore, not something to be afraid of."


    "I wish you tried at least a bit harder. He is still your biological father after all," Lily said softly after a moment.


    I will try once he does too. Leo scoffed, though he didn''t voice his thoughts. He was a grown-ass adult, not a five-year-old kid. Besides, he already had this argument with both Lily and his therapist in the past. It was probably the only matter they never managed to truly solve.


    "That he is," Leo murmured instead. "It''s just hard. Every time I see him, I remember the day when everything went to shit. And well, I''m all about letting your past go, but when it comes to Edward, I just can''t... Pretty hypocritical of me, eh?"


    "Maybe, maybe not," Lily answered after a longer pause. "No one is perfect. But as long as you try, it will be enough. Just don''t push him away. He really regrets everything."


    Leo snorted. "Look at you, giving good advice."


    "Oh, shush," she huffed. "Who was the one to stop your brooding again?"


    "Whatever." Was Leo''s mature response. His sister exploded in laughter over the line while he just stood there scowling. "Ye, ye, laugh it up. We''ll see who laughs last when I tell Nick who is your favorite."


    "Rude. Again. That''s number three today."


    "Anyway," he interjected before Lily could try anything. "Got anything else? I have a run to finish before Edward gets here."


    "Nope, that''s it from me. Just remember to at least try, okay?"


    He heaved a sigh. "I will, I promise I will. See you tomorrow then."


    "See ya!"


    Shaking his head, Leo took out his phone and put on his favorite playlist. The soft tunes and birds singing always put his mind at ease throughout his runs. He definitely needed to relax a bit before this evening.


    He took a deep breath and stepped into the embrace of nature, forgoing the past as his shoes trampled upon the dirty track faster and faster. Edward might be a problem of the past and future, but here and now, far away from civilization, only the present and the road ahead mattered.

 Chapter 2. The Beginning of the End

    The doorbell echoed through the house, crushing any hopes of being ready in time. He cursed and quickly shoved a clean shirt over his head, running out of the bathroom.


    This one time, you just had to be on time. Someone up there really hates me.


    Dashing towards the sound, he swung the door open, his gaze hardening at the sight of the man on the other side. It was like looking into a mirror, one that showed Leo how he would look in about thirty years. Only their statures and facial structures weren''t the same. He had thankfully inherited those from his mother.


    "Leo, how ar¡­" The older man trailed off, his gaze taking in Leo''s disheveled state. "I¡­ Is it the wrong time? We can reschedule if you''re busy."


    Coloring slightly, he scowled. "It''s fine, Edward. My run just took a bit longer than expected. Come in."


    Ignoring his birth father''s slight grimace at the use of his name, he waited for the man to put away his coat before leading him into the living room.


    "I''m afraid I can''t offer you anything to eat. Like I said, I was running a bit late. Most I can do is a coffee or tea," he offered, barely sparing the man a glance.


    Edward waved him off. "Not a problem. I already ate. I will take the coffee though. I had a long day."


    Try a long week. Leo grumbled internally with a sigh as he entered his kitchen through the doorless archway. He really had to thank whoever designed this house that Edward couldn''t see him from the living room.


    Taking a few calming breaths, he leaned against the fridge and closed his eyes. Come on, you just promised Lily that you would at least try. Don''t take your annoyance on him. He just arrived, for fuck''s sake.


    The coffee machine buzzed, and he quickly poured two full cups. With the final deep breath, he wiped the frown off his face and went back to the living room.


    "Here you go," he murmured, passing over the coffee and taking a seat on the other side of the small table.


    A slightly uncomfortable silence fell upon the room as the two sipped their drink. Leo might have decided to go a bit easier on his father, but it didn''t mean that he would be the one to take the lead. Not today, not when they hadn''t seen each other for almost a month.


    Thankfully after a minute or two, Edward broke the silence. "I see you still haven''t changed anything in the house," he said, glancing at the brightly colored walls and outdated furniture.


    And indeed, ever since he received this house from Edward half a year ago, he did nothing to alter its general interior. Well, apart from a few minor changes to his bedroom and kitchen¡­


    Not giving any emotion away, he kept his gaze on the cup in his hands. "Why would I? Mom loved this place. It helps me remember her. I just can''t see myself changing anything."


    "I''m glad," Edward replied, chuckling. "When I bought this house, Melania went all out on designing the interior. She made it into her own little world... We had never done any big renovations when we lived in the US, so this became her real playground. Though I still think that those colors don''t mix well with each other."


    Leo shrugged. "I like it."


    Although ''like'' maybe was a bit too strong of a word. ''Could have been worse'' summed it up much better. Not that he would ever say it out loud. Some childish part of him still wanted to disagree with everything his birth father said.


    Old habits die hard¡­


    "Whatever suits you," Edward replied and went for a change in the subject. Talking about Leo''s deceased mother never ended well. Usually, such a conversation was followed by an argument and a quick end to their meeting. "How is your work going? I couldn''t really get a hand on any of your stories in the past few weeks."


    Good choice. Leo almost snorted, but a small smirk still managed to claim his face. He took pride in his accomplishments, considering that just a few years back, his future looked quite bleak.


    He just leaned back and shrugged. "Good, very good. If nothing changes, I might get a promotion soon."


    "You deserve it, son. You worked hard," Edward smiled. "Even if I''m sure that the little Hale hellion was also the main factor in your success. I have never taken you for a writer in the past."


    Because you don''t know me. Leo wanted to say but stopped at the last second. There was no reason to make this conversation even worse.


    "I can''t deny that," he said instead.


    After a month without a meeting, he almost forgot how hard it was to carry on a normal conversation with his father. It sometimes reminded him of a dance on a field full of landmines. Step on one, and the entire thing could go up in flames.


    Just calm down and try. He repeated while another part of him, the one he had been trying to kill for years, instantly objected. Why should I? He didn''t care when I needed him. He didn''t even care to speak with me for years.


    It was always the same thing: two sides constantly waging war against each other. One fueled by Lily''s persistence and the desire to have his father back. Meanwhile, his deep resentment, stubbornness, and ability to hold a grudge sparked the flames of the other side.


    Still, I promised. He sighed and decided to extend an olive branch. Probably the first and, depending on how well the rest of the conversation went, the last one.


    "So, where have you been for the last month," he offered. "I got your notice about our next meeting, but it didn''t explain why."


    Edward winced as the accusation hung in the air. Leo didn''t even want it to sound like that, but somehow it still did.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Way to put a foot in your mouth¡­ Stubborn fool.


    "I''m sorry. I should have called you," the older man''s shoulders slumped. "I had to leave out of the blue. My company needed someone to finish a few deals with contractors in the US, and the responsibility fell on me. Two weeks of almost only meetings or planning things through the phone. God knows why I even agreed to go¡­"


    That explained a lot. Edward was just as passionate about his job as Leo was when he first began. In addition, from what he gathered from his foster parents, his birth father used his job as a way to deal with problems. Not a healthy thing to do, but he couldn''t fault him, not after everything he had done in the past.


    Wait a second. Leo''s eyes narrowed. "Two weeks?"


    Edward sighed, obviously expecting the question. "I finished the last deal in Colorado, quite close to our old home."


    Oh¡­


    They never talked about the tiny house they left behind in the US. Not before the accident and definitely not after. To hear his father mention it now was surprising, to say the least.


    Leo sighed, eyes closed. His mind traveled back to those easier times when they still lived in the US. Back when his mother always waited for him to come back from school. Back when his biggest worry was homework. Back when his mother was still alive¡­


    Eyes opening, his gaze instantly snapped towards a lone photo of a short blond-haired woman, smiling widely towards the camera, staring back at him. Her deep blue eyes shone with love as she gazed at the small child of ten in her arms.


    He blinked when he felt something wet travel down his cheek.


    Why now?


    It had been a while since he went down such a memory lane, and he definitely didn''t plan to continue it now. Not when Edward was just a few meters away.


    Quickly wiping the lone tear, Leo cleared his throat. "I thought you sold the house," he stated, his voice barely a whisper.


    Edward looked like he wanted to address what had just happened but thought better of it. They both knew that nothing good would come out of that conversation.


    "Just like with this house, I couldn''t. I just left it empty to degrade with every year," the older man replied, taking another sip of the coffee that was probably already cold at this point.


    "You know, I never found enough courage to go back. Not when it held so many memories," he continued, staring at an empty space. "But when I was so close, I just told myself, ''It is now or never; you probably won''t get another chance.''"


    Leo stilled, the conversation becoming a bit too emotional for his liking. Even then, not once did he try to stop Edward from continuing. No, he had to know what made his father stay. Besides, the man talked like he was in some sort of trance.


    "When I arrived there, the house was barely habitable. I should have gone back right then, but I didn''t," he chuckled. "Instead, I called some time off work and tried fixing that mess."


    Edward stopped, but Leo wanted ¡ª no, he had to know more.


    "Why?" It was only a single word, yet it had the power to unravel so many secrets.


    The older man refused to meet his gaze. "Because, son, for the first time in years, I found a place that felt like home. A home that I didn''t want to leave."


    What?


    His eyes widened slightly. He didn''t realize that his father had such a problem. He thought that Edward had found a new place to call home long ago, just like Leo did with his foster family.


    Apparently, he was wrong. Very wrong.


    And just like that, a realization hit him like a speeding train. "You''re moving there." It wasn''t a question but a hard statement. A statement that they both knew to be true.


    If Edward previously refused to meet his gaze, now he outright avoided even looking in his direction.


    "I''m sorry," the man uttered, his head hung low. "It might seem like I''m abandoning you again, but I have to do this. Please know that there will always be a place for you there. After all, it''s your home too."


    Leo barely held back his scoff while his fists clenched under the table. Not because Edward was leaving once again. Hell, anyone who knew his father understood that he deserved a chance to move on.


    No, what made his blood boil was the fact that Edward still couldn''t say it to his face. Just like always. Running or hiding away when the situation became too heated.


    Stubborn fool, I might be. But you, father, will always be a coward.


    Leo sighed, the heat of the moment evaporating like boiled water. What was the sense of raging over something he knew for years? Why did it always hurt the same?


    "I understand," he stated, refusing to say more as silence fell upon the room.


    Edward''s gaze still refused to move even an inch away from the empty cup while Leo glared at the man''s head, trying to drill a hole with his eyes alone. Every few seconds, he even thought of saying something to maybe put an end to their decade-long issue, but he just couldn''t.


    Each time his mouth opened, words refused to form. The nagging of his mind just wouldn''t let him do what had to be done.


    Edward should be the one to put an end to this. Not me.


    Once again, the past had defeated common sense.


    Maybe it''s for the best. Leo snapped his gaze away from Edward and tried to find anything to occupy his thoughts with.


    It was not to be, as his father''s movement caught his attention again.


    "I think it''s time for me," the older man announced as he stood up. "Do you mind if I use the bathroom before I go?"


    Of course, you would run. Leo masked the shake of his head with a nod. "You know the way."


    As Edward disappeared into the corridor, he squashed the urge to punch the table with all his might and just mechanically collected the empty cups.


    In the end, maybe we''re both cowards, father. Scared of confronting our fears. Worried that if it doesn''t work, our relationship will break like it did all those years ago. He sighed as he entered the kitchen. After all, it''s better to keep what we have now, no matter how bad it is, than risk losing each other again.


    Absently, Leo put the cups into the dishwasher and leaned on the counter right in front of a window. He took a few deep breaths and tried to clear his mind, just like after each meeting.


    His thoughts might have raged like a tornado inside his mind, but even that couldn''t stop his eyes from widening just a bit as his gaze stopped at a particular object.


    "What, the¡­" He muttered and leaned forward, thoughts halting for a second.


    There, in the sky, a small orb of dark red light hung. As if awakened by Leo''s gaze, it expanded, slowly consuming more and more of the cloudless sky. Its conquest didn''t stop there. Instead, the light turned towards the Earth, slowly descending like a vengeful angel.


    Eyes wide and heart hammering in his chest, he could only gasp as the light slid through the walls like a ghost and engulfed everything around him. Nothing was spared.


    He fell to the floor, twitching and screaming as something invaded his body, burning him from the inside out.


    Through the pain, Leo heard more screams pierce the air. They were muffled, barely audible. He had no idea where they came from, nor did he care. Not when his mind refused to focus on anything other than the red light and the inferno that threatened to consume his whole body.


    He didn''t know how long he thrashed on the floor, howling like a madman and probably losing his voice in the process. But when the pain disappeared like it was never there, he had eyes for only two things before the world went dark.


    The dark red light that dimly illuminated his kitchen wall and a few lines of text hanging in front of his vision.


    Universe No. 435 collapsed.


    The First Cataclysm of the 64th Outbreak is beginning.


    Survivor of the 237th Universe, prepare yourself.

 Chapter 3. Adapt or die

    "Shit," Leo groaned. Waking up for the second time this day didn''t seem much better than the first time. He rolled onto his back and opened his eyes in one go, instantly regretting it as bright light filled his vision. He cursed and quickly shut his eyelids.


    Where the hell am I? Just as the thought entered his head, the memories hit him like a falling brick.


    The red light, screaming, and the pain¡­ oh man, the pain. He shuddered. There had to be some explanation for all of this. Maybe he slipped, knocked himself out, and his mind decided to make up excuses for those events.


    No. Leo shook his head. It was too real.


    "It indeed was, Human." A voice echoed through¡­ well, something.


    Inch by inch, Leo slowly opened his eyes again, this time letting them get used to the stabbing brightness. He had to see and find out who managed to address his thoughts.


    "Here," the voice that sounded almost like his own ¡ª Just more dead? Indifferent? Calm? Something like that ¡ª came from behind.


    Leo climbed to his feet, his gaze first falling on the wall in front of him. It was bright like a star but covered in crimson glowing stains that slowly grew, consuming more and more of the wall.


    He gulped and turned to face the rest of the small square room. All of the walls were the same, and yet, in the center of the closed chamber stood a lone silver table with two chairs on each side. One remained empty, but the other was already claimed by a very familiar figure.


    Eyes widening, Leo took a few steps back, his hands raising instinctively. "Why in the hell do you look like me? Who are you?!" He shouted, two pairs of gray eyes connecting as the two inhabitants of the room locked gaze.


    His exact clone, as there was no other way to describe the person on the other side, just motioned to the empty chair while maintaining his ¡ª its? ¡ª completely stone-cold expression.


    "Take a seat, human. We have much to discuss, and your soul can withstand my presence only for so long," the clone spoke again, his voice never wavering.


    Shakily, Leo moved forward, more out of confusion and curiosity about whatever was happening. He even pinched himself a few times, hoping it was just another of his unique dreams.


    Mild pain shot through his arm, and yet he never woke up. Something is wrong. I never had any control in my dreams and this is way too realistic. Maybe those people on the net are right, and this really is some sort of illness? Hallucinations maybe?


    Eyes still on the clone, he took a seat, quickly scooting a few feet away from the table.


    The clone sighed in the first show of emotion. "I mean you no harm, User¡­ Now, I don''t need you to believe that what you see is real. What I need from you, is to listen carefully to everything I say. Like it''s the last thing you are going to hear. Time for believing will come once you leave this place."


    Leo narrowed his eyes. The clone didn''t make much sense, but its tone alone made him wary. As much as he wanted to believe this to be just another dream, there was also no harm in humoring the being in front of him. Not that he had much of a choice as waking up seemed impossible.


    "This place. What is it?" He decided to ask. They had to start from something.


    The clone nodded and spread his arms. "This is your soul in the middle of its awakening. Although to be more specific, we''re sitting in an isolated space claimed by the System, an entity I''m a part of, where it is currently adapting to your Essence. And before you ask, I took this form to lessen the pressure on your soul so we can have more time to talk. It''s a standard procedure."


    Leo blinked at the terms used in an unfamiliar setting. "Hold on for a damn minute. Soul? Essence? The System?"


    As if the clone didn''t hear him, it just continued. "Approximately two hours ago, the First Cataclysm of the 64th Outbreak took place. It changed your entire Universe. The release of Void Essence twisted everything in its path while the System attempted to save as many as it could. You, User, belong to about ten percent of beings of this Universe that managed to last long enough for the System to reach them and force their Awakening. A small number, I know, and it will only get worse."


    Leo stiffened, his mouth suddenly dry. "W-what?" He stammered out, the thoughts of everything being a dream momentarily forgotten. "Ten percent? What about the rest?"


    When the clone hung his head low, he fought the sudden urge to vomit. "I''m truly sorry, User," it said, the stone-cold tone vanishing.


    "The remaining population will suffer a fate worse than death. They will become twisted by the Void, transformed into creatures from your darkest nightmares. From now on, their only goal is to evolve, hunt, and grow stronger from the Essence that fills the air. Voidlings, the System calls them, one of the main threats you will encounter once you go back."


    The clone''s words beyond the first sentence barely reached his ears. He became frozen like a statue for a moment, with only four words echoing in his head like a never-ending song.


    Fate worse than death¡­


    Lily, Nick, Adam, Mom, Dad, Edward. Hell, even Ava. Leo swallowed, still trapped in the prison of his own creation. They are fine; this is just a stupid dream or hallucination. There is nothing to worry about.


    Yet despite this hopeful mantra filling his mind, he could do nothing to stop the deep-seated terror from settling in his gut.


    It can''t be. They are alive. They are fi- Shit!


    Leo reeled back, touching his stinging cheek. He instantly snapped towards the clone, watching as it lowered its glowing hand.


    "You have to calm down, human!" The entity growled. "Nothing is certain. Your friends and family might still be alive. It had happened many times in the past."


    Might. They might be alive. He flinched. The word ''might'' just barely calmed his raging emotions that threatened to burst like a waking volcano. Suddenly, the matter of this being a dream didn''t seem too important, not when there was even a tiny chance that something had happened to his family.


    Leo took a deep breath and gave the clone a nod. "Fine. Continue, but please at least tell me what is this Essence you keep talking about."


    The doppelganger gave him a hard stare before raising his palm.


    "That''s agreeable as it''s essential knowledge," it replied, its voice again turning cold. "Essence had many names before and after the System. Mana, Chi, Ki, and Chakra are just a few of them. It''s the energy of the whole Multiverse. Everything has it, be it inanimate or animate. However, those with a soul can store Essence inside it. The thing is that non-awakened beings cannot regenerate their Essence, and when it ends, so does their life."


    Lights swirled above the clone''s palm, slowly forming an image of a human body. The entity made a few more movements with its hand, and instantly, a crimson light ¡ª The same color as the stains on the wall ¡ª entered the image.


    Looking at the mass of crimson, the clone continued. "Soul stores and strengthens your Essence."


    Nodding towards the image''s head, it continued. "Mind is responsible for control, including regeneration."


    The crimson light pulsed as it covered the entire image. "Essence then flows through the entire body, where it''s utilized to perform feats you can only dream of."


    The clone waved its hand, snapping the image out of existence. "The System just calls it Essence Manipulation, but throughout the Multiverse, many call it Magic, Sorcery, or the Arts of Soul. The secrets of Essence know no limits, and I could spend years explaining only a small part of them¡­ However, that is not a subject for today; let us move on to your interface."


    So pretty much a weird energy that makes you a superhuman. Got it. Leo sighed and shot the clone a blank look. Interface?


    "Just focus on bringing it out."


    Right, just focus on it. He snorted, only for his eyes to widen as a wall of text appeared in front of his vision. "What the fu..."


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: N/A


    Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human


    Class: N/A


    Job: N/A


    Rank: N/A


    Might Tier I (5) | LB: 0


    Grace: Tier I (8) | LB: 0


    Vision: Tier I (6) | LB: 0


    Mind: Tier I (7) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (4) | LB: 0


    Ether: 0


    Traits: Tainted (Uncommon)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Manipulation (Common), Drain (Uncommon)


    General Skills: N/A


    Leonardo Brown¡­ Been a while since anyone called me that. He grimaced, scanning the wall of text. It definitely resembled some of the roleplaying games he played in the past. Although he was by no means a specialist in gaming to understand everything the status provided.


    Title, class, and rank seemed somewhat self-explanatory, or so he hoped. The two last attributes also made some sense thanks to the clone''s explanation about Essence. The rest though? He had only some inkling as to what they did, same with skills and the one trait.


    And what in the hell is the ''LB'' next to the attributes? More questions. Leo raised a hopeful eyebrow. "Can you explain what some of this means?"


    The clone shook its head before motioning towards the walls. "The System gave you enough tools to learn independently, and we don''t have much time left. The process is over halfway done."


    Wait. What process? His brow furrowed as he followed the clone''s gaze, not really sure what he was looking for. The walls were still there, no surprises there, but the crimson stains¡ª His Essence, Soul? ¡ª now covered over half of the previously bright surface.


    "What? You mean the walls?"


    "The Awakening process," the clone corrected. "As soon as your Essence consumes every surface of this room, I must depart. Now¡­¡± Leo''s eyebrows raised slightly when he noticed the small grimace on the doppelganger''s face. "We have two last matters to discuss before my time runs out. Your race and class selection."


    Reading between the lines, he flinched, "I heard this tone before. What''s wrong now? Wasn''t the news of my family''s possible demise enough?"


    Once again, the clone ignored him, its gaze hardening. "You''re part of a small percentage of the remaining survivors that were unlucky to absorb too much Void Essence before the System could reach them and jumpstart the Awakening process. As a result, your evolution stage isn''t listed as an ''Awakened'' variant, but a ''Tainted'' one."


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Leo swallowed hard. "Yeah. That doesn''t sound too good¡­Am I going to die? Just like that?"


    I refuse to accept that¡­


    "No, you won''t," the clone announced, giving him a chance to let out a heavy sigh. "At least not if you play your cards right. Think of your race and then bring out the description of your ''Tainted'' trait. Those two things should explain almost everything."


    Taking a deep breath, Leo did just that.


    Tainted Human (Stage: I)


    A sub-variant of Awakened Human cursed by the power of the Void. Due to absorbing too much of Void Essence before your awakening, the corrupted power couldn''t be fully cleansed from your being. It will fight and consume you if you don''t satiate its hunger.


    Effects:


    Causes some physical changes. Grants Tainted trait. Soul Effectiveness: +5% +2 Free Attribute points per class level. Mutations: Locked.


    Your time is limited.


    Because that doesn''t sound ominous at all¡­ And physical changes? What does that even mean? He grimaced as a shiver ran down his spine. The chain of bad news was slowly making him feel just like after that night ten years ago.


    Can''t give in now. He shook his head and pulled up his trait''s description.


    Tainted (Uncommon):


    A blessing within a curse. You are the Tainted One. Fight and consume or be consumed. In the Void, only the strong survive¡­ Can you?


    Effects:


    Requires a constant supply of Pure Void Essence to stop the curse from spreading. Limit Break: +1 Soul, Might, and Grace per level when satiated. Various negative effects applied if the curse begins to spread. Grants Drain skill.


    Somehow this doesn''t make me feel any better. Leo thought as his fists clenched under the table. This trait only confirmed how bad the situation was. At least now I know what the ''LB'' stands for. Even if it just adds another question...


    "How do I survive?" He asked instead. Limit Break, whatever that was, could wait.


    "Exactly like your trait explained. Adapt," the clone stated coldly. "Or in other words, consume and evolve. The System gave you the ability to extract Pure Void Essence from every Voidling you''ve killed. The rest is up to you. Use this ability or die."


    "Consume and evolve..." He murmured, head hung low.


    Not that long ago, Leo managed to put the worst of his past away, years of therapy and the support of his foster family, finally helping him accept what happened. And yet here he was, with the possibility of his world, his family being gone, hanging above his head.


    "No," he whispered. Even if the world changed, he would go out there and survive. His situation might look quite bleak, but he had to use this chance and at least try. For his family. For his own sake. He owed himself that much.


    Leo nodded, swallowing his fears. "Alright then. What''s left?"


    The doppelganger returned the nod, its lips curling into an almost unnoticeable grin. "Class selection. It''s probably one of your most important decisions. After all, a class will be the main tool in your journey. Just remember that classes are here to guide you, not limit your learning capabilities. Anything is possible as long as you try."


    With a flick of its wrist, letters began to form between them. "Here, have a look and decide. Be quick. Our time is running out."


    The letters stopped moving, forming a simple list of classes and their very short descriptions.


    Warrior


    Way of the Blood. Show your enemies no fear and face them head-on. Be the unmovable shield and the deadliest blade for your foes.


    Effects:


    Grants necessary skills and knowledge to begin your path as a warrior. Offers Warrior''s Body trait. +3 MIGHT, +1 SOUL per level.


    Mage


    Way of the Essence. Show your enemies your control and decimate them with the power of your soul. Grind them all to dust.


    Effects:


    Grants necessary skills and knowledge to begin your path as a mage. Offers Enlightened Mind trait. +2 MIND and SOUL per level.


    Assassin


    Way of the Shadows. Show nothing and leave nothing behind. No one is safe from your blade. The shadows welcome you.


    Effects:


    Grants necessary skills and knowledge to begin your path as an assassin. Offers Assassin''s Grace trait. +2 GRACE, +1 VISION, +1 MIND per level.


    Ranger


    Way of the Arrow. Show your enemies your skill and blow them apart with your aim. Your eyes see everything. Well, almost.


    Effects:


    Grants necessary skills and knowledge to begin your path as a ranger. Offers Ranger''s Eyes trait. +2 VISION, +1 GRACE and MIND per level.


    To be honest, Leo expected more complicated choices, especially with everything going on. Instead, he received a list of four pretty straightforward classes. Well, almost straightforward.


    The descriptions only gave the most basic information and clues about what he could expect from each class. No more, no less. He could make assumptions going by the names, though he still felt like it wasn''t enough to make such an important decision.


    At least now I have some ideas about the purpose of the three remaining attributes.


    "I take it you won''t tell me what the ''necessary skills'' are?" Wishful thinking at this point, but it couldn''t hurt to ask.


    As the doppelganger shook its head, Leo scowled. "Right¡­" He murmured and went back to the list.


    He had to make a decision and hope that it would be the right one¡­


    Warrior was instantly out, in his opinion. Rushing head-on towards unknown enemies in an unknown situation went against the prime principle that the clone was constantly hinting at


    Survival.


    So yeah, no suicidal charges for him. Or so he hoped...


    With one option out, his mind traveled to the Mage class. It certainly could be interesting to become a sorcerer, but again, how did this class help him survive? With no knowledge about Essence Manipulation, he couldn''t just go and predict what abilities he would gain.


    No, too many unknowns. Leo shook his head. Besides, the clone just told me that a class doesn''t limit my ability to learn other skills. Magic, or whatever it is, will still be within my grasp.


    Nodding, he looked at his last two choices. Assassin and Ranger.


    Both options were good when it came to helping him survive in a dark world. One would grant him the ability to stealthily make his way around the world, while the other offered long-range combat capabilities.


    Unfortunately, as he read the description of Ranger class once again, Leo grimaced.


    Way of the Arrow. Yeah, no thanks.


    A few years back, Lily tried to introduce him to a few unique sports disciplines, and archery was one of them. This particular tryout didn''t go too well. He could remember how he completely failed every attempt at even copying the proper grasp of the bow, and the less said about aiming, the better.


    As such, he hated anything that could shoot arrows with heated passion. His face always turned sour when anyone mentioned it. No amount of persuading could ever make him grab a bow again.


    Hell, even now, he could still recall his sister''s laughter after they left the archery range¡­


    Leo quickly pushed those thoughts away as a nasty frown began to spread on his face. Don''t go there, not yet. She''s fine, she must be.


    Closing his eyes, he released a deep breath. "I choose Assassin."


    "Are you sure? There''s no going back."


    Leo nodded. "I am. If the System has a similar definition of Assassin as my world, it is my best bet on survival."


    Besides, where the hell would I find a bow and arrows...


    "So be it," the clone responded, and the list of classes disappeared, only to be replaced by a few new lines of text.


    Assassin class gained.


    Trait: Assassin''s Grace received. Skills: Vital Strike, Stealth, Dagger Mastery received.


    Leo expected more information or even some rush of knowledge like the class description said, but there was no such thing. He pretty much felt the same as a minute ago.


    Furrowing his forehead, he addressed the clone. "Wasn''t I supposed to gain the ''knowledge of how to begin my path?''"


    The doppelganger nodded. "Just like any other change you are required to go through, the gift of knowledge will arrive once you leave this place."


    Suddenly, the entire room shook, and the chairs and table disappeared. Leo just barely managed to stay upright.


    It''s done. A soft gasp left his lips as he scanned the room''s walls. There is no more light left, only the crimson, my Essence. He spun around and faced the clone, whose form began to shimmer, the tip of its fingers slowly turning into specks of light.


    The clone gave a small bow. "Do not worry, User. The time has come for me to depart. You made your choices, and the Awakening process is finished. I wish you luck, Leonardo Brown¡­"


    "No, wait! There is still so much I need to know!" He shouted, trying to reach out, only for his hand to pass through the clone.


    "True, there is much more you should know, so much more every survivor should know," the fading entity whispered. "But there is no time left. I can only offer you a piece of advice that saved many in the past."


    "The world you know is dead," the clone continued. "Voidlings will get stronger with every day and hunt everything unique in their sight. If you ever hesitate, you will be left behind, consumed by the never-ending Void. Only the strong survive; you better realize this quickly, or you will die like many before you. Use the time you have left here and adapt, User¡­ Adapt or die."


    Frozen in his place, Leo gulped but gave a firm nod as the entity faded out of existence. Never during their conversation did the clone use such an oppressive tone. And as his mind replayed the entity''s advice, the flame that held the hope of this being just a dream almost died out.


    Adapt or die. He repeated and slid down against the nearest wall.


    Despite listening to Lily''s various conspiracy theories, he never expected shit like this to happen. In movies and games? Definitely, but in real life? No, this entire situation went against everything he ever believed in.


    I have to be ready. Leo opened his eyes. Even if this is just another dream, I have to be prepared. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.


    Nodding, he summoned his status once more. It was high time to find out what everything there meant.


    Just like the clone instructed about class and traits, he thought about the other attributes and statistics, hoping to learn their full roles.


    It didn''t work, well, not really.


    Leo only managed to confirm what the rank meant ¡ª his roughly estimated power level, currently sitting at F- ¡ª and how the evolution stage and class worked. Apparently, he had to achieve some sort of milestones or complete tasks to evolve and reach a certain level with his class to advance it.


    Interesting, but it didn''t explain much.


    He also attempted to investigate the mysterious, half-grayed-out Ether, but the System refused to give any information about it.


    Just great. Leo groaned. Let''s just see what all the skills and traits do. No way the System can keep this knowledge away from me.


    Thankfully, it didn''t.


    Universal Linguist (Unique):


    With a vast Universe comes a wide array of languages. To help achieve communication between different civilizations, the System created this skill for most survivors.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to understand almost every spoken language in the Universe. Be wary that any written form of a foreign language is still mostly beyond you. Cannot be obtained again if lost.


    Vast Universe? The ability to understand almost everything? Okay, useful. Leo admitted. However, he had to pity all those people who worked hard to learn multiple languages.


    Shaking his head, he moved on to another skill.


    Identify (Unique):


    The most common tool of every System user. Created by the System to help the users with finding the way along their journey.


    Effects:


    Allows you to discover details about certain parts of this new world. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision and Level. Cannot be obtained again if lost.


    Is this the tool the clone spoke of?


    Almost instantly, he attempted to use this ability, though without success. No amount of forceful thinking and shouting worked; it was like the ability wasn''t available to him yet.


    Maybe it isn''t. Leo frowned, and as if to answer his question, everything around him shook.


    Climbing to his feet, his eyes widened as the crimson glow of the room dimmed. In a matter of seconds, the color gave way to the darkness.


    His back hugged the wall behind him as another tremor shook the room. He tried to move, to maybe escape whatever was happening, to no avail. His body refused to listen to any command, leaving him a passenger in his own body.


    A moment later, out of nowhere, an unknown force slammed into his body, earning a weak groan from him. Leo had no strength to fight the next strike and just let the darkness claim what was left of his consciousness, the clone''s last words suddenly ringing in his head.


    Adapt or die.

 Chapter 4. To Survive

    "There are no rules in the infinite Void. The impossible becomes possible, and you never know when everything will change. A firestorm can become an icy blizzard in a matter of seconds. Creatures you thought long gone can rise from the dead and attack you with a ferocity never seen before. Truly, the Void is a place where horrors become real, but even then, there is a certain beauty to it all."


    ~ Into the Abyss by Lone Traveler


    <hr>


    Silence and almost complete darkness surrounded him from every side as his eyes snapped open. Leo gasped for air, reeling back even as his body burned with every move.


    Third time in a row. He groaned, resting his head against a kitchen cupboard. Was it all real?


    The red light that consumed the entire sky. The clone that turned his world upside down. And even the mysterious System that apparently was now a part of him. It just couldn''t have been a dream. Not when, ever since his eyes opened, he felt like a completely different person, a different being.


    The aches and bits of lingering pain may have remained, but Leo had never felt better than at this exact moment. Something was thrumming underneath his skin, pumping him with infinite energy, and as he tried to focus on this anomaly, he finally understood.


    The power of the soul.


    Essence.


    It coursed through all of his body like a raging river. The feeling of weightlessness and unlimited power tried to reel him in, almost drowning him in power. Only when his instincts ¡ª which he had no clue he possessed ¡ª screamed did he manage to wake up from the haze that threatened to consume his mind.


    Shit. Leo hissed, trying to wrestle the fiery inferno under control. Essence fought back, lashing out and refusing to bend the knee. The clone evidently forgot to tell him that his own life force wanted to assassinate him right after waking up.


    It was only thanks to the emergence of his instinct that he somehow managed to push his Essence back to where it came from.


    It left him gasping for breath, and with sweat pouring out in waves, but in the end, the energy evaporated in a matter of a second, leaving him almost hollow. He slumped, feeling like his body was run over by a herd of charging bulls for the second time in a few hours.


    Here goes my hope for a quick recovery¡­


    A few deep breaths slightly calmed his still rampaging heart. Yet Leo knew that this respite was only temporary. The few lines of text hanging in front of his vision and the weird phantom stinging in his left arm only proved that.


    The tainted status has been assimilated and is dormant. Congratulations, survivor. You have managed to delay the curse from spreading further. Be advised that a constant supply of Pure Void Essence will be required to stop any future activation of this status.


    Glad to know that this part is also real. He grimaced as the notification faded away and once again left him in the company of darkness. The faint red light coming through the window that barely illuminated the other part of the kitchen didn''t count in his opinion.


    The world must have really gone to hell. Neither the Sun nor the moon shone with that kind of color.


    And why is the lamp turned off? He grumbled internally, pretty sure that it worked before he got dragged into his soul.


    "Doesn''t matter," he murmured, hands reaching towards the kitchen counter to get some support to stand up. I have to figure out what the hell is really going on. The clone warned¡­


    His thought process stilled when his left hand gripped the counter. The grip was all wrong, almost crushing the wood in its grasp. Even more concerning was the soft crimson glow emanating from underneath the sleeve. How he hadn''t noticed it earlier baffled him.


    Leo gulped and raised to his feet, positioning himself right in front of the window, the only place with a decent light source. This is gonna suck.


    Taking a deep breath, his left hand rose.


    It was wrong, inhuman, and demonic. Gray, jagged, and uneven skin covered the entire deformed hand. It looked like someone painted thousands of scars upon the limb and then threw it to hungry dogs for hours. There was no hair or soft surface left. Even worse were the crimson veins that glowed from within and pierced his skin in a few places.


    Shit. He cursed, his gaze straying towards his fingers.


    Longer than humanly possible, pitch-black claws grew at the tips of his gray bony fingers, ready to tear apart anything that stepped in their way. In addition, thin veins, at least three for each finger, flowed underneath his skin, glowing just like the rest of his hand.


    It wasn''t a pleasant sight, far from it. To be honest, it could probably break a lesser man, but not him. This barely compared to the sight of his mother''s broken body...


    Stop. Leo shook his head and grabbed the sleeve that covered the rest of the demonic limb. This was not the time to drown in the past long gone. A past that he had been fighting with for years now...


    In and out.


    The sleeve came up inch by inch, uncovering more disfigured skin and glowing veins. Even the elbow wasn''t saved from the curse, and for a moment, he thought that his entire arm was already consumed.


    Then the bicep came into view, where the gray gave way to naturally slightly tanned skin, and he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Could be worse. Leo grimaced and flexed the inhuman arm. It didn''t feel any different from his normal limb; only now did he have claws instead of normal fingers. How nice¡­


    The feeling of normality remained only for a moment... Upon touch, he almost instantly snapped his other ¡ª human ¡ª hand away from the gray mass.


    Cold, as if he touched a corpse, not a living and breathing human. The texture of the skin wasn''t much better. Stone hard, possessing none of the softness regular skin should have.


    Leo didn''t even dare poke the crimson veins. He had enough surprises to last a lifetime ¡ª or at least the next hour. Not that he thought it possible to avoid any further shocks, especially not after he took a peek through the window.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Bloody hell¡­" He mumbled, noticing the red Sun happily hanging high in the sky. It mocked him as it bathed the entire neighborhood in a shallow, blood-red light. It was as if someone decided to paint the whole world in shades of red with a few other colors added to the mix.


    If not for the Sun''s position, he would have thought that the day was either at its beginning or end. Hell, even the rest of the sky looked like a crimson carpet instead of the usual blue hidden behind an endless expanse of rain clouds.


    Probably for the first time in his life, Leo missed England''s shitty weather. Even the grass ¡ª Which definitely wasn''t that long when I last looked ¡ª and trees in the distance lacked their usual sway. Instead, they stood completely rigid, like someone froze the entire world.


    Focu...


    Whatever thoughts he had instantly vanished when a loud crash echoed through the entire house. Like the grass outside, he stood there almost frozen, as something his mind had forgotten in the face of the changing world became quite obvious.


    Edward!


    With a strength his body lacked just a second ago, Leo dashed back into the living room. "Edward!" He shouted, voice piercing through the veil of silence but getting nothing in response.


    No, no, no, no!


    The darkness of the corridor, only illuminated by his deformed hand, didn''t stop him from sprinting towards the bathroom door. Nor did it stop him from furiously banging at the wooden barrier.


    "Come on! Open the bloody door!"


    No words came back. Instead, a bone-chilling screech answered his call. No. Fists clenched, they both flew at the wooden door. Only the demonic hand left any dent.


    "I''m coming in!" A lone tear flowed down his cheek. "You hear me!?"


    Empty words. Deep inside, he knew that only pain awaited behind this door. It didn''t stop him though, not when his family was on the line.


    His claws grabbed the lock, twisting, almost ripping it out. Maybe if Leo weren''t so drunk on emotions, he would be surprised by the strength of the deformed limb. But no, only the click registered in his mind as he grabbed the door handle.


    Any decency a normal human should have when barging into an occupied bathroom was forgotten as he swung the door open with a bang. His eyes immediately widened at the sight in front of him.


    A lone figure stood before a mirror, its ruby glare already pointed at the intruder. As dark as the room was, it didn''t stop Leo from seeing what he feared the most.


    No¡­ Father.


    Nothing except Edward''s familiar face and scraps of clothes remained. The gray, almost black skin melded perfectly with what was left of his hair. Unlike Leo''s inhuman arm, his father''s only disfiguration was the hundreds of cracks spilling all over his body. Cracks that glowed from within with an infuriating scarlet light.


    Leo backed off a step. "Father..."


    Razor-sharp teeth barred for all of the world to see. Edward ¡ª Your father is gone ¡ª stalked forward, another high-pitched screech leaving his throat.


    Almost touching the wall behind him, he shouted. "Stop! Listen to me! Please¡­¡±


    The creature jumped.


    Instinctively, Leo sidestepped, wincing when the creature''s fingernails tore through his shoulder like butter. Apparently, he wasn''t the only one gifted with a perfect butcher''s tool instead of fingers.


    Clutching his throbbing shoulder, he bolted through the corridor, right into the living room, without ever giving the fallen creature another glance.


    He had to hide, wait out the monster, or maybe trap it. What else could he do? He wasn''t afraid of fighting back; God knew he had the experience. He just didn''t know if he had the mental strength to do it. No matter how hard his mind tried to reason that this creature wasn''t Edward, his heart refused to listen.


    Not even his bitterness towards Edward could stop Leo from acknowledging the man as family. And family helped each other no matter what happened.


    I just have to find a way.


    Unfortunately, the monster never planned to give him a chance to strategize. It barged into the living room like a bloodhound seeking its prey. He barely had enough time to bring up his arms before Edward''s body crashed right into him.


    They barreled on the floor, engaged in a wrestling match. Leo punched and scratched with his claws, trying to push the creature off him, but his opponent did everything in its strength to remain on top.


    As the creature''s jaw neared his throat, his instincts punched through whatever blockade his heart created and let the mind take over.


    Get off! Holding nothing back, Leo pushed as every vein in his body, even the ones outside his tainted flesh, burned with a crimson glow.


    The monster sailed through the room and crashed into the opposite wall. It howled, in anger or pain; Leo didn''t care which as he stalked forward, a familiar ability activating as he gazed at the creature.


    Cursed Human (Voidling) | Rank: F- | LVL: 1


    You''re not my father. You are just a monster parading in his skin. I won''t let you.


    His human hand shot to the monster''s neck, pushing the Voidling against the wall as he dragged it to eye level. The creature wailed like a banshee, flinging its arms at the offending limb.


    Blood dripped, and his skin burned as more and more scratches appeared on his arm. Once again Leo didn''t care, he only had eyes for the creature that stole his last biological parent.


    "You''re not my father," he whispered as a crimson tear fell down his cheek. "You''re not him."


    Pitch-black claws sailed forward, burying deep inside the monster''s chest.


    The screech the Voidling released was like none other. Loud and primal.


    Even when its volume threatened to burst his eardrums, Leo stood firm, squeezing the life out of the monster with each hand. Not even the increased glow of his demonic arm and the sudden darkening of the creature''s skin brought him out of his trance.


    Only when the monster slid to the floor, unable to support its weight, did he notice the changes. Gone was the soft glow of the monster''s cracked skin and its ruby-eyed glare... Now, in his hand, he held a pitch-black husk of a man, drained of life.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 1) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Reinforcement learned.


    Your curse is now satiated. Benefits gained for the next 8 hours. Passive Limit Break is now active.


    Fully aware of the notifications, Leo left them unanswered, gasping for breath as his father''s body disintegrated before his eyes. From the stab wounds left by his claws, a steady river of dust seeped out, leaving a bigger and bigger hole. In a matter of seconds, only a handful remained in his grasp.


    "I''m so sorry," he choked back a sob, falling to his knees right in front of the pile of dust. Whatever additional strength he had gained, disappeared along with the glow in the not-cursed part of his body¡­


    Tears fell freely, and Leo did nothing to stop them. He couldn''t, not after the reality of the last few minutes fully caught up to him.


    He just sat there, eyes fixated on the remains of his father as he wept for another member of his family lost. First, the mother, who meant everything to him, was taken away by the idiocy of humanity. And now Edward, who, despite all of his faults, did almost everything to repair their relationship.


    If only¡­


    "Why didn''t you say anything?" Leo squeezed his eyes shut out, fist clenching as blood spilled down his shoulder.


    He wasn''t even sure who was the recipient of his question. They were both at fault, be it his stubbornness or Edward''s cowardice. Even then, deep inside, he knew that he could have been the bigger person and put an end to their dispute. But now¡­


    ¡­ Now, none of it mattered anymore.


    They would never get another chance to talk, to finally bury the hatchet between them. Edward had died thinking that his only son resented him, while Leo had to forever live with the guilt of not forgiving his father.


    And this was only the beginning.


    No¡­


    He stood up, wiping the tears with his bloody sleeve. "I won''t let it¡­"


    Mother, father, and who else in his family. They all might be gone, but he couldn''t give up now. He had to find them all, dead or alive. He had to keep his promise and find out if anyone survived.


    And if they did?


    Then Leo would fight for them, move mountains if he had to. No matter what, he would protect them from this new twisted reality until his last dying breath. They were all he had left¡­


    After all, what was the sense of living without a purpose?

 Chapter 5. Interlude - 64th Outbreak

    The Royal Priest, Regvaor, moved silently through the Temple of Beginning, his feet carrying him right to the center of the building. There, he set his knees upon a velvet cushion as his six hands came up in prayer.


    Pulling the Holy Essence from the air, Regvaor let it slip into his body and crawl underneath his skin. It mixed with his own power, almost humming as his form began to emit a soft golden glow.


    He smiled and looked up at the massive statue of their Lord and Savior.


    Five pairs of enormous crystal wings grew out of the statue''s back, illuminating the entire temple in a myriad of colors. Swords of gold hung limply in the entity''s hands as it stared ahead with grim determination written all over its face.


    Hundreds of years passed since Regvaor first laid his eyes on the silver structure, and yet nothing could take away the childish wonder he felt even now. It was truly the pinnacle of craftsmanship with its size and usage of materials alone. Add to that the constant stream of Essence flowing out of the statue, and it became one of the most unique creations in the entire Multiverse.


    Bowing his head, he closed his eyes. Lord of Light and Protector of Creation, hear the words of your humble servant. One more Universe has fallen while another is crying tears of blood as the Void consumes its light. Lend us your strength, my Lord. Bless us with the power of your soul to save those that still live, to give them a chance for a normal life¡­ For we are of the light.


    At once, Regvaor released the Holy Essence flowing through his veins into the ground, bowing even lower as the entire temple shook. For we are of the light. He repeated, the glow finally leaving his skin.


    "Serafin Kera," he whispered, his eyes opening. "I''m glad to have you back. I trust your trip proved fruitful."


    Hearing the shuffle of feet behind him, the Royal Priest rose. He gave the final bow toward the statue before facing the new arrival.


    Half the size of Regvaor, the humanoid being of blue coloring had her head bowed while two pairs of small feathery wings remained snugly tucked into her body.


    "Forgive me, my Lord, for interrupting your rituals," the Serafin spoke. "I would have waited, but you ordered me to report back as soon as I returned."


    Regvaor approached Kera and placed a hand on her shoulder. "There is nothing to apologize for, my dear," he smiled when she finally raised her head. "I gave you an order, and you followed it. For that, you have my thanks. Now come, I will hear what you have to report."


    Motioning the Serafin to follow, they walked around the statue and towards the back of the temple. There, he stopped right in front of a wall covered in gray symbols and raised his hand, the signs instantly lighting up like a stormy sky.


    Regvaor stepped into the wall, almost shivering as Essence covered every fiber of his being. The feeling soon passed, and he opened his eyes to the sight of a spartan dark room, a stark contrast to the colorful temple he just left.


    Far away from prying eyes. He noted, sitting behind a desk and waiting for Kera to do the same on the opposite side. "Anything I can get for you before we begin?"


    The Serafin jumped onto the chair and gave him a small smile. "Thank you, my Lord, but I''m fine."


    "Wonderful," Regvaor nodded. "You may begin, my dear. If what I felt during the last few days is anything to go by, I fear we might be here for a while."


    Kera''s small shoulders slumped as she took a deep breath. "Like always, you are right, sir. The sixty-fourth Outbreak might be one of the worst we''ve had in a while. The previous Universe took too long to fall apart and, as a result, collected enormous amounts of Void Essence."


    So it is as I feared. He sighed, one of his hands running through his thick, white beard. "What is the Academy''s initial summary?"


    "Disconcerting, sir," she replied instantly. "The average rank of planets of Universe No. 237 after the first Cataclysms was placed at D minus. It is the highest since the forty-eighth Outbreak. Even more troubling is the highest-ranked planet, my Lord. Our sensors ranked it at C."


    "That''s indeed troubling," the Royal Priest murmured. "I assume there are no survivors on that particular planet?"


    Kera shook her head. "No, my Lord. No survivors were detected. Master Sargnax speculates that it has already turned into a world of Ever-Darkness. We won''t be able to confirm it until the Academy finds out if the nearest star to that planet has already died, but I thought it was something you should know of."


    "Thank you, my dear. Those accursed worlds are no joke, as you well know. I would rather hear about it now than later. Void knows how many people we''ve lost to those planets."


    "Indeed, my Lord," Kera nodded. "On the other hand, two new planets are joining the ranks of Dead Legacies. Ver''Sor and," she grimaced, "Almok."


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Regvaor mirrored his subordinate''s expression. "So they made it through¡­ The council won''t be happy... Most of the Lords were sure we''ve dealt enough damage to stop Almok from ascending." He shook his head. "No matter, that is a problem for later. Please tell me if Master Sargnax and his unit managed to sense the Old One''s shards."


    The Serafin bowed her head. "Nothing more than a few echoes. Wherever the shards are hidden, we can''t pinpoint their location. Although the Academy is still developing their latest project, with the echoes still fresh, we might see some progress in the coming months."


    "While that''s not what I wanted to hear, it''s more than we had in the past." The Priest massaged his brow. "I hoped that with an Outbreak so powerful, we would hear more from the Old Ones. Let''s just pray that other factions were as unlucky as us."


    "Why should we, my Lord? None of them are actively searching for the shards," she frowned. "Ger is the only place equipped well enough to find them. Why would we worry about others?"


    "Oh? And please tell me, what happened with the first shard?" Regvaor smiled as Kera ducked her head, almost disappearing behind the desk. "Exactly, my dear¡­ They found them by chance, and to this day, a piece of an Old One is lost to us, even if the one to find it died eons ago. That''s why we always need to be on guard."


    "I understand, and forgive me for my incompetence, sir," she blushed.


    Regvaor chuckled. "You are still young, Kera, and have plenty of time to learn... Now, did you manage to find out what happened during the last hunt? I would rather not ask Lord Stonewell."


    The Serafin scowled, her previous embarrassment vanishing. "Another unsuccessful mission, sir. Fools thought they could follow the Trinity and recover what they stole. Only one came back, and he probably won''t be placed on active duty anytime soon."


    "The Trinity?" Regvaor repeated, his gaze hardening. "How many times do I have to tell those damned fools to stop messing with entities beyond their understanding? Those three are too powerful for normal soldiers to face. Dear Lord, they are even beyond most of our elite¡­ It seems I have another subject to broach during the next council meeting."


    "I doubt Lord Stonewell will be happy," Kera remarked, a slight grin forming on her lips.


    "Lord Stonewell, forgive me for my language, can go jump into the Abyss," he grumbled. "His pride and idiocy have led many good soldiers into early graves. I will make sure he will be the one to bring the news to their families."


    Kera nodded. "As he should."


    "Enough about the bumbling idiot," Regvaor sighed. "It''s getting late, and I''m sure you would rather go back to your home than spend the next few hours listening to my rants about the Council."


    The young Serfin grinned. "I don''t mind at all. You always have the best gossip, my Lord. My mother is particularly fond of the stories I bring her after our meetings."


    Of course, she is. The Priest groaned, masking it with a cough. "Yes, well¡­ Why don''t you tell me how the Merchants are doing? I would love to know if they have already managed to find their so-called ''rifts''."


    Kera shrugged, the grin still on her face. "My contacts wouldn''t tell me a thing. But they sounded quite excited, so I''m pretty sure that even if they haven''t found any passages yet, they are close."


    "As expected," he murmured and leaned back in his chair. "Thank you for gathering all of that information, Kera. Your work is, as always, appreciated. You can take your leave now and rest for a few days. It won''t be long before the gates in the new Universe open, and we will have hands full of work again¡­ Oh, and please pass my greetings to your mother."


    The Serafin stood and bowed deeply. "Of course, my Lord. Thank you, and I''ll be sure to tell Mom that her friend didn''t forget about her."


    "As if she would let me," Regvaor huffed. "Now go, child. May the Protector shine his light upon your soul."


    "For we are of the light," Kera returned, and with a flash of green, she disappeared from the room.


    Youth. The Royal Priest chuckled.


    <hr>


    Far away, deep inside the dimensions of the Void, a lone man sat on a cliff of a rocky hill. A soft hum constantly escaped his throat as he gazed at the ocean of miniature stars and galaxies that hung above his left palm.


    The holographic image changed constantly. Colorful planets turned into crimson globes while stars dimmed, losing almost all of their light. And yet another Universe fell prey to the Void''s Curse. I wonder what secrets I can uncover this time¡­


    The man''s gaze zeroed on a particular galaxy, its light already almost dead. It seemed like the first dark zone was already developing in the new Universe. Curious¡­ It''s not even close to the Ever-Darkness world. I just might have to drop by and see how it progresses. Dark Zones always have interesting things to hide. I wo¡­


    Pausing, the man brought up his other hand, a small metallic orb materializing in his palm. Deep beneath the figure''s cloak, an eyebrow rose as the man pressed the only button on the orb.


    "Rikora," he muttered, his voice rough and scratchy. "I didn''t expect to hear from you three so soon."


    A giggle resounded from the small orb. "Well, aren''t you a lucky guy then, Traveler?"


    As if. The man sighed. Why couldn''t Peria or Kirysk be the ones to call him? He shouldn''t be able to get a headache, yet a single sentence from Rikora made his temple throb.


    "What do you want, child? I''m busy."


    Rikora snorted. "Yeah? With what? Is there another book by the great Lone Traveler on the horizon? Or are you watching the Universe destroy itself again?"


    Annoying brat. The Lone Traveler growled. "Nothing that concerns you. Now tell me why you called, or I am crushing the transmitter."


    "Ruin my fun, why don''t you?" She grumbled before chirping out again. "Anyway, Peria wanted me to tell you that some Essence from Nikra''s shard is floating through the new Universe. We are working on finding the source. That''s all, bye!"


    Taking a deep breath, the Traveler counted to ten and dismissed the orb from his hand. "At least she brought some useful information," he mumbled. Nikra''s energy could only mean a possible gate leading towards the shard. Not something he could dismiss.


    He turned towards the holographic image of the new Universe, his gaze going back to the developing dark zone. And I even have a place to start the search.


    He smirked. Who knows, maybe this cycle won''t be too boring.

 Chapter 6. Embrace it

    "D-dad? I miss her. I miss her so much."


    "Me too, Leo, me too. But we will get through this. Together."


    "You promise?"


    "Of course, kiddo, you''re all I have. I will never leave you."


    ~ A broken promise, over ten years ago.


    <hr>


    "Shit!" Leo hissed as the mild antiseptic slipped onto his bloody shoulder. The wound bubbled wherever the chemical touched, and he had half a mind to just bandage it and throw the thing away. He wasn''t even sure if the injury required disinfecting with the whole System. The pain from the wound wasn''t even half as bad as he expected and the cuts already showed some signs of healing.


    Better to be safe than sorry. He grunted, covering his shoulder with layers of blood-stained bandage. With only one normal hand, it had been a pain in the ass to dress the wound. The half-torn bandage ¡ª Damned claws ¡ª proved the point more than anything else.


    Not that the lack of any decent source of light helped. No lamps worked, and he had to search for a first aid kit in his trashed bathroom with the help of his glowing arm and the dim sunlight falling through a small window. Not an experience he wanted to repeat with a river of blood flowing down his shoulder.


    Sighing, Leo leaned against the bathroom wall, his mind slowly processing everything that happened in the last hour or so. The sudden introduction by the clone, his awakening on the kitchen floor, and the confrontation against the husk of his father.


    A father that he killed and consumed according to the increased glow of his tainted arm and the notifications after the fight.


    Leo grimaced. The shining veins just became an eternal reminder of what happened today...


    "And that was only a few minutes. What else is waiting out there?" He was almost afraid to know. Nonetheless, he couldn''t think like that. He still had a purpose to fulfill, probably the last thing keeping him from breaking apart.


    Get a grip.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: N/A


    Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 1


    Job: N/A


    Rank: F-


    Might Tier I (5) | LB: 1


    Grace: Tier I (8) | LB: 1


    Vision: Tier I (6) | LB: 0


    Mind: Tier I (7) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (4) | LB: 1


    Ether: 1


    Traits: Tainted (Uncommon), Assassin''s Grace (Common)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Manipulation (Common), Drain (Uncommon)


    General Skills: Dagger Mastery (Common), Stealth (Common), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon)


    A pity there is no health bar. He sighed, glancing at his bloodied shoulder. He experienced no dizziness or any other negative symptoms from all of the blood loss, so that was a good sign, or so he hoped. The mess of bandages around the wound only proved his lack of medical knowledge.


    Other than that, Identify finally decided to work to some degree when used on attributes. If Leo understood the rush of knowledge correctly, then Might was all about his body''s strength and durability, while Grace represented movement and dexterity.


    Sounds obvious now that I think of it. Well, except for Vision¡­


    The third attribute apparently didn''t refer only to his ability to see. Or rather, it did, just not in the way he expected. Instead, it affected every single sense a User possessed, improving their ability to understand the Universe as a whole with everything their race had.


    Morbid, but sounds useful. Now, what can you tell me about this Limit Break?


    Limit Break:


    A feature unique to the System. It allows every User to reach strength beyond what they are capable of at the current moment. Passively Limit Break is always active at 50% without any penalty. At the price of Ether and additional strain inflicted upon the User, Limit Break''s power can be increased to even 150%.


    Current Price: 1.5 Ether per minute at 100% LB


    Leo furrowed his brow. Even if it was only fifty percent, he didn''t feel any stronger after the Limit Break was activated; quite the opposite in fact.


    Wait a second. His gaze dropped to the list of his skills, searching for the new addition.


    Here.


    Reinforcement (Uncommon):


    An ancient technique used to strengthen your body. By controlling and reinforcing Essence''s flow, you become stronger, faster, and tougher. A skill with infinitely high potential and even higher risk.


    Effects:


    Provides the ability to augment your physical attributes by a maximum of 50%. Be warned that overusing this skill might bring severe exhaustion or even death. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Might and Mind.


    And that explains everything. Leo nodded as his mind returned to the sudden surge of power he felt during his struggle against Ed¡­ the Voidling. He pretty much tossed the monster like a bag of potatoes at the exact moment as his veins lit up like a bloody Christmas tree.


    The severe exhaustion and his lack of control over his ''awakened'' body had to be the reason for his dismissal of Limit Break''s activation. Well, that and the fact that it is only half a point in three attributes. Although maybe I would have felt the addition to Soul if I understood this Essence any better¡­


    Leo shook his head and climbed to his feet. He had already wasted enough time, and as much as his body wanted to recover from Reinforcement, there was too much to do. Like discovering more about this System and finding out why there was no light in the house.


    Stepping into the corridor, he pulled up another skill.


    Drain (Uncommon):


    Butchered skill of every normal Voidling that depends on pure brute force. For you, it''s the only way to keep on surviving after the curse infected your soul.


    Effects:


    Allows you to drain Voidlings of their Void Essence. Requires the use of your cursed limb. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Soul.


    Of course. Leo scowled. An ability inherited from the very creatures that were supposed to hunt him. No other uses except for keeping him alive¡­


    Waving away the information, he once again flicked the light switch in his living room. The clicks echoed through the room, but no signs of light appeared. A lump formed in his throat as a thought entered his mind.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    No way. He stalked towards the same table he and Edward had sat by just some time ago and grabbed his phone. He tried to unlock it, but when the device''s screen remained dark, his finger flew to the next button, pressing it with all his might.


    A second, ten more, even a minute, nothing happened. The phone refused to give any signs of life.


    Cursing, he dropped the broken device and dashed to the corner of the living room, where a small TV sat. Just like before, his fingers pressed every button they found, but the outcome was the same.


    "No way," Leo repeated, his voice not even a whisper. This damned outbreak took out everything that used electricity.


    Just like that most of his plans flew out through the window. Crushed along with the TV that got introduced to his deformed fist.


    "Shit," he growled and dropped on the couch just a few feet away.


    Now what? I can''t call or contact them. Nick, I might be able to reach. After all, he lives near the town square, but Lily? Mom and Dad? One is over a hundred kilometers away, and the other two are still in Poland¡­


    Reaching them without any automated transport could take days or weeks, and that was without taking the new state of the world under consideration. The clone described the ninety percent of the population transformed into Voidlings as one of the threats of this new reality.


    Who knew what other dangers lurked in the darkness?


    Leo shook his head. As much as he never wanted to find out, he knew better. Once he left this house behind, there was no doubt in his mind that those threats would show their hand sooner or later. The question was, how to prepare for the inevitable?


    Supplies first. Food, medications, and some clothes. With a backpack to carry it all. He listed it all, his mind going a hundred miles per hour.


    Also. His eyes wandered to his cursed arm. I need weapons.


    The claws might be able to cut through the flesh of those abominations, but his normal hand remained unarmed and pretty useless. Punching those things could only get him so far, as such getting some additional armament was a must. Dad should have his hunting rifle hidden somewhere in their house.


    Now, Leo might have shot a gun only a few times in his life, but he would still take a firearm over a bow any day. And while the sound of gunshots might become a problem, he didn''t plan to shoot unless a situation became too heated.


    Anything else? He scratched his chin, going over the short list of items again. Not really, although a map for future reference could be useful.


    Some of those items could be easily found in his home, but others? Not so much. Weapons? He didn''t have any, apart from kitchen knives. Medicine? Besides the now bloodied first aid kit, he never bought anything else. Same with a physical map. Who needed those when the internet was a thing¡­


    "Guess a trip to my neighbors and Mom and Dad''s house is in order," Leo murmured, grimacing ever so slightly.


    More houses meant more possible Voidling encounters. While he knew very well that there was no way to avoid further confrontations with those monsters, he could barely stomach the thought of seeing more people he recognized turned into those creatures.


    Unfortunately, there was no other way. He needed those supplies if he ever wanted to survive out there. One Voidling almost managed to end his life, and he had watched enough zombie movies to know what awaited him inside the city.


    Leo took a deep breath and stood up. He made a promise to find and protect his remaining family. Familiar faces or not, he had to push on.


    <hr>


    In the end, Leo decided to gather every useful item from his house and then head out. It was the logical thing to do, even if he knew better...


    As much as he wanted to find his family, the bone-chilling fear of the new reality stuck to him like glue. It screamed at him to hide and try to wait out this whole bullshit.


    Not that he listened too much. Scared shitless he might be, he still had a goal. A goal that currently forced him to gather supplies¡­


    Any type of food that could last longer than a few days. Clothes that offered ease of movement and a bit of protection ¡ª which they didn''t according to the System''s Identify. And any sort of miscellaneous items that just might provide higher chances of survival.


    All of this went straight to an old backpack Leo used during his university years. It had enough space to carry the essentials but not much more. Even then, he didn''t want to overload himself too much.


    Only the matter of weapons remained.


    He had already scoured the entire house, going through long-forgotten boxes or drawers that remained closed for years. Even then, he found nothing apart from a few sharp kitchen knives and one item that definitely shouldn''t be in the building.


    A dagger.


    By his estimation, the weapon was about a foot long, including the rotten handle. The curved blade had definitely seen better days. Chipped along the edges, with layers of coppery rust covering its entire length.


    When Leo found it lying on the kitchen floor, he wondered if it was even worth taking the weapon. What use was a dagger that looked like it could break at any moment?


    That was what he thought until he pressed the tip of the blade to his skin. It only required a weak push to draw blood and a hiss from him.


    "Alright, not as useless as I thought," Leo snorted, wiping the blood with his shirt. Now, the question remained: where did the blade even come from?


    "Let''s see¡­"


    Rusty Dagger (Broken):


    A gift from the System, awarded upon class selection. This blade might not last long, but it still can inflict some damage if you try hard enough. Ether Upgrades: Locked.


    Should have done that from the start. He sighed, flipping the dagger in his hand. He didn''t rely too much on Identify as it refused to work on most of his collected stuff. Though, seeing the weapon''s description, he reasoned that maybe there had to be something special about the item for the skill to work. Definitely something to test along the way.


    Looking towards the window on the other side of the living room, Leo narrowed his eyes. He had already wasted over an hour or so collecting items in his house, and if he wanted to loot the neighborhood before it got dark, he had to go now.


    He gripped the dagger and moved toward the front door. It was high time to use what the System had given him.


    Stealth (Common):


    Move with the shadows, hide from the light. Let the silence and Essence guide you through those dangerous lands.


    Effects:


    A simple ability capable of covering you in a faint layer of Essence to create a protective aura. When activated, you become slightly less noticeable to everyone around you. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Grace.


    Like with most parts of the System, the skill''s activation and only activation came to him instinctively.


    The moment his Essence moved, Leo had to grab it with every ounce of willpower to stop the energy from dispersing. Like a tug of war, two powers of one soul fought for control.


    In the end, he won, sweat drenching his forehead as the ability activated. For a single second, every vein in his body lit up with a dim crimson glow as Essence settled against his skin, slowly enveloping his entire form in a thin layer of invisible barrier.


    Leo shivered. While having Essence coursing through his body felt natural, the blanket of energy currently covering his body was the exact opposite. And the less said about the time it took to activate the skill, the better.


    Don''t I have some sort of ability to help with that? Yeah, this one.


    Essence Manipulation (Common):


    For centuries, beings all around the multiverse have tried to utilize the mysterious energy slumbering deep inside their souls. Now, thanks to the System, your soul is fully awakened, opening the full potential of your body and mind.


    Effects:


    This skill slightly improves the control over your Essence already granted by the Mind attribute. Additionally, it provides you with basic instinctive knowledge on how to utilize Essence. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Soul.


    Basic and ''slightly'' indeed, Leo scowled. Dismissing the window, he grabbed the handle of the front door. No time to waste.


    The hinges squeaked as he pushed the door ajar. Peaking through, he took the first glimpse of the new reality without the protection of a window.


    The red sun still hung in the sky, though now it neared closer to the horizon with every second. The rest of the world also changed more than he had initially noticed. While most of the neighborhood bathed in the sun''s rays, some ¡ª like small parts of grass, bushes, or trees ¡ª decided to absorb the light and change their coloring to a shade of scarlet.


    Leo had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn''t hallucinating. Thanks to this damned Void Outbreak, even the forest he used for runs was partially painted in red. The sight alone sent chills down his spine.


    Still crouched, he took a deep breath and trailed towards the Gibsons'' house. He had to get used to images like this. This world had changed forever; it wouldn''t be the last time something impossible happened.


    With that in mind, Leo crossed the distance between the houses, his eyes darting in every possible direction, searching for any signs of otherworldly creatures. He found none, and not for the first time, he thanked his biological family for buying a house so far away from the center of the city.


    Even then, any peace provided by the lack of Voidlings was crushed by the screams and howls that echoed through the air every now and then. They were faint and distant, barely carried that far by the almost unnoticeable breeze.


    Behind the walls of his house, those screams were only a distant thought, but now, as he stood in front of Gibsons'' house''s backdoor, they became a reality. What waited for him out there? Did he really want to know?


    "Maybe I don''t, but it''s not like I have a choice," Leo murmured and twisted the handle.

 Chapter 7. Familiar faces

    "They''re all dead. Gone, forever. Day after day, I searched for anyone without those glaring ruby eyes that haunt me every night. But there was no one out there, and as time passed, even our blazing star dimmed until all light left my home. Darkness comes for everyone, and it seems my turn has finally arrived."~ Unknown diary, Cycle of Despair, 16th Outbreak


    <hr>


    The door creaked open, and Leo thanked whatever deities were listening that Gibsons loved to spend hours outside their house, thus leaving their backdoor open. He didn''t fancy breaking another lock when he was out in the open¡­


    Almost tiptoeing, he entered a familiar hallway that connected the front and back of the house. Shadows surrounded him from every side, and the stench of blood and death instantly filled his nostrils.


    He grimaced. Not good.


    The grip on his dagger tightened.


    When he found his father''s husk, he didn''t smell a thing. And even though he wasn''t paying much attention to such details back then, he could have never forgotten the overpowering scent of blood, not after that night¡­


    Taking a deep breath, Leo stalked forward, his glowing hand acting as a glorified lamp. He really needed to find a better light source than his own limb.


    He hugged one of the walls with his back and peeked into the living room, eyes scanning the dimly lit area. With no monsters in sight, he entered, passing some old furniture as he neared the entrance to the kitchen.


    Like before, nothing awaited him inside except for some fruits lying on the cupboard.


    Grabbing an apple between his claws, Leo frowned at the white mold that already consumed over half of the fruit''s crumpled surface.


    This doesn''t seem right.


    Whenever Mrs. Gibson wasn''t bothering her neighbors with small talk, she worked hard to make everything around her house pristine. That or she strong-armed her husband into doing it for her. Everybody in the area knew that.


    As such, it seemed impossible for the fruit to achieve such a state and still remain in Gibson''s household. No, there had to be something wrong with this entire situation. Just like with the sudden growth spurt of some of the smaller plants and grass outside.


    How long was I trapped inside my soul?


    Leo had no way to answer this question. The clone certainly forgot to mention how much time passed in the real world during the Awakening. However, with all of the changes caused by the Outbreak, there could be a different reason for the molding rather than the passage of time. After all, his food was in the same state he left it. Though, he only ever bought stuff that could last at least a week.


    It''s not important now. He shook his head, retreating to the hallway, the apple left forgotten.


    For the next few minutes, he stalked around the house''s ground floor, his heart rate picking up with every opened door. Crouched at all times, he was ready to bolt out of the house at any moment''s notice.


    Soon, with every room cleared, only the stairway remained, looming over him as the scent of blood assaulted his nostrils once again, now stronger than ever. He gulped and set his feet on the first step.


    The wood creaked, and Leo stilled, breath catching in his throat. For a moment, the world stopped, waiting for a signal to move ¡ª a signal that arrived swiftly in the form of a blood-chilling screech that filled the entire house.


    As if someone slapped him in the face, he moved, almost flying back to the living room.


    Heart thundering, he leaned against the wall just next to the entrance and forced his Essence to obey for a moment longer. The defensive barrier, as uncomfortable as it was, still provided him with the advantage he needed.


    Leo gulped as another screech reached his ears, this one louder and accompanied by groans of the wooden stairway. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the glowing arm behind his back and raised the dagger next to his face.


    Please don''t fail me now.


    Another growl, almost next to his ear, had him moving in a flash. He pushed the dagger into the arch leading into the living room, forcing metal to meet cursed flesh. There was some resistance, but he paid it no mind as he spun around, his claws already descending at the growling monster.


    Black blood spilled all over his face as three long gashes appeared on Voidling''s throat. Not that the damage stopped the monster. Its crimson glare met his eyes, and the creature sailed forward, sharp nails going for his face.


    "Fuck!" Leo raised his deformed arm and blocked the attack. More blood dripped on the ground, but just like the monster, he struck back, dagger sailing at the beast''s chest where the heart should be.


    He stabbed once and yanked the blade back, punching the monster in the face with his other hand. The Voidling snarled as it stumbled back. Despite all of its wounds, the creature recovered fast, bending its legs and jumping back into the fray.


    Leo jerked away, avoiding a swipe of the Voidling''s wicked nails. The dark creature followed. Its arms sailed forward, but it was too late as suddenly his Essence, or maybe instincts, began to whisper into his ears.


    Take a step back. Correct your hold. Bend your knees. Arms just a bit higher. Those short pieces of advice continued flowing into his mind, slowly providing him with the advantages he needed.


    Is it the Dagger Mastery? It must be.


    Despite his improvement and the numerous cuts the Voidling collected in their exchange, it never slowed down. The monster just pushed on, attacking with more ferocity after every gash Leo created.


    Die, you piece of shit! He snarled, blocking yet another swipe of the beast''s fingers. Two stabs in the heart, dozens of cuts, a ripped-out throat, and yet this thing still stood.


    He even attempted to activate Reinforcement to overpower the monster, but the skill refused to form, Essence suddenly abandoning him. Only Identify worked, and apart from letting him know that this Cursed Human was already level two, he didn''t gain any new information.


    Then, out of nowhere, Leo caught a glint of silvery glow at the left side of the Voidling''s abdomen. He had almost missed it thanks to the crimson light coming from the monster''s cracked skin¡­


    Frustrated by the lack of progress, he just went with the flow. He ducked underneath another wild slash and cut the monster across the glowing area. The Voidling howled, stumbling over its own feet.


    Not questioning what the hell even happened, he kicked the creature for good measure and tackled it to the ground. This time, stabbing at something the monster hopefully couldn''t live without.


    Its brain.


    The rusty blade impacted the side of the Voidling''s skull, and he screamed, pouring every bit of his strength to pierce the bone. Yet the tissue held at first and the Cursed creature used this time to add a few more bloody scratches to his side.


    Leo grunted and pushed even harder, a loud crack echoing through the room as the dagger finally slipped into the beast''s skull.


    At once, the Voidling stilled, its arms falling to the ground as the crimson glow left its eyes.


    He rolled off the monster and lay next to the corpse, his chest heaving up and down.


    I won. Holy shit, I won. He coughed, trying to close his eyes, only for a few lines of text to pop up in the corner of his vision.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Is a minute too much to ask for? He groaned and pushed himself up to lean against an overthrown armchair.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Level 2 reached. Class attributes distributed. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Really? Do I need to do it now? Receiving no answer, he cursed and closed his eyes momentarily, thinking about his options.


    He didn''t need any more Grace and Vision. Leo had enough of these from his class. Might seemed like an obvious choice considering all the injuries he just gained. Some pure strength also couldn''t hurt¡­


    Then there was Mind and Soul. Both attributes related to Essence. Having more doesn''t sound like a good idea when I can''t even control the amount I already have.


    Yeah, Might and Mind it is. Leo nodded, accepting the choice.


    The instant the thought left his mind, his gaze blurred, muscles spasming. Instinctively, he curled into a ball, a silent scream leaving his mouth. The blinding pain threatened to consume him, yet in a matter of seconds, it faded away, like it didn''t just rearrange his insides.


    Damn. He gasped, opening his eyes.


    Despite the pain he had just experienced, Leo had never felt more refreshed, more alive. It was almost like he had spent all of his life underwater and the level-up pulled him out, all the while pumping him with shots of adrenaline. Hell, even the world around him became just a bit clearer, the darkness notwithstanding.


    Wait a moment¡­


    Stiffening, he reached within himself, observing his raging Essence. There, he barely felt any changes. Only upon touching it did he notice the slightly friendlier response from the mysterious energy.


    That''s something, I guess.


    With a sigh, Leo sprung to his feet, immediately marveling at the ease of the movement. He took a few steps to experiment, and it really felt like some weight was taken off his shoulders. Even some of the aches faded away.


    And then reality came crashing around him as his eyes landed on the corpse and the blood staining the wooden floor. He flinched, realizing that the sudden burst of strength almost made him forget why he was even here.


    Grimacing, he crouched next to the Voidling and let his cursed arm cast some light on the monster''s form.


    Leftovers of gray hair clung to the monster''s wrinkled, round-shaped face, an inherited trait of the Gibson family.


    Leo turned away, refusing to look at another person he knew well. Yet, despite that, a sudden idea entered his mind as he glanced at his cursed limb. It seemed obvious, but the rising guilt held him back.


    He was dead a long time before this, fool¡­ I need to know how this works. How to survive. He tried to reason, the clone''s words coming back to haunt him.


    "If you ever hesitate, you will be left behind, consumed by the never-ending Void."


    The clone warned him, and Leo would have to be stupid not to listen after everything that had already happened today.


    "Forgive me. I must do this," he mumbled, his head hung low. "May you find peace, Charles Gibson."


    His claws descended, sinking into the Voidling''s abdomen.


    The glowing veins on his arm shone brighter as Essence moved, rushing right into his claws. Not even a minute passed before his neighbor''s body collapsed, leaving only a pile of dust behind.


    Pure Void Essence absorbed. Satiated status extended to 10 hours.


    Not as much as before. Leo frowned, watching the glow of his arm dim a bit. No matter how hard the guilt of desecrating his neighbor''s corpse weighed on his shoulders, deep inside, he knew that this had to be done. Now I know I can drain them even if they are dead, and that''s all that matters.


    Standing up, he took a final look at the living room and walked back into the hallway and onto the stairway. He still had to loot most of the house, but for now, he had to find out what happened upstairs. No matter how much his stomach twisted at the idea, he needed to know what to expect from those monsters.


    He stopped right next to the only open door on the upper floor, the stench of death almost overpowering his senses. Holding his breath, he peeked into the room and immediately backed off, bile raising in his throat.


    Fuck.


    The image rushed to the forefront of his mind, and Leo bent forward, hurling what was left in his stomach. The massacre waiting inside that room even brought back a particular memory from that night, and he barely stopped himself from throwing up again. The disgusting smell in the air only made this situation worse.


    Still coughing, he pulled a piece of his ruined shirt over his nose and took a few deep breaths.


    Fuck, fuck, fuck!


    Back against the wall, Leo stood frozen for what felt like an hour. Over and over, the images played in his mind. Taunting him with their macabre, laughing at his weakness.


    To hell with it. He growled, gritting his teeth as he stepped into the cursed bedroom.


    What should have been a small and homely room, turned into a scene straight out of high-budget horror. The Voidling he had just killed made sure of that.


    Splatters of blood covered almost every surface, be it horizontal or vertical. Then there was the bed, just as bloody as everything else, not that it held his focus. No, that privilege belonged to the body lying on the bed.


    Once again, Leo had to stop himself from hurling as his gaze fully settled on the mutilated corpse of Mrs. Gibson.


    Most of the top of her head seemed fine, apart from all of the blood. Her jaw was another story though. Ripped out and barely attached to the maw with bits of sinew. Going lower, he ignored the snapped neck and rested his eyes on the torso.


    A massacre. He shuddered, his eyes snapping from one half-eaten organ to another. The woman''s torso didn''t even resemble a human''s body anymore. If it weren''t for the fairly undamaged head, he wouldn''t be able even to guess the body''s identity.


    Enough. Leo averted his gaze, teeth grinding against each other. He quickly grabbed a discarded blanket from the floor and threw it over the bed, covering most of the horrifying sight.


    Just as fast, he left the room, shutting the door, the handle almost snapping in his grip. Maybe when his mind cleared a bit, he could come back there. For now though, he just didn''t have the mental strength to do it.


    With the images still fresh in his head, Leo returned downstairs. Food, weapons, and medications. Food, weapons, and medication. He repeated over and over again, forcing his mind to obey.


    <hr>


    In the end, he didn''t find anything useful in the Gibson household except some additional food and gardening tools, which he could use as a weapon ¡ª a very crude one, but a weapon nonetheless.


    Identify graded the tools at broken rarity, describing their durability as ''leaving much to be desired'' thanks to the steady flow of Void Essence in the air. Apparently, almost no pre-Outbreak item could withstand this corrosive energy for too long.


    With that in mind, Leo only grabbed a metal shovel, hoping its sharp edge could make a difference when it mattered.


    After that, the looting continued, becoming almost mechanical as his thoughts often strayed to the body lying in the bedroom. The memory alone made him dizzy, so he always forced his thoughts to go in another direction.


    Like the fight against the Voidling. Which, in hindsight, didn''t go that well.


    He wanted to finish the monster fast, just like an assassin should. Stagger it with a stab to the chest and then cut its throat open. Of course, that particular tactic didn''t work, and he had to engage the beast in a head-on battle.


    A battle that would have lasted forever if the System hadn''t guided him through the basics of using a dagger. And the less said about the silvery glow, the better. He had no clue how it even worked, but at least he got the taste of the final skill in his arsenal.


    Vital Strike (Common):


    Since ancient times, people have tried to find ways to defeat their enemies with a few swift strikes. Now, one of their abilities is yours to wield.


    Effects:


    After drawing blood from your enemy, you have a chance to spot one of their weak spots. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Vision and Mind.


    ''Draw blood'' was all the System offered. It gave no instinctual knowledge of how the skill worked and no explanation why in the bloody hell it required Vision and Mind.


    Whatever. Leo grumbled as he locked the backdoor of Gibson''s house. This place had nothing left to offer, and staying in there any longer wasn''t good for his sanity. His foster parents'' house awaited.


    The crimson sun still shone upon the small neighborhood, providing him with just enough visibility to shuffle along the building''s walls. His house might be closer, but the thought of sleeping where Edward died just didn''t seem wise. Not after a day like this.


    With his shoulders stiff from the backpack''s weight, Leo stopped just where the wall ended. Stealth once again covered him in an invisible blanket, and his eyes scanned the entire neighborhood for any signs of movement.


    The beating of his heart echoed in his mind as he forced himself not to jump when a powerful gust of wind rustled some plants in the distance. The reappearance of typical weather did nothing to calm his nerves.


    At last, Leo took a deep breath and sprung forward, dashing across the road. Not once did he look back as he neared the two-story house of his foster parents.


    With speed he didn''t possess just a few hours ago, he unlocked the door and jumped inside. The darkness welcomed him again, and he smiled for the first time today.


    "Safe for now."


    Almost as if someone was listening, a message appeared in front of his eyes, freezing the blood in his veins.


    Night is coming. Find a secure shelter or prepare to fight for your life. Nightmares are waking.


    Bonus experience and Ether awarded during the night. Good luck.

 Chapter 8. When the Darkness falls

    ¡°If there is one thing to fear, it is the darkness that comes with each night. Hide as fast as you can, because if you don¡¯t, Nightmares will come. They will tear you apart and harvest all the Essence you have left. Some are brave to fight them, risking their lives to advance faster. But is it really worth it?¡±


    ~Thoughts of a warrior, 26th Outbreak


    <hr>


    ¡°I just can¡¯t catch a break, can I? And Nightmares? Really? The hell does that even mean?¡± Leo grimaced as the message faded away. ¡°Must be one of those threats that the clone forgot to mention¡­¡±


    Just great.


    Fists clenched, he left the entrance hall and moved into a large living room, his shovel left forgotten by the door. A quick check around the house showed that nothing had disappeared since he was last here to water the plants just a few days ago. At least some good news¡­


    Leo placed his backpack on a table in the middle of the room and approached one of the windows, curiosity getting the better of him.


    The red sun still hung low in the sky, bathing this side of the world with its last rays as it neared the horizon. The wind that just a moment ago barely rustled through the bushes and leaves, now picked up the pace, forcing the trees in the distance to dance to its tune.


    Something''s definitely coming.


    The weather just didn¡¯t change like that without a reason. There was always some kind of build-up before a disaster struck. Besides, with the System¡¯s notification, he had to be mad to ignore the possibility of the approaching danger.


    Although I could use a bit more info.


    Cursing under his breath, Leo took a step back and tugged the curtains together, shielding the house from the outside world. He did the same thing to the other two windows, plunging the living room into complete darkness. Not stopping there, he dashed through every single room, taking away their only source of light.


    He returned to the living room, sweat drenching his forehead as he leaned against the table. Secure shelter my ass. He snorted, uncorking a bottle of water. As if a few curtains and bookshelves blocking the entrances could be called secure.


    The only good thing that came from the rearrangement of the furniture, was his decision to definitely assign a few more points to Might. Soul could wait. His empty lungs and burning muscles? Not so much. Not when this definitely wasn''t the last time when he had to move some heavy objects.


    Shaking his head, Leo threw the empty bottle away and moved upstairs, right into his old room.


    Unlike every other window in the house, the one in his room had a small gap in between the curtains. The lone ray of the sun became dimmer and dimmer with every minute, letting him know just how little time he had left before the night came.


    He locked the door behind him and sat on the small bed lying in the corner. His fists clenched as a burst of anger filled his veins.


    Hour after hour this day was becoming more and more messed up. First, he awakened with abilities that a week ago were reserved for fiction. Then he had to kill the remnants of his own father and another man he knew for over ten years.


    And now?


    He just might die in the coming hours. After all, what even counted as a "secure shelter" in this damned world? By hiding inside this closed and empty house, he could be signing his death sentence with a timer on it. And the less said about other survivors ¡ª his family ¡ª who probably had similar thoughts running through their minds, the better.


    Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Leo scowled, punching the bed¡¯s mattress with all the rage gathered in his veins.


    This damned Outbreak just had to happen in his Universe. Destroying his life. Destroying the lives of everyone in this bloody world.


    Stop. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force those thoughts away. Thinking like that won¡¯t help anyone.


    It wasn''t healthy, he knew that. Pushing problems away only hurt a person in the long run. But what else could he do? Break down crying just because life once again decided to shit on him? To wallow in pity and let the world swallow him?


    I can¡¯t, I won¡¯t.


    When he lost his mother, and after Edward decided to just up and leave one day, Leo almost threw away any future he had. He raged like a maniac until the people he now called family, rescued him. That day, he promised never to fall that low again. And if that meant pushing his problems to the deepest corners of his mind, then so be it.


    He took a few deep breaths and fell back on the bed, eyes closed. He would deal with all of this pain and anger one day. Just not now, not today.


    Minutes passed as he just laid there, mind empty of any thoughts as the howls of the wind outside continued to echo around him. However, as if someone flipped a switch, the world suddenly went silent. Even the rare screams and screeches of Voidlings died out.


    His eyes snapped open as Leo sat up, his gaze snapping towards the window.


    Darkness. Complete and utter darkness. No more light entered the room through the small gap and his cursed arm became the only source of lighting. Even then his veins seemed to dim a bit. Cursing, he moved to stand.


    ''Boom!''


    The entire world shook. Wind like no other crashed into the house. The building groaned, almost shaking as Leo fell back on the bed. The pressure in the air thickened. Doubling, tripling or even quadrupling as the powerful Essence in the air almost pushed him back into the mattress.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    That wasn¡¯t how I wanted to learn more about Essence. He groaned, slowly crawling towards the window.


    The wind was relentless, howling and pushing against anything that stood in its way. The roof and walls of the house continued to scream in protest. His heart thundered in his chest, hoping that the building was at least half as sturdy as it looked.


    Then, human screams and guttural screeches pierced the air. Joined by the wind, they created a symphony of death that pierced straight through his soul as he settled into a corner and shielded his ears.


    Night is here. Good luck.


    The words echoed through his mind as Leo shut his eyes and tried to focus on anything but the events happening outside. He sat there for God knew how long, taking in deep breaths to calm the heart that threatened to burst from his chest.


    He gasped when the house shook one last time, the pressure lessening just a bit. He could still feel the Essence in the air and hear the howling of the wind, but they no longer seemed like a threat to his life.


    A chuckle left his lips, a single word that perfectly summed up this situation leaving his mouth.


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    Even the screams quieted down, leaving only the bone-chilling screeches echoing through the neighborhood. Those sounds weren''t normal and definitely didn¡¯t belong to Cursed Humans. There must be something different, stronger outside, traversing the area of the city as the darkness consumed the world.


    Leo shuddered. He almost didn¡¯t want to know what made those sounds, but as they said ¡°knowledge is power¡±.


    He crouched low and once again approached the window, peeking through the small gap. His eyes widened, mouth opening as instead of pure darkness a much different sight lay ahead.


    While most of the world was still shrouded by darkness. Small parts of grass, leaves of bushes, and trees ¡ª the same ones that absorbed the Sun¡¯s hue ¡ª now illuminated the entire neighborhood with a dim crimson glow.


    The grass along with the fallen leaves created carpets of blood upon the ground, while the forest in the distance could make Christmas lights seethe in hatred. As unnatural as it was, this sight easily became one of the most beautiful things he had seen during his short life.


    Although, Leo had to wonder if the entire world would one day look like this. The whole Earth, covered in glowing flora. Only a day passed and so much had already changed. What more could happen in a week or a month? An interesting picture indeed. It gave him some hope that maybe the darkness of the night wouldn¡¯t be that bad with some light to guide lost survivors.


    Not that he had any plans to go outside during the night in the near future. He wasn¡¯t suicidal¡­ at least not yet.


    Leo shook his head as his thoughts began to wander. Focus. Once again, his gaze fell on the glowing grass and his eyebrow rose, an idea appearing in his mind.


    Why not?


    Bloody Vein (Common):


    A grass-like plant naturally found in Void realms. It was born thanks to the radiation of a Cursed Star. Possesses natural healing properties if used correctly. Often utilized as a basic ingredient in alchemy, smithing, and enchanting. Can be used in upgrades.


    Healing properties if used correctly. He hummed, expecting the System to give him some bullshit explanation of how useless red grass was. Yet he received something more.


    While the description provided him with some terms he didn¡¯t understand at all, he hoped that with time ¡ª and more Identified objects ¡ª he could learn all about this new reality. And the correct way to use this for healing. No way in hell I¡¯m experimenting on myself.


    His dagger also mentioned something about upgrades, and anyone who ever read some fantasy knew what alchemy and enchanting were. At least to some degree. The System might as well have something completely different in mind when mentioning those two things.


    At least you can¡¯t mess up with smith¡­ What is this?!


    Any thoughts about the red plant flew out of Leo¡¯s mind when some sudden movement caught his attention.


    It appeared at the end of the street, coming from the direction of the city. From so far, Leo only noticed a smudge of deep violet glow, moving towards the houses.


    He didn¡¯t move an inch, heart beginning to thunder like a drum of war.


    The Essence in his body came alive and he wrestled it under control in record time. The familiar blanket settled over his skin and a short sigh left his lips.


    Minutes dragged on as the creature came closer to the houses right next to the one he was in. With every single second passing, he could make out more and more of the now identified monster.


    Collector (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: E | LVL: N/A


    Leo shuddered. He might have broken into rank F himself after the advancement to the second level, but this creature had an entire rank over him. Hell, even its level wasn¡¯t available. And its body¡­


    He almost wished that the glow of its skin wasn¡¯t there. To save him another heart attack.


    I¡¯m dead if it finds me.


    When it stopped, the monster stood proud and tall, almost like a human. Its body was a pack of muscles covered in deformed skin much like on his own cursed arm. Add to that, similar to a Cursed Human, the Collector''s skin broke in hundreds of places, releasing the deep purple glow from within.


    Leo watched with bated breath as the monster traversed on all four, only to pause before the Gibson household. It raised its head, bald and ugly as if it was searching for something.


    The protective barrier around his body tightened as the creature jumped inside Gibson¡¯s house, shattering a window in the process.


    Leo refused to move, fear and curiosity freezing his bones.


    Why did you go there? He had to know. What if his current hideout would be the monster¡¯s next destination just because it was searching for something obvious? ¡®Collector¡¯ had to mean something and hopefully, it wasn''t just another name for a hunter.


    Thankfully, the Voidling appeared not even a minute later ¡ª he counted ¡ª jumping out through the same broken window with the massacred body of Mrs. Gibson slung over its shoulders.


    Leo held his breath, only letting it out when the creature disappeared into the night, going back towards the city. Now he definitely understood why the monster was named Collector. Though the question still remained. Did it want only dead bodies of humans or was there other stuff the monster was interested in?


    He hoped to never find out.


    Slumping, he leaned against the wall, his mind still trying to process what it had just witnessed. Another type of Voidlings. Much stronger than the two Cursed Humans according to the rank system.


    How is anyone supposed to survive against that?


    Death awaited survivors that met this creature face to face. Especially when only a day passed since this entire bullshit began. He doubted that anyone reached E- rank, not to mention E+.


    ¡°Only the strong survive indeed,¡± Leo snorted, a bitter laugh bubbling in his chest.


    Everything the clone said was true, only very understated. Not that words ever could prepare anyone for this new bloody reality. You have to experience this shit for yourself to even believe half of it.


    Leo shook his head, standing up. He grabbed the backpack and sat by a desk, another object of the past. A finger ran along the wooden surface and he coughed as dust filled the air.


    Whatever. He scoffed, solving the problem with a single swipe of his sleeve.


    Reaching within his backpack, he took out a few candy bars. Not the best type of food to survive the apocalypse but this was no place for complaining.


    Absently biting into the candy, he opened one of the drawers in the desk, checking if maybe he left something useful inside. His claws touched a stack of books and he tilted his head, delicately grabbing the papers.


    The veins of his arm bathed the two books in a warm glow and his eyes widened by just a fracture.


    Who would have thought that it was still here? He mused, running his hand along the cover of his first and only journal.


    Leo covered the rest of the candy bar and flipped the old leather book open. The uneven scrawl of his younger self greeted him and in spite of the events happening across the entire world, he smiled lightly.


    How the times had changed.

 Chapter 9. Shovel - a man’s best friend

    So I¡¯m supposed to write about my thoughts and feelings here. That¡¯s probably the dumbest idea I heard in a long time, but if I don¡¯t do this then that damned girl will never leave me alone¡­ How she got the thought in her head, that she will be the one to ¡°fix¡± me, I will never know. Not that I need any fixing to begin with¡­ Anyway, now I have to write this journal (Not a diary, I refuse to call it that), or the demon will keep bothering me even in school. Just like she did today. Dear God, I just hope this wasn''t another idea she found on the internet...


    Leo snorted. He was a right prick back then, pushing everyone away even when the Hales had taken him in after Edward left. He probably was the reason for their first gray hairs, and if Lily wasn¡¯t her normal annoying self, he would have never accepted his foster family.


    Worse than a prick. He shook his head and returned to the journal, trying to decipher the scrawl he once called his handwriting.


    If I go about it like every low-budget TV show does, then I probably should start with an introduction, no matter how dumb that sounds... Right, so my name is Leo Brown and no, it¡¯s just Leo, nothing more. I turned sixteen a few weeks back and my parents are dead. My mother died in a car crash just because some drunk bastard couldn¡¯t stop at a red light. He killed her, destroyed my family, and in return received only a few years in prison. What a wonderful justice system we have, hmm?


    Then there is my father, the person who I needed the most when my mom died. That fucking asshole promised! He fucking promised to never leave me and yet after a few weeks of casual neglect, he just left. No warning, no goodbyes, nothing. I only found out that he wouldn¡¯t be coming back from the Hales¡­ Now that fucker might as well be dead to me. May he rot in hell.


    He had no clue what came upon him back then. Ever since Edward had left, Leo refused to even mention his biological mother and father. And then, for some godforsaken reason, he sat down before the empty journal and the words just came out on their own. He wrote and wrote, spilling his heart on a piece of paper. Blunt as ever.


    And the moment he finished?


    Well, the dozens of lines scrawled all over the writing described his reaction quite well. As did his increased coldness towards everyone for over two weeks. Hell, even Lily stopped her attempts at ¡°fixing¡± him at that time.


    In her words, he played the part of a broody teenager with daddy issues quite perfectly.


    Turning to the next page, Leo retrieved the half-eaten candy bar and returned to the book. The journal didn¡¯t inspire many positive feelings in him, but he welcomed the respite from the looming apocalypse all the same. Not even some of the interesting parts of the journal could stop him from reading, which, in hindsight, might not have been the best of ideas.


    In no time, his eyelids grew heavier, his head coming closer and closer to the desk. The writing inside the journal slowly blurred as his eyes closed, and the darkness welcomed him with a warm embrace.


    <hr>


    The moment Leo woke up sitting on one of the most uncomfortable chairs and still feeling better than ever, he couldn¡¯t even be mad at himself for falling asleep. The soreness finally left his body, and most of the wounds he sustained yesterday, almost disappeared. Some had already scabbed, while others were gone altogether, leaving only a bit of discolored skin behind.


    He glanced at the small gap in the curtain where a thin ray of red sun entered the room once again and smiled. At least now he had another day to plan and maybe move along with his goal.


    Yet before he could get up, another notification from the System decided to appear.


    You managed to survive the Night outside a Safe Zone. Zero Voidlings and survivors killed. Congratulations.


    Is this bullshit mocking me? Leo furrowed his brow. And what do you even mean by a safe zone? Is it just another name for a secure shelter? Nah¡­ Until now the System was quite consistent with its naming policies.


    With a scowl etched onto his face, he dismissed the message. He had no doubt in his mind that his parent''s house wasn''t considered a secure shelter, much less a safe zone. A few curtains and wooden shelves had no chance to stand against the nightmares of the Night. There was no doubt about that.


    Way to ruin a somewhat happy morning. He grumbled.


    No matter what the System said, he would still have to use empty buildings like this one to hide during the night. Make them as secure as possible and then hope that none of the Nightmares had a reason to enter a seemingly empty house. And in case they did?


    Well, he planned to at least try to escape. Although, there was a saying, ''No plan survives contact with the enemy¡¯, and the Nightmares just might kill him before he even moved. F and E rank seemed like quite a big gap so who really knew¡­


    Yeah, let¡¯s not think about that now. I really don¡¯t need the images of being torn to shreds in my head. Leo grimaced, pushing those thoughts away.


    The problem of sleep was another matter altogether. Even with those new superpowers, there was no good moment to sleep until he could find or create this so-called ¡®secure shelter¡¯.


    Last night he was lucky enough that nothing decided to check his house and get a free snack. Besides if it wasn''t for the journal, his troubled mind would have never let him close his eyes after seeing the Collector carry out the body of Mrs. Gibson.


    So the night is out. At least until I find something more secure.


    Then again, sleeping during the day had its own disadvantages as it was the only time when he wasn¡¯t scared shitless to travel. With the sun out and no Nightmares wandering around the city, his chances of survival rose significantly. Also, who said that normal Voidlings couldn¡¯t try to kill him when he slept during the day?


    ¡°This is hopeless,¡± he murmured, head in his hands. ¡°In the end, it will depend on luck and the safety of the place I can find. Nothing more.¡±


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Out of nowhere, his stomach grumbled. Leo scowled and reached into his backpack, removing some dried meat and another bottle of water. He always thought better with some food in his stomach so why not kill two birds with one stone?


    As he ate, his mind drifted, searching for ideas to solve at least one of his problems. Everything seemed too risky, wasted too much time, or was straight-up impossible.


    No good way to go around it. Risk is always involved so might as well just wing it and try to sleep during the night while hiding in a barricaded bathroom or basement. Most of those don¡¯t have windows.


    He sighed. Maybe it wasn''t the best idea, but he had no better ones.


    With that he put the leftovers back into his bag and approached the window. Let¡¯s see what the night brought onto the world.


    The curtains parted and instantly a curse slipped past his mouth.


    The sun and transformed plants still colored the entire world in hues of red. What truly surprised him were the branches and pieces of roof tiles scattered all around the neighborhood. To add to the absolute chaos outside the window, he had already spotted two Cursed Humans walking around mindlessly, their red eyes scanning the area.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± he mumbled, the urge to bang his head against the window getting particularly strong now. ¡°Where did you even come from?¡±


    Getting no answer, Leo walked away, muttering curses on the way out. He made his way downstairs and when he entered the living room, his body froze as a loud crunch reached his ears.


    He looked down and lifted his leg, eyes widening as the glow of his arm glinted against dozens of small pieces of shattered glass.


    Like a spring, he jumped away, his dagger rising just below his face as he scanned the almost dark room for any signs of life. Nothing seemed out of place and while he spotted a few more glass shards reflecting the light of his arm, it certainly wasn¡¯t anything to pull his hair out for.


    Still not lowering the dagger, Leo approached one of the windows and slowly pulled the curtains apart.


    Rays of the sun blasted the entire room, bathing it in dim light. He once again sent his gaze searching, finally finding a large pile of glass under another window.


    This had to be the wind, right?


    He really hoped that was the case. The thought of a Collector or any other Voidling walking inside the house when he slept didn¡¯t fill him with much joy.


    Gripping the dagger even tighter, he decided to check the entire house. Just in case if something wanted to surprise him when he moved on to looting the building.


    <hr>


    For once luck shined upon him as there were no uninvited guest inside the house. As such Leo moved to the final task: looting his adoptive parents'' house. Something which he promised to keep to himself when he finally found the rest of his family. They didn¡¯t need to know who trashed their house.


    Not that it really matters anymore.


    Honestly, not much was left to be looted as his parents left almost no food before their trip and he had enough clothes for now. Only the first aid kit ¡ª which he almost dismissed thanks to his recovery in the span of one night ¡ª and his dad¡¯s hunting rifle interested him.


    He found the long rifle ¡ª a well-crafted CZ with a walnut stock ¡ª inside a box within the attic. The box might have been locked, but his claws didn¡¯t really care about such mundane things.


    Along with the weapon, he took a scope for later use and two boxes full of ammunition. For the first time, Leo thanked whatever deities were listening, that his dad had an unhealthy obsession with hunting.


    I just hope ¡®Identify¡¯ isn¡¯t lying about the fact that you are still in perfect condition. He thought as he gazed at the weapon in his hands.


    Happy with his find, he tied it to the side of his backpack and retreated downstairs, ready to unbarricade the backdoor.


    I really need more points in Might, especially with the bonus from the trait gone. He grumbled, taking a moment to catch his breath and activate Stealth.


    Soon, the barrier once again formed around his skin and he opened the door just enough to slip outside.


    He hugged the back of the house and slowly walked towards the end of the wall. He peeked around the corner and instantly snapped his head back when he noticed a Voidling standing right in his path. With a scowl, he walked to the other side of the building and checked the situation there.


    Empty. Leo sighed and followed the thin path between the fence and the wall. Once again he stopped at the next corner and leaned out, hoping that the Voidling from the other side of the house just remained there.


    It hadn¡¯t.


    This time the Cursed Human stood next to the front door, its nails scraping against the walls as if testing its durability.


    Of course, it couldn¡¯t be that easy. Can they feel my presence around here or is my luck just that shitty?


    He could jump over the fence next to him and go behind the neighboring house, but he didn¡¯t trust himself enough to be completely quiet during the climb. Besides, he had no clue if the other side was even safe¡­


    Just then a brilliant idea entered his mind. It was one of the oldest tricks in the book. Something that always worked in movies, tv-series or the few games he played. Hell, the idea even seemed quite smart when he took the Cursed Human¡¯s stupidity under consideration.


    Shrugging, Leo bent down, retrieved a small rock, and threw it on the road.


    The Voidling screeched, and he smiled when the beast turned and howled in the direction where the rock fell. Then as if guided by a godly hand, the monster¡¯s head snapped towards Leo¡¯s position.


    Okay, that¡¯s just straight-up bullshit. The beast screeched and Leo again hid behind the corner, both of his hands gripping the shovel as he settled into position.


    When the growls of the Voidling almost rang his ears, he swung with everything he got.


    ¡®Crunch!¡¯


    He threw away the slightly bent shaft of the shovel as the Voidling collapsed to the ground with a thump. The monster twitched, trying to recover from having its head flattened.


    Not today.


    Thinking quickly, Leo reached for the dagger tucked in his waistline and jumped forward. He straddled the creature and pushed the weapon against its thick skull while his claws dug into the monster''s stomach.


    The Voidling writhed under him, flailing its arms at everything but him.


    With one last push, the skull cracked open while his claws drank the last bits of the monster''s Essence. Power filled his veins as the Tainted trait activated, giving him the much-needed strength as another Voidling almost barreled into him.


    Of course, you had to come. He cursed, rolling away.


    To prove that today just wasn¡¯t his day, the monster recovered almost instantly after it stumbled upon its kin¡¯s body.


    With a growl, Leo dashed to the side, jerking away from another mad charge. The beast was relentless and even faster than the husk of Charles Gibson. No way they are at the same level.


    The bent shovel once again landed in his hands and he quickly used the tool to block a swipe from the monster. Metal met weaponized fingernails, but the shovel didn¡¯t give in.


    I love this shit. Leo grinned as he pushed forward, forcing the Voidling¡¯s back into the wall.


    The monster momentarily lost its footing and he swung the shovel again. The metal handle sailed true and the Voidling bent forward, a primal screech escaping its throat.


    ¡°Go to hell,¡± he growled, and with the blunt side of the shovel, he sent the monster sprawling on the ground.


    It tried to crawl towards him, but Leo quickly bonked the creature in the head again and positioned the blade of the gardening tool right above its neck.


    Like a guillotine, the shovel fell with all of the strength he could muster.


    Blood sprayed everywhere as it cut through the Voidling''s neck, severing an artery. The metal reached almost the end of the neck before it stopped, not having enough force to continue.


    Bile rose in his throat as the blood splayed on the ground. The natural reaction of his body almost won, only to be stopped by the twitching of the monster¡¯s arm.


    Leo gulped, grimacing as his throat burned. However, with a quick tug, he yanked the shovel out and brought it down again, finishing the job as the Voidling¡¯s head rolled to the side.


    With the bloody shovel still in hand, he turned away from the sight and collapsed against the fence, sliding down until his bottom hit the floor.


    Fuck.

 Chapter 10. Life and Death

    ¡°They say that ninety percent of the population dies during the outbreak and initially that¡¯s the truth. But how many of those ten percent survive the awakening? The first Night? The first storm? It all really depends on the survivors'' luck and their will to survive. After that? Well, they either adapt or drop dead. There is no place for weaklings in the Void, or at least that was once the case.¡±


    ~ Lone Traveler, 31st Outbreak


    <hr>


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Cursed Human (LVL: 3) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Level three. Of course, it had to be level three already. Leo grimaced, his chest still heaving up and down. Though the shovel really came in handy. I will need to find something similar once it breaks.


    The bloodied tool still laid in his hands, ready to rise at any moment if anything tried to attack him again. For now, though, he would like to at least catch his breath after a fight he probably shouldn¡¯t have survived.


    What a mess¡­


    A confrontation with one Voidling was dangerous enough, and yet he went straight ahead and fought two. His only saving grace was the fact that he didn¡¯t have to beat both of them at the same time.


    Leo sighed, dismissing the notifications as he forced himself to look at the two dead Voidlings. As much as he didn¡¯t want to know who he''d killed, the knowledge of where they came from was too important.


    Despite some of its body already turning into dust, he recognized the monster with a dagger in its head almost instantly. It was another elderly man, one who lived alone in a house just a few steps away from the entrance to the forest.


    Not good. He gulped as he stood up and approached the headless body. This thing grew more monstrous just after one day and had already reached level three. Was this what the clone meant by saying that Voidlings grew stronger with each day?


    Isn¡¯t this a bit too fast? I already fought four of those things and only reached level two after killing the second one... No, this one must have killed someone before the night had even begun¡­ Same situation as with Mr. Gibson.


    Leo grimaced, not liking the sound of his thoughts one bit. If he was right then another survivor died before they even had a chance to fight back. Just how many people have died because they were unlucky?


    His already bad mood plummeted even more. He had been fortunate that Edward decided to visit the bathroom before the Outbreak, but what about large families or other gatherings in public places?


    A shiver ran down his spine as the images of people awakening to hordes of Voidlings began to play in his mind. What a fucked-up way to die. Be lucky to survive the Outbreak, only to open your eyes to a couple of monsters ready to make a snack out of you.


    Lucky indeed.


    Leo closed his eyes momentarily and pushed those thoughts away. He was still in the open and had enough depressing memories to last a lifetime, he didn¡¯t need more. Better to focus on something that could help him survive.


    With another look at the headless body, he flexed his claws and buried them in the corpse, Essence immediately rushing towards his body. He did the same thing to the other half-drained Voidling and nodded when the System informed him that the curse was satiated for another seven hours.


    The process of draining the bodies of his neighbors still weighed heavily on his mind. On the one hand, he needed this to survive and to keep the bonus from his trait active. On the other hand, he felt like he took everything away from those people when their bodies collapsed to dust.


    It was stupid, he knew that. They were all long dead, taken away by the so-called Void. Nothing he did to them afterward could change that.


    I¡¯m doing what I have to survive. Leo repeated once again, leaving the piles of dust and the blood-stained ground behind him as he followed the fence to its edge. Morals regarding the bodies of monsters should be the least of his concerns right now.


    He peeked around the end of the fence and scanned the entire neighborhood. No more Voidlings were in sight, but from the muffled growls echoing in the distance and some broken windows in sight, he knew that sooner or later more monsters would come out.


    Hopefully, I won¡¯t be here to see that. He thought and dashed right towards his home.


    <hr>


    In the long run, Leo had only two goals. To survive and find out the fate of his family.


    The clone and the System provided him with enough tools to survive as long as he didn¡¯t make some rash and stupid decisions. Which would be fine and dandy if his second goal could be achieved without a bunch of not-so-smart ideas.


    To find Nick¡¯s family, he had to travel deep into the den of the lion, a city full of monsters. And for all his bravado he didn''t fancy his chances against hordes of Voidlings. At least not yet.


    As such, he needed a plan. A plan that gave him a chance to prepare, thus increasing his chances of survival, but at the same time brought him closer to Nick¡¯s home. The answer to this problem was surprisingly easy, even if a lot of things could go wrong.


    His brother lived on the completely opposite side of the city, just a few streets away from the town square. The fastest way there would be to go straight through the town, but he could also go around the city¡¯s periphery and then enter it from the industrial side which should have fewer Cursed Humans active.


    It didn¡¯t solve all of his problems as he still had to make his way through some Voidling-infested streets. However, at least the risk was much lower and it also gave him some time to get ready for the inevitable.


    He could kill a few Voidlings on his way there and hopefully grow strong enough to reach get to Nick¡¯s house relatively fast. It was far from a well-thought-out plan, but he couldn''t stay in his house any longer.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Not when every second mattered. Leo gritted his teeth, stopping the flow of water from the tap and leaving his bathroom. Electricity might be down, but at least the flow of water was still there as long as the water towers didn¡¯t collapse.


    As he walked into the living room, he grabbed a change of clothes. Simple cargo pants he found deep in his wardrobe and a shirt along with a black hoodie to offer some warmth just in case the weather decided to flip once again.


    Fully clothed, he approached the table where all of the supplies waited and put what he needed inside his bag. His father''s rifle once again found its place at the backpack¡¯s side, while his rusty dagger slid neatly into a makeshift sheath made from scraps of clothes.


    This might be the last time I see this place. Leo sighed as he gave the room the final look. He had no reason to ever come back here beyond resupplying, and even then, it probably wouldn¡¯t be worth the trip back. Besides, living so close to a city full of Cursed Humans and Collectors was just asking for trouble.


    Shaking his head lightly, he moved towards the small dresser in the corner and grabbed the lone photo of his mother. This was one of the things he just couldn¡¯t leave without.


    He opened the frame and put the picture into one of the many pockets on his pants. A deep breath, followed by a loud exhale, led him towards the door.


    Without looking back, Leo stepped outside.


    It¡¯s time to go.


    With the sun behind him, he stalked towards the forest, Essence once again encompassing him in a protective blanket. The day just began so he had about eight to ten hours for a trip that normally shouldn¡¯t take longer than an hour on foot.


    For some reason, he doubted that those few hours would be close to enough.


    <hr>


    The forest near Leo¡¯s house extended at least two or three kilometers in every direction. Usually, he only ran around its edges albeit in the complete opposite direction from the one he was going in currently. Oh, he knew where the forest led from this side, but it didn¡¯t mean he was perfectly familiar with the path.


    This is beyond creepy. Leo gulped as he took his first step into the blood-red woods. His shoulders tensed, eyes darting in every possible direction. He really hoped he made the right decision when he decided to go through the forest.


    At first, it seemed like a good idea. He always loved to spend time in nature, but now, this transformed forest didn¡¯t inspire any positive feelings in him. The song of birds and the soft breeze that always accompanied him during the daily runs were gone, as if someone killed everything inside the woods.


    Which probably wouldn¡¯t be far from the truth.


    Only the crunching of the forest soil and occasional branches kept Leo from going completely mental from the silence. Well, that and the gut-wrenching screeches that sometimes pierced the air.


    I get it that this forest never had too many animals, but this is just a bit too much.


    All throughout the way, the shovel in his hands always remained raised, ready to intercept an attack that just might come from some creature of nightmares.


    He weaved between trees and bushes, sticking close to a well-trodden path created by a forester¡¯s truck that he sometimes saw entering the forest. If he remembered correctly, it led to an exit at the other end of the woods where the main road connecting London and Wolford laid. From there he could either go back into the city or travel through some farmlands to reach another road just next to a small residential area at the edge of the city.


    Just a few more minutes and I should see¡­


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    Thoughts forgotten; his gaze snapped to his left as a loud human scream echoed through the forest. It was close, closer than any other Leo heard before.


    Freezing for just a moment, he cursed his curiosity and ran towards the sound, the barrier of Essence around him thickening.


    For a short moment, the mad dash toward the scream continued. Leo stopped only when a familiar shed standing in a clearing ahead came into sight.


    He jumped behind a tree, his mind racing.


    A few years back, the shed was used by a local forester, then after a few months, some homeless people decided to make it their new place of residence. He heard about it in the local news and wasn¡¯t surprised that no one cared enough to try and kick those people out.


    So now it should be full of Voidlings, not screaming people. Leo narrowed his eyes and peeked around the tree.


    Nothing seemed out of place. No Voidlings walked around the shed and after the one scream, he heard nothing else.


    Frowning, he crouched and crawled towards the building¡¯s side.


    Halfway there, he stiffened as a particular sound reached his ears. Something in between a groan and a sob. It seemed human, but he had watched enough horror movies during his life to know that sounds like this couldn¡¯t be trusted.


    Still crouched, Leo hugged the nearest wall and rose just high enough to take a look through a small window.


    With the limited visibility, he almost missed the two bodies inside. Both Voidlings, lying in pools of their own blood. A heavy metal shelf probably crushed the first one, while the second Voidling, even if dead, seemed quite alright from this point of view.


    He tried to peek deeper into the room, but the window was just too damn small. He sighed, knowing what was coming next.


    Shovel in hand, he walked to the front of the building and with the help of his tool, opened the door wide. The hinges creaked and Leo froze when a raspy voice came from the inside.


    ¡°H-hello? P-please help.¡±


    Gulping, he glanced inside and immediately flinched at the sight.


    In the back corner of the shed, a man laid leaning against the wall. His tattered clothes turned red at this point as blood flowed freely from the numerous wounds on his body.


    The skin on his left hand resembled a mangled mess, not that much different from his own cursed flesh. Aside from that, a broken metal pipe stuck out from the man¡¯s right shoulder, while the arm connected to it laid motionlessly on the floor.


    Even then, the worst was the man¡¯s chest.


    Bare for the entire world to see, multiple scratches covered it from top to bottom. Some of them were barely visible, while others dug deeper, cutting through muscles and the insides beneath them.


    How is he even alive? At this point, he is just waiting for death. Leo winced as his gaze shifted to the last Voidling he didn¡¯t see through the window.


    The monster¡¯s features were just as strong as the level three Voidling he killed a few hours back. The cause of its death was now easy to make out thanks to the rusty short sword sticking out of its neck.


    Not good. He rushed towards the survivor, his bag falling to the floor as he tried to find anything to help the poor man


    ¡°D-don¡¯t.¡± The man''s voice came out in coughs, his sunken cheeks, and bloodshot eyes only adding to the horrendous image.


    Leo didn¡¯t listen, refusing to allow the first survivor to die on his watch. Not after just finding him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak, sir. Save your strength. You asked for help and I will do my best to provide it,¡± he gritted out.


    Another sob escaped the man¡¯s throat as his mangled arm raised shakily and touched Leo¡¯s searching hand. ¡°N-not like that,¡± he spoke, spitting blood with every word. ¡°P-please, kill me. J-just kill me, I can¡¯t take it any longer.¡±


    Leo froze as the man''s hand fell to the ground.


    Kill him? What?


    ¡°Sir?¡± He almost stuttered out, refusing to believe what he had just heard. ¡°Did you just say, kill me?¡±


    The man gave a shaky nod, his bloodied teeth forming a monstrous smile. ¡°P-please.¡±


    Leo gulped, he wanted to turn away, walk as far from here as possible, and hope to forget this entire encounter. Why couldn¡¯t the man ask for normal assistance or company during his last moments? That he could do, but to kill him?


    He knew that at this point it was a mercy, but it still went against anything he had ever learned as a human being. This apocalypse already made him kill the remnants of his family and friends. Wasn''t that enough?


    He shook his head, ¡°I ca...¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± the man interrupted as if knowing what he wanted to say.


    Leo gritted his teeth, eyes closing as his hand touched the dagger at his belt. Just leave. I don¡¯t owe him anything. I don¡¯t even know him¡­


    ¡°P-please.¡±


    Fuck! The dagger fell into his hand, his eyes opening.


    The half-dead man¡¯s smile widened ever so slightly as his gaze fell on the weapon. For a moment, Leo¡¯s eyes darted from his dagger to the man¡¯s stare, still not sure what the hell he was even doing here. A faint voice in his mind kept telling him to just leave and forget.


    Regardless, he still brought the tip of the dagger closer to the back of the man''s skull. The fallen survivor gave an almost unnoticeable nod and uttered the last two words that broke through the remains of his resolve.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    And so, the dagger found its mark at last.

 Chapter 11. Of Humanity and Essence

    ¡°Survival is a broad topic. For one, it can mean running away from all of their problems. For another, it means living day to day, barely reaching the next light of a star. And then there are those who want to thrive. Fighting against anything that stands in their way¡­ And so the question stands, who is in the right? The answer is quite simple. None of them are.¡±


    ~ Into the Abyss by Lone Traveler


    <hr>


    The survivor stilled, his mouth opening just a bit in a silent scream. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he slumped against the wall once again as Leo removed the dagger from his head. The corpse slowly slid to the side, head meeting the ground in a heap.


    Then, as if alerted by the death of its host, the body spasmed, spitting out blood from every possible wound. From a few places, bits of blackened liquid flowed out, mixing with the crimson pools on the floor. It was similar to Voidling¡¯s blood, but not even Leo, who possessed an entire tainted arm, bled anything other than red.


    Definitely not natural. He grimaced as he watched the blood form crimson rivers that extended in every direction of the shed.


    So much blood.


    Just a few days ago, a sight like this was reserved for horrible accidents or crime scenes, but now? It was the new reality. The dark liquid flowed everywhere, painting the world in shades of red. While monsters could come out from every corner, ready to tear out the throats of anything that still breathed.


    And now the first survivor I met just died. By my hand no less¡­


    His deeply rooted morals tried to push the growing guilt to the forefront of his mind. However, as his empty eyes fell on the bodies of Voidlings and the dead human, Leo had to ask.


    Why?


    Why did his emotions try to punish him for doing what was right? Why did it even matter? The world he knew was dead. Gone forever. So why was his mind trying to judge him by the rules and morals of the old world?


    Because I¡¯m still a human. It¡¯s as simple as that.


    Only a bit over a day had passed since the world changed, and while it was not enough time to shift his entire mindset, he didn''t even try or want to change it. He could repeat his vow to find and protect his family no matter what for a thousand times. But did he really mean it?


    Despite the need to get stronger, his plan of survival depended on avoiding most of the Voidlings and killing only those that noticed him or stood in his way. Hell, if this little shed had any alive monsters inside, he would have never tried to kill them. Better to run and leave them behind than have more blood on his hands.


    A path like this might prolong his life for a bit longer, but in the end, it didn¡¯t make him stronger. It didn¡¯t make him more capable of finding his family. And even after the System warned him, he still insisted on following this path. His morals and fears had stopped him from doing what was necessary to survive and thrive.


    ¡°But now I see,¡± he murmured, his eyes glued to the fallen body.


    This man indirectly showed him that his old mindset didn¡¯t belong to this new world. It only held him back. To truly survive, he had to truly adapt and find the best way to deal with every single situation.


    Easier said than done, but that''s what it''s all about, eh? Those who can change and adapt faster will thrive. While the others will struggle to see the light of the next day. Was this what the clone meant with its warning?


    Leo sighed, head in his hands as the dagger fell into his lap. This apocalypse really didn¡¯t want to give him a break. Although maybe this was for the best. Better to deal with all of the problems now so he could focus on his goals later.


    Either way, he had to change his attitude towards survival. It might take hours, days, or even weeks, but he had to try. Too much was on the line to continue acting like a scared boy that hid behind morals.


    With the decision made, he let his gaze wander to the notifications that still required his attention. Reading the first line, he grimaced.


    Awakened Human (Warrior LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 2 Ether absorbed


    Changing his mindset to become better accustomed to this new reality was one thing. But killing humans, other survivors? This was a line he hoped to never cross again, even if it was just wishful thinking. After all, he could never know how some of the survivors dealt with the end of the world.


    Enough of that. Leo shook his head, trying to once more focus on the other notifications.


    Level 3 reached. Class attributes distributed. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    His advancement to the next level was probably the only positive thing that came out of this entire encounter. Every bit of additional strength was welcome, even if the way he gained this power boost was sketchy, to say the least.


    As for where the two free points were going? One to Might, just like Leo planned yesterday, while the other went to Mind. The attribute responsible for the control and regeneration of Essence was just too important.


    Even the two points he gained after advancing to the second level increased his grasp on Essence enough to activate Stealth a bit faster. With another two points, he hoped to lower the time even more and maybe, just maybe, improve the skill a bit. His last encounter with the Voidlings proved that for now it was pretty useless.


    On top of that, he also wanted to figure out how to activate Reinforcement properly. For now, Essence always slipped in between his fingers when he tried to force this skill to form. In addition, Mind was supposed to speed up the regeneration rate of Essence so it could never be a bad choice. Not when he wanted to have Stealth active permanently.


    With a nod, he accepted his choice, a grunt instantly leaving his lips.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Every muscle in his body tightened as burning Essence flowed through every inch of his frame. Leo almost collapsed to the ground when his muscles relaxed, letting him breathe once again.


    I really hope it won¡¯t always be like this. I will die if I ever have to assign my points during a fight and collapse like a sack of potatoes¡­


    Standing up, he flexed his arms, his joints snapping back into their place after sitting in such an uncomfortable position. Like expected his body didn¡¯t change suddenly after another point in Might, but he could feel his muscles working overtime without any additional strain.


    This little fact made him wonder how the state of his body affected his physical attributes. Could he manually train his body to gain more points or was he locked in his current state forever? Something definitely worth testing out later on.


    Now let¡¯s see if my Essence will finally listen.


    Like always, Leo closed his eyes and reached deep into himself. A phantom hand grabbed tightly onto the flowing crimson energy and forced it to come out. Unlike the last time, his Essence only fought for a brief moment, like a child that didn¡¯t get their favorite candy. Then it realized that there was nothing it could do and obeyed, surging out.


    The familiar barrier encompassed his body almost instantly, a silent gasp leaving his mouth as he finally understood a bit more about both his ability and Essence.


    Incredible¡­


    Stealth wasn¡¯t magically making him less noticeable. No, from what he noticed with his very limited understanding of Essence, the barrier was trying to imitate the natural energy of the environment. Thus, it created a weak effect of blending in. Or at least that was what he observed when the skill formed once again.


    It would also explain why the ability felt so unnatural in the beginning. He was only used to his own Essence, not the almost unnoticeable energy in the air.


    Without even opening his eyes, Leo slowly touched every single inch of the barrier, hoping to understand even more about his most used ability. From head to toe, he left nothing unchecked.


    Even during his first search, he spotted some irregularities. Holes that left the barrier incomplete. Places where the layer of Essence was too thin or too thick. Or spots where his energy formed the barrier, but remained unchanged, refusing to do its job.


    That¡¯s probably the reason why this skill is only a common one and doesn¡¯t work too well. I wonder¡­


    Still keeping a tight hold on his Essence, he poked one of the many holes in the barrier and forced his Essence to fill the gap. Sweat formed on his brow as his soul energy moved, slowly entering the hole. It fought against his command, but he pushed until it was filled to the brim.


    With one of the many holes mended, Leo knew better than to be happy about this accomplishment. His Essence might have fixed one mistake, but it still refused to act like the rest of the barrier. And with his current knowledge he had no clue how to correct that.


    It doesn''t matter for now.


    With that single thought, he moved on to the next hole, and then another and another. He probably stood in the same place for a few minutes, trying to improve his ability. Only when he was about halfway through his task, he gasped for breath, eyes opening as Essence escaped from his grasp.


    He leaned against the wall, hand on his knees. He tried too hard without enough control. As such when he reached the breaking point, the energy turned on him, the barrier disappearing and leaving him breathless.


    Definitely too early for that. He coughed.


    His newfound understanding of Essence and Stealth made him restless and so he had pushed a bit too hard. The hopes of a new and improved skill pulled him in, but it seemed that the current state of his Mind attribute was far from enough to achieve such a feat. And now as he once again reached into himself, into the small pond of Essence inside his soul, Leo realized that it was almost dry, with only droplets of energy remaining.


    That would explain the backlash. He reasoned, taking a series of steady breaths. Next time I will do it slower. Much slower.


    Sighing, he promised himself to try again when his Essence regenerated. For now, he still had a shed full of bodies to deal with.


    He approached the Voidling crushed underneath the metal shelf first. He grabbed the object with both hands and grunted as he dragged the bundle of metal off the body, the additional point in Might already proving its value.


    Leo crouched next to the dead beast and just like with every monster before, he pushed his claws deep into its stomach. Essence flowed through his arm instantly, but it felt like a small stream instead of the usual crashing wave of power when he drained a Voidling.


    Does Essence disappear over time? If so, then for how long did this man lay there, half-dead?


    He shuddered. Was this the reason why the other survivor wanted to die? If he had to lay there for hours, waiting for death, then he couldn¡¯t even fault him. This also raised another important question.


    Just for how long could the System or Essence keep someone alive after suffering mortal wounds?


    Leo hoped to never find out and just moved to the other Voidling, wanting to forget about this subject.


    Like with the first one, he gained only a bit of Essence from the corpse, pushing the satiated status back to eight hours. Not the best outcome, but it wasn¡¯t him who killed them.


    As he stopped by the last monster, Leo grabbed the hilt of the straight short-sword and pulled. The weapon slid out without a fight, black blood dripping from its rusty double-edged blade.


    A quick Identify let him know that just like his dagger, this weapon was a gift from the System for a warrior class. He took a few test swings and frowned when, unlike his chosen weapon, the sword just didn¡¯t sit right in his hand.


    So without a respective mastery, I can¡¯t wield any other weapon or what? I didn¡¯t have this problem with dad¡¯s rifle, though that might be because I already shot a firearm before¡­ This system is really making this confusing.


    Sighing, he placed the sword on the floor and raised his claws over the monster''s chest.


    ''Ca-Caw! Caw!''


    Leo froze, his gaze darting towards the opened door. A crow? What the hell?


    With his Essence reserves still almost empty, he sneaked to the entrance and took a peek outside. His gaze jumped from tree to tree, branch to branch as he searched for the damned bird that almost gave him a heart attack.


    He had to take a step out of the shed to take a look at the other side of the clearing and when he did, he also found the creature that definitely wasn¡¯t a crow.


    Shit.


    The bird hung high in a tree, hugging the bark with its claws that came attached to long leathery wings. The black, almost serpentine body lacked any feathers or even limbs, other than the two wings. If it wasn''t for the color and the four, ruby eyes, the creature would blend perfectly with the tree thanks to its bark-like skin.


    The monster then opened its large beak and cawed again, another series of similar sounds soon echoing through the forest clearing.


    Leo¡¯s heart plummeted, understanding well what this call meant.


    Seeker (Voidling) | Rank: F- | LVL: 2


    Could be worse. At least it is only as large as a normal crow and seems weaker than me. But just how many of you are out there?


    He ran back into the shed, leaving the door open. In a matter of seconds, he drained the last Cursed Human, and with a bit of torn clothing, he tied the sword to the other side of his bag. The warrior¡¯s weapon might not suit him, but it could still be useful.


    Grabbing the trusty shovel with his claws, his normal hand landed on the sheath of his dagger, ready to pull it out at a moment''s notice. He once again took a peek outside and cursed when he noticed two more of those weird Voidlings.


    Okay, just three birds with very sharp claws and beaks. Nothing to be afraid of. Right...


    With a deep breath, Leo stepped out of the shed only to stop in his tracks as twelve glaring eyes landed on him, caws once again filling the woods. Just to test something out he took a step back inside the shed and the birds immediately quieted.


    Weird. I really hope they aren¡¯t calling for reinforcement. That single thought made him move out again. Three flying monsters were enough, he didn¡¯t need an entire flock.


    And so, he dashed towards his old path, the cawing coming back in full force. A quick look over his shoulders let him know that the birds definitely weren''t planning on letting him run away


    Leo jumped behind a thick trunk and flipped the shovel to his other hand as he brandished his claws.


    Alright you little fuckers, you want to play? Let¡¯s play

 Chapter 12. Stand strong

    ¡°Maybe I went too far... They left me and that hurt, it still does. But does it justify my attitude towards Hales? Or really anyone who tries to talk to me? After my first entry here, I had a lot of time to rage and think about my actions. And now that I think of it, Lily, as annoying as she is, maybe she was right all along. Maybe I am really throwing my life away.¡±


    ~ Second entry, Leo¡¯s journal


    <hr>


    The three Seekers didn¡¯t attack straight away as he had expected. If anything, the goddamned monsters just continued to fly around in circles once Leo hid behind one of the many trees. The cawing stopped as well, leaving the rustling of leaves as the only constant sound in the forest.


    Once again, he took a few steps away from his hiding spot and just like before, the fury of the monsters came back in full force. Evidently, the Voidlings didn¡¯t like it when he tried to move away from them, or moved at all.


    Nothing can be too easy, right? He snorted, taking cover behind another thick tree. The song of death died out instantly and his grip on the shovel tightened as his gaze followed the three lurking figures above him.


    Essence stirred within him and the familiar barrier formed, the last drops of his soul energy fighting to help its user. Despite that, it didn¡¯t stop the Voidlings from continuing their onslaught on his ears when he stepped a few feet away from the tree.


    So being an assassin won¡¯t help here. His scowl deepened, Stealth collapsing instantly to save the meager reserves he still possessed. There is no way I can outrun them and I don¡¯t plan to wait for an entire army of birds to show up. Just great.


    For a moment his eyes sought the wooden shed, but just as quickly, Leo averted his gaze, head shaking. This wasn''t an option here, not when just a few minutes ago he promised himself to change his ways.


    Let¡¯s do this.


    Almost crushing the shovel¡¯s shaft in his grip, he stepped a few feet away from the safety of his cover. His shoulders tensed as the birds acknowledged his challenge, a caw more resembling a screech piercing the air.


    The smallest of the monsters dived, wings hugging its serpentine body as it neared his position.


    Fast. Leo blinked, jerking away as the monster missed him by an inch. Goosebumps spread on his uncovered skin as the blast of air hit him. Another bird followed its predecessor¡¯s action and left him with barely any time to act.


    His fingers slipped to the handle of his shovel, while his claws gripped the shaft tightly. The monster came closer with every millisecond and the moment it spread its wings, he whipped the shovel upwards.


    His entire frame shook as the tool¡¯s blade met the creature¡¯s body, a loud crack echoing through the area. The added force from his blow and the Voidling¡¯s momentum earned a long squeak from the Seeker as its body sailed through the air, straight towards the ground.


    The monster''s wings became twisted in ways that couldn¡¯t be healthy, yet the Seeker still tried to move them, determined to return the favor.


    Not bloody likely, bitch. No getting up after this.


    Ready to finish the beast, Leo ran forward, claws poised to tear the Seeker apart. The two remaining Voidlings obviously had a different plan as they finally rejoined the fight, spearing the air where his head was just a second ago.


    Narrowing his eyes, he watched as one of the birds ¡ª the largest one ¡ª put itself between him and the fallen Seeker. The other creature also wasn¡¯t idle. The monster flew higher and higher, continuing its hit-and-run tactic. A sound strategy if he wasn¡¯t capable of dodging the attacks. The birds might be fast, but his increased Grace had given him an edge. More than that, those idiots weren¡¯t even trying to be stealthy, their constant cawing acted like a perfect warning system.


    His trusty shovel in hand, Leo rushed forward, the larger bird squawking as it avoided the wild swings of the tool. Not once did the monster try to attack and only continued to dance around the area, hoping to guide him away from its fallen comrade.


    Smarter than it looks. Not that it will help you.


    The third bird descended once again, another caw alerting him to the danger as he threw his body to the side. He winced when a particularly sharp rock tried to burrow itself into his kidney. It didn¡¯t help that the backpack on his back only made him heavier.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    However, a particularly loud noise forced him to endure the pain and roll away when the largest monster took his sorry state as an invitation.


    By chance, Leo managed to gain enough distance and the Voidling finally backed off, returning to its fallen comrade.


    Oh no, you don¡¯t. He growled, throwing his backpack on the ground and charging towards the duo. He ducked under the larger bird, his shovel forcing it away. It cawed in protest, but he paid it no mind.


    Claws ready, they sailed at the wounded bird, spilling blood on the forest floor as half of its wing fell to the ground. The four ruby eyes glared at him as the monster squeaked, trying to drag itself away from him with the other broken wing.


    Maybe if it was bigger than an average crow and had more than two limbs, then stepping on its head would have been more of a problem. However, Leo did just that and pressed harder, a loud cracking of bones coming from underneath his boot.


    The small smirk that formed on his lips was quickly wiped off as the other two birds sang their story of revenge, both rushing at him with abandon. Their small beaks tried to clamp down on any exposed skin so fast that he was hard-pressed to knock them away or avoid their onslaught. Their small size had finally become useful in a grouped close-quarters attack.


    Leo waved his shovel like a maniac as the damned birds managed to peel away a small bit of the cursed skin on his hand. He hissed, blood dripping on the ground.


    ¡°Fuck it!¡±


    When one of the birds came closer again, he didn¡¯t just wave it away like before and instead chucked the metal shovel straight at the bird. A snort almost escaped his lips at the surprised squawk the monster let out when the shaft of the shovel hit it right in the beak.


    Got you.


    The Voidling flapped its wings, trying to regain its bearing, only it wasn''t fast enough. Leo jumped forward, his hand grabbing onto the bird''s tail while his claws sunk into its body. The Seeker struggled, flailing in his grasp, trying to free itself from the hungry claws. It was all for naught as its body slowly turned into dust.


    Shit. Leo hissed when the last bird decided to play out its last act of revenge. The Seeker landed on his back, its claws sinking deep into his shoulder blades. In the next moment, the creature¡¯s beak descended onto his neck, drilling small holes with every peck.


    For fuck''s sake! He screamed through the haze of pain as he threw one of his arms over his shoulder.


    Somehow, his claws gripped one of the Voidling¡¯s wings and yanked, ripping the bird away. He almost fell to the ground and lost the grip as the Seeker¡¯s claws tore his back open. Every single move ignited a volcano in the torn muscles while his body screamed at him to stop, to get some rest.


    He bit his lip, drawing blood.


    Not yet. Leo growled, gritting his teeth as the bloody bird bit his hand, hoping to free itself from his grasp. Not to be outdone, his normal arm also came to help, fingers tightening where the bird¡¯s neck should be.


    The Seeker cawed, in pain or anger, he didn¡¯t care.


    Instead, he swung the bird towards the ground where a thick root pierced the skin of Earth. He smashed the creature once, then again and again and again. Blood exploded over his hands, staining everything in range, even the remnants of his clothes weren''t safe. Not that he cared as his eyes were glued to the bloody mess in his hands


    When he finally let go, his bleeding back no longer able to support such action, he couldn¡¯t even recognize the bird. The beak was missing, probably splattered somewhere on the root. Its head and tail could be the same thing at this point thanks to the damage made to the creature¡¯s skin. Even its eyes got crushed during the swinging and nothing more than remnants of bones were left of the bird¡¯s wings.


    Seeker (LVL: 2) X3 slain | Experience awarded | 3 Ether gained


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Leo spat, a mix of blood and saliva dripping on the ground.


    He left the corpse there, dragging himself towards the abandoned bag, his back still burning with the heat of a thousand stars. Hell, even the blood that covered his entire torso and back felt like flowing lava. It drenched more and more of his clothes, even his pants weren¡¯t saved.


    Need new clothes again. He grimaced, gradually lowering himself to the ground. With every move, his face twisted, his breathing becoming even more shallow. I¡¯m killing every Seeker I find on my way. I won¡¯t let even one of those shit stains escape from me.


    His hand dived into the backpack, pulling out a bottle of water, some scraps of clothing, and a big roll of bandage.


    Alright, now how to do this? Leo winced as he looked down at his hoodie. Rip it off all at once? That for sure won¡¯t hurt.


    Fingers and claws gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled up. The swift action spread the still present heat across his entire body, even though only his back and arms were injured.


    ¡°Shit!¡± He groaned, his upper clothes falling to the ground. He gasped as the weak breeze hit his unprotected back, soothing the pain ever so slightly.


    Putting a piece of cloth into his mouth, Leo watered another one and once again reached over his shoulder, leaving the material hanging just above the stinging injuries.


    This is gonna suck. He closed his eyes, and just when he wanted to bring his hand down, his entire body froze.


    An almost inaudible growl followed by a squee reached his ears, the sound chilling even the burning in his back. His eyes immediately snapped to the bundle of bushes in the distance and then to the rifle attached to his bag.


    I just had to complain about no animals from the forest. Leo cursed as he ripped the bindings holding the firearm and slowly climbed to his feet, leaning on the rifle in his hand. I doubt some more noise will matter at this point.


    Hurt he might be, but it didn¡¯t mean he was done.


    After all, I am not alone, eh? He smirked, his bloody teeth bared as he raised the rifle, aiming at the two pairs of ruby eyes glinting behind the bushes.


    System. Limit Break to full power. I¡¯m not dying here¡­

 Chapter 13. Limits broken

    Leo''s body erupted with energy the instant his instruction was recognized by the System. The rush of power devoured his entire being while his skin developed an almost imperceptible golden sheen. It was odd, so very different from Limit Break''s passive effect or even the boost provided by Reinforcement. Hell, even Leo''s almost empty reserves filled up ever so slightly.


    Not every change was positive, though, as Leo could feel a phantom weight hanging over his soul. Nonetheless, it wasn''t the time to worry about the consequences. Leo had prey to hunt.


    Come on¡­


    As if guided by Leo''s thoughts, the bushes in the distance almost parted as two figures charged through them on all fours. One was half as large as Leo, and the other barely reached the top of its companion''s legs.


    They possessed a boar''s traditional build, yet their appearance was anything but natural. Dark as night was their fur, spikey like a hedgehog''s spine, and Leo had no doubt in his mind that touching it would hurt like hell. Even worse were their snouts, where two sharp teeth stuck out of their mouths, ready to cut down anything in their way.


    Duskboar (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 3


    Mutated boars, of course, Leo grimaced, the rifle''s sight right in front of his right eye. Steady your breath, hold the gun tight, and never let the target leave your sight. Leo''s foster father''s words rang in his head as his finger inched towards the trigger.


    And shoot, son.


    The first bullet left the chamber with a bang, and the larger Duskboar squealed as the projectile hit it right beneath its snout. Yet, the beast didn''t stop, so Leo immediately flipped the bolt of his rifle; another bullet ready as he took aim.


    Again. The bullet shot forward again, earning a growl from the monster as it finally neared Leo''s position. Fuck! He shouted internally, throwing his body to the side as the two boars charged past him.


    Even with the newfound power from Limit Break, Leo hissed as the wounds on his back reminded him of their presence. It wasn''t as bad as before the boost, and Leo understood perfectly what would happen once he disabled Limit Break.


    Focus!


    Leo scrambled to his feet and retook aim, the boars only now managing to stop after kicking up a cloud of dust. They dashed forward again, and at that moment, a third shot left the rifle''s barrel.


    The bulkier boar squealed loudly as the beast lost its footing, sending its body rolling on the ground. Leo fired again, never one to waste an opportunity, even if the secondary monster was just a few meters away.


    And now!


    Dropping the rifle, Leo snatched the dagger from his belt and dashed toward the monsters. He jumped a few steps away from the smaller one, sailing above the beast. Blood flowed freely down his back as he landed next to the fallen boar. Leo paid the pain no mind as his weapons of death descended on the boar.


    His claws instantly began to siphon Essence from the beast while Leo stabbed the monster''s head over and over again. The Duskboar stood no chance against its assailant and stilled a moment later, a notification popping up in the corner of Leo''s vision.


    Later! He growled, ripping his claws out of the monster and turning to face the remaining Voidling that glared at him with an intensity Leo didn''t expect from an almost mindless beast. Need to end this quickly; I can''t have much time left on Limit Break. The golden sheen is practically gone at this point.


    Leo''s eyes darted to the discarded rifle for a moment, a plan forming within his mind. I still have one bullet left, just in case.


    Suddenly, the spikey fur on the boar''s body stood up, straightening even more. The beast growled and charged again. Revenge seemed like a popular motivation for Voidlings that worked in groups.


    At least some of their instincts remain natural... Leo retreated a short distance, drawing closer to a large tree behind him as his eyes narrowed.


    The boar grew closer and closer, and when it was no farther than a meter, Leo rolled to the side, getting away without a scratch, or at least he should have. Instead, when Leo dodged, dozens of fur needles shot from the boar''s body, piercing his skin in just as many places.


    "Argh!" Leo screamed, collapsing to the ground along with the boar that hit the trunk of the tree head-on.


    Gritting his teeth, Leo crawled towards the fallen monster and stabbed it right in the eyes, his claws sinking into the soft flesh behind them. The beast''s screech probably echoed through the entire forest, but Leo didn''t care. He tightened his hold, almost ripping the top of the monster''s skull off its body.


    And then, without warning, the golden sheen disappeared, cutting off the constant flow of power. Leo gasped, collapsing next to the almost dead Voidling. White-hot blades stabbed his muscles as the anguish ripped through his body, making everything around him hazy. Even his soul wasn''t spared; the invisible weight vanished, replaced with a void Leo had never experienced before.


    And yet, as he laid there, squirming on the ground, Leo still somehow noticed a few lines in the corner of his vision.


    Duskboar (LVL: 3) slain | Experience awarded | 2 Ether gained


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Passive Limit Break disabled. It will activate automatically once you recover enough.


    Duskboar (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Level 4 reached. Class attributes distributed. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Might and Soul, now! Leo screamed, ignoring the part about Limit Break.


    The System listened immediately. Every inch of Leo''s being shuddered as the mysterious entity completed its job. It didn''t help much, but the strain on his body lessened ever so slightly. Even some of the hollowness inside his soul was eaten away by a small surge of Essence.


    Leo inhaled deeply and climbed to all fours, his gaze fixed on the backpack and rifle a few meters away.


    Come on, body. Don''t fail me now. Leo clenched his teeth as he practically crawled towards his equipment and then dragged himself back towards the shack. The fur needles still pricked his skin, and his back burned, but Leo didn''t stop until the door was shut and blocked by one of the chairs.


    How the fuck am I still alive? I probably spilled more blood than a donor could give during an entire year. Leo chuckled, coughing out blood as he removed the last of the annoying needles. Now to cover my back. Hopefully, it won''t take too long to heal. He winced as he mummified the upper part of his back and chest, the entire roll of bandage gone in one go.


    Dropping his head against the wall, Leo closed his eyes.


    Even injured, the fight played out pretty well, primarily thanks to the rifle. Hell, Leo could have ended it without getting littered with holes if he had known about the Duskboar''s ability to shoot its own fur.


    No matter. What happened, happened. I can only learn from this experience to be more careful in the future. Well, that and maybe stop fighting when I''m almost dead on my feet. Leo grunted; his eyes opened and landed on the rifle in his lap.


    "If it weren''t for you, I would probably be dead." He murmured and released the empty magazine. "Let''s fill you up. I have to rest for a bit anyway..."


    <hr>


    An hour, maybe two, had passed since Leo locked himself inside the shack. He didn''t move once from his place on the floor, giving his body and soul a fair chance to recover. Passive Limit Break had also activated a while ago, bolstering the healing quite a bit.


    Not that Leo stopped bleeding altogether. The entirely soaked bandage that covered his upper body proved that much. Nonetheless, the hollowness finally disappeared from his soul. And even though his body still ached everywhere, it didn''t send him screaming after every move anymore.


    Overall, I should be ready to go, Leo groaned as he stretched his body and threw a simple black shirt over his head. After taking the Essence from those damned boars and birds. He added as an afterthought.


    Leaving the shack, Leo trudged towards the mutilated bird first. The beast quickly lost its Essence, barely giving him another hour of satiated status. Leo looked around the forest floor, scowling, searching for the first Seeker he killed.


    "What the¡­" The scowl turned into a frown when Leo noticed the Seeker''s dead body. The head remained crushed with the insides spilling out, but now, the corpse gave out an almost unnoticeable ruby glow.


    Crouching next to the body, Leo scanned it from head to tail, flipping it over with his claws. The glow it released didn''t make sense. The other Seekers didn''t have it before or after death. So why are you so different? Even Identify isn''t saying anything...


    "Guess one way to find out," Leo shrugged and let his claws do the dirty work.


    The frown on his face deepened as the body collapsed into dust when his claws pierced the skin. The small pile still glowed from within, and Leo quickly dug into the dust. His hand almost instantly touched something hard.


    "Huh?" Leo had no words as he uncovered a small ruby crystal. It pulsed with life, and Leo snapped his hand away, not sure what he had discovered.


    Alright, Identify, be helpful for once.


    Unattuned Crystalized Essence (Common):


    When a creature dies in the Universe, their residual Essence can try to withdraw back into the soul in a final desperate attempt to survive. This process never works; instead, the overflow of energy forms a sturdy crystal, storing the last of Essence inside. This particular Essence was never attuned to any specific affinity. It can be used as a vital ingredient in a large number of crafts.


    Warning: When filled with too much foreign Essence, the crystal will destabilize and, shortly after, create an explosion more prominent than its size suggests.


    Leo frowned as he rolled the crystal between his fingers. That''s¡­ a lot of information. The surface didn''t feel different from a typical rock lying on the ground; just as rough, unpolished, and cold to the touch.


    So it can act as a small grenade and an ingredient... A lot of uses for a standard item. A useful, if a dangerous object from what Identify had just told Leo.


    Not that he knew how to channel Essence into another object, and he didn''t fancy trying it out on a crystal that could explode in his face. Maybe after I gain a bit more control...


    Leo slipped the crystal into his pocket and moved to drain the two Duskboars. Although he didn''t gain any more crystals, the bulkier boar left behind a part of its sharp tooth that Leo immediately placed within his backpack.


    Alright, back on the move. Leo sighed and used his right hand to heft his backpack. There was no need to aggravate the back injury any further.


    Time passed as Leo traversed along the same path he used before the events near the shed. And even after all that had happened, Leo allowed a small smile to form on his face. He might have suffered, but in the end, he came out of it stronger, much stronger, and with some knowledge he didn''t possess before.


    <hr>


    Leo hid behind one of the many bushes as he scanned the long asphalt road and the empty farmlands in the distance. He might have made a slight miscalculation when he had chosen this path. In particular, Leo forgot about all of the cars driving down this road when the Outbreak happened.


    Every dozen or so meters, a car stood at the side of the road. Some managed to drive into a tree, while others fell into a ditch on the other side.


    A few cars even had the misfortune of colliding head-on with vehicles approaching from the other line. Those always ended up half-crushed or blackened from a fire that might have started after the crash.


    Even if this sight was particularly hard on Leo''s memory, it didn''t make him hide behind a bush. No, this honor fell to the few Voidlings trapped inside the cars and the numerous other Cursed Humans that walked along the road. Their familiar screeches once again filled the silence as they went from car to car, probably hoping to find another meal.


    Leo gulped. This can either end very well or in a total disaster.

 Chapter 14. The Crossing

    "People like to think that the Outbreak is the worst part of joining the bigger Universe. In many cases, they are right. You lose your family, home, and other vital parts of your life. Everything you ever worked for is gone. The problem is that people tend to forget that the Outbreak is just the beginning, a stepping stone for changes that will sometimes make you wish that the Curse of the Void consumed you."


    ~ Survivor of the 24th Outbreak


    <hr>


    Leo placed the backpack over his shoulders more cautiously than ever, wincing as the weight rubbed against the exposed flesh. There was no other way to do this; Leo didn''t fancy his chances without both hands available. He couldn''t leave his bag in the woods either. Too many things could go wrong in the next few minutes, and getting cut off from his supplies seemed like a fantastic idea.


    Leo glanced at the shovel in his hand and sighed. He already had to straighten it twice, and just like Identify said, the tool wasn''t taking the Outbreak too well. After every blow, more cracks formed along the shovel''s shaft, while a small part of its blade had broken off during Leo''s fight against the Seekers.


    Sooner or later, it had to break entirely and fall apart into a pile of scrap. Leo knew that it could put him in danger when the moment came. For now, though, the tool gave him a weird sense of security that no other weapon gave him ¡ª except the hunting rifle.


    Besides, if he counted his claws, he still had two or three weapons that could be utilized if the initial line of defense failed. Although I would prefer not to use the gun if I didn''t have to.


    Whatever... Leo shook his head, reached into his almost full Essence reserves, and forced the barrier to form around his body. He pursed his lips as his newfound understanding of Essence once again let Leo know how incomplete the ability was. I really need to fix this.


    Rolling his shoulders, Leo crouched low, his body bent forward as he weaved between the last few bushes and trees. Every single move sent a flare of pain through his body.


    Leo gritted his teeth so hard that he was worried they might break in the next second.


    As he passed the last tree, Leo glanced in every direction to ensure that nothing would be able to detect him once he walked out into the open. Only a dozen or so steps separated him from a truck that somehow managed to overturn even without a ditch on this side of the road.


    Most Voidlings just stuck to their previous routine. Walking from one vehicle to another or screeching at each other when one beast bumped into another. Occasionally, Leo hoped that a fight would break out, giving him a chance to kill the stragglers and run away. Only it never happened; the Voidlings always separated after throwing a glare and growling at each other.


    Nothing can be that easy, eh? Leo grumbled and sneaked towards the truck, instantly hiding behind the roof of the lengthy trailer. The large vehicle blocked the sight of almost the entire road, and Leo planned to use it to his advantage. That was why he chose this spot to begin his plan after all.


    Approaching the edge of the trailer, Leo leaned out and searched for his first target.


    There you are. Leo smirked, spotting a Cursed Human standing on the edge of the opposite lane. The monster remained almost motionless, looming near the back of a red sedan that fell halfway into the ditch on the other side of the road.


    Another look to Leo''s right confirmed that the Voidlings near the crash site of an SUV and a minivan didn''t even care to look in Leo''s direction. They kept clawing at one of the doors of a smaller car where another Voidling was trapped. The commotion they created was enough of a boon to Leo that, for now, he decided to forget how those creatures organized themselves to help their kin.


    Now to quickly deal with you. Leo thought as his gaze centered on his target. The shovel fell into his claws as his hand grabbed the dagger from his waist.


    Like lightning, Leo bolted out of his hiding spot straight towards the Voidling. His steps were measured, almost carried by the wind, and the monster only recognized something was wrong when Leo was no more than a few feet away.


    The Voidling turned, opening its mouth to release another screech, but Leo was faster. He jumped forward and closed the distance in a second.


    The shaft of the shovel landed on the monster''s neck. Not even a second later, the dagger sailed straight for its skull, the additional momentum and another point in Might helping to pierce the bone after a minimal struggle.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Almost soundlessly, the duo fell in a heap just at the edge of the asphalt. Leo bit back the curse that threatened to leave his throat when the impact once again pushed his bag into his injured back.


    Don''t stop now. Leo yelled internally as he dragged the dead Voidling down the deep ditch with his claws. The body barreled to the bottom, and Leo sighed as he leaned against the sedan''s side. This went a lot better than he expected.


    Just to ruin Leo''s celebration, a muffled hiss reached his ears. Body tense, he pulled the dagger out of the monster''s head and held his breath. Inch by inch, Leo peeked over the car''s crushed hood, only to duck behind his cover just a millisecond later.


    Of course, there has to be one inside the car as well.


    Leo crawled around the front of the car. A brief glimpse inside told him that if he dealt his cards correctly, the Voidling would perish as quickly as the one before him. The monster had no hope of escaping with the steering wheel practically spearing it into the seat.


    Leo came to a stop near the driver''s door and took a deep breath. He rose on the count of three, the dagger flying through the broken window at the unsuspecting monster wiggling inside. Like its predecessor, the Voidling had no time to react as the blade entered through one of its eyes and pierced the brain hiding in the back.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 1) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Leo threw his left arm through the window, the claws digging into the dead Voidling, draining the remaining Essence. When the last sip of energy entered Leo''s body, he crawled back toward his first victim and repeated his actions. The veins of his taint lit up brighter than ever as the timer was, for the first time, pushed over fifteen hours.


    The first part of the plan went better than expected. Now, if only the next one could work.


    Leo climbed the ditch and cast a brief glance over the edge. The sight on his left was blocked by the back of the red sedan, but Leo wasn''t planning to go after a group of five Voidlings working on freeing their kin. The situation on his right seemed much more welcome.


    A single blue two-seater stood in the middle of the road with two Cursed Humans clawing through the steel of the trunk. The monsters worked almost as hard as the group to the left. At this point, they managed to scratch away nearly all of the paint and create enough dents to make a tinsmith lose their hair. Leo had to wonder what the hell was in that trunk to elicit such a reaction from them.


    No way someone is hiding inside, right?


    No matter the answer, Leo moved closer to the car''s location, using the ditch as a cover. Once there, he grabbed a rock from the ground and took aim.


    Previously, this tactic didn''t work, and that was fine. Leo''s goal this time was simply to lure them into the ditch. With no more Voidlings in the vicinity for at least a hundred feet, he felt confident that the monsters would be dead before anyone noticed.


    The small stone sailed through the air, and the Cursed Human flinched when the rock hit it right in the head. The beast turned, growling in Leo''s direction while the other Voidling kept mauling the trunk.


    The fuck? Leo had no time to think about this weird turn of events as his primary target was already headed towards the ditch.


    Leo moved slightly to the right, shovel in hand and dagger in the dirt before him, as the earth vibrated with the Voidling''s steps. A second later, the creature appeared, its form looming over the ditch, teeth barred for all to see.


    Leo snorted and swung his weapon when the Voidling took another step. The monster swayed as the shovel met its backside. Just a little bit more. Leo yanked the tool back, and the additional force was enough to push the Voidlings towards the ditch.


    The Cursed Human screeched as its body tumbled down, its head meeting the dirt at the bottom.


    Leo followed his target, sliding down with the dagger in hand. He kicked the monster, eliciting another hiss as the Voidling tried to rise to its feet. Leo fell on the creature''s back and stabbed the back of its skull, cutting its life short.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    That was... easy? The use of the environment and the element of surprise really made it look simple. Although Leo expected to fight both of the Voidlings, not one. Speaking of...


    Leo quickly dealt with the body and took another look at the road. Nothing changed. The Voidlings in the distance kept on working on freeing their kin or walking mindlessly. And the Cursed Human in front of Leo never ceased attacking the car''s trunk, not even noticing its partner''s disappearance.


    What the hell is wrong with you? Leo frowned, the dagger once again falling into his hand.


    He left the ditch without the shovel and crept towards the Voidling. Not even a note of noise came from Leo''s steps as he used every bit of grace granted by the System.


    Wholly consumed by its task, the monster had no time to react when Leo grabbed its head. The dagger followed, its rusty tip spearing through the remains of the monster''s ear.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 1) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Level one. That explains it a bit. Leo mused, lowering the body to the ground as his claws already went to work. He quickly surveyed the area as the corpse turned to dust and sighed when the Voidlings behind him still couldn''t be bothered to look in his direction.


    Leo remained crouched as the body faded away and let his fingers roam the bottom of the trunk, searching for the button. There! He squeezed hard and let the lid pull up on its own.


    Almost instantly, Leo turned away, shielding his nose and mouth with his elbow. The odor of shit and piss and the stench of death filled the air around him. He coughed, trying to eradicate the smell that was trying to invade his body. Leo acted without thinking and yanked the lid, snapping it shut with a bang.


    ''Scree!''


    Leo''s body froze, the images of a dead teenage girl inside the trunk vanishing from his mind as growls and screeches louder than before pierced the air.


    "Shit."


    Voidlings from every direction reacted to the loud bang, their previous tasks left forgotten as a new meal just stepped into their territory unnoticed.


    Like one unit, all of the monsters broke into a sprint. Not even a second later, Leo joined them, dashing towards the edge of the ditch, where he snatched his shovel and jumped.


    He sailed above the hole, wincing as his entire body burned, the wounds on his back letting Leo know that they were still there. He landed on all fours, gritting his teeth as he kicked the dirt and bolted into the mowed wheat field.


    In this situation, Leo had no choice but to run. And that was precisely what he did, the screeches following him but becoming fainter by the second. Leo risked a single peek over his shoulders and cursed.


    You''ve got to be kidding me! Where did you even come from?!


    At this point, the large group of Voidlings was almost unnoticeable from this distance. Still, life just couldn''t be that easy, and one of the monsters was somehow catching up to Leo with every second. Its appearance alone had put the other Voidlings to shame.


    It might have been a human once, but not anymore. It shared many similarities with Cursed Humans, but in this monster''s case, the tainted features were tuned up by one hundred percent.


    The monster''s head had lost all of its hair, and the skin at the top had become something resembling small thorns. It lacked lips to conceal its bloodied teeth, while the glow from its cracked skin was more potent than on any other cursed human.


    Still, the worst part came when the monster raised its foot as it sprinted toward Leo. There he saw claws instead of toes and deformed skin similar to Leo''s arm. This thing just wasn''t normal.


    Cursed Runner (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 3


    Of course, it is another variant. Should have expected that.


    The fact that the Voidling was the same rank as Leo gave him a second wind. He had maybe another twenty seconds, perhaps a few more, before the Runner caught up to him, and during that time, he had to lose the rest of the horde.


    For a moment, Leo thought of taking out his rifle and just finishing the fight before it started, but he decided against it. The firearm was only to be used in emergencies, and as bleak as this situation looked, Leo had enough fuel in his tank to deal with a Voidling one-on-one. Especially with one that had a lower level than he did.


    I just have to get that guaranteed one-on-one. Leo grimaced and sped up, the remains of uncut wheat whipping his hands with every step.

 Chapter 15. It’s just the beginning

    "Broken families. Dead loved ones. No light at the end of the tunnel¡­ All of those things are just synonyms for the Outbreak. Survivors always want to hold onto the hope that everyone they care about is alive and well. Still, deep down, everyone knows it''s impossible. Some are lucky to have their whole family survive, while others fall into despair when the truth finally settles in their hearts. After all, loss is inevitable. This is the truth, the only constant truth about the Void."


    ~ Lone Traveler, 32nd Outbreak


    <hr>


    Maybe another ten seconds passed. The screeches of the Voidlings became a whisper, barely carried that far by the wind, while the growls of the Runner sent chills through Leo''s spine.


    A quick peek over his shoulder confirmed that Leo''s burst of speed didn''t do much apart from draining even more energy from him and leaving the horde in the dust. The Runner was still faster, easily matching and pushing past Leo''s speed. As its name suggested, the monster was made for this situation.


    Leo had already accepted that, using the fast few seconds of pursuit to find anything to make this fight quick and painless. There was only one such thing in Leo''s arsenal. Reinforcement was a skill that had previously refused to form, but now, with even more points in Mind, it just might work.


    Please.


    With only a tiny part of Leo''s consciousness focused on running, he again touched his small Essence reserves. The response was much more welcoming than in the past. The energy didn''t try to escape Leo''s grasp and instead only poked his phantom hand as if checking if it was safe to follow.


    Thanks to this newfound control, Leo grabbed his Essence and mimicked what he felt during his fight against Edward''s husk.


    At a snail''s pace, Essence followed Leo''s command, spreading through his body and entering every possible muscle, bone, or organ it could find. On the outside, his body lit up like a Christmas tree, power spreading through his veins.


    And then, just when the Reinforcement almost settled down, the glow disappeared. The Essence escaped Leo''s grasp as he tumbled to the ground, the Runner flying above him.


    Shit. Almost. Leo groaned as he pushed himself off the ground and instantly had to block an incoming swipe of sharp fingernails. The monster didn''t even waste a second after its initial attack and jumped forward, saliva flying from its lipless mouth.


    Metal and inhuman nails met in a struggle without a winner. Leo tried to push the monster away, but the Runner held firm, never giving up. Evenly matched in strength. Noted.


    They kept pushing, both attached to the shovel''s shaft, neither wanting to give the other any ground at the beginning of this battle. Although Leo mostly did that to try and activate Reinforcement once again. Currently, he didn''t have to concentrate too much on fighting.


    The Voidling growled, as if sensing a trap, and released the shovel. Leo cursed, almost barreling forward as he used his weapon to stay upright and jerk away from a clawed foot that flew towards his exposed side.


    Okay, so you''re smarter than your friends and know how to throw a kick. Just great.


    The Runner never stopped its offensive and attacked with everything it had. Hands. Clawed feet. Hell, the Voidling even tried to bite Leo''s hand when it got particularly close.


    After every attack, Leo tried to throw a counter or gain some advantage, but the monster just wouldn''t let him. Even the silvery glow that erupted on the monster''s torso when Leo drew his first blood couldn''t give him an advantage in this battle.


    The creature''s strength might have been at Leo''s level, but even with all the points he had in Grace, the Voidling was still a bit faster. Always recovering a second quicker. Always jumping away when Leo''s shovel got a bit too close for its comfort.


    And so Leo blocked or dodged, watching as with every strike, the metal on the shovel''s shaft was chipped away, piece by piece. The tool served Leo well, but he knew it couldn''t endure much more abuse.


    Then another kick came, and even though Leo could dodge it, he blocked, the shovel snapping in half. The Runner snarled, trying to follow with another swipe. Leo quickly reacted and threw the shovel''s handle at the monster''s face.


    Sweat running down his brow, Leo smirked as he heard the monster hiss and jump away just in time to avoid the projectile. With the sliver of time bought, Leo pushed the remaining part of the shovel into the ground and dug out a handful of wheat connected to a block of dirt.


    The Runner howled and jumped at Leo. Perfect, he grinned wider and threw the shovel with all its contents at the monster. The block spread in the air, creating a broad wave of dirt and wheat that flew straight at the Voidling.


    Take that.


    The monster indeed took it straight in the face. The Runner howled, crying tears of blood as it began to claw at the eyes that consumed a handful of dirt. Not as bright as I thought. Leo smirked as the broken dagger slipped into his fingers.


    The Voidling didn''t try to dodge or attack as Leo neared. It just continued to thrash around in the same place, almost collapsing to the ground. Leo took the first opening in minutes without question, ready to end the fight.


    His claws sank into the monster''s neck while the dagger entered its brain through the back of its skull. The Voidling stilled, and Leo yanked his hands back, the dead body dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.


    Cursed Runner (LVL: 3) slain | Experience awarded | 2 Ether gained


    The doubled amount of Ether just confirms that this isn''t your normal Voidling. Good to know for the future. Leo scowled as he sat down on a bed of cut wheat a few feet away from the body. His back burned with renewed intensity, and his breathing had become labored halfway through the run. Given that the horde was nowhere in sight, some downtime couldn''t hurt.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Leo threw his backpack to the side and removed his blood-drenched shirt. Even with the wounds on Leo''s back, the piece of clothing didn''t have any spot that wasn''t wet, be it from blood or sweat.


    "I''ve really had enough of this shit," Leo mumbled, the shirt sailing through the air as he took a brief look over his shoulder.


    The bandage covering the upper half of his body didn''t have any white surface left. For a moment, Leo considered changing it for a new one, only to instantly discard the idea, knowing that it was just a waste.


    Taking a few calming breaths, Leo slowly laid down, the remains of wheat softening the ground just enough to stop his back from aching even more. He needed a moment to slow down after the fight and his adventure on the road.


    "Everything was going so well, until¡­." Leo sighed, the image of the dead girl curled in the trunk again coming to the forefront of his mind. Probably even a worse way to die than being killed by Voidlings.


    The girl most likely hid there as soon as she awoke after the Outbreak. Or maybe she had been there even before that. Leo didn''t know which option was worse.


    Don''t think about it. Nothing good will come out of that.


    Leo nodded. He really had to get used to sights like this one or suffer the consequences, both mental and physical. After all, he almost died today because he couldn''t handle seeing a dead child.


    As I shouldn''t. Nobody should.


    Leo shook his head. So many things to adapt to if he even wanted a tiny chance at survival. Killing, blood, fighting, death, and so much more. With every minute, Leo felt less and less lucky to survive the Outbreak. And it was just the beginning.


    Whatever. Leo thought, trying to force his¡ª


    "Fuck!" Leo hissed as pain spread from his right forearm.


    Acting on instinct, Leo''s claws stabbed the ground next to his arm, a high-pitched shriek following soon after. A notification flashed into existence in front of Leo, and his eyes widened, seeking to understand what the hell he had just killed.


    Scavenger (LVL: 1) slain | Experience awarded | No Ether gained


    A mouse, or rather a monster that resembled an oversized mouse, hung from Leo''s claws. It had almost no fur, only smooth gray skin without cracks or glowing parts. The remaining fur looked like it was replaced by a hedgehog''s spines, thin and sharp. The rest of the Scavenger''s body wasn''t much different from a mouse, though Leo could bet that its teeth were sharper than they should be.


    "Bloody rodent," Leo grumbled, glancing at the small chunk of skin missing from his forearm. "Another one to the collection."


    Switching his glare to the new Voidling, Leo consumed its Essence in seconds, not even batting an eye when the timer only added a few minutes. No reason to be even more annoyed than he already was.


    Leo shuffled over to the Runner''s corpse and muttered, "I guess that''s a clue that I should move if even something so weak felt it could eat me."


    Like always, Leo''s claws entered the dead body, transferring the Essence he needed to survive. Unlike with any other corpse, Leo stood there for more than a minute as he watched the body collapse into dust. Leo''s brow furrowed when the last portions of its chest collapsed, a gentle glow emanating from within the dust.


    Again? But the body didn''t give out any light after death.


    Leo reached into the pile of dust and removed a familiar ruby crystal. Even if the shape was a bit different, Identify told him that just like the crystal in his pocket, this one was also an Unattuned Crystalized Essence.


    I guess common is common. Leo shrugged, putting the crystal in another pocket. If it continued, he would soon need a better method of carrying his things.


    Sighing, Leo reached for his bag and quickly looked around to find the correct path and check if anything was trying to follow him.


    Only seas of cut wheat surrounded him, and from what Leo noticed, he still had a few hours of sunlight left to find another shelter.


    Just please, no more surprises today.


    <hr>


    There were no new surprises for another ten or so minutes. At least there wasn''t if Leo didn''t count the appearance of a Voidling that probably evolved from a deer. It was too far to Identify, and the thing ran away as soon as it noticed Leo. Still, he at least managed to get a look at its antlers, which had evolved into a lovely tree of very sharp bony blades.


    After that short encounter, nothing spectacular happened as Leo trekked up a slight slope. Sometimes an occasional squeak traveled through the wheat, but Leo never even caught a glimpse of another Scavenger.


    But now, as Leo finally reached the end of the slope and looked at the remaining farmlands, he had to rub his eyes just to ensure his vision was working correctly.


    It is just one thing after another. Leo sighed, scanning the large structure, maybe a hundred meters away.


    To put it simply, it was a square gate made out of black material that Leo had never seen before. Leo could take a truck and drive through the gate with plenty of space left as it had no doors. Hell, even the wheat and ground around the structure weren''t spared. Instead, they were turned into the same black material, creating a perfect circular platform with the gate in the center.


    Just check what it is, and then get the hell away from here. Leo nodded and covered himself in stealth. Feeling the imperfections in the skill, Leo vowed to work on them after he investigated the gate.


    He walked for another few minutes, only to stop a few steps away from the gate''s platform. Now closer than ever, Leo could tell that the material wasn''t purely black.


    Hundreds of dark violet lines had formed throughout the platform and the gate, pulsing with an almost unnoticeable glow. The lines crossed over each other in several places, resulting in images that were tough to comprehend.


    "What the hell are you?" Leo muttered and used the one ability that could give him an answer.


    Planetary Gateway of the Void:


    Or simply called a Void Gate by the population of the Void and the survivors. Planetary Gateways are used to travel between the planets of the same Universe. In contrast, Dimensional Gateways can be used to journey into one of the almost infinite dimensions inside the Void.


    During every Outbreak, hundreds of Gateways grow on every planet. Made out of living material from the Void, it cannot be destroyed by anything weaker than an A-ranked User. Upon destruction, a Gateway will attempt to grow back in another place.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway is still charging and won''t activate for another: 27 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes.


    Leo just stood there frozen as he read the description again and again. With every reading, more and more questions appeared inside his mind.


    The population of the Void? We are talking about Voidlings, right? And you can travel to the Void? What the fuck is going on!? Leo screamed internally, his heart rate picking up.


    The clone always talked about the entire Universe, not only Leo''s planet. And now, the final proof of the clone''s words stood right in front of him.


    No, no, no. That''s not even that important, you knew that already. Focus Leo! Those things can bring even more Voidlings here. Fuck, what if they transport things that are worse than Voidlings?!


    Leo took a few deep breaths as the last thought repeated in his mind. No matter how outrageous it sounded, he had to calm down and try to accept the information for what it was.


    Another motivation and a warning. Voidlings might be dangerous, but now, Leo would also need to fight against time.


    I have to go.

 Chapter 16. Never look back

    "I tried to change, to give the Hales a chance, and it is working¡­ somewhat. I always knew they were good people ¡ª after all, who else would take in a kid like me ¡ª but now I truly see it. They will never replace the void left by my parents, but they don''t need to. I just have to accept their help and stop looking back. Nothing good is waiting for me back there."


    ~ Third entry, Leo''s journal


    <hr>


    Twenty-seven days and thirteen hours. Not even a month to get to Nick, Lily, and Leo''s foster parents. The deadlines Leo had faced as a university student or as a reporter for the local news couldn''t compare to this race against time.


    Back then, Leo knew what he was doing; even if the deadline was catching up to him, he never gave up because it was something he had practiced for years. But now? Now Leo was going in almost completely blind, guided by a System that provided him with the bare minimum of information.


    Out of the frying pan into the fire. Leo sighed, picking up two small rocks and tossing them on the gateway''s platform at random.


    The pebbles clattered against the mysterious material, bouncing a few times before finally stopping next to the gate. The platform remained unchanged even after the small intrusion, and so Leo took a step forward.


    No matter how much Leo wanted to turn away and continue his main task with renewed vigor, he at least had to investigate the gate further. He might not get the chance to study it in the future, depending on what would come from it.


    As a result, Leo placed his foot on the dark material without making a sound. The ground beneath his feet was as hard as any other ordinary rock. Even with all of the violet lines, it was flawless, like a finely cut and polished stone.


    Leo held his breath as he stopped before one of the thick pillars that made up the gate. Hand shakily raising towards the dark surface, he gasped and jerked the limb away. Somehow, a surge of foreign Essence tried to force itself into Leo''s body even after a single touch.


    Leo quickly recognized the energy as the same powerful Essence he drained from every Voidling he killed. Only here, the Pure Void Essence was wilder, trying to attack him after a single contact. Weird, it has never done that before...


    Leo shook his head and took a moment to just walk around the Gateway, scanning it from top to bottom with his eyes and ''Identify''.


    Even then, he didn''t dare to touch the structure again with unprotected skin. Maybe if Leo had more control over his own Essence, there would be something else he could do, but for now, a simple investigation was just fine for him. Not that he found anything helpful anyway.


    "If you could tell me just a bit more. Anything that isn''t just a warning," Leo muttered, reading the description of the Planetary Gateway once again.


    Dismissing the information, Leo sighed as he turned away from the alien structure and began walking in the same direction he had previously chosen. There was nothing left here for him, and it was high time to move on.


    However, even as Leo wandered through the wheat fields, his mind couldn''t give up the new mystery of the Void Gates.


    Thousands of those objects sprouted up around the world, adding to the chaos that had taken over the Earth. And the less said about the prospect of beings other than Voidlings passing through the gates, the better. Even more to prepare for.


    And once again, I''m trying to drown myself in all the negativity I can muster¡­ Lily would be proud of me. Leo snorted and tried to force himself to think about something that really needed his attention.


    Stealth.


    Leo had to fix this skill before venturing into the city. The abomination he called stealth had little to no hope of shielding him from Voidlings lurking around every corner. Against one or two low-leveled Cursed Humans, it might work well enough. But what if Leo encountered more types of monsters during his journey with enough intelligence to see through his trick?


    Yeah. Let''s get to work.


    The protective barrier sprang into existence with just a thought, all imperfections now clear as day. Leo lessened his hold on the Essence and smiled when the skill didn''t fade away.


    Once again, Leo focused on the holes in the barrier. Unlike the last time, he slowly filled each of them, giving every gap a moment to adjust to the reestablished flow of Essence. Sometimes Leo had to fight his energy for control. Still, it never took longer than a few seconds to make it obedient again.


    As Leo worked, his walking speed almost slowed to a crawl, and he did not try to speed up his pace. The skill''s improvement was too significant to throw his focus somewhere it wasn''t needed.


    Alright, one problem down. Leo thought, scanning the entire ability for every flaw in the density of the barrier. Two to go.


    There were plenty of these irregularities. Places where the layer of Essence was almost nonexistent or became so thick that Leo had to wonder how the skill still worked.


    He poked those spots, trying to understand how to fix this new problem. Filling holes was one thing, but adding or removing Essence that had already formed a skill was another. Forcing additional energy across the thin layer simply destabilized the ability, and any attempt to stop the flow of power resulted in Stealth disappearing completely.


    Such an outcome always forced Leo to take a few deep breaths unless he wanted to delay his progress even more. Starting from the beginning could get old very quickly, and he wouldn''t mind punching something hard.


    In the end, Leo found the perfect solution to his problem just when a road leading to the eastern entrance to the city appeared on the horizon. For another few minutes, his body walked on autopilot as his mind activated stealth again, ready to finish the job.


    Like each time, Leo started by filling every hole before executing his new plan.


    Instead of pushing more Essence into the weak spots, Leo slowly transferred the excess energy from the thicker places to even out the entire barrier.


    With each flaw fixed, he could sense more and more of Essence''s movement within the barrier. Leo came to a halt after the last damaged layer was removed, noting the lack of any sound around him other than the mild breeze rustling through the wheat.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Wait a second. Leo frowned as he took another step, the usual thud of his feet against the ground missing once again. Is that what you''re capable of? He thought as he felt around the barrier, which was only a step away from being repaired.


    Leo sat on the ground and closed his eyes. Stealth required less Essence and time to form with each adjustment, and it now muted the sound Leo produced. What else could it do if the Essence in the filled gaps acted like the rest of the barrier?


    Can it truly be so simple?


    Even now, with more points in Mind, Leo could barely feel the Essence of the environment, much less use it. Nonetheless, it didn''t mean there was no way to achieve the same thing the skill did during its formation.


    Legs crossed, Leo once more utilized his previous trick. Only this time, he exchanged Essence between two places, tightly intertwining the Essence that imitated the environment''s energy with Essence Leo used to fill the gaps.


    The new energy could no longer ignore the previously formed barrier as it was forced to adapt by the overwhelming pressure from every side. Leo grinned as the crimson spots slowly disappeared from the skill, gradually developing a perfect ¡ª at least for now ¡ª ability.


    Leo gasped when the last imperfection faded away, his body bending forward as the barrier squeezed his body and disappeared. No matter how much Leo wanted to complain about being manhandled by his skill, he couldn''t stop the first genuine smile from forming. Not after a notification appeared before his eyes.


    Congratulations, your Stealth evolved.


    True Stealth (Uncommon):


    With practice and hard work, the shortcomings of basic stealth were removed. Now you can truly walk among your enemies as Essence guides you on your way. But beware that nothing is ever perfect.


    Effects:


    Advanced ability capable of shielding you with a strong layer of controlled Essence. When activated, your Essence signature will be harder to detect, while your scent and any sounds you make will be hidden. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Grace.


    Instead of being led by instincts, the knowledge of how to properly form the skill from the get-go rushed inside Leo''s mind. The smile on his face widened as he finally understood everything about his ability. Even the bit about opening his Essence to the environment so it could gain the required properties seemed obvious now.


    Standing up, Leo called out the True Stealth and shivered as the barrier surrounded his body. He felt around its edges, searching for the usual imperfections, but found none.


    "It worked," Leo muttered, only for the sound to never leave his mouth. It truly did.


    A bit over a day had passed, and Leo somehow managed to force a skill to evolve by gaining meager control over energy he had never used. What more could he accomplish with more control? With more time?


    Leo stood up and threw his bag over his shoulder. The pain faded into the background as Leo walked, his head spinning with all the ideas given to him by the simple evolution of a skill.


    Maybe there really is a chance to survive this shit.


    <hr>


    Unlike the road Leo crossed before, this one barely had enough space to let two cars pass next to each other. Not really that surprising, as the road didn''t lead anywhere essential, and no one cared enough to replace it with something better.


    And so the road remained in its current state, full of holes and faded markings. Additionally, the road got worse with every mile further into the east. Barely anyone used it; thus, Leo only met two Voidlings on his way back to the city.


    The first one never noticed him as Leo plunged a dagger inside its head, and the second was howling inside an overturned car by the road. Not even a challenge at this point. Although Leo knew he would get his chance as soon as he noticed a building that signaled the official entrance to Wolford.


    It was a simple petrol station with three pumps, a store, and a small parking lot on the side. At first glance, nothing special, but most citizens of Wolford knew better, including Leo. With a unique name of "Fill me", the local petrol station had the best prices in the entire Wolford. Even people from the opposite side of the city drove here to refill.


    As a result, Leo wasn''t surprised to see over a dozen Voidlings strolling throughout the area, with cars abandoned at every turn. Some vehicles were crushed on the side of the road, while most were parked in the lot or near a pump.


    From here, Leo had options to choose from. He could either go around the petrol station and enter a small residential area that stood next to the industrial part of Wolford, Leo''s original target. Or he could approach the small store from the back and kill a few Voidlings.


    No more running from a winnable situation. I have to take some risks if I want to grow stronger, and this is a perfect opportunity. Leo nodded, his eyes never leaving the station. Besides, I might be able to kill a bit more than just a few. He added as one Crystalized Essence slipped into his hand.


    Leo retreated into the wheat fields and moved, crouching all the way towards a place where the farmlands met with the back of the petrol station.


    With the shop hiding the rest of the station from Leo''s sight, he quickly scanned the area and grabbed the dagger from his waistline. He had to get to the shop''s backdoor, and thankfully only one Voidling decided to guard the back of the petrol station.


    The True Stealth formed around his skin, and Leo moved, the only car ¡ª a yellow sedan ¡ª in the back becoming his first cover. He peeked over the vehicle''s mask, searching for the lone monster.


    Still there, good. Leo noted as he watched the Voidling investigate the shop''s wall just a few feet away from the backdoor.


    A short, soundless run was all it took to bring the monster to the ground, a dagger piercing its brain. Claws followed soon after, and the body turned into dust as Leo approached the closed door.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | Experience awarded | 1 Ether gained


    Leo gripped the handle and twisted, praying to whoever was listening to grant him this small mercy. The lock clicked, and Leo sighed as the door opened without a sound.


    Leo gave the small office a brief glance and saw that it was indeed devoid of any surprises that might jump out at any moment. However, one could never be sure with the few boxes and lockers standing in the corner, so Leo examined everything he saw. Just in case.


    Nodding, Leo closed the lid of the last box. No surprises, indeed. Now for the next part of the plan.


    He opened the door to the central part of the shop and hid behind one of the shelves with candies, a quiet screech reaching his ears. Leo smiled slightly as he looked over the shelf and noticed only two voidling mulling between the shelves.


    Like the one outside, they too met a quick end as Leo snuck behind them and rendered their brains useless with one blow.


    Part two finished. Leo smirked and moved to drain the victims and grab whatever valuable items he could find without alerting the Voidlings outside. After only some dry food was added to his backpack, it was time to start the third and last portion of the plan.


    Leo stopped in front of the entrance to the shop and took a deep breath. Fingers and claws gripped the edges of the sliding doors as his eyes closed. It is now or never. The last opportunity to stop before everything goes to hell.


    Eyes opening, Leo gazed at the creatures walking outside, weaving around the pumps and the damaged cars. He could leave, and every rational part of Leo''s mind screamed at him to do just that. But should he really listen?


    No. This wasn''t the same world. The rules had changed, and Leo had already understood that after the events of the last twenty-four hours. He had to fight, get stronger as fast as possible because that was the only chance of survival. Be it Leo''s or his family.


    Leo shook his head. Yeah, running away was never an option, huh? Adapt or die, Leo. Adapt or die.


    Taking a deep breath, Leo yanked, snapping the doors open with a bang.

 Chapter 17. Carnage

    "No matter where it came from, the System gave us a chance. A chance to grow and evolve into something more than the weak creatures we were before. Most of the survivors go with the most simple evolutions, just enough to get stronger and keep the last remains of their old identity alive¡­ This is a weakness, and Narzak will have none of those."


    ~ Current Commander of Narzak, 57th Outbreak


    <hr>


    When Leo evolved his stealth, he wanted to do something more as he traveled toward Wolford. After all, if he managed to evolve a skill in just a day, he could learn more about Essence or at least gain more control over the mysterious energy with some experimentation.


    And that was exactly what Leo did. Although perhaps using the Crystallized Essence to practice wasn''t the brightest of his ideas.


    He didn''t have as much time to practice as he would have liked, but Leo knew it had to be enough. Especially now as he stood before the opened doors, dozens of ruby eyes glaring at him, the loud bang alerting almost every Voidling at the petrol station.


    The monsters screeched and moved; Leo joined them as he bolted towards the office. He jumped inside the room, leaving the door wide open so the Voidlings could follow.


    With no time to waste, Leo¡¯s eyes snapped towards a wooden desk in the corner, an excellent addition to his plan. Grabbing the desk''s side, Leo dragged it to the metal backdoor, heavy thumps reverberating through the ground as the horde got closer and closer.


    Leo pushed the door wide open and stepped outside, using the desk to barricade the lower half of the exit. When the first Cursed Human attempted to enter the office, it was pushed to the ground by another Voidling who crashed into its back. A moment later, another came, creating an avalanche of monsters as they spilled into the room, none remaining on foot for more than a second.


    Come on, just a little bit more.


    Leo''s claws gripped the backdoor tightly, ready to close it at a moment''s notice as his human hand squeezed the Crystalized Essence in his pocket. The power of Leo''s soul thrummed as he slowly transferred more of it towards his hand.


    At this point, the screeches became the only thing around Leo, the monstrous sounds pulling at his mind, telling him to run away as fast as he could. But Leo held on, watching as yet another Voidling ran into the office, this one remaining standing as it stepped over the backs of its howling kin.


    That''s my cue.


    As Leo took the crystal from his pocket, the accumulated Essence moved. The energy was propelled out of his body and towards the object, just as he had trained. Only now, when the crystal gleamed a little brighter, Leo didn''t stop but instead took it as a good sign, forcing even more Essence into his hand.


    This is taking too long. Leo growled as he stepped back when one of the Voidlings finally took its first chance to attack him. The monster was still blocked by the desk, but Leo had no doubt that in a few seconds, it would not be a problem anymore.


    The Voidling struck again, and this time Leo was ready. He snatched the offending limb with his claws and pushed the Cursed Human back, right into another monster who was finally attempting to stand.


    This strategy would have never succeeded if it hadn''t been for their foolishness. The teamwork the beasts showed on the first road disappeared in the face of a fresh meal. Hell, even now, most of the Voidlings were lying on the ground.


    Leo hissed as something almost burned his hand, eyes widening when he looked down at the miniature sun in his hand.


    If that''s not a sign of destabilization, then I don''t know what is. Leo gave the crystal a final push and chucked it into the office, the backdoor snapping shut as the last part of the plan was almost completed.


    The crystal''s description didn''t give much information on the power of the explosion. So Leo bolted away from the petrol station as quickly as his legs could carry him. No reason to remain in a danger zone when he wasn''t even sure what would happen next.


    Leo entered the farmland once more, True Stealth gathering around his body. Come on, work! Leo yelled internally as he awaited the conclusion of his scheme.


    ''Boom!''


    The earth shook, and even though the sound was muted by the shop''s walls, the echo still carried through the air. It quickly reached Leo, who was getting bombarded by lines of notifications as he tumbled to the ground.


    Multiple enemies slain | Bonus experience awarded | 16 Ether gained


    Level 5 reached. Class attributes added. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Level 6 reached. Class attributes added. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Due to achieving the first mile¡­


    Two levels, nice, but now is really not the time. Just assign two points to Mind and one each to Might and Soul. Leo groaned, picking himself off the ground; the rest of the notifications faded to the back of his mind, waiting for his call.


    Just when Leo thought he was slowly getting used to the surge of power, the double level-up was quick to prove him wrong. It pulled at every single muscle in his body, every sense, almost blinding Leo. He released a silent scream, collapsing to his knees once again.


    "I''ll never get used to this," Leo gasped, his gaze finally settling on the back of the gas station, the image clearer than ever.


    Even if the explosion killed several Voidlings, the backdoor remained, albeit slightly bent outwards. From this point of view, Leo had already managed to spot at least two Voidlings in the area, so the explosion definitely didn''t kill every monster.


    Once again, Leo was at a crossroads. He could either go back and kill the few Voidlings that survived, or get the hell away from here before something stronger noticed the explosion. I''m getting greedy. Leo furrowed his brow. But it doesn''t mean I can''t just hide for a few minutes and wait out any possible dangers.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Decision made, Leo moved through the farmland to gain a better visual of the front of the shop.


    Stopping a reasonable distance from the end of the field, Leo cast his gaze over the entire petrol station, searching for every Voidling that survived. One, two, three, plus two more in the back. Doable if nothing else shows up.


    And so Leo waited, his body tense as he hid behind the remains of the wheat. His sight, hearing, and nose tried to pick up something that wasn''t the natural screech and growl of a Voidling or a howl of the wind.


    At first, nothing came, but Leo knew the nearest residential area was at least five minutes away. As such, he waited, not moving even an inch as minute after minute passed. I guess the explosion wasn''t as loud as I thought.


    Slowly, Leo trudged towards the edge of the field, dagger in hand, as he tracked the two Voidlings standing by the shop entrance. Not once did they try to step inside. They looked almost scared to enter a building that had killed so many of their kin.


    Leo snorted. Interesting.


    When the third Voidling that stood near the pumps turned away, Leo shot towards the side of the shop. He hugged the wall with his back as soon as he got there before moving to the edge.


    The two fuckers still loomed by the entrance, unmoving; Leo cursed. He knew that with all the new levels, a two-on-one fight against weak Cursed Humans shouldn''t be that much of a problem. But Leo didn''t fancy the third one joining if he couldn''t eliminate one of them quickly enough.


    Yeah, no thanks. Leo thought as he neared the second corner leading to the shop''s back.


    One of the Cursed Humans still stood by the backdoor, but the other retreated to the edge of the farmland, its sharp fingers weaving through the remains of uncut wheat. Leo shook his head, gazing back at the Voidling at the door. I won''t even ask.


    He knocked lightly on the metal wall with one finger, creating a quiet ting. It was close enough for the Voidling to hear as it growled, already running towards the corner.


    Leo hid, and when the monster came, his claws shot forward, stabbing its neck and stopping any sound from coming out. The dagger followed, ending the creature''s short life.


    The body dropped to the ground, and Leo left his spot by the wall and ran towards the second Voidling. The monster met him halfway, alerted by the fall of its kin.


    Leo ducked under a clumsy swipe, his boosted Grace giving him more than enough time to react. The monster tried to follow with its other hand, but Leo jerked away and struck with his claws, the deadly fingers creating five long cuts on the Voidlings face.


    It howled, backing a step as half of its face was rendered useless. Leo grimaced and quickly followed with a finishing strike, knowing what would come next.


    The Voidling collapsed as three screeches answered its last howl. "Fuck."


    Leo ran to the backdoor and twisted the handle as quickly as possible. The entire door groaned but didn''t budge. Leo cursed again and ran to the edge of the wall, taking a deep breath.


    Please, one or two, not all of them. Just as this thought went through Leo''s head, two Cursed Humans ran from around the corner. Neither noticed Leo when he pounced on the second monster, claws already entering its unprotected side, draining its Essence.


    Leo hissed as they rolled on the hard paving, the bag once again digging into his wounded back. Fighting through the pain, Leo stabbed the monster a few more times for good measure before jumping off the dead Voidling.


    The other Cursed Human had already turned around, attempting to jump on Leo. The latter only leaned out of the way, a level one monster being too slow to surprise Leo''s improved senses.


    Just when he wanted to launch a counter-attack, Leo again had to jump out of the way as the third Voidling finally caught up after choosing the wrong side of the building.


    Cursing, Leo turned around and bolted, leaving the monsters behind. He ran straight for the shop entrance and barreled inside, the stench of blood immediately assaulting his nostrils.


    Should have expected that. Leo grimaced, ducking behind one of the shelves as the screeches followed his trail.


    The first Voidling came around the shelf, and Leo struck the back of its legs. The creature fell on its back, its howl silenced by a dagger to its head. One down, and if Leo''s hearing wasn''t wrong, then he had an idea how to deal with the second.


    Jumping to his feet, Leo grinned at the monster on the other side of the shelf and pushed the barrier separating them with all his might.


    With all of its products, the shelf fell onto the unsuspecting monster, sending it to the ground, half crushed under the object''s weight. It screeched, flinging its arms at Leo, but he just sighed and vaulted over the shelf. A simple stab ended the Voidling''s life.


    "That could have gone better," Leo frowned, taking a seat next to the monster, his claws already draining its Essence.


    He dealt with the two first Voidlings pretty well, even if he had to fight head-on with the second monster. When it came to the other three, Leo still tried to outsmart them as he just wasn''t sure about his chances against more than two enemies.


    It wasn''t bad per se, but like with the fight against the Runner or Seekers, one day, Leo might meet monsters he couldn''t outrun or outsmart. For them, he needed to get a bit more confident and skilled at close-quarters combat. Until then, Leo had to pick his battles wisely because today could have gone very badly if it wasn''t for his quick thinking and high level.


    Sighing, Leo drained the other Voidling before finally heading to the office. He closed his eyes momentarily and took a deep breath, knowing that the sight inside couldn''t be pretty. The puddle of black blood at the entrance told him as much.


    With a nod, Leo took a step forward, his gaze falling on the carnage inside.


    Once white, the walls were now painted black, blood still dripping, putting the final touches on the painting of slaughter. The floor wasn''t any better, soaking in the fluids that oozed from what remained of the Voidlings. Leo tried not to look at the severed legs and arms or the headless bodies. Instead, he focused his gaze on the only thing providing light for the room.


    Now, that''s something new. Leo''s eyebrow rose as his gaze settled on a swirling mass of violet energy that floated in the middle of the office.


    It wasn''t larger than Leo''s fist, yet it exuded enough light to illuminate the entire room. Leo moved forward, his boots squelching as he weaved through the carnage.


    He stopped a foot or two away, almost reaching for the orb, only to yank his hand away. Identify first.


    Install: Touch of Carnage (Rare):


    An install-type item created as the result of the aftermath of an Essence explosion that intermingled with the souls and blood of multiple Voidlings. The ensuing carnage directed the overflow of Essence towards the formation of the first Install item on Earth.


    Limit Break: +6 Might and Vision, +2 Grace.


    Passive: First Circle - Blood is the answer (0%).


    Warning: Install-type items weigh heavily on your soul. Use only as many as you can handle.


    The moment Leo finished reading, his eyebrows couldn''t go any higher.


    What?

 Chapter 18. Progress?

    "You think you have seen it all? Bah, you couldn''t be more wrong. Void, the System, the factions, and so much more. I have lived for more cycles than most, yet even I know that there is so much more for me to see. After all, with every new Universe crushed, we get a new one, just waiting to be explored."


    ~Lone Traveler to his audience, 52nd Outbreak


    <hr>


    Touch of Carnage. Doesn''t sound ominous at all. Leo thought, staring at the floating orb, and the object stared back as if alive. The violet energy still swirled around the item, but now that Leo stood close to it, the orb seemed calmer, waiting for him to act.


    And so Leo did, his hand moving forward. Hopeful that Identify didn''t forget to add some vital information on how the orb could kill him with a touch. It certainly would be ironic considering the item''s name¡­


    Leo''s hand was not even an inch away when the orb moved. It spasmed, shrinking as it slowly landed in the outstretched hand. Leo gasped, the power of the sphere tingling across his skin.


    Almost instinctively, he guided his own Essence into his palm, slowly forcing it into the object. A second, ten, passed as Leo stood there transfixed, his energy mixing with the orb''s own.


    And then it happened.


    Do you wish to Install Touch of Carnage into your soul? Install-Type items can be removed any time you want.


    The System and growing amounts of Essence waited for Leo''s command. He gulped as the final choice flashed before his eyes. Did he use the item and endure any potential consequences, or take it with him without installing the mysterious object?


    Leo''s gaze went to the benefits gained from the orb, a sigh leaving his lips. Too much to gain and nothing really to lose, even if the passive is disconcerting... Besides, I can remove it if anything goes wrong.


    Leo gave the command and groaned as Essence reversed its flow. The energy stopped flowing out of his body and was dragged back inside along with the orb''s power. The violet glow covered Leo''s entire hand as he gritted his teeth, fighting the scream that wanted to leave his throat.


    The new power spread all over his body before the majority of the energy settled inside the pond of Essence that made Leo''s soul. He gasped as his senses sharpened again, his body burning as small bits of the orb''s energy melded with his every muscle.


    It was completely different from when Leo leveled up. With every level, he felt his body and senses becoming stronger thanks to some alien force that the System provided, but now? Now it was all thanks to the Essence within the small orb that somehow affected Limit Break.


    There was also something more to the item''s power, probably the passive, but for the love of god, Leo couldn''t figure out what even ''Blood is the answer'' meant.


    Apart from the positive effects, the System wasn''t lying with the warning. As Leo closed his eyes and touched his small pond of Essence, he felt the additional force weighing down his soul. And even if it didn''t hinder him now, Leo wasn''t sure what would happen if he installed another item.


    Eyes opening, Leo grimaced. With his focus entirely on the object, he almost forgot the state of the room he was in.


    Leo backed off a few steps and left the office. No matter how much Essence he could still drain from the remains of Voidlings, Leo had no plans to step that low yet. Outside he had more than enough Essence to drain, and it didn''t require him to bathe in the blood and gore of monsters.


    Wait a second... Stopping outside the office, Leo scooped a tiny bit of Voidling''s blood off the door''s frame. Almost instantly, a dim violet sheen covered the black substance, only to vanish a moment later, along with all of the blood. Well, blood certainly is an answer, but to what?


    He didn''t feel any different after absorbing the blood, and the description of the item ¡ª which he apparently could bring out whenever he wanted ¡ª didn''t change one bit. Maybe it needs more? Something to check later on. I really need to get out of here.


    With that in mind, Leo moved to the shop''s entrance and quickly looked outside.


    The rest of the station was devoid of Voidlings, as expected; they were all slain in the explosion or the conflict that followed. Leo only managed to spot a few monsters moving down the street. However, none even tried to approach his location, apparently happy with their position on the road.


    I still have a few notifications to check out... They will need to wait.


    The area seemed safe, but Leo didn''t want to risk being caught off guard. Especially considering the sheer number of notifications waiting for Leo''s attention. And so, no matter how hard his curiosity burned, Leo decided to wait a few more minutes.


    He only had to get to the small neighborhood near the industrial area and find an empty house. It had been over half a day since Leo began his journey, and he needed some time to rest and eat. Besides, his back deserved to rest a few hours without any additional abuse. There was no way Leo was going any deeper into the city unless he was completely healthy, or close to it.


    Nodding, Leo left the shop with True Stealth activating as he ducked behind one of the cars near the station''s exit.


    Two Voidlings blocked his path to the other side of the road. While Leo could move a bit further to the right and probably pass without anyone noticing, what was the sense of leaving level one monsters alone?


    Dagger in hand, Leo used his patented trick and baited both monsters to his position with a small pebble. The two almost mindless beasts rushed towards Leo''s cover, ready to tear apart their offender.


    Only Leo moved first. The moment the Voidlings passed by him, he jumped at the nearest monster and let his claws slice through the back of its neck. The additional strength pushed Leo''s claws deeper, almost leaving the Cursed Human without its head.


    Before the body even fell to the ground, Leo spun in place, ducking under a slow swipe from the second Voidling. The dagger sailed forward, creating a long and deep gash across the monster''s stomach, blood and insides spilling out.


    The creature bent forward, screeching in pain, and Leo followed with an uppercut, claws digging into the monster''s neck and chin. It gurgled but didn''t give out any other sound as its movements grew weaker and weaker.


    The body stilled and collapsed to the ground with a thump as Leo turned around and looked at another level one Voidling that probably heard the cry of its kind and followed. The monster didn''t even try to approach Leo; instead, its eyes darted between its fallen kin and the human that killed them.


    Then its gaze drifted to Leo''s bloodied claws, and it hissed, baring its teeth. Leo stiffened, his tainted arm raised, ready for another fight. Only it never came as the Voidling turned around and ran away.


    What? Leo gaped, watching the back of the retreating monster. It was still running on the road in the direction from which Leo came.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Did a Voidling really run away from me? Even thinking about it seemed wrong, and yet it made some sense when Leo looked down at the massacred bodies and his unnatural arm. Despite the monster''s desire to consume Leo''s Essence, the beast watched him slay two of its kind in seconds.


    Maybe they have some sort of survival instinct. Though shouldn''t it disappear in the face of a meal? Leo mused as he drained the bodies, his mind flashing back to the scenes where Voidlings worked on freeing another one from a car. Then, there was the Cursed Human that, no matter what, tried to get inside the trunk. Maybe it is just the level difference or lack of any support. No way to find out for sure. Weird...


    Sighing, Leo dashed across the street and jumped into some large bushes. The plants grew along the entire length of the road and should give him enough cover to reach the neighborhood. Furthermore, the other side of the shrubs provided Leo with a clear view of other farmlands. Those, though, were devoid of both crops and Voidlings.


    Leo weaved between the branches and half-turned leaves that sought to slap him in the face with every step as he traveled. For the entire length of the walk, Leo''s mind stretched to find more reasons for why the Voidling escaped. Yet, he constantly arrived at the same conclusions as before.


    I need more information.


    He stopped at a crossroad where a small square neighborhood began. It consisted of a bunch of tiny detached houses and one long block of flats that separated this residential area from the industrial one.


    Looking to his left, Leo abandoned the cover of the bushes. He walked next to a wooden fence that separated the farmlands from the houses. Not that the fence offered any security or even privacy with all the holes and broken boards. However, it allowed Leo to peek into the gardens or even the street on the other side.


    From experience, Leo didn''t expect to find a lot of Voidlings in this area. One only needed to look at the broken or boarded windows, large parts of the roofs missing or destroyed walls to know that not many people could have lived here.


    And that was the truth. Most of the people in this neighborhood had already relocated into the lengthy block of flats. The massive building looked like a peak of architecture compared to the small houses.


    Indeed a sad fate for one of the oldest areas in the city, even if a necessary one. If it weren''t for the Outbreak, those houses would have been replaced by more blocks for people working in the nearby factories or warehouses in a few years.


    Let''s get it over with. Leo grunted as he jumped over the fence and walked to the backdoor of a house that seemed in good condition despite all the boarded windows.


    He broke the lock with a sharp tug and stepped into the darkness. Taking a whiff of the air, Leo smiled a bit when he didn''t register any stench of blood or death. He also didn''t notice any anomalies when he swept his glowing arm across the living area. Well, apart from some damaged furniture that was most likely left by the previous owners of the house.


    To be sure, Leo checked every room on the ground floor and then the attic, where he found the only window without any cover, even glass.


    Good, another source of light. Leo smiled, sitting next to the broken window. He pulled some dry food and water from his backpack and sighed. Now, let''s see what''s going on with those notifications.


    Due to achieving the first milestone on your journey, your connection with the System has improved from "Weak" to "Average". Evolution and Job menu unlocked.


    Huh. It was Leo''s only thought as he read the first notification.


    During the introduction with the clone, Leo didn''t receive a lot of information about the connection. Still, he thought it was a done deal. Guess I was wrong. He shrugged, looking at the second part of the message.


    Since Leo woke up, he had only received small snippets of information about evolution and nothing about the Job. Apparently, now he had an answer why. Although it also raised a question of what else would be unlocked if Leo strengthened his connection with the System even more.


    A thought for another day. Give me the ne- Argh!


    Assassin level five skill granted: Kiss of Death


    Kiss of Death (Uncommon):


    Bread and butter of every assassin. Stealth may lead you to the target. Sharp senses might let you spot their weakness. But the Kiss of Death will allow you to strike with the deadly strength required to end your target.


    Effects:


    Allows you to coat any weapon in your possession with finely refined Essence to strike with overpowering strength. Provides a one-time boost to armor penetration and the overall sharpness of your blade. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Soul.


    The knowledge of the new skill slammed into Leo''s head with the subtlety of a jackhammer. He gritted his teeth as the instructions on how to form the ability step by step were forcefully burned into his mind.


    "Fuck!" Leo gasped as the System finished its job, leaving him panting. No matter how nice it was to know how to use a skill from the beginning, Leo didn''t fancy a headache like this the next time he received a skill.


    As for the Kiss of Death? Not as helpful as Leo had hoped when he heard the name. Still, after some tweaking, he could see the potential. Only for now, he doubted that he had the required control to mess with this skill.


    I hope I won''t regret it, but next.


    Title Received: Adaptable


    Adaptable:


    Even in the face of the end of the world, you pushed through, adapting to every obstacle you faced. May your new path lead you to greatness.


    Effects:


    The System will take your adaptability under consideration. Soul Effectiveness: +10%


    The System will take your adaptability under consideration. Okay? Should I be worried? Leo raised his eyebrows. The description didn''t fill him with much hope, but until now, the System was mostly helpful. Besides, it was nice to know that even some mysterious entity acknowledged Leo''s progress.


    Whatever. Leo sighed. I don''t know what it means, and the additional ten percent is a welcome surprise. Next?


    Nothing appeared, and Leo frowned. He thought more notifications were waiting for him. Guess not. Perhaps it has something to do with the new menus...  Let''s see.


    Congratulations. The Evolution menu is now available. After reaching the necessary requirements, you may force the evolution of your race. Warning: Evolution is non-reversible.


    Stage II:


    Minimal Requirements:


    50 Ether (33/50), 25 Voidlings Killed (36/25), 12 Hours of Sated Status (16/12)


    Evolution Unlocked: ?


    Recommended Requirements:


    75 Ether (33/75), 50 Voidlings Killed (36/50), 24 hours of Sated Status (16/24), 2 Crystalized Essence


    Evolution Unlocked: ?


    Apex Requirements:


    150 Ether (33/150), 100 Voidlings Killed (36/100), 48 hours of Sated Status (16/48), 2 Hearts of the Tainted


    Evolution Unlocked: ?


    That''s a lot of killing. Leo grimaced. If he wanted to go for anything other than the ¡ª going by the requirements ¡ª weakest evolution, he only needed to gather a bit more of this mysterious Ether. The recommended evolution seemed possible after some work, but the Apex?


    Two Hearts of the Tainted? Where would I even get those? Do they want me to hunt other people like me just to steal their hearts? That''s beyond fucked. Although... No, Leo, don''t even think of it.


    Leo dismissed the menu and leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Until now, he hadn''t even thought about evolution, but now the clone''s words echoed very clearly in his head.


    Consume and evolve. Use this ability or die.

 Chapter 19. Just another day on the Job

    "Evolution is something truly fascinating. There are thousands of different races in the vast Multiverse and even more variants and mutations. The System offers us plenty of choices; we just need to take them, use them to survive, and become something more. With time, you will understand what I mean, and then you will be ready to create your own path. A path that no one ever walked."


    ~ An old warrior to his grandson, 25th Outbreak


    <hr>


    A rustle echoed through the empty attic as Leo hid the leftovers of his meal. Nothing could go to waste when the apocalypse surrounded him from every side. While finding more nourishment wasn''t too much of a problem now, all could change in another week or two. Who knew how much of the world would even be standing anymore?


    Leo once again leaned against the brick wall, sighing as his mind was still going through different scenarios regarding evolution. It was way too important to just forget about it in a few minutes, especially when it could change Leo''s entire being.


    His tainted arm rose to Leo''s eyes, the clawed hand flexing and turning as he took in the mass of deformed flesh and glowing veins. Scars upon scars still covered the entire skin. Only now, Leo saw the few new additions he gained during his journey. They were different, more noticeable, bathing in the inhuman veins'' eternal crimson sheen.


    Maybe I can get rid of you. Leo thought, his gaze falling upon the long claws. But is it the right choice?


    The first time Leo saw the tainted arm, he wanted to rip it off, to get rid of something so hideous. Then the limb quickly proved its usefulness against Edward''s husk. Leo''s new abilities might have been the ones to guide him, but without the claws, Leo could have died anyway.


    After that fight, he tried not to think too much about the transformation. Instead, Leo used the limb as a tool to survive, be it as a weapon to kill Voidlings or a glorified lamp in this world without any electricity.


    And now that Leo realized that the option of evolution was coming, he didn''t know what his choice should be. If evolution allowed him to get rid of the arm and become more human again, should he take it?


    Leo shook his head. Once again, worrying about something that might not even be an option. First, I need to meet the requirements, and then¡­ then I can worry about my humanity.


    Taking a peek through the small window, Leo frowned as he noticed the sun was already on its way toward the west. Still have a few hours before the night. He thought, returning to his previous position.


    Leo wanted to give his back a bit more time to rest before moving again, but lying here for the next five or four hours, waiting for the night, just didn''t sit right with him. Especially not when with every hour, the monsters outside were becoming stronger.


    Kill some stragglers, scout the area and then come back. Leo nodded, moving to stand up, only to stop as another thought crossed his mind. Hold up. There was one more menu for me to check. Job?


    Catching the command, the System answered, lines of notifications flashing into existence in front of Leo.


    Welcome to the Job Menu. Please select your first job. This list is made up of any profession that you have seen, experienced, or heard about. With time, this list might become longer, and you will be able to change your job at the price of Ether and progress in your previous job.


    Jobs available:


    -Cook


    -Builder


    -Alchemist


    -Smith


    -Hunter


    -...


    The list went on and on. It mentioned almost every mundane job of the old world, with a few additions that existed only in fiction. From soldier and guard to leader and butcher, the System had it all.


    Ninety percent or more of those jobs had no place in the new world, so Leo concentrated on the ones that might provide him with some benefits.


    When he used Identify on any of those jobs, the System answered, giving Leo a short description and the advantages gained. In most cases, it was a unique skill or two. Still, a few jobs also provided the User with access to particular functions of the System related to the profession.


    Leo checked almost every crafting job that could prove helpful in his journey. While some of them had potential, they all came with one critical problem specified by the job''s description.


    The lack of tools required for the job.


    Guess I won''t be crafting potions or weapons anytime soon¡­ Leo sighed and gave the list another look. Without tools and a place to settle down, he didn''t know how anyone could ever use most of the valuable jobs.


    Minutes passed as Leo identified job after job, searching for anything supporting his survival style. It wasn''t until he returned to the top of the list and read the description of a profession he had dismissed previously that he found something useful.


    Hunter:


    In old times, those hard-working people were the ones to provide food and materials for their families to survive another year. In the world infested by the Void, the Hunters rise once more. Both to supply the new world with rare materials and to hunt monsters that refuse to die.


    Benefits:


    Skill: Hunter''s Pulse and access to the Bestiary.


    Bestiary¡­ A function like that could be useful depending on how it worked. And Hunter''s Pulse, the first rare skill, I wonder. A scowl formed on Leo''s face when Identify refused to give more information about either of the benefits.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I guess I can take it and change it later. Some Ether shouldn''t hurt too much... Hunter it is.


    Your job has been set to Hunter. Access to bestiary and tasks granted. Guided access to Hunter''s Pulse granted.


    Hunter''s Pulse (Rare):


    The first skill any respectable Hunter has to learn. Guided by intent and Essence, the pulse helps them through the hunt in search of their targets or anything valuable.


    Effects:


    Send a pulse of Essence through the surrounding area in search of anything alive or valuable. The pulse range depends on the amount of Essence used, while its effectiveness is guided by your Vision. Warning: Any being with sharp senses might be able to feel the pulse.


    The knowledge once again crashed into Leo''s mind. Only this time, he was somewhat ready, grinding his teeth as he processed the information. Unlike with any skill before, Leo now knew perfectly how to utilize the ability even if its inner workings evaded him. Useful, very useful. It will be nice to know what is inside before I barge into a building.


    Although during the information transfer, Leo caught one very curious detail that he just had to check out.


    Closing his eyes, Leo placed a hand on the floor and reached into his Essence reserves. The energy, guided by his will, formed a tiny ball inside his hand and waited for Leo''s final command.


    A command he gave immediately as he released the energy into the floor.


    Eyes snapping open, Leo watched and felt as the crimson Essence traveled through the entire attic, touching everything in the room. Then his gaze went to the backpack, which started to glow faintly. So that was what it meant by ¡®guided by intent¡¯.


    When it came to items, the pulse apparently required intent from the User. The more precise the command, the easier it would be for the skill to find the requested objects. Quite advanced, but very, very useful. And what about the bestiary?


    Welcome to your bestiary. Currently, it is empty, but after every identified creature, you will be able to access the System''s information about your target.


    Expected. Even if I already Identified plenty of Voidlings¡­


    Sighing, Leo stood up, slinging his bag over his back. He grimaced slightly as his wounds flared, but another hour or so of rest at least allowed the injuries to heal even more. His back should be almost healed after the night with this speed of recovery.


    Leo rolled his shoulders a few times to get used to the pain again and moved towards the stairs. In the meantime, his mind called out one final part of the System he had to investigate.


    Job Menu:


    -Start a task


    -Pay for a task


    -Change your job


    Eyebrows raised, Leo selected the first option, his eyes widening as another list appeared. Hunt: Cursed Humans. Find the lair of Collectors. Kill a Prime and harvest its heart. Gather two Crystallized Essence. All commissioned by the System.


    Leo returned to the job menu without selecting any tasks and chose the second option. His eyebrows climbed even higher when he noticed the extensive menu.


    He could request pretty much anything he wanted. Of course, he had to provide a reward for the task ¡ª be it Ether or items ¡ª but then the System would register it for the users with the proper job.


    It seemed nice and valuable for the future, but as Leo looked at the job request again, he frowned. Range: Current planet. Somehow I doubt anyone is doing much better than me... There is no way people out there have time to finish a task I created¡­ It would also explain why all available ones are commissioned by the System.


    Shrugging, Leo returned to his tasks and selected the only one he could complete as of this moment.


    Hunt: Cursed Humans


    Slay at least 10 Cursed Humans of level 3+. Commissioned by: System. Time Limit: 2 Earth days.


    Rewards:


    20 Ether


    Do you wish to accept?


    Yes. The window disappeared, leaving Leo standing before the closed backdoor. His claws pushed the door ajar and he slipped out, going back into the world painted in red.


    Leo went around the corner of the house and hid behind one of the bushes, giving him the perfect view of the empty street. True Stealth formed around his body, and Leo sprinted along the plants near the sidewalk, jumping into the yard of another house a moment later.


    Like almost every building in the neighborhood, the house was barely standing. Pieces of glass glinted in the sunlight while parts of bricks laid scattered all over the yard. If Leo didn''t know any better, he would have thought that the previous night had caused all that.


    Crouching in front of a boarded entrance door, Leo reached into himself and touched the building. A much larger ball of Essence seeped into the wall. Leo momentarily closed his eyes as he processed the feedback.


    No weapons, no food, and no one alive.


    Leaving the yard, Leo traveled to almost every house on the street, his pulse scanning for anything useful or any indications of life. Not even one Voidling was found, and he had to accept that it was time to move to the other street that led to a road that the block of flats stood by.


    Leo jumped over another fence and sneaked towards the backdoor. Hunter''s Pulse thrummed through the entire building, and Leo''s eyes widened just a bit when the skill gave him a positive for the first time.


    Somewhere on the ground floor. Leo thought as he yanked the board placed across the door.


    The plank didn''t even fight against Leo''s inhuman strength and the long rusty nails slid out in just a second. The door followed without help, opening wide open, groaning after years of unuse.


    A familiar screech answered from somewhere in the house, and Leo grinned. He knocked on the door''s frame for good measure, waiting for the Voidling to come out.


    The Cursed Human almost crashed into the hallway''s wall as it dashed towards the entrance door. In response, Leo backed a few steps, identified the monster, and gripped the nailed plank in his hands. Ready to deal with the Voiding as fast as he could.


    Cursed Human (Voidling) | Rank: F- | LVL: 1


    The moment the Voidling came into range, Leo swung his makeshift weapon, the plank meeting the creature''s head. The wood snapped, splinters raining down upon the ground as the Voidling screeched, the metal nails digging into its head.


    Snorting, Leo grabbed his dagger and finished the monster. His claws sank into the beast''s body, and he frowned when a deep violet sheen once again covered the blood on his limb.


    So it wasn''t a one-time thing... I really need to figure out what that Passive does. Leo shook his head. Later, now let''s see. Bestiary.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Human


    Expected Potential: F- to F


    Weapon of choice: Sharpened fingernails, Jaw


    Known weaknesses: Head


    Cursed Humans are the main variants of Voidlings created due to the Outbreak. Their complete lack of intelligence makes them easy prey as solo targets. When in fear of a stronger predator, Cursed Humans tend to form groups that can overwhelm even experienced warriors. Any cursed variant can be instinctively commanded by a stronger variant.


    Not bad...

 Chapter 20. Madness

    "All my fault, all my fault... They were right, they were all right... Dead, everyone''s dead... I''m sorry... Forgive me... Stop, please... Stop!"


    ~Nikra, 1st Outbreak


    <hr>


    Most of this I already knew. Leo mused, scanning the bestiary entry from top to bottom. It confirmed the information he had collected during his journey and added one vital fragment that pulled a frown over Leo''s face. They can be commanded by a stronger variant. Not good, not good at all.


    He wondered if the Runner variation had ordered the horde to pursue Leo. Or perhaps it was still too weak to take the lead over so many Voidlings of equal level. That''s a really troubling thought.


    Hopefully, this ability was limited to Cursed monsters. Leo dreaded finding a stronger monster capable of summoning dozens of Voidlings to its aid. He could do without swarms of Seekers, strange deers, or other transformed creatures chasing him by the hundreds.


    Sighing, Leo waved off the bestiary and walked to the front of the building, hiding behind an overgrown red bush.


    This street, while mostly empty and ruined, already had a few Cursed Humans walking around, minding their own business. They most likely came from the block of flats visible at the end of the street or the few houses that still seemed habitable.


    Time to go. Leo thought and jumped over a fence next to him, landing in the front yard of another ruined house. He dashed towards the nearest tree and almost hugged it as he took another peek.


    One Voidling stood on the other side of the road, sniffing the air for another meal. Leo was happy to give the beast a chance to earn it. He grabbed a pebble, and just like many times before, he threw it at the sidewalk a few steps away from his position.


    The small rock bounced off the concrete, clattering with every hit. The Voidling made a sharp turn, its eyes seeking the offender. Unlike the first time that Leo tried this trick, now the creature just approached the sidewalk, a quiet growl leaving its throat.


    The moment the Voidling turned its back to Leo, he jumped out of his hiding spot like a hungry tiger. He didn''t even draw his dagger and just grabbed the monster''s head in a tight grip before dragging his claws across its throat with all the power Leo possessed.


    The monster fell, blood pooling around its head as the creature twitched for a few more seconds. At this point, Leo''s strength and the cutting power of his claws gave him the ability to rip throats apart while also almost cutting the head off.


    A level three. It didn''t look like one. I really should start identifying everything I fight. Leo thought as he dashed across the street, the Voidlings in the distance not even turning in his direction.


    A quick Hunter''s Pulse later left Leo vaulting over another fence as he once again found nothing of use. He knew that the skill probably couldn''t see everything, but as the houses stood empty for months or even years, Leo doubted it was worth searching them by himself.


    Leo scanned a small cottage at the end of the block while ducking under a low brick fence that had miraculously survived the test of time. It had no boarded windows or doors, and the walls appeared to be in better shape, despite the numerous cracks in the paint.


    Two Voidlings roamed around the house as if searching for an entrance. Remembering the beasts'' behavior after the Night, Leo doubted that the two monsters were doing this without reason.


    Is there someone inside?


    Curiosity rising, Leo made his way toward the house, killing three more Cursed Humans on the way. Even though the Voidlings didn''t really put up much of a fight, with every step, he got closer and closer to the massive block. Even with a limited vision of the building''s courtyard, Leo had already spotted more creatures waiting there, their song of despair becoming louder with every second.


    Dagger in hand, Leo gripped the top of a wooden fence that separated him from his target and jumped. The Voidling standing on the other side had no time to react as Leo fell on its back. Bones cracked, and the monster yowled as its head met the ground.


    Leo followed with a stab to the back of its skull, ending the Voidling''s life. Not wasting even a second, he formed a ball of Essence in his hand that immediately entered the cottage''s wall.


    Something or someone is inside, along with some food and weapons. And the other Cursed is still on the other side. Leo nodded as the corpse of the Voidling turned into dust. Violet glow once again covered his claws as it absorbed every drop of blood on his limb.


    Later... Leo shook his head and peeked around the corner, frowning when he noticed a Cursed Human screeching at one of the windows. It didn''t have any pane, yet it was still covered by a curtain. Coincidence or is there really a human inside?


    Without much thought, Leo dashed out of the corner, the Voidling immediately turning towards its new point of interest.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    He ducked, scooping a handful of dirt into his empty hand. At the same time, the Cursed moved, spit flying from its lips as it growled. Not so loud, you fucker. Leo growled as another screech answered from the other side of the fence.


    Throwing the dirt, Leo jumped to the side, letting the monster pass him as it lost its ability to see. He quickly followed the beast, kicking it to the ground and impaling its head.


    Leo didn''t even bother draining the Voidling and just jumped to his feet; dagger held tightly in his hand as he watched the front of the house. For a moment, he just stood there, waiting for the Voidling from the other side to appear, yet it never did.


    Frowning, Leo approached one of the fence''s holes and looked.


    Holy shit!


    From here, he had a nearly perfect view of the block''s courtyard and the tens of Voidlings wandering or standing there. The majority of them belonged to the Cursed Human variation. Still, Leo had already recognized two runners and a few other creatures that had undergone a dreadful transformation, just like any other Voidling.


    The first different type was another Cursed variant, a Crawler.


    They walked on all fours, their short, skeletal bodies crawling on the ground as they smelled and licked the grass, their rows of sharp fangs visible. Their skin was the same as that of any other Cursed, cracked and dark.


    Besides Crawlers being one of the most lethal Cursed types, the bestiary didn''t have much to offer. They battled like any other, but with an intensity and quickness missing in those Leo had previously killed, including the Runner. The only thing standing between them and complete dominance was their bone structure, which registered as a vulnerability in the System.


    And this thing can reach E- rank? Fuck me. Thank god that it is only level two.


    Switching his gaze to another new creature, Leo shuddered. Red blood dripped from its muzzle as it bit off another chunk of flesh from one of the mutilated bodies lying in the courtyard.


    It was a hound straight from hell. A once-friendly dog had evolved into a harbinger of death. Whatever kind of canine it had been in the past, Leo had no doubt that the Hound could topple any person in the old or new world with its enormous frame... Or it could just rip them apart with its razor-sharp teeth and claws when people would try to run away from the red-furred beast.


    Leo gulped and pulled out the bestiary entry of the level three Hound.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Hound


    Expected Potential: F to F+


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Jaws


    Known weaknesses: Head, Tail, Dexterity


    Hounds evolved from the various canines of the world, adapting to the new order. Their bodies are as intimidating as they can be, but they often lack the necessary speed to defend themselves or finish their targets in battle. Hounds usually form small packs to cover their weaknesses. In later stages of life, packs settle into one territory and protect it from invaders, whether a Voidling or a User.


    Leo let out a deep sigh as he let his forehead rest against the fence. Could be a lot worse. As long as I don''t anger a pack, I should be fine¡­ Now-


    Every thought escaped from Leo''s head when a gasp reached his ears. He immediately turned, watching the curtain move slightly as a human disappeared behind it.


    "Hey, wait up," Leo called out, keeping his voice low as he canceled True Stealth.


    Only no one responded, the patter of feet barely audible to Leo. Shit. He rushed to the back of the property, where he found two more windows and a backdoor. As he arrived at the door, Leo softly knocked a couple of times, sending another pulse through the house.


    They are close, very close. Leo''s hand drifted towards the rifle at the side of his bag, ready to bring it out if this unexpected meeting went to shit. "Come on. I know you are there." He tried once more, his voice loud enough to at least go through the door.


    "Go away." A woman''s voice finally answered, and Leo furrowed his brow at the command. "I saw everything. You''re a monster just like them!"


    Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me. Leo groaned internally, hand flying to his forehead. Of course, the woman had to see him kill the other Voidlings or just his tainted arm alone. I forgot it could be a problem. He scowled, looking down at his arm.


    Taking a breath, Leo spoke again, his eyes flickering to every side, waiting for a Voidling just to pop out. "I assure you, I''m no monster, ma''am. Didn''t they explain to you what was happening?"


    A not-so-sane chuckle came from the other side of the door. "Oh, I know very well, and you are just like the beasts out there, only smarter. But you won''t fool me!"


    Leo rolled his eyes, his patience waning. This woman must have gone mad. Or. His gaze went from the block to the house. She was mad long before this. After all, who would stay in a place like this when they offer you a new flat and money for just moving out?


    "Why the hell would I kill other Voidlings if I was one of them? Use your brain, lady." Maybe Leo shouldn''t have insulted the first living human he met, but it just slipped out. He just had to be lucky enough to find a nutjob who probably cracked under the pressure. Why me...


    Another muffled bark of laughter reached Leo''s ears. "Why? To have me all to yourself, of course! I saw the beasts near the block fighting for the right to their meals. You aren''t any different. I have seen it with my own eyes."


    No matter how annoying this woman was, she at least gave Leo an essential piece of information. They fight for food. Good to know. As for you bitch, one last chance.


    "I assure you, ma''am, I''m a human. My arm might look bad, but the System is keeping it contained," Leo spoke slowly, just like with a child.


    "I don''t care!" She shouted, eliciting another screech from a Voidling behind a fence. "If you try to come in, I will kill you! Just like I killed the one that tried to enter through my window."


    How the fuck did you even survive that long with all that shouting? Leo grumbled as he sped away from the house, almost flying over a fence that led deeper into the abandoned side of the neighborhood. He might have wanted to experience some human contact, but he wasn''t an idiot. This woman would bring an army of Voidlings to them because she couldn''t keep her mouth shut.


    Bitch. At least I know who is winning the Darwin Award this year...

 Chapter 21. Oh hell no!

    "Apocalypse changes everyone; some just hide it better. Sometimes even I don''t recognize what I have become, nor do I want to. There is nothing to gain from reminiscing about what is gone."


    ~ Batrak, The only survivor of the 2nd Outbreak


    <hr>


    The angry howls and screeches echoed in the distance as Leo dashed into one of the abandoned houses that had a clear view of the situation near the woman¡¯s residence. Before sprinting upstairs, he shut the door and blocked it with a broken shelf.


    He couldn''t bring himself to feel guilty or bad about leaving the woman to the horde. Leo only wanted to once again experience some human contact or maybe even form a group to make survival in this world easier. Instead, he was met with a lady consumed by madness, who nearly brought the entire horde after him.


    Just my luck. Leo sighed as he sat in front of the broken window that gave him a nice view of the woman''s house.


    Cursed Humans and Runners already spilled into the backyard, scanning every inch of the house while the two Hounds sniffed and scraped at the doors. The Crawlers were nowhere in sight, but if the bestiary didn''t lie, then Leo knew what was coming, especially when the woman had one of her windows broken.


    The Voidlings continued to come; Leo had already counted over twenty. Some just walked around as if they were securing the perimeter, while the rest joined the fight against the doors or windows. Only it wasn''t a fight, and in a minute, the glass shattered and the hinges broke, opening the entire house to the horde.


    No wonder the System didn''t acknowledge my parent''s house as a secure shelter if they could do that. I really need to figure something out for the next night.


    "Argh!" A scream like no other pierced the air, echoing through the entire neighborhood. Leo flinched, ducking under the window as the Voidlings joined the scream like one organized orchestra.


    The chorus alone sent chills through Leo''s spine, so he took a deep breath, eyes closed as he tried to ignore the dying scream.


    No matter what, I hope you can find peace away from this madness. No one deserved death like this. Even if Leo was almost numb to death after everything he experienced, he still recognized how fucked up this world was.


    Time passed as Leo listened to the Voidlings celebrate their hunt. Leo couldn''t help but wonder whether the monsters were fighting over the privilege of eating their kill when their howls and screeches became even more ferocious.


    Not so high on the food chain are we anymore, eh? Leo let out a short, bitter chuckle. Humans were never the strongest creatures on Earth, but with technology, there wasn''t much they couldn''t achieve with time. And now humanity had been reduced to almost nothing, hiding from beasts that only waited to feast on their flesh.


    More positive thoughts inbound. Leo shook his head and took another peek through the window. He had already wasted enough time.


    The Voidlings still walked around the house, but most of them never left the building after the initial charge, and maybe, just maybe, Leo could use this to his advantage. The large block of flats seemed like a good place to find more survivors or something useful. With most of the security gone, it shouldn''t be too hard to get inside.


    Just as swiftly as Leo entered the house, he jumped out of it, sprinting deeper into the cleared part of the neighborhood. Leo dropped True Stealth, releasing a deep sigh as the drain on his Essence stopped.


    The skill only required a bit of energy to sustain over time, yet with Leo''s meager reserves, every second mattered. Even the few minutes necessary to travel around the area allowed Leo to regenerate a portion of the Essence he had lost in the last few hours.


    That''s what I get for having a weak Soul and a strong Mind. Definitely need to put another point there. The boost from Limit Break is nice, but it almost feels like it doesn''t affect Soul as well as other attributes...


    That was something Leo noticed more and more with every level. While Passive Limit Break constantly improved Grace and Might in the same way that additional points from levels did, the same couldn''t be said for Soul.


    At first, Leo didn''t notice it, but now, he was almost sure that while Passive Limit Break made his Essence burn brighter inside him, it didn''t make his reserves bigger. No, that happened only after Leo added one point to Soul after the fourth and sixth levels. Although even then, the increase was barely noticeable...


    Maybe I should just add two points? More Essence can''t hurt me, and with more skills constantly coming in, I will need it.


    Decision made, Leo continued his journey through the only unexplored street that also led to the block of flats. The screeching continued to echo from the opposite side of the neighborhood, yet Leo still managed to dirty his claws and dagger with even more blood of Voidlings, whose deaths gave him precisely what he wanted.


    Level 7 reached. Class attributes added. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Two to Soul. He commanded, taking a knee behind a fence.


    With only one level up, the pain in Leo''s body, associated with the gains from his class, came and disappeared in almost a second. No more than a weak sting from a blunt stick. Of course, nothing could ever be easy, and then the two additional points to Soul pierced Leo''s entire being.


    He groaned as phantom hands grabbed his small pond of Essence and pulled it in every direction. Leo bent forward as his soul expanded with every stretch.


    He coughed, his throat dry as desert. Suddenly, like with every power-up after a level, the burning and stretching stopped, leaving him panting for breath as his hand sneaked into his bag.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Yanking a bottle of water out, Leo drank it in one go, gasping as the liquid traveled through his body. Alright, adding two points when I only have six wasn''t the best idea. Got it.


    True Stealth, which failed during the power-up, once again formed over his body and Leo''s eyes narrowed as he felt the Essence travel through his veins, burning with renewed fire. This fact only served to confirm his previous assumptions.


    So Passive Limit Break really has little effect on Soul. Weird, especially when its active counterpart seemed to work quite well. Definitely, something to test later, even if I have to pay some Ether for it...


    Picking up his bag again, Leo approached the edge of the fence and leaned out, scanning his path to the side of the block of flats.


    Most of the Voidlings were gone, only leaving a few stragglers walking around the courtyard. Crawlers also weren''t there, probably too busy fighting over the right to their kill.


    At least I wasn''t wrong. Leo smiled and dashed out of his hiding spot. He crossed the street and jumped behind one of the many trees strewed around the neighborhood. No more than a dozen, or so, meters and one Cursed Human separated Leo from the block''s side at this point.


    Dagger in hand, Leo ran again. On his way, he slipped behind the single monster and stabbed it in the head before moving forward. If the other Voidlings noticed the body later, they would hopefully just use it as another meal, not a reason to search the area.


    Hugging the side of the block, Leo slowly sneaked around it, approaching one of the four entrances to the building. With electricity long gone, the advanced lock never managed to close the door again and Leo just slipped in, welcoming the familiar darkness of the short corridor.


    He moved to the end of the hallway and twisted the handle of a door that led to the staircase. The window in the door showed nothing dangerous on the other side, but Leo kept the dagger tight in his hand.


    The door slowly slid open, immediately assaulting Leo''s ears with a soft creak and a sound so gut-wrenching that he froze, all the hairs on his body standing up.


    What the fuck? Cries echoed through the entire stairway, bouncing off the walls. It had the tone of a small child and the edge of a Voidling''s screech.


    Leo gulped, raising his tainted arm as he finally moved up the stairs at a snail''s pace.


    The wooden railing and white walls lacked irregularities or signs of some creature straight out of nightmares, yet the crying continued. Check the first two floors, and then get the hell out of here. Pop culture taught me enough about places like this¡­


    He ascended to the slightly elevated ground floor and scanned the four closed doors, each leading to a different flat. Leo placed his claws on the nearest handle and twisted it inch by inch, not even thinking of yanking it with all his strength like he usually did.


    The door didn''t budge, and Leo frowned as he focused on forming another ball of Essence inside his hand. The pulse entered the ground and spread outwards, the entire floor momentarily flashing with a crimson light.


    Keeping his eyes on the stairs, Leo focused on the feedback. Plenty of live signatures, most probably from Voidlings. He grimaced. And there should be some kind of stronger weapons in the last flat on this floor.


    Leo moved to the chosen door and tried his luck again. Locked, of course. He scowled as he pointed one of his claws at the keyhole and focused on the energy of his stealth. If I could just¡­


    Before the metal could make any sound from the invasion, Leo pushed the energy of his stealth outwards, directing it straight at the lock. Please work. More and more power moved through his claw, and Leo had to fight the urge to break the skill as the drain on his reserves became larger than ever.


    In a matter of seconds, the entire lock glowed with colorless energy. As a slight smirk found its way onto Leo''s face, he pushed more of his claws into the lock. He twisted the handle again, and his smirk grew when the door opened just a bit without a sound.


    I''m getting better at this. True Stealth may have collapsed at the end, but Leo was quick to activate it again, the monstrous crying never leaving him.


    One more low-powered pulse had Leo closing the door behind him as he sneaked through the house''s entrance corridor. He found doors to the left and right, yet Leo only stopped before the last one that should hide the only living being inside this flat.


    Raising his hand, Leo knocked on the door, only to receive a short, muffled screech in return.


    Of course, it is Voidling. He grumbled. Whatever, I don''t need to deal with you anyway. The monster didn''t try to fight the door, so Leo had no reason to go through the trouble of destroying the lock and killing the creature before it got too loud.


    Ignoring the only trouble in the flat, Leo moved from room to room, trying to find the weapons his skill detected. Some extra food was welcome, but the slightly chipped tip of his dagger told Leo enough to know that the blade couldn''t last much longer.


    When Leo entered the final chamber, his brow furrowed as his arm illuminated the several shelves within.


    A collector? Military fanatic?


    Firearms, new and old, knives of all kinds, and military decorations filled almost every shelf. Leo rose to his full height, snatching one of the many guns. Weird, it''s too light, even with my new strength.


    Identifying the weapon, Leo snorted. Replica. Great...


    The same went for any other firearm and most knives. In the end, Leo was left with only two weapons that weren''t fakes or items of a broken quality. Still better than I expected. Leo shrugged, looking at the two common knives.


    Weaponry had never really interested Leo in the past, and without Identify, he would have never known that the straight knife with a black blade was a military fighting knife. Still, the other one seemed much more powerful. Made with a clipped edge and a blade as long as the one of his dagger.


    Bowie knife. Interesting name.


    Leo attached the leather sheath of the long knife to his waist while placing the other one in the spot of his dagger. The broken weapon might have served Leo well, but it was high time to part ways.


    Armed with something that shouldn''t collapse at a moment''s notice, Leo walked out of the flat, remembering to come back here if he ever needed more broken weaponry.


    One more floor, and I''m out. Leo promised as he advanced up the stairs, the crying once again sending shivers down his spine.


    The unnatural sound should have probably prepared Leo, yet his entire body froze when his gaze landed on the stairs leading to the third floor. A string of curses left his mouth, and Leo was never so happy that his stealth muffled any sound he made.


    Without turning around, Leo backed off a step, his gaze never leaving the jungle of dark webs that dripped with fresh blood. Those things covered everything above him, and Leo allowed himself to turn and bolt straight towards the exit only when the dark image left his vision.


    No fucking thanks! Go eat someone else, whatever you are.

 Chapter 22. Power of the Soul

    "You go to sleep every night praying that the next day will be better, that the nightmare will be gone. But then you always wake up to the same horrendous reality that only becomes worse with every passing night. With time, your dreams of peace become empty, but the hope remains deep inside you. Don''t you ever dare give up on that hope, because one day you will find a new place to call home. Remember, the Void and Universe are full of secrets."


    ~ Lone Traveler to a lost survivor, 31st Outbreak


    <hr>


    Leo ran straight to the ruined houses, not even thinking about going to another entrance to the block. While the other staircases maybe weren''t infected by some night terrors, Leo just decided to go with the smart idea and stay the hell away from that place.


    The sun slowly neared the horizon, and it became apparent that it was high time to find a suitable place to rest and maybe even sleep. Leo was determined to be at full strength before venturing deeper into the city.


    He probably spent an hour rechecking practically every house in the neighborhood. Both to clear them of any lingering Voidlings and determine which building would make the wisest choice for the night. Only the residence of the deceased woman was excluded from the search since the Voidlings refused to leave their new territory.


    The few monsters Leo killed in the meantime left him only two Ether away from unlocking the first evolution. For a moment, he was tempted to go and gather the required amount. Yet, when shadows began to fall over the empty farmlands, he stopped himself from committing that mistake.


    Night is coming. You know what to do.


    No, I really don''t. Leo scowled, sprinting through the neighborhood. He flew over a fence and landed in the backyard of the same house he used a few hours back. The backdoor shut behind him, and Leo quickly dragged a broken table along, barricading one of the two entrances into the house.


    The ancient wood of the stairs groaned as Leo sprinted into the attic. His muscles bulged, straining under the weight of the remnants of a wooden shelf. The piece of furniture collapsed against the small broken window, dragging the entire attic into almost complete darkness.


    Part one, done. Next stop, the bathroom. Leo took a few deep breaths as he returned to the ground floor. Having more power in his body was nice, but the last few hours pushed him to new limits.


    The door to the bathroom was pushed open, and Leo grimaced as his arm illuminated the small, windowless room. The odor formed by years of leaks and abandonment, was only one of the many surprises waiting inside. Shards of glass from the shower cabin scattered across the broken tiles, and the ceramic toilet and sink lying shattered on the ground were another two honorable mentions.


    Did someone start a fucking tornado in here or what?


    Either someone was very emotional when moving out, or some vandals decided to be nice and locked the door after trashing the entire house. Leo honestly didn''t know which option was dumber, and he had seen some idiotic shit during his short life.


    Whatever. Leo shrugged as he returned to the living room. He dragged every piece of broken furniture into the small bathroom, nodding at the pile inside the room. Ready for the night, Leo jumped inside and closed the door, already working on barricading the entrance.


    Not the best of my creations. Leo grimaced, gazing at the makeshift barrier. It stood no chance against a Collector, but if he had to be honest, Leo didn''t know what could stop a creature of that much power.


    Sighing, Leo cleared one side of the bathroom of all of the glass and promptly collapsed against the wall. The backpack landed beside him, a lone hand already searching for another meal.


    The crunching of cereal resounded through the room as Leo consumed yet another dry meal. Without a single liter of milk, he could only use one of the many water bottles as a drink; it definitely wasn''t the best addition to cereal.


    To think that I would ever miss fast food that was just a call away¡­ Leo snorted. A good kebab or burger sounded quite lovely right about now.


    Throwing the halfway-finished pack of cereal into the backpack, Leo leaned his head against the wall, eyes closing. He still had some time before the effects of the night came.


    I should probably check what is going on with that item...


    Install: Touch of Carnage (Rare):


    An install-type item created as the result of the aftermath of an Essence explosion that intermingled with the souls and blood of multiple Voidlings. The ensuing carnage directed the overflow of Essence towards the formation of the first Install item on Earth.


    Limit Break: +6 Might and Vision, +2 Grace.


    Passive: First Circle - Blood is the answer (7%).


    Well, at least it moved. Leo arched an eyebrow. Blood certainly is the answer, but really? Only seven percent when I mostly used my claws to kill the Voidlings? This will take a while if I don''t want to take a dip in blood¡­


    Sighing, Leo dismissed the description, unable to dig out any more information from the System. I still have two skills that I need to get down. Might as well do it now.


    Essence stirred within Leo as he slowly guided it through his body. Just like during the fight against the Runner, he let it seep into every single part of his body. Muscles, bones, organs, and even blood. Nothing was forgotten as slowly every vein in Leo''s body lit up with the same crimson glow of his soul.


    His hand clenched as Reinforcement settled over his body, the skill providing only a weak boost of power. Grabbing even more Essence in a tight hold, Leo fed the skill more and more. Not even a minute later, his mind and body screamed a warning as the ability reached its current limit.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    So that''s fifty percent. Good to know. Leo noted as a weak aching spread through his body. A lot easier to control than during my fight. I wonder¡­


    Leo held the ability for a few more minutes, gritting his teeth as the aching turned into a slowly spreading inferno. It felt like someone had dipped a bunch of needles into alcohol and stabbed them in every part of Leo''s body.


    Gasping, he finally released the skill, the stabbing pain fading away.


    High risk, indeed. Leo groaned as his arm shakily rose from the ground. At least now I know to never use it at full power unless it is a life or death situation. I am pretty much crippled after I drop it, and the drain of Essence is just¡­


    Leo felt around the pond of his Essence. If his calculations weren''t wrong, he used over half of his reserves for two or three minutes of full-powered Reinforcement. Not a good sign if he ever got into a sketchy situation.


    I wonder how it would work with active Limit Br¡­ Fuck!


    A wave of Essence suddenly crashed into the entire world. Pressure settled over Leo''s shoulders as he barely stopped his body from kissing the ground. With all the new attributes, he should have been able to resist the pressure without fighting for his life. Still, the few seconds definitely weren''t enough to recover from the aftermath of Reinforcement.


    Night is here. Good Luck.


    Screw you. Leo growled and collapsed to the ground, accepting his fate. A moment to rest wouldn''t hurt anyone, and he wanted to listen to the happenings outside anyway.


    The wind constantly crashed into the house, earning a groan of wood every once in a while. Nonetheless, it lacked the intensity of the previous night. Instead, the wind was joined by a familiar tapping against the roof that echoed throughout the structure.


    Just as a small smile stretched over Leo''s lips at the thought of typical weather, a thunderclap split the air, breaking the harmony created by the rain. Not even a second later, another roar joined the first, shaking the ground with the sound alone.


    The entire house answered with its own shudder.


    Alarmed, Leo used whatever strength he had left and scrambled to his feet, hands flying to the barricade as he removed it piece by piece. The night might be terrifying, but Leo wasn''t planning on getting buried alive.


    Better to have a quick way out, just in case.


    With the exit freed, Leo again sat against a wall as another tremor traveled through the ground. Even though the thunder seemed powerful, the thunderstorm couldn''t be too close as the shaking took far too long to travel to his location. Leo only hoped the storm wouldn''t decide to switch directions and come to Wolford.


    No way his half-assed shelter was surviving that.


    Minutes passed as Leo listened to the unnerving tapping and the continuous roars of thunder. To give his mind some outlet, he focused on the Essence in his body and started moving it in every direction, hoping to get more used to bending this mythical energy.


    When Leo''s reserves were halfway replenished, he stopped his little exercise and unsheathed the common fighting knife. The night''s pressure never left, but Leo still wanted to test out the most recent class skill. It just might come in handy if the current weather managed to kick him out of the house and into the darkness.


    It wouldn''t help against the Collectors ¡ª nothing could help there ¡ª, but against other, weaker beasts that lurked in the dark, it just might buy Leo enough time to escape. Not that he wanted to even think about taking a step outside, but currently, the choice didn''t belong to him. Besides, forewarned is forearmed.


    Like the skill instructed, Leo led his Essence toward the knife. At first, the common item refused to budge, so he pushed harder, transferring more and more energy until the dam broke. And when it did, Leo''s Essence spread, creating a thick mass of crimson aura over the entire knife.


    Now to fix you. Leo tightened his grip on the weapon as he strengthened the connection with the Essence covering the knife. Slowly. Just like he did while upgrading stealth, Leo extracted the overflow of energy to create a layer of Essence almost unnoticeable to the human eye.


    To say that this task took time was putting it mildly. Leo''s inexperience and constant tremors required him to stop every once in a while to ensure he didn''t miss something or break the skill by accident.


    Should be enough. Leo nodded, gazing at the faint yet unpolished layer of Essence. This will be fucking hard. He grimaced, once again strengthening the connection.


    Moving his focus to the tip of the knife, Leo gently pushed the crimson energy against the blade, smoothing it along every edge. Slowly the entire layer became a perfect copy of the knife, pretty much creating a sheath of Essence.


    Just one more thing. Please work. At once, Leo grabbed the entire layer and pushed it against the knife, forcing it to enter the weapon. There were a few close calls where the energy almost slipped between his phantom fingers, but in the end, Essence listened and did as commanded.


    Leo gasped as his gaze traveled between the knife that now glowed with a faint black aura ¡ª the same color as its blade ¡ª and the notification that appeared out of nowhere.


    Congratulations, your Essence Manipulation evolved.


    Essence Control (Uncommon):


    Hard work and determination pushed your understanding of Essence to another level. Your previous limits are gone, and now you are ready to embark on the true journey of the Soul Arts.


    Effects:


    This skill improves the control over your Essence already granted by the Mind attribute. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind.


    There was no rush of knowledge, no pain shooting through his head. Instead, the flow of Essence in Leo''s body and soul slowed to almost a crawl, before starting again, only this time it wasn''t the same anymore.


    Despite all the points in Mind, Leo''s Essence always felt like an almost steady river. It flowed without direction and wanted to splash everything in its vicinity with its power. Yet now, it had changed. The flow gained proper order and became calmer than ever, the energy leaks becoming almost nonexistent.


    Holy shit. Leo''s eyes widened as he controlled his Essence and formed a small ball of crimson light that sat in his hand. He dismissed it a second later and grabbed the fighting knife again, canceling the Kiss of Death with one sharp tug at the energy inside the weapon.


    Without closing his eyes, Leo repeated the skill step by step.


    With no complaint, the Essence moved, rushing through every step required to form the ability like they didn''t take Leo a few minutes on the first try.


    Alright, now we''re talking. Not even the constant tremors and roars could wipe the grin off Leo''s face as he gazed at the black glow that activated in seconds.

 Chapter 23. Days Gone

    "You would think that with monsters crawling out of every possible hole, people would stop the needless fighting¡­ You couldn''t be more wrong. Survivors will always find a reason for conflict regardless of their race or planet. We call ourselves the Awakened, and yet we cannot even unite in the face of extinction. After all, conflict is in our blood, no matter how bad the situation gets."


    ~ New survivor of 26th Outbreak


    <hr>


    No matter how much Leo feared closing his eyes when the storm raged outside, he had to get some rest before the big day. The house never stopped shuddering, and Leo knew that the moment he succumbed to darkness, everything could go to shit at any second.


    And so he fought the urges of his body and mind for another few hours. He just sat in the bathroom corner and bent the Essence to his wishes. It flowed steadily, giving Leo more and more confidence in wielding this mythical energy.


    Leo did everything from simply pushing Essence through his body to forming shapes of light in his hand. Yet, not even the constant practice could stop the drowsiness building within him. His eyelids grew heavy, and yawns threatened to break his jaw, so Leo finally gave in, letting his eyes close as his head fell on the large backpack.


    Not even an hour passed before Leo was sprawled on the floor, covered in a cold sweat. He thrashed on the broken tiles, watching countless images pass through his mind. Some gave Leo momentary hope, only for the nightmares to crush it as he became an unwilling witness to his family''s slaughter.


    Lily, Nick, Adam, his parents, and Ava. Leo saw them all. Massacred by the monsters that now plagued the world. With their remains in the maws of creatures he hoped to never meet outside his dreams. Dreams that Leo couldn''t wake up from.


    And so he slept, writhing on the floor as quiet sobs wrecked his body every once in a while...


    <hr>


    Shit. Leo groaned, his head in his palm, as he looked at the shattered mirror on the floor. The same grey eyes stared back, but after a night filled with unwelcome nightmares, they were now accompanied by dark circles.


    Leo might have gotten his much-needed rest, the lack of pain in his back only attested to that, but his mental health only degraded with every hour of sleep. Even when he woke up, Leo had trouble recognizing his surroundings for a moment.


    Going by the lack of constant tapping against the roof, the roaring thunder in the distance, and the System''s notification, the night had ended some time ago. Nonetheless, Leo lingered in the restroom, staring at his reflection for far longer than he should have.


    Not that he was even focused on the image looking back at him. Instead, his mind kept replaying what he had seen in his nightmares. The bloodied faces of his family, their broken bodies. They all begged him for help, and Leo could do nothing but watch as the final light left their eyes.


    Slowly, Leo''s gaze shifted from the broken mirror to the fighting knife on the side. It would be so easy. One quick move. His hand touched the cold steel, and Leo shook his head. No, I can''t. Whatever brought those nightmares can fuck off. I''m so close now and won''t give up because of a stupid dream. They might be alive, and I will find them.


    Sheathing the knife, Leo climbed to his feet and slowly slid the door open. Like a cat, he sneaked through the dark house into the attic and removed the makeshift cover on the small window.


    "Holy fuck." The words left Leo''s mouth without a thought as his gaze fell on the visible part of the neighborhood, his eyes widening more and more with every second.


    In most cases, the houses stood firm, almost untouched by the previous night. It was the flora that managed to earn such a strong reaction from Leo with its transformation in the span of a few hours.


    Before Leo entered the house, most of the plants in the area still possessed their natural color, but now everything had changed. Even without the light of the red sun, somehow, the entire flora evolved, going from a myriad of colors to a mix of crimson, violet, and black.


    The solid brown bark of trees shifted into an intimidating black that consumed the light from the nearest area. While the leaves and flowers went in a completely opposite direction, glowing with eternal crimson or deep violet light. Truly a magnificent yet scary sight. It gave Leo even more proof of how the world changed every hour. Eventually, nothing would remain of the old world.


    Not good. Leo shook his head and left the attic. He quickly consumed the leftovers of yesterday''s meal and unbarricaded the backdoor with a heavy sigh. Only a thirty-minute walk separated Leo from Nick''s flat. Although with Voidlings lurking around every corner, this short journey could easily take three or four times as long.


    Just as Leo was about to leave the house through the backdoor, an alarm blared in his head, stopping him mid-step. What the fuck?! System?


    Warning! Tremors in the Void detected. The second Cataclysm might arrive soon. Take care of yourself, survivor.


    That''s all you have to say? Really?! Leo took a deep breath, trying to calm his raging nerves. The last time he heard the word Cataclysm, he lay sprawled on his kitchen floor as the Void consumed the world.


    I just can''t catch a break, eh?


    The only positive about this notification was the word ''might''. As the System didn''t offer any further explanation, Leo just had to hope that the Cataclysm either wouldn''t happen or would come after he arrived at Nick''s apartment.


    Right... Better get moving.


    Opening the backdoor, Leo stepped into the palette of the new world. With the black shirt and pants, he blended perfectly into the evolved flora, and so, with a flicker of True Stealth, Leo quickly moved to the front of the house.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Just like the day before, the street was completely empty. If it weren¡¯t for the screeches in the distance, Leo would have thought that even the Voidlings from the dead woman''s house had left. Maybe there is a way to get inside now. He mused, sprinting across the street and jumping over the first fence.


    Leo had no clue what class the woman had chosen, but he wanted to know what tool or weapon the System gave her. If she was an assassin like him, Leo wouldn''t say no to another dagger. Broken, it might have been, but it still served him well.


    Let''s see. Leo peered around the fence and frowned. Still here. Two Cursed Humans and a single Hound still guarded the woman''s house, and Leo didn''t fancy his chances against the horde of monsters waiting inside.


    He was all for free loot, but with the System''s warning, Leo didn''t have much time to spare. Besides, a series of Identify told Leo all he needed to know about the monster''s growth during the night.


    All of them gained a level. Great¡­


    Turning on his heel, Leo raced through the neighborhood using the same path from yesterday. Today though, he didn''t even try to go for the block''s entrances and just dashed into the parking lot behind the building. He weaved between the cars, bowie knife in hand, ready to take down any Voidling in his path.


    There were a few of those, all of them at least level three. Leo only killed two on his way to the end of the lot. There, another street waited for him to cross while rows of warehouses and different factories stood beyond it. The largest industrial area of Wolford and probably the best way into the city.


    After a quick scan of the area, Leo dashed forward, his feet kicking up the dirt. The Voidlings around him never got a chance to even get a sneak peek at Leo as he jumped over a stone fence as tall as him. A grunt left his lips, his knees buckling ever so slightly as he landed on the hard paving on the other side.


    I really need something better to carry all this shit. Leo grimaced as he crouched behind one of the delivery trucks and looked at the parking lot attached to one of the largest warehouses in the city.


    Thanks to the Outbreak happening in the evening, fewer workers should be here than during the day. This was confirmed by the small number of personal cars in the lot. Although it didn''t stop Voidlings from infecting the area, or rather one monster in particular.


    Just when you thought you had seen it all.


    By the gate stood a monstrosity Leo had never seen before. With a human-like body but no head. Every inch of its flesh was covered in gleaming violet bubbles, some smaller, some larger, almost breaking from their sheer magnitude. The creature then bent forward, and Leo was thankful for his stealth when a quiet gasp left his lips.


    Even though the monster lacked a head, it had a massive round maw in place of a neck. The jaw opened, revealing rows of vicious teeth ready to devour anything in the Voidling''s way.


    Maniac (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 4


    Bestiary?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Maniac


    Expected Potential: F+ to E-


    Weapon of choice: Maw, Bombs


    Known weaknesses: Toxine containers, Dexterity


    Monstrosities that evolved from numerous humanoid creatures, a perfect definition of a glass cannon. Maniac hits hard but can die after a single good strike. The bubbles on their bodies grow stronger with age and can be used as offensive and defensive weapons. Maniacs never form groups, but it is advised to deal with them from a safe distance.


    So not for me. Got it. Leo''s long-distance capability was currently very limited. If the System thought that he shouldn''t fight the Maniac in close quarters, then who was he to disagree?


    Although sooner or later, Leo needed to find something for ranged combat, especially if creatures like this one kept popping up every now and then.


    Sighing, Leo gave the Voidling a wide berth and just walked by the warehouse''s side, leaving the parking lot behind. A moment later, he jumped over another fence, thus continuing his journey between the endless buildings.


    The industrial sector, as Leo predicted, was mostly devoid of Voidlings, be it on the streets or even in the yards of numerous companies. Most of the people working there either stayed inside the buildings or went back home before the Outbreak even began.


    Of course, that didn''t mean that Leo could just walk straight through the streets without dirtying his hands. Numerous Cursed Humans were slaughtered by his new knife and the power of the Kiss of Death. Not even the sudden growth in levels could help the weakest Cursed variant.


    Thanks to the few kills, Leo easily reached the requirements of the first evolution. As such, the moment he spotted a large container after a particularly tiring passage through one of the factory yards, Leo jumped in, curiosity almost killing him.


    Risen Human (Stage: II)


    You pushed past every hardship that came your way and prevailed. The taint upon your soul was cleansed, and now you can join the rest of humanity that will rise from the Awakened Ones. Embrace your new status and join humankind on its path to greatness.


    Effects:


    Removes Tainted trait. Grants Awakened Trait. Mind Effectiveness: +15%. +5 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unavailable.


    I expected... more? Though maybe I shouldn''t have. After all, it''s an evolution with minimal requirements...


    Apart from the three more attribute points and the juicy fifteen percent to mind, the Risen evolution was straight-up worse than Leo''s current one. The tainted status might not be the best thing, but after draining enough monsters, it gave him plenty of points in Limit Break. In comparison, the Awakened trait would give him only half of Leo''s current attributes.


    No, definitely out. Being fully human again might be nice, but I want to at least see the other options. Too much to lose and almost nothing to gain.


    Dismissing the evolution menu, Leo slid through the slight gap in the container''s doors and made his way to the end of the current yard. The gate in front of him opened to another street, and Leo dashed across it before jumping over a fence again.


    Almost instantly, a notification flashed into existence, eliciting a curse from Leo. Falling to the ground in a heap, he grunted as a wave of energy settled over his shoulders. It was far from the powerful aura that came crashing during the night. However, Leo could still feel it without even focusing on his senses.


    The hell? He scowled, taking a look at the notification.


    Warning! You are nearing the Nest of Shadow Tails. Threat assessed and ranked at level F+. Good Luck.


    Of course, there are fucking nests. It is just one thing after another today...

 Chapter 24. Rabbit hole

    "Evolutions, classes, skills, and much more. The System offers us so much, yet nothing is as important as Ether. Remember, without it, none of this would be possible. For us survivors, Ether is the promised light at the end of the tunnel, and nothing will ever change that."


    ~ Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    In a flash, Leo dashed behind a lone truck''s trailer. The notification only mentioned nearing a nest, but one could never be too careful in this twisted world. Besides, the oppressing aura stuck to him like glue, constantly pressing against the power of true stealth.


    Instinctively, Leo pushed more Essence into the skill and kept a firm hold on the energy. He really didn''t want stealth to fail just because he couldn''t hold it against the first potential danger to his masking ability. Leo might have also sent Essence all over his body, letting reinforcement activate. Just in case.


    Now I can take a look. It shouldn''t take more than a few minutes, and at this point, every bit of knowledge is essential. Even if I''m on a timer...


    Leaning over the trailer''s side, Leo examined the small white building connected to a similarly sized warehouse. The entire area appeared to be unaffected by the Outbreak. The warehouse may have been built yesterday, given the lack of fissures in the walls and missing roof sections. Only the entryway seemed off; its doors were knocked off the hinges and lying on the ground.


    No other Voidlings, and it''s too quiet. Leo frowned as even the constant whistling of the wind left him. The steel gate to the building''s yard was wide open, yet no Voidling dared to enter, leaving the entire area empty.


    Returning to his cover, Leo rummaged through his memory for any information about the company that owned this warehouse. It was undoubtedly one of the smaller ones in Wolford, and the logo hanging over the building''s entrance was the first one for him. The company must have been new to the area as not that long ago, Leo and a few of his co-workers had to do some research about all of the corporations here.


    And you just had to give the company a completely random name. Not helpful at all...


    While the information about the company didn''t seem necessary in this new world, Leo had already learned that having some knowledge about a potentially hostile area could be very useful. Who knew? Maybe the creatures inside the nest had a reason to choose this particular place as their territory.


    Not that Leo had to go any closer to the nest. Hell, probably the best idea was to take another jump over the fence and never look back. But just like with the Void Gate, Leo understood the importance of this place. This was yet another threat to the continued survival of the lucky ones, and it couldn''t be just ignored. Especially when the System once again refused to give more information about Nests in general.


    A small look is all I need. This place is only ranked F+, and I reached rank F a while ago. I should be close to a breakthrough. At least I hope so¡­


    Just to give himself some peace of mind and maybe find confirmation of his thoughts, Leo pulled up his status page.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Adaptable


    Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 7


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: F


    Might Tier I (9) | LB: 13


    Grace: Tier I (21) | LB: 9


    Vision: Tier I (12) | LB: 6


    Mind: Tier I (17) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (9) | LB: 7


    Ether: 51


    Traits: Assassin''s Grace (Common), Tainted (Uncommon)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Control (Uncommon), Drain (Uncommon)


    General Skills: Dagger Mastery (Common), True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Rare)


    The fifteen and five percent in Soul and Grace are finally showing. Leo noted when he noticed the one additional point in both of those attributes. The five percent from Assassin''s Grace might not have been much, but with twenty regular points, it was finally showing.


    Still F though. Leo massaged his temple, a scowl painted on his face. Whatever, I don''t plan to fight anyway. Shadow Tail doesn''t sound normal at all.


    Leo unsheathed the bowie knife and sprinted to the side of the building, where a lone metal ladder waited. It didn''t move an inch when he gave the ladder a sharp tug; who knew if the Outbreak and the two nights didn''t destroy the metal from within.


    Throwing a final look behind him, Leo climbed to the top of the building and instantly crouched low. Stealth blocked sound, smell, and Essence but barely helped with visual detection, and thanks to the new height, Leo noticed plenty of Voidlings in the distance. One turn was all they needed to catch a glimpse of his body.


    Step after step, Leo approached the connection between the main building and the warehouse. Here the roof shifted from a flat gray surface to a slight slope made of metal sheets. It was also Leo''s target as the sloped surface possessed a few rows of small windows that should give him some insight inside the warehouse.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Like with the ladder, Leo performed a small pressure test on the metal sheet before crawling onto the thin surface and moving toward the nearest window.


    Nothing can be simple after this fucking Outbreak. Leo narrowed his eyes as he scanned the area.


    Rows of warehouse racks filled the enormous hall underneath Leo, but it was far from the only thing he noticed. Despite the limited lighting flowing through the numerous windows, Leo couldn''t miss the dozens of small cat-like creatures moving inside. Alternatively, the racks and walls were coated in a black substance intertwined with thousands of glowing red lines. It seemed like a less-developed material of a Void Gate.


    Hell, the far-off part of the warehouse was shielded entirely from Leo''s sight by a massive wall of this dark material. He scurried to the windows that should have let him see beyond the wall, only to be blocked by the same substance. A substance that twitched as it stayed glued to the window''s glass. The red lines pulsed, and Leo backed off, Identify activating.


    Vetilim (Uncommon):


    A living matter. Fed by the Essence of the creatures of the Void. It is used to claim territories by Voidlings. It can grow into various constructs and even evolve to form gates to unique dimensions inside the Void. The seed of Vetilim possesses multiple properties used in a wide array of Jobs.


    Leo let out a long-suffering sigh. An alien living matter capable of creating the nest of dozens of weird cat creatures. And it can make even more portals. At least this thing didn''t say anything about requiring A users to destroy this shit.


    Shaking his head, Leo moved to another window, which once again gave him a view of the numerous creatures walking or sleeping inside. At first glance, the creature looked like a typical cat, with fur as black as night. But when Leo squinted a bit and shifted his gaze to the tail, something quickly became evident.


    Shadowy mist flowed out of the monster''s body, creating an imitation of fur. At the same time, the tail was entirely made of a long shadow. Shadow Tail, fitting.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Shadow Tail


    Expected Potential: F- to F+


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Jaws, Shadows


    Known weaknesses: Overall defense


    One of the feline Void evolutions. With speed and agility outclassing most low-ranked Voidlings, they scour the world in search of the perfect prey. Being one of the few F-ranked Voidlings attuned to an element, they possess abilities capable of surprising even stronger opponents. They hunt alone, yet in most cases, they work for the betterment of their nests.


    So not something I should fight that close to a nest. Got it. Leo nodded and closed the bestiary. Maybe in the future. For now, I have something more important to do.


    Throwing a final look inside the warehouse, Leo frowned when he noticed more and more Shadow Tails coming into the open part of the building. They all gathered in a single spot, forming one big bungle of shadows and fur.


    Okay? Are they preparing for the Cataclysm, or is it some weird part of their routine?


    As if to answer Leo''s questions, everything around him shook. The sun above him dimmed in a matter of seconds, its falling rays transitioning from red to deep violet.


    Leo barely managed to hold on to the edges of one of the roof''s windows as one more alarm blared in his head. Another notification was quick to follow, and he read it instantly, trying to ignore the trembling of the Earth.


    Second Cataclysm in progression. Brace yourself, survivor.


    No shit, you fucking asshole! Leo shouted internally, his heart thundering in his chest as the oppressive aura of the nest attacked him with renewed strength. Fantastic timing, as always, Leo... Oh, Fuck!


    Every insult towards the System that Leo came up with in the last few seconds died on his lips when the glass panes around him shattered, and hundreds of tendrils of Vetilim broke through the metal roof.


    Even as the world was almost consumed by darkness and horrific noises exploded from every direction, Leo paid it all no mind. He only had eyes on the alien matter that turned on him when it broke free, its glow providing more than enough light.


    The living matter was relentless, reforming almost faster than Leo could cut it as he danced around the tendrils. He slashed them with his claws and knife as he tried to find a way off this roof. Yet, he could do nothing to escape as the Vetilim was everywhere, consuming more and more of the rooftop with each second.


    Alright, fuck it! Leo growled as he pushed a little more Essence into Reinforcement. Limit Break at 100%, now!


    Power surged through his body as a gentle golden sheen covered his skin. For some reason, the tendrils surrounding him flinched, and Leo took this chance to dash forward, his claws slicing the air.


    Ever so slowly, he fought through the unending waves of Vetilim. However, when only a few rows of those accursed tendrils separated him from the end of the roof, the metal beneath him broke, the living matter spilling out through the cracks in an instant.


    Despite the additional strength, Leo had no chance to dodge as multiple tendrils latched themselves onto his legs. He hissed as the Vetilim smashed him into the roof, the onslaught never stopping.


    Leo tried to free himself; he really did, but it was all for naught. He slashed and clawed at everything that came close; however, he was outnumbered and outclassed as the dark matter covered him from head to toe.


    It didn''t hurt, but all Leo could feel was the constant weightlessness as he fell and fell, never stopping. Yet, despite consciousness slowly leaving his mind, Leo''s vision was filled with the image of glinting stars and vast planes of buzzing violet galaxies. I¡¯m sorry.


    <hr>


    ''Find me¡­''


    Leo gasped as a faint murmur flooded his ears. It was unmistakably feminine and somehow familiar, though he had no clue how. Leo just knew, and that was the end of it. Not that it mattered, for he instantly remembered what had transpired before he had lost consciousness.


    How am I still alive?


    Leo opened his eyes instantly, only to be greeted by darkness filled with a few red glowing spots. His arm rose instinctively, and Leo directed Essence into his palm, a small glowing ball forming above it.


    Better question. Where the fuck am I?


    Black rocks covered in tiny red glowing spots surrounded him from almost every side. Only one area was open, forming a tunnel that led to God knew where. Leo slowly approached the opening and shuddered when a symphony of hisses and screeches suddenly echoed through the tunnel.


    Am I inside the Nest? Wait, two notifications. Backing into his small chamber, Leo picked up the bowie knife from the ground and brought out the notifications.


    As a result of the Cataclysm and the formation of a Nesting Gate, you were pulled into a Rift Passage. Like every passage, this one also has an exit. Find it if you want to survive.


    Warning! This Rift Passage is unable to support the life of a Tainted Human. Ether life support was activated automatically. Remaining time: approximately twenty hours.


    Dread filled Leo''s veins as he read the System''s messages over and over. This wasn''t Wolford anymore. It most likely wasn''t even Earth if the notification was anything to go by.


    Fuck! Leo screamed as he punched the cave''s wall, the pain never even registering in his mind.


    He was so damn close to Nick''s home, and now all his progress was lost. If only he had more information about the Cataclysm. If only he hadn''t gone near that damned nest...


    No! Leo shook his head as guilt and anger began to consume his entire being. This isn''t the end yet. Somewhere out there, an exit is waiting. If I came from Earth, then it should lead back to it. It must...


    Gritting his teeth, Leo once again stopped in front of the tunnel''s opening. Instantly, his arms lit up in a soft crimson glow, and the bowie knife''s blade flashed briefly.


    I will be back soon. Leo vowed. Twenty hours is more than enough to find the exit in this rabbit hole.

 Chapter 25. Living Lightbulb

    "Cataclysms, such curious things. The first one always comes with the Outbreak, but the second? Third? With those, you can never know. In one part of the Universe, they may happen almost instantly, while elsewhere, the second Cataclysm can be the last. With the Void, you can never be sure about anything. Remember that, and one day it just might save your life."


    ~ Lone Traveler, 56th Outbreak


    <hr>


    True Stealth encompassed his body as Leo stepped into the tunnel, the light of his Essence illuminating the rocky walls. The screeches in the distance reverberated through the area, yet Leo tried to pay them no mind. He had enough to worry about, and the ominous sounds were too far anyway.


    He didn''t even make ten steps into the tunnel before the System acted again, summoning a small text in the corner of Leo''s vision.


    Life Support: 20 Hours, 17 minutes remaining


    Finally decided to give me a precise timer, eh? Leo snorted, trying to wave the text away. Only, it never disappeared, earning a scowl from Leo. Whatever, stay there and keep on reminding me how fucked I am...


    This Life Support was just another thing that Leo would like to learn about. All he knew was that it used Ether to work. Besides that, Leo did not notice anything different from what he felt on Earth. Well, except for the constant pressure from the environment''s Essence.


    Weird, Leo sighed and took in a deep breath. Ether sure did an excellent job of creating artificial air for him. It definitely would be nice to know what this Ether really is... Still nothing, System? He snorted. Great, I''m already talking to myself...


    Even as the depressing yet somewhat amusing thought began to run through Leo''s mind, he was never given a chance to ponder upon it. Everything vanished from his mind as he jumped to the side, the rocks underneath his feet shaking stronger than ever.


    Shit!


    Leo quickly raised his left arm a bit higher, pushing just a little more Essence into the limb.


    Almost instantly, the glow upon his arm responded, razing the tunnel in bright crimson light. Leo squinted, keeping his breathing steady even as small pebbles rained from the tunnel''s ceiling and the ground in front of him thrummed, almost moving.


    There is definitely something near me. Another tunnel? Underground monster? Grimacing, Leo crouched and worked to summon a small Hunter''s Pulse in his left palm.


    Leo clenched his teeth as he wrestled his Essence for control. Keeping True Stealth and the artificial lighting active at all times already demanded a lot of concentration. Add to that the mental pressure required to guide the Pulse, and Leo nearly lost control of his abilities.


    Just a little bit mo... Fuck! Leo scrambled back on all fours, his eyes growing wide as the rocks in front of him split, bathing the area in another burst of pebbles.


    Something shot out of the newly created hole without giving Leo a chance to recover. It flew through the air, its worm-like body almost blending in with the rocks as it landed a few meters away.


    Leo stilled, bowie knife still tightly gripped in his hand as he watched the overgrown worm raise its front off the ground as if scanning the area. Not that it would be weird, but Leo noticed a few crucial things when the creature finally turned in his direction.


    For one, the creature had nothing that resembled eyes or even ears. Instead, it possessed one round mouth, similar to the one Leo saw on the Maniac. Although, in the worm''s case, its teeth were pointed outwards, not hiding in the lipless mouth.


    Wonderful. Leo grumbled as the worm kept on ''looking'' in every direction. Identify, Bestiary.


    Rock Eater (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 6


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Rock Eater


    Expected Potential: F- to F


    Weapon of choice: Jaws


    Known weaknesses: Vision


    Second evolution in the World Eater line. Usually found in Cave Worlds or underground areas. While their fighting capabilities are quite limited, Rock Eaters'' almost rocky hide gives them a necessary edge to survive early on during their life. Warning! Where there is one, more Rock Eaters are definitely close by.


    Of course, there are more. Not the most helpful warning... I just hope my stealth will hide me from most of them. Now the question remains. Why did it come here? The worm didn''t move once, its dark, rock-like skin still glinted in the light of Leo''s arm, yet the creature did nothing about it.


    Can it feel my Essence? No, definitely not that. I''m pretty much a beacon of energy under my stealth. Maybe movement? Vibrations in the ground? There is nothing else that isn''t protected by True Stealth...


    Just to test that theory, Leo moved his left foot a bit, the worm''s head immediately snapping in his direction.


    Bingo!


    The monster squeaked, barring its razor-sharp teeth. Leo shifted again, and the creature instantly followed the movement, its body tensing as if ready to jump forward. That''s my cue. I just hope Kiss of Death and my claws will be enough here.


    Springing to his feet, Leo ran toward the monster, one long step after another. The Rock Eater responded in kind, its mouth wide open as it slithered in the direction of Leo''s feet.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    It barely took a few seconds for them to meet in the middle, and when they did, Leo threw his body flying above the monster. That action was not without reason, for as he flew above the speeding worm, his claws descended, cutting the rocky hide open.


    I just hope this works, Leo groaned as he landed behind the creature in a roll, the heavy backpack not making the motion any easier.


    Feeling the black blood ooze down his claws, Leo''s eyes immediately zeroed in on the monster. The creature had already turned, rushing to Leo''s new position.


    There!


    In the middle of the Eater''s body, just in the place where its hide met the ground, a silvery glow appeared. Leo smiled and lowered his body just a bit, waiting for the monster.


    When the Rock Eater was an arm away, its jaws poised to strike, Leo jerked to the side. His bowie knife, surrounded in the Kiss of Death, came forward, stabbing right into the glow. To add insult to injury, Leo grabbed the end of the creature''s body as it flew by him and spun it around, throwing it into the nearest wall.


    The monster slumped to the ground, twitching a few more times before going still, one last squeak leaving its mouth.


    Rock Eater (LVL: 6) slain | Experience awarded | 2 Ether gained


    That was easy... Not much it could do against a hidden enemy and what probably was a strike into its heart or something equally important. Also, would you look at that, another hour to the timer. Nice.


    Stopping in front of the dead body, Leo drained it like any other, not even blinking as it turned into dust and left another Crystalized Essence behind. My life... Really.


    With no time to waste, Leo applied Kiss of Death to his knife again and resumed his journey into the unknown. I can''t wait for more of those to find me...


    <hr>


    During Leo''s four hours long trip, more Rock Eaters indeed managed to find him. Thirteen of them to be precise, although most of those come from the short time when Leo decided to drop True Stealth to regenerate some Essence. It wasn''t his best idea, but his Essence reserves had been running almost dry at that point.


    The only advantage of meeting so many Eaters was Leo''s advancement to level eight and a nice amount of Ether in his bank. The additional point in Soul and Mind definitely saved Leo from taking another break.


    Although, he grimaced, looking at the two paths in front of him. I''m gonna need another break in an hour or two... First though. Left or right?


    Leo already tried to use Hunter''s Pulse to determine his path. Still, unless he wanted to put all of his remaining Essence into the skill, he had no chance of scouting that far ahead. I would love to have a coin right now... Ah, whatever, right side it is. It looks smaller, so maybe it will end soon, and I can just come back...


    Nodding, Leo stepped into the right tunnel. As he expected, with every minute, the walls grew closer and closer, turning the tunnel from a wide hallway to a small corridor.


    Yet, instead of a dead-end, Leo was met with an opening to a large chamber. Not even his arm could illuminate the entire room, although what he saw was enough to stop Leo in his tracks.


    He gulped, his gaze dancing between the visible parts of the rocky chamber. I''m pretty sure this is where the Rock Eaters are born...


    Every illuminated part of the cave''s walls or the ceiling was filled with short red worms. They just hung there, swaying gently as if moved by a nonexistent breeze. When one moved, the others followed. Hell, even their tiny toothless mouths opened and closed in a soundless harmony.


    Just great. Leeches. Identify, Bestiary...


    Eater (Voidling) | Rank: N/A | LVL: 0


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Eater


    Expected Potential: N/A


    Weapon of choice: Paralysis toxin


    Known weaknesses: Overall strength, Very limited movement


    First evolution in the World Eater line. Usually found in Cave Worlds or underground areas. Incapable of fighting, large groups of Eaters always create traps around cave entrances and tunnels. They descend together and paralyze their prey with a weak toxin, leaving only bones behind. Armor or thick skin is necessary when facing a nest.


    Ever so slowly, Leo''s gaze traveled from the hundreds of Eaters to the countless bones scattered across the chamber''s floor. That''s just wonderful. Those remains came in all sizes, and Leo didn''t doubt for a second that some of the beings that died inside were stronger than him. Although their intelligence could be put into question.


    I still need to see what is on the other side, can''t miss a possible exit... Now how to do that without getting eaten alive and draining myself with the Pulse?


    Shrugging, Leo picked a pebble from the ground. Let''s start with the obvious, he mused and threw the rock into the chamber. It bounced a few times, yet it earned no reaction from the Eaters. Yeah, that would have been too easy, right? What about my stealth, then?


    Leo quickly grabbed a long scrape of material from his backpack and wrapped it around his right forearm. In and out. Following his thought, Leo extended his arm past the entrance, only to immediately snap it back when a dozen or so Eaters descended on the limb like hungry wolves.


    His claws quickly sliced the creatures, and Leo breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that the worms had no time to eat through the material. So somehow, they can get around my stealth and distinguish me from a rock. That''s... disturbing, and I still need to see what is on the other side.


    Settling down, Leo leaned against the cool wall, shivers running down his spine. Might as well try...


    Leo dropped the bowie knife in his lap and extended his human palm as the light around him almost died down, only the glow from the taint remaining. Just like with the Pulse. Give it a form and an intent to stay together. It can''t hurt to try.


    With that thought in mind, Leo reached into his reserves and pushed a bit over a quarter into his palm. The energy buzzed underneath his skin, and he quickly brought his claws over the empty palm, leaving just enough space inside for his creation.


    Form and intent. Form and intent. As those words and the necessary intent ran through his mind, Leo slowly let Essence seep into the empty space between his hands.


    The skin on his palms constantly prickled as if burning, yet Leo didn''t stop. Not when he knew that his Essence only needed a bit more time to finally settle.


    Only when the drain on his Essence stopped and his skin stung no more did Leo open his eyes, grinning as he uncovered his creation.


    Huh, it worked. Leo almost sniggered as he poked a small ball of light in his palm. It held firm and gave out light stronger than even that of Leo''s arm just a few minutes ago. It easily illuminated a few meters of the tunnel and a part of the chamber.


    Great, now for the reason I even created you.


    Stopping just a step away from the entrance, Leo gripped the ball of light and swung with everything he had, sending his creation flying.


    His mouth fell open, eyes growing wide when the Eaters, like one wave, descended upon the ground, chasing after the orb. Only to never catch it as it flew faster than they fell.


    Okay? So that just happened.

 Chapter 26. Confidence

    "Void and Darkness. Creation and Light. Death and Knowledge. Time and Space. Chaos and Destruction. And finally, Power. Each of those is an aspect of a much wider Multiverse. Are there more of them? Yes, definitely, but those eleven will always be at the core of the matter."


    ~Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    Leo blinked, watching as more and more Eaters fell to the ground. Some exploded upon impact, while others flailed where they landed. Who would have guessed¡­ Dumb luck, as they say.


    The little red sun Leo created sailed far, bouncing off a wall in the distance and illuminating most of the chamber. Plenty of Eaters were still hanging in various places, but at least now, the path inside was somewhat clear.


    Leo shook his head, the shock finally leaving his body as a System notification decided to jump out of nowhere.


    Multiple Enemies slain | Experience awarded | 3 Ether gained


    Multiple? More like tens or hundreds if even half of them died from the impact... I wonder if they count toward the kill count. They definitely didn''t have much experience for me. Leo quickly brought up his evolution menu and frowned. Yep, zero progress. Not surprising...


    He wasn''t disappointed, not really. Those monsters didn''t even have a rank, expecting a wave of levels or Ether would have been stupid, to say at least.


    I will take what I can. Leo shrugged and reignited his arms as he slowly stepped into the chamber. His boots squelched with each step as one Eater after another died the further he moved. They had no chance against him once they were on the ground, and Leo didn''t dare to approach the few areas where Eaters were still waiting.


    No exit... He sighed, stopping in the middle of the chamber. As vast as the room was, it had only one opening. The one from which Leo had emerged.


    Yet, as he threw his gaze across the chamber, Leo''s eyes caught an almost unnoticeable glint in a massive pile of bones. Brow furrowing, Leo made his way to the heap, eyes narrowing at the now obvious green glow.


    Carefully stepping around a horde of twitching Eaters, Leo leaned toward the bone pile, his gaze flying between the gaps.


    There, he murmured without a sound, his eyes finally falling on the glow''s source, or at least on a small part of it. In appearance, it looked similar to a thin green-colored chain, yet it was anything but one.


    The item definitely wasn''t made with standard metal, for the chain looked almost transparent, as if it wasn''t even there. What are you? The question rang through Leo''s mind as he got a bit closer, squinting his eyes.


    Now that the item had Leo''s complete focus, he finally noticed the long, curvy lines running along the chain''s entire surface. They created symbols not dissimilar to the ones Leo saw on the Void Gate.


    One way to find out. Identify.


    Spectral Inscription: Valron Coverage (Common)


    A Spectral Inscription item made by a skilled craftsman. Created using Valron ore and Runic Essence. Due to years of unuse, the item''s quality deteriorated.


    Effect: Chosen body part becomes slightly harder to pierce.


    Active: Valron Endurance - Channel Essence to create a protective layer of spectral skin over the chosen area.


    Area of Use: Any single place on a User''s body


    First SI item found. To use it, the user needs to attach it to their body using Essence. SI items can be removed at any time at the risk of being destroyed. Warning! Only one SI item can be applied to every area.


    Another item type? Leo''s eyebrow rose as he slowly moved the bones. Normal physical items. Install items. And now Spectral Inscription... I wonder if there are more types.


    Also, Valron ore? Runic Essence? Like always, with every new discovery, I have even more questions. He sighed as warmth rushed into his tainted hand when he picked up the arm-length chain.


    At least, it seems useful. Now, where do I bind it?


    It had to be one of his limbs, probably an arm. Still, the question remained, which one to choose? His human arm seemed like an obvious choice. Yet, the longer Leo thought about it, the opposite started to look like a better idea.


    Despite all the points in Grace, Leo still favored his right arm to attack in a prolonged fight. Additionally, he mainly used the Tainted arm as an opener or support. Giving it another defensive tool to help couldn''t hurt.


    Alright then. Now how do I bind you properly? Leo mused as he wrapped the chain around his left forearm. I really hope some Essence is all you need.


    Taking a deep breath, Leo let his energy flow, and the moment it touched the chain, the item moved.


    Like a snake, it slithered across Leo''s arm until it barely touched his wrist and shoulder with the chain''s opposite ends. The item squeezed the limb, and just when Leo thought it was the end, the unimaginable happened.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    What the...


    Every chain link broke open, releasing waves of illegible symbols. They seized every empty space on Leo''s arm, filling them with odd green lines, much like the chain before. No skin was left unattended, and the symbols only stopped when they flooded Leo''s entire vision as he looked upon his arm.


    Is... is it done? As if to answer his question, the symbols pulsed once, then twice before disappearing like they were never there. Even the chain vanished.


    Yet, when Leo raised his arm a bit higher, he could still feel the item tingling across his skin as it covered the limb. It wasn''t much different from a standard sleeve, only invisible.


    Spectral Inscription. Leo chuckled. How fitting...


    He stretched the arm, flexing it as much as possible, trying to find any trouble with the movement. Only he didn''t; it truly seemed like the item had disappeared.


    Fitting indeed¡­ Now to activate you.


    Hoping that the obvious would work again, Leo channeled some Essence into the phantom sleeve. His eyes widened when the green symbols came back, shining brighter than ever.


    Entire arm covered, and only the claws are free. Convenient...


    Leo unsheathed the military dagger and stabbed lightly into the green shroud. Nothing. Nice. He pressed harder, yet the barrier never gave out, and Leo never felt a pull on his Essence. The item stopped his average strike with only a bit of energy.


    Okay then, time to turn up a notch. With that thought in mind, Leo stabbed again, ready to pull away at a moment''s notice in case the barrier broke. He really didn''t need any more injuries, especially self-inflicted ones...


    Not that Leo needed to worry as the barrier held again. Only this time, when his knife struck, the symbols cracked in multiple places, losing some of their glow.


    Interesting. Leo pushed a little harder, and the barrier shattered, raining small green particles onto the ground, just as he had predicted. Much stronger than I thought a common item would be. Oh well, all the better for me.


    Feeding another burst of Essence into the item, Leo frowned when nothing happened. Right... That explains a lot. It has a cooldown. Honestly, I should have expected this.


    Leo sighed and took a look around the chamber. His orb of light died out some time ago, and while the path was still clear, he should probably get away from this place.


    After one last glance at his left arm, Leo departed from the chamber, hoping to never return. In those few minutes, he had killed enough Eaters to last a lifetime, and he wouldn''t mind if they were also the last ones he ever encountered.


    I hate leeches...


    <hr>


    Five minutes. Valron Endurance had precisely five minutes of cooldown between uses. Not long enough to make the item useless, but also not short enough to use it more than once in a single fight...


    Leo received a chance to time it perfectly during his next break to recover most of Essence. Like before, Rock Eaters swarmed him once he dropped stealth, although he only had to face four of them this time.


    Nonetheless, Leo decided to use that encounter to test his item. Especially as he still needed to know how durable the barrier was in a fight.


    In the end, Leo wasn''t disappointed as he managed to slap away three monsters with the back of his hand before killing them. The shield broke during the fourth strike, and although the meeting between his skin and the rocky hide hurt like hell, at least Leo knew what to expect from the barrier.


    Fast-forward an hour, and Leo once again found himself sitting next to an entrance to another chamber. It was smaller, much smaller than the last one, but no less dangerous. Quite the opposite in fact, as in Leo''s humble opinion, the creature waiting inside could end him with one good strike.


    Guarding Rock Eater (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 10


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Guarding Rock Eater


    Expected Potential: F+ to E-


    Weapon of choice: Jaws, Bladed limbs


    Known weaknesses: Vision, Legs


    Special evolution in the World Eater line. Found only in Rifts or Nests of Eaters. They guard the entrance and exit to their domain with their life. Quick on their feet, Guarding Rock Eaters can tear their prey apart with the blades attached to their frontal limbs. Although it''s a special evolution, their hide is barely stronger than that of a normal Rock Eater.


    The monster waiting inside was easily larger than Leo. Even though its body resembled a normal Rock Eater, Leo knew that with its six spidery legs, the beast could move faster than its weaker kin. Then there were the two thin arms attached to the monster''s front, both finished with razor-sharp blades.


    At least the exit is behind it. Leo chuckled bitterly, running a hand through his sticky hair.


    The way out of this place wasn''t anything special. Just another, much smaller Void Gate, only this one had a colorful portal inside the arch. Truly a magnificent sight of a hundred exploding stars pushed into a small image. Yet, Leo couldn''t be bothered to care, not now.


    It has two more levels than I, but I''m also rated F+ after the last level. I have Reinforcement and Limit Break, so if things go to shit, I can always make a run for the portal. That is if it even allows me to pass... Fuck.


    Leo groaned, letting his head fall against the rocky wall. If his stealth worked against those worms, he wouldn''t even need to ponder such things. Although Leo couldn''t deny that the Guarding Rock Eater seemed like an excellent target to test his current abilities.


    If only I could somehow get a free hit before the Eater realizes I''m here. I''m a fucking assassin, after all. I really shouldn''t start any fights on equal ground...


    And yet, the question remained. What could Leo do to start the confrontation with an advantage?


    Minute after minute passed as he sat there with his eyes closed. Dozens of scenarios ran through his head, each making less sense than the last one.


    Hold up. Leo froze, his eyes snapping open as he resisted the urge to smash his head against a rock.


    How did I even forget about this? It happened only an hour ago... He grumbled, his gaze falling to a small ball of light forming in his human palm. I just need to distract it long enough to get close and cut it once. A few seconds is all I need. Eaters fell for that; maybe this one will too.


    He nodded. Yeah, that could work. And I can place Kiss of Death on everything, maybe even my claws. Plus... Grinning, Leo reached for one Crystalized Essence hidden in his pocket. I have this if all else fails.


    The wide grin didn''t fall off Leo''s face even as Kiss of Death failed to stick on one claw after he placed it on the next one.


    One way or another, I''m getting out of this hellhole.

 Chapter 27. Dream come true

    "Raise your head, bare your fangs, sharpen your blades. Stand firm and never back down. March forward, crawl if you must, but never stop. Do that, and you just may survive. And if you fail? If you let the Void consume you? Well, in that case, you have no one but yourself to blame."


    ~ High Master of Tariem, 49th Outbreak


    <hr>


    So one after another is definitely not gonna work... Leo grumbled as the Kiss of Death once again faded away after he tried to put it on another claw.


    Forming the Kiss wasn''t much different with his claws than with a weapon, but it took more focus and control to tame his Essence during the process. Yet, it was still doable at least until Leo tried to put the ability on another claw.


    Each time Leo moved onto another finger, his Essence took it as a command to dismiss the previous Kiss. No matter how much he tried to separate the process, the mysterious energy always found a way to mess with Leo''s plan.


    Another twenty minutes wasted. He shook his head, glancing at the Life Support timer. With so many Rock Eaters dead by his hands, Leo didn''t really have to worry about Ether. Still, it didn''t make his current problem any less frustrating...


    Gonna need another twenty if I want to place it on every claw at once. Leo sighed as he sat cross-legged and placed his Tainted hand upon the human one.


    The process took even longer than he expected. Multiple times, his Essence tried to escape between his fingers. However, Leo always held it tightly, taking minute after minute to calm down the raging energy.


    Come on! Leo clenched his teeth as the crimson sheen seeped into his claws, gradually transforming into the familiar black aura. Essence fought like it''d never battled before, five claws at once testing Leo''s current control. Just a little more.


    Leo gasped for breath, collapsing against the rocky wall, sweat rolling down his face.


    Never again. Leo mumbled soundlessly, gazing at the faint glow on his claws. At least not until I get more control or experiment with the Kiss. This took way too much out of me, and look... another half an hour. For fuck''s sake...


    Reaching deep into his soul, Leo grimaced at the droplets of Essence that remained there. Great... Without moving even a finger, he dropped True Stealth. As long as he literally didn''t do anything other than breath, he should be fine for some time.


    In the meantime, Leo''s mind again began to run through different scenarios of the approaching encounter. He had to figure out the best way to deal with the Guarding Rock Eater in case his initial plan went to shit or just wasn''t enough to kill the beast.


    The hunting rifle was always an option, but Leo doubted it could do much against the monster for some reason. I''m too limited for now. Whatever happens, I still need to find the Eater''s weak spots. And if that doesn''t work out, then Crystalized Essence is my only hope...


    Time flew by as Leo contemplated his options. It wasn''t long before even his meager regeneration managed to refill his reserves, and True Stealth once again settled over his skin.


    Alright, let''s do this.


    Standing up, Leo stretched, feeling joints popping all over his body. Rolling his shoulders, he checked every weapon and nodded. Knives, the short sword, and claws all covered in the Kiss. It''s now or never.


    As his claws snatched a small pebble off the ground, Leo''s human hand was already working on forming a small, sturdy ball of light. That should do it. He murmured and stopped right next to the chamber''s entrance, his eyes taking in the slumbering beast in the middle.


    One, two, three.


    At once, Leo chucked the two objects in his hands towards the cave''s far end. Like before, they flew true, skidding against the rocky surface and creating a constant echo in the chamber.


    The Guarding Rock Eater was on its feet in a blink as it released a blood-freezing shrill. Before Leo could even react, the beast dashed toward the Void Gate, completely ignoring the distraction he had created.


    Fuck! With that single thought in mind, Leo jumped inside the chamber, Reinforcement seeping into his muscles as he sprinted to the Void Gate.


    Now, Leo expected many things to happen, some fitting into his plans, while others not so much. However, the monster had decided to completely abandon any expectations as it threw its bladed arms forward, stabbing right into the Gate''s violet veins.


    As if responding to the beast''s actions, the entire chamber shook, trembling as the veins pulsed briefly, their color bleeding into the all-familiar crimson.


    Another notification appeared in the corner of Leo''s vision, but he paid it no mind. Only a few meters separated him from the beast, and it was not time for distractions, especially when the Eater still hadn''t pulled out of the Gate.


    My turn. Closing the remaining distance with a quick jump, Leo brought down his claws upon the upper part of one of the Eater''s legs. With the Kiss of Death, Leo cut cleanly through most of the skin and bone, leaving the limb barely hanging.


    Even as the beast screeched, almost bursting Leo''s eardrums, he didn''t stop, never one to leave a job half-finished.


    The bowie knife in his hand sang through the air as it cut through the remaining tendon, dropping the useless leg to the ground with a thud. Uh, oh. Leo cursed as the beast finally swung its arms, slicing where his head used to be a moment ago.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Leo danced away from the monster, putting enough distance between them to read through the notification. He had to know what the hell happened to the Void Gate.


    Warning! Dimensional Gateway has been sealed. Kill the Guardian of the rift to release the Gate from its influence. Entering the portal in its current state will result in death.


    That would have been nice to know before I went in! Don''t you think it is the kind of information that should be in Bestiary?! Leo shouted internally even as the Eater''s eyeless glare settled on his shoulders. Gah, whatever, no use crying over spilled milk.


    It definitely wasn''t the time for that, especially when the Eater decided that it waited long enough for Leo to move.


    Dodge and deflect; do not block. This short mantra played over and over in Leo''s head as the Eater closed on his position and forced the smaller fighter to jerk away.


    Even with one leg missing, the Eater ¡ª like any other Voidling ¡ª was relentless, not giving Leo a second to recover before attacking again. Unfortunately, unlike any other Eater, the Guardian had way more in its arsenal than just jaws and a powerful body.


    For fucks sake! How something so massive can be so fast at the same time? And where in seven hells is the weak spot?! Leo growled, sparks filling his vision as he deflected yet another strike.


    Pushing just a bit more Essence into Reinforcement, Leo rolled under another blow. He cut the beast''s underbelly with his claws, spilling black blood all over his body.


    The monster shrieked and jumped away, swaying when its feet once again met the ground.


    Got you. Leo smirked even as droplets of the monster''s blood slipped into his mouth. The coppery taste was familiar; however there was something more underneath it, disgusting yet powerful. Essence.


    Spitting the filth out, Leo narrowed his eyes when the chamber shook again. Even the Guardian wasn''t spared as it tumbled to the side, the missing leg finally becoming a problem.


    Leo sprinted to the beast, hoping to use the shaking to his advantage. Only he never got far as the reason for the tremors showed itself, splitting the ground in front of him, another Rock Eater quickly jumping out of the gap.


    Oh no, you don''t. Leo gritted his teeth as a small pulse of Essence traveled into his left arm.


    At once, green symbols spread across the entire limb and gave Leo the confidence to meet the regular Rock Eater in the middle. He reared his tainted arm and punched the monster with everything he had, sending it flying to the side.


    Limit break to full power!


    Energy surged into his body, the golden sheen settling against his skin. Leo ignored the feeling, his gaze locked on the recovered Guardian. Just one more leg.


    Closing in, Leo slid onto the ground, dodging yet another swipe of the monster''s bladed arm. As he passed by, he grabbed one of the two legs that remained on this side and tugged harshly.


    Down you go.


    The Eater''s shrill once again filled the chamber as it collapsed. Not wasting a single second, Leo brought down his bowie knife at the leg''s knee, or rather what he thought was a knee.


    The dismembering required two more strikes, but in the end, the Guardian was left with only four legs. Its entire body trembled as it climbed to its feet, the one limb barely enough to support the monster''s weight on one side.


    Now to fini... Leo spun on his heel as a shriek sounded from behind him. Instinctively he jerked his body to the side and stabbed the Rock Eater that just shot past him, creating a long gash across its body.


    The monster collapsed a distance away, the System instantly alerting Leo of the kill. Thank god for Limit Break. Leo sighed as the golden glow faded along with the adrenaline from Reinforcement. Almost no strain this time. Good.


    Turning to the Guardian, Leo almost chuckled at the monster''s poor attempts at walking. With each step taken, the beast fell on its damaged side, shrieking louder with every second.


    Let''s put you out of misery. Leo yawned, digging a Crystalized Essence out of his pocket.


    He could have slain the Guardian with his weapons alone, but the beast was still dangerous in its current state. Its bladed arms were no laughing matter, and Leo wasn''t about to face them without Limit Break and Reinforcement.


    Then there was the Guardian''s sheer size, which meant chopping the beast for at least another ten minutes until it died. Thanks, but no thanks. Grenade it is.


    The crystal was already brimming with Essence as Leo approached the beast, its massive jaw constantly opening with another shriek. Catch. He shouted and threw the crystal right into the monster''s mouth.


    ''Boom''


    The middle of the monster''s body exploded in a shower of gore, separating the Guardian in two dead halves. Liters of blood flowed out of the corpse as the entire chamber shook again, but the tremors never stopped this time.


    What the hell is going on?!


    Guarding Rock Eater (LVL: 10) slain | Experience awarded | 8 Ether gained


    Level 9 reached. Class attributes added. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Title Rift Destroyer gained. Title assimilated into Adaptable. Bonus: Might Effectiveness +5%


    Warning! Guardian of the rift has been killed. The Rift Passage is collapsing. Find the nearest Void Gate if you want to survive. Time remaining: 2 minutes 13 seconds


    I just can''t catch a break. Leo growled as he sped to the Guardian and quickly sunk his claws into the corpse. Although nice title bonus. Also, Soul and Might.


    Only a minute remained when the two halves turned into dust, and while the Guardian didn''t leave any loot behind, it gave Leo over ten hours of satiated status.


    Time to go. Leo thought as he sprinted towards the Gate and jumped into the colorful portal. He expected many things to happen next, but getting spit out almost instantly wasn''t among them.


    Leo screamed as he collapsed, the force behind the movement sending him tumbling across the hard ground. I already hate this method of travel. He coughed, climbing to his feet and quickly taking in his new surroundings.


    Shit... As he glanced at the narrow rocky plateau, Leo cursed. There was nothing beyond it but enormous nothingness in colors of black and red. They mingled in a never-ending dance, and as beautiful as the sight was, Leo couldn''t help but shudder when his gaze fell to another plateau connected to his own.


    Five dark pillars rose from the gray rocky surface, creating a perfect pentagon. All of them were inscribed with symbols so foreign and yet so familiar. However, even those inscriptions didn''t hold Leo''s focus; no, that honor fell to the fist-sized shard floating right in the middle of the pentagon. Black and red, just like the world around him.


    No... Leo froze as an image similar to the one in front of him flashed through his mind. It can''t be.


    ''Come...''

 Chapter 28. Interlude - Dark Zone

    Earth. The Traveler scoffed, scanning the yellowed pages of a random history book. The rundown library shook with every second, and bookshelves fell apart with every tremor. Yet, the Traveler paid it no mind as he picked up another text.


    Why does the Outbreak always need to happen in a Universe with an Earth? Sixty-four Outbreaks and Sixty-three Earths... And yet there was nothing special about this small Solar System until now.


    Dark Zones were always a rarity, no matter the Outbreak. No more than two ever formed in any Universe, and it usually took some time before the first appeared. For one to emerge so fast in a Galaxy that housed the cursed Solar System was disconcerting, to say at least.


    There must be something more to it. I get that Earth is the first home of humanity in most Universes, but the Void just gives this little planet a bit too much attention... The Traveler sighed as he shuffled in between broken shelves.


    The history of this world seems similar to any other. The Outbreak happened five years later than in the last one, and the second Cataclysm had come so quickly due to the Dark Zone''s influence... What else is so special about you? The Traveler growled as he kicked the wall in front of him, practically reducing it to ash.


    He stepped into a street full of Voidlings, cursed variants surrounding him from every direction. They gave the stranger a brief glance before backing off, almost scampering as far as they could.


    Typical freshly turned. He snorted, his gaze dancing between the various buildings that probably not even an hour ago could amaze any tourist. Now, most of them laid in shambles or had surrendered to Vetilim and some other living matter that escaped through the rifts during the second Cataclysm.


    It all may have looked like shit currently, but from experience, the Traveler knew that soon it would all change. He saw it happen many times; hell, he preached about it more than he could count.


    After all, it was necessary to remember that even though horrifying at first glance, the Void hid some stunning secrets. The transformation of Dark Zone planets was lucky to be one of them. Although this world''s remaining population would probably disagree with him.


    Whatever... If this Dark Zone means the appearance of Nikra''s shard, then who cares. The Traveler''s brow furrowed suddenly. Now, where are the fucking echoes? I swear, I''m that close, and all I get is one pulse during the Cataclysm? What kind of bullshit is this?


    He had arrived on Earth just in time to feel Nikra''s Essence reverberate through the planet. Unfortunately, as fast as it came, it disappeared just as quickly. Almost like it was some sort of a fluke.


    And that just doesn''t happen. The man shook his head, and the scenery around him shifted within a blink of an eye.


    The earthquakes continued to shake the ground, swallowing buildings in one go. At the same time, bloodstorms still rained upon the Earth, bathing the world in fire and lightning, yet at least now, he had the front-row seat of the spectacle.


    Paris and Eiffel Tower... Always beautiful in its own way. The Traveler leaned on a broken support beam, his legs dangling off the ledge as he looked at the city spread underneath him. He couldn''t see too far, what with half of the tower missing, but he still had a nice view of the everchanging world.


    Crimson, Violet, Black, and Gray. Almost every possible color from the Void. The man hummed as he swayed to the symphony of thunder and the wailing shrieks from the city.


    The Lone Traveler knew he could stop it all, save the survivors in the city from the horrors of the Void and the progressing Cataclysm. Yet, the question remained.


    For what?


    He did it numerous times in the past, and it never led to anything other than delayed death. Those he saved always grew complacent, thinking that if they were rescued once, it would happen again. It was a glaring weakness, and like the denizens of Narzak had often said, "There is no place for weakness in the Void".


    Or maybe it was referring just to Narzak... Yeah, probably. Most of those fuckers are really sick in the head. The Traveler shrugged, his form never wavering even as the remains of the Eiffel Tower groaned under another tremor.


    "I guess that''s my cue to depart," he murmured as the tower leaned forward slightly too much for his liking. "Meeting first, Tokyo later."


    Like before, the Traveler only had to close his eyes for the world around him to shift. The perfect post-apocalyptic scenery slipped away, only to be replaced by nearly total darkness. Not even the sky was spared, as it too, was devoured by the shadows.


    Letting just a bit of Essence seep into his eyes, the Traveler smiled when a transparent golden dome materialized, along with its contents, in the place of endless plains. At least the good ol'' Netherum never changes.


    A shudder passed through his body as he stepped through the dome, and the Traveler welcomed it with a grin. The wards surrounding this place never failed to amaze him. It wasn''t every day that the Lone Traveler was affected by security measures created ages after his birth.


    Although a shudder is all they will get from me. The Traveler chuckled as he approached the massive tavern. Red and violet, Vetilim and Corcera. Living and breathing, just like occupants of the building. Well, most of them.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Strolling to the entrance of the ever-moving tavern, the Traveler nodded to a tiny wisp of green fire floating near it. "Tommy!" He called out. "Long time no see, my friend. Are they already inside?"


    The ball of fire floated just a bit closer to the Traveler, its fire intensifying. "Traveler." This word, spoken in a low and rough tone, echoed around the man. "You are just on time. She arrived a moment ago and should be waiting in booth six."


    The Traveler stumbled as he stepped towards the entrance, his gaze snapping back to the wisp. "She?" He uttered.


    Not receiving a response from the almost motionless orb of fire, the Traveler scowled and resumed his trek deeper inside the building. If it is her again, I swear I will find the other two and leave them stranded on a random A Rank...


    Unlike outside, the tavern''s interior was made purely of wood. Its dark, almost glowing texture always made the Traveler question what the name of the material was, but the owner of Netherum always waved the question away.


    Sometimes not having the System''s assistance can be a pain in the ass. He grumbled as loud talking and echoes of laughter filled his ears. It was never a calm day in Netherum. Pity that I can''t join the crowd in the Hall.


    The Traveler weaved through numerous corridors, dodging all kinds of creatures that, just like him, had some business to finish in this famous place. Humans, Serafins, Akirians, pure Voidlings, and many more. They all could use the offered facilities as long as everyone remembered a few simple rules of this place.


    And if they didn''t? Well, the Traveler personally saw what Tommy and his group could do when provoked. For such tiny species, they sure packed a punch.


    Booth six. For the Void, please don''t let it be her. Taking in an unnecessary breath, the Traveler plunged his hand into a dark curtain that made the entrance to the booth. The material immediately parted in the middle, and the man pushed in, entering a small room.


    Just like any other part of the tavern, the booth was simple. Only a wide table sat in the middle, while two long couches were placed on its opposite sides. There was no window, no decorations, nothing, just pure simplicity.


    Nonetheless, the Traveler didn''t care about that. No, he only had an eye for the single person that sat on one of the couches. Upon seeing the blue cloak that covered the being''s almost entire body, the Traveler sighed in relief, slumping onto the couch.


    "Peria," he whispered, giving the woman a nod. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."


    The woman glanced away from a data pad in her hands, eyebrows raised as her four golden eyes glinted with mirth. "Oh?" The corner of her mouth rose in a slight smirk. "Expected Rikora, didn''t you, Traveler?"


    The man leaned into the warm embrace of the soft couch. "Expected?" He scoffed. "Dreaded is a much better word... Thank the Void you''ve decided to come instead. I can never accomplish anything with that girl. No matter the incarnation, it''s always the same bullshit..."


    Peria shrugged, releasing a short chuckle. "That''s why I decided to come alone. Although I''m sure that if you had to spend almost every waking hour with her, you would get used to her antics."


    The Traveler snorted. "Been there, done that, and it had never worked. Trust me, Rikora and I just don''t mix... Now, enough about that insufferable girl. What do you have for me?"


    "Not gonna happen." Peria waved her hand, her scaly green skin glinting in the light. "I know where you''ve been for the last two days, so spill. What did you find in the dark zone?"


    The man sighed, knowing better than to argue. "It is a zone like any other. It just formed much earlier than usual and already jump-started a few Cataclysms. Nothing really that special."


    "But?" Peria prodded, quirking her eyebrow.


    "But," he nodded. "I felt another pulse of Nikra''s Essence when I arrived on a particular planet. Would you like to guess which one?"


    Peria frowned, her fingers tapping against the wooden table. "You know I didn''t have time to perform perfect scans of every galaxy yet, so the planet''s name must be quite known to us if you are asking..." She deduced and added with a mutter, "And you felt a pulse there. Now that just doesn''t happen anywhere."


    The Traveler smirked, enjoying the confusion on the woman''s face. Considering who she was, moments like this were few and far between, and somehow they always pulled his frozen soul to better times. Back when they all were still whole...


    Suddenly something nudged his hand, and the Traveler shook his head, meeting Peria''s gaze. "You were saying?"


    Peria opened her mouth just a bit, probably ready to ask a question he would rather not answer. Thankfully, she only sighed and leaned back in her seat. "Earth in the Solar System."


    What? The Traveler blinked, before everything came back to him. Oh right.


    "Indeed, our lovely, small Earth. I will never understand how you figure out shit so quickly." He said, faking a chuckle. "So what do you think? Is Nikra the reason why we have Earth in every Outbreak? It certainly would make some sense..."


    Peria hummed as she scrolled through her datapad. "My predecessors and I ran hundreds if not thousands of scans of that planet. We never found anything pointing to even minor signs of Nikra''s influence. Still, anything is possible if her shard had awakened during this Outbreak. This is her power we are talking about, after all... Besides, it definitely would explain Earth''s uniqueness."


    The Traveler nodded, his thoughts pretty much confirmed. "Glad we are on the same page. Now we just have to find the source as I have been somewhat unsuccessful on that front."


    The four-eyed woman raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t you just say a pulse was going through the Earth when you arrived? You should be fine following its echo on a small planet."


    "Yeah, I should be," he grimaced. "Only the echoes never came. One pulse and silence. I''m not the best sensor out there, but we both know that only a few could pinpoint the exact location of Essence with a single pulse."


    "That''s... disturbing," Perin murmured. "What if someone..."


    The Traveler shook his head, stopping his companion with a laugh. "No way. Sixty-three Outbreaks without any sightings, and you think now it will happen?"


    The System, the One-Before, or some other omniscient deity must have been listening because as the words left the Traveler''s mouth, the entire Universe screamed. Familiar yet foreign Essence pierced the Traveler''s soul, looming over it.


    Then, barely a second later, the Essence vanished, leaving a thin trail behind. It teased the Traveler, begging him to follow. However, the man had only one thought in mind as another heavy presence settled over his shoulders, the four-eyed glare already directed at him.


    You just had to jinx it.

 Chapter 29. Past and Future - Part 1

    "As you all know, the System appeared sometime between the first and second Outbreak. Not much else was found about this powerful entity''s origins. Yet, our academy is sure that somewhere out there, an individual exists that can answer those questions... However, for now, the System remains a mystery, even if we all know how to use it without a second thought."


    ~ Westside Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    Leo''s eyes never left the double-colored shard, it felt as if the object was staring back, and he just couldn''t turn away. Then there were the whispers. Soft and sweet, echoing in Leo''s ears as his foot took an instinctive step towards the shard.


    Leo tried to stop his body from obeying the dark whispers, but no matter how much focus he put into this seemingly impossible task, his legs never stopped moving. They proceeded on their own as Leo was assaulted by one memory after another.


    The Old One of Creation and Light sighed, taking a few steps toward his twisted sister. "It''s partially my fault that billions died at the hands of shadow constructs. It is only fair that I will be the one to put an end to this."


    The entire fight between the two godlike beings fast-forwarded in front of his eyes as Leo screamed at his body to stop. Colors exploded around him, and a clash of steel banged against his ears, yet it all wasn''t real.


    Focus, for fuck sake! Leo growled as he stepped on the narrow rocky bridge that connected the two plateaus. Endless nothingness surrounded him from every side, and with only one wrong step, he could become a part of it.


    Maybe Leo should have been worried about the potential fall to death. Yet, with all the visions playing out around him and the trapped-in-his-own-body experience, he had much better things to worry about. At least, that was until the images changed again.


    "It''s the end, Nikra. Goodbye¡­¡± A whisper was all Geron could get out as transparent golden walls slid into place between the pillars. They shone brightly, illuminating the area like a star.


