《Classless Reincarnation》 Chapter 1 Luck Level -999! ?"All I ever wanted was to live!" Year 2048, humanity had gone to shit. War, famine, gue, Bieber, and monsters. Magical portals appeared out of nowhere, endlessly spewing monsters. Just as humanity was about to fall, the Awakened appeared. They were superhumans that had crazy powers. Throw fireballs, lift buses, be invincible, fly, they had it all! After saving the world, they became celebrities. A new age of Peace ushered, and everyone and their mother dreamed of Awakening. All besides Jack, that was¡­ He was far too busy trying his goddamn best to survive. He just wanted to live! Surviving is easy, you say? Not when your name''s MF Jack Bright! Jack Bright had always been unlucky, cursed even! One could say his luck was -999. - He was always at the wrong ce at the wrong time. - He was always getting injured or sick - He''d go bankrupt every other day - Catastrophes befell him - It was unending¡­ Meanwhile, this curse had sapped nearly all happiness from his life. Long ago, he had been happy, truly so. A loving dad, an even more loving mother, and the sweetest sister ever. They had been the holy trinity lighting up his world. But now they were all gone, and he was sure it was his fault. This curse of his had to be contagious, but he had realized that far toote. His father got electrocuted by lighting on a sunny day. His mother sumbed to her fifth cancer in a row. His sister¡­he actually put her up for adoption. What had once been a happy family had been torn asunder by his curse, and he now spent every waking moment trying to find a cure. He had often wanted to end it all: jump off a bridge, facent into a truck, eat eternal-nap pills, or take a warm hot bubble bath with his toaster¡­.but he couldn''t. His mother''s face was still vivid in his memory. Even bald, Lydia Bright had shone the brightest. How often had she given him a reassuring smile in between blood coughs? "Jack, remember this well. Once I''m gone, you can''t wallow in sadness. You have to live and live well. Do this for my sake, will you?" Not only had he promised her, but his sister was out there somewhere. He had broken all bridges with her for her own sake, but one day he''d find her again. Even cursed, Jack''s dreams were brighter than stars. He''d break his curse, earn an honest decent living, reconnect with his sis, spoil her silly, and maybe¡­even find love?! Still, how many Awakened Healers had he consulted without sess? Recently, hepulsively bought anything mystical he could get his hands on, hoping for a miracle. He wasn''t foolish¡­he was desperate! To pay for it all¡­.he delivered pizza. That day was a usual delivery for him."1337 Capone Street, eh?" Of course, the destination was a mafia den, just his luck! It didn''t take him long to reach the shadiest district in the City, one that had even grown men cry in terror. He expertly navigated the smelly narrow streets until¡ª BANG! BANG! BANG! Without missing a beat, Jack tilted his head, avoiding the stray bullets. Stuff like this happened to him so often that he had somehow developed a Sixth Sense against danger. "Let''s see, 1337? It was¡­right here!" ¡ª Knock! Knock! ¡ª "Hello! Pizza delivery!" "It''s Jack, the same guy asst time!" ¡ª KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!¡ª Something was He wrong! Not only did the door swing open, but a decapitated head rolled on the steps. Then the putrid stench assaulted him. "Goddammit!" Anyone else would have long run away, but not Jack. He knew that whatever he didn''t face head-on woulde to haunt himter. It would just add to the trouble¡­ The floor was soaking wet. Blood, lots of it. He was used to blood, but this time it was different. It was far too messy. Far too gruesome. No matter how perverse, gangsters remained human. This wasn''t a human''s doing. Far from it! This whole thing was unnatural! But even then, he had to keep going. But as he reached the hall room, even he froze. "W-what the FUCK?!" Corpses piled up on top of one another. Limbs stuck to the walls and ceiling. Dread on the face of the victims. Blood red and ming candles. A bloody reversed pentagram. And a pitch-ck portal. A freaking portal! This thing was DEMONIC! Jack could feel it call to him as if whispering demons. e ~step forward ~finally here ~after all this time ~Jaaaack ~the other world awaits He could sense its sweet promises. As long as he stepped over, he''d be powerful. He''d have it all, money, power, women, fame, everything he could wish for! Suddenly, translucent notifications appeared before his eyes as if a game interface! [Step forth and Conquer Eternia!] [ept the Dark One''s Summon? Y/N] "Not interested." [¡­..?!?] Power? Fame? Women? What for! He longed for something far more simple. He wanted to live and live well. That was all. "Besides, this thing''s way too suspicious!" He had to get rid of it before monsters spawned! He hurriedly made a mess of the entire set-up, destroying the reversed pentagram. Instantly, the whole portal copsed amidst strident demonic screams. [Destroyed Evil Summoning Ritual!] [Congrattions! Gained 42 XP!] [XP Unavable in this world!] [Error! Error! Error!] "This freaking sucks¡­but I dide here for a delivery¡­." Jack turned toward a pile of bodies, gently deposing the pizza box on top of it as if a hat on a grotesquely nightmarish monument. "Ta-da! Deliverypleted!" Doing a victory sign, he turned around. This should have been the end of it. Everything should have been fine, but another flurry of notifications flooded his vision. [Congrattions! You''ve Awakened!] [Unlocked Curse of Obliteration!] [Good Luck Surviving!] Jack Bright was the most unfortunate Awakened ever. His magic ability was to be cursed?! What kind of BS was this?! He wanted a refund! But before he could cry about it¡­ He felt a new energy rush through his body, engulfing him as if a swarm of mosquitoes. He felt his blood boil and his skin freeze. What was happening?! [Ding! Received Dark One''s "Gift"!] [Absorbing Corrupted Mana!] [Curse Amplified X 1000!] [Curse is Now Affecting Earth!] ary Destruction Inevitable in 10! 9! 8!¡ª] "What the fuck is this?! There''s no way that''s true, right?!" But then he sensed it, his Danger Sense blowing up. It came from outer space and was about to sway toward Earth. WTF?! A meteor?! There was no way to avoid it. He was doomed, they were all doomed¡­.unless?! Jack grabbed a piece of bone lying in a puddle of blood. "Sorry, mom, I really tried. I swear I did¡­." He used the bone as a stake, plunging it deep into his chest, a bright and sunny smile on his face. "Wherever you are, sis, live on¡­." . . . [User Has Died!] [Curse Temporarily Nullified!] ary Destruction Averted!] Thus ended a pointless life, or that''s how it should have been. But before thest wisp of Jack''s soul could dissipate, a bright magic circle appeared on the floor, soon followed by more translucent letters. [A Certain Goddess Is Searching For A Hero!] [Answer Her Call And Reincarnate? Y/N] "Hero? Me? I mean, YES!!" [Error! Error! Erro¡ª] "Bloody, YES!" "YES! YES! YES! A thousand times yes!" Was the damn thing stuck?! Never in his life had he spammed a button so quickly. But just as it finally registered, some more notifications appeared. [A Certain Evil God Is Searching For an Apostle!] [A Certain Mad God Is Searching for a Test Subject!] [A Certain Horror Is Searching For a Meal Delivery Boy!] [A Certain¡­] It kept going, crazier and crazier stuff appearing. But before he could inspect the full list, all the "YES" from before finally registered all at once. He tried protesting, "C-cancel! Cancel! It''s bugged!" but it was already toote. The magic circle exploded with light, white filling his vision as if an atomic-grade sh-bang had just gone off. Still, reincarnation, was it? It couldn''t be worse than dying, right? This time he would live, truly¡­ This time, he''d enjoy life¡­ This time, he''d¡­ DEATH **** . . . [A/N] Hey y''all! A LOT has happened IRL since thest time. But I''ll be back to writing diligently from now on! Now, without further ado... ¡ª Clears Throat ¡ª From the genius (dumbass) that brought you ssless Ascension, MMO Rise of the PP (Peerless Pumpkinmancer), and TUG...here is yet another masterpiece! This is the entry for the OP Fantasy contest! Make sure youment a TON (feedback is great), and let''s get this journey started! *PS: Yes, the Author note section is canon.* Chapter 2 Jack Bright: Miracle Baby! ?In Eternia, the magically gifted ruled the world. It was a mage-eat-mage kind of world. Magic was ever-present, may it be in a lightning bolt, a flying sword sh, or even a protective barrier. It was especially true in the Holy Theocracy. There, the believers with the most potential were chosen by the Holy Goddess and destined for greatness. The Noble Bright family was clearly one of the chosen ones. For them, every minute in this realm felt like it came straight out of an Epic. Conquest, domination, miracles left and right, and more. Yet, even they had their woes. No matter what, they couldn''t have a child. Even after 80 years of trying day and night, the Bright family still didn''t have a sessor. Their bloodlines were so strong that it was virtually impossible for them! This was perhaps the Holy Theocracy''s greatest shame. After all, this union had been blessed by the state itself as it had tried to create the perfect vessel for the Goddess'' power: Holy Guardian X Saint of the Burning Light! = ?!? But just as everyone had resolved themselves to this fatality¡­a stray soul came straight from Earth, nesting itself in the belly of the Holy Guardian! Everything changed with Jack Bright! Against all odds, he reincarnated as a fetus¡­still a Bright! When it was known that the Bright family would have a child, the entire Holy Theocracy celebrated! Yes, all of it! Wine flowed freely, marriages quadrupled, and the crime rate fell to an all-time low. Meanwhile, local and foreign powers lined up to make peace with the Bright family. This new son was destined for greatness: the purest bloodline, the strongest backing, and infinite resources at his disposal. Jack Bright was a goddamn miracle! The nine months that led to his birth were the craziest. The entire Theocracy spent all it could to make sure this baby would see the world: - A security detail bigger than the Pope''s - Legendary artifacts lent to the mother - Invaluable elixirs used by the dozen - Greater blessing rituals done daily - EVERYTHING! The city''s citizens seemed almost possessed as they gossiped about this baby. Their fervor was unequaled under Heaven. To many foreigners, this was unfathomable. "What?! Ten years of the national budget spent in a month?! Are you guys crazy?! Back in ckwater, no one''s dumb enough to¡ª" Of course, anyone ndering the Rising Star of the Theocracy was nicely sent to a cozy 2x2 damp room with bars on the windows. Many protested, and god knows how many tried to assassinate the unborn¡­but it all failed in the face of the believers'' zealousness. Did the bastards even sleep?! All that mattered for nine months was: 1. Jack Bright 2. Jack Bright 3. Jack Bright ¡­. And he wasn''t even born! How would Jack have reacted had he known? But as they all prepared for his arrival, so did he! In fact, he had long awakened¡­. . . . Jack had be a fetus. Even before his body had formed, his spirit awakened. "So this is what it''s like to be reincarnated? It''s¡­.soothing." He floated in his mother''s belly, embraced by her warmth. Blissful oblivion reced his once hectic life on Earth. He could definitely get used to it! But the peace and quiet wasn''t the only thing that was different. Turns out Eternia was a game-like world! [Ding! Wee to Eternia!] [Linking yer to the World System! Please Standby!] "Standby? Sure¡­Not like I have anything else to do." He chuckled. As the thing activated, Jack gasped. Not only could he see his stats in the form of a status screen, but he even started receiving notifications about them. [Growing up! All stats + 0.00¡­] [Growing up! All stats + 0.00¡­] [Growing up¡­] Was there a need to hear them all?! Wasn''t the womb supposed to be a "safe space"? But just as Jack didn''t know whether tough or cry about it¡­ [Mute Repetitive Notifications?] "YES!!" As sweet silence came back, Jack gave a satisfied sigh. This was the start of his newpletely normal life! He was so lucky! He was the happiest baby. At least he was until he was rudely interrupted! [Ding! A Certain Holy Goddess'' Blessing is Pending!] [Check Your Status For the Full Info!] [Auto-ept in 30, 29, 28¡­.!] Jack felt so sleepy and safe. His groggy self waved a hand, dismissing the message. A blessing was a good thing, right? He''d sleep now and politely thank the Goddesster. After all, he wasn''t an ingrate. But as he tried closing his eyes¡­.He suddenly felt sick! His stomach twisted, and his heart started to beat faster than an avnche. This was his Sixth Sense warning him! "What the heck?!" Was he being attacked?! As the countdown went down, he felt increasingly worse. No, it couldn''t be¡­.unless?! "Status!" ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Holy Goddess'' Blessing! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Unlock Legendary Hero ss! + S Tier Holy Magic Affinity! ?? + S Tier Sword Affinity! ?? + S Tier Devotion! ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ What was the issue?! Jack hurriedly hovered over the options¡­ Holy Magic? This seemed incredibly useful. Not only could it heal, giving one a second life, but it could also ward off and defeat evil. Sword Affinity? It was boring, but it would definitely be extremely useful. There was a reason this weapon had always been so popr. But as he saw thest one, his blood turned cold¡­. Chapter 3 Gods Are A Bloody Scam! ?As Jack read the Goddess'' Blessing, his blood turned cold. What kind of ability was this?! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? S Tier Devotion! ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Your brain will be magically altered to help you serve the Holy Goddess with all your heart. Useless things such as free will and old memories will be discarded! ^_^v ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Losing free will?! Losing his memories?! "W-what the fuck?! How perverse!" [ept the Goddess'' Blessing? Y/N?] "The heck, I will! Hell no! Holy Goddess, my ass!" That day his usual peaceful slumber was utterly shattered. This was a crisis! He was getting attacked even in his mother''s womb?! What kind of world was this?! Targeting unborn children had to be against the rules, right?! But just as he thought he had survived his biggest prenatal tribtion, it began¡­ [A Certain Blood Monarch¡­] [A Certain Grim Reaper¡­] [A Certain Overlord¡­] [A Certain¡­] There were so many of them! All he could see were shing notifications right in his face! Some were golden, some darker, some even purple¡­but all were so shy! It was as if all the deities of this new world were trying to give him an overdose of color! They all wanted to offer him Ultimate sses with insane power¡­and equally insane drawbacks! His danger Sense would activate for all of them! Blood mage, Ruin knight, Grim Reaper, Vampire Ancestor, Apocalypse Overlord, Ethereal Incubus Prince, and so many more. But the more he read, the more dread he felt. "Oh god! very, torture, brainwashing, devoured, turning undead, senses deprivation, impotence, are you kidding me?!" It was horrifying! epting any would have destroyed his life! "There''s no way I''ll serve you! I''ll be fine on my own!" Sadly, even as he kept refusing and refusing, more and more notifications came. He''d soon retch seeing "A Certain". Were gods telemarketers or something?! But as the beings, names kept scrolling on his screen, he began worrying. Wasn''t there like¡­really scary stuff out there?! "This world''s insane!" With this realization came fear, with fear came worry, and with worry the instinct of self-preservation. How would he survive?! More importantly, how would he live a normal life!! But then he calmed himself. He''d do as he had always done¡­he''d fight! "Rx, Jack, you got this. Know yourself and your enemy, and you won''t ever lose a battle." He strained his ear, listening to the outside world. The faint sound of conversations barely reached him, but it would be enough!¡­Or so he thought. The more he listened, the more his face twisted. "?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????!" "¡­.." That clearly wasn''t English¡­.All the Web Novels he had ever read had lied to him! Where was his Language Reincarnation Cheat?! Still, that wouldn''t be enough to deter him! Jack was ready to give it his all for his peaceful uing life! He spent the first three months of his mother''s pregnancy learning thenguage of thend. While it was called "Common", the damn thing was harder than Earth''s Mandarin! The next three months, he figured out the world. While everyone had a basic system, what truly mattered was magical talent, with many turning to the gods to grow stronger instead. Finally, he spent hisst three months learning magic. It was he hard¡­. and SO painful! It involved sensing Mana, a formless element in the air that served as magical fuel, then controlling it. The problem was that the energy was as wild as a freaking stallion! The first time Jack felt it¡­. His fetus self almost got squashed! Its sheer power was enough to tten him on his mom''s belly, soon followed by a great fuss from the outside. The second time he almost killed himself¡­.again¡ªsame for the third and fourth¡­.and tenth. But, if Jack had one quality, it was being a stubborn bastard. "Tch¡ª As if I''ll give up!" Burning Mana instead of resting, he spent his entire days endlessly training. He''d swat away (trash) godly offers as he kept going and going. Day and night magic was all he could think about. He would bloody seed even if it killed him! Then it finally happened. He cast his first spell with only two weeks left on the clock. It was as simple as producing a small current inside his abode to rock himself to sleep, but it was magic¡­.MAGIC!! Overwhelmed by mental exhaustion, he crashed, a smile adorning his tiny body. Rocked by magic, he drifted into a deep slumber until¡­ [A Certain¡ª] [A Certain¡ª] [A Certain¡ª] [¡­.] As if to spite him, even more notifications than usual came. "Noooo! P-please stop! Let me sleep!" Eight months into his mother''s pregnancy, Jack already hated the gods¡­.all of them! Why must they torment him so?! Thus Jack Bright spent thest week of his mother''s pregnancy "battling" gods. Exhausted, crying, and going insane¡­ Jack not only began training in the womb, but he also began cursing. "Gods are a Bloody Scam!" But just as he felt like his sufferings would never end, he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, literally! Thus Jack was (re)born¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 0 (STR 0 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 35 ( MAGIC 1 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Titles (2) - Self-Taught (+Learning Speed) - Slumbering One (+Rest Efficiency) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Skills (3) - Danger Sense (S) - Mana Maniption (F) ?? - Dormant Obliteration Curse (SSS+) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 4 Here Comes The MC! ?That day, all that mattered was: 1. Jack Bright. 2. Jack Bright. 3. Jack Bright. ¡­ For it was the start of his Legend! It was the fateful moment that all had awaited. The Holy Theocracy was ready for Jack''s arrival! All believers kneeled on the stone pavement as they waited, their hearts thumping in unison. Regr delivery room? Hell no! The baby would be delivered at the feet of the Holy Goddess, right in the Holy Cathedral! Lowly Midwife? The Pope himself had volunteered for the task! Countless even felt envy, for this feat would be the highlight of his life. Regr Spectators? Only the most trustworthy powerhouses of the Holy Theocracy were even allowed to attend. As for safety measures? The Theocracy secret Nation-Preserving barrier was shown to the world for the first time.It enveloped the Cathedral like an invincible shield! It was impossible for anything to go wrong, at least in theory¡­ "Goddess, please bless this new child! Bless his birth so that he can be your most devoted servant! Bless him so that he¡ª?!" Pope Francis who was clearly overqualified for the task suddenly froze after having followed all the proper ritual steps: 1. Recite the magical incantation 2. Drive the mana toward the target 3. Goddess'' Blessing + Childbirth Happening 4. Profit! But this time, something went wrong! As he drove the mana toward the Holy Guardian''s bulging belly¡­it all disappeared! It wasn''t absorbed either, it simply didn''t work. It was like an endless dark hole! "Holy Pope, is there a problem?" The father anxiously asked. "I-I don''t know. I-It''s not working¡­!" The Pope kept trying, to no avail. Little did the poor man know that every of his attempt would end up as [A Certain Holy Goddess] notification, only to get angrily swatted away. Blessing a literal turd would have been easier than this! Then again, no one could have expected a baby to reject divine providence actively. Meanwhile, the father was going insane. The Saint of Burning Light felt fear for the first time in forever. He whose mere mention of the name would terrify the continent, could only watch on the sidelines and pray: "Go on Jack, my son, fight!" You can do it! Please!" To him, this wasn''t the Holy Theocracy''s genius¡­it was his son! The fruit between him and the love of his life couldn''t die that easily! So what if his marriage was one of convenience? So what if his wife cared not about emotional attachment? Jack was his flesh and blood! He was his heir. "Oh Goddess!" With onest burst of Holy Light, the Pope finally gave up. Hopelessness filled the Cathedral. They all knew what the blessing failing meant. 1) T?h?e? ?C?h?i?l?d? ?w?a?s? ?u?n?w?o?r?t?h?y? ? 2) The Child was already dead "T-the little one''s gone¡­." "N-no!" The entire room wept. They wept for their hopes and dreams. They wept for all the failed investments. But the Saint of Burning Light totally crumbled. His brown hair turned gray on the spot, a part of himself dying along with his son. As his eyes met the mother of his child, he didn''t find the cold indifference that usually inhabited them. He saw¡­sorrow?! But suddenly¡­ ¡ª SMACK! ¡ª A tiny fist broke free. Soon followed by tiny arms. Then the ugly head of a newborn baby. Seeing as no one bothered to help him, Jack Bright delivered himself. The room stared inplete disbelief, their mouth big enough to fit watermelons. This was the "dead" baby?! Thetter was now directing the most condescending look at the Pope. "Wahhh!" (Seriously, who said I''m dead?!) "Wahhh!" (It''s this ipetent cross-dressing Old Dude, right!) "Wahhh!" (Geez! Blessing this, blessing that. How clueless are you?! No, I don''t care about your shitty Goddess!) There was so much Jack wanted to say, but after a few "Wahhh," he froze. He had just noticed his surroundings. Everything looked so pompous! Wait, was this a Pce?! Hahaha, he had hit the jackpot! He had spent thest nine months worrying, but wouldn''t his life be smooth sailing from now on?! This was the BEST! But just as he was rejoicing¡­. [A Certain Holy Goddess Is Wrathful!] [You Have Rejected Her Time and Time Again!] [A Certain Goddess Is Cursing You! You Are Marked for Death!] It happened instantly. The Goddess'' followers all jerked up. A secondter, crazed eyes stared at the newborn. Two secondster, deadly des and magic flew all over. Three secondster, the once peaceful scene turned Hellish. Thest thing Jack saw before losing consciousness was the bloodied face of his father, a burning Cathedral, and countless dead in their wake... Chapter 5 The Love Of A Father! ?As Jack awoke, he realized a few things. 1. He had somehow survived. 2. He had positively gotten PTSD, even as a baby?! 3. He definitely had the most protective father ever! Who else could say their father had gone head-on against an entire country for their sake?! The man now softly hummed as he carried him gently on their escape. Jack couldn''t help but stare at the man that could only be described as Sunny. His gray hair only gave him a mysterious look that added to his handsomeness. Then there was his maic gaze with more depth than a bottomless abyss. As the man lowered his eyes, his smile became evenrger. "Morning, Jack!" Morning? Jack felt his heart flutter. This "Morning" hit differently. It was filled with boundless love. It was so warm that it made the previous nightmarish events feel like they''d all been a lie. But Jack knew it had all been too real. He knew just by looking at his father''s state. The man was missing an arm, an eye, and a wife¡­yet he could smile so brightly?! "From now on, it will be just the two of us, son. But don''t worry, your dad''s bringing you to an amazing ce! Just wait and see! I''m sure you''ll love it! You and I against the world, hehe! We''re gonna¡ª" The two of them against the world? This brought up so many buried memories of his past life. It all came out rushing like a torrent, tears reaching his eyes. His original mother had also been the same, always putting on a brave front for his sake. Even when her lungs had been riddled with cancerous cells, she had been spurring him on for him to keep dreaming. "Work hard, son. I''ll watch over you from Heaven!" Now, this new father, Edgar Bright, was the same. No, he wasn''t just his father. He was his dad. He deserved it. "Gah!" (The two of us against the world!) But to this statement, he added a silent promise. ''Dad, I''ll give you a great life. I solemnly swear upon it. Otherwise, my name isn''t Jack Bright!'' Living well wasn''t enough if his family suffered. This time he''d protect them. He''d get rid of all obstacles! This time he''d¡ª His heroic inner monologue was interrupted by exhaustion. This wasn''t anything new either. Turns out babies need to sleep a LOT! Thus Jack drifted back into oblivion¡­ . . . A second had barely passed that Edgar Bright''s cheerful chatter stopped as he froze. He could feel some crazy energy being generated! An enemy attack?! Oh god! This was the worst timing! His Mana was basically zero, and his injuries were barely under control. But as he lowered his eyes, none of it mattered anymore. He''d keep fighting if he had to, no matter the price. This was his son, their son! "Don''t worry, Jack. Everything will be alright." He was already preparing hisst stand when he stopped, shellshocked. This Mana felt so pure, so warm, and it wasing from¡­.Jack?! How?! It erupted out of the sleeping baby, creating a golden pir of light! As this light engulfed Edgar, a notification appeared. [Cleared Hidden Requirements!] [ss Unlocked: Father!] [ept? Y/N?] He who had braved the battlefield countless times lost his cool. He wasn''t a stranger to the power of Faith¡­.but this?! Father? Just father? How silly was this?! His current Fallen Saint ss had to be stronger, right? But before he could refuse¡­ A dozen figures came flying from the horizon, riding winged lizards. Rough-looking, with armor and weapons meticulously polished. Mercenaries¡­ "Did you guys see that light?!" "Treasure, treasure, treasure! It has to be!" "Wait¡­careful! There''s some old guy already!" The greed in their eyes turned to wariness as they eyed Edgar. There was something about his appearance that screamed DANGER. But then they observed him carefully¡­. He was definitely some big shot, the kind they''d usually avoid like the gue¡­but he was also on the brink of death. He looked so tired that he was about to keel over anytime. Then there was the baby he held in his arms¡­.seriously, what was up with the glowing baby?! They looked at one another, shocked¡­.but then they all came to the same conclusion. "Old man, hand over the baby, and we''ll let you live!" "No way! He''s my son!" "Son? As if we''ll believe that! Come clean, old man. This is the treasure, right? You disguised it as a baby to try to fool us, right? But we''re not that dumb!" Edgar felt at a loss. How was he supposed to exin this?! Even he didn''t understand it! "You see¡­ It''s a father-son magical ability. All it does is¡­." He tried BS-ing his way out. But it was no use. To the mercenaries, this baby was the greatest treasure ever! After all, only the most incredible of magical items could create such an aura! Edgar felt like cursing as they rushed at the father-son duo like bloodthirsty hounds. ''Goddammit!'' What would he have to sacrifice this time around? His remaining eye? How could he protect his son if he went blind?! A leg? No way they''d be able to outrun their pursuers if he did that! What about his other senses? He had already sacrificed his sense of taste, smell, and touch¡­but there was still his hearing? That was the best option! Tears streamed across his cheeks. This would be thest time he heard his son''s voice¡­.but it was worth it to save his life! But just as he was about to do it¡­. [ss Unlocked: Father!] [ept? Y/N?] This taunted him, giving him an alternative solution. Could something so silly actually be helpful right now? He approached a trembling hand toward it. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Unlock Legendary Father ss! + D Tier Lifestyle Magic Affinity! ?? + D Tier Fist Affinity! ?? + S Tier Fatherhood! ??? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ S Tier Fatherhood!: Increase all Stats and Mana Regeneration based on the strength of the bond between you and your children. There is nothing as strong as a father''s will! Mana?! That was the one thing he was missing right now! As he gazed at his son''s sleeping face, all tension suddenly left his body. The bond between them, was it? Theirs wouldn''t lose to anyone! Edgar decisively epted the ss Change. The mercenaries had already begun attacking him when a miracle happened. The golden Aura around Jack started swirling like a tornado. Then all that Divine Energy headed straight for Edgar, filling him under the shell-shocked gazes of the aggressors. That''s when they knew they had fucked up. Edgar''s Bright eyes now radiated with power. The weak and almost dead man was nowhere to be seen! "A-actually, there''s somewhere we need to be! Take care,ter!" The mercenaries turned tail and ran. Whatever this power-up was, they sure weren''t gonna stick around and find out! However, it was already toote¡­ "No one touches my son!" With a stern bellow, Edgar went on the offensive. He had taken a dagger out of nowhere and was already slicing his enemies up. He was using all his knowledge to disable them as quickly as possible. In a matter of seconds, the ruffians were lying in pools of their own blood, agonizing. Horror filled their eyes as they gazed at their executioner. He was still holding the baby! He wasn''t human. He was a bloody devil! "Y-you, who are you?!" "Just a father¡­." What kind of answer was this?! But they were already dead before they could dwell on it. All that was left was a bloodstained man gently cradling a sleeping baby. "Sleep well, Jack. Soon we''ll be at our new home¡­." . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 0 (STR 0 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 35 ( MAGIC 1 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Titles (4) - PTSD (+Nightmares) ?? - Holy Goddess'' Cursed ?? - Self-Taught (+Learning Speed) - Slumbering One (+Rest Efficiency) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Skills (4) - Danger Sense (S) - Mana Sharing (F) ?? - Mana Maniption (F) - Dormant Obliteration Curse (SSS+) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 6 The "Mighty General" ?In the distance stood the City of Dawn. Months of travel had passed in a blink. After countless perils and near-death encounters, the son and father duo finally arrived at their destination. This ce could only be described as bustling. There was none of the pompous arrogance Jack had seen in the Holy Theocracy. This ce felt¡­alive! Colorful banners all over, lots of chatter, the warmth of chimney fire, and people from all walks of life lining up to enter the double iron gates. Yet¡­.all turned around when Jack and Edgar showed up. "Jack, this is where our new life starts!!!" The shout full of gusto caught everyone''s attention, and skeptical looks were sent their way. One had to know that there was an incredible sh between that exmation full of confidence/hope¡­and their current appearances. - Greasy hair - Ashen faces - Torn clothes - Crippled father?! They were shown a wide spectrum of human reactions: pity, amusement, concern, and lots of visible disgust! Jack couldn''t help butugh inwardly. How would they react if they knew his dad was a big shot in some farawaynd? (Or had been) Before long, there were tons of whispers: "Pfft¡ª What a fool!" "New life beginning? More like, new life begging!¡­." "As if! The guards will arrest him in no time." Jack couldn''t help but be perplexed¡­ were they all fools?! Couldn''t they see at a nce that there was something extraordinary about his father?! He was obviously¡­never mind. The man looked like an idiot as he gazed at Dawn City. "Psst¡ª Dad? What''s up?" Jack faintly whispered. "Son, let me tell you. There''s an entrance fee of 4 silvers to enter the gates." Edgar gave him the most heroic look ever. "Not to brag, but we''re very broke." "¡­." "But don''t worry, I have a n!" Under the judging gazes of the bystanders, Edgar walked all the way next to the gate with Jack in tow. He wasn''t just walking over¡­he was actually cutting queue?! But every time someone was about toin, a single look from the man was enough to shut them down. A few stern guards even showed up¡­only to turn straight back! "This, son, is a General''s Aura," Edgar whispered as he winked. Yet the "Mighty General" didn''t hesitate one bit to sit his ass right before the gate (that they were too broke to cross), holding a newly made sign. | Single Father! Will work for Food and Shelter! | He then gave the most satisfied look at his son. ''How is it? Impressed?'' He was even mischievously smiling at the people from earlier. ''Who said I''ll be arrested?'' But then it happened¡­ A Squad Captain showed up! The man''s armor was as sturdy as the martial pressure he emitted. Bystanders drew cold breaths as they saw him, knowing he''d definitely be mighty. As for how powerful¡­ Jack still had trouble making sense of the power levels in this world. Still, the man''s gigantic sword could have easily cut a cow in half! The atmosphere became tense. Many were already betting on whether the mysterious beggar father would follow the Captain quietly or if there''d be a fight. The two stared at one another. From seconds to minutes, time seemed to stop. But just as the Captain was gathering the courage to ''evict'' the freeloader, Edgar confidently spoke first. "You broke your right leg in three ces and haven''t been able to exert the same power ever since. Not only that, but you also feel intense pain in your left shoulder every four nights." Edgar''s diagnosis came out of bloody nowhere. All he had done was observe how the man had walked, and it had been enough. This was the ability of a General that had seen more battlefields than years. Back in the Holy Theocracy, this would have been considered nothing more than a parlor trick, but here¡­. "H-how did you know?! I never told anyone?! Who are you?! A healer?!" The Captain panicked. Edgar didn''t even bother replying, simply pointing at his sign. | Single Father! Will work for Food and Shelter! | "Ah! Wait here. I''ll be right back!" The Captain ran off hurriedly. To him, this was a golden opportunity! He''d be rewarded if he brought great talent to the City Guard''s side! He was now rushing to report to his superior. But this baffled the bystanders. That was it?! Cries of distress came out as many lost their bets. Yet this only increased the madness of the spectators, gossip: "I can''t believe he''s still here!" "Did he really drive away a Captain while holding a baby?!" "The world''s gone insane!" "Tch¡ª Just wait, he''ll be out of luck soon!" Jack couldn''t help but be impressed. Getting in touch with localw enforcement was a surefire way to get ess to not only the City, but also information, and backing. This was killing a dozen birds with one stone. But before this n coulde to fruition, amotion happened. "Get out of the way, everyone!" If Edgar''s act of cutting in the queue had been eye-catching, this one was even more so. The craziest carriage had just shown up and was bypassing everyone lining up! It was the most insane mix of destruction-potential¡­and willfulness. On the one hand, the entire structure was reinforced, with sharp des sticking out in many ces, and was dragged by horrendous lightning-d monstrous horses. On the other hand, the carriage was pink. Never had Jack seen something that looked so deadly and cute simultaneously! "W-what the?!" Jack strained his ear. In recent months, his biggest achievements were learning to use magic to talk¡­and listen. Now, even the lowest of whispers wouldn''t escape him. This time, the bystanders had so much to say about the neers. "That''s the noble Thunder-Raven''s family, right?" "They''re the only great family that''d unt such a silly carriage." "Gasp¡­ don''t let the youngdy hear you. You know her temper!" But all voices came to a halt as the carriage stopped before the son and father duo. The silent atmosphere couldn''t have been tenser. Perhaps only Jack watched it all happen with great amusement. What was going to happen now? A reinforced door was opened, then a slender foot came out, soon followed by a 10-years or so youngdy that could only be called cute. Yet her words were as harsh as lightning. "Humph. You have the gal to beg here? Why shouldn''t I smite you right here and then?" She waved a hand, a lightning ball appearing in her grasp. It crackled with enough energy to easily roast a baby whole! That''s when Edgar used his "General''s Aura". Except the opposingdy was far too bravely foolish to back down. The whole "threat" seemed to pass right above her head. "What''s with that re? Are you constipated or something?" "¡­." Jack saw his father at aplete loss for the first time since his arrival in this new world. A man that had weathered storm after storm¡­. actually wasn''t sure how to react here. Intimidate the kid? Surely there were better options? Move out of the way? He was still waiting for that one soldier toe back. What should be done?! "Pfft¡ª Hahahaha!" Jack erupted in crystallineughter. His "innocent"ughter instantly defused the situation. That''s when the youngdy gazed at him for the first time. As her incredibly deep purple eyes met his, he froze. It had only been for an instant, but why did it seem like there was lightning in them?! But then¡­. [A Certain Thunder Manifestation Is Quivering!] What the heck was this, and how much trouble would it bring him?! Jack wasn''t sure whether tough or cry. His luck definitely was the worst! But before he could dwell on it, a flurry of carriages had appeared at the gates. By coincidence or design¡­.it seemed like all the City''s powers wereing here. How much tumult would ensue? So much for a quiet life¡­. . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 0 (STR 0 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 38 ( MAGIC 4 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Titles (4) - PTSD (+Nightmares) - Holy Goddess'' Cursed - Self-Taught (+Learning Speed) - Slumbering One (+Rest Efficiency) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Skills (5) - Danger Sense (S) - Mana Sharing (F) - Mana Maniption (F) - Senses Enhancement (F) ?? - Dormant Obliteration Curse (SSS+) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 7 Buy 1 Get 2 Frenzy! ?A flurry of carriages appeared by the gates. Each was magnificently awe-inspiring and¡­ glowing?! It was so visually striking that it reminded Jack of Christmas lights¡­.the magical version! One was engulfed in mes, another drifted on water wheels, one slightly floated above the ground, and one even looked like a mobile fortress! Their upants all had airs of authority, the masses already going wild¡­ "Look, the Dawn Lords!" "Oh god, all of them here at once?!" "D-don''t tell me they''re here to see that Beggar?!" "What? No way! It''s time for the Magic Academy Showdown!" Jack heaved a sigh of relief: it had nothing to do with him! Rxing, he observed all the crazy mounts. There were so many! "Fiendish Fiery Foxes, Slithering Sea Snakes, Massive Mountain Mammoths, Frizzy Flying Ferrets¡­" Edgar whispered their names to the eager Jack. This was just like Pokem¡ª! But just as he was enjoying himself, it happened. A ruby-ming carriage suddenly stopped right next to them. It was the one dragged by ming foxes that seemed to look down on the world. Instantly¡­. "RUUNNNN!!!" the Thunder Youngdy ran away, utterly terrified. As the door opened, Jack lost his breath. She was a foxydy, her long fiery hair reaching her waist. But what stood out the most was her gorgeous red qipao. How had it not burst yet? The poor thing was struggling to contain assets bigger than Jack''s dreams! "Ara? What do we have here? How interesting?" Her golden irises had locked on Edgar as she unleashed the most yfully seductive smile she could muster. She had time for a little fun before they left for the Academy, right? "Quick, look away!" The people in the procession shivered as they averted their gaze. They all knew how deadly her charm could be! Many fools had lost their estate to that smile! She really was an odd one. What was even the point of charming a beggar?! Perhaps she simply wanted to see him squirm, suffering from one-sided love? "How about I invite you to work for me?" She sultrily proposed. The spectators shook their heads. "Another Fallen." "I just hope he won''t forget about his baby." "She wouldn''t go that far¡­right?!" "Meh, who cares¡­." Fallen? Jack chuckled as he heard them. He knew his father¡­ "No need. Thanks for the offer!" Edgar was a polite man. He looked her straight in the eyes as he thanked her. With his background, he''d much rather make a deal with the army after all. It was as if the sun had risen from the west. "¡­.." Silence filled the City''s entrance. Jack could almost picture the tumbleweeds whooshing around. But then it erupted: "H-he refused her?!" "W-what?! H-how?!" "I-is he blind or something?!" "Bullshit! Even the blind can''t resist her!" "He has to swing the other way!" "B-but¡­ he''s a father!!" Everyone looked at the "Beggar" as if a monster. Was he even human?! How could he remain that calm?! He had to be some Hidden Master; that was the only exnation! Just as all the Dawn Lords were hurriedly stopping their carriage, a certain guard Captain came rushing back with a ginormous smile. "Mister, Mister! Good news! My Boss will see you now for an interview! You''ll be able to join, along with your son! You''ll be hired as¡ª" he froze. What was up with all the stares?! But the confused man was quickly forgotten. The Lords'' eyes filled with desire, all staring at Jack in wonder. If the father was that skilled¡­.then what about the son?! This was a buy 1 get 2 kinda deal: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! As long as they yed their cards right¡­.the baby would grow up to be a menace! The Lords seemed possessed as they all rushed forward, shouting out offers! "Working for the City Guard? Nonsense! My Indomitable Roc Family will wee you! Worry not. We''ll treat you the best!" "Scoff, the best? Your best isn''t enough! Everyone knows my Rising Wind Guild is the most prosperous! You''ll get the best resources Gold can buy!" "Hehe, as if Gold mattered. Our Serene Water n is as wealthy but owns a mystical trainingnd on top of it! Join us instead!" The "aloof" Lords had been reduced to bickering fools. The only one that didn''t seem to be participating was the Foxy Lady from earlier. At first, it seemed like her soul had left her body¡­but then her fighting spirit was rekindled. So what if this man was seemingly immune to her charm?! She''d just have to try again! Her eyes glowed with determination as she gathered her Mana. This time she''d charm the man for sure! She focused all her energy¡­ But just as she was ready to unleash it all¡­. The other Lords froze, looking at the sky in panic. "Oh, God. D-don''t tell me?! He''sing¡­but why now?!" The sky turned ck, humongous thunder clouds forming. There was only one guy in Dawn City that could generate something so shy¡­.the Thunder Lord! He was perhaps the strongest of them all and also the most entric. He was often called the Hidden Lord. He who spent most of his time in seclusion training¡­wasing out?! Then the sky fell down¡­or that''s what it felt like! ¡ª CRACKLE! CRACKLE! CRACKLE! ¡ª A man of lightning fell from Heaven. As he crashed on the ground, the entire City rocked. He had controlled his power as much as he could, but the shockwave was enough to make the spectators fall like dominoes. It was that mighty! Usually, this wouldn''t have been an issue¡­. This time it was... Just as the Fire Lord was done powering up her Charm Magic, she lost her footing. Without anyone else noticing, her line of sight moved slightly,nding on the baby. Oh god¡­no! What had she done?! She tried to stop her magic¡­. She really did¡­ But it was far toote! This baby was doomed. A newborn couldn''t possibly survive such a powerful Charm! It wouldn''t just make him fall for her. It''d erase his soulpletely! What kind of bad luck was this?! Regret overwhelmed her. If only she had paid a little more attention, if only¡ª but there was no cure for regret. Jack had just been minding his own business when it happened. [A Certain me Temptress is Targeting You!] [Give in and Offer Her Your Soul?] [Resistance Is Imposs¡ª] Jack lost himself in the golden irises. This golden glow was perfect. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever gazed upon. It was the most soothing color he''d ever seen. It was¡ª everything he had ever wanted! As long as he gave in, he''d reach Nirvana. He''d finally feel at peace. He''d finally be¡ª No. He came back to his senses! This wasn''t it¡­.He had to live and live well! ''Don''t worry, mom. I won''t waste this new life! I''m Jack MF Bright!'' Instead of losing his soul, Jack beganughing. What was a little fox to a man who had rejected literal Gods? As the two''s gazes met, one began coughing blood... and it wasn''t Jack! But before he could rejoice, he felt a lightning aura surround him... . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 0 (STR 0 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 38 ( MAGIC 4 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Treasure Baby ?? - Indomitable Will (E) ?? - Chad! (+Charm Resistance!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 8 Thunder Lord VS "Just A Father" ?The Thunder Lord''s aura was oppressive. He crackled with lightning, his white beard seeminglying alive with static electricity as he stared daggers at Edgar. "Scoff. You''re good! You barely arrived, yet Lords are already eating in the palm of your hand. Let''s see what you''re made of, SHALL WE!!!" He instantly went on the offensive! Jack''s hair stood on end as he sensed the killing intent, the man already upon them! Without a warning, he started punching toward them, every attack crazily terrifying. Magical lighting was even wrapped around his fists, seemingly strong enough to annihte them whole! ¡ª Punch! ¡ª ¡ª Crackle! Crackle! ¡ª In response, Edgar expertly moved his body away as if a boxer. All his movements down to the millimeter were so precise. It was unbelievable to many, but Edgar somehow managed to keep up with the Thunder Lord?! He was even greater than anyone had ever thought possible. The two enemies kept shing as if both had turned frenzied. ¡ª ng! ng! ng! ng! ¡ª Cheers erupted every time Edgar blocked a fist that would have otherwise reduced him to mush. Currently, he was the perfect underdog for the popce! The cheers especially became the loudest every time he''d throw Jack in the air to save him from the recoil of their fights. To many, he appeared like the most badass DILF! Except, even he was reaching his limit. Jack had a front view of the action and his father was definitely growing slower. Every block required him to put his life on the line! At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he faltered! That''s when the fight suddenly intensified. The Thunder Lord happily cackled as he began glowing with light even purer than before. This time, it wasn''t just magical gauntlets¡­ "Hehe, let''s see you deal with this!" With a shout, the Thunder Lord raised his hand up high, the sky seemingly rumbling to answer his call, Dark clouds gathering. ¡ª ZAAPPPPP! CRACKLE! ¡ª Lightning fell from the sky, quickly morphing into a gigantic Hammer of Thunder! The Thunder Lord grabbed it, looking like an Immortal Emperor! Then he swung the whole thing right at them! "Hahaha! Try and block this one!¡­.BREAK!" A Lightning Explosion ensued! ¡ª BAM! CRASH! ¡ª That''s when the world disappeared. All that remained was the crackling of lightning and its deadliness. Before Jack could even make sense of his surroundings, he felt a gentle hand on his body. "Son, wait by the side, alright? It seems I have to finish this¡­." His father''s smiling face was thest thing he saw before he was thrown away from the battlefield. It was as if he was guided by an invisible hand protecting him. Hended softly on the ground, but he didn''t care about any of that. "D-dad! Quick, get out! Run to the other Lords and¡ª" But Edgar was already diving back into the light! A secondter¡­. SPLATTER! Blood, organs, and brain bits exploded all over, drenching the crowd in the process. Someone had died already?!¡­ But who?! Everyone focused their eyes, trying to guess the winner. Just as the suspense was bing unbearable, he came out! Just not the right "He." The bloodstained Thunder Lord reappeared, a grin stered on his face. Then¡­ the body bits flying earlier had been¡­.?! Jack suddenly felt sick. W-why?! Just why?! Bloody freaking, WHY?! But just as he was despairing, the lightning cleared up. What appeared then was unbelievable. The gory mess¡­had belonged to Flying Ferrets!! Wait, what?! His father was alive?! Pushed by adrenaline, Jack crawled his way to his father! As he hugged the man''s legs, he felt so relieved. He really couldn''t take his eyes off his father at this instant. "N-never scare me like that again!" Jack begged. Edgar simply nodded, winking at his son as he exined what had happened. He had managed to grab the creatures from a nearby carriage to use as meat shields. They had been enough to save him from the lightning! By now, the Thunder Lord wasing back, chuckling. "You fought like a true warrior, great!" He actually seemed in a good mood. Through adversity, the two had somehow made peace. How ludicrous! "Anyway, how about you join the Lightning Pce? In your current state¡­. There is still hope if we act quickly." He meaningfully added. Edgar''s entire body imperceptibly trembled. Jack was close enough to feel it: this was phantom pain, right?! Of course, his father hadn''te out unscathed of the Holy Theocracy! But seeing how serious the two men were¡­.it had to be even more severe than Jack had thought. ''Psst¡ª Dad, what are you waiting for? ept!'' He wanted to shout out, but a baby talking in front of the Lords would have just made things worse. ''Just do it!'' But the other Lords shared the opposite sentiment. "Hey, wait your turn! We were here before!" "Tch¡ª trying to sway him with a showy entrance? That''s cheating!" "Mister, you should really join us instead, the¡ª" It became an utter cacophony. There were so many offers! They were even more determined now that they knew the mighty Thunder Lord was interested too! This was the moment of truth. This would determine Jack''s Starting Faction! (Ignoring the Holy Goddess). He couldn''t help but shake with excitement at the thought: - Resources! - Knowledge! - Powerful Allies! - Matching Attires! - ¡­. And a lot of trouble! Jack gave the still-hesitating Edgar an encouraging look. ''Don''t worry. Give me a bit of time to grow and I''ll take care of it all. For now, your health is the most important!'' Edgar seemingly understood the message, turning to the Thunder Lord. As Edgar opened his mouth, the other Lords felt their defeat: "I e¡ª" "WAIT a minute!!" This shout was so wild! It came from the back, the disheveled Foxy Lady rushing at Mach 10 speed! (Or almost!) "I still haven''t made my offer! Hear me out, at least!" She sounded so desperate. Many gasped, seeing her in such a state was a first! All except the Thunder Lord, who not only didn''t flinch but even chuckled. "You''re in way over your head, just give up." Shepletely ignored him, not that he cared that much. The Thunder Lord knew that he was the father''s only chance. He was just waiting for her to get turned down¡­again. She stopped right in front of Edgar, racking her brain endlessly on what to offer. Never had she found herself in such a situation! But then she suddenly jerked up, having a EUREKA moment. She gazed at Edgar with confidence. "If you join my me Mansion¡­I''ll give your son the only thing no other Lord can provide: A mother''s love! I swear! From now on, he''ll be my son and the future me Lord!" W-What kind of development was this?! Was she ready to go that far?! This went way further than just providing resources! It concerned honor and bloodline! Edgar heard the sincerity and determination in her voice. She really would take care of Jack as if her own! That was all he needed to do to make a decision. As he had always done, Edgar prioritized his son over himself. That day, Jack became the me Mansion''s Prince. That day, he also got himself a new mother. As for Dawn City, it''d soon be VERY chaotic... ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 0 (STR 0 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 39 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Crawl! (F) ?? - Dawn Noble! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 9 Crazy Flame Mansion! ?"From now on, call me Mom!" The me Lord dered, positively beaming. Then she dragged them toward what would be Jack''s new home. It was located on the East-side of Dawn and looked like¡­.a ginormous sun?! Even a distance away, Jack could sense the scorching heat. The City just allowed something so dangerous in its midst?! As he stared, his new "mother" chuckled. "Hehe. This is the magical barrier protecting our home. It only hurts the intruders. You''re with me, so don''t worry. We''ll Zoom through it!" Then they went in. The fire barrier was unlike anything Jack had ever seen. The sight was unreal: it was a sea of fire! Sure he had seen stuff like this in movies, books, and on Awakened TV¡­ but living it firsthand was so freakishly amazing! Then there was the feeling. The Mana here was fiery and flowed so quickly, so tumultuously, as if a volcano about to erupt! The more Jack saw and felt, the more desire he felt. The current him with F-Rank skills could barely move pebbles. How long before he could cast such a strong barrier?! But just as he was rejoicing, they were through. [Wee to the me Mansion!] Jack stared at his new home dumbfounded. The interior was incredibly breathtaking, a majestic temple with oriental-styled shrines surrounding it. Oh, and it gave hot-spring vibes, a warm mist covering it. But one thing especially stood out: Foxes, foxes everywhere! The little orange buggerszed around all over, looking as fluffy as cuddly! Jack felt them lock on him, their intelligent eyes radiating curiosity. "Wee to your new house, Jack!" His new mother theatrically announced before turning to the foxes. "All of you, listen up! This is Jack Bright, the new Prince of our me Mansion, and his father! Protect them with your life!" The foxes froze¡­.Prince?! Eyes as wide as saucers, they stared at the little one that''d rule over them. Why was their owner so enthusiastic about this baby?! Jack actually didn''t know either! The me Lord had been this way ever since coughing blood. Perhaps she was a masochist? While she didn''t seem ill-intentioned, he still wanted to know her endgame... "C''mon! Let Mom show you to your bed chamber!" Except she didn''t bring them to a room. It was an entire shrine! If anything, it looked like one of those luxurious lofts he had only seen on billboards. The decor was the perfect blend of Heroic Red and Regal Gold. It felt like a dream! Before long, Jack was on a Royal-looking bed that felt like Heaven, gentle light cascading on him. This ce was the freaking best! He had all of this to himself?! "Nice, isn''t it?" The Foxdy chuckled, turning toward Edgar. "As for you, follow me alone. I need to show you something." Edgar went into full panic mode. Leaving his child?! There was no way this was ever going to happen! He had to protect him from¡ª A gentle hand stopped his thoughts¡­. "Rx. I can''t fathom what you two went through, but it''s in the past. Don''t worry. There''s a reason I brought my new son here. The foxes will protect him." The Fox Lady reassured. So this was a fox-manned nursery?! Talk about Epic! Jack couldn''t help but rejoice. This would be PERFECT! The two adults left, knowing the baby to be in good hands (paws). The foxes crowded around the baby. This wouldn''t be the first child they raised, but he looked so damn cute! They couldn''t wait for him to grow up and y with them! But merely secondster¡­. Jack''s entire aura changed. Innocence of a baby? Utterly gone! It was reced by a man who had survived countless apocalypses. "Woo?!!" (W-what is this?!) The foxes jumped back, tails between their legs. Was something wrong with the baby? Quick, they had to report to their mistress! But before any could leave¡­. "Don''t even think about it!" Jack''s Mana amplified bellow shook them to the bone. His voice sounded so regal and domineering! All he had done was copy the adults he had met before, but all had been big shots! The poor foxes seemed like they had seen a ghost! Not only could the baby talk¡­but he felt sooo scary! Their brains had shut down from the shock, their legs trembling non-stop. Jack approached one and¡­. He started petting the poor shivering thing. "Sorry if I scared you, little one. I never meant to." He could feel the creature rxing as he kept fluffing the soft fur. Jack''s aura changed once more. The survivor was reced by the optimistic and easygoing man that just wanted to live as fully as he could. At this moment, the little fox abandoned itself under Jack''s touch. This hand felt so warm, as warm as the sun itself! It even found itself wishing for the petting never to end. As for its previous doubts¡­.who cared! "Anyone else wants belly rubs?" "Wooo!" (X15) Before long, happy fox noises resonated endlessly. How long had it been since someone had given them so much attention? So what if this new young master was odd? The foxes didn''t care about his secrets anymore. They weren''t protecting him for their mistress either. They simply wanted some godly belly rubs! Except, soon cropped up a terrifying problem! There were so many of them, but only one of him! Even if he used both hands, only so many foxes could be fluffed at once! Luckily for them, Jack quickly resolved the problem. He did so by appealing to their yful instincts. He taught them the "Taskmaster game". Its premise was simple: 1. Jack, the taskmaster, would assign missions. 2. The Foxes wouldplete them as quickly as possible 3. The fastest to do so would get rewards! It could be anything from belly rubs to tasty treats or special stuff! Thanks to this fun game, a strange scene quickly appeared in the me Mansion. The usuallyzy Fiery Foxes soon started running all over the ce! They''d rush so fast that they''d look like orange blurs! After all, there was no time to waste. They had to be the fastest! Many had big dreams! If they were fast enough, they''d be able toplete more than one mission! This would mean double the fluff¡­or even triple!!! Little did they know that the "game" they yed was something called "information-gathering" back on Earth. Unbeknownst to them, they had all be spies! Meanwhile, Jackzed around on his fluffy bed, twisting and turning. He could barelyy still! What secrets would his new spies uncover? But just as he was getting impatient, an orange blur appeared by the entrance. A fox was triumphantly returning, one that seemed so smug! "Wooo!" (^_^v) . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 1 (STR 1 / AGI 0 / RES 0) SOUL 39 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 16 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Master of the Foxes! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 10 Mighty Fox Procession! ?"Hahaha, great! You''ve done well!" A baby evilly cackled as he petted a smug-looking fox. At this moment, Jack couldn''t have been more proud of the little guy''s performance. Thetter had actually eavesdropped on his father and the me Lord''s conversation! The report went: "Woo! Woo!" "Woo! Woo! Woo!" "Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!" This was so much information to unpack! Not only was it a lot, but it was all said in foxnguage¡­making it even more troublesome! But with the foxes being so intelligent and yful, it quickly devolved into a game of charade. Thanks to this newmunication method, Jack learned so much! Apparently, his new mother hadpletely misunderstood him. He had resisted her Charm thanks to his indomitable spirit, but she believed it had something to do with the god she revered, some Firefox Deity. She believed him to be protected by her god and even left him with a bunch of foxes to deepen that connection. Ironically, it was the one god he had never received an offer from. Still, there was one strange thing¡­ "Do you have any idea where that Fox God is?" "Woo! Woo! ZZZZZzzzzzz!" The cute fox exaggeratedly began snoring. Wait, did this mean a god was sleeping right underneath his feet?! Chances were the shrines were dedicated to him. This was pretty much a time bomb! Jack didn''t want a repeat of the events back in the Holy Theocracy. This meant he''d have to be out of here before trouble happened. "Hm. Let''s establish some ground rules." Eying an exquisite fox painting on the wall, Jack approached it with a grin. Then he¡­ sliced his palm open, blood flowing all over the ce! Using blood as ink, he wrote all over it: | Great Survival Mantra | 1. Avoid the gods 2. Reject magical contracts 3. Remain low-key as of now 4. Train like your life depends on it! Thest one was especially crucial! He had to take advantage of the new start his father had gotten him. After all, the man had sacrificed so much! Now wasn''t the time for a regr and peaceful childhood! "Now, to get stronger¡­ I need a magical teacher!" He could slowly learn on his own, but there was no way this would be as efficient. Still, nowhere was it written that a magical teacher had to be a being of flesh and blood! Jack confidently called out to the foxes: "Bring me to the library right now!" "Woo! Woo! Woo Woo!" The foxes all wanted to go and even fought for the right to join the "expedition". This was madness! Jack was escorted out as if a king! His minions soon brought him to the me Barrier. "Wait¡­ there''s no library in here?" "Woo! Woo!" It had burned after an "ident." Once upon a time, their mistress had gotten angry at a book''s ending and burned the whole ce down. Jack made a mental note never to piss his new mother off, but that wasn''t the critical part. They had to somehow go through the me Barrier! "Woo! Woo!" The little foxes quickly exined how the thing worked. It was semi-sentient and should (in theory) recognize him. As for why they couldn''t do it themselves¡­. They were grounded after pulling too many pranks in Dawn City. Jack sighed as he gazed at the raging inferno inside the barrier. "I must be crazy." Then he crawled inside¡­ [You''ve Intruded Upon the me Barrier!] [Launching Spontaneous Combustion!] [Resistance is futile!] Instantly his Danger Sense went crazy. Even when he brought a Meteor toward Earth hadn''t been that intense! This was insane! His mind was overwhelmed by doubt. Was this how he''d die?! Should he retreat ASAP?! But as he nced at the foxes by his side, he steeled his mind. "C''mon, Jack. You''ve been through worse!" If he wanted to survive in this world, he couldn''t be that cowardly! He stepped forward and forced himself to stand upright. This was so freakingplex with the body of a baby! Then he stared at empty air, his arms behind his back, posturing. "me Barrier? You should be called Blind Barrier, Idiot Barrier, or even Can''t do its Bloody Job Properly Barrier. Open your dog eyes. I''m the me Mansion''s Prince!" In the back, an army of foxes nodded kept nodding in agreement. You tell it, master! [The me Barrier is Wavering] "What are you standing still for?! Open the way already! At the mere sight of your master, you should part this sea of fire!" [The me Barrier is Confused!] "Let me tell you! Do you know what will happen if you anger my new mom? She''ll be so furious she''ll extinguish you with fox urine!" [The me Barrier is Scared!] C-could it be that all those threats were real?! Finally remembering how the me Lord had personally carried this baby home, the me Barrier couldn''t take it. The mes in front of Jack suddenly disappeared, creating a baby-size entrance. "Perfect! Let''s go, everyone!" The foxes looked at him as if a god. The human not only gave great belly rubs, but he could even break them out of being grounded! The most enthusiastic delegation quickly entered Dawn City. "Now, remember, everyone, we need to be low-key. Bring me to the library in the sneakiest way possible. We''ll call this game...Mission Impossible!" This sounded like so much fun! For that goal, they passed through the alleys. One had to know that the alleyways of Dawn City¡­ weren''t always the safest. How often did one wander in one and encounter thieves or rogues? In one amongst many shady alleyways, a certainvishly dressed youngdy just chanced upon such an encounter! Three burly men surrounded her, sharp daggers drawn as theyughed. "Hehe, hello there, youngdy! How bout you part with a few coins? You see, my brothers and I haven''t had any meal in a long time, and we''re getting hungry." "H-hungry?! You''re obviously trying to rob me, viin!" "Rob? No, no, this is Improved Begging!" He chuckled as he waved his knife. "E-eek! S-stop! Otherwise, I''ll¡ª" Overwhelmed by fear, the youngdy stopped. She wanted to scare them with her family name, but what if they kidnapped her instead?! After all, her family was super rich! She felt regret. If only she hadn''t taken this wrong turn! But then the regret turned to confusion. The miscreants had be frozen, ncing behind her in shock. But as she turned around, she thought her eyes were ying tricks on her. W-what the fuck was this?! A legion of foxes¡­and a baby?! "Y-you, who are you?!" A robber asked cautiously. He wasn''t dumb enough to underestimate the Fiery Foxes before him. After all, they were capable of innate fire magic! Were these the girl''s reinforcements?! The youngdy turned toward the foxes, hopeful. "Please help me! My father will reward you greatly!" She begged, looking like an angel! For a second, the foxes were confused. They weren''t the ones calling the shots! What was she looking at them for? Still, they prepared themselves to fight. Their master would surely save the damsel in distress, right? Not only did she look charming, but there was even the promise of a reward! They arched their backs, readying magical fireballs! But just as they were about to release them, Jack stopped them. "Ignore them. We''re going to the library." He whispered to his troops. Under the shell-shocked gaze of both parties, the fox army simply left the ce. Reward? The me Mansion was loaded! Gantry? Jack didn''t care either! They were on a covert mission: no time for heroics! Besides, Jack couldn''t sense any truly evil intent from the robbers. Losing a few coins would be a low price for a life lesson. Thest thing the bbergasted robbers heard was a chuckle in the wind "Improved Begging, eh? Good one, hahaha. I''ll use this line for sure!" Jack was actually preparing a robbery of his own¡­. . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 2 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 0) SOUL 40 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Posturing (F) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 11 Let The Human-Games Begin! ?Jack could sense his minions'' inquisitive gazes. "You guys want to know why we didn''t save that youngdy?" Never had heads wagged up and down so fast. "Because we won''t get a reward before being vetted." The foxes opened their ears wide as he kept exining. "Rich families will obviously be wary of scams. They''ll want to make sure we''re not working with the robbers. "But if we ask the me Lord to vouch for us, she''ll know we sneaked out." ¡ª GASPS! Dramatic Fox Noises! ¡ª The poor creatures shivered. She''d be super mad! "Keep this in mind: never take a situation at face value without considering the possible ramifications. If you''re confused, just ask me." he enlightened them. Amidst pondering foxes, they arrived. "Soldiers, this is our target: the Royal Dawn Library!" It was a magnificent five-story building that radiated an ancient aura. The books Jack wanted were in there! As for how to ess it¡­ there was only one entrance. The ce seemed protected by mighty gargoyles, one for each of the leading powers in Dawn¡­six total! Whenever someone passed next to them, they waved a magical token their way. "Magical guardians, ess token required, and a ce crawling with people." Jack sighed as he dressed a mental list of what they''d need: 1. Fox disguises 2. At least one entry token 3. The most opportune timing 4. Information on theyout of the ce Thetter two would definitely require preemptive scouting of the inside of the ce. He had to understand how it worked precisely. But for now¡­ "Alright, you all. Follow me! Let''s aplish a miracle!" Jack chuckled. He led them back to the alleyways, and they went hunting for cloaks! That day was a terrible loss for the washing lines of the City of Dawn, countless orange blurs raiding them! As for the owners¡­. they shivered, thanking the gods for surviving the supernatural encounter! They locked themselves in their home, resolved not to go out, especially not to report it! Soon enough, the foxes had stolen enough for them to gear up. His troops were assembled in a certain empty courtyard in the middle of nowhere. They wore their new cloaks proudly and stood at attention and upright as they tried their best to act human. One had to admit that they looked dastardly cute! Jack "praised" them: "You guys might actually pull this off¡­" his minions beamed. "¡­ If the people in the library are all blind and deaf. Salivating? Swaying? Shrinking? Are you even trying?" He called their ws one after the other, their faces showing shock. This was so hard! Who knew being human was that troublesome?! But the next part had them super hyped: "Alright, I''ll teach you how to be human." "Woooo!" Jack began teaching them acting¡­.or acting human at least. From posture to gestures and even how and when to walk. He was showing them everything from scratch, using his past life as a delivery man as source material! After all, he had seen people from all walks of life back then. From humble to snobbish, he could do them all! The more he performed, the more awed the foxes became. One had to say that they were the most avid learners Jack had ever met. In close to no time, they had already learned the basics. Now was time for the next part! "Hehe. Alright, let''s try this again!¡­ Except that this time we''ll y Follow the Leader!" As Jack exined how they simply had to copy his actions, they all scoffed. This was way too easy. They could do something like that in their sleep! They were full of confidence! But then it began¡­. A few minutes into the game, not a single fox could follow. It wasn''t that Jack did anything special: walking, dancing at worse, but they keptmitting mistakes! "Number 8, you''re out! Did you forget that we''re human training right now? You did the same movement, but you showed your tail! SCRAM!" "Number 9, you bent your torso way too much! Heck, are you even a fox or a snake? SCRAM!" "Number 3, did you just shit on the floor?! SCRAM!" Only now did they realize that 1 + 1 was sometimes way more difficult than two! Acting human was fine on its own... but doing it while doing something else? IMPOSSIBLE! They couldn''t believe it, their admiration for Jack only increasing. This young one was AMAZING! Jack almost expected them to give up, but this only redoubled their ardor! They''d do anything to seed! At first, he was stunned by their loyalty, but then he understood that there was more. They weren''t just doing it for him but for themselves too. There were so many ces that foxes were banned from! However, wouldn''t everything change if they could mix with the other humans?! This was their ticket to FUN! "Hehe. You guys sure are valiant! How about we increase things up a notch even? Walking or dancing is one thing, but the real challenge is fighting!" Jack chuckled. He was half-kidding. Half, but they took him seriously. "Woooo!" They were instantly on board! Thus began the Human Games, its participants all having a Hunger for victory! It was a colossal fox Battle Royale with a simple premise: Hit each other while looking as human as possible. No paw sticking out, no fur showing, and especially no mauling! Jack acted as the referee: "Let the Human Games Begin!!!" It was the most heated fight ever! Action, action, ACTION! They fought so quickly! Even though they tried to look human, they were still beasts. Their "human" performance made them all look like bloody ninjas! They fought while jumping from wall to wall, putting Parkour experts to shame! "Oh god! That''s amazing! I''d pay to watch this¡ª" Jack gasped, taking mental notes to open an arena. People would pay good money for this! Something in the style of Ultimate Beast Ninja Eternian Warrior would be popr AF! But he was suddenly brought out of his reverie by the action getting very heated¡­ LITERALLY! Jack opened his eyes to a courtyard on fire, fireballs flying everywhere! Actually, no, it wasn''t just the courtyard that was on fire¡­ "Oh, Crap¡­RUNNNNN!" Chapter 12 Rugs Are Scary! ?. . . "Oh, Crap¡­RUNNNNN!" A pack of furry arsonists ran out, their tails between their legs. Who knew that human courtyards were that mmable?! It wasn''t their fault, right? But as they sensed Jack''s dark gaze, they erupted in cold sweats. "You all, you''re good, real good!" "Acting human? Low key?" "You freaking burned it!" Every line was delivered with a grim tone, the foxes shivering. Why did it feel like he was about to disown them?! But then, with a profound sigh, his entire aura changed. He suddenly started counting on his fingers as he mumbled: "Investigation, crime scene, witnesses, motive, and connecting the dots¡­." The foxes stilled: he was already in problem-solving mode?! How could he be so calm in such a situation?! Little did they know that he had been the prime suspect in an arson case before. Back then, he had been at the wrong ce at the wrong time¡­. For six fires in a row! He''d be damned if he or his minions got caught! Thetter were all looking his way, making puppy eyes. ''Please forgive us,'' they seemed to be saying¡­ as if it would work! "Clean up your mess, or I''ll add fox rugs to my bedroom!" ¡ª Shocked foxes¡­ He wouldn''t do that, right?! ¡ª "Now, listen up. This can''t go wrong¡­." The foxes perked their ears, their eyes growing as wide as moons during the ''how to get away with arson lesson''. It was a new world of possibilities that was opening to them! "Good, now split up. Whoever fucks up bes a rug!" Pfft¡ª The foxes chuckled. If they let their leader down after such thorough teachings, they''d bloody deserve to be rugs! They left tails wagging and full of confidence! After all, they simply had to y a prank¡­ and god, did they love pranks! ¡ª That day the alleyways lit up¡­ The mes erupted in some random courtyard that was supposed to be unupied at that time of the year. It camepletely out of nowhere! It quickly devolved into an inferno that rose all the way to the sky¡­ or at least that''s how it seemed from up close! Luckily, The locals instantly knew what to do! They rushed at the mes, carrying huge vats of water. A secondter, it was all thrown at the target! As steam filled the ce, they rejoiced: "Damn, that was close!" "We avoided a disaster!" "Thank God we¡ªFUCK!" The steam cleared¡­ revealing a fire that hadn''t gone down in the slightest. It was still going as strong?! How was that possible?! The only exnation was¡­. "Magical fire?!" "We''re screwed!" "Quick, get help! Else¡­" But as they felt it, they all crumbled. This wasn''t just magical fire¡­ it was a raging ravenous demon! How many spells were packed in there?! What kind of crazy sadistic maniac would do this?! To the poorest and most defenseless district too?! Right next to the orphanage! It was already toote, the inferno bing a beacon of despair. They were doomed, so freaking doomed! But just as they were hopeless¡­ A bunch of mysterious individuals came out of nowhere! They all wore red robes that hid their features entirely and were inhumanly fast! The civilians gazed at them, shell-shocked. What?! Who the heck were they?! They were here way too fast to be rescuers, right? Gulp¡ª What if they were the ones that had caused the fire?! That''s when the mysterious people all assembled in a circle and started dropping¡­. Jewelry?! Wait¡­ was this some kind of sacrificial ritual?! Oh, GOD! It was time for the alleyways dwellers to meet their maker!