[Eye of Horus]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Requirement: 15 int
Durability: 40/50
Effect
- Scan (Active): Consume 100 energy and conduct a judgment with a stat of your choice. The greater the difference, the more information you will obtain from the target. 1 hour cooldown.
Description: An artifact that allows you to peek at the information of others. The ancient civilization forged this in the image of a god with a falcon head, hoping it would bring them the god''s protection.
Note: Because of the passage of time, its structure has been weakened. Be careful with it, it''s fragile.
- Stalker''s Compass: Compass that points to things
[Stalker''s Compass]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Durability: 100/100
Requirements: 20 Spc
Effects:
- Ultimate Tracking (Active): Designate a target. This compass will point to them until you designate a new target or until you injure them. 24-hour cooldown between designations.
- Persistent Stalking (Active): Bypass the cooldown of Ultimate Tracking by providing the cells of a target. If this target is different from the designated one, you can choose which target to follow. The lighter end of the pointer will be used for this effect while the darker end for Ultimate Tracking. A maximum of two targets can be tracked at once. Only one target can be followed at once. The duration of this effect varies with the provided cells. The more prevalent the cells, the longer it will last. The maximum duration of this effect is 24 hours. After that, more cells are required.
Description: You can run, but you can''t hide. And even if you run, I''ll still find you. It''s only a matter of time.
146 – (Spatial Battlefield 2)
In the blink of an eye, Genji reached the end of his given month. Due to the pressure of the Spatial Battlefield, Genji chose to stay in EverRealm for the full duration, forgoing his return to Earth.
He might not care about death, but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t maximize his chances of survival. After all, he still wanted to enjoy his life, even if it was dangerous.
During this time, Genji converted all his earnings to potions and back multiple times, giving him ample funds to load his storage. Genji prepared so many items that he ran out of space in his storage. So, he used the 28 tokens he''d accumulated over the past few worlds to upgrade his capacity.
After five upgrades of 3 cubic meters each, Genji''s storage space went from 40 cubic meters to 55 meters, leaving him with 3 tokens. He made his last checks and gathered Bruce, awaiting the timer countdown.
[Breaktime has ended. Entering the Spatial Battlefield.]
In the next moment, Genji found himself in an open cavern, full of people. However, these individuals emitted an unusual vibe, as if entering a normal mission rather than a war-infested battlefield - they were too relaxed.
Initially, Genji assumed they were veterans with ample strength to back up their behavior, but their lack of situational awareness quickly debunked that. They hadn''t even checked if the environment was safe but rather took it for granted!
How could they be so complacent when there wasn''t even a starting barrier to protect them? This was no longer confidence but arrogance. Then he realized they didn''t give him a sense of threat, testifying to their lower stats.
''Something''s not right. Where am I? This isn''t the Celestials'' base!''
This revelation sent Genji into full alert, compelling him to stealthily scan someone with [Eye of Horus].
[Member of OmegaRealm.]
Health: 3,400/3,400
Energy: 80/80
Con: 34
Str: 32
Dex: 24
Int: 8
Spc: 0
The benefit of [Eye of Horus] was that it wasn''t subject to restrictions like Insight, which was becoming more obsolete as he approached the 3rd step. This meant he could obtain the stats of other realm members, excluding their skills.
That was the benefit of a legendary item. However, this change implied that other people could do the same if they had a similar piece of equipment. It was going to be harder to hide his strength from now on, not that Genji needed to anyway. It was mostly a habit he built during his assassin days. One could never have too many trump cards.
From the trend, Genji assumed members at the 3rd step needed to rely on equipment to obtain stats from enemies or risk unknown dangers. It was a strict change, but Genji was already prepared.
"EverRealm, where did you send me?" Genji whispered.
[Due to the events in your previous entry, the Celestials now see you as an enemy. To ensure your safety, you have been transported to a faction with friendlier relations: the Zergs.]
[Note: This is only possible with OmegaRealm''s permission. The Zergs have also been notified.]