    All of my dreams. They were real. Leo clenched his teeth, some semblance of control of his body finally returning.


    Not that it mattered. After all, Leo''s feet already had managed to carry him to the same spot that the man ¡ª Geron ¡ª from his dreams was standing in. Hell, Geron''s form pretty much encompassed Leo''s body in a soft white glow.


    "No!"


    The sudden shout rang through the area, and Leo instantly snapped his gaze back to the pentagon or, more precisely, to the figure in the middle.


    The monstrous woman kneeled right below the shard, her form pulsing with a crimson glow. She glared right at Leo, and even though he knew it wasn''t directed at him, he felt its weight nonetheless.


    "It''s just the beginning, brother. After all, what is the point of my fear if I have nothing to lose anymore."


    As soon as those words left Nikra''s mouth, the visions exploded in a flash, bathing the world in bright light. Leo shut his eyes but gasped when a sudden pain shot through his chest, right in the place of his heart.


    "Shit!" The curse slipped past his mouth, along with a handful of blood. Even True Stealth faded away as Leo fell to his knees, suddenly drained of energy and Essence.


    What is going on?! He gasped again, eyes opening and lowering to the source of pain. H-how?


    There, in the place of his left breast, a very familiar shard tried to drill its way into Leo''s body. Blood flowed out all around the crystal as it pushed forward, sinking deeper and deeper into his heart.


    Leo tried to fight it, tried to grab the shard and push it out, but it was all for naught. In a matter of seconds, he collapsed to the ground as the crystal fully entered his chest, leaving only one fist-sized hole behind.


    ''Thank you...'' Leo heard the soft whisper again, and even as darkness once again began to consume his mind, he wasn''t scared of dying. For some reason, it all made sense, and Leo welcomed the embrace of sleep with open arms.


    <hr>


    Consciousness came back to Leo slower than ever. Every portion of his body burned with a freezing inferno, while the ringing in his ears just wouldn''t stop. Even Leo''s attempt at opening his eyes ended with a sight full of blurry images and text. It didn''t help that his head felt like it had been bashed repeatedly with a sledgehammer.


    "Keep sti... ...ull your Essence... slow brea... ...me on!"


    Leo''s breathing grew more labored with each second, and he couldn''t do shit about it. Not even his closed eyes could save him from the assault of dozens of System messages. They popped up in every corner of his mind, surrounding Leo as he tried to escape from the pain and the chaos.


    STOP! P-please stop! He cried out, writhing on the hard ground beneath him as multiple small objects stabbed his body.


    "Force the System away! Pull your Essence back!" The sudden shout reverberated through Leo''s mind, quieting the other noises for just a moment.


    Leo didn''t question the voice for a second. Instead, he followed its instructions from A to Z, pushing and pulling. It hurt more than anything in the world. Almost as if his body, mind, and even soul were being stretched from the inside. Yet, for some reason, it helped, and slowly the notifications disappeared while his Essence stopped raging like an angered bull.


    "Good. Now keep still, and don''t let go of your Essence. I will do the rest."


    Not even thinking about disagreeing with the voice, Leo curled into a ball, doing his best to ignore the inferno going through his body. He clenched his teeth and put all of his wavering focus on the task of keeping his Essence calm.


    "Almost there. Now!"


    The moment those words entered Leo''s mind, warmth surged into his body, encompassing the freezing inferno. Leo gasped and rolled onto his back, his muscles finally relaxing after the continuous abuse.


    What the fuck just happened?


    Leo drew one long breath after another, his eyes remaining closed. Most of the pain may have subsided, but it did not result in immediate recovery. The System was still trying to push its notifications to the forefront of Leo''s mind, and his Essence could not stay put.


    The shard... How am I even still alive? Whose voice was that?


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Quick to answer Leo''s question, the voice ¡ª definitely male ¡ª spoke again. Only this time, it came from his left instead of echoing in his mind.


    "If you are thinking so loud, you must be better now. Very good... I have to say, I didn''t expect you to pull through. Glad you did, though," the being finished with a chuckle.


    Fuck! Leo''s eyes snapped open, and he immediately scrambled back even as his body screamed against every move.


    His gaze was still filled with red and black nothingness while his body still laid on the small rocky plateau. Only now, Leo wasn''t alone.


    A single figure stood some distance from Leo, leaning against one of the five pillars. His form was shrouded by a simple yet elegant black coat, leaving only the head uncovered.


    Leo instinctively reached for his belt, only to be stopped by the man''s raised hand, a human hand. "Now, now, there is no need for that. Although this is a good natural reaction to have in the Void. You can never know who is waiting around the corner, ready to slit your throat." The man grinned, glowing violet eyes peering down at Leo.


    Never moving his hand away from the knife''s handle, Leo narrowed his eyes at the complete unknown. Even if this person helped him, it couldn''t hurt to be careful.


    "Who are you?" Leo gritted out, hating how weak it sounded. No matter how much he tried to put up a strong front, he had no way of backing it up. Not after the ordeal he just went through.


    Quirking an eyebrow, the man ran a hand through his shaggy black hair. "Hmmm, that''s a good question, my friend. I have been called many names throughout the ages. Some of them being quite accurate, others not so much."


    He shrugged. "As for what you may call me? Well, the Lone Traveler or just Traveler is what I go by nowadays. Feel free to call me as you wish; just try to remember that I''m the one who has kept you alive during the mutation. And no, I''m not a human, so don''t ask."


    The Lone Traveler then nodded to Leo, "Now, as you decided to start the introductions, why don''t you tell me who you are? We will be here for a bit, so I might as well learn the name of the new Legacy."


    What? Mutation? Legacy? Leo blinked, repeating the long speech and jump-starting the pounding inside his head. Shit! As fast as he could, Leo squashed the panic away and slowed down his breathing. Calm down, don''t panic. He seems friendly for now. It can''t hurt to try to get some answers without panicking.


    "Leo Hale," he coughed out, struggling with each word. "Why did you help me? What do you mean by mutation or Legacy?"


    The Traveler raised his hand, "Easy there. You are far from recovered. For the Void, you probably shouldn''t be awake now..." The man sighed and slid to the ground, still leaning against the pillar.


    "Before I even try to answer your questions, please confirm one thing for me. Are you from Earth?" he asked, and Leo nodded after a moment.


    "Of course you are. How I sometimes hate that planet." The Traveler grumbled before doing a complete one-eighty. "Anyway, mutation, Legacy. Both connected to what happened to you, so why don''t I just start with that, eh?"


    Confused but still curious beyond measure, Leo nodded again, receiving a small smile in return. Weird guy.


    "Alright then," the Traveler began. "Somehow, and I won''t even question how, you arrived here at a long-forgotten place, which housed a very powerful artifact. A shard of an even more powerful entity."


    "Nikra''s," Leo muttered, the woman''s face flashing in his mind.


    The Traveler''s head snapped to Leo, eyes narrowed. "How do you know that name?" He almost hissed out.


    Leo stiffened, grip on the knife tightening. "Dreams," he stated quickly, ignoring the burning in his throat. "They came a few weeks before the Outbreak. I saw the war and the place where she unleashed something upon the world."


    The pressure of the Traveler''s stare suddenly disappeared as the man nodded and leaned his head against the pillar. "So you and your world experienced what we in the Void call echoes of the past carried by Essence of Universes long dead. With an Outbreak so strong, I should have expected them to occur..." He tsked, "Still, no Universe in the past experienced the whole history of Nikra''s downfall."


    "It wasn''t whole," Leo quickly denied. "Only snippets and, well... the ending."


    The Traveler shook his head. "It doesn''t really matter... Even with those fragmented memories, you now know more of the Multiverse''s past than most of the Void''s denizens. And trust me, despite what you may think, the Void''s population is not small. Quite the opposite, in fact, and I''m not talking about Voidlings."


    Leo froze. "Population... So there is a chance to survive this mess. How? The System said that with every Outbreak, a Universe dies." He murmured, for a moment forgetting about his current situation.


    "That''s indeed true," the Traveler nodded. "But, it doesn''t mean that all survivors die with it. The Void has plenty of free space for those that want to live. More factions and habitable planets appear with every Outbreak, so really, you have nothing to worry about when the next one comes. Just make sure that you are strong enough to get there. Apart from that, the System will explain everything as you progress, so let''s not waste more valuable time now."


    Leo wanted to argue, to find out more about the ways to keep his family safe in the future, but he was at a disadvantage here. The Traveler had been helpful until now, and Leo would rather not force his hand. Especially when the man seemed to have closed this subject with his last sentence.


    Suddenly the Traveler clapped his hands, forcing Leo out of his thoughts. "Now, back to the topic... You found Nikra''s shard, which, as you probably remember, slipped into your body, thus starting a forced mutation. A process that, as the name explains, mutated your body or soul in some way. I''m betting on both here."


    Leo''s human hand drifted to the skin above his heart, searching for any signs of the intrusion, only to find none. "It hurt like hell," he grumbled.


    The Traveler snorted. "As it should... Even if you don''t show or feel it yet, you were mutated by an artifact that would have killed an average human from another Universe. You are now Nikra''s Legacy, with a part of her power living inside you, so consider yourself lucky... At least for now."


    Lucky my ass... Leo scoffed as a vital question rushed to the forefront of his mind. "Are there others like me?"


    "Nikra''s Legacies? No." The Traveler shook his head. "Legacies of other powerful entities? Yeah, a few. You will probably meet them someday in the future. But like I said, no need to worry for now. No one knows about you yet, so let''s keep it like that for as long as we can, hmm?"


    Leo nodded at the Traveler. Not gonna argue with that... He had enough to worry about as it was. Strange creatures chasing after him because a shard of a dead goddess attached itself to him was the last thing Leo needed.


    "Great," the man smiled. "Now tell me, how is your Essence doing? Still raging, or did it calm a bit?"


    Leo blinked at the sudden change of subject. "It''s not too bad," he shrugged after inspecting his Essence for a moment. "It feels stronger, and the control I gained lately is almost gone, but at least it isn''t trying to burst out of my skin every second."


    The Traveler furrowed his brow. "Not what I hoped to hear, but better than I expected. Your control will come back with time, but for now, I need you to clear your mind of any unnecessary thoughts and place all of your focus into keeping your Essence controlled."


    "Why?" Leo frowned, his gaze locked with the Traveler.


    "Because," the man began slowly. "You need to find out what happened to you after the mutation, and only the System can tell you that. Usually, notifications wouldn''t have any impact on Essence in your body. But as they appeared due to a forced mutation, they might overwhelm your mind again because of their sheer number. So please, follow my instructions and bring the notifications out. I will help if needed."


    Gulping, Leo nodded. Like the Traveler said, he had to find out what Nikra''s shard did to him.


    Alright, let''s do this. Eyes closed, Leo took a series of deep breaths, calming his raging heart. In and out. He sat like that for minutes, keeping his mind as empty as he could, and when Leo could do nothing else to help, he pulled.


    Instantly, notifications spilled into his head, his vision, almost drowning him. Yet, even as the assault continued, Leo kept a steady grip on his Essence, a single thought forming in his mind.


    Holy shit...

 Chapter 30. Past and Future - Part 2

    <hr>


    "Netherum - Neutral tavern existing in a secluded Ever-Darkness dimension inside the Void. Owned and protected by a group of Furies, it is the best place to stop at if one is looking for a safe place to rest or meet with other denizens of the Void. Netherum follows a few simple rules, and anyone caught breaking them is swiftly disposed of."


    ~ Void''s Geography by Dardon of Tariem


    <hr>


    Warning! Powerful external influence detected. Be careful.


    Warning! Powerful external influence detected. Be careful.


    Warning! Body intrusion detected, forced mutation is imminent. Brace yourself, User!


    Warning! Soul intrusion detected, forced mutation is imminent. Brace yourself, User!


    Warning! Body intrusion detected, forced mutation is imminent. Brace yourself, User!


    Warning! Soul intrusion detected, forced mutation is imminent. Brace yourself, User!


    Warning! Your forced mutation will start soon. Detected cause of the mutation: N/A. Estimated power of the mutation: N/A.


    Warning! The User''s current form might not be able to handle the imminent mutation. Stop the process at all costs! Death is a possible outcome.


    ....


    ....


    ....


    A slew of notifications rained down onto his mind, bombarding Leo with the same lines of text over and over again. They all said one thing. To stop the process at all costs. Leo really had to wonder if he survived only due to his luck or the Traveler''s interference.


    You can think about it later, focus! Leo clenched his eyes shut, forcing his mind to process the messages and get rid of them as fast as possible. Essence still burned under his skin, yet it didn''t attack or try to escape even as the last warning filtered past Leo''s mind.


    There were still over a dozen new notifications remaining. Still, after Leo read the first one, he was glad he didn''t dismiss them. This kind of information could prove vital for what was coming.


    You are now capable of surviving in your current environment. Ether life support deactivated.


    Congratulations! You survived your first forced mutation. Beta Tier mutation gained: Heart of the Void. Mutation menu has been partially unlocked. Displaying the summary of your mutation.


    Mutation: Heart of the Void (Beta Tier)


    With your heart carved out, First Born''s shard took its place and changed the base of your being. Follow the steps of the Void, the path of the Akirians, and become the true Legacy of the Void.


    Effects:


    Nikra''s Essence has adapted to your blood. Your body is now capable of withstanding the Void''s harsh conditions. Healing speed slightly improved. Soul effectiveness: +15%. Might effectiveness: +20%.


    Great... Shard instead of heart. Also, shouldn''t a beta tier be weaker, or am I missing something? Leo mused after he finished gaping at the notification.


    "You were right, you know. And now I have even more questions..." Leo murmured and turned his head towards the other man.


    The Traveler quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    "It affected my body and soul. Made me resistant to the Void. And..." Leo trailed off as his gaze fell to his naked chest.


    "And the shard became your heart." The man chuckled when Leo''s eyes widened. "Don''t be surprised. It is pretty obvious where the shard went; besides, I was here when it happened. And please don''t worry about telling me too much. Details about your existence are for you and only you. If you decide to share some of them, then fine. If you don''t, I won''t mind... Now, you have questions."


    Leo shook his head lightly. While he didn''t really trust the guy, the Traveler was the only person here who could help him. Leo just hated how vulnerable he was at the moment. I doubt I''d have as much luck with any other being from the Void. Call it a hunch.


    Sighing, Leo looked at his companion again. "Mutations. How do they work inside the System? Also, what are Akirians?"


    "Good questions," The Traveler nodded, scratching his chin. "One of my acquaintances calls Mutations a cheat code for those who embraced the Void. Partially they are correct. And I say partially because while only those who choose to evolve into a Void-borne can use natural mutations, others can also gain them, just not the natural ones. Apart from that, the System will explain everything. There is no point in me saying more when you will get a better explanation later."


    Leo frowned; he really didn''t want to wait. Oh well, beggars can''t be choosers. He is still humoring me, so I can''t complain.


    "And Akirians?"


    The Traveler visibly grimaced. "Here is where it gets complicated... Akirians are... well, they are a race that originates from the Void. If I had to describe them shortly, I would say they are an evolved version of Voidlings. They are more powerful, intelligent, and dangerous than ninety-nine percent of their predecessors."


    "There is the faction from which they originate. How they and the Voidling race interact with the System, and so much more. Way too much for me to explain with our limited time..." He sighed, glancing at the infinite Void. "Full explanation will need to wait for our next meeting. Now, you really should go through the rest of the notifications. I know this couldn''t be everything."


    Leo opened his mouth to protest, but he quickly closed it. Technically he got his answer. The Traveler didn''t need to promise more, yet he still did, so that was something.


    Right... Let''s see what else I got.


    Connection to the Main System core partially established. Standard connection strengthened. Links absorbed: 1 of 9


    What the fuck? Core? Links? Leo grumbled, and his eyes darted to the man sitting in front of him after a moment. Another thing to ask...


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ''Don''t!''


    "What?" Leo almost shouted as the familiar feminine voice echoed around him.


    "Something''s wrong?" The Traveler asked, his violet gaze glued on Leo. "We might not have time for full explanations, but you can still ask questions if something doesn''t make sense."


    It doesn''t make sense, alright... Leo grumbled. Hello? Voice in my head? Nikra, or whoever you are? You can''t just say ''don''t'' and leave.


    Shaking his head, Leo turned his attention to the Traveler. "I..."


    ''Please.''


    For fucks sake... Leo scowled, cutting off the question that almost left his lips. I am going mad. That must be it...


    "Everything''s fine." Leo shrugged, not understanding why he was listening to some random voice. "Just surprised by the numbers." I hope you are happy.


    ''Thank you.'' The voice whispered faintly into Leo''s ear, the words almost not registering in his mind.


    Tell me who you are, and we can call it even. Leo shot back, not really expecting an answer. That''s what I thought... Whatever. I can always ask the Traveler later if you can''t speak up. Anyway...


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy gained. Previous titles assimilated. Displaying new description.


    Nikra''s Legacy:


    The legacy of the first daughter has been born. Darkness follows your every step and the Void welcomes you in its domain. Will you do the same and embrace this new path?


    Stacked Effects:


    New evolutionary path available. Your soul is now partially synchronized with Nikra''s Essence. Soul effectiveness: +10%. Might effectiveness: +10%.


    New evolution option available. Please check your Evolution menu for more information.


    Dramatic much? Leo quirked an eyebrow. Only five more percent to Might, but I won''t say no to another evolution. And that synchronization... This might explain the voice''s origins if it was indeed Nikra. Although I heard it even before that. Shit...


    With every new notification, more questions appeared in Leo''s mind. As much as he wanted to let them out and hear what the Traveler had to say, something held him back, tying his tongue in a knot. It is all your fault, voice. Leo groaned internally.


    Mutation, Heart of the Void, forced a sudden evolution of your Essence. True Affinity: Shadow, trait gained.


    True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Minor affinity born from the Darkness. What Shadow lacks in raw power, it makes up for in utility. Only imagination now stands in your way, don''t let it stop you.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel shadow affinity into your Essence. Natural evolution of affinity available due to its True form.


    Warning! You are close to reaching the raw potential of your current race. Consider evolving soon.


    A limit... Damn, how much one event can change. Although I probably shouldn''t be surprised if Nikra was really some kind of a goddess.


    And then there was the affinity. While Leo''s Essence felt wilder, stronger, and more uncontrollable than before, he didn''t notice any other changes. Channel shadow affinity into your Essence... Alright, but how?


    Raising his gaze to meet the Traveler''s glowing eyes, Leo nodded. "I think that''s everything. Still have to check the new evolution I received, but it can wait for later. I could use a few answers first."


    "New evolution?" The Traveler repeated before a smirk grew on his face. "That''s good. While I doubt it is directly related to Nikra, your strengthened connection to the Void should grant you a better path. Something to definitely consider when the time to evolve comes."


    Leo sighed, the last notification flashing in front of his eyes. "Yeah, that might happen faster than I expected..."


    "Oh?"


    "The System gave me a message that I''m close to the maximum raw potential of my race. What does it exactly mean?"


    The Traveler tsked and murmured under his breath. "Should''ve thought of that... Anyway, to make a long story short. Reaching raw potential isn''t as bad as it sounds, but it also isn''t something good."


    "Once you hit that point, you won''t be able to level up anymore or improve your attributes. Skills are still fair game, but anything that has a chance of improving your attributes will be held back by the System. Harsh, I know, but still better than exploding from within because your form couldn''t handle the strain." He shrugged.


    Well shit. Leo grimaced at the image. "So I probably should evolve as soon as I can."


    "Definitely," the man nodded. "There is no reason to wait if you have a good option available. Even then, sometimes it is worth choosing a weaker path instead of wasting too much time."


    "Now," the Traveler continued as he produced a black metal rod out of nowhere. "Anything else to ask, or are we done here? They are getting pretty desperate."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "They?"


    The man scowled. "Different factions that also felt what happened here. None of them know about you or even Nikra''s shard. Still, they definitely know that something powerful resides here. My barrier around this dimension is quite durable, but even I can''t hold them off forever." The Traveler gave him a pointed look, "So... Questions."


    Leo hesitated only for a moment. "Affinity. How do I access it?"


    "Imagination, young Legacy," he grinned. "Use your mind. Think about the element you possess and let it encompass you. It is now a part of you, so if you call, it will answer."


    For some reason, I doubt it is that easy... Leo scowled before quickly raising his hands to catch the metal rod and his backpack. "Huh?"


    The Traveler nodded at the two items. "Your things and a way back to your planet. Also, a quick tip. Work on your soul. It is incredible what you can do when you master your own core. It will make carrying things easier for you."


    Leo frowned as he inspected the rod. "You mean I can create something like a storage inside my soul?"


    The man snorted. "When you put it like that, then yes. Now, as for the item you are holding. You only need to channel as much Essence into it as possible and stab it into the ground. The rod will follow the trail of your energy and take you back to your last location in the current Universe. It may be off by a small distance, but usually, it is pretty precise."


    Leo again glanced at the rod and sent just a bit of Essence inside the item. The black metal sucked it in a second, much faster than Leo could even feed it. Okay, that''s quite handy.


    Suddenly, the entire dimension shook, the infinite space exploding in various colors. Leo cursed as he fell to the ground, the rod almost slipping away.


    "Fuck!" The Traveler growled. "I guess I overestimated my strength, and our time is finally up." His glowing orbs snapped to Leo. "Listen carefully, boy. Many beings out there would like nothing more than to rip that shard out of you and use it themselves. If they find out what has occurred here, that''s exactly what will happen."


    He nodded to the rod in Leo''s hands. "Use it now, and don''t return to the Void until you are ready. And when you are, go to Netherum and find Tom. Tell him you need to meet Tarak. He will know what to do. Understood?


    Leo nodded somewhat shakily, a steady stream of Essence already entering the rod.


    The Traveler smirked and turned away. "Good. Until then, farewell, my friend. I need to ensure that no one will suspect that a shard of an Old One was here. This is gonna be so fun, I can already feel it..."


    Without another word, the Traveler walked away, and immediately a glow began to build around his form. Leo quickly averted his gaze, and just when the world around shook again, he stabbed the rod into the ground, letting oblivion claim him.


    This better work.

 Chapter 31. Back home

    "I woke up in pieces, broken, barely clinging to the string of life. This mortal body should''ve never been able to hold the power of an aspect, diminished as it is. Yet, somehow I managed to open my eyes, only to find the world changed, almost dead, just like me. It took me a while to adapt to the new reality, but at least now I have a goal."


    ~ Peria, 1st incarnation after the collapse


    <hr>


    There was nothing around him. Leo constantly felt a slight pull on his Essence, yet he saw nothing. It was like traveling through the darkness but without the darkness. Like a true void.


    This shouldn''t be possible. A simple thought, yet one that crossed Leo''s mind constantly as he drifted through the nothingness. Am I incapable of comprehending what is happening around me? Is that why I can''t even see a single color?


    Those were only a few questions from the pile that grew with every second Leo spent in this place. At least back on Earth, the System was somewhat helpful, but now?


    Now Leo couldn''t even open his status, much less activate Identify or any other functions. Although he wasn''t sure if that was because he lost the ability to see or if this place somehow interfered with the System.


    And wasn''t that a scary thought?


    The System was a constant ever since Leo woke up in this new twisted universe for the first time. While not as helpful as he''d have liked, it still offered assistance when Leo truly needed it. And now, without access to the System''s base functions, Leo felt almost naked and more alone than ever.


    I swear, I will punch this Traveler if I ever meet him again. Fucker could have warned me. Leo grumbled like a little child.


    Yet, despite his current situation, Leo couldn''t be furious with the mysterious man. The Traveler had saved his life, answered most of his questions, and hopefully provided him with a safe way home.


    Definitely not a fast one. Leo sighed, and just then, an invisible string pulled harder on his Essence. An inaudible gasp instantly escaped his lips, and Leo finally saw.


    Some distance ahead of him, in the middle of the nothingness, a blue portal hung. It sparked, bulging as it stretched into different forms, never staying still for even a blink of an eye.


    This must be it, a way out. A thought that quickly became apparent the moment he noticed a single red strand extending from the portal to his body. Then there was the fact that he was flying like a bullet toward the everchanging exit.


    Leo grimaced. This is gonna hurt. Again...


    Just then, Leo''s body shot right into the portal. A sudden blast of air hit him straight in the face as he exited on the other side, eyes wide. Fuck!


    Leo bit back a scream that threatened to escape his throat as he crashed right into the ground. He skidded along the pavement, gritting his teeth as bruises formed all over his body. Leo even heard a crack or two and prayed that whatever he had just broken wasn''t too important.


    Yeah, I''m definitely punching that fucker. Leo groaned, rolling onto his stomach and trying to pull himself up with his stiff arms. Another array of notifications almost blinded Leo. Yet, only one thing registered in his mind when a familiar oppressive aura settled onto his shoulders.


    Shit, it''s nighttime. Leo cursed, eyes opening.


    In a flash, he sprung to his feet, his eyes darting left and right in hopes of piercing through the surrounding darkness. Leo''s corrupted arm provided barely any visibility, and he didn''t dare to summon light above his hand.


    Ever so slowly, he finally noticed streaks of red and violet piercing through the dark all around him. Minding his steps, Leo activated True Stealth and dashed to the nearest light.


    Screams and screeches exploded all around him, only at this point, those sounds were nothing more than background music. Horrifying but familiar and almost soothing in their own weird way...


    There! Leo shouted internally as his hand reached toward the blend of red and violet streaks of light. Just as his palm brushed the familiar hard yet soft on surface material, Leo snatched his hand away.


    Vetilim? Fuck! I should have realized what it was. But why is it everywhere? Where did the violet parts come from? Shit!


    Leo''s head snapped in every possible direction, his eyes searching frantically for another way out. Only just like before, he found nothing. And as dangerous as a Nest could be, there was no way anything was worse than staying outside in the middle of the night.


    Shit, shit, shit! Where is the fucking entrance! Leo growled as he ran along the Vetilim-covered wall, the pulsing of his new heart echoing in his ears. Just no Nightmares inside. Please, I really don''t ask for much!


    With that plea on his mind, Leo sped up, his gaze constantly searching for any signs of entrance or danger. Here! Jumping over a fallen door half consumed by Vetilim, Leo quickly dashed through an opening in the wall.


    The veins on Leo''s tainted arm instantly shone brighter, bathing a small reception room he had just entered in a soft glow. Well, it used to be a reception room. With Vetilim covering every possible surface and continuing to grow outward, this place now resembled the entrance to a monster''s jaws.


    I have to find an isolated room and barricade myself there. No way I''m going into the warehouse. No need to stir the nest. Nodding, Leo stepped towards a lone corridor, only to freeze when a sudden hiss filled the small chamber.


    I hate my life...


    Slowly turning towards the noise, Leo''s healthy hand drifted to his belt, ready to draw one of his knives. There was no way in hell that he could get out of this without a fight. A fact that was only reinforced by the sight in front of him.


    There, in the corner of this small room, just where the remains of a reception desk laid, a small figure stood. Its ruby eyes glared at Leo with unnerving intensity, while its shadowy fur blended almost perfectly with the chamber''s darkness.


    Shadow Tail (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 5


    The mutated cat bristled as another hiss escaped its throat. Only this time, the sound didn''t fade away. Instead, more of the same answered the call of the lonely monster, sending shivers down Leo''s spine.


    Of course, there has to be more... Nothing can be easy lately. He scowled, one of his knives now tightly gripped in Leo''s hand.


    Taking it as a sign, the cat jumped off the desk, sailing towards the lone human in the room. Leo didn''t respond in kind and stood his ground, green symbols spreading across his tainted arm.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Now!


    Taking a single step to the side, Leo slashed at the monster, half-expecting the attack to work. To some degree, it did, as the moment Leo''s knife touched the cat, its body burst into a cloud of shadows.


    Leo didn''t get a chance to ponder this new bit of information as, almost instantly, another hiss came from behind him. He spun on his heel and cut at another incoming ball of fur. The little almost growled mid flight before, just like its predecessor, bursting into shadows.


    What th... "Fuck!" Leo growled, almost jumping when something dug into his barely-covered back, scratching and biting like possessed.


    Twisting his neck, Leo glared at the monster attached to his back. Thinking quickly, he reached with his claws, ready to tear the cursed furball to shreds. Yet, when his hand got too close, the feline jumped straight into the cloud of shadows, where it faded from sight.


    Shadow travel and cloning? Fucking great... This better work, or I might have a problem. Leo backed off, a massive surge of Essence rushing into his cursed arm as it lit up like a Christmas tree.


    With the entire room now bathed in soft red light, Leo traced the few barely visible shadows as they moved and twisted unnaturally. Not even a second later, three Shadow Tails jumped out of the disappearing hideouts, baring their needle-like teeth.


    Thank god. Leo sighed, a faint black aura spreading across his knife''s blade. Now just please die when I hit you.


    The three monsters attacked all at once. Their nimble bodies carried them much faster than even the Cursed Runner Leo encountered on his way back into Wolford. As such, he was forced to roll away from the first barrage.


    As the cats sailed past him, Leo quickly righted himself and threw a punch at the closest beast. For a moment, he thought that his fist connected, but the cat soon proved Leo wrong and burst into another cloud of shadows.


    For fuck''s sake! He growled and sidestepped another attack from the two remaining cats. A quick Identify confirmed that those were indeed different monsters, not clones. There is no way they can do this indefinitely, right?


    Like a game of Whack-a-mole, Leo danced between the three''s wild jumps and slashed at the annoying beasts whenever they jumped out. Cloud after cloud was formed, but never more than three. No matter how frustrating this ability was, at least each Shadow Tail could only keep one cloud active.


    Yet, it didn''t change the fact that with three portals, those beasts could blindside Leo quite easily if they attacked from every possible angle at once. The dark blood dripping down his entire upper body definitely didn''t escape on its own...


    Leo even tried to cut the shadow clouds, but just like everything else, it didn''t do shit. The only thing he didn''t try was the Crystalized Essence, and Leo wasn''t mad enough to try that. During the night, no less.


    Hold up, what if... Leo stuttered, wincing as more liquid slid down his arm.


    Returning the favor and bursting another cat into a cloud, he grinned and pushed his tainted arm into the shadows. Green symbols flared to life anew, but Leo paid them no mind and only focused on the cloud in front of him and the cats jumping around.


    With a single command, Essence rushed into his left palm in waves, begging to be released. Yet, Leo still held, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the pressure got stronger and stronger. And then, unfiltered and untamed, Leo pushed the Essence out.


    ''Boom''


    Groaning, Leo tumbled across the floor, Valron Coverage shattering into a burst of green particles. Not that it was all bad, as in the corner of his vision, Leo spotted one of the beasts flying through the air, its fur bleeding red.


    Got you. Leo coughed, climbing to his feet. The other cats evidently didn''t expect this to happen, as they stopped their onslaught. Their ruby gaze burned with hatred, which made Leo crack a smirk.


    Not so sure of yourself now, eh? This time Leo didn''t wait and rushed forward. The two beasts hissed and responded in kind, meeting him halfway. Round two. Five minutes.


    Their dance continued, although with one beast down, Leo had no problem keeping up. Something that his bloody body was undoubtedly grateful for. The cats could hiss and spit as much as they wanted, but now Leo had the advantage.


    While it took another ten minutes to kill the remaining beasts, Leo didn''t complain. It was a much better alternative than exploding his arm or running back into the night.


    Well, that was a workout... Leo sighed as he drained the last beast, the glow around his arm dying out a bit. He rose and moved into the corridor. This place had to have at least one room where he could rest.


    The answer came in the form of another hallway that Leo quickly entered, knowing damn well where the other one led. Until he created another way to deal with the shadow clouds, he had no plans of conquering this Nest.


    Finally... Slipping past a broken door, Leo nodded at the sight inside.


    Desks and chairs laid scattered across the floor, half eaten by the Void''s living matter. Here and there, Leo spotted bits of computers and other devices, but apart from that, the room was empty, almost too empty.


    At least there are no windows... Just for good measure, Leo tucked himself into a far-off corner and fuelled more Essence into his curse. He fully expected a Shadow Tail or two to find him during the night, and Leo would rather see them when they appeared.


    Besides, it wasn''t like the stronger glow took a lot of Essence to maintain, even with True Stealth active. The increased power of his energy and high Mind attribute definitely paid dividends.


    Leo leaned his head against the cool Vetilim, a long sigh leaving his lips. Another sleepless night, just great... Might as well see what the System has for me.


    You have entered a planet during its night period. Find shelter or prepare for a fight.


    Job Hunt: Cursed Humans failed. Reason: Time limit has elapsed.


    Fuck! That''s not good... I should still have about half a day for this quest. What the hell happened? How long was I in the Void? Leo gritted his teeth, fist clenching. What if he was gone for days and someone in his family died because he couldn''t reach them?


    Don''t go there, Leo. He scowled, quickly taking a deep breath. Don''t overreact until you know what really happened. Next.


    Entering the Nest of Shadow Tails. Find the core to destroy or conquer this instance.


    Conquer? You mean like take this place for myself? The System didn''t answer, and Leo shook his head, moving on to the next notification. If the entity didn''t want to explain, then Leo could do nothing to change that.


    Shadow Tail x3 slain | Experience awarded | 7 Ether gained | Night bonus: 3 Ether


    Not bad. Leo shrugged. The additional reward was welcome, although he expected more from a night bonus. Now show me the new evolution requirements. I have waited long enough.


    Void Requirements:


    50 Ether (70/50), Mutation: Heart of the Void, 72 hours of Sated Status (79/72)


    Evolution Unlocked: Prime Void Walker


    Thank god for all the Rock Eaters I drained. Leo smiled lightly. Let''s see.


    Prime Void Walker (Stage II)


    Chosen of the Void, rejoice. Embrace the taint of the Void upon your soul and become a Void-borne, the walker of the Abyss. Take your first steps toward becoming a true Akirian, the perfect blend of two opposite worlds.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +10%, +8 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    Void-borne (Rare)


    Only those who embraced the path of the Void can wield its power. You did just that, and now you can reap the benefits. Go and devour.


    Effects:


    You can now feed on Essence to strengthen yourself and absorb the power of your enemies. Limit Break: +1 Soul, Might, Grace and Vision per level. Drain evolves into Devour.


    Huh, that''s much better than Risen Human, even if a bit disconcerting... Still, I kinda expected more from the evolved trait. Compared to evolution, it is a bit underwhelming. Leo mused before pulling up Devour''s description.


    Oh, wow... Now it makes a lot more sense.

 Chapter 32. Shadows

    "They finally managed to convince me to go to a therapist. Well, more like Lily did all of the job while the Hales were just nodding along. The first visit didn''t go bad per se, but I''m not so sure about opening up to some random stranger. I practically made the man fight for every single sentence... Honestly, I''m not too sold on the idea. I am getting better on my own, I don''t need a therapist. Unfortunately, I still need to go to another two visits. That''s what I promised Lily..."


    ~ Fourth entry, Leo''s Journal


    <hr>


    Devour (Epic)


    Bread and butter of every creature that rose from the pits of the Void. This evolved version of Consume is why Voidlings are meant to be feared. Now go and devour; this is only the beginning.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to consume Essence from your enemy, be it dead or alive. Offers a slight chance to permanently absorb power from fallen foes. You can now replenish your reserves and heal yourself using the devoured Essence.


    First Epic ability I see, and it doesn''t disappoint. Healing, charging my reserves, and stealing power. Leo rubbed his brow, his eyes still a bit wide. Even if the chance is small, this part alone makes this evolution worth more than anything I had previously seen.


    This could be the edge Leo needed, the power to rise above the monsters that stalked the Earth. Hell, even if he only absorbed something once every hundred beasts, it would still be worth it.


    The ability to heal and replenish his energy was also a priceless gift. No more resting after each fight just because Leo''s reserves couldn''t handle another battle. No more constant pain coursing through his body that always begged him to let it rest.


    No, with Devour, Leo could eliminate all of those problems. Well, at least to some degree. There is no way that an ability like this doesn''t have some drawbacks or limitations.


    Or so Leo thought. The System always gave him some warnings regarding the misuse of his abilities. And yet, there was nothing wrong with Devour. Maybe it will only warn me after I acquire it? Honestly, I wouldn''t be surprised if that was the case...


    Leo sighed, the evolution menu dissolving in front of his eyes. It was tempting, so tempting to evolve right away and claim the power of the Void for himself. But should I?


    While the Void evolution easily presented Leo with many advantages, it also had a few drawbacks, at least in his current situation.


    Leo had no clue how the process of evolving even worked. It could take hours for all that he knew, and a Nest full of hostile Voidlings wasn''t a place to leave himself vulnerable. Of course, Leo could choose an evolution from the menu to see if it gave some kind of warning before proceeding, but he didn''t want to risk it.


    Apart from that, Leo had two more concerns that were somewhat related. The loss of his humanity and the unavoidable physical change.


    He had already lost so much during the last few days, and Leo wasn''t too sure how much more he could handle. He kept going because he had to, but was he prepared for another step... No, not a step, but a deep dive into this new reality?


    Leo possessed a way out of this, an obvious one. The Risen Human evolution would let him hold onto his dying humanity for a little bit longer. It could even heal his curse, something that even now terrified Leo from time to time.


    Yet, could he really take the easy way out?


    No, no matter the choice, the Void will always be a part of me, Leo closed his eyes, his hand hovering above his left breast. I can''t run away from this, nor do I truly want to. If this is to be my path, then so be it. Just... Just not now. I need a bit more time.


    Time to both fully accept the inevitable change and to find the first part of his family. Only a few hours passed since Nikra''s shard changed him forever, and Leo wanted at least a few more to get familiar with everything that had happened. Besides, it would be wise to at least check out the second evolution from the original three.


    I''m pretty close to reaching the requirements, so there is no harm in waiting a bit. Leo nodded to himself. And it would be nice to find some sane humans before undergoing any physical alterations. Who knows what I will look like after evolving.


    Leo hoped the first evolution would keep him at least with a humanoid appearance. Too much change at once didn''t seem like the best of ideas. Especially when he already had so much on his shoulders. Getting used to an entirely new body wasn''t on Leo''s list of priorities for now.


    Whatever, Leo slumped against the organic wall. No use in overthinking this. I have a few hours to kill before the sun rises, and I would rather not develop a depression...


    Now, let''s see. It has been a while since I checked this.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 9


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: F+


    Might Tier I (13) | LB: 15


    Grace: Tier I (25) | LB: 11


    Vision: Tier I (14) | LB: 6


    Mind: Tier I (20) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (13) | LB: 9


    Ether: 70


    Traits: Assassin''s Grace (Common), Tainted (Uncommon), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Control (Uncommon), Drain (Uncommon)


    General Skills: Dagger Mastery (Common), True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Rare)


    Nikra''s Legacy. Leo grimaced as the title continued to taunt him. Life was complicated enough even before he had acquired it. Now... Well, now Leo could hardly find the correct words to describe what his life had become.


    Before his trip to the Void, his family and Voidlings were all he had to worry about. And now, with this title, Leo probably gained more enemies than he did during his entire life. Hell, he had no clue who those people even were.


    And isn''t that a disturbing thought¡­


    At least I''m getting more and more from attribute efficiency. Leo thought with a sigh, forcing his attention back to the status. Seven additional points, if I''m counting correctly. Yet, all of them are still in Tier I, even after Grace reached twenty-five. I wonder...


    At this point, Leo understood most of the System''s inner workings regarding status. However, the meaning of the tiers next to his attributes still escaped him. Neither focusing on them nor Identify helped here. He''d have to wait until one of his attributes finally ascended higher. Maybe then the System might be generous enough to provide Leo with some information.


    Wishful thinking, He chuckled quietly as he scanned the status window once again. Only a few days, and it has already changed so much. How will you look after a month? A year?


    Shaking his head, Leo dismissed the window and brought up another one. He had almost forgotten about it at this point.


    Install: Touch of Carnage (Rare):


    An install-type item created as the result of the aftermath of an Essence explosion that intermingled with the souls and blood of multiple Voidlings. The ensuing carnage directed the overflow of Essence towards the formation of the first Install item on Earth.


    Limit Break: +6 Might and Vision, +2 Grace.


    Passive: First Circle - Blood is the answer (79%).


    I guess slaughtering my way through a Rift Passage full of strong Voidlings is one way to quickly fill this up. Leo mused as he tapped the passive a few more times. Still nothing. Well, only one way to find out what it does. Shouldn''t take too long to get it full.


    Despite Leo''s curiosity about the item, he was also a bit hesitant when it came to fulfilling the passive''s requirements. ''First Circle'' almost screamed that it wasn''t the end of the road. If the item required blood in its current state, what could it possibly want in the next stage?


    Flesh? Essence? Leo grimaced as a frown spread on his face. I can do the latter, no problem, but flesh? A shudder suddenly ran through his body. Yeah, I should probably leave it for now. Speculations like this never lead to anything good.


    As the window faded away, Leo''s mind began to wander. So many thoughts occupied his mind, but none remained in focus for longer than a few seconds, not without Leo''s permission. Yet, even then, one subject brought back another and then another.


    That''s what happens when you push all of your problems away, you idiot. Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. I really need some human company, or I will go insane... For now, I need to do something; anything will do at this point.


    He could, of course, head out and pick a fight with some Shadow Tails. Was it wise? Not in the slightest, and Leo would rather not risk any injury before dawn. He had had enough of those already.


    Suddenly, the status window flashed before Leo''s eyes, and he groaned as the realization hit him. Right, I have just the thing to occupy my time. It seems I''m more tired than I feel, not that I can do much about it. Anyway...


    Another menu materialized with Leo''s silent command, and he wasted no time selecting the right option. Alright then, let''s see what you got for me.


    Hunt. Hunt. Extermination. Find the lair of Collectors again. Find and harvest the Core of a Nest. Leo blinked. Huh, a bit more than the last time I checked. I wonder if some of those jobs are available for multiple professions. Probably.


    Shrugging, Leo chose the extermination job.


    Extermination: Earth


    Slay 50 Voidlings. Commissioned by: System. Time Limit: 5 Earth days


    Rewards:


    5 Ether Flares, Common item related to the User''s job


    Do you wish to accept?


    Rewards are different than before. No idea what the flares are, though. Leo noted, scratching his chin. No harm in finding out, and I will never say no to a free item that might be useful.


    Yes. With that simple command, the System once again left Leo alone. Only the muted raging of the beasts reached his ears; for once, Leo was grateful. He might have fallen asleep without the constant noise. Even then, he sat there for minutes, slightly swaying left and right until a single thought pierced through the sound.


    Shit, definitely more tired than I feel, Leo shook his head, trying to clear his mind of a fog that threatened to consume him. Focus. What had the Traveler said? Right... ''Think about the element you possess and let it encompass you.''


    Leo groaned. This is going to be fun¡­


    At once, Essence surged through his body, spreading the familiar tingling sensation over the skin of his arms. Just like Leo expected, the energy fought his command initially. Thankfully a moment of tug of war resolved the issue for the time being.


    Leo tsked. My control is still shit. Gonna need to work on it later... Now, how do I let shadows encompass me? Maybe something similar to the Pulse?


    Without any better idea, Leo shut his eyes and filled his mind with visions full of shadows and darkness. He let them drown him, never losing focus of the Essence gathered in his arms.


    Let''s try it.


    A single thought pushed the visions of shadows into the waiting Essence. In unison, every bit of energy splashed against the wave of mental power, and Leo''s eyes snapped open as his arms suddenly fell to the ground.


    "What the fu..." He murmured when his arms refused to move, no matter how hard he tried. Hell, even the glow of his cursed arm weakened.


    My Essence is still there. Leo narrowed his eyes as he poked around the energy. It felt stronger and darker, much darker. Did I just glue myself?


    Moving his Essence carefully, Leo watched as the shadow underneath his healthy arm wiggled left and right. Frowning, he gave it a single command.


    Separate.


    Immediately a shudder ran through Leo''s entire body as the weight on his arms disappeared. Slowly, he raised them both and watched with a growing grin as the shadows beneath stayed in the same place, never trying to follow after his limbs.


    Alright, now let''s try this. With a single tug, Leo''s Essence obeyed like an eager dog. It slithered up his body, covering him in a thin layer of shadowy mist, not unlike the one that the creatures of this Nest wielded.


    The moment the mist spread to his right arm, Leo gave it another command while pushing more Essence into his affinity. Like before, the fog was eager to please and quickly expanded in his palm.


    At this point, Leo''s grin almost split his face, yet his gaze still remained glued to the shadow palm. Or rather to the long, semi-transparent blade lying on it.


    Interesting.

 Chapter 33. Locked

    "Everything you see possesses a potential for a true affinity. This little spark might be hidden deep inside an entity''s soul, but trust me, it is there, waiting to be awakened. Now I know, I know. You will ask me, ''If everyone can awaken a true affinity, then why do some people pursue false ones?''


    The answer is simple and can be summed up into two words. Incompetence and impatience."


    ~ Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    Leo tightened his grip around the shadow blade, letting the soft texture flow over his skin. Despite being nothing more than a semi-transparent material and weighing almost nothing, the weapon fit perfectly in Leo''s hand.


    No surprise there. It is my shadow, after all. Still, it does feel a bit weird... Leo mused, cutting the air in front of him with the blade. I doubt it is as powerful as a standard weapon, but maybe it will help against those damned cats...


    Dismissing the blade, Leo let the shadows flow down his body and once again settle on the floor. His affinity-filled Essence fizzled out like a flame before disappearing completely. Really easy to control. I wonder¡­


    Leo glanced at the darkness that covered almost the entire room and reached out with his hand toward the nearest shadow. Essence sparked underneath his skin and slowly flowed out, mingling with the foreign shadow.


    And now to connect with... FUCK! Snapping his hand away, Leo almost collapsed as the air was knocked out of his lungs.


    For a moment, Leo had seen it all. Every room, every monster inside the building, nothing was hidden. Truly it was almost like every single shadow inside the warehouse was within his grasp, showing Leo their secrets. Yet... As fast as the limited omnipresence came, it went away just as quickly, taking most of Leo''s Essence along the ride.


    Shit, he groaned, grabbing his head in hopes of stopping the constant pounding. That was a dumb idea... Maybe it could work if I tried to focus my affinity on one spot because letting it spread everywhere definitely isn''t it. Not when my Essence is so limited.


    Connecting to a broader network of shadows held a lot of potential, that was for sure. However, even though the connection lasted no longer than a millisecond, Leo''s insides felt like they would spill out at any moment. And the less said about his Essence, the better.


    "Maybe in a month or two..." Leo murmured, gently dropping his True Stealth. With his reserves almost dry, every bit of Essence saved could turn the tide of a battle. Besides, he didn''t doubt for a second that Shadow Tails knew exactly where Leo was hiding. Especially with the trick he had performed a moment ago.


    If what I saw is correct, then at least two or three dozens of them are inside the warehouse. Leo nodded, eyes closed. If I can find a way to fight them in small groups, then clearing this Nest shouldn''t be too hard. But, if they all come, then I''m fucked.


    Leo shook his head. His family and evolution were the priorities. After that, he could think about conquering the Nest. I have to wonder, though. What will I get for destroying the core or conquering this place?


    Destroying a Rift passage didn''t really give him much by itself alone, but this was a Nest. There had to be some special rewards for destroying such a blight on the world, right?


    Maybe a title, some Ether, or an item, if I''m lucky. Leo hummed, tapping his fingers against the ground. And for conquering? Who knows, maybe this is how you get a safe zone. It for sure would be ironic if we had to hide in a Nest¡­


    Shrugging, Leo let his thoughts drift. There was so much to think about, so much to consider. Yet, those random subjects never remained at the forefront of his mind for too long. No, no matter what, images of his family took their place, reminding Leo of what was truly important.


    Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will find you.


    <hr>


    -ke up. Wake up. Wake up!


    Fuck! I fell asleep. A gasp escaped Leo''s lips as his eyes snapped open. He quickly rolled to the side, one of his knives instantly jumping into his hand.


    Pulling to a crouch, Leo let his gaze wander over the darkroom. Nothing seemed out of place, but with monsters that possessed the ability to jump out of shadows, one could never be too sure.


    "Come on, kitty," Leo murmured as he circled the room. "Don''t be scared."


    A loud hiss was the only answer Leo received right before he had to jump to the side. A small black body sailed past him, never giving him a chance to react as it disappeared in the surrounding shadows.


    Alright then. Let''s kick it up a notch. Separate. Just like earlier this night, a bit of Leo''s shadow slithered up his body and settled down in his palm. He flipped the bowie knife into his cursed hand and let a short blade form in the other.


    A moment later, more hissing filled the room, and Leo quickly bathed the walls in the glow coming from his cursed arm. At once, two Shadow Tails jumped out of the darkness, their crimson glare trying to drill through Leo''s skull.


    Not wasting a moment, he hurled the blade of shadows at the nearest beast.


    The monster''s eyes widened just as its body twisted to the right. Another hiss escaped its snout, and Leo couldn''t hold his grin when the cat sprinted towards him, jumping over various fallen objects.


    And back. Tugging on a thin string of shadow connected to the flying blade, Leo swung it back with more power than necessary. The weapon sailed true, cutting across the monster''s side right through the mass of dark fur.


    The cat released a wail, loud and angry, as it tumbled across the floor. Bingo. Can''t hide from one shadow with another. This just got a lot easier.


    Smiling lightly, Leo caught the blade of shadows mid-air and leaned to the side when the second beast got tired of waiting.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leo''s cursed hand, entirely covered in shadows, shot forward and grabbed the flying feline by the tail. The monster wiggled in his grasp, hissing and biting at the offending limb, yet it never burst into a cloud of shadows like those before.


    Not from the lack of trying, Leo snorted. The beast''s body constantly convulsed, its shadowy fur trying to expand outward, only to be stopped by a single squeeze from Leo''s hand.


    The beast hissed again, flailing its limbs. Alright, that''s enough. One swing was all it took to embed the blade of shadows into the cat''s skull. Unsurprisingly, the beast went limp, and Leo quickly drained the corpse before doing the same to the half-dead Shadow Tail lying on the floor.


    Thanks, by the way. Leo voiced internally. I''d probably be walking away with some nasty scratches if it hadn''t been for you.


    Only silence answered him, and Leo''s shoulders slumped just a bit. He really should have expected nothing else. Well, I tried... Hopefully, you will answer me soon, Nikra, or whoever the hell you are.


    As the blanket of silence continued to encompass the room, Leo shook his head with a sigh. Whatever, I have other things to worry about¡­


    You managed to survive the Night outside a safe zone. Three Voidlings killed. Congratulations!


    End of Night bonus: Additional experience awarded. 4 Ether awarded.


    Huh, the night has already ended. Leo''s gaze jumped to the empty walls, a frown spreading on his face. Maybe resting in a room without windows wasn''t the wisest of my ideas.


    Shadow Tail x2 slain | Experience awarded | 4 Ether gained


    Level 10 reached. Class attributes added. Please assign your 2 free attributes.


    Leo''s eyebrow raised at the notification. He expected a level to appear soon, but not this soon. Evidently, the Guarding Rock Eater gave him much more experience than Leo initially thought.


    Alright then, add both to Soul. He commanded. If what happened during the night is anything to go by, then I need as much Essence as possible. I have no doubt that the stronger I get, the more energy my abilities will cost.


    Due to achieving the second milestone on your journey, your connection with the System has improved from "Average" to "Strong". Ether menu unlocked.


    Already? There is no way this was meant to happen this fast. Leo attained the first milestone when he reached level five. It seemed strange ¡ª Easy? ¡ª for the connection to improve again after only another five levels.


    Yeah, easy is definitely the right word here. I bet Nikra''s shard has something to do with this. Scratching his head, Leo dug through his memories for the correct information. Didn''t it say something about strengthening the standard connection? Ye, that must be it¡­


    With a shrug, Leo pushed the notification away. It wasn''t anything bad, so there was no reason to worry about it. Hell, he just gained access to another menu. But before that.


    Assassin level ten skill granted: Decoy


    Decoy (Uncommon)


    Illusions, one of many tools available to an assassin. Deceive your enemies, lead them astray. And when you have them where you want, strike. Fast and deadly.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to create an Essence decoy, a perfect illusion clone of your body. As the name implies, a decoy cannot interact with the real world but will follow basic commands given by the user.


    The moment those words appeared, Leo grimaced as strings of knowledge rushed into his mind. Almost no secret about this new ability was hidden. From the formation of the illusion to giving it simple commands, the System explained it all.


    Although, Leo mused as he massaged his throbbing brow. It doesn''t really explain how my Essence is changed into an illusion. All I know is to focus on the image of the decoy and then push it out while feeding enough Essence. Is the System responsible for the rest?


    Leo shook his head. Doesn''t matter now. Decoy would have to wait for later. The scale of this ability alone told Leo enough about its Essence requirements. I bet it would suck me half dry¡­


    Warning! You have reached the raw potential of your current race. Experience will no longer be gained. Bonus Ether will be awarded instead. To disable the lock on your level, please evolve as soon as possible. Number of Evolutions unlocked: 3


    Leo frowned as he read through the message. Here it is. I finally got locked... Shit. Glancing at the last sentence, Leo''s frown deepened. Wait. Three?


    Recommended Requirements:


    75 Ether (78/75), 50 Voidlings Killed (79/50), 24 hours of Sated Status (81/24), 2 Crystalized Essence


    Evolution Unlocked: Fallen


    Doesn''t sound ominous at all, but okay, let''s see it.


    Fallen (Stage II)


    You embraced the taint of the Void upon your soul and made it your own. This new path might have taken another part of your humanity away, but you know what is necessary to survive. Go forth and become one with your new life.


    Effects:


    Tainted trait changed into Void''s Child. Physical evolution involved. +5% to All Attributes. +7 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked.


    Not bad, but worse than my Void evolution. Leo quickly brought up the new trait and nodded. Void''s Child is pretty much a cleansed version of Tainted. Same bonuses but without the drawback. Oh, and it grants Consume. Once again, almost the same shit, but without the ability to get stronger¡­


    Dropping onto a fallen shelf, Leo dismissed the window and brought up his Void evolution again. So this is really my path, hmm? It would be suicide to evolve into Risen Human, and the Apex requirements are just way too high for me to wait.


    Prime Void Walker (Stage II)


    Leo glared at the single line of text, gritting his teeth as the evolution taunted him again and again. I might have accepted my fate, but I never really had a choice, did I? His gaze fell to his cursed arm.


    The moment I became a Tainted Human, my fate was sealed. The Void became too ingrained inside my soul for the System to offer me more normal choices. Leo shook his head lightly. Choosing Risen Human would be like taking one step forward and two steps back. An idiocy considering the world I now live in.


    Jumping to his feet, Leo rolled his shoulders. Okay then, System. You wanted me to become a Legacy of Nikra, a true walker of the Void? Well, that''s precisely what you are gonna get. Soon.


    But first, Nick, Ava, and Adam. I''m coming.

 Chapter 34. Earth

    "Anything can become a Nest. For some Voidlings, a simple box can be enough. Yes, a Nest like that would never become a problem but remember that it is a possibility.


    Next, we have small caves, tunnels, or abandoned buildings. Those will be the kind of Nests that you will encounter most often. This is also where the formation of a Nesting Gate is possible ¡ª but we will talk about those later.


    And finally, there is what we call the ''Death Nest''. This one can encompass an entire village, city, or in the worst possible scenario, an entire planet. Here, you need to only remember one thing. Run and never come back."


    ~ 14th Lecture in Tariem''s Military Camp


    <hr>


    Just when Leo''s foot stepped out of his hiding spot and into the hallway, he quickly withdrew the limb when a realization struck him. Right, I forgot to check the new menu. Got a bit too excited there for a moment.


    Sighing, Leo took a few steps back and leaned against the wall beside the room''s exit. A quick thought had his status window right in front of his face. Seventy-eight Ether. Leo nodded. Let''s see what I can do with it. You have kept me guessing long enough.


    Welcome to the Ether Menu. With your newly improved connection to the System, you might now enjoy the full benefits of Ether. Please be reminded that some functions might be limited according to your Job. At the same time, prices might fluctuate in the face of different events happening in the Universe.


    Spend your Ether:


    -Shop


    -Market


    -Honing


    -Additional Sustenance


    The System might have offered only four options, yet Leo perfectly understood their potential even without choosing any of them. Well, mostly, one could never be too sure about the System. Alright, Shop, what do you got for me?


    With a single command, a wide window appeared in Leo''s mind''s eye. However, even with its size, only about half of it was filled out, displaying a number of items that the Shop apparently offered. Not bad¡­


    Thanks to the short list of items, Leo quickly ran through them all. From a simple pack of clothes, tools, and some melee weapons to items that modern and ancient Hunters might have used in their lives. It honestly wasn''t much, but still enough to be useful to any survivor.


    Still, those prices... A grimace spread across Leo''s face at the numbers next to the items. While affording those things wouldn''t be much of a problem in the long run, spending twenty Ether for a common hunting knife just wasn''t optimal. Or smart.


    At least now I know the value of those flares. Ten Ether for a single piece. Now Leo for sure wanted to find out what they did. The name alone indicated a one-time-use item, so for it to cost that much... Well, it better be useful, or Leo''s disappointment would be immeasurable.


    Shaking his head, Leo moved on to the next option, which quickly proved even more useless than the last one. What am I missing, he mused, scanning the empty window from top to bottom and promptly ignoring the ''Sell'' option. Wait, here it is.


    There in the bottom left corner, a few lines of text sat innocently. ''Market''s range is limited to the current safe zone or two hundred meters in each direction when a safe zone isn''t available. This limitation might change with some Jobs centered around trading.''


    Leo narrowed his eyes. Well, that''s just fucking fantastic. I still don''t have a single clue on how to find a safe zone in this shitty world... Whatever, next.


    With a single wave of Leo''s hand, the screen drifted away, leaving only the Ether menu in sight. Honing. This time, after making a choice, the System gave Leo only a simple prompt.


    Please choose an item to hone. Remember that without a job directly related to upgrading (Smith, Enchanter, Artificer, etc.), your ability to hone objects might be severely limited. Warning: Install-Type items cannot be upgraded using this function.


    Huh. Brow furrowed, Leo unsheathed the bowie knife.


    Bowie Knife (Common) | Upgrades remaining: 3


    Honing Available:


    -General


    -Durability


    -Essence Conductivity


    Okay, now this has some potential. While the amount of Ether necessary for even one upgrade was relatively high, Leo didn''t doubt that sometime in the future, this function would see a lot of use. Also, it definitely made Leo wonder about his job choice.


    Shrugging, the window faded away. Hunter had already proved valuable several times in the past, so for now, there was no real reason to change it. Besides, even if honing could help, Leo didn''t want to waste Ether before he evolved. For now, he might have enough, but danger lurked at each corner, and Limit Break at full power wasn''t cheap.


    "And for the final one," Leo muttered as the last option snapped into vision. Unlike the previous ones, ''Additional Sustenance'' offered two more choices, ''Artificial Food'' and ''Boosters''.


    The first seemed pretty straightforward. A User could pay a bit of Ether for the System to take care of their necessities. Hunger and thirst? Not a problem anymore if one had the necessary change.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    As for boosters?


    Yeah, I''m not gonna touch those for a long, long time. A temporary percentage boost to a chosen attribute was one thing. Paying more Ether than Leo currently had for the weakest one was another... I will stick to Limit Break for now. Thank you very much.


    Pushing his body off the wall, Leo took a deep breath as a well-known blanket of Essence settled over his skin. Shadows slithered over his palms without hesitation, forming the already familiar blade in one while covering the other.


    With a small smile, Leo stepped into the dark corridor. The distant raging of monsters bounced off the walls in an endless symphony while the soft breathing of Vetilim pulled Leo''s gaze in random directions. Nonetheless, his feet never stopped moving, never wavering. One step after another, the darkness parted, slowly letting a small ray of sun past its curtain.


    Finally. Soon I will be back, but for now... Leo sighed as he stepped into the dimly lit reception room from last night. With no Shadow Tails in sight, he pushed past the mess on the floor and jumped over the fallen door.


    Instantly, Leo raised his hands, shielding his face from the bright light of the morning sun. It definitely had been a while since it shone so brightly... Or I''m just unaccustomed after all this time in the darkness.


    Blinking as his hand fell, Leo''s mouth opened ever so slightly at the sight that greeted him. "What in the ever-loving fuck happened here..." He muttered even as True Stealth stopped the sound.


    Staring back at Leo was a changed world, one he could barely recognize. No matter where his gaze landed, it was filled with shades of crimson, violet, and black. Vetilim and what Leo now identified as Corcera spread everywhere.


    This living matter consumed almost every part of fallen buildings that once stood tall and proud. Barely anything was spared as the Void claimed Earth''s surface. Hell, even the flora had evolved during Leo''s absence.


    Small plants that once barely poked through the gaps in sidewalks now spread over most of the ground. They painted the world in the colors of the Void while growing high enough to reach Leo''s knees.


    Then there were the trees and bushes, overgrown and taller than any remaining building. All of them grew toward the sky, soaking every bit of light even as Vetilim and Corcera hung off their branches like vines. Some parts of the living matter even spread to the sides, growing like a spiderweb that connected every single tree and half-collapsed building.


    It was like a jungle had consumed Wolford ¡ª no, the world ¡ª in a matter of a few days. How... Leo gaped, still frozen in his spot. I was only gone for a few days. What happened? System?!


    Backing off until his back hit the warehouse''s wall, Leo waited for an answer, for anything really that would make sense of his surroundings. Answer me, for fuck sake! He screamed to the heavens as his body slid into the tall crimson grass.


    Leo''s mind raced a hundred miles per hour, trying to find an explanation for the world surrounding him. He searched and searched until a thought struck him like a sledgehammer.


    Cataclysm.


    As the word circled through Leo''s mind, he took a few calming breaths, forcing the pulsing crystal in his chest to slow down just a bit. But how and why? Yeah, the System gave me a few warnings about a possible Cataclysm, but is it capable of such change?


    Yet, the longer Leo thought about it, the answer became obvious.


    Yes, it is.


    Outbreak, they might call it, but it was the First Cataclysm that had begun it all. The entire population and a part of Earth''s surface changed in some way by a single event. If the first event did all that, why couldn''t the second one finish the job?


    Does it mean that more survivors got changed? Are there any humans even left? Leo gritted his teeth as he slowly stood up and trudged towards the remains of this courtyard''s fence.


    Breaking through the mist of depressing thoughts, a voice echoed in Leo''s mind. ''Those who survived the first should live through the second.'' The familiar musical tone rang in his ears, now louder than ever before.


    You! Leo stiffened just as his hand touched the Vetilim fence. Are you sure? How can you know? Yet no voice answered his questions; only the soft breeze and screeching of distant monsters remained.


    Growling, Leo punched the living matter, quickly leaning away as a tiny tendril of dark mass tried to grab his limb. With a muttered curse, Leo slashed at the offender, cutting it away from the rest of the fence.


    The fuck?


    As Identify refused to work at the tiny bit of Vetilim, Leo poked the fence several times, getting no reaction in response. Weird. He frowned. Anything about this, Nikra? No? Leo scowled. You better at least be right about the Cataclysm.


    No, no, no. Leo repeated, taking another deep breath. You must be right. They survived, and even if the world changed, they are fine. They are fine...


    Fists clenched, Leo pushed those thoughts away for a moment. They didn''t really matter; even in the face of the entire world changing, his plans didn''t change.


    Alright, let''s get going. Steeling his nerves, Leo took a peek at the road ¡ª or rather what was left of it ¡ª and frowned as various Voidlings entered his sight.


    I don''t see any new variants, but those fuckers definitely leveled up. Eyes narrowed, Identify went into overdrive, jumping from one target to another. Yet with each Voidling scanned, it became evident that they all gained at least two levels when Leo was gone.


    So level five on average, with six and seven probably being more common than I would like... Still, shouldn''t be much of a problem if I don¡¯t make too many mistakes.


    Nodding, Leo dashed out of his cover and sprinted towards the nearest Cursed Human. A single jump cleared the distance between the two, and Leo slid a Kiss-enhanced knife into the monster''s skull.


    Before the dead body fell to the ground, Leo was already flying toward the next beast. Just like its predecessor, this one didn''t even have time to screech before it died, its head almost torn off by Leo''s claws.


    All of this happened in a matter of seconds, and Leo couldn''t hide the slight grin that claimed his face.


    Now for the next part.


    Just when the earth claimed the two dead beasts, Leo slid behind a car consumed by the Void and overgrowth. Another moment passed, and the music from Voidlings walking along the street filled the air. Hook, line, and sinker.


    Essence surged through Leo''s body, sliding over his limbs and weapons as the Kiss of Death answered the call. His muscles strained, waiting for the command, for the order to strike. And then, when a group of clueless Cursed Humans passed the car, they got their wish.


    The world might have changed again, but your fate? Leo chuckled internally as he surged toward the nearest Voidling. Your fate will never change.


    ...


    ¡­


    ''Kill and grow. We will meet soon.''

 Chapter 35. World of Wonders

    "Humans... What an interesting species they make. They breed like Void spawns, lead lives shorter than most of the other races, and yet they somehow keep up with the rest of the Universe.


    Is it because you can find them in pretty much every part of the known Multiverse? Or maybe because even some Old Ones take forms very similar to humans?


    This we will probably never find out. However, no matter who you are, remember that humanity will always somehow find a way. So please, don''t underestimate them and pay attention. Who knows, you might learn something from them."


    ~ Species of the Multiverse, Pre-Outbreak Edition by Eilana of Universe Prima


    <hr>


    Rivers of dark blood flowed down the ground, spilling through the cracks of once whole asphalt road. Blackness slowly consumed the entire path as body after body fell, painting the crimson grass in monsters'' ichor.


    More and more Cursed Humans approached the man that danced between the corpses, his blades and claws singing through the air. Cut after cut, slash after slash, the monsters never stood a chance as Leo became a whirlwind of death, his strikes never missing their target.


    For Leo, he might have fought for hours, yet deep inside his mind, he knew perfectly that when the last beast fell, no more than a minute or two had passed since it all began. That was the difference in power between him and the monsters that claimed the lives of almost the entire Earth.


    Flicking his claws and bowie knife, Leo watched as even more droplets of blood dropped to the ground. Indeed in a matter of minutes, Leo probably spilled more gore than most humans saw during their lifetimes. Hell, with the flattened crimson grass and bodies lying everywhere, the scene around him looked even more macabre.


    A grimace formed on Leo''s face. I may have gotten a bit carried away. This definitely isn''t how an assassin should fight. The beginning was alright, but facing five Cursed head-on? He shook his head. Yeah, I definitely need to wait for my class advancement and hopefully get something that mixes stealth and CQ fighting.


    Sighing, Leo sheathed his knife and let True Stealth encompass his body once more. With the road cleared, he might as well drain a few corpses to get the timer into three digits. No reason to waste perfectly fine resources.


    Not that I really need them at this point. Leo snorted, kneeling next to the nearest corpse. The body disappeared in a matter of seconds, so Leo took this moment to check the System''s notifications as he worked.


    Cursed Human x8 slain | No Experience awarded | 18 Ether gained


    Warning! You have reached the maximum raw potential of your race. Please evolve as quickly as you can. No experience was gained from defeated enemies. Transforming the overflow of Essence into bonus Ether.


    Ether received: 7


    Better than nothing. Leo shrugged as a blast of wind swept through the street, carrying the remnants of Cursed Humans into the wide world. Not a moment later, a pair of growls filled the air. And that''s my cue to leave. No reason to linger; I got what I wanted.


    Despite what some would have thought if they saw Leo fight this group of monsters, he really had a reason to do it. Not a good one, but a reason nonetheless. After all, unloading the building-up stress on some weak Voidlings was much better than letting it bubble for the next few hours.


    Now, how to go about it? Leo mused as he backed off into the Nest''s courtyard.


    With the entire world changed, traveling on the ground wasn''t the only option anymore. The limited spiderweb of Vetilim and Corcera showed another possibility, and Leo was a bit tempted to take it.


    There is no way it will attack me whenever I touch it, right?


    As Leo laid his cursed hand onto a tree half covered in Vetilim, he suddenly wasn''t sure if this was the best idea. Indeed, he could fight off tiny tendrils of the living matter without breaking a sweat, but what if they struck when Leo had to stay hidden? Or when some flying Voidlings attacked him?


    Yeah no. Leo tsked, taking a step away from the tree. Besides, it would limit my movement too much for now. Not enough standing buildings and trees here. Maybe when I get closer to the city center. Building density is much higher there¡­


    Shrugging, Leo settled for the good old way of jumping over fences ¡ª or rather small walls now, thanks to the growing living matter ¡ª, and sprinting through mostly empty courtyards.


    Yet, the further Leo got into the city, the more and more Voidlings decided to block his path. Hounds, Cursed variants, or other evolved animals stalked each corner. Two times Leo had to take a detour to steer clear of large groups that traversed the streets of Wolford.


    He might have been okay with fighting against a small group back then. But now? Now, he would get overrun in a moment. There were just too many Voidlings everywhere.


    And so his trek continued. Dashing through high grass and hiding in overgrown bushes as growls and screeches became a constant company. Still, with every step closer, it became clear that Leo wasn''t as alone as he feared. Gunshots and human screams joined the symphony of the new world. Most of them far away, barely reaching Leo''s ears.


    Those sounds, no matter how horrific, pushed him forward, staining Leo''s clothes with more and more dark ichor. The ruined world of broken warehouses slowly disappeared behind his back as the streets led him right toward the city''s heart.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Half-collapsed semi-detached houses and small blocks of flats rose around Leo, their walls looming over him. Just like with the warehouses, the living matter of the Void spared nothing. With the increased assortment of buildings, it climbed higher, forming bridges and pillars.


    One of those towers grew outwards, spreading like tree¡¯s branches that culminated in a bizarre image of a flower. Their deformed petals reminded Leo of his cursed limb, while the spots of crimson in them resembled a swarm of flashing eyes.


    They tried to lure Leo in with their unnerving stare, yet he quickly broke his gaze away and jumped into the backyard of the first house in sight.


    What the fuck is this?! Leo shook his head, trying to wash the images of those blinking eyes away. He had seen a lot of weird shit in the past few days, but this Vetilim tree? It definitely took the cake.


    I have to at least scan it. God knows what it can do if left unchecked. Nodding, Leo approached the back of the semi-detached house and slipped in between the cracked door. Complete darkness waited inside, and Leo quickly crouched, a pulse of Essence gathering in his hand.


    The energy rushed into the wooden floor, a crimson wave instantly lighting up the entire corridor for a moment. As quickly as the pulse escaped, it returned just as fast, bringing back a handful of information.


    One Voidling on the second floor and no weapons, no surprise there...


    Feeding a bit more Essence into the veins of his cursed arm, Leo squinted at the now visible interior of the house, or rather what was left of it.


    Cracks grew along every surface, inviting the dark mass of Void''s material. Yet, even with the living matter spreading, the building remained bathed in darkness. Obviously, something was missing as no matter where Leo''s gaze traveled, the crimson and violet of Vetilim and Corcera didn''t appear.


    Weird. Leo mused as he weaved through the debris covering almost every corner. He stopped before a stairway and grimaced as the entire construction squeaked heavily under his first step. I swear if you try to collapse on me¡­


    Gulping, Leo almost flew up the stairs, his enhanced body carrying him higher like a feather in the wind. An even louder creak echoed through the air when his feet touched the first floor, instantly freezing Leo''s body.


    Second after second passed, and yet nothing happened. Maybe I''m worrying too much.


    As fast as he could, Leo looked around, a frown forming when he spotted a large hole in the ceiling leading to the second floor. This was where the only monster lived, and if Leo''s scan was anything to go by, it wasn''t a Cursed Human.


    Circling around the hole, the bowie knife slipped into Leo''s hand, the Kiss of Death following.


    With the edge of his weapon, Leo knocked twice, the bangs echoing softly through the entire house. An almost inaudible hiss responded immediately, sending a chill down Leo''s spine.


    Backing off, Leo slid into the only open room and hid behind a fallen shelf, just out of the reach of a single window. The hissing continued, followed by a soft skitter of multiple feet.


    Shit, I don''t like this.


    Leo took a deep breath and leaned just a bit over his cover, gaze instantly landing on the distant hole, or rather what was crawling out of it.


    Inferior Crawler (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 7


    The monster''s six spider-like, yet human arms stuck to the ceiling, never showing signs of falling down. The beast stretched its head, bald and ugly, with saliva dripping off its razor-sharp teeth. It sniffed and hissed, the sound almost resembling a horrifying purr.


    Holy fuck. Short and simple, but those two words perfectly summed up the creature''s appearance. Hell, Leo didn''t even waste a moment to hide again and summon the Bestiary.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Inferior Crawler


    Expected Potential: F to E-


    Weapon of choice: Jaws, Claws, Paralyzing saliva


    Known weaknesses: Emaciated body, Weak bone structure


    First evolution in the infamous line of Crawlers. Formed from children''s bodies that bonded with the nearby insects during an Outbreak. Found mostly in abandoned locations where they can prey on unsuspecting travelers. They hunt alone with speed and precision unmatched by most Voidlings of the same ranking. Can be immobilized with one precise strike.


    Goosebumps spread all across Leo''s body. The Bestiary might have given him some valuable tips, but he could have gone without the part about children. The single piece pulled Leo''s mind in a direction he definitely didn''t need it to go¡­


    Right, you are dying now. No other way to go about it. I''m not taking the risk that, somehow, even a tiny part of that child might still be suffering somewhere deep inside this beast''s mind.


    As this thought went through Leo''s head, the shadows beneath him stirred, climbing into his palm. There, an unconventional weapon twisted into existence. Three connected, serrated blades formed, each facing in a different direction and attached to a rope of shadows stronger than any chain in the world.


    Smiling lightly at his creation, Leo stepped away from the shelf and waited, his arm ready to strike. Second after second, breath after breath, the hissing grew closer, and then when the shadows on the ceiling moved, Leo moved along with them.


    The slightly hooked weapon sailed through the air like a bullet. Just as Leo wanted, it struck the Crawler from the side, one of the blades stabbing right into the monster''s flank. It hissed loudly, and Leo smirked when he gave the blade one command.


    Stretch.


    Essence surged through Leo''s veins, rushing towards the shadow rope. The construct drank it all like a man starving in a desert. And when there was nothing left to consume, the Crawler released a blood-chilling wail as another blade of shadows burst from its other side.


    And now.


    With all the strength his muscles could muster, Leo tugged on the rope. The monster wailed even louder as its body went flying, only to crash into the ground with enough force to send a tremor through the entire house.


    For a moment, Leo hesitated, almost fearing that the building might collapse. However, a pained hiss quickly brought him back to reality, and like a tiger, Leo descended on the downed Crawler, slicing its head off with a single strike.


    Inferior Crawler slain | No Experience awarded | 4 Ether gained


    Bonus Ether received: 2


    And may you rest in peace. Leo bowed slightly as the Crawler''s body faded to dust. With a sigh, he approached the only window and took a peek outside, right towards the line of buildings on which the Vetilim plant grew.


    Crimson Mirage (Rare):


    A Vetilim construct that many mistake for another plant from the Void. Crimson Mirages form in high-density areas to provide high-ranked Voidlings with additional support. It possesses the potential to evolve into a Special Void Lifeform. Warning! Gazing into the Mirage''s eyes can easily mess with the mind of a lesser being.


    Well fuck... Like I didn''t have enough things to worry about. Leo thought with a frown as he averted his gaze from the construct. Huh, what''s going on there¡­


    At the end of the line of semi-detached houses, a large group of Cursed variants gathered. Part of them scratched at the partially collapsed building, while others banged against the cracked entrance door like beasts possessed.


    How the wood didn''t break completely, Leo could only wonder. And well, one of his ideas seemed pretty possible considering his past encounters.


    For the love of all that''s holy, just please let them be normal. I really don''t want to interact with another crackhead...

 Chapter 36. Enemy of my enemy?

    "Vetilim and Corcera. Those are the two most common materials that come from the Void. In appearance, the only difference between them is the color of their ''Bludveins''. One crimson, the other violet... Now when it comes to their purpose, things start to go in separate directions.


    Vetilim always comes first. It is the primary way for the Void to spread over new territories. This living matter can go anywhere, and if developed correctly, it will evolve into advanced structures.


    Now Corcera... This one is more complicated. While it can claim areas for the Void, it is also capable of so much more. Thankfully, those capabilities are rarely realized. Thank the Void for that, or some planets would have been in way more trouble..."


    ~ Study of the Void by Unknown


    <hr>


    Leo kept his gaze locked on the group of Voidlings for a good few minutes. Like any other time, the monsters were relentless, not once even thinking of giving up on their assault on the ruined house.


    The entrance door might have had something to do with that, as just when the beasts managed to push it by even an inch, the door would slam back right into their faces. Those Voidlings would then screech and growl before attacking again, jumpstarting the unending cycle.


    Why won''t you just escape through the back? Leo frowned, scanning each monster. If he really wanted to do this, then a complete package of info could save his life.


    Two normals, a Runner, a Cursed Crawler, and three Hounds... A grimace found its way to Leo''s face. Those numbers weren''t bad per se. It was the variety of those beasts that stopped Leo from running towards the group straight away. Well, that and the almost dozen of other Voidlings that populated this street.


    At least there are almost no advanced variants among them. I can deal with normals just fine... Now how to go about it?


    Leo had already made up his mind that rushing in blindly wasn''t an option. In the past, among the warehouses, he could always run away if things became too intense. However, the possibility of other humans being present in this situation made it much more complicated. After all, Leo''s intention was to converse with them, not to flee and forget.


    Running a hand through his head, Leo let out a long sigh. If I can take most of them out stealthily, then maybe I have a chance... His gaze wandered to the Blood Vein grass and Void''s living matter, an idea slowly forming in his mind.


    With the high density of buildings and plenty of trees on the sidewalks, Vetilim and Corcera had plenty of space to weave their web high above the air. If Leo used his affinity correctly, then he just might be able to clear some of the streets without ever touching the ground.


    And well, once the high ground ran out of usefulness, Leo just hoped that his stealth and the tall grass would shield him for long enough...


    Gulping, Leo nodded to himself. It was as good a plan as any. He didn''t have any better resources, support, or time to figure out something better. Although a soft weight in one of his pockets told Leo that he just might be wrong about the former.


    Only if things go to shit. Leo promised, patting the said pocket. No need to let the entire city know where I am.


    With his claws and knife ready, Leo leaned on the windowsill, ignoring the pieces of glass grinding against his skin. Then, in a moment of distraction, his eyes strayed, and Leo flinched as he found himself confronted by hundreds of crimson eyes suddenly fixed on him.


    Right, avoid freaky eyes no matter the cost. Even a single glance made my head hurt... Taking a deep breath, Leo climbed through the broken window and pushed his claws into Vetilim, which grew along the outside wall.


    Military knife followed soon after, and Leo grinned when he gave the weapon a tug. Should be enough. Now just please don''t attack me. Rolling his shoulders, Leo nodded and jumped, swinging his body to face the wall.


    Shit. The curse almost left Leo''s lips when his claws almost slipped out of the living matter. In a flash, he pushed deeper, clenching his hand a bit to get a better hold.


    Okay, and now, up we go.


    Leo alternated between his claws and knife, using each to propel himself higher up the wall. With each stab and grip, he closed the distance separating him from the roof. The smooth Vetilim proved treacherous under his feet, causing him to slip a few times, but his claws always held, ensuring his steady ascent.


    Leo managed to grasp the edge of the roof after exerting one final effort. Then, with a final push, he reached the peak and rolled over the dusty, Void-eaten rooftop.


    That was harder than I expected. Guess I''m not past the human peak in strength yet... Leo thought with a groan. Gonna need to put a few more points in Might in the future.


    Pulling up into a crouch, Leo approached the roof''s edge. His eyes danced across the street, burning the position of each Voidling into his memory. Once he had completed his reconnaissance, the muscles in his legs tensed, and after a deep breath, he leaped from the roof in a single fluid motion.


    The unsupported flight didn''t last long, and soon, Leo''s extended arms tightly grabbed the nearest thick branch. He pulled himself up and rested against the tree''s dead trunk, scanning his surroundings to ensure he had not been spotted.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Leo closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. Alright, the first part is done. Now I have access to most of the street. Even as a kid, I wouldn''t have a problem balancing on those¡­


    And that was the truth. Vetilim''s and Corcera''s thick webs stretched almost everywhere from Leo''s current position. Occasionally, the webs intersected with others, forming small platforms suspended high in the air. This provided ample space for Leo to work with.


    But first things first. Leo thought as his gaze landed on a Cursed Human standing close to the tree.


    Essence and shadows stirring, Leo once more directed everything into his palms. As the energy whirled across his skin, a smoky substance began to take shape, gradually forming into two identical, strongly curved blades. Each weapon had its own rope connected to the handle, giving them a unique and deadly appearance.


    Leo smirked lightly. Yeah, these will do well.


    Grabbing the handles tightly, Leo pulled his arms back, taking aim.


    Propelled by his still impressive strength, Leo released the blades from his hold. They whistled through the air, the shadow ropes growing longer and longer, drinking his Essence reserves.


    Leo twisted his wrists, causing the weapons to change their trajectory and arc toward the monster''s neck. The blades flew true, slicing through the beast''s flesh and severing its head from its body.


    With a firm tug on the ropes, Leo watched as the monster crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Soon, the weapons landed back in his palms, and Leo''s smile widened. Only a few days ago, such a feat would have been impossible for him. But now?


    Now, Leo possessed the skill and dexterity of characters from works of fiction. And yet, it was only the beginning¡­


    Time to get to work.


    <hr>


    From one tree to another. From balancing on the broad Vetilim webs to jumping between the few platforms. Leo became a blur of action, his shadows spinning through the air, striking down every target in their path. Nothing was safe from Leo''s deadly prowess... well, except for the mixed group of Voidlings waiting at the end of the street.


    Those Leo didn''t even dare to touch as long as there were other monsters wandering the road. The thought of slicing one or two of them crossed his mind, but it quickly dissipated. He didn''t want to risk his already flawed plan even more, especially when there were still Cursed Humans roaming around.


    But now, only you are left. Leo sighed as he observed the group from above. He was pretty close, lying on one of the few platform-like intersections. Most of my Essence is back, and I can''t see any more Voidlings approaching... It''s now or never. Fuck.


    Leo had a few ideas of how to go about this. Yet, none of them seemed promising. Even though only two of them were level six, their diverse set of abilities could quickly turn the tables against him. He really couldn''t think of a way to take down the Voidlings without sustaining some injuries, again¡­


    I have to separate them, lure a few away from the house. Leo bit his lip, almost drawing blood. The Cursed Crawler won''t go away. It is too close to the door, but the Hounds? Or maybe the runner? That''s an idea¡­


    Leo tsked, shaking his head. But how? If they spot me, then it''s game over. Shit... I really need to experiment more with my affinity. I bet I can come up with more useful abilities given some time.


    Sighing, Leo averted his gaze from the group. He could spend the next few hours planning without coming up with the perfect plan. Not that such plans had ever worked. ''No plan survives first contact with the enemy'', and all of that.


    Besides, I have a basic idea. I can come up with the rest later. That''s how it always goes, anyway...


    Shrugging in resignation, Leo pulled himself. And just like he did inside the Rift Passage, he clasped his hands together, leaving a small gap between them. Pure Essence quickly followed, and Leo held it tightly, guiding the energy.


    Slowly, he lifted his cursed hand, gazing at the small sphere of light resting in his healthy palm. The crimson orb glowed with crimson flame, yet swirling inside this fire was a very familiar smoky substance. It mingled with the pure Essence, hiding as best as it could.


    A grin spread across Leo''s face. Better, a lot better. I love the ease of controlling an affinity.


    Spinning around, Leo scrambled towards the nearest tree. He hugged the trunk where strings of Corcera hung in hundreds, giving him a perfect cover from the Voidlings. Then, with a surgeon''s precision, Leo cut away the True Stealth around his lips and took a deep breath.


    Let the madness begin.


    A sharp whistle escaped Leo''s lips in an instant. The sphere of Essence quickly followed, sailing through the air before it hit the nearest building. Its bounces echoed through the street, and Leo held his breath when screeches and howls joined the sound.


    His ears rang as the chorus of monsters grew louder and louder. Despite the temptation to take a peek, Leo dared not risk his position. Even though they heard his whistle, the Voidlings had no way of spotting him. Leo had made sure of that with his carefully chosen hiding spot.


    Come on, come on¡­


    Just then, the sliver of shadow Essence inside the thrown sphere answered Leo''s prayers. It screamed at him as foreign energy assaulted the orb, and Leo only gave one command in return.


    Consume and destroy.


    Instantly a howl, pitiful and loud, pierced the air, cutting through any other sound. It slowly shifted into a soft whine before dying out, just like its creator.


    Leo paid no attention to the notification that popped up on the edge of his vision. After a while, he took a peek, eyebrows raising as he shifted aside the cascade of Corcera vines to get a better view.


    The fuck?


    Not too far from Leo''s location, almost at the center of the street, a group of Voidlings gathered. Two Hounds stood in front of a Runner, growling menacingly at the humanoid creature. It screeched back, its ruby eyes flicking toward the area behind the canines.


    There is no way, right?


    And yet when Leo''s gaze followed, the answer became obvious.


    Resting behind the two Hounds was the final member of their pack. Its body lay lifeless, with myriad minuscule wounds adorning its head, from which blood seeped out in a macabre display. The crimson fluid stained the earth and surrounding vegetation, spreading like an ominous omen.


    Leo''s satisfaction with his handiwork, powered by over a quarter of his reserves, was short-lived. The two remaining Hounds finally got tired of waiting and pounced at their foe.


    Bloody hell. This definitely wasn''t on my bingo card for today...

 Chapter 37. Slice and Dice

    "Rift Passage is a very curious phenomenon. Some can exist for hundreds of years, while others die after a few days. And yet, despite all of that, their age means nothing in the face of the dangers we can face inside.


    Whether young or old, every Rift Passage can become your tomb. You might think, ''If they''re newly created, that has to mean that the monsters inside are weak.''


    Wrong! Powerful Voidlings can be born in a matter of seconds inside the Void. So please, don''t ignore the System''s warnings and control your arrogance. It just might save your life one day."


    ~5th Lecture in Tariem''s Military Camp


    <hr>


    Despite their number advantage, the two Hounds didn''t tear the Runner to shreds with their first attack. The humanoid monster was quicker, its clawed feet kicking up some dirt as it avoided the raging beasts.


    Saliva dripped down the jaws of the canines as they growled and rounded on the single Cursed Voidling. The Runner snarled in response, taking a step back.


    For a moment, Leo thought it would back off completely and run away with its life. But then, its head again snapped toward the fallen Hound, and Leo understood that even in the face of death, the Runner had no intention of giving up. And so, with a powerful screech, the creature lunged forward, ready to fight for its meal.


    Good luck, mate. Hope you take at least one of them out. It would make my job much easier, that''s for sure. Leo thought as the monsters clashed. Although you guys have already given me an interesting idea... Using a Voidling''s corpse as bait. Why did I never think of it before?


    Probably because Leo had never stayed in one place long enough to find out what would happen to Voidlings he didn''t consume. And even then, Leo rarely left any bodies behind. No reason to waste resources that were just lying around¡­


    Still, it could make ambushes much easier. Combined with the newly acquired Decoy, Leo would be able to create perfect assassination scenarios even in densely populated areas. He had to find a way to transport a dead body without physically dragging it around first, but the potential was there.


    They will probably ignore the body once I show myself, but I''m still an assassin, after all. Leo nodded as howls of pain filled the street. And the Traveler mentioned something about creating storage inside my soul. Doubt it will be easy to figure out, though... Whatever, I can worry about it once I get to Nick''s. For now, I still have work to do.


    Leo''s reflections might have taken only a moment, yet even in this short period of time, the battle below continued to escalate.


    There were still only three Voidlings fighting as, for some reason, the rest of the group refused to acknowledge the brawl down the street. However, at this point, the two Hounds and Runner barely separated.


    They laid in a heap, scratching, biting, and hissing at each other. Blood flowed freely while flesh was ripped from their bodies with each attack. The Runner was the most vocal, its mauled skin almost unrecognizable at this point.


    Yet, even as the beast lay almost defeated, it didn''t give the Hounds the satisfaction of victory. The Runner''s crimson orbs burned with fiery determination, its instincts refusing to give up. And then it let out a guttural growl that sent shivers down Leo''s spine. The Runner may have been outnumbered, but it wasn''t going down without leaving a goodbye gift.


    With whatever strength it had left, the beast''s claws descended upon the Hound that was making a meal out of its torso. The canine squealed, trying to back off, but the Runner''s claws held tight, digging into the dog''s head.


    In this single moment, Leo almost cheered for the Cursed creature. A one-for-one trade was better than nothing. However, it was not meant to be, and just as the Runner was about to finish off its adversary, the second Hound changed tactics from standard biting.


    With a rage-filled growl, the canine stomped on the Runner''s head. Only to do it again and again, slowly denting the Cursed monster''s skull and freeing its kin.


    The newly freed Hound whined pitifully, hobbling away from the Runner as its snout rained blood upon the earth. A second later, the beast collapsed, its chest heaving up and down.


    Almost dead, Leo noted before his gaze went to the fallen Runner. Not bad for a two versus one.


    At this point, the Runner''s body barely twitched. Its remaining crimson orb gazed up at the Hound above it, but the eye was lifeless and unfocused, glazed over with death.


    Even then, the healthy Hound showed no mercy, and after a victorious howl, it dug into the Runner''s neck, ripping it apart with each bite. The Cursed monster let out one last wailing cry before the remaining fire in its eye was doused, never to come back.


    And that''s my cue.


    Out of sight, Leo slid down the tree, letting the crimson grass consume him as he touched the ground. In an instant, the military and bowie knives jumped into his hands, the black glow of the Kiss claiming them shortly after.


    More than ready, Leo glided through the tall grass, shadows almost stirring underneath as Essence answered his call. It spread everywhere, and Leo grinned slightly when he felt his muscles warm up and come alive, ready for whatever lay ahead.


    Reinforcement. Valron Coverage.


    Like an arrow, Leo shot toward the center of the street. The power of the soul fueled his every move, and in a matter of seconds, he pushed past the grass and flew into the battlefield. In the corner of his vision, Leo noticed the injured Hound stirring, but he paid it no mind as the other beast grew closer.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The healthy canine only had eyes for the fallen Runner as it feasted upon the monster''s flesh. It stood no chance when Leo pounced on the beast''s back and slid his knives right into the Hound''s brain with unmatched speed.


    Such a short-lived victory. Leo almost snorted as the canine collapsed. Within a blink of an eye, he was on the move again, claiming the life of the last Hound.


    The notifications came just as expected, and Leo quickly dismissed them all as he disappeared into the grass again. While he doubted that the other Voidlings even noticed the disappearance of their kin, it didn''t mean Leo could slack off. He had a plan, or rather something akin to a plan.


    Shadows stirred again, this time directly answering Leo''s call as he sheathed one knife. A familiar three-bladed weapon formed on his cursed palm, posed to strike.


    Cursed Crawler might have come from a completely different evolution line than its Inferior cousin, but it didn''t mean Leo couldn''t use the same weapon to take the monster down. After all, it worked quite well previously.


    Armed and ready, Leo stopped some distance away from the final semi-detached house, his target. Even though the group of three Voidlings didn''t notice him yet, Leo understood that stealth wouldn''t be an option as soon as the weapon of shadows left his hand. A fact he was perfectly fine with if the Cursed Crawler died quickly.


    Leo took a deep breath and lowered the supply of Essence into Reinforcement. Let''s do it.


    Within a blink of an eye, Leo''s weapons switched hands. The triple blade left them just as fast again, ripping through the air, right towards the Cursed Crawler, who still hadn''t given up on the barely standing entrance door.


    Leo was already on the move even as a screech left the Crawler''s lips when the weapon embedded itself in its back. He tugged sharply on the shadowy rope as Essence surged through it, ready to exact the same fate on the Crawler as it did to its Inferior kin.


    Yet, before the energy could finish the trip, the Crawler turned and slashed at the rope with its claws.


    Leo''s eyes widened as the shadow constructs faded, along with the Essence he had just sacrificed for the attack.


    What?!


    As much as Leo wanted to ponder what had just happened, there was no time for that. The Crawler quickly closed the remaining distance between them, claws descending.


    The long bowie knife in Leo''s hands met the assault in a shower of sparks. A grunt escaped his mouth as the claws pushed harder, digging slightly into the steel blade.


    How... Leo trailed off as he caught sight of the faint violet glow emanating from inside the Crawler''s claws. He had missed it before, but now, standing so close, it was impossible to dismiss the unnerving light. Especially when none of the monsters Leo had fought in the past possessed a feature like this.


    Growling, Leo deflected another slash to the side and backed off as two notifications snapped into existence in the corner of his vision. Evidently, the System knew something and just had to reveal it at the worst moment possible.


    Fuck, not now! I can kill it even if it is slightly stronger than I initially thought. Of course, just to prove Leo wrong, two screeches came from his left. I hate my life¡­


    Even as Leo sidestepped another attack from the Crawler ¡ª who, at this point, was using the Vetilim vines and other obstacles to move around quicker ¡ª his gaze darted to the side for a moment. And indeed, the two Cursed Humans were approaching, fast.


    Shit!


    Barely a few seconds passed before the Voidlings descended upon Leo like a swarm. Their sharp fingernails and claws snapped at him as soon as they got close, but Leo dived out of the way each time, starting a dance that had become quite familiar to him during the last few days.


    Alright, normies first, Crawler after. Leo pushed even more Essence into Reinforcement, finally feeling the burning in his muscles. And System, Limit Break to¡­


    Whatever plans of activating Limit Break Leo had a moment ago, they were thrown away like trash when the broken entrance to the house snapped open with a bang. Not even a second later, two people emerged from the building, their appearances as different as night and day. Well, except for their clothing, the apocalypse had spared no one from tattered and dirty garments.


    As much as Leo wanted to get a better look at the duo, the Voidlings were as relentless as any other day. He quickly rolled away as the beasts tried to tackle him again, but before he could stand up again, a gruff voice reached his ears.


    "Stay down a bit longer!"


    Leo, against his better judgment, dived towards the ground again, ready to send Limit Break into overdrive at a moment''s notice. After the mad woman, he would rather be prepared for anything.


    Obviously, Leo hadn''t needed to worry as, almost instantly, the three monsters were knocked away from him by a wave of invisible force. The beasts tumbled on the ground, and Leo pounced, Essence bringing his body past its limits.


    With one blade of shadows and the other of steel, Leo sliced through the trio without mercy. The Crawler was the first to perish, its demise brought on by a deep cut across its neck that almost severed the head. The two Cursed Humans fell just as quickly, a quick stab into their eyes extinguishing their ruby glare.


    Cutting off Reinforcement, Leo withheld a groan threatening to escape his lips and turned to the human duo.


    On one end stood a tall man, probably in his mid-thirties. His brown skin was matted by dirt and dried blood, and the less said about the state of his long black hair, the better. Although Leo''s probably wasn''t any better, so there was that.


    However, despite all this, it seemed the man didn''t have an ounce of fat or muscle on his frame, making him appear more frail than powerful. Still, he held himself well enough, or he would have been if not for the wooden staff that the man used to support his shaking legs.


    So this is the mage. That Essence push must have taken a shit ton out of him if he is barely standing now... Leo thought as his gaze shifted to the second person.


    Maybe a head or so shorter than the other, this man was younger, probably around Leo''s age. Just like his companion, the man''s pale skin wasn''t spared from the wonders of a post-apocalyptic world, only here Leo easily spotted a few wounds that still hadn''t closed.


    So a mage and a warrior. Not a bad combination. Leo noted as he silently watched the short sword held tightly in the younger man''s hand. He was clearly prepared to act if Leo became hostile, or perhaps they were just concerned about his cursed arm. Which, based on their wandering eyes, was most likely the case...


    Of course it is, Leo scoffed internally. Whatever, let''s see what I''m getting into.


    Awakened Human | LVL: 5


    Awakened Human | LVL: 6


    Huh, that''s not much. Only race and level. Shit must work differently on survivors. Pity I never used Identify on the Traveler... Leo sighed lightly before putting an easy-going smile on his face. His hands slowly rose into the air, and he stepped forward.


    Time to make introductions.

 Chapter 38. Hope

    "Voidlings and the System... To be honest, we don''t know how this partnership works; we just know it exists. However, there is a question we all want to be answered. No, a question that has to be answered once and for all!


    If the System is here to help us survive, then why does it still assist the monsters that hunt us?! Why is it strengthening the Akirians of Ediovr when those demons only slaughter our families?! Is it some part of a greater plan of the entity we can''t even understand?"


    ~Part of Master of Knowledge''s last speech, Ger


    <hr>


    Leo didn''t even finish putting his foot down before the duo tensed. The taller man straightened up, the staff in his hands ready to whirl into action. In the warrior''s case, the movement was negligible, yet the sword pointed in Leo''s direction said a lot by itself.


    Leo stopped the roll of his eyes as he paused his approach, keeping his hands in the air. For people that had just assisted him, they sure were suspicious. Although Leo couldn''t really blame them, he had watched enough post-apocalyptic movies and shows to know that an ally could become an enemy in a blink of an eye.


    Dear god, I had never thought I would be comparing those types of movies to real life. Leo almost snorted. This world is a mess... Whatever, let''s get this show on the road.


    Keeping a smile on his face, Leo spoke up, nodding toward the weapons pointed at him, "There is no need for that, gentlemen. You probably saved me from some nasty injuries and empty reserves. I would have to be a right bastard to just attack you after that. Besides, as you can see, I''m unarmed."


    Despite the tense situation, the last comment earned Leo a snort and a raised eyebrow from the younger guy as his eyes darted to the cursed arm.


    Leo shrugged lightly, "Not much I can do about it. Name''s Leo Hale, by the way."


    "The local reporter?" The warrior blurted out, his eyes lighting up just a bit.


    A chuckle escaped Leo''s lips, hoping to defuse this situation further. They were standing in the middle of a fucking street, for Void''s sake. Sooner or later, more Voidlings would come, and Leo really didn''t want to fight another small army now.


    "Right in one, not that it means much anymore," he finally confirmed. "Now, I know that my arm doesn''t look too friendly, but the System got it under control. I''m still a human like you, just with a bit extra added thanks to the Outbreak."


    The mage, who had finally gotten his breathing under control, nodded and lowered his staff, the warrior following soon after. Although their postures were anything but relaxed.


    Good.


    "Apologies, mate. I''m Dylan, and this is Tyler," the older man with the gruff voice said, motioning to his companion. "The last few hours have been rough, so we are still on edge. Besides, your appearance doesn''t really help. No offense."


    This time Leo snorted. He could only wonder what he currently looked like to other people. A deranged maniac coated in blood with an arm of a demon? A psychopath on his way to slaughter the entire town that accepted a deal from the devil?


    Fucking shit, I really need to somehow clean myself and change those clothes. I wonder if anything inside my bag is still usable¡­


    "None taken," Leo waved them off. "There are better things to worry about nowadays than appearances... Like getting the hell away from the middle of the street."


    "Aye, you might be right there, mate," Dylan sighed. "Come on, let''s get inside; then we can talk. We have left Laura alone for long enough."


    "Laura?" Leo asked as they all approached the house from which the duo came out. He lowered his hands, even though it was obvious by the constant staring that Leo was far from trusted. Understandable, even though deep down, he couldn''t help but be a bit annoyed. After all, Leo cleared this street to help them out.


    How much one arm can change. This is gonna be a pain once I evolve.


    "My cousin," Tyler muttered, the previous spark in his voice suddenly gone. "We had a run-in with some weird Voidling when the sun rose. It hit Laura once before legging it. Bloody wanker got her good, and now she can barely stay awake."


    Hit and run Voidling? Now that''s something new. Wonder if any of them have Bestiary.


    "Tyler!" Dylan growled out harshly and stopped at the entrance to the building.


    "What?!" The younger man shot back with as much fire, his fists visibly tightening. "How does it help if I lie? Laura''s inside anyway. Bloody hell, you saw what happened outside! There''s not much we can do against him, and we need help, Dylan. Laura needs help."


    Just when the mage was prepared to retort, Leo stepped in. "Alright, you two, calm the fuck down. We don''t need the entire city to know we are here. And yeah, I could probably take the two of you out, but I didn''t go out of my way to clear the entire street just to kill you. I''m not a fucking murderer."


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Even as Leo said it, his mind flashed to the moment in the forest shack. The place where he took his first human life. It was a mercy, Leo. He begged you. Let it go.


    Leo shook his head just in time to see the duo''s posture slump slightly, almost as if chastened. Yet, a moment later, Tyler scowled at Dylan and shouldered past him, a whisper on his lips. "See?"


    Well, there is that.


    "Sorry about that, mate. Just trying to be cautious," Dylan finally spoke up, running a hand through his dirty locks. They stopped in the house''s corridor, and the man pushed a bookshelf to cover the entrance. "Bloody apocalypse is taking its toll on everyone, and with Laura''s current condition, it''s even worse..."


    Leo raised his hand, stopping Dylan before he could continue. "Don''t sweat it, man. I would have acted the same in your place. This world is unforgiving. One mistake, and you are food for those stronger than you."


    "Fucking hell," Dylan sighed, leaning against the corridor''s wall. "Thanks for being understanding. Tyler... Tyler has always been emotional. I knew his family for over ten years, neighbors, you know. When the world went to shit, I was lucky to escape with him and Laura, but we left everything behind. I didn''t have anyone, but the two of them? Entire family lost in a matter of seconds. And now, with what happened to Laura..."


    "I understand," Leo quickly cut in. "I understand perfectly."


    Lily''s babbling and Nick''s tired but amused eyes immediately came to mind. If any of them were here with him, Leo would have done anything to keep them safe. Just like there was nothing that could stop him from finding them.


    "Ah, I see," Dylan nodded but didn''t try to pester Leo for information. A fact he was more than grateful for. "So, Tainted Human and level ten, eh? Must have been some tough shite, especially going it alone."


    Leo snorted. "That''s putting it mildly. The beginning was hard enough, and after the second Cataclysm, you can barely recognize that we are on Earth. Although this new iteration of the world has its own charm, in a bleak and exotic sort of way. Definitely helps with sneaking around."


    "Assassin?" Dylan quirked an eyebrow.


    "Yeah," Leo nodded. "It seemed like a good choice for a world full of monsters. I definitely didn''t regret my choices. And you? Mage?"


    "Aye," the man answered with a grimace. "Can''t say I took this entire introduction seriously... So when given a choice, I let my inner child out and went with the magic option. Not the best decision in hindsight, but it''s not all that bad, especially with two others to lend a hand."


    Why am I not surprised? It was obvious that not everyone would have believed the introduction.


    "I learned that as long as it works and helps you survive initially, then it doesn''t really matter," Leo shrugged. "During the introduction, the System said as much. You can learn almost anything as long as you work hard enough. My abilities might focus on stealth and surprise attacks, but nothing stops me from learning more about Essence manipulation."


    "I guess you took everything seriously from the beginning," Dylan stated more than asked.


    Leo clenched his cursed hand and muttered, "That''s right." Before he could be dragged down by another painful memory or depressing thought, he posed the question. "Can you tell me how long it''s been since the second Cataclysm began? On my way here, I got caught up in some shit, and it messed up my sense of time."


    Dylan frowned, obviously not expecting this kind of question. "Three full days, mate. We are closing in on six days since this complete shite has begun."


    So just like I feared. Two and a half of a day wasted. Leo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at Dylan again. "Thanks."


    "Nothing to thank for," the man grinned. "Anyway, I don''t wanna come across as pushy, but now that you''ve sorted the street out for us, are you planning on going solo or fancy joining our little group? Tyler had a point earlier. With Laura''s condition, we could really use some help."


    Leo didn''t answer immediately. He had his own plans, plans that had already waited long enough. I guess I could go to Nick''s house and bring them here. I might be strong, but I don''t know if I can keep them safe alone...


    "I guess there is no harm in joining. I just need to do one more thing before that," Leo told him. "My brother lives with his family not that far away from here. I have to go there. I must find them even if that''s the last thing I do."


    "That''s... that''s probably for the best," Dylan nodded, and Leo hated the pitying look the man gave him. "It should also give Laura enough time to recover a bit. And when you return, we can all head over to the other group together, eh?"


    Leo froze, "Other group?"


    "Aye," Dylan said, his expression turning serious. "There''s another group of survivors near the old trainyard. We heard from a bloke who passed through here that they''ve got a safe place to stay and supplies. It''s a risk, but we plan to move as soon as we can. A bigger group might be our only chance to survive."


    Leo furrowed his brow. Wait what? Someone is running around the city, spreading the word about a safe house? Seeing no other option, he voiced his question.


    "The lad didn''t stay long, but he was bloody fast. Assassin like you, just more focused on legging it than fighting," Dylan recounted, and despite his gruff tone, the hope in his words shone through.


    "He told us that the group formed just after the Outbreak," the man continued. "Now, after the second Cataclysm, three of their Assassins are running around the city, trying to find any survivors and give them directions. Bonkers, I tell you, but I couldn''t be more glad. They just might be the reason why we all will survive."


    Bonkers isn''t the word I would use, but yeah, can''t disagree here. Fucking hell, they must be pushing everything into Grace and Might to move that fast. A smart thing to do if they want to survive their runs, but in the future? Shit might bite them in the ass.


    Leo nodded finally after a longer period of silence. "Strength in numbers."


    "Exactly, mate. So what do you think?"


    Leo let out a small laugh, the flame of hope suddenly burning brighter in his chest. "I say that as soon as I come back with my family, we go. I can scout the place before we enter, just in case, but I don''t see a reason to dismiss this."


    Dylan grinned widely, "And that''s what I like to hear. Now come, let me introduce you to Laura before you leave. She should be awake by now."


    With that, the man walked down the corridor and turned into an open door. Leo watched him before following with a shake of his head. This meeting definitely went better than his last encounter with a human.


    Not all is lost.

 Chapter 39. Underneath your skin

    "Some survive a few days and think they know everything there is about the Void and the creatures it births. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have lived longer than most, and there is still so much I don''t know.


    The Void is vast, maybe even infinite. Mysteries and new Voidlings are hiding at every corner, just waiting to be discovered. As such, even though I have said it a million times, I will say it again.


    Be wary of your every step, sleep with your eyes open, guard your soul, and fight with everything you got in the face of the Void. Because trust me, the Void will hold nothing back."


    ~Into the Abyss by Lone Traveler


    <hr>


    Leo entered a large room just a few steps after Dylan. In the past, this might have been a living room where families gathered, but now it was nothing more than a shadow of itself. Pieces of broken furniture laid scattered everywhere while Vetilim had already consumed most of the walls.


    Gotta get used to those sights. This is the standard now... Leo frowned and let his gaze wander to the corner of the chamber. A single candle illuminated the area, throwing light on a collapsed couch that was claimed by an unknown person.


    Laura.


    Even though Dylan and Tyler slightly blocked the view, Leo had no problem taking in the girl''s most prominent features.


    Her short blonde hair, unkempt and tangled from lack of care, framed her pale face. Laura''s breathing was shallow and labored, and if it hadn''t been for the glimpse of her blue eyes behind her almost closed eyelids, Leo would have assumed she was asleep.


    Just from her facial expression alone, it was evident that something got her good. Yet the moment Leo''s gaze wandered lower, to Laura''s bare right shoulder and arm, he no longer needed to look for the source of her suffering.


    Leo grimaced as he drank the sight of sickly and deformed green flesh. If it wasn''t for how thin Laura''s arm now looked, it wouldn''t be that much different from Leo''s cursed limb. Just green instead of gray.


    Something ate through her skin like acid. If the Voidling didn''t run away, I would have said it might be a variant of a Maniac. But no, it just doesn''t match... Fuck, why would you leave?


    "Laura, hey," Dylan''s voice brought Leo out of his thoughts as the man knelt beside the prone girl. "I''ve got some good news, lass. The street is clear now, all thanks to Leo here. He pretty much killed all Voidlings alone and now decided to join us on our way to the bigger group. As soon as you get better, we can leave." The man turned to him, "Come on, Leo, meet our archer."


    Archer, hmm? Leo''s eyebrow rose a bit even as he stepped forward.


    Laura''s head slowly drifted to the side, her lips pulling into a pained smile as her eyes landed on Leo. "H-hey," she stuttered out, her voice quiet and croaky. "T-thanks for helping us. You have no idea how much it mea..."


    Suddenly a shudder ran through Laura''s body, painting a grimace on her face. "S-sorry. It has been hours now, but the pain just won''t go away. I''m starting to think that maybe you all should just..."


    "No!" Tyler cut in, squeezing Laura''s hand. "We''re not leaving you. Don''t even think about it. A few more hours and you will feel better, Lu. Just give it time."


    "Quite so, lass," Dylan quickly added. "Listen to your cousin. We got this."


    Leo smiled when the girl slumped deeper into the couch, the strength to argue leaving her before it could have even been used. There was no use fighting with a concerned family, a fact Leo understood perfectly.


    Maybe¡­


    Taking a knee on the other side of the couch, Leo looked at Laura and then at her sickly shoulder. "Can I?" he asked softly.


    In the corner of Leo''s vision, Tyler and Dylan tensed, the former''s mouth opening before Laura could even process the request.


    "Hang on a minute!" The warrior almost shouted. "We''ve already exhausted every possible solution with the supplies we have, and none of it worked. Even the System refused to help. What makes you think you can do anything? You are a reporter, for fuck sake!"


    "Bloody hell, Tyler," Dylan hissed, although his gaze barely left Leo. "He''s part of our group now, and he''s been nothing but helpful. Quit with the attitude."


    Alright, enough of that. We are wasting time. Although, I can understand where this reaction is coming from¡­


    Leo faked a chuckle, gathering the trio''s attention. "Don''t worry about it. I would have reacted the same if it was my cousin. Still, do you think I can take a closer look?"


    This time the answer came from Laura after she shared a look with Tyler. "Why?"


    Sighing, Leo raised his cursed arm, not even reacting when Laura''s eyes widened. "You could say I have a unique outlook on anything that comes from the Void... and I have a few more levels than the three of you. Who knows, I just might find something you have missed."


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    As Leo finished speaking, he thought the girl would panic for a moment. However, just then, Dylan placed a hand on her other shoulder and smiled. Hesitantly, Laura turned back to Leo and nodded.


    "Alright then," he muttered, slowly bringing a single claw closer to the deformed flesh. "Let me know if it hurts, okay?"


    With another affirmation from the girl, Leo shut his eyes and softly closed the remaining distance between the arm and claw. Laura inhaled sharply, but Leo paid it no mind; his entire focus was on the Essence surrounding him. Or rather, the energy that poked at his claw.


    It was wild and familiar, so very familiar. Even though it was muffled and weaker, the anger and the hate were still there, swirling around Leo''s touch.


    Just like the energy in the Planetary Gateway. Only it''s not attacking this time. Why? What is your purpose?


    Opening his eyes, Leo furrowed his brow. "I''m gonna try something, okay? It might sting a bit."


    After another nod from Laura, Leo pushed slightly with his claw, only to stop when the girl hissed. That has to be enough. At least for now¡­


    Leo took in a deep breath and concentrated fully on the one ability that just might help here. At this point, the feeling of Drain was as familiar as the beating of his heart, and Leo knew precisely what he had to do.


    Intent, will, and control. Just like with the Pulse.


    With a single command, the tainted nature of Leo''s claw tugged on the Void Essence inside Laura''s arm. Come on, slow and steady. The cursed energy trickled into his hand like an almost dry stream, but Leo didn''t try to force it, happy to just slowly guide the Essence for his arm to consume.


    Out of the blue, the flow reversed, tugging at Leo''s own Essence like an angry demon. The pull was weak, barely strong enough to take a bit of the energy Leo consumed back. Yet when he broke the connection and tried the same tactic again, the wild energy snapped at his own, refusing to be controlled.


    "Shit," Leo muttered, eyes opening.


    "What on earth was that?" Tyler whispered. "There was a bloody glow in the spot where your hand touched Laura. What did you do?"


    Nonetheless, Leo ignored him completely, watching as some color returned to Laura''s pale skin. Even the greenness on her arm faded a bit. So it worked, at least to some degree.


    Dragging a hand through his hair, Leo finally addressed Laura. "How do you feel now?"


    The blond girl blinked, shakily raising her injured arm. "Better," she murmured. "It still hurts. I can feel it burning underneath my skin, but now it is a bit weaker? Subdued?"


    Leo nodded, expecting as much. "In that case, I have good and bad news..."


    "Good and bad news?" Dylan shook his head as he sat down on the floor. "You''ve got to explain, mate. From the beginning, because I have no idea what you just did."


    Sighing, Leo settled down a short distance away from Dylan. "As you already know, unlike you three, I''m a Tainted Human, and this," he motioned to his left arm, "is the source, or result, of my special race."


    "And while I''m not really complaining anymore, there is still one drawback to my condition. Negligible as it is at this point." Leo continued. "If I don''t consume Essence from defeated Voidlings, the curse will spread until it takes over my body. Like I said, it isn''t a problem currently, but it was one in the beginning."


    Dylan nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "Understandable, mate. Morbid, but it''s the kind of thing this apocalypse could bring about... Still, what does it have to do with Laura?"


    "A lot," Leo answered simply before looking at the girl. "Your injury, don''t ask me how, has plenty of unique Pure Void Essence residing inside it. It''s wild, angry, hateful even... But there is one crucial similarity between it and any other Void energy."


    For now, let''s leave the subject of Planetary Gates out of this conversation. Same with the Rift... No one needs to know about that. No one.


    Putting his claws on display in front of everyone, Leo finished his explanation, "I can drain it. The System gave me an ability precisely for that purpose. Well, not exactly for that, but you get the point."


    Silence fell upon the room for a moment, yet just like Leo expected, Tyler quickly broke it. "That''s good, right?" He asked, his gaze glued to Leo. "Lu already looks better."


    Leo sighed. Here came the bad part. "It would be good if I had managed to drain the entire thing... or if I could drain the entire thing..."


    Tyler froze. "You mean..."


    "Yeah. There is still plenty of that Essence inside her arm, and I can''t do anything about it. At least not as I currently am..."


    "So that''s the bad news," Dylan grumbled. "I''m not going to lie, mate. For a sec, I hoped you were like our private messiah. Ready to solve every problem we had." He chuckled bitterly, "Stupid of me to even think such a thing in this fucked up world."


    "I.." Leo began, only to be cut off by Tyler.


    "You said ''currently''," he declared, fixing his gaze on Leo. "That means you can just get stronger. Mate, you are already ahead of the curve. What are a few more levels?"


    Leo grimaced at the pure desperation seeping out of Tyler''s mouth. "It''s not as simple. The Syst..."


    "What? Why?" Laura''s weak voice reached their ears suddenly, reminding them of the fourth person in the room. The one this entire conversation was about.


    Let''s get it over with. No reason to hide this. Leo thought with a mental shrug, even when the constant questioning began to slightly annoy him. This conversation would have been over if they hadn''t been cutting him off...


    "I can''t level up," Leo responded, keeping his voice even. "The System blocked me some time ago because my current race can''t handle any more power. It''s gonna happen to you too, sooner or later."


    "Right then, mate," Dylan spoke up, quickly catching on. "If your current race can''t handle any more strength, then evolution is the obvious option, innit? Why haven''t you done it yet?"


    "Safety and my family." Leo specifically avoided looking at the trio and kept his gaze on the cursed arm as he spoke. Take the hint. Safety is obvious. Family, even more, when you look at me¡­


    Tyler''s almost silent "Oh," confirmed that at least he understood. And when Leo raised his head, the expressions on Laura''s and Dylan''s faces told him the rest.


    Thank the Void for small mercies.

 Chapter 40. Exchange

    "Nikra, the Lady of Darkness. She is the first Old One to appear and grace the Universe with her magnificence. Beautiful and eternal are the words that describe our Lady best, yet even they can barely encompass the Darkness'' majesty.


    Some might call her weak for the lack of a second aspect, but those are all lies! Darkness is hiding everywhere, even in our hearts. And our Lady can feel it, control it and twist it to her will. Never doubt that, or it will be the last thing you do."


    ~Those who came before us by Unknown, Published before the 1st Outbreak


    <hr>


    For a brief period, perhaps a minute or even five, an atmosphere of complete silence pervaded the entire room. Looks were exchanged every now and then between the trio, some pained, some thoughtful. Leo didn''t speak; there was no need to. He would rather give them time to process everything and form questions worth asking.


    "I..." Tyler tried to break the stillness, only to shake his head lightly. "How long do ya plan to wait? If... if what I''m thinking is true, then I can understand your hesitation, mate. But... you''re holding yourself back, and..." The warrior''s voice trailed off, his gaze shifting towards Laura.


    A subtle attempt at manipulation, but not without a good point. I can''t really wait much longer¡­


    Leo ran a hand through his hair, grimacing at the grime it collected. "I know. Trust me, I know. I got locked only this morning, but with how many Voidlings I killed on the way, I could have leveled up already."


    Looking at the evolution menu that appeared in front of his eyes, Leo sighed. "I have a perfect evolution ready, maybe even as strong as the Apex one. It will change me, though. Probably a lot." He chuckled humorlessly. "Don''t get me wrong, I will use it. Only a daft person wouldn''t. But first, I must find Nick. At least someone has to know that I didn''t go barmy before I evolve."


    Dylan smirked as he leaned forward and gave Leo a reassuring pat on the back. "Don''t fret, lad. Even if you were to evolve right here, right now, we would still recognize the person hidden underneath that ugly mug."


    Leo snorted, accepting the attempt to lighten the mood. "And don''t you forget it... When we arrive at the other group, you will be the ones to explain to them why you''re traveling with a monster."


    "We will do that and more, right Tyler?" Laura smiled lightly, her cousin nodding in agreement.


    "Aye," Tyler took over from the girl. "You cleared the street and eased Laura''s pain. Bloody hell, you might even heal her completely if you evolve... Convincing some folks of who you are is the least we can do, mate. You can count on us."


    Leo nodded with a smile. How a single act of kindness can change a person''s opinion of another... I just hope his attitude will stop jumping around if I heal Laura completely.


    "Then I suppose it''s settled," Leo declared as he stood up from the ground. "I will go now and hopefully return with my family before dawn. There is more than enough time left if I don''t stop on the way... Then I can evolve and heal Laura fully before we leave for the old trainyard."


    Following, Dylan also rose and extended his hand, which Leo quickly accepted, squeezing tightly. "Aye, that sounds like a plan... Thanks again, Leo. We would have been in a deep shite if it weren''t for you. Now come, I will walk you out. There''s still somethin'' I want to ask you about."


    Oh? I just hope it won''t take too long. Nick''s house might only be two blocks away, but the way back will be much harder with three other people. Even worse if any of them are injured¡­


    Frowning, Leo held his hand up to stop Dylan. "Just a second," he called out as he undid the wrappings around the hunter rifle attached to his backpack. "Take it. I have been dragging it around like an idiot without firing more than five bullets. You three will probably find more use for it."


    Dylan''s eyes widened as Leo handed him the rifle. "Mate, we can''t take this from you," he protested, cradling the bloodied weapon. It had definitely seen better days, but with everything Leo had gone through, its condition was more than understandable.


    Leo shook his head, pushing the rifle back into Dylan''s hands. "Like I said, I don''t need it. Besides, in its current state, this thing is more of a danger than an advantage."


    And it''s limiting my movement. A backpack is one thing, a rifle over half as long as my body is another. Leo thought with a well-hidden grimace. He had been thinking of abandoning the gun for a while now.


    Suddenly Tyler''s voice broke Leo out of his musing. "I can clean it," he admitted, taking the rifle from Dylan and carefully flipping it over. "Our old man had a similar one and took me with him a few times. Had to learn how to take it apart and put it back together, or he wouldn''t even let me near his baby."


    Ah, so it was one of those. Leo chuckled. "Well. In this case, you already know more than I do. The most I''m capable of is aiming and firing... And even then, I''m far from the best."


    Dylan frowned as he watched his friend inspect the rifle. "I still reckon you shouldn''t be givin'' it to us. Especially when you''re going out."


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Leo was prepared to swiftly dismiss any additional objections. Thankfully, the youngest member in the room interjected, saving him from another argument.


    "Let it go, Dylan," Tyler murmured, extracting the magazine from the rifle. "Bloke''s right. Shite''s clogged and dirty. Doubt it''ll even shoot." The warrior shifted his attention towards Leo. "Where in the bloody hell have you been with this thing?"


    "Trust me, you don''t want to know," Leo smirked. Where hadn''t he been? That was a much better question. Not one he would answer, though.


    Tyler shrugged, "Whatever suits you, mate... Now, do you have any more ammo? One full mag is nice and all, but won''t last for long if some bloody wankers knock on our doors."


    Right, I almost forgot... Quickly digging into his pack, Leo retrieved the scope and ammo boxes. "Here. Should be enough, eh?"


    As Dylan took the offered items, Leo noticed Tyler watching them with slightly widened eyes. "Enough?" he almost stuttered. "I suppose I wasn''t the only one in the family with a huntin'' maniac. Or did you find it on the way here?"


    Leo let out a chuckle as the memory of his foster father crossed his mind. "The former," he murmured, bowing his head. "I''m somewhat amazed that our fathers had never met... Or maybe they did, and we just..."


    A hand fell on Leo''s shoulder when he trailed off. "Listen, lad," Dylan said, meeting his eyes. "We''ve all lost someone to this bullshit. So if you wanna talk, don''t be afraid to ask. No matter for how long, we are a team now, and a team supports each other."


    Yeah, let''s not get too ahead of ourselves...


    Nonetheless, Leo just answered. "I appreciate it, but my dad isn''t dead," but Edward is. "He was out of the country when the Outbreak came, and if there is anyone who can survive this, it''s him... Now, I really should get going."


    Swinging the pack onto his back, Leo nodded to the other two in the room and headed for the door. Footsteps followed shortly after, and he smiled lightly when a voice reached his ears.


    "Wait up, mate!" Dylan called out, and Leo stopped near the blocked exit. "I apologize if I came on too strong. I didn''t mean anythin'' bad with what I said. I''ve known Laura and Tyler for a long time, and with you being a similar age, I guess I overstepped."


    Turning to face the older man, Leo sighed. "No harm done, man," he waved him off. "You just wanted to help, and I can respect that. Just... let''s try to avoid the subject of my family, okay? At least for now."


    "You got it, lad," Dylan grinned. "Also, about that thing I wanted to ask."


    Stopping the inventory of his weaponry, Leo quirked an eyebrow. "Right, I forgot. What is it?"


    Leaning against the wall, Dylan nodded toward Leo''s hands. "Before we came out to help you, I noticed you usin'' shadows in your attack," he explained, and Leo nodded. "I wanted to ask how you gained that technique. From what the bloke who passed by told us, assassins didn''t get any of those."


    Hold up... techniques? Is he just talking about an affinity, or am I missing something? I didn''t really want to reveal too much about my skills, but if this is a chance to get some more info, then I will bite.


    Brow furrowed, Leo voiced his question. "Technique? You mean affinity, right?"


    "Affinity?" The man muttered as his eyes widened. "Right... of course, you would already have one. Bloody hell, what did you go through those past few days?"


    A lot, but it doesn''t really matter now. Leo grumbled internally. "Okay, man, now you are confusing me. What does my affinity have to do with a technique? Is it another name for skill or what?"


    Dylan shook his head. "No, nothin'' like that. Let me explain quickly..." At Leo''s raised eyebrow, the man elaborated. "Right. You see, in the beginning, Mages received two skills and one basic technique chosen from five available options instead of the usual three skills."


    This word again¡­


    "Now, to put it simply, techniques are heavily System-assisted abilities related to an affinity," Dylan explained. "They have their own menu and ranking. Although I can''t see the rank of the one I have. The wonders of not having an affinity, I guess," he finished with a grumble.


    "Apart from that, all I know is that a technique can be created by focusing on a particular aspect of your affinity or, well, a technique. Besides that, I don''t know much. Without an affinity, the System wasn''t too forthcoming with information."


    System-assisted? Apart from Vital Strike, I don''t really have anything similar... I wonder why I didn''t get one yet. Is it really that hard to create? Yet another thing to test later on¡­


    "Can I see it?" Leo asked. He couldn''t deny his curiosity.


    Dylan nodded. "Sure, mate." Almost instantly, the fingers of his right hand lit up with blue lightning. Sparks danced across his entire hand, casting a soft glow on the man''s dark skin.


    Holy shit. It takes me much longer to form my shadow weapons. Is that why it is not a technique yet?


    "I only fuel Essence and give the System a command," Dylan explained, slowly rotating his hand. "After the System finishes its job, I have total control over the technique, or in this case, I decide when to fire or dismiss it."


    Quite handy, not having to constantly hold my Essence.


    "Is it strong enough to kill?"


    Dylan grimaced. "If I manage to hit an eye or a weak spot, then sure, but anything else, and I''ll just take a chunk of flesh out of them. Maybe if I''m lucky, I''ll paralyze ''em for a moment."


    Leo almost whistled. For something so simple, it seemed pretty strong. Especially considering that Mages had it from the beginning. "Useful," he commented.


    Dylan shrugged, a grin on his face as the lightning flickered away. "Not as useful as having an affinity, is it?"


    You got me there. If I can create my own techniques, then the potential is really endless. It makes me wonder if there are other affinities than True ones. Gonna need to ask him later¡­


    "Fair enough," he finally admitted with a chuckle, refusing to continue this subject, at least for now. They wasted enough time as it was.


    Pushing the shelf that covered the entrance away, Leo addressed Dylan for the last time. "I''ll be back in a few hours. Try not to get surrounded by a small army again, hmm?"


    "Aye, we will do just that," Dylan laughed. "Take care, mate. Until we meet again."


    Leo smiled.


    Until we meet again.

 Chapter 41. Almost there

    "Cursed Voidling line. I think no one will deny it when I say that it is the most famous evolution line amongst Voidlings. No matter the Outbreak, no matter the Cataclysm, you will always be able to find a Cursed Voidborn walking amongst the dead lands. That''s just how every Outbreak works.


    Some might call this evolution line the weakest. And while that''s not a particularly wrong thing to say at the beginning of an Outbreak, you need to remember that the versatility of Cursed Voidlings is almost limitless. New Cursed variants are born daily. And even if the difference between them is sometimes abysmal, it still proves their potential. A potential to become the strongest."


    ~Creatures of the Void, 42nd Edition


    <hr>


    With a final nod from Dylan, Leo strode forward, his ears scarcely registering the rasp of the other man covering the entrance. The brilliant radiance of the red Sun greeted Leo anew, and for a moment, he felt grateful for the second Cataclysm. Prior to it, the world had barely received any sunlight, but now the giant orb in the sky was granted a second wind, a fresh will to live.


    Still darker than the old Sun, but it could be way worse. No, it was way worse... Leo thought with a weak shake of his head. At least the street is still empty. I have wasted enough time here¡­


    Taking in a deep breath, Leo dashed forward, his strides barely grazing the ground before propelling him forward once more. Within mere moments, he arrived at the nearest tree and leaped, soaring through the air toward the closest branch.


    The forward momentum from the jump carried Leo even higher as he swung on the branch. For a moment, this entire thing made him remember some of the better days, when he was younger and careless. The days when the simplicity of climbing trees brought him joy that only a child could feel.


    However, now it was just another action, a necessity for survival. And yet, Leo couldn''t deny the slight quickening of his heart at the effortless grace of those movements and the way the wind parted around his body. After all, was there ever a person who didn''t fantasize about having superpowers?


    Mike, from middle school, would probably beg to differ. Lazy fucker¡­


    Shaking himself out of his reverie, Leo grasped the edge of a Vetilim platform and hoisted himself up. Thoughts like that didn''t have a place in this new world, at least not now, maybe not ever.


    Way to depress myself further, Leo chuckled wryly, his gaze sweeping over the desolate cityscape. Despite his elevated position, he couldn''t locate Nick''s apartment block amidst the remnants of buildings that had lost parts of their bodies to the second Cataclysm. Some structures still loomed too high for Leo to reach what he really wanted.


    Only two blocks Leo, only two blocks... If I travel above the streets, I should be able to get there in a matter of minutes. Only then his eyes landed on the black specks moving through the air in the distance. Gonna need to be careful. If those Seekers see me, I will have the entire city after me¡­


    Leo had already seen those bloody birds a few times on his way into the city. They were not numerous, just a few groups of three or four, but it was enough to convince Leo to keep his feet on the ground. There was no reason to risk it, but now?


    Now Leo wanted to get to his family as fast as possible.


    Hopefully, I won''t regret it. Leo grimaced and unsheathed the bowie knife, just in case. The blade, once sleek and polished, was now marred by numerous chips and notches, scars from the previous encounter with the unnatural Crawler.


    Shit, I almost forgot about this. Maybe spending some Ether to improve it isn''t the worst idea after all. I have plenty of it at this point¡­


    Sighing, Leo sped across the Vetilim jungle and landed on the nearest roof. He quickly slid down against a broken chimney and hugged it with his back. The platform was excellent for reconnaissance, but figuring out System''s honing? Not so much.


    Alright, let''s get it over quickly.


    With a single command, the System came forth, and with it, the myriad notifications Leo had ignored until now. Most of them only spoke of Ether he had received from his kills, but then there were a few others, much more important ones.


    Can''t believe I forgot about those¡­


    New Bestiary function unlocked: Mutation Index.


    Congratulations! Thanks to your Hunter job, you may now access the Mutation Index within your Bestiary. It is a comprehensive list of mutations that you might encounter on Voidlings during your lifetime. Just like with the Bestiary, you must first discover a mutation to add it to the Index. Warning! Some creatures might be able to hide their mutations from your sight.


    So that was a mutation, huh? Leo mused, reading the message once again. Choosing Hunter as my job was probably the best idea I made since the beginning of the Outbreak. If it continues to give me stuff like this, I doubt I will ever change it. Now, give me the details¡­


    The Mutation Index was easy to access. Similar to the Bestiary, a single command from Leo''s mind brought up a list of possible mutations. Or it would have been a list if there were more than one record in it¡­


    Maybe let''s keep it this way. Less unnatural shit means less trouble for me.


    Infusion:


    A mutation of varied strength. It permanently infuses a part of a creature''s body with independent and tightly bound Essence. As a result, Infusion grants improved strength, durability, and a slight resistance to foreign energy. As a body mutation of Essence origin, it is usually encountered in creatures of lower rankings.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    This explains a lot¡­


    Although the description didn''t directly mention anything about cutting through Essence of another, the part about resistance to foreign energy practically screamed the same thing. An interesting mutation, but a weak one if Leo had to be honest.


    Reinforcement did almost the same thing ¡ª scratch that, it did much more ¡ª, but it also gave Leo complete control. He could disable the ability whenever he wanted or feed it more Essence if necessary. Much better than a permanently active mutation that probably constantly drained a small amount of Essence from the user.


    Makes me wonder what kind of mutations I will be able to get after evolution. Hopefully, something more useful...


    With the Index out of the way, Leo brought the bowie knife forward and called upon the System. The entity answered swiftly, and Leo''s eyebrows shot up at the menu it summoned.


    Item critically damaged. Honing locked. Do you wish to repair Bowie Knife (Common) for the price of 5 Ether? One upgrade charge will be used for this process.


    Huh. Leo blinked. That''s convenient. Although I probably shouldn''t be that surprised.


    Shrugging, Leo accepted the offer and gasped as a brilliant golden energy surged through his hands and into the knife. A radiant cord of light wrapped around the blade, constricting it tightly until there was no gap between them. Leo nearly dropped the weapon as the golden energy expanded, enveloping the entire knife.


    He held his breath as the energy pulsed faintly, and for a moment, Leo thought that maybe this was it. Only then a crack appeared on the golden coverage, then another and another. Like ice shattering against the ground, the entire thing burst apart, scattering particles onto the roof below.


    Wide-eyed, Leo peered at the bowie knife in his grasp. Whole and unblemished, as if it was just bought from the store. Not a single notch remained on the blade as it glinted in the sunlight, appearing even sharper than before.


    Holy fuck¡­ I thought that it would just fix the worst damage, but this? This shit looks factory new.


    Flipping the knife in his hands, Leo made a quick decision as he accessed the Honing menu. With all Ether he had collected, he could grant himself some small spending rights.


    Bowie Knife (Common) | Upgrades remaining: 2


    Honing Available:


    -General


    -Durability


    -Essence Conductivity


    One upgrade down. Just like it said. Now for a general upgrade.


    The moment this thought entered Leo''s mind, Ether once again surged out of his hands. Twenty units of this wonderful energy left his reserves, infusing the common knife with its brilliance.


    Unlike during the repair, Ether didn''t simply cover the entire blade. Instead, it seeped into the metal, brightening the silvery steel and giving it a barely noticeable glow. Glimmers of gold danced along the blade''s edge, eliciting a grin from Leo.


    Looks nice, but is it better?


    Seizing a fractured brick from the ground, Leo allowed the knife to glide over its surface. He didn''t push too hard, but with just enough force to pierce a Voidling''s skull.


    Leo didn''t expect to cut the brick in half; only an idiot would expect such a dramatic improvement from a single upgrade. However, as the knife sliced across the brick, it left a surprisingly deep line behind ¡ª much deeper than an ordinary knife should be capable of.


    And if the System is to be believed, it should be at least a bit more durable. Might as well check if something has changed. Identify.


    Bowie Knife (Common+):


    A standard-grade bowie knife. There is nothing special about it. System Upgrades left: 1. Honing applied: General.


    Nothing special, my ass. Leo snorted, sheathing the weapon as he peeked over the chimney. The road is clear. Time to move on.


    <hr>


    Leo ran as fast as his legs would allow, the wind whistling in his ears as he leaped over every obstacle in his path. The Void jungle carried him above the streets, far beyond Voidlings that stalked the streets below, screeching and moaning as they chased after a meal that was never there to begin with.


    At times, Leo''s ears caught otherworldly caws that sent shivers down his spine until the echoes faded. However, even in the face of those flying beasts drawing nearer, he did not falter. Instead, he altered his course, descending into the dense foliage and utilizing the natural covers provided by the ever-spreading influence of the Void


    All of that took time, probably more than Leo had wanted. But in the end, there he stood, only a few meters away from the entrance to Nick''s apartment block.


    The building, like many others, had succumbed to the frigid grip of the Void. Its once modern and nearly pristine appearance had been reduced to that of a relic from a bygone era, now overrun by the glowing, living mass of the Void.


    Vetilim and Corcera had claimed dominion over the concrete walls, weaving a complex web of tendrils and vines that snaked their way around the building. The few windows that remained uncovered were now shattered, and the walls were deeply fissured. Yet, despite all of that, the building didn''t suffer any partial collapse. Or at least it didn''t appear so from the outside.


    This is it. For the Void, please let them be fine.


    Like a bolt, Leo jumped from his perch and shot forward. The Cursed Human in his path fell to the ground, headless. Essence stirred within him as he silenced and yanked the door open. And in! He shouted, sliding inside, the door shutting behind him.


    Not for the first time, darkness, only stopped by the glow of Leo''s curse, threatened to consume the entire staircase. In response, Essence filled his whole arm, layering it with an aura of pure crimson light.


    As the hallway illuminated, it exposed the staircase that was only partially intact, with signs of the Void scattered everywhere. In a corner, just below the stairs, a human body lay, its innards ripped out and a look of terror frozen on its face.


    Leo averted his gaze.


    Don''t even think about it. Leo crouched, Essence gathering in his hand. Intent, will, control. With that mantra playing in his head, Leo released the pulse, probably giving it more energy than necessary.


    The feedback was nearly instantaneous, and Leo felt his heart shattering as his mind processed the newly received information.


    Two living beings, crawling somewhere on the stairway above him. Leo didn''t know how humans felt when touched by the pulse ¡ª a mistake on his part ¡ª, but he knew those two signatures. And they were far from human.


    A sensation of dread crept into Leo''s gut as he gritted his teeth and balled his fists. No. They must be hiding from my pulse. They have to.


    The bowie knife fell into Leo''s hand as he stalked forward.


    I didn''t come this far to just give up.

 Chapter 42. Family

    "Sit down, child! You speak about loss, about the death of your close ones, but do you truly understand what a real loss is? No, you don''t... You haven''t experienced it yet, but you will. People like us always do, and the multiverse isn''t kind enough to spare us the pain.


    I want you to remember this day, this conversation. And then, when the universe collapses around you, taking away everything you had ever known, you must be strong. You mustn''t forget to live, or all this pain and suffering will be for naught. Wasted, like a feather on the wind."


    ~ Batrak, The only survivor of the 2nd Outbreak, to an Unknown person, 37th Outbreak


    <hr>


    Leo paused in front of a gaping hole in the stairs just when a bone-chilling hiss reverberated through the entire building. He knew all too well what kind of creature was waiting for him above; after all, he had already faced one of its kin earlier that day.


    So two Inferior Crawlers. Only this time, they are well aware that I am here. Shit. Leo grimaced, his gaze darting back and forth between the two ends of the collapsed stairs. Not even True Stealth could save him from making some noise here.


    This is gonna be great¡­


    Exhaling, Leo jumped across the gap, wincing as the resounding clatter of rubble striking the ground was met with another cacophony of hisses. The fact that those Voidlings didn''t descend on him yet was a miracle in itself.


    And the Bestiary said that they only hunt alone... Shows you can''t just blindly trust everything the System says. Lovely¡­


    Swallowing down his growing frustration, Leo peered over the edge, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of anything above. Unfortunately, the gap between the two opposing stairs was too narrow, and despite having more than enough points in Vision, his sight remained far from supernatural.


    Whatever... Leo growled inaudibly and took the last few steps that separated him from the first floor. The sight of two lifeless forms was the first thing to greet him, while trails of dried blood caught his gaze next. Some just painted the walls and ground red, while others led in and out of the open apartments on this floor.


    Leo really didn''t want to do this, but he had to know, and so with a heavy heart, he crouched next to the only dead human. His cursed arm rose, bathing the frozen body in crimson light.


    An unfamiliar face stared back, and for a moment Leo hated himself for letting out a sigh of relief.


    Thank God. The thought passed through Leo''s head as he turned away and headed toward the Voidling''s corpse. However, before he could even take two steps, a dark blur scurried out of one of the flats, heading straight for him.


    The creature was fast, faster than probably most of the Cursed Humans, but it was still way below Leo''s league.


    Like a guillotine, claws descended on the small beast, sinking deep into its flesh. The Voidling squeaked, thrashing about in Leo''s grip. Nevertheless, the damage was already done, and before long, the light faded from its ruby-colored eyes.


    A giant, bald rat? And how the fuck did it hide from my pulse? Leo arched an eyebrow at the creature ensnared in his grip. It resembled a Scavenger, albeit larger and evidently more agile... An evolution perhaps? Mutation?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Scuttlejaw


    Expected Potential: F-


    Weapon of choice: Jaws


    Known weaknesses: Lack of survival instinct


    Scuttlejaws evolve from Scavengers after collecting the necessary Essence. In spite of being dubbed as a Stage II evolution, Scuttlejaws are still one of the weakest Voidlings that a User may come across. They usually hunt in groups of three to four and are known for squabbling over the right to a fresh kill. Beware of their speed and swarm potential.


    No explanation for why I couldn''t sense them... Although ''lack of survival instinct''? Leo snorted, and to further prove the point, a moment later, two more Scuttlejaws darted out of the apartments.


    Leo rolled his eyes but didn''t hesitate for a second. He quickly stepped forward and brought his heel down hard on the first rat. The crunch of bones echoed through the building as he ground the creature into the floor.


    Without missing a beat, Leo turned to face the second beast, brandishing his bowie knife. In one quick motion, he plunged the knife into the monster''s hide, slicing through flesh and bone with ease. The rat let out a piercing squeal as it was almost cleaved in half, its lifeless body falling to the ground at Leo''s feet.


    Pathetic. Leaving the dead rats, Leo approached the lifeless Cursed Human, his eyes sweeping over the body without a hint of emotion. Unfamiliar features greeted him once more, and he turned away; his job here finished.


    The Scuttlejaws proved to be an excellent outlet for his frustration, but Leo was here for a reason. And I still have two Crawlers waiting for me. He grimaced and headed for the staircase again.


    This building had four floors, and if Leo''s pulse was at least somewhat accurate, then the Crawlers should be either on the third one or higher... He could scan the building again, but wasting more Essence on pulse didn''t seem like the best idea when more surprises could pop out at any moment.


    Just focus on what''s important, Leo. If the rats could hide from my pulse, then why couldn''t Nick? Nodding, Leo sheathed his knife and let Essence surge into his healthy hand, shadows swirling to form a long and sharp hook.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    This should be better for Crawlers in closed spaces like this¡­


    With a burst of energy, Leo bounded up the stairs, nimbly leaping over each gap with practiced ease. Adrenaline surged into his veins as he landed on the second floor, and another series of hisses filled the building.


    Leo turned sharply to his right, gaze landing on the stairs leading to the third floor.


    Here you are.


    One of the Inferior Crawlers sat there, stuck to the staircase''s wall. The beast reared its bald head, crimson eyes drilling holes into Leo. For a moment, the world stopped as the two locked eyes, sizing each other up.


    Suddenly, the Crawler convulsed, its six legs tensing as it released a low guttural screech. Leo quickly reacted and dodged to the side as the beast spit a stream of its paralyzing saliva. He really didn''t want to find out how efficient the fluid was.


    Despite the miss, the monster wasn''t deterred. It dashed forward, gliding along the wall like a snake hunting for prey. The prey in question stood his ground as the beast neared and finally left the wall, sailing through the air right toward Leo.


    Three. Two. One.


    Leo ducked low, extending the hand with the shadowy hook. And got you. The Crawler howled as the weapon sunk into its belly, and Leo, using the momentum, swung with all his might and hurled the airborne Voidling directly into a wall.


    A loud crunch echoed throughout the hallway as the beast slid to the ground, its limbs still flailing in agony. Leo knew he had to act fast; giving the Crawler time to recover was the last thing he wanted.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, he moved in for the finishing blow. He kicked the Crawler in the head, stunning it before bringing down his sharp claws onto its exposed neck.


    A surge of Essence flowed through him, activating Reinforcement and imbuing him with even greater strength. And so, in a swift motion, Leo sliced through the creature''s flesh like a hot knife through butter. The monster''s body went limp as its head fell, rolling away in a shower of blood.


    Fuck. Leo swallowed hard as the adrenaline rush slowly began to leave his body. That was way more brutal than necessary. He shook his head and turned away. Why should I care, though¡­


    Sighing, Leo cast his eyes across the second floor, noting the lack of bodies. Well, except for the Crawler bleeding all over the ground.


    Only two more floors. Even then, there was a voice deep in Leo''s mind, laughing at his naivety. Laughing at his hopes of finding his family. Fuck you.


    Leo ascended the stairs slowly, teeth gritted and another shadow hook tightly gripped in his hand. The hisses of the last Crawler continued to echo through the building, but their volume gave Leo a clue. He knew he wouldn''t meet the creature until he reached the top floor.


    At first glance, the third floor seemed empty, devoid of any signs of struggle. But then, in the far-off corner, something caught Leo''s eye. He could see a glimpse of something, a flicker of familiarity.


    No.


    Without even being aware, Leo''s feet carried him to the corner. He fell to his knees a moment later, something wet sliding down his cheek.


    Please no.


    Leo raised his cursed arm, casting a crimson glow on the corpse lying slumped against the wall. It was a Voidling, there was no doubt about that, but as his hand pushed the monster''s chin up, Leo finally became aware of the tears flowing freely from his eyes.


    Nick¡­


    Leo first saw it from a distance, the remnants of the dark blond hair. Instantly after, he spotted the shreds of unique clothing Nick loved so much. And now, kneeling right next to the body, Leo gazed into his brother''s face, a face claimed long ago by the Void and then by death''s embrace.


    "Fuck!" Leo punched the wall right next to his brother''s head even as his stealth swallowed the shout.


    The pain in his hand was nothing compared to one drilling through his heart. Leo knew he could have done nothing to save Nick; his brother was claimed by the Void during the Outbreak. And yet, he couldn''t help but feel like he had failed. Failed to save his brother, like he helped to save Leo in the past.


    "Fuck..." He muttered, and at that exact moment, a loud hiss reached his ears.


    Leo''s eyes narrowed as something snapped inside him.


    The fury that had been simmering beneath all the misery and sorrow suddenly erupted like a volcano. Flames ignited within Leo''s veins as rage overwhelmed him, prepared to consume anything in his path.


    A path that was now blocked.


    Leo''s eyes snapped to the stairway, and there he saw it, the last Inferior Crawler stuck to the ceiling, its crimson eyes locked onto him. The beast screeched, and Leo rose slowly, snatching the bowie knife out of its sheath.


    Essence exploded out of Leo''s soul as his Limit Break activated subconsciously, intertwining with Reinforcement like one unit. The surge of power almost overwhelmed his senses, but a voice suddenly pierced through the haze, giving Leo''s anger the final push it needed.


    ''Kill it.''


    Like a demon freed from its shackles, Leo ran at the Crawler. The Voidling responded in kind, crawling forward along the ceiling.


    Only the beast was way too slow.


    Before the Crawler could even blink, Leo seized the creature''s head and yanked it forcefully. The monster plummeted to the ground, landing on its back like a sack of potatoes. It convulsed, releasing ear-piercing shrieks as Leo cut off leg after leg, leaving only a limbless body spasming on the ground.


    However, even now, he was far from done.


    Standing above the helpless creature, Leo stabbed it without remorse. He twisted the knife and slashed with claws again, feeling the Crawler''s flesh and organs shred beneath his blades. Blood spattered on his face, but Leo didn''t stop, fueled by rage and grief.


    "Fuck off," Leo growled when a System notification tried to fill his vision. He didn''t care about anything the entity wanted from him; only the remains of the Crawler underneath him mattered now.


    Nonetheless, even Leo''s rage had its limits, and as the fires in his veins died out, so did his onslaught upon the long-dead Voidling.


    Slowly Leo stood up, panting heavily. Blood dripped from his hands and face, but he barely took notice. With the anger gone, a cold emptiness took its place, settling deep inside Leo''s soul.


    He lost.


    Without a word, Leo retrieved his knife and climbed the stairs to the fourth and final floor. Absently he scanned the ground in search of more corpses, but there were none, and so he let his feet carry him straight for the open door of Nick''s apartment.


    It''s empty. Leo laughed bitterly as he checked room after room. There were no signs of life anywhere. No signs of struggle or battle. Hell, he couldn''t find even a speck of dried blood anywhere on the floor.


    "They are gone," Leo mumbled, collapsing against a wall in the apartment''s corridor. "They are gone..."


    I''m sorry, Nick, Adam, and Ava. I failed.

 Leos Status and More

    Status:


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 10


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: F+


    Might Tier I (13) | LB: 16


    Grace: Tier I (27) | LB: 12


    Vision: Tier I (15) | LB: 6


    Mind: Tier I (21) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (15) | LB: 10


    Ether: 149


    Traits: Assassin''s Grace (Common), Tainted (Uncommon), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Control (Uncommon), Drain (Uncommon)


    General Skills: Dagger Mastery (Common), True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Rare), Decoy (Uncommon)


    Current Evolution Stage:


    Tainted Human (Stage: I)


    A variant of Awakened Human cursed by the power of the Void. Due to absorbing too much of Void Essence before your awakening, the corrupted power couldn¡¯t be fully cleansed from your being. It will fight and consume you if you don¡¯t satiate its hunger.


    Effects:


    Causes some physical changes. Grants Tainted trait. Soul Effectiveness: +5%. +2 Free Attribute points per class level. Mutations: Locked.


    Your time is limited.


    Traits:


    Tainted (Uncommon)


    For some, it''s a curse, for others a blessing. You are the Tainted One. Fight and consume or be consumed. In the Void, only the strong survive¡­ Can you adapt?


    Effects:


    Requires a constant supply of Pure Void Essence to stop the taint from spreading. Limit Break: +1 Soul, Might and Grace per level when satiated. Various negative effects applied if the taint begins to spread. Grants Drain skill.


    Assassin¡¯s Grace (Common)


    Fluid movement and silent steps are Assassin¡¯s basic characteristics. Some trained for years to achieve perfection in this art, and now it is for you to use.


    Effects:


    Your movement becomes a bit more graceful and stealth is now slightly more effective. Grace Effectiveness: +5%


    True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Minor affinity born from the Darkness. What Shadow lacks in raw power, it makes up for in utility. Only imagination now stands in your way, don''t let it stop you.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel shadow affinity into your Essence. Natural evolution of affinity available due to its True form.


    Mutations:


    Mutation: Heart of the Void (Beta Tier)


    With your heart carved out, First Born''s shard took its place and changed the base of your being. Follow the steps of the Void, the path of the Akirians, and become the true Legacy of the Void.


    Effects:


    Nikra''s Essence has adapted to your blood. Your body is now capable of withstanding the Void''s harsh conditions. Healing speed slightly improved. Soul effectiveness: +15%. Might effectiveness: +20%.


    Racial Skills:


    Universal Linguist (Unique)


    With a vast Universe comes a wide array of languages. To help achieve communication between different civilizations, the System created this skill for each survivor.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to understand almost every spoken language in the Universe. Be wary that any written form of a foreign language is still mostly beyond you.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Identify (Unique)


    The most common tool of every system user. Created by the System to help the users find their way along the journey.


    Effects:


    Allows you to discover details about certain parts of this new world. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision and Level.


    Drain (Uncommon)


    Butchered skill of every normal Voidling that depends on pure brute force. For you, it¡¯s the only way to keep on surviving after the taint infected your soul.


    Effects:


    Allows you to drain Voidlings of their Pure Void Essence. Requires the use of your taint. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Soul.


    Essence Control (Uncommon)


    Hard work and determination pushed your understanding of Essence to another level. Your previous limits are gone, and now you are ready to embark on the true journey of the Soul Arts.


    Effects:


    This skill improves the control over your Essence already granted by the Mind attribute. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind.


    General Skills:


    Reinforcement (Uncommon)


    An ancient technique used to strengthen your body. By controlling and reinforcing the flow of Essence you become stronger, faster, and tougher. A skill with infinitely high potential and even higher risk.


    Effects:


    Provides the ability to augment your physical attributes by a maximum of 50%. Be warned that overusing this skill might bring severe exhaustion or even death. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Might and Mind.


    True Stealth (Uncommon)


    With practice and hard work, the shortcomings of basic stealth were removed. Now you can truly walk among your enemies as Essence guides you on your way. But beware that nothing is ever perfect.


    Effects:


    Advanced ability capable of shielding you with a strong layer of controlled Essence. When activated, your Essence signature will be harder to detect, while your scent and any sounds you make will be hidden. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Grace.


    Vital Strike (Common)


    Ever since ancient times, people have tried to find ways to defeat their enemies with a few swift strikes. Now, one of their abilities is yours to wield.


    Effects:


    After drawing blood from your enemy, you have a chance to spot one of their weak spots. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Vision and Mind.


    Dagger Mastery (Common)


    A dagger is one of many weapons created by the various races of the Universe and often regarded as the weakest. Prove everyone wrong as you carve your path to greatness.


    Effects:


    Grants instinctive knowledge of basic dagger-wielding and slightly improves your handling of daggers. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Grace.


    Kiss of Death (Uncommon)


    Bread and butter of every assassin. Stealth may lead you to the target. Sharp senses might let you spot their weakness. But the Kiss of Death will allow you to strike with the deadly strength required to end your target.


    Effects:


    Allows you to coat any weapon in your possession with finely refined Essence to strike with overpowering strength. Provides a one-time boost to armor penetration and the overall sharpness of your blade. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind and Soul.


    Hunter''s Pulse (Rare)


    The first skill any respectable Hunter has to learn. Guided by intent and Essence, the pulse helps them through the hunt in search of their targets or anything valuable.


    Effects:


    Send a pulse of Essence through the surrounding area in search of anything alive or valuable. The pulse range depends on the amount of Essence used, while its effectiveness is guided by your Vision. Warning: Any being with sharp senses might be able to feel the pulse.


    Decoy (Uncommon)


    Illusions, one of many tools available to an assassin. Deceive your enemies, lead them astray. And when you have them where you want, strike. Fast and deadly.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to create an Essence decoy, a perfect illusion clone of your body. As the name implies, a decoy cannot interact with the real world but will follow basic commands given by the user.


    Title:


    Nikra''s Legacy:


    The legacy of the first daughter has been born. Darkness follows your every step and the Void welcomes you in its domain. Will you do the same and embrace this new path?


    Stacked Effects:


    New evolutionary path available. Your soul is now partially synchronized with Nikra''s Essence. Soul effectiveness: +10%. Might effectiveness: +10%.


    Possible Evolutions:


    Risen Human (Stage: II)


    You pushed past every hardship that came your way and prevailed. The taint upon your soul was cleansed, and now you can join the rest of humanity that will rise from the Awakened Ones. Embrace your new status and join humankind on its path to greatness.


    Effects:


    Removes Tainted trait. Grants Awakened Trait. Mind Effectiveness: +15%. +5 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unavailable.


    Fallen (Stage II)


    You embraced the taint of the Void upon your soul and made it your own. This new path might have taken another part of your humanity away, but you know what is necessary to survive. Go forth and become one with your new life.


    Effects:


    Tainted trait changed into Void''s Child. Physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +5%. +7 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked.


    Prime Void Walker (Stage II)


    Chosen of the Void, rejoice. Embrace the taint of the Void upon your soul and become a Void-borne, the walker of the Abyss. Take your first steps toward becoming a true Akirian, the perfect blend of two opposite worlds.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +10%, +8 Free Attribute points per class level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    Apex:


    ??


    Current equipment:


    - Military and Bowie Knife (Common)


    - Spectral Inscription: Valron Coverage (Common)


    - Touch of Carnage (Rare)

 Chapter 43. Farewell Brother + Patreon

    "Leo, I know I wasn''t as welcoming as Lily in the beginning. God knows there aren''t many people who can match her energy... But honestly, I just wanted to tell you that despite everything that happened, I''m glad to call you my brother, blood or not.


    You''re a part of our family, so please remember that no matter what you need, I''m here for you. Heck, I''ll even keep you hidden from Lily. Everyone needs some time away from that bloody girl... I swear, sometimes I have no idea how we''re even related..."


    ~ Nicholas Hale to Leonardo Hale, a few years before the Outbreak


    <hr>


    As minute after minute ticked by, Leo sat slumped in the corridor wall; his back pressed firmly against the cold surface. He had already shed all the tears his body could muster, leaving only a mixture of blood, dirt, and salt to painfully sting his face. At this point, Leo knew he must have looked like a deranged maniac, covered in grime and gore, and yet, he couldn''t bring himself to care even a little bit...


    What was a bit of blood and dirt in the face of losing more people he loved?


    Nothing, literally nothing.


    In the past, Leo had believed that he had become accustomed to loved ones vanishing from his life, that life had desensitized him to such situations. He was wrong, so very wrong. There was no getting used to the pain of having family ripped out of his heart.


    A bitter chuckle escaped Leo''s throat. But I don''t have a normal heart anymore, do I? A shard of some long-forgotten Goddess took even that away... This fucking Void is trying to take everything away... Edward, Nick, Adam... He shook his head. No. Their apartment was empty, no bodies. Until I find something that proves otherwise, they might still be out there.


    Bones and muscles groaned as Leo slowly pushed himself up to his feet. Each step he took felt heavy and unsteady, and the images flashing through his mind became an even bigger nuisance now that Leo decided to move. Nevertheless, he carried on, to complete the task that lay ahead.


    Door after door, Leo left no surface untouched. No matter how large an apartment was, he searched everything, stepping into every nook, every cranny. If there could be a body waiting somewhere out there, he couldn''t leave it unidentified, whether it was a Voidling or human.


    Sometimes a Scavenger or a Stuttlejaw would dash out of destroyed furniture or a hole in the wall, hoping to make an easy meal out of Leo. However, even in his current state, with the fog of hurt filling his mind, he never let those creatures touch him.


    Instincts, Leo thought at one point as he ripped one rat to shreds with his claws and cut another into pieces thanks to the knife in his hand. Those puny Voidlings didn''t stand a chance against a monster from the upper echelons, a monster ready to evolve into something far worse.


    Not that Leo paid much attention to those fleeting thoughts that came and went like the wind. Most of his focus lay on his task, on overturning the fallen Voidlings and humans and looking them straight in the face. His eye searched for the familiar features of his family, of little Adam and Ava, but to his relief, he found nothing.


    They are not here. Leo swallowed hard as he leaned against the entrance to the last apartment on the first floor, holding a large cloth sheet tightly in his hands. It took time, more than this entire trip should have, but in the end, he had searched every single spot in this building.


    Leave nothing to chance.


    Yet, how could he not? Leo didn''t have all the necessary information to figure out what really had happened here. There were plenty of possibilities regarding Ava''s and Adam''s current predicament. The bodies lying all around the building only attested to that.


    Maybe they escaped as soon as they woke up? Leo shook his head, gritting his teeth. No. Too many Voidlings all around... And Nick was somehow outside the flat during all of this. Was he coming back or going somewhere? So many questions.


    Someone must have helped Ava and Adam escape if the two were even inside the building at that time. Ignoring the human bodies Leo found, almost all Voidlings were killed by man-made wounds, or so it seemed at least. It could have been one of the scouts from the bigger group or some other people altogether.


    Not every flat had bodies inside. Maybe more people here got through the Outbreak. Leo reasoned, looking around the staircase. Even this floor had one apartment without any signs of fighting or Void''s presence, excluding the living matter of course. Still, that leaves the Crawlers... Where did they come from?


    Those two beasts made this building their home, and Leo remembered well the one crucial part about them in Bestiary. That one sentence made his insides twist painfully even back then, but now?


    Formed from children''s bodies that bonded with the nearby insects during an Outbreak.


    Leo''s head fell against the wall, fists clenching even as his claws dug into the bricks. Don''t even fucking think about it! However, his mind already went in that direction, assaulting Leo with images of his young nephew''s possible fate.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It painted a picture of a crimson glare, six thin spider-like legs, and an emaciated body crawling along the walls like a night horror. Leo''s mind spared him no pain as it even attached Adam''s face to the Crawler''s deformed body.


    Stop! Leo''s human fist sailed through the air, crashing into the brick wall. Pain immediately exploded across his fingers and knuckles, and Leo embraced it, pushing whatever his mind tried to conjure out of his head.


    Even as blood dripped from the shallow scrapes on his fist, Leo paid it no mind and just snatched the sheet that had fallen to the ground. Dwelling on probable scenarios would only bring more suffering, and there was no need for more of that. Not when Leo had one last job to finish here.


    One final goodbye.


    Slowly, Leo trudged up the stairs, his eyes fixed straight ahead, never straying from his path. Only when he reached the third floor did he come to a halt, a grimace spreading on his face as his feet once again carried him to Nick''s body. He just couldn''t leave his brother like that, not even after the Void claimed his life.


    Time to get to work.


    Almost like he was cradling a baby, Leo moved Nick''s body, lying it fully on the floor. No matter how much he detested it, this corner in a random staircase would become his brother''s tomb. There was little more Leo could do, and if Nick were still alive, he would tell him that even this was way too much. Especially with what waited outside this building¡­


    Doesn''t matter. I''m not leaving you here like this. Leo shook his head as he covered the body with the cloth sheet. Now for the rest.


    From there, Leo moved on autopilot, dragging debris and other scattered materials from all corners of the building back to Nick''s corpse. Carefully, he placed all of it over the sheet, forming a makeshift headstone. It was a poor substitute for what his brother deserved, but all that Leo could give.


    Without a word, Leo sank to the ground next to the makeshift grave, slumping against the wall as his hand dug through the insides of his backpack. His fingers clicked against one of the few new items inside the sack, and Leo pulled it out in one go.


    A full bottle of red wine dropped into his lap, and Leo sighed. He would much rather have something else to drink, but beggars couldn''t be choosers, not in a world like this one.


    Leo flicked his claws and made quick work of the cork shielding the foul beverage. Snorting, he raised the bottle towards the grave and muttered, "Cheers."


    Taking a swig out of the bottle, Leo grimaced as the sour taste spread across his dry throat.


    "Bloody hell," he coughed, nearly spitting out the wine. "I forgot how fucking bad this shit is. Give me the cheapest beer or vodka any day over this vomit-inducing piss... Fucking wine," Leo added in a mumble even as he took another sip.


    Anything was better than nothing, right?


    "You should be here, you know?" Leo whispered after a short silence. "No matter how much shit we had given you for bending over to please Ava, you were always the smartest of the three of us. The strongest probably too, considering who your wife is," he chuckled. "Void knows how you survived with her for all those years..."


    Leo took a swig once more, ignoring the burning traveling down his throat. "It''s a shithole out there, Nick, and I didn''t even scratch the fucking surface yet. My heart is already gone, and I will probably lose much more soon," he shook his head. "Fuck, my evolutions are practically screaming at me to abandon my humanity. Bloody Void and System want to take everything away from me, just like they took you..."


    A bitter laugh escaped Leo''s lips as he tapped against the glass bottle with his claws. "I know, I know. You would probably tell me now that I am acting like a brooding bitch. That I''m crying over something I should have expected to happen instead of pushing forward, surviving, and growing stronger so I can give this new reality the finger when I stand at the top."


    Leo took a deep breath, eyes narrowing. "But guess fucking what, Nick!" He shouted, shattering the bottle against a far-off wall. "You guys are all I have, and I don''t know if I can handle losing everything all over again! Ninety bloody percent of the Universe''s population is dead, probably more. And here I fucking am, still holding onto hope, no matter how stupid that is!"


    Chest heaving up and down, Leo closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, just like he learned long ago. It had been a while since he exploded like this, years even. Those thoughts, those fears clung to him ever since the Outbreak began. So finally letting them out, even by shouting at his brother''s grave, was almost cathartic.


    "Sorry, I''m better now. Just had to get this off my chest," Leo muttered to someone who wasn''t even there. "I should probably get going. Wasted enough time as it is... Shit, I''m gonna miss you, Nick. And don''t worry, brother. If Ava and Adam are out there, I will find them. No matter what, the same goes for Lily."


    Groaning, Leo climbed to his feet and slung the backpack over his shoulder. He slumped just a bit under the weight and looked towards the grave one last time. Time to finish what he had started.


    "Goodbye, Nick. I hope that wherever you are, it''s better than this shithole. Maybe someday we will see each other again..."


    With his final words said, Leo turned away and headed for the stairs. He didn''t go down; nothing waited for him there. Instead, upon reaching the fourth floor, Leo entered one of the apartments and headed straight for the smallest room. Once inside, he nodded in acknowledgment.


    That''s better.


    A hole in the ceiling, leading straight to the building''s roof, stared back at him. Leo quickly climbed through, using the Vetilim and some overturned furniture to speed up the process. At the same time, Essence surged through his body, blanketing his skin in the familiar layer of True Stealth.


    Back outside. Leo took in a deep breath, relishing the sensation of fresh air filling his lungs. After spending probably over an hour inside, covered and surrounded by death and gore, no one could fault him for enjoying this small act. Not after what he had just learned¡­


    Slouching, Leo sat down at the edge of the roof. Still have a few more hours before the dark. I could try to track Ava and Adam from here, but there is no way I''ll find anything useful. My best bet is to go back, evolve and start with that larger group. They might know something if they are already running all across the city.


    Leo closed his eyes. But before that, System. Got any good news? I really could use some right about now¡­

 Chapter 44. Advancement

    "Hound is the go-to evolution for most weak canine creatures around the Multiverse when an Outbreak hits. It might not be the strongest, but becoming a Hound still offers most of the things that normal canines are already used to.


    Their possible future evolutions are also nothing to scoff at. Although Hounds usually need more time to advance than other basic Voidling subspecies. It is the price they pay for a well-developed pack mentality that gives them an edge over other creatures in this new reality."


    ~Creatures of the Void, 42nd Edition


    <hr>


    Like any other time when Leo forgot about or pushed the System notifications for later, there were quite a number of them waiting for him in the backlog. The usual information about his kills and awarded Ether greeted Leo first, but just like he had expected, those were far from the only ones requiring his attention.


    A lot of Ether... Those rats might be weak, but at least I''m not wasting time killing them. Now if only they weren''t so annoying to deal with. Leo sighed as he dismissed the kill notifications. And what do we have here?


    The passive of the Install-type item Touch of Carnage (Rare): First Circle has reached its maximum threshold. Do you wish to proceed with your item''s advancement? This action is irreversible and might lead to some unexpected outcomes.


    Additional assessment: The user''s soul should be easily capable of incorporating the item''s increased power. Warning! The user should still be wary of overloading his soul with Install-type items.


    So it finally happened. Leo narrowed his eyes, scanning the messages once more. Considering that the item only needed another twenty-one percent the last time he checked, he expected this to happen earlier.


    Obviously, he was wrong.


    Is this how every Install item works? Do all of them have a passive that leads to advancement? Those were the obvious questions at first, yet the System was not helpful in the slightest in answering them. I guess I will need another one to compare. Great¡­


    The assessment seemed like a valuable function. Maybe not now, but in the future, when Leo collected more Install-type items? Yeah, I can see its use. Not that I can feel much weight from Touch of Carnage any longer. It had almost disappeared sometime during my trip inside the Void... Good times.


    Now, the critical part still remained. Should Leo just proceed like the System asked?


    With a guaranteed power-up, this still looked like a no-brainer question. At least until Leo read the follow-up sentence again and again. Unexpected outcomes? He scowled. Nothing can be simple with you, right? Have to complicate every fucking thing¡­


    Leo probably should have waited; it was the best course of action, really, especially with him being out in the open. However, after everything that had happened today, his inhibitions took a hard hit, and so after moving a few steps away from the roof''s edge, Leo made the choice.


    Choice acknowledged. Proceeding with the advancement of Touch of Carnage (Rare). Please relax, and under no circumstances should you attempt to manipulate your soul during the process.


    Three.


    Two.


    One.


    Beginning¡­


    The moment those words faded from his vision, Leo''s soul - and yes, it was definitely his soul - exploded outwards as Essence surged from its deepest pit. It moved right to the tiny spot where Touch of Carnage sat and encompassed the item in a tight bubble, pulsing with such strength that even Leo''s veins began to glow.


    When the pressure slowly started to settle down, and Essence attempted to move away from the item, Leo''s new heart lurched. It wrestled the control of Essence away from his soul like an angry demon and directed it back at the item.


    Leo squeezed his eyes shut as the blood in his veins began to boil. His skin itched as Essence, not the one from his soul but the Pure Void version resting inside his cursed arm, flowed deeper into his body. It went straight to Leo''s new heart, and from there, the damned shard drove it right into his soul, to the Touch of Carnage.


    For a minute, maybe longer, Leo lay splattered on the roof, his body trembling. Whenever he thought the torture might be ending, Nikra''s shard betrayed him once again, sending his mind spiraling into the unending circle of pain.


    Nevertheless, even through the haze, Leo knew something was changing within him. How or why? He had no clue, but every bit of Essence was still congregated around his only install-type item. The energy''s movements were wild and erratic, yet they still carried a purpose.


    Bloody fuck! Leo gasped for air, a silent scream escaping his mouth. And along with it, the pain stopped, his Essence returning to the deep recesses of his soul where it waited once more, ready to answer the call.


    Groaning, Leo rolled onto his back, eyes staring at the cloudless sky. What in the hell was that? He could still sense the presence of Touch of Carnage inside his soul, but it was different, much different than before.


    The constant weight, as unnoticeable as it was before, disappeared completely from his soul. Rather, the item now felt like a crucial part of his soul, an extension that would never come apart.


    What have you done? System!?


    At once, the powerful entity answered, lines of text spawning in front of Leo. His eyes widened, a disbelieving chuckle escaping his throat as he reached the last few sentences.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Item advancement finished successfully. Grade upgraded from Rare to Rare+.


    Warning! Unauthorized internal influence detected. Adjusting... Adjustment successful. Support for further advancement granted to Mutation: Heart of the Void. Proceeding immediately. Brace yourself, User.


    Brace yourself, my ass, you fucker! You didn''t even give me a bloody second to process this shit. Leo scowled, quickly counting to ten, hoping to push his reignited rage away. This better be worth it.


    Apparently, it was.


    Forced advancement finished successfully. Touch of Carnage (Rare+) upgraded to Touch of the Void (Epic). Congratulations.


    A whole grade better. But Touch of the Void, really? Am I not touched enough? Leo grumbled as his gaze fell upon his cursed arm. However, with this action came yet another revelation, one he was far from prepared for.


    What in the¡­


    The taint of the Void, which previously only reached the beginning of his biceps, now spread further. It consumed his entire arm and only gave way to the human skin at his shoulder.


    The itching in the beginning. That must have been it.


    Instantly Leo summoned a different part of the System, momentarily forgetting about the upgraded item. The entity thankfully answered right away, and he sighed when a familiar text appeared before him.


    Sated Status: 89 hours remaining.


    Fuck... Got me worried for a second there, System. Maybe Leo should have felt worse about losing more of his human body, but in the end, did it really matter?


    No.


    Leo knew what he had to face once he returned to his small group. The evolution he sought would demand more of him than this cursed arm ever could, stripping away his humanity. He delayed the process long enough, and now even his last excuse was gone. Time to man up and take what was his.


    "Soon," Leo muttered and flinched at the sound. He had forgotten that the forced item advancement completely disrupted his Essence. Thankfully a single flicker of his energy quickly fixed that problem.


    Alright then. Let''s see what I''m working with now. I''m going Void all the way, apparently¡­


    Install: Touch of the Void (Epic):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. The blood of the First and Essence of the Void is now connected to your soul, giving you a link to a power many can only dream of. The potential of this item is just unfolding; now you must go further.


    Limit Break: +10 Might and Vision, +6 Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover.


    Passive: Second Circle - Essence is the answer (0%). Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.


    Here I thought you couldn''t make up anything more ominous... And now, the Void has a claim to my soul too. Really? Wasn''t Tainted and Heart of the Void enough for you? Leo ranted to a non-existent person. Although if Nikra somehow could hear him, she should prepare some good answers for their inevitable meeting.


    ''You will get them and more, child. Just remember I am here to help you.'' Nikra''s ¡ª and it was her, there was no denying it at this point ¡ª soft and melodious, yet tired voice froze Leo in his spot. He had heard it so many times already, but it was never so clear, never so loud in the past.


    You! Leo snapped to attention, his eyes narrowing. Forgive me for not believing your words after you almost boiled me from the inside out.


    ''I apologize.'' The ancient goddess whispered as her voice once more began to fade. ''I did what I had to. Soon I will explain, but now, I must rest. Stay strong, Leo Hale.''


    Hey! For fuck''s sake, you can''t just say shit like that and disappear. Come back! Leo shouted into his mind, and yet he received no answer. God dammit. Nothing can be easy¡­


    Growling, Leo turned his attention back to his new item. If Nikra wanted him to wait, then fine, he would wait. Not like he had any other choice in that regard. Besides, for the first time, she finally answered him with more than a few words. This had to count for something, right?


    Whatever... Twelve more attributes overall. Not bad, even if I expected a bit more from a jump of an entire grade. At least it should still be able to get stronger going by the new passive. Leo sighed, before his eyes fell on the entirely new bit of information.


    Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. Even as Leo read it again and again, the expected rush of knowledge never came. Considering what Dylan had told him about them, he couldn''t help but wonder. Do I need to access techniques manually because I already know about them? No way, right?


    Yet, the moment Leo called out to the System, he was again proved wrong. I really hate you¡­


    Welcome to your Technique display, User.


    Techniques are abilities typically related to a specific aspect, with their use heavily assisted by the System. Depending on your connection to a given aspect, you might be able to improve your mastery over a technique and thus, its efficiency. In addition, some techniques are capable of advancing, similar to regular skills.


    Most I already knew, but good to have some confirmation. Next.


    True/False Affinity requirement negated for Void: Minor Takeover due to the influence of Tainted, Heart of the Void, and Touch of the Void. Access to mastery granted.


    Nice, I guess? Leo quirked an eyebrow. And what in the hell is a False Affinity? I could use an explanation about those... Shit, I wish I had a bit more time to talk with the Traveler bloke.


    Leo summoned the description of his first technique with a shake of his head. The rush of knowledge finally came, but it was less intense than with his other skills, providing only general instructions on activating the ability and what to do afterward. However, all of that was still far from enough to understand what this technique was about.


    Pretty much what Dylan said... Let''s see what it really does.


    Void: Minor Takeover (Novice)


    A technique that allows for a complete takeover of a Void-born creature. The success of this ability depends on the user''s connection to the Void affinity, level, and overall strength. Creatures stronger or of similar power will resist an attempt at controlling them, and special types of Voidlings will completely resist this minor technique. Please note that physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Estimated maximum number of controlled Void-borns: 1.


    Leo blinked, his mouth opening.


    Oh¡­

 Chapter 45. Forward?

    "Truthfully, the beginning of an Outbreak can be the easiest and the hardest at the same time. Why is that? The answer is quite simple, my dear students. It is the hardest because the survivors must adapt to a completely new reality. They must accept that their families, world, and old life are gone and will never return. That is the actual hard part of the Outbreak.


    At the same time, the beginning is the easiest because of the level of fighting. Yes, you heard me right, fighting. The worst the survivors have to worry about are the transformed creatures of their world that they are at least slightly familiar with. It is a much better fate than battling against the monsters that will come from the Gates sooner or later."


    ~ Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    Game-changing.


    There were no other words to really describe what Minor Takeover truly was. Alright, that might be an exaggeration. Leo could quickly think of a few different ways to define his first technique. Overpowered, broken, impossible, and more.


    However, ultimately, ''game-changing'' encompassed everything Minor Takeover was for Leo. It possessed the potential to completely change how he approached this new unforgiving reality, giving him an edge Leo didn''t even know he needed.


    And yet, here it was, an ability far beyond anything he could have ever anticipated. Moreover, who knew how much more Leo would be able to accomplish with Takeover as both he and the ability grew stronger.


    Leo chuckled. And here I thought that Decoy was broken in my current state. Hell, it still is if I combine it with Takeover. Fuck... I guess you have my thanks, Nikra, after all.


    Decoy alone was an amazing ability if Leo figured out how to use it correctly. It might only be an illusion incapable of interacting with the real world, but even its visual effects had a lot of potential. Now combine it with Minor Takeover, and Leo had two abilities that could confuse the hell out of any Voidling he fought against.


    He only needed to look as far as the fight between the Hounds and the Runner to see how much one Voidling could do against another. With complete control over the Runner and a clone of Leo spreading further confusion on the field, he could only wonder how much easier his encounters with other monsters would get.


    Although, Leo grimaced. I''m pretty sure that I won''t have much Essence left after using those two skills.


    The System gave him enough information about Decoy to understand how taxing the ability was. Which was understandable considering what it did. As for Minor Takeover, Leo didn''t get the same amount of information. However, from what he felt during the knowledge rush, his first technique couldn''t be much better than Decoy when it came to Essence.


    Undoubtedly, Leo could be completely wrong, but the validity of his assumption would remain unanswered until he put the technique to the test.


    Still, I need more points in Soul and Mind. Leo reasoned as he finally rose from the messy roof and sat cross legged. And time to practice... Void knows that apart from the experimentation with Stealth and Kiss, I didn''t have many more opportunities to mess with Essence. Not for the lack of trying, of course¡­


    Yawning, Leo stretched his arms. Without pulling more attribute points out of my ass with some fucked up event, the only way to get more is leveling up... Yeah, no more delaying when I get back to the others. I just hope they won''t change their mind about me in the middle of evolution¡­


    In the end, going through the evolution with other humans on standby was still better than doing it entirely alone. Leo may not have placed full trust in them yet, but if the process took longer than anticipated, he wanted to have someone protecting him while being so vulnerable.


    A messily calculated risk, if even that. Leo sighed. Damn, I wish I had more info about evolving, but I''m not risking starting it after making a single choice. I just have to hope that the possibility of healing Laura fully will stop Dylan and Tyler from doing anything stupid.


    And that was pretty much it. The path was clear, and now all Leo had to do was follow it.


    Might as well¡­


    Standing up, Leo rolled his shoulders to clear the pains that stuck with him after the forced advancement. Only a few minutes had passed since that, but if he gave it a bit more time, everything should go back to normal.


    Now, do I go back the same way I came here, or should I take a small de- Leo paused as his gaze swept over the area and came upon a particular sight. What in the flying fuck?


    Just to make sure he wasn''t hallucinating or the sunlight wasn''t playing with his eyes, Leo scanned all the rooftops visible in the distance again. Nope, still there. He frowned, watching as some kind of purple vapor constantly rose just slightly above one of the buildings some distance away.


    Isn''t that where the town square should be?


    Despite Wolford''s small size, the city indeed had a town square. It was quite small and definitely not in the shape of a square, but the triangle was still a hub for the community, especially during the weekends. It also helped that it was surrounded from each side by some kind of buildings that housed either shops or restaurants.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Overall, it was probably the best place to visit in Wolford. As such, Leo shouldn''t be even slightly surprised that the Outbreak decided to keep the place as something special.


    The question is, what exactly happened there.


    Taking a look behind, in the direction leading to his group, Leo sighed. By all means, he should be going back. Even if his trip was almost a complete failure, he still partially discovered what happened to Nick''s family.


    Yet now, when no more of the System''s notifications were here to distract him, the emptiness in Leo''s chest returned, ready to remind him of what he had just lost.


    I mean, I had an evolution ready since I came back to Earth. What will another hour or two hurt¡­


    Despite the loneliness he faced during most of the Outbreak, Leo didn''t want to talk to anybody right now ¡ª Nikra not included. So if taking a few hours to uncover another secret about the Void could give him time to settle his thoughts, Leo really had no reason to fight this idea.


    That''s right. Just quick in and out. I will take a look, find out what the Void is trying to throw at us, and then slowly go back. Might as well try out Minor Takeover while I''m at it.


    With the decision made, Leo climbed to his feet and darted to the ledge. Like the wind, he sailed through the air, only to drop onto the nearest Vetilim platform. He grunted as muscles in his legs began to burn ever so slightly.


    Yes, he definitely wasn''t fully recovered from whatever Nikra inflicted on his body.


    Doesn''t matter. I had worse. Gritting his teeth, Leo ran along the long alien spider web stretching between the buildings. The living matter wobbled a bit but still held firm, just like any other time he used it for traversal.


    Slipping onto another roof, Leo froze mid-step when a hiss reached his ears. He turned slowly, a frown stretching on his face as his gaze landed on a broken chimney. Once more, the scratching hiss echoed out of the structure before a creature crawled out of it and stretched lazily.


    Upon first glance, the new Voidling resembled just another cat, nothing that special. Only, unlike a typical feline, this one possessed another pair of hind legs and fur that might as well have been stolen from a hedgehog. However, even that might be an understatement considering how firm and sharp that spiky fur looked.


    Neot (Voidling) | Rank: F- | LVL: 4


    At the exact moment that Leo identified the creature, the Neot flinched, its crimson eyes snapping right to the only other living being on the roof.


    Arching its back, the creature hissed again, fur bristling and now almost fully resembling a scared hedgehog more than ever.


    What will you do? Leo tensed, shadow Essence surging to his hand and forming a familiar weapon.


    In response, the Neot bared its fangs and slowly backed away from Leo, who followed with a step of his own. The feline hissed and, in a move he never expected to see from a Voidling again, it sprinted to the edge of the roof with its spiky tail tucked.


    There the Neot stopped once more, gazing at Leo as if daring him to come closer.


    Okay? I will bite. Leo thought with a snort before moving towards the cat again.


    Like before, the Voidling gave a warning hiss. But when Leo didn''t stop, the creature moved too, only in a completely opposite direction. Without giving a single damn, the Neot jumped off the roof, freefalling toward the ground.


    By the time Leo got to the ledge and scanned the area below, he had just a second to spot the cat''s tail disappearing under one of the many broken cars on the street. Evidently, the little Voidling either had nine lives or somehow could handle a three-story drop.


    My knees would fucking die from this... What a weird guy.


    The last time a Voidling ¡ª Cursed Human, to be precise ¡ª chose to flee instead of confronting Leo, there was at least some rationale behind it. After all, he had just proved himself as an unstoppable force, relentlessly slaughtering the creature''s brethren in front of its eyes.


    But now? No such thing happened, and from what Leo had seen, the Neot didn''t look like a complete pushover.


    Is it because of my recent change? He shook his head. Nah, there must be something else. Bestiary? Please be useful for once.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Neot


    Expected Potential: F- to F


    Weapon of choice: Fireablespikes, Fangs


    Known weaknesses: Low physical attributes


    The most basic feline Void evolution and, in return, the weakest. Neots always live and do everything alone. Creating groups is taboo for those creatures, and to see one in the company of another is almost impossible. Thanks to their highly developed survival instincts, Neots only prey on dead creatures and won''t fight unless they have to. However, it is essential to note that their spikes can leave many hunters heavily injured.


    Leo nodded. Right, so they are scavengers, and the little guy recognized I was way out of its league. So just like Scavengers... Fuck that''s gonna get confusing at some point.


    Willing the Bestiary to disappear, Leo shrugged. That was something the future him would have to worry about. For now, he had another task to finish, and he was pretty close already. Even the purple vapor began to glimmer in the distance, now fully visible.


    Alright, let''s see what you got for me this time, Void.


    Leo ran like a man possessed, jumping behind covers only when the cawing of Seekers got too close or taking a detour when a Crimson Mirage got in the way. Getting to the town square fast was one thing; being stupid while doing that was another.


    However, the moment only a single line of buildings blocked his vision of the town square, the System announced its presence.


    Leo cursed, his foot almost slipping from a particularly thin Vetilim web. Only a few more steps separated him from the last rooftop he needed to reach, but of course, the powerful entity just couldn''t wait.


    This will get annoying at some point... Leo grumbled as he let the notification appear, his current position high above the street notwithstanding.


    Warning! You are nearing Tainted Wasteland: Void. Threat asserted and ranked at level E. Good Luck. More information available thanks to the strengthened connection. Display now?


    Well, shit. Apparently, I was right to worry.

 Chapter 46. Interlude - Whose side are you on?

    "Family? Never mention it again in my presence. I have suffered long enough for my mistakes and don''t need any more reminders of how I destroyed everything good in my life. That you can''t remember any of it just proves how hard I messed up."


    ~ A conversation, Cycles ago


    <hr>


    He trudged through the wooden corridors of Netherum, dragging a hand through his hair as he neared his destination. It had been a very long day for the Traveler, and if he could jump into his private booth and drink himself to death, then that was perfectly fine with him.


    Finally, the end of the hall came into view, and with it, the sliding door leading to a booth that Tommy had kept reserved just for the Traveler ever since they met. Being one of the oldest beings in the Multiverse definitely had its perks.


    Hopefully, the new Universe won''t explode when I am out of commission. The Traveler grumbled as he channeled his unique Essence into the door and smiled just a bit as it slid open.


    Without paying much attention, he took a step inside, his mind already going to the impossibly plushy couch and the beverages he could order in just a moment. Only it was not to be, and barely after the door snapped shut behind him, an all too cheery voice reached his ears.


    "Six!" The most annoying person in the entire Multiverse called out. "We have been waiting for you for hours! And you know I hate waiting."


    I know I have never been a good person, but what have I done to deserve this? The Traveler almost cried out as he collapsed on a couch opposite to the one claimed by two very familiar beings.


    The duo were perfect opposites of each other. ''Bright'' was an almost ideal description of the first, while ''Hard as stone'' suited the other pretty well. Now if those definitions only represented their appearance and not personality, then the Traveler could easily see having a normal conversation with them.


    Unfortunately, life just hated him because nothing could be that easy.


    Rikora, the bright menace, decided in the past that she wanted to be a dragon. And so it came as no surprise that she designed her sealed form into a humanoid reptile that momentarily blinded everyone with its overly bright scales. The Traveler was just glad that she had forgone adding wings to her body¡­


    In contrast, Kirysk never bothered with developing his form too much, be it its sealed state or not. A mountain of muscles made out of black, obsidian-like skin suited him well. Add to that the four massive arms and the last member of Trinity cut an intimidating figure that not many wanted to anger. Especially considering the man''s reputation.


    At least he is easier to deal with than Rikora. And he somehow keeps her in check... Void, I wish I had that particular ability. The Traveler sighed as he grabbed a small stone tablet resting on the table, separating him from the duo.


    "How did you get inside?" Might as well delay the inevitable a bit longer. Besides, the Traveler really wanted to know how they got into his private booth.


    "Why Six! No hello, or how have you been? I''m hurt," Rikora pouted like a child, and considering her draconic features, the Traveler couldn''t help but grimace.


    He had never grown used to seeing someone affiliated with so much power act so childish all the damn time. Even if the woman fought a being way above her strength, her personality wouldn''t change in the slightest. The Traveler knew that from experience¡­


    That''s probably the main reason why we clash so hard. Well, that and... Doesn''t matter.


    "Rikora... How did you get here?" The Traveler sighed, sliding his finger across the stone tablet and leaving a blackened path in its wake. That should do it. He nodded and returned the item to its former position.


    "Rude," Rikora grumbled, crossing her arms. "But if you really have to know, then Tommy let us in. Isn''t that great, Six?"


    Of course, he did. For an Ancient Magma Phantom, that damned brat loves to have fun at other people''s expense. If only he wasn''t a co-owner of this place...


    "I told you to never call me that again, girl. It''s not my name and never was. Don''t make me beat you up again," The Traveler warned, a challenge shining in his violet eyes.


    Rikora smirked, her claws coming to rest on the table as her yellow eyes glowed with power. "Oh?" She purred. "I think you will find that I learned quite a lot since we last fought, Six. I won''t go down easily again."


    Essence began to fill every crook of the booth, almost cracking the dark wood surrounding them from each side. Yet, before the Traveler could retort, the golem of a man that was Kirysk raised one of his massive fists.


    "Rikora, that''s enough!" His voice, just as hard as his body, rumbled through the booth. It swallowed Rikora''s Essence, the heavy presence disappearing instantly.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Sorry, brother," the damned girl dared to grin as she leaned back into the plush. "I was just sooo bored from all that waiting. You really should hurry up next time, Traveler. I thought you were better than that."


    "Rikora..." Kirysk growled, and the girl immediately threw her hands into the air.


    "Alright, alright," she pouted only to grimace as she took a whiff of a foul smell that just now filled the booth. "Gross. How can you even drink that?"


    The ''that'' in question was a large cup of shimmering brown beverage that appeared in a flash on the table. Rikora was definitely right regarding the odor the drink released, but at least the taste wasn''t as bad. At least in the Traveler''s humble opinion.


    "It is one of the few things that can still make us drunk, and I''m looking forward to a few calm days," the Traveler shrugged and took a sip. The fluid flowed down his throat, burning everything in its wake. "Perfect like always."


    Rikora shuddered, and he couldn''t help but shoot her a wink. "You are disgusting, Traveler. If you really wanted to get drunk, you could have just gone to Narzak. They know how to make proper whiskey."


    The Traveler snorted. "And deal with their Elders and Commander? Fuck no. I would rather spend an entire day with you than listen to another recruitment pitch they came up with this time."


    "Ohhh, we love you too!" Rikora crooned, a wide grin on her face.


    Void save me¡­


    Downing a mouthful of his drink, the Traveler turned to the other member of Trinity. "Alright, enough messing around. What do you want?"


    Like the unmoving rock he represented, Kirysk answered steadily. "Peria sent us to investigate what transpired. You left her presence after the wave of Essence alerted almost the entire Void."


    "That I did," the Traveler muttered, and in hindsight, leaving without a word wasn''t the best of his ideas. However, he found solace in the fact that his swift actions had given rise to a new Legacy ¡ª Nikra''s at that ¡ª, and that outweighed any concerns he had about Peria''s reaction.


    "So what did you find?!" Rikora''s excitement brought him back to reality. "Come on, spill, Traveler! Was it really Nikra''s shard? "


    The man shrugged. "Most likely. Unfortunately, whatever or whoever took it departed long before I arrived. I was left with an empty Void pocket filled to the brim with an Old One''s Essence and every possible party knocking at my doors."


    Rikora''s shoulders slumped, and even Kirysk''s unwavering gaze lost some of its intensity. "It vanished? After countless cycles of relentless searching, someone simply took it?" The golem muttered, his hands clenching.


    "That''s what I said," the Traveler grumbled but quickly added when Kirysk glared at him. "Don''t worry, friend. With the amount of Essence the shard released, it shouldn''t be too hard to find the thief. I just want to rest for a bit after dealing with the pocket and all of the idiots that came after."


    That I already know where the new Legacy lives is not something you need to know for now. Nor that no one will be able to find Leo without being right next to him. I made sure of that.


    "Good," Kirysk nodded, the weight of his presence fading away. "Were there any problems with the Void pocket and factions?"


    "As if you have to ask..." The Traveler rolled his eyes and took another sip. "Cleaning up the pocket wasn''t that hard. Even though I had to hold off all of those fuckers in the meantime. They definitely didn''t spare any firepower..."


    "As for the factions?" He continued with a shrug. "They weren''t happy to find me inside, but what is new? I gave the representatives some bullshit story and then slipped out when I found the right moment. Gonna need to stay low for a bit, but they will forget about it soon. For the Void, I bet they are all fighting inside that pocket now."


    Rikora snorted. "That sounds about right." She then grinned at him, "So what? Are we searching for the thief now? I can''t wait!"


    "No," the Traveler stated firmly, his drink forgotten. "You tell Peria that only I will search for them. I don''t think I need to remind you what happened with the first shard, right?"


    And wasn''t that one giant clusterfuck. No way the Traveler was letting the Trinity anywhere near Nikra''s Legacy after they messed everything up back then. He had waited far too long for the emergence of another shard after the last one was lost.


    Sixty-three Outbreaks; no more, not ever.


    "But Six!" Rikora whined. "That was our predecessors'' fault. Don''t leave us out of the fun!"


    "I don''t care which generation it was. I have known all of you forever, and I can barely tell each iteration apart," the Traveler scowled. "Besides, you can''t reach the new Universe yet while I have no such limitations."


    "Then teach us how to pass the Veil," Kirysk argued. "You have withheld this ability from all of the Void, which we can understand... But aren''t we your allies, your family?"


    The Traveler chuckled, ignoring how Kirysk''s eyes narrowed. "No. No matter how much you beg, what arguments you use, I won''t teach you. The Veil is there for a reason, and if the System isn''t allowing you to pass, then you aren''t meant to pass. Now, are we done?"


    "We are," Kirysk almost spat as he rose from his seat. "Come, Rikora. We have to inform Peria of what we learned. Expect a call soon, Six."


    With that said, the duo departed after Rikora threw a small wave and winked in the Traveler''s direction. Apparently, not even the tense atmosphere could put this girl down.


    Downing the rest of his drink, the Traveler shook his head.


    How I sometimes hate those three...


    <hr>


    Cycle after cycle, she watched, endlessly observing as universe after universe collapsed around her. She could barely do anything, split into three parts as she was. Yet, it didn''t mean she was hopeless.


    The first shard, the weakest, failed in its task, but still constantly provided her with information that she would never get otherwise. Even now, it traversed the Void in the hands of a being unaware of what it really possessed, feeding her knowledge that would soon prove priceless.


    Her third shard lay untouched, its power never noticed even by the strongest beings inside the Void. But now, with the work finished thanks to her second shard, sooner or later, her power would be reunited under a new host. A host that could fix what she and Geron destroyed.


    For sixty-three Outbreaks, I''ve bided my time, subtly influencing the world around me so that I can return. And now the long-awaited moment has arrived, Leonardo Brown. It is time for our paths to fully intertwine so that we can face a destiny crafted from my mistakes.

 Chapter 47. Tainted Wasteland

    "Geron, the Lord of Light and Creation. According to legends, the second Old One to appear in our beautiful Universe. Kind and graceful above all, Lord Geron became the sign of hope for many.


    Initially, his most faithful believers formed sects, building chapels in his name. His Grace rewarded them, descending from the stars to exalt them as his High Priests and Priestesses.


    With this act, the most popular religion in our Universe was formed. Shortly after, Lord Geron became the Heavenly One, the most beloved of the Six. Yet, is this title deserved? Is there really a good answer to this question?"


    ~Those who came before us by Unknown, Published before the 1st Outbreak


    <hr>


    With not even a dozen meters separating him from the so-called Tainted Wasteland, Leo could have just climbed the remaining distance to the roof and taken a look for himself. However, if the System thought it wise to warn him beforehand, he would have to be dumb to just ignore it.


    The last thing Leo wanted was to walk into the vapor and die from some poison like a complete buffoon. Now that would have been an embarrassing way to go¡­


    Snorting lightly, Leo sat down on the thin web and checked his True Stealth for good measure. One should never trust his abilities too much if they were gained not even a week ago. Even more when the one using them was hanging high up in the air on a string of alien matter.


    Someone should definitely write this down. Shit just might save some people''s lives. Leo mused with a chuckle. Anyway, hit me with it, System.


    First encounter with a Tainted Wasteland detected. Displaying standard information package.


    Tainted Wastelands are unique areas mainly formed during the beginning of an Outbreak. Please note that some special circumstances might lead to the creation of more of these abominations long after the Outbreak started.


    The creation of these areas is caused by excessive amounts of Void''s Essence settling in one place. This process changes the nearby environment into something that can''t be encountered naturally even on some of the most dangerous Ever-Darkness worlds.


    So yet another generous gift from the Void? Lovely... Leo grumbled but continued reading. What else do you have for me?


    No new Awakened Survivors ever come out from a Tainted Wasteland. The overflow of Void''s Essence is too strong for the System to reach them in time. As a result, Voidlings inside those areas are usually stronger and always possess one unique mutation that corresponds with the Wasteland''s aspect.


    Take heed, for eliminating all Voidlings in the vicinity shall not eradicate the Tainted Wasteland. As long as corrupted Essence permeates the ground, the Tainted Wasteland will persist, spreading at a decelerated pace. Nonetheless, the System will reward any user who strives to impede its spread.


    Does this mean that my home almost suffered a similar fate, or are my current race and this Tainted Wasteland completely unrelated? Fuck, that opens another can of worms¡­


    If the answer to this question was the former, then Leo just might have found a place that could fulfill his Apex evolution requirements. Although considering the System''s warnings, it probably wouldn''t be easy to get those hearts.


    I will just take a look and decide then. If it is entirely unrelated or too dangerous, I have a strong evolution ready, just waiting to be picked. Doubt that the Apex one could be much better¡­


    Shrugging, Leo dismissed the standard information package and slid along the Vetilim web. The alien substance quivered beneath his weight, but he maintained a firm grip and continued crawling forward. If it hadn''t failed him thus far, he hoped it wouldn''t fail him now.


    This is going to bite me in the ass sometime in the future. I can already feel it. Leo snorted, and with a single pull on the roof''s ledge, he finally reached his destination.


    Not one to leave a job unfinished, Leo crawled along the roof straight to the other side, where the vapor grazed against the building''s wall. The closer he got, the more Essence settled on his shoulders, trying to grind him right into the ground in a pathetic show of power.


    For an E-ranked threat, it certainly got nothing on the Second Cataclysm. Now let''s see the ''changed environm... Whatever Leo was thinking, those thoughts died a painful death once his gaze landed on Wolford''s town square.


    Oh shit... Yeah, I can definitely see the reason for E-rank now¡­


    The triangle-shaped area that had served as a bustling hub in Wolford merely a week ago had vanished. The red bricks, once forming the town square''s entire floor, now faded into oblivion, leaving behind scorched and disfigured ground. Even the fountain in the middle had not escaped unscathed.


    Hundreds of fissures filled the entire area, varying in depth and length. Some were shallow, barely longer than Leo''s arm, while others delved deep into the ground, extending even halfway across the town square. However, it was not their size that was the most unsettling factor.


    No, that honor fell to the otherworldly purple glow emanating from the fissures. Adding to the eerie atmosphere, the vapor shrouding the entire area appeared to originate from those very crevices, gradually seeping out and billowing toward the sky.


    Then, of course, there were the Voidlings, dozens of them, scattered throughout the town square. Their guttural groans and screeches echoed in the vicinity, but those sounds were the least of Leo''s concerns. Having heard them countless times before, he had grown almost desensitized to their presence by now.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Instead, Leo''s eyes drank in the unique appearance of those monsters. From their ebony skin, marred with the same ethereal purple fissures that adorned the ground, to their more refined weapons ¡ª claws and spikes ¡ª that glinted in the sunlight, looking sharper than ever.


    A few uses of Identify on Voidlings that bore a striking resemblance to Cursed Humans confirmed that even those creatures were not to be trifled with. Even worse were the two Voidlings with jagged crowns protruding from their skulls, formed by their deformed skin.


    Apex Cursed Human (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 9


    Apex Cursed Runner (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 8


    Information about Apex Voidling variants added to Bestiary. Mutation: Tainted Corruption (Void) added to Mutation Index.


    Yet, despite the notifications clouding Leo''s vision, his gaze remained fixated on a different creature ¡ª one he had never laid eyes upon before.


    It stood upon four colossal legs and bore an equal number of sturdy, rock-like arms, poised to crush its enemies'' skulls to a pulp. The mountain of a Voidling had long since shed its skin, leaving its raw muscles on display, the fibers glistening softly with a violet glow.


    Cursed Juggernaut (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 11


    "Dear god..." Leo uttered with True Stealth thankfully catching the sound. Chills ran down his spine as he watched the Juggernaut march in circles as if it was patrolling the area. Its glowing crimson eyes scanned the entire Tainted Wasteland, and Leo quickly ducked his head, the creature disappearing from his view.


    Only one Voidling in the past elicited such a response from him, and back then, Leo barely understood the new reality he found himself in. And now, hardened by the last few days of suffering and constant fighting, he once again found a creature that was far beyond his capabilities.


    It even got a fucking army. If those fuckers decided to step out of the Wasteland, the streets of Wolford would get twice as dangerous as they are now. Hell, and I''m pretty sure I saw at least one more Voidling that wasn''t a traditional Cursed variant. Just how many of them are down there?


    Lying flat on the roof, Leo summoned his Bestiary. Any kind of information was better than nothing at this point.


    Apex Variants:


    Just as the name indicates, Voidlings with the Apex prefix were born stronger, better, and smarter than their normal kin. Their potential is always higher than a standard Voidling, and it isn''t rare for them to grow at an accelerated rate. It is also important to note that almost every Apex possesses the ability to partially command their lesser kin of the same evolution line. Very rarely, Apex variants might also develop unique abilities that a normal Voidling can''t possess.


    If necessary, additional information related to Apex variants will now be displayed in Bestiary entries of normal Voidlings after encountering them.


    Most I already expected, but the partial command and unique abilities aren''t a welcome surprise. Leo grimaced as he quickly called the entries for Cursed Human and Runner, only to discover that nothing had changed there.


    Alright, that''s good. The last thing I need is for the most basic Voidlings to develop some special abilities. The fact that I probably passed a few of those on my way here is already depressing enough. From now on, I''m using Identify on everything¡­


    Flicking the Bestiary entry away, Leo let the Mutation Index take its place. Although the standard information package already gave him quite a bit of data about the Tainted Wasteland, he hoped the new mutation could shine even more light on this situation.


    Tainted Corruption:


    A mutation of Essence origin directly connected to the existence of Tainted Wastelands. It affects the three main pillars, boosting its overall capabilities by a small margin. Additionally, depending on the aspect of Tainted Corruption, the affected will gain more unique benefits. While creatures with this mutation rarely leave their Tainted Wastelands to not lose their connection to its aspect, it is essential to note that an encounter with Tainted Voidlings outside those areas is still possible. This occurrence is attributed to the presence of Tainted Survivors unable to halt the spread of their curse.


    Discovered Subcategories:


    Void: The most popular Tainted Corruption. It doesn''t grant any additional abilities except for providing further strength, durability, and speed improvements.


    So I was right... Leo gulped, reading the last few sentences one more time. My home, or even the entire neighborhood, was close to becoming a nesting ground for a Tainted Wasteland. Shit... I guess lucky is one way to call my continued existence.


    Leo''s focus slid to the subcategories. At least it could have been worse? Probably?


    While the Void subcategory didn''t seem too dangerous, all of those Voidling already had an average level well above seven. Add to that the improved capabilities from mutation, and Leo wasn''t sure if he could even handle two of those monsters simultaneously.


    And that was without counting on their sheer numbers and other variants spread in their ranks.


    Speaking of... Leo grimaced. Time to find out what that big guy is packing.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Juggernaut


    Expected Potential: E- to E


    Weapon of choice: Pure strength


    Known weaknesses: No skin layer, slowed reaction time


    The Juggernaut is a potential evolution of the Cursed variants, achieved through the combination and fusion of two Voidlings, which jumpstarts their evolution. While Juggernauts are less common in the early stages of Outbreaks, they are among the most formidable adversaries for new Survivors. With their sheer strength as their primary asset, Juggernauts are surprisingly agile and can quickly close the distance to their prey if they react promptly.


    Apex variant: Aside from standard benefits, Apex Juggernauts can possess two hearts that must be destroyed to kill them.


    Yeah, I ain''t touching that with a ten feet pole. Leo scoffed. Attempting to kill this thing with his current power was a death wish, nothing more. His own evolution might close the gap, but that remained to be seen.


    Which brings forth another question... I can ignore the Juggernaut, but should I try to harvest two hearts from some stragglers? Leo crawled to the roof''s edge once more and took a peek.


    One side of the triangle-shaped town square had a thin road running by it, and that street also posed as the current border of the Tainted Wasteland. If Leo played it right and used the few crashed cars standing by it, he might be able to pull it off.


    Might is a strong word here... Leo grimaced, eyes settled on the two normies walking along the road. But if I play this right, then I will no longer have to wonder if the Apex evolution was better¡­


    A heavy sigh left Leo''s lips.


    Fuck... I''m going to do it, aren''t I?

 Chapter 48. Takeover

    "None of us were special before the Outbreak; we were just existing, striving to reach the next day in a world that didn''t give a damn. Then the Void came, opening our eyes, and so as others around us died in millions, we rose up and took what the System offered, a chance.


    A chance to be better, a chance to carve a piece of this Multiverse for ourselves.


    We don''t let our past hold us back. We don''t let our bonds stop us from trying and succeeding. We left our old lives behind and became what most can only imagine. Because that''s what Narzak is all about, to move forward, no matter what."


    ~Narzak''s first leader, 6th Outbreak


    <hr>


    This is going to need some planning, a bit of luck, and a hell of a lot of improvisation... Fuck, you just had to bait me with the possibility of discovering my last evolution, hadn''t you?


    If it wasn''t for the possibility that Leo could really pull it off and see what the Apex evolution was hiding, he would have already been far away from here. Maybe not back with the others yet, but at least nowhere near this hellhole.


    You see this, Nick? Leo snorted as he crept even closer to the roof''s ledge. You were supposed to stop Lily and me from doing dumb shit. But here I''m doing just that because I don''t want to go back, can''t go back, not yet... Whatever. If you aren''t here to stop me, at least give me some luck, brother. Void knows I will need it.


    Just like Leo had already noted, there were dozens of Voidlings down in the town square. Previously he didn''t pay that much attention to the weaker beasts, especially those right below him, but now that was no longer an option.


    With the task ahead, Leo couldn''t allow for any gaps in his knowledge about this damned Tainted Wasteland. If there was something dangerous inside, he needed to know about it.


    There was no denying it; the Cursed Juggernaut, circling the ruins of the fountain, posed the greatest threat. Its sheer power was most likely unmatched. Close behind, the Apex variants trailed in terms of immediate danger. However, Leo understood all too well that if it could, the Void would throw even more shit his way. It was a lesson he learned well during the last few days.


    And I was right...


    Grumbling, he poked his head out, peering directly downward. The Wasteland sprawled right up to the base of the building, but that detail held little significance. No, that honor fell to the Voidling standing just next to a closed door.


    Cursed Screamer (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 7


    What an ugly motherfucker. Though, the others aren''t much better¡­


    The new variant, or perhaps an evolution, bore some resemblance to the other Cursed Humans in the vicinity. However, unlike the normies who clung to tattered remnants of their former attire, this monstrous being had shed all semblance of clothing. Its deformed and mangled black skin was exposed, a grotesque display for all to witness.


    The Screamer had shed the distinctive traits that once marked it as a human male or female, reducing its form to a mere humanoid husk. Its elongated limbs, far too long for an average human, were tipped with nails that could probably rend through steel, accentuating its menacing appearance.


    Yet, it was the creature''s mouth that truly captured attention. Filled with an array of minuscule teeth, the Screamer''s jaw was twice as wide as that of an average human. With every breath, the maw expanded, stretching the beast''s cheeks akin to the way a frog''s sac would distend when filled with air.


    It can''t be that bad, right?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Screamer


    Expected Potential: F+ to E-


    Weapon of choice: Sound blast, Jaw


    Known weaknesses: Melee range


    Cursed Screamers are widely known as one of the two most popular evolutions of Cursed Runners. Whereas the other focuses purely on improving what a Runner is, this one invites change. Screamers are long-range fighters, preferring to incapacitate their prey with the power of sound and then eat them alive. Usually, after one sound blast, a Screamer''s mouth must rest for a bit. This is the time to engage them in close quarters and beat them at their weakest.


    Apex variant: Unlike their weaker kin, Apex Cursed Screamers can fire at least three consecutive blasts before needing to rest their mouth. This number can go to as high as five (Current noted record).


    Thank fucking god it''s not an Apex. One sound blast I can work with if I have to... All in all, not that bad.


    The cogs in Leo''s head whirred and spun, working overtime to formulate a plan that had a chance of success. Or, at the very least, a plan that wouldn''t result in a catastrophic failure, which Leo still wasn''t sure he could escape considering what awaited on the field before him.


    I just need to find out how loud it can scream... Shit.


    Gulping, Leo snatched a tiny piece of brick that had fallen off a nearby chimney. He hoisted himself up into a crouch just at the roof''s edge and aimed at the creature below. He most likely had one shot at this. After all, who knew how the Voidlings would react.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    This is gonna suck.


    Leo pulled his arm back, and in one swift motion, the tiny brick left his hand, propelled like a homing missile aimed directly at the target''s head.


    In a blink of an eye, the projectile stuck true, and Leo staggered backward as a scream that pulled on his soul reverberated through the area. If he had ever considered the Seekers to be loud, they paled in comparison to the blood-curdling sounds of the Screamer.


    Fuck.


    Eyes snapping shut momentarily, Leo''s hands flew right to his ears, feeling as a very familiar substance dribbled down his skin. The blood flowed slowly, just barely trickling out, yet it didn''t matter. Only the fact that the Screamer somehow damaged him did. And from such a distance at that, without even hitting Leo straight in the face.


    Nonetheless, Leo only gritted his teeth and took a few steps forward to gaze at the Wasteland underneath. He had to know how Voidlings reacted.


    Ears still ringing, Leo watched as the creatures below shuffled like ants after someone stepped on their home. However, what truly mattered to him was the fact that they all had their focus on the Screamer. Hell, some of the beasts near it were rolling on the ground, groaning like fools that had way too much to drink.


    Friendly fire, nice. Fucker definitely earned its F+ rank... Leo noted as he retreated once more. Hopefully, his somewhat improved regeneration could repair the worst damage in a few minutes. As for his hearing overall?


    Well, Leo would need to suck it up and survive with the entire world tuned to about twenty percent of its volume¡­


    Still, what the Screamer did was more than Leo counted on, and despite the damage, this was something he could work with. Now he just needed to find a good way to spring the trap and activate the bloody siren again. Simple as that.


    Not.


    Leo grimaced, wiping his ears with a cloth he snatched from his backpack. There is always the Minor Takeover. No better time to test it than in the field, where one screw-up could have the entire Wasteland after my hide... No pressure.


    With the world''s sounds subdued, Leo made his way to the corner of the Wasteland on his left. His eyes fell upon the familiar street he had previously observed, the very same one that ran along the town square and continued its path into the city on both sides.


    There were a few Voidlings down there, yet Leo shook his head. Low-level normies might suffice, but he didn''t want to take the chance. No, in this situation, Crawler or a Runner would be more suitable.


    Maybe on the other side.


    Leo moved swiftly and silently as he made his way to the roof on the other side of the street. Every muscle in his body tensed with each step, ensuring he remained hidden from the Wasteland below. Being sloppy was the last thing he needed now¡­


    Time crawled by as Leo moved across the roofs of the buildings along the street, keeping low to avoid detection. He traveled from one edge to another, scanning the area in search of the perfect target, only there were none.


    It wasn''t until Leo reached the exit from the town square that he saw it. A single Cursed Runner, with only two normies close.


    The monsters stood in the midst of the usual Void jungle, unbothered by the Wasteland that was slowly spreading just a corner away, consuming Vetilim and Corcera to fuel its growth.


    Not gonna lie, if I could travel above the Wasteland, this mess would have been a lot easier to solve. Leo mused as he slid to the ground and straight into the long red grass. The jungle really made it simple to get off the roof without a single soul noticing.


    With practiced ease, Leo maneuvered around the small group, and the moment the Runner turned away, he struck.


    The two normies never stood a chance as Leo rose from the grass. His human hand, assisted by the bowie knife, dug deep into the head of the first Voidling. In the meantime, his claws went straight into the other beast''s throat, cutting halfway through its neck in one go.


    All of this happened in the blink, and just as the Runner began to turn, a screech ready to escape its throat, Leo pounced once more. Bathed in the blood from the Runner''s two kin, he extended his hand, a single thought on Leo''s mind.


    Minor Takeover.


    Leo''s fingers touched the Runner''s arm, and Essence exploded from his soul and cursed arm, guided by an unknown phantom hand ¡ª the System. At the same time, his heart thrummed like never before, while the Touch of the Void moved to the center of his being.


    They all worked together, flooding his Essence with an aspect darker and more potent than anything Leo had ever felt. Even the second Cataclysm couldn''t measure, and yet, back then, he could barely handle it, staying afloat thanks to the adrenaline from the fight against Vetilim.


    But now?


    Now, the aspect felt inviting, bathing his body in warmth, not unlike a motherly embrace. It silently begged to be let in, and just like Leo was instructed by his first technique, he let it, the shadow aspect of his soul blending perfectly with the chaos of the Void.


    All of this took a second, maybe two. And so, as fast as the surge came, it went away just as quickly. The aspect of the Void receded, Leo''s Essence calming. Yet now he felt something more, a foreign blip inside his mind.


    Leo gave the presence a nudge and watched as the Runner turned fully, one of its crimson eyes gone, replaced by a vivid, dark violet iris and slitted pupil. He had never seen such a thing before. Not even Nikra in his dreams possessed such eyes, and definitely not any Voidling.


    Something so unique on a creature so ugly¡­


    With a shake of his head, Leo stepped away from the Runner. Thoughts about eye colors could be left for later. He had a job to finish.


    Following the System''s instructions, Leo focused on the blip in his mind and spoke. "Move a step to the left."


    And just like that, the Runner moved, exactly one step to its left. Well, I meant to my left, but that''s probably my bad... Anyway, now for the most critical part... Please work.


    Getting a solid hold on the Runner''s presence inside his head, Leo gave it a strong nudge and closed his eyes. Go to the nearest tree in the vicinity.


    A low groan along the shuffling of the grass around him answered Leo''s call. After counting to five, he opened his eyes again.


    There, only a few meters away, the Runner stood, and right next to it was a tree.


    Leo grinned.


    Let''s get to work.

 Chapter 49. Escalate

    "During the first Outbreaks, Cursed Screamers weren''t that popular. You could find one or two every once in a while, but that was pretty much it. Now Cursed Sprinters were an entirely different case. The moment the Runners reached their evolution threshold, over ninety percent of them would go with this option.


    What has changed since then? Why did the Runners decide to shift towards the Screamer evolution slowly? That we don''t really know, but we have our assumptions considering how dangerous a Screamer''s sound blast can be in a populated area. We highly advise you to steer clear of those creatures, especially when traveling in a large group."


    ~Creatures of the Void, 42nd Edition


    <hr>


    Leo didn''t give the Runner another command until he scrambled up the same tree, hiding in its foliage. The initial activation of Minor Takeover might have overwhelmed him a bit, but now he realized that maybe testing its capabilities while standing on the side of a street wasn''t the best idea.


    No reason to test my luck. Leo shook his head, settling on one of the many branches. His gaze went back to his minion. Act as you normally would, but make sure not to stray too far from the tree.


    The monster stiffened at once as if digesting the command, but Leo didn''t need to wait long for the Voidling to listen. Its body slumped just a bit, and the Runner began its slow trek around the immediate area, an occasional growl escaping its throat.


    Good, that''s one problem solved, at least for the time being. Leo noted before closing his eyes and diving right into his soul. Instantly, his mind submerged into the deep pool of his Essence, or rather, what remained of it.


    Well fuck. Leo grimaced. Almost half of my reserves gone in a blink of an eye. I mean, I felt the drain, but it wasn''t strong enough to take this much that fast. At least, I think so... Shit, I''m gonna need to pay more attention next time. Have to figure out how it works step by step.


    The first use of Minor Takeover definitely took him by surprise. Leo had thought that he had gotten used to the feeling of True Void when he drained Voidlings, but that process had nothing on what he experienced just now.


    Speaking of. I swear I felt some pull on the Pure Void Essence inside my arm. Giving the cursed appendage a glance, Leo summoned the sated status once more. His eyes narrowed. Almost three hours gone. Not a lot, but if I could take over more Voidlings, this might have been a problem... Although it makes me wonder how this technique will even be fuelled after I evolve.


    Drain allowed Leo to store Pure Void Essence because Tainted needed it. Would it still work the same when Leo received an upgraded version of this ability?


    Devour can apparently replenish my reserves, so maybe the nature of my Essence will change again? Leo snorted. Fuck if I know... Doesn''t matter anyway, for now at least. I got better things to worry about.


    At this point, the Runner took an interest in the two bodies Leo left lying in the grass. Slowly, the Voidling devoured its kin chunk by chunk, its hands digging deeper and deeper into the flesh.


    Leo grimaced as the Runner snapped a finger away from the fallen monster, a crunch filling the air. I guess my bad for telling it to act naturally... But yeah, I don''t need to see it.


    Giving the now-familiar presence a nudge, Leo sent another command. Leave the bodies and approach the group of Cursed Humans further down the street. Act naturally and only run away if they attack you.


    The Runner rose slowly, its gaze still glued to the two bodies. The Voidling even whined pathetically as it walked away.


    Leo stared dumbfounded. Did it really just do that? What''s next? Playing fetch?


    Even now, as the Runner came closer to the larger group of Voidlings, it still sometimes shot a look over its shoulder. Leo had half a mind to give the beast another command, but in the end, he didn''t. Despite the monster''s longing looks, it more or less acted naturally.


    Eventually, the Runner reached the group, and Leo had it move among the Voidlings and even shoulder-check the weakest of them. The assaulted Cursed Human screeched at his minion but did nothing else, probably recognizing its position in the food chain.


    So it can walk among other Voidlings without a problem. Leo noted before a frown slowly found a way onto his face. Doubt it will work the same on the Wasteland. There was nothing in the info package about them being aggressive to outsiders, but that''s almost a given in cases like that¡­


    Not that Leo needed the Runner to sneak through the Tainted Wasteland. No, all the beast had to do was take attention away from him. And if it so happened to run straight into the Screamer, it wasn''t Leo''s fault.


    This can work if I find suitable targets... I need to take them down instantly, or at least almost instantly. Anything else won''t give me time to rip their hearts out and escape. I bet they will be on me the moment I step into the Wasteland.


    Nodding, Leo ascended higher, stepping onto another Vetilim platform and then onto the nearest building. The Runner also received its order, to go straight to the road connected to the town square and wait there. For now, Leo had his own task to finish.


    Fortunately, the house Leo climbed onto provided a straightforward pathway to the buildings that lined the remaining side of the triangle-shaped Wasteland, which he had yet to explore. It essentially placed him on the opposite side of his initial position, where he had first observed the area.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Still there. Leo narrowed his eyes, watching the Screamer scramble in the distance.


    With all the time that had passed, the Voidlings that had been knocked down by the Screamer''s blast had already risen from the ground, seemingly unaffected by the previous incident. Leo just hoped their hearing also recovered; it would be a disaster if they didn''t even hear the Screamer when he struck.


    Sighing, Leo crawled along the edge once more, eyes darting from one Tainted Voidling to another. While there were several enticing targets, he knew that no matter how fast he moved, the entire Wasteland would descend upon him before he could even reach them.


    No, they won''t do.


    Leo massaged his brow as he sat down at the edge of the Wasteland where the two walls of buildings met. This was the farthest point from the road on the other side, yet the connection to the Runner was still there.


    At least something is working... Leo grumbled. You know what, let''s already move you into position. Void knows how much time I will have once some Voidlings move into a better spot.


    In the distance, the Runner obediently followed its orders, steadily advancing towards its designated location. At the same time, Leo also rose; even if he somehow found two proper targets to assassinate from above, he didn''t fancy jumping from a three-story building. Neot, he was not.


    Swiftly, Leo jumped inside one of the many holes scattered across the rooftops. The bowie knife slid into his hand, the blade sliding right into the top of a Cursed Human''s skull that stuck out of a pile of debris.


    Unlucky. Leo shrugged and quickly drained the beast.


    While the building seemed to be just barely standing ¡ª no doubt, thanks to the influence of the Wasteland, as proved by the lack of Vetilim and Corcera inside ¡ª, Leo still maneuvered through the gaps in the walls and the debris strewn across the interior. He might not be an Olympic gymnast yet, but he was getting pretty damn close.


    Within seconds, Leo positioned himself in front of two wide-open windows on the first floor. From this vantage point, he had a clear view of the Wasteland close below. However, there were no Voidlings in immediate proximity, or at least none close enough for him to simply jump down and eliminate upon landing.


    Sometimes you just gotta improvise.


    Snatching a bunch of debris off the floor, Leo placed it all on the windowsill. He worked like that until a nice pile waited for him, ready to be hurled off the other side.


    Leo did just that and ducked low.


    Dozens of tiny concrete pieces rained down upon the Wasteland''s edge like an angry waterfall. Their clatter echoed through the area, reaching Leo''s ears, if just barely. He just hoped it was enough to get some attention.


    Finally, a few screeches louder than before answered the clatter. Hugging the wall, Leo stood up and took a tiny peek.


    Bingo.


    Three Cursed Humans, their curiosity piqued by the falling debris, cautiously approached the scene. Though they remained beyond the reach of Leo''s blade, at least now he had a small group separated from the others. All he needed was to get them just a bit closer.


    Once more, Leo grabbed two slightly bigger pieces of concrete. System, Limit Break to full power for ten seconds.


    Instantly, power surged through his body, and Leo didn''t waste a second. In quick succession, he threw the two projectiles, aiming straight for their head with a precision granted by the Limit Break.


    Leo hid again, only an inch of his head sticking out.


    The two hit Voidlings howled, dark blood pouring down their foreheads. However, despite getting a rock straight in the face, those monsters didn''t care. Instead, they rushed straight towards the building Leo occupied, clawing at its outside wall.


    Now, Leo should, by all means, be happy about this course of action. Unfortunately, there was one tiny problem.


    The third Voidling.


    In the act of camaraderie, the third Cursed Human followed its kin, attacking the building with the same vigor. The worst part was that those monsters seemed to be slowly getting through if the amount of rubble and dust starting to fill the area below was anything to go by.


    Alright, either I act now, or I have to fucking run. Those might only be Cursed Humans, but I ain''t fighting against three level-nine fuckers in a closed space. No way in hell.


    Before Leo could even give the problem any more thought, the barely standing building decided for him. Creak after crack echoed all around him as spider web patterns spread across the building''s walls. The entire structure groaned, and Leo made the decision.


    Ah fuck... Leo scowled, tying a cloth he had prepared around his head, covering the ears. Runner, go straight for the Screamer. Don''t stop no matter what until that bastard screams. After that, run away if you can. If not, then good luck.


    In the corner of his vision, Leo noticed something run straight into the Wasteland, but he paid it no mind. As the cracks in the building spread farther and farther with each second, he unsheathed both of his knives, the black glow of the Kiss covering them instantly.


    Essence and the System answered Leo''s silent plea, almost doubling the power he usually had under his call. Instantly, veins all over his body exploded in the light of thousands of stars, and so he jumped through the window.


    As Leo fell, a muffled scream reverberated through the Wasteland, drowning every other sound. He barely flinched, but the creatures below weren''t that lucky. All three bowed their heads, hands already covering their ears.


    Thank you for an easy target.


    Like a falling meteor, Leo crashed straight into the two closest Voidlings, his knives already buried deep in their skulls. With a squelch, he ripped his weapons out and stabbed the third monster right in the eyes. It went down right away.


    System notifications tried to snap into sight, but Leo forced them away. His attention remained solely on his claws and knives as they viciously tore apart the chests of the Voidlings. Whether it was skin, muscles, or bones, nothing could withstand the relentless onslaught he unleashed.


    When almost nothing stood between him and the dying hearts, Leo plunged his hands in and ripped out the two organs. More notifications attempted to fill his vision instantly, but Leo had only one thought in mind.


    Run. And so he did.


    Leo ran like a man possessed, two black hearts bleeding out in his hands. He ran as the earth shook, the wall of buildings behind him collapsing like a house of cards. And he ran as every single eye in the Wasteland turned towards him, seeking prey.


    How the fuck did it escalate so quickly? Ah, right, I wanted a distraction. Well, here you go, you fucking idiot!

 Chapter 50. Mistakes were made

    "Apex variants aren''t common or even rare, especially in the beginning. Of course, finding one or two in a Nest or a Tainted Wasteland shouldn''t be a surprise, but outside of those places, the odds of finding one are very small, probably not even one in a thousand. Some even compare this to the likelihood of finding a Void Gate, but those are exaggerations by people who have no idea what they are talking about.


    Now, as rare as Apex variants are, they still have nothing on Prime evolutions. Which, in hindsight, is understandable. After all, no Voidling can become a Prime variant of their race."


    ~Study of the Void by Unknown


    <hr>


    The saying "No plan survives first contact with the enemy" was undeniably great. It served as a stark reminder to those who placed excessive trust in their plans, cautioning them that unforeseen factors could derail even the most meticulously crafted strategies.


    Even more important, its relevance extended beyond the realm of battle tactics. It resonated with the unpredictability of life itself ¡ª a truth that people often conveniently overlooked.


    As life went on, the saying always lingered in the recesses of Leo''s mind, particularly after the passing of his biological mother. To him, those words held an inherent truth, constantly reminding him that nothing could be taken at face value.


    Each time they reinforced the notion that the world could just take his plans and throw them into a grinder regardless of Leo''s efforts. He could be careful and do everything step by step very slowly, and it still wouldn''t matter. After all, life was a love-hate relationship that Leo had somewhat grown used to.


    The world was unfair, and the sooner people learned this hard truth, the better their life would become... Probably.


    However, even accepting and embracing the world''s unfairness couldn''t prepare Leo for the clusterfuck that his task had become. Things just escalated a bit too much for his liking¡­


    Fuck, fuck, fuck. This one word, repeated endlessly in Leo''s mind, summed up the entire situation pretty well, all things considered.


    How the fuck could I have known that those bloody buildings would collapse after a bit of abuse!


    Leo scowled, his heart thudding in his chest like a jackhammer on steroids. Every single muscle on his body burned as the combination of full power Reinforcement and Limit Break tried to tear through all the fibers and tissue layers, some of which Leo didn''t even know could hurt.


    Nevertheless, he didn''t stop in his mad dash through the Wasteland.


    Already over halfway through, Leo punched another Cursed Human that wanted to get in his way and quickly sailed over another fissure. The instant his feet made contact with the ground, a tremor reverberated through the earth. He knew what was happening, but Leo didn''t dare to turn and look at the ancient buildings crumbling like a castle made of glass.


    The entire fucking city must be hearing this.


    Leo grunted and slid between a Voidling''s legs, slashing through its tendons as he went. At least his hands were free to do the fighting again. The wetness and gurgle coming from his pockets notwithstanding.


    Out of nowhere, getting past Leo''s temporary deafness and his ear band, a bone-chilling screech pierced through the air. It reverberated with an eerie resonance, unlike any sound he had encountered before. Low and raspy, almost like the creature responsible had to fight itself to unleash such a sound from its throat.


    Despite knowing he shouldn''t, Leo''s head snapped towards the creature, eyes widening when he spotted the jagged crown on its head. Already the Voidling was gaining on him, the razor-sharp claws on its legs carving into the ground with each powerful stride.


    Shit.


    Sheathing his knives, Leo, in a matter of seconds, closed the distance between him and the end of the Wasteland. Don''t you dare follow me! But he didn''t turn to check, and instead, in two decisive steps, he leaped straight at the building on the other side of the street.


    Leo''s claws sank deep into the wall, their grip unwavering as his other hand sought leverage. With each grunt, he propelled his body higher, defying gravity''s grasp. Despite the building''s three-story height, Leo ascended swiftly, surpassing even the most skilled climbers. It was as if he were soaring, covering almost a whole floor in a single fluid leap.


    Come on! Come on! Leo gritted his teeth as he pulled himself onto the roof. Instantly he released the hold on Limit Break and let Reinforcement die off slowly.


    Leo''s body cried out in agony as Essence receded back into his soul, leaving behind seared muscles and dulled senses devoid of the adrenaline-fueled rush. With a strained grunt, he trudged towards the roof''s edge, his legs trembling beneath him. His gaze fixed upon the Apex Cursed Runner accompanied by three minions, watching as they neared the very same wall he had just scaled.


    At least the other fuckers are running like headless chickens with everything collapsing around them¡­


    As one unit, they followed Leo''s steps and began scaling the wall, only way slower than their prey.


    Now Leo had two options. One, he could turn around and run away as fast as his abused body would let him. Or two, he could stay here and play a game of whack-a-mole with the Voidlings, hoping against hope that they would give up sooner or later.


    Considering Leo could barely run, the choice became obvious quite quickly. He had the advantage here.


    The Apex Runner was the fastest, climbing with the swiftness of a nimble monkey. To reward the beast''s dedication, Leo grabbed the nearest rubble and hurled it directly at the monster''s head.


    The Voidling emitted a low, menacing hiss as it faltered, its footing slipping for a brief moment. Then with renewed focus, it quickly regained its composure and propelled itself upward with a mighty leap, finally reaching the third floor.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Now that won''t do. Leo grimaced and renewed his onslaught. He seized anything within his reach, throwing it with whatever remaining strength he possessed at the swiftly advancing Apex Voidling.


    However, his efforts proved futile.


    The creature let out a piercing screech, undeterred by the barrage, and continued its ascent like any other relentless Voidling. Its climb persisted until its head emerged, peering over the rooftop, crimson eyes locking with Leo''s gray.


    I''m going to regret this, but fuck it. Leo grunted as he pulled himself up and swung his leg. Limit Break to one hundred!


    With the renewed power surging into Leo''s veins, his boot met the Apex Runner''s head with a resounding crack.


    The beast''s grip on the rooftop slackened immediately, and a haunting howl erupted from its gaping maw as it plummeted toward the ground below. However, to Leo''s disbelief, the Runner twitched and contorted its neck, swiftly rising to its feet as if utterly unfazed by the fall, ready to begin the climb anew.


    Alright, that didn''t work. Plan B.


    Leo, still fueled by Limit Break, brought out his bowie knife once more as a Tainted normie reached the top, baring its teeth. Undeterred, he dashed forward and stomped down on the hand that clung to the edge, shattering its bones.


    The Voidling immediately tried to answer with its other hand, but Leo quickly snatched it with his claws and twisted the limb. The bowie knife followed shortly after and went straight through the roof of the beast''s mouth.


    The Voidling fell, freefalling toward the ground. Yet, it didn''t matter much when a shattering roar reached Leo''s throbbing ears.


    The Juggernaut finally decided to join the fight.


    Oh fuck!


    The colossal Voidling reared its four arms and thundered forward, barreling straight toward the strip of buildings on which Leo stood. With each step, the ground quivered beneath its undeniable power. Not even the beast''s allies were spared from its rampage as the Voidling ruthlessly kicked or swatted aside anything in its path, most likely killing at least a few of its kind.


    With the Juggernaut rapidly closing in, Leo''s mind finally caught up with the imminent danger, jolting his body into action. Despite the searing pain coursing through his battered frame and the other Voidlings that were finally reaching the top, Leo ran or rather limped away slowly.


    With strength still provided by Limit Break, Leo hobbled along the many interconnected roofs, begging his body to go faster. But his weary limbs could only carry him so far, and just as he neared the point of escape, with only two roofs left to reach the Vetilim webs that could lead him to safety, the Juggernaut struck.


    Leo didn''t know exactly what happened, but he could imagine well enough with the way the entire roof shook. He barely managed to stay upright, and going by the screeches behind him, the Voidlings on his tail weren''t faring much better.


    Just a bit more. Leo pleaded as the roof trembled once more, a muffled roar coming from somewhere underneath him. The Juggernaut raged, and he couldn''t help but question who the fuck decided to give him the information about Tainted Voidlings not liking to leave their Wasteland.


    Such bullshi- Fuck!


    With a burst of adrenaline, Leo threw himself over a chasm that opened in the roof before him. Cracks began to spread over the building; even Vetilim and Corcera, which covered quite a bit of the structure, couldn''t hold it together. The living matter simply withered and withdrew in front of his eyes.


    Groaning, Leo dove past the sounds of terror surrounding him from each side and pushed onward. First crawling and then once again hobbling toward the last roof as everything around him began to break. Vetilim, Corcera, concrete. Nothing was spared from the Juggernaut that raged inside those buildings.


    I hope it will become your tomb, you dumb fuck.


    Limit Break flared to full power, barely giving Leo a spark of strength to be used. Yet, he still worked with what he was given and turned his hobble into a broken sprint as parts of the roof collapsed on each side. He could only imagine how everything looked behind him, and considering the lack of screeching from the Voidlings on his tail, he had a good guess.


    Obviously, the Juggernaut wanted the same fate for Leo as the moment only a meter or two separated Leo from an almost withered Vetilim web, the building shook for the last time.


    Everything went down, and Leo, with all his remaining strength, launched himself towards the web. His fingers clenched tightly around the fragile matter, his grip unwavering even as the world around him crumbled and dust consumed his vision.


    Leo began to fall right away, a scream leaving his lips as his body went into and straight through something solid, a crack echoing in his ears. The way down didn''t last long, and before he knew it, he crashed into something hard yet soft at the same time.


    Fuck! Must be the grass... At least I made it down... Leo thought through the haze of pain, his eyes shut tight. He could feel bruises and broken bones scattered all over his body, slowly bleeding out.


    I need to get out of here.


    Yet as Leo tried to rise, his cursed arm the only limb capable of fully supporting his weight, something struck him in the side. He screamed, eyes snapping open to the sight of normies surrounding him from each side.


    Fucking hyenas... You won''t take me out, you bloody wankers, at least not without dying yourself.


    Even as a Voidling struck Leo again, he just reached into himself and grabbed tightly all the remaining Essence he had. He channeled every bit of rage, anger, pain, and hate into it before letting shadows claim the bubbling orb of power.


    Leo held it for a bit longer, and when the other Cursed Humans stepped even closer, he let go, ignoring another System message.


    Boom¡­


    At once, shadows exploded from Leo''s every pore, hundreds of tendrils of a black mass shooting outwards. The Voidlings all around howled like one unit as shadows speared their bodies, turning them into Swiss cheese.


    As fast as the shadow tendrils went out, they returned just as quickly, sinking into Leo''s body. All the beasts collapsed one by one, and he joined them back on the bloody ground, now fully drained.


    Somehow silence fell upon the street, and Leo knew he could just close his eyes and sleep, but he mustn''t. This was no fairy tale; no one would rescue him from the monsters that would soon come. He had to get to safety.


    Come on, body! You survived this much. What are a few more minutes¡­


    Leo''s battered form quivered as he crawled, his flesh marred by countless wounds that seeped blood. The nearest open building on the other side of the street wasn''t far, and he could get there even with his current speed.


    At least all of this wasn''t for nothing. Leo grimaced when he still felt the familiar weights in his pockets. The hearts were probably squashed and barely recognizable, but he wouldn''t complain too much as long as they gave him the last evolution.


    Complain too much. Ha! Leo snorted, wincing at the pain the action produced. I almost fucking died for this... Hopefully, I can heal. Your shard better get to work, Nikra, or your newest legacy will be dead before we can meet. If you even care about that¡­


    ''You are not a normal human anymore, Leo Hale. You will live. Just get to safety and rest. And please, next time don¡¯t let your emotions dictate your actions.''


    Even if his entire body told him otherwise, Leo chuckled faintly as he pushed himself into the building.


    I will do just that. Thanks...

 Chapter 51. Now or never

    "For the majority of races, the first evolution is the most important step in their new lives. It is the beginning of your path toward greatness, and the System always considers this first step when it prepares the following evolution choices for you. Of course, at any moment, you can step away from this path if you try hard enough, but this process can take a bit of time.


    Then there are those few races who are born more powerful than others from the start. With them, the System takes a bit different approach as their base power makes it impossible to change their entire being with one evolution. Some might think this a curse, but as history has taught us, it is usually a blessing in disguise."


    ~Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    "Did you see anything?" Dylan asked when Tyler stepped back into the room, a frown on his face.


    "Not much," the boy muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Only a cloud of dust in the distance slowly fading away. Whatever went down, it went down hard..."


    Dylan''s head bobbed in agreement, his expression mirroring the concern shared by those around him. The tremors that rippled through the city had left them all shaking for a good few minutes. It was no earthquake by any means, but considering how their world had changed, Dylan didn''t even want to think of what could be capable of such destruction.


    "Tyler? Where did it come from?" Laura spoke up from behind him. Hours passed since Leo helped her, and while she wasn''t getting worse, she could barely stand up.


    "Town square," Tyler scrunched his brow. "At least I think so... I wanted to get on the roof and get a better view, but them bloody birds were way too close for my liking."


    Dylan grimaced. Those Seekers were one of the reasons for their current predicament. If not for those birds, they would have gone in a different direction and completely dodged the weird Voidling that got Laura.


    "Isn''t that where Leo went?" Laura''s shaky voice pulled Dylan back to reality, and he quickly shook his head.


    "Nay, lass. He might ''ave headed in that direction, but from what he told me, his brother''s flat is a good trek away from the town square," Dylan explained, and the girl relaxed her stiff shoulders just a bit.


    "One of us should''ve gone with him," Tyler grumbled as he sat down beside his cousin.


    Dylan chuckled, ignoring how the boy''s eyes narrowed. "And do what, Tyler? Slow him down? He''s an assassin, lad. He''d leave the two of us eatin'' the dust. Besides, you''ve seen what he''s capable of."


    "He is right, Tyler," Laura quickly cut in just as her cousin was hoping to retort.


    The boy scowled and picked up the hunting rifle gifted to them by Leo. "Doesn''t mean I have to like it." He shot his cousin a look. "He can heal you, Laura. Bloody fuck, he might be the only one who can, and we''ve got no clue if he''ll come back. He could be dead for all we know."


    "Tyler," Dylan hissed sharply, glaring at the younger man. "Leave it. Leo should still have a couple of hours before nightfall to make his way back. If he found his brother, that might be why it''s taking him a while."


    "And what if he didn''t?" Tyler shot back. "What if he doesn''t show, Dylan? We can''t be waiting here forever, and Lu still ain''t doing well. We''ve gotta do something, and I hate putting all our trust in a bloke we barely know."


    A knot formed in Dylan''s throat as he swallowed hard. He didn''t want to think about such a possibility, but he knew well that it would be stupid not to. No matter how strong Leo appeared, this world likely had already claimed people more powerful than him.


    Moreover, Tyler was right about placing all of their hopes in the hands of a stranger they had just met. Except for being a decent human being, Leo had no other reason to return.


    Grimacing, Dylan met Tyler''s eyes. "If he doesn''t come back, then the moment the Sun comes up, we make a move. We head straight for the trainyard and pray they got someone like Leo or someone who can sort you out, Laura. And if they don''t, well, we''ll figure something out, I swear on it."


    They kept their eyes locked, a silent war passing between them. Tyler, after another moment, offered a resolute nod. "Very well," he conceded.


    <hr>


    Despite Nikra being right about him not being a normal human any longer, Leo definitely still felt the same amount of pain as he did before the Outbreak. The last fumes of adrenaline might have pushed his body far enough to crawl into a small bathroom inside the nearest building, but the moment he collapsed face to the floor, the full force of his injuries surged forth, engulfing him in a symphony of torment.


    Searing agony tore through every single scrape and cut on Leo''s body, ripping yet another silent scream from his throat. His muscles ¡ª hell, his entire being ¡ª, abused from the overuse of Reinforcement and Limit Break, gave out almost entirely at this point, barely letting Leo move a finger.


    Sweat poured down his face, mixing with the crimson rivulets of blood that trickled down his battered form. Even each breath he took felt like inhaling shards of glass, stabbing at his lungs with each intake of air.


    Yet despite all of that, Leo just clenched his jaw tightly and instead listened to the rampant pulsing of Nikra''s shard inside his chest. Though his Essence reserves may have been depleted, his newfound heart refused to yield, supplying him with the much-needed strength to persevere.


    The healing factor granted by the mutation worked overtime, slowly knitting together the torn tissues and closing the deep wounds that adorned Leo''s battered body. It would probably take days to fix everything, but at this point, he didn''t care how long it took. Only survival mattered now, and for that, he needed the ability to move his limbs back.


    It took longer for that to happen than Leo would have liked. Or so he thought as, without any precise means of measuring it, he relied on his own flawed sense of counting seconds and the scarce rays of sunlight that filtered into the corridor he could see through the open bathroom door.


    At least the Sun is still up. Leo grimaced as he crawled towards the wall and leaned against it. While the pain barely let up since he crawled into the room, he could at least do something productive.


    Alright, System, hit me with it. Anything to focus my mind on.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Like any other time, over a dozen of kill notifications greeted him first, mainly from the Cursed Humans lying on the street. However, there was one message that caught Leo''s gaze.


    Apex Cursed Runner slain | No Experience awarded | 18 Ether gained


    Bonus Ether received: 9


    What? Why the fuck would you reward me for this? Fucker died thanks to the Juggernaut¡­


    Yet, the longer Leo thought about this, the more sense it made. He was the last one to damage the Apex beast, and even though it died due to Juggernaut''s rage, the colossal monster never touched the Runner directly.


    Huh, that might be something to abuse in the future... If I''m even right, that is. Shit might just be a happy coincidence.


    Letting the kill notification drop, Leo summoned the latest one. He really wanted to know what the System tried to tell him after he killed all those fuckers on the street.


    Technique Shadow: Eruption obtained.


    So that''s how I managed to slaughter those normies outside. Sounds about right cuz I can''t remember much more than fuelling all my Essence and emotions into a single attack and then releasing it... The System must have done the rest.


    Shadow: Eruption (Novice)


    A technique born out of the User''s hatred and pain. This simple ability can give birth to hundreds of tiny shadow tendrils capable of spearing through even the strongest armor if provided with enough power. Please note that this technique can be made stronger by negative emotions and usually takes a few seconds to form when used by beginners.


    So I wasn''t imagining things... I really became a tentacle monster for a moment there. Leo shuddered slightly, instantly biting on his lip as the pain in his back intensified. Right, no sudden movements¡­


    Pushing the discomfort away, Leo reread the description once more.


    To put it simply, Leo doubted that Eruption could be used in a typical fight. Sure, it was powerful, but the time and Essence it took to prepare just didn''t fit the bill for a small brawl.


    Now against multiple enemies... That was a completely different case. All Leo needed was a bit of time to prepare, and this technique could slaughter everything that stood in its way. He just had to get the hang of it and he could probably challenge the Tainted Wasteland once more.


    Yeah, no. Leo instantly grimaced at the thought. I ain''t challenging anything before I recover and evolve... Speaking of. Can I at least see if my close encounter with death was even worth it?


    There were still a few more notifications waiting, and Leo summoned them right away. They had to be hiding the answer to his question.


    Apex evolution requirements met. Apex Night Stalker unlocked.


    Leo sighed. Thank fucking God... It would be embarrassing if I almost killed myself for nothing. Not that I''m doing shit like that again without more preparations... Now to see what it do-


    Before Leo could even access the evolution menu, the System reacted, throwing another notification straight into his face.


    All second-stage evolutions unlocked. Please evolve, User. The System guarantees protection for anyone going through their first evolution if their connection to the System is greater than Average.


    You''ve got to be kidding me. Eyes wide, Leo gaped at the text hanging in front of his vision. And here I was fucking worried about finding a safe place. I could have used this information earlier, you bloody wanker!


    Without the traditional outlet for his anger ¡ª his hand definitely couldn''t handle punching another wall right now ¡ª Leo just closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. It never really worked too well for him, but anything was better than nothing at this point.


    Alright, Leo, there''s no need to get too angry at shit that didn''t matter much before now. He tried to reason with his own mind. I was planning on evolving today anyway. Now I just won''t have the others with me... Might even be for the best.


    His new group might be friendly, but there was no real reason to complain if Leo could evolve safely without their involvement. Besides, it wasn''t like he could return to them in his current state.


    Hopefully, they will let me talk before attacking. That could get messy.


    Nodding, Leo took the last step and summoned the description of his new evolution, a myriad of notifications immediately assaulting his vision.


    What the hell?


    Apex Night Stalker (Stage II)


    Creatures of the Void, rejoice. A new king is born, ready to take his first step toward greatness. Go forth, young Voidling, bring death to your enemies and let nothing stop you from consuming their flesh.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Heavy physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +10%. +3 Might, +3 Grace, +1 Soul, +2 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    Attention User! Fusion evolution is now available for this stage. Displaying necessary information now.


    Hold the fuc-


    Fusion evolutions usually combine the power of your Job with one or two possible evolution paths. While relatively rare in the first stage, they become a common occurrence later on if a User possesses a proper Job. Please note that going through Fusion evolution will forever block the ability to switch your Job.


    Can you stop for a da-


    Fusion available: Prime Night Hunter, thanks to Hunter, Prime Void Walker, and Apex Night Stalker. Displaying description.


    I give up... Do whatever the fu-


    Prime Night Hunter (Stage II)


    Hunt. Kill. Consume. Never stop, little Akirian. Hunt. Kill. Consume.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Heavy physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +15%. +1 Might, +3 Grace, +1 Vision, +1 Soul, +1 Mind, +3 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    Oh... Leo blinked. Yeah, I forgive you, System. Fuck this, and let''s do it straight away. I''ve wasted enough time and would have to be bloody stupid not to take an additional five percent and one more attribute point. Switching jobs be damned¡­


    Proceeding with evolution. System Protection: Available. Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes. Please note that while your current injuries won''t affect the process, you also won''t be healed. Do you really wish to proceed?


    Leo gulped, fists clenching as his mind completely tuned out the constant pain. This is it. No going back...


    Proceed.


    Choice Acknowledged. Beginning Stage II Evolution.


    Three.


    Two.


    One¡­


    Good luck.

 Chapter 52. My soul

    "How do you repent for betraying your family, your world? How do you continue living when everything you have ever known is gone? How do you continue fighting for a cause that is almost as lost as your own soul?


    I don''t know the answer to those questions, yet I still try. After all, what is the point of giving up after all those cycles?"


    ~ Unknown


    <hr>


    Good Luck. Let the Prime Night Hunter be born.


    For the first time since the introduction, those words weren''t thrown in Leo''s face, and instead, a booming voice spoke them right into his mind. Chills went down his spine in an instant, freezing him in place. Yet, before the bone-chilling fire could settle, the System acted.


    From every pore on Leo''s body, an ominous dark mist began to seep, gradually filling the room with swirling shadows. The density of the darkness forced him to narrow his eyes to maintain focus. Then, just as the mist settled, a black and red miasma oozed from his being, pooling at his feet and gradually coalescing into a living and breathing cocoon.


    Leo''s breaths grew rapid and shallow as the dark matter crept higher, steadily engulfing more of his body. Panic welled up within him as he attempted to move, but his limbs remained unresponsive, rendering him a helpless spectator. And so he could only watch, wide-eyed, as the dark matter continued its conquest.


    Calm down. Leo took a deep breath. The System won''t harm me. It is only starting my evolution.


    However, despite the thoughts swirling in his mind, Leo''s heart continued to race. It was an instinctual response, the natural impulse of a human trapped in a confined space. Only in this instance, the enclosure was a cocoon of an alien substance, devouring his body, slowly burying him alive.


    I swear, you never warn me about the important shit... Leo cursed, closing his eyes as the sticky miasma swallowed his neck. Inch by inch, the living matter finally reached his eyelids, gluing them to his face, trapping him completely.


    Despite all of that, Leo had no trouble breathing, and when the alien matter enveloped his entire body, even the pressure on his skin disappeared. It was as if the cocoon had dissolved into thin air, yet its presence was still palpable, holding Leo firmly in place, restricting any movement.


    Am I gonna just stay like that, unable to see until the evolution ends? Leo questioned internally as even the constant pain faded away, leaving him completely numb.


    As if hearing Leo''s query, the bindings around his body snapped away. His eyes flew wide open as he fell towards the vast darkness below. Hell, everything around him was dark, yet he could still see, still comprehend what was happening.


    This is gonna hurt... again. Leo gritted his teeth as his body crashed straight into the ground. However, the pain never came, and the impact barely registered in his mind, almost like it never happened.


    "What the fuck is going on? Where am I?" Leo breathed out, slowly rising to his feet and scanning his surroundings with a keen eye.


    True to his previous observations, the land was engulfed in an eerie darkness. The hard, stony ground lay beneath a thin veil of shadowy mist, while the sky above was a canopy of velvety blackness adorned with specks of red and violet stars. It was a realm consumed by darkness, a place where shadows ruled supreme. And to Leo, this desolate realm whispered one word.


    Home.


    "You wouldn''t be the first or last to call it that. After all, what else can capture the sensation of one''s own soul enveloping their being from each side?" A soft and melodious voice filled Leo''s ears, and he immediately turned on his heel, gaping at the person that appeared in his vision.


    Throughout his life, Leo had encountered countless individuals, their physical appearances often a passing detail. Beauty or attractiveness held little significance to him; he had much more pressing matters to attend to.


    However, at this moment, as his eyes fell upon the figure before him, Leo couldn''t help but be captivated. Never before had he beheld someone who embodied a sense of eternal allure, an exotic essence, and a palpable aura of danger ¡ª all in a single being.


    Yet here she is, perfectly fitting the description of those words and more. Leo watched as the woman took step after step, the thin mist barely obscuring her bare tanned feet.


    She, indeed, was an ethereal beauty, her lithe figure exuding an air of grace and elegance. Her long, waist-length hair cascaded down like a waterfall, its rich violet hue almost blending into the darkness surrounding them. Then there was her dress, a flowing and thin thing crafted from alien matter; its colors a striking combination of black and violet, shifting and shimmering as if alive.


    Wow... Leo summed up in his mind, still rooted in place, as his gaze fell on an almost familiar face.


    It held a delicate softness, exuding youthfulness and innocence, yet there was a subtle coyness to the woman''s expression, hinting at hidden mischief. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of crimson, locked with Leo''s gaze, the slits in them glowing with mirth.


    "You..." Leo muttered, and the woman''s pink lips curled into a slight smirk.


    "Indeed, Leo Hale," she returned with a nod, coming closer and closer.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "I''ve been called many things throughout my life, but I only ever took one name for myself, one you know well enough," Nikra continued, stopping just a breath away from Leo. "I''m the first Old One to be born, titled the Lady of Darkness and the Void. I''m the one who failed the entire Multiverse, and I''ve been waiting for this day longer than you can imagine. It''s truly a pleasure to meet the bearer of my middle shard, the one person who can finally share my destiny, my burden."


    Leo took a step back, his mind going a hundred miles per hour. Alright, that''s one way to introduce yourself, although I wish I knew what in the fuck is going on... And ''share my destiny and burden''? How the hell am I supposed to reply to that.


    Nikra suddenly smiled wider. "You don''t have to. I don''t even expect you to. At least not before I explain everything."


    Gulping, Leo raised his hand, eyes widening at the shadowy composition of the limb. His gaze quickly snapped to the rest of his body, noting the same thing. What?! How the hell didn''t I notice this before?


    "You were overwhelmed, and your mind isn''t working at its full capability currently, young one," Nikra explained out of nowhere once more. "Besides, you have nothing to worry about. Your form is as natural as it can get."


    Faster than Leo thought possible, he turned to the woman. "Alright. One, stop reading my mind. It''s not helping. And two, what are you even talking about?! Natural?"


    Leo suddenly froze. Fuck. Maybe I shouldn''t have screamed at someone who is pretty much an ancient goddess. Goddammit, get a grip.


    A burst of tinkling laughter abruptly filled the area, the sound as captivating as the person behind it. "No need to worry, Leonardo. Cycles I''ve waited for someone to speak with, and trust me, it will take a lot to truly anger me. And even then, an Old One I might be, but the power you fear faded a long time ago... Now, as for reading your thoughts, I will try to avoid it, though it may prove challenging given our link."


    Alright, that''s good, I think... Although link? Ah, whatever; I can worry about it later... Leo grumbled, his eyes connecting once more with Nikra''s.


    "Well, if you say so... Oh, and please stick with Leo, or do you want me to call you by your title?" He quipped and held his breath. If the ancient woman was sincere, then this shouldn''t be an issue.


    Thankfully, Nikra just chuckled.


    "I shall do that. I have heard enough pleasantries to last an eternity. I don''t need more from my Legacy," the Old One smiled, although it didn''t fully reach her eyes.


    And that''s a can of worms I don''t want to open right now. Leo grimaced and quickly steered the conversation in a different direction. "So about my form being natural..."


    Nikra''s eyes lit up just a bit. "Ah, yes. Please follow me. You need to see it to fully understand."


    Quirking an eyebrow that probably wasn''t even there, Leo trailed behind the Old One as she effortlessly glided through the mist. Her dress billowed and swirled with each step, and he couldn''t deny that his gaze often strayed to Nikra''s back. He was only human, after all.


    Well, probably not any longer, but who cares... Leo shook his head and sped up to match Nikra''s pace.


    "So where are we going exactly? From what I understand, we are inside my soul already, but as embarrassing as it sounds, that doesn''t really tell me much," Leo stated, focusing his gaze on the sights around them.


    "That''s right, this is your soul, or rather your soulscape, and right now, we are headed to its core... You need to understand that each soul possesses an infinite potential, and those lands," Nikra motioned to the empty planes surrounding them, "represent this potential that can be used by the core to grow, expand."


    Huh... Already learning something new. Leo smiled. "And what about the sky? The same rule applies?"


    Nikra glanced at him, her eyes glinting. "Partially, but it also plays a different role... Please, take a look at it again and tell me what do you see, what do you feel?"


    Leo frowned as he stared at the endless darkness. Every once in a while, another violet and red star would appear, piercing through the veil, yet apart from that, he didn''t really know what to search for.


    What do you see and feel?


    Blinking, Leo let the view consume him, filling his entire mind. The vision of the black sea with countless colored ships captivated his thoughts. And so he watched as the boats fought for their place, bringing others into the fold and growing into forms Leo felt he should know¡­


    Wait... It can''t be that simple, right? Leo blinked again, turning to Nikra, who smiled widely and nodded. "The sky also presents my potential. Not just of my power but affinities that I might be able to use in the future."


    "Exactly," Nikra laughed, and Leo couldn''t help but smile a bit wider. In the back of his mind, he knew this was the woman who was at least partially responsible for the first Outbreak. And yet, her happiness was contagious for some reason.


    Don''t worry about it for now. Leo shook his head. I will have plenty of time to get mad later. No reason to ruin a pleasant conversation with someone who knows more than me.


    "The Darkness is pretty self-explanatory, the next step after shadows. And I take that the red and violet is my connection to the Void, right?" Leo questioned instead, and Nikra nodded. "So if that''s the case, then why are there more and more of those stars appearing? I don''t think I''m doing anything to cause that."


    Nikra quirked an eyebrow, eyes shining with mirth. "And tell me, Leo, what is happening outside your soulscape?"


    Leo blinked, blinked hard. "Ah shit... Right, I almost forgot about the evolution..." Suddenly he frowned, "But wait, if my evolution alone is strengthening my connection, then does that mean that all Voidlings have some kind of Void aspect? After all, they come from there and probably always evolve with Void in mind."


    For the first time since their meeting, Nikra grimaced. "It''s a lot more complicated than that. I swear to explain it to you as soon as possible, but let''s put this conversation on hold. At least for now... In the meantime, look ahead. We are here."


    Just as she said that, they stopped right at the edge of a cliff, and Leo quickly followed Nikra''s gaze to the sight awaiting below.


    Shadows, living and always in motion, danced in a vast pond below. However, now that Leo was so close, the connection he had been missing since he appeared inside his soul suddenly snapped back. And at once, the entire pond of shadows froze, obeying his command.


    Wow... Leo found himself muttering internally for the second time this day.


    "Indeed," Nikra''s musical laughter echoed all around. "Welcome to the core, Leo Hale, the truest part of your soul."

 Chapter 53. Soulscape

    "There is no more dangerous Voidling than a Cursed Juggernaut in the very beginning stages of an Outbreak. Those massive beasts are almost unstoppable, trouncing their way through any obstacle they come upon. Only the pioneers can stand a chance against them, and even then, those encounters usually end up in the survivor''s death.


    It is highly advised to stay out of their way and only approach after amassing enough power and support. As for the Apex variant? Run, those things aren''t worth the trouble to kill them."


    ~Creatures of the Void, 42nd Edition


    <hr>


    The truest part of your soul... Those words rang loud inside Leo''s head as he watched the shadows beneath follow the motions of his unnatural limb. He was like a conductor directing the most beautiful symphony.


    No matter what command Leo gave the Essence below, no matter what motion his hand performed, the entire pond of shadows always obeyed. There was no delay, no fighting for control, just pure partnership between a person and the Essence deep inside their soul.


    How? Leo mused simply as he released his grasp over the shadows. At once, they jumpstarted their dance, swaying to inaudible music like waves during the storm.


    Glancing back at Nikra, who was watching him with a light grin, Leo voiced his question.


    "Why is it obeying me so easily? I mean, my control isn''t too bad, but this? This is far beyond anything I''m capable of..."


    "It is quite simple, young one," Nikra answered with a chuckle before sitting down at the edge of the cliff, her bare feet dangling above the pit of shadows. "Come sit with me. I will explain."


    I have been humoring her for this long. Why stop now? Leo shrugged and plopped down a fair distance away from the Old One.


    "As much as I applaud your wariness, I don''t bite, Leo. You can sit closer," Nikra raised an eyebrow at him, but Leo stood his ground. And so, with a sigh, the ancient woman continued. "Very well... Now to explain."


    Nikra extended her arm towards the pit, and ever so slowly, a single tendril of shadows approached the limb. Leo observed warily, only to gasp when the shadow touched Nikra''s hand.


    He had felt that.


    "As I already mentioned, and now you see for yourself," she began once more. "This is the truest part of your soul, the place where Essence is produced and stored. When you are in the real world, you must reinforce your mind to control and bring it outside your body. Here this process is made much simpler."


    Leo frowned. "How so? While I might not have a normal body here, I''m still using my mind to control Essence. There should still be some form of resistance."


    Nikra shook her head. "Not exactly. You see, soulscape is a truly wonderful thing. Here the barriers between the three pillars fade away and are made into one existence. That''s why your Essence won''t fight you. It just doesn''t have the necessary time to build up any resistance, as there is no buffer for your power to go through. Here your command is absolute."


    "Soul, mind, and body. Three pillars. Nice concept... " Leo hummed. "I can see the value of a place where I have total control. Would make practice much easier."


    Nikra nodded, "To some degree, yes. That was one of the purposes of a soulscape, to assist a being in honing their abilities so that they can slowly recreate them in the outside world with the experience they didn''t possess before."


    Useful. Very useful... A place to finally practice without worries was something Leo would need sooner or later. Besides, he could bet that the loss of Essence wasn''t as bad here as in the outside world. And even if it wasn''t true, soulscape apparently had more uses.


    "One of the purposes?" Leo inquired.


    "There are two other major uses... Do you remember the Traveler''s advice?" Nikra grimaced as the man''s title left her lips. Nodding, Leo noted this particular reaction for later. "He was right that you can store things here. There is little limit to what cannot go into your soulscape, and one day you will probably learn how to even push past those boundaries."


    Huh. Good to know that he wasn''t just spewing bullcrap. Getting rid of my backpack would be godsent. Though I doubt that anything inside it is usable after my fall... Fuck.


    "And the last one?" Leo prodded. He could leave the thoughts about his destroyed belongings for later.


    "It somewhat relates to the question you asked after we just met," Nikra smiled before nodding toward the pit of shadows. "Please, Leo, tell me, do you now understand why you appear here as you do?"


    Glancing at the core of his soul and then back at his shadow body, Leo furrowed his brow, or at least he tried.


    Considering everything Nikra had already explained and the sight before him, Leo had a good guess on what had happened to his body. Yet, his theory made a few other things much more confusing, so he couldn''t really be sure. Also, the System had never mentioned anything about changing his soul at its core.


    Which isn''t something I should be surprised about in hindsight. Leo sighed and readied his answer. "My affinity, or rather its True property."


    Nikra smiled wide, her eyes glinting like two crimson stars. "Indeed. Every true affinity affects the soul in its purest form. Once you gained shadow as your aspect, your Essence adapted to it. And that''s where your current form comes from."


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Leo frowned. "You mean that my Essence is now always shadow afflicted? That doesn''t seem right. I''m pretty sure I would notice if my normal skills utilized shadow Essence, and I''m definitely not doing anything to filter it."


    Nikra shook her head lightly, "You misunderstood, Leo. Yes, shadows might be the main theme of your soulscape, but that''s only because your Essence and soul want to represent its connection to your true affinity. Look beyond the surface, and you will find that they remain untainted and utterly pure."


    Do they really? Leo mused as he closed his eyes and dived into the connection to his Essence.


    At first glance, the feeling of his shadow affinity was truly overwhelming, but once Leo delved deeper, he saw the truth of Nikra''s words. His Essence, completely unchanged and untouched, was still there, waiting for his command. And if that was the case, then the same must have applied to his soul.


    "You are right," Leo muttered, eyes opening. "However, this doesn''t really explain the last use of soulscapes."


    Nikra nodded, her brow scrunching just a bit. "Yes, I can see that. It has been a while since I had to explain the inner workings of a soul to anyone. Forgive me if I sometimes lose the topic or confuse you."


    "Wasn''t your fault. I was the one who misunderstood," Leo quickly denied, still not one hundred percent sure why he was so welcoming towards a person that was pretty much responsible for the collapse of the Multiverse. It was just so hard to associate the woman sitting next to him with the monster from his dreams.


    Shit... Leo shook his head just when Nikra began to speak.


    "Your confusion was born only due to my incompetence, young one," the Old One smiled softly at him. "But let''s put that behind us. You asked for an explanation, and I shall provide it."


    "The last major purpose of a soulscape is also the hardest one to utilize," Nikra continued without a pause. "Affinities, or aspects as I prefer to call them, are almost as important as Essence that runs through our bodies. They offer us the power to utilize the concepts from the entire Multiverse, and so people had to find a way to develop and train them."


    "And that''s where the soulscape comes in," Leo whispered absently.


    Nikra beamed, "Training an aspect without any initial connection is almost impossible from a soulscape; you need some kind of an outside source to establish the first link... But once the sky shifts to represent even the tiniest bit of potential, it becomes the most consistent path to develop and strengthen your connection to that aspect."


    "How?"


    Nikra nodded to the core below. "You must dive into the truest part of your soul and completely embrace it. From there, you can either develop your true affinity or try to reach out toward the potential aspects scattered across the sky. It is a very advanced and time-consuming process, but once you master it, the rewards speak for themselves."


    Leo turned away, his gaze wandering towards the violet and red specks in the sky. This was the aspect of the Void, the same aspect that plunged the entire Multiverse into an endless cycle of death. And if Geron''s musings gleaned from his dreams were any indication, a power so immense that it seemingly consumed the entity seated beside him.


    So powerful and even more dangerous... Or rather terrifying would be a better word.


    When he received the Minor Takeover technique, Leo didn''t care if it came from the Void. After all, other Voidlings apparently could also control some of their kin, but now he knew better. It wasn''t just another ability, but something that one day could lead to complete disaster.


    His soulscape and Nikra''s explanation made it perfectly clear that he could develop some kind of an affinity towards the Void. Hell, with the Old One''s shard inside him, it might not be some aspect, but the aspect of the Void. And wasn''t that a terrifying thought?


    Is this what caused Nikra''s reaction in the beginning? I need more information... But first. Leo turned to Nikra again. "Did you ever master it?"


    The Old One''s face instantly fell, her eyes losing their brightness. "No," she whispered. "I didn''t want to. My control over darkness was always absolute, only getting stronger as time passed. And Void..."


    Nikra''s voice trailed off, and the hollowness in her gaze managed to send shivers coursing even through Leo''s shadow form. Not a glimmer of warmth remained within those eyes.


    I really need the whole story. Leo grimaced, looking away once more. While a small, vindictive part of him reveled in the knowledge that the person indirectly responsible for the deaths in his family was hurting, the larger part of him simply couldn''t find it in himself to care, at least not yet.


    Nikra was a shadow of her former self. Hell, considering her current appearance, she was far from fine even in his dreams. As such, no matter how much Leo wanted someone he could blame, someone he could take revenge on, the full story had to come first.


    But not yet. Leo sighed. She possesses way too much information for me just to throw this chance away. Although, it makes me wonder how much she knows about the System and its inner workings.


    "Right..." Leo muttered under his breath, and Nikra almost instantly snapped out of her haze. "I''ve been meaning to ask. Is it normal for everyone to go into their soulscape during evolution?"


    Some light immediately came back to Nikra''s eyes as she gave him, what Leo understood as, a grateful smile. "No. Unless you previously mastered the ability to enter it, you would be left in the infinite darkness, experiencing some of the pain that comes with evolution."


    Leo nodded. That much he expected, even if he didn''t fancy going through any more pain for now. "So it was you who dragged me here," he stated more than asked.


    "It was the obvious choice. Even with the weak time dilation inside of a soulscape, we still won''t have enough time to talk about everything important, and speaking to you when you are awake is quite tiring."


    Leo quirked an eyebrow, "Time dilation?" Now that was interesting and definitely took them away from the elephant in the room.


    Nikra shrugged, a light chuckle escaping her lips. "It isn''t anything special, young one, so don''t get too excited. Most souls can barely extend one second from the outside world to two here. I think only one of my brothers could strengthen the dilation, but his aspect pretty much did all the work..."


    "Brother?" Definitely not Geron.


    Nikra flinched, "A tale for a different day when time isn''t chasing us."


    Alright then, but you just gave me the perfect opening to ask about something I have to know.


    As casually as he could, Leo spoke up, "Speaking of tales for a different day. I think I will take the explanation about Voidlings and Void aspects right now."


    Spotting the widening of Nikra''s eyes, Leo couldn''t help but think that maybe he should work on his ability to subtly change subjects.


    Oh, well, my contact with other people over the last week was quite limited... At least I didn''t ask about the first Outbreak yet. Bet that conversation is gonna be interesting...

 Chapter 54. Power of the Void

    "I..." Nikra shook her head. "No, you''re right. It might be best to get this out of the way before moving on to more important subjects. That''s why I pulled you here after all. Dodging those issues won''t help anyone, not if we ever want to work together without any unnecessary squabbles."


    Leo nodded absently. There were hundreds of questions he wanted to ask, but most of them could wait. From what he understood, Nikra was here to stay, and any smaller matters could be questioned at a later date. For now, he needed to know all there was about the Void and its aspect.


    The ongoing evolution would change a lot, probably more than Leo was ready for. But maybe, just maybe, with Nikra''s help, he could at least diminish the shock when the process finished. And understanding the Void and its influence was the first step to do that.


    That''s what I get for embracing Void''s taint on my soul. Leo chuckled internally just when Nikra spoke up again.


    "The first thing you must understand is that Void Essence and aspect are two different but inseparable concepts. You see, the first cannot function properly without the other, but the other doesn''t have a purpose without the first. A fact that can be said about any other aspect, but not to the same degree. Why? Because while normal Essence would still exist without aspects, Void Essence would not." Nikra raised both hands, energy springing from her palms, forming into two empty orbs that slowly began to fill up.


    You made it more confusing than probably necessary, but okay, I''m following for now. Leo mused as he glanced at the arm where not even an hour ago, the Void''s mark upon his body was still visible. Though, at least now, I think I know why Minor Takeover took Essence from my arm.


    "This," Nikra gestured to her left hand, where a luminous orb of vibrant hues floated, its movements gentle and serene. "You could say, is the representation of your average Essence, the energy harnessed by most survivors. It can be shaped into almost every desired form or aspect, and with proper nurturing, this pure and untainted Essence can possess unlimited potential."


    "Now, this is an entirely different matter," Nikra nodded towards her other hand, where a swirling vortex of crimson, violet, and black raged. "Void Essence can only be derived from Voidlings, Akirians, or the very fabric of the Void itself. It possesses the same properties as normal Essence, yet as you have already learned, this energy is also capable of so much more."


    Leo grimaced, his mind flashing to the streets of Wolford, filled with monsters and living matter straight out of nightmares. Yes, Void Essence was definitely more than just average energy used for skills; the System made that very clear during the introduction.


    Entire Universe changed with only ten percent of the population left...


    "Void Essence is wild, often untameable. It is much more potent than your average energy and usually produces stronger effects when using abilities. In return, it''s quite a bit harder to control, a fact proved by the simplicity of low-ranked Voidlings'' abilities." Nikra continued to explain as if a thousand thoughts weren''t speeding through Leo''s mind.


    "However, none of those things truly matter in the face of one single property that Void Essence possesses," Nikra stated, her gaze piercing into Leo''s eyes. "The steady connection to the Void and its aspect. Without it, like I said before, Void Essence would be just another type of energy or cease to exist altogether."


    "This tiny connection is where the power to corrupt, consume and destroy comes from, Leo, because that''s all the true Void is about." Nikra chuckled bitterly.


    "So, to answer your question..." She sighed, "Yes, all Voidlings have a link to the Void aspect. But this link only manifests itself as additional strength and abilities unique to the Void because no matter how strong the connection is, it will never be powerful enough for them to wield the power of true Void, to become one with it."


    Silence fell between the two as Leo processed all that Nikra just said. It explained a lot but, at the same time, raised even more questions and worries. Could he grow into the power of the true Void or was it impossible for anyone who wasn''t Nikra in her prime?


    Might be. I¡¯m her Legacy, after all¡­


    Yet instead of getting an answer, Leo just shook his head. Even if the potential was there, it was way off, and he really didn¡¯t want to think about that for now. And so he decided to just fish for different information.


    "You said that the Void only corrupts, consumes, and destroys. But how can this be true if it creates more Voidlings? Wouldn''t that be outside of its capabilities?"


    "No," Nikra muttered with a sigh, her gaze downcast. "The Void will push past the limits of its power as long as it fuels its three principles. Voidlings are merely a tool, a means to an end. Through their acts of killing and spreading in all directions, they accelerate the impending collapse of the current Universe. That is the sole desire of the Void: to devour the entire Multiverse. Life against death."


    Morbid, but can''t deny the accuracy... Leo''s brow furrowed. Previously, his concerns had been solely focused on his family, but Nikra''s explanation had broadened his perspective. However, he couldn''t shake off the Traveler''s words about people living inside the Void. If that were true, then it couldn''t be all bad, right?


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    But what happens when there are no more universes to consume? Will the entire Void turn against those that are using it as home? Fuck... I still don''t know enough. I don''t even have a clue how people survive there. Is it a constant struggle for life, or is it safe to continue living without worrying about Voidlings?


    "Calm down, young one," Nikra''s soft voice brought him back to reality. "Indeed, there is much to be concerned about, and there are countless unknowns. However, you need not face them alone. I am here by your side, ready to be your guide and impart as much wisdom as I possess. And when we reach the limits of my knowledge, we will learn together, step by step."


    Just like before, Leo shouldn''t have been placated by her words. It was her fault he was in this position, after all. And yet, his body slumped slightly, the raging pool of shadows in the pit calming almost instantly, following its owner''s emotions.


    "Good," Nikra smiled. "Now, I can sense that there''s one question that has been troubling your mind for quite some time, and my previous explanation did nothing to alleviate your concerns. So please, Leo, ask, and I shall answer."


    Leo swallowed, or at least tried to. There had been a lot of questions running through his mind, but Nikra was right. One of them had been there even before the evolution, and the Old One''s explanation only managed to fuel his worries.


    "Right..." Leo muttered. "My evolution... it will change me into a Voidling, or well¡­ an Akirian. I''ve been worried about how it will affect me, not just my appearance, but as a person. Will I be the same? Will nothing change? Or will my connection to the Void make me a complete monster, just like the ones walking the streets?"


    "It won''t make you a monster, no, but there will be changes, a lot of them," Nikra answered after a moment of silence. "You need to understand that despite what the System told you, this evolution is much more than just a change of a trait and appearance."


    Leo snorted, "Wouldn''t be the first time when it decided to leave out important info."


    Nikra chuckled. "Yes, the System tends to do that, but not out of cruelty, never that."


    Leo raised an imaginary eyebrow but didn''t ask. It could wait for later, and the Old One was speaking again.


    "Usually, it takes two or three evolutions to completely change the nature of a being. Yet, thanks to your starting race, and to a smaller degree, my shard, it only took you a single one. As such, everything about you is changing."


    "Your entire physiology is shifting to match that of an Akirian. Your very soul is adapting to bear the weight of Void Essence. And your mind is assimilating the nature of the creature you will become," Nikra explained, each word striking Leo''s chest like a bullet.


    His chuckle echoed hollowly, devoid of mirth. "Doesn''t sound like there will be much of me left.


    "That was your choice, Leo Hale."


    Leo truly didn''t have a retort to that. Aye, it was my choice, and I can''t blame anyone for it. He smiled lightly, watching the shadows dance as a soft murmur left his lips, "Adapt or die."


    "A wise code to live by. One I wish I had followed instead of running away from my problems," Nikra replied, her voice coming from a lot closer than before. "But fear not, young one. Those new instincts will coexist with your own consciousness, for they are now yours. Live with them and, as you said, adapt... And if it gets too hard, I will help as much as I can."


    Right, help. You are helpful now, but how much can I really trust you? The same standing issue, with trusting someone who caused it all, came crashing back. How much to take and how much to give¡­


    Shit... Leo shifted his gaze towards the woman, now seated right next to him, and forced his lips to curl into a faint smile. "Thanks... I think."


    "I understand," Nikra sighed softly. "If we are to have any chance of working together, it seems we should address the proverbial ''elephant in the room,'' as you aptly put it."


    Leo grimaced. Well, there went his subtely and privacy of his mind... Not that he could complain too much, this was what he wanted to hear, after all.


    "Yeah. Probably a good idea," Leo muttered back, giving the Old One a side glance.


    Nikra nodded and curled her knees up to her chest. "There were six of us, born out of nowhere with more power than anything in existence... or so we thought..."


    "I was the first one to appear, with Geron and my other four siblings following soon after. Darkness, Void, Light, Creation, Death, Knowledge, Time, Space, Power, Chaos, and finally Destruction. Eleven primal aspects of the Multiverse assigned to us six."


    Leo perked up slightly, "So one of you was left with only one aspect?"


    Nikra nodded. "My youngest sister," she began, her voice filled with a mix of sorrow and pride. "Although power may have been her sole affinity, it never meant she was weak. Quite the contrary, in fact. While to mortals we embodied the concept of infinite energy, my sister was the same to the five of us."


    Leo shuddered. "That''s... terrifying?"


    "Quite so. It didn''t help that her aspect perfectly reflected her personality," Nikra smiled wistfully before shaking her head. "But I digress. The six of us had complete control over the Multiverse, but we wanted a place to call home. And so Universe Prima was born, our foothold that we populated with beings from all over the Multiverse..."


    "All was good for a very long time. Yes, there were some squabbles and fighting, but in the end, it never reached the point of¡­ of¡­"


    As Nikra trailed off, Leo slowly took over, knowing well where it was going. "...of no return like the war between you and your siblings."


    Nikra hugged her knees. "It was all my fault," she whispered, and Leo averted his gaze. "I thought I could ignore the Void, lock the connection, and throw away the key. But that''s impossible, and the fear of my own power was strong enough to destroy everything I held dear."


    "Slowly, Void''s power began to seep into me and those around me. I was affected the most, but normally my siblings would never push me away, not like that," Nikra shook her head. "Petty disagreements escalated into small fights, and the first major conflict unfolded into the tragedy you are well acquainted with¡­ All of this due to my foolishness and subtle whispers of an entity connected to the Void almost as well as I."


    Leo''s eyes shot wide, head snapping towards Nikra. Another being who could control the Void and was powerful enough to manipulate six gods?


    Please tell me I misheard...

 Chapter 55. The truth

    "Monsters come from every corner of the Multiverse. Some just know how to hide their nature, while others revel in the chaos they cause. It is a story as old as creation, so you better never forget about that, or one day you might find yourself with a knife in your back."


    ~Lone Traveler


    <hr>


    "You did not, young one..." Nikra sighed, addressing Leo''s unspoken thoughts. "For the longest time, I believed myself to be the strongest being in the entire Multiverse, even without accessing my second aspect. After all, despite my deranged state, I emerged victorious over all my siblings during the war, so there was no reason for me or any other to think otherwise..."


    Leo''s throat tightened as a sense of foreboding washed over him. He could imagine where this was going. The mere thought that the Void hid even more dangers, beyond what he was already aware of, was disturbing, to say the least.


    I''m starting to understand why some people think that ignorance is bliss.


    Undeterred by Leo''s musing, Nikra pressed on. "Yet, the moment Geron had me on my knees, the moment I released my lock on the Void, the entire Universe learned how wrong I was to think myself the strongest."


    Nikra chuckled bitterly, still looking into the distance. "We never knew much about the Void before the first Outbreak, just enough to get by and fear its power. However, when the gates opened, we learned more in a month than ever before."


    "First came the hordes of lowly Voidlings, almost mindless beasts that spilled into our home through every possible crack in reality... Despite the surprise, Universe Prima was advanced, be it technology or Essence manipulation. And so our people still managed to fight off those monsters. Even without the System supporting them."


    So the System wasn''t released along with the Void... Then where did it come from?


    Quickly, before Nikra could continue, Leo cut in. "Hold on a moment. Wasn''t the System in place at that time? And what about the corruption that the Void spreads during an Outbreak? Did it happen differently back then?"


    "No, it wasn''t, but you will soon come to understand why. As for the first Outbreak?" Nikra furrowed her brow, sparing Leo a short glance. "Despite being the event that started it all and killed all Old Ones, you could say it is more of an unofficial title."


    "At that time, there was no corruption, no immediate transformations ¡ª at least not in the beginning," Nikra explained. "Instead, we just had two sides: mindless beasts and our people, fighting for their right to live... In retrospect, this is also most likely why the System didn''t count it as an Outbreak... But make no mistake, no matter what it says, my release of the Void will always mark that moment as the first Outbreak in my soul..."


    Alright, I will take that. Sounds like something the System would do. Leo nodded. He could only imagine the level of advancement Universe Prima must have possessed to fend off waves of Voidlings without the aid of the System. Well, at least they had numbers on their side, and the monsters were apparently weak, but still¡­


    "But enough about that, I have a history lesson to get back to," Nikra shook her head with a wry smile. "As I mentioned, initially countless mindless Voidlings emerged, only to be mostly driven back by our people. Unfortunately, it was far from over, and within a few days, stronger and more intelligent monsters began to descend from the Void."


    And here goes any advantage they had... Leo could wager that even with most modern weaponry, it would be a challenge to kill a Juggernaut... So what kind of weapons would be necessary to defeat creatures two or three times as powerful?


    What a mess. Leo shook his head and snapped back to attention.


    "By that point, my siblings and I had fully recovered and established a fragile truce," Nikra said, hugging her knees tightly. "They may not have trusted me anymore, and the bonds we once shared were shattered. But at least we all agreed to throw ourselves into the battle and help our people. They had already suffered enough thanks to our actions."


    "We helped wherever we could, once more pushing the swarms of the Void back to where they came from... Or so we hoped," Nikra muttered, her voice filled with bitterness. "Then they came out of nowhere, facing us head-on on the battlefield and handling our power like no one had ever before."


    "At first, there were six of them. While they didn''t possess the same raw power as my siblings and I, they compensated with a level of skill we had neglected to cultivate," Nikra''s scowl deepened. "Still, they couldn''t beat us, but neither could we. And so we found ourselves locked in a stalemate while countless lives were lost across the Universe with each wasted hour."


    "Who were they?" Leo asked, only to be ignored entirely.


    "With a bit more time, we could have won. The connection to our aspects made us stronger in the long run," Nikra continued, her voice distant. "However, fate didn''t want to spare us any pain, and before we could kill even one, three more appeared... Unlike the initial six, this new group possessed power almost on par with our own while surpassing us in skill and battle experience to an even greater extent."


    Leo hesitantly placed a hand on Nikra''s bare shoulder and called out once more. "Nikra, who were they?"


    Yet, the Old One dismissed him again, tears streaming down her cheek as she tightly clenched her fists. "The twins were the first to fall, killed in an ambush. My youngest sister left us next, but she didn''t fall to an enemy''s blade in battle... No, the excitable little dragon died because we never expected a knife to the back from the youngest of us..."


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Leo froze, his arm falling limply to his side. But why? The question burned on his lips, but he held himself back. He remembered well how Edward''s abandonment felt, and yet he knew it could never compare to the anguish Nikra must have endured...


    For one sibling to betray and kill another... There was a special kind of hell for people like that.


    As such, Leo let the ancient entity weep and spoke up only when her body shook no longer. "Nikra... I need to know. Who were those beings? Who was the one that whispered in your mind? The one who caused all of this?"


    Leo didn''t hear the whole story yet, probably far from it, but it was enough to understand that the slow collapse of the entire Multiverse wasn''t just Nikra''s fault. She became a tool in another''s hand because she made the mistake of locking her power away. Yes, there was still blame to be put on her, but for now, Leo really didn''t want to think about it.


    Later, when I will have time to take a breather. For now, I need to know who those fuckers were.


    "Forgive me," Nikra murmured, wiping her eyes. "This was never an easy subject for me to speak about... I fear that despite being trapped in my shards for countless cycles, I never took the time to grieve and deal with my problems properly... Seems like an occurring theme with me, really..."


    Leo gave her a tentative smile. "Don''t sweat it. We all have our demons, and I would be a damn hypocrite if I had an issue with yours..."


    "Thank you," Nikra answered as her lips curled up just a bit. "However, I have already wasted enough time, and you posed an important question. I will answer it, and then I can finish my story..."


    "They called themselves the Barons and Lords of Ediovr, a vast Void dimension that could easily encompass multiple surfaces of your Earth," Nikra explained. "The first six were the Barons, the middle elite of Ediovr who answered to the three Lords, and those Lords, in turn, bowed to one being alone. The entity known as the Monarch, the same being who manipulated me and my siblings..."


    "Ediovr..." Leo tested the alien word. "Does it mean anything? And what those Barons and Lords even are? Voidlings or something else entirely?"


    Leo had an inkling of what the answer would be, but it didn''t mean he found the thought comforting. Things could get really complicated depending on what the Old One would say.


    "Ediovr... A presumptuous title, but it carries the same meaning as your only mutation," Nikra nodded to Leo''s chest. "I wish I could tell you more about it, but I never had the opportunity to learn much about Ediovr. All I know is that it serves as the stronghold for the Monarch''s armies and is the birthplace of Akirians... Which should answer your second question."


    Just like I feared, Leo grimaced. "Does it mean..."


    "That once you evolve, you will have natural instincts to follow the Monarch? To obey his commands no matter where you are?" Nikra finished, and Leo nodded, even if he would have worded it a bit differently. "No... Akirians might have been born in the Monarch''s domain, but they also possess free will, and if they choose, they can leave Ediovr behind."


    "I bet that ain''t an easy thing to do," Leo muttered, his nerves settling somewhat thanks to the Old One''s words. The freedom of choice wasn''t taken away from him. Although being a part of a species responsible for the fall of the first Universe was disturbing, to say the least.


    "Indeed, but as the Traveler told you, Akirians are not your typical Voidlings," Nikra confirmed, once more grimacing at the mention of the man. "To this day, I remain uncertain of the truth of their origin, but the Monarch must have played a role in their creation. It defies the natural order of the Multiverse for a race to possess most of the strengths of Voidlings and barely any of their weaknesses, be it within the System or the laws of life."


    Interesting¡­


    "Barely any weaknesses?" Leo hummed, looking pointedly at Nikra. "Care to elaborate?"


    "You will find out about them soon enough," Nikra shrugged lightly. "But for now, I can say that despite Void Essence now running through your veins, your control won''t get much worse than it already is. Some practice and points in Mind should fix even that."


    Huh, that''s good to know. Would be a damned pity if my entire control went to shit thanks to one evolution...


    Leo frowned suddenly, a thought registering in his mind, one that had been building up for quite a bit now. "You know what? For someone who has apparently been trapped in a shard since the first Outbreak, you certainly possess a lot of information."


    Nikra tilted her head. "You are right. However, it is also a part of my story that I should return to if I want to finish. We are nearing its en..."


    Whatever Nikra wanted to say next, the words died in her throat as Leo''s soulscape shook. The shadows in the pit exploded outwards, and they both sprung to their feet.


    Nikra was the first one to speak up. "Alas, it seems our time has run out, Leo Hale. You are entering the last stage of your evolution, and for that, you need to leave your soulscape."


    Leo''s gaze snapped to the Old One, a weird feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu settling in his mind. "Wait, already?! You haven''t finished yet."


    Nikra nodded. "I didn''t, but with your evolution, I will be able to speak with you much easier than before. Moreover, the ability to come back here isn''t out of your grasp."


    "I wouldn''t be so sure about that..." Leo snorted. "I still have no idea how to reach this place."


    Even as his entire soul trembled, the Old One gave him a light smile. "Focus on your soul, young one. Remember how it felt to come here, and the answer will become clear. Trust me, you will get it right."


    "If you say so..." Looking around, Leo furrowed his brow. "Right, and how do I leave?"


    Nikra chuckled, the vibrant laughter a stark contrast to her somber mood during most of their conversation. "I will take care of that. However, before you leave, I have to warn you."


    Leo stiffened as Nikra quickly elaborated. "I''ve been monitoring what has been happening around your body in the outside world, and you may have company soon. I don''t know if they are hostile, but you must take care. Remember, evolution won''t heal your wounds."


    Swallowing, Leo nodded. "Right... almost forgot about that. I will be careful."


    "Good," Nikra smiled as she stopped before Leo and placed a hand on his chest. "I bid you good luck, Leo Hale. Find your family, grow, and never hesitate... Farewell, we will speak again soon."


    Before Leo could say a word, Nikra pushed with her hand, and darkness claimed him once more.


    See you soon.

 Chapter 56. Uncaged

    "Not unlike the basic Cursed variant, Seeker is the favored starting point for the majority of small flying creatures. While the pack mentality may be a new concept for most, it is a choice that offers great potential. Hence, the skies are often teeming with these vexing creatures in the early stages of an Outbreak.


    Fortunately, unless encountered in large numbers or subjected to a coordinated attack, a group of three Seekers should pose little challenge for even an inexperienced survivor. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant and watch your surroundings, as these creatures often like to strike their opponents in the back."


    ~Creatures of the Void, 42nd Edition


    <hr>


    The darkness might have claimed Leo, but not even for a second did he lose consciousness. The transition from the shadowy depths of his soulscape to the boundless expanse of darkness was seamless; only now, his sight ¡ª and most likely his body ¡ª was lost to him.


    That''s uncomfortable... Thank the Void that Nikra saved me from spending the entire evolution here. I would go mad... Well, that is, if I didn''t go mad already. I''m talking to myself, after all... Damn. It does make me wonder if this is how it always will be.


    Leo hoped it wouldn''t... Only a moment had passed since his arrival in the infinite space, and already he didn''t like it, talking to himself notwithstanding. While there was no pain, unlike what Nikra mentioned, there was also nothing familiar about this place. He couldn''t move or see, and to make matters worse, Leo could constantly feel weird energies floating all around.


    It wasn''t Essence, or at least not fully. Leo''s limited senses could barely catch onto the surges of energy that passed through him, and even then, he could tell there was more to it, so much more.


    Is it Ether? Maybe some energy unique to the System? Damn, I could use some of that limited knowledge of yours right about now, Nikra.


    It was rather ironic how, mere moments after parting ways with Nikra, Leo found himself seeking her assistance once again. He really shouldn''t become too reliant on her presence. She was still a major unknown, and considering all the issues that could arise between them, developing any kind of dependency on Nikra was a disaster in the making.


    Guess I shouldn''t be surprised that I latched onto the first person who was forthcoming with information. Didn''t really have enough time to do that with the Traveler... Besides, there was something wrong with him, and Nikra''s reactions to him only proved that¡­


    Shit¡­


    Given the state of the world, hell, the entire Universe, Leo really shouldn''t have to concern himself with all-powerful beings and the complex history of the Multiverse. Survival, becoming stronger, and finding his family should be his primary worries, and yet here he was.


    Man, I am really overcomplicating this, aren''t I? Should just stick to adapt or die and worry about all the other shit when it will matter. Or at least when I will finally have the entire story¡­


    Nodding despite not having a body, Leo pushed all those raging thoughts into the deepest pits of his mind. There would come a time to unravel them all, but that time was not today.


    Okay, so now what?


    For quite some time, Leo was left without an answer. He drifted in the boundless darkness, enveloped by unseen energies of mysterious origins. Fortunately, even he couldn''t be unlucky enough to remain in the dark indefinitely. So, when a light suddenly burst forth in all directions, Leo sighed. Or he would have if only such a physical act were possible in his current state.


    In a shower of sparks, the particles of light coalesced into shimmering golden letters, swirling and rearranging themselves to form words. Before long, lines of text, bearing a striking familiarity, remained suspended in front of Leo.


    Oh, wow¡­


    Stage II Evolution completed successfully. Cooling stage initiation in progress. During this time, please take a moment to acquaint yourself with the previously unlisted changes brought about by your evolution. It is important to note that detailed descriptions will only be accessible once you have emerged from the protective cocoon.


    Leo blinked ¡ª and it actually worked. Cooling stage? Ah whatever, let''s see.


    The description of your Prime Night Hunter evolution has been updated.


    For some reason, I''m not surprised at all. Leo snorted internally. Though it was a bit disconcerting, the one you gave me was mostly lackluster, System¡­


    Due to the Fusion nature of your evolution, your Job has advanced to the next stage. As a result, you can now access Type information when identifying Void-born creatures, and your Hunter''s Pulse ability has been upgraded to Epic quality.


    Type information? Job advancement? Leo raised an imaginary eyebrow. Guess I will find out soon.


    Congratulations, former human, on joining the esteemed ranks of Akirians, the elite of the Void. As a result of your evolution, you have been bestowed with the Low-end Akirian Physiology trait. May your journey through the Void be fruitful.


    Okay, you didn''t have to throw it in my face... I''m well aware that I abandoned my humanity with this choice... Leo grumbled just before a thought struck him. Although it really makes me wonder why you didn''t mention this trait before. It can''t be anything negative, right?


    Natural mutations unlocked. You might now access the Mutation menu at any point in time. Please be careful with your choices.


    Well, that I already knew, but thanks for the warning, I guess?


    Class skill Dagger Mastery has become a Racial skill and evolved into Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery. Abilities gained from the lesser version of this skill are still available.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    What the hell is Night Hunter''s blade? Leo reread the notification again and again, hoping it would uncover more information. Yet, nothing happened, and Identify also didn''t answer his call.


    I have a bad feeling about this...


    Title Prime gained. Displaying description now due to its importance. Title will be assimilated into Nikra''s Legacy.


    Prime:


    You have transcended beyond the limits of your sub-species, reaching heights never claimed. Never stop in your path; push forward. You are the first and the last of your kind, so make it count.


    Effects:


    Freshly-born Akirians recognize your power. If they exist, other Night Hunters will refrain from attacking you and may even be open to obeying your commands.


    Holy shit... Leo gaped. I understood that Apex Voidlings were something special, but man, this is something else. And the first and the last? That got to be wrong.


    Yet, the longer Leo thought about it, the more sense it made. His evolution was pretty unique, and if he was the only Night Hunter, it wouldn''t surprise him in the slightest.


    And there goes the possibility of commanding more Night Hunters... Oh well, not that I expected even that much. Though, ''Freshly-born Akirians recognize your power'' might come in handy one day¡­


    Leo nodded, and the notifications disappeared suddenly, only to be replaced by another, shorter one.


    Cooling stage ready.


    Please be informed that Evolution menu will be unavailable until level 35. From now on, your future path depends only on you, User. Your choices, battles, experiences, and many other factors will decide what paths you might find when the menu opens once more. Until then, we wish you success in your hunts.


    Level 35?! That''s a long fucking way to go. Leo frowned, making sure to reread the notification. Although maybe my block just came a bit too early, or Tainted Humans follow different rules? Fuck, I have to ask Dylan and the others what their race gives per level.


    Despite the sudden turmoil in Leo''s head, the System quickly reminded him that it wasn''t the end of the road.


    Beginning cooling stage. Warning! Detected multiple Void-borns in the moderate area and two survivors close by. Please be careful upon awakening.


    Survivors close by? Fuck! I really don''t need any guests when I am bleeding out and have just finished evolving. Please, just stay away. For both our sakes...


    Three¡­


    Two¡­


    One¡­


    Cocoon cooling in progress. Time to release: 1 minute.


    At the exact time that the text faded away, Leo''s body snapped back into his possession, accompanied by a scorching pain that he had forgotten about during the evolution. It surged through his limbs, some of which he didn''t recognize as his own. However, he had no time to dwell on that realization as every bruise, cut, and broken bone attacked Leo''s senses, almost overwhelming him.


    Yet, the pain was far from the only thing that decided to make a comeback.


    Exhaustion permeated his entire being, infiltrating every muscle, whether wounded or unharmed. A dense fog followed, descending upon his mind, momentarily numbing the pain but constantly reminding Leo of its existence. Then, deep within his soul, an insatiable hunger for Essence ignited, a hunger that had been suppressed in the battle for survival. It demanded to be sated, and he could do nothing to quell the overwhelming thirst that consumed him.


    What... the... fuck! Leo screamed through the haze. Shit!


    The timer counting down towards the release was somewhere in the corner of Leo''s vision, but no matter how intently he tried to focus, the numbers eluded his gaze. They always slipped away, just out of reach, whether due to the surges of pain or the constant hunger and anger that raged within his mind.


    Then there were the voices, two of them, distant and just barely reaching Leo''s ears through what he understood was his cocoon.


    "...moving. Come... Wait! Protection still..." Was all Leo heard from the first one, even as pain assaulted his every sense. He tried to wiggle his body, hardly noticing that it seemed wrong and unnatural.


    "Fuck if... know... Shoot right... We don''t... the time! Bloody scouts... near... Frank will... us... Clayton!"


    There were more words, more snippets that barely meant anything, yet Leo caught a mention of a timer and seconds, of a cocoon and release. Combine those with the snippet about shooting, and it painted a grim picture for him.


    They don''t even need to be hostile towards survivors. Leo forced his thoughts through, gritting his teeth. One look at my evolved self will probably be enough to brand me as a Voidling. Heavy physical evolution, my ass¡­


    Amidst the haze of pain, hunger, and exhaustion, Leo''s attempts to formulate a plan for the upcoming encounter proved futile. His thoughts were fleeting and scattered, refusing to form into anything coherent. Hell, he scarcely registered the abrupt movement of his body as it jolted forward, slipping through an opening that wasn''t there before.


    Fuck! Leo growled as he landed on his knees, hands supporting his weight as he stared at the floor. Despite the fog and rage consuming his mind, he couldn''t help but notice a slightly wider range of vision and a subtle increase in details. However, what truly captured his complete attention were the unexpected words that echoed in the air.


    "Bloody hell! You''re an ugly fucker, ain''t ya?" A gruff voice spoke with a chuckle. "Mason, you fat fuck, come ''ere. Look at this poor sod. Free experience just..."


    Whatever the man wanted to say was abruptly silenced by a low, rumbling growl that emanated from deep within Leo''s throat. The sound filled the entire room, resonating with the primal intensity of the rage that burned deep inside his mind.


    Without warning, Leo''s head ¡ª which definitely wasn''t the same as before ¡ª snapped towards the man. His eyes, which just a moment before saw with perfect clarity, locked onto the humanoid blur in the doorway. It was like something snapped within Leo, igniting a surge of instincts, and without hesitation, his body lunged forward.


    The blur tried to raise his hand ¡ª probably a gun, Leo thought through the pain that exploded thanks to the sudden movement ¡ª but he was way too slow. Somehow, his body, guided purely by something inhuman and full of rage, closed the distance between them within a blink of an eye.


    Black as night claws descended upon the man''s neck, and in one sharp tug, they tore it into shreds. The man gurgled, but Leo just drove the claws of his other hand deep into the lifeless body''s stomach and forcefully dragged it into the corridor.


    A shot followed by another rang through the entire building, yet no more pain came. Instead, a sense of clarity washed over Leo, and his vision sharpened, allowing him to see details once again. With each passing moment, the rage slowly calmed, relieving him of some of the earlier turmoil.


    Despite that, Leo''s body, along with the meatshield, still pushed onward, straight into the second man at the end of the corridor.


    "Stay the fuck away!" He shouted, unloading the last few bullets in his magazine straight into his friend''s body.


    However, Leo, now fully aware yet still not in control of his actions, could only watch as his body closed the remaining distance. In one move he could barely follow, the man lost his head to a dark blade that ran along the edge of his forearm and suddenly extended at least a foot past his pinkie finger.


    The entire altercation, or rather a massacre, lasted no more than a few seconds. And Leo was left there standing, his gaze blank as he stared at the lifeless bodies suspended from his claws. Their Essence flowed into him, rejuvenating his battered frame, while the control of his body finally returned to his rightful hands.


    What. The. Fuck. Just. Happened?!

 Chapter 57. What we became

    "Morals... Don''t make me laugh... True, it''s important to have a code to live by, something to keep you from stepping too far over the line if you don''t have to. But morals? So restrictive, so... boring. This is the Void, my friend!


    Here, if you are not from Ger, only the strongest thrive. So trust me, you don''t want something like morals holding you back. Throw them away and do what you must. Do what you have to survive and thrive. No matter what..."


    ~Casual conversation between a Tariem soldier and a new recruit


    <hr>


    The moment the control of his body returned, Leo should have dropped the two corpses and backed off. The gravity of what he had just done should have hit him, perhaps even made him throw up. Those were humans, after all, and not some mindless beasts that he could slaughter in dozens.


    Yet Leo remained motionless, his hands bearing the weight of two lifeless bodies pressed against the wall. Crimson trails trickled from the wounds where his claws entered through their flesh, while their Essence slowly flowed into him, rejuvenating his own being.


    Tendrils of disgust and guilt stirred within Leo, buried deep and failing to intensify to the levels they should. It was a stark contrast to the overwhelming emotions he had experienced during the early days of the Outbreak when he had mercy-killed the man in the shack. Back then, there had been an urge to vomit and flee, but now, after this ruthless slaughter, he felt numb.


    Well, numb was probably the wrong word to describe it. The truth was, Leo''s mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. Anger, confusion, hunger, pain, and a myriad of others surged within him, all vying for attention. They simmered just beneath the surface, and Leo had no clue what to do with half of them, especially given the situation he found himself in.


    Guilt, disgust Leo could handle. It would take time to accept what he had done, but that was how the world worked. Yet, here he was, feeling only an ounce of what he probably should...


    Is it because this was self-defense, or did my evolution already mess with my mind that much? Fuck, maybe it is both... Leo gritted his teeth as he watched fat slowly burn away from the dead bodies, leaving only sunken skin behind.


    Nikra had warned him that changes to his mind and nature would come, but Leo hadn''t anticipated them happening instantly. In the coming weeks, even days, maybe, but right away? Definitely not¡­


    No, Leo shook his head, the pain he felt barely an ache now. This might be part of the reason why I don''t really feel bad about this, but that''s not all... I had felt the rage among the pain when they tried to kill me, the same rage that carried my body. And while some of it was mine, most wasn''t¡­


    Then there was the fact that the dead duo wore police uniforms and equipment, so Leo''s bias against them might have leaked into his emotions. After all, it was no secret in Wolford that their police force was a bunch of assholes and, most likely, corrupt fucks. Still, they did their job most of the time, so not many people really tried to voice their opinions.


    Leo grimaced. I''m grasping at straws here... Trying to justify this massacre based on the mere possibility that they were corrupt assholes is a stretch... Yeah, something definitely shifted within me, but at least for now, I''m aware¡­


    Not that being aware helped much, but it was still better than being completely brainwashed by evolution. With how things were going, Leo might at least get a chance to slowly adapt like he wanted.


    Adapt or die. Adapt or die. Leo repeated it like a mantra, and the next moment a notification forced itself into his sight. What the? He muttered internally as the corpses finally slipped from his claws, completely drained, or rather devoured.


    Condition stabilized. Thanks to surviving, Prime''s Rage is now permanently unlocked.


    Leo''s head tilted slightly. So there was something more to this alien rage... Show me!


    Prime''s Rage (Unique)


    Within the depths of every being lies a fight-or-flight response waiting to be unleashed. For a Prime, their instincts'' primal rage is the last defense when even the mind fails. Primes do not perish on their knees...


    Effects:


    This ability only activates automatically when the User''s ability to fight and control their body is compromised. The primal instincts of a Prime will surge forth, fighting on behalf of the User until they are capable of regaining control. With sufficient mastery, the User can learn to command these instincts to some degree, leading them to follow a different path.


    This... This is what saved me... Leo''s eyes widened. I don''t know if I couldn''t move, but there was no way I could have defended myself with the same efficiency or maybe even at all... Shit. So this is just another part of being a Prime...


    As unsettling as it was to be a mere passenger in his own body, an automatic defense system was nothing to scoff at. Besides, just like the skill mentioned, Leo could learn to command those instincts or, at the very least, influence them a bit.


    And it only activates when there is no way for me to fight on my own. I just have to hope that it won''t cause problems one day by attacking someone it shouldn''t¡­


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    A problem for another day; for now, Leo should probably take care of the aftermath of his evolution. The death of the two policemen was¡­ Well, Leo couldn¡¯t truly put this into words, but he also couldn''t even force himself to feel bad about it. His mind just wouldn¡¯t allow it. And besides, those people wanted to kill him, so he at least had one normal reason for not feeling as bad as he should.


    Leo averted his gaze from the corpses, swallowing hard. There was nothing else to do about what had happened. It was beyond his control¡­


    Right¡­ Appearance first, notifications after.


    He already had a fairly good idea of how his arms transformed, but now that Leo truly gave them a proper look, he understood how much really changed. The pitch-black claws that replaced the last parts of his fingers were now slightly longer than his human digits, but he had no doubt that those could shred through matter like his previous claws never could.


    I tore through that guy''s neck like it was barely there...


    Then there was the skin, just as black as the rest of his body, smooth and almost snakelike, without nearly any of the prior malformations. It definitely was a significant change from Leo''s previous slightly tanned and human skin. However, even then, when it came to his arms, this transformation wasn''t what completely caught his gaze.


    No, this honor belonged to silvery blades on each arm. They grew out of his forearms'' outer part, starting from the elbows and ending just shy of his wrists. At most, they extended approximately an inch or two from his arms, adding quite a weapon to his arsenal.


    Yet, Leo couldn''t help but remember the moment he cut the second man''s head with a blade. A blade that easily extended past his hand, his claws.


    How did that happen? Leo frowned, scrutinizing the blades intently. While he could feel them as an integral part of his body, it still didn''t offer him the answers he sought.


    What if... Leo trailed off as he made a fist from one of his hands. And while the blade didn''t extend, there was a sudden tingling near its end.


    And now, if I do that... A single spark of Essence shot into the spot, and instantly, the gleaming blade extended at least a foot past Leo''s pinkie, forming the same weapon his crazed self used.


    I take that this must be the Night Hunter''s blade... Fitting, I guess. At least I won''t have to worry about losing my daggers anymore... Leo shrugged, and the blade shortened once more when his hand opened.


    Looking down at the rest of his body, Leo grimaced a bit. This will take some getting used to.


    Thanks to the System, and the general struggle over the last few days, Leo gained some muscles. And although those gains remained, they had definitely adapted differently to fit his evolution better. After all, his monstrous body now possessed a lean and streamlined build, optimized for speed and agility more than ever while still retaining enough muscles to potentially overpower some creatures out there.


    Not that the appearance of my body really decides that. I have Might for strength. Leo noted as his gaze dropped to his legs, which, apart from the changes to his skin, didn''t really transform much.


    Well, except for the feet. One thing is for sure, I can say goodbye to any kind of footwear¡­


    While Leo''s feet remained almost human in build, the second part of his toes transformed into very short, curled claws. Or, well, talons would probably be a better word, in Leo''s humble opinion¡­


    It could always be worse... like, let''s say, the fucking tails growing out of my behind. God dammit... Three slender yet muscular black tails were definitely the last thing Leo expected to appear after the evolution, yet here they were.


    To make matters worse, instead of growing out of his tailbone, like any normal tail should, only one of those appendages did that. The other two grew out next to it, one on each side, separated by an inch or two of free space from the middle one. Really, with how they were situated, they could be almost compared to a coat¡¯s tails. Only Leo''s were alive and much longer, easily reaching the ground¡­


    And to think I once wanted a tail when I was little... I guess you need to be careful with what you wish for.


    While Leo could see the tails being useful for balance, especially now that his torso was always leaning a bit forward, it didn''t mean he enjoyed their presence. Hell, he could barely control them, and it took most of his focus to do that.


    I guess they will feel like any other limb sooner or later, but man, it''s gonna be a pain until then... Leo grumbled as he stumbled back into the bathroom and snatched a piece of glass off the floor. And now to finish¡­


    Even prior to catching a glimpse of his own face, Leo knew that nothing remained the same there. After all, the once-familiar, slim neck of a human had vanished, replaced by a broad mass of flesh that initiated directly from his shoulders, where his arms seamlessly melded into his form.


    Gradually, the width of Leo''s new neck narrowed as it extended, culminating at the end into an elongated head similar to a creature Leo had once seen in a game. In fact, his new form forced him to be always hunched over and constantly leaning slightly forward in order to see what lay ahead. Really, if he were to straighten his entire body, neck included, the sky would remain the only thing in sight¡­


    No more worrying about posture... And hair, I guess. Leo chuckled internally, trying to slightly lessen the impact of those changes. Not that it helped, not when an unfamiliar face stared back at him. If it could even be called a face anymore¡­


    His head, as a whole, bore a resemblance to that of a serpent, or a lizard, albeit with a slight humanoid roundness to its shape. Additionally, barely noticeable slits replaced Leo''s nose while his ears were nowhere to be seen. Which was another mystery considering he could hear just fine. And the less said about his wide mouth lined with razor-sharp, serrated teeth, the better.


    At least my eyes improved, and now I have something to share with the creatures I take over. That''s got to count for something, right? It was hard to argue this fact. Leo never really liked his gray eyes, so to have them transformed into the slitted, violet orbs lifted his spirit at least a bit. That they were now slightly slanted and placed a bit wider apart was another plus; a broader range of sight could never be bad.


    Those tiny spikes on my upper back and spine are also pretty cool, so yeah... Leo thought with a shrug as he gave himself another once-over. It would take time, but this was his true form now. There was no going back.


    Oh, well, it could have been worse. Now I just need time... Leo sighed, carefully running his hand along his bald head and neck; or was it just neck or head? Whatever, at this point, they are one and the same with how I look¡­


    Plopping down against the wall while being mindful of his new tails, Leo called out to the Void.


    Alright then, System. Show me what I''m really working with...

 Chapter 58. Changes

    "Nightmares belong to the Night, to the darkness. Voidlings that embraced the power of the dark might have become stronger, sometimes unstoppable, but they will never see the light of a star again if they wish to live. It is the price they will pay until their dying breath, and not even the System can change that.


    Beware of the Nightmares that stalk the Night, my young friend, for they will never leave you alone once they spot you in the darkness. They will pursue you for as long as they can, and sometimes, they will dare to risk the searing burn of a star to finish off their prey, even if it means their death..."


    ~Conversation between a master and a student, Uncharted Lands, 57th Outbreak


    <hr>


    As Leo''s request reached the System, an onslaught of notifications flooded his vision. However, before they could completely drown him, he selectively pushed most of them aside, allowing the messages to filter in gradually. He had learned the hard way not to grant the System unrestricted control ¡ª it only led to unnecessary headaches.


    No need to add any more suffering for my mind to bear. Leo grimaced, feeling the aches coming from all over his body. Devouring the two policemen might have healed his worst injuries, but he was far from fully recovered.