¡­ or not?! Suddenly, countless shouts came from the distance. "Come back, thief!" "Give it back, asshole!" "That prick stole my watch!" Droves of mages and warriors of all kinds came running, their faces a mask of anger. Yet, they all had something inmon: they were all water users! W-what kind of miracle was this?! The civilians erupted in smiles, cheers, and tears as they realized what had happened. The mysterious people had stolen valuables from a bunch of water Users¡­ just to bring them here?! Thetter froze as they saw the situation. 1) The loot pile in the middle 2) The inferno about to engulf it all 3) The pleading civilians on the sidelines "Tch¡ª Guess we might as well extinguish this thing. Heck, we can always ask the City to reward our good deed." They all sighed at once, sharing a look. Then they all raised their staffs/spears or whatever they used, pointing it toward the ze! As countless magical spells were cast all over, a freaking flood happened! It was working! As the fire was slowly but surely getting put out, many couldn''t help but nce at the mysterious red-robed individuals nearby. W-what kind of crazy way of requesting help was that?! As displeasing as it felt, one had to admit it was Super Effective! A man actually began chuckling: "You guys have balls of steel! Say, how about you visit the Serene Water n with me afterward? Next time you won''t have to steal strangers'' stuff for help." Many gasped. That guy was trying to recruit them?! That¡­ was actually a great idea! Sure, they probably all belonged to the same strange faction¡­ but they were worth poaching! Just their speed alone made them worthy! After all, none of them even seemed out of breath! As they all reached the same conclusion, it quickly became chaotic: "No way! You should visit the adventure guild!" "Please, we should both use the merits to join the Guard!" "Pffft¡ª And ve away? Are you all crazy? They''re better off¡ª" As all the offers kepting, said mysterious people had no damn clue how to react. What the heck were they supposed to reply to this?! Jack hadn''t covered that part! The mysterious individuals were all foxes¡­. Fast, able to use me magic, and very fluffy¡­ How would the humans react had they known the scheming "heroes" they were trying to recruit were, in fact, the me Lord''s cheeky pets?! Actually, how would they react if they learned that they were the ones that had started the fire in the first ce¡­ by mistake?! But just as they were hesitating, Jack subtly gave the signal for part B. That''s when the foxes began shivering, both with expectation and fright. This new n was pure freaking maniacal insanity¡­. They freaking LOVED IT! . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 40 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Criminal Mastermind ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 13 Demonic Legion VS Brilliant Templars! ?''Time for Part B!'' Jack gave the signal. Except, this wasn''t a signal for the dozen red-wearing foxes. No, this one was for the remaining foxes lying in ambush nearby! They instantly went to work! The various magic users were still trying to recruit the "mysterious strangers" when it happened ¡ª WhOOOSHHH!!! A shower of fire befell them! "W-what?! Crap, we''re under attack!" "Fireballs! Quick, water shields up!" "Who dares?! Show yourself, viin!" As if on cue, a bunch of ck-robed individuals appeared and began throwing fireballs all over the ce! Oh, but that wasn''t all: "Kakakakaka!" The arsonists evilly cackled, monstrously sounding. Those fuckers had to be insane... Who else would randomly target a poor district?! That''s when the "leader" of the evil guys came forward. "Trying to stop us? Fools, the Demonic Legion''s unstoppable!" The mysterious being theatrically raised his hands as if a provocation. The fox was doing the acting, but Jack was doing the voicing; none the wiser! He truly felt like an overlord bragging about his evil designs at the moment! The foxes all shivered: their master was so cool! "As for you, the Temrs of the Brilliant Light, today you all die!" Jack dered as he menacingly pointed at the red-wearing "strangers". Along with his shout, the foxes came back to their senses-. That''s right: they had a job to do! Under the stunned gaze of the bystanders, the two mysterious groups (red and ck) rushed at one another as if mortal enemies! Mere secondster, fireballs began flying from both sides. Not just a few¡­ a shitload! The entire world turned red! The bystanders held to their defensive magic for dear life, their eyes bulging as they witnessed spells worthy of archmages thrown out like mere fireworks. They all felt like they were dreaming... or perhaps having a nightmare. "Pinch me someo¡ª ouch! All of it is real?!" "Brilliant Temrs? Demonic Legion?" "T-they''re all monsters?!" They felt like their soul would escape them at any moment. How could anyone be that strong?! Not just one, but two factions to boot! Little did they all know that all of it was half-illusions. Fiery foxes were innately talented at using fire and were especially great at handling "Fiery-Fox-Fire". What appeared like a fight worthy of Titans¡­ was just foxes ying catch with fireballs. Jack had expressly ordered them to make it as shy as possible. As the world-shattering "fight" intensified, the bystanders saw their lives sh before their eyes. But just when they thought they''d perish for sure¡­ the two groups took the fighting elsewhere! They suddenly dashed away, so fast! They left in their wake a zing trail that was seemingly alive and following them. How crazy! Then it reached its culmination, the leader of the "Demonic Legion" wrathfully screaming as he retreated: "Dammnit! I''ll be back! The City of Dawn will Burn! It will fall under the joust of the Eternal, Never to be Named, All-Seeing, Darth, Papa John!" Then all disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. It was as if it had all been nothing but a mirage... except they knew it had been real! The people left behind nced at one another, shell-shocked. They had actually survived?! At that moment, many engraved the name "Brilliant Temrs" in their heart. Were they to meet them in the future, they''d definitely need to thank them for their efforts... and recruit them for sure! Still, they reluctantly turned back toward the fire, and it didn''t take long to extinguish it. But even when calm returned, many found themselves staring into the distance, absent-minded. They didn''t even react as a bunch of soldiers showed up. On their chest was the hexagon representing the City''s Civil servants: they were investigators. At first, the neers rejoiced: there were so many witnesses! Someone had to have seen the culprit, right? But as they proceeded with their investigation, their blood turned cold. The more they learned, the more of a headache they got, and the more their blood pressure rose. What the heck had actually happened here?! 1. The Crime Scene was utterly destroyed 2. The witnesses all seemed to be exaggerating 3. The culprits were clear as day¡­. but unknown 4. Their motive was bloody crazy: they wanted to destroy Dawn City?! It was a bloody shitshow! The investigators that had been ready to hunt and apprehend a rogue arsonist suddenly found themselves thrown in the middle of a war between two hidden factions?! Not only were both mysterious, but they had vanished from thin air! Didn''t this mean that they had an ally in Dawn City?! Just the implications were enough to chill their bones. This was way above their pay grade! Sadly, it was far toote to hide the information. An hour after the events, "Brilliant Temrs" and "Demonic Legion" were already on the lips of all the drunkards in the City of Dawn. Two hourster, a certain world-renowned bard had alreadyposed an Epic about it. Three hourster, the City Lords met for an extraordinary meeting. Four hourster, Jack rxed amidst a bed of soft foxes, not a worry in the world. He even gently rubbed his minions'' bellies as they nned their next heist. (He still needed books!) At least the foxes had learned a lot about acting, and they''d definitely be more prepared next time! As for all the trouble that their little stunt had caused? Meh, who cared? People would soon get bored of such unfounded rumors, right? In a week, they''d have forgotten all about it. Plus, now, no one would ever believe foxes to be the true culprits! But his peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by an earth-shattering roar. It contained so much power and anger that the walls shook! "Where is he?! Bring me to Jack Bright at once!" It was a woman''s voice¡­ but not the me Lord. What?! Why?! Who was that even? He turned to the foxes to ask them but suddenly froze. A couple had already pissed themselves?! WTF?! . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 40 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Evil Lord Acting! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 14 Angry Angry Flame Girl! ?"Where is he?! Bring me to Jack Bright at once!" The exmation was as powerful as loud. Whoever wasing their way seemed more like a typhoon than a human! As for the foxes¡­ ¡ª Whimpers ¡ª They were already hiding in various corners of the room! As if in an horror movie, the invader slowly but surely revealed itself. As soon as Jack saw the attacker, he lost his breath for a second¡­ the me Lord?! No, before him stood a young version of his new adoptive mother. The same red hair, the same beauty, but instead of a traditional qipao, this one was ready for war¡­ and decked from head to toe in a sturdy silver te armor! The 20 yo or so girl scanned the room, and her eyes met his. In her crimson irises, he saw an incredible mix of emotions: fury, helplessness, regret, and so much hate. This one was 100% the me Lord''s daughter. Yet, he had been given the title of Prince of the me Mansion?! He who hade from nowhere, he who was still a baby, who had not a single achievement to his name. Didn''t this mean he had stolen her birthright?! All because the me Lord was convinced "her god had chosen him". Talk about a misstep! To this girl, it was an utter tragedy and injustice. She faced her newest and greatest enemy, towering above him. She approached the bed, fire oozing out of her raised fist. "You, you''re the one that stole everything from me." But suddenly, a bright orange shadow moved! "Woo!" A fox stood in the way, legs trembling. The poor thing could barely walk straight, utterly terrified of the girl¡­ yet it braved death to defend its new master! After all, Jack wasn''t just their prot¨¦g¨¦, but also their new family! The girl raised an angry brow: "Do you really intend to defy me?" She started overflowing with fire, her aura as intimidating as a Train! Such power in such a small frame?! She was akin to a mighty behemoth baring her magical fangs. She expected the fox to falter, she expected it to run its tail between its legs, but the opposite happened. Another trembling fox actually dragged itself to face her too! Then another, and another, until they all stood in her way! She gasped, seeing all the foxes in the area ready to give their lives to protect Jack. Little did she know that this was all part of Jack''s n! While the foxes didn''t have the power to stand up to her (magical contract), they could perfectly buy time! As soon as he had heard her, he had sent a fox to bring reinforcements! Jack couldn''t wait to see her face when both his father and the me Lord showed up to defend him! By his calctions, the two were about to arrive and¡ª But then he saw the fox he had sent. It wasing back¡­ alone?! "Woo!" (We''re fucked!) The poor fox could only shake its head. The me Lord wasn''t home, Edgar was healing in seclusion, and there wasn''t anyone else in the ce! That''s when despair filled the Shrine. Didn''t this mean they''d have to face the tyrant alone?! What kind of crazy thing was that?! Facing her was utterly IMPOSSIB¡ª "You''re scared? So what? Fear just means you''re alive!" They heard Jack''s voice as the tiniest of whispers, yet at this instant it felt like the loudest wake-up call ever. Each syble was akin to liquid courage pouring into them! "Let''s face her together. Listen and listen well. It''s time to teach you guys one of my Ultimate Secret Techniques: the Express Pizza Delivery In Da Hood! It goes¡­" The more he spoke, and the less the foxes shook¡­. Until the light in their eyes even changed! Fear ¡ª> Resolve to face death itself! All the foxes came to life, bolting toward the bed! WHOOSH! One grabbed nket and Jack in one go and rushed out! The fox was inhumanly fast! But it wasn''t the only inhuman one here. The Mini-me Lord gave a haughty smile as she¡­ materialized a ming de from her chest?! "Scoff. You think you''re fast? Think again!" She mocked as she powerfully shed! So what if the foxes were fast? She just needed to predict where it was going! The mes reached perfectly where the fox wouldnd and¡ª "Dodge!" The fox avoided it! Jack used his Danger Sense to guide his minion! "What?! You actually evaded that? Tch¡ª Dodge this!" With a bellow, she sent yet another wave of fire. But this time, it wasn''t just a sword sh¡­ but a huge fire! In a matter of seconds, the poor fox was trapped! The conqueror stepped forward, yanking the nket toward her. She opened it up, revealing the baby¡­ that wasn''t inside?! There was arge hole and a very smug fox! "Woo!" (She fell for it!) The trapped fox actually rejoiced. So what if it had been captured? Its master had used the time to sneak out! Now, this evil woman would nevery a finger on¡ª Oh crap! She was beginning to cast spells! "Oh mes, guide my steps." me boots for mobility "Fire spirits, propel me forward." me boosters for increased eleration. "Oh, Firefox¡­ let me be fire." She freaking turned into a fire girl, maxing her speed! Then before the foxes could do anything about it, the girl rushed out faster than a bolide! Jack had been praising his n when it happened. His Danger Sense once again began blowing up¡­. In front?! "Stop!!" He screamed. A fraction of a secondter, an explosion urred where they would have been. Out of it came a being of fire that seemed utterly pissed. She gazed at them, her eyes Infernal Lights. "You can''t win. This ends here¡­." Win? Jack had never hoped to win. Instead of cowering, he startedughing. Somehow, a babyughing as it faced death was the strangest thing ever¡­. Was this baby retarded?! But then it began¡­ She charged at them, and instantly a fox¡­. threw Jack away?! Wait, wasn''t it supposed to protect him?! Why was it throwing him away as if he were trash?! Luckily, another fox was already ready to receive the package! The fox caught the baby as carefully as possible and kept listening. In its ear, Jack was preaching about "the shotgun formation" and the importance of "spread offense". To the foxes, this was all new and exciting! As soon as the Mini-me Lord would lock unto one of them¡­ they''d pass Jack to the next fox! And even as he was getting thrown all over the ce, he kept advising them! They had this in the bag! Perhaps they were weak or weren''t fast enough to outrun her¡­ but they had teamwork and the greatest leader ever! Time after time again, she found herself dashing to a Jack-less space. Time and time again, she was fooled with feints. Time and time again¡­ she lost her mind. At some point, he actually started enjoying himself. How fun it was! Who knew that rendering some angrydy helpless was that amusing?! Jack even found himself cheekily pulling a pink tongue her way. ''Hehe, what can you do? My fox army''s invincible!'' He internallyughed. That was the straw that broke the camel''s back¡­ Finally, she couldn''t take it anymore¡­ "Just die already, you asshole!" That''s when she began to power up at a visible rate. Oh god¡­ was she really about to use an Ultimate against a baby?! What the fuck?! Abort! Abort! "That¡­ time out! Time out!" Jack cried out, but in her rage, she didn''t hear a word of it¡­ they were FUCKED! Chapter 15 Jack VS Evil Step-Sister! ?"Just die already, you asshole!" Jack''s new "step-sister" was about tomit fratricide! Under her control, her fiery aura quickly condensed into¡­ a Dragon made of mes?! The creature coiled around her, turning toward Jack and Fox. Suddenly its belly started glowing as if containing a burning sun¡­Oh god! Dragon''s breath?! Could they even dodge this thing?! Hell no! It''d cover the entire battlefield! "All of you, fight fire with fire!" Jack ordered. He pointed toward the center of the summon, the foxes freaking out. Were they supposed to fight a dragon?! There was no way they could do this?! "Stop hesitating, already! So what if it''s a little bit scary? Look around! Do you see all those shrines? This is your home turf! Will you let some overgrown lizard do as it pleases?!" Jack riled them up so much that they forgot that they were utterly outssed for a second. He was so goddamn right. They''d show it not to mess with them! ¡ª Crackle! Crackle! ¡ª Countless fireballs rose from the foxes. Some of the stronger ones'' fur even turned to mes! They all looked like ethereal creatures, illuminating the night. "NOW!" Along with Jack''s signal, they all shot toward their nemesis. The girl barely had time to gasp that a sea of fireballs was arriving upon her. But would that even be enough?¡­ "Hehe, that''s it? I am destruction itself!" She roared¡­ and Hell descended upon them! The dragon aspect devoured it all: their spells, their hopes, their control over their dders¡­ it was a higher existence, one they couldn''t do anything about. Along with it, Jack saw death¡­. GAME OVER! There was no way to avoid this. Yet, that end didn''t suit him¡­ Instead of despair, his face showed a calctive¡­ and very petty smile. ''Taking me down? Perhaps, but I''m not dying alone!'' This crazy step-sister¡­ The irresponsible me Lord¡­ Even that Goddamn Fire Fox God¡­ All of them: it was all their bloody fault! At that moment, his heart bled. Not for himself but for the pain his death would cause his father. Actually, dying was no big deal¡­ but dying without aplishing anything once again?! Uneptable! He turned toward his minions. "It has been an honor fighting by your side. You all are the most valiant foxes I''ve ever known, and I can''t thank you enough. I just have onest request¡­." ¡ª Whimpers! Whimpers! ¡ª They all shook their heads, refusing! But then, Jack insisted, evenughing coldly. This was his decision, one that was utterly final! Before the me Dragon could reach them, a fox grabbed its master in its mouth for thest time and then¡­ yeeted him toward the me barrier! Would that save him? Definitely not. Would it buy him some time? Probably not, either. Was he simply that desperate? Neither! He gave a cold calctive smile to his "step-sister": ''wanna kill me? Sure, but you''ll have to destroy the protective barrier around this ce to do it! His opponent simply scoffed: "If the foxes think this will save you, they''re even more foolish than I thought! The barrier isn''t THAT valuable. I''ll just destroy it all! DISAPPEAR!!!" At that moment, Jack felt utterly at peace. At the very least, he''d have his revenge. He had given critical orders to his foxes: 1) Trash the insides of the me Mansion 2) Reveal the me Mansion''s "link to the Demonic Legion". 3) Tell his father to get the Hell out before the shitshow began The foxes had yed the role of the viins once; they could perfectly do it again! As for how much trouble it would cause the me Pce¡­ it''d be hard to weather without a barrier! Let''s see how they reacted once the entire Dawn City turned against them! As a Fire Dragon engulfed Jack, he cackled, raising his middle finger. This would teach them to mess with a delivery guy! His entire vision turned red, the heat unbearable. [You''ve Intruded Upon the me Barrier!] [Launching Spontaneous Combustio¡ª!] [me Mansion Bloodline Detected!] [Error! Error! Friendly Fire?!] Just as the Dragon was devouring him, the barrier finally activated. The poor thing tried its best to fight against the iing assault, but it didn''t know what to do. The Bloodline of its master was the one trying to destroy it?! Was it supposed to fight back against its creator''s progeniture or just take it? Then what about the baby?! But the more the barrier''s protocol hesitated and the more the me Dragon pressed forward, all until it finally was too much and¡­. ¡ª KASHA! SHATTER! ¡ª With an earth-shattering sound, the me Mansion Barrier crumbled entirely. At that moment, everyone from Dawn City found themselves staring into the distance, shell-shocked. The me Mansion was under attack?! Who the Hell had a death wish?! It was either that or the entire Dawn City was in danger! But that didn''t concern Jack. He peacefully closed his eyes, as if sun-tanning, and then he¡­ didn''t die?! W-what? Why wasn''t he dead yet? He opened his eyes just in time to see the me Lord spanking the Hell out of her daughter. "You unruly kid, what the Hell have you done this time?! Not only did you skip school, but you''re even here picking on your new brother. So dumb!" She was understandably pissed. Jack kept watch, shocked as the great "evil step-sister" was reduced to a red-buttocked, tear-stained mess in front of him. That easy?! Somehow, the crisis had been averted? The me Lord finally nced his way¡­ "You did well not to cry. Don''t worry, Jack; nothing''s going to happen to you. You can count on your new mom!" She even gave a thumbs-up¡­. How the Hell could she consider all this as: "picking on"?! But seeing her smile, he suddenly felt like this was actuallymon sense for her. WTF?! Then again¡­ ever since his arrival, people had been way too casual about fighting! Did they all have water for brains?! Brain or not, the me Lord picked him up. "Now, Jack, let''s go back home and see daddy, shall we?" That was it?! Was the situation resolved just like that? But just as he felt at a loss, a thought suddenly shed in his mind¡­ wait?! If the foxes had done as he had asked¡­ would there even be a home to go back to?! He suddenly felt chills; this was BAD! "Aww? What is it, Jack? You seem ufortable. Did you poop yourself?" The me Lord "considerately" asked¡­. How was he even supposed to exin this all?! Should he y dead or something? As they entered the me Mansion, the scene awaiting them was utter madness... . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 40 ( MAGIC 5 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Talion''s Law! (Bonus DMG when taking revenge!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 16 Foxes Revenge! ?The scene awaiting the trio was madness! It looked like the aftermath of a Crazy Rager Party, times 1000! Tons of fox bodiesy all over the ce. Stone floor, stone stairs, stone roofs, EVERYWHERE! But that wasn''t the strange part¡­ Why were the surroundings full of bite marks?! The me Lord swiftly grasped a fox, pping it awake. "Woo?!" (Where am I? Who am I? What now?) Thetter groggily opened its eyes, looking positively drunk. Even as it nced at the me Lord, it barely reacted. So what if she was here?! "Just what the hell happened here? Exin yourself!" The me Lord thundered. "Woo!" (We''re taking down the me Mansion!) The chatterfox readily confessed, radiating pride. There wasn''t an ounce of regret in its voice as it exined the previous events through expressive gestures. 1. They were avenging Jack''s death! 2. They were taking down the me Mansion! 3. They had tried to burn it, but it was built with me-Resistant Materials 4. Seeing as they couldn''t burn it down, they had bloody eaten it! #Improvise, adapt, ovee! But as it finished its exnation, it finally noticed Jack. The little furry ball instantly rushed into his arms, rubbing its soft head against him, crying while half-asleep. Jack was alive!¡­ It never wished to wake up from this dream! The me Lord had initially been consumed with anger, but instead of pping the offender again, she simply sighed and patted its back. Little did she know that the "nned" destruction had been way worse than material damage. Had the silly foxes not gotten stuffed from overeating¡­. Blissfully oblivious to how lucky she had been, she turned to her daughter: "See the lengths they''re willing to go? Do you understand now?" Thetter nodded, soulless. Seeing the foxes'' reaction, Jack had to be truly blessed by the Fire Fox God! So this was why her mother had chosen a baby over her. She excused herself and dejectedly left, the me Lord sighing. "Sigh¡­ this brash daughter of mine. All this show and for what? Even if the FireFox saw it, he would have seen through her bluff¡­." Bluffing? Jack jerked in shock. His Danger Sense HAD reacted for sure¡­. But perhaps not as much as it should have? Wait¡­ what if it was possible to emit fake killing intent?! Just as he was analyzing the previous fight, the me Lord brought him somewhere special. It was a Stonehenge-looking circle, but the rock bs were all glowing red! "You see this? It''s a magical formation to gather the Mana in the surroundings. Let''s head in, shall we?" She smiled at him. That''s when the entire formation began rumbling¡­ ¡ª SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE! ¡ª An enormous statue rose from the ground! It was a gigantic fox, and the Stones above were actually¡­its teeth?! The open entrance was now its gaping maw, looking like a bottomless abyss. Were they supposed to enter this?! But before Jack could protest, the me Lord was already heading inside. The interior was akin to a constetion. Utterly dark except for countless red gems sticking out of the walls. Wasn''t this the same material that the above shrines were built with?! Except here, it was so much purer! "Impressive, isn''t it? Everything else in the me Mansion is but a decoy. This is the true core of our Faction." She heartily chuckled. The interior was one hell of abyrinth! Tunnels after tunnels, endlessly twisting and turning, with tons of forks! But as they progressed, Jack''s blood turned cold. He had no idea how they had gotten here! Jack was lost! How terrifying was that?! It wouldn''t have been a big deal to anyone else, but to him, it was the biggest of deals! He was more than 100% confident in his orientation sense. This ce was DANGEROUS! Only magic could possibly confuse him like that! Luckily, he wasn''t alone. "We''re finally here." The me Lord eximed as she pointed¡­ to a wall?! While winking at the stunned Jack, she simply stepped forward¡­entering the rock?! As for what the secret passage hid¡­ A cross-legged man glowed with an ethereal aura, a magic circle around him. As soon as they entered, he opened his gray eyes, eyes that instantly lit up brighter than the sun. "JACK!" As Edgar saw his son, his entire being came alive. Before Jack could even realize what was happening, he was in his father''s warm arms. His entire body was being embraced, as delicately as a water droplet yet as strong as a dragon. "Are you alright? Have you been eating well? Are they treating you correctly? What happened while I was recuperating? Are the foxes diligent enough? What is¡ª" The concern of a father had never been that overwhelming! Yet Jack didn''t dislike it. He simply basked in it, enjoying the feeling. At that moment, he left all his worries behind. The tiny events that had happened before were trivial in the face of his father''s well-being. He should just focus on his recovery! Thus the two spent the greatest father and son time, the me Lord watching in the back with a tender smile. This was why she had taken them under her wing: they were genuine! Yet, the two soon had to separate, Edgar''s injuries acting up once again. "Jack, we have to let your father rest." As much as the me Lord wanted to help, healing wasn''t her specialty, and Edgar was far from healthy just yet. As the two left, Jack''s eyes once again showed a resolve that didn''t fit his age. Heck, even old monsters would have been scared shitless had they gazed into his eyes at that moment! ''Don''t worry, dad. I''ll find a cure for you, even if I have to burn the whole world.'' He swore to himself. But just as he thought they were about to leave, the me Lord suddenly took a sharp turn. "Here, we have one more stop remaining!" She cheerfully added. One more stop? It probably didn''t concern him, right? "I''m bringing you to meet the Fire Fox God!" Wait¡­WHAT?! Chapter 17 Review Please REPLY! ? ?Review chapter! Please tell me what you think of the novel so far. The good, the bad, how would you rate itpared to CA, RPP, TUG, or Bloody Leveling if you''ve read any of those? Thank you in advance! Awaiting feedback urgently! ^_^ Friendly CA asionally missing content, please report errors in time. Chapter 18 Divine Trickster! ?"I''m bringing you to the Fire Fox God!" As soon as Jack heard those words, he shat himself! But it wasn''t out of fear. He did so¡­ deliberately! Without hesitation, he squeezed his buttocks as powerfully as ever, releasing it all. ''Bet you won''t let me meet your god like this¡­'' He chuckled. This was his foolproof n to skip something that''d be as tedious as possibly dangerous. But as soon as he did, the me Lord''s calm expression instantly worried him. "A, that''s because you''re excited, right? Time to clean you up." Before he could protest, she waved her hand, a me elemental appearing out of thin air. The thing looked like a maid of fire? There was even the maid skirt and everything. Before Jack had time to say ''Please-leave-me-a-shit-covered-mess'' the creature jumped on him. Then happened the strangest thing ever. He felt its fire burn all the dirt inside him, yet it didn''t touch his skin or his clothes at all. What sorcery was this?! Any other time he would have been d, but now¡­ Sighing, he resolved himself to yet another godly fight as his guardian brought him to yet another secret room, one that thumped rhythmically. ¡ª Ba-Dum! Ba-Dum! ¡ª The beating felt so powerful! Then Jack finally saw it for himself. "This right here is the Fire Fox''s Heart!" The me Lord introduced. Before they stood a monstrosity: a gigantic egg-shaped crystal pulsated with Mana! As soon as he saw it, Jack had a horrible feeling. "Go on, touch it!" The me Lord urged. ''Can I not? Please, pretty please?'' Jack was stuck between a rock and a hard adoptive mother. If he ran from the Heart, he''d have to exin how a "blessed" like him had been scared of the Fire Fox. On the other hand, who knows what would happen if he touched it? Oh well¡­ ¡ª Touch! ¡ª As soon as he did¡­ nothing happened?! Hahaha, this was perfect! The Fire Fox really was slumbering! Things would probably be fine if he didn''t make too much noise. No, he could even exploit this to fool the¡ª ¡ª BZZZZZ! BZZZZZ! ¡ª Suddenly the world disappeared. All that remained was Jack and the Crystal. The Heart under his fingers suddenly started sprouting fur! Jack quickly removed his hand from the thing¡­ or tried, but it was utterly stuck! It was as if he had Gori glued his hand to it! As if a nightmare from which he couldn''t wake, the fur started crawling toward him out of nowhere! Inplete horror, he witnessed the fur invade his arm. Was this thing alive?! [Congrattions! Soul Resonated with Fire Fox!] [You have Been Granted Fire Fox Blessing!] [Turning into a Fire Fox Envoy in 5¡­4..!] Five seconds?! Jack opened his Status! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Fire Fox'' Blessing! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Unlock Legendary Fire Fox Envoy ss! + S Tier Fire Affinity! ?? + S Tier w/Bite Affinity! ?? + S Tier Spirit of the Beast! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ He quickly scrolled all the way down to Spirit of the Beast, and sure enough, that thing was utter bullshit! It would eventually turn him into a full-fledged Fiery Fox! "Are you kidding me?!" Sure, they were fluffy and cool, but he had no desire to be one! He wanted a great human life, not finish as the me Mansion''s Guardian Beast! ''Hell no, go screw yourself, you goddamn furry!'' is what he was dying to scream, but Jack knew that straight out rejecting a god could end BADLY! No, this time he''d be smart about it! He stood perfectly still, even as the fur quickly invaded him. Then he showed the greediest expression as if he genuinely longed for that silky smooth orange fur! [Conversion in Progress! Please Standby!] [Changing Race from Human to F¡ª] [0%, 1%, 3%¡­ Please Wait!] That''s when Jack counterattacked! "WAIT! If I transform now, I''ll die!" [A Certain Fire Fox God is Curious!] "Esteemed Fire Fox, the situation out there is more than dire! Many have banded to hunt our brethren! Recently, so did all the Dawn Lords!" [A Certain Fire Fox God Is Perplexed!] [A Certain Fire Fox God Argues the me Lord is¡ª] "Esteemed Fire Fox, her hands are tied! She''s only fine because the other Lords think she''s trying to enve you and your Chosen! As for her true agenda¡­ Only she knows!" Jack argued, throwing shade at the me Lord without remorse. He didn''t want the two to talk freely and figure out all the bullshit he had said! But for now, he needed to provide proof. That much was needed to convince a god! "Can you see the surface from here? Do you see how badly the foxes are faring? They''re all half-dead after being intoxicated with Fire-Resistant Mana Stones!" [A Certain God Wishes To See Your Memories!] [Focus on a Memory to Share It!] [Will You ept? Y/N ] This was the best! Jack hurriedly steeled his mind to picture the post-eating foxes. They were pretty much drunk-like, but to an external observer, they looked like they were dying! [A Certain Fire Fox God Shakes With Anger!] [A Certain Fire Fox God Wants Revenge!] "Wait a minute, esteemed Fire Fox!" He sensed that he had the being''s attention. "Why don''t we¡­." He used the opportunity to share his marvelous n! For now, the god should y dead and gather its strength! Meanwhile, Jack would train by himself and return to visit it when he was stronger. He''d even use the opportunity to figure out the me Lord''s "true intentions". After all, there was no need to share its power since it would quickly get stolen from his defenseless baby self. Every of Jack''s points was very "logical", and it soon became "obvious" that his n was their best bet. [A Certain Fire Fox God Admires Your Scheming!] [A Certain Fire Fox Is Wishing You Luck!] [A Certain Fire Fox Says Goodbye!] Goodbye? What kind of¡ª suddenly, Jack realized that he was back in the real world, the me Lord behind him. "How was it?" She asked. Jack didn''t reply; he simply cried. He bawled his eyes out like a baby, only stopping after the me Lord brought him back home. "Don''t be too sad. It''s not your fault: the Fire Fox''s been slumbering for a long time¡­." She sighed, entrusting him to some more foxes. She had barely left the room when Jack chuckled. This time, its slumber WAS because of him! Not only had he scared a god, but he had bought himself so much time... and earned a new title?! [Congrattions! Tricked a God!] [Unlocked the Divine Trickster Title!] [Keep Up the G?o?o?d? Questionable Work!] But just as he was rejoicing, hisugh died in his throat. "W-what the heck?! Why isn''t this thing gone?!" The fur on his arm was orange...?! . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 42 ( MAGIC 7 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Divine Trickster (Bonus Magic Power!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 19 The Beast Within?! ?Jack had orange fur on his arm! As he tried to remove it, he felt it wiggle under his touch, and then it¡­ disappeared under his skin? Instantly, a burning pain consumed him, as if he was burned alive! "What the fuck?!" This thing was stuck there! Had the Fire fox God actually fooled him?! Had it given him its blessing nheless? Jack opened his status with a trembling hand. There was now a new addition to it¡­ ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ - The Beast Within! (?!%$!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ What was that even?! But before he could react, the ability''s name began glowing in his status screen! That''s when the burning heat went from his arm to the rest of his body! It felt like he had been thrown into hot coals! Just as he was about to call for help, something else happened! Under his shell-shocked gaze, his body''s stats began increasing. From their initial value, they went to 2¡­ and finally 3! This had tripled his base stats! Overflowing with energy, he couldn''t help but punch the air. ¡ª THWACK! THWACK! ¡ª His punches contained so much power that he even scared himself! At this rate, wouldn''t he be as strong as an adult in no time?! But the (?!%$!) part of "The Beast Within" still worried him. What if this was the first step of turning into a fox? What if he already wasn''tpletely human? He''d have to get himself checked sooner thanter, not that he knew where to find a healer in this ce. Dawn City was bound to have one, right? He updated his mental to-do list: 1. Learn Beginner Magic 2. Find a Cure for his father 3. Check his condition (Curse + Beast) Thus Jack survived his first meeting with both his step-sister and the Fire Fox. As for all the damage that had been caused in the process? This wasn''t his problem! He peacefully went to sleep, his foxes watching over him. Yet, barely a few minutes after he had begun slumbering¡­ "AHHHH!" His tiny body jumped upright, terrified. He was drenched in a cold sweat as he rushed out of his bed, still half-dreaming. But there was one strange thing about him. For some reason, Jack was escaping¡­ on all fours?! His eyes were filled with dread as he finally came to his senses. The previous nightmare hadn''t been like the ones that usually gued his nights. In this one, he wasn''t running away from the Theocracy¡­. But from Gods of the Hunts! But that wasn''t all. In the nightmare, he had be a fox. Hunted until his paws bled, and his fur fell down. It had been so freaking VIVID! For an instant, he couldn''t tell whether he was human or an animal. For an instant, he lost his sense of self. For an instant, he even forgot his family! That he couldn''t ept! The foxes worriedly crowded around him when Jack suddenly went crazy! Out of nowhere, he grabbed a pointy rock¡­ and started cutting himself?! He was really digging into his left arm as if trying to cut it off! "I don''t want your goddamn blessing! I''m HUMAN!" "Woo?!" (W-what?! M-master! Stop!) Jack only stopped when he reached the bone. It wasn''t there! Didn''t this mean that the spell was already done fusing with him? Finally stopping his self-muttion, he sighed: "I don''t care how, but we need to find a healer. Then we''ll¡­." The more Jack exined, the crazier he seemed, yet the fox would do anything as long as he stopped hurting himself! Thus they agreed to follow him out. That night was restless, not just for Jack''s party. It was the same for the Dawn Guards, who were in charge of the City''s defense. They were ready for war: armor, magic staves, and all! They were on the lookout for another "terrorist attack" and had even stered posters all over the ce calling out for the capture of the "Demonic Legion", dead or alive. The number of patrols had increased quite a lot too. They''d go: "Halt, identify yourself!" to passersby. Seeing them, Jack could only curse. "Tch¡ª The looking-human cloak trick won''t work here. They''ll stop us for sure if we try. We need an alternative¡­." "Woo!" (Run fast!) "Woo! Woo!" (Diversion Fireballs!) "Woo! Woo!" (Start the Biggest Fire!) The foxes were quick to give their advice. They were confident in their abilities to brute-force through! After all, they were the strongest Fiery Foxes in Dawn! (And only) "All of you, use your brains! Do you seriously think the patrols here are the only ones we have to face? No, they''re just bait! If we face them¡­." He added. There was definitely an expert hiding nearby, ready to save the patrols if anything happened! He exined it all to them in terms a 4 yo could understand. Enlightening, the foxes began shivering. Good thing their wise Master was with them! Still, they were even more perplexed now. How were they supposed to deal with that? "Here, this way." As they saw where Jack was pointing, they all grimaced. The sewers?! That ce smelled so bad! Did they really have to go in there?! That ce was the worst! The stench and humidity would stick to their fur and¡­ disgusting! "Believe me, smelling like a rat''s better than dying a fox." Jack convinced them. Thus the party located a nearby sewer entrance, quickly popping it open. Instantly the odor that drifted out of it was almost enough to make them all vomit! But Jack wasn''t about to give up because of that. After all, he wouldn''t be able to sleep soundly before he knew he wasn''t going to turn into a fox. Thus he dived inside, soon followed by his minions! Hopefully, navigating the sewers wouldn''t be too troublesome, right? The party confidently delved deeper. Yet, none noticed a glyph on the wall glowing ever so slightly on their passage. Somewhere else in the City, an rm had just rung¡­. . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 42 ( MAGIC 7 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - The Beast Within! (?!%$!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 20 Deadly Sewers! ?The sewers were utterly dark¡­ and smelly! Jack had the feeling of having been plunged into a pile of vomit, only for someone to add manure and an unhealthy dose of mushrooms to it. Yes, mushrooms, but not regr mushrooms, radioactive-looking ones! They glowed in the dark, a mix of green, yellow and blue. Then there was the torrent raging near them. The water was so brown and full of garbage that it looked like a moving swamp monster. "There''s no way this ce''s sanitary!" He groaned. As for the foxes, they seemed utterly pitiful. The ambient odor utterly crippled their sense of smell, and they now looked discouraged at the various sewer tunnels. How were they supposed to find their way if everything looked and smelled the same?! What if they ended up lost and dying here?! This would be the worst death ever! They were already making puppy eyes toward Jack, hoping for them to turn back. But just as they felt utterly down, Jack rose, his tiny back looking incredibly reliable. "So what if it''s a maze? Follow my lead, and our army will prevail!" They quickly followed their leader, carefully stepping on the slippery stones. Facing their fears, thanks to him. But the more they walked, the more baffled they became. "Woo?! Woo!" (H-how?!") No matter how many forks there were in the road, Jack would confidently pick one and lead them. He looked so carefree as he did so too! The foxes couldn''t understand how that was possible. No matter how much they checked and double-checked, he wasn''t using any magic¡­ then how?! Jack chuckled at their silly antics, finally revealing his secret. "Just create a mental map of the ce as you go." That''s when they looked at him as if he were a monster. Mental Map?! This was way harder than using magic! How awesome! That''s why he deserved to lead them! Pfft¡ª Impressing them sure was easy! But just as Jack was about to teach them mental mapping tips¡­ his Danger Sense activated! "Careful! Something''sing!" A mere second after his shout, the ground began rumbling. Then an ear-rapping rattle came from one of the tunnels in front of them. What the Hell was this?! After the sound came the smell: if the sewers were terrible, this was DEATH! Then they saw hundreds of bloodthirsty red eyes! "RUUUNNNN!" It was time to get the fuck out! The foxes did their best to bolt out, but this ce was horrendous. Slipping meant death, and their slender paws weren''t suited for such an environment. Meanwhile, the rattling kept growing stronger and stronger. Jack quickly checked his mental map; the nearest sewer exit was¡­ way too far! Was it a coincidence or part of an ambush?! Either way, fleeing wasn''t an option. "We''ll have to fight whatever''s behind us!" Jack announced. Instantly the foxes began whimpering. They''d have to fight here?! But just as they thought it couldn''t be worse¡­ they found themselves at a dead end?! They lost their souls when they saw the wall in front of them. Was this how they''d die?! As they turned around, they finally saw the creatures chasing them. Rats, rats, so many RATS! All the size of rabid dogs straight from Hell. So many of them that they formed a gray-brownish wall! Their red eyes glowed with hunger as they stared at their prey. Foxes were strong but facing hundreds of giant rats? There was no way they''d survive this! Soon they''d be in the monsters'' bellies, Jack included. At this moment, they felt endless regret. If only they hadn''t entered this death trap! Yet, none me Jack, for they knew he had tried his best. "Why the long faces? We''re exactly where we''re supposed to be." Jack chuckled. The foxes perked their ears, confused. Why did he sound so calm?! "Now that we''re at a dead end, they can''t backstab us!" As if that would help¡­ even they who were born fire-masters would eventually run out of Mana. Then they''d get devoured entirely, their bones adorning the sewers. "Hehe, worried about Mana? Just follow my lead, and everything will be fine. Now, let''s y a game, shall we? It''s time for Simon Burns!" Before the foxes could understand what was happening, he had already assigned them numbers from 1 to 21. They had to shoot a fireball when he called their number. It was incredibly easy, but would that even aplish anything?! Yet, they allplied. ying a game was the best way to go! "1, 2!" "3, 4, 5!" "...¡­.." "6, 7, 8, 9!" The rats charged at them!¡­ only to squeak in agony as mes engulfed the corridor! Jack kept calling numbers seemingly in random groupings. At times he''d call many in a row, while at others, he''d remain silent for a solid minute. At first, they were confused, but then they slowly realized what he was doing. Whenever there was the slightest movement in the rat pack, he''d order them tounch fireballs! He never used more firepower than was actually needed, preserving their Mana as much as possible! Good thing the rats were very mmable! To an external observer, it would look like suicidal rats would charge¡­ straight into the fire! Yet, it was actually Jack predicting the timing perfectly! That''s when the rats suddenly retreated a few paces. They realized they''d lose their entire pack if they tried to kill those soldier-like foxes! "16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21¡­. And 1 to 7 again!" Seeing the fear and hate in their eyes, Jack instantly called out for an all-out offense! That''s when the rats retreatedpletely! The foxes instantly erupted in cheers! Who knew that coordination was all they needed to defeat such a scary rat pack?! "Wooo!" (We did it! Master, we did it!) Yet just as they were growingcent¡­ "8, 9, 10, 11!" Jack screamed at the top of his lungs. The foxes threw fireballs just in time to collide with the rat swarm! The sneaky creatures had only faked a retreat?! Now they were once again retreating. The sewers became peaceful again. All that one could hear was the soft gurgle of the water and the smell of burnt fur permeating the air. "Sigh. I think it''s fine. They''re gone for real now." It seemed like they had survived the encounter. Jack carefully approached one of the corpses to observe it. That''s when it happened¡­! [Completed First Combat Encounter!] [Killed > 100 Rats! Rat yer!] [Unlocking XP System!] [Received 232 XP!] But that wasn''t all. Jack and foxes found themselves staring at an orange translucent panel that appeared before their eyes. What the heck was this thing?! It looked so¡­ shiny! [Ding! Master of the Foxes Title Activating!] [Please Assign Your XP!] . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 42 ( MAGIC 7 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Great Rat yer! (+1% Dmg Versus Rats!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 21 Fluffy Killing Machines! ?[Ding! Master of the Foxes Title Activating!] Jack hurriedly went to check the Title¡­.it had been updated?! Now, it wasn''t just vor text but also added abilities! 1. Foxes Respect You More 2. Unlock ess to Minions'' Status! 3. Gain 5% of the total XP they collect! How OP! Instantly, Jack pictured an invincible fox army doing his bidding. Wouldn''t this be the perfect support for his carefree life?! But first, it was time for a troop''s inspection: "Open Foxes'' Status!" ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Fierce Fiery Fox! (Unnamed) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 44 (STR 12/ AGI 23 / RES 9) SOUL 52 (MAGIC 17 / SENSE 21 / WILL 14) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Skills (3) - Fire Maniption! (D) - Acting Cute (E) - Nimble (E) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ All their statuses were simr to that one! "Damn, they''re He fit!" That BODY value was so much higher than Jack''s meager 9, but the SOUL wasn''t that far apart, except for his MAGICgging behind. "Still, three skills and no title?!" It was littlepared to his eight skills and 14 titles! Then again, some were questionable, like Crawl, Posturing, Evil Lord (Fake), and whatnot¡­ Jack kept investigating and soon realized something crazy! He could drag and drop the shing XP to whatever he wanted, may it be him or his minions! [Assign XP to BODY?] [Assign XP to Fire Maniption?] [Assign XP to Dormant Obliteration Curse?] "Not thatst one, for sure! Who knows if it won''t activate!" He hurriedly moved his finger away from the screen, chuckling at his minions'' reaction. "Woo! Woo!" (Master, master, look! So shiny!!) They were all ecstatic as they jumped with joy. How long had they dreamed of this moment? Far too long! One had to know that Magical Beasts in Eternia didn''t have ess to the system. Thanks to Jack, they could now see their stats, and they LOVED IT! As for the more than valuable XP¡­ "Woo! Woo!" (You Assign it, Master! We trust you!) Their eyes showed absolutely no trace of greed. They were happy just having a shiny floating window they could open anytime. How wholesome¡­.and silly! So it was entirely up to him¡­. 1) Hog all the XP and strengthen himself? This was obviously the safest choice! After all, who knew when he''d have to fight for his life? 2) Assign all the XP to his foxes to increase their performance? He could send them hunting for him and collect the sweet rewards without any hassle. 3) Bnce it between himself and his minions, having the benefits of both and the danger of spreading the XP too thin. Jack carefully considered every option and¡­. [Assigned XP to MAGIC!] [Assigned XP to MAGIC!] [Assigned XP to MAGIC!] ¡­. He spammed the Hell out of it! Buffing foxes was good and all, but MAGIC! Instantly, he felt a warmth invade his soul. The world suddenly felt vibrant, brimming with color! It was as if he had drunk the finest nectar ever! This feeling was ADDICTIVE! MAGIC 7 ¡ª> MAGIC 8 His magic had gone up by one?! How could a single point added feel that good?! That''s the exact moment his eyes began to glow with a devious light. THIS WAS OP! He checked the remaining XP left, 70¡­. this would be enough! He turned toward his minions, a creepy smile on his face. "Since we''ve been in a fight, I''ll give you all a special massage to recuperate more quickly. Gather up!" Jack made them line up and then began petting them¡­. Or that''s what it looked like! But every time he''d rub their fur, he''d also subtly assign them some XP! Petting + Leveling UP¡­. It felt like Nirvana! As the "recovery petting" ended, the foxes had a strange glimmer in their eyes. They wanted more, lots more! Yet, every time they''d inch closer, Jack would deny them. "Nope, this is strictly a post-fight recovery technique." Never had foxes looked so pitiful. They had tasted the sweetest thing ever, only to have it yanked away from them at thest minute. How were they supposed to react?! They were hooked! Now, it was time for the bait¡­ "Let''s keep going. We''re going to see a healer, remember? Still, if you guys want, we can do a good deed and clear the rats on our way¡­." Their eyes gleamed with desire. That was it! They just needed to kill more rats, and they''d get more of the special petting! It was time for a hunt! KILL! KILL! KILL! All for more petting! That day, a bloody rat genocide happened¡­ That day, a bunch of silly foxes became addicted to XP¡­ That day, they became the fluffiest but deadliest killing machines¡­ ? Jack simply watched in the back, chuckling as they spread out to search for more prey. Then whenever he received a notification, his smile would widen¡­ [Received 12 XP!] [Received 16 XP!] [Received 18 XP!] ¡­. This sure was fun! . . . A distance away, hurried steps echoed. "Please let me be in time!" A certain member of the Dawn Guard desperately rushed through the sewers. Thetter was out of breath¡­ and actually wearing civilian clothes?! He hade as soon as possible, but what if it was already toote?! Even now, his stomach still twisted in anger. "Those bastards, are they even human?! There''s a life at stake here! Protocol? Protocol, my ass! What''s the Dawn Guard for if not for this?!" As soon as the sewer rm had rung, everyone had geared up instantly¡­. But as it became known that the intruder was just a baby, they all gave up¡­. Not their problem. "Seriously, what kind of monster throws a baby in the sewers?! Don''t worry, baby, I''ll save you, and then I''ll punish the evil man who¡ª" But suddenly, he stopped¡­. WHAT THE FUCK?! Just as he turned a corner, his heart stopped. Rats, dead rats everywhere, all burned! But he saw more than that. The more he observed and the colder he felt. This was a CARNAGE! Only a crazy monster would possibly do something like this! This wasn''t the handiwork of a human; this was a massacre! Lacerations all over? Cadavers burned beyond recognition? This was the doing of a being that killed for sport! That''s when it all clicked in his head¡­ What if there was no baby? What if the evil ones had tampered with their rm magic?! What if they were nning a terrorist attack right this moment?! "OH, GOD! I need to tell someone! Demonic Legion''s here!" He cried out. If only he had remained silent. A certain fox just happened to be passing by while hunting, and it just happened to hear that shout. This man knew they were Demonic Legion? He knew too much, far too freaking much! Just as the man was turning back, he felt a searing heat. "W-what?! A fox? Don''t tell me¡ª" A few secondster, only a pile of ashes remained. As for the fox, it departed cheerfully. This counted as abat encounter, right? In another part of the Sewers¡­. [Received 69 XP!] "Wow, 69?! Nice!" Jack happily rejoiced, unaware of the evil he had just released upon this world. Luckily, they had finally reached their destination. "Above is a healer, right? Let''s go then¡­." . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 3 (STR 1 / AGI 1 / RES 1) SOUL 43 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Scheming Devil! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 22 Lizzy The "Healer"! ?In the dead of the night¡­. A Fox Procession suddenly emerged from the sewers! At that moment, anyone who saw them would have been utterly petrified. Their glowing eyes and their bloodstained fur gave them a wild appearance! Yet, those wild beasts showed great organization as they quietly reached and surrounded a single stone house, one with a sign of a Healing Potion! "You guys have done well to find this ce." Jack praised his minions. It was isted enough for them not to be detected, but looked professional enough! Without further ado, they powerfully knocked. It was time for a consultation!¡­ . . . Lizzy had been deep asleep when¡­ A powerful knock echoed on her door. "Oh crap! Morning already?!" She jumped up, sending a pile of steamy novels stumbling to the ground in her confusion. But as she checked her only window¡­ she stilled. What the hell? It wasn''t morning at all! It was the dead of the night! Who the heck woulde at such a time?! "Tch¡ª Go away! I''m obviously closed!" She grumbled, returning to her soft bed. If she didn''t show up, whoever was out there would soon give up. ¡ª Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! ¡ª How persistent! But so what? No way she was getting out of bed! But as she tried returning to her slumber, something crazy happened. Whoever was outside started¡­ scratching instead?! What kind of goddamn drunkard was out there?! "Ah! Don''t tell me?! They''re destroying my sign?!" She angrily jumped to her feet! This night visitor wanted to be a pest? She''ll show them not to mess with her! She hurriedly grabbed her Strongest Nightmare Delirium Potion! A single whiff of it would instantly send the target stumbling to the ground, repeatedly seeing visions of their deepest fear! Lizzy really was a genius Alchemist. She''d use Mana to Mix magical ingredients together and create the perfect blend of crazy potions that oftentimes borderlined the realm of madness! But as she angrily mmed her door open... W-what the fuck was this?! M-Monsters?! Their fangs and ws dripped with blood as they stared at her with evil gazes. Lizzy froze as if a startled rabbit. Fiery Foxes, tons of Fiery Foxes! 1¡­2¡­3.. More than 20?! Her hand holding the Delirium Potion shook. She only had enough of it to affect one or two foxes, as for the rest¡­. She was so doomed! Only one power had that many of them¡­. THE me Mansion! As she nced at her nearby sign, her knees turned weak. ¡ª Lizzy''s Lusty Emporium!¡ª The me Lord''s specialty was Fire and Charm Magic¡­. Had she deemed Lizzy''s half-baked Aphrodisiac potions an eyesore?! Were they here to assassinate her? Her parched throat felt like a desert, but she had to say something! "H-Hello, w-what can this l-lowly one do for you?" But what happened next almost had her doubt her sanity. A fox suddenly stepped forward, carrying¡­ an injured baby?! Then, the fox pointed a w at the nearby sign. "Woo!" (Heal him! Make him better!) Lizzy turned ashen. That sign?! She had gotten it on sale! Sure, it was a healing potion on it, but the words clearly said Lizzy''s Lustful Em¡ª Oh crap, could foxes even read?! Seeing her daydreaming expression, a fox suddenly bared its teeth. "Woo!" (Focus, will you!) But to her, it felt like an ultimatum¡­ heal him or else¡­ The fox even started gesturing at something exploding on the baby''s arm, invading it?¡­ a Curse?! This was what she had to deal with?! Gulp. This was a crisis! Her bloody life was on the line! Yet she hardened her resolve. She just had to heal that damn baby! As long as she did that, she''d be safe! At the moment, this appeared like her only way out! "C''mon, Lizzy, you ain''t called a genius for nothing!" She cheered herself up. Even as she began grabbing ingredients from herb, the foxes'' gazes never left her, adding pressure. This was the scariest moment of her life! Little did she know that the foxes were just curious. There were so many colorful vials and herbs and so many smells! Everything seemed so cool! Even under such pressure, she expertly manipted the ingredients. So what if healing wasn''t her specialty? Today it bloody was! Fake it till you make it! "Everflow Roots, Lc Essence, Kalis'' Bulbs, Leaf of Hesa", she kept naming the ingredients as she added them to her cauldron, her hand glowing a bright blue! The more Jack watched, the more mesmerized he became. Watching her mix was akin to witnessing a great battle between ingredients! Sometimes they''d reluctantly mix, sometimes they''d separate, and even explode! But all the while, he could sense the Mana inside it growingrger andrger. It was akin to Cultivating a Small Sun¡­if that sun was brown and smelly! Then it was finally the decisive moment! ¡ª BOOM!¡ª The entire cauldron exploded! Out of the smoke erupted a messy Alchemist, her facepletely tainted with soot. But in her outstretched hand, she held a small ck pill! "I-I made it! This will heal him instantly!" The foxes were doubtful, sniffing the ck pill. If it was supposed to heal, why did it smell so bad? But before they couldin, Jack reached out to it and gobbled it! He had no damn clue about alchemy, someone could have called a dung beetle a magical pill, and he would have had no way to be certain it was a joke, but he knew people. She had given it her all and clearly knew what she was doing. Merely seconds after eating the pill, Jack felt a soothing current traverse his body. Not only did his arm heal, but he felt his vitality increase greatly! Then he suddenly felt whatever was inside him change! It was as if it was being harmonized with his whole body. Instead of being a parasite¡­it became part of him! [Ding! The Beast Within Updated!] [Transformation Slowed Down!] Jack drew a cold breath. Good thing he hade here! He couldn''t help but dread what would have happened otherwise! Even still, this would only buy him time¡­ The foxes all gazed at Jack, awaiting his verdict. Never had Lizzy been that afraid of a baby''s reaction. ''Please don''t cry, please don''t cry, or they''ll eat me!'' She kept inwardly begging. But then thetter looked at her. In his eyes, she could see so much gratitude and¡­depth?! For an instant, she felt like she was looking at one of the Masters back at the Alchemy Tower?! No¡­it couldn''t be?! But then it suddenly dwelled on her¡­ Wait a freaking minute¡­ baby, foxes, me Mansion¡­. ADSFK¡­ her brain short-circuited as she realized whose''s life she had just gambled with. The new me Mansion''s heir?! Had theck of sleep turned her crazy?! What would have happened to her had she failed?! But he was already leaving before she could emotionally recover from the events. Behind him, he left a single Ruby, which was neither big nor that pretty¡­.yet it made her heart rock endlessly. Had she just established a link with the me Mansion?! Jack''s party quickly left, the foxes now worry-free. "Woo!" (Master, let''s hunt in the sewers again!) They were already ready to fight some more! "Nope! We''re rushing home. Go and get your human cloaks ready. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow!" The foxes couldn''t sit still. How much fun would that be?! Meanwhile in the sewers¡­. [Ding! Rat King Has Awakened!] [It Swears Revenge on All Humanity!] "Chwick! Chwick! Chwick!" (KILL! KILL! KILL!) There was a reason mass Monster-Hunting wasn''t done halfheartedly. It was either exterminating them all¡­ or risk creating a Leader Monster from the resentment! Then again, Jack had no way of knowing that. As for the foxes¡­ Noment! Thus, in the darkness, a new evil bared its fangs¡­ Chapter 23 Bizarre Marketplace Morning... ?"Foxes¡­. Today is the day!" "Today is the day we seize knowledge!" "Today is the day we transcend ignorance!" "Woo! Woo!" (Trans-send?! That sounds so cool!) That day, Jack and minions left the me Mansion and went again to Dawn City. This time, however, they sneaked into a marketce! ¡ª Dawn''s Corner Marketce! NO STEALING! ¡ª Small open-air stalls were everywhere, with enthusiastic merchants peddling their wares loudly. Some even had glowing signs to attract customers! "Woo?!" (Master, what are we doing here?) The foxes were utterly confused. Was there anything that they especially needed? Weren''t they supposed to go to the library? Little did they know, it was all part of a greater n! Jack pointed to the masses. "What do you guys see?" "Woo? Woo? Woo?" (People? Shops? Merchants?) "You all see a marketce, don''t you? I don''t. I see an eternal face-off: the ones that showcase their wealth and those that wish to rob them of it!" Jack chuckled as he pointed at a handsome-looking man that was happily browsing the shops. "Watch carefully, only him." He instructed the confused foxes. Just as they were about to lose patience¡­it suddenly happened! Someone randomly fell nearby, cursing copiously. That''s when the "shopper" struck; a decisive hand snatched avish-looking pendant! "Woo?!" (So fast!) The foxes eximed in shock. How the Hell had their master predicted this?! Was he a prophet?! This was the only exnation, right?! "Pfft¡ª There are always thieves in ces like this. One just needs to know how to spot them, that''s all." Jack exined. "Now, let''s y a game, shall we?" Appealing to the yful nature of his minions, Jack showed them how to pickpocket. It was all about the diversion and making sure no one was watching. "Now, go on, make me proud, you all!" [Unlocked Title: Bad Influence!] Jack watched on as a few foxes merged with the crowd, getting to work. While theycked experience, they were beyond nimble and had no misgiving. To them, this whole thing was just a game, a very fun one at that! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª It didn''t take long for the firsts to carry their haul to the alley where their party hid. The more they brought out and the prouder they were! "Woo!" (I got a hat!) "Woo! Woo!" (Look at this, a belt!) "Woo! Woo! Woo!" (I win! This is¡­. fresh underwear!) As Jack saw thest one, he felt his worldview crumble. Said underwear was still warm to the touch?! Damn, his minions really had a talent for this! That''s when he nced at them impishly. "Now starts the fun part. For your next mission, bring those back to their respective owners¡­without them noticing!" What kind of impossible task was this?! The once gloating underwear thief suddenly choked on his own saliva. It had to do this... again?! Crazy! "Let me say this, however, Scaling Rewards." ¡ª Dramatic Foxes Gasps! ¡ª Scaling?! Didn''t this mean that if they stole and gave back something super valuable¡­ they''d get tons of rewards?! Such a good deal! They all went back to work, barely containing their wagging tails. Jack would send them in batches, pitting them against one another. But no matter how much they tried to remain low-key, there were a few incidents. Luckily, the foxes were FAST! Someone crying thief? They''d drop the item on the ground, making everyone believe it was a false rm. Yet, there were only so many times it could happen before people got suspicious, right? That day became Hell for the actual pickpockets. Many approached the foxes, angrily whispering¡­ "Hey, you bastard! This is my turf. Go away before you get all of us caught." "You freaking donkey! Get a goddamn life!" "You¡­are you freaking ying?!" Yet their "warnings" fell unto deaf (fluffy) ears. Getting caught? No way, not with the "drop to the ground" trick! Donkey? No, no: they were foxes! ying? Yes, they were! Was it that obvious?! The thieves expected the "Newbies" to give up, but they didn''t! If they hadn''t been "acting human", they would have even replied with a proud and confident WOO! In any case, that day soon became a bizarre one for the Dawn Marketce. Over and over, people would lose their belongings¡­ only to find them again a minuteter! Was a crazy mischievous ghost ying with them?! Most customers became even more careful with their belongings, verifying they still had them every so often. Yet, that only spurred on the foxes some more! Jack had found the perfect words to encourage his minions: "So what if they''re checking? That just means they''re paying less attention to their non-valuables! Or you can also go for the well-guarded stuff for a BIG PLAY!" A challenge?! Foxes loved challenges! As many thieves gave up and left, the fluffy pickpockets all remained. They had single-handedly stopped thievery! (Kinda) They spent all morning stealing and giving back! They forgot time, forgot why they were even doing it in the first ce, and lost themselves in the joy of tricking people! This was a RUSH! At one point, they even stole an entire stall, only to bring it back momentster undetected! Never had a stall owner doubted his sanity more. They sometimes even stole from one another and other thieves just to make it even more interesting! As for Jack, he witnessed their transformation. Low-Level Crook ¡ª> M?a?f?i?a? ?B?o?s?s? ? High-Level Crook! Satisfied with their progress, he called them back, delivering the rewards. Jack felt like a benevolent god: you get a headpat, you get a headpat, you get a headpat! As for the MVP thieving fox, Jack gave it XP! Thetter basked in the glory and the ecstasy of the Level UP, envy overflowing from all the other foxes. SO LUCKY! "Alright, you guys are finally ready! It''s time for our next stop!" "WOOOO!" (Let''s GOOOO!) The party quickly sneaked away, leaving behind a restless and semi-paranoid crowd. Said crowd was now in the process of exining the events to a team of Dawn Guards. There had been so many false thief rms that they hade to investigate. But the more they investigated, the more baffled they became. Who would be as bored as to pull such a prank? More importantly, who was fast enough not to be caught?! Still, they did their due diligence. They faked leaving, hiding in the shadow to monitor the situation. But the more they watched, the more shocked they became. Tons of scary-looking questionable individuals started showing. It was as if a "shady-only people party" was ongoing! All were armed to the teeth and looking for someone. "Gulp! S-sir, what is this?!" A newbie guard asked. "Kill squads, son, a bunch of them!" An experienced Dawn Guard replied. One had to know that being a Crook in Dawn City had incredibly straight unwritten rules. The lowly thieves paid a tax to their master, who in turn offered them protection. Jack''s minions had suddenly angered LOTS of people! Stealing from professional thieves was akin to a deration of war! All across Dawn, many powers were now on the move. But as they arrived at the Corner''s Marketce, the fools that had challenged their authority were already gone. All that awaited them were Dawn Guards¡­. Completely unaware of the misunderstanding, Jack and the MVP fox (disguised as one human) had finally reached the Dawn Library''s doors! The Guard Gargoyles baring their way were SCARY! Wouldn''t they murder them on the spot it they detected them as intruders?! A shaking paw quickly shed them a token it had swiped beforehand. ''Please, let this work! Or we''re dead!'' The wait was agonizing! . . . [Ding! Tier 1 ess Granted!] [Wee to the Dawn Royal Library!] Hehe, training all morning at the Corner''s Marketce had been so worth it! Jack was already drooling as he pictured what they''d find... Chapter 24 Reading... Picture Books?! ?A certain Librarian was smiling from ear to ear. Today he began his dream job! Sure, only as a mere Assistant Librarian (Probationary), but he finally had his foot in the door! He''d crush thepetition, making up for hisck of magical talent with godlike effort! Plus, he had a secret: he had a perfect memory! Sure, it was a talent most mages would develop at some point, but to him, it was his lifeline! He was resolved to be the very best (librarian) that no one ever was! "You got this, Ash! Organize, guide, and watch!" He shouted inwardly, only for his daydream to be interrupted by soft, cushioned footsteps. An unknown person appeared at the entrance. Yet there was something strange about him. It wasn''t raining outside, but a cloak covered the man''s body, neither his hands nor face visible! How shady! He quickly checked the records¡­ The token used had belonged to a certain ''Mr. Darwin''¡­ Ash had seen him once, and this guy wasn''t him! Any other librarian wouldn''t have noticed, but he bloody did! ''Shady guy, I''ve got my eyes on you!'' Unbeknown to the City of Dawn, a duel between a zealous librarian and a trickster duo (Jack/MVP fox) had just begun! So insignificant, yet one that would mold History¡­ Jack smiled in satisfaction as he saw the notifications: [Wee to the Dawn Royal Library!] [Ding! Tier 1 ess Granted!] The ce''s interior was world-view-shattering. There were Grimoires everywhere! Heck, some seemed alive?! Also, why did it seem more spacious than the building''s facade?! Then on the sides, one could see plenty of ancient stairways protected by glowing barriers. Near each was a que describing ess restrictions. It went as follows: Floor 2 ¡ª> Bronze Floor 3 ¡ª> Silver Floor 4 ¡ª> Gold Floor 5 ¡ª> tinum Jack currently had an Iron Token, the lowliest and easiest to steal. This meant he''d only be able to browse the first floor, but it would be enough. "Books, books, so many books! Jackpot!" He went forward, bypassing the reception desk. But instantly, the youngster manning it blocked their way! His namete read: | Ash ~ Probationary Assistant Librarian! | "Wee to the Dawn Library! Is this your first visit here? What kind of books are you looking for? Let me take this cloak off your hands!" He was overwhelmingly friendly! The MVP fox instantly backed away. Taking its cloak?! "No need, I''ll browse on my own." "No, Sir, that won''t do!" The air turned icy. Both just stood there, one even smiling, yet why did it feel like they''d duke it out any moment now?! Some patrons saw this, feeling like they had gone crazy. Since when had customer service be THIS aggressive?! Also¡­ why did it feel like the two were in "battle of wits" mode?! Were they love rivals or something? "I''m sure you have plenty on your te already." "Hehe, nothing this one can''t handle. Now, tell me, ????????????????, what are you seeking?" The customer part sounded odd, as if the man knew Jack was a fraud! How?! Then again, that didn''t matter. At the moment, the guy was still trying to sense his intentions, so he probably only had suspicions. If that''s how he wanted to y it¡­ Jack instantly changed his mind. ''Want to watch me closely? Have fun! Let''s see who breaks first, you or me!'' He inwardly chuckled. This would be so entertaining! "I see¡­ then I''ll dly ept!" Jack finally relented, the librarian showing a victorious smile. "Do you guys have any picture books?" He finished, the man''s smile turning stiff. Picture books?! Seriously?! As if someone would impersonate a Library Member just to see picture books! This was obviously a way to buy time! Ash bloody didn''t believe it! Still¡­ "Of course, we have plenty! Please follow me, Sir!" The two made their way toward the children''s section. By now, the few bystanders were utterly confused. Was there some hidden meaning to it, or was he trolling?! It didn''t take long for an extremely shady-looking man to sit at a table, a bunch of picture books in front of him: | The Wingless Fairy! | | The Little Duck that Could! | | Friendly Neighborhood Cthulhu! | Then he began to¡­seriously study them?! This seemed so ridiculous! Ash kept watching over him from a distance, convinced this was all a ploy. The man was waiting for him to lower his guard to enact whatever nefarious n he had! Thus one kept reading, and one kept nervously watching! Yet little did everyone know¡­ Jack was earnestly studying! After all, learning a newnguage was HARD! By now, he knew how to speak and understandmon, but reading it was yet another struggle. He''d stare at the pages almost resentfully: "????? ?? ????? ????! ??? ????..." ''You, just you wait! I''ll understand you soon enough!'' He kept reading and reading, slowly deciphering it all! He was relentless, propelled by his love of magic. Soon enough, he''d be reading Grimoires! At the end of the day, he only knew a couple of new words, but he felt like it was the greatest achievement ever. As the library closed, he happily returned home. As for the token they had borrowed? A fox had been sent on a tactical mission to return it to its rightful owner! This only left the overly suspicious Ash as a loose end¡­ The librarian still hadn''t given up: ''So what if you haven''t shown your true colors just yet? You won''t be able to keep this charade forever! I''ll definitely expose you!'' But little did the librarian realize the ride he was in for¡­ Jack returned to the library the next day with another entry token. Once again, he spent the day reading children''s books! But then he kept doing it, day after day! For an entire week, all he did was read picture books! That''s when Ash began doubting both their sanity. What the heck was wrong with this guy?! The poor librarian couldn''t take it anymore. Doing his job to perfection while stalking the same guy every day was so freaking tiring! In the end, he finally reached out to his superior: "Sir, I have something to report!" "W-what happened to you?!" The poor librarian looked about to kick the bucket! Hisplexion was ashen, his eyes sunken, and his lips stuck in a perpetual grimace. "It''s like this: someone''s been stealing tokens and¡­" the more he exined, the stranger the story became. Even the wise superior couldn''t make head or tail of it. He stole, but no one everined?! He read only children''s books, nothing else? He had only ever stolen Iron tokens?! That day, the superior went to see the situation for himself! "Hehe, here, watch this." He used a spell that would allow him to peer through mes! He''d spy on the man using the candle he held near the book. This was perfect! But as he cast¡­ the spell was instantly extinguished! The mysterious man hadn''t even moved a muscle?! The superior shivered: "An expert, an expert for sure!" As for the MVP fox, it imperceptibly moved. Why was its tummy acting up now?! Had it known, it wouldn''t have eaten me-resistant rocks! Seeing the movement, the superior felt cold sweat on his back. This had been so damn close! Good thing the expert was absorbed in his reading. He turned toward the poor Ash: "Let him read whatever he wants. Someone as strong can get tokens legally anyway. He probably just has kids. Above all, DO NOT antagonize him!" The silly fox had just saved Jack, yet he was too busy to notice¡­ [Ding! Learned to Read and Write!] [Self-Taught Title Upgraded!] [You Feel Smarter!] FINALLY! He was so d. Back then, he had taken literacy for granted, but only now did he realize how nice and convenient it was! Now, he simply had to deal with the suspicious Ash. After all, thetter wouldn''t just let him browse magic-rted stuff, right? But as he turned his head, he had the shock of his life. Not only did the poor librarian look sickly, but why did he suddenly seem¡­ scared of him?! "I-is there anything I can help you find?!" "¡­ Books about magic?" Ash bolted, grabbing the perfect Grimoire for the asion. If the man was doing this for his kids¡­ then he''d want something introductory, right? | Archmage Dainsleff''s Guide to Magic! | But as Jack saw the name, he suddenly froze. Wait, wasn''t this guy the author of the previous picture books? Why would an archmage write children''s stories?! What if?! Merely seconds afterward, he rushed back to the picture books¡­. Chapter 25 Secret Of The Picture Books! ?Jack gazed at the picture books, shell-shocked. The author really was the Archmage Dainsleff¡­ for all of them! Why would someone that mighty bother with something like this? Jack suddenly had a presentiment! What if¡­?! All the stories were still fresh in his memory. He was perhaps the only soul in Dawn City to have ever studied them so vividly, quickly reviewing them all mentally. But then he suddenly gasped. "THIS!" He flipped a book open, finally resting on a symbol that figured on many illustrations: ???! It was always very hidden but ever present! Soul. What did this even mean?! What if it was rted to the archmage''s legacy?! Jack''s heart was already beating so fast that it startled its foxpanion! "Woo?!" "Don''t worry. It''s a good thing!" Jack reassured him,pletely forgetting what he hade to this library for. General knowledge about the world? Sure it was important, but a legacy was importanter! He turned toward the poor librarian. The man''s soul almost left his body when he felt the mysterious "powerhouse''s" stare. ¡ª Gulp¡ª "Can you help me check those books out?" Jack begged. He wasn''t sure why the man seemed so helpful now, but it was worth asking, right? "O-of course, SIR!" Jack and fox procession thus managed to return home unharmed. Now he''d have ample time to study the mystery of the picture books¡­ or so he thought. But just as he was getting cozy¡­ he was suddenly ambushed! An energetic me Lord mmed his Shrine open, not bothering to knock. "Jaaaack! I''m here!" She wasn''t alone either¡­ With her was a man that seemed as old as time itself¡­ or even older even. He had more wrinkles than the me Mansion had silly foxes. That,bined to his arched back and hisme foot, gave him an archaic appearance. Yet, even that couldn''t hide the light in his eyes. "Mister Rodeus, this here is¡­." "Jack, of course. I''m neither blind nor stupid. me Lord, you can leave. There''s no time to waste! God forbid foxes be his only teachers. What if he ends up like your daughter?!" This old man had balls of MF steel! Had he just called the me Lord irresponsible to her face?! Not only had he done that, but he had fearlessly criticized her daughter to boot! Her face turned slightly dark, yet she simply nodded as sheplied. In turn, a baby and an old man soon stared at one another. Seriously, what was up with this guy?! "Good! You''re not avoiding my gaze. This is the mark of a true schr in the making! After all, I am blessed by the god of Knowledge himself!" Jack''s blood turned cold¡­.but merely for a second. Never had the system been that silent. Blessed by a god? Fake news? "Now, young Jack, let us begin right now! Today I''ll teach you about basic vocabry! Let''s get started, shall we? Together, we shall attain Supreme Knowledge!" As for the man''s version of supreme knowledge¡­ he grabbed an apple out of his pocket. "Now, repeat after me¡­ APPLE!" Jack felt helpless. ''Bro, this young master just learned to READ and WRITE! What do I care about apples?'' He almost felt like talking, going ''BOO!'' even, but that would mean the end of hisplete freedom. Knowing the me Lord, she''d either get suspicious or way too excited. Jack did the most mature thing: he utterly ignored the man. Instead, he crawled to the picture books he had "rented" before, thoroughly studying them once more. As the old man Rodeus saw this¡­ "Are you looking at the pictures? I see. That makes sense. You''re younger than most of my students, and shiny images naturally attract you." The man observed the books closely, raising a brow. "Ah, but those are trash. Some crazy Archmage made them just to mess with his students. He''d give them one every time they aplished a task, chuckling madly. They gave them all away." Given to his students?! Jack was once more convinced that there was a secret involved! Also, those students deserved some smacking. How could they not cherish a gift from their Teacher?! Then again, he was incredibly thankful for their foolishness, for he got to study them in their stead! He''d soon crack its code and¡ª "Yeah, let me get you some better picture books instead." The old Teacher tried to steal them! In his mind, these were mere books, but to the presentpany, it was utterly different: they had gone through so much hardship to get them! "GRRR! Wooo!" (Back off! So obvious too!) The foxes couldn''t believe the gal of this guy. Was he trying to take the books directly? Didn''t he know that stealing was an art, an ART! At that moment, the poor Teacher saw the shadow of death. There was really something wrong with those fiery foxes! Still, he could only raise his arms in defeat. "Fine, fine! He can keep the books! We''ll use those for the lessons, then. Little Jack, you turn the page, and I''ll read to you, alright?" The old Teacherpromised¡­.to live! Thus happened the strangest teaching lesson ever. Jack had a useless but well-intentioned Muppet behind his shoulder as he diligently worked, searching for a pattern. He became so focused that he missed the notifications¡­ [Dainsleff''s Legacy Activated!] [Comprehension Increasing Quickly!] [Ding! 3%, 34%, 69%, 100%! Congrattions!] Out of nowhere, the pages of the books lit up all at once, the ??? symbols glowing so brightly that the picture books seemingly turned into thousands of suns! Then it appeared¡­no, he appeared! An ethereal silhouette escaped from the pages! [Archmage Dainsleff''s (Soul-Form) Has Spawned!] The foxes jumped on their feet, yelping crazily, not believing their eyes. As for the old Teacher, he was inplete shock, looking like a goddamn statue! At that moment, two voices echoed at once¡­ "Who said those books are trash again?!" A baby and an old ghost stared at one another, sharing an appreciative nce. Their meeting had to be fate, right? The old spirit chuckled. "Kid... Wanna learn Magic by any chance?" FUCK YES! -- [A/N] I got offered a contract for this novel... Sign it and keep going? Chapter 26 Whos Teaching Who?! ?"Kid¡­ wanna learn Magic by any chance?" The ghost of Archmage Dainsleff couldn''t have seemed prouder. He floated there, semi-translucent, blue glowing, and seemingly looking down on the world! Well, until came the foxes¡­ "Woo! Woo!" The fluffy creatures were already menacingly pouncing on the neer! But as they collided with him¡­ they simply passed right through?! Tongues out in stupefaction, they kept jumping and jumping through the poor ghost curiously. Talk about shameful! Had he preserved his soul for 500 years only to suffer such humiliation at the paws of silly foxes?! Apparently, yes. "Pfft¡ª Don''t mind them. Archmage Dainsleff, I presume." Jack saved him from the situation, thetter focusing his gaze and studying him once more. "W-what?!" The more he observed Jack and the more baffled he felt. What kind of crazy being was this kid?! Why did he feel both like he had divine providence¡­and was utterly worthless simultaneously? "Kid, do you perhaps... not have a blessing?" How had this even happened?! He had somehow managed not to catch the eye of a single deity¡­ even after having learned to speak and use the most primitive of magic by himself? Was this even possible? But the more he observed the kid, the more baffled he became. This one was a gem, aplete and utter gem! The light in his eyes went from pride to greed. "You, be my student right now! Together we''ll change the fate of Eternia forever! What do you say? All I ask in exchange is that you help me get my body back!" Jack merely took a second to think about it. Sure, this New Quest would bring its share of trouble for sure¡­ but it was worth it for MAGIC! "This young one acknowledges, Teacher!" Without hesitation, he flopped to the ground, kowtowing, his forehead solidly banging on the stone floor. The Ghostly Archmage raised a perplexed brow. "Kid, what are you doing? Why would one ever acknowledge a teacher like that? Who told you such ridiculous stories? Was it this guy?" He pointed at the "Wise" old man who had been "Teaching" Jack a few words. The poor man was still here, foaming at the mouth and trembling all over, akin to amb at a ughterhouse. He finally seemed to return to his senses as he slowly raised a trembling finger toward the ghostly Archmage and¡­. "G-Ghost?!!!!" before tumbling to the ground. ¡­ That was it? What a shining beacon of wits and wisdom this man was! How could he not even handle a little ghostly master? Talk about narrow-minded! Not only that but¡­ was he having a heart attack?! Jack couldn''t sense the sound of the poor old man''s heartbeat. In a matter of minutes, he''d be dead. Jack was instantly presented with a choice: 1. Save the man? He was a fool that had seen too much, was utterly useless to him, and was so old that his death wouldn''t even be suspicious. 