Genji appreciated the care, but he had another problem to deal with. Due to killing Silver Empress''s body double, Genji had royally pissed off Silver Empress, who would now do anything to kill him.
Luckily, this was a personal grudge so most of the Zergs still viewed him in a positive light. That was why EverRealm dared to teleport him here instead of the wilderness. However, this safety was only temporary since Silver Empress would soon get word of his arrival and deploy forces to track him. If he didn''t want to be surrounded, he needed to leave Zerg territory fast.
Suddenly, Genji sensed someone reach for his shoulder. In his alert state, he quickly caught the arm and flipped the owner over his shoulder, right onto the ground. A wince of pain came from the person, but he paused mid-breath when he realized a dagger was pressed against his neck.
"Hey, relax. We''re safe here," the person said, raising his undislocated arm.
"Oh, I''m so sorry. I was acting on instinct," Genji realized he had overreacted and rushed to apologize.
"It''s fine. You must have been through a lot to react like that," the person said, seeing Genji''s flustered appearance. From there, he conjured a whole story of how Genji was traumatized by the missions.
"Still, I don''t know how I ever make up for this. How about I take a look at your arm? I''m a doctor."
Genji''s act further convinced the person of his made-up story. How could someone so humble possibly be bad?
"Don''t worry about i-" Before the person could finish his sentence, a sharp pain rushed up his shoulder, causing him to gasp.
"There, all done. You should be as good as new," Genji said, releasing his grip on the arm.
"What the?! Isn''t that too fast?"
"Oh my god, how can I forget? Your arm!"
When Genji mentioned this, the person''s eyes wandered down to his wrist, where a hand-shaped bruise marked his skin.
"It''s fi-"
"I''m so sorry. Here''s a potion. Please drink it. I won''t be able to forgive myself if you end up dying because of that." Genji rushed over, frantically waving a bottle near the man''s face.
"Calm down" The person caught Genji''s arm and comforted him. "This won''t affect me."
"You sure? That injury looks bad."
"I know my body best."
"Okay, but you should still keep the potion. Consider it my apology," Genji said, bowing down.
"If you insist."
"Thank you. I''ll be in the corner over there. I don''t want to accidentally hurt someone like this again." Genji said apologetically before walking away.
''What a nice guy,'' the man thought, eying the rare potion in his hand.
Genji, on the other hand, had a different opinion about the encounter. ''That was easy. He didn''t even suspect me.''
Spatial Battlefield
Background:
After countless years of battle, the Spatial Battlefield has become a meat grinder for all forces. However, none of them can afford to pull out because doing so would mean relinquishing control of all planets under their rule or facing the wrath of all other factions. As such, they begrudgingly sent their best, praying they could secure enough victories to expand.
Participating Realms: Ever, Luminal, Mana, Omega, and Sanguine
Overseer: Eternal Void
Mission: Survive for 40 days.
Note 1: Due to your actions in the previous session, you have offended all the forces. The Parasites and Silver Empress hate you the most and will persistently hunt you down. The Celestials see you as a traitor, but won''t go out of their way to hunt you. All other groups are neutral and will only attack if given an opportunity.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Note 2: Due to your high contributions for the previous session and lack of faction affiliation, you aren''t required to serve any agendas. However, damaging your original faction will still result in contribution deductions.
Note 3: Achievements are not calculated in this world. In its place, contribution points will be rewarded. At the end of your service, you can redeem the points for rewards of your choice.
Restrictions: None
Although Genji''s mission was easy, he had no intention of taking that route. After the last session, he had amassed a total of 4 million points, but it was nothing compared to the required 10 million to hatch the [Void Egg].
If Genji wanted any chance of using this item he snatched from Silver Empress and Shepherd, he would need to surpass his previous performance. Luckily, he had plenty of enemies to make up the difference.
At this moment, Genji overheard an interesting conversation among a group of friends.
"Hey, who do you think is the strongest person in the second step?"
"In history or just now?"
"Either one. It''s not like we know that many people from back then."
"It has to be Shepherd, right? I heard that guy killed a Balancer."