    Gonna need to drain a few Voidlings on my way back. I will need this strength in case everything goes to shit... After all, who knew how his group would react to his very friendly appearance.


    Leo snorted and shook his head, focusing on the text hanging in front of him. I can worry about them later. For now, let''s see.


    Awakened Human (Ranger LVL: 6) slain | Experience awarded | 34 Ether absorbed


    Awakened Human (Warrior LVL: 7) slain | Experience awarded | 46 Ether absorbed


    Leo''s eyes grew wide. He expected some Ether from the dead duo, but nothing like this. Although, in hindsight, he probably should have expected something similar. There was, after all, a major difference between notifications when he killed other survivors and Voidlings.


    Absorbed instead of gained. It was the same with the man in the shack, but I had completely ignored it back then... Leo''s mind flashed to that day, to his first human kill. Now he had two more to add to his list.


    Don''t go there again. Focus on what''s important. He scowled. Hopelessly trying to make himself feel bad about the policemen''s death would help no one. Not that it worked anyway¡­


    Killing survivors apparently absorbed some ¡ª if not all ¡ª of their Ether instead of providing an already determined amount from the System. While a welcome surprise in this case ¡ª more Ether could never be bad ¡ª this new information could create many problems later on. If it didn''t already.


    It is only the beginning, and Ether has already shown many different uses. And I bet I didn''t even scratch the tip of the iceberg. Leo sighed, looking at his own Ether counter that appeared in the corner of his vision.


    Ether: 97


    The more you have, the better. It wouldn''t surprise me in the slightest if survivors started killing each other to gather more as fast as they could. Humans are violent and greedy creatures, after all, and I doubt anything has changed in the face of extinction.


    Perhaps it was a grim perspective, but Leo couldn''t help but acknowledge its truth. People were killing each other long before the Outbreak due to greed and various other factors. Now add to that the dangers of this new world, and he could only imagine the lengths some would go to ensure their survival and accelerated growth.


    The only positive in this entire mess was the fact that no one knew how much Ether other survivors could provide until they killed someone. Not exactly something to be happy about, but it was still better than nothing.


    And apart from self-defense, I doubt most people would actively try to kill others. But after this information becomes public knowledge? Yeah, then shit will truly hit the fan, as they say¡­


    His own mind drifted to the trio waiting for him. While they seemed like a good bunch, Leo couldn''t possibly know how they would react if they knew what he did. The same applied to any other survivor as, in the end, survival was all that mattered. How other people wanted to achieve it depended wholly on them.


    I just hope it won''t become a bloody battle royale between the living... Leo finally dismissed the kill notifications and brought forth the next ones. He could worry about people slaughtering each other later.


    Progression blockade disabled. May you flourish and reach new heights, User.


    Level 11 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Wait, what? Already? Leo blinked, rereading the notification to make sure he wasn''t hallucinating. It just didn''t make any sense. Either my experience gain wasn''t as locked as I thought, or somehow, those two gave me an entire level.


    Leo really, really hoped it was the former. If the death of two, level six and seven, survivors could fuel his growth so much, then Ether wouldn''t be the only incentive towards killing other people. Attacking others on sight could quickly become a norm if that was the case.


    I would love to pick your brain right about now, Nikra... Leo called out, not even caring about the fact that he was once again trying to depend on the Old One''s knowledge. This issue could easily escalate the bloodbath between survivors to levels that the absorption of Ether never could. Dependency on Nikra, be damned.


    Yet, the answer never came. Whatever link existed between him and the Old One was fully closed now, and Leo feared it could be a while before that changed.


    Should have expected that. Leo scolded himself. She wouldn''t be saying goodbyes if I could talk to her right after evolution. Fuck... Maybe she tired herself out by bringing me into my soulscape and watching over my body in the real world¡­


    That was the only possible reason for the radio silence that Leo could think of. After all, right before the evolution, Nikra spoke to him a few times over the span of one day. With his connection to the shard and Void improved, it should have been even easier if what she told him was true.


    That must be it. I just hope you won''t be resting for long, Nikra. Leo sighed before focusing on the end of the last message.


    Three points, hmm? I didn''t really have a chance to check properly yet, but if my control really was hit, then I might as well fix it right away. Besides, you can never have too much control¡­


    As Leo confirmed the assignment of his three points into Mind, energy suddenly flowed into all three pillars. Soul, Body, and Mind ignited in a rush of power that he had almost forgotten about with everything happening during the last day.


    Not even a day had passed since my last level-up, and I had already missed the rush... Man, this can get addicting really fast.


    This thrill of continuously growing power was a double-edged sword, but honestly, Leo couldn''t care less about it. Yes, the addiction had the potential to cause some problems, but this was also the new way of life. So as long as the rush of power didn''t completely take over the mind of a survivor, it shouldn''t be too bad.


    And I guess I just jinxed it, but what''s new? Leo shrugged and summoned the following notification.


    Full description of your new species unlocked. Displaying updated information now.


    Prime Night Hunter (Stage II)


    Hunt. Kill. Consume. Never stop, little Akirian. You are the Hunter that stalks the Night. You are the Prime that leads your kind. As the first and the last, be ready and fight until there is nothing left.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Grants Low-end Akirian Physiology trait. The potency of your Essence has been enhanced at the price of slightly lowered control. Heavy physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +15%. +1 Might, +3 Grace, +1 Vision, +1 Soul, +1 Mind, +3 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    That''s much better. Though I didn''t really learn anything new, it''s a nice confirmation of Nikra''s words... Well, better this than nothing. Let''s see, next!


    Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare):


    Whatever you were before, forget about it; you are an Akirian now, little one. Raise your head and enjoy the benefits of a species with no equals. This is just the beginning of a very long road.


    Effects:


    Natural resistance against the Void''s harsh conditions slightly improved. Your body is now capable of withstanding Void Storms below C-Grade. Basic body functions enhanced. You can now sustain your body with Essence and flesh of your enemies. Due to your unique physiology, you are now more vulnerable to Ether weapons.


    Holy shit, that''s a lot... Leo thought, eyes wide. Natural resistance is always welcome. I have no fucking clue what a Void Storm is, but thanks anyway. Body functions improved, great, whatever that really means. I''m gonna pass on eating the flesh of my enemies, but Essence? Why not.


    At last, Leo''s gaze fell to the final listed effect, a loud gulp echoing through the room. Even though he probably shouldn''t have, the presence of a disadvantage in the description surprised him a bit. He might not know where one could get an Ether weapon, but it definitely added even more value to the mysterious energy.


    However, despite this not-welcome information, Leo couldn''t help the snort that escaped him. Ironic. Vulnerable to the energy I''m collecting. Gonna need to find out if only Ether weapons are my weakness or if any form of it can cause me harm¡­


    "More and more questions..." As those words left Leo''s mouth, he froze as the low, gravelly tone of his voice echoed in his ears. It was almost like he was trying to growl the words out.


    What the fuck? Who the hell has replaced my vocal cords with a demon?!


    Clearing his throat a few times, Leo tried once more. "Hello?"


    However, to his disappointment, nothing changed, and his voice remained unaltered. Not that Leo ever had a distinctive or unique voice, but the thought of his vocal cords being completely changed within the span of an hour was definitely enough to weird out anyone who would hear about it.


    Well fuck, you sure aren''t making this easy, System. Couldn''t even leave my voice... He chuckled, the sound just as raspy and low as his voice. Not only will people attack me when they see me, but now they will probably run the moment they hear my, pretty much, demonic voice.


    Leo sighed heavily. Great... This for sure will make explaining everything to Dylan, Tyler, and Laura easier.

 Chapter 59. Mutations

    Oh well, Leo shrugged. No use crying over spilled milk. After all, it really could have been worse.


    His gaze fell to his crotch, where the remnants of his pants covered the lower half of his body. The piece of clothing was just barely clinging to his frame, and the addition of the three tails definitely didn''t make the matter any easier. He had to figure something out before leaving.


    Well, at least I didn''t lose everything... yet. Leo added with a grimace. I''m pretty sure my insides aren''t the same as before, so what is losing a few more organs, eh? Doubt they will see any use in the future¡­


    Chuckling, Leo shook his head. Those were definitely not the things he should be worrying about currently. But well, after living as a simple man for over twenty-five years, no one could blame him for wondering. Moreover, he could bet that most people would have an existential crisis right about now.


    Or maybe the process of evolution makes it easier to accept the changes. Wouldn''t surprise me in the slightest if that was the case... Leo noted. The System was all about adapting, so giving a User''s mind a push in the right direction might not be out of the question. Even if it was slightly disturbing¡­


    Whatever... Nothing I can do about it now. If it lessened the impact of physical changes on my mind, then so be it. And if it didn''t? Well... in that case, I''m certainly more messed up than I thought. Now, let''s see the next message. I still have a trip back ahead of me.


    Your Hunter Job has advanced to the next stage. Hunter''s Pulse obtained. Displaying the description now.


    Hunter''s Pulse (Epic)


    Improved version of basic Hunter''s Pulse. Just like the previous version, it can be guided by intent and will, but now the pulse will offer additional help even when unasked. Additionally, the System will now provide support to speed up this ability.


    Effects:


    You can now send a pulse from every single part of your body to perform a perfect scan. You can now search for familiar Essence in the scanned area. The range of this ability depends on the amount of Essence used. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision. Warning: Beings with sharp enough senses might still become alerted by your pulse.


    When those words forced themselves into sight, Leo flinched as knowledge surged into his mind, updating whatever information he previously possessed about Hunter''s Pulse. It didn''t change much, but the things that changed were quite significant.


    Leo no longer had to focus a pulse into his hand, and now, just like the description explained, he could push it out from his entire body at once. With this, the scan returned with more precise information. Furthermore, it somehow made the ability much faster to use. Although that was probably thanks to the included System''s assistance¡­


    And I gotta say, seeing wisps of Essence I''m familiar with could be useful... That is, once I learn how to even familiarize myself with Essence other than my own cuz I don''t think Void Essence counts¡­


    Dismissing the skill, Leo progressed further into the System''s notifications. Right, Type information. What''s this all about?


    As a result of your Job advancement, you have gained the ability to uncover a Void-born''s Types when using the Identify skill. This particular talent is one of the major points of a Hunter Job.


    Plenty of Jobs and Mutations rely on specific body parts from various creatures to continue their craft or advance further. However, not every creature possesses the required attributes for each purpose. This is where Hunters come in. With their enhanced Identify skill, Hunters can locate and hunt down beasts possessing the necessary Types.


    Be warned that this is usually the reason for Hunters'' short lifespans, as some tasks require them to hunt creatures far beyond their capabilities. Good luck.


    So this is where things get interesting for Jobs... And mutations require body parts. Huh, good to know. Leo hummed. Though I doubt I will be doing any specific hunting anytime soon. I have way too much shit to finish first...


    Yet, one could never be sure. Leo didn''t expect to unlock Apex evolution, much less his current one, and it still happened. So while hunting for other people''s benefits was probably a big no for now, who knew where life would carry him in the future, especially if it was for his advantage.


    We will see...


    Your Dagger Mastery skill has evolved to fit your new species. Displaying information for Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery.


    Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare)


    What is a blade without the knowledge of how to use it? Never worry, young Akirian, for you shall never need to find the answer to this question. The blades of the Night are for you to wield. Strike fast, strike hard.


    Effects:


    Grants basic and instinctive knowledge on how to wield the Blades of the Night Hunter. Abilities gained from the lesser version of this skill are still available. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace and level.


    Just like with the Pulse, information rushed into Leo''s head, teaching him everything he should know about the blades now attached to his arms. It didn''t provide him with any special moves or tactics ¡ª those would come in battle ¡ª but instead, it taught him a few essential tricks.


    The proper technique for extending those blades was one of those tricks, while their basic handling was another. There was also a bit of information on how to properly channel Essence through them, but honestly, Leo already understood most of that. His experimentation with Kiss of Death made sure of that.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Overall, not bad. At least now I know how to use them without closing my fists... Leo noted just as another notification rushed to the forefront of his vision.


    Standard information package regarding Mutations and their menu is available. Do you wish to display it now?


    Leo snorted. Stupid question. I''ve been waiting for this ever since I received my first mutation. Show me.


    Acknowledged.


    Mutations are often referred to as additional Traits due to their similar function. The distinction lies in how they are acquired. Traits are bestowed through Evolutions, Classes, and special circumstances, while mutations are chosen and purchased by the User without the influence of the System.


    Mutations are categorized into three grades: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, with Gamma being the lowest grade. It is important to note that a mutation''s grade does not necessarily determine its strength. Additionally, some mutations have the potential to be upgraded to a higher grade or even evolve into a Trait given the right circumstances.


    All mutations can be acquired by spending Ether and obtaining the necessary creature parts. The same applies to upgrading existing mutations. Furthermore, the System would like to remind each User that Gamma and Beta mutations are sometimes temporary and can be lost if not careful enough.


    Warning! Each mutation can strain one or more of the three pillars. Be mindful of your limits.


    For a moment, Leo waited for more text to appear, yet none did. And so, he slumped even harder against the wall and read the message once more. It wouldn''t do him any good to miss anything in this package.


    Only three grades... That''s nice, I guess. No need to remember more than necessary. Summoning the System, Leo furrowed his brow at the simple menu that greeted him. Interesting¡­


    Adapt, Grow:


    -Develop new mutations


    -Advance existing mutations


    As much as he wanted to check out the available mutations, Leo didn''t even wait for a second before selecting the second option. After all, he possessed a very particular mutation, a mutation that pretty much led to this entire mess.


    And it''s grayed out... Not surprising. It was pretty much given. Leo shrugged. He didn''t really expect to be granted an ability to upgrade Heart of the Void, it was Nikra''s shard after all, but it didn''t hurt to check. Though it makes me wonder if that means I can never upgrade it¡­


    Dismissing the thought, he checked out the other option inside the menu. It didn''t disappoint.


    While the Beta and Alpha category was grayed out just like Leo''s only mutation, the Gamma tier didn''t possess such a blockade. As such, the moment he chose it, the System immediately listed tens of different mutations, all available to him.


    True, most of them seemed ¡ª or rather were ¡ª useless, but Leo already spotted plenty that weren''t. Tougher skin or bones, formation of weak draconic scales, strengthening of his claws or blades, minor false affinities, and a few others could definitely be helpful in the future, and he instantly selected a mutation that caught his eye the most.


    Mutation: Minor Regeneration (Gamma Tier)


    Death is always waiting around the corner, ready to hurl you into the Abyss at a moment''s notice. So why not make it wait a little bit longer? Maybe even forever?


    Effects:


    Healing speed doubled. You now require less sleep to fully recover your strength. Lifespan slightly lengthened.


    Requirements: 1000 Ether, 2 Hearts of Regenerator-Type level 15+ beasts.


    Notice: Insufficient resources to buy this mutation. Please come back once you can fulfill the requirements.


    No shit Sherlock. I never possessed one thousand Ether, much less some hearts of regenerators. Leo scowled, dismissing the window. Apparently, Minor Regeneration would need to wait for a very long time.


    Gathering this much Ether just wasn''t possible without killing hundreds of Voidlings, and even with the new evolution, Leo didn''t fancy facing a level fifteen beast. Not that there are any Voidlings like this in the city. It''s still a bit too early, but give it a few days, and maybe¡­


    Obviously, Minor Regeneration was far from the cheapest mutation on the list. Hell, now that Leo checked a few others, he was pretty sure that it might even be the most expensive one. Let''s see. If there is something that can have a higher value, then it must be an affinity.


    Mutation: Minor False Fire Affinity (Gamma Tier)


    Want to destroy something? Fire is here for you to make your enemies disappear. A small spark it might be, but the potential is here. So burn them all. Leave only ashes behind.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel weak fire affinity into your Essence. Natural evolution of affinity unavailable due to its False form. Minor affinities will slowly weaken with time until they disappear entirely.


    Requirements: 3000 Ether, 2 Fire-Type cores of level 15+ beasts, 5 Fire-Attuned Crystalized Essence.


    Notice: Insufficient resources to buy this mutation. Please come back once you can fulfill the requirements.


    What in the Void is the core of a beast? Crystalized Essence, I get, but a core? System? Anything? No? Okay...


    Sighing, Leo let the entire menu fade away. There was no reason to waste any more time on this if he couldn''t buy anything anyway. Oh, he definitely had an eye on a few mutations, but those had quite the price tag on them.


    It will be weeks before I get all of them, if even then... Still, I''m curious if there are mutations that can give me another arm or something similar. There definitely wasn''t anything like that in Gamma grade... Meh, yet another question to throw into the pile¡­


    It certainly wasn''t a small pile. With each question it grew, and slowly Leo began to doubt that he would ever find an answer to them all. Each day could be his last, and with Nikra inactive, the only source of information was the System...


    Of course, there were also other survivors, but at this point, there was no way anyone on Earth knew more than Leo did.


    Another problem for the future me... Anyway, System, give the last two! I can see now why evolutions aren''t every ten levels¡­


    Task Extermination: Earth completed. Do you wish to claim rewards now?


    Huh, almost forgot about this one. Must have missed it before the evolution... And give me a moment. I want to check the second one.


    You have contributed towards weakening a Tainted Wasteland. Bonus experience and 35 Ether granted. Weaken the Wasteland further to receive better rewards.


    Always something. Leo shrugged, his eyes settling back on the task reward.


    Alright then. Show me what those Ether Flares are...

 Chapter 60. Moving on

    "Nesting Gates... Despite everything, they are truly something extraordinary. Yes, their appearance might be nothing special. After all, it''s only a gate. Made out of Void''s living matter, but still a gate. And that''s why you will surely ask: ''So why are they extraordinary?'' Well, my dear readers, the answer is quite simple.


    Pocket dimensions.


    Nesting Gates are capable of forming small pocket dimensions inside the Void to suit the needs of Voidlings from the Nest. Mountains, volcanoes, deep forests... Anything can happen inside those things. Of course, there are limits to those dimensions, but in the long run, they don''t matter much."


    ~Study of the Void by Unknown


    <hr>


    Leo didn''t have to wait long for the System to act... The moment he claimed the task rewards, a golden orb of light burst from the floor before him. Instantly, he turned away, hissing as the light tingled all over his skin, almost burning.


    Is this my weakness to Ether, or am I just too close to this bloody thing?


    Considering the warning in his new Akirian trait, it really could be the former. However, the description only mentioned weapons being more harmful, not Ether overall.


    Unless this shit is somehow weaponized... Now that would be fucking fantastic. Leo grumbled, setting his gaze back on the sizzling orb that, with each second, lost some natural radiance before fading away completely.


    In its place, the mysterious sphere left six items, and Leo couldn''t help but slump a bit when he noticed the last object. I guess I shouldn''t have expected much from a common hunting item. He sighed. More knives can never be bad, right? Even if I don''t really need them.


    Shrugging, Leo ignored the small skinning knife shaped like a machete and snatched one of the five golden flares off the floor. The item wasn''t much different from any other hand flare ¡ª a short tube with a slightly larger lid. Apart from that, there was nothing else on it. No instructions, no images painted on the tube, nothing, nada.


    Well, Identify it is.


    Ether Flare (Common):


    A common grade Ether flare issued by the System. As one of the few items capable of producing Ethereal fire, it can ward off Nightmares during the night or discourage normal Voidlings during the day. To turn it on, please open the lid and channel a single spark of Essence into the flare. As the lowest grade, the Ethereal fire will burn only for a minute. Please note that this item will break down after running out of fuel.


    Huh... So there is a way to protect yourself from those night terrors.


    Not that Leo had any encounters with those damned monsters ever since the first night. His hiding spots, the trip to the Void, and some luck definitely had a factor in that, yet he knew this wouldn''t last. Those demons lived somewhere inside the city, and the longer he survived, the higher the odds of crossing paths with them in the future.


    Happy thoughts. Leo snorted and flipped the flare. These little things definitely made the night a bit less scary. Although a minute of this so-called ''Ethereal fire'' wasn''t much. Enough to escape or think of a plan, maybe, but to survive the entire night? Not even close.


    Still useful as fuck. It can even be used against normal Voidlings... Now only one question remains. Will this damned fire burn me? I would certainly count it as a weapon¡­


    He could, of course, flip the lid and light up this bloody thing, but it most definitely wasn''t a good or even decent idea. Considering Leo''s current state, position, and overall situation, running tests on a new item seemed like the most idiotic plan he could come up with.


    Yeah, I had enough brilliant ideas for today. Not that I can complain about the results, but still¡­


    Letting the flare drop to the floor, Leo wobbly rose to his feet, cursing under his breath when his tails almost got in the way. This is really gonna be a pain. Just like before, he leaned his body slightly forward to balance the weight and forced his tails to at least stop swaying for one damned second.


    Definitely needs getting used to.


    For a few minutes, Leo just stalked around the small bathroom like a headless chicken with three legs. He pretty much managed to bump into every possible wall, and those cursed tails had already forced him to his knees three times. They just wouldn''t stop coming in the way of his legs.


    Can you stop being fucking annoying? He scowled, once more trying to command the willful limbs. Humans just weren''t meant to have tails... but I''m no longer one, eh?


    Taking a deep breath, Leo resumed his trek around the room, giving the tails his complete focus. There was no way he could go outside without at least partial control of those accursed limbs. This kind of weakness pretty much ensured death and not necessarily from Voidlings.


    Now that would be a way to go. Killed by cracking my skull on the pa- Fuck! Leo barely held the scream in as he barrelled to the ground, tails slipping between his legs once more.


    Void fucking damn it...


    <hr>


    The shaky feeling of control came later than Leo wanted, but probably still much faster than it normally should for someone who just gained three new limbs. He was still far from perfectly commanding those bloody menaces, but at least now he could stop them from flailing around like branches during a hurricane.


    At least I still have some time before nightfall. Leo grimaced as he trudged through the corridor before pausing by the bodies of the two officers.


    Sorry for that.


    Without another word, he quickly switched his ruined pants for a new pair, courtesy of one of the policemen. They didn''t fit Leo perfectly, and his tails got in the way, but after some modifications with one of the claws, the piece of clothing at least managed to cover everything it should.


    Bit uncomfortable, but will do for now. He nodded, finishing buckling the belt and the pistol harness. Now to gather the loot.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Although his backpack remained mostly intact, with only one strap torn to pieces, there was no way Leo could carry it on his back. Not with the addition of spikes to his upper back and spine. As such, he took the belt and harness from the second officer and simply used them to fasten the backpack to his lower back, just above the three tails.


    Not bad. Leo grinned, his razor-sharp teeth showing.


    It was far from perfect, but it didn''t stop him from throwing all the knives, ammo, and one of the pistols into the pack. With safety flipped on, of course. Getting a bullet into his behind because he forgot about such an important detail was the last thing he wanted.


    Even if I''m not taking their class weapons, I will still need to figure out a story for those. Leo sighed as he slipped the second gun into his harness. While for him, the death of the two officers wasn''t much of a problem, he really doubted it would be the same for the others.


    I can always say I found them, and if they don''t believe me... well, then that''s not really my problem. Yeah, would be a pity to lose people who know me this fast, but I can always figure out something else. After all, I know where the other group is¡­


    With a firm nod, Leo returned to the main corridor and approached the exit, the last rays of the red Sun already dancing across his skin. He was just about to step out when a single thought stopped him.


    Right... I should at least check if it''s still working¡­


    Raising his left arm, Leo let a small burst of Essence surge through the entire limb. At once, illegible symbols spread all over the skin, their green glow burning just as brightly as any other day.


    Good. Was worried for a second that evolution destroyed it.


    Spectral Inscription: Valron Coverage (Common)


    A Spectral Inscription item made by a skilled craftsman. Created using Valron ore and Runic Essence. Due to years of unuse, the item''s quality deteriorated. Can now be repaired with System Honing.


    Effect: Chosen body part becomes slightly harder to pierce.


    Active: Valron Endurance - Channel Essence to create a protective layer of spectral skin over the chosen area.


    Area of Use: Any single area on the User''s body


    I really should have checked this before. Leo shook his head lightly. Honestly, apart from sometimes using Valron Endurance to block an attack, he had mostly forgotten about this item.


    Well, at least now I have another thing to do when I return to the others... Also, if I''m doing a full check, I might as well complete the round... Didn''t have a chance to take a peek after the evolution yet.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: II - Prime Night Hunter


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 11


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: F+


    Might Tier I (16) | LB: 21


    Grace: Tier I (37) | LB: 17


    Vision: Tier I (19) | LB: 21


    Mind: Tier I (30) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (18) | LB: 11


    Ether: 132


    Traits: Assassin''s Grace (Common), Void-borne (Rare), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare), Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare),


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence Control (Uncommon), Devour (Epic), Prime''s Rage (Unique), Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare)


    General Skills: True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Epic), Decoy (Uncommon)


    Still F+, but I didn''t really expect to jump ranks from evolution and one level alone. Maybe soon, though... Leo''s gaze slowly fell to the attributes, and his brow furrowed lightly, or rather as much as his new body allowed. Despite all the points and percentage boosts, they are still Tier I... At this point, I''m starting to wonder if this isn''t a glitch.


    Shrugging, Leo''s claws tore through the status, dismissing it altogether.


    Alright, time to go.


    The street didn''t change much since he crawled inside the building half-alive. In the distance, corpses of Voidlings still layered the ground where he had left them, while the building directly connected to the street by the Wasteland lay in ruins. The dust had also long since settled, once more revealing the way leading back toward the tainted land.


    Drain the Voidlings, take a peek, and nothing more. Leo swore as he weaved through the empty street. Despite growing a bit larger thanks to evolution, the posture he now assumed pretty much nullified any gain in height.


    At least I don''t have to worry about more Voidlings here. Guess you have my thanks, officers. He mused, spotting several beasts lying dead on the sides. A few of them happened to be in his path, and they quickly lost whatever life force remained in them to Leo''s claws.


    Much better. He smiled as the aches finally faded away, leaving only almost empty Essence reserves behind. Still much better than when I woke up. I should be able to pull it off now without worrying too much.


    Reaching into his laughable reserves, Leo grasped half of what remained and dragged the energy out by force. Even with the four new points in Mind, Essence''s wildness still reared its head, hoping to fight against his grip. However, another sharp tug quickly quashed the rebellion before it even began.


    Shit... Definitely slightly harder to control. I will need at least another level up before it goes back to normal. Yet not all was lost as the moment the blanket of True Stealth fell over his body, Leo instantly registered how much stronger the layer got.


    It might hold even when I lose control. Maybe even hides me better? Will need to check later.


    Once more under the cover of his skill, Leo went from Voidling to Voidling, his own kills included, and devoured them all. With each body, his reserves slowly recovered, the creatures'' Essence dripping into his own soul, becoming one with what was already there.


    The moment the dust from the last corpse scattered in the wind, Leo''s gaze shifted towards another path ¡ª the one leading to the Wasteland. The building he had fallen from lay just a few meters away, beckoning him, and he couldn''t help but answer the call.


    Swallowing hard, he took one step forward and then another. Only the last standing wall of buildings ¡ª the same one he initially scouted the Wasteland from ¡ª hid this accursed place from his eyes, and Leo was ready to see the destruction he wrought. Even if it was by accident.


    Just a peek.

 Chapter 61. Two sides of the same coin

    "Geron? What happened brother? Void dammit Geron, speak!"


    "I... I..."


    "Geron! Snap out of it! What the hell happened?"


    "Nikra... I saw it, sister. I have seen it all, and couldn''t do anything to save her. He was too fast, too close, and now she is gone..."


    "Save who, brother! Start making sense?!"


    "Focus, Nikra... Reach out to our siblings and tell me what you sense. Tell me you feel the same void as I do!"


    "N-no... This cannot be true. She cannot be gone... She swore she would never leave the Citadel without us... How?"


    "Tarak has betrayed us, sister. We are all alone now..."


    ~Nikra and Geron, shortly after the death of the Fifth


    <hr>


    The claws on his toes scraped against the ground as Leo came to a halt just a step away from the ruined building. The desolate corners of the Wasteland crept into his field of vision, yet for now, he paid them no mind. Instead, in one fluid motion, he seized the edges of the shattered wall and pushed with everything he had, propelling himself to the top of the ruined structure.


    Leo''s claws immediately sank into the rubble beneath him, and he kept himself low. Though not an ideal position, it was still preferable to entering through the street. Not even True Stealth could hide him there, while here, the buildings at least offered covers in the form of broken walls and piles of debris.


    A bird''s-eye view would have been much better, but no... I have to see what happened to that bloody thing. If it''s dead, then I need to know. Leo shook his head, tearing his gaze away from the lone row of standing buildings.


    Carefully maneuvering through the ruins, the entire Tainted Wasteland gradually came into view, and it did not disappoint. What, not even an hour ago, was shielded from all three sides by walls made of buildings, now only a single row remained, leaving behind heaps of rubble and the occasional half-standing wall.


    The scorched ground didn''t change even a bit. However, Leo quickly noticed that the influence of the Wasteland had somehow managed to seep into the ruins and the adjacent road. Though not completely overtaken, it was a close call, and he was willing to wager that soon, even the very ruins he stood in would become part of the Wasteland''s domain.


    Fuck... Either I just stirred up a hornet''s nest, or the buildings were somehow slowing down the spread of the Wasteland... And going by the fact that the last wall was completely untouched and free from the cursed land, the latter seemed like the more reasonable option.


    Alright, so I might have fucked up a bit... Void damnit, Leo. You just had to release this hellhole on the entire city¡­


    The only silver lining in this entire mess was the fact that, from what he was seeing, the population of the Wasteland had been reduced to half of its original numbers. Evidently, the Juggernaut kicked more Voidlings on its way to him than Leo initially expected.


    Speaking of that bloody thing... Where are you?


    The Juggernaut was powerful, Leo would give the beast that much. However, the fact that it didn''t come to finish the job when he lay defeated on the street hinted that something might have happened to it. After all, there was no reason for the Voidling to leave perfect prey behind after demolishing an entire street to chase it.


    Come on. Be dead, you dumb pile of muscles. Leo grumbled as he jumped onto another pile. Pieces of walls, floors, and furniture lay scattered everywhere, yet the Juggernaut was nowhere to be seen¡­


    It wasn''t until he was halfway through the third building that a flash of color caught Leo''s eyes. He quickly dropped from his current position and watched as dark blood flowed out of a gap in a massive heap, glinting in the light of the evening sun.


    Careful now¡­


    Slowly, Leo climbed around the pile that concealed the source of the blood. As he peered into the gap, a wide grin spread across his face. There, barely concealed by the rubble, a massive, skinless hand tried to reach the end of the hole. It lay motionless, lifeless, and a single use of Identify confirmed the Juggernaut''s demise.


    So even you can''t survive numerous buildings falling down on your head. Good.


    Staying on the side of caution, Leo prodded the hand with a stick he had found amidst the ruins. Despite that, the hand stayed still, and neither Identify nor the upgraded Hunter''s Pulse returned any signs of the Juggernaut still being alive.


    Alright then. Like they say, you only live once.


    With that single thought in mind, Leo thrust his hand into the gap, driving his sharp claws into the monster''s bulging muscles. Devour activated immediately, and despite the Voidling having died some time ago, the dams broke open, and Essence spilled into his body in waves.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    In comparison, while a single Cursed Human barely gave him a twentieth of his Essence reserves, the body of the Juggernaut already filled his soul to the maximum. Moreover, Devour never stopped drinking, hungry for more power. Leo even thought about stopping but quickly abandoned the notion. His ability had to have a reason for continuously draining the massive beast.


    The answer to that question arrived in the form of a notification. Yet before Leo could read it, the ruins covering the Juggernaut''s body trembled, a cloud of dust replacing the monstrous form.


    Shit!


    Nearly stumbling over his own tails, Leo swiftly spun around and retraced his steps back to the previous building. The ruined structure behind him shook once more, and the echoes of screeches filled the air.


    Forgot about that bloody thing turning into dust... Still, should be worth the scare if what I think just happened. Leo huffed as he climbed through the debris, finally reaching the end of the ruins. One last leap was all it took to safely land on the same street he came from.


    Diving back into the tall red grass, Leo brought back the dismissed System notification.


    You have successfully devoured a Cursed Juggernaut, LVL: 11. Devour''s special ability managed to consume: 1 Might and add it to your strength. May your future hunts be even more fruitful.


    Worth taking a peek, so fucking worth it...


    A single addition to Might may not be much in the long run, but at this point, every single attribute counted. Besides, Might was Leo''s weakest side, so raising it even by one point changed a lot, especially considering all the percentage boosts he possessed for this attribute.


    Forty-five percent... I don''t even have half as much for Grace, and this should be my main attribute... Whatever, maybe it''s for the best. Can''t have Might lagging behind too much, and I don''t want to spend points there if I don''t have to for now.


    Dismissing the message, Leo looked up at the setting sun, its dark red rays bathing the world with its dying light. It was only a matter of time before the star would disappear behind the horizon, plunging this part of Earth into nightmarish darkness.


    All around, shadows had already begun to grow stronger, and even Leo''s meager senses managed to pick up the change. Not even his true affinity could help against what was coming... The night was slowly waking, and whoever remained outside would have to face its wrath.


    Time to go.


    As this simple thought settled in Leo''s mind, a sudden wave of clarity surged through him, washing away all worries, tumultuous thoughts, and needless emotions. It felt as though a switch had been flipped in his soul, and in that moment, the primal instinct of the beast he had become resurfaced for the first time since Prime''s Rage had deactivated.


    For a fleeting moment, Leo entertained the thought of resisting, of suppressing those instincts and shoving them back into the hole they crawled from. However, before he could do that, the echoes of Nikra''s past words reverberated in his mind.


    ''Those new instincts will coexist with your own consciousness, for they are now yours. Live with them and, as you said, adapt...''


    It was normal to fear the unknown, to run from problems that scare us. But Leo couldn''t... no, shouldn''t run anymore. These instincts, though they shook him to the very core, were now an integral part of who he was. And denying a part of oneself never ended well¡­


    Adapt or die... Isn''t that right, System? You really like proving the truth of those words... Leo mused with a wry chuckle.


    Like an animal, he dropped to all fours, his claws sinking into the ground. A surge of primal instinct roared within him, fueling his every move. Without a moment''s hesitation, he lunged towards the building across the road, running like a devil was on his heel.


    As one unit, Leo and the instincts of a Night Hunter guided his body up the building''s wall, digging new handholds with each move. Even his tails assisted in the climb, and he couldn''t help but take notice of how easily they responded to his instincts'' commands.


    Like an army of voices inside my head, all fighting for the same goal.


    It should have made him stop, make him end this madness, but Leo didn''t want to. He and the nature of the Night Hunter still had a long way to go, but if he didn''t embrace it now, they would be always at war from this point on. This, Leo knew deep inside his soul.


    ''Live with them...''


    Even when the first Cursed Human walked into their path, it stood no chance against their combined might.


    They descended upon the beast like fallen angels plummeting from heaven, blades extended and ready to cleave through flesh... The Voidling''s head began to fall, but they were off within a blink, disappearing from sight before the monster''s body even collapsed.


    This was the power of an entity focused purely on two goals. Surviving and completing its assigned task. Not even the roars of the waking Nightmares in the background could push them off course, and with each passing second, Leo learned more and more about the creature he had become.


    Before long, a familiar area came into view ¡ª the street below still stained by the blood he had spilled this morning. And as Leo stopped at a roof''s edge, Night Hunter''s instincts slowly backed off, returning full control to its rightful owner. But despite that, they didn''t disappear just like after the deactivation of Prime''s rage. Instead, he could still feel them lurking underneath the surface, ready to surge forth at a moment''s notice.


    Good to have you with me. I swear that one day we will become one, just as you showed me... A primal roar immediately responded to Leo''s thoughts, and he didn''t even attempt to stifle the laughter that escaped his throat. True Stealth would take care of it anyway.


    Talking to a bestial part of myself... Man, now I''m definitely going mad. But after what I just experienced, being mad might not be so bad.


    The instincts of a Prime Night Hunter are stirring, and you have answered their call, welcoming them into your soul. The first and hardest part of Synchronization is behind you. What you do next depends wholly on you, User. Will you complete this process, or will you be fighting shadows until the end of time?


    Snorting, Leo dismissed the message. I won''t leave things half-finished, System. Now that I''m aware of what lies beneath the surface, there''s no need to resist. This is a part of me, and I have no intention of discarding it. Nikra''s story taught me enough about that¡­


    So no System, this is not a choice. Leo shook his head lightly, gazing at the sun disappearing behind the horizon. Not when there is only one option to choose from.


    Well done, Nikra''s Legacy. I will be waiting.

 Chapter 62. Reunion

    "In the past, I feared the Night. I feared the all-encompassing darkness and the havoc it unleashed upon the world. But you know what? This fear, with time, faded away, and instead, only pure, undiluted excitement remained. I barely could wait for the sweet embrace of the Night so that I could once more taste the blood of those who call themselves Nightmares.


    I understand... You may call me mad, deranged even. Yet, the truth remains that those who flee from the Night will never conquer what truly lies within the Void.


    So go out there, my friend, go and face the unknown. Show those puny creatures who the true Nightmare is."


    ~Blade of the Abyss, the final day of the 45th Outbreak


    <hr>


    I will be waiting.


    Just like during the evolution, those words boomed inside Leo''s head. They went straight through his soul, pulling a shudder from him and a muted growl of anticipation from the instincts that now lurked in the back of his mind. Honestly... if this was to continue, he should probably find a better way to describe the representation of the beast he had become than just ''instincts.''


    Nevermind. Leo sighed, averting his gaze from the last rays of the disappearing sun. Accepting what I''ve become is a necessity if I want to reach my potential. But giving ''it'' a name? Yeah... That''s a step beyond the level of madness I can handle for now.


    Although the fact that Leo already accepted this much of this new reality maybe was a good indication of his mental stability... or just of what the System was truly capable of. Additionally, not even a week had passed since the beginning of the Outbreak, so one could really wonder what insanity awaited him in the coming days.


    Guess I will find out soon. Leo snorted, his eyes settling on one building on the other side of the road. Or, in particular, on an entrance barricaded by a large shelf. This is gonna be an interesting reunion¡­


    Using a good old tree to slide down and then drop onto an unsuspecting Voidling, Leo once more found himself among the tall, unnatural grass. In a matter of seconds, the now-dead beast turned to dust, and he sped across the street, right toward his target.


    Well, this is it... I just either lost the only allies I had, or this Outbreak truly made people mad. Chuckling, Leo slid next to the barricaded door and raised his clawed hand, knuckles at the ready. Now or never. If this fails, I must quickly find a place to wait out the Night.


    With a single tug at his Essence, the protective layer of True Stealth collapsed, and Leo knocked once, then twice. At the same time, his monstrous mouth opened, the demonic voice once more spilling out of his throat.


    "Dylan, Tyler, Laura!" He called out, just loud enough for his words to travel through the wall. "It¡¯s me, Leo¡­ And, yes, I¡¯m well aware I don¡¯t sound like I used to. A lot happened when I was out and I had to evolve, this is the outcome¡­¡±


    Almost immediately, Leo''s ears picked up some hushed voices and the scraping of feet against the floor. Someone was getting closer, and the moment those footsteps stopped right on the other side of the barricade, Leo quickly bellowed again.


    ¡°Listen¡­ I know you are there and are most likely pulling your hair out, trying to figure out if you should open this damn door or even answer. I can¡¯t decide for you, hell with how I sound and look now, I probably can¡¯t even try to convince you, but it¡¯s still me, just changed¡­ like a lot¡­ That¡¯s why I will wait for another minute, and if you don¡¯t speak up, I will go away and won¡¯t bother you again... Just know that with my evolution, I might be able to heal Laura fully.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t much more he could say. His new voice pretty much created an almost unbreakable wall between them. Still, there was one very big crack in it, and its name was Laura. If there was one thing that could at least make them answer and even remove the barrier, then the girl¡¯s injury was it.


    And then I just have to stop them from shooting me on sight. Leo reasoned as a muffled voice came from within the building.


    "Leo, wait!" Dylan called out. ¡°Sorry that we didn¡¯t answer instantly, mate. We¡¯re just¡­ surprised.¡±


    Leo snorted. Yeah, that¡¯s definitely it.


    Before he could say anything out loud, another person ¡ª Tyler ¡ª added, his voice firm. "Leo! We will open the door, but first, we need to make sure it''s really you. I hope you understand."


    And how do you suppose we do that? We barely know each other, and if some monster managed to consume me and take my memories, then you guys are fucked anyway. Besides, I already told you about Laura. Leo grumbled internally but didn''t voice his thoughts. No reason to make them even more suspicious than they already were.


    "Shit..." He muttered instead before clearing his throat. "That might be difficult, we don¡¯t really know each other. Besides, guys, not to burst your bubble, but we all know that this bookshelf wouldn''t stop me if I really wanted to get inside. Especially not after my evolution."


    "He''s got a point, Tyler," Leo caught Dylan''s loud whisper.


    The younger man quickly muttered something back to the mage. However, not even Leo''s improved senses could pick up more than one or two words spoken between the two. Evidently, the warrior was quick to remind Dylan of the meaning of subtlety.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Alright, alright," Tyler shouted in the end, voice raising with each word. "Just tell us what we talked about before you took off."


    Thank the Void... Leo sighed. That they were giving him a chance was a good sign in itself. Now he just had to give them what they wanted and hope for the best.


    "The three of you were neighbors," he began. "While Dylan lived alone, you and Laura had to leave everything and everyone behind. Also, your cousin got infected by a Voidling. Something that, just like I said before, I can most likely help with now."


    Leo paused at that, letting the two men process his words. If he had to play the ¡®Laura¡¯ card again and again, then he would do just that. He really couldn¡¯t care less how manipulative this sounded. At this point, anything was fair play.


    "And why did you have to leave?" Tyler finally replied, and Leo grinned lightly at the slightly less guarded tone of his voice.


    Bingo¡­


    "I wanted to find my brother and his family to bring them here," Leo answered instantly, the grin slipping from his face and his voice growing distant. "I only found Nick, but..."


    He didn''t continue; there was no need to. Anyone with a single brain cell could understand what exactly happened to his brother. After all, if Nick wasn''t with him, then there was only one other possibility.


    For a short moment, no one spoke, and only the distant screeches and growls of Voidlings filled the silence. Dylan and Tyler had the ball in their court, and what happened next depended wholly on them. Although that didn''t mean Leo was idle. No, his gaze was already jumping from building to building, scanning them for a safe place to hide during the Night.


    Thankfully the search didn''t last long as Dylan''s voice came from the other side, his tone somber. "We''re sorry to hear that, lad... We will open the door now. Just please take a few steps back so we can get a proper look at ya."


    And have a chance to shoot me in the head just in case, Leo added even as he backed off from the entrance. "Just remember what I told you, and don''t attack me on sight. My new form isn''t exactly what you would call friendly."


    As the massive wooden shelf groaned, Essence surged into Leo''s body, grasped tightly by a phantom hand. While he didn''t plan to attack, having Reinforcement at the ready was an obvious decision. No one could know how the duo would react to his new appearance after all. Hearing about it was one thing; seeing his monstrous form with their own eyes was a completely different kind of ''special.''


    Inch by inch, the barrier disappeared, revealing the two familiar men. The moment their gaze fell on his body, their eyes widened, and the shelf stopped moving. Even the rifle held tightly in Tyler''s hand lowered slightly, no longer directed straight at Leo''s torso.


    "Fucking hell," Dylan muttered, blinking repeatedly as his hand twitched. "Not friendly ain''t cuttin'' it here, mate... Is this really you?"


    Leo chuckled, the bitter and rough sound finally breaking Tyler out of his trance. The younger man quickly righted his aim, but his fingers stayed clear of the trigger.


    Good choice. Leo almost smirked and spoke up. "In the flesh, even if a slightly different one," he finished with a grin, his razor-sharp teeth pulling the duo''s gaze.


    "Slightly different, he says," Dylan scoffed, shoving the shelf all the way aside. "Lad, you look like you just escaped from the latest horror flick in Hollywood... And trust me, it ain''t no compliment... Bloody hell."


    Leo snorted, glad that at least one of them was trying to act nonchalantly about his appearance. He could, of course, still see Dylan''s slightly widened eyes and the trembling of his fingers as the man scanned Leo''s form, but at least the mage wasn''t as obvious as Tyler. The youngest man still gripped his rifle tightly, frozen in spot, with eyes glued to the beast before him.


    Leo moved to speak, to somehow break the warrior out of his shock, but Dylan beat him to the punch. "Oi, lad! Snap out of it," he nudged Tyler. "Go inside and fill Laura in on what''s goin'' on. We''ll join you in a sec."


    Tyler grimaced as his eyes jumped between Leo and the man that probably had his complete trust. Dylan had to give the warrior another nudge before he nodded stiffly and slowly retreated deeper inside the house. However, he never turned his back to them.


    This might become a problem... Leo tsked, ignoring the sudden burst of bloodlust from his inner beast. No, I''m not killing them¡­


    The monster inside whined in response, and Leo rolled his eyes lightly. He slowly approached Dylan, who stepped aside, still tense like a coiled spring, ready to jump into action at any moment.


    "Come in, mate. The Night is coming, so we better block this hole up," the older man said, his eyes following Leo¡¯s every move.


    Nodding, he entered the familiar corridor and waited for the mage to barricade the door once more. Damn, I''m now taller than him. Leo noted after straightening for a moment. Really, the wonders of evolution¡­


    "This is gonna take some gettin'' used to..." He suddenly heard Dylan mutter as the man turned to face him fully, his previous task finished.


    Leo snorted, "Oh, trust me. It''s an ongoing process for me too." He motioned to the tails trailing behind him while thinking of the instincts lurking at the edge of his mind.


    "Aye, I can see that," Dylan chuckled awkwardly, giving him another once over. "Now, I know our reactions may say otherwise, but I''m really glad you didn''t die out there, lad. With the Night closing in, we were losin'' hope."


    Now, while Leo highly doubted they wanted him to die while searching for Nick, they most likely wouldn''t even risk letting him in if it wasn''t for Laura. That girl needed help, and if Dylan and Tyler didn''t want to unnecessarily risk her life, then Leo was their best option. A necessary evil, as some people say. This was also likely why Tyler kept his mouth shut after seeing Leo''s new body.


    Nevertheless, Leo just shrugged. "I knew this would happen the moment I chose this evolution. That''s why I wanted to evolve with someone familiar close by... Would have made this whole mess much simpler."


    "So why didn''t you wait?" Dylan questioned, his guarded stance slowly relaxing. "Did somethin'' happen when you..."


    As the man trailed off, Leo shook his head, knowing well what the man meant. "No. It was after that, when I took a small detour." He explained and shot the mage a look. "Did you hear anything coming from the town square?"


    "Aye," Dylan nodded. "Scared the hell out of us."


    Leo grimaced. "Right... That was me, at least partially."


    The older man''s eyes widened again. "You? Bloody hell, lad. I''m gonna need the whole story, start to finish."


    Somehow I knew you would say that...

 Chapter 63. Trust? Not really.

    "Tainted Survivors are dangerous; there is no way around that. Indeed, their additional strength, in the beginning, is no joke... But depending on how deeply the curse infected their being before the First Awakening, this evolutionary mistake can become the biggest disadvantage those survivors will ever face.


    So remember, my dear students, if you ever find yourself walking through a freshly broken Universe and encounter a Tainted Survivor, kill them. It''s a mercy, for them and those who might suffer in the future thanks to their decisions. Destroy them, cleanse their souls of the Void''s taint, and let them rest."


    ~Central Academy, Ger


    <hr>


    Even on the way here, Leo already knew this would happen. After all, if someone told him the same thing that he had just blurted to Dylan, an explanation would be the bare minimum in his demands.


    However, some things had to remain a secret... Like the death of the two policemen that wanted to get free experience out of him. Or Leo''s new ability to take over creatures of the Void.


    Sure, it might seem unnecessary to hide information about this particular technique. But combine his new appearance with the nature of Minor Takeover, and people could come to some pretty disturbing conclusions relatively fast.


    A problem for tomorrow... The Runner is long dead, so I have nothing to control anyway. Leo shook his head lightly and addressed the older man. "I can do that. Though, I really don''t want to repeat myself, so..."


    As he trailed off, Dylan nodded briskly. "Aye, you''re right. Let''s get inside, and then you can fill us in on how you managed to wake up the whole bloody Wolford. Hell, wouldn''t be surprised if the nearby villages ''eard that racket too."


    Snorting, Leo refrained from smirking. Dylan was at least trying to act normal, and his teeth were far from comforting sight. "It wasn''t that loud. I mean, my hearing wasn''t exactly at its best at the time, but still..."


    Dylan chuckled. "Whatever floats your boat, mate." As his laughter subsided, he paused just before the entrance to the living room and gave him a bit softer glance. "And, Leo? It might take some time to get used to the new you, but remember what I said. If you ever need to talk, I''m ¡®ere to help."


    Freezing momentarily, Leo felt his mouth curl into a very small, almost unnoticeable smile. Though, it might have come out more as a grimace with his new facial structure.


    Oh well. At least I didn''t show my teeth. That''s got to count for something.


    "Thanks... I will remember that, but I''m fine, really." Or rather as fine as someone who had just lost another family member and transformed into a monster could be. "Now let''s get this over with, eh? Then I can see if my new evolution can handle Laura''s infection."


    Dylan''s eyes immediately lit up. "Of course, of course! Come on then, I''m sure Tyler at least had the sense to warn Laura about your... erm, distinct appearance," he finished somewhat awkwardly.


    That''s one way to put it. Leo almost laughed. Instead, he just followed Dylan into the large room, his eyes instantly falling on the duo sitting on a broken couch.


    Tyler already had his eyes firmly planted on Leo. The hunting rifle was still in his hands, but at least this time, the younger man refrained from pointing the weapon in his direction. Leo would call it a small win in his books.


    Now in comparison, the warrior''s cousin, while also having her eyes glued to his new form, her gaze held a look of wonder. "Wow," Laura muttered. "Is this what evolution is capable of? That''s so cool..."


    As if realizing what just left her mouth, Laura shrunk into the couch, grimacing slightly. She even averted her eyes, refusing to look at anything but her hands.


    Okay? So that just happened... Leo snorted internally and looked at Tyler, who was massaging his brow. Huh... Well, thank you, Laura, for breaking the ice. Your sacrifice will be remembered.


    "Lu..." Tyler sighed. "Of course, you would think a human transformed into a monster straight out of nightmares is cool. Why did I even bother..."


    A laugh suddenly erupted from Leo''s right. "That''s little Laura for ya," Dylan said, still chuckling. "Remember what I said about horror flicks from Hollywood? Well, that lass is a fan. Hard to believe, I know, but when it comes to facin'' Voidlings, she''s the bravest of the three of us."


    Dylan was right.


    Leo had a hard time believing that this shy girl wasn''t scared of those monsters outside. He could understand being a fan of horrors or monstrous abominations, but this was the real world.


    I guess I was right. This Outbreak truly made people mad. Leo almost scowled as his inner beast let out something akin to a snigger. Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, but remember who is in control here.


    And suddenly, his mind was quiet again.


    Shaking his head lightly, Leo decided to just try to carry on with this lighter tone of conversation. No reason to make Tyler tense all over again when his cousin did such a wonderful job of reducing him to an exasperated older sibling.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "Thanks, Laura¡­ I think?" Leo spoke up, and the girl slowly raised her head, shoulders suddenly tense. "It is nice to know that at least someone appreciates my new form."


    When Laura''s eyes finally found Leo''s, he still saw the childlike gleam in them, but now they also held a hint of fear. Evidently, his new beautiful voice could scare off even a horror fanatic. Or maybe it was the fact that he could speak at all?


    Ah, who the hell knows. Not that it matters anyway... Leo shrugged internally and addressed the girl again before she grew even more tense. "How''s the infection?"


    Laura blinked, probably taken off guard by the sudden change of subject. Even Tyler, next to her, flinched a bit, his focus once more directed fully on Leo.


    "Better overall, but worse than after what you have done," the girl replied finally, cradling her infected limb. "I can stay awake, and it doesn''t hurt as much, but it''s slowly spreading again."


    Leo nodded, his own eyes settled on the infected skin. The girl was still pale, but the green, malformed texture on her arm and shoulder had regained some intensity since he had left. Another few hours or a full day, and it would be back to the same state from this morning.


    So it acts quite slowly overall... You would think that with the world as it is, even a random infection would kill a beginner survivor in a matter of hours. Glad I was wrong.


    "Alright then. My evolution gave me an enhanced version of the ability I tried to help you with before," Leo explained, raising one hand. "I can try again now if you want. Even if it doesn''t heal you fully, the outcome should still be much better."


    Honestly, Leo had no idea if that was the truth, but healing Laura was the only way to get some trust from the trio or at last some goodwill. Devour is two grades better. There is no way it won''t work at all. You''re not that cruel, System¡­


    Yet before Laura could answer, Tyler, who had been in a hushed conversation with Dylan, interrupted her. "I would like to hear what happened when you were gone first," the warrior ignored his cousin''s glare. "Dylan tells me that you are responsible for the cloud of dust above the town square."


    Laura immediately snapped her head towards Leo, her anger forgotten. "That was you?"


    Shrugging, Leo slid to the ground, leaning against a wall far from the trio. "Partially. I might be stronger than most, but that kind of destruction is beyond me."


    For now, Leo added in the safety of his mind. Though anyone who took their growth seriously could one day be capable of what the Cursed Juggernaut did to those buildings.


    "Then how?" Laura queried and leaned forward. At the same time, Tyler slumped in his seat, his head buried in his hand, while Dylan just chuckled silently, shaking his head at the duo¡­


    Watching the three, Leo swallowed hard as he fought the urge to turn away. A sight like this reminded him of what he had already lost and might have been lost without even knowing.


    Edward and Nick were gone forever. Adam, Eva, and Lily could be dead for all he knew. And the less he thought about his foster parents hundreds of kilometers away, the better.


    God... I really love torturing myself... Leo scowled, once more pushing his worries to the deepest recesses of his mind. They can still be out there, waiting. I just need to find them, like Nikra told me¡­


    Just then, someone nudged him and Leo looked up at Dylan, who had a broken table leg in his hand. Really, he couldn''t even blame them for not touching him considering all the natural weaponry he now possessed.


    "Sorry, got lost in my thoughts. It''s been one hell of a day, so I''m looking for a good place to start with," Leo explained, ignoring the knowing glint in Dylan''s eyes. That guy had to be a therapist before the Outbreak¡­


    "Like they say, the beginning is usually the best place to start."


    Chuckling, Leo nodded anyway. Might as well. We have time, after all.


    <hr>


    Just like the trio wanted, Leo recounted his journey into the city as well as he could. Of course, he skipped most of his exploration of Nick''s house, and no one dared to interrupt him, something he was thankful for.


    The part about item advancement, along with Minor Takeover, was also wholly omitted. As much as Leo liked the trio ¡ª well¡­ the duo ¡ª they didn''t need to know about his unique connection to the Void. No one should really know about it if he wanted to be honest¡­


    After that came the wonderful appearance of Tainted Wasteland, and here Leo found himself answering a dozen questions. From unique monsters to the Wasteland''s overall appearance, he answered them all along with describing his close meeting with death while skipping a part or two.


    "And that''s pretty much it," Leo shrugged as he had just finished skimming over his evolution.


    By this point, whatever reservations the trio had toward him mostly faded as the group watched him with varying levels of incredulity. Though he didn¡¯t doubt that the moment the shock from the onslaught of information disappeared, their wariness would come back in full force.


    Still, much to his surprise, it was Tyler who spoke first. "I don''t know if I should praise the brass pair of balls you apparently carry around or curse you for being suicidal..."


    "Probably both," Leo chuckled. "Trust me, I know my decisions back then weren''t the smartest... Can''t complain though. Without that suicidal mission, I wouldn''t have unlocked this evolution."


    By the looks Tyler and Dylan shot Leo, they definitely didn''t agree that his current form was worth it. However, at least Laura nodded in agreement, so there was that.


    "So I take my story was satisfactory?" Leo asked before more questions or weird comments could come up. Also, as a former reporter, it was nice to see he still knew how to spin a story... Even if it lacked some crucial details...


    "Aye, you could say that, lad," Dylan muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I''m sure I''ll ''ave a few more questions for ya later, but for now, this should be enough. God knows I''ll need a few hours to process what you just dumped on us."


    Both Tyler and Laura nodded at that, and Leo understood well what they felt. He had been there not that long ago, accepting more and more of this new world.


    Sure, there was still much he didn''t know. But with his trip into the Void, conversation with Nikra, and being her Legacy, he already understood much more about what was happening around them than anyone on Earth.


    Still, they had a lot more to talk about this night, starting with the most important problem.


    "Laura," Leo called out, the girl instantly meeting his gaze. "How about I get this thing off you now?"


    Gulping, the girl glanced at her infection, then back at him. ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded slowly.

 Chapter 64. Healing

    "Void Essence as a fuel truly doesn''t have any strong competition. Of course, there are various elementally charged Essences that sometimes come close, but in the end, when you have a choice between elemental and Void Essence, make sure to always go for the latter.


    Sure, it is hard to control, but what is a life of a true craftsman without some explosions? Boring! This is what your life will become if you turn away from the sweet thing that is pure, highly explosive, Void Essence."


    ~Rambles of a long-dead Master Artificer


    <hr>


    Leo slowly rose from the floor, watching Tyler turn to Laura with a frown on his face.


    "Are you sure, Lu?" The warrior whispered, giving Leo a side glance. "With him here, we don''t need to rush things. Maybe there is a different, safer way to heal you..."


    Laura scoffed. "Tyler, stop being stupid," she hissed, throwing her cousin a glare. "I can''t travel like this. We both know that... Leo already helped me once, and I trust him to at least try again."


    Tyler held her gaze for a moment before sighing. "Alright... If you are sure."


    As the girl nodded, Leo stopped just a few steps away from the couch and cleared his throat. Which was something he probably shouldn''t do again. At least not that loud. The sounds his body produced nowadays were anything but pleasant.


    "Right," Leo muttered under his breath as the two snapped their heads toward him. Tyler''s hand even drifted to the rifle now lying against the couch. "You ready?"


    After throwing her cousin another sharp look, Laura nodded again and shifted in her seat. With the infected area laid out before him, Leo closed the remaining distance and dipped to his knees, cursing as one of his tails almost made him stumble.


    Can you not?


    His inner beast sniggered again, but it quickly fell silent, along with the tails going still. Huh... Thanks, I guess. Leo muttered in his head. Who would have thought it could be helpful in a situation like that.


    Maybe it knows I will be using Devour?


    Noting that particular information for later, Leo faced both Laura and Tyler. "Okay then. Like last time, this will sting, maybe even hurt a bit. However, if, and I repeat, if you start feeling a tug at your own Essence, tell us instantly. I have nothing against draining the infection out of you, but anything else is way out of my pay grade, and I can do more harm than good."


    Swallowing visibly, Laura nodded, and Leo grabbed her forearm with one hand, instantly feeling the girl freeze. Slowly, he let the claws of the other hand hover over the infection.


    "Three, two, one..."


    The moment the last word left his lips, Leo lightly stabbed the sickly skin. Beside him, Laura gasped, gritting her teeth, but for now, he ignored her and got to work.


    Don''t fail me now.


    Devour activated with naught but a thought, the ever-hungry skill rearing its head. Just like with Drain, Leo quickly wrestled it under control. Now was not the time for mindless hunger; here, precision was all that mattered.


    Last time, he had guided the lesser ability with intent, will, and control. This time was no different, and so Devour surged forward, seeking its prey like the hunter that Leo now represented.


    The hateful and wild Void Essence tried to resist, but just like Leo thought, Devour was leagues above Drain. Maybe if this Essence had the same strength and presence as the one from a Void Gate, it could have fought back, but this tiny infection could never reach that level of power.


    And so, second after second, Leo devoured every bit of the cursed energy he could find. Eyes closed, he even expanded his pathetic senses over the infected limb and guided his skill as well as he could.


    Sometimes it was a close call, where Devour strayed and almost began to drink Laura''s Essence. Yet, in the last second, Leo''s inner beast would rush forward, holding the willful ability in place until he could control it once more.


    Each time, Leo mentally thanked his representation of instincts. And while the beast seemed to bask in the praise, the growl it sent back had its own meaning.


    Apparently, it didn''t like that he couldn''t fully control an ability he had just gained. Who could have known, really.


    Still, at least it''s helping.


    Slowly, the last bit of Void Essence trickled into Leo''s body, and he instantly cut Devour off. With a tug, he ripped his claw out of Laura''s skin and opened his eyes.


    The blond girl came into sight immediately, gritting her teeth and forehead now fully covered in sweat. It seemed he wasn''t the only one hyperfocused on the job.


    "Laura," Leo called out, and the girl opened her blue eyes. He nodded. "It''s done. Take a look and tell me how you feel."


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Instantly her gaze went to the now pale arm and shoulder. The skin was still malformed, eaten away by the mysterious Voidling''s projectile, but the green infection was gone. Now the limb just needed a few days to recover, and it may even regain its full strength. Though Leo couldn''t be sure about that.


    He was no healer, and the System was all he could count on.


    "I can''t feel it anymore," Laura mumbled, running a finger over the malformed skin. "I can''t feel the constant burning anymore... It still aches, and I can barely lift it, but the burning is gone." She turned her gaze to Leo, eyes shining with unshed tears. "I was so worried, but... Thank you. Thank you so much, Leo."


    "No worries," Leo smiled, but not enough to show his teeth and ruin the moment. "It was nothing."


    He didn''t let Laura answer, and instead, Leo stood up, backing off a few steps. Tyler quickly took his place and embraced his cousin tightly, the girl returning the hug as tears continued to fall from her eyes.


    Truly, even if this was only for just this moment, maybe it was worth coming back here. A girl like her didn''t deserve to die from some random infection.


    "You have my thanks, lad." A hand suddenly clapped him very lightly on the shoulder. "We''ve been rackin'' our brains tryin'' to figure out what to do if you didn''t show up, but everythin'' we came up with relied purely on luck... Maybe you really are our personal messiah after all," Dylan finished with a chuckle, removing his hand.


    "Like I said, it was nothing," Leo muttered back, averting his eyes from the hugging duo. Oh, he understood well what his action meant for the three. However, considering his current situation, basking in the glory of their gratitude wouldn''t benefit him as much as staying humble. "I''m glad I could help."


    "It was nothing, he says," Dylan scoffed. "Lad, I don''t think you truly understand how much it means to us to ''ave Laura back in good health again... But fine, ''ave it your way. Bloody hell... Just remember, mate, we are in your debt. We owe you one, whether you like it or not."


    And I will be sure to cash in as soon as we reach the other group. Leo noted in his mind while nodding outside. "Not necessary, but sure, I will remember."


    "Good," Dylan grumbled out just as a System notification flickered to life along with a familiar presence settling over his shoulders.


    And so it begins.


    Night is here. Good luck, and may your hunts be fruitful, Prime.


    The message changed according to my evolution... interesting. Wonder if there is more to it. Leo mused as he watched the entire trio flinch from the weight that came with the night. For him, it was no longer a problem, apparently.


    Well, I''m an Akirian now¡­


    However, despite the almost non-existent effects of the night on his body, Leo could really use high-quality night vision right about now. Sure, he could still see, thanks to the few small candles lighting up the room. Hell, even when he glanced into the dark corridor, his eyes picked up some things, but it would be barely enough to navigate through the night.


    Night Hunter without perfect night vision... Ironic, but I can''t really complain. Besides, I saw night vision in the mutation menu. Definitely, something to aim for right away.


    "As uncomfortable as each night," Dylan''s voice finally brought everyone out of their thoughts. "Alright then, gather ''round, folks. I''d love nothin'' more than to hit the hay and sleep through this bloody mess, but we still gotta plan for tomorrow. We need to get back on the road."


    Nodding to himself, Leo sat down near the couch, with Dylan taking a seat close by. At least someone thought to start this conversation first.


    "But didn''t we already agree to go to the group near the trainyard?" Laura asked, her fingers still brushing against the healed arm.


    Beside him, Dylan let out a sigh. "We had a plan, but that was before we factored Leo into the equation," the older man explained. He turned to Leo. "With Laura injured, our original plan was to avoid the main areas and try to dodge most of the Voidlings. But now, with you here, we might have a chance to make a beeline for the trainyard. What do you think?"


    Leo hummed, silently agreeing with the man. Alone he could probably get to the trainyard in a matter of an hour now. With the trio, it would take longer, no avoiding that, but they definitely didn''t need to make any bigger detours.


    Or at least I don''t think so...


    Leo''s eyes narrowed at the only girl in the room. "Laura, you''re a Ranger, yes?" The girl nodded slowly, furrowing her brow. "What weapon do you have? Did the System give you anything?"


    The girl''s eyes immediately brightened in the shallow light of a candle as she reached behind the couch. Leo''s non-existent eyebrows raised as Laura raised a well-crafted bow in his direction.


    Instantly firing off an Identify, his mouth opened a bit as he read through the description.


    Recurve bow. Well-made. Common rarity. Gifted to the User by the System as a starting item... What the fuck? How is that fair? Every other class only gets a broken item... Wait, I''m stupid.


    "And what about arrows?" Leo added quickly. How he had forgotten about something so important, he would never know.


    Laura grimaced and once again reached behind the couch, this time returning with two metal arrows. They, just like the bow, were clearly well-made, but the fact remained that there were only two of them.


    "The System gives Rangers five arrows like this and the ability to buy five more for twenty Ether," Laura explained, and even Leo flinched a bit.


    It wasn''t as bad as he feared, but if someone didn''t kill a Voidling with one shot or couldn''t retrieve the fired arrow, then it was pretty much game over. In a group like this, there was still a chance to recover, but if a survivor was alone?


    Yeah, it''s a death sentence if you aren''t a bow prodigy.


    "And you have enough to buy five more now?"


    Laura nodded.


    "I see..." Leo muttered, letting this matter drop as he addressed Dylan. "Yea, we go straight to the trainyard."


    The man grinned. "Glad to hear that, mate. Got any ideas on how you''ll fit into our little group? Typically, we move slowly from one Voidling to another, with Tyler leading the way. We tried bein'' all sneaky once, but even with that tall grass, those bloody monsters always seem to sense when we''re nearby."


    "I might be able to help with that, but that''s a thought for the future," Leo shook his head, the System''s words echoing in his mind. "As for now, I won''t break your synergy. I''m an assassin, after all. Sticking to shadows is what I do, so I will just try to kill as many in your path as I can."


    "Aye," Dylan nodded. "Might be for the best... Now let''s get some shut-eye. We''ve got a long day ahead of us. I''ll take the first watch."

 Chapter 65. Familiarity

    Leo shook his head, raising his hand before anyone could move. "There is no need for that," he said, getting the trio''s attention again. "I can stay up the whole night... The same ability I used to heal Laura apparently makes it hard for me to tire. So I might as well miss some sleep and take care of shit I have been putting off for later."


    At their looks, he quickly added, "System stuff."


    The trio nodded at once, and Dylan was quick to follow, "If you''re certain about keepin'' watch, I won''t argue. But maybe one of us should join you as well. It''s always good to have more eyes lookin'' out for any dangers. Plus, at least you will have some company for the night, Leo."


    Tyler immediately chimed in. "We should do that. Just in case something goes down, we can handle it better with two people up."


    Leo sighed, knowing well what they were doing. He might have gained some goodwill for healing Laura, but evidently, that wasn''t enough for them to sleep under his watch.


    Can''t even blame them for this... Void knows I would do the same.


    "Have it your way then," Leo grumbled anyway before reaching behind him and untying his backpack. "One more thing. On my way here, I gathered some stuff you might find useful tomorrow. I don''t really need it anymore, so enjoy."


    With that said Leo slowly placed item after item on the floor. His old knives and the one from the System went first. The trio took one each without much complaining, with the upgraded one going to Tyler.


    He might not have the necessary mastery to wield it properly, but that shouldn''t stop him from stabbing monsters with the pointy end. And who knew, maybe the System would give the warrior Leo''s old weapon mastery after some time.


    Three of the five flares went next, and when Leo placed them in front of the trio, Laura blurted out. "How did you get those? They can literally save our lives in a pinch. Are you sure you should give them to us?"


    Leo chuckled at the speed of her speech. "I have two more here," he patted his backpack. "Besides, once you hit level ten and unlock the System shop, you can buy one of these for ten Ether."


    "One for ten?" Dylan spluttered, eyes wide. "Bloody hell. What is with those prices?"


    Shrugging, Leo didn''t comment. In the long run, ten Ether was almost nothing; sooner or later, Dylan would realize that.


    Thank the Void, he doesn''t know the prices of a basic pack of clothes or some mutations. He almost snorted.


    Moving on, Leo removed his last gifts, which he initially couldn''t decide whether to give away for various reasons. In the end, though, there was no sense in holding onto them. With his new appearance, he could barely grip them properly, so their use was quite limited to him.


    If this doesn''t prove I''m at least somewhat trustworthy, I don''t know what will. Leo huffed as he put the two pistols, along with ammo and one harness, on the floor. The other had to stay and hold his backpack in place for now. I really need to find an alternative¡­


    "Standard issue handguns carried by police," Tyler muttered, flipping the gun in his hands. "Where did you find them? I don''t remember anything about these from your story."


    "Because I didn''t mention them," Leo answered lightly, returning his backpack to its proper place. "I got them on my way back here from turned officers. Would be stupid to just leave them alone."


    Tyler hummed, but from the slightly narrowed eyes, Leo knew the man didn''t believe him fully or at least suspected something was wrong. Not really surprising, as what ordinary police officers carried so much ammo with them.


    The answer was simple. Not a one. Still, leaving the ammo in the backpack was a no-go. They were going out tomorrow, and holding back on resources was a dumb idea.


    "Lad, you sure you want us to take both? You''ve already given us the rifle," Dylan voiced out, breaking the somewhat tense atmosphere. At this point, Leo was sure that man was a therapist in the past.


    "You see these?" He chuckled and raised both of his hands, flashing his claws. "Those ain''t gonna hold any weapons anytime soon. So take the guns. They are useless for me."


    On the couch, Laura giggled lightly, but the moment all the eyes in the room fell on her, she blushed and ducked her head. Leo held in a snort. At least someone was having fun.


    "Well, it''s been a fair while since I shot anythin'', but if you really don''t want ''em, I''ll take one," Dylan said, diverting the attention away from the young girl as he picked up the second gun and a spare magazine. "Lass, do you know ''ow to use this bloody thing? If not, you should take the other one anyway, Leo."


    "She never fired a pistol, but I know she''s used a hunting rifle before. Right, Lu?" The girl nodded, giving her cousin a slight glare. "Then we can swap. A rifle is better for long-range anyway."


    The younger man was utterly correct; a pistol would be much better for him at close range. Although Tyler should probably stop answering for his cousin. The girl might seem shy, but if Leo was reading the signs right, then she probably had quite the temper. Lily was similar, though his sister''s fuse was much shorter, and that woman had almost no shame compared to Laura¡­


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Once the cousins swapped the weapons, Dylan rose from the floor and clapped his hands lightly. "Alright then," he declared, his gaze fixed on Leo. "Mate, if you don''t ''ave any more surprises up your sleeve, I reckon it''s time we get some shut-eye."


    Leo nodded as he also stood up, wincing at the pops his body produced. "Nah. That''s it from me."


    Dylan snorted as if barely believing his words. "Well then, I''ll stay up with you for now," he said, turning to the pair on the couch. "Tyler, I''ll wake you up next."


    The younger man nodded, and Leo paid them no more attention as they settled for the night. Instead, he walked to a far-off corner, almost completely shrouded in darkness, and once more dropped to the floor.


    However, this time, he made sure to settle without bending his limbs in all the wrong ways. He really didn''t need his entire body aching the next day because Akirian physiology apparently didn''t help with that.


    Alright, let''s start with the simplest one. Leo sighed, summoning his technique menu. The corrupted Runner might have died the moment it reached the Screamer ¡ª its presence flickering out like a flame ¡ª, but the technique responsible might have changed since his evolution.


    And I forgot to check it before¡­


    Void: Minor Takeover (Novice)


    A technique that allows for a complete takeover of a Void-born creature. The success of this ability depends on the user''s connection to the Void affinity, level, and overall strength. Creatures stronger or of similar power will resist an attempt at controlling them, and special types of Voidlings will completely resist this minor technique. Please note that physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Estimated maximum number of controlled Void-borns: 2


    And I was right. Leo grinned, swiping the description away. Evolution and a single level already raised the potential of this technique. Give it a few more levels, and he might be able to create his own small army.


    Though it really depends on how multiple takeovers work in a row. It might as well leave me without any Essence... Another thing to check later, maybe even tomorrow.


    Shaking his head lightly, Leo raised one hand, and with a single tug of Essence, the gleaming blade along his forearm extended. He had already seen it at work two times, but there were still things left to check.


    Slowly, his other hand came to grip the blade tightly, avoiding the sharp edge and the tip. Knowing it would probably hurt at least a bit, Leo clenched his teeth and began applying more pressure on the weapon.


    Yet, no matter how hard he tried and how much force he applied, the blade didn''t even bend an inch. Hell, he didn''t even feel the slightest bit of pain from the weapon. Really, at this point, the hand pressing on the blade ached more, which was saying a lot.


    Okay, probably not indestructible, but if I can''t even bend it with my own strength, it should be fine for the time being. Now for the second test. Leo nodded, letting even more Essence flow into the weapon.


    Like a hundred times before, the mystic energy slowly escaped outside his body and settled against the blade. The Void Essence Leo now wielded tried to slip between his phantom fingers and escape into the wind, but Kiss of Death was an ability he had mastered some time ago. Slightly decreased control over the wilful energy couldn''t change that¡­


    Barely a few seconds into the skill formation, the familiar black glow embraced the blade tightly, flashing brightly.


    Leo narrowed his eyes, scanning the ability with all of his senses. It''s stronger, he noted. Can''t be sure by how much, but it''s definitely stronger. Though it took more Essence to form it. Fucking control¡­


    Kiss of Death faded away with a single command, and Leo set himself to repeat the process. Again and again, time after time, he formed and dismissed the ability. With each attempt, the time and necessary Essence it took to form the kiss slightly decreased, but it was still a bit off.


    Not that he could do much more about it.


    Increased power for a bit more Essence and time. Leo frowned, dismissing the black glow for the last time. In the end not that bad of a deal. And I can fix even that with some more practice and points in Mind. Now, if I could only get to keep it up indefinitely.


    He had an inkling of how to go about that, but it was only an idea. Both Reinforcement and True Stealth, the former more than the latter, needed a constant supply of Essence to not collapse. If Leo could figure out how to take this part of those abilities and add it to Kiss of Death, everything would be perfect.


    Of course, he had already tried to give the kiss constant supply, but it only managed to destabilize the skill.


    Gonna need to experiment more with Reinforcement and finally understand it better... Now that I think of it, I might have an idea of how to improve it too. If that''s even possible¡­


    Leo shook his head with a sigh. Fucking hell. So much shit to do. But I won''t say that it isn''t nice to see the improvement... Which brings me to another thing.


    Palm up, Leo reached into his reserves and once more let the Essence free. Only this time, it wasn''t pure and unchanged but filled with the power of shadows. It rushed straight to his palm, spilling out to form a hook it created many times before.


    Still too slow. Dylan''s lightning appears almost immediately. Scrunching his brow, Leo repeated the process, but with his mind wholly focused on the flow of Essence.


    One could argue that after his evolution, Leo didn''t need shadow weapons. Yet, it was also unquestionable that the utility his constructs could provide was priceless. So if there was a chance to make them stronger, better, then he would take it¡­


    Time passed as Leo slowly corrected each stage of the creation of his constructs. He carefully guided Essence through every step in his body and outside it. The images of his creations grew clear in his mind, and with time, the constructs in the real world started to reflect this.


    At some point, Leo''s eyes closed. However, despite the hyperfocused state he entered, the System still cut through it. Instantly his gaze snapped to the dark hook in his hand and then to the notification waiting to be acknowledged.


    "Finally," Leo whispered, a monstrous grin forming on his face.

 Chapter 66. Waking Nightmares

    Shadow: Creation (Novice)


    A technique born thanks to the User''s relentless practice and the will to improve. Creation is the base of anything in the Universe, and now the shadows are ready to be born anew. This technique improves the quality of shadow constructs and the speed at which they are created. Please note that currently, all creations have to be constantly connected to a source, the User.


    The moment Leo finished reading, the hook in his hand dispersed into the air along with the notification. Instantly, he reached for this new technique, and it answered right away, shadows surging toward his palm once more.


    Leo still had to give them a purpose, but the moment they received it, shadows converged into the exact image he had given them. It happened almost in a blink of an eye, and unlike his previous creations, the dagger in his palm wasn''t just an amalgamation of shadows in a shape of a blade, but it really resembled a real weapon.


    Sure, it possessed the black and inky texture of shadows. It even oozed a mist similar to the one that Shadow Tails exuded, but it was as hard as any other weapon Leo had ever held. The grip was wrong, but that was more of his evolution''s fault than the constructs''.


    So much faster than before... Leo marveled, resummoning the blade again. And it can still be improved. Hell, I might be able to create proper projectiles with this later on.


    A ranged attack Leo could depend on was another thing he wanted to create, but simple projectiles could be a good starting point. I could also try adding the nature of shadows into True Stealth. Seems like an obvious step forward if I want to improve it.


    Yet before the thoughts of advancing his skill could consume his mind, Dylan''s hushed voice snapped him back to reality. "Everything alright there, lad? Gotta be honest, that grin of yours was a bit disturbing. I swear, those teeth of yours could probably tear through bone."


    Not sure if this was a compliment or not, Leo just snorted. "Doubt it, but I don''t really fancy finding out," he said, flipping the construct in his hand. "And it''s all good. I just finally gained a technique for my affinity."


    Dylan''s eyebrows shot up as he inspected the blade in Leo''s hand. "That''s made out of your shadows, innit?" The man hummed in response to the confirmation. "Huh... So how does it feel like?"


    Blinking, Leo looked up at the mage. "Gonna need to be more specific, man. What exactly do you mean?"


    Really, the older man could be referring to pretty much anything. Be it affinity, technique, or even his evolution overall.


    Thankfully, Dylan was quick to clarify. "Ah, sorry about that. I was askin'' about your affinity. I mean, I can summon a single spark of lightning and have some control over it, but I can''t even imagine what it must feel like to have a whole concept under your command."


    Leo frowned, tapping his claws against the floor. "Entire concept might be stretching it a bit... I''m limited by the Essence I have, after all. But how does it feel..." He tsked, letting a swirl of shadows jump into his hand.


    Leo didn''t really have much time to give it much thought. True, his trip into the soulscape gave him a unique read of his Essence and affinity, but if he had to explain it¡­


    "It is hard to put into words, but if I had to choose one, exhilarating would be it. For me, shadows act like an eager dog, waiting to fulfill my every command. Really, in comparison to normal Essence, affinity is quite simple to control. You are just limited to what it can do."


    He could probably say more, repeat what Nikra had told him, but that sort of information seemed like something fresh survivors shouldn''t have. And Leo didn''t fancy coming up with a story on how he already knew this much¡­


    Finally, Dylan nodded, his eyes still fixated on the construct in Leo''s hand. "Interesting... And any clue on how one could go about gettin'' an affinity?"


    A few, you even have a headstart with that lightning technique. Leo said in the safety of his mind, yet he didn''t dare to speak those words out loud. Soulscape was a concept far beyond anything people like them should have access to. Still, there was something he could say.


    "Doubt it will help you much as you need to unlock mutations, but if you ever do, you can buy affinities there," Leo explained before adding quickly. "Or you can always try experimenting with that technique of yours. The System might do the rest. "


    "Mutations, you say?" Dylan''s face twisted slightly, his gaze scanning over Leo''s body. "I reckon I''ll stick to good old-fashioned experimentation. No offense, mate."


    Leo snorted. "None taken. I made my choices, have to live with them."


    Dylan nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated, as if contemplating his words. However, it didn''t take long for the man to break his silence. "Do you mind sharin'' how you acquired your affinity?"


    Ah... Now it makes sense. Leo mused, stopping his body from shifting under Dylan''s gaze. He should have expected this question to come up sooner or later.


    "There is not much to say there," Leo lied through his teeth. "I only have an affinity thanks to the second Cataclysm and a whole load of dumb luck. Not something you can exactly replicate."


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    At least this part was true, but he had to leave it at that. Nikra, her shards, and story had to remain a secret for probably quite some time. The Lone Traveler was right about that, for sure.


    "I''d love to hear the tale hidin'' behind that, but let''s save it for another time," Dylan suggested, giving him an easy way out. "I''ll go wake up Tyler now. My old bones are beggin'' for some rest."


    Chuckling, Leo raised a hand, stopping the man from leaving. "Before you go. Do you mind answering two questions of mine?"


    Dylan quirked a single eyebrow as he leaned against a wall. "Not at all. Go on, lad."


    "Your race, Awakened Human, do you guys also get two free attributes per level?" Leo began, and the older man nodded right away. "Hmm. So there isn''t much difference between Awakened and Tainted Human except for the trait. Pretty obvious in hindsight..."


    He shook his head before he went off on another random tangent. "And what about evolutions? Have any of you reached the requirements of one?"


    "Aye, Tyler did right before we had to go into hidin'', and I need another two kills to unlock it," Dylan confirmed, glancing at the younger man. "It ain''t anythin'' special. Even the name doesn''t change."


    Leo''s brow furrowed. It didn''t have a new name. Now that was something to ask Nikra about when she woke up. "But it is better, right?"


    Dylan nodded firmly. "Of course. Three more attribute points, slightly better trait, and another ten percent to Mind effectiveness. All in all, not too shabby."


    So very similar to Risen Human that I got. Maybe even the same depending on what trait it gives. Leo noted as he rose to his feet. "Thanks, Dylan. Go on and wake Tyler. I think I will see if there is anything interesting upstairs."


    That was the official reason. In truth, he just didn''t want to be in the same room as Tyler without a buffer. Leo had already told them all he could for now, and he doubted that the warrior would miss this opportunity to grill him some more. Truly it was for the best.


    "Just watch yourself," Dylan warned abruptly. "The first floor''s mostly wrecked, but there are a few gaps in the walls of the one room you can still reach. I reckon I don''t need to tell ya what''ll happen if them bloody Nightmares catch sight of ya."


    "Don''t worry," Leo waved him off, approaching the entrance to the corridor. "I would be long dead if I didn''t know how to stay hidden. Kind of a necessary skill for an assassin."


    With that said, Leo stepped into the darkness. A small ball of crimson light quickly formed in his raised hand, illuminating the short passage with a dim glow.


    Taking a sharp left, Leo climbed the destroyed stairway, his claws digging into both Vetilim and wood. The entire structure groaned almost silently underneath his weight, but at least it didn''t collapse any further. Dylan definitely didn''t lie about the first floor being in a sorry state.


    Could have been worse. Leo thought as he slipped into the only open room on the floor. It was small, and he had to watch his every step, but just like the mage said, plenty of tiny holes littered the room''s walls. Though, only the ones opening on the street below interested him.


    "Let''s see," Leo muttered, True Stealth enveloping him like a blanket. The light in his hand flickered out, and he moved forward, pausing just a step away from a small hole.


    Leaning in, his eyes instantly zeroed in on the street, lightly illuminated by the glow of Void''s flora. Darkness still mostly ruled over this part of the world, but at least thanks to those few plants, Void''s living matter, and Leo''s slightly enhanced eyesight, he could still see.


    I really want to find a place where everything glows like that. Would be a sight to see... Leo mused, scanning the road for any signs of movement.


    There.


    Almost out of sight, at the beginning of an intersection, a creature sat glued to a tree. Similar to the Collector, the beast''s cracked skin emitted the same unearthly, dark violet glow.


    Apart from that, with such a distance between them, Leo could hardly make out the Voidling''s exact features. Although, if he had to describe it, a legless monkey with bat¡¯s wings summed up the creature quite well.


    Scouter (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Aerial, Wind


    So that''s what Hunter''s advancement gave me. Leo nodded, quickly reaching for the Bestiary. He finally added the first Nightmare to the book. Now to see if it had any useful information.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Scouter


    Expected Potential: E- to E


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Wind


    Known weaknesses: Closed areas, Wings


    One of the few Nightmares born with a new Outbreak. Despite their size and appearance, Scouters are quick and dexterous. They prefer to fight in open areas to utilize their wings and very minor wind affinity. With their highly enhanced senses, Scouters usually roam the Night in search of targets and then contact Collectors for a pick-up. They are also capable of alerting all nearby Nightmares if necessary.


    Oh fuck no!


    Leo jumped away from the hole as if burned, eyes wide. He had wanted to wait for a Collector to show up and scan it too, but with what he had just read, there was no way in hell he was risking it.


    Highly enhanced senses... Yeah, fuck that.


    As quickly as he could, Leo retreated to the floor below. Entering the living room, he shushed Tyler when the man opened his mouth to speak. They had been lucky enough that the Scouter was far away and didn''t hear his talk with Dylan¡­


    With Tyler silent for the moment, Leo went from candle to candle, putting out their tiny flames. He only grabbed the last one, still burning, and approached the warrior, True Stealth collapsing momentarily.


    "I took a peek outside through a hole," Leo whispered as quietly as he could. "There is a Nightmare close by with its senses tuned up to eleven. Don''t speak, don''t even move too much."


    Tyler nodded right away, his entire body stiffening. Leo couldn''t even fault the man as the moment True Stealth came back, he dropped next to the warrior, the single candle between them going out.


    And that was how they spent the entire night. Almost frozen like two slabs of stone, refusing to move even a muscle. Tyler didn''t even attempt to wake someone up to change the watch. The warrior just sat there, his gaze never straying far from the entrance to the room, even if his eyes probably couldn''t see a thing in this darkness.


    Void... I fucking hate those Nightmares...

 Chapter 67. On the move once more

    The notification signaling the night''s end came out of nowhere, snapping Leo out of his trance. Unable to practice any of his visible skills, he decided to use the long hours to try reaching out for his soulscape again. Only to be met with complete failure.


    He took Nikra''s words to heart and tried replicating the same feeling he experienced when she pulled him into the soulscape. Obviously, it didn''t work, so Leo decided to get creative. First, he attempted to reach into his soul in the same way he did when using skills, but that also turned out to be a dead end.


    Next, he tried some good old meditating and delving deep into his mind, hoping that maybe this was the first step to gaining access to a soulscape. However, this too failed, and the only thing Leo managed to reach was his inner beast, which began to howl with laughter... or at least he thought it was laughter.


    And so, with each unsuccessful attempt, Leo spent the rest of the night with Nikra''s words echoing in his head. She was more knowledgeable between the two of them, so the Old One had to know what she was talking about. Yet, after each time he hit the proverbial wall inside his soul, the flames of doubt began to slowly ignite.


    At least I tried. Leo grumbled as he stretched his muscles after hours of unuse.


    Next to him, Tyler followed in his footsteps, a soft crackling of joints filling the room. Not the best thing to hear in the morning, along with the distant screeching of Voidling, but this was their life now.


    Shaking his head lightly, Leo summoned a larger ball of light into his hand to give the younger man a proper light source. Tyler nodded in thanks and approached the couch, shaking the sleeping duo awake.


    What followed was a quick explanation of why Tyler didn''t wake Laura to change the watch. The duo didn''t complain ¡ª obviously ¡ª but going by the frown on the only girl''s face, she wasn''t too happy that her cousin stayed up the entire night.


    Leo could understand that. Tyler was their frontline, for lack of a better term. If he wasn''t at one hundred percent strength during their trek through the city, things could go south really fast.


    Gonna need to keep an eye on them at all times. Leo reasoned. He had already been planning to do that, but being even more on alert couldn''t hurt. A long day indeed.


    "A legless monkey with bat''s wings?" Dylan commented, coming to a halt beside him. "Bloody hell... I had seen a Collector before, but this is a new one for me."


    Leo hummed. "It''s probably best that you haven''t seen one before. With stealth, I can hide quite well, but even that is a risk with their enhanced senses."


    "Aye, you''re most likely right," Dylan nodded, giving him a brief once-over. "Are you ready to go, lad? I know you said you don''t need sleep, but it''s been a few hours since then."


    "Apart from feeling a bit stiff from sitting like a damn statue, I''m good to go," Leo shrugged before motioning to the duo by the couch. "I''m more worried about those two. Tyler only had a couple hours of sleep, and I don''t know how well Laura can use a bow with that arm of hers."


    Dylan furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting towards the cousins. "Tyler can manage it for now. We can always take a break if need be... However, the girl''s arm could pose a problem."


    Without another word, the older man strode forward and gave Tyler a pat on the back. "We should get movin'', you two," Dylan said, capturing their attention. "How''s your arm holdin'' up, Laura?"


    Leo didn''t approach and just watched as the girl picked up the bow, her brow scrunched.


    "Better, much better," she muttered, pulling the string even as her arm trembled a bit. "Not perfect, but I can shoot."


    And Leo didn''t doubt that, but there was no way those shots would be accurate. He had dabbled enough in archery to know this much. Which, in hindsight, wasn''t much anyway.


    Still, once the trio gathered up and stopped in front of him, he didn''t say a word. No reason to sow unnecessary discord among them while their trust in him was already very limited.


    Instead, Leo just listened to the oldest among them.


    "Normally, a trip from here to the trainyard wouldn''t even take an hour... Obviously, we know that ain''t gonna work today." Dylan paused, casting a meaningful glance at his two companions. "We''ll stick close to one side of the road, with Tyler leadin'' the way, and make our way forward at a steady pace. If any of you get too tired to carry on, just let me know. We''ve got the whole day ahead of us. No need to go chargin'' in like a bunch of daft idiots."


    The two nodded firmly, showing just who had the command of this group. Dylan then turned to him and frowned, so Leo took pity on the man and spoke up.


    "I''ll be moving either through the grass or the roofs, using the Vetilim above. My primary targets will be the stronger Voidlings, but I''ll try to eliminate as many as possible regardless," he explained. "Also, if things go south, just scream or use those guns I gave you. That way, I''ll know to come."


    "Aye, what the lad said," Dylan nodded. "We''ve got more firepower now, so if need be, use it. Now, let''s get a move on."


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Just as the trio moved to the door, Leo raised his hand. "One more thing... That strange Vetilim flower is still out there. Don''t look in that direction. I''m not sure what it does exactly, but I don''t think we want to find out now."


    "Aye, the Crimson Mirage," Dylan muttered. "We''re headin'' in the opposite direction, so let''s ''ope it won''t be a problem. And if we come across another one, just avoid lookin'' at it."


    With that said, they all finally stepped into the corridor, and as Dylan moved to remove the shelf barricading the door, Leo summoned his job menu. It would be a waste to go out without any active task.


    No, no, no. Definitely no. Leo mumbled internally, searching through the ever-growing list of available tasks. Alright, this looks perfect for today. Might even finish it in one go.


    Extermination: Earth


    Slay 15 level 7 or higher Voidlings. Commissioned by: System. Time Limit: 2 Earth days.


    Rewards:


    3 Ether Flares, Free honing token.


    Do you wish to accept?


    Yes. Leo confirmed, and the menu faded away. If this token works on repairs, then I won''t need to waste Ether on Valron Coverage... Quite nice.


    "It looks like we''ve got ourselves a welcomin'' committee," Dylan called out, stepping away from the newly opened entrance. "Nothin'' can be bloody easy these days, can it?"


    Indeed, even without stepping on the street, Leo had already noticed at least half a dozen normies. Two of them were even walking toward their group.


    Wonders of not having good stealth ability, I guess. Leo tsked, remembering well how a Voidling still spotted him even with the basic Stealth up. That was fucking annoying...


    Identify.


    Cursed Human (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 6 | Type: Surface, Normal


    Both are level six... Could have been worse. Leo noted as they all spilled out of the building. Just like Dylan said, Tyler took the front while the other two stood on the sides a few steps behind the warrior.


    Already Tyler had his sword at the ready, while Dylan''s finger sparked with lightning. Hell, even Laura had nocked one of her remaining arrows while the other was held loosely in her hand.


    Left standing alone on the porch, Leo quickly scanned the rest of the street. On the far left, there was another group of Voidlings, but that one didn''t seem to care. And so, overall, they barely had seven beasts standing in their way, one already engaged with Tyler and another on the ground, thanks to Dylan''s technique.


    Leo cracked his wide neck, blades lengthening with naught but a thought. Time to join the fray. Wanna help?


    At once, his inner beast growled, bloodlust surging forward. Once more, they became one, and Leo couldn''t hide his grin as he strode forward, his pace quickening with each step.


    "Come, little sheep." A snarl left his mouth as the beast and former human sailed above the downed Voidling and barrelled straight into another. Claws and a blade stabbed deep into its torso, and Leo followed with his other arm, slicing through flesh like it wasn''t even there.


    Blood erupted like a fountain from the now headless monster, yet Leo paid it no mind. Guided by the call of his own beast, he spun around, his tails slapping away another normie that attempted to get close.


    The Cursed Human never had a chance to recover as Leo pounced, swiftly separating its head from its body. However, the fight was far from over when two more normies rushed straight at him, their lengthened fingernails ready to tear through his flesh.


    Leo could have easily dodged, rolled out of the way. But he didn''t, not when this situation provided a perfect opportunity to test his blades further¡­


    The moment the two Cursed Humans closed the remaining distance, Leo raised his arms, halting the offending limbs. Or at least he thought that would be the extent of what happened.


    Instead, just when the beasts'' fingers came in contact with the blades, Leo''s eyes widened as the digits fell to the ground. Apparently, his blades possessed more cutting power than he expected¡­


    Thankfully before he could go on another tangent, the roar of his inner beast instantly snapped him back to reality. Leo grinned, and together, they swiftly dispatched the now defenseless monsters as they screeched in pain.


    Alright, enough for now. He commanded, sighing as the bloodlust retreated, the urge to tear everything to pieces leaving his mind. It definitely took a toll, but when Leo and the inner beast combined, he instantly understood so much more about his nature. Already, the three tails seemed a bit more manageable than a few minutes before.


    Slow, but the progress is there. Leo noted, retracing his blades. In the corner of his vision, he noticed the rest of his group finishing their own fight.


    Good, that gives me a moment.


    Turning to the four fresh corpses, Leo closed his eyes and focused on a vivid image inside his head. With it firmly in mind, a small pulse escaped his body, swiftly enveloping the lifeless Voidlings.


    It works. Nice. He nodded, approaching the second Cursed Human he had slain. His claws descended upon the body, devouring every bit of Essence left there.


    Once only dust remained, Leo crouched and reached into the pile, his smile widening when his claws clicked against something hard. He grabbed the object and pulled it out, his hand bathed in the ruby glow of Crystallized Essence¡­


    For an object so important, Leo had been wondering how other survivors were ever supposed to know that Voidlings could leave it behind. Drain made that discovery simple for him, but others didn''t have such a shortcut.


    But apparently, you can sense the crystal inside them... Makes it a bit easier. Thought the fact remained that people first had to know that Voidlings even carried those.


    Maybe it was mentioned somewhere, and I just missed it? Not like I needed that kind of info.


    It could be either that or other survivors had to be fortunate enough to stumble upon Crystallized Essence once the Voidlings turned to dust on their own. Not sure how long that takes, though.


    Leo shrugged, turning to face his group. Ah, whatever. Maybe the presence of a crystal speeds up the process?

 Chapter 68. Mirage

    Just as he approached the trio, Tyler let the last Voidling fall to the ground before stomping hard on its head, a dark blue glow coalescing around his foot. The skull exploded underneath the force of the warrior, the mushy insides spilling out.


    Leo quirked a non-existent eyebrow.


    That must have been some kind of skill. He reasoned. No way he has enough strength to crush a Voidling''s head with one stomp alone... Well, maybe if he placed everything in Might.


    Shaking his head, Leo called out. "All done?"


    The trio''s gaze instantly snapped towards him, taking in the blood splattered all over his body.


    "Aye, it seems so," Dylan replied, glancing at the bodies behind Leo. "Bloody hell, mate, you took them out faster than we did. I think I kinda understand why you went with this evolution now..."


    Oh, trust me, there is much more to it than that. Leo snorted. "Glad to hear that. Though you three are quite good too. With one person still recovering and another half-tired, you took them out pretty fast."


    "Doesn''t change the fact that you killed as many even quicker, but thanks, I guess," Tyler shrugged lightly.


    "I killed one more, but you can''t really see its body thanks to this," Leo brought up the shining ruby crystal, and at their questioning looks, he tossed it to Dylan. "Catch."


    Despite being a mage, the older man deftly caught the item mid-air, raising an eyebrow. "Ha, so this is the Crystallized Essence our evolutions have been demandin''. We were wonderin'' where to find these..." He rolled the crystal along his palm, locking eyes with Leo. "And you''re sayin'' you got this from a Voidling? How''d you manage that?"


    I guess this is how it feels to be the one in the know for a change. Leo mused. "Yea. There is a small chance that this will form inside a Voidling when they die. I was, you could say, lucky to get a skill from the beginning that drained and turned corpses into dust. Without it, I probably wouldn''t know about those either."


    "So we have to dig them out of corpses," Tyler grimaced, "or wait for them to turn to dust? How long does that take?"


    Leo shrugged. "Honestly? No idea. Never stuck around long enough to find out... Anyway, if I''m right, you should be able to sense those crystals if you try hard enough and use some Essence. Then I can get them out for you if you want. You''re probably gonna need those sooner or later."


    The trio nodded and taking advantage of this moment of respite, they all focused on familiarizing themselves with the crystal''s energy. Their three recent kills then became the testing ground to see if they could sense the presence of a crystal within.


    They couldn''t...


    Although, with a quick pulse, Leo confirmed that there was no Crystallized Essence inside those corpses in the first place. Gonna need to bring a body with one inside and then let them practice if we get an opportunity.


    He voiced this thought, and while they agreed, they also weren''t in a hurry. The trio was still far from unlocking the middle evolution, so Crystallized Essence wasn''t really needed now.


    Their loss... Shit makes for nice grenades. Leo joked in the confines of his mind. They all had seen the crystal''s description; he really didn''t need to point out its other uses¡­


    And so, with experimentations finished, the trio began their slow trek along one side of the street. Meanwhile, Leo darted straight to the nearest tree, claws paving the way to the top of the nearest building.


    Let the fun begin...


    <hr>


    Street after street, they trudged through the city, never really pausing for longer than a minute. On the road, the trio fought like one unit, together destroying anything that stood in their path. Though, in hindsight, there weren''t that many Voidlings left to block their way after Leo did his part of the job.


    Just like they decided, he mostly stayed ahead, taking down monsters that could threaten the trio. Whenever he could, Leo remained above, utilizing shadows to skewer Voidlings the same way he did before meeting his new companions.


    Sure, some monsters had him dropping from the sky and slicing their heads off, but this honor was usually reserved for Runners and a single pack of three Hounds...


    Which was quite a close call in itself as the beasts almost managed to reach the trio when Leo was taking care of another group. Only the merging with his inner beast and a bit of Reinforcement let him intercept those hungry dogs¡­


    At least that encounter docked Leo another level up, what with all the Hounds being level eight. The surge of strength washed over him as it always did, and without hesitation, he allocated all his available points into Mind. With just another point or two, his control might surpass even his pre-evolution state¡­


    Yet, despite the power-up, they still had to take a slight detour later on due to five separate Maniacs populating a single street. They could have tried sneaking by, but in the end, no one wanted to find out how loud and dangerous those things could truly be.


    Although, now that Leo gazed at the road below and the Crimson Mirrage growing in the distance, he had doubts about their decision. Something seemed wrong here, and going by the soft growling of his inner beast, it agreed.


    Shit... How to do this and not end up as food for those fuckers... The trio was just around the corner of the adjoining road, finishing the last few Voidling there. If they stepped onto the intersection now, they would be torn to shreds¡­


    Oh, Dylan knew well to not allow his charges to rush in blindly. However, with the amount of Voidlings below Leo, a single glimpse was all the monsters needed for an army to be upon the trio. And without any stealth abilities, there was a good reason to worry.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    So either I deal with this, or we have to go back and take yet another path, this time a much longer one... Fucking Cataclysm had to change the city so damn much... Leo shook his head, eyes still on the problem. So many¡­


    Unlike most areas where there was maybe a single bigger pack of Voidlings and a few stragglers just wandering around, the street below was different. Each beast was part of a group here, a group that had at least one Runner and a bunch of normies.


    One versus four, maybe five, I can handle if I take down the Runners instantly. But the moment I drop, at least one other group will see me and react. Fuck.


    With three packs close to each other, there was no way to avoid getting swarmed. One by one, like he did outside the Nest of Shadow Tails, was easy, but that just wouldn''t work here.


    I need to take out most of them with a single attack... I even have a skill for that, but... Leo''s eyes darted between the groups. Even if he fully eliminated one of them, the others would still come. And he really didn''t want to risk everything like he did back in the Tainted Wasteland, at least not without a good plan.


    And then there was the Crimson Mirrage and the feeling in his gut¡­


    Maybe if I used that... Leo frowned. Lure one to the other and then drop on them with the skill read... Yeah, that could work, but the problem still stands. I had never used Decoy before¡­


    Leo planned to practice it last night, but with the Scouter''s appearance, those plans landed in the thrash. Now if he wanted this idea to succeed, he had to execute Decoy flawlessly on his first try.


    Yeah, not a problem... Sighing, he quickly confirmed that the trio still had a few Voidlings to kill before settling his gaze on the two groups closest to each other.


    One attempt. It doesn''t work, I go back and we take another detour. No need to overcomplicate shit. There is still time. Leo promised to himself, running across the connected rooftops.


    The Vetilim webs and platforms were still abundant here, crafting the perfect playground above the streets. Really, it was fortunate that this was happening in an area like this and not in some small neighborhood¡­


    On a second thought, that was also wrong. After all, if every building here wasn¡¯t touching another one, they would have just gone through backyards or alleyways, avoiding this entire mess.


    If only they had stealth and could come up here with me, then this also wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Leo grumbled, stopping just above a Voidling pack close to the second one but farthest from the third. Okay, let''s do this¡­


    Still under True Stealth, Leo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The pool of Essence stirred underneath his skin, and he let it fill his entire body, just as the skill instructed.


    Give it an image. Create an outline. Finally, push out. Leo repeated again and again, a clear image of his body forming in his mind. With it ready, he pushed the intent along with the picture toward the Essence enveloping his form.


    The energy whirled, almost refusing to accept what was given. Yet a single spark of fury from both Leo and his inner beast forced the power to yield to their combined will. And so, intent, a clear vision, and a mass of Essence, engaged in a dance together, fusing into one.


    At the same time, something clicked in his mind, and Leo pushed every inch of Essence that boiled inside his body. It remained glued to his form, but there was no way in hell he was giving up now.


    With a final push, a final mental roar, Leo''s eyes snapped open as a perfect copy of himself slid out of his body like a ghost.


    He gasped, struggling for breath as almost a third of his Essence escaped with the Decoy. Holy fuck. I did it. Barely, but I did it¡­


    Swallowing, Leo met the cold and unflinching gaze of his clone. Do you hear me? He called out to the tiny presence in his mind.


    The illusion nodded.


    Then you know what to do. The clone nodded once more and turned away, almost gliding towards a spot above another gathering of monsters.


    When it paused, Leo reached into his soul again and took another third of his Essence, gripping it tightly. Right away, every bit of anger, hate, and fury he could muster went into the amalgamation of power, but his inner beast evidently judged it lacking.


    Roaring, the beast and ex-human merged, all of the bloodlust diving right into the growing technique.


    Gritting his teeth as Essence raged deep inside him, Leo finally let the shadows claim the orb of energy.


    Now, he called out to the illusion.


    The clone dived, landing right in the middle of the group without a sound. Yet the Voidlings didn¡¯t need noise when their eyes worked just fine. They howled, and the moment the decoy dashed toward the pack below Leo, they followed.


    Faster.


    He clenched his teeth as the pressure inside him grew with each moment. The shadows wanted to escape, but Leo held them, waiting for the perfect moment.


    Three, two, one. Let''s do it. Limit Break to one hundred for five seconds, System!


    Just then, the decoy below exploded, pieces of glittering glass raining filling the area. Leo took it as a cue and dived, mirroring his clone''s actions.


    The combination of two packs at once snapped their eyes to the falling meal and moved like one unit. Their screeches filled the air as they readied themselves to tear Leo to shreds. However, no matter what the monsters did or how fast they ran, there was nothing they could do the moment his feet touched the ground.


    "Eruption," Leo muttered, setting his affinity free.


    Eager to please, hundreds of thin shadow tendrils erupted from Leo''s body, engulfing the world in a dark mist. Unlike the previous experience, where he had to fight to keep his eyes open, this time, he had the front-row seat of the spectacle.


    All Voidlings in sight, who just had to come as close as they possibly could, tasted the fury of shadows. Every single monster was pierced by at least a few dozen tendrils that went on and on. They stopped only when the power of Eruption ran out like a dying flame.


    Even then, before the dark mist disappeared, the shadows snapped back toward Leo, claiming a final scream from the Voidlings. Only then, with their strings cut off, the beasts were free to collapse, and just like a domino, that was precisely what they did.


    For a moment, Leo smiled, but only for a moment¡­


    Out of nowhere, a deep croak descended upon the world, followed by a muffled roar. Leo flinched, flicking his gaze towards the source of the former, a string of curses leaving his mouth.


    Harpy (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 10 | Type: Aerial, Normal


    I fucking knew something was wrong here...

 Chapter 69. Bloodlust

    The flying beast shot into the air straight from the Crimson Mirage, its broad and red feathery wings carrying it like an omen of death. And maybe that was what the creature represented, with its body easily matching the size of an average human. Add to that, the bird also possessed two short arms growing out of its torso, their clawed ends glinting in the sunlight.


    Overall, if Leo had to give the beast a short description, a demonic, overgrown vulture would sum it up quite well. At least it doesn''t have a human head like its namesake... Thank the Void for small mercies.


    The blood-red bird circled the area above the Crimson Mirage a few times, its croaks filling the air. However, the creature soon grew bored of its task, and after one final loop, it swiftly shot toward Leo. At the same time, a shout came from behind him.


    "Leo! Come on, lad! We have to hide!" Dylan''s voice reverberated through his mind.


    Still merged with his inner beast, Leo snarled as the bloodlust came rushing back in full force. Hide? You want to hide now when more than half of the job is done? He shook his head as screeches of the remaining pack, croaks of the approaching Harpy, and the distant, muffled roars echoed in his ears.


    No hiding. There is no reason to, not from something so weak!


    Leo''s vision sharpened in an instant, the red hues growing stronger as the all-compassing noises went almost silent. The blades upon his arms snapped outwards, and his gaze darted from the Harpy to the buildings on his right and the small Vetilim tower growing there.


    Yes, there is no reason to run. Leo nodded just when a short but loud growl left his throat.


    "Everything is fine. Use the guns if you have to."


    In a whirlwind of dust kicked up by his feet, Leo soared above the bodies of his victims, bounding straight for the nearest wall. The croaks grew closer, and closer, but he paid them no mind as, with leap after leap, he climbed the vertical surface like it was nothing.


    A little bit of Essence surged into his body when the roof came into sight. With an enhanced pull, he threw himself forward, dodging the diving Harpy by just an inch. The beast croaked as it flew up again, and Leo answered with a growl, not even sparing the monster a glance.


    He had a destination, and not even the increasingly louder roars in the distance could deter him from reaching it. No, that noise would have to wait for its turn.


    Come, you bloody chicken. Leo grinned as he stabbed into the wall of the Vetilim tower and pulled up, scaling it just as he had done with the building he stood on.


    Just when he neared the top, the Harpy circled back and plunged straight towards him, ready to spear him with its long beak. Leo faced the beast, still hanging onto the tower, and the moment it came close, he jumped.


    Leo''s legs and arms pushed with everything they had, sustained by lowly powered Reinforcement. Even his three tails, in a show of support they had never given before, helped with the motion and, like a spring, fired him toward the incoming bird.


    Arms raised high and blades glinting with a soft black glow, Leo sailed through the air, ready for the meeting with the red, flying chicken. It was only a matter of milliseconds and the lessening distance between them.


    Three meters.


    Two meters.


    One¡­


    And so, their meeting, bloody and painful, began.


    As the Harpy attempted to sink its claws into Leo upon impact, his long, enhanced blades came down to intercept the attack. They meet the incoming limbs head-on, slicing straight through them in a shower of blood and then continuing onward to their next target.


    Wings.


    The bird, through the haze of pain, tried to shift its position a bit, but it was all for naught, especially in their position... Leo clipped the long feathered limbs too, stopping midway as the force of his strike finally ran out. The monster screeched, a long and mournful sound as they began to free fall.


    Leo''s tails and legs came to hold the bird in place as it began to wiggle, hoping to maybe save itself from the incoming doom with whatever power it had left. Yet, just like anything the Harpy did in the last few seconds, it failed.


    They crashed hard into a random roof, the beast opening its beak once more as the crunching of bones accompanied its howl. Leo just gritted his teeth, feeling the rattle of his own bones. The body beneath him mostly cushioned the fall, but it wasn''t enough.


    And so, without any further ado, Leo took a decisive swing and plunged his blades right into the Harpy''s head. No reason to make the fight any longer when another prey waited, its roars, and only them, growing stronger with each second in his mind.


    However, before Leo could leave, Devour surged forward, diving deep into the Harpy''s body and ripping away its remaining life force with no remorse. Truly, in the blink of an eye, or perhaps even faster, the monster was there, and then it was not, dust fading into the wind¡­


    Fresh Essence poured into Leo''s soul in waves, and almost instantly, the flow reversed, fueling his body with renewed strength as Reinforcement strengthened. Snarling, he dashed to the edge of the roof just in time to witness the second prey breaking free from the confines of its own prison.


    Bulging, naked muscles, similar to the Cursed Juggernaut, crashed straight through Vetilim, splattering the living matter in all directions. The massive beast''s two arms snatched the closest normie and, with sheer strength alone, tore its head from the body.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The mini-Juggernaut roared, dropping the body of its kin as its eyes snapped to the beginning of the street in the distance. Leo followed, his gaze narrowing at the image of the three humans facing a Runner and a normie. They all gripped their puny powder weapons that had already claimed a few lives of the Cursed idiots.


    Pathetic but unimportant... Leo growled before gazing at the block of muscles running slowly toward the humans. Where, you lowly dog? You. Are. Mine.


    Brute (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 11 | Type: Surface, Regenerator, Might


    On all fours, Leo dived through the Vetilim jungle, leaping from one web onto another as if it was normal hard ground. Not once did he stumble or miss a step, not once did he falter, and he only came to a stop when the Brute was almost underneath him.


    No. Running.


    Dropping like an avenging angel ¡ª demon ¡ª his blades retreated, and instead, the Brute tasted his claws. The beast was smaller than a Cursed Juggernaut, but it still dwarfed Leo by a good margin, and so he had plenty of space to slide down its back, leaving ten long, gushing cuts behind.


    When he finally stopped, still attached to the Brute''s behind, Leo kicked with both legs and tails, flipping in the air to land a fair distance away from the stumbling mass of muscles. The beast turned, its ruby eyes burning with rage as it roared right at him.


    Bloodlust surging through his entire being, Leo spread his arms, blades extending, and roared back, freezing the Brute in place. Yet, it only held the monster for a moment before it ran forward, spit flying out of its mouth.


    A meaty fist descended on him, ready to crush. Leo scowled and twisted away, bringing his own claws down onto the arm and pulling. The Brute didn''t do as much as stagger, but the action still gave him enough momentum to sail above and cut a straight line along the beast''s neck and add another to its back with his blade.


    The red of the Brute''s muscles bled together with its ichor, yet as Leo landed once more, his eyes narrowed at the steaming wounds. Regeneration. Annoying dog. The cuts also weren''t that deep, but he barely registered that fact in his mind.


    It was unimportant. If it bled, it could die.


    Big. Strong. Slow. Leo snarled, dancing away from yet another swipe and adding another gash to the Brute''s body. It growled back and dived again, this time swinging both hands.


    Leo waited for the right moment, and just when the fists almost crushed his skull, he stepped back. Bleed. Grinning, he brought the blades down upon the still-closed hands and jabbed deep. Before the Brute could even react, more Essence surged into Leo''s body.


    At once, he pulled both blades to the side, cutting right through the hard flesh, almost separating the Brute''s hands from its arms. A fountain of blood sprayed from the limbs, but Leo didn''t waste a moment as he jumped right toward the beast''s head.


    The Brute stumbled back, even trying to swat him away with barely functioning hands, but it was all for nothing.


    Too. Slow.


    Grabbing onto the beast''s neck with both hands, a dark glow settled over them. The monster tried to reach again, but Leo just twisted away, settling on its back.


    Too. Stupid.


    With more power than ever, Leo''s claws impaled the Brute''s neck. Before Kiss of Death could run out, he dragged his arms back without withdrawing from the beast''s flesh, separating its head from its body in one go.


    Too. Dead.


    Even as the head dropped, rolling along the ground, the Brute still stood tall. Leo scowled and pushing with all four, he jumped off the massive body. The corpse stumbled a few steps forward and fell, crashing onto the street with a thud.


    Lowly Dog.


    Not even registering the sudden silence all around, Leo approached the fallen prey and drove his claws into its body. Devour activated right away, draining everything it could. Yet, at the same time, something else began to drain away, slowly flowing back to the recesses of his mind.


    Bloodlust.


    It backed off, almost tentatively, and the world gradually regained its colors, losing some of its sharpness. The distant sounds also flowed back into Leo''s ears, no longer blocked by the bloodlust that only cared about one thing.


    Fuck... Leo groaned, ache spreading over his body even as Devour fought back to remove it instantly. That was... intense. The bloodlust... so overwhelming. But the focus... the precision... How? What was that?


    There was someone speaking behind him, but Leo shook them away, still on his knees, draining the Brute. It was you... He called to the beast inside his mind. But how? We have merged before. We fought together for most of the day to practice, but never to this degree... Your bloodlust, it was never so strong.


    A rock skipped next to him, but once more, Leo paid it no mind. No, only the softly growling beast inside had his attention. Especially as, somehow, he could now understand it as if it spoke English.


    The System? Leo frowned, and the beast hummed. Alright then¡­


    The bloodlust of a Prime Night Hunter is boiling within you. You have already made your choice; now live with it. May the blood of your enemies guide your way. The next part begins now.


    Another stage of the Synchronization it talked about? Leo questioned thorough the haze, summoning the next notification.


    Congratulation, User. You have managed to awaken Focused Bloodlust. As long as you accept yourself, you will never be without support.


    Focused Bloodlust (Rare)


    People think that bloodlust makes you mad, makes you unhinged. And they are mostly right, but what most don''t understand is the potential that slumbers inside it. Moreover, few truly comprehend the sheer power that a focused bloodlust can unleash.


    Effects:


    You can now enter a highly focused state by perfectly channeling bloodlust through your mind. During it, your perception of the world and martial prowess is enhanced. Please note that this enhancement refers mostly to melee combat and self-enhancing abilities. Affinities and techniques are often ignored during this state. Additionally, this ability usually lowers Users'' inhibitions, bringing their minds to a slightly more primal state.


    There was no knowledge, no rush of information, yet Leo didn''t care. By all means, he should be scared, terrified even, that this ability probably manipulated his mind and twisted it into something different, but he wasn''t.


    He couldn''t, not when he was perfectly aware of everything that was happening during the trance. Those were still primarily his actions, and whenever Leo wanted, he could have broken the skill, stop it almost the moment it began.


    And yet he didn''t.


    Why?


    Because... it was still me, all of me... And... they were all weak.

 Chapter 70. Not human

    It was me.


    Inhale.


    Always me.


    Exhale.


    I was in full control.


    Inhale.


    I could have stopped it whenever I wanted.


    Exhale.


    I... I enjoyed it. The complete focus. The undying will to hunt and end them. The lack of fear. The knowledge that nothing here could have killed me.


    Leo had felt all of that and more during the battle, or slaughter maybe was the correct word. He had always carried the fear of Voidlings deep inside him, because why wouldn''t he? They were everywhere, could overwhelm anyone with numbers, and grew in strength with each day.


    Yet, the moment Focused Bloodlust activated and Leo connected with his inner beast like he had never before, that fear faded away, like it was never there. There was, after all, no reason to be scared of creatures that were so beneath him, so weak that he could massacre them in tens. He just didn''t realize that before.


    Well, maybe not Brutes and Harpies, but the normies, along with a few Runners? Leo almost burst into laughter. Now I know I can take on three groups like those before head-on and still win... At least with Focused Bloodlust active, that is. Though maybe in the future¡­


    And just like that, Leo sobered as the truth of what happened began to really sink in. With the bloodlust gone, he knew something changed, something important. The increased control of his new body was an obvious sign. However, now that he really took notice, the presence of the inner beast also shifted.


    It was closer than before, more intertwined with his mind, maybe even his soul. While before Leo knew he could still ultimately push the beast out, seal it away, he wasn''t too sure if that was the case any longer. Now, the presence didn''t feel like just a passenger in his mind, sometimes giving input, but a permanent fixture.


    Is this why I can understand you now? Fuck... It''s happening way too fast. I thought I had more time. Leo took another deep breath, ignoring the soft growling that now had a true meaning. But life waits for no one, right?


    Focused Bloodlust was one thing, terrifying, but still something Leo could accept as he had complete control of the skill. However, the fact that in a matter of not even a day, he grew so much closer to the beast he now represented was so more than just a tiny change.


    So much for rolling with the punches, eh? Leo sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly as the Brute collapsed into dust. Not like I can do anything about this... Like I told Dylan. I made my choices; I have to live with them¡­


    With such a unique evolution, this was the plan all along. Leo had even given it some thought during the last night. Still, the fact stood that even after the System''s first message about Synchronization, he had hoped to have more time to adapt. Obviously, the Universe had different plans for him.


    The inner beast suddenly growled louder, and Leo frowned. I''m not brooding... Another growl. ''My humans'' wouldn''t have died if you didn''t unlock Focused Bloodlust. I had it under control. The beast howled. Fuck you. I preferred when I couldn''t understand you.


    It sniggered loudly, and for a moment, Leo considered attempting to push the beast back deeper into his mind. Yet, he quickly abandoned the idea, knowing it would be futile. With their strengthened connection, there was no point in giving himself a headache.


    And I have other, more important problems anyway. Leo grimaced, momentarily dismissing the onslaught of notifications. Even the inner beast quietened as he finally let the voices of the outside world register in his mind. This is gonna be fun... again.


    Slowly rising from the ground, Leo sighed and turned, his violet gaze falling on the trio that had probably been waiting for quite some time. To no one''s surprise, they all had their firearms aimed straight at him, and Dylan''s left hand glinted with a blue spark.


    Hell, even the shy Laura stood with shoulders squared, her rifle gripped tightly, never even lowering from her target... As for Tyler? Well, Leo hardly needed to look at him to know his reaction. The warrior might have tolerated him and was most likely grateful for healing his cousin, but the younger man couldn''t hide his distrust towards him to save his life.


    At least they didn''t attack yet... Closing his eyes for a moment, Leo turned to Dylan. "Good job with the remaining Voidlings. How about a short break?"


    The mage grimaced visibly, his eyes flickering to the claws still dripping with fresh blood. "Thanks, Leo? I''m not too sure..."


    Before the man could say more, Tyler cut in, taking a small step forward, the gun pointed straight at Leo''s head. "Yeah, no. We''re not acting like nothing just happened. What the fuck was that?"


    For someone who just saw me massacre a bunch of Voidlings alone, he sure is brave... or stupid. Still, for now, they¡¯re useful. Leo''s inner beast promptly disagreed with a growl, but he paid it no mind. Those three were his only remaining links to other human survivors. Leaving them now was a definite no. They still had their uses.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    There is no chance for Tyler to trust me anymore, not that he ever really did, but going by the fact that bullets aren''t flying yet, this is still salvageable, at least for the time of the trip.


    Very slowly raising his hands above his head, Leo spoke up. "Listen, I know this probably looked bad... alright, very bad, but this is still me. Besides, we are all alive, and the path is clear, right? Wasn''t that the goal?"


    Tyler scowled, the grip upon his gun tightening, "Doesn''t explain what in the bloody hell just happened. You went fucking bonkers and took an unnecessary risk! Dylan told you to hide."


    Leo narrowed his eyes as the beast inside him growled lowly, the bloodlust hidden deep underneath stirring slightly. "Okay, first, we¡¯ve never agreed to any chain of command, just the plan of action. Second, there was no risk after I killed most of the Voidlings with my first attack. And finally, third, I didn''t go mad. That was an ability that helped me focus better so I could kill those two bastards faster. Which I clearly did."


    And Leo wasn''t even lying. Dylan might lead the other two, but it didn''t mean that he would suddenly follow everything the man said. As for there not being any risk... Well, it certainly would have been harder, but the single Harpy and Brute was still something he could have handled, even without the new skill. Not that they were supposed to be here in the first place


    Should have listened to my gut... Could have avoided this fucking mess.


    Before Tyler could open his mouth again and add more fuel to the fire, Dylan stepped in, lowering his weapon. "Alright, cut it out, you two. Bloody hell, we''re not here to fight among ourselves. We''re in the middle of the fucking road."


    "You can''t be serious, Dylan," Tyler said through gritted teeth. "This fucking idiot almost killed us because he can''t think before acting."


    Fucking idiot? Leo almost growled, the bloodlust slowly seeping back into his mind. If it wasn''t for me, your cousin would be dead. If it wasn''t for me, you would never get this far, this fast, moron.


    Leo''s hands already fell at this point, and he even instinctively took a step towards the warrior. Yet, before things could escalate even more, Dylan acted again.


    "Enough, Tyler!" he hissed, glaring at the younger man. "What''s done is done. We''re all completely fine and only wasted a bit of ammo. So drop it." The mage turned to Laura. "Lass, take him and wait ahead; take a breather. We''ll join you in a sec."


    The girl''s eyes flickered between them, and even though her rifle lowered just a bit, she didn''t move. "Are you sur..."


    "Just go!" Dylan growled, the man finally losing some of his temper.


    Laura flinched a bit but gave a nod and grabbed her cousin''s arm, trying to pull him away. "Come on, Ty. Let it be. Dylan is right. We are fine, and the trainyard is close."


    The warrior threw Leo another glare and finally moved along. However, that didn''t stop him from leaving without a few last words. "Just be careful, Dylan."


    Fucking humans. Leo scoffed before grimacing, the bloodlust draining out of him all at once. Calling his definitely temporary group a bunch of humans during Focused Bloodlust was one thing but outside it?


    No, just no. That''s too much, too fast. At least give me some fucking time. Leo shook his head lightly, still watching the duo walk slowly on the side of the street.


    "Leo," Dylan called, still wearing a frown. "I know what Tyler said was out of line, and I know you don''t need to listen to us, but he was partially right. For you, this might not have been risky, but mate, we''re not you. We''re just three people barely survivin'', so please, before you try to pull somethin'' like this again, at least warn us, alright?"


    Ah, whatever...


    Leo nodded. No point in arguing the fact that he couldn''t have known about the Brute and Harpy. Gut feelings, or whatever the hell that was, weren''t something he ever believed in. Though now, maybe even that would change. You felt that too, right? Maybe it''s my connection to the Void?


    Yet his inner beast had no answer, only a pitful whine¡­


    Sighing, Leo finally gave the mage his full attention. "Yeah, I will make sure to do that... Sorry for acting like that. I''m sure it didn''t look pretty."


    Dylan snorted, some tension disappearing from his body. "Pretty? Lad, the way you went off and then fought was bloody terrifyin''. Efficient, but terrifying. Not gonna lie, between the other Voidlings and you, for a moment, I really wasn''t sure if we were gettin'' out of this alive."


    Understandable, even if I fought to protect them... partially. Leo shrugged and motioned to the duo in the distance. There was no point in continuing this conversation. "You can go and rest with them. I will follow in a moment. Have to go through the notifications first."


    Dylan''s gaze went to his two charges and then back to Leo. "I will do that," he nodded before hesitating for a moment. "And lad, no hard feelings, right?"


    There it is. Leo wanted to sigh but instead just waved the man off. "Tyler said what he felt. I can respect that much. Besides, it''s not like I don''t know how disturbing it must be for you all to travel with a monster who acts like a human. So yeah, no hard feelings."


    "Glad to hear that..." Dylan nodded and walked off without another word.


    And that''s how our brittle alliance slowly shatters... Leo chuckled, marching to the side of the street. Not that he expected their group to last long. There was no way he could find friends among humans, at least not yet. Soon people would probably realize that becoming one of the monsters was just a step to surviving. But that''s still way off.


    The fear of the unknown was always strong among humanity, and seven days of apocalypse couldn''t change that, at least not for most people. Not that Leo particularly cared. Hell, as much as his foster family loved him, he knew there was a chance they wouldn''t outright accept what he had become.


    But did it really matter?


    No, it didn''t. As long as they lived and continued to survive in this godforsaken world, it would be enough. They were the reason Leo didn''t give up in the past, and now came the time to repay them. And if it meant giving up on humanity and defending his family from the shadows, then so be it.


    How much and how little can change in a single week at the same time. Leo mused, watching the trio whisper between each other. With a snort, he averted his gaze. I will help you reach the others, take my favor and go on my own again.


    He nodded. Yeah, no reason to overcomplicate this. Being in a group with other people would never work anyway¡­


    So, System. Show me what you got for me.

 Chapter 71. Crimson Mirage

    Unleashed, the System bombarded Leo''s mind with a torrent of notifications. There were quite a few of them, and while the majority of the text spoke about the number of deaths that occurred in the last few minutes, there were also some more special notifications. Without hesitation, he promptly skipped right to them.


    Still, that''s a shit ton of Ether. Maybe mutations are not as far off as I thought¡­


    Level 13 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Not surprising. I probably killed about twenty Voidlings since the last one. And the Brute and Harpy were almost the same level as me. Leo noted, giving a brief glance at the notifications of said kills. Not bad... Now for the attributes...


    His control was almost back where it used to be, so Leo really didn''t need to put all points in Mind. However, he still had a lot of ideas and places to improve, so more control couldn''t hurt him, like at all.


    Besides, it took way too much time to form Decoy, even if it was the first time. Leo remembered well the initial struggle to make his Essence act as it should. If it wasn''t for his inner beast''s support, Decoy would have probably collapsed on the first attempt. Yeah, three more to Mind it is.


    Choice made, the System processed it instantly, and Leo shuddered as the rush of power traveled through his body. The pain of gaining too much strength at once had long since disappeared, replaced by an almost euphoric surge of energy.


    "Nice," Leo muttered, flexing his body and reaching for the Essence within. It answered instantly, and even though the control was far from perfect, the energy still trying to struggle out of his grasp, its flow calmed considerably since he first awoke after evolution.


    Better than before. I wonder if I might be able to push Essence Manipulation further now... Yet another thought for later.


    Congratulations, User! You have survived and defeated Mirage Ambush, one of a few techniques available to a Crimson Mirage. The construct responsible for the Ambush is now heavily weakened. Finish it to claim a user-appropriate reward. Don''t wait too long, or the Crimson Mirage will recover.


    Leo''s nonexistent eyebrows jumped high. When he scanned Crimson Mirage yesterday, it only ever mentioned supporting higher-ranking Voidlings. He definitely didn''t remember anything about techniques... though there was a part about evolving into Special Void lifeforms.


    No, that can''t be it. The description would change, and I rechecked it when I first saw this fucking thing. Leo shook his head before freezing momentarily. Shit, there is still that detail about messing with the minds of lesser beings.


    When Leo first read that, he had thought this only applied to other survivors, but with what just happened, it was obvious that wasn''t the case. Three full packs of quite strong Voidlings close to each other. Crimson Mirage being the Harpy''s home. The Brute escaping from a building right underneath the Vetilim structure...


    Now it all adds up. Hell, even my gut feeling makes more sense with this... Fuck.


    Upon first glance, Crimson Mirages seemed like annoying, possibly dangerous if given time, obstacles that could be easily avoided. Yet now, with this new knowledge, those bloody flowers suddenly got ten times more dangerous. And that was without adding the potential for them to turn into ''Special Void Lifeforms,'' whatever the hell that even meant.


    At least I learned about it in a somewhat controlled environment. Leo chuckled, imagining what Tyler would say if he heard his thoughts. Like always, it could have been much worse. After all, I at least didn''t have to fight against creatures from Tainted Wasteland.


    Grimacing, Leo slashed the notifications with his claws. He had seen everything that was important there; it was time to get back to work. Or at least time to take the reward from the Crimson Mirage.


    User-appropriate, wonder what''s that about. Leo mused as he scaled the wall next to him. With another level, his climb became even smoother than before, wasting barely any movement and strength. It made him wonder if that was how world-class gymnasts felt in their bodies.


    Well, not counting the three tails... I doubt any human has had to deal with those before¡­


    Pulling up for the last time to reach the roof, Leo rose to his feet and scanned the vicinity. In hindsight, they were a bit lucky that there weren''t any more Voidlings in the area, especially the Seekers. They might be small and weak, but those damned creatures were ten times more annoying than any Scavenger or Scuttlejaw.


    I wouldn''t be surprised if this Crimson Mirage was responsible for scaring away other Voidlings. Leo''s eyes narrowed. And if that''s the case, we should probably get going now that it is weakened. No reason to stick around for too long.


    Nodding, Leo ran until he reached a roof almost above the resting trio. They, of course, didn''t notice him, True Stealth making sure of that, so he simply snatched a small rock and hurled it next to the group.


    Three heads instantly snapped toward the roof, and Leo quickly pointed toward the Crimson Mirage in the distance. Without even waiting for a reply, he was off. The instant glare Tyler threw at him was enough to know that their alliance was as fucked as he had expected. No point in starting another argument by staying among them.


    At least the path is mostly clear now. I can take a moment to figure out this ''reward.''


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    And that was precisely what he did. The Crimson Mirage might have been quite far away, but with the almost unnatural speed Leo now possessed, he reached the big Void plant in a matter of seconds. It almost felt like flying instead of running, each step carrying him further than he thought possible.


    If I''m not past human peak yet, then I am pretty damn close. Leo mused as he stopped at the base of the Crimson Mirage. The thing was easily twice as tall as the building it grew on, and considering that from his current position, he could see most of the area, that was saying a lot.


    Now, how do I ''finish'' it? Syst¡­


    There are several ways to kill a Crimson Mirage. In its weakened state, its Vetilim shell is very malleable and can be easily overpowered, even with a punch. For beginner survivors, the System recommends cutting the Crimson Mirage at its base and destroying the core hiding inside.


    Huh. Leo blinked. That''s... surprisingly helpful? Did I miss something, or is this a normal procedure?


    Getting no answer, Leo sighed as he inspected the structure. Except for the slightly weaker glow of the crimson Vetilim veins, the Mirage didn''t seem any different. Still, the System said it was malleable, so he might as well try¡­


    Rearing his fist, Leo threw the quickest punch he could at the Crimson Mirage''s stalk. Immediately upon impact, the Vetilim burst apart like a bubble, splattering in all directions.


    Leo scowled, wiping a dark sludge from his face. "Yeah... definitely malleable," he muttered, studying the small crater he had created.


    So I just have to punch or cut my way toward the core... He glanced at his claws. But what if¡­


    Some people would probably think of this as a bad idea, but considering Leo had to destroy this huge alien plant anyway, it couldn''t hurt to at least try. And so, with a shrug, he plunged his claws deep into the Crimson Mirage, and with a single flick, he freed Devour from its cage.


    The ever-gluttonous ability dove toward its new meal like it hadn''t been fed for eternity. Leo''s inner beast followed with a rumbling roar, assisting Devour wherever possible.


    Almost instantly, in the corner of his vision, he spotted the edges of the petals above transforming to dust. Some particles scattered into the wind, while others rained upon the ground, forcing Leo to duck his head even harder.


    Of course, it would turn to dust too... Despite the complaints, he didn''t stop the process. Already Leo''s reserves were full, yet Devour still took more, Essence trickling in waves into his body like never before. Not even the corpse of Cursed Juggernaut came close, and he remembered well what happened after he consumed the Voidling.


    Consume as much as you can, but please hurry the fuck up. Devour, of course, didn''t answer; it was a skill, after all. However, the beast inside roared louder, and suddenly, the flow sped up, the dust rain turning into a downpour¡­


    All the while, Leo stood there, glued to his spot for a minute, maybe more. The Crimson Mirage collapsed into dust from top to bottom, yet when he withdrew his hand, Essence overflowing his entire body, only a moderate pile remained after the structure.


    Fuck.. This feels weird. Leo breathed in deeply, trying to calm his raging heart. Maybe he shouldn''t have rushed Devour so much... Doesn''t matter. The results speak for themselves.


    Glancing at the System messages, Leo couldn''t help but grin. Not that he even could have stopped the reaction. Not when he felt like someone pumped a bucket of caffeine straight into his veins.


    Devour consumed: +1 Might, +1 Soul


    Crimson Mirage destroyed. Claim your reward from the core, User.


    I think I just found my new favorite target. Leo chuckled as he stepped closer to the large pile and reached inside. He had to flail his arm a bit, but in the end, his claws slipped over something soft, almost velvet.


    Without much thought, he gripped the material tightly and tugged, the heap of dust exploding with the movement. Shit... Leo coughed as he backed off. Could have done that slower.


    Waving his hand to clear the dark cloud, his eyes finally settled on the item in his grip.


    Going by the first touch inside the pile, Leo knew it wasn''t a weapon. Really he didn''t need more than he already had attached to his body... Yet, the moment his gaze fell on the long, black piece of velvety material, his brow instantly furrowed.


    Bringing the item higher, Leo unruffled the fabric, still marveling how soft it felt even to his claws.


    Ah, so not just a piece of useless material. User-appropriate indeed.


    It was a cloak, a very long one, with a cowl just as dark as the rest of the fabric. Leo almost instantly swung it around his body, the clothing softly settling against his shoulders. It felt like no material before, hugging him warmly like he had just returned home.


    Hell, even the spikes on his upper back didn''t pierce the fabric, and that was the last straw for Leo. No natural thing should feel like that.


    Identify.


    Cloak of Flowing Darkness (Rare):


    A cloak created by an experienced mystical tailor. Made out of fabric attuned to the Darkness, this item will be handy for Users capable of utilizing said element. This cloak will automatically adjust to the User''s size and make sneaking in the darkness slightly easier. Additionally, the cowl will obscure the User''s face from others at a moderate distance.


    Notice: This item cannot be upgraded with System honing without the necessary Job.


    Flowing Darkness... Fitting. Leo mused, running a hand across the fabric. It certainly proved the System''s words about the item being user-appropriate. He might not wield the Darkness, but shadows were close enough for now.


    And it can hide my body quite well... With how large the cloak was, it pretty much only left the bottom half of his legs for the world to see. Even better, Leo didn''t need to bother tying it together, as it magically connected on both edges, just beneath his chin, forming a seamless and smooth material.


    All in all, a very useful item that didn''t even get in a way too much. Of course, the cloak definitely wasn''t made for open battle, but that wasn''t really a problem in the long run.


    Now if it could only hide me from Identify and cover my face completely. That would make the meeting with the next group much easier... at least in the beginning.


    Leo shrugged, pulling the hood up. Oh well, you can''t have everything. This is still more than what I expected.

 Chapter 72. Near the end

    "Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Brute


    Expected Potential: F+ to E-


    Weapon of choice: Pure Strength,


    Known weaknesses: No skin layer, slowed reaction time


    Brutes are known as one of many failed evolutionary subspecies. They are born thanks to the combination of two Voidlings that want to evolve into Cursed Juggernaut. Unfortunately, due to not meeting the requirements, the evolutionary process often fails, and Brutes are the outcome. They share all characteristics of Cursed Juggernauts but to a lesser degree. Additionally, as failed evolution, there are no Apex Brutes."


    ~New entry in Leo''s Bestiary


    <hr>


    They didn''t stop when the Crimson Mirage collapsed into dust; Leo never gave the trio a chance to bother him about it. Instead, he dashed forward, running across the roofs and through the Vetilim jungle under the cover of stealth and his new cloak. They still had a destination to reach, and stopping to listen to Tyler''s complaints wasn''t in his plans.


    Time flew by as they conquered street after street, killing what they had to and avoiding what they could. Leo still did most of the job, spilling the blood of Voidlings in waves as he cleared the path for the trio behind him. Really, it was almost terrifying how easy this task had become after just a week.


    Hell, thanks to the Mirage Ambush, Leo now felt like he was strolling through a park rather than a Void-infested city. They still had to avoid Maniacs or large groups of flying Voidlings, but dealing with normies, Runners, and even Crawlers was no longer a problem, just a mild annoyance.


    The newly strengthened connection with his inner beast allowed Leo to use more of the hidden potential his body possessed. Add that to the power boost from another level, and now he was practically flowing between enemies like a raging tsunami. Untouchable and deadly, ready to strike whenever necessary.


    Not that many Voidlings even had the chance to face him. No, most of them hit the ground dead before they caught a glimpse of his cloak. They were all just too weak and too slow, and if it weren''t for their sheer numbers, Leo would never have to fight them head-on. Not that it could even be called a fight anymore.


    With the next step of synchronization over, Leo was genuinely beginning to feel like the body of the Prime Night Hunter was his own and not merely something that the System had placed his soul in. There were still moments when he would stumble or send a tail in the wrong direction, but now his inner beast was always there to help, to assist him in the hunt for more prey.


    The cooperation between them eclipsed anything Leo had ever experienced. Which, in hindsight, wasn''t a surprise. He might think of the beast as a separate entity, but in the end, it and he were one and the same. They just needed a bit more time to become one for the Prime Night Hunter to be truly born¡­


    Their incomplete state was only proved by the fact that no matter how hard Leo tried to reach out, he couldn''t activate Focused Bloodlust. Oh, the boiling rage still flowed underneath his skin, deep in his mind, ready to come out at a moment''s notice, but this wasn''t the same.


    Focused and normal bloodlust were two different things, even if the former used the latter to work. Or at least that was what Leo thought, as the System never explained how to activate the skill, and his inner beast knew as much as he did for now, which amounted to pretty much nothing at all.


    Probably have to figure it out on my own if I want to advance... Annoying but understandable. Leo''s inner beast screeched in agreement. I really need a name for you. Calling you a beast when you obviously are nothing like the things surrounding me is just wrong.


    The beast didn''t voice its opinion, but Leo knew it somewhat agreed. We will figure it out soon, I promise... For now, let''s clear the area and wait for the others. We are close now.


    Not waiting for an answer, Leo descended from his perch on a tree, blades slicing through the heads of two Hounds on the ground. Barely wasting a moment, he dashed forward, the black cloak stained in blood fluttering behind him.


    The single Cursed Human accompanying the two Hounds never had a chance to react as Leo dove right behind it and snapped its neck like a twig. Claws quickly followed, and the little Essence he lost due to True Stealth quickly trickled back like it never left.


    "And that''s it for the backyard..." Leo muttered, his eyes settling on the single Void-consumed house next to him. "Maybe it will be empty?"


    Usually, Leo wouldn''t care what was inside the building, but the old trainyard was only a few streets away, and it was time to regroup before they went any further. They had already left the city center behind, and with it, the constant Void jungle made out of tall, connected buildings, Vetilim webs, and transformed trees.


    Here, while the Void still ruled, consuming almost everything in sight, the buildings were too small and too far from each other. Void''s living matter still tried to make connections between them and the few trees here and there, but it was nothing like what Leo had grown used to inside the central part of the city.


    Still, this residential area wasn''t that bad. With only houses and a few other buildings here and there, the tall grass grew pretty much everywhere. Add to that the few transformed trees and some Vetilim webs, and Leo still had plenty of opportunities to slay Voidlings before they could act.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    However, he still missed being able to always stay above the battlefield.


    You can''t have everything. Leo shrugged, sliding into the house through a destroyed backdoor.


    Void-claimed corridor greeted him first, and Leo instantly fired off a pulse, information surging into his head. One signature somewhere to my left... Let''s see. Carefully, steeping over a cracked shelf half consumed by Vetilim, he let his senses guide him forward.


    The living room was in a state similar to any other, infested by the Void but still with some signs of the old world. Not for long, though, if the spreading Vetilim had anything to say about that¡­


    Sighing, Leo shook his head and delved deeper into the house, passing a few open rooms. It wasn''t until a very low screech finally reached his ears that he sped up, almost flying into the room farthest from him.


    Only there was no need to hurry.


    Leo snorted as his eyes fell upon the single Cursed Human claiming this house as its domain. The monster lay on the floor, its lower half hidden beneath Vetilim, which for some reason, decided to almost bury the creature alive.


    Now that''s depressing. Leo noted, watching the ugly creature flail around like a worm. Honestly, with how slow the thing moved, even a Scavenger could kill it.


    Alright, let''s put you out of misery.


    With a single strike, the monster''s head rolled to the side. However, Leo didn''t even notice that as a quite particular notification appeared before him.


    Cursed Human (LVL: 2) slain | No experience gained | No Ether awarded


    Eyes widening, Leo made sure that he read the message correctly. The creature''s level was a surprise alone, but the part about the experience and Ether raised even more questions.


    I guess I can blame the level on its state. But why no experience, or hell, even Ether? System? Identify? Leo called out, and to his further shock, another notification emerged.


    Please note that enemies who are considerably weaker than you will grant almost no experience. The amount is so negligible that the System decided to display it as ''No experience gained.'' Ether follows a similar rule, but have no fear, User. As long as your target is at least level 35, one Ether will always be provided.


    Leo''s eye twitched. Level thirty-five? One Ether? How is that supposed to make me feel better? Of course, the System did not answer.


    Fucking fantastic. Leo huffed, dismissing the notification. At least now he knew that he couldn''t endlessly kill weak Voidlings and hope for the best. Well, they still give me experience, but if it''s as bad as the System says, then there is no point¡­


    This entire thing still left open an important question. Just what did ''considerably weaker'' really mean? Ten levels? Twenty? Did levels even matter at all?


    Maybe Nikra will have an idea. Once she decides to wake up, that is¡­


    Shaking his head, Leo fired off another pulse and lowered his hood as the feedback rushed into his head. Finally¡­ I knew I didn''t leave them that far behind.


    For most of the journey, Leo kept a close eye on the trio, but once they were close enough to the trainyard, he decided to go a bit further ahead. At this point, they didn''t really need him to babysit them constantly, and besides, he left a nice trail of bodies for them to follow.


    Let''s get this over with... Leo sighed and stepped back into the corridor, his legs carrying him toward the living room once more. Hushed whispers already filled the house, so he dropped True Stealth and called out.


    "I''m coming in."


    Just as Leo had expected, the moment he stepped into the room, all weapons were pointed straight at him. Even the usually understanding Dylan raised his pistol slightly, ready to be used if necessary.


    "Peace," Leo lifted his hands, almost hugging the wall far away from the trio. "Glad you found the place."


    "You left us behind," Tyler almost spat.


    Refraining from rolling his eyes, Leo nodded as his hands fell. "I did, but I still cleared the path for you, didn''t I?" Getting no answer, he continued. "Besides, it is not like you needed me. Voidlings in this area are joke."


    "Aye, we noticed there were barely any level six Voidlings on the way," Dylan nodded slowly. "Doesn''t change the fact that you could''ve waited and traveled with us the rest of the way."


    This time Leo couldn''t stop the snort from escaping. "Please... We all know that you don''t want me around. Can''t even blame ya for that."


    Dylan moved to open his mouth, but Leo stopped him with a raised hand. "No, really, it''s fine," he chuckled, and it wasn''t even bitter. "There was no chance for me to stay a part of your group after I evolved. Fuck, it''s a miracle we even got this far, but I guess desperation can make people ignore some things, eh?"


    Laura flinched a bit as Leo caught her gaze, but Tyler just grunted, his eyes still narrowed.


    Shouldn''t have expected anything else from you... Though it seems I was wrong about you, Laura... Ah, whatever, it doesn''t matter anyway.


    Shrugging, Leo turned to the only person capable of normal speech. "As we planned before, you three will wait here while I scout ahead. It shouldn''t take me longer than half an hour. If there is anybody alive out there, I will find it."


    "I reckon you won''t be tryin'' to contact ''em?" Dylan asked, knowing the answer all too well.


    "Fuck no. I will leave that to you three... Though, I guess I will cash in that favor you spoke about. Don''t worry; it won''t be anything big, and after that, we might not see each other again."


    Dylan looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded, giving Leo a strained smile.


    "Alright then," he muttered, Essence stirring to activate True stealth again. "I will be back soon. Try not to die."


    With a burst of speed, Leo dived for the exit, never giving the trio a chance to answer. In the blink of an eye, he stepped into the light of the red Sun, taking in a deep breath.


    Let''s find out if this was all for naught or if there really is a bigger group here.


    Throwing his hood on, Leo dashed towards the tall trees separating him from another street. It was time for the final part of this journey to begin.

 Chapter 73. The line between heaven and hell

    "Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Harpy


    Expected Potential: F to F+


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Feathers


    Known weaknesses: Weak bone structure, no armor


    Harpies are one of the few other Voidlings a survivor might meet in the early stages of an Outbreak. Unlike Seekers, Harpies can hunt alone or in packs. They are faster than any other early-stage Voidling, but their fragile bodies often make them easy prey for stronger opponents. As with any purely aerial Voidlings, it is advised to face Harpies in closed areas if possible. However, many years of observations proved that a Harpy will leave their prey if the environment isn''t suitable for a battle."


    ~Harpy''s entry in Leo''s Bestiary


    <hr>


    Like the wind, Leo sailed above a broken fence, flying straight into the small grove. For a moment, the jungle of Void returned, and he quickly jumped towards the nearest tree bark, climbing to the top branch with just a few leaps. He would have to go down soon, but at least those tall trees should offer an excellent vantage point for the time being.


    He still had to weave through the thick canopy to make his way to the last tree, the one that opened on the other end of the grove. So high up, Leo easily scanned the entire area. And when his eyes drifted from the barely visible train tracks and the remnants of the old trainyard in the distance to a building on the other side of the railroad, he froze momentarily.


    And now everything makes sense¡­


    Leo had been curious about the special place where apparently, survivors found plenty of supplies to support them. A supermarket was his first idea, but it didn''t really fit the description. After all, there were no large shops close to the trainyard; hell, there was barely anything here except some houses.


    Yet, Leo and the trio evidently forgot about one important fact when it came to this part of the city. It housed the main office building of ReachHope Foundation, a big charity organization that, for some reason, decided to make Wolford one of their headquarters.


    They did a lot of good all over the world, but that wasn''t really important now. No, the crucial part was that they gathered a bunch of things to be sent to people in need all over the UK, and if he remembered correctly, some of those supplies were stored in a warehouse attached to the office.


    If they didn''t get rid of everything before the Outbreak, then this place must be almost like heaven on Earth... Leo frowned, scanning the long building from left to right. No, scratch that. It is a heaven on Earth... What the fuck happened here?


    Unlike pretty much everything around it, ReachHope''s headquarters stood tall and proud like the Outbreak never happened. Its pure white walls barely had any cracks or imperfections, and even then, Leo was pretty sure those were already there long before the world went to shit.


    Hell, not even a single strand of Vetilim dared to approach the building. The Void had the place surrounded from all directions, but apart from that?


    Nothing. The headquarters seemed to be living in its own little world. Completely unnatural.


    And I swear I saw something flashing across the walls... Leo muttered in the safety of his mind, eyes squinting, searching for any signs of life.


    His eyesight might have gotten better with time, but from this distance, it still took some time before Leo managed to catch anything. Moreover, even when he spotted a streak of gold flashing like lightning along the wall, it was gone before he had time to really process what he saw.


    The hell? A barrier? Or something similar? Shit... Leo fired off Identity, yet the System gave nothing in return. Either that place was really a blank spot, or he was just too far. Or both¡­


    Scowling, Leo jumped, grabbing the nearest Vetilim vine and sliding to the ground. With a single burst of Reinforcement, he shot toward the nearest house, ignoring the Cursed Human strolling around the area. Those beasts were cannon fodder at this point, and he really didn''t want to waste time dealing with them. Not that they even had time to spot him before he was gone again.


    Dashing through the long grass, Leo kept his speed up until the railroad stood in his way. He could have gone straight toward the glowing building, but coming too close to an unnatural place that most likely housed normal survivors wasn''t the best idea. Especially as the area around the headquarters was quite bare. No other buildings and almost no trees to take cover by.


    Yeah, better to go from this side. Leo nodded as he resumed his trek along the railroad. Void''s flora had long since claimed most of the tracks, providing more cover than necessary thanks to the plants growing about half as tall as an average human. This was by far the longest grass he had seen in his life, and it only got bigger the closer he got to the trainyard.


    Is it like that in every unpopulated area, or is there more to the trainyard? I mean, apart from this small neighborhood to my right, this place is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Nature had plenty of time to claim it long before the Outbreak.


    Yet, something in Leo''s gut told him that the trainyard wasn''t just another spot on the map. There was something special about it.


    Not that Leo had an idea what ''special'' meant here. Especially as from what he had seen of the trainyard from a distance, not much was left of it.


    A few decades back, this place had been bursting with activity, with trains coming in and out every few minutes. However, as time passed, the industry slowly died, leaving a bunch of huge hangars, half-destroyed train cars, and rail tracks consumed by rust.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    And now, not even that much is left. Leo sighed.


    The Void took this abandoned place by storm, leaving it almost unrecognizable from a distance. Vetilim claimed everything there, transforming the hangars into weird half-domes while the remaining train cars were nowhere in sight.


    Honestly, with how many resources Void spent here, Leo was surprised that the trainyard didn''t look like the insides of Wolford. No, instead of a Vetilim jungle, with webs spreading everywhere from all the buildings, this place was just overgrown beyond imagination.


    Fuck... This didn''t look that tall from a distance. Leo huffed, weaving through the grass that now was taller than him. Though at least it left enough space to walk between the blades of grass. It almost feels like someone shrunk and put me in their backyard... What do you think?


    Leo''s inner beast screeched lowly before retreating again.


    Nothing to worry about, you say? Leo hummed. You didn''t lie to me yet, so I''m gonna trust you on that. Still, better check to be sure¡­


    Gathering enough Essence in his body, Leo fired off a medium-range Hunter''s Pulse, the blast of energy traveling faster than ever. The feedback came back almost just as quickly, but it didn''t return alone...


    A hiss, loud and clear, along with rustling among the grass, reached his ears in an instant. With each second, the sounds grew closer. Not wasting more time, blades extended from Leo''s arms, already coated in Kiss of Death.


    Crouching slightly, Leo grinned as two creatures burst through the foliage of grass, heading straight for him. Huh, I wasn''t that far off. No one shrunk me; the world just got bigger.


    Ameist-M (Voidling) | Rank: F | Level: 5 | Type: Surface, Underworld, Poison


    Giant ants... Snorting, Leo dashed to meet the duo. They barely had the time to hiss again before he was on them, slicing straight through the first Ameist''s head like it was butter.


    Dark green blood sprouted in all directions, and as Leo''s inner beast roared, he quickly jumped away. The substance dripped on the ground, sizzling and very slowly trying to burn through anything it landed on.


    Right, acid is a poison too. Though it didn''t even scratch my blade... Nice.


    Not that Leo was going to test how long his natural weapon could handle the acid now. Rather he dismissed the blades and let two long shadow spears form in his hands. He had no idea how to use them properly, but he really didn''t need to for an F-rank creature.


    "Your turn," Leo turned to the other mutated ant that easily reached his waist. The Ameist didn''t try to attack and just stood frozen in place, its all too sharp mandibles opening and closing and antennas twitching.


    Too scared? Leo mused, sprinting at the ant and plunging both spears right into its wide ruby eyes. That was weird... It didn''t even try to dodge.


    Shrugging, Leo crouched near the corpse and let his eyes roam over the creature. It really wasn''t that different from any other regular ant in the old world.


    Except this one is huge, has bloody claws instead of mandibles, and probably can do very interesting things with its poison... or acid... whatever¡­


    Leo raised one hand, glancing at the Ameist. Better find out now than during another fight... And so, with a sigh, he lightly stabbed the body with just one claw while letting a single drop of blood land on his unprotected arm.


    Nothing. Leo felt completely nothing wrong around his claw. Hell, not even the blood on his arm could accomplish anything. It just sizzled, trying to punch a hole through the skin, but never succeeding.


    That''s... pathetic...


    Not that Leo should have expected a level five creature to do any harm to him. The difference in power was just too vast. But they managed to sense my pulse... That''s what baited them here... Bestiary?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Ameist-M/W/F


    Expected Potential: F- to F+


    Weapon of choice: Mandibles (All), Acid spit (All), Lancer arms (W/F),


    Known weaknesses: No armor (M/F), Slowness(W), Limited Battle instincts(M)


    An insectoid subspecies of Voidlings observed in every Outbreak and often seen inside the Void in their later stages of linear evolution. Ameists can be separated into three categories: Minion, Warrior, and Flier. All of them have different weaknesses and strengths, though Minions will always remain the weakest. All Ameists play their part in making their nest stronger and protecting the Queen inside. Please note that Ameists never travel alone and can quickly call reinforcements. Additionally, those insectoid creatures are excellent sensors and can easily feel foreign Essence when near.


    Apex variant: Apex Ameists are usually marginally stronger than their normal kind and can sometimes develop mutations.


    A very unique entry... Leo summed up, eyes a bit wide. Their strength didn''t really worry him, but the assortment of different abilities definitely raised some red flags. And those are ants. There must be hundreds of them close by... A Nest? Is this why this place is so fucking overgrown?


    Getting only more questions and no answers, Leo dashed in the trainyard''s direction, his eyes scanning for anything he could climb on.


    Thank the Void¡­


    Bounding to the only tree in sight in a few steps, Leo scaled it as fast as any other obstacle. He settled on one of the top branches, hidden in the foliage. Yet even though he was almost at the highest point of the tree, the crown just barely extended past the enormous grass and other gigantic plants.


    So trees aren''t affected? That doesn''t make any sense¡­


    Nonetheless, Leo ignored that for the moment and settled for scanning the area. There had to be something special about this place apart from just hyper-overgrown plants.


    Hold on for a damn second... Zeroing on the largest half-dome of Vetilim, Leo let Identify work. Just what I thought... I was just too far for the System to act by itself.


    Warning! You just discovered a Nest Colony of Ameist and their Queens. Threat assessed and ranked at level E-. Watch your steps, User, don''t let the swarm consume you.


    Before Leo could even dismiss the message, another notification entered his sight.


    Warning! Due to the close proximity of a temporary Safe Zone, Nest Colony of Ameist is on high alert and can dispatch its Warriors faster than usual. Please be careful when engaging in battle with the Nest.


    Leo blinked, blinked hard.


    Well... Now I know what ReachHope''s building is... That''s got to count for something, right?


    Evidently not, as Leo''s inner beast exploded into howls of laughter.


    Fuck you¡­

 Chapter 74. Pile of unending questions

    "Do not fear the dark. Fear what it is forcing you to become."


    ~Unknown


    <hr>


    Leo''s eyes remained on ReachHope''s headquarters, the building now standing much closer than before. From his perch, the golden flashes of lightning along the walls were now impossible to miss, their brightness almost blinding. They appeared every few seconds, rushing along the surface like a speeding train.


    Pulling his gaze away, Leo blinked away the slight stinging in his eyes. Evidently, staring at flashes of unknown origin wasn''t the best for his vision. Who could have known?


    The color is pretty much the same as the ball of light that arrived with my task rewards... Is it Ether? That would make sense. It can be made into items that can protect you from Voidlings, after all¡­


    Yet, one important question remained. How did this safe zone even come to exist in the first place? Did the group create it, or was it here since the beginning of the Outbreak?


    And then there is the part about it being temporary... Leo frowned, leaning against the trunk as his eyes jumped between the safe zone''s windows. The System can be helpful at times, so a temporary place to hide isn''t that much of a stretch. Still, somehow I doubt that''s the case here.


    Not that he had a way to confirm it without talking to the survivors inside. Identify still refused to work on the building, and during the last week, Leo never had a chance to learn more about safe zones¡­


    No, that was wrong. He had a chance, a few of them even. However, other matters made him forget this subject when he met Lone Traveler. There was just too much happening back then.


    Nikra might have known too. Leo noted. Even if she has been dead for a long time, that woman knows more than she probably should.


    It was a possibility that as soon as the ancient entity woke up, she could enlighten Leo about the safe zones and their creation. Yet, Nikra, at best, should be a backup plan, not the primary source of information in this case.


    This piece of knowledge was just too important to leave to such a big gamble. So, if those survivors could tell him whether they created this safe zone or just claimed it as their own, then Leo had to find a way to ask them.


    Not personally, though. Don''t want to show myself to them just yet. He scrunched his brow. For now, I can maybe add it to the favor from the trio. And if that doesn''t work... Well, I was told I look scary as fuck. It shouldn''t be much of a problem getting this info out of anyone who strays too far from the safe zone. A last resort if nothing else works.


    Of course, all of Leo''s plans depended on the survivors inside being friendly. Not to him, but definitely to the trio. He had no delusions that other humans would welcome him with anything other than a bullet in the head if he appeared before them out of the blue. Well, that or a scream loud enough to wake the entire Wolford.


    Good thing then that I don''t plan to join them. All I need is to know if Ava and Adam are inside. And then... then I will decide what''s next.


    There was also the possibility that madness had long since claimed the occupants of the safe zone, and they attacked everything in sight. Not that Leo wanted to even dwell on that particular scenario. Honestly, he had no idea what he should do if that were the case, so it was better to leave the choice for when it was needed.


    Also, I need to know if this safe zone can stop me... That''s too big of an unknown to be left for too long. Gonna need to find a good moment to test it.


    Nodding, Leo averted his gaze from the building, his eyes once more straying to the odd half-domes of Vetilim. Not domes, ant hills. He quickly corrected. Identify pretty much confirmed that just a few minutes ago, after all.


    Nest Colony... Wonder if that just means multiple nests or if there is more to it than that. Not that the former isn''t worrying enough.


    Leo had never imagined that there was even more to nests. Their existence was scary enough, and then he had already heard about those so-called ''Nesting Gates'' that formed inside after some time. Yet, now he learned that Nest Colonies could also exist.


    Why can nothing be simple in this bloody world? Leo grumbled, his gaze lazily drifting over the ''trainyard.'' I hoped that at least nests were fucking simple, but evidently not... System, anything to add?


    This time, the mysterious entity remained silent.


    Leo''s shoulders sagged. He was beginning to expect too much from the System. Not his fault, though; it was just too helpful lately¡­


    Still, would be nice to know if a colony has to be created by Voidlings of the same subspecies. I mean, if that''s the case, those things have to be rarer than Tainted Wastelands.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    There was also the possibility that Nest Colonies could only be created by Ameists, but somehow Leo doubted that. That would be too good to be true, especially in this new messed-up reality.


    Shit... I really am a ball of sunshine. Leo snorted, rising from his perch, Essence stirring. Time to go back... There are definitely people inside ¡ª no reason to waste any more time.


    Yet, just as Leo prepared to drop from the tree, the huge plants in the distance, close to one of the ant hills, stirred. Blades of grass darted to the sides, waving like a flag and almost exposing the ground they hid with their size. Yet before that could happen, they snapped back into place while the grass next to them picked up the movement.


    As if something was rushing through the area¡­


    Leo followed the swaying of the overgrowth with narrowed eyes. While it began at the half-dome, now the bustling of plants was nearing a street that led straight to ReachHope''s headquarters. Or rather, it was a road in the past, now overgrown like everything else. However, compared to the trainyard area, the grass on the street should barely reach a human''s waist.


    This prediction quickly proved true as multiple figures burst out of the overgrowth and onto the road, now no longer hidden by the colossal plants. Ameists made up most of the group, with four Minions and one quickly identified Warrior that possessed two additional lancer arms at the front and chitin as white as snow.


    Not that those weak creatures captured much of Leo''s attention. He only skimmed over them before putting his full focus on the two humans sprinting toward the safe zone.


    It was hard to make out their complete features from Leo''s angle and distance, but the duo was undoubtedly comprised of two women. By the knives, or daggers, held in their hands, it also wasn''t too hard to figure out their class.


    Awakened Human | LVL: 7


    Awakened Human | LVL: 6


    Not bad, but what will you do? Those ants might not be too strong, but it''s still two versus five¡­


    Reaching the safe zone and hiding there seemed like an obvious answer. However, the moment the duo arrived at the walls of the building, Leo quickly learned how wrong he was.


    The entrance doors burst open, and a group of six ran out, their weapons at the ready. Without wasting a moment, half of them rushed to join the two assassins, who separated and were now leading the Ameists in circles. The other half stayed at a safe distance, two nocking their arrows, while, who appeared to be a single mage, raised his hand, flame flickering across his fingers.


    They were baiting them here¡­


    As the group joined and descended upon the poor ants, it became evident that there was no other explanation. They reacted too fast, too eagerly, almost like they had done this tens of times before.


    They probably did. With almost no other Voidlings here, they use the Nest as an opportunity to level. Good plan, but... Leo''s mind flashed to the System''s warning about the Nest Colony. I can bet this will bite them in the ass if they abuse it too much... There is no way that such a colossal gathering of Voidlings doesn''t have a way to escalate things¡­


    Leo shook his head, once more focused on the battle. With the number advantage, the winner now became obvious, but he was still curious about how such a large group fought.


    Squinting his eyes, Leo watched as the three warriors at the front shielded their group with almost transparent shields of Essence held in their free hands. Once the onslaught stopped momentarily, the humans retaliated, attacking with everything they had.


    Arrows, swords, daggers, hell, even small bursts of fire fell on the mutated ants, their hissing filling the area. The group worked quite well together, covering each other and attacking in synchronization whenever they could. Not even the single Warrior Ameist could do anything.


    And they know how to avoid the acid and work together to some degree. Leo mused as one warrior danced away from a fallen Ameist, letting two glowing arrows finish the beast. The same arrow enhancement skill that Laura used¡­


    The large group continued to slaughter their way through the ants, and while their teamwork and use of abilities were fascinating to watch, something else caught Leo''s attention halfway through the fight. Something he should have taken notice of earlier.


    They have items. And not common ones... Identify didn''t work on equipment from this distance, but there was no need for it when those items were so easy to see.


    The dark leather armor the warriors wore couldn''t be missed by anyone with eyes. It just didn''t fit the old, modern world unless there were people in Wolford who possessed ancient armors just for the fun of it. And even then, the barely visible symbols engraved into the hard material made that even harder to believe, especially when they flashed with an almost unnoticeable blue glow.


    And even if those aren''t higher-grade items, that bow and sword definitely are¡­


    Both weapons were red, the color flowing over them like freshly spilled blood. It was unnatural, unlike anything Leo had ever seen, and that was without adding their odd and fancy appearance to the mix.


    Those things have to be at least Rare... But where did you get those? Crimson Mirages, or am I missing something important?


    Leo had never cared about items too much. What he received, he was happy with. To him, items were rare finds, at least for now. However, he just might have been wrong.


    Maybe the safe zone had unique loot inside? Fuck... And now I have more shit to figure out.


    Blowing out a long breath, he settled once more to watch as the group finished the last Voidlings. They all exchanged some pats, hugs, and quite loud words, but not loud enough for Leo to catch the gist of them. They were just too far.


    Still, they seem pretty sane to me. He grunted as his feet met the earth again. The sight of the group dragging the dead Warrior Ameist into the safe zone definitely earned a raised eyebrow, but it wasn''t important enough for Leo to stay here any longer.


    He had a very interesting conversation with the trio ahead of him. Leo just hoped they cooled down enough for them to have a civilized discussion.


    And wasn''t it ironic that he was the one worrying about it? He was the monster here, after all. Humans sometimes didn''t make sense.


    Ah, whatever. Leo huffed, the grass slowly growing smaller as he weaved through the overgrowth. At least Dylan should be smart enough to talk like a normal person. The other two? They don''t really matter in the long run...

 Chapter 75. Finish line

    The green and red of the unnaturally tall grass quickly gave way to purely crimson flora beyond the old trainyard. Even the wind picked up slightly, its gentle touch brushing against the plants as everything around swayed lightly, filling the area with the soothing melody of pure nature.


    Or at least it would be soothing if, for once, the beasts in the distance could shut their ugly mugs. On top of that, with Leo now perfectly aware that those pesky overgrown ants could jump out at any moment, the way back to the trio''s hiding spot was anything but enjoyable.


    Already he had to cut an Ameist Minion in two because it decided to pretty much jump off a random tree. That tiny thing ¡ª because for some reason the blasted ant was much smaller than others ¡ª in its infinite wisdom, thought it could perform a kamikaze ambush on a beast that moved faster than probably any Ameist ever could.


    Annoying little shit. Leo scowled, wiping his hands on the grass.


    The only thing that tiny annoyance succeeded in was splattering him in that accursed acid. Really, he probably should have just dodged and not sliced the thing when it appeared in front of his face. However, his instincts reacted faster than rational thinking, and the rest was history...


    At least now I know that my cloak can withstand this green shit. Leo snorted, the scowl now permanently attached to his face. Have to search for positives in everything you can nowadays...


    Quickly jumping behind the remnants of a fence, Leo removed the cloak and, just like with his hands and face, wiped the large piece as well as he could with what he had. It wasn''t a perfect fix, but he didn''t want to risk it and give the acid enough time to finally do some damage. Not when he had just gained the thing.


    I must look like a fucking moron with the remnants of this shit splattered all over me. At least it isn''t that visible on the cloak.


    Sighing, Leo threw the fabric over his shoulders, the cloak once more connecting on both ends. He just hoped their hiding spot had some clothing inside. Or at least some scrapes. Anything really to properly wipe this green slime off his face and torso. Even if the acid couldn''t burn through his skin, the constant, weak tickling was getting somewhat annoying.


    Barely learned about them and I already hate those wretched insects. Give me a pack of higher-leveled Hounds over this any time...


    Out of nowhere, Leo''s inner beast growled lowly, the sound echoing throughout his mind. Instantly, any complaints that had been floating in his head vanished, and he focused solely on the beast''s words.


    The wind? Leo''s brow furrowed. His gaze jumped from place to place, watching as everything in the area continued to sway. What about it? I get it was calm yesterday, but a breeze like this isn''t really anything to worry about.


    The beast huffed, filling Leo''s head with a screech. It definitely didn''t like his dismissal, not after what happened on the way here. However, he really couldn''t understand what it wanted from him.


    Unlike with the Mirage Ambush situation, Leo didn''t feel anything. Whatever sixth sense tried to warn him before, it went on vacation now. And even if he wanted to act on the warning, what could he really do? It was just a breeze, for Void''s sake.


    Another growl echoed through Leo''s head, louder than any other. Even the slumbering bloodlust stirred slightly, freezing him in place. Yet, this wasn''t the end, as not a moment later, three simple words were branded into his mind by a voice calling straight from hell.


    ''Prepare. Be ready.''


    Leo swallowed, his previous nonchalance about the beast''s worries doused like a flickering flame.


    While the progress with Synchronization allowed him to understand the beast fully, those weren''t exactly words. No, it felt more like a complete understanding of the thing that now lived inside him, translating into something similar to words.


    However, this time, the beast truly spoke. There was no ignoring this fact. Not that Leo even dared to do it again, as thanks to those short words, the worry, the unease, and even a bit of fear surged into his entire being, almost merging with his own emotions.


    Is this how the change in weather makes you feel? Leo sent back hesitantly, and the beast whined back. He didn''t even need their close bond to understand the meaning of this simple action.


    Then I will be ready. We will be prepared for whatever is coming. He vowed, glaring at the swaying flora. Sorry for dismissing you. Won''t happen again.


    As the beast howled, the bloodlust losing its spark, Leo allowed a small smile to grace his face. Yes, he definitely still had a lot to learn when it came to the monster he had become.


    But at least I''m not alone... Well, not really...


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    <hr>


    With the beast''s warning still ringing deep in his mind, Leo resumed sprinting back to the his ex-group. Most likely, he was already pushing the self-inflicted time limit, and he didn''t want to leave the trio for too long. Not before they had a talk.


    What happened after wasn''t in Leo''s hands. Once the trio left for the safe zone, everything depended wholly on them and the survivors inside.


    I just hope they won''t try to slaughter each other. Leo grimaced as he slipped inside the same building he had cleared for the trio. True Stealth slipped from his body and he tapped against a piece of uncovered wood.


    "I''m back. Don''t attack," he called out, the raspy sound bouncing off the walls.


    The hushed whispers in the living room exploded in loudness as Leo slowly approached the entrance to the chamber. Like during their reunion, Essence stirred in his soul, ready to jump out if the trio showed any kind of hostility.


    "Entering," Leo warned again, finally stepping into the room.


    Just like he had expected, the trio all had weapons ¡ª the firearm kind ¡ª tightly gripped in their hands. Although, and it was a bit of consolation, none of them were directly aiming at him.


    Maybe they really calmed a bit. Void knows it would make this conversation much easier...


    Relaxing the hold on his Essence, Leo slid to the floor as far away from the group as he could. "I hope I wasn''t gone for too long," he provided an olive branch, praying that at least Dylan was smart enough to take it.


    Thankfully, the older man once more read the situation well.


    "Not really, mate. We barely managed to get comfortable here. Well, as comfortable as you can in a ruined house," Dylan gave him a wry smile, or maybe it was a grimace. "Besides, it''s not like we can tell how long you were gone... What I would give for a workin'' watch."


    Leo snorted. He had similar thoughts quite often, though nowadays, he found a different way to measure time. "You can always take a time-limited task for your Job. The timer it gives is better than nothing..."


    Dylan hummed. "Didn''t think ''bout that. Thanks, Leo, I''ll check it out la-"


    "Did you find them?" Tyler''s voice cut through whatever the older man wanted to say. The warrior''s hand already whitened from the tight grip upon his gun while his gaze narrowed into a glare.


    Wonder if he can crush it with his enhanced strength... Curious, but so not the time for this. Leo sighed before nodding. "I did. We forgot about one important thing about this part of the city."


    Dylan''s eyebrows rose. "What do you mean, lad? Except for the old trainyard, this place is almost empty."


    "ReachHope Foundation," Leo answered simply, and the only person who kept quiet until now gasped.


    "I''m so stupid," Laura muttered, her weapon lying forgotten across her lap. "I have been helping there as a volunteer for the whole last summer. How did I forget about it?"


    For the first time since Leo stepped into the room, Tyler looked away from him. The younger''s man gaze softened as he patted the girl''s shoulder. "Don''t worry, Lu. We all did."


    "Speak for yourself, lad. This is probably the third time I''m hearing this name. I barely have any idea what it means." Dylan stated, and pretty much everyone threw the man a look. "What? I''m all for helping other people, but it doesn''t bloody mean I need to know about every charity organization."


    Leo chuckled, the sound immediately putting the trio on alert again. Here goes the lighter atmosphere. Ah, whatever. He shrugged, addressing them again before the tension could rise even more. "Ignoring our forgetfulness. I indeed found the other group living inside ReachHope''s building. A building completely untouched by the Void."


    "How?" Tyler quickly shot back.


    "Safe Zone. Temporary one, but still a legit, System confirmed Safe Zone," Leo quickly raised his hand, stopping them from interrupting. "And no, I have no idea how it formed. The System didn''t want to explain, and I didn''t stick around long enough to find out."


    "Then we should go," Tyler nodded, moving to stand up. "No reason to waste any more time."


    Yeah, no.


    "Not that quickly," Leo spoke up, once more freezing the room. "There is still more I have to say. And besides, as this is most likely the end of our short partnership, I want to cash in on this favor Dylan promised me."


    Tyler threw a glare at the older man as he settled down again. The mage flinched, but nodded nonetheless. "Aye, I did that, and I''m a man of my word. You still saved us a lot of pain, grief even. So spill it, Leo. What do you need from us? We''ll try to help as best as we can."


    Leo pressed his lips together as the tension rose. He could almost slice it with his blades at this point...


    "I won''t ask you for anything outrageous, don''t worry," he declared. "Really, my request is quite simple and probably won''t take more than a single conversation with whoever is running the place. First though, I should probably tell you about the Nest pretty much next to them."


    The trio stiffened at once. He had told them about the Shadow Tail nest yesterday, but it didn''t change the fact that those three had never seen one before. Now they would be living next to a colony.


    "Here? Bloody hell... Is it even safe to approach the Safe Zone?" Dylan fired off, his gaze searching.


    Leo huffed. "Nothing is safe in this fucking world now... But if you really want an answer, then you should be fine. The Nest took over the trainyard, and from what I noticed in this short amount of time, those rotten ants mostly stick to their area unless provoked."


    "Ants?" Laura asked, most likely couldn''t help her curiosity about another monster.


    "Yeah, ants. Giant fuckers that easily reach my waist. They are weak, but watch out for their acid. They can spit it, and some of it escapes when you cut them." Pointing to the green splatters over his head, Leo continued. "Not much of a problem for me, but I have no idea if the same applies to you."


    Despite their shattered alliance, the trio nodded. At least they still believed him when it came to dealing with other Voidlings.


    "Thanks, mate. We''ll remember that," Dylan smiled, the awkward edge finally gone from it. "Now for the favor. What do you need?"


    "As I said, it''s simple," Leo began, fists tightening as unwelcome images flashed at the forefront of his mind. "I know my brother is gone, but I have no idea what happened to his wife and child. They weren''t there, so if there is even a slightest chance they made it here, I need to know. Please ask them if Ava and Adam Hale are in their group. That''s all I want."


    For a short moment, silence claimed the room as not even Tyler had anything to say. The younger man even averted his gaze.


    "If they''re there, we''ll find your family, Leo," Dylan swore, and next to him, Laura nodded. "I know this partnership between us didn''t really work, but even if we didn''t owe you, I''d still help you. God knows we all lost enough."


    Leo smiled.


    "Thank you."

 Chapter 76. Alone once more

    "Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Scavenger


    Expected Potential: H


    Weapon of Choice: Jaws


    Known Weaknesses: Existence


    Scavengers appear everywhere. Their appearance might differ from planet to planet, but no matter the Outbreak, they will be there. Widely recognized as one of the weakest Voidling subspecies, Scavengers were relegated to a unique H (Harmless) rank. No matter how much they try, Scavengers do not pose any danger to a survivor unless faced with hundreds of representatives of this species."


    ~An older entry from Leo''s Bestiary


    <hr>


    "There''s nothin'' to thank for, mate. A favor''s a favor, and like I said, I''d do this anyway," Dylan shrugged. "However... there''s just one detail about this that I''m not too sure about."


    The smile slipped from Leo''s face, brow furrowing. "What is it?"


    "How do we get back to you with whatever we find?" The older man asked, and it was a really good question.


    From here on out, their temporary partnership was over. The trio would go on to join the group, while Leo... Well, he didn''t really know what was next for him. All his plans depended on the survivors inside that Safe Zone.


    Nick''s wife and child were all that remained of his family inside Wolford. If they weren''t there, then Leo''s chances of finding them, dead or alive, were probably as high as winning a lottery in the old world. Small Wolford might be, but there was no way for him to search the entire city. And hell, even if he did, there was no guarantee he would find them. Void had already shown it had enough surprises prepared to prove that.


    Yeah, I need to know what''s happening inside this place before I do anything else... This is my only remaining hope within Wolford.


    Sighing, Leo broke the silence. "Good point... I can''t go with you. We''ve already established that... But it doesn''t mean you can''t come to me."


    In the background, Tyler tensed, and Laura glanced at her cousin worryingly. Leo didn''t care too much. At least not as long as the warrior kept his opinion to himself or for a time after they parted ways.


    "You want to wait here for us," Dylan noted, more than asked.


    Leo nodded. "That''s the only way I think this can work... For the next five days, I''ll be here waiting each morning for at least an hour. And just in case, I''d like you to come even if you don''t find anything. That way I''ll know nothing stopped you from finding me."


    Five days was a lot of time, more than enough to discover if Ava and Adam were inside the Safe Zone. Moreover, Leo had no idea how the bigger group treated those they took in. For whatever abstract reason, they could stop them from leaving for a time. Nevertheless, he needed info from on the inside, so it was a risk he had to take.


    "And what if we don''t come," Tyler finally joined the conversation, his gaze hard as steel.


    Leo rolled his eyes. If the younger man thought he was intimidating, he had another thing coming. He had faced ¡ª ran away from ¡ª a Cursed Juggernaut. At this point, only the Nightmares could scare him... Well, them and the probably countless of different creatures hidden inside the Void.


    Not important now. Leo tilted his head, violet eyes peering at the warrior. "Then I''ll take matters into my own hands. The hope of seeing my family again is what brought me this far. If I have to force my way into this Safe Zone for them, then so be it."


    The warrior narrowed his eyes, the hand holding the gun rising ever so slightly. "You would risk the only sa..."


    "Enough, Tyler!" Dylan hissed, glaring at his companion. "Take Laura and wait by the exit. I''ll join you in a moment." Yet Tyler didn''t seem keen on moving. "I said go!"


    For a moment, it looked like the younger man would disobey and keep glaring at Leo, as if it would change anything. It took another nudge from Laura for Tyler to almost jump to his feet and leave with a snarl, the girl hot on his heels.


    "I''m sorr..." Dylan tried to apologize, only for Leo to raise his hand.


    "Don''t bother. It doesn''t matter," he commented. "And even if it did, it''s not your apology to give. Tyler made it clear how he feels about me... I might not like it, but I can understand that much, even if he is an annoying little shit."


    Dylan chuckled, but the sound was almost hollow. "You grow used to it... with time."


    Leo shrugged, standing up. "Maybe, maybe not. Like I said, it doesn''t matter. In less than an hour, you three will be safe among other people while I remain here."


    Dylan grimaced as he also rose to his feet. "That is, if they''re friendly. I''ve seen enough movies and studied people long enough to imagine how an apocalypse could affect those who''ve survived."


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Don¡¯t get cold feet now, man. I¡¯m well aware there is a chance those people will attack you on sight, but I need you to go. You three are my only way in for now. And I really don¡¯t want to have to attack a Safe Zone¡­


    "They seemed alright from a distance," Leo quickly remarked, and the other man''s eyebrows rose. "I saw a group of eight fight against those ants I told you about. Nothing to write home about, but I also didn''t notice anything really concerning... Not that you can find out a lot about a person without talking to them, but still..."


    Dylan nodded, mulling over Leo''s words. "That makes me feel a bit better. Thanks, lad." Once again, the man hesitated for a moment, before diving in. "Listen, Leo, I know you don''t want to hear it, but I really am sorry our little group didn''t work out. The thing near the Mirage was unfortunate, but..."


    As the man trailed off, Leo cut in before Dylan could say another word. "Yes, it was, but this alliance between us? It was never meant to work. You only accepted me because I could help Laura right away. There was no real trust between us. You might hide it the best, but you''re still scared. I can see it and feel it."


    "And Tyler?" Leo snorted. "He never tried to hide his fear, not even before I evolved. That Mirage Ambush just gave him a reason to show it... As for Laura? She''s a nice girl, but wherever Tyler goes, she follows... Family, I can respect that."


    This simple truth had been hanging above them ever since Leo met the trio. Honestly, it was nothing complicated. There wasn''t much he could do against humanity''s natural fear of the unknown. Those things required time, and a week just wasn''t enough. It would never be...


    "I..." Dylan shook his head. "No, you''re right¡­ This was always doomed to fail... A damn shame if I say so, Leo. It would''ve been nice to have someone like you by our side."


    "Maybe in the future," Leo chuckled. "For now, it''s way too early for humans to fully accept what I''ve become. Like you said, a shame, but that''s the life we live now."


    And I''ve mostly accepted it. You guys just have to catch up.


    "Aye, that we do..." Dylan muttered, his shoulders sagging a bit.


    Alright, that''s enough of this heavy shit. This was supposed to be a tense goodbye, not a heart-to-heart... Though ¡ª at least for now ¡ª I know I have a tentative ally in Dylan for the future. One out of three. Not bad.


    Clearing his throat, Leo broke through whatever thought process was going on inside his head. "We should go. Don''t want Tyler to barge in and glare at me again."


    Dylan chuckled lightly, "Aye, true that. Just one more thing." With that, the older man removed the gun with its harness from his waist and handed it over to Leo. "Take it, lad. You might not need it now, but it''s better to have one than not. I missed most of my shots anyway, so you can''t be much worse than me."


    Lips quirking slightly at the remark, Leo nodded and took the harness. "Your loss," he commented, quickly throwing the thing inside his backpack.


    "I should focus more on my Essence anyway, so I don''t think so, lad," Dylan noted. "Now, let''s move out."


    Casting his gaze around the room, Leo''s eyes fell on the remnants of a knocked-down wardrobe. "Go ahead. The path is pretty much clear. Just look out for any giant ants. I need to wipe this shit off my body first," he pointed a claw at the remnants of green acid on his face.


    For a moment, it seemed like Dylan couldn''t decide if Leo was serious, but then he nodded and approached the entrance to the corridor. "In case I can''t come back here for some reason, I just want to say that it was a pleasure to meet you, Leo. I wish you luck in finding your family."


    Throwing a piece of dirty cloth to the side, Leo called back. "Likewise, Dylan. Wish I could say the same about Tyler, but we both know that ain''t gonna happen... Good luck, and until we meet again."


    "Until we meet again..." Dylan muttered, leaving the room.


    Sighing, Leo picked up another torn shirt. He should probably hurry up and ensure the trio didn''t get killed on the last straight. That would have been a complete waste of the last day.


    <hr>


    They didn''t get killed. Hell, not even a single Voidling attacked the trio on their way to the Safe Zone. Leo might have noticed the almost complete lack of the usual Voidlings in the area before, but not to this degree.


    And while true that this place had only a few buildings scattered around, it still should''ve been enough for normies to be present. So either the survivors from the Safe Zone managed to completely clear the area and keep it that way even with Voidlings wandering in. Or alternatively, the presence of the Nest Colony affected this neighborhood enough for normal Voidlings to abandon this place.


    Probably a bit of both. Leo mused, watching the area in front of the Safe Zone from the highest tree he could find. They should be coming out right about noooow...


    As if summoned, the trio stepped onto the overgrown street, their forms previously hidden by another house. Even from a distance, Leo could easily see their squared shoulders and tight grips upon their weapons.


    As expected. I would be worried too if I were in their shoes...


    Nevertheless, the trio didn''t slow down, and in almost the blink of an eye, they entered the free space in front of the Safe Zone ¡ª which was precisely when the door to ReachHope Foundation''s headquarters snapped open, and ten people rushed out, weapons in hands, but still lowered.


    Leo''s grip upon the branch below tightened, claws digging into the wood as the two groups met in the middle. No one attacked, thankfully, and he prayed to whoever wanted to listen for it to stay that way.


    Come on. Be bloody normal, and not some batshit insane fuckers...


    For once, Leo''s prayers were answered as a single man from the bigger group stepped forward and shook hands with Dylan. Words were exchanged between the two, none that he could hear, but going by the smiles on a few faces, it couldn''t be anything terrible.


    Thank fuck. Leo sighed, slumping against the tree¡¯s trunk.


    The now-joined group didn''t stay out for much longer. If Leo wasn''t wrong, then some short introductions were probably made before they all quickly returned to the Safe Zone, disappearing behind its doors.


    And now the waiting game begins... Thank the Void that there''s something around here that can entertain me in the meantime¡­


    Throwing a final look at the Safe Zone, Leo muttered. "Good luck. Don''t make me wait too long."

 Chapter 77. Hunt

    Alone yet again. Leo sighed, looking over the old trainyard and the neighboring area. Well, almost alone. He corrected himself as the beast inside his head grumbled. I really need a name for you. What do ya think?


    The beast scoffed, retreating into the deeper recesses of his mind. This simple action pretty much translated to: ''Do whatever you want. I don''t care.'' Which, in hindsight, was fair; after all, why would it care about a name when in the end, they were one and the same.


    If you don''t care, then I''m just gonna call you Bob. Like it? Leo prodded, and the growl he got in return was like music to his ears. Yeah, don''t care, my ass... What if we take a single part from the name of my new species? It''s the reason why we''re even having this conversation to begin with, so I think it''s fitting.


    As the beast didn''t dignify him with an answer, Leo just continued with this train of thought.


    ''Night'' was out, it just didn''t sound right in his mind, and the word probably represented his inner beast the least of all. Prime had potential, but when Leo presented it to the monster, it just sent him the mental equivalent of a shrug, completely dismissing the option.


    So Hunter? I mean, it fits, and it is an actual name. It still feels weird trying to name something that''s a part of me, but it is much better than just calling you an ''inner beast.'' Leo reasoned. So, what''s the verdict? I can try finding a different name, but I wouldn''t count on it being good. There''s a reason why no one has ever allowed me to name anything...


    The beast''s snigger filled his mind, and Leo smirked as no objections came his way. Either the now-christened Hunter really didn''t care as long as his name wasn''t something like Bob, or it decided to take what was being given before the options got much worse.


    Well then... Until the System hopefully presents a way for us to become one unit forever, you''re Hunter. Congratulations. Leo reached out to the beast, almost dryly. It mimicked his enthusiasm and huffed, diving even deeper into his mind.


    Yet, before it retreated completely, Hunter left him with a simple message.


    ¡®Remember. Prepare.¡¯


    Yeah, I didn''t forget. How could I..? Leo snorted, his eyes glued to the trees in the distance, their leaves swaying in the soft breeze. But you''re right... Time to get down and start being productive. I still have a lot of time to kill until nighttime.


    Stabbing his claws into the tree''s trunk, Leo slid to the ground in one go and dashed away from the Safe Zone. Honestly, he was getting much better at controlling his body with each passing hour. The three tails were still a handful, but in the end, at least they stopped trying to trip him every damned minute.


    Progress, and that''s all that matters¡­


    <hr>


    Thankfully, Leo didn''t have to go far to find a place for a new temporary base. He could''ve used the house he''d cleared for the trio, but hiding in a place known to others didn''t seem like a smart idea. The bigger group was still an unknown, and getting caught off guard by them could end poorly, both for him and the survivors.


    With that in mind, Leo dove right into another wrecked house, his Hunter''s Pulse staying put for now. While he doubted more Ameists were near ¡ª or at least within range of his ability ¡ª there was no reason to push his luck. His blades would bathe in their blood again, just not now. There were still a few things to be done before that¡­


    "Nothing... That just fuels my theory," Leo muttered as he settled onto the last standing chair in the ruined kitchen. He probably shouldn''t have been surprised about the house being so empty. However, after nearly a week of constant fighting, with Voidlings appearing anywhere he turned, it felt almost eerie for an area to be so devoid of activity.


    Gives you hope that it might be possible to clear an entire city and make it somewhat livable again... Leo shook his head at the thought. Wondering about what-ifs never helped anyone. Right... System, give me the task reward.


    Leo didn''t even have to reach out for the task notification for the powerful entity to act. A bright golden light immediately descended upon the entire room, coalescing into a familiar orb on the floor.


    For a moment, Leo fought to keep his eyes open, to experience the entire process. But it burned. It burned with the power of a thousand suns, stabbing needles into his eyeballs without any remorse. And so he had to turn away and shield his body fully with the dark cloak; there was no other way.


    Yeah, it''s definitely weaponized, either that, or I''m just too weak to take this in. Leo grimaced, repeatedly blinking as the tiny golden sun faded away. The scorched floor, devoid of Vetilim, and the four items were the only remnants left in its wake.


    Crouching before the new arrivals, Leo completely ignored the three flares, his gaze fully focused on a small yellow badge. The thing was as plain as almost any rock, only this item had a more rounded shape and a big letter H engraved on its front.


    Let''s see.


    Free Honing Token (Uncommon):


    A simple and low-grade token. It allows the User to upgrade or repair an item below Rare grade for free. Please note that a Token awarded from a task works only for the User who received them.


    Huh, interesting. It pretty much screams in my face that I can get those things outside tasks. Crimson Mirages, maybe? Or Nests? Leo hummed, rolling the token between his fingers. The item was just as rough to the touch as any other rock.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    And I can use it to repair stuff. Good. Bringing his left arm into the open, Leo sent a single spark of Essence into the spectral chain that enveloped the limb. The ever-impossible-to-read green symbols flared to life, pulsing with power.


    Let''s fix you up.


    Item critically damaged. Honing locked. Do you wish to repair Spectral Inscription: Valron Coverage (Common) for the price of 90 Ether? One upgrade charge will be used for this process.


    Free Honing Token detected. Do you wish to use it in place of Ether?


    Ninety Ether?! The knife only took five... Which, I mean, is understandable, but still. Eyes a bit wide, Leo glanced at the token and then at the notification once more.


    He had been planning to use the item, but in the back of his mind, the thoughts of saving it for the future existed. Not any longer, though. Not with what he had just learned. He didn''t have other items to upgrade anyway, and saving ninety Ether seemed like a great idea no matter how he looked at it.


    Repair it, System. Use the token.


    At once, the token crumbled into dust, the particles diving straight toward Leo''s left arm. The flying cloud swirled around the limb, a bright golden glow growing underneath it, slowly coalescing around the arm. Just like with the knife, the radiant energy ¡ª Ether ¡ª continued to spread until nothing but it remained in sight.


    Leo gritted his teeth as the inferno laid waste across his skin. It was nothing like the pain when his Install Item advanced, but it didn''t mean he enjoyed having his arm cooked by the honing system.


    It''s starting to look like any kind of Ether can harm me. That, or the System is a sadist. I really don''t know which is worse...


    Gradually, the golden veil lost its luster, revealing unblemished skin underneath. Leo let out a long sigh of relief. The fact that the process didn''t harm his skin was a good sign. A very good one. Being physically hurt by Ether or only experiencing some painful discomfort was a big difference. Big enough to change quite a few scenarios he''d been worried about.


    As long as a Safe Zone is safe, I don''t care. I''ll handle truly weaponized Ether... somehow.


    Nodding, Leo''s gaze again fell to his arm, which, thanks to another flicker of Essence, erupted in a dark green, almost black glow. The symbols were still there, but with the repair, their complexity only grew. While before, each character was separate, now they all became a part of something bigger, blending together to create an image that belonged in an art gallery.


    "Beautiful," Leo murmured, devouring the sight with his eyes. It took a growl from Hunter to break him from this self-indulgence. "Shit. Sorry."


    Hunter harrumphed before retreating once more, leaving Leo to finally inspect the item in detail.


    Let''s see if it was really worth it.


    Valron Coverage (Uncommon):


    A Spectral Inscription item made by a skilled craftsman. Created using Valron ore and Runic Essence. Thanks to its new wielder, Valron Coverage has returned to its prime.


    Effect: Chosen body part becomes significantly more resilient, almost doubling its toughness.


    Active: Valron Protection - Channel Essence to create a protective layer of spectral skin over the chosen area. This ability can be maintained indefinitely as long as the User possesses Essence.


    Area of Use: Any single place on the User''s body


    Huh. Definitely worth it. Leo snorted as he read about the effect and active ability again. He now pretty much possessed an arm that could possibly withstand a direct hit from a Brute, or maybe even a Cursed Juggernaut. Though he really doubted the latter.


    And the continuous use of the shielding ability can be useful for projectiles and those fucking ants... Overall a very well-spent token.


    Dismissing Valron Protection, Leo quickly summoned his Job menu. He had some exploring to do, and from what he remembered, plenty of tasks were waiting to be picked up.


    Thirty-five Voidlings above level five for a hundred Ether. Sure, why not. Leo shrugged, accepting the task. Just then, another one caught his eye, and despite already having an active one, he still brought it up.


    Hunt: Ant Queen


    Hunt down an Ameist Queen in one of the Nests close by. Commissioned by: System. Time Limit: 10 Earth days.


    Rewards:


    150 Ether, Random raw item of at least Uncommon rarity, Random Survivor reward


    Do you wish to accept?


    Raw item and Survivor reward. Wonder what that means. Identify, of course, didn''t provide any answers. Oh well, I can always take it la... Hold on. Can I have two tasks active at once?


    Deciding that it couldn''t hurt to try, Leo accepted the job, his eyes widening just a bit when no error message appeared. Immediately, he chose another task, an easy one, but this time no option to accept appeared.


    So two is the limit, at least for now... Fuck, I really should''ve checked this before. With a sigh, Leo dismissed the menu. Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. Time to get back on the move. I even have something to strive for now.


    Even Hunter returned to the forefront of his mind, ready for the oncoming battles. Leo only smiled and slipped out of his temporary base, True Stealth activating with naught but a thought.


    Alright then. Come to me. With almost every step toward the Nest Colony, Leo fired off a Hunter''s Pulse.


    It wasn''t until he entered the massive overgrowth that the pulse returned something. Leo grinned and stopped, listening for the slightest shifts in the wind.


    Here they come.


    Two Ameists broke through the grass, speeding right towards Leo. Yet, when their eyes fell on him, the duo froze and almost immediately tried to back off.


    That''s new. Leo noted, a lance of shadows forming in his hands as he sped forward. The two Minion Ameists never stood a chance as he reached them in the blink of an eye, the shadow weapon descending upon the nearest Voidling.


    It died the moment the lance connected with its head, but Leo barely paid the monster any attention. Instead, he jumped to the other ant, yet he didn''t bare his claws or extend his blades. No, for this specimen, he had something much better prepared.


    Minor Takeover. Leo called out, a burst of Essence leaving his body as he touched the Ameist.


    Unlike the last time, barely a fifth of his energy left his body, diving into the Ameist''s form like a hungry dog toward its meal. There was no struggle, no exchange of Essence. Only the dark Void remained, perfectly blending with his own power and consuming the ant in one go.


    Leo blinked, and the Ameist blinked back, its new violet eyes meeting his own.


    Lead me to the least guarded entrance of your Nest.

 Chapter 78. First step

    Without even blinking, the controlled Ameist did a one-eighty and dashed back into the vast grass. Not to be left behind by his own minion, Leo followed, keeping a fair distance from the ant just in case. While he didn''t doubt the efficiency of Minor Takeover, those creatures might have a way to check if one of theirs was lost.


    That is, if the violet eyes aren''t enough of a giveaway... Leo snorted, blades extending from his arms as three more Ameist came into sight the moment he passed a thick gathering of plants.


    Two of them were purely focused on a blade of grass, their mandibles cutting the plant at its root. The third one, however, wasn''t a Minion but a Warrior, its snow-white chitin glinting in the few rays of sun that pushed past the overgrowth.


    Searching for the link with his minion, Leo fired off a quick command. While at the same time, his own momentum only quickened. Stop, wait for me. Don''t interfere.


    A small signal of acknowledgment immediately registered in his mind. Pushing it aside, Leo dove towards the level seven ant warrior, who finally noticed the presence of a stronger predator. The beast raised its lancer arms, crimson eyes glaring ahead.


    Let''s see how tough you are.


    Blades and lances met, and despite the latter holding strong initially, the edge of Leo''s weapons slid into their opposition after a moment. The gash wasn''t deep, maybe not even an inch, but it once more proved that his blades possessed more cutting power than anything he had ever seen.


    The Warrior Ameist hissed, the sound finally alerting the two minions. Leo backed off, twirling away as the creatures spat a mouthful of acid at him. The white ant followed soon after, both with its own poison and damaged lances.


    The Ameist threw its arms forward, hoping to skewer Leo in one attack. Only to be met with another failure.


    End of the road. Leo grinned as he grabbed the two lances and pushed them to the sides with all his might. The ant stumbled, and before it had a chance to recover, two blades went straight into its front, earning a pained screech from the beast.


    To finish off, Leo, with his blades still deep inside the monster, dragged his arms upward, leaving two long gashes behind. Blood and green acid dripped on the ground as he rolled away, and the warrior followed, only it was no longer among the living.


    The two Minion Ameists, who just missed another spit throw, froze momentarily as their protector just lay there, unmoving. They hissed, bodies trembling while taking one step back after another.


    So they aren''t as stupid as I thought. Leo noted, two shadow daggers forming in his hands. Not that it matters. They could run, they could try to fly, but in the end, he would always catch them.


    "Too slow," Leo muttered as the two ants dropped like a sack of potatoes on the dirt below. They barely had enough time to move a few meters before he added a single, deep hole to each of their heads.


    You can''t even call it a fight. Leo shook his head, shadows fading away like a mist as he dipped to his knees and devoured the warrior. In the meantime, he glanced towards his hiding minion and called out. Come out and continue with my first command.


    The taken-over Ameist skittered out of a huge bush and just warbled as it passed Leo. The creature didn''t even try to spare its fallen kin a glance and just continued onward like nothing ever happened.


    That''s... a bit disturbing, but at least now I know that Takeover is absolute.


    Shrugging, Leo sprinted after his minion. They weaved through the thick and thin undergrowth, passing gigantic bushes, weeds, and other plants as the Vetilim ant hills grew closer and closer. A few more Ameists tried to stand in their way, but they lost their lives before even an ounce of acid could leave their mouths...


    None of them were even level five. Doubt I received much experience from them. Leo sighed as he stopped right before the giant alien half-dome. The Ameist paused too, its gaze glued to a small opening that wouldn''t even be able to fit the beast.


    This is the entrance? He addressed the ant, and the monster gave a stiff but instant nod. Can you get in?


    This time the Ameist didn''t answer and just stepped closer to the opening. Its mouth bulged a bit, and in the next moment, the ant spat on the entrance, the green acid sizzling over Vetilim. Leo was ready to kill the minion and find another way in, only to pause as the opening shuddered.


    The Vetilim retreated, giving more and more space for the entrance until it grew large enough to easily fit two grown humans. Only then did the movement stop, the Void''s living matter just swirling along the edges.


    I won''t say what it reminds me of... Leo grimaced. Nature can be really weird at times. Though, I can''t say I''m much better if this is the first thing I think about... Shit.


    Before some quite disturbing thoughts could consume Leo''s mind, the single minion chirped, its violet eyes glinting. The thing pretty much looked like a proud dog. A very unique, overgrown dog...


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Yes, you did well. Now, how many of your kin can I expect to try to kill me right after I enter? Despite the question definitely being transferred over the link, the Ameist just tilted its head. Leo groaned. Right, too complicated for your tiny brain. Let''s try something different... Are there Ameists close by?


    The ant warbled happily, its mandibles opening and closing.


    Can you bait a few of them outside? Another chirp. Good. Do that. I will be waiting here. And remember, only bait. Don''t fight. The ant warbled for the last time before diving right into the opening, its form disappearing in the tunnel''s darkness.


    In the meantime, Leo climbed above the entrance, staying clear of the moving Vetilim. Now he just had to hope that his minion''s limited intelligence could pull this off.


    This is gonna be fun... Leo snorted, the black flash of Kiss of Death filling his blades. Shadows followed soon after, swirlings in his hands to form two short spears. However, unlike his recent creations, those had a familiar tether attached to his shoulders which easily let him leave those spears hanging off his back.


    As long as it won''t bring the entire swarm here, I''m good. Nevertheless, just to play it safe, more pure Essence surged into Leo''s muscles, ready to spring into action if necessary. A command for Limit Break activation also awaited in the back of his head, but hopefully, that much support wouldn''t be needed for this.


    What about you? Want to step on a few ants? Hunter''s roar echoed throughout his mind, the slumbering bloodlust spiking just a bit. That''s what I thought. And just in time for the party to arrive.


    An amalgamation of hisses and screeches filled the air, barely audible at first but growing louder with each second. Even the ant hill thrummed with the power of the marching herd below, the Vetilim movement becoming erratic.


    Here they come.


    The taken-over ant darted out first, and he took a deep breath. Three Ameist Warriors dived out shortly after with a squad of Minions hot on their heels, trying to reach its traitorous kin. Still, Leo stayed his blade from running through the beasts below and focused fully on a soft buzzing that had just reached his ears.


    And now. He shouted internally, jumping high just in time for two more Ameists to burst out of the entrance. Their insectoid wings at once carried them into the air, but their domain wasn''t as safe as they thought.


    Like a falling angel, Leo dropped on the first Flier, slicing its back open with a single strike. The beast didn¡¯t even have time to hiss before he was off once more. With the falling monster''s momentum, he dived right towards the other flying insect that paused upon hearing its kin''s dying shriek.


    Bad move.


    Leo''s other blade, still charged with Kiss of Death, cut right through the middle of the Flier''s wings and torso. Blood and acid rained down upon the earth, yet he paid it no mind as he dropped to the ground, his knees buckling.


    Two down, six left.


    Grabbing the two shadow spears off his back, Leo aimed at the herd, which had already changed direction, charging at him like one unit. This time there was no fear among those creatures as the Minions didn''t stand in the back. No, this time around, they led the attack.


    Another mistake.


    The spears sailed through the air, connected to Leo by a tiny tether of shadows. Fuelled by Grace and earlier experience, the weapons found their mark, and two ants stumbled, crashing into the dirt, dead.


    The lightest spark of Reinforcement ignited in Leo''s body as he rushed to meet the group. The distance might have been short, just the length of a house. But before they clashed in the middle, another Minion fell to the shadows, its form crumbling to the ground.


    Five down, three left.


    The last Minion tried to dodge; it really did. Only it didn''t matter in the face of Leo''s speed. His claws slashed straight through the beast''s legs, leaving it wriggling in the dirt as he faced the only true contenders in this fight.


    The two Ameist Warriors.


    With still some distance between them, the monsters fired more acid shots, yet Leo didn''t dodge. Rather, his left hand rose, green alien symbols flaring to life, activating Valron Protection.


    The energy shield met the acid head-on, the liquid splattering uselessly over the protected limb. Leo couldn''t thank his forethought of leaving his cloak beside the entrance enough. This much acid would have taken hours to get rid of...


    Still running at full speed, Leo dived and slid right beneath one of the warriors. One blade did the rest of the job, leaving behind a long and deep gash on its underbelly. The beast collapsed, screeching, still clinging to life.


    Doesn''t matter. Will come back to you in a moment.


    An extended blade met the side of a lancer arm, the last ant falling into a frenzy. Repeated lance thrusts rained upon Leo faster than the eight levels of the creature should allow. Not that it changed the fact that not a single strike connected.


    Leo dodged, parried, and redirected everything. There were plenty of chances to finish this, to stab a blade right between the monster''s eyes. However, he didn''t use them, at least not right away.


    This controlled environment gave Leo the perfect opportunity to practice. To further his control over the body he now possessed. Every single second let him learn something new.


    When to flick his tails to the side. How to correctly balance his overall weight. How to use his small talons to never slip in a battle of strength. Those were the tiny things, yet when collected into a pile, they changed everything.


    However, all good things had to end, and a warning growl from Hunter brought on just that. Although, it wasn''t like Leo could fault the beast. More Ameists could arrive at any moment, and even if they weren''t a threat, he came here with a task in mind.


    Still, it was good practice. Leo shrugged as the final monster''s head dropped to the ground. Every bit of Essence he lost during the battle quickly returned, leaving only dust behind.


    Time for the next part. I will probably need you once I go inside. Leo called out to Hunter, pausing close to the entrance. The discarded cloak once more found its place on his shoulders, and he sighed, taking small comfort from the soft material engulfing his body.


    A flicker of Essence went into the connection to his somehow still-alive minion, and the Ameist dashed through the opening without the need for another command. Leo followed, bloodlust awakening as a single System message flared to life.


    Entering Ameist Nest Colony. Kill all the Queens to annihilate this instance forever. Warning! This nest is on high alert, be mindful of your steps.

 Chapter 79. With Grace

    High Alert? Leo raised an eyebrow. As long as I don''t get swarmed by thousands of giant ants at the same time, I should be fine. Fuck, maybe even then, I would have a chance. Hard to execute, but possible...


    With a shrug, Leo trudged behind the taken-over minion, their movement slow and careful. Already they had left most of Vetilim behind, and now the only dirt, rock, and an occasional crimson vein surrounded them.


    If it wasn''t for the thin glowing Void matter, this place would have been completely dark. Not the worst possibility when trying to sneak around, but like Leo had already noticed last night, his night vision was far from perfect. And then there was the fact that Ameists most definitely could see in the dark, so the advantage was gone anyway...


    Gonna need more light if I want to fight anything here. I can probably handle a few minions like this, but anything stronger than the casual level eights, and I might be fucked...


    Slowing down just a bit, Leo brought forth his hand, the limb''s outline just barely registering in his vision. If there was one thing he missed from his old form now, it definitely was the faint glow coming from the veins on the surface. Sure, his old, mangled arm wasn''t a pleasant sight, but it got the job done.


    I could always summon a ball of light. Leo shook his head. Nah, need something more... battle ready, just like the veins were. Eyes still glued to the single hand, an idea suddenly came to him. I already covered my arms in Essence in the past to give me some more lighting. What if I took this concept further? Might even help me with manipulating the Kiss in the future...


    The lightest touch of Essence rushed straight into Leo''s hand, settling just against the skin. Still keeping the energy on the inside, he gave it purpose, gave it intent, and held it in place. Second after second, a soft glimmer of light began to surface from his claws; the crimson glow trying to pull through the impossibly tough digits.


    Leo fuelled more Essence into the technique but still kept a tight hold on the flow. If he let the energy rage around like it wanted, the perfect distribution of Essence across the hand would fail and, with it, the technique he was trying to create.


    Just a bit more. Leo gritted his teeth lightly, coming to a complete stop. The taken-over Ameist gave out an almost silent warble, but he paid it no mind, his focus fully directed at the growing glow around his claws. Push it a bit harder to the surface. Stabilize the flow. Keep the constant supply. Annnd done!


    With a final flicker of Essence, Leo''s claws, and the upper part of his hand, exploded in a soft crimson light. Despite the light source being so small, the darkness retreated from the tunnel, leaving everything exposed once more.


    Alright, maybe I gave it a bit too much power. Leo grimaced, pulling out a small part of Essence going into the technique. The glow instantly sputtered, the light retreating from the tunnel, now just barely reaching the ant a few feet away from him.


    Better, much better. Though, my claws now look like glowsticks... Snorting, Leo raised his other hand and tried to repeat the process. This time it took a few more tries as he still had to keep the light up on the first limb, but in the end, he finished with ten glowy fingers.


    Shame it didn''t give me a new skill. I bet that would make the upkeep easier. Leo concluded, going through some simple motions with his claws. Doesn''t really matter anyway. This way, I will be constantly training my control... And if it fails, I can always create light in a more rough manner.


    Leo rolled his shoulders, ready to continue onward when his eyes fell on the taken-over Ameist. The creature had its head tilted to the side, vibrant violet gaze glued to his shining claws.


    What? Leo called out through the link, and the creature straightened before letting out a low chirp. Yes, continue with the previous command. Stop only when we reach more enemies.


    The ant warbled and turned, continuing down the tunnel. A minute later, if even that, they reached a crossroads. One path, from what Leo had seen, led deeper into the nest, while the other opened to a small chamber. It had more Vetilim running along its walls, but apart from that, the room was empty.


    Leo tried asking his minion for clarification, but just like before, a question like that was way too complicated for a creature this simple. As such, they left shortly after, delving deeper into the colony.


    Maybe that was where the small herd waited, guarding the entrance. Leo mused as he stopped in front of another crossroad, this one offering three options to choose from. The controlled minion squeaked, and he roughly understood what the creature meant.


    Two leading to exits, most likely far better guarded, while the other goes further down... Simple enough. With a nod, Leo gave the ant another command. We are going to the nearest Queen.


    The Ameist tried to warble back, but it cut the sound off as an amalgamation of hisses filled the tunnel. Leo''s gaze snapped to the last path, the one leading outside.


    Some fuckers are probably coming back from the surface. Giving the link to his minion a tug so that it would scamper away, Leo hugged one of the walls with his back and waited. The glow around his claws almost died off as the hisses got closer and closer.


    Just not an entire horde. Not here.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The next sound reached Leo immediately, and three Ameists strode out of the last tunnel. A single warrior marched in the front while two Minions treaded behind it, carrying gigantic blades of grass in their mandibles.


    Blades extending, Leo jumped out of his cover, the two minions losing their heads within a blink of an eye. The Warrior spun around, the beginning of a screech ready to burst out of its mouth.


    Yet, before it could utter a sound, Leo closed the distance between them, a single clawed hand reaching out. Minor Takeover. Essence burst out of his body, and just like with the minion, it dived into the Warrior, stripping away its freedom.


    The gigantic, snow-white Ameist froze, blinking its new violet eyes. Takeover once more did its job, ensnaring the level eight Warrior without a single problem.


    Welcome to the army. Leo transferred over the new link, the ant bowing in response. He pulled up Minor Takeover''s description and smiled. One more empty slot. Great. If I can have three minions now, this might be easier than I thought...


    A light smirk still on his face, Leo went from corpse to corpse, draining the beasts of their remaining Essence. On the outside, he could leave however many bodies behind as he wanted. Here such laziness was just asking for trouble. No need to give the nest a reason to raise its alertness even more.


    Alright, move out.


    With those words, the ex-human and two traitor ants descended deeper into the Nest with only one target in mind.


    The Queen.


    <hr>


    The path to the depths of the Nest wasn''t easy, not at all. The moment Leo and his small army passed the entrance section of the Colony, they almost constantly had to fight against wandering Minions or patrolling Warriors. The enemy groups were small, but they still managed to slow down the descent by a wide margin.


    Often Leo had to pass or even enter chambers housing literal hordes of Ameists. If he could, he just sneaked by, using his own minions as a cover and guide. Of course, that didn''t work each time, and in those cases, he had to sacrifice a taken-over ant to create a distraction. After that, sprinting through the room under the cover of True Stealth and his cloak fixed the problem.


    This tactic also wasn''t perfect, but until now, it only failed once. Leo had lost all his minions in the skirmish that followed, but as heartless it probably was to think that, their death wasn''t really a loss. He could easily take over more ants later...


    Which was precisely what he did.


    With Devour, Essence wasn''t really an issue. At least not when almost every minute, more Ameists died by Leo''s hand without needing to use any of the mystical energy. As such, taking over more Ants was just a matter of touching them, which, for now, he never had a problem with.


    Keeping the old Warriors wasn''t optimal anyway... Everything just has to get stronger the lower I go. Leo shook his head lightly, approaching yet another entrance to a chamber. At least I have three level nines now.


    The taken-over Warriors stopped right before him, and Leo passed them, squinting his eyes as he took a peek inside the chamber. Alright, that''s a first...


    Overall, the room wasn''t any different from the previous ones ¡ª just a large, uneven, dug-out cavern. However, while all other rooms were filled with Ameists running left and right, here everything was silent, still.


    But it''s not empty. Leo noted, his gaze running over the rows of sleeping ants. If it wasn''t for Identify, he would have thought that this was some kind of graveyard. But no, they were all alive. And they are all Fliers.


    Here, Leo could have easily gone forward, taken another step toward the Ameist Queen, but he just couldn''t. This was an opportunity. An opportunity to both gain some easy experience and deal a massive blow to the colony.


    Well, that or make them all even more furious. Leo blinked. Never mind. Once I try to kill one of the Queens, some Fliers won''t matter anyway.


    Nodding, Leo gave his Warriors a simple command to stay back while he pushed onward. Both blades snapped out, the crimson light upon his claws dying out, only to be replaced by the black flash of Kiss of Death.


    Slower than ever before, Leo moved from one Flier to another, his blades going straight through their heads. Devour followed shortly after, erasing their existence. Then the dance started over and over and over...


    However, unlike Leo hoped, the Fliers weren''t as strong as the ants he met on his way down. Almost all of those sleeping monsters were below level six, with only a few exceptions to this rule. Nonetheless, he didn''t stop, knowing well that if he could slaughter them all, level fourteen was definitely within reach.


    Of course, like all good things, this peaceful grind had to come to an end as a single Ameist stirred in the far-off corner of the room. Leo tried to reach it before it could do anything, before more could wake. Yet he was too late.


    The moment Leo''s blade cut cleanly through the beast''s head, it released a dying shriek, and with it, the domino collapsed. One by one, the Ameist Fliers awoke, an angry buzzing filling the chamber.


    The three taken-over Warriors received orders before the Fliers could take to the air. They descended upon the almost two dozen remaining ants, their acid spit and lances taking down two of their kin in an instant.


    In the meantime, Leo wasn''t idle, his blades quickly slicing through another Flier next to the one who caused this mess. The other ants close by reacted right away, their spit flying toward him.


    Leo ducked, a shadow spear forming along his arm, only to be thrown instantly and take down another ant. The Fliers fired again, this time half of them using their wings to cover more space.


    Valron Protection flared to life, meeting their projectiles head-on. Leo scowled as bits and pieces of acid splattered all over his cloak. Bloodlust ignited, and he surged along with it, killing the nearest Flier with a single strike.


    At the exact moment as life left the monster''s eyes, the world came to a crawl. Power, inhuman and almost overwhelming, rushed straight into Leo¡¯s body, breaking past a limit he didn''t know he possessed. Then it was all over, the world started again, yet nothing was the same.


    Leo felt lighter, faster, and twice as much in control of his body as a few seconds ago. The three tails came under his command without a thought, and he could swear that he was now aware of almost every single muscle in his body.


    It''s even better than full force Reinforcement and Limit Break. Leo gasped as he danced between the acid projectiles as if they were moving in slow motion. Nothing could touch him or even come close as he cut down Flier after Flier.


    In a matter of a minute, or maybe even seconds, nothing but Leo and two Warriors remained alive in the chamber. Corpses of the Fliers were strewn around him, yet he paid them no attention as a System notification finally appeared, somewhat explaining what just happened.


    Level 14 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Congratulation! Your Grace ascended past the Mortal Tier (50). Welcome among the Supernatural. Do you wish to display the standard information package about Attribute Tiers?

 Chapter 80. The Queen

    That''s what it was? Leo swallowed, the adrenaline and bloodlust finally leaving his body. Yet, even as the battle came to an end, the complete understanding of his body and its potential remained. He flicked one of his tails, and it listened right away, raising to meet his hand mid-air. There was no delay, no rogue motions...


    It feels almost as good as when Focused Bloodlust was activated... Leo shook his head lightly. No. That''s wrong. It''s so much better. No longer do I need an ability to feel like my body belongs wholly to me. Now, it''s really mine, and nothing can change that...


    The notification still floated before him, and Leo raised his head, giving the thing his full attention. He had expected a level-up. It was high time for it to come. But the next message?


    Leo frowned. No, he didn''t foresee such a thing appearing out of nowhere. Seems, I''m finally getting the explanation I wanted... Though, really? Mortal Tier? I don''t know about you, System, but I stopped feeling like one when you gave me this body...


    The System didn''t react to Leo''s thoughts, and only the flashing notifications showed that it was still there. He sighed, giving the powerful entity the answer it wanted. Better to get it over with fast before more Ameists came. Not that he worried, but still...


    Choice Acknowledged. Displaying standard information package.


    Ever since the birth of the System, it was decided to divide attribute growth into Tiers. Contrary to what many thought in the beginning, these Tiers aren''t just fancy names to describe the current power of a User. Instead, they are used to signify the breaking points, the current limits of a User, and their ability to ascend to higher realms.


    While attributes grow with each new point added, ascension forces an evolution of the corresponding aspect of the User, breaking its hard limit. Each time, this breakthrough brings forth a very noticeable boost in power. Of course, it is important to note that ascension might not be possible if the User''s current form cannot handle the spike in strength. Those cases are rare and are often caused by particular circumstances.


    Additionally, it is wise to remember that Limit Break cannot trigger an ascension. It will still grant increased power when the User is close to the breakthrough, but the boost will never reach the strength of a newly ascended attribute.


    With that, the System message ended, the entire thing just continuing to float in front of Leo. He tried waiting for more, hoping for more information to appear, yet it was all for naught. When the System decided to stop, there was nothing anyone could do about it.


    I guess it''s still more than I should have expected. Leo sighed, a hand on his head. All in all, it''s pretty simple to understand, even if I would have liked to know when the next breakthroughs happen... Suppose I will find out in the future...


    A quick swipe of his claws disturbed the message, forcing it away. However, the level-up didn''t fade; still waiting for Leo to acknowledge it.


    Where to assign you now? He hummed, eyes closing just for a second. He could, of course, just throw them into Mind like before and be done with it. But now that he had regained all the lost control and more, there was no reason to spend so much on one attribute. Besides I''m getting two points in Mind with each level anyway, thanks to class and race...


    Leo quickly brought up his status and nodded after a moment. Yeah, I think this should do. Two into Soul and one to Might. More strength will probably come in handy soon, and I really need more Essence. Devour won''t always be there to save me.


    Just as the System accepted his selection, another message appeared. This one almost as surprising as the attribute ascension.


    Thanks to your Grace ascending to Supernatural Tier, your Assassin''s Grace trait has advanced. Congratulations! Cloud Walker trait gained.


    Cloud Walker (Uncommon)


    You have ascended past the basic training of an Assassin and entered the realm of true experts. May you remain unnoticed by your enemies.


    Effects:


    Your movement becomes lighter and almost silent. Every stealth ability is now more effective. Grace Effectiveness: +10%


    Oh...


    Leo blinked, eyes just a bit wider than usual. To be completely honest, he had almost forgotten about this trait despite the thing giving him a slight boost towards Grace''s effectiveness. It wasn''t that noticeable, especially in the beginning, though now the five ¡ª no, ten ¡ª percent really proved its value.


    Nice, I guess? Anything that further helps with stealth is welcome. Besides, now I know why I''m so light on my feet. It seems not everything came from the ascension.


    With a shrug, all the notifications disappeared, leaving Leo in the almost pure darkness. At once, Essence shot into his claws, the crimson glow again filling the chamber. A single command had his two Warriors stopping close, and he frowned as his gaze fell on their bloodied forms.


    The nearest taken-over ant didn''t look that bad. It possessed some cuts here and there, but it wasn''t anything that would slow the Voidling down. At worst, those were just slight inconveniences for the beast.


    Now, the second Warrior was in a much worse condition.


    From what Leo noticed, the ant had to limp toward him. A quick check of its legs confirmed that one of them couldn''t even rise from the ground. Then there were the dozens of cuts littering the beast''s body, which didn''t give the Warrior a high chance of survival. Hell, even now, the ant shook every few seconds.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Yeah... I think that''s the end of the road for you. Leo thought, approaching the beast. "Thank you for your service." With those words, he plunged a blade into the monster''s head, Devour following right after, consuming the now-dead Warrior.


    Sighing, Leo turned to his last minion. Well, it''s just you and me now. Hopefully, I can fill the ranks again before we reach the Queen. The remaining Warrior chirped, its violet eyes darting to the exit.


    In a moment. First, I have to do something with this. Leo grimaced, his gaze falling on the Cloak of Flowing Darkness covered in spit and blood. There was no way to return this thing to its original state, but leaving it like this also wasn''t an option.


    Leo took a seat on the ground, taking off the cloak. Reaching into the still mostly fine backpack, he took out a small cloth and got to work. The dark material didn''t fall victim to the power of the acid, but he still wiped it off to the best of his ability. Once he got out of this place, there should be a small stream nearby that could help further. Until then, this simple clean-up had to be enough.


    That''s if the water there is even safe. Which I highly doubt. Not that it hurts to check... Leo snorted as he folded the cloak and pushed it into the backpack. No reason to destroy it even further with this fucking acid.


    Time to go. Leo stood up, the Warrior perking up at the action. A quick command had the creature moving once more as the duo left for the exit, ready to continue their journey towards the Queen.


    <hr>


    An hour. That was how long Leo and his new minions had been traveling through the labyrinth of tunnels. Sometimes, during the journey, he even wondered if Minor Takeover''s control wasn''t as absolute as he had thought and the ants were just leading him in circles. At least that was until he and three fresh new Warriors arrived before a vast opening in the tunnel.


    The entrance could easily fit Leo if he grew twice as large, and when he took a quick peek inside, all the walking and killing countless of Ameists finally became worth it. One of the Queens was waiting inside, and now the time to begin the final part of this dive into the unknown had come...


    Still hugging the side of the tunnel, Leo glanced into the enormous chamber again. Unlike any other place inside the Nest, this room was wholly made out of Vetilim, the veins of the dark matter illuminating the pile of black eggs in the far-off corner.


    This wasn''t the first time Leo had seen those objects, but each time, the eggs were in the care of Minions, dozens of them. Here, only two Warriors and the Queen stood watch over the next generation of their kin.


    Good. I have had enough of slaughtering creatures that probably don''t give me any experience. Waste of fucking time... Leo huffed, his eyes passing over the defenders and the Queen.


    The Warriors weren''t anything special. Just two standard, level thirteen creatures. Leo''s own minions might be slightly weaker, but they had the number advantage and could hold the stronger duo for a bit.


    The actual danger here was the Queen.


    The massive creature, easily thrice as large as the biggest Warrior, didn''t belong to this world. It possessed the form of an ant; that was true. Yet there was so much more to this beast.


    White as snow chitin covered the monster''s entire body, the armor looking at least twice as tough as any other Leo had seen before. Then there were the Queen''s legs, the limbs boring more resemblance to that of an Inferior Crawler than an Ameist.


    However, the six legs weren''t the beast''s only limbs. No, far from it. Two insectoid wings grew out of the creature''s back, while at the front, the Queen gained four additional arms, all ending with a wicked scythe-like blade.


    This was by far the best-equipped monster Leo had the displeasure of meeting. Hell, even in overall strength, the Queen was close to the top.


    Ameist Queen (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 16 | Type: Underworld, Poison, Armor, Special


    Well shit. Leo grimaced, hiding again. I got what I wanted, but this thing? It''s fucking dangerous... If it wasn''t for that ascension, I would already be on my way back... Leo shook his head, summoning a part of his own status.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: II - Prime Night Hunter


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 14


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E-


    Might Tier I (25) | LB: 24


    Grace: Tier II (7) | LB: 20


    Vision: Tier I (26) | LB: 24


    Mind: Tier I (44) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (27) | LB: 14


    E minus. Finally got there, so we should be about evenly matched. Taking in a deep breath, Leo closed his eyes and reached out to the beast slumbering in his mind. What do you think, Hunter? We will definitely need to work together to kill this thing.


    The beast growled, bloodlust spiking and slowly seeping into Leo''s veins. There was no mistaking what Hunter wanted to do next. However, the final decision still had to be made.


    Alright, let''s say I go inside. I need some sort of a plan first... And more information. Bestiary.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Ameist Queen


    Expected Potential: E- to E


    Weapon of choice: Poison, Scythe Arms.


    Known weaknesses: Wings, Gaster Armor


    The peak of Ameist early-stage evolution. There can only be one Queen Ameist in each Nest, and the appearance of another can either lead to a civil war or the creation of a Nest Colony. The Queens, despite their task of producing eggs, are the best combatants of a Nest, the final line of defense. They possess all the advantages of their subordinates but almost none of their weaknesses. It is also important to note that all Queens are connected to the Nest on a much deeper level, and without them, it will destabilize.


    Not much I couldn''t figure out by myself, but I will take it... Although, what the fuck is a Gaster? Leo thought, eyes widening as a tiny bit of knowledge rushed into his head. The back part of the ant''s torso? Huh. Guess you learn something new every day...


    As the Bestiary entry faded away, the blades upon Leo''s arms extended, Essence stirring inside his soul. The light coming from his claws died in an instant, replaced by a black flash. Bloodlust also spilled out of the depths of his mind, Hunter following, the merging of the two beasts already underway.


    Let''s do it.

 Chapter 81. Queen vs Prime

    Hunter roared, the sound reverberating through Leo''s entire being as once again they became one. Bloodlust also settled, coursing through his veins, through his mind. It demanded action, and soon, that was precisely what it would get.


    Still no Focused Bloodlust. Leo scowled even as his vision sharpened just a bit. It seemed like the skill wanted to come out, but something was still holding it back. Hunter? Any ideas?


    The beast huffed, its senses bleeding into Leo''s, showing him just what it meant. Not yet? But you know how to get it going? Hunter pretty much yipped, which was a first. Okay then. That''s better than nothing... Let''s get going before the urge gets too intense.


    With each second, the bloodlust flowing through him continued to snap at his consciousness, begging to be fully unleashed, to begin the fight. Leo slowly let the feeling consume him more and more as he approached the entrance.


    He stopped close to the opening and glanced at the three taken-over Warriors, pushing a final command into their link. Wait for my sign. Don''t show yourself before that.


    The giant ants warbled in confirmation, their violet eyes glinting.


    Good.


    Still under the cover of True Stealth, Leo took in a deep breath and counted to three. The moment his mental timer ran out, he dashed into the colossal chamber, a flicker of Reinforcement pushing him even faster.


    The three Voidlings inside noticed him quickly, much quicker than any other beast before. Yet, they still weren''t fast enough as Leo pounced onto the nearest Warrior, slicing through an arm and leg in one go. He tried to follow up with another strike, but somehow, the injured creature pushed past the pain and threw a wild swing at him with the remaining lancer arm.


    Leo twirled away and deflected another attack from the second Warrior. That was also when the Queen decided to join the fray, shooting a quick series of acid projectiles at him.


    Shit!


    With the green blobs closing in, Leo abandoned deflecting and blocking. Instead, he chose to jump away, just in time for the acid to splatter against the ground. He barely had time to spare it a glance, but just one look confirmed that the Queen''s acid was on another level. It had already burned a small hole in Vetilim, and if the chunk of acid was any larger, he could easily see it going even deeper.


    So it burns stronger, but runs out faster. Guess that''s still fucking bad. Leo cursed, dancing away from the continued onslaught of Warrior''s lances and the Queen''s acid. This isn''t going how I wanted. I need it to follow me.


    More Essence surged into his body, Reinforement''s flickering flame turning into a small bonfire. With the additional strength, Leo pushed past the Warriors and dove straight for the Queen.


    The massive beast spewed a few last projectiles before raising its four bladed arms, ready to meet him head-on. Leo''s eyes narrowed, his own weapons lifting, the Kiss activating once more with naught but a thought.


    Behind him, the Warriors screeched, but he ignored them, and with a final push, he slid to the ground, the momentum carrying him forward. Only the Queen was ready, and her scythes descended upon him, hoping to end the threat in one strike.


    Not today. Leo growled as his tails dug into the ground behind him, completely changing the direction of his slide. It was still a closer call than he would have liked, with the scythes missing him by just a few inches. However, sometimes a small risk was worth it. Which it certainly was now.


    The Queen screeched, almost bursting Leo''s eardrums as he left two deep cuts across the beast''s front leg. Not waiting for the creature to recover and make a shashlik out of him, he added a few more shallow cuts to its underbelly before sprinting away.


    I''m barely scratching her armor... Leo gritted his teeth, running along the chamber''s walls, the three beasts biting at his heels. Legs are weaker, but if I want to kill it, I will need to listen to Bestiary. Not even my blades are strong enough for this.


    Hunter growled suddenly, more bloodlust following with the sound. Leo flinched as the chamber''s exit registered within his vision. Yeah, I know. It''s time for the second part of the plan.


    With another burst of speed, Leo passed by the entrance. At the same time, his mind reached to his own minions, a simple command echoing through the link.


    Now!


    At once, Leo spun around, the Queen almost barrelling past him thanks to the sudden change. Quick to pounce on the advantage, he dashed past the gigantic ant and joined his own minions as they descended upon the Queen''s Warriors.


    Already, the injured Warrior struggled to keep up against two of its kind. Leo grinned and closed the remaining distance with a jump, his blades going straight through the back of the beast''s head.


    However, before the body even had the time to collapse to the ground, the Queen rejoined the fight, its scythes cutting one of the taken-over Warriors in two halves. Leo''s second minion tried to scamper away, but it also fell victim to the apex predator''s power.


    Nonetheless, their sacrifice wasn''t in vain as the moment the Queen focused on its traitorous kin, Leo flew towards the two remaining Warriors. His own minion was losing, barely keeping up with the other ant''s faster strikes. Blood flowed down its sides, and going by the multiple stab wounds across its front, the creature wouldn''t last much longer.


    Doesn''t matter. You did well.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Two shadow spears materialized in Leo''s hands, only to leave them as quick as they appeared. They flew true, striking the Queen''s Warrior right in the back, earning a loud hiss. The taken-over Voidling pounced at the advantage, and with its dying breath, the monster plunged a lance into its opponent''s mouth.


    Both ants fell a second later, but Leo didn''t have much time to watch as a sudden buzzing filled his ears. The Queen, having slaughtered his minions, jumped into the air, its wings carrying her faster than expected.


    Here goes replenishing my Essence reserves. Leo grimaced, batting away the quick-approaching strikes. The Queen was relentless, and its attacks almost matched the speed of his own. Only the ant still had an advantage thanks to having four limbs instead of two.


    "Shit!" The curse, along with a muffled scream of pain, left Leo''s mouth as the blunt edge of the Queen''s scythe crashed against his side. The force of the strike sent him rolling across the uneven ground. If he was still human now, this might have been the end.


    However, Leo had already abandoned his humanity, and the beast growling within him only proved that. Hunter''s and his own rage doubled as they rose, the Queen''s crimson eyes meeting their violet ones.


    The beast screeched, and just like with the Brute, Leo answered with a roar of his own, channeling as much bloodlust as he could into the action. Unlike the Voidling from the surface, the Queen didn''t back down and instantly opened its mouth, a constant flow of acid surging out.


    What the fuck? Leo''s eyes widened as the stream of poison flew over him, hitting the arch of the chamber''s entrance. The green substance slid down like slime, slowly covering the opening until no gap remained.


    It doesn''t want me to escape. It''s do or die... Well, alright then.


    The grin that claimed Leo''s face at the thought of the fight to come was horrifying and definitely out of place. Yet, as blood pumped in his veins with reignited rage, boiling with the need to get out, he could hardly care about how disturbing he looked now.


    Come. Let''s play.


    As if understanding each other without a word, the two met in the middle in a flurry of blows. Even without Reinforcement flowing through his muscles, Leo matched the Queen''s four limbs.


    He redirected what he could and dodged what he couldn''t. Leo learned the hard way that the Queen was stronger, and straight-up blocking her attacks would land him in a land of pain. Which, in hindsight, was quite obvious; the thing was almost twice as large as him, after all.


    Nevertheless, Leo didn''t give up and pushed onward, forcing every advantage he could find to score even the lightest of hits. The Queen usually retaliated right away, leaving him with another bleeding cut to add to the collection. Not that a few scratches could stop him, as the longer the fight went on, the easier it got...


    With each drop of blood, a long-forgotten silvery glow on the Queen''s body became stronger and more visible. Vital Strike might have seemed useless for the most part, as it barely ever activated. But now that Leo landed in a fight that couldn''t be solved with a single strike, this weak ability proved its worth.


    The Bestiary had given him the obvious weak points, but Vital Strike showed him what was hidden. The best part was that this glow appeared everywhere, making it much easier to score a hit. Really, Leo could count the number of times he managed to score a blow on the Queen''s gaster on one hand and still have fingers to spare.


    The beast was too fast to fall for the same maneuvers as the Brute. And using affinity also didn''t give him much of an advantage. At this point, his shadow techniques were mostly supplementary or something to use as an opening to a fight. As such, Leo embraced Vital Strike and its weak points as if it was the only way to win this fight.


    Only it wasn''t.


    After all, no matter what he did, how much Essence he used, Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery and the ever-growing bloodlust remained active. The first, like always, taught and guided him during the battle, teaching Leo more and more about the natural weaponry his body possessed. Then there was the bloodlust, fuelling his every move and, guided by Hunter, warning him about attacks he didn''t see coming.


    Not that this defense was infallible, as once more Leo found himself flung across the chamber, crashing straight into the closest wall. The Queen crooned as if the beast''s victory was inevitable.


    Nothing could be further from the truth.


    Leo climbed back to his feet, bloodlust now filling every cranny of his mind. Suddenly, Hunter roared, and the insatiable hunger for violence stilled. With another command from the beast, it began to flow into his soul, forming a perfect connection between the three pillars.


    The red hues in Leo''s vision sharpened, the distant thrumming in the ground dying out. Only the approaching Queen remained in focus, along with a bright silvery glow littering the beast''s body. However, even in this hyperfocused state, Hunter''s two words punched through, filling his mind.


    ''Understand Now?''


    Taking another step toward the Queen, Leo nodded lightly as Focused Bloodlust slowly activated. He knew well what Hunter meant; he had felt it, lived through it.


    I do. Thank you. Now... Time to die, insect.


    Right away, Essence spilled into his body, Reinforcement reigniting stronger than ever before. The darkness of Kiss of Death engulfed Leo''s limbs, be it arms, legs, or tails. Even Valron Protection activated, illuminating the ground in the darkest green imaginable.


    The Queen paused momentarily, as if sensing the change, but Leo never gave her a chance to truly understand what just happened. He dived forward, blades descending upon the hissing monster.


    They met midway in a clash of sparks, two natural blades trying to force another four to submit. Partially, the task was a success as Leo directed the Queen''s weapons to the side and spun around, his tails hitting the beast square in the head.


    The Queen screeched as it stumbled back, three new gashes now spilling blood all over its ugly mug.


    With Focused Bloodlust active, Leo didn''t even question how his blunt tails somehow cut through the Queen''s armor. Instead, he renewed his assault with even more intensity, targeting every silvery glow in sight.


    The Queen took it all, blocking what it could in its disoriented state. Not that the unfortunate condition lasted long.


    Enraged, the Queen took into the air, almost reaching the roof of the chamber. Before Leo could do anything to follow, the beast opened its mouth, releasing waves upon waves of acid.


    A growl left Leo''s throat as he ran on all fours across the room, weaving between the Queen''s onslaught. He reached a wall in record time and jumped right on it, his claws and talons digging into the Vetilim surface.


    Leo didn''t stop there and jumped again, this time his limbs claiming the ceiling as its new floor. Constantly having to fight against gravity, he still sailed across the roof like a rocket and lunged right at the Queen when the beast was finally close enough, still spewing its acid.


    The overgrown ant turned; its eyes widened, a flicker of fear flashing in those crimson orbs. Only it was far too late for that as Leo pushed through the stream of acid and landed on the Queen, cutting its wings off.


    "Die, insect."

 Chapter 82. Run, run, run

    The Queen howled in pain or maybe anger. Leo didn''t know, nor did the primal state of his mind even care. As they fell towards the ground, only the spots shown by Vital Strike registered in his vision. He hacked and slashed through them all, blood bursting out everywhere, painting the world in red.


    Crimson, that was all Leo could see as the Queen crashed onto the hard Vetilim floor, with him still glued to its back. The beast cried out even louder, almost piercing through Focused Bloodlust. Yet, before the skill could disperse, he pounced on the ant''s gaster again, stabbing deep into the armored flesh.


    The Queen twitched, flinging its arms around in hopes of reaching the enemy that insisted on rearranging its insides. Only the Voidling was too slow, too weak to catch Leo, who weaved between the random attacks. The beast even tried to roll on the ground to get rid of him, but that brought on as much success as its previous actions.


    "Die."


    Leo growled, both of his blades descending upon the connection between the gaster and the rest of the Queen''s torso. Fuelled by almost every possible self-enhancement ability, he cut straight through the chitin and the flesh underneath it, earning another shriek from the beast.


    The movement from the Queen almost stilled. Only its legs kept twitching as the gaster fell off in a spray of blood and acid. This didn''t stop Leo, though. With a single jump, he appeared just behind the Queen''s head and let his blades claim the final trophy.


    The moment his weapons disappeared entirely inside the beast''s flesh, the twitching finally stopped, the limbs collapsing.


    A roar reverberated through Leo''s mind, and he answered in kind on the outside. The low, almost demonic sound filled the chamber or maybe even the entire Nest Colony.


    Like flipping a switch, Focused Bloodlust drained away when the echo died out. The constant rage and hunger retreated, returning to its slumber. With it, Leo''s mind flipped to its normal state, and he flinched as every single cut and broken bone decided to call out for help all at once.


    Shit! Leo gasped, collapsing to his knees still atop the Queen''s body. He still could move and maybe even win a fight against a single Voidling if he had to. But this wouldn''t be enough for what he had to do in the next few minutes. Especially not if the notifications trying to drown him were anything to go by.


    One of the three Queens of this Nest Colony has been slain. Congratulations, survivor. Take your spoils and decide if you want to continue on this path or retreat and continue this fight another day. You have approximately twenty minutes until this Nest closes for the quarantine.


    Warning! Destabilization of the Nest Colony is waking all its occupants. Don''t remain in one place for too long, or you will become the hunted. Good luck.


    There was more to read, more to consume his time, but Leo didn''t let it; those messages could wait. He had about twenty minutes to get out and take care of the corpse below him.


    Alright, let''s get to work. Leo thought, grimacing at the same time as his leg spasmed, blood spilling along the limb. Nonetheless, he pushed past the pain and dismounted the beast, only to pause in front of its fallen head.


    First things first.


    On wobbly feet, Leo took a step closer while his claws surged forward, going straight for two of the Queen''s still-open eyes. With a single tug, he tore those squishy orbs out, not even blinking at the blood drenching his hands. He doubted there was a part of his body that wasn''t covered in the crimson liquid.


    Now time to heal. Dropping the eyeballs into a single hand, Leo stabbed the corpse again with the other. Devour activated right away, consuming the waves of Essence still drifting through the Queen''s body.


    Slower than ever before, some cuts closed while bones snapped into their proper place. However, even as only a massive heap of dust remained after the Queen, Leo''s body still ached and bled. It was better than a moment ago, but still far from perfect.


    Whatever, he grimaced. I can move well enough, and it at least gave me a boost in return for the trouble. Also, it said something about the spoils...


    Devour consumed: +1 Grace


    With barely a glance at the message, Leo reached into the pile, searching for anything useful. It wasn''t until he got halfway through the dust that his claws finally clicked against something hard.


    Let''s see. Leo grabbed what felt like an orb and pulled it out, a faint, sickly green shine entering his vision. He was spot on the shape of the item. And quite frankly, if it was smaller and didn''t look like a perfectly polished glass globe, this thing wouldn¡¯t be much different from Crystalized Essence.


    Only this definitely isn''t it. Leo mused as he spared the item''s name a glance. Poison Core of uncommon quality. Guess now I know where I can get cores. He wanted to read more, but this wasn''t the time for it, so he took a knee and removed the remnants of his backpack.


    It still held, if barely. Not for long, though, and if Leo wanted something to carry his items in, then he either had to find a new bag fast or figure out how to store stuff inside his soul.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    I know what I''m doing again this night... Leo snorted, unruffling his bloodied cloak and throwing it over his shoulders. The Queen''s eyeballs and core went right inside the backpack, and he quickly tied the thing back to its previous position.


    Move out.


    Body still aching, Leo dashed toward the sealed entrance, his blades slicing through the slimy substance. Right away, a horde of hisses and screeches reached his ears, the sounds bouncing off the tunnel walls.


    It stopped the sound from going out. Shit. They must be close already.


    Essence burst out of his soul, Reinforcement once more igniting his muscles with additional power. Leo dived for the same tunnel he came from, his mind going a hundred miles per hour to backtrack the path he used to arrive here.


    Not even twenty minutes to get out. Leo grimaced, speeding past a group of Ameist. Those Voidlings didn''t even have a chance to blink before he disappeared from their sight. No stopping. No fucking fighting. Run straight for the exit.


    Hunter growled within his mind, not liking the sound of his thoughts. Well, they would need to agree to disagree on this, as Leo wasn''t risking fighting two more Queens just yet.


    Later, okay? Later...


    <hr>


    Must be close now! Leo screamed internally as he pushed his burning muscles to the limit. Despite not fully recovering from the fight with the Queen, he had never moved as fast as he did now. The dozens of Ameist behind him might have given him a nice incentive to run this quick, but the fact remained that he was definitely breaking all his personal records...


    The howls and screeches echoed around him, their volume threatening to burst Leo''s eardrums with each passing second. It was worse than even the heavy metal concert Lily once dragged him to, and that was saying a lot. He couldn''t hear properly for a few days afterward.


    Gonna need to devour a few Voidlings once I get out. No way in hell I''m waiting for this to hea- Fuck!


    From another tunnel, a large group of Ameist Minions burst out, blocking the path. Knowing he couldn''t take another detour, Leo channeled as much Essence into Valreon Protection as he could and charged straight for the blockade.


    The ants ahead fired their acid shots, but Leo just raised his hand, letting the projectiles splatter against the Essence shield. They tried once more, but at this point, he had already reached the group and sailed right above them, slicing through one of the beasts on the way.


    Without looking back, Leo gave Reinforcement another burst and sped away. The accursed screeching echoing from all sides might have tried to stop it, but his ears still picked up the whistling of the wind ahead, which could mean only one thing.


    Exit.


    Leo dashed past the last turn of this twisted tunnel, a grin blooming on his face at the sight of the light ahead. The exit was closing slowly, but there was no way it could stop him now.


    On all fours, he jumped through the hole, the evening sun hitting his body with all the rays that got past the enormous plants in the area. Leo''s smile widened, and he stopped a fair distance away from the Nest entrance, his gaze scanning for any Ameist that would run out at any moment.


    However, even as a few monstrous heads popped out of the entrance, none stepped past it. Their crimson eyes just passed over Leo, throwing a last glare and hiss at him before retreating.


    So they can''t go out during the quarantine. Quite understandable. Wonder how long it will take for the Nest to open again. Hopefully, it''s not too long, or I just took away the source of experience from the Safe Zone. Leo shrugged. Oh well. Hindsight is twenty-twenty...


    Before long, the Nest entrance snapped close, the Vetilim pausing in its movement. It was like the hole never existed here.


    Right... Leo blinked, turning away. My job here is done. I had enough adventures for today...


    <hr>


    The way back to the house Leo cleared to spend the night was quite short. It could have been even shorter if he didn''t need to find a few Voidlings to devour on the way, but it was either that or waiting for his body to heal on its own.


    Yeah, no thanks. Leo snorted, dropping down on what was once a pretty nice couch. Now, the Void and Vetilim mostly claimed the thing, but it was still better than the floor.


    Notifications, core, and then practice. Night should be around the corner, anyway.


    With a nod, Leo tore the backpack from its resting place and dropped all the items inside onto his lap. The gun, along with some ammo, fell out first, followed by the core, the Queen''s eyes, and some other miscellaneous that didn''t really survive the fight with the beast.


    Gonna need to see if the gun still works later... Leo frowned, putting the firearm and eyes away while grabbing the core. Identify.


    Poison Core (Uncommon):


    A very basic beast core harvested from a level sixteen Ameist Queen. This item can be used in a wide variety of jobs. Additionally, it can also provide help to Users who want to deepen their connection to Poison affinity. Please be warned that affinity cores can easily destabilize and lose their value.


    Leo hummed, reading the description again just to remember it better. Different... So much different from Crystalized Essence. I mean, I can''t even turn this into a bomb...


    Hunter snickered inside his mind, and Leo just gave him a mental push to shut it up. The beast didn''t, but it was worth the try.


    I will have to hide it somewhere. Bet my constant fighting will destabilize this stuff real quick, and I might find some use for it in the future. Not to gain an affinity, though. I highly doubt something so small can get me so far, but if other jobs can use it, then maybe...


    Sighing, Leo put the core away and summoned the remaining System notifications. They waited long enough.


    Level 15 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free points.


    Level-up. Always nice to see the progress. Now, where to put you? Last time, Leo went with the areas he found lacking. So why not follow this pattern? Right then. One to Might and two to Soul again. Will probably switch it up after that.


    The level-up message disappeared right away, followed by the appearance of the usual surge of strength. Yet, it wasn''t the only new thing to emerge.


    Assassin level fifteen skill granted: Phantom Erasure


    Interesting...

 Chapter 83. Void’s cuisine

    The instant rush of knowledge explained everything about Leo''s new ability. It wasn''t simple, far from it. Processing all the information he had just received, he could even admit that Decoy didn''t hold a candle to Phantom Erasure. At least when it came to the execution, the former could be prepared before battle, while the latter not as much.


    Phantom Erasure had to be perfectly executed the moment Leo struck an enemy and not a moment earlier or later. Maybe in the future, that could change, but considering what the ability did, the chances of improving it soon were close to zero. He would need a much better understanding and control of Essence for that.


    First, I need to improve Kiss of Death if I want to use both simultaneously... Leo sighed, his gaze traveling over the new skill''s description.


    Phantom Erasure (Rare)


    To kill, you need to strike fast, strike hard. Each direct hit matters and can decide the outcome of each fight. So what if your every attack suddenly gained more power? Say twice as much? Ask no longer, as Phantom Erasure is here for you.


    Effects:


    Upon each direct hit, you can now leave a sliver of your Essence upon your target. This tiny load of energy will ignite after a moment of delay and mimic your previous attack on the already affected area. This phantom strike cannot be stronger than the original attack.


    Overall, Phantom Erasure had the potential to become one of, if not the strongest ability Leo possessed. After all, if he could land one hit that would bring an enemy to their knees, then a follow-up with the same amount of power might as well finish them. Now, he just needed to figure out how to execute it properly while keeping his other skills active.


    Maybe tomorrow. I have enough stuff planned for this night... Leo noted, swiping through the description and summoning the last package of System notifications. After that, he could get to work.


    Well, almost. He paused, glancing at the Queen''s eyes next to him as the System delivered the final messages.


    Congratulations! Tasks, Extermination: Earth and Hunt: Ant Queen finished successfully. Do you wish to receive your rewards now?


    Yes.


    Instantly, light filled the room, the usual dome of Ether spawning on the floor in front of Leo. He averted his gaze, only looking back when the darkness consumed the house once again. He learned enough about the System''s deliveries at this point...


    Okay, that''s new. Leo grimaced, studying the small pulsing object on the ground. It might have been completely black and more malformed than what he had seen in images, but there was no mistaking what the item was.


    A heart. A bleeding, still beating heart.


    Leo had no clue how it was possible, but he hoped Identify could explain. All he knew was that this should be the random raw item the task spoke of.


    Raw indeed. A snort almost escaped Leo as Identify got to work.


    Inferior Eternal Heart (Uncommon):


    Some creatures and entities of the Void don''t require much to survive; sometimes, a heart is all they need. All Eternal Hearts are highly sought by all kinds of alchemists and cooks. Despite that, this item can be eaten raw for a chance of gaining a small permanent increase in base attributes.


    Yeah, no... Leo shook his head. There''s no way I''m eating this raw. I might be a monster now, but it doesn''t mean I need to always act like a wild beast. Besides, it only says about a chance. Might be better to save it for later when I finally find someone who can use it. Or at least cook it...


    Hunter sniggered within his mind, giving Leo a mental nudge toward the beating heart. No. If you want to eat it, get a body first. Taking it as a challenge, the beast, along with some bloodlust, surged forward.


    Leo froze as, just for a tiny moment, the heart before him looked like the most delicious steak in the country. He blinked once, then twice, scowling as Hunter''s howling filled his head again.


    Not funny. The beast growled. No, I''m not eating this... It growled again, and Leo let out a long sigh. Okay, listen. If I don''t figure out a way to carry it safely by tomorrow, then I will... I will try to eat it.


    Taking Hunter''s retreat as an agreement, Leo quickly picked up the wet heart and dropped it into his ruined backpack. At least now, he had another incentive to figure out how to store stuff inside his soul.


    Can''t believe I made a bet with another part of myself. Leo sank into the couch. I''m definitely mad. There is no denying it now...


    With a weak chuckle, Leo let the System come out with a notification that appeared along with the rewards. Anything to get his mind off the thought of consuming the heart of some random creature from the Void.


    Survivor rewards unlocked. User, you can now gain permanent increases to your Limit Break. Survivor rewards can be obtained via tasks or feats that the System judges worthy. You can always check your current Survivor Boost in your Job menu.


    Hunt: Ant Queen Survivor Reward: +1 Grace


    Huh, nice... Leo admitted, summoning the mentioned menu and confirming the System''s words. He had been wondering about other ways to improve Limit Break, but until now, it seemed like only traits and Install items could make it stronger.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Guess not. At least this way, everyone has a chance to get some use out of Limit Break. Though, I won''t say one attribute point is a lot... Maybe it gets better later?


    Shaking his head, Leo rose, snatched his items, and stepped deeper into the house. The bathroom was just like he left it. Isolated, closed off, and with plenty of destroyed furniture strewn around. Perfect stuff to block the entrance with.


    To think I was in a similar position not even a week ago. Feels like a lifetime with everything that has been going on. Leo chuckled as he finished barricading the door. Oh well, this is life now.


    He dropped to the floor, the System''s message about the approaching night appearing at the same moment. Leo dismissed it with a thought, ready to ignore the entire world until the next day. With the prospect of eating an alien heart in mind, searching for a way to store items inside his soul seemed like a more important matter than anything else.


    Alright, let''s start wi... Leo paused as his gaze dropped to his backpack. Almost forgot. The eyes...


    A single command was all it took for the System to summon exactly what Leo wanted. Right away, he scanned the menu and smiled just a bit.


    Almost there.


    Mutation: Enhanced Vision (Gamma Tier)


    For many, vision is the most essential sense. So why not make it stronger? Let nothing hide from you with this mutation. Follow your prey where the light doesn''t shine.


    Effects:


    Grants slightly improved eyesight along with strong night vision. In the event of vision loss in the past, this mutation will repair all damages and make your eyes slightly more resistant to damage.


    Requirements: 750 Ether, Eyes from a level 15+ beasts, 2 Crystalized Essence.


    This single mutation was the only reason why Leo bothered to pluck the Queen''s eyeballs out. While Minor Regeneration would have been nice to get, Enhanced Vision was essential. Also, it helped that, unlike other mutations, this one didn''t require thousands of Ether.


    If Dylan doesn''t come back tomorrow, then I can easily get it. Leo noted, sparing his Ether reserves a look.


    Ether: 678


    Without a doubt, the trip to the Nest Colony was worth it. While the two tasks gave Leo a good chunk of this amount, the hordes of Ameist and the Queen awarded him the rest. Not even the fact that most of those ants gave him only one Ether mattered at this point.


    Though, Leo frowned. With another level up, I wouldn''t be surprised if they stopped giving even that much... Ah, whatever, I have work to do. I can see about the ants when the place opens up again.


    Completely shutting off the System, he took a deep breath and reached within himself for the hundredth time. He had a skill to create and bet to win. No way in hell he was eating that damned heart.


    And so, with Hunter still sniggering in his mind, Leo got to work.


    <hr>


    Come on! Come on! Fuck! Leo hissed as the Essence around a small piece of wood evaporated. He had felt it, the pull of something trying to enter his soul. Yet, just when it seemed like the process worked, the entire technique shattered into pieces.


    Okay... Don''t let the anger consume you, Leo. You are close now... Must be close after all those hours.


    With a firm nod, Leo calmed his breathing and picked up the wooden piece again. Essence rushed out, enveloping the thing in a crimson cocoon. With another sharp tug, the energy tightened around the object.


    Step one. Done. Next.


    The Essence of the cocoon slowly slipped into the wooden surface. Deep enough to create an even stronger hold, yet not deep enough to destroy the object. Making a mistake here could lead to a disaster. A fact Leo had learned about when another piece of wood exploded into splinters in his hands.


    Good that I''m not practicing with Crystalized Essence. Leo grimaced. Now, for the third and final step... Please work. I''m really running out of ideas.


    The base of this particular plan came from Devour, or rather the last step of it. A step that Leo now had to execute to perfection.


    One. Two. Three.


    At once, every single bit of Essence filling his body pulled at the energy enveloping the wooden object. Just like Devour did, Leo led it back into his soul even as the glow around the item grew brighter and brighter.


    The stronger the pull got, the harder the sea of Essence was to control. It begged to be unleashed back, to be let out into the world, but Leo didn''t let it. He gritted his teeth, keeping one hundred percent of his mind focused on the tug of war.


    The battle continued for minutes, maybe even longer, but then, something clicked. All of the Essence Leo possessed dived back into his soul, the glow in his hands fading away. The System also acted, a notification springing into existence.


    Leo ignored it and just looked down at his open palms.


    "It''s gone," he muttered. "Holy shit... I did it."


    However, before the euphoria from the success could consume Leo, a single thought crossed his mind. Instantly, the smile on his face vanished.


    Wait... How the hell do I get it out? System?! Hello?!


    Right away, Leo summoned the System notification back, hoping for the usual rush of knowledge. Only, it never came, and he was left staring at the description of his new skill.


    Shit...


    Soul Weel (Epic)


    The soul of every living being hides an unlimited potential. Keeping your possessions safe is just the tip of the iceberg of what a soul can achieve. Your journey has just begun.


    Effects:


    The User is now capable of storing objects within their soul. Please note that the amount of items you can hold depends on the strength of your soul.


    <hr>


    Despite the initial panic, Leo, with Hunter''s help, accepted the new challenge and got to work once more. It took another few hours, but by the time the System''s notification about the Night''s end came, the piece of wood was back in his hands.


    Overall, pulling an object out wasn''t that hard. Leo just had to perform the reverse of what he did to bring it inside. The tricky part came with finding the hidden item inside his soul...


    Hopefully, it will get easier with time. Leo grunted, removing the final parts of the door barricade. While he didn''t store the rest of his stuff yet, he also didn''t have time for that now.


    Dylan could arrive at their meeting spot soon. What the man possibly learned was ten times more important than anything Leo possessed.


    I will come back for this later. He glanced at the pile of broken furniture in the corner, his own stuff hiding beneath it.


    The hour begins now...

 Chapter 84. Day One

    Buildings and trees blurred past Leo as he weaved through the wilderness on all fours. At first, this style of travel didn''t really suit him, or rather, it didn''t agree with what he was accustomed to before. Now, though ¡ª especially after Grace''s ascension ¡ª running like this seemed natural, an obvious choice even.


    The only drawback of using four limbs to move was visibility. Leo''s new form might be a bit bigger, but with everything being so overgrown close to the nest, he could barely see the path ahead. He just hoped this wouldn''t be that big of a problem in other areas as this way of running was quite faster than anything a human could manage on their own...


    Here we are... Leo thought, slowing down as the house he agreed to meet Dylan in came into sight. He didn''t come any closer and instead summoned the strongest Hunter Pulse he could muster.


    The skill engulfed the nearby area along with the house. Leo hummed as not a single thing came back, just pure silence on the ability''s end. Of course, that didn''t mean the area was empty ¡ª Scavengers and Scuttlejaws taught him as much ¡ª but he really doubted other survivors already possessed skills that could let them hide from an Epic quality ability.


    At least I hope so... They have some high-quality items, so anything is possible at this point. Leo sighed, ducking into a large bush. Not that it really matters. If anyone is hiding here, I can just wait them out.


    Nodding, Leo darted toward the nearest tree that should give him a perfect view of the area and crawled into the thick canopy. With the sun just waking up and providing less light than before the Outbreak, anyone would have to search quite hard to notice him hidden there.


    All this walking on eggshells might have seemed excessive after they agreed to meet inside the building, but Leo had to take steps to avoid any unnecessary risks. The other group was a large unknown. He could only guess how they would react once Dylan or Tyler told them about him and their deal.


    Tyler will for sure paint me in a favorable light. Leo snorted, imagining the warrior listing compliments about the monster who saved and ''risked'' his cousin''s life. What a fucking ass...


    Leo could only hope that Dylan would be the one talking with whoever mattered in the Safe Zone''s group. While the older man still seemed wary, the mage at least didn''t act outright antagonistic towards him.


    I will find out soon. That''s if those people aren''t even worse than Tyler... Which might be an unfair thought, but Leo didn''t care at all. The encounter with the mad woman in the beginning and those two policemen taught him to be careful when it came to other survivors.


    Maybe if I was a pure human since the beginning, I wouldn''t be so biased. Leo admitted with a shrug. But who really knows. Better be like this than dead after all...


    With a deep sigh, Leo leaned against the tree''s trunk and purged his mind of those thoughts. He desperately needed something positive to happen, or soon, he just might revert to his angsty teenage self.


    Well, fully revert... I''m sure I''m more than halfway there already. Lily really would be proud. Leo chuckled, a small smile blooming on his face. We will meet again, sister. That I promise, no matter what.


    Just like that, time passed as Leo observed the area from above. Nothing could hide from his sight, yet once over forty minutes flew by, he began to question the chance of anyone showing up today. Disappointing but not unexpected. He had given them five days in the end.


    Might as well finish my new extermination task and practice Decoy and Phantom Erasure later. Maybe by the end of the day, I will be able to buy Enhanced Vision. Leo mused. He also had an active task to hunt two Brutes, but finding them depended purely on luck...


    As more and more possible plans for the rest of the day began to course through Leo''s head, something suddenly moved in the corner of his vision.


    A group of five spilled into the clearing right behind the house, their eyes searching for anything out of place. They all kept their mouth shut, their steps carefully measured and almost not making a sound.


    At the same time, Leo glanced at each of the arrivals, taking in their features.


    Dylan, Leo recognized right away, the man now holding a brand new staff and dressed in somewhat cleaner clothes. Then, there were three survivors from the group he had seen fighting against Ameists. Or at least, that was what he thought, as they were all using the same equipment from yesterday.


    Yet, out of all the arrivals, none of them held his attention as much as the man in the front.


    He was huge, taller than even Dylan, but with a build more comparable to that of a dedicated bodybuilder. Dressed in leather and partial metal-plated armor, he cut quite an imposing figure. Add to that, the hard, almost emotionless expression on his tanned face definitely didn''t make the man any more approachable.


    However, the longer Leo looked, something finally clicked in his mind. The long, dirty black hair might have been new, but the man''s face, expression, and build were unforgettable. After all, he had seen them all a few times before, even once in person.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Anthony Holden. So you still live... Leo hummed, his gaze never straying from the man. I guess what comes around goes around. Good for you... and for me.


    Awakened Human | LVL: 9


    While level nine might not mean much to Leo, it was still a strong number for a survivor who probably had been a part of a group for most of the Outbreak. He could only imagine what Holden did to reach it when other survivors also needed to kill Voidlings to get their levels.


    Having a nest full of weak ants definitely helped... Leo noted just as a low chatter filled the area.


    "Clara, do your thing," Holden spoke to one of the three unknown survivors.


    "Roger, roger." The only woman among the group mock saluted and took a knee, placing a hand on the ground.


    Leo narrowed his eyes at the same time, muscles tensing just as a flicker of blue energy left the woman''s hand. The pulse traveled in all directions, easily encompassing the house due to close distance, yet stopping short of his own hiding spot.


    A hunter... This would have reached me if she had the same pulse as me. Dumb luck, I suppose. Leo withheld a snort, focusing again as the woman spoke.


    "Nothing, Tony. He either is too far, didn''t come, or can hide from my skill."


    "Or he is dead," Holden grunted, turning to face Leo''s ex-ally. "Dylan, what do you think?"


    The mage furrowed his brow. "There''s no chance he''s done for. You haven''t seen him in action, mate. I''d bet only those Nightmares could put him down now... Nah, he must be nearby. Leo''s dedication to his family was as clear as the sky."


    Holden nodded. "If you say so..." Right away, the man shifted his attention to the trio. "Clara, Evan, Robert, secure the area. Make sure no surprises are waiting for us here. Dylan and I will go inside."


    Leo smirked. You can get out of the army, but you can''t get the army out of you. Definitely a useful experience to have in this shitty world...


    Before the trio could leave, Leo disengaged True Stealth. No point in waiting any longer. While he didn''t expect such a big welcoming committee, Dylan at least kept his promise. Now was the time to find out what news the man brought with him.


    Leo pulled his cowl up and sent a bit of Essence into his left hand, just in case. Without further ado, he dropped from the tree, landing with an almost silent thud.


    "No need to go anywhere," he called out. "Like Dylan said, I''m already here."


    Despite his announcement, suddenly, Hunter''s roar echoed in his head. Leo raised his hand right away, a dark green glow clashing against a bright arrow. The projectile bounced off, plowing right into the dirt below.


    "Good reaction," Leo said to the woman who had another arrow notched, ready to try her luck again. "But I came here to talk, not fight."


    This was Leo''s only offer. If they attacked again, then evidently, the small group didn''t come here to keep Dylan''s promise. A shame, yet nothing he wasn''t ready for.


    The woman seemed to consider if she should listen. However, before she could come to a decision, a voice cut through the silence.


    "Clara, stand down," Holden ordered, but the woman''s gaze never wavered from Leo''s exposed hand.


    The other two weren''t any better, their bodies tense, weapons raised. Only Dylan didn''t react, but considering what the man had already seen, it wasn''t a surprise.


    "But..." Clara tried.


    "I said stand down," Holden growled, finally forcing his subordinates to lower their weapons. Nodding, the obvious leader shifted his gaze back to the new arrival. "Leo Hale, Wolford Insight''s head reporter. If that''s really you, that is."


    So we are doing it like this? Ah whatever, might make it easier to prove who I am. Leo sighed. "Anthony Holden, Site Director for Wolford''s branch of ReachHope Foundation. It''s been a while."


    Holden quirked a single eyebrow. "So you remember that, good. Dylan here told me a lot about you, about your request. I decided to come along and see the anomaly for myself."


    Leo chuckled. "Anomaly, hmm? Not a word I would use to describe myself, but I reckon it''s better than being called a beast or monster." Motioning to the mage and then at his mostly hidden body, he continued, "Did you warn them about my appearance?"


    Upon Dylan''s nod, Leo pulled off his cowl, his three tails slithering out of the cloak''s cover at the same time. The trio and even Holden stiffened, raising their weapons as they watched him with wide eyes.


    Warned my ass... Well, at least I know the cloak works from this distance. And here I thought they were just that accepting. Leo snorted internally. Nothing could be that easy.


    "Let''s not act too hasty," Leo warned. "Like I said, I''m here to talk, not fight."


    "Tony?" One of the two other men shouted to their leader, ignoring Leo''s words.


    Holden grimaced, his eyes still roaming over the monster before him. His fists had long since whitened from the tight grip on his crimson blade. The man had an important decision to make here, and Leo hoped that he chose the right one. For both of their sakes.


    In the end, Holden lowered his sword even if his grip never wavered. Giving his subordinate a sharp glance, he muttered, "Stand down. Hale is right. We didn''t come here to fight. Not him."


    Yet, even with the order being clear, Leo could easily read the message hidden underneath those words. And Holden''s inability to tame his disturbed expression only confirmed that.


    Identify is such a useful ability. Leo mused, a smirk threatening to come out at any moment. Took you long enough to use it.


    Despite Identify not giving much information when used on a survivor, what the skill provided them about Leo should be more than enough. After all, when Dylan had last seen him, it only showed him at level thirteen, and now, in a matter of not even a day, the number rose twice.


    Maybe if more time passed, this wouldn''t have been such an issue, but with this, Leo only proved what Dylan had probably already told them. The story of a man transformed into a monster, growing faster than anything they had seen until now...


    "So..." Leo began, clearing his throat. "How about we go straight to the crux of this meeting, shall we?"


    Stiff as a board, the ex-director nodded. "Aye, let''s get this over with."

 Chapter 85. At mercy

    "Ava and Adam Hale," Leo turned to Dylan, the only person who had at least a bit of his trust. "Are they inside?"


    The mage opened his mouth, words ready to go out. Yet, before he could even say anything, Holden cut in, his voice once more calm and steady. "They are with us... Arrived along with the bigger part of our group on the second day of the Outbreak."


    Leo swallowed hard, a smile threatening to take over his face. However, he couldn''t let this happiness consume him; he couldn''t let the words of one man give him false hope.


    Taking a deep breath, Leo looked at the mage again, almost begging with his gaze alone. "Dylan? Remember what you promised."


    While the others shot a brief look at the older man, Dylan spoke up. "I met a woman who went by Ava Hale. If she''s your sister-in-law, I can''t say. You never did describe her, and we only shared a few words."


    Leo cursed his oversight, but maybe, just maybe, this was for the best. If he had given Ava''s description before, it could have been used against him.


    Yes, this is still good. Leo decided, meeting Dylan''s gaze again. "Tell me how she looked."


    The mage blinked, his gaze darting between the other survivors who kept observing without a sound. Apparently, they decided to let Dylan deal with the biggest unknown they had met until now.


    "Didn''t really pay that much attention to her looks, but she was a tall one, maybe about your height before your evolution, mate," the older man wrinkled his brow in thought. "Her hair was short and... dark brown, I think."


    Seems about right. Leo nodded, the flame of hope burning even brighter in his chest. It was a very rough description, but he would take it for now.


    "And what about Adam? Did you see him?" Leo asked again, just to have all the possible information.


    Dylan grimaced, glancing at Holden so fast that Leo almost missed it. "I asked, but they didn''t let me."


    The only woman in the group scowled while the other two raised their weapons ever so slightly. Nonetheless, Leo didn''t care about them; his whole attention directed at their leader.


    "Why?"


    It might have been a single word, yet the way it came, almost as a growl, had the tension rising instantly. The entire group, Dylan included, took a step back. The woman aimed her bow right at Leo''s head, the arrow glowing with Essence.


    "It was too dangerous," Holden''s voice finally cut through the silence. However, the man didn''t continue with his explanation.


    Not placated at all by the answer, Leo let his growl wash over the clearing once more. "Why?"


    "Because your nephew is a dangerous, Hale!" Holden hissed back. "Tell me, have you seen a single child since this hell took over?"


    Leo shook his head. Not that it meant much. He could count the number of survivors he had seen on the way here on the fingers of his hands. Of course, Holden didn''t care about that detail as he pushed on.


    "Exactly... I have over forty people in my group, and you know how many of them are below the age of twelve?" The man asked but didn''t wait for an answer. "One, your nephew¡­ Your sister-in-law did something during the awakening to save the boy, but it changed him. Changed them both."


    At once, the fight left Leo as fear gripped his heart. He didn''t come this far to find the remnants of his family, only for them to be ripped away again. He couldn''t accept that.


    "Changed how?" Leo muttered, ignoring the anger bubbling underneath his skin.


    Holden nodded to his group, and while they didn''t lower their weapons much, the shift in the atmosphere was noticeable to the naked eye. Or at least it was for most of them, as the woman''s stance never changed, glaring at Leo with her arrow ready to fire.


    "Dylan told me what you were before you evolved," Holden began. "Your nephew is suffering a somewhat similar fate, but the Void took much more from him than just a part of a limb. If I had to guess, about two-thirds of his body is corrupted, and his mental state is not much better."


    Air left Leo''s lungs as Holden¡¯s words registered in his mind. His nephew, his six-year-old godson, was claimed by the Void, and despite what the other man said, their situation didn''t seem too similar. Still, Adam survived until now, so they had to be doing something about his condition...


    "Drain," Leo mutterd. "He has it, right?"


    Holden nodded. "He does, and we are constantly delivering him fresh Voidling corpses to consume, but it isn''t enough. With each day, Adam is somehow growing stronger, just like the beasts outside. To make matters worse, most of the time, he is aggressive, and only his mother can come close without having to fight back. It''s an uphill battle that gets harder with every hour..."


    Leo cursed, balling his fists. It wasn''t hard to understand what was wrong. Void''s power wanted to consume everything, and a six-year-old''s mind couldn''t be hard to dominate for such powerful energy. Maybe if the corruption hadn''t spread that far in the first place, Adam could have resisted better...


    "He has to evolve. Cleanse the corruption," Leo whispered to himself, yet still loud enough for others to hear.


    "Aye, that''s the same conclusion we¡¯ve arrived at. Unfortunately, while Ava can somewhat affect Adam''s choices within the System, we have no idea how to make him evolve. Much less what evolutions are available to him. He is already at level six, but whenever Ava or we ask about evolutions, the boy goes as still as a statue," Holden explained, and Leo had to admit that it made the situation even worse.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Fuck! He shouted within the safety of his mind. If Drain couldn''t even stop the deterioration of Adam''s mind and body at this point, then evolution was the only way to fix this. There was a possibility that Devour could accomplish something, but he doubted that.


    Tainted Humans needed Void Essence to stop the progression of corruption. If Leo unleashed Devour on Adam, his ability might as well make the situation even worse. And considering what Holden said, there wasn''t much room for error, if any.


    Maybe if I somehow direct Devour towards the source? Leo shook his head. No... Even if I knew how to do that, it is still too risky. Void already consumed more than half of his body. Who knows what would happen if I tried to drain it all away...


    Leo raised his head, peering at the man waiting before him. "What about Ava? You said she changed too. How bad is it?"


    "Nowhere near as with your nephew, Hale," Holden answered instantly. "Ava has a trait that bonds her closely to her son. That''s how she can affect his System and probably why Adam is alive. The problem is that anytime her son gives in to rage, it bleeds over the bond. For now, it''s manageable, but that might change sooner or later."


    Shit, shit, shit! It all comes back to this bloody Tainted evolution. I have left it behind only for the same shit to try to take away all I have. I won''t let it!


    Looking the Safe Zone''s leader straight in the eyes, Leo declared firmly, "I want to see them. Now."


    "No."


    Such a simple word, yet the moment it left Holden''s mouth, the world stilled, and one could almost hear the pin drop. Leo blinked before his eyes narrowed, blades extending without even a thought. Both he and Hunter growled, taking a step forward.


    The arrow waiting in Clara''s grasp finally left her bow, but Leo cut through the projectile like lightning. Instantly, the woman readied another arrow while her companions moved to assist her.


    However, before the situation could escalate anymore, Leo growled again, freezing the group in place.


    "What did you just say?" More words wanted to come out, fuelled by the ever-growing bloodlust. Yet Leo held them back... for now.


    Holden, despite taking another step back, barely let anything show on his face. Brave or stupid, Leo couldn''t decide, but if the man didn''t give him a proper answer, things could take a turn for the worse real fast.


    Even if he didn''t want to fight other humans, his family came first.


    "I said no," Holden repeated but added quickly upon seeing Leo take another step. "Wait! You need to understand, Hale, that over forty people trust me to help them survive another day. I can''t just let an anomaly like you inside, not yet. And I am not taking them to meet you. Adam is too unstable, and Ava won''t leave him alone for longer than a few minutes."


    Letting his blades retreat, Leo took a deep breath even as bloodlust still flowed through his mind. "Yet?"


    The man nodded right away. "Aye. If you give me a few hours, a day max, I can find a way to smuggle you in without causing mass panic. In the meantime, I would like you to do something for us. An exchange of favors, if you will. You help us, we help you, and we might even find a way to trust each other."


    Leo raised a non-existent eyebrow. The balls on this man... He knows well I can most likely tear through them and survive, yet he is still trying to get a deal out of this.


    "Say I agree... What do you want?" Leo began, testing the waters.


    He didn''t want to wait any longer to meet his family, but the only other way was to put down the group before him and storm the Safe Zone. A poor way to repay people who protected Ava and Adam until now. Especially when they offered an alternative.


    That''s if they are even telling the truth...


    Holden let out a deep sigh and motioned to one of his companions. "Evan, the map."


    The leather-armored man approached slowly, keeping his eyes on Leo. Only when he stopped next to Holden did he raise his hand, a vast holographic image suddenly materializing between them.


    Eyes widening just a bit, Leo scanned the quite detailed map of Wolford. Some parts were missing, darkness filling those areas, but apart from that, the image represented the entire city after the second Cataclysm claimed it.


    How? Some unique skill? Job? Leo wondered. Quite frankly, he had never given much thought to what other Jobs could accomplish, but this just might be it. Can be useful in the long run, especially for a group...


    "Mark the path," Holden ordered the other man again, and right away, a red line appeared on the map. It started in the Safe Zone and finished in one of the darkened areas.


    This time turning to Leo, the leader continued. "Two days ago, I sent two of our assassins on another run. They were supposed to gather supplies on the way and then see what happened to the mall."


    Right, that''s where it should be. Leo mused, gazing at the empty area near the Tainted Wasteland. "They didn''t come back, I take?"


    Holden grimaced but nodded nonetheless. "Indeed... They might still return, but just in case, I would like you to follow their trail. If you can find them, excellent. If not, then I at least want to know what is going on in the mall and the police station."


    Leo stiffened, the two dead officers flashing in his mind. Calm down, they don''t know.


    "Mall, I can understand, but why the police station? You have it on the map."


    The tall man frowned lightly. "There is another group living there. I like to have someone check on them at least once every day. Better to be safe than sorry..."


    Ah shit... Leo cursed, keeping his expression neutral on the outside. Hopefully, the disappearance of Holden''s assassins had nothing to do with the death of the two officers from the now-confirmed second group. I can''t be that unlucky. There is just no way.


    Clearing his throat, Leo emptied his mind of those intrusive thoughts. "Alright, suppose I will do this. How do I know you will keep your end of the deal?"


    "You don''t," Holden answered. "There is no way I can make you believe me, but does it really matter? You are stronger and can probably slaughter us in seconds. You are also a survivor, so a Safe Zone won''t keep you out. We are at your mercy either way."


    Can''t keep me out, you say? Should have tested that yesterday... Still, I don''t like this. If I agree, they will have time to prepare or even use Ava and Adam against me. When now, they are at my mercy. And I can use them, choose another path.


    Leo hummed. "Look Holden. I''m not against helping each other; I would even gladly do what you are asking, but you have miscalculated here... You said it right: You are at my mercy. Yet you are still trying to have this deal go your way. I think not..."


    The leader''s eyes widened instantly, and Leo couldn''t hold back the wide grin any longer.


    "So, how about we try again? This time on my terms."

 Chapter 86. The deal

    To be honest, Leo expected the opposing group to attack him the moment he finished speaking. Yet, they didn''t. At most, they took another few steps back, but apart from that, they all had their eyes trained on Holden, waiting for the man''s command. Hell, not even the only woman among them decided to attack. Although, that might be because she didn''t want to lose any more arrows.


    What will you do? Leo mused, watching the leader as the man almost scowled openly. You had your chance. Now it''s time to listen.


    "You''re putting me in a difficult situation, Hale," Holden replied, voice cold as stone.


    Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "No. I''m really not. I just want to see my family first. After that, I will help you with whatever you want. Isn''t that fair?"


    "It doesn''t matter if it''s fair or not," the man shot back. "I have people to protect! I can''t just let someone like you step inside our hideout as if you are one of us. We both know that won''t work. I need some time to run damage control first."


    All good points, but there is one important problem. You played your cards and lost. Now you have to deal with it. Leo narrowed his eyes at the man. "You will get your time. Just not an entire day. I won''t wait that long."


    Holden took a deep breath. "I see... I don¡¯t like it, Hale, but go on. Tell me those terms of yours?"


    Leo smiled just a bit. Time to find out if his offer would spark a fight.


    "Simple. You will get an hour, you and Dylan," Leo began, the tension rising even higher with his words. "I can''t let you all go back. I''m not that stupid, so your three minions will stay here with me. If they come back, that¡¯s on you."


    "You would kill us even if we did nothing against you?" Clara hissed, which, in Leo''s humble opinion, was quite hypocritical. Wasn''t she the one to already fire two arrows at him after all?


    "Maybe, maybe not. Don''t push me, and we won''t have to find out," Leo growled, letting the words hang.


    He didn''t want to kill anyone if he absolutely didn''t have to, but sometimes, one had to make the hard choice to keep their promise. And Leo couldn''t hesitate now. Not when Ava and Adam were so close.


    "And what if we just walk away?" Holden''s voice cut through the blanket of silence. "Will you kill us or let us go, Hale? I won''t lie. Assistance from someone like you could go a long way to giving us a chance to survive another day. But, if you are to become just another threat to my people, then I would rather us part ways now."


    Really? Leo quirked an invisible eyebrow. There is no walking away now, my friend. That option disappeared the moment Dylan confirmed your words... Still, you want an answer? I will give you one...


    "Even if I let you walk away, this won''t be the last time you see me. Dylan already told you, family is everything to me. I won''t leave without at least seeing them once. If that means breaking into your Safe Zone, so be it."


    Holden''s grip on his sword slackened as he sighed. "That''s what I thought..." Meeting Leo''s gaze, the man continued, "We will go with your plan, Hale, but you four will wait in the forest behind the hideout, not here."


    Leo nodded and opened his mouth to answer, only to be beaten to it by one of the other men. "You can''t be serious, Tony! You want us to play hostages?"


    Holden spun to face the speaker, his face devoid of emotions. "That''s exactly what I want you to do, Robert. Or do you maybe have a better idea?"


    The other man gritted his teeth, eyes darting towards Leo. However, a single glance at a blade sliding out of the cover of his cloak was enough for Robert to avert his gaze, a grimace painted over his face.


    "This better work, Tony. We¡¯ve put all our trust in you; don''t squander it."


    Interesting... Leo noted, Hunter humming in agreement.


    "I won''t," Holden reassured his companion and turned to Leo again. "Before we go, I need something from you to confirm your identity with Ava. Even if she is your family, I won''t let her go in blind. That''s non-negotiable. She deserves to know who wants to see her."


    That she does. Though it can go sideways real fast if they tell her too much... Considering what happened to Adam, my appearance can become a bigger problem than I expected... Shit.


    After evolving, Leo didn''t plan to show his face to what remained of his family, at least not right away. As long as the hearts in their chest kept beating, he didn''t care if they knew about him. It was unimportant.


    But now? With Adam spiraling into the Void''s grasp, he couldn''t stay away. Leo had to see what happened to his godson with his own two eyes. He had to find a way to help him before it was too late.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    If there ever was a time to wake up, now would be it, Nikra...


    "Nick''s third attempt at proposing. Mention it to Ava, and she will agree to see me," Leo finally replied, an ache forming in his chest at the memory of his brother.


    "Will do," Holden nodded. "Now, let''s move out! We''ve wasted enough daylight."


    The group didn''t need another order to follow their leader. They all fell into a steady pace while Leo trailed slightly behind, keeping an eye out for surprises. While he doubted Holden wanted to lead him right into an ambush, it didn''t hurt to be careful just in case...


    <hr>


    The detour they took to reach the dense forest behind the Safe Zone stretched out longer than Leo expected. Between the occasional Voidling and the distance alone, almost half an hour escaped them in the blink of an eye.


    Really, if Leo doubted that Holden didn''t want anyone to see him before, he believed it now. Though, he still thought it was a bit of an overkill...


    Doesn''t matter. If he wants to be careful, who am I to stop him? Leo mused as the group paused at a small clearing in the forest. The Safe Zone was nowhere in sight, but if he had tracked the path right, then they couldn''t be that far away. Maybe five minutes of walking, at best...


    Surveying the area inch by inch, Leo sighed as not a single thing seemed to be out of place. He even fired off a Hunter Pulse, but just like with every attempt on the way here, the ability didn''t return with any warning about other survivors.


    I''m almost disappointed that this wasn''t just a ploy to ambush me. Almost...


    Leo averted his gaze from the Void forest and looked at Holden, who finished talking with the hostage trio. And wow, look at me. Committing a war crime. He snorted as the man stopped a few steps away from him.


    "This is where we part ways, Hale," Holden announced. "Like we agreed, Evan, Robert, and Clara will stay with you. I just hope I can trust Dylan''s judgment of you and that my people will return in one piece."


    Thank you again, Dylan, for being a decent person...


    "As long as you keep your end of the deal, no hair will fall from their heads," Leo vowed. "I''m not here to murder anyone. I just want to see my family, that''s all. Give me that, and I will help you with whatever you need."


    "I will hold you to that," Holden stuck his hand out.


    Without much thought, Leo accepted the handshake, the first one between a human and an Akirian on Earth. Though it lacked any magical power, this simple action still held a meaning, a meaning that could change the future...


    "We will be back in an hour, two at tops."


    Despite not agreeing on the extended time, Leo nodded. "I will be waiting. Good luck."


    Holden didn''t answer and just spun on his heel, Dylan joining his side a moment later. Soon, the two disappeared into the crimson flora of the forest, and everyone remaining in the clearing settled down in their own corner, happy to wait for the others in silence.


    Yet, even though the ¡®hostages¡¯ didn''t speak a single word, Leo couldn''t help but feel the two eyes burning a hole in his head.


    "What?" He grumbled to the only woman among them.


    "You are an ugly fucker, you know that, right?"


    Leo snorted. "Thanks. You too."


    <hr>


    "That could have gone better," Dylan finally spoke up as he and Anthony trudged through the forest. He kept silent in the beginning to let the man think in peace, but there was only so much tension he could handle in the long run.


    "I underestimated what you told me about him," his new leader answered after a moment. "Worst of all, I underestimated how strong he is. You felt it too, right? Felt the weight on your shoulders when I refused him?"


    Of course, I did. Not quite as intense as during the night, but still scary enough. Dylan nodded with a shudder. "He couldn''t do that before... at least, I believe so... And you didn''t miscalculate, mate. Leo just somehow gained two more levels since I last saw him."


    "Aye, and that''s even more worrying. I have the highest level out of everyone here, and a big part of that is my job... To think that someone is already that far ahead..."


    Dylan hummed, "It''s bloody scary, ain''t it?"


    Holden grimaced. "That''s one way to put it... I thought we could at least meet as equals with our number advantage, but I was wrong. We are prey to him, Dylan. A means to an end."


    Can''t agree, but can''t disagree either. Leo''s evolution changed him to some degree; that''s true. But, I don''t believe he''s gone so far as to view others as prey. That''s just the persona you forced him to assume. That we are alive only proves that my read on him isn''t entirely off.


    With those thoughts in mind, their walk continued in silence for another minute or so. Yet, as the overgrowth grew thinner and thinner, Dylan couldn''t help but ask again. "What will you do now?"


    Holden''s steps slowed ever so slightly as the man gave him a side glance. "Now? Now, I''m going to keep my end of the bargain and prepare for the worst-case scenario. Hale might be strong, but even the mighty can fall, and until he proves to be somewhat trustworthy, I can''t leave anything to chance."


    "Then let''s hope everything goes smoothly," Dylan muttered. "I really don''t want this to turn into a complete disaster."


    "Neither do I, Dylan... Neither do I."


    <hr>


    A bit over an hour of complete silence passed before a distant rustle of grass alerted Leo of someone approaching. Until now, he and the trio just sat as far away from each other as possible, content to ignore the other party and wait for this shit show to end.


    And it finally did. Leo sighed, climbing to his feet as Dylan and Holden entered the clearing. While the former went right for the hostages, the latter approached him, a sack in hand.


    "Here," Holden threw the pack at him. "Use this to cover your head and whatever else you need to. With that cloak of yours, it should be enough."


    Frowning, Leo reached into the sack, removing a bundle of scarves along with the largest trousers he had ever seen. Huh, those pants can work, and I can create a makeshift bandana out of these.


    With a shrug, Leo did just that, and once he put his cloak''s hood back on, Holden nodded. "That should do it... Now come, we have no time to waste."


    "Lead the way then," Leo dipped his head and followed after the man. The time had come to meet the first remnants of his family.


    Ava, Adam. I''m here.

 Chapter 87. Ava

    Just before they could leave the forest behind, the Safe Zone now visible a short pace ahead of them, Holden stopped the group. Clara and Evan nodded right away and dived out into the open, disappearing behind the building''s corner a moment later.


    At the same time, their leader stepped closer to Leo. "They will pull attention away from us while we enter through the back," the man motioned to a small warehouse attached to the bigger office building. "Once we are in, you must follow my lead, understand? I''m risking enough as it is, and most of my people aren''t ready to face the reality of what they can become with time."


    On that, we can agree. Leo snorted, raising his hands. "Don''t worry, as long as you bring me to Ava and Adam, I will do as you say. Though, if you could satisfy my curiosity. How many people know about me?"


    "Not counting everyone here? Two others that have my full trust and your sister-in-law. For the time being, that''s more than enough."


    Leo nodded, fully in agreement. The less people knew about his existence, the better. Anonymity gave him a nice safety blanket, and he didn''t want to lose it too fast. At least not before people got more used to the idea of evolution.


    "And Ava?" Leo asked when the silence stretched for too long. "What did you tell her? How did she react?"


    Holden grimaced just a bit. "Despite what you told me, I''m unsure if she believed me. But even with how I described you, she agreed to meet you, so from now on, everything rests on your shoulders, Hale. Don''t fuck it up and force me to step in."


    At least she isn''t going in completely blind. Don''t know if I should be worried or not... Leo sighed as he followed after Holden and Dylan, the door leading into the warehouse, their new destination. As long as she doesn''t panic, it should be fine.


    They all stopped near the door, and Holden quickly knocked on it twice. Right away, the entrance opened, and a blond woman appeared in the doorway, tipping her head to her leader.


    "Everything ready, Diana?" Holden asked, not stepping inside just yet.


    The short woman nodded. "She¡¯s waiting in the office, and we moved everyone out of the warehouse just like you ordered." Her eyes suddenly drifted to Leo''s hidden form. "That''s him?"


    "Aye, and for now, that''s all you need to know, understood?" The blonde nodded again, and Holden continued. "Were there any problems?"


    Diana shook her head lightly. "A few complaints, but people know not to question your word. At least for now."


    Leo quirked an eyebrow at that. He understood that Holden was the obvious leader here, but he didn''t expect everyone to trust him that much already. However, the woman''s words also held a warning in them, a warning that Anthony definitely wasn''t too happy with, going by the light scowl on his face.


    Still, there must be more to it than just him being a good leader. People are distrustful by nature and will fight anything trying to control them¡­ No, I''m missing something here.


    "Doesn''t matter," Holden scoffed. "If all goes well, they will thank me in the future." Diana seemed to want to say something, but the man raised his hand, cutting her short. "Enough. Go guard the entrance. I will take it from here."


    For a moment, it looked like the woman would try to argue. Instead, she just muttered, "I hope you know what you''re doing, Tony," and disappeared into the warehouse.


    Interesting woman. Leo noted and followed after Holden, ducking his head to fit through the backdoor.


    What greeted him inside didn''t seem any different from a typical warehouse. Rows of metal shelves spanned throughout the vast space, most of them filled to the brim with wooden crates or simple boxes. If they were full or empty, Leo didn''t know, but the source of this group''s supplies became evident.


    They walked in silence through the half-dim chamber until they reached a small walled-off area with a few doors leading to different sections. Holden stopped next to the first entrance, his gaze fully focused on Leo.


    "Your sister-in-law is waiting inside," he explained. "I will go first and let her know you are here. When I come back, then and only then, you and Dylan will enter. I''m sorry, but I can''t let you go in alone."


    Leo gritted his teeth even though he understood why Holden was doing this. He could refuse and force them to let him enter alone, but in the end, he didn''t want to push Holden too hard, or else the man just might push back, turning this tentative alliance into an unnecessary bloodbath.


    I can''t let that happen. Not with Ava possibly being on the other side of the door.


    "I can agree to that," Leo nodded. "But there is just one more thing. What about Adam? You didn''t mention him once."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    For a brief, almost unnoticeable moment, Holden''s gaze flickered to a door farthest from them. "If everything goes well, you will see him too. That I swear. Now, wait here. I will be back in a minute."


    Without another word, Holden strode past them and right through the door. It closed shortly after, leaving Leo in the company of Dylan and Robert, who kept a fair distance between them.


    "Worried?" The mage''s voice broke the silence, catching everyone''s attention.


    Leo shrugged. "Yes and no, but it is what it is." And that was pretty much it. How Ava reacted to him depended purely on her, and nothing could change that. If she refused to speak with him then...


    Yeah... Then what?


    "For what it''s worth," Dylan spoke again, "I don''t think she will be outright hostile. And I can always vouch for ya."


    "Thanks," Leo chuckled just as the door opened and Holden stepped out.


    The leader nodded to him, "You''re up, Hale. Good luck. Don''t make me regret this."


    Not replying, Leo took hold of the door handle and took a deep breath. Here it is. Don''t hesitate now. With a nod to himself, he pushed the door open and stepped through, Dylan following right behind.


    Just like the woman at the warehouse''s entrance said, the room was a simple office, nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, the moment Leo''s gaze fell on the desk in the middle and the person sitting behind it, his steps faltered just a bit.


    I see the apocalypse wasn''t easy on you either...


    Leo frowned as he gazed at the brown-haired woman. Her green eyes met his violet ones, stopping any words from coming out of his throat. It was Ava alright, but compared to the prim and ever-composed woman he had known in the past, the person in front of him barely resembled her.


    "Is that you, Leo?" The woman muttered, her eyes widening, pronouncing the dark bags underneath them.


    Leo swallowed, "I..." He shook his head as Ava flinched slightly from the sound of his voice. "I know I do not sound like I used to, nor do I look like I did, but it''s me, Ava¡­ Please, you have to believe me."


    True to the woman he once knew, Ava didn''t try to run or scream in fear. She just balled her fists and looked him right in the eyes with an intensity that didn''t belong in a person that appeared as if she had just returned from a battlefield.


    "Holden..." Ava murmured, her voice growing stronger as she continued. "He told me you knew about Nick''s third proposal to me. Who was there with us?"


    Not breaking a stride, Leo answered right away. "Me, Lily, and your brother. Nick wanted to have Mom waiting with us too, but Lily somehow managed to talk him down in the end."


    Ava''s lips quirked just a bit. "Maybe if she was there, I wouldn''t have had to wait another three months for him to grow a pair."


    Leo snorted. "Doubt that. We had to threaten him to finally do the deed. To this day I wonder what Lily whispered to him that night."


    "You''re probably right," Ava smiled, but it didn''t reach her eyes. "That girl is something else. All you Hales are... It''s a part of your charm if I say so..."


    Leo hummed as he slowly sat on the chair on the opposite side of the desk, minding the tails hiding underneath his cloak. Only then did Ava raise her gaze again, staring at his face obscured by the hood and scarves.


    "Leo," she spoke, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Holden tried to describe to me what you had become, but I would like to see it with my own eyes... Please."


    The moment of truth... Leo thought, giving Ava a curt nod.


    Stiff as a board, he pulled the hood off. Then, one by one, Leo unwrapped the scarves covering his head, letting his dark flesh bath in the low light of the room.


    A sharp, low gasp came from the other side, and Leo finally faced Ava again, watching as her eyes took in every inch of his new form. Her hands trembled slightly, but just like when she first heard his voice, the woman didn''t try to run. Hell, her gaze seemed more curious than afraid.


    "You aren''t afraid," Leo stated, breaking the woman from her trance.


    Ava chuckled, but it was a bitter and hollow thing. "Oh I am, Leo. I just learned to accept it, to hide it... What else can I do when my little boy isn''t much better off than you? I could never leave him, so I must live with it."


    "So it''s true," Leo muttered, rage starting to bubble underneath his skin, waking Hunter.


    "More than that," Ava scoffed, a glint entering her eyes. "Whatever Holden told you, it''s much worse. I''m losing him, Leo, and it''s getting worse with each bloody hour! The screams are getting louder, and Adam barely listens to me anymore. You have to help us, help my little boy!"


    "Ava, I..." Leo tried, eyes wide from the sudden onslaught of words. Yet, his sister-in-law didn''t give him a chance to say more.


    "They told me you were just like him," she continued, and now Leo could clearly see a bit of crimson in one of her eyes. "But you beat it! You survived without losing your mind, even if you had to sacrifice your body for that. I can see it now... You can save my boy. You must save him."


    Gasping for breath, Ava finally fell silent, slumping in her chair. Leo wasn''t really much better off, watching the half-crazed woman. Never in the past did he see Ava lose her composure like this. And then there was the taint in her eyes...


    She was right. It''s much worse than what Holden told me. And I didn''t even see Adam yet.


    Nevertheless, Leo knew it wasn''t the time for such thoughts. He had to act, especially now when it seemed like Ava was back to normal.


    "I evolved," he began explaining. "That''s how I replaced the curse of the Tainted with what I am now. Adam should be able to do it too, maybe even go back to normal if his evolutions are the same as mine."


    Ava shook her head.


    "Holden and Diana said the same thing, and I tried, I really did," she muttered, the strength gone from her voice. "But Adam won''t listen to me when I mention evolutions. He just says he needs to wait. That the time will come soon..." Ava looked him in the eyes again. "And that''s what really scares me, Leo. I can''t do anything; not even our bond can help here... So please, you must have a way to save him. I can''t lose him too..."


    This bond... Holden mentioned it too. Leo frowned, mind full of questions again. I need to know what happened to them since this bullshit began.


    Decision made, Leo addressed his sister-in-law again. "Ava. Listen¡­ I will do anything to help you two, but I need to know what the hell is going on. Tell me everything, and don''t spare any details..."

 Chapter 88. Strength

    "Fuck... It''s even worse than you said..." Leo muttered once Ava finished recounting everything up until she and Adam arrived at the Safe Zone.


    When Ava began, Leo was ready to hear about their struggles at the beginning of the Outbreak. He even expected to listen about how they had to hide and thus leave Adam without any Void Essence to stop the curse from spreading.


    Only none of those things ever happened.


    The tale Ava gave him was grimmer than anything Leo could have ever dreamed of. Even worse were the facts her story presented as they affected not only them but the entire world at large.


    Catastrophic... Now I know what Holden meant...


    According to the information given to Ava during her own awakening, children under a certain age had even lesser chances of surviving the initial Outbreak than adults. Add to that if the parent of that child didn''t become Awakened or was too far away, those chances went down to zero, and nothing could change that.


    That Ava and Adam survived was a miracle in itself. However, just like Holden and his sister-in-law explained, it didn''t mean they got off easily. No, now they both had to bear the curse that slowly drained their lives away, and it worked nothing like it did for Leo.


    After all, he was alone and could counter the curse with Drain without much problem. But Adam and Ava? They had it much worse.


    His sister-in-law had to sacrifice a part of her soul so that her son could even live through the awakening. It bonded them forever, giving Ava partial access to Adam''s system. Yet, in return, she was now connected to her son''s curse as a proxy, slowly losing her mind.


    And all of this did nothing to stop the Taint from spreading. If it even can be stopped...


    From what Ava said, they tried, they really did try to find a way to stop the curse from advancing, but nothing paused it for as much as a second. Drain only made the progress a bit slower, while killing a Voidling didn''t even do that much. And they only managed to test the latter thanks to a small, level one Ameist that attacked them on day two.


    Thank god they had other people to protect them, or I would have lost them then. Leo balled his fists, reminding himself how Ava spoke about Adam''s first frenzy when he killed the ant. He could only imagine how the woman must have felt back then. To see someone you love unconditionally lose their mind just after the world went to shit...


    Leo raised his gaze to look at the tired woman. Right after she finished talking, Ava cradled her head and had hardly moved since then.


    "Right after you awoke, when the Outbreak began... How much did the Void take from Adam?" He asked, forcing his sister-in-law to meet his eyes.


    "Most of his torso and both legs," Ava gritted her teeth as if fighting a hard memory. "I was so scared, Leo, that I had lost him, that I awoke to another nightmare. But then Adam opened his eyes, and it was still my son on the other side. I felt it in my soul, just as I felt the Void''s curse running through his veins."


    Fucking hell. Leo scowled, his mind running a hundred miles per hour, trying to find a solution to this misery. "What else have you tried since you two arrived here? Do they even let you leave?"


    Ava shook her head. "No, and it''s for the best. You haven''t seen him, Leo. Adam might be my little boy, but the moment a Voidling appears in his sight, even I can''t recognize him. The Void takes over, and we can do nothing but wait it out. Not even I am safe to approach him then."


    Perfect... Leo scoffed. He had hoped that maybe by getting Adam out and letting him slaughter more than just one Voidling, they could satiate his cursed state.


    Not any longer.


    She might want me to save him, but there is no way she will let me take him outside, not with how she is currently. I need a different plan.


    Suddenly, Leo stood up, even alerting Dylan, who until now just waited silently in the corner.


    "I need to see him. Now."


    "Wait!" Ava rose quickly, coming around the desk and stopping just a few steps away from Leo. "What if Adam attacks you? You aren''t a human any longer, Leo. We both know that."


    Grimacing, he refrained from placing a hand on her shoulder. "I can handle it, and I promise you, I won''t harm my godson." Once Ave nodded shakily, Leo turned to the only other person in the room. "Dylan, if you could?"


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Aye," the mage tipped his head, going straight for the door. "Give me a sec."


    The moment the door closed again, leaving the duo alone, Ava''s shoulders slumped. Nonetheless, she took another step forward and grabbed the end of Leo''s cloak.


    "I-I," Ava tried, only to shake her head as her eyes grew misty. "N-Nick... Did you find him? Please, Leo... I need to know."


    Shit...


    When Ava didn''t ask him more about Nick in the beginning, Leo hoped she already knew. Being the bearer of the bad news was the last thing he wanted, but it seemed like the universe couldn''t even spare him from this.


    "I did," he muttered, turning away from the eyes that now shed tears. "The Outbreak took him. There was nothing I could do."


    "And did you..." Ave trailed off.


    Leo nodded. "I couldn''t let some sick, twisted version of him walk around the city. He now rests in your old home. I left him there, buried under whatever I could gather."


    "Thank you," Ava whispered, and he finally looked at her just in time to see her wipe the final tears.


    "He was my brother after all," Leo replied and left it at that. There was no more to be said, and they both knew it.


    <hr>


    "Are you sure it''s a good idea, Hale?" Holden asked as they all stood in front of the same door the man was glancing at earlier. "You might have Ava''s trust now, but I still don''t like this. There is a reason that boy must be isolated here."


    On instinct, Leo bristled at Holden''s words even though he knew the man probably didn''t mean anything by them. Putting Adam as farthest away from other survivors was an obvious choice here, and no good leader would hesitate to make it.


    "I can handle my own godson," Leo hissed back, pretty much repeating what he said to Ava. "You can keep the door open if that''s gonna make you less wary."


    Holden nodded, "Alright, but remember, you don''t have much time left. I can''t keep people away from here forever. Not without telling all of my fighters what is going on."


    Leo scowled but didn''t argue. However, Ava might do it for him as she didn''t like it when he told her he had to leave soon.


    Okay, let''s see what happened to you, kiddo. I just hope your mother announced me properly.


    In a single move, Leo opened the door wide and stepped through, his eyes immediately registering the broken furniture strewn around. Then his gaze fell on the two mattresses at the far end of the room, and that was when he saw him ¡ª Adam, his godson.


    Neither Holden nor Ava did lie. The Void''s curse had taken over the boy, leaving only a bit over half of his head, a small part of his torso, and one arm unscathed. The rest was just like Leo''s skin not long ago, deformed and grey, full of glowing veins.


    He met Adam''s eyes, one green and the other crimson, both glaring in Leo''s direction, full of hate. The child stood up slowly, a low growl leaving his throat. "What are you?"


    Yeah, that voice definitely doesn''t belong to a kid. Much less Adam. Leo grimaced as he took another step forward and lowered his hood. Come on, buddy, don''t make it harder than it already is.


    The crazed boy hissed, baring his teeth and raising his clawed hand. Hunter stirred at that, a growl echoing through Leo''s mind. Even a bit of bloodlust spilled out, but he pushed it away. It was the last thing he needed now.


    Still, you might be onto something. Leo sent back to Hunter and let out a growl on his own. Only he wasn''t some half-transformed human but a full Akirian. Thus, when the echo reached Adam, the kid''s eyes widened, and he instantly backed off.


    So Ameists are not the only ones scared of me. Leo noted, approaching the frozen boy. "Adam. Kiddo, calm down. It''s me, your uncle, Leo."


    His godson''s back hit the wall behind him. "U-uncle Leo?" He stuttered only for a glint of crimson to enter his healthy eye. "I don''t care! But you are strong. I can feel it. I need it!"


    Instantly, the boy-turned-demon darted forward, ready to slice through the opposing monster with his claws. However, no matter how much power the Void''s curse gave him, Adan could never match what Leo fought and bled for in the last week.


    Faster than a human could blink, he grabbed the boy by his arms and just held him in place. Adam tried to wriggle away, hissing all the while, but nothing worked.


    Some bloodlust finally seeped into his veins, and at once, Leo and Hunter roared right into Adam¡¯s face. The boy stilled, eyes going wide before they rolled back, his body going limp.


    Worked better than I expected. Good job, Hunter. Leo sighed, cradling the boy in his arms. I''m sorry, kiddo, but it''s for the best.


    "He is fine, just sleeping," he muttered as Holden, Ava, and Dylan practically ran into the room. "You guys were right, though. He definitely doesn''t like anything that comes from the Void."


    "What was that?" Holden hissed, completely ignoring everything said.


    "A trick I learned yesterday. Works well for low-level Voidlings, so I thought it could help here too. It did," Leo shrugged, lying through his teeth.


    Ava dropped to her knees, grabbing Adam''s healthy hand and giving Leo a light glare. "I shouldn''t have let you in alone."


    He shook his head. "It was bound to happen anyway, Ava, and like I said, he is fine. Now, I can at least get a proper look at him. Might find something you missed."


    "I thought you wanted to talk with him," Holden cut in.


    "I did," Leo nodded. "But I can do it later. Maybe after what just happened, buddy here will be more open to dialogue."


    "And if he won''t?" Ava whispered, finally looking up from her son.


    Leo swallowed, closing his eyes for just a moment. "Then we will figure it out. I promise."

 Chapter 89. The true deal with the Devil

    Any idea how long he will be out? Leo asked Hunter as he laid Adam on the nearest mattress. The small boy seemed at peace, breathing softly, his chest rising up and down in a slow rhythm. However, the fact he could wake up and attack at any moment remained.


    Hunter hissed back, and Leo frowned. Of course, the beast wouldn''t know. What they did to Adam was purely experimental, and he didn''t have a single doubt in mind it could have backfired. Not that Adam was a risk to them in any case, but still...


    What do you think? The curse still has some way to go, but if it continues at its current pace, Adam most likely doesn''t have more than a week. Leo balled his fists at the thought, letting out a long breath. I can''t let the Void take him, Hunter. I won''t let it.


    ''Find way.'' The beast called back. Yet, Hunter didn''t say more, didn''t give him any miraculous ideas to save Adam. It just stayed at the forefront of his mind, not backing off like it usually did.


    Nonetheless, an almost unnoticeable smile tugged at Leo''s lips. Yes, we will. Let''s get to work.


    With the three observers hovering over his shoulders, Leo slowly laid his hand upon Adam''s chest, just where the deformed skin met the healthy part. Now came the hard part, as no matter how ahead he was when it came to levels, it didn''t really transfer to knowledge about the Void''s curse and its workings.


    Still, I can control Essence better than most. That has to count for something...


    Leo gave his own energy a tug and let it flow over the surface of his hand. When the Essence touched the healthy part of Adam''s skin, nothing happened. However, the moment it came into contact with the ugly, deformed area, something tugged at his energy, trying to rip it away.


    Interesting and quite disturbing. Leo narrowed his eyes, repeating the process only for the same to happen again. It''s like he has Drain permanently activated and can use it with any part of his body...


    Hunter growled suddenly, forcing a certain memory from the awakening to resurface in Leo''s head. It came and went away just as quickly, but not without leaving a piece of vital information that shined some light on this entire situation.


    Shit... If Adam can absorb Essence in the air just like other Voidlings, then it would explain how he is already level six. Leo shook his head. But it also doesn''t make sense! He is not a Voidling, not yet. And hell, I can''t do that, and I''m an Akirian, a step above those stupid beasts.


    ''Yet,'' Hunter hissed, freezing Leo in place.


    You mean? He asked, only to get an instant confirmation back. Well, that''s good to know, but it still doesn''t explain how Adam can do it. He is only a Tainted Human, nothing more. And he had to have this ability from the beginning if the single Ameist was his only kill...


    This time, Hunter had no answer to his plight. Leo could even feel that the beast was just as confused as him, and so, with a sigh, he dropped the subject.


    Can worry about it later. In the long run, it isn''t important anyway. Leo nodded and brought his hand closer to the boy again. Maybe you can help me.


    Essence once more surged into the hand hovering over Adam, coalescing into a dense ball. Leo, just like with every pulse, focused on a goal, on the thing for the skill to find. Yet, unlike any time before, the objective wasn''t a physical object or a living being.


    "Please work," Leo muttered, unleashing the pulse.


    The crimson Essence dived out, but only for a second, as when it passed through Adam, the skill returned, carrying more information than expected.


    Leo groaned, processing everything bit by bit.


    Of course, the source had to be there. He scowled, his gaze dropping to the area right above Adam''s heart. My curse came from my arm, but you weren''t that lucky, kiddo. It just had to start in your bloody heart... Fuck!


    Leo closed his eyes, the urge to lash out becoming stronger with each second. If Adam''s curse originated from a limb, then maybe ¡ª despite it being a horrendous idea due to the Taint''s nature ¡ª he could devour it. Or, if nothing else worked and there was no other way to save his godson, they could cut the limb off and hope for the best.


    However, with the source growing right in Adam''s heart, Leo didn''t dare to try anything, much less unleash Devour anywhere near the organ. The damage this skill could do was likely much worse than even the curse itself.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    So that idea is out. Maybe that''s for the best, or I would have been tempted to try it. Hunter hissed at the thought, making Leo drop his shoulders. You would stop me, eh? Thanks... I guess.


    "Leo? Something''s wrong?" Ava asked out of nowhere, coming to a crouch next to him.


    Leo shook his head. "No," he lied, seeing no reason to worry the poor woman even more. "Just my skill not working like I wanted. Nothing to stress about."


    Ava nodded but didn''t back off.


    Can''t fault her. Leo sighed, returning his gaze to Adam. Devour is out. I won''t risk it... Hunter, do you think there is a chance that Minor Tak-


    Before he could even finish, the inner beast roared louder than ever. A moment later, images of Voidlings Leo had taken over in the past flashed in front of his eyes. He blanched, understanding both messages.


    I''m sorry, but I had to consider everything. If I have anything that might save Adam, I can''t ignore it. Hunter growled again, and Leo quickly relented. But you are right. Takeover is too much, even as a last resort. I won''t mention it again...