2. He could also do nothing and wait for time to pass¡­ There wouldn''t be any consequence, only his eternally loyal silly foxes knowing the truth along with his new Teacher. Thetter''s chuckle made it clear he didn''t care either way. All that Jack wanted was an ordinary life, so he approached the man''s body and¡­ stomped as hard as he could on the man''s chest! The sound of ribs breaking was heard, but then.. Ba-dump! Ba-dump! This kick had restarted the old man''s heart thanks to the Mana Jack had imbued in it. "Oh? That''s a creative use of Mana, albeit the shittiest one I''ve ever seen. You really do need my help, in more ways than one!" The Ghost Teacher sighed, slightly disappointed. As expected of such a young kid, even if he was intelligent for his age, he was still naive. Showing kindness was the fastest way to die! Still, this could very well be a teachable moment. "Now, why did you bother saving such a useless thing? Do you perhaps think that he''ll be grateful?" The Ghost asked, expecting a naive answer¡­. But instead¡­ "Whether he lives or dies matters little, but this is an opportunity. Why don''t you show me how to handle the problem with magic? You do know how, right?" Jack''s gaze didn''t waver in the least, his meaning obvious. If you can''t even deal with one old guy, what kind of Archmage are you? Teachable moment? Who was bloody teaching who?! Was he really telling his new Teacher how to do his job properly? The scariest part was that he was 100% correct. "Good. Good. Good. Young one, watch and learn!" The ghostly archmage''s glow became even stronger, arcane energy oozing out of his silhouette and burrowing into the unconscious man''s head like countless tiny insects! [Teaching Mode Set to Active!] [Detecting Mind Altering Nightmare Spell!] [Caster''s Added Note: "Muhaha! How''s that, kid!] [Congrattions! Seen a New Function of the System!] Jack opened his eyes wide, not wanting to miss any second. It was as if he was watching a 3D movie, even able to see the inside of the target''s head! The old man''s brain shed a couple of times, his body starting to tremble violently. More foam appeared at his mouth, and just as it seemed he''d kick the bucket, he woke up. "GASP! W-what the heck happened to me?!" He turned around, suddenly seeing the Ghost nearby¡­and went unconscious again! Never had Jack seen someone so cowardly before¡­ "Hehe, that''s the effect of my magic. He won''t be able to remember anything about today, and he''ll go unconscious if anyone tries to ess that part of his memory too." Jack couldn''t help but be impressed but suddenly frowned. "Wait, won''t people still know that something happened in the me Mansion? What about if they mention your name? Will he go into aa too?" "Worry not. As long as I''m merely mentioned in passing, he won''t react. As for anything happening here¡­. This ce clearly ain''t normal in the first ce!" He pointed at the foxes staring at the scene as if watching a y. Only someone insane would put foxes in charge of a baby! "True¡­" "Anyway, enough of that. We need to do something about that scrawny body of yours. Otherwise, you''ll blow yourself up anytime you use real magic rather than tricks." "Please don''t tell me I''ll have to wait to grow older," Jack asked, fearing the answer. How many more years of helplessness would he have to go through? "Pfft¡ª Kid, I''m an Archmage! Defying thews of the Universe is what we do! Now, you wouldn''t know where we can find Magical Catalysts, would you?" The foxes all rose, their tails happily swatting. They knew what this meant! It was time for another robbery. It was time for FUNNN! At that moment, even the Archmage felt threatened by their shiny eyes. What the fuck was wrong with those creatures?! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 43 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 18) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Say Hello to my Little Friend! (Freed an evil soul!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ [A/N] Hey all, I added a picture channel on discord! Currently, there is a cute fox pic with the other characters soon to appear ^_^v Chapter 27 Amazing Treasure! ?"This is the target?" Jack''s party was eying arge Manor-like building oozing with mes all over. It looked like the most exquisite pce-like oven they''d ever seen. "So this is this ce''s treasury? It doesn''t look like it will be easy to invade. What about the mes? Are they simr to the me Barrier? Would they recognize me?" The foxes shook their heads. As for Jack''s ghostly teacher, he was determined not to go anywhere near those! As a ghost, the fiery yang energy was akin to poison to him. "Kid, it''s your call. You can brave the mes, but it''s perilous. The best I can teach you is an Anti-Heat Barrier Spell, but you''ll have to do the rest alone." "Woo? Woo!" (Alone? You can count on us, Master!) The foxes were already thumping their chests! No matter Jack''s decision, they''d follow and help! Thetter merely hesitated an instant. "We''re going in! We need to try, at least!" The ghost couldn''t help but nod approvingly. This new student of his sure was gutsy! He happily transmitted his knowledge. The trick with an Anti-Heat Barrier was to use Mana to inste the wielder. Before long, Jack could be seen braving the mes, a thinyer of magical light around him. He reached for the Pce''s door and¡­ [Intense Heat Detected!] [Better Bring a Water Bucket!] Why did it feel like the system was trolling him?! Just the entrance felt like he''d get roasted whole, his barrier already faltering. He''d definitely die in there! He quickly retreated. As for the foxes, they showed pitiful expressions. They would have gone alone, but they weren''t allowed, like how they couldn''t technically leave the me Mansion. (Protecting Jack > All Orders!) Seeing his pensive expression, the ghost chuckled. "There''s no need to be too dejected. Knowing one''s limits is already a good start. We can always try this Dawn City you told me about. Of course, the stuff we need is rare and will be well-protected, but¡­." "Who said I gave up?" Jack interrupted him before turning to his fox troops. They were already pulling their tongues at the ghost. ''You''re underestimating Master too much! Master is SMART!'' "We''ll y a game! This one will be called FOX Hyper Ultra Duper Mecha Mode to the MAX! Here, let me exin the rules¡­." Jack shared his new n. Under the shell-shocked eyes of a ghost, the foxes began gathering around his student and¡­bining?! They all climbed on his body as if trying to create a gigantic fluffy fox ball! "W-what is this?!" The shock made the ghost''s body turn even more transparent for an instant. What kind of shenanigans was this?! But then it began¡­. ¡ª ROLL! ROLL! ROLL! ¡ª The fox ball began moving, Jack in the middle of it! He didn''t just use his magic to protect himself, but the foxes too! Luckily, the fiery creatures were naturally very resistant to Fire! Thus a gigantic fox ball invaded the me Mansion''s treasury! They didn''t just breach its doors. They totally broke them down! It was as if a fluffy orange tornado was passing by! "Listen well! We''ll do like birds when they''re flying in formation. Only the outer ballyer will bear the brunt of the mes! Whenever you feel like you can''t take the heat anymore, ROTATE!" "Woo!" (Like birds?! So cool!) "Now, you guys will need to be my eyes and ears. We need to find magical catalysts, which should be shiny materials. We need to be looking for¡­." He began describing. "Woo!" (We''ll find all the treasure, Master!) Jack could only keep his magic going as he believed in them. After all, his entire field of view was filled with orange fur and silly faces. ''You guys got this, I believe!'' Thus strange sounds kept escaping the treasury as they progressed. This proved that they were not only still alive but very lively. The ghost waiting outside couldn''t believe it. This idea was GENIUS! As for Jack, he was surprised by the fox ball suddenly stopping. "What happened? Did we run into a lock?" He sent the most expressive fox as recon. "Woo! Woo!" (Not at all, Master! We''re here!) Already? Jack quickly ordered his foxes to move their formation slightly to create the tiniest tunnel. He then focused all his Heat Barrier and peeked through like a window. Before long, an enchanting vision revealed itself to him, so fascinating that he lost control of his magic for a second, the mes roasting his face! It was¡­ Massive fiery mountains with a deep valley between them. They seemed softer than marshmallows and glistered with a thinyer of water. They even seemed alive as they heaved up and down as¡ª Before Jack sat the me Lord, in a meditative posture, taking deep inspirations as she trained¡­. utterly naked! That''s when Jack''s brain short-circuited. Who was he?! Where was he?! Why was he here?! Seeing him go nk, the foxes reassured: "Woo! Woo!" (Don''t worry, Master. She only wakes up if attacked!) "Don''t worry, your ass! We''re here searching for treasure, TREASURE! What are you all thinking?! This ispletely uneptable!" Jack angrily berated. "Woo?" (Master, the treasure''s right there!) A confused fox pointed toward the me Lord''s finger. There was a silver ring that looked incredibly detailed and elegant. This thing was obviously something not only precious but also magical. That''s when he understood. This was a storage ring, wasn''t it? He had heard of those in stories, magical jewelry that allowed one to store items in a sub-space. The Foxes had naively nned to steal from the me Lord''s ring, then bring it back to her, just as they had done with the civilians back at the market. It was nice thinking in theory, yet Jack could only sigh deeply. "This won''t work. I''m ready to bet my left nut that this ring''s trapped, and it won''t end well if we take it." After all, his Danger Sense kept activating whenever he looked at it! "Woo?!" (Really?! But we''re so close!) The foxes were reluctant to leave. Couldn''t they take just a small risk now that they were here? They could always be the ones to snatch it if their Master was worried to¡ª "Denied!" Jack could see right through them. He hurriedly sounded the retreat, his party leaving the "Treasury" as quickly as they hade, Jack exining to them the concept of "Sunk cost facy" on the way back. "Even if you''re so close¡­ you can''t let greed or a fear of loss cloud your judgment. Remember this, will you? You''re all very precious to me." Before long, the party reappeared. Jack''s face was burnt in a few ces, they hade back empty-handed, and the foxes were all tear-eyed¡­ but why did those seem like tears of happiness?! "What happened in the¡ª" "What happens in the me Mansion stays in the me Mansion. C''mon, let''s get to Dawn City instead. Perhaps we''ll have better luck there." Somehow, Jack sounded so mysterious a the moment! As the ghost followed his new student, he again found himself perplexed. Who the heck was this kid?! Little did he know that he had merely seen the surface of Jack''s craziness¡­ ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 44 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Walked Away from a Wonder! (Will +1) ?? - Basic Mana Barrier (F) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 28 Innocent Little Alchemist! ?¡ª Knock! Knock! Knock! ¡ª "Coming,ing! Ugh... Why do alchemists need to open so early? Goddamn Alchemy guild and their nonsensical rules." Lizzy grumbled as she got ready to open her shop. But as soon as she opened the door, she almost had a heart attack. F-f-foxes?! What did they want this time? ''Please, please, let this be a nightmare; I''ll soon wake up and¡ª'' "Woo! Woo!" (We need stuff! We''re counting on you!) A secondter, the creatures had invaded the shop! And, of course, the me Mansion''s young master was with them, checking the surroundings as a king would his domain. He proudly raised his face¡­ "A-ah?! Gosh, what happened to you?! Are you alright?!" The kid''s face was utterly burned. It looked as if someone had voluntarily dropped boiling water on his head! What monster would do such a thing?! But that wasn''t all¡­ He was also carrying a picture book, one that seemed utterly EVIL! Lizzy could sense the Demonic Energy oozing out of it even from a few meters. It was¡­ a picture book?! What was up with that?! Not only that, but he looked so calm¡­ Burns ¡ª> No reaction Demonic book ¡ª> No reaction either Army of foxes ¡ª> Chill as a cucumber Lizzy opened and closed her mouth a few times. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to say anything, but that she didn''t know if she should. Were those secrets of the me Mansion? Seeing how cautious she seemed, a shadow of a smile appeared on Jack''s face. He had been right about this girl! She was far from simple, and he wanted her! He subtly signaled a fox. "Woo! Woo!" (Here! This is for you!) A cute-looking fox handed Lizzy a note. ¡ª Is owning this shoddy shop your dream? Or do you perhaps desire more from life? Would you like to be an agent of the me Mansion? There will be benefits¡­. ¡ª Jack saw right through her. Anger as he called her shop shoddy, shock as she saw the recruitment offer, and confusion/excitement as she pictured the possibilities. "H-hey is this for real?! Did your master really ask you to give me this? Do you swear on the me Mansion?" Lizzy asked, as serious as a girl could be. "Woo!" (Of course!) Never had a fox seemed that assured and trustworthy! Of course, Master had approved it. He was the one that had given them the GO! He was even nodding along! Jack saw her hesitate. He saw the wariness; he saw the self-doubt, he saw so much¡­ until her pulse started elerating, and the light in her eyes changed. It started shining so brightly! "I''ll do it! Where do I sign?!" She heroically dered, only for a fox to hand her yet another note. Except, this one contained something utterly outrageous! ¡ª Swear Eternal Loyalty to the Foxes'' Master and make a vow of silence. ¡ª ? This wasn''t something to be done half-heartedly! This would mean she''d be part of the me Mansion''s pirate ship for the better or worse. It also seemed SHADY AF! Yet¡­ ''You can do this, Lizzy. Nothing risked, nothing gained; such is life. Besides, the me Lord is quirky but has a decent reputation. Everything should be fine¡­.'' "I, Lizzy Lamprey, solemnly swear that I''ll be loyal and¡ª" Shepleted her vow to perfection. It was so well done that Jack instantly began pping, and so did the foxes! ¡ª p! p! p! p! ¡ª There was more pping than in an adult video: it was deafening! The baby was¡­. pping?! Also, what was up with that scheming grin on his face?! More importantly, why was he looking at her like a wolf looked at an innocentmb? "Wee aboard, Lizzy!" "Y-you can talk?!" That''s when her magical vow finally registered. With horror, she suddenly felt her soul linked to¡­. This guy?! W-wait¡­ what?! Did she just sell her soul to a Baby?! As for Jack, he was happily grinning as he checked his notifications! [Gained your first human subordinate!] [Ding! Obtained the Leadership Stat!] [Companions Buffed by 0.1%!] Sure, that buff might as well be inexistent now, but how much would it grow in the future? He couldn''t wait to have thousands of s?l?a?v?e?s? subordinates! "Now, Lizzy¡­ Let''s y a game¡­" "NO THANKS! I''m good!" Her reaction was instantaneous. As soon as he uttered these words, the room''s aura changed. Somehow, the foxes all emitted big B energy! (Bandits) She wanted no part to take in it! Yet, she had just sworn allegiance¡­so she had to convince him, or she was doomed! "Think about it. I''m just a pure and innocent little alchemist! It''s better for everyone if I stay in myb working! I''ll provide support from here. That''s a good idea, right, right?!" She was desperate, very desperate. Hearing her hurried speech, Jack gently grabbed her hand, slowly guiding her toward the nearest window. The scene looked so strange: a baby dragging along a terrified and shaking full-fledged adult. It was as if the world had turned upside down. He chuckled as he pointed outside. "Pure and innocent little alchemist, was it?" ¡ª Lizzy''s Lusty Emporium!¡ª "T-that¡­ that''s different!" How much trouble was this damn sign going to bring her?! But then the way she nced at Jack changed. If he knew how to read¡­ had he been messing with her all along?! This new Master of hers was a SADIST! ''Lizzy, poor Lizzy, you''ve done fucked up this time!'' She was already beginning to regret her rash decision. "Rx, it''s an alchemist I need¡­ and an informant. For starters, do you know where I can procure the magical catalysts on that list?" She was handed yet another note. She started reading it¡­ froze. She restarted reading it¡­ froze again. She read it whole as if speedrunning¡­ freezing again! "Y-you¡­those are all Demonic Ingredients?! Who are you trying to poison?! No, never mind, I don''t want to know!" She once againmented her big mouth. Jack turned toward his picture book. "Hey, don''t look at me like that! Yes, it''s all demonic or poisonous, but I told you already, didn''t I? Archmages are meant to defy the rules of the world!" Now the book was talking?! Lizzy startedughing, seemingly losing grasp over reality. "This is all a dream, just a dream." And a secondter¡­ a ghost appeared! Right before her, Jack and some ghost mage began arguing. "You see, poison can also be medicine. We''ll use all this to stimte your body and bring it to greater heights! It''s the perfect tonic that I designed myself!" "Aren''t there safer methods?" "Spat! Safe?! Safe, your ass! The pursuit of magic is a deadly road! Did you lose all courage? Where did the kid ready to jump into an inferno go!" "Pfft¡ª He went to Lizzy''s Lustful Emporium." "¡­He really did. Anyway, Lizzy, was it?" As the two stared at her, poor Lizzy felt like a rabbit eyed by two hunters. What had she done to deserve this?! Was this retribution for her "odd" shop?! She racked her brain, quickly trying to find an answer. "I know where you can find them¡­ but¡­. You''ll have to venture into the Underground!" She violently shivered once more. The Underground, was it? This would be the perfect job for a bunch of shady-looking cloak-wearing foxes, right? Jack didn''t even flinch, a massive smile on his face. "What are we waiting for? Let''s go!" ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 44 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Leadership! (0.1%)?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 29 I Like Sitting On My Ass! ?"The Underground? Let''s go!" Jack''s eagerness made poor Lizzy doubt her "choice" of following him. "Wait, wait! One does not simply walk into the Underground!" She interjected, all eyes turning to her. "The Shops you need are constantly moving around to hide from the Dawn Guard. Not only that but there are always countlessyers of passwords needed to ess them too!" So this was like a secret organization, eh? Talk about exclusive! Hearing this, Jack not only didn''t back down, but a grin even found its way to his lips. "I understand. Thanks, Lizzy!" Then he left the ce, happily whistling, taking everyone present by surprise. He wasn''t insisting that she help some more? Was he giving up already? As soon as they left the shop¡­ "Kid, you should use that Lizzy girl! We can definitely use her as bait. She''s an alchemist, after all. We can¡ª" The ghost already had a superb n in mind. "No, thanks!" Jack instantly refused. She wasn''t just an alchemist to him but a key subordinate. She had saved him from turning into a fox after all. He wouldn''t throw her away, and he''d get her to follow him willingly. "Say, old ghost. As an archmage, you should be pretty knowledgeable, right? You should also be able to resist magical scrutiny, right?" "Kid, are you trying to insult me? Of course, I can and am!" "Good! That wille in handy." Jack then sent his foxes to get loot. Except, it was all worthless things that made his mentor raise a ghostly brow. Cloth, chairs, table, crystal ball¡­ what for?! Then he picked the most expressive fox for a special mission. "Tell me, are you ready to be a legend?" "Woo?! Woo!" (Legend?! Awesome!) Thus began yet another training round, Jack teaching his "pupil" strange gestures. But the more the ghost saw, the more confused he became. Those were 100% useless! Before long, the fox army was all back. Jack (disguised) grabbed everything they handed him and set up shop on a random street with plenty of temporary stalls! In a matter of seconds, he had erected a small tent. | Mister Immortal Divination! | This looked¡­ so bad! Were it not for the sign, anyone would have simply assumed that a homeless dude lived there! There was also an enormous sense of disharmony to it. Just the tent''s exterior alone was an offense to the eyes. The foxes had brought enough cloth, but none of it matched! It was an explosion of colors. "Kid, have you gone insane?" The ghost whispered as he hid his body from the gathering crowd. The people were already sneering, some even spitting in disgust. But would Jack let something so trivial affect him? Nope! He added thetest and final touch before bringing his fox representative inside to sit still in the dark¡­ and wait! Outside, a few had gathered¡­ | Ask a Question: 10 G | Get an Answer: 20 G | Receive a Suggestion: 30 G | They were now looking at the "Divination Tent" price chart, outrage coursing through them. What the fuck was with those prices?! "10 gold to ask a question?! That''s the price of a Life-Saving potion! Is this guy crazy or crazy?!" A man asked, baffled. "Not just that¡­ but that''s just for the question, not the answer! There''s definitely something wrong with this guy''s head!" "Hey, you asshole,e on out! Who are you trying to fool? Do you think the people of Dawn are retarded?! Come out, you wanna-be scammer!" Inside the tent, a certain ghost mage was turning transparent. Never had he been so embarrassed! "Hey, kid, what are we doing here seriously?! This idea''s horrible!" "Oh? Do you think so? I''ll take note for the future." Jack nodded, not showing any trace of shame whatsoever. He wasn''t fazed in the least by the insults either. This pricing style had been made precisely for people to gawk at it in wonder. After all, there was no such thing as bad publicity! It was a good start, but¡­ "Do it." The tent''s entrance suddenly flopped open just as the crowd was getting heated. Then appeared a colorfully-dressed fortune-teller (fox), its features hidden. Oh? Many watched the scene with expectation. Would he try to defend himself? Recoil in shame and flee, perhaps? But they had underestimated the man''s shamelessness. He actually modified his sign! | Loiter: 5 G | Ask a Question.¡­ | Loiter 5 Gold?! This guy was the epitome of insane! "Hoy'', do you think this street belongs to you?! I''ll stand here if I bloody want, and there''s nothing you can do about it!" Someone instantly protested. There really was nothing Jack or his foxes could do about it, nor did he ever expect this to work. This was just to have them make some noise. Instantly, a rumor began about the shameless new "Divination Scammer!" Barely a few minutester, all the surrounding streets knew about it! Many came to witness this sight, even a soldier from the Dawn Guard! He entered the tent to check that they had the authorization to be there. As Jack saw the soldier enter¡­ "Old Ghost, now''s your turn! Mind magic, fry his brain!" The poor soldier never stood a chance. Yet, as he left the tent, he seemed¡­ happier?! After partially erasing his memory, the old ghost reluctantly gave him a few magical tips. The poor soldier left the tent glowing. "Everyone, stop moring! The loitering fee is too far-fetched, but everything else is in order. Want to use the master''s services? Cough up the coins!" W-what?! What the heck was up with this?! Even the soldier said it was fine?! Could he have been tricked? Or perhaps was there more than meets the eye to this shoddy tent?! Instantly, the crowd was energized, some brave men even volunteering to test the waters. "So what if it''s 10 G? I can afford that much: out of the way y''all!" Customer after customer began entering the tent. Each would be weed by mystical gestures made by the fortune-telling fox. That''s when they knew that guy was the real deal! He looked so freaking mysterious! Little did they know that it was gestures Jack had copied from an amazing Scammer from his past life. The guy had cheated Awakened¡­ but it seemed to work on mages too! That would put them in a receptive mood. Then, he''d quickly read them to guess their problems. Afterward, it was the old ghost''s time to intervene and give (urate) advice! As for all the nonsensical questions about love and whatnot, Jack would give equally nonsensical answers that were vague enough to appear profound. The best thing was that every repetition would make them 30-60 gold richer, the coins pilling up like a small mountain near them! Was this the feeling of sess? Yes, yes it was! They could even hear people outside making a ruckus. "I''m telling you, it''s like he could read my thoughts! He''s no joke! Heck, I think he''s as good at divination as he''s bad at business!" "Eh, I still think the whole thing''s a scam! There''s no way that¡ª" "Good. You should leave! I can take your spot, right?" "Never mind¡­ I''ll try it!" Every time Jack heard them bicker, he''d grin. But just as he was happily reveling in their sess, the Old Ghost really couldn''t take it anymore: "What''s the point of this all? You''re basically just selling my knowledge at a discount! This is utterly ridiculous! What happened to locating the Underground?!" "Hehe, is that so? Then tell me, old ghost, how do you think we can find our target?" "Tch¡ª We can either go to them or let theme to us! Then we¡ª" "Hehe, let me stop you there. There''s one more option¡­." Jack retorted but stopped just as a new customer entered their tent. Thetter seemed suspicious of them, almost about to jump at their throats, yet he was still here. "So you''re that Diviner that¡ª" "You''re not here for yourself. In fact, you think this is a huge scam, but you''re so desperate for him¡­no, her that you still came. Ah, but you''re right¡­ this IS a scam." The fox went through the motion, yet the confident voice belonged to Jack. Had he just admitted to his customer that this was a scam?! The guy was already trembling in¡­ "I''M SORRY! Please forgive me¡ª!" At this moment, he hated himself so much! Why hadn''t he shown more respect from the beginning?! Meanwhile, Jack wasughing inwardly¡­ tricked another! He had even gotten the gender wrong but corrected it instantly after seeing the guy''s bodynguage. Yep, all guesswork! The Old Ghost quickly gave a few tips to resolve the man''s problem. It was something about his sister harmed by an old, iplete magical technique. But right before the customer left... "Actually, I''m in a good mood. Here''s a freebie: Underground Market." Jack meaningfully added, the man bowing deeply as thanks. He wanted to ask more, but the "Diviner" was already shooing him away. Underground Market, was it? He''d help his sister... but then he''d check the ce out no matter what! Back in the tent, Jack gestured to one of his foxes. "Follow him, will you? Be discrete!" The old ghost gulped hard. "Why search or bait when you can trick people into doing it for you? Besides, I quite like making gold while sitting on my ass." Jack casually remarked, looking he smug. But just as he was showing a shit-eating grin, amotion happened: "HOW DARE YOU! Divination isn''t something to parade around for a few measly coins! Come on out, you sphemer!" Jack''s Danger Sense was already blowing up! Damn.... what now?! Chapter 30 Jack... Master Diviner?! ?"HOW DARE YOU! sphemer!¡ª" Jack''s Danger Sense was already blowing up! Whoever that was¡­ he was utterly pissed! He could already sense an enormous quantity of Mana locked on his Divination tent as if an artillery! Gulp! "Why now?! We were almost done too!" Jack grumbled as he ordered his fox to get ready. Their safety and reputation were on the line! Instantly, he adopted a mighty demeanor. "Who dares to disturb my business? Is there now in Dawn City anymore?" Jack thundered as powerfully as possible as he came out, almost freezing in shock. There wasn''t just one guy, but an army! There were KKK-looking mages all around his tent! All wore long white gowns and masks adorned with stars¡­ and they seemed in attack formation! Their representative chuckled. "Finally, you came out! Do you know what your crime is?" He smiled. Crime?! Wasn''t there any room for discussion?! What kind of crazy group was this?! Besides, they were straight in the middle of the City! Would they dare fight here?! Still, this was definitely not the time for Jack to back down! "Crime? Surely you jest! My conscience is clear." "Scoff. Acting innocent? THIS!" He pointed at the Price Sign. What kind of setting was this?! Was there some KKK-looking mafia controlling the Divination Shops?!" "Divination shouldn''t be used for such selfish reasons. Otherwise, the entire bnce of the universe might as well crumble. Do you recognize your sins and ept punishment?" [Fate Worshiper David Wants You to Die!] [You will Unlock the Martyr ss!] [Do You ept His Offer?] Hell no! What kind of ridiculous crap was this?! Had this guy learned from some Demonic Gods or something?! "That¡­ I''ll have to decline¡­." Jack shook his head. "Decline? Do you think you have a choice in the matter?" The madman was already loudly cackling as he gestured to his subordinates. Without waiting, they spent all their Mana, and a gigantic magical circle appeared, centered on Jack! "Oh crap! Kid, steel your mind! This is aw attack!" The Ghost cried out! Law attack?! Jack had no damn clue what that was! But then his new teacher sounded again. "They''re using their conviction to attack you directly! Resist, or you''re screwed!" That''s when he felt it! An invisible energy assaulted his mind. It was the cultists'' conviction that Jack was in the wrong and should pay for it! He understood that if they seeded, he too would believe he deserved death! ''Tch¡ª So it''s like they''ve activated a magical debate field¡­ with my life on the line?! Bring it on, you bastards!'' Confronted with such strange magic, Jack spoke up: BS time! "You''re saying I sinned by charging money for Divination? What if I''m simply doing it to put the customers at ease, allowing them to repay my generosity?" The strange magical circle shook ever so slightly, the strange Fate Worshiper going back on the offensive. "Misced generosity is still a sin, and so is sharing Heaven''s secrets with mortals! This changes nothing. You still deserve death!" The man retorted, not missing a beat. "Heavens? Mortals? Such a narrow-minded view! There is no such thing as deserving to know the secrets of Heaven. There is only the fated and those who are not." "Y-you! Are you iming that you had Fate with every mortal who entered your tent so far? There''s no way that''s possible!" He mored. "Is that so? Doesn''t that simply show how little you understand? My very presence on this street and in this world is Fate! Who are you to im that Fate is wrong?!" Jack berated. The bystanders followed this exchange with rapt attention. Every time one would add an argument, the air would tremble as if an invisible judge. But the enemy had long been ready: "Fate is never wrong! But you, who selfishly exploits it, definitely are!¡ª And I''ll prove it! Do you darepete in a Divination Challenge against me?" he thundered smugly. Divination Challenge? Whatever this was, there was no way Jack could possibly seed, right? After all, he didn''t know the first thing about such magic! He was but a scammer¡­ But at this moment, he saw the trap. If he admitted being inferior, the strange Law magic would activate, and the man''s conviction would overwhelm him! Then his Divination venture would be utterly doomed! "Fine! Let''s have a contest of Divination!¡­ but as the challenged, I should pick how wepete, right? Or is your mastery of Fate so shallow that you can''t even handle this?" Jack mored. In his ear, the Ghost was already raising his voice. "Y-you?! What are you doing?! Now that you epted, you can''t back out! You should have just kept stalling!" Stalling? For what? The guards, perhaps? His fox army was almost as shady as those self-righteous white-wearing assholes! No, he''d resolve this problem by himself! "How about we pick random members of the crowd and divine information about them? That should be fair for both parties, right?" Jack proposed. Instantly the scene became heated. They''d be able to see those mysterious masters at work? This wasn''t just amazing; it was perfect! "Hehe, alright! Let me start, then!" The arrogant Diviner quickly chose a volunteer from the crowd. The old man that got picked was so happy that he was almost dancing in joy. "Stand in the middle while I Divine your Fate." From a pouch on his waist, he grabbed a bunch of unknown bones, and he began studying them, going "I see" and "Ah" at times. Then after a few minutes, he turned toward the man. "Your name is Garuda, you''ve always had great dreams of adventure, but you''ve settled for a quiet life in the City instead. Yet sometimes you wish you took another path." "How did you know?!" "Recently, you''ve been wondering how things would have turned out if you had be an adventurer, and I can tell you if you so desire¡­." "Yes, please, please tell me!" "You would have peaked at the Silver Rank and obtained fleeting fortune and glory but would have died in a goblin''s nest in a remote meadow." The old man was livid, thanking his luck that he had chosen his current path instead! Suddenly, he felt enlightened, peace returning to his mind! "Would you say this was urate?" The challenger asked. "Yes! Thank you, thank you so much! You''re amazing!" The man''s gratitude was a testament to the Diviner''s skill! Jack instantly felt the Conviction spell be "tighter". "Hehe, it''s your turn! Try and beat that!" The crowd gazed at Jack, shaking their heads. The other guy hadn''t even asked a single question yet had said so much! Such godlike power! How was he supposed to top that? Yet, he wasn''t worried. It was time for a massacre¡­ "Beat that? Are you gettingpetitive? Does it feel nice to revel in the praises? It almost seems you''re doing this for fame rather than the glorious ideal you im." "T-that?!" The man coughed blood. "No matter. I guess it''s my turn. I won''t parade like you, nor will I bother making it such a show. Let this be a lesson on what true Divination is all about." Jack calmly uttered the most insane brag ever! He wasn''t just stating that he''d win¡­ but that it would be a very uneventfulndslide victory¡­?! "As for the target of the Divination, I''ll choose¡­ you!" He pointed to¡­ the same old guy as his opponent?! What else could he say that wouldn''t be a repeat? Was there something wrong with his head? "M-master Diviner, are you sure?" The old man spoke up. "Yep, 100%," Jack affirmed. The old man stood in the middle, and everyone expected Jack to take out some mystical tool. Nope, none at all! He simply nced at the man and then opened his mouth. "Your name isn''t Garuda, but Garuda Junior. Your father was an adventurer, hence why you''d often rethink your path¡­ since you admired him very much." "T-that''s actually true! I¡ª" "Shh, don''t interrupt me, son! Anyway, recently your child has been talking about adventuring, and it scares you shitless. Wouldn''t a simple and safe life be better?" "That''s exactly!¡ª" "Shhh! Now, thanks to this bone-ying freak, you''ve decided to stop him from adventuring at all costs, even sabotaging your great rtionship." "YES!" "Shhh! Anyway, Fate is fickle, and all that matters is his choice. May he live or die, a path is only worth treading if it''s one''s decision. Thus is life, and thus is Fate." The scene turned deathly silent. Many were still trying to process Jack''sst words, trying to gleam their profound meaning. But that''s when the Law Magic circle suddenly began vibrating as if a supersonic Dildo! Then an instantter, the bacsh started, all the white-robbed guys violently throwing up blood! Amidst a sea of copsed Fate Worshipers, Jack turned tail and reentered his Divination Tent¡­.but right in passing, he added a few zeros to his prices! They had barely entered when the Ghost and foxes crowded around him. "How the fuck did you do that?!" "Oh, it was easy. I just¡­" [A Certain Fate God Awakens!] [You''ve Been Chosen as¡­] "FUCK!" Chapter 31 Fate God?! ?"Oh, it was easy. I just¡­" [A Certain Fate God Awakens!] [You''ve Been Chosen as a Fate Envoy!] "FUCK¡­.or not?!" Jack stared wide-eyed at the message. A fate Envoy, not THE Fate Envoy?! He excitedly opened his status screen, trying to figure out what this was. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Unlock Fate Envoy Title [Y/N?] + U Tier Fate Seeing Eye! + F Tier Wisdom Impartation! + Increased Affinity with Fate! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ The more he read, the more interesting this was getting. The Fate Seeing Eye was a Unique grade ONLY avable to the title Wielders. But that wasn''t the most important. For once, this wasn''t a very offer! So there were gods like that too?! "Y-you¡­did you receive an offer from the Fate God?!" The Old Ghost chimed in. After all, Jack was tapping the air while grinning. "Hurry, and ept! You can''t let this one pass!" "Hmm, I''m still verifying if there are any drawbacks," Jack exined. Hearing this, the poor Teacher almost wanted to smash his student''s head into the wall! Didn''t he know that getting a Godly Offer was near impossible?! But as Jack observed more and more, he finally noticed the catch. "Affinity with Fate" would definitely bring Fate-rted Events to his life. But he couldn''t tell just yet whether that was a good thing or not. He nced at the tent ceiling as if trying to see the firmament. "Fate God, was it? I''ll ept but with one condition! I''ll decide my own Fate. I''ll be the Master of my destiny, I''ll live as I see fit and die as I want, for I am¡­." The more he kept going, the more heated his voice became. What started as a murmur ended up as a thundering promation as if a legendary hero! "For I am, Jack MF Bri¡ª" "Kid¡­ you know most of that stuff''s automated, right?" The Old Ghost remarked, sighing as he exined. "You don''t really think that Gods personally watch over everything in this world, right? They''re not that bored. You better find an altar if you want to talk to the Fate God." Jack choked. So much for his glorious speech¡­ [Ding! You Have One Week to ept or Decline the Title!] [Would You Like To Postpone the Selection?] Yes! Why make a life-changing decision now when he could do so in a week? More importantly, he''d be stronger and even more valuable to the Fate God by then. This could be a bargaining chip! "Alright, we''ll have to find a Fate Temple soon then¡­. In the meantime, shall we get ourselves a few more Underground Scouts?" Jack gleefully chuckled. "Y-you¡­ you really want to bargain with a god?!" "Of course! Do you take me for a pushover?" Hearing Jack''s confident voice, the Ghost questioned the youngster''smon sense. If he was called a pushover, then what were the other kids his age¡­ Thus, they kept proceeding with the Divination Service. What had recently been a source of ridicule suddenly became a hotmodity everyone desired! Thanks to this poprity, every time Jack dropped the "You should check the Underground" line, his gullible victims would swear to follow his advice. Then once they made enough people stray from the right path and with LOTS of gold in their pockets, the party finally ended their day of Divination. "Sigh. Who knew spouting bullshit all day long was that tiring." Jack murmured, the old Ghost coughing blood: he had given most of the advice! But before he could protest¡­ "Woo! Woo!" (Master, it worked, it worked!) The little foxes wereing back in a hurry. They had managed to crack the Underground Code! Not only did they know where it was, but they also knew all the passwords! At this moment, they felt so proud. They had followed their respective targets to perfection! They were unrivaled for spying¡­ as long as the orders were simple! "Perfect, finally!" Jack praised them enthusiastically. Then he hurriedly put on a show as the "Divination Master" again. Cheers echoed as he exited the tent, and a few people even begged him for another live reading. Some well-informed people had even taken a day off from work to witness the Great Master. Their eyes all glowed with expectation as if stars. What would he do this time?! He opened his arms widely and¡­ "Thank you all foring. We''re done for the week; take care!" Before they could react, he had dismantled the tent in one fell swoop and gone away. "I-is that it?!" "I''ve been waiting in line for 2 hours!" "Hey, this can''t be?! Come back! Master,e back, please!" The crowd was getting unbelievably frenzied, but Jack was long gone, his shadow disappearing in an alleyway. Yet, amidst the chaos, a man cheekily replied to the crowd: "May you wait sessfully or waste your time; a path is only worth threading if it''s one''s decision. Thus is Waiting in Line, and thus is Fate!" He chuckled, adapting Jack''s words. But as he gazed at the nearby alleyway, his smile became incredibly mysterious¡­ after all, the notification before his eyes truly was phenomenal. [Fate Envoy Invitation Pending!] [You Will Be Notified if the User epts!] "Someone so well versed in the Laws of Fate¡­ who is yet to be an apostle. Interesting, how interesting! Let''s see how you''ll fare, young one¡ª" The man kept chuckling, a nearby fox shaking its head slightly. Had all those humans gone insane? Oh well, it would keep watch, as per its wise Master''s orders¡­ As for Jack, he was far too busy infiltrating the Underground. One of its entrances was actually a hospital! ¡ª Knock! Knock! Knock! ¡ª "Wee. What brings you here?" A young and pretty nurse smiled at him radiantly. She was like a breath of fresh air, the entire world undeserving of such a delicate flower. To which Jack confidently answered¡­ "Erectile dysfunction AND explosive diarrhea!" The young nurse''s face cramped, the atmosphere turning awkward. What the heck was up with this medical condition?! This was the third today! As he felt the pretty nurse''s judging and disgusted gaze, Jack seriously wondered who the heck came up with those Underground passwords! He was sent to a medical care room, but instead of a doctor, a masked man entered. As soon as he saw Jack''s (and Fox) getup, he nodded approvingly. "Nice! With that disguise, no one will even know you''re human! Now, without further ado, wee to the Underground!" That''s when a passageway opened in the wall¡­ Chapter 32 Underground Market! ?There were masked individuals everywhere. "Wee to the Underground!" Their guide dered. Had Jack not known better, he would have believed the Underground Market to be a masquerade party. Birds, wolves, pigs, and so many other animals that it felt like a rendition of Animal Farm! Not only was the ce brimming with people, but it also seemed surprisingly orderly, fighting forbidden. Plenty of masked Underground staff was even patrolling, closely guarding their interests. But one detail to note was the currency. People here didn''t seem to be using gold. No, they''d exchange moon-shaped ck metal tokens. What was even the point of this? "Hehe, recently, a certain division of the Dawn Guard has been enchanting its gold to add tracking properties, so we adapted." Their guide exined. They''d hold all the gold at the entrance, find the coins with the trackers and send the poor guards on a meaningless goose chase. This was so simple, yet devious! Jack quickly turned his gold into ck coins as they wandered the Underground Market. Everywhere he looked, there were the weirdest items. "Is that a... Torture tool stall?!" "Not just any, customer, the best! Look at the baleful aura this little toy emits! A single sh of this will feel like being bitten by a thousand fire ants!" A shopkeeper bragged. Weapons, drugs, dubious items possibly cursed, every stall showcased things that would definitely brand their owner as evil¡­ at least by surface standards. It seemed they were at the right ce! Jack wandered around, spending like a wealthy magnate. Anyone else would have felt heartache, but he was different. Money had always been useless to him because of his curse. ''Gotta spend before it suddenly disappears!'' Thus a particr scene repeated itself over and over. A seller and a potential buyer would be heatedly haggling¡­ only for him to crash the discussion. "I''ll take it!" He didn''t waste his time trying to lower the prices further. After all, time spent negotiating was better spent on doing one more Divination to him! Thus he attracted many gazes¡­ andints! "Little friend, I was here first. Let this gentleman, and I finish our business before you butt in. This is simplymon sense." A wolf mask rebutted. "Is that so? Mymon sense says that if you can''t afford an item, you should move to the side instead of wasting everyone''s time. If you''re broke, just say so!" As he retorted, many didn''t know whether tough or cry. This youngster''s balls sure were huge! As for why they thought he was young¡­ it was because the fox''s frame was slender! "Little friend, are you sure you wish to do that?" "Yep! I really need this for a gift, you see!" Jack''s voice was so energetic at the moment that many shivered. A gift?! Wasn''t this a poisonous herb? Talk about perverse! Little did they know¡­ it was a gift to himself! "Good. Good." The wolf mask repeated. That''s when the atmosphere seemingly turned cold, masked soldiers moving forward to make sure no confrontation happened. Seeing them, the wolf mask scoffed and left. But, as soon as he did¡­ Jack suddenly had a horrible feeling. He felt like some sticky goo had justtched to his soul. Then his Teacher''s voice resounded in his ear. "Kid, that bastard just used a tracking spell on you. Those ces are like that. If you''re not careful, you''ll quickly get stabbed in the back." This made sense. No fighting on the premises meant that everything went off the premises. This was the dark reality of the world, something Jack was utterly familiar with. Thus he kept going around, his pockets soon filling with so many materials that he felt like a pack mule. Still, he had to admit that everything he was buying looked so demonic! "Say, is it normal for a gem to be bleeding?!" "Of course, kid!" "Why does this apple have teeth?!" "Don''t worry about it, kid." "Why does this carrot have fur.. .and ws?" "It just does, kid." This was the craziest haul ever! Jack had expected things to be harder, but they quickly found pretty much all they needed. Actually, no, they were still missing something: a mandrake. "Tch¡ª As expected, mandrakes are hard to find." "Mandrakes? The screaming kind?" "Yep, that one! Still, I''m surprised, kid. Sometimes you seem utterly clueless about Magic, yet you know some random stuff. I''ve never seen such fragmented knowledge before!" This had to do with him being from another world. There were simrities between a world of Magic and that of Awakened¡­ just that he didn''t know what was still valid! "Mandrake, mandrake, mandrake¡­" Jack kept repeating. But just as he was searching for the fabled material, his fox ride suddenly stopped. Thetter had been gazing all over the ce and was now pointing at a nearby wall. "W-what the heck is this?!" Jack stared at the posters, shell-shocked. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡ª WANTED! ¡ª Target: Reverse Thieves! Last Sighed: Corner'' Marketce! Bounty: 100 G Each! (Dead or Alive!) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ A bounty on his foxes?! What kind of crazy thing was this?! Who was so bored as to do such a thing?! The few thieves that had lost half a day of business at worst? No way! That''s when he suddenly felt cold gazesnd on their back. Their current disguise looked awfully simr to the drawings on the wall, stature and all. "He''s WANTED. Catch him!" "T-this¡­ isn''t what it looks like!" Instantly, the surroundings turned hostile. What mere moments before almost looked like a peaceful marketce turned into a den of bandits eying him gleefully. Jack turned toward the mask guards. They wouldn''t allow a guest to be hurt, right?! But as he saw them look away, his heart fell. They freaking would! Jack began counting¡­ 1, 2, 5, 12, 26, more than 50 enemies approaching! "Oy, old ghost, what should I do?!" "Kid, I suggest writing your will." The Old Ghost grimly stated. He could deal with one or two targets even in his weakened ghostly state¡­ but 50? No way! Jack racked his brain. Use the me Lord''s name? Would they even care? As the Underground, they probably hated the Lords to the bone. No, he had to appeal to their greed and show no weakness! "Scoff. Are you all so destitute that you''ll risk your lives for a misunderstanding? How pitiful! How about this? Tell me more about those "Reverse Thieves" who''s been stealing my dress style, and I''ll reward you!" But just as they were wavering, one of the many people he had slighted earlier intervened! "Dumbass, we''ll just steal it all from your corpse!" "Pfft¡ª Hahaha, talk about ridiculous! You''ll attack me for this paltry sum? Are you even ready to face the consequences? Are you that eager to die?" With every scoff, Jack took a step forward. His momentum was so great that the 50 miscreants recoiled slightly. Did this guy have some significant backing or something?! He was in full-on Powerful Master Mode! He was akin to Moses separating the sea, except with a deadly mob! But just as he was almost out of there¡­ ¡ª WHOOSH! WHOOSH! ¡ª A blue glow overwhelmed the nearby area. The light engulfed the fox and Jack. He could feel it trying to scan every corner of his soul and body. ''Old Ghost, it''s your time to shine!'' He confidently delegated. "Oh god no! kid, we''re fucked! I can''t fool that kind of detection! Quick, RUNNN!" [You''ve Been Scanned For a Blessing!] "Guys, no blessing! He''s bluffing! He''s a factionless weakling!" With a CLANG, the doors of the Underground Marketce closed. They were not only outnumbered, out-gunned, and surrounded but also trapped. How the heck were they supposed to escape?! Chapter 33 Underground Confrontation! ?"No blessing: he''s bluffing!" Instantly, Jack was seen through! Doors? Closed! Enemies? Far too many! This was a hopeless situation, no matter how one looked at it! Was it wiser to fight or to bide their time instead? "Old Ghost, if we get captured¡­ will you be able to get us out?" "Tch¡ª Perhaps, but only if they don''t take my vessel away¡­." His vessel? He meant the picture book, right? Seeing the greed in their eyes, they''d strip him naked and grab everything! He''d not only be stuck¡­ but his identity would be revealed¡­ Getting captured ¡ª> Possibly meant death! Jack wasn''t about to test the magnanimousness of whoever had put that bounty on their head. It said DEAD or alive on the posters, after all! "Kid, I think we''ll have to sacrifice this fox of yours and¡ª" "No, you don''t sacrifice your pieces when everything seems doomed. There''s only one thing to do: cause CHAOS!" He was already analyzing the surroundings: - Assants greedily eying him... and each other as theycked cohesion. - Underground Soldiers pretending they hadn''t seen anything - Shopkeepers gleefully watching everything happen - Innocent bystanders avoiding the violent mob It was time to put everything on the line! In mere instants, Jack had alreadye up with a n so devilishly risky and ridiculous that even he feared executing it. He asked the crowd onest time: "Say, is there no way we can resolve this peacefully?" He seemed so genuine as he nced at all the parties in the room one after the other, but he was given the cold shoulder. No, they looked at him as if a dead man walking! A few even sneered at the youngster''s naivety. This was a business, not a daycare! ''I guess there''s no choice, then. You guys brought this upon yourself!'' Jack turned toward his allies, screaming, "NOW!" Along with the mighty shout, so many things happened at once! The cloak hiding Jack and Fox burst open as if an explosive Pi?ata. But instead of candies, ck Underground Coins came out, shooting toward the crowd! The Fox had explosively dashed out, and Jack was hugging the ground as he crawled away as fast as he could¡­ but to the external eye, it looked as if they had disappeared! Cloaked Bounty Target ¡ª> Gone in a Rain of Coins?! Before the assants'' brains could even register what the fuck was happening, their greedy hands unconsciously grasped the flying coins. MONEY!!! Many quarreled: "Bitch, back off. Those are mine!" But this was but the start¡­ Just as everyone was still shell-shocked, Jack''s Fox got to work. It raised a furry paw and generated as many fireballs as its Mana could keep up with! ¡ª WOOSH! WOOSH! BOOM! ¡ª It was targeting anything that looked mmable! The Underground Market would switch ces whenever it came close to being discovered. This meant that the people selling here were always ready to move. This came with one drawback ¡ª> Many of their mobile stalls were mmable AF! The little Fox cackled as it threw fireball after fireball at the marketce. It didn''t care about the reactions either. "Monster! Stop! STOP!" "Kill that madman!" "Are you crazy?!" Any normal being wouldn''t have dared. They''d think of the repercussions and falter. Even if they did start, they''d give up after a few fireballs and escape! But all the Fox could think about was its master''s words: "Just count those stalls as rats... The more you destroy, the greater the rewards!" Rewards, rewards, REWARDS! The scene had already devolved into utter chaos. Stalls burned down, mes spread everywhere, bystanders ran for their survival, soldiers ran to intercept the crazy terrorist¡­ and some people stopped to grab coins! What had once looked like a masquerade party now looked nightmarish, with a couple of unfortunate charcoaled corpses lying on the floor. Still, the Underground wasn''t weak or new. It was only a matter of minutes before they had the situation under control, the terrorist suffering a fate worse than death! But then something else happened¡­ Without anyone noticing, a baby crawled IN the mes toward the entrance! With his Anti-Heat Shield and his tiny body, he was near invisible! He managed to reach the "confiscated gold table", the guards watching it not noticing him thanks to the chaos. His job here was done! "Your turn, Old Ghost!" A semi-translucent Ghost suddenly appeared. He instantly showcased the mastery of an Archmage, finishing his business before any of the guards could even understand what the heck was going on. A distance away, angry soldiers had reached the strange orange terrorist blur! But just as they were about to capture it, an incredible buzzing resounded in the back. ¡ª BZZZZZZZ! ¡ª As a few turned around to see, they turned ghastly pale. This was BAD! The gold coins they had isted as problematic were shining like a beacon toward Heaven! All the Old Ghost had done was amplify the Tracking Enchantment already on the coins and allow it to bypass the Underground''s istion barrier, but it was deadly! "CRAP! Quick, evacuate! This ce''spromised!" "The Dawn Guard will be here any moment!" "We capture that bastard, and we leave!" The soldiers'' panicked and angry shouts resonated across the marketce. As for the target of their fury, it had just realized the situation it was in. The poor Fox saw its master on the ground from afar, and it saw the soldiers. It seemed like it wouldn''t be able to cash in those Headpats after all. This sucked! "Woo!" (Take care, Master! Be safe!) Then it charged toward the soldiers. They''d open the doors as soon as it was captured, and its master could evacuate. This was all that mattered! Jack saw it all from afar, his heart bleeding. "What are you doing?! RUNNN!" then he saw the soldiers encircle his furry friend. "Tch¡ª So annoying, even during itsst moments! Seize this thing, and let''s leave!" A soldier ordered. But just as their des and spells were about to reach their target¡­ ¡ª CLANG! ¡ª A couple of masked individuals suddenly stood in their way. "I''m sorry, but I can''t allow you to harm this one here," one of them said. W-what?! The entire room gazed in shock. "You, who are you?! Why are you trying to save this bastard?! Are you trying to make an enemy of the Underground?!" A soldier barked. "Why? All I''ll say is that me being here is Fate." "What the fuck are you going on about?!" "I''m not sure myself, to be honest¡­." What kind of answer was this?! But it wasn''t that the saviors didn''t want to answer; they really didn''t know! They hade here because of a Divination, after all. This Event had to be why Mister Immortal sent them here, right? It had to be! As scared as they were of offending the Underground, they feared Fate even more! Jack stared in wonder. A superstitious squad with more strength thanmon sense hade to the rescue?! Holy shit, was Fate that OP?! Either way, it was time to GTFO! Thanks to the people he had scammed, Jack, Fox, and Teacher all made it out of the Underground alive. As for the aftermath¡­ even he didn''t want to think about it! ''I swear, I just wanted to buy some Magical Catalysts!'' He couldn''t help but sigh endlessly at how everything had turned. But now, he had something else to deal with. A poor fox was surrounded by its "saviors" in a nearby alley. Except, they wanted answers, and now! What was it supposed to do?! What lies should Jack feed them? How troublesome¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 44 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Scamming (F) ?? - Bane of the Underground ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ [A/N] Added a Status Chapter at the beginning. (It''s already getting pretty long, so most of the time, only the abridged Status will be shown!) Chapter 34 Alone... ?"Quick, we have to get the fox back!" Jack urged. The Divination people had taken it with them as they had left the ce in a rush. Was it time to appear as Mister Immortal again to "exin" the situation? He could¡ª [Ding! Master of the Foxes Activating!] [You Subordinate Unlocked a Title! Underground Terrorist!] [You Pet Unlocked New Secret Underground Quest! Will You allow it?] "A quest? What''s that supposed to be?" Jack eximed, surprised, the ghost appearing all of a sudden. "DO NOT REFUSE! Completing tons of quests is the mark of a great man! It''s the world allowing you to improve yourself. It takes luck and skill toplete one. Do you understand?" So it was a good thing? While it was bound to be challenging, perhaps it was worth tackling? Seeing the ghost''s exhrated expression, it seemed to be. "How does it work forpletion? Can you hire mercenaries or something?" "NOPE! You gotta do it yourself, or it doesn''t work." "I see. Follow my lead!" Jack departed on his own two feet for once. After the chaos, they had emerged in another district entirely, and most of his troops were far away, all but one... "Woo?! Woo?!" (Fate?! What''s that? Can it be eaten?) After crossing a few streets, Jack and fox (surrounded by "saviors") made eye contact. Thetter seemed so relieved that it almost ran to him¡­ only to remember this was a covert op, covert! But then Jack spoke with hand signals. ''Check your notifications'' ''Woo? (The flying text?)'' As the fox brought up the system, it had the shock of its life. What was that shing?! QUEST! Was it dangerous?! But then it saw its master point at it. ''I believe in you, little one. You got this! Drop the things we bought home, then do your best!'' Jack gave it a thumbs up before leaving sneakily before the humans saw him. Jack found himself fox-less for the first time in forever. How long had it been since he walked alone? The solid feel of the stone and the ginormous houses,pared to his tiny self, made him feel like he was in a City of giants. It was so peaceful, and his reward for working so hard. Now that he had most of the magical catalysts, he was one step closer to learning magic and bing stronger. In his previous life, this would have never been possible. He would have long been shot at, or a passing Awakened would have sprayed him with acid. This was almost perfect, almost... "Say, Old Ghost, can one summon beings from other worlds?" "Of course! Given enough power, one can summon anything! Well, theoretically, anyway. But you''re far too weak to be thinking about that! Even an archmage like me can barely¡­." Jack stopped listening, a crazy thoughting to him. What if, just what if, he could one day summon his sister from Earth? Or, at the very least, talk to her? What would he even say? Even now, he missed her so much¡­ The peace brought out the thoughts he had buried inside him sinceing to this crazy game-like world. At this moment, a lone tear went down his face, yet it was one of relief. As long as there''s a chance¡­ But it was now time to regain his bearings. He could already see his fellow foxes in the distance. They hade for him, panicked after seeing the Dawn Guards raiding the Underground. Jack wiped his tears. It wasn''t that he wanted to appear tough; he didn''t give a flying fuck about that. No, he just didn''t want to worry his foxes with his otherworldly regrets. But just as he was about to go holler at his troops¡­ "Poor little guy!" That''s when the entire world turned upside down, a giant picking him up out of nowhere! W-what?! A kidnapping? In broad daylight?! As if! Jack would order his foxes to maul the miscreant and¡ª but then he froze. What was up with that warm look?! The man that had picked him up seemed as if he was looking at his biological child, deep love in his eyes as he stared at the tear-eyed baby carrying a picture book. He was full of muscles, his towering silhouette emanating power and gentleness. For some reason, he gave Jack knight vibes, the kind that would protect the innocents at all costs. "Don''t worry, child, I''ll bring you home!" the giant reassured. Then without waiting, he departed¡­ except he wasn''t going toward the me Mansion at all! ''Home isn''t that way at all!'' Jack wanted to retort. Luckily, a few stepster, his foxes noticed him. It was time to coordinate the greatest escape. He''d give them the signal to attack and¡ª "Woo!!" (Quick, get the me Lord! IT''S HIM!) "Wooo!" (We''ll be right back, Master! Stay strong!) W-what?! Jack felt like crying. Had he been mistaken for the wrong baby? Was the man face-blind or something?! Also, who was he for the foxes to react like that? Surely this misunderstanding would be resolved soon, right?! Also, why did it seem like the Old Ghost was hiding? Oh well¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 44 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 17 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Sign Language! (F) ?? - Fox Language! (F) [ERROR!] [Fox-Only Skill!] [ERROR!] ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 35 Such A Small World! ?"Worry not! I''ve saved the Child!" The thundering of the giant almost made Jack''s eardrums shatter. Thetter had brought him to a majestic and heavily guarded estate, pushing through the guards and ornate doors alike. As for where they were, it was written every-fucking-where! It was as if the family living there wanted to tell the entire world who this ce belonged to. | Henderson Estate! | | Property of the Henderson Estate! | | This Pond Belongs to the Henderson Estate! | This made him feel like they were ecstatic parents who would identify every item their preschooler brought to school. But those guys here were obviously traders. Jack could guess that much at their Trading Abacus emblem and the many caravans parked in their front yard. This ce looked more like a business than a home. In any case, the giant "kidnapper" hurriedly brought Jack toward the biggest building there was, crashing through as he happily once again eximed. "Worry not! I''ve saved the Child!" The room was filled with wealthy-looking merchants, their garbs as morous as their faces sullen. But as they heard the news, life came back to their eyes. "You saved the Young Master?! You really did?!" "My son! Where''s my son!!" A mother hurriedly rushed forward. As she saw the bundle of cloth under the giant''s arm, she seemed to turn superhuman as she elerated. Then she reached Jack¡­ "W-who the heck is this?!" An awkward silence filled the room. If this wasn''t the young master, then who was this baby?! Not only that, but Jack''s clothes made it obvious he was A young master... just not the right one! "Y-you, who did you steal that baby from?!" But just as the hapless giant wanted to exin, a man by the sidemented. "Ah?! He''s carrying that picture book too?! What are the odds? Wasn''t it discontinued?" That''s when Jack understood everything. They had been searching for a baby carrying a picture book, and he had just happened to be one. Still, who was that man, and why did the foxes know him? "Honey, we can''t me him this time. It''s not like the time with Pochi when he brought back countless foxes in session instead." He gestured toward a nearby dog. Jack almost erupted inughter as he pictured the scene of helpless foxes getting kidnapped one after the other, their abductor going, "Is this your missing dog" every time. Suddenly, he was incredibly curious about the giant. He had somehow kidnapped the me Mansion''s foxes¡­ and lived to tell the tale? Didn''t this mean that he was mighty?! Thetter had an expression of straight horror as he suddenly realized that he had kidnapped someone''s kid¡­ by mistake! Seeing this, Jack actually rejoiced. How lucky! Anyone else would have simply brushed it off, but he instantly saw a golden opportunity! He''d exploit the man''s guilt! Now, how would he go about that? It was only a matter of time before the me Lord arrived and rained havoc on this ce. What should he do if he wanted to affect the post-war negotiations? But just as he was lost in thoughts, a cute gasp suddenly echoed, all eyes turning toward the source of it. "AH?!" It hade from avishly-dressed youngdy, one he recognized. ''The world''s a small ce, eh?'' It was the girl from the alley, the one that had been the victim of "Improved Begging". She was at a loss for words, her face turning from peerless white to red and purple in between. "Aisha, are you alright? What happened?" A rtive asked, the girl seemingly at a loss how to reply. This was definitely that talking baby from back then! "N-nothing¡­" She stammered, her eyes glued to Jack. To her, he was an immoral and cold bully. How was she supposed to warn her family about this guy?! She didn''t want them to dismiss her ims like that time either. But to the others, it felt different. To them, it seemed like she waspletely taken with the baby. One even proposed: "Aisha, why don''t you take care of him while we find his family and your stepbrother?" Take care of him? This guy was a viin! But then she changed her mind. Their estate was protected by a magical system and was the perfect ce to confront him! "Sure, dad!" Never had a girl so enthusiastically replied. She even showed the prettiest expression as she came closer. "C''mon, let''s go y!" she seemed like an angel. Said angel brought him to her room. There was a worn-out yet splendid desk in the middle filled with paperwork and penguins plushies. A hardworking girl with a love of cute things, eh? But as soon as the door closed, her entire aura changed. She went from cute young woman to detective as she peered at Jack as if trying to unveil his secrets. "You, what are you doing here? Are you trying to scam my family?! Talk, or I''ll tell them all about how you left me to die back then!" She cutely threatened. Yet Jack remained utterly silent. Inwardly, he chuckled to himself. ''Little girl, do you think your tricks will work on me? I know you''re recording this conversation somehow. You''re trying to expose me!'' He didn''t know how, he didn''t know why, but he could feel it. She had that glow he had seen on the prank videos of those Metubers trying to troll him in his previous life! The second he said anything ridiculous, it would end up on the Inte forever! Hell no, he wasn''t going to¡ª "KID, BE CAREFUL! She''s trying to¡ª" The Old Ghost reappeared, only for Jack to scoff. He already knew! It sure had taken him time toe back¡­ had he been taking a nap? But as the Ghost exined in his head, Jack began understanding. That giant from before had a special condition that simultaneously made his vision horrendous and amazing. He had an aura vision. It was amazing in a fight, revealing all attacks instantly¡­ but it was questionable for daily uses. After all, things like faces were pretty much nonexistent to him. "So that''s why you hid? He would have seen through your Ghost Figure instantly. Anyway, can you do anything about whatever recording this girl''s doing?" Jack whispered. It barely took a minute for the Old Ghost to mess with the Henderson''s security system. Since all he did was remove the "cameras" in one room, it wasn''t too hard for him. Just as the Aisha girl thought she had failed¡­ "Left you to die? You seem pretty lively for a dead girl. You should really tell me your secret!" Jack cheekily winked at her. "Y-you! I GOT YOU! Now everyone will know your true colors! Henderson system, save thest few seconds in memories and show it to daddy!" She proudly dered, only to falter right afterward. "Henderson System? Hello? N-no, it can''t be?!" That''s when she noticed the baby''s grin. It wasn''t that he had fallen for her trap¡­ he had walked right into it after disarming it! Not only that¡­ but they were alone right now?! Fear clouded her vision as she took a few steps backward. Why did that baby seem so¡­ intimidating?! "Aisha, was it? Why don''t you and I have a nice little chat?" "GULP! W-what kind of chat?!" Why did this baby seem scarier than the thugs from back then?! More importantly, why the hell had she epted to "babysit" him?! Chapter 36 The Victim Should Apologize?! ?"GULP! W-what kind of chat?!" "The kind that will change your life." Jack confidently answered. He was in a hurry and needed a new ally ASAP. She just happened to show the qualities he was looking for: hardworking, naive, and fearful of him for some reason. The cute freckled, auburn-haired girl before him was one he could corrupt into doing his bidding! He only needed to throw the appropriate bait¡­ and understand her better. "Aisha, was it? I''ll ask you a few questions. Reply truthfully or else¡­" Or else nothing, but she was already picturing countless horrors, her entire body trembling. "Name?" "A-Aisha!" "Kidnapped Step-Brother?" "I-internal Conflict, he''ll be fine." "Your ce in the Henderson Family?" "O-Only daughter, five step-brothers. I''m to be married soon while they inherit the family business." As she said thest part, she clenched her fists. Jack stopped the interrogation, approaching the desk nearby. It was filled with a bunch of sheets registering trades. Quantities, values, and the profit they''d get from each item. "But you don''t want that, do you? You''d much rather do something with your life. You long for freedom, even if you risk encountering thieves, eh?" He chuckled. Her story was one repeated countless times in History. It wasn''t anything special, but to her, it was her entire life. His gaze turned maic. "How would you like to change that fate?" Somehow, all the pressure she had felt before disappeared. As she nced into his eyes, she saw hope and freedom! He was definitely a monster, but perhaps a friendly one?! "There is nothing I''d want more than to¡ª" ¡ª CRASH! BOOM! RUMBLE! ¡ª Before she could ept, the entire Estate rumbled! Instantly, a searing heatwave spread everywhere! Was it the end of the world?! Not for Jack: "Oh? My lift''s here¡­." His lift?! . . . The Henderson family was rejoicing. They had just gotten the news that their child was safe and sound, the right one this time! But just as they thought everything would finally be fine, Hell descended upon them. ¡ª CRASH! BOOM! RUMBLE! ¡ª That''s when she appeared, melting half the building. "Where is he?!" The me Lord was akin to a Wrathful Fire God! Her voice oozed with destruction, her entire body bathed in purgatory mes. Her fury was only equaled by the dread she made the unfortunate Hendersons feel. Oh god, what had they done to attract her rage?! After destroying a fourth of their Estate, she was already readying a spell that would evaporate the rest! At this moment, a second sun materialized above Dawn City. Anyone who saw it instantly knew what it meant: a faction was being annihted! If they had any trump cards¡­ it was time to use them! "F-me Lord, what is this about?! Has anyone from my Henderson Family offended you?!" The family patriarch was about to get a heart attack. "My son, where is he?" Her cold voice chilled their souls. That''s when they understood that they were fucked! That baby was her son?! It didn''t matter that they hadn''t harmed him. They were so freaking doomed! "F-me Lord¡­ this is a misunderstanding! We took great care of him, I swear! Why don''t you¡ª" A scoff from the goddess-like me Lord was enough to silence him. It was one thing for her own family to make trouble, but for strangers to do the same?! Looking for death! If she didn''t enact justice, it would never end! But then¡­ ¡ª Creak! ¡ª The creaking of a door opening resounded in the tense silence. That''s when a girl came out carrying a baby. Unlike all the others, she didn''t seem terrified but rather¡­ resolute?! With every step, she repeated Jack''s words inwardly. "Do this one thing, and your family will never dare to marry you over against your wishes!" Was she crazy? Yes, definitely, even she realized that! But a talking baby that scheming was far crazier! More importantly, he had promised her a lifeline for her family! This was enough for her! She might have a rocky position in the Henderson family, but she was still Aisha Henderson nheless! Thus she walked straight toward the me Lord! "I believe you''vee to pick up Jack?" "¡­.?!" Is that how she spoke to the me Lord?! The people cowering in fear suddenly froze, losing all hope. They were utterly finished! "Oh? Little girl, how do you know his name?" The me Lord raised a suspicious brow. So much for the misunderstanding im... "He told me! Isn''t that right, Jack!" "Woo!" He happily replied. Woo?! Did he think himself to be a fox or something? More importantly, what was up with that happy face? He had clearly taken a liking to this Aisha girl. Everyone''s heart skipped a beat. ~Sooo cute! He looked like a regr and typical baby, even to Aisha, who knew better¡­. How dreadful! But she had a role to y: "Woo? Don''t just say woo! Use your words, just like I taught you!" Aisha berated, the bystanders going crazy. Was she trying to kill them all?! But that''s when Jack used his secret weapon¡­ baby talk! He pointed at the me Lord: "Ma-Ma!" and then at the Aisha girl: "Sha-Sha!". There, introductions done! This was the first time he had called her mother! How long had she waited for it?! Suddenly, the way the me Lord nced at the girl changed, thetter even looking pleasing to the eye. In merely hours, she had taught Jack how to talk?! So much potential! Perhaps she could hire her and¡ª "me Lord! Stay your hand!" A mighty shout suddenly resounded. It was¡­ the giant?! He was back, but he wasn''t alone either. At his side were three other people Jack recognized from that day at the gates. Fellow Lords! Seeing how they stared daggers at the me Lord, they weren''t here as a courtesy either. They were ready to fight! With a wave, one summoned countless water tentacles, extinguishing the fire. "Attacking a Merchant Family, have you lost your mind?! This isn''t how things are done in Dawn City anymore. Especially now that the Demonic Legion has reappeared!" One scolded, with Jack staring nkly. ''Reappeared? What are you all talking about? I bloody made it up!'' More importantly, were the Lords about to disrupt his ns?! "Tch¡ª You all can talk. It''s not your son that''s been kidnapped." "Kidnapped?! It''s obviously a misunderstanding! Besides, your son was picked up in the st¡ª" Crisis! He was about to reveal that he had been going out on his own! Wouldn''t the whole thing be med on him, then?! Hell no! Jack nudged his new ally. "Everyone, please stop fighting!" Aisha pleaded. Had she just interrupted a conversation between Lords?! She wasn''t just suicidal; she was bringing her entire family down! But she wasn''t done either! "Even if it stemmed from a misunderstanding, it''s true that my Henderson familymitted a heinous crime! I think the me Lord is perfectly right to be angry!" W-what the fuck?! Had she turned into a traitor? Did she want her family to perish?! Even the Lords didn''t know how to process this: the youth sure was fearless! "As such, we should apologize! But I believe we can understand one another given enough time! I think the Henderson family should work with the me Lord until¡­." "Scoff, foolish girl! Do you think we, fellow Lords are paper tigers? Since we''re here, there''s nothing the me Lord can do to¡ª" "We should still apologize!" Aisha thundered once more. Was she blind? Couldn''t she see all the damage done to the Estate? Who was the one that had to apologize here?! But a few saw through her. Was she perhaps¡­ trying to use this opportunity to ally with one of the Lords?! Not just any, but the slightly insane me Lord to boot?! Was this why she insisted on the "apology" to save face for her new ally? Was she going out of her way to squash all enmity and even profit from the situation?! This girl, she wasn''t foolish. She was SCARY! The patriarch of the Henderson family suddenly felt his blood boil, his merchant instinct screaming at him! ept the other Lords'' protection ¡ª> The Hendersons would forever be indebted to them. Make peace with the me Lord ¡ª> She''d be the one who would owe them one! Besides, seeing how well Aisha clicked with that baby¡­ oh god! Before anyone could bring the issue up anymore, the Henderson Patriarch came forward. "Well said, daughter, well said! me Lord, please ept our apology! We''ll do our best to mend the rift between our two factions. Will you give peace a chance?" "Pfft¡ª Of course! Well said, indeed!" The watching Lords felt like coughing blood while the Henderson Patriarch and the me Lordughed heartily amidst the rubbles of a half-destroyed estate. But along with them, a certain baby was alsoughing¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 45 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - All ording to Keikaku! (Sense +1) ?? - Leadership increased! (0.1% ¡ª> 0.2%)?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 37 Fox-Emperor! ?A baby was alsoughing¡­ Or he had been, but as they returned to the me Mansion, hisplexion became increasingly dark and grim. It was as if he had been diagnosed with cancer! "Kid, why aren''t you celebrating?" The Old Ghost couldn''t understand. For some reason, Jack appeared pensive and crestfallen, even after that huge Henderson win. "Celebrating? This is no time to celebrate! We made an enemy of the Underground AND the other Dawn Lords! Do you realize the seriousness of the situation?!" "I don''t think it''s that bad¡ª" "You''ve been asleep too long, Old Ghost! Do you think the other Lords will sit still after this? Besides, the Underground war will cripple our informationwork!" They who lurked in the shadows would likely see through the foxes'' disguises¡­. He couldn''t afford to send them out on their own anymore! "Even now, our enemies are scheming for our downfall. We won''t rejoice and let our guard down. No, we will not!" He mored as if a politician hyping the masses. "Woo! Woo!" (That''s our Master. So wise!) "Foxes, bring me my writing tools!" "Woo!" (YES, Drawing Time!) At this moment, the Old Ghost was feeling overwhelmed. What was up with this kid''s levelheadedness?! More importantly, why was he so eager to create his Faction NOW? Jack showed infinite focus as he worked, sweat dripping from his forehead as he... wrote a letter. With every stroke, his resolve even hardened as he gazed at his status. [Dormant Obliteration Curse (SSS+)] ''If you ever activate, I''ll be ready!'' It wasn''t that he was impatient, power-hungry, or paranoiac¡­ he simply had a godly time bomb attached to him! Forty-seven discarded letterster¡­ "This is the one! Bring this to the Hendersons!" Jack thundered. By habit, the fox messenger put on a cloak, ready to brave the world for its Master, only to be stopped. "No disguise, you''re a proud me Mansion Fox. Do you understand?" With a resounding woo, thetter was on its way, Jack chuckling. So what if the disguised foxes were WANTED? He could use them undisguised!¡­ Within reason, of course. If he was reckless, it could be seen as the me Lord preparing for war! Still, politics were one thing, but personal power mattered the most at the end of the day! As for how to quickly increase it¡­ 1. Get a Mandrake for the body-strengthening ritual 2. Visit a Fate Temple and make a deal with the Fate God 3. Reorganize his fox troops. With ''Master of the Foxes'', they were a great XP farm. What should he start with? Why not all of them at once? He gazed at the nearby paper pile¡­ perhaps it was time to send a few more letters. It was time to shake things up! . . . The entire Dawn City was buzzing. "Did you hear? The me Lord went crazy!" "Pfft¡ª If you ask me, the Hendersons went even crazier. They freaking apologized!" "Scoff¡ª Fools! Don''t you understand that there is more than meets the eye here? Regr people like us can''t understand the greatness of the Lords! It''s all a scheme to¡ªWTF?!" Simr conversations were happening around the City, but they''d all invariably end the same way, with people choking in shock. What the fuck was this?! Jack had given his foxes one order¡­ and that was to appear as proud me Mansion Foxes! His busy mind had forgotten to micro-manage, and the result was¡­ "W-what in the seven hells is it wearing?!" A Proud "Fox Emperor" appeared. It wore a poorly made crown with the me Mansion''s emblem and a long golden cape dragging on the ground! The thing was so silly and eye-catching that everyone and their mothers stopped what they were doing to watch it pass through the street. Hell, it even stopped a bank robbery! The me Lord was making a move? This was HUGE! The crowd in front of the fox would make way, and a procession would follow, overwhelmed with curiosity. Within minutes, every City power was watching too! What started as one silly fox misunderstanding its Master''s words, and deciding on its wardrobe by itself, soon had the entire City on their toes¡­ "Oh god! Knowing the belligerent me Lord, what if it''s a war deration?!" "Only someone insane would¡ª Actually, it''d be just her style¡­." "We''re witnessing History, but I''m not sure I want to!" At that moment, many wondered if they should leave Dawn City. Perhaps they were better off taking a Flowing Water ship and scramming far away. As for the main offender, it felt so goddamn great! "Woo!" (I''m doing it, Master!) It appeared so Proud that everyone had gathered to watch its Prideful Appearance! How amazing was that?! VERY! As for the distress it caused to the popce, the little creature was blissfully unaware of it. It went at its pace, every happy step sending waves into the bystanders'' hearts. This parade was so long that many felt like cursing. So much stress would definitely shave a couple of years of their lifespan. But then, the little fox finally reached its destination. | Wee to the Henderson Estate! | At the gates, it wasn''t just weed by anyone. The patriarch himself made an appearance, except he was the one feeling the pressure¡­ What the heck was this about?! A sea of people gazed at him with questioning gazes, enough of them to raze his Estate many times over! Inwardly, he felt like crying. He had no damn clue what this was about! Why hadn''t the me Lord warned him?! He was already starting to regret jumping on this pirate ship! But for now, he had to fake being in the know. He showed the calmest of expressions as he weed the fox. "You''re finally here. You''ve done well!" That''s when the fox produced a letter out of its fur. The static had patches of orange fur sticking to it, yet the care put into the writing was still noticeable. The Henderson Patriarch received it with both hands, slowly opening it. Had he not been experienced, his hands would have been trembling at the moment. 1. What if it was a war deration? 2. What if it was just some sillymunication? 3. What should he tell the crowd? How could he match their expectations without endangering his family? This was nerve-racking! But as he saw the content, he felt like a lightning bolt had suddenly hit him. This¡­ this! He finally understood everything. "Ladies and gentlemen, it''s my pleasure to announce the first-ever ming Masquerade! Every Worthy Power in dawn City should expect to receive invitations soon!" "WHHHHAAATTTTT?!" The ming Masquerade? The antisocial me Lord was suddenly organizing a social event?! Had the world turned upside down, or had the world turned upside down?! Either way, this was such great news! There wouldn''t be a war, right? At least, not right now, anyway. But amidst the rejoicing, many couldn''t help but frown in a cold sweat. This me Lord, she wasn''t simple after all¡­ or perhaps had she recently found a strategist? That''s when many remembered a particr crippled "Dad." As for the "schemers," both were busy training in seclusion. Who knows when they''d even learn of the event? As far as Jack was concerned, "never" was the perfect timing! The true mastermind was instead chilling at his subordinate''sb, the poor Lizzy watching over her shoulder as if the devil himself was there. Why did it feel like he was here to test her?! More importantly, what kind of crazy endeavor was he about to embark on?! "Fox Emperor? This system''s drunk! Anyway, tell me more about Mandrakes and Fate..." . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 45 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - He Who Creates Fox Emperors (Fake)! ?? - Penmanship! (F) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 38 Lizzy Lampreys Demons! ?"Tch¡ª This is ridiculous!" Jack eximed as soon as he learned about the Fate Temple. ording to Lizzy, only one was nearby, located on certain "Fortuna Mountain". The only issue was that reaching it was near impossible for the current him. One had to go there¡­ alone?! Not only would his tiny legs get tired during the mountain ascension, but the area was also teeming with wild monsters¡­ making it a freaking suicide mission! "Ridiculous? Of course, it is! What else should a Fate god be except whimsical?" Lizzy shrugged, low-key enjoying seeing her new master at a loss for the first time ever. The official story went ¡ª> The monsters will leave you alone if you are worthy! Worthy? What if Jack''s invitation had been a mistake? What if it was meant to enve him / bait him to perish? He wasn''t about to risk it¡­ not without being prepared! "Still, isn''t Fortuna Mountain merely an hour away from the City? Shouldn''t the Dawn Guard hunt those monsters or something?" Jack grumbled. "Pfft¡ª As if! The Dawn Guard seldom leaves the City, and there''s no way the Adventurer''s Guild could possibly keep up with the monsters'' spawn rate. After all¡­" The more the Old Ghost exined, the more Jack felt like a greenhouse flower. Turns out, monsters would spontaneously spawn out there thanks to the enormous Mana in Eternia. The Cities were the only bastions of human life! In fact, had the monsters out there been slightly more intelligent, humanity would have long fallen. This only left Jack one course of action¡­ "I see. Mandrake it is, then. Lizzy, I''ll be counting on you!" Her face instantly turned dark. With the Underground a no-go, she still knew one ce to get it, but it would only work if she went herself. Except, she didn''t want to, AT ALL! "You really need that Mandrake, eh?" "REALLY!" Fine. It seemed like it was time for her to confront her demons. She closed her shop, heading for the one ce she hated the most in this world. Then before long¡­ | Wee to the Alchemy Tower! | Jack had expected some shady shop¡­ but wasn''t this a little too official? Contrary to the name, it was a circr one-story stone building that looked pretty nice. If anything, it had an academic atmosphere. Tons of robe-wearing peeps went in and out, all mage-like. Many could be heard muttering to themselves, lost in thoughts. People came here to study, showcase their research, or buy rarer materials. It looked like an Alchemist Haven, if nothing else. "This is the ce you dreaded toe?" Jack couldn''t help but remark. "You don''t understand. This ce looks neat on the surface, but it''s hell! Everyone here are stuck-up bitches that only care about what''s "proper". Before he could react, a voice came from behind them. "Stuck up bitches? That''s riching from the Tower''s ck sheep! If anyone''s a bitch, it ought to be you, who sold her soul and turned away from True Alchemy! Humph!" A nearby Alchemist was already raining insults down on Lizzy. Many bystanders even pointed at her, showing evident disgust¡­ and this was just the entrance! "See, that''s why I hate this ce!" She spat out. But this was just the beginning. Insults were one thing, but seeing her, a couple of Alchemists even banded together to block her from entering the building. "If it isn''t Lizzy Lamprey, the shame of the Tower! Turn around. We don''t want trash like you in here, see?" One of them pointed at posters on the walls. There were tons of drawings of Lizzy, with captions so unttering that bitch and slut would have seen like apliment inparison! She was definitely INFAMOUS! School bullying, was it? But instead of cowering, Lizzy had simply kept fighting. Even now, she continued on her path, brewing Aphrodisiacs left and right. "Out of the way, rabble. I''m still a registered Alchemist." Lizzy sneered, knowing their hatred was born of jealousy and a misguided sense of morality. This was definitely not the first time she had a run-in with those people! Jack expected them to say some D-trash line and move away¡­ but they stood their ground! "Registered Alchemist? Yes, indeed! Or are you?" The bully simply pointed at a golden notice near the entrance while sneering. It glowed with incredible color and was impossible to miss! | DAWN GUARD! Registered Alchemist Draft Notice! | It was so eye-catching that Lizzy was perhaps the only Alchemist that hadn''t seen it yet¡­ just because she avoided the ce like the gue. The content was pretty simple: Given the recent terrorist EVENTS (Demonic Legion), the Dawn Guard had received permission from the Lords to Draft Alchemists Forcefully. But the more Jack read, the less he understood. What the heck was this?! Of all the EVENTS listed¡­ 8 were unrted to him! Someone else was ming his fictive faction! - Alleyways Terrorism? Sure - Mass Thievery? No way! - Mass murder? Nope! - Bank Robbery? As if! - ¡­ Some more BS But that wasn''t the issue¡­ The deadline for handing out the potions was already past! Didn''t this mean that Lizzy''s Alchemy License was revoked or about to be?! Her petite frame started trembling. Her shop was registered; someone should have sent her the notice too. It had to be those conniving bitches; they had somehow intercepted the messenger! She knew it, but could she even prove it?! This meant that she was deep in shit! She knew it, and the snickering assholes knew it as they saw her face turn white as a sheet. Yet, she didn''t want to give them the satisfaction. "So what? I''m still a registered alchemist, so get out of my way NOW! She barked, the bullies freezing. What was she so confident for? Her time was counted! But as soon as Jack and Lizzy were out of their sight¡­ "We''re fucked! Forget the Mandrake; I''m about to lose my Emporium! Crap, if only I hade sooner, if only I¡­." But just as she was spiraling, she felt a tiny yet warm hand. "Lizzy, you forgot something." "?!?" No matter how she racked her brain, she felt at an impasse. Was there something obvious she had missed? That''s when he gave her a smile that somehow eased all her troubles. "Them bullying you means they''re bullying me." Lizzy unconsciously shivered¡­ but with delight?! Would even the me Mansion get involved?! Why did it feel like he was about to go nuclear on their asses?! As for what Jack was nning¡­ he''d make them shit blood just from hearing the name Lizzy Lamprey! Hehehe¡­ Chapter 39 Lost License? REVENGE! ?Lizzy tried to get the Mandrake anyway. They approached the Resource counter, hopeful. But as expected: "Sorry, but your Alchemist License is being suspended. You won''t have ess to the Alchemists'' Shop in the meantime. Please check with the Registrar''s Office!" "That''s it... I''m DOOMED!" It wasn''t just her license that was getting revoked. It was her entire life''s efforts that were going down the drain! But she wasn''t the only victim: "We better make them regret the day they slighted you!" Jack was out for blood! "GULP! What are you gonna do?!" What could he do?! The Draft Notice came from the Dawn Guard. Did he even have sway with them? Rules were rules, and she had unknowingly broken them! The ghost was equally doubtful: "Psst, kid, even the Alchemy Tower hates her guts. The way I see it, she''s screwed. We''re better off search¡ª" "As if! We don''t abandon allies, not now or ever!" "Thanks¡­ but I''m really doomed. You should¡ª" "Shut up and follow me!" Jack didn''t even let her ce a word. So what if there was a storm heading their way? They''d whether it like a faction was supposed to, by creating a tornado of their own! She expected him to stomp toward the Registrar angrily, but he didn''t. Even he knew that they''d simply be putting themselves up for more humiliation. They''d question: 1) Theck of proof of sabotage, 2) Lizzy''s character, 3) Perhaps even her skills as a "proper" alchemist. March in there only to be shown the door? Hell no! "Let''s go! Time to start a revolution¡­." Jack mysteriously uttered. He brought her back to her shop and then asked so many questions about Alchemy that her brain almost exploded. Yet, the more she talked, the deeper his grin became. "Just like I thought, this is definitely possible! Time to have those stuck-up Alchemy Masters beg to give you back your Alchemy License!" Before long, Lizzy saw a scene that chilled her to her very core. Right in herb, dozens of foxes were assembled. What was scary wasn''t their appearance but their cohesion. They were all neatly lined up as if soldiers! Jack strode before them as if a general. "Troops, someone''s trying to mess with us. What do we do when that happens?" Woo! "Do we roll down and die or do we bite their head and devour their flesh?" WOO! "EXACTLY!" "Today will be the day our Demonic Legion resurfaces for the first time! Are you all ready?" Woo! "But we''ll have to be lightning quick. So many powers are hunting us!" "Lizzy, bring out the goods!" D-demonic Legion?! But she was too deep to turn back. She brought back the things he had asked her for, her entire body quivering like a leaf in the wind. All this was DEMONIC! He had asked her to create the scariest potions she could evere up with. As for the materials? She had used some of the stuff they had grabbed from the Underground. "Now, listen up, and listen well¡­." Jack beganying out the details of his revenge n. He could think of countless ways to prove Lizzy''s innocence¡­ but as they say: offense is the best defense! The more Lizzy heard, the more she swore never to offend Jack. He was going that far¡­ against people that had never offended him directly?! She suddenly started wondering who was more doomed between herself and the Alchemy Tower¡­ . . . That day started as any other day. Even now, plenty of Undercover Dawn Guards patrolled the streets, especially any core locations and targets that the Demonic Legion had previously hit. "Say, why are we even here? This ce already got hit. Why would they evere back?" a soldier asked skeptically. "Dummy, haven''t you ever heard the saying: ''A criminal alwayses back to the scene of the crime?'' We just need to stand guard, and then BAM, we apprehend them!" This actually made a lot of sense. Or it would have had the "criminals" not been silly-thinking foxes that only cared about pleasing their Master and ying. Why would they go to a crime scene to y? They weren''t that bored! Yet, the guards were convinced it was going to pay off! But just as they were waiting¡­ "EMERGENCY! They''ve been spotted!" "Where?! When?!" As soon as the news came out, tons of Guards rushed out! Except, they couldn''t help but find it strange. What the heck was up with those sightings?! They were all in random spots, void of any strategic value whatsoever! But as they reached their targets, they became even more confused. "They''re gone¡­. How the fuck?!" The guards had reacted as quickly as humanly possible, but they were toote?! What was up with that?! There had been hundreds of sighing reports?! Now¡­ none?! WTF! But that wasn''t the worst. They felt sick to their stomachs as they realized no damage had been done either. Such massive troop mobilization for no reason? Impossible! What could have possibly happened here?! Ignorance and their own imagination drove their minds utterly mad. Either this was meant to scare them, or they were missing something big! Thetter was incredibly more likely too! It was soon put up to vote, even the Dawn Lords chiming in. They HAD to know. They just had to! What should have been a regr day in Dawn City soon had soldiersbing through the entire ce like hounds! D.L. Sighting Nearby? ¡ª> Search EVERYTHING! As for people getting their residences invaded¡­ "Are they really going to vite our rights like that?!" "Damn, what if it was all a n from D.L. to create public unrest?!" "Bro, I don''t think a terrorist organization is that subtle. Let them search as much as they want! Besides, do you have anything to hide? They won''t care about the small stuff." Everyone watched this happen with interest. But just when it seemed like nothing at all would turn up, a bunch of Alchemy Shops suddenly became the center of attention. It started with the Dawn Guard finding traces of restricted ingredients. "Chief! Look at that. This thing''s only sold by the Underground!" "There''s some here too! There''s not much¡­ but someone''s been moving illegal merchandise here! It''s just like during our previous raid!" "Oh my god, Boss, I''ve got it! Look a the map! The D.L. sightings are near Alchemy Shops! We stocked up on potions¡­ and so did they! It''s all crazy poisonous stuff too!" As for the poor Alchemists who owned the shops, they felt like the sky had suddenly fallen. "I swear, I never saw any of this stuff before! It''s not me; I don''t know anything!" But the more they swore, the shadier they looked. Not seen any of it? These were their shops, was it not? The gazes sent their way turned increasingly icier. Had they willingly cooperated with D.L. out of greed? Or had they been threatened? If handled poorly, the situation could blow up in everyone''s faces! Not only that¡­ but all were Licensed Alchemists! Suddenly, the Alchemy Tower had one Hell of a scandal on its hands! Except, this was only the beginning¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 45 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Foxes Learned Evidence-nting! ?? - Criminal Mastermind Leveled Up! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 40 Kings At The Registrar! ?"The Alchemists did what?!" "I heard they colluded with the Demonic Legion!" "T-That can''t be! Weren''t they making potions for the Dawn Guard just recently?! Are they trying to y both sides? Are they bloody insane?!" "That''s not all¡­ I heard something else too. Some youngsters pushed it even farther, so far in fact that I heard the Dawn Guard wanted to bring them to jail on the spot!" "W-what did they do?!" "They stole some other Alchemist''s tribute to the Dawn Guard, making it look like she hadn''t followed the Draft Notice. Petty revenge aside, that''s going against the City!" "Bastards! Tch¡ª I''d bitch-p them so hard! Do they freaking think this is a game?! We''re here fighting for our lives, goddammit! They make me sick. I just want to¡ª" Across Dawn City, many citizens were busy spatting at the offenders. As for those under investigation, they felt like throwing up blood. "I got framed! It''s all Lizzy Lamprey''s fault. Search her shop. Just do it!" To the guards, it appeared like nothing but a weak attempt at an excuse, yet they couldn''t take any chance with terrorism! They had to move fast! ¡ª Knock! Knock! Knock! ¡ª Not only Guards showed up at Lizzy''s door, but also a dignified old man that had her instantly nervous. This guy was a Teacher at the Alchemy Tower! Even he hade?! His brilliant gaze was hardened, yet he couldn''t hide the headache he was getting about the whole thing, showing even more wrinkles than usual. "Lizzy, you won''t mind if I walk around?" He asked, but it wasn''t really a question. He rhythmically tapped his magical cane on the wooden flooring as he investigated herboratory. His eagle eyes checked everything! "Dust, aphrodisiac residues, this... what is this?!" He cautiously touched a puddle on the ground, smelling it and turningpletely red. "W-why is this here?!" The guards got ready for a fight! Was she actually one of the bad guys?! "Master Alchemist, should we apprehend her?!" "Cough, cough, no need, no need." Suddenly, the "Master" seemed incredibly awkward, confusing the soldiers even further. But as they checked closer, they also turned beet red! This white stuff was obviously¡ª "Anyway, let me do one final test!" The Alchemist Master wanted to finish this investigation as soon as possible. That''s when he got out a ck, evil-looking substance. The thing almost seemed alive as it tried to escape its container to no avail. "Life-Corrupting Poison¡­" Every single being present drew a cold breath. This thing was incredibly deadly. A single drop in an open wound would most likely doom its host! "It was found at the crime scene. I''ll now do something few can perform, a Mana-Signature Check! Whether you''re involved or not will be obvious with this!" The Alchemy Master got to work, wrapping his hands around the deadly poison. If Lizzy''s Mana had been used to create that horror, she''d start glowing. ¡ª ZOOM! ZOOM! ZOOM! ¡ª That''s when it happened! Out of nowhere, a world-blinding glow erupted out of¡­ a particr Picture book stuffed deep in a clothes drawer. Good thing none of that light made it out! As for Lizzy, she didn''t glow whatsoever¡­ "She''s clear. She has nothing to do with this. She''s really just an unfortunate bystander. Sigh, sorry to have disturbed you¡­." They all exited as quickly as they hade. In the now silent room, Jack came out of the room he had been hiding in. "What did I tell you? Jizz on the floor works every time!" At this moment, she wasn''t sure whether to feel impressed or disgusted. She still couldn''t believe she had shown such a disgraceful appearance to an Alchemy Master! Still, how had Jack known that the Master would try to end it ASAP with his best detection method? They had schemed to trick that one technique since the beginning. She had done the Alchemy, but the Old Ghost had provided the Dark Mana! "Cheer up, Lizzy! Let''s go to the Registrar, shall we?" "Y-yes¡­" They strolled out of Lizzy''s Emporium like kings, or Jack did anyway. Never had a baby looked so smug, many aunties eximing how "cute" he looked. Lizzy couldn''t help but shiver¡­ if only they knew the devil that hid inside this tiny body! It became even more apparent when a group of soldiers passed them. Thetter escorted their new prisoner, that one girl who had insulted Lizzy back at the alchemy Tower''s entrance. As soon as she saw them¡­ "Y-you, You, YOU! It''s all your fault! She''s the criminal! LIZZYYYY! Get her! She did it all! It''s all her fault!" She screamed like a shrew as she tried to w her way out. Her smug attitude was nowhere to be seen, reduced to a mad dog. Sadly for her, the guards instantly restrained her once more. As she lost her mind, a certain babyughed¡­ "What a cute baby! See, this is why I do this job, to protect our future!" A friendly Guard eximed, not realizing what was going on. In any case, Jack and Lizzy soon showed up at the Alchemy Tower like conquerors. There were tons of murmurs on their passage, but none dared to confront them directly! Not even that, but the "ck-Sheep Lizzy" posters were even being hurriedly taken down by the cleaning staff. This felt so freaking awesome! Then before long¡­ | Alchemy Tower Registrar! | "Hello, Lizzy Lamprey, I''m here to get my license back!" She beamed at the woman in charge! When was thest time she had felt so confident?! At this moment, she was so d to have met Jack. Sure, his methods were unorthodox and slightly evil, but he was GREAT! "Lizzy, was it? Oh, I see. A note on your file says you need to pay your Alchemist Membership Fees. That will be five gold in total!" "¡­." "SAY WHAT?!" Membership fee, not Draft Notice?! Didn''t this mean that¡­ "Will you pay now or in installments? Miss Lamprey?" The concerned Registrardy asked. Never had she seen that big of a reaction for a mere five golds. At this moment, a certain duo felt incredibly dumb¡­. "I guess we can get the Mandrake now..." . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 9 (STR 3 / AGI 3 / RES 3) SOUL 45 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Framing (F) ?? - Prone to Misunderstandings ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 41 Magical Body Improvement! ?Five gold, five bloody golds! This is what it cost for Lizzy to get her alchemy License back. That was it, nothing else. Then they turned around and spent 200 gold on a Mandrake. That move really baffled the concerned receptionist, who had offered them to pay five gold in installments. Were they rich or poor? Which was it? Either way, Jack and Lizzy left the Alchemy Tower like thieves, rushing out. They felt like they had dropped a nuke on a children''s yground to deal with a little bully. Meanwhile, in the back¡­ "Pfft¡ª Hahaha, kid! This was the greatest thing I''ve seen in my 500 years of (un)life! But with this, we have everything we need to make you STRONG!" It was time to go back to the me Mansion!¡­ and what awaited him was a hero''s wee. His foxes had even practiced human-like pping for the asion! ¡ª p! p! p! ¡ª "Woo! Woo! Woo!" (Master, Master, Master!) Even from here, they could hear the hubbub as the crowds argued endlessly about the previous Alchemy Tower events, schadenfreude filling their hearts! They had sessfully pulled their greatest prank so far! Even now, they still remembered the panicked voices of the Guards trying to figure out where they had gone ¡ª Poof! "Everyone, there''s better news! We have sessfully attained our first goal! Old Ghost, what should be done? It''s time for a POWER-UP!" Amidst a festive atmosphere, the foxes created the most intricate magic miracle Jack had ever seen. Most of the catalysts were turned into magical dust, used to write glyphs! He could recognize some of the characters¡­ but they melded with one another to create new esoterical meanings. It looked incredibly mystical! "Great job! Kid, fire it up whenever you''re ready!" "I just have to insert Mana, eh?" He poured everything he could into it. The energy went from his hand to the magic circle, lighting it up like a neon sign. He could feel the thing¡­ing alive?! That''s when his Mana changed color, turned into a ck liquid, and started swirling like crazy. It was as if he was looking at a Maelstrom! [Ding! Incredible Energy Detected!] [Warning! Do Not Approach!] The system was already going ballistic on his ass. This thing wasn''t just dangerous. It had the potential to sink his body and soul alike! "Step inside, kid, but be ready. It''s gonna hurt¡­ a LOT! Whatever happens, don''t give in to the pain¡­ or you''ll be gone forever." Even the Old Ghost shuddered. Amidst an orange sea of paws up, Jack went in! ¡ª WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH! ¡ª The pain came instantly! The corrupted Mana stuck on his body, trying to devour him, and it felt like he was submerged in acid! It HURT! He was akin to a stic bag drifting into¡­ a hellish washing machine! He was freaking melting and being thrown around! It was the WORST! This thing would have put the greatest torturer to shame. Yet by the side, everyone watched with enormous smiles. This was their Master/Student! Jack didn''t falter. He couldn''t afford to. He needed to learn Magic to be stronger. He needed power to protect his people, he needed power to live a peaceful life, he needed¡ª "ARRGGG!" With an Earth-shattering roar, he resisted the Corrupted Mana''s assault! His mind was akin to an imprable fortress, one fueled by his desires! "Great, kid! Since the frontal attack failed, it will try to tempt you into serving it. Resist. You must resist! It will be near impossible, but you''ll need to¡ª" ¡ª SCREECH! WAIL! ¡ª Before the Old Ghost could even finish his sentence, Jack had resisted! The corrupted Mana had tried its best, but it had fallen short. "Tch¡ª Amateur!" Jack scoffed. This was nothingpared to what he had been offered before Reincarnating! He hadn''t submitted then, and he wasn''t about to submit now! Amidst the darkness, he turned toward the Ghost. Thetter was staring, mouth wide opened as if witnessing a miracle. "Whates next?" "Y-you need to take control. Make it obey, and wee it into your body¡­ but while keeping control. Focus on a mental image of yourself, not to lose track of your identity!" Focus on himself? Alright! Instead of fighting recklessly, Jack actually sat down! That''s when the Corrupted Mana struck back! It invaded Jack''s small frame, trying to take over him again. This almost gave the poor Ghost a Heart attack! "Fool! I told you to focus, not to be defenseless! Crap, all of you, get ready to rescue your master! We''re going i¡ª" He suddenly choked on his words. W-what the fuck was this?! This wasn''t the reaction of the Magic taking over his pupil. No, it was as if it was voluntarily cooperating with him?! "H-how is he doing this?!" "Woo!" (Go, Master!) Meanwhile, inside Jack''s sea of consciousness, the strangest fight ever was underway. Actually, it wasn''t much of a battle and more of a one-sided beat-down¡­ "Had enough yet, you slimy thing?!" A radiant-looking gorgeous woman could be seen trashing a poor, slime-like corrupted being. As for Jack? He was on the side eating imagined popcorn as he chuckled. "Corrupted Mana, meet Lydia Bright, hehe!" This was merely a fake, a mental image conjured from his memories, but it was plenty! This Dragon-of-a-woman wouldn''t lose to something so weak! Amidst monstrous cries of despair, Jack focused on his true identity, the face his mother had given him and the face that had apanied him all his life. Dark ever-messy hair, a slender but toned build, and yful blue eyes, he pictured the best goddamn version of himself, one he could be proud of. "Yes, this is me!" With resolve oozing out of him, he suddenly opened his eyes. Before him were tons of awe-struck foxes and a shell-shocked Ghost. [Sessfully Improved Your Body!] [All Stats Have Significantly Increased!] But just as he was rejoicing, he noticed something wrong with the spectators. What was up with their size? Weren''t they a little too small?! Never mind, they were the same as usual?! He, on the other hand¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 45 ( MAGIC 8 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Evil God Body! (U) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 42 Pick An Element! ?Everyone looked so tiny! "W-what?! How?! I''m big again?!" In what world was strengthening his body supposed to give Jack back an adult body?! More importantly, what was up with that domineering new Skill?! [Evil God Body! (U)] "Old Ghost, what is THIS?!" "It worked. I can''t believe it worked!" Jack had so many questions at that moment. Had this crazy Ghost just gambled with his safety?! What had worked exactly?! "Alright, kid, sit down. I''ll exin everything¡­." Even the foxes sat for story-time, stealing nces at Jack every so often. Was this really their Master? He looked so handsome! Turns out the Old Ghost had once chanced upon an extremely rare body cultivation technique and obtained it after countless sacrifices. Yet all his efforts had been for naught as it could only be used by people who had never practiced body strengthening techniques before. "So you used me as a guinea pig?" "Hey, kid, it''s a great technique! It''s not worth starting over from scratch, but for you, it''s PERFECT! Aren''t you d you met me?!" True, danger was nothing if it brought him safety. Instead of arguing, Jack turned toward his status screen, trying to gather information. But all he found was¡­ [Evil God Body!(U)] ¡ª> Unknown Effect! He closed his eyes, trying to sense his body. But suddenly, he jerked up in shock. What was up with this?! He could feel something foreign in his body as if a dark hole in the pit of his stomach¡­ yet not there?! He could feel it swirl with the remnant energy from the ritual, devouring it as if an ever-hungry beast on the prowl. Why did this thing feel ominous?! That''s when he heard it! ~ Hungryyy ~ Sooo Hungryyy ~ Mooore, need more! This thing wanted more energy, boundless energy. He could feel an insatiable hunger that nothing could possibly quench. But then, with all the Mana gone, it went into slumber. The Dark Hole seemed to freeze as if deactivated, and then¡­ ¡ª BZZZTT! BZZZT! BZZZTT! ¡ª Jack''s entire body trembled as the world gigantified before his eyes. Actually, no, he was the one that was shrinking again! Then a secondter, he was back to his baby body. "W-what just happened?! Did it fail?!" "Hehe, kid, it''s a sess! You simply ran out of Mana: it''s that kind of Skill. Legend says its original owner could turn into a Titan stronger than Dragons andrger than mountains!" So this "activated" ability would buff him as long as it was running but would consume an equal amount of Mana? Was this why it was ssified as Unique (U)? The more Mana he fed it ¡ª> The more powerful it became With his measly 8 Magic, turning into an adult version of himself for a few minutes seemed to be the extent of this technique''s capabilities. Was that even useful? "Hehe, cheer up, kid! Sure, turning big is fun, but that''s just a bonus! Thanks to this technique, the durability of your whole body has increased, even in baby form!" "D-does this mean¡­?!" "Yes, MAGIC!" This was the bestest news ever! Jack''s eyes gleamed with desire, and he was already ready to pull as many all-nighters as it would take. He WAS learning Magic! "Alright, kid, look carefully¡­." Under Jack and the foxes'' eager gaze, the Old Ghost started using countless spells of all elements imaginable. He was like a Random Magic Generator. Fire, thunder, ice, rock, darkness, if one could think of it, he''d showcase it! All besides the holy element, of course. Those were all as harmless as shy, as for their purpose¡­ "So, how does it feel? Which one do you prefer, kid?" "Shouldn''t we test my magical affinity?" Jack knew that much; not everyone had the same talent for every element. Wouldn''t it be better to go with what his body was good at? "Scoff, that''s bullshit! The core of Magic is DESIRE. You must want something so bad that you manifest it through sheer motherfucking will." "I once knew a fish that became a fire Archmage! Do you know how many times he almost grilled himself? But that''s what made him the BEST!" "It''s not about what you can do NOW, but what you want to do so badly that you''ll transcend all world rules to get it! That''s the Dainsleff school of thought, anyway!" W-was he for real?! This challenged everything Jack had always believed and heard all his life. The Old Ghost was crazy, even by their world''s standards, right? Yet, Jack found himself grinning¡­. He freaking loved that! After being thrown around by his Ill-Fate in his previous life, HE''d be the one in control this time! "I want to enjoy myself, crushing my opponents as easily as sipping tea, them not knowing what hit them until it''s toote. Above all else, I want CONTROL!" Jack poured his heart out. This was his second chance. He wouldn''t freaking waste it! This was the life he''d make all his extraordinarily ordinary dreamse true! The more he talked, the more he glowed. As he pictured himself swatting all the troubles that had gued him in his previous life, he felt like a god... and he LOVED IT! "Hehe, kid, I know just the thing for you!" The Ghost raised his hand, a tiny flicker appearing. It formed a bluish arrow thatzily flew around like a swimming fish. Then with a wave, it streaked toward the foxes! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª A secondter, an unfortunate fox found itself¡­ shaved?! Jack barely saw what happened, only seeing a fleeting blue shadow. It was near invisible and so easy to miss! "T-this?! What the hell was this?" "Hehe, kid, this is ARCANE! ARCANE, the purest element in Magic. It was literally Magical Control pushed so far that Mana itself became as sharp as a dagger¡­ without any shy element! This was both the weakest and strongest element there was. It wasn''t that fast, powerful, or even resistant¡­ but it was the most adaptable power ever! It was all about MASTERY! "So, kid, what do you think?" "YES!" A crazy Teacher and Pupil started cackling madly. The nearby foxes wanted to join in the fun but were unable to. For some reason, they had a BAD feeling about this! Chapter 43 Arcane Magic Training! ?"Time for a training montage!" Jack dered, no fox realizing just how scary of a concept it was. After all, Jack''s version of a "Training Montage" meant pushing himself to the utmost limit! He had a small Mana Capacity, but that wouldn''t bloody stop him. Every minute of his waking time was spent training this new Arcane Magic. Bluish lights would erupt from him, only to dissipate in mid-air. Then some more would appear, and more, and more, until he eventually copsed out of exhaustion. But as soon as he woke up, he''d start all over again! His zeal was so intense that the Old Ghost started doubting his sanity. Why did he need power so much that he was ready to suffer so much for it? "Kid, are you trying to kill yourself?!" "I can handle this much!" Yet, it was paying off. After every copse, the bluish lights'' size, definition, and sharpness kept increasing. What started as indistinguishable blurs soon took shape. [Congrattions! Unlocked Floating Arcane¡­ Daggers!?] [ERROR ERROR! This Isn''t a Beginner Spell?!] Who cared if it was a beginner spell or not? This is what he wanted: Flying Spectral daggers, small and deadly, just like him! From that point onward, no matter the time or ce, Jack would have spectral daggers hovering above his palm, head, or even his D¡ª! Eating? Spectral Daggers! Peeing? Spectral Daggers! Sleeping? Spectral Daggers! Anything¡­ Spectral Fucking Daggers! He even asked the Ghost to wake him up whenever he stopped the spell by mistake in his sleep! Training? This was bloody torture! Yet, he kept going¡­ "Kid, how haven''t you gone insane yet?!" "Old Ghost, repetition is the mother of learning¡­. And I your Daddy! Hehehe!" By now, theck of sleep was definitely affecting him. Daddy? This was a 500-year-old ghost he was talking to! The Ghost sighed¡­ was it actually possible to be too diligent?! By now, Jack was a sore sight. Bags under bloodshot eyes, self-inflicted cuts all over, a perpetual crazy grin on his face, and the craziest ofughter erupting out of him 24/7. But just as everyone thought he had already reached peak insanity¡­ he brought the foxes into it! He gathered them all up and¡­ "Everyone, I can''t be the only one training! It''s time for you all to join too. Are you all ready?" He theatrically thundered, thetter showing puzzled expressions. Train? They couldn''t use Arcane in the first ce! Or did he mean creating daggers? A few instantly generated Spectral Daggers made out of mes. "Woo!" (Sess!) "Hehehe, that''s not what I''m talking about!" He hurriedly directed them to draw arge circle of mes. This thing was the wet dream of a metal band! It wasn''t just eye-catching; it was hot as hell! Hadn''t it been for the me Lord repairing the me Barrier, the entirety of Dawn City would have seen its ze! Jack nted himself in the middle. "Rules are simple: you can''t leave this circle. RUN!" Run? What did they have to run from?! But suddenly, Jack''s Spectral Daggers flew toward them! With a yelp, a fox barely dodged it¡­ WHAT?! "I cut, you run, and whoever gets caught loses its fur!" He evilly grinned. From this point onward, he wouldn''t be the only one suffering! Nooo! Was he using the same trick as the Ghost?! This was bad, real bad! Without their fur, they''d look like stray dogs, UNACCEPTABLE! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª But as they dodged, fearful, they suddenly realized something. Weren''t those daggers¡­ really slow? A single sidestep and they''d be out of their range too. Relief overflowed from them as they remembered¡­ they were FAST! A few even started chuckling, going as far as to taunt Jack: "Woo!" (Bring it on, Master!) Many pulled cheeky tongues, some even shaking their butts in ridicule. ''You won''t ever catch us! We''re too good!'', they kept snickering. As for the effects of their taunts¡­ "Hehe, you guys are as good as expected! I chose the right training partners! Let''s get serious, you all!" He enthusiastically replied. So what if they were quick? He simply had to improve until they couldn''t escape him anymore! If other mages could do it, so could he! By the side, the Old Ghost wasn''t sure whether to say something or not. The gap between the foxes'' specs and his pupil''s Magic Stat was way too vast. Training to hit them? He might as well give up now! Yet he remained mum, wanting to see how much he''d progress anyway. Besides, his failed attempts were so entertaining! It kept going and going, and going some more¡­ until everything changed! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª "Woo?!" (Noooooo!) A fox suddenly sorrowfully yelped, its tiny heart beating with shock. H-how?! On its beautiful back, arge patch of fur was missing! "Hehe, never underestimate your opponent!" Jack reminded¡­ but even as he did, he was already going back on the offensive! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª The Old Ghost froze¡­ HOW?! All his experienced as an Archmage was telling him that this was impossible! But as he looked more closely, he understood¡­ feeling dread! Jack had closed the gap with sheer skill and insight. His daggers weren''t that fast, but they were deadly urate! He''d freaking predict all his targets'' movements! It was like he had an aim-bot activated! His previous life hadn''t been for nothing after all. With this, he had turned into a fox nightmare. "Muhahaha, you can run, but you can''t hide!" "Wooo! Wooo!" (Make it stop! I surrender!) "DENIED, we training!" As Jack snapped his fingers, the hapless fox nearest him lost most of his fur! The poor thing had be a living offense to barbers; It looked so pitiful and ridiculous! It was a scene of carnage. Jack kept spamming Arcane Magic, the foxes trying their best to dodge, but to no avail. His precision really was godlike! It almost seemed like he was trying to bully them! But little did the foxes realize that they were also improving¡­ just not as quickly as he was! Their initial straight-lined dodges were slowly but surely bing less predictable. It was just that it didn''t matter against a monster like Jack, who had been dodging bullets in his previous life. Still, they''d definitely see the benefits against regr people! Thus they kept training, totally for all their sakes, not because Jack was teaching them a lesson for the earlier taunts¡­. definitely not! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª "Wooo!?" (AH! Another one shaved?!) Jack ignored their pleas for surrender and kept training until he felt his limits. He had finally attained initial mastery of the spell, pride swelling inside him. "K-kid, you know you''re crazy, right?" "Hehe, of course! But as they say, the future belongs to the insane!" "Insane? You''re even farther than that! You crossed insanity and reached an entirely new realm! Training just like you''ve done for a week is batshit¡ª" "Wait¡­ a WEEK?!" Jack jolted, panicked. He had trained for so long?! What about the Fate Temple thing?! He hurriedly opened his status. [ept Fate Title? 14 hours 17 minutes left!] There was still some time! "We have to get our asses to Fortuna Mountain, NOW!" It was time to put this newfound power to the test... . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 46 ( MAGIC 9 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Arcane Spectral Daggers (F) ?? - Fox-Shaving God! (+ Shaving Efficiency!) ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 44 Trouble At The Gates! ?"Direction, Fortuna Mountain!" Jack and foxes departed on the spot, heading for a Heroic journey! Soon at the edge of Dawn¡­ The crowd flowed freely through the wide-opened gates, and among it there just happened to be a mysterious figure with its features wholly hidden. It strolled, using the crowd to camouge itself. But just when it was about to get to the other side¡­ BAM! Out of nowhere, a fully armored Guard tackled the shit out of it! The sound of bones shattering resounded! Except, that violence was only the beginning. The Guards encircled the target, trapping it in the middle of a sea of shiny halberds! "GAME OVER, you shady bastard!" "Give up! We got You!" Had the guards not been on duty and dealing with a terrorist, they would have certainly been high-fiving each other at that moment. That''s when their leader carefully approached the target, dragging its hood down. But as they saw the being that hid underneath¡­ they had the shock of their life! It was¡­. a GRANDMA! She was in horrible shape, and the soldiers had to rush her to the nearest Healing Center. Still, they regretted nothing¡­ they had to sniff D.L. out before it struck again! A distance away, some foxes suddenly thanked the FireFox God for their Master''s foresight. They had nned to do just that before he convinced them otherwise! "Just as I thought, they''re watching the gates¡­." This was the perfect spot for an ambush. ording to the Ghost, they could have even added traps to disable magical disguises. Either way, they couldn''t take any chances! "Woo?!" (We''re screwed! What now, Master?!) The foxes were already running simtions in their heads, but going against the entire Dawn Guard was probably a bad idea, right? Even they knew the Dawn Lords woulde. "We simply need helpers, that''s all¡­foxes, lead the way!" A few perceptive ones actually guessed what he''d do. They''d set the Divination tent and get allies under the guise of reading their Fate! "Woo!" (Divination time!) "Nope! Here''s why¡­." They could do it, but it would make the recruitment too obvious. Divination ¡ª> Party Suddenly Heading Out! People would follow them out of curiosity, for sure! Plus, if it was seen as him trying to build a faction, it could get his Divination Stall investigated, seriously this time around. No, they needed something else. They rushed to a building that looked more like a tavern than an actual official agency. Yet, the sign at the entrance clearly read: "Dawn''s Adventurer Guild!" If there was a way to describe the ce, it''d be CONFUSING! It was as if tons of different people from different lines of work had suddenlye together¡­ by mistake. Some were well dressed, some so sloppy they seemed as if they had just rolled out of bed, then there were Mages / Warriors / Archers / even Bards with their various instruments. They all interacted together¡­ LOUDLY! Jack had almost expected guards to be present¡­ but luckily, they were banned from the ce. It was barely regted, and that''s how the people here loved it! This was the perfect ce for idiots to showcase their skills, from weak idiots to legendary idiots with more power thanmon sense. For many, building a business or Faction was just too damn troublesome. They wanted to bash shit, save princesses, and get shit-faced!¡­ something Jack could respect. More importantly, this was a crowd the foxes could mix with! Jack and a fox enthusiastically mixed with everyone, soon finding their target. There was a counter that said | Requests | They just needed to ask the people there, right? "Old Ghost, you''re sure they won''t report us to the Dawn Guard?" "Pfft¡ª The Adventurer Guild cooperating? The sun has a better chance of extinguishing overnight! You have nothing to worry about besides being overcharged." Then again, it was expected that hiring mercenaries wouldn''t be cheap. They were risking their lives, after all! For this, Jack was ready to cough up thest of the coins he had. The actual process wasn''t long¡­ "What service are you requesting? Escort to Fate Mountain¡­ right now? Are you sure? Emergency missions cost more, and some weak "opportunist" Adventurers may¡ª Understood!" Seeing Jack''s insistence, the receptionist eagerly epted the coins he handed her, making his request official. As long as he was paying¡­ everything was good! She even gave him an Iron token to "keep track of his request". But merely seconds afterward, something crazy suddenly happened. His request token started heating up, and then¡­ ¡ª Tac-tac-tac! ¡ª Magical writing appeared on the wall! T-this was his request?! It glowed orange and was so eye-catching! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ EMERGENCY! Iron-ss Mission! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Reward: 50 Gold! Target: Employer''s Son Details: Escort the Employer''s Son to the Foot of Fortuna Mountain! Protect him at all costs! *PS: Healer preferred, if possible, to heal after Fate Challenge! ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Just as Jack was eye-balling it wondrously, the Old Ghost exined. To see the writing, one had to be an Adventurer of the appropriate rank¡­ or to have issued the request! This was made to ensure that Adventurers didn''t take missions harder than their capabilities, thus preserving the Guild''s reputation. If anything, Jack sure loved the presentation! Now all they had to do was to wait for people to take the bait! As for how long that would take¡­ probably not too long. There were already many noticing it! "Fortu¡ª Guys, look at this!" "Isn''t that a Solo Challenge? What''s the Escort even for?" "Shhh¡ª Who cares?! That''s easy AF money! Quick, gather the crew, NOW!" Some adventurers were already getting ready., thanking their luck! One thing worth noting was that the ones that were so free as to hang here were mostly¡­ bad. To them, this was a golden opportunity! As for Jack, he didn''t care whether he hired skilled or unskilled workers¡­. He just wanted to cross the Gates! He was already smiling, knowing they''d soon be ready to go! But just as everything seemed to be going well¡­ "Scoff¡ª Leeches!" The scoff carried so much disdain that the atmosphere suddenly changed. It became deadly silent, everyone gazing at the fool that had uttered such preposterous words! "Who''s the son of bitches who¡ª?!" "Yeah, who''s the asshole that s¡ª?!" Except as they saw who it was, they suddenly became incredibly amiable. It was as if they had suddenly met their long-lost rtive. It was a woman, so beautiful that her entire body seemed carved out of godly materials. But that wasn''t what Jack noticed, no, not at all. Light Magic, a Holy Magic User here?! . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 46 ( MAGIC 9 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Moneybags! (Wasteful!)?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 45 Mind Your Goddamn Business! ?Light Magic, a Holy Magic User here?! He recognized it at her glow. It was as if a golden aura surrounded her in permanence¡­ even while she was just standing there looking down on the other Adventurers! She had the appearance of a cleric¡­ outfitted for battle. On the slender side, she seemed to prioritize smiting her enemies with swift and deadly justice. "The Sparkling de?! Isn''t she C-Rank?!" "Yes, never mess with her, for sure!" "W-what is she even doing here?!" She was already moving closer to the wall, inspecting the newly arrived Iron-Tier Mission. That''s when she snorted once more. "All of you talking about profit, but there''s a Child''s life on the line here! You snakes should be ashamed of yourselves! I''ll be taking this Mission instead! " ''Please don''t¡­'' She swaggered toward the Mission-Taking Counter. Instantly, the receptionist''s face lit up with shock. Whoever had posted that Escort mission had lucked out for sure! After all, he was getting a C-Rank Adventurer for free! Jack''s Request Token was already burning in his hand while everyone else was giving up on the Mission. After all, they couldn''t beat a C-Rank! Did this mean that he''d be stuck with her?! But just as he was about to despair, that''s when a Rat-Looking man rushed inside the Adventurer''s guild, straight to the counter! "I''ll take the Fortuna Mission!" He screamed, a cloud of alcoholing out of his mouth. This guy didn''t just smell like a drunk; he looked like one too! How long had it been since hest showered? Not only was his gear a mess, but he also had a look that screamed ''desperate'' in his eyes. Yet to Jack, he looked like a godsend! "YES! He''s perfect!" [Ding! Received Two Mission Applications!] [Option 1: Zoe, the Sparkling de! (C)] [Option 2: Joe, the Drunkard (F)] This guy freaking had Drunkard as a title?! What kind of shitty life did he lead to get to this point? But that was beside the point¡­ Jack could even click on their "profiles" in the system to show their introductions. Was this all thanks to the Token in his hand? How freaking Awesome! Joe: "PLEEAASSEEE. Give me a job! I won''t let you down, Boss!" Zoe: "I''ll ensure no harmes to the child EVER! I''ll even train the little one to make sure he''s ready to face the Fortuna Mountain! I''m not like those sweaty oafs! ^_^v" The choice was freaking obvious! Jack spammed the ept Joe button as if it owed him money! The Zoe girl would 100% act out if his baby self tried to order her around! Even now, she was scolding the Drunkard. "Useless man, what are you even doing here?! Do you really think anyone would ever pick your sorry ass over me? Shoo, shoo, get out! You''re a disgrace to¡ª" She never finished her sentence. [Your Mission Application Has Been Denied!] WHHAAAAT?! How?! This didn''t make any sense! How was she worse than that slime of a man?! But then she saw the note that came with the rejection. [PS: A Mere C-Rank Bullying Others? Disgraceful!] Jack chuckled as he saw her break down in real time. After all that talk, she had been denied?! More importantly, "mere C-Rank"¡­ what was up with that?! One had to know even the Dawn Lords were B-Rank at best! This was CRAZY! But as she had an existential crisis, Jack''s disguised Fox had just given Joe the "package" he''d have to escort to Fortuna Mountain. "B-Baby?! You can''t possibly be serio¡ª?!" "Don''t worry. He''s stronger than he looks. Just do your job well, and you''ll be rewarded. We''ll be watching!" The Fox mysteriously warned before disappearing in a blur. "S-so fast?! Oh god¡­ what did I get myself into?!" Joe despaired as he suddenly came to his senses. What if this was all a ploy to murder some bigshot''s heir using his hands?! He should definitely tell someone, right? But whenever he thought to, he suddenly remembered the "we''ll be watching line": it was already toote to back down. "Sigh¡­ I really hope we survive this, lil'' baby." Just like that, they were gone. As they crossed the gates, many brows were raised, but not of wariness. People simply pitied the baby with the obviously useless "father". It was also the first time Jack saw the outside world in forever. The vegetation was definitely lusher here than it had been on Earth, the Mana filling the air making it a paradise for Magical Beasts. "Lil'' Baby, see this far in the distance? It''s Fortuna Mountain. Legend says that this area used to be t, but the Fate Worshipers built a Mountain to be closer to Heaven." Built a Mountain? That sure sounded fantastical¡­ but it could be true in this world. Perhaps one day he''d be able to with his new Evil Godly Body, right? Not only did Joe act as the perfect guide, but he was surprisingly very diligent at his job. Before every step, he''d check the surroundings to ensure everything was safe. "Remember this, baby. In the wild, what matters isn''t power¡­ but cautiousness and luck! You need to get the fuck out of bandits'' or monsters'' path." Jackpletely agreed with this. Thanks to Joe, it seemed like they''d reach the target without any issues. But just as they were reaching the foot of the mountain¡­ ¡ª GLEAM! GLEAM! ¡ª A golden glow suddenly manifested behind them! Then in a matter of seconds, it had caught up to them. The Zoe girl stood in their way, blocking them. "I finally found you! I came to apologize and¡ª WHAT?!" But then she saw Jack, her tone turning chilly enough to freeze ice. "You, what are you doing with this baby?! You''re not throwing him in there, right?" This was a death sentence! There was no way she''d ever let this happen! She''d not only rescue the baby but would also report both the bastard and the kid''s parents! "Don''t worry, child, I''ll save you!" ''But I don''t need saving¡­.'' Jack felt like crying. Why were there such busybodies in the world? Now he had to convince her somehow to leave him the F alone¡­ how?! Chapter 46 Blade-Stopping Baby! ?"Don''t worry, Child, I''ll save you!" Goddamn! This felt like an impossible problem!¡­ If only he had his foxes! Adventurer Joe was already sweating buckets, so much that Jack felt like he was standing near a freaking waterfall. Not only that, but the Zoe girl was about to attack! No, she did! In a sh, she was already on them, swinging a de of light! There was so much Mana in it that it looked like a stedser sword! Contact with it? ¡ª> DEATH! Getting captured by the girl? ¡ª> House Arrest! (At the Least)¡­ And who knows how many secrets of his would be revealed in the process. HELL NO! Luckily, she had a weakness: a heart of gold! Even now, she was fighting for Jack''s sake, even if she did more harm than good. He could exploit this! He watched the light arch of the de and then¡­ ¡ª WHOOSH! WHOOSH! ¡ª ''Not on my fucking watch!'' Just when her attack was about to collide with the F-Rank Adventurer and incapacitate him¡­ Jack flew right in her attack''s trajectory! "WHAT?!! NOOOO!" At the veryst second, she canceled her move, forcefully enduring the bacsh. "You monster, how dare you?!" She was fuming! "I''m not doing anything, I swear!!! Please, let''s talk this out!" Joe tried begging. Sadly for him, she instantly went back on the offensive! She was a one-woman light show as she struck time and time again, Holy magic illuminating her moves. But every time¡­. JACK! He''d always find himself in the way! At first, she thought the Evil Joe was using him as a shield¡­ but the more the fight went on, the more perplexed she got. W-what was up with this baby?! "T-this is impossible?! H-how?!" "I don''t know! I don''t know anything! Please STOP!!!" Poor Joe was already crying as he kept seeing his life¡­ and a baby sh before his eyes! The little one kept flying in the attack trajectories on his own! Yet, even after all this¡­ he still seemed so peaceful? Why wasn''t he scared at all?! No, this was next level. He''d even happily giggle as he tried to catch her de of light. What the heck was wrong with this baby?! "Stop getting in the¡ª" No, no, the baby was innocent. Someone, somewhere, was messing with both of them! Who was strong enough to toy with a C-Rank so easily?! She finally stopped to catch her breath, at an utter loss. What was she supposed to do now? She wanted to save the baby but¡­ Jack grinned.. .now was the perfect timing! She was exhausted, confused, and eager for answers. It was time he "gave" her some! He tapped the picture book he carried. "Old Ghost, I need your help!" He whispered so lowly that only his target heard him. If he wanted to fool someone as strong as a C-Rank¡­ he''d need to go big, right?! Then before the fight could resume¡­ "ENOUGH! Meddlesome Girl. Are you trying to doom Dawn City?! Stay out of Fate''s way! He''s been summoned by the Fate God!" Jack thundered, the Ghost helping him make his voice echo as ifing from an Ethereal Invisible being! It was so random that it took both parties by surprise. "F-Fate God?" The Zoe girl seemed hesitant. "Ah?! So that''s how it is!" Joe suddenly had an epiphany. That''s when he chimed in, going to incredible lengths to exin the Legend of the Fate God''s trial! How mystical it was and how its Chosen would be protected from danger. "Y-you''re saying this baby''s¡­?!" "That''s the only exnation! Only Fate can exin what happened earlier! Think about it; the Fate God knew you wouldn''t harm him, so it¡­." The more Joe "exined", the more it "made sense". Everything he said was so logical that it almost convinced Jack he hadn''t used Arcane Magic to move earlier! Then he finally finished a long and very colorful expos¨¦. "Do you understand? For Fate''s chosen, this Mountain isn''t dangerous at all!" He concluded, with a radiant smile, d that the baby would be fine. "Is that so?" The Zoe girl still seemed slightly dubious. It was time for thest push! Jack made the cutest baby noises he could while waving his arms around. Then he started pointing at the Fortuna Mountain as if some shiny toy! "GAAAA!" He obviously wanted to go! "See? What did I tell you? He''s been called by the Fate God! We better let him go; stopping him could do more harm than good!" Joe nicely assisted. That''s when Zoe finally relented. Who was she to defy the gods? Besides, she didn''t want to be the one to hinder an innocent baby''s promising future. "Alright, I understand! ¡­ Also, I''m sorry about before, I thought¡ª" "Hehe, all good. Anyone would have misunderstood!" They were already making up as they watched Jack slowly crawl toward Fortuna Mountain. At the entrance stood a stone Arch with countless mystical symbols. The rules were clearly written: | Retreat Impossible: One Challenger at a Time! | Once he crossed it, he''d be in the hands of the Fate God, and as long as he was Fated, no monsters would harm him. The two had the warmest of gazes. "Go on, little one, you can do it!" "Who knows, perhaps he''ll be some great figure in the uing years. Wouldn''t that be awesome? We could brag to everyone about being the ones that brought him here!" They happily chatted but stopped just as Jack crossed the Arches'' threshold. This felt like a historic moment! But as soon as Jack entered¡­ [Wee to Fortuna Mountain!] [Detecting Fate Affinity!] [¡­Zero! Good Luck!] With horror, the two adventurers suddenly saw a swarm of monsters appear on the mountain. What had they bloody done?! The creatures were already eying the baby! "P-perhaps they''ll just watch from a distance and¡ª" ¡ª GROWL! GROWL! ¡ª But they didn''t. With mighty growls, the beasts all charged toward the baby. A feast had presented itself to them¡­ the most tender of them all! "NOOOO!" Zoe instantly reacted. She rushed to his help¡­. But it was a wasted effort. The rules of the Mountain were unbreakable. Her body instantly collided with a magical barrier, stopping her! "What have we done?! Baby, crawl back here, hurry!" She kept hacking at the barrier, every swing more desperate than thest. "I-It''s toote¡­ what have we done?!" That''s when the monster wave engulfed the little one. There wasn''t even a whimper as he got devoured whole¡­. Fate? Fate, my ass! Chapter 47 Fate God Trial! ?Monsters, monsters everywhere! They were embodiments of SAVAGERY! Long fur, scales, sharp teeth, four legs, and a barbed tail¡­ they looked like 5 m apocalypse versions of jackals! Their entire beings emitted POWER! "F-fuck! What the heck''s wrong with this ce?!" Jack barely had time to curse that they were upon him. A gigantic maw magnified before him, the stench of its breath about to make him faint. Every cell of his human DNA was screaming at him¡­ RESIST! "Kid, Dodge!" "Not yet, not yet¡­. Now!" Jack waited till the veryst moment. The maw engulfed him, monster saliva drenched him, and fangs dug deep inside his skin! That''s when he finally fought back! He generated Spectral des! ¡ª WHOOSH! WHOOSH! ¡ª "You bastard, this is what you get for eating people!" He sent Arcane Magic at full-power! It sliced through the fangs like butter, barely saving his life. Yet, now he was stewing in a confused monster''s mouth. [Acidic Saliva! Losing HP!] [You Should Exit ASAP!] "Tch¡ª As if! Old Ghost, how''s the situation outside?!" Jack could already feel his skin peeling off, but the alternative was far worse. "Y-you''re smack right in the middle of the monster pack! One wrong move and they''ll all gang up on you. You¡ª Oh, NO!" The Monster seemed to have realized that something was wrong with the thing it had gobbled. Its mouth started pulsating¡­ it was about to throw them up! He needed a n to survive the others¡­ and NOW! "ARGG! We need a way to distract them! If only it was possible to get some cover to¡ª WAIT?!" Jack suddenly had an incredibly dumb yet crazy idea! Seeing the Spectral Dagger flying next to his hand, the Old Ghost had a bad feeling about this. "Don''t tell me you''ll try to blind them with Arcane Magic?! That''s way too wasteful!" There was no way this could possibly work! At this moment, the Old Ghost dreaded the solo trial rules¡­ would he have to watch his new pupil perish?! Yet¡­ Jack was now showing a confident grin! "Hehe, Evil God Body Time, bitches!" Jack chuckled as he activated his magic. Instantly, his tiny body erged as if a balloon! Usually, this wouldn''t have done much¡­ but given where he was¡­ The poor Monster suddenly felt an incredible force in its mouth before ¡ª SPLATTER! ¡ª Blood sshed all over! W-what?! A Magical Beast had suddenly¡­ exploded?! Its brethren stared, shell-shocked, but this was only the beginning. Before they could regain their bearings, Jack struck again! ¡ª WHOOSH! WHOOSH! ¡ª His Spectral Daggers flew all over! Then a miracle happened; the surroundings utterly disappeared in a rain of smelly bloody fur! The entire world totally turned a disgusting brown! [Fox-Shaving God¡­ Activating?!] Even with the name, the effect was simply "Boosted Shaving Efficiency"! The Ghost by the side couldn''t believe his eyes. Was Jack using a nonbat title¡­ defensively?! By now, he had already deactivated his Evil God Body, returning to his tiny form. He was akin to a baby in a haystack! With the confusion¡­ the monsters were utterly fooled! That''s when a massacre began. From time to time, a creature would actually find Jack¡­ and even swallow him. Except, he weed it wholeheartedly! Then a few instantster¡­ ¡ª SPLATTER! ¡ª W-what the fuck?! Wasn''t he a little too proficient already?! Why did it feel like it wasn''t his first time doing something like this?! "Kid¡­ where the hell did you learn this?!" "Hehe, I used to chuck grenades inside mutants back in the day. It''s pretty much the same game; it''s all about timing and¡ª" A few words and Jack had already lost his mentor. Thus the Beast-ying continued¡­ ¡ª SPLATTER! ¡ª ¡ª SPLATTER! ¡ª ¡ª SPLATTER! ¡ª Then finally, thest Monster exploded. Jack found himself standing amidst a sea of exploded corpses, his entire being drenched in blood and entrails. At this moment, he looked more monstrous than his defeated enemies! [C-Congrattions! Defeated Monster Pack!] [Received 525 XP! Please Assign Your XP!] As soon as he saw the notification, Jack started whistling a happy tune. "? XP, XP, XP! All of you, die! Be fuel for my growth! Your corpses, my stepping-stones! Crimson, the world I''ll dye! I''ll even devour the bones! You dumb things, I loathe! La! ?" He was already singing as he spent his XP¡­ all in MAGIC again! After all, he had pretty much wasted all his Mana in the previous fight, and he was far from done. He scowled at the peak of Fortuna Mountain. "Freaking Fate God¡­ so what if I have zero affinity?! I''ll teach you not to mess with Jack MF Bright! It''s time for RETRIBUTION!" For once¡­ he was PISSED! By the side, the Ghost felt his non-existent blood boil. This kid already had a ughter Song?! How old was he again?! He couldn''t wait to see him shine! He even started to look forward to Jack "confronting" the Fate God! Who knows what would happen, but it would be GLORIOUS! Thus they kept ascending the Mountain¡­ On the way, they encountered more aberrations. The creatures weren''t all the same either, many adopting various disfigured forms: cougars, bears, and even wolves! Yet, it all ended up the same¡­ ¡ª SHRIEK! SHRIEK! ¡ª Their dying shrieks would inevitably resound soon after encountering Jack! He had almost sumbed to the initial sneak attack, but now that he knew what he was doing, ughtering them became increasingly easier, the monsters as smart as bricks! "Something''s wrong. Why aren''t there more powerful Monsters? They''re all F-Rank at best¡­." Even Jack could tell that much. Were they getting ready for a mass assault?! "Pfft¡ª That''s not it, kid! This is a Trial!" Jack could only stare at the Ghost, puzzled. That was precisely his point. Shouldn''t a Trial be more brutal? There had to be something extremely deadly lurking in the shadows, right? "Hehe, you still don''t get it? It was adjusted to be impossible toplete¡­ for a baby! You''re so perversely strong that you broke the Fate God''s Trial, hahaha!" "You mean¡­ no matter what I do, there won''t be stronger enemies?!" "Exactly, kid! Trials are Special, after all!" T-this meant that?! Jack''s entire body shook as he started grinning from ear to ear. This was the opportunity of a lifetime! He wouldn''t let it pass through his fingers! Then after a little more killing, he finally reached his objective¡­ [Wee to the Fate Temple!] [Bask in the Glory of the Fate God!] [Do You Want to Serve the Fate God?!] Serve? Bask in his glory? Pretty haughty of him, wasn''t it? Not only had this bastard baited him to his death, but he wanted even more of him?! "You''re talking a lot of shit for a God with a Temple in dismantling range!" Jack thundered as he gloriously raised his middle finger. Then he got to work¡­ "One, two, three¡­ fuck your Temple!" He started smashing the ce up! For every brick he removed, a monster would show up¡­. but so what?! He could be VERY patient! [This Act is sphemous Against¡ª] "Ignore!" Thus began the craziest demolition work ever. As for negotiating with the Fate God? Too Late! He didn''t want to have anything to do with that asshole! It was time for REVENGE! It took him hours, but Jack didn''t give a flying fuck. He kept sabotaging and sabotaging some more. He kept doing it until, finally, a change happened. A golden beam suddenly erupted out of the Temple¡­ only to shatter! [D-Destroyed the Fate Temple?!] [Passed the Fate Trial? ERROR ERROR! Processing!] "Hehe, process all you want. It won''t change the result! That''s what you get for messing with my hopes! Tsk, tsk, tsk, you greedy, scheming Fate God!" But just as he was rejoicing, there was a sudden change! It started with a slight tremble, then a small shake¡­ and finally turned into an Earth-shattering Earthquake! ¡ª QUAKE! QUAKE! ¡ª Rocks were falling everywhere already! "What the fuck''s happening?!" "Kid, RUNNNNNN!" With the Temple gone, the Trial couldn''t hold on anymore... That day, Fortuna Mountain Crumbled. The entire thing came crashing down in a ginormous cloud of dust, the event so loud that it was heard across the whole region! What kind of crazy reactions would there be to a thousand-year-oldndmark suddenly disappearing? How would people react if they knew a baby had done it?! Yet, the main culprit was not repentant one iota! "Tch¡ª Fate God, you''re one hell of a sore loser! All I did was destroy one measly Temple! Scoff, I''ll get youter for this!" W-what?! He wasn''t done yet?! The Old Ghost suddenly found himself feeling pity for a God. He could already picture the Celestial being coughing blood as it reviewed the scene. This new pupil of his really was CRAZY! "Kid, I think you''ve done plenty already! Besides, we have something else to deal with right now..." The Old Ghost pointed to two gawking figures right next to the copse zone. "Y-you, you''re alive?!" "GASP!" Why the hell were the two Adventurers still here?! Were they THAT bored?! They had even erected a small tombstone for him too... . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Youngest Fate Heretic! ?? - He Who Goes Against Fate! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 48 Drink Till You Puke! ?"Y-you, you''re alive?!" "GASP!" They stood next to a tombstone. It read ?????: "Here lies an innocent soul, imed far too soon by this cruel world." Talk about touching¡­ or not! "RUUNNNN! Jack screamed as he rushed past them, almost coughing his lungs off. There was so much rock dust! F-Rank Adventurer Joe''s body instantly reacted¡­ ZOOM! He ran for his freaking life! What else was a weakling like him supposed to do?! He quickly caught up to Jack and almost got a heart attack as he heard him. "Damn it all! How can a Mountain be THAT feeble?!" Jack was cursing the cheapskate Fate God as he ran. Had it been made of papier-mach¨¦ or something?! "W-what happened?! How can a Mountain just fall like that?! It doesn''t make any sense! What the in the name of Dawn happened here?!" "I conquered the Fate Trial, that''s all" Jack shrugged. Not only was this baby speaking, but he was so nonchnt about it all¡­ how?! Surviving the Fate Trial was already near impossible¡­ but demolishing it?! WTF?! But he wasn''t the only one with questions. "You, who are you? Speak, NOW!" The Sparkling de blocked their way. Only now did she realize how foolish she had been¡­ Everything had been this baby''s doing! He turned incredibly stern. "Have you ever heard of the Fate Envoys?" All trace of frivolity left his eyes as he forced himself to appear as heroic as possible. "Listen, and listen well. I''m one of the few Fate Warriors trying to save this world!" A savior, really? Wasn''t this a little too convenient? What if he was actually a filthy terrorist?! Zoe''s clear eyes became clouded with wariness. Yet, he wasn''t done. "Zoe, right? We gotta go before D.L. arrives! They''ll try to steal the Fate Legacy I obtained for sure! I''ll exin everythingter, just not now!¡ª" He looked so sincere. "F-fine! But don''t even think about getting out of it! Meet in Dawn." She spat out, disappearing in a sh and leaving a relieved duo behind. "It''s just you and me, eh? C''mon, let''s go!" Jack took the lead. Their new party left hurriedly. But just as they were almost out, they suddenly noticed blurry silhouettesing their way. This was BAD! Anyone that saw them leaving would instantly ID them! After all, it didn''t take a genius to know people leaving a crime scene in a rush were likely guilty! Fuck, if only they had Zoe''s speed! Avoiding them was already impossible... Jack solemnly turned to Joe, his gaze as steady as steel. "Our survival will depend on you!" "W-what?! Me?!" "YES!" Jack pointed at the man''s "water" (alcohol) gourd. It was time for him to showcase his extraordinary talent. At this moment, they needed a DRUNKARD! "Drink, drink till you can''t stand! Drink till no one thinks of you as a culprit. Drink till you ain''t a reliable witness anymore. Drink till you be insignificant! Drink till you puke!" "¡­" What kind of request was this?! Never had Joe felt so humiliated! Yet, it was abundantly clear that Jack was dead serious about this! He even gave him a thumbs-up: "You got this!" Thus soon appeared the strangest scene amidst the stone dust. One full-fledged adult was chugging vodka from his "water" pouch while a nearby baby encouraged him. "Chug! Chug! Chug!" Anyone seeing this would have doubted their sanity; it was a n so stupid that it border-lined genius! After all, who would expect it?! Soon, a Drunkard could be seen struggling to put one foot before the other as he left the Copsed Mountain¡­ while carrying a baby! He looked so silly and out of ce that everyone in their path couldn''t help but gasp in shock. "Joe, you''re Joe, right? What are you doing here?!" They''d all ask. "Burp! M-me?! Mission¡­ yes. MISSION! I came here for a mission¡­ I think? But before I couldplete it¡­ BAM! The mountain went BOOM, then CRASH, and RUMBLE!" Even as he recounted his "true" experience, he''d take swings of vodka as he keptining. "W-what am I supposed to do now?! No Mountain, no mission, no money!" Suddenly he started sobbing! "Nooo money!" He was the perfect sobbing drunk! No matter what anyone asked him, they''d only receive sobs and a whiff of alcoholic breath. "Tch¡ª He''s useless! We''re wasting our time!" Seeing the state he was in, many grumbled as they hurriedly left. They wouldn''t care about the ramblings of a drunk! A baffled Joe watched them leave, shellshocked. "I-it worked?! Wasn''t this a little too easy?!" "Eh, don''t jinx us!" Joe didn''t know what "Jinx" meant, but he knew one thing for sure: he''d better freaking listen to that Magical Baby! After all, they''d both be in trouble if caught! Thus it didn''t take long for them to reach back Dawn City. But as soon as they arrived, they were instantly ambushed by Sparkling de Zoe. She gestured for them to follow into a nearby alley, her meaning evident: ''run, and you''re dead!'' A shivering Joe and aposed Jack soon faced her. "You said you''re a Fate Envoy, right? Prove it!" She had a savage light in her eyes. Were he to try and fool her, she''d end him right there and then. Without waiting, she threw a small device his way. It looked exactly like a silver coin... No, wait! The head and tail drawings on it seemed to be alive?! The inscriptions appeared to be swimming in the metal. "Since you''re a Fate Envoy, you should know what it is, right?" She gave him a cunning smile; she was unto him! Jack could already hear an rm Ghost Ringing in his head. "Kid, this is a Fate relic! Only Fate power can activate it. Without the Fate God''s direct blessing, it will be bloody impossible! We''re so goddamn screwed!" The Old Ghost was already trying toe up with survival ns. At this moment, he regretted so much having lost his physical body. His current self was far too weak! But just as he was about to make a move¡­ "That''s it? Sure!" Jack chuckled as he pressed his hand against the coin. Then a secondter, the thing started glowing red on both sides as if red-hot iron! "W-what?! You were telling the truth?!" Zoe eximed, shocked. Didn''t this mean that D.L. was really after his life?! Who was he actually to have been Chosen by the Fate god at such a young age?! Little had she realized it shone, but the wrong color. Jack had made the thing react¡­ but not for the reason she believed! No, it was all because of an ability he had received after destroying the Fate Temple! [Sessfully Went Against the Fate God!] [You''ve Stolen a Fate Divinity fragment!] ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Unlocked "He Who Goes Against Fate!" + U Tier Fate Seeing Eye! (Stolen)?? + F Tier Insanity Impartation! ?? + Abhorred by Fate! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ He had be the Evil Version of a Fate Envoy! Luckily, Zoe didn''t see through him at all and misunderstood everything! "Sorry, I''m so sorry. I should have believed you in the first ce!" She was already apologizing, feeling bad about how suspicious she had been. "No worries, take care. I have things to do." Jack casually dismissed the offense, appearing as forgiving as a saint. But inwardly, he was already boiling with excitement! He couldn''t wait to test his newfound Fate powers¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Stolen Fate Seeing Eye! (U) ???? - Insanity Impartation! (F) ???? - Abhorred by Fate! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 49 Greatest Fox Hospitality! ?As soon as Jack and the Old Ghost were alone¡­ "Kid, you can fool that girl, but you can''t fool me! The Fate God Cursed you, didn''t he?! This is BAD!" "Hmm? But I even got a cool Title! Not to brag, but I''m the youngest Fate Heretic!" Jack chuckled, even striking a pose. "¡­?!?" Was he for real?! Just as the Ghost was about to berate the youngster, he suddenly saw the teasing gleam in his eyes. "Wait, that''s not all¡­ Don''t tell me you actually unlocked an Ability?!" Jack winked as he gave a summary. "F-Fate Seeing Eye?! Seriously?! Perhapspleting the Fate Trial somehow unlocked it automatically? Either way, you need to Train that new Unique Skill for sure!" "Agreed. Where''s the best ce to start?" "Home. Gotta be careful with vision abilities; People get angry when you spy on them." The Old Ghost sighed as if remembering painful memories. Thus the party returned home. But as soon as they crossed the barrier of the me Mansion¡­ A couple of half-shaved foxes rushed to them, panicked. "Woo!" (Master,e quick!) "Woo!" (Master, Hurry. We can''t stall anymore!) "Woo!" (Visitors, lots of them! They''re here for you, Master!) The foxes cried out one after the other. Jack had barely been gone a day, but this time frame had been unbearable for them as they had to hide his absence! Training would have to wait¡­ Jack rushed to his room, sneaking in by entering a back window. Meanwhile, a procession of warriors carrying treasure chests could be seen out there. Offerings? Perhaps just bait... "How long have they been there? And what do they want?" "Woo!" (Right after you left! No idea, Master!) The more they talked and the less Jack understood. Apparently, they had tried meeting with the me Lord to no avail¡­ so they hade here instead? "How did they even go through the me Barrier?!" "Visitor tokens, probably. It allows an audience¡­ Don''t tell me the me Lord forgot about it and technically made you second inmand?" The Old Ghost sighed. "Isn''t this super dangerous?!" Jack eximed. "No, it strips the visitors of all power. They''re risking their lives, if anything. Anyway, do you know them? Purple outfits with lightning Ravens, does that ring any bell?" So they were the Thunder Lord''s men, eh?! What did they expect to aplish by meeting a baby? Were they possibly suspicious of him? It couldn''t be¡­ right?! Either way, Jack knew just how to deal with them! "Foxes, assemble!" He nced at them all. "Good job stalling, but you guys shouldn''t forget to be hospitable! Sigh, I can''t believe you left them at the mercy of the elements out there! Now, go out and build them a shelter!" Jack ordered! At first, the foxes were he puzzled. Elements, what elements?! This ce was warm and cozy all year long! But then, a few smart ones realized what he meant. "Woo!" (I see! How scheming!) Their Master clearly didn''t want to entertain the neers, but he wouldn''t outright turn them away either, nor "voluntarily" offend the Thunder Lord. No, they would make them choke with so much hospitality that they''d eventually leave by themselves! That was the start of a bizarre trial for the already very bored visitors. They were low-key chatting: "Can''t we just leave? This is so damn dull!" "Shh¡ª You''re an ambassador now. Waiting is literally your job! We just need to stick around until we meet the me Young Master, that''s all!" "He didn''t appear before. Why do you think we''ll see him today? Those foxes are obviously wary of us. What if they don''t let us meet him?!" "Hehe, do you really think a kid his age will stay cooped up in his room all day long? No, they''ll bring him to get fresh air at some point. That''s when we''ll strike!" Jack heard every single word. They had ounted for the foxes and had made sure not to be heard by them¡­ but the Old Ghost could easily bypass this! "So, they''re here for me?" Jack raised a brow. It didn''t seem like they were suspicious of him, nor did they look like they had any murderous intent. Still, they were scheming something! As for what it was¡­ who freaking cared?! He wasn''t about to step into such an obvious trap! No, he simply chuckled as he watched the drama that was about to unfold. Day 1: Foxes brought the visitors some beds. Except said beds weren''t the soft kind, but hay and branches all strewn together to look like bird nests. The foxes proudly urged the visitors to try their new beds. It was highly ufortable. It was as if they had voluntarily made it as torturous as possible. Then again, looking at their naive mugs, it couldn''t be. Day 2: The foxes brought the visitors "tents". They actually brought whole bushes from who knows where and showed the soldiers how to use them. "Woo!" (Hide yourself in the middle¡­ It protects from wind and rain!) Under the insistence of the foxes, a few soldiers had to crawl inside a bush to please their "hosts". The foxes left their tails wagging, knowing they had done a great job. Day 3: This time, delicacies were brought to the soldiers. The foxes happily brought tender meat to their visitors. There was just one slight issue, why was it RAW?! A Fire should be the least of worries for the me Mansion, right?! Yet, the tiny creatures just wouldn''t leave them alone, so a couple of men soldiered on, faking satisfied noises as they devoured the bloodiest flesh of their lives. Day 4: After bedding, housing, and food came¡­ cleaning! But they didn''t bring any water. Nope, it was done animal-style! The foxes showed up and started licking the soldiers clean! Before long, most of them were dripping in saliva! That''s when many started to wonder if the foxes were bloody trolling them. Why was their hospitality so annoying?! Were they trying to help or drive them away?! They wanted to be angry¡­ but every time they saw the foxes rejoicing at being "helpful", they''d feel at a loss. Besides, starting a war over this was ridiculous! So they endured¡­ But then came day 5, and everything changed. After a good meal and a great bath, all that remained was to have LOTS of fun! That day, all the foxes in the me Mansion organized a game of Tag¡­ fireball tag! ¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡ª ¡ª BOOM! CRASH! RUMBLE! ¡ª This was the sound of the entire me Mansion''s topography changing in real-time thanks to a barrage of deadly fireballs. It was a scene from Hell! The sound of projectiles was so loud that the cries of the "visitors" wentpletely unheard! It was as if a fiery Apocalypse had suddenly dawned on them! "P-please stop!" "What the heck is this?!" "Men, we retreat, or we''re all gonna die!" The poor leader suddenly had to sound the retreat from enemy territory. They rushed out with their tails between their legs; This ce was madness! As they left thepound, their hearts beat so crazily, many showing slight burns just from the air heating up after fireballs passed near them! "L-leader¡­ do you think they were trying to drive us out?!" "I honestly have no damn clue. Those foxes look so dumb; it wouldn''t surprise me if they really meant well." He couldn''t help but sigh profoundly¡­ what a failure! As for Jack, he was chuckling at home while petting his foxes. He still had some XP from Fortuna Mountain. "Now, who wants some petting?" Amidst a blissful sea of foxes, Jack finally had the peace of mind to train, thanks to the intruders being gone. "Activate Fate Seeing Eye!" He mumbled to himself. That''s when the world changed before his eyes¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Worst Host Ever! ?? - Incredibly Cautious! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 50 Playing House.. The Henderson House! ?"Activate Fate Seeing Eye!" That''s when the world changed before his eyes! Before, there had just been some silly foxes, but afterward, they became silly glowing foxes! Somehow, they all had auras that ranged from bronze to silver. Was this considered good or bad? Either way, they seemed to be thriving! But that wasn''t all. Every time he''d assign them XP, their glow would increase! "Kid, I heard that the Fate Worshipers see the world in three colors: bronze, silver, and gold. Is it true?" The Ghost curiously asked. "I only see bronze and silver¡­." "Makes sense. Gold should be reserved for special events or people. I heard that the deeper your mastery, the more you can see too." "Oh? So I''d see more colors eventually?" "Nope, but the gold you could see with your current mastery could appear bronze to another more skilled individual. Meanwhile, some items may be hidden from you." So that''s how it worked? How interesting! Jack didn''t wait for a second as he toured his room, trying his best to find anything of value. Nope, nope, nope, not this one either! Wait¡­ what if?! Without waiting, he rushed toward the Statue that hid the FireFox God''sir! The thing didn''t glow one bit! Was he too low-level, or was it too deep underground? "So, how do I use this power practically?" "Beats me¡­" The Old Ghost shrugged. Fate was an elusive concept. How would he even know? This concerned an entire faction''s secrets, after all! "But, I have a suggestion¡­." A suggestion? Jack was all ears! "Remember, it''s a vision ability. You just need to find someone with a simr vision ability and copy whatever they did to train! It will definitely probably, perhaps, help!" Luckily, it just happened that Jack knew one such individual. "Thanks for the tip, Old Ghost. I know what to do!" It was time for another outing! Except, this time, there was no need to sneak out. He would go on official business! "You all, bring me to the me Lord!" Jack dered. In no time, he stood before the meditating me Lord¡­ still as naked as before. Then he used his secret weapon, baby speech: "Ma-ma!" Instantly, her entire body shuddered as she opened her eyes in shock. Jack?! How the heck had he entered her training room?! Was that a heat shield around him?! "Jack¡­ how did you do this?!" "Sha-Sha, y!" He expertly dodged the question, asking for what truly mattered here. After all, so much rested on this "y date". Seeing his begging gaze, The me Lord turned apologetic. "Ah, that''s true! You must be tired, always cooped up in here. Fine, you can y with the Aisha girl. Foxes, escort him to the Henderson''s Estate!" Really?! The foxes danced with joy! Sure, sneaking out was fun, but so was sauntering proudly in the streets. More importantly, they''d be able to parade with their super duper amazing Master! Their tails were already wagging in expectation, not a single one wanting to remain behind! Thus soon began the first Fiery Fox exodus ever. Each of their steps made the hearts of whoever saw them skip a beat. What the heck was this¡­ a beast wave?! But as they recognized the foxes, their hearts skipped two more beats! "H-how many Fiery Foxes is that?!" "This time, they''re marching to war, for sure!" "Wait¡­ maybe they''re gonna apprehend the culprit who destroyed Fortuna Mountain?" "W-What if they''re the ones that destroyed it as a diversion?! Maybe they''re taking over the City?! Look, they even shaved their fur: it''s warrior marks!" Many shivered. Jack couldn''t help but scoff. Did they think this was an "Everything Changed when the Fire¡­Foxes Attacked" moment?! Nope, he was just visiting his subordinate¡­ But as they reached the Henderson''s Estate, Jack rubbed his eyes, shell-shocked. How?! They had already repaired pretty much everything! #Magical Capitalism? Impressive! Soon at thevish gates... "WOO!" (We came to y!) The woo was so powerful that it terrified everyone in the surroundings, the Estate guards turning white. What did the beasts want this time? Was this a takeover?! The Patriarch once again came running. "Wee, wee! What can¡ª" But before he could even finish, the fiery foxes were already invading his courtyard! They rushed through the open gates as if a godly swarm of locusts. "Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!" It felt like a fluffy Apocalypse was upon them! But just when they thought it was officially the end of their faction, they all stopped before a certain girl''s bedroom. ¡ª Knock! Knock! Knock! ¡ª A sleepy Aisha opened the door only to freeze. What the heck was this so early in the morning?! "Hehe, morning, sleepyhead. Ready to take over the world?" Jackughed. "S-sure¡­?" That''s when the Patriarch finally caught up, out of breath. "Aisha, he came to see you? Good, no great! Make sure you entertain him, alright? How about you two y house?" The Patriarch couldn''t have been more supportive. Little did he know that ying house was precisely what Jack had nned¡­ ying the Henderson House! "Foxes, spread out. Aisha, full report!" "A-alright¡­" Jack sat on a fluffy bed amidst a sea of stuffed animals, somehow towering over her like a king. As she exined the situation here, he''d sometimes nod and even grunt. "So you''re telling me the Henderson Estate is about to send tons of invitations to the ming Masquerade? Cancel 2/3 of them! I want this event to be exclusive AF!" "Wouldn''t that offend whoever didn''t receive one?" She asked, perplexed. Not unnecessarily making enemies was a core concept of being a merchant! "I don''t care! Even Dawn Lords should have trouble getting their hands on an extra invitation; that''s how rare I''m talking about. You gotta regte supply!" "Regte supply¡­?" "You want them cherishing those invites more than their first-born son! This isn''t just a social event, but a chance at increasing their Factions'' Power! Understand?" The more he exined, the wider her mouth grew. He wanted to use the Masquerade to Influence all the Powers in Dawn City?! This was madness! Yet, he seemingly had thought of everything already, from how the invites should be to how the actual event should go, with countless ways to profit from it! It was so much scheming that she felt her brain was about to turn to mush, trying toprehend a fraction of it. Jack was a freaking monster! ¡ª ng! ¡ª That''s when the bedroom door opened, the Henderson Patriarch showing up¡­ carrying apple slices and cheese? Was he that bored as to act as a maid now?! "Hey, kids, are you having fun? Who wants a snack?" It was his way of checking out how everything was going. As he surveyed the room, he almost had a stroke. The baby was on the bed alone while Aisha stared nkly at the empty air. Was this how she entertained the little guy?! He was about to scold her, but then she noticed him. Jack was already giving her a meaningful look. ''Do it!'' "D-dad, about the me Masquerade¡­." She repeated the words she had just heard to the best of her ability. Mere seconds into her speech, the trey of snacks came crashing down! "T-this¡­ this¡­ this¡­" The Patriarch was already in shock. With this, their Henderson family would soar to Heaven! "Daughter, you''re AMAZING! You can count on me. I''ll do everything you said!" He rushed out, his eyes gleaming with madness. Yet he had barely left that a profound sigh resounded in the room. "You got about 30% of it right¡­ were you even listening?" If that 30% was enough to make her father mad¡­ how would he react were he to hear everything?! At this moment, she wasn''t sure whether to feel awe or terror. "Whatever, it''s fine. Next thing on the Agenda: where''s that big guy that kidnapped mest time? It''s time for some payback¡­." He chuckled evilly. Oh god¡­ Chapter 51 Devouring It All! ?"It''s time for some payback!" "P-Please don''t hurt him! He''s a friend!" Aisha panicked, afraid Jack would take revenge on the gentle giant who had once kidnapped him. Hurt him? As if Jack could in the first ce! He was OP for a baby, but he didn''t have that kind of power. No, he still had a very long way to go. "Pfft¡ª Do you think I''m part of the Mafia or something?! I just heard that he''s able to see auras. I''m just curious about it, you see. How is such a thing even possible?" "Ah?! Do you promise? I actually know a few things about it!" Aisha began the tale of the gentle giant called Hendricks. He had once been the strongest C-Ranked Adventurer, only to lose his eyes to a basilisk attack. "Wait, back up¡­ a basilisk attacked Dawn City?!" "Oh yeah, it happens from time to time." That time, Hendricks had saved countless random bystanders, including the Hendersons. To thank him, they had tried their best to heal his eyes, only to failmentably. Despairing, the gentle giant had left Dawn City. But just when everyone thought he had retired for good¡­ he came back with this new Aura vision of his! "How did he train it?!" Aisha seemed to hesitate, acting all mysterious. "Keep it a secret, but he journeyed to the Lair of the Forest Druids¡­ and met an Elf!" She theatrically announced, grinning. "Lair of the Forest Druid? Where''s that?" "About a month away from Dawn City! It''s a magical ce with¡­." A month?! It was just impossible right now! Even the aloof me Lord would notice such a long absence¡­ and that''s assuming he survived it! He sighed with frustration¡­ That''s when the Old Ghost chimed in: "Kid, I have a suggestion if you need power quickly." The more the Ghost talked, the deeper the light of greed glowed in Jack''s eyes. This could work?! Talk about an incredible cheat! He turned once more to Aisha. "Your dad did order you to keep me entertained, right? I want to tour the ce, then! Quick, show me the Henderson''s Treasury!" Jack ordered. "T-that¡­ I don''t have that kind of ess!" "Are you sure? Ask your father! See it as a test of your Speech Skills. If you can''t even convince one man, you won''t have any future as a merchant. You''d be better giving up!" He was akin to a devil, coaxing her into doing bad deeds. He even sweetened the deal: "If you seed, I''ll give you something amazing!" "F-fine, I''ll try!" Thus they started touring the Estate, in search of its Patriarch. On their way over, they saw countless foxes all sprawled on the ground,zily sleeping. They looked so damn cute and inoffensive¡­ but their ears would imperceptibly twitch whenever they heard something noteworthy. They were actually gathering information! Eventually, they did reach their target. "Dad, I need ess to the treasury, and here''s why!" The Patriarch didn''t even have time to ce a word that she was already listing the benefits: 1. A souvenir would make Jack''s visit more memorable 2. The shiny treasures would please him for sure 3. It would bring them closer to the me Lord! "In conclusion, this isn''t just a financial expense, but a proof of trust toward the me Mansion. It sends a clear message that we''re wholeheartedly cooperating and even¡ª" "Enough, enough! Alright, you can, but only one item each!" The Patriarch actually epted, giving her a golden key. After all, she had proved herself so wise recently! He even watched the both of them leave toward the Treasury with a small smile on his lips. "Sigh, they grow up so fast!" Little did he know the evil he had just invited in¡­ | Henderson''s Treasury! ess Restricted! | It was a corridor protected by countless traps. Even an amateur like Jack knew that going inside meant assured death! But just as they came closer¡­ it all disappeared! [Treasury ess Key Activated. Wee! ] The two quickly entered a magicalnd. Everywhere their eyes rested, they''d see shiny stuff glowing with magical lights. Now, this was what a real treasury was supposed to look like! It was such a contrast to what he had seen back home! "Remember, we can only pick one each!" Aisha seriously reminded as she went searching for some easy-to-wear magic jewelry. Meanwhile, Jack approached a random pile. He focused, delving inside himself as he looked for something very specific: the magical ck-hole from back then. As soon as he poked it with Mana, it re-awakened! Jack could hear it whispering: ~ Hungryyy ~ Sooo Hungryyy ~ Mooore, need more! That''s when he touched a nearby Treasure Sword. Instantly, his ckhole started swirling faster and faster until it became utterly active! It smelled FOOD! "Go on, take it, eat to your fill. But in return¡­ give me POWER!" [Absorbing Mana from Artifact!] [All Stats Increased Drastically!] This thing was so damn pleasant! It felt like having his entire body massaged! He suddenly felt like he was ten years older! He hurriedly turned toward the remaining artifacts. As for the one artifact limit, he''d simply find a way to reimburse the Hendersons. For now, he''d ride this huge Power-UP wave! Under his touch, artifact after artifact turned to dust. Some were too high-level for him to absorb, but he''d just put them aside and kept absorbing. This felt so goddamn GREAT! After a few minutes, Aisha came back, only to freak out. "W-what have you done?!" Next to him was a pile of artifacts and a pile of dust, thetter muchrger! Without realizing it, he consumed so much that it made the room noticeably empty. "That? I''m growing stronger! Don''t mind it." He remarked, not a trace of remorse. After all, judging by the Ghost''s exnations, this treasure for Power trade was incredibly worth it! Soon, his status screen looked AMAZING!... ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 26 (STR 9 / AGI 9 / RES 8) SOUL 53 ( MAGIC 16 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ He had gained 8 Body Points and 6 Soul points in one go just from touching random treasures?! This was more than impressive! But just as he was rejoicing¡­ he felt something wrong! The vortex in his stomach suddenly started swirling faster, faster, and faster! Then it mercilessly¡­ took back all of this newfound power of his! He could sense it leaving him by the second! [Evil God Body Absorbed STR!] [Evil God Body Absorbed! AGI] [Evil God Body Absorbed WILL!] [¡­.] It kept going and going until¡­ [Congrattions, Evil God Body Leveled up!] With trembling fingers, Jack opened his status once again. He suddenly had an awful feeling about this. But as he saw his status, he jerked in shock. "W-why?! Did it just revert back?!" ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6 / AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ So much for taking a shortcut... Jack didn''t know whether tough or cry. Luckily, his Evil God Body had leveled up, right? Yet even as he carefully checked it, he couldn''t see any change. But just as he was epting his loss, he heard the shaken voice of the Old Ghost. "D-Don''t tell me?! Oh my god! Your affinity for this thing is beyond freakish; you''re a natural! This is BAD!" "Bad, how?! Exin yourself!" "Kid, I have good news and bad news..." He sounded like a Doctor about to diagnose him with cancer! Never had Jack ever seen him so solemn and somber. "Good news: this Evil God Body Skill of yours has way more potential than we initially gave it credit. Heck, with your affinity, the sky is the limit!" But then he sighed profoundly. "Bad news: it will devour everything in this world, starting with yourself. If you don''t feed it regrly, you''ll only have a few months to live at best..." What the fuck?! At this moment, the world seemingly turned gray, and it wasn''t from all the artifact dust in his eyes... . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 18 (STR 6/ AGI 6 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - He Who Devours ?? - Mana Absorption (F)?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 52 NVM... Evil God Body = Freedom! ?"It''s not actually that bad." Jack sighed in relief once he heard everything. This Evil God Body skill could bepared to a Monster Pet. As long as he fed it regrly, there wouldn''t be any issue. It''s only if he forgot it that he would end up devoured. As for feeding it, he had multiple choices. Either he could train and feed it his own Power, or he could feed it Items containing Mana. Thus Jack quickly regained hisposure, but that wasn''t the case for everyone involved. At this moment, heavy sobbing came from his side, Aisha''s warm handnding on him. "You poor thing! This is so sad!" "I really am fine. It''s not that big a deal¡­." If anything, he was more pissed at the Ghost for revealing himself to her in his panic. Thanks to that, Aisha had entered full-on "sympathy" mode. "You don''t have to act tough. Take all the Artifacts you need to cure your affliction, and I''ll exin everything to my father!" She had the look of an angel. Was this the same girl who had been calling him viin left and right the first time he hade to her house? By now, she was even suggesting escorting him back home to rest. "S-sure¡­" Jack gave up on clearing the misunderstanding, leaving the Henderson Estate with his army of foxes. Back at the me Mansion, he was weed by the me Lord. "How was it, Jack? Did you have fun?" "Yes!" Perhaps he had a little bit too much fun even. Seeing how happy he looked, the me Lord left, satisfied. As soon as she did, Jack went to his room, undressing instantly. Poof! He suddenly grew up, reverting to his adult appearance! He was looking for any visible change¡­ only to freeze, not knowing whether tough or cry. In the mirror, his body was way more chiseled than it had been. One could even see his eight packs in all their splendor. Yes, eight, not six. "What kind of level up is this?! Am I even human¡­" "Pfft¡ª Don''t worry, kid. This ought to be temporary! Transformation abilities often show weird stuff after a level-up. It''s just the time your body takes to adjust itself, is all." He tested Power, Speed, Resilience, and everything else he could think of, but in the end, there was but one thing that had increased¡­ the transformation''s duration. A few minutes ¡ª> Half an hour! At this moment, he didn''t regret learning this skill one bit. So what if it would cause trouble down the line? It allowed him to be himself again! (almost) He''d take suffering rather than being stuck in a baby''s body 24/7, every day! He could already think of something fun to do with this body, feeling mischievous. "My trusty minions, fetch me some clothes!" "Woo!" (Right away, Master!) Before long, he was ready to go, wearing the most normal pants and an even simpler shirt. He was ready to mix with the crowds of Dawn City! Thus he departed¡­ alone! "Woo?!" (What?! You''re leaving us, Master?!) "Pfft¡ª No need for the puppy eyes. I''ll be back right away." He departed with a pep in his steps. For the first time ever, he neither had to hide nor was he directly in the spotlight. Suddenly, he had be an Extra Character in the city, one no one would care about. It felt so peaceful¡­ If anything, a few showed wry smiles seeing how happy and optimistic he looked. Thus he navigated the streets, heading for a shop he was very familiar with. | Lizzy''s Lustful Emporium! | As soon as he pushed the door, he was weed by the deep smell of herbs and magical catalysts. It felt like he was in a mystical forest filled with wonders¡­ instead of the usual fox fur odor. "I''ll be with you shortly! I''m finishing up a potion." Lizzy called from the other room. Jack chuckled as he patiently waited. Then as soon as she entered the room, he waved at her. "Hey there! I''m looking for something very specific. Would you happen to have perfumes that charm people and puts them in a great mood without them noticing?" He might as well ask for the ming Masquerade while he was at it. But just as Lizzy was about to reply, she froze. There was definitely something wrong with this guy! As soon as she had seen him, she had felt her heart beating and could sense an incredible sense of familiarity in those blue eyes of his. What kind of d¨¦j¨¤ vu was this? Still, how was that possible? The only people she had hung out with recently were all foxes and a baby who¡ª Wait¡­ What the actual fuck?! "T-this¡­ how?! I-It''s you?! You''re him?!" This was so baffling, yet this look suited him so much! At this moment, she seriously questioned if there was anything in this world that he couldn''t do. Yet, he was perplexed. "How did you figure it out? I barely said anything, right?" "Scoff! You''re the only one with a gaze that scheming in the entirety of Eternia! It wasn''t hard to figure out!" She retorted, the sharpness of a Genius Alchemist showing. This actually made sense. It didn''t take long for them to discuss Jack''s future ns. This time, he had one hell of a job for her, one that would make any Alchemist jump out of their boots. "What?! You want me to take care of the ming Masquerade, ME?!" This wasn''t just a promotion but a straight-up money-printing opportunity! "Yep! That''s exactly it! We''ll need¡­." The more he shared with her, the paler she became. Did he want to use restricted drugs at the party? Right next to the Dawn Lords, to boot! "Are you insane?!" She cried out. "Yes, but you knew that, right Lizzy?" he teasingly winked. "F-fine, but we''re doing this my way!" She insisted. "Great! Now, there''s something else I need." Just as she expected another illegal thing, he took her byplete surprise. "I need vision training and lots of XP. Where can I find those? "Hmmm. Have you tried the Appraisal Guild? You can probably find apetent one at their Myriad Treasure Pavilion. As for the XP, outside the city is your best bet." Oh? There was appraisal in this ce?! How cool! "I wonder if they''ll be able to Appraise this book", Jack chuckled as he brandished the Ghost''s vessel, thetter turning fearful and restless. "Y-you can''t!" "Pfft¡ª Kidding, just kidding, rx." Why did he sound like a shy maiden? So much for a 500-year-old Ghostly Archmage... Chapter 53 Hidden Master! ?| Myriad Treasure Pavilion! | "So this the ce where Appraisers gather?" Jack gazed at what looked like the ancient version of a Mall approvingly. He hade here for one and one reason only: to unlock his Fate abilities. The sooner he did it, the better he''d feel! He wouldn''t rest before he at least got a lead! This ce was bustling with people yet had a mystical feel to it. Countless strange objects would find their way here, Mages haggling over them. Some were very intriguing, to say the least¡­ "Is that an owl skeleton?¡­ in a jar?!" "Not just any owl skeleton, Customer! It was blessed by an avian god before its demise and contains traces of a wind spirit. ce it in your house for fresh airflow!" Then next to it, there was a long scepter that seemed heavier than thergest of maces. "What about this thing? It looks a bit too heavy, doesn''t it?" "Oh, you have a discerning eye, Customer. This is a relic of the past. Back then, people were a little less... refined. This one is a Mystical Staff of Great Bashing!" From weird armaments to artifacts to long-lost historical treasures, they had it all. Each item would have its own sticker pped on it, showing the item prices. It was akin to a bazaar, with most of the items being obscure and not necessarily that practical. There was also something else to note: each shop had its appraisers. At times,peting shops could be seen arguing. "You priced this at 34 gold? It''s worth at least 35, you blind bastard!" "Scoff, that''s only because you don''t know shit! 35 is far too much, 1 whole gold too much! Are you trying to cheat your customers?! I swear I''ll report you to the Guards!" Jack looked at it all happened with a wry smile. Was there really a need to fight over such little difference? Apparently, yes, and all the appraisers agreed. He started looking at all the stalls as he activated his Fate Seeing-Eye. "C''mon, give me a clue." He was using his ability in a bid to improve that very same ability. As for the results? They were pretty bad. No matter where he looked, he''d mostly see a sea of bronze auras. Heck, even the most popr shops had Appraisers that looked amazing but barely glowed in his eyes. Was this a situation of people using marketing to cover forck of personal skills? He couldn''t me them as he had done the very same with his Divination Tent. But just as he was about to give up, he finally noticed a shop that looked different from all the others. It stood alone in a corner and could only be called shady. There was dust on all the shelves, and the owner wasn''t even attending the counter. No, he was taking a nap behind it, his snores so loud that it made his stall neighbors frown. As Jack approached, a bystander amicably spoke to him. "Young man, you''re wasting your time. This guy is theziest shop owner ever. All he ever does is sleep all day, and he won''t even answer customers. Still, that''s not even the worst!" Thetter chuckled as he pointed at a Green Buddha statue, as dusty as the surroundings. On it was a price tag that read < Emblem of Fortune: 2337 Gold! > So expensive?! Yet, this simply intrigued Jack even further. He approached the thing, inspecting it from all angles. No matter how he looked, it was a worthless piece of Jade. At best, it had some aesthetic attributes. As for his Fate vision? It revealed nothing at all, the shop not containing even a single item with even a bronze glow. How was this even possible? ? Either those were actually great treasures¡­ or maybe they were straight-up fakes? The signs nearby seemed to point to the whole thing being a scam for sure. < You touch it, you buy it!>, < No return! I don''t care!>, and < Anyint? Get out of my shop!> It was a leading example of how to turn away customers! The same customer from before chuckled as he read the signs too. "He lost everything but this shop that belongs to him. He now lives here, not giving a hoot about anything else. After all, that''s where his son used to¡ª" That''s when a slippernded straight on the man''s face. The sleeping man had thrown it, only to return to sleep right after! What kind of skill was this?! It seemed the gossiper was used to it, as he was already leaving the way he hade from, leaving Jack to wonder if he should address the sleeping owner. "Kid, this guy''s useless. There''s no need to bother with him." The Old Ghost lowly remarked. But just as he was about to continue, the sleeping owner opened his eyes! As he nced at Jack, he seemed perplexed for a second, his gaze finallynding on the arm with which he carried the Ghost''s Picture Book. "So that''s what it is? Young man, you should throw this vile thing away before it takes over your soul." He simply remarked before turning back into a sleeping position. W-what?! What kind of bomb had this guy dropped on them?! Was he speaking out of past experiences, or had he somehow heard the Ghost and was just mad?! Either way¡­ how had he known?! "Mister, could you please borate?" Jack earnestly asked. Except he was simply met with snores, thetter utterly disregarding him. "Kid, he''s obviously trying to mess with you. I bet it''s all a n for him to buy my vessel from you. He must have sensed how extraordinary I am!" The Old Ghost mored. Perhaps, but that still took skill! After all, to everyone else, it was nothing else than a mere Picture Book. He definitely needed to talk to this guy! "Mister? Could we talk just a moment?" But every attempt was met with a cold shoulder. Not only that, but his time was also running out, and he was about to return to baby form. Yet, the more Jack was ignored, the more his instinct screamed at him: "Hidden Master!" he wouldn''t leave this guy alone! Still, this would do for today. He now had a lead, at least! As for the ominous warning¡­ he wouldn''t let doubt poison his mind for now. "Kid, are we good? You trust me, right?" The Ghost nervously asked. "Trust? I know you''re hiding plenty from me, and I also know the day you turn against me is the day you die. Other than that, yes, we''re good!" That''s when the Old Ghost startedughing, impressed by his pupil''s cool and collected attitude. "So, what are your ns now? The Fate thingy seems to be a dead end for now." "Let''s train magic some more, but that''s not all. I think it''s time I start training my body¡­." Chapter 54 I Just Want Peace! ?Ah, life sure is sweet! For once, Jack was actually taking things easy. In recent weeks, he had been running all over the ce¡­ but no longer! He''d now mostly spend his days raising foxes, in both senses of the term. It all started when he realized that exercise could actually improve his Evil God Body''s adult form. Thus had begun a bizarre, mostly fox-oriented workout. 1. In the morning, they''d y tag. Whoever was caught would be stuck on "me Lord Watching Duty", meaning they wouldn''t get to y all the fun games. 2. At lunch, he''d raise foxesying on sticks upward as they acted as training weights, chuckling all the while. 3. Then, in the evening, he''d visit the Myriad Treasure Pavilion to nag that one Appraiser into teaching him his craft. Officially, it was to buff his Fate Vision, but really he was just curious. As for when he wasn''t training himself¡­ he''d sit back in the me courtyard, ordering his minions as an Emperor would. "I told Aisha I''d reward her back then. Alright, one of you, hide in a box, and we''ll mail her a fluffy fox. I''m sure she''ll love it, given her love for plushies!" "Divination fox,e here! I''ll teach you a method I just thought about so you can run the business by yourself. Hope you like tarot cards because you''ll soon be an expert!" "Lizzy''s been asking for a helper since she''s overworked with the Masquerade preparations. I''ll send three of you to help; she ought to feel valued!" "I need you all to collect information. I want to know the movements of the enemies we may have made recently: Guards, Underground, Thunder Pce, and more." He kept sending his foxes on errands, yet the little buggers neverined. They were the perfect troops, as any human soldier would have doubted him for sure. There was even a hero that returned to them. He came swaggering back, an eye missing and burn marks on his fur, but still in high spirits. [Terrorist Fox Has Completed his Quest!] [Fire Maniption (D) Evolved!] [Obtained Fire Bombing! (C)] Jack was pleasantly surprised. Bypleting a quest, his fox not only had received a skill, a Terrorist Title (+Destruction), but its stats had increased by a whopping 20% bonus! As for what had transpired during the quest, it had bombed some Underground sites along with self-proimed revolutionaries. That had to be a good thing, right? Thus Jack just kept minding his own business, enjoying the heck out of life, all because of a specific event a few days ago¡­ . . . He was training recklessly. He looked like a junkie in need of a fix as he kept doing reps, staring at his status screen, and expecting to see the smallest of improvements. "1¡­20¡­ 50¡­ 100! Just a few more dozens set!" Jack looked so focused, as if raising foxes toward Heaven was his life goal. In fact, he was so focused that it had worried the Ghost. It was one thing to show such zeal for magic, but even weight training?! If he kept going like this, his pupil would never ever have a life! That''s when he felt he had to step up. "Kid, stop training for a second." "Can''t! If I lose momentum, I won''t be able to¡ª" The Old Ghost extended a w of darkness, taking the weights away. They needed to talk, and now. After all, this kid was still his pupil, even if mostly circumstantial. "Kid, you''ve been running everywhere recently just like a headless chicken. You see one way to be stronger, and you desperately jump on it!" "You don''t understand! This world''s dangerous and¡ª" "Just take a goddamn break and think!" The Old Ghost thundered, his ethereal face showing¡­ genuine concern?! Then he kept going, sighing. "You''re like a drowning man grasping the first thing he sees. Just rx, alright? You shouldn''t worry about all that stuff at your age, even if you''re reincarnated!" "Y-You actually knew?!" "Kid, it''d be weirder if I didn''t¡­." "Anyway, kid. Stop simply going after random Power-Ups and think about what you truly want in this world. As for whoever stands between you and those dreams¡­ KILL!" As expected of an Evil Spirit, his stance could only be called radical. Still, it had brought Jack back to his senses, and he had decided to put order back in his life! "Jack, what do you truly want?" He had mused for a while to no one. "Woo!" (Pats and meat, Master!) "Woo!" (Fun and games too!) Amidst a cacophony of "Woos", all the foxes kept rmending one thing or another. So what if they hadn''t followed the conversation? They just wanted to cheer their Master up! But eventually, he hade up with an answer, even amending a specific piece of writing in his room. | Great Survival Mantra | 1. Avoid the gods 2. Reject magical contracts 3. Remain low-key as of now 4. Train like your life depends on it! That''s when he changed the Title. Great Survival Mantra ¡ª> Great Living Mantra! Then he chuckled as he added a line: <0. Do it all while enjoying the hell out of life!" This was his new resolve. He''d still train and scheme, but he''d make it fun! Thus he kept enjoying his life, ying with the foxes as he grew stronger day after day. But it seemed like the world was set on stopping him from living in peace. Just as he had been ying dodgeball with a fox, a murmur suddenly came from the me Barrier. Then arge and magnificent floating glyph magnified in the sky, which the Ghost instantly recognized. "This, kid, is that visitor token from back then." The Thunder Lord troops were back?! This time they hade prepared. As soon as they showed up as guests, they rushed in as if they had Magical Beasts gnawing at their heels. Then in a matter of seconds, they had already encircled Jack (baby version), blocking all escape. Their leader came forward, his huge grin seemingly way too forced. "Young Master Jack, we finally found you!" That''s when the man brought out a couple of pamphlets. On each of them were drawings of what he assumed was the Thunder Pce. What could possibly be their goal? "Young Master, look at this, isn''t our Faction Awesome?! Why don''t youe for a visit? We''ll definitely be hospitable!" Instantly tons of questions rocked his mind. What could they possibly want with a baby?! Was this a ridiculously bad kidnapping attempt? "How about it, Young Master, do you want candies or some drawings? We''ll definitely entertain you for sure! Just say the word!" They were so subservient that it became weird. But as he observed the drawings and pen they gave him, his blood suddenly turned cold. T-this¡­ there had to be something he wrong with this! Hidden in the lines were actually a bunch of tiny characters. Ah? What did the small font say? It seemed to be... a marriage proposal WHAT¡ª?!" Coloring this thing would seal his fate! As for the marriage target, it was the Thunder Lord''s granddaughter... but why?! Was it for a political alliance? It''d be he wrong of him if he epted! After all, said girl was about 10 years old and was also the one he had met back then at the Gates. She had been the haughty one with purple hair. She was also the one who had a God''s Blessing that was even more contagious than smallpox! For Jack, wouldn''t it be a freaking death sentence?! Not only could he not ept, but he couldn''t allow them to have any idea about his freedom. This time, he wouldn''t be as tolerant! Jack made a sign toward his foxes. Instantly, they all lined up in two rows, sandwiching the invaders between their ranks. Seeing their stern appearance, the situation became incredibly tense. Would there be a victim?! No, but it was time to teach them a lesson! Jack grinned before hemanded his troops to act at once! "Ready, set, fire!" The soldiers turned pale. If so many fireballs reached them, they would die before they could aplish their mission. But luckily for them, Jack had other ns¡­ "NOW!" That''s when plenty of warm yellow liquid flew across the air. Some of these streams were so powerful that they even knocked the soldiers down like bowling pins! As they tumbled on the ground, they felt their honor crushed along their mission. How the heck would they ever live this shame down?! Some even had swallowed a bit of pee. That''s when they decided to run, leaving behind angry warnings. "This isn''t over. Just wait!" Jack almost hoped that it would be the end of it. After all, he was clearly not interested, and the me Lord watching over him would make this ce safe, right? But just as he was convinced everything was under control, that''s when SHE showed up! The purple-haired girl was here, without her minions. [A Certain Thunder Manifestation Is Quivering¡­] Ah, C''mon. Really?! Was it too much to ask to train with his troops peacefully?! Apparently, yes¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Searching for Inner Peace ?? - Contract Analysis (F)?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 55 The One Clad In Flames! ?[A Certain Thunder Manifestation Is Quivering¡­] The system announced the purple-haired girl''s arrival. This message was her calling card, wasn''t it? Except, Jack didn''t want to meet her, not at all, in fact! Yet, he had an opportunity. At the moment, she was on the other side of the Barrier, allowing him to see her as if standing behind a two-way mirror., Tch¡ª As if he''d let her approach more! He had been taken by surprise by the soldiers, but this time he''d do something about it. That''s when he rushed into the inferno. "me Barrier, listen, and listen well! Rats are trying to invade ournd, and they must be stopped! From now on, I want you to block even those with visitor tokens!" [The me Barrier Protests!] [It Will Not Go Against Its Mistress'' Orders!] "Are you sure? Do you not understand how serious the situation is?! If you refuse to cooperate, I''ll have to¡ª" [The me Barrier Sternly Refuses To be Intimidated!] [It Will Not Assist in a Crime This Time!] Crime?! What was it even talking about? Then again, that didn''t matter one bit at that moment. He had to convince it the girl was dangerous and¡ª Or not? "You''re right, me Barrier. I''m sorry for even suggesting it. In fact, your aplishment of protecting this ce all those years should even be rewarded. [A me Barrier is Confused but Agrees!] "Foxes, give brother Barrier a massage!" Jack ordered, a strange scene soon appearing as the foxes started sting the hell out of it with fireballs. How was this a massage?! Yet, it proved extremely effective. Good thing the me Barrier didn''t have a mouth, or it would have been moaning at the moment. But mere seconds after having started, Jack ordered his foxes to stop. "Brother Barrier, please help us! Without you, who knows how long I could possibly survive! Besides, all those silly foxes rely on me, need me, please have pity!" By now, warm tears had already stained his face¡­ and it was the same for his foxes as they pictured their Master dying. They had been swept in the drama! "Woo! Woo!" (Please, brother Barrier! Have Mercy!) [The me Barrier Refuses! It Has Impable Morals!] But that''s when Jack gestured to a certain fox to bring his trump card. "Bring me the big B!" Thetter had been one of Lizzy''s helpers before and understood instantly! It hurriedly rushed away, quickly returning with an incredibly bright red power. The fox had gotten some because of how pretty it was, but that was about it. "Barrier, if you help us, we''ll reciprocate and help you too, look at this!" That''s when Jack threw a bit of it in the fire, and¡­. BOOM! The "Big B" happened! Now would begin the second round of negotiations! He''d ask the Barrier to help again and would even mix threats to it to¡ª But that''s when a scream resounded from outside. The poor girl who had been in the process of entering the Barrier has suddenly been thrown backward, the guest token in her hand shattering. "What?! How? I just checked that token too¡­." She couldn''t understand why the Barrier had suddenly closed on her, but she wasn''t about to ept that oue! "Stupid barrier, I can''t believe you destroyed my token!" "Take this, you stupid Barrier!" By now, Lightning was already crackling around her fists as she punched the shit out of the Barrier. Yet, even as it showed no sign of breaking, she kept going, trying her best to w through the thing to no avail. Yet, even after failingmentably, her spirit was still going strong. "Hmph, fine! I''ll do what needs to be done from here." She took a deep inspiration, so deep that her face turned red¡­ and then she unearthed all her grievances at once in one awe-striking shout. "LISTEN UP, me Mansion!" "I''ll be damned if I marry that brat of yours!" "I''m Lara Thunder Raven, and I won''t stand getting stuck with a baby! If you think otherwise, you think wrong! I won''t take this lying down, for I am Lightning!" Her deration was so powerful, yet her voice was so high-pitched. It made Jack think of a chihuahua making a war deration¡­ cute AF! But he shared her sentiments. Heck, the Thunder Lord had probably just sent his minions to trick him, so the me Lord and his father never became a problem. Good strategy, but the man clearly hadn''t ounted for Jack being reincarnated and his granddaughter refusing it so much. But just as he thought everything was over¡­ ¡ª Rumble! Rumble! ¡ª It came sote that Jack thought he had misunderstood. He hadn''t, sadly. After the girl''s speech, Heaven started to rumble. It was as if it approved her message. Then it suddenly started reverberating across Dawn City, far more than it should have. But that wasn''t the worst. A secondter, Lightning descended upon the World. Jack thought it would be a mere imitation of the Thunder Lord, but it was utterly different. ¡ª SCREEE! SCREE! ¡ª "What?!" A sharp bird cry came from the sky, the Lightning turning into a ginormous electric Raven, its wind eclipsing the City for an instant. Yet, instead of doing anything extraordinary¡­ all it did was stare at Jack. That''s when he felt something primal resonating inside him, something that scared even him. [A Certain Thunder Manifestation Is Searching For¡ª] Just when he was about to receive a godly offer, Jack threw himself deeper into the me Barrier! That''s when the bird-thingy suddenly lost track of him. But would it give up that easily? Its eyes shone in the darkness. It was transfixed on Jack as if preparing to devour his soul. But that''s when something strange happened. Smoke erupted from all around him, camouging him. [A Certain me Barrier Understands Now¡­] ¡ª SCREEE! SCREE! ¡ª The lightning/creature screeched in regret as it disappeared from its summonercking Mana. The Lara girl was already leaving, meaning Jack had actually survived! "Damn, that was a close call. Still, we''ll have to be prepared. There''s no way she won''t attend the me Masquerade. We''ll have to squash that drama ASAP!" He had no desire to ruin his uing party with some unnecessary shes. No, he had to figure out what this whole thing was about! "Foxes, spread out, get me news!" It took him three fox scouts to understand the situation. After hearing about a new promising Diviner, a certain renowned Oracle had left his house for the first time in forever. Many had their Fate read, including the Thunder Lord. | Your granddaughter is destined for greatness. But there are dark clouds in her Fate, and she won''t survive alone. She needs to seek the One d in mes. | That''s when he had sent his subordinates, only to be ignored¡­ twice! Still, even now, Jack couldn''t understand why they had been so forceful, the whole thing madness in his eyes. Jack didn''t know how to react to this. Talk about a sham of an oracle! Why did it have to spew such misleading BS?! Luckily, he knew just the thing to do¡­. He''d crush the prophecy! "Everyone, find me the One d in mes! We need to find him before the Masquerade!" As for who that "him" was, he didn''t care. This would only be part of the puzzle. "Woo?!" (d in mes? Isn''t that you?!) The foxes were utterly confused. Why did their Master seem so against the whole thing? What was wrong with taking one more concubine? As far as they knew, many Emperors had harems in previous ages! As for why they knew that¡­ it was all thanks to the picture books they had been secretly reading. "Not my style!" Jack truthfully replied. Of course, he had far more pragmatic reasons, but he wasn''t about to start exining them to furry foxes. He''d be fine as long as he could thwart that marriage n. "In the worst of cases, we can always create a fictive entity with this title, but it would be better to get a real person, so search for powerful fire mages!" He was already thinking of how he could potentially turn this whole thing into an opportunity. What if they used rumors to exploit that Oracle? "Hmm, should we corrupt the guy or stick to just rumors spreading?" He kept pondering so casually. In his tone, there was no trace of the reverence reserved for the powerful. Thus he sent more foxes to scout. He especially wanted to know how the Old Patriarch of the Thunder Pce would react. But that wasn''t all. He also needed to ensure the me Lord wouldn''t be tempted to meddle in his affairs. But just as he was lost in his thoughts¡­ "Woo! Woo!" (Master, Master, it''s finally here!) A fox came running, carrying a Masquerade invitation in its mouth. Soon, the invite apocalypse would begin. Oh, and it would be ego carnage¡­ . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - One d In mes! (?!) ?? - Target of a Prophecy! ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Chapter 56 Lizzy, Lizzy Lamprey! At this moment, Dawn City was in an uproar. "What?! You''re only giving us 2 Invites?!" "You got two? Why did I only get one?!" "Wait... you guys got invites...?!" The Hendersons'' messengers had been extremely eye-catching as they had delivered the Masquerade invitations, making it very evident who was receiving them. Then, an incredible show would happen whenever someone opened such an invitation in public. It would go -- BANG!