"Do you actually believe that? This is Shady Shepherd we''re talking about. There''s no way he didn''t use a trick. Plus, how is anyone supposed to fight the Balancers? They''re invincible on the battlefield. Their stats might be capped, but their skills aren''t. Why do you think everyone listens to them?"
"Then what about Insane Poisoner? Didn''t he kill a bunch of powerhouses?"
"That''s with the Zerg''s help. We don''t know if he has the combat power to match that."
"But it doesn''t change the outcome, does it? His poison weakened everyone enough to allow the Zerg''s swarm tactic to succeed. I heard he even provoked a Reaper afterward and won. If we include his poison, won''t he also be invincible in the 2nd step?"
''Why does that sound familiar?'' Genji wondered to himself. ''Did I hear about this somewhere before?''
"I agree. That guy''s poisons are scary. The survivors also didn''t have a good time. Apparently, the poison he used directly merged with their powers, making their healing costs humongous."
"I also heard the poison was initially disguised as a treasure. That''s why so many powerhouses fell for it."
"Just hearing that gives me chills. Can you imagine drinking a powerful potion just to realize it''s a lethal poison afterward? Luckily, we will never meet that person. It''s been 9 cycles since his appearance, so he should have been promoted."
At this moment, Genji realized where the familiar feeling was coming from. ''Disguised as a treasure? Provoking a Reaper? Poisoning everyone? 9 cycles? Are they talking about me? When did I get such a nickname?''
Everything about the story lined up with his experiences that it was hard to deny it. It must be Genji. There were too many coincidences to say otherwise.
Realizing this, Genji gave the last speaker a strange look, one that persisted for what felt like an eternity.
At this moment, a group of people from the previous cycle entered and rang a loud bell. ''Gather up everyone. I have some information to announce.''
Everyone at this teleportation point had entered the battlefield at least once, so they were used to this greeting. They quickly organized themselves around the group. Genji managed to find himself a seat amid this shuffling.
"Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that not everyone knows this tradition. So, record what I''m about to say and pass it to the next group. That way, we can all stay in the loop about current events."
The entire crowd nodded in understanding and brought out a few notepads.
"Overall, the battlefield has been stable. Nothing too drastic has happened like Silver Empress''s rise, but the power dynamic has shifted. The Zergs and Celestials are now the main targets for the other forces, so be careful about joining battles. Contributions are tempting, but your life matters the most."
At this moment, Genji raised his hand to speak. "I can understand why the Zergs are being targeted, but why are the Celestials included?"
"Because they lost many of their fortresses on the front line, leading to a weak point in their defenses. Now, everyone can''t wait to break through and attack their supply line," the speaker patiently explained.
"When did this happen?"
"Around 4 cycles ago. Some guy from Sanguine earned a lot of contributions for that. One crazy fellow according to my information, but you don''t need to worry about him. He''s already advanced. Instead, let''s talk about people you might encounter. Pay attention since this is the stuff you want to pass on to the next wave.
First, there is the Barrage Sniper, a Celestial soldier. No one knows his true appearance since he always attacks from a distance, but he''s one annoying sniper. If you give him a chance to set up, he won''t stop shooting until everyone is dead or destroys his gun. I don''t know where he learned such a firing style, but he''s only getting better. Fricken wastrel that doesn''t consider resource consumption."
The speaker muttered the last sentence, still salty about the encounter.
"He''s been transferred to the frontlines, so there''s a high chance of meeting him. If you ever encounter an unusually fast fire rate, just run, especially if it''s from the same position. It''s not worth the risk."
The speaker paused for a few seconds, giving the audience plenty of time to record the information. Then, a different person started talking.
"Next is Flaming Devil. I don''t know which faction he belonged to, but he entered 2 cycles ago. According to the information, he was being chased down by the Parasites when he chugged a weird potion, which caused his body to mutate into a monstrosity.
But with this new form, he experienced a huge spike in power, allowing him to massacre through the battlefield. He was only stopped when a beast king stepped forward and shut him down. I''m including him because he didn''t seem that strong when he drank the potion. There''s a good chance he returns sometime in the future.