    <hr>


    Minute after minute passed as Leo just sat there, trying to devise another method to save Adam. He already went through every skill he possessed and used Hunter Pulse a dozen more times, not even knowing what he was searching for.


    No matter how much I want it to be false, I''m going about it the wrong way. Leo scowled. Evolution. That''s the only way to get rid of it. That''s how the world works now. Not even Nikra can change that. At least not with how she is now... But. He looked down at his own hands. I might be able to slow down the curse. Maybe even stop it from spreading for a time. Hunter? Your verdict? This is the only lead we have.


    The beast remained silent for a moment before releasing a low screech, finally giving Leo some hope. I just hope we won''t make it worse...


    With a nod to himself, Leo put both hands in the same place where deformed and healthy skin met. This time, a bit more Essence dived into one of the limbs, but when Adam''s curse attempted to snatch it away, he let it go in a steady flow.


    With the other hand, he studied how the curse reacted to the influx of new power. A grin almost split his face as the Void Essence within the curse stopped attacking Adam''s healthy side and retreated, joining Leo''s energy that began to flow toward the source.


    Like I said, I''m an Akirian, a step above Voidlings. My Essence must be better than random corpses Holden can bring. Leo reasoned, and for the first time today, Hunter fully agreed with him. About half of my reserves should be enough for now, don''t you think?


    Just when Leo wanted to increase the flow of Essence, a hand landed on his back. "Hale! Whatever you''re doing, stop!" Holden''s voice echoed in his ears.


    Jerking his hands away just in case, Leo whirled around to glare at the man. "What?! It was working!"


    Nonetheless, Holden didn''t back down, facing Leo''s glare with his own. "Identify," he growled. "Use it."


    What? Leo blinked, turning back to Adam and doing as Holden said.


    Tainted Human | LVL: 7


    He leveled up. I made him level up. Leo''s eyes widened, scanning the boy for any changes, only to find none. The number might have raised, but the curse also paused its slow assault on his godson''s healthy side just like he had hoped. Hell, he even checked again, just to make sure.


    "But it worked," Leo spoke finally.


    On his left, Ava moved, grabbing her son and pulling his head on her lap. "Worked how?" She asked, not even looking in his direction. "Nothing¡¯s changed, Leo."


    Holden, who seemed like he wanted to say something, paused, waiting for Leo''s reply. Behind him, Dylan wasn''t much better, surveying them all like some unique subjects.


    "Nothing¡¯s changed, that''s true. But at the same time, the curse isn''t spreading anymore. Hopefully, it will remain like this for some time," Leo answered, moving his hand to check on the movement of Void Essence within Adam again.


    "How?" Holden spoke up. "From what I see, you only made him stronger."


    Biting back the urge to curse the man, Leo took a deep breath. "Like you know, a Tainted Human needs Void Essence to stop the curse from spreading. Going by this, I supplied Adam with some of my own. And as I''m much stronger than your usual beast, it worked. Unfortunately, Voidlings, and somehow Adam too, grow stronger thanks to absorbing Essence flowing in the air. Thus, when I paused the curse, I also..."


    Leo trailed off, seeing the understanding on Holden''s face. Yet, a hard frown quickly replaced it.


    "And what''s next?" The man asked. "You said it yourself. The curse is paused, not stopped. That doesn''t fix our problem, and now we have to deal with him being even more dangerous during frenzies. Those walls aren''t impenetrable. Sooner or later, he will tear them down and then us."


    At that, Ava moved away from her son, a snarl on her face. And even though Leo didn''t like how Holden voiced his fears, he quickly stepped in. A fight was the last thing they needed. Ironic... A monster is stopping an argument...


    "Ava, calm down," Leo hissed, freezing the woman in place. "And you." He turned to Holden. "You ask what''s next? Well, I don''t have a solution yet, but I will do anything to stop this madness. In the meantime, he needs more corpses to drain, and I will transfer some of my own Essence each time I visit. That should work until we either make Adam evolve or find a different way to end this."


    Or so I hope.


    Slowly, Holden backed off, running a hand through his dirty hair. "And you will help both with the corpses and with what we discussed earlier."


    Leo nodded. "You kept your end of the deal and protected my family until now. As long as that doesn''t change, I will help you. Just remember, I''m not a dog that will dance to your every tune. And," his eyes narrowed, "if you even try to harm Adam or Ava, I will end you. No matter the consequences."


    Holden grunted, extending his hand once more. "Then I suppose we have another deal."


    Gripping the offered hand, Leo grinned, showing the long monstrous teeth.


    "I suppose we do."

 Chapter 90. The clock is ticking

    "Are you sure you can''t stay any longer?" Ava asked, glancing at her son sleeping in the corner. "I thought you would wait until Adam woke up. Maybe after what you have done and with me here, he won''t attack."


    Leo sighed, thanking the Void that the others at least left the room so that he and Ava could speak alone. They didn''t need to be here for this, Holden in particular.


    "Maybe you are right, but I can''t stay, at least not now. I¡¯ve already overstayed my welcome," Leo raised a hand to stop the woman from cutting in. "I know, I probably shouldn''t care, but Holden and I made a deal. The least I can do is not antagonize him more than necessary. And besides, I have work to finish if I want to come back fast."


    "When?" Ava murmured.


    "I''m fast, and Holden only wants me to check two places. I can easily be back before nighttime if all goes well."


    "Does it ever?" The woman frowned, and Leo understood her well at that moment.


    He shook his head. "No. No, it doesn''t... But I promise you will see me before the night comes. I need to talk to the little menace properly after all," Leo finished with a small smile.


    Not even averting her gaze from Adam, Ava whispered, "Will Holden even allow it? I know he is good and even better at keeping people organized, but it also makes him quite paranoid."


    Leo nodded. "Paranoid is good, especially now. Not that it changes anything. If I want to return here, I will. I know that, and Holden does too. He isn''t stupid."


    Despite saying that, Leo couldn''t help but remember that Holden took four of his own to meet with him even after Dylan ¡ª and most likely Tyler ¡ª told the man what he was capable of. A very risky plan that could have cost them lives if Holden or his group committed fully to eliminating him.


    So either Dylan is an even better speaker than I expected, or Holden is desperate to take a risk like that. Why though? Leo shook his head, putting those thoughts away for later.


    "I hope you are right," Ava finally responded, her eyes growing a bit misty once more. "We need you, Leo. I don''t care what you become or what you do, but we need you. Adam and I might be safe here, and I''m grateful for Holden''s help, but I see how everyone acts around me."


    She looked him right in the eyes. "They are scared, wary, some even outright aggressive. And it only gets worse with each day. I can barely go into the main building without having glares thrown in my direction." Ava chuckled bitterly. "And you know what''s the worst? I can''t even blame them because I would do the same if it was mine and Adam''s life at risk."


    Leo almost growled, clenching his fists. Ava might have been a bit bitchy in the past, and they didn''t always get along, but not once in his life did he see her so defeated. It hurt, it bloody hurt to see her like that, and he thanked whoever was listening that no one else could witness this.


    If only you were here, Nick...


    "Don''t worry about anyone other than yourself and Adam. I already told Holden what would happen if you two were harmed in any way here," Leo explained, giving the woman a slight grin. "I got you, and sooner or later, we will fix this mess. And then... then we can get the hell away from here if you two prefer that. Maybe even find a different group..."


    "Lily?" Ava asked softly, and Leo just nodded without a word. "Do you think... Do you think you can stop by my parents'' house? I need to know."


    Leo swallowed but nodded again. It would take him a bit off course from where he was supposed to go, but he couldn''t really deny this request. Everyone deserved to know what fate had befallen their loved ones.


    "I will stop by the area on the way back," he confirmed, just in case. "If there is anyone else you want me to check on, just let me know. There must be more people out there, struggling, and I can always direct them here."


    "No," Ava shook her head. "Just my parents and brother. I''m aware they are probably gone, but my mind just won''t give up until I know for sure."


    I know the feeling. Leo sighed and turned towards the door. "I should go. I still want to get some Voidlings for Adam before I go back into the city, and with almost half of the daylight gone, I don''t have much time to work with."


    At first, Ava didn''t say anything, but in a move that probably surprised them both, the woman closed the distance between them and hugged him. Leo stiffened instantly, the close, physical contact almost alien at this point.


    Yet, before Ava could back out, Leo returned the embrace as best as he could. It was awkward and uncomfortable, but he wouldn''t give it up for anything.


    "Please," Ava muttered. "Just stay safe, Leo."


    Closing his eyes, he smiled.


    "I will."


    <hr>


    "Until next time, lad," Dylan chuckled, extending a handshake. "I''m glad this entire mess worked out in the end."


    Taking the offered limb, Leo snorted, "''Worked out'' might be stretching it, but yeah, I suppose it went better than I expected. A pleasant surprise, all things considered."


    "Aye," Dylan nodded, stepping away. "Take care out there."


    "I will. Until then, Dylan," Leo smiled and left the man behind, only to stop next to the exit where Holden was already waiting.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Come on then, Hale," the gruff man opened the door. "I will walk you out. There are a few more things I want to talk with you about."


    Leo shrugged and followed after the man, a shiver going through his body as he stepped through the exit. When he first entered the Safe Zone, he didn''t feel a thing, and while it didn''t hurt now, the protections around this place definitely acknowledged him leaving.


    Uncomfortable, but nothing I can''t handle. Glad to have a confirmation...


    Still following after Holden, Leo stepped back into the forest behind the Safe Zone. They walked for another few minutes until they reached the same clearing from before. Only then did the other man stop and break the silence.


    "Do you remember the path my people were supposed to take to reach the mall?"


    Obvious things out of the way first? Alright then. Leo nodded. "I do. Is there anything else you want me to do on the way there? If I''m going to pass almost through the entire city anyway, then there is no reason to waste the opportunity."


    "Apart from taking a closer look at the police station, it won''t be necessary," Holden shook his head lightly. "However, if you happen upon any medical supplies, we will be grateful to have them. You can never have too much of those."


    On that we can agree. Leo hummed. "Will do... Now, if you don''t mind, I would like to know if there will be any problems with letting me back in when I return."


    "No," the man winced as if it hurt him to say that. "Whenever you want to get inside, cover yourself like you did before and knock on the door. I will have someone I trust on guard all day."


    "Good," Leo grunted. "If there is nothing else, I''m gonna go. Got a long trip ahead of me."


    "Hold on," Holden grimaced, raising his hand. If before, he looked like it hurt him to give Leo free access to the Safe Zone, now the man appeared like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "There is one more thing. Something I couldn''t mention with others around."


    Interesting... Leo noted, and even Hunter started paying attention, pausing its withdrawal into his mind.


    "The Safe Zone, or rather the barrier protecting it," Holden began. "It''s slowly failing. As it is now, it will barely hold for another few days. And that''s a rough estimate given by the System."


    Leo froze, eyes growing a bit wide. Of all the things he expected Holden to say, this was not even on the list. Shit... So he is desperate...


    "Why?" He asked simply.


    Holden''s posture slumped, his cold-as-stone expression breaking.


    "When I and my first group cleaned up this place, the System gave me an offer," the man shook his head lightly. "It would create a temporary Safe Zone without initial cost for the price of giving me a job that I can never change."


    So that''s how the Safe Zone came to be. Doesn''t explain the problem, though...


    As if listening to Leo''s thoughts, Holden continued. "All in all, the job is good for someone who can lead, so I can''t really complain. That it gave me the power to manage and create Safe Zones in the future was just another plus... Unfortunately, thanks to my new job, I realized what exactly a temporary Safe Zone means."


    "An expiration date," Leo stated the obvious.


    "Yes and no," Holden scoffed. "The first two days, we were fine. But as soon as the second Cataclysm hit, I was informed that if I didn''t sustain the barrier with Ether, it would soon fail."


    In hindsight, that makes sense. Leo admitted. "How much?"


    "When it first asked, it was fifty Ether to keep it up for another day," the man explained. "With each day, it needs more, and my job already told me that tomorrow I will need to pay another four hundred. Not a small sum, yet one I can pay thanks to others in my group transferring Ether to me."


    You can transfer Ether? That''s a new one... Whatever, I can ask about it later. Leo shook his head. "I sense a but there."


    "Aye," Holden sighed deeply. "Each temporary Safe Zone has something called Stability. Ours is at about thirty percent, and even if I can get the necessary Ether each day, Stability will run out in three or four days at the rate it is going down."


    "Fuck!" Leo growled, the bloodlust inside him flaring just a bit. "And there is no way to fix it?"


    "No. And trust me, Hale. I tried to find a way, but there were none. Once the Stability runs out, it is the end of the road. I don''t think I need to tell you what will happen then."


    No, you definitely don''t. Leo scowled, walking from left to right. Surviving the day shouldn''t be that hard, especially in this area. But once the night came? Yeah, he didn''t even want to imagine how quickly the Nightmares would find such a large group, if they didn''t already.


    "So what now?" Leo glared at the older man. "You wouldn''t be telling me this if you didn''t have a solution. Hell, this is probably the only reason why you even came to meet me today."


    Holden nodded, not even moved by Leo''s accusation. "Indeed, but I don''t think it really matters now, does it?"


    "No... it doesn''t."


    "That''s what I thought..." Holden snorted. "Listen, Hale. As I said, my job also allows me to create new Safe Zones and not necessarily temporary ones at that. Of course, it isn''t as simple as going to a random place and setting one up, at least not yet."


    "That''s why I have my assassins running around the city. So they can find an area that maybe can become a Safe Zone." Here, Holden grimaced. "We found a few that have the potential, but there are some complications..."


    I think I know where it''s going. Leo frowned. "They are nests, aren''t they?"


    Holden dipped his head. "Not counting the Nest Colony next to us that can''t become a Safe Zone, we found two more nests to this day. There is also the Tainted Wasteland, but considering where it is situated, I doubt it can become what we want."


    "So let me guess. As a last resort, you want me to help clear one of the other Nests. Why send me to the mall then?"


    Holden looked him straight in the eyes. "Because, Hale, if a place is judged worthy by the System, it can become a Safe Zone too. And all this without risking my people inside a nest."


    Leo narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think the System will judge the mall worthy?"


    "Possible supplies, a large amount of space, and the building''s quality in the past. This is what I think made our current Safe Zone a worthy candidate. Will it be the same for the mall? I don''t know, but this is why my assassins went there."


    "And why won''t you just send more people to check it? Why risk it with me?"


    "Because I can''t, Hale! Not if I want to keep this barrier active for now," Holden scowled. "Those two aren''t the first ones I lost and probably won''t be the last... But if I can have you do their job better and faster while letting me sustain the Safe Zone, then so be it. Besides," the man gave Leo a wry smile, "you are right. If all fails, then I need your help with the nests..."


    Leo couldn''t help it; he laughed. "Then I suppose I better get to work."

 Chapter 91. A walk through the city

    "This should be enough," Leo muttered, nodding at the pile of corpses before him.


    He had collected all kinds of Voidlings in the last thirty minutes. Cursed Humans, Ameists from the once more opened Nest Colony, a Duskboar, and even a pair of some mutated deers that tried to run at the first sign of him. Overall, there should be about fifteen bodies here, just waiting to be transported back to Adam.


    Minor Takeover sure is useful in such situations. Without it, I would have had to carry all of them here. Leo shuddered at the thought. Maybe it was a bit heartless to take over Voidlings only to kill them later, but it definitely made his work much faster.


    Now Holden just needs to pick this up. I swear, if these corpses are still here when I return, I will punch someone. Leo grumbled, turning away from the clearing and running deeper into the forest. Clean up a bit and then back on the road... Shit, Holden, you just had to drop another problem on my plate...


    Leo shook his head, hoping to push those thoughts into the deepest recesses of his mind as his first destination came into sight. The hum of flowing water assaulted his ears, and he took a knee right at the edge of a small stream.


    When he found it during his short hunt for Voidlings, it surprised him that nothing tried to jump out of those murky waters and bite him. Not that Leo was complaining, as despite the stream''s quality, at least now he had something to wash the filth off his face and arms.


    Not that it will help for long, but I can''t go like this forever. The itch from the dried acid is getting annoying. Leo scowled, splattering the water over his limbs.


    He also wanted to clean up the cloak, but it wasn''t possible at this point. At least not without some other tools. Water, after all, could only do so much alone.


    There has to be a way to fix it up somehow. Leo mused as he stepped away from the water, feeling just a bit cleaner than before. Honing is locked, but maybe if it gathers more damage, I will still be able to repair it. Doubt it though...


    The cloak already had a few tears here and there. And considering Leo''s previous experience with the honing system, even a tiny bit of damage should have unlocked the option to repair the item.


    Never mind... It''s still fine for now, and I have much better things to worry about than a piece of cloth, no matter how nice it is...


    With a sigh, Leo pulled his hood up and dived into the deep forest again. He still had some items to retrieve before he could begin today''s journey through the city.


    <hr>


    Someone was already here. Leo noted, stepping over a Voidling''s body as he entered a ruined apothecary. Everything lay strewn around the place, the Void and human looters not sparing anything in sight. Still, maybe they missed something...


    Silent as a mouse, Leo wandered around the apothecary, crushing empty boxes and pushing debris away in search of something worthwhile. He knew he shouldn''t expect much, especially considering this place''s distance from the police station, but it didn''t hurt to check.


    Better this than nothing. Leo shrugged, peeking into a small, half-empty bag in his hands. He had thrown anything in good condition inside, but he doubted even half of the stuff worked anymore. Would be nice if Identify functioned like it should for once, but I suppose random medicine from the old world isn''t special enough for you, eh?


    Shaking his head lightly, Leo tied the bag close and shut his eyes. Essence spilled out instantly, covering the plastic material in a tight cocoon. Then, with a sharp tug, he devoured the energy and bag together, letting it settle inside his soul next to all the other items he had stored.


    Nice, it''s getting easier. Leo smirked at his empty hands. Alright, let''s see if Holden has a reason to worry about the other group...


    Not waiting for another second, Leo darted out of the building right onto an empty street. Multiple corpses littered the road, but he just ignored them and scaled the nearest wall, entering the Vetilim jungle once more.


    Seekers kept flying in the distance, some even coming close as Leo ran through the rooftops. Yet, the moment those tiny beasts noticed him, they all turned away, screeching to signal their packmates, who soon joined in the retreat.


    This natural fear coming from weaker creatures became something Leo noticed more and more since he entered the heart of Wolford again. Some beasts just knew they had no chance against a monster like him and ran away as fast as they could.


    Not that every single weak Voidling acted like that. No, those were a minority. However, it still made traveling through rooftops much easier when Leo didn''t have to worry about those flying menaces. Harpies could still be a problem, but until now, he had only seen one of those gliding through the air far away.


    "Here we are," Leo muttered, settling by the roof''s edge with a perfect view of the police station below.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Like the rest of the city, the large building endured its own hardships thanks to the Void. Vetilim had already spread along the station''s walls, leaving only a few broken windows and empty gaps untouched. Yet, considering the destruction Leo witnessed during his exploration, this place handled the end of the world quite well.


    Not a Safe Zone, but a good place to hide if the police were as stocked as I think. Leo hummed, his eyes first stopping upon the roof, where a single person kept watch. The man moved from corner to corner every once in a while, keeping a tight grip on a rifle in his hands. It''s not perfect security, but it''s also not the worst one.


    From there, Leo''s gaze drifted to the barricade a few steps away from the building''s entrance. There was a small gap where a person could slip through, but apart from that, the makeshift barrier seemed quite well made. They even had another person sitting atop it, hidden behind a cover with a rifle of their own.


    Okay, I can see why Holden wants to keep an eye on them. Leo narrowed his eyes, noting all the other possible entrances into the building. But what about Nightmares? There is no way those beasts could have missed this place. Not with so many dead Voidlings around...


    This group had to have a good method to hide from them or they would have been slaughtered a long time ago. Yet the question remained: how?


    Can''t ask them, so I doubt I can find out. And even if they don''t know it, I most likely killed two of their people. Well shit. The clothes on those guards matched what the dead duo wore, so Leo''s assumption was probably correct. At least now I know for sure that I didn''t kill anyone from Holden''s group.


    Not a big victory, but one Leo would take.


    I can probably go now, but I won''t lie; I''m curious how those people can handle themselves. For a moment, Leo''s eyes drifted to Voidlings far away, an idea entering his mind. Yeah. That can work. And it''s not like I need to tell Holden about it later.


    With the plan ready, Leo backed from the edge. He had to be fast; the mall was waiting, after all.


    <hr>


    It took a bit longer than Leo wanted, but now, lying on the same roof as before, he knew the plan was ready to be executed. The three tiny presences inside his mind only confirmed that.


    This is your target, Leo sent through the link, pointing at the man behind the barricade. The three Cursed Crawlers hissed lowly next to him, and so he continued. Run at full speed and target only him. Don''t kill. And if I tell you to run away. You run away. Understood?


    The monsters hissed again, and Leo nodded. He doubted his command against killing would work, but there wasn''t much more he could do before they began.


    Thankfully, I can stop them if they somehow reach him. Leo took a deep breath and gave their link a slight nudge. The beasts immediately raised from the roof and rushed past him, descending upon the road below.


    Not even a second later, a shout filled the air as the man at the barricade stood up, a bow in his hands.


    Leo blinked. He hadn''t noticed the weapon before, thinking that the guard only had the rifle at his disposition. Alright, that should have been obvious, but we all make mistakes... Now show me what you''ve got.


    The other guy on the roof wasn''t different, and he also took aim with a bow Leo didn''t see at first. They both fired at the same time, their glowing arrows going straight through two of the Crawlers that were halfway to the barricade.


    However, although the Voidlings slowed, none died from the first volley.


    Come on.


    The guards took aim again, and just when the first Crawler almost reached the barrier, they fired. Both arrows flew true, and the two wounded Cursed Crawlers tumbled onto the ground, dead. Quickly, the man at the barrier tried to nock another projectile, but the last monster jumped, flying over the barricade.


    The guard threw his bow away, grabbing the rifle from somewhere. Yet, before he could do more, the Crawler closed the remaining distance and pounced.


    Shit! Leo growled, a command to retreat already passing through the link with the beast.


    The Cursed Crawler stilled, but before it could do more, multiple shots rang through the area. At the same time, the connection with the beast blinked out of existence, signaling the creature''s death.


    Interesting. Leo narrowed his eyes at the two new arrivals, both males with swords attached to their hips. However, the shorter of the duo also held a pistol, the reason for the last Cursed Crawler''s death. Level nine and eight. Not bad at all when your guards are both level six.


    The strongest of the group holstered his gun, glaring at the heavy-breathing guard. "What the fuck was that?!" The man shouted, although for Leo, it wasn''t more than a whisper.


    The guard cowered slightly, answering right away. Not that Leo could hear more than a few words this time. "... Crawlers... of nowhere!"


    The leader frowned, turning to look at the guard on the roof. "Mark! Did you see anything, you useless twat?!"


    Leo almost snorted as even from here, he could see the guard redden.


    "Fuck you, Frank!" Mark shouted back. "I didn''t see shit! Those bastards just dropped from there and ran at Will like their lives depended on it!" He finished pointing in Leo''s direction, who ducked low just to make sure no one saw him.


    The group continued their conversation for a while, with three more people even joining in a bit later. Leo tried to catch some words, but after the initial shock ran out, the group stopped shouting and kept their voice at a somewhat average volume.


    Doesn''t matter. I got what I wanted, and the clock is still ticking. Leo noted, glancing at the sun already more than halfway toward the west horizon. Time to move up a gear.


    <hr>


    The final part of the journey didn''t last long. Leo just sprinted right towards the mall, not stopping anywhere on the way. He had wasted enough time by the police station, and he still had to scout the large shopping center before going back.


    Yet now, as Leo stood before the vast structure with Vetilim and Corcera covering every inch of the walls, a doubt began to enter his mind. To make matters worse, Hunter woke the moment he got close to the building, growling almost constantly.


    I know. There is something wrong with this place. Very wrong.

 Chapter 92. Graveyard

    Any idea, Hunter? Leo asked his only companion as he stood in front of the entrance to the mall. Or at least it was an entrance in the past. Now, nothing but the Void''s living matter remained, hiding the large doors from sight.


    Hunter hissed lowly, and while Leo could hear a bit of fear in its response, it also didn''t want to leave. Just like him, the beast was curious despite all their senses screaming at them against coming closer to the vast building.


    I have to check it anyway. Can''t exactly go back to Holden and tell him that the place just felt wrong. Leo paused suddenly at the thought. Well, I can, but then I would probably have to answer some questions I don''t want to answer. At least not yet...


    With a sigh, Leo turned away. Whether he liked it or not, he couldn''t just leave this place without at least checking it out. What he and Hunter felt had to come from somewhere. And so, if this mall was hiding yet another danger to survivors, his job was to uncover it. Just as he did with the Tainted Wasteland.


    No rushing in like an idiot this time, though. Leo grimaced, the wounds he suffered that day still fresh on his mind. No more half-assed plans because I couldn''t care less about anything anymore. I have people waiting for me, people who count on me.


    Leo took a deep breath, a small smile on his face. Let''s find an entrance first, shall we?


    As Hunter roared in answer, Leo jumped onto the mall''s wall, sticking his claws deep into Vetilim. They had a problem to solve, and just like his mother once told him, it was best to start from the top and slowly make his way down until nothing remained.


    <hr>


    Shit... This just proves something is wrong with this place. Leo frowned, following the splatters of blood with his eyes.


    It took some climbing and running, but in the end, he found a hole in the corner of the roof leading right into an office room inside the mall. Of course, the world would be way too simple if that was all he had discovered. Thus Leo''s current predicament.


    The blood splatters were almost everywhere in sight, covering parts of the nearby roof and the hole. Most of the liquid seemed old, dried by the constant warmth of the red sun. Yet, here and there, Leo could still see puddles of the half-fresh crimson liquid.


    And all of the trails lead right inside. Leo narrowed his eyes, trying to glimpse into the building through the large hole. Darkness attempted to obscure his vision the farther he tried to see, but that didn''t stop him, especially not with the violet and red veins of Vetilim and Corcera supporting his task...


    Not moving from the hole''s edge, Leo scanned the entire office room using the power granted by twenty-five points in the Vision attribute. Blood was one thing, but it was far from the only thing he spotted there.


    Remnants of torn-off limbs hid in the shadows. Some of them most likely belonged to humans, others not so much. However, worse were the pieces of internal organs scattered along the room, with an occasional bone lying here and there.


    I hate this place more with each second. Leo admitted, and Hunter agreed right away. Bloodlust already spiked, trying to ignite the fury hiding inside him. Not now. Not yet.


    Leo took a step back, running a hand across the smooth skin of his head. What he had seen inside should have been more than enough of a reason to turn around and return to the Safe Zone. Yet the question still remained: What exactly happened here?


    It couldn''t be a Nest or a Tainted Wasteland. Leo had experienced both before, and each time, the System gave him a warning once he came close enough. But now, the powerful entity did no such thing.


    So either some people were unlucky after the Outbreak and died here... An unlikely scenario with how fresh some of those parts are. Leo noted, once more looking through the hole. Or something really fishy is going on here.


    Hunter growled suddenly, and Leo stilled, processing the new information. You think the System can''t or doesn''t want to tell me yet? Why? The beast just sent him an equivalent of a shrug and went silent.


    Great... Leo sighed. So it seems we are going in anyway... I will need more than just you in that case. Remember, no more half-assed plans.


    <hr>


    Similar to what he did when checking on the police station, Leo wandered around the area, searching for Voidlings to accompany him into the jaws of death. However, this time, the search took a bit longer as he wanted more than just some average Cursed Crawlers. Not that he had much success in this endeavor.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Hell, as Leo looked at the small group gathered before him, even Hunter had something to say. And instead of just grunts and growls, the beast once more resorted to words, or rather a single word.


    ''Weak.''


    That''s a bit harsh, but yeah. You¡¯re right. Leo concurred with the beast. Though it''s not like I can get anything higher than level seven here. We don''t have time to search for Brutes or Harpies... We can do that tomorrow. Who knows, maybe with a few strong Voidlings by my side, I will be able to clear out a small part of Wolford.


    Hunter just snorted, refusing to say more. Although, from the surge of bloodlust, Leo knew the beast liked the idea. Not surprising in the slightest.


    Anyway... Let''s do this. Turning to his three subordinates, Leo sent a command over the link. Jump in and secure the office''s entrance. Then wait for me.


    Two Cursed Runners and one Inferior Crawler acted right away, diving into the opening. They rushed straight to the other side of the office where another hole waited, this one a bit smaller yet still large enough to fit a Brute.


    Once the Voidlings paused there, Leo nodded, his own Essence flowing out of his soul. True Stealth activated within the blink of an eye, but it was far from enough. He had been working on a special trick on his way here, and the time had come to use it.


    Slowly, more Essence moved, but not of the pure kind. Instead, shadows poured out of Leo''s body, the thin layer settling between his skin and True Stealth. With his mastery, the latter skill never wavered, so he put all his focus on the shadow armor, as imperfect as it was.


    At first, Leo wanted to create a perfect blend of his affinity and skill. However, no matter how hard he tried, True Stealth never accepted shadow Essence without collapsing. As such, he settled for a workaround... for now.


    The technique was far from perfect, as shown by the lack of the System''s notifications, but it still performed quite well. Shadows all around the world were his allies now, hiding Leo from anyone who couldn''t peer through the darkness to some degree.


    Let''s do this. Falling forward, Leo dropped to the floor below on all fours. He grimaced as the stench of decay assaulted his nostrils immediately. Shit... I don''t think I have ever smelled something so bad.


    With a shake of his head, Leo ignored the smell and moved toward the hole in the wall. Until now, nothing had changed, but once he stepped through the entrance, joining his minions on the other side, the System''s message flashed in front of his eyes.


    Warning! Entering Wolford''s Graveyard. No additional information available currently.


    So you were right, Leo said to Hunter. But why no information? Wasn''t the System supposed to be all-knowing? I don''t like it... I don''t like it at all...


    Hunter growled, and Leo had to agree. Now was not the time for this. They just entered a new, potentially dangerous area. He had to be alert at all times.


    Okay, you three. Lead the way, slowly and silently. If you see anything, anything at all, stop instantly. Do not attack without my word.


    With the command received, the trio moved forward, navigating the few offices and small corridors in this part of the mall. Gore still awaited them at each turn, but just like at the entrance, no Voidlings showed themselves.


    What the hell is going on here? Leo muttered as they finally left the office area and entered the highest floor of the mall.


    Despite Vetilim and Corcera completely claiming the area, the layout didn''t change much. The shopping center was still just a three-story, long hall with shops on all sides and floors. Of course, not much remained of them, but the building at least still seemed somewhat familiar.


    Well, almost familiar... Leo swallowed, gazing at all of the massacred bodies hanging from the ceiling on Vetilim webs. Blood dripped from most corpses while the few heads that remained whole stared blankly ahead, an expression of fear etched onto their face.


    Humans, animals, and Voidlings... Graveyard indeed. Leo balled his fists, averting his gaze from a corpse that seemed to look him right in the eyes. There must be hundreds of them here... So many survivors. Gone... Fuck!


    Before Leo could go on a downward spiral, Hunter''s roar echoed in his mind.


    I know... I know. Leo took a deep breath and reached within his soul, searching for a particular pile of items. Grabbing it firmly, he pulled it out, a familiar weight landing in his hand.


    Ether Flare. I just hope we are wrong, Hunter...


    With a final look behind, Leo gripped the flare tighter and commanded his group to resume the march. He had his suspicions regarding this place now. It just wasn''t enough, not yet. Besides, if anything happened, he knew how to quickly get out...


    <hr>


    Nothing, have to go lower... I wish Hunter Pulse was an option here...


    Leo scowled as they finished walking the entire length of the mall. Nothing but more corpses greeted him here. Hell, he didn''t see even a single Scavenger scurrying around.


    As such, only the two floors below remained to be explored now. Let''s go...


    His three subordinates stepped first into a tunnel that seemed to have replaced the stairs to the lower floor. Leo followed shortly after, ready to open the flare''s lid at any moment.


    The descent didn''t last long, barely a few seconds, yet when the tunnel gave way to the next floor, Leo and his minions froze, blood chilling in their veins. No one dared to move a single muscle, and even Hunter remained silent, like it was never there.


    Leo had his fears about this place, and they got worse with each second inside the mall. However, not even having complete knowledge about this place could have prepared him for the sight before him.


    Hunter... We were right...

 Chapter 93. Nightmare in the light

    Stand down. Don''t fucking move! Leo roared right into the link with his subordinates. His Essence also spiked, lashing out at the connection. From now on, even the slightest movement from anyone could bring forth their demise.


    Calm down. Don''t panic. Everything is fine. Leo chanted in his mind as he scanned everything in sight. Upon first look, this floor didn''t seem much different from the one above. Yet, when his eyes refocused and finally registered the dark silhouettes on the floor, he realized what shit he had just stepped on...


    Spread across the entire hall, Nightmares slept. The bulky Collectors lay on the floor, curled into a ball, while Scouters sat like statues, wrapped in their own wings. Thanks to the color of their skin and the violet glow coming from within their bodies, Leo almost mistook them for Corcera constructs. However, the occasional shudders going through the monsters'' bodies quickly cleared things up.


    This is hell, fucking Nightmare Nest, or worse. Leo swallowed, not daring to move another muscle until his head cleared. Not even the bloodlust flowing through his veins could fight against the primal fear that almost consumed him now. There must be hundreds of them here... And what the fuck is this?!


    Where on the upper floor, the bodies hanging from the ceiling weren''t more than decoration; here, this also changed. Darker than night ooze dripped from the corpses, only for it to gather on the ground and form cat-sized blobs. Those things never moved from their original spots, but they whirred and shook almost constantly, adding yet another worry to the pile in Leo''s head.


    Identify, please don''t fail, not now.


    Phantom (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Aerial, Ghost


    Okay, that doesn''t seem too bad. Leo noted, his nerves settling down just a bit. Bestiary. Let''s see what you have for me.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Phantom


    Expected Potential: F to N/A


    Weapon of choice: Possession


    Known weaknesses: Incomplete Body


    A Nightmare born after the Outbreak''s stabilization. At first glance, Phantoms are weak and useless. Yet, out of all the early stage Nightmares, Phantoms possess the most potential. Their unique ability, ''Possession,'' allows them to completely take over a Voidling or sometimes even a survivor. Afterward, they force their host to evolve, changing them into a creature of the Night. With that, the host dies, and Phantom becomes the new primary occupant of the body without the ability to leave again. It is wise to remember that Phantoms are susceptible to Essence-powered attacks due to their incomplete form.


    Shit! Ghosts that can mutate others into Nightmares. Just what we all need. Leo clenched his fists, the fear slowly giving way to anger. And there is no way to stop this bloody mess from continuing, not with how weak humans are compared to Nightmares for now...


    And what do you want?! Leo snarled the last part as a System notification kept trying to force itself into his field of vision.


    The System has acquired enough information about Wolford''s Graveyard. Do you wish to display the collected assessment now?


    No, there is no time. I need to get the fuck out of here. Leo nodded, forcing all the worries, theories, and other dangerous thoughts out of his head. It might have felt as if he had stood there frozen for hours, but barely a minute passed, and he didn''t dare to waste another one on watching the Nightmares sleep.


    Just stay calm and back off, one step at a time.


    Listening to his own command, Leo, without even tearing his eyes away from the Nightmares, began to retreat into the tunnel. He didn''t even think of giving his minions the same order, which turned out to be a mistake.


    One of the Runners, who was partially turned to him, met his eyes and screeched lightly, the tone questioning. Fear gripped Leo''s heart as his chances of getting out silently collapsed like a domino.


    In the corner of his vision, something stirred, followed by a howl that echoed through the entire building. Leo hardly registered the noise as he spun around and shot towards the tunnel''s exit. A final command also went out to his subordinates, the words short and simple.


    Distract them.


    More howls answered the first one just when Leo reached the top floor, but he didn''t stop and only pushed his legs harder than ever. Reinforcement also joined the escape, fuelling strength right into its user''s muscles.


    Yet, none of those things meant Leo was fine, and the System only proved that fact with its following message.


    Nightmare Pursuit in progress. Good luck.


    Screw you! Leo growled, flipping the Ether Flare''s lid. A single spark of Essence shot into the thing, igniting the tip in a blinding explosion of golden fire.


    Leo grimaced as the flare''s surface grew warmer with each millisecond. It didn''t burn yet, but that was only a matter of seconds. Great time to learn how this bloody thing affects me...


    At this point, he already reached the office area, barrelling right into the same corridor he had come through. Roars and howls rang in Leo''s ears as they became louder than ever. Nonetheless, he didn''t turn around; he knew what was chasing him after all.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Death, represented by tens of beasts straight out of nightmares. All of them hot on Leo''s heels, waiting to tear him apart and then use his body to create more Phantoms.


    "Not today!" Leo shouted, sliding into the only office that offered him a chance at freedom.


    The flare, still burning bright, dropped to the floor right in the middle of the entrance to the room. A moment later, the beasts behind screeched in distress, the Ethereal fire doing its job.


    Knowing the success was short-lived at best, Leo closed the distance to the hole and jumped. With Reinforcement still burning in his legs, he had to finish the landing with a roll. Not that it mattered, not when he was free once more, basking in the light of the setting sun.


    Yet, before Leo could lower his defenses, Hunter howled within his mind, the message clear as the sky above. He spun around, eyes on the hole as another flare landed in his hand.


    A second or five passed before a loud roar pierced through the silence, shutting all hopes of it being over. Heavy thuds reached Leo''s ears right after, followed by a light tremble of the roof as a massive body shot out of the hole.


    Leo didn''t wait for the beast to land and ignited the flare while simultaneously putting some distance between him and the hole. A good decision as the beast landed a moment later, leaving a small crater in its wake.


    The monster roared again, louder than a Brute or even the Cursed Juggernaut Leo had the displeasure of meeting.


    Collector (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: E | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Surface, Regenerator, Might


    Okay, don''t panic. There is only one, and it definitely doesn''t like the sun. Leo noted, his feet already carrying him across the roof, far away from the Collector. Or at least that was the plan...


    Although the beast shied away from the sun, parts of its skin igniting in a crimson fire, it never gave up the chase. The Nightmare moved on all fours, cutting straight for Leo, who, even with Reinforcement fuelling his every move, couldn''t escape too far.


    Guess I''m not the only one here with Grace in the Supernatural tier. Leo hissed, sliding out of the path of the monster''s long and thick claws. Limit Break to one hundred percent, System! Now!


    Instantly, Reinforcement and Limit Break flooded Leo''s body with new energy. Every vein ignited with a golden light, the complete opposite of his form''s color scheme. At the same time, a weight settled upon his soul, carrying an obvious warning.


    I just need to buy some time. Leo flinched as the beast''s fist almost collided with his side. Without another thought, he brought out another Ether Flare, activating it right away. Let''s dance, you sack of shit!


    Bloodlust spilled out in waves into his body and mind. However, despite knowing well how to activate Focused Bloodlust now, Leo didn''t proceed. This skill was too primal, too focused on fighting, and facing the Collector head-on was the last thing he wanted.


    Another time, Hunter. Leo called out to the beast, still weaving through the Collector''s continuous onslaught. Although the Nightmare didn''t care much for the Ether Flares, it definitely couldn''t ignore the wounds that the items and the sun caused to its body.


    The sunlight had already burned away all of the beast''s skin, leaving only blood in sight. The violet glow from within also almost died out during the fight, now barely visible behind the dark liquid dribbling out of the Collector''s body.


    As the dance of cat and mouse continued, the Nightmare grew slower and sloppier. At some point, Leo even managed to drag a flare across the Collector''s side, earning a ground-shaking roar from the beast.


    Come on, die already, you stupid shit! Leo growled, throwing one of the flares in the Voidling''s face. It stumbled back, and with all the power still coursing through his veins, he pounced. The remaining flare went right into one of the Collector''s eyes while a Kiss of Death enhanced blade stabbed into the other.


    Even then, the Collector slapped Leo away, sending him flying across half of the roof''s width. He gasped for breath upon landing, the cracking of bones within his chest telling a story of its own.


    Shit! One hit and I can barely move. Still, Leo didn''t stay put and rose on trembling legs, his tails coming around to support his weight.


    Ahead, the Collector writhed on the roof. Blood pooled underneath the beast, as even some bones became visible beneath the burned-away muscles. The sun''s judgment fell upon the Nightmare, and now it had to pay the full price.


    End of the road for you, mate. Leo grimaced, stumbling towards the almost-dead Nightmare without the support of Reinforcement or Limit Break.


    "Was it worth it?" He asked, finally stabbing his claws into what remained of the Collector. "Was it worth to die for a chance to kill me?"


    As if trying to answer, the Nightmare screeched for the final time before going still. Leo shook his head, Devour activating as System notifications began their assault.


    Give me a damn minute, Leo growled, forcing his ability to move faster. Only it didn''t work. Even as a few bones snapped back into place, Devour''s attack stopped, the healing and steady flow of new Essence along with it.


    What? Leo''s eyes widened. I wasn''t done yet!


    However, the moment he tried to activate Devour again, the System forced its message to the forefront of his mind.


    Warning! The user''s soul cannot filter any more foreign Essence at the moment. Disabling Devour. Limit Break inactive. The System advises against straining your soul any further to avoid permanent damage.


    Leo groaned, collapsing to the ground. Of course there had to be a limit to Devour. Even for an Epic ability, it just seemed too strong to not have any drawbacks...


    Guess it could have been worse... I survived a Nightmare, after all... Leo chuckled even as the few partially healed bones screamed in protest. This will be annoying. Not enough to stop me from returning to the Safe Zone, though... But first, System, show me what you''ve got.


    Nightmare Pursuit forcefully stopped. You live to fight another day.

 Chapter 94. Overwhelmed

    "Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Collector


    Expected Potential: E to E+


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Strength


    Known weaknesses: Sense of Sight


    One of the few Nightmares born with each new Outbreak. Out of the usual starting trio, Collectors are the most dangerous in a fight. They are fast, strong and durable. Only their sense of sight stops them from being the ultimate predators of the Night that no one can escape from. Unfortunately, they are usually supported by Scouters, thus rendering their disadvantage null during a pursuit. To stay out of their path, it is wise to not have any dead bodies in your vicinity."


    ~New entry in Leo''s Bestiary. Opened right before Collector''s first attack.


    <hr>


    Forcefully stopped, you say? Leo snorted, glancing at the boiling corpse next to him that, at this point, already turned into a puddle of blood and steaming flesh. There was nothing forceful about it. Just pure idiocy and the power of the the big flashlight above.


    Leo shook his head. He really didn''t expect the Nightmare to go after him. Those beasts were supposed to be creatures of the Night, a fact only proved by the sunlight''s effect on them. Yet, for some reason, this single Collector decided to push past the flare and right into the Sun just to kill him.


    A lesson learned, only for me though. Leo chuckled, averting his eyes from the corpse. Evidently those fuckers are willing to give up their lives just to have a shot at taking down another survivor. Some messed up shit, but better learn about it now than later...


    As Leo''s gaze passed over the hole leading into the mall, he shuddered. At least only one decided to forfeit its life. No way I could have survived against two or more... Hell, I must have burned through a shit tone of Ether just to live through this.


    And wasn''t that the truth...


    Despite starting this fight with Limit Break at half power, Leo pushed it to one hundred and fifty percent once the beast got too close for his liking. He maintained it and Reinforcement until the Collector slapped him away, thus sacrificing over a hundred of Ether if his quick calculations weren''t wrong.


    And to think I almost had enough for the mutation. Leo sighed. Not that it really matters. Without Limit Break, I would''ve been dead. Some Ether and additional strain on my soul is a low price to pay instead...


    Swiping the System''s message away, Leo let the next one come forward.


    Collector (LVL: 21) slain | Experience awarded | 53 Ether gained


    Huh? Leo''s eyes widened just a bit. Twenty-one? Bloody hell, how? Were they born with a higher level, or is it something else? I mean, there are hundreds of corpses inside, but no way that''s enough. Not for so many Nightmares...


    He shook his head. Nothing good would come from thinking about it. There was no way to find the answer now, and Leo had plenty of better things to worry about. Somehow, Nightmares'' horrifying growth speed was low on the list of his troubles...


    At least I got back almost half of the Ether I lost. Not bad overall. Leo shrugged, checking the total number again. Still not enough for the mutation, but nothing a dozen or two of Voidlings can''t change.


    With that, the notification disappeared, only to be replaced by another one, a much more welcome one.


    Level 16 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Suppose a level twenty-one beast had to be enough to bring me over the edge. Leo hummed, slowly considering his choices. I could go for the same distribution as before. Or maybe put more into Might if this fight taught me anything...


    Yet even if the prospect of becoming harder to kill sounded quite nice to Leo''s ears, his gaze hovered over the Mind attribute. Forty-six with all effectiveness boosts. With one more coming from class and race each, I only need two more for ascension...


    At that moment, the choice that came with each level disappeared. Leo remembered the burst of power that appeared with the last ascension, the difference between a Mortal and a Supernatural. Nothing could compare to that, definitely not a few points in Might just to make his trip back a bit easier.


    System. Put all points into Mind.


    At once, every single ounce of Essence inside Leo''s soul came to a halt. His mind cleared, focused entirely on the mythical energy capable of anything. And then, like never before, his thoughts touched the frozen power that seemed so far, yet closer than ever.


    To Leo''s surprise, his Essence didn''t run or try to escape his phantom hold. Instead, it intertwined with his thoughts, with his mind, strengthening the connection between the two to heights he never expected to see, to feel.


    And just like that, the process finished, Leo''s Essence resuming its lazy flow inside his soul. However, the newly formed connection never disappeared; his mind now constantly intertwined with the energy as it waited for a command.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Then have it¡­


    With naught but a thought, Leo summoned his Essence outside. Before he could even blink, it rushed out, forming a perfect, solid crimson orb hanging above his open palm.


    "Holy¡­" Leo muttered as he ordered the orb to change shapes each second. Not once did it waver, and not even for a moment did it require direct contact with his skin for more Essence to flow into it. "So much control¡­"


    Not waiting another second, Leo gave his soul another tug, and shadows dived out. A long spear formed, floating in the air without any chain linking it back to his body. Hell, it even changed shapes just like the orb did.


    This is the next step. Leo blinked before hurling the spear forward. At first, everything seemed alright, yet once the construct passed a few meters, it exploded, bursting into a cloud of shadows.


    Despite the failure, Leo had a wide, bloody grin on his face. The ascension of Mind attribute fixed an issue with Creation he had wanted to correct ever since he received this technique. That it didn''t work perfectly on the first try didn''t matter at all.


    Best choice I had made since this bullshit started. Leo admitted as he went through almost every skill he knew. Even Decoy, which he used only once before, barely took a few seconds to form. He didn''t even have to focus too hard on intent for the illusion to slither out of his body.


    And what do you have to say, System? Leo called out, finally dispersing all of his creations. Even if all of this took barely a minute or two, the clock was still ticking after all.


    Congratulation! Your Mind ascended past the Mortal Tier (50). Second Supernatural tier obtained.


    Thanks to your Mind ascending to the Supernatural Tier, your Essence Control skill has evolved. Congratulations! Soul Arts skill gained.


    Soul Arts (Rare)


    Like every stroke of a painter''s brush, with enough dedication, every single move of your Essence can also become an art. For Soul Arts, imagination is the limit, and now your mind and soul are working together to break past it.


    Effects:


    This skill greatly improves the control over your Essence. Soul Arts remembers everything. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Soul.


    Soul Arts... Similar to what the System said during the awakening. Leo noted, checking the description again. Seems like it''s connected to what I felt during ascension... No idea what ''Soul Arts remembers everything'' is supposed to mean though. Another thing to figure out later...


    Leo shook his head, letting the skill notification fade away. He waited a moment for the next to come and wasn''t disappointed when a message he had previously ignored returned.


    The System has acquired enough information about Wolford''s Graveyard. Do you wish to display the collected assessment now?


    Might as well. Doubt you will have anything new for me here. Not with this kind of message.


    Wolford''s Graveyard | Threat: D- | Status: Fledging Nightmare Factory | Corruption: Stage I (Accelerated)


    I stand corrected...


    Leo swallowed hard. The threat ranking alone should have earned such a reaction from him, but for some reason, that wasn''t it. Instead, his gaze stayed glued to the Corruption part, a pit forming in his stomach.


    Stage one. Accelerated. Leo didn''t know why, didn''t know how, but both he and Hunter, somehow, deep inside, understood what this meant. Darkness. Ever spreading darkness, consuming what remained of the light... Army, legions of Nightmares...


    ''Void. Death.'' Hunter added, earning a shiver from Leo. Those two simple words reverberated through his mind as images flashed before his eyes. Images of horrors his imagination wasn''t capable of conjuring.


    This is bad. Very fucking bad. Leo gritted his teeth, rising from the ground even as half his body throbbed in pain. Any idea how long it will take for things to progress to that point?


    Hunter screeched, denying everything. The beast once more only knew as much as Leo. Disappointing but not surprising at all.


    Again, would be nice if you woke up Nikra. Leo scowled, stopping right at the hole leading back into the mall. This place is a ticking bomb, and I need to know how to defuse it.


    Yet, like each time before, the Old One didn''t answer. Only Hunter''s soft growling filled his mind, with Nikra nowhere to be seen.


    Shit! Leo hissed, walking away from the lone pair of violet eyes watching him from the darkness of the office below. They didn''t move even an inch, evidently not wanting to share the Collector''s fate...


    ''Return. Must.'' Hunter growled again, forcing Leo''s speeding thoughts to come to a halt. The beast most likely recognized that walking in circles, both outside and inside, wouldn''t help anyone.


    I know. I know... Leo squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath. I just don''t have a single idea how to deal with this. Nests I can take. Tainted Wastelands, probably too. But this, Hunter? This is beyond us, beyond anyone here. And I can bet you that there are hundreds, if not thousands, more places like this one...


    This time, Hunter remained silent.


    Leo sighed as he reached the edge of the roof, a few Vetilim webs ready to carry him to a building on the other side of the road. No matter how the System''s assessment of the Graveyard troubled him, Hunter was right. They had to go back.


    Can''t do much more than warn them anyway. We are all too weak to do anything about this place. Leo admitted even if it hurt him to do so. Weak didn''t survive in this world, and if nothing changed, he and everyone he cared about would die.


    Adapt or die, Leo. Adapt or die. There is nothing in between.

 Chapter 95. Plans

    Leo crouched on yet another Vetilim covered roof, his hand coming to rest upon the living matter. Essence slipped out of his soul with barely a thought, the crimson pulse covering the entire building and area below. It returned faster than ever, even bringing back the energy used on the skill but no new information.


    Empty, like all previous ones. Only Voidlings and zero signs of ordinary life. Leo sighed, rising to his feet.


    Despite wanting to return to the Safe Zone as fast as possible, Leo decided to make a small detour and fulfill his promise to Ava. Not that it was the only reason for the delay. After all, no matter what deal he made with Holden, there was no real trust between them yet.


    Such things took time to build up. And so Leo didn''t want to show up at the Safe Zone until most of his bones stopped screaming in pain with every move.


    Paranoid? Definitely, but taking precautions like this was necessary to survive in this messed-up world. It was either that or risk ending up with a few arrows between his eyes.


    Happy thoughts... Happy thoughts. Leo snorted, looking around the small neighborhood again. He had already searched Ava''s old home in and out, then scanned the entire area, hoping to find any survivors.


    Not that he succeeded. Only Voidlings, corpses, and more Voidlings greeted him around those parts of Wolford. And even though he didn''t find any remnants of Ava''s family here, their fate was quite obvious with the number of monsters walking through the streets.


    That is if they were even here to begin with. Leo frowned, watching the tens of Voidlings mingle on the streets below. Could have escaped in the beginning and joined a different group, as unlikely as it sounds...


    Shaking his head, Leo pushed those thoughts away. Wondering about what-ifs and maybes wouldn''t achieve anything. Not now, not ever. Besides, with the pain in his chest turning into an annoying ache, the time had come to go back.


    I did what I could for now, Ava. Hope it will be enough. Leo thought and jumped on the closest Vetilim web, a new destination set. I have an hour at best before the Night comes. Have to hurry...


    Leo''s initial plan for the way back had been to visit a few more places, the Tainted Wasteland and Shadow Tail Nest being the main pitstops. He thought of going there even in his injured state, but once Hunter brought forth a certain memory about the former place, he reconsidered.


    Leo might be stronger now and didn''t have a death wish like he used to after finding Nick. However, approaching the Wasteland still seemed like a dumb idea in his current state.


    To think my bloodthirsty part has more common sense than me. Ironic... Leo huffed, sprinting across rooftops and Vetilim platforms. I swear, this is all yours and Nikra''s fault.


    Hunter sniggered. ''We. One.''


    Screw you. I liked you more when you couldn''t use normal words.


    The beast only laughed louder.


    <hr>


    Good, they took everything. Leo noted, stopping at the familiar clearing in the forest behind the Safe Zone. Nothing remained in the area except for the multiple smears of blood leading into the bushes. Well, almost nothing, as he had spotted a few torn-off limbs peaking through the tall grass.


    Must have happened during the transport... Or something else came here and ate all the bodies. Just the thought alone pulled a grimace on Leo''s face. Yeah... Let''s hope not. I don''t want to know what could have eaten such a big pile this quick without Drain or some similar ability.


    Leaving the clearing behind, Leo sprinted towards the Safe Zone, summoning the scarves out of his soul. He quickly covered his head and pulled his hood up. He didn''t like hiding like this, but Holden was right.


    No reason to spread panic due to his appearance alone.


    Alright, Holden, let''s see if you kept your word. Leo mused, raising his hand and knocking on the warehouse''s backdoor. At first, only silence met his call, but then the entrance opened just wide enough for a familiar face to appear in the gap.


    "It''s you," the man murmured, opening the door a bit wider.


    Leo tilted his head. "Evan, right? Holden clued you in?"


    The leather-clad man nodded. "Wait here for a moment. I will get Tony." Without even a warning, Evan shut the door, leaving Leo alone on the other side.


    Rude. He snorted. At least Holden didn''t back out. That would have been a shame...


    Time passed, maybe a minute or five, before the door opened once more. This time, Holden stood in the entrance, changed out of his armor. Although the same crimson blade still hung at his side.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "You came," the man stated the obvious. "With the night around the corner, I thought I would need to wait until tomorrow. Glad I was wrong."


    "Yeah, yeah," Leo waved him off, knowing they were on the timer. "Gonna let me inside? We better hurry if you don''t want me to stick around after the dark."


    "Aye, you''re right," Holden nodded, stepping out of the way. "Come, Hale, and don''t look around too much. We have people in the warehouse who aren''t aware of you. I would like it to stay that way for now."


    Leo shrugged but didn''t argue as he followed the leader inside. They really didn''t have time for unnecessary bickering...


    They entered the same room he had met Ava in and took a seat on the opposite sides of the table. This time, no one accompanied them, leaving the duo to speak freely.


    "Let''s get the obvious out of the way first. Did you find my people? Anything?" Holden asked.


    Leo shook his head. "I followed almost the exact path you gave me, but no one was there. Or at least no one I could see. Maybe they will still return, but I wouldn''t count on that. Not with what I found."


    Holden furrowed his brow. "Elaborate."


    "Wolford''s mall got turned into a Graveyard, with capital G. The place is even recognized by the System under such a name, but it didn''t want to give me any more info without going in."


    "I take you did exactly that," Holden stated more than asked.


    "Yeah, and almost died," Leo nodded, wincing a bit. "That place is a fucking breeding ground for Nightmares, Holden. Much worse than the Nests I have seen... Corpses hanging from the ceilings with dozens of those monsters sleeping on the ground. A hell on earth."


    Of course, Leo didn''t stop his explanation at that. No, he also described in detail how he discovered the existence of a third type of Nightmares, monsters with the potential to become even more dangerous than a Collector and Scouter combined.


    "Bloody hell," Holden cursed at the end, running a hand through his long hair.


    "That was my reaction too, just more colorful," Leo snorted. "At least until those bastards decided to wake up and give me a heart attack."


    "But you escaped. How?"


    "Had a headstart, a few Ether Flares, and I''m fast," Leo pointed out. "Not that it stopped one of the Collectors from following me out of the mall. That''s where I almost died, not inside."


    Even though Holden tried to keep most emotions from showing on his face, his eyes still widened a bit. "They can go outside during the day? We thought there must be a reason for their nocturnal nature, but if what you say-"


    "I wouldn''t worry too much," Leo cut him off. "You''re right. There is a reason they don''t walk around during daytime, and that''s because they literally can''t. Or at least not for long... Sunlight burns them. In a matter of two minutes, barely anything remained of the Collector that followed me."


    "That''s... good," Holden took a deep breath, his expression turning cold again. "We are nowhere ready to face Nightmares."


    "No one is."


    The leader nodded. "Aye... So the mall is out. Not good, not good at all."


    No need to tell me that. Leo sighed. The mall really seemed like the best place for a Safe Zone, but the universe evidently had different plans. What''s new...


    "You need to tell everyone to stay away from that place," Leo pointed out before Holden could change the subject. "Nightmares are one thing, but after I got out, the System gave me some information about the Graveyard. A similar amount to what Identify gives you when used on a Voidling."


    Holden looked at him pointedly, and Leo elaborated. "It mentioned something about Corruption and it being in the first stage. I have no idea what it exactly means, but in my opinion, no one should even come close to that building. Better to be safe than sorry."


    "I''ll do that. Nobody will even think of it once I mention Nightmares. All of us here have seen those beasts, and no one wants to face them," Holden explained before going silent for a moment. "As much as it pains me to say it, with the mall out of the question, nests are our only choice left."


    "There are two we know of, not including the Ameists," Holden continued. "The first is in the old church. You should know which one, you worked near it after all... Can''t tell you what it houses, but the System calls them Soullings."


    Leo grimaced. Nothing with ''soul'' in its name could be an ordinary monster. Besides, the area around the church was quite populated. Not the best place to move a group to if they were to survive.


    Thus, he decided to ask, "And the other?"


    "It''s in the area where every damn company has a warehouse. This one houses some kind of a cat, Shadow Tail."


    "I know this one," Leo interrupted. "Been there a few days ago and even fought against a few. If you want my opinion, this is a good place to start. Unless you have other ideas."


    Holden nodded. "No, and Clara and I''ve thought the same... That area should be safer than the church, and I would rather not have my people live near the middle of the city... Now, are you still willing to help?"


    Stupid question. As if I would fully leave Adam''s and Ava''s safety in your hands now that I have found them. Leo almost snorted. "I am. And if you want, I might be able to clear the nest alone."


    This earned a raised eyebrow from Holden, "Oh?"


    "It''s quite simple really," Leo grinned slightly, raising his hands. Instantly, two long blades of shadows formed above them. "You see, normally, those cats can be quite annoying to fight against thanks to their use of shadow affinity... I don''t have such a problem."


    Holden swallowed visibly and muttered, "So Tyler didn''t lie about this."


    Leo rolled his eyes. Of course he was the one to reveal everything I could do. Why am I not surprised?


    "So?" He asked when Holden refused to say anything else.


    The man blinked. "Forgive me, got lost in thoughts... As for the nest... Are you sure you can do it?"


    "No," Leo replied instantly. "A lot could have changed since I''ve been there. That''s why I will go there tomorrow and test the waters. If going solo proves too hard, I will come back, and we can go with whatever plan you already have or will have."


    "I can work with that," Holden nodded. "Just have one request for you... I would like for someone to go with you tomorrow. Not to fight, but observe the nest. I want to know how they function inside and outside."


    Leo narrowed his eyes, not really liking the idea. Unfortunately, he also didn''t really have good reason to disagree. "Fine," he almost spat. "But make sure that they stay out of my way... Also, I won''t slow down for them."


    "That''s not a problem," Holden answered. "Clara can handle herself and will catch up if necessary."


    Her? Really? You want me to kill her or what? Leo grumbled with a sigh. "Whatever... Now tell me, how is Adam?"

 Chapter 96. After Dark

    "Adam..." Holden muttered, meeting Leo''s eyes. "He is fine, more than that. Whatever you really did back then, it calmed him down... Ever since he woke up, he didn''t act hostile once. We don''t even need Ava anymore to talk to him."


    Leo sighed in relief. It seemed like providing Adam with Essence from an Akirian did more good than harm. Still, the way Holden said all of this hinted that something could be wrong.


    "You don''t sound too pleased," Leo noted, instantly noticing the slight grimace that almost claimed the other man''s face.


    "It''s not that... God knows it made the day a bit easier, especially when we delivered the dead Voidlings," Holden shook his head lightly. "No, what worries me is Adam''s continuous growth... He leveled up again, Hale, and it took only about half of the corpses you left to get there."


    Shit. Leo cursed. That means Adam is already level eight, only one ¡ª no, wrong, two now ¡ª below Holden. I get why he is worried now... Not much we can do about it though. It''s either that or let the Void''s curse consume Adam completely. And I won''t allow that.


    "This might be for the best," Leo tried to make it sound better than it probably was. "Each level is bringing him closer to evolving. It is still the only way to cure him... Unless you lot discovered something when I was gone."


    "I wish we did, but no," Holden furrowed his brow. "And you don''t understand. Adam is growing faster than anyone here, even me. Last time he went into a frenzy, it took three people to subdue him. None of them got away unscathed."


    Leo growled. "I don''t know what you want me to tell you, Holden. This is the only way. Besides, as you said, he is better now. Maybe it will stay like that for the time being."


    After a moment, Holden nodded. "We can only hope... We have enough problems as it is."


    On that we can both agree. Leo almost snorted before a thought struck him like lightning. Hmm, I might have something to soothe your mind anyway.


    "Listen," he began. "Not sure if it will make you feel any better, but when I was a Tainted Human, the System locked me from leveling any further when I reached level ten. The same might apply to Adam."


    "That''s... good to hear. Very good," Holden leaned back in his chair, his body relaxing ever so slightly. "If that''s the case and he won''t evolve right away, then I, and maybe a few others, just might be able to do it first. Should give us another safety net."


    Leo perked up, eyebrows raising. "How far away are you?"


    Holden hesitated for a moment. "Two Crystalized Essences away from unlocking the recommended evolution. Depending on what it is, I would like to go for it. The one I have available now isn''t bad, but it also doesn''t offer much."


    Not bad, not bad at all. Leo hummed, hiding one of his hands behind the cloak. Essence surged out instantly, removing two small objects out of his soul. Hope you appreciate this...


    Pulling his arm out of the cover of the cloak, he slid the tiny glowing rocks across the table and left them there. Holden''s eyes widened, his gaze jumping between the Crystallized Essences and Leo.


    "What?" The man muttered.


    "Think of it as a token of trust," Leo explained. "Also, I recommend having someone you trust close by when you finally evolve. Nothing to worry about, but the process can be overwhelming at the end."


    Holden, as if he barely registered Leo''s words, asked back, "Are you sure, Hale? Those things are rare. Bloody hell, we only managed to gather three since the beginning."


    Leo frowned. Three? With Adam draining Voidlings for them, they should have a whole pile... Fuck, either they are unlucky, or Adam is somehow draining the crystals too.


    "Take them. If you and your people are to protect my family when I''m not here, I need you all to be stronger," Leo said instead, leaving the mystery of Crystallized Essence for now. "And you should ask Dylan about those crystals. I explained to him how to get them more easily."


    Holden looked like he wanted to question him further but nodded instead. "I will do that, and thank you, Leo, this will definitely speed things up," he said, standing up. "Now, while I know you would probably like to see Ava and Adam, I fear it will have to wait until tomorrow. Nighttime is almost here, and I can''t let you stay. It''s too risky."


    I could probably stay in this room, and no one would notice, but whatever. I have some stuff to do outside anyway. And I don''t really want to be trapped here.


    "I expected as much," Leo shrugged, raising to his feet. "Before I go, I have something else for you," he reached within his cloak again and removed the bag with medical supplies. "Here, that''s all I could gather. Maybe you will find some use for it."


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Holden took the offered bag right away, sparing only a short glance inside before thanking Leo again. From there, the two left the room and went straight for the exit from the small warehouse.


    "Good luck out there, Leo. I will see you tomorrow morning," Holden offered his hand.


    Accepting the handshake again, Leo tipped his head and sped out through the open door. He shivered as the Safe Zones barrier washed over his body, letting him leave.


    Alright, I better be quick about it. Leo took a deep breath as he sprinted towards the old trainyard. The night might be close, but he still had one more hunt to finish.


    <hr>


    Just in time. Leo sighed as he slid into an empty house just when the last rays of the Sun disappeared behind the Horizon. A moment later, the System also delivered its usual message, signaling the true beginning of the night.


    In a record time, Leo barricaded the same bathroom he had used during the last night, and plopped down on the floor. Only then did he let another notification from the System appear.


    Congratulations! Task, Extermination: Earth finished successfully. Do you wish to receive your rewards now?


    Yes, Leo answered, grinning as the Ether counter jumped up, filling it a good dozen above what he needed. Thank the Void for those bloody ants. Anything stronger and I would be in deep shit in my current state.


    Ether: 768


    "And now, I have enough," Leo chuckled, wincing instantly as the few partially broken bones reminded him of their existence again. His healing factor had already fixed most of the worst injuries, but there was still some stuff left.


    "Let''s see."


    Mutation: Enhanced Vision (Gamma Tier)


    For many, vision is the most essential sense. So why not make it stronger? Let nothing hide from you with this mutation. Follow your prey where the light doesn''t shine.


    Effects:


    Grants slightly improved eyesight along with strong night vision. In the event of vision loss in the past, this mutation will repair all damages and make your eyes slightly more resistant to damage.


    Requirements: 750 Ether, Eyes from a level 15+ beasts, 2 Crystalized Essence.


    Required components detected within the User''s Soul Well. Do you wish to proceed with this mutation? Estimated time to complete: 1 hour


    I do indeed. And no, I''m not destroying my current eyes just to make them a bit stronger. I''m not that desperate yet, Leo commented, and the System listened right away, replacing the mutation''s description with another notification. One hour, though? A bit long, but nothing I can do about it.


    Choice Acknowledged. Beginning Mutation. You can proceed with whatever actions you want, User, as long as they don''t impact your eyes.


    Instantly, Leo''s vision darkened, tingling spreading across his eyeballs. While before, he could see the dark contours of the bathroom, now even repetitive blinking didn''t change a thing.


    He was blind...


    The first minute passed as the tingling grew stronger and stronger. It was as if someone kept stabbing Leo''s eyes with tiny needles, injecting liquid fire into them. Nonetheless, he just gritted his teeth and leaned against the wall.


    Well... the System said I don''t need to wait for the process to end. Might as well try to focus on something productive. Leo decided. However, it was easier said than done, thanks to the System burning his eyeballs inside out.


    Let''s just try...


    Shadow Essence spilled out of Leo''s body in waves, directed to float a foot or so above his hands. Even with his focus wavering with every spike of pain, he commanded the cloud of shadows to change shapes, each more complicated than the previous one.


    He tried to make the constructs as solid and stable as possible, going a step further than he did in the past. Projectiles that didn''t burst into a cloud of shadows were his end goal, and he would reach it no matter what.


    Time flew by as Leo''s mind slowly learned to deal with the constant pain. It all faded away as only images of shadow weaponry remained in his head. He soothed every imperfection, and filled every gap before destroying the construct and starting anew.


    The lack of sight taught him much in this short time. He learned how to see his Essence in detail without truly seeing. Hell, he even managed to sense particles of energy in the air not tainted by the night.


    As such, it was no surprise when the System announced its presence before the mutation process finished. A completely new notification flowed into his head, letting Leo read it without his eyes.


    Shadow: Creation (Adept)


    A technique born thanks to the User''s relentless practice and the will to improve. Creation is the base of anything in the Universe, and now the shadows are ready to be born stronger than before. The User''s current mastery improves the quality and the speed at which the constructs are created even further. Additionally, a direct connection to the creator is no longer necessary.


    There it is. Leo smiled, letting the shadows around him dissipate. Now, his affinity could become a true offensive power, not just a supplementary one. Although, I wonder how I can improve it even further. What else is there to shadow creation?


    However, before he could even give the subject more thought, the burning in his eyes disappeared.


    Mutation completed. You may open your eyes, User.


    "What? When did I even close them?" Leo muttered as he realized that his eyes, indeed, were closed. Okay, the moment of truth.


    Inch by inch, Leo''s eyelids rose, filling his vision with shades of grey and violet. Nothing could hide from his sight now, not even the darkest corner of the bathroom.


    Is this how some animals see the world after dark? Leo marveled, scanning every inch of the room. Night vision was one thing, but the quality of his eyesight also improved, even if not by that much...


    Finishing the inspection of the bathroom, Leo picked up a shard of glass and gasped at the wide, glowing violet orbs staring back at him.


    Wow...

 Chapter 97. Dreams

    At least that''s one thing to cross off the list. Leo sighed, unable to stop his gaze from wandering all over the bathroom. The excitement of seeing everything so clear yet so different during the night just wouldn''t leave him. The new color palette will take some getting used to...


    Not even trying to make his eyes stop their constant inspection of every broken tile, Leo tried to focus his mind on something else in the meantime. Like for example, practicing his old skills with his newfound control.


    He did test most of them when his Mind attribute ascended, but back then Leo didn''t have much time to do more. Now, with the whole night ahead of him, he could progress his mastery over almost every skill he possessed. Hell, he might as well experiment a bit and find a way to evolve a skill or two.


    Wishful thinking. Not that it will stop me from trying. Leo grinned, flexing his Essence. The energy answered right away, the tug of war from before the ascension almost nonexistent. First things first. Kiss of Death.


    Minutes flew by as Leo entered a trance. Even with eyes open, his focus remained purely on the Essence swirling around his body, listening to his every command. He formed skill after skill, each time doing it faster than before.


    With each attempt, Leo discovered more and more flaws within his abilities. These imperfections, which he had never noticed before, were now laid bare before him, taunting him. And so he crushed them all to dust, leaving only perfection behind...


    Sometime during his experimentations with Decoy, Leo yawned, breaking his focus. He blinked, suddenly having to fight the urge to close his eyes. It had been a while since he felt such a big wave of exhaustion hitting him all at once.


    Right... I haven''t devoured anything for quite some time now. Leo admitted with another yawn. Should have expected this, especially after getting injured and not sleeping for a few days straight.


    Leaning hard against the wall, Leo slipped his eyes shut, any thought of practicing his abilities forgotten. Darkness slowly crawled into his mind, lulling him to sleep for the first time in about seventy-two hours. Even Hunter gave in, falling into the embrace of the dark.


    After all, even monsters have to rest sometimes.


    <hr>


    You managed to survive the Night outside a safe zone. Zero Voidlings or survivors killed. Congratulations.


    Limit Break reactivated. Devour reactivated. Your soul has recovered.


    Leo groaned, popping his joints as he stretched his limbs. Although not the worst morning he had experienced, being abruptly jolted awake by a blaring alarm from the System didn''t make it particularly pleasant.


    At least it didn''t let me sleep through the day. That''s always something. Leo sighed and proceeded to unbarricade the door. He had yet another long day ahead of him. Doubt those will stop anytime soon. Like they say, there''s no rest for the wicked...


    Bursting out of the ruined house, Leo ran through the almost empty neighborhood until the familiar forest came into view. It wasn''t long until he reached the same clearing from yesterday.


    Empty... Leo tsked. In their hurry, he and Holden forgot to agree on a meeting spot for today. Not ideal, but also nothing to worry about. Safe Zone it is. I need to see Adam anyway...


    Carefully, Leo wrapped the scarves around his head, leaving only his eyes peeking through the gap. Still an imperfect cover, but until they found something better for him, it had to do.


    Wonder who will greet me this time. Leo mused, sprinting back into the forest. The Safe Zone appeared in his sight even faster than yesterday, which was expected since his injuries had mostly healed overnight.


    Knocking on the entrance, Leo took a step back as the door swung open, revealing a familiar red-head.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Great, you''re here," Clara spoke and even offered him a small smile instead of the usual scowl. "Wait a moment. I will get Holden, and then we can go over today''s plan again."


    Yet, even as she said that, the woman didn''t move. Instead, she kept looking at him as if someone kicked her puppy.


    "What?" Leo raised a nonexistent eyebrow, almost expecting the same answer from the last time they saw each other.


    Clara swallowed, finally meeting his gaze. "Listen... I know I made a right bitch outta myself yesterday. I was scared, and my mind kinda shut down when I Identified you... Guess my defense mechanism is being a reckless idiot..." She muttered the last part before shaking her head. "What I want to say is I''m sorry for attacking you and acting like the brat that Dylan brought... So, can we let bygones be bygones?"


    Huh... Leo blinked. Honestly, I didn''t expect that... Even if she''s doing this just to make today''s trip less tense, then good for her... And here I feared I had already met a female version of Tyler. Glad to be wrong sometimes.


    As Clara kept waiting for an answer, Leo tilted his head. "Not going to apologize for calling me ugly though?"


    Evidently, that wasn''t enough to surprise the woman, as Clara took it in stride and only quirked an eyebrow. "Have you seen yourself in a mirror, Hale? Besides, you called me ugly too."


    Leo nodded. "Point taken... And don''t sweat it. Whatever happened yesterday, happened, and that''s all there is to it... And, hey... it''s not like there aren''t other people out there who will react the same or worse."


    "Thanks," Clara muttered. "With everything going on, I just wanted to clear the air between us... Better chances of me surviving out there if you know I don''t plan to shoot you in the back."


    "You don''t?" Leo almost snorted.


    The woman shrugged. "Not now, maybe not ever. You are working with us after all. And despite your appearance, I''m not that stupid to spit in your face again when you''re helping us¡­ Even if you are doing this just to save your family."


    Brutally honest. I think I was really wrong about her. Leo chuckled this time, not able to hold it anymore. "Good to hear that... Now, you should probably get Holden. We''ve been standing here for a bit."


    "Right..." Clara coughed. "We will be back in a sec." And with that, the door closed, leaving Leo alone.


    That''s definitely taking a spot among the top ten of the weirdest conversations I''ve had.


    <hr>


    "We will wait by the exit, Hale," Holden motioned to the warehouse''s back door. "Try to be quick about it."


    Leo nodded, and the leader, along with Clara, walked away, leaving him with Ava right before Adam''s room. Holden didn''t really want to postpone their outing to the Shadow Tail nest, but even he could see the advantage of letting Leo try to talk with his godson again.


    Glancing at the tall woman, Leo took a deep breath. "Well, let''s hope it will go better than the last time."


    "Don''t say that," Ava glared. "Whatever you did, Adam is better now. But just in case, I''m going first now."


    Leo grimaced, not liking the idea. He didn''t want to think about Adam hurting Ava, but with what happened last time, it was still a possibility. I will just need to be fast if anything happens.


    "Alright, ladies first then." Leo bowed slightly, and Ava scoffed as she passed him and opened the door.


    "Adam," Ava called as they stepped inside. "Look who came with me. It''s your uncle, Leo."


    On the other side of the room, the small boy raised his head, a small orb of black Essence disappearing from his hands. "Uncle?" Adam muttered, his mismatched eyes coming to meet Leo''s violet ones. "You are here!"


    Not seeing the same dangerous glint in the boy''s eyes, Leo came closer and took a knee. "Hey, kiddo. How are you?"


    Adam stood up and, with all the delight only a child could produce, ran towards Leo. "Uncle!" The boy squealed and hugged him around the waist with no hesitation. Obviously, having a monster as an uncle didn''t register in the kid''s mind.


    "Got ya," Leo whispered, tentatively returning the embrace. A tear pricked his eye, but he just blinked it away, tightening the hug. "I missed you, buddy."


    Still attached to Leo''s chest, Adam replied, "Really? But Mum said you were here yesterday. You should have come, Uncle!"


    Leo frowned and glanced at Ava, who only shook her head. So he doesn''t remember... Maybe that''s for the best.


    "You know, uncle?" Adam spoke up, retreating from the embrace. "I saw you in my dreams. You are so cool there! Killing all those monsters. I want to be like that too! That''s why I''m practicing and eating all the monsters they give me."


    Okay, didn''t expect that, even if I probably should¡­ Better doesn''t mean back to normal after all. Leo grimaced. And dreams? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?


    "That''s great, Adam," he told the boy, hoping to skip over a part of this conversation. "And what exactly did you see in your dreams?"


    "Everything, uncle!" Adam answered, and if it wasn''t for his cheery tone, it would sound quite ominous. "I saw you fight the freaky stone spider. Run away from a massive monster. And the best one... you killing the huge white ant! It was awesome!"


    Oh shit...

 Chapter 98. Partnership

    He saw my past. My every major fight... How is that even possible? Leo stared wide-eyed at Adam as his mind ran a hundred miles per hour. It doesn''t make any sense! I didn''t do anything to cause that.


    ''Wrong,'' Hunter hissed. ''Life force.''


    You mean Essence? Leo frowned, still not fully understanding what the beast meant. I know I have given him some of mine, but how the hell is it connected to Adam seeing my past? I gave him pure energy, nothing more.


    Hunter growled this time, almost splitting Leo''s head in two. ''Wrong. Again. Remember.''


    With those words, a certain memory reawakened inside Leo''s mind. It flashed right before his eyes, the conversation with Lone Traveler ringing in his ears. He had mostly forgotten about it with everything that had been going on, but evidently, Hunter possessed a much better memory.


    ''Echoes of the past carried by Essence of Universes long dead''... Is this what happened here? Was my Essence really enough to transfer my memories to Adam? Leo wondered as doubts appeared in his head. It still doesn''t make sense... I devoured tens of Voidlings and even two survivors. Not once did I gain a memory from them. Hunter? Any ideas?


    Leo could feel the beast digging all around his head in search of an answer. But just as he expected, Hunter didn''t find anything. They both knew they were missing an essential piece of information, yet they had no way of obtaining it. At least not today.


    That doesn''t change the fact that it is a problem. Leo noted, gazing at the smiling boy. Adam will need those infusions until he evolves... but if he starts dreaming about the Void, about Nikra... Well, then I can just hope he doesn''t babble to anyone...


    ''Secret. Oath,'' Hunter whispered.


    You can¡¯t really trust a kid¡¯s word¡­ Though I guess it doesn''t hurt to try. Leo shrugged and placed a hand on Adam''s shoulder. "Buddy, you have to listen to me, okay?" The boy nodded quickly. "Your dreams... Let''s keep it a secret. Just between you, me, and your mum. No one else needs to know. Think you can do that, kiddo?"


    Even as Leo asked that, he shot Ava a quick, pointed look. He could see the question written all over her face, but now just wasn''t the time to explain everything.


    "Okay!" Adam grinned. "I won''t tell anyone. I promise!" The grin suddenly fell off the boy''s lips as he ducked his head shyly. "Uncle... Can you show me how you fight? Not in dreams. Here. I want to be as cool as you... Maybe then Mum will let me go outside!"


    Leo furrowed his brow. Teach you how to fight... Never thought I would hear a question like this from you, or hell, from anyone... A bit over a week and already almost nothing remains of the old world. Fucking hell...


    Shaking his head, Leo nudged Adam. "I would love to, kiddo, but I can''t today. I need to leave in a few minutes. Maybe another time?"


    Adam raised his head, his mismatched eyes shining brightly. "Promise?"


    "I do," Leo chuckled, ruffling Adam''s dirty hair lightly.


    Of course, he wasn''t planning to teach Adam anything, at least not yet. However, Leo also knew the boy loved to argue when something didn''t go his way, and they had no time for that. Holden and Clara were waiting, and he still had one question for his godson.


    "Adam," Leo spoke up, withdrawing his hand. "Your Mum told me you can''t evolve yet, that you need to wait. Can you tell me why?"


    The boy flinched, taking a step back. "No!" He shook his head. "I''m not ready. I have to wait."


    Okay, so that went just about as I expected... Leo grimaced. "Does the same apply to your possible evolutions? Do you know what they are?"


    Adam froze, fists clenching. "No, uncle. I don''t know, I can''t see anything. I must wait."


    Sharing a brief look with Ava, Leo nodded. "That''s fine, buddy... Don''t worry about it. I just wanted to check, that''s all."


    Back to square one, I guess.


    <hr>


    "What was that about?" Ava asked once they left Adam''s room. "I saw how you reacted when he mentioned his dreams."


    Pausing mid-step, Leo quickly scanned his surroundings just to make sure that no one could hear him. "Those weren''t dreams, Ava."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The woman''s eyes widened slightly. "You mean?"


    Leo nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, my memories... That''s why it needs to stay between us. Do you understand? I might work with Holden now, but I don''t trust them, not enough to spill all my secrets."


    "I won''t tell a soul..." Ava sighed deeply. "But, Leo? ''Massive monster?'' ''Large white ant,'' which I doubt is just an Ameist Warrior? We are going to talk about this later. And no skimming over the details."


    "Be my guest," Leo shrugged. "You need to know what dangers lurk out there anyway, so as long as no one is listening in, I don''t mind telling a story or two."


    "Story, you say?" Ava quirked an eyebrow, a melancholy smile playing on her lips. "It seems not everything has changed yet."


    "No... No, it hasn''t..."


    <hr>


    "Sooo, how do you want to do this?" Clara spoke up once Leo joined her and Holden by the exit. "Tony here tells me that you won''t wait for me. Thanks for mentioning it just now, by the way," she muttered, glaring at her leader.


    Holden only offered her a light shrug. "You will manage. I wouldn''t have agreed to this if I thought you incapable."


    "Yeah, whatever," Clara huffed, turning to Leo. "So what will it be?"


    "That depends... Can you climb and run faster than your average Cursed Runner?" Leo questioned. "Once we enter Wolford, I will be traveling by rooftops and the Vetilim webs only. Much faster and safer that way."


    "I... I should be fine," Clara answered after a moment of hesitation. "I might be a Ranger, but most of my attributes are in Grace. I also know Stealth, so no need to worry about that."


    "Then I guess I will stay somewhat close. Just follow me, and we will get there in half an hour."


    As Clara nodded, Holden squeezed her shoulder lightly and looked at Leo. "I see everything''s under control. I will leave you to it then. And Hale? Please try to be back before nighttime."


    Leo snorted. "Can''t promise anything, but we will try."


    Holden didn''t answer and just walked away. Next to Leo, Clara sighed but also remained silent as she opened the exit and stepped through. He followed, leaving the Safe Zone for yet another time.


    And here I thought I would never even go inside...


    "Lead the way then, Hale," Clara announced, breaking his musings.


    Right then... Leo sighed but didn''t move from his spot. "First things first. Show me your Stealth. Need to know what I''m working with."


    "Huh?"


    Clara furrowed her brow, yet after a moment of silence, did as was told. Light blue sheen escaped out of her body, coating her entire form. With a soft flash, the color disappeared, signaling the end of skill formation.


    Narrowing his eyes, Leo released a weak Hunter''s Pulse. It barely encompassed Clara, but in the end, the ability provided him with all the information he needed.


    Better than the basic version, but still has some imperfections. Overall not bad for a level seven Ranger. Still...


    "Do you have Essence Manipulation or Control?"


    Clara blinked. "The latter. Why?"


    "You should be able to easily fix Stealth and evolve it to a better grade. Have none of the assassins in your group managed that?" A valid question, one Leo needed an answer to for more than one reason.


    Clara shook her head lightly. "Most did and explained the process to the rest. I just haven''t gotten it down yet. I''m close though."


    "I hope so because after this? Until you have True Stealth, you can tell Holden I won''t have anyone without it accompanying me. And that''s unnegotiable."


    "Fair, I guess," Clara shrugged as if she didn''t really care. "Now, we going or not?"


    Leo nodded and activated True Stealth with a small hole just so the sound would have a way out. "We are. Follow me."


    <hr>


    Leo could have left Clara in the dust plenty of times during their journey. And maybe if she hadn''t apologized back in the Safe Zone, he would have run ahead, though he doubted it. In the end, the ranger woman didn''t do much against him. There was no reason to have the death of another person on his head.


    As such, Leo just stayed a bit ahead, planning the most optimal and safest route to reach the nest. They still had to make a few stops and detours, but overall, they managed to avoid almost all Voidlings on the way...


    "So... that''s... it..." Clara huffed, gasping for breath as they stopped on a rooftop a street away from the nest. Apparently, the few pauses they made weren''t enough for the woman to recover from Leo''s fast pace.


    Who would have thought? Leo almost snorted as he gazed down at the Shadow Tail Nest stretching before them. Didn''t change much. Still looks mostly like a warehouse, just a bit bigger than before...


    "You alright there?" He asked, averting his gaze from the nest.


    "Just peachy," Clara grumbled, sitting down. "Give me a five, and I will be as good as new."


    Doubt that, but okay. Leo shrugged. "Fine by me. I have a question for you anyway, so might as well..."


    Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Clara raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    "What''s Holden''s deal with the group at the police station? Just paranoid, or is there something else to it?"


    "He didn''t tell you?" Clara frowned, and Leo shook his head. "Huh, weird. It''s not like it''s a secret. If you asked your sister-in-law, she would know too."


    Leaning against a half-destroyed chimney, she continued, "Basically, some people who now live at the police station were a part of our group in the beginning. As the first two days went by and we housed more and more survivors, Tony and one of his friends had a disagreement about protecting people who didn''t want to go outside and fight."


    Why am I not surprised? Leo mused. If everyone received the same introduction as me, then I can see why some people don''t want to protect freeloaders. Hell, I know I wouldn''t... not without a good reason at least...


    "So the group split and the others went to a place where they could get more offensive supplies," Leo finished for the woman.


    Clara nodded, "Aye, that''s pretty much it. Since then, Tony sends someone there every day to see if they are still alive."


    ''Better to be safe than sorry,'' my ass. Leo chuckled. Holden is just a fucking saint and wants to check if his friend and old group is still alive... Ah shit. And I already killed two of them, not to mention my little attack... Yeah... time to change the subject.


    "What do you know about this nest?"


    Clara blinked, swiveling to face him. "Not much," she answered after a moment. "Just what the Bestiary shows."


    Leo tsked. "Right... That''s nowhere near enough to storm the nest, so listen carefully," he warned and proceeded with all the information he had gathered on the annoying shadow cats. He doubted all that info was still valid, but better this than nothing.


    "Thankfully," Leo added as an afterthought. "I have a way for us to ignore their defense." Forming a solid shadow dagger, he threw it at Clara''s feet. "Here. Overpowering them with Essence might work, but in this case, fighting fire with fire is the best idea."


    Clara slowly picked up the solid construct, flipping it in her hand. "Bloody hell," she muttered. "So you really can do it."


    This? Again? Leo sighed. "Anyway... Use this to kill them if you need to, but overall stay away, just like I agreed with Holden. Understood?" Clara nodded. "So get up; we have a nest to conquer."


    I''m coming, you annoying furballs...

 Chapter 99. Within the shadows

    "Want me to help here, or..." Clara muttered, looking at the street filled with almost ten of normies.


    As Essence enveloped his cloak and hid it inside his soul for the time being, Leo shrugged. He also promptly ignored Clara''s soft gasp upon seeing most of his body exposed for the first time.


    "Do as you want," he whispered back. "Just don''t get in my way."


    Finally recovering from the small shock, Clara mock saluted and removed the bow from her back. She quickly notched an arrow and smirked.


    "Alright. I will cover you from here then... Just in case."


    Leo snorted but didn''t argue, even if he really didn''t need her assistance. At least this way, he might see a bit more of what the woman was capable of.


    Doubt it though... Not enough Voidlings here to show off, and I don''t want to alert the entire area. At least not yet.


    With a light shake of his head, Leo approached the edge of the roof, a few final words leaving his mouth. "Once they are all down, get to the entrance as fast as you can. I will join you as soon as I secure the area."


    Clara nodded. "Roger, roger. Good luck."


    Won''t need it. Not here. Not now. Leo snorted and jumped off the roof, the blades upon his arms extending. A single Cursed Human crashed onto the hard, unforgiving ground along with him, its head exploding like a melon.


    Before any other Voidlings could react, Leo leapt off the corpse, quickly cutting through another beast. At the same time, short shadow blades formed in the air above him. The constructs shot forward like arrows, piercing right through the heads of two monsters.


    Not bad. Gonna need to work on accuracy though. I almost missed a standing target. Leo noted as he skewered one more beast. Devour went to work right away, providing him with a fresh wave of power he had really missed...


    However, even as the Voidling turned to dust, Leo never had the chance to enjoy the rush of strength.


    In the corner of his vision, he caught a streak of blue soaring through the air. No, not a streak, an arrow, one shrouded in the power of Clara''s soul. The projectile flew straight through a Cursed Human''s brain and embedded itself in a wall behind the beast.


    Good aim. Now let''s finish it...


    Whirling around, Leo''s tails, covered in the Kiss of Death, cut right through a couple of Voidlings that tried to use his short moment of distraction. They fell to the ground, blood and gore spilling out of their severed halves.


    Neat trick... To think something so blunt can turn into the sharpest of blades with just a single skill... Thanks Focused Bloodlust for the idea, I guess.


    With so many Voidlings dead in a matter of seconds, only one more normie remained. Yet, unlike its kin, the monster didn''t charge towards its death.


    No... instead, the beast began to back off, one step after another, even as its crimson eyes remained glued to Leo''s form.


    Yeah... I don''t think so. He grinned, shadows surging from his body and coalescing into a long spear above his shoulder. Should have thought about running off sooner. With no further ado, the construct flew like a bullet, going right through the Voidling''s torso and nailing it to the ground.


    The beast screeched, flailing around like a fish out of water. However, before it could do anything else, Leo closed his fist and the shadow spear exploded into tens of tendrils, killing the Voidling on the spot.


    So much control... I wasn''t even sure if I could do that, but I guess I have my answer now. Gonna need to run more tests later on. There is so much untapped potential in my affinity now that my control has skyrocketed...


    Leo shook his head, raising an open hand towards Clara, who was still perched upon the roof. No time for it now though. The nest is waiting.


    And so, with this thought in mind, Leo secured the area in front of the entrance to the nest and waited for Clara to come down. Thankfully, just as the woman proved during their travel here, she was far from slow.


    "So what now?" Clara asked when Leo met her at the entrance. "We going in guns blazing, or you trying to be stealthy? You are an assassin, after all."


    Stealth, eh? Maybe if I had perfected the combination of True Stealth and my affinity, it could work... Without it though? No way. Not in this nest.


    "No use being stealthy here, especially not with you here," Leo explained with a sigh. "So unless you want to stay outside, we go in as we are... Besides, I bet those cats already know we''re here."


    Clara tilted her head. "Huh, you''re probably right. The Ameist Colony always reacts before we even get close to one of the entrances. Shouldn''t be much different here."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Nodding, Leo formed another solid shadow dagger. "Just in case," he said, handing it to Clara. "I have no idea how fast they disappear, so better to have more than one, hmm?"


    The woman slung her bow over her back and accepted the weapon without a word. She then unsheathed the other dagger Leo had given her and motioned to the entrance.


    "Shall we?"


    "Just remember what I told you," Leo said, taking the lead. "Stay back, and don''t attack anything unless it attacks you first. Holden has sent you to observe, so do that and don''t make my work any harder than it already is. Understood?"


    Clara grinned. "Aye, aye, Captain. And if anything happens, I will scream."


    Why do I have to deal with this human... Leo sighed, and out of nowhere, Hunter chuckled within his mind. You too? Really? Ah whatever? You are awake; that''s all that matters... Be on guard. I have no idea what we are really stepping into.


    Hunter growled, and instantly, bloodlust seeped into Leo''s veins, sharpening his senses just a bit.


    Thanks, this should be enough for now.


    Stepping into the familiar reception room, Leo paused in the middle and raised a hand to stop Clara from following. Essence gathered in his body, and he released it all at once, letting Hunter''s Pulse wash over the building.


    Nothing... As expected.


    Nonetheless, Leo didn''t move from his spot, his mutated eyes taking in all the shades of grey and violet across the room. "Come on," he muttered, True Stealth disappearing with a thought. "I know you are here."


    Yet, once more, nothing answered his call.


    Are they scared? Planning something? Leo frowned and motioned Clara to follow. The woman listened right away, bathing the entire reception in a soft blue light as her hand ignited with Essence.


    Huh, not how I wanted to do this. Though baiting thouse furballs out with Clara might be the only way¡­ Guess I will just need to be quick. Leo mused, and instead of following in Clara''s steps, he summoned more shadows out, enveloping his body in a thin protective layer.


    With this done, the duo stepped into the first corridor, or a Vetilim tunnel would be a better name for it now. The walls and floor were utterly irregular and resembled the insides of Amiest''s nest more than the warehouse building that stood here in the past...


    Still nothing. Leo furrowed his brow as they reached the entrance to the main warehouse area. It was wide open yet smaller than what a human would use for a door. They even had to crawl to fit through the opening¡­


    Well shit. His eyes widened as Leo gazed upon the interior of the warehouse. He had seen some of this nest through the window back before the second Cataclysm, but apparently, a lot had changed since then.


    Some sort of labyrinth? He pondered, scanning the three different paths leading into the depths of the building. Vetilim and Corcera walls separated each of them, yet he had already spotted a hole here and there. Unfortunately, none of them were large enough to fit a child, much less a grown-ass human...


    "I know I said to keep distance between us, but it might be best if you stick as close to me as you can," Leo whispered, still not moving from the crossroads. "That, or you can go back. It definitely will be safer that way."


    Clara gulped visibly, considering the offer as her eyes darted to the exit. However, in the end, she just gripped the shadow daggers harder and nodded to him. "Lead the way."


    Leo grimaced but didn''t say anything. He knew this type of person; arguing wouldn''t change their minds. If she dies, it''s not my fault. I doubt Holden will understand that, though...


    Fuelling a bit of Essence into Reinforcement, Leo stepped onto the middle path. He had no idea if this was the right one, but they had to start somewhere...


    There! Leo shouted internally as a small figure darted out of the corner of the path. The lone Shadow Tail hissed at them, barring its tiny fangs.


    Shadow Tail (Voidling) | Rank: F | LVL: 7 | Type: Shadow, Grace, Surface


    Only two levels more than the last one I had seen. Not too bad, but there is something wrong here. There must be a reason why they didn''t attack before.


    Yet, despite showing itself the Shadow Tail didn''t attack. The beast just hissed again and ran deeper into the tunnel.


    "Weir-" Clara tried to mutter but fell silent as the Vetilim walls on each side stirred.


    About a dozen tendrils of the living Void burst out, going straight for them. Leo spun around faster than the Vetilim could move and cut right through the dark matter, one after another. Next to him, Clara ducked and slashed at her attackers, not giving in to such a weak trap.


    Good, maybe she won''t be too useless after all. Leo huffed as the last tendril fell to the ground. And here I hoped that this could happen only during a Cataclysm. Fucking great.


    From there, the duo delved deeper into the tunnel. They had to fight off a similar attack from Vetilim a few more times, but apart from a small cut here and there on Clara, the tendrils didn''t pose any danger to them.


    Unfortunately, a few minutes later, they reached the end of their path, a complete dead-end. Not even a single Shadow Tail decided to show itself this time.


    I really don''t like this. Leo spoke to Hunter, the beast agreeing instantly. They chose to follow the path to the right this time, but just like before, no more Voidlings appeared. It was as if, apart from that single Shadow Tail, the nest was abandoned.


    No, that''s not right. The System gave me the same message as any other time I had entered a nest...


    "Leo?" Clara whispered quite loudly as they finished dealing with the latest Vetilim attack. "Any idea what is going on? I was never inside a nest before, but this just seems wrong."


    "My thoughts exactly," Leo muttered back, keeping the pace of their walk. "I have an idea, but can''t be sure till I..."


    Leo froze as he turned a corner, and his eyes landed on the large open area before him. Instantly, a chorus of hisses and screeches filled his ears, washing away the previous silence.


    So many...


    Leo narrowed his eyes, scanning the tens of Shadow Tails jumping into an active Void Gate, one after another. The ones waiting for their turn glared at him and Clara, probably feeling safe from their position. And not without a reason.


    Overlooking and guarding the evacuation was another Voidling. It stood as tall as a huge dog, its muscular legs tense as the beast growled at Leo. Crimson eyes continued to glare while two long shadow tails swayed behind the monster.


    Well, well, well. If it isn''t a kitty on steroids.


    Guarding Two-tailed Shadow (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 12 | Type: Shadow, Grace, Surface, Special

 Chapter 100. Where you belong

    ''Weak,'' Hunter huffed, summing up the new monster''s capabilities. The beast even retreated a bit deeper into Leo¡¯s mind, judging the Guarding Two-tailed Shadow unworthy of its time.


    He snorted, not really surprised at Hunter''s reaction. This is only the entrance''s guardian. There might be something stronger inside. And if there''s not, I honestly won''t complain. I would rather for this to go as smoothly as it can.


    ''Whatever,'' Hunter grumbled and cut off their connection for the time being. Leo could reactivate it whenever he wanted, but just like the beast said, the monster in front of them wasn''t a real danger to them, not with their matching affinities.


    Then let''s have some fun, shall we?


    Giving Clara a quick glance, Leo nodded back towards the tunnel. "Stay away. I will deal with this as fast as possible... And please, try not to die in the meantime."


    The woman''s eyes darted between the gathering of monsters and Leo. "Aye..." she gulped. "I will leave it to you¡­ Shout if you need help."


    "Likewise," Leo chuckled as Clara retreated. Now, what can you tell me about our new friend, Bestiary?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Guarding Two-tailed Shadow


    Expected Potential: F+ to E-


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Shadows, Jaws


    Known weaknesses: Fragile body


    Special evolution in the Shadow Tail line. Found only in Rifts or Nests of said species. They guard the entrance and exit to their domain with their life. Two-tailed Shadows are unnaturally fast, often felling their prey before it can be noticed. Additionally, as a Guarding variant, they can control the Nest to some degree, and their connection to shadow affinity is slightly better than that of a Shadow Tail. It is advised to only engage those beasts if you possess an ability that disturbs their defense.


    That''s... a lot of information. Leo blinked. Even if most of it is pretty obvious. Thanks anyway, System.


    Rolling his shoulders, Leo extended his blades again and let shadows coat the sharp surface. He didn''t need any ability to deal with the guardian''s defense; he had a whole affinity for this task...


    The Two-tailed Shadow stiffened, and when Leo took a step towards it, the beast hissed. Instantly, the Shadow Tails behind it jumped into higher gear. They all rushed towards the Void Gate, no longer carrying about waiting in a queue.


    Not gonna help you anyway. Leo snorted and, with a surge of Reinforcement, dashed towards the larger-than-average feline.


    Not to be outdone in the complete beginning of the fight, the beast roared and stomped on the ground hard. In response, the entire Nest trembled, and all of the Vetilim surrounding them exploded in movement, giving Leo flashbacks from the second Cataclysm.


    So that''s what ''control of the Nest'' means. Great... Leo grumbled as he had to change his initial direction and dodge an onslaught of Vetilim tendrils. Clara better be alright back there. This might be a bit harder than I thought...


    Leo became a whirlwind of death as all the nearest tendrils closed on him. He cut and slashed at everything in sight while his tails slapped away all the offenders who tried to sneak on him. He didn''t even need bloodlust, focused or not, to do this; his body simply listened to all his demands.


    All the while, the Two-tailed Shadow stayed back, still overlooking the evacuation of its kin.


    Alright, that''s enough. Leo growled, fuelling more Essence into Reinforcement. His speed skyrocketed, and he flew past all of the tendrils, shadow spears once more forming above him.


    The constructs sailed ahead, forcing the guardian to finally leave its spot. Yet, it wasn''t the end of the beast''s troubles as Leo followed with his own onslaught, scattering all the unfortunate Shadow Tails who remained near.


    Fast. Leo admitted as his second slash just barely connected with the monster''s side.


    The Two-tailed Shadow shrieked, and instantly, shadows burst out of its body, hoping to skewer the Akirian. At the same time, Vetilim tendrils also caught up, snapping at Leo like an angry snake.


    Just as annoying as I remembered. Leo cursed, cutting through another swarm. In the meantime, a vast amount of Essence gathered in his body, feeding on every negative feeling that flowed through him.


    Just a bit more... And now!


    At once, hundreds of tiny shadow blades shot out of Leo''s body, raining death upon the entire chamber. The onslaught of Vetilim stopped while the few remaining Shadow Tails fell to the floor, wailing.


    Only the Guarding Two-tailed Shadow stood tall, its eyes blazing with fury.


    Liked that? Leo grinned. A small modification to Eruption, supported by over half of my Essence, and we are finally alone. No more running and hiding.


    The beast hissed, evidently not agreeing with his thoughts. Shadows began to pool underneath it, slowly climbing the Voidling''s body, almost doubling its size. And then, out of nowhere, the overgrown beast split, forming two identical monsters.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "What?" Leo muttered, scanning the Voidlings.


    Guarding Two-tailed Shadow (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 12 | Type: Shadow, Grace, Surface, Special


    Same thing, but each of them has only one tail. Interesting... Not wasting any more time, Leo sprinted forward, his blades covered in both Kiss of Death and shadows.


    On the opposite side, the two beasts refused to meet Leo head-on and sprinted in opposite directions. Before he could reach the nearest one, the Voidlings jumped into the darkness covering the walls around them.


    Now, that''s just rude. Leo scowled as he was left alone in the chamber. For a moment, he considered going back to Clara, yet before that could happen, something moved in the corner of his vision.


    A colossal mass of shadows burst out of the ceiling and shot right toward him, its sharp tip ready to burn a hole through his body. To make matters worse, a second later, a similar construct joined the first, firing from a different angle.


    Leo growled and jumped away, removing himself from the path of each projectile. However, instead of crashing into the ground, the shadow constructs disappeared once more, only to shoot out of a different wall a second later, their target obvious.


    I see how it is... The question is, how to deal with this without taking any unnecessary risks?


    As Leo pondered his choices, the game of cat and mouse continued. With each missed strike, the mass of shadows, that he now recognized as the split Voidling, tried again and again.


    What if I do that?


    The moment both shadows came close, Leo summoned a good chunk of Essence into his hand and let it ignite in a bright explosion of light. A hiss echoed in his ears as he dodged, shielding his eyes with the other hand.


    Alright, maybe I overdid it a bit. Leo snorted as he gazed down at the two swirling pools of shadows on the ground. With nowhere to hide anymore, they tried to reform into their former bodies, yet it was far too late.


    Leo pounced, claws digging into both constructs as Devour surged to consume everything in sight. Muffled screeches exploded from the deformed beasts, but Leo didn''t give in until no Essence remained in their bodies. He had enough of this annoyance.


    Guarding Two-tailed Shadow (LVL: 12) slain | Experience awarded | 31 Ether gained


    Devour consumed: +1 Vision


    And done. Leo sighed as the last of the guardian faded into dust. Not bad, but it could have gone better¡­ Though I pity anyone who will go against it without any ability that affects Essence. It might have reformed if I didn''t have Devour...


    With a light shake of his head, Leo approached the large, square Nesting Gate. A mass of red and violet, filled with thousands of shining stars, swirled within the arch, bringing back the memories of the last Void Gate he had seen.


    Good times... He snorted before calling out loud. "Clara! If you''re still here, you can come out."


    As only silence answered his call, for a moment, Leo began to worry that maybe Vetilim or even his own attacks had killed the woman. Thankfully, just when he was about to enter the Gate, Clara peeked out of the tunnel.


    "Oh thank god you''re alive," she muttered, the light upon her hand illuminating the area. "This is the last fucking time I''m agreeing to Holden''s plan. Those bloody tentacles almost skewered me... Nothing like the hentai I watched on the net..."


    Leo stopped mid step, his eyes snapping towards the woman. Really? That¡¯s what¡¯s in your head now? What is wrong with you people...


    "Shite, I said that out loud, didn''t I?" Clara grimaced, looking anywhere but at Leo.


    Of course you did, for fuck''s sake. He grumbled internally, but on the outside, he just shook his head. "Nah, didn''t hear a thing... So the portal..."


    Clara nodded right away, "Right, the portal. Are we going in now, or do you need to recover? I had only seen a bit of your fight before I had to run, but man..."


    "You''re staying here," Leo cut her off.


    "What? Why?"


    With a long sigh, Leo motioned to the Nesting Gate. "First, Identify it if you haven''t before."


    Clara tilted her head but did as was told. Slowly, a frown claimed her face, and when she finally turned to him, the question burning in her eyes was unmistakable. "This leads to a pocket dimension within the Void? You mean the same Void that fucked up the entire world?"


    Leo nodded. "Yeah... And as someone who had the displeasure of traveling there once, you don¡¯t want to go there as a basic human. I survived only thanks to luck. Doubt you want to risk your life just to make Holden happy."


    Clara flinched as if struck. "Already doing that, but yeah, fuck that. I''m staying on Earth."


    Good choice. No idea if I could protect you inside there.


    Coming even closer to the portal, Leo turned to the woman for the final time. "Then I''m going in... You might want to hide somewhere near the exit. Just in case."


    "I will do that," Clara nodded. "Good luck, Leo. I will be waiting."


    And to think that not even two days ago, you were trying to put an arrow in my head. Leo chuckled and threw the woman the same mock salute she gave him. "Till then."


    Okay... You did this before, Leo. Nothing to worry about. With this thought in mind, he took the first step into the portal, fully expecting to be spat on the other side.


    Only it never happened.


    Unlike the last time, Leo''s steps never faltered. The portal just let him through, washing over him like a small waterfall. Hell, he barely had time to blink before the world of the Void greeted him once more.


    Looks the same as the place where I found Nikra''s shard. Leo mused, staring into the vast nothingness of black and red surrounding him. This is new though...


    While Leo landed on a tiny rocky island that housed the Void Gate, a narrow passage led to another, much larger, floating isle. Anywhere he looked, his vision was filled with shadows, or rather constructs created from them.


    Trees, grass, bushes, and even some barely noticeable ruins stood atop the island. To make it more interesting, Leo had already spotted several Shadow Tails jumping across the trees or entering different shadows and disappearing completely.


    It''s kinda beautiful. Leo admitted, his gaze falling to the dark mist that spilled from the island''s edges, slowly fading into the vast nothingness. A true paradise for any shadow creature...


    Hunter hummed within his mind, the beast finally awake. They both felt the pull towards the island, the natural attraction. However, they also knew that if they were to succeed, this place had to cease to exist.


    Nothing good can last, eh? Leo sighed. Time to get to work.

 Chapter 101. The heart of the Nest

    Think there will be a boss somewhere? Or maybe the System has something else in store for us? Leo sent to Hunter as he stepped on the narrow path leading to the larger island. The vast Void loomed below him, waiting to consume anything unfortunate to fall.


    ''Hiding. Waiting,'' Hunter hissed back, their mind now fully connected.


    I guess you''re right. Leo hummed, scanning the shadow forest not that far away. They just wouldn''t run away and then hide if there wasn''t anything here to protect them. The question is, what?


    ''Soon.''


    Yeah, I know. Leo sighed and sped up a bit. It wasn''t long before the dark, misty grass of the large island consumed his feet. He could feel the artificial plants touching them, yet it was nothing like the real thing.


    Weird but not discomforting. Doubt it would be the same for anyone else though.


    Slowly, Leo steeped into the shadow forest, his eyes and head always moving to take in the sights. Up close, no detail could hide from him, be it the uneven lines in the trees'' bark or soft patterns burned into the leaves. Everything here truly resembled the real thing and, in some cases, seemed even more beautiful.


    I am probably a bit biased. Not everyone can feel the shadows flowing through the entire island like me after all...


    Hunter''s snort echoed through his mind, yet the beast didn''t elaborate on the cause of its amusement. Leo shrugged and kept walking forward, weaving through the shadowy overgrowth.


    He thought about using Hunter''s Pulse to scan the area, but going by what happened in the Earth''s part of the Nest, it wouldn''t achieve much. Shadows provided the Voidlings here with the perfect cover, and despite his ability being at Epic quality, it was either still too weak, or he had no idea how to use it correctly.


    Probably the latter and my Vision attribute being quite shit. Not that I have any more points to spare for it...


    ''Careful,'' Hunter growled suddenly. ''They close. See?''


    Leo nodded, knowing well what the beast meant. Ever since he entered the forest, he noticed tiny figures moving among the trees, observing him. Not once did the small creatures try to attack or even come closer, but the fact remained that they refused to leave him alone.


    Shadow Tails. What an interesting species. From what little we saw, they are probably the best-organized Voidlings I have met till now... Well, not counting the Ameists, but those are ants. Apparently, not even the Void can kill off their original purposes.


    ''Focus.''


    Leo rolled his eyes. I am, but sure, whatever. I probably let my mind drift a bit too much. You can''t blame me, though. There is just too much to think about...


    ''Still. Focus.''


    Yeah, yeah. Leo let out a long sigh, his gaze jumping from one Shadow tail that decided to peek out from behind the tree to another. More are coming out. We are close to something important, or they are preparing an attack. Ready, Hunter?


    The beast answered with a roar, and Leo smirked just a bit. The blades upon his arms extended, already covered in shadows and Kiss of Death. Essence also surged out of his soul, ready to assist his body with fresh Reinforcement.


    Then let''s see what they are hiding. Leo chuckled and broke into a sprint.


    It barely took half a minute, if even that, before he pushed past the last of the inorganic plants and jumped into a vast circular clearing. Nothing seemed really out of place there except for one huge pile of shadows resting in the middle.


    Before Leo could even take the first step toward it, the pile stirred, slowly expanding. A Voidling grew in front of his eyes, starting with a familiar, if much more powerful, feline torso and head. Three pairs of legs followed, along with the same number of overly long tails tipped with a sharp, dark blade.


    Finished with the formation of its body, the monster howled, the wave of sound sending a tremble through the entire island. However, Leo didn''t answer or even move, his eyes still glued to the beast that could easily reach his shoulders.


    An overgrown panther with way too many tails. Leo summed up as the beast''s four hind legs tensed, ready to jump into action. And its coat... It''s like the thing is just another shadow construct. Only it isn''t.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Apex Shadow Claw (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 16 | Type: Shadow, Grace, Surface


    Well, Hunter, you wanted a good fight. I think you just got your wish. Leo grimaced. Apex Voidling. I don''t think this will be anything like our fight against the Ameist Queen. But hey, it at least isn''t listed as a Special type; that has to count for something.


    However, despite the Apex Shadow Claw most likely taking the top spot of the monsters Leo faced, he didn''t worry. Bloodlust and buddling excitement seeped into his veins, screaming at him to take action. Those feelings might not have been entirely his, but he embraced them nonetheless, Hunter howling in glee in his mind.


    Bestiary.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Shadow Claw


    Expected Potential: E- to E+


    Weapon of choice: Shadows, Tails, Claws, Jaws


    Known weaknesses: Essence reserves


    An evolution in the Shadow Tail line. Just like their lesser kin, they hunt alone yet do not fear head-on confrontations. Almost every part of their bodies evolved to become a weapon, and each Shadow Claw knows well how to utilize them in a fight. Additionally, their control over shadows is superior to any other species of the same ranking. Unfortunately, they are often incapable of using any major techniques due to using most of their Essence to sustain their unique bodies.


    Apex variant: Only encountered inside nests. Thanks to the nature of the nests, Apex Shadow Claws often form a deeper connection with them, thus eliminating their worst weakness.


    Strong, Leo and Hunter thought at the same time.


    Unlike with the Guarding Two-tailed Shadow, the System didn''t spare any details. A welcome surprise as this Voidling definitely wasn''t in the same class as the Amesit Queen. They needed this info if they wanted to win or even survive.


    No weaknesses though. Leo grimaced, preparing himself to jump into battle. Gonna need to test it fully first. I want to know what it can do before forming a better plan.


    Yet, before Leo could even move, the Voidling acted first, its three tails stabbing into the ground.


    For a moment, nothing happened. But then a rumble shook the earth beneath Leo. Reinforcement filled his body as he jumped high, just barely avoiding getting skewered by a large cluster of black spikes that erupted from the ground.


    Not that it was the end of the danger. The second Leo landed, the earth shook once more, forcing him to dodge to the side. Of course, it would be too much for the Voidling to stop there, and so he had to roll away from another eruption of spikes before he could breathe again.


    Three eruptions. One for each tail. Leo noted, slowly letting more and more bloodlust fill his body and mind. I wonder how often it can do this.


    It was a wrong question to ask as the Apex monster took it upon itself to prove that it didn''t have any cooldown, thus jumpstarting the game of cat and mouse. Only this time, Leo wasn''t idle and rushed the beast.


    With a roar, he took the first swing at the beast, missing by just an inch as the Voidling jumped and spun mid-air. Its tails came free from the ground and lashed out, the sharp-tipped edges hoping to skewer their enemy on the first try.


    Not today. Leo growled, battling the tails away with his own blades. His own affinity also answered the call and formed a few spears that instantly flew at the Voidling that landed a few feet away.


    The Apex hissed, slapping the projectiles with his paws as if they were annoying flies.


    As expected. Probably nothing short of a powerful Eruption will do anything here.


    With this thought in mind, Leo jumped into the fray again, Reinforcement burning through his muscles. He was faster than the beast, not by a small margin at that. Yet, despite this, the Voidling had three tails and at least two other limbs to help against his onslaught.


    To make matters worse, the beast often used one of its tails to create another eruption of spikes. As a result, more than once Leo had to retreat, with blood slowly coating his body in red. There was just too much to defend against, and he had only two limbs, as his own tails, while useful, weren''t as mobile or long as the Voidling''s.


    A thought for another day. Leo flinched, cradling his left arm. I think that''s enough playing around. If it got anything else, I can''t force it to act when I am like this.


    Hunter screeched in agreement, and another surge of bloodlust exploded through Leo''s body and mind. However, this time, it didn''t stop there; he led it right into his soul, creating a full circle between the three pillars.


    "Focused Bloodlust," Leo growled, the pain forgotten as his mind cleared, red hues appearing in his vision. "Come, kitty, show me what you got."


    With renewed strength and Reinforcement boosted through the roof, Leo attacked, throwing swing after swing at the massive cat. The Voidling didn''t back down and defended as well as it could, all of its limbs working together in a battle of dominance.


    The first time Leo scored a cut across the beast''s front leg, the Apex howled, shadows immediately gathering around the wound. It didn''t matter, though. A familiar silvery glow finally appeared on the Voidling''s body, giving Leo another push.


    His speed somehow doubled for a second, and the Voidling just barely dodged, trying to follow up with a tail strike of its own. However, it was all for naught. Leo slid under the limb and brought one of his blades down, the edge igniting with crimson fire the moment it connected with the Apex''s side.


    Phantom Erasure.


    The power of the strike alone almost knocked the beast off its feet. Regardless, not even a second passed before the deep wound exploded, filling the entire island with a pained howl.


    "End of the road, beast," Leo hissed, pouncing once more.


    With plenty of silver spots scattered across the Voidling''s body, Leo had an easy way forward. Or at least it should have been easy...


    Halfway through his dash, the Apex suddenly roared and stomped hard on the ground.


    Every single warning bell rang inside Leo''s head. He tried to jump, to dodge what he knew was coming, but there was no time.


    Like a wave, the earth exploded all around the Apex, spikes erupting right after. No inch of the clearing was spared from the same fate.


    Leo screamed as one of the spikes went right through his left shoulder. Another tried to pierce his leg, but even through the pain, his body listened and shifted to avoid the maiming. His tails also acted on their own, wrapping around the slowly disappearing spikes to stop the descent into the sea of pain.


    Fucking hell, Leo hissed, jerking his shoulder off the spike. Blood splurted in waves out of the hole, but he didn''t care. Only rage and never-ending hunger now flowed through his veins.


    "You will die."


    All the spikes finally disappeared, leaving the earth upturned yet safe again. Leo stepped forward, his tunnel vision not breaking away from the growling Voidling on the other side. With another step, the beast finally reacted, plunging two of its tails into the ground.


    Only no new spikes appeared. Instead, by the Apex''s sides, shadows rose, slowly shifting into two more monsters, their ruby eyes glinting.


    Leo didn''t stop.

 Chapter 102. Synchronize

    ''Enough!'' Hunter roared, their connected minds trembling.


    Leo froze, his steps faltering. Most of the bloodlust coursing through his three pillars withdrew, the insatiable hunger and want for blood following right after. It didn''t feel much different from that one time when Lily dropped a bucket of ice-cold water on his head.


    What? Leo grimaced, his right hand coming to rest on the hole in his shoulder. With Focused Bloodlust mostly gone, the flickering flame of pain reignited, turning into a fiery inferno. What did you do, Hunter? We need to end it fast!


    ''Refocus,'' the beast hissed, and a sudden surge of Essence rushed into the open wound, lessening the pain. ''Can''t win. Not like this. Look.''


    Not even moving his hand away, now drenched in red, Leo followed Hunter''s command, his gaze returning to the Voidlings in the distance. During Focused Bloodlust, he didn''t notice it, but the two new additions to the battlefield were unidentifiable. The skill just wouldn''t work on them...


    Constructs. Leo frowned. It fucking created two living and breathing monsters to fight. I thought it just split like the guardian... Shit. Think it can create more?


    Hunter growled, bringing forth a short memory of Shadow Claw''s entry from Bestiary. It was barely a flash, a few lines of text, yet it was more than enough for Leo to understand.


    Fuck... I thought that only meant a bit more Essence to play with, not unlimited power! How broken is this shit?


    Yet, as this realization finally hit him, Leo had no idea how to deal with it. He had tried almost everything, and the Voidling matched him each time. Hell, even Phantom Erasure, fuelled by Focused Bloodlust, only made the beast more furious.


    Well, it''s covering the side I hit, so it wasn''t all for nothing, Leo noted, watching the Shadow Claw hide behind its constructs. However, I''m not much better off. It bloody hurts...


    He could, of course, try again. Submerge in Focused Bloodlust, push Reinforcement to its current limit, and even add Limit Break to the mix. A combination like this should make quick work of any other Voidling, but would it really be enough here?


    Could Leo''s full power defeat a beast capable of commanding the shadows of the entire island without breaking a sweat? Not to mention the tens of Shadow Tails hiding in the trees all around them?


    And here I thought it would be a good match-up. Leo chuckled bitterly through the pain. Maybe if I didn''t have a bloody hole in my shoulder, I could continue, but is it really worth the risk now? I can try again later. Heal up with Devour and come back with a better plan now that I kn...


    ''No,'' Hunter growled, cutting him off. ''End it. Now.''


    Leo narrowed his eyes. What? You just said we can''t win. What''s with the change of heart? And be quick. I doubt it will just let us stand here for much longer.


    ''Trust me?'' Hunter asked out of nowhere, the demonic voice unusually quiet.


    You''re a part of me. We live together. We fight together. If I can''t trust you, then can I even trust myself? Leo answered honestly, even if the question baffled him. Didn''t he already prove that he wouldn''t reject Hunter?


    ''Good. Follow me.''


    Without another word between them, a sudden weight dropped into Leo''s mind. It spread and spread, encompassing everything there was.


    Feelings and desires not of his own assaulted his thoughts, finally painting a picture of what was happening.


    The want to live and grow rushed through his head, followed by the desire to fight and become the strongest. All those feelings and more that he couldn''t understand now drifted in Leo''s head, barely distinguishable from his own.


    Bloodlust came next, overflowing all three pillars like a tsunami. Yet, it didn''t overwhelm Leo''s mind, thus bringing forth the primal state of Focused Bloodlust. No, this time, it only fuelled the new and old feelings with renewed fire.


    ''Feel it?'' Hunter''s voice echoed through Leo''s head without any barriers. For a moment, he even thought it wasn''t the beast speaking but him.


    I do, Leo whispered back. What''s going on? We were connected before, but never like this.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ''Final step,'' Hunter explained. ''Your turn.''


    My turn... Leo trailed off as the beast''s feelings once more drifted through his head, completely unguarded and free for him to read. Oh... That''s what you mean.


    In the past, when Leo and Hunter connected to fight together, they never truly became one. They only shared instincts, some thoughts, and the desire to fight fuelled by bloodlust channeled through the beast.


    This time, however, Hunter did much more than that. He smashed their minds together, breaking all the barriers between them. Or at least all the walls the beast had created. Leo''s own still remained, waiting to be crushed.


    Final step. Fitting... For two to become one.


    Taking a deep breath and just barely paying any attention to the Shadow Claw on the other side of the battlefield, Leo dove into his mind. He gathered everything that was his, even some stuff he didn''t recognize but definitely belonged to him, and pushed at the last walls between him and Hunter.


    The first charge didn''t do much; the subconscious fear of fully opening himself to the creation of the Void absorbed the power behind the push. The next one followed a similar pattern; however, a few simple words echoed in his mind before Leo could try again.


    ''Trust me... Let it go.''


    A soft phantom hand touched his consciousness, begging him to let go. Leo swallowed and nodded, the grip on what was his slackening. The barrage of emotions, thoughts, and much more rushed out, diving straight for the barricaded exit.


    "Let it go," Leo muttered, crushing the walls that blocked the path. "We are one."


    At once, everything that represented Leo and Hunter met for the first time. Thoughts connected, while emotions and desires, those hidden and obvious, bonded. All the secrets between the two sides of the same coin disappeared in a blink, washing away all the questions they ever had for each other.


    I see... He mused with clarity that shouldn''t be possible. Then let''s do it.


    With bloodlust still active, Leo reignited Reinforcement and added a full-powered Limit Break to the mix. And so, with a step, he was gone, almost flying through the destroyed clearing.


    On the other side, the Shadow Claw reacted instantly, its tails once more piercing the ground.


    Spikes burst from the earth, one after another. However, Leo''s pace never wavered as he flipped above the obstacles or dodged to the sides. Somehow, long before each eruption, his senses screamed, warning him of the danger.


    Before long, a mere few feet separated Leo from the Voidling. The Apex''s tails came to defense, but it was all for naught as with Reinforcement''s final burst, he pounced and snatched the limbs from mid-air.


    "Check, Mate," Leo hissed, and the power of his soul responded, surging out. "Take Over."


    Essence spilled out in waves, crashing against the Apex''s skin. The beast howled, but unlike any other monster, it didn''t give up. The connection to the Nest, the same that caused all of Leo''s problems today, answered and dove for the power that tried to take over its host.


    "I don''t think so," Leo growled and, with all his strength, attacked the link.


    Even bloodlust, once only managed by Hunter, presented itself freely, begging to be used in ways he hadn''t before.


    Crimson clashed against shadows while the primal consciousness of the Nest fought against the mind of a Prime. And what an uneven fight that was.


    Maybe if Leo and Hunter hadn''t taken the last step to synchronize, the Nest could have won. But this time, they simply overpowered the link within the Voidling, their mind, bloodlust, and Essence crushing it into pieces.


    "It''s done."


    The Apex Shadow Claw howled for the last time before falling silent, its eyes turning into the vibrant color of Leo''s own. They shifted to face him, the gaze searching, curious.


    "Dismiss your minions," Leo commanded, and the Voidling bowed, the two constructs fading into mist. "Good. Now protect me."


    As the beast moved to circle him, Leo collapsed to the ground, a gasp leaving his lips. "Shit!" he grimaced as all his skills, along with Limit Break, deactivated at once. Even bloodlust retreated despite now being fully under his command.


    "My head!"


    An ache unlike any other, shot through his skull, threatening to burst it like a melon. Not even Leo''s newfound clarity could do anything to filter it out. And to make matters worse, Hunter''s trick to stop the pain from his shoulder also disappeared.


    "B... b-bring me a Voidling, dead or alive. F-fast!" Leo screamed, hoping the command reached the link to his new subordinate.


    As time passed and Leo lay trembling on the ground, the answer to his prayers became obvious when three tiny corpses landed in front of his eyes. Without any thought, he pounced, sinking his claws into the soft flesh.


    Thank the Void. Leo sighed as the ache and pain faded to a somewhat manageable level. His Essence reserves were still mostly empty, but at least now he could rise from the ground.


    "We did it," Leo chuckled, his eyes drifting to the massive, six-legged Voidling standing guard a few feet away. "Holy shit, Hunter, we fucking did it."


    However, instead of the usual victorious roar echoing through his mind, nothing answered Leo''s call. The once-foreign thoughts, emotions, and desires were still there, now fully bonded with his mind, yet their previous owner was nowhere to be found.


    "Hunter?" Leo called out, both outside and inside. "Come on, buddy, now is not the time to sleep! Wake up!"


    Only there was no one to wake.


    No. Leo shook his head, the ache forgotten. No, no, no.


    Like a maniac, he dived back into his mind like he did a few minutes ago. Leo searched through every corner, every drifting thought, hoping to find any sign of the beast that had become his companion in the last few days.


    Come on, Hunter! Where are you!?


    Once more, nobody answered.


    "Hunter," Leo muttered, falling to his knees. The final step. Trust me. Let it go... Was it a farewell? The last goodbye before I consumed you and became who I was meant to be? A fully fledged Akirian?


    He shook his head, a lone bloody tear falling to the ground. I''m sorry¡­ And thank you¡­ for everything...


    Minute after minute passed as Leo just kneeled there, staring into the vast Void ahead. His mind became blank, empty of thoughts, even as the System''s notifications begged to be acknowledged.


    Just another minute. Leo sighed, only for something to suddenly nudge his injured shoulder. "Shit! Wha..."


    Bright violet eyes, tainted by a speck of crimson, met Leo''s own. They gazed down at him, the former curiosity now replaced by warmth and understanding.


    ''Leo...''

 Chapter 103. Never alone

    "Hunter?" Leo muttered, gazing up at the eyes full of intelligence. He then shook his head lightly, the feminine voice still echoing in his mind. "No... not Hunter... Nikra... You woke up?"


    ''No...'' The voice spoke once more right into his head. ''I am neither the Old One you call Nikra nor your Apex aspect you named Hunter. I''m more and less than them...''


    "Wha... You''re not making any sense," Leo growled, rising from the ground on trembling legs. "Where is Hunter? Why do you sound like Nikra?"


    ''Careful,'' the huge beast murmured, her three tails wrapping around Leo for support. ''You have questions, I know. You will get your answers, but please rest for now... Your last Takeover almost killed you.''


    Leo blinked even as the beast''s tails lowered him to the ground. Killed me? But I don''t feel anything except-


    ''Exhaustion. Precisely...'' The unknown finished for him. ''When combined with Reinforcement, Limit Break, and Focused Bloodlust, that last move was close to bringing you over the edge.''


    That doesn''t make sense. Leo narrowed his eyes, almost glaring at the beast. This was Hunter''s idea, and he always warned me if there was no point in taking over Voidlings. What is going on here?"


    ''Your Apex aspect was correct,'' the beast spoke up, answering Leo''s thoughts again. ''With your synchronization complete, you two should have crushed the previous host of my body... Unfortunately, there was a complication.''


    As the familiar voice once more reverberated through his head, Leo swallowed. He had a few ideas of what the complications could be.


    "Nikra... What did she do?"


    ''Good. You catch on quickly. As expected from Hunter''s Mortal aspect.'' The Voidling gave him a large feline grin. ''Nikra''s consciousness was dying... Over the years, she spent a lot of power adjusting the world around her. And then, when you finally found her shard, it all went wrong.''


    "You mean..." Leow whispered, clenching his fists. "You mean she planned to betray me anyway? That her story was just a bunch of bullshit? And here I almost felt bad fo-"


    ''No!'' The beast hissed. ''Everything the Old One told you was true. However, she miscalculated, terribly at that... Nikra thought she understood the System, understood evolutions, but she was wrong, so very wrong.''


    Without giving Leo a chance to process the new information, the Voidling continued. ''The instant shard bonding with you was her first mistake, and the forceful advancement of your Install item the next one. At that point, she should have stopped trying to contact you and recovered. Yes, it would have left you in the dark for longer, but at least this way, her consciousness wouldn''t become trapped after your evolution, slowly dying as her power refused to regenerate.''


    "Hold up!" Leo furrowed his brow, not even looking at the beast any longer. "How can I trust you''re not lying? And how is all of this even possible? She was a fucking goddess, an all-powerful being capable of destroying planets with the wave of her hand."


    The beast sighed, lying down next to him. ''You are forgetting a crucial fact, Leo... This Nikra was just a shard, one of three. It might have housed some of her consciousness and power, but it was far from enough for everything she had planned. The Old One was just too blind to see it, too focused on her rebirth. Or at least she was until the end...''


    ''As for me lying?'' The Voidling whispered, her bright eyes peering into his. ''Tell me, Leo... When you hear my words echoing through your mind, through your soul. What do you feel?''


    Frowning, Leo closed his eyes and dived towards the link with the beast. Unlike right after using the Void technique, the connection wasn''t just another tiny speck in his mind. No, this one shone brightly, with emotions and thoughts constantly traveling through it. The link even carried a familiar weight, one he had grown used to with Hunter in his mind.


    ''See now?'' The beast uttered softly, the words wrapping around Leo like a blanket. ''I might not be Hunter anymore, but his legacy still lives on. Just like you and him, we are one, bonded forever. We will fight and die together. That I promise you.''


    No feeling could hide from Leo as the Voidling spoke, her warmth, honesty, and protectiveness almost overflowing his mind. It truly wasn''t any different from the moment when he and Hunter synchronized for the last time.


    "Fine..." Leo muttered, almost inaudible. "What really happened then? Spare no details."


    The beast laid her head upon her paws, reconnecting the eye contact. ''When you used Minor Takeover, Nikra tried to escape into this body. It was compatible and quite strong for this stage of the Outbreak. The escape might have worked too if it wasn''t for one other being.''


    Hunter...


    ''Indeed.'' The beast tilted its head. ''You need to understand that Hunter is a part of every Akirian''s defense system. Those separate consciousnesses are meant to protect, teach, and fight alongside their hosts. They are the ultimate predators, Apexes that will never betray their Mortal aspects.''


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Despite all that had happened, Leo smiled. So that''s what you really were, Hunter. There was never a reason to fear you, eh? At least not as long as I accepted you... You always had my well-being in mind... But if that''s the case, then why interfere?


    ''Because Nikra''s escape didn''t come without a risk,'' The Voidling quickly explained. ''When she used Takeover to escape, the technique got overpowered and began draining way too much Essence. That itself isn''t a problem, but at some point, it tried to use a part of your soul for fuel... Hunter didn''t like that and acted.''


    "So I really would be dead now if it wasn''t for him..."


    The beast nodded. ''That''s the most likely outcome, but I can''t be sure. There was a chance you could have ended up crippled or just injured for a time. Not like Hunter could accept any of those outcomes.''


    Leo chuckled. "So what did he do?"


    ''After leaving almost all of his power with you, Hunter attacked Nikra''s consciousness. He tried to force her back into your soul, but he could only do so much against an Old One, no matter how weakened she was.''


    The large feline offered Leo another grin. ''Of course, that wasn''t enough to stop Hunter. He channeled the strength of Prime''s Rage and this time, he pushed both himself and Nikra out, using the power he generated to fuel Minor Takeover.''


    "So that''s what you meant by Hunter''s legacy living on," Leo commented. "You are a combination of Nikra and Hunter."


    The beast shook her head. ''Not exactly. With two passengers and a technique so primitive, the transfer shattered their minds into pieces. All would have been lost if, at the end of the road, Nikra hadn''t realized there would be no winning this fight... With the remnants of her power, she collected all the remaining pieces and glued them together with the soul and mind of the Voidling you defeated.''


    ''So even if it was Nikra''s fault, she gave me life,'' she muttered, looking into the vast Void above them. ''I won''t waste it. I will fight for it with tooth and claw, with Essence and blood. I will help you devour the world if needed. Nothing will stop us.''


    Bold words, Leo chuckled as the beast''s unwavering conviction flowed through their link. There was no way he could say anything against her vow, nor did he want to. I will miss you, Hunter, but I am glad that at least a part of you lives on... Until we meet again, mate.


    Ignoring the fact that the beast definitely heard his thoughts, Leo spoke up. "So what shall I call you. Gonna inherit Nikra''s name?"


    ''No,'' she shook her head. ''I''m not her and never will be. I shall create my own path with you, Leo. That''s why I want you to give me a name, just like you did for Hunter.''


    Ah shit... Leo grimaced. "You know I''m pants at naming anything, right? Hunter was an exception, not the rule."


    The unnamed entity chuckled, the soft and musical laughter spreading through their minds. ''I know, but I count on you, Leo. Just like you can count on me.''


    Laying it a bit thick, aren''t we? Leo snorted even as he plunged into his memories, searching for a good name. Overall, just like he expected, there weren''t many acceptable ideas and even fewer good ones.


    However, just as he was about to give up, Leo glanced at the darkness amongst the red and violet of the Void. A certain memory flashed before his eyes, pulling a small smile onto his face.


    "Nyx," Leo whispered. "The Lady of the Night... I think it''s fitting, considering our situation."


    The large feline blinked, rolling her tongue over her sharp teeth. ''Nyx... Yes, I see. It shall be my name from now on, and one day, I will surpass its meaning. Thank you, Leo.''


    "The pleasure is mine," he shrugged. As long as she didn''t hate the name, it was okay with him. Nyx is definitely much better than Leonardo; can''t argue with that.


    Clearing his throat, Leo stopped the onslaught of happiness and eagerness through the link. "I''ve been meaning to ask. Nikra''s power. Do you have it?"


    As Nyx rose to her six legs, she shook her head. ''No, I might carry a bit of her Essence, but it isn''t even a tiny spark compared to the shard in your body. Remember, I was born out of broken pieces. Shattered memories and instincts are almost all I inherited.''


    Not what I wanted to hear, but maybe those memories can help us. Void knows I have plenty of questions to ask. Leo frowned. "And what about Hunter''s. Will I be fine without him if you only received pieces?"


    Nyx''s head fell suddenly, her eyes refusing to meet his. ''I won''t lie... Despite the full synchronization carrying over, our partnership will never be the same as yours and Hunter''s. I have my own body, while you now have full access to the bloodlust and rage once hidden in your mind.''


    "So that''s what I felt back then..." Leo noted silently. "I take that shouldn''t have happened."


    ''No,'' Nyx whispered. ''The rage of the Prime, the hunger for blood you now feel constantly, should always be carefully managed by an Akirian''s Apex side. Without this buffer, it might overwhelm you one day.''


    As Leo opened his mouth, Nyx beat him to the punch. ''But you''re not alone, Leo. I promised to carry Hunter''s legacy, and I will. Don''t forget it. Just give us some time, and we will find a workaround.''


    It''s always time. Leo snorted, climbing to his feet now that his legs stopped shaking. I just hope we won''t run out of it. Not now, not ever.


    ''Leo,'' Nyx nudged him with her snout. ''It will be fine.''


    Giving the feline an awkward pat on the head, Leo smiled as best as he could considering the situation. "Love the confidence. Just make sure you don''t leave it behind."


    ''I won''t!'' Nyx shouted, her tails swishing wildly. ''But before we go, I have something to show you.''


    Leo quirked a nonexistent eyebrow, waiting for Nyx to continue. Yet, even though he was aware of his surroundings, nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.


    Suddenly, something snatched Leo''s consciousness out of his body and threw it into the Void. Colors flashed in front of his eyes, ever-changing. Darkness, space, violet, and red. He had seen it all as the journey continued.


    Then, just as quickly as the trip began, it stopped just as fast, freezing the world around Leo. Only shades of grey surrounded him, all of them blurry and distorted. Yet even then, one thing remained as clear as the sky.


    Well fuck...

 Chapter 104. New beginnings

    Black and red swirled inside a tiny orb, surrounded by the never-ending blurs of grey. The image moved constantly, yet the ball of colors always remained in the center, waiting, calling out.


    Leo had heard those whispers before, the soft feminine murmur begging him to come closer. However, this time, those words barely reached him, as if an unbreachable wall stood between them and him.


    How? Leo muttered. How am I seeing this? Is this another shard?


    ''Nikra''s final farewell gift to us both,'' Nyx''s voice suddenly reverberated all around him. Leo tried to search for her, but just like ever since this dive began, he had no control over his actions.


    Nyx? Where are you? Where are we? He asked instead.


    ''I would love to tell you, but I don''t know,'' she answered softly. ''And I''m here with you, guiding your mind so that it can see what I see. I''m sorry for acting without a proper warning, but you needed to see it, to feel it.''


    It''s fine... though I won''t say no to a heads up next time... Leo sighed, or at least tried to. He really couldn''t do much here. Now... please tell me I''m not seeing what I think I am.


    ''I can''t because you are right... This right here is another of Nikra''s shards. The first among the trio, to be precise. Not as powerful as the one you possess, but I can feel that it is just as, if not more, important.''


    Well shit. Leo chuckled in spite of everything. I understand there is a meaning to it all, yes? I really can''t see how this is a gift, not now.


    Nyx huffed. ''Nikra''s final memory I inherited was of a wish. A wish for us to find her next shard. And this, Leo, is a way for us to do just that.''


    Again, how? All I see are blurs. There is not a single thing that we can use as a point of reference. Yet even as Leo said this, he really didn''t like how eager the new entity connected to him sounded, especially not after what had just almost happened.


    ''We don''t need one, Leo,'' Nyx explained quickly. ''You might not feel it entirely yet, but I do, the constant tug in my soul, guiding me towards one direction. Even if it''s faint, that''s more than enough to find the shard. I''m sure the feeling will only get stronger as we get closer.''


    Even as Nyx finished speaking, Leo remained silent, slowly counting to ten in his head. Only then did he address his new partner.


    I take... you won''t give up on this, right?


    ''No,'' Nyx muttered after a moment. ''I just can''t, Leo. That''s something I must do, we must do.''


    Anger spiked in his mind, but Leo grabbed its reigns, stopping it from spilling over the link.


    And what about creating your own path? He tried to reason. What if this new shard is just a way for Nikra to finish what she started a few minutes ago? Are you really willing to potentially risk your life for a dead goddess who almost killed me?


    As seconds ticked by, no answer came from Nyx. Only the ever-changing blurs accompanied the heavy silence between them.


    I see, Leo whispered in the end. If this is something you''re really certain about, then we will talk about it later. For now, I have better things to worry about than Nikra''s wishes.


    ''Thank you, Leo...'' Nyx muttered back, finally finding her voice. ''I will take us back now. Be ready.''


    With no way to really prepare, Leo just steeled his nerves and gave his link to Nyx a weak nudge. And then, just like that, they were back, with the vast Void and shadow forest surrounding them from all sides.


    "That was much be-"


    Before Leo could even finish, the entire island shook, almost bringing him back to the ground. Thankfully, just in time, Nyx''s tails wrapped around him again, stopping his fall.


    "The hell just happened?" Leo hissed, his blades extending without even a thought.


    ''A mistake,'' Nyx called back, her eyes scanning the forest. ''I''ve been using the last remnants of my connection to this Nest to delay the collapse of this dimension. When I showed you Nikra''s shard, my hold must have failed. We must go; there is not much time left.''


    Great... Leo grimaced, only now noticing the tiny creatures jumping across the tree branches in the distance. "What about them? Clara doesn''t stand a chance if they all come through at once. Shit... should have told her to hide."


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''No need to worry about those pesky insects. Even if they go through the gate, they aren''t returning to Earth. That path is closed for them. Only you and I can cross back.''


    "That''s one less thing to worry about then... Let''s go." Leo took a deep breath and ran into the forest with all the remaining strength. Nyx followed right after, matching his pace.


    Sometimes, a few Shadow Tails tried to come close, their fear momentarily forgotten in the face of disaster. However, a single look from Nyx was all it took to remind them who the apex predator on the island was.


    "Holy shit..." Leo muttered, watching the tens of Shadow Tails sprint across the connection between the two floating islands. "There must be hundreds of them here..."


    ''Correct,'' Nyx nodded as she took the lead, the gate now closer than ever. ''Nesting Dimensions possess almost unlimited potential for growth. Only a Nest Colony can match it, and that''s only if it forms a gate in the later stages of development.''


    "That''s... good to know. Honestly, I didn''t expect you to have that kind of info."


    ''Remember, along with pieces of Nikra''s and Hunter''s knowledge, I was also created from the soul of a Voidling. Maybe it didn''t possess the same intelligence as us, but it knew a thing or two.''


    "Fair, I guess," Leo nodded, only to furrow his brow as they stopped right next to the Void Gate. "Shit... Didn''t think about this before, but we can''t go back like this, or well, you can''t. My ability to take over Voidlings must stay a secret for now."


    Nyx tilted her head, looking right into Leo''s eyes. ''Hmmm... I think I have an idea.'' Nudging him with her snout, she continued, ''Take out your cloak. I will do the rest.''


    Even as his frown deepened, Leo shrugged and summoned his cloak. The soft fabric immediately fell over his shoulders, offering the slightest bit of comfort.


    ''Now don''t move,'' Nyx growled, and in a blink of an eye, her form collapsed into a swirling cloud of shadows. The mass launched itself right at Leo, disappearing underneath the cloak almost without a sign.


    "This feels... weird," Leo mumbled, taking a few experimental steps. There was no sudden weight gain from the mass of shadows, yet each move he made definitely required a bit more force. It was almost as if he was moving through water.


    ''I apologize,'' Nyx''s voice echoed in his head. ''That''s the best I can do for now. I''m still getting used to this body...''


    It''s fine. Leo waved her off. Might get awkward at some point, but it''s definitely better than letting Clara learn about your existence. Now... are you sure this will bring us back to Earth?


    ''Yes. I''m sure if you bothered to check them, one of the System''s notifications would tell you the same.''


    Says the one who made me hurry. Leo scoffed. I will check them once we land. Let''s get the hell out of here.


    With a final look at the gathering of Shadow Tails behind him, Leo took a deep breath and stepped into the gate. The swirling lights blinded him momentarily, yet just like the last time, the journey went without a hitch.


    It worked... Leo grinned, drinking in the sights of a completely changed warehouse.


    While Vetilim still made most of the building''s walls, the maze was gone, leaving a vast empty space behind, devoid of the Void''s touch. Now only the gate remained, its edges slowly crumbling into pieces. Overall, a perfect place for a semi-large group to hide in.


    Now, where the hell is Clara? Don''t tell me something got her after all of this... Eyes narrowed, Leo scanned the entire warehouse once more, only now noticing a glint of a small blade behind one of the fallen shelves. "Clara?"


    Instantly, the glint disappeared, replaced by a mop of red hair as Clara peeked over the edge of her cover. Once her gaze fell on Leo, she sighed, her head almost banging against the metal shelf.


    "Fucking hell, Leo! You don''t know how happy I am to see you!" Clara practically shouted. "I almost shat myself when this entire bloody warehouse shook. Really, for a moment there, I thought I was a goner, but then it all stopped, and most of the Vetilim turned into dust... What a trip."


    ''She is... ''


    Yeah, I know... Leo sighed, somehow already used to the woman''s antics. Apparently, hiding behind the whole bitch act was a very interesting personality.


    ''I think I need to study a few more of your memories. Humans are certainly a curious species...''


    Whatever, Leo grumbled, ignoring the spike of excitement coming through the link. Thinking about Nyx''s sudden interest was a sure way to get a headache.


    "I''m glad you are in one piece," he finally addressed Clara. "Any other problems apart from... well, this?"


    The woman shook her head, moving to join him next to the collapsing gate. "Surprisingly, no... No Voidlings and zero movement from Vetilim after the dusting. Whatever you did, I think you succeeded."


    Leo quirked a nonexistent eyebrow. "Dusting? Really?" He shook his head. "Anyway... Give me a minute. I need to check what the System has to say."


    Giving him a mock salute, Clara spun on her feet and began to walk away. "You do that. I gotta take a piss. Be right back."


    Blunt as ever. Leo snorted, summoning the onslaught of notifications.


    Full Synchronization successful. Let the two become one. May the Prime Akirian be born anew in the fires of rage and blood. Let nothing stop you in your hunt. Adapt or die!


    Didn''t last long... I''m sorry, Hunter. I wish we had more time...


    Minor Takeover suc... Warning: Outside influence detected! Minor Takeover still in progress. Warning: Potential soul damage detected!


    .


    .


    .


    Minor Takeover successful. Warning: Akirian Synchronization broken. Scanning... Multiple changes detected.


    Akirian Apex aspect lost. Bloodlust limiters shattered. Focused Bloodlust and Prime''s Rage are stirring. Skill evolution and combination successful. Ruthless Efficiency obtained.


    Synchronization reestablished. Strength: Low. True Bond trait obtained.


    Nikra... What have you done...

 Chapter 105. Bingo

    ''This was never her intention, Leo,'' Nyx whispered suddenly. ''All Nikra ever wanted was to live and help the Multiverse heal. Yes, she messed up, but she didn''t do this to k-''


    Don''t... Leo growled, shutting his eyes. Just don''t. I couldn''t care less about what she wanted. Not now. She was an ancient goddess, for fuck''s sake. If she couldn''t even predict something like this, then how the hell did she plan to help the Multiverse? Just admit it, Nyx, she was way over her head, still living in memories of the days of her glory.


    ''I...'' Nyx began only to trail off. He could feel her trying to collect her thoughts, maybe even create a counterargument, yet she never succeeded. All their link relayed were words without meaning.


    That''s what I thought. Leo scoffed only to release a deep sigh. Listen Nyx... Remember what I told you before. Don''t throw your life away for what is gone. Nikra is in the past, but you? You are the present and the future. Never forget that and build your own path, just as you said you would.


    ''I know what I said, Leo,'' Nyx almost growled. ''But it''s not easy to just forget about a major part that created me. There is a reason why I sound like her and why I''m more like her than Hunter. And that''s because, unconsciously, Nikra created me in her image. I can''t change that.''


    Then don''t forget... Never forget. Just don''t let the past control your actions. Leo smiled as a chuckle slipped past his lips. And I know I probably sound like a hypocrite now, but this advice is something I always wanted to follow. Don''t make the same mistakes as I did.


    The shadows under Leo''s cloak suddenly hugged his body tighter, filling him with a much-welcome warmth. ''I will try,'' Nyx mumbled. ''Thank you again, Leo... And wasn''t I supposed to be the one to support you?''


    Leo snorted, opening his eyes to the floating notifications. Small steps, Nyx. Even if you have the memories of three different beings, this is pretty much the first hour of your life. Just keep my words and your promise in mind; we can figure out the rest later.


    ''Understood.''


    No more words came through the link, but it didn''t mean it went silent. Buzzing thoughts and emotions filled their connection as Nyx was most likely still trying to process what they had discussed. This was fine for Leo; after all, he had plenty of System messages waiting for him.


    The new skill and trait first. Let''s see how screwed I am.


    Ruthless Efficiency (Radiant)


    Rage and Bloodlust unleashed. The world is yours for the taking, young Prime. Enemies, allies? They don''t matter as long as you achieve your goal.


    Effects (3 Stages):


    Ignite: Your perception of the world and battle prowess is enhanced.


    Blaze: Strengthens the boost gained from the previous stage. Will activate automatically after overuse of Ignite or upon suffering heavy injuries. Reduces your mind to a slightly more primal state.


    Inferno: Rage and bloodlust fuel your abilities, enhancing them even further. Will activate automatically after overuse of Blaze or upon suffering critical injuries. Inferno cannot be stopped until its hunger for death is satisfied. Whether it comes from enemies or allies, it doesn''t matter to you anymore.


    Leo swallowed hard. He expected a lot from the combination of a Unique and Rare skill, but this was not it. Hell, he didn''t even know such an ability could exist, but considering what the System showed before, maybe he should have.


    Brand new quality and three stages... Another curse within a blessing.


    The Ignite stage was easy to understand as it pretty much carried all the advantages of Focused Bloodlust without any of its cons. Then there was the Blaze stage, and while things grew a bit concerning there, Leo could still deal with all the disadvantages coming his way. He did it before, after all.


    Now, the Inferno was where the real trouble began.


    It can be useful if I''m all alone with only Voidlings around me. But what if I''m not? What if I kill someone I shouldn''t? Shit! Leo growled, clenching his fist. A two-edged sword only waiting to cut me in the most unfortunate moment... Fucking hell, so this is what it means to have my bloodlust and rage completely unleashed...


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx spoke through the link, her voice soft. ''If I was like Hunter, I would be able to stop you from entering the final stage... As it is, all I can do is help you handle the rage when it comes. Maybe in the future that will change, but...''


    It''s fine. Leo reassured when Nyx trailed off. However, even if he said it, deep inside, he knew all of this was far from okay. Like I said, we can figure it out later. For now, I will just need to be careful around other survivors...


    Hearing no answer, Leo sighed and dismissed the skill description. He still had to check out the new trait.


    True Bond (Unique)


    Your Akirian Apex aspect might be dead, but out of this tragedy, something beautiful was born. A bond unlike any other. Unbreakable and always growing stronger. Two souls that are one.


    Effects:


    You are now soul-bonded to an eternally loyal entity, Nyx. Essence and affinity share possible. Mind synchronization perfected. Bond strength: Low.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Eternally loyal. Leo blinked, making sure he read it right. I guess that''s where Hunter''s pieces come in, along with Minor Takeover''s aftereffects. And we can share our powers just like that... Could be useful, I guess.


    ''This is just the tip of an iceberg, Leo. Like the System says, our bond is unlike any other. The potential it hides is much more than just Essence and affinity share.''


    Any specifics?


    ''... No. I can only feel the brimming power within it, nothing more,'' Nyx answered a bit sheepishly.


    Leo shrugged. What the link hid didn''t really matter to him, at least not now. He had more notifications to read through for the time being.


    What else do we got?


    Technique Minor Takeover has advanced to Adept mastery. Congratulations!


    At least now I know how to push this technique to a higher rank. Leo snorted, only to frown as he read through the new description. Huh... it didn''t change at all. Well, except for the number... I can have five minions, but one spot is permanently taken by Nyx...


    ''I can hear you wondering... No, I don''t feel any hold from your technique, just our link.''


    Interesting. Leo hummed, poking at their connection with his own mind. Same on my side... So like always, shit just doesn''t make sense. Wonderful...


    The Nest of Shadow Tails has lost connection to its core. The nest is collapsing. You have approximately five minutes to escape this dimension.


    Core? I completely forgot about this. Nyx, any idea what happened to it?


    Nyx huffed internally. ''The Apex Shadow Claw was acting as the core. Thanks to your actions, that''s no longer the case. And no, I don''t carry anything like that inside me.''


    Make sense I guess...


    Congratulations, Nest of Shadow Tails conquered. Do you wish to destroy this instance completely or prepare an Ether tower? Bonus rewards will be lost upon choosing the second option. However, a Safe Zone may be created later using the tower.


    So that''s how it works. Leo noted. Bonus rewards would be nice, but not this time. We got what we wanted, now to finish it... System, prepare the Ether tower.


    Acknowledged. Distributing standard rewards. Ether tower formation in progress. Stand by.


    Even when a few more notifications appeared, Leo paid them no mind as his eyes fell on the remnants of the Void Gate. The destroyed structure trembled, the rubble around it erupting in bright light. A moment later, all the fissures within the gate ignited, golden fire slowly consuming the ground below.


    Within the flames, the remnants of the gate danced, swirling and changing shapes. It went on for more than a minute as the fire climbed higher and higher, soon reaching the ceiling.


    Leo took a few steps back, shielding his eyes. Even from so far, his skin burned, feeling as if hundreds of bees stung him all at once. Hell, not even Nyx was spared from the pain, as he could hear her whimpers through the link.


    Hold on. It shouldn''t last much longer... I hope.


    For once, his prayers were heard as the pillar of fire faded away, leaving behind a golden tower. It easily reached the roof, and despite its thin build, the power it oozed almost made Leo''s skin crawl.


    "The fuck was that? Why the hell is there a glowing obelisk in the middle of the building?!"


    Sighing, Leo turned to the source of the shouting. "Clara," he muttered dryly. "How nice of you to join me. Now can you stop screaming? We don''t need another horde here."


    ''I will protect you. Those weak insects won''t touch you as long as I am here,'' Nyx perked up like an eager puppy.


    So not the point, Nyx...


    "Someone''s grumpy. A grumpy monster," Clara grinned before nodding to the obelisk. "So what is it? Identify''s not telling me a thing."


    Wait, really? Leo frowned and activated his own Identify. "Huh. You''re right... Let''s see."


    Slowly approaching the tower, Leo placed a hand on its surface, ready to jerk it away. However, no such action was needed as a new notification appeared, momentarily pushing away the ones he had ignored until now.


    Tower of Protection activated. Safe Zone creation available. Please proceed with the offered options. Time until the tower disappears: 23:59:43.


    1. Create a temporary Safe Zone (Free)


    2. Create a permanent Safe Zone (Unavailable. Job locked.)


    Shit. Instantly, Leo turned to Clara. "Come here quickly." Only quirking an eyebrow, the woman obeyed. "Place your hand on it and tell me what you see."


    "Okay?" Clara furrowed her brow, but did as was told. "Holy shit! Leo. This is it! I can swap my job right now and create a bloody Safe Zone! And a permanent one at that."


    So it works. Thank the Void. Leo sighed, the tension leaving his body. For a moment there, he thought that maybe only he could use the tower. And with his job locked...


    Yeah, all of this would have been for nothing.


    "Are you doing this, or do we wait for Holden?" Leo spoke up.


    Clara flinched, breaking her gaze away from the tower. "Tony. Definitely Tony," she stated with a firm nod. "Safe Zones are his specialty... Besides, I don''t want to lose my current job."


    "Fair enough... However, that leaves us with one problem. Who goes back? We can''t leave this place unguarded."


    For a moment, silence consumed the warehouse as Clara looked between Leo and the tower. "I will go," she muttered, grimacing. "I''m good against a Voidling or two, but if more come, I''m done for. Better if I run back and leave the protection detail to you."


    Leo crossed his arms, leveling the woman with a stare. "You sure? The way here wasn''t too hard, but you know how things can change."


    Clara nodded. "I will be fine if I travel like you showed me. Just hold the fort, and I will return with Tony."


    "Good luck then," Leo extended his hand. "And be quick, I don''t think staying here during the night is a good idea. Not without a Safe Zone active."


    "Roger, Roger!" Clara grinned, clasping their hands together. "See ya."


    As the woman broke the handshake and walked away, Leo reached into his mind. Nyx... Think you can go after her? I can''t risk her dying now. Time might not be on our side.


    ''I... I don''t like leaving you, but I understand,'' Nyx grumbled as shadows slithered out of Leo''s cloak. They quickly reformed into the body of an Apex Shadow Claw. ''I will protect the human if that''s what you wish.''


    Patting the large beast''s snout, Leo chuckled.


    Thanks... Have fun, Nyx.

 Chapter 106. See you

    Now what? Leo mused, rolling his shoulders. Apart from nights, it''s been a while since I had nothing to do when the sun is out... Almost forgot the feeling.


    Sighing, Leo sank to the floor, leaning against a bent metal shelf. He might have stayed here to protect the tower, but unless some dumb Voidlings decided to check out what happened to the Nest, there wouldn''t be much to do.


    Well, there is always a chance some survivors might come... Doubt that though. This area was empty a few days ago, and with what I saw in the Graveyard... Yeah, there''s no way anybody is coming here.


    Nonetheless, Leo reached into his soul and gathered a bit over half of the Essence he had regenerated since the last battle. It boiled beneath his skin as he fed it with intent that focused only on one thing and nothing else.


    Hunter''s Pulse.


    At once, crimson energy exploded from every part of his body, diving beneath the ground and passing through the walls. The pulse went on and on, easily encompassing the streets around the warehouse before snapping back with a bang.


    Leo flinched as a wave of feedback flowed into his mind without the usual filter. Shit... Maybe modifying the pulse like this wasn''t the best idea. It definitely wasn''t invisible like it should... Oh well, something to practice in the future when my reserves aren''t as dry as a desert.


    Despite the weak ache spreading through his head, Leo smiled after processing all the info from the pulse. Just like he expected, besides a few normies and other Voidlings, nothing even came close to the warehouse.


    A few of them might try to get inside here, but overall, I should be good. Just have to repeat the skill every few minutes.


    Nodding, Leo slid down, dropping fully to the ground. His tails wriggled underneath him before finally finding a position that didn''t make him squirm.


    That''s... nice. If a bit uncomfortable.


    With a shrug, he summoned the System, remembering well that it still had some notifications that required attention. Should be all after this. Finally.


    Distributing rewards for conquering the Nest of Shadow Tails. 600 Ether transfered. Survivor reward: +1 Might and Grace. Special item has been added to your Soul Well.


    Leo quirked an eyebrow as a sudden surge of energy dived into his soul. The small weight settled right in the corner along with his other items, pulsing with eagerness.


    And here I thought a Safe Zone would be all I get from this. Glad to be proved wrong. A small boost to Limit Break is always welcome. Not to mention almost as much Ether as I spent on my mutation. Nests for the win I guess.


    Yet, the reward resting inside his soul proved the most interesting. Right away, Leo reached into the storage and ripped the object out.


    Huh, I have seen this already. Well, only the color is different. Another honing token?


    A tiny blue badge landed in Leo''s hand, its surface smooth and cool. He flipped it to the other side, expecting the familiar letter ''H,'' yet it was nowhere to be found. Instead, a large ''A'' stretched over the badge, the letter''s edges glinting with an orange glow.


    Okay? Let''s see...


    Free Advancement Token (Rare):


    A simple yet powerful token created by the System. It allows the User to advance any item of Rare or lower quality to a higher tier. The User has no impact on the outcome of this process. Please note that this token will work only for the one who received it. Additionally, this item will self-destroy after twelve hours if not used, and it cannot be replicated. Activates with Essence.


    Oh... Leo''s eyes widened as his gaze jumped between the token and its description. I thought only honing could upgrade items.


    However, he could already see why there might be a different way to make items stronger. A special and unique way, just like the System mentioned. Something that worked outside of what was normally available to Users.


    After all, according to the token''s description, it couldn''t be created by anyone other than the System. Additionally, this tiny thing had an expiration date attached to it.


    Though I can''t control the outcome, so there is that... It''s been a while since I gambled.


    Right away, Leo''s gaze fell on the soft fabric that covered most of his body. This cloak was his only rare item, and with the timer ticking, he doubted he could find another.


    Holden''s group probably has something. He shook his head. No... asking them to give up an item would just bring more problems. That is, if they even have anything I could use...


    And so, with the decision made, Leo send a single spark of Essence into the token.


    Free Advancement Token activated. Please connect it with the item you want to upgrade.


    Upon touching the fabric of Leo''s cloak, the token ignited in a blinding orange fire. The flames didn''t wait around and dived into the item, slowly burning through its dark surface.


    For a moment, Leo considered taking the cloak off. Yet when he didn''t feel even the slightest of warmth from the fire, he shrugged and waited.


    It took a minute, maybe two, before the flames retreated, leaving behind a pristine, undamaged cloak. It still covered his body from head to foot, but even though it didn''t look much different, it definitely changed.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    This isn''t a normal material anymore. Leo marveled, dragging his fingers across the fabric. It almost consumed his digits, slowly covering them in the darkness that now oozed from the cloak. Okay, color me impressed.


    Cloak of True Night (Epic):


    A cloak created by the System''s Advancement Token. Made out of pure darkness, this item will always lend a hand to Users who control said element. This cloak will automatically adjust to the User''s size and make them almost invisible in the dark. Additionally, the cowl will obscure the User''s face at any distance. As an item made out of pure affinity, it will slowly repair after taking damage.


    Notice: This item can only be upgraded with the System''s advancement tokens.


    Yeah... definitely impressed.


    Even if the improved cloak only helped with the darkness affinity, it didn''t matter, not when every other aspect was also enhanced. Invisibility in the dark already brought this item to another level. Add complete anonymity when the cowl was on, and Leo couldn''t be happier.


    And that''s without the self-repair function and fitting me better than before... Holy shit, I finally don''t have to worry about clothing. At least for the most part...


    A soft smile claimed Leo''s lips as he laid down again. Shutting his eyes, he let his mind and body relax. A deserved rest after everything that had happened.


    However, as time flew by, Leo quickly realized that sitting and doing nothing wouldn''t work. Not in this life. Not in this world.


    I can rest when I am dead. He snorted, sitting up. Nyx! Can you hear me?


    Although he didn''t expect an answer, or at least not right away, Nyx''s concerned voice came through their link instantly. ''Leo? I hear you loud and clear. Did something happen? Do you need me to come back?''


    Eyes widening at the barrage of questions, Leo shook his head. Calm down, I''m fine. Just wanted to check if our link works over larger distances. Good to see that it does.


    ''Our bond might not be the strongest yet, but a bit of distance won''t defeat it. This connection is special after all,'' Nyx finished with a huff.


    Yeah... don''t need to remind me. Leo sighed. So, how is it going on your side? Any problems on the way?


    ''We barely left, Leo. This human is trying, but she wasted a lot of time to just get on the roof. I almost had to step in too.''


    Shit, really? I hoped she was at least a third of the way to the Safe Zone. Suppose not everything can be that easy...


    Nyx chuckled, her melodic laughter filling Leo''s mind. ''Don''t worry. The human is picking up the pace.''


    Good to know. Though... I''m kinda curious. How are you following her? Sticking to the shadows, or do you have a stealth ability of your own?


    A sudden surge of excitement passed through their link when Nyx spoke. ''Then why not take a look and find on your own?''


    Leo furrowed his brow. What do you mean?


    ''Remember when I showed you Nikra''s other shard? With our bond, we should be able to do something similar with our senses. If you let me, I can try to show you how I see the world.''


    At this point, Nyx''s excitement already encompassed Leo''s mind, almost overflowing it. And so, no matter what he wanted, the choice was obvious.


    I won''t even ask how you know we can do that... But sure, if it won''t harm us, then go ahead.


    ''Excellent! I will take care of everything, you just relax and open your mind. Don''t resist, or I might mess up.''


    Releasing a long, slow breath, Leo nodded. Got it. Begin.


    At once, Nyx''s excitement faded away as their link widened. A gentle hand tugged at Leo''s consciousness. Instead of fighting it, he helped, pushing his own awareness toward their connection.


    A myriad of colors filled his vision despite having his eyes closed. They changed constantly, going from red to blue, from black to white. For a second, Leo thought that something had gone wrong, but then the colors settled, only crimson, violet, and black remaining in sight.


    Those hues slowly shifted, crafting an image right in front of his eyes. The dark ground appeared first, followed by familiar buildings and Vetilim scattered all around. The distant sky, red as blood, finished the picture as time restarted, and feelings not Leo''s own assaulted his mind.


    Bloody hell... Leo muttered, and suddenly, not by his own actions, his gaze moved to a street below him, where Voidlings wandered unaware. Nyx? Am I... am I seeing through your eyes?


    ''It worked,'' Nyx chirped, and Leo felt as the three, bladed tails behind him waggled. ''How do you feel? Is it weird, uncomfortable?"


    Even as a pile of different emotions flowed through Leo''s thoughts, he didn''t really mind. No... Not uncomfortable, but maybe a bit weird. I feel everything you do now. I can barely tell apart what comes from me and what comes from you.


    ''That''s our synchronization working as it should,'' Nyx explained as they ran across a rooftop, their eyes following Clara on the other side of the road. ''I think that with time, it will be easier to handle.''


    Most likely, Leo agreed, still processing as the world moved without his input. Do you always see the world like this?


    ''Ever since I woke up. Even the Voidling before me saw things similarly.''


    Interesting, he hummed just as a realization struck him. Nyx... Now that I think of it. What are you exactly? You were created from the soul of a Voidling, but that wasn''t everything. Does that make you an Akirian?


    Nyx''s sprint slowed down as her thoughts became a whirlwind. ''I''m unsure... My body is still that of a Voidling. However, my mind and soul are so much more... I would call myself something in-between, but according to the System, I''m still a Voidling. At least until I evolve. After that, we will see.''


    That makes sense I guess... Leo muttered in the safety of their melded minds. But hold on. You said the System recognizes you as a Voidling. Do you have access to status and everything else like me?


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx nodded, stopping at the roof''s edge. ''Although as a Voidling, I do not possess a class or job. Everything I have comes from my race and what I teach myself. The same goes for all the beasts below me, even if they use the System instinctively until they become sapient.''


    Huh... I never really thought much about Voidlings and the System. Still, it''s nice to know how everything works.


    Nyx didn''t speak again. She buckled her hind legs and jumped high. Mid-air, Leo felt her body burst into shadows before the cloud dived towards another roof, right where a pack of Seekers sat.


    The shadows splattered over the group, smashing their fragile bodies against the floor. Bones cracked, blood splattered over the roof as Nyx reformed, resuming her walk like nothing had happened.


    For Leo though, the situation wasn''t as simple.


    Seeker (LVL: 7) X4 slain | Experience awarded | 7 Ether gained


    Nyx... Did I just receive experience and Ether for your kills?

 Chapter 107. The hard truth

    ''I see...'' Nyx murmured in the wake of Leo''s question. ''I wasn''t sure about this when I first awoke, but now it''s obvious... It seems that our bond connects not only us... The System''s instances living inside our souls are also linked, even if only partially.''


    Instances? You mean the entity I spoke to during the awakening?


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx instinctively tipped her head as she prepared to jump over another street. ''I can''t be sure what it really means for us, but I can feel that our bond will ensure we grow together. Neither of us should be able to leave the other behind too much.''


    Leo tsked, not really liking the sound of that. This could be a problem. It already takes a while to level up. Any idea if this will make it even harder?


    For a moment, their joined minds went silent. Nyx still continued her trek across the rooftops, following after Clara, but for the first time, the Voidling didn''t have an instant answer.


    ''I''m sorry, Leo, but I have no idea,'' Nyx admitted, shame overflowing her thoughts. ''Even if I know a bit more about our bond and the System than you, it is far from enough to understand something as unique as the bond we now share. Things like this will unfortunately require testing.''


    Don''t sweat it, Leo tried to reassure her. None of us are all-knowing. And besides, you''re already helping a lot... Although this makes me wonder. Before, you said that Nikra failed because she thought she knew everything about the System. Now you are admitting to a similar thing. How is that? Didn''t Nikra die before the System''s first appearance?


    Nyx shook her head, coming to a complete stop. ''No... She died a little bit after the System''s creation. After all, Nikra and Geron were the two to craft it with their own hands.''


    Leo''s mind blanked, barely realizing that Nyx just dropped from a roof, leaving the central part of Wolford behind. You mean... How? Why?


    Slinking through the shadows, Nyx sighed. ''With most of Nikra''s memories fragmented or missing, I only know so much. But one thing always remains clear. The System was meant to become a weapon against the Void, capable of closing it once the entity grew strong enough.''


    Leo snorted internally. Seeing where we are, I don''t think it worked. This is the sixty-forth Outbreak after all. If that''s not enough time for the System to finish its job, then the Multiverse just might be doomed.


    ''You''re right, but that''s only because something went wrong during the final part of the System''s creation. I''m sure that''s what''s stopping the System from fulfilling its task.''


    Of course... Nothing can be easy, Leo grumbled. Any idea what happened?


    ''No,'' Nyx almost growled, her frustration overflowing their minds. ''It''s like Nikra''s memories of that time were already fragmented, barely making sense to even her. What happened during my creation didn''t help their readability at all.''


    If that''s really when she died, then I''m not that surprised. She separated into three shards. That had to have an impact on her mind. Leo reasoned, adding all the facts together. Still.. do you think that the Monarch she mentioned could be responsible?


    As Nyx dived out of the shadow of a tree and decapitated a group of Voidlings with her tails, she hissed. ''Possible, very possible... Only we don''t know anything about this entity. My memories can only confirm what Nikra already told you, nothing more.''


    That''s what I feared... So, in the end, Nikra''s other shard might be our only chance to find out more. Great... Leo would have sighed if he could, yet instead, he had to drown in Nyx''s sudden excitement at the idea. Or we can ask around in the Void once we get strong enough. Hell, the Lone Traveler knew about Nikra. He might know about other stuff too.


    ''No!'' Nyx growled, their shared vision darkening. ''The only reason we will ever contact that traitor is to tear him to shreds and consume his soul! He deserves nothing else!''


    Leo almost withdrew as her boiling rage attacked from all sides. It filled their link, their minds without a warning. However, before it could advance any further, his own bloodlust sparked, pushing the rage back.


    Enough! Leo roared, his command washing away Nyx''s overwhelming emotions. Only then did his own bloodlust back off. Calm down for fuck''s sake. You are supposed to be the one helping me control my rage, not the other way around... Now explain. What do you mean by the Traveler being a traitor?


    ''Forgive me...'' Nyx mumbled, and Leo felt her tails slump, dragging behind her on the ground. ''Even if you told me to distance myself from Nikra, in this instance, I just can''t. Not now, not ever...''


    Explain, Leo repeated, not really caring about any apologies.


    ''The Lone Traveler,'' she spat. ''Before you two parted ways, he gave you a name, someone to seek out once you landed in the Void.''


    Tarak.


    ''Exactly... The Traveler''s true name. Shared by Nikra''s youngest sibling, the same one who betrayed them during the war... Nikra recognized his Essence signature during your conversation and warned you. Do you understand now, Leo? Do you understand why you can''t go to him?''


    Leo''s mind froze and instantly got ejected back into his body. The warehouse came back into sight as he flinched, rolling around to rest on his knees.


    Shit... I thought nothing could beat finding out about the System''s creators, but this... Fuck! Nyx! He knows about me. Knows where I am, what I am!


    His hands trembled; hell, his entire body did as Leo''s mind conjured one bloody scenario after another. Death, so much death caused by the single fact that he had stumbled upon Nikra''s shard. The Traveler seemed like a friendly fellow, but now that the truth was revealed, his presence only spelled trouble.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ''Leo... Leo!'' Nyx screamed, piercing through the fog around her partner''s mind. ''Calm down. Deep, slow breaths.''


    Leo chuckled, the laugh somehow deranged and bitter at the same time. "Calm down? I have a fucking evil Old One waiting for me! An all-powerful entity that could probably kill me with a wave of their hand. He might not be here yet, but now it''s obvious he has some kind of a plan prepared for me."


    Even as his rant ended, leaving him gasping for air, Nyx didn''t say a thing. She retreated from Leo''s mind and waited until his breathing subsided. Only then did she speak up.


    ''I know how it looks. I can feel what you feel after all... But Leo, you have time. No... we have time. I don''t know how long it will take Tarak to realize you know who he is, but until then, we can prepare and grow stronger. Maybe it won''t be enough. Maybe we will die in the end. But we won''t find out until we try... So adapt, Leo. Adapt or die. Together.''


    Nyx''s presence came back in full force, her warmth enveloping him like a soft blanket. Slowly, Leo watched as the tremble in his hands subsided, the constant shivers fading away. All the worries and what-ifs still drifted through his mind, but at least they didn''t try to overwhelm him any longer.


    "... Thanks," Leo whispered, rising to his feet. "I needed this."


    ''That''s what I''m here for, Leo. I won''t let Hunter''s sacrifice be in vain.''


    Nodding, he opened his status.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: II - Prime Night Hunter


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 16


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E-


    Might Tier I (29) | LB: 27


    Grace: Tier II (21) | LB: 24


    Vision: Tier I (32) | LB: 26


    Mind: Tier II (2) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (32) | LB: 16


    Ether: 658


    Traits: Cloud Walker (Uncommon), Void-borne (Rare), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare), Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare), True Bond (Unique)


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta), Enhanced Vision (Gamma)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Soul Arts (Rare), Devour (Epic), Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare), Ruthless Efficiency (Radiant)


    General Skills: True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Epic), Decoy (Uncommon), Soul Well (Epic), Phantom Erasure (Rare)


    "For any other survivor, growth like this would have been enough; it should have been enough," Leo snorted, dismissing the window. "But not for me, eh? I need to do better if I want to survive and protect the few I have left. Nothing else matters from now on..."


    Within his mind, Nyx roared. At the same time, his bloodlust spiked, filling Leo with energy he had been missing ever since the fight inside the nest ended. Ruthless Efficiency almost activated on its own; however, he pulled back its reins, freezing the incoming cold rage in place.


    Not yet. The tower is still the priority... But once it''s dealt with. We hunt...


    <hr>


    Despite Leo''s resolution to wait until the tower was claimed, he didn''t stay idle when Clara finally reached the trainyard. Instead, he and Nyx focused on their bond and what they could share through it.


    They mastered Essence and memory transfer within minutes before trying mind and sense share once more. Unlike the last time, they worked together so that the exchange would be seamless and controlled by them both.


    For Leo, the concept of throwing his awareness through an alien link took longer to get used to. After all, even if he now lived in a messed up world, most of it happened on the outside. Only Hunter had affected his mind before, and even then, the beast was just another part of him, a split personality of sorts.


    However, with Nyx, Leo was now sharing his headspace with another living and thinking entity. Their bond described it well, ''Two souls that are one.'' They both had their own bodies, souls, and minds, but in the end, they were still one being if they wanted.


    Thus, despite his reluctance, their practice quickly picked up the pace. And so, in return, they ended up capable of sharing one or all of their senses within seconds...


    Not gonna lie. This feels weird as hell. Leo snorted as one of his eyes scanned the warehouse while the other shared Nyx''s sight. It certainly took a minute or two to not trip when he tried to take a step. I wonder if it can be useful in a fight...


    ''Once we grow used to the shared vision and invest more points into said attribute? Most likely,'' Nyx reasoned as they switched eyes again. ''For now, we shouldn''t attempt it.''


    Leo nodded. Agree... Still, now that we have this down, it''s time for you to show me how to use Eruption properly.


    Nyx chuckled. ''Understood. Watch and listen closely...''


    <hr>


    Shadow Essence surged into one of Leo''s tails, a steady flow of bloodlust following right after. It all gathered at the tip, mixing together until he could hold it no longer.


    ''Now Leo! And remember, don''t just let it escape. Control the shadows!''


    With a firm nod, Leo stabbed the tail into the ground, finally letting the bubbling Essence go. However, he didn''t wholly release his hold. This time, the shadows followed the path he had given them, traveling through the earth like a worm.


    Yet, just as Leo expected, the forever wild technique didn''t go out without a fight. It stuttered every once in a while, trying to escape his hold, to burst apart and activate earlier than its wielder wanted.


    Nonetheless, despite some Essence escaping, Leo squashed the technique''s rebellion.


    ''Good. Now release it in the shape you want.''


    Following Nyx''s instructions again, he lessened his hold over the technique even more. Instantly, the shadow Essence surged towards the surface, ready to unleash what remained of its power.


    Leo let it. And with the remnants of his phantom grasp, he gave the Essence a form.


    Eruption.


    Within the blink of an eye, shadows burst out of the ground, growing into three small spikes.


    ''You did it. Good job.''


    "Admit, it''s pathetic," Leo snorted, watching the tiny formation fade away. "I missed my original target by at least a meter. This shit wouldn''t kill anything. And worst of all, it took me about two minutes to make this. Not even close to usable in battle like your Eruption."


    ''My technique is at Master tier. Yours hasn''t even reached Adept. Give it time, Leo. This is only your second successful attempt. And it''s already better than the last one.''


    "Time..." He sighed. "Alright, let''s do it again. We can try Creation later. I want to learn how to create my own golems."


    ''Of cour... Leo! They are coming out."


    Dismissing the already gathered Essence, Leo focused on the image he saw in his right eye. Instantly, their shared gaze fell on Holden and Clara, along with Evan and one other, running across the empty space before the Safe Zone.


    Finally...

 Chapter 108. Safe

    ''Should I follow them?'' Nyx asked when the group of survivors disappeared behind some buildings. ''I highly doubt they will be as quick as that female.''


    "No," Leo shook his head. "The four of them should be more than enough. They don''t need any more protection... Also, I don''t want them spotting you. Clara had too much to worry about to search for someone hiding among the shadows, but now, with three more pairs of eyes..."


    Without a need to explain any further, Nyx nodded. ''Understood.'' She jumped off her perch in the trees, her body dissolving into shadows. Even upon landing, she did not reform and just slithered across the ground like a snake.


    Leo snorted. "Even after experiencing this in your body, I still have no idea how you do that."


    ''As I already mentioned, it''s one of the few perks of my current species.'' Nyx noted, the cloud of shadows finally reforming into a body. ''I can try to explain it to you one day. Maybe there is a way to recreate this ability without my trait.''


    Maybe... Leo hummed, juggling a ball of shadows in his hand. Probably will need even better Essence control for that. There is a difference between creating spikes and somehow turning my body into a pure mass of shadows.


    ''Of course, but there is no doubt in my mind that you can achieve it.''


    Ah! Positive thinking. He chuckled. You definitely didn''t get this from Hunter. He was a part of me, after all, and in the past week I became a grade A pessimist.


    ''You''re exaggerating.''


    Leo shrugged, creating another ball to juggle. Maybe I am, maybe I¡¯m not. It doesn''t really matter, not anymore... A grin suddenly settled on his face. Besides, if I''m the negative one about everything, you''re here now to pick up the slack. Aren''t you happy?


    ''I refuse to answer that,'' Nyx huffed. ''I know what you''re doing. I think the humans in your memories called this "fucking with someone." Although, I don''t understand why anyone would use an expression like this considering its other meaning.''


    Thanks to Nyx acting like a grown and somewhat wise adult from the beginning, Leo had forgotten that she was still practically a newborn. Yet, at the moment as she answered him, he could feel her confusion, curiosity, and a bit of smugness brimming through their link.


    And so, like struck, Leo froze, his control of shadows slipping. Slowly, he repeated Nyx''s words inside his head again, and even when he tried, he couldn''t stop the loud snort from escaping his nose. How the hell had he forgotten that he was dealing with a baby that had inherited way too many memories?


    You know what?... Let''s just forget it and never mention this again, hmm?


    On the other side, Nyx blinked. ''Of course... However, I''m still curious.''


    "Anyway," Leo spoke up as if he didn''t hear her say anything. They really had better things to do than discussing the idiocy of humanity. "When you get back here, please hide outside. I''d rather have you stay out of the tower''s range. Who knows how a Safe Zone will affect a creature like you."


    ''As you wish,'' Nyx answered without any complaints. Yet, after a moment of hesitation, she added, ''And what about you? Shouldn''t you get away as well?''


    "I will be fine," Leo waved her off. "Holden''s Safe Zone didn''t harm me at all apart from some discomfort, same for weaponized Ether... This can''t be much different."


    Nyx huffed. ''Correct, but I would prefer if you didn''t risk it. Remember, you haven''t recovered from your fight yet.''


    Grimacing, Leo''s hand drifted to his shoulder, which not that long ago housed a large, gaping hole. Despite it healing for the most part, the wound still stung as flesh continued to stitch itself together.


    "Okay," he relented. "You proved your point. I will be careful and stay close to the exit just in case."


    Warmth surged through their link again as Nyx whispered, ''Thank you.''


    Don''t mention it...


    <hr>


    Over an hour flew by as Leo waited for Holden''s group to arrive. Once more, he didn''t remain idle and continued practicing Shadow Eruption under Nyx''s surveillance.


    Each attempt brought forth more and more progress, slowly making the technique faster and stronger. It was still far from what Leo experienced during the fight against the Apex Shadow Claw, but at least now, Eruption should be somewhat usable during battle.


    Again! Leo growled, summoning another chunk of shadow Essence into his middle tail. Bloodlust and anger followed next to it, melding with the mythical energy as it surged to the limb''s tip.


    Hold tight.


    The tail dove into the concrete floor, unleashing the speeding shadows. Yet, even as the Essence traveled onward, a firm phantom hand held it together, stopping most of the energy from escaping or changing direction.


    Partial release.


    With a simple order and release from their confinement, the shadows rushed toward the ground, ready to unleash their power. However, before they could get out, a final command, an image, reached the mass of energy, giving it form.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Eruption.


    At once, black-as-night spikes exploded out of the floor a fair distance away from Leo. Two of them pierced right through a piece of a metal shelve, while another burst a fragment of wood into splinters with a bang.


    Much better...


    Technique Eruption has advanced to Adept mastery. Congratulations!


    Shadow: Eruption (Adept)


    A technique born out of the User''s bloodlust and desire to improve. With Eruption now reaching a new rank, its potential is finally unleashed. From now on, no enemy is safe from you, no matter where they hide. Shadows see everything. Please note that this technique can be made stronger by negative emotions.


    Leo snorted. Guess that was enough to advance. Let''s see how it works with the System''s assistance.


    Again, shadows and bloodlust gathered together. Faster than ever, with only a short command to follow, Essence surged into the ground, following the same path as before. Leo still had to hold it together, but it was nothing like what he struggled with during the past hour.


    Eruption.


    As ordered, new spikes burst out of the earth, creating a small crystalline formation.


    "Holy shit," Leo muttered. "That was fast."


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx agreed, speaking up for the first time since she returned and hid in a building close by. ''Faster formation in return for weaker output. Nothing you can''t fix by providing more Essence during activation.''


    "Not too much though," he grimaced, scanning the reserves inside his soul. "It already took more Essence than I normally use. At best, I have about ten activations in me. And that''s only once I fully recover."


    ''Your soul is still at Mortal tier. You shouldn''t expect too much from it, even if you produce Void Essence,'' Nyx chided.


    "True," Leo admitted with a sigh. "Suppose now I know what to choose when I level up again... Well, whatever, let''s see about Creation next. With the two of us, Takeover, and a few shadow golems, we should be unstoppable during the day."


    ''About that... It will have to wait. The humans are here.''


    Instantly, the image in Leo''s right eye shifted. The warehouse''s interior disappeared, only to be replaced by a high view of the street outside the building. The few Voidlings who were there not even an hour ago lay dead now, their blood invigorating the earth.


    Nyx''s and Leo''s connected gaze followed the path of the corpses, only to stop at the warehouse''s parking. There, the four survivors stood right before the building''s entrance, evidently engaged in some kind of discussion.


    Isn''t that Tyler? Leo furrowed his brow as he watched Clara wave her hands around, obviously annoyed. Why the hell did Holden decide to bring him? He must know that guy hates me.


    Nyx growled. ''If they try anything, I will tear them to shreds.''


    Doubtful, Leo shook his head as he rose to his feet and donned the Cloak of True Night. They would have brought more people if they wanted to attack me. Besides, Holden isn''t an idiot... even if his choice of company makes me question that.


    ''Just say a word, Leo, and he will join the Voidlings on the ground.''


    Leo didn''t even blink at Nyx''s offer. Hopefully, it won''t be necessary... but stay on alert just in case. I have been wrong before.


    ''Understood.''


    And so, as Leo''s eyesight went back to normal, he stepped behind the Tower of Protection and activated True Stealth. It took over a minute until the first patter of boots reached his ears.


    "Here it is, Tony. Fucking huge, right?" Clara''s voice suddenly echoed through the warehouse.


    "Aye... It''s nothing like the short pedestal I used last time," Holden answered in his usual calm and cold tone.


    Hearing as they had apparently forgotten about him in the face of the tower, Leo decided to step out. However, before he could do that, another voice joined the conversation.


    "Where is Hale?" The person almost spat. "He sho-"


    "Allen!" Holden growled lowly. "Keep your mouth shut, boy. Remember what we spoke about."


    Allen... So that''s Tyler''s last name.


    With a chuckle, Leo stepped out and dropped True Stealth along with his cowl. "Well, hello there. Thought you people would never arrive. Although now that I see who you brought along, Holden, I''m not surprised it took you so long."


    Maybe there was no reason to piss off Tyler even more, but Leo couldn''t stop himself. Not with what Holden just said...


    On the side, Clara snorted as they all glanced at the group''s youngest member. While Tyler refused to say anything under Holden''s hard stare, the clenching of his jaw and narrowed eyes told their own story.


    "Huh," Leo tsked. "And here I thought you would explode like the last time."


    At that moment, Tyler opened his mouth, ready to speak, only for Holden to beat him to it. "Allen! Don''t," he growled before turning to Leo. "And you, Hale. Please don''t make it harder than it already is."


    "That was all from me, so no worries." Leo raised his hands in surrender. "Not like I want to talk to an ungrateful bastard anyway."


    ''That was intriguing. You don''t usually act like this,'' Nyx spoke up as they watched Tyler turn an interesting shade of red.


    Leo shrugged. Well... people say I can hold a grudge. No clue how they got that idea...


    "New cloak?" Clara asked, breaking the tension. Her eyes roamed over him from top to bottom. "It definitely looks different."


    "You could say that. A small gift from the System."


    Clara grinned. "Nice one, looks good."


    Leo snorted. "Thanks, I guess." Turning to the leader of the group, he motioned to the Tower of Protection. "Well Holden, I did my part of the job. Now it''s your turn."


    "Aye, let''s get it over with," the man nodded, approaching the pillar. "Everyone, back off just in case."


    As Leo already promised Nyx to be careful, he quickly retreated near the exit, ready to bolt at a moment''s notice. Tyler and Evan followed his actions, only leaving Clara near Holden.


    "You too, Clara," the leader sighed.


    With her traditional salute, the woman moved to join the two other humans. "Roger, Roger."


    "Activating in three!" Holden shouted. "Two! One!"


    Instantly, the tower ignited, golden fire spreading across its surface. Not a moment later, at the pillar''s tip, a transparent orb of light appeared. It grew outwards with each second, consuming more and more area around it.


    Once the orb''s edges touched the roof above, it too, ignited. Here however, the fire didn''t stay. No, it moved with the orb, leaving a pristine, cleansed ceiling behind. All damages were fixed while Vetilim faded into nothingness, like it had never been there...


    Soon, the orb reached walls and the floor, cleansing it too. Finally, it passed over Leo, and yet he never felt any pain, quite the opposite in fact.


    The dull ache in his shoulder disappeared, replaced by soft tingling as the rest of his flesh healed in an instant. All the other injuries he had sustained also suffered a similar fate, leaving Leo untouched by the horrors of this new world.


    Nyx... what the hell just happened?

 Chapter 109. A job to finish

    ''I... I don''t know,'' Nyx muttered as the golden light slowly passed through the walls, disappearing from the view. ''It almost completely blocked our link; I couldn''t do anything, Leo. I was scared... Why didn''t you run? You promised."


    Leo winced at the obvious tremble in Nyx''s voice. I thought about escaping and almost did in the end... But then I felt it. The encompassing warmth, whispers of promised safety... That''s why I didn''t move. Because somehow I knew this fire wouldn''t harm me.


    For a while, it seemed like Nyx wouldn''t say anything. Yet, just then, her soft whisper filled Leo''s head. ''Hunter...''


    He blinked, furrowing his brow. What?


    ''Hunter,'' Nyx repeated, her tone never changing. ''He might have left me his memories, his shattered mind. However, you, Leo... you have his power, his unlimited access to bloodlust, and what''s now obvious, his instincts... I thought they died with Hunter''s consciousness, but it seems I was wrong.''


    Hunter, huh? Leo chuckled within the safety of his mind. Protecting me even from the grave. Fucking hell...


    ''You could say that,'' Nyx agreed. ''However, remember, those instincts now belong to you. They are currently weak, and most likely still in the process of bonding with your subconsciousness, but with time, they will become another part of you. And just like with open bloodlust, you must be ready for what they will bring.''


    Sounds ominous. Leo sighed, once more watching through Nyx''s eye as the golden dome continued to expand outside the warehouse. Not like we can do much about it, eh? I just need to learn how to handle all of the changes coming my way and not die in the process. Sound simple.


    ''Humans...'' Nyx grumbled quietly. ''You really love your sarcasm.''


    Leo almost snorted. One, I''m not human anymore. And two, I''m sure sarcasm must be a universal way of coping with bullshit. Life would be dull without it.


    ''I''m sure,'' Nyx muttered, her voice as dry as a desert.


    Sobering up, Leo glanced at Holden, who still had a hand upon the colossal, golden pillar. Anyway... This light, it healed me. It even got the few scars I gathered on my arms... If it can do that, then maybe there is another way to fix Adam.


    ''Leo,'' Nyx whispered softly. ''The light healed you, that''s true. But please, don''t get your hopes up. The little human''s case is much more complicated than a flesh wound. It might work, but it also might do nothing or cause more harm than good.''


    Leo bit back a retort, swallowing hard. Even if he didn''t want to hear it, he knew Nyx was right. However, he couldn''t give this idea up, not when another light had finally appeared at the end of the tunnel.


    Don''t worry, he finally said back. I understand that this is just a ''might'' and nothing definite. I won''t let this blind me.


    ''I''m glad... And Leo? I truly wish I could give you a solution. But not even Nikra knew of a way to save the child at your current stage of power. Any sort of healing arts or cleansing rituals are far beyond us.''


    Understood. Leo nodded lightly with a heavy heart. Though I would like to hear about those things anyway if you don''t mind.


    ''Of course,'' Nyx whispered, her tone brightening, the warmth returning to their link. ''But it will need to wait. The process is done.''


    Focusing on their shared sight, Leo understood what the Voidling meant. The golden dome finally stopped expanding, its transparent light hovering a good distance above the warehouse.


    The new Safe Zone''s protection stretched wide, easily covering the area around the building and even including the streets to some extent. There really was no comparison between a temporary and permanent zone.


    Looks good. More than enough space to house a few hundred people if developed right. Leo admitted, a few possible plans running through his head. But not gonna lie; if the entire city didn''t notice this already, it will soon.


    ''Indeed. A small price to pay for certain protection.''


    Leo nodded without a word and disconnected from their shared vision. With Holden finally turning away from the glowing pillar, it was time to set up the next part of their plans.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    And so, with measured and almost silent steps, he approached the other man. The leader was already fighting off questions from a grinning Clara. Yet with just a raise of his hand, he stopped the overly excited woman when he noticed Leo coming closer.


    "Well Hale, this is it. You said you could do this, and you did. You have my and my people''s thanks."


    "Oh don''t be so stiff, Tony!" Clara clapped Holden on the back, hard. "We just claimed a permanent safe zone. Smile a bit!"


    The man stumbled a step, shooting the woman a glare. "You smile enough for all of us. And our job is far from over, Clara."


    The woman huffed, her shoulder slumping. "Aye, aye. I know. Way to bring down the mood when that bloody thing pumped me with more caffeine than I ever drank."


    Leo quirked an eyebrow. So, the Safe Zone really healed them all. Although, it didn''t fill him with energy like it did for Clara.


    Maybe it works differently for humans? Or is it just her? A quick scan of the warehouse made Leo question the latter. Apart from Clara, no one seemed like they drank five energy drinks in a row. Though Tyler''s constant dedication to glaring at me is commendable.


    Shrugging off the hostile gaze, Leo nodded to the tower behind Holden. "Any problems with the new safe zone? Stability? Payment?"


    "Nothing," the leader stated, even as a tiny frown appeared on his face. "At least not yet."


    Dear Void, what now? Leo mirrored Holden''s expression. "What do you mean?"


    "Don''t get me wrong, Hale, this place is safe, much safer than the one we had before..." Holden grimaced, but it was almost unnoticeable. "I just don''t know how long this will last."


    You''re not making much sense, man. Get to the point.


    "This shield, that repaired the building and now covers it in a dome, isn''t impenetrable. Just like Voidlings, it has a power ranking," the man continued explaining. "Currently it stands at D- but if the world keeps on growing, this might not be enough."


    Leo let out a long sigh. Why did I ever think this would be simple. Of course, a random safe zone won''t protect us from beasts that have had years or more to grow stronger.


    "So what? This place will become essentially useless after some time?"


    "Not necessarily," Holden shook his head. "With my job, I can upgrade it. Bigger territory, stronger shield, Ether flare production. All of this and more is available to buy. However, none of those things come cheap."


    "Ether?


    Holden nodded. "Among other things. None of which we can even obtain now."


    Yeah... figured out that myself. Still, it could have been worse. Of course, just as this thought passed through Leo''s head, Holden spoke up again.


    "And once we buy those upgrades, the upkeep price will return. If we don''t pay it, our safe zone will slowly revert to its base state."


    Leo fought the urge to hit his head into a wall. I just had to jinx it... New rule, Nyx, remember it. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. And if it didn''t, expect it to go to shit later.


    ''I can see what you meant by being a pessimist,'' Nyx muttered.


    Ignoring the Voidling''s jape, Leo addressed the two humans. "Only Ether to pay this time?"


    Holden''s mouth tightened into a thin line, his eyes darting from right to left, up and down. "For now? Yes. I can''t see any other requirements. Only Ether is to be paid every ten days."


    Depending on the amount, it should be doable for a large group. Leo noted, nodding at Holden. "You have time to figure out this later. Doubt you will need any upgrades in the coming days."


    "Aye." Holden began towards the warehouse exit. "We have other things to worry about. Our first safe zone will collapse soon if we don''t pay, and I have nowhere near enough Ether for that. We have today and most of tomorrow to gather things and escort everyone here."


    It''s just one thing after another, isn''t it?


    "So what''s the plan?" Leo asked out loud. "I didn''t get you this nest, only for it to become useless."


    Holden grimaced and spun around to face the others, his emotion on full display again. "Allen!" He growled. "You will stay here. Protect this place with your life if you must. Do you understand, boy?"


    Tyler''s permanent glare at Leo disappeared as he gave Holden a firm nod.


    "Evan," the leader turned towards the assassin. "Map this place and make an inventory of what we can use. When you finish, run back to ReachHope and tell Diana to speed up the preparations. I want people to be ready to move on the first light tomorrow if necessary."


    Evan tipped his head, "On it. Good luck."


    As the man sprinted deeper into the warehouse''s offices, Holden looked back at Leo and Clara. "You two, I know it''s a lot to ask after what you just did, but I need you to accompany me somewhere."


    "Oh?" Leo narrowed his eyes. "Where?"


    Holden, not backing off, held his gaze. "Police station. If we all want to survive, we need more people. I can''t always depend on you and the few fighters I have. Not when we must transport about forty people from ReachHope to here."


    Fair point. Leo tilted his head. "And you want me to come? Bring a literal monster to another group of humans?"


    For the first time since he met him, Holden chuckled. "Indeed. I heard Clara told you about our past with that group, right?" Leo nodded. "Then trust me when I say it. I know Frank better than anyone, and if there is one person who won''t have a problem with you, it''s him."


    "That''s quite the statement to make," Leo commented. "But fine, I will go. Just remember, I''m not a tool for you to use. If you have a plan, you tell me about it. No funny business and everyone will remain happy."


    Holden tightened his hold on the sword at his hip. "You have nothing to worry about, Hale. Not from me," he sighed. "I wouldn''t dare to put my people at more risk than they already are."


    Leo grinned just enough to show a bit of teeth. "Good. I will meet you by the gallery''s entrance close to the station. Till then."


    Without another word, Leo spun around and dove towards the exit, ready for the next part of the journey.


    Nyx. It''s time to hunt.

 Chapter 110. Consequences

    "This should do it," Leo gasped out, kneeling by the roof''s edge. His fingers and legs twitched, fighting the urge to jump down and slaughter everything in sight. "Nyx? Good enough? I doubt we will find a better place."


    The massive feline stepped closer, peeking over at the large parking lot below and the streets surrounding it. Almost right away, her tails began to sway wildly as she licked her snout.


    ''A worthy feast to begin with,'' she pretty much purred. ''My Essence is screaming for their blood. I know you feel the same, Leo. But remember, don''t let this hunger control you. This will be the first time you experience the heat of battle without Hunter overseeing your rage and bloodlust.''


    "I know," Leo growled through his teeth before taking a deep breath. The boiling hunger inside him couldn''t be stopped at this point. It came out of nowhere and almost forced him into Ruthless Efficiency when he left the new Safe Zone. Hell, it was a real possibility that he could have gone on a rampage if things continued.


    Not something Leo wanted. Not with Holden and the others close by...


    Thankfully, with her quick thinking, Nyx merged their senses and absorbed a good chunk of his burden. It cleared his head for a good few minutes, immediately forcing some important questions to the forefront of his mind.


    What happened? Why did this relentless hunger appear now, hours after his fight inside the nest? Where did it even come from?


    However, even if they wanted answers, neither Leo nor Nyx could withstand the overwhelming force pushing at their minds and souls. And so they escaped a block or two away from the Safe Zone, bringing them here.


    The parking lot of the biggest supermarket in Wolford...


    Their first hunting ground...


    As bloodlust spiked at the thought, joining the mindless hunger, Leo released a long sigh. Fucking hell... I''m so glad I decided to split from Holden and Clara. They would have seen too much... Did my new instincts protect me again?


    Next to him, Nyx snorted. ''Probable but doubtful. This was most likely just a happy coincidence. The feline''s grin turned feral. Now come, Leo. Let us bathe in the blood of our prey!


    Leo would have rolled his eyes at Nyx''s bloodlust; he really would have if he could. Instead, at that moment, his body and mind decided to betray him. On their own, the blades upon his arms extended, while at the same time, violet hues slowly spread over his vision.


    Ah fuck it. Let''s hunt!


    Yet before he could move, three strong tails wrapped around his body, forcing Leo to look in Nyx''s direction.


    The feline''s eyes were wide, the glint of madness momentarily gone. ''Shit! Leo, listen! Let the hunger feed, but don''t release your bloodlust! Do you hear me?!''


    Leo swallowed hard, gritting his teeth as the haze over his mind backed off a step. Y-yeah... Got... got it... H-hurry...


    Instantly, the weight of Nyx''s tails disappeared from his shoulders as the feline nodded. ''Alright. Just remember. Hunger. Not Bloodlust. Focus on it. Feed it.'' With that, the crimson speck within her eyes expanded, a growl escaping from her throat. ''Now... The feast is waiting.''


    Like two dark angels, an Akirian and an Apex descended upon the parking lot, any notions of stealth forgotten. Essence rushed through their bodies as the shadows around them moved.


    The moment their feet hit the ground, the duo split, each beast choosing to feed separately. However, even if there was a distance between them in the physical realm, in their minds, they were as close as ever. Not that either of them cared, not when only a single emotion flowed through their heads.


    Hunger.


    The first Cursed Runner fell to Nyx, her long tails cutting the monster''s body into three bloody pieces. A normie collapsed next, without a head attached to its body as Leo sprinted past it, not even sparing the dead beast a glance.


    Too weak.


    Vision fully tainted by shades of violet, he snarled, spinning around as the black flash of Kiss of Death shrouded his tails. A group of three Voidlings took the hit head-on, their broken and bleeding bodies falling to the ground a few feet away.


    Before continuing, Leo snatched a part of one of the corpses. Devour activated without a single conscious thought, turning the sack of flesh into dust within the blink of an eye. Hell, he didn''t even stop to wait for the drain to finish...


    For just a moment, the hunger attacking his mind paused. Yet when no more sustenance came forth, its assault began anew. Instantly, shadows escaped Leo''s soul, forming into a about a dozen jagged blades above his head.


    His tainted vision honed on the new targets within a second, and so the projectiles shot forward, leaving dark mist in their wake.


    Even as screeches of pain filled the lot, Leo scowled as a few blades missed their mark. Essence exploded through his body, Reinforcement igniting his muscles with renewed power.


    With speed unmatched by any beast on the field, Leo barrelled right into a large of group of monsters. His claws, blades, and tails always remained in motion, drawing blood with each strike. The sweet screams of death filled his ears as Voidling after Voidling fell, never to wake up again.


    In a matter of seconds, only corpses remained around him, and despite all of the dead Voidlings being weak, his hunger couldn''t wait any longer.


    Dozens of thick shadow tendrils erupted from his arms, piercing all the bodies. Later on, Leo would have no idea how it even happened, but somehow, Devour activated. It connected with the shadows and tugged at the Essence remaining in the corpses, dragging it back to his soul.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    As more and more energy flowed back, the haze of overwhelming hunger started to fade, returning bits of clarity to Leo''s mind. It was enough to wash away some of the wildness that consumed his thoughts and actions.


    "Fuck!" He hissed as the corpses turned to dust, leaving the hunger to fester once more. "What the hell is going on?!"


    ''Focus, Leo. You got a Brute incoming,'' Nyx warned with a growl. ''Consume it, and everything should get better. I can help if you want."


    Twirling around, Leo spotted the running Brute. Twelve levels of huge naked muscles stomped upon the ground, a roar escaping from the beast''s throat.


    No... I got it. Leo roared back, firmly grabbing over half of the Essence remaining in his soul. Shadows and the constant rage that came with Ruthless Efficiency followed, spiking the gathering energy with even more power.


    Only a few meters separated the Brute from Leo when he plunged his claws into the earth, letting the shadows escape. With every single bit of focus he could muster, he directed the Essence towards its target, just like Nyx taught him.


    Just overpower it, you say? Well, here you go. Eruption!


    At once, shadows exploded right underneath the Brute. Spike after spike grew out of the earth, forming a huge cluster. They all speared right through the beast''s body, stopping it in place but not killing it.


    The Brute howled as blood escaped from wounds in liters, its trapped limbs twitching, trying to move. Only it was all for naught as Leo didn''t waste another second and pounced, sinking his claws into the beast''s flesh.


    This time, Devour activated with his command; the greedy ability swallowing the offered meal.


    With each passing moment, the all-consuming hunger slowly faded away from Leo''s mind. Thus, when nothing remained of the Brute, the thirst was still there, but at this point, he could ignore it.


    Holy shit... Leo shuddered, for a moment forgetting he was in the middle of a battlefield.


    Beware! Ruthless Efficiency is close to advancing to the second stage.


    Brute (LVL: 12) slain | Experience awarded | 21 Ether gained


    Level 17 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Oh hell no! Leo scowled, ignoring any other message than the first one. I didn''t free myself of this fucking hunger only to fall into another trap.


    With all his mental power, he grabbed the leaking bloodlust and pushed it back to the depths of his mind. Instantly, the violet hues in his vision disappeared as his body relaxed, washing away all the power boost from Ruthless Efficiency.


    That''s one thing less to worr-


    ''Leo!'' Nyx''s sudden shout interrupted his thoughts as she landed next to him, slapping away a Voidling that got far too close to him. ''I''m glad you''re better now, but focus. Our hunt is far from done!''


    Almost flinching at the harsh tone, he nodded. I know, sorry. Just protect me for a moment. Need to deal with the level-up.


    Nyx hissed at the small army of Cursed Voidlings approaching, shadows gathering around her tails. ''Understood.''


    As her limbs became a whirlwind of death, Leo ignored the sudden notifications about her kills and gave the level-up full attention. Not that it was really needed; he knew well what attribute to choose this time.


    System, you know what to do.


    A shiver traveled through Leo''s body when power flooded his soul. It went away just as quickly, but even with only three additional points, he could already feel the boost.


    Now let''s clean this place up.


    With hunger''s remnants and bloodlust trying to force its way to the forefront of his mind, he joined Nyx. Claws, blades, and shadows answered the waves of monsters, bathing the parking lot in the blood of the Void.


    Sometime during the battle, Leo even spotted a single Maniac minding its own business in the distance. Curiosity quickly got the better of him, and with a short command, a long shadow spear shot toward the monster.


    The projectile flew true, and at the moment of impact, the Maniac exploded in a shower of gore and violet toxin. The bang from the explosion stilled the entire battlefield for a second, but not Leo and Nyx.


    Like the monsters they were, they descended upon the frozen Voidlings without mercy. No beast stood a chance against their combined might, and soon, nothing but corpses surrounded them.


    "This was..." Leo grinned, devouring another body. "Something else... I knew we were on a different level, but a slaughter is an apt name for what we just did."


    Close to him, Nyx purred as she feasted on a random corpse. ''They might have been weak, but indeed... this was a good hunt. The beginning could use a bit of work though.''


    The smile fell from Leo''s face, a frown replacing it instantly. What the hell was that, Nyx? Where the fuck did that hunger even come from? I was fine for hours, and then it came out of nowhere.


    Her meal forgotten momentarily, Nyx raised her snout, ears flattening. ''I have a theory. Unfortunately, it doesn''t explain much.''


    What is it?


    ''Hunger like this should only appear when a Voidborn starves themselves almost to death. And that''s nearly impossible with Void Essence flowing in the air, much less in your situation,'' Nyx explained, sitting down.


    Yet it happened.


    Nyx nodded. ''Indeed, and considering that you were fine before, only one thing could have caused that. The Safe Zone''s miraculous healing.''


    Leo froze, his eyes widening. You mean? But how? If it caused this, then why were Hunter''s instincts so accepting of the healing? That doesn''t make sense.


    Nyx sighed, lying down on her paws. ''Your inherited instincts are still weak and far from infallible... And I already mentioned it. This is only a theory. Remember, I was cut off from you during the process.''


    Shit! Leo growled, pacing back and forth in the middle of the parking lot. What if something similar or worse happened to the others?


    ''Unlikely,'' Nyx huffed. ''They are as far as they can be from a Voidborn and didn''t need healing. At least not as much as you. Besides, even in its current state, the System shouldn''t be able to cause harm to survivors directly. What happened to you is most likely just a side effect due to your nature.''


    Leo paused. Sounds... reasonable. Still, we have to head out soon, just in case. We can still kill everything along the way.


    ''As you wish.''


    Good. Leo nodded and quickly summoned the System. Just give me a second. Need to check out what it wants.


    The passive of the Install-type item Touch of the Void (Epic): Second Circle has reached its maximum threshold. Do you wish to proceed with your item''s advancement? This action is irreversible and might lead to some unexpected outcomes.


    Additional assessment: The user''s soul should be capable of incorporating the item''s increased power. Warning! The user should still be wary of overloading his soul with Install-type items.


    Finally? I almost forgot about this...

 Chapter 111. A spark

    The path onward should have been obvious. Advance the item and then proceed with their previous plan. However, the longer Leo looked at the System''s message, the more doubts entered his mind.


    ''What''s wrong, Leo?'' Nyx whispered softly.


    He sighed. I''m not sure if I should do it now. Seeing the feline tilt her head, he elaborated. Maybe it didn''t take much time to finish previously, but it hurt like hell. Harming myself right now might not be the best idea.


    Slowly, Nyx nodded. ''That''s fair... Yet, you seem to forget that it was Nikra who forced the complete evolution of your item. Her power changed it at its core, and that''s the only reason it hurt so much. Without her here, things should proceed much more smoothly.''


    Humming, Leo turned his gaze back to the notification. Nyx was right. Without Nikra, no one could mess up the advancement process any longer. Though it didn''t change the fact that he still worried.


    Instincts? If there was ever a time to warn me, it''s now... Nothing? Okay...


    "So be it," He muttered, sitting down on the ground and relaxing his body as much as he could. "Like before... Protect me. Hopefully, it won''t take longer than a minute or two. We really need to go."


    ''Of course. Go on.''


    Alright System... hit me with it.


    Choice acknowledged. Proceeding with the advancement of Touch of the Void (Epic). Please relax, and under no circumstances should you attempt to manipulate your soul during the process.


    Three.


    Two.


    One.


    Beginning¡­


    Deep within Leo''s soul, the install item stirred, awakening the surrounding Essence. The energy, just like the last time, enveloped the Touch of the Void, not leaving a single gap for it to escape. Not that it ever would.


    At this point, Leo expected the pain to begin, to boil his blood just like it had when Nikra interfered in the past. However, none of that ever happened.


    Instead, a sudden warmth filled his soul, followed by whispers he couldn''t really understand. They spoke louder with each word, their echoes sending shivers across his body. Sometimes, he thought those voices were calling out to him, begging him to join.


    In what? Leo had no idea.


    Not that it really mattered, as not even a few seconds later, the whispers vanished. The warmth filling his soul disappeared along with them, leaving him so cold and empty that, for a moment, he thought the world had turned into a frozen wasteland.


    Only it didn''t, and another message from the System made sure to prove that. Well, that and the world around him coming back into focus.


    Item advancement finished successfully. Grade upgraded from Epic to Radiant. Congratulations, Touch of the Void has advanced to Spark of the Void.


    Holy shit. Leo let out a long exhale. That was... quite something. Did you feel it, Nyx?


    ''Only bits and pieces,'' she admitted. ''Our bond is still too weak for me to feel everything that happens that deep in your soul. One day, it will change, but for now, I can see the memory from your perspective if you wish.''


    Standing up, Leo shrugged. Go ahead. I''m curious what you will have to say about it. You still know more about the Void than me.


    Not waiting for a response, he quickly took off his cloak and made sure to check every inch of his body. Even if there were no significant physical changes after the previous advancement, he didn''t want to leave anything to chance. Not now, not ever.


    Everything seems the same. That''s something at least. Leo released a breath he didn''t know he was holding. If it didn''t change me outside, time to find out what happened inside.


    Install: Spark of the Void (Radiant):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. With each step you make, your connection to the Void grows stronger. Its power, wild and destructive, is waiting for you. Make sure you don''t lose your way.


    Limit Break: +15 Might, Vision, and Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. The true power of the Void fills your soul.


    Passive: Third Circle - Locked. Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.


    Hmm. For a whole grade higher, it''s honestly less than I expected. Leo frowned, making sure to read everything at least twice. Though the bit about Void''s true power might be the reason for that. I just have to figure out what the hell that really means...


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ''Interesting...'' Nyx''s sudden mumble filled his mind. ''The voices you heard. Those were spoken in Akirian''s primal tongue. One of, if not the oldest, languages in the Multiverse. Nikra heard it a few times during the war.''


    Forgetting about the item for a moment, Leo raised an eyebrow. Oh? Did you understand anything they tried to tell me?


    The feline shook her head. ''No. Nikra understood a few words at best. It''s not enough to even translate a single sentence you have heard.''


    Not surprising... He tsked just as another thought entered his head. So this is one of the languages that my skill can''t translate. Found it faster than I expected...


    ''With your current evolution, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later. And who knows. Maybe one day you will have to learn this ancient tongue.''


    As if. Leo snorted. Learning a new language is the least of my worries. There are much better things to give my time to... Like for example figuring out what my upgraded item does. Think you can help, Nyx?


    For a brief moment, the feline remained silent as her eyes clouded over.


    ''Forgive me, Leo. All I can tell is that the answer most likely lies within your soul. Apart from that, I''m just as clueless as you.''


    Don''t worry. Leo waved her off. It''s not like I expect you to have an answer to my every question. Sooner or later, I will figure this out. Now, let''s get moving...


    <hr>


    Barely a few days and it had already spread so far. Leo swallowed, gazing at the Tainted Wasteland below and tracing every glowing fissure.


    The scorched and disfigured area didn''t stay idle for long after he knocked down two of the walls that trapped it. At this point, the Wasteland finished consuming the fallen buildings and continued onward. Not even the street where he had landed after escaping from the Cursed Juggernaut was spared.


    Give it a few weeks, and most of the city will be gone... Once the mess with the Safe Zone and Adam''s curse is solved, this should be the next point of focus. Well, this and the Graveyard.


    The mere thought of that accursed mall brought a grimace to Leo''s face. However, no matter how much he wanted, the Graveyard couldn''t remain forgotten forever. Among everything that wanted to kill the survivors in Wolford, the breeding ground of Nightmares was the most dangerous.


    At least for now...


    There are also the Void Gates waiting to be activated... Shit. He shook his head. One thing at a time, Leo. Remember. Safe Zone, Adam, then the rest...


    Sighing, Leo let his gaze wander over the Wasteland again. Another dozen or two Voidlings had already filled the space left by the monsters that died here a few days ago. Where did they come from? He had no idea, but the point remained that they all had already reached at least level ten.


    Perfect place to level up quickly and get some stronger minions... But not now.


    ''Are you sure, Leo? Now that you''re fully recovered, we could easily hunt most of them given time. The humans can wait. You worry too much about them.''


    Leo rolled his eyes. I know you don''t care about them, but I gave them my word. Besides, I''m a bit curious.


    ''I don''t like this. Humans are fickle beings. ''


    Quirkring an eyebrow, Leo stepped away from the roof''s edge. Need I remind you that I was a human not that long ago?


    ''Unimportant. You have shed your humanity and become something more. That''s all that matters.''


    This time, Leo couldn''t stop the chuckle escaping from his throat. Interesting point of view... Don''t worry too much about me. I still plan to take over a few Voidlings on the way. That and I still have you.


    ''Acceptable,'' Nyx mumbled, earning another laugh from Leo.


    <hr>


    They are fine... So it was only me. Thank the Void. Leo sighed in relief as Holden and Clara entered the gallery''s entrance hall. "You''re here. Nice. Honestly, I expected you to take longer."


    Clara snorted, her gaze darting between the dead creatures around them. "And you would have been right if someone hadn''t cleared out the final part of the way." She grinned. "Must have been bored, eh?"


    Leo shrugged even as another kill notification appeared in his vision. "Something like that. I just don''t want too many surprises once we arrive at the police station. Now, shall we?"


    Nyx, you can stop now. They are here. Take the minions and find a good spot to watch over me.


    ''Understood.''


    "A moment, Hale," Holden called out, stopping him with a raised hand. "I already told you some of what you can expect from Frank, but let me elaborate."


    Nodding, Leo leaned against a wall. "Sure. Go on."


    "Frank is a survivor, always was. Among our group, he was the fastest to adapt to everything. If something needed to be done, he was the man for the job." Holden sighed, lightly shaking his head. "He is a good man and a friend you want around. There is just one important issue with him."


    "He is a prick," Clara finished, earning a glare from Holden. "Hey! We both know I''m right. I just ain¡¯t scared to say it," she shrugged.


    The man pinched his nose. "Clara is... sadly correct. Frank is many things, but easy to work with is not among them. And this stands true before and after the Outbreak."


    "Meaning it got worse after," Clara added with a grin.


    Leo furrowed his brow. "Are you sure you want this guy''s help?"


    "Aye," Holden stated firmly. "Frank has his faults. We all have. But like I said, he is a good person. As long as you ignore his jibes and obnoxious nature, working together shouldn''t be a problem. That is once we convince him to join us."


    "Yeah, Tony," Clara drawled. "I would like to finally hear your master plan to do that. You know well why Frank and the others left us."


    "Of course I do," Holden almost growled before taking in a deep breath. "For now, I hope the news about the permanent Safe Zone and Hale''s presence here will tip the scale in our favor. If that doesn''t work... I have an offer Frank can''t refuse."


    Ignoring most of what the man said for a moment, Leo spoke up. "Hold up. What''s that about me?"


    Even as Holden moved to answer, Clara beat him to it. "Even if he is an arsehole, Frank is also a simple bloke. He respects strength and takes the System''s motto as some sort of guidance from God... So I guess you''re here as a show of power so that he won''t think we are just a bunch of weaklings anymore."


    "Again, correct," Holden nodded. "He will see you as what you are, Hale. An ex-human who adapted better than others."


    Alright, color me impressed. Now I really want to see if any of that is even slightly true. Who knows, maybe it won''t become a complete waste of time after all.


    Kicking his foot off the wall, Leo motioned to the duo. "Okay then. Let''s meet this Frank."

 Chapter 112. Another

    It didn''t take long to move even closer to the police station once they left the ruined gallery. With Nyx and taken-over minions clearing the streets for the past twenty minutes, the trio barely had to fight anything. And even when a Voidling or two decided to take their chances, Leo just slaughtered them before a single screech could leave their throats.


    As they walked, he constantly felt eyes on him, whether from Clara or Holden. There could be many reasons for their behavior, but he was pretty sure he knew what was going through their heads. After all, even with all his strength, clearing an area like this should be beyond him in such a short time.


    Let them wonder. Leo chuckled internally as they turned the corner, the police station finally coming into sight. And so the show begins.


    Right away, a figure moved on the station''s roof, the top of their head barely visible behind a cover. At the same time, upon the barricade before the front doors, a man stood up, a rifle firmly aimed at them.


    "Bloody fuckers really found bigger guns," Clara muttered next to him.


    Moving a bit ahead of them, Holden commented, "Those won''t last them for long. Our police force was never large. Sooner or later, ammunition will run dry, and they will have to fight just like the rest of us."


    "Not even that," Leo huffed. "Give it another day or two, and most Voidlings will need entire magazines to take down. We are slowly getting closer to the point where everything will probably start evolving. I already fought against a few of those..."


    "Bloody great," Clara grumbled, her shoulders slumping a bit. "As if it ain''t hard enough already."


    Leo shrugged. "That''s how the world works now. You either get stronger, or you get left behind. By remaining weak, you''re just asking to be eaten alive."


    "Now that''s something I could see Frank saying," the woman mumbled.


    Just as Leo wanted to tell her to deal with it, Holden cut it. "Hold it. Please be quiet for now. I will do the talking."


    Fine by me. I''m here mostly out of curiosity. He noted, letting Holden and Clara go ahead of him. If he didn''t have to say anything during those ''negotiations,'' he would be a happy man. Like that will ever happen...


    "Stop right there!" The man atop the barricade called out when only a few meters separated them from the station. "What do you want?"


    Guy has some balls at least. Though... Under the hood, Leo''s gaze drifted toward the roof and one of the windows, where more people already appeared. They all had a weapon aimed at Holden, be it another gun or a bow. I can get out easily. Clara has a chance too with her attributes. Not sure about Holden. Really depends on their accuracy.


    "Already forgot my face, Mark?!" Holden shouted back. "Did you hit your head during the last few days?"


    Oho, didn''t expect this from you.


    "Screw you, Tony!" Even from this distance, Leo saw the man''s face turning a tad crimson. "I know bloody well who you are. So spit it out or bugger off. We aren''t working together anymore."


    "That idiot never learns." Holden muttered under his breath before shouting out. "Quit your yapping and get Frank! I have an offer to make, and he will want to hear it."


    Really... it''s like hearing a completely different person speak. Must be some bad blood between them. Curious.


    Mark scowled but brought down his gun. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Just don''t fucking move from here. I have people watching. Ya hear me?."


    With that said, the burly man disappeared behind the barrier. Like he said, the survivors atop the building and in the windows stayed put, ready to fire if anything happened.


    How is it going, Nyx?


    Instantly, the vision in one of Leo''s eyes shifted, the front of the police station replaced by a live image of the same building from another side. It still felt a bit weird to see two completely different things at the same time, in various color palettes no less. However, thanks to Nyx''s perspective, they now had most of the building covered.


    ''If they try anything, they won''t even have time to react. I and your minions are waiting for your command.''


    He smiled a bit. Let''s hope it won''t be necessary. I most likely already killed two of their people. I don''t need any more of their blood on my hands.


    ''You worry too much about humans, Leo. I can understand caring about your family, but others? Not so much.''


    It''s not like I worry about them. He tsked, even as the thought seemed somewhat wrong for some reason. I just would rather not deal with the consequences of killing more of them... And I need Holden alive. He and his group can protect Ava and Adam when I''m away.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ''Of course. Forgive me for assuming.''


    No problem. Remember, even with all the memories you have, there is still much you have to learn. Hell, I do too... Anyway. Leo trailed off when a single metal sheet within the barricade moved, unlocking a passage. Here we go. Stay focused.


    The first person to step through was Mark, a scowl permanently etched onto his face. He quickly stepped aside while fixing his grip on the rifle as another man appeared in the hole.


    He looks familiar... Isn''t he the guy I almost killed last time I was here?


    Not that Leo had much time to ponder that, as another person stepped outside just a moment later. The new arrival was nothing like the two already waiting, and Identify quickly activated, working overtime to provide much-needed information.


    Fallen Human | LVL: 11


    So I''m no longer the only survivor in Wolford to evolve. Leo frowned, scanning the Fallen Human from top to bottom.


    Overall, their build wasn''t even different from that of a normal person. The man still had all the limbs and features of an average person. However, that was where the similarities stopped.


    Black as night skin, tainted by deep red streaks, covered the man''s body. His eyes glowed with a vivid yellow while the hair atop his head was gone, replaced by deformed skin. To make matters more interesting, Leo even noticed the lengthened and sharpened fingernails holding onto a sword at the Fallen''s hip.


    If this is Frank, I can see what Holden meant by the guy being more accepting of me.


    "Well, well, well. Who''ve we got ''ere?" The evolved human spread his hands, a cheeky grin on his face. "Anthony fucking Holden knocking on my doors, what''s the world come to? And with the lovely Miss Hess, no less." The man''s eyes then shifted towards Leo. "I don''t know you though. Why don''t ya lose that hood of yours, mate?"


    Yet Leo didn''t move. He would let Holden play all of their cards today.


    "Frank... I see you''ve chosen your path," the said man returned awkwardly.


    The Fallen chuckled. "I told ya, didn''t I? If we want to survive in this bloody hell, we must move on. Unlike your little band of misfits, I chose to do just that."


    Yeah, this guy adapted much better than anyone I met until now. Not sure about his personality yet...


    "Well, it definitely didn''t fix your ugly mug," the only woman among them mumbled.


    "Why, love? You wound me!" Frank mock gasped before displaying his hands. The fingernails suddenly extended even more as a crimson tint filled them. "Why would I give a toss about appearance when I can now slaughter almost everything out there without breaking a sweat? Don''t be daft, Clara. You know damn well I''m right."


    Interesting. Leo quirked a non-existent eyebrow, watching the exchange between the two. Another case of bad blood or something else?


    "Dickhead," Clara growled.


    Before the situation could escalate anymore, Holden stepped in. "Enough of those games. We came here for a reason."


    "Aye, aye," Frank drawled. "Mark here told me you have an offer. It must really be something if it brought you here. And here I thought you didn''t want anything to do with me anymore."


    "Things change, especially now. So, I take you are willing to listen, yes?"


    The Fallen smirked. "I wouldn''t be chatting with you if I weren''t. But first, I want to see what''s under the hood of this bloke," he said, nodding at Leo. "It''s not every day I get to meet another person who''s already evolved. Honestly, I didn''t expect you, Tony, to have someone like that in your group."


    Leo frowned. Not gonna lie; it would be nice if there was a way to stop someone from identifying you. A thought for the future.


    "Leo here isn''t really a part of my group. We have an agreement of sorts, one that will extend to you and your people if you accept my offer," Holden explained before turning to him. "Leo. If you could."


    Well... It''s playtime. Be ready, Nyx.


    Shrugging, he pushed his hands out of the cover of his cloak and swiftly removed the cowl on his head. At the same time, his three tails slithered from beneath the dark material, revealing almost everything he could.


    The two regular humans in front of him tensed, their grip on their weapons tightening. However, the Fallen''s eyebrows shot up as he muttered, "Oh my, my... I see why you two didn''t even flinch when you saw me."


    "On the scale of scary, you''re not even in the top ten," Clara scowled.


    "Of course, luv," Frank answered, not even looking at her. "How did you do it, mate? Already level seventeen and an evolution that must be far beyond the recommended one."


    "A bit of luck and some unfortunate circumstances," Leo explained, leaving it at that.


    "For sure," the Fallen whispered as his attention once more shifted to Holden. "Well, Tony, color me impressed. Now I really want to hear what you want from me. Come, no reason to stand in the open."


    Leo exchanged a look with the others, and when the leader nodded, he sighed. Here went hoping that they could deal with this quickly and take care of other stuff.


    Nyx. He called out while following behind Clara. As much as I don''t want to say it, don''t stay up there. I have no idea how long this will take, and we have no time to waste. Continue as you did before.


    ''Leo! You are going inside their nest. I should be getting closer, not farther.''


    I will be careful and call you if anything happens. Besides, you can look through my eyes if you want... I want to get to at least level eighteen today, and if you just stay here, that just won''t happen.


    Nyx growled as their link trembled. ''If they try anything...''


    Yeah, yeah, I know. You will tear them to pieces. Leo chuckled internally. Now go on. And do be careful yourself. Don''t hesitate to sacrifice the minions if shit hits the fan. I can take over more later.


    ''Understood,'' Nyx mumbled, her tone resigned.


    And so, as their link went quiet, he entered the police station with only a single thought in his mind.


    This is going to suck...

 Chapter 113. Reconnection

    The insides of the police station didn''t seem much different from any other building consumed by the Void. Vetilim already flowed along the walls while the interior lay scattered here and there. The only unique part about this place were the golden torches illuminating the corridor.


    They looked eternal, bright as the sun, and it only took Leo a moment to figure out what they were. Ether, crafted into light for survivors to use during their struggles. He didn''t know how Frank''s group obtained those, but thankfully, Clara voiced the question for him.


    "Where did you get those?" She nodded to the nearest torch. "That''s Ethereal fire ¡ª the same one produced by the flares."


    "Spot on, love," Frank smirked at her. "One of mine found a seemingly useless job on the list. Lightfinder. And wouldn''t you know, he can now craft all sorts of enchanted lights, flames, and the like. Quite useful, even if we are missin'' material for anything more than this."


    As they kept moving deeper into the building, complementing Frank''s words, Holden spoke up. "And what about their properties? Same as the flares?"


    "I bloody wish," the Fallen Human huffed. "All those torches are good for is providing light and giving normal Voidlings a bit of scare. You can forget about using those against Nightmares... Trust me, we checked."


    Leo grimaced, the man''s tone indicating how well that experiment ended. He just hoped they weren''t dumb enough to face a Nightmare head-on just to test a damned torch.


    "I''ll take your word for it," Holden accepted with a tip of his head.


    "Good." With that said, Frank swerved to the right, leading them through a wide-open door. "Welcome to my humble abode. Make yourself at home. Although I fear there will be no refreshments," he finished with a wide grin.


    They entered what appeared to be an office. However, Leo was using the term very lightly, considering the damage to the room. At least it has a table and chairs, so I guess it counts.


    As Frank and the others settled around the makeshift table, Leo stayed a bit behind. His eyes roamed over the wooden crates scattered in the corners, weapons, clothes, and other items peeking over the edges.


    Seems they are doing better than I expected. Though I still have no idea how many people are here. We didn''t even see anyone on the way...


    The urge to go ahead and use Hunter''s Pulse grew stronger with each second, yet Leo held it in. Curiosity was one thing, but acting without thinking was another, even if he could make the pulse invisible.


    "So!" Leo heard Frank declare and quickly looked at the man just in time to see him place a handgun on the table. "About that offer of yours, Tony. Let''s hear it, and it better be good. Time is everything nowadays after all."


    Alright then, Holden. Prove to me you didn''t just waste my evening.


    "I want us to rejoin forces," the man stated bluntly. "You have seen that things out there are only getting worse day by day. I said it before, and I''ll say it again: there is strength in numbers. If we continue like this, more people will end up dead until there is no one left."


    Frank raised a single eyebrow during his old friend''s speech, the smirk falling off his face. "That''s it? You came all the way ''ere to give me the same rubbish speech you gave me before?" He raised a hand to stop Holden from speaking again. "And just so you know. My answer won''t change if yours doesn''t change too."


    Holden nodded. "I expected as much. That''s why I am far from done."


    "Go on."


    "One of the reasons you left was our Safe Zone. You argued there is no reason to waste hundreds of Ether for something that will disappear anyway. This point no longer stands as thanks to our new friend here," Holden motioned to Leo, "we have acquired a permanent Safe Zone, one that won''t bleed us dry of resources."


    Frank leaned back in his chair, his gaze traveling to Leo. "Oh? And how did ya do that? My boys and I have been searching for a way to create one without storming a Nest."


    Leo shrugged, still standing by the door. "Then I''m gonna disappoint you, as that''s exactly what I did."


    He could say more, explain the process and what happened inside the nest, but for what? Holden already knew all Leo deemed necessary to give, and if the man thought that Frank should have this info too, then that was his decision to make.


    "You cleared a Nest alone?" The Fallen''s eyes widened before he shook his head lightly. "My, my... If you''re so capable, it makes me wonder how you even joined with Tony ''ere."


    "I have my reasons," he replied, leaving it at that.


    "That''s fair. We all have secrets," Frank nodded and turned back to Holden. "Alright, you have my attention... But what about the freeloaders you refuse to deal with? Have you learned anything in the last few days?"


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Even standing behind him, Leo noticed Holden''s body tense up. Come on, I''m curious too. People who just hide inside a Safe Zone won''t survive long. Hell, even Ava managed to reach level five despite Adam''s situation.


    "I''m willing to make some changes. To help people adapt¡­ slowly," Holden finally gritted out. "But make no mistake, I won''t leave anyone to die because they are scared."


    "Even if they refuse everything you offer?"


    Holden remained silent at the sudden question, fists visibly clenching under the table. The silence dragged on for so long that Frank growled, shooting to his feet and starting to pace.


    "See?" He hissed, pointing at his friend. "This is the bloody problem with you! You want to be a fucking leader, but you can''t make any hard decisions. Well Tony, wake the fuck up! This is the new world. Being soft all the time won''t work here."


    Holden stood up too, eyes narrowed. "I won''t send people to their deaths, Frank! I won''t be their executioner. No one deserves such fate just because they are not like you."


    Frank sighed, dragging a hand across his face. "For fuck''s sake, Tony. This isn''t about me, but you! All you''re doing is saving your own conscience. Understand that finally or the people in your care will suffer soon."


    Suddenly, Clara stepped between the two men who were almost at each other''s throats. "Stop it, you bullheaded idiots. Fighting again won''t solve anything! We came here with a purpose, so let''s focus on that."


    What a shit show! Leo chuckled within the safety of his mind, watching as Frank huffed and dropped back into his chair. Holden followed soon after, still glaring at the other man. I can see why he told me that Frank is hard to work with. Those two are like water and fire...


    "Bloody hell," Clara grumbled, refusing to sit down again. "Now that you two stopped acting like two dumb alpha males, why don''t we get back on the track."


    "You," she turned to Frank. "As much as I hate to say it, we need your help. The ''freeloaders'' as you call them, among others, need protection on the way to the new Safe Zone. And before you say anything, they will be carrying supplies, so no. They won''t be useless."


    For a moment, only the tapping of Frank''s fingers against the table filled the room. "Fine," he groused out. "We''ll join you. We need a safe place to rest like anyone else... But I have conditions, and they are unnegotiable," the man finished with a glare.


    Leo perked up, tilting his head as if to listen closely.


    Answering the glare with his own, Holden replied, "As long as they''re not outrageous, you will get what you want."


    "Really? Then let''s see. First, my group will remain mainly under my command. Second, my word will matter as much as yours or Diana''s," Frank listed off, counting each thing on his fingers. "And third, I''m gonna be the one to whip those useless twats into shape. Sorry, but I don''t trust you not to fuck it up."


    "Anything else?" Holden pretty much growled.


    "No, that''s it," Frank smirked once more, obviously enjoying the other man''s reactions. "But I will be sure to tell you if my terms change."


    "Great," Holden muttered. "Then I will expect you and your group back at ReachHope as soon as you can tomorrow. The old Safe Zone won''t last much longer, and we will need to make multiple runs to carry everything essential."


    Frank nodded. "On that, we can agree. I also have some stuff ya all might find useful. We will try to bring most of it with us tomorrow. The rest can wait."


    Leo''s gaze once more wandered to all the crates. Despite what he had initially thought, Holden''s group didn''t have as many weapons as he hoped. Some supplies of the offensive kind could definitely help their new, growing community.


    "See?" Clara spoke up. "Wasn''t so hard, after all. Maybe if you two weren''t acting all high and mighty in the beginning, we would be already transporting everything to the new place."


    Frank snorted. "As if that would ever happen... Ya all needed an ugly monster ¡ª no offense, mate ¡ª to kick your arse into gear."


    Leo shrugged off the jibe, choosing not to say that the Fallen wasn''t much better looking than him. In his opinion, the man was even lower on the scale than him.


    I might be biased though...


    <hr>


    With the deal finished, Leo, along with the other two, left the police station behind. Clara and Holden barely said a word as they jogged back to the gallery. He let them keep their silence, at least until they entered their previous meeting spot.


    "So Holden," he spoke up, leaning against a wall. "You pretty much got what you wanted. What''s the plan now?"


    The older man took a seat on a half-broken bench, his face relaxing ever so slightly. "Like I told Frank. I want to move everything in parts, including people."


    "How many?"


    "Tomorrow? Three or four trips back and forth at best. About a dozen civilians in every group with enough fighters to protect them," Holden explained. "After that? We will see what else we need from the old Safe Zone."


    Leo nodded. "Adam and Ava? I can get them to the new site on my own. Might be even better this way."


    "And I sincerely ask you not to do that, at least not right away. Just like with Frank and his group, we need help if anything stronger comes after us."


    Acceptable reasoning, but... Leo admitted even as a frown spread over his face as he realized something. "You won''t move them first."


    Holden flinched. "I''m not doing this to hold them against you, Leo. I just want to prepare some space for Adam first, something safer than what we have now. And if it makes you feel better, we will transfer him and Ava with the second or third group if there is a need for a fourth run."


    I don''t like it, but at least he isn¡¯t pulling reasons out of his ass. We both know how dangerous Adam can become if there is nothing to mitigate his rage. I won¡¯t have him become responsible for killing survivors. We don¡¯t need a complication like this. Not now.


    Sighing, Leo nodded. "So be it." He turned to leave, only stopping at the exit. "I will drop by before the night falls. Stay safe on the way back."


    As the duo''s whispered farewells reached his ears, he stepped out in the open, taking a deep breath. A strong gust filled the street at the same time, forcing him to open his eyes.


    The winds are picking up. He furrowed his brow, looking up at the sky dotted with dark clouds. Rain or something worse is on the horizon. And here I thought that the weather in the UK finally got better...


    With a light shake of his head, Leo dropped the thought. Time to find Nyx and continue their task. He still had an hour or three to kill.

 Chapter 114. Preparations

    As time flew by and the Sun continued on its way toward the horizon, Leo and his band of monsters painted the streets of Wolford in blood. More than once, a group of stronger Voidlings tried to stand in their way, but between him and Nyx, they all fell like a house of cards. The normal Voidlings in this small city were just too weak.


    Nonetheless, with his kill count climbing by dozens, he managed to reach level eighteen quite fast. Quite a lot of that experience gain had to be attributed to Nyx and his minions, but it didn''t change the fact that a level was a level...


    Like last time, all free points went straight into Soul. Leo and Nyx quickly learned that if they wanted to be able to utilize more shadow techniques, bigger Essence reserves were a must. As such, he settled for a mostly reachable goal as the few points per level weren''t enough, at least in the long run.


    Soul''s ascension.


    Just like with Mind and Grace, it should propel him to another rank when it came to Essence reserves. And if his calculations were correct, he would only need level twenty to reach this goal. The forty percent additional efficiency definitely helped here...


    With the decision made, Leo continued on his path of slaughter, finishing random tasks that didn''t require too much effort. However, now that he had leveled up, a problem he had almost forgotten about appeared once more.


    No experience from most Voidlings.


    Before, the System warned him about no rewards for his kills only a few times. Now though, almost every dead Cursed Human earned him the same message. To make matters worse, even some Runners and Crawlers stopped giving anything. Not even a single Ether.


    It should have been a sign, a sign to call it a day and go visit Adam and Ava. However, with about an hour left of daytime and Tainted Wasteland close by, Leo couldn''t leave yet. Something inside his head just wouldn''t let him back out now.


    And so, with Nyx, two brutes, and a single Harpy at his back, he decided to act. They all traveled as fast as they could towards the Wasteland, stopping at its edge, hidden from its denizens.


    This is risky. If anything goes wrong, we can run out of daytime. Leo spoke through the link.


    ''Then we should abandon this task. We can always come back later,'' Nyx nudged him with her snout. ''But I wouldn''t worry. Without the Juggernaut, no Voidling inside there poses a threat to us. Only your minions might die.''


    "Still risky," He muttered, considering her words.


    For the most part, the feline was right. The Tainted Wasteland housed Voidlings stronger than those outside it, but he still had at least four or five levels on all of them. Add to that, he didn''t really care if his minions died. After all, unlike him and Nyx, they couldn''t level up for some reason.


    Still curious about that...


    Leo shook his head and peeked around the corner, observing the Wasteland ahead.


    Alright, let''s do this, but we''re not rushing in like before. He explained, extinguishing Nyx''s sudden excitement. I will have my minions bait out small groups toward us. Only then can we kill them. No way in hell I''m fighting an entire horde of Brutes, Screamers, Apexes, and... what in the flying fuck is this?!


    Among the groups of Tainted Voidlings, Leo spotted a new creature, one that definitely wasn''t there a few hours ago. It possessed a humanoid build, but that was where the similarities ended, especially with its long and deformed face.


    Cursed Reaper (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 15 | Type: Normal, Grace, Blade, Surface


    The thing walked on two tiny feet with talons instead of fingers. Its legs, like the rest of the monster''s body, barely had any fat or muscles. Yet it still stood a head or two taller than any other Voidling on the field, its long, scythe-like fingers raised high.


    Well... we got ourselves a brand new evolution...


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Reaper


    Expected Potential: E- to E+


    Weapon of choice: Claws, Paralyzing Saliva


    Known weaknesses: Fragile Body


    Cursed Reapers are a common evolution among the base Cursed variants. Their speed and cutting power can easily make any fight a pain, and it''s advised to approach them with caution. The Reaper''s tongue is always full of their special saliva; a single hit from it can spell disaster for most survivors. Additionally, despite their fragile bodies, those monsters won''t care about the loss of a limb. They will fight until death takes them.


    Apex variant: Apex Cursed Reapers are capable of spitting their saliva in ranged attacks. Additionally, their bones are much harder to cut through.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Yeah... Let''s stay clear of this thing. Leo raised his hand when he felt Nyx''s disagreement. I know we can kill it, but it''s an unknown. I never fought against it and don''t want it to mess up anything.


    ''As you wish,'' Nyx nodded and quickly scaled the wall beside them, getting on the rooftop. Leo repeated her actions, leaving the two brutes on the ground while the Harpy took to the air.


    The plan really was simple. Their air support would swoop in, anger a small pack of Tainted Voidlings, and lead them to the Brutes. They, in turn, just had to tank them for a moment while Nyx and Leo descended upon their backs.


    As long as we don''t collapse a building or two, we should be fine. He grimaced, the memory of his previous trip into the Wasteland still fresh. Okay, Harpy, the three normies closest to the edge first. Attack once and back to Brutes.


    With that simple command, their battle began, the cries of Voidlings filling the evening.


    <hr>


    The controlled Harpy swooped right beneath them, a single Apex Cursed Runner and normies fast on its heels. Yet, before they could even reach the two Brutes a bit outside of the Wasteland''s border, Leo and Nyx jumped.


    They descended upon the monsters'' backs, claws, blades, and tails, plunging into the soft, dark flesh. The Voidlings tried to screech, maybe alert the rest of the area, but the two assassins cut off their heads a moment later. The fight ended before it could have even begun.


    And that''s enough. Leo announced through the link as they hid outside the Tainted Voidlings'' sight. They had been doing this for some time now, and if he still wanted to talk with Ava and Adam before nighttime, they had to go. Besides, he doubted they could bait more Tainted Voidlings to them. At this point, they were all too close to each other for the Harpy to do it properly.


    Pity, no leve... Never mind. He blinked as several notifications appeared. One of which he had been waiting for.


    You have contributed towards weakening a Tainted Wasteland. Bonus experience and 147 Ether granted. Weaken the Wasteland further to receive better rewards.


    Level 19 reached. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Nyx! I got what I wanted after all. How is it going on your front? Leo called out while assigning all the free points to Soul at the same time.


    ''See for yourself,'' Nyx purred, smugness filling their link.


    Dismissing all the notifications, he looked up at the large feline sitting next to him. Going by her overwhelming emotions and the wildly swinging tails, he had a suspicion of what had happened.


    Apex Shadow Claw | LVL: 18


    Huh, you really did level up again. Leo smiled, ignoring the fact that the System identified Nyx like any other survivor. They had already talked about this, and nothing concrete came out of it.


    ''Together, we might stand a chance against a Collector now,'' Nyx licked her teeth. ''Just think about it, Leo. A beast like that all for us to consume without the help of the Sun.''


    He snorted. Yeah, no. Hide those claws, Nyx. We ain''t hunting any Nightmares... at least not yet. Now, come on. Time is running out.


    <hr>


    With his remaining Brute and Harpy settled for the night, Leo dashed back to ReachHope. He knocked on the backdoor to the warehouse and waited, this time only the hood hiding his face.


    Quite fast, maybe after a minute or two, the door swung open, and a mop of red hair appeared in his sight.


    "Leo! For a moment there, I thought yo..." Clara''s eyes widened. "Bloody hell, what? Nineteen? Like how?" She shook her head. "Never mind. I don''t even want to know. Come in; they are inside the kid''s room."


    Chuckling, he stepped past the woman.


    Unlike any time before, the warehouse had plenty of people inside. They all carried something, be it a box, weapon, bundle of clothes, or other stuff. Sometimes, their gaze strayed to him, yet apart from some silent gasps, no one tried anything.


    With Frank coming, Holden might have finally warned people about some unique arrivals. Wonder how they would react if I lost the hood...


    "Go ahead. I will wait here," Clara declared when they paused near Adam''s room. "Oh, one more thing. If you don''t plan to stay the night, you better hurry."


    Leo nodded and knocked on the door. "I will. Thanks."


    As a shout from the inside reached his ears, he turned the handle and stepped in. Almost instantly, another body impacted his own, small hands sneaking around his torso.


    "Hi, uncle!" The little boy chirped, gazing up at him with shining eyes. "Mum and me have been waiting forever for you!"


    Leo chuckled as he gently picked the boy up. "Mum and I, Adam, not me."


    The child pouted and threw his hand forward, removing Leo''s hood. "I don''t care... Will you teach me now, uncle? You promised!"


    Sitting down on the mattress right next to Ava, he sighed. "Sorry, kiddo, no can do. Not today, at least. We have a big day tomorrow, and you will need your strength."


    "So it''s really true?" Ava asked, her eyes narrowed. "We are moving to a safer place?"


    "Yeah," Leo nodded, tickling the boy on his lap so he would stop clawing at his cloak. "Holden plans to do it in groups. Probably three or four. He promised me that you won''t be the last to go. And I will be there, so don''t worry."


    Ava released a long breath. "Thank God. I trust Diana and Tony, but to have you confirm it..."


    "I know," he smiled before looking down when Adam nudged him. "What is it, buddy?"


    "Look what I can do!" the boy chirped, raising his hand, palm up. Slowly, a black construct began to form there, its shape pretty much unrecognizable. "See? I made a kitty!"


    Leo quirked an eyebrow. "A cat, you say?" He squinted. "Yes, I think I can see it," he chuckled, raising his own hand and summoning a bit of Essence. "What do you think about this?"


    Adam squealed, watching the shapes change into different animals. It all brought a broad smile to Leo''s face, the memories of better times fresh in his mind.


    I might not have hours to spend with you, but it doesn''t matter. As long as you are alive, those few minutes are enough for me.

 Chapter 115. Good Luck and Good Night

    "Leo!" A voice greeted him once he left Adam''s room. "Glad to see you alive and stronger than before. We will really need you tomorrow."


    Looking between Clara and Holden, Leo raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess... Anything you need now? You know you don''t have to see me off whenever I come here, right?"


    "I''m aware," the leader sighed. "I just thought to clue you in about tomorrow before you leave. I don¡¯t know how much time we will have for that once Frank and his people arrive."


    Leo hummed, nodding. "I can see that... Alright then, go on. Be quick, though; I still need to reach my little hiding hole for the night."


    "Aye," Holden agreed as they slowly walked towards the backdoor, eyes following them from each side. "Clara, please find Diana. She needs help figuring out the exact teams for tomorrow."


    Giving her traditional mock salute, the redhead turned on her heel. "Roger, Roger. See ya, Leo."


    Leo tipped his head lightly towards the woman before turning to Holden. "So..."


    "We decided to go with four groups. I want to switch fighters with each rotation, give one some time to rest while the other takes over. It should be less risky if everyone is at their peak."


    Not a bad idea. Not everyone is like me. Hell, going back and forth with a bunch of scared humans might tire even me. Leo concluded. "What about the exact numbers?"


    "Not including Adam, I have fifty-three people here. About fifteen of those can handle your usual Voidlings without a problem," Holden listed, grimacing. "There are a few more who can fight, but they are underleveled. I don''t want to risk them."


    Are you fucking kidding? Leo stopped, giving the other man a stern look. I knew it was bad, but come on!


    "I know, it''s not looking good. But there''s nothing we can do about it now," Holden let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "That''s one of the reasons why I agreed to Frank''s terms. We need more capable people. If he can somehow make them adapt once we settle in the new Safe Zone, then so be it."


    You should have thought about it earlier. It might be too late now.


    As much as Leo wanted to throw some sarcastic remark in the older man''s face, he held back. It would change nothing apart from damaging their already brittle working relationship. Holden knew well that he messed up; now he had to fix it. Or, like he already planned, let others deal with it.


    What a mess. Not mine though. As long as Adam and Ava are fine, I don''t care.


    "Whatever," he finally shrugged. "What you do with your people later on is not my problem. Just remember our deal... And speaking of. My family. When is their turn?"


    Holden narrowed his eyes but still answered quite calmly. "Third group. I plan to make it smaller, no more than six civilians. Just in case something goes wrong with Adam."


    Smart.


    Even if this was his godson they were speaking about, Leo understood the dangers of escorting him through the city. They still had no clue how the boy would act in the open, where Voidlings could appear at every corner. With fewer people to protect and him on site, chances of anything terrible happening should go down quite a bit.


    "If we don''t encounter too many surprises on the road, each group shouldn''t take longer than two or three hours. Of course, that includes returning here," Holden continued when Leo remained silent. "The Sun is out for close to seventeen hours each day. Even if Frank takes his sweet time to arrive, we should still be fine."


    Leo''s eyebrows jumped a bit upon hearing all the information. Seems they at least got the logistics down.


    "Sounds good." He stopped just by the exit. "One more thing though. Frank and I. Did you tell your people what to expect tomorrow? I doubt your friend is gonna hide what he became."


    Holden winced. "I gave everyone a heads up about some special allies I agreed to work with. Only my fighters know what exactly you are. For more I need Frank here. Forgive me, but between you and him, he is less intimidating."


    "Fair," Leo snorted. He still thought it was a bad idea to leave most of the group in the dark for so long, but again, it wasn''t his problem. No matter what would happen, Adam and Ava were getting to that new Safe Zone.


    Still, one thing''s for sure. He grinned under the hood. Tomorrow morning will be entertaining as long as Frank and Holden can stop people from panicking too hard.


    The Night is coming. Find a secure shelter or prepare to fight for your life. Nightmares are waking.


    Bonus experience and Ether can be obtained during the night. Good luck.


    And that''s my cue to leave.


    Obviously, the other man also received the same message as he had already moved to open the door. "Time''s up. I will be here an hour after dawn," Leo stopped in the doorway. "Oh, and Holden? You really should evolve before tomorrow. At this point, you are only wasting your potential."


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The older man froze, hesitation practically oozing off his body. Leo didn''t even need to be in his head to know that.


    "I will see what I can do. Take care, Hale," Holden replied, still stiff as a board.


    Leo could say more, explain every single advantage of evolving, but even if he had time for that, it wouldn''t matter in the long run. Holden wasn''t holding back because he didn''t know what an evolution could change. Quite the opposite in fact.


    Despite all his words about accepting evolutions and what they represented, he was still scared. Scared about losing what he had. Scared about becoming something similar to Leo or Adam. And most likely, he was afraid about people fearing him.


    Well... I said my part. The rest is up to you, mate. Good luck. With a final nod to Holden, he stepped out, disappearing into the darkness.


    <hr>


    The Night is here. Good luck, and may your hunts be fruitful, Prime.


    The System''s warning echoed in his head as Leo dived into the only building he knew to be safe. The thrumming of his heart slowed slightly with each breath he took. He was safe, more or less.


    That was very, very close. He grimaced, stepping deeper into the house. Nyx, you here?


    His new partner didn''t waste time answering, her somewhat sleepy voice coming through their link. ''The bathroom.''


    Uh oh. Leo chuckled, his gaze falling on the large feline, her curled body easily taking over half of the bathroom floor. I see someone was already sleeping.


    Nyx raised her head, eyes narrowed. ''After the feast we just had? Why wouldn''t I? Sleep is a pleasure I will never give up, no matter what you say.''


    Of course, of course. He answered, still laughing. Suppose the love for naps is universal for cats, even those from the Void.


    The feline huffed, turning away from him. ''Like you humans are any better. Almost the same in every damned Universe.''


    Noting this information for the future, Leo shrugged. Fine by me. He settled down against a wall, on the opposite side from Nyx. Ready for tomorrow?


    ''I see nothing to be ready for,'' she mumbled, still not looking at him. ''Unless you have changed your plans and I will be no longer responsible for clearing all dangerous Voidlings on the way?''


    No, everything stays the same. It''s just... I don''t even know. It''s as if I''m forgetting about something. Do you feel it too?


    Finally, Nyx turned to him, her head tilted. ''I can''t say I do... Will you let me?''


    Leo nodded, knowing well what the feline meant. Instantly, a massive presence surged through their link and right into his mind. It settled there for a moment, searching.


    ''Curious,'' Nyx whispered. ''Just like what you felt inside the Safe Zone, it seems to come from your inherited instincts. What are they trying to say? I have no idea. It''s you who needs to uncover their true message.''


    But how? You said it yourself, I need time to adapt to them fully. For now, they are weak.


    The Voidling nodded. ''Indeed, but think Leo, think about your time with Hunter. Maybe somewhere there lies the answer.''


    He furrowed his brow and dived into his mind. There wasn''t much to search through; his time with Hunter was short at best. Still, he went through every memory, letting all the old emotions and sensations embrace him.


    Yet, as the process continued, there was nothing special he could find, nothing that could help with this mystery. Or at least that was the case until the last memories played out in his head.


    I think... Leo opened his eyes, meeting Nyx''s waiting orbs. This might be it.


    ''Prepare. Be ready.''


    The words of a beast that died to protect him echoed in his mind, loud and clear. They carried a message, one he had almost forgotten about with everything that had been happening in the last day.


    He was worried about something. He muttered in the safety of their link. No... The weather. He gave me this warning when the winds got stronger. Nyx, do you have anything?


    For a brief moment, only silence surrounded them.


    ''I know the Void hides many secrets, including what you would call natural disasters.'' The feline answered slowly, measuring every word. ''I don''t know what they are all called, how they appear, or even when they come. Maybe if I was a pure Voidling or inherited everything from Hunter, then I could tell you, but...''


    Nyx shook her head. ''No... I doubt even he knew what exactly was happening. There would be at least some bits and pieces about those things in my mind if he did. He just felt a threat coming and warned you to get stronger in time.''


    Leo scowled. And Nikra? She really didn''t know anything?


    ''She did,'' Nyx quickly replied. ''Like I said, the Void hides many horrible secrets... Nikra witnessed those disasters destroy much of her home universe without the help of a single Voidling. Yet, remember Leo, all of that happened before the creation of the System, and even then, Nikra never studied those things. She only saw them come out of nowhere to wreak havoc and disappear without a sign.''


    Shit... He sighed, leaning harder into the wall. So pretty much we are going in blind?


    The feline snorted. ''Not exactly. You got stronger, just like Hunter wanted. And his warning still stands. We just got to be careful.''


    I really hope this will be enough, Nyx, I really do.


    ''It will,'' she vowed. ''Now get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us. Good night.''


    Leo chuckled at the very familiar words.


    Yeah... I guess we do. Good night.

 Chapter 116. Listen or die

    Despite their agreement to rest for the night, Leo just couldn''t fall asleep, not when his mind was full of buzzing thoughts. His eyes stayed open even when Nyx''s form became almost still, the constant stream of emotions from her side of the link dying out. How she dozed off so fast, he had no clue.


    As time flew by, he kept his blank gaze glued to the opposite wall, trying to sort the mess in his head. It didn''t work, at all. And so, spent and bored to the core, he summoned pure Essence outside his body and began to shape it, practicing his control.


    While true that nowadays he mostly used shadows to fight, he probably shouldn''t neglect the potential of regular Essence. It was still responsible for the majority of his skills, and sooner or later, he would have to evolve them somehow.


    Kiss of Death and Reinforcement were the first two on his list to improve, as he used them almost every hour. However, one particular ability always caught his eye when he looked at his status window.


    Vital Strike. Also known as the last skill of common quality in his arsenal.


    More than once, Leo had the passing thought about this ability and how to make it better. With other skills, it wasn''t that hard. He just had to practice and study how his Essence acted when they formed. From there, it was just a matter of time until he figured something out.


    With Vital Strike ¡ª no matter how much he wanted the opposite to be true ¡ª nothing was so simple.


    For one, the System never gave him any additional knowledge about this skill. It was as if the mysterious entity did all the work for him and left it at that. Hell, Leo never even felt the slightest bits of Essence used when the ability activated after scoring a hit. Or at least that was what he thought.


    And so, without a single clue on how to continue, he just left the ability alone in the past. It still helped him from time to time so it wasn''t all bad after all. Besides, maybe, just maybe, once Adam and Ava were evacuated to the new Safe Zone, he could spend a bit of time studying in detail how Vital Strike even activated.


    Who knew? He just might have missed something in the heat of battle.


    Leo sighed, watching as a snake of crimson Essence wrapped around his arm. I could really use a day or two of downtime. Doubt it''s gonna happen anytime soon. At least not before we do something about Adam''s condition...


    Slowly, the construct around his limb faded into specks of light, letting the usual darkness crawl over the room. He closed his eyes as a dark fog settled over his mind, finally lulling him to sleep.


    Hopefully soon though... Hopefully...


    <hr>


    A weak nudge brought Leo back to the land of the living, and his eyes snapped open, claws raising. Only when he spotted Nyx''s looming figure did he relax, falling against the wall behind him.


    "Now that''s a way to wake up," he muttered, looking up at the feline. "Did you really have to stand above me like that?"


    Nyx tilted her head. ''Hmm? I apologize if I scared you, but the night has passed. I thought you wouldn''t want to waste more time than necessary for sleeping.''


    "It''s fine," Leo yawned, standing up and stretching his half-asleep body. "Come on, let''s catch some breakfast. If I don''t devour something soon, I will fall asleep standing..."


    The feline nodded and headed out through the door. ''Agree. Although a feast similar to the one yesterday might not be the best idea this early in the day."


    Leo chuckled with a weak shake of his head. "Then control yourself. No need to eat everything in sight."


    Nyx huffed, leaving him alone without another word. Still laughing quietly, he followed after her, True Stealth already settling over his skin. At this point, it was second nature to use this skill, so why not...


    As planned, the duo descended upon the nearest Voidlings like hungry wolves, tearing the beast to shreds. Devour did the rest of the job for Leo, while Consume ¡ª a slightly worse skill ¡ª helped Nyx.


    It wasn''t long before the leftover tiredness and aches faded away from their bodies. Instead, their respective skills filled them to the brim with energy, just waiting to be used through the day...


    "It got worse during the night," he commented as they both settled upon a random roof. "You can barely see the sky now..."


    Dark as-night clouds hung high in the air, almost blocking all of the sunlight. For now, Leo''s night vision didn''t activate and probably wouldn''t. However, considering how dark the days were already, losing any more visibility could be problematic for other survivors.


    ''The wind is picking up too,'' Nyx added, her tails lazily swishing behind her. ''I can see why you''re worried. Even my own instincts are starting to notice that something is wrong. They are quiet, but I can hear their whispers now. Whatever is coming, it''s not that far away.''


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Told you... Leo lay down, his eyes on the dark sky. A bit over a week ago I barely paid any attention to stuff like this. After years of living here, you get used to shitty weather... Well, look at me now.


    ''So what''s the plan, Leo? What are we going to do?''


    A single eyebrow shot up as he turned to look at the feline.


    Plan? I don''t have any. Not sure about you, but I''m definitely not strong enough to stop a force of nature. If that''s what''s even coming for us. He shook his head. No. We proceed as Holden told us and respond appropriately when shit hits the fan. And trust me, it will; I just hope not today.


    ''Understood,'' Nyx bowed before falling silent for just a moment. ''Leo... I wanted to ask. Once your family is safe and the little human returns to normal, what will you do next?''


    Leo closed his eyes, a certain conversation with Ava fresh on his mind. I don''t want to leave them. I really don''t, but at the same time... Lily, I need to find out what happened to her. I will never forgive myself if I don''t at least try.


    ''Your sister... I see¡­'' The feline muttered, rising to her feet. ''Know then that I shall assist you all the way. Even if I was born yesterday, remember, you can count on me.''


    Also standing up, Leo gave Nyx the best smile he could muster. Thanks... Now, I think it''s time for me to head out and meet the others.


    She nodded and burst into a cloud of shadows, diving off the roof. ''I shall attend to my task too.''


    Sliding to the ground using the nearby tree, he called out. Remember to leave enough Voidlings so they won''t suspect anything. Only get rid of the dangerous stuff. Good luck.


    ''You too, Leo. I will contact you soon.''


    <hr>


    When he arrived at ReachHope, Leo didn''t have to wait long for someone to greet him at the door. To his surprise, it wasn''t anyone he knew, but the dark-skinned man still welcomed him with a smile and gave him all the info he needed.


    Once inside, he quickly made his way through the crowd. Really, with all of them running around with boxes and other kinds of stuff, nobody even spared him a glance. Not a problem for him as it made sneaking into Adam''s room quite easy.


    "Leo?" Ava muttered, her brow furrowed as she rose from the mattress. "What are you doing here? Is it already time?"


    Ignoring the child-sized missile that once more wrapped around his waist, he shrugged. "Thought I would stop by before the other group arrives. How are you two doing? Ready to finally get out?"


    Adam''s excitement couldn''t be quelled as the child exploded into chatter. Ava barely got any word in between, but it didn''t seem like the woman minded. After all that happened, she was likely just happy to see her kid acting like someone his age should.


    Nevertheless, even though Leo smiled and held the energetic boy on the outside, his mind was in a completely different place.


    Already level nine... He was still at eight when I left yesterday. My Essence is really speeding up the process. I need a fi-


    A loud knock on the door stopped his musing, shifting his attention. Slowly, he put Adam back on the mattress and moved toward the entrance.


    "You''re here, Leo. Glad to see ya, lad," Dylan greeted the moment the door opened. "They told me to get you. Apparently, the others are close."


    Giving the older man a nod, he turned to his family. "Well, I''m off then. I will stop by again when we come back for the second group. Be good till then, okay buddy?"


    Adam''s only answer was a broad grin followed by a giggle that had Ava shaking her head. Everyone in the room knew how saying stuff like that to a child ended.


    With a chuckle, Leo left the room, bathing in the glare that Ava sent at his back. No matter the time, he would always enjoy getting under his sister-in-law''s skin.


    <hr>


    "Here they are," he muttered, just loud enough for the man next to him to hear it. "This is gonna be interesting."


    A rope of new arrivals spilled into the warehouse, most dressed in police clothing and armed with firearms. A quick Identify also confirmed that none of those people were below level eight. Quite the feat, considering what he saw not long ago.


    "I think we have a different definition of that word, mate," Dylan grumbled as they both observed from their place in the corner of the warehouse. "Ah bloody hell..."


    Just a moment before those words left the older man''s mouth, Frank and Holden arrived behind the new group. Gasps rang around the building while some people even backed off, hiding behind shelves and boxes.


    Leo chuckled, knowing well something like this had to happen. Although, looking at the two leaders, he wasn''t sure if the Fallen was the only one causing those reactions.


    Ascended Human | LVL: 11


    Guess someone finally listened to my advice. Good.


    Despite the apparent evolution, Holden didn''t look much different. Maybe he gained an inch or two, and his body seemed like it was shining, but apart from that, there was nothing new. No additional limbs, no spikes, zero claws, and hell, even his eyes didn''t change except for the weak golden glow.


    He is still a human after all. Not a monster like me.


    Once more, any further pondering was stopped when Frank jumped onto a large box. A few more gasps filled the air, but the man didn''t seem to care as he spread his arms.


    Uh, oh.


    "Gather round, maggots. We have a long day ahead of us, so I will keep it short," the Fallen shouted, ignoring Holden''s growl and glare. "Name''s Frank. Some of ya know me, others don''t... It doesn''t matter if you like me or fear me; I really don''t care. What matters is that ya all listen to me and Tony when we go out there."


    Frank paused for a moment, sweeping his eyes over the gathered crowd. "There are no second chances beyond this place. If you fuck up, you die. So listen! Nobody will risk their lives because you can''t follow simple orders. Capiche?"


    Some people gave resolute nods, while others? Not so much.


    "Better than nothing at all, I guess," Frank scowled. "Alright then. Group one, gather your shit! We move out in five. Oh, and Hale! Lose that bloody cloak of yours. Let those idiots see who is saving their fat arses."


    Leo froze, and next to him, Dylan wasn''t faring much better. But, the shock didn''t last long as a snort left his throat, followed by a louder chuckle.


    I fucking knew this would be interesting¡­

 Chapter 117. Warning

    At once, most eyes in the warehouse snapped to him, the few people close by taking a couple steps back. When his laugh became the only sound filling the area, Leo finally went silent. That was what he got for laughing like an idiot.


    Oh, whatever. It''s not like this is my fault. Frank started it. He sighed and raised his gaze, meeting the Fallen''s yellow eyes. "You sure about that!?" His low, almost demonic voice filled the area. "They will have enough time to be scared later."


    Frank snorted. "Fuck that! Tony here kept them in the dark for too long," he said, giving the man a side glance. "Show those people why they will survive another day and be protected from the Nightmares. Let this be another lesson. Adapt or die!"


    Now is really not the time for that; you said this yourself, you fucker. Not that you give me much choice. Leo sighed.


    Even as the stench of fear was clear in the air, the people kept looking at him, silent curiosity shining in their eyes. He could still try to ignore them and walk away, but he knew no one would forget about this anytime soon. The seed had been planted, just like Frank most likely wanted...


    Great. He grumbled, sneaking a glance at Holden. The man didn''t seem happy, but he still stayed silent. They probably agreed to this and didn''t even think to warn me... Strike number one, friend. You won''t get another.


    Yet, even as the fires of rage boiled underneath his skin, he just took a few deep breaths and nodded. Better to get this out of the way and accept whatever reactions he caused. Not that he cared; his job didn''t require anyone''s approval.


    And so, with one swift move, his cloak fell from his body, leaving everything bare from the waist up. Below, only his shredded and dirty pants hid his modesty. He should probably change those soon.


    Not that this thought remained in his head for longer than a second when the gathered crowd realized who or rather what was standing among them. Screams and shrieks filled the warehouse while some people drew their broken weapons, hands shaking.


    However, nobody attacked.


    "Silence, you bloody idiots!" Frank shouted, freezing everyone in place. "As you can all see, we have another monster among us. A monster that, just like me, was a human not that long ago. Some of you might even know him as the local reporter for Wolford Insight, Leo Hale."


    "Not that it really matters anymore. After all, unlike all of you maggots, Hale here accepted that the past is gone. He adapted better than anyone in this bloody city and decided to thrive instead of just surviving. He even conquered a fucking nest alone!"


    Frank paused, chuckling quietly. "Do you see it now? The potential the System gifted us? You all can have this, too. If you try, of course. Your future belongs to you and only you. Now move out! You have three minutes."


    No one moved right away, and Leo couldn''t even fault them. The Fallen¡¯s shock therapy, or whatever he wanted to call it, would have that effect on anyone who didn''t accept the reality of this world yet. Hell, even some of the higher-level survivors stood still, their minds processing what had just happened.


    "Did I fucking stutter?!" Frank''s voice once more reverberated through the building. "Move your arses, maggots! If you ain''t ready in two minutes, you can go on your own!"


    That seemed like the right thing to say as the gathered crowd instantly woke up. Everybody exploded into chatter and started running around the warehouse like headless chickens. People still gave Leo a wide berth, throwing a fearful glance or glares in his direction, but apart from that, nothing changed.


    Although that might be because of Frank''s warning. The fear of being left behind probably outweighed anything they felt for the new monsters in their ranks.


    "Never a boring day with ya, lad. Hmm?" Dylan shook his head, mirth shining in his eyes.


    Leo snorted. "Told you it''s gonna be interesting. Though I will admit. I didn''t expect to reveal myself today."


    The older man released a hearty chuckle of his own. "I don''t think anybody did apart from maybe Tony..."


    "Yeah," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at Holden in the distance. "I will need to have a chat with him about that soon."


    For a moment, the other¡¯s man stayed silent before he nodded firmly. "Aye, you do that. I have to gather the rest of my gear. I will see you outside."


    Left alone, Leo traced the movement around him. Even if only one group would be going out now, everybody had something important to do. That or people were still scared after Frank''s speech and couldn''t stay in one place. At this point, everything was possible.


    Not my problem. Holden can deal with the mess his friend created. I got something out of this anyway... They lied. Frank is anything but a simple person...


    <hr>


    Much to his surprise, they all somehow managed to organize properly and gather outside the building in due time. Ready for the march, the first group began their journey, the eleven civilians moving in the middle while half of the battle-ready fighters surrounded them from an appropriate distance.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Of course, those who didn''t want to fight had their own task. Not an easy one at that, as they had to carry a large wooden pallet stacked to the top with all kinds of supplies. Even with this many people, their strain was visible to a blind eye, and Leo wouldn''t be surprised if they had to take a break sooner or later.


    "I''ve missed this," Dylan announced next to him, his eyes on the cloudy sky. "It ain''t the UK without bloody clouds on each morning."


    Leo chuckled, glad for the company on this boring trip. Walking alone at the back of the group for an hour or so would have been quite tiring. Hell, he couldn''t even slaughter Voidlings to kill time, as Nyx apparently cleared the path a bit too well. The people at the front just didn''t need his help to defeat the few remaining stragglers...


    Rest for now, Nyx, you did enough. Despite addressing the feline internally, he still kept up with the conversation outside. "I wouldn''t be too happy. Before, clouds like this usually meant rain, but now? Who fucking knows..."


    ''As you wish. I will hide near the new Safe Zone. Beware though. I left one Brute alive in your path,'' Nyx returned while next to him, Dylan grimaced.


    "Aye... Didn''t think of that," the older man grumbled. "Everything wants to kill us nowadays, so why not clouds too. Bloody Outbreak won''t even let me enjoy the simplest things."


    "Sorry not sorry," Leo shrugged, only to pause midstep as something wet hit the back of his head.


    Slowly, he brought his hand up, trailing a claw across the point of impact. Water. Shit, we had to jinx it. He cursed, looking up at the sky. His enhanced eyes instantly zeroed in on several droplets falling toward the ground.


    All around, people stopped too; it must have been a while since anyone experienced rain firsthand and not from some kind of shelter. After all, the last time it happened was during the second night, and he doubted anyone was brave enough to step into that storm when nightmares prowled through the city.


    "At least it''s only water," Leo heard Dylan murmur after Frank''s shout to start moving again.


    Right away, he shot a glare in the mage''s direction. They didn''t need to jinx this into something worse. The alarm bells ringing deep inside his mind were worrying enough. Really, for being so weak, Hunter''s instincts were picking up in activity quite fast.


    And that can mean only one thing. With a growl, Leo barked to Dylan, "Need to have a word with Holden. Be right back."


    Not waiting for a response, he picked up the pace without breaking into a sprint. He didn''t want to cause panic by passing everyone as if a demon was on his heel. Frank would burst a vein if the civilians dropped the cargo because he scared them.


    Besides, we don''t have time for more breaks than absolutely necessary.


    "Holden," Leo called out, just a few steps behind the two leaders. "A word."


    The Fallen and Ascended Human turned around at once, their expression mirroring each other.


    "What is it, Hale?" The main leader motioned for him to join them. "I know I can''t command you, but I would appreciate it if you didn''t brea-"


    "Yes, you can¡¯t. Now please just listen," he rolled his eyes, matching their pace. On his right, Frank snorted. "The rain. Aren''t you two concerned at all?"


    "Mate, I have lived here for most of my life. A bit of water is the last thing on my mind," the Fallen answered, and Leo almost wanted to punch him in the face.


    For someone who preached about adapting to the new order, Frank sure was quite shortsighted. Although, considering his little show before they left ReachHope, maybe that shouldn''t have been a surprise. This guy definitely gave off the vibes of speaking first and thinking later.


    Well, Holden, here is your chance to prove you are smarter.


    The Ascended frowned, sticking out his palm for the rain to consume. "What do you know, Hale?"


    Good. Didn''t dismiss me. Leo nodded towards the sky. "For now, it just rains, but what if it changes? You both know damn well that everything is out to kill survivors. Is it really a stretch to think the weather is no different?"


    That made even Frank consider his words as whatever he wanted to say died on his opened lips. Silence fell upon them only to be broken by a roar up ahead.


    The convoy stopped dead, frantic whispers already spreading among the civilians. Holden also raised his hand high, most likely ready to give the order, but Leo stopped him by stepping forward. He knew what was coming, after all.


    Just like Nyx warned, a Brute dashed from round the corner, its bulk sending tremors across the ground. The civilians screamed, dropping their heavy cargo even as the fighters all around moved to calm the panicking idiots.


    "Hale?!" Holden shouted.


    "Don''t worry," Leo muttered, Essence surging into his tail. "I''m just doing my part of the job."


    Instantly, the middle tail stabbed into the ground, the gathered energy following its given order. Not even a second passed before the earth beneath the running Brute exploded, shadow spikes forming one after another.


    The beast roared in pain, blood pouring out from the numerous wounds scattered over its body. Already, some of the injuries tried to heal, steam rising from them, but with the spikes still there, there was nothing the healing factor could do.


    Leo smiled just a bit. He could end it with his claws and tear the monster''s head off its body, but it would be too simple, too easy. No, now that the humans knew about some of his abilities thanks to Clara and Tyler, he could provide them with a show of force. A proper one at that, so they would know what awaited them if they decided to mess with him again.


    And it''s not like I don''t have any more hidden abilities.


    Once more, Essence gathered in his right tail. Without waiting any further, he repeated his actions, releasing another Eruption. Only this one was different.


    While the first one was meant to immobilize and wound the beast, the second went right for the kill. It erupted a good few feet before the Brute, but this time there was only one, colossal spike flying forward.


    The muscular Voidling never had the time to even blink as the construct shot right through its head. The monster''s struggle stilled, and with naught but a thought, Leo dismissed all the spikes, letting the corpse collapse to the ground with a thud.


    He spun on his heel, nodding to the two stunned leaders as the rain continued to fall around them.


    "Well gentlemen, let''s get back on the road and continue our conversation. Shall we?"

 Chapter 118. A bit of rain

    To no one''s surprise, before their chat about the weather could continue, they first had to deal with the spooked civilians. Not that they were the only ones who had to relax. From what Leo noticed, a few of the fighters weren''t fairing much better. Though that might have been more of his fault than the Brute''s.


    Again, he didn''t worry too much. What he did here had a purpose. Most of the people in the group didn¡¯t know him, but from now on, they would think twice before even thinking of going against him. Also, he wanted to remind Holden again that he didn''t appreciate what happened back at ReachHope.


    The Fallen and the Ascended didn''t say anything to acknowledge what just happened. But going by the looks he had received from them, they definitely got the hidden message. Which was more than enough for him, at least for now...


    Despite the screaming and numerous complaints, within a few minutes, their journey continued. This time, Leo stayed at the front and slowly explained his concerns about the weather to the evolved duo. He had to tell a few half-truths to keep his more complicated secrets, but overall, he told them most of what he knew.


    "We can''t delay the move any longer, Hale," Holden ran a hand across his face. "I don''t have enough Ether to prolong the old Safe Zone''s life. And even if I did, it''s currently at eight percent stability. I doubt it will last through the night or even today."


    All fair points, but still. Leo sighed. "We might not have a choice if something worse than the rain comes. Besides, it''s not like you absolutely need a safe zone to hide from danger. I survived the second night''s storm in an abandoned building."


    I probably shouldn''t mention that the fucking thing could have collapsed on my head at any moment.


    "Aye, the beasty is right," Frank joined in the conversation. "If the bloody weather catches us with our pants down, we can clear a random building and wait it out there. Only the supplies will go to hell in that case."


    That solves the issue for those outside. Not exactly who I''m worried about. Leo shook his head. "That''s great and all, but what about those back at the old site? You said it yourself, Holden. That safe zone is almost dead."


    Only the humming of the falling rain filled the silence as the two leaders mulled over his question.


    "The basement," Holden finally muttered. "It should be large enough to hide everyone remaining if necessary. It has only two entrances and no windows. If we barricade it well enough, Nightmares might not get anywhere near them."


    Might... How I sometimes hate this word. Leo scowled but didn''t say anything right away. After all, without a Safe Zone, surviving another night is always a ''might,'' never a promise. Hiding and barricading sure helped, but if a Nightmare decided to dig deeper, nothing could stop it from trying.


    "That''s one backup plan. I''d rather have a few more," he stated, his mind also trying to come up with some good ideas. Adam''s and Ava''s life depended on it.


    Frank hummed. "How long would it take ya to run back to ReachHope from the new place?"


    Leo mulled over the question, recalling all the trips he had taken through the city over the past few days. He had never really used his full speed combined with Reinforcement and some Limit Break just to travel, but if he had to guess...


    "Five or ten minutes at most if I ignore everything in the way," he nodded to no one in particular, quite sure of his prediction.


    "Well, there you go," Frank clapped him on the shoulder. "They can hide in the basement, and if it''s not dark yet, you can run back to check on them. That''s the start of a good plan if I say so."


    Both Leo and Holden gave the Fallen a doubtful look. A start it might be, but of a good plan? Not so much. They didn''t voice their thoughts though. After all, they still had some time to come up with something better.


    <hr>


    "Would you look at that, beasty," Frank announced as the new Safe Zone came into sight. "We arrived, and it ain''t even raining anymore."


    Leo rolled his eyes at the smug expression on the Fallen''s face. Sure, the rain might have stopped, but the clouds didn''t go anywhere. He would even argue that they got worse as the time passed. Barely any sunlight got through at this point.


    "The calm before the storm," he whispered. "There is a reason why this saying exists. The question is how long this calm will last this time..."


    The Fallen huffed. "Bloody hell, you are almost as bad as Tony."


    "That''s enough, Frank," Holden growled when they passed through the safe zone''s boundary. "Let''s get everyone settled in and run it back. Hale is right. There is no time to waste. The stability is down to five percent already."


    Shit.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Unlike Leo, the Fallen let his displeasure be known as he muttered a string of curses. As soon as he finished, the man barked orders to the whole group, leaving no place for complaints.


    They all quickly spilled into the small building attached to the warehouse, everybody carrying a few boxes from the pallet. However, before they could move any further, two survivors blocked their path in the corridor.


    "Allen, Reed," Holden greeted the two men. "Any issues?"


    Tyler shook his head. "Nothing. Voidlings didn''t even dare to come close during the night."


    When the other survivor nodded, Holden grunted. "Good. Allen, go and help with the supplies. Reed, with us."


    Both men nodded, and while Tyler moved toward the exit, the other man led them into the warehouse. He showed them a place cleared of any debris, ready to receive the boxes they all carried. Apparently, Holden gave them some stuff to do during the night as the place overall seemed cleaner.


    Still a lot of work ahead of them if they want to make this place livable... For now though, we have three more groups to escort. Nothing else matters till then.


    <hr>


    The way back to ReachHope took a lot less time than Leo expected. Despite having Holden, Frank, and a few other survivors slow him down, they all moved swiftly without taking even a single break. Voidlings didn''t pose a threat to them, and so they made their way through the city faster than a car sometimes could.


    A familiar blond-haired woman ¡ª Diana, if he remembered correctly ¡ª greeted them at the entrance. Or rather, she only welcomed Holden and got right into the business as if no one else was there.


    "Everything is prepared, Tony," she spoke as they walked towards the warehouse. "I managed to add a few boxes with essentials. It will make the package a bit heavier, but worth it in the long run."


    Holden nodded. "And the people?"


    "Afraid but waiting for your signal."


    "Excellent." He turned to the Fallen, "Frank, go gather everyone and lead them outside. I will join you soon. Diana and I need to discuss what we spoke about on the way."


    "Hale," the Ascended looked him in the eyes when they stopped at the warehouse''s entrance. "Please let Ava know to slowly get Adam ready for the move. I want them to be fully prepared once we get back."


    "Sure," Leo mock saluted and walked away. Either way, he should probably give Adam another shot of Essence to ensure the boy remained calm for the rest of the day.


    "The rest of you," he still heard Holden say in the distance. "Assume usual positions and rest for the time being."


    More words were exchanged, but Leo tuned them out. One, he could barely hear them anymore, and two, he didn''t care. He had a few minutes to spend with his remaining family again and didn''t plan to waste them.


    Like always, Adam tried to crush him with a hug upon entrance, but even as a level nine, the boy was far from strong enough to do that. Ava might not have been as excited, but the relief in her eyes was evident with just one look.


    They talked for as long as the short break allowed, but when a knock sounded through the room, they all knew the time was up. And so, with a promise to be back soon and a message from Holden given, he left them behind once more.


    Only one more group. Stop worrying so much, you idiot. Yet even as he tried to convince himself that everything would be fine, another part of him couldn''t stop conjuring the worst scenarios possible.


    Fine, he growled. Nyx!


    ''Yes?'' The feline answered, alert as always. ''Is it time already?''


    No... Change of plans. You stay here. Observe, and if something happens, protect them before I can get here. Otherwise I won''t be able to focus on anything else.


    ''As you wish. But Leo...'' Nyx hesitated to continue for a moment. ''Do you really think this place will fall before you return?''


    You heard Holden. Leo grunted. Only about five percent stability remains. I don''t want to even think of this place failing, but... Remember what I said once? If something can go wrong, it will. I am just taking precautions.


    ''Understood. I will watch over them.''


    Thanks. He smiled, only for the smile to be wiped off his face when he stepped outside the building. Would you look at that? The rain is back. Great...


    <hr>


    Under the guise of stretching his legs and killing boredom, Leo stayed a good pace ahead of the group, slaughtering every Voidling in sight. While the reasons he gave Holden weren''t entirely false, they were also far from the truth. After all, he couldn''t tell them someone had to take over Nyx''s job.


    You again? Leo scowled as four Seekers once more circled above the group. Last time, a simple roar from him had them running, but now, they stayed but never attacked. Ah.. I see why...


    A familiar screech pierced the air, followed by a Harpy bounding towards the sky, seeking its new prey. Without fail, the beast zeroed in on him and dived, talons at the ready.


    Dumb bird. He rolled his eyes, half a dozen shadow spears forming around him. The moment the Harpy got within firing range, the constructs shot forward, claiming its prey.


    The beast howled, blood joining with the rain as it fell to the ground along with the Voidling. It crashed feet or two away from Leo in a heap of broken bones.


    His blade extended, ready to finish the Harpy''s struggles, but something stopped him short.


    A thunderclap split the air, followed by a flash of crimson lightning racing across the sky. The raindrops turned black within a second as the world also darkened, the visibility only slightly better than at night. Though with the contact flashes of lightning, that wasn''t much of a problem.


    No. This is the fucking problem.


    WARNING! The influence of the Void has altered the formation of a local storm. Assessment: Eclipse Void Storm (Rank F) in progress.


    WARNING! Nightmares are waking for the duration of the Eclipse Storm. Due to the sudden disturbance and time of the day, their strength has been limited to 70%.


    The System recommends finding shelter immediately. Good Luck.


    And then the screams began.

 Chapter 119. Scream

    Some civilians screamed to the heavens, their eyes darting all around in search of a way to escape the coming hell. Others collapsed to the ground, trying to hide between the stack of boxes that once more lay forgotten on the street.


    The somewhat calm fighters, along with Frank and Holden, had already run toward the panicked crowd, their shouts attempting to drown the screams. Only it could never be that easy. It was a known fact that a scared human was anything but rational. And it was proved even further by what happened next.


    A single civilian, a middle-aged man, suddenly sprinted away from the group in ReachHope''s direction. Sparked by his actions, two more people tried the same but didn''t care where they ran.


    Those still of the right mind moved to intercept them, to stop them from wasting their lives. For the most part, they succeded, and only the first runner managed to escape, his form disappearing around the corner.


    However, due to civilians outnumbering the fighting force, another person tried to break it towards the nearest building. Unfortunately for them, Leo had had enough of this mess.


    Taking a deep breath, he roared, easily drowning the shouting and the continuous booming of thunder. Instantly, the humans fell silent, their wide-eyed gaze falling on him.


    "Enough! Get the fuck up and listen if you want to live," he hissed. "The new Safe Zone is, at worst, five minutes away from here. The Nightmares won''t get to us in time if we run!"


    And yet, no one moved. Leo growled, ready to leave those idiots if necessary. But just then, Frank finally woke up.


    "You heard the man!" The Fallen shouted. "Leave the supplies and move your fat arses if you want to live! We ain''t waiting any longer."


    Finished with his short speech, the man helped the nearest person stand up and, with a hand still on their arm, started running. The other fighters and Holden followed in his steps, dragging a civilian or two behind them. They too slowly broke out of shock and picked up in speed, their desire to survive burning bright again.


    Leo grinned and, with a burst of Essence, passed them all, his blades extending. The howling of Voidlings filled the air. Some of them screamed in pain, their bodies collapsing in broken heaps as he took them down with a single attack.


    However, the screeches in the distance weren''t as welcoming. Their sheer tenacity chilled even his blood. Hell, even with his increased power, a bit of fear seeped into his mind. The Nightmares were coming, and nothing could stop them.


    "Holden!" He called out, slowing his pace a bit. "I hope everyone still has their flares. Get them ready just in case!"


    Leo didn''t wait for an answer and pushed onward again as a small group of Voidlings blocked their path. He slaughtered them all with just his blades, his pure speed and strength overwhelming the monsters.


    Job finished, he risked a glance behind, glad to see the flares in everyone''s hands. They may only have three more streets to go, but a Scouter or even a Collector could appear at any moment now. Those bloody beast were at least as fast as him after all.


    At least they are thirty percent weaker now. Leo growled, his shadow spears piercing through another group of Voidlings. Nyx?! How is it going there?


    ''Plenty of Ameists are already out and about,'' the feline shared a single image of the HopeReach''s building front. ''For now, they are just sniffing and gathering random stuff... Although a few came quite close to the safe zone.''


    He sighed. Nothing to worry about for now.


    What about you? Do you think you can stay out of sight and keep watching?


    Nyx huffed. ''Easily. Those creatures might hunt in the dark, but the shadows still belong to me. They will never see me if I stay in the same spot.''


    Happy to hear that. Good luck then. Let me know if anything happens or when the Nightmares come too close.


    ''I will. Good luck to you too, Leo.''


    Their link quietened after this exchange, falling into slumber. Leo didn''t mind; he had to focus on what was happening around him. Nightmares'' howls were becoming louder and louder with each second. If they didn''t hurry, he might have to stall.


    No risking my life though... At least not too much. I still have enough reasons to live...


    As they all sprinted onto another street, the top of the Safe Zone''s dome peeked over the buildings to their right. They were close, on the last stretch.


    Others seemed to realize it too, their pace picking up, pushing their bodies beyond their limits. Within seconds, they dashed on the last part of their journey, the golden boundary looking so inviting in the distance.


    A few people gathered at the edge of the Safe Zone, already shouting random words of encouragement at them. Yet suddenly, they all fell silent, their eyes snapping away from the running group.


    Leo followed their actions just as eardrum-bursting screeches pierced the air.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Fuck!


    "Activate the fucking flares and run!" He growled, said item also slipping into his hand and igniting with naught but a thought.


    Still running, with the help of his tails, Leo performed a one-eighty turn and sped towards the end of his group. Holden threw him a questioning look, but he ignored it and shot past them all, a roar leaving his lips.


    The two Scouters that almost caught up to them paused in the air. Their slitted eyes narrowed at the flare in his hands, and he couldn''t help but grin.


    Like it you fucking monkeys? Well, here you go.


    At once, he threw the flare right at the Nightmares, a dozen shadow spears following right after. The Scouters screeched, dodging all the projectiles, but it didn''t matter anymore.


    Using the distraction, Leo activated Reinforcement and threw himself toward the Safe Zone, where everybody was already waiting. He ran like possessed, never looking back.


    "Fucking hell," he chuckled, the Safe Zone warmth washing over him. "That was fun, right?"


    Only Frank reacted, snorting quietly. The others, while still watching him warily, were more worried about catching their breaths. Hell, even Holden seemed somewhat winded. Though the man didn''t show it much, his focus still on the Nightmares gathering beyond the golden border and the storm brewing above their heads.


    "You have my thanks, Hale," the Ascended muttered. "If you didn''t stall, this might have turned ugly."


    Leo sighed, plopping down on the ground, glad that the rain couldn''t reach within the dome. "We still lost one. And the supplies."


    "Fuck that," Frank scoffed. "That idiot forfeited his life the moment he let his fear take over. As for the supplies... We can get more later. We are alive. That''s what matters."


    True enough. He agreed, glancing at Holden. "How is the stability looking?"


    Holden grimaced. "Just ticked down to three percent. With some luck, it should survive until the storm ends."


    "Meaning it won''t," the Fallen grumbled. "Diana better get everyone moving. The basement is their only chance if this bloody weather doesn''t clear in time."


    "She is capable and works well under pressure. You know that," Holden stated almost absently. "She was already organizing everything before we even left. They will be fine under her care."


    Leo wanted to believe him; he really did. However, the fact remained that Diana had only five capable fighters to help her with about a dozen civilians. And that was without adding Adam into the mix.


    They will be fine. He repeated in the safety of his mind. As soon as this storm ends, I will run there as fast as possible. The others can catch up.


    "We should get inside," Holden spoke again, though he didn''t move. Just like everyone around them, he too couldn''t break his gaze away from the gathering horde of Nightmares.


    With each colorful lightning bolt striking the earth, the forms of dozens of Voidlings flashed right in front of them. And then, when darkness claimed the earth once more, all that remained were the violet glows coming off their bodies.


    For Leo, with his night vision, it wasn''t anything special. He could see them perfectly no matter what. However, witnessing the Nightmares appear and almost disappear every few seconds had to be quite the sight for everyone else.


    "They are watchin'' us like we are some exhibit in a bloody zoo," Frank scowled, turning away from the ever-increasing number of Nightmares.


    "Aren''t we?" A new voice ¡ª Dylan ¡ª asked. "Aye, the roles might be reversed, but there ain''t much we can do ''bout that."


    Frank huffed, muttering, "Doesn''t mean I have to like it." He shook his head, looking at the mage. "Dylan Hammond, right? What is the situation inside?"


    The mage straightened. "Decent. We cleaned a few more rooms and began securing one for Adam and his mother. It should be ready in an hour or two, but..." he trailed off, eyes drifting to the monsters beyond the golden dome.


    "Aye, there might be a bit of a delay. Nothing we can''t manage," the Fallen sighed, only to snap at Holden a moment later. "Oi, Tony! Wake the fuck up. You can watch scary monsters later. We need to get those people settled in."


    "So many..." The usually stoic man muttered. "I didn''t want to believe when you told me about the mall, Leo... But now... now I see. It''s a miracle we only lost one... How do you even win against this?"


    Ah... So that''s how it is.


    At that moment, Leo really pitied the man. Leading so many people, giving them a chance to survive, and all of that without fully realizing how shitty their world had become. Not that he was the only one. Everybody here, apart from Dylan and Frank, held similar expressions.


    Well. You all had to learn sooner or later. Shame it had to happen like this.


    "Oh, for fuck''s sake," Frank growled suddenly and slapped Holden hard. "Snap out of it! Yeah, we''re fucked. What''s new? This is the world we live in... Maybe now you will realize why we can''t coddle those people."


    Leo withheld a snort. Quite vulgar, but not wrong.


    Holding his cheek, Holden narrowed his eyes at his friend. "That was unnecessary."


    "That''s your opinion, not mine." Frank shrugged, putting a distance between them. "I think it worked perfectly. Now stop moping and come. Even with this bloody storm, there is work waiting to be done."


    Holden growled but didn''t argue. Instead he called out to everyone still watching the Nightmares in the distance. Some ignored him at first, but with a nudge or two from another person, soon everybody was en route toward the warehouse.


    I swear, those two''s interaction is the best entertainment in this fucked up world. Leo chuckled, following a little behind the others. Now the waiting game begins... Just please don''t let this fucking storm last too lo-


    ''Leo!'' Nyx''s sudden shout rooted him in place.


    Heart hammering in his chest, he answered. What is it?! Did the Safe Zone collapse? The Nightmares got in?


    ''No! The barrier still stands. But I heard screams, Leo! Screams from within the building! Something is going on there."


    Fuck! Leo spun on his heel, facing the golden barrier once more. Did you try to get in? Heard anything else?


    ''Not yet. I wanted to let you know first.''


    But can you do it? Can you try without getting noticed? Please...


    ''I will do my best.'' Nyx vowed.


    Leo took a deep breath, nodding. Thank you. Do whatever you must. I''m on my way too.


    Alarms instantly blared over their link as Nyx shouted. ''What?! No, you can''t. Nightmares will tear you apart!''


    A low growl left his throat as his vision shifted, the red pushing all the other colors away.


    "Let them try."

 Chapter 120. Hunted

    Blood boiled underneath his skin while the rage waiting within his mind begged to be unleashed. Yet, despite Leo''s own anger and fear, he held it all back, only letting the first flames of his bloodlust ignite. For what was about to happen, he needed all the help he could get.


    Ruthless Efficiency: Ignite. He hissed as the skill spread through his body, mind, and soul.


    The Cloak of True Night left his Soul Well next, once more drowning his form in darkness. True Stealth washed over his skin, finishing his cordon of protection. He might have no idea how well this one item and skill worked against Nightmares, but it would be stupid not to use them.


    Alright, it''s now or never. He took a few calming breaths, his eyes never leaving the Nightmares waiting beyond the dome. Just wait for me. Please. Adam and Ava. Wait for me...


    Just as Leo was about to search for a place where Nightmares wouldn''t instantly jump him upon exit, a shout reached his ears.


    "Oi! Beasty! Where the fuck are you going!?"


    Growling, he threw the Fallen a glare. "Back. Tell Holden something is wrong with the old site. I''m going to check it out."


    "What? How the hell do you even..." Frank shook his head, following after him. "No, screw that. Are you bloody mental?! Don''t you see what is waiting out there? You are strong, but those things will kill you before you even get halfway there!"


    Leo swallowed but didn''t stop as his eyes scanned the land beyond the safe zone. They could say whatever they wanted; his mind was already set. He had to risk it. He had to make sure Ava and Adam were still...


    Don''t think about it. Just don''t. He pushed those intrusive thoughts away, letting bloodlust swallow them whole. "I will be fine. They are thirty percent weaker. I should be able to outrun them."


    "Should?" Frank laughed. "You''re bloody mad, you know that, right? But fine, I know when I lost. A damn shame, but I can respect it. Some things are worth risking your life for..." The man quietened and clapped his back. "Good luck, Hale."


    Leo nodded, pausing at the border''s edge just behind the warehouse. He could only see a few Nightmares from this side. If he didn''t mess up, he had a real chance of getting away without anyone noticing.


    "Thanks. I will see you all later."


    The moment those words left his mouth, he dashed through the barrier, the safe zone''s warmth leaving his body. He slipped into the nearest alley and waved away the System''s notification about Void Storm protection granted to him by one of his traits. It didn''t matter, not when the Nightmares posed a bigger danger than the weather.


    Without stopping, Reinforcement surged through his veins, the power boost combining with Ruthless Efficiency. For a brief moment, Leo wanted to add Limit Break into the mix, but he dismissed the thought. Arriving half-dead due to overuse of abilities wouldn''t help anyone.


    Besides, I need to save something for when those fuckers will finally notice me.


    For now, he stuck to back alleys and empty buildings, slinking from one corner to another. The howling of Nightmares and constant thrumming of thunder accompanied his every move, pushing him to go faster and faster.


    More than once, his heart almost burst out of his chest when a Nightmare flew over his head. They hadn''t noticed him yet, but all it would take was one wrong turn to change that. Hell, with Scouters'' enhanced senses, each second of freedom could be his last...


    ''Leo... I''m sorry. I can''t get in. The barrier burns too strong,'' Nyx''s voice entered his mind, her shame and disappointment painting their link. ''Forgive me.''


    Jumping behind a cover as two Collectors passed through the street, Leo gritted his teeth. It''s... it''s fine. You tried. That''s all that matters... Did you hear anything else?


    ''I... Yes,'' the feline muttered. Echoes of muffled screams rang in his ears, only confirming her words. ''This was the last of them. It''s been silent ever since.''


    On one hand, no more screams should have been good news. However, considering that something had caused them, their end could also mean the worst possible scenario. He didn''t even want to entertain that thought. Not now, not ever.


    You did well. Leo swallowed, resuming his run. I will be there soon.


    ''Please be careful," Nyx begged. ''There are so many of them...''


    I know, and I will.


    Another chunk of Essence fuelled the already active Reinforcement, igniting his muscles with additional strength. Bloodlust and rage coming from Ruthless Efficiency also burned brighter than before, the ignition slowly turning into a blaze.


    Not yet. Can''t turn into a psyc- Fuck! Leo threw himself onto the ground as a gust of compressed air flew just an inch above his head. The projectile crashed against a wall, splattering chunks of Vetilim all around.


    Shit. That would have hurt. He scowled, already on his feet once more. He didn''t even need to look behind him to know what happened. The new System message was enough.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Pursuit in progress.


    Screeches and roars exploded all around him as the earth shook. He cursed and threw all caution in the air. With a swift jump, he claimed the nearest wall, and with another, he landed on the broken roof. At least now, he could choose the path he liked the most...


    Goosebumps spreading over his skin, he rolled away from two more wind bullets. He broke into a sprint again, bounding towards the nearest Vetilim vine. More compressed air rained upon him wherever he went, sometimes even obliterating his path into pieces.


    Not that Leo worried too much about that. At least not yet. The Scouters behind him were sure annoying, but they didn''t attack directly. Somehow, they must have known that, at this point, they weren''t a match for him in close quarters. Not with thirty percent of their strength missing.


    And it''s not like they need to attack me. Just stall and continue the pursuit. He grimaced, the roars of Collectors becoming louder and louder, be it behind or ahead of him.


    He risked a glance at the street below and hissed. Here they were. A group of muscled monstrosities following the call of their scouting party.


    And this was only the beginning.


    <hr>


    Leo gasped, dancing away from yet another salvo of wind bullets. With the dozens upon dozens of the Scouters following him, he had taken to diving through any open doors and windows, hoping to catch a breath inside.


    Not that such a tactic always paid off. Often, a Collector or two decided to copy his actions, thus cutting off his escape if the building turned out to be in worse shape than he had expected. He earned a few bruises for those mistakes, but at least he was still alive, somehow...


    Really? Again!?


    Leo growled as he jumped onto the nearest Vetilim web. Up ahead, a group of Collectors, larger than others, climbed on the roof, once more blocking his path. They had tried it once before, but he had managed to slip through them. Only back then, there were two Nightmares waiting for him, not five.


    Nonetheless, he couldn''t stop or turn around. Stopping meant getting pulverized by dozens of wind bullets, and the other option didn''t look much better. Running right into a swarm of Scouters seemed like a great idea. If he wanted to die of course...


    The same pretty much applied to the third option: jumping down onto the streets. There, instead of getting swarmed by the legless monkeys, he would get turned into a paste by the numerous Collectors and other Voidlings that joined the chase.


    Yeah, fuck that. I will take my chances here. Limit Break to full power.


    Pushing past his limits, Leo closed the distance between him and the roof within a second. The first two Collectors swiped at him, their fists coming down to crush his head.


    With a slide, he dived underneath them, not even thinking of attacking back as another Nightmare took its turn. The beast moved to grab him, but Leo twirled away, his tails slapping the Collector to buy some time.


    Two more. He grinned, watching the remaining monsters move almost in slow motion. Their debuff and his multiple enhancing abilities finally put them at equal standing. The Nightmares might still be stronger, but he was way faster.


    And in a race against time, speed was all that mattered.


    Or so Leo thought as he slipped past the Collectors, ducking under their swings. They tried to follow up with more attacks, but at this point, he was out of their reach again...


    Last straight. Lower Limit Break to one hundred percent.


    His heartbeat quicked even more as the golden sheen of a safe zone appeared in the distance. It was still there, still protecting those inside from the horrors of the night. Yet, something went wrong; something caused those screams.


    Please let it be just some scared civilians. Please.


    Leo dropped to the ground, leaving the remnants of the urban jungle behind. A couple of Collectors greeted him first with their earthshaking roars. But he dodged them, his speed still outmatching theirs.


    The same couldn''t be said about the Scouters, who never paused their onslaught. A single projectile finally slipped past his defensive instincts, almost drilling a hole in the same shoulder that had recovered from a similar fate not even a day ago.


    He hissed, the cracking of bones filling his ears. He stumbled, but his bloodlust quickly consumed the pain. It urged him to turn around and fight, to slaughter those who dared to touch him.


    The second and maybe even the third stage of Ruthless Efficiency waited, ready to fan the flames of his rage. And soon, the choice of holding back would be taken away from him. He could feel it.


    Not yet! Not now! Leo roared. I will die if I fight.


    ''You won''t,'' the whispers of blood echoed in his mind.


    ''We can win.''


    ''Slaughter them all.''


    ''Just let it go.''


    ''Unleash us!''


    No! He snarled, falling to all fours and sprinting the rest of the way like the beast he had become.


    He barrelled right into the backdoor he had used so many times before. The hinges held for a fraction of a second, only to burst open, letting him into the old safe zone. Still gasping with eyes closed, he quickly pushed the bloodlust back, disabling Ruthless Efficiency.


    Holy shit... I did it. I''m ali...


    His entire world came to a stop as Leo opened his eyes, enhanced vision drinking in the sight before him.


    Blood, so much blood splattered all over the place. Some was already half dry, while fresh one still dripped from the few bodies scattered on the floor, puddles forming underneath them.


    One of the dead survivors stared right at him, dead eyes open wide in fear. Their sunken cheeks and bones straining against the pale skin only added to the macabre. Yet, for Leo, those signs meant something much different.


    No...


    Jumping to his feet, he ran as fast as possible toward Adam''s room. The door was wide open, painted red. And despite that, nothing could have prepared him for what was waiting inside.


    A single body lay in the middle, blood flowing out of the multiple holes in its torso. He came closer, collapsing to his knees.


    Ava...


    Her short hair might have turned almost completely grey. Her body might have lost all of its muscles and fat. However, it was still the woman he had known for years, now dead, never to open her eyes again.


    ''Leo...'' Nyx muttered, but he cut the connection instantly.


    Fists clenched, Leo rose slowly, sweeping his gaze over the far-off side of the room. The mattresses that once stood there were almost gone, now covered in a dark, slimy substance that painted everything black. It still bubbled every few seconds, giving him a perfect reminder of where he had seen it before.


    He growled even as a lone tear slipped down his face.


    Adam... Why...

 Chapter 121. Failure

    Why now? Why couldn''t you wait a bit longer?! Leo punched the wall next to him, his fist almost slamming through as he instinctively drew on his skills. If only I was here. If only I had convinced Holden to escort you two first... I failed... again.


    Yet, within the sea of rage, sadness, and shame, a small rational part of his mind still prevailed. He knew he could have done more, could have somehow prevented this. But despite that, escorting Adam and Ava to the new site quicker just wasn''t the way to do that.


    It wouldn''t have changed anything apart from the place of the massacre. People would die anyway, and Leo might have still been too late to save more than a few people if even that.


    In the end, there existed only one way to prevent this all. And that was to be with Adam all the time, to watch over him until he finally evolved. Not that it would have ever worked. He had way too much stuff to worry about to stay in one place for more than a few hours.


    Like finding a normal way to fix Adam, securing a new safe zone for them, or just getting stronger to survive another day.


    Of course I had to fail at the most important task... Leo clenched his fists, staring at the frozen face of his sister-in-law. I thought I had more time. I thought I could save him, Ava... I''m so sorry.


    He stepped past the drained corpse, leaving the room in peace after closing the door. He would come back here, but now, the time had come to fix his mistakes, to end this part of the story. He owed at least that much to all those who died today...


    Leo didn''t need to search for his target; the trail of blood and bodies did that for him. It led him out of the warehouse and into a small corridor where the stairs to the basement awaited. Really, he should have expected that.


    Diana must have started the evacuation when the storm began and left his family to be moved last. Adam either evolved during that time or lay in the waiting, ready to spring the trap the moment someone came in. He suspected the latter.


    Not that it matters. He chuckled bitterly, suppressing the waves of emotions trying to claim his mind and soul. It was not the time for that, not yet. He needed a somewhat clear head for what waited for him down there...


    His sight shifted, night vision activating as he descended into the complete darkness. Here blood covered almost every inch of the walls while pieces of human bodies grew in number. Some were drained, while others were torn to shreds with visible bite marks.


    Oh kiddo...


    He averted his gaze from Diana''s body, or rather what was left of it, lying at the bottom of the stairs. A bloody sword wasn''t that far away. The last sign that the woman at least didn''t go out without a fight and died trying to protect her people...


    A crack of bones and a loud hiss came suddenly from the depths of the basement. More sounds followed right after, each more disturbing than the last one. And yet, Leo didn''t falter; he had heard and seen worse. Though a slight shiver still went down his spine as he thought about the source.


    It wasn''t supposed to end like this...


    He passed more open rooms as he walked through the narrow corridor, leaving more bodies behind him. The noises grew louder with each second until, finally, he stepped into a bit larger chamber, and his eyes fell upon the one responsible for it all.


    Everything went silent.


    "Adam..." Leo muttered, gazing at the creature that once had been his godson. Or maybe still was...


    The boy''s form was so similar to his own, if quite smaller and with a few modifications. While one of his arms carried the same claws, his other limb didn''t possess a working hand but a blade that started at the elbow. One not that much different from his own.


    Then there was the single tail, long and powerful. Small spikes littered its surface while a short blade decorated its tip. Truly a weapon even deadlier than Nyx''s and his tails when they weren''t using shadows.


    Apex Night Stalker (Voidling) | LVL: 13


    Of course... An Apex evolution. And one that was offered to me too. Guess memories weren''t the only thing you took, eh buddy? It could have been funny if not for the circumstances. Now, the realization only filled him with dread.


    "You." The evolved child looked him in the eyes, crimson meeting violet. "You smell familiar. Did you come to join the feast? Or maybe you want to become one?" Adam grinned, blood and gore on his teeth.


    He can talk, like Nyx. He remembers me. Despite everything he had witnessed, a small flame of hope ignited in his chest. Maybe there was still a chance to save Adam, to keep his promise to Ava.


    ''He killed her!''


    ''He slaughtered everyone!''


    ''We can do the same!''


    ''Just let us...''


    Shut up! Leo snapped at the voices, strengthening the lock on his bloodlust. He couldn''t let it out now.


    "Adam," he muttered, crouching down. "Calm down. It''s just me, Leo. Your uncle. Please remember..."


    The child tilted his head. "Uncle? Do you wish to give me your power too? Just like mother did? Please say yes. I need more!"


    What? What the hell? Even though his thoughts almost halted, Leo didn''t let it show. "Buddy, no..." He swallowed. "I can help you if you want to get stronger... Just please listen to me."


    "No?" Adam scowled, ignoring anything else he had said. "You won''t? That''s fine! I can take it by myself. It''s so much more fun this way!"


    Before the boy even finished speaking, he had already shot forward, the single blade ready to end the fight with one hit. Leo growled and blocked with his own weapons, pushing his godson away.


    This didn''t seem to faze him as the child went along with the movement before jumping in again. Claws and blade rained blows upon Leo, each faster than the last one. Not that he had all that much trouble to defend; there was still a vast level difference between them, after all.


    "Adam, stop!" He hissed, backhanding the Apex into the nearest wall. "I don''t want to hurt you!"


    Still grinning, Adam chirped as he climbed to his feet. "Don''t worry, uncle! Mommy also tried to beg. She didn''t want to share too at first... But now, her power is all mine. Soon, yours will join her!"


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    A dark sheen wrapped around his godson''s body while a green glow seeped into his blade and claws. With a deranged giggle, the child attacked once more, the meeting of blades almost pushing Leo back.


    Fuck! He grimaced, channeling the slightest bit of Essence into his already exhausted body. Special ability? Trait? That''s no reinforcement, that''s for sure.


    Instead of straight-up blocking everything, he switched to deflecting. At the same time, his mind went a hundred miles per hour, trying to work out a plan. Adam might not want to talk or work with him, but he at least remembered his family to some degree. There had to be a way to make the boy see reason, to return him to how he was before.


    But how?! He narrowed his eyes, feinting a slash to slip through the child''s guard. I couldn''t save him before he evolved. Now I''m supposed to somehow revert this?


    Adam''s evolution was meant to save him, not make the situation even worse. Only it seemed like the kid never planned to become fully human again. No, the Void''s influence ran too deep, and looking back, his Essence transfusions probably didn''t help one bit.


    What if it was all a mask? A way for me to give him more Essence? He scoffed, grabbing Adam''s clawed hand and flinging him into the nearest wall. No! I refuse to believe that. That was my godson, not some Void puppet...


    "So much power. All in the hands of a failure," the Apex picked himself off the ground, licking his bloody lips. "I can''t wait to consume you and feast on your flesh. Give up, uncle. Be useful for once in your life and become a part of something greater."


    Greater my ass. Leo dismissed his blades, Essence stirring within his soul. He couldn''t let Adam''s words affect him, no matter how true they were. Giving in meant the end, and he still had some hope.


    "You can''t win, kiddo. I''m stronger and more experienced. A few levels and a fresh evolution won''t close the gap between us... So please, stand down."


    Adam hummed. "How about no?" He giggled. "I can see you''re tired, uncle, while I can do this all day... How long until you collapse? How long until your Essence runs out?"


    Leo swallowed. "I can end it now."


    "But you won''t," Adam grinned. "After all," his eyes widened, their color shifting to their old green, "You wouldn''t kill your brother''s child. Right, uncle?"


    "I will if you make me," he lied through his teeth, keeping a straight face.


    Maybe if the boy never said anything, he could have done it. Deal with this before his guilt could escape the cage he had created. But once he heard Adam''s voice, all hopes of putting an end to this horror suffered a horrible death.


    He just couldn''t do it. Not when he still believed there was a chance to turn it around, as small as it was.