-- As an explosion of colors came out of it! Fireworks?! "W-what the hell is this?!" This was only the beginning too. Then the lights would turn to ghostly figures. Under the stunned eyes of the crowd, translucent Fiery Foxes appeared as they bowed to invite people to their Masquerade. How awesome was that! How much had the hosts paid to have those things made in the first ce: it was so extravagant! Except that many hadn''t actually received one. "Gasp, did they just ignore the Tresten''s House?" "I can''t believe we didn''t get one; it has to be a mistake!" An angry mob didn''t take long to march toward the Henderson estate. But as they reached it, they were in for a surprise... the guards wouldn''t even let them in! "Sorry, we were ordered not to let anyone through. Not only that, but there will be no change to the number of invitations either." the Henderson Guards informed them. Instantly, there was a huge bacsh. "Humph, are you looking down on the Middle ss?!" "Do you think I won''t dare to beat you?" "Go fetch your master right now!" Confronted by a couple of dozen of angry citizens, the guards were already shaking like a leaf. But then, one suddenly remembered what his master had told him. "Actually, you''re wee toin! Ourint department has been relocated recently, but you can find it at this address. It''s just past the me Barrier!" He smiled. "Tch-- Fine, we''llin about you too!" But while a few were still antagonistic, a few were inwardly crying as they realized the truth. Comint department? This was the bloody me Mansion''s address! Many turned ashen, remembering how she had destroyed this very Estate. Offending her over a Masquerade? Nope! Thus they could only dejectedly return home. This simply boosted the event''s prestige until it became uncontroble. Everywhere and whenever people were gossiping about what would happen that night! It didn''t help that Jack fanned the mes in the background. Thanks to him, the nning of the Masquerade had been "leaked". It was simple but dreadfully shocking: 1. Games for the youth 2. Politics for the old 3. Surprise for all It was shaping up to be the perfect bait for power-hungry magicians of all sorts, whether they desired wealth, fame, or even power. The point was: invitations were GONE! Oh well, they could only ept reality, right? . . . The Firey Masquerade looked positively amazing. Just the entrance of the venue they had rented was so damn extravagant. At his request, the Hendersons had scattered millions of rose petals there. "Kyyaaa! This is so romantic!" "I wonder if we''ll meet a Prince Charming here tonight!" Thedies would talk enthusiastically with stars in their eyes as they admired the outside of the Masquerade. Somehow, there weren''t any guards, and the ce looked extremely dazzling. The long red carpet was especially ravishing and had them feel like just walking on it was an honor. It was evenplemented by golden fox statues on the side, making it feel like a dream. "Ahh! I''d give anything to be able to enter this party! Can you believe the number of influential people there? Attracting the eye of a single one would mean being set for life!" boys and girls sighed. With every neer, there''d be many citizens eximing about how noble, powerful, or even blessed they looked, making the participants glow with pride. They were at the center stage! "The seconddy of the Rising Wind?!" "That guy''s the Water Prince!" "Is that... Ox Head?!" But amidst their fanboying, a certain young girl suddenly arrived at the ce. She appeared magnificent, her dress so long it almost rivaled the bystanders'' jealousy. All eyes turned to her, many feeling confused, some baffled. "Who''s that again?" They couldn''t help but feel that they had seen her, but no one could actually remember who she was... until: "Ah?! Isn''t she from a lower merchant family? Yes, I remember now. She''s the one manning the "Jack of All Trades" shop in the lower city! How could someone like her even get an invite?! But then it dwelled on many. What if she actually didn''t have any? What if she was just walking in, there were no guards after all. What if it actually worked?! They all eyed her, the suspense rising. She took step after step on the red carpet, appearing ever so graceful. This was her moment to shine! As long as she didn''t show weakness, who would even realize she was a fake?! But just as it seemed like she''d seed... -- ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! -- What?! The rose petals suddenly exploded with Mana! Then that Mana turned into countless mini-thunderbolts that rushed toward the intruder. In mere seconds, she was restrained and on fire! "Arrggg! Help!" "Scary!" A bunch of nearby youngsters cried out. Many sucked in cold breaths. What kind of perverse security measure was this?! They were so d they hadn''t attempted it! Yet, they didn''t remain shocked for too long. "Pfft-- Who knew the best show''s happening outside the venue! You guys wanna bet how long it will take for another one to try his or her luck?" Suddenly, staying outside wasn''t so bad. With every naive intruder, the rose petals would go ZAP, and tons of cheers would resound all over the ce, many even high-fiving. What the hell was wrong with the people here?! A certain youngdy shivered as she saw it happen. But a secondter, she took her courage with both hands as she stepped forward. Instantly, the entire scene turned deadly silent... "G-guys, look there, another one!" "Is she crazy?!" "200%!" The young woman in question had made an effort to tidy up, even putting her ck hair into a neat bun, yet her whole appearance screamedmoner. She definitely wasn''t some highborndy! But that wasn''t all. There was a glint in her eyes that screamed Chaos! She was the kind that had seen a lot in life and definitely wasn''t a greenhouse flower. "G-guys, wait, I know her! She''s that one alchemist that everyone at the Tower hates. She''s... what was her name again? Something that started with L... Latisha, Lindzey, Lindrelinnar--" "Lizzy Lamprey!!" Had she received an invite? Or was she simply trying her luck? Many held their breaths as they waited for the roses to activate. She had merely taken a few steps in that... They started glowing! "Damn, so she was a fake!" Talk about trying a waste of their excitement... then again, they loved seeing people zapped! But then something strange happened... The roses were just glowing... but why weren''t they zapping?! Time seemed to still as she paused along with the magic, creating a magical suspense scene. ''Lizzy, you can do it. This is a good thing for sure!'' She kept repeating herself, the whole event feeling like a dream. Then again, it had been the same with each of her interactions with Jack. Foxes and a baby, a contract with the me Mansion, his infectious craziness, how he was ready to burn the Alchemy Tower for her, how much he valued her, and this invitation to Dawn''s Elite. She still couldn''t believe it... "Me?! At the me Masquerade?!" She had eximed a few hours ago, feeling like he had to be joking. What would she even do there?! "What,cking confidence? You shouldn''t. You''re Lizzy Lamprey of the me Mansion, after all." He had shrugged like it was the most natural thing ever. What the world thought? No fucks given! "Don''t you prefer being low-key?!" She had chimed in, only to be denied on the spot. "No need; it''s fine to shine a bit. Now, the weaklings will be too scared to scheme against you. As for the truly powerful factions, I''m sure they''re smart enough to find you anyway." He had argued. That''s how she had found her way to this freaking venue, her heart beating non-stop. This was the start of her new future, one filled with Jack''s insanity. As she took thest step, she found herself smiling. She didn''t care about the crowd''s cries nor mind the shell-shocked gazes the people inside were already giving. After all, she had nothing to fear, not one bit. "Miss... who might you be?" A doorman asked, utterly confused. "Lizzy, Lizzy Lamprey, of the me Mansion." "?!?" She instantly became the center of attention. Yet, just as many were flocking to her, amotion resounded outside, so loud it felt like the world was ending. "The Dawn Lords are here! Wait... they''re all together, to boot?! Oh my god, something huge''s about to happen tonight! Guys, we''re about to witness History!" Chapter 57 Flame Masquerade Begins! The Dawn Lords had shown up together?! This was HUGE! After all, while they were technically all allies, they didn''t necessarily always see eye to eye. Yet, all of them were there! "me Lord, the Thunder Monarch, the Water Emperor, the Invincible Roc, the Windborn Lord¡­and is that?!" Even the Prime Alchemist and the Leader of the Adventurer''s guild were there! What kind of crazy line-up was this?! Even the ones that were usually hermits had showed up! But it could be easily exined. With the re-emergence of the "Demonic Legion," they needed to show cohesion to reassure the poption, the message clear: ''We have the situation perfectly under control!'' ¡ª and seeing the crowd''s reaction, it was working for sure, meaning this Masquerade was starting perfectly! Jack smiled as he cruised with them. Tons of jealous ncesnded on him as he enjoyed himself in the me Lord''s embrace. But little did they know that the whole thing was his idea in the first ce! How many fakemunique had he created recently, all for this day? So many that the foxes had been running around non-stop! He reminisced as they entered the venue. The ce was shockingly beautiful. Everything had been designed to put one''s soul at ease, from the scent to the music and lighting. Jack had used as inspiration the 5* hotels he had seen in his previous life. The only difference was that he wasn''t here for a delivery this time. Crystal chandeliers? ?? Food worthy of kings? ?? A gorgeous marble dance floor? ?? Enough Alcohol to doom an AA member! ?????? Just as he was observing his surroundings, the me Lord stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me wee you to this First Masquerade of mine, hopefully one that will soon be a tradition around here." At that moment, she appeared so professional that her current irresponsible, training-freak self was nowhere to be seen. "Now, know one thing, if you''re here, it means you''re part of the Dawn''s Elite! Look carefully around you, and remember the faces, for they are the backbone of Dawn." So far, so good, her audience beaming with pride. Had people not been worried about interrupting, they would have already been pping. She kept going: "Mingle, have fun, and get to know one another! With that said, there''s something that''s long been due." Jack suddenly felt himself rise in the air. "Everyone, this is Jack, my heir!" She introduced him like a m introduced its pearl, everyone etching his features into their minds. They''d have to make sure their youngsters didn''t mess with him! At this moment, he was like an animal in a zoo: "So Handsome, the perfect candidate indeed!" "As expected of the me Mansion!" "He''ll make a Great Lord for sure!" That''s when he knew that they were merely paying lip service. Handsome? All babies were ugly! His adult body, on the other hand¡­ "Now, shall we kick things off? Music, food, drinks¡­. and DUELS!" She stressed thest part, many in the crowd cheering as they got their weapons out on the spot! For everyone here, this was a golden opportunity! As long as the Lords noticed them, they and the faction behind them would benefit! Then before long, youth after youth started showcasing their mastery right in the middle of the venue. They were so eager to fight that their entire bodies shook with expectation. A few secondster¡­ ¡ª WHOOSH! BANG! SHOOOOOO! ¡ª Spells flew all over the ce, so powerful they made the barrier around the area shake! ''They''re all insane.'' Jack shivered as his "guests" proceeded to utterly destroy the shit out of the peaceful and magical ambiance he had carefully crafted. He had expected friendly duels. He had expected light and fun entertainment. As a chopped-off hand almostnded in his face, he realized he had expected wrong. So freaking wrong! They all looked like they were trying to murder one another. Still, one had to admit the duels were sick! (In both senses) "It''s like watching a fantasy Fight Club," he''d often mumble to himself, his eyes glued to the scene of carnage. To him, this exercise was the most enlightening thing he had seen in a while. ''So this is how people in Dawn City fight?'' They''d always start with bangs! "Take this!" "Humph, you think that''s enough?!" It would pretty much always be an Elemental Skill showdown. The spells were all as catching as violent¡ª just like their casters! Heck, even the Earth Mages would crystallize Earth shields around them¡­ just to charge straight at their enemies to impale them! This was madness! He asked the Ghost under his breath: "Why are none of them using Arcane? Is there some kind of reason I''m too noob to understand?" The Old Ghost simply replied with a mental shrug. The more Jack watched, the smaller he felt. His Mana Capacity and Mastery were getting higher slowly and surely, but all of his efforts would be pointless in a head-on fight with such over-the-top firepower! It would be like trying to resist a tsunami using an umbre¡­ very pitiful! Witnessing this put things in perspective: he still had so much to learn! He could already picture it; "Ready, FIGHT!" W-what?!" Right after the GO signal, he''d already be lying in a pool of his own blood. ''If I''m to fight those monsters, I need to sneak-attack them, or I''m doomed.'' From now on, he''d have to keep training, bide his time, and learn. Thus, he kept studying each match: knowledge was power! Someone wanted Lizzy to participate at some point, and contrary to everyone''s belief, she readily epted. She went to the middle of the improvised arena, giving a madugh. "Good, good, I have plenty of Chaos potions to test! Say, you don''t mind losing your genitals, right? Eh, I''m sure not. You''re a proud mage. Let''s begin alrea¡ª uh?" Mid prebat speech, her opponent had already given up. As for whether she was bluffing or not¡­ he''d much rather not find out! Still, there was one thing that everyone wanted to ask. "F-me Lord, is it true that this young and¡­ talented alchemist is part of your faction?" Someone asked, almost blurting out crazy instead of talented. "Indeed, you could say so." She nonchntly replied. Then again, in her eyes, Lizzy was merely Aisha''s friend, and the whole thing was simply a tiny favor for the Hendersons. ¡ª GASPS! ¡ª Talk about lucky! How had she even managed to attract the me Lord''s eye?! On that note, the duels soon ended, and many suddenly reconsidered their political alliances. "Hehe, Jack. What did you think? Was it entertaining?" The me Lord asked with a radiant smile. "Umu!" Jack decisively nodded. While he wasn''t about to talk in public, this much should be fine, right? But he was d it was over, for he looked forward to what came next. Just as the people were still gossiping about the previous duels, she made a move, creating giant Illusory Fire Foxes out of fireballs! "Everyone, I have an announcement to make!" Talk about dramatic! Good thing it was only one, or the entire building would have been burnt down at this rate! Even with the burning heat, many found themselves shivering. "My me Mansion has been cut off from the world for too long. For too long, we''ve adopted aissez-faire attitude toward Dawn City. But today, this all changes." That''s when she waved her hand. Out of nowhere, darkness fell on the room. But before anyone could panic, the Illusory fire Foxes came back, swimming in the air and illuminating their surroundings. Then the magic slowly gathered toward the middle, all merging. Then it all crafted an extremely simple yet intricate drawing! A fox¡­ no, a fox crest! This looked simr to the current me Mansion''s crest but even more regal. Suddenly, the merchants in the room had a horrible feeling. "From now on, the me Mansion will be doing business! Any Caravan or party with this sigil will be ours. I''ll be expecting your cooperation." Oh god! Business?! She had already been a small tyrant merely thanks to her personal power, but now she wanted to actively start a Faction?! What came next, disciples?! Many were already frowning, especially the other Lords. This was a straight attack on their interests. Should they do something about it¡­ or not? Jack could already feel hints of killing intent¡­ and this wasing from their "allies"! God knows how their enemies would react. Luckily, he had nned to de-escte things. The me Lord kept going: "But, the me Mansion will remain a worship site; thus, most of our operations will be based at the Henderson Estate!" Oof! It was as if the entire building had sighed in relief. The me Lord Creating a Faction was highly threatening, but wasn''t this just the Henderson family rising a little? They could ept that much. Seeing their relief, Jack grinned to himself. ''Underestimate us more!'' But just as he was rejoicing, the Thunder Lord suddenly eruptedughing. "Good for you, me Lord, great even! Now, I also have an announcement, or actually a proposition!" Tch¡ª Of course, he had! Jack was already getting ready for the worst¡­ Chapter 58 Proposition? What Proposition? "Good for you, me Lord, great even! Now, I also have an announcement, or actually a proposition!" the Thunder Lord mored. He had?! Seeing how many seemed confused, it seemed like the "One d in mes" Prophecy wasn''tmon knowledge. Yet, the ones in the know were already frowning. It was BAD! me Mansion + Thunder Pce = Invincible alliance! A marriage offer wouldn''t have mattered for any other faction, but those two factions were special¡­ they only had one heir! It was the equivalent of a 100% merger! Sure, both were still young, but what would happen once they grew up a little? Besides, the me Lord and the Thunder Lord weren''t known for their political fondness. If they left everything to the youngsters in a few years, there would only be one Fiery Thunder Pce, more united than ever! Knowing this, the Wind Lord interrupted. "Thunder Lord, please keep it forter. I fear too much excitement at once would be bad for my old heart." He chuckled. Old? Even if the man was 100 years old, he still didn''t have a single wrinkle. Who was he trying to fool?! Besides, no way a tinum Rank like him had to worry about that! "Oh? Is that so? Don''t worry too much, my Windborn friend. My proposition is very auspicious; I''m sure your heart will be just fine." Auspicious? So he really was nning a marriage proposal! At this moment, Jack reacted like the other Lords: he felt threatened! After all, even he had no clue how the me Lord would reply. If she epted, he''d have a LOT of exining to do to cancel the whole thing. No, it was better to block it now! Jack made his move just as the Lords were engaging in "friendly" banter with passive-aggressive tones. He nodded toward Lizzy, who instantly understood. Without anyone noticing, she actually excused herself, leaving the venue. It was time for her to start Mission "Sketchy Oracle"! . . . A little while ago¡­ Somewhere in the high district. "Wow! This food really is great! Had I known there were cooks so amazing here, I would have visited Dawn city long ago!" A man blissfully devoured a very peculiar dish. This was the first time in his life he was eating sushi, and he couldn''t get enough of it! The sauce by the side was especially tasty, enough to render him speechless! Little did he know that the "local" specialty he was devouring at the moment was anything but local. In fact, no one around here would have even known of it. "How is it? Have you eaten enough, mister?" The freckled youngdy sitting in front of him was the epitome of cute and seemed to carry joy with her. "Hehe, so tasty! I''ll never have enough of this!" He happily chuckled. "Now, I really owe you one. You said you wanted me to read your Fortune, right?" "Exactly! How long does that take? Is it hard?" "Hehe, it''s fine. I''m an expert!" The man hade from far away and had long studied Divination. Officially, he was here to meet with a fellow Diviner, but actually, he hade to investigate Fortuna Mountain. Even now, he still trembled every time he thought about it. What kind of godly power could bring down the Fate God''s Temple? After all, the Temple''s power would adjust itself to the level of whoever challenged it. tinum? No way! It had to be Diamond¡­ or perhaps even Legend Rank! Those ranks were believed to be unachievable, but perhaps¡­ "Mister Diviner, actually, the reading isn''t for me, but for a friend! Would it be fine to help him? He''s at a nearby tavern, drinking alone." The cute girl gently asked. "Of course!" This was the least he could do to repay the sumptuous meal he had just been given. As for this being a trap¡­ He couldn''t sense any evil intent. Thus, they went to meet a certain individual. But, before they could arrive, a messenger went to get her, and she had to leave in a hurry! Even then, the Divination Master didn''t think much of it. He''d still meet her friend and read his Fortune. After all, she was delightful, and he owed her. Said friend turned out to be a youngster who couldn''t have been more optimistic. At this moment, he was even grinning, not believing how lucky he had been! He was actually a Fire Mage from the adventurer guild. He didn''tpare to a Fiery Fox in terms of firepower, but he made up for it in spirit. As the Divination Master appeared, he focused, inwardly repeating the mission''s directives. ''Get my palm read, agree with whatever the Divination student says, and smile a LOT!'' For all he knew, he was helping a Newbie Diviner get his confidence back. It didn''t take long for a Divination Master and a naive Fire Mage to sit together, each thinking they were helping the other. "You''ve been stuck at the Bronze level for a while¡­." "Yes, exactly! So insightful You''re the best!" "You''re a young man who¡ª" "Precisely! You''re amazing!" No matter what one said, the other would happily reply with a grinrger than the world. It even reached the point that the Master believed this friend to have mental issues. In any case, the session wasn''t too long, and the two quickly parted ways. As far as they or the world was concerned, nothing really happened, the event merely an afterthought. Until today, that is. Lizzy carefully made her way to the Adventurer''s guild, making thest preparations. At her side were a couple of disguised foxes that she was in charge of leading. As soon as she arrived, she was weed by the nging of weapons. Hyped by the me Masquerade, a friendly tournament was being organized here, and she was just in time. Lizzy quickly spotted her target, a certain Fire Mage youngster. She waited for his fight to begin, she waited for him to be in danger, and just as he was about to be trouble, they sneakily provided "help." "I won''t go down that easily! I''m Johny, the courageous Fire M¡ª" "WHAT the fuck?! Dude, you''re on fire?!" Screams echoed all over, the youngster consumed by an inferno. But the strangest thing was that he didn''t seem to take any damage?! How peculiar! Just when people were getting confused, some random bystander eximed. "Ah! The mes are protecting him?! One d in mes, AWESOME!" Even then, no one thought much of it. It wasn''t the worst nickname they had heard, so they just rolled with it. "One d in mes? It checks out, haha!" "Shit, that Fire Armor is cool as hell! Little brother, how did you do that?! Teach me, will you? Pretty please!" The other Adventurers didn''t take long to crowd around him happily. Surrounded by his fellow Adventurers, the youngster never noticed the scheming young alchemist nor the disguised foxes leaving, nor did he notice a certain man''s reaction. ''One d in mes?!'' To everyone else, it was just a cheesy nickname, but to a particr purple-wearing soldier, it felt like a canon had just been fired right next to his ear! This was HUGE! Without waiting, he hurriedly rushed away, heading for the Fiery Masquerade. ''Please let me be in time. Please let me be in time.'' He kept murmuring. Of course, he never noticed the snickering foxes hiding in the shadows¡­ . . . Back at the Masquerade¡­ Even now, the Lords still argued! "¡­ Besides, we really shouldn''t overshadow the me Lord right now. She''s gone through the trouble of organizing this whole event after all!" Most spectators were utterly confused. What the hell was the Thunder Lord''s proposition about, and why were the other lords banding together to stop it? At this rate, it wouldn''t be surprising if they started fighting! Yet, just as things were getting tenser and tenser, a holler suddenly interrupted it all. "S-sir, messenger for the Thunder Lord, it''s urgent!" Thetter grumbled as he slowly moved toward the exit. At this moment, an amused yet cold light glowed in his eyes. ''The fools thought buying time would do any good? They were sorely mistaken!'' But then he met the messenger. "W-what?! One d in mes¡­ Are you 100% sure?!" The Thunder Lord suspiciously gazed at his subordinate. "Yes, Sir! That''s what everyone was calling him, at least! It could just be a coincidence, but¡ª" "Listen, and listen well." The Thunder Lord decisively gave plenty of directives as he quickly returned to the Masquerade. Seeing him return, many tensed. "Thunder Lord, about your proposition¡­." "Actually, there''s no need anymore. I''ve changed my mind. Let''s just enjoy the party, shall we?" At this moment, he appeared amiable, yet countless thoughts swirled in his mind. Was this real? Was this a coincidence? ¡­.Or was someone trying to y a trick? Either way, he''d soon get to the bottom of it! A little distance away, Jack grinned. ''Wait till you discover how that "Divination Master" of yours met with the "One d in mes." I wonder how much you''ll trust that Prophecy afterward¡­." Chapter 59 Spying: CIA Style! "Let''s just enjoy the party, shall we?" Ever sinceing back, the Thunder Lord''s attitude had changedpletely. What had happened during that short duration?! But people barely had time to think about it. That''s when an army crashed the party! They came out of nowhere, all adorning the same colors. Many couldn''t help but cry in terrifyingly... unendingughter as they appeared. "Pfftt-- Are they... soldiers?!" Foxes erupted from the sidelines, flooding the entire venue. Metallic top hats, capes, and even the new me Mansion''s business sigil were proudly disyed on their chests. They were as silly as fluffy! "Woo!" (The fox army is here!) "Woo!" (Who let the foxes out! Master, hehe!) Then in their mouths, they carried food tters with strange-looking food that seemed as light as crispy. Jack grinned as he saw the interest that it generated. Those were chips! "Woo!" (Food, food, we bring food!) The foxes would proudly dere, feeling like heroes. They brought the best stuff to the masses!-- Already salivating, knowing they''d get to eat a bunchter. After the weird tension between the Lords, the furry creatures were a breath of fresh air. Not only were they so friendly, but just looking at them brought a smile to one''s face. This was especially true with how the foxes struggled with their clothes. Every other second they''d step on their own capes and-- TUMBLE! SLIP! CRASH! -- Then as they got up, they cutely frowned, only to regain their usual silly grins. So what if wearing clothes was hard... this was so FUN! "Kid, how long have you been nning this?!" The Old Ghost whispered, shocked. This was aedy routine to everyone else, but he understood the crazy deception! Business with Henderson family? --> Putting thetter in the spotlight. Lots of Fiery Foxes? --> Showing their silly side for people to let their guards down... and regte the mood simultaneously?! It was so simple, yet terrifying at the same time! Just as the Masquerade couldn''t be going better, the me Lord was chatting with the Lords. The more she did, the stranger they felt. Even after the deed, they''d nce at her, dazed... "D-did shee to do small talk?! Of her own initiative?!" "I-it seems like it. Should we be worried or d? It doesn''t seem like she''s nning anything nefarious. Did motherhood change her?" "She had children before...then again, back then was a different situation with the civil war and all. Still, I just hope Dawn City will survive the uing cmity...." Jack heard so many discussions that he felt like the greatest spy. Were the Lords careless in their discussions? Not at all! Whenever they wanted to share a topic ever so slightly sensitive, they''d put up sound-isting Mana barriers. Yet, he heard everything crystal clear, all because of a slight trick. He had bugged the "napkins" that came in with the chips with the Old Ghost''s help. #CIA tactics for the win! The many big shots here knew to check their food for poison, but they had been so focused on it that they had utterly missed this simple trick! ''Go on, keep talking. Reveal more secrets!'' Hitting on someone? a?"??? Shit-talking behind their back? a?"??? Faction leaders getting chummy? a?"??? Some guy nning an assassination? a?" Wait... WHAT?! Jack suddenly felt like his head would explode. An assassination?! At HIS Masquerade?! This would screw up this friendly reputation they were going for! There were two would-be assassins: "Remember to nt the evidence. As long as we can drive a rift between the Lords, this City will inevitably fall. Then, the Underground will rise once more thanks to the confusion." "Tch-- Do you think I''m an amateur? I got us those Masquerade invites, didn''t I? Stop busting my balls and wait for the good news. They''ll be killing each other after this." The Underground again?! Why did it have to be those meddlesome bastards again?! Except, this time would be different. This time, he wouldn''t be the one hunted! Even now, Jack was still in the me Lord''s arms. Without waiting, he held his breath. 1..2...5...80...300... Holy shit, what was up with this baby body of his?! He sure hade a long way! Still, he eventually turned blue... "Whaaaa!" He erupted in a Masquerade-Shattering scream. "J-Jack, are you alright?! What happened?!" But just as the me Lord was getting worried, the cause was "revealed,"... and it STUNK! He had shit himself?! Instantly, a reliable fox rushed forward to handle the delicate situation, everyone else giving understanding smiles. "Woo!" (Worry not, Mistress, I got it!) Before anyone could protest, fox and baby were already gone. At this moment, Jack couldn''t help but grin gloatingly at his Ghost Mentor. "See, didn''t a tell you that a Stink-Cloud spell woulde in handy! Now, we have a few minutes before anyone gets worried about us. Time to get to work!" "Woo!" (What game are we ying now?!) Jack didn''t take long to gather his "troops" as he exined the thorny situation they were in. "We need to save someone... but we have to make it look like an ident!" Jack stressed thest part. After much deliberation, he wouldn''t stop the assassination attempt. After all, the Underground would just try againter without anyone knowing better. No, they would thwart their n at the veryst second, busting them in the act! This would give the Lords amon enemy; he could use that! Thus he quickly briefed them. "Do you guys all know what you need to do?!" "Woo!" (Yes, Master!) "Good, now disperse!" With hismand, the foxes all returned back to the Masquerade, ready to put on the silliest disy of "inadvertent" heroics ever. Thanks to their status as temporary "waiters", they quickly spread all across the room, soon bing the best undercover bodyguards ever! As for their protection target... it was a young man who just happened to be the favorite Nephew of the Water Lord. The kid was happily flirting with the opposite sex, showcasing the most gorgeous of water-party tricks. He looked like a prick, sounded like a prick, but he''d be perfect bait! "Ah, the naivety of youth," Jack stared at the youngster, expecting the show that would soon follow. This would be he fun... . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - ying the Fool ???? - Stink-Cloud Spell! (F) ???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 60 Totally Not Poison! Everything looked fine¡­ on the surface. At this moment, the Masquerade''s music easily drowned the scheming of the assassins inching toward their target. But, little did they know, they weren''t the only ones sneaking! "Woo!" (Target in sight!) "Woo! Woo!" (Agent Orange in position!) The foxes glued their eyes on the Water Lord''s Nephew, the assassination target. Thetter could be said to be valiantly downing enough wine to scare a drunkard. "Ah! This is a toast to all of you gorgeousdies, and this is a toast to the me Mansion, and here is a toast to¡­." He''d mor before every big gulp. This toast thing looked so fun! The foxes could only watch¡­ jealous AF! But before they could try, the assassins made a move! Thetter held a tiny purple bead. Poison? "Woo!" (Intercepting the enemy!) The assassin had barely taken a step when he¡­ face-nted headfirst! A fox had just "happened" to step in his way, making the poor guy tumble toward the ground. ''Hehe, perfect timing!'' Jack chuckled. Thanks to this fall, many eyes suddenly turned toward the assassin, just in time to see the suspicious rolling out! His hand instantly shot to grasp it back, but then¡­ Gulp! "Woo!" (Food! How lucky!) A fox had already "gobbled" it whole! The bystanders were alreadyughing their asses off, except for the assassin. This was bad! He had to retrieve it before¡­ ¡ª HIIIEEK! ¡ª With a pained cry, the fox toppled over. At this moment, it looked like a beached fish in the sand. Tongue out, eyes rolling out, already frothing at the mouth, and legs twitching non-stop like an epileptic! Gasps escaped the crowd. "W-what?! What''s wrong with this fox?!" "It ate something that fell from¡­ this guy!" "Don''t just stand there! Medic or a vet?! me Lord, where''s the me Lord?!" Instantly, the whole party was stopped. At the same time, suspicious gazesnded on the fallen assassin, who was already cursing inwardly. What was he supposed to do?! Screw that fox! Jack watched the man break down with a sadistic smile. ''Your move, assassin. Let''s see you get out of that one!'' He mused. Except, he wasn''t the only one having a st. "Ke-ke-ke!" A small chuckle escaped the "dead" fox. An opening! That''s when the assassin found a lifeline! For some reason, the fox hadn''t actually swallowed the poisonous bead, and he could see it stuck in its teeth! ¡ª STRIKE! GRASP! ¡ª He managed to retrieve it! But his misery wasn''t over just yet. There were still plenty of mages curiously eying the thing. At this rate, they''d check it, realize what it was, and he''d be screwed! How was he supposed to exin bringing poison to a Masquerade? Then his true affiliation would be revealed, and¡­ should he run instead? No, it''d be even worse! He couldn''t even get rid of it: it''d be seen as disposing of evidence! He was freaking doomed! In fact, there was just one hand he could still y¡­ "Silly fox, stop overreacting. You barely took a few licks of Condensed Liquor!" The assassin genially conveyed, even patting the fluffy creature. "Look, it''s good!" Then¡­ he popped it in his own mouth?! Was he insane?! Jack and the assassins shivered all at once. Was he going to be alright? He looked fine on the surface, but was he really?! Perhaps he had the antidote and ¡ª [Congrattions! Pushed a Man to the Brink of Despair!] [Gained'' Bane of the Underworld'' Title XP!] So much for the antidote! So this guy was a goner, right? Had he justmitted suicide just like that? How long before he dropped, and should Jack say something before it was toote? One had to praise the man''s professionalism. Even now, he was putting all suspicions to rest as he exined the "Condensed Liquor" he had eaten before. "Yes, it''s a delicacy... but it doesn''t sit well with pets. Good thing I managed to retrieve it in time. The fox will be fine!" He assured. Jack wasn''t sure how to react¡­ Sigh, whatever, there were other assassins left. Besides, looking at their resolute faces, it didn''t seem like the mission was off just yet. Jack bid his time, snacking. As for the remaining baddies¡­ "Tch¡ª That cocky bastard''s out, all because of a mutt! Still, our cover''s intact: we proceed with the mission." "Proceed? The Dark Drake Poison''s gone! Not only that, but they''ll get wary if we touch food again. Better alter the n slightly. We could¡­" They''d scheme stealthily, none the wiser¡­ except Jack, who had a front-row seat to all theirmunications! He''d nod in approval or shake his head as they brainstormed. In the end, they settled for a simple yet intelligent n. Their target had been drinking non-stop as he flirted, and they''d turn this against him! After all, everything that entered would have toe out, especially if they helped. "Brother, drink some more! Let''s all be merry. Tonight we drink ake of booze! The me Lord''s paying anyway, hahaha!" "Drink? I like this! Let''s drink!" Assassin and target kept going. Had this been Earth, they would have long been in an ethylica, but the livers of Eternia''s residents were as magical as them. But then, limits were reached! "Excuse me, everyone. I''ll be right back. Gotta drain the dragon!" The youngster excused himself with augh, unknowingly heading straight for a death trap! Many assassins grinned in the shadows. Yes, something would be drained... but it would be blood! They already couldn''t wait for people to find the mangled body! ¡ª Tap! Tap! Tap! ¡ª With every step, the youngster approached his doom. It didn''t take him long to reach the toilet, the doors creaking as if to announce his uing end. Yet, he was blissfully ignorant, even cheerfully grinning in the mirror. "I knew today would be a good day! There are so many hotties out there: which one should I bring back home tonight?" Being the Water Lord''s Nephew sure had its perks. He happily whistled, ready to relieve his full dder. But just as a mighty stream was about to begin, BAM! They appeared out of nowhere! For once in his lifetime, the youngster felt dread¡­ Chapter 61 Temporary Alliance! In a nearby stall, an assassin lurked. ''C''mon, just a few meters'' His hand grasped the magical token with expectation. As soon as he squeezed it, the Water Lord''s Nephew would be turned into a sieve! His body would soon be shredded by countless wind des¡­ with the same mana signature as the Windborn Lord''s troops! The chaos that''d ensue would be glorious! "Hehe, I drank so much! It sure was¡ª AH?!" The youngster''s face suddenly filled with dread, his mighty Dragon instantly shriveling from the stress. "Woo!" "Woo! Woo!" "Woo! Woo! Woo!" Tons of foxes barged into the toilets. But their presence wasn''t the problem. No, it was the faintly glowing gems they held in their mouth¡­ Record Crystals?! They were aimed straight at his Dragon too! "W-What the fuck?!" "Woo!" (We''re official photographs!) The foxes happily boasted. To them, this new role was a source of pride: they had been chosen to capture the magnificence of the Masquerade! How awesome was that?! They had even entered a Photo contest with one another, trying to get the best shots possible¡­ and that''s why they hade! "Woo!" (Where''s the Dragon?! We''ll record it!) Their eyes gleamed enthusiastically, some even going "GAOOO!" as they tried their best to imitate the mythical being. The youngster was left shell-shocked. Dragon? What Dragon?! Draining the Dragon was an expression! They wanted to snap pics of his D¡­ ¡ª SHIVER! ¡ª How would he face anyone after this?! "Nooo! Get out. Leave me alone!" As he heard the CLICK of the recording magic operating, he felt his soul about to leave him. No, he couldn''t ept this! "TCH¡ª You don''t leave me any choice!" With a mighty roar, he lunged at the fluffy creatures. Thetter had no idea what they had done wrong as they were genuinely just doing their job! "Woo!" (Record everything! We''ll find the Dragon Eventually!) A wise fox proposed the best n ever, and a flurry of CLICKS followed as they recorded EVERYTHING! As for the poor bloke trying to save thest shreds of his dignity? Denied! ¡ª WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! ¡ª The sound of water tentacles trying to whip foxes kept resonating, but they didn''t stop! Somehow, their waists looked even more flexible than the stream! How?! Click! Click! Click! The mischievous foxes were unstoppable, a force of nature one could say, every of their dodge causing more distress to the youngster. "H-How are these bloody things so fast?!" It wasn''t that he was weak¡­ it was just the foxes that had trained their evasive skills. After all, this was nothingpared to their Shaving God of a master! But the youngster wasn''t the only one despairing. A certain assassin hidden in the nearby stall was about to lose his goddamn mind. ''Fuck, fuck, fuck! What the hell is this?!" Those foxes were the fucking worst! 1. Messed with his trap 2. Spooked his mark 3. And they recorded the whole process to boot! Wasn''t this just adding insult to injury?! He had to force himself not to go out there and bash their brains in. But just as he struggled to keep his dark thoughts down¡­ CLANG! The stall''s door was suddenly mmed open, a furry head popping inside. "Woo!" (That''s not a dragon. Meh, whatever!) ¡ª CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! ¡ª The sound of the recording crystal activating felt like an explosion. It was putting nails in the assassin''s coffin. They now had pics of the trap, him, and the would-be victim! FUCK! That''s when his assassin''s training kicked in! Contrary to his boiling anger, his face became a mask of gentleness andpassion. "Say, little fox, won''t you give me that recording stone? You see, there''s such a thing as privacy and¡ª" "Woo!" (Don''t care!) A beat after answering, the little one was already rushing outward. The assassin gave chase. He HAD to get this recording! Yet, merely a second aftering out of the stall, he realized his error. ¡ª CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!-CLICK!¡ª There were so many recording crystals, and now he had to destroy them all! Otherwise, their whole scheme would get busted even if he managed to aplish the mission! He felt like crying. Why wasmitting murder and framing another for it so hard?! Since when had life in Dawn City be this freaking horrible?! But he was suddenly awakened by a resolute voice. "I know how you feel, brother, fuck those foxes! Let''s work together and catch those bastards! Alone we''re weak, but together we''re strong. Let''s do this!" "S-sure¡­" The assassin weakly answered back. He felt like coughing blood as he was forced to work with his mark¡­ to catch the evidence of him attempting an assassination in the first ce! What kind of poetic irony was this?! That''s when his training as an assassin kicked in once more. As they say: do everything for the mission, no matter how lowly and horrendous it feels. Thus began a crazy game of cat and mouse¡­. Or rather fox and two very unlikely "allies". The fluffy creatures happily ran, enjoying every single second of it, to the pursuers'' dismay. They were trying to murder them¡­ yet they treated this as a game?! But that was just the beginning¡­ "Oh crap! They''re about to reach the Main Hall! We can''t allow anyone to view those recordings!" Both thundered at once for entirely different reasons. Sadly for the humans, the foxes were pros at this game! Soon, it was toote, as they met the other guests. "Ah? What are you guys doing?" "Chasing the foxes?!" Admit that the foxes had evidence/nudes of them? NEVER! The two humans looked at one another, sharing a pained smile as they blurted. "ying Tag!" Then before anyone could react, foxes and pursuers were gone. This left many baffled, yet they didn''t overthink it. Well, all but a few assassins in the room. "W-what the fuck happened?! Was he¡­ running with the mark?! Why?!" Had he given up on the mission? Then again, he had looked truly desperate back there. Silently, a bunch of assassins excused themselves. It was time to hunt foxes¡­ and answers! Perhaps they could murder the mark while at it, right? Meanwhile, a certain baby was getting ready for phase two¡­ Chapter 62 Foxes Great Escape! "Come back here, you little twerp!" "Woo!" (Catch me if you can! Hahahaha!) The halls resonated with the happy foxughter and the curses of their pursuers. By now, the Water Lord''s Nephew had turned utterly mad. He threw spell after spell, trying to catch them off-guard, but it never bloody worked! Water de? Nope Water Tentacle? Dodged! Water Wave? They jumped on the walls! Water Onught? They ran even faster, not even trying to fight back! "H-how?!" It was as if they knew how to resist every type of attack! At that moment, his heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they were actually trained soldiers?! "Woo!" (My fur''s all wet! Sob sob!) Looking at the pitiful appearance of the foxes, this couldn''t be¡­ right? No way! After all, the fireballs they sometimes threw were way too weak to have real offensive uses. Thus he kept running after them, feeling like crying once more. His onlyfort was that he wasn''t alone in his misery. Not only that, but his new "ally" was so calm-headed! "This won''t work. We have to trap them in a corner. Only then will we be able to contend with their insane speed. Do that, and those recordings are ours¡­." The assassin remarked. "Ah, you''re right, brother! Let''s do this, catch them and make them regret the day they were born! We''ll skin them and¡ª" "They''re still the me Lord''s foxes. Just grab the recordings, and that will be enough." "Ah! You''re right. Brother, you''re amazing! A great man of Peace, indeed!" The youngster''s opinion of his mysterious "ally" was rising by the second as he naively thanked his luck for the man''s presence. As for the assassin, he was trying his best to salvage the situation. He was alone with the youngster, the perfect timing for an assassination¡­ he just had to get the recordings! Thus the two kept fox-hunting, and the more they did, the better they got at it. It reached the point where every other minute, they''d corner a fox¡­ so good! "Woo!" (Another has fallen! Escapeee!) "Woo?!" (Gasp! They''re learning!) The foxes would freak out a little more with every lost recording stone. They had started with 20 of them, but now they only had half left! At this rate, they''d lose them all?! Logic said they had to return to Jack. "Woo?!" (This is our mission! We go back!) "Woo?!" (A-Are we admitting defeat that easily?!) "Woo!" (What else can we do?! This is the worst, but¡­) This was one of their hardest struggles ever¡­ an internal one! On the one hand, their mission, but on the other, FUN! Gasp, talk about a difficult choice! Yet, they didn''t hesitate too long as they decisively¡­ rushed for the Masquerade''s Main Hall! They''d give most of the recordings to their Master and perhaps ask to keep a few then. "Crap! This is bad. They''re going back?!" "Brother, what now¡­." But as their two pursuers saw this, they turned ashen. There was no way they could possibly intercept so many foxes at once, and they''d definitely turn the recording over. Yet, their pride as man and assassin wouldn''t let them give up, NOT YET! They were ready to climb a mountain of des if they had to, but they wouldn''t give up. Seeing the men hot on their tails, the foxes simply elerated. With every sway of the orange tails, the men despaired some more. But just as they thought they were utterly screwed, a miracle happened. Around the corner, two men suddenly appeared! "Y-you guys!" Tears of joy escaped the usually cold assassin. At this moment, he was so d to see his colleagues, the ones he usually hated to the bone. "STOP them!" With the shout, the assassins went into position. They were akin to the mightiest linebackers! Not only were they trained inbat, but they were already using spells! Magic overflowed from their hands, Acid and Thorns, as they created an anti-fox wall! Their powerbined was so great that theypletely blocked the hallway! Either the foxes would be skewered into a bloody mess, or their bodies would get melted on the spot! They had reached a dead end! "Woo?!" (Scary! Don''t touch it!) Instantly, the foxes turned around, but they were confronted with a tidal wave from theughing youngster. "Hehe, where do you think you''re going?!" Crap! They were stuck between a deadly wall and a deadly wave! What the hell were they supposed to do?! But just as they were about to despair, they remembered their Master. What would he do? Would he give up? No! He''d find an escape route¡­ and even if there were none, he''d create one! That''s when a certain fox took the lead. "Woo!" (1¡­2.. 3¡­5¡­ just like in the sewers!) Ah?! That''s right. They could use that focused fire technique! As long as they all aimed at the very same spot, maybe they stood a chance! They didn''t waste any time. ¡ª WHOOSH! WHOOSH! BOOOOOM! ¡ª Tons of fireballs wereunched at the Acid wall of Thorns before them. Thorns could burn, right? YES! They just had to use enough fire! Amidst a deluge of fire, "counting woos" echoed. Then just as the humans thought everything was over¡­ the foxes suddenly breached the wall, jumping through the tiny hole they had managed to create. "D-did they just?! They went through?!" All spectators felt like they had imagined the scene. How had simple foxes managed to do that?! Had their silliness really been an act all along? But then most of them face-nted on the marble floor, all tangled up in a fox ball thanks to theirck of coordination. "¡­." After that insane breach¡­ they had failed thatughingly?! Before the foxes could even get up, the assassins rushed to gather them, tying them up with magic and dispelling the wall. Even now, they weren''t sure why their colleague wanted those recordings so much, but they''d know soon. But just as it seemed like they had been victorious¡­ "Wait, one fox is missing!" "Woo!" (Gotcha!) A lone fox rushed out, bypassing them all! Had it been nning for this moment all along? Nope, it had just missed the initial jump and gotten lost. Yet, none of that mattered, for it had seeded! It glowed with pride as it swaggered toward the Main Hall. It couldn''t wait for pats and praises! As for the humans behind, it was despair'' o clock again¡­ [Next = ceholder for like 30 min] Chapter 63 Obtaining TREASURE! "Woo!" (Victory! Sweet Victory!) Had the fox not been eyed by four very angry humans, it would have long done a victory dance on the spot. But, since it couldn''t, it settled with a victory "woo"! But, just as it was prepared to rush away, thepromised assassin stepped forward. In the pit of despair, he had actually devised a genius idea! "Fox, wait a bit! Hear me out, will you?" He stepped forward, hands high up in the air, even gesturing to the others near him to step back. Could he catch that fox? Nope! But what if he could negotiate with it?! "Hear me out, little one. You''ve been tasked with recording the Masquerade, right? That''s a heavy responsibility and quite the honor, isn''t it?" The others nearby couldn''t help but frown. What was this guy doing? Why was he licking the boots of a fox? He even stopped in ce, making sure not to spook the creature. "Woo!" (Hum? What?...) Thetter was getting as proud as confused. Still, it didn''t rx its vignce for one second, even as it listened to the man. "Hear me out. It''s an established fact that recording someone without their consent is a big no-no. But even then, you have to do your job, right? So what I propose instead is...." As he exined his proposition, the assassin used the simplest words, as if talking to a five-year-old. Simply put, he wanted to buy the recording directly from the fox! "Think of it, wouldn''t your Master prefer Treasure rather than a few pictures? They''re not even that valuable. It''s just that we humans are really shy, you know...." The more he talked, and the more baffled the fox became, the concept of "shame" being especially ludicrous to it. At first, it didn''t care one bit, but then it thought of something: ''Woo!'' (Wait, Master likes Treasure, right?) At this moment, it remembered its Master raiding the Henderson''s Treasury and him trying to ess the me Mansion''s resources. Treasure... treasure was GREAT! Treasure? --> Happy Master! --> Tons of headpats! This was the best deal ever!-- Ah, but it had to be careful: the Treasure received had to have greater value than the recordings, only then would Master really be pleased. "Woo!" (Fine! Give the Treasure out!) The fox actually wanted to negotiate?! The Water Lord''s Nephew suddenly felt like crying. If only he had known that he could buy this thing, he wouldn''t have bothered to give chase! "How about this? It''s extremely delicious; I''m sure you''ll love it!" The assassin was already getting tons of food out. It looked and smelled so heavenly, the fox already drooling. It approached slightly, feeling like it was in Heaven, eyes already zed from the vision of wonder. It could get so much food with such a tiny recording bead?! Who knew there were things so great in this world? But, just as it was about to take another step, it froze. No! TREASURE! It stopped, then bit its tongue hard, the pain waking it from its hypnotized state. Then it shot an angry look at the assassin. "Woo!" (How dare you try and trick me!) Trick? What trick? It had just been regr food. Still, the assassin regained his bearings as he offered more things: coins, jewelry, and a shitload of weapons. He''d go... "How about this?" Repeatedly as he kept taking things out. But, the more he did the more shocked the youngster by his side became. Did this brother have a spacial ring?! Not even: he was just a god at hiding stuff in his clothes! He was akin to Earth''s magicians. It wasn''t real magic... but perhaps that made it even more impressive! By now, there was a mountain of loot before the assassin, and yet... "Woo!" (This doesn''t look that valuable?) The fox kept scoffing at everything taken out all with an air of superiority. Yet, inwardly, it was freaking out: it had no clue what was valuable or not! The fox often almost epted, but then it''d remember its Master''s words: "If something is valuable, it''s usually well-hidden." This rendered it even more confused! Its fox brain was about to overheat! Was the mountain of loot valuable because it had been hidden in the man''s clothes before? Or was it not valuable because he had revealed it all? Sigh... it was such a big mountain too! "That''s all I have. Let''s make a deal, shall we? What do you say, little fox?" The assassin offered again, only for the fox to seem even more puzzled. Onest push! "Ah, forget it. I was giving your Master face as a Dawn Lord, but deal''s off. Give her the recording, and I''ll take myints with her!" The assassin exaggeratedly scoffed. The fox instantly panicked. Comints?! This was bad! It didn''t want to bring shame to its Master. It had to ept the deal before-- its thoughts became jumbled. Wait, Dawn Lord? This wasn''t its Master! This was enough to bring it back to its senses, just in time to see the over-the-top motion of its interlocutor. That''s when its sharp fox eyes noticed something. Around the man''s neck was an intricate-looking ne... TREASURE?! That''s when all doubt left it. "Woo!" (Shiny Treasure!) The fox pointed with its tiny paw, the assassin''s face turning purple. How had the creature even noticed the... Fuck, he had scoffed so hard that it had shown. "Woo!" (I want this too! Then it''s a deal!) As soon as the fox saw the man''s grimace, it knew it had picked correctly. It happily nced at the assassin. This thing was definitely worth more than the recordings! Thetter seemed to hesitate for an eternity until... "Brother, please. Just give it the ne. I''ll owe you one!" The youngster chimed in, sending the man a begging look, not knowing the assassin''s inner thoughts. ''Bitch, please. I''m here to assassinate you! Owe me one, my ass!'' Goddammit! Yet, he really had to get rid of the recordings, even if it cost him his life-saving medallion. "F-fine, let''s trade...." The assassin reluctantly agreed, proceeding with the exchange. He threw the item, and the fox threw back the pearl. But now that the little one and the youngster had lost all evidence on him, it was time for REVENGE! A dangerous light gleamed in the assassin''s eyes and-- "Tch-- So that''s where you guys were? Stop ying, and do your waiter jobs! I want more booze!" A towering man with rock-solid muscles interrupted. T-The Earth Lord?! How were they supposed to rob and murder now?! What kind of timing was this?! A certain assassin was already crying... . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Taught Trading to Foxes ???? - Snack-Devouring ckhole (F) ???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 64 Assassins Ambush! Jack couldn''t help but chuckle. The dejected expression of the assassins was priceless. It seemed like once more they had failed an assassination, their targeting back with a highly merry Earth Lord. And yet¡­they still hadn''t given up? They had barely returned yet were already nning their next move, Jack listening to it all as usual. But just as he was eavesdropping, a proud fox approached him. "Woo!" (Master, TREASURE!) It was holding a medallion in its paws. The thing was engraved with a blurry silhouette and what looked like a guardian angel watching over it. As for what it was¡­ "Gasp! A Second Life Medallion¡­ here?!" The Ghost silently eximed. This thing was a life-saving measure that could save one from the brink of death once. What made it so great was that it was extremely hard to counter. "A Legendary Healer made those long ago, but I thought they had all disappeared! Quick, kid, wear it! I don''t know how an assassin had that, but you lucked out!" Said assassin was now ring daggers at a certain baby. His most valuable treasure, stolen by a freaking baby?! Not only was this ludicrous, but it was the greatest waste ever! After all, a baby was defenseless. One life? Two life? It wouldn''t bloody matter as long as the baby''s protector was dead. Had the Dawn Lords not been here, he''d¡ª but for now, he could only grind his teeth and scheme. "Don''t worry. We''ll get it back somehow¡­ For now, we need to focus on the Water Lord''s Nephew. This time, we need to be decisive; we can''t leave anything to chance!" "Chance? You mean foxes, right?! I swear, those smelly things have the worst timing of all. Can''t go anywhere at all without them swarming the damn ce." "Yes, we just need to be quicker! No more convoluted ns. We''ll strike quick and true!" "Damn, right. Let''s get this goddamn mission over." The three remaining assassins grumbled. As for their poisoned colleague, he had left the party of his own volition, looking a little sickly. Still, three was enough! The youngster was as naive as doomed! Even now, he was still happily drinking with the Earth Lord. The two had bonded over alcohol, loudly boasting about their proficiency in magic. "Humph, I''m one of the Dawn Lords; of course, I''m STRONK!" "Perhaps, but I''m way younger than you are, and my future is limitless! Just watch me, I''ll be the next Water Lord, and I''ll lead Dawn to a new age of¡ª" But just as they were talking shit with their faces flushed, a youngdy suddenly approached the two. She seemed incredibly nervous, twirling her slender fingers. "H-hey there¡­" Her target was obvious; she only had eyes for the Water Lord''s Nephew. She was the epitome of purity and seemed so cute as she searched for her words. "Oh? What is it, youngdy? Do you need help with anything?" "W-would you like to take a walk with me? The night sky at this hour is incredibly breathtaking and¡ª" She was redder than a tomato, yet she kept going with her offer. "Say no more, fairdy. Of course!" Had the youngster not been in public, he would have been rejoicing out loud. This girl was just his type! Without giving it a second thought, he happily followed behind her. A distance away, Jack sighed. The assassins had sent her. Her infatuation was real, but it would quickly die once the would-be lovers had their throats slit. Lucky for them, foxes just ''happened'' to follow. . . . The night was dark and refreshing. It was the perfect ambiance for the lovebirds to stroll in the ce''s flower garden, roses everywhere the eye could see. But the blossoms weren''t the only lovely thing. "Gasp! This one''s so gorgeous!" "Perhaps, but your beauty eclipses it. There''s¡ª" The cheesiest lines were spouted with a straight face, the two lovebirds seemingly stuck in their own pink world. Yet, barely minutes into their nightly excursion, it was all shattered. ¡ª FLASH! WHOOSH! ¡ª Out of nowhere, daggers flew toward the youngster''s face! This time, he was fucked! He had been utterly taken by surprise, and by the time he reacted, everything would be over! The assassins cheered as the dagger sliced the young man''s neck! Foxes in the back gazed at this happen with bulging eyes. What?! So fast?! They hadn''t had time to get in position?! What the hell had happened?! Blood sshed everywhere. It drenched the poor woman, the assassins nearby, and even the foxes watching in the back, shell-shocked. What had been a lovely date had suddenly turned into a terrifying nightmare. But amidst the horrifying stunned silence that followed. "FUCK, something''s wrong!" "That ain''t blood¡­ it''s WATER!" That''s when it happened. The Water Mage''s body suddenly copsed like a wave on the beach. It exploded in millions of water droplets¡­ it had been a Water Clone?! The assassin''s training instantly kicked in, their bodies dodging before they could even realize the danger. That''s when water des barely missed their vitals! The youngster reappeared. This time, however, he was different. Lovestruck and drunk youngster? Nope, his gaze was more rigid than steel, Water Magic swirling against him in preparation for his next attack. "Tch¡ª So close." "Y-you, you''ve been faking this whole time?!" He had been drinking wine nonstop but turned it into Water as soon as it hit his stomach, avoiding intoxication. He, too, had been ying the fool?! As for the recordings¡­ he hadn''t just tried to get them out of shame. He had somehow realized something was wrong and was trying to get proof! He was now ring at the assants, even giving a coldugh. "So it was you guys all along, eh? Do you think you''re the first to try and assassinate me?" "Perhaps, but we''ll be the first to seed!" Full of confidence, an assassin took out a bundle of tentacles oozing of darkness, resolutely crushing the thing. That''s when they all grinned. A secondter, the entire courtyard started rumbling as ifing alive! Two secondster, tendrils of darkness erupted from the ground, shooting toward every living creature in the garden: foxes, youngdy, and especially the water mage. It was time to kill... Chapter 65 Group Trip To The Afterlife! Tendrils of darkness erupted all over! Instantly, the garden changedpletely, turning into a vision of horror. As tentacles shot toward the foxes, they felt incredible dread. This thing was nightmarish! "Woo!" (RUNNNN!) They didn''t hesitate, turning tail and getting the fuck out. But merely instants, afterward, they were suddenly confronted with a tentacle barrier of darkness. The thing blocked the garden''s exitspletely! "Trying to run? Not anymore!" This thing was a trump card from one of the assassins. At first, he had been reluctant to use it, but he wouldn''t leave everything to chance anymore! Not this time! Yet, the Water Mage still appearedposed. He kept waving his hands, water tentacles contending against the darkness tentacles that were assaulting him. Still, he was obviously on the losing hand, getting pushed back. "Still trying to resist? How futile!" The assassinughed. The youngster didn''t even bother replying. He kept fighting, even reassuringly looking at the foxes freaking out nearby. "Don''t worry. We just need to buy time." He had already sent an SOS to the Water Lord. They just had to survive for a little while as they waited for him to arrive¡ª or that''s how it was supposed to be. "Pfft¡ª Hehehe, how foolish!" The assassins ridiculed. Calling for help? A waste of time! The artifact they had used was especially amazing for moments like these! It had utterly sealed the area! The youngster''s face turned grim. Would he die here?! At this moment, he felt so foolish. He had hidden his power all this while, only to get caught up in something far too strong for him. This was the price of his arrogance¡­ but he wouldn''t be the only one to pay it at this rate. He gave a sorrowful sigh at the innocent bystanders as he resolved himself for ast stand. "No matter! We FIGHT!" With a shout, he actually sent his Water tentacles on the offensive! If he were to die, he''d at least bring a couple of those fuckers down with him! They who dared to scheme against the Serene Water n had to pay the price! At this moment, the calm flow of water turned into the violent billowing of a storm. He was going all out! CRASH! CRASH! His Water Spells kept fiercely crashing! Yet, the assassins weren''t worried in the least. This artifact they had used was far stronger than they were, and no one here could do anything about it! "Worthless struggles of a dead man." They scoffed¡­ only to be proved right. They undeniably had the upper hand! But, just as they were reveling in their superiority, the fire foxes attacked! In the earlier chase for the recordings, they had taken it easy. But now, they were going ALL OUT! "Woo!" (Destroy them all!!) "Woo!" (Make Master proud!) "Woo!" (1¡­2¡­3¡­5¡­6..!) The fireballs exploded on the tentacles, turning many into darkness bits, shredding them, and turning the entire garden into an inferno! "W-WHAT?!" The assassins eximed, shocked. Since when were the foxes that strong?! Not only that, but the tentacles of darkness should have had a fear effect. They should have been like the youngdy, cowering on the ground. "WOO!" (Take this!) After their training with Jack, they wouldn''t be scared of a few tentacles. No, they had to show themselves worthy of serving him! "Great! Time to kill them and¡ª" The youngster cried out happily, only to choke mid-sentence. While the fireball onught had destroyed many tentacles¡­ they were already reforming! It barely took a second for all the damage done earlier to disappear. They were back to square one! Actually, even worse than square one, for they had expended Mana! "Hehe, do you understand now? No one will save you, and no amount of struggling will change anything. Why don''t you just ept your death? There''s no getting out of this one." The assassins gloated, readying their daggers, Acid and Thorn magic, respectively. At this moment, they were trying to bring their target''s morale down. As with many darkness spells, the more the targets feared it, the stronger it would be as it fed on their despair. ''Anguish, and die!'' they inwardly chuckled. "T-this... this can''t be?!" The youngster cried out in shock, the situation hopeless. Could he get out of this alive? Definitely not. He''d perish long before the seal was even remotely gone. If only the assassins could disappear¡­ No, this was a dead end. The assassins watched his mental state crumble with an amused grin. But just as they thought it was in the bag, he suddenly raised his head, a hint of madness in his eyes. "DIE!" With a scream, he charged at them. Had he gone insane?! What the heck was he even trying to aplish?! It was as if he would do anything to even bite at them, no matter what happened to him. "Haven''t you understood? There''s no way that¡ª" An assassin, gloated¡­ only for his ally to drag him backward hurriedly. As for what happened afterward, it was so fast that even the foxes lost track of it. The youngster somehow¡­ turned into a puddle?! Then the puddle rushed right through all the tentacles, reappearing where the assassins had been merely instants before, his Mana turning chaotic! "W-what?! How is he so fast?!" An assassin blurted out, shell-shocked. "Tch¡ª A secret movement technique. He''s from the Serene Water n, after all." Another remarked, still feeling his heart beat relentlessly. Had he not brought his allies to fall back, they would have all perished along with the youngster''s suicidal attack: he had been ready to blow up his Mana Core! But that insane move hadn''t been without consequences. Secret Movement Technique? Bacsh! Attempt at blowing himself up? Bacsh! Trying to do both at once? Bacsh! By now, their mark was defenselessly lying on the ground, coughing blood non-stop, and almost out of Mana. This would make for an easy kill or actually easy kills. The foxes felt the assassins'' murderous ncend on them, the darkness tentacles wriggling even faster and deadlier than before. But just as everything seemed lost, they felt a familiar presence¡­ Chapter 66 Diving Headfirst Into Danger! Jack enjoyed the Masquerade until: [Ding! Master of Foxes Activating!] [Your Foxes are Facing Critical Danger!] The scene before his eyes changed. For half an instant, he could see a sea of tentacles, a defeated water mage, and despairing foxes facing their doom. This was BAD! As he returned to his senses, it all felt like a lie, the Masquerade still as peaceful and joyous as ever. How could the bigshots here not sense an attack of such arge scale? "Kid, what happened? Your entire body''s shaking!" The Old Ghost instantly noticed, only to cry out when Jack shared his experience: "T-this... is has to be a Space-Sealing Relic!" "What''s that?" "It creates a death trap that no one from the outside world can detect or influence. Heck, even if the me Lord personally dealt with it, she wouldn''t be in time to save your foxes!" "You''re saying...?!" "Your foxes will have to handle it themselves. Only someone inside the trap can disable it in time. That''s the only way. Otherwise, it wouldn''t--" "No. That can''t be!" Jack sounded in denial, but he wasn''t. After all, even now, he could still sense a connection to his foxes. Did the Seal not affect him because of Master of the Foxes Title?! Perhaps it was a long shot, but he had to try! Without waiting, he excused himself from the Masquerade, quickly reaching the garden. Except there was something wrong: gorgeous flowers, fresh air, and not a trace of any battle! "What did I tell you, kid? It''s in another Space. Only a Space Archmage could easily deal with it from the outside. Of course, it''s vulnerable from the inside, but...." Jack didn''t hear any of it. He roamed across the courtyard, focusing on his Master of the Foxes Title, slowly sensing the connection with his foxes. He was so close, yet so far! This moment felt like his mom''s cancer. Would he helplessly lose another loved one? Was he doomed to watch misery unfold just like before? He felt sick, wracking his brain trying to find a solution. "Such is life, kid. Stuff like this happens. All you can do is endure and--" NO! He wouldn''t ept that. There had to be a way, somehow! He could feel them; he just couldn''t see them... how could he solve this-- WAIT?! If seeing was the problem...?! Jack activated his Fate Vision Ability. Suddenly, the garden changed into a hue of bronze, silver... and ck?! It was as if misfortune was gathered all in one spot, his ability warning him to steer clear! "GOTCHA!" Without hesitating, he rushed to it, feeding that one ck spot his Mana as if an offering. That''s when it happened.... -- SWITCH! RUMBLE! -- He found himself in a nightmare. Tentacles everywhere, a courtyard on fire, and despairing, bloodied foxes growing weaker by the second. "WHAT?! Kid, how did you-- ?!" Jack ignored the Ghost, even chuckling. "What''s with the hangdog looks? Aren''t you guys supposed to be foxes?" All parties jumped in shock as his voice resonated in the gloomy courtyard. "Woo?!" (M-master?! H-how?!) "S-Someone''s here?! H-How?! This is impossible?!" The situation was too surreal for assassins and foxes alike. Just as the victors had been determined, this guy hade out of bloody nowhere! Jack''s presence changed everything. The foxes were instantly galvanized, while the assassins retreated a few steps warily, creating a lull in the battlefield. But as all eyes turned to him... "What the actual fuck?" The assassins eximed, confused. They had expected the invader to be one of the Lords, but it was far from it. The neer was a youngster... one naked to boot?! "Rx, he can''t be too strong! This realm can barely contain Silver Ranked beings at best. I don''t know how he came here, but just kill that weirdo!" An assassin remarked. That''s when the foxes drew a cold breath. Fuck. What had they done?! They had been so happy to see their Master, but wouldn''t he be in trouble now?! What should they-- But then their Master''s calm voice shook them awake. "Freaking out for so little? Didn''t I teach you guys anything?" "Scoff! Die!" An assassin rudely interrupted, the nearby tentacles all attacking! They mmed toward him, crippling darkness menacing to take over his soul! It was like a tidal wave he couldn''t possibly content against. Jack''s Danger Sense was already screaming, warning him to Get the Fuck out of there!-- not that he could. "Kid, you shouldn''t havee here! Abandon the foxes and--" "Shut up, you old thing." Jack focused. Not there, not there, not there either. Wait, there was an opening! As tentacles shed, two intersected and stilled for half a second! THERE! Jack rushed through, driving his Evil God Body to the limit! No, even that wouldn''t be enough! That''s when he summoned a few Arcane Daggers, targeting the tentacles'' weak spots! As one tentacle copsed, he barely escaped with his life. This had just been the first onught?! Those things were OP! As he faced the remaining sea of tentacles in the distance, he felt despair creeping on him. Yet, he didn''t show any of it. Instead, he actually turned to their controller, smirking. "That''s it? That''s all you can do? Borrowed power really is useless if the user''s trash." He scoffed, not a trace of how much he had struggled with the previous attack showing. It was the start of another type of fight, a mental one. After all, his options were limited. Could he personally defeat the assassins? Probably not. Could he destroy the sea of tentacles? Definitely not! What he could do, however, was create the perfect opening for his foxes. While they were simple in their attacks, they had much more Firepower and Speed than he did! He had to grab the enemies'' attention and keep it! Thus, he gave them the most radiant smile as he gently uttered: "Now, little wanna-be assassin. Why don''t you surrender? We all know how this will end, don''t we? You on your knees, begging for my forgiveness as you--" "Y-You! You''re DEAD!" Mission aplished! He had sessfully angered the target. But as he saw the billowing sea of tentacles, Jack suddenly had second thoughts. Weren''t there a little too many?! Oh well... . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Suicidal Tendencies! ???? - Taunting! (F) ???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 67 KILL That Asshole! Weren''t there a little too many tentacles?! "Take that, you pervert!" It was a relentless onught. At that moment, Jack felt like a cricket in a snake enclosure, struggling for dear life as the darkness tendrils tried to grasp at him one after the other! "Kid, I swear, you''re way too fucking stubborn! Fighting a losing fight is dumb. Tch-- You and your sentimentality! But you won''t change your mind, right?" the Old Ghost spat. "Nope!" "Fine, then, at least fight smart. This guy''s hiding a catalyst behind his back. Destroy it, and this god-forsaken prison will crumble. Be fast. I bet even you won''tst long here!" Jack agreed 2000%, his life hanging by a thread. With every move he made, with every Arcane Dagger he summoned, his Mana would be drained a little more. The usual 30-minute Evil God Body duration? He''d be lucky to get five! Even as he kept dodging, he whispered orders, using even more Mana to propel his voice right to his troops'' ears. "Foxes, in position. There are three enemies to deal with!" "Squad 1 will deal with Acid-Throwing Guy! Shoot down every acid blob he throws with a well-timed fireball. Remember, you need to preserve your Mana!" "Squad 2 will deal with thorn Guy! Every time he uses a Thorny Vine, burn it down. But the Thorn Walls are too resistant, so help your fellow foxes jump above it!" "Squad 3 will provide support with the Darkness Tentacles. These things are seriously ridiculously OP, so we''ll target the caster instead. Spam shy spells until he loses focus!" "Everyone understood their roles? Good, spread out and-- FUCK ME!" At times, Jack couldn''t help but curse. Those tentacles were truly perverse! It was already a miracle that he could dodge them, much less n a counter-attack in the meantime! The only thing going for him was that he didn''t need to rely on his vision to feel their threat. At least he was never taken out by surprise, even when surrounded. "Woo!" (M-master? Are you Alright?!) "HURRY! Go forth, my minions!" With an Earth-Shattering roar in their consciousness, the foxes all spread out at once. It was so sudden that others couldn''t help but gasp in shock. But they quickly calmed down. "Tch--Coming for round two? Foolish!" The assassins didn''t worry one bit. Before Jack''s arrival, they had fought the foxes plenty and had a perfect grasp of the creatures'' abilities. This wouldn''t be a fight, but a STOMP! "Take this!" A shower of Acid balls flew toward the foxes. This would force them to retreat and-- or not?! Instead of trying to avoid them, a bunch of foxes reacted to it! -- WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! -- Fireballs took flight, quickly colliding with the attacks in mid-air. The spells burst like bubbles, creating Acid Clouds in the air... the foxes rushing underneath! "Tch-- So what?! Take this!" Another used Thorn Vines. This was the perfect CC move that would immobilize and damage its targets at the same time. This would slow them and-- Except, this time, it was different! Instead of the pack being slowed, a fewpletely stopped, focusing on the vines and burning them down! All the others kept going! "T-this, they got smarter?!" "No, they''re fearless! It''s that naked bastard''s fault!" "Whatever, let''s use something they won''t be able to block!" That''s when the assassins went all out! They cooperated together to create the strongest Acidic Thorny Wall of their career. This thing was unlike the one the foxes had once managed to pierce. If they actually tried, they''d only end up with their bodies in melted goo. It would be GAME OVER! "Go on, try and beat that!" The assassins watched the show with expectation. The foxes didn''t stop, not at all! They rushed with so much speed that there would be no way for them to stop in time! They were bloody sprinting to their deaths! But right before they collided with the Deadly Wall, something crazy happened. The foxes at the forefront suddenly jumped a little, seemingly floating in the air for an instant. Would that do anything? Nope! The Wall was tall enough to catch them, no matter how high they jumped! But that''s when the foxes behind arrived! They also jumped,nding on their brethren''s backs and using them as springboards to jump even higher! They flew above the damn thing, assassins crying out, shell-shocked! "W-WHAT?!" "Quick, use the tentacles. Stop them!" "I''m almost done killing that asshole. Give me a second!" Their colleague didn''t realize how dire the situation was. At this moment, he only had eyes for Jack, who even now was screaming obscenities his way. "So many big tentacles! Are you overpensating for something?" "So many tentacles, yet you can''t evennd one? I bet your wife must be one lonelydy! Then again, with that face of yours...." "Eh, cheer up! Your face isn''t that bad, either. It''s a face a mother could love if she''s blind and on crack." Jack kept taunting unendingly. But, the insults were just part of the performance. What truly made the assassin angry was the man''s gaze. He kept looking straight at him, grinning, sometimes even winking. Not being able to kill that bloody naked dude felt so freaking horrible! It didn''t help that the guy wasn''t especially fast or strong either... He was just more skilled! At this moment, he felt so inferior, so worthless! But he was definitely progressing! At first, the man had seemed invincible, but he was slowly and surely getting injured. Thus the assassin ignored everything else, locking on his nemesis! He even ignored the shy fake spells a bunch of foxes threw to distract him. As long as he killed their Master, they''d win! He had long thrown caution to the wind, going all out to destroy the bastard! Seeing the man''s reaction, Jack smirked even more. In a drawn-out fight, he would have lost for sure. Sadly for the assassins, it was far toote. At this moment, two screams echoed at once. "DIE, you bastard!" "Checkmate..." Just as tentaclesnded on Jack to finish him off, the foxes finally reached the assassins. With a burst of fire, they used all the Mana they still had on the man''s artifact! SHATTER! The Tentacles all disappeared, revealing a half-dead Jack. He was bleeding out of every orifice, utterly out of breath. Had the foxes been a second slower, he would have been a goner, the little ones sighing in relief! But just as it seemed like they had won... Even with the artifact gone, the assassin hadn''t given up! He flicked his hand, a dagger flying toward the helpless Jack. -- THROW! -- Thetter didn''t have the energy to doge, nor did he have Mana left. He could only stand there as the knife reached his throat and-- Poof! Without Mana, his Evil God Body turned off, the killing instrument flying WAY above his head. This REALLY was a bad day for the assassins... . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Brought a Fox to a Tentacle Fight! ???? - Military Strategy! (F)???