After that is the Swordsman of Bloody Aura, or Blood Swordsman for short. He''s a rising star of Sanguine and has a massive body count. Not much is known about him since he kills everyone he meets, but a senior had seen him solo a boss with 40+ stats last world. He may enter this cycle or the next, so be careful.
Fourth, there is Berserker, a powerful melee fighter of EverRealm. At the time, a fortress was besieged by a beast tide, on the verge of collapse when he stepped up. Wielding his heavy sword, he carved through the wave like a hot knife through butter. No matter how the beasts attacked him, he endured it and continued fighting, only getting stronger with each wound.
It was as if he lost all sense of pain in that time. By the end, his ferocity was so strong that it intimidated the beasts to retreat. You can even say he single-handedly defended that fortress. His stat situation is similar to Flaming Devil''s, and he entered 4 cycles ago.
Lastly, there is Stella, the Starlit Mage. She''s a champion of ManaRealm and has mastered the 4 basic elements of the Elemental Style: fire, wind, earth, and water. Basically, she''s proficient in all attack, defense, and support."
"Sir? Why is she called the Starlit Mage then? Wouldn''t Four Elemental Mage or Perfect Mage be more fitting?"
"Because the four elements are not her main strength but rather a form of support. Her nickname comes from her talent, which allows her to harness starlight to cast powerful light magic. Moreover, the more stars there are, the stronger her buffs become. These buffs encompass all favorable aspects of a mage, such as spell power, casting speed, and mana recovery. In the right environment, she might even outclass Barrage Sniper in fire rate and lethality."
*Hiss* "How powerful."
"That''s not all. We''re in the Spatial Battlefield, where there are plenty of stars in sight, even in the day. Although the buffs are weaker at this time, they still exist. This is practically a home field for her."
"Why do you know so much about her?" Genji asked, unable to grasp how the speaker had acquired such detailed information about another person''s talent. It was unusually detailed as if they had read her status page. Did they have someone with such a talent, or was this a high-ranked equipment? If so, what other secrets could they uncover?
In response to his question, all the veterans ground their teeth and clenched their fists. Then, with short breaths of air, one person answered, "Because she would rub it in our faces EVERY SINGLE TIME she beats us! Then she would rob us of our hard-earned money. God damn, I would give anything to wipe that stupid smirk off her face!"
"..."
Genji observed the fuming crowd for a few moments before posing his next question. "How are you sure she''s telling the truth? Can''t she be spreading false information to intimidate people? That talent seems too powerful, no matter how I think about it."
"A senior with a lie detection talent confirmed it. She''s one lucky bitch to awaken such a powerful talent and end up in ManaRealm!"
Genji had no way to argue with that, so he ceased asking further questions.
Seeing no one else speaking up, another person raised his hand. "Sir? What about our realm? Can you tell us about our rising star?"
"Yeah sir, what powerful abilities do they have?" The others around chimed in.
"I''m sure they are just as powerful, if not more."
However, the experienced members could only spread their hands helplessly. "That''s the problem. We don''t have one."
"How can this be? Don''t we have the most people across all realms?"
"We do, but that''s because of OmegaRealm''s lax rules, which also cause no one to be desperate enough to chase after power like in the other realms. The closest we have is the Priestess, who specializes in healing magic instead of combat.
Why do you think the other realms bully us so much and don''t mind letting us go after extorting us? It''s because they don''t think of us as a threat and want us to earn more money for next time."
"The members were saddened by the revelation and gazed down at their toes in indignation. Why were the rules set like this? It was unfair!
"Cheer up. Don''t be upset by this; be proud," the person boomed with a wide grin.
"How can we be proud of this?" The people looked at him in disbelief, doubting if their ears had malfunctioned.
"Why would you want to be like those people? They risk their lives for the smallest gain in power, enduring countless pains in the process. Are you all masochists? Is that why?"
"N-no, sir."
"That''s the spirit. Why would we throw away our lives to get a little stronger when it''s easier to seek help from friends? We have the most people, so we should take advantage of that. Right?"
"Yeah." The crowd regained their confidence.