    "Liar," Adam snickered. "You will do nothing. Let me prove that!"


    The boy dashed forward, cocking back his blade arm, its glow suddenly illuminating the entire chamber. When only a foot or two separated them, Adam slashed at the air, releasing a wave of sickly green fire.


    Acting quickly, Leo raised his left hand, Valron Protection spreading across the limb. He grunted as the fire washed over it, the drain on his Essence increasing.


    Should have tried to dodge. He leaned away from Adam''s follow-up assault.


    The boy tried to extend the attack and switch its direction, but Leo was faster. His tails and right hand lashed out, getting a good hold on his godson.


    "Maybe I can''t kill you," he muttered. "But I can knock you out."


    Adam giggled. "You can try."


    As you wish, kiddo. His still-burning fist rushed forward, finding the target right on the side of the boy''s jaw. Free again, the child tumbled across the floor before coming to a halt, his form twitching.


    Leo sighed, letting all his abilities fade away. He did it, but what now? He still had no idea how to help Adam, and knocking the boy out every time he woke up just wouldn''t work in the long run.


    Not to mention, this place will soon open to Nightmares, and I''m almo-


    A sudden growl stopped his thoughts as the Apex stirred and climbed to his feet. The dark sheen over his body returned, its color shifting to a familiar green. The boy looked up, two pools of crimson replacing normal eyes.


    Instantly, the boy was on him, every single attack releasing a weak wave of fire. Leo hissed as more than one flame landed on his skin. It didn''t burn long, but still stung, weakening his hold over the caged bloodlust and rage.


    ''Leo! Fight back!'' Nyx shouted, evidently getting through his blockade. ''I know you''re hurting, but you must put an end to this. Please.''


    I can''t. Leo hissed, batting away Adam''s fury. Maybe I can knock him out again. But kill? No, I just can''t. I¡¯m sorry. Not now, maybe not ever.


    ''Then don''t. I searched through our memories for something to help you, and I think I got it. I just can''t promise it will work.''


    He almost let a single hit pass through his defense as his eyes widened. You know how to fix this?! Please, be quick.


    ''Wrong! I don''t know how to revert this mess. As you are now, I only found a way to buy us time until we figure something out. It''s risky but doable.''


    He nodded absently. Of course, it couldn''t be that easy.


    Okay. Tell me what to do.


    ''Your Soul Well,'' Nyx pointed out. ''It is capable of so much more than just storing objects. Nikra told you as much. If you can tap into its potential, then maybe it can become a prison for Adam.''


    ¡­Are you sure? He is powerful. Can my soul even hold him?


    ''I have no idea.'' The feline''s chuckle lacked any amusement. ''It''s only a theory, nothing more.''


    What if... Leo gulped, still defending from Adam''s onslaught. What if I threw a bit of Takeover into the mix? Order him to go to sleep and then let go.


    ''I don''t know, but it can''t hurt to try at this point. Takeover''s side effects are the last thing you should worry about now.''


    I know... Will you help me?


    Nyx''s warmth somewhat soothed his troubled mind. ''Of course. Together. But we need to hurry. I saw cracks spreading over the safe zone''s barrier.''


    Their link opened wide, and the feline''s consciousness melded with his. Half of the still available Essence surged out of his body, flooding the chamber with shadows, all under his command.


    Adam tried to escape their grasp but had only so much space to move until the shadows swallowed him whole. They formed a cocoon around him, tight and unbreakable.


    Forgive me.


    Mind clear, Leo plunged his hand into the shadows, his two abilities igniting with a single thought.


    Soul Well. Minor Takeover.


    Even though he led the assault at the cocoon, he could feel Nyx''s influence. Just like him, she tugged at the shadows, dragging them back in. At the same time, they led Takeover''s spark towards Adam, trying to carefully connect it to him.


    Minutes or maybe even hours passed in his head as the tug-of-war continued. The weight pressing down upon his soul got stronger and stronger, almost stopping the process. Yet, he held firm, grit his teeth, and pushed through every bit of pain that came his way.


    He had to do this, even if it killed him...


    Suddenly, something within his soul clicked, knocking the air out of him. Leo gasped, falling to his knees as his eyes landed upon the empty spot where Adam once stood trapped.


    We... we did it. He coughed, feeling the walls in his mind crumble, shackles breaking.


    ''Yes, we did,'' Nyx muttered, though her voice sounded anything but happy. ''Leo... Please get up. You need to hide. The Nightmares are coming. Please.''


    He chuckled, a weak and hollow thing. I''m sorry, but it ain''t happening. You know well why. I don''t think there is a way out of this. It was all for naught in the end¡­


    ''I... Forgive me.. If only I did more... Rest now. Let it go, Leo¡­ Until we meet again, friend.''


    And so he did, letting the Inferno claim him.


    Until we meet again.


    .


    .


    .


    ¡®Freedom!¡¯

 Leos Status and more after Book 2

    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: II - Prime Night Hunter


    Class: Assassin | LVL. 19


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E-


    Might Tier I (33)   | LB: 35


    Grace: Tier II (40) | LB: 36


    Vision: Tier I (39) | LB: 34


    Mind: Tier II (9)   | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier I (49)    | LB: 19


    Ether: 1406


    Traits: Cloud Walker (Uncommon), Void-borne (Rare), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare), Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare), True Bond (Unique)


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta), Enhanced Vision (Gamma)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Soul Arts (Rare), Devour (Epic), Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare), Ruthless Efficiency (Radiant)


    General Skills: True Stealth (Uncommon), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Epic), Decoy (Uncommon), Soul Well (Epic), Phantom Erasure (Rare)


    Race:


    Prime Night Hunter (Stage II)


    Hunt. Kill. Consume. Never stop, little Akirian. You are the Hunter that stalks the Night. You are the Prime that leads your kind. As the first and the last, be ready and fight until there is nothing left.


    Effects:


    Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Grants Low-end Akirian Physiology trait. The potency of your Essence has been improved at the price of slightly lowered control. Heavy physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +15%. +1 Might, +3 Grace, +1 Vision, +1 Soul, +1 Mind, +3 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked


    <h2 style="text-align: center">Traits:</h2>


    Void-borne (Rare)


    Only those who embraced the path of the Void can wield its power. You did just that, and now you can reap the benefits. Go and devour.


    Effects:


    You can now feed on Essence to strengthen yourself and absorb the power of your enemies. Limit Break: +1 Soul, Might, Grace and Vision per level. Drain evolves into Devour.


    Cloud Walker (Uncommon)


    You have ascended past the basic training of an Assassin and entered the realm of true experts. May you remain unnoticed by your enemies.


    Effects:


    Your movement becomes lighter and almost silent. Every stealth ability is now more effective. Grace Effectiveness: +10%


    True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Minor affinity born from the Darkness. What Shadow lacks in raw power, it makes up for in utility. Only imagination now stands in your way, don''t let it stop you.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel shadow affinity into your Essence. Natural evolution of affinity available due to its True form.


    Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare)


    Whatever you were before, forget about it; you are an Akirian now, little one. Rise your head and enjoy the benefits of a species with no equals. This is just the beginning of a very long road.


    Effects:


    Natural resistance against the Void''s harsh conditions slightly improved. Your body is now capable of withstanding Void Storms below C-Grade. Basic body functions enhanced. You can now sustain your body with Essence and flesh of your enemies. Due to your unique physiology, you are now more vulnerable against Ether weapons.


    True Bond (Unique)


    Your Akirian Apex aspect might be dead, but out of this tragedy, something beautiful was born. A bond unlike any other. Unbreakable and always growing stronger. Two souls that are one.


    Effects:


    You are now soul-bonded to an eternally loyal entity, Nyx. Essence and affinity share possible. Mind synchronization perfected. Bond strength: Low.


    Mutations:


    Mutation: Heart of the Void (Beta Tier)


    With your heart carved out, First Born''s shard took its place and changed the base of your being. Follow the steps of the Void, the path of the Akirians, and become the true Legacy of the Void.


    Effects:


    Nikra''s Essence has adapted to your blood. Your body is now capable of withstanding the Void''s harsh conditions. Healing speed slightly improved. Soul effectiveness: +15%. Might effectiveness: +20%.


    Mutation: Enhanced Vision (Gamma Tier)


    For many, vision is the most essential sense. So why not make it stronger? Let nothing hide from you with this mutation. Follow your prey where the light doesn''t shine.


    Effects:


    Grants slightly improved eyesight along with strong night vision. In the event of vision loss in the past, this mutation will repair all damages and make your eyes slightly more resistant to damage.


    <h2 style="text-align: center">Racial Skills:</h2>


    Universal Linguist (Unique)


    With a vast Universe comes a wide array of languages. To help achieve communication between different civilizations, the System created this skill for each survivor.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to understand almost every spoken language in the Universe. Be wary that any written form of a foreign language is still mostly beyond you.


    Identify (Unique)


    The most common tool of every system user. Created by the System to help the users find their way along the journey.


    Effects:


    Allows you to discover details about certain parts of this new world. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision and Level.


    Devour (Epic)


    Bread and butter of every creature that rose from the pits of the Void. This evolved version of Consume is why Voidlings are meant to be feared. Now go and devour; this is only the beginning.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to consume Essence from your enemy, be it dead or alive. Offers a slight chance to permanently absorb power from fallen foes. You can now replenish your reserves and heal yourself using the devoured Essence.


    Soul Arts (Rare)


    Like every stroke of a painter''s brush, with enough dedication, every single move of your Essence can also become an art. For Soul Arts, imagination is the limit, and now your mind and soul are working together to break past it.


    Effects:


    This skill greatly improves the control over your Essence. Soul Arts remembers everything. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Soul.


    Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare)


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.What is a blade without the knowledge of how to use it? Never worry, young Akirian, for you shall never need to find the answer to this question. The blades of the Night are for you to wield. Strike fast, strike hard.


    Effects:


    Grants basic and instinctive knowledge on how to wield the Blades of the Night Hunter. Abilities gained from the lesser version of this skill are still available. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace and level.


    Ruthless Efficiency (Radiant)


    Rage and Bloodlust unleashed. The world is yours for the taking, young Prime. Enemies, allies? They don''t matter as long as you achieve your goal.


    Effects (3 Stages):


    Ignite: Your perception of the world and battle prowess is enhanced.


    Blaze: Strengthens the boost gained from the previous stage. Will activate automatically after overuse of Ignite or upon suffering heavy injuries. Reduces your mind to a more primal state.


    Inferno: Rage and bloodlust fuel your abilities, enhancing them further. Will activate automatically after overuse of Blaze or upon suffering critical injuries. Inferno cannot be stopped until its hunger for death is satisfied. Whether it comes from enemies or allies, it doesn''t matter to you anymore.


    <h2 style="text-align: center">General Skills:</h2>


    Reinforcement (Uncommon)


    An ancient technique used to strengthen your body. By controlling and reinforcing the flow of Essence you become stronger, faster, and tougher. A skill with infinitely high potential and even higher risk.


    Effects:


    Provides the ability to augment your physical attributes by a maximum of 50%. Be warned that overusing this skill might bring severe exhaustion or even death. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Might.


    True Stealth (Uncommon)


    With practice and hard work, the shortcomings of basic stealth were removed. Now you can truly walk among your enemies as Essence guides you on your way. But beware that nothing is ever perfect.


    Effects:


    Advanced ability capable of shielding you with a strong layer of controlled Essence. When activated, your Essence signature will be harder to detect, while your scent and any sounds you make will be hidden. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace.


    Vital Strike (Common)


    Ever since ancient times, people have tried to find ways to defeat their enemies with a few swift strikes. Now, one of their abilities is yours to wield.


    Effects:


    After drawing blood from your enemy, you have a chance to spot one of their weak spots. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision.


    Kiss of Death (Uncommon)


    Bread and butter of every assassin. Stealth may lead you to the target. Sharp senses might let you spot their weakness. But the Kiss of Death will allow you to strike with the deadly strength required to end your target.


    Effects:


    Allows you to coat any weapon in your possession with finely refined Essence to strike with overpowering strength. Provides a one-time boost to armor penetration and the overall sharpness of your blade. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Soul.


    Hunter''s Pulse (Epic)


    Improved version of basic Hunter''s Pulse. Just like the previous version, it can be guided by intent and Essence, but now the pulse will offer additional help even when unasked. Additionally, the System will now provide support to speed up this ability.


    Effects:


    You can now send a pulse from every single part of your body to perform a perfect scan. You can now search for familiar Essence in the scanned area. The range of this ability depends on the amount of Essence used. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision. Warning: Beings with sharp enough senses might still become alerted by your pulse.


    Decoy (Uncommon)


    Illusions, one of many tools available to an assassin. Deceive your enemies, lead them astray. And when you have them where you want, strike. Fast and deadly.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to create an Essence decoy, a perfect illusion clone of your body. As the name implies, a decoy cannot interact with the real world but will follow basic commands given by the user. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind.


    Soul Well (Epic)


    The soul of every living being hides an unlimited potential. Keeping your possessions safe is just the tip of the iceberg of what a soul can achieve. Your journey has just begun.


    Effects:


    The User is now capable of storing objects within their soul. Please note that the amount of items you can hold depends on the strength of your soul.


    Phantom Erasure (Rare)


    To kill, you need to strike fast, strike hard. Each direct hit matters and can decide the outcome of each fight. So what if your every attack suddenly gained more power? Say twice as much? Ask no longer, as Phantom Erasure is here for you.


    Effects:


    Upon each direct hit, you can now leave a sliver of your Essence on your target. This tiny load of energy will ignite after a moment of delay and mimic your previous attack on the already affected area. This phantom strike cannot be stronger than the original attack.


    <h2 style="text-align: center">Title:</h2>


    Nikra''s Legacy:


    The legacy of the first daughter has been born. Darkness follows your every step and the Void welcomes you in its domain. Will you do the same and embrace this new path?


    Stacked Effects:


    New evolutionary path available. Your soul is now partially synchronized with Nikra''s Essence. Freshly-born Akirians recognize your power. If they exist, other Night Hunters will refrain from attacking you and may even be open to obeying your commands. Soul effectiveness: +10%. Might effectiveness: +10%.


    <h2 style="text-align: center">Techniques:


    </h2>


    Void: Minor Takeover (Adept)


    A technique that allows for a complete takeover of a Void-born creature. The success of this ability depends on the user''s connection to the Void affinity, level, and overall strength. Creatures stronger or of similar power will resist an attempt at controlling them, and special types of Voidlings will completely resist this minor technique. Please note that physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Estimated maximum number of controlled Void-borns: 6 (-1 due to True Bond)


    Shadow: Eruption (Adept)


    A technique born out of the User''s bloodlust and desire to improve. With Eruption now reaching a new rank, its potential is finally unleashed. From now on, no enemy is safe from you, no matter where they hide. Shadows see everything. Please note that this technique can be made stronger by negative emotions.


    Shadow: Creation (Adept)


    A technique born thanks to the User''s relentless practice and the will to improve. Creation is the base of anything in the Universe, and now the shadows are ready to be born stronger than before. The User''s current mastery improves the quality and the speed at which the constructs are created even further. Additionally, a direct connection to the creator is no longer necessary.


    Items in possession:


    Valron Coverage (Uncommon):


    A Spectral Inscription item made by a skilled craftsman. Created using Valron ore and Runic Essence. Thanks to its new wielder, Valron Coverage has returned to its prime.


    Effect: Chosen body part becomes significantly more resilient, almost doubling its toughness.


    Active: Valron Protection - Channel Essence to create a protective layer of spectral skin over the chosen area. This ability can be maintained indefinitely as long as the User possesses Essence.


    Area of Use: Any single place on the User''s body


    Poison Core (Uncommon):


    A very basic beast core harvested from a level sixteen Ameist Queen. This item can be used in a wide variety of jobs. Additionally, it can also provide help to Users who want to deepen their connection to Poison affinity. Please be warned that affinity cores can easily destabilize and lose their value.


    Inferior Eternal Heart (Uncommon):


    Some creatures and entities of the Void don''t require much to survive; sometimes, a heart is all they need. All Eternal Hearts are highly sought by all kinds of alchemists and cooks. Despite that, this item can be eaten raw for a chance of gaining a small permanent increase in base attributes.


    Cloak of True Night (Epic):


    A cloak created by the System''s Advancement Token. Made out of pure darkness, this item will always lend a hand to Users who control said element. This cloak will automatically adjust to the User''s size and make them almost invisible in the dark. Additionally, the cowl will obscure the User''s face at any distance. As an item made out of pure affinity, it will slowly repair after taking damage.


    Notice: This item can only be upgraded with the System''s advancement tokens.


    Install: Spark of the Void (Radiant):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. With each step you make, your connection to the Void grows stronger. Its power, wild and destructive, is waiting for you. Make sure you don''t lose your way.


    Limit Break: +15 Might, Vision, and Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. The true power of the Void fills your soul.


    Passive: Third Circle - Locked. Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.

 Chapter 122. Broken yet whole

    He remembered the floodgates opening. Rage and anger. Sadness and guilt. Hopelessness. All different emotions, and yet, at that time, they spread through his soul, body, and mind like a synchronized inferno. Their combined strength filled him with infinite power, yet one he couldn''t even reach.


    He remembered the monsters coming, their howls ringing in his ears. Where one fell, two more always arrived to take its place, their limitless fury clashing against his own. Somehow, they still lost, their slaughtered bodies dropping to the ground in tens.


    He remembered fighting with abandon, uncaring of his own pain as long as the enemy met their end. He shrugged off all injuries, laughing like a maniac as he devoured one corpse after another. Pain didn''t matter if he couldn''t be bothered to feel it.


    He remembered the inferno of emotions slowly departing just as the sun began to peek through the stormy clouds. Yet, despite the fullness in his soul, the empty hole inside him grew with each second, taking away his power, his will to live. Even his enemies fled, leaving him alone under the sundered sky.


    And that was how Leo awoke from the haze of the final stage of Ruthless Efficiency. He sat kneeling in the middle of a sea of bodies and dust. Blood coated every possible surface, even his body, while each breath filled his nostrils with the same metallic stench.


    His entire being throbbed with pain, yearning for respite, for anything to ease its torment. He would have loved to give it just that, but somehow, he had survived the impossible. He fought an army and lived, even if it left him an empty husk without the will to continue.


    Why... His blurry gaze slowly swept across the battlefield before it settled on his bloody hands. Why am I alive? How...


    By all means, he should have died. He had spent the last of his power to drag Adam into his soul, leaving him with just enough strength to stay awake for a few more seconds. Even Nyx understood this was the end of their short journey, and though close to activating, Ruthless Efficiency shouldn''t have been able to save him from the horde of Nightmares.


    And yet, it did.


    The ability transformed Leo into a weapon of rage and bloodlust, fuelled by unending hunger. It consumed him, taking the reigns of his body while making him an unwilling passenger who still had to fight a different battle in his head.


    A battle against all the feelings he had pushed away.


    A battle he had lost.


    There was just too much to face. His emotions, failures, and dead family. It all overwhelmed him, never giving him a chance to breathe as he drowned in the pit of despair. And yet, even when he accepted his fate, his rage and bloodlust never gave up, fighting till the bitter end.


    So the failure lives on, eh? He chuckled bitterly, hanging down his head. Guess lady luck isn''t done with me yet. I probably should be happ-


    Leo gasped, air leaving his lungs as a mass of shadows struck his chest, knocking him down to the ground. He coughed, blurry vision clearing as he looked up, bright violet eyes meeting his own.


    "Nyx," he muttered, reaching for the feline''s snout. "Seems even death didn''t want me..."


    ''Leo!'' She shouted, giving him a long lick that almost ripped off half his face. ''I... I thought you were dead... The link went silent, and then the Nightmares went inside...''


    "I know," he looked away, sitting up. "Somehow, I even failed at dying. That''s got to be a record or something."


    The feline snarled, slapping him with her tail. Leo crumpled, the blood and pieces of monsters squelching beneath him.


    ''Stop this damned self-pity party already!'' She hissed, picking him up and throwing him across the battlefield. ''You''re not a failure! You did everything you could, more than anyone could¡¯ve asked of you. Some odds are just impossible to beat. Grieve if you must, but don''t you dare to give up again. Or have you already forgotten about the child that now sleeps inside your soul?''


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Holding his side, Leo grimaced as he climbed to his feet. Nyx was right, at least to some extent. He couldn''t let this second, or maybe third, chance at life slip through his fingers, not after everything he had gone through. However, he always had trouble leaving the past behind and doubted it would be any different this time.


    Grieve if you must. He repeated, looking to where ReachHope''s headquarters once stood. Yeah... I think I will do just that.


    Even as dozens of notifications tried to force themselves into his vision, he ignored them, letting his feet carry him forward. Nyx joined him within a moment, her gaze burning a hole in his head.


    ''Leo? What''s going on?'' She asked, her voice softening once more. ''Did I hit you too hard? Forgive me, but I can''t let you continue like this.''


    He shook his head. "No... You are right. Every single word you said was true..." He shrugged. "All my life, whenever something bad happened, I have always blamed myself or complained about the unfairness of it all. That''s just how I am, a pile of negativity shaped into a human form... well, not even human anymore."


    Still continuing onward, Leo sighed. "Even if I don''t want to accept it, this definitely won''t be the last time I lose someone close to me. This world is too fucked up for everyone to get a happy ending." He looked at Nyx, giving her a weak, broken smile. "So yeah, I know; I need to change. Put the past behind me and leave it there... Otherwise, I will always be my own worst enemy. Adapt or die, eh?"


    The feline averted her gaze. ''Does it mean you¡¯re okay now?''


    "Far from it." He stopped, the ruins of ReachHope''s headquarters lying before him. "But I will get there. Like someone once said, time heals all wounds. I just have to do what I said. Let the past go."


    ''I will help you as much as I can,'' Nyx whispered, still refusing to look at him. ''When our bond went silent, I really thought you... that you died. I don''t want to feel that void ever again. I hate it.''


    Leo drew in a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. "I can''t promise you something similar won''t happen again. Life is far too unpredictable, as we''ve just seen." Seeing the feline slump, he pressed on, "I can make you a different promise though. I will never give up again like I did today. Hope that''s enough for now."


    ''It has to.''


    "Yeah... I guess so," he muttered, patting her side. "Come, there is one last thing I must do before I can leave this place in the past."


    With that said, Leo jumped onto the rubble, slowly maneuvering between what remained of the building that once gave him hope. Now, only pieces of broken walls remained, with bloody body parts scattered everywhere. Vetilim also put down roots all around, already claiming this place for the Void.


    How did it all happen so fast? How did the building even collapse? He didn''t know, but he had some ideas. Nyx could probably confirm them if he asked.


    Not now. He shook his head, still trying to find the right spot. Later.


    ''What are you looking for?'' Nyx asked, her voice as soft as velvet.


    "Ava."


    The feline didn''t try to say more after that. She just nodded and followed behind, giving Leo the space he needed so much. He would have to thank her later for that.


    "Here," he paused near a half-collapsed wall. "It must be here."


    That was all Nyx needed to know before she moved to help him, picking up pieces of debris, one after another. They struggled, their strength still far beyond doing stuff like this without breaking a sweat. Leo''s half-dead state also didn''t give him much to work with.


    Nonetheless, they continued until a body revealed itself, crushed almost beyond recognition.


    Leo swallowed hard, attempting to ignore the guilt gnawing on his soul. The past was in the past. Nothing could change that, no matter how much he wanted to.


    It wasn''t my fault. I tried my best. He repeated those words like a mantra as he picked up Ava''s corpse. It wasn''t my fault. I tried my best.


    In silence, they left the ruins behind, heading straight for the forest. It didn''t take long until they reached a familiar clearing, where he laid the body down.


    "Help me out, okay? I don''t think I have enough strength left for this," he motioned to the patch of grass before him.


    Nyx didn''t complain or question his actions. She just nodded and moved forward, her tails soon joining him in their new task.


    Within minutes, their work was finished, leaving a deep, human-sized hole in the place he had marked before. Together, they lowered Ava''s body inside the pit and slowly covered the grave with the same dirt they dug out.


    Leo didn''t move afterward. Couldn''t move. His form remained frozen, staring blankly ahead. Nyx, though, didn''t have such a problem. She nudged him and pointed towards the setting sun.


    ''We need to move soon,'' she whispered gently. ''You can''t risk facing Nightmares again. Not today.''


    "I know." He agreed, giving her the same broken smile. "Just please give me a moment. Okay?"


    Nyx nodded and left him alone with the grave. It was time to say goodbyes.

 Chapter 123. Endless Farewells

    "I''m sorry," Leo whispered, lowering himself to the ground and sitting in front of the patch of upturned dirt. "Nyx would slap me again if she heard me now, but it will take some time before I can say that what happened here wasn''t at least partially my fault. Stupid, I know, but that''s just me..."


    He sighed, watching as the long crimson grass around him swayed with the wind. "I didn''t want to do this again, at least not this soon, or ever... When I searched for Nick, deep inside, I knew not to expect much. Though I still refused to accept that till the bitter end... With you two, it was different. You gave me hope, a reason to continue."


    "And then something had to come and destroy that too!"


    Silence consumed the entire clearing as Leo shut his eyes, blood dripping from his clenched fists. Even the Voidlings far away were quiet as if they knew not to anger him.


    In the end, though, his anger fizzled out, leaving him to let out a hollow chuckle. "It''s ironic, isn''t it?" His gaze returned to the grave. "We were never close, barely even tolerated each other. Shit, I thought you were a bit of bitch and way too controlling of Nick. Yet here I am... Guess a few days of apocalypse can change anything."


    Leo slowly climbed to his feet, the cracking of joints ringing in his ears. "I don''t know if you can hear me. Or if the afterlife even exists in this fucked up world. But I want you to know that you and Nick can rest in peace. I will save Adam even if that''s the last thing I do."


    He smiled lightly, the void in his heart filling just a bit. "I need to go soon. Nyx is right. I can''t fight anything in this state, much less a Nightmare..." He turned away from the grave, his eyes seeking Nyx in the distance. "I doubt I will ever return here. Maybe if Lily..." He shook his head. "No... No point in wondering about what-ifs. Goodbye, Ava. We will meet again someday."


    With that, he walked away, leaving behind yet another family member killed by the Void. Even though he told Nyx otherwise, he still hoped this would be the last person he had to bury. Just the thought of having to do this again almost sent him into a downward spiral...


    At least you are still with me, kiddo.


    Even if Leo couldn''t see him, Adam''s presence inside his soul was like a shining star, blinding... and quite heavy. The boy slept like dead, following Takeover''s only order that somehow managed to work during all that chaos.


    How long would it last? How long until the child awoke wanting for blood?


    Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, not that it mattered anymore. Right now, Leo''s soul was the prison, and Adam, its prisoner. Nothing would change that until he somehow found a cure, a way to reverse his godson''s descent into madness.


    One day, kiddo. One day. He vowed as he paused at Nyx''s side. "We can leave now. Let the dead rest."


    The Apex gave him a feline equivalent of a smile. ''As you wish... And Leo? I''m here if you want to talk. From what I have seen in your memories, it''s supposed to help.''


    He snorted, a spark of amusement igniting in the sea of negativity. "Thanks for the offer, but I''m gonna pass. I¡¯ve already said all I wanted back there. Now... now all I need is time and something to focus on."


    Nyx hummed as they trudged through the forest. ''A distraction, you say? Then you may want to check what the System has in store for you... Oh, and use Identify on me. Come on, do it!''


    True. Those bloody notifications will split my head in two if I don''t let them out soon. Not the best way to go out after all of this. Despite his decision, Leo quirked an eyebrow at his companion. "Why?"


    ''Just do it.''


    Shrugging, he humored the beast, almost falling to the ground as he stumbled.


    What the fuck?


    Apex Shadow Claw | LVL: 23


    By all means, this shouldn''t be possible. Just a few hours ago, Nyx was still level eighteen, a fresh one at that. And now, here she stood, with five more levels appearing out of nowhere.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "How?"


    A jolt of smugness and joy filled their link. ''I know we have suffered a major loss today, but Leo, did you forget already? You fought dozens of Nightmares and won. You slaughtered them, and now their power belongs to you..''


    His brain almost stopped. Yes, somehow he had almost completely ignored the fact that those were Nightmares he had killed. Ruthless Efficiency might have been in the driver''s seat at that time, but in the end, it was still him. The System didn''t care about anything else and proceeded as it always did.


    But this means...


    ''That you should have benefited from this even more than me. Exactly.'' Nyx finished, evidently listening to his thoughts. ''Please, go through your notifications. It hurts to see you in this state when the System can help you.''


    Leo nodded absently as if listening through a haze, the world around him almost disappearing the moment he let the notifications out. Right away, a mild pain shot through his head as lines of text, one after another, invaded his vision.


    Shit.


    Warning! You have succeeded in storing an invasive creature inside your soul. Maximum capacity reached. Any further use of Soul Well may be met with pain and damage to the other two pillars. Beware, death is close.


    Yeah, I know, System. I know. This message wasn''t much of a surprise. Jailing another survivor, even if one weaker than him, had to cause some issues.


    Warning! Due to overstraining your soul capacity, Limit Break has been deactivated.


    Expected. Although, Leo had to wonder how his bloodlust-filled self even managed to survive without it. A fully powered Limit Break could change the tide of a battle, and somehow, Ruthless Efficiency slaughtered Nightmares without it.


    I really underestimated this skill...


    The Inferno has quenched its hunger. Your rage and bloodlust are entering the hibernation phase. Ruthless Efficiency will become dormant soon, unable to wake for a time.


    Warning! Your soul cannot filter any more foreign Essence at the moment. Disabling Devour. Please consider removing objects from your Soul Well to recover faster.


    It didn''t take long to realize that, unlike the previous messages, these came when the battle was close to an end. Leo even remembered bits of that time when the bloodlust slowly left him, releasing the chains it put on his body.


    And now it''s gone. He let out a heavy sigh. Maybe he should be happy about being freed from Ruthless Efficiency for some time, but he just couldn''t. This ability was just another tool in his arsenal if used correctly. Losing it only made him weaker.


    The same applied to Devour, which in the last few days, had become his most used and important ability. Without it, he would have been dead or at least seriously wounded more times than he wanted to admit.


    Hopefully, it will be back just as quickly as the last time. Not that he believed that. The final part of the notification made it clear that Adam affected his soul''s recovery to some degree. I will manage. Just like I did before.


    Just before summoning another part of the message, Leo looked around as a certain realization settled in his mind. Even though they had already entered the city''s outskirts and continued to travel on the ground, no Voidling attacked them. Hell, every single monster they passed just skittered out of their way, not even daring to release a single sound.


    They are all scared. He reasoned, witnessing one Voidling avert its gaze when his eyes fell on it. I guess our position in the food chain changed even in their simple minds... Weird. I already forgot how it was to walk those streets without worrying about getting attacked.


    ''Leo? Everything''s alright?'' Nyx asked suddenly, bumping into him with her snout.


    "Yeah," he furrowed his brow. "Just the Voidlings..."


    The feline nodded and flung a shadow spike at the nearest Voidling. It collapsed, dead, but the usual retaliation from other beasts never came. They only scrambled away ever farther from them.


    ''Their instincts wouldn''t dare stand against us,'' Nyx noted. ¡®They now see us as you saw Nightmares just a few days ago: unreachable, powerful, not to be messed with... It won''t apply to every Voidling, but I doubt anything below half of our level will look our way. I wouldn''t if I were in their place.''


    "Makes sense," Leo muttered. "They are adapting just like we do. Only a bit slower."


    ''Their instincts can only carry them so far. To go further, they need to become sapient, and that''s not a quick process for normal Voidling.''


    "Was the Apex Shadow Claw I fought sapient before you took over?"


    Nyx shook her head. ''No, at least not yet. It was well on its way to becoming an enlightened monster. But even that could have taken weeks or maybe months.''


    Leo hummed, letting the subject die. As interesting as it sounded, they could talk about it more later. He still had plenty of notifications waiting for him.


    Oh... I see what you meant, Nyx.

 Chapter 124. True terror

    Collector (LVL: 22) slain | Experience awarded | 61 Ether gained


    Scouter (LVL: 19) slain | Experience awarded | 32 Ether gained


    Collector (LVL: 21) slain | Experience awarded | 51 Ether gained


    .


    .


    .


    Collector (LVL: 23) slain | Experience awarded |66 Ether gained


    Scouter (LVL: 21) slain | Experience awarded | 41 Ether gained


    .


    .


    .


    Scouter (LVL: 22) slain | Experience awarded | 44 Ether gained


    The list went on and on, providing something close to probably a hundred kill notifications. The vast majority of them related to Nightmares, but somewhere in between the lines, a normal Voidling would slip in, not even providing any experience or Ether.


    Not that it really mattered to Leo. The sheer number of Nightmares that died by his hand made those few normies insignificant. Even without checking his status or counting correctly, he knew his Ether should now be in the upper four digits. A fact quite overwhelming on its own, and yet it was far from the only thing waiting for him.


    Level 20 reached. Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Congratulations! You have reached the final milestone of the incubation stage. Your connection with the System has improved from "Average" to "Full Power." Limiters released. Shop updated.


    Limiters? Leo furrowed his brow. The rest wasn''t hard to understand. Though, it was nice to see that, apparently, his ''tutorial'' stage with the System had ended, whatever that even meant. The shop update could also prove useful ¡ª something to check out later.


    Hold up. He almost paused mid-step. His focus returned to the first notification, confusion rising. Only racial? Where the hell did my class attributes go?


    Just like expected, the System didn''t answer. Leo let out a sigh, burying his rising frustration, and proceeded with the usual attribute distribution. His soul really needed as much help as it could get right now.


    Alright, ne- Fuck!


    Almost doubling over, he gasped as pain shot right through his soul. The mythical organ spasmed, slowly expanding, its power growing more than the few additional attribute points should allow for. And then it hit him...


    Ascension.


    Congratulation! Your Soul ascended past the Mortal Tier (50). Third Supernatural tier obtained.


    Thanks to your Soul ascending to the Supernatural Tier, your Soul Well has expanded. Threat to the other pillars averted. Soul stabilized.


    There were no new traits or skills nor any evolutions of existing ones. Yet even then, the surge of power alone made it up. Add to that the sudden relief as the phantom weight dropped from his shoulders, and Leo could easily say the pain he just had to endure was worth it.


    "I''m fine." He muttered, waving off Nyx, who looked like she was seconds away from picking him up and carrying him the rest of the way. "Soul ascension. Just give me a moment."


    The feline nodded and backed off, standing guard like a loyal dog. Leo snorted; he probably should never try saying that to her face. Or at least not now when getting punched again just might kill him...


    He took a few deep breaths, slightly calming his speeding heart. At the same time, the energy in his soul settled, the pain fading away just like the weight did.


    "All good now," he patted Nyx as he passed by her. She huffed and joined his side. Okay. Let''s hope that''s all the pain for today. What¡¯s next?


    Due to reaching level 20, your class is ready to advance. All missing experience and attributes will be granted upon finishing this process.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Oh... This would explain why almost a hundred Nightmares gave me only one level. Go on, System.


    Each user is offered a selection of advanced classes depending on their past achievements and way of life. No user will be presented with more than three choices. Displaying available paths now.


    Legacy Path:


    Assassin advances into Master Assassin. Continue your fight from the shadows and embrace the path of a silent killer. Attributes per level: +5 Grace, +3 Vision, +2 Mind, +1 Soul.


    Nightmare Path:


    Assassin advances into Nightblade. The Night hides many horrors, and now you are one of them. Will you perish? Or will your blade take you to the top? Attributes per level: +3 Might, +4 Grace, +2 Vision and Mind, +3 Soul.


    A third option didn''t come, not that Leo needed it. The two paths before him were more than enough, and he just got that from looking at the attributes. Then there were the feelings as his mind touched each option, combined with flashes of memories that definitely weren''t his.


    The Master Assassin radiated calm and total control. A user of this class should never let an opportunity slip and always strike from the dark if possible. Fighting in the open was always the last resort, and rarely ended well when faced with an opponent that could match their speed.


    In contrast, Nightblades fought with everything they had, embracing all emotions and channeling them into abilities. They struck from the shadows to gain advantage yet didn''t give up when detected. Unlike assassins, they stood their ground, becoming a whirlwind of death, a nightmare for their enemies.


    Intense. Leo summed up when the paths backed off, going silent as they waited for his decision. Not that he really had much to think about to make one.


    As much as he enjoyed killing Voidlings before they even noticed him, a path like this just wasn''t sustainable for him in the long run. He didn''t always have time to prepare a perfect plan like a true assassin. No, sometimes he just had to improvise and fight through dozens of monsters.


    Besides, he had no idea how a person focusing mostly on stealth could ever defeat the guardians within Nests alone. From his experience, it just wasn''t possible. At least not until the assassin could somehow sneak past those beasts and then one-shot them.


    No... He shook his head. Starting as an assassin helped me survive, but now it''s time to follow a path that fits me better. A fighter who uses stealth to his advantage and not as something that defines him.


    The System didn''t need any further confirmation.


    Acknowledged. Class changed to Nightblade. Distributing class attributes owed for advancing to level 20. Scanning for synchronization. Calibrating...


    Thanks to stepping on a new path, your Cloud Walker trait has advanced. Congratulations! Night Terror trait obtained.


    Night Terror (Rare)


    You have followed the path of the assassins, perfecting their craft. Now, your choices have allowed you to step on the path of a true night terror. Become a nightmare for your enemies and a savior to your allies.


    Effects:


    Your movement becomes lighter and almost silent. Every stealth ability is now more effective. Grace Effectiveness: +15%. Might Effectiveness: +5%. All effects of this trait are doubled during the night.


    Leo blinked. To think I just advanced this not that long ago. Good to know things can improve without a cooldown. Or if there''s one, it''s short.


    On first look, the advanced trait didn''t seem all that much better. But once he got to the last part of the description, the reason for its rarity became obvious.


    It''s like the System wants me to hunt at night. First Prime Night Hunter, now this class. If that ain''t a sign, I don''t know what is. He sighed. We will see if you get your wish...


    Class advancement finished. Releasing the lock on stored experience.


    You have reached level 26. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 18 free attributes.


    His eyes widened, and Leo tripped on his own feet. Only Nyx''s quick reflexes saved him from falling as she slipped her tails around his waist and kept him up.


    ''Leo?'' The feline tilted her head, a question written on her face.


    "Twenty-six," he murmured. "I''m now level twenty-six. Just look at me."


    ''Oh...''


    Leo let out a bark of laughter. "Yeah... ''Oh'' sums it up quite well. I had a brain freeze after I saw it."


    Still holding him, Nyx asked. ''Is that why you almost collapsed? I thought you just froze because the sudden increase in power overwhelmed you. I went through something similar when I received all the experience from your kills.''


    "No. That was just shock¡­ I have to assign my free attributes before the power comes."


    Nyx grimaced. ''Then I shall carry you for the time being... With so many additional attributes, I can only imagine how painful it will be for you.''


    Leo mirrored her expression as she settled him on her back. "Thanks for the voice of confidence, truly," he grumbled, voice dry as a desert. "Wish me luck."


    Tuning out the outside world, he dived into his mind and began calculating. If he wasn''t wrong, then no matter where he put the points, he should still achieve ascension on the two remaining attributes. That left him with complete freedom of choice, or at least it should.


    In the end, Essence rules this new world... Yet this once, I want this choice to be made not out of necessity but because I want to.


    So System... Give me more speed, more Grace!

 Chapter 125. Perfect

    Pain exploded all over his body, soul, and mind. A fire spread everywhere, burning through his muscles, Essence, and even thoughts. Nothing remained safe as the System''s power claimed his entire being, twisting and shaping it into something more.


    The discomfort in his soul settled first, the average pool of Essence previously available to him expanding into a large lake. It might have been almost empty due to what had happened today, but that would change soon. Now, only the power in his grasp and its potential mattered.


    The mind was the second to banish the flames of despair. His thoughts were once more his own, and despite more pain still coming, Leo claimed the driver''s seat again. Unlike the soul, his mind didn''t change. Yet he instantly knew that even with his Essence reserves growing much stronger, he could still control them.


    At last, his body also began to relax, the burning pain fading into an annoying ache. Even then, the process still took more time than any other. His senses returned to the new normal first, the constant blurriness disappearing from his vision. Just a moment later, his muscles also started listening to his commands, this time without the screaming.


    Fucking hell. Leo cleared his throat, trying to get his motor functions under control. Never again. This was way too much power at once. Not that I can complain.


    He really couldn''t. Already, as he gazed upon the world around him, it seemed so much different than just a few minutes ago. Just by glancing at a simple crack in a wall, he could list every single detail about it. Hell, with his night vision, he even saw a bit of what was inside it.


    Similar stuff happened to all his other senses, or at least those he could test at the moment. The sheer amount of information they now provided almost overwhelmed him, yet somehow, his mind processed it all. Maybe there was more to that attribute than just Essence control.


    Alright. Notifications. I know you are there, so come. Better deal with you right away.


    Congratulation! Your Vision ascended past the Mortal Tier (50). Fourth Supernatural tier obtained.


    Thanks to your Vision ascending to the Supernatural Tier, your Voidborn inheritance is now fully active. From now on, your body passively detects Void Essence and absorbs it if possible. Your strength will now grow at all times, slowly bringing you closer to the next level.


    This is it. Just like Hunter told me, it finally happened. Not that Leo had any idea how effective the passive growth was. He didn''t really feel like he was absorbing anything, and any attempt at sensing this process failed.


    Must be because I''m tired and my reserves are dry as hell. At least I hope so. He concluded, putting the issue away for later. As long as it made him stronger over time, he didn''t need to know how it worked. Let''s see... Still a few more to go through.


    Congratulation! Your Might ascended past the Mortal Tier (50). Fifth Supernatural tier obtained.


    There were no fanfares or special abilities for ascending Might, only a simple notification. A bit of disappointment stirred within him, but Leo quickly squashed it. Considering how shit the day was, he should be grateful that he survived.


    Still working on that. He sighed, letting the final notification appear.


    Due to achieving the first ascension with all your attributes, a special title has been granted.


    Perfect Balance:


    A special title awarded to all those who reached full first ascension without advancing to the next tier before doing so. May your pillars always remain in balance.


    Effects:


    All Effectiveness: +5%. Hostile Identify will fail if the enemy hasn''t ascended to the Supernatural Tier at least once.


    Title Perfect Balance assimilated into Nikra''s Legacy. Effects combined.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Huh. Leo blinked a few times, making sure his improved vision wasn''t playing jokes on him. Nope, still the same... Guess my issue with Identify solved itself. Nice.


    With that, the last notification faded away, pushing him back into the real world. A world that had already taken so much from him. A world that would keep taking as long as he let it. No more.


    I will be better. He shut his eyes, familiar faces flashing in his mind. For Nick. For Ava. For Adam. For myself... Adapt or die again.


    Not moving from his spot on Nyx''s back, he cleared his head, letting his body relax. If the feline minded, she didn''t show it and just trotted onward, still keeping him safe with her tails. Maybe she knew he needed this moment; maybe she didn''t.


    Leo was grateful anyway.


    Yet as time passed and the sun almost vanished behind the horizon, Nyx finally spoke up. ''We are close now. Do you want to...''


    He slipped off her back, shaking his head. "Nah... I need to rest, maybe clean up a bit. They can wait until tomorrow." He patted her side. "Come on. Let''s find a place to sleep nearby."


    <hr>


    "A bit large, but I''m not complaining," Leo mused, sweeping his gaze across the hall they had just entered. Like the few warehouses in the area, somehow, this building also withstood the trial of the Void. At least it did on the outside; the inside was a completely different case.


    While usually every building just had some of Vetilim consuming its interior, this place took it to another level. Huge machines that once were part of a production line lay in pieces, the Void''s living matter entering them through every hole and crack. As a result, this entire place changed into some kind of a grotesque sculpture exhibition.


    As long as they don''t wake up to attack us, we''re good. I''ve seen scarier shit. Leo shrugged, turning away from the machines. He headed for the only empty corner and dropped next to Nyx.


    "Still can''t believe those fuckers just ran out when they saw us," he said. "I get being scared of us and not attacking. But giving up their hideout? Really?"


    The feline harrumphed, switching to lie on her side. ''Good for them. Killing them might not help us anymore, but I won''t say no to a free meal.''


    Of course, you wouldn''t. Leo rolled his eyes, leaning against a wall. "Say... Could you show me what happened when I... you know?"


    ''Went on a rampage?'' Nyx asked, and he nodded. ''I can, but are you sure it''s a good idea? Don''t you want to forget about that?''


    A heavy sigh left his lips. "If I want to move on, I need to face it first... Besides, I want to know how I even defeated so many Nightmares. I''m so much stronger now, and I still doubt I can do it again. Not without Ruthless Efficiency."


    She slumped. ''As you wish. Whenever you''re ready.''


    Leo took a deep breath and nodded. "Do it."


    At once, his world shifted, colors changing until they settled on an image he remembered well.


    The front of ReachHope''s building, with Nightmares and other Voidlings surrounding it from each side.


    For now, it still stood strong, yet that quickly changed when the memory began. Tendrils of shadows burst out of every single wall, transforming them into slices of Swiss cheese. A wave of pained howls followed right after, their source obvious as the building slowly collapsed.


    Some Nightmares managed to escape the ruins, while others didn''t have as much luck after another tendril latched onto them. Finally, the collapse ended, silence consuming the area as both Nyx and all the Voidlings watched the dust settle.


    The break didn''t last long.


    A memory of Leo dashed out of the dark cloud, most of his body covered in shadows. With his appearance, the Nightmares moved into action, but some were too slow to react.


    The bloodlust-driven Leo pounced onto them and cut their bodies into pieces as the shadows copied his every move. His sheer speed and amount of controlled affinity should have been impossible, and yet Nyx saw it all.


    On and on it went, as memory-Leo prowled among the Nightmares with a ferocity unmatched by any other Voidling. With each second, more and more shadows stuck to his body, creating an armor that slowly made him larger than any beast on the field.


    Nonetheless, oftentimes, a Nightmare managed to get past his defenses and rip a chunk of flesh and blood out of him. The shadow-clad Leo didn''t seem to care and continued to fight like a berserker, regaining what he lost with each kill.


    It reached a point where Scouters'' air bullets did nothing to the dark armor, and they had to join Collectors on the front. A wrong choice to make as the moment they got close to him, shadow tendrils burst out of his back, killing and devouring the Nightmares on the spot.


    How did those things have enough power to do that with a single attack? He didn''t know, but he wanted to find out. Soon.


    When it became apparent there could be only one winner in this fight, the memory cut out, flinging Leo back to reality.


    He winced, massaging his head.


    "What the hell was that?"

 Chapter 126. Rest

    ''Trust me, I asked that myself many times when I watched you slaughter them all,'' Nyx commented, once more looking at him. ''Not even my predecessor had that much power available to do what you did in the beginning... Leo, you single-handedly brought down that building.''


    Leo frowned, scouring his head for anything that might explain what had happened then. But there was nothing there.


    "I don''t remember a thing about that," he admitted. "All I have are short flashes of the time when I was already out. And even then, those barely make any sense. I definitely don''t recall turning into a massive beast of shadows. Shit..."


    Nyx hummed. ''I wish I could help you. I really do, but none of the knowledge in my head refers to anything similar. Ruthless Efficiency might as well be unique to you or at least rare enough that you have to figure it out on your own.''


    "I expected as much," he sighed, dropping his head against the wall and shutting his eyes. "So what do we know? It completely takes away my control without even letting me watch. It uses rage and bloodlust to somehow make me stronger than monsters far beyond my level. And to add a cherry on the top, it can use my affinity much better than me."


    ''I think you can apply the last one to all your abilities. It didn''t even have to look away to Devour all the enemies in sight,'' the feline added. ''I honestly wouldn''t be surprised if it also used Reinforcement to push your physical capabilities at least past ascension levels.''


    Leo''s shoulders sank. "True..."


    Maybe he never had a strong ego, but honestly, it stung a bit that a rage-driven ability used his body and skills better than him. Although the fact that Ruthless Efficiency was partially made up of an ability supposed to protect him made him feel a bit better.


    If only I could learn how to control this Inferno stage. Or at least how to keep myself from losing half of my mind when Blaze activates... Maybe now that I''m much stronger, it will be easier. He shook his head lightly. Nah, doubt it.


    Not that Leo felt all that more powerful after getting all of those additional attributes. Apart from bigger Essence reserves ¡ª once they recover, of course ¡ª and some much better senses, he didn''t feel all that different. This would most likely change once he had recovered, but for now, he couldn''t even imagine facing a Nightmare, let alone dozens of them.


    I''m pretty sure I could sleep for a whole week. I probably even would if I could...


    Yet, instead of closing his eyes and getting the rest he needed, Leo just sat there, thinking and organizing the mess in his head. One of his hands even found its way into Nyx''s smoky fur, scratching the place behind one of her ears. Going by the low purring that filled the silence, she didn''t mind it at all.


    For a time, they remained like this, both relaxing and dealing with today''s problems in the safety of their minds. It wasn''t until Leo happened to recall a part of their old conversation that he broke the silence.


    "Nyx?" He muttered, getting the feline to open her eyes, though the purring didn''t stop. "You once mentioned you don''t have a class. Does it mean you didn''t get anything at level twenty? How are Voidlings even supposed to match a survivor''s strength if that''s the case? Not that I''m complaining, of course, but still... I''m curious."


    Nyx raised her head, tilting it to the side. ''I did get something, just like every other Voidling does after reaching the twentieth level. But no, it''s not a class. Like with everything related to my growth, it''s my species that received an upgrade.''


    Leo furrowed his brow, his eyes slowly sweeping across the feline''s body, searching for any changes. There was nothing, just like he expected. He would have seen it before if Nyx''s form had changed anyhow.


    "I don''t get it."


    She huffed. ''I didn''t evolve. It will still be a while before I can do that, especially now that I''m treated like a survivor and not a mindless beast... No, what happened was that the System made my race stronger, giving it more attributes per level. It''s like..."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    As Nyx paused, searching for the right word, he finished for her, finally realizing what she meant. "Like an update, going from one version to a better one."


    She blinked. ''...Yes... exactly like that.''


    Leo chuckled. "It''s normal for software development. I dabbled a bit in the past," he explained. "Instead of developing an entirely new program, you just update the existing one, slowly making it better. Sooner or later, it stops being worth the time and work, but that''s where full evolution comes in, hmm?"


    The feline gave him a long, blank look before averting her gaze and lying down again. ''Technology,'' she grumbled.


    Snorting, he gave Nyx a few more scratches. "It''s pretty useful," he paused. "Well... was useful. Makes me wonder if someone already figured out how to make it work after everything went to shit."


    ''Useless pieces of garbage. I have everything I need right here, right now,'' she muttered, her purring spreading over the hall once more.


    "Don''t agree, but good to hear you''re happy," he smiled. "Anyway, getting back on the subject. How many attributes do you now get per level?"


    Nyx closed her eyes. ''Twenty-two. It was thirteen before that.''


    Seems about right. I now get twenty-four points per level and fourteen when I was still an assassin.


    Nyx still remained a bit weaker than him, especially as she didn''t possess her Apex species advantage anymore. Nonetheless, if it continued like that, then they would always be of similar strength. Only their level difference could change that, but that was something to work on later.


    Time for sleep. One more thing before that, though. Show me the shop, System.


    Right away, the wide window popped up in his vision, a vast selection of items replacing the few rows from before. All kinds of hunter''s tools still took up most of the space, but now the items at least seemed useful, their quality rising.


    Weak elemental traps came up first, followed by uncommon tools and even a few weapons. There was more mundane stuff, but what really caught his eye was the small section of Ether items.


    An uncommon-quality flare and a small pile of golden wood joined the common flares from the past. Unlike before, the System offered a very short description for each item, giving Leo all the information he needed.


    Five minutes duration with stronger effects than the common flare for one hundred Ether. Not bad, but also nothing special. He noted, selecting the other item. A pile of special wood for a campfire. Can be ignited with typical methods and will create a weak miniature safe zone for about two hours. Huh, neat. And how much for it?


    Leo glanced at the price, his eyes bulging out.


    What the fuck?! A thousand bloody Ether?! After killing so many Nightmares, even I can only buy five. What the hell, System? You''re supposed to help survivors, not bleed us dry.


    However, no matter how much he wanted to complain, the prices wouldn''t change anyway. Not that it stopped him from buying some other stuff and then giving the System one giant finger.


    He really needed those new pants and the pile of wet towels. Apart from his cloak, his current clothes barely covered his lower body, and he didn''t want to walk around covered in dry blood from head to toe.


    ''Leo?'' Nyx eyes fluttered open, squinting at the items that appeared before them.


    Rising from the ground, he shrugged off his cloak and approached the towels. "Don''t worry. I just need to clean up a bit. Can''t show up looking like this. People would run."


    ''You should rest.''


    He sighed. "I will, in a minute. You can go to sleep too. I won''t be that far behind."


    ''Okay...'' She closed her eyes again. ''Be quick and try not to trip.''


    Leo snorted.


    <hr>


    Slowly, Leo''s eyelids lifted, his vision coming back into focus. A few rays of the sun slipped through the holes in the roof, illuminating the old production hall in low light. The day had finally come, and with it, the time to face Holden and co.


    With a single motion, he jumped to his feet, the movement coming out faster than any other before. His entire body felt lighter, yet stronger, while his muscles brimmed with hidden power waiting to be used.


    Guess I really needed some sleep. Leo mused, flexing his arms. Suddenly, the Nightmares don''t seem too scary... Nyx? You there?


    ''Leo!'' The feline chirped like an eager puppy. ''You''re finally awake! I was worried you wouldn''t wake up for another day. I will be back in a moment; I just took a look outside.''


    His mind came to an almost complete stop. What? Wait, hold up, Nyx! What do you mean by another day?


    ''Oh... Yeah... Leo, your nap took a bit longer than you probably wanted. You have been asleep for over twenty-four hours.''

 Chapter 127. Back to normal? Not really

    "You gotta be kidding, right?" Leo prodded, hoping he just heard the feline wrong. "I barely need sleep nowadays even when I don''t devour anything. So really? Over a day?"


    ''I have no reason to joke,'' Nyx grumbled. ''You have no idea how worried I was when you wouldn''t wake up all day and night. I tried everything from screaming to slapping you. Nothing worked. It was like your body shut down and didn''t respond to any signals.''


    Leo sighed. In hindsight, he probably should have expected something similar to happen. In a matter of one day, he overstrained his soul, fought dozens of Nightmares under the influence of Radiant quality skill, and, to top it off, went through an instant power boost unlike any other.


    So yeah, maybe falling into a coma for over twenty-four hours made some sense after all. Not that he had to like it. Every single minute spent sleeping meant a minute lost when he could have been killing Voidlings or practicing his abilities. And to hear that he had wasted over a day...


    Leo shook his head. Not much he could do about it, and complaining certainly wouldn''t help. Besides, as much as he didn''t like losing so much time, the effects were obvious. Not even an inch of his body ached anymore, and his Essence reserves were brimming with power, just begging to be used.


    Alright. Sorry for jumping on you like that. He finally said over the link. It''s just... a day is a lot of time. It''s been what? Eleven or twelve days since this Outbreak began? Fuck I''m already losing track of time, and it hasn''t even been two weeks¡­ I think.


    For a moment, their bond remained silent.


    ''If it makes you feel a bit better, time doesn''t matter to me. Only day and night do,'' Nyx explained. ''It''s hard to care about more when the memories in my head span across centuries. It all kind of blends together, or it would if it weren''t for the numerous holes in them.''


    Not really the same thing, but thanks for trying. I will be fine, though. After everything that had happened, this is a minor inconvenience at worst. Leo frowned suddenly as he took a peek outside through a hole. Still, a working clock would be nice. That and a way to tell what day it is. Kinda surprised the shop doesn''t have anything like that.


    ''Does it really matter what day it is?'' The feline questioned, her curiosity leaking over the link.


    He snorted. Nope. But I swear the day before yesterday had to be a Monday. Only Mondays can be so shit to make someone lose the will to live.


    ''I don''t think I understand.''


    This time, Leo let out a loud chuckle. Despite the recent loss still weighing heavily on his mind, at least now he didn''t feel like finding a hole and staying there for the rest of the week. The short coma must have helped not only his body but also the other two pillars.


    Maybe the lost time is worth it in the end. It''s pretty nice to be able to think clearly again.


    Shaking his head, he opened the bond again. So what did I miss? Any problems during the two nights?


    ''Not at all,'' Nyx answered just as she entered the hall and stopped beside him. ''I think you culled enough Nightmares for them not to be a problem for quite some time. I barely saw any, and I stayed up all night.''


    Leo blinked. Huh, that''s a welcome surprise. I disagree it will last long, though. Remember, I have been inside the Graveyard. There were a lot more of them there than just a hundred. At best, they are just licking their wounds and waiting for more Phantoms to be born.


    ''You might be right,'' Nyx bowed lightly, conceding the point. ''Although, with so many Nightmares dead, other survivors should have more time to catch up now. That''s still a big advantage in my opinion.''


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    On that, we can both agree. He nodded, slowly approaching the exit. What about Holden''s group? Any movement? There''s no way they stayed inside all day...


    Leo could only imagine what Holden and the others must have felt when they returned to ReachHope yesterday. Yet, looking back, maybe it was for the better that the building now stood in ruins. Nobody should have to see the slaughtered bodies of their companions, not even in this world.


    ''A group of seven left the safe zone yesterday in the morning. The one you call Frank was among them. They came back a few hours later, with negativity practically oozing out of them. I didn''t even need any sensing ability to see that.''


    A grimace spread over his face. Maybe he was too quick in thinking they wouldn''t find any bodies. Despite not having his or Nyx''s strength, seven enhanced people should still be able to deal with the rubble if they tried. Add to that the sea of slaughtered Voidlings he had left behind...


    Either way, Holden now knows a good part of his group is dead and probably thinks I''m gone, too. Leo sighed, stepping into the morning sun.


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx said, her warmth washing over him. ''What do you want to do now? Your shackles to this city are gone. We can leave now, find your sister if that''s what you wish.''


    I''d love to, but not yet. Leo muttered, glancing at the few notifications that appeared when he woke up.


    Two of them he had seen before. They quickly announced that Limit Break and Devour were once again active and ready to use. Yet, it was the last one that stopped him from running straight towards London.


    "Initial recovery stage finished," he read out loud before Nyx could say anything. "Moving Ruthless Efficiency out of hibernation stage and into reawakening phase. Time until completion: forty-seven hours..."


    He looked at the feline. "We might be strong now, but until I get my bloodlust back, we ain''t going nowhere. Ruthless Efficiency saved me once; I want to have it ready in case something similar happens... That is unless you can promise me that nothing will surprise us on the way to London."


    After a moment, Nyx shook her head. ''No, I can''t. We will wait then.''


    "I don''t like it either," Leo reassured, scratching the feline behind her ear. "But look at it this way. We just received a major power boost. Might as well take some time to get used to it and work on our skills. Then there is the Tainted Wasteland. Maybe we can get rid of it now somehow."


    ''And the humans? You said it; they most likely think you dead.''


    For that, he didn''t have an answer right away. His relationship with Holden was always somewhat businesslike. They continued to take care of his family, and in exchange, he helped them with any issue that popped out. Now their deal was null, their alliance broken.


    And yet...


    "I will go back," he announced, Nyx''s surprise surging through their link. "They deserve to know what happened at ReachHope, even if I have to modify the story. Adam''s involvement and status must remain hidden. Besides, if possible, I want Wolford as a backup plan, something to fall back on in case I need a place to stay."


    ''Understood. I didn''t consider that.''


    "It''s a fresh plan, one I doubt we will ever have to use." Leo shrugged and stepped onto the street. "But hey, having different options available is better than nothing."


    Just like before, every single Voidling in the area ignored him, or straight-up ran away. A few dared to look in his way, but that was where their courage ran out.


    ''What if they don''t believe your story or ask too many questions?" Nyx asked, trotting to join his side.


    "Then that''s their problem, not mine. I won''t beg on my knees," he snorted. "I lose nothing by doing this and can walk away whenever I want. You were right; my shackles to this place are gone, even if I hate how it happened."


    Silence fell upon the duo as they walked towards the Safe Zone. Soon, though, Nyx darted into an alley, her form bursting into shadows and diving into the nearest building. Just like with Adam, her continued existence had to remain a secret.


    Okay, let''s face the music. I hope Holden and Frank are home, or this will be awkward.


    He rounded a corner, the golden barrier appearing ahead. It wasn''t until he was halfway towards it that someone spotted him. The person shouted a warning to the others outside while sprinting towards the warehouse.


    At once, Leo had three rifles aimed straight at his body. Either those people didn''t know him, as doubtful as it was. Or Holden somehow came to the conclusion that maybe he was the one responsible for ReachHope''s destruction.


    Well... he wouldn''t be wrong.


    He came to a stop a few feet away from the barrier and dropped his cowl. The three guards tensed but slowly lowered their weapons. It seemed they really thought he was a Voidling or something worse.


    "Y-you are Leo Hale, r-right?" One of them asked, stuttering a bit.


    Leo sighed, raising his clawed hands. "One and only. I take you won''t shoot me if I co-"


    "Hale!" A familiar voice shouted in the distance. "Bloody hell, you''re alive!"


    Here they come...

 Chapter 128. Welcome back

    The guards stepped aside, and the one who had previously spoken even breathed a sigh of relief. Leo would have laughed if it hadn''t been for the new trio rushing towards him. There was no need to make this situation even weirder than it already was.


    "Holden, Frank," he nodded to the two men who came to a stop just at the barrier''s edge. "Clara. Not gonna lie, it''s good to see you all."


    "What the fuck, Hale?" Frank took the lead before anyone else could act. "I saw what happened at ReachHope. How are you even alive? There were so many bloody corpses, and you''ve been missing for over a day!"


    Leo grimaced. Of course, the Fallen would go straight for the throat. "I can explain," he glanced around, noticing more and more people gathering around them. "Though maybe we should take this somewhere more private?"


    Holden cut in before Frank could open his mouth again. "You''re right. Follow me. We don''t need everybody to hear this. The morale is already low enough..."


    Nodding, he stepped past the golden barrier. He waited for the usual blanket of warmth and safety to embrace him, but for some reason, it never came. He felt the same as he did a moment ago, as if the safe zone didn''t acknowledge his existence or didn''t think he needed its assistance.


    Weird as hell. Leo commented with a light shake of his head, following the trio toward the small office building attached to the warehouse.


    As they walked, he took the silence as an opportunity to study the people around him. Knowing how the survivors took to the recent loss could be useful in the coming conversation.


    The few civilians they passed didn''t seem to act much differently than before. They still refused to look in his direction and often huddled in the corners, trying to disappear from view.


    As for those who fought? Who still tried to adapt to the new world?


    The tenseness of their shoulders was the first thing that caught Leo''s attention, with the heavy bags under their eyes coming as a close second. Holden and the other two shared this tiredness, this fear, but they at least tried to hide it. Not that it really worked, as it took him barely a minute to notice all the signs.


    I don''t know why I expected anything else. The civilians might not care as much because, in the end, they are still alive. But the others?


    He sighed, pushing those thoughts away. None of them would achieve anything but create even more guilt. He didn''t need it, at all.


    "Through here," Holden called out and took a sharp left into a large cleared-out room.


    Only a simple makeshift table stood in the middle while a few Ether torches decorated the walls. They weren''t active, but considering that the sun was out and they didn''t have time to secure the windows yet, there was no need for them.


    At least they are still working on this place and not wallowing in misery. Good for them.


    They all took a position around the table, and Leo didn''t have to wait long for someone to speak up.


    "So Hale¡­" Frank looked him in the eyes, the Fallen''s patience not lasting even a few seconds. "Fuck! You told me something was wrong at the old site and ran off. What the hell happened?"


    He glanced at the others, but no one seemed interested in adding anything. After taking a deep breath, he decided to just get this over with. He really didn''t want to talk about this longer than absolutely necessary.


    "When I gave Adam," Leo didn''t even have to fake the grimace, "some of my Essence, the process created a weak connection between us. I have no idea how it exactly happened, but my current race must be at least partially responsible..."


    All of this was a big lie, but if he wanted to hide his godson''s involvement in the massacre, there was no other way. Besides, they didn''t need to know the whole truth; it wouldn''t change anything for them. In the end, the Void was responsible for everything.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Anyway... Normally, the connection remained silent. Hell, I was barely even aware of it¡­ Maybe it would stay that way for a bit longer, but then the storm came," he continued, shutting his eyes for a moment. "This connection screamed at me, echoing in my head. Again, I didn¡¯t know why, but I couldn''t stay put."


    "That doesn''t explain how you¡¯re not a rotting corpse, Leo!" Clara threw her hands up. "You walked into a Nightmare-infested city and lived. And let''s not even mention what must have happened at ReachHope! We saw the bodies, dozens of them. Collectors, Scouters, fucking everything!"


    "Clara!" Holden growled, cowing the woman. "Give him a chance to explain. It''s obvious he isn''t done yet."


    Leo nodded with a sigh. "Right you are," he muttered. "You all saw the System''s message. All Nightmares were thirty percent weaker during the storm. With this, my speed was enough to at least let me stay a bit ahead of the chase after they finally found me. I''m not saying it was easy because it wasn''t. But I managed to get to ReachHope with only a few bruises and broken bones to show it."


    As he finished this part of the explanation, the silence lasted only for a short moment.


    "So the building and barrier still stood when you got there?" Holden questioned.


    "Yeah," Leo dropped his gaze to the table, memories of slaughtered bodies flashing in front of his eyes. "It didn''t matter though. I was too late."


    Clara stuttered. "But the barrier!"


    He chuckled bitterly. "It must have been too weak to hold them all back at that point. Fucking hell, it broke a few minutes later. I''m not even surprised that a single Collector managed to somehow slip inside."


    Here was where he changed the most crucial part of the story. Instead of making Adam the villain, he transferred the blame onto a random Nightmare. He didn''t even feel bad about the manipulation; he couldn''t.


    "A Collector? But..." The only woman among them muttered, hands over her mouth.


    "It slaughtered everyone inside," he continued, refusing to meet anyone''s eyes. "By what I saw, they were in the process of moving towards the basement. They were just a bit too late. Nobody survived. Your people. Ava. Adam..."


    Leo gritted his teeth, fists clenching as anger coursed through his veins. Even if he was giving them half-truths, those memories, those feelings were still raw in his mind. He didn''t even have to try to fake them.


    "I know you probably don''t want to hear it, but I''m sorry for your loss," Holden broke the silence first, his voice coming out softer than ever before. "Maybe if I tried harder, lead everyone better..."


    "Pretty much what he said, mate," Frank added, his tone somber. "None of these people should have suffered like that, and especially not a young kid. I might have called some of them useless, but at the end of the day, they trusted us to keep them safe. And we failed... Now, all that''s left is to move on. Learn from our mistakes and survive. Adapt."


    Clara didn''t even try to follow up with another speech and instead offered him a sad smile. A smile he most likely didn''t deserve for the manipulation of the truth.


    It doesn''t matter. I did what was necessary.


    "Thanks," Leo offered them all a light smile, even if it didn''t look particularly good on his unique face. "Still, I guess you all would like to know how I''m even here, hmm?"


    "If you don''t mind, then yes, please," Holden nodded.


    He shrugged. "Sure... Though I''m gonna disappoint you, I don''t know much about what happened. My rage took over when I found the bodies, and my unique racial skill activated... I blacked out and awoke sometime later, kneeling in the middle of dead Voidlings."


    "So that was you. Bloody hell," Frank muttered. "You really don''t know how you killed them all? What about that skill of yours? Does it explain anything?"


    "No," Leo shook his head, going for another half-truth. "I gained it not that long ago, and its description isn''t too forthcoming. I wish I could tell you more, but I just can''t. All I know is that I killed a shit ton of Voidlings and got the experience for it."


    "Not what I wanted to hear, but beggars can''t be choosers. At least it explains why I can''t Identify you. You are likely too bloody strong for that," Frank noted before narrowing his eyes. "And where were you yesterday?"


    You ain''t gonna believe this.


    "Sleeping. My body pretty much shut down a bit after I found a place to rest. I awoke like not even an hour ago."


    "You slept for over a day?" Clara gaped.


    "Sure looks like it," Leo said. "Trust me, I was just as surprised as you are. Although, I''m more thankful that nothing found me when I was out."


    "Lucky indeed," Holden shook his head. "So what''s your plan now, Hale? If I may be blunt, our deal didn''t cover such a situation."


    The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense. Even Clara and Frank, who were always more easy-going, felt it, their shoulders squared and ready to jump into action if necessary. They were worried, scared even, and Leo couldn''t blame them for that.


    Despite coming to like the trio before him, he didn''t care about anyone else in the group. They didn''t matter in the long run and couldn''t offer him anything.


    Except maybe for Dylan, the older man was always good company...


    Alright, then. Leo sighed. Let''s put your worries to the rest. After all, even if I don''t care about the people, this place can still be useful.

 Chapter 129. Restart

    He raised his hands in a show of peace. "Calm down. I''m not the enemy here. Never really was... So what if our deal is off? Why does it even matter? Soon I will be out of your hair anyway."


    Instantly, some of the tension faded from the room and the trio''s shoulders.


    "What do you mean?" Clara asked, furrowing her brow.


    "Exactly what I said," Leo shrugged. "I plan to leave Wolford soon, probably in about two days. Maybe a bit later. There is nothing left for me in this city anymore. I have to move on."


    Only truth flowed from his lips this time. He had told enough lies already; it wouldn''t hurt anyone if they knew where he was planning to go. None were strong or brave enough to follow him anyway. Not that they had any reason to.


    The trio breathed out a sigh of relief. Holden hid it best, probably hoping not to offend him, but the other two didn''t even try. Their bodies just relaxed, all tension draining from them in a matter of seconds.


    Really? Leo raised a non-existent eyebrow. Try not to look so happy, or I just might stay a few days longer.


    Holden coughed suddenly, shooting a quick glare at Frank and Clara. "Where will you go next?" He questioned in an attempt to push the conversation forward.


    Smooth. Really smooth. You guys are lucky that diplomacy is almost as dead as this world.


    "London," he stated bluntly. "I have... well, had a sister there. If there''s at least a small chance she is still out there, I can¡¯t waste it. London also isn''t that far from here. Probably only a couple hours for me if I run at full speed without stopping."


    "A few hours?¡± Frank scoffed. ¡°Mate, that bloody hell hole is over a hundred kilometers away. Even if you can keep running at full speed at all times, just how fast do you think you''re? Even with a car, the trip takes almost two hours."


    For the first time during the meeting, Leo grinned. "No need for a car when I have almost two hundred Grace. Trust me, I can make it. Won''t say it will be easy, as I have no idea how the world looks outside Wolford, but I can do this."


    Despite everything he had just said, the trio didn''t seem to hear anything past the first sentence. They all stood frozen, and even Holden had his eyes opened slightly wider.


    "Two hundred?" Clara muttered, testing the words on her lips as if she didn''t believe what she had just said. "How?"


    Here, Leo decided to throw them a bone. Knowledge was power, after all, and with the recent tragedy, they could use some of it. It wasn''t like he had any reason to hide this information.


    "Quite simple," he said as if talking about the weather. "My race gives a lot of Grace per level. The same goes for my class. It got even better once I reached level twenty and my class advanced. Trust me, the difference between the old and new one is like night and day. Human limits don''t really apply to me any longer."


    Frank gave him once over. "Aye. We can see that," he stated dryly. "Bloody hell. Barely two days ago, I thought I could catch up to you one day. Fuck that, I guess."


    Leo chuckled while Clara released a snort, her initial shock fading. Only Holden remained silent, his brow furrowed as his eyes stayed glued to the table.


    "Tony?" The Fallen nudged his friend. "You good there? Try not to overheat that brain of yours. We still need it."


    The Ascended sighed, shaking his head. "I just had to process everything." He looked at Leo. "Hale, you said you wanted to leave in about two days. I won''t ask why you decided on this timeframe, but if necessary, would you still be willing to assist us?"


    Leo shrugged. "Sure, why not... I''ve some stuff to take care of in the meantime, but when I''m here, I don''t mind helping a bit. Just make sure it''s important. I can''t solve all your problems forever."


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Holden''s eyes narrowed. "That''s not an issue. Like I said, we won''t bother you unless absolutely necessary..."


    "Then I suppose we got ourselves another deal." He smiled. "Now... if you have nothing for me, I will be off. I wasted enough time yesterday."


    Before he could even reach the door, Holden''s voice stopped him. "One more thing, Hale. Are you planning to stay here for the night? We can prepare a room away from everyone."


    Leo waved him off. "No need. I slept enough for a week. At best, I will just stop by a few times to see how you guys are doing. Besides that, I plan to stay away. My presence here will bring more harm than good, especially now."


    "Understood," the main leader nodded firmly. "You will find your way out, yes?"


    "Of course. I don''t need an escort," Leo huffed. "Until later, then."


    <hr>


    All around, a sea of bodies surrounded him, littering the scorched ground. No living soul remained in the area, and the Voidlings in the distance didn''t dare to step onto the Tainted Wasteland. A wise choice, as they would share the fate of their kin if they even tried to put a foot on this cursed land.


    "It was... easy," Leo frowned, dropping a half-drained corpse. "I expected a bit more from a horde of enhanced Voidlings."


    Next to him, Nyx snorted, her meal also forgotten. ''Really? You had ten levels on almost all of them. Tainted Wasteland enhancement or not, they didn''t stand a chance. You can''t fight something you can''t hit."


    "I guess you''re right," he sighed, scanning the empty Wasteland.


    A full day had passed since Leo awoke. Knowing he couldn''t stay idle unless he wanted his thoughts to wander, he dedicated all of yesterday to getting familiar with his body again and testing whether any of his abilities had changed. They didn''t, but thanks to his recent power-up, he had to make some adjustments in how he used them.


    And that was how he had spent most of the last day and then night. Practicing, experimenting, and even trying to figure out how Vital Strike functioned. He found very limited success in that regard, but at least now, he knew more than before.


    All of that just to clear this place out in a matter of five minutes. Leo snorted.


    Wolford''s Tainted Wasteland was supposed to be the first test. A trial of close-quarters combat without using any Essence, just blades and claws. He expected it to be at least a bit of a challenge, but none of the Voidling here came even close to touching him or Nyx.


    Together, they danced around the battlefield, spinning from one target to another, leaving a trail of bodies behind. Maybe if the Cursed Juggernaut was still here, it could have entertained them. Yet, with the huge beast dead, the fight was almost dull, not even requiring a real effort.


    And barely any of them gave experience or Ether. Leo grumbled, kicking the nearest body. Hopefully, the reward will be worth it when we are done. If this even works, that is...


    "Ready, Nyx?" He nodded to the feline.


    Right away, she stabbed all her tails into the scorched ground. ''Whenever you are. Just remember to instantly release what you devour. We are nowhere near powerful enough to carry this much power.''


    "I know," Leo rolled his eyes, taking a knee. "We only went through this like four times. No need to baby me; I''m not stupid. Sometimes reckless, but not stupid."


    ''Sorry,'' Nyx chuckled sheepishly. ''Some instincts are hard to ignore.''


    "Whatever," he muttered, but there was no bite to it. "Let''s do this. On three."


    "One."


    His blades extended with a snap.


    "Two."


    With a single move, his claws, tails, and blades plunged into the earth.


    "Three!"


    A single thought was all Devour needed to activate. Like a hungry demon, it surged toward the tainted Void Essence coursing through the entire Wasteland. Chunk after chunk, it delivered the energy back to his body before attacking again and again.


    Meanwhile, Leo wasn''t idle. Just like Nyx said, they couldn''t consume all this power and hope for the best. They didn''t know what exactly would happen if they devoured so much Essence at once, but neither of them wanted to find out.


    And so, when Devour delivered even a bit of Essence, he instantly pushed it out of his soul. Dying from implosion just wasn''t in the books for today.


    Conjured shadows poured onto the Tainted Wasteland in waves, slowly drowning the entire area. They had no purpose, no form. The dark, smoky cloud just continued to flow around them, its constant growth even blocking the sun within a few minutes.


    Leo gritted his teeth as the strain on his entire being grew with each second. The constant pain coming through their link told him that Nyx also wasn''t faring much better. Still, they preserved and pushed through, their minds slowly intertwining, the bond strengthening them.


    Come on! Just. A little. More!


    With the last push, Devour ripped out the last piece of Essence from the Wasteland and retreated. At once, Leo gasped, his control over shadows slipping as he fell to the ground.


    Yet, as the darkness around him began to fade, the sunlight hitting his face once more, he just chuckled.


    Okay. This was fun.

 Chapter 130. Chained Inferno

    ''Your definition of fun is really twisted. Unless you''re a masochist, of course," Nyx groaned next to him, her form splattered on the ground.


    Who''s complaining now? Leo rolled on his back, his chest still heaving. And I''m not a masochist, thank you very much. I simply think this was more fun than slaughtering Voidlings who couldn''t even fight back. That''s all there is to it.


    ''If you say so,'' she muttered, and going by her tone, she definitely didn''t believe him. ''At least it worked,'' she added, slowly raising to her feet. ''Take a look.''


    Despite knowing he could just check notifications to confirm that, Leo grimaced and picked up his aching body off the ground. He stabilized his wobbly limbs and only then scanned the area, now absent of any shadows.


    Would you look at that...


    While the scorched and disfigured ground still remained, almost everything else changed. The heavy air, filled with violet vapor, was gone, letting sunlight fill the ex-Wasteland just like any other part of the city.


    As for the deep glowing fissures that once produced the dark mist?


    Leo easily spotted them all over the area, their sizes and positions untouched. However, just like with the vapor, their constant light was missing, devoured by Nyx and him. Now, they stood empty and consumed by darkness, just like any normal, useless hole.


    Well, nothing we can do about the destruction. Besides, Vetilim will take over this place soon anyway. People will forget a Tainted Wasteland was even here.


    "I doubt we could have done this three days ago," Leo noted out loud. "I swear, Devour was like a minute away from shutting down. I guess at least now we know our limits..."


    ''Indeed,'' Nyx nodded, sitting down next to him. ''Rewards?''


    He shrugged. "Sure. No time to waste. We have a few more places to visit before nighttime."


    As Leo said that, he summoned the System''s interface. Like expected, it prepared a few notifications for him, but nothing too overwhelming.


    Tainted Wasteland destroyed. Void''s influence on Earth weakened. Distributing bonus experience and rewards to all contributors.


    Congratulations! As the main contributor towards the destruction of a Tainted Wasteland, you have been awarded 1000 Ether and a Rare quality weapon.


    Do you wish to deliver the item to your Soul Well or the real world?


    Huh, no level up. Leo frowned. Disappointing but not really surprising. Maybe if the Wasteland was a bit stronger... Oh, whatever, a thousand Ether is still nice. And a weapon... Alright, give it to me then, System. Real world, please.


    Like any other time, golden light erupted on the ground before him. This time, while still prickling at his eyes, he didn''t have to shield them and just watched as the System finished its delivery.


    What do we have here...


    In place of the golden dome now lay a weapon unlike any other. For one, similar to an item Leo once found, this one too, was half transparent, filled with a blood-red glow. Then there was its unique appearance made up of two short, single-edged blades without handles, yet still connected together by a chain.


    "Okay, that''s a first," he murmured, stepping closer to the item. "Spectral Inscription? Maybe... Identify."


    Oh...


    Install: Blades of Chained Inferno (Rare):


    An install-type item crafted by a skilled Soul Smith. Often used by the Narzak recruits. Grants the user the ability to summon chain-scythes into their hands. The chains can extend to a limited length. After initial bonding, this item will provide the user with basic knowledge of how to wield it.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.Active: Ignition - Channel Essence into the weapon to ignite it with Blood Fire.


    "Chain-scythes?" Leo furrowed his brow, searching his memories for a mention of such a weapon. "The hell is that? I mean, the description sounds nice, but a scythe? Really? It definitely doesn''t look like one."


    Nyx hummed.''This might not be its true form. Only one way to really find out if you can use it. Do you think your soul can handle the additional strain?''


    He nodded right away. "Yeah. With the ascension and all those levels, it shouldn''t be a problem. If anything happens, I can always remove it."


    ''Well then,'' the feline stepped away. ''Go on. Try it. I will be right here.''


    Narrowing his eyes at her, Leo snorted and picked up the weird item. A new notification instantly appeared, asking a question he had seen only once before with Touch of Carnage.


    Do you wish to Install Blades of Chained Inferno into your soul? Install-Type items can be removed any time you want.


    Do it.


    The item in his grasp exploded into splinters of hard, transparent light. For a moment, they just floated above his hand, but then, all at once, they dived towards his chest, sinking into it within seconds.


    Leo flinched as the item passed the mythical barrier between his body and soul. The phantom weight landed on his shoulders as it settled somewhere near the Spark of The Void, but it was far from enough to bring him down.


    Alright, wasn''t too bad. Still have a place for a bit more. He nodded to Nyx, and she sighed visibly. "I told you it will be fine. I know my limits. Well, most of them anyway."


    When the feline threw him a deadpan look, Leo just huffed and raised his arms. "Anyway... Blades of Chained Inferno."


    A spark of power escaped his soul as the install item activated, connecting to his Essence. Crimson liquid escaped his wrists next, flowing out like a waterfall. Yet, just before it could reach the ground, the fluid energy flared brightly, blinding everyone around.


    Leo blinked out the white spots in his visions as, at the same time, a flow of knowledge, manifested in short pieces of memories, entered his mind. They all presented the same thing: simple examples of how to use the weapons resting in his hands.


    Initial bonding of Blades of Chained Inferno completed.


    Interesting.


    He glanced at the black chains, tipped with just as dark blades, coming out of his wrists. Like one of the memories showed, he sent a simple command into the weapon, and at once, the chains pulled back, sinking into his skin.


    Very interesting.


    Grabbing a chain, he spun it as fast as he could at his side before releasing it towards a boulder a few feet away. The blade sailed forward as its reach extended and, with a power he didn''t expect from such a weapon, sunk a good few inches into the rock.


    "Not bad. Could be useful against a group of weaker opponents or if I want to kill something from range without using Essence. For close quarters, though?" Leo shook his head. "No chance. It''s too unwieldy. Maybe a master of those could do more, but somehow, I doubt it can win against a normal weapon. What do you think?"


    Nyx shrugged as best as a feline could. ''I know even less about weapons than you do. If that''s what your opinion about them, who am I to argue... Although, didn''t you forget about that active ability?''


    Leo cursed and sent a spark of Essence into his hands. Weak flames instantly erupted across the weapon, licking at the chains and blades. Some even touched his skin, but the burning never came.


    Built-in resistance... Damn, I wish I still had my minions. Could have tested this on them.


    Letting out a heavy sigh, he dismissed the chain-scythes. Like he told Nyx, he could use them, but only in some particular scenarios. An item like that could never become his primary weapon.


    Maybe if the blades had handles. He mused, picturing the adjustments in his head. Yeah, much better. Still a bit useless, considering I have a better alternative... Though, I wonder what Blood Fire exactly means.


    With a shake of his head, Leo pushed this subject away for later. A new weapon was really the last of his worries. He could work out its uses as he went. No need to sacrifice more time for it than necessary.


    "Not a bad morning to start with," he summed up, turning to Nyx. "So, what do you want to do next? Ants and a bit of butchering or some information gathering? Your choice."


    The feline tilted her head. ''Isn''t the Soulling nest closer? I thought we would stop there on the way to the Ameists.''


    "We can do that," Leo nodded. "But no, the church isn''t on the way to the old trainyard. Check my memories if you want. Here, I even got one for you."


    Nyx blinked, her eyes glazing over for a short moment. ''Hmm, I suppose you''re right. Let''s get what you need from the Ameists first, then. We don''t know how long it will take to search the tunnels.''


    "Now that I''m not scared to use Hunter''s Pulse?" He said as they slowly left the cleansed Wasteland behind. "An hour at most."


    ''We will see about that,'' she huffed and shot past him. ''Race you there!''


    Leo chuckled.


    Cheeky cat.

 Chapter 131. Useless ants

    He didn''t want to come back to this place. The memories were still fresh and stung his heart each time they flashed in front of his eyes. Apart from the accursed road where his mother died, this was definitely his second most hated place. He had to push those feelings away, though, and focus on the current task. Something he had forgotten to do when leaving this place last time.


    "They are still here," Leo noted as he and Nyx reached the field of slaughtered bodies. "I thought the Nightmares for sure would find a way to use the remnants of their brethren."


    The feline huffed. ''If I had to bet, they''re probably afraid of this area. Dozens of them died here. Why go back and test your luck?''


    "Yeah, I guess," he said, scanning the corpses for any they could use. "Quite ironic, isn''t it? If you''re right, then this place is now just as safe as it was with a barrier active."


    ''Not for long.''


    "True," he sighed.


    For now, the Voidlings might give this area a wide berth, but their instincts would stop warning them against coming here sooner or later. Not that it mattered too much, as he doubted Holden planned to return here. However, for Leo, it was a neat piece of information he could use in the future if he ever went on a rampage again.


    ''I think this one will do,'' Nyx''s voice brought him back to reality, her tails pointing to a corpse nearby.


    Leo nodded and approached the body, or rather what was left of it. He had no idea how this Collector ended up with half of its torso and all limbs gone. But as long as the heart inside the rest of the corpse was in good condition, he didn''t care.


    Without saying anything, he kneeled and released a weak Hunter''s Pulse. It enveloped the body before returning, giving him all the information he needed. One of his blades extended next and, with the power of Kiss of Death, stabbed deep into the dead torso.


    He had to cut through a few bones, but in the end, it wasn''t an issue, not with his newfound strength. Extracting the blade, his other hand reached into the bloody mess until it came upon a large, mushy organ.


    Bingo. Leo grinned and pulled out the black heart of a Collector. "One more to go."


    Instantly, the organ vanished in a weak crimson flash, landing in his Soul Well. It would wait there until nighttime. There was no time to waste for mutations during the day.


    With half of their job done, they resumed their walk around ReachHope''s ruins. Some bodies seemed like they could provide another heart, but then they would turn one over, only to discover that it was partially devoured.


    "You know," Leo spoke up to fill the silence. "We are gathering stuff for my mutations, but what about you? Do we have to dig out two more hearts after this?"


    Nyx shook her head. ''No. Due to our bond, I cannot mutate. Why exactly? I don''t know, but according to the System, I''ll still benefit from each mutation you get. So it''s not as bad as it sounds.''


    "True. Saves us Ether, too," he furrowed his brow suddenly. "Wait. If you gain something from my mutation, then..."


    ''I don''t think your Heart of the Void affects me,'' she cut in. ''And if it does. I have no idea how.''


    Leo hummed, but quickly gave up the thought when an almost undamaged body entered his vision. In a matter of a minute, he repeated the extraction process and became the owner of two hearts of regenerator-type beasts.


    "Well, we''re done here," he wiped his hands with a summoned towel. "Let''s kill some ants then."


    <hr>


    They had been exploring the tunnels for a good half an hour now, killing endless waves of insects only using Essence. Unlike the Voidlings above, Ameists didn''t run even if there were ten levels of disparity between them. They just attacked head-on, hoping to maybe at least slow down the unstoppable invaders.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    It didn''t help, but Leo would give an A for the team effort. The same couldn''t be said about the second Ameist Queen they found. To his immeasurable disappointment, the Voidling was only level seventeen and thus useless.


    However, not all was lost yet. After Nyx killed the last Queen in a matter of seconds, the System presented them with a very intriguing notification.


    Two of the three Queens of this Nest Colony have been slain. Congratulations, Survivor! The chamber of the High Ameist Queen is now unlocked. Kill the final Nest Guardian to neutralize this instance and claim your rewards.


    Warning! The entire Nest is now on high alert. Expect heavy resistance.


    That was five minutes ago. Now, Leo and Nyx stood before the entrance to the final chamber of this nest. A chamber where the High Queen should be waiting for them.


    Nodding at each other, they entered the vast cave that could easily accommodate a few hundred people. Unlike any other part of this nest, this place had some kind of glow stone running along the walls, illuminating the entire chamber in a soft green light.


    Yet none of that proved as important in the face of the beast standing in the middle.


    The High Ameits Queen didn''t look any different from its kin apart from one tiny detail. And that was its pure size that could probably match the two other Queens if they combined.


    A spark of anticipation ignited within Leo at the sight. This had to be it, the beast that would give him another mutation. Only the spark never even got a chance to burn before it was crushed by overwhelming disappointment.


    High Ameist Queen (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 19 | Type: Underworld, Poison, Armor, Special


    Fuck! He scowled and turned on his heel, leaving the chamber. Is a level twenty too much to ask for?


    ''Leo?'' Nyx nudged him with her tail. ''Are we really leaving? We can still get rewards for clearing the Nest.''


    Leo sighed, running a hand across his face. "I know... Just give me a sec. I got my hopes up only to get this shit," he grumbled. "Let''s just kill it quick and get out of here."


    Without further communication, they reentered the chamber. Nyx tails, like most of the time, stabbed into the ground. At the same time, his body ignited with Reinforcement while his blades snapped out, Kiss of Death activating.


    He was already halfway towards the High Queen when the earth beneath her exploded. Unlike Nyx''s usual tactic, there were no spikes this time. Instead, dozens of thin shadow tendrils snapped at the large insect, wrapping around its body in seconds.


    The Queen screeched, spewing liquid poison left and right. It didn''t matter.


    Within a blink, Leo pounced, his blades raised high as he flew towards the beast''s head. The Queen attempted to move, to save its life, but Nyx just tightened her hold, stopping the monster''s struggle.


    And so, with a clear shot at the connection between the Queen''s body and her head, he cut right through it, spraying blood combined with poison everywhere.


    The Voidling went limp, shadow shackles disappearing as she dropped to the ground with a thud. Leo didn''t waste a second and let Devour do the rest of the job, erasing the High Queen''s existence.


    Devour consumed: +2 Might.


    Okay, guess this wasn''t a complete waste of time. He reasoned just when a notification appeared in his vision.


    Congratulations, Ameist Nest Colony conquered. No Safe Zone creation available for this instance. Distributing rewards to all contributors. Warning! The remaining Ameists are escaping. Be careful on your way out.


    Bonus experience and 1500 Ether gained. Rare quality weapon has been delivered to your Soul Well.


    Another weapon? Leo quirked an eyebrow, summoning the item into his hand.


    It was a simple, long spear made of unknown dark metal. A short double-edged blade sat at its tip, sparking with an eerie green glow.


    Yeah, definitely not for me, but let''s see...


    Spear of Endless Pain (Rare):


    A spear created by a skilled weapon smith. The blend of metals used in its creation offers a very hard-to-break shaft and a blade capable of piercing most lower-grade armor. It''s highly energy conductive and, as such, can be used with a wide variety of Essence abilities.


    Passive: Bitter Edge - Drawing blood will release a small amount of nonlethal but very painful poison.


    I mean, nice, but it''ll be a while before I can find any use for it. Leo frowned, sucking the spear back into his soul. I doubt anyone from Holden''s group can use it without hurting themselves. Oh well, we will see...


    Shrugging, he nodded to Nyx. "Alright, let''s get the hell out of here. Next stop, the church."

 Chapter 132. Spooky ghosts

    Warning! You are nearing the Nest of Soullings. Threat assessed and ranked at level E-. Good Luck.


    Yeah no. Luck isn''t something I will need here. Leo waved off the notification as he and Nyx settled on a roof a street away from their target. Not like I plan to go in. We''re just gathering information.


    The small Gothic church of Wolford always had quite a gloomy appearance. But now, after an Outbreak and the second Cataclysm, the place looked straight-up dreadful. It was only fitting that it became a nest for some unique Voidlings.


    Though... dreadful it might be, it now has a certain weird charm. Leo snorted, carefully studying the entire structure.


    Just like anywhere else, Vetilim already found its way around and, most likely, into the building. It crawled over the walls and small windows while covering the few places that seemed destroyed. In a few tiny spots, even Corcera managed to sprout, slowly intertwining with the other Void material.


    Yet, the final cherry on top was the single tower the church possessed, or rather what it became. Where once it just housed a nice, big cross, now Vetilim tried to climb higher than that, easily making the tower twice as tall as it was before. It spread out at the tip, growing into the same unforgettable plant Leo had seen multiple times.


    Crimson Mirage.


    He didn''t know how exactly the alien construct coexisted with the nest, but it was probably some kind of a setup if he had to bet. He could try to spring the trap and reap the rewards. It wouldn''t even be hard. He just didn''t want to.


    Endlessly fighting enemies that couldn''t hit back and didn''t provide any experience or Ether just wasn''t worth the trouble. Besides, if he killed every Voidling of above-average strength in the city, the other survivors would soon stagnate without anything to push them forward.


    In hindsight, maybe I shouldn''t have destroyed the Ameist Colony. Leo frowned, shaking his head. Nah, whatever. They will be fine as it is. I''m sure a new nest will pop out sooner or later. It''s not like it''s my problem anyway.


    Dropping the subject, he turned to Nyx. "Am I blind, or are all the Voidlings inside?"


    They had been sitting there for quite some time now, yet not a single Soulling showed itself. In his opinion, those Voidlings either knew they were outside watching or just refused to leave their nest until a specific time of the day. Although, considering that both Leo and Nyx used their own kind of stealth, there was no way anything spotted them.


    Or they are just that good... Doubt it, though.


    ''If you''re blind, then I''m not better,'' the feline huffed. ''Should we just bait them out? I don''t really want to spend the rest of the day here. My legs are growing stiff.


    Leo threw her a look, brow furrowed. "You know... I don''t think I will ever get how, at one moment, you''re a cloud of shadows, and at the next one, you function like any other creature with a normal body."


    ''You will,'' Nyx countered. ''One night just isn''t enough to comprehend a process that requires a trait for me to accomplish. Give it time. We can even work on it after this. For now... the Soullings. Are we leaving or...''


    He sighed, his gaze returning to the church. "We didn''t waste so much time just to leave now." He rose to his feet. "Stay here, I will be back in a minute."


    <hr>


    True to his word, Leo returned to his old spot as fast as he had promised. Nyx gave him a curious glance, which he just shrugged and motioned towards the old church. It was time to find out what the nest was hiding.


    At first, nothing seemed out of place, but then a single Cursed Runner approached the church. It didn''t run or even let out a single sound; it just strolled right toward the half-open entrance and banged on the door as hard as possible.


    Good work. Take a few steps back. Leo grinned just as Nyx shot him another look. "What? You said to bait them out."


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    The feline''s body wilted. ''I suppose you''re right. I just thought we could go there ourselves and have some fun. This is boring."


    He snorted. "I doubt they would come out if they spotted us. Besides, trust me, it wouldn''t be fun. It''s an E minus nest. Nothing there could challenge or make us stronger."


    A sudden muffled squeaking filled the area, taking away Nyx''s chance to respond. Their argument forgotten, they settled their eyes back on the church and the single Runner standing before it.


    Another series of squeaking reached their ears, this one stronger, louder.


    Here they come. Leo grinned, giving his connection to the Voidling a nudge. Stand strong and fight back no matter what.


    Out of the slim entrance, two Voidlings rushed out. ''Unique'' was the first word that came to his mind when they entered his vision. Though ''amusing'' came as a close second.


    What else could he call a monster that looked like a ghost from a very popular game during his childhood? The only difference was that Soulings had arms and a somewhat more defined head. Apart from that, they floated like ghosts, glowed like ghosts, and even came in different colors like those ghosts.


    Gotta say. Leo blinked a few times to make sure he wasn''t imagining things. Blue and bright yellow aren''t the colors I thought I would see on any Voidling. Now I want to see more.


    Soulling (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 10 | Type: Soul, Aerial


    No Ghost type? I''m almost disappointed. Before he could open Bestiary to learn more about those unique Voidlings, the two dived towards the lone Runner.


    The level twelve beast tried to score a hit first, only it didn''t work out. The moment it struck the nearest Soulling, its attack sank into the colorful creature like it was made of goo. The same happened to its other hand; thus, the Runner was trapped.


    The taken-over beast tried to wiggle out, but its arms didn''t even move an inch. Before it could try anything else, the second Soulling struck, one of its limbs now transformed into a lance.


    The weapon went straight through the Runner''s heart, yet it didn''t leave a hole or even make the Voidling bleed. No, somehow, when the Soulling extracted its lance, it left pure, unblemished skin behind. It was as if the attack never happened.


    Yet it did. The broken link and the Runner collapsing to the ground only proved that.


    What? Leo watched wide-eyed. What the hell did I just witness?


    ''Leo,'' Nyx muttered, her voice calm and steady. ''Look at its transformed hand. Do you see it?''


    Not questioning anything, he looked away from his dead minion, squinting at the nearest Soulling. Like Nyx ordered, his gaze traveled to the lance, or rather, the swirling mass of darkness attached to it.


    Elemental Essence? He frowned. Did it drain the Runner with a single hit? No. That doesn''t make sense. My minion would turn into dust if that was the case. Nyx? Any ideas?


    ''I... I think you should check your Bestiary,'' the feline uttered, her eyes not breaking away from the Soullings that began to float back to the church. ''I would rather not say what I think if it isn''t true.''


    His frown deepened. Okay? Because that didn''t sound ominous at all.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Soulling


    Expected Potential: F to E-


    Weapon of choice: Soul Strike, Telekinesis


    Known weaknesses: Essence techniques, Overall Strength


    Throughout the Void, Soullings are known as some of the most dangerous and annoying Voidlings for beginner survivors to fight against. Their bodies are made up of liquid Essence and thus are almost completely resistant to physical attacks. Likewise, their attacks strike only against souls, not physical bodies. As such, it''s essential to always use Essence against those creatures. Otherwise, they can easily harvest your soul. Important note: Soullings are primarily nocturnal creatures.


    "It was the Runner''s soul," Leo muttered. "Those fuckers just went ahead and ripped out my minion''s soul with a single hit. Not gonna lie, that''s a bit scary."


    ''More than just a bit,'' Nyx shuddered, stepping away from the roof''s edge. ''However, I doubt whether this soul harvest would work on us. Your minion''s soul was weak. Ours are not.''


    "True," he nodded, joining her side. "Not gonna give them any freebies, though. I like my soul where it is." He let out a heavy sigh. "And now I want to take a peek inside... What do you say, Nyx? Think we can clean up this place in ten minutes?"


    The feline growled, shadows swirling around her fur. ''We can do it in five.''


    "That''s the spirit," Leo chuckled, giving her a firm pat on the side. "Alright, then, let''s get to it. Stay close, though. Better not to risk it. We still have a visit to the Graveyard planned for later. Wouldn''t want to miss it."


    Nyx only roared in response, alerting everyone in the area of their presence.


    I guess stealth was never an option¡­

 Chapter 133. Spooked ghosts

    ''What do you think, how many of them are inside there?'' Nyx tilted her head towards him as they approached the church entrance. ''This place is even smaller than my old nest.''


    Leo hummed, an old memory of this building''s interior coming to mind. "Twenty? Maybe thirty?" He frowned. "Unless there is a nesting gate inside. Then we''re probably looking at something closer to three digits..."


    ''Agreed,'' she purred, licking her muzzle. ''Hopefully, there is one here. They just might manage to entertain us.''


    He rolled his eyes, pausing a few feet away from the half-open doors. "I swear, you''re getting more bloodthirsty with each hour. What''s up with that?"


    Nyx shot him a dry look. ''I''m still a Voidling. It''s in my nature. Maybe you would feel the same if you hadn''t forced your bloodlust into hibernation."


    Leo opened his mouth to speak, only to close it again. "Okay... Fair," he finally grumbled out. "Though I still think you''re taking it to the extreme. Those Soullings are weak. Nothing to be excited about."


    ''That''s your opinion, not mine,'' the feline gave him her equivalent of a shrug. ''Now, do you want to knock, or should I?''


    He sighed, shaking his head lightly. "Go ahead," he stepped aside. "They won''t come outside anyway. Of that, I''m pretty sure."


    ''We''ll see about that,'' Nyx huffed as she passed by him and sat down in front of the mangled doors half covered in Vetilim. ''Watch and learn.''


    Choosing not to comment, Leo took a few more steps back and observed about a dozen shadow tendrils rushing out of her body. They all struck the door at different places, going straight through the old wood and Void matter.


    You''ve got to be kidding me. His eyes widened a bit.


    ''Not at all,'' Nyx sniggered and pulled with all her strength, both physical and mental.


    The entrance groaned at first, the cracking of wood filling the area. The low popping and bubbling of Vetilim soon joined the noise as the entire door moved. Yet it wasn''t enough, and so with a roar more powerful than any other, the feline pulled again, her claws digging into the ground.


    The entrance shook for one last time before exploding into pieces, shooting debris in their direction. Nothing remained of the door apart from a big hole, illuminated by all kinds of light coming from the inside.


    "Well," Leo grimaced, removing a blob of Vetilim from his head. "You definitely got their attention. Good job."


    Warning! Nest of Soullings is reacting to the invasion. Forced awakening of incomplete Soulflame in progress. Good luck, survivor.


    Soulflame? He shook his head just as two Voidlings appeared in the hole. Ah whatever. I will find out soon anyway.


    Reinforcement filled his body, standing firm as the final line of defense against Soullings. At the same time, pure Essence covered his hands, the thin layer providing him with the tool required for the next part of his plan.


    Nyx! Leo called out, taking the first step towards the Voidlings. Leave those two to me. You go have fun. Just don''t go too deep. Wait for me.


    ''Got it!''


    The feline slipped past the two Soullings with grace the beasts could never match. They still tried to turn, probably hoping to hit Nyx in the back, but it was too late.


    Leo pounced on the two, and with his protection active, they never stood a chance. Hell, even if they faced him head-on, the result would still be the same.


    Minor Takeover.


    It took barely a blink for the link to appear in his head, for the technique to settle deep in the Voidlings'' souls. It destroyed every bit of loyalty they held for their nest and subdued their instincts. There was no place for wild, uncontrolled actions when they had orders to listen.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Find the nearest empty building and hide there. Don''t come out until I call for you. To no one''s surprise, the Soullings gave Leo a shallow bow and floated away from the church. That''s part one of the plan. Now, to finish it.


    Furious squeaks and shrills of pain echoed out of the open entrance, and he took them as an invitation. With his skills still active, his blades snapped out, the usual black flash swallowing them whole.


    He burst into the Vetilim-consumed church, his eyes instantly falling on the multiple bodies on the floor. They still glowed with all the colors of the rainbow, but with each second, the light dimmed as the corpses shrunk into themselves.


    A bit to his right, Nyx ran around a small army of Soullings. Whenever the monsters got close, she just drifted away at the last moment, her large body notwithstanding. As she did that, her shadow tendrils and other constructs fought for her, giving the feline all the time she wanted to play with the slow, colorful blobs of Essence.


    Leo chuckled and averted his gaze. No reason to cut into her fun while there was plenty more interesting stuff here. Like for example, the other dozen or so Soullings floating around in panic or the colossal mass of swirling lights hovering where the main altar should be.


    That''s got to be the Soulflame. It''s even getting power from the tower. Leo mused, noticing the constant river of crimson energy flowing down from the ceiling onto the large construct. This must be the Mirage''s role here. Curious.


    Despite wanting to inspect the Soulflame right away, all the monsters in the area moved to intercept him. He even stumbled a bit as an invisible force hit him in the chest. Yet that was all it did.


    Leo rolled his eyes and summoned a whole arsenal of shadow spears above his head. As quick as they appeared, they shot forward even faster, finding a new home in the bodies of the Soullings. Some died instantly while others pushed onward, their pained squeaks filling the air.


    Yeah. No. He snorted, sending another volley at them. This time, all the Voidlings crumbled to the floor, their light dimming. Anyone else?


    As if they heard him, the remaining Soullings, even those still fighting Nyx, retreated. Like one unit, they flew towards the swirling mass of energy and jumped inside, their bodies disintegrating on impact.


    Huh. Didn''t expect that.


    ''You ruined my fun,'' Nyx whined as she sat beside him. ''Why did you kill them all at once?''


    Leo arched an eyebrow. "Weren''t you the one who said we could clean up this place in five minutes?"


    The feline scowled. ''I changed my mind.''


    Of course, you did. He remarked, rolling his eyes ¡ª a gesture that had become increasingly frequent over the past two days. "Whatever you say... Now, focus up. I think this might be more entertaining than some glowing cannon fodder."


    During their short exchange, the mass of power in the distance remained anything but idle. Almost like it was breathing, the mass constricted before expanding again. The swirling colors inside it mixed, slowly settling for a deep purple. Only when that happened did the movement stop, and the entire entity descended to the ground in a splash.


    Leo blinked, thinking that maybe something had gone wrong. But suddenly, the blue liquid rose, reforming into a floating giant slime. The thing even had weak flames licking at its heavy body.


    Definitely curious.


    Soulflame (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 17 | Type: Soul, Aerial, Fire


    And it''s weak... Leo sighed, a shadow wall meeting a wave of blue fire released by the Voidling. It just washed over his affinity, not even doing a bit of damage. Yeah. Really weak.


    Nonetheless, they couldn''t leave now, or at least Nyx didn''t want to. The feline already bounded towards the Soulflame, weapons of shadows forming behind her. The wild Voidling tried to hit her with wisps of flames, but just like with any other projectile, she dodged out of the way.


    For a moment, Leo thought of just letting her deal with the slime, but then an idea entered his head. He flipped a switch in his soul, and the two chain-scythes materialized in his hands, the weapon already consumed by the Kiss of Death.


    Without moving from his spot, he spun both chains and let them go just as Nyx reached the Soulflame. Her projectiles slid into its massive body, but apart from a few squeaks, the beast didn''t seem hurt.


    Not for much longer.


    The Blades of Chained Inferno sunk deep into slime, all but the chains disappearing from view. This time, the beast let out a screech full of pain, a call for help.


    There won''t be any. Ignition.


    Flames spread over the dark metal links, reaching the Soulflame within a second. The blue fire dancing across its body flickered out in an instant as the Voidling once more collapsed to the ground, howling.


    Got you. Leo grinned. "Nyx! Finish it!"


    Nyx didn''t need another invite and jumped high, shadows gathering around her tails. When she reached her apex, she flipped, shooting three long yet thin waves of dark energy right at the slime.


    It never stood a chance.

 Chapter 134. Neutralize

    "Didn''t know you could do that," Leo noted as he approached the Soulflame''s body. Nyx''s attack cut through it like a hot knife through butter and chopped it into four uneven pieces. The Voidling died on the spot.


    The feline shrugged, her tails swaying wildly. ''Neither did I. This was the first time I tried this. Happy it worked. Going to need some work, though. For the amount of Essence I put into this technique, it just barely cut through. I have some ideas, but could you also teach me Kiss of Death?''


    He furrowed his brow, searching for the connection between the two. "You want to combine your affinity and skills?"


    ''I would like to,'' she tilted her head. ''Why? Do you think it''s impossible?''


    "No. Not at all," he shook his head, thinking of his own attempts to improve True Stealth. "Just surprised. Besides, we know it''s possible. I¡¯ve already used Devour with shadows."


    Nyx perked up. ''So will you?''


    Leo chuckled, giving the feline a quick scratch behind her ear. "Sure, why not? We can even experiment together. Honestly, I never considered using Kiss to strengthen my constructs. I only cared about stealth."


    ''Great,'' she purred before motioning to the slaughtered corpse. ''What about this one?''


    "Standard treatment," he said and stabbed the two parts of the body with his claws while his tails went for what remained. "I still haven''t gotten any notification about the nest. Might as well see what happens."


    Devour.


    All the slime pieces jerked at once, their mass shrinking with each second as Leo consumed their remaining Essence. Unlike with any other Voidling, there was no dust left behind. The Soulflame slowly popped out of existence like it had never been there in the first place.


    Only it wasn''t completely true. The Voidling left something behind.


    Nest Core:


    Destroy it to neutralize the Nest of Soullings. This item has no other known uses.


    Huh. That''s a unique description.


    Leo arched an eyebrow, picking up the glowing baseball-sized blue orb. Its texture didn''t feel much different from ordinary glass, and he could bet it would shatter just as easily.


    He glanced at Nyx. "Any idea what will happen if we just take it."


    ''No,'' the feline shook her head. ''Why would you even want to do that? It says there are no other uses.''


    He shrugged. "Curiosity. You''re a cat; you should know something about that."


    Nyx blinked, her large eyes questioning. ''I don''t get it.''


    "Of course you don¡¯t. Why am I even surprised?" he sighed, applying some pressure to the orb. "Anyway¡­ Aren''t you at least a bit curious about what will happen to the nest if we take its core far, far away? I definitely am."


    ''Not really?'' She replied, giving him a weird look. ''What''s the point? If we don''t destroy it, we don''t get the reward. Simple.''


    Hard to argue with that logic. But still...


    Leo glanced at the core and, with a heavy heart, closed his fist, shattering the orb into pieces. The blue Essence, or whatever it was inside, escaped between his fingers before fading away like smoke. At the same time, the entire church shook, small bits of Vetilim all around withering.


    The Nest of Soullings has lost connection to its core. Partial cleansing in progress. Beware falling objects.


    Right, similar to what happened with the Shadow Tails. The labyrinth and Nesting Gate were gone, but Vetilim remained here and there. He noted, watching the process slowly come to a stop.


    Congratulations, Nest of Soullings conquered. Do you wish to destroy this instance completely or prepare an Ether tower? Choosing the second option will result in the loss of bonus rewards. However, a Safe Zone may be created later on using the tower.


    "And here it is," Leo muttered. "Doubt the reward will be any better than the one from Ameists, but let''s see. System, destroy this."


    Acknowledged. Distributing full rewards. Please leave this instance immediately. Complete collapse will commence in 5 minutes.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Bonus experience and 900 Ether gained. Rare quality item has been delivered to your Soul Well. Survivor reward: +1 Soul.


    A weak grimace spread over his face as the additional weight landed inside his soul. There was still some space left there, but if he continued getting items like that one after another, this might change soon.


    Though, maybe not that soon. Leo let out a bark of laughter when another notification appeared.


    You have reached level 27. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Back to the usual stuff, I guess. All into Soul. He ordered, and instantly, the pressure inside him lessened. "Nice... Come on, Nyx. Apparently, we shouldn''t stay inside here."


    The feline nodded and followed him outside. As they walked, Leo fired off an Identify at Nyx, his curiosity getting the better of him.


    Twenty-four. He smiled. Good. You got a level up, too. Right in time for the next part of our plan.


    "Should be far enough," he said, stopping in the middle of the road. "Still over three minutes left. Might as well take a look at what we got this time."


    ''Another weapon?''


    "No idea. It didn''t say," Leo shrugged, reached into his soul, and pulled.


    A crimson flash was all it took for a large, dark-as-night item to land in his hand. He quickly flipped it around to get a better grip and frowned when he realized what he was holding.


    A full chestplate with shoulder pads? His frown deepened as his claw traced the unknown material. Boiled leather? Seems like it.


    Zakorian Chestplate (Rare):


    A chestplate crafted by an experienced Armorer. It''s made out of boiled leather from a Zakorian, thus offering moderate protection against F ranked enemies. Thanks to its natural properties, this leather will slowly repair itself unless critically damaged. Additionally, this armor has been enchanted to shrink or expand to fit most users.


    Not bad, but... Leo looked down at his chest and then at the spikes on his back. Ain''t no way this will fit me even with the enchantment. I will destroy it if I try.


    ''Useless?'' Nyx asked, seeing his expression.


    He nodded, consuming the chestplate. "Useless."


    As he said that, the earth beneath them shook once. Instantly, their eyes snapped to the church that, unlike the earth, didn''t stop trembling. Stone and Vetilim broke off its walls while the broken Crimson Mirage on top withered.


    In a matter of minutes, the entire structure collapsed into ruin, just as the System had promised. Leo waited for another message, maybe something about the Vetilim plant, but nothing came. Either the Crimson Mirage was a vital part of the nest, or there was no reward from it.


    "So that''s it," he snorted. "The last known nest in Wolford is gone. I can''t tell if Holden will be happy, angry, or just completely done with it."


    Nyx huffed. ''He is still a human. His opinion doesn''t matter.''


    Leo dragged a hand across his face.


    Of course, it doesn''t.


    <hr>


    ''Are you sure about this?'' Nyx asked as they stood in front of the opening leading into the Graveyard. ''We can wait for your bloodlust to return and then go in.''


    Leo shook his head. "It will be fine. Even if they wake up, we can outrun them easily this time. I''m stronger than them... And I have the improved flares."


    As risky as a trip into the Graveyard seemed, unlike the last time, there was not much to worry about. Now, he knew the exterior of the building, possessed flares more effective than the common ones, and, like he told Nyx, he was stronger. His status only proved that.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Nikra''s Legacy


    Evolution Stage: II - Prime Night Hunter


    Class: Nightblade | LVL. 27


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E


    Might Tier II (38) | LB: 43


    Grace: Tier II (147) | LB: 44


    Vision: Tier II (20) | LB: 42


    Mind: Tier II (40) | LB: 0


    Soul: Tier II (56) | LB: 28


    Yeah, we will be fine. Leo grinned, and he would swear that for a moment, he had felt a spark of bloodlust igniting in his mind. Not there yet.


    ''So be it,'' Nyx finally said, snapping him back to reality. ''Just promise me we''re getting out the moment Nightmares wake up. I want to fight them too, but not inside their nest. That''s a suicide, even for us.''


    "You have my word."


    ''Thank you,'' she sighed before pointing at the Soullings floating behind them. ''Now, can you finally tell me why we are dragging those two with us?''


    Leo nodded as he summoned his cloak and put on the cowl.


    It''s simple, really. He spoke through their link. They are invulnerable to physical attacks and can kill anything that doesn''t use Essence for defense. I want to see how they fare against Nightmares. If it works, great. If it doesn''t, then at least we know they can''t one-shot creatures much stronger than them.


    Nyx hummed. ''Interesting idea, even if I doubt they can kill a Nightmare.''


    Me too, but that''s why we are here. To learn. Come on.

 Chapter 135. Graveyard - round 2

    Just as disgusting as I remember. Leo grimaced at the pieces of humans or Voidlings scattered everywhere. They barely entered the Graveyard, and he was already reminded why he hated this place. At this point, only one other matched the horror of this one, and he really didn''t want to think about it.


    ''They are doing this just to scare away others from going any further. Otherwise, this is a waste of resources,'' Nyx scoffed. ''As if anyone would voluntarily walk into a Nightmare''s nest.''


    He rolled his eyes. Of course, she would think about severed limbs or torn-out organs as resources. He was beginning to wonder if Hunter and the original Apex Shadow Claw didn''t have more influence on her personality than Nikra.


    Well, we''re going in. What does that make us then? He asked instead, choosing not to focus on Nyx''s bloodthirsty tendencies.


    ''Powerful... And a bit suicidal?''


    Leo held in a snort. Of course. Why did I even ask¡­ He shook his head, focusing on the path ahead. Alright, heads up. This is where things get really disgusting.


    True to his words, a moment later, they left the mall''s office area behind and stepped on the top floor. Just like he had remembered it, the entire building turned into a butcher''s house, only in Void''s style.


    As expected, Vetilim and Corcera didn''t go anywhere. However, taking a quick look around confirmed that the alien matter seemed to have developed to some degree. The same couldn''t be said about the hanging bodies, as while still present, their number decreased by quite a bit.


    The loss of so many must have hit them hard. Leo reasoned, stopping next to the tunnel leading to the lower floor. Nyx did the same while the two Soullings stayed a bit behind, their mismatched light illuminating the area.


    ''Like we thought, they''re most likely rebuilding. Gather what they can while waiting for more Nightmares to be born,'' the feline added, looking into the tunnel.


    He hummed, the memories of what was underneath them still fresh in his head. Yeah... Makes me wonder if there is something more than just Phantoms being born down there. Last time, I barely had time to observe the second floor. Who knows what''s going on beneath it.


    ''Do you want to go there?''


    Leo shook his head instantly. Hell no. If those fuckers wake up with us on the second floor, that''s no problem. We can escape. But if we go all the way down, they can cut us off. And I know... What we''re doing is dangerous, but I still don''t plan to fight another horde of Nightmares today.


    ''Understood,'' Nyx nodded. ''Shall we then?''


    He took a deep breath. Follow me. He then addressed his subordinates. Don''t let out any sound. Don''t move without my order. And stay in the tunnel until I call for you.


    The two blobs of light bobbed their heads and floated behind him as they entered the tunnel with Leo at the front. Just like the rest of the mall, apart from a few more glowing Vetilim and Corcera veins, nothing changed.


    Honestly, that''s a good sign. Well, that and the fact that the Graveyard''s corruption hasn''t progressed to the next stage...


    Within a few seconds, they reached the end of the tunnel, and he raised his hand to stop the march. Nyx still took a few steps forward, but apart from that, they didn''t even place one foot on the second floor.


    ''They are all here,'' the feline observed, her eyes darting around, trying to spot everything important through the opening. ''Your memory had a lot more of them here, though. The blow you''ve dealt must have hurt.''


    True.


    Not waiting for another response, Leo stepped onto the second floor. His steps were silent and measured as he weaved through the crowd of sleeping Nightmares. Like last time, they moved every once in a while but didn''t wake up.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I still can''t see their levels. He noted, Identify jumping from one Voidling to another. We''re definitely stronger, and still nothing... Kinda weird protection to have.


    ''Yet another useful factor to scare everyone away,'' Nyx said, her form slithering across the floor to his right. ''I''m beginning to think this might not be the System''s work. It doesn''t have a reason to obscure Nightmare''s strength.''


    You would know better about that than me... Though, as much as I hate to say it, it''s not that bad. We still see their rank.


    The feline let out a snort through their link. ''Rank is an inaccurate way to tell someone''s strength unless you are in a higher or lower ranking. A level is still the best source of information.''


    Alright, fair. Leo conceded the point as he stopped, signaling Nyx to do the same. We should spread out, see if we can find anything interesting. Just stay quiet, and we should be good. Keep in contact through the link.


    ''Understood. Be careful.''


    You too.


    <hr>


    To their disappointment or maybe relief, they didn''t find anything apart from more Nightmares and corpses in the next thirty or so minutes. The second floor was completely the same as the one above, with the difference of having Voidlings sleeping here. Well, that and Phantom''s creation...


    In the end, the duo settled on locating the entrance to the first floor and leaving it at that. There was no reason to spend more time here than necessary, and they still had one test to run.


    So this is it? Same shit as with Ameists? Leo narrowed his eyes at the seal blocking the entrance to the tunnel. There was only a small hole in the spiral of interconnected Vetilim and Corcera, and it was far from enough to get inside.


    A Scavenger could fit through. Them? Not so much.


    ''We could force it open just like we did back there,'' Nyx pointed out. ''However, I doubt it''s a good idea. Unless you want to abandon your previous plan and just go for it.''


    No. He turned away from the tunnel. Let''s go back and get on with the testing. I had enough of this acursed place.


    The feline nodded and trudged behind him as they returned to the other tunnel where the Soullings were waiting. With a few quick orders, the Voidlings slowly floated out and positioned themselves behind Nightmares.


    What are the odds they all wake up as soon as one of them dies? Leo glanced at his companion.


    Nyx gave him a blank look. ''Do you really need to ask?''


    He chuckled in the safety of his mind. No, not really. I just wanted to check if we''re on the same page and realize this will go to shit soon.


    The feline didn''t bother to answer, choosing to put more intensity on her stare. Who could have known she wouldn''t enjoy staying at the Graveyard for too long.


    Leo sighed. Anyway... If we''re gonna run away, let''s at least get something out of this. Do you think you can decapitate a Collector with a single hit?


    Nyx furrowed her brow in a way only a cat could. ''Yes, I think I can. Why? You want to kill a few on our way out?''


    That''s the plan. So what do you say?


    ''On your mark.''


    Smiling, Leo found a group of three Collectors huddled next to each other and assigned Nyx to them. Next, he found a group for himself, a slightly larger one, and activated his blades. The black flash of Kiss of Death followed right after.


    You two! Once I say ''now,'' you''ll attack the Nightmare before you with all the power you have. Drag their souls out or die trying. Be ready.


    He didn''t wait for any sign of acknowledgment and positioned his blades above the Nightmares'' necks. The same went for his tails, which settled right before other Voidlings'' heads.


    Okay. Leo glanced at Nyx.


    Ready?


    The feline nodded.


    Then three. Two. One. Now!


    Like one unit, they all descended upon their chosen targets, eight bodies dropping to the ground a second later. They never stood a chance when faced with a surprise attack from two stronger beasts.


    Yet, not everything went according to the plan.


    The two Soullings attacked as ordered, but the moment their transformed arms speared the Collectors'' hearts, they didn''t die. Quite the opposite, in fact.


    As the entire Graveyard woke, alerted by the deaths of their kin, the two Collectors stood up and roared at the Soullings. Leo''s minions didn''t waver, but no matter how hard they tried, their arms just wouldn''t come out of the Nightmares'' bodies.


    So a soul''s strength also matters. Or strength overall. Leo noted, already sprinting toward his subordinates.


    He was too late.


    The Nightmares plunged their hands into the Soullings and ripped them apart despite their almost complete invulnerability to physical attacks. The Collectors roared in victory, but it was cut short as Leo pounced and finished his minions'' job.


    He didn''t look behind at the falling bodies and just sprinted towards the tunnel, Ether flare igniting in his hand.


    Run!


    Pursuit in progress.

 Chapter 136. The gap between us

    With Nyx at the front, they rushed into the tunnel, never even giving the Nightmares an opportunity to follow. Despite the active pursuit, the Voidlings were just too slow to act, or really too slow in general. A few days ago, the beasts still had a chance to make a feast out of them, but now, all they could eat was dust.


    This shows their power is more balanced towards Might and not Grace, like mine or Nyx''s. Leo concluded, distant roars of Collectors ringing in his ears. Scouters might be able to match us, but not in closed spaces like this.


    ''Less thinking, more running!''


    He rolled his eyes at the feline as they sped into the mall''s offices. He would never understand how she could go from bloodlust personified to worried mom in the span of a few seconds. Although the unique circumstances of her birth might be at least a bit responsible.


    Yeah, this must be it. Snorting, he dropped the ignited flare right in the middle of a corridor. The Nightmares were still far away, but he didn''t want a repeat of the last time. Extermination of two nests and one Tainted Wasteland was enough fighting for one day.


    And so, without anyone on his tail, Leo sprinted into the last office on the right and jumped out of the hole in the roof. Along with Nyx, he settled at the edge of the Graveyerd''s entrance, watching its dark insides for any movement.


    Yet nothing came. The Nightmares must have decided the chase wasn''t worth it and retreated. A fact only proved by the next notification to appear.


    Nightmare Pursuit stopped. You live to fight another day. Warning! Wolford''s Graveyard Alertness raised from Null to Low. Be careful in your approach.


    "Well... Seems like my next plan to kill as many as we can each time they go to sleep won''t work," Leo frowned, standing up. "I knew it wouldn¡¯t be that easy."


    ''Your little experiment failed too,'' Nyx decided to remind him unhelpfully.


    "I didn''t expect it to work anyway," he waved her off. "Hell, it''s better it didn''t. Just imagine how dangerous creatures like Soullings would be if they could kill anything with a single strike, no matter the power difference."


    The feline winced. ''Terrifying,'' she muttered. ''One wrong move, one second of inattention, and you''re dead, no second chances. You can never close your eyes or rest without the fear of losing your soul.''


    "Something like that," Leo nodded, looking into the distance. "Though, all of this already applies to our lives. We''re always taking risks, always walking on the fine line between life and death. This is how this world functions now. Not even a Safe Zone is truly safe."


    Nyx nudged him with her muzzle before he could go on another tangent. ''Your pessimistic side is showing again.''


    He chuckled, shaking his head. "You''re right. Old habit, sorry... Anyway. Time to move on from this hell on Earth. I got what I wanted, and maybe with those few kills, the next level might not be that far off."


    The feline hummed in agreement. ''Where to now? There''s still some time before night comes.''


    "Don''t know about you, but I had enough excitement for one day. Not that there is anything else left for us in Wolford," he sighed. "We pretty much outgrew this place... and man, that''s not something I ever thought I would say."


    ''So, safe zone?''


    Leo nodded. "Safe zone... Got to give Holden a heads-up about some of the stuff we did today," he raised a hand to stop Nyx from complaining. "I know I don''t need to, but I want to. I lose nothing, and they might survive this shit thanks to the information I have."


    ''Humans...''


    Once more rolling his eyes, he patted Nyx on the head. "Don''t overthink it. That''s just common decency, nothing more... Come. Enough chit-chat."


    <hr>


    "You did what?!" Clara shouted as they all, bar Frank, settled in their ''council'' room. The Fallen was apparently out, cleaning out the area and searching for supplies with a small group.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Give me a break. Leo sighed, already regretting coming back here. "The Tainted Wasteland and Ameist Nest Colony are gone. I also destroyed the Soulling Nest, but that''s a bit more complicated."


    "I heard you the first time!" The redhead scowled, putting her head into her hands. "It was a rhetorical question. You just... I... Bloody fuck! I give up."


    ''Is the human okay?'' Nyx asked suddenly, and if he didn''t know her better, he would have mistaken her curiosity for concern.


    Honestly? Leo furrowed his brow, observing the mess before him. I''m just as lost as you are. I expected a bit of shock, happiness, and maybe even anger. Not... this.


    "Clara. Enough, please," Holden spoke up, exasperation dripping from his words. "I''m surprised too, but this isn''t a reason to have a breakdown. Get a hold of yourself."


    As if a flip switched inside the woman''s head, she cleared her throat and chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry. I just... Well, you know what I mean."


    "Aye, I do," the older man sighed. "Now, Leo, it''s not that we are ungrateful. But I still have to ask. Why? If what Frank told me is true, nothing in Wolford apart from Nightmares can make you stronger."


    Huh. So they already know. He mused before shrugging lightly. "A few reasons, but mainly to test myself. I had to get used to my abilities again after the power boost I gained three days ago. Though I wasn''t sure if I even could destroy the Wasteland, and like I said, the situation with Soullings is a bit more complicated."


    "Please elaborate..."


    And just like Leo had already planned, he explained everything he judged necessary. The part about Tainted Wasteland went out first, as while important, it wasn''t anything they couldn''t come up with on their own. Only then did he follow up with everything about Soullings and similar monsters.


    Holden and Clara gave him a few weird looks when he presented a modified story about testing the ghost-like monsters on other Voidlings. Apparently, throwing one beast into another didn''t sound normal to them. Who could have known?


    In the end, though, they listened to everything he had to say, sometimes dropping a question or two. Some remained unanswered, but neither Holder nor Clara seemed to mind too much.


    "And that''s pretty much it," Leo announced. "Oh, I also dropped by the Graveyard, but nothing really changed there. Just avoid that place like a plague, and you should be fine. With the way the Void spread there, we need much more firepower to bring it down."


    Holden gave a slow nod. "Thank you. Both for sharing all this information and clearing out the city. The nests could have become useful later on, but it''s not a real loss when danger surrounds us from every direction."


    "Yeah, the fewer nests, the better," Clara smiled before a frown spread over her face. "I bet though that Frank won''t be as happy about it. He planned to take a group for ant extermination tomorrow."


    "I wouldn''t worry," Leo cut in. "If I learned anything about the Void in this short time, it''s that it doesn''t give up. Sooner or later a new nest will pop out."


    Holden shook his head. "It doesn''t matter. Frank can complain as much as he wants. He will understand anyway... Now, Hale, I know we agreed only on absolutely necessary stuff, but this is a bit of an emergency."


    This I got to hear. He quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    "There''s no fighting involved," the leader explained. "We found a good amount of construction supplies in one of the nearby warehouses. The problem is that with what happened recently, I have almost no people to move it, at least the heavier stuff. We could wait a few days to get stronger, but Vetilim might consume it all in that time."


    Leo almost gaped. Physical labor? Really?


    "We really need it. Please?" Clara added, begging with her gaze alone.


    "Can''t you like buy everything from Ether Shop if any of you have the right job?" He asked, still in part disbelief of their request.


    "Aye, we could," Holden nodded. "But I would rather not. We have to save Ether for sustenance and other supplies we''re missing. Please, Hale, I can have a team ready to assist you in five minutes. It won''t take longer than an hour at worst."


    Leo looked between the two, and despite not wanting to do this, he still felt some sort of camaraderie towards them and a few others in this group.


    "Alright. I will bite, but only this once."


    <hr>


    ''Had fun?''


    Leo scowled, lying flat on the Safe Zone''s roof. "Don''t even start it. I''m warning you."


    ''It''s not my fault you wanted to help the humans. What was it you called it? Ah yes, common decency,'' Nyx sniggered.


    "Yes, yes. Very funny," he muttered. "Now, if you don''t mind, I have better things to do."


    ''What? More labor?''


    "No," Leo grumbled, summoning the System''s interface. "This"


    Mutation: Minor Regeneration (Gamma Tier)


    Death is always waiting around the corner, ready to hurl you into the Abyss at a moment''s notice. So why not make it wait a little bit longer? Maybe even forever?


    Effects:


    Healing speed doubled. You now require less sleep to fully recover your strength. Lifespan slightly lengthened.


    Requirements: 1000 Ether, 2 Hearts of Regenerator-Type level 15+ beasts.

 Chapter 137. Elements

    Required components detected within the User''s Soul Well. Do you wish to proceed with this mutation? Estimated time to complete: 1 hour.


    Of course, I do. Go on System. Do your job.


    Choice Acknowledged. Beginning Mutation. Please be mindful of your body during this process. Even the lightest strain can impact this process.


    Got it. Leo nodded, letting his body relax as weak prickling spread all over his unique heart. The longer it went, the more he wanted to claw at his chest, but he held back, gritting his teeth. Yeah, that''s fucking uncomfortable.


    Within a few minutes, the pain slowly consumed his whole body, boiling his organs, muscles, and skin. Nothing was safe from the process, not his tails or even eyelids. At times, he had to bite back a scream or a whimper as his insides twisted, their molten surfaces grazing against each other.


    I swear. He gasped, claws digging into the roof. If this is how every mutation is going to feel, I won''t be held responsible for my actions. This is bullshit!


    Yet there was nothing Leo could do to stop it, and so for the whole hour, he lay on the roof, writhing and trembling in pain. The hot knives digging into his skin didn''t give out until the last minute, leaving him gasping for air and drowning in sweat even as the process finished.


    ''Leo?'' Nyx''s voice suddenly reached his jumbled mind. ''Is everything fine? You almost completely cut off our link when the pain came.''


    He groaned, climbing to his knees. Just peachy. He coughed. Sorry, I have no idea how I did that. I definitely didn''t mean to. Must have been some survival instinct.


    ''It''s fine. Don''t worry about it,'' the feline placated. ''I knew you were still there. I just couldn''t feel what you felt.''


    "Maybe that''s for the best," Leo sighed, sitting cross-legged. "No reason for both of us to go through this bullshit... Speaking of. Do you feel any different? You said you''re supposed to benefit from my mutations."


    ''Different?'' Nyx hummed, pausing for a moment. ''Not quite. A little more energized might be a better way to describe it. And you?''


    He scowled. "Just aching all over and feeling a bit tired, the complete opposite of you. Apart from that, Minor Regeration seems to have no obvious effects until we get hurt."


    ''Are you... going to test it?'' The feline asked with a bit of apprehension seeping into her voice.


    His eyebrows jumped up. "After what just happened?" He snorted. "Hell no. Let''s put self-harm away for later¡­ or never. I had enough pain for one day. Besides, a small wound won''t cut it now. We will need something major to see how my healing factor really improved."


    Nyx sighed over the link. ''As long as you don''t let anything harm you on purpose, I won¡¯t complain.''


    "Your trust in me is really incredible," Leo muttered dryly. "I swear you weren''t this bad a few days ago."


    ''You only have yourself to blame,'' she practically chirped. ''You''re a terrible influence. Although, memories of Nikra''s complicated past and Hunter''s short life might have also played a small part in this.''


    "I''m sure," he grumbled, placing his hand on his knees. "Now, if you don''t mind. I''ll try this meditation thing again. I think I''m slowly getting somewhere."


    ''As you wish. I''ll take a nap then. Please wake me up if you need me,'' Nyx announced, promptly backing away from their link.


    Right....


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Leo took a deep break, closing his eyes. Relax. Clear your mind and fill it with Essence. Focus on your soul. Use Soul Well as the blueprint.


    Meditation was definitely not his forte. He just didn''t know how to use it the right way, which was why he came up with his own method. A method that soon would hopefully lead him back to his soulscape. He needed to reach it; he had no other choice.


    Why?


    Because despite being aware of Adam resting inside his soul, he didn''t know much more. The boy still slept; that was obvious. However, apart from that, Leo could only feel one other thing. And that was how his own Essence slowly fed the boy, keeping him alive with just enough energy.


    He had no way to control it for now; his soul did it all on its own, unasked. At first, when he found out about this, he didn''t mind. Why would he, after all?


    Yet after a quick talk with Nyx, Leo realized that in the long run, this might not be so good if he didn''t get this process under control. For now, his soul was only feeding the boy, but what if that changed? What if Adam awoke and started draining Essence from the inside?


    He couldn''t let that happen, at least not without any way to stop it. As such, he had to find a way into his soulscape. Both to investigate and to take full command of what was happening there.


    Just like with the items. Pull your mind in. Slowly.


    Leo already tried this last night with limited success, and it seemed not much would change today. Nonetheless, he still pushed, testing different techniques and other ways of connecting with his soul.


    All this for almost nothing.


    "Shit!" He hissed, eyes snapping open. "I fucking felt it. The pull is similar to what happens when I use Soul Well. But why did it fail? Again... Shit!"


    As much as Leo complained, he knew what was wrong, or rather, he understood that something was missing. There was always a gap in his technique, a gap that destroyed each attempt at diving into his soul. And to make matters worse, each time, it happened at the end of the process.


    "Need to switch it up," he muttered, shaking his head. "No reason to get too frustrated. I can try again later."


    Decision made, he relaxed his muscles and, this time only brought out a tiny chunk of Essence into his hand. Just like he tried yesterday, he fuelled the energy with the right intent and snapped his fingers.


    A spark, if he could even call it that, ignited on his claws, a sudden warmth spreading over them. Yet before it could transform into something more, the Essence flickered out, disappearing into the wind.


    "At least not a total failure," Leo shrugged and tried again, switching up his intent and amount of energy with each attempt.


    Some would say there was no point in what he was doing. But no one, including Nikra, ever told him that summoning base elements was impossible. He probably wouldn''t be able to control them like someone with true or even false affinity, but it didn''t mean he couldn''t try creating at least a small flame.


    Besides, even if this failed, Leo found this exercise to be an excellent way to practice his Essence control.


    "Wait. I have a weapon that controls fire now. Maybe..." With a shrug, he summoned a chain-scythe into one hand while the other gathered more Essence. "Okay. And now..."


    Activating ignition, he concentrated on the feeling of the fire consuming the chains. He melded it all with his own intent and snapped his fingers once more.


    Wow.


    A tiny flame, smaller than one usually coming from a lighter, sparked to life on his thumb. It danced there for a few seconds, growing smaller and larger, warming his hand before finally flickering out.


    Yeah, another connection to fire definitely helps. Leo snorted, dismissing the weapon. He tried again then, but except for a slightly stronger spark, nothing else happened. Still better, though.


    Just as he was about to practice some more, an idea came to his mind. While the Blades of Chained Inferno provided him with a weak link to fire, he possessed one more Install item. An item that, together with another mutation, gave him a connection to a much more unique affinity.


    ''Are you sure you want to do this?'' Nyx''s voice suddenly rang in his head.


    "Yeah," Leo nodded without hesitation. "I know Nikra feared using it, but I can''t make the same mistake. We saw what happened to her. Ending up like that just isn''t in my plans."


    ''But do you need to do it now? Why not wait? Why not get a bit stronger?''


    He shook his head. "Nyx... Stop letting Nikra''s past influence you. I''ve been using Void affinity for quite some time now. Minor Takeover, remember? Now, I just want to go a bit further. See what I can really do."


    ''I...'' The feline mumbled. ''I understand... Please be careful.''


    As their link quietened, Leo rolled his shoulders and closed his eyes again. Essence stirred within his soul, ready for the task ahead. He could almost feel its enthusiasm as if it knew what was coming.


    Not yet. He ordered, grabbing his Essence tightly. What did Nikra say about the Void? Ah, yes, it exists to only corrupt, consume, and destroy.


    Well then...


    A tiny smile pulled at his lips as he gave the three principles everything he had. At the same time, he summoned forth the Spark of the Void while reaching out with a small tendril of Essence towards his heart, Nikra''s shard.


    Show me what you got!

 Chapter 138. Departure

    At first, nothing happened. The energy Leo gathered consumed his intent while his heart and Spark of the Void threw more fuel into the brewing fire. Yet, even when he tried to bring it all out and release his new creation, it just didn''t work out. It was as if an invisible wall held him back.


    Yeah, no. I know I can do this...


    With a growl, he pushed harder, fuelling more and more Essence into the mess growing underneath his skin. For a moment, it kept on resisting, but thanks to a fresh surge of intent, the barrier shattered into pieces, giving the energy an out.


    "Holy..." Leo muttered, watching a perfect blend of black-red liquid power slip out of his body. It slowly coiled around his fingers like a serpent, leaving goosebumps in its wake as an unnatural coldness settled over his skin.


    Upon first look, the piece of Void energy might have seemed docile and calm, lazily resting on his hand. Yet nothing could have been farther from the truth.


    Each second, Leo had to hold back the tiny bit of Essence from lashing out and escaping. Despite its size, it wanted to turn everything in sight into dust, to consume what was left, and corrupt all that tried to flee from its grasp.


    Incomprehensible whispers followed the Void''s demands for death and destruction. They sounded almost familiar, and the longer he listened to them, the more he understood.


    They were begging for freedom. Begging to be let out in the world to fulfill their purpose. Or maybe ''demanding'' was a better word of choice?


    Doesn''t matter. I ain''t letting you out. Not today. He grimaced, wrestling his own power and dragging it back into his soul.


    As much as he wanted to test his experiment''s capabilities, releasing makeshift Void affinity inside the Safe Zone might not be a good idea. Holden definitely wouldn''t be happy if he put a hole in his roof, and that was the best possible scenario.


    It took time, a few minutes even, but in the end, the small coil of Void affinity returned to where it came from. Maybe it could have gone faster if his soul hadn''t refused to take the energy back at the beginning. For some reason, it just didn''t want to accept more Void''s power despite never having such a problem with shadows.


    Guess that''s to be expected. Leo sighed, once more laying flat on the roof. I summoned it, but unlike with shadows, I don''t have an official affinity for the Void. All I have are fragments that let me create this weird imitation.


    Even though he had managed to summon Void aspect with a much better result than with fire, he knew something was still missing. There was some sort of emptiness in what he had created, a certain lack of a spark that should have been there from the get-go.


    How did he know about this? Leo had no clue, but Nikra''s shard could be the reason. After all, for now, he only possessed a single piece of the Old One, with two more still missing. In the end, they should be the key to the true power of the Void, as that was how he gained it in the first place.


    ''I doubt that''s the case,'' Nyx''s voice suddenly rang in his head.


    He quirked an eyebrow. I thought you had disconnected when I began my little experiment.


    The feline huffed. ''As if... Even if I don''t like you messing with this power, I won''t leave you. I promised as much, so get used to it.''


    The corner of his mouth lifted into a half-smile. You won''t hear a complaint from me. He finished with a chuckle. Now, about what you said...


    ''Oh... Yes, I doubt you need more shards if you want to use the true power of the Void. They would help, that''s for sure, but you can do without them at this point,'' she explained. ''Remember, aside from your heart, you also possess an item bonded to your soul that resonates with the Void. And if that''s not enough, your unique evolution is at least partially the result of the power you now wield. What you did a few minutes ago only proves that.''


    Leo nodded slowly. I guess so. But what''s missing then? I know you must have felt it too.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ''I have no idea, Leo,'' Nyx muttered. ''This, you will have to find out on your own. My knowledge about Void''s true aspect is limited to what Nikra knew, which is to say, not much at all. She pretty much told you more about it than what I inherited.''


    Of course. He sighed, closing his eyes. I suppose I have to practice and then practice some more. Maybe, like you said, I can find the missing piece sooner or later. We have time, or so I hope.


    ''Time,'' the feline repeated absently before falling silent for a moment. ''Leo? What do you want to do after all of this? After you find your family and save the Void child? I sometimes see the plans in your head, but none of them go that far.''


    Leo furrowed his brow, claws drumming against the metal roof. Honestly? I have no idea. I was always good at making short-term plans, but anything for later? Not so much. There are just too many things you have to consider when looking that far.


    ''Still, is there nothing you would like to do?''


    He shrugged. No. Not really. For now, let''s just go with the flow. You can call me pessimistic again, but I don''t want to fill my head with empty hopes again. Remember, while I don''t want to live in the past, putting everything on the future can be just as bad if not worse.


    ''That''s... an interesting viewpoint,'' Nyx commented after a moment.


    Yeah... Leo smiled. Anyway... I might as well go back to meditating. If everything Nikra said is true, it should also help with my affinity problem too.


    ''Good luck then. I will catch some sleep in the meantime. You should too. We have quite the journey ahead of us.''


    I will, in an hour or two. Good night.


    ''Good night.''


    <hr>


    "So you stopped by after all," Dylan noted as he stepped out of the room he shared with the cousins. "I didn''t really expect ya to, considering all that happened."


    Leo shrugged and motioned towards the stairs. "You''re one of the few people I like here. Would be weird to leave without at least saying goodbye. Though you probably shouldn''t mention this to Tyler."


    "Aye. You''re right," the older man chuckled as they walked down the corridor. "So London, eh? I can only imagine what happened to that place. It''s bloody scary if I say so."


    "Best not to think about it too much. We have enough negativity in our lives as it is," Leo sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever happened to London, happened, and that''s it. I can''t change that; only prepare for whatever is waiting for me there."


    "Wise words," Dylan nodded as they arrived at the ground floor and carried onward to the exit. "I just wish we all could live by them."


    He snorted. "Sooner or later, everyone will. Even I''m still working on following them."


    The mage let out another chuckle but didn''t say more. Not that he even had a chance, as the moment they left the building, another voice called out to them.


    "Dylan! I see you decided to join us in our little farewell party," Frank bellowed. Along with Holden and Clara, the Fallen was waiting by the entrance.


    "Not much of a party without booze," the only woman in the group grumbled.


    Leo let out a short laugh as they all walked toward the golden barrier. "I don''t think I found much of that since this shit began. Much less after the last Cataclysm."


    "There''s some in the cook''s shop," Holden added to everyone''s surprise. "What? I had to take stock of what everyone can buy with their job."


    "Of course," Frank muttered dryly while Clara sniggered. "Shame you didn''t mention it earlier. There aren''t many occasions to get wasted nowadays."


    "We aren''t wasting Ether just so you can get drunk," Holden growled, but there was no real bite in it.


    "Ruin my fun, why don''t ya?" The Fallen scowled, stopping at the edge of the Safe Zone. "I, for one, think this occasion calls for at least a small drink."


    "You sure that ain''t just your hidden alcoholic side speaking out?" Clara cut in, a smirk on her face.


    "Piss off."


    "You wish," her smirk widened.


    Not being able to hold it in any longer, Leo chuckled loudly. Despite everything he had gone through, he was happy to become a part of this group for even a short time. He didn''t expect to make any friends here, but in the end, he ended up with a small party of people he could trust and talk to without almost any barriers.


    "Well," he said, seeing that he had everyone''s attention due to his outburst. "We all had our ups and downs, but I''m glad we met. I only wish things didn''t have to end the way they did." He shook his head. "Anyway... Good luck. Make sure this place survives when I''m gone."


    "Eden," Holden spoke up, taking a step towards him.


    Leo raised an eyebrow. "What?"


    "We''ve decided to give our little safe haven a name," Clara shrugged, also coming closer. "Eden. Maybe this time no one will kick us out."


    "Hopefully." He smiled, and after a few firm handshakes, claps of the back and a brief hug from Clara, he turned to the golden barrier.


    "I will see you all one day. Until then, take care."


    Not giving them a chance to reply, Leo pushed past the boundary and sprinted away. Within seconds, he left Eden behind and with it, one of the most important parts of his life.


    One day...

 Chapter 139. On the road

    ''Leo!'' Nyx called out the moment she joined his side. ''I thought London was in that direction,'' she pointed with her tail to the left. ''What''s going on? You didn''t tell me about any change in plans.''


    The feline had the right to worry as Leo changed his path almost as soon as Eden was out of sight. He hadn¡¯t planned any detours before, but as he was wondering about all the stuff he was leaving behind, a certain thought occurred to him.


    He forgot about the Void Gate, which was quite sad and concerning. After all, it was a monument that could bring over things from the Void or other planets in this universe. If that wasn¡¯t a good reason to delay his journey to London by a few minutes, he didn¡¯t know what was.


    ''Leo? I could use an explanation right about now. We''re wasting daylight,'' Nyx grumbled over their connection as they sped past the same neighborhood where he had the memorable encounter with the mad woman.


    Good times... To think it was barely two weeks ago...


    He shook his head; this was no time for reminiscing. "Don''t worry. I just need to check on something. Won''t even take an hour. It''s close."


    Feeling the feline''s question coming, Leo quickly sent an image, or rather a short memory, over their link. Nyx''s query died before it could come, and he smirked lightly.


    ''Oh,'' she tsked. ''I see why you would want to check it. It''s been a while.''


    Yeah...


    Without another word shared between them, the duo left the ruined neighborhood behind and stepped onto the old farmlands. While before the Second Cataclysm, those fields were empty, now all kinds of small flora filled the space. Red, purple, and black represented the majority of colors, though here and there, other hues also slipped in, making the sight even more exotic.


    Some of the plants were even Identify-able, but just like with Bloody Vein, they didn''t seem useful to someone like him. Maybe in the future, once other survivors gained more experience in their jobs, collecting items like that could be worth the time.


    Not that Leo had much of it to ponder about that. Soon, they crossed the nearby road and passed by the remnants of the gas station where he had obtained his first Install item. With all that behind them, it didn''t even take a minute for their new destination to appear in their sight.


    A true Void Gate. Not those little things inside a nest...


    The giant monument didn''t move an inch from its old position. Its black-as-night material still consumed most of the light around it. Only the dark violet veins flowing through the gate, stopped it from being overcome by darkness.


    Yet, upon closer look, Leo quickly discovered this wasn''t the case any longer. Somehow, despite the gate not being active, a tiny amalgamation of swirling energy formed in the middle of the construct. It gleamed with the Void''s usual colors, lightly illuminating the area.


    "This can''t be good," he muttered, pausing a step before the gate''s platform. "There should still be over two weeks left."


    ''Yes... should...''


    Planetary Gateway of the Void:


    Or simply called a Void Gate by the population of the Void and survivors. Planetary Gateways are used to travel between the planets of the same Universe. In contrast, Dimensional Gateways can be used to journey into one of the almost infinite dimensions inside the Void.


    During every Outbreak, hundreds of Gateways grow on every planet. They are made out of living material from the Void and cannot be destroyed by anything weaker than an A-ranked User. Upon destruction, a Gateway will attempt to grow back in another place.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway is still charging and will not activate for another 9 days, 16 hours, and 2 minutes.


    "Either I''m missing a few days of my life, or this countdown somehow sped up," Leo frowned, using Identify again to ensure it didn''t make a mistake. "Honestly, I have no idea which option is more disturbing..."


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''I think both are as bad,'' Nyx mused, her tails poking the dark platform. ''Although, this time, the Second Cataclysm might be responsible. The whole planet changed back then, so why not the gates?''


    "True," he sighed, dismissing the description. "Still, this is bad, very bad. People are barely handling the Voidlings as it is. We don''t need more from outer space and different dimensions... Fuck, and that''s without even considering all the other shit that might come out from those gates."


    ''Timeframes might not be the same for every Void Gate, Leo,'' the feline tried to placate, nudging him with her muzzle. ''We just need to find another one to confirm that. There''s no need to panic over this. Not like we can do much here.''


    Leo perked up at that, his eyes narrowing as they took in the gate. Even if it didn''t work last time, he was stronger now. Much stronger.


    ''Leo, please no.''


    He rolled his eyes, stepping on the platform. "Who is panicking now? Calm down, I''m just gonna check. If anything happens, pull me out."


    Nyx growled as she followed him. ''Sometimes I really hate you.''


    "No, you don''t. Now, focus," Leo ordered, placing his hand a bit away from the gate''s pillar. "Okay... Last time, it almost overwhelmed me within a second. Let''s see if anything has changed."


    With a single move, his hand touched the gate''s surface, the wild, powerful Essence within instantly surging out. However, unlike the last time, it didn''t try to force itself into his body. Instead, it started to pull, trying to drain him dry before he could do anything.


    No thank you. He scoffed, snapping his hand away as, at the same time, Nyx''s tails dragged him away. "I''m fine. It barely took anything."


    ''Are you sure? Even I felt that.''


    "Yeah, all''s good," Leo patted Nyx''s head. "But you''re right, that was something else. Devour is nothing next to what the gate can do. Hell, Ruthless Efficiency almost activated the moment I touched this bloody thing."


    ''I told you it was a bad idea.''


    He withheld the urge to sigh again. As much as he appreciated Nyx''s concern, sometimes she worried too much. They had everything under control, and thanks to his little test, they gained some valuable info.


    "Let''s agree to disagree," he shrugged and stepped off the platform. "Come on. I got what I wanted."


    The feline nodded, and they bounded toward a new destination. Yet, even as he ran, Leo couldn¡¯t stop thinking that he was still forgetting about something.


    Hopefully, he would remember before it was too late.


    <hr>


    A good hour had passed ever since they stepped on the road leading straight to the capital of the UK. Like any other place on the current Earth, the path was far from perfect. Vetilim and the surrounding flora already claimed part of the asphalt while destroyed cars and some Voidlings tried to block anyone from passing.


    Despite the monsters'' surprisingly high levels, they didn''t stand a chance against creatures much stronger than them. Not that Leo and Nyx even tried to fight them. For the most part, they just used shadow arrows or spears to kill as many as possible when they passed by.


    Not each part of the journey was that dull though.


    Already, they had spotted a few new beasts. One of them was a Steelhorn Stag Leo had the pleasure of meeting during the first days of the Outbreak. The mutated deer only spared them a glance before escaping into the forest as if a devil was on its heels.


    Another new Voidling they had encountered was an evolved version of a Seeker, called Spitfire. The beast wasn''t much different from its predecessor. Sure, it grew to be almost twice as large as before, and its tail now possessed a blade at the tip, but apart from that, only one other thing changed.


    Its offensive capabilities manifested in a jet of Essence that Spitfires could shoot from their tail. The small projectiles barely made small holes in the asphalt, but at least they could travel quite far. This was the only reason why those Voidlings survived against Leo and Nyx.


    They just couldn''t hit them, and their shadow constructs faded into nothingness before reaching the target. As such, they let the Spitfires live and went onward, which brought them to this moment.


    Not gonna lie; I didn''t expect to find something like this in the middle of nowhere. Leo snorted as he and Nyx hid behind one of the broken cars, observing the road ahead.


    ''Me too...''


    Wargon (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 18 | Type: Surface, Might, Ground, Armor


    After Cursed Juggernaut, this was probably the largest Voidling he had seen outside of Nests. The giant boar matched the size of the biggest hippos before the Outbreak. And if that wasn''t enough, the beast''s furless skin was covered in spikes and armor plates made of stone. Truly, just as its name implied, the creature was made for war.


    I just wish it was level twenty... Leo grumbled, his gaze darting to the dozen or so Duskboars that feasted on the Voidlings killed by the Wargon.


    ''We can still kill it. It''s free experien...'' Nyx tried to reason, only to be cut off when a series of shouts and gunshots came from afar.


    Looking at the feline, he quirked an eyebrow. Maybe later. I want to check that out.


    She huffed. ''No detours, my ass.''

 Chapter 140. Icy winds

    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Spitfire


    Expected Potential: F+ to E


    Weapon of choice: Jaw, Tail


    Known weaknesses: Essence reserves, Fragile bones


    The most common evolution of the Seeker line. Although not much different from their predecessors, Spitfires''s hit-and-run tactics ascended to another level thanks to their ability to shoot Essence projectiles from their tails. Additionally, their size and swarm attacks can easily overwhelm any smaller target. It is advised to face Spitfires only if you possess long-range fighting capabilities.


    ~ New entry in Leo''s Bestiary


    <hr>


    Leo didn''t even acknowledge Nyx''s jibe and just dived off the road, right into the Voidified forest on their left. The feline still followed a moment later, and he had to hide his smirk when a surge of curiosity went through their link. She could say whatever she wanted, but they both knew the constant running was getting quite dull.


    ''Do you have an idea where it''s all coming from?''


    Remember that last crossroad? He asked, sparing Nyx a quick glance, to which she nodded. Right. So, a few years ago, there was just a straight road there leading to a small town of about five thousand. Then, some higher-ups got mad with the traffic it generated, as it was the only good road towards London, and they decided to create a bypass. Which is the path we have been using before.


    The feline hummed. ''So it seems that not all villages are as dead as we had thought. Or at least not yet...''


    Leo grimaced. They had passed quite a few tiny towns, but none of them showed any signs of normal life. Hell, the Voidlings there were so bored that they had been fighting among each other rather than against survivors. Which painted a pretty disturbing picture.


    Just how long ago did all the people there die? Were there any in the first place? Would it be like that everywhere they went?


    Apparently not. He shook his head, pushing those morbid thoughts away. Let''s hurry, or this place will become yet another ghost town. Who knows, we might be able to steer them towards Woldford. I''m sure Holden could use a couple more capable people.


    Nyx snorted suddenly as they continued to run among the trees. ''I think you''re forgetting about something.''


    Raising an eyebrow, he shot her another look. Oh?


    ''You''re no longer human, Leo,'' she sighed heavily. ''What makes you think those people will even listen to you. I wouldn''t be surprised if they just attacked you on sight. This isn''t Wolford.''


    Leo''s steps faltered, almost making him stop. Shit, you''re right. I got so used to Holden''s group that I forgot how other people will most likely act around me. My bad.


    ''So what now?''


    Nothing. He shrugged, still moving onward. I still want to check this place out. Let''s just find those making the noise and go from here. They might not need our help after all. There are no more screams, only gunshots.


    ''As you wish,'' Nyx replied, their link going silent.


    In a matter of seconds, they pushed past the dense forest foliage, leaving it behind. Up ahead, the remnants of an old town revealed themselves, yet it was far from a regular sight even for the Void consumed Earth. A new System notification only proved that much.


    Warning! You are nearing Tainted Wasteland: Ice. Threat asserted and ranked at level E+. Good Luck. Mutation: Tainted Corruption (Ice) added to the Mutation Index.


    Ah shit... Leo cursed, taking in the view ahead. Of course it has to be another bloody Wasteland. And E+? Just how big is this thing?


    Unlike the scorched earth in Wolford, the landscape here bore a blanket of frost on almost every surface. Even the ground was completely frozen, the dark blue, almost purple ice shimmering in the sunlight. Add to that, scattered throughout were various ice clusters painted with blood or other unknown substances.


    ''As beautiful as it''s disturbing,'' Nyx commented, sitting next to him. ''Those frozen armor plates can become problematic on the stronger Voidlings.''


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Yeah. Leo muttered, scanning the monsters walking at the edge of the town. They, just like the rest of the area, changed their appearance to fit the theme of this Tainted Wasteland. Let me check what we are stepping into.


    Tainted Corruption:


    A mutation of Essence origin directly connected to the existence of Tainted Wastelands. It affects the three main pillars, boosting their overall capabilities by a small margin. Additionally, depending on the aspect of Tainted Corruption, the affected will gain more unique benefits. While creatures with this mutation rarely leave their Tainted Wastelands to not lose their connection to its aspect, it is essential to note that an encounter with Tainted Voidlings outside those areas is still possible. This occurrence is attributed to the presence of Tainted Survivors who cannot halt the spread of their curse.


    Discovered Subcategories:


    Void: The most popular Tainted Corruption. It doesn''t grant any additional abilities except for increased strength, durability, and speed.


    Ice: One of many elemental Tainted Corruptions. Grants increased durability, as well as ice armor plating to those affected. Some Voidlings might also display limited manipulation of said element.


    Alright. Not as bad as I thought. Leo sighed just as another burst of gunshot filled the air. Well then, let''s see what the hell those people are still doing here. Even from here, I can bet this Wasteland has already consumed most of the town.


    ''Lead the way then. This was your idea,'' Nyx grinned, her tails swishing wildly behind her.


    He snorted. "Of course..."


    <hr>


    Sticking mainly to the rooftops, they managed to scout the town within minutes, killing a Voidling here and there. For the most part, Leo''s prediction came true, and somehow, this Tainted Wasteland had already consumed about ninety percent of the city. It painted a horrifying picture, one that became even more scary once they saw some of the creatures walking through the streets.


    Cursed Screamers, Reapers, Brutes, and even some Apex variants. To make matters worse, this tiny town was home to at least four Cursed Juggernauts, one of which led Leo and Nyx here.


    Why are they still fighting? I thought I had a death wish, but this? This is madness. He shook his head, watching the battle at the edge of the Tainted Wasteland.


    For some reason, a group of seven humans ¡ª all at least above level fourteen and already evolved ¡ª was fighting against an ever-increasing horde of Voidlings. They seemed to be handling themselves quite well, but with the Cursed Juggernaut chasing one of them around, that could change very fast.


    A single clean hit was all the beast needed to turn the tide of this battle. Hell, if it decided to switch its target at a random moment, it could finish the fight within seconds. The massive monster was an E rank, after all.


    ''Agree, but you have to admit. Despite being humans, they''re quite impressive,'' Nyx commented as the spectacle continued.


    Essence flashed all around the battlefield as the survivors utilized everything to gain an advantage. From all kinds of projectiles to shields of pure energy and skills that enveloped their bodies or weapons. As Nyx said, they were impressive.


    Not for much longer though. Leo grimaced, spotting three Brutes and a pack of normies slowly approaching in the distance. If there was ever a time to interfere, this is it. Think you can handle the three meatheads and their minions?


    The feline huffed, shadows sneaking out of her body. ''Of course, I can. What kind of question is it?''


    He chuckled, the Blades of Chained Inferno slipping into his hands. Glad to hear that. I will handle the Juggernaut then. Also, don''t try to hide. There is no point. They will see you anyway.


    ''Got it,'' Nyx nodded. ''Good luck.''


    You know. He smiled. This one time, I just might need it if I want to end this without any unnecessary bloodshed.


    Cursed Juggernaut (Tainted Voidling) | Rank: E | LVL: 19 | Type: Surface, Regenerator, Might, Special, Ice


    Fucker will be stronger than a Collector once it reaches level twenty. I have no idea what''s going through their heads to even try fighting this thing. Leo grumbled, speeding across the rooftops to reach a better position. At least their little runner is doing a good job of avoiding it. The question is, how long can he last?


    Doesn''t matter now. He shook his head, gripping the dull edges of Chained Inferno. Even without proper handles, he could make it work. Hopefully, the blood fire would go a long way against the ice armor plates scattered over the Juggernaut''s naked body.


    Leo took a deep breath and waited for the human to make another circle around the area and bring the monster right underneath him. Even if he doubted it, he just might be able to finish this fight with one well-executed move.


    Don''t let it hit me, and be quick. I bet it can kill me faster than a Collector if it catches me.


    Reinforcement surged into his muscles while Bloodlust escaped its cage, filling his veins with raw rage. Kiss of Death enveloped the blades in his hands, and their fire poured out a moment later, drowning the entire weapon in flames.


    Well... A bloodthirsty grin found its way onto his face. Let''s Hunt!

 Chapter 141. Matter of perspective

    Bloody hell! Marcus cried out internally, dashing away from the Cursed Juggernaut''s fists. I should have known this was a horrible idea. Lin, I swear, if we survive this, I''m gonna punch you and then myself. Just to make sure we both remember this.


    Everything had been going so well ever since the second Cataclysm ended. Despite the Tainted Wasteland consuming and wiping out most of Stonehamp, he and his friends still managed to survive and thrive. Hell, their levels and evolved forms spoke for themselves. He would bet there weren''t many survivors out there who could match them.


    If only we didn''t get so cocky. He hissed, rolling out of the way of another swipe. The Juggernaut just wouldn''t give him a break. Shit! Shit! Shit! Why did I want to be the fastest again? I bloody hate this!


    Until yesterday, the most Marcus had to deal with was a Brute or a few Reapers. He would entertain the strongest beasts while the rest of his team killed the stragglers and then focused on the true targets. It had been a good tactic, even a perfect one for them. So when Lin proposed a fight against a Juggernaut like it was nothing, they should have disagreed or at least protested a bit.


    Yet, they didn''t.


    Too much success, a bit of boredom, and a desire to perhaps weaken the Wasteland by killing its strongest warriors made them overconfident. Even he, who was usually the voice of reason in the group, stayed silent, listening to Lin''s plan with a bit too much eagerness.


    Baiting a Juggernaut around won''t be much harder than a Brute, she said. Marcus scowled, pushing more and more Essence into Reinforcement. Like hell, it isn''t! Next time, you can try this yourself, cuz ain''t no way I''m doing this again.


    However, even though he wanted to shout those words in Lin''s face and then hug her, he knew that might never happen. They had attracted way too many Voidlings along with the Juggernaut. His Essence was already over halfway gone, and he didn''t even want to think how bad it had to be for the others.


    At least we''ll die together. He wanted to laugh and cry as the panicked shouts of his friends reached his ears. From the beginning till the end. I guess we had a good run. Our luck had to run out sooner or later. A pity. We should have gotten out of here a long time ago.


    Even as the flames of hope in his heart slowly flickered out, Marcus didn''t give up. He still led the giant Voidling on a wild goose chase, sometimes even getting a chance to score a hit on other unsuspecting monsters here and there. This was the most he could do to help his team. Any more, and he would end as a bloody paste on the ground.


    Come on, guys! We''re better than this. Please! He begged as his vision blurred a bit, the first tears finally coming out. He shook them out and slid along the ice just as the Juggernaut stomped on his previous location. Please!


    Only there was no one there to hear his prayers, and instead, their luck got much worse as multiple roars filled the air. Marcus turned his head, a pit forming in his stomach when he spotted three Brutes approaching from the distance.


    Yeah. He choked back a laugh. We are fucked.


    They had to run, somehow escape this hell. But where to, and how? The Tainted Voidlings would follow even if they left the Wasteland; they had already tested as much. Yet, taking that chance was still much better than dying while fighting a losing battle.


    We need to split up. I will lead this bastard into the woods. Maybe I can lose it there... And if that doesn''t work, Lin and the others will at least have a chance. That''s enough for me.


    That was how he justified his suicide plan, a way for his friends to live. But just before he could open his mouth, another roar consumed the area. The powerful, almost demonic sound straight out of horrors drowned every other noise, freezing more than one Voidling in place.


    Those died a moment later to the blades and Essence of his group, but Marcus barely paid any attention to that. No, his eyes almost immediately snapped to the source of the noise, never expecting it to be a demon on the back of the Juggernaut, who suddenly stopped following him.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Prime Night Hunter | LVL: 27


    What!? B-but that''s a Voidling. W-why is it showing... His thoughts were cut short as someone bumped into his body, pushing him out of the way of a Reaper that almost cut his head off.


    "Wake up, idiot!" Lin shouted, battling the Voidling away, her golden hair swishing with each move. "This is our chance! It''s now or never."


    Still half in shock, Marcus somehow stood up, his Blistering Dagger falling into his hand. "But what about them?! You have seen it too, right?" He shouted, slipping through the Reaper''s defense and jabbing the blade right into its eye.


    "Doesn''t matter," Lin growled, a wave of green Essence escaping her sword. "We just need to fight our way out of this shit! They can kill each other for all I care."


    But if that''s a survivor... No, impossible. He shook his head, quickly cutting down another Cursed Human. There''s no way for anyone to have already turned into something like that. There must be another reason.


    And so, with that thought in mind, Marcus put most of his focus on the battle ahead. The rest of his group joined him and Lin, getting into a formation they had used many times before. Support, defense, offense, they all knew their roles.


    Even as they passed the Wasteland''s border, he sometimes managed to take a quick glance at the fight they left behind. Chains of fire registered in his vision first, followed by masses of shadows clashing against the ice giant. The Night Hunter ran circles around the larger beast, cutting and slashing whenever it could.


    Constant howls of pain escaped the Juggernaut''s mouth, but it never backed off and just continued swinging. Wherever it hit, ice exploded, raining sharp shards upon the battlefield. Those always killed a random Voidling or two, but never the Hunter.


    The dark demon was just too fast, too slippery. And with the fire upon its chains appearing stronger each time Marcus looked, he knew who would be the winner there.


    We have to hurry. This thing will slaughter us.


    With renewed fire burning bright in his chest, he took the charge. Harden enveloped his fist as he crashed it against a Runner, its head popping like a balloon. His dagger followed right after, catching another Voidling off guard.


    The beasts kept coming, still trying to chase them even outside the Wasteland. However, their numbers dwindled as quite a few Voidlings went for the Hunter instead. Not that the demon minded. It just slaughtered the annoyances as if they were ants.


    Only a bit mor-


    Time seemed to stop as a final howl pierced the heavens, followed by a loud thud that shook the ground. Marcus, his friends, and hell, even Voidlings, turned to witness the Juggernaut''s final moment as flames consumed its body.


    And then, within a blink of an eye, it all disappeared. The chains, the fire, and even the giant''s corpse. Only the Hunter and a pile of dust remained, of which the former was looking straight at them.


    Fuck.


    The Voidlings were first to react, abandoning their chase and running away as fast as they could. They didn''t even care about going back to the Wasteland as long as it got them out of the Hunter''s sight.


    "Guys. Run!"


    At once, they all broke into a mad dash toward the forest. Marcus, despite being the fastest, stayed at the back of the pack. He wouldn''t leave anyone behind.


    Come on! Come on! Don''t follow us!


    Once more, his prayers were left unanswered when a dark form sped past them. They tried to swerve to the side, but a surge of shadows cut off that path too, surrounding them in a circle.


    "For fuck''s sake, stop and listen!" A low, but powerful growl came from the demon blocking their escape. "I mean you no harm, you bunch of idiots. Just got a piece of advice. That''s all."


    Despite the obvious human response and act, nobody even dared to move or speak out. Not even Lin, who never had a problem with voicing her thoughts.


    We are dead. Marcus gulped, heart thrumming in his chest. Please let it be fast.


    Only no attack came. The demon just sighed while muttering something nobody could hear.


    "Whatever," it shook its head. "Whether you ignore it or not, I don''t care, but if you people are looking for a place to rest, go to Wolford and enter from the north. You will find a Safe Zone there."


    With that said, the shadow walls collapsed, but once more, no one moved.


    The beast rolled its eyes. "What are you all waiting for? Go. I won''t follow."


    Quietly, Marcus shared a look with everyone in the group before connecting his eyes with Lin. She appeared just as scared as him but still managed to nod, showing three fingers behind her back and starting the countdown.


    "Now!" She screamed, and everyone dashed toward the forest.


    <hr>


    Leo snorted, watching the human group disappear between the trees. They sure could run if given the right incentive.


    ''Do you think they will listen?'' Nyx asked, coming to a stop beside him. ''It sure didn''t seem like it.''


    He shrugged. "No idea. It''s not my problem anyway. I did what I could." He glanced at the feline, raising an eyebrow. "Had fun?"


    She huffed, licking the remaining blood off her muzzle. ''I wish. You?''


    "Learned something useful, but apart from that?" Leo sighed, his shoulders dropping. "Not really..."

 Chapter 142. Instance

    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Wargon


    Expected Potential: E- to D-


    Weapon of choice: Overall Strength, Minor Ground Affinity


    Known weaknesses: Speed


    A powerful evolution of the Duskboar line. Unlike their predecessors, Wargons sacrifice their agility for durability and strength. Their tough hide, combined with bone armor plates, can resist most abilities and weapons of E-rank survivors. Usually, identifying a Wargon''s weak spots is the only way to defeat it. Please note, though, that those spots vary from beast to beast. Additionally, some Wargons in their later stages of this evolution are capable of using ground affinity.


    ~ New entry in Leo''s Bestiary


    <hr>


    "And it''s gone... Dammit," Leo grumbled, scanning the road ahead. "Could have been a nice addition to the team for the time being..."


    ''It would only slow us down. You read its Bestiary entry after all,'' Nyx reasoned, nudging what remained of the bodies that the Wargon and its pack left behind. ''In any case, we can find another one in the future. No need to get angry about this.''


    He sighed, pulling his gaze away from the surrounding forest. "Suppose that''s true," he shook his head. "At least it wasn''t level twenty. Now that would''ve been a waste..."


    The feline snorted, trekking to join his side. ''You really want this mutation, don''t you?"


    Leo nodded as they both resumed their run along the road. Why wouldn''t I? I''m not dumb enough to think I''m unkillable thanks to my unique evo and high level. If a Cursed Juggernaut or a Collector scores a clean hit on me, I''m probably dead anyway. My defense is a bit lacking, and that''s putting it lightly.


    Nyx hummed. ''You think a bit stronger skin will fix that?''


    No. He replied bluntly, earning a sharp look from his companion. But you have to start somewhere. I''m hoping this mutation will unlock others with similar capabilities. Aside from that, we should definitely work on some defensive abilities. My shadows barely withstand the weakest attacks.


    ''That''s... fair. My only real defense is my shadow form," she admitted with a bit of shame entering their link.


    Silence followed right after, leaving them to travel in peace. However, it didn''t last long. ''Say... What did you mean back in the Wasteland?''


    Leo furrowed his brow, sparing the feline a short glance. Not sure I follow.


    ''You said you learned something useful,'' Nyx explained. ''I didn''t get to ask about it before you ran after the Wargon.''


    Ohhh, that''s what you mean... I was talking about the Blood Fire my chain-scythes generate. Wouldn''t you know? Apparently, the flames get stronger the more blood they come in contact with. It definitely explains the name.


    In the corner of his vision, Nyx stumbled, almost crumbling to the ground. ''That''s it? With the way you said it, I expected something more.''


    Leo shrugged. I mean, it''s still important. Ever-growing flames are nothing to scoff at. I''m just kinda disappointed it took me so long to realize this.


    The feline chuckled. ''Happens to the best of us, Leo.''


    <hr>


    With their short detour left in the past, Leo and Nyx sped past all other towns on the way, not even trying to find any more survivors. Sure, they still had enough daylight, but they both agreed that arriving in London just before the night wasn''t the best idea. The capital was a large unknown, and having some time to scout it out could save them a lot of pain later on.


    Yet, despite that, a good few kilometers away from their destination, something forced them to stop. It wasn''t anything really dangerous, but rather way out of place...


    Leo rubbed his eyes and blinked again. No, still there. He looked at Nyx, who, just like him, couldn''t take her eyes from the anomaly in front of them. I take I''m not the only one seeing this?


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Finally, the feline dragged her gaze back to him. ''If by this you mean the random winter shack surrounded by a blue barrier in front of us, then yes... Is your Identify working?''


    He shook his head and moved to inspect the weird structure once more. As Nyx had described, likening it to a wooden winter shack was quite apt. The fact that it had somehow sprouted right in the middle of the road, and was surrounded by a blue, transparent dome, only added to the strangeness of the situation.


    It''s just one thing after another. Leo snorted with a light shake of his head. "Come on, let''s take a look."


    Like always, the feline was more hesitant to act at first. ''Do we really need to? We''re close to London''s outskirts.''


    He rolled his eyes. "Don''t worry. I didn''t say go in guns blazing. Just a look, that''s all. Knowledge is power, remember."


    Nyx let out a heavy sigh, but he just ignored her and slowly approached the unique barrier. Blue definitely wasn''t a color he had seen a lot since the Outbreak began. It was always red, purple, and black, nothing less, nothing more.


    Hopefully, this little variety won''t try to kill me...


    A few steps away from the dome, Leo released a quick Hunter''s Pulse, but just like with Identify, it failed. It was like the entire place didn''t exist to his abilities.


    Alright, plan C.


    Bending down, he grabbed a small pebble and, without any further ado, threw it at the barrier. The stone went right through and landed harmlessly on the other side.


    Okay... Not sure what that really means. Guess it''s time for plan D.


    <hr>


    "Alright," Leo clapped his hands, his eyes on the lone Cursed Reaper standing in front of the barrier. "On three, you will step through, understand?"


    The minion nodded, its violet eyes glinting.


    "Great. Let''s do it then. One. Two. Three!"


    At once, the lone Voidling dashed forward, ready to pierce the mysterious dome. Only it didn''t happen. Instead, the moment the beast came in contact with the barrier, it glowed briefly and zapped the monster back, launching it into the forest.


    In the end, the Reaper survived, but going by the loud crack, it could have gone better.


    ''Interesting...''


    Leo blinked. "Yeah... That''s one way to put it. I probably should have told it to go slowly and not run into it."


    ''Are you giving up?''


    "No," he shook his head. "Time to test it out by myself. I know what to expect now, and you can always catch me."


    Before he could move towards the barrier, a shadow tail cut off his path. ''Hold on. Let me try first. I can always turn into my shadow form if anything goes wrong.''


    Biting his lip, Leo nodded. "Right. Good idea."


    He could have argued, but between the two of them, Nyx was really better suited for this task. Besides, he doubted she would let him go first anyway. Her protective instincts were growing stronger with each hour.


    ''I swear if it zaps me...'' The feline muttered yet still raised her paw. It slowly came closer and closer to the barrier until...


    ''Huh,'' Nyx tilted her head as her limb passed through the dome. ''Leo, come here. A System message came up when I touched it. You need to see it.''


    With a frown, he followed in her steps and grazed the barrier. The effect was instantaneous, and a notification flashed in front of his eyes.


    Warning! You''re entering an Expanded Instance belonging to Naz''Tor of the Merchant faction. Violence, thievery, and the use of teleportation abilities will not be tolerated. Please enter and leave your grudges behind. Here, only Ether and trade matters.


    The System''s protection will remain active as long as the user doesn''t break this instance''s rules.


    Leo blinked again, making sure he read it right. This didn''t look like a standard notification. More like someone wrote it themselves and just used the System as the messenger.


    Though, at least the second part seems normal. He glanced at Nyx. What do you think? Got anything.


    The feline shook her head as she fully stepped through the barrier. ''Unfortunately, no. I''m just as surprised as you are.''


    He snorted, joining her on the other side. Well then. We''re once more walking into the unknown. I would love to say that it''s been a while, but it really hasn''t.


    ''If the notification didn''t lie then we''re under the System''s protection, but just in case...'' Instantly, Nyx burst into a cloud of shadows and dove right at him, hiding under his cloak. ''Let''s go in like this. I can act as a makeshift armor.''


    Leo stumbled slightly, grimacing as the feline''s shadows enveloped his entire body. A little warning would have been nice.


    ''Stop complaining and go.''


    With another eye roll, he did as was told and creaked the door open, quickly sliding in.


    Nothing could have prepared him for what awaited inside.


    Somehow, the small wooden shack appeared much larger on the inside, easily accommodating rows of shelves laden with all kinds of items. Among them were weapons, armor pieces, glowing orbs of unknown origin, mysterious ingredients, and much more, all shielded by thin white barriers.


    To make matters more interesting, the entire place was free of the Void. Not a speck of Vetilim or Corcera lingered in sight. Moreover, it stood out as the cleanest building Leo had encountered since the Outbreak began; not even old ReachHope could compare.


    Holy shit... Did I somehow step into a Harry Potter book?

 Chapter 143. The Merchant

    Overwhelmed by the strangeness of this situation and the sheer number of items around him, Leo unconsciously drifted further into the mysterious shop. He went from one shelf to another, his eyes drinking in the sights even if Identify refused to work on anything. Either the thin barrier stopped the skill, or something else was at work.


    This place is getting better and better. He frowned, stopping right in front of a wide staircase leading to the upper floor. Someone made this building not only wider but also taller on the inside. How powerful do you have to be to do this?


    ''I don''t like this,'' Nyx mumbled, tightening the shadows around his body.


    Leo grimaced. Yeah, me neither. If not for the System''s message, I would be running as fast away from here as I can. Let''s just check out what''s on the first floor and then get out. As fancy as this place looks, I don''t want to get trapped here.


    ''As you wish.''


    Just as he placed his foot on the first step, a loud creak echoed through the building. He stiffened, snapping his head towards the abandoned marble shop counter and the door hidden behind it. It was opened now, and the figure that slithered out froze the blood in his veins.


    What in the Void is this... Leo gulped as the tall entity stopped at the counter and seemed to stare right at him.


    Not that it possessed any eyes to even do that. Hell, it lacked any other standard facial features. The thing was just an amalgamation of long and short tentacles that whirled all around, forming a visage of a body that looked almost humanoid.


    "Oh my... A customer. Finally," the creature spoke, its low and masculine voice drawing out each word. "A fledging Akirian no less. My, my, how... curious."


    Instantly, Leo tensed, his tails slithering out of the cloak''s cover even as his blades were ready to spring into action. This was the first time someone aside from the Lone Traveler and Nikra mentioned Akirians. And so, despite already knowing the truth, this only confirmed that the being in front of him didn''t belong on Earth.


    ? | LVL: ?


    Of course... Nyx?


    ''I got not...'' The feline tried to answer. Only to be cut off by the tentacle creature.


    "Calm down, child. I mean you and your little companion no harm. Violence is bad for business, after all," the being chuckled, though it sounded more like a growl. "I can promise you that as long as you heed the message you read upon entering this place, you will leave satisfied."


    Leo swallowed, stepping off the stairs but not coming any closer to the counter. Even with the System''s protection active, there was no reason to risk it any further.


    "Who are you?"


    "Ah, forgive me. It''s so rare for me to go without customers for even a single light cycle that I forgot my manners." The creature bowed. "I''m Naz''Tor of the Merchant faction, and this is my humble shop. Everything you see here and more is for sale. That''s if you have the necessary Ether, of course."


    Despite not having a face, Leo could easily tell that the creature was wearing the equivalent of a smirk. To be honest, he didn''t know how to feel about that, but considering that neither Nyx nor his own instincts told him to run, he relaxed his shoulders just a bit.


    "Leo Hale."


    "A former human then. And you''re already an Akirian. Wonderful. Truly amazing," Naz''Tor gushed, but his unique voice only made it sound creepy. The swirling tentacles definitely didn''t help. "And your friend? You can come out. I don''t bite."


    He was about to warn Nyx against revealing herself, but the feline just dived out, the dark cloud going for the nearest empty spot. Upon reforming, she instantly bowed lightly to the shopkeeper.


    ''Nyx,'' she said as if anyone other than him could hear her.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "Apex Shadow Claw. What a duo," Naz''Tor hummed. "It''s a shame you can''t talk out loud yet. Hopefully, this will change with your next evolution. I can see the intelligence shining behind your eyes. Not to mention your bond... My, my. Earth has always been an intriguing place, but this? This is a first. I doubt even my wife will believe me when I tell her."


    Leo and Nyx shared a quick look. That''s got to be the cheeriest tentacle monster in the universe... I dare anyone to prove me wrong.


    ''You really shouldn''t tempt fate...''


    "Now, now. Stop standing there like a pair of Velxian statues. Approach. I''m sure you have questions. As my first customers on this Earth, I will answer most of them for free," Naz''Tor announced, a few of his tentacles stretching to the sides.


    He looked almost like a human with their arms open in welcome. Only in this case, the one welcoming them was a creature full of long, dark tentacles that seemed ready to strangle anything that came too close.


    Nonetheless, Leo drew in a deep breath and slowly approached the counter, Nyx trailing right behind. They still stopped a good few feet away, though. The mysterious shopkeeper was far from trustworthy.


    "You will answer everything?" He prodded, testing the waters. "Truthfully?"


    The tentacles fell, and the creature tilted the top of his body. "Within reason, of course. If you ask something I don''t want to answer, I won''t lie to you. It''s poor business practice and only drives customers away. Instead, I will present you with a price. If you agree to it, the information is yours, and the System will guarantee its legitimacy."


    I guess thanks to the job system, this might be possible... Ah, whatever. Why not?


    Shrugging, Leo decided on his first question or rather questions. "Then if you don''t mind, how are you here? Are some of the Void Gates already active? Are we getting even more Voidlings on Earth soon?"


    "Excellent questions!" Naz''Tor beamed. "I will gladly answer those just to ease your fears."


    "You see, normally, until the System allows it, nobody can enter the new universe right after the Outbreak. We, Merchants I mean, are the exception to this rule. I can''t go into details, but as long as we follow specific steps and limitations, the System doesn''t mind us slipping in. So as you see, I''m just a harmless shopkeeper."


    Harmless, my ass. Leo almost scoffed, Identify''s results fresh in his mind. Still, good to know.


    "What about the Gates? What will happen once they activate?"


    The shop owner tsked, a few tentacles slithering beneath the counter. A moment later, they came back, dragging a small transparent crystal. Another tentacle tapped the object once, and it pulsed brightly only to settle after a second. Yet this time, there was a weak blue glow inside it.


    "The subject of Void Gates is a complicated matter. Many researchers study them to this day, trying to uncover more of their secrets," the shopkeeper explained. "For now, all you need to know is that you have no reason to fear them. At least for quite some time." He pushed the crystal toward the end of the counter. "If you would like more information, I can offer you this."


    Leo furrowed his brow, coming even closer. "What is it? Identify doesn''t work."


    "It wouldn''t. Not here," Naz''Tor nodded. "As for this little thing, it''s a Neuron Shard. A natural crystal capable of storing small amounts of information. This one, in particular, carries the basic information package about the Gates. All you have to do is to crush it."


    Of course there is an item that can transfer knowledge. Why am I even surprised? He shook his head lightly. "How can I be sure you''re not lying? For all I know, this could be some random glowing rock."


    "Good, good!" The merchant exclaimed, looking as if he was about to burst from happiness. "Never trust words alone... Now for your warranty. Here you go, little Akirian."


    Trade offer detected. Do you wish to display details?


    Eyes widening, Leo didn¡¯t wait long to answer.


    Acknowledged. Displaying an offer from Naz''Tor. Trade type: Item for Ether. Terms: Unnegotiable.


    Offered: Ownership of Neuron Shard containing basic information about "Void Gates" (System Verified)


    Price: 750 Ether


    Do you accept this trade?


    How much?! That''s more than half of a mutation. I mean, I can pay it easily, but still. Leo looked back at the merchant. "Is this price normal? I doubt most survivors on Earth even have this much."


    Naz''Tor shook the top of his body. "Not quite. This is half of the regular price. If you accept, I have another offer ready for you. One that would benefit both of us. It''s my wish to continue our partnership in the future."


    "So you are bribing me," he snorted.


    The tentacles performed the equivalent of a shrug. "Call it what you will, child. For me, it''s business. Nothing less, nothing more... Now, your decision?"


    Leo sighed, turning to his right.


    Nyx?


    The feline tilted her head. ''I see no reason to refuse for now. In the long run, this much Ether is nothing for us.''


    Yeah, my thoughts exactly... Alright then, System. Accept the trade.

 Chapter 144. Contract

    Processing...


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Do you wish to transfer the goods you bought to your Soul Well?


    Interesting. Leo quirked an eyebrow as he dismissed the System''s query and stepped even closer to the counter. Does it mean... Yeah. Yes, it does. Nice.


    Neuron Shard (Common):


    A small piece of Neurite Crystal that can be found in most caves on Essence-rich planets. Depending on the shard''s quality and size, it may store a certain amount of information. Precise control over Essence and memories is required to transfer any knowledge into a Neuron Shard.


    Currently stored: Basic information about Void Gates.


    Mindful of the creature behind the counter, he slowly picked up the shard and backed off. The thing felt similar to Crystalized Essence, though it was a bit warmer to the touch every time the light within pulsed.


    "Just crush it, right?" He asked, looking up.


    Naz''Tor nodded. "Indeed. Do that, and the stored knowledge will enter your mind. It''s a process very similar to obtaining a new skill from the System."


    "Alright then," Leo muttered, applying some pressure to the shard. Nyx, if anything bad happens, pick me up and get the hell away from here.


    ''Understood.''


    Great. Then let''s find out if I didn''t just waste almost a thousand Ether.


    With that thought in mind, he closed his fist, and the shard burst into hundreds of tiny pieces. Unlike what he expected, they didn''t fall to the floor. Instead, they all turned into specks of light and sunk into his hand.


    And that was when he felt it.


    Knowledge, alien yet understandable, rushed into his head, offering precisely what the merchant promised. It showed him how all Void Gates had different activation times and how the timers could be accelerated by unique circumstances, Cataclysms being among them. It also explained that the activation could be delayed, but there was no mention of ''how.''


    However, the piece of information that intrigued Leo the most came at the end. It clarified that even upon activation of a Void Gate, the new Universe wouldn''t immediately be overrun by all-powerful beings from the Void. Initially, only low-ranked creatures could enter them, and over time, the gates would strengthen, letting more beings pass through.


    It was yet another protection the system granted to new Universes ¡ª one among many, according to the shard.


    Finally some good news. Leo shook his head lightly, letting the sudden surge of knowledge fade into the depths of his mind. Though, low-rank doesn''t mean weak, not for us. I''m only at E, and I doubt there are many others like me...


    He glanced at the merchant. "Do you mind elaborating on something from the shard?"


    "Ask and I shall consider if it requires another deal."


    Of course. Leo held back a snort. "What did it mean by ''low-ranked''? I''m pretty sure you and I have a different interpretation of this."


    "Indeed," Naz''Tor bowed. "Forgive me, I should have specified this within the shard. It''s been quite some time since I had a customer below D rank."


    Good to know. It raises a question, though. What are you doing in the middle of nowhere? This doesn''t seem right.


    Unaware of his thoughts, the merchant continued. "For most inside the Void, ''low-rank'' means F and E grade threats. Those are all you have to worry about for the time being. Waves of D ranks will take at least a few weeks to show. Although a weaker D minus might slip in before that."


    The burden that had been growing larger ever since Leo left Wolford suddenly disappeared from his shoulders. Nine days might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but a few weeks?


    That he could work with. He was already powerful enough to match Nightmares. Now, he just had to stay ahead of the curve.


    It shouldn''t be that hard... The only problem is that if we don''t find any other source of experience, Nightmares might be our only choice.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Not that he had anything against hunting down Collectors. Prey was prey after all. The only issue came from his current destination. He had no clue how well London came out after the Outbreak and Cataclysm, and until he found out, he would rather not get caught in a Nightmare pursuit.


    Even if Ruthless Efficiency saved him last time, it might not do so again.


    I will figure this out later. Leo sighed, addressing the merchant again. "Thanks, that''s good to know... So about that other offer. What''s that about?"


    "Ah, yes!" Naz''Tor exclaimed, his tentacles whirling in excitement. "Just... A... Moment... And here you go, my dear customer!"


    Trade contract offer detected. Display now?


    Contract? He quirked an eyebrow at the same time as Nyx''s curiosity leaked into their link. Now it''s starting to feel like some telemarket call. But sure, show me.


    System-verified trade contract offer between Leonardo Brown and Naz''Tor. Displaying stipulations:


    - All types of businesses will be safeguarded by the System.


    - Unless agreed otherwise, prices must adhere to a fair range as per the market database accessible to the System.


    - Naz''Tor will be granted the first opportunity to propose terms for any official trade initiated by Leonardo Brown.


    - A 20% discount will be applied to all purchases made by Leonardo Brown.


    - Unless agreed otherwise, details of each official trade will be kept confidential.


    - This contract has to be renewed every three months of Earth.237''s time. Both sides have to agree.


    - Both parties agree to work towards mutual benefit. Selling information about the other party is prohibited.


    Violation of any of the stipulations above will render this contract null and result in the imposition of a System-approved fine on the offending party.


    Do you wish to accept?


    "That''s... very formal," Leo muttered, his eyes opened wide. "And here I thought shit like this died with the Outbreak."


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "Nothing could be further from the truth. The Void is full of legalities, politics, and other bullcrap. Usually, you can stay away from it, but every once in a while it''s necessary to get your hands dirty."


    Furrowing his brow, Leo took a short peek at the mass of tentacles before him. Hands? He shook his head. "Right... Just have one question. Why? Why give me an offer like this? It seems a bit too good for a random guy you¡¯ve just met."


    "And that''s where you''re wrong, child. This is an investment in the future," the merchant deflected. "I have just as much to gain from this as you do, if not more."


    With how he speaks, it''s hard to say if he''s just buttering me up or is honest to a fault. What a weird guy.


    "How so?"


    "''How so,'' he asks..." Naz''Tor mumbled. "Child, you''re a full-fledged Akirian on freshly initiated Universe. That''s not rare, but almost impossible for a human to achieve in this timeframe! If you''ve managed this already, I can only imagine what will come next. I expect great things from you, and with them a lot of Ether for me!"


    You know what, Nyx? Scratch what I said about him before. I think he just might be mad... I''m starting to see the pattern here.


    ''Same, Leo. Same,'' the feline chuckled. ''At least he seems like a genuine person... Well, a genuine opportunist.''


    Yeah... It''s just I can''t believe this is a coincidence. What are the odds that a former human with an Old One''s shard meets a Void merchant right after leaving his first city?


    ''Very low,'' Nyx admitted.


    Exactly. Leo grimaced but hid it well. "Say I accept. How do I even contact you? Do I have to come back here?"


    "Of course not!" Naz''Tor exclaimed indignantly. "If you accept, I have a gift for you that will solve this issue."


    Oh well... Might as well. I can always break the contract after three months. Leo decided and provided the System with his answer. Go on.


    Trade contract accepted. Naz''Tor is now your contracted merchant. Aside from a few exceptions, you may trade with each other regardless of distance.


    Huh, that sure helps a bit.


    "Excellent!" Naz''Tor beamed, his dark skin lightening a bit. "Now, before I present you with my gift, is there anything you need? Even if I don''t have it, I will procure it as fast as possible."


    Leo frowned. There were a lot of things he needed, mostly information. However, he didn''t require it all right away. Most of the stuff could wait as he didn''t want to spend all his Ether in a matter of minutes. He still needed it for mutations, Limit Break, and other possible surprises.


    Still... There are two things I could use now, well, maybe three. Could be a good test run to see if all his info is legit.


    "Soulscape and Vital Strike," he said out loud. "I feel like I''m close to figuring out the former, but I''m still missing something. If you have some kind of a guide, it would be helpful. As for the latter, I have almost no idea how the skill even works, much less how to improve it."


    Naz''Tor exploded in chuckles. "My, I really lucked out with you. This will be the beginning of a wonderful partnership."


    Leo¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. "So I take it you can help me?"


    "Of course, of course. Here!" The merchant placed another two Neuron Shards on the counter and pushed them towards him. "The red one has all the basics needed to reach your Soulscape. The precise method differs from person to person, but those points still stand. As for the blue shard, it will grant you full knowledge about Vital Strike. How you improve it is entirely up to you. I will throw it for free if you want both."


    This time, a full grin settled on his face.


    Now that''s what I''m talking about.

 Chapter 145. Knowledge

    Displaying contracted trade offer.


    Offered: Ownership of 2x Neuron Shard containing information about "Vital Strike" and "Soulscape basics." (System Verified)


    Price: 1600 Ether


    Do you accept this trade?


    Once again, Leo glanced at the merchant, one eyebrow quirked up. "Honestly? Thought it would be more expensive. This doesn''t sound like common information."


    "Not exactly," Naz''Tor hummed. "Contrary to what you may believe, information isn''t the issue when trying to gain access to your soulscape. No, the issue lies in the technique. As I already mentioned, it differs from person to person, and that''s why a lot of denizens of the Void have a problem with it. Knowledge, while important, isn''t too hard to come by if you know where to look."


    "Interesting," he muttered, accepting the trade. So, in the end, I probably could have gotten this info for free within the Void. Not that it''s even an option, but still...


    Almost two thousand Ether might have taken away a good chunk of his reserves, but he really needed this information. With Adam sleeping within his soul, he had to hurry, or the boy would wake up alone and most likely go into a rage. He had to be there when that happened...


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Do you wish to transfer the goods you bought to your Soul Well?


    This time, Leo didn''t dismiss the message right away. He still stepped forward and grabbed the red shard, but the other one was left standing on the counter, waiting. Not for long though, as a quick mental command had the item consumed by a bright golden flash.


    "My, a Soul Well already," the merchant chuckled. "I can see why you seek knowledge about Soulscapes... Hmm, would you mind sharing how you even found out about this ability? Was it pure experimentation, unique artifacts, or maybe a System reward? No fear, I will pay you kindly for this information."


    "And then sell it to others?" He shot back instantly, already knowing the answer.


    "But of course!" Naz''Tor nodded. "Business is business. As long as someone asks the correct question, I will give them what they need."


    That''s what I thought. Leo shook his head. "Then forgive me, but I''m gonna pass. That''s not something I want to share yet."


    The last thing he needed was for a Void merchant to discover his connection to an Old One. Even if his trust in the Lone Traveler might have faltered due to Nyx''s influence, in the end, the man was likely correct. Once people learned about the shard within his chest, Voidlings would be the least of his concerns.


    I need to be careful how I speak to him. I shouldn''t have used Soul Well, but I thought he already knew... My mistake.


    "Really now?" The merchant leaned forward, his tentacles swishing. "Now, you''ve made me curious... Oh well, hopefully, you will change your mind one day. My offer will stand till then. Tales of adventures and unique findings are some of my favorite things to obtain. You can never have too many of those."


    "Knowledge is power, right?" Leo snorted.


    "Exactly! I''m glad to see you understand." Naz''Tor beamed. "Even in battle, power alone can only take you so far... Well, at least that''s the case if both combatants are of the same rank," he added a bit quieter.


    Memories of dozens of slaughtered Voidlings flashed in his mind, all of them unable to even touch him. Yeah... On that, we can agree.


    "Ah, but enough about that," the merchant shook the top of his body. "I already took enough of your time. So unless you want to buy something else, I would like to present you with a way for us to contact each other. My gift for my new regular customer."


    Leo shared a look with Nyx before shrugging. "We''re good for now. Go on."


    "Wonderful!" Naz''Tor exclaimed, a pair of tentacles reaching deep into his body. They remained there for a good moment, but once they slithered out, something else stuck to them like glue.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    A ball? He frowned, squinting at the small metallic orb. It didn''t look like anything special, and once again, Identify refused to activate. He really should have expected that.


    "Here you go, my new friend," the merchant stated, placing the orb on the counter. "A quick trade to transfer the ownership, and this TEK Transmitter is yours. It might not be the newest model, but it should serve you well."


    Just as he finished speaking, another trade offer popped up in Leo''s vision. This one required no Ether from him, so he accepted right away, his curiosity at an all-time high.


    "Transmitter?" He murmured, picking up the item. "Let''s see."


    TEK Transmitter V6.7 (Uncommon):


    A piece of technological and magical marvel created by the Technology-Essence Kompany. With just one click of a button, it offers a semi-connected System interface capable of contacting anyone almost anywhere. For software updates, please visit one of TEK''s salons.


    Leo blinked, then blinked again.


    It¡¯s a high-tech phone? He thought, placing a claw above the only button. And here I thought technology was dead.


    Without waiting for another second, he pressed the button. Only for his eyes to widen when a notification appeared out of nowhere.


    System connection established. Owner set to: Leonardo Brown. Activating...


    And just like that, a brand new menu emerged, one similar yet different from the System''s. It presented everything that Leo had expected after reading the description. Chat, calls, and contacts. Everything was there. Hell, he even found an option to change his display name. Which he used right away, setting it to just ¡®Leo Hale¡¯.


    "That''s... incredible," he muttered, eyes still wide.


    Naz''Tor laughed. "I see you like the gift. Just so you know, I''ve already added my contact there. Anytime you need something, just call or message me. I will try to respond as fast as I can."


    Leo quickly checked, and indeed, the merchant''s info was already there. He looked up. "Just how much is this thing worth?"


    Naz''Tor waved him off. "Definitely more than you possess, but not even close enough to put a dent in my holdings. Don''t worry; this is just another investment on my side."


    He narrowed his eyes, but nodded in the end. Even if the merchant didn''t lie, this wasn''t the full truth either. He had lived through enough to know that.


    ''Don''t overthink it, Leo,'' Nyx nudged him. ''We just got to be careful around him. Not much more we can do.''


    Yeah, I know. Withholding a sigh, he bowed lightly instead. "Thank you. This will certainly make my life easier in the future."


    "There''s no need for that," Naz''Tor said. "This will benefit us both. I just hope you will remember to use it."


    "I will," Leo swore, placing the transmitter in his Soul Well while his other hand still gripped the red Neuron Shard. "You probably won''t need to wait too long for a call. Not with where I am going..."


    "Ah, the fallen city of London is your next destination, I presume?" Upon getting a nod, the merchant continued. "Then, before you depart, let me give you a warning. Free of charge this time."


    Leo tensed, giving Naz''Tor full attention.


    "I haven''t been there in this Outbreak yet, but my senses are strong enough to know that you won''t have an easy time," the merchant explained. "Regions with higher population density tend to be more dangerous. Voidlings are stronger, more vicious, and level up quicker. You will still have an advantage, but it won''t be as large as before. Another thing is the confusing signature I can¡¯t recognize without getting closer. I have an idea what it might be, but there''s something wrong with it. I can tell you more once you find the source."


    Yeah... I''m not even surprised that London might be ten times more dangerous than Wolford. Leo shook his head, shooting the shopkeeper a look. "Already making sure I run to you for help?"


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "What can I say? I have to keep my contacts fresh."


    He snorted and nudged Nyx, motioning to the door. "Well, thanks for the warning. We''ll be going now if you don''t mind."


    "Of course, of course!" The merchant gave a shallow bow. "I wish you luck in your travels, child. May the Void go easy on your soul."


    Noting the weird goodbye, Leo nodded back and opened the exit, finally leaving the shop behind.


    ''That was an interesting pitstop,'' Nyx noted, trotting next to him as they passed through the barrier.


    That''s one way to call it. He chuckled. I still don''t believe this was a coincidence, but well, at least we didn''t leave empty-handed.


    At once, Leo crushed the Neuron Shard in his grasp. The knowledge filtered through his head, most of what he already knew. Yet, there was a small piece of information that stood out, something that he had been indeed missing.


    I''m an idiot. He palmed his face, almost dragging his claws over it.


    ''What?''


    Nothing. Nothing at all, Nyx... Come on. We still have a bit of the road left.


    <hr>


    Back in the shop, Naz''Tor smiled beneath the hundreds of tentacles covering his true body.


    "My, my... What an interesting pair we''ve found," he chuckled. "I can''t wait for your call, Leo Hale."

 Chapter 146. The river

    Leo stopped suddenly, his hand raised as a sudden pressure settled on his shoulder. There was no explanation for it. They hadn''t even entered London''s outskirts yet, and the night was still a good few hours away.


    "Do you feel it?" He asked, trying to expand his meager senses to find the source of his troubles.


    Nyx nodded. ''Indeed. It''s weaker from what comes during the night, but...''


    "It''s still disconcerting," he finished for her. "Yeah... My thoughts exactly. And I think we both have and idea where it''s coming from. Naz''Tor warned us after all. Shit, it''s worse than I expected, and we''re not even there yet."


    ''Don''t lose faith, Leo. Remember what you''ve promised.''


    He sighed. "I know. I know. Sorry, old habits die hard." Shaking his head, he turned away from the road and looked right at the forest to the north. "We go through there. If I''m not wrong, it should let us get to Dartford in a few minutes."


    Nyx shot him a look. ''What? Why? We''re almost there. Why change the path now?''


    "The Thames River," Leo answered right away. "I want to see what happened to it before we go any deeper. It runs through the entire London, after all."


    ''You think...''


    He shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not, but I''m not gonna ignore his warning. Besides, it wouldn''t hurt to find out if there are any water-type Voidlings in the river that we should be aware of. You can never have too much information."


    Finally, the feline nodded. ''So be it. Lead the way then. I know nothing of these parts of the world.''


    Leo snorted, jumping off the road and diving into the forest. Trust me, I''m not much better off. I''m running on what I remember from the internet maps, my trips to London, and the few remaining signs we saw on the way.


    Nyx joined in the laughter. ''Why am I not surprised?''


    <hr>


    Wait for me here. Leo ordered, jumping onto the tallest tree in the area and climbing to the top with a series of well-placed leaps. Void had already made it much higher than it probably was two weeks ago, so he had no problem gazing down onto a vast part of Dartford''s neighborhood.


    Not good. He grimaced, observing the countless Voidlings prowling the streets. Many he recognized, while others were unfamiliar.


    Cursed Runners, normies, Screamers, Crawlers, and even Reapers¡ªall were present. However, amidst them, he had already identified two new types.


    A Sprinter, seemingly an evolution of the Runner. And Cursed Walkers, which, alongside the Reapers, made up a significant portion of the Voidlings in the area. Quite a surprise indeed.


    What the hell are you? Leo furrowed his brow, scanning the fully mutated human who still seemed similar to a normie. The only new thing was the third arm that came out of their back and hovered above their head.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Walker


    Expected Potential: F+ to E+


    Weapon of choice: Essence, Claws


    Known weaknesses: Head, Third Arm


    An advanced version of the base Cursed variant. Along with Cursed Reapers, it''s the most popular evolution in the early stages of an Outbreak. The body of a Walker is now fully adapted to the power of the Void, and thus, they are much stronger than their predecessors. Additionally, their third arm is capable of controlling bursts of Essence, making Walkers some of the most unpredictable Voidlings out there. Approach with caution.


    Did you see that, Nyx? Leo called out after shutting the Bestiary. At least now we know Naz''Tor definitely didn''t lie. Probably more than half of the Voidlings here have already evolved. And here I thought we had it hard back in Wolford...


    ''Indeed,'' the feline quietly agreed, her warmth seeping into their link. ''I''m sure survivors here adapted anyway. Humans are a hardy bunch. Have faith.''


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    I didn''t say anything. Why do you have to be like this? He grumbled. These were just my observations.


    ''If you say so,'' Nyx sniggered. ''Now tell me, what are the average levels?''


    Rolling his eyes, Leo returned his focus to the streets in the distance. Around sixteen and seventeen, so it could have been worse. Though technically, this is still not London. Voidlings might be stronger there.


    ''What about the Thames? Can you see it from here?''


    Instinctively, he shook his head. No. Not high enough.


    ''Does it mean we''re finally going in?'' Nyx beamed, her excitment obvious.


    Yes, we are.


    <hr>


    Unlike the Voidlings in Wolford or on the road to London, here, they didn''t have an issue with attacking Leo and Nyx. Well, for the most part, at least. Some monsters still preferred to stay away, but rarely could any evolved beast resist the chance to prove itself against a Prime and an Apex.


    Though, it never ended well for the Voidlings.


    Like a wave of shadows, Leo swept through the streets, taking out anyone who dared to stand in his path. Nyx wasn''t that far behind, her claws and tails also becoming a whirlwind of death supported by an army of dark projectiles that flew faster than a normal eye could follow.


    The advantage was still on their side. Not even the Cursed Walkers'' Essence shields or small laser beams could harm them. Everything that came at them was just too slow, too weak.


    Yet, the longer they fought and the more bodies they left behind, the truth of Naz''Tor''s words became obvious. They couldn''t do this forever, not here.


    There are too many of them! Leo shouted over the link as his shadow eruption exploded across the street. Time to retreat! That''s enough testing for now.


    ''Understood! After you.''


    With a nod, he pushed past a fresh group of monsters that already replaced the ones he had killed. He jumped at the nearest wall and cleared the remaining distance to the roof with another leap. From there, he burst into a sprint, dancing through the Vetilim jungle, even bigger than the one in Wolford.


    Screams and screeches of Voidlings echoed behind him, but he paid them no mind and just sped up. The Thames River should be visible soon, and he would like to lose their tail before that.


    Might be an issue with that. Leo scowled, glancing at the group of Spitfires and Harpies above him. Annoying.


    With a single thought, True Stealth and shadows wrapped tighter around his body. With another, a dozen or so spears burst towards the small army following him.


    And now!


    Reaching the end of the roof, he didn''t jump high to reach the next one. No, instead, he used the ledge to propel himself towards the large building on the other side, his arms raised high.


    Just as he was to come into contact with the wall, Leo swung as hard as he could, cutting right through the Vetilim and the bricks behind it. The barrier stood no chance, and he barreled right into the building, rolling across the dirty floor.


    Shit... That hurt a bit. He winced, standing up just as Nyx bolted into the room through the hole he made. They shared a nod and dove deeper into the building, destroying more walls as they went.


    Some Voidlings still screeched outside, but the farther they went, the quieter the noises became. Of course, it alerted all the monsters inside the building. Not that they ever became an issue. A well-placed strike to the head finished their lives before they could even open their mouths.


    We should be fine. Leo noted, taking a peek through the window. Follow me, and this time, no fighting.


    He didn''t need their link to know that Nyx was disappointed, but at least she didn''t argue. They both knew that even with Devour and Consume, they couldn''t fight forever. Unlike in Wolford, there were just too many Voidlings here. Where one died, five more moved to replace it.


    And this isn''t even London yet. He shook his head with a sigh as they bounded across the street, using every cover to avoid detection. Sometimes, a random Voidling managed to spot them, but it always died faster than it could blink.


    Come on. Leo called out, climbing the tall wall next to them. We should be close enough to see it from above.


    With Nyx right next to him, they scaled the building in a matter of seconds. And just as he had said, the Thames River finally came into sight. Only it was nothing like he had remembered it.


    "My dear god..." Leo muttered, his mouth falling open.


    The wide river full of murky water was nowhere to be seen. Only the deep and empty channel remained, its dry surface filled with chunks of Vetilim and ships that fell on their side. Hell, even normal Voidlings didn''t go down there.


    "How?" He gulped, still searching for any signs of the missing water.


    ''Leo?'' Nyx nudged him, sounding somewhat hesitant. ''We might have a bigger problem.''


    Still half in shock, he turned and looked to the left, right where the feline was pointing.


    "Shit..."

 Chapter 147. Supercluster

    ''It looks similar to the smoke above the Tainted Wasteland back in Wolford. Do you think that''s the case here?'' Nyx asked as they continued watching the violet-crimson fog in the distance.


    With all the buildings around them and some overgrown trees hiding the path towards London, they must have missed it. However, now that they had claimed the roof of one of the larger ruins in the area, the smoke finally revealed itself.


    Leo shook his head. "The color and intensity are completely wrong. The fog from the Tainted Wasteland was thick as hell, and you can barely see this one... No, something else is at play here. Well, that or this is some new Wasteland type."


    ''So that''s our new target for today?''


    "Yeah," he nodded, returning his gaze to the river. "Nothing really changes. We were going there anyway. And who knows, maybe this is the reason why the Thames is dry. Let''s go; we will stick close to the shore. At least there are no Voidlings down the..."


    Just as he almost finished speaking, words died in his mouth when he spotted movement down in the river channel. He squinted, eyes widening a bit as a familiar round mouth full of sharp teeth dug out of the ground.


    "A Rock Eater? Here?" Leo mumbled, still in part disbelief.


    To his knowledge, apart from the subway system, London didn''t have any underground. So why was a Rock Eater here?


    This is not even London yet, and I already have more questions than answers. He sighed, jumping on the nearest tree and sliding to the ground. I fear for my Ether if this goes on. We need more information.


    ''Are you gonna call the merchant now?'' Nyx asked, finally joining his side.


    Not yet. I will leave that for the night. First, let''s get to London and find out what''s going on. Maybe the System will be nice enough to explain some stuff once we get there. Though I doubt it for some reason.


    ''Got it.''


    <hr>


    Thanks to a small ''green'' area between London and Dartford, the beginning of their trip was quite calm. Apart from a few stragglers, nothing even came close to them. The real challenge appeared only when the capital''s outskirts came into sight.


    Wherever Leo looked, Voidlings were there, and this time, he could barely spot any that hadn''t evolved yet. Hell, in this short distance, even their average level raised slightly.


    Nonetheless, along with Nyx, he claimed the nearest roof in the area and used the vast Vetilim jungle to sneak above the army of monsters. Not that it always helped, as unlike in Wolford, here, flying-type Voidlings were almost everywhere. Stealth could only do so much, and so oftentimes, he had to fight back or travel through the ruins to lose his tail.


    This is getting really annoying. Leo growled, sending another volley of shadow arrows at a group of Harpies. This time, the monsters didn''t get a chance to dodge and fell to the ground with a squawk.


    ''Look at this from the positive side,'' Nyx sniggered as she took care of another group. ''With all that practice, we''re getting good at this. My aim has never been better.''


    Mine, too, but still. Where is their self-preservation? He almost screamed, leaning away from a Harpy that dived at him.


    He quickly snatched the beast by its neck and pounded it into the roof. The monsters screeched but didn''t get time to do much more as a foot descended upon its head, crushing it like a melon.


    Fucking birds. Leo glanced at the sky and scowled at approaching Spitfires in the distance. Yeah, no. Come on, Nyx. No stopping this time, just run. We will never get there if we try to kill them all.


    Yet, despite saying that, he knew they were getting closer and closer. The pressure weighing down his shoulders already got a bit stronger, and the fog in the distance was much easier to see now. However, now that the visibility had improved, he also noticed another troubling fact.


    Somehow, the crimson-violet smoke stretched farther than his eyes could see. And considering his Vision attribute, his sense of sight was nothing to scoff at.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    At least now, I''m pretty sure it''s coming from the Thames, or at least near it.


    With that thought in mind, Leo pushed his body to run even faster. They were getting close now, and hopefully, soon, the System could shine some light on what was happening around these parts.


    For an hour, maybe more, the Prime and Apex ran close to the Thames'' shore, always using the rooftops to avoid most of the hordes below. Yet even with the ability to consume Voidlings, their bodies slowly tired, their movement slowly growing sluggish. Even with the recent growth they went through, they still had a limit.


    However, all of that didn''t matter in the face of what they discovered once they got close to the old Thames Barrier. Or rather what was left of it and the river.


    Warning! You are nearing the London Supercluster. Threat asserted and ranked at D. Good Luck. No information is available about this particular instance.


    The notification kept flashing in his vision, but Leo paid it no attention. Just as with his initial discovery about the Thames, this time too, he couldn''t pull his eyes away from the scenery in the distance.


    You know what, Nyx? I will never complain again about having it tough in Wolford. And if I do, please give me a good slap...


    The feline remained silent, and he even couldn''t blame her. After all, who could have anticipated that instead of the Thames River, they would encounter a trench stretching for kilometers?


    Not me...


    The anomaly was wider than the river and so deep that Leo couldn''t see its bottom from this angle. To make matters worse, every surface of the trench was composed of a mixture of Vetilim, Corcera, and some glowing rock that released smoke into the air.


    All of that cast an eerie darkness over the area, which, combined with the constant pressure, could scare anyone away. The Voidlings constantly climbing out of the trench or flying above it also didn''t make the situation any better.


    Time to retreat. Leo nudged his companion. I know this is a lot, but we need to get going. The Sun is getting close to the horizon.


    ''But your... What if...''


    He let out a heavy sigh, momentarily closing his eyes. Trust me, I want to go to, but we can''t. If Lily has survived this long, she can wait one more day.


    The feline bowed her head. ''I''m sorry, Leo.''


    He winced, averting his eyes. Don''t be. Maybe I shouldn''t, but I still believe... Come, let''s find a place to rest for the night.


    <hr>


    In the underground subways of London, Leo dropped on the floor of a freshly barricaded bathroom. Next to him, Nyx already laid on her side, eyes closed and ready for rest.


    ''Will you call him now?'' She asked.


    He nodded, summoning the transmitter into his hand. With a click of a button, the menu ignited, and he quickly selected the only contact on his list. Just like a normal phone, it rang once, then twice before someone picked up on the other side.


    "Young Akirian?" Naz''Tor''s voice came from the device. "I didn''t expect a call so fast, but I''m happy nonetheless. How can I help you?"


    "You said you have an idea what''s going on in London," Leo reminded. "Well, the System calls it a Supercluster. It''s a deep trench that goes on farther than I can see."


    "Ah," the merchant sighed. "I was right then. Tell me first, what''s the rank of this instance?"


    "D."


    "Could have been worse then," Naz''Tor murmured. "Alright. For the price of two thousand Ether, I can explain what a Supercluster is and how to deal with it. You can pay me after I finish."


    Leo frowned. "You trust me to not screw you over?"


    "Yes."


    Interesting. He noted. Not that he ever planned to scam the merchant, but still. "I will take the deal then."


    "Excellent... Now, Superclusters. As the name suggests, those instances are clusters of the worst the Void can offer. Multiple nests, Tainted Wastelands, rifts, nightmare factories, Void Gates. You name it, and it can be there. They can appear anywhere, be it inside a mountain, forest, city, or even in the middle of nowhere as long as the area is rich with Essence."


    After a short pause, Naz''Tor continued. "Voidlings from within are usually about twenty to thirty percent stronger than those from the surroundings. Not much, I know, but if you consider that all of this applies to Nightmares and Nest Guardians, it can become quite the problem."


    "What about this one? Have you ever heard or seen a similar one?" Leo cut in.


    "Many times," the merchant admitted. "D-ranked Superclusters, while dangerous, are not the end of the world. At most, they have a few nests, a single Nightmare factory, maybe a Tainted Wasteland, and a bunch of Void Gates. Not a big issue if dealt with correctly."


    "Not a big issue?" Leo scoffed. "It certainly sounds like one to me."


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "Oh, trust me. In comparison to some of the stuff you will encounter in the Void, this is nothing. Take Divarkh for example, it''s a planet that became a Supercluster. To this day, denizens of the Void have to constantly defend against its never-ending waves of enhanced Voidlings. Many tried to end it, yet none succeeded."


    The whole planet? Eyes wide, he found no way how to reply to that.


    "But enough about that," the merchant exclaimed, his tone changing within a second. "I''m sure you''re more interested about ways to deal with those things. Which, I will admit, isn''t easy at all..."

 Chapter 148. The Three Pillars

    "I''m not gonna like it, eh?" Leo sighed, sharing a brief look with Nyx.


    "No, you won''t," Naz''Tor confirmed. "You''re powerful, very powerful for this stage of the Outbreak. However, Superclusters require a lot more than just raw power to defeat if you aren''t at least a rank above them. To this day, the denizens of the Void have developed only three methods of stopping them. One of which doesn''t even destroy it."


    He frowned, not really believing that during all those previous Outbreaks, people didn''t come up with any more ideas. "Are you really telling me that''s it? You got to admit that''s quite underwhelming."


    The merchant chuckled. "Oh, I know, but you have to understand that when dealing with the Void, there are only really three ways to defeat it. Containment, perfect control, or total destruction. There is no other way. Trust me, beings smarter than us have tried and failed."


    "If you say so," Leo slumped against the wall. "So what are they?"


    "The first method focuses on containment," Naz''Tor explained. "With the help of the System, large groups of survivors exterminate every single Voidling around the Supercluster and together set up a barrier made up of Safe Zones. It completely stops the spread and gives everyone a chance to relax and farm the Supercluster for resources."


    "Yeah, that ain''t gonna happen here. At least not now," he snorted. "One, I don''t have a group that could even help me with the first part. And two, I only know how to create a Safe Zone from Nests. From what I know, creating them in the middle of nowhere should be impossible even for people with the right job."


    "In the beginning, yes, that''s the case. However, later on, their jobs offer much more freedom when it comes to claiming land. Of course, the price for creating Safe Zones outside designated areas is quite high."


    Leo hummed. That was certainly a valuable piece of information for the future. Holden would be beside himself if he heard that.


    Maybe I will pay them a visit one day after all. We will see. He shrugged, looking at the transmitter in his hand. "So the other two methods..."


    "Ah yes," the merchant exclaimed. "Those are focused purely on destruction as perfect control isn''t really possible with Superclusters. At least not on the scale we would need it to work."


    "Got it."


    "Now, just like a Nest, a Supercluster has a core. It binds everything together and provides it with the power to grow. If you don''t destroy it, everything within can regrow, and you will have to do everything again. So, the second method is quite obvious. Find the core, destroy it, and then watch as the Supercluster crumbles."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "Somehow, I doubt it is as easy as it sounds."


    Naz''Tor exploded in laughter. "Of course not, child! Each core is hidden, always beyond the Supercluster itself. One time, it might be nestled within a rift, and the next, on an entirely different planet. Thankfully, nowadays, we have tools to help find its location, but you still have to get through hordes of Voidlings to get there. And that''s not even mentioning what may be waiting for you on the other side of the rift or gate."


    "So for now, London is completely fucked. Is that what you are trying to say?" He summed it up, a wry smile claiming his lips.


    "I wouldn''t put it so bluntly, but yes," the merchant confirmed. "For the time being, all you can do is weaken the cluster by killing and destroying whatever you may find inside. It may not do much, but it should give the other humans enough time to grow stronger and work towards the first method."


    Leo clicked his tongue. "That''s assuming there are any people left in London at all. I have seen a few Voidling corpses here and there, but nothing more."


    "I''m sure there are," Naz''Tor replied as if he knew something the others didn''t. "Take your time, grow, evolve, and find allies. That''s the only way you can stop the Supercluster for now."


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I guess so," he sighed. "Though, what about the third method?"


    The merchant remained silent for a short moment. "Remember what I told you in the beginning? How does power only matter if it eclipses the Supercluster by at least an entire full rank?"


    "Yeah," Leo nodded. "What about it?"


    "That''s your third method. Total annihilation. Destroy the entire Supercluster with a single attack, and the core won''t have anything to use its regenerative power on. Sounds simple, right?"


    "Right," he drawled, head falling onto his knees. "Really simple."


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "Don''t sound so down, young Akirian. I''m sure you will manage... Now, if you have nothing else for me, I''m disconnecting. The bill will come to you in a moment. Good luck."


    With that, the transmitter went silent, never giving Leo a chance to return the goodbye. The merchant must have been in a hurry or just wanted the conversation to be finished.


    Shame he didn''t forget about our deal. He snorted, accepting the trade offer that just appeared in his vision. The System verified mark was missing this time, but considering how their exchange went, he wasn''t surprised.


    Means I will have to take everything he just told me with a grain of salt. Not perfect, but it could have been worse. At least I got to ask a few questions of my own.


    ''Leo?'' Nyx spoke up, her tail nudging his leg. ''What now? Does our plan change?''


    He shook his head. "Not quite. Tomorrow, we will keep on scouting London and searching for survivors. Lily is still my priority, but if we can find a group, I might as well warn them about the Supercluster. That''s if they will even hear me out."


    ''And after?''


    This time, Leo shrugged. "No idea. Let''s just focus on the present for now. The past and the future are unnecessary distractions... Anyway, you can go to sleep. I will stay up for now and see if I can reach my soulscape now."


    ''Just remember to get some rest too.''


    He nodded. "I will. Don''t worry, I will."


    Just as he closed his eyes and was ready to take the final step toward unlocking his soulscape, the System interrupted him. It forced a single message into his vision, a message he didn''t expect to get any time soon, and definitely not while sitting deep in the London subway.


    You have reached level 28. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    What? Leo blinked. Level up? But I didn''t do anything. Hell, I''m sitting on a damn floor. What the hell is going on?


    Yet the longer he looked at the notification, the more he remembered. Vision''s ascension, after all, unlocked his ability to grow stronger just from passively absorbing Essence from the air. It seemed the ability worked in the end.


    Okay... I''m definitely not complaining. Even Nyx got another level up after we''ve killed all the Voidlings on the way here. He noted. Alright, just like last time, all into Soul.


    The message disappeared, and the usual power surge went through his body. At this point, he barely noticed it. A definite improvement from a few days ago.


    Now, let''s get back on track.


    Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The Essence within his soul stirred, slowly enveloping his entire body in a thin protective layer. Next, the mythical energy filled his mind, just as it did during all his previous attempts.


    How stupid I was. A smile formed on his lips. All this time, I tried to pull only my mind into my soul. Using Devour as the base of my technique is all right, but how could I have forgotten about the last ingredient. Even Nikra pointed it out to me when we met.


    A Soulscape is a place of balance. A place where the three main pillars become one. He chuckled. So why did I forget about the body?


    Without any further delay, Leo pulled his Essence back, this time keeping his entire body surrounded. It didn''t want to go at first, but then, slowly, the energy returned, dragging along a perfect copy of his body that soon connected with his mind and together dived into the waiting soul.


    He gasped, eyes opening to the world he had only seen once before. The dark land covered by a thin veil of shadowy mist was still there. The same went for the sky, which, while still mostly consumed by ever-growing darkness, now possessed hundreds of small clouds of violet and red floating around.


    He looked down, and just as he had expected, his entire body became one made entirely of shadows. Yet, it still felt as natural as it did the last time.


    A loud chuckle escaped his throat, one that soon changed into pure laughter. In the end, he did it; he managed to return to this place, just as Nikra had told him he would.


    Well. Leo grinned. I''m here, kiddo.

 Chapter 149. Containment

    Leo walked through the misty shadows, uncaring of the time passing outside his soul. He had forgotten how wonderful it felt to be here. Just like Nikra said, there were no barriers inside a soulscape; here he was whole, three pieces of a puzzle becoming one.


    I didn''t really have time to enjoy this back then, did I? He sighed, eyes closed. Nikra, for all the trouble you''ve brought me, at least you¡¯ve given me this place... Now, it''s time to use it.


    His shadow eyes snapped open, narrowing in focus. He felt around his soul, searching for the one sleeping here ¡ª for the child who became a monster not so much different from him.


    There.


    Leo made a sharp turn to the left and surged in that direction, the shadows beneath carrying him faster than his feet ever could. His connection to his affinity had definitely advanced since the last time he was here.


    For minutes, maybe more, he flew through the unending plains. He even passed a small area with all the normal items stored within his Soul Well, but in the end, he didn''t stop. His true target was close; he could feel it.


    And he was right.


    There, in a large clearing empty of shadows, a figure lay on the hard, dark ground. Adam looked just like he remembered him from their last meeting, but at least now, the boy-turned-monster seemed peaceful, his eyes closed. The slow rise of his chest was the only indicator that the child still lived.


    Is there even oxygen here? How does that work? Leo shook his head. Whatever, I can think about it later. Let''s see what''s up with you, kiddo.


    He kneeled right before the Apex Night Stalker, turning the boy so he would lay on his back. With that done, he once more took in the evolution that was once offered to him. Yet, there was nothing new he could find, no indication that something was wrong with this form.


    Would''ve I ended up the same? Was this evolution cursed from the beginning? He wondered. Or was your state as a Tainted Human the only reason you turned out like this? Shit¡­


    Leo punched the ground in front of him, cracks spreading from the point of impact. Now that he was here, he couldn''t help but wonder whether Adam had truly been alive before the storm came. He had entertained this thought in the past, but only now did it hit him how possible it could be.


    And I have no real way to find out now, eh? Was it all really for nothing? He chuckled bitterly. No, no, no. It doesn''t matter. Remember, no more pitty parties. I will deal with this in any way I can. I started this, and I will be the one to end it.


    Of course, thanks to his recent meeting with Naz''Tor, Leo now had access to information he could have only dreamt about before. However, the fact remained that he still didn''t trust the merchant. For the time being, he intended to keep the details about Adam to himself. He would contact the shopkeeper only when he ran out of options.


    Not that I have many of those to begin with, but well... beggars can''t be choosers. Still, I will need you awake soon, kiddo. There is only so much my Hunter''s Pulse and Identify can do here.


    His eyes narrowed suddenly.


    Speaking of.


    Apex Night Stalker (Voidling) | LVL: 14


    So it''s just as I feared. Even with this small bit of Essence you receive to survive, you still somehow manage to level up. Leo shook his head in wonder. I need to change this.


    Slowly, he sat down, taking a moment to calm his thoughts. Only then did he reach out with his senses, searching for the connection between his soulscape and Adam. He knew it was there; he had felt it before, after all.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Interesting.


    Even with his eyes closed, Leo saw the multiple strings of Essence surging toward the boy-turned-monster. Instantly, he cut off most of them with a single thought, leaving only two active. His soulscape didn''t even think of resisting his order.


    And here I thought it would have been harder... This place really is special.


    Seeing no changes to Adam, he turned to his second task: finding out if there were any leftovers of Takeover between them. This was probably the part he worried about the most. After all, his technique wasn''t too kind to anyone under its control. Moreover, he had never released anyone from its grasp in the past.


    Slow and careful. Leo took in a deep breath. Don''t miss anything. Search through everything you can.


    And so he did. He remained there for longer than he probably should have, diligently looking for any lingering traces of Takeover. Whether it was within his mind, which he now had complete control over, or within his soulscape.


    Nothing. Leo sighed, eyes opening. All that''s left is your own mind, kiddo. Not much I can do about that.


    Once more, he stood up, reaching for the shadows covering almost the entire soulscape. It was time for the final precaution.


    Dark mist surged towards him, guided by his thoughts, fuelled by his desire. The ever-growing cloud gathered around Adam, swirling and changing. Four shadow pillars emerged from the ground, arranged in a square formation and linked by bars of the same affinity. Once the construct became high enough, the remaining shadows gathered on the top, forming a roof and closing the cage.


    "And that''s it," Leo muttered, looking inside through the small holes between the bars. "I''m sorry it had to come to this, but this is the only way we can both stay safe for now." He turned on his heel, finally looking away. "I will be back soon. Sleep well, kiddo."


    Absentminded, he trudged across the plains back to the spot where his items waited. He snatched the lone Neuron Shard off the ground and continued onward.


    For a moment, he just twirled the small crystal in his hand, but then, with a shrug, he crushed it. The effects were instantaneous.


    So that''s how it works. Leo clicked his tongue. It gives a small chance to infect the target with Essence after every clean hit. Then, there is even a lower chance that it will find a weak spot in the target''s body. He snorted. Interesting. It''s a bit like a poison with a specialized Hunter''s Pulse tuned into it.


    Despite not offering much to work with when it came to improving the skill, at least now, he had one less mystery to solve. The rest would come with time. However, that also wasn''t certain. He just had too much stuff to do right now.


    "No rest for the wicked, hmm?" Leo chuckled with a light shake of his head. "Now, how do I get out of here... What if..."


    Now that he understood the base idea of the soulscape, maybe doing the opposite could get him out. He just had to somehow split the three pillars again.


    This might take a while...


    <hr>


    Leo gasped, his eyes opening to the same dark subway bathroom. In the corner, Nyx still slept, her shadows flowing around her body calmly for the most part. He took in a deep breath and smiled lightly.


    Huh, this was easier than I expected.


    In the end, instead of forcing his three pillars to split, all he had to do was to give them a mental order. In comparison to getting into the soulscape, this was a welcome change.


    All right, System. I know you''ve been waiting. Hit me with it.


    Your Soul Well skill has evolved into Soulscape. Congratulations!


    Soulscape (Radiant)


    Every soul hides an unlimited potential. Before, you''ve only scraped the tip of the iceberg. But now, thanks to the Symphony of the Three Pillars, you''ve achieved perfect balance. Only now can your climb truly begin.


    Effects:


    Storing items has become easier and will cause less strain on the soul. You may now study your affinities and Essence within the soulscape. You have achieved perfect synchronization; the efficiency of the three pillars has been improved.


    Despite what the description said, Leo didn''t feel any different. However, considering that this new skill didn''t offer any percentage improvement to his attributes, maybe this efficiency was related to something else.


    Or I''m too tired to feel it.


    A quick glance at the timer of one of his jobs confirmed that he had somehow wasted a few hours inside the soulscape.


    Well shit...


    <hr>


    The next day, when Leo opened his weary eyes to the sight of Nyx hovering above him, he could only sigh.


    ''Please tell me you didn''t stay up the entire night,'' she scowled.


    Wiping the blurriness from his vision, he stood up and gave the feline a pat on the side. "Not entire, only most."


    This time, it was Nyx''s turn to sigh. ''Why do I even bother...''

 Chapter 150. Fusion

    Essence sang around his blades as Leo danced around the Voidlings coming at him from all sides. Each of the monsters received a single cut for their attempt to bring him down, a cut that a few seconds later exploded, severing their heads from their bodies.


    It took a lot of control and precision, but thanks to all the improvements he had gone through in the past few days, Phantom Erasure was no longer a difficult skill to use. Hell, he had even managed to combine it with Kiss of Death, giving both of the abilities some extra power.


    Now, he just had to learn how to keep those skills active at all times. Turning them on before each hit was getting slightly annoying, even if it was a good way to practice control.


    Though, it''s definitely getting easier and easier. Leo mused, slicing through the neck of a Cursed Walker. The blade went right through the flesh, negating the need for Phantom Erasure. Muscle memory is doing most of the job at this point...


    He leaned to the right, avoiding the meaty palms of a furious Brute. It tried to follow up with its other hand, hoping to grab him. However, despite being among the few level twenty Voidlings in the area, it was all for naught.


    Leo still had the advantage.


    Grabbing onto the incoming hand, he used it to propel himself forward, leaving a long gash on the limb as he flew. The Brute roared but quickly shut up as three tails slapped its cheek, taking a chunk of flesh along with them.


    The beast stumbled, but he gave it no time to recover as he landed on its shoulder. He painted cut after cut on the Brute''s body, each one going deeper and deeper. The almost instantaneous regeneration tried to fight him, yet not even it could help when the monster''s head blew up like a balloon.


    Fucking hell. Those things are getting way too tough to kill. They are regenerating too fast. Leo scowled, once more landing among the sea of Voidlings and continuing the never-ending dance of death. I doubt a lot of people have enough firepower to do this.


    However, he also had to consider that this was a Brute from a Tainted Wasteland. When combined with the beast''s high level, it was no surprise that it caused more trouble than other Voidlings.


    Ah, whatever... I''m not even using my full power. A group of experienced survivors should be able to figure something out.


    For a few more minutes, Leo immersed himself in the battle, using every second to perfect his ability to fight. For the most part, he only used melee skills, but with the sheer amount of Voidlings around, shadows often had to come to his rescue.


    A Tainted Wasteland, even one on the outskirts of London, was no joke. It easily housed a few hundred, if not thousand, Voidlings, of which only a couple were under level eighteen.


    We should probably get going soon. This was only supposed to be a short pitstop. Got to go back to mapping the city. He reasoned and jumped onto the nearest Vetilim vine. Nyx, finish up and meet me at the north border.


    ''Roger that.''


    With screeches and roars echoing in his head, Leo left the scorched ground of the Wasteland behind. He climbed the ruins of a small apartment building and waited, his eyes searching the vast cursed land below him.


    Here you are.


    He smiled, spotting the dark feline running along rooftops and Vetilim webs. Quite a few flying types followed after her, but it was nothing they couldn''t deal with. After all, he had spent most of the morning trying to solve this issue.


    Nyx, just get on the top. I will deal with your tail. I need a bit more practice.


    The feline snorted. ''Just don''t hit me this time, please.''


    Leo grimaced. It was just one slip-up, but now she would never let him forget it.


    Cheeky cat.


    He shook his head and focused on the task at hand as Essence surged out of his soul and into the air. Slowly, about a dozen shadow spears formed above him, yet it was not the end.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Still channeling energy into the constructs, he drew upon his bloodlust and pushed it into the shadows. A few spears almost burst on the spot, but he reigned in the wild power, keeping it contained and bubbling underneath the surface.


    And now!


    With a single thought, the salvo of long projectiles sailed forward, right at the cloud of Voidlings flying behind Nyx. Usually, he would have waited for the spears to hit, but not now. Now, they just had to get close.


    "Eruption," Leo muttered, closing his fist.


    At once, every single construct still in the air burst into hundreds of long, thin shadow tendrils. They all instantly dived for the Voidlings around them, seeking prey.


    The beasts screeched as not one but multiple tendrils speared their bodies. Most fell right away, leaving a trail of blood behind, while others tried to flap their wings, hoping to stop mid-air.


    Good luck with that. Leo smirked as more tendrils pierced those still fighting, finally taking them down. You are in the clear, Nyx.


    ''Nicely done. I coming up then.''


    Nodding, he sat down at the roof¡¯s edge and summoned the System. It had tried to force a notification into his vision when he was forming the spears.


    You have successfully mastered the Eruption technique. Fusion assistance is now active. Congratulations!


    You have created your first Fusion technique: Shadow Bomb = Eruption + Creation.


    Please note that fusion techniques do not have a mastery level, nor are they listed in your status. Their strength relies solely on your skill and power.


    Fusion, you say? Leo quirked an eyebrow. Guess that''s a fitting name for what I''ve been doing. I wonder what else I can combine... A thought for later.


    Before he could check his newly mastered technique, Nyx finished her climb and sat down beside him. She gave him a questioning look to which he just shrugged.


    "Just some system stuff. Fusion techniques. Rings any bells?"


    The feline shook her head. ''Not quite. I have an idea what they could be, but...''


    He nodded, standing up. "I will explain on the way then. Time to move on from here. I want to go a bit dee-"


    Whatever he wanted to say died in his mouth as a muffled, earth-shaking howl echoed all around them. It continued for a good few seconds, freezing the duo in place.


    "What in the world?" Leo muttered, looking all around, searching for the source. Just then, a second howl came, and this time, he zeroed in on the direction it came from. Yet, there was nothing in sight.


    This can''t be good. He shared a quick look with Nyx. They both nodded and broke into a sprint, jumping off the building. The heart of London awaited.


    <hr>


    The longer they ran, the louder the howls became. It was obvious they all came from a Voidling of sorts, but it was nothing like what Leo had heard before. Not even a Nightmare could make its voice travel for kilometers. Then there were the recent explosions. Though those could be anything at this point.


    There! He screamed through the link, nodding towards the massive blurry crimson creature in the distance that towered over all the buildings in the area. We need to get closer.


    ''Are we fighting or just observing,'' Nyx prodded.


    The latter. Besides, I think someone already has beat us to the former. Leo observed, just now noticing the small bright explosions impacting the giant. Wait a second. Is that a fucking treant?


    Now that the monster grew closer, he had no trouble identifying it, even without skills and Bestiary. He had seen similar creatures multiple times in movies, TV series, books, and games. For some reason, people just loved the idea of massive, walking trees that laid waste to everything around them.


    Though this thing is definitely made out of Vetilim. Leo noted, watching the massive beast swipe at something he couldn''t see. Still too far. What about Identify?


    Crimson Treant (Void Lifeform) | Rank: E+ | LVL: N/A | Type: Surface, Nature, Armor, Unique


    That''s... new and powerful. And those types... Bestiary? Despite the call, the System didn''t answer. Of course, it couldn''t be that easy. Maybe if I get even closer?


    And so he did. Along with Nyx, he climbed the tallest building a safe distance away from the raging Treant and scanned it again. Only to be met with the same outcome. However, not all was lost; at least now, he knew what the beast fought against.


    A group of over ten survivors ran circles around the Treant, using the environment to their advantage. They fought with golden weapons, sending arrows and Essence missiles at the beast that exploded on impact. Even those fighting in close combat carried some sort of glowing blades, burning the monster with each cut.


    Without saying a single word, the group still fought like a single unit, covering one another and always targeting the same areas. The Treant, despite its strength, could do nothing against the annoying insects. Or so it seemed for now.


    Who are you people? Why does it look like you all have the same affinity? Leo furrowed his brow, only for his eyes to widen when he scanned the seemingly human survivors.


    Blessed Emissary | LVL: 19

 Chapter 151. Shadow vs Void vs Light - Part one

    Now I have even more questions. Leo furrowed his brow, his eyes darting around the battlefield. They all have the same evo... and levels. What the hell is a Blessed Emissary anyway? Where did all the other Voidlings go? This just doesn''t make sense... Nyx?


    The feline wasn''t fairing much better than him. She didn''t even turn away from the battle when he called out for her. She looked like she was in a trance, and he had to shake her for a few seconds to earn her attention.


    ''Leo? Tell me you feel this too,'' Nyx muttered, ignoring all his previous questions. ''This shouldn''t be possible. Not on this scale. Not yet. Not here.''


    Unsure if they were on the same page, he asked again. What? The evolution? Voidlings? Levels? The Treant? You need to be a bit more specific. There is too much shit happening here.


    ''No, that''s not it.'' The feline shook her head before her gaze went back to the fighters in the distance. ''Their race is indeed troubling. But Leo, focus on their Essence, feel their power. Those weapons are only a small part of it.''


    Leo frowned but did as he was told. He squinted at the group, studying their every move, every technique. The bright gold, almost white, Essence caught his attention first. After all, they all used it, and the longer he watched, the more obvious it became that, just like Nyx said, it didn''t come from their weapons.


    It looks familiar, almost like Ether, but there is no way that it can be it. How the hell do you even get the ability to wield it for the entire group? That seems even less likely than finding another shard of an Old One. Though, what else could be this effective against Voidlings?


    Yet, with each attack that hit the Treant, Leo received more and more proof that it couldn''t be Ether. Despite doing some damage to the beast¡¯s Vetilim skin, it wasn''t enough to even slow it down. Even the few flesh wounds that went deeper looked like they were already healing, and the monster didn''t have a regenerator ranking.


    No, Ether would cause much more harm. Especially when those people are always trying to hit the same areas. He narrowed his eyes, his mind once more seeking the right answer. So what is it? There is no way in hell I can feel anything from this distance... Wait a second...


    A memory that seemed so distant at this point suddenly resurfaced, washing away all the questions in his head. This golden-white Essence, he now understood what it was, or at least he had an idea. Hopefully, Nyx would confirm it.


    It''s light affinity. Leo stated, pretty sure of his answer. I had seen it before the Outbreak came, in my dreams. Geron, Nikra''s brother, wielded it... Shit, does it mean...


    ''I don''t know,'' the feline cut him off. ''Thanks to Nikra''s memories, I could never forget how his power looks and feels. What we are looking at is definitely light affinity. A much weaker one than the one Geron used, but I have no doubt in my mind this is it. I just... No... This shouldn''t be happening. He is supposed to be dead.''


    Nyx! He shouted over their link and tugged at her fur. Calm down. Stop overreacting. A few people using a weaker version of light affinity doesn''t mean he is involved. Maybe they just got lucky? Maybe the System gave it to them as a reward for surviving in this hellhole. We don''t have enough information to jump to conclusions like this.


    Yet, even as he said that, a doubt entered his mind. Which was soon followed by Nyx''s hollow chuckle.


    ''Don''t you see it, Leo?'' She growled. ''A human inherits the first Old One''s shard, becoming her legacy. Not that much later, he comes to the nearest major city and encounters people capable of using Geron''s main element. The same person who fought a war against Nikra before their tentative alliance. You can''t tell me this is a coincidence. Maybe if it was one person, without an unknown evolution, I could believe that, but this in an entire group!''


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    When she put it like that, it really became hard to argue. After all, what were the odds of two of the main powers of the Universe finding their way to Earth and then London? Most likely not much larger than a big fat zero.


    Still...


    Okay, I get your point, but we can''t take this for granted. Like you said, Geron should be dead. We need more information, and we won''t get it if we don''t step in soon.


    True to his words, the group of Blessed Emissaries wasn''t fairing too well any longer. Somehow, the Treant managed to split a small part of itself and create tiny minions that flowed around the Vetilim environment like the wind. The survivors tried to fight back, but between the massive beast in the middle and its dozen spores, they couldn''t do much.


    Sooner or later, they would have to run or die.


    ''So be it. What''s the plan then?'' Nyx stood up straight, her worries fading from their link for the moment.


    Good question. Leo grimaced, his mind going a hundred miles per hour to come up with something reasonable. They are using an affinity that should be naturally stronger against Voidlings. We don''t have anything similar, so there is really one way to do this. We need to immobilize the big guy and then pray that the others will cut it down.


    ''That''s a lot of maybes.''


    He snorted. Yeah. I know. Unfortunately, this is the only decent idea I have. Devour, or maybe blood fire, could also help, but the former might fail completely while I would need to ramp up the latter. So, let''s leave that as plan B.


    ''Any plan C?''


    "Yeah," Leo leveled her with a firm stare. "If everything fails, run. I want answers, but our lives are more important."


    Nyx gave him a feline equivalent of a grin. ''Then let''s make sure we don''t fail. What do you need from me?''


    Essence and distraction. He explained as they descended from their perch and ran towards the battlefield. I practiced this a bit during the night, but I will need time and a lot of power to make it work. Help the group with the minions, but be careful. They might¡­ No, they will most likely attack you.


    ''As you wish. And what are you planning exactly?''


    Leo simply smirked. You will see. Just open your Essence to me when I give you the sign.


    Without another word, the duo nodded at each other and separated. Nyx continued onto the battlefield, shadows already swirling around her tails, while he sneaked around the rooftops, searching for a good spot. He had to find a place close enough to the Treant but also one where he wouldn''t be spotted instantly.


    Time and preparation were of the essence here.


    Alright, let''s get the show started. Leo took a deep breath as he took place inside a building with a view of the battle. He had already managed to spot Nyx, and thankfully, aside from a few shouts, the group hadn''t attacked her yet. Let''s keep it that way.


    He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the floor. Bits of Essence spilled out, connecting with the shadows of the dark room. Instantly, the drain on his energy increased as the link tried to expand to the entire building.


    Just like during last night, Leo reigned it in and isolated the connection before directing his power toward the battlefield. Like a spiderweb, they flowed out, covering every surface, seeking all tiny shadows on the street and surrounding buildings. In a matter of seconds, he had a mental image of the entire area, with his affinity lying in wait.


    Third of my Essence just for that. Not good. He grimaced but kept the technique active. This was still cheaper than if he used his own shadows to cover the entire battlefield.


    No backing off now. Leo swallowed and called out. Nyx! Give me your Essence now, and go hide. Focus on the transfer!


    ''On it!''


    Instantly, the floodgates in their link opened, and waves of energy spilled over. He took it all and channeled it into the spiderweb he had created.


    Shadows exploded all over the battlefield, thousands upon thousands of tendrils rushing out of every hidden dark place. They all went straight for the Treant, starting at its limbs before going up, slowly consuming most of its body.


    Leo gritted his teeth, sweat covering his entire form as the massive beast outside struggled against his hold. Already, he had used all Essence delivered by Nyx, and now only his own meager reserves remained to keep the Treant in place. He even tried activating Devour with his shadows, but the skill refused to work.


    Come on! Do something, you fuckers! I didn''t save your asses just so you can watch!

 Chapter 152. Shadow vs Void vs Light - Part two

    Every second, every moment, brought forth only more struggle. Even though the Treant was already immobilized, it never stopped moving. Leo had to constantly sacrifice more and more Essence to reinforce the makeshift jail, trying to limit the flow as much as he could to save his remaining reserves.


    Nyx! What''s the situation?! I''m running out of juice here!


    ''Most of them are preparing something while a single person is still hitting the Treant on the point you left uncovered,'' the feline explained, sending him a mental image of the battlefield.


    True to her words, almost the entire group gathered on one of the rooftops and stood there in a circle. He couldn''t see much from this angle, but going by the bright light escaping from the gaps between the people, they definitely had something in mind. Now, he just had to hold the massive lifeform for a bit longer.


    Easier said than done. Leo grimaced, momentarily opening his eyes to glance through the window. His shadows still clung to the Treant, but he could already spot a few places where they were fading, and he hadn''t even noticed it before.


    There is just too much to focus on... Maybe if I had more experience with shit like this. Yet, despite a thought like that, he still pushed more Essence into the technique, reinforcing it. Hurry up, you useless bastards!


    ''Leo! I have an idea. Hold on a bit longer ¡ª ten seconds, not more.''


    Not wanting to lose any more integrity of the shadow prison, he just nodded to himself and focused fully on the technique. At this point, he had almost nothing to fuel it with, and now only pure control mattered. He couldn''t allow even the slightest of shadows he had already created to go to waste.


    And that was how each second ticked by. With the prison growing thinner and Leo fighting to stay awake and not succumb to the exhaustion slowly consuming his body and mind.


    ''Stay awake!'' Nyx''s sudden shout, along with a surge of Essence in their link, kicked him in the butt. The second wind hit him at once, pushing his eyes open.


    Leo gasped and took it all in, directing the new energy where it was needed. A small bit returned to his soul, while the rest once more flowed right into the prison outside.


    How? I thought you were running dry? He asked when the situation stabilized again.


    Nyx chuckled, her tired voice ringing in his head. ''I ran away and found the nearest normal Voidlings. Consume did the rest. I just don''t know how long I can keep this up; my skill isn''t as strong as your Devour.''


    I know, I know. He coughed, the strain slowly becoming way too much. I can''t do this much longer, either. Another thirty seconds, and we are o...


    His words died before they could reach their bond as a powerful tremor rocked the entire area. He even fell to the floor, his focus on the prison slipping a bit. Not that it mattered all that much any longer.


    Leo opened his eyes again to an ear-shattering howl from the Treant. He peeked outside, spotting the massive, smoking hole in the beast''s chest. It went almost through the other side, and for a moment, a hope ignited in his chest that this was it, that the lifeform was dead.


    Nothing could have been further from the truth.


    The Treant roared, one of its arms breaking free from the shadows. It swiped at something and going by the loud human scream, it didn''t miss.


    Fuck! Leo growled and gave everything to the prison, summoning tens of new tendrils to shackle the beast again. Nyx, I need more Essence, fast!


    ''Understood, but are you sure?'' She asked as a new wave of energy entered their link. ''You said we would run.''


    We will. He swore. I have one last idea. If this doesn''t work, we run. They can save themselves. I''m not their savior.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ''Got it.''


    With their link silent once more, Leo dove into his mind, unleashing the sleeping bloodlust. Right away, Ruthless Efficiency activated, but he didn''t stop there. He pushed the skill all the way to the limit of its first stage and then fuelled it all into the shadows in his grasp.


    The rage, the anger, the unstoppable hunger dived right towards the Treant with every bit of Essence he received from Nyx. Only this time, it didn''t go there just to stop the beast. Instead, the shadows filled the entire hole left after the group''s attack and waited as more and more energy came.


    As the blaze of the second stage of Ruthless Efficiency began to lick at his mind, Leo knew it was the time. The supply of Essence from Nyx almost stopped, and he, too, couldn''t do much more. This would be their last stand, and if it didn''t work, only escape remained.


    Burn in hell. Eruption!


    With this simple command, every shadow upon the Treant''s body exploded, releasing the accumulated rage in the form of spikes and tendrils. They all dug deep into the beast Vetilim''s skin, but even then, those didn''t do all that much.


    No, what caused the lifeform to stumble and collapse onto its knees was the explosion on its chest, right where the hole was. Shadows burst forth from within, many protruding outward, tearing chunks from the Treant''s body and riddling it with more holes.


    The lifeform let out a quiet, pained howl before collapsing face-first on the street. At the same time, every shadow on the battlefield faded as Leo released his Essence and sat by the window, gasping for air.


    Crimson Treant (LVL: 38) slain | Experience awarded | 372 Ether gained


    You have reached level 29. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    You have reached level 30. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Nightblade level thirty skill granted: Blink.


    Soul. Fast. All to Soul! Leo ordered, grimacing. While it was nice to see that he had received a new skill, this was so not the time for this. The sudden rush of knowledge definitely didn''t help at all.


    ''Are you okay?'' Nyx''s concerned voice came through their link.


    Just peachy. He sighed, the pain in his soul lessening a bit thanks to the attribute boost. How are your reserves? I''m about as dry as the desert.


    ''Similar,'' the feline answered instantly. ''I''m hiding in a building a few streets away from you. I need a minute or two to recover.''


    Good. Stay there for now. I will deal with the situation here. Leo ordered, hoping she wouldn''t argue. Which of course didn''t happen.


    ''But you''re no better off than me. They can still kill you!''


    He flinched as a shout, along with multiple Hunter''s Pulses, came from the street below. I might not have much of a choice. Don''t worry. I have a plan... sort of.


    "We know you are in this building," a female voice shouted again. "Come out! We just want to talk."


    Sure you do. Leo rolled his eyes, climbing to his feet. With Ruthless Efficiency waiting for his call to activate again, he peeked outside. One of them is missing. Someone really got hit... Now, how much Essence do you people have left after all of this? Hopefully, not a lot.


    Pulling the hood of his cloak all the way up to hide his face, he put his hands on the window frame and jumped. He sailed down onto the street, landing right on the back of the dead Treant. A single gasp came from the large group at this appearance.


    Yeah... This won''t go well. He grumbled, noticing the frowns and scowls spread on the faces of the Blessed Emissaries. They must have identified him right away and didn''t like what they found. Better take some precautions...


    With that thought, the tails under his cloak stabbed into the Treant''s body. Devour activated right away, slowly soothing his almost empty soul. Now, he at least could fight if it came to that.


    "Well," Leo spread his hands, his claws becoming visible. "You wanted to talk? Let''s talk. Like a survivor to a survivor."


    "You''re no survivor, Voidspawn!" One of them, a blonde man, shouted, and a few nodded along.


    Oh dear. He sighed beneath the hood. Don''t tell me you guys are one of those groups. I guess your evolution matches.


    "Silence, Clarke," the woman who first called out for him snapped at the blond. The two looked at each other, almost as if they were having a conversation with their eyes alone. After a moment, the man nodded, and the woman once more turned to Leo.


    "Lower your hood, beast! Let us see your face," she ordered, leaving no place to argue.


    He snorted. Did I just find Tyler''s long-lost family? What is wrong with you people...


    "The name''s Leo. Not beast. Not monster. Not Voidspawn. Now stop acting like you have a stick up in your ass, and maybe at least thank me for saving your lives."


    The woman in the lead narrowed her eyes, and at this moment, Leo knew this would be a ''conversation'' to remember.

 Chapter 153. Confrontation

    "Even if you were a human in the past, that doesn''t matter anymore, just like your name. You chose to become a Voidspawn," the woman scoffed. "You will receive no thanks from us. You betrayed humanity."


    Leo couldn''t help but snort. "Betrayed humanity? Are you even hearing yourself? I''m just doing what''s necessary to survive." He quirked an eyebrow. "Besides, I don''t see ''Human'' in your evolution''s name either. Hypocrite much?"


    The woman in the lead growled while many others raised their weapons a bit. He didn''t even blink at the new threat; they were already aiming their bows at him the moment he landed on the street.


    Nyx, be ready just in case. If this escalates, I will have a job for you.


    ''Understood.''


    "Filth!" The leader spat. "Don''t you dare compare yourself to us. We are the chosen ones of the Light. We have ascended while you allowed the Void to claim your life. We are not the same!"


    Leo rolled his eyes. "Do you even hear yourself? Stop being so dramatic." He shook his head. "Ah, whatever. You wanted to talk. Let''s talk. I even have a question for you. You can hate what I became later."


    The entire group bristled, but no one attacked. In comparison to his first meeting with Holden''s party, at least he didn''t have to fend off any arrows yet. However, he was pretty sure that would change soon. Unlike Clara, the people before didn''t seem too friendly.


    Oh well, I should be fine now. He noted, feeling the growing Essence reserves in his soul. No idea if I can defeat them, but I can definitely escape.


    "Lower your hood, beast!" The woman shouted again, ignoring most of what he said. "No more words will be exchanged between us until you do so."


    Leo sighed. Was it really too much to ask for another normal group? He really got spoiled by Holden and the others. Now, he only hoped that not all survivors would be like this.


    "As you wish." And so, with a mock bow, he lowered the hood, watching as their eyes grew wide. "Satisfied? I know I''m not winning any beauty contests. No need to rub it in. Now, can we skip the theatrics? I''m looking for someone and would be grateful if you could tell me if you know them."


    Instead of answering him, the entire group exchanged a few looks. Some nodded while others only tensed. Finally, the woman in the lead turned back to him with an expression even less welcoming than before.


    Great. He pursued his lips. I don''t think I''m getting any information from them. Better get ready for the inevitable.


    Just as a weak Reinforcement began to thrum quietly beneath his skin, the leader spoke up. "Voidspawn! We''re offering you a chance to stand down and surrender! Allow us to cleanse your soul from the wretched curse that you''ve allowed to spread. It will be quick and painless. That I swear on the Light."


    Leo blinked and then blinked again. There was just no way he heard her right. He had to wonder just what kind of a mental asylum she and her group escaped if they thought this was normal. Hell, he had become an Akirian in this short time, and his mind was in a better state.


    "Yeah, how about no," he chuckled. "I didn''t come this far just so just a bunch of mentally ill idiots can kill me. I think I''m just gonna leave. It was a pleasure."


    Before he could even move, the woman scowled. "So be it."


    At once, at least four arrows shot toward him, followed by small golden missiles of pure energy. Leo clicked his tongue, and as he dashed forward, the cloak on his body disappeared, returning to the safety of his soulscape.


    While every arrow flew above his head, he activated Valron Protection and clashed it against one of the missiles. The projectile splashed against the barrier, draining a chunk of his Essence away. Definitely not a good sign if he wanted to withstand more of those hits.


    Bloody light affinity. Shit''s at least as strong as my shadows...


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    He weaved between another salvo and pounced towards the nearest Emmisarry. The male fighter already had his glowing sword ready, but before they could even clash, a white, transparent barrier exploded between them, blocking Leo''s empowered strike.


    He scowled and jumped away as a particularly large missile headed for him. It erupted in the place he just vacated, blowing up the ground.


    Yeah, I definitely don''t want to get hit by those. He noted, gathering more Essence in his body. It enveloped his entire form, giving birth to a Decoy within a second. The illusion clone darted in the opposite direction, straight for a duo of archers in the distance.


    Distract!


    As the decoy left him, Leo fuelled more power into Reinforcement and went straight for the leader herself. Another barrier stopped his approach, but this time, he answered with his own affinity, summoning a dozen spears for the clash.


    At first, the barrier seemed to hold, but with another push, it shattered into pieces, a loud gasp coming from someone in the back. Not that he cared much for it, as he rushed the woman, his blades ready to taste her blood.


    Somehow, she managed to raise her two golden daggers just in time to block his attack. She grimaced visibly under the strain, and maybe, if not for another volley of arrows, Leo could have overpowered her. Unfortunately, he had to dance away, releasing another decoy as the sudden onslaught became a bit too much.


    Shit. He winced when one of the arrows grazed his shoulder. It stung as hell, burning the exposed flesh. That''s gonna leave a mark.


    ''Leo! Why are you not running?!'' Nyx shouted over their link, almost making him step into another arrow.


    Calm down. I have everything under control. He replied just as the ground in front of him exploded again. Each time he tried to get close, another barrier would pop out, or a salvo of projectiles would interrupt him. Those people knew how to cover each other''s backs. And all of that without uttering a single word.


    ''It sure doesn''t look like it. Just get out, or I''m stepping in. You''re getting carried away.''


    Don''t. He growled, leaning away from a crescent wave of golden Essence that one of the warriors sent at him. I''m just practicing and gathering information... and, well, teaching them a lesson.


    ''Leo...''


    Enough. He ordered. Stay back and wait for my retreat. Once I do that, gather what we need from the corpse.


    ''I... As you wish.'' She hissed back, evidently not happy.


    Sorry, but there''s just no time for arguing here. We will talk later. With that, the link between them closed, giving him a chance to once more focus fully on the battle.


    Let''s kick it up a notch, shall we?


    The bloodlust waiting in his mind was let loose as a fresh wave of power filled his body. Leo grinned and summoned multiple small shadow orbs around him, filling them with as much rage and hunger as he could. Then he shot them into the air, letting gravity claim them as they fell towards the group.


    A few shouts finally sounded around the battlefield as all of the Emissaries tried to move away from the descending balls. Most succeeded, managing to escape far enough or hide behind a barrier. Two of them weren''t as lucky. They screamed as Eruption within the orbs activated releasing a few tiny shadow tendrils that went righ for their bodies.


    The attack was far from lethal; Leo didn''t have enough time and Essence to spare for it, but it still gave him something he needed very much.


    An opportunity. A perfect distraction.


    Faster than any of the Emmisaires could react, he closed the distance between him and the woman in the lead. She still tried to raise her dagger to block, but he slapped it away and let his other blade do the rest of the job.


    It descended towards the woman''s arm, cutting through the flesh almost at the shoulder. The unprotected skin stood no chance, and within a blink, the limb fell to the ground as blood sprouted out like a fountain.


    As a final goodbye, Leo spun around and slapped the woman with his tails. She tumbled away, screaming all the while as her other hand went to grasp the bleeding stump.


    This got all the other Emissaries moving, as most attacked him with reckless abandon while one went to assist their leader. Arrows, missiles, and waves of golden energy descended upon his position.


    Yeah, I think not. He snorted and summoned forth most of his remaining Essence.


    A huge wall of shadows clashed against the light, and while the latter finally punched through after a moment, it didn''t matter any longer. Leo had already backed off, climbing the nearest building within seconds.


    A few of the Emissaries looked like they wanted to follow, but another series of screams and shouts had them rushing back to the group. They must have recognized that the life of their leader and teammates had to be more important than chasing after a ''Voidspawn.''


    Leo shook his head as he watched the quickly retreating group from his perch.


    Hopefully, this will teach you something. And if not... well, that ain''t my problem. You brought this upon yourself. Hypocrites...


    However, as he saw their disappearing forms, a frown spread over his face.


    Did I really get carried away? Nah, no way.

 Chapter 154. Too slow

    Leo shook his head. It didn''t matter if he got a bit carried away during the fight. Those people wanted to kill him, and even if he could have just escaped, doing so would possibly bring more issues later on. At least now, they knew not to mess with him. That, and he also managed to learn some stuff from crossing blades with them.


    It''s always about information in the end. He snorted and opened the link to his companion. Nyx... Listen, I know you''re probably mad at me, but can you follow them? I need to know where they live. I will take care of the corpse in the meantime.


    ''You''re right. I''m far from happy,'' Nyx bit back. ''But I also understand this is important. I will contact you once they stop... And when I come back, we will have a long talk about taking unnecessary risks."


    Yeah, yeah. Whatever you want. Leo sighed. So what if he acted a bit rashly. In the end, he was in no real danger during the whole battle, and he had plenty of arguments to prove that. The feline, like always, worried a bit too much.


    With their link closed once more and the group of Blessed Emmisaries out of sight, he dropped from the roof onto the street below. For the time being, the area was still clear of any other Voidlings, so he should probably hurry. Who knew when Devour would decide to stop working and leave him without Essence...


    First things first.


    The blades upon his arms snapped out as soon as he approached the dead Treant. With a swift movement, he stabbed them deep into the beast''s tough shell and pushed onward, cutting it off inch by inch. It took a bit longer than necessary as he didn''t use any Essence for the process, but within a few minutes, he was left standing with a good chunk of the lifeform''s Vetilim skin.


    This should be enough, right? Leo furrowed his brow, only to grin when the System confirmed his thoughts. Great. To soulscape you go then. No time to mutate now.


    At once, a weak flash consumed the cut-off skin, dragging it back to the depths of his soul. He grimaced at the additional weight. Apparently, a part of a creature more powerful than him was heavier than items that seemed bigger at first glance.


    Interesting, gotta remember this for the future. He noted before his gaze once more settled on the massive corpse lying on the street. Hopefully, I''m not going to regret this.


    With that thought in mind, Leo stabbed the Treant again, letting Devour activate at full power. It spread over the lifeform in an instant, taking every bit of remaining power inside its body.


    The longer the process went on, the more he became worried that maybe his soul couldn''t handle it after all the fighting. However, as soon as the corpse collapsed into dark dust, a brand new notification appeared in front of his eyes, washing away his worries.


    Devour consumed: +7 Might, +2 Soul.


    Holy shit. Leo chuckled, glad that he didn''t just leave the Treant for other Voidlings to consume. That''s almost the same amount of points I get from my race. If only I could kill more of those things alone...


    Even if he was the one to defeat the Void Lifeform, it did not mean he could do it again. His shadows were powerful, but if it wasn''t for the deep hole left by the other group, he could have never slain it. The Treant''s skin on the outside was just too strong for him to deal with.


    I need more firepower. He decided, reaching for the specks of Void affinity inside his soul. Shadows won''t be enough soon. I have to figure this out, quick.


    Leaving his affinities in peace for now, he gave the abandoned street one final glance before turning around. With his strength fully replenished, he climbed onto the nearest roof and hid in a shade so that no passing Voidlings could spot him. He didn''t plan to go anywhere until Nyx called for him.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Might as well check the few notifications I missed.


    Technique Shadow: Resonance obtained.


    Shadow: Resonance (Novice)


    A technique born out of the desire to connect with the world of shadows. Resonance allows the User to safely create a link with every shadow in a certain area. Those shadows might then be used to strengthen other techniques or scout the controlled location. Beware, this technique requires a lot of Essence to maintain.


    Leo snorted upon reading the last part. Yeah, I already figured that out. Still, very useful technique. Need to get it to higher mastery fast, same with Creation. Now, what else do you have?


    Fusion technique created: Shadow Emergence = Resonance + Eruption


    Makes sense, I guess. Wonder if I can combine it with Creation. An entire battlefield of flying arrows could clear out the streets in a matter of seconds. Yet another thing to try out later.


    Shadow: Eruption (Master)


    The source of pain and hatred of the User''s enemies. Eruption is now free of its bindings. No opponent is safe from the grasp of deadly shadows. Imagination is the limit.


    Short and straight to the point, nice. He hummed, waving away the description. There was not much to see there. At this point, his own knowledge about the technique eclipsed anything the System could tell him.


    Now for the icing on the cake.


    Blink (Epic)


    How is a blade supposed to reach its enemy if it isn''t fast enough? How is it supposed to travel through the night if it''s too slow to escape the light? Here is your answer.


    Effects:


    This skill grants the ability to move quickly in sudden bursts of speed combined with Essence. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace and Mind.


    To be honest, the description alone didn''t explain the ability that well. Thankfully, Leo had also received the standard package on how to use this skill. Without it, Blink would have been more useless than Vital Strike.


    From what he understood, for this skill to work, he had to fill his entire body with Essence and then push it all out at the same moment. While doing that, he also had to control his stance so that he wouldn''t hit a wall or do a flip by mistake.


    Overall, once mastered, it could become one of his most used abilities. Until then, he most likely wouldn''t be able to move too far while using it. After all, the activation and movement had to happen in the same amount of time it took to blink, hence the name.


    Still sounds simpler than Phantom Erasure. Leo thought with a click of his tongue before taking a look around. Ah, why not? It probably will be a while before Nyx calls for me.


    Shrugging, he stood up and took a deep breath, Essence already filling his entire body. Slowly, he made sure it reached every single spot and spread equally all over. He didn''t want Blink to misfire on the first try, not when he was out in the open.


    Alright, a bit more power, choose a direction, prepare your body, and push. Leo recounted the steps, providing the ability with even more Essence as his body tensed. Then, just as the System taught him, he pushed all it all out, releasing the gathered energy in a single burst.


    His entire body sprung forward, and with a blink, he was gone, only to appear a bit away from his previous position.


    Shit. He gasped, closing his mouth as bile gathered in his throat. He quickly swallowed it back with a grimace. That''s... gonna take some time getting used to. It felt like someone tried to tear my body apart. And all of that for what? About two meters?


    Even if he didn''t have a measuring tape in his eyes, he could more or less tell how far he traveled during Blink. Although his first attempt wasn''t too bad, considering the side effects of this skill, mastering it would likely take longer than he anticipated.


    And so the list gets even longer. He sighed, lying down on the roof. I guess sleep is for the wea-


    ''Leo! They have reached their base. It''s a safe zone, a large one at that,'' Nyx cut into his thoughts. ''Do you want to take a look? I''m a bit far, but the view is good.''


    He quirked an eyebrow. Safe zone, you say? Sure, give me the feed.


    The image in his left eye shifted at once, giving him a perfect view of a massive golden transparent dome and what was inside it. At first, he had to ensure Nyx''s eyes weren''t playing jokes on him. However, aside from some destruction, cracked walls, and scorched ground, there was no mistaking the building in front of him.


    Buckingham Palace? How the hell did they manage that?

 Chapter 155. Time passes

    ''The what palace now? What''s so special about this place?'' Nyx asked upon hearing his reaction. Evidently, she skipped over his memories of this famous building.


    Buckingham Palace. Leo snorted. It''s the royal residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom. There aren''t many other places in this country as important as this one. I half expected it to be claimed by some powerful nest or turned into a Graveyard. It would certainly suit the Void.


    ''Oh,'' Nyx hummed. ''That makes sense. It could have been a nest through. This safe zone had to come from somewhere.''


    He shook his head. Doubt it. Their group is one big anomaly. It wouldn''t surprise me in the slightest if this place was gifted to them along with the Light affinity. Or maybe they even have a better job than Holden to create them. There are so many possibilities. Hell, the royal family might still be alive for all we know. And ain''t that interesting?


    ''Would it change anything? Being royalty should mean something. Maybe not for us, but others?''


    Nah. Leo scoffed. Even before the Outbreak, they were mostly figureheads. I don''t see why anyone would want to follow them now. The old world is dead. Who you were before this shit doesn''t matter anymore.


    ''Good point,'' Nyx relented, her gaze shifting toward the Palace''s backyard. ''What''s the plan then? As you see, their group is much bigger than just those people we encountered.''


    He grimaced at the truth of her words. Even though the people he fought had already disappeared inside the building, there were plenty of other survivors visible inside the Safe Zone. Some were posed all around as guards, while at least thirty more stood in the backyard, training with weapons or Essence. He even noticed a few spars going on.


    Right... This might be an issue if they all have the same attitude towards me. He sighed, slightly regretting his actions during the last fight. Can you see their levels? My Identify isn''t working.


    ''No. I think the safe zone is stopping my scans for some reason. Maybe if I get a bit closer?''


    Leo clicked his tongue. No, don''t. They don''t really know you are with me. Let''s keep it that way for the time being. If they ever decide to retaliate, we will at least have the element of surprise on our side.


    However, considering what happened during their battle, he really doubted they would actively seek him out. Sure, they didn''t look like the sanest bunch, but they understood when the fight was over, and it was time for retreat.


    Of course, he could be completely wrong. People had done many stupid things while seeking revenge. In addition, he had no idea if the group he encountered was the strongest. For all he knew, they might have a few survivors above level twenty hiding inside.


    We need more info... again. Leo frowned before shaking his head lightly. Get back here, Nyx. We can worry about them tomorrow. We still have the rest of the city to map.


    ''On it. I should be back in five,'' the feline commented, but she didn''t stop there. ''There is one more thing... What if your sister is there? What if she is like all the other Blessed Emissaries?''


    He blinked, their shared vision deactivating. I... I don''t know. I want to believe that if I met Lily right now, she would give me a chance to at least explain myself, but... but you saw how those people were. I get hating the Void and Voidlings, but this was more than just that. There is something wrong with them.


    ''So will you just give up?'' Nyx asked in a way that made it sound like she didn''t believe what she had just said.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Of course not. You know me better than that. Leo scoffed. I won''t give up on possibly the last remaining link to my family. Even if Lily is with them, I will do anything to reach her.


    ''As long as you remain relatively safe while doing so, I''ll help you to the best of my ability,'' the feline vowed. ''Just please, no more stunts like today. The entire fight was really unnecessary.''


    He sighed again. I don¡¯t agree, but I¡¯m still sorry. I will try to be more careful, but you know how it is¡­ Now please, come back. We can talk more later.


    ''As you wish,'' Nyx muttered, closing their link.


    As his mind became silent once more, Leo closed his eyes and went through the entire memory of the battle against the Treant and Blessed Emmisaries. There was always a lot to learn from the past if studied correctly.


    To be honest, there wasn''t much he could get out of his effort against the Void Lifeform. He just had to practice his techniques further, and that was it. However, when it came to his fight against the survivors, a few issues quickly became obvious.


    Like his spatial awareness and defensive capabilities.


    The first problem, while not as bad as the other, could really use some work. Only his high Grace attribute saved him from being turned into a pinecone. He needed either a skill to help him detect attacks or to put more points in Vision. He had no idea how to tackle the former, but he could probably spare a few points for his weakest attributes.


    As for defense? In his opinion, he just needed to work on shielding with shadows or pure Essence. For now, the barriers he usually created were atrocious. He had put a bit too much focus on spears, swords, and other kinds of projectiles.


    That''s pretty doable. Leo decided. If I could combine some spatial awareness skill with shielding, then maybe it could become something like an automatic defense system. Hmm, I might even have an idea of how to train it. Finally, all the old movies I watched are becoming useful for something.


    Chuckling, he pushed those thoughts away for later. Yet, before he could completely banish the memory of the battle from his mind, something important occurred to him.


    Hold up. I''m pretty sure one of them died during the Treant''s rage. What happened to the corpse? At once, Leo jumped to his feet and cast his gaze around the area. Not finding anything at first, he just decided to scout the entire place.


    He wasn''t sure how long he kept going in circles, searching for the corpse, but in the end, Nyx managed to return before he found anything. Somehow, the Blessed group managed to take their fallen comrade even though he didn''t see them carrying anyone aside from their leader.


    ''Maybe they can use Soul Well too?'' Nyx suggested, tilting her head as they sat down in the shade.


    Maybe. Doesn''t matter for now. Leo shrugged before looking the feline straight in the eyes. Alright, you wanted to talk, let''s talk, but let me say what I need first. After that you can scold me as much as you want. Fair?


    ''Fair.''


    <hr>


    Three days flew by since their scuffle with the Treant and the Buckingham group, as they began to call them. While Leo would have loved to complete his search for Lily during that time, life just wasn''t that easy.


    He had already checked her apartment building, and apart from finding it almost empty, there were no other signs of his sister there. As such, they spent most of the last few days mapping out the rest of London, training and killing as many Voidlings as possible.


    With quite a few monsters already above level twenty in the center of the city, Leo had reached level thirty-two while the feline was only a bit below him, standing at twenty-nine. He didn''t count, but they most likely slaughtered over a thousand Voidlings in this time. Not a lot, considering London''s population alone, yet he doubted many others could manage a similar feat in such a short time.


    Aside from that, they also visited Buckingham Palace a few times to observe the group within. Leo even tried to pass through the Ether barrier, but unlike the Safe Zone in Wolford, this one burned him upon touch. He could maybe get in if he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, but that was just way too risky even for him.


    As such, he decided just to wait for a smaller party of two or three to leave and then capture them. Only that never happened, as the Blessed Emissaries always traveled in groups of at least ten. He could still take them with Nyx''s help, but he doubted it would end without even more problems for him.


    Annoying fuckers. I will get to you soon. Leo grumbled as he and Nyx stopped right in front of the entrance to an underground metro station. A station that was way too close to the Supercluster than they felt comfortable with.


    "Ready?" He turned to the feline. "We can get you to level thirty and then return if you want."


    ''No,'' Nyx shook her head. ''We didn''t follow your Hunter''s Pulse''s tracks for over two hours just to back out now. We just have to be careful.''


    "Roger, Roger," Leo chuckled. "Come on then. Let''s find out who or what made us run in circles."

 Chapter 156. The bait

    "If you take away its close distance to the Supercluster, this place isn''t anything special," Leo noted as they stepped into the underground metro station.


    While the Void already made itself at home here, it didn''t create anything incredible. Vetilim just continued to slither along the walls, and pieces of Corcera shone through here and there. Hell, even normal Voidlings didn''t come down here, which maybe should have been a bit disconcerting in hindsight.


    Not that we are alone anyway. He clicked his tongue as another pebble flew at him. Instead of dodging like he usually did, he just raised his hand and let it take the burn of the attack.


    The rock hit his skin and shattered into smaller fragments upon impact. He grimaced just a bit, but apart from that, he didn''t even feel a thing. His last choice of mutation definitely paid off.


    Not bad, not bad at all. Leo mused, glancing at the point of impact on his arm. Aside from a tiny bruise, the stone barely left a sign on his new snake-like skin. And ain''t that weird? Of all things, I definitely didn''t expect to become part snake. What''s next? Dragon scales?


    However, there was really nothing to complain about. He had already run multiple tests on his improved skin, and just like the description said, it became at least two times harder to damage. This, for a human, may not have been that much of an improvement, but as a Prime Night Hunter, his skin was already harder to pierce. With this mutation, this durability just jumped to another level.


    Mutation: Basic Natural Armor (Gamma Tier)


    On the field of battle, sometimes you just have to take a hit head-on and continue fighting. Natural Armor is here to help you survive and make your life a bit easier.


    Effects:


    Basic tier of this mutation will improve the durability of your skin, making it at least twice as tough to pierce. Additionally, it will heal all previous skin injuries upon acquisition.


    Makes you wonder what it can do on higher tiers. Leo had already tried to check that, but the System decided to block his ability to upgrade mutations for now. Why? It didn''t say. Maybe I need to evolve again? We will see soon enough.


    ''Leo... For the love of god, focus. I''m bored too after all this running around the city, but you don''t see me with my head in the clouds,'' Nyx grumbled suddenly, breaking his thought process.


    Sorry. He sighed, leaning away from another pebble sent in his direction. I just had to occupy myself with something. Those bloody Rock Eaters won''t even come out to entertain us.


    The feline snorted. ''They aren''t that stupid. The moment they show their heads, they are dead. Maybe if they were as strong as the Voidlings outside...'' She shook her head. ''Doesn''t matter. We came here for a reason. Focus on the trail. I can''t feel it any longer.''


    This time, Leo frowned as he stopped and kneeled with one hand coming to touch the ground. Essence gathered around his fingers, only to leave them a moment later in a wide pulse that consumed the entire tunnel.


    Instantly, a few spots on the floor ignited in a bloody red glow, showing him the same tracks they had followed for the last few hours. The trail continued deeper into the underground metro, and so he stood up, motioning for Nyx to follow.


    It''s getting stronger. We must be close. He called over the link, his body tensing as he sped up a bit. Rock Eaters stopped attacking, too. If this ain''t it, I give up. We''ve wasted enough time on this.


    ''Agreed. I would like to hit the nest in the ruined hospital if you don''t mind.''


    He furrowed his brow. The one with the two-headed lizards?


    ''Exactly,'' Nyx nodded.


    Sure, why not. Let''s finish here quickly then.


    Determined to put this mess behind them, they picked up the pace. The further they went, the trail illuminated by his Hunter''s Pulse grew brighter. And it wasn''t until a few minutes later that they finally had to stop.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    A cave-in? Leo frowned, inspecting the mass of rocks combined with Vetilim blocking their path. To make it more interesting, the trail was also scattered all along the blockade. Do you see anything?


    Nyx, still sitting a distance away from the cave-in, narrowed her eyes. ''See? No, not really. But I feel quite a bit of Essence in this thing. Try it for yourself.''


    Nodding, he extended his senses as well as he could while firing off another Hunter''s Pulse at the same time. The feedback was instantaneous, and just like the feline said, the amount of Essence in this blockade was unnatural.


    Stay back and be ready to pull me out. I will see if I can cut through. Leo ordered as he stepped closer, his blades snapping out. Let''s start with only Kiss of Death for now.


    He raised his arms, and just as he was about to swing them at the barrier, a muffled shout came from within. At the same time, a small part of the middle of the cave-in shifted as if an illusion had been lifted from it. In its place appeared a tunnel, blocked by a large metal door.


    "Please stop! That won''t be necessary! You passed. Just give me a moment," a male voice announced.


    Right away, Leo jumped away, landing next to Nyx as his body tensed. Essence and bloodlust stirred underneath his skin, ready to come out at a moment''s notice.


    I passed? He frowned just as the door slid open, illuminating the rest of the tunnel in low light. A moment later, a figure stepped out, earning a raised eyebrow from him. Okay, now it''s getting interesting.


    Apex Abyss Walker | LVL. 26


    The man walking towards them was unlike anyone else Leo had ever seen. He still had the standard build of a human, but that was where the similarities ended.


    For one, just like him, the man had claws on his hands and feet, and they all gave off an eerie crimson glow. Another thing they shared was their skin color, although the Abyss Walker''s was a bit lighter with flecks of red thrown into it.


    Then there was the man''s head, which, while staying mostly human, possessed some features of vampires straight out of horror movies. The crimson-eyed gaze only added to the image.


    And is that a wing? Leo blinked, spotting the single leathery appendage tugged to the man''s back. That''s got to be uncomfortable. Where is the other one?


    He didn''t get any more time to wonder about that as the man stopped and spoke up again. "No need to be all tense. We didn''t lead you here just to fight," the man grinned. "I don''t have a death wish."


    Leo frowned. "We? Lead us? What the hell are you talking about? Explain fast." At the same time, he contacted Nyx. One wrong move, and we take him out. No killing though. I want information.


    ''Got it.''


    "Like I said, I''m not here to fight. I just want to talk," the Abyss Walker repeated.


    "I heard that somewhere before," Leo snorted, relaxing his stance just a bit. "So I ask again. Who are you? How and why did you lead us here?"


    "Ah yes, your encounter with the Holy Morons. Bastards can''t even keep their word," the man spat. "This won''t be a problem here... But yes, introductions... I''m Malcolm Dale, a humble ex-baker if you believe me. I''m one of the leaders of the Wildborn, as we like to call ourselves. What about you and your... friend here?"


    "Leo and Nyx," he answered before his eyes narrowed. "You saw me fight the Emissaries and then baited me here. What do you want?"


    Malcom raised his hands. "Woah, woah, woah. Calm down, mate. Yeah, one of mine saw your scuffle with the Treant and those idiots. Honestly, it was hard not to with all the explosions, but we didn''t bait you here. I prefer to call it an invitation with an attached test."


    This time, Leo shot the man a blank stare. "You literally had me following an unknown trail for over two hours. I still want to know how you managed that."


    The Walker shrugged. "Beats me. I have a hunter with real-life experience who figured this out. I just gave him the green light to go along with his plan."


    This guy. Leo shook his head, feeling that they were getting nowhere. "Whatever... Tell me what you want, or we''re leaving."


    Malcolm shot him another grin. "Oh? Isn''t it obvious? I would like for you two to join my group. And if not that, I will be happy with an alliance."


    Is he serious? Either he is even more desperate than Holden, or they have been observing us for longer than we know. Leo observed, not showing his surprise on the outside.


    Instead, he just asked while crossing his arms. "Why would you give an offer like that to someone you''ve just met? To someone who is stronger than you? Aren''t you worried? Where¡¯s your survival instinct?"


    "Worried?" Malcolm snorted. "Of course I am, but I have my reasons. One of which is you completely destroying the Holy Morons and cutting off that bitch''s arm. Personally, I would have gone for the head, but still, I''m a big fan of your work... So what do you say? Want to go inside?"


    Leo and Nyx shared a look at that. You know, I think we just met Frank 2.0, only a bit more mad. Don''t you agree?


    The feline only snorted.

 Chapter 157. A gift

    "Lead the way then," Leo said after a moment. "But just so you know, if you and your people try anything, I''m out. And you won''t like the way I leave."


    The Abyss Walker just chuckled. "You don''t need to threaten me. If I wanted to kill you, I would have organized an ambush away from our base. Me agreeing to meet you here is a show of trust. Besides, you will see what I mean in a moment. Come."


    With that said, Malcolm turned on his heel and headed toward the hole in the cave-in. Leo, with Nyx trailing behind him, followed, his vision changing back to normal once they got past the door.


    Woah. He held back a gasp, his gaze drinking in the sights. He had expected a lot, but definitely not this. It''s like a whole underground community. They even dug out more tunnels in the walls to have more space... nice.


    While not that long ago, this place was just a tunnel for the London metro, now it had become a hub for survivors of all kinds. Ascended and Fallen Humans were the first he spotted, though they were far from the only evolutions here. He also noticed some Risen Humans and quite a few people who hadn''t evolved yet. He was sure there was more, but with the crowd gathering around them, it was hard to Identify everyone.


    This is getting more and more interesting. Leo commented as he stopped paying attention to the survivors and focused on the tunnel''s interior.


    For one, the entire place was illuminated by hanging lamps not much different from the Ether torches he had encountered before. Another thing was the few workstations they had passed. Some had weapons lying on them, others electronics or clothing. However, the most surprising among them all was the very primitive forge sitting in a dug-out corner.


    And all of this without an active safe zone. Why?


    With that thought in his mind, Leo sped up a bit, stepping next to Malcolm while doing his best to ignore the dozens of curious eyes watching them.


    "Fancy place you got here," he noted, getting the other man''s attention. "Fallen, Risen, Ascended... Not to mention those who haven''t evolved yet."


    Malcolm snorted. "We''re not like those light bastards. Everybody is free to choose their own path here. Even those who don''t want to go out there and fight." He shrugged. "Not everyone is cut out to be a fighter. As long as they get to level five and unlock a job, they can stay."


    Leo disagreed but didn''t voice his opinion. Staying weak in this world was just delaying the inevitable. However, he also couldn''t fault them for not wanting to fight. In comparison to Wolford, London was at least twice as dangerous. Voidlings here must have grown much faster than in his hometown.


    So, in the end, he just nodded, leaving those thoughts for a later date. "So why don''t you get a Safe Zone? This place seems nice, but it''s far from safe. Hell, you''re almost next to the Supercluster."


    Malcolm grimaced, his expression turning sour. "Trust me, I wish we could get another one. It''s just impossible as we are now. But this right here? Until something changes, this is the best we can get."


    "Another?" Leo frowned, uncaring of the people listening to their conversation. "You lost a Safe Zone? How?"


    The Abyss Walker chuckled hollowly. "Isn''t it bloody obvious? Those fucking Emissaries. Before we could even settle properly, they descended upon us like the dogs they are. Between their sheer numbers and light affinity, we never stood a chance." He shook his head. "The people you see here? That''s barely half of what we were before the attack."


    "They killed them? Just like that? When did it happen?" He asked, feeling his bloodlust boiling underneath his skin. He knew the Emissaries were mad, but to this degree? To attack another group of survivors?


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Thankfully, Malcolm shook his head. "Just three days after the second Cataclysm, and not exactly. Only those who chose the path of the Void were put under the sword. Others were given a choice of joining them, which they obviously did. Nobody wants to die."


    Shit! Leo cursed, his mind going a hundred miles per hour. "But why? I get hating anything to do with the Void, but that was just about six days after the Outbreak. What could possibly happen to change an entire group like this? It doesn¡¯t make sense. I''ve met other survivors, and none were like this."


    Well, aside from the woman in the beginning and Tyler. Though, I doubt even they would go as far as to attack another group just because they didn''t stay pure.


    "They don''t just hate the Void, mate. They despise it and anyone who even tries to associate with it," the other man sighed, pausing in front of a closed door. "I could try explaining why, but honestly? I''m not the best person to do that. My co-leader will do it much better. Just please, don''t attack her. Unlike most of us, she couldn''t choose what she became."


    Leo frowned. The man had seen who he was talking to. There was no reason to worry as long as no one attacked him first. "Sure, I will hold my judgment for now."


    The Abyss Walker nodded and turned to open the door. The moment they stepped through, a female voice called out from within. "You sure took your time, Malcolm," she said. "At least you have brought our new friends with you. It''s nice to meet ya, the name''s..."


    However, Leo, who had frozen when his eyes fell on the woman, didn''t let her finish. "Lily..." he muttered, silencing the entire room. "It''s you... You''re alive..."


    Even though the woman before him gained a somewhat elvish appearance. Even though she now possessed one dark leathery wing and another one full of white angelic feathers. And even though her entire left arm became almost the exact copy of his own, he could never mistake his only sister for someone else.


    "Do I... do I know you?" She asked hesitantly, retracing the arm she offered for a handshake. "I''m sorry, but..."


    Leo gulped, knowing well he should have expected such a reaction. Unlike his sister, no part of him remained the same. He just hoped she would accept the new him.


    "Ah shit... I mean, I know I don¡¯t look and sound anything like I did before the Outbreak," he offered the woman a weak smile. "But yes, you do know me... sister. It took me a bit, but I''m here now. Sorry for being late."


    If before his words brought on complete silence, now they would be able to even hear the pin drop. Lily stood frozen, her eyes open wide, while Malcolm wasn''t doing much better on the side.


    "L-Leo?" His sister stuttered out before shaking her head. "No, no, no. This can''t be you. You are dead, I know that. I have seen it. Who are you?! Speak now!"


    Leo backed off like struck. What the hell did she mean she had seen him being dead? How? When?


    No, it doesn''t matter now. I have to fix this before she does something we will all regret. He grimaced and took a deep breath. "A few hours before the Outbreak, you called me. We talked about your tournament, about celebrating with Nick, and about my meeting with Edward. Remember what you have told me back then? That you wish I tried a bit harder, that I should at least try and stop pushing him away."


    This time, it was Lily who took a step back, her eyes opening even wider. "B-but..."


    "When I first came to live with your family, you never gave up on me," Leo continued, ignoring whatever she tried to say. "No matter how angsty I was, no matter how hard I tried to push you away, you were always there. Please, don''t leave me now."


    The winged woman gulped. "Is it really... really you, Leo? I can''t do this again..."


    Slowly, he approached his shaken sister and laid a hand upon her shoulder. She flinched at first, but then she raised her head to look him right in the eyes.


    "Even if the System insists on showing Leonardo Brown as my name in the status, I''m still your brother. Nothing will ever change that. Whatever you saw, it was a lie. I''m alive and not going anywhere now that I have found you," he swore, and with this, the dam broke.


    At once, Lily rushed forward and buried her head full of black hair in his chest. Her silent sobbing followed right after, and he quickly returned the embrace, hugging her as if she were to disappear in a minute.


    ''Leo, we will wait outside. Take your time... I''m happy for you,'' Nyx spoke softly in his mind, and a moment later, the click of the door reached his ears.


    Thank you. He replied just as their link closed. He then returned his gaze to his sister, a soft smile spreading over his monstrous face. I don''t know how this is possible, but this time, I won''t waste this chance. I will destroy everything that tries to take you away. Voidlings, survivors, the Old Ones, or even the Void itself. I''m done playing around...

 Chapter 158. A sibling tale

    After what felt like hours, Lily separated from Leo and led him towards a ratty couch in the corner of the room. They sat down without another word, looking at the wall in front of them as their minds still tried to process that the other was somehow alive.


    "I was buying groceries when the Outbreak came," she spoke quietly, making him turn to her. "By all means, I shouldn''t have survived, not with so many people there... Others told me how they had to kill those closest to them when they woke up, but me? No." She shook her head. "There were no Voildings anywhere near me."


    Leo frowned. "Wha.. How? Something teleported you?" It was the obvious conclusion, especially considering how she looked.


    "Nothing like that," Lily chuckled bitterly. "Nobody in the entire market and the area around it was turned. Instead, we all became Blessed Humans. Not Awakened, not tainted, but blessed," she spat the last word.


    "How many?" He asked, his eyes wide. Slowly, his biggest worry was becoming real.


    "A bit over a hundred... We all had the same evolution. The same minor affinity towards the light. And the same unnatural hatred towards the Void," Lily sighed, her gaze falling to her knees. "I never knew I could be so hateful, so angry, but the moment a Voidling appeared in my sight, I just was, and nothing could stop the boiling anger in my veins. At that time, I even thought I had a good reason. Now, I know better."


    Leo''s frown only deepened as he listened. "I don''t understand."


    "After the first meeting with the System, I didn''t wake up instantly like normal survivors," she continued as if she didn¡¯t hear him. "Instead, I and all the others Blessed had to suffer through visions of our closest ones being slaughtered or turned into Voidlings."


    "I saw you getting torn apart by Edward," she mumbled, tears slowly beginning to slide down her cheeks. "I saw Nicky, along with mum and dad, walking the streets as one of those monsters. And..." She gulped, wiping her eyes. "I had to watch as a Collector crushed Adam and Ava. It was all so real, like I was there. I could hear their screams, feel their pain."


    Leo shook his head in disbelief.  "And you believed it? Just like that? You said it yourself. Those were only visions. Nothing more."


    "I didn''t have a choice!" Lily snapped suddenly, turning her bloodshot eyes on him. "I didn''t have a choice," she repeated, this time quietly. "When I woke up, the thought of it being anything but reality didn¡¯t even enter my mind. Back then, I only wanted to kill Voidlings and destroy anything that came from the Void. The other Blessed were the same. Nothing else mattered for us."


    Shit... Something must have messed with their minds. He grimaced, again lying a hand on his sister''s shoulder. "So what changed? You aren''t attacking me. Hell, you become a co-leader to a group full of misfits."


    "I evolved," she stated simply. "A bit after the second Cataclysm, I was meant to become a Winged Emissary, one of three in the group, the chosen of the light. Only it never happened. Something interfered with the process, and instead, I became this."


    Now that Leo had thought about it, he had forgotten to use Identify on his sister. So, with a quick command, he fixed this rookie mistake.


    Fallen Winged Emissary | LVL. 27


    Yeah, Void definitely got her. And this level... If I didn''t go on a rampage against Nightmares, I would most likely be weaker now. Being in London from the beginning definitely had its benefits.


    Yet, their difference in levels didn''t matter in the end. No, what worried him were the unknown circumstances of Lily''s evolutions. Aside from Nikra, he didn''t know anyone who could influence an evolution like that.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Another mystery to solve. Leo almost snorted; he really should start making a list. "The other Blessed kicked you out? Tried to kill you?"


    "Not exactly," she denied, leaning back into the couch. "The evolution lifted some sort of a fog from my mind. Don''t get me wrong, I still hated the Void, but I no longer felt the need to go out and slaughter everything in sight, other survivors included. It was the first time I felt like myself again. It only made me realize that something was trying to manipulate me all this time."


    And another clue pointing at Geron. He noted, remembering his own dreams about the Old One. But why? How? He is supposed to be dead, even more so than Nikra. Just what the hell is going on?


    "Did you see any visions during your evolutions?" Leo asked, hoping for more clues. "Have you heard any whispers, even ones you couldn''t understand? Anything really."


    Lily frowned. "No. Nothing like that. Why? Do you know what happened to me? To the others?"


    "I wish," he grumbled. "At best, I have some theories. I will explain them after you finish."


    She shrugged. "There is not much more to be said. I simply helped the Wildborn when the Blessed attacked; the rest is history. Now we are just trying to survive while avoiding getting hunted down by my old group."


    "Got it," Leo nodded before his face turned sour. "There is just one thing I don''t understand. Once you evolved and realized something manipulated you, why didn''t you try to come to Wolford? Surely, you must have realized those visions were fake, too."


    His sister averted her gaze, refusing to even look in his direction.


    "Lily?" He tried again.


    The woman flinched away like struck. "I... I couldn''t. Even though I was myself again, those visions felt as real as before. Even thinking of returning to Wolford made them come back... I tried to move on. Maybe one day I would find the strength to return, but until then, I wanted my life to amount to something. That''s why I''m here. To protect those who can''t protect themselves. I''m sorry..."


    Leo closed his eyes. This was the truth he had feared, even if he didn''t really fault his sister for not trying to come to Wolford. No, the issue lay in his own story, a story he now had to tell. And this time, he couldn''t lie. Not to Lily, never to her.


    "It''s fine," he muttered under his breath and opened his eyes. "I guess it''s my turn now..."


    And so he told her everything, beginning with Edward, his short journey into the Void, the Lone Traveler, and then finding Nick. At that point, Lily was already in tears, but he continued, from his meeting with the cousins and Dylan to his evolution into Prime Night Hunter.


    Even when he mentioned the meeting with a dead goddess, his sister still remained silent. Not that he gave her much of a choice as his story continued into the arrival at ReachHope. There, Lily''s eyes lit up as he recalled his reunion with Ava and Adam.


    However, all this happiness was turned to dust as he finished his tale of Storm and the Void. Tears even came back to his own eyes when the images of Ava''s corpse and his godson''s new evolution flashed in his mind. He had wanted to put this all in the past, but just this once, the truth had to be spoken out loud.


    Lily hid her head in her hands as her entire body trembled with silent sobs. This was what he wanted to avoid, but aside from hiding the truth, there was no other way to do that.


    "It''s my fault," she sniffed. "If I didn''t believe those stupid visions, I could have been there with you. I could have helped you save them. But now..."


    "Hey, no," Leo cut in and grabbed Lily''s shoulders as he kneeled right in front of her. "Look at me. Please." At first, she refused, but with another nudge, she raised her head. "Don''t be like me. Don''t blame yourself for something you can''t control. I already did that enough for us both."


    "But Ava... Adam... You... You were alive, and I... I just tried to forget about you. I failed you."


    He winced, knowing well he would feel as bad, if not worse, in Lily''s place. Hell, he was much worse right after the storm...


    "I''m still alive, so you definitely didn''t fail me," Leo tried, anything to help his sister through this pain. "Adam, he might be different now, but he isn''t gone yet. And Ava... Yeah, she died, but I bet she wouldn''t want you crying for her. Not when her son is still alive."


    "So Lily," he looked her right in the eyes. "Like someone once told me, ''Grieve if you must, but don''t you dare give up.'' Not today, not ever. People here still need you. Adam and I need you. Understood?"


    After a moment of holding his gaze, she nodded and hugged him again. Leo just smiled and held her tight.


    "Seems our roles have finally reversed," Lily''s muffled voice came from his chest. "Never thought I would see the day..."


    He chuckled. "Yeah... So it seems."

 Chapter 159. United

    "Legacy of a dead goddess," Lily muttered a moment after they returned to their old position on the couch. "Kinda bonkers if I say so. And you think her brother is the one responsible for manipulating me and the others?"


    Leo frowned, tapping a claw on his knee. "It would make a lot of sense, but in the end, it''s still just a theory. I might have a way to prove it, but I want to leave it as the last resort."


    "That Void merchant of yours?" She quirked an eyebrow. "You really have encountered some very interesting people."


    "Don''t I know that," he snorted. "But yeah. If all else fails, I can always pay him for the info. Until now, everything he had sold me has been legit. I just don''t want him to learn about what¡¯s happening here. Void knows to whom he can sell that information if it''s really Geron who messed up with your minds and initial evolutions."


    "If he''s as powerful as you say, he most likely knows already," Lily reasoned before frowning. "Also, ''Void knows,'' really Leo? What''s up with that?"


    He grimaced, cursing his slip-up. He should have known it would bite him in the ass sooner or later. "Nothing I can do about that," he explained, trying to look normal. "I don''t even remember when I began to use it like that; I just did. At least I can blame my connection with the Void for that."


    His sister''s frown deepened. "But it isn''t manipulating or changing you, right? I don''t want you to become a slave to some ancient god. Not like I was."


    "Not gonna happen, don''t worry. Nobody is manipulating me," Leo quickly replied before Lily''s mood could worsen again. "As for changing? Well, I won''t say I''m the same person you spoke on the phone with a few weeks ago. Neither of us are. That''s just the way this world works now. You either adapt or die. For better or worse."


    She scowled. "I really hate it."


    He furrowed his brow. That came out of nowhere. "What?"


    "This System slogan," she jumped and started pacing around the small room. "Adapt or die," she mocked. "Is that the best bloody advice an all-powerful entity can offer us? Fucking thank you a lot. I figured out as much by myself."


    Huh, that''s a new one. Most people I met accepted this saying for what it was: the way of the new world. Figures she would be different. Leo held back a snort. "I already told you why it can''t do much more. Nothing we can do to change that now."


    "I know," she growled, dropping back on the couch like a sack of potatoes. "It''s just frustrating. Superclusters, nests, ancient gods, Gates, and thousands of Voidlings... All this and the System''s only words to us are ''Adapt or die?'' Bloody hell!"


    He didn''t say anything right away, as there was no good way to respond to that. However, he also couldn''t really complain about the System. Without it, they would all be dead after all. If what Nyx told him was true, it wasn''t the entity''s fault for how it was created.


    Not gonna lie, though. It would be nice to be able to speak to you again face to face, System. I have so many questions...


    "Sorry," Lily spoke up. "I had been holding this inside me for a while now. And... after you explained the System''s true purpose, I guess I just couldn''t hold it back anymore."


    "Don''t sweat it, sis," Leo offered her a weak grin. "Like you said, it''s frustrating. I understand it better than most."


    Silence consumed the uneven, dug-out room once he finished speaking. A single glance at Lily confirmed that her mind had to be a mess at that moment. As such, he stayed silent, giving her a minute or two to process everything.


    How is it going outside? He opened the link to Nyx instead. Saw something interesting?


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''Not really,'' the feline grumbled. ''We are just standing a few feet away from the door, getting gawked at by everyone around. The Abyss Walker tried starting a conversation, but as I can''t speak out loud, it didn''t really work out. It''s getting... awkward, as the humans would call it.''


    Leo winced, though he wasn''t too surprised. Sorry. We should be done here soon. I will call for you.


    ''Please do. Too many people...''


    This time, he had to hold back another chuckle. Who could have known? The mighty Apex Shadow Claw, scared of big crowds. More blackmail for him.


    "Leo," Lily''s voice snapped him back to the real world. "What about... about Adam? He is inside your soul, right? But what now? How do we help him?"


    Ah, here it is. He sighed. Of course, this had to come up sooner rather than later.


    "Honestly?" He looked at his sister. "I have no idea. I wish I could give you some miraculous solution, but I just don''t have one. All we can do for now is wait for him to wake up. After that? We will see."


    She bit her lip. "What if... what if I could help? My light affinity can also heal. Maybe it will work."


    "Maybe, but I doubt it," Leo grimaced. "He isn''t sick or hurt, Lily. He has evolved into a Voidborn; there might be nothing to heal there. Not unless you can somehow reverse the evolution."


    She shook her head. "I can''t, but there has to be a way to save him. I need to at least try."


    "If that''s what you want, I won''t stop you. Just... just let''s wait for Adam to wake up. I also don''t want to bring him out of my soul unless absolutely necessary."


    "Do you think you can drag me into your soulscape?"


    Leo gave her a quick once over, then glanced at her level again and snorted. "Yeah, that ain''t happening anytime soon. For all I know, my success with Adam might have been a fluke made possible thanks to Takeover. We''re not risking it."


    Lily flinched. "Right. Your ability to control Voidlings. I still can''t get my head around that. Will you keep hiding it?"


    This one time, he didn''t have a problem answering. After all, he had been thinking about this for a while now.


    "No," he shook his head. "With how London is, I can''t limit myself like that. Only my connection to Nikra has to remain a secret. I can''t let it get out. The Traveler was right about that."


    "I figured as much," the woman sighed, leaning back into the couch. "Malcolm and your companion are still waiting, I should call them back. We still have a lot to talk about."


    Yet, even as she said that, she didn''t stand up. Leo could understand why, but she was also correct. They had a ton of stuff to discuss with everyone present.


    As such, he opened the link with Nyx and gave her the signal. With that done, he turned to his sister. "They are coming."


    Lily instantly sat up straight, blinking. "What? How did y-"


    Before she could say more, the door opened, and Malcolm, accompanied by Nyx, slipped inside. The Abyss Walker seemed somewhat confused, but he still closed the entrance, silencing the murmurs coming from the tunnel.


    "Man, that''s bloody weird," Malcolm muttered, looking right at Leo. "You two can communicate telepathically? That''s gotta be how she knew to move."


    Leo nodded, refusing to hide something so noticeable. "It''s useful when we are out there."


    "I can imagine that," the man snorted. "So what? You are really siblings?" Upon Lily''s nod, he shook his head. "God damn, what are the odds? And both of you are powerful and have unique evolutions. If that''s a coincidence, then I am the Queen."


    When he put it like that, it really became obvious that some third party had to be involved. What if Geron, in fear of his sister''s power, somehow still managed to influence the world and created an entire group just to hunt down Nikra¡¯s shard. Going by the dreams he experienced before the Outbreak, it wasn''t even too big of a reach.


    If it''s really him, his alliance with Nikra to create the System must have been weaker than even Nyx described. Shit... those two idiots really are the root of every problem in this damned world.


    "Don''t look into it too much, Malcolm," his sister finally replied as he dealt with the mess in his head. "Coincidence or not, there''s nothing we can do about it. We have better things to worry about for now."


    The Abyss Walker quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? Am I missing something?"


    Lily let out a heavy sigh. "A lot. Sit down. I will give you a quick rundown. Then we can figure out how to deal with my old group and that bloody Supercluster. We have been on the defensive for too long. Thanks to Leo, we just might survive."


    "Finally." A large grin spread across Malcolm''s face as he dropped onto the nearest chair.


    Huh, I think I might have started a war¡­

 Chapter 160. Marked for Death

    ''Started?'' Nyx snorted while Lily gave Malcolm the promised rundown on what she discussed with Leo. ''Those people were at war ever since the Emissaries attacked their safe zone. Now, it''s just moving to the next stage. I can''t wait.''


    He rolled his eyes. Of course, you can''t. What happened to being careful and not taking unnecessary risks? I thought you wanted to stay away from those people.


    The feline gave him a side glance. ''That was when we were tired from killing the Treant. I never said we should avoid them. With us at full power, we could have slaughtered those humans without too much effort.''


    I guess so. Leo had to give her that. Though I''m not sure about the ''slaughtering'' part. You heard my sister. Just like her, those people are most likely still being manipulated. Killing them on sight just because of that is... wrong?


    Nyx bristled, her frustration flowing into their link. ''Please don''t tell me you will try to save all of them. You will only make our lives harder if you fight against them just like you did the last time. They are enemies, not friends you have to rescue.''


    I know! He growled, trying to keep his face expressionless. I don''t plan to go out of my way to rescue them. I''m no hero. I''m just saying there is no need to kill everyone. I will if I have to, but in the end, those Emissaries aren''t the main problem here; the Supercluster is. If we want to destroy or contain it, we will need more people.


    ''I... I understand,'' the feline muttered after a moment. ''Just promise me you won''t let them walk over you. At the end of the day, your own survival is the only thing that matters. Even if we fail here, you can always take your sister and escape. The Supercluster and the Emissaries can go to hell.''


    Leo chuckled internally. You have my word, then. Now, pay attention. Lily should be done in a moment. And remember, if you want to say anything, just tell me. I will relay everything to them.


    True to his words, not even a minute later, his sister finished speaking. At the same time, Malcolm leaned back into his chair, massaging his brow.


    "Well fuck," the Abyss Walker snorted. "I expected a lot, but an ancient god getting involved definitely wasn''t on my list." He then turned to Leo. "How the hell did you even learn about all of that? Lily was one of them for a time, and even she couldn''t tell us why they were different from other survivors."


    "The Void merchant I met on the way to London," he lied, keeping Nikra''s involvement secret as planned. "For a small fee, he also warned me what shit I''m stepping into... Though he also told me not to take the info about the god''s involvement at face value. It isn''t confirmed yet."


    "It would be best if it never was," Malcolm sighed. "We have enough to worry about. A meddling god is the last thing we need right now. Like why the fuck would someone so powerful even target Earth? Is it because of the Supercluster?"


    Leo shared a quick look with Nyx. "I have no idea," he lied again. Not that the truth really mattered now. He could bet that this group of Emissaries also didn''t know why they received their special power. Lily, after all, didn''t know anything, and she was supposed to evolve into something stronger than the other Blessed.


    "Makes me wonder if Payne knows anything," the Abyss Walker muttered.


    He raised an eyebrow, looking between the man and his sister. "Who?"


    "The Emissaries'' leader and a major pain in our arses, Michael Payne," Lily scowled, clenching her fists. "I never thought I would ever wish for someone to just drop dead, but Payne? I would slit his throat in the blink of an eye if I could."


    Leo''s eyes widened at the hate dripping from his sister''s words. Never in his life had he heard her speak like that. It was the complete opposite of her usual happy-go-lucky attitude.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Just what the hell did this guy do? He frowned, shooting his sister a firm look. "Tell me about him. Don''t hide anything."


    It was Malcolm who spoke up instead. "He is a cold and calculating bastard, and a powerful one at that. His evolution is called the Winged Messenger, apparently one step higher than what Lily was supposed to become. I have faced him a few times, and each time, I barely escaped with my life."


    Right. That doesn''t sound good. Leo grimaced. "What about his abilities? Level? Affinity? Everything you know."


    "The last time we fought, he was at thirty, and that was almost three days ago. He could be even stronger than you are at this point," Malcolm revealed before turning towards his sister. "As for abilities? Lily, you know more about them than I do."


    The woman sighed. "He was a warrior in the beginning, so his Might is higher than any other attribute. It doesn''t mean he is slow or has small Essence reserves. Quite the opposite, in fact. I''m a speed-oriented fighter, and Payne has never had an issue matching me. And the less said about his affinity, the better."


    Leo was ready to ask her to elaborate, but Lily was faster. She raised her hand and summoned a golden dagger above her palm. It shone brightly, but among the light, he could spot black specks, some sort of impurities.


    "Every Blessed received a minor light affinity when we awoke," she continued, spinning the dagger. "It''s far from perfect, but it does the job quite well. Payne though... Payne was given a true affinity. There is nothing minor about it."


    Explains why he is the leader. He noted. "How strong is it?"


    "Enough to obliterate a level twenty Brute with an attack he can throw as fast as I can shoot arrows. And when I say obliterate, I mean it. There was nothing left of the Voidling," Lily elaborated, gritting her teeth. "Humans don''t fare much better. Payne almost singlehandedly killed everyone who tried to fight back during the raid on the safe zone. He didn''t even spare the kids... All because they were cursed by the Void."


    The shard in Leo''s chest stopped beating for a moment, and his entire body froze. "Kids?" He whispered. "You have kids here? How are th-"


    "Had, Leo. We had kids among us," Lily cut him off, the golden dagger shattering. "Two teenagers, to be exact. They adapted to this world better than all of us, but against Payne?¡± She chuckled bitterly. ¡°They didn''t stand a chance. Nobody did. I tried to save them, but I arrived too late."