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 68 Kings Will! Whatever That Is... Jack''s Evil Body Turned off. Under the shell-shocked gaze of the assassins, the naked youngster suddenly turned into a naked baby. The scene was so shocking that they forgot to move and breathe. "B-Baby?!" Their eyes kept going from the baby to the nearby foxes, questioning their sanity. The great mastermind they had just lost to¡­ was an infant?! This was CRAZY! But before they could even process the situation, a nearby fox hurriedly grabbed Jack, standing between him and the assassin, preventing another Dagger Assassination. Suddenly, the assassins came back to their senses! This¡­ wasn''t this the me Lord''s new adoptive son?! This was earth-shattering news! At this moment, they forgot their mission, they forgot their failures, they forgot everything! "ESCAPE!" They all rushed out faster than ever. Forget fighting. They had to tell the Underground about this hidden Monster! Besides, if they fought now with the Seal gone, the Dawn Lords would notice! "AFTER THEM!" Jack screamed with urgency. If they made it out alive, his secret would be out. Even if the me Lord still protected him, he''d easily be a piece in Dawn City''s political struggles¡­ HELL NO! The foxes hurried after their target, but the fight against the Tentacles had truly exhausted them. They were akin to arrows at the end of their flight, weakly moving on. "Damn mutts, still trying to y the heroes?!" The assassins sent a volley of magic and daggers behind them as they rushed through a narrow corridor. Jump above? Impossible! Go through? Plenty of foxes would die! "Push forward, kid! Sacrifice as many as it takes! Silence them, NOW! Otherwise, you''ll be hunted like a rat! Even the me Lord may not protect you!" The Old Ghost urged. At this moment, the foxes felt Jack''s panic. "Woo!" (KEEP GOING!) They understood they''d die, yet they kept pushing. As long as their Master lived! Today they''d repay every single headpat and all the love he had given them! After all, they knew that even when he was "bullying" them, he did so with love so they''d survive better in such a cruel world. That''s when the assassins'' faces turned ghastly. What the fuck was wrong with those foxes?! Even they, as professional assassins, weren''t that resolute?! This was INSANITY! The assassins saw their doom. It came in the form of fluffy foxes, smiling as they sacrificed themselves for the human they loved the most as they said their goodbyes. "Woo!" (Grow up well, Master. Live for us!) "Stop!" Jack screamed. Yet, they kept running, akin to pigs to the ughter. They''d do what was best for him, even if he didn''t wish for it. They''d¡ª "STOP!" This time was different. Jack''s scream contained¡­ Mana?! No, that couldn''t be either, as he was utterly tapped out. Thismand hade from the very depth of his being. [Ding! Leadership and Master of the Foxes Fused!] [Unlocked King''s Will¡­ ERROR ERROR!] At this moment, the foxes'' legs stopped utterly. Their bodies were suddenly overwhelmed by a primordial power that they couldn''t go against. With the foxes stopping, the magical onught missed thempletely. They could only watch the assassins escape, their hearts thumping relentlessly. "WOO?!" (D-Did Master do this?!) "Kid, I don''t know how you did that, but¡ª" But before they could react, Jack had long copsed. Whatever power he had just used had taken the little energy he still had left. Yet, even now, a mall smile adorned his lips. He had saved his foxes, and that was all that mattered. "Old Ghost, I''ll leave damage control to you." He mumbled as he slowly sunk into oblivion amidst the panicked woos of his troops. He had made his choice and would stand by it. "Fine, you reckless kid." The Old Ghost sighed deeply before turning to the remaining foxes. "Tch¡ª What are you all waiting for? Get your Master out, and follow the assassins'' trail!" ? The chance of them catching up was next to zero, but that didn''t mean they shouldn''t try. With onest sigh, the Old Ghost removed every trace of his disciple''s involvement. "I just hope we don''t all regret this day¡­." . . . "Woo!" (Where did they go?!) "Woo!" (The traces all disappeared?!) "Woo?!" (B-but¡­ we have to get revenge for Master!) Jack had the strangest dream. He saw the world from a peculiar POV, his four legs covering so much ground with every leap. He was a fox, and he felt free, so free. Yet, there was something wrong with the other foxes next to him. They were so worried, distressed, angry, and even confused. Why couldn''t they be happy and rxed like him? Ah, it seemed like they were troubled by something. They had lost a trail? Was this such a big deal? Jack sniffed, chuckled, and pointed a reassuring paw at a nearby wall. "Woo!" (You guys, stop freaking out. See? The trail you''re looking for is right there. They stopped in this alcove, switched their clothes, and sprayed on some perfume.) It was so obvious, yet his fellow foxes yelped in shock at the realization. "Woo!" (Wahhh?! You''re amazing!) They were even praising his tracking skills. Tracking skills? It was the first time Jack realized he had some, but dwelling on it didn''t seem that relevant at the moment. After all, it seemed like they''d give chase. The pack rushed forth, and so did he. The air against his face felt so good. Then there was the feel of the City''s stone under his legs, the myriad of smells of the street stalls, and the glow of the stars above their heads. The world suddenly felt so simple, yet so vast. He was in a good mood. They kept running, then at some point reached their target: three assassins¡ª not that they looked like assassins. Also, for some reason, their auras felt oddly familiar. Jack couldn''t help but wonder why they hadn''t separated. Wouldn''t it have made the disguises even better? They seemed very twitchy... So perhaps they had a reason? "Woo?" (We found them, what''s the n?) Jack asked his fellow foxes. They seemed really angry at the targets and ready to jump at their throats. But, with his reminder, they stopped. "Woo!" (Right, Master always says to n!) Jack couldn''t agree more. This Master guy seemed like a wise and great chap. Perhaps he''d meet him one day? Just as he was having this thought, his fellow foxes were "nning". "Woo!" (Attack all at once!) "Woo!" (Steal people''s stuff and bring them here!) "Woo!" (Distract them from the front and attack from the back!) Jack came out of his reverie. It seemed like he really had to help them before they got themselves killed stupidly¡­ Chapter 69 Those Goddamn Eyes! "Woo!" (I''m vetoing that one.) Amidst a sea of dubious ns, Jack was the "woo" or reason. Steal people''s stuff to bring them here? They only end up ganged upon and beaten to death! As for the various attack ns, they all seemed to ignore the disparity in strength. "Woo!" (Keep in mind that we''re facing smart humans!) Jack reminded them once more. Their targets had been popping Potions like junkies on a Monday afternoon. By now, their Health and Mana would be full for sure. In contrast, his fellow foxes were a sore sight to behold: Injuries, Mana Deficiency, and tongues hanging out from an exhausting, drawn-out chase. Yet, he could sense their anxiety. They would never forgive themselves if they let the ones that had attacked their Master get away. This meant retreating wasn''t an option. Thus Jack gathered his fellow foxes. "Woo!" (Listen up, it''s time to out-fox them!) He beganying out the n he had juste up with, the others drinking every one of his words. They even praised his "Master-like" smarts, impressed to no end. Yet, Jack didn''t care. He simply helped for one reason: the sooner they dealt with those pesky assassins, the sooner they could go back to running around the City. "Woo!" (Everyone understood? Good, let''s do this then!) His fellow foxes spread out. It was time for chaos¡­ . . . In the alley walked three disguised assassins: "Tch¡ª We never should have taken this bloody mission!" "Shut up. We knew it''d be hard from the start. After all, the ce was freaking crawling with Dawn Lords. At least we''re alive and got some crazy valuable info." "Sigh. Stay strong. We''re almost there. Just gotta keep containing that Water Tracking Spell that weak bastard put on us. We don''t want the Water Lord to find us¡­." What had seemed like a clean get-away hadn''t been that clean after all. Once the Space Seal had gone down, the SOS the Water Lord''s Nephew had sent had finally activated. They were marked and would need a specialist to eliminate that annoyance. Luckily, as assassins, they were very adept at temporarily neutralizing it. But, just as it seemed like everything would be fine¡­ "Wait, something''s wrong?!" An assassin eximed in shock. The once deserted streets had be utterly dead. Even in the dead of night, there should have been one or two passersby! They stopped, their hair rising in dread. "Don''t tell me¡­ it''s an ambush?!" Their instinct was screaming at them to take their legs and run. Yet, everything was too quiet¡­ perhaps a little too quiet. That''s when it happened¡­ "Ke-ke-ke-ke!" It started as softly as a murmur in the wind, but it gradually crescendoed until all they could hear was that weird creepyugh. "Take a formation! Someone''s here!" An assassin ordered, his legs trembling. Had this been any other time, he would have simplyughed about it and perhaps even continued walking peacefully¡­ but after the earlier events, their nerves were a wreck. This was but the start... In the darkness, tons of glowing yellow eyes appeared. They felt like harbingers of death as they eyed the three assassins. Those gazes could strip them back to the terrified kids they had been at the start of their assassin training. It was even worse for one especially. The gaze of a predator, but not just any. It showed a power that an animal shouldn''t have possessed. It was the gaze of a King, one that towered above all other lifeforms. "Kekekeke." As itughed, they felt its disdain. Trying to run? They had managed to run so far only because it had allowed it. All along, they had been in its grasp, mere ythings to it! Compared to it, they were NOTHING! Jack did his best "Badass" stare. But, there seemed to be something wrong with the humans. Why had they pissed themselves? Why were they trembling? Had the chilly night wind frozen their brains? That''s when they stopped trembling, anger oveing their fear. "You bastard! Looking down on us! DIE!" With a shout, they hurled magic projectiles! They HAD to extinguish those eyes! As long as they existed, they would be doomed! Jack instantly turned tail. What the heck was wrong with those humans? He had nned to have his fellow foxes annoy them until the assassins went wild¡­ but wasn''t this a little too soon?! #Humans He rushed to safety, their spells crashing on a nearby house. "D-Did we get it? It''s dead right?" "Careful, stay on guard!" "THERE!" That''s when the eyes reappeared, all of them! The humans adopted a defensive formation, Jack rejoicing: the warier, the better! After all, he had already sent a fox to get reinforcements. A bloodied fox would reach the nearest Dawn Garrison, begging them for help. With some luck, the assassins would be arrested for being suspicious, which beat them escaping. This should be a satisfying oue, right? "Woo!" (Keep scaring them! It''s working!) Jack encouraged the others. Every time glowing eyes made it near the enemies, they''d reply with a well-timed spell, the poor foxes barely escaping with their lives. Still, the more the humans attacked, the more damage they caused the Town! As long as they kept this up, the Dawn Guard would definitely arrest them! It was PERFECT! But just as Jack was rejoicing¡­. The battlefield suddenly stilled. For some reason, the Moon had disappeared?! Foxes and assassins slowly raised their heads toward the sky. There should have been clouds, stars, and perhaps even birds, but the scene awaiting them was far too surreal and shocking. In the sky was a whale, one entirely made out of water. Atop it was a well-dressed gentle-looking man¡­ but the light in his eyes was anything but gentle. It was akin to a raging sea about to explode with resentment. "I finally found you! You foolish lot tried to kill my Nephew, eh?" "Gulp! W-Water Lord?!" How had he even found them?! ... Only then did the assassins realize the damage they had caused while trying to get rid of "those eyes". On a scale of 1 to 10, they were FUCKED! That''s when the sky seemed to fall¡­ Chapter 70 Mastermind! Puppet Master! That''s when the sky seemed to fall. The ginormous water whale crashed, a spell so huge it would tten an entire Dawn District underneath, its aura along traumatizing. This was POWER! Jack saw it magnify before his eyes. BA-DUMP! This was the power he wanted. Just as the foxes were freaking out, the Whale suddenly stilled, turning into countless Water Snakes that swam in the air toward the assassins. -- Constrict! Constrict! Constrict! -- Their fate had been sealed that easily. The things invaded their limbs, bodies, and even all of their orifices, restraining thempletely. They couldn''t even bite the poison capsules hidden in their mouths! The only thing awaiting them would be torture and endless regret. They''d face the Water Lord''s wrath until they begged for the sweet release of death and spilled all their secrets. They''d-- "Woo!" (This is BAD!) "Woo!" (They can''t live!) At this moment, the foxes suddenly recalled the Old Ghost''s words. As long as those assassins existed, their Master would be in peril! That''s when a collective burst of madness took them. Instead of staying put or rejoicing... they charged forth! Seeing this, Jack almost wanted to face-palm. "Woo?!" (Dude just summoned a Water Apocalypse! Don''t mess with him!) But, they were way too fast for him to change their mind... or anyone really. They all lunged toward the assassins, maws first. They''d bite their jugrs, even if it killed them! The Water Lord instantly reacted. "Trying to save them?! Die, you-- Wait, what... Fiery Foxes?!" He stopped the Water Snakes from tearing the attackers apart in a hurry. Good thing he had noticed, or he would have gotten an earful from the me Lord. It seemed like they were the ones that had chased the assassins and allowed him to find them. But now that he was here, they could finally rest easy. "Stand down! I''ll take care of it all." He told them. That''s when Jack felt the foxes'' uneasiness. The assassins'' HAD to die! At this moment, he felt their resolve; they''d go even against the Water Lord if they had to! He felt their muscles tense, ready to fight and-- "Woo!" (You guys? Won''t change your mind?) Jack asked, and they all wooed in agreement, the light of insanity in their eyes. He could only sigh as he kept going. "Woo!" (Fine, but listen. First, put his guard down, then...) For half an instant, it almost felt like the Water Lord would have to fight it out with them. But then another fox intervened, and all the other foxes stood down. Actually, there was something strange about this fox... even to the Water Lord. He had seen many things in his career, but never a fox like this! The light in its eyes didn''t belong to a fox, not at all! Then there was the effect it had on the rest of the group: they listened to it? Had this fox evolved? How peculiar! What kind of-- Just as Jack sensed the man lost in his thoughts, he gave the order! "WOO!" (NOW! Do it!) Instantly, the "peaceful" foxes turned rabid as they attacked! They covered thest few meters, reaching the bound assassins! Then they followed Jack''s directives: "Woo!" (First group! Fire volley!) Fireballsnded on the Bindings'' outer edge, making them explode in a burst of steam. The foxes behind didn''t hesitate to push through as they disappeared in it. "Woo!" (Second group! Fire ws!) They swung burning ws at the few remaining Water snakes. The foxes were akin to predators snatching their prey in a heartbeat. The way was opened! "Woo!" (Third group! ASSASSINATE!) The rest of the foxes finally made it to the assassins! As their maws reached their exposed necks, everyone in ce rejoiced... all except the Water Lord. "GODDAMMIT!!" But it was already toote. The sharp teethnded on the soft skin and-- CLANG!... didn''t prate?! It was as if their skin had turned harder than Adamantium! There was an extremely thinyer of Water, ast-second move by the Water Lord! "Made it! Shit, that was close! I swear I''ll skin those dumb--" Even a man in his position couldn''t help but curse. What had the bloody foxes even been thinking?! There was something wrong with their brains, for sure! Sad woos echoed, the foxes realizing they had failed... only for a chuckle to resound. As they turned to Jack, thetter pointed at the assassins in the Water Prison. Their faces were purple... they had used the distraction tomit suicide! "WHAT?!" The Water Lord''s tongue hung in disbelief. What had... it was all that fox''s fault! This weird fox had nned for it from the start, hadn''t it?! As he gazed at the offender, thetter simply smiled back wryly. "Y-you! You, you, it''s all your fault! I''ll SKIN YOU!" His scream was enough to shake the air, the foxes, and even the streets all around. But just as he prepared to punish the mutt, it too trembled.. .and fell down?! As it struggled to get up, there was something strange about it. The light in its eyes was gone, and it seemed utterly confused about what it was doing in the alley. "Woo?!" It had returned to being a regr fox, the Water Lord suddenly feeling uneasy. Had this been a spell? Druid Magic? Puppet Magic? Mind Control? All were SCARY! Just as his mind was going crazy with possibilities... "Skin my FOXES?! Do you dare?!" The me Lord finally arrived! At this moment, even she was baffled by the scene. What the hell had happened in that garden? How had they given chase for so long? Why had they killed the assassins? She turned to the absentminded Water Lord. Did he know something? Had his Nephew told him anything? What could have caused him to be so lost in his thoughts?! He slowly came back to his senses... "me Lord? You can keep your foxes. I''ll be on my way, have a nice night." His gentle reply contrasted with the fieriness of his current thoughts, remembering "those eyes." He''d find the mastermind behind it all and make them PAY! . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 48 ( MAGIC 11 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - King''s Will! One Who Dominates! ???? - Fox Spirit Takeover! (F)???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 71 FoxZone, Its The BEST! Jack awoke to the smell of burnt cereals. "You''re finally awake!" The me Lord stood by his bed, dozens of worried fox faces next to him. For an instant, he felt lost. He had been at the Masquerade and then¡­ AH?! Even now, he still remembered the Water Lord''s intimidating aura, the way he had looked at him as if about to tear him to pieces, and then¡­ he had lost consciousness? "It seems you tired yourself at the Masquerade, but the foxes brought you back home. Isn''t it nice of them!" The me Lord kept talking about random things, but he kept sensing her Mana scan him gently, looking for irregrities. This meant his state had been STRANGE! Jack yed the happy baby, reassuring her until she left. But as soon as she was gone, he instantly jumped on his bed¡­ Holy Shit! The "Dream" had been 100% REAL! Even now, he could see the marks the Water Lord''s Magic left as the foxes had torn it apart. Somehow, he had managed to take over the body of one of his foxes?! This was awesome, but so freaking SCARY! Sure, he had avoided the worst, but he had lost his sense of self for an instant. Also, the Water Lord definitely had suspicions too. "You all, did the Water Lord''s Nephew say anything?" "Woo!" (We haven''t heard anything!) "What about the Masquerade?" Jack slowly asked about the events. It seemed like the attack had remained hidden, only the Dawn Lords knowing about it. Also, the me Lord had stuck to the "Henderson''s" n. She had sessfully found allies for "her" new business venture and even took measures to lower how "menacing" she could look to the rest of Dawn City. "Good. With this, we''ll be able to develop." Jack remarked. As for why he had done all this? He had to strengthen the me Mansion if he wanted it to support his ideal easygoing life, the first start being propping it financially. Still, the future sure was worrying. "Terrorist Fox!" "Woo!" (Here!) "Investigate the Underground! Also, send the me Lord an anonymous tip about the true culprits of yesterday''s events. Then we''ll start rumors about everyone that attended¡­." The foxes listened intently to their Master''s wise words, not understanding any of it! But seeing their perplexed expressions, Jack smiled as he exined in simpler terms. "Whoever spoke well of us during the Masquerade will be fine." "But all those backstabbing bitches talking in our back?" He made a thumbs down, his meaning obvious. He''d show them how it felt to mess with them! This counted double for the hypocritical ones showing smiles only to their faces! "Now, bring me my Minister of Development!" Jack ordered with a grin. . . . Back at the Henderson''s Estate. "Humph! Pointing fingers at my sweet Aisha?! Is that Divination Master mad?! First, he bullshits the Thunder Lord with a fake prophecy, and now he''s trying to mess with us?!" The Henderson Patriarch was livid with rage. This much was to be expected, given the news he had just received. Somehow, the man had used his daughter of baiting him! As if! "Scoff, he sure screwed up! Trying to bring us into his mess? We have eyewitnesses cing her at a martial showcase by the Roc Family! Now, the Thunder Lord''s hunting the liar!" Amidst her father''sughter, Aisha couldn''t help but inwardly sweat. She HAD, in fact, baited that poor Divination Master, all because he had somehow angered her Mentor. But just as she was getting increasingly ufortable, a messenger suddenly crashed through an open window, going "WOO!" as itnded smack on their kitchen table! On the cylinder on its back was written: EXPRESS DELIVERY! Seeing this invasion, the Patriarch started trembling¡­ with joy! "If it isn''t Mister Fox!" He eximed, smiling. To him, those foxes had be akin to good luck charms. Every time they crashed through a window, a chimney, or got lost in his garden¡­ they''d bring WISDOM! "Hehe, I wonder what amazing n the me Lord has for us today!" He chuckled, rubbing his hands together. Then he picked opened the message carefully as if a treasure. Once again, Aisha didn''t know how to feel. Her dad showing such respect to the words written by a baby¡­ was it hrious or sad?! But before she could decide¡­ "Aisha! Good news, you''ll be Teaching Jack today! Make sure you do a good job. After all, he''ll be one of our trading partners once he grows up!" He was already waving her goodbye. "S-sure, I''ll t-teach him well¡­." She left with a forced smile, one that she kept all the way to her destination, even as a yful one eagerly guided her inside. He stood there, awaiting her. "Disciple, you made it!" His assured figure was such a sh with his frail body. Even now, she couldn''t get used to it. But, as usual, her shock didn''t prevent him from continuing. "Good, time to unveil my newest project! I told you about the business I wanted tounch, right? Well, I''ve finally decided: we''ll create a delivery service!" "W-what?! T-that¡­ wouldn''t be profitable¡­." Aisha couldn''t help but shake her head, doubtful. Was he jesting or perhaps testing her? "Hehe, you see, everything is in the quality and the range of services! We''ll deliver everything from goods to humans and even merchant caravans!" He beamed. "W-wouldn''t that be a mercenarypany with extra steps?" She raised a brow, confused. What was even the point of that? This wasn''t much of a business! "No, no, no! Of course not! We''ll deliver inside the City, outside the City, and even in the Wild! We''ll do it may it be food or artifacts; heck, we''ll even deliver potion refills to Adventurers!" "T-that''d be insane! There''s no way we''d ever make a profit!" "You think so? At first, we won''t, or barely, but just envision it. A world where you can order anything in existence with a simple C?l?i?c?k? ¡ª request!" "Wouldn''t there be lots of fighting?! What about encountering robbers and monsters?! What then!" She grimaced. "We FIGHT!¡ª Not to death obviously, but still." Jack chuckled. "Who would even sign up for such a thing?!" She protested. It didn''t have the excitement of the Mercenary Life, yet there was WAY too much excitement for the regr folks. But that''s when the entire room came alive: "Woo!" (Me!) "Woo!" (Me! I''m faster!) "Woo!" (Me! I''ll leave now!) The foxes were already fighting for the opportunity. Missions? HEADPATS! Fighting?! MORE HEADPATS! Their legs were already itching to go! Aisha gasped with a realization: "Y-You, you''re nning a Fiery-Fox Based business?!" "Bingo, we''ll even save on the uniforms! Now, let me tell you about FoxZone, the BEST delivery service!" Chapter 72 Ancient Technique? Naw, Cant Be! In the courtyard, a drill was ongoing. "FoxZone Employees, at attention!" Aisha ordered. Instantly, the sea of Foxes came into ordered rows that couldn''t have been more perfect. Heck, they were even more disciplined than the Dawn Guards themselves! As Jack had proposed his FoxZone idea, she had argued that Fiery Foxes were known to be WAY too yful and couldn''t do real work. But this scene proved otherwise. "Y-you¡­ how the hell did you manage this?!" "Oh, you know. Headpats, and stuff." Headpats?! She knew tamers who''d gone insane trying to tame those hyperactive orange devils! Even the me Lord herself would only give them vague directives! "Pretty good, aren''t they?" Jack chuckled. "Woo!" (Hehe, Master praised us!) Aisha wanted to retort, toin, but reality stared her straight in the face. They could definitely work with this! There was perhaps just one issue. "How will you deal with thenguage barrier? It''s crucial for good service. Without it, you might as well give up right now¡­." "Is that so?" Jack pointed at a nearby fox, thetter hurrying over. Then, out of god knows where it took out a small pamphlet with a list of prices. The whole thing was a calction based on Distance X Danger X Weight. "Distance and weight are pretty easy to judge, but Danger¡­ now that''s another beast entirely. It will depend on the items carried, the path taken, and¡ª" "Yep, that''s the part you''ll have to figure out! You should be able to do that, right? Maximize the profit while Minimizing the Danger. I''ll be counting on you!" Aisha was already starting to get a headache. As for Jack, he was grinning. Why would he do the troublesome stuff himself when he had subordinates for that? As if! But just as they were happily discussing¡­ "Woo!" (Iing me Lord!) Instantly, Jack yed dumb. She still thought the FireFox God had blessed him, but how would she react if he exhibitedpletely different powers?! There were two options: 1. Remain nice to him, simply rescinding his Title. 2. Lock him up with the FireFox God until thetter took over his soul. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but he for sure wouldn''t try it just yet! Not before he had the power to defend himself, at the very least! So, he looked as babily innocent as possible! Turns out she wasn''t alone either¡­ Behind her followed the fattest man Jack had ever seen. His clothes were probably stronger than the Dawn Lords for not bursting apart! As soon as the duo arrived, the man''s amiable eyes locked on Jack, inspecting him from head to toe, nodding at times. Why did it feel like he was inspecting a horse?! "Woo!" (Gulp! It''s the Herb Guy!) Herb guy?! At first, Jack was utterly confused, but he soon understood everything. That''s when the man opened his jacket, revealing¡­ an incredibly toned body! Fat? No, this guy had so much stuff chucked at his chest level! Herbs, acupuncture needles, some weird metallic tools, and even a couple of live magical beasts?! Who TF was he?! "So this one''s Jack, eh?" He approached and started touching/smelling him as if handling an animal. This guy was a vet, wasn''t he? Yep, 100% a vet! The pungent smell of fur on his body attested to it. At some point, he even asked him to stroke his snake as he took out a rainbow-colored python. As he did, the thing kept switching colors as if unable to settle on one! By the side, the me Lord watched anxiously. "Did you find any issue?" Jack wasn''t sure whether to cry or to cry. Was this guy here because he had been unconscious after the Masquerade? As expected of the me Lord, her to-go-guy was a vet! "Hmm, there''s definitely something wrong with him. The energying out of him is strange, to say the least. I''ve only seen this in people practicing Ancient Techniques¡­." Jack and the Ghost froze alike. Fuck! Was this guy unto them?! The me Lord''s aura had already changed, fiery Mana oozing out of her being as if a volcano about to erupt! But just as she seemed about to go wild¡­ "¡­but that''s impossible for a baby, haha! You can rx, me Lord, such vile techniques are lost for a reason. Actually, I may know what might have caused the problem!" At this moment, everyone on the scene held their breath. "He spent too much time on sacred grounds with foxes. He needs to interact with people! His Mana should stabilize on its own once he does; I''m 99% sure!" Countless sighs and woos of relief were uttered at the same time. Interact with people? This was BS! It was clearly the first one, but luckily his cover as a baby had protected him! But, amidst a sea of relief, Aisha actually started trembling. A-Ancient Techniques?! Those were Demonic Techniques only practiced by the craziest of Heretics. Could it be?! At this moment, she felt like she had gotten a glimpse of a truly terrifying being. Except, an instantter¡­ all she could see was Jack''s silly smile, and somehow it felt impossible. ''I''m probably just overthinking this¡­.'' Ignorant to the youngdy''s inner turmoil, the me Lord was now merrily thanking the "Herb Guy" for checking up on her adoptive son. Then, before Jack could even catch his breath, she gave him the most radiant smile! "Don''t worry, Jack! I''ll take care of everything!" Why did he have a bad feeling about this? As for the cause of it all¡­ "Hey, kid, don''t look at me like that! Sure, the Evil God''s Body IS an Ancient Technique, but it should be undetectable¡­ once you master it anyway!" he argued and kept going. "This one''s on your weird Fox Powers! Heck, how did you even get Fox Powers that aren''t rted to the FireFox god is the strange thing here! Anyway, how will you deal with this?" "Sigh. Wanna bet she''s looking at daycare pamphlets right now?" "Pfft¡ª Don''t worry, kid, I believe in your acting skills!" The Ghost was already chortling, the others trying their best to stifle augh as they pictured their Master/Mentor ying with children "his age". But instead of showing despair, or even annoyance, Jack had a scheming light in his eyes instead. Curious foxes turned his way, awaiting his new n. "This is an opportunity! There''s actually a ce I''ve been wanting to check out for a while now, ever since a certain Young Lady barged in here casting fire dragons!" "Y-you don''t mean?!" "Yep, the Magic Academy!" Chapter 73 Burning Through Daycares! "Yep, the Magic Academy!" Jack uttered as if it wasn''t a big deal! "Aren''t you a little too young for that?! How the hell do you expect the Academy to ept you?! Do you think they''ll just go: oh, a baby? Sure, we''ll take him!" Aisha blurted. There was so much wrong with this! What kind of n was this?! Not only would it screw the school''s reputation¡­ but it was downright preposterous! "Is that so? Are you 100% sure?" "100%? I''m 200%, 300%, a thousand percent sure!" She wasn''t done either. She kept saying higher percent numbers as if it mattered. But a secondter, her maw hung loose, her eyes about to burst. Jack had activated his Evil God''s Body. "What about now? Think they''d let me attend?" "Y-you¡­ you?! How did you do that?! No¡­ wait, that''s your n?! You''ll attend with this body?! But how are you going to fool the me Lord?! She won''t¡ª" "Easy, you''ll be attending the Academy! I''ll simply tag along. She trusts you enough for that. Besides, it''s the best ce to start FoxZone. The students will happily try our services!" The older one was, the more rigid their thinking. A fox-based delivery service would undoubtedly seed with younger customers, if only because of their cuteness! The more he spoke, the more it made sense. Aisha even found herself nodding along, envisioning the whole thing. "Y-you, how long have you been scheming this?!" "For a very long time¡­." Jack took a mysterious pose, hands behind his back as if contemting the universe. "¡­ at least five minutes!" This was a long time?! If that was, what should she think of the countless nights she had remained awake, agonizing over improving her mercantile skills?! "Sigh¡­" "Pfft¡ª Kid, that''s one daring n! Still, I don''t see why the me Lord would just let you go! As far as she''s concerned, the daycare option makes way more sense, doesn''t it?" "Hehe, of course! We''ll just have to give her the idea¡­ and make her believe she''s the one that thought of it in the first ce. Even if she''s strong, she''s still human! Leave it to me!" Jack assured his ghost Mentor. Thetter quickly gave up convincing him otherwise. One had to admit that he was actually looking forward to his disciple''s antics. How would he do it?! It didn''t take long for everything to begin. Aisha returned home with one and one directive only. She''d have to apply to the Magical Academy, and fast! Luckily, this should be easy for the Hendersons. As for him, he waited with the foxes, the me Lord quicklying back to bring him away. In the few hours she had left, she had somehow found him a daycare. As they arrived at the "Happy Gold-bear", Jack almost felt like vomiting. Kids, kids, everywhere! The little buggers went wild, grabbing any toys they could get their hands on and putting them into their mouths! Then some were downright eating boogers! While he didn''t have anything against them¡­ there was no way he could blend in and remain sane! No fucking way! Luckily, he wouldn''t be here long¡­ "Wee, wee, is this little Jack! Why don''t youe in? We''ll take great care of him. You can be sure of it!" The workers ushered him in with warm but stressed smiles. They didn''t dare to neglect him, knowing the hell that would await them if they did. Thus, they gave him special attention, which only made everything he did more noticeable! Jack had been resolved to get kicked out ASAP! He inwardly apologized to the kids, but he was a man on a mission! ytime? He acted like a little tyrant, quickly establishing the pecking order. In the first five minutes, he had already monopolized all the daycare toys. Any kid feeling peeved about the whole thing? A single look at them was enough to make them reconsider! As for the adults¡­ the same thing actually worked! Lunchtime? He had the other kids lining up before him to offer their deserts up as offerings. The workers wanted to intervene¡­ but they, too, had their deserts stolen! Nap time? Jack didn''t care at all for it. With his current body''s specs, he could go for a few days without sleep! He even forced the poor workers to sing his favorite luby. By now, their only hope was the outdoor y time¡ª except it was worse! Somehow, Jack had all the other kids erect him a mud fort as he yed the emperor! Hence once the me Lord came back¡­ "W-We''re sorry, we''re notpetent enough to care for him! He''s too much of a g-genius. We''ll give you a full refund, so¡ª" they begged in tears. Thus the next day, Jack was shipped to a new daycare, where he once again repeated the same¡ª or simr process. He''d quickly enve the clueless kids, traumatizing the workers. Thus he went through daycares faster than days in a week! Happy Feet Daycare ¡ª> Kicked out! Gentle Sunny Rays Daycare ¡ª> Kicked out! Azkaban''s Daycare for Problematic Children ¡ª> Still admitted¡­ how?! Thetter was such a shitty daycare that they didn''t even raise a brow when he started ordering other kids around. They evenughed about it. Heck, they didn''t even mind as he established a "pirate crew" and had his new minions rob the restaurant next door. They were totally unhinged and unapologetic! Luckily, or unluckily, the whole ce just happened to burn down by a magical fire that might or might not have started because of a Fiery Fox. Either way, the me Lord was soon out of options. It reached a point where she almost turned toward the other Dawn Lords to ask for parenting advice. But just as she despaired, she remembered a certain young girl. Aisha had just been preparing her suitcases when the me Lord invaded the Henderson''s Mansion! "You, you''re great with kids! I need you to attend daycare with Jack!" "T-that¡­ I applied to the Magic Academy and¡ª" "That works too! I''ll send Jack with you!" At this moment, Aisha felt like the world had turned upside down. What the heck was wrong with the me Lord? Why did she seem like she was handing her a time bomb? She could only sigh as she kept preparing¡­ Chapter 74 Traumatizing People While AFK?! In the Henderson''s courtyard, discussions were plenty. "W-What?! The Young Lady''s going to the Magic Academy?!" "Psst... Yes! I heard she insisted on going for some reason. Apparently, the Patriarch was against it initially, but with her newfound status, he relented in the end." "Still, I''m worried for the young Lady. How will she fare away from home? That ce is even more cutthroat than the Dawn''s Commerce Union... Also, why leave now?!" The more the servants gossiped, the more Aisha felt like hiding in a hole. Why? That''s what she bloody wanted to know! Luckily, her father had nned an escort for them. A dozen of Adventurers were already crowding around their carriage, one easily recognizable by the shining "Henderson Estate''s Property" lettering covering it. "I''ll be counting on you for this journey!" She nodded at the Adventurers, thetter already eying the surroundings warily in case of danger. They took this as seriously as they should! But as she actually went inside the carriage.... "Yo!" Jackzily greeted her,fortablyying on a bed of fluffy foxes, their fur brushing against his back, and a pile of snacks beside him. It was such a shpared to the wariness outside! She was a bundle of nerves, yet he was so rxed?! She almost wondered if she had boarded the wrong carriage! She scowled. "Y-You... Take this seriously, will you?! This is a BIG deal! Do you know how dangerous heading outside can be? There''s no time for ying! We''ll need to--" But before she could finish her train of thought, they had already begun moving, Jack watching the scenery change through the magical one-way windows. One had to admit that this carriage was AMAZING! It was sound-proof, privacy-assured, cozy, and it even included soft lighting with magicalmps. This was definitely First-ss! Not only was the ride sweet, but they were even let through the Gates without even a second look. Jack suddenly felt like a VIP, growing even more pleased. "Ah, such a nice day for traveling!" Jack sighed. But merely instants afterward, as if he had jinxed them, shouts came from the front! "Ambush! Stop the carriage!" The Adventurers cried out, some already despairing. A cloaked figure intently stared at their carriage in the middle of the road, with tons ofrge boxes next to it. The escort leader instantly turned grim as he reported: "Young Lady, someone''s blocking the road! As for those strange boxes, there''s a 99% chance they''re Magical Incendiary Bombs! We''re better off staying far away! We''ll send people to--" This wasn''t the first time the Mad Dragons, their escort''s party, encountered such a thing. The light of wisdom and the wariness that came with experience glowed in their eyes. But just as they were ready to deal with the situation... "No need. Keep going, straight ahead!" A grave authoritative voice came from inside the carriage... WHO?! There wasn''t supposed to be anyone but the Young Lady on the carriage! Had they been duped?! Many were already frowning at the order. Charge into an obvious ambush? This didn''t make any sense whatsoever! They turned toward their leader, awaiting instructions. But, thetter''s face had long turned ashen: 1. He had personally checked the carriage earlier. It had been empty. 2. He had been watching it all along ever since. 3. No one had gotten on. D-Did this mean that they had been hijacked already?! Had a super-expert somehow reached their protection target?! What the fuck was happening?! Little did the poor man know that the me Lord herself had sneakily dropped Jack off. At this moment, the leader was thus in a state of utter confusion. "What are you waiting for? Let''s go!" Jack reiterated. "Y-Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!" As the leader said, his troops almost doubted their earing. Sir? Their leader stuttering? Just who was this guy inside for him to act like that?! That''s when the atmosphere of the Caravan turned odd. The Adventurers sweated bullets, held their breaths, forced themselves to put one foot before the other, and gazed at the "ambush" with recalcitrance. But as they got closer, they suddenly felt dumb... Instead of a great evil, it was a youthful young woman with LOTS of luggage. "Hey! Were you really going to leave without me?! If you''re going to the Academy, I might as well tag along. That ce''s overwhelming with potential test subjects!" Lizzy beamed. That''s when the authoritative voice resounded once more, yful this time. "I believe they''re called students, Lizzy. Still, what about your Emporium? You won''t simply leave it empty, right?" Jack questioned. "Of course not! The helpers you sent me will man it... eh, fox it! Don''t worry; they can do that much. I''ve taught them well!" She reassured. "Fine. Join if you will." As soon as he agreed, she happily started hauling her luggage aboard. Yet, the more she did, the stranger the escort''s leader''s expression became as he pictured the pecking order. Mysterious voice> Young Lady + Alchemist Neer? No, perhaps it was even crazier than this! What if the mysterious being ranked even higher than the Henderson''s Patriarch? What if he was their Family''s trump card?! Gasp! This was INSANE... but usible! He was dying to peek inside, yet he felt this could be a world-ending mistake. What if the expert took offense to it? What if the expert''s existence was supposed to be a secret?! With merely a few words, Jack had managed to traumatize their escorts unknowingly. Yet, even he didn''t pay it too much attention. After all, he was far too busy! As soon as they had resumed their travels, he had sent his foxes on hunts! They''d clear the road and wipe the monsters simultaneously, generating tons of XP for him in the process! [Your Fox yed An Enemy! +28 XP!] [Your Fox yed An Enemy! +34 XP!] [Your Fox yed An Enemy! +33 XP!] [Your--....] The more notifications appeared, the happier Jack felt. They were doing a Monster MASSACRE! At this point, he wasn''t sure what kind of monsters they were killing, but they sure were going strong! Heck, he already had a pile of XP on his status screen! What should he spend it on this time? MAGIC for his Spectral Daggers and Evil Body Duration? Perhaps his Fate Vision? But as he gazed at a specific line, his eyes stayed glued to it. "Assign XP to Master of the Foxes!" Jack chimed in. [Congrattions! Unlocked New Title Abilities!] [You''ve Learned Commands! Show Details?] "YES! Of course!" . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 48 ( MAGIC 11 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Fox Commands! ???? - Is an Escort Really Needed?!???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 75 HUNT! Fun-Command! [You''ve Learned Commands! Show Details?] a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? ??|? Fox Commands! ??|? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Your link to your troops has grown stronger! You can still give them basic directives, even when separated from one another. Distance doesn''t matter to a True Fox Master! a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Oh?! Jack focused his mind and felt the invisible link with his foxes throbbing. ''HUNT'' he sent as amand, and instantly he felt the feedback; they were doing it! Instead of just killing for XP, they''d bring some meat back this time! Jack grinned; this ability was even faster than wirelessmunications! He was already picturing the possibilities. Wait... actually, could he perhaps push it even further?! What if he assigned new meaning tomands he would seldom use? What if he created an entirely new alphabet for it?! Just as he was lost in thoughts... Outside the carriage, the Leader of the Mad Dragons was meeting with his fellow Adventurers, his face tinted with horror. "B-boss, are you alright?!" "You guys, look there! What do you see?!" He pointed toward the nearest forest. There, a Fiery Fox had just appeared, its fur utterly drenched in blood. But that wasn''t the scary part... in its maw, it held a dead body! It was human... The Adventurers gulped, grabbing their weapons. But just as they were about to get in a defensive posture, their Leader stopped them. "It''s no use, don''t make any sudden move." He whispered, shivering. Fight? They''d bloody lose! Those things always traveled in packs! Their only chance at survival was that the creature had already eaten its fill and wouldn''t attack them. One could hope, right?! But that''s when it sauntered toward them. The Fiery Fox didn''t seem to care about their terrified gazes one bit as it approached the armored horses at the front. Then just as the spectators were about to shit themselves... it stopped right in front of them and... dropped the body?! Then it pointed a paw at the carriage. "Woo!" (I brought back food! Time to HUNT again, hehe!) Somehow, they understood its meaning. T-this was food?! No, more importantly, this offering wasn''t for them, it was for the being in the carriage! "W-what the fuck did we just sign up for?!" At this moment, they all looked at each other, drenched in sweat. But before they could discuss it, a voice resounded from the carriage. "The Fox brought food, right? I''ll leave the preparations to you! We''re in luck; fresh game tastes the best!" Jack casuallymented, having "felt" the fox''s return. He had felt the little one''s happiness. Apparently, it had managed to get a pretty big prey, too, some sort of boar, perhaps? Either way, Jack was looking forward to supper! "U-Understood!" Shaky adventurers answered him. Tch-- Talk aboutcking courage! They had merely seen one bloody Fiery Fox and they were already like that? Still, he was too distracted to care, already using his new ability again. As he kept training, the poor Adventurers were about to lose their minds. "W-We have to prepare t-this?!" "Let''s run! We''ll refund the Hendersons and--" "Fool! It''s far toote. Do you think they''ll just let us go?! No, this is a test! You guys can do whatever you want, but I''ll be doing my job!" Their Leader nervously spat out. Before the others could protest, he was already kneeling by the corpse, his hands shaking as he removed the remaining clothes on the victim''s back. His stomach was already twisted, but he ignored how sick he felt as he slowly but surely grabbed his Dismantling Knife with its many dents. "Here goes nothing...." -- Stter! Warm blood sshed on his face. It was toote to back down now. He forced himself not to vomit as he kept cutting the skin up. "L-leader, are you really--?!" "You guys help out too! Otherwise..." He didn''t finish his sentence, his meaning obvious. If this really was a test, who knows what would happen to whoever failed it. Perhaps they''d be fired... or worse! But just as they were already shaking like leaves, their Leader suddenly discovered something. It was arge Fire-Breathing Lion tattoo on the victim''s left shoulder. "Oh, GOD! This guy''s a Destructor!" They shook even harder.... Yet suddenly felt better. This all made sense now! The Destructors were one of the worst bandit groups, both in morals and power. Yet, those fools had recently attacked a minor Henderson''s Caravan. Was this all for payback?! Who knew merchants could be that SAVAGE! They''d eat their enemies as retribution?! At this moment, they resolved never to go against them... EVER! Thus, they kept dismantling. Thanks to the group''s efforts, it didn''t take long for the body to be disposed of. They kept the meat and dropped the remains in the nearby forest. But, just as they thought they were finally done... A legion of Fiery Foxes appeared on the horizon. Their eyes shone with victory, and their maws held the rewards of their hunt! "T-this is madness! Don''t tell me they''re all--?!" Destructors? Yes, all of them! They all had the same Tattoos, which were now proving very ironic. Lions getting devoured by Foxes? Those had to be some weak lions! Fox after Fox strolled toward their Carriage. -- Drop! Drop! Drop! -- Then before the Adventurers could even regain their bearings, a mountain of Bandit Corpses awaited them, the stench of butchered meat permeating the area. "Woo!" (Prey delivery done! Back to hunting!) Even now, they still happily replied. To the foxes, the bandits were merely that, prey. It had all started when a keen-nosed fox had caught the whiff of the BBQ the bandits had been preparing. A little one had showed up, only to be ambushed and captured! "Guys, look at this plump Fox we caught! Perfect for BBQ!" The bandits had chuckled at the poor thing''s attempts to free itself, already getting the seasonings ready. But before they could proceed, the little Fox showed its intelligence! It made puppy eyes, as it used every begging "woo!" in the book. This would clearly show them that it wasn''t any random wild fox, they''d release it, and-- "Pfft-- So what if you''re someone''s pet? We''ll still eat you! Even better if you''re smart! I bet your meat will be much more nutritious!" They raucouslyughed. The "helpless" Fox sighed. It had been trying to be nice... only for its efforts to backfire! What was wrong with those humans?! This wasn''t how they were supposed to receive a guest! That''s when the little Fox used Fire Magic for the first time ever! The it had been captured with instantly went up in smoke... and so did the nearest bandit! "ARRGGGG! It Burrnnnnsss! What the fuck is this?!" "Quick! Get water! Hurry up before it spreads!" "Shit, that''s magical Fire! RUNNN!" The hunter and prey roles had instantly been reversed! The bandits scuttled away in a bid to keep their lives, the Fox about to give chase. But before it could... HUNT! "Woo?!" (M-Master?!) It had only been for an instant, but it had felt its master''s presence! It was as if he was right next to it, in range to pet it. H-how?! Wasn''t he still back at the Carriage?! But then it understood. It was simply some kind of telepathicmunication technique! As for how Master could even use this, the answer was obvious: MASTER''S AWESOME! That''s when its gazended on the burnt bandit. Could this be called hunting? Contains meat? a?"??? Part of the Wildlife? a?"??? Large enough to feed many? a?"??? YES! The little Fox rejoiced, bringing back its prey. As it reached the camp, it saw that it had been the fastest hunter... how great! Then it felt its emotions go in sync with its master. Thetter was inwardly congratting it for a sessful hunt. It had been PRAISED! Hehe, this was fun! Thus the Fox delivered the meat, happily returning to the forest, ready to grab some more prey! But, as soon as it left the caravan, it was instantly ambushed! "Woo?!" (Such big prey! Where did you find it?!) "Woo?!" (Please, big brother, tell us!) Its brethren crowded around it, their eyes glowing with expectation. That''s when the little one took the air of an expert as it puffed its chest, gesturing them to follow it! "Woo!" (Time to HUNT, for MASTER!) Thus started a VERY sessful hunting day. Back in the Carriage, Jack was finally understanding the limits of his new ability. While he could transmit pretty much anything to the foxes, it would be up to them whether to do it. Still, seeing how loyal they were, this wouldn''t be an issue! For the first time in forever, he opened his eyes, actually looking at the outside world. Aisha slept peacefully, rocked by the movements of the Carriage, while Lizzy was in a corner ying with herbs and whatnot,pletely absorbed in her own little world. "Welp, time for fresh air!" Jack chuckled as he activated his Evil God body and went outside. But as soon as he opened the door, all eyes turned to him. What was up with the odd way they were looking at him?! 76 Eating Bandits! And Stuff... 76 Eating Bandits! And Stuff... The Adventurers gazed at Jack strangely. They seemed wary¡­ and even terrified?! Had they misunderstood him as an intruder? Still, they hadn''t taken their weapons out just yet, simply cooking on a magical portable grill. "Hey, guys. Nice to meet you all! I''m part of the Young Lady''s escort. How''s the cooking going?" He started with small talk to get the conversation going. "T-that, we did our best, but¡­." As they replied, they could be seen shivering. Were they simply anxious because they doubted their culinary skills? Either way, it wasn''t Jack''s business. Tempted by the delicious aroma that came out of the BBQ, he snatched a piece of meat, devouring it whole in one big gulp. "Ah, this hits the spot!" It was a perfect mix of chewy, vorful, and filling. This was the ideal outdoor life: a soft breeze ruffling his hair, great food, and foxes happily running around in the background as he was still receiving XP. Sadly, his blissful moment was kinda hindered by the Adventurers shaking like leaves. He turned toward them. "Is there an issue? You guys are so skittish. Bandits? Monsters?" Should they get ready to fight? He could recall his foxes, establish a defense perimeter, and even¡ª "N-No, no issue at all! We''ll arrive at the Magic Academy by tomorrow. You can count on us!" They were so quick to reassure him that it was definitely suspicious. "Is that so? Alright, you guys, take care!" It was useless to keep pushing, so Jack returned to the carriage''s coziness, grabbing lots of meat to snack on. Then he waited, opening his ears wide, using Mana to increase his range of perception. Whatever secret they were hiding, he''d soon know! It didn''t take long for the heavy silence to be unbearable. That''s when they started chatting like magpies. "Holy shit, that was so stressful!" "Did you see his gaze?! This guy''s no joke!" "I told you, didn''t I? He''s the Henderson''s secret weapon, for sure! Ah, but if anyone asks, NOTHING happened on this trip. Are we clear?!" They all shouted in agreement! Henderson''s Secret Weapon? How the hell had theye to this conclusion?! If anything, he should have been the me Mansion''s Secret Weapon! He felt utterly confused. "Pfft¡ª Don''t worry about it, kid. Just enjoy the moment. You have shelter, food, a fox army, and even two cute girls to do your bidding. Don''t sweat the small stuff!" "You''re right¡­." Apanied by the Old Ghost''s chuckles, Jack trained his Arcane Magic some more to keep boredom away, their surprisingly uneventful journey passing in a sh! . . . The carriage halting awoke them. "M-Miste¡ª Young Lady, we''ve arrived!" "Uh? A-already?!" A sleepy-eyed Aisha jerked in shock. Instantly her energy changed! She went fromzy potato that''d do nothing but steal Jack''s tasty snacks to Office Lady oozing professionalism. She was even the first out the door! The Adventurers were respectfully paving the way while a curious crowd had gathered around them. A passenger carriage? At this time of the year? Who was it? "Psst¡ª That''s the Henderson Emblem!" "Henderson? So it''s just someone visiting? Boring!" They hadn''t heard anything about anyone from the Henderson''s joining the Academy, so they wrongly assumed the neers hade here to check up on rtives. But then their illusions were shattered by the squad leader''s shout: "Carry the luggage! Find a guide to the Headmaster''s office. Make sure the Young Lady''s admission proceeds smoothly!" Admission?! Now, this was getting interesting! Aisha came down, looking at her surroundings, Jack and Lizzy right behind her, the trio making one hell of a weird pairing. Aisha ¡ª> All proper and rested Lizzy ¡ª> Eyes sunken,cking sleep as she had kept working Jack MF Bright (Adult Form) ¡ª> For once, he wasn''t naked, wearing the Henderson''s servant uniform. Yet, his aura was too casual, as if he were on a sightseeing trip! At this moment, his eyes were greedily devouring his surroundings. This ce was a Magic Academy, really?! It looked more like a City than a school! The ce was HUGE, with youngsters crawling all over the ce like knowledge-seeking bugs. Then there were the buildings themselves. They would have indubitably given an architect many heart attacks as they seemingly defied gravity, some even freaking floating! Each glowed and appeared more like Treasures than actual constructions. Lastly, there were the sounds. This ce had no regr civilians, only mages¡­ and it showed! There was no silence, only a constant buzzing, the sound of tons and tons of spells being cast every second. "This is definitely different than Dawn¡­" Jack offhandedly remarked, but perhaps he shouldn''t have. A blond man stepped up as if he had been just waiting for this moment. "Scoff! Dawn City? When I heard someone was asking for admission, I had my hopes up, but I guess it was all for naught. A shame, another failure is trying to join this Academy¡­." Wait¡­ what?! Jack was genuinely confused. Dawn was literally the biggest and only City in weeks! Why would this guy even attend this Academy if he wasn''t from around here?! Still, could it be that Dawn''s standing wasn''t that good? He had never heard such a thing¡­ but then again, he had never really left Dawn either. "So, what''s wrong with Dawn City?" Jack curiously asked. But the youngster didn''t even acknowledge his existence. He simply turned toward Aisha as he sneered: "Tch¡ª From Dawn, and you can''t even teach your own servants properly? Should I help you discipline your dog and teach it not to p its mouth?" ¡ª Countless Gasps! ¡ª The crowd was already boiling with fury. Yet, that''s all they did. The youngster''s entire body felt like he was strutting around like a conqueror, knowing no one would dare step up to him! In the back, a couple of Adventurers were frozen in fear. W-what had this kid just done?! Had he just insulted a man that LITERALLY ate bandits for breakfast?! That''s when Aisha''s clear voice echoed¡­ "Teach him? No thanks, lest he bes retarded." She simply waved him away, as one would a stinky fart. There was no consideration for whoever that guy was or even his standing. At this moment, she felt very free. So what if he had some backing? She had Jack! Sure, she didn''t have a clear grasp of his abilities... but that was precisely why she trusted in him so much! "Let''s go, shall we? The sooner we get to the Headmaster''s office, the sooner we can settle our things down!" She happily proposed, utterly ignoring the livid youngster. He was used to getting things his way, thanks to his status. When he couldn''t, he was used to debating his way through until he had the upper hand anyway. But what she did was truly hateful! She hadn''t even tried to defend herself. She hadn''t tried to argue either; she had simply ignored him! While they were leaving, he actually chuckled. "I see, so you''re one of those, eh?" That''s when he stepped toward their carriage, waving his hand. ¡ª CRACKLE! CRACKLE! ¡ª A lightning bolt came forth from his open palm, flying toward the carriage! As soon as it made contact, the wooden frame of the carriage exploded entirely, parts of it catching fire! As for the target of the st? It had been the Henderson''s crest and the new me Mansion''s Business Seal of approval! This was a clear and undisguised provocation! The youngster grinned, satisfied with his handy work. "A fool without nobility doesn''t deserve such a crest." He even sent a provocative look toward the crowd, daring them to react! Disregarding his arrogance, that guy sure packed one hell of a punch! He was what¡­ 16? Perhaps even the Thunder Lord himself wasn''t as strong at the same age! Faced with such a disy of power (foolishness), the Adventurers got ready to fight for Jack''s honor. This was the perfect chance to disy their loyalty and make a connection! But just as they were prepared to step in, their Leader suddenly signaled his men to step back in a hurry. "RETREAT!" Which the aggravating youngster tactfully mocked. Except that this time, he had chosen the wrong fight¡­ "Hahaha, this kid done FUCKED UP! They''re already here." The Old Ghost didn''t even conceal hisughter, the youngster looking around for the offender. In the distance, a legion of foxes had appeared. They could perfectly see the prancing youngster and their burnt crest with their peerless eyesight. Youngster and foxes'' gazes met. "WOOOOO!!!" This "woo" needed no trantion. It was a goddamn WARCRY! In their fury, their Mana overflowed from their tiny bodies, creating a bright red and orange cloud of fluffy DOOM! Foxes covered thend, crushing the youngster''s confidence. Individually, they weren''t that strong, but together¡­?! This was a CATASTROPHE! The nearby students were already freaking out: "B-Beast Tide?! Sound the rm and¡ª Wait¡­ those are foxes?! T-the same ones as the burnt crest? It can''t be¡­ can it?!" Yes, yes it was. Instant retribution! Just as the youngster felt the foxes'' gazes on him, he felt a slight tap on his shoulder. "Tough luck, buddy. I''d tell them to spare you, but I better not talk." Jack exaggeratedly sighed¡­ There''s never a better feeling than a man reaping the consequences of his own actions... .especially when thosee in the form of hyperactive fluffy foxes! sslessAscension Chapter 77 Welcome To The Academy! "I''d tell them to spare you, but¡­." Jack whispered, no one but the blond youngster hearing him. T-This?! Who the heck was this servant, and how dared he be so cocky?! Yet this "servant" 100% had the upper hand at this moment, holding his fate in his grasp! "Make them stop, and I''ll¡ª" The youngster wanted to plead¡­ but Jack andpany had already left. Mercy? There would be none! Just as the youngster started retreating¡­. ¡ªRUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! ¡ª A fluffy orange sea devoured him! He was akin to a bottle in the ocean, his lightning-d body resurfacing at times, but only for mere instants, soon to be swallowed again. Every time the youngster used a lightning spell, a fox would yelp in pain, yet all of this didn''t matter as they kept rotating, shamelessly overwhelming him with numbers! And with every rotation¡­ the man looked worse for wear! - w Marks - Chewed-up limbs - Blood overflowing from every orifice - Mana turning unstable, his spells about to backfire on him! Yet, he didn''t have any choice but to resist! At this moment, he saw the shadow of Death! Death just happened to be on a leash, one held by the "servant" he had insulted! That''s when something inside him broke, his arrogance. "I''m sorry! Please forgive me! SAVEEEE MEEEE!" His shout was so mighty it resonated in the horrified silence, reaching Jack now a fair distance away. As he turned, the youngster clearly saw the teasing smile that adorned his lips. Seeing as the kid was half-dead, he shrugged, the fox assault suddenlying to aplete halt. Before anyone could understand what the fuck had happened, the foxes retreated as quickly as they had arrived. They "wooed" triumphantly and just bolted away. "T-they''re leaving?!" "Is it because the enforcers are about to arrive?!" "No, I bet it''s rted to this Young Lady! Actually, I heard rumors that the Henderson Family and the me Manor allied recently¡­ don''t tell me they came to defend her honor?!" Aisha was straight in the spotlight, turning crimson by the second... As if she had anything to do with this! Still, she simply straightened up her back and kept walking away. Their destination ¡ª> The Headmaster''s office! It didn''t take them long to find it, the man already awaiting them. Thetter red at them intently when they entered thevish yet austere office. If there was any way to describe him, it would be beard¡­ and top-knot. Somehow, their new Headmaster reminded Jack of a freaking Viking! Well, minus the armor¡­ While there were plenty of magical-looking contraptions all over the room, there was an equally if notrger number of stuffed wild monster heads, obvious trophies of his hunts. After what felt like an eternity, he went: "You three¡­ did youe to my Academy to cause trouble?!" He thundered, seemingly about to cut them down depending on their answers! What kind of question was this?! What kind of dumbass would announce his mischiefs?! But then¡­ "YES! Lots of trouble!" Jack cheekily replied. This was an even worst answer! Not only was he not apologetic, but he was even ncing at the Headmaster as if daring him to try and stop him! At this moment, tons of ways to salvage the situation crossed her mind, but just as she was about to open her mouth¡ª The two men startedughing out of freaking nowhere! "Hahahahaha!" "Pfft¡ª" What had she missed?! The Headmaster wasn''t angry, but was even relieved and¡­ excited?! "Hehe, I really was worried over nothing. You guys will do just fine here!" Before the poor Aisha could understand what had transpired, the Headmaster shoved three packages in their hands, throwing them out of his office with onestugh. "Wee to the Academy, you three! Try not to kill anyone, and don''t die!" T-that was it?! "W-what the actual fuck was that?!" as soon as they were out, she turned to Jack, utterly confounded. "Think, Aisha, think. Use that pretty head of yours." He jokingly replied, already busy opening the one package he had just received. It contained 3 things and three things only: 1. An introductory booklet to the Academy 2. A rusty Iron key that seemed older than the world 3. A ssy-looking student outfit that allowed ease of movement. This meant that they had officially been epted as students at the Academy! That''s when Aisha suddenly jerked up in shock as if enlightened! "Wait! That guy at the gates¡­ that was a test?!" She eximed, Jack nodding, his smile growing wider. She had seen the clues! His student sure was getting wiser! Why would someone pick such a fight with them out of bloody nowhere? He had probably been asked for¡­ by the Headmaster himself! That was the most likely exnation. Thetter had wanted to see their reaction, to measure their mettle. It was a test of character: how one reacted to such an event was very telling about one''s personality! "Then when you replied about causing LOTS of trouble¡­?!" "It meant: I''ve seen through your bullshit. If you''re going to y like this, expect LOTS of trouble." Jack chuckled, not hiding anything. "Yes, but how did you know?! That guy could have very well just been an elitist dick. There are a bunch of them if you know where to look." Aisha remarked, perplexed. "Oh, he probably is. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been easily baited to act as a mere probe. I''m pretty sure he 100% deserved to be mauled by foxes, so we''re good." Aisha suddenly turned pensive. This was only day one, and she was already getting a lesson in politics?! Perhaps this trip would be more enlightening than she had initially believed! But she froze as she saw the nearby Lizzy. Thetter''s face was deformed into a grotesque grin as she embraced her new student outfit. She seemed to REALLY like it! Sensing Aisha''s nce, she cackled: "This outfit is the perfect disguise! I''ll be able to hunt for test subjects undisturbed and sell potions at the student market¡­ they ought to have one! C''mon, let''s get settled!" She enthusiastically grabbed her key: room 1337! "Where are you guys residing? 1337? 1337¡­ you too?! Great, we''re all together! We should definitely "upgrade" our newir and turn it into an impregnable fortress until¡ª" "Wait¡­ 1337?! Pfft¡ª Kid, you''re about to be the envy of the entire school. Their faces will scrunch up whenever they look at you!" The Old Ghost suddenly cackled. "What for?" For once, Jack felt lost. But then he soon understood, the realizationing from a very well-designed information panel. | Academy Dormitories! | Even Numbers ¡ª> Boy Dormitories Odd Numbers ¡ª> Girl Dormitories *PS: There can be exceptions "Bah, I bet no one will care¡­" Jack simply shrugged. Never had he been so wrong in his life¡­ Chapter 78 Stink-POCALYPSE! 78 Stink-POCALYPSE! It didn''t take long for the trio to find the dormitories¡­ "I wasn''t expecting this¡­." Aisha stood before it, her mouth wide open. Why did this thing look more like a prison block than an actual dormitory?! It waspletely made out of a strange material that was obsidian-colored, and it was shaped like a big rectangle. Why did it look like a sturdy wall? And what were they supposed to do with that?! But just as they were all baffled, a female student chuckled as she amicably exined: "Pfft¡ª You guys look like you''ve seen a djinn! Don''t worry; this is just the barrier around the ce. The administration was tired of dealing with all the rtionship drama, so they put this ugly thing at each dormitory and called it a day!" That exined a lot! "So¡­ how do we enter?!" Aisha asked. "You take the key you received and imbue your Mana into it. The first time you use it, it will get branded to your Mana Signature, then you just have to keep it on you. See?" She mischievously jumped forward, both feet together, her entire body disappearing in the obsidian¡­ passing right through! Then she kept repeating the same process. "See? In, out, it''s that easy!" She giggled. "Oh, that''s neat!" Jack remarked. "I know, right? Now, you two,e with me!" She grabbed Aisha and Lizzy by the hand, enthusiastically bringing them to the other side. But then she realized her mistake. "Oops, I got so excited that I forgot about your manservant. Poor guy''s stuck on the other side all by himself¡ª W-WHAT?!" A face had just appeared through the barrier, Jack passing through. "Y-Y-You?! How did you do that?!" The poor girl was now pointing at him, stuttering. She would have probably reacted better if she had seen a ghost! "I copied you guys¡­ I''m in the same room as them." He offhandedly remarked. This was expected: The me Lord having insisted that he NEVER separate from Aisha. But to the girl before him, it was a HUGE deal! "Holy shit! Oh my freaking god?! Are you a prince or something?! Wait, no, a eunuch?! Wait, don''t tell me you''re actually a girl in disguise?! Which is it?!" Never had Jack seen someone so eager to gossip. Holy shit, how freaking bored was she?! More importantly, why were her eyes glowing?! "Ah, right. What''s your name? Where are you from?! What''s your favorite food? What kind of¡ª" This wasn''t mere questions; this was a goddamn inquisition! Yet, somehow, an unyielding aura overflowed from her as she opened a floating system-like magical notepad interface, ready to type it all. T-This looked just like a holographic screen he had seen in his previous world¡­ and the system had clearly inspired it! "Wait... Before that, what''s this?!" His eyes were glued to the magical notepad. That''s when the tables turned, Jack suddenly seeming like the zealous one as he kept observing the thing from all angles. This looked so damn cool! She raised a brow, surprised by his interest. "This? Just a side project of mine, why?" "Side project? That''s a side project?!" "Yep, made it in Enchanting 101." The girl nonchntly replied, seemingly not realizing her creation''s potential! Wouldn''t it make the perfect "online-order" look-alike?! It was perfect for FoxZone! He hurriedly grabbed her dainty hands, gazing deep into her green eyes and approaching, his breath hurried as he pictured the possibilities. "You, I need you! Come work for me, and build me more of those, whatever this thing''s called!" Jack straightforwardly pleaded. But that''s when the girl''s brain stopped working, right after "You, I need you!" actually. As for the rest? She hadn''t heard any of it! She didn''t reply; she just bolted away, panicking! ¡ª ZOOOMM! After all, it had been her first time getting confessed to! She had merely left when a thud suddenly resounded, another group of female students gawking at them from afar. In their shock, they had dropped the books they carried. "Hahaha! Kid, you just stole a heart!" The Old Ghost was already making fun of him. "Quick, let''s find 1337." Jack sighed. How long could it take to find one room? The answer was he long! What should have been a straightforward mission had suddenly turned to hellish difficulty. This felt like a freaking Zombie Apocalypse, with tons of curious girls at every corner, eager to bombard him with questions until he couldn''t take it anymore. Even repeating "Busy, talkter!" didn''t seem to cut it anymore. This became even worse when a group of gossiping girls ambushed them, blocking their way! "Hehe, who are you?! How did you get a key?! Did you steal it? How much did you bribe the Headmaster for it? What happened to¡ª" They were insatiable... and had cornered him! Jack seemingly gave up as he stopped running. "Fine. You want answers? I''ll give you answers¡­." They bubbled with excitement. "I won''t repeat my Story, so open your ears, eyes, and noses wide! He warned. "Pfft¡ª You''re a strange one!" "Eyes and noses? What are you¡ª" That''s when Jack used his secret weapon! Just as they thought they had won, he released the stinkiest Stink Cloud he could generate! The wave spread like a torrent, engulfing the entire dormitory. What had been supposed to buy them time had been WAY more effective than nned! The trio quickly bypassed many female students struggling not to barf. Curiosity killed the cat, as they said¡­ or stank it in this case! Amidst the smelly chaos, they found their target. It was a lone door that looked quite simple. Yet, as they crossed it, they felt like they were in another world. "Damn, this thing''s as big as a 5-room apartment¡­ and luxurious!" Jack eximed, reveling in the tactful decoration, from the mage art to the jewel-embedded chandeliers. Had the me Lord pulled some strings to get them better treatment? Either way, the ce was perfect for their needs. "Calling the biggest room for myb!" Lizzy dered. "Fine, I''m taking the quietest study!" Aisha said. "Good, I''ll take everything else, hehe," Jack concluded. They happily settled down, their door solidly closed. Yet, little did they know that a particr Stink-Cloud spell had gone utterly out of control. It had quickly dissipated¡­ only to be stopped by the obsidian barrier and reform even stinkier than before! What had started as a harmless prank spell turned into a catastrophe! The dormitories slowly and surely became unlivable until¡­ "WE-WOO! WE-WOO!" Evacuation Spells rang in the quiet afternoon, shattering the Academy''s quiet! Sadly, this was merely the start¡­ "What the heck is this? So noisy." Jackined. As for the one who had started it all, he was blissfully oblivious, enjoying his new student life! He''d have a LOT of fun in this ce! . . . ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Jack Bright (ssless) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 48 ( MAGIC 11 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ (NEW!) - Stink-Cloud Leveled UP! (E) ?? - Growing "Poprity!" ?? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Besides the slightly noisy girls, everything was going well so far. I could feel that I would at ease in this new environment. While it wasn''t as quiet as back home, it would be ripe with opportunities! Chapter 79 Hostage Situation! "What the heck is this? So noisy." Jackined. "This is an rm, right? Are we in danger?! Should we evacuate?" Aisha asked, worried. After all, when all was said and done, she''d be the one med if they met trouble. "Nope, all good. This is obviously a practice drill. I bet no one will even notice that we''re missing, so we can calmly settle down." He shrugged, his Danger Sense not reacting. "Now, guild meeting! Let''s list everything we need to do here!" He enthusiastically brought out a whiteboard from their luggage, furiously scribbling on it. World-Domination n! 1. Acquire Knowledge 2. Open a FoxZone Branch 3. Acquire Competent Talents 4. Establish amunicationwork "This,dies, will be our goal in the uing weeks! I want every point on this board checked out, allowing us to thrive and develop. Any question?" "How will you deal with this?" Lizzy remarked, pointing at his baby body. Heads would obviously turn if he walked around in this form. "Hehe, good question. You see, I have the perfect n for this! The booklet we received contains a list of sses one can take in the Academy¡­ but there are also lectures!" "You''ll skip all sses since they take attendance and only show up at the short lectures? Won''t that stunt your progress?" She remarked. "Indeed! But that''s why I have you two! I''ll be counting on you to share your notes with me!" He gave them a radiant smile¡­. He nned to mooch off them! As for any question he potentially had, he could always ask the Old Ghost. This would give him insight into what others were learning to¡­ and how to counter them! "Sigh. More work? Fine, but you have to help me get test subjects!" "You got yourself a deal, Lizzy!" By the side, the poor Aisha couldn''t stop frowning. Didn''t this mean she''d have to attend Magic Lessons too?! What was an aspiring businessdy like her supposed to do with that?! "Getting cold feet, Aisha? That''s naive of you! For a merchant to be sessful, you need to have VISION! Remember that magical note-taking screen that girl had before?" "It seems nice, but there are countless other methods to do the same thing¡­." She protested. "Is that so? What if we modify it to work with foxes? What if this lets them easilymunicate with customers? What if we can connect this to amunicationwork?" The more he spoke, the more her slender frame trembled. This was what he meant by VISION?! He didn''t just see its current uses but also its potential. "Ah?! That''s why you were so eager to buy it?!" "Yep! I want you to always think about running a business when you attend sses. You need to know what spells exist to n around them. Understood?" By now, she was furiously nodding, the scene of a grown girl listening to a baby quite ridiculous. That''s when she started furiously flipping through the Academy''s booklet. "Principles of Chanting? Yes!" "Elemental Magic for Dummies? Definitely!" "Magical Beasts and where to find them? 100%!" "Finding One''s Inner Mage Through Meditation? Why not!" The one who had been the most recalcitrant toing here in the first ce was now fired up. What had previously seemed like a waste of time suddenly became an information gold mine! But just as she was getting enthusiastic about the whole thing¡­ ¡ª KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! ¡ª There was someone at their door? Not only that, but judging by the sound of it, they seemed extremely angry. Jack sighed. What now? After all, he just wanted to settle down quietly. "Viin, open this door, or I swear we''ll break it down!" Viin? As far as he knew, his only enemy here should be that Blond Thunder Kid. He should have still been hospitalized¡­ perhaps an angry rtive? "Fine, fine, I''ming!" He opened the damn thing¡­ only for an odd sight to appear before him. A bunch of girls awaited him, but why were they wearing gas-mask-looking things?! It seemed they had dressed hurriedly, their disciplinary squad armbands crooked, and their robes crumpled. Except, that wasn''t the only odd thing. The very air seemed distorted, a yellowish aura overflowing from it. But that wasn''t all; the whole thing gave a nauseating rotten egg smell that stuck to everything! What the heck had happened here?! Was it a biochemical attack?! Lizzy would know! He turned toward her, a worried look in his eyes. Yet, this movement only enraged the girls further. "Bastard! Do something about this damn smell already! It''s your spell, for crying out loud!" His spell?! Then again, now that he looked at it more closely¡­ It really resembled his Stink-Cloud spell., but why the hell was it this potent?! He could have never done something like this with his meager Mana! "Kid, holy shit! This is amazing! This amplifying power is so damn powerful! This ce''s barrier has the perfect wavelength for your Stink Spell and turned it into a monster!" How the hell could this happen?! "Kid, ever heard of Magical Formations? Well, your spell managed to draw strength from this one! Instead of using your Mana and dissipating, ittched unto it and¡­ CRAZY!" While the Ghost seemed impressed, the girls before him didn''t share his enthusiasm. This wonder of Magic didn''t exactly appeal to their curiosity either. "Remove it right now, or we''ll apprehend you and¡ª" He appeared to be chilling there to them, but in reality, he was in a heated inner discussion with his Ghost Mentor. What could even be done about it?! "Well, kid, it''s your Mana in the end. You should be able to reabsorb it. Then the whole thing should dissipate in a couple of days¡­ or weeks. That''s the best you can do." Days¡­ weeks?! Wasn''t this a little too long?! Just as he was about to express himself, another group of girls showed up. They, too, had armbands, ones that read "Special Hostage Negotiation Corp!" "Out of the way, out of the way! This dormitory''s been held hostage, so this thing''s our jurisdiction! You guys leave ASAP and let us work!" Their leader berated the previous group. Then she turned toward Jack. "You, what are your demands!" Why did she seem amused by the whole thing? She radiated pride as if celebrating that it was her time to shine. Demands? What demands?! Then again, he could think of a few requests¡­ Chapter 80 Chill Headmaster?! "Guys,e quick! HURRY!" At this moment, the entire Academy seemed on fire! The students had just heard something unbelievable. The girl''s dormitory was under attack?! More importantly, three newly admitted students had done it! Countless female students were now standing outside their quarters, stunned expressions on their faces. Many had even evacuated in a hurry, still in their pajamas. "They just antagonized 50% of the school!" "That''s not all! Their foxes beat up that Stornd''s Prince!" "Holy shit?! Are you kidding me?! Who the hell are those guys?!" The low-key school life Jack had wished for was nowhere to be found. On day one, they had already be infamous. It didn''t take long for their information to circte. Aisha ¡ª> Princess of the Henderson Family Lizzy ¡ª> Graduate from the Alchemy Tower Unknown Man ¡ª> There was absolutely no info about him! He was aplete mystery! He seemed to be Aisha''s guard¡­ but perhaps he was a friend or a rtive too? More importantly, what were they doing here?! Had theye for the sole sake of sewing chaos? A certain youngster was especially sweating the more he heard. Damien Henderson. At this moment, he wanted to crawl into a hole. Why the hell had the Academy even epted his talentless sister?! This made no sense at all! More importantly, everyone on the goddamn campus tried to ambush him for INFO! "I really don''t know! I haven''t seen her in forever!" He could only repeat over and over like a broken record. But it got even worse soon enough. "What''s all the fuss about?!" It didn''t take long for the teachers to get wind of this. Why were so many students gathered outside when they could practice magic instead? Just as a few were gathered, a wrinkleddy came forward, huffing and puffing, her fists shaking as much as herrge hat. She was this ce''s herbalism teacher. She was a retired Alchemist who taught her students the basics of the discipline, which often consisted of tips to avoid being ripped off by a greedy Alchemy Tower. Her pride and joy was her Garden, which she tended all year. It was her happy ce, one where she''d meditate and remember her glory days. But her sanctuary had been tarnished! This smell was horrendous! As she marched toward the dormitories, many couldn''t help but gulp in fear and apprehension. Those new students were 100% DEAD! But just as she was about to enter, a strange sound resounded from a distance. It sounded metallic and¡­ WHAT?! The Headmaster had just appeared on the horizon! He wore his usual metallic robe that looked akin to armor and rode a metal destrier. The warhorse seemed so heavy that each of its steps sunk deeply into the earth! ¡ª Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! ¡ª Holy shit?! Even the Headmaster was here?! This guy was a Legend around here. After all, who else had refused to be a Dawn Lord¡­ and many times at that?! He loved participating in and witnessing Magical Competitions¡­ hence why he hade to this Academy! He was as easygoing as powerful, his metal Mastery unequaled! It took him merely an instant to cover the rest of the distance, galloping right in front of the Old Herbalist, who instantly greeted him. "Headmaster, you''re just in time to¡ª" "I know, Miss Green. Let me handle it; I''ll be right back!" He gave her a reassuring smile, diving deep inside the stink apocalypse, many eximing in admiration. He was so damn cool! Yet, merely instants after entering, his face changed. ¡ª CLANG! CRASH! CRUMBLE! ¡ª WHAT?! How?! His metal steed had copsed as soon as he had entered. How had an olfactive attack done that?! But then he understood¡­ He had somehow imbued this thing with a semi-conscious spirit to make it look and act like a horse. Sensing the crazy energy concentration, it had imploded from over-stimtion! "Shit, I knew it¡­." He should have expected it. The me Lord had referred those people, after all! Just when he had managed to get rid of her daughter, sending her on a mission¡­ now this! He kept threading, analyzing the spell. Yet, the further he got, the weirder he felt. This thing was obviously still active¡­ but why couldn''t he feel its Mana Source?! It was as if energy had been created out of nowhere! No, that couldn''t be either. Yet the more he sensed, the more scared he became¡­. It came from the barrier?! This was CRAZY! Then he finally made it to the scene of the crime¡­ "W-what?!" As he entered Jack''s new room, he felt like something was wrong with his eyes. He had heard about the "Hostage Negotiations," but what was this? They all sat down in a circle, a whiteboard in the middle. On it were the words: "Anti-Stink-Cloud Brainstorm Meeting" with a couple of suggestions: - Waiting - Rebuilding the dormitory - Designing an Air-Freshener spell - ¡­. The Headmaster froze. "H-Headmaster?! What are you doing here?!" A girl eximed. ''What am I doing here, your head!'' he wanted to reply. Did those people even know the Drama that they had caused?! But for now, he turned to Jack. "You, was all this¡­ an ident?!" As the youngster nodded, the Headmaster wasn''t sure whether to be reassured, impressed, or if he should cry and me his bad luck. "Right now, we''re trying to find a solution to the problem, but¡­." Of course, dealing with something like that wasn''t easy. If they could have, they wouldn''t have been students. "Sigh, I understand. How long before this thing disappears? Are you able to sense it since you''re technically the caster?" The Headmaster surprisingly patiently asked. "Days¡­ to weeks¡­" Jack embarrassedly replied. A few days wasn''t so bad; the girls could go camping or something¡­ but weeks?! There was no way that this would do! After all, he couldn''t let his students be homeless. But just as he was getting an incredible headache, Jack chimed in once more¡­ "Actually, I might be able to deal with the issue sooner, but it would probably negatively affect the barrier around this ce and¡ª" "It''s fine, do it!" That easy?! Jack had expected it to take more consideration, but the Headmaster was incredibly decisive. Without wasting time, he sat down crossed-legged, focusing¡­ "Kid, what are you doing?!" The Old Ghost asked, perplexed. But then his shock was so great that even his vessel shook. "YOU?! Don''t tell me?! You''re gonna absorb it?!" An expectant grin had appeared on Jack''s lips... Chapter 81 Body Failure?! "YOU?! Don''t tell me?! You''re gonna absorb it?!" The Old Ghost cried out. In contrast, Jack was utterly calm, even sitting on the floor cross-legged in a meditative posture. He looked akin to a respectable monk... the scene kinda ruined by the smell. "Can I have some privacy, please?" "S-sure..." The Headmaster and "Hostage Corp" girls reluctantly left the room. Jack lost control of his body as soon as they were alone, returning to his baby form. But that was only the beginning: a secondter, it began! -- QUIVER! QUIVER! QUIVER! -- The very air reacted to his Evil God''s Body devour ability! It started with an almost imperceptible swirl, the air in the dormitories quivering! That''s when the foul wind suddenly rushed straight to their room! It was as if a God had activated a mighty vacuum ability, gusts of foul air invading their ce! It crashed into them like an unstoppable gale!! -- WHOOSH! WHOOSH WHOOSH! -- "CAREFUL! Aisha screamed, barely holding unto the nearest wall. As for Lizzy, she looked horrified, many of her potion sks already flying and exploding all over! Yet, some strange force was at work! Even now, Jack still remained cross-legged on the floor! He was the eye of the storm, all extra Mana disappearing inside him. Jack grinned. This was working! It cascaded on him, all of it quickly turning into pure Mana! This stuff was akin to a drug. The more foul air invaded him, the better he felt. This stuff was akin to a drug! Every tidbit of Mana stolen made him feel rejuvenated! He was akin to an old mummy slowly returning to life, every drop of Magic making him feel alive! More importantly, he could sense it as he Devoured! -- Thump! Thump! Thump! -- This was the core of the Dormitories'' Barrier. He greedily tapped into it, devouring it more and more! This was the energy source that he had always craved for... he simply hadn''t known! He merely kept sucking the Mana dry! Time to Level UP his Evil God Body Again! [Absorbing Mana from Barrier''s Core!] [All Stats Increased Drastically!] [Evil God Body Absorbed! AGI] [Evil God Body Absorbed STR!] [....] This was PERFECT! Or so he thought... To the outside world, this was a freaking APOCALYPSE! Some crazy phenomenon was happening at the Girls'' dormitories. The crowd outside gawked at the sky with their eyes bulging as the Mana Barrier slowly disintegrated. "Am I dreaming?! The barrier built by a Golden Rank formation Master... is being annihted that quickly?! Even the Dawn Lords wouldn''t be that fast!" "'' More importantly... what''s up with that freaking tornado?! W-wait... it''s 100% Made of Mana?! H-how?!" With the barrier crumbling, the chaos inside leaked outside! Jack''s solution to a stinky cloud --> Creating a Mana-Pocalypse! He was so focused that he didn''t even detect any of it. He was now tapping into this free Mana, growing stronger and stronger by the second! This was euphoria! It was-- "ENOUGH!" But suddenly, the Headmaster thundered. The shout contained so much power that Jack started coughing blood, even with a wall separating them. T-this was the power of a Dawn Lord Candidate?! And he seemed pissed! That''s when the Headmaster busted the door open. "You! That''s what you call negatively affecting the barrier?! You utterly destroyed it! Are you insane?! What were you think--" But then he quieted down as he saw Jack''s sore sight. Thetter was covered in blood, all his muscles twitching uncontrobly, but his eyes were worst. They glowed with the madness of Mana Addiction... "Crap! You girls, bring him to a Medic ASAP! Tell them he has Mana Madness!" The Headmaster sighed, the students''plexions turning ashen. Mana Madness?! It was an overdose of Mana that made mages lose touch with reality, making them forget to eat, drink, sleep, and even breathe... until they''d perish! Mana Madness was 99.99% Deadly! "Follow me!" A Female student rushed out. As they exited, curious eyes all nced at the cause of the disaster. "He''s the guy?! He doesn''t look too strong?! Wait... what''s with his eyes, don''t tell me?! Shit, no wonder the sight before was Earth-Shattering... it was a suicide Spell!" "Suicide? He bloody killed himself trying to save the dormitory?! Is this guy a Hero or aplete idiot? But seriously, who is he?!" Countless hushed whispers soon followed. Rumors didn''t take long to spread, their veracity doubtful at best. "I heard he took the barrier down for the sake of LOVE!" "Yes, yes, he couldn''t meet his GF because of it, so he struck it down!" "Bro, I heard he''s so brave that he already has two wives... and one is even the heir of the Henderson family. Can you believe it?!" As the rumors became more extravagant, Jack was hurriedly relocated to the Academy''s Healing Ward. There, a stern doctor shook his head, sighing endlessly. "I''m sorry. There''s absolutely nothing I can do." Lest a miracle happened, there was no way to save the youth; he was utterly doomed. "Sigh, you girls should say your goodbyes." At this moment, the Hostage Corp fell silent. They had barely known him an hour, that he was already dead?! What kind of shitty first meeting was this?! "We better leave...." They all excused themselves, leaving Aisha and Lizzy alone in the treatment room, Jack lying cold and lifeless on the hospital bed, his grieving subordinates beside him. "You bastard! You promised we''d build FoxZone together! You can''t back down now, you hear me! There''s no way that I''ll ept this!" Aisha tearfully cried out. "She''s right... you can''t kick the bucket yet! You promised to be my shop''s Patron! I''m not leaving this ce before I get my funding!" Lizzy spat out too. Yet, their ining" voices were full of sorrow. At this moment, they simply didn''t want to face reality... there was still a 0.01% chance of survival, right?! Only now did they realize how much they hade to rely on him, appreciating his presence. How would they break the news to the me Mansion''s people... and pets?! But just as the mood was incredibly depressive, a sigh interrupted it. "Tch-- You both suck at eulogies. Why do you both sound like debt collectors? You''re supposed to praise how great I am and all...." Jack rose with a flip. Not only was there no trace of the Mana Madness, but he was incredibly healthy to boot?! How the heck was this even possible?! They were already rubbing their eyes in disbelief. "H-How?! You 100% did a Mana Overdose!" "Oh, that? Don''t worry; I''m immune to stuff like that." he shrugged. If anything, he was always in Mana Deficit, thanks to his Evil God Body. Even now, he still felt his Evil God''s Body asking for more! How could he possibly Mana Overdose?! Yet, even now, Jack had a pleased grin on his face: [Congrattions, Evil God Body Leveled up!] Without waiting, he hurriedly tested his new upgraded ability! But as soon as he activated it... he became confused. Why was it consuming more Mana than before?! "What?! This is BS!" he cried out. If before he could go 30 minutes or so in his evil god body, now the timer had just be 20?! How was that even possible?! "T-this... Did I just get scammed?!" "Pfft-- Rx, kid. Just look at your hands!" The Old Ghost chuckled. Jack quickly proceeded, eximing in shock. It was incredibly subtle, but why did it feel like there was an extrayer of skin there?! No, it definitely wasn''t in his head! He excitingly created a Spectral Dagger and... -- Stter! Stter! -- Opened a massive gash on his hand, bleeding all over like a dumbass. "J-Jack?!" "Hmm... is it because it''s magic?!" "Kid, it should be because of the self-harm. I bet it won''t activate against your own abilities. You''d have to test it some other way--" The Ghost rmended. "I see... Aisha! I need you to stab me!" "What the hell are you talk--" "Just do it. Now!" Faced with his insistence had madness, she could onlyply. Her dagger approached his skin, and then-- CLANG! Stter! -- Still drew blood! But it was only a trickle this time! "I knew it! This is why it costs more to activate! I unlocked a defensive skin ability. How useful is that?!" Jack happily cackled, before focusing, trying to turn it off... it worked! Suddenly, his uptime on his Evil God Body was suddenly buffed a LOT! Thirty minutes --> A solid Hour at least! At this moment, he couldn''t have been more d. Sure, it didn''t affect his direct power too much, but wouldn''t he be able to fight and blend in a crowd way longer? More importantly, perhaps he could attend sses now! He heartily chuckled, thinking about it: "From now on, I''ll be a real student at this Academy!" In his joy, hepletely missed the subtle trembling of his new Mana, the ground below the Academy humming softly in response... . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 48 ( MAGIC 11 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Mana Skin! (F) ???? - Magical Mana Madness ???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 82 Teacher/Student Violence! ¡ª Indistinct Chatter¡ª The student''s brouhaha filled the ssroom, a few terms reurring amidst the chaos: "Girl Dormitory," "Henderson," "Mana Madness," "Foxes," "Tornado", etc. It was clear what they were talking about! They were so busy gossiping that they hadn''t even noticed their frowning teacher entering the room. Thetter spat in annoyance: they reallycked awareness and diligence! His current brown-overall clothes reflected very well his current mood: shitty. Even after their defeat at the Inter-Schoolpetition, they still had the gal to ck off?! He snorted as he put his hands together and¡­ ¡ª SQUEEZE! SQUEEZE! SQUEEZE! ¡ª "ARGGG!" The students cried out as they were suddenly ttened to their chairs, their bones creaking painfully under the increased pressure. Ah?! Their teacher had arrived! Karo, Master of Gravity. Technically he was a teacher. Practically he was the guy who''d torture them if they made a peep in his ss. Instantly, all discussion ceased, utterly terminated. ¡ª Tap! Tap! Tap! ¡ª The man slowly walked to the podium, his footsteps as light as feathers yet resounding majestically. This signaled them to pay attention to the lecture or else¡­ Then without wasting a moment, he began scribbling in the air. Wherever his fingernded, chalk dust would float, defying gravity as it formed letters in the air. "Since you guys shamed the Academy, we''re redoubling on studying and training! Now, let''s review the basics of Magic, cause you birdbrains seemingly forgot them all!" No one dared to make a peep, all staring straight ahead, worried about getting squashed again. But just as everything seemed to be going well¡­ "G-Ghost?! Oh shit, someone get rid of it!" A student screamed! No, it wasn''t a mere scream; it was a terrified wail that would chill anyone to the bone. How dare he disturb Karo''s lecture while¡ª Gasp?! Fuck! There really was a freaking ghost! It stood at the entrance, a purple aura oozing out of it! Its gaze was a bottomless abyss, and it wore the school uniform. Had it devoured a student already?! But then they saw its face¡­ "Oh crap! RUNNNN! He''s back to get revenge on the Academy!" They cried out as soon as they recognized Jack. In their minds, he was 100% DEAD! Him? A ghost? What kind of ghost would he even be? He simply chuckled, trying to find an empty seat¡­ there were none. Luckily, it seemed like that wouldn''t be an issue. He barely approached a student, and thetter jumped away hurriedly. "P-Please don''t eat my soul!", Jack nomittally nodding in reply, sitting down. Just like that, Jack had obtained a ce in the crowd. Still, he couldn''t help but sigh in distress, so much for sneaking his way into the ss. With the time limit on his Evil God Body, he had nned to arrivete and leave early, but now all eyes rested on him, especially the teacher! Thetter''s face had hardened. "Do you know what happens to peoplete to my ss?" He chuckled evilly. Along with his smile, that''s when it began. ¡ª CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH! ¡ª Jack suddenly felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was instantly pushed to the ground, toppling over like a potato sack in a centrifuge. This Teacher was CRAZY! This was clearly against the teaching code; it had to be! By now, his fellow students had realized that he was in fact a man of flesh and blood, guilt filling their hearts. Now he had to endure intense torture they wouldn''t wish on anyone! Yet, there was something utterly strange about Jack¡­ Why the heck was he smiling?! Why did it almost seem like he was enjoying himself getting crushed?! This was nonsensical! At this moment, he was gazing at his notifications¡­ [Evil Body Resisting the Pressure!] [Unlocked Quest! Diamond in the Rough!] [Mission: Use Gravity to Refine Your Body!] What the heck was this?! A mission out of the blue?! All this time, Jack had been jealous of his foxes for receiving one before him¡­. But wasn''t this his time to shine?! The way he looked at the teacher changed. The grumpy bastard turned into the most beautiful of beings¡­ a free gravity magic dispenser! This was HUGE! "Tell me, young man, when will you arrive next time?" the teacher spat out, pausing his gravity magic to let his target reply. "Ten minutester, Teacher!" Jack cheerfully replied. Gasp! The entire ssroom gasped. Looking for death! As expected of the man who had blown up the dormitory''s barrier! Yet, this only angered the teacher further. "Is that so? Perhaps you need some more discipline." ¡ª CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH! ¡ª This time, Jack felt like he had the weight of a couple of worlds on his shoulder, his head, and even his ass! Pain filled his body, EVERYTHING on the verge of breaking! Karo really was a master! He was inflicting maximum pain, all without leavingsting injuries. So what if the Disciplinary Board investigated him afterward? There''d be no proof of misconduct! It was a duel of will between a mighty Academy Teacher and a newly admitted Academy Student, the oue obvious¡ª or it should have been. Except this time it was different¡­ "Will you repent now?" "Nex time, I''ll arrive 20 minuteste!" "You fool! Do you think it can''t be more painful? Take this!" "I''ll arrive 20 minuteste and hire a marching band to announce my entrance!" Every time the teacher would stop the torture for Jack to apologize, thetter kept spewing crap about disturbing the ss way more than he already had. Thus began an endless cycle of torture, agonized screams, short pauses filled with snarky remarks¡­ just for everything to start over from the beginning! It reached a point where the other students started to doubt what they were seeing¡­ "W-What is this?! Guys, is this a prank?" "No, Teacher Karo doesn''t joke!" "T-this is impossible!" They kept shivering as they pictured themselves in Jack''s ce. They would have given up on the very first asion for sure! Yet, he still struggled even now. Was he a masochist?! The scene was so baffling that it almost becameical. The poor teacher had long forgotten about giving his lesson, the floating chalk even crashing to the ground in a fluff of powder. As for Jack, the one being tortured, he showed neither remorse nor weakness. He''d simply hurl taunts at the gravity user, seemingly not caring for any bodily harm he''d suffer! This was MADNESS! The whole thing was so unreal that it felt like a dream, all until¡­ DING! DONG! DING DONG! This was the sound of the bell?! Didn''t this mean they''d spent an entire hour doing this already?! The realization made everyone there shiver with shock-. That''s when Jack used the opportunity to flee! He rose and rushed out faster than an antelope hunted by a lion! His fellow students could only gasp, utterly baffled. "Even now, he still has the energy to run?!" "This guy''s a MONSTER!" Yet, the teacher was totally aghast. Not only had he failed to break a troublemaker¡­ but he had even forgotten to give his ss entirely?! This was unforgivable! He''d need to¡ª "Don''t overthink this teacher. It''s not your fault. You were facing the man who destroyed the Headmaster''s Barrier¡­ in thetter''s presence! If he did that on his first day, god knows what..." A youngster was¡­forting him?! More importantly, the more the young one talked, the bigger Karo''s eyes became. He had even survived the Mana Madness Affliction?! Was this why he had beente? Had he shown up to his ss even after a brush with death? Yet, he had been so harsh with him¡­ no wonder he had felt like talking back! At this moment, the teacher''s opinion suddenly changed. What if this youngster wasn''t a bad apple at all? What if he was merely a misunderstood genius with an incredible drive?! What if he was actually the future of their Academy?! His mood was so uplifted! "Thanks for telling me about him. Take care!" In his joy, he even waved the helpful student away, thetter choking on his own saliva. That night, he went to bed with a huge smile. Soon he''d make up with this Jack, teaching him until thetter became the Academy''s pride! Then he''d¡ª His dreams were filled with extraordinary delusions¡ª ones that were promptly shattered the next day. Not only did Jack show upte, but he had no damn clue what was going on! Yet, he too was feeling incredibly helpless! What the heck was this?! He had voluntarily shown upte, and the teacher hadn''t even punished him. How was he supposed to train his evil body? As he gazed at his progress bar, he felt incredibly depressed¡­ 0.05%! Why was it so tedious?! Not only that, but the lessons were seriously confusing! At times, he even asked his Ghost about them under his breath¡­ "Wait, before he said Mana Leyline, and now he just said Profound Leyline. Is there a difference between the two, or are they the same?!" "Kid, it''s all about that Mana Quality; that much ismon sense! A Profound Leyline contains more power but is harder to use, that''s why¡ª" Every time he asked about a basic concept, the Old Ghost would go on a long rant exining it all in detail¡­ only for Jack to realize he had missed arge chunk of the lecture! This wouldn''t work! At this rate, he''d just be a scarecrow. No, it was time for something big! He had to catch up on the magicalmon sense of this world¡­ and find a way to anger his teacher once again! As for how to do that¡­ Chapter 83 Boulder Of Omnipotence! "Excuse me... WHAT?!" "The teacher didn''t even use his gravity magic!" Jackined, looking peeved. The nearby girls gasped in disbelief. Everyone else feared Karo the Punisher, yet he was eager for more?! This was why they came to visit, for those crazy stories! There were currently two factions in the girl dormitory. 1. The ones who totally hated Jack''s gut. They had even started a petition to get him kicked out, only to be told to take a hike. 2. The ones who were his fans. To them, he was the destructive breath of fresh air they had awaited for so long. They''d listen to his stories, bringing snacks as offerings. "Gasp! Everyone else fears him... yet you want more?! Damn! In your ce, I would have still been agonizing over the entrance exams, but here you are--" "Entrance exams?" Jack interrupted, confused. Entrance exams? What entrance exams? He had seen the term in the school booklet, but it didn''t concern him, right? He was already a student, after all. "WAIT?! Don''t tell me you didn''t do them?! Did you register for it at least?!" One of his room neighbors eximed in shock, Jack rubbing his head puzzled. "Quick! There''s no time to waste! We gotta get you signed up ASAP! Otherwise, those stuck-up bitches will get exactly what they want: you''ll be expelled!" As they departed in a hurry, they exined everything to him. "Entrance" Tests were still called that, even for exceptional VIP admission cases. They were mandatory to check students'' initial level, so their progress could be recorded. Didn''t this mean he was akin to a licenceless driver speeding through the Academy''s highway?! Still, wasn''t it strange how no one had warned him about it? Just as Jack was feeling doubtful... "It''s here! It''s in the corner of the Gym!" They had arrived at arge building that reminded him of a coliseum. He wouldn''t have batted an eye if roman diators and lions suddenly erupted out of it! While the ce looked grandiose, it definitely served its purpose. Many of the studentsing out of it looked so exhausted that they seemed like zombies. "Will they be alright?" "Probably? After how we lost at thepetition, it wouldn''t surprise me if many are pushing themselves over their limits." One of his guides sighed. "Talking about thepetition, you missed one hell of an event! It''s not every day that we fight the other schools. Heck, even people from Stornding and Everfrost were visiting!" The girls enthusiastically babbled about the whole thing. Their enthusiasm was contagious, Jack almost wanting to listen to them for hours. But he now had far more pressing issues. "Tell me more about the exams!" "Oh, don''t worry, you''ll be fine! As long as you don''t miss them altogether, that is-- You''re a genius after all!" A girl happily chirped. At this moment, only Aisha and Lizzy understood his pain. No matter the test, he''d have to assign a significant amount of his Mana to keep his Evil Body going! Still, unable to exin, he could only follow after his guides as they showed him the Gym, which seemed rather popr, with people training all over the ce. "This is the Magic Range-- The target dummies here are near indestructible!" "This is the Running Field -- You can also add deadly obstacles to it." "This is the Pool -- Beware of the tiny Krakens; they''re pervs!" "This is the duel arena...." This ce really had some budget!-- Or perhaps he was that much of a country bumpkin. Compared to this, his training with his foxes had been BASIC! Then they finally reached the "VIP entrance test office". Not only was it tiny, but it probably had more mops than visitors. To say the least, it really wasn''t what Jack would have expected. "T-This... isn''t this a storage closet?!" Jack remarked, baffled. "Well yeah. Just think about it, most VIPs prefer to take the entrance test when it''s held publicly. This way, they can show off to the world and bring fame to their faction." That both made sense... and was quite sad for Dawn City''s future. If everyone only cared about showing off, then god knows how quickly they''d fall!-- not that he cared. | VIP Entrance Test! Ding for Help! | There was a minuscule mini bell next to it, his guides ready to mash the hell out of it! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! The chimes were faint... yet resonated across the entire Gym?! The various "gym rats" suddenly all seemed to hold their breath, ring their way. A challenger! When had thisst happened?! They kept looking on curiously. As for what the bell had done... A man appeared at the other end of the Gym, a mop and bucket in hand, as he rushed over with Hermes'' speed. "Move out, move out, on official business!!!" He kept screaming. As he finally arrived near them, out of breath... "Pant. Pant. Now, who''s here for an entrance exam? Ah, also, if you guys were just messing around with the bell, then I''ll take this mop and shove it high up your--" Jack confidently stepped forward. "You? Fine, that works. Follow me! Let''s get you tested!" The man neither asked his name nor to prove his identity. Nope, right into action! He even seemed REALLY excited about it. He brought them toward a courtyard, one with a huge boulder in the middle. The thing looked so massive, yet so fluffy, giving one the impression of a gigantic marshmallow. "This will be the first test out of a series of five. Now, don''t get cocky even if you''ve already been epted as a student. After all, if you can''t even pass this, you''re fucked!" The man chuckled heartily, pointing to the thing. "This is the Boulder of Omnipotence. Your goal is to bash the shit out of it. As long as you manage to chip it, you''re fine!" He diligently exined as Jack entered the room. Meanwhile, his "cheerleaders" already encouraged him: "You can do it! Make that boulder cry! You''re the BEST! You''ll-- Gasp!"... He had barely stepped inside when the ceiling fell! Stctites, LOTS of them, allnding in arge circle around him, as if to trap him into an arena. With them, he suddenly felt his power diminish sharply. Was this a seal?! Just as he was wondering, the Old Ghost chimed in. "This thing will seal your magic power. This... is only a test of your physique! Still, lucky your Evil God Body is Ancient, or it would have long reverted! Now, give it your all, kid!" Physique, was it? So he couldn''t use a Weapon or Regr Magic? Fine! He''d show them! Jack focused. He needed to use as much technique and power at once, right? He solidly nted his feet on the ground, using his entire Body to deliver the blow. "F-FAlCON P*UNCH!" His fist flew with incredible momentum. Then it finally crashed into the target! The thing didn''t stand any chance as it was mmed with Jack''s full power! The poor boulder could only.... Jiggle?! There was no scratch on it, yet he felt his hand crack. As his blood smeared all over the damn thing, it jiggled once again. That was it... By the side, his cheerleaders gave him forceful "reassuring" smiles that looked more like grimaces. As for the instructor, he was nothing things down, frowning. "Two jiggles, no crack." The man noted. What kind of rating system was this?! More importantly, he had failed, that much obvious by the man''s reaction. "Wait, let me try again!!" Jack asked, thetter nodding. This was a waste of time, but it was easier to show the youngster than to teach him. Thus, he remained mum as Jack went into position again. "So, kid, what''s your n?" The Old Ghost remarked. "I''m gonna burn enough Mana to obliterate this freaking thing!" Jack cursed, all the while gathering his energy. At the same time, he kept a close watch on his Mana. 90%, 84%, 77%; he was burning through it so fast! Then he drove it all inside his fist. All the rage he felt at seeing the thing jiggle without a worry in the world.... Was now converted into his power! This was the Evil God''s Body''s true form! And yet... "That won''t do, kid. There''s not enough power in it. You''ll just waste your ti-- WHAT THE HELL?!" Jack''s fist once again drew an arc in the air, it once again crashed on its target, and it once again destroyed his damn hand. But this time, it was WAY more powerful! -- CRASH! SHATTER! CRUSH! -- But even then, all that happened were a few jiggles and Jack destroying his hand, bone shards flying everywhere over the target. But just as it all seemed pointless... NOW! That''s when it happened... "I am the Bone of my Fist!" Jack mumbled, just as his hand burst into bone shards! They flew like hidden weapons, crashing into the Squishy Boulder! As soon as it did... -- PIERCE! Whimper! Whimper! -- "Wait, did that boulder just cry out in pain?!" A crowd had already gathered. This thing was alive?! What the heck was it?! More importantly, what did this mean?! . . . a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Jack Bright (ssless) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6) SOUL 48 ( MAGIC 11 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19) a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? (NEW!) - Evil God Body: Enhancement! ???? - Making "Boulders Cry" ???? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Chapter 84 So Many Boulders! "F-FAlCON P*UNCH!" Jack''s hand seemingly exploded, bone fragments piercing through the Boulder of Omnipotence, leaving the crowd utterly shell-shocked. What the actual fuck?! "Kid, why the hell did you do that?!" Even the Old Ghost was utterly confused. Was there a need to go that far?! As for Jack, even he was staring at his own hand, frozen. He had intended to buff his bones. He had intended to use them to pierce through. He HADN''T intended to cause himself so much damage! But as soon as he had realized how crazy of a move this was, it had already been far toote to stop it. Had he done so, the recoil alone would have messed him up anyway. Except he wasn''t the only one shaken¡­ "G-guys! Listen, it''s whimpering?! The Boulder of Omnipotence''s¡­ crying!!" A bystander cried out in shock. But that wasn''t all; Jack had actually wounded the thing?! A blood-like milky liquid came out of the thing as it whimpered nonstop. This was weird to strangers, but to the people who knew about it, it was GODLIKE! "H-How?! This shouldn''t be possible!" The test administrator uttered, his legs trembling. The whole "need to scratch" the thing was BS. It was merely to get test takers to try their hardest. The more the Boulder of Omnipotence shook, the better the taker''s test result. There was actually no corrtion to the damage done¡ª at least, usually! But now¡­ ¡ª Whimper! Whimper! Whimper! ¡ª "Does that mean I passed?" Jack asked, perplexed. This was what he was worried about?! One of his arms lifelessly dangled from his torso¡­ and that''s what he bloody wanted to know?! "T-that¡­ I''m not sure¡­" As the man approached the thing to study it, the small crowd couldn''t help but go wild with spections, gossiping their hearts out. "What do you think happened?" "This test restricts magic¡­ what if he''s half-giant?!" "Pfttt¡ª Half? He could be a full-fledged one with that much damage!" They anxiously awaited the man''s verdict. But just as they were to celebrate the advent of a new genius: "FOUL! You, you used Magic somehow! Disqualified!" He barked. The focus was instantly on Jack. What kind of bastard would cheat on Entry Exams? What had he even been thinking?! Yet, he didn''t recoil one bit, even going forward. He smirked, innocently imitating the man''s voice: "This is the Boulder of Omnipotence! Your goal is to bash the shit out of it. As long as you manage to chip it, you''re fine¡ª Is what you said. I obviously seeded!" Jack remarked. "Y-you! Everyone knows that''s not what you''re supposed to¡ª" "Not only did you fail to exin the rules, but you''re actually trying to shirk off responsibility? You never once mentioned Magic in your exnation." Jack shrugged. Silence befell the test courtyard for a second¡­ and was quickly broken by cascadingughter. Lizzy couldn''t take it: this VIP tester sure had messed up! "So, that means I passed, right?" Jack smiled. "Y-you¡­ you!!! FINE!" The poor man could only relent. At this moment, he was already grinding his teeth at that obvious rule-breaker! He didn''t consider for a moment that Jack really didn''t know the rules! Still, that wouldn''t matter! He could always include it in his report. Luckily, he knew how strict the Headmaster could be toward unrepentant troublemakers! "Alright, follow me to the next test!" As soon as he took a step, so did the mob. VIP testing was usually a pretty unremarkable event¡­ but the Boulder''s whimpers could be heard across the entire Gym! Even now, people were arriving by the dozen, already asking their friends about this neer¡ª and it got even worse as a few recognized him! It usually went: 1) "Gasp. Wait, he''s¡­?! Holy shit!" 2) "What?! You know him?" 3) "Keep it to yourself, but he''s¡­." Then they''d break out in even more shocked whispers. Thus they kept eagerly following, the crowd growing by the second, all of them soon reaching test #2. For some reason, this one too was a boulder! It was yet another small courtyard with a glowing blue rock in the middle. It was as if a colorful cloud had been trapped in it, reminding one of avamp. "Let me introduce the Boulder of Omniscience! It''s¡­" The one in charge dered, this time having learned his lesson. A test could have been resumed to "ce your hand on it, and wait" was instead exined for 30 minutes! Every little detail in the rules that could potentially be exploited, was exined to such a degree that the crowd almost fell asleep many times over. "W-why is he going to such lengths? We get it already!" "Pfft¡ª You missed the strength trial, right? He¡­" "Ah! So he''s making sure that cheating''spletely impossible this time. It makes sense now!" People woulde to the realization, chuckling to themselves. Little did the man realize that his "drawn-out" and over-the-top exnation was actually a blessing to Jack. Now he''d go in with all the info! This test would stimte one''s SENSE; the better it was, the more colors would appear on the boulder. It was also believed to show one''s potential for MAGIC in general. Thus, this test was especially vital at a Magic Academy! Knowing this, Jack stepped forth, his heart beating in his chest, putting his still intact hand on it. The effect was instant! As soon as he did, he felt it! This thing was freaking alive and had a will, just like its Boulder brethren! He could almost feel it breathe as it scanned his Mana! "You, you better behave." Jack seemingly warned the boulder. The thing''s Mana made a cycle inside him, then another, and another, researching every nook and cranny of his body. Then something clicked, and Jack felt that it was over. Now, he just had to wait: the more colors appeared, the better his result. Still, his SENSE value was among his highest stats¡­ so he should be fine, right? But before he could rx¡­. [Boulder of Omniscience Activating!] [Appraisal God''s Fragment has Awakened!] Chapter 85 Jellyfish Of DOOM! Jack''s vision suddenly went dark. The only thing he could see was the glowing message from the system that went. [Appraisal God''s Fragment has Awakened!] What was it this time?! That''s when the scenery changed. A river of blood. A gigantic bloody torrent! Compared to it, Jack was absolutely nothing. In it, thousands of corpses drowned, dragged under by the current, anguished wailsing out of their maws. "T-this?!" There was something strange about their wails. Why did it seem to form a melody?! It was also one that felt so nostalgic for some reason... "Old Ghost, got any advice?" But his only reply wasmentations. The ce was a dark cave with an ever-darker ceiling and no exit in sight. It was akin to an inescapable prison, just like his fate. But then it suddenly hit him, this was... inside him?! The corpses... people his bad luck had taken down. The torrent? The destruction he had brought and his will to push through no matter what at the same time. As for the luby, that one was obvious. Amidst all the chaos, it was the only thing that kept him sane, his desire to enjoy life, his desire for peace and serenity! But that''s when he noticed it... A dark sun! What he had once believed to be a cave''s ceiling was, in fact, a gigantic mass of darkness! Glowing seals seemed to restrain it... but were slowly disappearing. It was only a matter of time before this thing broke free! This was an unstoppable force that would sap all life from the world until-- He froze, for he knew what it was. Just as he was about to despair, he came to his senses... "God of Appraisal, was it? This is your doing, isn''t it? What are you ying at, eh?!" Jack screamed at empty air.... But just as he did, it appeared. A translucent jellyfish, one so tiny it barely existed. Right, it was merely a godly "fragment". Yet, this fragment had somehow conjured this whole ce up. Or perhaps had it simply revealed it? Either way, he had to figure it out! -- Wobble! Wobble! -- It wobbled in the air, as it sent a tentacle his way. [The God of Appraisal (fragment) Offers You a Contract!] [Do You Wish to Be a Seeker of Knowledge?] [You Show Promise For It...] Suddenly, a ghost seemingly came out of the river, acting out a scene from the past. Him chuckling to himself as he spied on people either directly or with his foxes. So that''s why this thing had taken an interest in him? Somehow, this one god felt purer than the ones he had encountered before, not as egoistical and maniacal. "You, what are you offering?" Jack suspiciously asked. a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Appraisal God''s Blessing! a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Unlock Seeker of Knowledge ss! + A Memory Steal ??"? + A Truth Revealing Strike a?"??? + S Tier Living Knowledge Bank! a?? a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"?a"? Just as thest point appeared, Jack felt nausea invade him, the "friendly" jellyfish suddenly turning to a lifeless abomination, one that he would NEVER deal with! "Go fuck yourself, you damn jelly!" As soon as it was rejected, the thing started Menacingly Wobbling. Somehow, Jack could feel that it was preparing an ultimate attack of some kind! Time to put an end to it! "TAKE THIS!" He went on the offensive. This was merely a simtion, right?! He''d go freaking all out! At this moment, thousands of Spectral des shot out toward the wobbling jellyfish. -- Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! -- But just as it seemed like they would tear the jellyfish apart, it wobbled a tentacle upward, and hepletely froze. COMPLETELY! What the heck was this?! Jack could feel the thing''s relish. [Appraisal God Has Finished Scanning You!] [Your Being is Now Under Its Command!] What kind of OP ability was this?! This thing was bloody cheating. It was now wobbling toward him gleefully. He barely had seconds to figure out a counter, or he was dead meat! The system message had said his being was under this thing''smand, right?! Ah! What if he did that?! Jack suddenly focused his mind on a specific title of his. Just as the jellyfish was about to reach him.... "Wooo!!" (X30!) Fox cries resounded, so loudly that they even made the corpses in the river stop their luby for a second. Then they appeared, the spirits of his subordinates! This time, it was Jack''s turn to counterattack! "You focused so much on me... but good luck getting them to obey you! Foxes, gobble that bitch up!" They instantly heard his order, charging forth, encircling the target. It seemed as if it had underestimated his link with his foxes. So what if they weren''t truly here? Their spirits would stille to his aid-- all thanks to his most recent ability! The jellyfish jerked in shock. -- Panicked Wobble! -- But what would panic do? The foxes didn''t show any mercy! They bit, they wed, they overwhelmed it entirely! They were an orange legion of punishers! "Woo!" (Trying to devour Master?! Take this) The poor thing could only wobble in pain as it tried its best to resist-- Not that wobbling around would quench the foxes'' fury. So what if it was a god or whatever? KILL! Except things were never that easy... When it came time to finish the damn thing, an issue suddenly cropped up. [Error! Error! Fox Spirits Too Weak To Truly Hurt A Godly Fragment!] The jellyfish went through a flurry of states... -- Shocked Wobble! Relieved Wobble! Sadistic Wobble! -- That''s when the creature unfurled its tentacles, slowly rising as it ignored the foxes entirely. No, it simply resumed its wobble of doom toward Jack. Heck, it was even licking its proverbial lips in expectation of the feast toe. While it already controlled its movements, it would soon devour all of him! It couldn''t wait for all the knowledge that it would gain. After all, this "human" had such an incredibly enticing smell that was truly out of this world! It especially couldn''t wait to take this new vessel for a spin... Chapter 86 God Power VS God Power! Jack could see his doom¡­ The monster would be upon him in mere seconds, and he''d be screwed! But he wasn''t about to give up just yet! He nced at his foxes: "You guys, coordinated attack!" He issued the order, the mass of fluffy foxes obeying his will. They trembled, a vast quantity of illusory Mana escaping their bodies as theybined it all! It rose in the air, generating the most massive fireball ever, one sorge it could have taken out an Olympic stadium alone! ¡ª Glowing! Glowing! Sizzle Sizzle! ¡ª Would this work?! Ah, the Jellyfish seemed scared! Seeing its fear, Jack grinned, shouting: "Go to hell, you leech!" With domineering woos, his foxes went all out! The spell flew faster than the Jellyfish could wobble and crashed right into it!¡ª WHOOSH! EXPLODE! BOOM! ¡ª It was instantly sent flying, its small body getting thrown right into the crazy blood river, as it disappeared inside! Were they done with it? Either way, it was better to be safe. "Make sure it doesn''t resurface. Drown it!" Jack ordered. That''s when he could finally control his body again. First his feet, then his torso, and finally his arms and hands¡­ gloriously raising a middle finger to the struggling creature. At this moment, they looked like overkilling Mafia peeps getting rid of a body. A single killing method wasn''t enough¡­ but they were even riddling it with fireballs! Were it to show its ugly, slimy head, it''d instantly be obliterated! ¡ª or so they hoped for. Sadly, the reality was far different. Not only did the thing bloody reemerge, but it was intact! [Calcting Damage Done¡­ Null!] Null, how?! What made this God''s Fragment so strong?! Even now, it was painfully wobbling all over?! Was it because it had some weird deity power?! "Keep crushing it!" He ordered, trying to find an answer. As for the foxes, they diligently kept shooting. Every time the enemy would resurface, they''d throw a fireball at it to make it sink¡­ only for it to reappear a secondter! But, with every fireball thrown, the fox spirits'' were growing weaker and weaker. It was as if they were using their essence to fuel their magic. Sadly, that wasn''t even the worst. Every attack they did was getting less and less effective, the Jellyfish sinking less and less over time. Not only that, but it was no doubt ready for a counterattack! It was ADAPTING! Actually, it was even worse¡­ ~ Don''t fight it¡­ ~ Just give up and give in¡­ ~ Soon, I''ll break free, and then¡­ The Appraisal God Fragment whispered to his ears, trying to get him to surrender. Jack could already feel its eagerness to y with its new "toy", as it kept breaking free. The more it recovered its freedom, the worse it got: [An Unknown Power restricts your Left Big Toe!] [Your Left Leg is Restricted by an¡­] [Your lower body is restricted¡­] Damnit! At this rate, he''d have a front row to his execution! Even the sometimes clueless foxes realized the severity of the situation. Either they killed this thing now, or their master would be in deep shit! "Woo?!" (Master, what should we do?!) Even now, Jack kept his cool. The system had said something about "Godly power," right?! This had to be the crux of the problem! That''s when Jack sighed deeply, incredibly so! He needed a weapon to fight this thing¡­ and for that, he needed help, the worse kind of help too. He took a deep breath, resolving himself for the unimaginable. Here goes nothing¡­ he closed his eyes. Seeing him act like this, the Appraisal God rejoiced! Good thing the human had given up. After all, resistance was futile. It managed to go out of the blood torrent, even with the foxes'' pathetic attempts at killing it, ogling its target. This one would be so sweet! But just as it was about to reach it¡­ Jack suddenly opened his eyes wide. Except, there was something strange about them! Glowing orange ones had reced his usual sky-blue eyes! WHAT?! That''s when the being felt a primordial aura erupt from its target, one that it instantly recognized. The Fire Fox God?! How had its aura suddenly appeared?! A while back, Jack had used Lizzy''s potions to contain the blessing the FireFox God had "generously" given him. But now, he was shattering all that progress! Luckily, it didn''t take long to activate! Jack felt his spirit torn apart, as if a thousand needles had suddenly been inserted in his brain. Then he felt a primordial urge invade him, one he could barely control. [You''ve Activated Fire Fox God''s Blessing!] [Ding! Your Transformation has BEGUN!] The Fire Fox God too wanted to make him its bitch, but at least thetter was in a partial slumber! This would buy him some time, right? Nope¡ª it did way more than that! His spirit started morphing. What had been a logical and human mind slowly devolved into a simple one: hunt and be hunted; there was nothing else. As for the target of the hunt¡­ it was that JELLY! Jack''s restraints all exploded. Seals made of knowledge? He wasn''t the same Jack! No, he was something else. He was¡­ "WOOOOO" A primal scream came from the depth of his being as he charged! Magic? Strategy? Carefulness? It all flew in the wind as he violently dashed at his prey! He covered thest remaining meters and¡­ Jump at its throat! Rip and tear! DEVOUR! He felt its soft flesh as he sank his fangs into the thing. This was so good! Finally, it had caught its prey. This meant Jack was a great hunter. No, not just good, the best! He held the Jellyfish in ce with his paws while taking bites at it. It was so delicious! Now, it didn''t want the pleasure to end! It would forever remain here a happy fox and¡­ [Ding! Defeated Appraisal God''s Fragment!] [Ejecting from the current realm in¡ª] "Woo" A fox protested. The was no need. Here looked like a fun ce. It would keep eating the Jellyfish''s corpse until there was none left, then hunt for more of those weird creatures. It would¡­ "Woo!" (Master?! What happened to you?!) The foxes were teary-eyed, all of them. Just as a certain fox was about to ignore them, it suddenly felt so close to them. Why did it seem like it had forgotten something? It probably wasn''t important. Hunt, hunt, and hunt some more! It would¡ª "Wake up, or I''ll make you drink Laxatives!" Lizzy''s voice crashed through the world. Laxatives?! How evil could she be?! He was an innocent¡ª Gasp! Wait, that''s right, he was human, and this was a test! Jack hurriedly escaped from the nightmare, only to find yet another trial. The Boulder of Omniscience had turned into rubble, the crowd staring dagger at the culprit, him! H-How was he supposed to exin this?!¡­ Chapter 87 Im Actually A... !! "I''ll feed you Laxatives¡­." Just like that, the FireFox''s curse was temporarily negated, and Jack barely regained his spirit while shivering. This had been CLOSE! Yet, he now had another issue. "Y-You, How dare YOU!" The VIP tester was boiling with fury. How many students had used this test over the years? This was an integral part of the Magic Academy¡­ and yet this bastard had obliterated it! Seeing the man''s anger, Jack felt like he had been wronged. He was the one who had almost had his soul snatched by an Appraisal Spirit! Why the hell did it ever only happen to him?! Yet, now wasn''t the time to dwell on it; he had to give an exnation and a good one at that! Else, wouldn''t he be seen as a mole working toward the Academy''s downfall? Jack suddenly acted innocently confused¡­ "W-what?! I barely touched it?! Quick, guys, look around. I''m sure the true culprit has to be around!" He stressed, the poor bystanders not knowing how to react. Was he for real?! They had all seen the scene as clear as day. He had begun his test, the boulder had changed color to show a clearck of potential, and then it had suddenly blown up! Had he gotten revenge on the tool for giving him a failing grade? Wasn''t this a little too over the top?! Still, how had he even done it? He had stayed still the entire time! It was an interesting mystery to the students, but to the poor test giver, it was the end of the world! "YOU! Answer me, how and why did you do that?!" "B-but I didn''t!!" "You''re telling me some invisible big-shot passed just happened to destroy it in passing?" "YES! That has to be it! What other exnations are there?" Jack nodded, the students eximing in awe. Never had they heard such confident yet obvious BS! Was he a fool, or was he taking them for one? Except, he wasn''t done just yet. In the tense atmosphere, he tilted his head: "Sooo. Shall we head to the next tests?" As soon as he said that, he received the most poignant death re ever. Next tests?! This guy was a test-wrecking ball! He was a goddamn MENACE! No, the VIP tester knew better! "Don''t move! Keep your hands above your head, and don''t do anything weird!" He totally treated Jack like a terrorist! He''d be damned if he allowed this crazy bastard to run wild! ''Just wait! Let''s see how long you can be arrogant!'' He seemed to say. It was a stare-down, the man seemingly waiting for something as he clenched a token in his right hand with all his might. His backing, perhaps? Then a few minutester¡­ ¡ª CLIP! CLOP! CLIP CLOP! ¡ª The sound of galloping resounded¡­ inside the gym?! With it came unbelievable relief on the test administrator''s face. The Cavalry was finally here! Now everything would be fine! The Headmaster appeared. "What happened?! What''s the emergency?" He asked, restless. Instantly, Jack''s expression turned weird as he gently weed him with a wave. What else could he do?! As they made eye contact, he even gave an apologetic smile. "Hello there, Headmaster. How have you been?" He politely asked, thetter freezing as he finally noticed the rubble lying at Jack''s feet. Was this the Boulder of Omniscience?! He slowly approached it and¡­. Froze. The artifact''s soul¡­ it was missing! It was all this kid''s fault too! What CRAZY thing had transpired here?! "Metal Heed my Call!" The Headmaster called out. That''s when it began. The metal destrier he had been riding suddenly burst into metallic pieces of all kinds, flowing like water as they encircled Jack, creating a prison! It was akin to a small arena, and he was utterly stuck! A secondter, he was left alone with the Headmaster. "You, enough of the games. Who are you really?" He growled. "T-that¡­ would you believe me if I said a regr young man?" Jack tentatively asked. "NOPE. Talk¡ª or else¡­." The threat in his voice was barely veiled. What should he reveal? What should he keep for himself? The fact that he was the baby the me Lord had just adopted was way too much out there, so perhaps he should lie? But just as he agonized over what to say, he had a stroke of genius! His aura definitely still smelled of a Fox Transformation, so maybe¡­ "Sigh¡­ I guess I shoulde clean. I-I''m¡­ a fox spirit!" Jack dered with the straightest of faces. "That''s why the me Lord vouched for me and why idents keep happening!" This would be his justification! This wouldn''t exin why heckedmon sense but also why all the tests so far behaved strangely with him! "F-Fox Spirit?! What?!" "Yes! Don''t tell anyone, but I''ve been sent to protect the Henderson''s heir from the shadows." Jack further added as he began bullshitting some more. "Shadows, you say? I''ve never seen someone as ipetent at remaining low-key as you! As for the Fox Thing¡­" Was he about to jump on him or not? Jack readied himself for a fight¡ª "That exins so damn much! No wonder the me Lord never wanted to give me more details. I can''t believe this crazy girl managed to make her Foxes Evolve into Fox Spirits!" By now, the Headmaster was heartilyughing, utterly gobbling Jack''s utter lie. "Haha, well, that actually exins the ears!" He rubbed Jack''s head amicably. Wait¡­ ears?! "Whaaat?!" Something was terribly wrong with his body. Wait¡­ ears?! This was from "The Beast Within", right?! Was he turning into goddamn fury? What about his reputation? "Don''t worry. They appeared while we were talking. Take your time and redo whatever spell you were about to recast to hide them. Ah, but before that¡­." He suddenly addressed the crowd outside. "That will be enough spectating for the day! The rest of the testing will be done in private, so please evacuate the area!" The Headmaster decisively ordered. ? "Wait¡­ we''re still doing the tests¡­ even after what happened?!" Jack asked, surprised. Wasn''t he worried he''d mess up his equipment? "Of course! Human or Fox or Spirit, you''ll have to prove your worth! By the way, you better show potential, or I''ll charge you for all the damage you''ve caused!" "WHAT?!" Now he really couldn''t fail those tests! He wouldn''t have enough of a lifetime to repay this! "Oh yeah, thest two will be considered failures since you blew them up." The Headmaster shrugged. Jack suddenly felt like crying¡­ Chapter 88 Defend: Glyph Monsters! "You better show potential, or I''ll charge you the damages!" The damages?! Jack couldn''t even fathom how high those were already! 1) One Dormitory Barrier 2) Two Weird Boulders 3)¡­ And perhaps some medical bills?! This probably wouldn''t be a sum he''d be able to gather, even if he reached into his contacts'' deep pockets! No, he couldn''t afford to disappoint the man, not at all! "Fine, whates next? Lead the way!" "Hehe, you seem confident." Why did the Headmaster''s chuckle feel foreboding? Jack forced himself to ignore the man''s amused gaze as they went toward the next challenge¡­ luckily, it wasn''t a boulder this time! This courtyard was a strange one. There were glyphs all over the floor, all showing strange monster-like patterns. Their monstrous appearances were so well represented that it almost felt like they''de alive. May it be countless fangs, deadly scythe-arms, or even tentacles, all seemed like they''d make short work of any human. Actually, it didn''t just seem¡­ there was something off! Those¡­ felt like they were lying in ambush?! Jack could already sense a vague sense of danger in them. He eyed them suspiciously, staying at the edge of the challenge area, which made the Headmaster chuckle. "Hehe, don''t be too scared. Now, stand in the middle, and let''s begin. Exit the boundaries, and you''ll be disqualified. Easy, right?" The Headmaster instructed. As for the original test administrator, he was the only one that hadn''t been turned away by his superior, and he was now gazing evilly at him, a snicker on his lips. So this whole arena was a trap, right? Jack reluctantly got in position, the trial activating. It glowed with a dark light as the glyphs seemingly came alive! ''Freaking knew it!'' There was already one biting at his ankles! Fight back? Nope! He ran. The attacker was an illusory bird-looking shadow, but with more fangs than feathers! As the thing barely missed him, he could see it in all its dreadful splendor. Was this monster crazy strong? Not really. The issue was that he could sense countless more swimming under the stone pavement! Now, they were all heading toward him! ¡ª SCRAAAKKK! SCRAAKKK! ¡ª Their raspy cries irritated his ears, but this was but the beginning. Those devilish things wanted him DEAD! He didn''t look back; he just kept running. Every time one was about to devour him, he suddenly changed direction! There were so many that they formed the deadliest moving maze ever! More and more kept appearing, and he would have nowhere to go at this rate! Even as he sensed theming, he struggled to keep up. He felt like discount toilet paper in a Covid Epidemic, countless glyph monsters trying to get their ws on him. At this moment, one thing and only one thing kept him dodging: ''Can''t go into debt, can''t go into debt!" He was doing this for FoxZone! He''d take over the mercantile world, make tons of gold, and buy tons of tasty treats for his loyal servants! This was his resolve! ¡ª Dodge! Dodge! Dodg¡ª STAB! ¡ª Just as he kept avoiding, a pricked tentacle managed to reach him, the thing leaving a gash on his left leg. Leg and hand bleeding, he was a terrifying sight¡­ yet he kept running. Just a little more, just a little more¡­ As for the administrators, they gazed at the scene strangely. There was something wrong with it¡­ how was the kid still alive?! He was far too slow¡­ was he predicting?! The Headmaster was enjoying the show: "Interesting. How interesting!" Yet, even Jack eventually reached his limits. He could feel himself being drained more and more. At this rate, he would have no choice but to give up. He was simply outmanned.. And by a lot! At this rate, he''d get seriously wounded¡­ making him unable to take on further challenges. No, he had to end it now! He had to¡ª "Wait, kid! There''s something strange about those tentacles! I actually have an idea¡­ but you''ll have to trust me!" The Old Ghost''s voice suddenly resounded in his ears. Then he exined how the Glyphs seemed to be reacting to his Mana and Spirit. The things would respond to the human presence, and the faster he went, the faster they did too! "Tch¡ª So what? Even if I don''t move, they''lle for me!" Jack remarked. "That may not be entirely true. Perhaps you could try to¡­." The more the Old Ghost exined, the crazier his idea felt. He wanted Jack to basicallymit suicide¡­ on a hunch of his. Yes, a hunch; he wasn''t even sure! "Kid, what do you have to lose? The Headmaster will need you alive to collect on your debt. Without trying this, I don''t see youpleting this trial either" He shrugged. He wasn''t wrong, either. Jack hardened his mind and his body. Then he¡­ As he suddenly stopped moving entirely, even the Headmaster yelped in shock. "What are you doing?! You''ll die! Quick! Say you give up!" he screamed, panicked. Yet, Jack already couldn''t hear him, far too busy using one of his titles. [Activating Title: "Searching for Inner Peace!"] At this moment, he hadn''t just stopped his feet, but his mind too! He was neither listening nor thinking about anything in particr, his mind going nk. The Glyphs reacted to his Mana and Spirit? Then what would happen if he suddenly went quiet? Not the usual quiet either, but one that made him look deader than alive too! He stood in ce, bleeding from multiple injuries. One could have even taken him for a highly realistic scarecrow at that instant. That''s when it happened¡­ The Glyphs suddenly couldn''t feel their target anymore. Since that was the case, theyzily returned to their respective stone tiles, even swaying with the air of victory. Only Jack remained in the center, alone and undisturbed. He neither celebrated nor did he rejoice when the Headmaster whistled in appreciation. Except one wasn''t happy. "Sir, this is cheating! We need to do something about this!" the VIP tester cried out. He couldn''t believe that Jack had cheated on yet another test! "Pfft¡ª If this is what a cheater is like¡­ then I wish all our students were cheaters! It takes some serious fucking balls to do what he just did." He nodded appreciatively. "But S-Sir¡­?!" "That''s the end of it. This one''s a pass! Still, that leaves only one test sessfully passed out of them all. He still has to prove himself!" The Headmaster added. Jack slowly opened his eyes. Now, what came next?!¡­ Chapter 89 Boulder Of Omnipre— Not! "That''s one pass and two failures." Wouldn''t this mean a score of 33%?! So far, Jack was failing the entrance exams HARD. Then again, this wasn''t anything new to him. In his previous life, how many times had he gotten his homework eaten by a dog, a donkey, or even a tiger once! But so what? He still had more tests! He showed incredible fighting spirit,pletely ignoring the VIP test guy who seemed like he wanted to bust his head open for "cheating". He simply followed after the Headmaster. As thetter brought him to another room, Jack felt discouraged. Why?! Just why? Why was it yet another boulder?! This one was clearly also magical, its emerald surface shimmering. "Let me guess¡­ the Boulder of Omnipresence?!" Jack sighed. "Nope. It''s not everywhere. It''s only in this courtyard. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have bothereding here, wouldn''t we?" the Headmaster happily joked. He couldn''t wait to see what this kid would do to pass this trial! Would he find a way out, or would he do it legit? How interesting! "This one''s easy too. Just put your hand on it, and give it your Mana. The more you put in, the better your score. Simple, right?" "That''s it? That feels awfully familiar¡­." Jack sighed as he prepared himself mentally. This time, if yet another Appraisal God tried to devour him, he''d bloody quit this goddamn school on his own! He approached a trembling hand¡­ DING! [Found an Offering Stone! Fill It?] Offering stone? What the heck was that?! Offering kinda rhymed with sacrificing, didn''t it? What if this thing was another baleful entity trying to steal his soul? "Old Ghost, what''s your expert opinion?" "Pfft¡ª Oh my god! Is that what I think it is?! They left that at a Magical Academy?!" He couldn''t contain hisughter, one that definitely had very dark undertones. "Should I be wary? Is this thing dangerous?!" "Dangerous? No, CRAZY dangerous! This thing will devour humans left and right as soon as ites out! But don''t worry; it''s a long stretch from hatching." Hatching? So this thing was an egg? What kind of creature could be contained in something like that? A dragon, perhaps? Still, that would be a thought forter. Jack set his hand on it and¡­ [Draining Mana Initiating!] He jumped in shock. This thing was bloody greedy: it wanted ALL his Mana! It reminded him of his Evil God''s Body without the actual leveling-ups. No, this was worse¡­ Mana Value 57%, 42%, 35%. In a matter of seconds, he had lost over 20% of his Mana! This thing wasn''t just greedy, it was horrendously so! Jack turned livid. If hecked Mana¡­ how would the Headmaster react to seeing his baby self? Would he alert the me Lord? Perhaps he''d agree to keep it a secret? Either way, I''d make a huge fuss! No, not like this! Could he find a way to refill his Mana instead?! At this moment, he suddenly remembered the Mana Devouring technique he had. He could totally use that to save himself! Except¡­ what Mana would he even devour?! Treasure ¡ª> He had none on him His Loyal Foxes ¡ª> They had been left at Academy''s Entrance, and he needed physical contact to borrow their Mana! That''s when his gaze finally settled on a certain invisible being. The Old Ghost wasn''t there, yet Jack could feel him nheless, thanks to how familiar they were with one another. "Old Ghost, how about¡­" "NO WAY! I''m not sharing my Mana with that darned thing! Do you know how many students I lost in the day to one of its kind? It fucked my reputation!" He was adamant. Had he been visible, he would have been pouting, huffing, and perhaps even giving him a furious re. Yet, now wasn''t the time to bicker. He had to convince the Ghost ASAP before he was drainedpletely! "Think about it! If I''m forced to pay reparations, I won''t have the energy to grow stronger and look for a way to reform your body! Don''t help me; help the you that needs my help!" Jack inwardly thundered, hearing the Old Ghost gasping in confusion. Where the heck had this student of his learned that?! What a roundabout way to express himself?! "No time to think. Are you in or in?" Jack urged. There followed the longest silence of Jack''s life. He felt like a juice box getting drunk silly. But just as he thought he had failed, an incredibly profound mental sigh resounded. That''s when the Mana transfer began¡­ ¡ª FLOW! FLOW! ¡ª It was so damn powerful that Jack opened his eyes wide in shock and pain. This Mana was so dark, so mighty, so goddamn UNSTABLE! Hot potato? This was hot Mana! As for actually using this Mana? No way in hell! He felt like a toddler with a rocketuncher in his hands. Actually, this wasn''t too far off from the truth. Luckily, he didn''t need to use it, but simply hold it. ¡ª Trembling! SHAKING! ¡ª Sensing the foreign Mana''s arrival, the emerald stone shook with happiness. Then without waiting for anyone''s permission, it gobbled it all! It didn''t care that it was chaotic, it didn''t care that it came from a ghost either, it was HUNGRY! That''s when gasps resounded from the nearby spectators. Just as Jack had seemed to be about to keel over¡­ he had suddenly regained all colors! He had gone from mummy-looking to full of life. Now that he wasn''t getting his Mana drained, he was perfectly fine and rosy. Sadly, the same couldn''t be said for the Old Ghost¡­ "DAMMIT! You owe me one, kid. No, you owe me tons!" He silently screamed in his hear, his voice trembling than a trapeze artist on crack. A scream that became more and more silent. Then the Egg stopped draining, seemingly having had enough. But... "Old Ghost?" No reply whatsoever. Jack could barely feel him through their link, as it seemed he had returned to his vessel to recuperate. This had been such a damn roller-coaster! The strange thing was that the Headmaster seemed utterly oblivious to it too. Then again, he was an Alloymancer, right? Ghosts had no rtion to the Metallic element at all! This was probably why their teamwork had passed under the radar. By now, he was even giving Jack a thumbs up. "Wow! You did this wonderfully! Now, 2 fails, and 2 passes. Doesn''t this mean that thest test will determine it all? Let''s get going, shall we?" He amicably said. But for some reason, the VIP test guy seemed very expectant¡­ Chapter 76 Eating Bandits! And Stuff... ?The Adventurers gazed at Jack strangely. They seemed wary¡­ and even terrified?! Had they misunderstood him as an intruder? Still, they hadn''t taken their weapons out just yet, simply cooking on a magical portable grill. "Hey, guys. Nice to meet you all! I''m part of the Young Lady''s escort. How''s the cooking going?" He started with small talk to get the conversation going. "T-that, we did our best, but¡­." As they replied, they could be seen shivering. Were they simply anxious because they doubted their culinary skills? Either way, it wasn''t Jack''s business. Tempted by the delicious aroma that came out of the BBQ, he snatched a piece of meat, devouring it whole in one big gulp. "Ah, this hits the spot!" It was a perfect mix of chewy, vorful, and filling. This was the ideal outdoor life: a soft breeze ruffling his hair, great food, and foxes happily running around in the background as he was still receiving XP. Sadly, his blissful moment was kinda hindered by the Adventurers shaking like leaves. He turned toward them. "Is there an issue? You guys are so skittish. Bandits? Monsters?" Should they get ready to fight? He could recall his foxes, establish a defense perimeter, and even¡ª "N-No, no issue at all! We''ll arrive at the Magic Academy by tomorrow. You can count on us!" They were so quick to reassure him that it was definitely suspicious. "Is that so? Alright, you guys, take care!" It was useless to keep pushing, so Jack returned to the carriage''s coziness, grabbing lots of meat to snack on. Then he waited, opening his ears wide, using Mana to increase his range of perception. Whatever secret they were hiding, he''d soon know! It didn''t take long for the heavy silence to be unbearable. That''s when they started chatting like magpies. "Holy shit, that was so stressful!" "Did you see his gaze?! This guy''s no joke!" "I told you, didn''t I? He''s the Henderson''s secret weapon, for sure! Ah, but if anyone asks, NOTHING happened on this trip. Are we clear?!" They all shouted in agreement! Henderson''s Secret Weapon? How the hell had theye to this conclusion?! If anything, he should have been the me Mansion''s Secret Weapon! He felt utterly confused. "Pfft¡ª Don''t worry about it, kid. Just enjoy the moment. You have shelter, food, a fox army, and even two cute girls to do your bidding. Don''t sweat the small stuff!" "You''re right¡­." Apanied by the Old Ghost''s chuckles, Jack trained his Arcane Magic some more to keep boredom away, their surprisingly uneventful journey passing in a sh! . . . The carriage halting awoke them. "M-Miste¡ª Young Lady, we''ve arrived!" "Uh? A-already?!" A sleepy-eyed Aisha jerked in shock. Instantly her energy changed! She went fromzy potato that''d do nothing but steal Jack''s tasty snacks to Office Lady oozing professionalism. She was even the first out the door! The Adventurers were respectfully paving the way while a curious crowd had gathered around them. A passenger carriage? At this time of the year? Who was it? "Psst¡ª That''s the Henderson Emblem!" "Henderson? So it''s just someone visiting? Boring!" They hadn''t heard anything about anyone from the Henderson''s joining the Academy, so they wrongly assumed the neers hade here to check up on rtives. But then their illusions were shattered by the squad leader''s shout: "Carry the luggage! Find a guide to the Headmaster''s office. Make sure the Young Lady''s admission proceeds smoothly!" Admission?! Now, this was getting interesting! Aisha came down, looking at her surroundings, Jack and Lizzy right behind her, the trio making one hell of a weird pairing. Aisha ¡ª> All proper and rested Lizzy ¡ª> Eyes sunken,cking sleep as she had kept working Jack MF Bright (Adult Form) ¡ª> For once, he wasn''t naked, wearing the Henderson''s servant uniform. Yet, his aura was too casual, as if he were on a sightseeing trip! At this moment, his eyes were greedily devouring his surroundings. This ce was a Magic Academy, really?! It looked more like a City than a school! The ce was HUGE, with youngsters crawling all over the ce like knowledge-seeking bugs. Then there were the buildings themselves. They would have indubitably given an architect many heart attacks as they seemingly defied gravity, some even freaking floating! Each glowed and appeared more like Treasures than actual constructions. Lastly, there were the sounds. This ce had no regr civilians, only mages¡­ and it showed! There was no silence, only a constant buzzing, the sound of tons and tons of spells being cast every second. "This is definitely different than Dawn¡­" Jack offhandedly remarked, but perhaps he shouldn''t have. A blond man stepped up as if he had been just waiting for this moment. "Scoff! Dawn City? When I heard someone was asking for admission, I had my hopes up, but I guess it was all for naught. A shame, another failure is trying to join this Academy¡­." Wait¡­ what?! Jack was genuinely confused. Dawn was literally the biggest and only City in weeks! Why would this guy even attend this Academy if he wasn''t from around here?! Still, could it be that Dawn''s standing wasn''t that good? He had never heard such a thing¡­ but then again, he had never really left Dawn either. "So, what''s wrong with Dawn City?" Jack curiously asked. But the youngster didn''t even acknowledge his existence. He simply turned toward Aisha as he sneered: "Tch¡ª From Dawn, and you can''t even teach your own servants properly? Should I help you discipline your dog and teach it not to p its mouth?" ¡ª Countless Gasps! ¡ª The crowd was already boiling with fury. Yet, that''s all they did. The youngster''s entire body felt like he was strutting around like a conqueror, knowing no one would dare step up to him! In the back, a couple of Adventurers were frozen in fear. W-what had this kid just done?! Had he just insulted a man that LITERALLY ate bandits for breakfast?! That''s when Aisha''s clear voice echoed¡­ "Teach him? No thanks, lest he bes retarded." She simply waved him away, as one would a stinky fart. There was no consideration for whoever that guy was or even his standing. At this moment, she felt very free. So what if he had some backing? She had Jack! Sure, she didn''t have a clear grasp of his abilities... but that was precisely why she trusted in him so much! "Let''s go, shall we? The sooner we get to the Headmaster''s office, the sooner we can settle our things down!" She happily proposed, utterly ignoring the livid youngster. He was used to getting things his way, thanks to his status. When he couldn''t, he was used to debating his way through until he had the upper hand anyway. But what she did was truly hateful! She hadn''t even tried to defend herself. She hadn''t tried to argue either; she had simply ignored him! While they were leaving, he actually chuckled. "I see, so you''re one of those, eh?" That''s when he stepped toward their carriage, waving his hand. ¡ª CRACKLE! CRACKLE! ¡ª A lightning bolt came forth from his open palm, flying toward the carriage! As soon as it made contact, the wooden frame of the carriage exploded entirely, parts of it catching fire! As for the target of the st? It had been the Henderson''s crest and the new me Mansion''s Business Seal of approval! This was a clear and undisguised provocation! The youngster grinned, satisfied with his handy work. "A fool without nobility doesn''t deserve such a crest." He even sent a provocative look toward the crowd, daring them to react! Disregarding his arrogance, that guy sure packed one hell of a punch! He was what¡­ 16? Perhaps even the Thunder Lord himself wasn''t as strong at the same age! Faced with such a disy of power (foolishness), the Adventurers got ready to fight for Jack''s honor. This was the perfect chance to disy their loyalty and make a connection! But just as they were prepared to step in, their Leader suddenly signaled his men to step back in a hurry. "RETREAT!" Which the aggravating youngster tactfully mocked. Except that this time, he had chosen the wrong fight¡­ "Hahaha, this kid done FUCKED UP! They''re already here." The Old Ghost didn''t even conceal hisughter, the youngster looking around for the offender. In the distance, a legion of foxes had appeared. They could perfectly see the prancing youngster and their burnt crest with their peerless eyesight. Youngster and foxes'' gazes met. "WOOOOO!!!" This "woo" needed no trantion. It was a goddamn WARCRY! In their fury, their Mana overflowed from their tiny bodies, creating a bright red and orange cloud of fluffy DOOM! Foxes covered thend, crushing the youngster''s confidence. Individually, they weren''t that strong, but together¡­?! This was a CATASTROPHE! The nearby students were already freaking out: "B-Beast Tide?! Sound the rm and¡ª Wait¡­ those are foxes?! T-the same ones as the burnt crest? It can''t be¡­ can it?!" Yes, yes it was. Instant retribution! Just as the youngster felt the foxes'' gazes on him, he felt a slight tap on his shoulder. "Tough luck, buddy. I''d tell them to spare you, but I better not talk." Jack exaggeratedly sighed¡­ The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!