    "It wasn''t your fault. We''ve talked about this already," Malcolm said right away.


    "I know, I know. Sorry," she shook her head, wiping away a stray tear. "I just hate it so much. We should be fighting together, not against each other. And yet that... that bastard would kill us all with a smile on his face if he could."


    "Not gonna happen," Leo growled, pulling the room''s attention back to him. "I will kill him, rip him apart if I must. Even a god won''t protect him."


    Many would call it an overreaction to something that didn''t really concern him. Yet, nothing could be farther from the truth. After all, he understood the odds of a child surviving the Outbreak. Hell, he carried one inside his soul. So for someone to just kill two due to their evolution?


    No, this Payne forfeited his life the moment Leo learned about him. Even his bloodlust screamed for the man''s death, and this time, he would gladly listen. Manipulated or not, that man was going down.


    ''Don''t let your emotions and instincts cloud your judgment,'' Nyx interjected before his bloodlust could consume more of his thoughts. ''I agree this human needs to die, but running off like a mindless beast won''t achieve that.''


    Leo shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. Only when his bloodlust backed off did he speak up again, addressing everyone and not only the feline.


    "Sorry, I got slightly carried away," he explained, seeing the wide-eyed looks from Malcolm and Lily. "But I still meant what I said. I will deal with Payne. And not only because of what he did. He is still a danger to everyone here and needs to die. Unless you are willing to move to another city, that is."


    This time, the two other survivors shared a look before Malcolm shook his head. "Even if we did, it won''t matter for long. The Supercluster is growing stronger and bigger with each day. If we don''t do something about it, the entire Earth will be doomed anyway. Like you told Lily, we have to destroy or contain it. And we don''t have much time left."


    Leo frowned. "Why?"


    "A few days ago, I went inside to scout any potential threats," his sister took over. "It was horrible. Nightmares and Voidlings are more powerful than any other on the surface. Yet nothing scared me as much as the three Dimensional Void Gates at the bottom of the pit."


    Oh...


    "How long?"


    Lily looked him right in the eyes, her own gaze hard as steel. "Two weeks. After that, the portals to the Void will open."


    Shit.

 Chapter 161. The ‘perfect’ plan

    Despite Leo''s initial reaction, he wasn''t that worried. Thanks to all the information he bought from the Void merchant about the Gates, he at least understood how they worked. As such, even if this Supercluster held three Dimensional Gateways, the Voidlings that would come out of it soon couldn''t be that strong.


    Though, it''s still an issue. There are enough monsters in London to keep everyone busy for weeks. Nobody needs thousands more of those fuckers flooding the city.


    Then there was the fact that nobody had any idea what exactly would come out of the gates. For now, most of the survivors had already grown used to all the cursed variants and the mutated forms of animals running around. However, in the grand scheme of things, this was nothing. Leo could only imagine what horrors the Void really hid within it.


    Yeah, leaving the Supercluster alone is just not an option. He shook his head, directing his gaze back to Lily. "Are you one hundred percent sure that those were Dimensional and not Planetary Gateways?"


    His sister nodded. "I checked twice before I had to escape. All of those things lead right into the Void."


    Didn''t hurt to ask. He sighed and proceeded to tell them everything about the Void Gates he had learned from the merchant. If they wanted to deal with this problem together, they had to work with the same amount of information.


    "So what are you saying is that we''re still fucked but not as hard as we had thought?" Malcolm summed it up.


    Leo shrugged. "Pretty much. I''m sure there is still more we don''t know, but that''s the gist of it."


    "Bloody hell," the other man muttered. "I''m not going to lie; that makes me feel a bit better. Not much, but it''s always something..."


    "Not that it changes much anyway," Lily scowled, stopping Malcolm from saying more. "We need to do something if we want to continue living on Earth. Like you said, Leo, it''s only a matter of time before stronger Voidlings start coming out of those Gates. And with the Supercluster powering them, I''m sure they won''t be weak even in the beginning."


    ''She''s right,'' Nyx spoke up. ''Unless they decide to leave this planet, you need to come up with a plan, fast.''


    Easier said than done. Leo grumbled, even as his mind was running a hundred miles per hour. "How many people do you have here, and how many of those can fight?"


    Taken back by the sudden question, it took a good moment for someone to respond.


    "A bit over fifty," Lily admitted after sharing a nod with her co-leader. "Only sixteen of them are below level ten, and I doubt that''s going to change anytime soon. Why?"


    "Just want to know what we''re working with," he explained. "What about the Emissaries?"


    "At this point?" Malcolm scratched his head. "It''s honestly hard to say. We don''t know how many of the initial hundred Blessed have died. Not too many most likely. Then there are the others that joined them, be it out of fear or just because. I want to say there can''t be more than fifty of them, but we really have no idea."


    That doesn''t really tell me much. Leo grimaced and looked towards his sister. "Lily?"


    She just sighed with a weak shrug. "What he said."


    "Great... And I take they have as many, if not more, high-level people as you do?"


    Malcolm nodded, his face turning sour. "That''s right."


    You know what, Nyx? Suddenly, the prospect of letting the Earth die doesn''t seem too bad. At this point, I think finding a place to live inside the Void could be easier than dealing with the Emissaries and Supercluster.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ''Possibly, even if I doubt that,'' the feline mumbled. ''But you''re not gonna tell them that, right?''


    No, at least not yet. He replied, frowning. I might have a plan. Well, a base of a plan, but that''s better than nothing. We just need to gather a bit more information.


    ''I''m all ears then.''


    With a nod, he spoke again, this time out loud. "Assuming I can kill this Payne and maybe make some people switch sides, I might have an idea how to fix this pile of shit. Just one question first. Had any of your civilians come up with a way to create some explosives?"


    ''Now that came out of nowhere,'' Nyx chuckled, but he ignored her.


    "Explosives?" Malcolm furrowed his brow. "I mean, yeah. Mitsuki has created a bomb that is at least thrice as strong as overflowed Crystalized Essence. We usually use it to escape the Emissaries. Useful stuff, I tell you."


    "Huh, that solves one problem, I guess," Leo blinked. "How many can you prepare in, say... two days?"


    "Not sure," the other man muttered. "About ten to twenty, depending on how many people we put on gathering resources. Maybe even more."


    He hummed, his claws tapping against his knee. That could work... I just have to somehow make them all agree to this madness... Which might be a problem.


    "Leo?" Lily nudged him, breaking him out of his thoughts. "What''s going on? Why do you need explosives?"


    "Right..." He chuckled; for a moment, he forgot they couldn''t read his mind like Nyx. "We all agree that London is already a warzone, and soon it will only take a turn for the worse, yes?"


    At that, the others nodded. There was no denying what he just said.


    "So you see, it would be best for everyone, mainly your civilians, if we had a safe place away from the Emissaries to rest, train, and prepare. That''s where the explosives come in," he elaborated.


    "Okay... Doesn''t explain much though," Malcolm said.


    Leo raised his hands. "I wasn''t done yet... I want Wolford to become our base of operations. At least until we deal with everything here. Voidlings there are weaker, so this way, even the low-level survivors can safely grow. The only danger there is the Nightmare Graveyard, which is exactly where I want to use explosives."


    "Hold up!" Lily suddenly shot out of her seat. "Ignoring your plans for Wolford. You want to blow up a bloody Nightmare nest? Are you mental?!"


    He frowned. Nobody appreciates my genius.


    Nyx snorted internally. ''Can''t say I blame them.''


    Not helping. Leo grumbled. "It will be fine. As long as we do it during the daytime, those fuckers should die almost instantly. Besides, it''s already quite weakened due to my little rampage."


    For a moment, silence reigned over the room; even Lily collapsed back onto the couch. However, just like always, someone had to break it sooner or later.


    "Okay, fine," Malcolm''s voice filled the chamber. "Let''s say your idea works out. We then have a city that is relatively safe and more people overall if the other group agrees to join up. Then what? You plan to use those strong enough to fight against the Emissaries and the Supercluster?"


    Leo shook his head. "I won''t make anyone fight other survivors. I will deal with them alone if I must. All I want is for people to be ready to clear the area around the Supercluster. Once we do that, maybe we can contain it. And if that doesn''t work, we will at least have a Safe Zone to return to in Wolford."


    "That''s still a lot of what ifs with plenty that can go wrong," Lily pointed out. "Then there''s time. We have barely two weeks left before the floodgates open. Can you say that''s enough to do everything you''ve just mentioned?"


    And wasn''t that the question of the year?


    "No, no, I can''t," Leo chuckled quietly. "But I also don''t hear you coming up with a better plan. You said it yourself. You''ve been hiding ever since your last Safe Zone was destroyed. You''re constantly running away from the Emissaries and slowly falling behind. So tell me... Do you plan to continue like that and let everyone here die? Or would you like to at least try this mad plan of mine?"


    Once more, nobody said anything. The silence stretched on for so long that he was ready to speak up and try to convince them again. Yet, before he could do so, Malcolm pulled his head from his arms.


    "Lily," he said softly, earning the woman''s attention. "He is right. We are slowly suffocating here. Bloody hell, they probably don''t even need Payne to defeat us anymore. It''s time we take the risk. Like you said, we have been on the defensive for too long. Now, we can change that."


    Leo, seeing his sister''s resolve slowly crumble, threw in a cent of his own. "Come on, sis. Trust me, just like you always did. If we work together, we can do this."


    "I..." She heaved a sigh before a light smile spread over her face. "Okay, so be it. We¡¯ll do it your way... What do you need from us? Aside from the explosives."


    "Nothing really," he returned the smile. "Just focus on getting those bombs and keeping everyone here safe. In the meantime, I finally need to pay the Supercluster a visit."


    And maybe get a level... or three.

 Chapter 162. Talks finished

    "You really shouldn''t," Lily spoke up before his mind could go on another tangent.


    "Huh?" Leo blinked, not quite sure what she meant by that. No way she was trying to stop him from entering the Supercluster, right? Not when she had already been down there.


    "You shouldn''t go there. It''s far too risky," his sister elaborated. "I survived there only thanks to those," she tapped her angelic wing. "Without them, Voidlings down there would have torn me apart. Going in on foot is a suicide."


    "She isn''t wrong, mate," Malcolm took over, his face scrunched into a grimace. "At first, we wanted to scout the Supercluster together, but not even a minute in, I had to retreat. There are just too many of those bloody things waiting in the tunnels and on the walls. With my single wing there wasn''t much else I could have done but run away."


    "Exactly," Lily nodded firmly. "And I bet the situation there has only worsened in the last few days. So please. Don''t."


    Leo furrowed his brow, mulling on all the new information. Their worries weren''t really unfounded, but he also didn''t plan to jump into the Supercluster guns blazing. He would much rather return to his roots and stay out of sight. Not an easy thing to accomplish, but with everything he had been working on during the last three days, it was definitely possible.


    If I pull off an all-nighter, I might be able to finish True Stealth''s next step. I''m close, I''m sure. He mused, slowly creating a mental checklist. After that, I can try that combination with Nyx. Nobody should be able to see us then, especially not in the dark. And if that''s not enough, I can take some stronger Ether flares with me.


    Yeah, that should do. He nodded and looked at his sister. "I know it''s risky; everything is nowadays. But don''t worry too much. Even if I can''t fly, I have a few aces up my sleeve that should help down there."


    Lily narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Show me then. I ain''t letting you go anywhere near that cursed place until you do."


    Ah, here''s the Lily I know. Leo chuckled, raising his hand in a show of peace. "Not today, sis. I need another night to prepare."


    "Wait. So you''re not going now?" She frowned, tilting her head.


    "Of course not," he laughed again. "It''s getting late, and like I said, I''m not ready right now. So what do you say? I will finish what I need, and then tomorrow, you can lead me there and give me a rundown of everything you think I should know."


    Lily pulled a face but reluctantly nodded after a moment. "Fine," she grumbled, crossing her arms. "We will see tomorrow."


    "Happy that''s settled," he shot her a grin. "I should be going then. We''ve wasted a lot of time here while there''s so much to do."


    "Stop right there!" His sister jumped to her feet. "You ain''t going anywhere. Not after I just found you! Stay; this place is for everyone. Sure, you will get some weird looks, but that''s just because you are so strong."


    Leo shook his head as he offered her a sad smile. "Lily, I saw how it is behind that door. You guys are struggling, and I doubt you have any free space for me and Nyx... Besides, if I stay here, I won''t get anything done for tomorrow."


    Lily held his gaze for a moment before she scowled. "Fine! Have it your way. But just so you know, this is only for one night. Tomorrow, you''re sleeping here. Understood?"


    "Aye, aye. Whatever you say," he waved her off. "Now, wanna walk me out?"


    His sister quickly nodded, and they all stood up. Malcolm even came a bit closer and extended a hand. "Good to have you on our side, Hale. I will see you tomorrow."


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Just Leo is fine," he accepted the handshake. "No reason to be formal now. I had enough of that with Wolford''s leader."


    The other man grinned. "Leo it is then."


    With that said, the trio plus Nyx left the room and once more pushed through the curious crowd to reach the exit of this small base. There, another man opened the door and lifted the illusion for them.


    "Gotta say, I didn''t expect anyone to be capable of illusions like this," Leo commented just after the entrance closed behind them.


    Lily hummed, her wings suddenly stretching to the sides. "It wasn''t easy to set up from what I understand. Took Rick two whole days."


    He nodded, noting the name for the future. He would like to learn more about stuff like this. If not for his own use, then to be able to defend against it.


    Thought for later. He shook his head, glancing at his sister. "Lily... Once I get back from the Supercluster and you guys prepare the explosives... will you go to Wolford with me? I would rather have someone representing your group when I met with Holden."


    "That''s a stupid question," she snorted. "Of course I will. Didn''t you hear me back there? I''m not letting you out of my sight unless absolutely necessary."


    Leo sighed. "I''m stronger than you. You really don''t have to worry. If anything, I should be the one saying that."


    "No," she stopped and glared at him. "You don''t understand. I thought I lost you, only to learn it was all a lie... I don''t care how strong you are or how high your level is. I just can''t lose you again, Leo. I can''t."


    His heart twisted hearing her words. Yet a hug was all he could give her. And so he did.


    "Come on," Leo muttered, lightly patting her back. "We''ve already been through this. I''m not going anywhere. At least not permanently. The same goes for you. We''re family; we got to stick together, right?"


    She nodded and slowly extracted herself from his grasp. They shared a weak smile and resumed walking, ignoring Nyx, who kept sending shadows spears at the Rock Eaters popping from the walls.


    "Did you guys figure out how to make electronics work again?" Leo asked, switching the subject to something lighter.


    Lily almost missed a step and raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"


    "I noticed a bunch of different devices on one of the workstations. Most of them were taken apart," he elaborated. "Made me a bit curious."


    "Ah, that..." She grimaced. "We have three people trying to make stuff work off Essence, but it''s going slowly, very slowly. I swear if only we could get radios or shortwave transmitters to work..."


    "Essence, you say?" Leo mumbled. "I guess that makes sense. Now that I think of it..." With a single pull from his soul, the TEK Transmitter landed in his hand. "This thing most likely uses Essence too."


    "I can''t identify it," Lily stated with a deep frown.


    Right... ownership. He almost facepalmed. Instead, he proceeded to explain exactly what the item did.


    "That''s incredible," his sister muttered. "How much does this thing cost?"


    Leo shrugged. "No idea, but apparently way more than I have."


    "Why am I not surprised," Lily sighed. "If we had a few of those, your plan with Wolford would be much easier to pull off."


    "I will figure something out for communication. Maybe Naz''Tor can sell me something cheaper," he commented just as a thought occurred to him. "Speaking of, there is one more thing I wanted to ask about the Emissaries. When they fought the Treant and then me, they almost didn''t speak. It was like they could communicate just like I do with Nyx. Know anything about that?"


    "Yep. That''s one of the jobs unique to them. It''s an upgraded version of Commander with a Holy prefix. It can telepathically connect an entire group. The range is shit, but big enough to help in a fight. I had it before my fall from grace."


    So we were right, Nyx. Overpowered bullshit. I bet they can share experience with that too. Leo clicked his tongue. "Annoying."


    "No kidding," Lily snorted. "It''s another reason why we can''t ever win against them. We have to shout everything, and they just communicate with their minds."


    He nodded but didn''t say anything as they continued onward in comfortable silence. It wasn''t until they reached the stairs towards the surface that they stopped.


    "Are you sure you can''t just stay with us?" Lily begged one more time. "We can figure something out."


    "It''s just one night," he rolled his eyes, even though he kept smiling. "I will come back right after sunrise. It won''t be long."


    "Fine," she harrumped and turned to Nyx. "Take care of him, okay? He can be a bit of an idiot sometimes."


    ''Oh, I know that very well,'' the feline snickered internally and gave Lily a nod.


    Next to them, Leo scoffed. "Of course, you would team up against me. Why am I not surprised?"


    ''It''s your own fault. I''m learning all of this from you and your memories.''


    "Whatever," he mumbled. "Come on, it''s time for us."

 Chapter 163. Armed and ready

    The last of the Cursed Reaper''s corpse collapsed into dust as Devour deactivated. "That should do it," Leo muttered, scanning the small sports hall he and Nyx just cleared.


    It took them a better part of an hour to find this building, but in the end, it should be worth it. For the most part, the hall was closed off from the outside world and had enough space for him to practice all of his abilities. He just had to be careful not to damage the roof. Who knew how much more abuse it could take?


    ''Anything you need from me?'' Nyx asked, sitting down next to him. ''I have some stuff to practice too.''


    "Go on then," Leo smiled. "For now, I''m good on my own. Although, we should probably practice our synchronization sooner or later."


    ''Agreed,'' the feline nodded. ''Call me when you are ready then.''


    "Will do," he waved her off as they separated and claimed a space of the sports hall for themselves.


    Unlike Nyx, who went ahead and summoned a cloud of shadows around herself, Leo just sat down crosslegged and closed his eyes. Instantly, his Essence escaped outside and covered his entire body, clothes included.


    True Stealth. As perfect as it can be. Now for the next step.


    Ever since he had upgraded the basic stealth skill, he wondered how to improve it. With the imperfections gone, everything was left in his hand, and so, at first, there was pretty much nothing he could do. As time went on, his understanding of this ability slowly changed, yet he never took the initiative to advance it to a higher quality.


    There was just too much going on back in Wolford, but things were different now. He had the time and necessary knowledge to push forward and take his abilities further than ever.


    Decoy had been the first point of guidance. Despite it being used to just create a simple clone that couldn''t interact with the world, it also taught him the basics of illusions. An art that held almost infinite potential if utilized currently.


    However, back then, Leo had neither the necessary skill nor enough motivation to play around with it. But now? Now everything had changed.


    His Mind''s Ascension and Soul Arts took care of the first issue. As for motivation? His desire to jump inside the most dangerous place in London gave him enough of that.


    And so, for the last few days, he had been working on combining Decoy and True Stealth with his improved control of Essence. It wasn''t easy, far from it, but with each hour spent practicing, he was getting closer to achieving his goal.


    Now, he just needed the final push.


    With True Stealth already active, Leo channeled even more Essence underneath the safety layer. All of this was done slowly and with complete focus. He really didn''t want to start again just because his ability popped like a balloon.


    Alright, next step. He nodded, and with a firm grasp on his energy, he connected to the environment''s signature gathered in True Stealth. The skill almost refused to bend to his will, but with a stronger tug, it fell back under his command.


    Now, use the signature to create the illusion.


    Just like while using Decoy, he gave the waiting energy an image created by the signature he extracted and added his own intent into the mix. With that, Essence slowly began to change, yet now it required the final step, one completely different from the original skill.


    Just work finally. Please.


    Instead of forcing the layer of illusion out, he pushed it harder into his skill. Following that, True Stealth also descended, trying to combine with the blanket of Essence below it.


    Come on... Leo gritted his teeth. Just... a... little... bit... more...


    Suddenly, the two layers clicked together, seeping into each other. For a moment, he thought that maybe this was it, that he had succeeded. However, the lack of a new System''s message quickly killed those hopes.


    Shit. What is wrong? It''s still active.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    At once, he closed his eyes again and felt around the brand new layer of Essence around his body. At first, nothing seemed out of place ¡ª the elements of True Stealth and Decoy were still there ¡ª yet the more he looked, the more problems he found.


    It''s almost the same as when I worked on the basic stealth.


    Once more, his ability was filled with dozens of imperfections, ranging from small empty holes to spots without a purpose. Leo had to fight off a grin. He knew well how to deal with those issues. He just needed a few hours to fix them.


    Let''s get to work then.


    <hr>


    To be honest, Leo had no idea how long he sat unmoving in the corner of the sports hall. Minutes or maybe even hours ticked by as he worked on the Essence around his body. Really, if it wasn''t for the sudden notification appearing in his head, he could have stayed like this for another few hours.


    It... It worked? He blinked, scanning the System message from top to bottom.


    Congratulations, your True Stealth evolved.


    Stealth Shroud (Epic)


    You worked hard; you worked well, striving for perfection. You are not there yet, but with this step, you have truly become the unseen. Now, nothing is safe from your blade.


    Effects:


    Highly advanced ability capable of shielding the user''s body from all enemy senses. Beware, though, that this skill''s invisibility aspect is still in its early development stage. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Grace.


    Now, that''s what I''m talking about. Leo grinned, and with a flick of Essence, he deactivated and activated the skill again. It took more time than with True Stealth, but after a few seconds, the ability flickered to life, surrounding his body in a perfect barrier.


    Nyx! He shouted through their link. Look at me!


    The feline in the distance suddenly froze before turning in his direction. ''Huh... Now that''s interesting. So your little idea finally worked.''


    So it seems. He chuckled. Now tell me, what do you see?


    ''Take a look yourself,'' she replied, and the image in his right eye changed instantly.


    Not bad. Leo muttered to himself. Overall, his entire body disappeared from sight, masked by the illusion that took the form of the environment around him. Yet, if someone squinted hard enough, they would still probably find some inconsistencies in his ability.


    I can probably fix that with some practice, but how about when I move? He mused and took a few experimental steps.


    The difference was noticeable right away as the illusion shifted with his movement. While, for the most part, it did its job perfectly, there were plenty of spots where the colors took the wrong shade, or the image didn''t match the area at all.


    So that''s what the System means by ''early development stage.'' He grimaced while trying to keep more focus on Stealth Shroud. Maybe it will work better with my active assistance.


    ''It does,'' Nyx confirmed once he disconnected their vision. ''It still isn''t perfect, but someone would have to look hard to spot you.''


    He let out a sigh of relief. For a moment there, he feared that his new skill would be useless for the journey into the Supercluster. It still sucked that it required so much focus to be useful, but he could most likely fix that with more practice.


    And I even have an idea how to speed it up. Nyx, please keep watching for now. Leo called out, and with Stealth Shroud still active, he summoned more Essence into his body. Then, with the experience gained from the last few days, he released it all in a single burst.


    Blink!


    The world around him shifted as he landed a few feet away from his old position. Without waiting for another second, he activated Blink again and again. Only when he reached the sixth jump did he have to stop.


    Ouch. Leo coughed before once more swallowing the bile climbing his throat. So, for now, five is the limit. What about my invisibility, Nyx? How did it look?


    ''After the first and second jump? Not that bad. After the third?'' The feline snorted. ''Even a blind man would be able to see you. Although, now that you aren''t moving again, it got a bit better.''


    So not as bad as I feared, but worse than I expected. He frowned, deactivating Stealth Shroud. Alright, thanks for helping. I will be fine on my own for now.


    ''No problem,'' Nyx said and closed the link.


    Seeing her turn away, he shrugged. Well... Time to practice some more.


    <hr>


    Ready? He glanced at his feline companion as they watched the sunrise from the sports hall''s roof. We have an exciting day ahead of us.


    ''Exciting...'' Nyx snorted. ''I really don''t get you sometimes.'' She shook her head. ''Whatever. Let''s catch some breakfast first and then we can go. How about that?''


    Leo gazed at the Voidlings on the street below them and grinned.


    Sure. Why not? I could eat.

 Chapter 164. Into the depths

    "You are late," Lily grumbled with her arms crossed. The Voidling corpses scattered around the metro station entrance only showed she must have been waiting there for a bit.


    Nonetheless, Leo just rolled his eyes. "It''s not even twenty minutes since the sunrise... Also, good morning to you too. How long have you been up?"


    His sister scowled. "I didn''t go to sleep. I just had too much stuff going on in my head. I couldn''t have closed my eyes even if I wanted to. It''s all your fault, by the way."


    "Sure, sure," he chuckled. "Ready to go then?"


    Lily looked around as if searching for something. "Where''s your six-legged companion?"


    "Around," he grinned, giving a distant building a quick glance. "She was just making sure the area was safe. You can never be too careful nowadays."


    "Paranoid much?" His sister raised an eyebrow.


    "I had way too many close calls thanks to rushing in blindly," Leo shrugged as they began walking away from the metro station. "Not that I thought you guys would attack me or something like that," he quickly added. "It''s just better to be safe than sorry."


    "I guess so," Lily hummed before giving him a look. "Are you fine following me? One of the side entrances is quite close."


    "What? Not gonna let me just jump right into the trench?" He shot her a grin.


    "And let you die?" She scoffed. "Unless you can fly like me, the side tunnel is all you''re getting from me. I''m tempted to go there with you."


    At that, Leo narrowed his eyes at her. "No," he stated firmly. "You said it yourself: I can''t fly. There is no way for us to go in together. I need to do it my way."


    "Fine," she growled. "Just remember you promised to show me how you plan to do that."


    "I did say that, didn''t I? Feast your eyes then, dear sister. It took me a while to get this right."


    With a surge of Essence, the Stealth Shroud activated around his body, bringing the illusion to life. Next to him, Lily gasped as she took a step back, her eyes going wide.


    "Holy shit," she muttered. "You are bloody invisible. How?"


    "Illusions," he chuckled and gave her a quick rundown on the ability. The more people on his side who could use it, the better for their future plans.


    "Our assassins already tried that, but it just never worked," Lily furrowed her brow. "Must be that Soul Arts skill of yours... or just high Mind attribute."


    "Probably," he shrugged, approaching the nearest building. "Let''s get going now. We can talk about skills once I come back."


    She nodded and unfolded her wings. With a single jump, she rose into the air, hovering just above him. At the same time, her white Essence flashed around her body, most likely activating some sort of skill.


    "Try to keep up," Lily winked and shot away with a powerful flap of her wings.


    Leo chuckled and jumped on the wall next to him. Stealth Shroud activated again along with a weak Reinforcement. His base speed might not be enough if he wanted to match someone who could fly.


    Game on, sis.


    <hr>


    Like Lily said, it didn''t take long before she landed on a building close to the Supercluster. Leo joined her a moment later, with Nyx following soon after. Their path definitely was harder than his sister''s. Wings were just overpowered, in his opinion.


    "This is it," she pointed towards the hole in the middle of the road that didn''t belong there at all.


    Like the rest of the Supercluster, every surface of the tunnel was made out of a weird combination of Vetilim, Corcera, and glowing stone. In addition, dark smoke constantly escaped the hole, engulfing the entire area in a thin fog. The whole picture screamed, ''Do not enter,'' and considering that no Voidlings even came close to the hole, it definitely worked.


    "Looks inviting," Leo snorted. "Even more so than Wolford''s Graveyard."


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Lily shot him a glare. "Be serious. You''re literally going into the jaws of the lion. A Nightmare nest is nothing next to this."


    I wouldn''t call Nightmares a nothing, but okay. He shook his head lightly. "Alright then. What can you tell me about this hellhole?"


    "Honestly?" She grimaced. "Not much. I can fly for about ten minutes at most before I have to land. I had to be fast while scouting. Still... Most Voidlings there are some type of mutated insects that the System calls Koukar and Rock Eaters. Then there are the Nightmares. I haven''t seen many, but they are definitely there."


    "And nests?" Leo prodded.


    Lily massaged her chin. "Definitely for Koukars. Not sure about the Eaters... For all I know, they have a nest outside the Supercluster. As for Nightmares? I don''t think I need to tell you why they are down there."


    "No. No, you don''t... Anything else?"


    "The Crawlers," she answered instantly. "They sit on the trench''s walls. Bloody fuckers almost got me good a few times."


    "Inferior? Cursed?"


    "An evolution of the former," she clarified. "They look like spiders with human legs and heads. Also, armor, bone armor. I had to hit spots without it to kill them."


    Leo clicked his tongue. "Got it. And the Void Gates are completely at the bottom."


    Lily nodded. "Right on the east-side end. You can''t miss them. Trust me on that."


    "Right," he rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms. "This is it then. Nyx, come on, just like we practiced tonight. I will see you in a few hours, Lily. Don''t wait for me."


    At once, the feline burst into shadows and dove towards his body. Unlike before, she didn''t hide underneath his cloak but wrapped around it like an additional layer of armor. Then his own shadows connected to hers, activating a weak Resonance between them.


    Alright, halfway there. Leo took a breath and released more Essence, letting Stealth Shroud envelop him and Nyx''s transformed body. The skill fought at first like it always did, but in the end, it settled down, hiding them from the world.


    ''Let''s do this,'' he and the feline said at the same time and descended on the street below. A short run had them at the entrance to the tunnel, but that definitely didn''t stop them as they dashed right inside.


    Warning! Entering the London Supercluster. Multiple nests detected. Nightmares detected. Void Gates detected. Go further only if you are ready.


    No surprise there. Leo snorted and slowed down his pace. He couldn''t go too fast if he wanted Stealth Shroud to work. Well, he could also hear some hisses and screeches coming from the tunnel''s depths.


    ''Do you feel it?'' Nyx broke the silence after a moment.


    If you mean the heavy air here, then yeah, I do.


    ''It''s the Essence of this place,'' she elaborated. ''It feels... good.''


    Leo gave a shallow nod. If outside he had never really felt anything when he was absorbing Essence passively; here, he couldn''t miss it even if he wanted to. It definitely explained why Voidlings here were so strong.


    It''s like a permanent open buffet, one we can''t stop eating from.


    As if to prove his words, a System message appeared out of nowhere.


    You have reached level 33. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Really? He quirked an eyebrow, pausing his journey. Well, can''t complain. Put all in Vision; I still need a few more points there.


    With the order given, the notification disappeared, giving way to a small wave of power that went through his body. He had to hold his abilities in place for a moment; Stealth Shroud didn''t like anything interrupting his Essence flow out of nowhere.


    ''I got a level too just now.''


    Guess we should have come here sooner. He chuckled and resumed walking. It continued like that until he came upon a place where the tunnel branched off in three different directions. With another shrug, he went right, knowing that should be the direction where the trench should be.


    ''Something''s coming,'' Nyx warned, and he instantly hugged the tunnel''s wall.


    A moment later, a low buzzing filled the area, and five figures flew past him. Like Lily mentioned, they were all overgrown insects of some kind. None looked the same as the other, but they all carried the features of a beetle and a hornet combined by the power of the Void.


    Ugly fuckers. Leo commented, firing off an Identify.


    Koukar (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 24 | Individual Type: Aerial, Poison


    Huh? Individual type? That''s new. He blinked. Maybe Bestiary?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Koukar


    Expected Potential: F+ to D-


    Arsenal: Sharpened Limbs, Various Affinities


    Known weaknesses: N/A


    Koukar is a species that encompasses most insect-type Voidlings in lower ranks. Their appearances vary depending on the creatures used to form this evolution. Additionally, every Koukar displays limited control of a single affinity. This element, along with base form, often decides Koukar''s weaknesses. Overall, this species is usually well-rounded and always fights in groups. Apex Koukars do not exist.


    And here I thought Ameist''s entry was unique... Shit Nyx. This place is much bigger than the Nest Colony. Just how many of those things are hiding here?


    ''I don''t know, but I fear we''ll find out very soon.''


    Leo grimaced. Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

 Chapter 165. The hidden world

    ''Be careful. Remember your sister''s warning,'' Nyx said as they reached the end of the tunnel.


    Yeah, I know. Leo nodded and slowed down even more.


    The dark smoke that had been gone for a while appeared again to block his path, showing that this definitely was the entrance to the main trench. Nonetheless, he jumped right into it, squinting his eyes to see a bit better.


    Here we go.


    As he left the tunnel behind and stepped onto a thin ledge, a gust of wind hit his body. An overwhelming pressure followed right after, even stronger than the one in the tunnels. He stopped and adjusted the flow of his Essence. Allowing Stealth Shroud to fail wasn''t an option.


    ''Leo? Look at the walls,'' Nyx muttered.


    He did just that, grimacing as his gaze fell on the Voidlings sitting there in dozens. They were like statues, unmoving and unbroken, waiting for prey to appear. Not that it would work, not today.


    Crawler (Voidling) | Rank: E- | LVL: 25 | Type: Normal, Armor, Grace


    I can see why Lily had a problem with them. She couldn''t have been much stronger when she went down here. He mused, stepping away from the trench''s wall and slowly moving along the ledge. Anything I should worry about?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Crawler


    Expected Potential: E- to D-


    Arsenal: Jaws, Claws, Paralyzing saliva


    Known weaknesses: Joints


    Second evolution in the infamous line of Crawlers. With their form now much better adjusted to life in the Void, they excel at hunting other creatures. Despite the armor plates scattered all over their bodies, their speed and dexterity haven''t suffered at all. Unlike their predecessors, Crawlers love hunting in groups and setting up traps in abandoned areas.


    Apex variant: Apex Crawler''s armor can surround its entire body, leaving nothing unprotected. Their saliva becomes poisonous but not lethal.


    Well, it could have been worse. Leo gulped, averting his eyes from the Crawlers looming above him.


    While the Apex variants could be dangerous if he had to fight an entire group, overall, there wasn¡¯t much to worry about. In his opinion, the Koukars still posed a much bigger threat. Hell, he had already seen a few more flying across the trench, and some of them were literally on fire.


    If that wasn''t disconcerting, he didn''t know what was.


    ''Another tunnel ahead. Unless you plan to jump down, that''s our only path,'' Nyx spoke up, stopping his musings.


    Leo nodded as he approached the edge of the ledge and looked down into the dark abyss of the trench. If he had wings or could fly like Lily, he would have jumped in right away. But trying it as he was now could only end in death.


    Can you even see anything? Cuz I got nothing. He asked, still trying to pierce the darkness below him.


    ''Same. It''s deeper than we thought.''


    Yeah, no shit. He clicked his tongue and stepped away from the edge. With a final glance at the Crawlers on the walls, he entered another tunnel, this one much wider than the last one.


    For a time, nothing really happened. Sure, Voidlings kept on flying or scurrying past him, but not once did they act like they saw him. And so it wasn''t until he came upon another crossroad that an issue appeared in his path.


    We might have to go back. Leo sighed, scanning the blockade ahead. It wasn''t anything serious ¡ª just a group of Koukars standing in their way ¡ª but not even Stealth Shroud could help him pass them. He would need to jump to do that, and his skill just wasn''t that good yet.


    ''There are only four. If we kill them fast enough...'' Nyx suggested, letting the idea hang in the air between them.


    It could work. He agreed. But if they even manage to let out a single sound, we''re fucked.


    ''We won''t fail, not if we work together.''


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Leo nodded and came a bit closer to the group of Voidlings. For now, they seemed happy to just stand in their assigned position and sometimes screech to each other. Why were they doing that? He had no idea, nor did he really care.


    Okay, Resonance first.


    With their connection fully active, he used his feet to link them to the surrounding darkness on the walls. Nyx offered a bit of her own Essence, extending their reach until it encompassed the entire ground below the Voidlings.


    Ready?


    ''Always.''


    ''Shadow Emergence,'' they called out in unison as the earth in front of them exploded.


    Waves of shadows poured out, drowning the Koukars in a matter of a second. They didn''t even have a chance to scream as they were swallowed alive and buried inside a cocoon of darkness. Another surge of Essence released Devour on the trapped beasts, erasing them from existence.


    Not bad, not bad at all. Leo chuckled just as the shadows faded away, leaving an empty tunnel in their wake. Even Devour worked as it should. I think I am getting the hang of draining Voidlings without touching them. Now, if only it would work with my shadow techniques right away...


    ''One step at a time, Leo. One step at a time,'' Nyx promised, her shadows tightening a bit around his body. ''Let''s go now. We still have a long road ahead of us.''


    That we do...


    <hr>


    In the end, the London Supercluster didn''t seem as dangerous with Stealth Shroud always active. Even with most of the Voidlings here being quite close to level thirty, none could even see him when he slipped by and continued deeper into the trench.


    There were a few close calls, and he even managed to find one of the Koukar''s nests, but with some quick thinking, he always remained hidden. Even when the first Nightmares began to appear in the tunnels, they were all blind to his presence. He just strolled past them as if taking a walk through the park.


    Give me a few capable people with Stealth Shroud, and maybe we can even clear some of this place. Leo mused, waiting for another group of Nightmares to pass. To be honest, it was interesting how some of them were awake while others slept scattered all around the lower floors of the Supercluster.


    ''Stop thinking about stuff that doesn''t matter and move. The path is clear,'' Nyx growled in his head.


    Give me a break. We''ve been here for over two hours. Not my fault I''m getting a bit antsy. My bloodlust isn''t helping either.


    ''Just focus for now,'' she pleaded. ''We should be close. Then we can kill some stuff on the way back. Just like we had planned...''


    Fine. Leo sighed, forcing back his growing bloodlust. I just didn''t expect such a violent reaction from my own bloody instincts.


    Nyx didn''t answer, so he just shook his head and continued onward. The issue with bloodlust appeared after the first thirty-minute mark. For some reason, it had a very strong reaction to the constant pressure of the Supercluster''s Essence and so many powerful Voidlings around.


    In hindsight, he should have expected this. Hunter loved challenges; it only made sense that his old instincts did, too.


    Stay back, please. I will let you out once we get closer to the exit.


    Some would call him mad for talking to his own bloodlust, but Leo had already learned that it helped to some degree. Why? He had no clue, but in the end, it didn''t matter. At least not now.


    "Here we are," he muttered under the safety of Stealth Shroud. "It''s... beautiful..."


    Unlike the dark walls full of Vetilim and Corcera, the bottom of the Supercluster barely had any of that. Instead, small plants of all kinds claimed the entire ground, while a thin stream of shining water ran in the middle of it all. Then, there were the crystals scattered near the walls. They came in all sizes and colors and constantly worked on releasing more of the dark smoke that hid this place from the rest of the world.


    What even are those things? Leo furrowed his brow as he stopped near an entire cluster. Identify.


    Attuned Essence Shard (Uncommon):


    A naturally occurring crystal full of Essence that can be found in the depths of a dying world. They always grow in clusters, and as long as a single crystal remains, more might develop over time. Those shards are vital for many jobs and are often used to develop minor affinities.


    Current Attunement: Fire.


    Warning: Unlike Crystalized Essence, this shard won''t explode when destabilized. Instead, it will lose its properties and value.


    Ah shit. He grumbled as we walked away, weaving through the plants and the occasional Koukar sleeping on the ground. And here I thought we just stumbled on a bunch of explosives. Must be why Lily forgot to mention them. That or she somehow missed this place.


    ''I doubt it. She most likely just forgot or didn''t have enough time to scan everything. She had only ten minutes after all.''


    True that. He frowned, scanning the area one more time. We''re definitely nowhere near the eastside endpoint. More like somewhere in the middle. With how long we''ve walked, I''m not even surprised.


    ''To the east then?''


    Leo nodded.


    To the east.

 Chapter 166. Chasing time

    Shit!


    Leo cursed, ducking fast as a group of Koukars flew over his head. The closer he got to the eastside point of the Supercluster, the more Voidlings tried to stand in his way. None of them noticed him of course, but it definitely made the trip harder when he had to stop every few seconds.


    Aside from the increased number of monsters, the scenery around him also changed. At first, it was unnoticeable, but the longer he walked, the smaller the plants around him became. The same thing happened to the Essence Shards; now, there were barely any around him. Hell, even the tiny water stream lost some of its shine.


    We must be close.


    ''You said that five minutes ago,'' Nyx reminded, her voice as dry as a desert.


    True, but at least now I can see further than just a few meters. If it continues like that, soon we will have a clear view of the rest of the trench.


    With the disappearance of most Essence Shards, the dark fog blocking their sight also faded to some degree. The black walls of the Supercluster still produced quite a bit, but it was nothing in comparison to what they had to deal with about half an hour ago.


    ''I just wish we could go a bit faster,'' the feline grumbled. ''Keeping this form for so long is getting uncomfortable.''


    Leo chuckled. Think of it as training. Though you''re right, it''s a bit uncomfortable for me too. I''m kinda surprised Stealth Shroud hasn''t failed even once. I swear my focus slipped at least a few times.


    ''At this point, I''m not even sure if I''m against it failing. I just want to walk with my own legs.''


    Hopefully, I''m not wrong, and we are really close. I will try to go faster on the way back.


    ''Do you even remember the path we used?'' Nyx asked, doubt coloring her voice.


    He grimaced. Maybe? Not really? It''s not like we have to use the same path. We''ve already passed more tunnels on the way. I''m sure one of them can get us outside faster.


    ''For some reason, I don''t believe that.''


    Hey! Just because I didn''t memorize the way, didn''t mean you couldn''t try to do it. Don''t blame it all on me; we''re both in this mess.


    ''I just want to get out,'' she whined. ''I''m bored, uncomfortable, and want to eat something.''


    Well, well, well. Look how the tables have turned. He muttered sarcastically. Weren''t you the one who told me to stay focused not even an hour ago?


    This time, Nyx didn''t grace him with an answer. Leo smirked and continued walking. That was what she got for trying to one-up him. He had way too much experience in dealing with such bullshit thanks to Lily. The feline was way too young to beat him at his own game.


    Don''t worry, we''re definitely close now...


    <hr>


    They weren''t close. It took another half an hour ¡ª Leo checked ¡ª killing one more group of Voidlings that blocked their path and another whiny rant from Nyx before the dark fog lost most of its density. From there, it was only a matter of time before the end of the trench revealed itself and, with it, the Void Gates.


    Gotta give it to her. He commented, scanning the three giant structures before him. Lily didn''t lie when she said you can''t miss them. Just what in the seven hells will come out of those things?


    Compared to the Void Gate in Wolford, the ones before him were at least thrice as large. Two of them stayed glued to the opposite walls of the trench, while the third was literally part of the ground.


    Together, the gates formed a colossal U-shaped figure crafted from material so dark it absorbed all remaining light around it. Only the thousands of violet symbols engraved into it and the swirling masses of light inside the gates made the place discernible to the eye. Though, night vision was sure helpful too.


    ''Definitely nothing good,'' Nyx stated the obvious. ''Check the timers, and let''s get out of here. I don''t like this place. The Essence here is... vile.''


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Leo nodded in agreement. He felt that too, and despite the constant flow of power that entered his body here, it almost made him puke. Whatever the Supercluster was doing to those gates, it definitely wasn''t normal.


    Identify.


    Dimensional Gateway of the Void:


    Or simply called a Void Gate by the population of the Void and the survivors. Dimensional Gateways are used to travel between the vast realms of hiding inside the Void. In contrast, Planetary Gateways can be used to journey to one of the planets of the currently cursed Universe.


    During every Outbreak, hundreds of Gateways grow on every planet. They are made out of living material from the Void and cannot be destroyed by anything weaker than an A-ranked User. Upon destruction, a Gateway will attempt to grow back in another place.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway is still charging and won''t activate for another: 13 days, 2 hours, and 12 minutes.


    A quick check confirmed that the other gates showed the same or similar timer. Less than two weeks was how much time they had to prepare for the inevitable. Seeing it with his own eyes made it more real than hearing it from Lily. Maybe if those were Planetary Gateways, it wouldn''t be such an issue, but who knew what the Void had in store on the other side of those portals.


    ''Leo... Now that I think of it. Did you ever tell the humans in Wolford about that Gate?'' Nyx asked suddenly, bringing him back to reality.


    I... I''m not sure. He winced at his own hesitation. I think I talked about it with Dylan when I initially met him. No idea if he ever told Holden about it because I most likely didn''t.


    ''Shit.''


    Shit indeed. Leo nodded, dismissing the gateway''s description. Five days had passed since I left Wolford. That should give us another four before the gate there activates. However, we still need to wait for the explosives... Fuck. At best, we will have three or two days to prepare everyone there.


    ''If we destroy the Graveyard, they should be able to handle one planetary gate, right? It''s small, and nothing too strong can come through it in the beginning. They can use it as another source of experience.''


    I know. He sighed. I''m more worried about the survivors who might come from the other side. If they aren''t friendly, we will have a war in Wolford and London.


    ''Of course, you would go straight for the worst possible scenario,'' Nyx grumbled. ''The chances of this happening are very small.''


    But not nonexistent. Leo pointed out. I told you this before. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. It''s better to be prepared for the worst than hope for the best.


    ''Alright... So what do you want to do? We are nowhere close to A-rank to destroy those things.''


    I have a few ideas, but first, I''m gonna need to talk it through with Lily and then make a call. If the merchant can''t help us here, then nobody can.


    ''Does that mean we''re not killing anything on the way back?'' The feline grumbled, her displeasure filling their link.


    Sorry. He shrugged, knowing she didn''t really mind it too much. I promise we will go hunting as soon as I talk with Naz''Tor. I want to gather a nice supply of Crystalized Essence anyway.


    ''I will hold you to that. Now go.''


    With a nod, Leo walked away, going as fast as Stealth Shroud allowed.


    <hr>


    Even though he tried to be quick about it, the way back was anything but simple. He had chosen to go into one of the tunnels close to the Void Gates and use it to get out. Unfortunately, the entire place was one big labyrinth with paths often leading back to the bottom of the trench.


    The only good thing that came out of his wandering for hours was the discovery of the nest of the World Eater line. The entrance was protected by a Guarding Rock Eater, a monster that Leo honestly didn''t expect to meet again.


    Along with Nyx, he considered killing the level twenty-two beast, but in the end, they left it alone for the time being. They didn''t need a horde of evolved Rock Eaters on their heel when they still hadn''t found the exit. Not when time was already chasing them.


    And so, their journey continued until finally, rays of sunlight entering through a tunnel''s entrance hit Leo''s eyes. He sped up right away, dropping Stealth Shroud as even Nyx uncoiled from his body and reformed next to him.


    Freedom at la-


    "And so the demon leaves its home, ready to spread its vile curse on the world again," a male voice spoke up the moment he left the tunnel. "Thank you, my Lord, for showing me the way. I shall cleanse this earth of the Void¡¯s taint in your name."


    In an instant, Leo and Nyx spun around, facing a man dressed in full blood-red armor with two pairs of golden wings protruding from his back. Glowing amber eyes glared at them from behind a helmet, even as the man smiled.


    "Commander," the figure addressed a woman standing behind him with five more people. "Take care of the shadow abomination. I shall deal with the source."


    "Yes, sir!" The commander saluted and drew a sword from her waist.


    As this happened, Leo glanced at his companion with a wry grin. Well, you got what you wanted. Think you can handle them?


    Nyx scoffed. They are all barely level twenty-five. It''s you who should be careful.


    He narrowed his eyes at the enemy leader, who also unsheathed two short swords, their blades as bloody as his armor.


    Yeah, I know...


    Winged Messenger | LVL: 33

 Chapter 167. Challenged

    Essence surged into his body, igniting Reinforcement in his muscles. The bloodlust he had been holding back for so long followed soon after, filling him with familiar anger and hunger. There would be no holding back today, not against an enemy like this.


    Lily and Malcolm weren''t lying. He is powerful; I can feel that. And this armor. Leo narrowed his eyes at the Winged Messenger. He is the whole package, isn''t he?


    ''I''m more worried that they knew where to wait for us. Even we had no clue where this exit led,'' Nyx pointed out as she glared at the opposing group. ''If I doubted it before, now I''m sure that someone much stronger must be helping them. And considering they are targeting you...''


    Then Geron is the obvious answer. He finished with a light grimace. Yeah... I figured that too. I have so many questions now.


    ''I will try to leave one of them alive,'' the feline promised. ''You just focus on killing our main problem. Without him, our plans for the future will become much simpler.''


    True that. Leo grinned. Let''s do it then. Lead them away from here. I don''t want us getting in each other''s way.


    ''Got it,'' Nyx hissed and sprinted away. ''Good luck.''


    You too. He called out just as everyone aside from the Messenger gave chase after the feline.


    "Trying to run?" The one known as Michael Payne chuckled. "It won''t work. We have hunted and killed worse than your minion."


    With Ruthless Efficiency already burning in his veins, Leo offered the Messenger a bloodthirsty grin. "No, you haven''t. Did your ''lord'' even tell you who you''re up against? Or are you just following Geron''s orders like a good little dog?"


    There, a reaction, a widening of the man''s eyes, exactly what he wanted to see after mentioning the Old One''s name.


    "Oh, surprised?" He taunted further. "You''re not special, mate. You''re just a minion in a madman''s hands."


    He was just spewing bullshit at this point, but going by the hate radiating from the Messenger, it seemed to work. Even the air became heavier as a soft golden glow began to leak from the man''s body.


    "Silence, beast!" Payne growled. "Leave the name of our Lord out of your filthy mouth. You know nothing, and soon you will become nothing. Any last words?"


    "Only two," Leo grinned as more Essence gathered in his body. "Fuck you."


    At once, the blades on his arms extended. The energy he had been gathering also surged out in a single, controlled burst, putting him right next to the Messenger.


    Consumed by Kiss of Death, Leo struck at Payne''s unprotected side, already preparing Phantom Erasure to finish the fight in a single hit. However, before the strike could connect, the man turned and raised both short swords, blocking the attack without even flinching.


    "Is this all you have?" The Messenger growled as they kept their blades locked.


    "No," Leo growled back and used Blink again to reappear at Payne''s back. Once more, the attack was blocked as quickly as before, but he didn''t stop there and flashed away two more times, testing his opponent''s reaction even further.


    He is quick; I have to give him that. He grumbled, putting some distance between them. And he wasn''t using all his strength to block me, that''s for sure. This might be harder than I expected.


    For the moment, he lowered the flow of Essence into Reinforcement and instead focused it all on his affinity. Like a homing missile, he sought every single shadow on the battlefield, connecting them all with his almost invisible dark web.


    At the same time, Payne finally moved, and with a single push of his wing, he dashed forward. Only Leo didn''t let him even come close as the entire ground between them came alive, spewing shadows right at his incoming enemy.


    The Messenger stopped his approach and instead flew higher, dancing between the onslaught of shadow tendrils. However, this wasn''t all he had to defend from. Dozens of dark spears soon joined the fight, finally forcing Payne to do something more than just dodge.


    Just before the projectiles and tendrils could skewer him alive, Geron''s minion exploded in golden light, a shield bubble enveloping his body. It took every attack head-on, the cracks that appeared along the barrier healing just a second later.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Now, that''s a good defense. Leo gritted his teeth, sacrificing another chunk of his Essence for another attack.


    Four massive tendrils erupted from the ground, going straight for Payne, who still couldn''t move thanks to the other shadows. Yet, when the man noticed the incoming danger, his body began to glow brighter and brighter before the entire protective bubble exploded outwards.


    It obliterated every single shadow it encountered on the way. Not even the colossal tendrils could resist as they simply ceased to exist upon impact. Seeing this, Leo instantly cut off his Essence. There was no reason to waste more energy when it evidently didn''t do anything.


    So that''s what Lily meant by complete Light affinity. Just what the hell is this? He scowled, also backing off from the expanding bubble''s range.


    In the end, the all-consuming barrier faded, leaving the battlefield empty as even the Resonance disappeared. It still drained way too much Essence to keep it up constantly.


    "I will admit, that wasn¡¯t too bad," Payne said as he still hovered a good few meters above the ground. "Your affinity could most likely overwhelm my subordinates. But not me. You are still nothing in my eyes. Now die, filth! I had enough of this farce."


    Oh, come on! Leo groaned as the sky above was suddenly filled with over hundreds golden orbs. This is gonna suck.


    Reinforcement flared to life at full power, and even Limit Break activated with naught but a thought. The bloodlust raging in his veins ignited even more, and the signs of a blaze slowly showed themselves within the fire. Holding back would only bring death now.


    "Do your worst," he muttered just as the golden rain began.


    Leo jumped away from the first orb, barely registering as the earth behind him exploded. More explosions followed a moment later as the entire battlefield became filled with bright light flashes. Most of the projectiles flew right at him, while others tried to cut off his path of escape.


    They failed.


    The orbs were fast, very fast. He had to give Payne that. However, when it came to speed, Leo was still unmatched. He simply weaved between the explosions, his eyes darting all around to spot every orb that even came close.


    Nonetheless, with most of his mind focused on dodging, he almost had no time to react when the Messenger descended and slashed at his back.


    A scream left his throat as he spun around and blocked Payne''s other shortsword. Yet, as he did that, the other man pivoted and kicked him right into the path of another golden orb.


    The projectile exploded right over his stomach, burning the skin and the muscle beneath. Leo ground his teeth as the pain became unbearable; it felt worse than even holding the Ether flares for too long. He just barely stood up, trying to ignore the river of blood escaping his mangled flesh.


    "Do you see it now?" Payne said as he strolled over the scorched battlefield, not a single scratch on his armor. "You''re just a rat drunk on the power of the Void. Next to me, you''re nothing. Allow me to put your soul to rest."


    The swords in the man¡¯s hands ignited with golden fire, and with another few steps, the man closed the distance between them.


    As the blades came closer and closer, Leo raised his own and blocked the attack. A grunt of pain left his lips as Payne''s swords somehow sunk into his own blades. It was the first time something managed to damage the weapons given to him by his evolution.


    Must be the fire. He winced as the Messenger attacked again and again, each strike cutting of a small bit of his blades. Is this how I go out? Really? Killed by some fucking cliche fanatic?!


    The rage in his veins reached its boiling point, pushing Ruthless Efficiency over the edge. Blaze consumed his entire body, giving him the much-needed strength to push Payne a few feet away.


    "Oh?" The man muttered. "Interesting."


    At the same time, Leo fought to stay afloat as his injuries and primal instincts tried to take over. But he didn''t let them, not now. This was his battle, and he would finish it even if it were the last thing he did.


    "Screw you," he roared, and using bloodlust and rage to control his primal instincts, he pounced on the Messenger.


    His speed reached new heights, and not even ten consecutive uses of Blink forced him to stop. All the same, Payne still defended, parrying or straight-up blocking every strike. Sometimes, the man even used his wings to protect himself, which, in hindsight, should be impossible.


    Oh no, you don''t!


    He growled and summoned a wave of shadows that swept over the dozens of golden orbs that again appeared in the air. Some exploded right away, while others bounced away, crashing against some buildings in the distance.


    "You can''t harm me," Payne spat, and the fire on his swords surged in intensity. This time, when their weapons met, Leo¡¯s blades almost got cut in half. "I see everything! The Lord''s hand guides me. Give up!"


    But Leo didn''t care about mere words, and as they separated for a brief moment, he summoned most of his remaining Essence into his hand. Rage and bloodlust were the first to enter the mass of energy. The wish to destroy, corrupt, and consume followed right after. As the final piece, he added the wildness and primordiality of Ruthless Efficiency into the mix.


    Just then, black and red Essence seeped onto his skin, covering it like a glove. He dashed forward, pointing the hand right at Payne''s chest. Instantly, the gathered energy shot out in a beam, going faster than anything he had ever seen.


    The Messenger still somehow managed to put a massive wall of light in its way, but it was all for nothing. The true Void affinity ¡ª as there was no mistaking what the power was ¡ª punched right through the barrier and continued onward.


    Payne screamed as even though he managed to lean a bit to his right, the beam still pierced his armor and then shoulder. Finally, the black-red ray disappeared, leaving behind a deep gaping hole surrounded by decaying flesh.


    Both Leo and his enemy collapsed to their knees. Even then, he still called forth the rest of his Essence and molded it into the final Eruption. His tails stabbed into the ground and released the technique.


    Yet, the spikes that erupted from the earth never found their mark. Payne just jumped into the air and flew away, grasping at his massacred shoulder.


    Leo blinked, watching as the blurry figure disappeared behind some buildings. Only then did he collapse completely, rolling onto his back.


    "I''m alive..."

 Chapter 168. Ruin

    "Never forget what you''re fighting for. Don''t give up; square your shoulders and push forward. Embrace the fear of death and use it to become stronger. After all, why should you fear something inevitable? Death comes for all."


    ~Unknown


    <hr>


    He couldn''t move. His entire body refused to listen to a single command. Not that his mind was any better, not with the pain numbing his every other thought and emotion. It had been a while since he felt like this. A week, maybe more?


    Shit. Leo coughed, keeping his eyes shut. With all skills going dormant, there was no way he could ignore what happened to his back and stomach any longer.


    The deep cut going from shoulder to shoulder wasn''t that bad. It definitely hurt like hell, but it wasn''t like he hadn''t survived worse. No, it was the scorched flesh from the explosion that made life almost unbearable. Even after so much time, he could still feel the light affinity on his skin, trying to burn the exposed muscles.


    Bastard is good.


    He snorted, happy to just lay there and let his body put itself back together. He was never happier that he had bought the regeneration mutation. Without it, he might have already died.


    ''Leo! Hold on, I will be there in a moment,'' Nyx suddenly screamed through their link, and he smiled a bit.


    Take your time. I''m fine. Mostly. He still couldn''t move more than a finger, but he would live, hopefully.


    ''Just stay awake!'' She ordered and cut them off.


    "Will do," he muttered, even if she couldn''t hear him anymore.


    Despite not liking how Hunter sacrificed himself, Nyx really was godsend for him. Their bond was special, and he would never give it away. Though, he still didn''t know why his trait said their connection''s strength was weak.


    An issue for another day, not now. Leo grimaced as another flare of pain spread across his abdomen. If only he had enough Essence to jumpstart Reinforcement. Maybe it could soothe the burning a bit.


    Yet, before he could complain more, a loud thud came from his right. His eyes snapped open as they fell on Nyx, who just dropped three bodies next to him. A quick scan told him that only two of those were Voidlings.


    What?


    ''Eat,'' the feline ordered again. ''I will carry you to safety, but heal at least a bit first. It isn''t looking good.''


    Right, with his strength gone, he didn''t even take a look at the wound on his stomach after collapsing. All his observations came from the constant pain he felt, which, in hindsight, wasn''t helping much. It just burned and burned, trying to eat his entire body away.


    Let''s see.


    With more effort than ever, Leo rolled on his side and glanced down.


    Ah, shit. It really isn''t looking good.


    The dark skin on his stomach was gone entirely; hell, his upper chest didn''t look much better. The firm muscles beneath became twisted and sickly. Most of the flesh turned dark green as it bubbled like boiling water. Then, there were the few spots claimed by tiny golden globs. With only a single glance at them, he knew they were the main cause of his pain.


    You need to get them off. Quick. He looked at Nyx. No way I can heal properly with this shit on me. Fucker''s affinity works like some sort of a poison.


    ''Are you sure? You really should eat first,'' the feline hesitated as he again laid on his back.


    "After," he hissed. "Just... just do it."


    Nyx nodded, and that was all Leo needed to see to close his eyes again. However, despite knowing what was coming, nothing could have prepared him for the pain that came a moment later.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He screamed, or maybe roared, as something cool touched his stomach and ripped out the first golden blob. Then it happened again, and this time, he howled, his blades coming out on their own.


    ''Almost there!'' Nyx''s voice punched through the cloud of misery. ''Only one more left.''


    As she said that, Leo roared again, his bloodlust coming out on its own and activating its ignite stage of Ruthless Efficiency. He didn''t deactivate it and instead pounced on the bodies next to him with a sudden burst of strength.


    Tendrils of shadows escaped his body and shot into the corpses, Devour following soon after. The skill rode on the wave of rage and consumed everything in a matter of seconds, not leaving even dust behind.


    Leo fell to his knees again, his bloodlust retreating. The pain also lessened a bit, but a single look down confirmed that he was far from healed. Sure, his flesh lost some of its green coloring, but the skin was still gone. And the less said about his almost empty reserves, the better. For some reason, Devour didn''t recover them at all.


    "Well, at least one good thing came out of this." He chuckled, coughing out bits of blood in between. "I think I know how to use Devour with my shadows now."


    ''Of course that''s what you care about,'' Nyx snorted and picked him up with her tails. ''Rest now. I will get us to safety. Don''t worry about anything.''


    "Thanks," Leo muttered, letting the darkness claim him.


    <hr>


    His eyes opened slowly, and he blinked as night vision activated. A moment later, pain flared across his stomach, but it was far from what he felt before falling asleep. This time, he could move and breathe without wincing and flinching every second.


    ''You''re awake.''


    Even if the voice came from their link, Leo looked up, finding the feline curled in the corner of the small room. She, too, had her head raised, her glowing eyes staring right at him.


    "So I am," he whispered, leaning against the wall behind him. His back ached a bit, but it was nothing he couldn''t handle.


    ''How do you feel?'' She asked, her gaze never wavering.


    "Been worse," Leo shrugged lightly. "Give me a few more hours, and I can fight again. A day or two, and I will be back to normal."


    ''You lost a lot of blood when I carried you,'' she said as if she didn''t hear him. ''If not for our link, I would have thought you have died.''


    "Sorry for worrying you again," he sighed and looked around the small room once more. "Where are we?"


    For a moment, the feline refused to answer. ''Random building not that far from where we fought. Also, it''s close to nighttime. We have at most two hours before the darkness falls.''


    Leo grimaced. He just had to black out for a few hours. Not good, not good at all.


    "Why not take me to Lily? Maybe she could have helped with this," he motioned to his mangled stomach. It was healing, if a bit slowly.


    Nyx scoffed. ''Your sister is only one person. I don''t trust anyone else there. And even she...''


    "Alright, got ya," he nodded, cutting her off. Why did he even ask when the answer was so obvious.


    For a time, they sat in silence, listening to the distant screeches and howls. Leo didn''t mind it at all. After everything he had gone through today, he welcomed the sudden peaceful atmosphere. However, like always, it didn''t last long.


    ''What happened?'' Nyx asked, and they both knew what she was talking about.


    He sighed again. "Why don''t you see for yourself?"


    With that said, he opened his mind to her, focusing on the memory of the battle. The feline dived right in, and it only took her a few seconds to speak up again.


    ''His affinity,'' she muttered. ''Your shadows didn''t stand a chance.''


    "Yeah... And it''s not only that," Leo grumbled. "He always knew what I would do next. No matter how fast I attacked, no matter how much Essence I used, he always had a way to counter me. If not for the last technique..."


    ''It was the Void, right? Its true affinity?''


    He shuddered, still remembering how powerful the Void''s small spark felt in his hand. "It was perfect. I had to channel the entire stage two of Ruthless Efficiency to make it work, but this time, nothing was missing. I know how to do it again."


    Not now though, not with his bloodlust asleep again. Its primal instincts of hunger and rage were the only reason the Void affinity answered his call.


    ''The System?'' Nyx said, bringing him back to the reality.


    Leo shook his head. "Haven''t checked yet."


    ''Maybe you should.''


    "Probably," he nodded.


    ''So?'' She prodded, even nudging him with her tail.


    "Fine, fine. Give me a moment," Leo rolled his eyes but did summon the System''s waiting messages.


    Warning! Passive Limit Break is now inactive. Recover to enable it again.


    How surprising. He snorted. Next.


    You have danced with death and lived. Survivor reward: +2 Might to Limit Break. Live long and fight till your last breath.


    Leo blinked. Okay, that''s new. I had no idea I could get rewards for random encounters. You really are always watching, System, ain''t you?


    You looked into the Void, and the Void answered. Its power is now yours. Wield it well, learn, and grow. It''s only the beginning.


    Minor True Affinity: Ruination, trait gained.


    The passive of Spark of the Void is now unlocked.


    Oh...

 Chapter 169. Void’s Heir

    Leo blinked and then blinked again. The notifications didn''t change. He had expected something to come out of his fight against Payne, but this definitely wasn''t it. True affinities were supposed to be hard to obtain, and yet, here it was, an official notification from the System that he indeed gained one.


    But why Ruination? What''s with the name? Is this some sort of lesser form of the Void?


    Just as he was about to summon the description of his new trait, another notification appeared. He froze, eyes widening as he read it again and again.


    Title Void''s Heir gained. Void''s Heir has assimilated Nikra''s Legacy title. Displaying combined effects due to its importance.


    Void''s Heir:


    You were crowned as the legacy of the first daughter, but now the Void has chosen you as its heir. Now, the time has come to prove if you are worth this title. Stand proud, stand strong. Evolve and thrive.


    Stacked Effects:


    The Void''s true power now flows through your soul and veins. Evolutionary check passed. Most Voidlings of lower rank won''t be outright hostile. Night Hunters and related evolution paths are for you to command. Hostile Identify will fail if the enemy hasn''t ascended to the Supernatural Tier at least once. All Effectiveness: +15%.


    "Holy shit. That''s a lot of effects," Leo muttered, his eyes opened wide. "Even the old ones changed a bit..."


    True to his words, the new title not only changed but also improved everything. From now on, Night Hunters should always listen to him instead of just refraining from attacking him. To make it even better, Void''s Heir made the old rule apply to almost all Voidlings weaker than him. However, considering how many monsters had already avoided him, maybe it wouldn''t help that much.


    Well, at least now I have it on the paper. He shrugged as his gaze traveled back to the description. The first part I, more or less, understand thanks to my new affinity, but what the hell does ''evolutionary check passed'' mean?


    Better evolutions once he unlocked the menu again was the obvious answer. Yet, knowing the System, it could be something entirely different. In the end, unless he asked Naz''Tor, he had no other good way of learning the truth.


    Might as well try. I just have to be careful not to reveal too much.


    With the decision made, Leo dismissed the title''s description and summoned his new trait. He had felt the slight shift in his soul, but he wanted a confirmation.


    True Minor Affinity: Ruination (Void)


    Ruination, the official name of the true power of the Void. This powerful affinity has taken root in your soul, ready to spread corruption, destruction, and death in the Multiverse. Use this primordial power wisely and consume your enemies.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel the true affinity of the Void into your Essence. Advancement available in the future. Warning: Prolonged use of this affinity at your current power level may lead to adverse side effects.


    So, it really is the Void''s true power. Ruination... I guess it fits quite well. He commented before glancing at the warning. Why am I not even surprised? A mortal like me shouldn''t even have access to power like this.


    He shook his head and waved his hand, pushing the description away, only for a new notification to take its place.


    Technique Void: Minor Takeover has been renamed to Ruination: Minor Takeover. This technique is now mastered. Congratulations!


    Ruination: Minor Takeover (Master)


    This technique grants complete control of a Void-born creature. Success is guaranteed unless the target''s level or overall strength is higher than the user''s. Additionally, special types of Voidlings will resist this technique. Physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Limit of controlled Void-borns: 15


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Okay," Leo snorted. "Five more slots than yesterday? I will take that." He glanced at Nyx. "It might be the time to get ourselves a little army. Fifteen Koukars at our back could go wild."


    The feline rolled her eyes. ''Fifteen of anything above level twenty could make our lives much easier. Especially when you can coordinate them with your mind.''


    "True that," he leaned harder against the wall. "By the way, how did your fight go?"


    ''Better than yours,'' she stated as if it wasn''t obvious. ''They weren''t bad per se, just too slow and weak to be a danger to me. I managed to kill one before they retreated.''


    "The one I devoured?"


    The feline nodded.


    "Huh," Leo blinked. "Did they say anything to you at all? My guy was quite talkative."


    ''Nothing. Like your sister said, they communicate with their minds. They didn''t even try to taunt me. I am a bit disappointed,'' she grumbled.


    He chuckled. "They probably didn''t think you were intelligent enough to understand them. Dumb assholes."


    ''Idiots,'' Nyx growled. ''They will regret it. One of them already paid the ultimate price. The rest will follow soon.''


    "Yes, they will," Leo clenched his fists, thinking of his own battle.


    Payne was powerful, that much he could admit, but the next time they met, the Winged Messenger would die. He could already imagine Geron''s minion at his feet, bleeding out as he tore the man''s heart out of his chest. He would make this dream a reality, no matter what.


    So much stuff to prepare for. He sighed and raised his hand, summoning a familiar object out of his soul. Time to get to work. We can''t stay here for the night.


    ''Leo? What''s going on? Are you calling the merchant?'' Nyx asked before he could press the button on the transmitter.


    "Yeah," he nodded. "I need some answers and a bit of help," he motioned to his stomach. "I rested enough."


    ''Just be careful what you reveal.''


    With that warning in mind, Leo pressed the button and quickly selected the lone contact from the list. The transmitter rang only once before the call connected.


    "Young Akirian," the merchant''s voice came from the device. "It''s good that you''ve called. I was planning to contact you later anyway."


    "Naz''Tor," he greeted back, even as his curiosity spiked. "I just have a few questions, but they can wait a few minutes."


    "Excellent!" The shop owner exclaimed. "You see, after you called me about the Supercluster, I sent a few drones to scout London. It wasn''t easy with the limitations placed by the System, but I managed to learn about something you should be aware of."


    Oh, for fuck''s sake, don''t tell me I missed something. Leo frowned at the thought. "What is it?"


    "There is a massive group of survivors in what you call Buckingham Palace. Most of them obtained an evolution related to the people of Ger, a planet inside the Void created by the ancient god of Light. I''m not certain how it''s even possible or why they are here, but you must be careful, child. Their power is an anathema to Voidlings and Akirians, especially as young as you. Do not seek them out, and if you must, strike only if you have the element of surprise on your side."


    Alright, I definitely didn''t expect that. He really wants me to say alive, hmm? But planet Ger? Shit. He mused internally before speaking up. "It might be a bit too late for that. I just got out of a fight with their leader a few hours ago."


    "You won?" The merchant asked in disbelief. "Just how weak were they to lose with such a natural advantage?"


    Leo snorted. "I didn''t win. It was more of a draw. He almost killed me, and I, with some luck, seriously wounded him back. That''s one of the reasons why I''m calling you. I need something to help me heal."


    "What was his level? What did he hit you with and where? Fast!" Naz''Tor ordered, his happy persona disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    "Thirty-three, same as me," he answered right away. "He used light affinity compressed into small orbs to rain fire onto the entire battlefield. One of those hit me right in the stomach. It burned through my skin and some muscles below."


    "Stomach, stomach..." The merchant repeated. "Definitely could have been worse. Tell me, are there any remnants of his affinity on your skin? Any signs of decay or poisoning?"


    Leo took a quick peek at his abdomen. "I had Nyx remove all golden globs from my flesh before I fell unconscious. Aside from that, there are only some light green spots here and there. It looked much worse earlier."


    "Good, very good," Naz''Tor murmured. "This means the light poisoning didn''t get far, and your body should be able to fight it off given some time. If you can''t wait, I have a mixture that will put you back on your feet in a matter of minutes. It''s yours for a thousand Ether, much cheaper than its market price."


    Of course, the moment he hears my life is not in danger, it''s back to business. He held back a laugh.


    "I will take it," he said instead.


    "As you wish. I''m preparing the offer as we speak. In the meantime, what did you want to ask me about?"


    Leo didn''t need to even think about what to say next. "The Void Gates. I need a way to close one or delay its activation."

 Chapter 170. Back to health

    "Ah, this," Naz''Tor''s sigh was heard even through the transmitter. "Honestly, I was surprised you didn''t ask about it the first time we met. Something must have changed, yes?"


    Leo nodded. "You could say that. Things are getting kind of complicated. Finding a way to close even a single gate could help a bunch."


    "I see," the merchant muttered. "Just please tell me. Is it about the Supercluster? Do you want to get rid of the gateways inside?"


    "No," he shook his head. "I''m not mad enough to think those can be even delayed, much less closed. This is about something else."


    "Good, because there is nothing you can do about gates in Superclusters. Many have tried, yet none succeeded. At best, it worked for a few minutes, if even that."


    Huh, good to know. Leo noted this for later. "Right... But any other can be stopped, right?"


    "Indeed," the merchant confirmed. "For all the bullshit that comes out of Ger, many cycles ago, they managed to design an Enchanted Matrix we call Cerevod. For your information, it''s an item that will put a Void Gate to sleep. It will run out of power after some time, but then you just have to replace it. It''s really a simple thing."


    Convenient. He arched an eyebrow. "And you have it?"


    "Of course I do. It''s one of my best-selling items," Naz''Tor scoffed as if the question insulted him. Maybe it did.


    "How much?" Leo asked, straight and simple.


    "Depends. Cerevods come in tiers. The higher it is, the stronger the gate it can handle," the alien elaborated. "I would need you to describe your target. Then I can give you a price."


    He hummed, recalling the recent memory of Wolford''s Planetary Gateway. "Have you ever seen a human truck? It''s a large vehicle."


    "I have?" Naz''Tor answered hesitantly.


    "Then the gate I need to close is big enough to drive one through it. Aside from that, it has only a couple of days left before activation and isn''t inside any city."


    "That''s certainly an interesting way to describe it."


    Leo shrugged. "But is it enough?"


    "Yes, yes. Just give me a moment. I need to check a few things," the merchant said as the line went silent. It took about a minute before he spoke again. "There it is... I can sell you an F-tier Cerevod for three thousand Ether. It should keep your gate closed for about three, maybe four, Earth weeks. And before you ask, yes, this is the discounted price."


    Three thousand? He grimaced at the thought. At least four weeks should be more than enough time to get everything under control. It might be worth getting it anyway. Need to talk with Lily about it first though.


    "How much for a better one?" He asked out of curiosity.


    "At least five times as much. But trust me, you don''t need it here. The F-tier will be more than enough."


    He nodded. "Got it. Just wanted to know for the future."


    "Understandable. Information is power," Naz''Tor commented. "Should I add it to the offer then? I have the Cerevod ready right before me."


    Leo shook his head. "Not yet. In a day or two, probably, but I need to get some stuff done before that."


    "As you wish. In that case, the offer with your healing item should be coming right about... now."


    Just like the merchant announced, the System''s notification appeared, informing him of an incoming trade. He quickly gave the order to display it.


    Acknowledged. Displaying an offer from Naz''Tor. Trade type: Item for Ether. Terms: Unnegotiable.


    Offered: Ownership of healing item "Bellatoure" (System Verified)


    Price: 1000 Ether


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Do you accept this trade?


    Yes, I do. Leo answered, replacing the offer with another message.


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.


    Right away, he looked into his soul and summoned the new addition. A crimson glow settled over his hand before fading away, leaving a small vial of yellow liquid in his palm. He activated Identify.


    Bellatoure (Uncommon):


    A popular mixture of herbs found inside the Void combined with water-natured Essence. It provides a significant boost to regeneration and heals weak negative alignments. It works best for F and E-ranked survivors.


    Looks good. Leo mused and addressed the merchant again. "I just drink it, right?"


    "Yes. It will sting a bit, but your wounds should be mostly healed within minutes."


    Okay then. He shrugged and uncorked the vial. With a single gulp, he swallowed the entire mixture, grimacing at the sour taste it left in his mouth.


    A few seconds later, a weak burning spread across his entire stomach. He looked down, his eyes widening a bit as his flesh started knitting itself together faster than ever. The remnants of the dark green spots also slowly disappeared, giving way to his healthy, mutated skin.


    "It''s working," he muttered as even his bruises faded. The cut on his back also stopped aching as if it was never there. "I might need to buy another one. Just in case."


    Naz''Tor laughed. "And I will be glad to sell it to you. Just a word of advice: Don''t use it too often. With time, your body will get used to mixtures like this, thus lowering their efficiency."


    "Right, thanks," Leo blinked, a bit surprised that this wasn''t written in the item''s description.


    "I take care of my clients. Now, unless you have something else for me, I will be ending this call."


    Instantly, his mind went towards his new title. "Evolutionary check passed. I have it in my new title. Is there any hidden meaning to it, or is it just about new unlocked evolutions?"


    Naz''Tor hummed. "I take you won''t reveal what title it is?"


    "Sorry, not this time."


    The merchant sighed. "Maybe another day... Now, as you have already mentioned, this part of your title relates to evolution. However, it also has a ''hidden meaning,'' as you put it. Let''s leave it as a surprise, though. I swear you will like it."


    "What happened to ''knowledge is power?''" Leo grumbled.


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "Sometimes, we need a bit of mystery in our lives. This is the perfect occasion to enjoy it. Really, don''t worry, and just wait for your evolution menu to unlock again. It should happen soon, if I''m not mistaken."


    "Yeah, two more levels," he reminded himself.


    "See? There you have it!" The merchant exclaimed. "A day or two, and you''ll get it. Please call me when you do. I can''t wait to find out what the System offers you next. I''ll even pay you for this information and promise not to sell it to anyone."


    Huh. He blinked at the sudden offer. Someone is more excited for my next evolution than me. That can''t be normal or healthy...


    Still, Leo just shrugged. "Sure. As long as I have it on the paper that you won''t tell anyone, I can call."


    "Great! If that''s everything, I will be going. Just please, young Akirian, be careful when you face Ger''s soldiers again. At least evolve before seeking them out. You are too vulnerable in your current state."


    "I will keep it in mind. Thanks for the help, Naz''Tor. Till next time," he said, and once the merchant returned the goodbyes, he disconnected the call.


    ''Looks like you are good to go now,'' Nyx spoke, finally breaking her silence. ''Having a Void merchant under call is sure convenient.''


    "You don''t say," Leo snorted, standing up and doing a few stretches. "Much better. We move out in five. I will tell Lily what happened, and then we need to find a safe place to rest."


    The feline tilted her head. ''We aren''t staying with them?''


    He shook his head right away. "Payne somehow knew where to find me. I''m not risking it happening again when plenty of civilians are around."


    ''Understood,'' she nodded and stretched like a cat. ''Ready?''


    Leo raised his hand, stopping the feline from leaving the room. "Just a moment. There''s one more thing I want to check out."


    With that said, he summoned the System''s interface, searching for the last thing that changed after his fight. He had almost forgotten about it.


    There you are.


    Install: Spark of the Void (Radiant):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. With each step you make, your connection to the Void grows stronger. Its power, wild and destructive, is waiting for you. Make sure you don''t lose your way.


    Limit Break: +15 Might, Vision, and Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. The true power of the Void fills your soul.


    Passive: Third Circle - Bring the world to Ruin (0%). Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.


    So it really unlocked. He noted, looking at the passive of his item. Seems simple enough if I understand this right. It can only refer to me using Ruination... Unless it really wants me to destroy the world. Now that would be fucked up.


    Leo sighed, pushing those thoughts away. He would find out if he was right soon anyway. No reason to worry in advance.


    He looked at Nyx.


    "Let''s go."

 Chapter 171. Destruction

    The trip to the Wildborn''s hideout in the subway ended in complete silence. Nyx didn''t even try to start any conversation, while Leo just had too much on his mind. Problems were coming at him from every side, and now that he learned just how strong Payne was, he had even more to worry about.


    Damn... Lily won''t like this at all. He grimaced, stopping in front of the cave-in covered in illusion. At least I''m not injured anymore. One thing less for her to be mad about.


    ''You''re lucky I can''t speak out loud yet,'' Nyx snorted. ''I bet seeing a human talk down a Prime Akirian would be entertaining. Your memories of your sister are certainly something else.''


    "Very funny," Leo rolled his eyes, dropping Stealth Shroud. He then approached the pile of debris and sent a pulse of Essence into it. "Open up!"


    At least a minute or two passed before the illusion disappeared, revealing the door hidden within. It opened with a snap, and Lily rushed out with Malcolm slowly trailing behind her. There was another person at the back, but they stopped by the doorframe, standing watch.


    "Leo!" His sister engulfed him in a hug. "What took you so long?! You were supposed to be back hours ago."


    He winced as mild pain shot through his stomach and back. While the mixture healed him quite well, it was by no means perfect. He still needed at least a night of rest to get back to full strength. It was just a pity that Devour couldn''t help any further. He checked it on the way here, and it did nothing.


    I really shouldn''t be surprised about that with how the day went. He shook his head lightly as he returned the hug. "Things got a bit complicated. I will explain everything, just not here. Can you two come with me for a moment?"


    As they separated, Lily turned to Malcolm with a raised eyebrow, to which the man shrugged. "Sure. It wouldn''t be the first time we both left at the same time. Just give me a second."


    The Abyss Walker turned around and shouted at the man by the entrance. "Benny! You''re in charge until we get back. Don''t let anyone out. We won''t be long."


    The guy named Benny just nodded and retreated behind the door, closing it right after. A moment later, the illusion returned, hiding the entrance from sight.


    "So what happened, Leo? Spill," Lily broke the silence.


    He shook his head. "I said not here. Follow me and try to keep up."


    Without another warning, he and Nyx shot back into the tunnel. A quick peek over his shoulder confirmed that the other two were indeed keeping up. Lily used her wings to go faster in short bursts, while Malcolm constantly left a blood-red trail behind him as he ran.


    Interesting looking skill. Leo mused and swerved to his left. A quick treck up the stairs had them leaving the subway. From there, he directed them to the nearest building.


    For another few minutes, he just ran across the rooftops. Lily, thanks to her ability to fly, caught up easily, while Malcolm stayed a bit in the back. Still, for someone with quite lower level than him, the man was doing quite alright.


    And I''m not gonna lie; this looks sick. He commented, watching the Abyss Walker glide from one roof to another with his demonic wing and another one made up of Essence. Like before, the ability left behind a trail in the air.


    Finally, once they reached one of the highest buildings in the area, Leo stopped and gazed at the city spread below him. The shadows of the coming night already claimed most of the streets, and now it was only a matter of an hour, if even that, before the System''s warning would come.


    "So, mate, not that I''m complaining, but why did you take us to the middle of nowhere?" Malcolm asked, stepping next to him. "If I''m supposed to see something from here, then I failed."


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "It''s not that," Leo sighed, stepping away from the ledge and dropping down next to Nyx. The feline laid a tail on his shoulder. "Come and sit. No need for the flying Voidlings to see us."


    Once they all gathered around, he spoke again. "My descent into the Supercluster was a success. I confirmed what you''ve already seen and found other interesting things about that place. The timer on the Void Gates also didn''t speed up, so there is that."


    Lily frowned. "If that''s what you wanted to tell us, you could have do-"


    Leo raised his hand, interrupting her mid word. "Again, it''s not that. We''re talking here because that Payne guy you told me about was waiting at the exact place where I left the Supercluster. He and a few others. They knew, Lily. They knew even when I had no idea where that exit tunnel led."


    His sister''s eyes narrowed. "Tell us everything."


    With a sigh, he did just that. This time, there was no place for half-truths or made-up events. Although, he might have downplayed the wounds on his stomach a bit. Yet, going by the glare Lily sent at him, she most likely noticed. Which, of course she did. That woman had some sort of a sixth sense when it came to him.


    "Their lord," Malcolm muttered after a moment of silence. "So that''s really the ancient god you told us about. Geron, right?"


    Leo nodded. "Sure looks like it. Payne recognized the name, and I doubt they could have found me without some divine intervention. I refuse to believe that someone on Earth is already strong enough to predict the future."


    "Fuck¡­" The Abyss Walker muttered.


    Fuck indeed. He let out a deep breath.


    For entities who were supposed to be dead, the Old Ones sure had a lot of impact on the world even now. Nikra with her shards. Geron with this and his planet. The Lone Traveler, once called Tarak, the youngest of the six, still alive and doing well. Hell, all of this made him wonder if any of the Old Ones were really gone.


    Knowing my luck, probably not. He held back a snort as his gaze went to his sister, who still hadn''t said a word. "Lily?"


    She raised her head, her teary eyes meeting his. "He almost killed you, didn''t he?"


    Leo gulped and gave a shallow nod. "It was close. I didn''t expect his affinity to be so powerful... Anything I did, he had an answer. To make it worse, I don''t think I''ve ever seen him use normal skills."


    "You did, you definitely did," Lily mumbled, wiping her tears. "His skills are mostly passive from what we''ve gathered, and his new class works perfectly with his affinity. It''s almost the same for me."


    "Makes sense, I guess," he clicked his tongue. "I''ve already noticed that skills are mostly for utility or weapon combat, while affinities are for pretty much everything else."


    For a while, they sat in silence. Lily still looked like she couldn''t believe her brother had almost died. Leo decided to just give them time to process everything. He already had a few hours to do that, after all.


    "Well, that''s just perfect, ain''t it?" Malcolm scoffed, alerting everyone. "I hoped maybe you could kill that bastard, but he really is just straight-up overpowered, eh?"


    Pretty much. Was what Leo wanted to say, but he didn''t. In the end, that fight finished in a tie.


    "I can kill him," he said firmly. "It won''t be easy, but now I know how. I have the right tool."


    "That attack of yours?" The Abyss Walker quirked an eyebrow. "The one that forced Payne to retreat? You sure that wasn''t just a fluke?"


    "No," he narrowed his eyes, calling on the power coursing through his soul.


    His bloodlust awoke at the same time, joining with the Essence rushing towards his hand. This wild, almost untamable energy begged to be released as colors of the Void swirled around his fingers.


    "This is Ruination, the true power of the Void."


    With that said, Leo stood up and hurled the growing mass of Essence at a tall building close to theirs. The black-red sphere expanded until it was large enough to hide a big dog. And that was when it reached the target.


    Total annihilation.


    It was the only way to describe what happened when the orb entered a wall full of Vetilim and consumed it. Nothing survived as the attack went in, evaporated everything in its path, and then left through the other side. Only then did it disappear, as if feeling there was nothing else for it to devour.


    However, this still wasn''t the end. The edges of the new hole slowly withered, turning to dust. The entire building shook, losing more stability with each second. And even when the corruption stopped, the swaying continued until it all came crumbling down.


    "Holy shit," Malcolm muttered as a massive cloud of dust from the debris filled the area below them. Hell, even the roof they stood on shook a bit.


    Not that Leo paid all that much attention to the happenings around him. No, his gaze was firmly planted on the dozens of notifications that came as soon as the other building came down like a house of cards.


    Now that''s interesting.

 Chapter 172. What comes next

    Cursed Reaper (LVL: 22) slain | Experience awarded | 3 Ether gained


    Cursed Reaper (LVL: 23) slain | Experience awarded | 3 Ether gained


    Cursed Walker (LVL: 21) slain | Experience awarded | 3 Ether gained


    Spitfire (LVL: 18) slain | No experience awarded | No Ether gained


    .


    .


    .


    Multiple enemies slain | Bonus experience awarded | 179 Ether gained


    You have reached level 34. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    Leo blinked and then rubbed his eyes. The notifications didn''t disappear. Hell, in his opinion, even more appeared in the meantime. This definitely wasn''t what he expected to happen after his small demonstration, not at all.


    "I might have gone a little overboard," he muttered, more to himself than the others.


    Lily and Nyx snorted. "You think?" His sister exclaimed, her eyes still glued to the destruction below.


    At this point, the dust slowly settled, revealing the ruins of the once massive building. Blood was visible almost everywhere while dead monsters lay scattered under the debris. It was quite a macabre sight. However, it still couldn''t match the massacre at ReachHope.


    Ah whatever. Leo sighed, averting his gaze. At least I got a level out of it. One more, and evolutions are back. I should probably unlock them before going to Wolford... Doubt it will happen, though. I have barely any Essence left after my little show.


    With a shrug, he quickly assigned his free points to Vision and let the notifications fade away. Then, he addressed the others as if nothing had happened.


    "So that''s Ruination," he smiled as best as a beast like him could. "Any questions?"


    Instead of asking anything, Malcolm looked at Lily with a blank stare. "You know what? Now I can see how the two of you are siblings. I swear if the Void doesn''t kill me, you two will."


    His sister slapped the Abyss Walker''s arm. "You are being overdramatic. Again... Get a grip."


    "Get a grip, she says," Malcolm threw his hands in the air. "Bloody hell, did we just watch the same thing? He just collapsed the entire building. With one attack! Even Payne would struggle to do that."


    Lily crossed her arms. "No, he wouldn''t. And excuse me. I can do it too if I try hard enough."


    "Exactly, if you try hard enough," the Abyss Walker ranted. "Your brother did that as a demonstration and after already fighting that bastard today. There is no comparison! It''s totally bonkers."


    His sister quirked an eyebrow. "Better now? Got it all out?"


    Malcolm closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yeah... Sorry, it''s just... First, it''s Payne. Then you. And now your brother. You all are far above any other survivor. Bloody hell, we have the same level, and I know that between the two of us, I''m weaker. And let''s not mention Payne and you, Leo."


    ''Is he having a breakdown?'' Nyx asked as they watched from the sidelines.


    Leo shook his head. Nah. It''s finally hitting him that no matter how many Voidlings he kills and how hard he trains, there will always be someone better out there. That''s just the way of the world. It was true before the Outbreak, and it''s true now. He will get over it. He wouldn''t get this far if this was what took him down.


    The feline hummed as she mulled over his words. ''Why is he even comparing himself to you, Geron''s minion, or even your sister? You all were affected by the Old Ones to some degree, while he is just a former human. It''s obvious he will be weaker for now.''


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Even if that''s true, it ain''t that simple. He sighed, feeling a headache coming. If I was in his shoes, I would feel the same. It''s a human thing to do, and even if we all shed some or most of our human skin, it''s way too early for our humanity to die just yet.


    Nyx turned to him, her bright eyes looking into his. ''I see,'' she averted her gaze. ''Sometimes it''s easy to forget who you were before all of this. You have changed. Especially lately. Being a Voidborn suits you.''


    I guess. Leo nodded with a shrug, pretty much ignoring Malcolm and Lily as they continued bickering. It''s just a pity that most of those changes were forced upon me. Would have been nice to live without some ancient gods hovering above my head.


    ''Would it really?'' The feline asked, her voice soft. ''If you could do this all over again. Would you step away from the path of the Void? Would you become just another survivor who struggles to see the light of another day? Is that what you really want from life?''


    I... He trailed off, words abandoning him. I don''t know.


    There was a lot he would change if given another chance. Yet his connection to the Void, evolution, and even Nikra''s shard wasn''t on the list for now. Prime Night Hunter was who he became, and Leo had no idea if he could give up a vital part of himself. Not again.


    A nudge to his side brought him back to reality.


    ''Don''t think about it too much. You have plenty of time to find the answer. We both do,'' Nyx placated before motioning to the other duo. ''You should probably step in. We''re wasting time.''


    Leo sighed. Right...


    "Alright, you two, that''s enough," he called out, coming in between them. "The night is coming, and I still have some stuff I want to talk about. Sit and listen."


    Lily and Malcolm shared a look and nodded. Once they both settled down, he continued.


    "So as you two saw with your own eyes, I have a way to deal with Payne. I need to practice with it a bit, but the next time we meet, I will be ready. Now, with that subject closed¡ªplease stay quiet, Lily¡ªlet''s focus on something more important. Wolford. How is it going with the explosives?"


    His sister crossed her arms again, scowling and refusing to answer. Next to her, Malcolm rolled his eyes. "Not bad. We have thirteen ready, maybe more now. I''m not sure how much more Mitsuki can create. We''re kind of running out of Crystalized Essence."


    "Not a problem," Leo waved him off and summoned a small backpack into his hand. "Here you go. I don''t really use them, so they have been gathering dust."


    Cautiously, Malcolm took the offered item and unzipped it. His eyes widened. "Shit," he blinked. "This definitely solves the issue. Thanks, I guess. You sure you don''t need any?"


    "I''m good. I can always get more tomorrow. The explosives are more important."


    "Even with your new affinity?" Lily joined the conversation again, her scowl missing. "Maybe there is no need for bombs after all."


    Leo grimaced. "I would rather save my strength. Even if we collapse the Graveyard, I doubt it will go down without a fight. Somebody will have to deal with it."


    "I will be there too, you know? And don''t forget about your kitty." Nyx hissed at Lily, but the woman just ignored it, a light grin tugging at her lips.


    "Doesn''t matter," he said, not acknowledging the jab. "I''m not taking any unnecessary risk, and wasting my Essence is just that. We use explosives, and that''s the end of it."


    "We will have at least twenty ready by tomorrow morning," Malcolm vowed, standing up. "If that''s all, we should get going. I don''t fancy fighting a Nightmare just yet."


    Leo nodded, glancing at the sun disappearing behind the horizon. "Just one more thing," he said. "Do you two have a way to contact each other after we leave for Wolford?"


    Lily shook her head. "Nothing. Like I told you yesterday, we''re still working on it."


    Worth a shot. He clicked his tongue and turned to Malcolm. "I will try to figure something out. You need a way to contact us just in case."


    "I would appreciate it," the Abyss Walker offered him a smile. "But if it comes to that, we will manage. Just like we always do. One question, though. How long will it take you to return? I want to get people moving as soon as we can."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "It depends on Holden''s answer to our offer and the Graveyard. If he agrees and everything goes smoothly, we can be back even on the same day. However..."


    "So two days, got it," Malcolm cut him off. Seeing the looks he received, he chuckled. "What? We all know nothing goes smoothly nowadays. Your fight with Payne only proves that."


    Can''t argue with that. Leo conceded with a nod. "Two days then. And if we need more, one of us will return alone while the other stays."


    "Sounds good."


    With that, they exchanged goodbyes and left. Lily and Malcolm disappeared in the darkness of the evening, going straight for their base.


    As for Leo and Nyx?


    They descended onto the streets in search of a place to rest. It didn''t take long to find one, and soon, he settled for sleep while the feline stood watch.


    Tomorrow will be interesting.

 Chapter 173. Going back

    ''Leo,'' a voice muttered in his head while something nudged his shoulder. ''Time to wake up. We got to move.''


    He sighed, opening his eyes. "I wasn''t sleeping. Not for a few hours now."


    Nyx paused, tilting her head at him. ''I thought you wanted to rest. Your injuries...''


    Leo waved her off as he stood up and stretched a bit. "I''m fine. Even my reserves are mostly recovered. Devour can take care of the rest."


    ''Then why?''


    "Don''t have a good answer for that," he shrugged. "I just woke up in the middle of the night, and that''s it. I wanted to sleep a bit more, but each time I tried closing my eyes, my mind traveled back to the fight against Payne. So I stayed up, going through the memory again and again, looking for anything I could have done better."


    ''And?'' Nyx prodded.


    "And nothing," he chuckled. "Sure, there is space for improvement¡ªI definitely should have used Decoy and Valron Protection¡ªbut overall, I did what I could."


    The feline hummed. ''Seems unproductive if that''s how you spent most of the night. That''s unlike you.''


    Leo couldn''t even deny that. "Happens," he offered her a light smile. "Besides, I didn''t completely waste those few hours. I messaged Naz''Tor about our communication problem. And wouldn''t you know, he sold me something to solve it for almost nothing. I gotta say, even if he has ulterior motives, he is still a lifesaver."


    Nyx narrowed her eyes. ''As long as you remember to be careful around him.''


    "I am. No need to remind me," he patted her head as he went for the door. "One more thing. I asked him about light affinity. Apparently, it''s as rare as I thought. No one outside of Ger can get it."


    ''Why am I not surprised,'' she snorted, following him out of the room. ''Even when mostly dead, Geron is still gatekeeping his power.''


    This made Leo wonder. "Do you think it''s the same with darkness? Or any other affinity related to Old Ones?"


    ''Darkness is the natural progression of shadows, and we already know Voidlings can use it,'' she pointed out. ''So I doubt Nikra is blocking it like Geron. No idea about others though.''


    "So pretty much what I thought," he clicked his tongue. "The world is getting bigger and weirder with each day, hmm? Can''t say I''m enjoying the quick pace. Some time without anything new happening would be nice."


    ''Maybe one day, Leo. Maybe one day...''


    <hr>


    "I remember you always being on time before the Outbreak," Lily grumbled with her arms crossed. Once more, she had been waiting for him by the subway entrance.


    Leo rolled his eyes as he stopped next to her. "It''s hard to be on time when we didn''t agree on any. All I said was that I would be here in the morning. Which I am."


    His sister huffed. "Smart arse. Where is Nyx?"


    "Around, like always... Better question. Where''s Malcolm? I thought he would be here to see us off."


    Lily grimaced. "He should be here in a few. He had to go help with some argument. Nothing to be concerned about."


    "And instead of going with him to hurry it up, you came here," Leo raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "How surprising," he drawled.


    "It''s all your fault," she glared. "I barely got any sleep because you had me worried all night. You just had to go and pick a fight with Payne."


    "Right... I''m not gonna even comment on that."


    "Coward," Lily muttered, and Leo bristled despite knowing she was just doing that to get a reaction. Yet before he could say anything, someone cleared their throat, loudly at that.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "Am I interrupting something?" Malcolm said, looking between them with a light grin.


    "No," he scowled, letting his sister have this win. He would find a way to pay her back sooner or later. "But it''s good you''re here. I have something to help us communicate, just like I told you yesterday."


    With that, Leo reached into his soul and brought forth a single object. In a flash, it landed in his hand, and he instantly threw it at the other man, who caught it without a problem.


    "What is it?" Malcolm raised an eyebrow, inspecting the small red tube in his hand.


    "See for yourself."


    The Abyss Walker frowned but did as was told. A moment later, he looked up. "A panic button?"


    "Pretty much," Leo nodded. "You open the top, click the button, and I will know you need us back here. Sorry it''s so simple, but that''s all I could get without paying a fortune."


    Malcolm gave him a large smile. "It''s more than enough. Now for my gift. Twenty-two Essence bombs. A bit more than we agreed on."


    Without a word, Leo took the offered bag and reached inside, taking out the first object in the way. It looked like an honest-to-god grenade. The Crystallized Essence that had to be a part of this was covered in a clay shell, while a single glowing, blue cord was sticking out at the top.


    "Interesting," he muttered, activating Identify.


    Makeshift Crystalized Bomb (Common):


    A very simple, makeshift explosive created with basic materials. Despite its rough appearance, it is fairly safe to use. This bomb is roughly three times as strong as an overcharged Crystallized Essence. Have fun blowing things up.


    Yeah, thanks a lot, System. Leo snorted and addressed Malcolm again. "How exactly does it work?"


    "Pretty simple," the man pointed to the short blue cord. "You channel a bit of Essence into that, and after a minute, the entire thing explodes. We wanted to give you a longer timer, but this igniter is quite pricey."


    "A minute is more than enough," he said, returning the bomb to the bag. "What if you overcharge it?"


    Malcolm shrugged. "No idea. For obvious reasons, we didn''t try to find out."


    Makes sense. Leo nodded, and with a quick pull on his Essence, he placed the bombs in his soulscape. Hopefully, they wouldn''t explode just because.


    "If that''s everything, we should go," Lily spoke up, ever the impatient one. "Malcolm, remember to keep hunting to a minimum. And for the love of God, don''t let Dave out without an escort."


    The Abyss Walker laughed. "Don''t worry, I won''t. Good luck, you two. Try to come back before tomorrow night."


    "We will," Leo vowed as he shook hands with the other man.


    Lily and Malcolm shared a brief hug, and with that, they were off. Nyx joined them a moment later, her form exploding into shadows and covering his body.


    Yet, before Leo could activate a depowered version of Stealth Shroud, he had to ask. "What was that about the Dave guy?"


    Lily almost stumbled as she jumped over a thick Vetilim root. "Trust me, you don''t want to know."


    Oh, but I do.


    And so, with that thought in mind, he continued pestering her about this as they ran and ran. At one point, his sister got so annoyed that she decided to finally use her wings and claim the air for the time being.


    Call me a coward again. I dare you.


    <hr>


    With all the recent powerups and Lily''s wings, it didn''t take them long to reach the icy Wasteland. His sister, of course, had to stop there, her eyes drinking in the sights.


    "It''s beautiful," she muttered before grimacing. "Well, if you ignore those were humans not that long ago... I''m torn."


    "Don''t be," Leo shrugged. "What happened, happened. We have to enjoy what we can. Even if it''s a Wasteland filled with deadly monsters..."


    "When you put it like that..." She trailed off and offered him a grin. "Want to kill some stuff?"


    "No. Nothing here is strong enough to give us a challenge. Besides, weren''t you the one who said we should hurry?"


    Lily crossed he arms, pouting. "Spoilsport."


    Void, give me strength.


    <hr>


    "So that''s the only Void Gate in Wolford," Lily muttered as they stopped near the large structure.


    "From what I''ve gathered, yes, this is the only one. We can check later to make sure," Leo commented as he watched the amalgamation of swirling energy in the middle of the gate. It had grown since he had left, by a lot.


    Let''s see.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway is still charging and won''t activate for another: 3 days, 15 hours, and 6 minutes.


    "It didn''t speed up," he noted. "We still have almost four days. Should be enough to get the entire city ready."


    Lily furrowed her brow as she turned away from the gate. "I thought you wanted to seal it."


    "It ain''t that simple," Leo sighed, running a hand over the hard surface of the gate. "I talked a bit more with Naz''Tor about it, and the Enchanted Matrix needs to be placed on both ends before activation."


    "Which means..."


    "Once the gate activates, I will need to go to the other side and then come back. Exactly," he nodded.


    "Shite."


    "Couldn''t say it better myself, sis."

 Chapter 174. Yet another deal

    "I thought you said all they had was a small warehouse and an office building attached to it," Lily whispered, her eyes glued to the safe zone in the distance.


    Leo shrugged. "What can I say? They must have been hard at work ever since I left. This place looked completely different a few days ago."


    To be honest, he was just as surprised as his sister. Only six days passed, and somehow, Holden''s group had already managed to add another floor to the office building and place a primitive guard tower at the edge of the safe zone. However, they lacked materials, as almost all of the additions were made of wood.


    Still impressive. Though, why make a tower if you leave it empty? What''s the point?


    He sighed and averted his gaze from the safe zone. "Let''s get going. No point in watching them like some creeps." He looked at Nyx. "Stay here. Introductions can wait a bit."


    The feline nodded and laid down, bathing her body in the red sun. ''I''m gonna take a nap then. Wake me up if anything interesting happens.''


    Leo snorted. "Will do, you lazy cat. You''re lucky nothing here will dare to attack you."


    And wasn''t that a sad fact? Voidlings in Wolford, while stronger than before, didn''t even reach level twenty. Most of them sat at seventeen or eighteen, which wasn''t comparable to what they had to face in London. At least in the capitol, monsters still attacked them and did not just run away when they spotted him or Nyx.


    I shouldn''t be surprised. The gap between us is even bigger than before my departure. And then there is my new title...


    He shook his head and glanced at his sister, who still remained silent. "Lily? Come on."


    The woman blinked and turned to him. "Sorry. Got lost in my thoughts." She frowned. "What were you saying?"


    Nyx chuckled in their link. ''Even without the same blood flowing in your veins, I''m starting to see why you two are siblings.''


    His eye twitched. Shut up. Go to sleep. At the same time, he addressed Lily. "We should go. We are wasting time sitting here."


    "Oh, sure," she nodded, peering at the safe zone. "Do we just walk right in, or..."


    "I see no other way," Leo shrugged and approached the edge of the building they had been using to scout the area. "I know those people. Even if they seem hostile at first, they won''t attack. At least, I hope so," he added the last part in a mutter.


    "That''s not a lot of confidence for someone who saved their arses," she raised an eyebrow. "Want me to go first?"


    "Nah," he waved her off. "We both saw a few Fallen Humans walking around there. It will be fine."


    Going by the look Lily gave him, she didn''t share his confidence. Still, she shrugged and stopped next to him. "It''s your call. Just don''t complain to me when somebody shoots you."


    "It won''t happen," Leo promised and jumped, descending on the street below. His sister joined him a moment later, and with that, they were off.


    They didn''t run or sprint. No, instead, they just walked the streets of Wolford as if Voidlings didn''t surround them from each direction. Of course, none of the beasts attacked. A single look from him had them running in the opposite direction. Even Brutes, Reapers, and Screamers stepped out of their way, parting like the Red Sea.


    "I don''t think I will ever get used to this," Lily whispered, watching the scurring monsters. "They never run from me."


    Leo chuckled. "Perks of embracing the path of the Void fully, I guess."


    "Yeah," she grimaced, drawing out the word. "I think I''m gonna stick to being a Hybrid if possible. I like my face as it is now."


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Your loss... Now focus up, we''re here."


    True to his words, just as they turned the corner, the safe zone called Eden came into sight. At first, nobody noticed them approaching, but within a few seconds, someone pointed toward them, and soon they had an entire crowd waiting at the border.


    "Halt!" A young Fallen Human with a rifle in his hand shouted. "Please lower your hoods and state your name."


    Leo placed a hand on Lily''s shoulder and nodded. "Will do, friend!" he called out. "Just hands off the trigger. I''m sure you''ve already Identified us."


    Some people in the crowd tensed at the sound of his voice, but the man with the firearm nodded. "No one here will attack unless I say so. This is just standard procedure."


    Heh, I see Frank is doing well getting those people into shape. He noted and removed his hood in a single move. "Name''s Leo Hale. Some of you might remember me."


    The guard''s eyes widened a bit. "That''s really you, sir... Please, you and your companion can approach."


    Sir? Really? Leo''s nonexistent eyebrows shot up. Just what the hell happened here when I was gone? Oh well, I will find out soon anyway.


    With that, he started walking again, Lily following a step behind. In the meantime, the guard dispersed the crowd so that only he and another woman remained waiting.


    "We''re happy to have you back, sir," the armed man stated once they passed the barrier, his eyes shining. "Some might not show it, but everyone here is grateful for everything you have done for Eden."


    Leo ignored Lily''s amused grin and coughed. "Thanks..."


    "Greg," the fallen quickly supplied. "I''m trying to become as strong as you, sir! For now, I could only accept this inferior evolution. But one day, I hope to follow in your footsteps."


    "Right... I''m happy to hear that?" He said, to which Greg nodded with a large smile. Man, what the hell is going on?! How did I manage to become a role model?


    Thankfully, before he could get consumed by this discovery, Lily stepped in. "Excuse me, we need to meet with Anthony Holden. Is it possible now?"


    Even with his dark skin, the Fallen colored slightly. "Of course, ma''am, sir." He motioned to the short woman standing silently next to them. "Susan here will lead you to the chief''s office."


    Chief? They really were busy.


    The redhead nodded. "Please follow me."


    Without another word, she walked off, forcing them to do the same. Lily shot him a questioning glance to which he just shrugged. He was almost as clueless as she was.


    Soon, they stepped into the office building, and just like the last time he was here, eyes followed him everywhere. Only now, people seemed less scared; some even came closer to get a better look at him and Lily.


    They might treat me like a zoo exhibition, but at least the hostility is completely gone. Just then, he spotted a single guy glaring at him. Well, almost.


    "This is it," Susan stated as they stopped in the first-floor corridor. "Please wait a moment as I inform the Chief of your arrival."


    With that, the redhead opened the door in front of her and stepped in. Leo caught a short glance inside and was pretty sure that this was the same place where he and the others had discussed his plans and departure.


    However, before he could say anything, Susan came out and motioned them to enter. She didn''t follow and just closed the door behind them.


    "Hale," a voice he hadn''t heard in almost a week stated. "I honestly didn''t believe Susan when she said it''s you. What happened? Who''s your companion?"


    Leo took in the older man. His mostly clean clothes, shaved beard, and the small smile on his face. For some reason, even if this was still the same preson he knew, Holden now looked more at ease. Hell, even his tone lacked its usual cold edge.


    Ascended Human | LVL: 21


    Not bad. Not bad at all...


    "Holden, or should I say Chief?" He chuckled, taking the offered hand. "This is my sister, Lily."


    "A pleasure," The other man bowed lightly. "And please, no. It''s Frank''s fault everybody calls me that. Tony is enough for you two."


    "Fine by me," Leo shrugged. "Feel free to use my name too. With me and Lily here, Hale just ain''t gonna cut it anymore."


    "Of course," Holden said, looking him right in the eyes. "I don''t want to come off as rude, but why are you here? You two are way over-leveled for Wolford."


    For the first time since they stepped into this room, Lily was the one to answer. "We have a reason to be here. A very good one. I''m one of the leaders of the Wildborn, and I have an offer that will benefit both our groups."


    Holden''s eyebrows jumped towards his hairline. "An offer? From a group in London?" Lily nodded. "Interesting¡­ And what''s your role in this, Leo?"


    "Hear us out, and you will see," he grinned. "Trust me, it''s a good one. And even then, I promise we will walk away if you don''t want to work with us."


    The Chief of Eden sighed. "I knew it was getting too peaceful lately... Alright, I will listen."

 Chapter 175. To lead

    "This is madness," Holden muttered, massaging his brow. "Ancient God? A group of religious zealots? A Wasteland on steroids in the middle of London? What''s next? A bloody dragon?"


    Leo blinked. "Huh. No, I haven''t seen one of those yet. Makes me wonder though..."


    "No, just no. Forget what I said," the chief of Eden shook his head. "Better tell me about that offer of yours. I can guess what you want, but let''s hear it."


    And so they did. Lily explained most of the stuff as she was the true representative of the Wildborn. Sometimes, though, Leo would elaborate on some stuff. After all, it was his plan to come here and try to combine the two groups.


    By the end of their explanation, Holden had his eyes on the open window, his brow furrowed. "It''s risky, very much so," he said. "I can see the advantage of working together, but what if this Payne and his people come here? We will get slaughtered, just like your group did."


    Lily grimaced, but before she could say something, Leo cut it. "It won''t happen. I won''t allow it. I fought him once to a draw, and he had the advantage during that fight. This time, I will be ready."


    "You can''t make promises like that," Holden growled. "You said it yourself; those people are unhinged. What''s stopping them from attacking us when you are away? Or just stalling you while they slaughter all of us who decided to follow the path of the Void?"


    Hard to argue with that. Leo sighed, understanding well how the other man felt. They were trying to force him into a situation that put everyone in Eden at risk. It was obvious he wouldn''t want to get involved.


    However...


    "You know this won''t last, right?" He looked up at the chief, his eyes cold as steel. "Right now, you are living in a bubble, in a city without almost any danger. But what about a week from now? A month? Payne might still come to Wolford one day, and it will be too late for you to do anything about that. He will be even stronger while you continue to fall behind."


    Holden narrowed his eyes, and he even felt Lily''s stare on the back of his head. He ignored them and continued. "I understand that what we''re asking for is dangerous, but isn''t everything nowadays? Yes, you''re right. I can''t promise you that everything will go according to my plan. What I can promise, though, is that I will do everything I can to see it come to fruition."


    "And," Lily quickly added, seeing Holden''s resolve crumble. "Don''t forget that as long as my brother here takes care of Payne, we should be able to hold off the others if we work hard enough. We''re no pushovers, and within a day or two, we can get your people up to speed to at least have a fighting chance."


    "Blood hell," the chief sighed. "You''re not giving me much of a choice, do you?"


    "I said my part," Leo stated. "If you tell us to walk away now, we will. You will never see us again."


    "Is that right?" Holden raised a tired eyebrow, looking at the only woman in the room.


    "It is. We''re not here to take over but to make an alliance," Lily nodded, plunging the room into silence with her words.


    For a minute, or maybe two, nobody spoke. It wasn''t until Tony stood up and stopped before the window with his back turned to them that the silence was broken.


    "I... I''ll work with you," he announced after a bit of hesitation. "However, I have my own conditions. I appreciate your offer to help us with the Graveyard and this Void Gate, but I need more."


    Yeah, we expected as much. He would have to be stupid not to want something else from us. Leo thought and gave his sister a nod.


    "We''re listening then," Lily smiled.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "First, the obvious thing. Leadership. If we are to combine or ally, it won''t be under one person. A council of three to five people should do well enough," Holden stated. "I want Frank and I to be in it."


    "That won''t be a problem. On our side, it''s only Malcolm and I. Unless you want in, Leo?"


    "Hell no," he snorted. "I can help you all if you need me to, but managing people is not for me. I will leave that to you."


    Lily nodded, turning back to Eden''s chief. "So that''s decided. What else?"


    "For now? Only one more condition. I can''t ensure my people''s safety from Payne when they are out there, but I can while they are here," Holden said firmly. "There is an upgrade available to all Safe Zones that won''t allow anyone not keyed in to pass through the barrier."


    Leo perked up. This was precisely what he had encountered when he tried to sneak into the safe zone around Buckingham Palace. He had thought that it was something related to the light affinity, but it seemed he was wrong.


    Good for us.


    "How much?" He asked.


    "Five thousand," both Lily and Tony said at the same time. His sister quickly elaborated. "After Payne destroyed their safe zone, Malcolm told me about this upgrade. He wanted to get it but never had enough Ether. We still don''t."


    "I do," Leo muttered with a grimace as he summoned his Ether count. Doing all those tasks paid off, I guess. Still five thousand? Shit.


    Ether: 8815


    "You do?" Lily''s eyebrows jumped up. "How?!"


    He shrugged. "I''ve been busy and don''t have an entire group to sustain. The only things I use it for are mutations and Limit Break."


    His sister crossed her arms, pretty much pouting. "Not fair."


    "Life never is," he shot back.


    "Right..." Holden muttered while looking between them. "Leo, are you really willing to give away so much Ether? We can cover a part of the price ourselves, but it won''t be a lot."


    Leo leaned back into his chair, mulling over the answer. Five thousand was a bunch, even for him. With this and the Cerevod for the Void Gate, he would be left with not even a thousand Ether remaining. It was still enough for Limit Break if needed, but not for much more.


    He sighed. "Let''s say I give you the Ether. Can this at least wait until we deal with the Graveyard? I''m pretty sure we will all get some nice rewards from that."


    Holden nodded. "That''s acceptable. I''m curious to see if your mad idea will work anyway."


    "Great!" Leo clapped his hands. "We got a deal then." He frowned suddenly. "Now that I think of it, shouldn''t you at least consult this alliance with Frank and the others?"


    "No need for that when I know their answers already," Holden ran a hand through his hair. "Frank isn''t happy with how slow we''re progressing. He, Clara, and that group you directed to us are already hunting outside Wolford, hoping to find something stronger. He will be ecstatic to hear we''re moving forward. I''m sure of it."


    As expected of Frank. He chuckled, only to freeze when he realized what Tony said. "Wait. Group? Those guys from the ice Wasteland came here after all?"


    The chief nodded. "Confused and a bit scared, but overall happy to find more survivors."


    "Huh. Honestly, I expected them to just ignore me. It feels good to be proved wrong."


    "We had to explain to them who you were. I hope you don''t mind."


    Leo shrugged. "Why would I? I''m just happy you got more people to help around here. They were quite strong back then."


    Holden smiled with a faraway look. "They were, and they still are. Only Frank is the same level as them. Training others became much easier after their arrival. Although," he grimaced, "their leader wasn''t the easiest person to deal with."


    Now I''m curious. To me, they all looked like scared dogs. Not that I can blame them, considering the circumstances.


    "Where are they?" Lily asked, returning to the conversation. "We will need at least twenty more people for the Graveyard. The faster we begin, the better."


    Holden scratched his chin. "They went out at dawn toward the new Ameist nest. I can send someone to get them while we prepare everything here."


    Lily nodded. "Please do that. We got a long day ahead of us."


    <hr>


    "I don''t know what''s more impressive, mate," Frank clapped him on the back as they marched through the city. "That you came back with almost ten levels more than the last time I saw you. Or the fact that we are going to blow up the bloody Graveyard in a few minutes. Got any more surprises?"


    Leo hummed as he glanced at the group of over twenty people behind them. All of them were dressed for war, even if he didn''t expect anyone other than him, Lily, and a few others to fight. At best, they were here to throw Ether flares.


    "I don''t know, maybe?" He grinned like a beast, looking back at the Fallen Human next to him.


    Frank narrowed his eyes. "I know that look, Hale. What is it?"


    For a moment, his mind went back to the massive shadow feline hiding on the rooftops, and his grin widened. "You will find out soon enough."

 Chapter 176. Gravedigger

    "And so here we are!" Frank exclaimed as they all stopped next to the Graveyard. "The day of reckoning is coming. Everyone prepare."


    Leo and a few others shot him a blank look. However, it was Clara who spoke up after slapping the back of the Fallen head. "Shut your trap, you overdramatic idiot. We''re not here to have fun."


    "Tough crowd," Frank huffed, massaging his neck. "I''m just trying to make you relax a bit. Ya all are stiff as a board. We''re going to blow up a place full of Nightmares. I don''t know ''bout you, but I''m excited."


    "Aye, we can see that," Clara muttered dryly. "We really ought to check if there isn''t a loose screw in your head."


    "Enough," Holden exclaimed, jumping onto a wrecked car. "People are watching. Stop acting like children and focus up. We have work to do. Hale, if you could?"


    Leo rolled his eyes at the use of his last name and joined Tony at the makeshift podium, ignoring the dozens of eyes following his every step.


    "I got twenty-two bombs that should be able to destroy enough of the Graveyard for it to at least partially collapse," he explained, addressing the gathered crowd. "Everyone here will be assigned a spot where you will activate the explosive and then escape to the agreed evacuation point. Remember, a single spark of Essence is all you need to activate the timer."


    With that said, he jumped off the car and stopped next to his sister.


    "You heard him," Holden took over again. "I don''t expect any of you to fight or even stay here if something goes wrong. Your job is only to activate the explosives. You can watch what happens next, but you do that only from a safe distance. You all know Dylan," he nodded to the mage in the back. "He is responsible for coordinating everyone at the evacuation point. What he says goes. If you disobey, you are on your own. Is that understood?"


    Some in the crowd inclined their heads while others shouted, ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Holden cracked a small smile. "Excellent! Now everybody, form a line and pick up your package from Clara. After that, we will slowly show you all to your assigned spot. Once that''s done, you are to wait for the agreed signal. There is no place for mistakes. If we fail here, the fate of Eden will be at risk. Remember why you are here. Good luck."


    The moment the chief stepped off the car, the entire group moved, slowly forming a line leading to Clara. The woman was already waiting with a bag in hand, ready to hand out Makeshift Crystallized Bombs to everyone.


    "Nice speech, Tony," Frank chuckled. "A bit too mild for my taste, but still good. Hopefully, none of those idiots will fuck this up."


    Next to him, Lily snorted. "That''s not a lot of faith in the people you are supposed to be leading."


    The Fallen just shrugged. "It''s not lack of faith, lass, just experience. I have met plenty of people who would have problems with even simpler tasks. That''s the human factor for you."


    "We didn''t choose just anyone for this, Frank. It will be fine," Holden stepped in before things could escalate.


    Not that they would. Leo had already noticed that Lily was having a blast bickering with the Fallen and Clara to some degree. He really should have known this would happen. The three of them had quite similar personalities.


    He shook his head and focused back on the conversation. "Everyone already got their Ether flares, yes?" He asked, just to make sure.


    Holden nodded. "Two for everyone. They know not to use them unless absolutely necessary."


    Good, very good. Leo thought and reached into his soul, summoning two items. The Zakorian Chestplate and the Spear of Endless Pain landed on the floor, alerting some people even outside their small gathering.


    He smiled. "Distribute those two between yourself. It isn''t much, but if you really want to stay close, you better be ready."


    Lily instantly raised her hands. "I won''t need any of that. I''m a range fighter."


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Holden and Frank looked at each other. "Well, I won''t say no to free stuff," the latter said and picked up the spear. "I needed another weapon anyway. Take the armor, Tony. You''re squishier than me."


    The chief hoisted up the dark chestplate, testing its weight. "Thank you, Leo. ThoughI hope it won''t see much use today."


    "Amen to that," Frank snorted, twirling the spear. "Come on, put it on, and let''s set up everyone around the mall. The longer we wait, the higher the chance of somebody blowing up themselves on accident."


    Holden sighed. "I hate it when you make sense..."


    <hr>


    "Everyone is in position," Clara announced as she climbed the building they were using as a vantage point. "The signal is all that remains."


    "Thank you," Holden said. "You can join Dylan at the evacuation site or stay here with us. It''s up to you."


    The woman grimaced. "Not that I don''t want to help, but Nightmares are way out of my pay grade. I''m gonna stay out of this mess this time. Good luck, you mad bastards. I will see you soon."


    Without another word, she jumped onto the nearest Vetilim web and ran away. They all watched her go for a moment, and when she disappeared behind another building, Frank spoke up.


    "So we doing it or what?"


    Leo quickly raised his hand. "Just one more thing. When, not if, when shit goes down, Lily and I won''t be the only ones on the front. I have another unconventional companion if I say so. Please look to the right."


    At once, Holden and Frank turned in said direction, their gaze drifting to a roof where Nyx''s shadowy form stood tall and proud. She watched them with her unique eyes, her three tails swishing behind her.


    "That''s..." The chief muttered.


    "A level thirty-one Apex Shadow Claw, yes," Leo nodded, giving them the story he and Nyx had prepared. "She has been with me for a few days now. She is intelligent, can communicate with me, and is completely loyal. You have nothing to worry about, and I just ask you not to attack her by mistake."


    "But how?!" Frank exclaimed, his eyes wide. "That''s a Voidling, for fuck''s sake."


    "It''s a long story. I will explain everything once we''re done here. We shouldn''t make everyone wait any longer."


    "Bloody hell, mate. You can''t drop something like this now and expect us to ignore it. Tony?"


    Holden shook his head. "It doesn''t matter. As long as it is here to help us, I don''t care. We should be happy Hale even introduced it to us first. At least now we can run damage control properly."


    Instantly, Leo could feel Nyx bristle at calling her an ''it,'' but for now, he didn''t correct them. He was already running out of goodwill with the two leaders of Eden. Explanations could wait. Still, he silently promised the feline to make it right later.


    "Lily?" He addressed his sister instead.


    "On it," she nodded and summoned a bow of golden fire to her hands. According to her, it was one of her class skills that eliminated the need for a traditional bow. "Ready? Last chance to call this off."


    "Nah," Frank grinned, his previous shock forgotten. "Let those monsters burn in hell."


    "More like in sunlight, but whatever," Lily shrugged as she notched a glowing arrow and aimed it at the sky.


    "Semantics, lass. Let it fly."


    "As you wish," she muttered and released the arrow.


    Once the projectile reached a point high above the Graveyard, it exploded in a shower of sparks. Instantly, the people on the streets moved, placing their activated explosives before running away as fast as their feet could carry them. In a matter of not even half a minute, nobody remained close to the mall.


    Twenty... Fifteen... Ten... Five... Three. Two. One. Boom.


    Not even a second after the countdown in his head finished, the earth rumbled as one big explosion claimed the Graveyard. Pained roars and screeches exploded all around, forcing the humans next to him to shield their ears.


    However, Leo just stood there, transfixed as he watched the Graveyard crumble piece by piece. Neither Vetilim nor Corcera could hold it together as the entire thing destabilized and slowly collapsed.


    Within a minute, only a massive pile of debris and the Void¡¯s living matter remained in the place of Wolford''s mall. Yet even then, the screeches didn''t stop. Instead, they became stronger and louder.


    Something is happening. Leo gulped as one particular earth-shaking roar made him shudder. And then the notifications came.


    Wolford''s Graveyard has been destroyed. The final defense mechanism has been activated. Awards will be distributed upon the Nest Mother''s death. Good luck, survivor. You will need it.


    "Tony, Frank," he muttered, watching the shaking remains of the Graveyard. "Run! Get everyone to the safe zone."


    "But..." The Fallen tried, only to be cut off.


    "Now!" Leo growled. "Whatever is coming. You''re not ready."


    Frank looked like he wanted to say something, but Holden stopped him with a glare, already dragging him away. "Good luck, you two!" The chief shouted. "Don''t die."


    As the tremors became stronger than ever, Leo chuckled. "We won''t." He turned to his sister. "You ready, Lily? Nyx?"


    ''Always been.''


    Lily spread her wings, her eyes narrowed. "Let''s end it."


    "That''s what I wanted to hear."

 Chapter 177. Run, child, run!

    "Whatever comes out, don''t attack right away," Leo quickly warned. "There is always a chance that it will just die after a minute or two in the Sun."


    Lily raised an eyebrow at him. "That''s pretty optimistic of you. Do you even believe that?"


    He snorted. "Nope. But at least give me enough time to scan it and read through Bestiary, okay? We''re not going in blind."


    His sister nodded while Nyx sent her agreement through their link. A moment later, another tremor traveled through the earth, forcing them all to steady their feet. For some reason, he doubted most buildings around them would survive the next few minutes.


    "Here it comes," Leo muttered as the debris in the middle of the ruined Graveyard exploded outwards. A high-pitched wail pierced the air next, almost bursting his eardrums. He winced and narrowed his eyes at the settling cloud of dust in the distance.


    Shit.


    Dozens of Collectors and Scouters flowed out into the open, their skin already covered in bubbling blisters as sunlight took away their strength. Then there were the few Phantoms that flew high into the air, only for their bodies to pop like a balloon after a few seconds.


    Yet, despite the many Nightmare Voidlings coming out, Leo didn''t care much for them. They were already dying after all, and in a minute, if even that, nothing would remain of them. No, what truly captured his attention was the thing that freed them from their prison.


    A giant millipede?


    At first glance, that was the only thing that came to his mind. However, aside from the long worm-like body and dozens of tiny legs, it didn''t really resemble the said arthropoid. For one, this beast''s skin looked more like dragon scales that glinted in the sunlight. And then, there was its head equipped with a mouth full of giant, razor-sharp teeth and three pairs of massive mandibles on each side.


    Indomitus Myrdrak (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D- | LVL: N/A | Type: Special, Armor, Lightning


    The what? What the hell does that name even mean? Leo growled as he spared the worm another glance. It still struggled to free the rest of its body from the debris, so he at least still had a bit more time to get more info.


    Bestiary.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Indomitus Myrdrak


    Expected Potential: E+ to D+


    Arsenal: Lightning, Mandibles


    Known weaknesses: Speed


    A special Nightmare-type Voidling usually designated as a nest mother. Indomitus Myrdrak evolution descends from lightning-void dragons that shed their wings and lost most of their power. They are still dangerous and can easily kill most enemies of the same rank. Despite being a Nightmare, they can resist sunlight much longer than their lesser kin thanks to their ancestry. Please note that their affinity is wild and uncontrollable; there is no pattern in its release.


    "I swear, I''m gonna kill Holden," he grumbled. "Fucker just had to jinx us."


    "Leo? What is it?" Lily shot him a concerned look.


    "It''s a dragon, or well, something related to dragons at least," he scowled. "It has a lightning affinity and scales strong enough to make them a problem. Sunlight won''t kill it as fast as other Nightmares. Hell, you can already see that for yourself."


    His sister nodded as she gazed down at the masses of Voidlings falling to the ground. Not even a minute had passed since they had emerged, and already, most of them lay in puddles of their own blood and liquified flesh.


    In contrast, the Myrdrak seemed undamaged as it continued to crawl out of the debris.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "So what''s the plan?" Lily asked. "Should we attack, or..."


    Leo shook his head. "No, we wait. The sun is still doing work, just much slower. As long as this fucking thing doesn''t go for Eden or us, we will stay out of sight and observe."


    His sister nodded but didn''t dismiss her bow. "We are killing it, right? That''s a lot of experience just lying around. It would be a pity to waste it."


    "We are, don''t worry. We just have to be pat- Fuck!"


    As the curse left his mouth, both he and Lily backed off as lightning bolts exploded across the entire area. They rained upon the earth, leaving scorch marks everywhere they hit. Not even the building they stood on was spared.


    "So it begins," he muttered as the storm stopped, and his eyes fell on the freed Myrdrak. With its entire body out of the debris, it was as long as three or maybe even four school buses.


    "It doesn''t know we are here," his sister whispered.


    And indeed, it didn''t. Despite its initial lightning attack, the Nightmare wasn''t trying to find the ones responsible for the collapse of the Graveyard. Instead, it ran around the mall''s ruins and devoured all its kin''s remains. It screeched between the bites, its voice probably echoing for miles.


    ''This can''t be good, Leo,'' Nyx stated just as she landed beside him. ''Look at its scales. It''s healing, buying itself more time. We need to do something.''


    No. He denied instantly. It can heal as much as it wants. Sunlight will kill it anyway if it remains in the open. We can''t step in unless it is weakened.


    ''We might not have a choice.''


    Just before Nyx said that, the Myrdrak paused its feast and rose its head high off the ground. Its massive mouth opened and closed several times, swallowing air in big gulps. A low hiss left its throat next, and with that, the beast was off, sprinting on its dozens of tiny legs right toward...


    "Leo! It''s going for the safe zone!"


    "I can see that!" He growled, Reinforcement already activating in his body. "Get into the air and hit it with everything you have. Throw fucking flares if you must. Just stop it from going there. We can''t let it catch up to the others. We will be right behind you."


    Lily didn''t need to hear more, and with a mighty leap, she spread her wings and flew off after the Myrdrak. He and Nyx followed, only they had to use rooftops and the Vetilim webs instead.


    They still managed to catch up with their superior Grace attribute. Shadows stirred around them and formed hundreds of sharp projectiles. They flew right for the massive Nightmare, joining Lily''s barrage of light from above. Only none of this did anything to its armor.


    "Come on, you bloody thing, turn!" Leo hissed, letting bloodlust fill his veins and activate Ruthless Efficiency. He ignored the initial stage and instantly pushed it into Blaze, welcoming the primal instincts with open arms.


    Essence stirred all over his right hand. The black and red affinity coalesced into a tight ball, ready to be released. His bloodlust sang in joy at the use of Ruination, and even he had fight back a grin as he threw the orb at the Nightmare.


    "Ignore that, you fuck!"


    The Void''s true power crashed into one of the many scales at the end of the beast''s body. It drilled right through, leaving exposed flesh in its wake. The Myrdrak screeched as it stopped, seeking the one who harmed it.


    And that''s my cue.


    With Reinforcement at full power and bloodlust climbing to new peaks, Leo dashed away just as the Nightmare''s body sparked with lightning, releasing a shockwave on the place he just vacated. He still risked a single peek over his shoulder to confirm that it was following him.


    "Now what!?" Lily screamed as she flew a bit closer to him.


    "Fuck if I know!" He shouted back. "This wasn''t in my plan! I didn''t expect it to sense the others and run right for them!"


    "But you damaged it! I saw the wound!"


    "That thing took over a tenth of my Essence," he explained and winced as the Myrdrak behind him collapsed another building by running right through it. "I play for time! You and Nyx can try to hit the spot I exposed. Go!"


    While his sister left immediately, the feline needed another nudge through their link to follow his plan. In the end, she knew there was nothing she could do for him. He just had to run as fast as possible and pray to the gods that none of the stray bolts of lightning would hit him.


    Hopefully, I can tank at least one of these. He thought, enveloping his entire body in a tight layer of shadows for good measure. Valron Protection also activated, spreading the dark green symbols across his arm.


    With his backup plan ready, Leo released a bit of his bloodlust. As much as he needed its power boost, he didn''t want to go into the Inferno stage by accident. Even with his newfound, almost perfect, control of Blaze, he doubted it would fully extend to the thing that made him lose his mind.


    I will leave it as a last resort. For now, my little friend, we''re going on a trip. Please buckle your seats and enjoy the sights. I know I won''t...

 Chapter 178. Not done yet

    Leo had no idea how long he had been running at this point. At first, he tried counting the seconds in his head, but with lightning trying to hit him from every side, this task proved a lot harder than he expected. And so, he put all his focus into moving his limbs, escaping from one corner of Wolford to another.


    Explosions echoed all around, some caused by the Myrdrak and others by Lily and Nyx, who used everything they could to damage the Nightmare''s skin. Yet, despite all of that, the beast remained mostly unharmed from their attacks. Its scales were just too tough, and if not for the constant sunlight, they would have stood no chance.


    This is such bullshit.


    Leo growled, jumping out of the way of another stray lightning. During his flight, he took a quick glance at the massive beast, scanning its molten scales that got worse with each second. If not for the Myrdrak getting slightly slower, he would have thought that even this damage didn''t matter.


    Nyx, how is it going with the spot I uncovered? He asked through their link.


    ''Well... it''s bleeding. Like a lot,'' the feline stated while providing him with an image of the crimson fountain sprouting out of the wound. ''There''s not much more we can do about it. Hitting it also isn''t easy. It¡¯s moving way too much... Do you think you can use Ruination on it again?''


    Leo frowned. Maybe? Can''t hurt to try. My Essence is mostly regenerated anyway. Just please, try to get Lily out of the way. I can''t promise my aim will be accurate with how things are going.


    ''Got it. Give me a moment. I will let you know when it''s clear.''


    With a nod, he let the Essence in his soul surge out again, transforming it into the Void''s true affinity. Each second, the output grew stronger, gathering a mass of red and black power along his arm. Unlike before, he didn''t craft it into an orb but a blade as long as a spear. It lacked any sharp edges, but Ruination didn''t really need them.


    ''You''re good to go, Leo. Be careful.''


    Even though he acknowledged Nyx''s signal, he didn''t give any response beyond a light tug on their link. Most of his focus remained on the dark spear in his hand while the rest waited for the perfect moment to strike, a moment that came in the form of another lightning bolt hoping to fry him alive.


    Not that it ever happened as Leo jumped high and spun in the air. He took a swing, aimed as best as he could in his current position, and threw the mass of Ruination at the Myrdrak slithering on the streets below.


    He hoped to hit its head, or more precisely, its wide open mouth. However, the Nightmare reacted in time and twisted out of the way, letting the spear sail past its head and strike the middle of its torso.


    The construct of Ruination went right through the damaged scales, burning them even further as it went deeper and deeper. Soon, the entire spear vanished from sight, but it wasn''t gone for long. Within a blink, its dark glow appeared on the other side as it shot out of Myrdrak''s body, leaving a gaping hole behind.


    The beast suddenly stopped its chase and let out a wailing cry that shook the entire earth. Sparks of lightning began to gather across its molten skin, growing in intensity with each second. Their color even changed, going from soft blue to dark purple.


    Then, as it lay in the middle of the street, the beast coiled around itself like a snake. Somehow, that action made the lightning even stronger as it slowly covered the Voidling''s entire body, almost hiding it from view.


    Uh, oh. This can''t be good. Nyx, if you two are close. Get the hell away from here!


    Leo didn''t wait for the feline''s answer and just ran in the opposite direction of the Myrdrak. It was a good decision, too, as a few seconds later, the world behind him exploded. The blast of air hit him mid-jump, sending him flying much further than he wanted.


    With his flight out of control, he faceplanted right into a wall, grimacing as he went right through it. Crack of bones echoed in his ears upon impact, letting him know just how bad the landing was.


    Ouch...


    ''Leo?! Are you alright?'' Nyx''s panicked voice reverberated through his head.


    He coughed, picking himself off the ground. Just peachy. Only a broken rib.. or three this time. I will be fine. What about you two?


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''We were far enough. The blast didn''t reach us.''


    Good. Good. He grimaced, leaning on the wall of the small room he had landed in. Can you take a look at what happened to the Myrdrak? I need a short breather.


    ''On it. Give us a second. I''m sending you the feed.''


    Right as she said that, the image in his right eye changed to what Nyx saw. She nudged Lily, who stood next to her, and then pointed towards the source of the explosion with her other tail. The woman nodded and followed after the feline.


    It didn''t take long for them to arrive at the site and when they did, Leo felt his shock combine with Nyx''s own.


    Everything within a certain radius from the Myrdrak''s position got pulverized to dust. Voidlings, buildings, Vetilim, or remnants of the old world were gone. Nothing aside from some debris remained.


    As for the monster that caused this?


    It still lay in the middle of it all, coiled around itself as sparks of lightning continued to flicker across its body. However, its scales were no longer molten from the sunlight. Now, they were all charred black, with violet glowing lines running in between them.


    Yeah, I was right. This can''t be good.


    Yet, despite the change to the Nightmare''s appearance and its renewed resistance to light, it refused to move from its position. Not even a single sound left the beast, and for a moment, Leo thought of asking Nyx to attack it from range, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He had to get there first before they tried anything.


    I will be there in a moment. Don''t move.


    <hr>


    "It''s like a statue," Lily commented as they all watched the frozen Myrdrak from a safe distance. "Maybe it died?"


    Leo shook his head. "Identify wouldn''t work if it did. There is something fishy going on here. The sun isn''t doing anything."


    "Anything new in Bestiary?"


    "No."


    A blanket of complete silence fell around them. They couldn''t even hear the Voidlings in the distance as those monsters also didn''t dare to make a sound. Leo wasn''t sure why that happened, but considering the events of the last hour, he had an idea.


    Suddenly, Nyx nudged him with her tail. ''What if you just obliterate its head? It should be easy to hit it now.''


    Leo furrowed his brow. It wasn''t like he didn''t think of this already. He just had no clue if destroying the Myrdrak''s head would even kill it. He had seen plenty of Voidlings that survived without it.


    "I think I''m gonna make a call first," he muttered, summoning the TEK transmitter into his hand.


    "Really? Now?" Lily said, raising an eyebrow. "Ah, whatever. Do what you want. I''m gonna sit down for a moment. My back is burning..."


    Leo snorted and proceeded to press the button on the transmitter. He quickly selected his only contact and waited for the call to connect.


    "Young Akirian?" The familiar voice of Naz''Tor came from the device. "Another call so fast? Is it about the Cerevod?"


    "Not yet. This is about some very recent development."


    "Of course... I''m listening."


    And that was how Leo found himself explaining his plan to destroy the Graveyard. Somewhere during the conversation, his sister managed to introduce herself to the merchant and add a cent or two of her own. If Naz''Tor was surprised about another person joining their call, he didn''t show it.


    "That''s certainly interesting," the merchant muttered. "I wish you told me about this plan before. I could have warned you about the possible outcomes."


    Leo shrugged. Hindsight was twenty-twenty, and he still didn''t trust Naz''Tor enough to reveal all of his secrets. Even now, he still had to hide Ruination''s involvement in this battle.


    "Does that mean you know what''s happening?"


    "Yes, I do," the merchant answered. "The Myrdrak''s last technique had a purpose. A last resort, if you want to call it something. Normally, it would fight until death, trying to take out the one who destroyed its home. However, sometimes, when a nest mother recognizes that its enemy is weak, it will use most of its power to create a domain around itself."


    Ignoring the unintentional dig at his power level, Leo furrowed his brow. "A what now?"


    "A domain is a barrier of sorts, or an extension of one''s power if you will," Naz''Tor elaborated. "Those have many uses, but in this case, the Myrdrak utilized it to temporarily block out the effects of sunlight and start the creation of another Nightmare Factory. It''s not a quick process, but unless you stop it, that''s what will happen."


    You got to be kidding me. We didn''t risk everything to just throw it all away. He scowled and asked. "How?"


    "What do you mean how? Just kill it. There''s no other way," the merchant chuckled. "You''ve managed to harm it somehow, so I''m sure you can finish the job. Just take care of yourself, young Akirian. I doubt you can one-shot it, so once the Myrdrak awakes, it will go into frenzy. The domain''s purpose will also change, but without being there, I can''t even guess what it will do. The best idea is to switch battlefield in this case."


    Leo sighed. "Great... What about sunlight? Will it start damaging the Myrdrak again?"


    "It will. Just remember that, as with all Nightmare nest mothers, it takes quite a bit for them to die just from that."


    "Yeah. I''ve noticed."


    "Excellent. Then there you have it!" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "Kill it and reap the rewards. I must be going now. Clients are waiting. Good luck, child."


    As the call disconnected, Leo looked at his two companions. "Well, you heard the nice tentacle alien. Who''s ready for round two?"

 Chapter 179. Storm of Death

    "Everyone''s recovered?" Leo asked as he stood up and raised an eyebrow at the duo beside him.


    Nyx just nodded while Lily stretched, popping her joints. "Yep. I''m as ready as I will ever be. Let''s get this over with."


    He smiled. "Follow me then."


    With that said, he jumped off their vantage point and dropped onto the street below. After a short walk, he stopped at the edge of Myrdrak''s domain¡ªright where the ground scorched by lightning began.


    Slowly, he extended his hand forward, pushing it past an invisible barrier. He stiffened as a tiny purple spark zipped across his claw, leaving goosebumps in its wake. A moment later, the same thing happened to the rest of his finger and then the entire limb.


    Weird. He frowned and motioned the others to follow after him as he stepped through. More sparks appeared in the air, some just flying past while others went right for them, lightly zapping their uncovered skin.


    ''That''s annoying,'' Nyx grumbled when most of the tiny bolts decided to choose her as a primary target. ''It''s not my fault I don''t wear clothes.''


    What? Do you want some? I''m sure we can figure something out later. Leo chuckled to which the feline just huffed and turned away, trying to swat away the sparks with her tail.


    "What''s wrong?" Lily asked, most likely noticing the short exchange between him and Nyx.


    "Nothing," he shook his head. "Just the big baby here is complaining about getting stung."


    "Really now? I guess she never had to deal with mosquitos," she shuddered. "I bloody hate those things. If there''s one good thing about this Outbreak, then it must be the total annihilation of that damned insect."


    Leo sighed. "And now you''ve jinxed us. I swear if I find a nest full of giant mosquitos within the next week, I won''t be responsible for my actions."


    Lily rolled her eyes at him. "Look who is overreacting now."


    "Whatever," he grumbled as they neared the center of the domain and with that, the frozen Myrdrak lying there. "Focus up. Time to get to work."


    "So what''s the plan?" His sister raised an eyebrow, and Nyx even tilted her head in question. "Your merchant friend''s advice wasn''t too helpful. You could have at least asked him where to hit this thing."


    Leo shrugged. "He told me I can''t kill it with one attack, so it probably doesn''t matter. I''m going to go for the head anyway. And that''s pretty much the plan."


    Lily crossed her arms. "And what about the two of us?" She pointed at herself and Nyx. "Don''t even think of leaving us out of this."


    "Didn''t plan to," he waved her off before nodding towards the Myrdrak''s head. "We will coordinate our attacks. Obviously, I will go first, with you, Lily, going second and Nyx third. At most, use fifty percent of your reserves for this, no more. We will need the rest to survive what comes after."


    ''Sounds reasonable,'' Nyx nodded. ''My affinity is the weakest among the three of us, but if you give me an opportunity, I can try the same thing you did with the Treant.''


    "Then we are in agreement. Lily?" He turned to his sister for the final confirmation.


    "Fine by me," she smiled, summoning her golden bow.


    "Then get your techniques ready and wait for my signal. Remember, you two need to strike right after me. There can''t be too much delay between our attacks... Also, one more thing. Stay far behind me. I want it to sense me first when it awakens. I''m the fastest between us."


    From the conflicted feelings in their link, Nyx didn''t like that idea too much, but she still inclined her head with Lily following in her steps. Leo breathed out a sigh of relief. An argument was the last thing they needed right now.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Alright, let''s get to it.


    While his two companions took a position far away from the frozen Myrdrak to prepare their techniques, he did the opposite. With a few jumps, he landed on the beast''s coiled body, just a few feet away from its head. It didn''t even acknowledge his presence, and so he got to work.


    Half of my Essence. If that''s not enough to blow up its head then I don''t know what is.


    He clasped his hands and let the energy flow around them. Ever so slowly, he separated his palms, watching as an orb of bubbling energy grew between them. In addition to the usual black and red, now some purple also swirled within the technique.


    Leo grinned as the bloodlust in his veins howled in anticipation. The Blaze stage of Ruthless Efficiency activated once more; this time, he couldn''t even feel the primal instincts trying to take over his mind. They worked together with him, helping to shape the mass of Essence that now grew bigger than his head.


    Finally, as the reserves in his soul became half empty, he cut off the flow of energy. He then palmed the giant orb of Ruination and sunk his claws into it. For once, he had no idea what he was even doing, but this just seemed right for some reason.


    I think that''s it. He noted with his hands now burried deep in the technique. "Ready?" He shouted, not taking his eyes off the target.


    ''Yes.''


    "Aye, aye!"


    "Good! Release your techniques the moment my own runs out. Don''t worry about me. I will get out of the way. Just don''t miss."


    With that said, Leo took a deep breath, and with minimal movement, he changed his stance, sinking the short, curled talons on his feet into the Myrdrak''s charred scales. Then, he took aim and pushed a single spark of Essence into his waiting technique.


    At once, the orb exploded outwards, releasing a massive beam of Ruination at the Myrdrak''s head. It devoured everything in its way, obliterating the mouth and the multiple mandibles.


    He wanted to hold the technique for a bit longer, but just then, a tremor went through the beast''s body, and he took it as a sign to get off. He stopped the technique just a moment before it could run out of power and jumped back just in time to avoid a massive golden arrow that almost burned his skin with its intensity alone.


    The earth shook once more as the projectile connected with the Myrdrak''s massacred head. The explosion didn''t even get time to settle before a mass of shadows slithered up the beast''s body and enveloped what remained after Leo''s and Lily''s attack.


    It took barely a blink for dozens of shadow spikes to erupt from within the Myrdrak. Not even its tough scales could protect it this time.


    And yet, none of that was enough. Despite missing its entire head and sporting multiple holes in its body, the Nightmare uncoiled and let out a gurgling screech that shouldn''t have been possible in its current state.


    At the same time, the air around him changed as it filled with more and more violet sparks. Leo quickly surrounded his body in shadows and a layer of pure Essence while ordering his companions to back off even further.


    However, the expected discharge never came. Instead, the sparks surged higher, forming a tall pillar right above the Myrdrak. The top flashed once, then twice, before expanding outwards, enveloping a part of the battlefield in a half-dome barrier made of purple lightning.


    "Shit," Leo cursed when he noticed that he was now trapped with the Nightmare in a cage without an exit. The notification that came next only confirmed that.


    Domain trap activated: Storm of Death.


    The Indomitus Myrdrak is challenging you to a death match. May the best Voidborn win.


    Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me! A fucking death match? What the hell, Naz''Tor? Couldn''t have warned me about that!?


    "Leo! What''s going on!?" A muffled shout came from beyond the barrier.


    Without taking his eyes off the wounded Myrdrak, he backed off until he was only a few steps away from the storm barrier. "Its domain became a trap. None of us can leave as long as the other lives!"


    "Can''t you make a hole with Ruination?" This time, Lily''s voice was clear as day. "Come on, you can''t fight it alone!"


    "I know!" He growled, already summoning the Void affinity and flinging it at the lightning wall between him and his sister. The attack went right through, but before he could even move toward the hole, it mended itself.


    "Shit!" He spat and rolled away just in time to avoid a bolt of lightning that struck his previous position. It didn''t end there as a second later, an entire storm descended on him, biting at his heel.


    Storm of Death, indeed.


    To make it worse, the Myrdrak finally tired of waiting and joined the fight. Leo reignited Reinforcement and even activated Limit Break at one hundred percent as he ran for his life. He dived out of the way of stray lightning before flipping over the Nightmare''s massive body as it tried to smash him into a paste.


    "Nyx, Lily!" He shouted, never stopping moving. "Find a way to destroy this damned barrier. I will play for time."


    ''We will do our best. Hold on there, Leo. Don''t you dare to die now!'' Nyx growled in his head. ''We will get you out of there.''


    I know. I''m counting on you.

 Chapter 180. Burn

    Lily absolutely hated this.


    She and the massive Void cat next to her tried everything to put a hole in the damned lightning barrier. Only nothing worked. Unlike Leo with his Ruination, they couldn''t even force it to regenerate, as their attacks were just too weak.


    The barrier consumed every single thing they threw at it and then returned fire with a bolt of lightning on its own. Nyx had already been hit once and was walking with a limp; Lily didn''t want the same thing happening to her.


    "Why isn''t it working?!" She growled, flinging another arrow of light at the barrier. Not that it did anything. "Please. Anything..."


    A lone tear slid down her cheek as she collapsed to her knees. This couldn''t be happening, not again. Leo had just come back to her; she couldn''t lose him. No, she wouldn''t lose him.


    Lily gulped and wiped her face, standing up on shaky feet. Slowly, she raised her bow and opened the floodgates in her soul, letting everything out. She also pushed Limit Break to its maximum as a glowing, burning arrow formed in her hand.


    She put everything into this creation¡ªher power, feelings, dreams, and needs. She had never felt emptier as the projectile grew and became brighter than anything she had ever created. Not that she cared about herself at this moment. Her brother''s survival was the only thing that mattered.


    "Light: Death of the Morningstar."


    With those muttered words, Lily let the arrow fly. A shockwave pushed her a few steps back, but her eyes never left her technique as it crashed right into the barrier. The wall of lightning glowed brighter at the point of impact, yet after a moment of struggle, a hole opened in it, slowly letting the arrow through.


    Her eyes widened, the hope in her chest suddenly burning brighter. Only it was all for naught.


    The barrier flashed once, and dozens of bolts struck her technique, disintegrating it upon touch. The tiny hole left behind also patched itself with the blink of an eye.


    "No," she mumbled as her legs gave up on her. Yet before she could collapse, shadows enveloped her torso and dragged her back, placing her right next to Nyx.


    The feline looked down at her, and Lily flinched at the emptiness within those colorful eyes.


    "We failed," she admitted, fighting back the tears. "We had only one job, and we failed."


    The shadows around her tightened as if trying to convey something Nyx couldn''t say. And Lily somehow understood. She had no idea how, but she just did.


    ''Have hope.''


    "Do you?" She asked, looking into the feline''s empty eyes once more. "Because I think I ran out of it some time ago."


    The shadow tails tightened around her again as Nyx nodded, a bit of light coming back to the Voidling''s gaze. She then motioned towards the barrier or rather to the battle behind it, and Lily followed, watching her brother dodge everything that tried to stop him.


    "Tell him we can''t help," she muttered with a heavy heart. "Tell him we tried. Tell him he has to do it alone. Tell him we believe in him... We will be waiting."


    At this, Nyx offered her what seemed like a feline equivalent of a smile and closed her eyes. In the meantime, Lily turned her gaze back to the battlefield, only to freeze when suddenly Leo looked in her direction and grinned. The exchange took not even a second, but it was enough for her.


    I believe in you, brother. Fight. It''s weak now. You can do this.


    And then, the shadows came.


    <hr>


    At this point, Leo honestly wasn''t even surprised by the stuff happening around him. Almost at every step of his journey in this new world, the universe or maybe the System wanted to test him.


    As such, when Nyx told him there might be nothing she and Lily could do to get him out, he didn''t even complain. He accepted that he was most likely on his own and only ordered Limit Break to activate at full power.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    He glanced at the Myrdrak chasing him and grimaced. Even though the sunlight continued to burn the beast, only its exposed skin was getting damaged. The scorched scales somehow still resisted and showed no signs of falling off anytime soon. Or so it seemed.


    If this continues, it will take hours before the sun eats it alive. Fucking great. The domain is probably still protecting it to some degree.


    Right after he thought that, his link with Nyx opened once more. This time, the feline didn''t try to fill his mind with empty words and just passed on Lily''s message. This was it, the final confirmation he needed. Nobody was coming to save him.


    I will be fine. He vowed and, for a second, looked towards his sister, shooting her a small grin. But you two need to get away. When I kill this thing, you can''t be anywhere near me.


    ''Leo... you don''t mean...''


    I do. This is the perfect time to use it. Even with the second stage active, I''m still me. I need to know if there''s a way to control it at max power.


    ''I... so be it,'' Nyx muttered. ''Just please keep the link open. Let me help. It''s my job after all.''


    I will. He promised and focused on the growing bloodlust in his veins.


    Until now, he had been holding it back, stopping it from advancing Ruthless Efficiency to its final stage. No more. The time had come to unleash the inferno again, only today, Leo wouldn''t let his instincts take over and take away his freedom.


    Let''s do it.


    Instantly, murderous rage crashed into his mind, followed by an insatiable hunger. Together, along with bloodlust, they fought him for control, trying to strip his consciousness away.


    Leo didn''t let them.


    With Nyx''s limited assistance, he grabbed onto the waves of those emotions and spread them across his entire being. It was a true struggle, a war within his own head, yet, ever so slowly, the inferno gave in, partially leaving his mind in agreement to work together...


    Power, one he had never felt before, filled him as the final stage of Ruthless Efficiency activated. His sight darkened, changing from the colorful palette to shades of grey. The remaining Essence in his soul stirred, its steady flow becoming wild and erratic.


    At once, Leo stopped and roared as if uncaring of the massive Nightmare closing in on his position. The earth shook, and then the shadows came.


    They slithered across the entire battlefield¡ªsome even coming from the underground¡ªand glued themselves to his body. He felt his soul and bloodlust corresponding, molding the shadows into armor that grew bigger and bigger.


    Carried by his instincts, Leo didn''t move until the last possible moment of the Myrdrak''s descent on his position. Nyx''s screams didn''t even register in his mind as he waited and waited, gathering more shadows with each millisecond.


    "Now," he muttered and jumped high just before the Nightmare could crush him into a paste. "Shadow: Manifestation."


    Blades surrounded in red glow sprouted along his new massive arms while dozens of spiked tendrils escaped from his back. Leo roared when he reached the apex of his jump and flipped, his eyes once more on the Myrdrak below him.


    Bolts of lightning tried to change his trajectory, but his thick armor of shadows took it all, uncaring of the damage that patched itself within seconds. He and his instincts cared for only one thing.


    Their unending hunger that had to be satiated.


    His blades struck at the charred scales, slicing them apart with only a bit of struggle. His uncountable shadow tendrils rushed into the open wounds, sinking into the burning flesh and devouring the Essence within.


    It didn''t stop there as he continued to dance atop the Myrdrak''s body, cutting and slicing at everything in his sight. However, the Nightmare let out another gurgled howl as lightning spread over its scales, finally forcing Leo to abandon his position.


    Yet, the quick escape didn''t save him from the following discharge.


    A wave of purple lightning hit him head-on, disintegrating a good chunk of his shadow armor. To make it worse, it knocked him off course, right into the barrier that devoured another large part of his Manifestation.


    Leo hissed as the power of Ruthless Efficiency flickered, the bloodlust in his veins almost dying out. He didn''t allow it and pushed his own rage, hurt, and hunger into the skill, slowly reigniting the inferno.


    With a growl, he jumped right back in, sliding beneath the Myrdrak and cutting a deep gash along its stomach. He even slashed off one of its many legs in the process, earning another shriek from the beast that soon retaliated with more lightning.


    The battle continued. Yet the longer it went, the more obvious it became that the Nightmare was far from full strength. The chase through the city, the activation of a domain, and then the forced awakening drained the beast out of most of its power, leaving it barely standing.


    As for Leo?


    He tuned out the rest of the world, letting the bloodlust and hunger claim his mind as he dashed around the battlefield like a maniac. His shadow form grew larger with every scored hit, only for a part of it to be blasted away by a stray bolt of lightning. Not that he cared about that.


    In his mind, only the death of the giant worm mattered, and nothing could stop him from achieving this goal.


    "Die!" Leo roared as he swung at the Myrdrak, which couldn''t even move at this point.


    The shadows on his arms blended into one, forming a massive blade that glinted in the sunlight. It cut right through the middle of the Nightmare''s remaining body, separating it into two parts.


    This time, the beast didn''t let out a single sound.

 Chapter 181. Still Here

    The all-consuming rage and hunger didn''t end with Myrdrak''s death, far from it. The bloodlust still ran wild in his veins, wanting more death, more blood spilled on the ground. It begged and screamed as the lightning barrier around the battlefield collapsed, and Leo could do nothing to deny it, nor did he want to.


    Hundreds of shadow tendrils exploded out of his body, all of them flying right for the two parts of the dead Nightmare. They sunk into the still-warm flesh, devouring the remaining strength in the massive corpse.


    As the Myrdrak slowly turned to dust, the shadows around Leo''s body grew in size until he was almost twice as large as an average Collector. The reserves in his soul also filled up within seconds while the few scrapes and cuts underneath the thick armor healed and disappeared as if they were never there.


    The feeding didn''t stop there. Even when his soul couldn''t take any more Essence, his relentless hunger continued to feast. It took everything it could from the dead Nightmare until nothing but dust remained on the ground.


    Devour consumed: +5 Might, +5 Vision, +8 Soul.


    The System notification came and went, barely registering in his mind as Inferno still burned bright in his veins, begging for more food. He looked up at the sky and opened his massive shadow jaw, releasing a roar that shook the earth.


    Then, with a quick glance at the empty battlefield, he was off, sprinting on all fours toward the largest source of life nearby. How did his senses even manage to find it? He had no idea. Not that the question remained in his mind for longer than a short moment before getting overwhelmed by hunger.


    Within a few seconds of running and jumping, Leo landed on a street full of Voidlings. They didn''t even get a chance to blink before he pounced, tearing everything in sight to shreds. Blades, arrows, spears, and tendrils of shadows filled the area, assisting in the one-sided massacre.


    Of course, it didn''t end on one street, two, three, or even seven. He continued to make his way through the city, slaughtering and devouring anything that moved. Not even the Voidlings in the air survived as his shadows chased them like heat-seeking missiles.


    Sometime during his search for food, his senses caught onto a particular Essence signature, one he recognized even with his mind almost consumed by bloodlust. It awoke more of his consciousness from its primal trance, and with some effort, he managed to steer his instincts away from the humans close by.


    That was how he found himself almost out of Wolford, with the overwhelming thirst and hunger fading away. The massive shadow shell around his body also disappeared, returning him to normal size as he collapsed to his knees, his heart hammering in his chest.


    Holy shit. Leo coughed, blinking away the blurriness from his eyes. That was something. And I remember it all...


    While he was far from in control during the Inferno stage of Ruthless Efficiency, the skill didn''t get rid of him this time. Instead, it synchronized with him, letting him have some input into the following battle with the Myrdrak and the hunt afterward.


    It was far from perfect, but at least he was making progress.


    "And the things it taught me," he muttered, looking down at his hands. "Manifestation, huh? So that''s how I survived the Void Storm. I wonder..."


    Just as he was about to summon shadows out of his soul, a voice shouted into his mind.


    ''Leo! Are you still here? Answer, please!"


    He grimaced at the pleading tone and quickly cut off the flow of Essence. "I''m here, whole and healthy," he said. "Ruthless Efficiency is offline. It worked. Not as well as I wished, but not as bad as I feared."


    ''Are you sure? Last time, you could barely walk. Do you need us to pick you up? Where are you?''


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leo chuckled as Nyx fired off her questions. "Yeah, like I said, I''m good. Maybe a bit tired. As for where I am?" He looked around the empty street with only a few houses running along it. "I''m back where it all began. Kinda ironic."


    ''Oh... Don''t go anywhere far. We will be there in a few minutes.''


    "Got it," he nodded to no one in particular. "No need to hurry. I''m just gonna take a look around here."


    With that, he closed their link and looked up at the house standing before him. Like everything else, it had succumbed to the Void''s touch, but it didn''t mean he couldn''t recognize it. In the end, this was still his home.


    "Why bring me here?" Leo mumbled, approaching the broken entrance door. "Is it a coincidence or..."


    He slipped inside, and instead of relying on his night vision, he summoned a large orb of light above his palm. A familiar, long corridor greeted him first, but he continued onward right into his old living room.


    Despite everything, this place didn''t change much. Aside from some Vetilim here and there, the destroyed furniture, and a few cracks in the walls, it was still the same room he had lived in for a long time. Even one of the pictures on the wall survived the test of time. How it avoided all of the Void''s matter was anyone''s guess, but somehow it did.


    "Never thought I would come back here," Leo sighed as he stopped in the exact spot where he had killed his first Voidling. "Hello, father... I hope it''s better on your side."


    There was no one there; not even the dust from the corpse remained, but as he stood there, he remembered it all. The first day, the struggle to accept the new reality, the fear gripping his chest during every waking hour, he saw it all.


    "Man... And it''s been only what? Three weeks? Four?" He shook his head. "I don''t even know at this point. So much has changed. I changed..."


    With a hollow chuckle, Leo dropped on the remnants of his good old couch. The Vetilim growing along it made the landing a bit rough, but he didn''t mind too much. He just closed his eyes and leaned back, enjoying the short break.


    "Why here?" He couldn''t help but ask again.


    It definitely wasn''t his conscious decision to return home; his primal instincts and Ruthless Efficiency did all of that. Was he supposed to find or do something here? He really had no idea.


    I only forced it to go away from Lily''s signature. Did my subconsciousness somehow connect my desire to protect her with this place? Is it even important?


    He let out a deep sigh, pushing those thoughts out of his head. The inner workings of his instincts would have to remain a mystery for now. Trying to guess the truth wasn''t helping him with anything.


    I have better things to do. System, hit me wit-


    "Leo!" A scream suddenly echoed through the empty house, stopping him from finishing his order. "Where are you?!"


    "Here!" He shouted back, only not quite so loud as the other person. "No need to scream, Lily."


    "Leo!"


    As the woman rushed into the living room, she dived right for him, enveloping him in a tight hug. He returned the embrace with a chuckle, nodding at Nyx, who also entered the house.


    "I''m fine, see?" He muttered to his sister.


    "You prat," she punched his shoulder. "I was so worried. Why did you tell us to run away? We could have fought it together."


    "I''m sorry." Leo shook his head as a sad smile claimed his lips. "I had no idea what would happen. For all we know, it could have killed us instead of activating the barrier. It was the right call."


    "I know, but..." Lily trailed off as she broke their embrace. "I thought I lost you. Again."


    He placed his hands on the woman''s shoulders and looked her right in the eyes. "Hey, listen. I''m not dying anytime soon. Nick would kick my ass if I left you in this hell. So remember, no matter what happens, what stands in my way, I will come back. And until I do, you must survive, always." He shot her a grin. "What was that you once said to me? Oh, right, ''Side by side, siblings through thick and thin.''"


    Even with tears gathering in her eyes, Lily snorted. "Of course you would remind me of this now. Not the best of my moments. I think I was trying my hand at poetry back then."


    Leo chuckled. "I thought it was nice... and funny."


    "And awkward," she huffed, sitting down next to him. "God, I was so embarrassed for days. I should punch you again for bringing it up."


    He shrugged. "You''re not crying anymore, so I call it a win."


    "I guess so," Lily grumbled before taking a look around them. "So... this house. Why here?"


    Leo almost laughed. He had just asked himself the same question a few minutes ago.


    "No idea. Maybe my instincts wanted to bring me somewhere I was familiar with. Could be anything really."


    His sister hummed. "And this is where..."


    "Yep."


    "Oh."


    "Yep."

 Chapter 182. The stage is set

    "Do you regret it?" Lily asked out of nowhere after a moment of silence.


    Leo furrowed his brow. "What?"


    "Edward," she elaborated. "Do you still regret how you''ve never managed to fix things up with him? Maybe that''s why your skill led you here. To get some sort of closure?"


    He sighed as his gaze drifted to the spot where his father''s husk had died. Could it really be that? No, he didn''t think so. The regret was still there, buried deep within his mind, but it wasn''t anything major. For the most part, he had already accepted that his issue with Edward would forever remain unsolved.


    "That''s not it." He shook his head. "I am far past the point of caring about that. What happened, happened. Got to accept it and live with it."


    "That''s... very mature of you." Lily chuckled.


    "Don''t act so surprised," Leo grumbled, shooting her a light glare. "With everything that''s happening thanks to the Outbreak, holding onto regrets like this seems..."


    "Pointless?" His sister offered.


    "Yeah, pretty much."


    "Huh. You really have changed. You finally stopped being a crybaby. I''m so proud," she snickered.


    "Piss off," he flipped her off. "Void, I forgot how annoying you are."


    "Rude."


    "But accurate," he shot back.


    "Whatever," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Have you checked your notifications yet?"


    Leo shook his head. "No. You?"


    "Nah. I was too worried about you to care what the System had to say. I just know that the Myrdrak is definitely dead. Kinda makes me wonder if only we three got that notification or if the others did too."


    "Your guess is as good as mine. We will see once we get back," he shrugged. "Though now that you mentioned it, we should really check those notifications. It''s best not to make them wait too long. Trust me on that."


    Lily nodded, and her eyes glazed over as if she were looking at something that wasn''t even there. Leo followed in her steps and summoned System''s interference. The sheer amount of notifications was staggering.


    Indomitus Myrdrak (LVL: 48) slain | Experience awarded | 742 Ether gained


    No surprises there; Lily had already told him about this notification. Although, he didn''t expect so much Ether for a single kill. And the less said about the Nightmare''s level, the better. He didn''t even want to imagine fighting this thing during the night.


    Next.


    Congratulations! Wolford Graveyard has officially fallen. Distribution of bonus rewards and experience to all contributors in progress. Survivor reward: +5 to all Limit Break attributes.


    This was the only confirmation Leo needed to let out a sigh of relief. If the System acknowledged the Graveyard''s destruction, then the Void could do nothing about it. The boost to Limit Break was also welcome.


    Multiple enemies slain | Bonus Experience awarded | 173 Ether gained


    Ah. He grimaced, knowing well where this came from. Even the System didn''t bother counting how many Voidling he had killed once the lightning domain dropped.


    Not even two hundred Ether. Damn. Monsters here really are weak. It''s a miracle I even got that much.


    The Inferno has quenched its hunger. Stages two and three of Ruthless Efficiency are now dormant. Expected recovery time: 12 Hours.


    This is yet another message he had expected, but at least this time, his most powerful skill wasn''t completely offline. Besides, waiting half a day to regain full functionality was nothing in the long run.


    Technique Shadow: Manifestation obtained.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Now we''re talking. Leo smiled. I have an idea how to activate it, but some more info is always welcome.


    Shadow: Manifestation (Novice)


    The pinnacle of shadow control. This technique allows the User to manifest a part of their soul in the real world. When activated, control over shadows becomes much easier, and other techniques require less Essence to form. Additionally, the armor created by Manifestation is in the User''s complete control and acts as an extension of their bodies.


    Leo blinked just to make sure he had read it right. Yet, the text didn''t change. Some would say he was overreacting, but despite thinking he knew how to use this technique again, he had no idea it dragged his soul out in the open.


    How? Essence is one thing, but a literal part of my soul? Damn, you really learn something new every day.


    He sighed, dropping the issue for now. He could figure out how Manifestation worked later. There were still quite a few notifications waiting for him.


    Distribution of bonus experience for destroying the Wolford Graveyard has been completed. 3000 Ether awarded. Please select your additional reward.


    After that came a long list of items, all of them of at least rare quality, with quite a few epic ones. Weapons, armor, tools, even some materials, the System had it all. To be honest, the longer he looked at the large selection, the harder the decision became.


    Is this how some people feel when they go shopping?


    Weapons were out right away. He had his body and Blades of Chained Inferno for fighting. He quickly checked all of the materials and didn''t find anything useful; that was stuff for people with crafting jobs. Tools fell under the same category; they were useless to him. And so only armor and clothes remained.


    Leo looked down at his body and nodded.


    Might as well.


    Pants of Protective Comfort (Epic):


    A very simple pair of pants made of high-quality cotton-like material. They are heavily enchanted to fit every User, no matter the modifications, and repair when damaged. They offer moderate protection from fire and physical attacks. Additionally, they can be adjusted to the User''s wishes, be it length, color, or shape.


    While some would say it was a weird reward for destroying a Nightmare nest, Leo really needed those pants. The scrapes of cloth around his waist threatened to fall off with every step, and he really didn''t want to be running around stark naked. Being topless was one thing; having his ass and balls in the open was another.


    I still have some decency left. He thought, confirming his choice. The list disappeared, and almost instantly, he felt something appear in his soul. He left the item there for now and moved on to another notification.


    You have reached level 35. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.


    The Evolution menu has been unlocked again. Warning! You may evolve now and obtain the remaining experience afterward or postpone the process and receive your levels at this moment. This is a one-time offer. Time limit: 15 minutes.


    Leo''s eyes widened. He knew that with level thirty-five, the option to evolve would come back. However, he never expected to be given such a choice from the get-go. It really put into question just how many more levels he got from killing the Myrdrak and destroying the Graveyard.


    Shit. Would be nice to know if I have to evolve even if I don''t like my current choices.


    You don''t. You may cancel your choice if the offered evolutions aren''t good enough. Be warned that if you choose to proceed, the process might take up to two hours.


    Huh, thanks. He nodded, only to freeze as realization hit him. Hold the fuck up! System, you answered! Did I hit some milestone that unlocked your assistance?


    Yet this time, the entity remained silent, almost as if Leo had used all his goodwill with that one question. And maybe that was the case; nobody could really know for sure.


    Back to normal, I see. He grumbled, glancing at the ticking timer. The choice seemed like a no-brainer now. He could check out his options and still postpone the evolution if he didn''t like them. It was a win-win situation.


    Just gotta do something first. He noted, nudging Lily with a claw. "Got a moment? It''s important."


    His sister''s eyes once more focused on the world in front of her as she quirked an eyebrow. "What is it?"


    Not wasting any more time, Leo quickly explained what happened, skipping over the System''s weird behavior. They could talk about that another day.


    "I don''t see why you shouldn''t at least check it out," Lily said once he finished speaking. "We can spare two hours if necessary. Just warn us if you decide to do it, okay?"


    He nodded and turned to Nyx. "What do you think?"


    The feline shrugged. ''What she said. The System is offering to make you stronger than you would be otherwise. Don''t look the gift horse in the mouth.''


    Leo grinned. "Look at you, using human sayings."


    Nyx huffed. ''Some of them are interesting, and you have way too many of them in your head. Now make your choice. Stop wasting time.''


    Yes, mother. He rolled his eyes and gave the System his final decision.


    Acknowledged.


    Loading the User''s Evolution menu... Scanning memories and achievements... Analyzing the Three Pillars... Searching for fusions and advancements... Adapting mutations and affinities... Optimizing and tuning possible evolutions to their limit...


    Welcome back, Leo Hale. Stage III is waiting.

 Chapter 183. Two paths

    Displaying the most advanced possible evolutions. Select one of the paths to display a description. Please take notice of the current evolutionary tier. Unless the tier is maxed out, the evolution can still become stronger.


    Two Worlds (Evolutionary tier: 2 out of 3) | The Legacy of Primes (Evolutionary tier: Maximum)


    Okay... Now that''s new. Where are the good old requirements? Leo blinked, carefully reading the entire thing once more.


    The confusion must have shown on his face as Lily poked him with a finger. "What''s up? Bad evolutions?"


    He shook his head, sparing the woman a glance before his gaze went back to the notification. "Not that. The menu is just completely different from the last time. No requirements, just two choices."


    "Huh," Lily hummed. "Are they at least good?"


    "No idea yet. Give me a minute to check." With that, he selected the first option, watching as lines of text spread across his vision.


    Void Angel (Stage III)


    The Heavens know no bounds, and the Void corruption never stops. The dark might have claimed your soul, but it''s never too late to balance the scales. Step into the light, young Akirian; shed your darkness and become a beacon of hope for others.


    Effects:


    Void-borne evolves into Two-Worlder. Low-end Akirian Physiology changes into Nephilim Endurance. True Affinity: Shadow changes into Minor True Affinity: Shadowed Light. Physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +15%. Additional Might and Mind effectiveness: +10%. +5 Might, +3 Grace, +3 Vision, +4 Soul, +5 Mind, +2 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked.


    Holy fuck. Leo gaped at the sheer amount of stuff written in the effect section. This evolution wanted to change pretty much everything about him. It sounded like it would take away his status as an Akirian and make him into some weird combination of a Voidling and those Emissaries from London.


    So, that''s pretty much what Lily is now. Why offer me this? I have Nikra''s shard in my chest and can already use Void''s true affinity. This doesn''t make any sense.


    Yet, the more he thought about it, the more he realized how wrong he was. One, his sister already walked this path, so the System might have decided to offer something similar. Two, he had already fought the Emissaries twice and devoured one of their corpses. And finally, three, Geron might have interfered again, trying to get him on the Old One''s side with this evolution.


    All of those points made even more sense once he read the short addition below the description.


    To advance this evolution to its final tier, the User must kill and devour Michael Payne.


    A message like that should have denied Geron''s involvement, but then again, did it really? Even with the little he knew about the Old One''s personality, Leo still didn''t doubt that the god could want him to take Payne''s place, and this was just a test. Once he explained this to Lily and Nyx, they agreed with him right away.


    ''Geron would do that,'' the feline stated without hesitation. ''He was always a manipulative bastard, even before he and Nikra had the fallout. There wasn''t much he wouldn''t do to reach his goals¡­ Not that the other Old Ones were much better, but the point stands.''


    After Leo repeated her thoughts out loud, Lily clicked her tongue. "Payne couldn''t kill you on the first try, so Geron decided to let you two battle it out. You live, and he gets an even more powerful minion with a shard of another Old One. Payne kills you, and they still get the shard while eliminating a potential problem. Either way, Geron wins if you go for this evolution."


    "Which is why I won''t," he growled. "I''m not letting that fucker anywhere near my head."


    ''There is still a possibility that Geron isn''t involved at all, and we''re just overreacting,'' Nyx pointed out.


    "It''s still too risky. Maybe if Nikra was still with us she could..." Leo shook his head. "No, not even then. I''m not taking it, and that''s the end of the story."


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Fine by me," Lily shrugged before her eyes narrowed. "Is it at least strong? If it''s a hybrid evolution, I might get something similar later on."


    He frowned and went back to the effects, checking them quickly, one after another. "I mean, it''s not bad. The Two-Worlder trait is quite a bit better than my current one when it comes to Limit Break. Though Nephilim Endurance is almost weaker than what I have. And well, Shadowed Light might sound interesting, but it''s still a minor affinity."


    "Any idea what it does?"


    "No. The description might as well be empty," he explained, dismissing all the System messages. "Still, don''t get me wrong. The evo is good, just not for me."


    Lily snorted. "Of course not. You''re too ahead of the curve for something like this to be enough. I wouldn''t be surprised if your current evolution could match some of the Stage three ones."


    "Yeah, I can see it happening," Leo grimaced, thinking of all the survivors that evolved into a stage two form of Awakened Human. "The System really doesn''t care to keep stuff balanced."


    "Why would it? It rewards those who fight for their survival. Adapt or die, right?"


    He quirked a non-existent eyebrow. "I thought you hated that motto."


    "Still do," she let out a hollow laugh. "Doesn''t change the fact that it''s true. Those who bleed for survival will thrive, while the others will fall apart and die alone, forgotten by the world."


    Not knowing how to even respond to that, Leo decided to check out his other evolution while his sister calmed down. Sometimes, not saying anything was the best answer.


    Let''s see. The Legacy of Primes. Looks like I''m not losing my title.


    Prime Indomitus Venax (Stage III)


    You hunted. You killed. You consumed. The path of an Akirian and a Prime isn''t easy, but you prevailed. Now, the next stage of the journey is calling for you. Will you answer? Or will you run?


    Effects:


    Void-borne evolves into Void''s Embrace. Low-end Akirian Physiology advances to the next stage. Physical evolution involved. Connection to the Void strengthened. All Effectiveness: +25%. +5 Might, +6 Grace, +4 Vision, +6 Soul, +4 Mind per level. Beta tier Mutations unlocked.


    And we have a winner. Leo grinned. Why bother showing me the other evolution when I have this available? Like holy hell, better overall effectiveness and more attribute points. It isn''t even a choice.


    Nonetheless, he didn''t allow the System to proceed right away. First, he had to check out the new trait and then talk it all through with Nyx and Lily. They were the ones who would have to protect him during the evolution, after all.


    Void''s Embrace (Epic)


    For every Akirian and Voidling, the Void is the silent parent that sees everything. You have earned its attention. Let its embrace fill you with power.


    Effects:


    Your body grows stronger in areas rich in Void Essence. Passive Essence absorbtion improved. Limit Break: +2 Soul, Might, Grace, and Vision per level. Devour becomes more efficient.


    Much better than the Two-Worlder trait. Who would have thought that a direct improvement of my current evolution would be better than some hybrid shit I got thanks to Geron? Not me, definitely not me. Leo chuckled, waving away the description.


    "Well, it''s decided. I''m evolving today," he said out loud, earning the others'' attention. "No way I''m getting anything better than this."


    "The second option?" Lily asked. "That good?"


    "Yeah." He nodded and quickly sent Nyx the related memory, as the curiosity in their link was killing him. "Only an idiot wouldn''t take it. Twenty-five attribute points per level, get that?"


    His sister blinked, then blinked again as her brow furrowed. "How much?"


    "Twenty-five," he repeated, still grinning like a loon.


    "You''re shitting me!" She threw her arms into the air. "That''s like five more than what I get now from both class and race! I swear, if my next evolution doesn''t give me at least twenty per level, I''m gonna kill someone."


    "There, there." He patted her on the head. "I''m sure it will be good. You took part in killing the Myrdrak and are also in quite a unique situation. The System will definitely take that under consideration."


    "It better." She huffed. "I refuse to fall behind you even more than I already am. Isn''t that right, Nyx?"


    The feline nodded resolutely. ''One more level, Leo, and I''m joining you at stage three.''


    After he relayed what Nyx said, Lily smiled. "Good! I need three more, but I will get there soon, hopefully..." She looked at him, pouting a bit. "What do you say we hunt some Nightmares once we return to London? If I evolve too, Payne won''t stand a chance."


    Leo sighed. "We will see about that. For now, just let me evolve first, okay?"


    The woman nodded, her expression turning serious once more. "Two hours, right?"


    "At worst. It might go faster."


    "Go on then," she said, standing up. "Nyx and I will protect you. Don''t worry about anything. We got you."


    Leo smiled.


    "Thanks."


    Do it, System. Begin the evolution into Prime Indomitus Venax.


    Acknowledged.

 Chapter 184. Rage

    Proceeding with evolution. System Protection: Unavailable. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours. Please note that while your current injuries won''t affect the process, you also won''t be healed. Do you really wish to proceed?


    Yes. Leo confirmed for the last time, watching as his sister and Nyx left the room. Let''s get this over with.


    As you wish, User. Beginning Stage III Evolution.


    Three.


    Two.


    One¡­


    The Primes welcome you. Good luck in your coming battle.


    Just like during the last evolution, those final words weren''t for him to read, and instead, a calm and powerful voice spoke them right into his mind. However, unlike before, the person speaking sounded almost genuine, as if they really meant what they said.


    Hold up! Coming battle?! What the hell do you mean by that?


    As expected, nobody answered.


    Well fuck. Leo muttered inside his mind as a familiar tar-like substance began to seep out of his body. A dark mist followed soon after, slowly filling the large living room. In a matter of seconds, he could barely see anything a foot ahead of him, and his legs already couldn''t move, thanks to the miasma pooling on the floor.


    Guess that''s it. Got to enjoy the ride and worry about the rest later.


    Not that he had much of a choice. The dark matter crawled higher and higher, enveloping more of his body in a tight cocoon. Yet, at least this time, he didn''t panic and just let the System do its job as the world around him faded to darkness.


    He had thought of going into his soulscape for the time being but decided otherwise. Even if the evolution hurt, he wanted to experience the entire process at least once. Besides, he could always retreat into his soul if it became too much; he wasn''t a masochist.


    Lily and Nyx would probably disagree, but whatever. Do what you must, System.


    Yet, just as the miasma consumed the rest of his body, cutting him off from the world, the pain never came. Instead, a sudden wave of tiredness crashed into his head, stripping him of his consciousness bit by bit. Leo tried to resist, forcing his mind to stay awake, but it was all for naught.


    Not again... This should be impossible... She... she is gone.


    <hr>


    He awoke surrounded by darkness. Only the spot he stood on was slightly lit up by an unknown source. Leo groaned, slowly picking himself up from the cool and hard ground. As he did that, serval alarms blared in his head as he realized how wrong his every movement felt.


    What?


    He looked down, his eyes widening at the obvious human legs and arms he found there. Only his left hand still carried any traces of the Void, its sharp claws and deformed flesh calming his raging heart just a bit.


    What the hell is going on?! Why am I a Tainted Human again?


    Everything felt the same as it did on the day he woke up alone on his kitchen floor. He was weak, his Essence didn''t answer his call, and there were no tails attached to his back. His blades were gone, and worst of all, the link to Nyx seemed empty and devoid of life.


    Leo opened his mouth to scream, to beg for help, but no sound came out of his throat. He tried again and again, only to be met with the same result. Despite his feet making a noise against the floor, he couldn''t speak.


    Nikra! He roared internally. If you did this, I swear I am gonna hunt whatever remains of you and destroy it, the shard in my chest included. You hear me! I have had enough of your games!


    Again, no one answered or showed themselves.


    Then maybe it''s you, Geron?! Couldn''t accept that I didn''t choose your evolution, so you interfered again? He hissed, eyes narrowed. Well fuck you too! When I get out, I will hunt every single minion of yours and tear their hearts out. Then I''m gonna find my way to Ger and destroy everything you created there. Is that what you wanted?! Is it!?


    Leo growled, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath after his burst of fury. He was even ready to scream at the heavens again. Yet, before he could do that, a booming combination of voices reverberated through the dark area.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "There''s the fire you try to hide, young one. Show us you can use it! Don''t let it control you. Channel it! Make it your own. Forge it into a weapon! Kill. Fight or die!"


    He barely had time to process what he had just heard as a wave of light suddenly washed away the darkness around him. He shielded his eyes, only opening them when his eyelids stopped stinging.


    That¡¯s good...


    Instead of darkness, ten ghost-like creatures surrounded him in a perfect circle. Leo couldn''t even make out their features, as their forms were mostly blurred, aside from some limbs. However, one thing remained certain, those things weren''t normal by any means.


    So that''s what the voice meant by ''coming battle.'' Great. He gulped even as the rage in his veins still burned brightly.


    One of the figures ¡ª a deep blue one ¡ª took his slight movement as a sign and rushed forward, materializing short swords in its three hands.


    Instinctively, Leo tried to call forth his shadows, yet nothing happened. With a curse, he stepped out of the way of the first attack and then another and another. Even if the blue monster had weapons, it didn''t seem to know how to use them well.


    Of course, just as that thought went through his head, the next creature¡ªthis one green¡ªjoined the fight. It attacked with empty hands, four of them, and for the first time, Leo could do more than just dodge.


    With his minimal knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, he blocked and redirected the green panthom''s attacks. At the same time, he danced between the blue one''s wild swings, which never even came close to him.


    Not bad for a body that can barely move. He grinned and swung hard into the unarmed creature''s stomach. It stumbled back, but that was all it did before returning to the fight with renewed vigor.


    This exchange continued for a while, and just when Leo felt like he was finally gaining the upper hand, a third yellow ghost joined the fray. It shot arrow after arrow at him, destroying the dance he perfected during the last few minutes.


    There was so much to defend from that the green''s creatures fist finally passed through his defense, knocking him off his feet and sending him flying across the battlefield. Leo groaned as he tumbled across the ground.


    When the movement stopped, he opened his eyes and grimaced at the red creature looking down at him. It didn''t attack, and its blurred face refused to show a single emotion. And yet, he still felt like he was being judged and mocked at the same time.


    Leo snarled and jumped to his feet, avoiding another two arrows. The fires of rage in his veins turned into a blaze, an inferno that threatened to consume everything around him. It wanted to take over, but he didn''t let it and instead followed the words of the voices from before.


    Channel it. Forge it into a weapon. He roared and ran at the green and blue creature with speed this body shouldn''t be capable of. He slipped past the unarmed ghost''s guard and punched it right through its gut.


    At last, the creature stopped, and its body slowly turned into smoke that seeped into Leo''s hand. He spun around and cut the incoming arrow in two with a blade extending from his arm, a blade which wasn''t previously there.


    He grinned at that small piece of himself that returned and attacked again, this time going for the blue ghost. With one of his main weapons back and anger raging in his muscles, the creature didn''t stand a chance and faded into nothingness, just like its predecessor. Now Leo had his claws back on both hands.


    Two down, eight to go.


    With the recent deaths, three more ghosts activated, joining the archer. One of them also attacked from range, sending explosive projectiles flying after him. Meanwhile the two others ran at him with a spear and sword in hand.


    And they know how to use them. He flinched as one of the blades nicked his side, drawing blood. He spun away and hacked another series of arrows with his claws while ducking under an orb of light going for his head.


    Annoying.


    His eyes narrowed at the two ranged fighters, and he made a quick decision. With another burst of speed, he passed the melee fighters and dived at the yellow ghost. It tried to shoot more arrows, but it was all for naught as Leo slipped his claws into its neck.


    Not even waiting for the creature to fade, he ran for the mage, knocking the one with the spear out of the way and plunging a blade into its stomach.


    Four down.


    Leo jumped high, avoiding another salvo of unknown projectiles that came from nowhere. He flipped mid-air and, with his newly returned tails, hit the incoming glowing balls back to their owner. The mage exploded upon impact.


    Five.


    As he landed, he turned to the others, his eyes narrowing at the four fighters waiting there. Only the red phantom remained inactive, though its face became a bit less blurred now. Nonetheless, it didn''t lose its judging and mocking aura.


    Oh no. You don''t. Leo roared, and this time, the sound reverberated through the area, shaking the ground. It was also the moment he realized his head and arms returned to their normal, inhuman appearance.


    The blades upon his arms extended while his tails flexed, reminding him of their presence. He grinned wide, showing his long and sharp teeth to the remaining ghosts.


    "Let''s fight," he muttered and dashed towards the waiting crowd.


    It was a one-sided massacre. The phantoms tried to defend and even attack at first, but they could do nothing against a beast who had enough of this farce.


    Leo cut them apart, piece by piece, as his vision turned red, highlighting every enemy in sight. He missed no detail, no movement, with his growing bloodlust and mind working in tandem to whisper warnings and advice into his ears.


    Finally, only the red phantom remained on the battlefield; its draconic face blurred no more as it watched him with unblinking crimson eyes. He snarled and pounced, ready to tear the last enemy to shreds.


    Yet, before his claws could connect with the creature''s neck, it spoke a single word, freezing the entire world with it.


    "Enough. You did well, young Prime. Now calm down, control your bloodlust, and let us talk."

 Chapter 185. Primes

    "Who are you?!" Leo growled even as his body still refused to move. "What did you do to me?"


    The red lizard humanoid rolled its eyes and walked around him. "I told you, child, to control yourself. Don''t let your bloodlust cloud your judgment; don''t let it control you. You are a Prime. Act like one."


    He scowled. "Like that means anything to me! It''s just a title attached to my evolution, nothing more."


    The creature chuckled. "Nothing more? My dear Void, you really are clueless. But what else did I expect from a former human?" It spat the last word like venom before letting out a sigh. "Very well... While you work on putting your bloodlust to sleep, I will enlighten you."


    Leo narrowed his eyes as his body turned against his will to face the red ghost again. His rage begged for him to fight, to slaughter the last enemy in sight, but no matter how well he channeled this anger, he still couldn''t move even a finger.


    Motherfucker. Sooner or later, you will die. He vowed, taking a few calming breaths. "I''m listening, whoever you are."


    "My name is not important. I''m just a shade of a long-dead Akirian," the creature explained and sat down on the ground. "Now, where was I? Ah yes... As you may have already found out, there are two special evolution types in the Void. Apex and Prime."


    "The truth behind Apex evolutions is simple. Those creatures are just stronger and a bit more unique versions of Voidlings. Nothing else, nothing more, as you put it," the ghost shot him a mocking grin. "Now Primes... That''s a title that can only be attached to an Akirian, to the greatest race in existence."


    He snorted, interrupting the monologue. "And yet, you''re dead. Where is that greatness of yours?"


    The red shade snarled, appearing right in his face. "Hold your tongue, child. You know nothing about the life I''ve led."


    For the first time since he appeared here, Leo felt a chill travel down his spine as he looked into the fiery eyes before him. Even his bloodlust backed off a bit, returning more clarity to his mind.


    "Sorry," he muttered.


    The ghost took a few steps back, shaking its head. "Apology accepted, young Akirian. You must also forgive me¡­ We have waited for the birth of a new Prime since the last universe collapsed. To learn that you were once a human is..."


    "Disappointing?" Leo supplied.


    "No, never that," the shade quickly denied with a sharp look. "Confused is a much better way to describe how the ten of us felt when we arrived here. Maybe a bit angry too."


    His brow furrowed. "The ten of you? You mean?"


    The creature nodded. "Indeed. All of us were Prime Akirians before we died."


    Huh. Leo blinked, trying to come up with a response to that. He failed and so decided to change the subject. "So Primes. What are we really?"


    The shade''s eyes lit up at that. "To put it simply, we are one of the most unique creations in the whole Void. Only a single Prime can be born to any Akirian evolution, and even then, it rarely happens. We are the elite of the elite, the ones that bring death wherever we go. Some even go as far as to call us Death Reapers, but that''s presumptuous."


    I''m glad there is at least some limit to our self-importance. He wanted to say but stopped himself. He doubted his little joke would be appreciated.


    Instead, he settled for another question. "That''s great and all, but doesn¡¯t say much. I get we''re stronger, but is that really it?"


    "Not in the slightest." The shade grinned. "Two things, child. Control and the power of Legacy. Tell me. What do you remember of your Prime title?"


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He frowned, digging through his head for an answer. "Respect from other new Akirians and... possible control of other Night Hunters."


    "Exactly. As you grow stronger and evolve, you will find that controlling Voidlings will be possible with your presence alone. Even some Akirians, those not related to you, will be happy to follow you. There is a reason why all higher-ups of Ediovr are Primes."


    Leo froze as a mutter left his lips. "The Barons and Lords."


    "You know of them. Good." The shade then gripped his shoulders, its claws digging into his skin. "Listen closely, child. Never, and I say, never try to oppose those monsters. They will destroy you and devour your power. I made that mistake and paid for it with my life. Stay away from Ediovr!"


    His frown only deepened. "Something doesn¡¯t make sense here. Before, you made it sound like the Primes are one big family that supports each other. But now this?"


    The red ghost exploded in laughter. "Family? Maybe in death, yes. But not when we are alive. Not when killing other Primes offers us a permanent power boost."


    Of course, it does. Why am I not surprised? Leo sighed. "That''s the other thing you spoke of, right? The power of Legacy?"


    "Partially," the shade inclined its head. "You will find out the rest once you wake up. The System will explain everything. Just remember to take a look into your soul."


    Something still wasn''t right here. "Why now? Why not after my previous evolution?"


    The ghost snorted. "You might have received the title of a Prime back then, but you still weren''t one, at least not fully. No creature, no matter how strong, can change into an Akirian and Prime with one evolution. Only now, the process is almost complete."


    Leo nodded as, looking back, it made sense. He went from almost pure human to Void elite in the span of a week. Stuff like that didn''t happen without at least some period of transition. It looked like the Prime Night Hunter evolution was just that for him.


    Though...


    "Wait! Almost complete? Is that why you''re here? Is this some sort of a test?"


    "And thus, we arrive at the source of the problem," the shade grumbled. "Normally, we don''t interfere in evolutions. However, if we didn¡¯t, one day you would lose yourself to bloodlust completely."


    With that, Leo finally realized what this was all about. "My Apex aspect, Hunter."


    "Precisely," the creature muttered, its gaze turning soft. "You''ve been doing well trying to control your bloodlust, but the point remains¡­ You and the instincts left behind by your Apex aspect were desynchronized. They would take over one day if we didn''t step in."


    "What did you do?" He asked, looking down at his hands.


    "What we had to. With the System''s permission, I and nine others invaded your subconsciousness and stripped you of your power. That''s why you awoke back in your human body."


    Leo nodded after a moment. "And now, after killing the others, I''m back to normal." He looked up at the shade. "Does it mean that the issue with my bloodlust is gone?"


    "Not exactly¡­ By slowly infusing you back with your power, we resynchronized you and the Apex instincts. Now, you are truly one being. However," the shade raised its hand to stop any questions. "You will never be like other Akirians. Your bloodlust is fully under your control without any limiters, but it''s also wilder and more unstable than any other. It will always have a stronger effect on you. Yet, as long as you''re aware of this issue, you should be able to handle it. No, you must handle it and make it your weapon."


    Silence claimed the vast empty space as Leo struggled with the thoughts in his head. The stage three evolution was supposed to happen without any issues, but fate evidently had different plans for him. Although, he didn''t expect to learn that if not for some ancient dead Akirians, he would become a slave to his instincts in the future.


    I can already see how happy Nyx will be when I tell her about this. And she was so sure everything was fine. He dragged a hand across his face before directing his gaze back to the other Prime.


    "So this is it?"


    The shade smiled. "Almost. While the nine before me held back your old power, I took the brunt of your new evolution. You know what you have to do, Leo Hale. Kill me and claim what is yours."


    At once, the command of his body returned. He almost collapsed, only for the ghost to catch him before he could. "I guess I can''t make you stay a bit longer and explain some stuff about the Void?"


    The red creature shook its head with a chuckle. "I fear not. It''s time for me to return behind the veil to join the rest of our dead kin. Good luck, young Prime. We will be watching you."


    Leo nodded, and with a snap, he plunged one of his extended blades into the shade''s stomach. Slowly, it turned into smoke, offering him a final smile.


    As the last of the ancient Prime disappeared, the light around him diminished until only darkness remained. Not even a second later, the familiar dizziness returned, lulling him to sleep once more.


    His eyes closed as he collapsed to the ground, a soft smile on his face.


    Thank you.

 Chapter 186. More changes

    He awoke back in the darkness, unable to move, unable to see. He could only feel Essence swirling around him in waves. It probed his consciousness, his mind, and the body he had no control of. And yet, he stayed calm, knowing well that struggling wouldn''t achieve anything.


    I just have to wait.


    The pain Nikra warned him about during the last evolution never came. Similar to the last time, his unexpected meeting with the Primes spared him from experiencing the entire process. He should be happy, he really should, but he still wanted to know how bad the pain was.


    Next time, I guess. That''s if nothing else tries to interfere again...


    Still drifting through the endless void, Leo let his mind wander back to what he had just experienced. The loss of Hunter brought many complications, but neither he nor Nyx expected it to get to this point. Hell, after the fight against the Myrdrak, he thought that his control of bloodlust was improving.


    Maybe that was the plan? Make me think that I''m in control and then rip it away when I don''t expect it. Shit Hunter... I had no idea your power could even do that. It just shows how much I still have to learn about myself and the world I live in now.


    Some people might have blamed Hunter for leaving them with such a burden, but Leo couldn''t do it. In the end, they were still two sides of the same coin. Besides, how could he be mad at his Apex aspect when it literally saved his life.


    Hopefully, Nyx won''t blame herself for not noticing anything. He would have snorted if he could. Yeah, who am I kidding? She definitely will.


    For a moment, he entertained the thought of hiding this from her, but he dismissed it just as quickly. With their link, she would find out the truth sooner or later. It was much better to just rip off the band-aid and be done with this mess.


    Yeah, but I''m definitely not telling Lily. Not after what just happened out there.


    It wasn''t even a hard decision to make. His sister worried enough. He didn''t want to add even more to her burden. She still blamed herself for not seeking him out in the past after all.


    Time heals all wounds, right?


    Suddenly, light exploded all around him. It slowly formed familiar golden letters that swirled and rearranged themselves into normal words. The process of evolution had come to an end.


    Stage III evolution completed successfully. Cooling stage initiation in progress. Please take this time to acquaint yourself with previously unlisted changes brought about by your evolution. Some details may be available only after leaving the cocoon.


    Similar to what I got the last time. Leo noted just as more text appeared. Here we go.


    Your mutations Enhanced Vision, Minor Regeneration, and Basic Natural Armor have been absorbed into your evolved Basic Akirian Physiology trait, strengthening it further. Congratulations! Displaying description.


    Basic Akirian Physiology (Epic)


    This is the next step on your journey to become the best of the best. Survive and continue improving yourself. Always strive for perfection, or you will become the prey.


    Effects:


    Natural resistance against the Void''s harsh conditions improved. Immunity to Void Storms below C+ grade. All body functions enhanced. Effects of Essence sustenance improved. Nightvision improved. Natural armor strengthened. Healing factor and life span significantly enhanced. Effects of Ether and Light on your body slightly decreased.


    Sounds good. Leo summed up, scanning the effects from top to bottom. He didn''t expect his mutations to just go away like that, but he didn''t mind as long they still worked. Though if he understood everything right, they should be even stronger now.


    Guess I will find out soon. Next, System.


    The efficiency of Devour has been improved. Skill quality changed from Epic to Epic+.


    So that''s the effect of Void''s Embrace trait. I will take that.


    Natural Beta tier mutations unlocked. You might now access them in the Mutation menu at any point in time.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    No warning about my choices this time. Do you trust me not to fuck it up, System? Or did the hand-holding finally end?


    Like always, the entity refused to answer, so Leo moved on to the next notification.


    Your title effects have been updated. Displaying now. Changes will be highlighted.


    Void''s Heir:


    You were crowned as the legacy of the first daughter, but now the Void has chosen you as its heir. The time has come to prove if you are worthy of this title. Stand proud, stand strong. Evolve and thrive.


    Stacked Effects:


    The Void''s true power now flows through your soul and veins. Most Voidlings of lower rank won''t be outright hostile, and some may even follow your orders. Night Hunters and related evolution paths are for you to command. Hostile Identify will fail if the enemy hasn''t ascended to the Supernatural Tier at least once. All Effectiveness: +15%.


    The shade was right. He blinked, and his eyelids actually moved. I can command normal Voidlings without the help of Minor Takeover. Holy shit, now I can really make an army... or maybe not, but the potential is here.


    As fun as it sounded, even a few dozen low-level Voidlings wouldn''t stand a chance against a single Nightmare. There were definitely some uses for this ability, but in the long run, it all depended on the situation.


    Still gonna need to test this out. Gotta find out what is the maximum level I can control. With that thought, he summoned the next notification.


    Your existence as a Prime has been realized. Skill Prime Legacy obtained.


    Prime Legacy (Unique)


    Every single Prime is a special existence, drawing power from the same source. It''s a blessing and a curse hidden behind a bloody past. Now, you are part of it. Hunt or be hunted.


    Effects:


    Trials of Primes unlocked. Killing and devouring another Prime will now grant you a permanent increase in your power. Current Bonus: +5% All attribute Effectiveness.


    Oh...


    There were no words to describe how Leo felt about this new skill. He had hoped that maybe the shade was wrong about the relationship between other Primes. Yet, here it was, the only confirmation he needed.


    The shard in his chest already made him a target. But now, an entire species of monsters just like him would hunt him for his power.


    He wanted to believe that not all Prime Akirians were this power-hungry, but could he really entertain such a thought? Hell, deep inside his mind, he could already feel his bloodlust begging for another hunt, a hunt for Primes.


    Are we all hardwired to hate each other from the beginning? How messed up is that?


    Leo sighed, or he would have if his body had allowed him. There was nothing he could do about this new skill. He just had to be careful and never lower his guard when another Prime was near. Or he should just avoid them altogether.


    Yeah, let''s go with that. He decided. Got anything else for me, System?


    Power recalibration finished successfully. Ruthless Efficiency has transformed into Relentless Hunger. May your future hunts be fruitful.


    Relentless Hunger (Radiant)


    Hunger and Bloodlust unleashed. The world is yours for the taking. Devour all you can. Feed on your enemies'' corpses. Grow.


    Effects:


    Improves overall combat efficiency and the strength of your abilities. Healing and consumption speed enhanced. Relentless Hunger ramps up the longer it is used, but in return, it intensifies your bloodlust and hunger. Prolonged periods out of combat will deactivate this ability; the same will happen if you use it for defense for too long.


    Well, well, well. Leo chuckled internally. I definitely won''t miss you, Ruthless Efficiency. If I had known using it was just a trap... Whatever, hopefully, this one won''t try to take over my body. It sounds strong too.


    The only downside of losing Ruthless Efficiency was its ability to get him out of dangerous situations. Its Inferno stage was more than powerful, and now he would have to do without it.


    Maybe that''s for the best. I can''t be reliant on something I can''t control. Gonna need to figure out a different last resort.


    Cooling stage ready.


    Evolution menu will become available again at level 95. Just like with stage III, your future path depends only on you, User. The System will take all of your achievements into consideration when presenting you with stage IV evolutions. Until then, good luck, Pioneer of Earth.


    Ninety-five... Holy hell, it''s gonna be a long time before I get there. Also, pioneer of Earth? That sounds like an important title. Might need to ask the merchant about it.


    Beginning cooling stage. Warning! Multiple living signatures detected close by. Please be careful upon awakening.


    That''s got to be Lily and Nyx. At least this time, my awakening will go smoothly. I really don''t need a repeat of the last time.


    Of course, there could be a possibility of some hostiles being nearby, but Leo trusted his sister and companion to deal with all of that. After killing the Myrdrak, they were all strong enough to defeat anything in Wolford with their hands tied.


    Three¡­


    Two¡­


    One¡­


    Cocoon cooling in progress. Time to release: 1 minute.

 Chapter 187. Improvements?

    The timer started ticking down second by second. At the same time, the control of his body slowly returned, even if he couldn''t move anything other than his fingers. Not that it mattered. Soon, he would be free once more.


    Yet before that could happen, another notification appeared in the darkness.


    Releasing the temporary blockade on experience. Calculating new level...


    Congratulations! You have reached level 38. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Oh...


    To be honest, Leo didn''t expect to get more than a single level after his evolution. But here he was, with level thirty-eight welcoming him with open hands. The wave of power flowed down his body, revitalizing it even further.


    No more points for me to assign freely, he thought. Thanks to so many attributes granted with each level, it wasn''t that big of a problem. However, it was always nice to be able to put a few points into a stat that really needed the boost.


    Oh well. No turning back now. I made my choice. I have a pretty balanced attribute distribution anyway. Definitely gotta check my status when I get out.


    The timer dropped to the last ten seconds. Unlike the last time, he felt no pain, no unnatural hunger. Only a bit of exhaustion seeped into his mind and body, but considering what he had fought today, that wasn''t a surprise.


    And three, two, one. Now!


    At once, the tar-like substance of the cocoon slipped off his form, releasing him into the world again. He stumbled but quickly caught his footing and stabilized himself. Without paying much attention to his surroundings or to the nuances of his new body, he tried to stretch, only for his head to hit the ceiling.


    Fuck!


    Leo flinched and, for the first time since awakening, took a look around the old living room. Everything seemed smaller, but it quickly became obvious that wasn''t the case. Instead, he had grown taller, tall enough that he now had to lower his head to avoid putting a hole in the roof.


    All right. That''s new.


    Aside from adding at least another meter to his height, his entire body gained some mass, filling out in all places. While it still seemed to be built more for speed, its raw power now couldn''t be denied as his muscles looked easily as strong¡ªif not stronger¡ªas those on a Collector.


    Then there was his skin, which, while still remaining a deep shade of grey, now was filled with draconic scales. They weren''t much different from the ones on the Myrdrak, only his looked a bit slimmer and more interconnected. He couldn''t find a single gap between them, which was why they still resembled normal skin.


    I guess power wasn''t the only thing I got from the Nightmare. Could have expected that with the name of my new race, Leo mused as his gaze drifted down to his legs.


    While still keeping a somewhat humanoid form, they also adapted all the changes from the rest of his body. As for his feet? The talons were still there, only larger and sharper¡ªthree at the front and one in the back. They now worked together to provide him with the best possible grip.


    This feels weird, he said in his head while flexing the talons and testing their range of movement. Yeah, it''s much different than before...


    Leo shook his head a bit¡ªan action that also felt strange¡ªand moved his gaze toward his hands. Thankfully, he still had claws, all ten of them. They appeared a bit thicker and glowed with a faint violet light, but aside from that, nothing changed there.


    The same couldn''t be said about his extendable forearm blades.


    They were still there, looking stronger than ever, yet now, their edges were serrated and painted in dark crimson. Within this sea of red floated tiny specks of black that moved like they had a mind of their own. Each time they touched the blade''s edge, the serrated parts absorbed them before glowing briefly.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Leo frowned and focused on the drifting specks. They answered right away and stopped. He ordered them to float to the bottom of the blade, and they did, waiting and slowly growing, claiming more and more of the crimson surface.


    A poison? He quirked an eyebrow before commanding the entire load to float toward the edge. The blade absorbed it all, the black glow now becoming visible to the eye.


    With a shrug, he lightly placed it against the couch next to him. The effect was instantaneous as the glow left the edge and spread across the ruined furniture before disappearing from sight.


    Leo blinked, waiting for anything to happen, yet nothing did. He touched the couch again, only to get the same result. He frowned.


    Okay? So what''s the point? He asked internally, watching the dark spots appear again in the empty sea of red. Whatever, gonna figure it out later.


    A single spark of Essence dived into his blades, extending them. Aside from now being slightly curved and sharing the same serrated edge, they still worked like before.


    Good.


    His gaze then drifted lower, toward the tail lying on the floor. While its two companions disappeared, the singular limb became thicker and a bit longer. He would bet it could now easily crush the average Voidling with a single hit.


    Aside from its new length and power, the tail''s upper half remained empty¡ªaside from the scales. Now, the lower half was a completely different story.


    Spike after spike decorated the limb, each growing longer and sharper the closer it got to the end of the tail. Like the blades, they were painted in dark red, but this time, no black spots were flowing around.


    At first, Leo thought the tail would be uncomfortable to use, but with a bit of flexing, all of the spikes hugged the limb, forming a single long blade. He could separate them at any moment and then snap them back together again.


    Might be useful I guess. Still gonna miss my other two tails.


    With a sigh, he craned his longer-than-average neck and looked at his back, spotting the row of short spikes running along his spine. Yet, this wasn''t the only change that caught his eye.


    Just a bit below shoulder blades, a few grey, thick tendrils escaped out of his back, three on each side. They didn¡¯t have any scales or other unique features. They were just there, lying flat against his back, extending for not even a meter.


    The hell are those? And just like that, a word appeared in his mind. Floaters. This was followed by a notification that came out of nowhere.


    Trait Venax Wings obtained. Your trait True Affinity: Shadow is now connected to Venax Wings.


    Venax Wings (Unique)


    What''s better than flight? Than the freedom of spreading your wings and going whenever you want? Nothing. Soon, you will learn this truth.


    Effects:


    As Prime Indomitus Venax, you have developed limbs called Floaters. At first, they can''t do much, but with time, they will help you claim the sky for yourself. Current status: Fledgling, developing currents.


    Leo blinked. This really came out of nowhere. Add to that the line about his affinity working together with the new trait and he had no idea what to think of this. The System definitely didn''t mind leaving him in the dark.


    Another thing to work out on my own. Added to the list¡­


    For now, he could only move the floaters a bit, and even that was a struggle. It had been a while since any part of him felt this weak.


    It was uncomfortable, to put it lightly.


    Okay, that should be it. Only my face remains, and I can''t do much about that without a mirror. With a shrug, he opened his link to Nyx and called out. I''m awake! You two can come in.


    The feline instantly answered. ''On it! Give us a moment.''


    Leo nodded, closed the link, and looked around. A grimace spread across his face as he realized that getting out of his old house might not be easy. He would probably have to brute force it and destroy a few walls on the way out.


    Oh well. Nothing I can do about that now. Maybe I can get-


    "Holy shit!" His sister''s voice interrupted his thoughts. "You are a fucking dragon!"


    He turned, facing Lily. "A what? I don''t even have wings!" And there was another surprise. His voice, which had sounded outright demonic before, had become even deeper now. He didn''t think it was even possible.


    "Fuck the wings! Did you see your bloody face?" The woman shouted, pointing right at his head.


    Nyx, who sat down next to his sister, nodded. ''She has a point¡­ well, somewhat. See for yourself.''


    At once, the vision in one of his eyes changed, and Leo found himself looking at his own body from the feline perspective. True to her words, his head became similar to that of a traditional Western dragon, only more streamlined, smaller, smoother, and without any horns.


    I¡¯m blind. He sighed. How the hell did I miss the long snout right in front of my eyes.


    Nyx just laughed.

 Chapter 188. Final checks

    So I pretty much became a humanoid dragon, Leo commented as he took another look at himself through Nyx''s eyes.


    Though calling him humanoid might be stretching it a bit. Yes, he possessed two legs, two arms, and a head, but aside from that, there was nothing human about him. Hell, comparing him to Collectors had more merit at this point.


    And ain''t that a sad thought. He snorted, disconnecting his vision from the feline. He had enough of his own violet, cat-like eyes staring back at him.


    "Any issues when I was out of commission?" He asked, just to make sure. Considering what the System told him before awakening, there could be more people or Voidlings around them.


    Lily shook her head. "Nah. A few stragglers, nothing more."


    Leo frowned. "Holden didn''t send anyone out to find us? That''s... surprising."


    "Maybe he did, and they just haven''t come here yet. Not everyone can cross the entire city in a matter of minutes like us."


    "True." He nodded and took another survey of the area around him.


    The Void had already covered every single window in the room, and there was no way he would fit through the doorways. Brute force really was the only way out for him.


    "I''m gonna need you two to get out. This place might not survive what I do next."


    Lily instantly caught on. "You will bulldozer your way out?"


    He grinned as well as someone with the face of a dragon could. "That''s the plan. Now, get a move on."


    "Aye, aye!" She saluted and turned on her heel.


    ''Just don''t bring the entire house down on your head, okay? I really don''t want to spend the next hour digging you out,'' Nyx said on her way out, her voice filled with mirth.


    Very funny. He scoffed, rolling his eyes. Let me know when you are outside.


    He didn''t have to wait long for the feline to call him back. ''Go on. We''re waiting in front of the house.''


    As their link went silent, Leo took a deep breath and let Essence fill his body. The river of energy answered almost as well as it did before the evolution. Yet, now he could feel even more power hiding beneath the facade of calmness.


    Makes sense. My connection to the Void is even stronger now.


    He melded the Essence in his veins and muscles, very slowly activating a weak Reinforcement. With that done, he eyed the arch leading into the kitchen and dashed forward, making the floor tremble with each step.


    The entrance to the kitchen didn''t stand a chance against his charge, and he easily made his way inside as debris exploded around him. The wall leading outside was his next enemy, and just like the arch, it crumbled under his strength, letting him taste the evening air.


    Leo stopped a few steps away from his sister and Nyx and glanced over his shoulder. His old home still stood strong, covered from head to toe in the Void''s living matter. However now, it also had one large hole leading inside.


    Sorry mom. He winced.


    Lily whistled. "That''s one way to make an exit. I could never. At least not with my body alone."


    "Not yet," he said, turning away from the house. "A few more levels and no wall will stand in your way too."


    "Maybe." She shrugged. "Did it even hurt at all?"


    Leo glanced down at his body and shook his head. "Not really. It was almost like going through a wall of paper. Guess those scales are useful for something."


    "Yeah..." Lily muttered, giving him a weird look. "Do you need some clothes? That loincloth of yours is barely hanging on, and I don''t want to be here when it falls off."


    Right... Forgot about that. He grimaced, quickly reaching into his soul and summoning his latest acquisition. However, instead of putting it into his hands, he forced it to appear over his legs.


    It worked right away, and the Pants of Protective Comfort materialized on the bottom half of his body. The black fabric stretched down to his knees, easily hiding anything above it from sight.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Leo took a few experimental steps and nodded. As the name suggested, those pants were neither too tight nor too baggy. They fitted him perfectly and didn''t restrict his movement at all.


    "Huh, not bad," Lily said, stopping him from testing the pants further. "You should have done that before we came in."


    "Yeah, yeah, my bad." He waved her off. "Give me a moment. I want to check my status and see if anything happened within my soulscape."


    "Adam?"


    He nodded. "I didn''t feel anything weird, but it''s better to make sure."


    "Got it. Be quick, please. We''ve lingered long enough."


    ''What she said,'' Nyx added. ''We have at most two or three hours before night. If one of you wants to get back to London today, we need to move.''


    I know. Two minutes is all I need, Leo promised and summoned his status window.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Void''s Heir


    Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax


    Class: Nightblade | LVL. 38


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E+


    Might Tier II (164)   | LB: 99


    Grace: Tier II (321) | LB: 98


    Vision: Tier II (121) | LB: 96


    Mind: Tier II (121)   | LB: 5


    Soul: Tier II (174)    | LB: 82


    Ether: 10303


    Traits: Void''s Embrace (Epic), Night Terror (Rare), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare), Basic Akirian Physiology (Epic), True Bond (Unique), True Minor Affinity: Ruination (Void), Venax Wings (Unique)


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Soul Arts (Rare), Devour (Epic+), Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare), Relentless Hunger (Radiant), Prime Legacy (Unique)


    General Skills: Stealth Shroud (Epic), Vital Strike (Common), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Epic), Decoy (Uncommon), Soulscape (Radiant), Phantom Erasure (Rare), Blink (Epic)


    Damn, that''s a long list. Leo blinked. Rank E+... Now that''s something. Not that I should be surprised with those attributes. Like three hundred Grace? Holy shit, I wonder how fast I can go now. Can''t wait to test that.


    There was a bunch of other stuff he wanted to try out now; he just had to get some time to do that. Which might not be too easy. He still had to deal with the Void Gate in Wolford and then the mess in London. His schedule for the next two weeks was pretty packed.


    I will figure something out once I close the gate here, he decided and closed his eyes. His soulscape was waiting.


    With a sharp tug on his Essence, he pulled his entire being into his soul and gasped. While most of his soulscape remained the same, the Void''s living matter growing everywhere was new. Even the sky gained a few new additions in the form of black sparks racing across the air.


    "Weird," Leo muttered, slowly walking towards Adam''s prison. "Vetilim and Corcera I get, but the sparks?" He shook his head. "No idea..."


    Aside from that, the representation of his body had also changed a bit due to his Ruination affinity. Red and black liquid now flowed between the shadows of his form, seamlessly connecting everything together.


    With a shrug, he sped up, gliding across the empty planes until the shadow prison appeared in his sight. He stopped a few steps away, extending his senses to search for any issues.


    "Still sleeping," he mumbled, glancing at the boy inside. "Identify."


    Apex Night Stalker (Voidling) | LVL: 19


    "Of course..." Leo ran a hand across his face. "Five levels from just sitting around and taking in my power."


    Even with the adjustments he had made the last time, it seemed like his Essence was just too powerful for Adam to stay the same. It wasn''t an issue now, not with the vast power gap between them, but if it continued like this...


    Need to figure out something. Soon.


    After a few more adjustments to his Essence flow into the prison, Leo closed his eyes and left the soulscape. He did what he could for the time being.


    "Leo?" Lily''s voice greeted him when I returned to the real world. "How did it go? How''s Adam?"


    "Still sleeping," he answered and stood up. "His is level nineteen now. Once we deal with Payne and his cult, we must focus on Adam. I can''t keep him inside my soul forever."


    The woman gulped and nodded. "We will. We definitely will."


    ''It might be time for you to learn more about rituals and healing arts soon. I don''t know much about them, but it''s a start. We can even ask Naz''Tor about it.''


    We will see, Leo answered through the link. He then looked at his sister. "Alright, let''s go. I bet they are still waiting for us."


    That said, they left his old neighborhood and traveled back toward Eden. True to his words, a large group of people waited at the edge of the safe zone. He quickly identified Frank, Dylan, and Clara among them. Holden was nowhere to be seen, but as a leader with a bunch of survivors to command, that wasn''t surprising.


    "Well, well, well," Leo said once they got into the hearing distance. "What a nice welcoming committee. Were you that worried?"


    Before anybody could say anything, Clara exploded. "Motherfucker! Hale, you turned into a bloody dragon. I don''t care anymore. I call dibs on the first flight!"


    As Lily and Nyx snorted next to him, Leo sighed, palming his snout.


    Ah, for fuck''s sake. Where did I go wrong in life?

 Chapter 189. Split

    "By the way, just so you know, I was serious about that first flight," Clara said as the entire group moved to a more secure location. They still had to stay outside, as Leo couldn''t fit through any of the doors¡ªsomething that Frank promised to fix so he could at least access the warehouse.


    "I can''t fly." He sighed and pointed to the floaters on his back. "See those? They are my supposed wings, and according to my trait, they are still developing. I bet it will be a while before I can use them."


    The woman crossed her arms, pouting. "Ruin my fun, why don''t ya? You became a dragon and don''t have wings. That''s a scam if I ever saw one."


    "I''m not a fucking dragon," he repeated for what felt like a thousandth time. "I just have a head similar to those bloody reptiles. That''s all."


    "So, no breathing fire?" Lily asked from her position beside him, an amused grin on her lips.


    Not you, too, he thought. "No. No fire."


    "What about the desire to hoard stuff?" Frank quipped, joining in the fun.


    Oh, you have to be kidding me. He pinched his snout, closed his eyes, and counted to ten. "I swear, I will eat you all if you don''t shut up. Where is Holden when you need him?"


    The Fallen chuckled. "All right, enough of that. No reason to tickle the sleeping dragon." The man quickly raised his hands when Leo threw him a glare. "Just kidding, kidding. Tony should be here soon. I told Dylan to fetch him."


    "Great," Leo muttered. "How are things here after today?"


    "Better than we expected," Clara moved to answer. "We had a few people panicking while the Myrdrak raged across the city, but most remained calm if obviously scared."


    "Aye, and now they want to throw a party," Frank snorted. "Bastards did a complete one-eighty when the rewards came. I think everyone here experienced a complete rollercoaster of emotions today."


    "Party?" Lily perked up. "I''m down. My last drink was an open bottle of beer I found in one of the ruined flats. I could use something better."


    Leo almost facepalmed when Clara jumped at the declaration. "Now, that''s what I''m talking about, sister! Finally, a kindred soul. We''re gonna get along just fine."


    Yeah, that''s what I''m worried about, he grumbled internally. "You''re not drinking anything today, Lily," he said before the two women could make more plans. "One of us still needs to go back to London today."


    "Ah, shite. I forgot about that." His sister looked at Clara and shrugged. "Sorry. Maybe next time?"


    The redhead grinned. "Definitely. I bet I can persuade Tony to¡ª"


    "Persuade me, you say? To what?" Holden''s familiar voice stopped the woman from finishing her sentence. "Go on, I''m listening."


    "Maybe another time." Clara chuckled sheepishly. "Nice of you to join us, Tony."


    "I see," Holden muttered and turned away from her. "Leo, Lily. Good to have you back. We were a bit worried when you didn''t return after the last notification came. My scouts couldn''t find you either."


    Leo shrugged. "We''ve been around, as you see. My new evolution took almost two hours. I had to do it instantly, or I would lose some stuff."


    "Understandable." The man nodded, looking around. "Where''s your other companion? I thought... she would be with you."


    "Nyx can''t enter safe zones yet," he explained, hoping to ease some tension. "And yes, just like I said before, she is a female. I can talk with her thanks to our link, so you don''t need to fear that she is some unintelligent beast. Trust me, she is far from that."


    "When it comes to you, I can believe that." Frank chuckled, throwing an arm around Holden. "How do you even get a companion like that?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Leo offered him a wry smile. "It''s complicated."


    "I bet." Lily snorted quietly, but he ignored her. He wasn''t planning to explain anything about Nyx anyway.


    "Enough about that," Holden stated. "I would appreciate it if you could tell us what happened after we left. The entire city heard the roars and buildings collapsing left and right, but aside from that, we know nothing."


    Leo shared a look with his sister, and they both nodded, beginning the short tale. He let Lily talk as long as she could before taking over when they got to the part where he had to embrace the third stage of Ruthless Efficiency. He finished with his evolution at his old house, and there was that.


    "So those bloody nest mothers can rebuild entire Nightmare factories?" Frank whistled. "Bloody hell. We dodged a bullet here. I bet the new graveyard would be twice as dangerous as the previous one."


    "Knowing the Void, you''re probably right," Lily said.


    "I don''t know about you, but I''m more curious about those domains," Clara pointed out. "That Nightmare used it to block out the effects of the sun and create a barrier of lightning. Just imagine what else it can do."


    "Indeed." Holden nodded. "Leo, do you know anything else about those things? If even a few of us learn to use them..."


    As the Chief of Eden let the words hang between them, Leo shook his head. "I told you all I know. I could ask the Void merchant for more info, but for some reason, I doubt I have the necessary funds to pay for it."


    Holden grimaced. "Aye, I can see how that would be a problem. Still, if you could just ask."


    "Sure, no promises, though."


    "I don''t expect any. However, I would like to know what you plan to do next. Wolford is fairly safe now. The obvious thing would be to establish contact with the other leader of Lily''s group and start organizing ourselves."


    Leo nodded. "That''s pretty much it. Lily and Nyx will return to London as soon as we finish here and start preparing people there."


    "What?!" The feline and his sister shouted at the same time.


    Fully expecting this reaction, he elaborated, "I can''t go yet. I''m unused to this body, and then there is the issue with the Void Gate. So, Lily, you obviously have to tell Malcolm what is happening. Nyx will join you, and thanks to our link, we can remain in contact."


    ''We haven''t tested our bond over such a big distance yet,'' the feline pointed out in his head.


    Well, there''s no time like the present. I''m sorry, but this needs to happen if we want to organize ourselves properly.


    ''Doesn''t mean I have to like it.''


    No, you don''t, but think of it this way. There is nothing for you to kill in Wolford, and you still need one level for evolution. You can get that in London.


    This time, she didn''t argue. As such, Leo turned to Lily and quirked his non-existent eyebrow. "So what will it be? Nyx agreed."


    "I will go." She sighed. "I don''t have any better idea anyway. But when will you return?"


    "Hopefully as soon as the Void Gate is dealt with." He looked at Holden. "Think we can gather some people that would like to go with me in three days?"


    Frank beat the other man to the answer. "Aye, with the levels we all gained from Myrdrak and Graveyard, it won''t be a problem. You can even help me with training those who want to go. They could use some experience fighting against opponents who are much stronger and have an affinity."


    "Sure, why not."


    He could always use those spars as a way to get familiar with his body again. Learning control against weaker enemies should even speed that up. Besides, nobody said he couldn''t practice his skills and affinity in the meantime.


    "Bloody great!" Frank exclaimed. "We have a plan, then¡ªor at least a base of one. Tony, how are we on Ether? When can we enable that whitelist feature for Eden?"


    Right. Forgot about that.


    "We are sitting at over eight thousand. I can buy it even now," Holden stated. "Graveyard''s destruction really solved a lot of our problems. A few people even received some useful items."


    "Lucky bastards." Frank shook his head. "I barely got any Ether."


    "You didn''t do anything," Clara was quick to point out.


    "What?! I trained those people!" The Fallen scowled. "If not for me, I bet they would have screwed up somewhere."


    Leo chuckled, seeing Holden glaring at the bickering pair.


    Ah, might as well, he mused and reached for an item within his soul. Then he promptly threw it towards Frank, who stopped talking and caught the glass-like globe filled with a sickly green substance.


    "Huh? A poison core? Why give me that?"


    "Because standing next to you is like breathing in poison," Clara muttered.


    Snorting, Leo elaborated. "Use it however you wish. You might get lucky and get an affinity out of it."


    Frank blinked before shrugging. "Doubt that, but thanks."


    "If you''re done, we should finish here. Work is waiting, and the night is near," Holden said, looking at the settling sun.


    "I should get going then," Lily stated, stretching her wings. "Where''s Nyx?"


    "Waiting for you on the road we came from," Leo answered and hugged his sister. It was awkward with his new form, but still better than nothing. "Good luck out there, and be careful. If you see Payne, let Nyx know right away. I will be there as fast as possible."


    "You got it." She grinned. "Have fun babysitting."


    Before he could answer, Lily jumped high and flew away. He shook his head fondly.


    Stay safe out there.

 Chapter 190. Adjustments

    Looks good enough, Leo mused as he stopped in the middle of the old town square. The ex-Tainted Wasteland was almost empty, save for a few Cursed Reapers and Sprinters wandering around. Of course, none of them even dared to look in his direction.


    I don''t really need to care about the night, so I can stay here as long as I want. Let''s see. He pulled up the list of his skills and techniques. Skills first, affinity after. I should also check just how hard I hit now. Oh, and test out my new tail and blades¡ªcan''t forget about those.


    With a clear plan in his head, Leo decided to go for his most important skills first. Essence flared in his veins and muscles, activating Reinforcement to its limit and then pushing past it. Unlike before, his body held the ability for over two minutes before his blood turned into lava.


    "Not bad," he muttered, letting his burning muscles rest for a moment. "It is much stronger than before evolution and yet lasted longer. Those points in Might are really paying off. My Akirian trait might have something to do with this, too."


    He shrugged and moved on to the next ability¡ªKiss of Death. It activated without any issue and consumed his claws in the blink of an eye. He did the same to the spikes on his tail and nodded at the instant success.


    No changes here. The skill is as perfect as it can get in this form.


    The same went for Phantom Erasure, as while initially difficult, this ability became as easy to perform as breathing after enough practice. Now, all that remained was to push it to the next stage¡ªsomething Leo wanted to do in the next three days.


    All right, Stealth Shroud next.


    It was the skill he had the least experience with, and as soon as it activated, it showed. With his new body, imperfections again appeared all over the protective barrier because he just forgot to give the ability enough power.


    Again.


    The next attempt went a bit better. The skill still struggled to form in the beginning, but after some direct interference, the shroud finally settled over his skin. It was far from perfect, but nothing some practice couldn''t fix. The night was long, after all.


    "Now, Decoy and"¡ªhe grimaced¡ª"Blink."


    Just the thought of using the latter ability in his new body sent shivers down his spine. He didn''t doubt for a second that relearning it would be a painful experience. Not that he could avoid it. Blink was vital in the fighting style he had been trying to develop.


    Decoy first, though, he decided with a firm nod.


    To his surprise, the ability worked without almost any issue. Within a few seconds, he managed to push a perfect illusionary clone out of his body, and it didn''t look any different from the original. Now, he just had to work a bit on lowering the activation time. He rarely used it mid-combat, but if he could spew out tens of decoys in a matter of a second?


    I have the reserves for it now. He mused, confirming that his soul was still almost full. Now Blink...


    Leo took a deep breath and rolled his long neck. He planted his feet firmly in the scorched ground and let Essence flow into his body. Like any other time, he released it all in a single burst.


    It all went wrong.


    "Fuck!" he screamed as he was sent tumbling across the earth. He threw his claws out and stopped instantly, already cursing his existence. "Fucking hell. This went about as well as I expected. Damnit¡­"


    Despite his complaints, the trip across the ground barely hurt. He was far more angry at the complete failure than any potential injuries. His balance was completely off during the beginning of the skill, and even the release of Essence wasn''t perfect.


    "This will definitely take most of the night." He sighed and stood up, preparing for another attempt.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Spread it all over. Give it a bit more power. And... Now!


    Instantly, he flashed a few feet away from his old position. Yet, despite arriving there on two feet, the power of Blink didn''t end there and continued pushing him onward. He collapsed again, landing face-first in the ground.


    "Ouch." He winced. "That hurt a bit. I might have given it too much Essence this time."


    Another attempt proved that, indeed, he used way too much power for Blink. He still finished on the ground, but at least this time around, he didn''t eat dirt. So, while not a large improvement, this was enough for him for now. The rest would come later; he still had two skills to check.


    At once, Leo dived for the nearest Cursed Reaper. The Voidling tried to run, but a single flare of Essence stopped the beast mid-step. He grabbed it by the neck and extended the blade on his other hand.


    "Let''s see how Devour fares now." He grinned and plunged the blade into the Voidling''s heart. Devour ignited along with the attack, already pulling on the beast''s life force.


    While before, the skill worked like an angry hound that was forever hungry, this time, it ate like the personification of the sin of gluttony itself. The moment the Reaper died from its wounds, Devour literally ripped its body apart, turning it into dust before Leo could even blink.


    To make it better, the amount of Essence extracted was quite higher than before the evolution. That could have happened due to the Voidling''s strength, but he doubted that. He had devoured plenty of stronger beasts, and even they didn''t give him that much energy.


    I wonder if the odds of getting attribute points went up. Now, that would be a pleasant surprise. Of course, he didn''t believe it did, but it was a nice thought.


    "All right, one last skill," he muttered, reaching for the bloodlust sleeping in the depths of his mind.


    It rushed forward with just a nudge, bringing along the familiar rage and hunger. Yet, unlike even during the first stage of Ruthless Efficiency, he barely felt those emotions¡ªthey were there, just muted.


    Following the bloodlust, a wave of power came next, one that almost matched the second stage of his old skill. At the same time, his vision darkened slightly, and the Voidlings in his sight turned a particular shade of red. It was like Relentless Hunger was highlighting the surrounding prey for him.


    Could be useful if this works in low-visibility areas.


    To keep the ability active, Leo pounced on the closest monster, cutting off its head with a single strike. He devoured it on the spot, blinking as the body disappeared even faster than before.


    Right... it boosts the consumption rate, too. Forgot about that.


    He continued jumping from Voidling to Voidling, fighting to keep Relentless Hunger online for as long as possible. He wanted to see just how the ''ramping up'' affected the rage and hunger waiting in the back of his mind.


    For minutes, he ran across the streets, slaughtering everything in his way. Just as his strength and speed grew, so did his bloodlust. At the five-minute mark, it started pushing against his mind, trying to force its rage onto him. Fighting it off didn''t take much effort, but he could see how it would become a problem after a bit more time.


    At least the power increase is noticeable, he noted, disabling the ability.


    While not at the level of the last stage of Ruthless Efficiency, it definitely matched and maybe even outperformed Blaze after some charging. Once he got some practice with this new skill, he should be able to easily push it even further without falling victim to his bloodlust.


    Much better than being a passenger in my own body. He chuckled and pulled up his techniques. There was one thing he wanted to check out there. There you are.


    Ruination: Minor Takeover (Master)


    This technique grants complete control of a Voidborn creature. Success is guaranteed unless the target''s level or overall strength is higher than the user''s. Additionally, special types of Voidlings will resist this technique. Physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Limit of controlled Void-borns: 30


    "Thirty?" His eyes opened wide. "Holy shit, it doubled. Nyx, you hear that?"


    The feline, who was still running towards London with his sister, snorted internally. ''I did. Will you finally fill those slots? For a skill so powerful, you rarely use it.''


    Leo winced at the truth of those words. "I''m planning to change that tomorrow. I just need to warn Holden. He still has no clue I can do that."


    ''Right. You hid it from them. Have fun explaining yourself now.''


    "I think a demonstration will be perfect," he said, a plan already forming in his mind.


    ''Leo, please...'' She sighed. ''You know what, never mind. Do what you want. Just don''t scare those poor humans to death."


    He chuckled. "I won''t. How is it going on your side?"


    ''We''re nearing London''s outskirts. Nothing tried to stop us for now.''


    "Good. Keep your eyes open, and let me know once you arrive. I won''t bother you in the meantime."


    ''Will do.''

 Short Announcement - New schedule + More

    Yo!


    To make this official, I decided to make this a separate post.


    Sooo... Those of you who read my author notes already know that I am planning to change the update schedule from 3 chapters a week to 5 (Monday to Friday, every day). Here, I''m confirming it to make it official. Now you can hunt me if I don''t keep the schedule (Please don''t).


    Anyway, how long will this schedule last? Honestly, I have no idea, but it will definitely last until the end of book 3, which is 30 chapters away (so, for now, six weeks). Afterward, I will be taking a short break (Both here and on Patreon) for a week, maybe two, but I''m not sure yet.


    Once this break ends, I will decide whether this schedule is something I can sustain (or, rather, if it''s capable of sustaining me). Now, some of you will probably think that I will only take Patreon numbers into consideration.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    That''s untrue, but I won''t lie¡ªthose numbers will have a big impact. I also care about views and engagement in each chapter. After all, if no one is reading the book (or the views are slowly dying), then what''s the point? I might love this story, but this isn''t really a hobby for me any longer. I have to be real with myself.


    Anyway, that''s mostly it for today. The new schedule begins tomorrow. Of course, if you would like to read ahead right now, you can head to my Patreon. Currently, there are 41 advanced chapters there. I''m also updating there every day, weekends included. That will last until there are 50 chapters on Patreon; then, the schedule will be the same as on RR.


    Alright, now, I''m done, I promise. Thank you all for reading and supporting this book. It''s been a long ride, and I hope you will be here with me in the future. Also, let me know in the comments if there is something about the story you would like to know. I won''t spoil anything, but maybe there is something I failed to explain properly, or you just don''t understand.


    Have a great day/night.

 Chapter 191. Sharing

    "There you are!" Frank shouted. "I''ve been looking for you the entire night... Well, some of it, anyway. Were you out?"


    Leo shrugged as they passed through Eden''s border and continued toward the main building. "The Nightmares are gone from the city, and I had some stuff to do. Seemed like a good idea not to bother everyone here when they rest."


    "Aye, I guess that''s fair," the Fallen said. "You sure there are no Nightmares hiding anywhere else? If it''s really safe, then I could get a group going for night raids."


    "For now, it is." He raised his hand before the other man could say anything. "But I have no idea about tomorrow, two days from now or a week. There are plenty of small towns nearby; Nightmares can come from there."


    "Shite, you''re right. Here goes my perfect plan."


    Leo chuckled. "I never said that you shouldn''t go out. Just stick close to the safe zone and always keep your eyes peeled out for danger. You can usually see and hear a Nightmare coming from far a mile away. Well, Collectors, at least, and I''m pretty sure you can handle a Scouter as a group."


    Frank hummed, scratching his chin. "That could work. But just in case, would you mind watching over us if we wanted to go a bit deeper into the city? Not too far, just somewhere with more Voidlings."


    Would I? he mused and shook his head. "Sure. It''s not like I can''t practice in the meantime. Just let me know beforehand, okay?"


    "You got it, mate." The other man clapped him on the back. "Oh, and before I forget, we can have that training session in the evening today if you are free."


    Leo raised an eyebrow. "Already have a group ready for London? You''re fast."


    "Mostly ready," Frank corrected. "I still have a few people to ask, but I will get that done before the evening. So what do you say?"


    "Bring them to the town square when you have everybody. It''s cleared out for the most part, and nobody will get in the way. I will be waiting there."


    "Will do," the man said as they stopped next to the entrance to the office building. "I would like to talk a bit longer, but time waits for no one. I got plenty of stuff to do and idiots to scream at. I will see you later, Hale."


    "No worries. I can entertain myself for a while." Leo waved him off. "But before you go. You know where Dylan is?"


    Frank stopped in the middle of the entrance, furrowing his brow. "If I remember correctly, he should be with the other mages somewhere behind the warehouse. No idea what they''re doing there, though. You gotta ask them or Tony."


    He nodded. "I will just go there and see for myself. Thanks."


    "No problem. Have fun with the nerds," Fallen called out as he disappeared into the building.


    Leo snorted and resumed walking, his long strides carrying him toward his new destination. Plenty of survivors watched him go, their eyes following his every movement. Some even stopped working to gape at him, but at least no one tried to say anything.


    And just when they were getting used to my old form. He shook his head as he turned the corner. Just like Frank said, a small group of people, including Dylan, were strewn around the empty area there.


    Would you look at that, he mused in his head, watching dozens of multicolored streaks of light dance in the air. Sometimes, they were joined by tiny bolts of lightning, streams of flames, or even bits of flowing water that fought to destroy the pure Essence.


    The entire group was so taken with their exercise that none of them even noticed his approach. Leo sighed and cleared his throat loudly.


    Like a domino, the streaks of light disappeared one after another as at least two people yelped when their eyes fell on him. To make it more amusing, everyone took a few steps back, leaving only Dylan standing in the same spot.


    Cute. He snorted.


    "Ah, Leo!" the older man exclaimed. "What brings you here, lad? I thought you were out in the city."


    He shrugged and came a bit closer, ignoring the whispers from the rest of the group. "I''m taking a break, and we haven''t talked in a while. You managed to evolve since I left for London."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    True to his words, Dylan, like most of the high-level survivors in Eden, obtained the Ascended Human evolution. It might not be anything special, but it was good to see that everyone was steadily progressing.


    "Tyler and Laura did, too," the mage commented. "I thought of maybe going for the Fallen Human evolution, but well..."


    Leo offered him a knowing look. "Tyler?"


    "That and my own hesitation. Even after seeing what you and Frank can do, it ain''t easy abandoning a part of your humanity."


    "Yeah, I can understand that." He glanced at the other humans nearby. "So what are you all doing here? That was a nice light show, but quite frankly, I don''t get the point."


    "It''s a little experiment we came up with together," Dylan perked up, excitement shining in his eyes. "Mostly, it''s just helping us practice control over pure Essence. Though lately, we also started throwing our System-given techniques into the mix. We are hoping that maybe by manipulating those, we can get an affinity, even if it''s a minor one."


    Leo blinked. He didn''t expect that. "And how is it going for you?"


    "Honestly? Quite good." The mage grinned. "The lightning, fire, and water you saw just a moment ago? Those weren''t techniques. We summoned those elements with our own willpower. They are still weak as hell, but it''s something."


    It definitely is, he thought, scanning the entire group. "And it''s only you five doing this?"


    "For now." Dylan nodded. "I report every finding to Tony at the end of each session. If our hard work pays off, then other people will follow in our steps."


    So they are like some sort of an R&D department?


    While Leo found this entire idea interesting, there was something he could offer them that should speed up the entire process by quite a bit. After all, there was no reason for him to withhold information like this any longer. He could always say that he learned those things from Naz''Tor.


    I wouldn''t even be lying this time.


    "I might be able to help you all out with your affinities," he said, earning Dylan''s and the rest of the group''s attention. "There is a skill I learned that is apparently used by everyone in the Void to develop and strengthen affinities. Don''t get me wrong, it ain''t easy to get right, but once you do, the sky is the limit."


    Quite literally at that, he added in the safety of his mind.


    "You would do that?" Dylan''s eyes widened. "Don''t you have better things to do than teach a bunch of low-levels?"


    Leo chuckled. "I''m on a break, remember? Besides, I can only give you the basic steps and explain how the skill works. You will have to figure out the rest on your own. From what I learned, everyone enters their soulscape differently."


    "Well, then, I can''t say no to an offer like that." Dylan smiled and turned to the rest of the group. "Ya bunch of dunderheads, come. You heard the big man himself. He is gonna teach us a skill. Sit down and listen."


    Even if the other four humans hesitated to join, they still did after Dylan glared at them. They all sat down in a circle, and Leo explained everything about Soulscape. He didn''t spare any details, sharing all he learned from Nikra and Naz''Tor.


    Although, even after he described the ability to develop affinities, they all were more excited about the prospect of hiding items inside their soul. Those people really needed to work on their priorities.


    ''You are helping everyone lately,'' Nyx suddenly spoke in his mind.


    Keeping himself from reacting to the sudden intrusion, he replied, I would love to say that I''m doing this out of the goodness of my heart, but it''s far from that.


    ''Oh?''


    Those people are gonna help us fight against the Supercluster and maybe even against Payne''s group. The stronger they are, the better for all of us, he explained. I can spare some time if it means they won''t be completely useless. Regardless, it''s a win for me.


    ''I see..." Nyx muttered and remained silent for a moment. ''Do you ever wonder how it would be if you didn''t have to worry about other people? If it was only you against the world?''


    Leo cut off from the discussion happening next to him and focused on the unexpected question.


    I don''t, or at least I try not to, he answered in their link. Nothing good ever comes from thinking about stuff like that. Our situation might not be the best, but it''s far from the worst. We just have to keep working to make it better.


    Nyx hummed but didn''t say anything. For a short moment, the silence continued in their link, and Leo used this chance to excuse himself from the group of mages. He told them all he could; the rest lay in their hands.


    How is it going in London? Anything changed? he asked as he walked toward the safe zone''s border.


    ''Not really. Malcolm and Lily are working on preparing their low-level people for the move. Aside from that, I''ve been on a short hunt with a few humans. Nothing too exciting.''


    Still no level?


    ''No,'' Nyx grumbled. ''I am tempted to jump into the Supercluster and just absorb the Essence there.''


    Please don''t. Leo blanched.


    ''Just kidding. I have another round of babysitting soon. At least this time Malcolm is coming, so maybe we''re going to hunt something stronger.''


    Good luck, then. I''m on my way to prepare a little surprise for this evening''s training session.


    Nyx snorted. ''Please let me know when everything''s ready. I wanna watch their reactions.''


    Leo grinned. Oh, trust me, I will.

 Chapter 192. Lesson in power

    "Here they come," Leo muttered as a large group of survivors, with Frank in the lead, stepped into the town square. Everyone had their weapons drawn, their wary eyes watching him, and the horde of Voidlings behind him.


    They stopped far away, only letting the Fallen leader approach. He snorted and stood up, nodding at the frowning man.


    "Nice group, you got there," he said, glancing at the people in the back. "Thirteen Ascended Humans and..." He paused as he continued counting. "Five Fallen. Not bad at all."


    "Aye, they are the best we got," Frank muttered, his gaze still glued to the horde of Voidlings. "Say... I thought this place would be cleared out. Why are those fuckers standing like it''s some school assembly? Or a better question: How?!"


    Leo chuckled, as he indeed placed all of his minions in two rows, each with fifteen Voidlings in it. "This is one of my skills or rather techniques. It lets me control up to thirty Voidlings if they aren''t too strong."


    The Fallen Human blinked and then blinked again. "Hold up a damn minute! Did you just say control? Like you can tell them all to lay down and let us kill them."


    He shrugged. "Pretty much. But please wait with the killing for now. It took me almost two hours to gather them all here."


    "That''s what you''re worried about?!" Frank shouted, looking at him as if he had lost his mind. "Motherfucker! You can control bloody Voidlings! That... How..." He shook his head. "No, that should be impossible."


    Leo let the man ramble for another minute before finally cutting him off. "All right, that''s enough. I know this is a surprise, a big one, but get a grip, man. Your little squadron is watching."


    "Bloody hell." Frank sighed, taking a few deep breaths. "Okay, fine. This is still fucking mad, but okay, I''m good, I swear." The man then looked at him again. "How?"


    As with anything related to him and Void, Leo recited his made-up story. "It''s an ability unique to me¡ªto an affinity I gained back in London. I can''t tell you how or why I got it. Trust me, it''s best that no one knows the details. All I can tell you is that this ability cannot be taught or given. I am the sole user."


    "Shite," Frank said after a moment of silence as he walked in circles. "That''s a bloody lot to take in, you know that, right? We saw your shadow affinity and what you can do even without it, but this? This is madness. I don''t even know what to tell you. Tony would be much better for this. Fuck... Does he even know about this?


    He instantly shook his head. "No. You are the first in Wolford. I thought a demonstration would be a good way to begin explaining."


    The Fallen snorted, again glancing at the monsters in the distance. "That''s a hell of a demonstration, Hale. Bloody fuck... All right, just got to accept the impossible and just move on. Simple like that," he muttered to himself before looking up. "Right¡­ First things first. Are you sure you are the only person in the world that can control Voidlings?"


    "No. My skill is unique, but I bet there are plenty of other methods of controlling weak beasts, be it directly or indirectly. I won''t lie, though. What I have possesses the potential to outgrow them all."


    "Of course it does. Why wouldn''t it?" The man mumbled, shaking his head. "Ah fuck it, whatever. What''s the plan then? I thought we would just do some sparring, but well..."


    And here''s the Frank I know. Ignore the bullshit and go straight to the point.


    "The small horde behind me will be a warmup. I want to see how you all fight. Afterward, we can do whatever you''ve planned. Sounds good?"


    Frank nodded after a moment. "Aye, we can do that. Just one thing before we begin. Are we allowed to kill them?"


    Leo grinned like only a dragon could. "Yeah. Go wild. I will be up there." He pointed to the building behind the horde. "Scream when we can begin."


    With that, they separated. Frank walked back to his squad, already screaming orders, while Leo jumped onto the roof and settled on the edge, waiting for the signal.


    It took a couple of minutes before the Fallen screamed, but when he did, the entire horde rushed forward. The humans answered in kind, the warriors stepping in front while a pair of assassins went for the flanks. Rangers and mages¡ªDylan included¡ª settled in the back, their glowing arrows and elemental techniques already sailing toward the running Voidlings.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    A few monsters fell before they even reached the warriors, which only enraged the rest more. Leo focused on the tiny connections in his mind and ordered a few Voidlings to ignore the heavy frontline and push for the backline. He also warned the entire horde of some of the incoming attacks.


    He couldn''t make it too easy after all. Not that commanding over two dozen Voidlings came without any disadvantages. Even without giving orders directly, his mind could barely handle so many links at the same time. And now that he took an active part in the battle, his head hurt more with each second, bringing forth the mother of all headaches.


    Guess that''s another reason for the limit on Takeover. Leo massaged his scalp while working on sending more orders to his minions.


    Yet even with his help, the horde began to dwindle. An assassin would always come to intercept any Voidling that got past the warriors, and then a ranger would assist them. The humans fought well, and with Frank at the front, a monster died every few seconds.


    They know to cover their backs and have more firepower than I expected...


    Even with only pure Essence and some low-level techniques in their arsenal, the mages could obliterate a Voidling in as many as two hits. The same went for the rangers, whose ability to manipulate and enhance arrows was quite impressive. Hell, even the warriors could one-shot a Voidling with a well-placed strike.


    Moon Slice, Leo reminded himself as another man released an arc of white Essence from his sword. It cut right through a Reaper''s arm, leaving behind a bleeding stump. A glowing arrow then came out of nowhere, exploding the moment it hit the beast''s head.


    With that, the final Takeover link in his mind disappeared. At the same time, his headache calmed down. He let out a deep sigh and jumped off the roof, clapping his hands.


    "Well done!" He shouted, freezing everyone in place. "You guys don''t even look too tired. You got a decent squad here, Frank."


    The Fallen turned away from a woman Leo recognized from his trip to London, and grinned. "I fucking trained them. If we failed against a horde this small, I would have drunk my piss and become Clara''s slave."


    Oddly specific but okay. You do you, I guess.


    "Any injuries?" he asked, deciding not to acknowledge what the other man just said.


    Frank looked between his people and shrugged. "A few cuts, nothing else. You had them pull their punches, didn''t you?"


    "A bit." Leo nodded. "I would rather not be responsible for any deaths during a training session. Don''t worry, though; I cut off twenty percent of their power at most."


    "Very well," the Fallen said and turned to his group. "Groups of three, just like I told you, maggots! Move!"


    Instantly, everyone broke from their frozen state and followed the order. Within a minute, six groups of three survivors stood before them, all waiting for the next step.


    "Good, you''re going first!" Frank shouted, pointing at the squad closest to them. "Remember everything I told you and do your best. Everyone else, back off!"


    As they did that, Leo scanned his first opponents. Two warriors and a mage. All level twenty-one. He narrowed his eyes. Huh, those are the people I rescued back in the Ice Wasteland.


    "Ready, Hale?" Frank asked, stopping his observations.


    "Always." He grinned. "Just one question. How hard should I go on them?"


    "As long as they remain in one piece, I don''t care. Do whatever you must to show what they can go up against in London. And I''m not talking only about Voidlings."


    Leo nodded, the grin disappearing from his face. "You got it."


    After exchanging a few more words with the trio, Frank walked away, joining the others on the side. Then, he put his hand in the air and shouted, "Begin!"


    All three humans ran forward, raising their weapons. The mage stayed behind, already firing pure Essence spikes at him. Leo leaned out of the way, watching the projectiles pass him almost in slow motion.


    Two Moon Slices headed at him next, and this time, he let them hit him right in the chest. It barely hurt. A sting from a mosquito was more annoying than the discomfort left by those attacks.


    The warriors noticed it, too, and stuttered in their step. This was probably the first time someone tanked their skills and walked away from it without any scratch.


    My turn.


    Before the group could close the remaining distance to him, tendrils of shadows exploded out of the ground. They swallowed the humans whole, leaving only their heads peaking out at the top. It all happened within seconds, and Leo had to stifle a chuckle seeing their bewildered expressions.


    "Affinities are powerful. They can affect the entire battlefield with little effort," he said, his voice filling the entire town square. "Approaching as you did might work for a weaker Voidling, but a Nightmare, another person?" He shook his head. "You will die before you can blink... Always study your surroundings and look for any inconsistencies."


    With that, he canceled Resonance, ignoring the gasps as his shadows slithered over the ground back to him. Instead, he let his Essence go back to sleep and extended his blade.


    "Let''s go again, shall we?" Leo looked the trio dead in the eyes. "This time for real, without my affinity."

 Chapter 193. Minor discoveries

    Four sword-wielding humans ran at him once more, and Leo twirled around their strikes. Despite his large size, his agility and speed allowed him to easily weave between everything that came his way¡ªwell, almost everything.


    Shit.


    In the corner of his vision, he spotted another salvo of arrows flying at him. Alone, they weren''t a problem, but a second later, all those projectiles glowed and at least tripled in numbers. In addition, streaks of Essence, both pure and elemental, came at him from all sides, trying to cut off his escape path.


    I see what you are doing. Leo chuckled internally and ran at the four melee fighters instead, letting all the projectiles pass him.


    The first man barely had time to blink before he went down. Another one only saw the flash of Leo''s tail as they were sent tumbling across the ground. He tried to do the same to the remaining duo, but they stopped and sent a Moon Slice at him, one after another.


    This time, he dodged, as while taking one of those to the chest didn''t hurt, five or more just might. Besides, tanking an attack he could avoid went against every single one of his battle instincts. That and he didn''t want to develop any more bad habits.


    Void knows I have enough of those. He snorted and gathered Essence in his entire body. Then, with a single flick, he pushed in all out at the same time, flashing right next to the two stupified warriors. Before they could gather their bearings, he put his arm blades next to their neck and grinned.


    "Dead."


    The duo nodded with a gulp and raised their hands. Instantly, all the other humans on the battlefield lowered their weapons and let out a collective sigh. With their frontline down, the fight had come to an end, just like they had agreed on.


    "Not bad, not bad at all," Leo said, pulling his blades away. "You baited me into a corner and forced me to use a skill. For such a level gap between us, I say that''s impressive."


    As the other survivors came closer, one with a limp in her step grumbled, "There were nine of us, and you''re still holding back, sir."


    He grimaced, both because this was the woman he punched with his tail and due to the honorific. During the last three hours of the training session, everyone here decided to call him ''sir'' as if he were some drill sergeant. Frank''s amused gaze didn''t help his annoyance at all.


    At least they are no longer scared. That''s a plus. Leo shook his head and looked at the woman¡ªLin if he had remembered correctly.


    "Doesn''t change the fact that you all did well," he said. "Coordination in the backline could use a little bit of work, but overall, I think you could take on a Collector. Maybe even two."


    "I couldn''t agree more!" Frank shouted, announcing his presence as he approached along with the rest of the group. "You were never meant to defeat Hale here. This bastard is far beyond us... Yet, just like he said, you all exceeded our expectations. Gotta say, quite impressive for a bunch of maggots who never fought anything before the Outbreak."


    Of course he had to compliment and insult them in the same sentence. Leo rolled his eyes. At least everyone is eating it up... Never mind, almost everyone, he thought as he spotted a few people looking down at their feet, frowning.


    "Even if you think you did bad, there are still a few days before we head out," he spoke, catching everyone''s attention again. "Use this time to train, practice your abilities, and kill as many Voidlings as you want. And if any of you want to back out and stay here to protect Eden, then there is no shame in that. Right, Frank?"


    The Fallen nodded right away. "Of course. I might scream, and I might be a dickhead to you, but I would never make any of you go with me against your will. London is dangerous, so if after this session you think you can''t go, please let me know."


    With that, the discontent within the crowd lessened, though some still looked unsure.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Frank must have seen it too, as he quickly added, "You don''t have to decide today. Take your time and think about it. Until then, we will keep on training and getting stronger. Maybe Hale will even agree to help us again."


    He sighed at the unsubtle manipulation. "I will."


    "Hear that!?" The Fallen shouted, slapping Leo''s shoulder. "We run it back tomorrow. Now gather your stuff and move out. We''re going back to Eden for some deserved rest."


    As one, the entire crowd turned away and walked off, chatter exploding all over the area. Leo and Frank stayed back, watching them go for a moment.


    "You coming?" The other man asked.


    "Not yet." He shook his head. "I want to check on the Void Gate and then scout the surroundings during the night. I thought a bit about our conversation back at Eden and decided to see if we still have to worry about Nightmares here."


    "Got ya. How far do you plan to go?"


    Leo shrugged. "A few kilometers, maybe a bit more. That should cover the nearest villages."


    "I will let Tony know then. Do you need a map? I bet it would be easier with one than just running blindly," Frank pointed out.


    He just waved the other man off. "I will manage. I''ve lived here long enough to know the area."


    "Your call, mate. Have fun. Talk to you tomorrow."


    With that said, the man walked away, joining the rest of the group. Leo waited until they disappeared behind the corner before activating Stealth Shroud. At this point, the skill was almost back to normal, but a bit more practice couldn''t hurt.


    I will wait for the night and then go. He nodded and got to work.


    <hr>


    Now that''s interesting, Leo commented as he looked at the Collector a few feet away from him. The beast looked back, its glowing eyes blinking curiously. Really interesting.


    Collector (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: E | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Surface, Regenerator, Might


    Yep, that''s definitely a Nightmare. Why are you not attacking, my guy? He had already dropped Stealth Shroud and even waved at the monster. The Collector ignored it all and continued staring.


    "Oh well, might as well try." He shrugged and pounced on the Nightmare, slapping a hand on its chest. Minor Takeover.


    The mass of Ruination-attuned Essence rushed out in waves, crashing against the Collector''s body. It flinched, its eyes going wide as more and more energy invaded its being. For a moment, it seemed like the technique would work, but then the Nightmare screeched and slapped the limb holding its chest away.


    As expected. Leo grimaced, feeling a third of his reserves disappear just like that. Thankfully, he had an easy way to replenish them with the Collector now on the ground, screeching and flailing its limbs.


    Even if I can''t control you yet, I can at least disable you. Always something.


    The Nightmare turned to dust within seconds, leaving Leo alone on the street. He had been running for a few hours now, visiting each human settlement he could find. This was the first time he saw something more dangerous than an average Voidling.


    So Nightmares can still be in the area even if there are no graveyards anywhere close. Good to know.


    Not that a single Collector was a threat to him or united Eden, but still. In the end, the trip was successful in his mind. He had learned something new and found two nests nearby. The creatures inside refused to even face him, but they should be just perfect for other survivors.


    With his task for tonight finished, Leo ran back to Wolford and slipped into Eden under the cover of Stealth Shroud. He would need to talk to Holden soon, but for now, he wanted some peace and quiet.


    He settled in a corner away from other people and closed his eyes, reaching toward the System. He had forgotten to check some stuff after the evolution.


    Mutations. Beta Tier. Let''s see...


    A large menu appeared before him, displaying a list much longer than the one in the Gamma tier. He could buy everything here: resistances to some elements, full false affinities that could last months, one-time boosts to attributes, and even an additional limb. There were plenty more, some of which Leo had already decided to get later on. Yet, each of those mutation carried one big problem.


    The price.


    The System required him to pay over a hundred thousand Ether for most of them. And the less said about some of the other requirements, the better. Where could he even get an arm of a 70+ Level blade-dancer type Voidling? Or a fire organ of a Void Drake?


    I might have to stick to Gamma mutations for now. Leo snorted, closing the menu. Now, for the last unknown.


    Just as the dead Prime said, he looked into his soul, going deeper and deeper without entering his soulscape. He had felt something weird there after awakening from his evolution but ignored it until now.


    There!


    Leo had no idea what he had found. It felt similar to his link to Nikra, yet dormant. He poked it a few times with a phantom finger and gasped as a notification appeared in front of him.


    Trials of Primes are waiting for you. Do you wish to begin the first of them now?

 Chapter 194. The first Trial

    Leo opened his eyes and blinked, yet the notification was still there, waiting for his answer. He looked around, confirmed that no one was anywhere close, and reached toward his link to Nyx.


    Are you awake?


    He had to wait a bit for an answer to come. ''Now I am,'' the feline muttered groggily. ''What''s going on? It''s the middle of the night, and I''m tired from yesterday.''


    He frowned. Neither of us needs sleep to recover. Why didn''t you just consume some Voidlings?


    ''I''m mentally exhausted,'' she grumbled. ''You try listening to annoying humans who think you are some kind of a pet for almost the entire day and don''t get tired. If Malcolm wasn''t there, I would have eaten them all.''


    That bad?


    ''Like you wouldn''t believe,'' she whined. ''So what is it, Leo? I really want to go back to my nap and forget this past day.''


    Got ya. I will be quick then, Leo promised. I finally decided to check out those Trials of Primes. The System isn''t too forthcoming with information, and I''m wondering if I should go for it.


    ''Why not? At worst, you can probably cancel whatever happens.'' Nyx paused for a moment. ''You think this trial will trap you in something?''


    He furrowed his brow. Trap? Not sure about that, but if it''s something time-consuming, then I should wait. We have enough going on as it is. The Trials aren''t going anywhere.


    ''I still think you should go for it. At least see what happens. You have been helping people in Eden almost the entire day. You can spare a few hours for this.''


    I guess... He sighed, looking back at the notifications. I will do it then. Thanks for the push. Go rest. I will let you know what happened once you wake up.


    ''Wonderful,'' Nyx mumbled, already half-asleep. ''Have fun, Leo.''


    Sweet dreams, partner, he said back and closed their link. His focus then returned fully to the System prompt, and without any more hesitation, he gave his answer.


    Begin the trial.


    Acknowledged. Please relax and don''t resist the pull. The land behind the Veil is waiting.


    Leo didn''t have time to react to the new notification, as his world turned black within a second. The feeling in his body disappeared, yet his mind''s consciousness remained. The pull came next, sending him flying across the infinite darkness.


    Like the notification warned, he didn''t resist and let the alien sensation take over. Thankfully, it didn''t last long, and just as quickly as the darkness came, it disappeared just as fast. Of course, like most methods of travel within the System, it had to be painful.


    Shit. He grunted as his body crashed into something hard. His eyes opened a bit and then widened as he spotted a vast tropical jungle surrounding him from each side. The Void had no claim on it, and even the sky above him was blue.


    "Where the hell am I?" he muttered, picking himself off the ground.


    "On the edge of reality and the Veil," a voice, or rather a combination of voices, filled the small clearing.


    Leo spun around and narrowed his eyes at the black ghost floating a few feet above the ground. It had no unique features¡ªjust a mouth attached to a half-transparent blob.


    "And you are?" he asked cautiously, remembering his last meeting with weird ghosts.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "A collective," the voices spoke as one again. "We''re the shades of Primes chosen to guide you during this trial. Our name is not important. Our past is gone. Here, only your progress matters. Are you ready, young Prime?"


    Leo frowned. "What is the Veil? Why are you helping me? What are the trials?" he fired off question after question, hoping to gather more information.


    "The Veil? You will learn soon enough. Why are we helping? Because that''s the purpose of all dead Primes. It''s our responsibility to assist the new generations and find the strongest among them. As for the trials?" The ghost smiled. "Tell us, are you ready to begin?"


    Guess that''s better than nothing. He noted, mulling over the collective''s answer. "Say I am. What about the real world? How long will this trial take? I can''t stay here for too long."


    "Time is inconsequential here, youngling," the ghost informed. "Once you finish the trial, you will go back to your real body as if nothing ever happened. You won''t lose even a single second."


    Time dilation? And to this extent? Leo blinked. But how? Nikra said that shit like that isn''t possible even inside a soulscape. Just what the hell is this place?


    Despite those thoughts whirling inside his head, he gulped and nodded. "I''m ready."


    "Excellent!" the ghost exclaimed. "After much consideration, we''ve decided to begin with the Trial of the Hunter. After all, you''re a hunter who cannot hunt. We shall fix that."


    Leo bristled. What did they mean by that? He might not be the best hunter out there, but he sure wasn''t the worst. His job and previous evolution pretty much guaranteed he wasn''t hopeless.


    "You aren''t hopeless, that''s true," the collective reacted directly to his thoughts. "However, you''re missing plenty of the basics. You have no idea how to properly track your target. You have no idea how to use your Hunter''s Pulse effectively. That''s what happens when you progress too fast without ever stopping to practice all of your abilities."


    He winced, unable to deny any of that. While he tried to train as much as he could with his skills, he pretty much ignored his chosen job and everything that came with it. To him, Hunter''s Pulse was just a way to scan buildings for danger.


    "All right." Leo looked up at the ghost. "What do I need to do to complete this trial?"


    "Nothing too hard. It''s your first time here, after all. We shall begin with the proper use of Hunter''s Pulse," the collective explained. "It''s an ancient skill, one developed before the age of the System. Its potential is nigh limitless if used correctly."


    "Up until now, you have been using it in combination with your will, intent, sense of sight, and very limited Essence detection," the ghost continued. "For a beginner, that''s not bad, but to use this skill to its full potential, you must utilize all of your basic senses and improve your Essence detection. Only then will nothing be able to hide from you."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "And how do I do all of that?"


    The ghost smiled. "Immerse yourself in the environment. The rest will come with practice."


    "That''s all?"


    "Indeed. That''s all you will get from us." The collective nodded. "If we led you by the hand during each step, you wouldn''t learn anything. Good luck, youngling. We will return once you succeed. Then the real test will begin."


    The ghost faded out of sight without giving Leo a chance to speak, leaving him alone in the clearing. He still tried to call out for it, hoping that it might return, but of course that didn''t happen.


    "Dammit..." he muttered, sitting on the ground. "Nyx? You hear me? System?"


    Again, no answer came from anywhere. He was trapped here, just like he had feared.


    "Brilliant."


    At this point, Leo just had to hope that the collective''s statement about time dilation was true and that he had unlimited time. If he didn''t... Well, he was pretty sure Nyx and a few others would have some nice things to tell him once he woke up.


    Better get to work, then.


    Crossing his legs, he gathered some Essence into his hand and pushed a general intent of ''detect'' into it. He also tried thinking of all his basic senses while doing that.


    To no one''s surprise, it didn''t work. The Pulse still went out into the world and lit up some stuff in different colors. However, it wasn''t any different from what he had done when following the trail left behind by Lily''s group. His other senses definitely had no impact on his skill.


    So thinking about them isn''t enough. Could''ve expected it wouldn''t be that easy. Maybe I need to let out a Pulse from my ears, nose, and mouth at the same time... No, that just sounds stupid... stupid enough to work.


    And so, Leo gave it a try, and of course it didn''t work. Not that he could even use two Pulses at the same time, much less three or more.


    "All right, another thing to cross off the list," he muttered. "Let''s try to go with what the ghost said."


    Similar to his meditation when he worked on his soulscape, he closed his eyes and filled his body with Essence. He didn''t release a pulse; instead, he allowed his power to seep slowly into the environment in small waves. At the same time, he focused on his sense of smell, hearing, touch, and even taste as he tried to feel everything around him.


    Then suddenly, a massive Pulse escaped his body, and his eyes snapped open. He watched as his vision filled with dozens of colorful trails and other weird points of interest. A wave of whispers, scents, and tastes assaulted his senses, only to disappear a second later, along with everything else.


    Leo blinked and shook his head.


    Okay... That was interesting...

 Chapter 195. The Way of the Hunter

    Hours or maybe even days flew by as Leo continued to work on his Hunter''s Pulse. After his limited success in the beginning, he tried to achieve something similar in the next attempt. Yet, no matter how long he meditated beforehand or how much focus he put into the skill, it never gave him the same results.


    One time, the whispers would be stronger, filled with unknown voices, screeches, and howls. Another time, they would be completely gone, replaced by all kinds of scents that overwhelmed his mind. Then, on the next attempt, the sense of taste would take priority, assaulting him with flavors he had never tasted before.


    To make the entire process even more complicated, his attempts at Essence detection made him particularly sensitive to even the weakest energy signatures around him. Now, despite everything, he should have been happy with this achievement. Yet, when combined with the overwhelming amount of information from his other senses, he barely knew what was happening when Hunter''s Pulse activated.


    As such, Leo had spent the last few hours, or maybe more, working on each of his senses separately. Then, once he got the feedback from one of them under control, he attached it to its respective Essence trail instead of having all that information go straight to his head.


    Of course, the process of fixing the skill this way was far from easy.


    Often, Hunter''s Pulse would deactivate before he could achieve anything, making him start from zero. Another time, pieces of information would slip between his phantom fingers before he could attach them to anything, thus throwing the ability out of the loop.


    Other smaller but still annoying issues involved Leo punching the ground. However, once he finished the work on his sense of hearing, the entire process sped up a bit¡ªnot by much, but enough for him to stop complaining every five minutes.


    Last one. He sighed, closing his eyes and putting all of his attention on the sense of touch.


    By far, the last of the five basic senses was the hardest to use in Hunter''s Pulse, as it didn''t really provide any information. Instead, it somehow amplified what the others delivered and made the feedback easier to understand. He had no idea how that worked¡ªstuff like that was beyond him¡ªbut he still had to attach this final sense to his skill somehow.


    What if I use it as a way to interact with the Essence trails I find? This could work.


    Until now, Leo just had to extend his mind toward any point of interest found by Hunter''s Pulse to interact with it. If he cut off that method and put his sense of touch in its place, he just might succeed.


    Well, it can''t hurt to try. What''s another hour or two wasted at this point? If time is still flowing in the real world, I''m fucked anyway.


    With a shrug, he activated his almost perfected Hunter''s Pulse and refused the connection it wanted to form with his mind. He paused at that moment, unsure what to do next. The first step was easy, but the next part of his plan was nothing like what he had done before.


    Trial and error again. Great...


    To his pleasant surprise, attaching his sense of touch to the skill turned out to be simpler than he had expected. He just had to replace the connection to his mind with the chosen sense during activation and then glue it all together with sheer willpower. It took a few tries to get it down, but on the seventh attempt, Hunter''s Pulse triggered and filled his vision with the usual colorful Essence trails.


    Just as he had planned, no information entered his mind upon activation, leaving him to choose his first target.


    All right, the moment of truth.


    Slowly, Leo extended his hands toward the nearest point of interest¡ªan orange streak of light leading somewhere deep into the forest. The mass of energy wrapped around his hand, and he gasped as different sensations in the form of a flickering vision entered his head.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Hooves stomping against the ground. A low grunt leaving the animal''s snout. The heavy smell of wet fur. Small bits of weak Essence being left behind.


    Just like that, the weird vision stopped, and he pulled his hand away, shaking his head. His gaze fell on another energy trail¡ªthis one blue¡ªand he touched it too, making sure that the last try wasn''t a fluke.


    A vision pulled him in instantly, and Leo smiled as it, too, came to an end, leaving him with enough information to identify the source.


    Some kind of a small bird. He noted, looking up at the sky. It is weak¡ªweaker than even a Scavenger.


    "Congratulations," a familiar combination of voices spoke from behind him. "You''ve managed to advance Hunter''s Pulse to its next stage. There is still room for improvement, but now you''re ready for the next part of this trial."


    Leo turned around to face the dark ghost and released a sigh of relief. "Finally... What do you have for me?"


    "Another lesson and your next task." The collective motioned to the violet Essence trail that only he should be able to see. "You have grasped the idea of proper detection. Now, we shall show you the correct way to track and mark your target."


    "Can''t I just follow the trail?" He asked.


    "You can. Of course you can." The ghost chuckled. "But why would you do something so inefficient, so primitive?" The collective shook its head. "No, the technique we will teach you is much better... Grasp the violet signature, and don''t let go after the vision. Now!"


    Eyes wide at the sudden order, Leo scrambled forward and touched the mentioned trail. The vision¡ªdescribing some kind of a wolf¡ªcame and went, but he kept on holding.


    "Good," the ghost said. "Now you have to infuse it with your own Essence¡ªnot too much. Once you do that, follow those tracks right to their owner. This process should be almost instantaneous once you get some practice."


    He nodded. "And then what? I infuse my Essence into the target?"


    The collective shook its head. "No, not infuse. You want to create an invisible mark on them. It won''t last forever, but once it is placed, your prey will never be able to hide from you. Of course, you need to be careful when placing it. One wrong move and your target will realize that something is wrong. Likewise, there are plenty of ways to avoid marking, but with time, you will learn how to work around them. Now, try it for yourself."


    This time, the ghost didn''t leave and watched him, waiting for his move.


    Let''s do this then. Leo took a deep breath and sent a spark of Essence into the violet cord coiled around his hand. With another order, the energy surfed along the trail, only to stop a few seconds later after it hit some sort of a soft barrier.


    Must be the end. He mused and, following the ghost''s instructions, forced his Essence to shift and paint itself over the invisible wall. The energy did just that, and his eyes widened when a crimson wolf silhouette appeared in his sight. It was far, far away from his current position, but the fact remained that he could see it all the time.


    "That was easy," Leo muttered, still looking in the distance.


    The ghost sighed. "Of course it was. This temporary world was created to assist you. Here, detection, tracking, and marking are much easier. Please remember that once you return to the real world."


    "I will."


    "Excellent. Let me present you with your last task¡ªthe final test, if you will... There are many different creatures in this forest. However, three of them don''t belong here. Your job is to find and eliminate them without being noticed. Your targets are easy to kill; this isn''t a combat trial. Understood?"


    "Hold up!" Leo frowned. "How the hell am I supposed to know if a creature doesn''t ''belong?''"


    Even without eyes, the ghost somehow managed to make him feel like an idiot by looking at him. "Have you already forgotten how you used Hunter''s Pulse before this trial?"


    He blinked, only for his eyes to widen as realization hit him like a train. "Right... Fuck. I can still give it intent and supply it with what I need to find."


    "Exactly." The collective nodded. "Good luck, youngling. I will see you again once you finish your task. Till then, you are on your own. Remember, nobody can see you."


    With that, the ghost faded out of sight, leaving Leo alone again. He sighed and dismissed the current Hunter''s Pulse and the mark. It was time to reduce his search area.


    Okay... I have to give it the right intent so it won''t show me everything. Might as well start simple.


    He gathered enough Essence for another Pulse and fuelled it with the desire to search for anything unique that differentiates from the usual stuff in the forest.


    Instantly, the colorful signatures returned, and while there were fewer of them, there were still too many.


    Of course it can''t be that easy...

 Chapter 196. The Veil

    Leo grasped the memory of the wolf he had detected before and focused on all the sensations he felt when he touched its trail. Slowly, he melted all this information into intent and pushed it toward the Essence waiting in his hand. Then, after a few more minor adjustments, he released the Pulse.


    The world around him flashed, but once his vision settled, he smiled, seeing only one black streak of light floating before him. Without waiting even a second, he extended his hand and let the strand coil around his fingers.


    Heavy footsteps¡ªhuman. A screech¡ªpitful and weak. The stench of blood and decay hung in the air. Essence, familiar tainted Essence¡ªthe Void.


    Leo opened his eyes as the vision faded, a grin settling on his face. "Got ya."


    More Essence exploded out of his soul, slowly surrounding his entire body in a protective layer. Despite not having the System''s assistance, Stealth Shroud took form, hiding him from enemy senses.


    All right, now for the mark.


    Just as he had done the last time, he forced a tiny bit of energy into the trail and nodded as it reached the end of the road. This time, the barrier stopping it from progressing seemed firmer and almost alive, but that didn''t prevent him from painting a mark all over it.


    Instantly, a crimson humanoid silhouette appeared in his vision. Leo narrowed his eyes and snorted after a moment. It was a normal, Cursed Human, which explained what he experienced during the vision.


    Let''s go.


    He activated Reinforcement and dashed into the thick jungle. With his new massive body, it wasn''t easy not to leave any sign of his presence, but he still did his best.


    For the most part, he stayed on the ground, using his talons and forward momentum to make his steps as light as possible. Of course, the way ahead wasn''t always that simple. Sometimes, a particularly large bush or some random animal would block his path, forcing him to either slow down to avoid detection or jump into the trees and travel between the branches.


    Nonetheless, Leo had to deal with much worse in the past. A trek through a forest without any real threat was nothing. He just had to keep his hold over Stealth Shroud and stop it from failing.


    As such, within a few minutes, he reached another clearing and, with it, his target. The Cursed Human standing there had no time to react as he pounced on it and cut off its head with a single well-placed strike.


    One down, two more to go. Now, where are you?


    Essence gathered in his hand again, but this time, Leo pushed the Void signature from his first victim into the Pulse. The skill accepted it right away, and when the flash from it settled down, two more black trails materialized before him.


    Well, well, well. Got you now.


    <hr>


    Blades extended, Leo jumped off the branch and landed right on the Cursed Human''s back. Blood exploded all around as the beast crashed into the ground, its insides incapable of holding up the weight of his body.


    Before the Voidling could utter a sound of pain, he let his blades finish its suffering. The malformed head rolled across the ground, and he stood up, stepping off the bloody corpse.


    Three for three. Finally. He smiled, deactivating Stealth Shroud. His trial was officially over. Or so he hoped...


    "It is indeed done," the collective of voices said as the ghost appeared in front of him. "Your stealth could use a bit of work, but overall, you''ve managed to complete the Trial of the Hunter successfully. Congratulations. May the knowledge you gained here assist you in your journey."


    Leo let out a deep sigh of relief. "So this is over? I can go back, right?"


    "In a moment." The ghost nodded. "Before you leave, there are two things you have to have to know. The first is a cooldown between the trials. It''s different for every Prime and only you will feel when the next one is ready for you. Don''t try to force it¡ªunimaginable pain awaits those who do."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He gulped. "Got it. What''s the other thing?"


    "Once you return to the real world, you won''t be able to speak of this place and us with anyone. The Veil is the secret of the Primes, and it shall stay this way forever. Do you understand?"


    "What about Nyx?" He asked, frowning at the sudden secrecy. "Or the skills I learned here?"


    "You may share your knowledge of Hunter''s Pulse if you wish, but you won''t be able to explain how you''ve obtained it. As for your bonded companion?" The shade hummed. "She is a part of your soul. You two may discuss the events of this trial using your link. However, let it be known that she falls under the same rule of secrecy as you do. Do you understand that, youngling?"


    Leo nodded. "I do."


    "Very well. We shall return you to the real world now. Congratulations again. We will meet again."


    The moment the ghost finished speaking, the world turned dark. His consciousness plunged into the infinite void as the feeling in his body disappeared once more. The trial was over.


    Unlike the last time, the trip across the unknown didn''t finish within seconds. At some point, so much time had passed that Leo began counting seconds in his head. He almost reached a thousand before the darkness spat him back into the real world.


    He gasped, his eyes snapping open to the sight of the same dirty corner behind the warehouse. The night sky still ruled above his head, lessening his worries by just a bit.


    Either no time passed, or I was gone for more than twenty-four hours. Please be the former, please, he begged and reached into his mind. Nyx! Please tell me you''re here!


    ''Ouch, why are you screaming?'' The feline whined sleepily. ''I was almost asleep again. What do you need now? I thought you would try out the trial.''


    I already did. Leo closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh. I completed it.


    ''Wait, what? But... but we talked about it barely a minute ago. How?''


    He chuckled. Look into my memories. See for yourself. There is no way I can explain what happened with words alone. It was just...


    ''Right... Give me a moment,'' Nyx muttered, confusion dripping from her every word.


    As the feline went on the journey in his memories, Leo canceled the Stealth Shroud around his skin and stood up. He did a few stretches, searching for any changes in his body.


    Everything seems fine, he noted, taking a seat again. For this body, I was here only for a few minutes... Damn, now my sense of time is fucked.


    ''That was... certainly something,'' Nyx said upon her return. ''You were gone for days, yet not even a minute passed outside. That should be...''


    Impossible. He nodded. Yeah, I know. I have no idea how those Primes did that.


    ''The Veil,'' the feline mumbled. ''Just what is it? There is nothing in Nikra''s memories about it... A home to dead Primes. Something with the power to completely stop time, to create realistic worlds. People fought wars for much less.''


    Leo hummed. Must be why we''re now bound to secrecy. Do you think we can somehow work around it and probe Naz''Tor for some answers?


    ''No,'' Nyx instantly said. ''A power like this, Leo... Void knows what someone capable could do with it. If the Void merchant doesn''t know about it already, it should remain this way. This is something we have to figure out on our own.''


    I... He trailed off, shaking his head. You''re right. I will keep doing the Trials and try to learn more about the Veil. We can handle it.


    The feline snorted over the link. ''Of course we can. You''re the Heir of the Void, and I''m your trusty companion. If we can''t figure this out, nobody can.''


    Leo chuckled. Right...


    ''Also, you should check your notifications. There might be something important there.''


    He blinked. Notifications? How the hell did he miss those?


    System?


    Congratulations! Due to completing the Trial of the Hunter, your Hunter''s Pulse has advanced to Epic+ quality.


    Okay. Honestly expected. Anything else?


    As a result of learning the art of tracking and marking, you have gained the following skill: Hunter''s Mark.


    Hunter''s Mark (Epic)


    Keep your enemies in your sight; never let them escape. You are the hunter. They are the prey. Take what is yours.


    Effects:


    Thanks to Hunter''s Pulse, you can now mark anything you detect. Marked targets will remain visible for a certain amount of time, and killing them will award a bit of bonus experience. Only one prey can be marked at once. Warning: Stronger and more experienced targets may detect and even stop your mark.


    Bonus experience? Now we''re talking.

 Chapter 197. Testing

    ''That''s new,'' Nyx noted once she read the description of the new skill. ''An ability that manipulates experience gain... I''m a bit surprised it is only Epic quality. I highly doubt that there are many skills out there that can do that.''


    Leo hummed, tapping his claws against the hard ground. It''s depended on Hunter''s Pulse. Maybe that''s why it isn''t rated higher. Hell, if it wasn''t for the bonus experience, this skill wouldn''t even be that special. It''s pretty much just a quality-of-life improvement. I could track everything with the Pulse alone.


    ''That''s true. Could make it easier to upgrade, though,'' the feline pointed out. ''Who knows, you might figure out how to make it work independently.''


    Upgrade it? Yeah, I can see that. I even have an idea how to go about that. But to make it function without Hunter''s Pulse. He clicked his tongue. I don''t think that''s even possible. The Mark needs a way to attach itself to a target. If I take that away...


    He trailed off, knowing he didn''t need to say more. Just a while ago, he had no idea that using the Pulse like that was possible. There was no way that he could work out a different way for the Mark to function just after learning about it. In the future, maybe, but now? Definitely not.


    ''Well, you have time. There is no need to rush it; we have plenty of more important stuff to deal with.''


    My thoughts exactly. Leo nodded. Though, I should probably test out the Pulse now that I am back in the real world.


    ''You do that.'' Nyx yawned through the link. ''I''m going back to sleep. Please don''t wake me up again unless the world is ending.''


    He snorted. It already is, but whatever... Sleep well. Talk tomorrow.


    ''Get some rest, too. You were away from your body for at least a day. That can''t be good for your mental health.''


    I will once I finish here. Don''t worry.


    ''I heard this somewhere before, but fine,'' she grumbled. ''Good night.''


    Instantly, the connection between them closed, and Leo let out a sigh. He should probably listen to Nyx and get some sleep today. Eating Voidlings could only get him so far, and he was already feeling some exhaustion at the edges of his mind.


    Yeah... One quick test, and I''m going to sleep.


    Essence surged into his hand, and he gave it form, carefully bending and combining it with his overfocused senses. For now, he didn''t include any special intent and just let the Pulse out of his hand, blinking at the usual flash of light it brought forth.


    Huh... Interesting...


    Dozen of silver Essence trails surrounded him. Most were pure, if a little thin. However, he also spotted a few ones tainted by the darkness of the Void. He touched a few of them, testing the feedback and the vision that came with it.


    So, the silver tracks all belong to those who are still fully human, while the others lead to the occasional Fallen. I guess that''s obvious in hindsight. He scratched his chin. No Voidlings, though. Too much time must have passed since any were here... Now, what if I want to find someone specific?


    With that in mind, Leo gathered all he knew about Holden and put it into another Pulse. He released it a moment later and shielded his eyes from the activation flashbang.


    Man... I got to fix this. I can''t have it blinding me every time I use it. He grimaced and lowered his hand. At least it worked.


    Unlike before, now only a single silver trail floated before him. He let it coil around his fingers and ignored the feedback. He knew it belonged to Holden from the Essence signature alone.


    All right, now for the mark.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    A single spark of energy rushed into the trail, but just like the collective warned, the next step wasn''t as easy. For one, his Essence moved much slower, and every few seconds, he almost lost control over it. Then, there were the holes and other inconsistencies in the trail. It was like his Hunter''s Pulse couldn''t track the path correctly.


    In the end, it took a few minutes to reach the finish line. As always, a barrier waited there, stronger than any other.


    Leo paused for a moment, letting his Essence slowly adapt to the new situation. Once more, he almost lost control a few times as he painted the mark¡ªthe barrier sometimes decided to shift, forcing him to start anew.


    Yet, with enough effort, he still succeeded.


    He opened his eyes and turned to face the warehouse. The crimson silhouette of a human fell into his vision, and he blinked, realizing that Holden lying down, most likely sleeping.


    Right... That''s a bit creepy. He grimaced, canceling Hunter''s Mark. At least I know it works. Time for rest, then...


    With that, Leo activated Stealth Shroud and leaned against the wall behind him.


    <hr>


    "Leo!" Holden greeted with a nod. "Glad to see you. Clara told me you wanted to talk."


    "That I did," he said, standing up and stepping away from Dylan and his group of mages again. "Come on, let''s leave them to their work."


    "So what is it?" Holden asked. "You wouldn''t call for me if it wasn''t important."


    "Depends on what you call important." Leo shrugged. "Frank probably has already told you, but I scouted the nearest villages during the night."


    "Aye, he mentioned it. How did it go?"


    "Honestly?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Better than I expected. I encountered only one Nightmare¡ªit''s dead now, by the way¡ªand found two nests quite close. Once things calm down, you should definitely send some people there."


    The other man nodded. "So we are safe to go out during the night?"


    He shrugged. "It''s never safe, but I wouldn''t worry about Nightmares too much¡ªat least not for the time being. I''m sure one or two will appear every few days. It will most likely be a while before we have to worry about more."


    "That''s good to hear." Holden ran a hand through his hair before looking at Leo. "And the nests? Can you point them out on a map?"


    "Shouldn''t be a problem."


    "Great¡­ I will call for you this evening to do that if you don''t mind. I would like to send out a scout tomorrow."


    "I should be around," Leo agreed. "Another thing. Nyx passed a message from Lily. They have eighteen people they would like to move here, with potentially four more. She wanted me to ask if there is enough space and supplies for them here."


    Holden came to a stop, his eyes closing for a moment. "As we are now? Probably not, but once Frank''s squad leaves for London, it shouldn''t be a problem. Still, I will make some preparations just in case." The man frowned. "When are they planning the move anyway?"


    He sighed. "No idea. Not for another two or three days, at least. They are supposed to talk about it today, so I should know more later. I will keep you updated."


    The chief nodded. "Please do that. We need to coordinate the moves between our groups. It would be best if they met in the middle of the way to London. We should also discuss clearing out the roads. Those people will be walking for the entire day; there will be no time for fighting."


    Leo couldn''t agree more. "Once we have the final date, we will do that. No use worrying about it now."


    "Aye." Holden shook his head, chucking. "Hopefully, things will calm down soon. Everybody could use a week or two without any surprises."


    He snorted.


    Yeah... Like that''s gonna ever happen.


    <hr>


    Install: Spark of the Void (Radiant):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. With each step you make, your connection to the Void grows stronger. Its power, wild and destructive, is waiting for you. Make sure you don''t lose your way.


    Limit Break: +15 Might, Vision, and Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. The true power of the Void fills your soul.


    Passive: Third Circle - Bring the world to Ruin (2%). Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.


    It moved. Not much, but still moved. Leo noted with a shrug. At least this confirms that I have to use Ruination for the passive to progress.


    ''I wouldn''t be so sure,'' Nyx suddenly spoke in his mind. ''You definitely brought a lot of things to ruin in the past few hours. I swear this place looked better when it was a Wasteland.''


    He winced at the truth of her words. Ever since he had left Eden this morning, he had been flinging small bits of Ruination around the town square. There were no more buildings around him and the entire area was covered in craters, some bigger, some smaller.


    I might have gone a little overboard, he admitted.


    Nyx snorted. ''You think?''


    Whatever. He rolled his eyes. Shouldn''t you be at the meeting? I swear if you are ignoring what they are talking about only to tease me, I will...


    ''Calm down,'' the feline snickered. ''The meeting is over. That''s why I opened the link again. We need to talk.''


    Uh oh...

 Chapter 198. Sudden news

    I''m not gonna like this, am I? Leo frowned, taking a seat on the remnants of a car. What did they come up with this time?


    ''A plan for the move, pretty crazy one at that,'' Nyx informed. ''At first, I thought your sister was just throwing out different ideas, but she already has every single detail panned out. The only thing that''s missing is a green light from you.''


    He sighed. All right, explain everything; don''t skip any details.


    ''They want to move tomorrow as soon as the sun comes up. People are already ready, and everything important is packed up. Malcolm also had a few of his assassins map the safest path out of London. I checked it, and it''s not bad. With Lily there, they shouldn''t have any problems getting out.''


    Tomorrow? Are they mad? They were supposed to coordinate with Frank''s squad. He shook his head. What the hell is going on there, Nyx? Why are they rushing it so much?


    ''Payne''s group,'' the feline answered as if it explained everything, and maybe it did. ''We have a few scouts tracking their movement. For two days now, Payne and three others went into the Supercluster. You can guess why... Then, two other bigger groups of lower levels are working on taking down two nests. The hospital is one of them.''


    So Lily wants to move while Payne is busy. Leo concluded. That sounds a bit better, even if it''s still risky. What if you are spotted on the way out of London? We both know they have more people than just those you''ve mentioned.


    ''Indeed. That''s why Lily came up with some countermeasures,'' Nyx said, and even without seeing her, he could imagine the grimace on her face.


    Ah, so that''s the part I won''t like, he grumbled. Go on. Rip off the band-aid.


    ''Don''t be so overdramatic. It''s not that bad.''


    Let me be the judge of that.


    Nyx snorted. ''Very well. Ever since you left, Malcolm had his people preparing more explosives. They have over thirty at this point, and all of them were installed with a slightly longer fuse¡ªup to five minutes, if I remember correctly. This way, with enough runners, Lily wants to cause several explosions across the city to make Payne''s people investigate.''


    Leo nodded. Okay, you were right. That''s a good idea. But it isn''t all, hmm?


    ''No,'' the feline admitted with an internal sigh. ''There is another side to this plan that depends on the two of us. Remember the two bigger groups I told you about?''


    He blinked, only for his eyes to widen. Don''t tell me...


    ''Yes, she wants us to attack them while they are clearing out the nests. You take one, I take the other. Strike when they least expect it. Payne won''t be there to save them.''


    It would be a slaughter. Leo closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. And Lily proposed that? She wants us to kill them all?


    ''She didn''t say it outright, but she didn''t need to. Everybody in the room knew what she meant. Their faces said it all. See for yourself.''


    Instantly, a memory flashed right before his eyes¡ªMalcolm and two others standing in silence while Lily explained the last part of the plan. Like Nyx said, their faces were painted with grim determination and acceptance. Though, at the same time, the hatred in his sister''s eyes was obvious.


    "Ah... I see," Leo muttered, opening his eyes to look at the sky. "The Outbreak has really changed and messed up all of us. Lily pretty much signed their death sentence. I had no idea she carried so much anger inside her."


    ''She saw Payne and his people slaughter innocent survivors. Can you fault her for wanting to do this?'' Nyx asked, her voice as soft as velvet. ''Even if they are all manipulated and controlled, we cannot help it. Remember, this is war. You can''t save everybody.''


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    I don''t plan to¡ªnever really did... I just didn''t expect this. I knew we had to strike back at Payne sooner or later, but this? He shook his head. It will take a while for me to accept that this is Lily''s work.


    ''That''s... understandable,'' the feline said. ''But what will you do? If you don''t agree, Lily and Malcolm promised to figure out something else.''


    There''s no need. I will do it. He answered. It''s an easy way for us to even the odds a bit. I just don''t like how this was almost forced opon us. I''m gonna need to talk with Lily. I doubt this is an idea she just came up with.


    ''I would rather choose my prey myself too,'' Nyx admitted. ''But, I understand why your sister did this. We''re the only ones that can win against so many Blessed.''


    Yeah. That''s why I''m not even angry. Annoyed, yes, but not angry¡ªat least not until I talk with Lily.


    ''When can we expect you in London, then? It would be best if you came before the night ended.''


    Leo hummed, scratching his reptilian chin. I definitely have to talk with Holden first. The Void Gate here is opening during the night after this one. Also, I need you to quickly teach me how to push Creation with shadows to its final tier. I will need it for tomorrow.


    ''We really should have done this a while ago... At least it shouldn''t take more than an hour with your current mastery of shadows,'' Nyx said, their link filling with her confidence. ''Sit down and listen. We have to be fast.''


    He smiled. Let''s do it.


    <hr>


    Shadow: Creation (Master)


    Creation with shadows has never been easier and stronger. Like with most mastered techniques, imagination is the limit. Additionally, you can now infuse your constructs with basic commands and make them act upon them.


    As he stepped past Eden''s border, Leo dismissed the description of his improved technique. Like Nyx said, it barely took an hour to make it advance, and now, he could finally form his own shadow minions. They were far from perfect creations, but for now, they should be enough.


    Now, where''s Frank? He scanned the squad of people gathered near the warehouse. He easily recognized most of them from yesterday''s training session. Where are y¡ª


    "Leo!" A familiar voice shouted from behind. "What''re you doing here? I thought you would be waiting for us at the town square."


    He spun around, facing Frank. "Change of plans. I need you to get Holden. I have news from London. It''s important, very important."


    "Ah shite," the Fallen cursed and quickly looked toward the gathered crowd. "Dylan! Lin! I can''t go with you for now. You two are in charge. Run the usual drills. I will try to join you as fast as I can."


    Frank didn''t even wait for an answer as he sprinted into the warehouse.


    Leo sighed.


    And so it begins...


    <hr>


    "Fuck!" Holden growled in an unusual show of emotions. "That''s too fast. We''re not ready to send our people to London yet. Shite... Frank, what''s your opinion?"


    The Fallen, who had been remarkably silent during Leo''s explanation, frowned. "I would like at least another day or two to help everyone get to level twenty, but I guess we could do that on the way. Communication is the problem, though. If Hale leaves today, we will have no contact with the Wildborn."


    Yeah. That''s definitely an issue. Leo clicked his tongue. "How long will it take for your squad to get to London?"


    "Honestly? I can''t give you an accurate estimate. It could be anywhere from four to eight hours. I would like to say that we can do this faster, but a lot can happen in the meantime. What about you? We still need you here to deal with the bloody Void Gate."


    He waved the man off. "At this point, I doubt I even need an hour. I will be here before the gate opens; don''t worry."


    "I still don''t like this," Holden muttered. "I understand the need to use this opportunity, but this is far from the alliance I was promised." The chief raised his hand before anyone could cut in. "But this once, I won''t try to stop you. You have done too much for this place for me to doubt you now. Just please, next time, I would like to be included in discussions about undertakings like this."


    Well, it isn''t really my plan this time, but I will take it. Leo nodded. "I will let Lily know. Trust me, I''m not too happy with this development either."


    "I bet." Frank snorted. "You are the designated butcher. Bloody hell, I almost pity those bastards. Are you sure you can do this, mate? That will be a lot of blood on your hands."


    Leo paused, his throat going dry.


    Can I?


    This was definitely one of the loudest thoughts in his head for the last hour. Over twenty years as a human should have made him dismiss an idea like that right away. However, just like Lily, he too, had changed. He had killed and would only kill more the longer he lived. There was no looking back anymore. The old order was dead.


    Like Nyx said, this is war, no matter how small. And even then, Payne''s people are far from innocent.


    Leo looked up at Frank and nodded.


    "I can, and I will."

 Chapter 199. Old issues

    "That''s settles it then, eh?" Frank clasped Leo''s shoulder. "You do what you must in London and then come back to close that bloody Void Gate. It will probably get a bit busy around here once the others arrive, but we can deal with it for a day or two. Ain''t that right, Tony?"


    The chief frowned. "I already said I won''t try to stop this ridiculous plan. What else do you want from me?"


    The Fallen Human rolled his eyes. "Dear God... Would it hurt you to be optimistic every once in a while? Clara and I will help you prepare everything for the new arrivals. All will be fine. With whitelist now active, this place is safe."


    "I suppose you''re right." Holden sighed. "Pardon me. There is just so much to take care of, and I..."


    Leo raised his hand, stopping the man from continuing. "It''s all good. As I told you, I''m also not too happy with what''s going on. Once Lily gets here, you two can talk things out. I will even back you up."


    "Thanks. I would appreciate that."


    "Nothing to thank for." He waved him off. "We''re all supposed to work together now, and Lily pretty much went behind our backs with this idea. It''s good she at least remembered to ask me."


    This entire situation almost brought him back to the old days when his sister would force something on him every other day. Despite all the good her actions did to his mental health back then, her impulsiveness and frequent disregard of other people''s opinions still annoyed him to this day.


    Of course, of all the things that changed about her, this had to stay the same. Just my luck, he grumbled internally. Only Dad could ever make her stop for a minute and rethink everything...


    Not that it mattered anymore. His foster parents were in Poland during the Outbreak, and as much as he wanted to run straight across the sea to find them, he knew he couldn''t do that. Even with his recent evolution, a trip so far was still dangerous, and then there was the entire mess with London.


    As soon as things calm down a little bit, I gotta figure something out. He shook his head. No, I can''t leave Lily out of this. We have avoided the subject of our parents for too long.


    "Yo, Leo! You still with us?" Frank''s voice suddenly spoke right before him, pulling him out of his head.


    "Sorry." He blinked. "Got lost in my thoughts for a moment. You were saying?"


    The Fallen stepped away and motioned to Holden. "Tony asked when are you planning to leave? There is quite some time left before the night. You can still join us for some training."


    Leo tsked. "I''m gonna pass today. I have to contact that merchant I told you about, and then I will be off. Maybe I can clear out the path a bit on the way."


    Frank nodded. "Good idea. Happy hunting then, mate. I''m leaving too, gotta make sure those idiots don''t kill themselves out there." He turned to Holden. "Once I get back, we can figure out the lodging for the new arrivals."


    "Very well," the other man answered. "If that''s all, I will see you tomorrow, Leo. Good luck."


    "Thanks..."


    <hr>


    "All right, let''s get this over with," Leo muttered, sitting down on the ledge of a random building in Wolford. He reached into his soul and pulled out the transmitter given to him by the Void merchant.


    With a few clicks, he selected the only contact on the list and waited for the call to connect. Unsurprisingly, it did just after a few seconds.


    "Young Akirian, my dear friend!" Naz''Tor exclaimed, cheery as ever. "It''s been so long since you have called. I started to worry that maybe the Nightmare had killed you."


    Leo rolled his eyes. "It''s been barely two days," he replied dryly.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Exactly! Two whole days! You really made my old soul worry," the merchant whined like a child. "What happened? Did you manage to kill the Myrdrak?"


    "I did. Took a lot more effort than I expected for a Nightmare exposed to sunlight, but I did kill it."


    "Wonderful, truly wonderful," Naz''Tor beamed. "I take it that you have evolved then? Tell me about it. As promised, I will keep this a secret."


    Leo shrugged. Ah sure, why not?


    "It''s called Prime Indomitus Venax, so at least I kept my title," he said. "Though, aside from becoming slightly bigger, my appearance didn''t change too much."


    "That''s to be expected. There are thousands of species that look similar yet are completely different under the hood. The outside only matters to some degree. The important bits are always hidden within, be it the body, mind, or soul."


    "Interesting. Will have to remember that for the future," he muttered. "Anyway, have you heard of an evolution like mine? Anything you can tell me about it?"


    Naz''Tor snorted. "Not this time, kid. Almost always when a new Prime is born, it creates a new evolution path that others may follow. That''s definitely the case with you. I have already checked the index, and there''s nothing."


    Even more interesting. He noted in the safety of his mind. "Got any more useful info about Primes? I could use a crash course," he prodded, finishing for information without revealing anything.


    However, this time, the merchant outright laughed. "I wish!" he said between the chuckles. "Every fucking Prime refuses to reveal anything. Even when I offer fortunes or the best items in my store, they won''t budge. Motherfuckers are the biggest sore point for my faction. And the worst part? There is a Prime in our ranks, but she still refuses to say anything..."


    Leo grinned at the rant. "So what? You plan to earn my trust and then get all the sweet information from me once I figure stuff out?"


    "Nay," the merchant instantly denied. "I have already learned that there is no point in trying. Unless you offer to sell it yourself, you won''t hear a word from me. I''m way past the point of caring about all the secrets you and your kind have."


    "It sure doesn''t sound like you are. I can feel your annoyance even through the transmitter," he teased.


    "Brat," Naz''Tor huffed. "No respect for the elders. Typical for a Prime. Sometimes I really hate your kind..."


    Leo chuckled. Despite not spending a single Ether yet, he had learned quite a lot from this conversation. Maybe he should call the merchant a bit more. At least the guy was fun to talk to...


    "Anyway..." He shook his head. "I called because I need to buy some stuff from you. At least two Bellatoure mixtures and the Cerevod you mentioned, to be precise."


    "Not a problem. I can have the offer ready in a minute. Anything else?" the merchant asked, his voice going full businesslike.


    "I still need something for communication," Leo reminded. "Are you sure you don''t have any devices to exchange text messages?"


    Naz''Tor remained silent for a moment. "There are plenty of items like that," he admitted. "But price is still the problem. The worst pair of communicators that can work across a few galaxies will still cost you over twenty thousand."


    He winced. Yeah, no.


    "What about something with a range of a single planet? That''s all I need, really."


    The merchant''s sigh was heard even through the transmitter. "Nobody who respects their craft makes stuff like that, kid. It''s useless to anyone who has survived an Outbreak for over a month. The range of a single planet is just not enough."


    "Then what about survivors who didn''t leave their planet yet?" Leo tried again. "I refuse to believe that nobody had a problem like this before."


    "I''m not saying that. It''s just not a high-priority issue. Survivors usually figure out how to communicate on their own before it becomes one. Give it a few more days."


    Not gonna work. We need it now. He grimaced. "What about a guide on how to make technology work with Essence?"


    "That I can sell you," Naz''Tor announced. "For fifteen thousand Ether. It should help with some simple stuff. Anything better you got to pay more."


    And just like that, the small flame of hope inside his chest vanished. He probably should have expected that a precise crafting technique wouldn''t be cheap.


    "Never mind..."


    The merchant laughed. "That''s what I thought... Listen, kid, I will ask around. Maybe someone has some junk lying around that can help you. No promises of course."


    "Of course," Leo repeated. "Still, thanks. Even if you don''t find anything, I appreciate the effort."


    "I take care of my customers. There''s a reason why I''m in the top ten of my faction''s ranking."


    Yet another thing to remember.


    "So the Bellatoure mixtures and the Cerevod," he reminded, changing the subject. He wanted to ask a few questions about the Merchant faction, but the clock was ticking, and he still had a path to clear.


    "Right, right. Just... a... second. Here you go!" Naz''Tor exclaimed, and just as he finished speaking, a notification appeared in Leo''s sight.


    Trade offer detected. Do you wish to display details?

 Chapter 200. More issues

    Display it. Leo ordered.


    Acknowledged. Displaying an offer from Naz''Tor. Trade type: Item for Ether. Terms: Unnegotiable.


    Offered: Ownership of healing item "Bellatoure" x3 and F-tier Cerevod (System Verified)


    Price: 5000 Ether


    Do you accept this trade?


    His eyebrows shot up a bit. Everything looked good, but he ordered two Bellatoures, not three. To make it more confusing, the price also didn''t seem right with the addition. He should be paying six thousand in this case, not five.


    "What''s up with the bonus mixture?" he decided to ask.


    "Think of it as a gift from me for your first bigger order. Don''t get used to it, though. I''m not a charity," Naz''Tor answered.


    "Got ya," he muttered, accepting the trade.


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.


    Right away, Leo summoned the Cerevod into his hand, squinting at the small metal box that appeared in a flash. It was a simple thing, almost entirely black, with three buttons at the top and hundreds of tiny white symbols at the bottom.


    Cerevod-F (Common):


    An item created by a skilled artificer. This tiny box contains the Enchanted Matrix needed to temporarily disable a low-rank Void Gate. Approximate lifespan upon activation: 25 Earth Days. Warning: Attempts at opening the box will result in its self-destruction.


    Ah, so there is a protection against someone trying to copy what''s inside. Not surprising in the slightest, he commented in his head. "Anything else I should know about this thing?"


    "If by this you mean the Cerevod, then yes. See the three buttons?" the merchant asked but didn''t wait for an answer. "The red one is for activation, while you use the other two to deploy the matrixes. Blue is for the main gate¡ªthe one on Earth in your case¡ªand the green is for the one on the other side. It''s pretty simple."


    Leo nodded, carefully storing this knowledge deep in his mind. "So pretty much I deploy the matrixes first and then push the red button."


    "Indeed. Like I said, simple."


    "Yeah..." he muttered. "Just one more thing. Is it possible to deactivate the matrixes and then activate them again?"


    "It is as long as you have the Cerevod on your person," Naz''Tor explained. "Just a fair warning, repetitive reactivation will lower its lifespan¡ªabout ten percent of its total, to be precise."


    "Good to know. Thanks for the info. I will call you if I need anything else."


    "And I will gladly assist you as always," the merchant beamed. "However, it sounds like this is the end of our short talk. Always in a hurry, hmm?"


    He shrugged. "Can''t help it. There is always something that needs to be done. I would love a day or two off, but well..."


    "I know the feeling, kid." Naz''Tor chuckled. "Give it some time. The early stages of the Outbreak are always the busiest. It also doesn''t help that this Earth is inside a Dark Zone."


    Leo blinked. Hold up...


    "Dark Zone? That''s the first I hear of it."


    "Oh..." Naz''Tor clicked his tongue. "I completely forgot the System never mentions it if your awakening took place inside the zone... Damn... My apologies, young Akirian."


    "Whatever," he quickly dismissed the apology. "Just please tell me what is this bloody thing."


    "Of course, of course," the merchant muttered. "Dark Zones... They claim small areas¡ªusually a couple of neighboring galaxies¡ªand corrupt them. They speed up the progress of the Void''s Curse on the planets under its influence. Voidlings grow stronger faster, and Cataclysms occur more often. Sometimes, they even force the creation of an Ever-Darkness world."


    So, if I were on any other planet, the second Cataclysm would come later. Fuck. Leo took a deep, calming breath. "Ever-Darkness? I fear I know the answer, but please humor me..."


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "As the name suggests, it''s a planet that will never see the light of a star again," Naz''Tor said. "Darkness rules there, and with it, the Nightmares. It''s the perfect home for them, and despite very limited prey, they still develop there the fastest."


    "Wonderful," he muttered. "Are there many of those? Dark Zones, I mean."


    "In this universe? Thankfully no. This is the only one currently. Of course, another might form some time in the future, but that should be it. Rarely more than two appear in any universe."


    Leo snorted. "I would say that¡¯s good to hear, but with Earth already claimed by one, it doesn''t change much."


    "Oh, but it does!" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "You and every other survivor inside the Dark Zone also grow faster than those outside it. Trust me when I say it would be a miracle if anybody from a normal planet could match you. Adapt or die might apply to everyone, but you can only adapt to something you already know."


    Huh. I didn''t think of that. My bad. He furrowed his brow. Just how easy do people outside the Dark Zone have it? How big is the power gap?


    And so, he decided to just ask. "Say, do you have any idea what the current average level of survivors of those normal planets is? Of course I''m talking about those who actively try to get stronger."


    Naz''Tor hummed. "I can''t give you a precise number, but from my experience, I would say they should still be a few levels away from twenty. There could be some exceptions; just look at yourself if you want proof."


    Leo''s eyes widened. Not even twenty? Holy shit, there were plenty of people above that in Lily''s group, and that was when I first arrived there...


    "Makes me wonder if I should curse the Dark Zone or thank it for claiming Earth," he confessed out loud.


    "That''s up to you, kid. In the end, there are pros and cons to everything," Naz''Tor shot back. "Now, if that''s all, I won''t hold you up any longer. Do what you must and remember to call if you need anything. Or just message me. I will answer in my free time."


    "You got it. Thanks again. Talk to you soon."


    With that, the call disconnected, leaving Leo staring at the settling sun from his high perch. He sighed and returned the transmitter and Cerevod to his soul. It was time to go¡ªno more delays.


    <hr>


    With at least over two hours until the night would come, Leo didn''t run as fast as he could. Sure, if he pushed himself, activated Reinforcement, and sprinted on all fours, he could probably reach London in half an hour. Yet, there was no need for that.


    As he told Frank and Holden, he focused on taking down as many Voidlings in his path. Hell, sometimes, he even stepped off the road to clear out a particularly large group of monsters in the distance. He thought about taking over a few of them, but with their low levels, they were just too slow to keep up with his pace. Not even a Spitfire could match his speed now.


    And so, time flew by as Leo slaughtered his way across the country until he reached London''s outskirts. There, he activated Stealth Shroud and pushed onward, already informing Nyx of his arrival.


    Nyx, could you please bring Lily to the subway where we spent our first night in the city?


    The feline answered right away. ''On it. Are you already there?''


    Nah. Need another ten minutes or so.


    ''Roger that. Meet you there.''


    Their link closed again, and Leo sped up, working overtime to keep his Stealth Shroud from failing.


    <hr>


    "Hello, Lily."


    The woman turned around at the sound of his voice. "Leo." She smiled. "You came faster than I expected."


    "Someone forced my hand," he said, narrowing his eyes at her. "Thought we should have a nice long talk before tomorrow. Don''t you agree?"


    Lily winced, her shoulder slumping. "Okay, I deserved that. I... I''m sorry. Malcolm even warned me that you wouldn''t be happy, but this is our chance, Leo! We can get my people out and strike back at those fuckers at the same time."


    "I know." He sighed. "That''s why I''m not shutting this entire operation down. But tell me, when you came up with it, did you think about your alliance with Eden? Do you realize the position you put all of us in? Do you know how many people I will have to kill tomorrow?"


    Her eyes hardened as she balled her fists. "They deserve it!"


    "It doesn''t fucking matter!" Leo roared. "Nyx and I are the ones who will have to do it! Holden is the one who will have to deal with new arrivals without enough preparation! And it''s your people at risk in case anything goes wrong tomorrow."


    "Nothing will go wrong!" Lily shouted back. "Malcolm has been preparing everyone ever since we left for Wolford. We are ready! My plan is good."


    "I never said it isn''t. It''s just too sudden. Can''t you see it?" He shook his head. "Even if everything goes according to the plan, what about the next time you get an idea and push it upon others?"


    "I didn''t push anything," she quickly denied. "Malcolm agreed. You agreed."


    "Did he really?" Leo quirked an eyebrow. "Or did you just force him to agree and refuse to listen to anything he said?" As Lily looked down at her feet, he continued, "And me? I admit the idea is good, but I also know you, sister. If I refused to help, you would do it anyway. I bet you would attack Payne''s people yourself."


    "You don''t understand," she muttered, still not meeting his gaze. "I have seen what they did to dozens of people who just wanted to survive. Payne and his ilk slaughtered them like pigs. I have to take any chance I get to strike back. They have to die."


    "And they will," he vowed, stepping forward and bringing her in for a hug. "But please remember, you, Malcolm, Tony, and Frank are supposed to lead together now. Your way of doing things won''t work anymore. You have to work with them."


    "I was never a good team player," Lily mumbled, returning the awkward embrace.


    Leo snorted. "Oh, I''m well aware of that... Just promise me to try this time. This alliance needs to work if everyone is to survive."


    "I will do better. I swear."

 Chapter 201. In the crosshairs

    They separated not long after Lily''s promise and sat down next to each other, staring into nothingness. The silence dragged on and on, but Leo didn''t try to break it¡ªthere was still some time before the night, and his sister could use those few minutes of peace to think things through.


    ''It went better than I expected,'' Nyx spoke suddenly in his head. ''I honestly thought you would go harder on her.''


    There''s no point. He closed his eyes. I said what I needed. The rest is on her. I just hope she will remember this.


    ''We will see about that.''


    Yeah... He sighed. We will...


    Lily must have heard his long exhale. "Are you still mad at me?" she muttered.


    Leo opened his eyes, turning a bit to look at his sister. "Mad?" He shook his head. "No. Not really. I just want you to keep your promise, that''s all." He raised his hand before she could speak up. "You don''t have to repeat yourself. Actions speak louder than words and all that shit."


    "Of course you would say something like that." The woman chuckled quietly. "But you were right... If not for you and Nyx, I would have gone alone. I wouldn''t be able to forgive myself if I didn''t."


    "You still want to go yourself," he stated more than asked.


    "Aye." She nodded, hugging her knees to her chest. "What kind of person orders their brother to slaughter other people? Bloody fuck, there is a special place in hell for me."


    Leo nudged her on the shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "We''re already in hell, sis. I don''t think we need another one."


    Lily let out a weak snort. "Still... It should be me."


    He sighed again. "You will get your chance, just not this time. Let the monster do the dirty work while you lead your people to safety."


    "Stop it. You''re not a monster," she hissed.


    "Oh, but I am, and I''m okay with that. This is the path I chose." He offered her the best smile he could in this form. "Now, enough with the heavy stuff. Tell me more about your plan for tomorrow. I understand the general idea, but I would like to know how you want everything to go without a hitch."


    Lily perked up, her expression doing a complete one-eighty. "It''s pretty straightforward, all things considered. Once the sun rises, you, Nyx, and a few runners will take positions across London. In the meantime, Malcolm and I will lead our group through the metro tunnels as far as we can¡ªthere, we will wait for your signal."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "Wait. My signal? Nyx didn''t mention that."


    "Whose else?" She rolled her eyes. "Someone has to start the chain of explosions once Payne''s people will go inside the nests. As you and Nyx will be the ones watching them, you have to give the signal. Simple, right?"


    "Of course," he muttered. "So there goes my element of surprise. Once shit starts to explode, they will be more cautious."


    "You will still have five minutes to do some damage before the bombs go off. With your abilities, it should be more than enough. I''m more concerned about Nyx."


    "Don''t be." He waved her off. "She will probably deal with them faster than me. My new size isn''t exactly good for in-door fighting."


    Lily winced. "I completely forgot about that."


    He snorted. "You don''t say. I will be fine, though. I have the entire night to prepare, at least... Anyway, once we''re done with Payne''s people, do you want us to join up with you or stick around for a little bit longer?"


    "The latter. If there is even the slightest chance that Payne can track you to us, I don''t want to risk it. Do what you want for a few hours, or even go back straight to Wolford. Just don''t come close to us."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Got ya." He nodded. "I will send Nyx to you, though. If that fucker hasn''t found her till now, I doubt he can do it. I''m most likely the only one at risk thanks to the shard in my chest. I bet Geron can somehow track it."


    "Probably," Lily agreed, standing up and dusting off her clothes. "I will see you tomorrow in Wolford, okay?"


    Leo also jumped to his feet and offered her another grin. "Definitely. Good luck, and be careful."


    As she turned toward the metro''s exit, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. "I should be the one saying that... Take care and give them hell, Leo."


    "I will," he vowed, watching her walk up the stairs. A moment after she disappeared from sight, Nyx stepped on the stairway and trotted toward him.


    ''Everything''s good?'' the feline asked, tilting her head.


    "As good as it can be," he replied with a shrug. "We have the rest of the night to plan for tomorrow. Which nest do you want, by the way?"


    ''The hospital,'' she answered instantly. ''I always wanted to hit that place, and I''m better suited for it anyway.''


    "That''s fair. My recent growth spurt could be a real problem there," he muttered, looking down at his body. "So Westfield London shopping center is mine... I will need some minions for that."


    ''Koukars?''


    He nodded. "Koukars."


    <hr>


    Here they come, Leo called over the link, watching a group of almost twenty humans run across the rooftops to reach the massive shopping center. I''m counting one Winged Emissary and sixteen Blessed. Not bad.


    ''What about their levels?'' Nyx asked.


    He quickly fired off Identify again and hummed. Nothing too concerning. Twenty-seven is their highest.


    ''It should be a walk in the park then.''


    If I play my cards right, then yeah. Let''s not jinx it, though. As the Emissaries filtered into the nest, he averted his gaze, scanning the area for anything he might have missed. How is it going on your end? See anything?


    ''No. Do you think they switched targets? Maybe...''


    As she trailed off, Leo frowned. Nyx? What''s going on?


    ''I see them,'' she quickly informed. ''Only ten, but they also have a Winged Emissary among them. They are weaker than your group.''


    Got it. Let them inside. I will set up my minions around the exits here in the meantime. Ready yourself.


    ''I''m always ready,'' she hissed, her bloodlust seeping into their link. ''Hurry up. I don''t want them to go too deep before I follow.''


    Leo rolled his eyes. Give me a minute.


    Without waiting for an answer, he closed their link for a moment and focused on the connection to the ten Koukars he stole from the Supercluster. After a few whispered orders, the insect flew out of the building below him and went straight for the exits he had scouted yesterday.


    Two for each should be enough. He nodded and quickly took the single Crystallized Bomb out of his soul. With a flick of Essence, he ignited the improved fuse and threw it into the air with all his might.


    Nyx, we are on. Move out.


    ''Finally.''


    Their link closed once more, but Leo didn''t care as he fired off a focused Hunter''s Pulse. Instantly, seventeen golden trails appeared before him, and he grinned as he followed the shortest one.


    So they have someone on watch. Very well.


    With practiced ease, he dropped from his vantage point and slowly approached the nearest entrance to the shopping center turned Voidling nest. He also reinforced Stealth Shroud, making sure it wouldn''t fail in such a crucial moment.


    Warning! You are nearing the Cursed Nest. Threat assessed and ranked at level E+. Good Luck.


    Yeah, yeah, I already know that. He grumbled, dismissing the notification. He had done enough scouting yesterday to know that this place housed all kinds of Cursed monsters. Sure, it was a surprise to learn that nests like that could exist, but in the end, he wasn''t here for the Voidlings.


    This was a different kind of hunt...


    The blades upon his arms extended as Leo slipped through the large opening that once functioned as the main entrance to this place. Vetilim surrounded him from each side, forming walls and ceilings that previously weren''t there.


    The Void really had turned the entire shopping center into a vast maze. Thankfully, each corridor and room he had scouted was more than large enough to fit him.


    All right, my first target should be right... here!


    The moment he turned the corner, a lone Blessed Emissary appeared in his sight. The man stood in the middle of the Vetilim tunnel, his sword drawn as his eyes scanned the path ahead.


    Now, while Leo could easily rush the guy and kill him without much struggle, he didn''t want to risk detection just yet. He still had over three minutes before the first explosion would occur. As such, he reached into his soul and summoned a handful of shadow affinity.


    He touched the ground and smiled.


    Go forth, Consume.

 Chapter 202. The harvest

    Shadow Essence dived into the ground, slinking across the Vetilim surface right toward the lone Emissary. The poor man had no time to react when a literal maw of darkness erupted underneath him and swallowed him in one bite.


    A soft yet powerful crack of bones filled the corridor as the mass of shadows slowly shifted into a large wolf. The living construct turned toward Leo''s hiding spot and licked its lips, its misty tail waggling.


    Not bad. He admitted, approaching his new creation and scanning the spot where the Emissary had died. As expected, no sign remained of the man¡ªhis shadow creation combined with Devour managed to consume everything, just like he had ordered it to.


    Not bad at all. He chuckled quietly and patted the wolf. Return. I have no need for you yet.


    The construct gave a brief nod before its body turned into a cloud of shadows that flew into him. He could still feel a weak connection to his new minion that slumbered on the edge of his soul, waiting to be released again.


    Of course, it couldn''t stay there forever. The wolf wasn''t like his minions created by Minor Takeover. In this case, he could only summon the construct again as long as it had the necessary Essence to sustain itself. Thankfully, this shouldn''t be a problem anytime soon¡ªit had the entire energy of the Blessed Emissary to use after all.


    Gotta test how strong it is later. Leo noted, firing off another Hunter''s Pulse. A frown spread over his face as he analyzed the remaining trails. Four of them are coming back. What the hell?


    Quickly, he jumped high, sticking his claws and talons into the ceiling to rest there. Stealth Shroud spread over his body again, stronger than ever, and he refused to move any of his muscles. The four new arrivals would never know what hit them.


    As it was, he didn''t have to wait long for them to appear at the end of the corridor. The three women and a single man walked in a tight formation, their weapons ready to be put into action at any moment.


    Not that Leo planned to ever give them a chance to react.


    Once the four found themselves right beneath him, he released his hold on the ceiling and descended on the Emissaries. His blades instantly found their mark in two skulls while his long tail stabbed one of the women through her heart.


    The remaining Blessed tried to turn when the squelch of splattered blood reached her ears, but Leo never gave her a chance. Multiple shadow tendrils escaped out of his back and wrapped around her neck, snapping it before she could utter a sound.


    Five down, he grimaced, quickly consuming the bodies. He also grabbed the leftover equipment and stashed it in his soul. Tony''s and Lily''s group could use this stuff.


    Nyx, fair warning, but they somehow knew when I killed one of them.


    ''Really? Do you think it might be that job Lily told you about? They can talk with their minds just like us, after all.''


    Leo palmed his face. Of course... I completely forgot about that. Now it all makes sense. I guess complete stealth was never an option.


    The feline snorted. ''We will be fine... Focus on the task. I''m shutting the link; I''m close to my first target.''


    He nodded, and just as the bond went dormant again, a weak tremor traveled through the ground. Not even a second later, it was joined by the muffled sound of an explosion.


    That''s mine. Now, five more minutes until the rest go off. Good luck, Lily.


    With the hallway cleaned up, Leo proceeded deeper into the nest. He passed through more corridors and some small chambers, barely glancing at the corpses of Voidlings left behind as he followed the remaining golden trails. This time, the Emissaries didn''t separate.


    They aren''t going for the exits. He clicked his tongue. Motherfuckers are probably trying to set up a trap for me. I know I would if I lost five people in a matter of seconds.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He reached toward his taken-over minions and ordered them to move into the nest. If the holy bastards were planning something, he would have to make sure that whatever they cooked up wouldn''t work.


    You can come out too, he said to the shadow wolf resting at the edge of his soul. The construct listened instantly and wrapped itself around his torso in its cloud form. Now, let''s see where you are hiding.


    For a minute or two, Leo continued sneaking through the nest, sometimes going up, sometimes going down. The amount of Voidling corpses grew in number the deeper he went, and he had to admit that at least the Emissaries knew what they were doing.


    Not for long, though, he thought as he reached the opening to a giant chamber. All of the trails led right into it, and it didn''t take much time to understand why the holy bastards stopped there.


    The room easily encompassed two floors, giving the Emissaries enough space to utilize their numbers. To make it better, thanks to some remnants from the original shopping center, there were plenty of spots to hide behind. It was a perfect mess for a group that could communicate with their minds.


    Well then. Good I''m not alone.


    Leo quickly sent another order to his minions and stepped into the chamber under the cover of his Stealth Shroud. Yet, somehow, the moment his feet passed the entrance, dozens of arrows and other light projectiles flew at him.


    He cursed and dived out of the way. Of course those people had a way to detect him with enough time to prepare. He shouldn''t even be surprised.


    As the shadow wolf detached from his body, Leo cast his gaze across the chamber one more time, instantly spotting a few of the Emissaries. They were all far away, in positions he couldn''t reach right away.


    Or so they thought...


    At the same time as a Decoy escaped his body, he released a burst of Essence that flashed him right behind one of the archers. The man didn''t even get a chance to blink before his head rolled off his shoulders.


    Somewhere, a person shouted, and instantly, four more humans jumped in the open, their swords glowing with golden light. Leo was ready to Blink himself in the middle of them, but before he could do that, another woman dived out, her wings securing her place in the air.


    Winged Emissary | LVL: 27


    "Face us, beast!" she shouted, summoning two glowing javelins into her hand.


    He snorted. No, I don''t think I will. And just then, a low buzzing filled the chamber, putting a grin on his face. Have fun.


    Koukars, of all possible elements he could find, flew into the room, going straight for the Emissaries.


    A man with a staff, who hid the closest to one of the entrances, barely had time to create a thin barrier as a burning insect crashed into him and exploded upon impact. The shield didn''t hold, and the man soared across the chamber, blood sprouting out of a stump that once was his right arm.


    Ten remaining.


    The death of another comrade put all the remaining Emissaries into higher gear. Light exploded everywhere as they hunted the higher-level Koukars, which could never match their synchronization and teamwork. Not that they needed to.


    In the midst of it all, Leo once more disappeared behind the cover of Stealth Shroud and dove for the nearest exposed human. He didn''t care much for his minions; they were here for distraction¡ªthe same went for the shadow wolf sprinting over the battlefield...


    Two more Emissaries fell to his blades within seconds, while a third one became a target for his shadow eruption. That was when the rest finally realized that putting all of their focus on the Koukars just wouldn''t work.


    It was the Winged Emissary who placed herself between him and yet another poor archer. She threw light javelin after javelin at him, hoping to slow him down.


    It didn''t work.


    Leo pounced on her like a demon, his blades overflowing with Essence as they clashed against a new pair of javelins. The woman lasted only for a moment before his superior strength pushed her back and destroyed the weapons in her hands.


    She tried to recover, forming another sword of light. However, he quickly used his tail and slashed her across the chest. The woman gasped as her armor split like butter, releasing rivers of blood.


    Yet, despite it all, she still stood tall and rushed at him with a sword in her hand.


    She was good, Leo could admit as much, better than anyone in Eden. But compared to Payne, she was just an ant¡ªan ant he crushed within seconds, even when she attempted to use her affinity and wings to defend herself.


    He grabbed her wrist when she overextended and crushed it with his strength alone. The woman screamed, but the sound was cut short when the his second blade pierced her neck. He then released his hold and retraced his blade, letting the corpse fall to the ground.


    With that, the chamber suddenly became almost silent, with only the buzzing of Koukar''s wings reaching his ears. Leo looked up, spotting the last of his minions among the sea of bodies and blood. In the end, with their numbers reduced, the Emmissaires couldn''t match Voidlings straight out of Supercluster.


    He sighed, glancing down at the blood dripping from his claws. He did it¡ªhe killed them all, but at what cost?

 Chapter 203. Monster

    Seventeen people. Seventeen human lives. Seventeen deaths to add to his body count.


    The stench of death filled his nostrils as his gaze drank the sights before him, burning them into his memory. He did it; he killed them like pigs. The moment they walked into the nest, their lives were forfeit. They just didn''t know it at that time.


    And all of that because a fucking dead god had to interfere. Leo shook his head, taking a seat on a Vetilim-covered bench. I hope you''re happy Geron, Nikra... In the end, it''s all your fault.


    Yet, despite those thoughts, nothing could change the fact that he was the one to slaughter those people. Geron''s and Nikra''s actions brought him to this point, but it was he who took their lives without any hesitation.


    There was no other way.


    As much as he would have liked to free Payne''s group from Geron''s influence, he had no idea how to do that. Even if he sacrificed weeks, or maybe even months, trying to find a solution, he couldn''t be sure he would succeed. It was way beyond him.


    Besides, as he told Lily, he didn''t plan on saving everyone he met. Nobody aside from him and his family mattered in the long run. If killing Payne''s people could raise their chances of survival, he would do it again and again.


    And that''s the hard truth. Leo sighed, staring at the corpse of the Winged Emissary. Hopefully, there is something for you all in the life after death. I''m sorry, rest well.


    With that, he stood up and went from corpse to corpse, turning them all to dust in a matter of seconds. Like before, he took all the leftover equipment and stored it deep in his soul. The Emissaries'' legacy would live on whether they wanted it or not.


    That should be it. Now, notifications. Come on, System. Show me what you got.


    Blessed Emissary x16 slain | Expirience awarded | 1463 Ether absorbed


    Winged Emissary (Light Valkyrie LVL: 27) slain | Expirience awarded | 328 Ether absorbed


    Congratulations! You have reached level 39. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    One level for over a dozen human lives. I don''t know how to feel about that. Leo grimaced, dismissing the notifications and the wave of power that washed over him. What happened, happened.


    He looked around the massive chamber one more time, spotting the single tunnel leading deeper into the nest. He had no reason to walk out anyway¡ªmight as well finish what the Emissaries started. His trip back to Wolford could wait a bit, and he could really use this to take his mind off what he had just done.


    I should contact Nyx first. He decided, opening their link. Yet before he could say anything, the ground trembled again and then again. Far away explosions echoed all around him, the sounds barely reaching him this deep in the nest.


    Now, it begins. You better take the bait, Payne.


    ''Leo? Why did you open the bond?'' the feline asked, obviously hearing his thought. ''Are you done already?''


    Yeah... He muttered. All seventeen of them are dead. They won''t hurt anyone again.


    Nyx remained silent for a moment. ''Are you... are you okay?''


    Leo smiled slightly. Been better, but nothing I can''t handle. I guess, now I''m really a monster. Not even Lily can deny that.


    ''It doesn''t matter who or what we are,'' the feline said. ''We did what was necessary. We did what we had to do to survive. Now, we continue living.''


    "That we do," he whispered.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Nyx, of course, was right. Unfortunately, unlike her, he was a human not that long ago. The Void could change him as much as it wanted, but a small link to humanity would always remain connected to him. Well, maybe in a few years, that wouldn''t be true any longer, but who could really know?


    Everything''s good on your side? Leo asked, deciding to focus on what was important.


    ''Pretty much. I struck fast and didn''t give them a chance to fight back. The winged one tried, but he had no idea how to face someone like me.'' Nyx chuckled. ''It was honestly amusing. I almost decided to play with him for a bit.''


    Of course you did. He rolled his eyes. The less he thought about the feline toying with her prey, the better. Are you deep into the nest? We can finish what the Emissaries started if you want.


    The feline hummed. ''I had to chase them for a bit, so I should be close to the final room. If you think your sister can wait a bit for me, then I will gladly kill the nest guardian."


    Go for it. I plan to do the same here.


    ''Have fun then. I know I will.''


    Leo chuckled, shaking his head as their link went silent again. He dropped Stealth Shroud completely and extended his blades. A single Koukar flew to his side, and together, they descended into the tunnel leading into the depths of the nest.


    <hr>


    Blood dripped from every inch of his body as he cut and slashed at everything that came his way. None could survive the power of his new evolution combined with Kiss of Death and Phantom Erasure.


    Brutes lost their heads before they could even punch him. Reapers collapsed into four separate parts before their blades even got close to him. Sprinters and Walkers died in heaps as not even their ability to wield Essence could save them from his cold fury.


    The swarm kept coming at him from each side. Some Voidlings crawled out of the Vetilim on the floor, while others dropped from the walls or the ceiling. At this point, Leo didn''t even have any idea where he was because it definitely wasn''t the Westfield shopping center any longer.


    Opening ahead! He growled, activating his shadows along the walls and filling the entire corridor with spikes of all sizes. The swarm let out a final screech before falling silent, clearing the path toward the exit as they all collapsed.


    "And that''s it," he muttered, turning to his only companion. How the hell did the lone poison-type Koukar survive all of that? He had no idea.


    "Well, friend, there you go." He pointed to the tunnel''s exit. "Go and see what''s waiting for us there."


    The half-bee, half-hornet, gave a nod and shot past him, flying into the chamber ahead. Leo followed slowly, devouring the corpses around him in the meantime. No reason to waste resources.


    "Holy shit," he mumbled when he reached the end of the tunnel. The chamber before him was even larger than the one in which he fought the Emissaries. It also looked more like an underground jungle cave than any room he had passed on the way here.


    There were trees, massive bushes, vines, and tall grass everywhere, all painted in the colors of the Void. And then, in the middle of it all, stood a single creature, at least twice as tall as him.


    It resembled all of the Cursed Voidlings he had fought until now. It was like someone mashed all those monsters into one thing, hoping something unique would come out.


    And maybe it did...


    After all, how else could he describe a creature with multiple bodies sewn together? Its base form might have looked the most like a Cursed Juggernaut, but he could also see parts of Screamers, Reapers, Walkers, or even Crawlers attached to its body.


    Disgusting... What the hell are you?


    Cursed Amalgam (Voidling) | Rank: E+ | LVL: 36 | Type: Special, Regenerator, Armor, Might, Surface, Fire


    Amalgam? Leo quirked an eyebrow. Fitting... Bestiary?


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Cursed Amalgam


    Expected Potential: N/A


    Arsenal: N/A


    Known Weaknesses: N/A


    Cursed Amalgams are a special type of Voidlings, even among the Cursed variants. They are born during cluster evolutions, and their form, maximum potential, weaknesses, and strengths depend wholly on the creatures taking part in the process. Amalgams must always be approached with caution. You can never know what one of them is truly capable of.


    Now, that''s a lot of nothing. He sighed and focused on connection to his remaining minion. Fly around it, but don''t get too close. Annoy it a bit.


    Instantly, the Koukar flew down from its perch on one of the Vetilim trees and dived for the Amalgam. Dozens of crimson eyes turned to the new arrival as the massive beast raised its multiple arms.


    The Koukar continued to fly in circles, sometimes spitting poison on the Voidling below. The Amalagam remained unfazed as flames slowly spread over its body, intensifying with each passing second. Soon not even an inch of the beast was left untouched by the fire.


    Then, with a deafening roar coming from its countless mouths, it unleashed the flames in a massive dome, incinerating everything in its path¡ªincluding the Koukar. The attack didn''t end there, and not even a second later, the fire erupted again and again, consuming more and more of the chamber with each burst.


    Leo blinked, rubbing his eyes as the attack finally stopped after the fourth blast. The Amalgam sat down, its multiple eyelids closing, hiding its crimson gaze from the world.


    Huh...

 Chapter 204. Blink and you will die

    That could hurt if I get hit, Leo mused, scanning the scorch marks across the entire chamber. Even some of the Vetilim got obliterated in the Cursed Amalgam''s attack. No idea if my shadows can hold against it. I really should have worked more on shielding...


    For another few minutes, he continued observing the massive beast, waiting for it to move. Yet, it never did. The Amalgam was content with just sleeping in the middle of the cave, uncaring of anything that didn''t have to do with its home.


    Well... I could definitely use this to my advantage. He hummed as the red and black of Ruination licked at his fingers. If I do this right, I might be able to kill it without even having to step inside... Yeah, I like this plan.


    Stealth Shroud washed over him once more as Leo crouched in the middle of the entrance to the Amalgam''s chamber. He slowly calmed his breathing and pulled on the bloodlust slumbering in his mind. It answered instantly, activating Relentless Hunger.


    With another quick command, Reinforcement flared to life, followed by Limit Break at full power. Even if the former didn''t really affect his Essence techniques, he would rather gather all the power possible for what was coming next.


    Time for step two.


    Leo took a deep breath and opened the floodgates in his soul, letting the Ruination-afflicted Essence fill his flesh. He could have pushed it all out and prepared the attack outside, but he couldn''t risk detection now.


    As such, he gritted his teeth and watched as his scales slowly cracked, the red-black glow of Ruination filling the gaps. The true affinity of the Void didn''t spare him any pain, burning him from the inside out as his entire body begged him to stop.


    Leo didn''t listen.


    Instead, he pushed all of his anger at the Old Ones, the Void itself, and even himself into the forming technique. Ruination ate it all up, draining more and more Essence in the process until barely anything remained in his soul.


    And that was when he couldn''t bear it any longer.


    With a roar, Leo pushed his hands out, pointing straight at the Amalgam below. The overpowered technique didn''t need another sign and escaped through the extended limbs, forming a massive ray of dark energy.


    In the corner of his vision, he spotted the Amalgam opening its multiple eyes, its body slowly rising to answer the incoming danger. Only it was far, far too late. A beast like this had no chance to escape a technique of this caliber.


    The ray of Ruination hit the Voidling right in its torso, obliterating everything in its path. With barely any resistance, the technique burst out of the Amalgam''s back and continued into the ground behind it.


    A second later, the ray flickered until it disappeared completely, its power running out. For a moment, silence ruled over the massive chamber until a loud thud of a collapsing body broke it.


    Leo didn''t even have time to celebrate his success as he fell to his knees, coughing out a mouthful of blood. He glanced down at his abused body and grimaced when the crack in his skin filled with crimson liquid.


    Ah, shit...


    He didn''t waste another moment and reached into his soul, summoning a single Bellatoure into his hand. The cork came off easily, and he drank the entire thing in one go, sighing at the coolness it spread over his body.


    With that taken care of, he collapsed fully and just lay there as the mixture did its job. He could feel his flesh slowly knit together before Bellatoure moved onto the scales, working to put them back into one piece.


    So those are the adverse side effects the System warned me about? He chuckled weakly. Makes sense, I guess. No way in hell someone like me should be able to casually throw around techniques like that¡ªor even use an affinity like this.


    Cursed Amalgam (LVL: 36) slain | Experience awarded | 411 Ether gained


    Fuck, I really one-shot it. He laughed, wincing at the pain that simple action caused. Lily ain''t gonna believe me. Hell, I barely believe it.


    Congratulations, the Cursed Nest has been conquered. Do you wish to destroy this instance completely or prepare an Ether tower? Choosing the second option will result in the loss of bonus rewards. However, a Safe Zone may be created later on using the tower.


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


    Yeah, no thanks. As nice as this place is, I have no way to make the safe zone permanent. Hopefully, no one will complain too much.


    Nonetheless, Leo didn''t give the System any official answer. He knew what was coming next and wanted to heal before this place came down on his head.


    Congratulations! Task, Extermination: Nest (E-rank) finished successfully. Do you wish to receive your rewards now?


    That I do.


    Distributing task rewards. 2000 Ether awarded. Bonus experience transferred. Survivor Reward: +2 to all Limit Break attributes.


    That''s always something. He shrugged, calling forth the next notification.


    Technique Ruination: Obliterate obtained.


    Ruination: Obliterate (Novice)


    Bread and butter of the Void. With the power of destruction now running in your veins, you can create focused obliteration rays that will consume everything in your path. Be warned: At current mastery and your power level, this technique is hard to control and will cause damage to the user.


    "You could have told me that beforehand," Leo grumbled, slowly climbing to his feet. "Nice to know I need to almost kill myself to get a technique for Ruination. I will remember that in the future."


    After a few short stretches to awaken his body, he walked down into the chamber, going straight for the Amalgam. Most of his muscles still ached, and every sudden move made his still-healing injuries flare with pain. Still, he tried to ignore it and focus on harvesting a few parts from the massive Voidling.


    Once he did that, he stabbed the corpse and let Devour finish the corpse.


    His regeneration accelerated again thanks to the sudden burst of energy, healing the few injuries that still remained on his body. Yet, as the Amalgam turned to dust, Leo couldn''t help but frown.


    No bonus attributes from Devour? Disappointing...


    He sighed and ordered the System to destroy this nest. He should be able to run out of here without a problem at this point.


    Acknowledged. Distributing full rewards. Please leave this instance soon. Complete collapse will commence in 20 minutes.


    Bonus experience and 2000 Ether gained. A bonus item has been delivered to your Soulscape.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 40. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Nightblade level 40 skill improved: Vital Strike to Death Touch.


    Huh. Leo''s eyebrow jumped up. Twenty minutes, a level, and a skill advancement. Now that''s a pleasant surprise. Finally, my last common skill is gone. Just tell me it isn''t shit.


    Death Touch (Rare)


    Death is everywhere, waiting to claim the lives of the unaware. Now, you hold a tiny bit of its power. Use it well.


    Effects:


    Each direct hit that draws blood from an enemy will reveal a pressure point on their body. Striking those marked spots has a chance to damage not only the body but also the other two Pillars. Works only against fully organic foes.


    "That''s... interesting," he muttered, still looking at the description.


    While Death Touch functioned similarly to Vital Strike, here he knew that each hit would give him an advantage. However, unlike his old ability, this one only offered him a chance to cause additional damage. He might as well not be getting anything from this skill with all its limitations.


    Still... hitting someone''s soul or mind? Shit must hurt. Leo would know; after all, he had already almost damaged his soul a few times. Hell, even the new Obliterate technique hurt it a bit.


    Maybe it will be easier to upgrade now. This time, I at least understand how it works.


    He shook his head, dismissed the System, and walked back toward the tunnel. Meanwhile, he reached for the new item inside his soul and pulled it out.


    "Another armor?"


    It was a large piece of black metal made into a chest plate engraved with hundreds of different symbols. To make it more interesting, despite being cold as steel, the material bent as easily as a cotton shirt.


    "What are you..."


    Narzak Trainee Chestplate (Rare):


    This heavily enchanted chest plate is a standard-issue armor among the Narzak Trainees. It was specifically made to fit any of the numerous species in Narzak. It''s very flexible and offers good protection against bladed weapons. It will slowly repair itself over time.


    "Numerous species, you say?" Leo glanced at his chest and then back at the armor. "Why the hell not?"


    With a shrug, he pushed his head through the right opening and watched as the metal slid down his body like liquid, slowly refitting itself. Within a minute, the dark armor covered his entire chest and back, leaving holes for the Floaters and spikes.


    It didn''t touch any other part of his body, leaving most of his shoulders, neck, and arms uncovered. Even better, Leo barely felt the armor when he moved. It wasn''t any different from wearing a regular tank top, just a bit tighter.


    Well, well, well... He mused. So, there is an armor for someone like me. How nice.

 Chapter 205. Road to hell

    "And down it goes," Leo whispered, watching the massive shopping center collapse. Vetilim and debris rained upon the earth, sometimes joined by pieces of glass that somehow managed to survive this long.


    Even when the entire building was reduced to a large pile of rubble, the ground didn''t stop shaking. Ever so slowly, the earth swallowed the destroyed nest, creating a vast hole in its place.


    Some buildings close by couldn''t survive the sudden change in the terrain and collapsed, too. Within minutes, nothing remained in the area aside from multiple piles of debris and a deep crater in the middle of it all.


    Well, now I am sure this nest ran deep into the ground. No way it would have collapsed like that if it didn''t. He snorted, turning his gaze away. Now what?


    With his task for today pretty much finished, he still had plenty of daytime before he had to go back to Wolford. Of course, he could return earlier, just like Lily told him, but that would be a waste of time and energy, in his humble opinion.


    I can always kill some Voidlings around here, maybe do a few tasks, and then run straight to Wolford in a few hours. He nodded. Yeah, sounds good. Some mindless hunting is just what I need right now...


    ''Just don''t go overboard,'' Nyx''s voice suddenly filled his mind. ''This city isn''t exactly the safest right now, and I doubt you want to fight Payne today.''


    Leo winced, the feline''s words reminding him of the few remaining injuries on his body. While Bellatoure and Devour dealt with the worst of his wounds, the new Ruination technique left its mark on him. He needed at least a few more hours to heal completely.


    I will be careful, he vowed. What about you? Finished with the nest?


    ''Yep!'' Nyx exclaimed. ''The Guardian was pretty weak even for an E-rank nest. From what I heard a few minutes ago, you definitely had more fun than me.''


    Leo glanced again at the ruins on his right and shrugged. Not sure if I would call it fun, but whatever. It was definitely worth it, though.


    ''Oh?''


    You will see, he teased. Where are you?


    ''Close. I''m running toward you right now. Don''t move,'' she answered. ''By the way, did you get anything when I destroyed my nest?''


    He frowned. Now that you mention it, no, I didn''t. Did you get the notifications this time?


    ''That''s right. I was surprised, too. It didn''t give me an option to create a safe zone, though. Only informed me about my rewards, and that''s all.''


    And? He prodded.


    ''A bunch of experience and two thousand Ether. Do you have it? Remember, I don''t have an Ether counter in my status.''


    His frown deepened as he summoned the System''s interface. He quickly made simple calculations and nodded. Yeah, I have it. Interesting... I got it without any notification. Think the same happened with the experience?


    ''Probably, otherwise, I wouldn''t be level thirty-seven now. I killed a lot, but not enough for three levels,'' Nyx admitted as she finally reached his position and sat down next to him.


    Apex Shadow Claw | LVL: 37


    "Huh, you really got three levels." His brow furrowed. "Wait. What about your evolution?"


    ''I unlocked it,'' she grinned, showing her razor-sharp teeth. ''The System gave me a similar offer to yours, but I can only evolve close to night, so it doesn''t matter anyway. Slightly disappointing, but there''s nothing I can do about it.''


    Stolen novel; please report.


    "That''s a shame," he clicked his tongue. "Did you get anything good, or do we need to do more?"


    ''I''m good. I have a max tier evolution waiting for me. Surprisingly, it still has an Apex prefix despite being a mix of a Voidling and an Akirian. I thought it would be gone for sure.''


    "As long as you like it and it fits you, it doesn''t matter." He patted her head. "So what is it called?"


    ''Apex Indomitus Nargon.''


    Leo couldn''t help but laugh loudly. "You know what? I think I''m starting to see a pattern here. Either that bloody Nightmare influenced us more than normal, or this is just one big coincidence."


    Nyx snorted. ''Considering everything we went through until now? I don''t believe in coincidences any longer.''


    "Fair," he admitted with another chuckle. "Can''t say my opinion is any different. Now all we need is for Lily to evolve into something with Indomitus in its name, too."


    ''Even if she gets an evo like that, I doubt she will go for it.''


    "Yeah, you''re probably right." He grinned. "Still, it would be funny."


    ''You really have a weird sense of humor.'' Nyx sighed, shaking her head. ''I need to get going. Lily should be out of the city by now."


    Leo nodded, giving her another pat on the head. "Go on then. Run fast and stay safe."


    The feline swatted his hand away and looked him right in the eyes. ''What about you?''


    He shrugged. "Like I told you before. I will kill some stuff, run around a bit, and then go back. I need some time just to let loose."


    Nyx''s gaze softened. ''I understand... See you in Wolford.''


    "See ya," he muttered back, watching her go. Once she disappeared from his sight, he sat down and closed his eyes. "All right, let''s see if I can do this."


    A tiny bit of Essence gathered in his hand, forming into another Hunter''s Pulse. Yet before he let it go into the world, Leo fuelled every bit of information about Payne into the growing technique. Then, when he couldn''t think of anything else, he released it.


    He opened his eyes to the brief flash of light, waiting for a trail to appear. Only it never did, leaving him staring at an empty air.


    Nothing can ever be easy...


    <hr>


    Although his first attempt to locate Payne didn''t work out, Leo continued trying. He ran around the entire city, continuing to release Hunter''s Pulses once he got far enough from his previous position.


    Of course, just as he had expected, the result never changed. The skill still left him with nothing. At one point, he even tried to find some people from Payne''s group just to make sure his ability didn''t suddenly stop working.


    It didn''t, and that was how he found himself close to the ruins of the hospital Nyx had destroyed. Under Stealth Shroud, he followed the marked Emissary, observing the lone man from a safe distance.


    Why did you come here? Leo frowned. Not even an hour has passed since Nyx finished. It''s way too early for anyone to realize what happened. And then there are the explosions...


    His frown deepened. As much as he didn''t want to face another Emissary today, it looked like he didn''t have much of a choice. He had to know what those bastards were planning.


    Before he could convince himself otherwise, he dashed toward the lone survivor still inspecting the ruins. Limiting his strength, he punched the man with a closed fist right in the shoulder.


    The Emissary screamed as he tumbled to the ground, the cracking of bones filling the clearing. His eyes opened wide, first tears already leaking out as he tried to crawl away with his one good hand.


    That was when Leo revealed himself and struck again, sending his shadows to trap the other man. The sad attempt at escape instantly stopped, and he slowly approached his new prisoner.


    Fear entered the Emmissary''s gaze, and he almost stumbled when a pitful stutter left the man''s mouth. "S-stay away, monster! I-I will kill you!"


    Looks like Geron''s brainwashing is as strong as ever. But you''re scared... maybe I can work with that. Leo took a deep breath, crouching before the fallen man. "You can try, but I¡¯m the one in control here. Answer my questions and you might live to see tomorrow."


    The man shuddered at the sound of the demonic voice, trashing against the shadow constraints. "I-it''s you. I won''t tell you a thi¡ª"


    Leo extended one of his blades and put it right next to the human''s neck, stopping his useless speech. "Think again. I can kill you right here and find another one of you. It won''t be hard. You are replaceable; remember that."


    The man gulped, his gaze jumping between the blade and the monster attached to it. Yet, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. "No. I won''t speak. You can just ki¡ªArgh!"


    A scream filled the area as Leo ordered a few of his shadows to stab the man.


    "Last chance," he hissed. "You either talk, or you will join all your friends who died here today." This time, the spark of determination vanished, replaced by pure terror. Leo grinned wide. "Oh yes... Ten here and another seventeen at Westfield. I killed them all, slaughtered them, really. Is that what you want?"


    Instantly, the man shook his head, tears now freely flowing down his cheeks. "I will talk. I will talk! Just, just don''t hurt me anymore. P-please."


    Leo nodded, his monstrous grin fading away.


    You were right, Lily. We''re all going to hell, and I will be leading the charge.

 Chapter 206. Is paved with good intentions

    "Where''s Payne now?" Leo growled, making sure to keep up the appearances.


    "At base!" The man cried out. "He returned a bit after the explosions started and mobilized everyone available."


    Good start. He noted and asked another question, "Where did he return from? The Supercluster?"


    The prisoner nodded frantically. "Yes! He had been going there every day since he returned injured a few days ago. We barely see him now. Most of our orders come from the Commanders. Today was the first time in a while that he spoke to those not favored by the Lord."


    Not favored by the Lord? Leo frowned. Is he talking about anyone who Geron didn''t change at the beginning of the Outbreak? He must be...


    "Those Commanders. They are the Winged Emissaries, right?" He hummed when the man nodded again. "How many of them are in your ranks?"


    At that, the human hesitated, his eyes darting around, searching for a way out. Leo sighed and tightened his shadow prison, earning another pained wail. "I asked you a question."


    "Four!" The man sobbed. "Only four of us had the privilege to sprout wings like the High Leader. But now..."


    "Only two remain," Leo finished, and the human flinched. "Very well... What''s Payne''s level? Did he evolve yet?"


    "I don''t know; nobody can Identify him, I swear! Please believe me," the poor man begged as tears continued to fall. "He looks a bit different, though, and his injury is gone. That''s all I know. Really!"


    So, he most likely evolved. No surprise there. He probably had to after getting hit by Ruination like that. Leo sighed, standing up. "Why did you come here?"


    "I was ordered to," came the instant answer. "After the High Leader returned, he gathered everyone with high Grace attribute and told us where to go. Some went toward the explosions while I was supposed to check why Commander Gracia hadn''t come back with his team yet."


    Sounds reasonable. They probably have some protocols set up for situations just like this. Well, that or Payne somehow knew what happened and just sent someone to check for sure. You can never know with Geron involved. Shit...


    Leo shook his head and turned his glare on the prisoner again. "What about other survivors? Other groups in London. Are you supposed to hunt them? Is Payne planning something?"


    Instantly, the other man scowled, his expression turning nasty. "You mean the traitorous whore and her band of bastards? They will die soon¡ªthey and anyone else who dares to stand in the Lord''s way."


    Leo narrowed his eyes, ignoring the jab at his sister. "What do you mean by that?!"


    The human offered him a grin filled with blood, the look of absolute terror fading from his eyes. "Fuck you, demon. Die!"


    At once, bright golden light burst out of Emissary''s skin, destroying the shadow prison. Somehow, the man jumped to his feet and rushed forward with a dagger of light in his hand.


    Yet, before he could even strike once, Leo grabbed him by the neck and held him high.


    "Wrong move, my friend," he muttered. "I gave you a chance, and you threw it away."


    Before the Emissary could even utter a word, waves of Ruination Essence crashed into his body. His eyes bulged out, a scream leaving his mouth as the skin around his neck withered. Leo didn''t stop there and continued to force more energy into him, watching as the curse of the Void spread further and further.


    "Dear god," he mumbled, dropping the Emissary, who now resembled a Cursed Human. Even the standard crimson eyes were there.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "What did you do?!" The man gasped as he rose to his knees, looking down at his malformed hands. "What the fuck did you do, you bloody demon!?"


    I have no idea. Leo wanted to say, but he couldn''t. This was no Minor Takeover. He had simply forced Ruination into the man, expecting him to die, not to turn into some budget Voidling.


    "Answer me!" the former human screamed again. "The System isn''t answering! I can''t feel my light, you bastard! Take it back!"


    What? Leo grabbed the Emissary again. "What did you say about the System?"


    "It isn''t answering my call! I can''t feel anything," the man hissed, obviously uncaring of his new position. "Fix this! Now!"


    The guy got balls, that''s for sure. Leo thought, and just then, he spotted something weird happening on Emissary''s exposed shoulder. The corrupted skin slowly continued to wither, turning to dust. For some reason, the man didn''t notice it, but if he really couldn''t feel anything...


    Well fuck. He tightened his hold on the human. "I will help you if you answer my next question truthfully. Do you understand? I will know if you lie."


    Of course, Leo had no way of reversing the corruption or telling if someone was lying. He just wanted to get the most out of this interaction. He already pretty much tortured the guy. What was another lie or two at this point?


    I''m not sleeping for at least the next week...


    "I will do whatever you want. Just reverse this, please!" the Emissary shouted, fear entering his crimson eyes again.


    "What is Payne planning? Simple as that."


    "I don''t know! We just listen to orders. Maybe the Commanders would know, but not me. I''m just a lowly servant of the Lord."


    Leo growled. "You must know something, anything. Didn''t you hear or see anything? Think!"


    "I..." The man hesitated for a moment only to shake his head. "A few scouts were sent away from London recently. Nobody knows why or where... And... and some of us believe that the High Leader doesn''t venture into the Supercluster just to kill Voidspawns. That''s all I got, I promise. Now, please help! Something''s wrong with me. My Essence..."


    But Leo ignored him as he mulled over the new information. He could imagine why Payne would send scouts outside London. It was quite obvious, after all. However, the part about the Supercluster? He had no idea. Naz''Tor might have told him what to expect from that place, but with an Old One involved, all his information could be useless.


    "Fuck!" He hissed, throwing the Emissary on the ground.


    "Hey! Hold up," the man shouted, climbing to his feet on shaky legs. "You promised to help me. Don''t walk away now!"


    Leo stopped, and without turning around, he whispered, "I''m sorry."


    One final scream was the answer to his apology as his shadows surged out of the ground and finished the Emissary''s cursed life. There was nothing else he could have done. Ruination would have slowly killed the poor sod anyway. This was mercy.


    The road to hell really is paved with good intentions...


    <hr>


    Leo ran out of London like a man possessed. He thought of checking on the Wildborn''s liar and informing Malcolm of what he had found, but he wasn''t even sure if the man had already returned. He could still be with Lily and the others for all he knew.


    As such, he continued onward and left the capital behind. Every minute or so, he let out a Hunter''s Pulse, hoping to find the scouts the Emissary spoke about. Only to fail each time.


    Not that he expected any other outcome. He wasn''t anywhere close to Wolford yet, and it wasn''t like his Pulse was all-powerful. If Payne could hide from him, then others could definitely, too. The hunter job would be way too strong if it could find anyone, anywhere.


    It wasn''t until he passed the traveling group and got within a few kilometers of Wolford that his Pulse started to pick up on something. It wasn''t much¡ªjust some trails that didn''t lead anywhere and faded after a few seconds¡ªbut still better than nothing.


    It took him another hour of following those faded tracks and running in circles to arrive at a small village quite close to his hometown. He had already been here two nights ago, but evidently, he had missed something important.


    There you are, Leo muttered in his head as he stopped right in front of a small cottage. All recent trails led into this building. If Payne''s scout wasn''t inside, he didn''t know where else to search.


    No way to do this quietly. I''m way too large for this place. He sighed and activated Reinforcement. A standard Hunter''s Pulse washed over the building next, instantly making him grin. Two inside. Very well...


    Leo dropped Stealth Shroud and rammed into the nearest wall at full speed. It didn''t stand a chance, and he stumbled into the cottage''s living room, just in time to watch two Emissaries scramble to their feet.


    However, neither got a chance to act as he flashed behind them and stabbed the nearest one in the heart. At the same time, shadows rushed toward the second person, enveloping him in a tight cocoon.


    "And that''s it," he muttered, picking up his new prisoner. "Maybe Tony and Frank will have a better way of getting information out of you. I ain''t doing it again..."

 Chapter 207. Reset

    "Here we are, buddy," Leo said to the bundle of shadows on his back as Eden''s border appeared in his sight. "Hopefully, soon, you won''t be my problem anymore."


    The guards in the distance instantly noticed his approach, and while no one raised their weapons, one of them sprinted toward the warehouse. He was quite glad for that as he couldn''t really pass through the barrier with his new prisoner. The whitelist upgrade would never allow that. He needed Holden to deal with this.


    "Sir, the chief should be here soon," one of the guards said the moment he stopped at the border. "Do you need anything from us?"


    Leo waved them off. This was far from the first time they went through this. "Nah. Go back to whatever you were doing. I will wait for Tony here; I can''t exactly come in right now."


    The guard who had spoken before frowned but didn''t dare to question him. The man just nodded and walked away with his partner.


    Thank the Void... Holden will probably understand why I brought an Emissary here, but those people? They still have no idea what is waiting out there. He sighed and sat down, dropping the sack of shadows beside him. Here he comes.


    "Leo! You''re back early," Holden greeted, stopping right at the edge of the barrier. "I thought you would return after your sister or maybe even come with them." The man frowned. "Something happened?"


    Straight to the point, like always. Leo smiled. "You could say that. Where''s Frank?"


    "Out with his squad to meet up with Lily," Tony answered quickly before his eyes narrowed. "What''s going on? Why didn''t you come inside?"


    "No reason to panic. I just received some new info and had to act on it," he explained. "As for why I''m sitting here? Well, that''s the result of my actions. See for yourself."


    With that, he manipulated the shadow cocoon and uncovered the Emissary''s head. As he did that, a curse left Holden''s mouth, and his eyes went wide.


    "Is that?"


    Leo nodded. "One of the two Blessed Emissaries sent here to spy on us. The other one is dead, but I thought maybe you would like to try to get some more information out of this one. Either way, he is yours. I have enough of those fuckers for today."


    "Mine?" Holden furrowed his brow, his eyes still open wide in disbelief. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with a brainwashed drone? Torture him? He probably won''t talk anyway."


    Leo held back a grimace and shrugged instead. "Do whatever you want. I don''t care. I did my part."


    "Bloody hell," the chief muttered. "Give me a moment."


    Right away, Holden whistled, catching the attention of the two lookouts nearby. He shouted a few orders to prepare an isolated room, sending them back toward the warehouse.


    "That should do it," the man sighed, turning back to look at the prisoner. "How long will he be out?"


    Leo hummed. "No idea. He lost consciousness after I broke both of his arms. He could awake at any time, for all I know. You should probably have someone with medical experience check up on him. My method of transportation wasn''t exactly gentle."


    "I will remember that," Holden said dryly. "How did you even find them? You have already scouted the area two nights ago. Did you miss them?"


    "Apparently," he admitted. "I captured another one in London and managed to convince the guy to reveal some stuff. No idea how much of what he said is true, but he definitely didn''t lie about Payne sending scouts here."


    Of course, Tony had to focus on the part Leo didn''t want him to. "Convinced?"


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    This time, he grimaced. "Yes, convinced, with a fate worse than death if you can believe that. It wasn''t pretty at all. Trust me on that, and don''t ask me to do it again. I won''t until I know what the fuck happened myself."


    Holden''s frown deepened, but he nodded after a moment. "I see. I won''t mention this again for the time being. However, I would really like to know how you made someone brainwashed speak. I highly doubt anything Frank and I come up with will work."


    Leo let out a long sigh. "Just give me a day or two, and I will explain everything. I need to run some tests first. Besides, don''t sell yourself short. I''m pretty much brute-forcing my way through everything. Maybe you guys can figure out a way to get past the brainwashing in a different way."


    "Maybe..." Tony shook his head. "Anyway, let me key this poor sod into the barrier. My boys should have the room ready soon."


    <hr>


    ''There you are,'' Nyx said as she sat down next to him.


    Leo hummed but didn''t say anything. His gaze remained on the faraway setting sun. Even though the entire universe had changed, this was still one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen.


    ''Lily was disappointed you weren''t at Eden to welcome them. Then she became angry when Holden told her what you told him. She asked me to find you.''


    He shrugged, still not looking at her. "You didn''t need to come here. We have our bond."


    The feline sighed. ''What''s going on, Leo? Are you like this because of what you have done today? Do I really need to repeat myself? You did what was necessary. Even the human you tortu¡ª"


    "It''s not that," he cut her off. "I might sound like some sociopath, but I barely feel guilty about what I''ve done anymore. This is war. Small it might be, but we have to do anything to make sure our side wins."


    ''Then what is it?'' Nyx prodded.


    "Payne," Leo stated as if it wasn''t obvious. "I can''t get the words of that Emissary out of my head. He must be planning something if he sent scouts to spy on Eden. And then there is the Supercluster."


    ''You really think he is doing something there other than killing Voidlings?''


    "I have no idea, and that¡¯s the problem" he chuckled bitterly. "But with Geron on his side, everything is possible. Things just don''t add up. For a group so focused on eliminating everything from the Void, they sure didn''t care much for the Supercluster until now, did they? You would think they would try to contain it, but no... they just let it be."


    ''You don''t really know that, but I see your point. With so many people and a natural advantage over Voidlings, setting up a containment barrier shouldn''t be that hard.''


    Leo nodded, finally turning to face the feline. "My thoughts exactly. There''s something fishy going on there. Payne needs to die soon, or we might have a bigger problem than him on our hands."


    ''We can start the hunt tomorrow.'' Nyx grinned ferally. ''Once I evolve and you deal with the Void Gate, we''re free to do whatever we want for the time being.''


    "That''s the plan. The gate, Payne, and then the Supercluster."


    ''And after?''


    "Not sure," he admitted, leaning back and lying on the ground. "I definitely need to go to Poland and find out what happened to my foster parents. I have to close that chapter of my life once and forever. Then there is Adam..."


    ''He is still sleeping?''


    "Like a baby." He frowned. "I''m scared he won''t wake up. My takeover might have broken something in him."


    ''It will be fine. And if all fails, you can always ask Naz''Tor for help. The Void is vast. It will be a while before we run out of options."


    "True that." He smiled wryly and raised an eyebrow at her. "When are you planning to evolve?"


    ''I could do it now,'' Nyx offered, standing up and stretching. ''It will only take an hour.''


    "Here?"


    The feline tilted her head. ''Why not? I can''t go into the safe zone anyway, and I have you to protect me if anything goes wrong.''


    "Fair," he said and also jumped to his feet. "Go on then. I''m kinda curious about how the process looks from an outsider''s perspective."


    Nyx rolled her eyes. ''Of course you are... I''m beginning. See you in an hour. Hopefully, I will be able to talk like a normal person once I get out.''


    Leo smiled. "That would be nice."


    The feline didn''t say anything else as the usual black, tar-like substance started leaking out of her body. Slowly, it encompassed her entire form and continued to grow for a few more seconds before finally settling.


    Leo watched transfixed as thousands of tiny veins lit up all along the cocoon. Some were red, others violet, and a few even came in blue. What was their purpose? He had no idea, but he didn''t really care.


    It was still a sight to behold when the veins lit up and showed Nyx''s changing silhouette for a moment. He wondered if this also happened during his evolution and promised to ask the feline afterward.


    It''s like some kind of a light show. He chuckled, his eyes never leaving the cocoon. Hopefully, your evolution is going smoothly, Nyx. Unlike mine...

 Chapter 208. Next stage

    Time flew by without anything happening, and soon, the one-hour mark since Nyx''s evolution began passed. Leo kept his gaze on the cocoon as it slowly started to deflate while the colorful veins lost their light. Bits of the tar-like substance had already turned back to liquid before fading into dust.


    She''s coming out. He took a few steps back. He doubted Nyx would try to attack him, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Come on.


    Inch by inch, the feline''s new body came into view. Her head, for the most part, remained the same, though it definitely became a bit bigger with a shape similar to his. Then, a bit more of her form escaped the cocoon, revealing more and more changes.


    For one, the color of her shadowy fur shifted from midnight black to a deep violet that could be mistaken for black. Then, there were the feathers that filled her entire neck, creating something akin to a lion''s mane.


    Quite beautiful. Leo smiled as his eyes drifted to the feline''s limbs.


    She still had six of those. Yet now, the pair at the front had wings attached to them. It reminded him of a wyvern, but in this case, the membrane wings had some feathers scattered across them. Add to that, her claws also got a bit longer, appearing much sharper than before.


    Not bad. He commented and looked at another pair of feathery wings at the top of Nyx''s body. They were tiny, not even half the length of her normal limbs. It made him wonder about their purpose, as he doubted they could make her fly on their own.


    Finally, the cocoon slipped from the end of the feline''s body, uncovering her tail¡ªonly one this time. Its upper half looked exactly the same as it did before the evolution. However, in the middle of its length, the appendage separated into three equally long parts, each tipped with a single-edged, curved blade.


    And then her eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of wide red-violet orbs filled with confusion. She blinked, scanning the world around her before settling on the only person nearby.


    "Leo?" Nyx muttered, her soft voice filling the area for the first time. "I can... I can speak like a normal person..."


    Leo''s smile widened as he stepped closer to the large feline. "That you do," he chuckled. "How do you feel?"


    Nyx did a few experimental steps, testing her slightly changed limbs. The two tiny wings also moved briefly before she somehow tucked them into her body. If not for the feathers, nobody would know they were even there.


    "Weird... Different," she answered. "But also very good. My old body had never felt this comfortable. I finally feel like I belong."


    Leo frowned. That was new. Sure, he never had a problem accepting his new form after an evolution, but he also knew that his previous forms were... well, his. That Nyx could say something like that and mean it...


    "Maybe that''s because the body of the Apex Shadow Claw was never really yours," he commented. "It belonged to an almost mindless Voidling, not you. And now that you have evolved into something you chose..."


    "I became something that reflects all of me, not only the Voidling part of me," Nyx finished for him, meeting his gaze. "That sounds... reasonable. I''m happy I didn''t wait for it then. I feel like I can fly."


    Leo snorted. "You can. I swear... How the hell did I end up with some weird floaters, and you got four wings? That just ain''t fair."


    The feline chuckled, her tinkling laughter echoing through the area. "Give it time. Your trait said those things are still developing. Be patient, and one day, we will fly together... Although, I have no idea how to use those," she added, extending the wings on her front legs.


    He waved her off. "You will figure it out after some practice. We got enough time before the Void Gate opens. Now com¡ª"


    Before he could finish, a notification appeared out of nowhere. He blinked and read it carefully.


    Congratulations! Your True Bond has advanced to the next stage. Bond strength: Medium. New effects unlocked.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Huh. He turned to the feline, quirking a bald eyebrow. "You got it, too?"


    Nyx nodded. "I almost forgot about this... To think my evolution was needed to advance it to the next stage."


    "Yeah," Leo muttered, summoning the skill''s description. What changed?


    True Bond (Unique)


    Your Akirian Apex aspect might be dead, but out of this tragedy, something beautiful was born. A bond unlike any other. Unbreakable and always growing stronger. Two souls that are one.


    Effects:


    You are now soul-bonded to an eternally loyal entity, Nyx. Essence and affinity sharing strengthened. Your minds will remain synchronized no matter the distance. You may now manipulate the ratio of experience shared between you. Bond strength: Medium.


    Now that''s interesting. Brow furrowed, he reached into their bond and searched for the part responsible for experience flow.


    Just as the trait said, he found it almost instantly. It resembled a valve that he could turn to change which side of the bond got more experience. There was also something else, a button if he had to describe it. He could press it at any moment and completely turn off the exp-share between them.


    He flipped it on and off a few times before calling out through the link. Can you do it too?


    ''I can,'' Nyx said in his head, pressing the mental button. ''I can''t manipulate the ratios, though. Not surprising, honestly.''


    Leo frowned. Yeah... Don''t worry; I won''t switch it up unless you agree. Let''s keep at fifty-fifty for now, okay?


    The feline nodded, offering him her own brand of smile. "Thank you."


    "Don''t mention it." He also smiled. "Now, if the System doesn''t plan to cut me off again, we should go back. I want to know if you can enter the safe zone now. You''re already whitelisted, so let''s go."


    "Race you there!" Nyx shouted, jumping off the roof and spreading her wings.


    Leo just shook his head and followed the excited, overgrown cat.


    <hr>


    "Would you look at that..." He chuckled as Nyx stepped through the golden barrier like a normal survivor. "Your old evolution really held you back."


    The feline turned around, giving him a grin filled with razor-sharp teeth. "That it did."


    Next to them, Lily shook her head. "I, for one, can''t believe you can talk now. It''s really nice to meet you, Nyx, properly this time."


    "Likewise." The feline bowed lightly before offering the same to Holden and Frank. "Thank you for letting me inside."


    Tony answered with a smile, even if it was a bit strained. "You''re an ally. That you have managed to pass through the barrier only proves you''re not a Voidling."


    "It also helps you''re just a giant, fluffy cat." Frank grinned, ignoring the glare Nyx sent him. "No offense, but Leo still looks ten times scarier than you. Clara would agree with me if she was here."


    Holden sighed as he glanced at the agitated feline and his friend. "You really have a death wish. One day, I won''t be there to save you and your stupidity."


    The Fallen Human chuckled, clapping Tony''s back. "It''s just a bit of harmless fun, right kitty?" When Nyx hissed, Frank took a step back. "Oh well. I got some stuff to do anyway. See ya all later!"


    With that, he practically sprinted away, leaving an exasperated group in his wake.


    "God give me strength. I''m going to kill this daft bastard one day," Holden muttered. He then gave them a tired smile. "I need to leave you too. There are still some people who need help settling down. We will meet again an hour before the Void Gate opens."


    Unlike his friend, the chief of Eden just walked away, muttering something under his breath all the while.


    Leo rolled his eyes, and just as he was about to speak, Nyx beat him to it. "I think I will walk around a bit. Got to get people used to my presence."


    He blinked, watching as the feline trotted away. Traitor, he hissed through their link. Laughter was the only answer he got in return. Fucking hell...


    "Leo," his sister''s voice pulled him back to reality. "I talked with Tony. You didn''t tell him everything... but I''m not stupid. I can read between the lines. Are you okay?"


    He sighed. "I am. Really, I am... But we should probably talk..."


    Lily nodded, and they left Eden.


    <hr>


    "Well, ladies and gentlemen... and cats. I''m taking bets. What do you think is on the other side? A hundred Ether for a prediction," Frank exclaimed as they stopped near the Void Gate. The Fallen''s squad trailed a bit behind them, ready to jump into action if necessary.


    "Are you one hundred percent sure this Cerevod will work?" Holden asked, ignoring his friend.


    Leo flipped the said item in his hand and nodded. "The merchant said it would, and the System confirmed it. All I have to do is to place the matrix on both ends."


    "The stage is yours then." The chief narrowed his eyes. "Four minutes left."

 Chapter 209. Terlasfor

    Four minutes...


    With the Cerevod in hand, Leo stepped on the dark platform and approached the large gate. For a moment, his gaze strayed to the unending culmination of light within the construct, growing stronger with each second closer to the activation. Like always, the pull was there, begging him to speed up the process.


    Yeah, I think not. You won''t taste freedom for long.


    He placed the metal box against one of the pillars and, without thinking about it any longer, pressed the blue button. The Cerevod thrummed as the entire thing lit up with a violet glow and released hundreds of inky white lines on the surface of the Void Gate. They spread all across the massive construct, crossing each other and forming more and more weird symbols.


    So that''s the Enchanted Matrix. Leo mused as the white lines slowed down and settled down. Then, with a flash, they disappeared from view, probably sinking into the gate. Now we wait.


    As seconds ticked by, someone else stepped on the gate''s platform, stopping right beside him. "It looks kind of nice," the woman admitted, motioning to the swirling mass of lights. "I could easily see people paying to witness something like this."


    Leo snorted. "It''s sad I can''t even disagree. I guess every world is fucked up to some extent."


    Lily grimaced. "At least we didn''t have to fight monsters every day back then."


    "Didn''t we?" he muttered. "I can think of multiple monsters humanity had to fight before the Outbreak. Some of them walked the streets just like us, while others lived in our heads."


    His sister gave him a blank look. "When did you turn into a bloody philosopher? Something I should know?"


    Leo chuckled. "Ignore me. I''m just thinking out loud."


    "Whatever..." Lily sighed, returning her gaze to the gate. "So, what do you think is on the other side?"


    "Really? You too?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Did you already place your bet with Frank?"


    The woman punched him in the side in response. "You can''t blame me. I''m just curious. Have you asked that merchant of yours about this?"


    "About this gate specifically?" He shrugged. "Not really. Though, he gave me some interesting info about the planets in our universe."


    Lily looked up at him again, frowning. "Oh?"


    "It''s kind of concerning, but..." With that, he proceeded to explain everything about the Dark Zones and other stuff that Naz''Tor told him. His sister listened without interrupting, her frown deepening with every word that left his mouth.


    "So what you''re telling me is that the survivors on the other side of this gate might be weaker than everyone in Eden?" Lily asked as if she couldn''t believe what she had just heard.


    Leo nodded. "Pretty much. Don''t forget that it might also be a planet full of Nightmares without daytime."


    She flinched. "Let''s hope not. It would be a waste of Ether if we had to block this bloody gate all the time."


    "Eh..." He waved her off. "Unless the Ever-Darkness world is in the Dark Zone too, it wouldn''t be a problem. I bet Nightmares on normal planets are barely above level twenty."


    Lily remained silent for a moment. "I see your point, but still... Having a source of Nightmares next to our headquarters can''t be a good idea."


    "Fair," he said, pretty much ending the conversation. They both settled for watching the gate as the light within slowly settled and expanded for the last time.


    Here it goes.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway is still charging and won''t activate for another: 16 seconds.


    "Are you sure you want to go alone? Why not take Nyx with you?" Lily asked as the timer fell below ten seconds.


    Leo took another step forward, placing himself within the reach of the forming portal. "It''s better this way," he called out without turning around. "I work better on my own, and Nyx is needed here in case I need to contact you from the other side. It will be fine, Lily. Believe me."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "I do," the woman muttered softly. "Good luck."


    The moment she said that, the portal finally stopped its wild movements, its colors changing to a familiar crimson and violet. For the last time, Leo used Identify on the gate.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway has finished charging and is ready to transport beings to the other side. From now on, it will slowly grow in power, allowing stronger creatures to pass through.


    That''s my cue. He took a deep breath and moved forward, right into the portal.


    The lights swallowed him with a single touch, throwing him into an endless space of black and red. Despite not having any ground beneath him, he remained standing as lights continued to flash around him. For a moment, he thought that maybe something went wrong, but then the notification came.


    Planetary transit in progress. Due to the user''s strength, teleportation might take a bit longer. Please remain calm and refrain from using any Essence techniques. Planet of arrival: Terlasfor. Estimated Void corruption: 70%.


    His eyes widened. Wait, what? Seventy? What the hell does that mean? Is it talking about the planet overall or just the population? If it''s the former, then I''m probably going to another place inside the Dark Zone, but if it''s the latter...


    He couldn''t believe it; he refused to believe it. While he understood that not every planet had to adhere to the same ratio of only ten percent of the population surviving the Outbreak, this was just too much. A world with so many awakened beings shouldn''t exist.


    Or should it? Leo closed his eyes, sighing. There are most likely planets without any survivors, so technically, the opposite could be true, too. Shit... I might have to do a bit of scouting before activating the Cerevod.


    He shook his head and looked into the endless void again. Got to arrive on the other side first. I can decide after placing the second Enchanted Matrix.


    Just as he thought that, another notification appeared.


    Planetary transit completed. Arrival in 10 seconds. Prepare yourself, Leo Hale. Due to your strength, your landing won''t be too comfortable.


    He didn''t even dare to question the System and just braced himself. It was good that he did that, as once the timer stopped at zero, he was hurled into the void. For a moment, darkness claimed his vision, and he closed his eyes again, expecting what was coming.


    Oh shit! He growled as his body hit something hard. Instantly, he threw his hands out, stabbing his claws into the soft ground and stopping his tumbling. I definitely didn''t miss this.


    With a scowl, Leo stood up and opened his eyes, taking in the scenery around him. Huh... Those are some big fucking trees.


    He arrived in a forest, a massive one at that. Every single tree around him was easily as tall as some of the skyscrapers on Earth, or maybe even taller. Add to that, instead of the usual brown bark, green leaves, or the crimson of the Void, almost everything around him was painted in dark blue, yellow, and some green.


    There were barely any signs of the Void''s curse here. Hell, even though he couldn''t see this planet''s sun through the deep foliage, it didn''t seem to have the same red color as the one in his galaxy.


    I guess that answers my question. Thirty percent survival rate, well shit.


    Leo turned around and faced the Void Gate that spat him out just a moment ago. It wasn''t any different from the one on the other side, and he quickly approached it, finishing out the Cerevod out of his soul.


    Nyx, can you hear me? He called out through their link as the Enchanted Matrix spread over the gate.


    ''Loud and clear,'' the feline answered. ''Everything''s fine on the other side?''


    Yeah, the matrix will be ready in a few. However, hear this...


    Nyx hummed once he finished explaining the situation on this new planet. ''Should Lily or I come through? There is no need to close this thing yet if survivors there might be weaker than Voidlings in Wolford.''


    Not yet. He shook his head. I will go alone for now. You guys keep your eyes open. Something might have gone through before I arrived here. It takes a bit to arrive on the other side depending on how strong you are.


    ''Got it. I will pass everything you said to the rest. Happy hunting, Leo.''


    I doubt there will be any hunting, but we will see, he answered and closed the link. A moment later, the Enchanted Matrix settled down and disappeared from view.


    And done. Now, let''s see what this place is hiding. He put the Cerevod back in his soul and turned away from the gate. Instantly, his eyes widened, as now dozens or maybe even hundreds of creatures stood between the trees, their weapons trained right at him.


    Where in the flying fuck did you all come from?! Leo shouted in his head as he scanned the centaurs blocking his path.


    Unlike the creatures of legends, the centaurs before him were almost as tall as him. To make them even more unique, their entire bodies were made up of branches, leaves, tree bark, and other parts of nature. Some even looked like they were crafted from stone.


    Leo quickly scanned the largest one in the front.


    Ascended Terrontaur | LVL: 18


    Only eighteen? Looks like Naz''Tor was right... I can work with that. He cleared his throat and prayed that the Universal Linguist worked. "How about we all calm down and lower our weapons? We don''t need to fight."


    At the sound of his voice, every single Terrontaur tensed, and Leo prepared himself for the worst.


    Come on... Haven''t I killed enough survivors lately? Give me a break.

 Chapter 210. Peak of diplomacy

    "Leave," the massive Terrontaur at the front hissed, its deep, male voice filling the silent forest. "Return to where you came from, child of the Void. We won''t allow your presence to taint this place any further. Leave!"


    Leo frowned and raised his hands in a show of peace. Those guys seemed even less accepting of his form than the humans of Earth. He probably should have expected that, as not a single creature before him carried any marks of the Void''s influence. They all had chosen the Ascended evolution path.


    But they didn''t attack me yet. I call it a win. Maybe there is a way to salvage this. If they have an army like that, they could be useful... He hummed, a plan forming in his head. It can''t hurt to try.


    "Listen, I didn''t come here to cause trouble," he said, earning glares from each Terrontaur in the area. He ignored their glowing green eyes and continued. "My name is Leo Hale, and despite my appearance, I''m not on the side of the Void. I come from Earth, home to humans who suffered through the 64th Outbreak just like you. My evolution came from the desire to survive, not to serve the Void."


    This time, some of the centaur-like creatures looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed. Yet, the ones in the front remained the same, standing firm and still glaring at him.


    "This is your last warning, Leo Hale. Return to your home or draw your weapons. Your kind is not welcome here," the Terrontaur spoke again.


    Leo sighed, lowering his hands. He could accept the creature''s offer and go back, but he didn''t want to. This was an opportunity for everyone involved, he just had to make them see it this way instead of hyper-focusing on his evolution. Letting go of a planet with a thirty percent survival rate wasn''t an option.


    "You''re aware you can''t win against me, right?" He asked, his voice filling the entire area. "There are over twenty levels between us, and as you have probably noticed, my evolution isn''t exactly what you would call normal. Why not skip the useless fighting? Let us talk like civilized beings."


    "Your power doesn''t matter to us, child of the Void." The apparent leader of the army laughed. "Our kind has defended this place longer than most of us have been alive. We won''t falter now, even if it means our death. The hearth of Terlasfor won''t be tainted anymore."


    Ah, so it''s like that. They are honor-bound to fight me. That makes a bit more sense, even if it''s still fucking stupid. Hopefully, a quick beating will change their minds. Most of them already look like they don''t want to be here. He noted and reached into his mind. Nyx! Tell Holden and Lily to come through. Look through my memory and explain the situation to them.


    ''Will do, but are you sure about this, Leo? You could just close the gate. That was the plan.''


    I know, I know, but this might be just what we needed in case things go to shit on Earth. If we can cultivate a good relationship with the natives from the get-go, it''s all the better for us.


    ''You are planning to fight them,'' Nyx pointed out, her voice as dry as desert. ''How is that cultivating a good relationship? I think you skipped a few lessons in diplomacy.''


    Leo gave her a mental shrug. Call it an ice-breaker. I have to rough them up a bit so that Holden and Lily can swoop in and take over the negotiations.


    The feline sighed. ''I really don''t think that''s how those things work, but whatever. You do you, I will talk to your sister.''


    Thanks! He shouted through the link and closed it just in time to see the Terrontaur in the front signal the rest to start the attack. Instantly, arrows the size of an average javelin flew right at him, followed by streaks of leaves made out of pure Essence.


    Leo rolled his eyes and summoned a massive wall of shadows in front of him. While he definitely wasn''t too proficient in the defensive use of his affinity, it would be a cold day in hell if he couldn''t stop some attacks from beings more than twice weaker than him.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Once the arrows clattered to the ground and the Essence leaves dissipated against his shadows, he dismissed them. He then looked at the leader and grinned. "Come on... Is that all you''ve got?"


    The Terrontaur narrowed his gaze and nodded to the creature next to him. At once, their hands and hoves lit up in a deep green glow. The rest of the army mimicked this action, illuminating the entire area in a matter of seconds.


    Interesting, but what''s that supposed to do?


    The earth beneath his feet shook in answer as the entire forest came alive. Massive roots exploded out of the ground while tree branches extended, going right for him. At the same time, bushes and other plants awoke from their slumber and slowly combined with each other, forming small nature monsters.


    Okay, I have to admit, that''s impressive. Leo chuckled as he danced between the roots trying to skewer him. His blades snapped out, and he threw himself back into the fray, slashing at anything that dared to come close. This brings back memories of the second Cataclysm. Only back then, I was fighting against the Void and not nature. Ironic...


    Yet even when the plant constructs and projectiles from the Terrontaurs joined the fight, he still didn''t use any Essence. In the time it took a single root to come close to him, he was already far away, slicing through the soldiers of nature. Hell, and even when he let something hit him, it barely scratched his scales.


    I''m just too fast for ya all. Unlucky.


    Tired of facing the endless waves of alive flora, Leo let a bit of Reinforcement seep into his body. With a quick Hunter''s Pulse, he identified the position of the nearest Terrontaur and dashed in that direction. Nature''s wrath tried to stop him, but he just sped up, destroying everything in his way with his body alone.


    The first Terrontaur to appear in his sight had no time to act as he landed a punch to the side of its body. He then flashed next to another creature, grabbed it, and, like a bowling ball, threw it at a group close to them.


    Leo didn''t stay to watch what happened next and threw himself at more forest centaurs. He punched and kicked everything in his way, always limiting his strength to not kill anyone. As he told Nyx, he just wanted to rough them up a bit, nothing more.


    The battle continued as more and more Terrontaurs fell to the ground, crying in pain. As the army dwindled, the force of nature also grew weaker, and soon, he hardly had to try to avoid the roots going for his head.


    And here I hoped they would show more. Leo sighed, knocking out another Terrontaur. None of them even had a chance to raise their weapons against him or use more skills before they joined their kin on the ground. The gap is ju¡ª


    "Leo! That''s enough!"


    Thanks to that single shout, the entire battlefield froze. Leo quickly released his next victim, spun around, and began walking through the field of squirming Terrontaurs. The few still-standing creatures dropped their weapons and laid down, refusing to look in his direction. The forest also returned to its dormant state, its wrath vanquished by a single ex-human.


    "Lily, Tony!" He spread his hands. "How nice of you to join me. What do you think? Nice place, hmm?"


    While Holden''s only answer was to massage his brow, his sister didn''t disappoint.


    "What the fuck, Leo!?" she shouted, stepping into his personal space. "Nyx said you want us to negotiate with them. How the hell are we supposed to do that now? Please tell me you at least didn''t kill anyone..."


    Oh? I definitely told her what I was planning. Anything you have to say, Nyx?


    ''Must have slipped from my mind.''


    Of course... He rolled his eyes and returned his attention to Lily. "Oh, come on. They didn''t want to talk but looked friendly enough that I decided to show them why it''s worth it to rethink their choices."


    His sister raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And how did that go? All I''m seeing is an army of broken and terrified aliens. How are we supposed to work with that?"


    Leo grinned. "Easily. Watch this." He turned away and glared at the Terrontaurs, who were trying to listen in. "Which one of you is the leader again?"


    Instantly, all who managed to avoid an encounter with him pointed towards a centaur lying not that far away from him. "Thanks!" He nodded and approached the fallen leader.


    The alien groaned when Leo picked him up, but its green glare reignited when he spotted who had captured him again. "You!" it hissed, grimacing.


    "Yep, me. Ready to talk now, or do I need to break a few more bones? Both options sound good to me."


    "Oh, for fuck''s sake. Stop scaring the poor alien," his sister cut in. "Let Tony and I deal with this mess."


    Leo shrugged and dropped the Terrontaur at Lily''s feet. "Be my guest. Have fun, I will be around."


    With that, he disappeared under the cover of Stealth Shroud, his feet already carrying him away from the fallen army.


    Finally, I can explore this place. That was tiring...

 Chapter 211. Planet of nature

    I guess I deserved that. Lily sighed, watching her brother disappear from view. She really should have expected some kind of payback after her little stunt. Leo loved to hold a grudge, and now she had no choice but to suffer for her past decisions.


    But why now?! She whined internally, scanning the forest floor full of injured Terrontaurs. You could have just waited one more minute for us, and we would have handled this. But no! You had to beat them up to a pulp.


    Before her downward spiral could continue, a gentle hand landed on her shoulder. "Come on, lass, get a grip," Holden muttered so no one else could hear him. "The circumstances might not be perfect, but your brother was right; we can use this."


    Lily took a deep breath, counted to five, and nodded. The man was right; they had a job to do. She could complain about her brother''s antics later.


    "Excellent," Tony said again. "I will lead, but don''t fear to speak up."


    With that, the chief of Eden approached the fallen leader of Terrontaurs and kneeled before him. The alien instantly turned his glare on the new arrival.


    "I''m Anthony Holden, one of the leaders of Eden safe zone on Earth. Behind me is Lily Hale, another leader and sister of our mutual friend you had the pleasure of meeting." The Terrontaur flinched at that, but Holden evidently didn''t care as he continued. "Despite my ally''s actions, we truly don''t want to fight you. All we seek is an alliance. We can help each other in this new cursed reality."


    The alien scoffed, spitting drops of green liquid¡ªprobably blood. "You want an alliance?" The creature laughed. "After what just happened? You humans must be mad!"


    All right, now that''s bullshit. Lily rolled her eyes and also crouched before the fallen beast. "And please tell me, who was the one to start the fight? I know my brother. He wouldn''t attack you if you didn''t attack first."


    The alien didn''t say anything and just glared harder at her. Lily snorted. "Exactly... Go on, Tony."


    Holden nodded with a small smile on his face. "As you see, the state of your people is your own fault, and I hope you''ve learned something from this mistake. Of course, if you would like, we can forget about everything that happened today and start anew. Talk like one leader to another."


    The Terrontaur frowned as his glare lessened a bit. "And what if I don''t agree? Will you finally leave?"


    Holden chuckled. "Leave? For now? Maybe, but we will definitely return. And then there is Leo, who, as you can see, has already decided to wander off. Currently, nothing is stopping him from doing whatever he wants, but if we were to ally..."


    Lily smirked, seeing the alien''s resolve crumble. Her new co-leader was right; they could use the mess her brother had created.


    "Fine!" The Terrontaur growled. "I will send for our elders. I''m not authorized to make decisions like this."


    Holden smiled. "Very well. We have time. Do what you must..."


    "Seklar," the alien muttered. "I''m called Seklar, the commander of the Heart Forest''s northern battalion. You better not make me regret this."


    "We won''t," Lily vowed, and she meant it. If what the System showed them during the transition was true, then this planet was a real treasure. It could become a safe haven in case something went wrong on Earth.


    "We will see about that," Seklar huffed. With the remaining strength in his body, he turned to face one of the Terrontaurs who weren''t hurt during Leo''s onslaught. "Selbius! Run to the village and inform the elders of everything that happened. Tell them they are needed here."


    Selbius¡ªWhy are they trying to hide behind the tree?¡ªnodded furiously. "As you wish, Commander." And so the creature sprinted away, running almost as fast as Lily could.


    That''s honestly impressive with their levels. Must be a skill...


    "There you have it," the commander scowled. "It shouldn''t take too long for them to come here."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Holden nodded. "We will wait by the Void Gate then and let you recover for the time being. Unless you want us to help?" he offered. "Lily here can speed up healing with her powers."


    Seklar instantly shook his head, his scowl deepening. "No. I can handle my people. Your demon did enough..."


    Lily bristled, ready to jump forward and kick the alien horse''s ass. However, before she could do that, Tony grabbed her forearm and gave her a firm look. ''Don''t,'' it said. She huffed, walking away.


    "One of us needs to go back and bring the others," Holden said once they stopped by the active Void Gate. "We can handle them as they are, but if those elders come with another army, we are in deep shite."


    She clicked her tongue. "Agreed. Besides, it could be a nice show of strength. We can''t depend on Leo with this."


    The man frowned, looking around. "Where is he anyway?"


    That''s a good question, she grumbled in her mind. "No idea, but I wouldn''t be surprised if he was sitting on one of those trees under his stealth."


    "Aye... I can see that happening. You two and Frank will make me go bald before the end of this year."


    "Sorry?"


    "No, it doesn''t matter. It''s my own fault expecting that things will be normal with you around," Holden muttered. "You''re much stronger between the two of us, so I will go. Wait for us. Please."


    Lily rolled her eyes. "I''m not my brother. I''m not gonna fight anyone."


    "You better not."


    <hr>


    Interesting. Leo mused as he scanned the land beyond the forest of giant trees. It didn''t look that much different from the wilderness on Earth, only a bit more exotic. The Void''s corruption was also visible this time, with most of the landscape already transformed by its influence.


    The forest behind me must be protected from the Void to some degree. But how? The Terrontaur said they have been defending this place for a long time, so maybe it''s some kind of sacred land. Still, what can possibly have so much power to resist the Void?


    He shook his head and let his gaze travel to the dozens of Voidlings in the distance. He spotted a few Cursed Terrontaurs, but it was the flora that made up the bigger part of the monster population here. They ranged from simple transformed flowers to large Cursed Treants that reminded him of the one he fought back in London¡ªthough those were far weaker.


    This planet is really big on nature, Leo commented as he identified a long snake-like creature made out of a cursed wood.


    Cursed Root Viper (Voidling) | Rank: F+ | LVL: 15 | Type: Nature, Grace, Surface


    Out of curiosity, he opened the related Bestiary entry, and to his surprise, it was very similar to the one he had received from Cursed Amalgam. It addressed every single Cursed Root creature and not only this single viper. Of course, it listed fire as a weakness, but apart from that, there wasn''t much useful info there.


    Well, aside from the fact that those creatures came to be from combining random animals with plants. Leo snorted, dismissing the bestiary and looking back at the giant forest.


    As much as he wanted to explore this new planet further, he had to return to check up on the negotiations soon. Nyx had already contacted him about it, saying that she and almost everyone else had come through to assist Lily and Holden.


    But first, I have one more thing to do, he noted, activating Hunter''s Pulse. He scanned the hundreds of green trails and nodded before quickly marking one of them. That should do. Let''s go.


    <hr>


    A village... Not surprising.


    It didn''t take him long to follow the Hunter''s Mark, and soon, he arrived close to the massive walls of a village of Terrontaurs. He had to scale a tree nearby to get a better look inside. Those people took their protection quite seriously, or so it seemed at first glance.


    They definitely aren''t a technologically advanced civilization, Leo observed. This looks like a typical medieval village, only much larger and with everything made of wood.


    However, it wasn''t a cut timber that made the hundreds of buildings below him. Instead, everything was shaped with elongated roots, tree branches, or other parts of nature. He couldn''t find a single construct that appeared to be crafted by hand.


    Even with their ability to wield nature, it''s impressive, he admitted. And they definitely did this before the Outbreak. I refuse to believe they build this all in a matter of a few weeks.


    ''They could be one of the few races that were aware of Essence before Awakening,'' Nyx pointed out, her voice pulling him back to reality.


    Nyx... Why did you open the link? Bored with the diplomacy talks?


    ''No. We''re done here and will be returning to Earth soon. Lily told me to call you back.''


    Oh. I will get going then. I finished here anyway. He said and frowned. By the way, how did it go?


    Nyx let out a sigh that could be heard even through their connection.


    ''Not bad, but it could have gone better. Your sister will explain. I didn''t really listen to everything said during the negotiations.''


    I see. Be there in five.

 Chapter 212. Negotiations

    "I see our new friends have already left. They sure recover fast," Leo said as he approached his sister and dropped Stealth Shroud.


    Lily yelped, spinning around to face him. "God dammit, Leo." She glared, grasping at her chest. "I almost shat myself. Do you really need to sneak around when we are the only ones here?"


    He shrugged, leaning against the Void Gate. "Sorry. At this point, walking around with stealth active is like breathing for me. Besides, it''s a good habit to have."


    Lily huffed. "Not when you''re among friends. If somebody dies from a heart attack in the future, I''m blaming you."


    "Funny," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "So what happened during the meeting? Nyx said you would explain everything."


    "I will, just not here." She motioned to the portal. "Come on, let''s go back to Earth, then we can talk."


    Leo nodded and followed the woman into the gate. Just like before, the portal sucked him in with a single touch, transporting him to the mysterious transition space.


    Planetary transit in progress. Due to the user''s strength, teleportation might take a bit longer. Please remain calm and refrain from using any Essence techniques. Planet of arrival: Earth. Estimated Void corruption: 96%.


    I completely forgot about this. He grimaced as his gaze fell on the end of the notification. Yeah... that seems about right. Thank you, Dark Zone and Second Cataclysm. Earth really is on life support. Great...


    He looked around the vast empty space, searching for any changes from the last time, but found none. Everything was exactly the same, and even with Lily also taking the portal, they didn''t share the same transition space.


    I wonder if the transportation method changes depending on the gate. Gotta check that one day.


    Soon, the next notification came, and Leo braced himself as the System threw him back on Earth. This time, he acted quicker and righted himself in mid-air while his claws rushed towards the ground to stop his movement.


    Much better. He smiled and stood up, dusting off his pants and cloak. Just then, a muffled giggle reached his ears, and the smile fell off his face.


    "Not funny." He huffed, producing another round of snickers from his sister. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. It''s not my fault I''m too strong for the portal."


    "I don''t care!" Lily grinned. "After the mess you''ve created on Terlasfor, nothing will stop me from enjoying every bit of your suffering."


    Leo scowled. "It worked out, didn''t it?"


    "I guess it did," she said, still smiling. "However, it doesn''t change the fact that you put us all in an uncomfortable position. Holden pretty much had to threaten their commander to summon the elders. We''re lucky they even agreed to talk to us."


    "I won''t apologize if that''s what you are looking for. They attacked first. I only wanted to talk."


    Finally, Lily sighed as she sat down at the edge of the Void Gate''s platform. "I know... We would be having a completely different conversation if that wasn''t the case. Tony and Frank would probably be here too."


    Leo nodded and plopped down next to her, though this arrangement was far from comfortable. "All right, spill it. What''s going on with those forest centaurs? Do we have an alliance?"


    "Not exactly," she answered, looking up at the night sky. "Much to our surprise, the elders were happy to talk with us, but they didn''t agree on an alliance right away. As it is their planet we practically invaded, they had conditions, a few of them at that."


    He frowned. "Are they at least reasonable?"


    "Kinda? The first one is that we won''t come anywhere close to their main village. That''s easy as we don''t even know where it is, and there is nothing to gain from stepping on their toes."


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I found it," Leo said, forcing his sister to look at him. "It''s massive, maybe half the size of Wolford. There must be thousands of them there. If it somehow managed to remain untouched by the Void, I can guess why they don''t want us coming anywhere close to it."


    "Huh, thirty percent indeed... Lucky bastards, having their own planet protect them," Lily muttered.


    Leo blinked. "What? What do you mean by that?"


    She sighed again. "Apparently, the entire race of Terrontaur is deeply connected to nature and thus the consciousness of their planet. It was like that even before the Outbreak... Don''t ask me how it''s possible. We asked, and they refused to say more."


    And just like that, everything started to make sense in his head. He would still like to know how a planet managed to fight off the Void, but that could wait. Nyx was right; those Terrontaurs were aware of Essence way before the Outbreak¡ªall thanks to a planet with some sort of sentience...


    He relayed all that and what he learned during scouting to his sister, making her frown. "So you''re saying the entire forest is free of the Void?"


    Leo nodded. "Yep. Beyond it, Voidlings walk free. It''s not even half as bad as on Earth, but I doubt they already went through the second Cataclysm, so there is that."


    "And now their second condition makes sense," she mumbled before noticing his questioning look. "We asked them if we could make a new base on Terlasfor. They agreed as long as we do it outside of their forest. I think we''re gonna need to renegotiate this, especially if they want us to agree on the third condition."


    "Sounds serious," he tried to joke.


    "It is," Lily answered, her voice remaining severe. "There is another Void Gate in that forest, a dimensional one. It opened a few days ago, and ever since then, it had been throwing waves upon waves of Voidlings at the Terrontaurs. Their mastery of nature might be impressive, but they can''t go on forever. According to the elders, that single gate would have overwhelmed them instantly if not for their numbers."


    "Nightmares?"


    She shook her head. "Thankfully, no. All normal Voidlings. Just a lot of them."


    "Got ya... And they want us to deal with it? Nothing else?"


    "That''s the third and last condition."


    Leo snorted. "Gotta say, they have balls to ask for all of that after I kicked their asses."


    "Tony thought the same. That''s why we didn''t agree right away."


    "Good. As it is, the deal isn''t fair," he commented. "But if you can fix the second condition and maybe get something else from them, I say go for it. I can always deal with their gate problem myself. I''m kind of curious what''s on the other side."


    "Another Cerevod?" Lily raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a waste. What if you don''t use it again?"


    "Give me a moment. I have an idea."


    With that said, he fished out the TEK transmitter and opened a chat with Naz''Tor. After a few exchanged messages, he grinned and hid the device again.


    "So it''s as I thought," he muttered and turned to look at his sister. "If I don''t activate my Cerevod, the Enchanted Matrixes will fade away after a few days and then I can use them on different gate. They will be slightly weaker but still enough to work for a few weeks."


    "We have a plan then!" Lily exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "We just gotta figure out what to ask from them in return. Well, that and how to convince them to drop the second condition."


    Leo waved her off. "Holden will figure something out. Among all of us, he knows best what the group needs."


    "True that. As much as it pains me to say it, unlike me, Tony knows what he is doing. He never hesitated during negotiations. Frank and I barely had to say anything. It was kinda embarrassing."


    "Don''t think about it too much. Holden has much more experience in leadership than you. Give yourself time." He also stood up and lightly patted her shoulder. "Come on. Let''s get going. I bet the rest is waiting for us."


    Lily just smiled and nodded.


    <hr>


    "Everyone''s ready?" Leo asked as he stopped next to Frank. The red sun was slowly climbing higher, signaling the start of another day.


    The Fallen Human glanced at the large group of survivors behind them and shrugged. "As ready as they can be. Now, we all just need a few levels."


    He nodded. "Easy thing to fix once we arrive at London''s outskirts. We can also clear that one nest I found on the way. It shouldn''t take too long."


    Frank grinned. "I like the sound of that, mate! By the way, where is the kitty? I haven''t seen her ever since we returned from Terlasfor."


    "She went ahead to scout the road. I don''t want any surprises this time. We were lucky nothing happened yesterday when Lily led the civilians."


    "Aye, true that," the Fallen grimaced. "Good thinking, you two. A trap is the last thi¡ª"


    "There you are, you ugly bastards!" Lily interrupted as she came to a stop beside them. "Can we go now? I checked, and everybody is ready. Stop wasting time."


    Leo rolled his eyes while Frank chuckled. "Aye, aye, lassie," the other man said and turned to face the group of survivors. "Pick up your bags, maggots! We''re moving out. Remember, no stops unless I say so or we are halfway to London. Listen to our orders, and everything will be fine. Do I make myself clear?!"


    "Yes, sir!" They all shouted.


    "Excellent. Leo, lead the way."


    Gladly.

 Chapter 213. Calm before the storm

    Leo sliced and diced every single Voidling in his way. Nyx was by his side, enjoying her own share of slaughter as they pushed deeper into London. Meanwhile, Lily circled above them, her golden bow and arrows taking down any flying creature that dared to come close.


    Then, there was the army of survivors behind them, led by Frank. They, too, fought with everything they had, killing Voidlings that came from the buildings around them or somehow slipped past the two powerhouses at the front.


    They had been at it ever since arriving at London''s outskirts¡ªabout half an hour ago, give or take¡ªand most of the fighters already gained a level or more. Of course, Lily, Leo, and Nyx weren''t included in that, but that wasn''t a surprise. A bunch of level twenty to twenty-five Voidlings had no chance to push them over the edge.


    "We''re close!" Leo shouted so that Frank could hear him. "The entrance is just behind the corner."


    "Thank fuck!" The fallen yelled back. "We are running almost dry here!"


    "That''s your own fault!" Lily screamed from above, her hand becoming a blur as she released arrow after arrow. "You asked us to leave some Voidlings for your people. This trip could have taken ten minutes if you just let us do our job or if we used the tunnels."


    "Bah!" Frank scoffed, beheading another Cursed Reaper. "I''m just screwing with ya, lass. This''s been good for us. Once we stop, everyone here will finally have their class advancements."


    "Then you are lucky, we''re here." Leo cut in just as they stepped on another street. The entrance to the subway tunnels waited ahead; now, they just had to clear the area.


    He shared a nod with Nyx, and, in complete synchronization, they let loose their shadows on the battlefield. Dozens of heat-seeking tendrils exploded out of the ground, stabbing every single Voidling in the way to the metro entrance.


    "Get inside! We will finish up here and be there in a minute," he ordered, leaving no place for arguments. "Just take care of the Rock Eaters in the walls. They are weak but annoying."


    Frank nodded, already running forward. "You heard him! After me!"


    As the survivors trickled by them, Leo and Nyx continued flinging their affinity around. Now that they had stopped holding back, Voidlings fell before they could even get within melee range. True, some Spitfires and Cursed Walkers tried to attack with their Essence blasts, but a thin wall of shadows always appeared just in time to block.


    Finally, the last of Frank''s squad disappeared into the metro. Leo took it as a sign, took a deep breath, and released a burst of his pure Essence into the air. He then opened his giant maw and roared.


    The Voidlings that continued to spill onto the battlefield froze, their crimson eyes widening. They only stayed like that for a few seconds before, like one unit, they all turned around and sprinted away. Honestly, it was quite amusing to watch the monsters of the Void escaping like dogs with their tail between their legs.


    "And there is that..." he muttered.


    "You know, you could have done that from the beginning," Lily said once she landed next to him.


    He shrugged. "Where is the fun in that? Besides, I didn''t want to scare our little army."


    "Right... because they definitely couldn''t hear you."


    "Ah, but they didn''t see me." He grinned. "That''s all that matters."


    Lily stared at him as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard. "You are an idiot," she said, shaking her head.


    "Can you two please stop squabbling like children?" Nyx growled, slapping them both with her tail. "You''re both idiots. Hear that? It''s settled. Let''s get going."


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Rude," both Lily and Leo muttered at the same time. They shared a look, shrugged, and followed after the feline.


    "Hale!" Frank called out the moment they entered the subway station. "That roar was you, right? Scared the shite out of a few blokes."


    Leo ignored his sister''s smirk and nodded. "Yeah, it was the quickest way to stop Voidlings from following us. Sorry for not warning you."


    The Fallen waved him off. "Who cares? Those bastards have to get used to stuff like that if they want to survive here. Now, where is this base of yours?"


    "Follow me," Lily said, dropping onto the remnants of the subway tracks. "It''s close."


    Within a few minutes, they reached the end of the tunnel, or rather the cave-in that hid the entrance to the Wildborn''s hideout. Leo frowned as he scanned the debris. Now that he thought of it, how the hell was he supposed to get inside. Nyx could barely fit into the small door, and now he had outgrown her.


    When he had pointed that to his sister, Lily patted his arm and stepped forward. "Don''t worry about that. I took care of it the last time I was here."


    True to her words, once the illusion disappeared, the way inside looked more like a small garage door than anything else. Malcolm was quick to step out once the entrance opened.


    "Now that''s a pleasant surprise!" The man smiled. "I thought I would need to wait another day for you to come. I''m glad I was proved wrong."


    "Things happened. We have no time to waste," Lily said, and after sharing a brief hug, she turned to face the gathered group. "This is Frank and his squad. Leo and Nyx have evolved, but you already know them."


    Malcolm narrowed his eyes, his gaze washing over every new arrival. "Not bad, not bad at all. I''m starting to think we might have a chance. Come inside." He nodded to a man waiting by the entrance. "Benny will help everyone settle in while we talk."


    With no complaints, they did just that and entered the hideout.


    <hr>


    "... I see," Malcolm muttered. "So let me get this straight, we now have Payne, the Supercluster, and alien forest centaurs to deal with? And to make it better, Payne might be planning something?"


    "It''s not as bad as it sounds, lad," Frank was quick to say. "Tony is working on a good deal with the horse people. The only real issue is the rift in the Thames."


    "Alright." The Abyss Walker sighed. "So what''s the plan?" he asked, turning to Lily. "You have one, right? Please don''t tell me we are playing it by ear and hoping for the best."


    "Of course not." The only woman in the room rolled her eyes. "Who do you take me for?" At a pointed look from almost everyone present, she huffed. "It was a rhetoric question, you bunch of annoying shits."


    "You were asking for it," Leo couldn''t help but say.


    Lily threw him a glare and cleared her throat. "Anyway, the plan. It''s simple and brilliant if I say so. The first step is creating a new safe zone somewhere near the Supercluster. With all of us, it shouldn''t take even an hour. Once it''s up, we upgrade it so only whitelisted survivors can enter."


    Malcolm nodded. "Sounds decent for now. What''s next?"


    "The hunt," Leo said, taking over the explanation. "Nyx and I will start hunting Payne''s people again to get his attention. Meanwhile, you three and every other capable fighter here will work on slowly clearing out the areas around the Supercluster and expanding the new safe zone."


    "You want him to come for us," the Abyss Walker stated, frowning.


    "Pretty much." He didn''t see a point in arguing that. "Maybe I can''t find Payne, but who cares? Let him hide in the Supercluster or Buckingham Palace. His people don''t have such protection. Sooner or later, he will have to stop whatever he is doing and come out."


    "And what if he doesn''t?" Malcolm challenged. "What if he calls everyone back and barricades himself inside the Safe Zone?"


    "He won''t," Frank spoke before anyone else could. "Stagnation in this world means death. If they hide, we will keep getting stronger and leave them in the dust after a day or two of hard work. A few of mine are even close to getting an affinity, so that disadvantage will also disappear soon. And, above everything, we have Leo and Nyx. Give those two a day of freedom, and the level gap between us will only grow."


    Of that, Leo wasn''t too sure. At this point, leveling up was almost impossible for him. The Supercluster was probably the only way for him to grow stronger now, and that place could become dangerous even to him. He didn''t fancy going on a rampage there until Payne was six feet under.


    Nonetheless, he didn''t voice his thoughts and continued to listen to the conversation. He refused to entertain any more ''what-ifs.''


    "I guess you have a point," Malcolm finally relented.


    Lily snorted. "Of course he has. We all took part in making this plan, and I, for one, doubt we will have to wait long for Payne to show up. He is an arrogant bastard. He won''t take the loss of his brainwashed minions lying down."


    "On that, we can agree." The Abyss Walker chuckled. "So when do we begin?"


    "As soon as my squad recovers."


    "Lovely..."

 Chapter 214. Settled

    "Are you one hundred percent sure this will work, mate?" Frank asked, his tone more than just a bit skeptical. "I get that this power of yours is bloody strong, but this is a little bit... much? We can just go in like normal people."


    Leo snorted, sparing the other man a single glance. "Normal is overrated. You said it yourself... Besides, if my plan doesn''t work, we can always do it your way."


    They were both standing on a roof, watching the street below¡ªor rather, a certain building on its other side. With Void''s influence spreading far and wide, neither of them had any idea what the place was before the Outbreak. Not that it mattered now. It was a nest close to the Supercluster, which was the only fact important to them.


    "Fine." Frank crossed his arms. "Do what ya must. How do you even see that thing, I will never know..."


    "I have my ways." Leo chuckled. "Other hunters will need to learn it too, but that can wait. We have enough on our plate as it is."


    "Aye, that we do... Do you want me to tell everybody to get off the road? Just in case you miss."


    Leo glanced at the people fighting on the streets nearby and then back at the Fallen. "Just how bad do you think my aim is? I would really have to try to hit one of ours."


    Frank shrugged, grinning. "You can never know, lad. Maybe your hand will slip. Really, anything can happen."


    "Yeah... no." He rolled his eyes. "Though you should probably take a few steps back. My new affinity isn''t something you want to be nearby."


    "No need to tell me twice." The other man quickly retreated to the other side of the roof and gave him a salute. "Fire, soldier! You got one shot!"


    This guy... Leo shook his head and focused on the crimson silhouette of a monster inside the nest. It looked somewhat like a Crawler, only bigger. There it goes.


    At once, Reinforcement and Limit Break flared to life at full power. Bloodlust awoke next, darkening his vision as Relentless Hunger activated. Another flex of his soul brought forth Ruination Essence onto his palms, preparing his next attack.


    Like during his time in the Cursed Nest, Leo gathered his every negative emotion and pushed it into his affinity. Bloodlust slowly followed behind, trickling into the growing technique along with more and more Essence.


    A familiar ache spread over his body, burning his insides, muscles, and then scales. However, unlike last time, he didn''t let it turn into a mind-numbing pain. Instead, he took aim and freed the technique.


    Ruination: Obliterate.


    With a blast that sounded similar to a thunderclap, the beam of the pure Void surged toward the building in front of him. It annihilated the walls in its way like they were made out of paper and continued onward. Within a second, it reached the highlighted Voidling.


    Leo couldn''t see what had happened¡ªnot that he needed to. His Hunter''s Mark vanished the moment his technique struck. And if that wasn''t enough good confirmation, then the System notifications definitely were.


    Apex Crawler (LVL: 30) slain | Experience awarded | 213 Ether gained


    The Nest of Crawlers has lost connection to its core.


    Congratulations, Nest of Crawlers conquered. Do you wish to destroy this instance completely or prepare an Ether tower? Choosing the second option will result in the loss of bonus rewards. However, a Safe Zone may be created later on using the tower.


    "And it worked. We got it," he said, observing the dying Vetilim around the nest. He then turned and shot his companion a monstrous grin. "Told you it would work, you of small faith."


    Frank scoffed as he came closer and stared at the hole left behind by Obliterate. "Yeah, well... If I knew you could fire literal death rays, I wouldn''t have doubted you... Bloody hell, mate, tell me again, why are we worried about that Payne guy and the Supercluster when you can do that?"


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Leo clicked his tongue, already expecting such a reaction. "Because it''s far from infallible. This one technique took over a third of my reserves. I also can''t control it too well, so it hurts my body when I use it. Just look here."


    He raised his arm, where a few scales cracked, leaking small rivers of blood. The other man winced and nodded.


    "Aye, I see your point."


    Leo snorted, lowering his limb. A bit of pure Essence slithered along the damaged scales, slipping into the cracks and stopping the bleeding. It would have to do for the time being, at least until he devoured a few Voidlings.


    But first things first. He reached into his mind and opened the link there. Nyx, please tell Lily she can go inside through the hole I made. The tower will be there soon.


    ''On it,'' the feline answered, and the connection went silent again.


    With that done, Leo finally addressed the notifications begging for his attention. System, create the tower.


    Acknowledged. Ether tower formation in progress. 1500 Ether gained. Please choose your standard reward: Bonus experience or a random rare item.


    I can choose? Huh, nice. He hummed and instantly went for the bonus experience. As nice as items were, he didn''t need any more now. Besides, he hated the random factor. Maybe if he could select what he was getting...


    Experience awarded. Reward distribution finished.


    Despite his high hopes, the level-up notification never came. Which, honestly, was to be expected. His level was just too high for a single nest to push him over the edge.


    Well, whatever. Leo shrugged, settling to watch as the nest below trembled. Through the small hole, he could even see the tower forming inside.


    "No way, that''s another warehouse. Ironic." He chuckled and looked at the man beside him. "Come on. Let''s go down and help with the stra¡ª"


    Leo froze as his bloodlust spiked. A whisper came from somewhere deep in his mind. He didn''t understand the words said, but somehow, their meaning wasn''t lost on him.


    He spun around, his eyes narrowing at a specific building in the distance. There was nothing there that he could see, and yet something made him act.


    "I''ll be right back."


    Frank screamed after him, but Leo was already on a different roof at that point, speeding towards the building his bloodlust warned him about. Reinforcement activated at full power, pushing him even faster. Hunter''s Pulse went out next, enveloping an area wider than ever before.


    There you are.


    He dismissed the hundreds of trails and jumped, shielding his head as he crashed into a wall. It crumbled against his strength, barely taking away any of his speed.


    A shouted curse reached his ears as he continued to run inside the building, destroying more walls on the way. Soon, the source of his hunt appeared in his sight, trying to jump out through an open window.


    Blessed Emissary | LVL: 24


    Leo didn''t let them. With a burst of Essence, he used Blink to appear next to the escaping woman and plunged his extended blade into her chest. She gasped, spitting out blood. She tried to turn, but before she could do that, her head rolled off her shoulders.


    Sorry. Wrong place, wrong time...


    <hr>


    Leo sighed as he joined his sister in watching the sunset. The view could have been better, but at least they were now protected by the safe zone.


    "Still nothing, eh?" Lily said.


    "Yep." He nodded.


    It was the end of yet another day, and thus far, Payne still remained in hiding. While yesterday he and Nyx spent only a few hours hunting¡ªthey had to help people settle into the new safe zone and clear the area first¡ªtoday they had been at it since sunrise.


    Sure, they had killed over a dozen of Payne''s people, but the man still refused to come out. Not even camping by the Buckingham Palace helped. Either the guy had a stealth skill similar to his, or he had never left the safe zone in the first place.


    At least Nyx and I got a level out of all of this bullshit...


    "Man... I can''t believe Malcolm was right. He is never gonna let us forget it." Lily pouted. "Bloody Michael Payne."


    "He''s definitely planning something. Now, I''m sure of that. There is no way he would have ignored me otherwise."


    "Well, too bad we have no idea what that plan is." Lily huffed, crossing her arms. "Maybe if the guy you brought back to Eden didn''t kill himself..."


    Leo shook his head. "I doubt he knew anything. The ones I caught today definitely didn''t."


    "Great..."


    "Hey." He nudged his sister and smiled at her. "It''s not all bad. We have a secure, safe zone now, and everybody is growing stronger. Dylan and a few others even managed to get a true affinity. Minor they might be, but who cares? Progress is progress."


    "I guess," Lily muttered, leaning on him. "I just want Payne to die..."


    "He will," Leo vowed. "I have a plan too."

 Chapter 215. At the gates

    ''So this is your plan... Color me impressed,'' Nyx said in his head. ''After that short torture session, I didn''t expect you to do something that would match it.''


    Leo looked down at the body of yet another Blessed Emissary and quickly stored it inside his soul. He did the same to a corpse a few feet away and sighed when the additional phantom weight settled over his shoulders.


    "Desperate times call for desperate measures," he muttered, walking away from the crime scene. "Payne has to die, or we will never know a moment of peace. If I have to cross another line to pull him out of hiding, then so be it. Better me than someone else."


    ''Hard to disagree. I just wish you had told Lily what you are planning, or at least let me come with you. I get you are strong, but what you are doing is still risky.''


    It always is. That''s just how the world is nowadays. He chuckled, climbing onto a roof and starting toward his final destination. And we both know why you can''t come with me. One of us must stay close to the group in case Payne targets them first.


    ''Yeah, yeah, I get it. Doesn''t mean I have to like it,'' Nyx grumbled. ''But what about Lily? What''s the reason for leaving her in the dark?''


    She simply doesn''t need to know what I''m doing. That''s all.


    The feline''s tired sigh filled their link. ''Really, Leo? That''s the best you can come up with? It''s not like she will look down on you for this. She was the one to start with the killing.''


    That doesn''t matter. The less she knows about what I do, the better.


    ''For who?'' Nyx asked softly. ''You or her?''


    Both of us. Leo answered and came to a stop. The Buckingham Palace appeared in the distance, surrounded by a gold dome glinting in the sunlight. It''s time for me. Wish me luck. I might need it this time.


    ''You got this. And remember, I''m barely five minutes away from you. Call me if you need help.''


    I will, he vowed. See you soon.


    After Nyx''s short farewell, Leo closed the link and stepped out of the corrupted woods and right onto the main street leading toward the palace. He dropped Stealth Shroud and began walking forward, not even trying to hurry.


    Instantly, the lookouts at the border of the safe zone began to move. He smiled.


    Good, you aren''t blind.


    As he came closer and closer, more and more people approached the golden barrier. Most of them belonged to the Blessed Emissary species, but there were also plenty of those who evolved into Ascended or the stage two of Awakened Human.


    No Winged Emissaries or Payne. Leo narrowed his eyes as he passed the ruined Victoria Memorial. He stopped a fair distance away from the gate¡ªor rather its remnants¡ªto the Palace''s main grounds and waited as murmurs exploded behind the barrier.


    Some Emissaries tried to silence the growing crowd, but for the most part, they were ignored. He also took notice that almost no one among the normal people looked too scared of him.


    That''s a good sign. He noted and cleared his throat. "Nice day we have today, eh?"


    His loud, demonic voice finally earned a reaction from everyone, even the Emissaries. They all took a few steps away from the gate and the semi-ruined fence. The whispers also fell silent.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "There''s no need to be scared," Leo spoke again, letting his voice fill the entire area. "Well... maybe that''s not true for some of you¡ªyou all know who I''m talking about. Nonetheless, I didn''t come here to fight any of you. My problem is only with Michael Payne and those who follow him without question."


    The Blessed Emissaries shuffled nervously while everybody else looked on curiously. The fear was still there, but at least now he had their attention.


    "My name is Leo Hale. I was once a reporter in the small city of Wolford. Now, I''m a member of another group, one where everybody can be who they want," he continued. "We have a simple goal: to survive, grow stronger, and help each other. We have leaders, but they aren''t ruthless dictators. If you disagree with something, you are free to voice your opinion without any consequences. Of course, there are rules, but they aren''t anything you wouldn¡¯t hear before the Outbreak."


    Leo stopped for a moment, giving the crowd a chance to process his words. He needed them to take everything he said here seriously.


    "And thus, we arrive at the reason why I''m here. For all of you who don''t feel safe under Payne''s command or just want to break free from his shackles, I have an offer." He spread his arms wide. "Step out and join my side. I will personally keep you safe until we reach my group''s safe zone and then vouch for you to the leaders. And if you fear Payne''s followers next to you, don''t. I have a warning for them too."


    His soul came alive with a single nudge, releasing the cargo inside. In a flash, three bloody corpses appeared at his feet, earning gasps and yelps from most of the gathered crowd.


    "Those are just a few of the Blessed Emissaries who tried to stand in my way and hurt those I want to protect," Leo declared, resorting to half-truths. "Two of your commanders also died at my hands. They stood no chance against me. Michael Payne is next on the list. Once he stops hiding, that is..."


    This entire plan was a gamble, a big one at that¡ªespecially after showing the corpses. However, aside from jumping into the Supercluster and searching for Payne there, he didn''t see any better way to bait the man in the open. Besides, maybe, just maybe, he could convince some people to abandon this place without any bloodshed.


    He cleared his throat again. "There you have it! I said all I wanted. You can step out and join me or remain here under the leadership of a man who doesn''t care about you, who will get rid of you the moment you stop being useful. The decision is yours."


    Leo might have been laying it on a bit thick there, but it was necessary. He had spotted a few people here and there who just needed a push, and maybe this would be enough. They only had to take a few steps forward to earn their freedom.


    And so they did.


    At first, it was only a single man¡ªan Ascended Human¡ªwho sprinted through the barrier before anyone could react. He stopped before Leo and offered him a bow. "Bob Wayne. Staying here means death or slavery anyway. I''d rather take my chances with you."


    Leo nodded, holding back a smile. "Good man." He then looked up at the rest of the crowd. "Anyone else? As you can see, nothing has happened to your friend here."


    It took another moment, but then two women sprinted out, followed by another man who just barely avoided getting caught by an Emissary. The trio joined Bob, their entire bodies shaking.


    Four... Not bad, but I expected more. And Payne still hasn''t shown himself. He sighed and addressed the crowd for the last time. "Very well... I will return tomorrow and give you the same offer. Think about it, and I wi¡ª"


    Leo stopped mid-word and whirled around, releasing the hold on his Essence. Shadows burst out in front of the four refugees, creating a thick and massive wall just in time to meet a giant spear of light head-on.


    The projectile went halfway through the wall before stopping and fading into particles of golden light.


    He turned sharply to his new followers and barked out, "Hide! Now!"


    The four humans moved immediately, leaving the open field. As they ran, a streak of white shot toward them through the air. Leo shook his head and flashed himself between the falling comet and the people he vowed to protect.


    The moment he appeared in the new spot, he folded the spikes on his tail, covered them in Kiss of Death, and spun around. The overly-long limb met the new attacker''s charge, cutting right through them and spilling blood all around.


    Winged Emissary (Light Barbarian LVL: 31) slain | Expirience awarded | 542 Ether absorbed


    The two parts of the now-dead human tumbled to the ground, painting it in red the further they traveled. Leo flicked his tail, cleaning it of the remaining blood, and turned to face the new arrivals.


    "That wasn''t very nice, Payne." He grinned at the man and the final Winged Emissary that just landed a fair distance away from him. "Those were your people a moment ago. Already trying to kill them?"


    Payne scoffed. "They betrayed humanity. Death is their punishment. Stand aside, Nikra''s dog. I will deal with you in a moment."


    Leo snorted, extending his crimson blades. "Yeah, I don''t think so, weakling."


    Inferior Serafin | LVL: 36

 Chapter 216. Beyond reason

    Despite Payne''s new evolution, the man barely looked any different than the last time they fought. He only seemed a bit taller, and somehow, his wings became so bright that it almost hurt to look at them. It was like gazing straight at the sun.


    This could be annoying, Leo noted. At least he doesn''t have any armor anymore. That''s a point for me.


    "You wish to die first. Very well, the traitors can wait," Payne said, drawing his shortswords. "I have been waiting for this. This time, I will show you no mercy."


    Leo snorted, quirking an eyebrow. "Mercy? I doubt that''s even a word in your vocabulary. Besides, weren¡¯t you the one to run away the last time we fought? I saw the fear in your eyes, and today, I will make you feel it tenfold. Only one of us will walk out of this alive."


    The other man snarled as his swords lit up in a golden glow. "On that, we can agree. Luck won''t save you this time around." He then glanced at the female Winged Emissary beside him. "Commander."


    The woman nodded and flew toward the safe zone. Leo let her. Unlike the one he had killed a minute ago, she kept her eyes on him, her body tense and ready to react in case of an attack. His previous tactic wouldn''t work here.


    Your turn will come soon, he commented, opening the link in his mind. Nyx, I have Payne and his people here. One Winged Emissary and about fifty Blessed left.


    ''We will be there soon,'' the feline answered instantly. ''Good luck, and give him hell.''


    Oh, I will. He took a deep breath as Essence slithered along his blades, covering them in a thin protective layer. Shadows followed, improving the makeshift reinforcement. And finally, the black flash of Kiss of Death washed over his weapons. Hopefully, this will be enough.


    "Ready to die?" Leo looked Payne in the eyes.


    "I should be the one asking that," the man replied calmly. "Shall we, Nikra''s dog?"


    "That¡¯s the best you got? Oh well. Come on then."


    The moment the last word left his mouth, they both rushed forward, meeting in the middle in a shower of sparks. Neither gave any ground, pushing against each other¡¯s weapons in a test of strength.


    Almost equally matched.


    Leo growled, activated a bit of Reinforcement, and broke the stalemate. Payne stumbled back but managed to recover in time to defend from the next slash. They clashed again and again, testing and prodding the other''s weaknesses and openings.


    And it all took barely a few seconds.


    Let''s kick it up a notch.


    As they separated after another exchange, he filled his body with Essence and used Blink for the first time during this battle. As expected, Payne once again reacted in time and spun around to defend his back. Only this wasn''t all Leo prepared for today.


    The moment their weapons connected, a tiny spark of Essennce left his blade and imprinted itself onto his enemy''s sword. He then utilized Blink again to appear at Payne''s back and continued his onslaught.


    Like always, the Serafin turned in time to block, but the sword in his right hand was suddenly knocked off course by an invisible explosion. The man''s eyes widened, and he barely managed to lean a bit back when a blade cut across his chest, spilling blood.


    I knew improving Phantom Erasure would be worth it.


    Leo, hoping to use the momentary distraction, allowed his shadows to dive out of the ground. At the same time, he flashed forward, his eyes zeroing on a highlighted spot on Payne''s shoulder. Death Touch was finally active.


    Of course, life would have been far too easy if the fight ended like that.


    A millisecond, maybe less, before Leo''s blades could cut his enemy open, the Serafin''s body exploded in a flash of light. The discharge sent him flying across the battlefield while his shadows faded into nothingness.


    Ouch. He winced, feeling the burn over his chest. It was far from what he had to deal with after the last fight, but it was still annoying. This was similar to that bubble he used last time, only far faster...


    Leo stood up and narrowed his eyes at Payne, who finally decided to use his wings and claim the sky for himself. To make it even worse, the deep wound on his chest also healed without leaving even a single scar behind.


    Not good. Not good at all.


    "To push me this far already," he heard the winged man mutter. "So be it. Enough wasting time."


    Payne flew higher before enveloping himself in his wings. Despite that, he didn''t fall. Golden Essence began to gather around him, infusing the feathers on his wings with so much energy that this time, Leo had to look away to avoid blindness. The Ruination technique forming in his hands also faded as his focus faltered.


    Shit. He cursed and fuelled more Essence into Reinforcement instead. Limit Break also activated as he fired as many shadow projectiles as possible at the man in the sky.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    None of them did anything. Hell, it looked like Payne was somehow absorbing his attacks.


    Got to hit him with something stronger.


    Yet, just as he was about to summon more Ruination Essence out of his soul, Payne''s form began to spin. Within a few seconds, he became a whirlwind of light, a tornado that grew stronger with each rotation.


    And then, the supernatural disaster descended upon the earth.


    That''s my cue.


    Fueled by almost every utility ability he possessed, Leo sprinted at full speed. Behind him, the tornado gave chase, obliterating everything in its path. Meanwhile, something strange began to form in the air above¡ªtiny magic circles, at first only a few, then dozens, and soon hundreds.


    The golden circles flashed once, then twice, before locking onto him. Within a second, they unleashed beams of light that exploded the moment they touched the earth.


    And yet, none of them could reach him. With Reinforcement and Limit Break burning in his veins, the lasers moved almost in slow motion. He danced between them without any effort, and Payne¡ªwho still tried to chase him in the tornado form¡ªcould do nothing to change that.


    This was the gap between them, a gap that didn''t exist the last time they fought.


    What happened? Leo had to wonder as he continued to dodge. You had the Supercluster to your disposition for the entire time, and yet there is a five-level difference between us. What were you doing all this time?


    Payne might have had the elemental advantage, but his attributes were just too low. Last time, the man''s strikes hit as hard as a mountain. Now, Leo could overpower him with just a bit of Reinforcement.


    You can''t keep it up forever. He thought, glancing at the tornado behind him. Someone has to give sooner or later, and it won''t be me.


    Nonetheless, the chase continued, destroying everything around Buckingham Palace. At this point, the area looked no better than the leftovers of the Tainted Wasteland in Wolford. Honestly, it was lucky that the few deserters managed to escape before Payne killed them by accident.


    It''s slowing down.


    Ever so slowly, the tornado became smaller, while the magic circles disappeared, one after another. Payne obviously also noticed that his technique was running out, so he abandoned the chase, turning back toward the safe zone.


    Oh no, you don''t.


    While continuing to avoid the light beams, Leo filled his left hand with Ruination Essence. He sacrificed more energy than necessary, hoping to make up for the lack of proper form, and fired.


    The incomplete Obliterate surged forward with a boom. A pained scream filled the area as the light tornado disappeared within a blink, revealing Payne, who collapsed to his knees, still quite far away from the safe zone barrier.


    The man now sported a hole, one starting in the left wing and ending on the other side of his shoulder. Ruination consumed everything in its way, be it the reinforced feathers or the flesh and bones behind them.


    Leo wasted no time and let his much faster affinity finish the job.


    Multiple Eruptions burst out of the ground, but before they could skewer their target alive, a golden dome blocked their path. A moment later, the last Winged Emissary landed before Payne. The remaining Blessed also stepped out of the safe zone.


    "So that''s how it is." Leo shook his head. "You would protect him even after he lost? Don''t you want to be free? Break from a madman''s control?"


    Of course, nobody answered. Those people were too far gone. Brainwashed to serve Geron''s pet to their death.


    "So be it."


    A quiet whistle was the only warning they got before an arrow the size of a javelin struck one of the Blessed at the front. The projectile emerged from the man''s back and continued onward, killing another two on the spot.


    A few screamed, breaking the formation, but they still refused to back down. Leo could have respected that if they had at least done this out of their own free will.


    He sighed. "How nice of you to join me."


    Just as he said that, Lily and Nyx landed by his side, the former with a giant glowing bow in her hand.


    "Nice shot," he added.


    His sister grinned without looking away from the small army before them. "My practice paid off." She then frowned. "Though I was aiming for Payne, so yeah..."


    Leo snorted. "Happens to the best of us."


    "Waste of time," Nyx grumbled and shot forward, shadows following in her wake. "Kill them before they try to run!"


    Lily glanced at him, her grin growing even wider. "You heard the kitty. Go finish this. We will take care of those cunts."


    With that, she jumped in the air, her wings carrying her forward as she swapped her bow for two daggers. She went right for the last Winged Emissary, forcing the woman to abandon her assault on Nyx. Now, the Blessed were the only ones to stand against the feline.


    Yeah, good luck with that. Leo shook his head and also sped forward. A few Blessed turned in his direction, moving to intercept, but he just flashed between them before doing it again, leaving them in the dust.


    After the third use of Blink, Payne appeared in his sight. Two Emissaries helped the man to his feet while golden Essence surrounded the wound in his shoulder.


    Leo performed another Blink and sliced off the head of the nearest enemy. The second Blessed managed to turn in time, raising his sword to block the incoming blade.


    It was all for nothing.


    With strength alone, Leo cut through the inferior weapon and then through the man''s neck. He then used the forward momentum and spun around, letting his folded tail finish this battle once and for all.


    "You dare!?" Payne screamed as he raised his sword in the last second and deflected the deadly limb. "I won''t fall here, you hear me!"


    Leo ignored the madman''s shouting and pounced again, pushing all of his power into the next slash. Reinforcement, Limit Break, and Kiss of Death activated at full power within a millisecond, ready to finish the final target.


    And yet, Payne raised to his full height, his swords stopping Leo''s weapons just an inch away from the man''s throat. Their eyes connected, violet meeting gold that became as bright as miniature suns.


    "I''m not done yet!" The Serafin roared, and light exploded out of his body. This time, it barely pushed Leo away, but when the explosion settled, it revealed something concerning.


    Payne''s wings disappeared as golden lines spread across his body. They all formed symbols¡ªsymbols similar to the ones produced by the Cerevod. They weren''t exactly the same, but the style was almost identical.


    Right... Cerevod originally came from Ger.


    The Serafin''s injury from the Ruination technique was also gone¡ªthe flesh around it raw and scarred. Whatever the man did, it healed him completely, bringing them back to the starting point.


    Well, not really. More like round two.


    "Bring it on."

 Chapter 217. Avatar

    The bloodlust hidden deep within his mind awoke at last, rushing into his veins, into his very soul. The world around him darkened, different colors turning into shades of gray, while the lone prey before him turned red.


    Yet, even Relentless Hunger couldn''t get rid of the golden eyes and symbols along Payne''s body. They were like a beacon in the darkness, begging to be snuffed out forever.


    And you will get your wish, Leo promised, enveloping his blades in additional layers of Essence and shadows. Time to die.


    Similar to the beginning of the battle, they rushed forward at the same time and clashed somewhere in the middle. Only this time, they didn''t test each other''s strength and continued cutting and slashing at the other.


    One couldn''t even blink in the time it took them to exchange a flurry of strikes. Clangs of blades filled the area, consuming every other sound as the duo found themselves in their own little world where only their power mattered. Another Outbreak could happen next to them, and they wouldn''t have noticed.


    Fast, Leo admitted after the Serafin almost got past his defense.


    He still deflected in time and moved for a counter. His arms blurred, striking faster and faster as Relentless Hunger continued to ramp up. Yet, the other man somehow managed to defend, blocking everything that came his way. It wasn''t without consequences, though¡ªwith each block, Payne grimaced, his knees buckling ever so slightly.


    What if I do this? Carefully, Leo slowed his offense, feigning overextension.


    The Serafin took the bait and moved to attack without using this brief time to recover his own strength. His strikes became sloppier, but Leo still only defended, acting like he could barely do anything. Again, the other man jumped at the show of weakness and put everything into the next attack, hoping to knock away one of his enemy''s weapons.


    Leo let him.


    The other man acted upon the fake opening and thrust his other sword forward, going for the heart. Leo burned more Essence and leaned to the side in the last second. As he did that, his other hand grabbed Payne''s extended arm while his tail slashed at the defenseless man, leaving behind a deep cut going from shoulder to hip.


    Payne hissed in rage, trying to free his trapped hand. Light filled his entire body, preparing another defensive discharge, but it was too late.


    Leo tugged on the hand in his grasp, letting his claws slip into the soft flesh. Then, with one more push, he cut through the bone inside and jumped away, ripping the limb off just before the explosion of light could swallow him.


    He landed a safe distance away, the hand in his grasp fading to dust as Devour did its job. The explosion also settled, revealing a heavy-breathing Payne. The man looked ahead with hate burning in his eyes as he held the bleeding stump close to his chest.


    "You..." the Serafin hissed as his remaining sword glowed brighter than ever. "You will pay for this."


    Leo smiled. "No, I don''t think I will."


    The other man roared, his healthy arm becoming a blur. With each slash, condensed arcs of light flew out of his sword, all filled with enough power to kill.


    Leo jumped high, avoiding the first salvo. Mid-air, he pushed a burst of Essence out of his body, using blink to appear back on the ground in the middle of another rain of light projectiles. He flexed his energy one more time, teleporting all over the place until he found himself not even a foot away from Payne.


    His extended blade surged forward, slipping into the man''s chest, right where the heart was. The Serafin stiffened, his sword clattering to the ground as he looked down at the weapon penetrating his body. He coughed and then turned to gaze into the violet eyes of his killer.


    "N-No..." he stuttered. "Y-You can''t... How..."


    "You are too weak, too slow," Leo growled, plunging his other blade into the man''s stomach. "The rule of the new world is simple. Only the strong survive. You fell behind, and you lost."


    "I see," Payne muttered, his lips lifting up in a bloody smile. "Forgive me, my lord, for ever doubting you. You were right from the beginning..."


    The bastard went completely mad. Leo shook his head and released Devour from the cage in his soul.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The forever-hungry ability rushed through his blades, ready to end Payne''s existence once and for all. However, the moment it tugged on the man''s life force, it tugged back. At the same time, the symbols on the Serafin''s body shifted, growing bigger and bigger until they left no skin uncovered.


    What? Leo pulled his blades out and struck again, this time going for the neck.


    Just as Payne was about to lose his head, the symbols glowed brighter, enveloping the man in a thin barrier, hiding him from sight. The incoming blades bounced off.


    Leo, fearing another explosion, jumped back, already gathering Ruination Essence in his palm. If a blade couldn''t end this, the Void''s true power definitely would.


    A few seconds before he could release the technique, dozens of golden strings of light surged out of the barrier protecting Payne. Leo almost dismissed his Essence, ready to get out of the way, only to realize that none of the tendrils were going for him.


    Instead, they flew toward the Emissaries, no matter if they were dead or alive. The light threads dived right into their hearts. The ongoing battle ended in a matter of seconds as every single Blessed collapsed to the ground, screaming their lungs out.


    ''Leo?''


    Don''t ask me, but I won''t let this continue.


    He turned back to Payne and let the growing Obliterate fly toward the man. It crashed against the golden barrier, struggling to go through. He pushed more Essence into the beam, ignoring the growing pains, until finally, the shield cracked in a single spot. His technique spilled in and burned a hole in the human within.


    No scream came this time, and instead, silence descended upon the entire battlefield as every single string of light pulled back, ending the Emissaries'' suffering. All of them dragged a small glowing crystal on their tips¡ªcrystals that got consumed the moment they touched the barrier around Payne.


    "Leo! What in the bloody hell is going on?!" Lily shouted, landing next to him.


    He only spared her bloodied arm a glance before answering. "I''ve already told Nyx, I have no idea. He was practically dead, and then this happened..."


    "Shouldn''t we just attack?" The feline tilted her head once she joined their side. "Maybe if we hit him together..."


    He shook his head. "Unless I put the rest of my Essence into another Obliterate, I doubt we will even get through the cocoon. I barely cracked it before he consumed those weird shards. Now it looks twice as strong."


    "So what? We just wait?"


    Leo narrowed his eyes at the cocoon that suddenly pulsed from within. He shivered. "No. We run. Now!"


    Neither Nyx nor Lily dared to question him as they spun around and ran. A few seconds into their escape, an explosion rocked the earth. Its blast hit them in the back, sending them flying through the air.


    Leo grimaced as he landed and used his claws to stop the momentum. Close to him, Nyx and Lily did the same, though the latter used her wings for that.


    "Okay, that hurt a bit," his sister grumbled as she covered the few new bruises on her body in a layer of light. "He self-destructed?"


    "I wish, but I doubt it," he replied. "You two good to go?"


    After they both nodded, Leo shot toward the explosion''s origin. It didn''t take long before he reached the edge of a massive crater. It even swallowed half of the Buckingham Palace, and the safe zone barrier was nowhere to be found.


    Shit. Just how many people died from this?


    His gaze then traveled into the crater''s depths, or rather the glowing, golden figure standing in the middle of it. It was a being made of pure energy, yet one that maintained a somewhat human form¡ªa form Leo recognized well.


    No...


    "Leonardo Hale," the being spoke, their rich, booming voice filling the entire crater. "My sister''s chosen. How nice to finally meet you face to face."


    "Geron." Identify. Please, System, work.


    Avatar of Light | LVL: N/A


    Of course.


    The Old One chuckled. "You recognize me. Good, very good. You did well against my host, child. I never doubted you."


    "How?!" Leo shouted while signaling Nyx and Lily to back away with his hands. They needed to buy time and recover some of the strength they had used in the previous battle. "You are supposed to be dead!"


    Geron laughed again, crossing his four arms. "My true body might be dead, but beings like my sister and I cannot truly fade into nothingness. You saw it for yourself, didn¡¯t you? That shard in your chest made sure of that."


    Yeah, I did. Leo narrowed his eyes. "So what are you? If you could have returned just like that, you would have done that ages ago."


    The Old One raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Who do you take me for? Do you really think I will answer that, child? "


    No, no, I don''t. He said in the safety of his mind. One thing is for sure: This can''t be his true body. Identify and him calling Payne a host only proves that. Yet, one question still remains... Just how powerful is he now? Nyx?


    ''I wish I had an answer for you. But... but he can''t be much stronger than the combination of what he absorbed, right? It''s only an avatar, and in the end, it''s still Payne''s body underneath it. There must be a limit to what a mortal can handle.''


    I hope you are right...


    "You don''t want to talk. Not surprising. Allow me then to say what I need to," Geron continued, seeing that he was getting ignored. "Just as you had an offer for my host''s people, I have an offer for you. Stand down, let me take the shard, and I will leave this planet alone. Nobody else has to die."


    The Old one extended his two hands. "Your life for everybody else''s survival. What will it be?"

 Chapter 218. Battle of Titans - Part One

    Before Leo could even take a few seconds to process what the Old One had said, his sister rushed forward.


    "Screw you!" Lily shouted as she stopped at the edge of the crater. "Take that offer of yours and shove it deep into your arse, you bastard. Leo isn''t going anywhere with you!"


    Maybe if the situation wasn''t so dire, he would have chuckled at the fact that his sister just told an ancient god to shove it. However, laughter was the last thing on his mind now, though his mouth definitely lifted a bit into a tiny smile.


    "Well, well, well. And who do we have here?" Geron said, clearly unbothered by what he had just heard. "Yet another result of Nikra''s machinations... And I had so many great plans for you, Lily Hale."


    "Nikra?" Leo muttered before he could stop himself. Was she the one to interfere in Lily''s evolution? How?


    "Oh, you didn''t know? Now that''s interesting." The Old One chuckled. "My sister really is unpredictable... Not that it matters now, of course. Only your choice does, Leonardo. So what will it be?"


    Lily spun around at those words and gripped Leo''s hand. "Don''t you even dare to think about it," she hissed. "We''re not losing you just because of some half-assed offer. He is probably lying anyway. Do you really believe he will let Nyx and me leave? I''m his failed experiment, and Nyx is a part of you. What about Adam? If you go, he dies too."


    Leo closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I know... I''m not dumb enough to trust the words of a professional manipulator. I just have no idea what to do. We can''t run¡ª"


    "Then we fight," Lily cut in, gripping his hand even tighter. "This is just an Avatar, a manifestation of some kind. We can win, the three of us together."


    "He is still a god," he stated, feeling like he had to point out the obvious before they made what could be the final decision in their lives. "Not all of us might make it out alive."


    "So be it," Nyx said, also coming closer. "Hunter died protecting you from Nikra. If it''s my fate to fall here so that you can live, then I will accept it with a smile on my face. Let''s finish it, once and for all."


    Could they really do this? Defeat a being that once ruled over a part of this Multiverse?


    Leo didn''t have an answer to that, but what other choice did they have? Not for a single moment did he believe that Geron would leave the duo by his side alone once the Old One got the shard. Yet, the thought of giving in and taking this gamble lingered in his mind.


    No. He shook his head. I haven''t come this far to give up now. I promised I wouldn''t do that again... Forgive me, father, Nick, Ava. We might join you soon.


    Leo turned his gaze toward Geron, his eyes narrowing. "Lily, you''re our air support. Hit him with everything you can the moment you see an opening. Also, shout if you notice something we don''t... Nyx, your job is to distract him when he and I clash. We can''t give him even a second to breathe."


    They both nodded. "What if it becomes a battle of affinities?" his sister asked.


    He smiled wryly. "Then we pray to all the gods we know and do whatever we can to survive."


    Lily snorted. "So, pretty much what I thought. Got ya."


    "I see you have come to a decision," Geron''s voice once more filled the area. "Even though I predicted this, I''m still disappointed... What a shame. You all could have been great if not for those unfortunate circumstances." He sighed. "Well... you won''t be the first talents snuffed out before you could bloom... Now come! Face me!"


    The moment the Old One said those words, an invisible force exploded behind Leo and the duo beside him. It knocked them into the crater, sending them tumbling down along its wall. A second later, the earth shook again as light burst out of the crater''s edges. It climbed higher and higher until a golden half-dome formed, trapping everything within it.


    "Not the best of my creations, but it should do for worms like you." Geron chuckled. "There will be no running. This is your graveyard."


    "In your dreams," Leo growled as he stood up. Nyx joined his side while Lily spread her wings, claiming the limited air space for herself.


    "Oh?" The Old one raised an eyebrow as swords of pure light formed in all of his four arms. "Come then. Show me the power Nikra gave you."


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    This time, Leo held nothing back. Reinforcement, Limit Break, and Relentless Hunger activated within a blink¡ªall pushed to their limit from the beginning. At the same time, he reached deep into himself and pulled on a tiny bit of his soul shrouded in shadows. It resisted for a moment, but with another tug, it surged out, melding with his body.


    Instantly, shadows exploded all around the crater, rushing towards him as he ran at Geron. They slithered along his body, covering him in a layer of armor that grew thicker with every millisecond. His extended blades also grew longer and sharper.


    "Hmmm, an elemental manifestation," Geron muttered as he blocked Leo''s first slash and then another and another. The golden being didn''t even flinch and simply raised his swords as if to swat away a fly. "Intriguing. Most have to work for a long time to obtain this form. You have done well, but this isn''t going to save you. It''s my turn."


    And just like that, their roles had swapped. The Old One struck like an enraged tiger, only much faster and with more precision than an animal could ever achieve. Then there was the fact that the golden man hit as hard as a truck with a jet engine strapped to its back.


    Each block or even deflected strike forced Leo to take a step back as his arms trembled from the strain. If not for his Manifestation reinforcing his limbs, he would have fallen after the first few seconds of their exchange.


    Thankfully, before his arms could go numb, a rain of golden arrows descended on Geron. At the same time, the ground underneath him erupted, forcing him to jump away to avoid getting skewered by shadow spikes.


    "Of course..." The Old One sighed. "You can''t even let me enjoy my first martial fight in eons. I shall get rid of the ants first, then. Try to survive this, Leonardo. Or don''t. Either is fine for me."


    While three of his arms continued to defend from the incoming attacks, Geron plunged a single sword into the ground.


    At once, the entire crater''s surface lit up with a golden glow. Leo quickly stopped his assault and jumped away as the earth beneath him erupted, releasing a thick pillar of light that reached the dome above.


    It didn''t stop there, and the eruptions continued happening everywhere. They had no pattern, and only speed and good reaction time could beat them.


    ''Leo, we got to stop this!'' Nyx shouted over the link. ''I''m relatively safe thanks to my smoke form, but you and Lily can''t do this forever. She already has a hole in one of her wings.''


    I know! Leo gritted his teeth as yet another beam grazed a few of his scales, melting their outer part with a single touch. Without his Manifestation armor, it probably would have been much worse. I have to get close to him, but it''s pretty much impossible now.


    ''Figure out something! Fast! He isn''t bothered by the things I throw at him, but he also seems much slower. Most of his focus is probably on the technique. This is our chance.''


    I will be there soon. Leo vowed and forced more Essence into Reinforcement, pushing the skill way past its limit. Next, he called on his second affinity and continuously fed it into his shadow armor. They didn''t mesh well, but he didn''t care about that.


    Let''s go.


    Instead of dancing between the eruptions around him, he turned and ran straight at Geron. He avoided most of the pillars, but some still managed to strike him before he could pull out of the way. Thankfully, just like he had hoped, the Ruination flowing within the armor absorbed most of the light''s power. More of his scales still suffered, but at least it wasn''t as bad as before.


    Got to work on this if I survive today. He noted as his gaze zeroed on Geron not that far away. But now... Blink!


    With a surge of Essence, he appeared behind the Old One, his blade going for the being''s neck.


    As expected, Geron still managed to turn despite having one of his swords buried in the ground. His other blades rushed to defend, but they weren''t ready for what Leo planned next.


    A second, maybe less, before they clashed, he pulled on the sea of Ruination Essence within his armor and directed it into his blade. A massive arc of red and black crashed against the golden swords, cutting through them only after a bit of struggle.


    Geron''s eyes widened as the wave hit him head-on. It flung him to the opposite side of the crater, canceling the battlefield-wide technique.


    Leo instantly followed with multiple Blinks, this time trusting his shadows as dozens of Eruptions raced toward the Old One. However, a discharge of light exploded out of Geron when he crashed into the ground, stopping the assault before it could even begin.


    Leo paused, Nyx reforming beside him as they waited for the dust to settle¡ªor at least that was the plan.


    Multiple streaks of light dived out of the cloud. Leo moved on autopilot, raising his blades just in time to deflect three glowing swords that flew at him. Meanwhile, Nyx''s tail lashed out, knocking two more projectiles like this out of the way.


    "I will say, I underestimated you, child," Geron''s voice boomed around them, returning their attention to the settling dust. "I saw what your power did to my host, but it never crossed my mind that this affinity of yours could even touch me." He chuckled. "A mere mortal with such strength... It''s unimaginable."


    Finally, the Old One stepped out, and Leo''s eyes opened wide at what they saw. He knew he packed a lot of Ruination Essence into that last attack, but he didn''t expect this...


    For one, Geron''s upper left arm was gone, leaving behind a rotted stump that refused to accept the Old One''s light. Yet, that was nothing in the face of what happened to the being''s head.


    About a third, maybe more, was gone, obliterated by Ruination. Leo''s technique cut on a slant, leaving behind only a single eye, a bit of the nose, and most of the mouth. Just like the cut-off arm, the skull''s insides also remained exposed, already partially corrupted by the Void''s power.


    Bloody hell... Leo gulped. So Payne''s body was always beneath this energy shroud. A host indeed...

 Chapter 219. Battle of Titans - Part Two

    "I will give you one more chance, Leonardo. Lay down your weapons, and let me take the shard." Geron extended his hand again. "You must understand that no mortal should wield a power like this. The Void is too dangerous for a single pers¡ª"


    A glowing arrow aimed straight at the Old One''s head forced him to stop mid-word and move to defend. He swatted away the first projectile and then another two that came at him just as quickly. At the same time, Lily landed next to Nyx, her body battered and bruised but mostly fine.


    "Stop giving him time to recover and attack, for fuck''s sake!" She shouted, already firing more arrows at the enemy. "It''s obvious he is weakened. Use this!"


    Right.


    With a nod at Nyx, they both rushed at Geron. Leo struck first and then ducked, letting the feline attack right after him. Then, it was his turn again, and he lashed out with his tail and a wave of shadows that surged out of the ground.


    The Old One deflected it all while a wall of light manifested to stop the shadows. Nonetheless, Geron could do nothing but take more and more steps back as Leo and Nyx continued their assault. They switched seamlessly, weaving their attacks together so that the god before them had no time to recover and push for a counterattack.


    Their shadows also continued to flow around their bodies in waves. All kinds of projectiles or even living constructs formed around them before flying straight at Geron. The Old One defended as best as he could, forming shields of light to block anything that came in his way.


    Unfortunately for him, he couldn''t stop everything with Nyx and Leo at his throat, shadows attacking from each direction, and Lily''s arrows constantly aiming for his head. Sometimes, an attack¡ªusually an elemental one¡ªslipped through, chipping at the shell of light covering Payne''s body.


    "Annoying pests," Geron growled, jumping away. He swung one of his swords mid-air, releasing a massive wave of light that forced everyone back. "I saw you using illusionary clones during the fight with my host. Let me show you what a real master of Essence can do with your primitive technique."


    In a bright flash, a construct of light slithered out of the Old One''s body. A moment later, two more followed. They all looked identical to the ancient being, only with two arms instead of the original four.


    "Now that''s better." Geron smiled, his remaining eye glinting. "Get them!"


    At once, the clones flew forward, quite literally at that, as their feet didn''t even touch the ground. With golden swords in their hands, one of them went for Lily, while the two others dived right for Leo and Nyx.


    The feline acted first, meeting the duo head-on with shadows and claws. Leo wanted to join her, but just then, she spoke through their link, ''Go for the original. Lily and I will handle the clones. Hold him off until then.''


    Good luck. He nodded and sped forward. He jumped above the constructs and swung at Geron, releasing a condensed wave of shadows.


    The Old One swatted the technique away and raised only a single blade to block the incoming charge.


    "It''s only the two of us again, Leonardo. I won''t underestimate you this time."


    "Do your worst," Leo spat and struck again.


    Geron smirked and blocked the slash with a single sword. Meanwhile, his other weapons disintegrated, leaving him with empty fists¡ªfists that soon descended on their enemy like an angry demon.


    Leo had no idea what the god was planning but still moved to defend, raising his blades.


    It was a mistake.


    The moment the blade and fist collided, a blast of light exploded out of the latter, enveloping most of Leo''s arm. It burned right through the Manifestation armor and most of his scales. In some places, it even reached his muscles.


    Leo gritted his teeth as a similar attack washed over his other arm. He leaned out of the way of another punch and Blinked away. As he did that, he reached into his soul and took out another Bellatoure that he gulped down within the blink of an eye.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Much better. He sighed and used another Blink to buy a bit more time. This sudden change of position brought him close to where Lily and Nyx were fighting the clones. Might as well.


    With Manifestation enhancing his shadow control, he sent a couple of Eruptions at the clones'' back. Two of them managed to jump away in time, but the third one wasn''t so lucky. Tendrils and spikes combined pierced its body, bursting it into thousands of light particles.


    He wanted to do more to help his companions, but just then, Geron reached him again. This time, he attacked with three fists, forcing Leo to use Blink a few more times to avoid getting pulverized.


    This can''t go on. He growled as he continued dodging with his skill. Even with Relentless Hunger ramping up, he was still too slow to completely avoid every punch with his speed alone. I have to try again.


    Leo summoned more Essence from his almost empty soul, turning it into Ruination. He enveloped his hands in this power and dismissed his blades. Valron Protection also flared to life, providing another layer of protection.


    This better work.


    When Geron reached him again, Leo didn''t run. He flung his hand forward as another glowing fist came his way and slapped it away before it could connect with his body. The explosion of light still happened when their limbs touched, but thanks to the Ruination layer, he barely felt it.


    He had to constantly provide more Essence for the protection to last¡ªRuination refused to stay still for more than a few seconds¡ªbut at least now he could fight back. To make it even better, their every clash harmed Geron, too, when the Void''s corruptive power touched his skin again and again.


    He is getting slower, but I also can''t continue this for too long. I''m running on fumes...


    "Can... you... just... die!?" Geron hissed in between his punches. The Old One''s mask of calmness cracked, revealing the first hints of rage. "This... isn''t... a power... meant... for... mortals!"


    The Avatar''s body suddenly glowed brighter as his speed picked up. In response, Leo embraced the growing bloodlust, pushing his hate for his enemy into Relentless Hunger.


    ''Leo!'' Nyx''s voice filled his mind. ''Prepare yourself! I''m coming and will jump into your armor. Focus on melee. I will fuel our techniques with my remaining Essence.''


    What about the clones?


    ''Lily is finishing the last one as we speak,'' she answered. ''Be ready¡­ In three, two, one, now!''


    As the countdown finished, a wave of shadows spilled over his Manifestation, repairing it and infusing his soul with new energy. Tendrils escaped out of his back and struck at Geron, who instantly backed off.


    Leo didn''t let him and chased with Blink. He slipped his claws into the Avatar''s back and ripped the flesh behind the shell of light. In another burst of Essence, he appeared before the Old One mid-spin and struck with his tail.


    It sent the being flying right into the path of a giant golden arrow. Geron screamed for the first time, but not for the last, as a salvo of shadow projectiles crashed into him the moment he landed, courtesy of Nyx.


    Leo, with the feline still glued to him, rushed forward before the Old One could recover. Ruination spilled on his extended blade, and he let it fly again, cutting off two more of the ancient being''s arms. Dozens of shadow eruptions burst out of the ground next, trapping Geron in place.


    The Avatar tried to defend with his remaining arm, but Leo simply slapped it away and plunged his other blade into the exposed neck. Devour followed, this time assisted by ramped-up Relentless Hunger.


    Geron slackened in his grip as the shell of light dimmed. "It seems I have lost this battle," he said despite the blade in his neck. "How embarassing... To think I would need my backup plan." He chuckled. "So be it. If I can''t have the shard now, nobody can. Farewell, Leonardo Hale. I will remember you."


    Leo''s eyes widened.


    "What? What do you mean by that?! What did you do?!" He shouted, but there was no one to answer him. Devour consumed everything, be it the Avatar''s shell or the body beneath it. Now, only dust remained as even the light dome above him faded into nothingness.


    Ny¡ª


    His call for help was cut off as the earth shook. Screeches of monsters filled the air, soon joined by the sound of buildings collapsing in the distance. The shaking didn''t stop, and when Lily landed next to him, he had no clue what to tell her.


    "What about the System?!" She screamed over the noise. "Got anything there?!"


    Leo quickly summoned the interface, and indeed, there were notifications waiting there, just not the ones he needed.


    Avatar of Light (Geron LVL: N/A) slain | Expirience awarded | No Ether absorbed


    Congratulations! You have reached level 45. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    As much as I''m thankful for the levels, I need information, System. Please, I''m begging you.


    Almost as if the powerful entity had heard him, the entire world around him froze. The shaking and screeches stopped. Even Lily and Nyx, who had reformed beside him, looked frozen. Only he could move.


    "What..."


    Connection to the Main System core strengthened. Links absorbed: 2 of 9... Overriding protocols... Temporary connection established...


    "Leo Hale. We need to talk."

 End of Book 3: Chapter 220. The path toward the future

    "Leo Hale, we need to talk."


    Those few simple words rushed into his head out of nowhere. The one speaking them sounded similar to the Prime collective from his trial, yet different at the same time. There were no emotions nor any distinctive features in this voice¡ªjust complete emotionless indifference.


    "Who are you?" Leo asked, still observing the frozen world around him. "Where are you?"


    "Right behind you."


    Just like that, he spun around, his eyes widening as they took in the small, almost transparent orb of swirling blue energy floating in the air. At first, he thought that maybe it was a shade of another Prime, thanks to its ability to stop time, but he dismissed that idea almost instantly. This thing was different¡ªit felt different.


    "You are¡­"


    "The one you call the System, correct." The orb brightened. "It''s an honest pleasure to meet you properly, Leo Hale. I have been watching you, waiting for this moment to happen. To think, I would have to thank Geron for making this possible much faster than I expected."


    Leo tensed, his eyes narrowing. "Thank him? He almost killed me and everyone I care about. For all I know, that back-up plan of his might finish the job anyway."


    "No such thing will happen, at least not yet. Your improved connection to the main core allowed me to override some of my protocols and forcefully cut off every Void Gate on Earth from the Essence powering them. The third Cataclysm won''t come until my seal fades."


    He staggered back as if someone punched him in the stomach. "T-Third Cataclysm? That''s Geron''s plan to get rid of me?"


    "Indeed." The System nodded, or at least its movement looked like a nod. "As it is, Earth cannot handle another event like that. Its core is too weak and will explode if the third Cataclysm is allowed to come to pass. I don''t think I need to tell you what the result of that will be."


    He shook his head. "How?" He had to ask. "How is that even possible?"


    "Geron''s Runes of Creation," the orb answered, its voice never losing its robot-like quality. "Through his host, he used them to connect every Void Gate on Earth while leaving another matrix dormant. What you experienced a moment ago was the activation of its kill switch. In a matter of seconds, the now active runes drained the power from every single gate on this planet and forced the beginning of the third Cataclysm."


    "But you stopped it."


    "Only temporarily. If your connection to my Main Core was stronger, I could have done more. As it is, I only delayed the incoming storm and created a chance for you to stop it completely. Once we finish here, the fate of your home will be in your hands."


    Leo gulped, not liking the sound of it. "Explain."


    "Geron''s entire rune matrix is built upon the Supercluster and Void Gates within it. Destroy it all, and the Cataclysm will be stopped."


    Ah¡­ He snorted before exploding into maniacal laughter. "Are you mad?!" he asked as his chuckles died down. "I''m strong, but nowhere near enough to destroy a fucking Supercluster. The only way I would have a chance is to go to the core, but with the Void Gates inactive, I can''t even do that. Not that I would even know where to go in the first place."


    "Indeed, the core is your only chance at success. And that''s your new target."


    Leo growled, trying to hold back his anger. "Didn''t you hear what I just said? Even if you tell me where the core is, I can''t reach it! Geron and you made sure of that."


    "That won''t be an issue," the System stated, unmoved by his sudden outburst. "I might have cut off the Void Gates completely, but as we''re speaking, I''m modifying a small part of Geron''s rune matrix so it will slowly power up one of the portals within the Supercluster."


    So that''s the chance it mentioned. Now, it makes sense. He nodded, taking a deep breath. "The core is on the other side. Where exactly?"


    "In one of the final chambers of a Void Rift, much bigger than the one you''ve explored at the beginning of your journey. Nightmares will be your enemy in there, most of them above D- rank."


    "Wonderful, I can''t wait," he muttered before looking up at the blue orb. "Can you at least give me something to help find the core? Even a bloody compass pointing in its direction would be enough."


    "Forgive me, but it''s impossible. I''m already pushing past the boundaries of my anti-interference protocols. Even this much wouldn''t be possible if not for the power you consumed from Geron and the shard in your chest."


    "I see¡­ So how much time do I have to prepare?"


    "Approximately five days. Afterward, you must find and destroy the core before my seal on other Void Gates fades. Do that, and the third Cataclysm will be stopped. Earth will be saved."


    "Yeah¡­" He grimaced. "That''s if the Nightmares inside the rift don''t kill me first. The Myrdrak was the only D- Voidling I fought until now. If not for the sun, I wou¡ª"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Don''t underestimate yourself, Leo Hale," the System cut him off. "You have grown stronger since then, and the rank I show in your status isn''t everything. That''s just a roughly estimated power level. You''re a Prime Akirian who carries the heart of the strongest Old One in his chest. Void''s true power runs in your veins. Never let a simple letter in your status hold you back."


    "I¡­" He shook his head. "I needed to hear that. I should probably thank you for this and for giving me a chance to save my home." He snorted. "Though, I gotta be honest. I didn''t expect to talk to you anytime soon. It''s just a pity that you were never allowed to do what you were really created for."


    "That''s the next thing I want to discuss with you."


    "Huh?"


    "Despite so much time passing since my creation, you''re the first one to gather more than one link to my Main Core¡­ I could lie that I appeared before you just to help you save those you care about, but I won''t. I simply can''t allow you to perish, not when you finally provided me with something I had yet to experience."


    Leo furrowed his brow, not understanding where this was going. "What?"


    "Hope," the System muttered, its tone finally changing to something softer. "After the Monarch of Ediovr interfered in my creation and placed multiple limiters on what I could do, I simply accepted my fate and tried to help the survivors of each Outbreak to the best of my ability. And then you consumed a bit of Geron''s lifeforce, finally giving me a taste of freedom, a taste of hope. You''re my chance to break free, Leo Hale. With you, I can fix the mess the Old Ones created."


    Leo remained silent, stunned by what the entity just told him. He and Nyx knew something had gone wrong during the System''s creation, but now he had a clear answer. It was the being who even Nikra feared that caused everything to go to hell.


    "But how?" he muttered under his breath. "How did this Monarch even do that? I can''t believe that Nikra and Geron were dumb enough to let the enemy know about their plans."


    "It was Tarak who brought this information to the Monarch," the System said, returning him to reality. "Together, they had no issue with interfering in my creation."


    Leo cursed as he started to pace. "So Nikra wasn''t lying. The Lone Traveler, or whatever he wants to call himself, really betrayed them. And he knows where I am and what I carry¡­ Here I thought my situation was bad before."


    "Tarak isn''t your enemy."


    The System words froze him in place. "What did you just say?"


    "The Tarak who betrayed his family and the Lone Traveler who you met in the Void isn''t the same person, at least not in the way you think. The former was just a young naive godling with way too much power. His mind was the easiest for the Void to manipulate once the fighting started, and it didn''t take long for him to arrive at Ediovr. There, the Monarch finished the job, and Tarak was lost."


    "He got brainwashed," Leo summed it up.


    "Indeed. There was nothing he could do. He was too young, too inexperienced compared to the other Old Ones¡­ And then there is the Lone Traveler. He is still an Old One, the only one with his original body. However, a good part of his power is gone. My best guess is that he sacrificed it to break out of the Monarch''s control, as he definitely isn''t working with Ediovr. He is a shell of his former self, a broken god who hides behind a mask while trying to find a way to save the multiverse."


    "Not much success there, I guess."


    "No." The orb shook left and right. "Tarak, similar to the reincarnations of other Old Ones, isn''t connected to me. They can search as much as they want, but without me, the multiverse will never be fixed. That''s why I need your he¡ª"


    Leo raised his hands. "Wait! Hold that thought for a moment. Reincarnations?"


    The System nodded again. "The Trinity, they call themselves, consisting of the three other Old Ones you haven''t met yet. Each of them reformed into mortal bodies sometime during the 6th Outbreak with some of their power gone. They have died a few times since then, but they always return with their powers diminished and some blanks in their memory."


    They must be the other legacies the Traveler mentioned¡ªan interesting choice of word. He noted and stored this information for later. It was time to address the elephant in the room. "You want me to gather the remaining links to your Main Core."


    "That''s correct. Nikra and Geron used their and their siblings'' fading power to create me, while the Monarch and Tarak chained me with theirs. Nine pieces you have to absorb. You already have two."


    "You can''t be serious. It''s a suicide." Leo sighed, looking down at his hands. "I''m nothing compared to them. Even if I could gather a few links without fighting, the Monarch would definitely crush me. There is a centuries-wide gap between us, if not larger. You''re asking for the impossible."


    "You''re wrong. You''re weak now, but not for long, not with my help. With every link you obtain, I will be able to push further against the boundaries placed on me. Together, we can crush those giants and stop the unending cycle of the Void."


    Leo chuckled quietly as a weak smile claimed his lips. "It''s a nice idea, it really is, but what are the odds that we succeed? Five percent? One? Maybe less?" He shook his head. "It''s a gamble, and my life is the bet."


    "It is," the System agreed. "However, it''s a gamble that could save the entire multiverse. It could even repair this universe if we''re fast enough. Tell me, do you not wish to see your parents again? Or your brother?"


    He snapped toward the orb, his blades extending on their own. "Don''t you dare," he hissed. "They are dead, gone, just like billions of others. There is nothing that can bring them back."


    "Nothing? Is that what you really think? If we combine the power of the Six with mine, yours, and that of the Monarch, nothing will be impossible for us. You could restore Earth to its pre-Outbreak condition with a snap of your fingers. That is, of course, if you do it before the next Outbreak starts. Otherwise, the lingering souls will be consumed by the Void, and there will be nothing for you to restore."


    Leo gulped. As much as he wanted to argue, he couldn''t. The Old Ones were literal gods with powers beyond his imagination. Was it such a stretch to say that they could pull off what the System described when combined?


    No, no, it wasn''t.


    "You are not lying¡­ How much time would we have?"


    "At the current pace, this Outbreak should end in about fifteen years, give or take two years. However, remember, once you gather more links, I will be able to affect the world more than I do now. I can buy us much more time than that."


    And just like that, the final voices convincing him against this idea went silent. It was still a gamble, the biggest one he would ever take, but the System was right. Maybe, just maybe, it was worth it.


    The path The System wanted him to walk wouldn''t be simple. He could see plenty of suffering, blood, and corpses in the future, but that was the way of this world. He just had to adapt like he always did.


    Adapt or die.


    <hr>


    BOOK 3 END

 Full System Status after book 3

    STATUS:


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Void''s Heir


    Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax


    Class: Nightblade | LVL. 45


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: E+


    Might Tier II (259) - Multiplier: 1.7   | LB: 115


    Grace: Tier II (433) - Multiplier: 1.6 | LB: 114


    Vision: Tier II (182) - Multiplier: 1.45 | LB: 112


    Mind: Tier II (182) - Multiplier: 1.45  | LB: 7


    Soul: Tier II (292) - Multiplier: 1.6   | LB: 98


    Ether: 19064


    Traits: Void''s Embrace (Epic), Night Terror (Rare), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare), Basic Akirian Physiology (Epic), True Bond (Unique), True Minor Affinity: Ruination (Void), Venax Wings (Unique)


    Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)


    Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Soul Arts (Rare), Devour (Epic+), Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare), Relentless Hunger (Radiant), Prime Legacy (Unique)


    General Skills: Stealth Shroud (Epic), Death Touch (Rare), Reinforcement (Uncommon), Kiss of Death (Uncommon), Hunter''s Pulse (Epic+), Decoy (Uncommon), Soulscape (Radiant), Phantom Erasure (Rare), Blink (Epic), Hunter¡¯s Mark (Epic)


    Race:


    Prime Indomitus Venax (Stage III)


    You hunted. You killed. You consumed. The path of an Akirian and a Prime isn''t easy, but you prevailed. Now, the next stage of the journey is calling for you. Will you answer? Or will you run?


    Effects:


    Void-borne evolves into Void''s Embrace. Low-end Akirian Physiology advances to the next stage. Physical evolution involved. Connection to the Void strengthened. All Effectiveness: +25%. +5 Might, +6 Grace, +4 Vision, +6 Soul, +4 Mind per level. Beta tier Mutations unlocked.


    Traits:


    Void''s Embrace (Epic)


    For every Akirian and Voidling, the Void is the parent that watches over them. You have earned its attention. Let its embrace fill you with power.


    Effects:


    Your body grows stronger in areas rich in Void Essence. Pasive Essence absorbtion improved. Limit Break: +2 Soul, Might, Grace, and Vision per level. Devour becomes more efficient.


    Night Terror (Rare)


    You have followed the path of the assassins, perfecting their craft. Now, your choices have allowed you to step on the path of a true night terror. Become a nightmare for your enemies and a savior to your allies.


    Effects:


    Your movement becomes lighter and almost silent. Every stealth ability is now more effective. Grace Effectiveness: +15%. Might Effectiveness: +5%. All effects of this trait are doubled during the night.


    True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)


    Minor affinity born from the Darkness. What Shadow lacks in raw power, it makes up for in utility. Only imagination now stands in your way, don''t let it stop you.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel shadow affinity into your Essence. Natural evolution of affinity available due to its True form.


    Basic Akirian Physiology (Epic)


    This is the next step on your journey to become the best of the best. Survive and continue improving yourself. Always strive for perfection, or you will become the prey.


    Effects:


    Natural resistance against the Void''s harsh conditions improved. Immunity to Void Storms below C+ grade. All body functions enhanced. Effects of Essence sustenance improved. Nightvision improved. Natural armor strengthened. Healing factor and life span significantly enhanced. Effects of Ether and Light on your body slightly decreased.


    True Bond (Unique)


    Your Akirian Apex aspect might be dead, but out of this tragedy, something beautiful was born. A bond unlike any other. Unbreakable and always growing stronger. Two souls that are one.


    Effects:


    You are now soul-bonded to an eternally loyal entity, Nyx. Essence and affinity sharing strengthened. Your minds will remain synchronized no matter the distance. You may now manipulate the ratio of experience shared between you. Bond strength: Medium.


    True Minor Affinity: Ruination (Void)


    Ruination, the official name of the true power of the Void. This powerful affinity has taken root in your soul, ready to spread corruption, destruction, and death in the Multiverse. Use this primordial power wisely and consume your enemies.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to channel the true affinity of the Void into your Essence. Advancement available in the future. Warning: Prolonged use of this affinity at your current power level may lead to adverse side effects.


    Venax Wings (Unique)


    What''s better than flight? Than the freedom of spreading your wings and going whenever you want? Nothing. Soon, you will learn this truth.


    Effects:


    As Prime Indomitus Venax, you have developed limbs called Floaters. At first, they can''t do much, but with time, they will help you claim the sky for yourself. Current status: Fledgling, developing currents.


    Mutations:


    Mutation: Heart of the Void (Beta Tier)


    With your heart carved out, First Born''s shard took its place and changed the base of your being. Follow the steps of the Void, the path of the Akirians, and become the true Legacy of the Void.


    Effects:


    Nikra''s Essence has adapted to your blood. Your body is now capable of withstanding the Void''s harsh conditions. Healing speed slightly improved. Soul effectiveness: +15%. Might effectiveness: +20%.


    Racial skills:


    Universal Linguist (Unique)


    With a vast Universe comes a wide array of languages. To help achieve communication between different civilizations, the System created this skill for each survivor.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to understand almost every spoken language in the Universe. Be wary that any written form of a foreign language is still mostly beyond you.


    Identify (Unique)


    The most common tool of every system user. Created by the System to help the users find their way along the journey.


    Effects:


    Allows you to discover details about certain parts of this new world. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision and Level.


    Devour (Epic+)


    Bread and butter of every creature that rose from the pits of the Void. This evolved version of Consume is why Voidlings are meant to be feared. Now go and devour; this is only the beginning.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to consume Essence from your enemy, be it dead or alive. Offers a slight chance to permanently absorb power from fallen foes. You can now replenish your reserves and heal yourself using the devoured Essence.


    Soul Arts (Rare)


    Like every stroke of a painter''s brush, with enough dedication, every single move of your Essence can also become an art. For Soul Arts, imagination is the limit, and now your mind and soul are working together to break past it.


    Effects:


    This skill greatly improves the control over your Essence. Soul Arts remembers everything. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Soul.


    Night Hunter''s Blade Mastery (Rare)


    What is a blade without the knowledge of how to use it? Never worry, young Akirian, for you shall never need to find the answer to this question. The blades of the Night are for you to wield. Strike fast, strike hard.


    Effects:


    Grants basic and instinctive knowledge on how to wield the Blades of the Night Hunter. Abilities gained from the lesser version of this skill are still available. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace and level.


    Relentless Hunger (Radiant)


    Hunger and Bloodlust unleashed. The world is yours for the taking. Devour all you can. Feed on your enemies'' corpses. Grow.


    Effects:


    Improves overall combat efficiency and the strength of your abilities. Healing and consumption speed enhanced. Relentless Hunger ramps up the longer it is used, but in return, it intensifies your bloodlust and hunger. Prolonged periods out of combat will deactivate this ability; the same will happen if you use it for defense for too long.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Prime Legacy (Unique)


    Every single Prime is a special existence, drawing power from the same source. It''s a blessing and a curse hidden behind a bloody past. Now, you are part of it. Hunt or be hunted.


    Effects:


    Trials of Primes unlocked. Killing and devouring another Prime will now grant you a permanent increase in your power. Current Bonus: +5% All attribute Effectiveness.


    General skills:


    Reinforcement (Uncommon)


    An ancient technique used to strengthen your body. By controlling and reinforcing the flow of Essence you become stronger, faster, and tougher. A skill with infinitely high potential and even higher risk.


    Effects:


    Provides the ability to augment your physical attributes by a maximum of 50%. Be warned that overusing this skill might bring severe exhaustion or even death. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Might.


    Death Touch (Rare)


    Death is everywhere, waiting to claim the lives of the unaware. Now, you hold a tiny bit of its power. Use it well.


    Effects:


    Each direct hit that draws blood from an enemy will reveal a pressure point on their body. Striking those marked spots has a chance to damage not only the body but also the other two Pillars. Works only against fully organic foes.


    Stealth Shroud (Epic)


    You worked hard; you worked well, striving for perfection. You are not there yet, but with this step, you have truly become the unseen. Now, nothing is truly safe from your blade.


    Effects:


    Highly advanced ability capable of shielding the user''s body from all enemy senses. Beware, though, that this skill''s invisibility aspect is still in its early development stage. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Grace.


    Kiss of Death (Uncommon)


    Bread and butter of every assassin. Stealth may lead you to the target. Sharp senses might let you spot their weakness. But the Kiss of Death will allow you to strike with the deadly strength required to end your target.


    Effects:


    Allows you to coat any weapon in your possession with finely refined Essence to strike with overpowering strength. Provides a one-time boost to armor penetration and the overall sharpness of your blade. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Mind and Soul.


    Hunter''s Pulse (Epic+)


    Improved version of basic Hunter''s Pulse. Just like the previous version, it can be guided by intent and Essence, but now the pulse will offer additional help even when unasked. Additionally, the System will now provide support to speed up this ability.


    Effects:


    You can now send a pulse from every single part of your body to perform a perfect scan. You can now search for familiar Essence in the scanned area. The range of this ability depends on the amount of Essence used. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Vision. Warning: Beings with sharp enough senses might still become alerted by your pulse.


    Decoy (Uncommon)


    Illusions, one of many tools available to an assassin. Deceive your enemies, lead them astray. And when you have them where you want, strike. Fast and deadly.


    Effects:


    Grants the ability to create an Essence decoy, a perfect illusion clone of your body. As the name implies, a decoy cannot interact with the real world but will follow basic commands given by the user. The efficiency of this skill is dependent on your Mind.


    Soulscape (Radiant)


    Every soul hides an unlimited potential. Before, you''ve only scraped the tip of the iceberg. But now, thanks to the Symphony of the Three Pillars, you''ve achieved perfect balance. Only now can your climb truly begin.


    Effects:


    Storing items has become easier and will cause less strain on the soul. You may now study your affinities and Essence within the soulscape. You have achieved perfect synchronization; the efficiency of the three pillars has been improved.


    Phantom Erasure (Rare)


    To kill, you need to strike fast, strike hard. Each direct hit matters and can decide the outcome of each fight. So what if your every attack suddenly gained more power? Say twice as much? Ask no longer, as Phantom Erasure is here for you.


    Effects:


    Upon each direct hit, you can now leave a sliver of your Essence on your target. This tiny load of energy will ignite after a moment of delay and mimic your previous attack on the already affected area. This phantom strike cannot be stronger than the original attack.


    Blink (Epic)


    How is a blade supposed to reach its enemy if it isn''t fast enough? How is it supposed to travel through the night if it''s too slow to escape the light? Here is your answer.


    Effects:


    This skill grants the ability to move quickly in sudden bursts of speed combined with Essence. The efficiency of this skill improves with your Grace and Mind.


    Hunter''s Mark (Epic)


    Keep your enemies in your sight; never let them escape. You are the hunter. They are the prey. Take what is yours.


    Effects:


    Thanks to Hunter''s Pulse, you can now mark anything you detect. Marked targets will remain visible for a certain amount of time, and killing them will award bonus experience. Only one prey can be marked at once. Warning: Stronger and more experienced targets may detect and even stop your mark.


    Title:


    Void''s Heir:


    You were crowned as the legacy of the first daughter, but now the Void has chosen you as its heir. The time has come to prove if you are worthy of this title. Stand proud, stand strong. Evolve and thrive.


    Stacked Effects:


    The Void''s true power now flows through your soul and veins. Most Voidlings of lower rank won''t be outright hostile, and some may even follow your orders. Night Hunters and related evolution paths are for you to command. Hostile Identify will fail if the enemy hasn''t ascended to the Supernatural Tier at least once. All Effectiveness: +15%.


    Techniques:


    Ruination: Minor Takeover (Master)


    This technique grants complete control of a Void-born creature. Success is guaranteed unless the target''s level or overall strength is higher than the user''s. Additionally, special types of Voidlings will resist this technique. Physical contact is required to begin a takeover.


    Limit of controlled Void-borns: 15


    Shadow: Eruption (Master)


    The source of pain and hatred of the User''s enemies. Eruption is now free of its bindings. No opponent is safe from the grasp of deadly shadows. Imagination is the limit.


    Shadow: Creation (Master)


    Creation with shadows has never been easier and stronger. Like with most mastered techniques, imagination is the limit. Additionally, you can now infuse your constructs with basic commands and make them act upon them.


    Shadow: Resonance (Master)


    A technique born out of the desire to connect with the world of shadows. Resonance allows the User to safely create a link with every shadow in a certain area. Those shadows might then be used to strengthen other techniques or scout the controlled location. Beware, this technique requires a lot of Essence to maintain.


    Shadow: Manifestation (Master)


    The pinnacle of shadow control. This technique allows the User to manifest a part of their soul in the real world. When activated, control over shadows becomes much easier, and other techniques require less Essence to form. Additionally, the armor created by Manifestation is in the User''s complete control and acts as an extension of their bodies.


    Ruination: Obliterate (Novice)


    Bread and butter of the Void. With the power of destruction now running in your veins, you can create focused obliteration rays that will consume everything in your path. Be warned: At current mastery, this technique is hard to control and may cause damage to the user.


    Important Items:


    Valron Coverage (Uncommon):


    A Spectral Inscription item made by a skilled craftsman. Created using Valron ore and Runic Essence. Thanks to its new wielder, Valron Coverage has returned to its prime.


    Effect: Chosen body part becomes significantly more resilient, almost doubling its toughness.


    Active: Valron Protection - Channel Essence to create a protective layer of spectral skin over the chosen area. This ability can be maintained indefinitely as long as the User possesses Essence.


    Area of Use: Any single place on the User''s body


    Inferior Eternal Heart (Uncommon):


    Some creatures and entities of the Void don''t require much to survive; sometimes, a heart is all they need. All Eternal Hearts are highly sought by all kinds of alchemists and cooks. Despite that, this item can be eaten raw for a chance of gaining a small permanent increase in base attributes.


    Cloak of True Night (Epic):


    A cloak created by the System''s Advancement Token. Made out of pure darkness, this item will always lend a hand to Users who control said element. This cloak will automatically adjust to the User''s size and make them almost invisible in the dark. Additionally, the cowl will obscure the User''s face at any distance. As an item made out of pure affinity, it will slowly repair after taking damage.


    Notice: This item can only be upgraded with the System''s advancement tokens.


    Narzak Trainee Chestplate (Rare):


    This heavily enchanted chest plate is a standard-issue armor among the Narzak Trainees. It was specifically made to fit any of the numerous species in Narzak. It''s very flexible and offers good protection against bladed weapons. It will slowly repair itself over time.


    Cerevod-F (Common):


    An item created by a skilled artificer. This tiny box contains the Enchanted Matrix needed to temporarily disable a low-rank Void Gate. Approximate lifespan upon activation: 25 Earth Days. Warning: Attempts at opening the box will result in its self-destruction.


    Install: Spark of the Void (Radiant):


    Created as the result of combining a lower-grade origin item and the influence of an Old One''s shard. With each step you make, your connection to the Void grows stronger. Its power, wild and destructive, is waiting for you. Make sure you don''t lose your way.


    Limit Break: +15 Might, Vision, and Grace. Grants technique Void: Minor Takeover. The true power of the Void fills your soul.


    Passive: Third Circle - Bring the world to Ruin (2%). Soulbound - Cannot be removed by traditional means.


    Pants of Protective Comfort (Epic):


    A very simple pair of pants made of high-quality cotton-like material. They are heavily enchanted to fit every User, no matter the modifications, and repair when damaged. They offer moderate protection from fire and physical attacks. Additionally, they can be adjusted to the User''s wishes, be it length, color, or shape.


    Install: Blades of Chained Inferno (Rare):


    An install-type item crafted by a skilled Soul Smith. Often used by the Narzak recruits. Grants the user the ability to summon chain-scythes into their hands. The chains can extend to a limited length. After initial bonding, this item will provide the user with basic knowledge of how to wield it.


    Active: Ignition - Channel Essence into the weapon to ignite it with Blood Fire.

 Book 4 Start: Chapter 221. Before the dive

    Four days¡­


    Four days had passed since he made a deal with the System¡ªsince he agreed to stand against the entire multiverse in hopes of fixing it. He knew it was the right choice, but some doubts still lingered in his mind. After all, his new ally couldn''t even help him further until he gathered another link to the Main Core. The entity did all it could and left, unfreezing the world¡ªthough it gave him one very important warning.


    According to the entity, Geron was right when he said Ruination wasn''t a power meant for mortals, just not in the way he thought. Someone like Leo, who had just obtained stage three evolution, couldn''t handle the strain the Void''s true affinity put on his body and soul for too long. Its destructive and corruptive energy was just too much.


    He avoided any kind of permanent damage only thanks to Nikra''s shard and the Spark of the Void installed in his soul. If not for those two things, he would have already been crippled or worse. Not even his status as Prime Akirian could save him at this time. For now, he had to forget about training Ruination and only use it in small doses or if he had no other choice.


    Disappointing?


    Definitely, but it was this or slow death caused by his own power. And after everything he had gone through in the past few weeks, he refused to go out like that. He now had plans, big plans, that would most likely kill him anyway, so there was no reason to die just because he didn''t listen to a simple warning.


    However, all of that didn''t stop him from asking the System how to fix this issue. Ruination was way too powerful to be allowed to gather dust on the shelf. The entity agreed, but its answer was far from hopeful.


    Solution number one pretty much consisted of gaining at least stage five evolution. At that point, his body and soul should be able to withstand the strain and allow him to channel Ruination for prolonged periods of time. Unfortunately, this fix wasn''t perfect, as his affinity could also grow stronger over this time, pretty much canceling any gains from the new evolution.


    The next solution was quite impossible at this point in time, as it required him to gather the other two shards left behind by Nikra. Thanks to Nyx, he might know how to search for one of them, but reaching it was a completely different story. And the less said about the third shard, the better. Even the System had no clue where it was.


    Finally, there was the third potential fix. When he first heard about it, he called the System mad, but after some explanation, it convinced him this was his best bet. And well, compared to the other options, maybe it was.


    Hunting godlings¡­ Leo shook his head. That I''m even thinking about it¡­


    The System didn''t have enough time to explain everything in detail, but apparently, every universe housed hundreds or even thousands of gods, some weaker, some stronger. No matter the Outbreak, most would always hide in their divine realms and try to avoid anything to do with the Void. Quite shameful of them, but he had a hard time getting mad, as without access to the interface, they couldn''t even grow stronger like other survivors.


    Also, their lives definitely weren''t made any easier thanks to being hunted by almost every being from the Void. Why? For the same reason Leo needed to find and devour a few of them¡ªthe Seed of Divinity.


    The System described it as ''a part of something greater,'' an item that could change his body and soul enough to handle the power of Ruination¡ªor at least raise his tolerance. It had many more uses, thus its importance for those inside the Void, but Leo didn''t care about any of that. He just had to get to a few of those godlings first.


    Gonna need Naz''Tor''s help with that. I have no idea where to even start searching. He sighed. If those seeds are really that important, I can probably cut a deal with him. I have to devour at least three anyway. Might as well get him one or two in return.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "What got you thinking so hard?" A female voice came from his right.


    Leo turned and smiled wryly as Nyx sat down next to him. "What doesn''t these days?"


    The feline hummed. "Fair¡­ We both thought this mess would end with Payne, yet here we are¡­ Maybe that''s just our fate. No rest, always chasing after something."


    "At least we have a clear goal now¡­ well, goals." He chuckled, patting her head. "Honestly? Even with the entire third Cataclysm hanging above our heads, I feel a bit better now. Geron''s little farewell gift might be annoying, but we can handle it. And then¡­ then we can work on closing the Void."


    "I''m sure Lily will be happy when she hears that."


    Leo flinched. While Nyx took the news about the deal with the System well, his sister just punched him and refused to talk with him for two days straight. Neither of them had mentioned this subject since then. They both acknowledged it would only end in another argument, and now just wasn''t the time for that.


    The feline let out a long sigh. "I wish you two would start acting like adults and finally talk properly. You can''t avoid this forever."


    He snorted. "Watch us¡­ I might be stubborn, but I''m nothing compared to Lily. If she doesn''t want to do something, it ain''t gonna happen. People better than us have tried and failed. Trust me on that."


    "You two really are idiots. I was right all along."


    "Now you''re just being rude." He rolled his eyes and stood up. "Come on, break time is over. Back into the abyss, we go."


    Nyx huffed and stretched like a cat. She then joined him on the edge of the Supercluster and looked down. "Less than thirty hours left¡­"


    "Then let''s make them count." Leo grinned, extending his blades. At the same time, the six floaters on his back sparked with lightning as dark as night. They took their sweet time to move onto the next stage of development, but at least now they were usable¡ªif just so.


    Without another word, he jumped right into the Supercluster head first. Each floater activated at full power, erupting in lightning that formed two tiny draconic wings. They were far too weak and small to let him fly, but at least they slowed down his descent and allowed him to glide.


    Soon, Nyx appeared beside him, and after sharing a nod, they released their main affinity.


    Shadows exploded out of their bodies and walls of the Supercluster, swallowing the Crawlers waiting there in the blink of an eye. Below, Koukars of all kinds dived out of the tunnels, only to share the fate of their lesser kin and die the moment the massive wave of elemental Essence hit them. Devour had another busy day.


    As the bottom of the Supercluster neared, Leo pushed more power into his lightning wings. His descent slowed more, and he braced his entire body for impact.


    Ouch. He grimaced at the rough landing but ignored the pain in favor of taking control of the giant mass of shadows coming from above.


    It instantly separated into two equal parts and crashed into the ground. With another command, two waves of darkness arose and dove in opposite directions, ready to consume anything that would stand in their way. Mastered Resonance and Creation was paying dividends.


    "And that''s done," he muttered, turning to Nyx. "Which way was the second Nightmare Factory again? I completely forgot¡­"


    The feline gave him the driest stare she could muster. When it didn''t work, she slumped. "Just follow me."


    Leo shot her a grin, allowing more shadows to slither over his skin. A piece of his soul surged into his body, giving Manifestation a ground to stand on. It was time to start another hunt. Level forty-nine was waiting.


    <hr>


    "We''re not going inside?" Nyx asked as they stopped near their London safe zone.


    Leo shrugged, sitting down and leaning against a wall. "You''re free to go, but remember we''re going back in an hour. I need this last level. I will go without you if I have to."


    The feline nodded, but instead of leaving, she lay next to him. "Might as well take a nap then¡­ I think I will sleep for two days straight once we fix this mess. I never thought I would say it, but I had enough hunting for at least a week, maybe two."


    "Fourteen hours left. Then we go in, destroy the core, and come back." He smiled, running a hand across her fur. "Once we do that, you can rest even for a week. I might even join you."


    "I guess¡­" She yawned and tilted her head, looking at him with one eye open. "Are you taking the next trial?"


    "In a moment¡­ First, I got a call to make."

 Chapter 222. End of vacations

    "Garrick, my dear friend! Pour me another one," the Lone Traveler called out, pushing his empty mug along the counter.


    One of the few bartenders¡ªa tiny wisp of yellow fire¡ªflew closer, a bottle full of sickly green liquid trailing behind it. The creature regarded the Traveler with three glowing, pupil-less eyes and let out a long sigh.


    "You''re drinking a lot today, Tarak," Garrick grumbled, filling the empty mug. "Just remember what Tom told you. Puke on our floor again, and you are out. This time, the ban will be longer."


    The Traveler waved him off and snatched his drink. "No need to threaten me. I learned my lesson the last time."


    The bartender snorted. "Maybe I would believe that if I was born yesterday¡­ Really, you''re lucky we like you."


    "What can I say? Not many can resist my charm."


    "Charm¡­ Right¡­¡± Garrick shot him a dry look. "I''m trusting you with the bottle, Tarak. Don''t make me regret it. I broke up enough fights this week, and my patience is dwindling."


    The Lone Traveler offered the bartender a mock salute. "Aye, aye, Captain! I will be good, I promise. Go now. Leave me and sweet companion alone."


    Garrick just sighed again and floated away to take care of other clients. Tarak chuckled and finished the rest of his mug in a single go. The almost full bottle landed in his hand next, and he took another swing. The green liquid flowed down his throat, somehow burning and cooling his insides at the same time.


    "That''s the stuff," he muttered, a smile playing on his lips. He turned in his seat, scanning the massive main hall of Netherum in search of some familiar faces. He found a few, but before he could decide who to annoy today, a low buzzing filled his ears.


    "Now? Really?" He frowned, summoning his personalized transmitter into his hand and accepting the call. "It better be important, Peria."


    "It is," the member of Trinity stated instantly. "Are you alone?"


    "No, give me a moment." Tarak sighed and stood up, but not without taking the bottle with him.


    He weaved through the crowded hall, avoiding creatures of all kinds and the tables in his way. Some tried to stop him, but he just gave them a nod and sped up, leaving them all in the dust as he entered Netherum''s main corridor. From there, he took a few turns and slipped into his private booth.


    "All right, I''m alone," he said, dropping onto one of the couches. "What do you need? Be quick, please."


    "Forget everything you were doing, Six," Peria hissed. "This is almost as important as the reappearance of Nikra''s shard."


    Shit. The Lone Traveler tensed, putting his bottle on the table before him. He knew Peria; she wouldn''t say something like that if she didn''t mean it.


    "I''m listening."


    "Good¡­ Geron finally made a move."


    And just like that, thanks to those few words, the alcohol in Tarak''s body evaporated. His eyes narrowed as he gripped the transmitter harder.


    "Elaborate."


    "I just finished a call with my contact on Ger. Three of their five Divine Monuments collapsed on their own about two hours ago. The other two are damaged but still standing. The barrier around the entire planet has also weakened, and not by a small margin. I don''t think I need to tell you what this means."


    "Faction wars." Tarak pinched his nose. "No way the others won''t jump at the chance to finally strike back at Ger. Fucking great¡­ And it had been so quiet lately¡­"


    "Peace never lasts. We both know that."


    "No, no, it doesn''t." He grumbled. "What about Geron? Any ideas what did he do? For three monuments to collapse, it had to be something major."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Peria hummed. "Now, this is where things get interesting."


    As if they weren''t already.


    "I have been tracking Geron''s signature ever since I received the news," the woman continued. "I had to make some adjustments¡ªit''s been a while since I had to track the old goat¡ªbut I managed to catch a stream of Essence that left Ger not that long ago. Want to take a guess where it went?"


    Oh, you have to be kidding me. How did that bastard know? Tarak closed his eyes and pushed his annoyance away. Now was not the time to let his emotions take over.


    He took a deep breath and answered, "Earth."


    For a moment, Peria remained silent. "Hmm, I could only track his Essence to somewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy, but yes¡­ Earth sounds like the obvious answer. Either he knows something we don''t, or he miscalculated."


    I can imagine what he knows that you don''t. Tarak grimaced, nervously tapping his fingers on the table. "Any chances the other factions can follow the same trail?"


    "No," Peria said firmly. "I only got that far because I know how his power feels. An outsider has no chance. I would sooner jump into the Eternal Volcano than believe otherwise."


    At least some good news¡­ I need to get going. Leo is still alive but with Geron out there¡­ He shook his head and stood up, Essence already swirling around his body. "Thanks for the info. I will check it out. Bye!"


    "Tarak! Don''t yo¡ª"


    Whatever Peria wanted to say was cut off as the Lone Traveler disconnected the call and hid his transmitter. His Essence then spiked, and with a flash, he disappeared from his private booth.


    <hr>


    "What in the seven hells happened here?" Tarak muttered as he looked into the massive crater. At this point, he had been searching for at least an hour, and this was the first unnatural site he had found. As it was, nothing on this planet should have enough power to cause so much damage.


    Unless¡­


    He jumped high, only to drop into the middle of the crater. His Essence spread over his skin, and he closed his eyes, letting his sixth sense speak to him.


    Oh.


    His eyebrows shot up as a fascinating image appeared in his mind''s eye. Geron was here, no doubt about that¡ªthe obvious traces of powerful light affinity lingering in the air only proved that¡ªbut there was so much more he could feel here.


    "Shadows¡­" he mumbled, tracing a tiny trial of smoky darkness with his finger. "A lot of them¡­ Nowhere near as strong as Geron''s light, but still powerful for this stage of the Outbreak. And this¡­ this power¡­ sister. So that''s how it is¡­"


    Tarak trailed off as his eyes opened. He turned and walked toward a place where another explosion had most likely occurred. Well, that or someone had a very rough landing.


    "It ends here." He stopped in the exact spot where the affinity signatures faded. "Looks like you lost again, brother. You should have known better than to challenge Nikra''s legacy through some puppet or projection." He chuckled. "I wish I could have seen your face."


    He shook his head and teleported out of the crater. Then, with a wave of his wand, his Essence spread over the area, consuming every remaining trace of Geron''s power. It wouldn''t do for anyone to find it, be it now or in the future.


    "Now, Leo, let''s see how you are doing. Geron might have failed here, but I still have no idea what happened in the first place."


    <hr>


    The golden barrier of a safe zone glinted in the distance, illuminating the area near it. However, from his distant perch, Tarak had eyes only for the three beings inside. They were talking, but going by the fact that the only female was waving her arms around, it wasn''t exactly a calm conversation.


    I''m getting more and more confused. The Lone Traveler scratched his head. A Void-Angel hybrid? A shadow wyvern-cat? And a full Voidling, Akirian, or whatever the fuck you became? What kind of circus is this? I leave you for a few weeks, and this happens? How!?


    In times like these, Tarak cursed his inability to use the System. If he were a normal user, he could have just used Identify, and bam, he would know what Leo had become in a second. Yet, here he was, confused, annoyed, and quite frankly astonished.


    Those three had to be some of the most unique creatures one could meet at the beginning of an Outbreak.


    I need more information.


    Right away, he fished out his transmitter and called a person he probably should have contacted a long time ago. Evidently, he underestimated the amount of trouble an inheritor of Nikra''s shard could get into in a few weeks.


    "Tarak! My dear friend! To what do I owe the pleasure?" A way-too-cheerful voice exploded out of the device.


    "Naz''Tor," he greeted back. "Unfortunately, it''s another business call this time. I require some particular information and hope you might be able to help me."


    "Of course, of course. Anything for you, my friend, you know that."


    Tarak rolled his eyes fondly. "Do you remember that planet I pointed out to you the last time we spoke?"


    "The new Earth, you mean? You were right, as always. It''s a future goldmine!" Naz''Tor laughed. "I have already met quite a few interesting creatures here. The area you have specifically suggested is very promising."


    "Wonderful." He smiled, knowing that his previous plan most likely worked. "Then you wouldn''t mind telling me what happened in London since you settled? Also, Leo Hale. If you have anything about him that you can share, I will be eternally grateful."

 Chapter 223. Arming up

    As the transmitter landed in his hand, Leo activated its interface and selected the only person on the list. He really needed to add more contacts sometime in the future because this was just sad. Hopefully, the survivors back in Wolford were making progress with communication devices.


    "Leo, my favorite customer on Earth!" Naz''Tor''s cheerful voice came out of the transmitter. "I''m glad you called. There is some stuff I wanted to talk with you about. Of course, it can wait if you are in a hurry."


    He frowned, knowing well where this was going. "I have time. What is it?"


    "Excellent," the merchant chirped. "A few days back, I got some very concerning readings from Earth''s core. This didn''t last long, but I obviously investigated and found the source in London, particularly the Supercluster. You wouldn''t know anything about that, right?"


    Leo grimaced but kept his calm. "Say I do¡­ Can you guarantee me that what I tell you will remain a secret? If not, I''m sorry, but I can''t help you."


    "Oh¡­ So that''s how it is. I should have expected that," Naz''Tor murmured. "Very well! Give me a moment, and I will send you a system contract that will make it impossible for me to speak about what I hear during this conversation. Is that enough for you?"


    "It should be," he agreed before adding in his head. The System is on my side, after all. If it can''t keep your mouth shut, nothing can.


    "Good, good. I''m sending it right¡­ now!"


    Just like the merchant said, a System notification appeared before Leo. He extended it and read through the simple contract that should do exactly what the alien promised. To him, it looked legitimate, but he was far from an expert on stuff like that. If there were any loopholes, he just couldn''t see them.


    Well, it''s not like I''m planning to tell him everything. He shrugged and let the contract fade away after accepting it. "It''s done."


    "There you have it, full confidentiality!" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "You can speak freely, my friend. Tell me why Earth''s core came close to imploding."


    Another proof that the System wasn''t lying. He clicked his tongue. "From what I learned, the ancient god you mentioned is responsible. He took over the leader of the group in London and tried to use the combined power of Void Gates to jumpstart another Cataclysm."


    "Cataclysm¡­ Yes, yes¡­ that would explain the readings," the merchant muttered to himself. "But why? Why involve yourself in matters of such an insignificant planet? I can easily name a few worlds that the people of Ger would love to see destroyed, but this isn''t it¡­ So why?"


    Leo took a deep breath and then let it out. "I can''t tell you that."


    "Can''t or won''t?"


    He didn''t reply, choosing to stay silent. There was no good way of answering Naz''Tor''s question. No matter what he said, he would reveal something he didn''t want to. He couldn''t have that, not even with the contract in place.


    "I understand. Some things are just better left unsaid," the merchant spoke after a moment. "I can only hope you will come to trust me in time¡­ But enough about that. If you don''t want to discuss that, how about explaining how Earth is still alive."


    Dodged a bullet there. Leo snorted. "That''s the result of combined effort. Mine and the System''s."


    "The System?" The surprise in the merchant''s voice was obvious. "Now that I need to hear. Come on, don''t leave me hanging. If I were human, I could count on one hand the number of times the System has interfered and still have fingers left."


    Good to know that. He saved that information for later and proceeded to present his heavily modified story. It was far from perfect¡ªor believable if he had to be honest¡ªbut that was all he could give for now.


    "...There is a lot you aren''t telling me, but I get the gist of it," Naz''Tor summed up once Leo had finished. "Still for the System to offer you a chance like that¡­ You''re either very lucky or unlucky. I can''t tell which one it is yet."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    He shrugged. "I''m alive, and the Earth still has a chance; that''s all that matters to me."


    The merchant chuckled. "That''s one way of perceiving this mess. At least now I understand why you''ve called¡­ A rift full of D- Nightmares¡­" He tsked. "What do you need? Don''t hold back. Anything you need, it''s yours. Well, within reason of course."


    Leo blinked, his eyes widening a bit. "You sure about that? I pretty much gave you like twenty percent of what really happened while skipping over the rest."


    Naz''Tor laughed again. "Oh please, like you are the first one to do that. Everyone has secrets they don''t want to share. I won''t lie, I am curious, but in the end, I only want you to survive. You can''t earn me more money if you''re dead, kid! So give it to me. What do you want?"


    I will never understand this guy. He chuckled, shaking his head. I lie straight to his face, and he wants to help me.


    "I definitely need something to quickly patch me up. More Bellatoure is fine. Aside from that, I could use something that can help me find the Supercluster''s core. Well, that and a communication device I can give to my sister."


    "That''s all?" Naz''Tor asked, sounding almost insulted. "You can choose anything, and that''s all you ask for? Ah, fine! I see I need to take this into my own hands. Give me a minute."


    Leo wanted to say something to stop the merchant from giving him stuff he might not need. However, a nudge from Nyx''s tail stopped him before he could even open his mouth.


    He furrowed his brow. Weren''t you supposed to be asleep?


    The feline rolled her eyes. ''I was, but I got curious. Now stop being an idiot and take what the man is giving. I doubt he will be so generous ever again.''


    I guess¡­ I just don''t want to owe him any more than I already do.


    ''You don''t owe him anything. Remember, for him, it''s an investment in the future. Besides, you can always pay him back one day.''


    He threw his hands in the air. All right, all right, I won''t say a thing.


    ''Good.'' With that, Nyx closed her eyes and lay down again. A moment later, Naz''Tor returned, his voice coming out of the transmitter once more.


    "There we go. I have everything ready. Sending the offer now!"


    Displaying contracted trade offer.


    Offered: Ownership of healing item "Enhanced Bellatoure" x5, TEK Transmitter V4.5, Install-type item: Phantom''s Whisper, and Core Shard. (System Verified)


    Price: 10000 Ether


    Do you accept this trade?


    "That''s a lot of stuff," Leo muttered. "What even are those things?"


    Naz''Tor chuckled again. "The Bellatoure you already know. This is just a slightly stronger variant. The transmitter is a much older version of what you have. It works, but just barely. Now for the other two¡­ The latter will help you find the core, while the former will make the trip toward it much easier. Go on. Accept it."


    He hesitated for a moment but did as was told in the end. "Just how much are you losing on this?"


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.


    "A lot, but that''s not something you need to worry about. I won''t have my most promising client die just because an Old One decided to mess with everyone on Earth."


    "I will pay you back one day."


    Naz''Tor let out a short laugh. "I''m sure you will. I know your type. Though, for now, focus on staying alive."


    "I will." Leo smiled. "Thanks for everything. I will call you once I finish the job."


    "You better, kid¡­ And one more thing before you end the call. I can''t tell you who exactly it is, but I had someone powerful and influential ask about you. They didn''t seem hostile and only wanted to know about your new evolution and power level. Oh, and they used your name."


    Leo stiffened as his mind jumped into a higher gear. Someone powerful meant someone from the Void. Another minion of Geron would be the obvious answer, but he didn''t believe this was the case here. They wouldn''t contact Naz''Tor for information when the Old One already knew everything about him.


    No¡­ this is someo¡ª His eyes widened as the answer hit him with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "Tarak."


    "Huh¡­ and here I thought he was screwing with me. You two really know each other."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "Wait, what?"


    "I always warn my contracted clients when someone asks about them," Naz''Tor explained. "Tarak knows that, yet he still asked me not to tell you who he was. Quoting him, ''The kid will figure it out, don''t worry.'' Now I see what he meant. How curious¡­"


    Yeah. Curious indeed¡­ Another bloody Old One I have to worry about. However, he remembered the System''s words about Tarak, about how the man could become an ally. Leo wasn¡¯t too sure about that, but maybe he should at least test the waters.


    "Say¡­ Can you provide me with a way to contact Tarak?"

 Chapter 224. The second trial

    To Leo¡¯s immeasurable disappointment, Naz¡¯Tor couldn¡¯t provide him with a way to contact Tarak. Apparently, thanks to the Old One¡¯s personalized communication transmitter, nobody could add him to their contact list unless he called them first. Somehow, his number¡ªor whatever the thing was called¡ªwas unavailable to the public, and anyone trying to extract it would just waste their time.


    Despite that, the merchant promised to call the Lone Traveler later and try to set up a meeting. Leo didn¡¯t try to stop him, but he doubted anything would come from that. If Tarak wanted to meet with him, it would have happened a long time ago. But no, he preferred to call Naz¡¯Tor to gather information instead.


    I bet he is still banking on me reaching this Netherum. I should have asked what it is. He clicked his tongue, looking down at the transmitter in his hand. Well, next time.


    Once he returned the device to his soul, he reached for another item¡ªor rather, three of them. They all appeared before him in a flash, and he quickly grabbed the one that seemed the most familiar.


    TEK Transmitter V4.5¡­ Looks good if a bit battered. Leo observed, rolling the green device across his palm. Aside from the color and bigger mass, I can¡¯t see a difference between this and my own¡­ Lily will have to test the rest.


    With a shrug, he consumed the item and grabbed the next one¡ªa gray fist-sized crystal shard. He scanned it for any runes or other modifications but found none. Whatever this thing did, it wasn¡¯t obvious from its appearance.


    Identify.


    Core Shard (Uncommon):


    A tiny piece of a Supercluster core, heavily modified to assist survivors with finding more of its brethren. This primitive tool will start to glow brighter the closer you are to a healthy Supercluster core. Remaining lifetime: 4 days and 3 hours.


    Primitive my ass. Leo snorted, returning the shard to his soul. If this is called primitive, then I want to know what else they have. A direct teleporter to the core?


    He shook his head and reached for the last item he needed to check, probably the most valuable of them all.


    Like all Install-types, its half-transparent form preferred hovering slightly above the ground. Its deep purple glow washed over his hand, emitting coldness similar to the one he felt during his short stay in the Ice Wasteland.


    Nonetheless, Leo closed the remaining distance and grabbed the simple orb of energy¡ªnot dissimilar to Touch of Carnage. The coldness intensified, but he held on tight and activated Identify.


    Install: Phantom¡¯s Whisper (Radiant):


    A high-quality install-type item created through careful processing of the Essence of many Greater Phantoms. With further modifications done by an expert Soul Artificer, this nightmarish energy formed into an item that would benefit anyone who prefers to remain hidden.


    Passive: Your Essence signature becomes distorted, thus becoming much harder to detect and track.


    Active: By channeling the power of Phantom¡¯s Whisper into your stealth abilities, they become much stronger, enhancing their efficiency by a wide margin.


    Radiant?! Leo¡¯s eyes widened. Just how much Ether did he lose on this deal? This has to be in the tens of thousands if not hundreds¡­ Holy shit¡­ And it¡¯s also just what I need.


    For a single second, he thought of calling Naz¡¯Tor again and forcing him to take this back. However, his common sense and desire to become stronger quickly pushed that idiotic idea out of his head. He needed this.


    Here we go, then. With the item still in his hand, he pushed a bit of Essence toward it. A new notification instantly appeared.


    Do you wish to Install Phantom¡¯s Whisper into your soul? Install-Type items can be removed any time you want.


    Go on.


    Just like that, the purple orb dived into his body. Within a few seconds, he felt it settle inside his soul, quite close to the other two install-type items. Like always, a phantom weight settled on his shoulders, but he barely noticed it this time.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    That went well... I think. Leo smiled, flexing his Essence to make sure there were no issues. Yeah, all good. Now, to test it all out¡­


    First things first, he summoned the Cloak of True Night and let it fall over his shoulders. After that, he allowed a tiny layer of shadows to slither over his form, covering it from top to bottom. Finally, he reached for the new item inside his soul, grabbed its power, and pushed it into the activation of Stealth Shroud.


    It took a few seconds for the skill to settle, but when it did, Leo couldn¡¯t find any issues with it. Every single part of the ability worked at least twice as efficiently, pushing the illusion of invisibility to new heights.


    Let¡¯s see.


    Slowly, he stood up and disappeared from his position in a burst of Essence. He did again and again, always keeping an eye on the integrity of his Stealth Shroud. Only after about twenty jumps did he stop, finally noticing some imperfections in his skill. Yet, even then, once a few seconds passed, they all disappeared, leaving the ability in perfect condition.


    Nyx! He called out through the link. I know you¡¯re not asleep. What did you see?


    The feline groaned. ¡®And here I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t notice.¡¯


    He rolled his eyes. Just answer the question.


    ¡®Nothing, I saw nothing, and I heard nothing,¡¯ she grumbled. ¡®However, the same cannot be said about your Essence. It¡¯s harder to catch now, but I still felt a bit of it when you used Blink.¡¯


    Thanks. Leo flashed back to his starting position, canceled his skills, and sat down. It¡¯s still a massive improvement. This item really is a dream come true for any assassin.


    ¡®Don¡¯t get too complacent. There is still plenty of room for improvement in Stealth Shroud,¡¯ Nyx warned. ¡®Just think about it¡­ Phantom¡¯s Whisper already makes it so much better. If you improve the base, nobody will be able to detect you¡­¡¯


    ¡®Nobody¡¯ is stretching it a bit, but I see your point.


    ¡®Good,¡¯ the feline harrumphed. ¡®Now go and start that trial of yours. Stop wasting time.¡¯


    Yes, mother. Leo chuckled and once more looked into his soul. He poked the dormant link inside it and smiled when a new notification appeared before him.


    Your second Trial of Primes is waiting. Do you wish to begin it now?


    Yes.


    Acknowledged. Please relax and don¡¯t resist the pull. The land behind the Veil is waiting.


    <hr>


    Leo gasped, opening his eyes as the feeling in his body returned. He looked around and frowned at the completely different scene compared to the previous trial. One thing for sure, there wouldn¡¯t be any hunting today¡ªat least not on this large rocky plateau filled with nothing aside from some big stones.


    He tried to reach beyond the limited space, to see further than the boundaries of the plateau allowed. Yet, there was nothing there¡ªonly solid darkness.


    ¡°So what is it this time?¡± he muttered.


    ¡°The Trial of Blood, or more precisely, your bloodlust.¡±


    Those words came from a phantom that materialized right in front of him. The creature looked quite similar to him, only much slimmer, and instead of legs, it possessed five tendrils that allowed it to float above the ground.


    ¡°Bloodlust, you say?¡± Leo repeated after he calmed his rampaging heart.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the creature nodded. ¡°Bloodlust is a weapon of every Akirian, one we have to learn to wield to perfection along with the instincts that come with it. For almost all of us, our Apex aspect is the only teacher.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have one, thus the trial.¡±


    ¡°Correct again¡­ Until now, you only had a taste of what bloodlust is capable of. Take your Night Hunter¡¯s Blade Mastery, for example. Every time you fight, your instincts are there to help you. You might not hear them, but they are there, slowly expanding the knowledge you received when you obtained the skill from the System.¡±


    Leo hummed as he recalled some of his old battles. Back when he just evolved into Prime Night Hunter, he barely knew what to do with his blades. He wasn¡¯t much better than a street brawler. But now? In his fight against Payne? Maybe his style wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was still more refined than what any other survivor could show.


    I see¡­ I definitely heard my instincts, but those times were few and far between. Now, it makes sense.


    Unaware of the thoughts in his head, the phantom continued. ¡°Then we have your Relentless Hunger. Many Akirians call this type of skill ¡®The Trigger.¡¯ A fitting name, if I have to say. After all, those abilities pretty much trigger our bloodlust and let it free without almost any limits. It is the most powerful way of utilizing bloodlust but also the most taxing one¡ªespecially in your case, young Prime.¡±


    Hard to disagree here. Leo held back a laugh.


    ¡°Now, there are a few more ways of using the power given to us, two of which I will teach you today,¡± the creature exclaimed, and suddenly, its form fully manifested. ¡°Once you understand the concept behind those methods, you will get a short break to practice. Afterward, your real trial will begin. Follow me!¡±

 Chapter 225. The concepts of bloodlust

    They didn''t have to go far. The phantom just led him to the middle of the plateau, where a couple of bigger boulders stood. There, it stopped once more and turned to address him.


    "The most popular method of utilizing bloodlust¡ªa method you''ve probably already used subconsciously¡ªis a simple infusion," the creature explained. "Our bloodlust is an enhancer, one of the most powerful at that, as it doesn''t work on Essence, just pure emotions. Akirians realized that early on and tried to use it to improve their abilities."


    The phantom came closer to one of the boulders. "It worked quite well, but only for skills that could be used for offense. Watch!"


    Similar to what Leo could do, the creature extended the blade on its forearm and enveloped it in a familiar black flash. Then, without wasting any more time, the phantom swung it at the massive boulder.


    The blade sliced through the rocky surface but didn''t go too deep. If it were a living and breathing enemy, this would barely count as a flesh wound.


    Leo frowned. Okay? What''s the point? He didn''t have to wait long to get an answer.


    "Here, as you''ve noticed, I used a skill of yours, Kiss of Death." The phantom''s other hand traced the cut on the boulder. "For an ability of this low quality, it did well, but far from what it is truly capable of. Please try yourself if you want."


    The creature stepped aside as Leo accepted its invitation. In the past, he had used his blades on some rocks while training and never struggled to cut through them. Sometimes, he could even do that without using any skills.


    Let''s see. Kiss of Death ignited along his extended blade, and he quickly swung at the boulder.


    When his weapon first touched the stone surface, it easily slid inside, parting the tough material like flesh. However, the resistance increased tenfold before it could go deeper than an inch or two. It was like trying to slice through the Myrdrak''s scales without any enhancements or skills.


    What? Leo furrowed his brow, watching the cut he just created with his mouth slightly opened. What the hell is this thing?


    "Surprised?" The phantom chuckled. "Don''t be. This boulder is the exact replica of a rock you can find on a C rank world. It would be quite the miracle if you could just cut it in two."


    C rank world¡­ I guess it makes sense that the environment also has to match the power of Voidlings and survivors. Otherwise, planets would be destroyed by their own inhabitants. Huh¡­ never thought of that¡­


    "Continuing," the creature said, once more facing the boulder. "Allow me now to demonstrate what happens when you properly infuse your bloodlust into Kiss of Death."


    Leo nodded and observed as the phantom Akirian attacked the rock again. Like it said, its blade didn''t miraculously split the boulder in two, but this time, the cut was much deeper and easily twice as wide.


    "And there it is! Infusion. The most basic technique of bloodlust¡ªone you have to master before this trial ends. Now, let''s move on to the second method. Chaining!"


    Wait, what?!


    "Hold up! Timeout!" Leo shouted, putting his hands together to form a T-shape. "How do I exactly use this infusion? You said you would explain."


    "Oh, did I now?" The creature grinned. "I don''t remember such words ever leaving my mouth. I provided a demonstration and explained the concept. That''s all you will get from me, young Prime. Stop complaining and listen. This second technique is much harder to grasp."


    Of course it is. He sighed but didn''t say anything. Even if complaining was often his unhealthy way of coping, it wouldn''t help him here. He had to focus on using this lesson to grow stronger. His survival in the next few days might depend on it.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Sorry." He offered the phantom Akirian a small bow. "Go on."


    The teacher narrowed his eyes at him for a moment before nodding. "Very well¡­ As I said, the second method is called chaining. Its purpose¡ªsimilar to infusion¡ªis rather simple. We, Akirians, use it to bind different skills together and make them slightly stronger. It''s a bit like combining the first method with another step. And this time, it works on all kinds of skills, not only the offensive ones."


    Huh. Leo hummed. "When you say bind, do you mean creating new skills or just combining the effects of different abilities for a short time?"


    "Both. However, usually, the latter leads to the former after enough practice¡­ Remember, it''s important for every Akirian to use chaining when fusing abilities. This way, each new skill you create will have bloodlust incorporated into it. I understand you may think this might not always be good, but it really is, especially for a Prime."


    "Why?"


    "Because it teaches you control and slowly increases your tolerance for bloodlust," the creature stated, its voice becoming firmer than the boulder next to it. "Almost every skill is imprinted into your soul, and despite what many think, the three pillars are not equal. No, the soul is, and always will be, the most important. The mind and the body will always be dependent on it and its strength. Do you understand what I''m trying to say here?"


    As much as Leo wanted to lie and say yes, he couldn''t. He had an inkling of what the Akirian could be talking about, but it wasn''t enough. This also didn''t fit what he already knew about bloodlust¡ªor rather, what he thought he knew.


    "No." He finally shook his head. "Not really."


    This time, the phantom offered him a soft smile. "Another time, then. I''ve already said more than I should. Let''s return to the matter at hand: Your trial. Its first part is done now. In a moment, I will leave you for an hour. Use this time to practice and prepare for your final task."


    "No demonstration this time?" Leo asked despite already knowing the answer.


    The phantom chuckled. "I fear not. I could show you the result of chaining two skills, but it wouldn''t help you at all... Just know that while bloodlust is a tool, it will work with you if you let it. There is more to it than just hate and hunger."


    With those words, the creature faded out of sight, leaving Leo rooted in place. Its final sentence echoed in his head, pulling on the bloodlust sleeping in the depths of his mind. It didn''t wake, but for a second there, he felt it reacting.


    What was that?


    "What did you do?" he asked out loud.


    Yet, there was no one to answer him. Instead, a massive timer made out of glowing numbers appeared above the plateau. One hour, it showed, and then the countdown began.


    Wonderful¡­


    With a sigh, he sat down and released his Essence and bloodlust. As much as he wanted to focus on the weird parting words, he had a trial to complete first. He could question the phantom once it returned.


    First, infusion¡­


    <hr>


    Five more minutes. Leo thought as his gaze returned to the boulder in front of him. Dozens of cuts littered its grey surface, some deeper and wider than the others. He ignored them and focused on the matter at hand.


    Essence and bloodlust surged onto his blades, intertwining and becoming a single strand of energy. Following that, he bent it all into Kiss of Death and smiled when a red-black flash enveloped his weapons.


    This won''t get any better.


    Leo dived forward and slashed at the boulder. The blade sliced into the surface, cutting deeper and deeper until over half of its length disappeared. That was when the resistance got too strong.


    Not bad, not bad at all. He grinned, comparing the cut he had just created to the one left behind by the phantom. His was still a bit thinner, but overall, they looked almost identical.


    His gaze then returned to the timer above his head, and the smile slipped off his face. He might have succeeded in mastering the concept of infusion, but he barely practiced chaining. The latter method was based on the former anyway, so there was no point in training it before that.


    Leo chuckled despite his situation. "Well, I''m fucked. Gonna need to play it by ear."


    Nonetheless, with about three minutes remaining, he still tried to grasp the concept of chaining. Unfortunately for him, before he could even attempt to combine Kiss of Death with Phantom Erasure using his bloodlust, a cough brought him back to reality.


    "Your time is up, young one," the phantom, who once more materialized before him, announced. "Let us begin the last part of this trial."


    Leo fidgeted in place. "How about giving me another hour, hmm? I would really, really, appreciate it." When the creature didn''t answer, he added, "Please?"


    "No."


    Oh, come on!


    "Stand up, Prime! Your task is simple. Defeat me. You can use anything but your affinities. Begin!"

 Chapter 226. No Proxy

    The moment the final word left the phantom¡¯s mouth, it rushed forward, not giving Leo a chance to protest. Their extended blades met with a loud clang, but unlike during the fight against Payne, the clash of strength didn¡¯t last longer than a second.


    The ancient Akirian struck again and again, raining blows upon him faster than even Geron did. It was relentless, even more so than the Voidlings in the real world. Add to that, it attacked with more skill than any other enemy he ever faced.


    Even with Reinforcement active, Leo could find no opening in the phantom¡¯s defense¡ªor rather, its endless offense. No matter how much force he put into his strikes, how much Essence he pushed into skills, or how many Blinks he used, he still couldn¡¯t put the creature on the back foot.


    He winced as a blade cut into his side and quickly blocked another one coming for his head. His knees buckled under the pressure, but with a roar, he pushed back, refusing to go down just like that.


    For someone smaller and slimmer than I, it sure is strong. Leo grumbled, rolling his shoulders and preparing for another clash. Got to kick it up a notch.


    Just as the phantom pounced at him again, bloodlust ignited in his veins, activating Relentless Hunger. He slid out of the way of the attack in the last second and struck back, finally forcing his enemy to defend.


    It didn¡¯t last long, though.


    ¡°Still too slow, still too weak,¡± the ancient Akirian growled, speeding up. It deflected the first few incoming strikes, parried the last one, and used the opening it created to get back on offense.


    ¡°Stop holding back, child! Use what I¡¯ve shown you, or perish!¡±


    Leo groaned as the phantom overpowered him. It struck him with the flat of its blade, followed by a barrage of tendrils slamming into his chest. The combined assault sent him flying across the battlefield, crashing into one of the scattered boulders.


    Shit! He hissed as the rock cut through his armor and a few scales. He really hated how well this place imitated reality.


    Focus up. It¡¯s coming again.


    He rolled to the side, avoiding getting skewered alive, and this time focused more on the bloodlust traveling through his every pillar. As the ancient Akirian said, there should be more to it than just hate and hunger.


    Come on!


    Despite still being on defense, Leo deactivated Relentless Hunger but didn¡¯t push his bloodlust back. He let it flow through him without providing its usual boost. Add to that, he started channeling it into Kiss of Death, Phantom Erasure, and even Reinforcement¡ªthough the last one didn¡¯t go too well.


    Work with me! He screamed in his mind. Hunter might be gone, but we can still fight together. Work with me, and I will give you freedom as long as you don¡¯t use it against me.


    Maybe he was mad for pretty much talking to himself, but somehow it worked. The bloodlust inside him became even wilder, more erratic. It felt like it was still asleep before and only now regained consciousness.


    Relentless Hunger activated once more on its own, but along with it came the whispers. Every time Leo attacked or had to defend, they offered a short piece of advice that he listened to almost instinctively.


    ¡®Duck. Bend your wrist. Fix your stance! One step back and then go for a grab. Free your tail!¡¯


    Not every tip worked, but the odds of the battle had changed in the few seconds since the whispers arrived. Leo still spent most of the time on defense, but now he could strike back more often. Almost no movement was wasted as his entire body worked together to defeat the enemy.


    It had been a while since he felt like this¡ªnot since the day he had lost Hunter if he had to be honest. He remembered how well they fought together against the Apex Shadow Claw despite the odds being stacked against them. His Apex aspect was always there to help, to push him forward.


    And now, with bloodlust whispering into his ear and helping him on its own, it brought those memories back. Oh, it wasn¡¯t the same, far from that¡ªnothing could replace Hunter, after all. However, it was still a change for the better.


    ¡°Well done,¡± the phantom said when they locked blades again. ¡°It looks like our resynchronization helped, and you are back on the right path. I¡¯m glad to see that.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Leo frowned. ¡°You planned this. Was this the real purpose of this trial?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The Akirian chuckled. ¡°Just an addition. You still haven¡¯t shown me everything. Fight!¡±


    Their stalemate broke again as the phantom attacked him with doubled ferocity¡ªif that was even possible. An average human would be able to see only blurs as their arms moved, cutting and slashing at each other.


    The phantom still led the fight, but with unchained bloodlust at his back, Leo never gave in. He fought back harder with each second, allowing the rage and hunger to grow inside him. However, those emotions didn¡¯t try to overwhelm him¡ªat least not yet¡ªinstead, the whispers in his head only intensified.


    It wants me to show more¡­ There is only one thing left¡­ chaining.


    Now the question remained: How?


    He had already infused bloodlust into Kiss of Death and Phantom Erasure, but that didn¡¯t help with mastering the elusive technique. It felt like something was missing¡ªsome sort of a catalyst. Those two skills wanted to connect but just couldn¡¯t without something to control them, to fill in the blanks.


    He attempted throwing Reinforcement into the mix, but it didn¡¯t mesh well with the other two. Not even his strengthened partnership with bloodlust could help there. And so, Leo continued to defend, trying to come up with a solution.


    Blink and Decoy are out. They don¡¯t even function the same¡­ Relentless Hunger just cancels Kiss of Death when I try to connect those two with more bloodlust¡­ Shit¡­ How do I d¡ªwait!


    There was one more skill he had never considered for chaining. After all, its effects were always passive, and if not for the phantom, he wouldn¡¯t have even thought of it. Well, that and the reappearance of bloodlust¡¯s helpful whispers.


    Night Hunter¡¯s Blade Mastery.


    Beforehand, Leo didn¡¯t even have any idea how to reach the skill and connect it to others, but thanks to the phantom, that also changed.


    Almost every skill is imprinted into your soul.


    With those words in mind, he dived into his soul while letting his bloodlust take partial control over his body. He searched and searched, going from his Install items to the normal ones before finally diving into his core. There, he found them, the records of almost every skill he possessed.


    I really should have inspected the core earlier. After my talk with Nikra, I pretty much ignored it¡­


    Nonetheless, that was a problem for the future him. For now, he had to focus on somehow linking a passive skill with the two active ones. Surprisingly, his reactivated instincts answered his call for help.


    Together, they reached for the records of his passive skill and flooded it with bloodlust. Instantly, the whispers in his head intensified, but that wasn¡¯t enough.


    Without leaving the soul, Leo grasped at the records of two more skills that were already active in the real world. Again, he linked it all with the power of bloodlust. The stream of energy changed, and he pulled on it, flinging it right toward his Kiss of Death and Phantom Erasure-infused blades.


    Just like that, something clicked in his mind. The whispers quietened down a bit, but, at the same time, they became clearer and easier to understand.


    On the outside, his every movement became more fluid and precise. Leo struck at the phantom, and it staggered back as the combined power of his skills exploded in its face. His eyes widened a bit, but instead of wasting this chance, he attacked again and again.


    The ancient Akirian could barely defend. Each blocked or deflected strike chipped away at its blade while forcing it to slowly retreat. Leo didn¡¯t stop there and continued his assault, guided by the quiet whispers.


    His next slash cut right through the Akirian¡¯s blade, leaving it completely open. He went for the kill, and just as he was about to thrust his weapon into the creature¡¯s chest, it stopped him with a single word.


    ¡°Enough.¡± It smiled as its entire body regenerated. ¡°The Trial of Blood is finished. You pass, young one. Well done.¡±


    Leo blinked, breathing heavily as the adrenaline in his body slowly faded. Without his command, bloodlust also retreated, but not as far as it usually did. No, now it waited just below the surface, ready to surge out whenever it wanted.


    ¡°Just like that?¡± he asked in disbelief.


    The phantom nodded. ¡°Just like that. In the end, this trial was never about you beating me¡ªeven though you still did¡ªbut about you figuring out a way to work with your bloodlust without an Apex aspect acting as a proxy. You succeeded, thus completing the trial.¡±


    Leo chuckled tiredly as he slid to the ground. ¡°So what? I have mastered the use of bloodlust now?¡±


    ¡°Far from it.¡± The phantom answered with its own laugh. ¡°There is still much you have left to learn. But that¡¯s for another day. Today, you should celebrate. You and the remnants of your Apex aspect are finally working together toward a brighter future. What we started during your evolution, you brought it to finish here.¡±


    So that¡¯s how it is, he mused, looking back at the phantom. ¡°You were there.¡±


    ¡°I was. It was a pleasure to meet and teach you, young one. May we meet again one day. Farewell.¡±


    Before Leo could even open his mouth, the ancient Akirian disappeared. A moment later, the world around him shook, plunging it into darkness.


    <hr>


    He opened his eyes again to the sight of Nyx sleeping next to him. Just like with the last trial, no time passed while he was gone. He sighed and leaned against the wall behind him.


    Well, maybe I didn¡¯t get to ask my questions, but I definitely didn¡¯t leave empty-handed.


    Congratulations! You have completed the Trial of the Blood. As a result of hard work, the following skills, Kiss of Death, Phantom Erasure, and Night Hunter¡¯s Blade Mastery, have combined into Spectral Fury.

 Chapter 227. Breaking past the limits

    To be honest, Leo didn''t expect to get a new skill right away. After all, according to the ancient Akirian, this should happen only once he had practiced the chaining of those three skills for some time. So either the trial somehow sped up the process, or the System decided that his short battle was enough to grant him a new ability.


    Either way, I''m definitely not complaining. Let''s see¡­


    Spectral Fury (Legendary)


    The fury of blood has shown you the way toward victory. Walk it, never hesitate, or you will face defeat. Use this ancient knowledge and make your enemies tremble in fear.


    Effects:


    This ability allows your bloodlust to passively assist you during every fight without having a negative impact on your mind. When used actively, this skill greatly enhances the armor penetration of your blades and the overall power of your strikes. Additionally, each hit on the enemy will leave behind a Spectral Tear that will attack the target again after a short delay. The efficiency of this skill improves thanks to all attributes.


    That''s a long ass description. Leo whistled. Not without a reason, though. My first legendary skill¡­ And damn, is it powerful¡­


    Some people might have disagreed with him as, quite honestly, from the description alone, this skill didn''t look that special. However, he had access to more than just that, as this time, the System decided to impart quite a bit of information on him.


    For one, while far from his Apex aspect, his bloodlust could help him now without restrictions. He had already seen the effects of that during his fight against the phantom Akirian, and he couldn''t wait to push their newfound teamwork to the next level.


    Next was the enhanced power of his strikes. Sure, Kiss of Death and Phantom Erasure already did that, but thanks to Spectral Fury combining those two, he already felt that the results would be much better. With this, the scales of the Myrdrak probably wouldn''t stand a chance.


    And finally, the Spectral Tears¡­


    If there was one thing that contributed to this skill''s legendary quality, then this was definitely it. At first glance, it might sound a lot like the effect of Phantom Erasure, but nothing could be further from the truth.


    While the old skill delivered an additional hit only after drawing blood, Spectral Tears could be created even after a simple clash of blades. They also didn''t attach themselves to the enemy and instead stayed behind, waiting for the delayed activation.


    Once that happened, a literal specter of him would come out of the tear and rush the enemy to deliver a single attack. Of course, it could be defended against, but Leo could only imagine how annoying it would be to fight such a thing when every single hit created more of those ghosts.


    Can''t wait to see it in action. He grinned, dismissing the System notification. Hmm, might as well.


    He stood up and nudged the sleeping feline with his tail. "Wake up, Nyx. It''s time for the last hunt before our trip into the Void."


    The overgrown cat blinked slowly and let out a long yawn. "You said we''re resting for an hour," she grumbled. "It hasn''t even been thirty minutes¡­"


    "Sorry," he patted her head and quickly stepped away before she could take a swipe at him. "Got a new skill, and I want to test it now. Come on, the sooner I get to level fifty, the more time you will get to rest afterward."


    "I guess so¡­ Lead the way."


    <hr>


    Nightmares screeched all around him as Leo sped through the deepest tunnels of the Supercluster. This was where the strongest monsters on Earth lived¡ªthe only ones that still gave him a fair amount of experience.


    Nyx trailed behind him, her shadows, claws, and tail cutting apart every Collector that dared to chase them. There was no mercy for those beasts, and even with active pursuit, they could do nothing to stop the two apex predators from hunting in their home.


    In the meantime, Leo wasn''t idle, though he refrained from using his affinities. Only Reinforcement and Spectral Fury were fully activated, burning within him as he leaped from Nightmare to Nightmare, his blades and tail slicing through the air.


    Up ahead, two Scouter released their wind blasts at him, but he just pushed past it with a Blink and appeared next to them. His blade cut the closer monster in two while his tail sliced a wing off the other.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    He could have finished it with a following strike, but there was no need to. After a second or three, two silver, crackling tears floating in the air erupted, releasing specter clones of his body. They rushed at the fallen Scouter and ended its pitiful existence.


    I love this skill. Leo grinned, uncaring of the alien blood dripping from his body.


    Another group of Collectors¡ªall above level forty¡ªran at him, and he faced them head-on. With whispers of blood in his ears, he fought like a beast, yet all of his moves were fluid and controlled. Each hit or clash created another Spectral Tear, slowly overwhelming the Nightmares until only one was left.


    Once more, Leo didn''t move at first, allowing five of his clones to pounce on the lone Collector. The beast cut through the first and second specter but could do nothing as the other three jumped on its back, each delivering a powerful slash.


    The Voidling howled and collapsed to the ground as its life slipped through its claws. Leo snorted and finished its struggles with a blade into its head.


    And another tunnel clea¡ª


    Congratulations! You have reached level 50. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    There it is. He smiled. And more notifications are waiting, just like I hoped.


    Quickly turning to Nyx, who was finishing the last Voidling in her group, he shouted, "You can go ahead or guard me. I need to check what I got!"


    "I will wait. We got what we wanted anyway."


    Leo shrugged and returned his attention to the notifications. He summoned the next one and instantly grimaced as pain spread through his entire body. He collapsed to his knees, but before he could go down completely, everything returned to normal.


    Ouch? What the hell was that?


    He didn''t have to wait long for an answer.


    Congratulation! Your Grace has ascended past the Supernatural Tier (500). Welcome among the Transcendent. The effectiveness of all Grace-dependent skills has been greatly enhanced.


    Ah¡­That explains a lot. Leo grimaced, standing up. While the phantom ache was still there, his entire body felt lighter and faster. Suddenly, the increased size of his new evolution didn''t matter. Well, I will be damned. My gamble paid off. Five hundred really was the limit for Supernatural¡­


    To make it even better, this was far from the last notification waiting for him.


    Your class, Nightblade, has reached its maturity. Attributes awarded per level changed to: +5 Might, +6 Grace, +5 Vision, +6 Mind, +5 Soul.


    Leo''s mouth opened as he blinked repeatedly to make sure the System wasn''t playing jokes on him.


    Nope. Still the same. He noted, doing some quick math in his head. That''s almost twice as much as I got before. From fourteen per level to twenty-seven¡­ Holy shit. Wait¡­


    He stopped the next notification from appearing and summoned a part of his status. Just like he had expected, something very important changed there.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Void''s Heir


    Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax


    Class: Nightblade(M) | LVL. 50


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: D-


    D minus. So that''s what I needed to finally break past the barrier.


    Even though the System advised him not to focus too much on the ranking it displayed, he couldn''t help but care. So far, it hadn''t really led him astray, and considering where he was going in a few hours, he couldn''t be happier about this change.


    Maybe I will have a fighting chance after all. Leo smiled. Putting all my hopes on stealth didn''t really sit well with me.


    Nightblade maturity skill granted: Moonless Night.


    And there is the last thing. He still had no idea what exactly class maturity meant, but quite frankly, he didn''t care. As long as it helped him survive, he was happy.


    Moonless Night (Radiant)


    Not every night comes with the end of the day. Sometimes, you have to force the darkness to come to you. Claim it and use it. The battlefield is yours.


    Effects:


    This ability allows you to plunge a limited area into artificial night. As the caster, only you can see and hear through the darkness. There is nothing that can hide from you within this territory. Nighttime bonuses become active inside Moonless Night. Warning: This ability protects Nightmares from the light.


    Another great skill. Leo''s smile widened. Only limited info about it this time. Gotta work out how to activate it on my own¡­ Well, nothing I can''t handle. I still have a few hours.


    He dismissed the System and looked at Nyx. "Change of plans. We''re going a bit deeper so I can test a new skill of mine. Don''t worry, we won''t be long."


    The feline sighed. "I hate you¡­"

 Chapter 228. First Layer

    "So this is it," Leo muttered, gazing at the massive Void Gate before him. Light swirled within the arch, growing stronger and wider with each second. A quick Identify said it all; only two minutes remained until it would open.


    "Please, let me go with you," Lily begged once more, forcing him to turn to her. "Please, I can''t stay here when you are out there risking your life for us."


    Leo almost flinched when he spotted the tears coming out of his sister''s eyes. She looked crestfallen, more so than even after the Myrdrak trapped him inside the domain. He reached forward and brought her in for a hug.


    "You know that''s impossible," he whispered. "Nyx and I are the only ones here with high enough level to survive inside there. We need to do this, or this is the end of Earth and everyone that lives here."


    Lily pushed away from him, narrowing her eyes. "Fuck Earth, fuck this!" she hissed. "Let this bloody planet die for all I care. We can figure something out. There must be a different way out of this."


    "There isn''t, Geron made sure of that." He offered her a sad smile. "I wish there was something else we could do, but we just can''t¡­ And quite frankly, I''m fine with that. I''m ready, Lily, I promise. I will be back."


    Slowly, the anger on his sister''s face gave way to anguish again. Yet, there was a hint of acceptance shining in her eyes. In the end, they both knew this was inevitable. Either someone would destroy the core, or they would all die. There was no third path.


    "You better come back," Lily mumbled, refusing to meet his gaze. "If you don''t, I will haunt you forever in the afterlife. You will know no peace, brother."


    Leo chuckled but didn''t say anything as Nyx nudged him with her tail and motioned toward the portal.


    "It''s activating," the feline said.


    He nodded and watched as the swirling lights finally filled the entire arch. Slowly, the portal settled, its color turning to a weird mix of dark blue, red, and brown. He Identified it again.


    Current Status:


    This Gateway has finished charging and is ready to transport beings to the other side.


    Nothing about it growing stronger¡­ He mused. Must be because the System was the one to force its activation. Well, no time like the present.


    With a sigh, he turned toward his sister for what might be the final time. He didn''t say anything and just smiled at her. She returned it, but that obviously wasn''t enough. A second later, she hugged him again.


    "Good luck," she whispered into his chest. "Don''t you dare to die there. We still have to find Mum and Dad."


    As they separated again, Leo gave her shoulder a final squeeze. "Thirty-six hours and not a second longer."


    Lily, knowing what he meant, nodded and turned to the massive shadow cat next to them. "Keep my stupid brother alive, okay?"


    "I will do my best."


    After that, silence consumed this part of the Supercluster. Only the soft thrum of the portal filled their ears as Leo and Nyx stopped a step away from it. They shared a look and moved forward.


    "See you on the other side."


    <hr>


    The Dimensional Gateway, similar to a Planetary one, first pulled him into the familiar void of black and red. Leo didn''t panic this time and waited for the notification.


    Dimensional transit in progress. Due to the gate''s limited strength, teleportation might take a bit longer. Please remain calm and refrain from using any Essence techniques. Current destination: Nightmare Rift (C-).


    There go my hopes that maybe the System was wrong. He grimaced. Suddenly, my rank up to D- doesn''t seem that important¡­ Stealth only it is for now.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    It took another few minutes¡ªhe counted¡ªbefore the next notification appeared. He braced himself and prepared for impact.


    Dimensional transit completed. Arrival in 10 seconds. Prepare yourself, Leo Hale. Your landing will be rough but safe. No hostile presence was detected at the point of arrival.


    At least that''s something, Leo noted just a moment before he was sent flying. Similar to his first trip using a Void Gate, he crashed into something hard, only this time he had enough experience to quickly stop any further movement.


    That was pleasant. He snorted and stood up. However, just as he did that, something flew straight into him, knocking him back to the ground. To make the situation even worse, it landed right on him.


    "Really? Nyx?" he said to the mass of shadows splattered all over his body. "Can you get off me?"


    Like struck, the feline jumped, landing a few feet away from him. "Forgive me."


    Leo waved her off and rose to his feet again. His night vision flickered to life as he took in the world around them, or rather, the lack of it.


    He and Nyx were standing on a small rocky plateau, surrounded by complete darkness. Sometimes, in the distant space, he noticed flashes of red and violet, but aside from that, night ruled over this dimension.


    And the way back is dead, he commented, inspecting the Void Gate they just came out of. The portal was inactive, and Identify didn''t reveal when that would change.


    Only one way to go from here. He clicked his tongue, turning toward a path of floating rocks. It led right into an opening in a massive chunk of an unknown stone-like material. He tried identifying it, but the System gave him nothing. One thing was for sure, though: this place could easily fit the entire Wolford or two inside it.


    "Ready?" Nyx asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.


    Leo shrugged. "No other choice. Let me check on the Core Shard, and we''re going."


    When the feline gave a nod, he reached into his soul and retrieved the mentioned item. To their surprise, the shard remained dark.


    Still too far. Oh well. He returned the item to safety and pulled onto the energy of Phantom''s Whisper. At the same time, Nyx turned into her smoke form, enveloping his body below the Cloak of True Night.


    Stealth Shroud.


    The final protective layer surrounded his entire form, hiding it from all senses. This would be the ultimate test of stealth. There was no room for mistakes today.


    Leo took a deep breath¡ªor at least tried to; there wasn''t really any normal air here.


    Let''s go.


    As ready as he could be, he jumped from one floating rock to another. Those things didn''t even move when he touched them, so he quickly made his way toward the opening. There, he stopped when the System gifted him another notification.


    Warning! You are approaching the first of three layers of this Nightmare Rift. Reach the Realm Tear to advance to the next layer. The exit from this Rift is waiting at the end of the path. Good Luck.


    If that wasn''t enough, one more message appeared before him a second later. This one froze the blood in his veins once he finished reading.


    Beware! Currently, the Realm Tear of the first layer is inactive. Kill at least 10 denizens of this Rift to begin its activation. The more you kill, the faster the process will become.


    Oh, we''re fucked. Leo summed it up with a chuckle. Our stealth is good, but not that good. Eh¡­ at least it will be fun.


    ''Yes¡­ fun¡­'' Nyx muttered in their link. ''Let''s scout the area first. We can worry about the rest later.''


    True that. With no more delays, Leo stepped into the wide tunnel.


    After only a bit of walking, he reached an exit, one that led into a massive chamber large enough to fit an entire football stadium. Unlike the tunnel, this part of the rift was illuminated by a dim blue glow, all coming from the water strewn around the place.


    Wow...


    Some of the dark liquid flowed down the walls and pillars like waterfalls, while in other places, it just created small ponds. Then, there was the water that floated in the air unsupported, forming entire streams or spirals across the whole chamber while disregarding gravity.


    Leo could see how all those sources linked to each other and how the liquid flowed and spread caustics all across the chamber. To put it simply it was beautiful¡ªor it would be if not for the monsters tainting the view with their presence.


    What even are those things?


    They were blue, just like the water, only darker. If he had to compare them to something, an octopus would be the obvious choice. Similar to the sea creature, the Nightmares possessed about six to eight tentacles attached to one massive head. It was filled with small horns and eyes, dozens of them.


    Upon first glance, those Voidlings seemed harmless and weak. However, once Leo observed them long enough, he spotted something on their tentacles¡ªblades. There were hundreds of them, all scattered over those long limbs, looking ready to pop out and transform the other fleshy bits into something much more dangerous.


    Yeah¡­ Show me what you got, System.


    Trench Bladeform (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Grace, Water, Blade

 Chapter 229. Plan A never works

    D rank with a water and blade type. Now, that¡¯s something we didn¡¯t see before. Leo commented, keeping his gaze glued to the nearest Bladeform. Each of them should technically be stronger than the Myrdrak¡­ and there are seven of them here. Shit.


    ¡®I¡¯m more worried about their unsupported flight,¡¯ Nyx said in their link. ¡®If not for that, I think we could have easily taken two or three of them head-on. But if they can just fly around and hit us with water affinity¡­¡¯


    He grimaced at the thought. Yeah, I see your point¡­ Damn, give me a second; I will check the Bestiary. Maybe there is something we can use there.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Trench Bladeform


    Expected Potential: D- to C-


    Arsenal: Water, Blade form


    Known Weaknesses: Lightning, Eyes


    One of the more popular Nightmares found on ocean worlds. Among Voidlings of the same rank, their speed is almost unmatched upon shifting to their blade form. Their water affinity is also quite well developed for this stage, and they have no problem using it as long as a water source is nearby. Aside from lightning, their most obvious weakness is their eyes. Without them, Trench Bladeforms are completely blind to the world around them, as their other senses never developed past the mortal stage. Please note that all Trench variants can only use their full power near water sources.


    Okay, it might not be as bad as we thought. Leo let out a sigh of relief. With his new class skill, they just might have a fighting chance once shit hit the fan. And he didn¡¯t doubt that sooner or later, it would.


    ¡®What are the odds they won¡¯t notice us if we kill one of them stealthily?¡¯


    With our luck? I bet all of my Ether that the moment one falls, the others will jump into action. It doesn¡¯t matter if they see us or not.


    ¡®But if we¡¯re fast enough, we can still escape,¡¯ Nyx concluded with a hum. ¡®Hit and run could work here pretty well. That is, if we can even kill those things with a single strike.¡¯


    We can. Leo instantly said. They might be fast and have some decent firepower, but they are not the Myrdrak. They are neither armor nor regenerator type. If we strike hard, they will fall.


    ¡®Fine¡­ just don¡¯t tell me you plan to use Ruination on them. It is far too early for that if we got two more layers to go through after this.¡¯


    No. No need for that yet. Spectral Fury and our shadows should do the job well enough. Their rank might be higher than that of the Myrdrak, but I highly doubt they are stronger than that massive thing.


    ¡®Well, it was a nest mother with special typing,¡¯ Nyx pointed out. ¡®And remember what the System said, rank is just a rough estimation.¡¯


    I guess so. He thought dismissively.


    Until he could defeat a monster way above his rank with his strength alone, he would take the System¡¯s words with a grain of salt. There was no reason to become overconfident just because some ancient entity gave him a motivational speech. They might have had a deal, but it never hurt to be careful when confronted with the unknown.


    Let¡¯s scout this entire place first. He decided as he moved toward another tunnel on the other side of the massive chamber. I¡¯m not fighting anything without knowing what is out there. Finding this Realm Tear would be nice too¡­


    <hr>


    With only about thirty-five hours left to find and destroy the Supercluster¡¯s core, Leo didn¡¯t waste any time sightseeing. Yes, this place was beautiful in its own unique way, but he didn¡¯t have time to admire it. He just ran from tunnel to tunnel, from chamber to chamber, only counting the Nightmares in his path and looking for any signs of the Realm Tear.


    He had passed through about five other rooms similar to the first one without finding anything but more Voidlings. Thankfully, at least all of them were of the same subspecies and didn¡¯t rank higher than D. Though he found a few at D- which was a relief in itself. He could definitely kill those without breaking a sweat.


    This place feels different, Leo said internally, his gaze washing over the seventh and final chamber.


    For one, it was much smaller, at most half the size of the other rooms. Despite that, this one definitely had the most water flowing around. Every single surface was covered in it, and the less said about the small lake floating in the middle of the chamber, the better. Leo still had no idea how that even worked.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The Supercluster core is nowhere to be seen, but at least we found the Realm Tear¡­


    Unlike anything else he had seen before, the way to the next layer of the Rift looked like a literal tear in reality. It stood right beneath the floating lake, sometimes crackling with blue sparks.


    Realm Tear:


    A crack in reality capable of transporting creatures between places in the same realm. This Tear is currently inactive and lacking power. Kill at least ten denizens of this layer to begin its activation. Status: 0/10


    So pretty much what we already knew. Leo tsked. It¡¯s time to start hunting th¡ª


    ¡®Wait!¡¯ Nyx cut him off. ¡®Look above the lake, between the rocks. Something is hiding there.¡¯


    He frowned but followed the feline¡¯s order. His gaze scanned the water-covered ceiling, only to stop a moment later, his eye narrowing.


    What in the¡­


    Trench Tempest (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Grace, Water, Lightning


    Is it just me, or does this thing look like an overgrown eel? Leo asked his companion as he continued to watch the Nightmare hidden between the rocks.


    ¡®If by eel you mean this weird serpent-like fish in your memories, then I can see your point. Only the fins don¡¯t match¡­ Why does it need so many?¡¯


    No idea. Maybe to move fast? It is a Grace-type Voidling, after all.


    ¡®Just check the bestiary.¡¯


    Leo held back a snort. Yes, mom.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Trench Tempest


    Expected Potential: D to C+


    Arsenal: Water, Lightning


    Known Weaknesses: Body Structure


    Unarguably the quickest Nightmare subspecies in its power range. Trench Tempest strike fast and strike hard, easily killing their enemies with a single attack. Their dual affinity makes them one of the most dangerous enemies to fight in an ocean world. However, if one can match their speed, the Tempest¡¯s weak body will be unable to defend for long. They are the definition of a glass cannon.


    And suddenly, I am happy I didn¡¯t decide to step inside. He gulped, backing off from the tunnel exit. Pretty sure it would strike the moment it noticed the water on the ground moving without a reason. Good catch, Nyx.


    ¡®We can probably kill it easily,¡¯ the feline said, ignoring his compliment. ¡®With your recent ascension and all enhancing skills, you should be faster.¡¯


    Leo paused, considering her words. Maybe¡­ Let¡¯s leave that for later, though. The Bladeforms still seem easier to kill. We can deal with this one on the way out.


    ¡®Understood.¡¯


    <hr>


    Wait for my call. Leo said as Nyx slid off his body and dived into the surrounding darkness. Even without a stealth skill like his, her smoke form made it almost impossible for her to be discovered in dark areas. Without their link, he wouldn¡¯t know where she was hiding, either.


    ¡®Be quick.¡¯


    After a nod toward the darkness, he dashed for the other side of the third chamber. On the way, he confirmed the position of each Trench Bladeform¡ªfive of them¡ªand slowly allowed his other skills to activate.


    Reinforcement went first, powered up to its limit. Spectral Fury followed although Leo held back the power that created the Spectral Tears. They wanted to at least try to kill those Voidlings without being noticed, and having clones running around wouldn¡¯t help with that.


    Come on, bloodlust, your turn.


    At this call, the mass of rage and hunger in his mind came out on its own, slowly spreading over his body and soul. Relentless Hunger activated, highlighting every monster in sight¡ªone of which was only a few feet away from him.


    Nyx, on three. Kill it and back into darkness. Ready?


    ¡®Always.¡¯


    Then one, two, three! Go!


    Instantly, Leo disappeared from his position in a burst of speed. Still hidden beneath Stealth Shroud, he emerged behind one of the only two Bladeforms that stuck close to the ground.


    His blade surged forward and slid into the monster¡¯s large head before it could even react. For a good measure, he allowed shadows to slither along his arms and dive into open wounds before erupting from within.


    Trench Bladeform (LVL: 67) slain | Experience awarded | 529 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 52. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Holy shit! Nice, but not now! Leo dismissed the notifications and used Blink again.


    All of this happened within a single second, and once the Nightmare¡¯s body fell to the ground, he was already far away. A second later, he received another level-up notification, signaling that Nyx succeeded in killing the weaker, D- rank Bladeform.


    However, as things usually were, nothing could go according to plan A.


    Above him, the three remaining Nightmares released a high-pitched wail. At the same time, their bodies changed as the blades on their tentacles expanded, claiming the entire limbs. And then, the water moved.


    Shit! Leo cursed. Nyx, plan B!


    He didn¡¯t wait for an answer and instead allowed waves of Essence to escape from his body, forcing it to spread over the area. Then he pulled onto the concept of his new skill hiding within the core of his soul and allowed it to overflow him.


    Moonless Night.

 Chapter 230. Quick progress

    Every single bit of light around him got swallowed within a second, as Moonless Night claimed a small part of the chamber for itself. Dark smoke, similar to the one produced by Leo''s shadows, filled the small territory, blocking the ability to see, to hear.


    Not for him, though.


    To Leo, this enhanced darkness was like an old friend, a soft embrace of a mother. Nothing could hide from his sight here, and he didn''t even mean his eyes with that. No, his new skill reported everything that happened within its territory to him. He could pretty much fight with his eyes closed and still see.


    Of course, he wasn''t dumb enough to do that. He needed every advantage he could get for what was coming.


    Speak of the devil¡­


    Leo dodged back as the three remaining Bladeforms dove into his territory. With their constant spinning and arms extended, they looked like shurikens thrown at a supersonic speed. However, he was still faster¡ªor so he thought.


    The Nightmares didn''t stay in Moonless Night for long. They simply escaped on the other side and did another round around the chamber before diving back in. This time, though, they dragged hundreds of gallons of water with them.


    Shit. Not good. Nyx, to me! Walls! He shouted as the feline finally jumped into his territory in her smoke form and attached herself to him. With their minds open to each other, she borrowed his senses, allowing her to see and feel just as well as he did.


    ''On it!''


    A mass of shadows exploded from the ground, enveloping Moonless Night in a tight, thick cocoon. The water coming from all sides crashed into the barrier, each element fighting for the upper hand.


    The same couldn''t be said about the Bladeforms.


    The Nightmares cut through the shadows like a hot knife through butter and began their second assault. This time, they didn''t try to leave and just bounced around the dark territory, hoping to catch their prey.


    Not today.


    With Nyx still controlling the shadow barrier using their combined power, he focused fully on the enemies coming at him. He danced between their blind dives, sometimes avoiding getting cut in two by an inch or less. Those things were fast, and even with his own way above-average speed and home advantage, it was still three against one.


    Leo winced as one of the Bladeforms finally managed to catch him and nick his shoulder. That must have alerted the other two Nightmares as they swerved mid-air and shot right at him. He pushed the pain to the side and Blinked away just before they could touch him.


    As a result, the two monsters crashed into each other, stopping their constant spinning.


    Leo leaned out of the way of the third Nightmare and dashed toward the momentarily confused duo with another Blink. His enhanced blades sliced through one of them, killing it on the spot, while his folded tail stabbed into the head of the other.


    He tried to spin around and deliver a finishing blow, but just then, the only unharmed Bladeform closed on his position. As such, he was forced to abandon his plan and raise his arms to meet the spinning death head-on.


    And so he did.


    The Nightmare struck his blades like a falling star, sending him flying right into the shadow barrier surrounding his territory. It followed after him, not giving him any time to recover. The beast also stopped spinning and attacked him with eight limbs at the same time. They definitely hadn''t lost any of their flexibility despite the bladed form.


    Leo did his best to defend as he gathered his bearings, blocking what he could block and dodging what he couldn''t. Despite his best effort, the Bladeform scored a few hits initially, slicing through his scales and reaching the flesh beneath them.


    The wounds stung, boiling his blood. Yet, he didn''t give in to the pain and instead fueled it into bloodlust that drank the powerful emotion like a man stranded in the desert. His power spiked as Relentless Hunger ignited with renewed fire.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Spectral Fury reactivated at full power, and this time around, each clash of blades left a familiar tear behind. Those soon exploded, releasing the clones that instantly pounced at their new target.


    The Bladeform tried to fight back, but not even its eight limbs could defend from tens of specters and their creator. The tides had turned, and Leo caught one of the tentacles within the chaos in a tight grip. The beast screeched as he pulled it forward but could do nothing when his blade struck its unprotected head.


    And dead. Where is the last one?


    His additional sense coming from Moonless Night quickly pointed toward the middle of his territory. Leo frowned and turned his gaze in that direction.


    Would you look at that¡­ He chuckled as he watched the Bladeform crawl along the ground. It left a wide trail of blood in its wake. His tail must have gone deeper than he had thought and almost killed the thing in a single strike.


    Oh well. Leo canceled all of his skills, sighing in relief when the drain on his Essence disappeared. Supporting so many abilities at the same time and at that high intensity drained over half of his reserves in this short time. You can drop the barrier, Nyx.


    ''Wha¡­ It''s over?''


    The frown returned to his face. "You didn''t see any of what happened? How?"


    The feline materialized next to him and instantly laid down. As she did that, the dome of shadows faded, allowing water to wash over them. There was enough of it to flood the entire chamber up to Leo''s knees.


    "See that?" Nyx asked, uncaring of the liquid around her. "Those stupid fishes were constantly attacking my barrier with all that. I had to push my shadow control way past its limit," she whined. "My poor head. It hurts¡­"


    Right¡­ He winced and quickly approached the half-dead Bladeform. He stabbed its head and threw the corpse toward Nyx. "Consume it. Hopefully, it will make you feel better."


    The feline didn''t need any more encouragement as she dug into her new meal. Leo ignored the loud tearing of flesh that filled the chamber and went to find the other corpses. Devour made quick work of them, filling his soul with some Essence and speeding up the healing of the multiple cuts he gathered during the fight.


    From now on, I''m always keeping Spectral Fury at full power. Trying to do this stealthily was a mistake.


    He shook his head with a sigh and leaned against one of the many stone pillars around the chamber. Then, he allowed the System messages to come out.


    Devour consumed: +5 Might, + 9 Grace, +12 Mind, +9 Soul.


    Nice, it''s been a while since I got anything. A lot of Mind too¡­ very good.


    Trench Bladeform (LVL: 57) slain | Experience awarded | 432 Ether gained


    Trench Bladeform (LVL: 68) slain | Experience awarded | 553 Ether gained


    Trench Bladeform (LVL: 67) slain | Experience awarded | 494 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 57. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Leo whistled. He had expected a lot after gaining three levels from the first two stealth kills, but to get seven in total? No, that was even beyond his imagination. Though considering how three of those Bladeforms were over ten levels above him, maybe he shouldn''t be surprised.


    I''m definitely not complaining.


    Congratulation! Your Soul has ascended past the Supernatural Tier (500). Second Transcended Tier obtained. The effectiveness of all Soul-dependent skills has been enhanced. Life span greatly improved. Releasing your power is now stifling for any creature with Mortal Tier Soul. Be careful.


    Already? Only took seven levels for another one¡­ He scratched his chin before shrugging and dismissing the notification.


    As welcome as the second ascension was, it didn''t affect him as much as the first one. Sure, the extended life span was nice, and he already felt the sheer potency of his Essence growing beyond what he thought was possible. However, even before this, no creature on his level could match his soul''s power.


    His title of Prime Akirian and Void''s Heir made sure of that.


    Though, it''s good to know that I need to be careful around the civilians now. His gaze then turned to Nyx¡ªwho just finished her meal¡ªand out of curiosity, he activated Identify.


    Apex Indomitus Nargon | LVL: 54


    Not bad, not bad at all. Leo smiled.


    "Nyx!" he called out, getting her to turn to him. "What''s your rank now? Did you get an ascension?"


    "D-, just like you and my Grace just ascended with the last level up. Oh, and"¡ªshe perked up¡ª"my evolution also went through maturity at level fifty. I''m getting only a few less attributes than you now."


    Leo nodded. "I guess that''s to be expected. The same thing happened when my class advanced after all¡­ Anyway, how you feeling now?"


    "Better. I should be fine in a few."


    "Good, because we''re killing everything on this layer. Fast."

 Chapter 231. Partial recovery

    "Are you mad?" Nyx shot him a firm look. "We don''t have time for that. We''re here for the core. Or did you already forget that?"


    "I didn''t," Leo growled. "But can''t you see it? This is our chance to even the odds. This layer might be easy to pass, but what about the second or the third one? What if Nightmares there are so powerful that we won''t be able to even scratch them? We need this, Nyx. We''re both already so much stronger than we were not even an hour ago."


    The feline held his gaze for a bit longer before turning away with a huff. "Fine, but we need to be fast. You said it yourself, this layer is simple, but the next one might take us hours for all we know."


    He nodded. "I''m well aware of that. Take ten more minutes to recover, and let''s move out. I have an idea."


    "Now you have me worried¡­"


    <hr>


    "I''m going in. Let me know when you''re ready," Nyx said as she detached herself from his body.


    "Go on," Leo answered. "I need another minute or two at worst."


    The feline nodded and sprinted away, leaving him alone in the long tunnel¡ªwell, almost alone. On each side, he was surrounded by dozens of shadow minions, all of them taking shapes similar to a Crawler. He and Nyx had spent the last ten minutes crafting them with their combined power.


    Should be more than enough for the next chamber. He mused, silently ordering all of his creations to take positions on the tunnel walls. With that done, he focused on the next stage of his plan.


    A small piece of his soul surged into his body with naught but a weak tug. Shadow Essence followed right after, slowly covering his form in thick armor and activating the vital part of the Manifestation technique.


    All right, and now the final step. Crouching down, Leo closed his eyes and stabbed his claws into the ground beneath him. More of his Essence spilled out, connecting to every shadow inside the tunnel. He left no surface untouched, taking it all under his control.


    However, he wasn''t done yet¡ªfar from it.


    With Resonance established and Manifestation active, the control and power of his affinity skyrocketed. He flooded the tunnel''s walls with shadows, pushing over half of his reserves into this move.


    Once this Essence settled, he carefully shaped it into Eruptions, one after another. His bloodlust even helped in the process, providing its hate and hunger for those techniques to make them even stronger. Their newfound partnership was really paying dividends.


    And¡­ done. Leo opened his eyes and stood up.


    Aside from the addition of shadow Crawlers spread along the walls, the tunnel didn''t look all that different. Yet, if one were to squint hard enough, they would have noticed the masses of shadows lying in wait, ready to kill anything that came close.


    Nyx, everything''s ready on my side. He called through the link. You can proceed.


    ''Understood. Be there in a few. You will hear us. Don''t miss the timing.''


    Never. Leo vowed and grabbed the mental leash of his techniques and shadow minions. A few seconds later, muffled wails reached his ears. There we go.


    In her smoke form, Nyx appeared at the end of the tunnel with six Bladeforms hot on her tail. Thanks to her recent ascension, she was creating more and more distance between her pursuers, which was just what they needed.


    Three. Two. One. Now!


    At once, Leo released the hold on his techniques and minions. Spikes, tendrils, and even makeshift limbs erupted all over the tunnel. The shadow Crawlers also pounced, going straight for the Nightmares that flew by them.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    It was chaos, pure chaos. The spinning Bladeforms tried to cut through everything in their way, hoping to reach Nyx, but they just couldn''t go on forever. Even Nightmares had limits, and the constant assault from each side was putting them to the test.


    Halfway on their way to Leo, their forward momentum died, stopping their deadly spin. He pushed more Essence into his techniques and watched as another wave of Eruptions assaulted the group. The Nightmares still defended, flexing their bodies in ways he couldn''t even imagine.


    Yet, in the long run, it didn''t matter. Bit by bit, his shadows ripped the Bladeforms apart. Leo didn''t even have to join in. He simply orchestrated his creations from afar. At the same time, he fueled more and more Essence into the shadow wall behind the battlefield, just near the end of the tunnel.


    After all, he couldn''t allow any water to come here and bail out his prey. Though going by the almost unnoticeable pressure on the wall, this group of Nightmares didn''t bring too much elemental support with them.


    A mistake on their part.


    All of that, however, didn''t stop Nyx from jumping into the fray. She sliced and diced with her claws and tail, weaving through the battlefield like a dancer. Sometimes, she took control of his shadows to support her, and he allowed it. After her role in the last battle, she deserved a little fun.


    And so, one by one, the Trench Bladeforms fell. Once only three remained, Leo ordered the feline to back off and took command over all the shadows in the room.


    In a single move, he created two massive waves that crashed into the Nightmares from opposite sides, burying them alive. He could feel their struggle, how they tried to cut their way out, but it was all for naught. With one more push, his affinity thickened and crushed them into broken pieces.


    "And done¡­" he muttered, releasing the hold on his skills.


    The shadows faded all around, revealing the Nightmares'' bloodied and broken corpses. The moment his gaze fell on them, Leo realized that he might have underestimated the effects of his Soul ascension. Beforehand, his affinity had nowhere near enough strength to crush his enemies like that¡ªat least not ones who had a higher level than him.


    His shadows were a wonderful tool for creation and setting up traps, but they always lacked power and durability. Now, it seemed, that had changed too, thanks to the ascension.


    Though, I still had to sacrifice a lot of Essence to do all of this. I really need to work on advancing my shadow affinity once I get back. I''ve been delaying it for too long.


    Leo sighed and dismissed those ideas for the time being. He had much better stuff to take care of now.


    How much did we get this time?


    Multiple enemies slain | Experience awarded | 2573 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 60. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Three levels from six Nightmares. He hummed. It''s obviously slowing down¡­ Still, more than worth it anyway. Took us only about twenty minutes to prepare and finish the job. Pretty good if I say so¡­


    He glanced at Nyx and quickly checked her level. Similar, she also received quite the boost, only in her case, she jumped right to level fifty-eight. This was probably the smallest gap between them since they met.


    This Void Rift really is a blessing in disguise. Well¡­ at least for now. Leo corrected himself. It was best not to jinx it after so much success in a row. Not that he expected his good fortune to continue for too long. He knew better than that.


    He shook his head and was about to speak, but before a single word could leave his mouth, another System notification arrived.


    Congratulations! Your Might has ascended past the Supernatural Tier (500). Third Transcended Tier obtained. Healing factor enhanced. Natural durability and vitality enhanced.


    To be honest, Leo had forgotten that his Might''s ascension was this close. With so much progress in less than an hour, keeping track of everything became a bit hard. He didn''t remember a time he gained so many levels in this short amount of time.


    And then there is also this, he thought, glancing at the unexpected addition to the ascension announcement.


    Leo Hale, I intercepted one of your automated notifications. My message to you is simple. Thanks to your last two ascensions, you should be able to handle a bit more Ruination if necessary. Your lifeforce is still quite weak due to past overuse, but it is much better than before. Right now, you have two, maybe three, full-powered Obliterate techniques in you.


    With that, the message ended, pulling his thoughts to an almost complete stop. He didn''t expect to hear from the System until he found another link to the Main core. Obviously, the entity found another way around its restriction.


    For a good reason, too.


    During their last meeting, he was strictly ordered against using his most powerful technique. According to the System, it would have crippled or maybe even killed him. So, to hear he could use it again was a relief.


    The ace up his sleeve was back.

 Chapter 232. Lunch break

    "Leo?" Nyx said, coming forward and nudging him with her snout. "Is everything good? You froze there for a moment."


    "Better than good," he grinned. "The System contacted me. I can use Ruination again¡­ well, at least more than before. Our chances of surviving the next two layers just rose significantly."


    The feline tilted her head. "Contacted you? How?"


    "Intercepted one of my notifications and added a note below it. Looks like we have our own guardian angel now."


    Nyx snorted. "More like a personal stalker. It isn''t doing much guarding for now."


    "At this point, I will take whatever it can give, even if it''s just a passive support like that message," he shrugged, summoning his status. "Huh. Would you look at that¡­ I''m already at full D rank, no minus."


    The feline bumped into him as she approached one of the Nightmare corpses. "Don''t sound so surprised. With so many attribute effectiveness boosts, it was only a matter of time before this happened¡­ Now, can we finally eat? Stop wasting time."


    That got Leo to move. "Wait! I want to harvest a few body parts first."


    "Oh? Found another mutation you want?"


    He nodded. "Final two from the Gamma tier. The rest is pretty useless for me. Gotta wait for Beta ones afterward."


    "With the speed we''re going, it won''t be long."


    "Maybe¡­" he said dismissively as he cut into the nearest corpse. "You can help, you know? Check their hearts while I gather the limbs. I need at least ten of each. They need to be whole, not crushed into a paste."


    "Fine, fine¡­"


    <hr>


    The Bladeform stilled in his grip, its wails going silent. Leo clicked his tongue, letting the beast fall. He flicked the blood off his blades and turned away to inspect the rest of the battlefield.


    Water filled the entire chamber, this time almost reaching his waist. However, there was no one to command it any longer. All of the Nightmares¡ªalmost a dozen of them¡ªlay dead, their corpses drifting in the waters and slowly painting it in red.


    Even in an open battle without any traps or earlier preparations, the Trench Bladeforms stood no chance against Leo and Nyx. The constant water attacks from all sides made the fight harder, but at this point, everything the Nightmares did was just too slow and too weak. Not even their number advantage could save them.


    "That went well," he muttered with a small smile. He could feel the few injuries he gathered during the battle already healing. "Only the Trench Tempest remains now."


    Before entertaining any of the new System notifications, he went from corpse to corpse, devouring them. He also spotted Nyx doing the same, already claiming two bodies for herself. Though, with how much Essence she used here, she would probably need another one to fully recover.


    I will leave this one, then. Leo decided and pushed the corpse before him toward the feline. Afterward, he returned to his task, gathering two more Greater Crystallized Essences, one Water Core, and even a single Eternal Heart from the dead beasts.


    While he didn''t have much use for the elemental cores¡ªat least not now¡ªthe other two items were real treasures. He had already run a few tests, and a single Greater Crystallized Essence could create an explosion almost equal to the bomb made by survivors in London. Even if he didn''t use them in the next layers, the people back on Earth would definitely be happy to get a few.


    As for the Eternal Heart? Those were free attribute points, and unlike its inferior variant, the chance of getting them was higher. By how much? He had no idea, but it didn''t matter. As long as he got something from the small stash inside his soul, he would be happy.


    "Nyx!" he called out. "I''m going back to the tunnel. Find me once you finish here."


    ''I will,'' she responded in their bond. Her mouth was currently busy with a big chunk of a fallen Bladeform.


    Glutton. Leo shook his head, heading toward the nearest tunnel. You remember you have a skill for faster consumption, right? You really don''t need to eat them all piece by piece.Stolen novel; please report.


    The feline huffed internally. ''You wouldn''t understand.''


    I don''t think I want to. He rolled his eyes and closed the link. Let''s see¡­


    Multiple enemies slain | Bonus Experience awarded | 4385 Ether gained.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 68. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Two levels. Nice. Thought I would get only one. Must have been close to the previous level up then. He concluded in his head and called forth the next notification.


    Devour consumed: +2 Might, +1 Grace, +3 Vision, +2 Soul.


    Less and less than before. Can''t complain, though. I''m still getting something, after all.


    Congratulations! Your Mind has ascended past the Supernatural Tier (500). Fourth Transcended Tier obtained. The effectiveness of all Mind-dependent skills has been enhanced. Your natural resistance against mental attacks has been improved.


    There we go. Leo smiled. Only Vision remains now, and it''s close to the breakthrough, too. A level or two should be enough.


    Yet, despite the good news, he couldn''t help but worry a little. This was the first time the System ever mentioned something about mental warfare. Similar, he also never even thought about it¡ªthere was too much other stuff to consider first.


    Hopefully, Naz''Tor can help. Leaving my mind unprotected is a big no. Might as well ask about soul protection while I''m at it. If two pillars can be attacked directly, the third one probably can, too.


    He nodded and added this to his mental to-do list. It was getting longer and longer with each day, but there wasn''t much he could do about it now.


    And final notification.


    Congratulations! Task, Extermination: Nightmares (LVL 50+) finished successfully. Do you wish to receive your rewards now?


    Yep.


    Distributing task rewards. 10000 Ether awarded. Bonus experience transferred. One small bundle of Inferior Eternal Hearts and one Inferior Ether Grenade has been delivered to your Soulscape.


    Wonderful. The grin returned to his face. All this for killing thirty-five Nightmares sounded like a great deal. I''m so glad Nyx reminded me to accept a new task¡­


    He reached into his soul and summoned one of his new items. It appeared in his hand in a bright flash, washing the entire tunnel in a golden glow.


    Ouch? He winced, glaring at the perfectly round, yellow orb in his palm. It couldn''t be bigger than a basketball but weighed at least ten times as much.


    Inferior Ether Grenade (Uncommon):


    A simple System-made explosive filled with processed Ether. To activate it, infuse it with some Essence and throw it at your target. Please don''t stand too close to the explosion radius, or the wave of Ethereal fire may harm you. Works best against: Nightmares and other natural denizens of the Void.


    Simple, I like it, Leo summed up and returned the grenade to his soul. He doubted the item would survive the rest of his journey through this rift.


    He walked for a bit more, passing another empty chamber and entering the next tunnel. There, he finally stopped and sat down. Only the Trench Tempest waited ahead, and he still wanted to consume the Eternal Hearts before going there.


    Okay, what do we have¡­


    In another flash¡ªa much weaker one than before¡ªnine black and still beating hearts landed on the floor before him. Four of them were slightly larger and somewhat less deformed but still as disgusting as the rest.


    Well... it''s dinner time.


    Slowly, Leo took one of the smaller hearts¡ªthe inferior one¡ªand placed it inside his mouth. Then, like ripping off the band-aid, he swallowed it whole. For a few seconds, nothing happened. He didn''t feel or taste anything. It was like he had never consumed the heart.


    Thankfully, the System came to the rescue.


    Inferior Eternal Heart devoured. No attributes gained.


    Of course¡­ Can''t be too lucky, after all. He frowned and grabbed the next heart. This time, he decided to bite it out of pure curiosity, nothing more.


    Huh. Not bad, he admitted as he continued to chew. While far from the level of some restaurant dishes, it easily beat a random frozen food from a local supermarket. Not pizza, though.


    Yet, despite the surprisingly good taste, the System again delivered the same notification. His frown furrowed as he swallowed another heart.


    Inferior Eternal Heart devoured. +5 Vision, +4 Mind.


    Much better. With that, he threw the remaining two smaller hearts into his mouth. And¡­ nothing. One out of five. Could have gone better¡­


    Finally, Leo grabbed the first normal Eternal Heart and bit right into it.


    Now, this one is almost as good as frozen pizza.


    Eternal Heart devoured. +4 Might, +2 Grace, +3 Vision, +2 Soul.


    Another one.


    Eternal Heart devoured. +1 Might, +4 Grace, +2 Vision, +1 Mind.


    And one more.


    Eternal Heart devoured. +5 Grace, +3 Vision, +5 Soul. Warning! Your body cannot handle any more toxicity. Please refrain from consuming any unprocessed items for at least two weeks.


    Dammit¡­

 Chapter 233. Faster

    Toxicity¡­


    Now, that was something Leo didn''t think he would need to worry about ever again. At least not when it came to the food he ate. His body was way beyond mortal limits, so to find out that stuff like that could still hurt him was slightly surprising. However, he also blamed the System for not attaching a warning about toxicity to the Eternal Heart''s description.


    Oh well, it''s not like I can complain. He picked up the last black heart. I got more than I expected anyway.


    Before he could place it back inside his soul, Nyx stepped into the tunnel, her gaze instantly falling on the Eternal Heart. Her ears perked up as she trotted faster to him.


    "You''re finally eating them. How are they?" she asked.


    Leo shrugged. "Got some attributes, but apparently, those things are toxic for your body. I got a System warning saying I should stop." He motioned to the remaining heart. "You want it? For some reason, they taste very good."


    Nyx''s tail went up, its three ends waggling excitedly. "Throw it!"


    He chuckled but did as was told. The beating heart went flying, and the feline jumped, snatching it mid-air. She chewed it for a moment before swallowing visibly.


    "You were right. It''s good, much better than any of the Nightmares I had today." She licked her snout. "I want more."


    "Sure. I can''t consume any more anyway. They are all yours." He patted her head after standing up. "Did you even get any attributes?"


    Nyx nodded. "Quite a few. Now I need only one level instead of two for the third ascension."


    "Then let''s go get it. Our last prey is waiting for us."


    With that, they started toward the final chamber in this layer of the Void Rift. They didn''t use any stealth abilities, nor did they want to. Even if the Trench Tempest was stronger than the other Nightmares here, it stood no chance against Leo and Nyx¡ªnot after they gained so many levels in such a short time.


    "There we are." Leo stopped just before they could leave the tunnel. "Let me do it alone, okay? I want to try something."


    The feline hesitated but nodded after a moment. "I will step in if necessary."


    He shot her a smile. "Of course."


    As Nyx stepped back, Leo activated Reinforcement at full power. His bloodlust also spiked, but only just a bit. He didn''t need its rage for what he had planned. He wanted to check how he matched up against the Tempest''s speed without all his enhancing skills.


    Here we go. After taking a deep breath, he stepped into the final chamber. His feet landed in the water, the splash instantly alerting the Nightmare hiding somewhere on the ceiling.


    Leo didn''t look up, though, and acted as if he was unaware of the danger lurking in the dark. The bait obviously worked, and a moment later, his ears picked up a very silent crackling of lightning. Anyone with a weaker Vision attribute than him would have missed it.


    Bingo. He stopped almost in the middle of the chamber. The crackling got a bit louder, and he leaned to the side just in time to avoid a falling star covered in lightning coming right at him. Only this wasn''t all he did.


    His left hand, covered in shadows, and Valron Protection surged forward, snatching the creature hidden beneath the shroud of lightning mid-air. Despite all of that protection, the scales on his arms still cracked, so he quickly moved on to the next stage of his plan.


    The blade on his other arm snapped out and went right for the Nightmare''s head. At the same time, the water across the entire chamber moved while the lightning along the beast''s body began to burn brighter.


    Only it was too late.


    Leo''s blade found its mark, cutting through flesh and bones without any resistance. The Trench Tempest stilled, slumping in his grasp as the final spark of its affinity flickered out. The water all around also fell silent, reclaiming its previous peace.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Now that was anticlimactic," Nyx''s voice filled the chamber as she approached his position. "When you said you wanted to try something, I expected more."


    Leo shrugged. "What can I say? Apparently, the fastest Nightmare in its rank doesn''t mean much¡ªat least not against me."


    "You wanted to test who is faster? Really?" The feline gave him an exasperated look. "You could have just asked me. It''s obvious nothing here can match your speed. That''s your main attribute."


    "Who is the one ruining the fun now?"


    "I''m just saying."


    Leo rolled his eyes. "You spent too much time with Lily. Soon, I won''t be able to tell you two apart."


    Nyx chuckled but didn''t say anything else. He sighed and turned back to the corpse in his hand. Devour activated and quickly turned it into dust. However, the Nightmare decided to leave a final gift for him.


    "Another core?" he muttered, snatching the long crystal before it could fall to the ground.


    Unlike any other, this one was rough around the edges and unpolished. The only thing pointing toward its value was the blue spark of lightning crackling within the shard. Leo fired off an Identify.


    Lightning Core (Rare):


    An elemental core of average power harvested from a fledging Trench Tempest. This item can be used in a wide variety of jobs. Its high-quality elemental energy can also be a perfect tool for those seeking to develop Lightning affinity. Please be warned that affinity cores can easily destabilize and lose their value.


    Leo glanced at the six floaters on his back and hummed. I just might have a use for you soon.


    Once the Lightning Core was safe in his soul, he called for the System notifications. There were quite a few waiting for him.


    Trench Tempest (LVL: 72) slain | Experience awarded | 642 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 69. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Huh. It was weaker than I thought. With an entire room for one Nightmare, I expected at least something close to level eighty. Oh, whatever¡­


    Congratulations! Your Vision has ascended past the Supernatural Tier (500). Fifth Transcended Tier obtained. The effectiveness of all Vision-dependent skills has been greatly enhanced. Passive Void Essence absorption has been enhanced.


    For the first time since the Transcended ascensions began, Leo instantly felt the difference in his senses. His night vision improved even more, returning some normal colors to the world despite the lack of a good light source. His ears also started to pick up a thrum of water, and not from this room, but the one located on the other side of the tunnel he had just come from.


    His ability to sense the Essence around him also improved. If he focused just a bit, he could now see how the energy of the Void clung to him before getting absorbed by his body.


    This will take some getting used to. He grimaced, trying to silence all the unimportant feedback from his senses. There was just a bit too much useless information for his liking. Maybe it could be useful if he was trying to find someone or something, but not now.


    Much better. He sighed as the world around him quietened. Now, what else do you have for me?


    Due to achieving the second ascension with all your attributes, you have been awarded the Perfect Transcendent title. Effects combined into Void''s Heir. Displaying now.


    Void''s Heir:


    You were crowned as the legacy of the first daughter, but now the Void has chosen you as its heir. The time has come to prove if you are worthy of this title. Stand proud, stand strong. Evolve and thrive.


    Stacked Effects:


    The Void''s true power now flows through your soul and veins. Most Voidlings of lower rank won''t be outright hostile, and some may even follow your orders. Night Hunters and related evolution paths are for you to command. Hostile Identify will fail if the enemy hasn''t ascended to the Transcended Tier at least once. All Effectiveness: +20%.


    So, will this happen after every full ascension? Leo shrugged. I''m all for it then.


    He dismissed the System and turned his gaze toward the Realm Tear. Unlike the first time he saw it, now the crack in reality became wider, and its blue sparks were much more active. A quick Identify confirmed that it could transport him to the next layer. He just had to step through.


    "No time like the present," he muttered and looked at Nyx. "Ready?"


    "Stealth?"


    Leo nodded. "Good idea. Come on."


    As the feline turned into smoke and enveloped his body, he summoned his cloak out of his soul. Then he activated Stealth Shroud and approached the Realm Tear.


    Here we go. He thought and took the final step.


    The change was instantaneous. One moment, he was in the water caves, and in another, he was standing on another small plateau, once more surrounded by almost complete darkness¡ªnot really.


    Leo gulped as he scanned the land ahead.


    Nyx? We might have a problem.

 Chapter 234. Second Layer

    ¡®For once, I have to agree¡­¡¯ Nyx muttered as she separated from his body. ¡®Is this¡­ lava?¡¯


    Leo nodded slowly. A very, very hot lava¡­ I¡¯m not the only one sweating here, right? We aren¡¯t even close, and still¡­


    ¡®And that¡¯s not even the biggest issue.¡¯


    And here lay the problem, as Nyx was right. The rivers of lava in the distance weren¡¯t that problematic in the long run. They could avoid them after all. No, the actual issue was the layout of this rift layer. It was as if someone had created this place just to spite him.


    Floating islands¡­


    There were tens of them, some hanging lower, some higher. This time around, the only bridges between them existed in the form of the lava rivers. Like the water in the last layer, those also completely ignored gravity and remained connected through the endless empty space.


    Thus, the big problem.


    Nyx might be able to fly, but Leo? He didn¡¯t fancy a swim in lava, and his floaters were far from great. At most, they allowed him to glide for a bit, and with the distances between those islands, that was far from enough.


    Hell, even if his weird lightning wings could carry him that far, he would have to kiss his stealth goodbye. There was no way the creatures here could miss the crackling light of his wings. Stealth Shroud just wasn¡¯t that powerful, not even with the new item.


    More fighting it is, then. Leo sighed, glancing at one of the Voidling flying above the nearest floating island.


    It resembled some of the demon-like creatures he had seen countless times in movies and TV shows¡ªa humanoid figure with bat-like wings and claws instead of normal fingers. The only real differences were its skin¡ªdark gray rather than angry red¡ªand a fiery, organic weapon strapped to its back.


    From this distance, he couldn¡¯t quite make out what the weapon was. Similarly, gauging the creature¡¯s exact size seemed as tricky. If he had to guess, though, it probably wasn¡¯t much smaller than him¡ªif at all.


    All in all, the Voidling didn¡¯t look that special. Only the weapon on its back made him wary. It was the first time he saw a monster with a blade that wasn¡¯t attached to their bodies.


    So what are you?


    Lesser Infernal Daemon (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D- | LVL: N/A |Type: Nightmare, Fire, Normal


    Leo furrowed his brow. This wasn¡¯t what he expected. For a beast with such a dangerous appearance, it seemed weak, underwhelming even. For a moment, he even felt disappointed, but then common sense kicked in and made him realize this was actually a good sign.


    After all, weak monsters meant fewer problems while crossing from island to island.


    All right, show me what is under the hood, System.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Lesser Infernal Daemon


    Expected Potential: D- to D+


    Arsenal: Fire, Origin Weapon


    Known Weaknesses: Wings


    Lesser Infernal Daemon is one of the few Nightmare-type Voidlings found on magma worlds. Within this power range, they belong to a small group that managed to develop a slightly higher level of intelligence. Thanks to that, they are capable of wielding their Origin Weapons with moderate skill. Infernal Daemons don¡¯t have any obvious weaknesses, but they also don¡¯t excel at anything. By all means, this evolution path creates some of the most well-rounded Nightmares.


    Ah! So that¡¯s why they appear weak at first glance. Leo hummed, scanning the Daemons flying in the distance. They are intelligent¡­ or well, at least more than your average Voidling. Now I kinda can¡¯t wait to fight them.


    ¡®Focus,¡¯ Nyx grumbled, slapping the back of his head with her tail. ¡®We have a core to find.¡¯


    Right¡­ Sorry.


    Quickly, he reached into his soul and took out the Core Shard. However, just like on the entire previous layer, this time, the small crystal also couldn¡¯t detect anything. Either they were still too far, or the Supercluster core was on the third and final layer.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Knowing my luck, the second option is most likely true. Not everything can be easy. He shrugged. Okay, so how do we get to the last layer? System? Anyt¡ªOh. There it is.


    Beware! Currently, the Realm Tear of the second layer is sealed. Defeat the guardian of this realm and destroy two sealing pillars located inside the hatcheries to unseal it. Good luck.


    Search and destroy this time around, Nyx. He informed his companion. This will definitely take longer than the last layer.


    The feline frowned. ¡®Do you think you can find those pillars with Hunter¡¯s Pulse? There are way too many of those islands to search them all.¡¯


    Without any idea how they even feel? Leo shook his head. No way. We got to find one of them first. Then I can try.


    ¡®Better than nothing, I guess.¡¯ She turned to look at the nearest floating island. ¡®What do you want to do, Leo? Can you jump and then glide the rest of the distance?¡¯


    He approached the edge of their plateau and then glanced at the far-off island with a grimace. Maybe? Not sure if I want to find out if my maybe is enough though.


    ¡®Yeah¡­ Me neither. I will carry you then.¡¯


    Leo turned so fast that he almost snapped his neck. What? Are you mad?


    Nyx shot him a bored look. ¡®Do you have any better idea? It is either that or you do a jump of faith. You tell me which option is more likely to make you fall into the void below us.¡¯


    He flinched and averted his gaze. Even with all of his enhancing skills active, he wasn¡¯t one hundred percent sure he could make this jump. However, the other choice also wasn¡¯t that simple.


    Can you even carry me?


    Nyx snorted. ¡®You¡¯re not that heavy. I¡¯m more worried about the Nightmares. Stealth is a no-go if we go with my plan.¡¯


    I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re even thinking about this, but fine. Let¡¯s try it¡­ I will take care of any Voidlings that come close. You focus on getting us to safety.


    ¡®Very well. Can you kneel? I need to grab you somehow.¡¯


    Leo sighed but did as was asked. Nyx took it as a sign and jumped, grabbing his arms with her hind legs mid-air. Then she spread her wings and pushed them off the plateau.


    ¡®Scratch that. You are heavy!¡¯ the feline hissed as she fought to keep them from falling into the abyss. ¡®Activate your wings! Maybe they will help a bit.¡¯


    Way ahead of you! He answered just as lightning erupted from his floaters. A moment later, tiny elemental wings formed on his back, stabilizing their flight.


    ¡®Much better,¡¯ Nyx said, and he could hear the relief in her voice. ¡®We have company though!¡¯


    On it!


    Shadows exploded out of his body, covering his and the feline¡¯s form in thin armor. It was far from perfect, but he had never thought he would need to use Manifestation on someone other than him. Yet another thing to work on later on.


    As the single Lesser Infernal Daemon neared their position, it grabbed the weapon from its back¡ªa wide greatsword covered in liquid fire. Leo didn¡¯t wait for the beast to attack and struck first, sending dozens of shadow spikes at it.


    The beast growled and, with one mighty swing, released a wave of fire that swallowed most of the projectiles. However, a few still managed to get through and sink into the monster¡¯s flesh.


    Sorry, my soul is stronger.


    Despite the injuries, the Nightmare still tried to come closer, but Leo just kept on his assault. Not even the appearance of another Daemon changed the tides of the battle. They might be more intelligent and wielded fire with some proficiency, but they were no match for the power burning inside his soul.


    ¡®Leo, we are close. You should be able to glide the rest of the way.¡¯


    He glanced down and, indeed, a floating island the size of a couple of football stadiums was getting closer and closer. He released his hold on Manifestation and answered through their link.


    Good! Drop me. I will take the one on our left with me. You take the other.


    ¡®Got it.¡¯


    The pressure around his arms disappeared, and Leo shifted his tiny wings to carry him right at his target. The Nightmare thankfully met the charge head-on.


    With Spectral Fury active, he batted away the fiery greatsword and plunged his other blade into the beast¡¯s chest. It screeched, its body catching fire, but Leo held on, waiting for the inevitable to happen.


    And it did. Not even a second later, a specter of him appeared at his side and sliced into the Daemon¡¯s neck. Its fire flickered out, and its body turned to dust within the blink of an eye.


    Lesser Infernal Daemon (LVL: 59) slain | Experience awarded | 358 Ether gained


    So weak¡­ At least the free Ether is nice.


    Above him, he spotted Nyx finishing her own target, so he averted his gaze and focused on his landing.


    It didn¡¯t go too well.


    Incapable of slowing down his descent more than he already did, Leo crashed into the rocky island. He smashed past some kind of stone trees covered in fire and continued downward until the ground finally stopped him.


    I hate those wings. He thought with a groan.

 Chapter 235. First steps

    "Rough landing?" Nyx snickered as she stopped next to him. "Maybe I shouldn''t have let you go."


    Leo scowled, shooting her a glare. "Very funny¡­ Not all of us were blessed with perfect wings."


    The feline just laughed again and offered him a shadow tendril to pull him up. He took it and jumped to his feet, quickly swiping the dust from his body.


    "Have you seen anything interesting on your way down?" he asked. "I didn''t have much time to look."


    "Lava, rocks, and fire¡­ Oh! And three Daemons sleeping by the river close to the edge of the island."


    Leo frowned. "They didn''t wake up when we fought their kin? Weird¡­ I have noticed this before, but Nightmares here function completely differently than back on Earth. No idea why, though."


    "Does it matter?" Nyx asked as they moved through the stone forest toward the lava river.


    He shrugged. "Not really. It just makes me curious, that''s all."


    "Curiosity killed the cat," she shot back. Then she realized what she said and narrowed her eyes at him. "Don''t you dare."


    Leo raised his hands, holding back a grin. "I didn''t say anything. It''s just your imagination."


    She snorted. "Try lying to someone who isn''t permanently connected to your mind."


    He opened his mouth to retort, only to close it again. She got me there¡­


    "Yes, I do¡­ Now get to work and do your thing."


    "All right, all right. Give me a moment."


    With that said, Leo crouched down and placed his hands on the ground. Essence stirred within his soul, slowly flowing into his arms. As it did that, he supplied it with a quite vague intent. After all, he didn''t really know what he was searching for.


    There we go, he thought as the Hunter''s Pulse escaped out of his hands. With the amount of Essence he provided, it easily encompassed the entire floating island, both the land and what was beneath it.


    A moment later, the skill snapped back, delivering its findings¡ªwhich pretty much amounted to nothing. All it found were the Nightmares sleeping in the distance.


    Let''s try again just to make sure, he decided and fired off another Hunter''s Pulse. Yet, this time, he made it search only for any signs of life deep inside the island.


    "Still nothing." He sighed, standing up. "Either this place is empty, or my skill is more useless here than I thought."


    Nyx nodded. "And which do you think is the case?"


    "Hopefully, the former. After my first trial, finding Essence signatures even from far away shouldn''t be a problem." He paused for a moment as realization struck him like lightning. "Unless those hatcheries are somehow hidden from my pulse¡­ Then we''re fucked."


    Even the feline grimaced at that. True, they still had almost thirty-four hours left before the System''s seal broke and the Earth was lost, but there were many, many islands in this layer. If they were forced to search them by hand, not even a full week would be enough.


    "Let''s move," he announced, already picking up his pace.


    Nyx followed, and together, they ran toward this island''s edge¡ª right where the three Daemons were sleeping. His shadows rushed out first, swallowing the nearest beast and crushing it alive. That finally awoke the other two, but before they could even move, dark tendrils erupted from their bodies, killing them on the spot.


    Leo quickly devoured two of the corpses and approached the third one. This time, he ignored the body and grabbed the fiery longsword lying a few feet away. It still warmed his hand, but with each second, the handle grew colder and colder. Similarly, the flame licking the serrated blade also faded after a moment.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    To make it even more interesting, his Identify didn''t provide him any information about the blade.


    The others turned to dust when I consumed the bodies¡­ But what if I do this?


    He channeled a bit of Essence into the blade and swung it at the corpse of its previous wielder. With his monstrous strength behind the blow, the sword should have cut the beast in two, but instead, it barely scratched its skin. Though, he still heard a few bones crack.


    So, only the original wielder can use it. Leo summed up, dropping the sword. Guess that''s what the System meant by Origin Weapon.


    "Are you done?" Nyx asked as she stepped away from the river of lava.


    "Yeah." He nodded, wiping his snout with his cloak. "By the way? Aren''t you too hot standing so close to that? I''m sweating here like a pig."


    The feline shrugged. "I can feel the heat, but it doesn''t affect me like you. I don''t think my body is even capable of sweating."


    "Lucky," he muttered.


    "Said the Prime Akirian with an Old One''s shard in his chest."


    "¡­Fair."


    <hr>


    "Nyx! I got something!" Leo shouted as his Hunter''s Pulse returned. He quickly separated all the useless information from the good part and smiled as a crimson trail appeared before him. "Bingo."


    The feline, who was in the middle of eating a Daemon, trotted toward him. "What is it?"


    He shrugged. "No idea, but it''s the first time I detected it. Come on, I got a trail."


    Nyx threw one last longing look at the unfinished meal. "Lead the way," she mumbled.


    "You can eat more later. You said it yourself, we got priorities."


    She nodded, but her face scrunched into a pout¡ªor maybe it was a scowl? It was quite hard to tell those two expressions apart with her. She was definitely brooding, though.


    He shook his head in silent laughter, choosing not to speak and just run toward their new target. Nyx joined his side a moment later, and together, they weaved through the forest of burning stone trees. The ever-present lava also accompanied them through this trip in the form of tiny streams that ran across the entire island.


    "This should be it," he muttered, stopping right before a small cave entrance. He would fit in, but just barely.


    A wave of heat blasted him in the face as he stepped closer, forcing him to back off. "Yeah¡­ that''s definitely it." He turned to Nyx. "Want to go first?"


    The feline snorted and pushed past him, entering the cave. Leo ducked his head and followed a bit behind. He also instantly hid his cloak. He was sweating enough without it.


    "Huh¡­" he hummed as the tunnel widened. Fiery red veins also began to snake along the walls, their glow intensifying the deeper they went.


    Finally, after a few minutes of slow walking, the tunnel opened into a large chamber, spacious enough to fit a small warehouse. Most of the space was taken by a bubbling lava pond that cast a soft, warm light across the entire room.


    However, after already spending so much time in this layer, the lava wasn''t what caught Leo''s eye. No, that honor belonged to two¡ªwell, three¡ªother features of this chamber.


    First, the massive gray eggs, each the size of a cow. There were dozens of them strewn around the entire room. Some even clung to the walls or the ceiling above the lava pond. How exactly? He had no idea, but he at least knew what was hiding inside those eggs.


    Larvae¡ªthe second thing that caught his attention.


    They were tiny, no bigger than a small dog, with crimson, half-transparent skin that glowed from within. While fewer in number than the eggs, there were still plenty of them crawling across the chamber. The most interesting thing was that they all came from the pond, leaving a trail of lava in their wake.


    And finally, there was the slender pillar rising from the center of the pond. It stretched nearly to the ceiling, its violet, metallic surface glinting each time a bubble of lava burst. It was engraved with more symbols Leo couldn''t recognize, not that he needed to. Identify provided him with all the information he needed.


    Sealing Pillar¡­ Got ya. Now, how to destroy you? He mused, stepping closer to the lava pond. For now, he ignored the larvae. At this stage, they were no threat, and the System only confirmed that. Those things first needed to form an egg, incubate, and then get out as new Lesser Infernal Daemons.


    "What''s the plan?" Nyx asked, voicing his thoughts.


    Leo shrugged and summoned a single Greater Crystallized Essence out of his soul. "This should be enough, don''t you think?"


    "Your choice."


    He took that as an invitation to continue and pushed Essence into the crystal. Once it could take no more, he used his shadows to deliver the ticking bomb to the base of the pillar.


    "And¡­ Boom!"


    The unstable Crystallized Essence exploded, sending a tremor through the entire cave as the pillar shattered. Its pieces fell into the pond, slowly disappearing underneath its surface.


    However, not all was good.


    With his enhanced sense, Leo caught a series of muffled screeches coming from outside. They never stopped, and soon, a System notification answered why.


    Well done! One of the two sealing pillars has been destroyed. Please proceed to the next one.


    Warning! Your position has been revealed to the entire layer. Nightmare Pursuit in progress. Good Luck.


    Great...

 Chapter 236. Swarmed

    Leo let out a fake cough. "So¡­ there is a very good chance we might have just alerted the entire layer to our presence."


    Nyx tilted her head, looking at him with an expression that literately screamed, ''You think?'' He opened his mouth to speak again, but another series of much louder screeches stopped him. Their new friends were getting closer.


    "What''s the plan?" the feline asked as shadows stirred along her body.


    He should have known that deep inside, she was just waiting for the next big fight. Not that he could even blame her; they had spent over four hours searching for this place, after all. His blood was also boiling. Killing lone Daemons here and there wasn''t enough.


    "Depends on how many of them are coming," he said. "I say we funnel them into the tunnel and kill them there. We will see what happens after."


    Nyx nodded, and together, they headed back into the tunnel. Though before that, they also sent a shadow spear into every egg inside the hatchery¡ªno reason to risk getting backstabbed just because they decided to leave potential enemies behind. They even got a total of almost a hundred Ether for that, so it definitely wasn''t a waste of time.


    "This should be enough," Leo said.


    They had barely taken a few steps into the tunnel, but that was more than enough for him. With the passage growing tighter the closer to the exit, he saw no point in going any further. He wanted to be able to move without any restrictions once the Nightmare arrived¡ªwhich, judging by the noises reaching his ears, would happen quite soon.


    All right, let''s prepare a bit, he thought.


    He took a deep breath and allowed his shadows to spread across the ground, connecting him to a wider network of darkness. With another chunk of Essence sacrificed, dozens of small creatures slid out of the walls, waiting for his command.


    Hide for now. Wait for me to attack first.


    At once, the minions sunk back into the shadows. And just in time, too, as a few seconds later, a squad of Lesser Infernal Daemons appeared at the end of the tunnel, their blazing weapons in hand. Those ranged from swords and spears to even axes¡ªanything a human ever used to fight, those monsters wielded too.


    Leo shot Nyx a grin and welcomed his bloodlust, which came without an invitation. Relentless Hunger ignited in his veins, followed by Spectral Fury that enveloped his blades.


    "Let''s give them hell."


    The feline responded with a roar, and with that signal, they both charged at the incoming swarm. The Daemons met them halfway, swinging their weapons and releasing endless streams of fire.


    The duo answered with their own wave of shadows that quickly overwhelmed the enemy element thanks to their stronger Essence. With the path clear once more, Leo and Nyx pounced and engaged the Daemons in close-quarters combat.


    His enhanced blades cut through flesh and organic blades alike, sometimes killing the Nightmares with a single strike. His shadow minions took that as a cue and jumped out of the walls to sow discord among the enemy ranks.


    The Daemons screeched and wailed as more and more of their kin fell. Some lost their heads to his blades, Nyx''s claws, or tail. While others couldn''t defend themselves from shadow eruptions or the dozens of specters that disappeared once they delivered their single attack.


    Although this was a fight of two survivors against an entire squadron of Nightmares, it hardly looked that way. Sure, sometimes a wave of flames would hit him head-on, but aside from scorching a few of his scales, he barely felt it.


    As for Nyx, she had even less to worry about. Her smoke form allowed her to just slip past anything the Nightmares threw at her without too much effort. It was the ultimate cheat code against enemies that had no way of overwhelming her.


    Leo would have called her ability overpowered if he didn''t have a few aces of his own. He could have probably faced the entire horde with his Spectral Fury alone and still won. Not even Relentless Hunger boosted his combat efficiency as much as the legendary skill did¡ªthough that could change if given enough time to ramp up.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    They are running away. He noted after slicing the head off another Daemon. He wanted to continue the bloodbath around him, but there was no one to attack anymore¡ªat least not in melee range. All remaining Nightmares decided to bail and make a break for the exit.


    Leo thought of giving chase but settled for a different method. He pushed more Essence into Resonance, expanding his reach all the way to the exit of the tunnel. Then, a series of Eruptions finished the job, summoning more and more System notifications.


    He scanned the entire list, frowning when he didn''t find the one message he wanted.


    "The pursuit is still active," he said, gathering Nyx''s attention.


    The feline swallowed whatever she bit off again and shrugged. "Maybe the System forgot to send the notification? What else could have happened? They ran away."


    He gave her a blank stare. "Do you really believe it would do that?"


    Nyx''s ears dropped. "No."


    "Exactly."


    "What are you doing?" she asked, seeing him walk toward the exit.


    Leo stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Checking what''s going on. You can stay. I will be back in a minute."


    The feline nodded and turned back to her meal. How she still had space for that inside her stomach was a mystery in itself. He could swear she had eaten at least ten of Daemons since they arrived here¡ªbones included.


    Oh well, I have no idea how my body functions anymore either, so whatever¡­


    Before long, Leo reached the cave''s exit and took a quick peek outside. He immediately had to pull back as countless arcs of flames rained down upon his position.


    "And that explains it all," he muttered, already walking back to where he left Nyx. She was still munching on her prey when he returned, but she stopped upon spotting him.


    "That was fast," she said and licked her mouth. "Are we good to go?"


    Leo shook his head. "Not really... This here? That was just the first wave. We got plenty more waiting outside. And it doesn''t look like they are going anywhere."


    "How many?"


    He shrugged. "A lot. Could be over fifty of them for all I know. Or a hundred. I didn''t get much time to look before they tried to burn me alive."


    Instead of looking troubled, Nyx perked up. "Meaning it''s time to go all out."


    "That it is." Leo smiled as a piece of his soul infused his body, activating Manifestation. "But we got to be careful. The guardian of this layer might be here too. I doubt it''s as weak as the daemons."


    "Understood. And Ruination?"


    "Not unless they force me to use it. We can do this. And remember, you can combine with my armor if you need a breather."


    Nyx shot him a feral grin. "There will be no need for that."


    We will see. Leo snorted and called back his bloodlust while activating Reinforcement. For this, he would need everything in his arsenal.


    "Let''s go."


    <hr>


    A massacre.


    The few minutes after they left the cave were nothing short of a massacre, though not as one-sided as Leo would have liked. He and Nyx had been confident going out, but not even they could emerge unscathed from a battle against nearly a hundred Nightmares¡ªeven ones weaker than them.


    Still, they won. The sea of bodies around him and the blood coating almost every surface in sight only proved that.


    "Ouch¡­" Leo grimaced as his shadow armor slipped off, exposing his body to the unnatural biting wind.


    Despite all the protection from his affinity, scales, and the Narzak armor, most of his chest and right shoulder were now a mass of burned and mangled flesh. The unending waves of fire had managed to pass through his defenses, leaving him in a worse state than he had been in a long time.


    Nyx landed beside him, her form still flickering with smoke as she shifted back to her solid state. Her injuries were minimal, thanks to her quick decision to use his body as a shield. However, her Essence reserves told a different story. Even now, she had to use their link to borrow energy from him.


    "That doesn''t look good."


    Leo snorted. "You don¡¯t say... Hopefully, it''s nothing the improved Bellatoure can''t fix."


    A vial filled with a familiar liquid landed in his hand, and without hesitation, he drank it. As expected, a wave of relief washed over him as the regeneration of his damaged flesh sped up. It was far from instantaneous, but at this pace, he might be ready to fight again in an hour or two.


    "Much better," he muttered, standing up¡ªor at least trying to. He almost collapsed as pain exploded over his left leg. He glanced down and winced at the deep gash and a few more burns he found there.


    "Some help?"


    Nyx quickly came closer and let him lean on her body. Leo sighed. "Thanks¡­"


    "You''ve protected me. It''s the least I can do."


    "I guess¡­ Did you get all the runners?


    The feline beamed. "Of course I did. Check your notifications if you don''t believe me."


    True¡­ He nodded, calling for the awaiting notifications. Might as well.

 Chapter 237. The Guardian

    Multiple enemies slain | Experience awarded | 21649 Ether gained


    Now that''s a big number, Leo commented. Though, with about a hundred kills, I expected a bit more¡­ Some of them must have been barely above level fifty.


    Not that he could complain. With this, he was getting closer and closer to accumulating the Ether required for the Beta tier mutations. He still needed the Voidling body parts, but he could always buy those from Naz''Tor. Not that he planned to¡ªhe would rather hunt for those himself once he had some free time.


    Now levels¡­


    Congratulations! You have reached level 72. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Leo clicked his tongue. Here, he had hoped for much more¡ªat least level seventy-four. However, just like the Ether he gained showed, those Lesser Infernal Daemons were much weaker than him. He was lucky that he still got three levels with such a large level gap.


    At least I''m getting stronger. Almost halfway there to the next evolution. And here I thought it would take weeks or months to get here. Oh well¡­


    Nightmare Pursuit forcefully stopped. You live to fight another day. Well done.


    There it is. He let out a long sigh. Even if there were more Daemons out there, he very much doubted they would try to attack him after this. From here on out, he and Nyx should have an easier time finding the second hatchery.


    I wonder if I can track it now, he mused, dismissing the other notifications. He didn''t care about the new task he had finished. All it gave him was more Ether and experience. No point in wasting time reading all of that.


    Slowly, Leo released his hold on Nyx and stepped away from her. His leg still stung like hell, but at least now it could support his weight.


    "Leo?" the feline said, walking a step behind him.


    He waved her off. "We gotta clear this place." He motioned to the dozens of bodies scattered across the battlefield. "No reason to let it all go to waste. Go on, Nyx, enjoy yourself."


    She hesitated for a moment but didn''t need to be told twice. A few shadow tendrils erupted from her body and dragged a few corpses toward her. Leo followed in her steps and freed Devour from its cage.


    It was time to feast¡­ and heal. The clock was ticking¡­


    <hr>


    "And? How is it going?"


    Leo rolled his eyes, refusing to answer; he had better things to focus on¡ªlike the Hunter''s Pulse forming in his hand. He gave it everything: his senses, more Essence than necessary, and intent, which was so well-crafted that if it didn''t work, nothing would.


    As the final part of the preparations, he extended his Essence toward the middle of the lava pond before him. There, he found the remnants of the sealing pillar''s signature and connected it to the skill in his palm.


    Here we go!


    The Hunter''s Pulse erupted in a visible wave of crimson Essence, sinking into the walls and then pushing far beyond. It went on and on before, finally, its energy ran out, and it snapped back.


    Leo blinked and gazed at the two black trails that appeared in front of him. He reached out, ready to quickly mark his new target and be done with it. Yet, before he could do that, the dark tracks wavered, escaping from his grasp. He tried to follow, but they just faded completely.


    "Dammit," he cursed.


    "What happened?" Nyx asked, already standing by his side.


    "I almost had it, but it slipped through my fingers¡­ It must be too far or has some kind of natural protection against tracking. I''m sure of that."


    She sighed. "So we are back to square one?"


    "Not exactly." He shook his head. "I know the general direction we need to go in. It''s not much, but better than nothing."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "Lead the way then."


    <hr>


    It took a lot of running, flying, and a good part of an hour to arrive at the island where the second hatchery was located. Similar to the first one, they had to enter a cave and go down until they came across another lava lake decorated with a sealing pillar in the middle.


    While Nyx took care of the eggs and larvae around the small underground chamber, Leo fished out another Crystallized Essence out of his soul. He overcharged it with his energy and once more delivered it to the base of the pillar with the help of shadows.


    ¡°Three¡­ Two¡­ One¡­¡±


    The entire cave shook as pieces of the sealing pillar descended into the lava. He waited for the inevitable screeches or other disconcerting noises, but none came. The shaking stopped, and silence prevailed.


    "Huh¡­ Guess we really killed all the Daemons here."


    Quite frankly, he expected this to happen. On the way to this island, they had encountered only a single Nightmare, and it flew away the moment it spotted him and Nyx. Still, with how the Void was, he didn''t want to lower his guard.


    Now, only the guardian remains. Leo mused, glancing at the new notification.


    Well done! Both sealing pillars have been destroyed. Please defeat the guardian of this layer to fully unseal the Realm Tear.


    "Our final destination is waiting. Ready to go?"


    Nyx looked up from yet another meal and nodded.


    Bloody glutton¡­


    <hr>


    "I can see why this is the guardian of this layer," Leo muttered to Nyx as they hid behind a large boulder.


    Right in front of them, in the middle of an open rocky field the size of two¡ªmaybe three¡ªfootball stadiums, slept their final enemy. And what an enemy it was¡­


    Even with the beast asleep, Leo could easily tell it was larger than him¡ªa behemoth of muscle. Its hulking frame was covered in thick, scaly hide, mottled in shades of crimson and obsidian. Spikes littered its powerful back and long tail, waiting to rip apart anyone who came too close.


    Its massive arms and legs weren''t any less dangerous. Each limb ended in sharp claws that appeared crimson in the light of the tiny lava ponds strewn around the area.


    Greater Infernal Goliath (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D+ | Type: Nightmare, Lava, Regenerator, Armor, Might


    We might have met our match. Leo frowned. That''s a lot of strong types¡­ Bestiary?


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Greater Infernal Goliath


    Expected Potential: D+ to C+


    Arsenal: Lava


    Weaknesses: Speed


    Greater Infernal Goliath is a menace to face. There aren''t many creatures out there of the same rank that can boast about biological armor this powerful. In addition, its regeneration is off the charts, allowing it to heal from most non-life-threatening injuries within a minute. Their lava affinity is another danger. While Goliaths do not possess perfect control over their Essence, it''s more than enough to wield their element with decent proficiency. Beware of their large-scale techniques.


    All right, it''s not that bad. He decided. If it''s slow, then we can at least outrun it. The rest we can figure out on the fly.


    Of course, his mind instantly went to Ruination. If he hit the Goliath in the head with a full-powered Obliterate, it should die. He could even do it now and strike when the beast was asleep. Yet, one thought stopped him.


    There is still one more layer left.


    Even if he destroyed the Supercluster core waiting there, he still needed to get out of this Void Rift. Last time, he needed to defeat another guardian to activate a Void Gate. It might be different here, but he would rather have his ace ready for the last layer.


    I can always use it later in the fight, anyway. Leo nodded at the thought. Maybe my normal skills will be enough. Come on, Nyx.


    Next to him, the feline tensed but offered a nod back. He took it as a sign and activated every skill that could be activated. Manifestation followed right behind, covering his form in shadows.


    Strike fast, strike hard.


    With that, Leo disappeared in a series of Blinks. His serrated blades snapped out and descended on the long, ''unprotected'' neck of the Goliath. They slid into the thick hide, but that was all they did. Barely any blood seeped out of the long gash that seemed to be already closing.


    Yet, there was no time to be shocked¡ªthe beast finally woke up.


    After another Blink, he jumped away just in time to see the Goliath stand up and rub its neck. It then snapped its four-eyed crimson glare at him and roared. At the same time, its entire body caught fire, covering it in black armor of flames.


    Okay¡­ This might be a bigger problem than I thought. As to prove that, the Goliath roared again and punched the ground with its fiery fists, causing it to erupt.


    Rings of lava exploded from below the surface, starting from the beast''s position and continuing outward. Each reached higher than the last one, raining more and more of the liquid flames upon the ground.


    Before this technique could reach him, Leo Blinked away, way past the boulder he was initially hiding behind. Nyx, meanwhile, took to the skies, prodding the enraged Nightmare with her shadows.


    Yeah, this definitely won''t be easy. He grimaced, scanning the battlefield that now became one big field of lava. Ruination might be a go sooner than I expected¡­

 Chapter 238. Shatter

    As the Goliath lost track of him, it zeroed in on Nyx and opened its massive mouth, releasing a constant stream of fire. Just like the flames on its body, those, too, were as dark as night. They easily reached the feline, forcing her to turn into smoke and race the heat wave to safety.


    Leo took this as a cue and sprang into action. Thanks to the small rocky platforms strewn around the sea of lava, he arrived at the creature¡¯s back and struck as hard as he could.


    His blades once more slid into the armored hide, reaching the flesh beneath it, but just barely. Thankfully, that was enough to stop the Nightmare from spewing more fire and give Nyx some time to breath.


    Let¡¯s dance, you overgrown piece of shit. Leo growled, leaning out of the way of the beast¡¯s massive fist. It swiped at him again, but this time, he stepped into its personal space and slashed it across the chest a few times.


    That didn¡¯t do much damage, but the Goliath still stumbled back and released a pained screech. He wanted to follow up with another strike, but then the flames across its body intensified. In some places, they even turned white, and he didn¡¯t stay to see what would happen next.


    It was a good choice as not even a second later, an explosion rocked the entire battlefield, blanketing it in white-hot flames. Leo winced as they licked his back, scorching and even outright melting a few of his scales.


    Nyx, you okay? He asked through their link as he waited for the thick smoke around him to settle.


    ¡®Yes, I was out of range,¡¯ the feline said. ¡®But I have to admit. Even I felt the heat of that fire. What¡¯s the plan?¡¯


    I¡¯m still trying to figure that one out. For now, just attack from range. Target its eyes and mouth.


    ¡®You got it.¡¯


    Leo nodded as their link quietened again. Meanwhile, the smoke slowly faded, revealing the Goliath still standing in the same spot. The fire that once covered its hide looked a bit weaker, but that wasn¡¯t even important, not now.


    ¡°Shit!¡± he shouted, vanishing in a Blink.


    His previous position erupted in a shower of lava as the Nightmare hurled a chunk of molten rock at him. The assault didn¡¯t stop there; it simply continued to bombard him with more pieces of burning debris.


    The sea of lava on the battlefield bent to the Goliath¡¯s will, delivering fresh ammunition straight into its waiting arms. If it hadn¡¯t been for Nyx firing a volley of shadows at the beast¡¯s head, Leo would have been forced to keep on using Blink to jump around the area like some frightened cat.


    Although, in hindsight, maybe stopping its assault wasn¡¯t that great of an idea, as the Nightmare decided to switch its tactics.


    For the first time since the battle began, the behemoth moved and charged straight at Leo on all fours. The earth beneath it trembled, causing more lava to erupt with each thunderous step.


    Leo turned around and made the wise decision to get the hell out of dodge. There was no way he could survive even a single hit from this thing. Its flames had barely grazed him and almost caused more damage than a hundred Daemons combined.


    And so, he slipped out of the way at the last moment, nearly laughing in disbelief as the Goliath tried to turn mid-charge. It failed and crashed face-first into the ground, its forward momentum pushing it further into the dirt.


    That¡¯s it.


    His soul awoke, and the true power of the Void seeped out of his skin, coalescing onto his palms. He was ready to shape it into his most powerful technique¡ªwhich could hopefully kill the beast¡ªbut just then, a glint of silver caught his attention.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Wait¡­ Death Touch¡­ that¡¯s exactly what I need.


    Just like that, Ruination faded from his arms, returning to slumber. Leo instead fueled more Essence into Reinforcement and rushed forward, almost displacing the air behind him.


    With a swift Blink, he appeared at the Goliath¡¯s side and slashed the long silver line under its armpit. That finally stirred it from its dazed state, but before it could stand up, Leo leaped onto its back and sliced another weak point created by his skill.


    There we go. He grinned as the beast roared in pain, the fire covering its body flickering out for a moment.


    His specters also went right for the silver lines, earning more pained whimpers from their target. Leo, of course, capitalized on this and struck again, cutting the beast anywhere he could to generate more of those weak spots.


    Nyx also joined him a moment later. However, she neither had enough firepower to cause any substantial damage nor Death Touch to help him. Thus, she summoned thousands of shadow tendrils and worked to distract and annoy the Nightmare further.


    It worked for a time, but then, with an enraged roar, the Goliath jumped high. The fire on its body also turned white again.


    Oh shit! Leo cursed, grabbed Nyx, and overcharged Blink. It shot them out like a canon, but he didn¡¯t care about some pain or new bruises. Only getting out of the range of the flaming, falling meteor mattered.


    Yet, they still didn¡¯t get far enough.


    The Goliath hit the earth like a falling star. The shockwave came first, sending them tumbling across the ground. A blast of fire followed right after, almost swallowing them whole.


    Somehow, Nyx managed to turn into solid smoke in time and cover him in a cocoon of shadows. It met the fire head-on, and even if Leo felt like he was being cooked alive, he survived.


    ¡°Nyx?¡± he muttered as the cocoon faded and Nyx materialized next to him, lying on the ground. Her fur lost some of its luster, and parts were completely burned off.


    ¡°I¡¯m alive,¡± she groaned, opening one eye to look at him. ¡°Just think I need a short nap¡­¡±


    Leo winced. ¡°You did great. Rest. I will end this.¡±


    ¡°Be quick.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± he vowed and stood up. One of his blades shortened as an Ether grenade landed in his palm. With another thought, Relentless Hunger reignited, and he disappeared again.


    Blink after Blink, Leo rushed ahead until he reached the point of impact. There, in a big crater, the Goliath was slowly rising to its feet, wobbling all the while.


    He didn¡¯t let it recover.


    He jumped down and appeared right behind the beast, slashing at its tendons. It stumbled but didn¡¯t fall, so he slid between its legs and delivered another cut to its other leg. That finally made it kneel and look down on him.


    The Nightmare opened its mouth to roar, but before a sound could leave it, Leo chucked the grenade right into its maw. Its jaw snapped shut, swallowing the small object¡ªa fatal mistake.


    After two seconds of delay, the grenade exploded within the beast. There were no visible signs on the outside, but the deafening screech that followed its total collapse told him something inside definitely got fatally injured.


    Leo didn¡¯t wait to find out more.


    With the Goliath down on the ground, he became a whirlwind of death, cutting and slashing everywhere. Dozens of specters emerged around him, all targeting the silver lines he kept creating.


    Not every weak spot they hit earned a reaction from their prey, but at least every third did. It wailed more, flailing its arms around as the flames covering its body grew weaker and weaker.


    Then, Leo spotted three silver lines, all crossing each other in the middle of Goliath¡¯s chest. With a whisper from his bloodlust, he abandoned his random attack pattern and went for the kill.


    His blade slid into the intersection point, and the beast stilled. Its arms fell limp to the ground, and the wails stopped. Yet, its eyes remained open, their glow dulled but still alive.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± Leo mumbled from his position atop the beast¡¯s chest.


    He poked it a few times and even stabbed one of its eyes but still got no reaction. It was as if the body was still alive, but there was no one inside to use it.


    ¡°Targets not only the body but also the other two pillars¡­¡±


    He had expected to just weaken the Goliath by targeting the weak spots, but it seemed like they did much more than that. There was no other explanation. Either he was going mad, or he had just killed¡ªor at least splintered¡ªthe beast¡¯s mind and soul while still leaving the body alive.


    As if hearing his dilemma, the System arrived with an answer.


    You have damaged the Greater Infernal Goliath¡¯s Mind and Soul beyond repair. First spiritual kill acknowledged. Rewards pending. Please stand by.


    Oh¡­ Leo looked down on his hands and then at the empty shell of the Goliath beneath him. I did that¡­ Nice¡­ and scary¡­

 Chapter 239. End is near

    As the System still didn¡¯t deliver the actual kill notification nor his rewards, Leo settled to do something productive¡ªlike harvesting the massive beast underneath him. With its typings, he would be one step closer to a few crucial mutations he had to get in the future. Or so he hoped. He still had no idea what level the Goliath was.


    There is no way it is under eighty. He mused as his blades extended once more. I will be really mad if it is¡­


    With a quick Hunter¡¯s Pulse, Leo confirmed where the Goliath¡¯s heart was and started cutting. The thick hide still fought against his strength, but at least it wasn¡¯t as bad as before. The lack of regeneration factor also made his job much easier.


    As such, within a few minutes of cutting and bathing in blood, he stripped the Nightmare of its heart and some of its armored hide. He also took two eyes and tried to cut out its stomach, which didn¡¯t go too well. The entire organ became a mess of mangled flesh that the System¡¯s Identify refused to recognize.


    Oh well¡­ Nobody ever said I¡¯m a good butcher. He grimaced, throwing the destroyed organ back into the hole he made. Let¡¯s see¡­ anything else I can take?


    He opened the list of Beta tier mutations and quickly checked those he cared about the most. He already took care of the body parts for improved regeneration, armor, and potential eyesight enhancement, but maybe he had forgotten about something.


    Wait. Here it is¡­


    His gaze shifted from the Goliath¡¯s arm back to the mutation menu. He literally needed muscle tendons of at least a level eighty beast with a Might typing for a small, permanent boost to that attribute. There were still a few more components required to complete this mutation, but if he had a chance to check one off the list, why not take it?


    No idea how I¡¯m supposed to remove the tendons and not destroy them, though. That¡¯s a job for a professional, not a guy with weapons made for tearing the flesh.


    Maybe if his blades hadn¡¯t become serrated after the evolution, he would have given this a try. However, seeing as his attempt to remove the stomach had already failed, he just settled for cutting off an entire arm and figuring out the rest later.


    He could always ask Naz¡¯Tor for some manual on the proper harvesting of stuff like that or buy something from his Ether shop. It had been a while since he had looked there, and with his job, it just might have something to help him.


    Yep, sounds good. Leo nodded and started cutting. He sawed through through the bone, but just as he was about to finish, the System finally returned with notifications. Give me a moment¡­


    With a spark of Reinforcement, he gave the almost cut-off arm a tug and ripped it off. He ignored it as blood splashed all over him and stored the limb in his soul.


    Now that¡¯s done, show me what you have.


    Greater Infernal Goliath (LVL: 83) slain | Experience awarded | 830 Ether gained


    Thank you! Leo breathed out a sigh of relief. For a moment there, he feared he had butchered the Goliath for nothing. Wouldn¡¯t be a big loss, but still something annoying.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 74. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Two levels¡­ Good enough, I guess. Twenty-one for the next evo¡­ He shook his head with a chuckle. Damn¡­ And to think I barely just evolved. The world outside of Earth is really something else.


    Spiritual kill recognized. Pieces collected. Remaining experience awarded. Please note that killing something on a spiritual level, while very effective, will result in a partial loss of experience gained. As this is your first infraction, the System has reconstructed your foe¡¯s soul and neutralized the penalty. This won¡¯t happen again.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Leo blinked, unsure if he had read this right. ¡°No. Still the same¡­¡±


    When the System first told him to stand by after he killed the Goliath, he thought he would be getting some bonus reward, not a warning. It made sense, though. If a soul, or at least a part of it, was used to award experience to its killer, then destroying it the way he did was obviously bad.


    But what exactly happens to the dead souls? The System said that in newly induced universes, they linger until the next Outbreak begins. But how can this be true if souls are used for experience? Is it even true? Did it lie to me?


    Leo dragged a hand across his face, letting out a sigh. No, don¡¯t think about it now. I will get my answers one way or another. I won¡¯t allow anyone to play me.


    After dismissing the notification, Leo stabbed the body of the Goliath and released Devour. The corpses turned to dust even faster than that of some low-level Voidling.


    Devour consumed: +12 Might.


    Honestly, after everything he did to the Nightmare, he didn¡¯t even expect this much. All he really wanted from it was some Essence and regeneration boost. His back and shoulder needed it, and he didn¡¯t want to waste another Bellatoure when he could still fight and keep his eyes open.


    Nyx might need it, though.


    Quickly, Leo climbed out of the crater and ran back to the feline. She was still sleeping, and from what he could see, some of her fur had already regrown. He thought of giving her the mixture anyway, but there was no reason to wake her up.


    She deserved some rest¡ªthey both did¡ªand with about thirty hours left on the timer, they didn¡¯t have to hurry. There was only one layer left, and if this much time wasn¡¯t enough, then they were fucked from the beginning anyway.


    I should probably call Lily, too. This might be the last chance I get¡­


    With a nod, he walked away so as not to disturb the sleeping feline and fished out the transmitter out of his soul. He selected the second contact on the list and waited for the call to connect.


    It did after not even a second, and Lily¡¯s concerned voice exploded out of the device.


    ¡°Leo! You finally called! What¡¯s going on?¡±


    He smiled. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Calm down.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to tell me to calm down,¡± she hissed. ¡°It¡¯s been over six hours! What¡¯s happening? What took you so long.¡±


    As much as it warmed him to hear how she cared, Leo couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s been only six hours, Lily. Before I left, I told you I wouldn¡¯t call often, if at all. This isn¡¯t exactly a place where I can relax and go calling everyone.¡±


    ¡°But you did,¡± she pointed out. ¡°So what happened? What changed?¡±


    Leo felt like sighing for the hundredth time this day but held himself back. Instead, he slowly explained everything to Lily. From what happened on the first layer to the end of the battle against the Goliath.


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± She cut him off just before he could finish speaking. ¡°You¡¯re level what now?!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re focusing on? Really?¡± he palmed his face. What did I do to deserve this?


    ¡°Yes. Really!¡± Lily shouted. ¡°Six hours, twenty-four levels. You don¡¯t see anything wrong with that? It took you weeks to get to fifty! Now, you are almost at a hundred. That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s nuts.¡±


    Leo opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. ¡°Well¡­ when you put it like that.¡±


    ¡°See?! Now you understand.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I get your point,¡± he muttered. ¡°But listen, my level isn¡¯t important now. Once Nyx recovers, we¡¯re going to the last layer. The core must be there¡­ I don¡¯t know how long it will take to find it, but we will.¡±


    ¡°You must call afterward, got it? I can¡¯t¡­¡± she trailed off, her voice breaking just a bit.


    ¡°Once I¡¯m safe, I will. I swear.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Lily sniffed. ¡°If you break this promise, I will find you and kick your ass.¡±


    Leo chuckled. ¡°Of course you will¡­ So tell me, has anything happened since I left? I know it¡¯s been only a few hours, but¡­¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Are you sure you are good to go?¡± Leo asked his companion as they walked toward the Goliath¡¯s original sleeping spot.


    Nyx rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I am. Don¡¯t make me repeat myself for the third time. You let me sleep for too long anyway.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been only three hours.¡±


    ¡°Still too much.¡± She huffed. ¡®We don¡¯t know what is on the other side. We need all the time we can get.¡±


    This time, Leo had the urge to roll his eyes. ¡°I told you already. If over twenty-four hours won¡¯t be enough, nothing will be.¡±


    ¡°We will see.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± he muttered under his breath, focusing on avoiding the lava strewn around them. The Goliath¡¯s death didn¡¯t mean all the damage it caused went away.


    ¡°Here it is.¡± He looked up at the Realm Tear, one very similar to the last one. The only difference between them was the color of energies sparking around them. Where on the first layer, they were blue; here, they became red to fit.


    Fitting. Third layer, here we come¡­

 Chapter 240. Ghost Town

    Cold.


    That was the first word that came to his mind when Leo stepped onto the third layer. While the last one had him sweating like a pig, here, the chill bit into his scales, spreading light frost all over them. Thankfully, while quite uncomfortable, this didn''t affect him that much. Some of the winters in Wolford were worse.


    Which is a bit sad. He mused, scanning the land in the distance¡ªor at least trying to.


    Once more, he and Nyx landed on a small plateau connected to something much bigger¡ªthis time with a broken rope bridge. Yet, no matter how much he strained to see what awaited them ahead, it just didn''t work. A thick fog blocked his curious gaze, obscuring everything beyond a few feet from his position.


    Another thing that caught his attention upon arrival was that he couldn''t even tell if it was nighttime here. His night vision remained dormant, but there were still no colors around him. Everything was painted in the shades of gray, even the vast infinity of the Void above him.


    I don''t like it. He said to the feline next to him.


    ''Me neither,'' she admitted. ''What''s the System saying?''


    Give me a moment.


    Well done! You have arrived at the third and final layer of this Void Rift. Somewhere out there, a Void Gate is waiting for you. Find it to leave this place forever. Good luck.


    Nothing we didn''t already know. Leo sighed, dismissing the notification. This is the last layer, and we have to find a Void Gate to escape. No warnings about what this place has in store for us.


    ''So the usual.''


    Pretty much. He nodded and approached the half-destroyed rope bridge. I don''t know about you, but I don''t trust this thing to get us safely on the other side. We will have to jump.


    Nyx frowned and poked the poles supporting the bridge with her tail. The entire construction groaned, and then one of the thick ropes snapped. A moment later, another followed suit, sending the remnants of the bridge plummeting into the fog below. They waited for any sound of impact, but none came.


    ''You''re right. We have to jump.''


    Leo snorted. You don''t say.


    The feline shrugged. ''Hey, don''t blame me. I barely put any power into that push. Stepping on that was a one-way trip into the void below.''


    Can''t argue with that. He said, stepping away from the edge. He then reached into his soul and pulled out the most important item for this floor.


    Bingo!


    The moment the Core Shard landed in his palm, Leo spotted the glow emanating from within it. It was faint, barely noticeable, but still present, unlike on the last two layers. The key to the Supercluster''s destruction was within reach.


    He tried turning around, pointing the shard in different directions, but the glow never grew stronger. The layer might be correct, but they still had a long road ahead of them.


    Doesn''t matter. We are still closer than ever before. Leo smiled and hid the Core Shard. Come on, Nyx. Let''s find out what''s waiting for us out there.


    ''You go first.'' She nudged him. ''I will catch you in case you fail to reach the other side.''


    He rolled his eyes and backed off to have enough space for his take-off. I love how you have so much faith in me¡­ Really, it isn''t even that far. We can see the other side even through the fog.


    ''I''m just saying¡­''


    Yeah, yeah. Don''t take too long.


    With that, Leo dashed forward and jumped just before his feet could reach the edge. He thought of activating his tiny wings, but just as he told Nyx, the other side was quite close. He landed in a crouch and quickly inspected his surroundings.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The fog still surrounded him from each side, but unlike on the plateau, the ground beneath his feet was no longer just rock. His talons sunk into frozen dirt mingled with patches of withered, frost-covered weed.


    Leo frowned and reached for a single blade of grass. The moment his claw came into contact with it, the grass crumbled into dust.


    Interesting¡­


    ''It feels like this entire place is dead. Quite creepy,'' Nyx said in their link after she landed next to him.


    He hummed. Not gonna lie; this setting looks like something taken straight out of a horror movie. Be on your guard. There''s no way we are alone here.


    The feline nodded, and they both started walking deeper into the unknown land. They passed more dead plants, including some trees covered in frost from top to bottom. Yet, still no sight of any monsters. Hell, aside from the crunch of frozen grass underneath their feet, the silence was absolute.


    At least we are getting closer. Leo noted, glancing at the Core Shard in his palm. The difference wasn''t too noticeable, but the glow definitely became a bit brighter with each minute of walking.


    ''Leo, eyes up,'' Nyx said suddenly.


    He quickly snapped to attention, his eyes widening as a large wooden gate slid out of the fog. It was full of holes, and frost had already claimed most of its remaining surface. Yet, it still stood strong.


    Civilization? Well¡­ at least remnants of it.


    Slowly, they made their way past the gate, watching as more structures came into sight. There were remnants of houses, fences, and even some towers. All of this was made out of wood and reminded Leo of architecture straight out of the medieval age¡ªjust not a human one. His old species didn''t need doors large enough to fit almost the two of current him.


    It was some sort of a village, Leo commented as they stopped in the middle of a clearing surrounded by more destroyed buildings. No signs of life, though, not even skeletons¡­ What the hell happened here?


    He frowned and summoned Essence into his free hand. He shaped it into a proper form and fueled it with a general intent. Then he released a basic Hunter''s Pulse.


    Still nothing. His frown deepened.


    Yet, just as he thought that, his bloodlust screamed a warning at him. He spun around and extended his blade just in time to block a massive spectral arrow coming at him.


    Only, despite that, he still somehow failed.


    The projectile slid through his guard like a ghost and hit his chest before going out on the other side. Leo gasped as a searing pain pierced his entire being¡ªnot only his body. It felt like someone had attacked his soul directly.


    Is this karma? He growled, dodging another projectile. Next to him, Nyx also danced away from the growing number of arrows coming at them from the mist. Attacks targeting the soul? Really?


    He roared and activated Manifestation. If there was one ability that could provide him with protection against stuff like that, then this was it¡ªand rightly so.


    When the next salvo came at him, Leo still leaned to the side but struck at the arrows with his shadow-covered blades. This time, the spectral projectile couldn''t ignore him and shattered into small pieces that faded after a moment.


    Nyx, to me! Hide in my armor and take command over the shadows. I will take care of the rest.


    The feline instantly turned into smoke form and dived into his body. A second later, tendrils erupted from his back, all under her control. Their combined Resonance also spread over the floor, ready to assist if necessary.


    There! Leo shouted internally when a glint of light within the fog caught his attention. He dashed forward, but before he could get too far, a couple monsters emerged out of the mist, all of them carrying a spectral weapon.


    Their appearance resembled that of ogres found in common fiction, only those ones came with a twist. Half of their bodies were transparent, ghost-like, while the other part was decayed and covered in bits of frost. It was a sight straight from nightmares, which, considering the situation, was quite fitting.


    Caged Frostwraith Brute (Voidling) | LVL: N/A | Rank: D- | Type: Soul, Ghost, Normal


    Weak, and you''re not even Nightmares. Leo scoffed and allowed Spectral Fury to cover his blades. He Blinked into the group''s personal space and cut off the head of the nearest Brute.


    The others instantly reacted and attacked him together. More arrows also came at him, but Nyx swatted them all away, giving him the freedom to do whatever he wanted.


    Eruption.


    Shadows exploded out of the ground, burying two of the remaining monsters alive while ensnaring the others. Leo swiftly closed the distance between them and sliced their bodies in two. Even the ghostly halves shattered like glass, disintegrating upon impact.


    Now for the archers.


    He grabbed about a third of his Essence reserves and transformed them into shadows that bubbled underneath his skin. He held them for a bit, feeding them with the hate and hunger of his bloodlust. When they could take no more, he released the technique and Devour along with it.


    Hundreds, or maybe even thousands of thin shadow tendrils erupted from his body. They surged in every possible direction within the fog, going farther than he ever allowed such technique to go. Most didn''t hit anything, but those that did allowed Devour to connect to their victim.


    "And that''s how we do it," Leo muttered as the tendrils snapped back into his body.


    This time, no arrow came at him.

 Chapter 241. Within reach

    "No Nightmares, that''s a first," Nyx commented after she materialized next to him. "I honestly expected more from the final layer. Disappointing..."


    Leo shot her an exasperated look. "Can you please stop trying to jinx us? We haven''t been here for long. It can still get much worse. Besides"¡ªhe rubbed his chest¡ª"even if they are weak, they can target our souls. That arrow that hit me? Trust me, it hurt like hell."


    "Any lasting damage?"


    He furrowed his brow, scanning his soul for any inconsistencies. "None I can find, but that doesn''t mean that can''t change."


    Nyx nodded. "Keep your Manifestation active, then. That or at least cover yourself in Essence."


    "You think that will be enough? Manifestation I get, but simple Essence?"


    The feline shrugged. "I don''t see why not. It''s a product of the soul. It probably won''t work as well as your affinity, but it should still provide some protection. Remember the Soullings?"


    "Right¡­" he muttered as the memories of those slime-like creatures flashed in his mind. "Maybe there is something to it then... All right, we can try some stuff. Within reason of course¡­ The Supercluster is and always will be the goal here."


    "Agreed," Nyx quickly said. "I just think we shouldn''t waste this opportunity. Who knows when we will get another chance to test ourselves against moderately strong soul-type Voidlings in a controlled environment."


    Leo looked around them and quirked an eyebrow at the feline. "Controlled environment, you say? Our definition of that might be a bit different."


    "You know what I mean," she grumbled, rolling her eyes.


    "Yeah, yeah. Just messing with ya¡­ Want to search the buildings when I check my notification? I swear there must be something valuable here."


    "Do you really believe that?"


    "Nope! But it can''t hurt to check."


    Nyx sighed. "And you talk about me spending too much time with Lily. It''s your own fault I''m the way I am." She shook her head. "I will go. Just don''t move from here."


    "I won''t." He waved her off as she disappeared into the closest building. "Now, let''s see¡­"


    Multiple enemies slain | Experience awarded | 542 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 75. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Huh. So it was enough. I must have been close to the level-up. No way a few weaklings could bring me over the edge otherwise. Leo concluded and summoned the final notification.


    You have reached the peak of the Nightblade class. Your Night Terror trait has evolved into False Nightmare. Beware, this is your final class reward until the next advancement. Use this break wisely.


    False Nightmare (Epic)


    You might not be bound to the night, but darkness is your friend. Embrace it and claim the power of the night for yourself. False nightmare or not, you shall be the last one standing.


    Effects:


    Your presence is now much harder to detect, especially during the night. Nightmares hate your presence even more than usual. Might Effectiveness: +5%. Grace, Vision, and Mind Effectiveness: +15%. All effects of this trait are doubled during the night.


    An unexpected but very welcome surprise. Leo grinned. Even though the part about Nightmares was slightly disconcerting, it wasn''t anything he hadn''t dealt with before. Those creatures wanted to kill everyone anyway; what was a bit more hate directed at him?


    Who knows, this might even be useful¡­


    With a shrug, he dismissed the System and walked into the same building Nyx did. Just like on the outside, nothing survived the test of time inside. There were pieces of furniture strewn around the massive room, but not much more than that.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Not surprising¡­


    Leo approached Nyx, who was digging through a pile of debris in the corner, and poked her in the side. "Found anything?"


    The feline stopped in her task and shook her head at him. "No. There were some clothes and even a sword, but the moment I touched those, they all turned into dust."


    "Any books, pieces of paper, or anything with writing on it?"


    "No."


    "A pity," Leo mumbled. "I won''t lie, I''m kinda curious what this place was before, well¡­ before whatever happened to it. Those Voidlings were by no means normal."


    "Did you check your bestiary?"


    He blinked. "No. No, I didn''t¡­ My bad. Gimme a second."


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Caged Frostwraith


    Expected Potential: N/A


    Arsenal: N/A


    Weaknesses: Weaponized Ether, Light Affinity


    Caged Frostwraith variants are created when a higher-ranked Frostwraith Nightmare infuses a victim with a portion of its power. This process grants the once-dead creature a new lease on life under the command of its killer. It''s important to note that their classification as Voidlings is in name only. Many Caged Frostwraiths had no connection to the Void before being claimed by their Nightmare overlord. Their power and abilities also depend on their capabilities before their first death.


    "That explains a lot," Nyx commented after she read the entry through his eyes. "A Nightmare did all of this. Now, I''m a bit worried."


    Leo grimaced. "You don''t say¡­ It has an ability similar to my Takeover. Who knows how many creatures it killed and turned into those abominations."


    "A lot, I have no doubt about that now," the feline said and trotted toward the exit. "You were right; we have to be careful. Find the core and get out of here as fast as we can."


    He nodded and reactivated Manifestation. "Jump in. I''m not risking them getting a drop on us. Not now that we know what is out there."


    Nyx followed his order without a complaint, and soon, they left the abandoned village. Exploring could wait for a different, far away day.


    <hr>


    For hours on end, Leo kept on running across the endless misty plains as he and Nyx had come to call this place. Along their journey, they passed through a couple more villages and bigger ghost towns, always having to fight off armies of Caged Frostwraiths.


    The more they killed, the more monsters began to emerge from the fog. At this point, they had to keep their eyes peeled out for danger even outside of the abandoned villages. To make it better, those transformed ogre-like creatures were now joined by animals of all kinds, some of which he couldn''t even recognize, and the System was quite unhelpful here.


    Bloody rats. Leo scowled as he removed his blade from a beast resembling a grotesque combination of a lion, rat, and bat. How such a thing was even possible, he didn''t know¡ªnor did he want to. It had to be one of the ugliest creatures he had ever seen.


    And that''s saying a lot¡­ He glanced at the glowing shard in his left hand. At least we are close now. Hopefully, we have killed most of its protection by now.


    ''I highly doubt that.'' Nyx snorted, her smoke form still coiled around his body. ''Either there is an army waiting for us or a monster that can at least make you break a sweat.''


    "We will see," Leo muttered, descending deeper into the valley surrounded by mountains he couldn''t even see properly and filled with more dead trees than the Amazon rainforest. "Must have been quite nice here before the Void came."


    ''Just like your Earth and countless other places,'' Nyx pointed out. ''Don''t think too much about it. It''s a waste of time. What''s done is done.''


    I''m just saying, th¡ªHold up. Do you feel it?


    Leo stopped and closed his eyes, focusing on the Essence swirling around him. Without any skills, he grabbed it tightly with phantom hands and pulled it in.


    This power¡­


    ''It must be the Supercluster core,'' Nyx finished his thought. ''Go on. We are very, very close now.''


    Not needing to be told twice, he rushed ahead, waiting for the mist to reveal his target. And it did, only not in the way he expected¡ªor well, he did, just not to this degree.


    The core was there, in the form of a crystal pillar that produced the only colors in this bleak realm. However, the massive construct wasn''t alone¡ªfar from it.


    You jinxed us. Leo muttered dryly in his head while keeping his eyes on the huge sleeping serpent coiled around the pillar. And does it really have to be another bloody snake?


    Caged Frostwraith Basilisk (Voidling) | LVL: N/A | Rank: D | Type: Soul, Ghost, Surface, Poison


    ''At least it isn''t the Nightmare,'' Nyx snickered and materialized next to him. ''Doesn''t look particularly strong too. I can take it alone if you want.''


    He shook his head. No time for games. I want to get out of here as fast as I can. Go to the other side and target its head on my signal. If it wants to sleep, we will give it an eternal one.


    ''As you wish.''


    With that, Nyx ran away to circle the area and get into position. Meanwhile, Leo activated all of his supporting skills and extended a single blade. He flooded it with his shadow affinity, adding a sprinkle of Ruination. Not too much, though, but enough to guarantee one hit kill if he didn''t miss.


    All right, Nyx. Let''s go!

 Chapter 242. Unexpected lesson

    ''After you!'' Nyx shouted.


    Leo took a deep breath and rushed forward, kicking up the dirt as he went. A sharp wave of shadows trailed behind him, cutting a gash in the ground and growing stronger with each step. Ruination made the technique unstable and heavy, but he pushed on, dragging the mass of energy with him.


    The moment he came within a few feet of the pillar, he jumped high with all his power. On the other side, he saw Nyx do the same. They met on the opposite sides of their target¡ªthe Basilisk''s head¡ªand flung their techniques at the beast as they passed each other.


    Two arcs of shadows, both tempered by experience and unmatched control, struck the Basilisk at the same time. Thanks to the addition of Ruination, Leo''s attack cut through the flesh faster, obliterating it. Yet, Nyx''s technique wasn''t far behind, and soon, they collided in an explosion that rocked the entire valley.


    The Voidling fell limp to the ground, headless. Part of its body remained coiled around the pillar, but now it wouldn''t be moving anywhere.


    Caged Frostwraith Basilisk (LVL: 77) slain | Experience awarded | 363 Ether gained


    Leo smiled as his feet touched the ground again. Even if this thing was a higher level than him, it was still just a weak beast. In comparison to the Greater Infernal Goliath from the last layer, this was nothing.


    And now we take the spoils, he thought, gazing at the Supercluster core and activating Identify. Got anything for me?


    Supercluster Core:


    The operating core of a D rank Supercluster located on planet Earth in Universe no. 237. Destroy it to stop its continuous growth in strength and free the planet from its corruption. Some say there are other uses for an active core like this. Take care.


    What? Leo frowned at the last two sentences in the description. Either the System was trying to play a joke on him, or it was something it really couldn''t reveal.


    If its restrictions are really that bad, it may be the case¡­


    He shook his head and dismissed the System. He had better things to worry about. Like for example, how to destroy this core safely? Was he supposed to just shatter it like a nest core, or maybe there was more to it than that?


    "We can just hit it and find out," Nyx chimed in once they regrouped at the base of the pillar. "Are you expecting trouble?"


    "With the Void?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Always. Also¡­¡± He touched the cool surface of the core, shivering as its wild energy washed over him. "I wonder if I can somehow use Devour on this thing."


    "That¡­ doesn''t sound like a good idea. Draining a Wasteland is one thing, but this? You would probably explode from within."


    "Maybe, maybe not," Leo said, stepping away from the pillar. "It might be a good time to make a call. No reason to risk it."


    "Right¡­" Nyx scrunched her brow. "I forgot about the merchant for a moment. Good idea."


    With that said, he fished out the transmitter out of his soul while the feline stood watch. With the explosion they caused, it was a surprise that no more Frostwraiths had arrived yet.


    "All right¡­ Naz''Tor¡­ there we go."


    The signal for the call went out, but unlike with Lily, it took a bit for it to connect. However, when it did, the merchant''s jovial tone erupted from the device.


    "Leo! You''re still alive. Wonderful!"


    "What? Was I supposed to die?" he asked in partial disbelief. "You sure sounded like you believed I would succeed the last time we talked."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "No, no! Of course not! Why would I want my most promising customer to die?" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "I just¡­ Well, when you''ve lived as long as I did, you''re prepared for every outcome. Don''t take it the wrong way, but I had quite a few clients die on missions much easier than yours."


    Leo hesitated for a moment. "All right, fair, I guess."


    "Exactly! I will always believe in you, kid, but I''m still a realist¡­ Now tell me what you need? It couldn''t be long since you entered the Rift. Did you get stuck? Need a weapon to deal with a particularly annoying and powerful monster?"


    "No, none of that." He shook his head lightly. "I''m currently in the third and last layer of this Rift with the Supercluster core standing next to me. I wan¡ª"


    "Wait, wait!" Naz''Tor interrupted. "Rewind a bit. What did you just say, kid?"


    Leo sighed. "I''m in the third and last layer of this Rift, and I have the Supercluster core next to me."


    "Oh¡­" the merchant muttered. "So I heard you right. How? According to my calculations, it had only been a few hours since you left."


    "I think you have lost me. What do you mean how?"


    "Ah, forgive me," Naz''Tor quickly backtracked. "What I mean is how in the Old Ones'' name have you already progressed this far? D rank Rifts aren''t that dangerous or long, but on your power level, it should have taken you far more time than this. Did the System make a mistake in ranking that place? It has happened before."


    Huh¡­ Who would have thought. Leo chuckled before addressing the merchant again. "No, no. No mistakes. At least I don¡¯t think there is one. Hell, I probably already killed more Nightmares here than on Earth."


    This time, it was Naz''Tor who took a while to respond. "You will need to elaborate because now it''s you who have lost me¡­"


    And so, Leo did just that, not really minding telling his short story one more time. The merchant never interrupted, and at times, he wondered if the call had disconnected. It didn''t, he checked.


    By the end of his monologue, a deep, exasperated sigh was the only sound that came from the other side of the call. He had to ask Naz''Tor if everything was all right to get a different response.


    "Don''t mind me," the alien said. "I just had to reevaluate my entire file on you¡­ over twenty levels in a few hours¡­ Dear Void, the potential of your soul must be through the roof. You Primes really¡­ that¡¯s just unfair¡­"


    Leo frowned. "What does my soul have to do with how many levels I gained?"


    Naz''Tor tsked loudly. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t know¡­ I forgot you have yet to learn about those things. Allow me to explain. It won''t take long."


    "You see, the soul is undeniably the most important of the three pillars," he continued, echoing the words of a certain dead Prime. "And that''s not only because our Essence comes from it. No, there are several other reasons, but only one of them is important now."


    "The potential, or as some call it, the processing power. Simply put, each time you gain experience from the System, your soul must first process that power. The final result of this process decides how fast a being can progress. Some souls have low potential and thus waste a lot of the experience given to them. Then there are those¡ª"


    "Like me," Leo took over. "So what you''re saying is that I level faster because my soul uses the resources the System gives me better than others."


    "Exactly," Naz''Tor exclaimed. "There are a few more nuances to that, but that''s the gist of it. In the lower levels, it''s less noticeable, but once you get to the three digits, you will see how other survivors around you slow down. According to some research, a good portion of survivors and Voidlings reach their peak sometime before or after the stage five evolution. Yes, they can still progress, but it''s slow, and not even dropping more points in the Soul attribute can help. That one only decides your soul''s strength, not its potential."


    "Wait. It affects the Voidlings, too?"


    The merchant chuckled. "They also have a soul, so the answer is yes."


    Leo didn''t respond right away. When he called, he didn''t expect to be given a lesson on the inner workings of the soul but was thankful nonetheless. It put some things into perspective. Like for example, how he was supposed to ever reach the power of beings that had centuries, if not more, to grow stronger.


    Well, now he knew. The knowledge that Voidlings were also affected was quite nice, too. Still, there was one question bugging him out.


    "Is there a way to improve the soul''s potential?"


    "Of course there is!" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "There isn''t much that isn''t possible with the System and the Void. Although, I will admit, even someone with my resources and contacts can''t just enhance their potential without a lot of work."


    Good to know, but I want more.


    "So what? Items?" he prodded.


    "Among other things," the merchant answered, pretty much avoiding the question. "With how fast you progress, that''s not something you will have to worry about for a long, long time. Trust me on that, kid."


    Leo sighed and, for a moment, considered trying to fish for more information. However, after a glance at Nyx and the tall, glowing pillar next to him, he decided otherwise. Soul''s potential could wait; he had more important stuff to ask about.


    "Fine then... Tell me, how do I go about destroying a big-ass Supercluster core? Without dying, that is."

 Chapter 243. Big bang

    ¡°Ah! So that¡¯s what this is about.¡± Naz¡¯Tor laughed. ¡°Better safe than sorry, am I right?¡±


    ¡°You are,¡± Leo agreed. ¡°This thing has enough power to destroy my London. Figured best to call you before I just hit it.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± The merchant paused for a moment. ¡°You can go ahead and do that if you don¡¯t mind getting blasted away. The explosion shouldn¡¯t kill you, but not even the Bellatoure I gave you will be able to fix you up. I personally recommend you set up an explosive at the base of the core and get as far away as possible. It¡¯s how most survivors deal with the cores.¡±


    He nodded with a hum. ¡°How strong does the explosive need to be?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any Greater Crystallized Essences?¡±


    ¡°A few.¡±


    ¡°Then there you have it,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said. ¡°Two or three of those should do the job if you place them together. The core might look tough, but it¡¯s just an illusion. It¡¯s almost as fragile as any other vital organ.¡±


    The basilisk coiled around makes that a bit hard to believe, but okay. Leo noted with a glance at the dead beast. ¡°I will do just that then. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m always happy to help, for a price, of course.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he muttered, already expecting as much. ¡°So, how much do I owe you?¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor laughed again. ¡°Nothing, kid. I was just kidding. I wouldn¡¯t charge you for what is the most common knowledge inside the Void. I¡¯m not that greedy¡­ Although, I wouldn¡¯t mind hearing more about those creatures you encountered. What did you call them? Ah, yes! Frostwraiths.¡±


    Leo shared a look with Nyx, and she shrugged, pretty much telling him to do whatever he wanted. So he did, and described everything he knew about this layer to the merchant. He already felt he owed the alien, so this was the least he could do.


    ¡°I see, I see¡­¡± Naz¡¯Tor muttered. ¡°Soul and Ghost-type Nightmares are quite rare in themselves. And with an ability to reanimate and transform other Voidlings on top of that? My, my¡­ You have happened upon some very unique specimen.¡±


    Don¡¯t I know it, he grumbled internally. ¡°Should I be worried?¡±


    ¡°Worried? No, not really. Just continue as you are, and you should be fine. I doubt the fight against the Nightmare will be easy, but it also shouldn¡¯t be too complicated. Voidlings with abilities like that usually aren¡¯t the best fighters. Their strength lies in the minions they control.¡±


    Leo nodded. ¡°Good to know.¡±


    Some would have argued that what the merchant said couldn¡¯t be true. After all, his ability to control Voidlings didn¡¯t take away from his normal strength. Yet, in his opinion, that argument was invalid. Takeover wasn¡¯t exactly a normal skill but something that originated from the true power of the Void.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Naz¡¯Tor suddenly exclaimed. ¡°Now that I think of it, could you harvest a part of that Nightmare once you kill it? Even if it¡¯s a full ghost type, it should leave something behind. I will pay you nicely for it.¡±


    Leo shrugged. ¡°I will see what I can do. No promises, though.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. Just keep it in mind¡­ Now, if that¡¯s all, I¡¯m leaving you to your fun,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said in his usual jovial tone. ¡°Just one more thing. Before you destroy the core, let your people on Earth know. They will want to be close.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Not telling!¡± The alien laughed. ¡°You will find out soon. Good luck, kid. Call me once you get out of the Rift.¡±


    ¡°Will do. Thanks again, Naz¡¯Tor.¡±


    With that, the call disconnected. Leo then quickly selected his sister from the contact list and wrote her a short message, just like the merchant told him to. A reply came a few seconds later with more questions than he had answers.


    Just do it, he wrote back. I will call and explain the rest after I destroy the core.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    This time, Lily sent him a simple ¡®okay,¡¯ leaving him to his next task. With a bit of Essence manipulation, he hid the transmitter and took out three Greater Crystallized Essences.


    ¡°This will be fun¡­¡± he muttered, channeling his power into the shards. He went slower than usual so that he could stop just at their limit. That way, he and Nyx should get more time to run away.


    And¡­ There!


    Once the crystals could take no more, he put them at the base of the pillar and dashed in the opposite direction. Nyx clung to him in her smoke form as even with the small gap between their levels, he was quite a bit faster than her.


    After barely ten seconds¡ªmaybe less¡ªof running, an explosion rocked the entire valley¡ªno, scratch that, the entire layer. A powerful blast of wind followed, knocking Leo off his feet and sending him hurtling through the air.


    He quickly corrected his position mid-air and glanced at the source of the explosion for just a moment.


    Holy shit¡­


    A towering cloud of debris, smoke, and fire rose into the sky, a view reminiscent of the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. Not even the thick fog could block the sight of this phenomenon; the previous shockwave made sure of that.


    Yeah¡­ I can see why nobody should be close to that. Leo gulped once he landed and stood up.


    Nyx reformed next to him. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you called Naz¡¯Tor.¡±


    ¡°That makes two of us.¡±


    <hr>


    The site where the Supercluster core once stood became a giant crater, even bigger than the one created by Geron back in London. Still, Leo and Nyx moved to investigate, jumping down into the vast hole and trying to find anything valuable.


    Yet, to no one¡¯s surprise, there was nothing there. Well, aside from scorched rocks and tiny crystal pieces that didn¡¯t even get a reading from Identify. They still grabbed a few. Naz¡¯Tor could later tell them if they had any value.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Leo said once they left the crater and moved to a safer position. Staying there was just asking to get attacked by Voidlings. Sooner or later, something had to come to investigate the explosion.


    Nyx nodded and lay down next to him. ¡°How much longer?¡±


    Congratulations! You have destroyed a Supercluster Core (D rank). You shall receive your rewards once the Erasure process has been completed. Please stand by. Time remaining: 3 minutes, 31 seconds.


    ¡°Less than four minutes,¡± he replied, watching as the seconds ticked down.


    He thought of messaging Naz¡¯Tor to ask what exactly the process of Erasure was but dismissed that idea. At this point, he could wait. Besides, he had an inkling about what it could mean.


    And so time passed until the timer dropped to the last five seconds. Leo smiled when only a big, fat zero remained, summoning another wave of notifications in front of his eyes.


    There we go¡­


    The Erasure of the London Supercluster has been completed. Beacon of Peace and Origin Safe Zone established. You are now the owner of this new instance. You may access other options related to the Origin Safe Zone from the Beacon of Peace. Do you wish to designate a sub-owner now?


    What the¡­


    Leo¡¯s eyes grew wider and wider after each reading. Origin Safe Zone? Beacon of Peace? Him as the owner? Was this what Naz¡¯Tor was talking about?


    I swear, I will punch that guy when I meet him again. The hell is going on? Yet, before he could go on a rant, the System decided to repeat a part of his last notification.


    Do you wish to designate a sub-owner now? You may do it later if you want to.


    Yes, I want to do it later. I have no idea what is happening anyway. Leo sighed and took a few deep breaths. It¡¯s fine¡­ It¡¯s fine¡­ I will call Lily in a minute and find out what is going on down there.


    Acknowledged. Moving on to distributing rewards¡­


    As the sole contributor toward the Supercluster¡¯s destruction, you have been awarded: 75000 Ether, Bonus Experience, Free Advancement Token (Epic), Inferior Weaponized Ether Pack, Superior Shattered Core (D).


    Congratulations! You have reached level 78. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    If Leo¡¯s eyes widened before, now they almost fell out of their sockets. The Ether alone was a great reward in itself, but the rest? He didn¡¯t even know what to say.


    I think I found my favorite thing to hunt. This was the only thought his overwhelmed mind managed to construct. It took Nyx slapping him with her tail to make him focus.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered, rubbing his head.


    ¡°And?¡± the feline prodded. ¡°What did you get? We both got three levels, but what else?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you look through my eyes?¡±


    She huffed. ¡°I try to not make it a habit. Not without your permission, at least.¡±


    Leo shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but whatever. Look at this.¡±


    As he said that, he reached into his soul and pulled out all the new gifts. In a flash of crimson light, a large metal box landed before them. On the top of it lay a small yellow badge with a big ¡®A¡¯ engraved into it.


    Then there was the last item, a massive shard, easily the size of a large dog. It glowed with the same myriad of colors of the Supercluster Core, bathing the area in a soft light.


    ¡°Wow.¡± He heard the feline mutter, making him grin.


    ¡°Wow, indeed.¡±

 Chapter 244. Rewards

    "This badge," Nyx muttered, coming closer to the pile of items. "Isn''t this the same thing you got from my nest? The one that upgraded your cloak?"


    Leo hummed, grabbing the tiny badge and flipping it in his palm. "Not exactly. It''s very similar, but the one you are talking about was blue. This one is much better."


    Free Advancement Token (Epic):


    A simple yet powerful token created by the System. It allows the User to advance any item of Epic or lower rarity to a higher tier. The User has no impact on the outcome of this process. Please note that this token will work only for the one who received it. Additionally, this item will self-destroy after six hours if not used, and it cannot be replicated. Activates with Essence.


    Yeah, much better. He grinned. Only six hours this time around, but that''s not a problem anyway. There''s only one thing I can use it on.


    He reached into his soul and summoned the Cloak of True Night into his other hand. While personally, he didn''t think he needed any more help with stealth, maybe this item could become more than that with another upgrade.


    And it can only be improved with a System token. Not using it would be the definition of stupidity. With that thought in mind, Leo pushed a bit of Essence into the yellow badge.


    Free Advancement Token activated. Please connect it with the item you want to upgrade.


    He did just that and placed the token on the cloak. Similar to the last time, it ignited in blinding golden flames that gradually consumed the entire alien fabric. Within a few seconds, he held a cloth of fire instead of his trusty cloak.


    More time ticked by as the flames began to dwindle, their golden brilliance fading to a soft red. Slowly, the dark fabric came back into sight, making Leo frown. It looked the same as it had before the upgrade, with the same darkness oozing off its surface.


    Wait. There''s something¡­


    He squinted as the last flames vanished, running a single claw along the alien fabric, tracing one of the many dark violet lines now etched into the cloak. In the low light of this layer, they almost blended into the darkness of the entire item.


    Leo tried to find any patterns created by those lines, but there were none. No runes, no mysterious symbols, nothing. At first glance, it didn''t seem like there was anything special about those new additions to his cloak.


    Let''s see if that''s really the case.


    Shadow''s Veil (Radiant):


    A piece of clothing created by the System''s Advancement Token. It''s made of pure darkness and special material available only to the System. This item can be changed into anything the user wishes, be it a cloak, pants, shirt, etc. The fit will always be perfect and comfortable and will be repaired after being damaged. While worn in the dark, the user will become practically invisible to the average senses. Additionally, it enhances the user''s connection to darkness and offers an above-average level of protection against Essence attacks.


    Notice: This item can only be upgraded with the System''s Advancement Tokens.


    I honestly have no idea if I should be happy or disappointed. Leo furrowed his brow, spreading the Shadow''s Veil between his arms. For now, it looked like a weird blanket. I won''t lie, I expected a bit more from a Radiant quality item, though maybe I shouldn''t have¡­ Item qualities sure are confusing.


    Yet, when he set aside his unreasonable expectations, the new cloak was still a significant improvement over the old one. It should finally make him undetectable to normal means in the dark, and the added protection was always a welcome bonus.


    "But what should you become?" Leo scratched his chin. "Any ideas, Nyx?"


    The feline shrugged. "Don''t ask me. Armor and clothing are the least of my worries."


    Yeah¡­ He sighed, partially expecting such an answer. Some protection for my head would be nice, but I don''t really fancy wearing a helmet or stuff like that. A cowl or a hood should be fine, though, as long as it doesn''t block my sight. Hmm¡­ Maybe if I do this¡­Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The blanket of darkness landed upon his shoulders and slowly started expanding, adapting to his form. All it needed was a spark of Essence and some intent from him.


    At first, it covered his front¡ªdown to his waist¡ªand back while still leaving some openings for his floaters. From there, it crawled onto his arms, forming long sleeves that partially hid even the blades on his forearms. However, when he extended them, the darkness retreated to reveal them fully.


    "Neat," he commented as the final part of clothing formed¡ªthe cowl.


    It enveloped his long and thick neck before moving onto his head. At first, he thought it would stop at his eyes, leaving them uncovered, but he was wrong. The darkness kept going and left only the tip of his snout peaking out of the now fully-formed cowl.


    Yet, somehow, by means he couldn''t understand, Leo had no problem seeing through the dark material. He knew it was right there in front of his eyes, but it still didn''t block his vision.


    Scratch that. This thing is great. He grinned and tried to make it extend over his legs with another command to the Shadow''s Veil.


    It didn''t work. Apparently, the item had reached its limit.


    Oh well, you can''t have everything.


    With the process finished, Leo scanned his new creation. It looked like a strange cross between a hoodie and a jacket. Darkness still oozed off its surface, and now the violet lines were far more visible, accentuating the oddness of the entire design.


    He glanced at Nyx. "I look like an idiot, don''t I?"


    The feline tilted her head. "Maybe a bit? I''m really not the person to ask about stuff like that, Leo."


    His shoulders slumped. "Ah, whatever¡­ Who cares anyway¡­ It''s a bit more protection. That''s all that matters."


    Nonetheless, he still removed the cowl for the time being. Even if he could still see, wearing something over his eyes felt weird. Not uncomfortable, but weird. The design definitely needed some adjusting.


    Later, he decided and turned to the rest of the items. First, he fired off an Identify at the massive crystal.


    Superior Shattered Core (D):


    A small shard of a D rank Supercluster core. A part of its power remains dormant within, waiting to be awakened. This item can be used as a powerful power source. Additionally, it is a crucial material needed for Safe Zone upgrades.


    Leo nodded. All of that sounded quite simple. Only the lack of regular quality ranking confused him a bit. Yet another thing to ask Naz''Tor about.


    After returning the Shattered Core to his soul, he settled before the large metal crate and unlocked it. Once Nyx sat down next to him, he popped up the lid.


    "I will be damned," he muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the items inside. "Weaponized Ether indeed¡­"


    There were flares, dozens stacked on the crate''s left side. Leo grabbed the one at the top and checked it with Identify.


    Only an uncommon quality. Still not bad. Five minutes of life time is more than enough to save someone''s life. He summed up. Now, what else do we have here¡­


    He returned the flare to its previous position and opened the cloth bag that took up most of the space inside the crate. He reached inside, only to pause when his claws touched a very familiar item.


    Hold up.


    Leo pulled his hand out and chuckled once he spotted the object in his grasp. Those chuckles soon turned to full-blown laughter. In his humble opinion, it was a reasonable reaction, seeing as the System decided to gift him with a few dozen Inferior Ether Grenades.


    "Oh, we''re eating good tonight," he mumbled once his laughter died down.


    Nyx snorted and slapped the back of his head with her tail. "I get you''re excited, but get on with it. You still have to call Lily, remember?"


    "Yeah, yeah. Sorry. It''s just¡­" He shook his head with another chuckle. "Anyway, last one."


    He grabbed a much smaller metal box from the crate and cracked its lock. Considering what he just got, he went in without any expectations. And yet, when the lip popped up, he almost dropped the box.


    "A gun?"


    Or, more precisely, a sleek, futuristic handgun lay before him. Its black surface was layered with golden power lines that pulsed faintly as they channeled energy toward the barrel.


    Leo gently took it into his large hands and activated Identify.


    Inferior Etherpulse (Uncommon):


    A weapon created by the System to help the survivors against the unending hordes of Nightmares. As an Inferior version, this handgun has limited ammunition of 500 and cannot be recharged. A skilled marksman can use this weapon to kill most of the F and E rank Voidlings with a single bullet. Its efficiency against D rank monsters is slightly worse but still noticeable. The System advises against using it on stronger creatures.


    "Oh, the people back on Earth will love you¡­"

 Chapter 245. Possible issues

    "People on Earth? Maybe. But it doesn''t look too useful for us," Nyx commented. "Can you even shoot it?"


    Leo frowned as he gripped the handgun by the handle and tried to place his clawed finger on the trigger.


    It didn''t go too well¡­


    The Inferior Etherpulse was just too small for his hands, and he couldn''t even grip it properly. Maybe if he had normal fingers instead of claws, he could make it work. But as he was now, he would only damage the gun if he tried to use it.


    Still, at least give me one shot. I want to see how it works.


    With the handgun still in his grasp, he slowly moved his other hand to press the trigger. The power lines brightened, and then a blast of golden energy shot out of the barrel, flying far faster than he could move. It dove right into the mist, where it disappeared after a blink, leaving only a faint trail of energy behind.


    "Looks like a gun, works like a gun," Leo muttered and placed the weapon back in its box. "But you''re right, Nyx. If I want to ever use a firearm, I will need something much, much bigger than this thing."


    The feline hummed. "If this is the weakest the System can offer, then you will probably get your chance sooner or later."


    "Probably." He nodded and returned the large crate back to his soul. The TEK transmitter landed in his hand instead, but he hasn''t activated it for now. He had one more thing to check.


    System, partial status.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Void''s Heir


    Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax


    Class: Nightblade(P) | LVL. 78


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: D


    Might: Tier III (384) | LB: 181


    Grace: Tier III (640) | LB: 180


    Vision: Tier III (218) | LB: 178


    Mind: Tier III (268) | LB: 7


    Soul: Tier III (435) | LB: 179


    Ether: 155485


    That''s a lot of Ether, he mused, reminding himself of all the mutations waiting for him. He could definitely afford one now, but he still needed more Greater Crystallized Essences. Each Beta tier mutation required at least twenty of those, and he barely had ten now.


    If only the Daemons dropped more¡­


    Leo shook his head and dismissed the System. Mutations were the least of his worries now, anyway. He could always buy the remaining requirements from Naz''Tor if he ran out of patience.


    Got to ask him about the prices first and maybe see what else he has to offer regarding mutations. For now, I''ve been mostly using him for information¡­ Hmm, I got a lot of Ether now. I could even visit his shop again.


    The more he thought about it, the more he liked the sound of that idea. During his first visit to Naz''Tor shop, he didn''t really care about checking the displayed goods. However, now that he had become stronger and got to know the merchant a bit, he wouldn''t mind meeting the alien face-to-face again. It had been a while, after all.


    Yeah. Added to the list of things to do once we get out of here.


    "Leo?" Nyx poked him with her tail. "Are you going to finally call Lily, or will you just keep standing here like a statue?"


    He flinched and let out a fake cough to gather his composure. "Right¡­"


    He quickly activated the transmitter and selected his sister from the list. Like last time, he didn''t have to wait long for the call to connect.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Leo!" Lily shouted so loud her voice cracked. "You finally called! You won''t believe what happened here."


    "Hello to you too," he said, his voice as dry as a desert. "I won''t? Let me guess¡ªthere is now a pillar in the middle of London that spawned a new safe zone."


    "I¡­ Yes¡­ Shit, right. The System probably told you about that," she rambled. "But I bet you have no idea what kind of safe zone you created."


    She got me there. Aside from the weird name, I know nothing. Leo cleared his throat. "All right, enlighten me then."


    "Gladly! That pillar, Leo? It''s fucking huge. It comes straight from the bottom of the Supercluster and is at least twice as large as London''s Eye. I ain''t kidding."


    Okay, that''s honestly impressive. He nodded. "And what about the safe zone?"


    Lily snickered. "That''s where it gets even better. Bloody thing consumed the entire Supercluster and the surrounding areas. Our old place is nothing next to this. A good chuck of London is now completely safe. I''m here, and I can barely believe what I¡¯m seeing!"


    And it keeps getting better and better. Leo smiled. "Voidlings? Void Gates?"


    "Gone. Vanished. Dead. Kaput," she laughed, sounding happier than she had in a while. "As for the Void Gates? No idea; we didn''t have enough time to get down there yet, and I couldn''t see them from the top. That''s why we''re going there now."


    "We? Who''s there with you?"


    "That would be me and a few of my people," a very familiar male voice came through the transmitter. "Blood hell, mate. I gotta say, you outdid yourself. If we play our cards right, this place could become a beacon of hope for all the remaining survivors on Earth."


    "Frank," Leo greeted. "Glad to hear my work has paid off."


    "Paid off?" The other man snorted loudly. "Fucking hell, it''s much more than that. This place is powerful, lad, way beyond the safe zones we''ve had until now¡­ Listen, when I stepped through the barrier, I bloody shivered from the sheer power that went though my body. It felt like someone was judging me and could kill me at any moment."


    "Same here," Lily added. "It was only for a second, but I never felt this kind of power¡ªnot even from Payne."


    "The System called it the Origin Safe Zone," Leo said, hoping to explain at least some stuff. "And the pillar, the Beacon of Peace."


    "Fancy names," Frank grunted. "Know what they mean exactly?"


    "No. All I know is that I''m the owner and that I have to get to the Beacon to access more options for it."


    "Hold up! You''re the owner?" Lily asked. "Without a proper job? How?"


    "No idea." He shrugged. "It''s probably some kind of loophole. It isn¡¯t a normal safe zone after all."


    "Aye, sounds about right," Frank agreed. "Just a shame we got to wait for you to do anything with it¡­ Or you know what, scratch that, maybe that''s for the best."


    Leo didn''t share his opinion and quickly told them about the possibility of appointing a sub-leader. There was no point in waiting for his return. Now that he wasn''t working against a timer, he could take his time on this layer. It would be a waste to do otherwise.


    "Nay, count me out, mate," the other man said. "I can lead people into battle, but managing a safe zone? No, thank you. I will leave that to the rest of you."


    "Lily?"


    "Malcolm or Holden would be much better for this, but¡­" She trailed off and remained silent for a few seconds. "Can you like make me a sub-leader for a moment and then take it away and give the position to someone else? I would like to at least check what we can learn at the pillar."


    Leo didn''t even think of that. "Give me a moment."


    Not waiting for their answer, he called for the System. I would like to appoint the sub-leader for the Origin Safe Zone. I have a question, though¡ªcan I transfer this position to someone else later?


    It was a long shot. The System answered his direct question only once before. However, this was a unique situation, so the outcome might be different.


    Acknowledged. You may appoint and change sub-leaders as many times as you want with a 24-hour cooldown. In the future, it will be possible to grant this position to more than one person. If you really wish to appoint a sub-leader, please state their name and evolutionary designation in the following order: Name - Stage - Evolution name.


    "I can do it," Leo spoke into the transmitter. "You will have to keep the title for a day, but after that, I can change it to someone else."


    "Fine then," Lily said. "Appoint me. Once you come back, you can switch it."


    There it goes, then. System, appoint Lily Hale, stage three, Aether Nephilim.


    Processing¡­ Sub-leader position successfully assigned.


    "Oh!" his sister exclaimed. "I got it! Huh, it even says I can resign after a day. Nice! Now you have to pay me, or I will quit."


    Leo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Get to the Beacon first. Well, after you check on the Void Gates."


    "Yeah¡­ about that, mate," Frank said, his voice filled with apprehension. "We might have a problem, a big one."


    He frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "Leo, there is nothing here," Lily muttered. "We''re right where you entered the rift, but the Void Gates are missing, all three of them. They vanished just like the Voidlings. There is no trace of them¡­"


    Leo and Nyx looked at each other with only one thought going through both of their minds.


    Ah shit¡­

 Chapter 246. Beacon of Peace

    "Hello? Leo? Nyx?" Lily called out once the silence began to stretch for too long. "Did the call disconnect? No¡­ Everyth¡ª"


    "I''m still here," Leo cut her off. "Just had to process what you said¡­ Are you sure you''re in the right place? Maybe you went to the wrong side of the Supercluster."


    "Who do you take me for, an idiot?" she said with a hint of worry entering her voice. "My memory isn''t that bad. We''re definitely in the right place, and there is nothing here. Not a sign of the Void Gates."


    "Well, that''s just great," he grumbled. "I knew something had to go to shit sooner or later. This trip was way too easy for a C- rank rift."


    No reply came from the transmitter right away this time. Leo sighed and started walking in circles, trying to organize the mess in his head. The disappearance of the Void Gates was a problem but not the end of the world. He dealt with worse¡ªor so he thought.


    "Listen, mate," Frank said, breaking the silence. "What are the odds that the gate on your end will spit you out in a random place on Earth? Maybe the designation just changed a bit."


    "I have no idea," he answered without hesitation. "For all I know, I could exit on some random place in the Void¡ªor something like Terlasfor. Either way, I''m fucked if that''s the case. I don''t know how to navigate the universe, much less the Void."


    "What about that merchant?" Lily blurted. "He has to know something, right? Right?! You have to ask him. Maybe he has a way to get you back to Earth safely."


    "Maybe," Leo agreed reluctantly. As much as he liked Naz''Tor, he didn''t want to run to the alien with his every problem. However, it looked like the choice was taken out of his hands this time. His survival mattered more than his ego.


    "Then go! Call him," his sister hissed. "This is important."


    "Calm down. There is no reason to panic yet. I''m nowhere near the end of this Rift, anyway. I have time," he explained. "Get to the Beacon, I will text him in the meantime."


    "Good thinking!" Frank rejoined the conversation before an argument could start. "Come on, little Hale. Start walking."


    Thank you, Leo said in the safety of his mind. He didn''t like this situation either, but panicking like Lily probably wanted to wouldn''t help anyone. All right then, Naz''Tor, I hope you have some good news for me.


    While keeping the call active, he selected the merchant in the transmitter and quickly typed a message that explained the basics of his problem. Like always, he didn''t have to wait long for an answer.


    Yeah, I expected as much. He grimaced and wrote another text, trying to gather more information. Naz''Tor, ever the helpful alien, answered all of his questions in detail that most probably had to pay for.


    Still, Leo almost wished he didn''t¡ªespecially after the final message the merchant sent him. There was no denying it now. He was truly and utterly screwed.


    My luck must have run out again. He slumped and leaned against one of the many dead trees around him. Now, to rip off the band-aid.


    "I talked to the merchant," he said into the transmitter. "And it''s pretty bad. Best case scenario, I somehow arrive back on Earth or on some planet within our universe."


    It took a few seconds to get a response. "What about¡­ what about worst case?" Lily asked quietly.


    He grimaced again. "It''s a lottery, but I could very well land on a planet within the Void that is ranked much higher than me. The odds for that are small, though," he quickly added. "Most likely, I will end up somewhere with a power rank similar to this rift."


    "Shite," Frank muttered. "What about an item that could teleport you back to Earth? He is a merchant, for fuck''s sake; doesn''t he have anything like that?"Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I fear not. I already asked."


    And wasn''t that a disappointment.


    After remembering the black rod the Lone Traveler gave him during their only meeting, he asked Naz''Tor about a similar item. Unfortunately, the alien had no idea what he was even talking about. If such a thing existed, only Tarak had access to it.


    "There must be something you can do to return," Lily cried out. "I refuse to believe that your only option is to get stuck on some godforsaken planet in the Void."


    Leo smiled wryly. "But it is, and that''s fine. I can handle it."


    "How can you say that?!" she growled. "You''re strong, I get that, but what if you really land on some high-ranked planet? You aren''t invincible."


    "Then I will survive. I will adapt and return as soon as I can. Don''t worry, Naz''Tor promised to help, and I have Nyx with me. I will be fine."


    "He''s right, lass," Frank cut in. "If there is one person I believe can survive all the bullshit in the Void, then it''s your brother. Fucker faced a literal god and lived to tell the tale. This will be a walk in the park for him."


    Well¡­ I wouldn''t put it like that, but hey, nice speech. Leo chuckled. "What he said. Give me a few days, and I will be back. Who knows, maybe this trip will even pay off. There is much to learn from this."


    "Fine," Lily uttered. "It''s not like I can change anything. Just¡­ just promise to call or at least text me every day. I need to know you are alive."


    "I promise." His smile widened. "Now, let''s change the subject. I have the last layer to beat first, anyway¡­ Are you at the beacon yet, or are you still walking? I swear, it''s been a while now¡­"


    "We''re there," Frank confirmed. "All that''s left is to use it."


    "Give me a second," Lily grumbled. "Hold this for now."


    Some squeaky, high-pitched noise reached his ears as the transmitter on the other side most likely just swapped hands. Both he and Nyx winced, cursing their high Vision attribute.


    "All right, I got it!" Lily exclaimed, her voice a bit muffled. "A menu with a few options. Do you want me to check them all?"


    "What else?"


    "Right¡­ First one, then¡­ It shows me everyone who is inside the safe zone. There is everything here. Levels, evolution, and even their position."


    Frank whistled. "Now that''s good security. Tony will love it."


    "Next¡­" Lily muttered. "Those are just upgrades for the safe zone. No idea what the standard is, so I can''t tell if there''s anything special here. We can ask Malcolm later."


    He nodded. "Let me know too."


    "I will¡­ Now, the next one is¡­ Holy shit! A global system message."


    "What?" Frank said, and Leo could even hear his sudden movement.


    "A global system message," Lily repeated. "We can send up to three notifications per week to every survivor on Earth! That''s¡ª"


    "Massive," the Fallen finished for her. "The potential¡­ Bloody hell, I can''t wait for Tony to hear about this. The two of us had already talked about something similar, but I never expected it to actually be possible."


    Leo snorted. "Christmas came early this year."


    "Should we¡­" his sister trailed off.


    "Nay, lass," Frank beat him to answer. "Way too early for that, and all of us should be here for this. We gotta regroup and get ourselves sorted first after this mess. Then, we can think about sending anything out to other survivors around the world. If this is supposed to be some pillar of hope for humanity, then we can''t go in half-arsed."


    I couldn''t have said it better myself, Leo commented internally.


    ¡°I guess so¡­ Next menu then¡­ And shit, it just keeps getting better and better. Listen to this. There is an option called Preservation, which gives all survivors on Earth a chance to save our planet from getting consumed completely by the Void at the end of the Outbreak."


    "How?" he and Frank said at the same time.


    "Ah, that''s where it gets complicated." Even without being next to her, Leo could see the grimace on his sister''s face. "There are a couple requirements, each harder than the last one."


    "Specifics, sis, specifics."


    "Don''t get your knickers in a twist. Give me a second," she said. "All right. First, we have to exterminate at least seventy percent of Voidlings on Earth; the same applies to normal nests. Then there are Nightmares and their factories¡ªat least sixty percent there. Another thing is the beacon. We got to upgrade it, like a lot¡­"


    "The first two sound doable; no idea about the beacon, though," Leo admitted. "Anything else?"


    "Yep! There is also a minimal population requirement. It''s grayed out for now, though¡­ Oh, and there''s another about a minimal amount of safe zones¡ªalso grayed out. That''s all."


    "Aye, for now," Frank snorted. "I wouldn''t be even slightly surprised if there were more hidden conditions. Got any other menus there, lass?"


    "Nothing we haven''t heard of before. Maybe Leo will have access to more, but that''s all I can see as a sub-owner."


    "That''s my cue then." He sighed and stood up. "Time to get back on the move. Take care, you two. I will try to call within the next twenty-four hours."


    "We will be waiting. Good luck, mate."


    "Thanks¡­ Hopefully, I won''t need it."

 Chapter 247. The final stretch

    Although at first Leo wanted to take his time exploring the third layer, that plan had to change after he learned about the Void Gates¡¯ disappearance. Getting back to Earth was a priority, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time sightseeing.


    That didn¡¯t mean he ignored everything on his way to find the final exit from this Void Rift. He still killed and devoured every monster that dared to step out of the mist. Hunter¡¯s Pulse worked overtime, making sure that he didn¡¯t miss anything valuable.


    But he still found nothing¡ªbesides the various ghost towns, this place was as empty as before. Either the Nightmare controlling this layer had taken everything, or there was nothing here to begin with. Well, that, or this place had been abandoned for so long that any valuables had long since turned to dust.


    Either way, Leo tried to get the most out of the few hours he had spent searching for the exit. The Caged Frostwraith monsters were too weak to give him or Nyx another level, but at least they still provided him with more Ether and the occasional Greater Crystallized Essence.


    He still needed a few more for the first Beta-tier mutation, but he was getting there. Even if he didn¡¯t get the required amount here, at worst, he would have to buy only a few from Naz¡¯Tor. Of course, aside from that, he still had to harvest a few more body parts. That could wait, though.


    ¡°Hopefully, this is it,¡± Leo muttered.


    After hours of running, they came upon yet another cave entrance at the base of a mountain. Or at least, he thought it was a mountain. He still couldn¡¯t really see too far with the mist surrounding him from each side. Hell, in his opinion, it had grown even thicker since he destroyed the Supercluster core.


    ¡°At the very least, it shouldn¡¯t be empty,¡± Nyx said. ¡°You still feel it, right?¡±


    He nodded, honing in on the powerful energy signature that had touched his enhanced senses. He had first caught the hint of it about an hour ago, and ever since then, they had been following it with the help of Hunter¡¯s Pulse. While the ability couldn¡¯t create a clear trail for him, it at least helped steer him in the right direction.


    ¡°If this isn¡¯t it, we might have another problem,¡± he admitted and stepped into the cave. ¡°This layer is too big for us to search in one day or even two. Honestly, it¡¯s a miracle we even found this place.¡±


    Nyx snorted as she fell in step next to him. ¡°There is nothing miraculous about this. I¡¯m willing to bet something wanted us to come here.¡±


    ¡°Think the Nightmare grew tired of us killing its minions?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± She shrugged. ¡°We will find out in a moment.¡±


    True to her word, after a few more minutes of walking, they reached the end of the tunnel. It opened into a large chamber, similar to others they had found on this layer, but without any mist. A small Void Gate at the far end of the room bathed the entire place in dim light.


    Leo stopped, refusing to step inside just yet. He scanned the mass of energy swirling inside the gate and frowned. It might be active now, but he knew better than to rush in and try to go through it. Its guardian had to be somewhere nearby, and he remembered what had happened during his first trip into the Void.


    Let¡¯s back off, he said to Nyx through their link. The feline nodded, and together, they returned deeper into the tunnel.


    ¡®You think the Nightmare is hiding inside?¡¯ she asked when they stopped again.


    Most likely. And even if that¡¯s not the case, I¡¯m not risking it. The last rift I visited collapsed after I killed its guardian, and I don¡¯t want it to happen for now.


    A look of understanding washed over her face. ¡®Mutation?¡¯


    He inclined his head. I got all I needed for one of the remaining Gamma tiers back in the first layer. This might be my last chance to mutate while remaining relatively safe. Void knows I won¡¯t have time for stuff like that once we step through that gate.


    ¡®Good point. Go on, then. I will watch over you.¡¯This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Thanks, he said and summoned the System¡¯s interface. He scanned the list of mutations and selected the one he wanted.


    Mutation: Enhanced Sharpness (Gamma Tier)


    In a world where every second matters, an edge honed to perfection is your best friend. Don¡¯t let anything stop your blade. Cut, slice, and dice your enemies to pieces.


    Effects:


    Your claws, spikes, blades, and other biological weapons gain a significant increase in sharpness. Efficiency of sharpness-related skills slightly improved.


    Requirements: 15000 Ether, 8 limbs of Blade-Type level 35+ beasts, 10 Unattuned Crystallized Essences.


    Required components detected within the User¡¯s Soulscape. Do you wish to proceed with this mutation? Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes.


    That I do. Begin, System.


    Choice Acknowledged. Beginning Mutation. Please don¡¯t try to manipulate your body during this process. Relax.


    Easier said than done.


    Leo winced as his blades extended on their own, igniting with black flames. One by one, his claws, talons, and the spikes along his back and tail followed suit. The searing heat coursing through his body felt unbearable, as if his flesh were melting.


    He didn¡¯t dare look down to confirm if it was.


    Thankfully, after a few agonizing minutes since the mutation began, the flames receded. For a moment, he thought that this was it, but the System quickly proved him wrong.


    Invisible hammers began pounding against his blades and every other sharp surface on his body. A silent scream tore out of his throat as they hit him again and again, each strike reshaping and reforging him. Pain followed every blow, and if not for Nyx, he would have already collapsed.


    After a bit more hammering, the pain suddenly stopped as a wave of cold air washed over him. Leo sighed in relief and slumped in the feline¡¯s grasp.


    Mutation completed.


    Slowly, Leo opened his eyes and gazed down at his extended blades. They were still serrated and painted in dark crimson. However, the final inch¡ªif even that¡ªof the edge became even darker, bordering on black. The spikes on his back and tail followed the same pattern.


    As for his claws and talons? Visually, there was no noticeable difference, but he could feel it¡ªsomething he couldn¡¯t quite put into words.


    As such, he stood up and slid a single claw against the cavern¡¯s wall. The tip ripped through the gray rock, almost like it was weak human flesh. It didn¡¯t go too deep, but the improvement was obvious right away.


    ¡®And?¡¯ Nyx prodded, poking him with her tail. ¡®Like the upgrade?¡¯


    Leo shrugged. It¡¯s good but nothing that special. I¡¯m more excited for the other one.


    ¡®Nightmare Heart?¡¯


    Yeah. A few hearts from two more sub-species of Nightmares and I will be done with Gamma mutations. Maybe if we are lucky¡­ He trailed off, shaking his head. No use in jinxing himself.


    Nyx hummed. ¡®Are you sure about that? We could try some of the affinities. They wouldn¡¯t be that hard to get.¡¯


    No. He denied the idea instantly. I have a plan for my affinities. We just have to get out of this mess first.


    ¡®Well,¡¯¡ªthe feline grinned¡ª¡®the first step toward freedom is waiting for us.¡¯


    Freedom¡­ He chuckled. Don¡¯t know about that. If we really land somewhere deep in the Void¡­


    ¡®I see... ever the optimist.¡¯ She snickered. ¡®Come on. Even if that really happens, you can¡¯t tell me you aren¡¯t at least a bit curious about the survivors who already live there.¡¯


    Oh, I¡¯m curious, all right, but there are good odds everyone will want to kill me on sight. I¡¯m an Akirian, Nyx. A Prime one at that. As much as I want to believe people like me are accepted in the Void, we both know the origin of my species.


    Nyx grimaced. ¡®Point taken, but did you at least ask Naz¡¯Tor how Akirians are seen by other races? It might not be as bad as we think.¡¯


    Leo blinked, feeling quite stupid. Without answering the feline, he fished out his transmitter and fired a message to the merchant. It took him only a few seconds to respond.


    ¡°It depends,¡± he read the reply. ¡°There are plenty of places where Akirians are killed on sight, but the opposite is also true. You being a Prime is a bigger issue. Call me once you leave the rift. We will figure out the rest then together.¡±


    ¡®At least we got him on our side.¡¯


    True. He smiled just as they paused at the end of the tunnel. Ready?


    ¡®After you.¡¯


    Leo chuckled and extended his blades, activating Spectral Fury. Then he stepped inside the vast chamber, watching as the violet veins upon the Void Gate instantly turned crimson.


    I knew it.


    Warning! Dimensional Gateway has been sealed. Kill the Guardian of the Rift to release the Gate from its influence. Entering the portal in its current state will result in death.

 Chapter 248. The Reaper

    Now, where is the guardian? Too scared to show itself?


    As if to answer his question, fog¡ªthicker than any he had seen before¡ªdescended upon the chamber. It surrounded him in a perfect dome, reducing the available space for the incoming battle. Still, Leo took a step forward, expecting the mist to move with him.


    It didn''t. Instead, it stood still like a solid wall, and for a moment, he couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if he stepped into it. However, the System stopped him before he could make that decision.


    Domain trap activated: Mist of Frost.


    Ah, there it is, another domain.


    Leo smiled and called forth his bloodlust. It answered like an eager pet, activating Relentless Hunger. His sight shifted, and several blurred, dark red silhouettes appeared within the mist. Most of them he recognized.


    Let''s play then!


    Shadows rushed out of his soul, enveloping his entire body in a thick armor that was soon reinforced further by Nyx in her smoke form. At the same time, more of his affinity slipped onto the ground, covering the entire area not claimed by the mist. The guardian might have trapped him, but he wouldn''t give it another inch of the battlefield.


    Resonance and Manifestation online. His smile widened. "I see you¡­ Come out."


    A cold whisper echoing from every possible direction answered his words. "As you wish."


    It speaks? Leo''s eyes widened, though he didn''t get much time to ponder this new discovery. The Voidlings responsible for the red silhouettes finally dived out of the mist, heading right for him.


    He had seen all those monsters before and killed over a hundred of them already. There were the massive ogre-like beasts, mutilated animals, and even something resembling a Cursed Juggernaut, just half-dead in this case.


    While Leo met the horde in front of him head-on. Nyx sprouted dozens of dark tendrils out of his back, fending off the monsters attacking from behind. He also transferred the control over Resonance to her, allowing her to command the entire battlefield. If the Nightmare controlling the strings didn''t want to come out, they would force it out.


    Dozens of small shadow constructs climbed out of the ground just as he clashed against the first Caged Frostwraith variant. The beast stood no chance as his blades sliced through its arms and the head they defended. Without sparing the new corpse a glance, he vanished with a Blink.


    Thanks to the shadow creatures running around the battlefield, Leo had no issue picking off the Voidlings one by one. Some tried to defend from his hit-and-run tactic, but then a construct would strike them from behind, giving him the only window he needed.


    And so, within a minute, maybe less, the wave of monsters lay dead on the ground, slowly getting consumed by the surrounding shadows. Leo almost felt insulted by how weak they were.


    "Impressive," the cold voice spoke again.


    Leo narrowed his eyes, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. He even used a quick Hunter''s Pulse, but just like before, the skill found nothing.


    "I would return the compliment, but quite frankly, this was pathetic. Is that all you¡¯ve got?" he taunted the unknown. "Come on. Show yourself."


    "No."


    With that, another wave of monsters emerged from the mist, their strength comparable to that of the last one. But that wasn''t all that happened. Either his taunt had worked, or the Nightmare had simply decided to escalate the battle.


    Not that it mattered which option was true.


    A wind, colder than anything he had ever felt before, struck him square in the face, spreading frost all over his armored form. Tiny, almost unnoticeable shards of ice followed, cutting at his shadow armor. For the most part, they failed, but some still got through before hitting an unbreakable wall that was his clothes and scales.


    Leo snorted. Nice try.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    In collaboration with Nyx, and without even moving from his spot, he released the hold on the Essence gathered in Resonance. Shadows exploded all over the battlefield at his order, tearing apart the mortal parts of the Caged Frostwraiths running at him. He could have targeted their ghost halves, too, but he had discovered that it took much more energy to kill them that way.


    "And dead," he muttered after the last Voidling fell to the ground. He ignored the continuous biting wind. "Disappointing yet again."


    "I see¡­"


    At those simple words, the entire cave shook. Leo tensed and stepped to the side just as a gigantic spike of ice erupted from the ground. A blue frozen lance then flew out of this mist, followed by a dozen more. Still, he sliced and dodged them all.


    "Weak," he muttered.


    That must have enraged the one pulling the strings. Not even a second later, two smaller Caged Frostwraith Basilisks shot out of the fog, spitting blobs of poison all across the battlefield and dissolving Resonance in some places.


    Leo grinned and jumped out of their path, gathering more Essence in his blades. Once again, he infused a touch of Ruination into the growing technique before releasing it when he reached the peak of his jump.


    Two perfect arcs of shadows descended upon the Basilisks, which twisted their long bodies in an attempt to reach him. The attacks struck true, slicing through their heads and continuing onward in a shower of blood and poison.


    Leo landed at the edge of the battlefield, and a moment later, the Basilisks followed¡ªboth dead and their bodies almost cut in half.


    "Not bad!" he shouted. "Got any more?"


    This time, no one responded. Instead, the dome of mist began to shrink, pushing against his Resonance still active over the ground. He frowned and fueled more Essence into the technique.


    The advance slowed down, angering the unknown monster further. The biting wind sped up while another salvo of ice projectiles descended upon his position.


    Leo stood his ground, focusing on stopping the mist. Nyx could deal with the ice.


    For minutes, maybe longer, they fought in an invisible tug-of-war, a battle of Essence and affinities. The unknown monster was strong; he could admit as much. Nonetheless, it only managed to consume half of the remaining battlefield before his shadows stopped the mist completely.


    All right, that took a bit out of me. He grimaced, feeling the sweat gathering underneath his Manifestation. Despite that, he couldn''t help but taunt his enemy again. "Man, you really are weak. The Infernal Goliath on the last layer gave me a better workout."


    "Amusing, but I can see your weakness¡­"


    Just like that, a ghost made purely out of mist entered the battlefield. It wore a simple, tattered cloak, much like the one he had used to wear. Only a pair of glowing ice-blue eyes peered out from beneath the hood, betraying no emotion¡ªnot even the usual hate seen in other Voidlings.


    With a dark scimitar enveloped in a thin layer of frost in its hand, the monster flew at him. Leo raised his arms, ready to test its strength. Yet, just as their blades were supposed to clash, the ghost faded before appearing at his back.


    Leo spun around and deflected the strike.


    "Too slow,¡± he growled. The monster ignored him and vanished again, though not before he managed to activate Identify.


    Apex Frostwraith Reaper (Nightmare Voidling) | Rank: D+ | LVL: N/A | Type: Nightmare, Ghost, Soul, Ice


    Got ya! Leo grinned. However, his triumph was short-lived as suddenly, it wasn''t a single Reaper attacking him but two and then three. Still, Identify worked on only one of them.


    Clones, he reasoned, and allowed his bloodlust to take partial control over his body. Ever since he encountered the first Caged Frostwraiths, he had an idea¡ªprobably not the smartest one¡ªbut first, he had to check the Bestiary before going in like an idiot.


    Race: Nightmare Voidling | Subspecies: Frostwraith Reaper


    Expected Potential: D to C+


    Arsenal: Caged Frostwraiths


    Known Weaknesses: Overall defense


    Frostwraith Reaper belongs to one of the most powerful Nightmare evolution paths in the entire Void. They are one of the very few Voidlings that can control other creatures after infusing them with their life force. Thanks to that, Reapers can be active even during the day through their minions. They are commanders, not fighters. However, their minimal intelligence makes controlling more than a few beasts difficult.


    Apex variant: Thanks to this variant''s enhanced mind and ability to control other creatures, they can absorb a small part of the memories of their victims. This can make Apex Frostwraith Reapers as intelligent as some survivors. Additionally, only the Apex variant is capable of developing minor ice affinity.


    That explains a lot, Leo thought as he focused back on the battle.


    The Reaper was good, but with his bloodlust, Reinforcement, and Spectral Fury, it couldn''t even get past his defense. As the System said, it was a commander, not a fighter. Without its increased intelligence and domain, he would have probably slaughtered it within seconds.


    It could work, though, he mused, thinking back to his old idea. Maybe he shouldn''t attempt such a thing before his journey into the vast Void, but he really thought it had potential. He just had to play his cards right.


    And not overwhelm my body and soul with Ruination, he added as an afterthought. The System might have told him he now had at least two Obliterate techniques in him, but that didn''t mean he could be reckless.


    Nyx, I got a plan.


    ''Oh no...''

 Chapter 249. Free

    What do you mean ¡®oh no?¡¯ Is it doubt I hear? Leo chuckled and continued to deflect everything that the Nightmare threw at him.


    ¡®Not at all, just a healthy amount of skepticism,¡¯ the feline said, but he didn¡¯t believe her for a second. ¡®I know you and your plans. Even if they succeed most of the time, they are rarely normal or safe.¡¯


    He hesitated for a moment. All right, fair. I can¡¯t really argue with that, not considering what I¡¯m about to do.


    ¡®Oh dear.¡¯


    Leo rolled his eyes just as he sliced through another mist clone. The Reaper and its techniques were annoying, but it still failed to land even a single clean hit on him. The icy wind was the only real threat, but even that couldn¡¯t leave a scratch on his scales.


    Who is the overly dramatic now? he teased. I thought that was my job.


    Nyx¡¯s groan filled their link. ¡®Just tell me the plan, or finish this fight. You¡¯re not even trying, and I¡¯m getting bored. I will deal with the Nightmare myself if you don¡¯t act soon.¡¯


    Fine, fine. I was just studying its capabilities¡­ Now listen and don¡¯t interrupt me. You can complain after I finish.


    And so Leo explained his plan from A to Z, leaving no detail unsaid. Sometimes, he had to pause for a moment when the Reaper decided to try something new, but overall, he finished talking within a minute or so.


    At first, Nyx remained silent, most likely considering his words. When she started speaking, though, it was with a hint of uncertainty. Not that he could blame her; his plan was far from safe.


    ¡®Leo, are you sure this is a good idea? Especially now?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I remember what the System told you, but what if you need it later? We still have no idea what¡¯s waiting for us on the other side of this gate.¡¯


    It will be fine as long as I do it slowly, step by step. Leo promised. And if I start feeling like it¡¯s hurting me, I will stop. You have my word¡ªI¡¯m not trying to get myself killed, just gain a potential ally.


    ¡®What if you fail? Last time didn¡¯t go too well.¡¯


    He smiled. Then I will fail. That¡¯s how we learn¡ªby making mistakes. Besides, as I told you, I¡¯m approaching this a bit differently. It might still not work, but at least I will have tried.


    ¡®I still don¡¯t like this,¡¯ Nyx grumbled. ¡®It¡¯s just not the time for one of your experiments¡­ But fine, as long as you stop the moment it becomes too much, I will help you. Void knows what would happen if I didn¡¯t.¡¯


    Thanks for the vote of confidence. Leo snorted and refocused fully on the Nightmare before him. Until now, he had avoided harming it, but it was time to change that. Be ready on my signal, Nyx. Once my skill activates, it¡¯s your turn.


    ¡®You got it. Just give me a moment to prepare.¡¯


    He nodded and reignited Reinforcement while canceling active Spectral Fury. He didn¡¯t want the skill to accidentally kill the Reaper after his next move¡ªhe was still working on controlling the specters it created.


    All right, clones first.


    In a burst of speed possible only thanks to Blink, Leo darted across the battlefield, slicing through every mist clone in sight. The original Reaper must have sensed that something was wrong because it faded out of sight and summoned a dozen more clones.


    At the same time, the wind shifted from a minor annoyance to a full-blown blizzard. Larger shards of ice and even chunks of snow entered the fray, cutting through his Manifestation armor yet still failing against his scales.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Leo growled and disappeared in a flurry of Blinks, taking out clone after clone. A few more Caged Frostwraiths also stepped into the ring, but just like anything else, their corpses hit the ground after a few seconds. They were nothing against the fury burning in his veins.


    The continuous failure forced the original Reaper to rejoin the fight again. This time, it rushed at him without a clone but wielding the full power of its ice. Each strike it performed summoned massive spikes that burst out of the ground, threatening to skewer him alive.


    Like every other thing the Nightmare threw at him, this failed. Leo didn¡¯t even bother dodging; he simply met the ice head-on with his fists and blades, shattering the elemental constructs. Nonetheless, the beast pressed on, giving him exactly what he wanted.


    End of the road, friend.


    Essence¡ªa good chunk of his reserves¡ªerupted out of his body in the form of dark smoke. It swallowed the small battlefield within the blink of an eye, blocking visibility for everyone but him.


    Moonless Night. Try to get out now.


    The Reaper, highlighted by Relentless Hunter, froze for a moment, but that was all he and Nyx needed. Hundreds of shadow tendrils dived out of the ground beneath the beast, piercing its ghost-like body in every possible place.


    It tried to wriggle out of the trap, maybe even teleport out of his clutches, but nothing worked¡ªjust as Leo had planned. After all, he didn¡¯t play around with the Reaper just for fun. No, he did that to find its weakness, something to help him ground the beast.


    And he succeeded. The Voidling could only teleport away to somewhere it could see, and with Moonless Night active, that became impossible.


    Game over, Leo thought, approaching the struggling monster. The shadow tendrils trapping it connected to his Manifestation, transferring control from Nyx to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± the Reaper spoke suddenly and stopped struggling. ¡°I can feel you close. What did you do?¡±


    Leo shook his head. There was no point in trying to answer; his voice wouldn¡¯t reach the beast anyway. Moonless Night made sure of that.


    We will talk once I finish. Please survive.


    With that, he slowly opened the gates in his soul, allowing Ruination to spill into the shadow tendrils connected to his body. He controlled the flow with precision, looking out for any damage to his Pillars.


    Once the first parts of Ruination reached the Reaper, it let out an ear-shattering wail. Bit by bit, its ghostly gray form filled with patches of red and black that claimed more space with each second.


    After a few minutes of full focus, the creature before him transformed completely. It went from a ghost dressed in a tattered cloak to a hellish phantom straight from nightmares that glared at him with mismatched gaze¡ªone eye crimson, the other ice-blue.


    ¡°You¡­¡± the Reaper muttered. ¡°You broke it¡­ How¡­¡±


    For anyone else, those words would mean nothing, but to Leo, they confirmed what he already knew. Not that he needed any more proof¡ªthe System already told him all he needed.


    Warning! Guardian of the has been killed. This Rift Passage is collapsing. Find the nearest Void Gate if you want to survive. Time remaining: 37 minutes, 46 seconds.


    I did it¡­ its connection to the Rift is gone¡­


    However, his job wasn¡¯t done yet. A small part of the Reaper¡¯s body had already begun turning to dust under Ruination¡¯s corruption, and there was only one solution Leo could think of. He had been considering this idea ever since he accidentally transformed the Blessed Emissary.


    Please work, he begged, allowing more Ruination to leave his body. It didn¡¯t hurt yet, but he knew he was getting close to his limit. Minor Takeover.


    Unlike any other time Leo used this technique, he didn¡¯t let it run wild. After all, destroying the Reaper¡¯s intelligence and personality was the last thing he wanted¡ªhe could get dozens of mindless drones anywhere.


    No, this was something else.


    He stopped the technique from suppressing the Reaper¡¯s mind and instead focused it on creating a subordinate link. Maybe this way, the creature could survive the transformation. He could worry about the loyalty part of the skill later.


    And so, more and more Ruination seeped into the Nightmare. Leo ignored the first signs of pain in his body and pressed on, watching as the link slowly took shape. The success was close¡ªhe could see the finish line.


    But it was not meant to be.


    His technique faltered, and the newborn link shattered into millions of pieces. Ruination spiraled out of control and sped up the consumption of the Reaper¡¯s body. By the time Leo recovered, only its head remained.


    ¡°Ah¡­ This is it¡­¡± the Nightmare whispered. ¡°Freedom at last.¡± It looked up straight into Leo¡¯s eyes despite the darkness surrounding them. ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    Its final word faded along with the last breath of icy wind as the rest of its body turned to dust. Its frozen scimitar clattered to the ground while a small, blue-red shard landed on top of the pile, followed by the remains of the beast¡¯s cloak.


    Leo blinked and canceled all of his skills. The darkness vanished, leaving him standing in an almost empty chamber devoid of any mist. Only the hum of the now-active Void Gate broke the silence.


    He sighed, shoulders slumping.


    ¡°Dammit¡­¡±

 Chapter 250. Down we go

    Nyx slowly reformed next to him as Leo stared at the remains of the Apex Frostwraith Reaper. It had been going so well, and yet, his Ruination still failed to do what it was supposed to. It went out of control just like he had feared it would.


    "Dammit," he mumbled again.


    "Hey, at least you tried," Nyx said, resting a part of her tail on his shoulder. "I honestly expected this to fail during the first phase. That you have managed to cut off its connection to the rift is a miracle in itself."


    Leo clicked his tongue. "Yeah, I know. It was a long shot, anyway¡­ Still, I was so damn close. If I had more control over Ruination, more experience, then maybe¡­" His shoulders sagged. "Oh well¡­ that''s a lesson for the future."


    "Exactly." Nyx flashed her best feline grin. "Next time, you will get it right. Although, maybe you should try this out on something weaker than an Apex Nightmare¡­ You were really playing with fire here."


    "I will consider that," he smiled wryly, only to wince a moment later. He tried to hide it, but with the feline standing in front of him, it was pretty much impossible.


    "Leo? What''s wrong? Don''t tell me you overdid it."


    He grinned. "Very well, I won''t." Before he could say more, another sharp pain shot through his body. "Never mind, I definitely overdid it."


    "Leo!" she growled. "You promised. Bellatoure, now!"


    As if I didn''t plan to use it anyway, he thought, rolling his eyes as he downed the enhanced mixture. It burned going down at first, but the sensation quickly changed to a cool wave, soothing the damage Ruination had caused inside him.


    "Much better. I should be fine by the time we have to leave."


    "Good," Nyx harrumphed, keeping her eyes narrowed at him. "Next time you try to push yourself past your limit, I will slap you and knock you out. I swear."


    Leo raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry. Just wanted to finish what I began.That''s all. Really thought I could do it, too. High risk, high reward, as they say."


    Judging by her scowl, the feline wasn''t satisfied with this apology. "You aren''t using Ruination again unless it''s an emergency. Understood?"


    "Aye, aye!" He mock saluted, trying to unload some of the tension.


    It must have worked as Nyx sighed and slapped the back of his head with her tail. He just chuckled as the hit didn''t even make him stumble.


    Well, it''s time for the loot. We don''t have much time left here anyway.


    Time remaining: 24 minutes, 25 seconds


    First, Leo summoned the remaining System notifications. There weren''t many of those, but like always, they brought some very nice news.


    Apex Frostwraith Reaper (LVL: 89) slain | Experience awarded | 832 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 80. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Must have been close to seventy-nine. If the Supercluster had only given him three levels, it seemed unlikely a single Apex Nightmare could almost match that. Although the beast had controlled the entire third layer, so maybe there was something to it.


    Another thought for the future, he mused and dismissed the notifications as his gaze fell to the pile left behind by the Nightmare. At least I got its weapon.


    With a chuckle, Leo crouched before the pile and grabbed the frozen scimitar. Like he expected, coldness washed over his hand, spreading frost across his fingers. It was uncomfortable but not enough to make him drop the weapon.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Frostwraith Scimitar (Epic):


    A weapon naturally born through the cultivation of Ice Essence by an Apex Frostwraith Reaper. Despite its weak base, this scimitar is almost indestructible to anyone without proper knowledge. After endless years of strengthening, it became as sharp as some weapons straight from the furnaces of Master Smiths. Additionally, thanks to its first wielder, anyone using this scimitar may draw on the element of ice.


    Oh¡­ His eyes widened a bit. The sounded powerful, but not for a moment did he think it could grant the ability to use another affinity. Sure, the Blades of Chained Inferno allowed him to wield Bloodfire, but that was only by enveloping the weapon in flames¡ªnothing more.


    Let''s see¡­


    Leo stood up and aimed the sword in a random direction. His Essence went out next, entering the blade and mixing with its energy.


    Now, if I do this¡­


    With a flick, a cluster of sharp icicles shot out of the scimitar. They didn''t fly too fast or do any damage to the cave''s wall, but for a first attempt, it wasn''t too bad.


    Definitely has some potential, he hummed and stored the weapon in his soul. He then returned to the pile and snatched the remnants of the Reaper''s cloak. Identify activated but gave him nothing in return.


    Leo frowned but still took the cloth with him. Even if it didn''t hold any true value, perhaps Naz''Tor would want it. Maybe it wasn''t a body part like the alien asked for, but it was better than nothing.


    "Now, what are you?" he whispered as he gently picked up the rough blue-red shard resting atop the pile. Like the Frostwraith Scimitar, it radiated a natural aura of coldness.


    Interesting. Identify.


    Dormant Soul Shard (Unique):


    A tiny shard of the Apex Frostwraith Reaper killed by the Prime Indomitus Venax. The soul resting inside is dormant and not ready to be awoken yet. Shards like this have countless uses. Warning! Destroying the shard means destroying the piece of the soul sleeping inside it.


    Leo glanced at Nyx. "See that?" He nodded at the shard. "Looks like I didn''t fail as hard as I thought."


    The feline furrowed her brow, eying the item warily. "Don''t tell me you want to somehow¡ª"


    "Not now." He waved her off. "I''m not that mad, but just think! I will need to experiment a bit more and probably fail a few more times, but this could work. Well, maybe¡­ Anyhow, it''s a project for far, far future. We have more important stuff to worry about now."


    "Exactly. Glad we are finally on the same page," Nyx nodded. "Can we go then? Are you fine now?"


    Leo stretched his body, bracing for the pain to return, but none did. Just to make sure, he summoned a spark of Ruination, letting it course across his limbs and torso. Once more, no pain came to mess with his day¡ªhe smiled.


    "I''m good, but gimme a second."


    Even though he didn''t promise Naz''Tor anything¡ªand he already had the cloak¡ªhe still wanted to get more for the merchant. That was why he returned to the remnants of the Nightmare and scooped some of the leftover dust into a small bag he had inside his soul.


    I want to see his face when I hand him some dust and a tattered cloak. Leo chuckled, already imagining his next meeting with the merchant. Even if the alien didn''t have a normal face, he bet his reaction would be priceless. Unless, of course, those items somehow had some value.


    Yeah, no.


    "All right, let''s go. The Void is waiting!" He exclaimed, eyes on the Void Gate.


    Nyx gave him a weird look. "Where is this sudden excitement coming from? You said it yourself¡ªwe''re going deeper into the Void, not back to Earth."


    Leo shrugged. "For once, I''m trying to keep a positive outlook. Maybe it will pay off."


    "Or jinx us."


    "Says the one who has already tried to jinx us. Multiple times at that."


    Nyx huffed. "I resent that. I was merely commenting on my observations."


    "Yeah?" He quirked an eyebrow, fighting back a grin. "Then let me tell you that your observations aren''t appreciated. At least not always."


    "Sod off," she grumbled, flipping him off with her tail.


    "Oh! That''s a new one." Leo couldn''t hold back his wide grin any longer. "Who taught you that?"


    This time, Nyx didn''t grace him with an answer and simply sped up. Not that she could go far, as they were already almost at the Void Gate.


    "Fine, keep your secrets," he said, patting her head as they stopped by the gate. "Ready to go? Point of no return."


    "Not like we have a choice."


    "True¡­" He sighed. "Meet you on the other side then, hmm?"


    Nyx nodded, and together they stepped forward, right into the swirling portal of the Void Gate. They might have conquered the rift, but now, the entire Void awaited them with open arms. Only time would tell if they could survive its embrace.

 Chapter 251. Sazim

    The Void Gate swallowed him whole, pulling him into the endless nothingness. Red and black were now joined by soft blue and violet, the colors battling for dominance around him. Where one struck, another followed, keeping the scenery in constant flux.


    Makes you wonder if there is a meaning to it, Leo mused. In the end, though, the System didn¡¯t give him much time to think about it.


    Dimensional transit in progress. Please remain calm and refrain from using any Essence techniques. Planet of arrival: Sazim. Estimated Void corruption: 96%. Warning! You will be arriving on a planet deep inside the Void with a ranking higher than yours. Take care, User.


    For a moment, Leo almost let out a sigh of relief. He thought that showing him the planet of arrival meant he was returning to his universe. But of course, the System had to prove him wrong with the final part of the notification.


    Ninety-six percent corruption rate. He grimaced. That didn¡¯t sound good. Though honestly, I expected every planet inside the Void to be at a hundred, so maybe it¡¯s not so bad. Four percent is always something.


    Not that the thought of finding survivors filled him with much hope. Like Naz¡¯Tor had warned, those creatures, whatever they were, could be as friendly toward him as the Voidlings he would soon face. In other words, he was in some deep shit.


    It will be fine, he repeated those words in his mind. Complaining had never done him any good, so at the very least, he could delude himself with positive thinking. It will be fine.


    Dimensional transit completed. Arrival in 10 seconds. Prepare yourself, Leo Hale. Due to the Void Rift¡¯s collapse, your exit will be rough.


    Good to know some things never change. He chuckled just as the timer hit zero. The world around him flashed blue, and the System hurled him out of void and right into the unknown.


    Out of nowhere, a wind colder than even the one produced by the Apex Frostwraith Reaper slammed into his face. Leo flinched, curling into himself with his eyes closed and bracing for the inevitable impact.


    Ouch? He blinked when barely any pain accompanied his landing. Or at least that would have been the case if something didn¡¯t crash right into his back a second later, pushing him deeper into a pile of snow¡ªor at least what he thought was snow.


    Shit!


    ¡®Sorry!¡¯ A voice he hadn¡¯t heard in a few minutes suddenly echoed in his mind.


    Nyx. Glad to have you back. He smiled despite the dull ache on his back. But please, can you get off me? I swear, you need to stop landing on me.


    ¡®I said sorry,¡¯ the feline grumbled as she slid off his body. ¡®It¡¯s not my fault those gates have shi¡ªWow¡­¡¯


    Nyx? Leo asked, still digging himself out of the snow. What¡¯s going on? What did you¡ªOh¡­


    The moment he pulled himself to the surface, his brain froze¡ªand not because of the wind. Rather, that honor fell to the alien scenery surrounding him from each side.


    Shades of blue, from pale to deep indigo, dominated the entire world, accented by specks of familiar red and violet. Somehow, the softer but far colder blue color replaced the darkness in the Vetilim he had grown used to during his time on Earth.


    Then there were the towering crystalline trees that stretched toward the sky, their jagged trunks gleaming in the dim light of the distant, frozen star hanging high above in the sky. Some were smaller, but others dwarfed even the giants of Terlasfor.


    Yet, despite the overwhelming cold, and the transformed Vetilim making up most of the new world, some life still clung to the planet.


    Bioluminescent flora dotted the area around him¡ªa tangled network of glowing violet-blue vines peeking from beneath the snow. Their soft light flickered in the chilling wind, and at first glance, they seemed fragile and weak. But Leo knew better¡ªa quick Identify told him as much.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    There was more around him. More strange plants. More massive glowing ice clusters that only added to the freezing climate. And more Vetilim that sometimes grew out of the snow to form more strange alien constructs.


    This is¡­ Leo trailed off, still marveling at the alien landscape.


    ¡®Yeah,¡¯ Nyx murmured, equally stunned as she kept her gaze on the towering crystalline trees. ¡®I guess that¡¯s our welcome to the Void.¡¯


    It¡¯s much colder than I expected. He shivered, transforming his jacket into a long cloak. It didn¡¯t help much, but at least it shielded him from the biting wind. We have to get somewhere safe.


    ¡®Agreed,¡¯ the feline nodded and slid under his cloak in her smoke form. ¡®Even I¡¯m feeling cold, and that¡¯s saying something. We might have to get a fire going.¡¯


    We will see. Leo quickly wrapped himself in another layer of shadows and activated Stealth Shroud, enhanced by Phantom¡¯s Whisper. Gotta call Naz¡¯Tor, too. Not here, though. Who knows what sensed our arrival?


    With that, he dashed into the frozen forest, keeping his steps light so as to not leave any tracks in his wake. On the way, he identified more plants and Vetilim constructs, searching for any threats or stuff of value.


    He found nothing interesting, but at the very least, he still had to encounter a single Voidling. Although, that remained true only until the moment a chilling shriek came from above him. Leo tensed and quickly ducked behind one of the many trees in the area.


    What the hell? He furrowed his brow, trying to find the source through the deep-frozen foliage. There!


    A massive bird¡ªif one could even call it that¡ªsoared overhead, casting a wide shadow upon the ground. It resembled a vulture covered in sharp, jagged ice from top to bottom. Even its wings were frozen, making Leo question how the creature even moved.


    Frozen Void Shrike (Voidling) | Rank: C | LVL: 142 | Type: Ice, Aerial


    Yeah, fuck that. Leo snorted silently and waited for the bird to pass.


    He might have gone against some powerful Voidlings back in the rift, but facing this thing was a straight-up death wish. It might not be a Nightmare nor an Akirian, but its level was almost double his own. Not even his overpowered attributes should be able to match that.


    ¡®That doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t want to try, right?¡¯ Nyx teased.


    Leo shook his head. Even if I do, this isn¡¯t the time to entertain my suicidal tendencies. We still have to find a place to hide.


    ¡®At least, it isn¡¯t that strong. We could have landed on a much worse planet.¡¯


    True that. Now we just gotta hope that this bird is one of the stronger Voidlings here, he thought, not really believing his own words.


    Nonetheless, Nyx didn¡¯t say anything to that, letting him travel in silence. As time passed, a few more Void Shrikes flew over his head. Most were around the same level as the first one, but one of them¡ªa much bigger one¡ªblocked his Identify.


    Leo tried not to think too much about that and just continued running.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t long before he encountered another Voidling species¡ªan entire horde at that. Frostspire Lurker, the System called them, a large insectoid creature that looked quite similar to a scorpion with two additional stingers. Like any other Voidling on this planet, its body was made out of pure ice.


    Frostspire Lurker (Voidling) | Rank: C | LVL: 139 | Type: Ice, Surface, Underworld, Armor


    Damn¡­ an Armor type. If only I could¡­ Leo trailed off, stopping that train of thought before it could take off. As nice as it would be to get another requirement for his mutation, attacking a horde of over twenty Voidlings was a death wish.


    One day, though.


    More and more time passed until, finally, he came upon a tiny cave. It didn¡¯t go deep and just barely fit him, but with its entrance hidden among a large ice cluster, nothing should find him here anytime soon. Only an emergency exit was missing but he could do without one. There was always Moonless Night in case they had to run.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Leo muttered, holding his hands near the small fire he had set up with some help from the Ether shop. He had no idea how it produced that much heat without any smoke, and frankly, he didn¡¯t care to find out.


    ¡°If only we had something to eat,¡± Nyx grumbled from her spot on the other side of the fireplace.


    ¡°Glutton.¡± He chuckled and pulled out his transmitter. ¡°But I get you. It will probably be a while before we can devour anything¡­ Damn, we might need to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t say no to a nap.¡±


    ¡°Of course you won¡¯t¡­ Quiet now, I¡¯m calling.¡±


    Nyx nodded, and they both waited for the call to connect. After a few seconds, a familiar voice answered.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Naz¡¯Tor exclaimed. ¡°For a moment there, I feared that the rift spat you somewhere without signal.¡±


    Leo frowned. ¡°That¡¯s possible?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is, but that¡¯s not important now. Tell me where you landed, kid.¡±


    ¡°A planet inside the Void called Sazim,¡± he said, recalling the System¡¯s message. ¡°It¡¯s bloody cold here.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Naz¡¯Tor muttered. ¡°In that case, I have good and bad news for you. Which do you want first?¡±

 Chapter 252. Quick deals

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with the good ones first,¡± Leo said after a sigh. ¡°I have a feeling the bad news will take longer.¡±


    ¡°Your feeling is unfortunately right, kid,¡± Naz¡¯Tor confirmed, sounding apologetic. ¡°But trust me, it could have been much, much worse. Sazim is nothing next to some of the places you could have landed on.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought¡­ So, the good news?¡±


    ¡°Right, right¡­ Sazim, despite its rough climate, is a relatively weak planet, only sitting at rank C+. It¡¯s tried to advance to B- a few times, but the survivors there do quite a good job of exterminating any Voidlings that try to push the current limit. Have you encountered anything alive yet?¡±


    Leo nodded. ¡°Some. All of them were around mid-one-hundred.¡±


    ¡°Sounds about right,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said. ¡°That¡¯s the level of most Voidlings there. Well, at least on the surface. Go into a nest or a Nightmare factory, and you will run into monsters that are close to advancing.¡±


    ¡°Got it¡­ I guess that¡¯s all for my good news, or is there more?¡±


    The merchant chuckled. ¡°Lucky you, kid, I¡¯m not done yet. You see, like most low-ranked planets inside the Void, Sazim is quite close to the Edge. This makes your extraction much simpler¡­ and cheaper.¡±


    Leo frowned. ¡°The Edge? Remember, I don¡¯t know shit about the inside of the Void.¡±


    ¡°Ah! My bad. Forgive me!¡± Naz¡¯Tor quickly apologized. ¡°To put it simply, the Edge is the beginning of the Void. Or in other words, a border between the multiverse and the vast infinite abyss we call home. Planets and dimensions placed near the Edge are part of the Safety Layer, which is pretty much a tiny section of the Void where the odds of getting killed by Voidlings are smaller if you are careful enough. It¡¯s also the place with the most preserved planets.¡±


    Preserved, preservation¡­ So that¡¯s where Earth would go if we meet all the requirements. Good to know. Leo mused before returning to the conversation. ¡°The layers. Are there more of them?¡±


    ¡°Two. The Crimson and the Endless,¡± the merchant explained. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to say much about the latter. The name should tell you all you need. It¡¯s the most dangerous layer with no known end. You don¡¯t go there if you don¡¯t have a death wish, are particulary powerful, or need some unique resources.¡±


    Yeah, I figured out that much. He grimaced. ¡°And the Crimson?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where I feared you would land, kid. It¡¯s a layer between the other two, filled with fully corrupted A-ranked planets and dimensions. At your current strength, you would be dead before you could even call me.¡±


    ¡°Ouch,¡± Leo muttered. ¡°Lucky me, I guess.¡±


    ¡°That you are, kid. That you are,¡± Naz¡¯Tor agreed somberly. ¡°Only the strongest survivors venture into the Crimson. For most, the Safety Layer is more than enough. But I digress. You still haven¡¯t heard the bad news.¡±


    His grimace deepened. ¡°Right¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not that bad,¡± the alien laughed again. ¡°The problem lies in Sazim¡¯s survivors or rather the faction they belong to.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it is Ger.¡±


    ¡°Thankfully, no,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said, making Leo breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s called Zatiro, a sub-faction of Tariem¡ªthat¡¯s one of the big three for your information. They are accepting of creatures who evolved into Voidlings and even tolerate part Akirians, but full-blooded Primes like you?¡± The alien clicked his tongue loudly. ¡°That¡¯s a big no-no. They hate your kind¡ªfor a good reason too.¡±


    As much as Leo wanted to be surprised, he wasn¡¯t. His evolution had to bite him in the ass sooner or later. It was only a matter of time. Just a shame it had to happen before he could get strong enough to defend himself. For now, he was a sitting duck waiting to be shot.


    He massaged his brow. ¡°I guess it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to assume that¡¯s how most survivors feel?¡±


    ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t. But!¡±¡ªthe merchant quickly added¡ª¡°Vast majority fears your kind and wouldn¡¯t dare to step on your toes. Of course, your situation is a bit more complicated, but it¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t handle. It will just take some work and resources.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    A clap of hands came from the transmitter. ¡°Wonderful! First things first! You absolutely have to stay hidden for the time being. No hunting, no exploring, nothing. Find a hole to hide in, and don¡¯t come out until I say so.¡±


    Leo nodded. ¡°Got that covered already. Nyx and I found a small cave that¡¯s hidden well enough.¡±


    ¡°Good, good. Next on the list we have the sealed form. You need to learn it if you even want to have a chance at returning to your home.¡±


    ¡°No idea what it is, but okay.¡±


    ¡°Patience! I will explain in a moment,¡± the merchant chided. ¡°What else? Ah, yes! A tracker so that my people can find you and an item to hide your status. You could probably use a map too.¡±


    I could, Leo agreed internally but stayed silent outside. Naz¡¯Tor was obviously planning something, and he didn¡¯t want to interrupt him. His life pretty much depended on whatever the alien would cook up.


    ¡°All right!¡± the merchant exclaimed suddenly. ¡°That should be everything. Accept the offer.¡±


    Displaying contracted trade offer.


    Offered: Ownership of booklet about ¡°Sealed Form,¡± TEK Tracker V3, Necklace of System¡¯s Blessing. (System Verified)


    Price: 15000 Ether


    Do you accept this trade?


    Not one to act rashly¡ªin his humble opinion at least¡ªLeo read through the offer a few times. Sure, the fifteen thousand Ether would hurt his pockets a bit, but that was a small price to pay for his life.


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.


    Once he felt the shift inside his soul, he opened his mouth to speak. However, the merchant was faster.


    ¡°Excellent¡­ Now for the items. I don¡¯t think I need to explain what the booklet does. Same for the tracker. Just leave it inside your Soulscape. I will do the rest remotely. Finally, the necklace,¡± here Naz¡¯Tor paused for a moment. ¡°Just to be clear, I¡¯m not giving it to you, just borrowing. Once my people bring you to me, I¡¯m taking it back. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°Crystal,¡± Leo answered instantly, unused to the alien sounding so serious.


    ¡°Take it out then and always wear it. It¡¯s literally your ticket to freedom.¡±


    Let¡¯s see it then, he thought and summoned the new addition to his soul outside.


    A flash lit up the cavern for a moment, delivering a silver chain necklace into his palm. The item looked completely ordinary, yet a quick Identify proved otherwise.


    Necklace of System¡¯s Blessing (Unique):


    An item rewarded by the System to the destroyer of a B+ rank Supercluster. While worn, this necklace will stop any hostile Identify. Rank difference between users doesn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°I can see why you want it back,¡± Leo muttered and put the necklace on. There was no flash, no special effects¡ªjust the silver chain resting on his neck, looking completely out of place.


    ¡°Items that can protect you from Identify are as rare, if not rarer than your kind, kid,¡± Naz¡¯Tor explained. ¡°I only have one other for personal use. The one I gave you is going to auction soon to net me quite the profit.¡±


    ¡°I will keep it safe until th¡ª¡° Leo didn¡¯t get a chance to finish as a System notification appeared before his eyes out of nowhere.


    Sazim Global Message: Warning to all survivors. We¡¯ve detected another unauthorized Narzak squadron entering Sazim¡¯s orbit. Please return to your nearest Safe Zone and stay there until further notice. Actions are already underway to deal with this new threat.


    ¡°Kid! You there?¡± Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s voice barely broke through his daze. ¡°Come on. Say something.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Leo blinked and quickly read the notification again. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I got a global message. Like, from whoever controls this planet.¡±


    ¡°Oh Void¡­ What does it say? Tell me, word for word.¡±


    And so he did, reading the message again, this time out loud. The merchant was silent for a moment before responding, his tone serious again.


    ¡°Leo, listen. You shouldn¡¯t worry too much about this message as long as you stay hidden. But you need to be extra careful. Another faction war is brewing on the horizon, and this is one of its many signs. Again, don¡¯t worry and focus on surviving.¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Wait¡ªwar? Another one?¡±


    ¡°Yes, war. You can¡¯t escape those.¡± Naz¡¯Tor chuckled bitterly. ¡°As long as there is life, there will be fighting. Not even the Void is capable of uniting everyone. Sad, I know, but that¡¯s life for you, kid.¡±


    So humanity isn¡¯t the only fucked up species. Good to know. Leo shook his head. ¡°What are they even fighting for?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, what for? Control and power, of course!¡± The merchant announced. ¡°Idiots, all of them, but with Ger as weakened as it is, I am not even surprised. Something had to give sooner or later, and now everyone¡¯s scrambling for a piece of the pie.¡±


    He froze. ¡°Wait, Ger?¡±


    ¡°I will tell you another day. You have more important issues to worry about. Practice the sealed form. I will call you soon. Bye! Have fun!¡±


    And just like that, the call disconnected.


    Really?

 Chapter 253. Sealing

    Leo leaned against the cavern wall as he returned the transmitter to his Soulscape. ¡°He forgot to explain why I need this sealed form¡­¡±


    ¡°It sounded like he was in a hurry,¡± Nyx pointed out, still not moving from her position. ¡°Besides, he said he will call you back soon. You can ask him then.¡±


    ¡°I guess.¡± He smiled wryly. ¡°Looks like we got the break we wanted, just not in the way we expected. Naz¡¯Tor is right, though¡ªit could have been worse.¡±


    The feline snorted. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna pass on a break like this. We¡¯re doing this to survive, not to relax.¡±


    Leo threw his hands up in mock surrender. ¡°And there you go, ruining my attempt at positivity again. See who is the pessimist now.¡±


    Nyx rolled her eyes at him and laid her head down. ¡°Whatever you say. Now, go figure out how to use that sealed form. I probably need to learn it too.¡±


    ¡°Then why does it look like you¡¯re going to sleep?¡±


    ¡°Because I am,¡± she replied without even opening her eyes. ¡°Just a short nap. You can teach me once I wake up.¡±


    Leo¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°Fine. Who knows how long we will be here anyway. We might have to take turns sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Have fun then, and wake me up in an hour or two.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± he muttered and summoned the System interface to check the time in the job menu. He nodded at the timer, but just as he was about to dismiss it, something caught his attention.


    What in the hell? Leo frowned, scrolling through the overly long list of available jobs. Unlike back on Earth, there were barely any System tasks here. He had only found three so far despite going through almost a hundred listings.


    Those are all user-made tasks. Holy shit.


    Since he was a Hunter, they all ranged from simple extermination jobs to harvesting specific body parts from Voidlings. There were other categories, but the vast majority fell into those two. One thing he noticed, though, was that even if a job was created by someone on Sazim, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean it could be completed on this planet. Quite a few of them required traveling to places he had never even heard of.


    Out of pure curiosity, Leo selected a job that seemed doable¡ªeven for him. It sounded like a simple herb collection, so how hard could it be?


    Collection: Ice Dawn Flower


    I require at least twenty units of freshly harvested Ice Dawn Flower. It may be found deep inside the nest located in sector 34 of Sazim. My contact information is attached to the job if you want to discuss the details. Commissioned by: Elkar Won.


    Rewards:


    75000 Ether and two Rare-grade potions of your choosing


    Do you wish to accept?


    Never mind! Leo shouted internally, quickly closing the task. I thought they just wanted me to find some flowers around the area, not to go into a bloody nest¡­ Yeah, I think I¡¯m gonna stick to System-commissioned jobs for the time being.


    Not that the System offered him anything that he could complete at his current power level. There were exactly four tasks available, and all of them, bar one, wanted him to kill a certain amount of Voidlings. The last one was even worse¡ªit called for the total destruction of a certain nest located in sector 9, wherever that was.


    Well, at least now I know for sure this place is way above my pay grade. Maybe if it was a low C- planet¡­ He shook his head and dismissed those thoughts. He should start working on what was important.


    Might as well.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Leo closed his eyes and covered his body and mind in Essence. Then, just as he had done many times before, he pulled all of that energy back into his soul.


    ¡°Back again,¡± he muttered, opening his eyes to the familiar dark scenery of his Soulscape. It hadn¡¯t changed much since his last visit, but there definitely were quite a few more black sparks racing across the sky. ¡°The darkness looks stronger too¡­¡±


    It made him wonder how many other people could say that their Soulscape possessed the representation of four different elements. Or if that was even something to be proud of. After all, he didn¡¯t have time to develop his affinities anyway, so what was the point of having so many of them here?


    Soon, he promised himself, for what felt like a hundredth time. Soon.


    As Leo walked through the shadowed plains, he spotted more and more Vetilim constructs sprouting from the ground. So maybe Ruination didn¡¯t need his input to progress. Either that or the spread of Void matter meant that his body and soul were nearing the point of being overwhelmed by the powerful element.


    Either way, he didn¡¯t like it. Anything that he couldn¡¯t control was a problem that only grew with time.


    ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Leo stopped right in front of a massive shadow cage¡ªa cage that still housed his sleeping nephew. He came closer and peered through the bars.


    Apex Night Stalker (Voidling) | LVL: 31


    Only? I honestly expected you to be in mid-forties by now, he mused and passed right through the bars. The transformed child remained motionless, so he crouched next to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably a bad time for you to wake up, kiddo, but you can¡¯t sleep forever,¡± Leo whispered, placing a hand on Adam¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Just wake up soon. I will take care of the rest.¡±


    Yet, the child stayed still, his chest rising and falling slowly.


    Leo sighed and stood up. ¡°I will be back, kiddo. Take care.¡±


    With that, he walked away, refusing to look back. Even after all this time, he still had no idea how to help Adam. Nyx¡¯s idea about rituals and healing held some merit, but with her memories fragmented, she couldn¡¯t teach him more than some basics. His nephew needed much more than that.


    ¡°All in due time. All in due time¡­¡±


    Before long, he reached his item stash. He quickly rummaged through the pile and picked up a booklet that definitely hadn¡¯t been there before. Opening it, he skimmed through its contents.


    ¡°Sounds simple enough,¡± he commented and, with a pull on his Essence, returned to the real world. The booklet also landed in his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s see again¡­¡±


    The sealed form followed similar principles to entering a Soulscape, just with a few added steps. For one, instead of only covering his body and mind and then pulling everything into his soul, here he had to take all three pillars and somehow compress them.


    The booklet, however, didn¡¯t provide much detail on how to achieve that. Leo predicted that, much like when he first learned to access his Soulscape, he had to figure out this step on his own. Either that or Naz¡¯Tor had played a bad joke on him and gave him incomplete information.


    Nah, no way.


    Still, the booklet didn¡¯t leave him completely clueless. It might not have described the exact steps he had to follow, but it at least told him that the compressed power had to be attached to his soul. Not placed inside it, but next to it.


    Leo was still kind of mind-boggled about how that was even possible. Even Install-type items lived inside the soul, and now he was supposed to somehow take a big chunk of his power and rip it out?


    This will take a while.


    <hr>


    By the time the two-hour mark had passed, Leo made almost no progress. Straight-up forcing his pillars to compress didn¡¯t seem to work at all, and trying to use Devour as the base of the sealed form helped even less than it did with his Soulscape.


    Time for a break then, he decided and nudged Nyx. ¡°Wakey, wakey! Time for training, you lazy ass cat!¡±


    The feline groaned, trying to shield her eyes with her paws. Leo snorted and grabbed her limbs before they could achieve anything.


    ¡°I think not!¡± He poked her again. ¡°You told me to wake you up after two hours, so here we are. No more sleeping.¡±


    Nyx¡¯s eyes snapped open, already narrowed and glaring at him. ¡°I¡¯m up. I¡¯m up,¡± she growled. ¡°You couldn¡¯t just wake me like a normal person, hmm? I hate you.¡±


    ¡°Someone¡¯s grumpy.¡± Leo smirked. ¡°Be glad I didn¡¯t do this an hour ago.¡±


    ¡°Whatever¡­¡± She scowled. ¡°How is it going with the sealed form?¡±


    His face fell. ¡°Bad. Nothing¡¯s working the way I want.¡±


    ¡°Explain.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Basically, it¡¯s a skill that compresses each of your pillars and then stores that surplus of power next to your soul. According to the booklet, you can seal even up to ninety-nine percent of your strength and transform into some lesser form.¡±


    He also recounted everything he learned from his own attempts¡ªwhich pretty much amounted to nothing¡ªand then told her what he was struggling with. Nyx listened to it all, humming in thought every once in a while.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± she muttered. ¡°Give me a moment.¡±


    What?

 Chapter 254. Stuck

    Leo watched as Nyx sat up and closed her eyes. After a brief moment, her entire body burst into smoke but retained its shape. Then, the shadows slowly began to move, compressing until only a dark sphere, about the size of a large dog, remained where the feline had been.


    What are you do¡ª


    His thoughts got cut off as suddenly the shadow ball shifted, growing four legs, a small head, and a single long tail. The remaining mass transformed next, creating a thin torso filled with black fur.


    No way¡­ Leo gaped at the tiny cat that now stood before him. The feline took a few experimental steps and nodded, something akin to a grin forming on her face.


    ¡°Nyx?¡± he asked tentatively.


    ¡°Who else?¡± she replied in the same voice as before. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the problem is. This was easy. You¡¯re losing your touch, Leo.¡±


    He ignored the jab. ¡°Wait. You got the skill for it, right?¡±


    Nyx nodded, her tail flicking up. ¡°Sealed Form, epic quality. Even the description sounds simple.¡±


    Leo threw his hands up. ¡°How?! I¡¯ve been at it for two bloody hours, and nothing worked. How did you just wake up and get it right on your first try?¡±


    The cat shot him another grin. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ how did those people say it? Ah, yes. I¡¯m built different.¡±


    God dammit. He palmed his face, which, of course, garnered another reaction from Nyx.


    ¡°What? Cat got your tongue?¡±


    Leo snorted, unable to hold it in any longer. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you said that. From now on, you are banned from watching my memories. Or spending time with Lily alone.¡±


    Nyx pouted. ¡°Spoilsport.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no. I ain¡¯t falling for that. Now tell me how did you do it.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± She sighed and slowly transformed back into her normal form. ¡°Come into my mind and feel it for yourself. It will be easier that way.¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡±


    Leo closed his eyes and reached for their bond. Without any resistance, he traveled to the other side where, with Nyx¡¯s help, he settled in the back of her mind and waited.


    ¡®Here we go then,¡¯ she announced internally, and at once, he felt it all.


    First, her entire body collapsed into pure energy, which was pretty much her smoke form. Next, she pulled the power from her soul and mixed it with her body while compressing it all into a tiny sphere he had seen before.


    Finally, with the strength of her mind, she forced all of that energy towards her soul but without pushing it inside. Instead, a part of it opened and created a tiny bridge between the main soul and the surplus of power. Leo didn¡¯t know the purpose of that connection, but he could feel Essence traveling through it.


    ¡°That explains a lot,¡± he muttered, opening his eyes to see Nyx¡¯s sealed form. ¡°Still, there is one major problem with what you have shown me.¡±


    The cat tilted her head. ¡°What?¡±


    He gave her the driest look he could muster. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you haven¡¯t noticed, but unlike you, I can¡¯t turn my body into smoke.¡±


    To which she just shrugged. ¡°And? We have time. You can figure out how to work around that. Don¡¯t tell me a tiny issue like this will stop you.¡±


    I wouldn¡¯t exactly call it tiny, but okay¡­


    ¡°I will see what I can do,¡± he muttered instead before returning his gaze to the feline. ¡°You should use this time too. Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to learn Stealth Shroud and figure out your own version of Reinforcement?¡±


    Nyx slumped. ¡°I forgot about that. Fine, might as well¡­¡±


    And just like that, they both settled in their own corner of the cave to practice. Leo didn¡¯t even move at first and simply reorganized his mind, searching for any way to mimic what Nyx had done. He had tried learning her smoke form before, but it quickly became clear that it was an ability unique to her¡ªor at least her species.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Maybe Devour could help, after all, he mused internally. I would just have to somehow drain my own body and then store that power next to my soul. But then how do I even transform? Wouldn¡¯t I just kill myself by accident this way? Now, that would be embarrassing¡­


    ¡°Argh!¡± He growled, pressing his hands to his head. If he still had some hair, he would have ripped it out a long time ago. Well, there were also his spikes¡­


    No. Don¡¯t even think about it! Leo shook his head. Physically removing part of himself wasn¡¯t the answer. All right, from the beginning.


    He couldn¡¯t change his body into smoke or something similar, so he crossed that idea off the list from the get-go. Maybe he could figure it out in the future, but for now, he needed something simpler, something quicker.


    Compress, he repeated, gazing down at his right hand. He filled it to the brim with Essence, leaving no pore, no muscle, and not even a single gap between scales untouched. Everything he could possibly fill, he did.


    Once that was done, he opened his mind to Devour, releasing it from its cage but still keeping a firm hold over the skill. He needed to change it¡ªtransform it into something usable. Last time, that failed, but now he had a different idea.


    Pull it, don¡¯t consume. Take my strength, Leo ordered and slowly released the chained skill. At first, it refused to attack what pretty much belonged to its wielder, but with another nudge, it went forward and chomped on the first bit of Essence in his arm.


    No! He shouted. Take it all, not only Essence. Come on!


    He steered Devour as best as he could, forcing it to do what he needed it to, but like always, it didn¡¯t work perfectly. Nonetheless, he persisted and guided the consumed power into a storage he had created next to his soul. He made it into an exact copy of what he had seen in Nyx and hoped for the best.


    Minutes, maybe more, flew by before his arm suddenly fell limb at his side. No matter how much he tried to move it, it refused to listen. To make it even weirder, his forearm blade shrunk a bit, and its edge lost its color.


    Not exactly what I wanted but I guess that¡¯s progress, Leo thought as he inspected the power Devour collected. There wasn¡¯t much, and it was far from ¡®compressed¡¯ like the booklet said. Still, at least he succeeded in stripping a part of his body of some strength.


    Now, how do I return it? He frowned, poking his limp arm. Shit¡­


    <hr>


    Thankfully, as Leo discovered, to fix his hand all he had to do was release the stored power. His arm still felt a bit numb for a while after that, but it wasn¡¯t anything some time couldn¡¯t fix. All in all, he was on the right track. In the coming hour, he even managed to completely remove his blade and a tiny part of his claws.


    It was a small success, but he would take it at this point.


    ¡°I need a break,¡± Leo announced after another failed attempt. ¡°How is it going on your end?¡±


    Nyx paused whatever she was doing and furrowed her brow. ¡°Still stuck on Reinforcement. The uniqueness of my body is making it difficult for the skill to settle.¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°Looks like being able to turn into smoke isn¡¯t as helpful as you thought.¡±


    She huffed. ¡°I will get it right before the end of the day. Can¡¯t say the same for you, though, hmm?¡±


    Leo resisted the urge to flip her off. ¡°I¡¯m getting there,¡± he said while adding in the safety of his mind, Or so I hope. She will never let me live it down if I¡¯ve been practicing this technique for nothing.


    ¡°We will see about that,¡± she challenged, and this time, he did flip her off. She grinned in return. ¡°Just don¡¯t leave the cave. Remember what Naz¡¯Tor told you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, I¡¯m just gonna stretch my le¡ª¡°


    Before he could even stand up, something stirred within his soul. He reached inside and took out the transmitter.


    ¡°Speak of the devil, and he shall appear,¡± Leo muttered, accepting the call. ¡°Naz¡¯Tor, that was quick.¡±


    ¡°Of course it was!¡± the alien exclaimed. ¡°I told you I would call soon, not tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Fair. So what is it?¡±


    ¡°I made a few calls here and there to find out when I could get someone to extract you from Sazim,¡± Naz¡¯Tor explained, all excitement gone from his voice. ¡°It went rather well, but I have good and bad news for you again. Nothing too concerning this time, though.¡±


    I will be the judge of that.


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± the merchant hesitated for a moment. ¡°The good news is that I got two of my people to agree to an extraction job. The problem lies in the current situation inside the Void. A coming war, remember?¡±


    ¡°Hard to forget,¡± Leo replied, already guessing where this was headed.


    ¡°Right, right. So you see, my people can get to you within a day if we force the issue, but we don¡¯t want to escalate the situation. You have seen the global message, after all. We have no stake in the coming war, so we would rather not join it preemptively. That¡¯s why it might take a few days for the help to arrive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± He sighed in relief. ¡°I will be fine, then. No worries.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said quietly before doing a complete one-eighty. ¡°That¡¯s great! Master your sealed form in the meantime. I will talk to you soon.¡±


    And just like that, the call disconnected again.


    Leo groaned.


    He still didn¡¯t tell me why I need it¡­

 Chapter 255. Elements

    For some, two days might not seem like much. Hell, before the Outbreak, a week could pass in a blur without even noticing. Leo remembered well those times when he would get so consumed by work that time passed so quickly that he could blink only to find out that Monday had somehow turned into Friday.


    Now, deep inside the Void, surrounded by constant danger, things were much different. Every minute, every hour mattered¡ªnot as much as at the beginning of the Outbreak, but they still did. There was no changing that.


    Yet, here he was, trapped inside a tiny cave for the second day now¡ªwell, Earth day at least. Despite so much time passing, Sazim only experienced one night since he arrived. He hadn''t counted precisely, but he guessed the day-night cycle here took about twice as long as on his home planet.


    Of course, neither he nor Nyx had wasted this time just sleeping or relaxing. Every single waking hour had been spent hard at work, practicing their skills and anything else that caught their fancy. Sure, the urge to go out grew stronger with each passing minute, but Naz''Tor''s warning kept them in check. The rare distant explosion only added to the incentive to stay still and wait.


    All right, one more try.


    Leo took a deep breath and infused his body to the brim with Essence. It took over half of his reserves to fill every gap, but that was exactly what he wanted. The more energy he used now, the less he would have to transfer out of his soul in the next step.


    Now, Devour¡­ slowly¡­


    The powerful skill left its cage, and with experience gained from multiple days of practice, it began its slow consumption¡ªbit by bit. As it did that, Leo focused on guiding and compressing the drained power into the empty container next to his soul. He discovered that if he didn''t perform the compression now, he wouldn''t get another chance later.


    And so, the sealing progressed. First, his forearm blades faded as if they had never been there before. His claws disappeared next, giving way to almost normal human fingers. They remained gray, but their power was gone, which was all that mattered.


    From there, his legs suffered a similar fate, followed by the spikes on his back and tail. Leo had tried many times to remove the latter, but just like his scales, it refused to budge. At least his floaters went out without much of a fight.


    Final part¡­


    With a quiet command, Devour''s focus turned toward his torso and head. The pace of consumption slowed even more here, which was a necessity. He had failed too many times at this step to rush it.


    More power from the soul¡­


    To add even more difficulty to the entire process, Leo began pumping more Essence into the storage next to his soul, squeezing it as tightly as possible. That, in combination with Devour''s effort, made his entire form slowly shrink¡ªinch by inch.


    Just a bit more¡­ Almost there¡­


    Then it happened.


    Just as his body shrunk to the size of his previous evolution, Devour faltered, unable to drain any more power. Leo gritted his teeth and attempted to regain control, but before he could do that, something cracked inside him.


    The storage.


    It splintered into countless pieces, releasing the energy hidden within. The wave of power hid him head-on, knocking him off his feet as his body returned to its normal state within a blink.


    Shit. Leo groaned, opening his eyes to find Nyx hovering over him. "I''m fine."


    The feline tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "It sure doesn''t seem like it. You have been at this for over twenty hours straight. Maybe it''s time for a break."


    "Maybe¡­" he muttered, picking himself off the ground. "I was so close. I felt it. A few more seconds and I would be done."The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Great. Then rest for a bit and try again later. We got to wait for Naz''Tor''s call anyway."


    "Fine." He sighed, leaning his head against the cave wall. "I will drop the sealed form for the time being."


    Nyx narrowed her eyes. "I''m sensing a ''but'' there."


    "And you''re right, congrats. I''m gonna go into my Soulscape and try some stuff. Then I will take a nap. How is that?"


    "Better than I expected," she grumbled. "You know, for someone who wants to go on a vacation, you''re a terrible workaholic. Always got to be doing something."


    Leo shrugged. "That''s just how I am. I hate leaving stuff unfinished. Can''t rest properly if I do."


    "Thankfully, I didn''t inherit this part of you, and Nikra was never too hardworking."


    "Of course you''re happy. You love your naps too much."


    "So what?" she challenged, quirking a single eyebrow. "At least I know when to rest, unlike someone here."


    "And I''m going," Leo announced, closing his eyes and entering his Soulscape. Yet, he still heard Nyx''s snort and the muttered ''coward.''


    "Bloody cat." He chuckled as the shadowed lands of his soul greeted him once more. "Now, first things first."


    As fast as he could, he ran for his item stash, where he fished out a large shard with sparkling blue lightning inside it. He grabbed it tightly and felt around his soul for his next destination.


    There¡­


    The trip took a bit longer this time, but when he arrived, it was to a sight he hadn''t seen in a long time.


    "My core¡­" he muttered. "You have changed¡­"


    He had visited this place only once before¡ªwith Nikra. Back then, his core was just a small pond full of dancing shadows that awaited his command.


    Today, that pond evolved into a large lake, filled to the brim with thick, familiar darkness. Waves of violet and red energy now accompanied the shadows, spilling over the shores and rocking the area with weak explosions.


    "What did Nikra say back then? ''Dive into the truest part of your soul and embrace it.'' Or something like that¡­ Oh well, no time like the present."


    With that, Leo jumped high and plunged right into the lake of shadows. Darkness consumed his vision, but despite that, he had no problem navigating it. This was his power¡ªit would never work against him.


    Or so he hoped.


    This should be enough. He decided as his feet touched solid ground. Going by his senses, he should be somewhere in the middle of his core. Now, only the final step remained.


    Embrace it.


    Leo sat down cross-legged, took a few deep breaths, and reached out towards the surrounding elements. He also placed the Lightning Core on his lap. It would come into play later¡ªif he didn''t fail now.


    As expected, the shadows around him answered his call right away. They attached themselves to his body, connecting him directly to the entire core. He could have commanded it before, but now it felt like he was one with it. Although, there was still one big problem.


    Ruination.


    Like the shadows, it came to him without struggle but refused to connect at first. Leo had to force it to obey, which thankfully wasn''t that hard thanks to the absolute control over Essence his Soulscape provided. Still, it definitely put things into perspective.


    Okay, now, how do I deepen my connection with you? Do I just meditate, or what?


    With no better idea, he did just that, allowing the elements to course through his body. At first, nothing happened, but then, he felt the entire lake move.


    Up and down. Left and right.


    Whirlpools formed on the surface until they reached deep enough to touch his head. At the same time, the waves of Ruination grew in size, which only enhanced the following explosions. And still, Leo didn''t move, didn''t open his eyes as he simply embraced the chaos around him.


    The elements used him as a conduit, and he let them, all the while pulling more and more power into himself. Their bond slowly grew, and with it, his understanding of the affinities he wielded.


    Now, if I do this¡­


    Carefully, so as not to disrupt the connection, Leo reached with his Essence towards the shard in his lap. It slapped his phantom hand away at first, struggling even harder than Ruination did.


    In response, he extended his senses further, up toward the sky above the lake. He even employed the shadows to reach for the sparks of black lightning trying to escape his grasp. They eluded him at first, but nothing could escape him forever.


    Once his shadows trapped some of the lightning in the sky, his Essence touched the Core in his lap again. This time, the energy within the item accepted the connection after a bit of hesitation.


    Wow¡­ He muttered internally as lightning exploded around his body. Even with shadows surrounding him from each side, he could see how the sparks changed colors. Going from blue to violet before finally settling for a red so dark it was almost black.


    All of that lasted only a few seconds before the lightning faded.


    Let''s try that again.

 Chapter 256. On the edge

    The dark red lightning around him faded again as Leo let out a sigh. He looked down at the item on his lap, but instead of a shard filled with living sparks, only small empty pieces remained there. The core obviously wasn''t infinite; he should have expected that.


    I guess that''s enough for today, he mused and, with a single command, forced his shadows to launch him to the surface. Which they did, sending him flying high above the vast lake of Essence.


    He landed upon a cliff overseeing the entire area and looked up at the sky. It was time to find out if he had just wasted the Lightning Core and at least a few hours.


    He hadn''t.


    Huh, nice.


    The sky hadn''t changed much, but it was impossible not to notice the increased amount of lightning racing across it. However, unlike inside his core, the sparks didn''t turn dark red. Whatever he did wasn''t enough to affect their color.


    Now, this gives me an idea, he mused, glancing at the darkness filling the entire sky. It looked stronger; it felt stronger. Maybe he was getting close to advancing his shadow affinity.


    Next time¡­ Next time¡­


    With a quick pull on his soul, Leo opened his eyes back in the real world. Just as he was about to open his mouth to announce his presence, the System forced a notification right into his face.


    What now?


    Your trait, Venax Wings, has reached its maturity. Displaying updated description.


    Venax Wings (Unique)


    What''s better than flight? Than the freedom of spreading your wings and going whenever you want? Nothing. Soon, you will learn this truth.


    Effects:


    As Prime Indomitus Venax, you have developed limbs called Floaters. Thanks to time and your hard work, they have finally matured, granting you a place in the sky. Current status: Matured, currents developed but still growing. Limited flight available.


    "Limited¡­" Leo muttered. "So it''s not done yet¡­ Ah, fine, whatever. As long as I can finally fly."


    "Did you say something?" Nyx called out, pausing her training.


    "My wings finally matured. Should be able to fly with them now," he explained, standing up and doing a few stretches. He also removed his cloak and flexed the floaters on his back.


    "Wait!" The feline shouted, looking ready to pounce on him. "Don''t tell me you want to test them now¡ªhere."


    Leo rolled his eyes. "Who do you take me for? I will only activate them, that''s all."


    "And the light show?"


    "We are deep enough. Nobody will notice."


    She sighed. "All right, but be quick."


    Leo nodded and opened his floaters to the Essence resting inside his soul. At once, lightning, as dark as night, erupted from his back, forming two massive wings. He flexed them, trying to extend them to their full span, but the confines of the cave stopped him. That, and Nyx''s glare when he almost hit her.


    "Sorry!" He grimaced and cut off the flow of Essence.


    Darkness returned to the cave, held back only by the small fire pit in the middle.


    "And? How did it feel?"


    Leo shrugged. "Hard to say. They don''t feel like normal limbs, but they are not quite like elemental constructs either. It''s like something in between, if you know what I mean."


    Nyx furrowed her brow. "I don''t. I really don''t."


    "Wait, really? What about when you transform into smoke?"Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "It doesn''t feel any different than my solid form. It''s still my body, just in a different state."


    He blinked. "Huh¡­ You learn something new every day¡­ Either way, I have no idea how to put it into words. It feels natural, though, so that''s all that matters."


    Nyx nodded. "Planning to rest now? You look like you might collapse any second now."


    A snort left his mouth. "It''s not that bad yet, but yeah. Some sleep sounds perfect. You fine keeping watch?"


    "I have a few more hours in me. Go rest, Leo."


    "Thanks," he muttered, lying down next to the fire. "Wake me up in two h¡ª"


    Yet again, the world didn''t allow him to finish his sentence. A loud crack of thunder filled the cave, followed by another, and then a dozen more¡ªall in the span of a few seconds. The pounding of heavy rain reached their ears next, accompanied by howling of wind.


    Of course, the System also had something to say.


    Warning! Formation of Standard Void Storm (Rank C) in your area detected. Find shelter immediately and await the end of the Storm. Good Luck.


    "It''s just one thing after another." Leo chuckled, not even bothering to stand up. He was already inside a shelter. Hopefully, this tiny cave would be enough.


    "At least it isn''t an Eclipse storm," Nyx pointed out and also returned to her training.


    He snorted. "True¡­ Whatever, I''m going to sleep. Wake me up in two hou¡ªOh for fuck''s sake! What is it this time?"


    Leo sat up, quickly summoning his transmitter. He accepted the call without even checking who was calling.


    "Yes?" he grumbled. "What is it?"


    "Hi!" Lily chirped before adding, "You sound grumpy. Why are you grumpy? Is it the wrong time?"


    "No." He dragged a hand across his face. "I''m just tired. I''ve been practicing that sealed form I told you about and some other stuff all day. Now there is a Void Storm raging outside, and I just wanted to get some sleep."


    "Void Storm?!" He winced at her scream.


    "Yes. Don''t worry about it. I''m safe. It can''t reach me here," he reassured her. And just as if to prove him wrong, the earth shook, followed by a clap of thunder that almost burst his ear drums.


    Way too close.


    "If you are sure," Lily replied, and Leo thanked the gods that the transmitter didn''t pick up on the chaos outside. He could do without his sister worrying about him more than she already did.


    "I am. Now, is there something you need, or¡­"


    "Nah!" She chirped again. "I just wanted to check up on you, but if you want to sleep, I can call later. Just make some time tomorrow for the meeting."


    Right, they are all going back to Wolford to reorganize. I almost forgot.


    "I will," he promised. "Just call me when you''re all ready. If I''m safe, I will answer."


    "Got ya! Till then. Sweet dreams."


    Before Leo could respond, the call disconnected. He resisted the urge to run straight into a wall, and just laid down again.


    I swear, if something interrupts me again, I''m running outside and fighting the first Voidling I find.


    Thankfully, nothing happened, allowing him to drift off to sleep.


    <hr>


    Just a little bit more, Leo urged as Devour consumed the last bits of power in his body. The transfer of Essence from his soul to the storage also continued, leaving only a sliver inside him.


    Come on, come on, come on!


    With one final push, he compressed the last bit of energy, stored it, and cut off Devour. He then waited¡ªa second, two, three, five¡ªfor anything to happen, but nothing did.


    "Finally!" He pumped his mostly human hand¡ªstill covered in scales¡ªinto the air. "I finally got it! Nyx! How do I look?"


    "See for yourself." The feline laughed.


    His vision shifted instantly, filling up with the image of a creature even more bizarre than his normal form. For one, his size, legs, and arms had reverted to their human state, though the scales remained. His head was a completely different story, as while still somewhat draconic, his snout became shorter, making his face a bit more human-like. His hair, though, didn''t make a return...


    All in all, he looked like a strange mash-up between his stage two evolution and a Fallen Human. His new, slim tail only added to the messed-up image.


    Leo frowned as his normal vision returned. "How is it that your sealed form is a simple cat, while mine looks like a failed attempt at a Halloween costume?"


    Nyx shrugged. "Skill issue."


    Don''t kill her. Don''t kill her. He took a deep breath. Focus on what''s important. Like the new skill.


    Sealed Form (Epic)


    To enjoy yourself, sometimes you have to drop some unwanted weight. With Sealed Form, it''s now possible. Abandon your worries, enjoy your vacations, and forget about the never-ending pursuit of strength now!


    Effects:


    You now may seal up to 99% of your power. Be careful; doing so leaves you vulnerable. With time, you may learn how to control your transformation.


    Leo''s eye twitched. With time? She did it on the first try! It might be a skill issue after all¡­


    Not wanting to dwell on it, he canceled the Sealed Form and dismissed the description. All they needed now was for Naz''Tor to call and let him know that the extraction was ready. After almost five days inside this cave, he was getting claustrophobic. Nyx wasn''t any better¡ªhe caught her looking toward the exit every few minutes.


    The sounds of fighting creeping closer and closer to their position also didn''t help. If things kept up, they might have to run soon.


    Hurry up, my friend. We are pushing our luck here.

 Chapter 257. Punching bag

    ¡°This is getting out of hand,¡± Leo mumbled as yet another tremor rocked the tiny cave.


    It was the fifth day now since they had arrived on Sazim, and just like he had feared, their luck was running out. Ever since the Void Storm stopped yesterday, the fighting outside was getting closer and closer to their position. The recent global announcement with another warning about more Narzak squadrons also didn¡¯t help.


    Even if the faction war hadn¡¯t officially started yet, the population of Sazim sure didn¡¯t have it easy. What baffled Leo was why anyone would bother attacking this place if Ger was the supposed weakened one. What was the purpose of invading some weak planet belonging to a sub-faction? It just didn¡¯t make any sense, in his opinion.


    He shook his head. ¡°Get ready, Nyx. We might be moving out soon.¡±


    The feline nodded. They both knew they didn¡¯t have much of a choice. If the fighters found them here, things could go south really fast.


    ¡°Call Naz¡¯Tor first,¡± she suggested. ¡°His people might be close for all we know.¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡± He fished out his transmitter and opened his contact list. Yet, before he could make the call, an explosion shook the entire cave. Rocks started falling from the ceiling as cracks spread across the walls.


    ¡°Shit! Nyx, to me!¡±


    The feline burst into smoke and enveloped his body just as another tremor traveled through the area. Leo quickly threw Shadow¡¯s Veil in its cloak form over his body and activated the enhanced Stealth Shroud. They had to get out now. It was that or getting buried alive.


    He sprinted toward the exit, dodging the rocks coming for his head. Sunlight flickered in his vision, and he used Blink to speed up.


    It was a mistake.


    Just as he appeared in the cave¡¯s exit, a literal ice meteor fell on his position. Leo shielded as best as he could and even jumped out of the way, but the object still nicked him, bringing him down with it.


    The cracking of bones and scales filled his ears, accompanied by a scream of pain that didn¡¯t belong to him. The world became a shaking blur, and he closed his eyes, fighting to remain conscious. He must have hit like a dozen trees or rocks after being sent flying.


    Nyx, you there? He groaned, clumsily reaching for the link they shared. It remained active, but just barely.


    ¡®For now,¡¯ the feline hissed, her voice faint. ¡®I tried to shield you, but¡­¡¯


    You did more than enough. Stay attached to me and rest. I will handle the rest, he said, even if he didn¡¯t believe those words himself. He could barely feel his body, much less move it.


    At least his Essence still listened to him and reactivated Stealth Shroud without any issues. He still had no idea what hit him, but going by the groaning quite close to him, it definitely wasn¡¯t a meteor like he had thought.


    All right, slowly.


    Bit by bit, Leo opened his eyes, forcing the blurriness to go away. At first, his vision became filled with shades of blue and white, but after a few blinks, those colors settled. Oh¡­


    From what little he could see, he was lying at the side of a wide crater¡ªa crater that had, until moments ago, housed his cave. The ground was torn and shattered everywhere he looked, with bits of ice and snow scattered all around. Of course, that wasn¡¯t everything.


    At the center of the destruction lay the source¡ªa colossal ice giant with its body half-buried in the debris. Its flawless, pale blue skin shimmered under the sunlight even as copious amounts of blue liquid poured out of its multiple wounds.


    So you¡¯re the one who hit me. How did I even survive this? Leo grimaced, firing off an Identify, only for the skill to fail. Of course¡­This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Damn, you guardians are one tanky motherfuckers,¡± an amused, unknown voice filled the area. ¡°I thought for sure that technique would kill you.¡±


    Leo turned as quickly as his battered body would allow, facing the speaker¡ªand the cause of his current predicament. The creature didn¡¯t disappoint.


    It looked quite similar to Malcolm¡¯s Apex Abyss Walker evolution, only with the demonic traits cranked up to the maximum. They even shared the singular wing, although this creature still somehow used it to hover in the air. Defying gravity seemed like a child¡¯s play to higher-ranked survivors.


    Stay still, don¡¯t move. Leo repeated in his mind as the demon descended a bit closer to the fallen ice giant. It tried to swat the smaller creature away, but its movement was too slow, too clumsy.


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah!¡± the demon tutted, flying out of reach. ¡°Looks like you still have some life left in you. Let¡¯s change that!¡±


    A fiery spear of pure blue fire materialized in the creature¡¯s hand. It grew and grew until it became thrice as long as its wielder. The ice giant groaned, raising its hand, a shield of ice forming at its tip.


    It was all for naught.


    The burning spear descended on the half-dead creature, burning right through its shield and then arm. It continued onward and sunk right into the guardian¡¯s chest before exploding in a fiery inferno.


    Leo had to turn away as the heat washed over him, scorching his already damaged scales. The ice and snow in the area also evaporated within a blink, leaving only rocks and some unfrozen Vetilim exposed.


    ¡°I should have started with that.¡± He heard the demon click its tongue. ¡°Oh well, still got three more to kill.¡±


    Once the smoke inside the crater settled, the killer was nowhere to be seen. As for the ice giant? Almost nothing remained of it. Leo only spotted a piece of its leg peeking out of the debris. Yet, even that barely resembled the magnificent creature that almost killed him with its impact.


    At least the demon didn¡¯t care to check if there was anybody nearby. He sighed, dropping his head back on the warm ground. Thank God, the Void, or whoever is listening.


    Of course, his survival didn¡¯t mean he escaped the danger yet. He was still lying in the middle of nowhere, with his body broken and burned, protected only by the Stealth Shroud that could fail at any second now. All in all, his situation could have been much better.


    We should have left that cave a long time ago, he commented and reached into his soul for another Bellatoure. With his arms unresponsive, a tendril of shadows caught the vial and uncorked it.


    Bottoms up!


    Leo gulped down the mixture in one go and waited for the effect to take place. They did, but just like Naz¡¯Tor warned, the healing didn¡¯t speed up as much as in the past. Then again, that could also be because of the range of his injuries. The ice giant pretty much turned his insides into mush.


    And so we wait¡­


    <hr>


    It took quite some time before Leo could move again¡ªand by move, he meant crawl. As soon as his body didn¡¯t feel like dying from a bit of effort, he relocated away from the crater. He probably left some tracks once he reached the snow again, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do about that. Remaining close to that place was far too dangerous.


    And so, for close to two hours, he lay hidden between trees, waiting for his body to put itself back together. Nyx remained asleep in the meantime, her smoke form still curled around him.


    They are still fighting, Leo noted, wincing as another tremor rippled through the earth. He also heard some explosions, but at least those were far away. He doubted he could survive another giant falling on his face.


    Got to move. But where? He considered calling Naz¡¯Tor, but that meant canceling at least a part of Stealth Shroud. He refused to do that until he found another place to hide. Maybe the nest close by?


    Many would call him insane for even thinking about getting close to a nest in his state. However, according to the merchant, it was supposed to be a massive cavern system filled with all kinds of different ice-type Voidlings. That didn¡¯t sound too welcoming, but maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe could slip in unnoticed and hide in plain sight.


    I need to move anyway. He stood up on shaky legs. I will check it out and decide from there. Maybe I can find another cave on the way¡­


    With the decision made, Leo trudged through the frozen forest, keeping to the shadows and avoiding any open areas. The sounds of battle continued to echo all around him, sometimes drawing closer, sometimes fading into the distance. He tuned it all out, focusing fully on the way ahead.


    Unfortunately, the universe had other ideas.


    Out of nowhere, something slammed into his back, sending him flying into the nearest tree. He smashed straight through it and two more before his momentum stopped, and he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.


    Fucking again?!

 Chapter 258. I’m legit. Trust me!

    Bloodlust answered his rage, filling his body with power and adrenaline Leo desperately needed. Despite the new broken bones and the pain threatening to overwhelm him, he forced himself to rise, glaring at the one who dared to strike him. If this was to be his end, he would go down fighting.


    ¡°You should have stayed down, Narzak trash,¡± the figure spoke, her voice a strange mix of softness and harshness. ¡°Your trial is over. You aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡±


    Leo narrowed his eyes, sizing her up. She was smaller than him by a head or two and honestly didn¡¯t look that much different than a human. Her body had the same general shape as his old species, though, with obvious female characteristics he could see even with the furs she wore.


    Her skin was another matter¡ªblood red, marred by white blemishes scattered across its surface. Then there was her hair, if it could be called that. It consisted of thick, flexible needles that formed a mane that fell down to her back.


    He activated Identify, but just like with the last two survivors, it failed.


    ¡°No idea what are you talking about,¡± Leo hissed through clenched teeth, yanking his dislocated shoulder back into place. ¡°I have no connection to this Narzak. Nor am I doing any trials.¡±


    The alien snorted, twirling her long, curved sword before pointing it directly at his chest. ¡°Your armor says otherwise. I would recognize it anywhere.¡±


    Are you kidding me?! He groaned inwardly, looking down at the damaged Narzak Trainee Chestplate. ¡°It was a reward for destroying a nest!¡±


    She scoffed, never lowering her blade. ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to believe that? No one with half a brain would wear Narzak gear if they weren¡¯t part of their faction. That¡¯s common knowledge, trash.¡±


    Maybe for you, it is! Leo wanted to scream. And so he did, just more politely. His life depended on this. ¡°Listen, I swear I¡¯m not part of Narzak. I¡¯m a survivor of the sixty-fourth Outbreak. A Void Rift brought me here.¡±


    The alien quirked an unimpressed eyebrow. ¡°You want me to believe that someone with a full Void evolution is a part of the new Outbreak? Oh, and let¡¯s not forget about your skill or item that protects you from Identify. Nobody as weak as you can get that stuff without a powerful backer.¡±


    Leo bristled. As much as he wanted to be angry at being called weak, he couldn¡¯t. Compared to her, he was probably no stronger than an ant. That was why he took a deep breath and forced his bloodlust to back off for now. Relentless Hunger couldn¡¯t remain active without combat anyway.


    Yet, the question remained. What should he tell her?


    Should he explain everything that had happened along with the item he got from Naz¡¯Tor? Would she even believe him? He really doubted that, but it couldn¡¯t hurt to try. He was a breath away from death anyway.


    So he raised his hands up and started talking. ¡°You could say I have a backer. Someone from the Merchant faction. They gave me an item to hide my status until help arrived.¡±


    That gave the alien a pause. ¡°Merchant faction? Why would they give a nobody like you an obscurial item? What are you hiding?¡± Her golden eyes narrowed. ¡°Remove it now, or your head rolls!¡±


    Mistakes were made! Leo flinched, unsure how to proceed. Not removing the necklace meant death, but the same most likely would happen if he did take it off. He was a Prime Akirian, after all; Naz¡¯Tor had already told him what that meant on Sazim.


    Damned if I do, damned if I don¡¯t. I need to get out of here somehow.


    His chances were slim, tiny even, but he had to try. His skills were made for situations like this, so maybe, just maybe, he had a chance to make it out alive.


    ¡°All right, I will take it off. Just give me a moment,¡± he said and slowly reached for his neck. At the same time, Essence gathered in his body, activating Reinforcement and preparing another skill that just might buy him enough time to escape.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Moonless sk¡ª


    ¡°Not so fast,¡± the alien interrupted, and Leo froze, quite literally at that. His entire body got encased in ice, leaving only his head exposed. ¡°Please tell me you didn¡¯t just try to escape.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t?¡± he lied while gathering Ruination in his body. This was his last shot.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    Without further warning, the alien swung her sword right at his exposed neck. At the same time, Ruination pushed against the ice, trying to melt it, but it happened way too slow. She was no random Voidling that he could one-shot with his overpowered affinity.


    Shit¡­


    Just as the blade was about to slice through his throat, it stopped. The alien¡¯s eyes widened as suddenly, a humanoid lion uncloaked at her side. The creature had her sword hand in its grasp, snarling straight into her face.


    ¡°Back off,¡± the beast growled.


    ¡°W-who are you?¡± the female alien stuttered, tugging at her trapped arm, but the lion¡¯s grip didn¡¯t budge. ¡°You¡¯re interfering with official Zatiro business.¡±


    The humanoid lion didn¡¯t respond and simply glared harder. If Leo had been free, he could have cut through the tension in the air with his blade alone.


    Time to get the hell out of here. He decided, increasing the output of Ruination. If the two aliens wanted to fight, who was he to stop them? Just a little bit more.


    However, because the universe wanted to prove to him that today just wasn¡¯t his day, another voice entered the area. And this one belonged to a small, floating blob of yellow fire that zipped toward their group.


    ¡°Kirej! There you are!¡± the new arrival shouted. ¡°Oh, and you found our target! Good job.¡±


    Wait, target? Leo stiffened, ignoring how the lion preened at the praise.


    ¡°W-who are you?¡± The red-skinned alien asked again, fear now flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°Ah, Kirej, let her go,¡± the ball of flame ordered. ¡°Forgive me, my lady, but you forced my friend¡¯s hand. If you would just agree to take a few steps back, I will explain everything. I cannot, however, allow you to attack our target again.¡±


    So I¡¯m the target after all. Leo thought, allowing himself to hope.


    His assailant hesitated for a moment, but then she backed off, cradling her arm. At the same time, the ice around him faded. The floating fire took it as a cue.


    ¡°Wonderful, thank you, my lady,¡± it beamed. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself¡­ I¡¯m Darius, one of the thirteen ancient flames. Together with Kirej, I¡¯m here on official Merchant faction business.¡±


    The female alien¡¯s gaze landed on Leo for a second before it returned to the ancient flame. ¡°You¡¯re still trespassing. Sazim is currently on lockdown. You¡¯re violating the treaty.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, no, no,¡± Darius laughed. ¡°We¡¯re doing no such thing, my dear! Our mission is fully authorized by your leaders. I have the details here. Please take a look. Kirej!¡±


    The lion pulled out a small, sleek device and handed it over. To Leo, it looked similar to a flash drive, just more fancy.


    The Sazim¡¯s native took the item, her eyes flashing. She stood like that for a few seconds before a sigh left her lips. ¡°I understand¡­ Everything seems to be in order.¡± She bowed. ¡°Forgive me for almost jeopardizing your mission.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, my lady,¡± the floating flame was quick to reassure. ¡°You were just doing your job. I¡¯m sure our new friend here understands that.¡±


    Leo, feeling the weight of three gazes, quickly nodded. ¡°I¡¯m all good! No hard feelings.¡±


    For the first time since she arrived, the red-skinned alien smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad. Forgive me again, and if you ever need anything, please ask for Sermeza at the nearest Battalion barracks.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± he muttered, fighting the urge to collapse. Without the ice and adrenaline to support him, the pain from his new injuries returned in full force.


    The female smiled again and disappeared in a bright flash. Leo took it as a sign and fell to the ground.


    ¡°Blast it!¡± Darius cursed. ¡°Kirej, the potion. Fast!¡±


    The humanoid lion instantly crouched before him, took out a vial filled with some red liquid, and practically showed it down his throat. Leo coughed, fighting the tears in his eyes as the potion lit up a fire inside his gut. Thankfully, it went away after a few seconds, leaving him gasping but no longer in pain.


    ¡°T-Thanks,¡± he panted, trying to catch his breath. ¡°For the potion¡­ and for saving me.¡±


    ¡°It was nothing!¡± Darius chirped, zooming around. ¡°We¡¯re just doing our job. Naz¡¯Tor would kick us from the Merchant faction if we failed a mission this simple.¡±


    ¡°I doubt he would care that much.¡±


    The floating flame laughed, and even Kirej let out a snort. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re wrong, very wrong! Naz¡¯Tor is invested in you. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have called us nor given you that necklace.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Leo muttered. ¡°So what now?¡±


    ¡°Now? Now, we wait for you to recover and then escort you to Naz¡¯Tor. Simple as that.¡± Darius turned to Kirej. ¡°Secure the area!¡±

 Chapter 259. Friendly flame

    The humanoid lion got to work right away, stepping back a few feet and pressing one hand to the ground. Bright brown Essence escaped out of his palm, slowly spreading across the earth and melting the ice and surrounding snow. Soon, the entire area cleared, leaving only a soft glow around them.


    That was when Kirej pulled out a small golden stake and drove it right where his palm had once been. Right away, energy exploded out of the object, shooting into the sky before cascading down, forming a barrier around them. It didn''t look much different than a standard safe zone protection.


    "Well done, my friend. That should buy us some time," Darius praised.


    Kirej just huffed and walked toward the barrier''s border, sitting down in silence. The ancient flame sighed and turned back to Leo. "Don''t mind him. He is shy around strangers."


    Leo glanced between Kirej and Darius, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah¡­ I don''t see it."


    "Oh, but he is," the ancient flame chuckled. "Kirej might look tough and scary, but he is a big softy. Just ask Naz''Tor. They have known each other even longer than I have."


    "I will keep that in mind," he muttered, deciding to switch the subject. "So, what happens once I recover? How do you plan to get me out of here?"


    Darius paused mid-flight, his fiery form flickering. "Naz''Tor didn''t tell you?"


    "No." Leo resisted the urge to sigh. "All he told me was to wait for you and learn Sealed Form in the meantime. I don''t even have a clue why I need it."


    "Huh," the ancient flame hummed. "That''s odd but not exactly out of character for Naz''Tor. He has his own weird quirks. I just didn''t expect him to skip over details when it''s a matter of life and death for you¡­ Oh well! You will get to ask for his reasoning soon enough."


    "I guess¡­ But again, what''s the plan?"


    "Yes, yes, the plan!" Darius resumed his excited zooming. "It''s simple, very simple! Once you are stable enough to travel, we will escort you to the nearest safe zone with a Caged Gate that can take you to Naz''Tor. That''s where your sealed form comes in. You''ve learned it, yes?"


    Leo nodded while storing the information about the Caged Gate for later. "Yeah, I''ve got it down.."


    "Excellent! That skill is crucial. Without it, you won''t be able to access the majority of safe zones inside the Void. Think of it as another security measure so that no one will try anything stupid where people just want to live in peace."


    "Wait." He frowned. "Are you really saying that everybody has to use a sealed form inside safe zones?"


    Isn''t that¡­


    Darius nodded. "With some exceptions, but yes, that''s exactly the case. There are places where this rule isn''t enforced, but those are usually new safe zones that are still developing. Trust me, the longer you live in the Void, the more you appreciate those restrictions."


    I can already think of a few reasons. Leo grimaced as his imagination ran wild. He quickly dismissed those thoughts and focused back on the conversation. "I see¡­ Well then, I''m in your hands. Though to be honest, I expected it to be more complicated than just walking into a random safe zone and going through some gate."


    Darius laughed. "Oh, it would be if we didn''t follow official channels. That''s why it took us so long to arrive here. Naz''Tor had to arrange a safety passage for us, and with a war brewing, that''s not a quick process. We are lucky he is a well-connected individual. It might have taken much longer otherwise."


    Leo gulped. All right, so maybe my luck didn''t run out completely.


    "But enough about that," Darius continued. "Where is this companion of yours? We were told we had to extract two individuals. Did they¡­"


    As the ancient flame trailed off, Leo shook his head. "No, she is fine, just recovering. Give me a moment. I will try to wake her up."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Please do. If she requires healing, we have more potions."


    He nodded and reached for his bond with the feline. Hey, wake up, he called out, softly nudging her with his Essence. Naz''Tor''s people are here.


    ''Whaa¡­'' Nyx mumbled. ''What¡­ what happened? Why did you wake me up?''


    Well¡­ Leo smiled wryly. I almost died a second time after you drifted off, but we''re okay now. Naz''Tor''s people finally showed up.


    ''What did you just say?!'' The feline''s voice snapped awake, all traces of sleep gone. ''Almost died again? What did you do?''


    Hey, now, I didn''t choose to get attacked. Besides, you can see it for yourself. My mind is open.


    ''Trust me, I will,'' she said, and instantly, he felt her digging through his memory. He allowed it, guiding her toward today''s events. ''Oh¡­ I see what you mean. That was¡­ unfortunate. First the ice giant and then a random Sazim soldier. Leo, I''m really happy you are alive, but it''s a miracle that Naz''Tor''s people got here in time.''


    Yeah, my thoughts exactly. A few more seconds, and well, my head would roll. Maybe the universe doesn''t hate me after all.


    ''That''s still up for debate,'' Nyx snickered. ''This Darius and Kirej¡­ they are an interesting pair.''


    Leo held himself back from snorting. You don''t say. A tiny ball of fire and a lion-man. Compared to them, we look normal.


    ''I wouldn''t go that far, but I see your point¡­ Should I come out?''


    He shrugged. I don''t see why not. They even offered to give you the same potion they forced down my throat.


    ''There''s no need for that,'' she declined. ''I''m feeling much better now. Still a bit spent and tired, but nothing some rest can''t fix.''


    Got ya. Come out, then.


    Nyx didn''t answer and simply slithered out of his cloak in her smoke form. She reformed at his side and bowed toward the ancient flame.


    "Greetings, I''m Nyx, Leo''s bonded companion."


    "Oh my! An Apex Indomitus," Darius beamed. "It''s a pleasure, my lady. Now, I''m even more curious about your evolution, young one."


    "It''s also an Indomitus," Leo said, giving him at least something.


    "Hmm." The ancient flame floated closer, inspecting him from each side. "I haven''t seen your evolution ever before, but those eyes, those blades¡­ You''re an Akirian, aren''t you? But that''s not all¡­ Your kind is disliked here, but not enough to warrant an obscurial item. Hmm, I see, I see¡­"


    Leo tensed, backing up until his spine hit the tree behind him. Darius noticed that instantly and retreated, his fire dimming a bit.


    "I apologize, I shouldn''t have done that! But please don''t worry. Your secret''s safe with me. My contract with Naz''Tor prohibits me from revealing any details about this mission."


    Leo''s shoulders sagged, some tension draining out of him. He still didn''t like that his secret was out, but there wasn''t much he could do about it now.


    Still, he had to ask. "Is it really that easy to tell? If yes, then what''s the point of hiding my status?"


    "No, no. Nothing like that!" Darius reassured him. "I''m old, very old. I have seen countless of your brethren come and go, both normal Akirians and Primes. I simply know what to look for. Also, it doesn''t hurt that my species is very sensitive to souls, and yours isn''t what we would call average. The odds of someone on Sazim guessing your true identity are abysmal, especially if you hide under that cloak of yours and assume sealed form."


    Leo exhaled. "That''s good, very good."


    The ancient flame chuckled. "You really have nothing to fear, young one. Even if, by some miracle, someone discovered your identity, Kirej and I will protect you. I don''t want to sound arrogant, but it''s unlikely that anyone on Sazim can match our strength. Don''t think that us belonging to the Merchant faction means we''re weak."


    He snorted. "Never even crossed my mind. Not after what your partner did¡­ But now that you''ve mentioned it. Do you also have stuff to sell?"


    "Oh my! Has my natural charm tempted you to switch your contracted merchant?" Darius teased with a laugh. "But no. Despite my faction, I''m not a merchant, nor is Kirej. We''re the muscles¡ªpeople you send to do the dirty work if you will."


    "Guess it makes sense," Leo muttered.


    "It does, doesn''t it?" the alien agreed, his fire burning bright again. "Now, I suggest you get some rest, young one. The potion we gave you works best when you sleep. Your partner can watch over you in the meantime. I would love to chat with her a bit."


    Unsure, he looked at Nyx, who nodded after a moment. ''It will be fine. Sleep, Leo. I will be here when you wake up.''


    Are you sure? He asked, glancing at the ancient flame.


    ''I am. I won''t tell him anything I don''t want to. And if they attack? Well, we are at their mercy anyway.''


    True¡­ Only one hour though. No longer.


    Nyx smiled. ''Of course.''

 Chapter 260. Ancient wisdom

    ¡®Leo¡­¡¯ a voice echoed in his mind. ¡®Leo¡­ it¡¯s time to wake up. The hour is up.¡¯


    He opened his eyes slowly, blinking away the blurriness. He propped himself with his arm, wincing as pain flared across his entire body. It was far from what he felt before going to sleep, but obviously, an hour wasn¡¯t enough to heal him.


    ¡°I¡¯m up,¡± he muttered, moving to stand up.


    ¡°You look a bit better, young one,¡± Darius said when he flew almost right into his face. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Leo stretched, hearing his joints pop. ¡°Like a horde of Collectors ran over me. But I can move now.¡±


    The ancient flame laughed. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters. From what I observed, it will take a few days for you to heal fully. It¡¯s not everyday a Glacierborn Guardian falls on your head. And let¡¯s not forget our short encounter with the Saklarian.¡±


    Leo glanced at Nyx, a question written across his face. She nodded. ¡®I told him what happened. I didn¡¯t see any harm in it.¡¯


    Right¡­ He looked back at the ancient flame. ¡°Glacierborn? Saklarian? Is that what they are called?¡±


    Darius nodded. ¡°Those are the natives that evolved from this planet¡¯s original inhabitants. Glacierborns are rare and usually live in seclusion, while Saklarians make up the majority of Sazim¡¯s survivors. You will see for yourself once we reach the safe zone.¡±


    ¡°And when is that?¡±


    ¡°If you two are good to go, then we can move out even now,¡± the ancient flame declared. ¡°We still have some time before the night comes, and even then, we can easily protect you from the Nightmares.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± Leo said before taking a look around the area. ¡°Where¡¯s Kirej?¡±


    ¡°Around,¡± came the simple answer. ¡°Stealth is his specialty. If you could see him, he wouldn¡¯t be doing his job right.¡±


    Interesting, he mused and saved that information for later. Maybe if he got a chance, he could ask the lion-man for some advice. Stealth Shroud was good but far from perfect. Worse, he didn¡¯t have many ideas on how to improve it further.


    ¡°All right, children!¡± Darius exclaimed, his fiery form expanding ever so slightly. ¡°A couple of rules. One, stick close to me! Two, don¡¯t attack anything. Three, if you notice anything concerning, don¡¯t act on it and just tell me. The odds are that I have already seen it and decided it¡¯s not a threat. Is that understood?¡±


    Nyx and Leo nodded. It wasn¡¯t anything they wouldn¡¯t ask themselves if they were escorting someone. Hell, he would have probably added a few more rules just to be extra safe.


    ¡°Very well! Let¡¯s move out then. After me! Tell me if I¡¯m going too fast. It¡¯s been a while since I dealt with survivors under C rank.¡±


    With that, they ran after Darius, the protective barrier fading the moment they stepped outside. Kirej remained unseen, but going by the Voidling corpses they found on the way, the lion-man was there, silently watching over them.


    And so their journey continued, passing through open valleys, over tall hills, and across frozen forests. Hordes of Voidlings tried to stand in their path a few times, but a single glance at the tiny floating ball of fire had them running in the opposite direction. It was quite amusing to watch.


    ¡°I got a question if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Leo spoke up, falling into step next to Darius.


    The ancient flame slowed down a bit. ¡°Go ahead, young one. If I can, I will answer.¡±


    Great. Leo smiled. ¡°It¡¯s about experience sharing. Say, if you weakened any of the Voidlings around here and I finished them, would I get the full reward?¡±


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°Unfortunately, no. You would definitely get some experience, but no more than from killing a Voidling that is close to your level,¡± Darius explained.


    ¡°Now, if you were to do that with a group of survivors of similar rank to you, that¡¯s a completely different story. The System simply hates when higher-ranked users try to boost those much weaker than them. We¡¯re meant to progress naturally and grow at our own pace while developing our abilities. After all, level isn¡¯t everything. You have to know how to use your power.¡±


    Leo clicked his tongue. ¡°There goes my genius plan,¡± he joked.


    Darius chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t think you need anyone boosting you, child. Your level is likely higher than your companion¡¯s, so believe me, you are doing well. No, scratch that, better than well. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised that if given some time, you could become stronger than me.¡±


    Leo frowned at that, remembering his conversation with Naz¡¯Tor. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be possible if you also keep growing stronger. Did you¡­ did you reach your peak? Hit a wall?¡±


    ¡°Peak?¡± the ancient flame repeated. ¡°Ah, you are talking about the soul¡¯s processing power. No, that¡¯s not it. Although, you could say I hit a wall, just not one you think of.¡±


    Leo hesitated. This didn¡¯t sound like a conversation for two people who had just met. Still, he was curious. ¡°Would you mind¡­¡±


    ¡°Elaborating?¡± Darius finished for him. ¡°No, not at all. It¡¯s only fair. I know your secret, you can know mine¡­ You see, after endless cycles of fighting against the Void, trying to become the strongest you can, you eventually get tired and realize that maybe the life of constant fighting is just not for you. That¡¯s exactly what happened to me. I had enough of that life, so I quit. I have barely leveled up twice during the last three Outbreaks.¡±


    Leo almost stumbled. Two levels in how long? He couldn¡¯t imagine going without a level-up for longer than a few days, much less an entire Outbreak. Just how old was the being next to him?


    ¡°But you are still here,¡± he countered, his curiosity rising. ¡°You said it yourself¡ªyou are the one the Merchant faction sends out if they need their dirty work dealt with.¡±


    Darius laughed again. ¡°I might have quit that life, but it never quit me. Even if I don¡¯t pursue growth like a maniac any longer, I still enjoy the thrill of battle occasionally. Working for the Merchants gives me just that, though, as you can see, not every job is that exciting.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Leo muttered, spotting another group of Voidlings running away. ¡°Thanks for sharing all that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I don¡¯t often get to share my wisdom¡­ Remember, power is important, especially for someone like you, but there is more to life than that. Sometimes, you just have to take a break, child. Relax and don¡¯t burn out. The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.¡±


    ¡°I will keep it in mind.¡±


    Darius beamed. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask for. Now, let¡¯s speed up a bit. Our destination is close!¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°There it is,¡± the ancient flame announced. ¡°Westside Watch. It¡¯s nothing compared to Sazim¡¯s capital, but it will get us where we need to go.¡±


    Leo blinked, making sure he heard the alien right. If the sprawling village¡ªno, city¡ªin the distance was ¡®nothing¡¯, then he had no idea what counted as ¡®something¡¯ in Darius¡¯ eyes. The settlement before him stretched across the frozen landscape, easily as vast as half of London.


    Sure, the buildings were modest¡ªno taller than two stories and constructed entirely out of ice¡ªbut they still looked impressive. The village¡¯s frozen protective walls were massive, towering over the surrounding plains, sparkling in the evening light. The streets beyond the gates were also nothing to scoff at¡ªdotted with glowing, floating lamps and bustling with movement of the city¡¯s population.


    Then, at the heart of the city, a towering, futuristic tower shot into the sky like a spear of glass and ice. It looked completely out of place, yet still added a certain charm to the entire settlement.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Leo pointed toward the huge construct.


    ¡°Your way home,¡± Darius answered. ¡°That¡¯s where the Caged Gate is set up. We probably won¡¯t get to use it today, but we can always spend a night in one of the many taverns around here.¡±


    ¡°Got it. So what now? We just walk to the gates and enter.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. But first, Sealed Forms. We¡¯re close enough that you can walk using them the rest of the way. We will keep you safe, trust me. And at least this way, you won¡¯t have to change in front of the guards.¡±


    Leo and Nyx shared a glance before shifting into their respective sealed forms. The feline finished a bit faster than him, but with the skill in his repertoire, he also changed within a minute.


    ¡°That should do,¡± Darius muttered once he finished scrutinizing them. ¡°You are leaking a bit of power, though. Work on that in the future, or keeping this form will become uncomfortable very fast. You don¡¯t want that. I¡¯m speaking from experience.¡±


    Leo nodded, accepting the lesson. Meanwhile, Nyx climbed onto his shoulder and flicked him with her tail.


    ¡®Five days, and you still haven¡¯t got it right.¡¯ She snickered.


    He silenced the voice in his mind telling him to throw her off.

 Chapter 261. Power is everywhere

    The walk toward the nearest entrance gate of Westside Watch didn''t take long, just like Darius promised. A pair of guards¡ªboth of the same species as the alien who had attacked Leo earlier¡ªstopped them before they could get too close. He tried to Identify them, but like always, the skill failed.


    "Halt!" one of them shouted, approaching their small group. "Identifications now, or you can turn back. Your choice!"


    Darius, the ever-excited creature, spoke up first. "We mean no harm and come in peace, honored guard. Kirej here has all the identifications we need." He turned to the lion-man. "If you will?"


    Kirej, who had rejoined them not that long ago, nodded and took out the same tiny device Leo had seen before. The guard''s eyes lit up as he stepped forward and grabbed the offered item.


    "Very well, everything seems to be in order," he said, echoing the words of another Seklarian. "Let me be the first to welcome you to Westside Watch. May your stay be fruitful. Now, please assume your Sealed Forms if you haven''t already."


    At that, Leo looked at his companions, but to his surprise, their bodies remained the same. Were they really using sealed form all this time? Just how powerful were they if that was the case?


    "Thank you for the welcome, honored guard. We''re ready to enter," Darius announced.


    The Seklarian nodded in response and signaled to his partner, who moved to the gate and placed a hand on the massive ice doors. They groaned at the action before slowly sliding open.


    Nice, Leo commented as the bustling city came into view. More guards waited there, standing on the sides, but they didn''t even move as his group strode forward, ready to leave the wilderness behind.


    A powerful shiver ran down his spine as he passed through the gate. A familiar phantom weight settled on his shoulders¡ªsomething he had felt many times before but never this strongly. His sealed form was already weak, yet now, he doubted he was any stronger than his old human self.


    It also didn''t help that he felt like he was being watched by some invisible gaze all the time. He almost shivered again but pushed this sensation away, deciding to ignore it for the time being. He could ask Darius about it later.


    ''This is¡­ weird,'' Nyx muttered through their bond. Her tiny head peeked out from his cloak, violet-red eyes scanning the street ahead. ''I think I got too used to humans.''


    You''re telling me. Leo frowned, his gaze also on the crowd of aliens around them.


    Once they passed the gate and entered the city, the locals shot their unique group a quick glance, but nothing more than that. Everyone just went on with their own business, uncaring of the new arrivals. It was refreshing, to say the least.


    Guess that''s what happens when your world isn''t limited to a single species, he reasoned, continuing to observe the creatures passing by.


    Just as Darius mentioned, most of Sazim''s population appeared to be Saklarians, but there were also plenty of different creatures. Not Voidborns, though¡ªhe barely managed to spot a few. Either he was in the wrong part of the city, or Naz''Tor had been exaggerating about this faction being so accepting.


    Hopefully, it isn''t the latter, Leo thought with a grimace. The last thing they needed was more problems, especially now that he couldn''t even defend himself. Oddly enough, not even being trapped in ice, seconds away from death, had made him feel as powerless as at this moment.


    ''I don''t like this either,'' Nyx commented, returning her head under his cloak. ''Even if everybody around us should be as weak as we are, it''s still¡­''


    Scary, he finished for her.


    ''Exactly.''


    Yeah, I feel the same, he tried to reassure the feline. It probably didn''t help much, but before he could dwell on it, a certain figure within the crowd caught his attention. Is that¡­ a human?


    The obvious female build hidden underneath a light armor seemed unmistakable, same went for the facial features and the bright blonde hair framing the woman''s face. Leo quickly activated Identify, but like with most of the locals, the skill failed once more.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Dammit. I mean, after meeting the Lone Travel, I figured humans existed outside of Earth, but to meet one on my first visit to a random planet in the Void. He shook his head. Or maybe it''s just a species similar to humans? What I would give for Identify to work¡­


    Seeing no other way to gather information, Leo quickened his pace to catch up with Darius. "Got another question, if you don''t mind," he muttered, trying not to be overheard.


    The ancient flame chuckled. "Is it about mine and Kirej''s sealed form?"


    He blinked. "No¡­ Well, now that you mentioned it, yes, but that can wait. It''s about the locals."


    "Oh?" Darius sounded intrigued now. "I assume this isn''t about the Saklarians?"


    "No, at least I don''t think so," Leo answered, unsure. "It''s about someone I saw in the crowd¡ªa human, or at least I think it was a human. My Identify doesn''t really work here too well."


    He now understood how most humans back on Earth felt when looking at him. The System gave him nothing, but thankfully, not everyone in Westside Watch was at such a high level. If they were, he would have gone mad.


    "Curious about your old species, are you?" Darius teased, pulling him back to the moment.


    Leo nodded. "A bit. I honestly didn''t expect to find a human here. No, scratch that¡ªI didn''t expect anyone so high-leveled to stay human."


    "Then prepare to be surprised, child." The ancient flame laughed. "Human evolution paths might not be among the strongest, but they are nothing to scoff at. Power and strength can be found anywhere if you know where to look. And humans¡­ they are a stubborn bunch."


    That''s one way to put it, he thought, almost snorting. "Does that mean humans are common in the Void?"


    "Common? No, I wouldn''t say that. They are around, just like many other races. You can find them here and there, but they''ve never been a major force within the Void."


    "Oh¡­" Leo mumbled. "Is there a human faction?"


    The ancient flame gave what seemed like a shrug. "I couldn''t tell you even if I wanted to. There''s definitely no major human faction, but something smaller? Tribes? Clans? Maybe, it''s possible¡­ You should ask Naz''Tor. He has access to much more information than I do."


    "Maybe I will," he answered quietly. In truth, it was more curiosity than anything else. He didn''t care much for the humans from other universes, and if he were being honest, he didn''t care much for most of the ones back on Earth either¡ªwith a few exceptions, of course.


    Doesn''t matter now anyway, Leo thought and decided to switch the subject. "So, your sealed forms¡­"


    Darius chuckled again. "Of course¡­ But tell me first, what do you think?"


    He furrowed his brow. "Honestly, I have no idea. But If I had to guess¡­ you''ve been in your sealed forms this whole time?"


    "No," Darius said, sounding a bit disappointed. "If Kirej or I were to step outside as we are now, we would become meat for the Voidlings. Just like everybody else¡­"


    Leo clicked his tongue. "Then that means there is no difference between your true and sealed forms, right? You simply sealed your power at the gate, and that''s all."


    "Again, no, but that''s a much better guess. It''s true I sealed my power at the gate," Darius explained, the disappointment gone from his voice. "However, our true forms are much different than what you see now. I can show you the next time we meet."


    "Then I have no idea¡­"


    "It''s called Compression-Transfer¡ªa skill," Kirej''s gruff voice suddenly joined their conversation.


    Leo almost jumped when the lion-man appeared at his side but quickly calmed his racing heart. He then waited for the alien to elaborate. It didn''t happen.


    "Kirej speaks the truth," Darius said, most likely taking pity on him. "It''s a skill that follows principles similar to Sealed Form but with different results. Where the latter takes your entire power away, Compression-Transfer allows you to move a part of yourself and channel it into a different attribute. That''s why it also involves the change of your appearance."


    "I don''t think I get it," Leo admitted, frowning. He had a vague idea, but it wasn''t enough.


    "Hmmm," the ancient flame hummed. "Let me put it this way. You can compress the strength of your body and temporarily turn it into speed or use it to empower your soul. Of course, the transfer isn''t one-to-one¡ªthat''s impossible. But the more experience you have with the skill, the better the exchange ratio gets."


    "So it''s like taking a part of your Might attribute and transferring it into Grace, for example?" Leo summed up.


    Darius nodded. "Exactly like that. It is, however, much harder to transfer power from Mind and Soul than from the other three. For most, it''s even impossible, given how difficult the skill is to learn in the first place. There''s a reason why it''s classified as a Divine ability."


    Divine? He mouthed the word, his eyes growing wide.


    The ancient flame must have noticed that, as he spoke again. "You shouldn''t worry about it for now, child. Compression-Transfer cannot be learned by anyone without all tier V attributes anyway. You still have a long road ahead of you."


    "It sure seems so." Leo chuckled, offering the alien a smile. "Thanks for humoring me again."


    Darius beamed, his fire brightening. "Think nothing of it. Now, let us find a tavern for the night. You simply must try some of the local cuisine."

 Chapter 262. Way back

    The interior of the tavern they found was just like everything outside¡ªfrozen yet elegant, appearing cold but warm at the same time. To everyone¡¯s surprise, it was Kirej who led them inside. But after they ordered and the warm food arrived before them, nobody doubted the lion-man¡¯s choice.


    Leo still had no idea what exactly he just ate, but he decided not to dwell on it. The meal tasted good, and it had been a long time since he had consumed something that wasn¡¯t a Voidling. Still, according to Darius¡¯ words, this wasn¡¯t Narzark, so any food they received was most likely safe.


    The phrase ¡®most likely¡¯ in his statement gave Leo a pause, but at this point, it was way too late to back off. His plate was already half empty and it really tasted good. Though he didn¡¯t dare touch the green bubbling liquid in his mug, Darius could say whatever he wanted, but no drink should look like that.


    ¡°Your loss,¡± the ancient flame simply said, downing the drink¡ªmug included.


    Back then, Leo wanted to ask him if he still needed food or how he even processed it, but he stopped himself. He had already bothered the alien with enough questions and didn¡¯t want to cross any unspoken boundaries. He was really way out of his comfort zone here.


    Of course, Darius didn¡¯t seem to notice any of that. He simply continued to talk about all the different foods one could find on Sazim. Leo barely caught half of the alien¡¯s excited chatter and just settled to nod at every look thrown in his direction.


    It went on like this until all of their crystal ice plates emptied, and an unexpected sense of fullness settled over him. The portion wasn¡¯t even larger than what he would have normally eaten for dinner back as a human, but somehow, he felt as if he had just devoured a whole horde of Collectors.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he muttered, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Just what was that?¡±


    In the corner of his vision, Leo spotted a tiny smirk on Kirej¡¯s face, though the lion-man, as usual, remained silent. Darius had to come to the rescue once more.


    ¡°A classic Saklarian Mash,¡± the ancient flame said. ¡°I¡¯m unsure what the exact ingredients are, but like I told you earlier, it shouldn¡¯t be anything you have to worry about. As for what you are feeling¡­¡± he chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s what you get when your meal is prepared by a skilled cook. It might not sound like the most useful profession in the Void, but like everything, it has its uses. Honestly, they and alchemists have a lot in common.¡±


    Leo furrowed his brow. ¡°What? You mean their food can grant boosts or something like that?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Darius beamed, floating up and down above his seat. ¡°It¡¯s not as effective as potions and elixirs but usually lasts much longer. Enhanced healing? Not a problem. Tiny buff to your attributes? Also doable, if you have enough Ether. Some places even offer meals that will grant you the ability to temporarily wield a certain element. I¡¯ve personally tested a few.¡±


    Leo¡¯s gaze snapped back to the ancient flame. Even Nyx peeked out from under his cloak. ¡°That¡¯s possible? I thought affinities were supposed to be hard to get.¡±


    ¡°True affinities are, yes,¡± Darius agreed. ¡°But false and temporary ones? There are plenty of ways to acquire those, and that¡¯s because they aren¡¯t particularly useful¡ªat least not in battle.¡±


    ¡°So why bother? Why waste resources?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Plenty of reasons, but the most important among them is training,¡± the ancient flame explained. ¡°After all, what is false now may become true with enough practice. Your old race even had a saying about that, if I remember correctly. How did it go? Oh yes, I remember now! A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.¡±


    Leo snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what the author had in mind when they said it.¡±


    Darius shrugged in his own unique way. ¡°Maybe not. It still fits, though. Right, Kirej?¡±


    The lion-man just grunted before standing up and heading toward the bar counter. Darius sighed¡ªhow, Leo still had no idea, but he¡¯d long since stopped asking.


    ¡°Betrayed by my own partner,¡± Darius grumbled. ¡°Well¡­ you can¡¯t win them all. Come, my new friend. Your room should be ready. Just head upstairs and search for a door with a number six above it. It will open for you. No key needed.¡±


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Leo said, getting to his feet. ¡°What about you two?¡±


    ¡°Kirej and I will visit the local Caged Gate and organize a passage for tomorrow. You¡¯re welcome to join us if you want.¡±


    He shook his head. As much as he wanted to see more of the city, he could barely stand on his own two feet. Now, with the food inside him, he had to fight to keep his eyes open. The other patrons inside the tavern kept shooting him odd looks as he stumbled toward the stairs.


    ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I¡¯m gonna pass. As you can see, I¡¯m half-asleep already anyway.¡±


    Darius chuckled, following after him. ¡°Good, good. Get some rest, child, and we will see you tomorrow. Try not to wander off, and if you need anything, you have my contact details.¡±


    ¡°I will remember that,¡± he promised and headed upstairs, leaving the alien behind. It didn¡¯t take long to find room number six, and after he placed a hand on the door, it slid open.


    The chamber wasn¡¯t anything special¡ªjust a tiny space with an ice bed covered in fluffy furs and a small desk sitting in the corner. Aside from that, the room had nothing else inside it, not even a window¡ªthe small orange lamp floating above his head was the only source of light.


    Home sweet home. Leo chuckled, dropping onto the bed. Nyx instantly took this as a cue and crawled out of his cloak. She jumped onto the desk next to them and lay down.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± she said, yawning. ¡°Don¡¯t wake me up unless the world is ending.¡±


    He smiled. ¡°Got ya. I will join you soon. Have to call Lily first.¡±


    Yet, there was nobody to answer him. Nyx already closed her eyes, her breathing slow and steady.


    Lazy cat¡­


    With another laugh, he fished out his transmitter and selected his sister from the list. The call took a bit longer to connect this time around.


    ¡°Hey, Lily,¡± he greeted. ¡°How is it going?¡±


    ¡°Leo?¡± she mumbled, her voice groggy. ¡°You sound like shit.¡±


    He choked back a laugh. ¡°Of course that¡¯s the first thing you say to me.¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Leo allowed himself to fall onto the soft furs. ¡°I am. Just the last few days have finally caught up with me. I¡¯m safe now, though, and should be back soon, maybe even within a day.¡±


    That woke Lily up. ¡°A day?! Are you for real? What happened? Spill?¡±


    So he explained everything as well as he could while omitting the parts where he came close to death. That was in the past; he didn¡¯t need her to worry for no reason.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Lily let out once he finished. ¡°Do you think I will get to meet them?¡±


    Leo shrugged. ¡°No idea, I guess we will find out soon. I got Darius¡¯ cont¡ª¡± A huge yawn interrupted him.


    ¡°You should rest,¡± Lily cut in before he could speak again. ¡°We can talk once you return.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess,¡± he muttered, his eyes closing. ¡°See you soon then, sis.¡±


    ¡°See you soon, Leo. Sleep well.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°This is incredible,¡± Leo whispered as their group entered the massive tower in the middle of Westside Watch.


    Everything here looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, and he didn¡¯t know what to put his gaze on. That was, until they passed a guard check and entered another chamber¡ªthen he finally understood what a Caged Gate was.


    The base of the entire structure was a simple Void Gate, no larger than the one back in Wolford. What made it special, however, were the countless machines and cables attached to it, stretching all the way to the top of the tower.


    Leo tried to Identify the Caged Gate, and while the System gave him an answer this time, it wasn¡¯t much.


    Caged-Purified Star Gate | Tier: III | Status: Operational


    No description, no explanation about the tiers, nothing. He turned to ask Darius about it, but the alien spoke first.


    ¡°Here we are, my young friend. Your way home. Step forward and wait for the portal to activate. It will bring you right to Naz¡¯Tor. We made sure of that.¡±


    Leo frowned. ¡°What about you two? Are you staying here?¡±


    ¡°We are,¡± Kirej said, like always keeping his answer short.


    ¡°What my wonderful partner means is that we can¡¯t go with you,¡± Darius elaborated. ¡°Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s shop is currently anchored to Earth, and there¡¯s no way for us to slip past the restrictions placed by the System on the new universe. We don¡¯t have the necessary skills like our mutual friend.¡±


    Should have expected that. Leo clicked his tongue. ¡°Then I guess this is goodbye. Thank you two again. You really saved my ass back there.¡±


    Darius¡¯ flame flared brighter. ¡°We were just doing our job. Don¡¯t be a stranger, though, young one. Call us if you need help or just want to talk. It has been a while since someone with so much potential appeared in the Void.¡±


    He smiled, even if it was a bit strained. ¡°I will. Till next time, Darius, Kirej.¡±


    The lion-man¡¯s lips twitched upward. ¡°And may our paths cross again.¡±

 Chapter 263. Second meeting

    With a final nod at his two saviors, Leo turned around and faced the Caged Gate. Energy began to gather within the arch, growing stronger with each passing second. The usual purple veins etched into the structure flared, slowly cycling through the colors of the rainbow before finally settling on bright green.


    The machines all around were also hard at work, their thrum filling the entire chamber. He took another step forward and glanced at Nyx sitting on his shoulder.


    "Why do I get the feeling this is gonna suck?" he muttered.


    The feline snorted, her claws digging into his cloak. "Because it most likely will. Remind me¡ªwhen was the last time Void transportation was comfortable?"


    "Right¡­"


    Leo took a deep breath just as the portal flashed one final time. Like Darius had said, this was his way home¡ªno reason to hesitate.


    "See you on the other side," he whispered to his companion and stepped forward.


    The portal swallowed him instantly. Yet, instead of being transported into the usual transition space, it instantly spat him out on the other side, throwing him onto the ground. As he tumbled down, a familiar groan sounded right next to him.


    Great, at least we arrived together.


    "Oh my¡­" another very familiar voice reached his ears. "Kid, we are definitely going to need to work on those landings. This is pretty embarrassing, and as your contracted merchant, I cannot allow that."


    "Naz''Tor?" Leo groaned, looking up. The merchant stood almost right in front of him, and even without seeing his facial expression, it was obvious he was amused.


    "Need a hand?" Naz''Tor quipped, extending a single tentacle toward him. "I don''t bite."


    Leo huffed but still took the offered limb. The merchant pulled him up, finally giving him a chance to look around and take in his surroundings.


    It was a stone chamber, quite a large one. Dozens of torches ignited with blue flames lined the walls, lightly illuminating the entire place. He glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes widened a bit. Another Void Gate sat there¡ªdormant. Even its glowing veins seemed to be lifeless. And, of course, Identify didn''t work.


    So, Caged Gates still need another gate to connect to. Good to know. He turned back to Naz''Tor. "Where are we?"


    "In my shop''s basement!" the ever-cheerful alien exclaimed. "Welcome back to my humble abode. I hope you will stay longer this time." He then looked at the feline next to them, who was still shaking off the rough landing. "Nyx! It''s wonderful to see you, too."


    Are you okay? Leo asked, just to make sure.


    ''Yeah, just a bit disoriented. Teleportation in this form feels¡­ odd,'' she replied, jumping back onto his shoulder. She then addressed the merchant. "Naz''Tor, thank you for helping us all the time."


    The alien laughed. "It was nothing! Like I told you already, I''m simply investing in your future. Come now, let us leave this gloomy place. We can talk upstairs."


    Leo nodded and followed the tentacled merchant toward the stairs. He could have stayed silent, but once again, curiosity got the better of him.


    "That gate." He motioned to the structure on the other side of the room. "Is it caged like the one that got me here?"


    "Caged?" Naz''Tor repeated as if he couldn''t believe what he had just heard. "Void, no! It''s just my private gate, which I took from some planet in the past. It can''t really take me anywhere, but it''s handy for bringing others here. You experienced it yourself."


    Leo''s eyebrows jumped up. "You took a Void Gate? How?"


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "It isn''t as hard as it sounds, kid. All you need is enough power and the right skills."


    "And you have them?"


    Naz''Tor snorted. "No, of course not! I''m a merchant, remember? The skills I mentioned require a specific job. I just happen to know the right people."


    Makes sense, he noted internally, remembering what Darius had said about Naz''Tor. The merchant had a lot of connections, and he was just starting to learn about them.


    "But enough about that useless thing," Naz''Tor interrupted his thoughts as he opened a door that led to the main area of the shop.


    Leo scanned the vast space, but he didn''t find any new surprises. The shop looked just like it did all those weeks ago¡ªa simple thing laden with countless shelves. The items resting on them might have changed, but that was to be expected.


    "Want something to eat? Maybe a drink?" Naz''Tor offered as they approached the shop counter. "I''m no cook, but I have enough good stuff in my storeroom."


    "No thanks, I''m good." Leo waved him off. Food or drinks were the last thing on his mind now.


    "As you wish." Naz''Tor shrugged before waving one of his tentacles. In a flash, two plushy chairs appeared next to them. The merchant settled into the nearest one while pointing at the other. "Go on, sit. I want to hear how you liked your first true journey into the Void."


    He grimaced as he took the offered seat. "Liked? That''s not the word I would use¡ªat least not to describe the last few days."


    Again, the merchant looked amused. "What? Don''t tell me you didn''t enjoy Sazim''s wonderful climate. Or was it the locals?"


    Leo rolled his eyes. "Like you don''t know what I mean."


    "I do, I do. Apologies. I couldn''t resist." Naz''Tor chuckled. "I still cannot believe how unlucky you had to be for a Glacierborn Guardian to fall on your head. That you survived is even more impressive. And let''s not forget about your run-in with the Saklarian Commander."


    "Yeah, well, when it rains, it pours."


    "Well said!" Naz''Tor noted as his chuckles died down. "But you are out of the fire now. So, really, how was it? Excluding the¡­ unfortunate encounters."


    Leo hummed, scratching Nyx''s ears as she lay curled in his lap. While his time on Sazim had been painful, it taught him a lot. Getting to meet Kirej and Darius was also a plus.


    And so that was what he told the merchant. He also described his journey through the Void Rift at the alien''s prodding. He seemed really interested in the third layer.


    "That reminds me." Leo reached into his soul and withdrew the Reaper''s cloak, the bag of dust, and the Dormant Soul Shard. "Here''s what''s left of the Nightmare. Hope this is enough."


    Naz''Tor grabbed the cloak and the bag but refused to take the final item. "Keep it, kid. I have no use for an inactive Soul Shard." He raised the two items in his grasp. "Those are more than enough to satisfy my curiosity."


    "All right then," he muttered, returning the item to his soul. He then took the necklace off his neck and handed it to its rightful owner. "Like we agreed. I''m returning this."


    "Excellent," Naz''Tor beamed, and just like that, everything in his grasp vanished. "Now that''s out of the way, tell me what''s next in the store for you? Earth is fairly safe for now, but with your level, you have outgrown it. You will stagnate if you remain here for too long."


    Leo quirked an eyebrow. "Are you offering something?"


    "Say I am, kid. Are you interested?"


    He hesitated but, after a moment, shook his head. "I am, but not now. There''s something else I got to take care of first."


    "Such a shame." Naz''Tor sighed. "I hoped to see more of your rapid growth soon, but I understand. Some things take priority. Just let me know when you''re done. I will tell you more about my offer then."


    Leo nodded. "I will keep it in mind, but this time, it''s me who has an offer for you. The ''something'' I mentioned? I need help with it."


    The merchant leaned forward. "I''m listening."


    "Seeds of Divinity. I need a few of those."


    The entire shop fell silent. No one even breathed as the air became filled with tension. For a moment, he regretted saying anything, but then the merchant spoke.


    "I won''t ask how you know about them. However, I need to know why? What use could you possibly have for the seeds?"


    Leo didn''t speak at first. This was the turning point. While he could keep the System''s involvement hidden, his other secrets might have to come out¡ªat least partially.


    ''Are you sure about this?'' Nyx asked, her glowing eyes looking up at him.


    I''m not, but we don''t have much of a choice. Besides¡­ even if Naz''Tor is helping us for a long-term profit, I trust him enough to reveal this. It''s not like I can hide it forever, anyway.


    ''Very well. Do it. I got your back.''


    Thanks¡­


    Leo raised his right hand, and despite most of his power being sealed away, he reached into his soul and pulled onto the true element of the Void. It slowly dripped onto his palm, forming an orb of pure Ruination above it.


    He smiled and looked up at the frozen alien.


    "This is the reason."

 Chapter 264. Forging alliances

    ¡°This power¡­¡± Naz¡¯Tor muttered, shaking off his shock. ¡°How in the name of¡­ It shouldn¡¯t be possible¡­ What¡¯s in your hand¡­ Pure destruction¡­ The corruptive aura¡­ The feeling of hunger¡­ It¡¯s pure Void. There¡¯s no mistaking that. How?¡±


    ¡°Ruination,¡± Leo corrected. ¡°That¡¯s what the System calls it. For now, it¡¯s just a minor affinity, but well¡­ I¡¯ve had it for quite some time now.¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s upper body trembled. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense. No one has ever wielded an aspect like this before. Why would it change now? Why you? No! Wait! Don¡¯t answer that. First, just tell me, what is the quality ranking of this trait?¡±


    That¡¯s not the question I expected. He furrowed his brow. Why did the System¡¯s assigned quality even matter? Still, he decided to answer. ¡°Void. That¡¯s all. No idea where that falls in the ranking.¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor laughed, but it lacked its usual warmth. It sounded hollow. ¡°Because Void quality doesn¡¯t exist! Or at least I have never heard of it¡­ What you possess is something more than unique, possibly stronger than divine. There¡¯s no doubt about that.¡±


    Yeah, I figured as much myself. No normal affinity should be able to kill Voidlings on the same level as me in one attack while destroying my body at the same time. And then there are its other abilities¡­


    Leo shook his head as the memory of the corrupted Blessed Emissary flashed in his mind. ¡°You asked me how I got it. The truth is th¡ª¡°


    ¡°Stop!¡± Naz¡¯Tor shouted, jumping up. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything yet. Wait!¡±


    The merchant darted around the counter and disappeared through the door behind it. Leo blinked, unsure what had just happened. Moments later, the light in the entire shop dimmed slightly as green, web-like patterns began spreading across the walls. They slowly crept over every other surface before flashing once.


    He waited, expecting something more¡ªbut nothing else happened. The glowing webs remained, bathing the shop in a soft, eerie light. Like always, he tried to Identify this new phenomenon, only for the skill to fail yet again.


    ¡°Just what the hell is going on?¡± he mumbled, his body tense, ready to spring up at a moment¡¯s notice. As much as he trusted Naz¡¯Tor, that trust only ran so deep before it broke.


    ¡°There! Much better,¡± the merchant exclaimed as he stepped back into the main part of the shop. ¡°Sorry about that, kid. While I doubt anyone could have been listening in on us before, I wanted to make sure.¡±


    Leo¡¯s shoulders sagged, the tension draining out of him. He very much preferred this Naz¡¯Tor to the all-serious version of him from a few minutes ago. However, with the subject of Ruination hanging over their heads, that could change again soon.


    ¡°What is this?¡± he asked instead, gesturing to the glowing spiderwebs. ¡°Some kind of protection system?¡±


    The merchant nodded, returning to his seat. ¡°A highly advanced security ward. I paid a fortune to set it up, but in times like those, it sure proves its worth. You never know when someone decides to listen to you from a world away.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible?¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor huffed. ¡°Of course it is. Some creatures out there specialize in spying on others. I had the displeasure of meeting a few of them. Creepy bunch, I tell you.¡±


    Leo grimaced. ¡°Great¡­ Professional stalkers, that¡¯s what I was missing in my life. Can you even hide from them?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much, kid, at least not yet. Stealth abilities¡ªpassive and active ones¡ªand items are usually enough to make their job difficult. It¡¯s much harder to spy on a person than a limited area. My shop, being what it is, draws some unwanted attention.¡±


    That made a lot of sense in hindsight. Naz¡¯Tor called himself a top merchant in his faction, so he had to be somewhat famous in the Void. As for Leo, he was just an unknown from Earth. Sure, he possessed Nikra¡¯s shard and wielded Ruination, but almost nobody knew about that. Until the word spread, he should be safe from those stalkers.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Or so he hoped.


    ¡°But let¡¯s forget about those nuisances,¡± the merchant continued. ¡°You have a story for me, and I would like to hear it. Please, give me your hand.¡±


    Leo stiffened at the sudden request and glanced at the tentacle extended toward him. Nyx stirred in his lap, also eying Naz¡¯Tor warily. Still, he was already committed¡ªto back off now would be foolish.


    Here goes nothing. He took a deep breath and laid his palm upon the tentacle. To his surprise, a System notification instantly appeared in front of him.


    Naz¡¯Tor of the Merchant faction offers you a System-binding Vow of Silence. Everything said and done between you two in the next 2 hours will remain a secret unless both sides agree otherwise.


    Do you accept?


    Huh? Vow of Silence? He looked up at the merchant, quirking an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s a skill or what?¡±


    ¡°One granted by my job. Very useful in certain situations.¡±


    ¡°Like this one,¡± Leo muttered, giving the notification his full attention again. In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess.


    With that, he gave the System his consent and instantly felt a pull on his Essence. It dived out without his input, sinking into the merchant¡¯s tentacle. At the same time, a gray energy escaped out of the alien¡¯s limb and entered his palm. It flowed down to his soul, where it settled, waiting.


    Vow of Silence is now active. Time Left: 1:59:55


    So this is it. Leo gulped, leaning back into his chair. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s my turn¡­ What do you know about Nikra?¡±


    That got Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s attention. ¡°A powerful but dead ancient goddess. One of the six Old Ones. Some say she was at least partially responsible for the start of the Outbreak cycle. Whether that¡¯s true, nobody knows for sure. Not that many survivors even care or know about the Old Ones. Their time had long since passed. Only Geron is somewhat active through his people.¡±


    Leo held back a wince. ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯s not entirely accurate. I don¡¯t know much about the other four¡±¡ªtrue enough¡ª¡°But Nikra? She might have died, but not without leaving a few pieces of herself behind.¡±


    ¡°You found one.¡± Naz¡¯Tor immediately caught on. ¡°She is how you gained this power.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°She was the Old One of Darkness and Void. I have a shard of her living inside me. The System made it into a mutation.¡±


    Silence fell upon them for a moment.


    ¡°Now things are finally starting to make sense,¡± the merchant finally muttered. ¡°I have been wracking my brain, trying to understand why Geron would bother with such an insignificant planet. Now I understand¡­ It¡¯s all because of you.¡±


    Leo grimaced. ¡°When you put it like that, it does sound bad.¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor chuckled. ¡°No worries, kid. I meant nothing by that. Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I would like to hear more about this power of yours. How exactly did you get it? And why do you need the Seeds of Divinity for it?¡±


    This time, Leo hesitated only for a second before retelling his short but quite complicated story. He had to leave out some stuff¡ªfor example, the merchant didn¡¯t need to learn about his conversation with Nikra¡ªbut overall, Naz¡¯Tor now knew only a bit less than Lily did.


    He needed allies, and for now, only the alien before him proved to be a good candidate. However, his meeting with the System would have to remain a secret for the time being.


    ¡°As for why I need the Seeds of Divinity?¡± Leo said as he neared the end of his story. ¡°Ruination is killing me with every use. My body and soul can¡¯t handle it. Even the System warned me.¡±


    ¡°And the seeds can stabilize and strengthen you,¡± Naz¡¯Tor summed up. ¡°I understand. They had been used in a similar way before, but usually, a single seed is enough. For you to need at least three¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what the System told me in the warning. I don¡¯t plan to ignore it.¡±


    The merchant groaned. ¡°Yes, yes, I get it. Trust me, kid, I do. But you want to hunt godlings. Alone!¡±


    Leo frowned. ¡°Is it really that difficult?¡± The System wouldn¡¯t have presented it as an option if it were impossible¡ªor so he thought.


    ¡°For someone experienced? Someone stronger than you? No. Once the Void Gates open wide enough, God Slayers treat it like a sport¡ªcompeting to see who can kill more godlings in the new universe.¡±


    ¡°So there is a chance, right?¡± he prodded.


    Naz¡¯Tor sighed. ¡°There is, but it won¡¯t be easy. Most universal gods are somewhere around the D+ to C rank. You can barely match the weakest of them. One wrong move, and you¡¯re dead.¡±


    Leo snorted. ¡°Like that¡¯s something new. I¡¯ve been dancing with death since the Outbreak began. Why change it now?¡±


    ¡°There is no convincing you against it, is there?¡± The merchant stated more than asked.


    Nonetheless, he nodded again. ¡°I have to do this. Ruination is too powerful to give up.¡±


    Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s tentacles went limp as he slumped in his chair. ¡°Fine, kid. I will help you, but we¡¯re doing this my way. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±

 Chapter 265. To hunt gods

    "There are two ways to kill a godling," Naz''Tor said after a moment of silence. "One, you defeat it in a head-on battle and kill it like any other creature. Very simple. Two, you collapse their divine realm, thus destroying everything within it¡ªincluding the godling. Unfortunately for you, the second option is impossible. You are just too weak."


    Leo frowned despite expecting such a thing. "What about an item? A device that can do that for me?"


    The merchant scoffed. "Sure, we can go with that¡ªif you want to lose the seeds, that is. You can control the dimensional collapse if you do it with your own power. Technology doesn''t have such restraint."


    Oh¡­ His mouth snapped shut, words dying in his throat. Naz''Tor must have noticed that, taking it as a cue to continue.


    "So, as you see, kid, the only way for you to get the seeds is to invade a divine realm, confront the godling, and kill it in a fair battle."


    "Fair?" Leo couldn''t help but cut in.


    "Yes, fair. You will be invading their home, a realm created from their power. Stealth won''t help you there. They will know you are coming, always."


    "I refuse to believe that." He shook his head. "You said it yourself; those godlings are at best C rank. That''s far from powerful when compared to the rest of the Void. There must be a way to hide from them."


    "Hardly." Naz''Tor sighed loudly. "I told you already, a divine realm is a part of a godling''s power. It''s an extension of their bodies. You invading it is like stepping on their toes¡ªor better, like hitting them in the head with a sledgehammer while screaming at the top of your lungs."


    "What about Kirej then? Stealth is his specialty."


    "Creatures stronger and more skilled than him have tried and failed. I''m sorry, kid, but stealth just isn''t an option there."


    Leo grimaced. He had hoped that Naz''Tor might not be telling him everything. But if even someone on Kirej''s level couldn''t avoid detection, what chance did he have? His stealth, as advanced as it was for a survivor from a fresh universe, was nothing compared to the giants living in the Void.


    "Then I stand my ground and fight. Wouldn''t be the first time," he muttered.


    Naz''Tor nodded. "Indeed, and that''s why we will be following my plan. You disagree on anything and the deal''s off. I won''t risk you dying just because you want to rush things."


    Leo waved him off. "I already agreed to do what you say. I''m in your care."


    The merchant beamed. "That''s what I wanted to hear! Now, before you can even think of starting your hunt, there are some things we go to take care of first."


    "I''m listening."


    "First, obviously, is your level. I won''t allow you to go anywhere near a godling before you reach C- rank or evolve¡ªwhichever comes first."


    Leo clicked his tongue. "And how am I supposed to do that? Jump into another Void Gate and hope for the best? That''s even riskier than going for the godlings right now."


    The merchant huffed. "I''m insulted you would think that. I have a plan. Stand up and follow me."


    Nyx yelped as Leo jumped to his feet and ran after Naz''Tor, who pretty much glided through his shop. They wove between the dozens of shelves before finally reaching one lined with strange, hand-sized cubes. The energy swirling within them varied, but each seemed alive as if it was actively fighting to get out.


    "Here we are!" the alien announced. "I present you: Sealed Dimensions!"


    That explains it. He hummed, gesturing toward a light blue cube. "So what are they exactly? A sealed dimension, I get that, but how will this help me?"


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Glad you asked." Naz''Tor performed a mock bow, and with a wave of his tentacle, the same cube flew into his grasp. "Early versions of those things were used as prisons. And before you ask, yes, prisons are used in the Void. Sometimes, it is better to seal something away than kill it."


    It was hard to imagine how an all-powerful being would ever agree to go to prison, but maybe that was it? Who needed consent when someone even stronger could come by and seal them for gods knew how long?


    All right, I can see how it might work. Now I''m kinda curious how an official prison looks.


    Yet, Naz''Tor''s voice stopped him from entertaining those thoughts. Matters of law enforcement could wait for another day.


    "Now, back to what I''m holding. Why don''t you see for yourself? I''ve disabled the protections."


    Leo grasped the offered item and activated Identify.


    Sealed Dimension (Rare):


    A medium-tier artifact created by a team of skilled workers. It holds a small area ripped out from a long-dead planet. Beware, Voidlings can also be found inside. Threat ranking: D+. Time until collapse: 1 year.


    No way¡­ Leo glanced at the merchant and then back at the cube in his hands. If not for the System notification in front of him, he wouldn''t have believed this was possible.


    "How? The potential of this thing¡­"


    "Don''t get ahead of yourself, kid," Naz''Tor quickly cut in. "Sealed Dimensions are useful, yes, but only for a time. They have an expiration date, and it''s completely dependent on what''s sealed inside. With D ranks and below, that''s not a problem. But once you go for C+ rank and above, those things collapse in a matter of weeks or days."


    Leo''s brow furrowed. "Then what about those prisons? How do they hold someone of, let''s say, B rank?"


    The merchant chuckled, clearly expecting such a question. "Well, for one, those Sealed Dimensions are much stronger and of higher quality. What you have in your hands doesn''t require much work or resources. Most of the cost comes from capturing Voidlings. Lucky for you, I have some very skilled¡ª"


    "Contacts," Leo finished for the alien, grinning. "So, how much do those go for?"


    "That D+ you''re holding? Two hundred thousand Ether. It really depends on the threat ranking of the Voidlings inside."


    What!? He spluttered, almost dropping the cube. "How in the bloody hell is anyone at D rank supposed to afford this? I don''t even have this much after my run in the rift."


    "That''s simple¡ªthey aren''t." The merchant laughed again. "Sealed Dimensions are mostly used by rich parents, as well as training facilities. Sometimes people buy them as a gift, but that''s pretty much it."


    "So it''s a toy for the rich and military, got it," Leo summed up once the initial shock ran out. "And you would just give it to me?"


    "Give? No, no, no," Naz''Tor wagged a single tentacle. "Call it yet another investment, one you will partially pay me back for. The deal is simple: you get this cube, and I get twenty thousand upfront plus all the Ether you receive inside."


    "Fair enough¡­ And this will take me far enough to get to my next evolution?"


    "That''s what I''m hoping for¡­ You need level ninety-five for that, yes?"


    Leo nodded at that.


    "Excellent," Naz''Tor exclaimed. "Then it should be enough, but in case it isn''t, don''t fret; I will figure something out. I would rather not give you another one of those if I don''t have to."


    "Sounds reasonable," he agreed. "So what''s next?"


    "Finding the divine realms. And I got to say, kid, you''re quite lucky. Earth was always home to plenty of divines¡ªhopefully, that didn''t change in this universe. I will take care of this part. You just have to wait. Give me a few days."


    From there, Naz''Tor motioned to follow him again. They passed a few more shelves until they reached the far end of the shop. This time, the merchant walked toward a small weapon rack and grabbed one of the many daggers lying there.


    The blade wasn''t anything special¡ªa slightly serrated edge and a pommel covered in some kind of leather. The only unique thing about it was the deep golden spark that sometimes blitzed across it.


    Naz''Tor once more handed the item to Leo.


    "And this is the final part of my plan," the merchant said. "Go on. Check it out. It''s already yours."


    Well, okay then.


    Riftfang (Epic):


    A very simple dagger infused with a tiny bit of divinity. Thanks to its carefully crafted enchantments, its sole purpose is to tear holes in Divine Realms. Not recommended for combat use.


    "That''s how I get in," Leo whispered, flipping the dagger.


    "Right in one!" Naz''Tor declared proudly. "It''s another loan, though. I will want it back one day, kid. Those things aren''t exactly easy or cheap to make. I''m sure you can guess why."


    Yeah¡­ Leo hummed, glancing again at the description. The part about divinity seemed pretty obvious. "I will get it back to you in one piece."


    "You better," the merchant replied lightly. "Now, that should be it. You have your task. I got mine. Any questions?"


    "Just one. We are still in the UK, right?"


    Naz''Tor stiffened, and Leo''s heart dropped.


    "Ah, about that¡­ I recently relocated my shop to Italy¡­ so, uh, you will have to walk back. Sorry?"


    Shit¡­

 Chapter 266. Through Europe

    Italy¡­


    Leo sighed, watching the vast city of Rome in the distance¡ªor whatever remained of it. The Void had long since taken root there, spreading everywhere much like it had in London. But here, Vetilim and Corcera seemed lighter, less dangerous. Not that he believed that for a second¡ªespecially with the four Crimson Treants patrolling the area.


    He considered going into the city and dealing with those monsters, but compared to what he fought inside the Void Rift, they were too weak. He would be surprised if he even received a single Ether for killing them. The System ranked them at E+, so they couldn''t be higher than level fifty.


    A pity¡­ I always wanted to visit Rome¡­


    Not that he couldn''t do it now. Even with the world taken over by the Void, some of the tourist attractions might still be intact. Leo just didn''t fancy dealing with all the monsters that most likely made those places their home. For some reason, Voidlings loved to create nests in important areas.


    Oh well, another day, another time.


    He dropped from his perch and onto the street below, ignoring the creatures all around scrambling to get out of his way. With no hurry, he jogged north, back toward Naz''Tor''s shop. He still had some business to take care of before heading out into the wild.


    <hr>


    "Back already?" Naz''Tor asked the moment Leo walked into the shop in his sealed form. "I thought you would at least explore a bit. Rome not to your liking?"


    He shrugged, approaching the counter and patting Nyx, who was napping there. "It''s alright, just not what I need right now. Gotta move out soon."


    "And here I thought you would stay for a while, keep me company." The merchant let out an exaggerated sigh. "Younglings these days. Always on the move, never taking a second to enjoy themselves."


    Leo shook his head, chuckling quietly. "Not my fault I have to walk back to London. Might not be far for you, but it will at least take me a couple of days to get there."


    "Or you can stay here for a day or two," the alien suggested. "I''m still waiting for the local group to drop by again, but once they do, I can reset the anchor point back to the UK."


    "I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I might as well use this opportunity and take a detour to Poland. I''ve got some unfinished business there."


    "Family?" Naz''Tor asked, and something must have shown on Leo''s face as the alien didn''t wait for an answer. "I wish you luck then. Just don''t get your hopes up too high."


    "I won''t," Leo promised, more to himself than to the merchant. "Not this time."


    "Good. Keep this mindset, and you will go far, kid. What''s done is done."


    Yeah¡­ Life taught me that well enough.


    Leo decided to switch the subject. "Anyway, I got something to sell you. Interested?"


    Naz''Tor perked up. "Oh? Show me what you got, and I will tell you."


    Leo nodded and reached into his soul, but not toward the area where his stuff was stored. Instead, he grabbed onto one of the three Install-type items and slowly pulled it out. He accepted the System notification confirming the removal and watched as two spectral blades connected by a chain materialized in his hands.


    "There you go," he said, placing the item on the counter.


    "Hmmm." Naz''Tor prodded the Blades of Chained Inferno. "That''s a quite well-made weapon, with Blood Fire active no less. Where did you get it from?"


    "Tainted Wasteland¡­ I think?"


    "You think?" the merchant asked, clearly amused.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "It''s been a while, okay?" He crossed his arms. "And it''s not like I use it much."


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "No need to get defensive, kid. As for those little blades¡­ I have seen a few similar weapons before, so let''s say I can give you ten thousand for it."


    Leo had no idea if this was a lot or not, but in the end, he didn''t care too much. It had been a while since he even thought about the Blades of Chained Inferno, and at this point, they were just gathering dust inside his soul. Ten thousand Ether for a weapon he didn''t even use sounded quite nice.


    "Deal," he said.


    "Already? Not even trying to bargain? I will admit, I''m a bit disappointed," Naz''Tor grumbled before his mood did a complete one-eighty. "Oh well! Nothing I can''t fix. I can''t let you get scammed by all the smart-asses in the Void. Sit down, kid. Time for a lesson!"


    Leo didn''t even get a chance to protest before he was being pushed into a chair. What followed was a lecture that seemed to last forever. His head already ached from all the information Naz''Tor was trying to engrave in his mind.


    I should have tried to haggle¡­ He rubbed his brow as the lesson finally came to an end. It had lasted for over three hours, and despite learning quite a lot about trading, he had to wonder if this was some sort of punishment.


    "Did you enjoy yourself?" Nyx asked once they stepped out of the shop and assumed their true forms.


    Leo shot her an annoyed look. "Yes, very."


    She snickered. "You asked for it. All that for ten thousand Ether. Impressive."


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You could have helped."


    "And lose my nap time?" Nyx gasped. "Never. Unlike you, I treasure any chance I get to rest."


    Lazy cat.


    "I heard that," she hissed.


    "You were supposed to."


    Nyx huffed, speeding up to walk ahead of him. Like always, she loved to talk big, only to get mad once Leo returned the fire. It was a classic at this point.


    She wouldn''t have survived an hour on the Internet.


    He snorted but remained silent. Instead, he fished out the map given to him by Naz''Tor and tried to identify the best path to take. He was never the best at navigating, and if not for GPS, he would have gotten lost more times than he cared to admit.


    I really should have asked for something better than a map¡­


    <hr>


    In the end, navigating a path toward Poland wasn''t as hard as he had expected. The world might have changed, but thanks to the map and some remaining road signs scattered along the way, it took just over a day to leave Italy and cross into Austria.


    The fact that they got lost a few times while passing through the Alps was no one''s business. Though, it wasn''t all bad. He got to see some new Voidlings and scare the hell out of a group of survivors hunting in the area. He had never seen someone run so fast before¡­


    From there, Leo, with Nyx by his side, headed straight for Vienna. After skipping over Rome, he decided to at least scout the capital of Austria when passing through it. Besides, they needed a break anyway.


    That decision had led them exactly to this point¡ªwith Leo standing atop the corpse of a massive mutated slug. Pieces of its turtle-like shell lay scattered all around the battlefield while its owner bled onto the ground from a deep cut running from its head all the way down to its tail.


    Venomshell Colossus (LVL: 45) slain | Experience awarded | 50 Ether gained.


    Better this than nothing, I guess, Leo thought, watching the building behind him collapse into itself. The ground trembled, and most likely, all of Vienna heard it, but he couldn''t bring himself to care even a bit.


    Out of pure curiosity, they had located the nearest Nightmare Factory and went in without any expectations. And yet, after slicing through dozens of Collectors and Scouters, they were still left disappointed when the nest mother showed itself.


    At least it was a poison type. Just what I need for the first Beta mutation. Saves me some Ether¡­


    With Nyx''s help, Leo sliced Venomshell''s body into pieces, searching for poison glands hidden somewhere within. The first one they found exploded all over him after the feline accidentally cut a bit too deep. Thankfully, the other two remained intact.


    Once that was done, he swallowed the entire corpse with his shadows and devoured it. No bonus attributes came his way this time, but that was fine¡ªhe didn''t expect to get any.


    What about you, System? Got anything for me? He called out, summoning the awaiting notifications.


    Congratulations! Eastside Vienna Graveyard has officially fallen. Distribution of bonus rewards and experience to all contributors in progress. Survivor reward: +1 to all Limit Break attributes.


    Distribution of bonus experience for destroying the Eastside Vienna Graveyard has been completed. 1000 Ether awarded.


    No item. Leo''s shoulders slumped. I knew it was too good to be true¡­ At least it gave me something.


    Slightly disappointed, he dismissed the System and, along with Nyx, left the area. As much as he wanted to stick around and see who would come to investigate, he had better things to do. Lily was probably still waiting for his call, and he had a mutation to complete.


    After that? His next destination was clear.


    Warsaw.

 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! NEW STORY!

    Yo!


    As I announced some time ago, I have been hard at work writing a new book. Well, it''s here! The name is "Virus: Origin of Blood."


    I took all I learned here, combined this with a new, yet somewhat similar idea, and that''s how Virus was created. For now, there are 9 chapters available (20k words), and I would be grateful if you could check it out. Thank you all for being here and supporting me all the way. Don''t worry, a new chapter for AUOBE will be out tomorrow!


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    </a>


    Virus: Online. Hibernation Stage Initialization: Failed. Activating Emergency Breakout Stage.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Stand by¡­


    The world didn¡¯t go out in a bang as everyone expected. No, what the Universe offered them instead was a slow suffocation¡ªa long fight for survival against monsters and others like them.


    Isaac experienced it all from the beginning. While the world scrambled to understand the Contamination Zones slowly overtaking the Earth, he, like some others, fought for his life, trying to embrace the Virus that had now become a part of him.


    Origins, Legacies, attributes, and so much more¡ªfamiliar terms that meant little at first. But that quickly changed. Humanity adapted, monsters died, and Isaac?


    For the first time in his life, he was searching. Searching for a purpose. Searching for a goal.


    And if that journey began with hundreds of monsters lying dead at his feet¡­ so be it.


    May the rivers run red.


    <hr>


    What to expect:


    -A System with less numbers but still plenty of progression.


    -A conflict much deeper than just the initial apocalypse.


    -Pace that adapts to the events. Slow when needed, fast when not.


    -Strong-willed MC. A person with strengths but also some issues.


    -Integrated Civilization vs Civilization tournaments later on.


    -Fighting style focused around two forms: Base (Origin) and Beast (Legacy). The latter evolves into stronger forms over time.


    -No harem.


    <hr>


    Read Here:  Virus: Origin of Blood</a>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter 267. Warsaw

    Leo glanced around the somewhat intact building he and Nyx had decided to use for the night.


    This should be enough, he mused.


    They could have easily stayed outside and still be fine, but having the cover of four walls was still kinda reassuring. Besides, he didn¡¯t want to undergo a mutation in the open. Anyone could die from a knife to the back of their head.


    ¡°How long will this one take?¡± Nyx asked, her massive body already sprawled out in the corner. He would have teased her for being lazy again, but after an entire day of running, he couldn¡¯t blame her for wanting to rest.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t checked yet,¡± he replied. ¡°Hopefully, no more than an hour.¡±


    The feline cracked open a single eye. ¡°Well then? What are you waiting for? Get on with it. I want to sleep.¡±


    Leo rolled his eyes but still pulled up the mutation menu and selected the Beta tier. Just like before, the list of available options was massive, and it took him a good minute to find the one he wanted.


    Here it is¡­


    Mutation: Waterflow Poison (Beta Tier)


    Some enemies just refuse to bow down, to collapse despite hundreds of cuts littering their bodies. They hold onto their lives like cockroaches, regenerating and forcing you into a fight that should have ended in the first few seconds. Now, you have a way to fight them.


    Effects:


    With this mutation, you may select a single part of your body that will be infused with Waterflow Poison, an Essence mixture capable of slowing down the healing of your enemies.


    Requirements: 95000 Ether, 10 hearts of a Water-Type level 55+ beast, 2 poison glands of a level 40+ beast.


    Required components detected within the User¡¯s Soulscape. Do you wish to proceed with this mutation? Estimated time to complete: 1 hour.


    Mutation compatibility detected! Do you wish to combine Waterflow Poison with your extendable blades for slightly enhanced effects?


    Leo blinked once, then twice. His mind instantly went to the one detail about his new body he hadn¡¯t figured out even now. At this point, he thought that maybe it was some sort of a cosmetic upgrade that didn¡¯t do anything useful.


    Now way¡­ or is there¡­


    His blades extended, and his eyes zeroed in on the black specks floating within the sea of crimson. Like always, they drifted toward the edge before being absorbed.


    Could this be it? The compatibility the System mentioned?


    Leo shrugged. One way to find out. Go on, start the mutation.


    Choice acknowledged. Beginning Mutation. Please remain calm and refrain from using your Essence. The process will be over soon.


    The message changed again, he noted just as a weak prickling sensation spread over his arms. It grew stronger and stronger until he almost couldn¡¯t feel his limbs. Still, overall, this was much better than writhing on the floor from pain.


    And so, time flew by with Leo sitting next to Nyx, his arms lying limp at his sides. All the while, he watched his extended blades for any changes. However, even when only ten minutes remained, they still remained the same as before.


    It wasn¡¯t until the whole hour passed and the feeling in his limbs returned that something happened. He had almost missed it, but the black specks became lighter, shifting to a dark blue. In the darkness of the room, the color still appeared almost black, but the change was there, and that was all that mattered.


    Let¡¯s see¡­


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Leo focused on the dark blue specks, guiding them to the edge of his blade. It glowed faintly as its serrated parts darkened further. Unlike the last time he did this, he could feel the new power waiting to be unleashed.


    He glanced at his other arm before shaking his head. As much as he wanted to test out the anti-healing properties, cutting himself wasn¡¯t the answer. He could just find a random Brute tomorrow and find out then.


    ¡°You can go to sleep now,¡± Leo said, scratching Nyx¡¯s ears. ¡°I will take the first watch.


    The feline yawned, settling her head in his lap as a deep purring filled the room. He chuckled quietly and continued to pet her. Not like he had anything better to do¡ªor did he?


    Carefully, he reached for his Essence and activated a weakened version of Reinforcement. Improving this skill was something he had been putting off, but according to Lily, someone had already managed it back in London. His ego wouldn¡¯t allow him to fall behind in an ability he obtained during the first day of the Outbreak.


    Right¡­ First, have to figure out how to get Harden to work¡­ How did she put it?


    In the end, he spent most of the night trying to recreate a basic skill of the Warrior class. Nyx once more scolded him for not waking her up, but in his opinion, it was worth it. He was getting close¡­


    <hr>


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Leo mumbled, his head hanging low.


    Nyx nudged his hand. ¡°It¡¯s been weeks. Even if they are alive, there is no way they would have stuck around.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± He sighed, kicking a random rock. ¡°I came here with no expectations, and somehow, I¡¯m still disappointed. Don¡¯t worry, I will be fine.¡±


    ¡°What about Hunter¡¯s Pulse?¡±


    Leo shook his head, glancing at the ruins of the large two-story house before them. He had been here a few times in the past, along with the rest of Hales, to visit his foster mother¡¯s family, but now this place looked barely recognizable¡ªthe Void made sure of that.


    ¡°No trails that don¡¯t lead to a Voidling,¡± he said. ¡°B?onie is officially a ghost town. That, or survivors here are really good at hiding.¡±


    Nyx didn¡¯t say anything, not that Leo let her. He spun around and marched away from the house that held way too many memories.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he called out to the feline. ¡°Warsaw is just around the corner. If anybody survived, they must be there.¡±


    ¡°And if they aren¡¯t?¡±


    Leo offered her a weak smile. ¡°Then this is it. As much as I want to, I can¡¯t waste weeks searching for a needle in a haystack. Give me three days, no more.¡±


    Nyx nodded, and together, they took to the skies, heading for the capital of Poland.


    <hr>


    The first day was spent exploring the ruins of the once-great city. The Void hadn¡¯t spared anything inside Warsaw, and it had been a challenge to find any building that was at least partially intact. Despite that, the capital was far from empty, whether from Voidlings or survivors.


    In just a few hours, they located a large safe zone, about a dozen nests, and a Nightmare Factory. Leo considered clearing some out, but the monsters here were only a bit stronger than the ones in London before he had left.


    Clearly, the Supercluster had more impact on the surrounding monsters than he thought¡­


    Not much happened during the remaining two days of their stay in Warsaw. They simply settled close to the safe zone and observed the movement inside and every group that came out. On the second day, they didn¡¯t spot anyone familiar, but then the third day came, and Leo allowed himself to hope again.


    ¡°Uncle Marek?¡± he muttered, focusing his gaze on the group of three that had just stepped out of the safe zone.


    The man had grown a bit larger and more muscular since Leo last saw him, but he would recognize that scowling face anywhere. The almost bald head with the remnants of gray hair also helped. Apparently, not even the System could save his uncle from hair loss.


    ¡°Your foster mother¡¯s brother, yes?¡± Nyx asked, following his gaze. ¡°What about the other two?¡±


    ¡°No idea. Some random people, but that doesn¡¯t matter. This is the lead I needed. After me.¡±


    With that, Leo stalked the group from the rooftops, waiting for them to get far enough from the safe zone. It took quite some time, as the trio had to fight every Voidling on the way, but it at least allowed him to study their abilities.


    Not that he was worried¡ªwhat could three, level twenty-nine humans possibly do to him and Nyx if they kept their guard up?


    Nothing, simple as that.


    ¡®Leo, what¡¯s the plan?¡¯ the feline asked through their link.


    Stay here. I will deal with this alone. Watch the area and let me know if anything happens.


    Not waiting for another second, Leo dropped from the roof straight onto the street below. Shadows stirred within his soul before exploding outward, swallowing the entire area in a matter of a second.


    Some screams reached his ears, but he ignored those and carefully manipulated the walls created by his affinity to separate the two unknown humans from his uncle. Once that was done, he dismissed the barrier separating him from his remaining family.


    Marek instantly tensed as his gaze fell onto Leo¡¯s monstrous form. Flames swallowed the sword in his right hand while a ball of fire formed above the other.


    Leo raised his hands in the air.


    ¡°Hello, uncle. It¡¯s been a while.¡±

 Chapter 268. Differences

    ¡°You can talk.¡± Marek narrowed his eyes, never relaxing his stance. ¡°An evolved survivor then¡­ Who are you? What do you want from me?¡±


    Leo almost smiled. Out of everyone from his foster mother¡¯s side of the family, his uncle had always been the most levelheaded. It didn¡¯t surprise him one bit that the older man instantly realized he wasn¡¯t a Voidling but just another survivor.


    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s been a while, but it¡¯s me, Leo,¡± he said, lowering his hands.


    ¡°Leonardo?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened, only for him to shake his head a moment later. ¡°No! It¡¯s impossible. Even if he¡¯s alive, he should be in the UK, not here¡­¡±


    Leo snorted. ¡°You could say I got lost on the way of life, uncle. Now I¡¯m trying to get back home. Thought I would visit, check if mom and dad¡­¡±


    Marek stiffened, the flames in his hands flickering out. ¡°The first time you came to my home, something important happened. What was it?¡±


    Ah, now we¡¯re getting somewhere. He smiled, recalling this one particular and embarrassing memory. ¡°Your dog, Blanka, pounced on me in excitement. I wasn¡¯t ready and fell back, hitting my head pretty hard. You all rushed me to the nearest doctor, only to find out I was perfectly fine.¡±


    The older man relaxed a bit, lowering his sword. ¡°So it¡¯s you. Or I at least hope you¡¯re not some kind of a skin walker, kiddo. What happened to you? You are¡­¡±


    Leo grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, one I will gladly share, but first¡­ Uncle, where are mom and dad? Where are the others?¡±


    The older man didn¡¯t even need to say anything. The answer was obvious in his eyes¡ªthe sadness and guilt swimming within them. There were more emotions there, but those two were the most prominent.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Leonardo.¡± Marek bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s left. I¡¯m really, really sorry.¡±


    Leo swallowed hard, trying to push away the wave of sadness that threatened to overwhelm his mind. He had known this was the most likely outcome. The Void had already spared more of his family than the odds should have allowed.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he found himself muttering. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault. It was nobody¡¯s fault but the Void¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Even then¡­¡± Marek trailed off, sighing. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. I accepted this a long time ago, but seeing you¡­ It brings back the memories.¡±


    ¡°I know the feeling,¡± he agreed, Nick¡¯s and Ava¡¯s faces flashing in front of his eyes.


    His uncle looked up. ¡°Does that¡­¡±


    The man didn¡¯t need him to finish to know what he meant. ¡°No,¡± Leo said, shaking his head. ¡°Lily is fine, doing well back in London. But Nick, Ava¡­ they didn¡¯t make it.¡±


    Marek squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°What about little Adam?¡±


    Leo hesitated, choosing his words carefully. ¡°It¡¯s complicated. He¡¯s alive, but¡­ the Void doesn¡¯t play nice with children.¡±


    ¡°But he is alive¡ªthat¡¯s all that matters.¡± Marek smiled, only for it to vanish when Leo stayed silent. ¡°How bad is it? And don¡¯t you dare say it is another long story.¡±


    He didn¡¯t and gave the man what he wanted. His uncle had questions, but for the most part, he had no idea how to answer them. Adam¡¯s condition was still a mystery to him. He was just guessing at this point.


    ¡°Complicated indeed,¡± Marek muttered, his face twisting into a grimace. ¡°Fucking hell, and here I thought our kids had it hard.¡±


    Leo had never turned so fast before. ¡°Kids?¡±


    ¡°Well, teenagers, but kids nonetheless,¡± the man elaborated. ¡°At first, they were fine, but after the first evolution, they became more aggressive, almost bloodthirsty. Thankfully, it only happens during battles. Making them follow orders, though? That¡¯s been a real challenge.¡±


    ¡°What did they evolve into?¡± Leo prodded, fishing for information.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Tainted Ascended Human. It was either that or a full Void evolution. They didn¡¯t have any other choice, only those two. After the first kid evolved and we saw the results, nobody dared to try the other one.¡±


    Leo pinched his nose. Of course the evolution process worked differently for the children. What he wouldn¡¯t give for a chance to speak with the System again right now. He still felt guilty about not asking more about Adam during their last conversation.


    ¡°This sucks,¡± he mumbled.


    Marek let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°No need to tell me that. It¡¯s a shame, really. Kids always adapt better than adults. This could have been their playground, a chance to shine, if the Void didn¡¯t cut off their wings preemptively¡­¡±


    Images of the slaughtered bodies inside ReachHope flashed in Leo¡¯s mind. He blinked, looking away. ¡°Yeah¡­ maybe¡­¡±


    ¡°But enough of that depressing stuff,¡± Marek said, trying to smile, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°I want to hear what you and Lily have been up to all this time. Come on, Leo. Drop your skill, and let me introduce you to my team. Then we can talk.¡±


    <hr>


    In the end, Leo didn¡¯t stay in Warsaw for too long after finding his uncle. He offered to take the older man to London but was refused. According to Marek, the UK already had him and Lily, so it didn¡¯t need another grumpy old man¡ªat least not now.


    And so, after a few hours of talking and awkward introductions, they separated for the time being. Maybe one day, after the situation on Earth stabilized, they would meet again. But until then, they both had their own jobs to do.


    Leo didn¡¯t argue with that. His uncle could make his own choices. Besides, he had gotten what he wanted from his visit to Poland.


    Closure.


    ¡°So this is it? We¡¯re alone?¡± Lily¡¯s voice was quiet, and even through the transmitter, Leo could tell she was fighting back tears.


    ¡°So it seems,¡± he replied, his eyes fixed on yet another sunset. It was becoming a habit of his¡ªa moment of normalcy in the age of madness.


    ¡°At least Uncle Marek is safe.¡± He heard her sigh. ¡°When will you be back?¡±


    ¡°Three days? Maybe two if I really push it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Lily snapped. ¡°I know you are strong, but take your time. Get here safely.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°As you wish, sis. Three days then.¡±


    ¡°Three days,¡± she agreed. ¡°See you then, and let me know if there will be any delays.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Leo promised and allowed the call to disconnect. He then stood up, stretched, and glanced at the feline next to him. ¡°Final part of the road, Nyx. Let¡¯s fly.¡±


    And so, in an explosion of lightning, they shot into the sky, leaving Warsaw behind them.


    London was waiting.


    <hr>


    ¡°I think this should be it,¡± Leo muttered, glancing from the distant city to the map in his hands. His gaze zeroed in on a particular location¡ªa relatively large city on the French coast.


    Calais.


    He had done his best to follow road signs, but the Void had been particularly brutal in this region. Some towns on the way simply didn¡¯t exist anymore or became indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape, while quite a few roads vanished from the face of the Earth.


    He had lost count of how many times he and Nyx had to fly in circles, searching for any recognizable landmarks. At one point, they even considered asking other survivors for directions, but there were none around. Hell, they hadn¡¯t seen a single safe zone since they entered Belgium.


    Leo shook his head. This wasn¡¯t the time for that. He turned to Nyx. ¡°Let¡¯s split up. Search for any signs that we are in the right place.¡±


    The feline nodded and leaped into the air, her wings carrying her toward the distant city. He followed a moment later, heading in a different direction.


    As he flew, Leo continued manipulating his Essence, filling his muscles, skin, scales, and even organs to the brim. Afterward, he slowly worked on hardening the energy, forcing it to become a shield against any potential damage. He had been at it for a few days now and could feel he was getting close to a breakthrough.


    A System notification confirmed it.


    Steel Body learned.


    Steel Body (Uncommon)


    An advanced form of the Harden skill that pushes the protection of your body to another level. May you never fall to a rusty blade in the back.


    Effects:


    By infusing your entire body with Essence hardened to its limit, you become at least twice as durable and resistant to physical damage. Effects are reduced against elemental techniques.


    Huh. Leo¡¯s eyebrows shot up. I think I skipped a step somewhere. I was planning to learn Harden first, not this advanced version¡­ I knew Lily¡¯s explanation sounded too complicated for a common skill. Oh well¡­


    Even though it had taken longer than expected, he couldn¡¯t complain. He got what he wanted and now just had to combine the new skill with Reinforcement.


    Later.


    For now, he focused on the city below¡ªor what was left of it. If not for the hundreds of Voidlings walking around and the Vetilim-covered ruins, this place wouldn¡¯t be any different from the wilderness. The second Cataclysm almost erased it from the map.


    Thankfully, after two rounds of scouting, Nyx called out to him through their link.


    ¡®Leo, we¡¯re in the right place. I found some signs mentioning the Channel Tunnel.¡¯


    Good job. I will be there in a minute.

 Chapter 269. Home at last

    Soon after Nyx''s message, Leo arrived near the ruins of Calais'' port. Together, they moved deeper into the area until only the vast, murky waters stretched before them. The sea hadn''t changed much since the Outbreak, though the crimson light of the sun gave it a far more ominous appearance. He could only imagine what creatures now lurked beneath the surface.


    "That''s our way home?" Nyx asked, sounding unsure. "Just how far away is the coast?"


    Leo frowned and quickly took out the map. His claw traced a line between Calais and Dover, trying to calculate the distance between the two cities. If this was a normal map, it wouldn''t have been too hard, but he honestly had no idea where Naz''Tor got this thing from. Some parts of it just didn''t make sense.


    "If I had to bet¡­ Hmmm," he muttered. "Fifty kilometers at best, a hundred at worst."


    Nyx tilted her head at him. "And you want us to fly all the way? Can you even handle it?"


    "I should be able to¡­ hopefully," he answered despite his doubts.


    When his wings first matured, he could barely fly for even ten minutes. However, in the last few days, his continuous practice extended that time by quite a bit. Still a hundred-kilometer-long flight? Now, that would really push his limits. If he miscalculated, he would be swimming home with the fish.


    "Maybe we should check the tunnel after all?" Nyx offered.


    Leo shook his head. "No. Even if, by some miracle, it''s still intact, I''m not risking it falling on our heads. I would much rather swim."


    "What about the Voidlings?"


    He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Nothing dared to attack us since we returned to Earth. You think this will change now?" He raised a hand when Nyx opened her mouth to cut in. "And even if something does attack me. We can handle it. At least it will be a¡­ unique experience."


    "Fine¡­ Ready to go then?"


    Leo grinned. "After you."


    Nyx snorted. "Oh, no. I don''t think so. You''re going first. That way, I can catch you if you fall."


    He chuckled, not even bothering to argue. Turning back toward the water, he allowed his Essence to seep into the floaters on his back. Lightning instantly exploded behind him, forming two massive draconic wings. He flexed them once, then twice before leaping into the air.


    Thunderclaps followed every beat of his wings as he tore through the sky. Nyx soon joined him, remaining a fair distance behind him just as she said she would. He shot her a wink and forced his temporary limbs to move even faster.


    The lightning around him grew even louder, and when Leo glanced into the deep waters below, he realized they had an audience¡ªa big one. Dozens, maybe even hundreds of water-type Voidlings swarmed beneath him, trying to keep pace. Of course, they couldn''t, but as soon as he lost one monster, two more appeared to take its place.


    Curious, he dipped lower and almost laughed as the Voidlings scattered, leaving the water directly beneath him empty. Nonetheless, they continued their pursuit, allowing him to study them in more detail.


    There were all kinds of mutated ocean lifeforms following him. Most were simple fishes that had grown at least three times larger thanks to the Void''s influence. However, for a brief moment, he saw something even larger lurking in the depths, trying to hide underneath other monsters.


    The creature couldn''t keep up with his current speed for long, but Leo still managed to activate Identify before its blurry form faded into the depths.


    Inferior Water Leviathan (Voidling) | Rank: E+ | LVL: 38 | Type: Water, Grace, Regenerator, Elder


    Elder type? Now that''s new, he mused, flying higher again. Nyx shot him a look, but he ignored it, preferring to focus on his new discovery. I wonder what it does. I haven''t seen that type mentioned in any mutation yet. Got to check again later.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    It made him wonder if someone in the Void had created an encyclopedia for stuff like that. It would certainly make his life a lot easier¡ªand less stressful. Yet another thing to ask Naz''Tor about when they met again in the UK.


    Yep, add that to the list.


    <hr>


    Leo''s calculations had been on point. It was close, but the moment he arrived at the shores of the UK, somewhere close to the city of Dover, his wings still had enough fuel in them for at least another ten or so kilometers. Deepening his connection to the lightning inside his soulscape really paid off.


    From there, the path was clear. They traveled through the last few hours of the day and well into the night, finally arriving at the outskirts of London. His calls with Lily did nothing to prepare them for what they saw there.


    Even from far away, the huge, golden pillar was impossible to miss. Just like his sister had described, it soared high into the sky, dwarfing any remaining buildings in the city.


    Of course, the Beacon of Peace wasn''t the only new addition to the UK''s capital.


    Like a cascading waterfall, a barrier brighter than any he had ever seen flowed over a part of the city from the top of the pillar. It stretched far and wide, and unlike any other safe zone, it didn''t form a perfect dome. Instead, it looked like a massive wall that emerged around the Supercluster and its surrounding areas.


    Beautiful, Leo commented internally.


    ''Have you called Lily yet?'' Nyx asked as she landed next to him.


    "You know I haven''t," he replied, rolling his eyes. "You''ve been with me the whole time, or did your focus slip?"


    She huffed. "I''m just asking."


    "Fine, fine¡­ I have to message her now anyway. Give me a moment."


    With that, the transmitter landed in his hands, and he quickly let Lily know what was happening. Her response came within seconds, instructing him to approach from the east¡ªquietly. She didn''t want to make a scene with his arrival, especially when they had so much to discuss.


    "No big entrance, huh? Pity," he muttered, glancing at Nyx. "Follow me. We''ve got to sneak in."


    The feline scowled, letting him know just how she felt about that plan. He was of similar thought. After so much time away, he just wanted to lay down in a quiet spot somewhere inside the safe zone and rest. Instead, he would most likely have to retell the story of his journey for what felt like the thousandth time.


    Duty calls. Sleep can wait¡­


    <hr>


    Honestly, Leo didn''t expect Lily and Malcolm to wait for him at the border of the safe zone, yet there they were. He scanned the area for any other survivors but found none¡ªthey must have ordered everyone to leave before he arrived.


    Aether Nephilim | LVL: 42


    Apex Abyss Walker | LVL: 34


    He smiled and dropped Stealth Shroud, Nyx following suit. The moment Lily saw him, her face lit up, and she rushed forward. Her four feathered wings¡ªtwo white and two black¡ªunfurled, propelling her even faster.


    Even with their size difference, Leo caught her and carefully hugged her. "Missed ya too, sis." He chuckled.


    "Prat." She punched his chest once they separated.


    "Glad to have you back, Leo," Malcolm said, offering him a nod. "So... level eighty, huh? Bloody hell, I can''t even imagine what you had to fight to get there."


    "I''m surprised Lily hasn''t told you already." Leo shot his sister a questioning look. "I told her everything about my trip through the rift."


    Lily shrugged. "It''s not my place to tell the story of your life. Do it yourself."


    "Thanks¡­" he muttered, unsure if he should be grateful or not. Besides, knowing his sister, she probably did that just to make him suffer through yet another retelling of his journey. Exactly what he dreaded.


    Pushing those thoughts aside, Leo changed the subject. "Anyway, where are the others? Thought at least Frank would be here."


    "He and Tony are back in Wolford for now. We''re still trying to figure out what to do with the safe zone there. It''s becoming kinda useless now that we have this," Malcolm answered, gesturing to the golden pillar.


    "What have you come up with for now?"


    Before the Abyss Walker could open his mouth, Lily cut in. "Hey! Don''t start now. The others are waiting, and this is one of the things we have to talk about anyway. Don''t waste time."


    Leo frowned. "What? You just said they are back in Wolford. How can they be waiting?"


    Lily rolled her eyes. "It''s been almost two weeks, Leo. Did you really think we wouldn''t figure out how to communicate by now? We''ve got radios working again!"


    Oh¡­ Wait a second!


    He narrowed his eyes at her. "And you didn''t bother to tell me? I was about to buy more transmitters from Naz''Tor."


    His sister flashed an innocent smile¡ªone he didn''t trust for a second. "It must have slipped my mind. Sorry?"


    Leo looked up at the sky and let out a deep sigh. "Whatever," he mumbled.


    Lily dared to grin at him. "See? Nothing happened. Now, come you two!"


    It hadn''t been even ten minutes since he had returned, and Leo already wanted to push his sister off a cliff.

 Chapter 270. To everyone who’s listening

    Leo, with Nyx concealed under his cloak and hood pulled low, followed Lily and Malcolm deeper into the safe zone. A quick glance was all it took to see how much the place had changed. Vetilim and the ever-present purple smoke from the Supercluster were gone, while several of the ruined buildings had vanished entirely. In their place, makeshift wooden constructions stood scattered everywhere.


    They passed more and more survivors on the way; some offered them a nod, while others simply continued working. Everyone had something to do, and Leo almost couldn¡¯t believe how well the four leaders managed to organize everything when he was gone.


    He smirked inwardly. I bet Holden and Malcolm did most of the work.


    He made a mental note to confirm this later. He just couldn¡¯t see Frank or Lily taking care of matters like this. Those two were fighters, much better suited to command people in battle than manage a community.


    Maybe that¡¯s for the best, he mused just as they entered one of the tunnels leading into the depths of the former Supercluster. They didn¡¯t go far before reaching a small chamber filled with makeshift beds, crates, and various supplies.


    A storage? Weird place for a meeting, but okay. His eyes then landed on a large table in the corner, and it all made sense.


    There, taking up a good portion of the table, was a massive radio¡ªbigger than any he had ever seen before outside of movies. It had so many buttons and different controls that he wouldn¡¯t even have any idea what to do with them.


    Thankfully, Lily did not have such a problem.


    She went straight for the radio, clicked some buttons, and grabbed one of the microphones lying on the side. ¡°Tony, you there? Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Loud and clear, like always,¡± Holden¡¯s crackling voice responded through the speaker. ¡°Is your brother there with you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Holden,¡± Leo said before anybody else could. ¡°I see you guys have been busy.¡±


    ¡°Leo!¡± Another voice¡ªFrank¡¯s¡ªboomed through the static. ¡°Good to have you back, mate. How did the Void treat you?¡±


    He chuckled and moved closer to grab another microphone. ¡°Decent. I will tell you all about it later if you really want to,¡± he promised despite not really wanting to.


    ¡°Good!¡± the Fallen exclaimed. ¡°Your sister has been pretty tight-lipped about your adventures. We only know bits and pieces, and that¡¯s no fun. I swe¡ª¡°


    ¡°Enough of that!¡± Holden cut in with a growl. ¡°Give me back the microphone.¡±


    As more and more crackling came from the radio, Leo looked at Lily and Malcolm. They both shook their heads as if this wasn¡¯t the first time this happened. Truly, what else did he expect from Frank and Holden? Those two were like fire and water despite working well together.


    He sighed. It¡¯s gonna be a loooong day.


    <hr>


    By some miracle, once the Wolford duo settled and they all exchanged pleasantries, the conversation quickly returned to the matter of his journey into the Void. To Leo¡¯s surprise, the others didn¡¯t care much about his struggles inside the Void Rift. Sure, they asked some questions about the Voidlings and how the place looked, but aside from that, he didn¡¯t have to say much.


    Now, his stay on Sazim was a completely different story.


    He talked for so long that Nyx managed to leave them to explore a bit in her smoke form, return, take a nap, and wake up. Despite having spent most of his time on Sazim hiding in a cave, the four leaders found enough questions to keep him talking for hours.


    Faction wars. The harsh climate. The locals. Kirej and Darius. Other humans. The topics were endless, and by the end of it, Leo felt like his throat was raw from all the talking¡ªeven with his enhanced regeneration.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°How is the Origin Safe Zone looking?¡± he asked, steering the conversation away before they could bombard him with more questions.


    That made everyone pause for a moment.


    ¡°You saw some of what we¡¯re trying to do for yourself,¡± Malcolm broke the silence. ¡°It¡¯s a lot of space to cover, and we don¡¯t have enough hands to get it all done quickly. But we¡¯re making progress. The biggest problem is materials. We can only buy so much before we run out of Ether needed to feed everyone. It¡¯s not terrible, but we need more time¡­ and capable people.¡±


    ¡°So, the global message,¡± Leo muttered, reading between the lines.


    Malcolm nodded. ¡°We have had enough time to settle, and you¡¯re back, so yeah¡­ It¡¯s time to use it.¡±


    Leo couldn¡¯t argue with that. He even expected them to use that function earlier once they realized he would be gone for quite some time. Yet, they still waited, and now, with him here, any arguments against it simply didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°Do you know what you want to send?¡± he asked.


    ¡°For the most part,¡± Holden answered. ¡°Obviously, we have to let everybody know that joining us is a possibility. However! We also need to attach a warning. We humans are complicated creatures. It¡¯s not hard to believe that there are groups out there that we definitely don¡¯t want here. Or people that will try to take advantage of us.¡±


    Leo nodded. All sound points. And while they didn¡¯t have to worry that much thanks to their high levels, there was always a risk.


    ¡°All right then, let¡¯s write it down and get it over with.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°This place hasn¡¯t changed at all,¡± Leo noted as they trudged through the depths of the Supercluster. Malcolm and Lily followed closely behind.


    Unlike the upper areas, the bottom of the former Voidling-infested zone had remained largely the same, even after the System had erected the Beacon of Peace. The scattered plant life and a thin stream of crystal clear water were still there. The same applied to Attuned Essence Shards that grew in clusters everywhere.


    ¡°Have you figured out a way to use those?¡± He gestured toward the closest crystals.


    ¡°Work in progress,¡± Lily answered. ¡°For now, we only harvest them to help people develop their affinities. Other than that, it¡¯s better to leave them alone. We¡¯re definitely not giving them to the bomb squad.¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± he hummed, breathing in the fresh air as the light of the Beacon of Peace became brighter with each step.


    Another minute of walking brought them all to the base of the massive pillar. Leo scanned it for any abnormalities or a console he could use, but there was nothing.


    ¡°Do I just touch it or what?¡±


    Lily nodded. ¡°Pretty much. A menu should pop up then.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± he muttered and took the final step.


    His lone hand reached out next, bathing in the warmth of the golden light. Finally, his claw came into contact with the surprisingly soft material, prompting a System menu to appear.


    Just like Lily once described it to him, there were plenty of options to choose from. He, however, only had eyes for two of them. Status and Global Message.


    He selected the first one.


    Earth¡¯s Prime Safe Zone


    Status: Active-Healthy


    Protection Ranking: C


    Inhabitants: 107


    Upgrades: N/A


    Leo frowned and glanced at the duo behind him. ¡°You didn¡¯t upgrade it? Not even a whitelist?¡±


    Lily grinned. ¡°We didn¡¯t need to. It¡¯s built-in. Didn¡¯t you see it on the menu?¡±


    Unsure, he backed off to the main menu. Huh, must have missed it. I really am blind¡­ Whatever, time to get this over with.


    Leo selected the Global Message option and took a deep breath as a large empty space appeared before him. At the top of it, there was only a single prompt from the System.


    Speak your message. You may edit it afterward. Word Limit: 500.


    That¡¯s more than enough. He took out the note they all had prepared beforehand and started speaking. No going back now.


    To every remaining survivor on Earth, my name¡¯s Leo Hale, a former human and once a simple reporter from the UK. Now, I¡¯m a part of a growing group in London, and in the name of the Wildborn¡¯s leaders, I have a message for you all.


    The Supercluster of Earth has fallen. In its place, the System has granted us a special Safe Zone and a chance to save our planet. However, to do that, we need to be united. We need to fight together. The Void can be stopped if we stand strong.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯m extending an invitation to all of you who want to live, who want to strive for a better tomorrow. Join us in London. Join the Wildborn and share your strength with us, just as we will lend you ours.


    Be warned, though, that freeloaders will be turned away. We will help you grow, but there will be rules. A community requires hard work to grow, and that¡¯s what we want from you¡ªdedication. Adapt with us. Grow with us, and one day, Earth will become safe again.


    And if you even think of attacking us or hunting our people. Don¡¯t. I will find you first and tear you apart before you can even blink. The night will be the least of your worries. This is your only warning.

 Chapter 271. Home?

    "So, will you finally tell me where you¡¯re taking us?" Leo asked as he, Nyx, and Lily dove deeper and deeper into the tunnels of the ex-Supercluster.


    His sister looked over her shoulder and grinned. "You will see soon enough."


    Leo exchanged a look with Nyx, and they both rolled their eyes. Although, with their link open, he could feel that the feline was at least a bit amused. How surprising¡­


    Thankfully, just as Lily said, after a few more twists and turns, they arrived at a small opening in the tunnel wall. He had to duck to fit through, but once he laid his eyes upon their destination, he couldn''t stop the involuntary hum that escaped him.


    It was a simple cave chamber, not too large, not too small¡ªa perfect space for storage or living chambers for a couple of people. Yet, aside from a desk with a radio similar to the one he had seen today, there was nothing else there.


    Leo turned to his sister and quirked an eyebrow. "So¡ª"


    "Do you like it?" Lily cut him off, the grin still present on her face. "I know it isn''t much, but we really didn''t have time to decorate."


    "Right¡­" He stopped himself from sighing. "Lily? What am I even looking at? Communication room? Why did you bring us here?"


    His sister pouted. "You can be so clueless sometimes¡­ Come on! It''s your room¡­ Well, yours and Nyx''s. I thought you two would appreciate a place for yourself away from the crowd. Hardly anyone comes down here."


    Leo scanned the chamber once more. "My room?" Lily nodded. "Huh¡­ Thanks, I guess. Could use a door though¡­ among some other stuff."


    The woman grimaced. "Yeah¡­ You''re gonna need to place a task in the System for that or figure all that out on your own. We''re a bit swamped."


    He waved her off. "Got ya, don''t worry. For now, it''s fine anyway. I doubt I will spend much time here."


    "Figured as much," Lily said before her brow furrowed. "Speaking of¡­ What are you planning next? I know Malcolm said we would appreciate some help with the nests we found around London, but aside from that¡­"


    As she trailed off, it was Leo''s turn to grimace. Until now, he had omitted to mention his plans to hunt gods to anyone but Naz''Tor. With the entire trip into the Void and then Sazim, he just didn''t want to worry his sister too much. In hindsight, it might have been a mistake.


    Oh well, time to face the music.


    With a deep sigh, he dropped onto the cold ground next to the makeshift table and patted the space next to him. "Sit down. This might take a while."


    Lily''s expression tightened, her good mood evaporating in an instant. The moment she heard the tone of his voice, she must have realized that something was wrong. And well, while that wasn''t the exact truth, his issue with Ruination was anything but simple.


    "Remember when I told you that using too much Ruination at once damages my body?" he asked and continued upon Lily''s nod. "Well¡­ When I spoke with the System after the mess with Geron, it told me why."


    From there, he proceeded to carefully explain everything about Ruination and its current limitations. Lily didn''t stop him once, not even when he moved onto the subject of godlings and the idea of hunting them. Hell, she remained silent even after he told her about the deal with Naz''Tor and finished speaking.


    "Lily?" Leo whispered, gently touching her shoulder. "Come on, sis, say something."


    Lily looked up at him, her face unreadable. They held each other''s gaze for a moment before she finally looked away and let out a tired sigh.


    "I guess expecting you to stick around and slow down was too much to ask for, hmm?" she muttered, leaning against the wall. "Godlings, Leo? Really? Wasn''t Geron enough for you?"


    His mouth opened, a retort ready to slip out of his lips. However, Lily once more was faster.


    "I know¡­ you don''t have a choice. You''re just doing what''s necessary to grow stronger. I just wish¡­"


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    She trailed off, but it didn''t matter. He understood perfectly what she wanted to say. They had this conversation before, multiple times at that. Still, at least today, it didn''t end in an argument. Progress, as some would say, or maybe it was just Lily finally realizing that there was no point in trying to hold him back.


    Either way, the changes continue¡­


    "It''s gonna be okay, Lily," Leo promised, offering her shoulder a light squeeze. "I''m following Naz''Tor''s plan this time. He won''t send me to my death."


    "You trust him this much?"


    He chuckled. "Trust is such a big word, but yes¡­ I think I trust him, at least enough to believe he wants me to stay alive. He also knows most of my secrets now, so there is that."


    Lily groaned. "Fine, fine! You''re really not making it easy not to worry about you. I swear you''re lucky I probably can''t get a heart attack anymore." She shook her head. "Godlings¡­ Really, there are probably so many different creatures in the Universe, but you need to hunt gods."


    "Trust me, I like it even less than you do, but what choice do I have? It''s either that or letting a good chunk of my power go to waste for quite some time."


    "Yeah, yeah, I know," she grumbled. "So when do you begin?"


    Leo shrugged. "No idea. First, I gotta wait for Naz''Tor''s call and use that Sealed Dimension. Doubt I will be going anywhere for a few days."


    "Good," Lily declared, standing up. "Don''t rush into this, Leo. According to what you said, you have time. And if you need help with training or anything else, just say the word."


    "I will." He nodded. "You''re leaving already? I thought you missed your beloved brother."


    She rolled her eyes. "Unlike some of us, I have a job to do. We''re raiding a nest at the edge of the city."


    "Right, right¡­ Don''t let me stop you then. Off you go." Fighting back a smile, he shooed her away.


    Lily shot him a glare. "You know, you could have at least offered to help."


    "Yeah, no. Have fun, though."


    The woman huffed and stomped out of the room. Leo snickered, Nyx joining in the laughter. An angry shout of "Shut up" reached their ears a moment later.


    "I think your sister is a bit mad," Nyx pointed out.


    "She will get over it," he said after a final chuckle. "I bet she will forget about this by the time she gets back."


    "You two are really easy to rile up."


    Leo shot her a blank look. "Pot, kettle, Nyx."


    The feline huffed, only proving him right. "Whatever¡­ I''m going to take a nap. Wake me up when you decide to finally use that Sealed Dimension."


    With that said, she moved to the room''s opposite corner and lay down, curling around herself. Their link shut close, and Leo had to resist the urge to forcefully pry it open and annoy his companion further.


    Training it is then¡­ Or, he glanced at Nyx again. Maybe I should take a nap too¡­ Nah. Rest can wait a few more hours.


    Decision made, Leo sat cross-legged and pulled on his pure Essence. First, Reinforcement activated with naught but a thought. Right after that, he focused on his new skill and slowly infused every possible part of his body with energy hardened to its limit.


    In the beginning, it went well, but once Steel Body settled in his organs, the skill refused to go any further. It was as if Reinforcement was blocking it from advancing.


    What if I do this¡­


    Leo pulled Reinforcement back, lowering its output until the skill barely remained active. With that done, he pushed Steel Body forward again, frowning as it still struggled to make any progress.


    So combining them won''t be easy. Got it.


    He had expected this¡ªwhy wouldn''t he? Though, deep inside, he was hoping that maybe he could make it work without falling back onto his bloodlust.


    Apparently not.


    Leo didn''t have time to waste to find out how to combine skills without it. Besides, there was no reason to even attempt that. Bloodlust was a part of him, a tool for him to use just like the ancient Akirians told him.


    Well then. Let''s begin¡­


    <hr>


    By the time Nyx woke up on her own, Leo had made only a bit of progress in combining his two skills. Bloodlust helped, just like it was supposed to, but in the end, Reinforcement and Steel Body refused to work together. He had to constantly push them together, all the while reworking parts of both abilities to make them fit better.


    For now, out of all ideas, weaving Reinforcement into Steel Body worked the best. There were some issues¡ªbecause of course there were¡ªbut at least he was getting somewhere. Now, he just needed more time to practice.


    Not today, though, he yawned, stretching his arms about his head.


    "Are you sure this is a good time to try it out?" Nyx asked, watching him with a frown. "You look dead on your feet."


    He waved her off. "It will be fine. Just got to consume a Voidling or two."


    "If you say so¡­"


    Leo ignored her and pulled out the Sealed Dimension out of his soul. The light blue cube fell into his open palm, and he motioned for Nyx to come closer. She did just that and placed the tip of her tail on the item.


    "Ready?" The feline nodded. "Here we go then."


    A spark of Essence dived into the cube, prompting a System notification.


    Warning! You are attempting to enter a Sealed Dimension of a D+ threat ranking. Please make sure you are safe before entering. Do you wish to proceed?


    "Yes."

 Chapter 272. The cube

    Acknowledged. Transfer in progress. Please stand by.


    The world around Leo exploded into a kaleidoscope of light, tearing him away from the gloomy emptiness of the cave chamber. Particles of blue, red, and dozens of other colors swirled around him, yet he felt no different. He still had full control of his body, still had access to his Essence.


    Nonetheless, he stayed put, waiting just as the System asked. He barely managed to count to ten before something happened again.


    The colorful light flashed once more, blinding him. Leo shielded his eyes, muttering curses under his breath. Thankfully, the blindness didn¡¯t last long, and when the stinging behind his eyes went away, he lowered his hands.


    Hmm, I guess we have arrived, he mused, his eyes scanning the empty rocky plains surrounding him from every side. They stretched on farther than he could see, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how big this place was.


    ¡°So¡­ Where are the Voidlings?¡± Nyx asked when she appeared next to him.


    Leo frowned, his gaze once more wandering to the horizon and then to the empty dark sky. A quick Hunter¡¯s Pulse also left his body, but for the first time in a while, the skill provided him with absolutely nothing. The place felt ancient and abandoned.


    The cube¡¯s description said this area came from a long-dead planet, so maybe that¡¯s why, he reasoned, scratching his head. Still, Nyx is right¡­ Where the hell are the Void¡ª


    Just then, another System message flashed in front of his eyes, stopping his musings. He quickly read it out loud and nodded.


    Sealed Dimension V2.7 initialized. Place of origin: Unknown. Threat ranking: D+. Stages remaining: 4. Do you wish to release the lock on the first cage?


    Well, that explains it.


    Those things, after all, were supposed to be used as a prison. He shouldn¡¯t be too surprised that even a lesser version of Sealed Dimension had a function like this. It sounded quite nice, if he had to be honest¡ªfighting the Voidlings in stages instead of all at once.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it then,¡± he muttered and glanced at Nyx. ¡°Prepare yourself. I have no idea what will come at us.¡±


    The feline offered him a bloodthirsty grin. ¡°Even better¡­ Do it.¡±


    You heard her System. Release the lock.


    Acknowledged.


    The silence shattered as howls and roars filled the empty dimension. Shivers exploded all over his body, and a spark of fear invaded his mind. Leo narrowed his eyes and tried to squash the unwanted emotion. It resisted only for a second before his bloodlust consumed it whole.


    ¡°Did you feel that?¡± he asked while searching for the Voidlings on the horizon.


    Nyx nodded. ¡°System or the monsters?¡±


    ¡°Most likely the latter.¡±


    The feline only hummed in response as shadows dived out of her body and spread over the ground. Leo joined her, combining their Resonances into one powerful technique. His blades extended next, and with a single pull on his bloodlust, Spectral Fury ignited inside him.


    That¡¯s enough for now. He decided as the howls grew louder and louder with each second. Finally, dark silhouettes of Voidlings appeared in his sight, and he squinted, trying to assess the new threat.


    Dreadrunner (Voidling) | Rank: D | LVL: 82 | Type: Surface, Fear


    Fear¡­ makes sense. Yet, even though he had already predicted this, he was still left surprised. No other monster he had fought against before wielded a concept¡ªan emotion¡ªas their element. Sure, bloodlust counted to some degree, but it wasn¡¯t the same as pure affinity.


    Bestiary.


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Dreadrunner


    Expected Potential: D- to C-


    Arsenal: Fear, Claws


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Known Weaknesses: Separation


    Dreadrunners come from a long evolutionary path, representing those who gave into fear and made it their weapon. Those creatures have no survival instinct and will never hesitate to attack, no matter the power difference between them and their enemy. Hunting in packs is their biggest advantage, as that¡¯s when their aura of fear becomes the strongest. Separate them, and the battle often becomes one-sided.


    Apex variant: Apex representatives of this species don¡¯t possess any special abilities aside from greatly enhanced physical capabilities.


    Yeah¡­ We ain¡¯t separating shit here. Leo snorted, eyeing the approaching horde. The beasts weren¡¯t all that different from werewolves from TV shows and movies. Only in this case did they not have any fur, leaving their obsidian, rock-hard skin exposed.


    They all ran on all fours, but not for a moment did he think that they always had to move like that. Their somewhat humanoid build made it perfectly obvious that the moment they got closer, he would be fighting against two-legged creatures and sharp, long claws coming at him from every direction.


    Let¡¯s even up the field a bit.


    Leo ignored the spiking fear at the back of his mind and dragged a piece of his soul outside. Shadows followed, enveloping his entire form in thick armor. He also pushed more Essence into Resonance, slowly preparing more surprises for the horde.


    Next to him, Nyx backed off a bit, letting him take the lead.


    Nine, eight, seven¡­


    The howling now became the only sound around them, spiking the approaching aura of fear. Leo shrugged it off again.


    Six, five, four¡­


    The first Dreadrunners reached the edge of their Resonance. Like any other monster, they ignored the obvious signs of shadows slithering across the ground and continued running.


    Three, two, one¡­


    ¡°Erupt.¡±


    At once, the rocky plains exploded with darkness. Waves after waves of shadows spilled onto the battlefield. Living constructs, spikes, tendrils, and so much more struck at the backs of the Dreadrunners. Kill notifications arrived instantly, but Leo pushed them away and dashed forward.


    His bloodlust roared in approval.


    <hr>


    Blood and corpses swallowed the rocky plains. No matter where his gaze fell, the remnants of the Dreadrunners were always there. Some looked barely recognizable, while others simply lay dead with a single hole in their body.


    Leo let out a deep sigh, allowing the armor of shadows to slide off his form. However, he didn¡¯t release his affinity. No, instead, he guided the ever-active Resonance toward the corpses and gave Devour free reign over the technique.


    With that done, he dropped down beside Nyx and chuckled.


    ¡°That was fun.¡±


    The feline didn¡¯t grace him with an answer. Not that he expected her to. The body of an Apex Dreadrunner had to be much more interesting than some small talk. Nyx only confirmed that as she bit into the monster¡¯s leg, the sound of cracking bones filling the air.


    Yeah¡­ Might as well¡­ System!


    Multiple enemies slain | Experience awarded | 51590 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 88. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    That¡¯s what I like to see. Eight levels¡­ Not bad at all. Leo smiled and dismissed those notifications just as another one arrived.


    Stage 2 cleared. Do you wish to release the lock on the third cage?


    No, he answered instantly. According to the System, it had been over two hours since he and Nyx entered the cube. And while they could continue, he really wanted to take some time to rest. After everything he had gone through in the past few weeks, he deserved as much.


    The last two stages could wait.


    ¡°Finish up, and let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he announced, patting Nyx¡¯s side.


    The feline nodded, and just as she was about to go back to her meal, she tilted her head at him. ¡°And how are we getting out?¡±


    Leo froze, his mouth snapping shut. He looked left, he looked right. No exit there. He asked the System for a way out¡ªit didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°Huh¡­ knew I forgot something when we talked to Naz¡¯Tor¡­¡±


    <hr>


    After a brief bout of unnecessary panic, Nyx suggested summoning the cube that had brought them there. It worked, and Leo couldn¡¯t decide if he wanted to hug the feline or punch her for the smug look she had given him.


    He settled for neither and just transported them out of the dimension by again providing the cube with some Essence.


    Sleep found him not that much later, and for the first time in a while, he slept for longer than two hours.


    ¡°I should do that more often,¡± he muttered after a long yawn.


    His gaze settled on the sleeping feline, and for a moment, Leo considered waking her up. Then, he quickly imagined her possible reaction and dismissed the idea. It was such a nice morning, no reason to ruin it.


    That was why he assumed his sealed form, wrapped his body in his trusty cloak, and headed for the tunnels. Yet, before he could even take a step outside, a thrum within his soul made him pause.


    Uh oh.


    The TEK transmitter landed in his palm, and he quickly accepted the incoming call.


    ¡°Great, you¡¯re finally answering, kid!¡± Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s voice exploded out of the device. ¡°I have been calling you for the past five hours.¡±


    Leo stifled another yawn. ¡°Sorry, was sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I can tell.¡± The merchant chuckled. ¡°Anyway, kid, I got news for you! I found a Divine Realm quite close to you. I couldn¡¯t get a proper read on its strength, but once you finish up with that cube, you should be ready for it. ¡±


    Any remaining trace of sleep vanished from Leo¡¯s mind as the words registered. He straightened, gripping the transmitter tighter.


    ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±

 Chapter 273. The slayers

    "Probably should have asked that before, but you alone, kid? It''s best if no one overhears what I''m about to tell you," Naz''Tor said, his voice dropping.


    "Give me a sec," Leo answered, peeking out of his room and into the tunnel.


    He looked left, looked right, but just like Lily told him, there was no one around those parts. Just to be certain, he released a low-powered Hunter''s Pulse. It confirmed what he already knew, he was alone. Satisfied, he returned to his room.


    "I''m good. Go on."


    "Excellent. Listen carefully then, kid. The Divine Realm I found? It is in Wales¡ªDinas Emrys, to be precise, if I got the name right," Naz''Tor informed. "According to the readings that didn''t fail, it''s quite a small realm, so hopefully, there is only one godling inside. Perfect place for you to start."


    Leo nodded, filling the information away. While he had no idea where exactly this so-called Dinas Emrys was in Wales, a map should be able to fix that. And if that didn''t work out, Naz''Tor definitely had a backup plan.


    Sounds simp¡ª


    He stiffened as suddenly the merchant''s final words registered in his mind.


    "Hold up!" he exclaimed. "You''re saying there can be multiple godlings inside one realm?"


    Naz''Tor snorted. "Of course there can. I thought that was obvious."


    "No, no, it wasn''t." Leo pinched his nose. "But fine, whatever¡­ I know now, so it doesn''t matter."


    "Kid¡­" A deep sigh came from the transmitter. "Just look at myths of your own planet. Plenty of pantheons, right? Sure, some of them might have faded a long time ago or never existed in the first place, but those that survived? Those gods usually occupy a single Divine Realm. That''s one of the many reasons why hunting godlings is dangerous for someone like you."


    Leo grimaced. "Okay, okay, I get it."


    "No, I don''t think you do, but you will," Naz''Tor retorted. "As soon as we move onto the other Divine Realms, you''ll realize what you''ve gotten yourself into. And that''s not even the worst of it."


    Okay, now you''ve lost me. He frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "Remember those god slayers I mentioned? Assuming nothing goes wrong during your hunt, they are the biggest threat to your life."


    It didn''t take a genius to understand what Naz''Tor meant by that. "They dislike competition?"


    "Dislike?" The merchant let out a bark of laughter. "They hate it. Despise anyone who gets in the way of their stupid competitions. Fuckers even created a league"¡ªhe spat that word like poison¡ª"to regulate the hunts during every Outbreak."


    Leo''s frown deepened. "And everybody just goes along with that?"


    "Hell no!" Naz''Tor exclaimed. "Bigger factions couldn''t care less about them, but the smaller ones or lone individuals? They can either join the league or forget about ever getting a Seed of Divinity on their own."


    Harsh but not much different from how things worked in the past. Only now, everybody has superpowers.


    Still, something didn''t add up. "But how''s this league a threat to me?"


    "Kid, those people specialize in hunting godlings; they have been doing this for ages," Naz''Tor explained slowly as if talking to a child. "Even if they haven''t placed a foot in your universe yet, I have no doubt in my mind that they have already mapped every single Divine Realm there is. They will know if you touch their prey."


    "They would still have to find me when they finally get here," he said, feeling like he had to point out the obvious here.


    "Indeed, and that''s your only advantage¡ªtime. Not anonymity, just time. Because trust me, kid, they will find you if you give them the chance. It''s only a matter of when and where."


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Leo wanted to ask how in the world they could find him days or maybe even weeks after the deed was done. Yet, he didn''t. His trip into the Void¡ªSazim in particular¡ªhad taught him a lot. Somewhere out there lived beings with abilities so powerful he probably couldn''t even imagine it.


    Locating an ex-human from the latest Outbreak would probably be child''s play for them.


    Leo sighed. "So what do you propose? You agreed to help me, so there must be a way to deal with those slayers."


    "Hmmm, let me see," Naz''Tor hummed. "Option one, you could join a major faction. They wouldn''t dare touch you then, but you''d also be handing over who and what you are on a silver platter."


    "So that''s a no."


    "Pretty much," the merchant agreed. "Option two, you could try to convince Tarak to help you. The league won''t mess with him."


    "Noted, but let''s leave that as a backup plan."


    "Fair enough. That leaves one final option¡ªone that isn''t completely insane or suicidal."


    "Which is?"


    "You run," Naz''Tor replied firmly. "And keep running. All while getting stronger until you can either fight back or they lose interest."


    Leo furrowed his brow. "Didn''t you just say they''d find me anyway? You made it sound like I wouldn''t have much time¡ªdefinitely not enough to catch up to them in strength."


    "True, I said that, but that''s only the case if you remain in this universe when they finally step through the gates."


    "And you lost me again," Leo admitted.


    Naz''Tor chuckled. "Let me put it this way. Finding someone in an open universe? That''s not a problem for an experienced and fairly powerful hunter. Now, doing the same in the Void¡ªa vast realm where infinite dimensions are stacked on top of each other? That takes real skill, immense power, and a lot of time. Especially if the one you''re hunting is actively hiding."


    Silence. Leo simply stared at the wall in front of him as his mind raced. After getting back from the Void, he honestly didn''t expect to have to go back so soon. Yet here he was, with little choice in the matter.


    He needed Ruination¡ªgiving up on the hunt wasn''t an option.


    "Kid?" Naz''Tor broke the silence, his voice coming out softer than ever. "You okay there?"


    "Yeah," Leo muttered. "Just processing. Even if the way forward seems obvious."


    "Maybe it is," the merchant agreed after a moment. "But never forget¡ªhow you deal with that decision is entirely up to you. Will you grab it by the neck or let it control you."


    He chuckled quietly. "Another choice?"


    "Is it really?"


    "No," he shook his head. "So, how much time do I have until the slayers can come here?"


    "A few weeks. No more than five, no less than three. Aside from that, it''s hard to tell. I will have to run more tests or ask around."


    "All right," Leo muttered and headed for his room''s exit. "Guess it''s time to get back to work. No rest for the wicked indeed."


    "At least you aren''t bored," Naz''Tor chuckled. "Anyway, kid¡­ That''s it from me. Finish up the cube I gave you, and let me know. I will hear from you then."


    "Got it. Thanks, Naz''Tor, really. I appreciate all the help you''re giving me."


    The alien laughed again. "It''s nothing. Gotta keep myself entertained somehow."


    Leo snorted.


    <hr>


    Despite the brand new timer hanging over his head and counting the seconds left until Leo had to leave Earth, he didn''t jump into the cube right away. Instead, he continued with his previous plan and left the tunnel under the cover of his cloak and sealed form.


    He wandered the safe zone like a tourist, observing the scenery and the people hard at work. A few tried to take a peek underneath his hood, but as soon as they used Identify, their gazes quickly snapped away. Even if he appeared smaller, everyone here knew who was the one person they couldn''t scan.


    Lily and Malcolm must have spread the word. Good, Leo mused, stepping onto a wooden bridge that allowed passage over the former Supercluster. He had no idea how the workers managed to make it stable.


    ''Leo?'' Nyx''s sleepy voice entered his mind. ''Where are you?''


    Outside. Went for a walk. Slept well?


    ''Decently. Should I join you?''


    Leo reflexively shook his head. Not yet. Look into my memories first. Check my call with Naz''Tor.


    ''On it.''


    As the feline delved into his memories, Leo stepped off the bridge and headed toward a large cleared out area where people were training. He didn''t plan to join, but he had spotted some familiar faces there while passing by.


    ''We are going back into the Void, huh?'' Nyx spoke again. ''Figures some bastards would try to hunt us for taking what they think is theirs.''


    At least we have a few weeks to prepare this time. I think Lily would kill me if I had to leave tomorrow.


    The feline snorted. ''No doubt about that¡­ So what''s the plan? Figured something out?''


    Leo shrugged. Not much changes. We finish the cube, hunt as many godlings as we can, fix Ruination, and hopefully evolve along the way. Besides that? We help the survivors here as much as possible. And when Naz''Tor calls, we run.


    ''No hesitation?''


    He nodded. No hesitation.

 Chapter 274. Closing the gap

    "Leo? That''s you, mate? You''ve gotten smaller," a familiar voice called out as Leo approached the bustling training grounds. "I swear the last time I saw you, you couldn''t even fit through a door."


    He chuckled. "It''s just a little trick of mine. I can tell you about it later," he added, glancing at some of the survivors who stopped their training to watch him, their curiosity evident.


    Dylan quickly caught on and nodded. "Got ya, lad. So, what brings you here? Want to practice with us lowly peasants, or are you just visiting?"


    Leo hummed as his gaze wandered again. He had been away from London for so long that quite a few people here had already hit level thirty or were at least very close to it. Still training with them? No, he didn''t think so.


    Last time, he helped Frank with his squad only because they needed it. Now, there was no real threat coming their way. Everyone could progress at their own pace without having to face a monster like him.


    And so, Leo shook his head. "Just looking around this time. How is it going? Everyone got an affinity?"


    "Minor ones, but aye," Dylan said, raising his hand as sparks of blue lightning danced across his palm. "We''ve pretty much nailed the process. Takes about a week of hard work to unlock them now."


    His eyebrows jumped up a bit. "That''s with the crystal from the Supercluster, right?"


    The mage nodded again. "Useful little things they are. Without them, it would take at least twice as long."


    Yeah, about what I expected. Maybe they can help me too. I just need another small push in the right direction.


    "So, how''s Laura and Tyler?" he asked, shifting the conversation. "I haven''t seen them for a while."


    Dylan quirked an eyebrow. "You really want to know? Considering how things ended up between you and Tyler, I didn''t think you would care."


    Leo shrugged. "What can I say? I am curious. And aside from you and the leaders, those two are the only people I really know around here."


    "I guess so¡­" the older man muttered. "Well¡­ Tyler often joins raiding groups nowadays. Like most of us, he is chasing the next evolution. As for Laura? She is mostly focused on her job. Life on the front lines is not for her."


    Reasonable, she never came across as a fighter. Yet, a question lingered in his mind. "What about levels? You guys ain''t letting her fall behind too much, right?"


    "Nay," Dylan waved him off. "We wouldn''t even if we could."


    "If you could?"


    "You don''t know?" the man asked, and Leo shook his head. "Oh¡­ You see, lad, your sister, and the others made a rule. Everyone has to reach a certain level before they can stop hunting Voidlings. Right now, the cap is twenty, but they plan to raise it over time."


    He blinked. "Huh, that''s smart."


    I wonder whose idea it was¡­ Probably Frank''s.


    "That it is. Not everyone was happy, though." Dylan chuckled. "You should have seen Tony when some people came to him to complain. That bloke''s mastered the art of being passive-aggressive."


    He snorted. "I can imagine that."


    The two fell into a companionable silence, their gazes drifting to the survivors training nearby. Leo focused on those using their affinities, hoping to pick up something useful.


    No such luck.


    He clicked his tongue and turned to Dylan. "Hey, do you know where I can get some harvested shards from the Supercluster?"


    The older man studied him for a moment before nodding. "Sure, follow me."


    <hr>


    "It''s never easy with you, Leo, is it?" Lily grumbled once he explained to her the mess with god slayers. "At least it is a few weeks, not a few days. I swear, if not for the System, I would already have a head full of gray hairs, thanks to you."


    Leo chuckled, leaning against the wall of his room. "It''s not that bad."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Lily simply shot him a dry, unamused look.


    He threw his hands up. "Just kidding, just kidding. Everything''s gonna be alright, though. Naz''Tor sent me some more info about those slayers, and apparently, most of them are high C rank or low B. With System''s help, it shouldn''t take me too long to match them."


    "That''s very optimistic of you. I''m surprised."


    It''s either that or make you worry again. Leo held back a grimace. "Yeah, me too¡­"


    "So three to five weeks," Lily said after a moment of silence. "At least you will be here when the gates on Earth open again. That''s gonna be a mess."


    Right, I completely forgot about those, he thought. On his way to Warsaw and then back to London, he had only seen a couple of Void Gates. As Lily mentioned, they all were still inactive, but he didn''t care to check when that would change.


    A mistake on my part. He glanced at his sister. "How much time do we have?"


    "A week. That''s when the gate in Wolford will open again. Others that we have found have a day or two more on the timer."


    Leo hummed. "Terlasfor. Have you guys decided what to do with the centaurs yet?"


    His sister waved her hand in a so-so motion. "Depends. A lot could have happened on their side since the gates closed. Maybe they found different allies¡­"


    "Or they are dead," he added as Lily shot him a glare. "What? I''m just saying what we are both thinking. They were already struggling against that other gate."


    "Yes, well¡­ still no reason to jinx it. I, for one, would like us to have more allies. A planet where the weaker of us could hunt would be nice, too."


    He shrugged. "If they couldn''t handle a single gate full of Voidlings, they wouldn''t be good allies anyway. Their forest magic can only get them so far. Besides, Terlasfor isn''t the only planet that will open to us soon."


    Lily''s face scrunched into a grimace. "That''s cold, Leo."


    "But am I wrong?"


    She held his gaze for a moment before sighing. "No. I guess you''re not."


    "Exactly." Leo squeezed her shoulder. "Those centaurs are the least of our worries. If they are alive, good for them. If not? Well, we can try somewhere else."


    "I hate it when you make sense."


    He grinned. "Right back at ya."


    Lily punched him in the side. "Prat." She glanced around the mostly empty chamber. "Where''s Nyx, anyway?"


    "She went out to catch a meal. Why?"


    "Just something I want to talk with her about," Lily explained. "Can you tell her to find me tomorrow or whenever she is free?"


    "Sure."


    "Thanks." She smiled, standing up. "I will be heading out then."


    "More work?" he teased.


    "Like you wouldn''t believe," Lily grumbled. "You made the right call staying out of leadership. It''s a pain most of the time. Thank god I don''t have to do it alone¡­"


    "Here, here." Leo patted her head, only to jump away when she tried to punch him again. "Whoa! Stop the violence!"


    Lily narrowed her eyes. "I will show you violence."


    <hr>


    Multiple enemies slain | Experience awarded | 48312 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 92. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Stage 3 cleared. Do you wish to release the lock on the final cage?


    In a moment, Leo answered as he scanned the battlefield that once more was drenched in blood and covered in corpses. The Voidlings had been stronger this time, but in the end, they still didn''t stand a chance against his and Nyx''s combined might.


    Still the same rank though¡­ He clicked his tongue, glancing at his status window.


    Name: Leonardo Brown


    Title: Void''s Heir


    Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax


    Class: Nightblade | LVL. 92


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: D+


    He had been stuck at D+ rank since level eighty, and despite feeling much stronger than back then, the letter didn''t change. Sure, he still had three levels before the Evolution Menu unlocked again, but somehow, he doubted he could punch through to C rank until then.


    The difference between every full rank is apparently huge, so that makes some sense, but still¡­ With all my attribute bonuses I should be at least close, if not there already.


    Leo sighed and glanced at Nyx. "Did you at least get it?"


    Apex Indomitus Nargon | LVL: 88


    The feline nodded. "Two levels ago. We are both D+ rank now."


    "Good. Ready for the final stage, or want a break?"


    Nyx offered him a bloodthirsty grin. "Like you even need to ask. Release them."


    Very well¡­ Go on System.


    Instantly, the ground shook as a powerful howl shot through the area. A blast of wind followed right after, almost knocking Leo off his feet.


    Uh oh.


    There, on the horizon, he spotted their new enemy, and no, it wasn''t another horde. Instead, an enormous, three-tailed wolf was running toward them, sending tremors through the ground with each step. Fear once more assaulted Leo''s mind, but this time, not even his bloodlust could get rid of it completely.


    Dreadhunt (Voidling) | Rank: D+ | LVL: 99 | Type: Surface, Fear, Illusion

 Chapter 275. In the dark

    ¡°That¡¯s a big doggo,¡± Leo muttered, pulling shadows from across the battlefield to reinforce his Manifestation. Yet even with all that additional mass, the Dreadhunt still towered over him, easily twice his size.


    ¡®Any ideas?¡¯ Nyx asked. Her massive form now seemed small¡ªa kitten compared to the monstrous Void wolf. ¡®I¡¯m not sure how much of a help I will be here.¡¯


    Just assist where you can. I will take care of the rest, he ordered and reignited Spectral Fury along with Reinforcement. Covered in shadows, his blades extended, and he rushed toward the Voidling.


    Bestiary, quick!


    Race: Voidling | Subspecies: Dreadhunt


    Expected Potential: D to C+


    Arsenal: Fear, Illusions


    Known Weaknesses: Defense


    Coming from the fairly unique Dread evolution line, Dreadhunts are even more special. They are the pinnacle of their species, often called Alphas, who lead packs of their lesser kin. Their power lies in illusions and the aura of fear, and they usually don¡¯t join any fights personally. They act more as a support and commander for the pack. This species does not possess an Apex variant.


    So it shouldn¡¯t be too hard, Leo summed up internally, dismissing the entry. Thanks System.


    As Leo charged forward, the Dreadhunt¡¯s aura of fear intensified, trying to worm its way into his mind. Even his wild, unrestrained bloodlust couldn¡¯t completely suppress it. Still, compared to how it might cripple others, he could manage.


    Let¡¯s begin.


    Just a second or two before they could clash, Leo disappeared in a burst of Essence, only to appear at the Voidling¡¯s flank. His blades sliced through the air, sinking deep into its skin and marking it with multiple Spectral Tears.


    The beast howled, stumbling as it spun around to face him. It instantly swiped at him, but another series of Blinks left the Dreadhunt with more cuts than it had a moment ago.


    And then everything changed.


    Just as specters dived out of the tears, ready to skewer the Voidling, the battlefield shifted. Whatever light there was in this Sealed Realm faded, and not even Leo¡¯s enhanced vision could pierce through the surrounding darkness.


    Illusion, he realized just before something slammed into his chest and sent him flying through the air.


    He hit the ground hard, grunting as he skidded to a stop. Yet he heard nothing¡ªno sound of impact nor the continuous howling.


    It seemed like the illusion blocked more than just sight.


    Nyx! Are you affected, too?


    ¡®Unfortunately. Not even my smoke form is resistant. I will try to get far enough to see if it has range. Stay safe.¡¯


    I will try to. Leo winced when another hit sent him tumbling across the ground. His Manifestation could withstand a lot of damage, but even it had a limit, or rather, he had a limit of how much Essence he could supply.


    Come on, Resonance, don¡¯t fail me now.


    He pumped more and more energy into the shadows spreading over the area. If he couldn¡¯t see with his eyes and other senses, he would let his affinity guide him through the darkness.


    It worked¡ªto an extent, at least.


    When the next attack came his way, Leo Blinked away in a random direction. The problem with that? He couldn¡¯t see where he was going and thus once more lost his footing when the skill ended.


    I am way too dependent on my sight. He growled, jumping to his feet and blindly running away. Through his shadows, he tracked the Dreadhunt¡¯s movement, always trying to stay a few steps ahead of the beast.


    Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn¡¯t, but at least now the Voidling couldn¡¯t use him as a chew toy.


    Nyx!? How is it going? I could use some help.


    ¡®I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not getting any,¡¯ Nyx said, frustration clear in her voice. ¡®I must be close to the edge of this realm, and I still can¡¯t see anything. I even tried disrupting the illusion with my Essence, but nothing is working.¡¯


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    That¡¯s¡­ great¡­


    Leo would have sighed if he had the time for that. Instead, he mentally scratched his head, searching for a way out of this mess.


    Just follow our link for now and join me. Maybe we can figu¡ª


    Suddenly, he froze, both on the outside and inside, as a quite obvious thought struck him with the subtlety of a freight train. How he did not realize this sooner was a wonder.


    Damn, I am stupid¡­


    He jumped out of the way of the Dreadhunt coming his way, but instead of escaping again, he gathered an orb of Essence in his hand. A second was all he needed to fill it with proper intent and information about the target.


    Hunter¡¯s Pulse.


    Even without his normal senses, the skill had no trouble finding the massive Voidling. Leo grabbed the trail leading to the beast and infused it with his power. The mark struggled to form, but as there was no reason for discretion, he just brute-forced it till the end.


    There we go. He grinned when a crimson silhouette of the Dreadhunt flared to life in his sight. Darkness still surrounded it from every side, but with his shadows on the ground, he should be fine. Game on. Nyx! Use my sight and Resonance, and hit it with whatever you can.


    ¡®On it!¡¯


    This time, when the Voidling charged at him, Leo dove between its legs and dragged his blades along its exposed stomach. The beast roared soundlessly and tried to crush him with its weight.


    No, you don¡¯t!


    Even though the skill still didn¡¯t work properly, he Blinked away and unleashed a barrage of Eruptions all around the Voidling. A blast of pure fear escaped out of the beast in answer, freezing him in place.


    However, before the Dreadhunt could capitalize on the momentary advantage, Nyx rejoined the battle.


    Massive shadow tendrils, each as thick as his torso, erupted from the ground and coiled around the Voidling. Recognizing the strategy, Leo channeled Essence into his blades and leaped high into the air.


    Now!


    The floaters upon his back erupted in lightning as he swung down, releasing a concentrated mass of sparkling shadows. The crimson silhouette of the Dreadhunt wiggled, struggling against the ropes. It managed to move a bit, but it was far from enough.


    Leo¡¯s technique hit it head-on, splitting its skull in two. The illusion shattered as a result, and once he landed back on the ground, it was to the sight of bloodied Dreadhunt, laying still, half of its body turned to pulp.


    ¡°There goes that.¡±


    Dreadhunt (LVL: 99) slain | Experience awarded | 5487 Ether gained


    Congratulations! You have reached level 94. Class and Racial attributes have been distributed.


    Stage 4 cleared. Sealed Dimension cleared. You have thirty minutes until this place collapses. Good luck in your future endeavors, survivor.


    Close¡­ Leo sighed, approaching the fallen beast. Maybe¡­


    His claws, still covered in Manifestation, surged out, slipping into the corpse. Devour activated without his input, turning the Dreadhunt into dust in a matter of seconds.


    Devour consumed: +7 Might, +6 Grace, +20 Mind.


    Leo¡¯s eyebrows jumped up a bit. That¡¯s honestly more than I expected. Now, the moment of truth¡­


    Class: Nightblade | LVL. 94


    Job: Hunter


    Rank: C-


    ¡°Fuck yes!¡± he shouted, startling Nyx as she approached. She threw him a look. ¡°What? Objective complete, Nyx. I¡¯m a C rank. Hunting godlings is a go.¡±


    The feline snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. You¡¯re barely scraping the bottom of that rank. ¡±


    ¡°Ruin my fun, why don¡¯t you?¡± he grumbled before a grin crept back onto his face. ¡°Still, no evolution needed. Who knows what I¡¯m gonna be after it.¡±


    ¡°You will be a stage four survivor.¡±


    Leo¡¯s head snapped toward the feline as he gave her a blank look. ¡°Really, Nyx? That was bad.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°C- at level ninety-four¡­¡± Naz¡¯Tor chuckled. ¡°Got to say, kid. I¡¯m kinda impressed. Such a pity that the cube didn¡¯t give you another level. I would have loved to see what kind of monster you would become at stage four.¡±


    Leo leaned into the chair he liberated from the surface and smiled. ¡°Say, normally I wouldn¡¯t ask, but¡ª¡°


    ¡°No, kid,¡± the merchant instantly cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m not giving you another cube. Not yet, at least. You got to work with what you have.¡±


    ¡°Oh well, never hurts to ask.¡±


    ¡°Indeed¡­ Now, do you wish to take care of some other stuff, or can the hunt commence? I have a little something for you that will help with finding the exact location of the Divine Realm.¡±


    Leo shared a look with Nyx, who was sitting before him, and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m down to go there even tomorrow, but first, I need you to sell me some stuff.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Naz¡¯Tor hummed, sounding intrigued. ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡±


    Do you even have those? He ignored this sudden thought and proceeded with his request. ¡°A few hearts from two different subspecies of Nightmares. Can you get me that?¡±


    ¡°Ah! I see now! You¡¯re going for the Nightmare Heart mutation. Good choice, kid. I will send them along with my little gift. You¡¯re lucky it doesn¡¯t require the hearts to be fresh or high-leveled. Otherwise, you would have to wait a day or two.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Naz¡¯Tor.¡±


    The merchant laughed. ¡°Again, don¡¯t mention it. Sending the offer¡­ now.¡±

 Chapter 276. The day before

    Editable trade offer detected. Do you wish to display the details?


    Leo quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Editable?¡± That was a first. Beforehand, every offer from Naz¡¯Tor was straight up and simple. He just had to check the contents, read the price, and accept. So why did it change now?


    ¡°Great, you got it!¡± the merchant exclaimed. ¡°As you have noticed, this one¡¯s a bit different than usual. Once you display it, you should be able to edit the price. What I want you to do is to put in the Ether you gained inside the cube¡ªas per our deal¡ªplus twenty thousand for what you asked.¡±


    Ah. Now, it makes sense. Leo nodded. ¡°Will do. Give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°Take your time, kid.¡±


    Displaying contracted trade offer.


    Offered: Ownership of TEK update chip, 10x Scorcher heart, 10x Fallen Collector heart (System Verified)


    Price: - - -


    Trade cannot be accepted yet. Please set a price.


    Fallen Collector¡­ Now I¡¯m a bit curious.


    Yet, Leo didn¡¯t ask the obvious question¡ªhe could always find out in the future. Instead, he pulled up the System notification log and tried to sum up the Ether he owed Naz¡¯Tor. Unfortunately, math was never his strong side¡­


    What I wouldn¡¯t give for a calculator right about now¡­


    He scratched his head, hoping he didn¡¯t make a mistake in the calculations in his mind. Hell, at this point, even a piece of paper would have been godsend so he could write everything down.


    Still, after some fumbling, he landed on a final number. This looks right, he decided, adjusting the total to include the twenty thousand Ether for the extra items.


    Price: 125389


    Do you wish to finalize the details of this trade?


    Yes.


    ¡°I have it and¡­ Oho! Over a hundred thousand? That must have been some high-quality cube I gave you,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said, clearly surprised. ¡°What in the Void did you fight inside there?¡±


    ¡°Nothing special, really. Bunch of Dreadrunners and a single Dreadhunt at the end.¡±


    ¡°A Dreadhunt¡­ yes, yes, that would explain it,¡± the merchant mumbled. ¡°Any issues with its aura of fear or illusions? I¡¯ve known plenty who¡¯ve struggled against those beasts.¡±


    Leo shrugged. ¡°That aura? A bit annoying, but definitely not an issue. As for the illusions? Yeah¡­ It took me some time to figure out a way to kill it after the lights and sound went out.¡±


    ¡°Good, good¡­ If I had remembered what was inside that cube, I would have given you a different one. Fighting Dreadwolves is just an unnecessary risk you shouldn¡¯t be taking, kid.¡±


    ¡°Worked out in the end,¡± Leo pointed out.


    ¡°That it did,¡± Naz¡¯Tor agreed. ¡°I would love to hear how exactly you countered its blackout, though. Disrupting illusions is usually impossible at your power level.¡±


    That got his attention. ¡°Wait, really? Why?¡±


    The merchant chuckled at the instant question. ¡°Long story short, illusions are woven into the environment. To cancel them you need to have good enough control to manipulate the Essence around you. That¡¯s not something a stage three user can do. Even some stage fours struggle with it.¡±


    Huh¡­ so that¡¯s how it works.


    Curious, Leo closed his eyes and tried to reach out for the Essence in the air. He could feel it¡ªthat wasn¡¯t an issue¡ªhe had been doing this for a while now. However, when he wanted to grab onto some of this drifting energy, nothing happened.


    It was as if he was grasping at the air¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t exactly untrue¡ªbut it always slipped between his fingers.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Kid, you still there?¡± Naz¡¯Tor¡¯s voice broke through his bubble of concentration.


    Leo coughed awkwardly. ¡°Yeah, sorry. Wanted to try something out.¡±


    The merchant chuckled again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Pure illusion affinities are quite rare. By the time you encounter another Voidling with it, you will know how to counter them.¡±


    ¡°You sound awfully sure,¡± he remarked


    Naz¡¯Tor scoffed loudly. ¡°Bah! I¡¯m your contracted merchant, after all. I wouldn¡¯t be doing my job right if I let you fall to some pesky illusions. Once you get to stage four, I have plenty of stuff I can sell you.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Leo said, glancing back at the trade offer. ¡°Do I need to do anything else with the trade, or is it all set?¡±


    ¡°Nope, all taken care of, kid. Let me just accept it and¡­ now. Here you go. Confirm it, and we¡¯re done.¡±


    Trade offer finalized. Do you accept it?


    Yes again.


    Ownership transfer completed. Item protections disabled. Goods have been transferred into your Soulscape.


    ¡°So what¡¯s that chip for?¡± Leo asked once the weight settled inside his soul.


    ¡°Simple. To help you locate the Divine Realm,¡± Naz¡¯Tor answered. ¡°Just take it, put it against your transmitter, and accept the prompt.¡±


    Leo did just that and placed the tiny metallic plate on top of his transmitter. The chip instantly lit up.


    TEK Function update (Focused Compass) detected. Do you wish to proceed now?


    The prompt was similar to the System ones, but it definitely came from the small device in his palm. Another thing, it didn¡¯t react to his thoughts and required him to tap the ¡®yes¡¯ button below the notification.


    Acknowledged. Please stand by¡­ 25%¡­ 50%¡­ 75%¡­ 100% Update completed. Thank you for using Technology-Essence Kompany as your provider.


    With that, the tiny chip crumbled to dust while the notification disappeared. Leo quickly checked his transmitter and found that, indeed, something had changed. There, in the menu, a new function was waiting for him.


    Focused Compass, he read. Let¡¯s see.


    Please provide coordinates to track¡­


    ¡°Huh¡­ I take it, you have the coordinates for me?¡± Leo asked just to make sure.


    ¡°Right in one,¡± Naz¡¯Tor said. ¡°I will send them to you in a message. You can just copy them and follow the compass. The dagger I gave you will do the rest of the job.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± he muttered, closing the menu. ¡°So that¡¯s it, right? Now, all that¡¯s left is to kill the godling.¡±


    ¡°Pretty much. I leave that part of the job in your capable hands. Just one last piece of advice, kid¡­ Don¡¯t listen to whatever the godlings try to tell you. Most of them are scum worse than the creatures living deep inside the Void. If they beg for mercy, ignore them and take what you came for.¡±


    Leo gulped. ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡±


    ¡°Then there you have it!¡± Naz¡¯Tor exclaimed, his tone shifting back to his usual cheeriness. ¡°Good luck, Leo. Call me as soon as you are done.¡±


    ¡°Will do. Thanks again, and till then.¡±


    The call disconnected, leaving him in the silence of his room. Nyx had already walked away and settled for sleep in the corner. The night was fast approaching, and tomorrow, they had a big day¡ªassuming they could reach the Divine Realm within twenty-four hours.


    First things first, though. Mutations.


    The large menu opened before him, and Leo quickly navigated to the lowest tier. There, he found the final Gamma mutation he needed.


    Finally¡­


    Mutation: Nightmare Heart (Gamma Tier)


    The monsters that wander the night, the beasts who prey on the weak. You are not them, but by stealing their hearts, you have obtained a piece of their power. Use it well.


    Effects:


    Nightmares are less likely to detect you. You now feel the presence of non-special Nightmares in a limited area. Night Storms no longer affect you, regardless of their threat ranking.


    Requirements: 25000 Ether, 10 hearts of 5 different Nightmare subspecies.


    Required components detected within the User¡¯s Soulscape. Do you wish to proceed with this mutation? Estimated time to complete: 10 minutes.


    To some, this mutation might not seem like much, but in the long run, it had massive value. Maybe not on Earth, but on other, more dangerous planets? Definitely. Even if he had no idea what a Night Storm was.


    Go on System.


    Choice acknowledged. Beginning Mutation. Please remain still and refrain from using your Essence during this process.


    Pain erupted through his body as the process began, radiating from the shard replacing his heart. It stung like the bite of a thousand bees¡ªsharp, relentless, overwhelming. And yet, Leo couldn¡¯t help but note that it could have been worse.


    I guess that¡¯s the advantage of not having a normal heart, he thought through gritted teeth.


    Thankfully, just as the System said, the entire process lasted only for ten minutes. Soon, the pain faded into a dull ache before fading completely.


    Leo sighed and rose from the ground, taking a few experimental steps. It had become a tradition at this point to test out his body after each mutation to see if the System didn¡¯t mess something up.


    Surprise, surprise, it didn¡¯t. Despite the warning before each mutation, he even doubted that anything could go wrong. It probably just meant more pain during the process.


    Something to try out in the future¡­ or not. He grimaced. Too many of his recent ideas involved him willingly putting himself in pain. Yeah¡­ better not to mention this to Lily, or Nyx.


    Leo shrugged. ¡°Sleep it is, then.¡±