"You might not know this, but OmegaRealm also has the highest standard of living. Everyone is treated equally and guaranteed money to survive. In contrast, other realms still engage in rank segregation. If you''re not strong, then your life is miserable. Why would you want to join their barbaric system? We are civilized people and should have standards!"
"Yeah!" This time, the crowd was more rambunctious and enthusiastically shouted their response.
"Repeat after me! Civilized people!" The speaker raised his left arm and roared.
"Civilized people!" The crowd followed, raising both their voices and arms.
"Again! Civilized people!" The speaker''s voice echoed, filling the cave.
"Civilized people!" The ground trembled from their collective intensity.
"Again!" The speaker''s voice pierced the cave, urging the members to follow suit. With each repetition, the volume increased, reaching a crescendo that drowned out all other sounds. Only the resonation of those two words could be heard, echoing through the night and reverberating for kilometers on end.
As the OmegaRealm members distracted themselves with cheering, Genji slipped away. They were an interesting bunch, but he had no intention of joining them. He was perfectly content with his treatment in EverRealm and the freedom it provided. Plus, he hadn''t forgotten about the enemies hunting him.
When Bruce was summoned, he gazed strangely at the uproarious cave behind them. Why did it sound like they were partying instead of preparing for battle?
"Come on, don''t think about it too much. Let''s get out of here."
Bruce neighed in agreement and carried Genji into the distance, away from another one of Genji''s strange starts.
147 – Central Battlefield
As Genji and Bruce approached the edge of Zerg territory, they encountered a swarm of Zergs. The swarm dragged a trail of dismantled bodies, belonging to both their slain enemies and fallen clansmen. Many Zergs bore large chinks in their carapace, a testament to their victorious hunt.
Genji intended to circumvent the swarm due to their sizable numbers, but the Zergs mistook this avoidance as a sign of weakness. Without hesitation, they dropped their spoils of war and lunged at him.
''No big deal, I''ll just wipe them out.''
But as Genji reached for his saber, a blood tentacle stopped him, waving wildly from below. Looking down, Genji saw Bruce brimming with the desire to fight.
"Getting restless, huh?"
Bruce neighed in response as more tentacles sprouted from his sides.
"I''ll leave them to you then. Let''s see how much you''ve improved." Genji slid off and took a few steps back, giving Bruce ample room to utilize his abilities.
The tentacles separated from the nightbane and transformed into a myriad of droplets, all hovering around Bruce. It was as if time had paused during a rainy day, allowing one to fully admire the airborne crimson-red droplets glistening in the starlight.
Suddenly, they shot forward, transforming into whisker-sized needles that pierced through the gaps in the Zergs'' defense. The first wave collapsed, their bodies filled with red needles.
These needles liquefied again and flowed back, carrying the green Zerg blood with them. The fallen bodies quickly shriveled, like a raisin in the sun, left for too long to fester. And like the raisin, the blood transformed into something unrecognizable, becoming a tornado of blades that shredded the approaching swarm.
From there, the bloodstorm escalated exponentially, ending the battle within seconds of Bruce''s first kill. As the diced-up bodies fell, the blood gathered above Bruce and compressed inward. All impurities were expelled, leaving only the most vitality-rich components.
This compact orb of blood flowed downward, straight into Bruce''s open mouth. After wallowing, Bruce licked his nose, cleaning the remnants off his face before turning to Genji with an expectant look.
"That''s impressive. You might be better at dealing with swarms than me," Genji praised Bruce, acknowledging the nightbane''s hard work. "But don''t you find the taste awful? That''s insect blood. It''s not even red."
Bruce proudly raised his head and pointed his hoof at the impurities pushed out during the compression. He gagged at the pile before pointing his hoof at the air and rocking his head from side to side. From the gestures, Genji surmised that the ejected parts contributed to the bad taste while the purified product was bearable.
"Did you develop a technique to purify the taste of blood?"
Bruce raised his head proudly, pointing his nose at the sky with pride. He had worked hard on this move, all to assist Genji without torturing his taste buds.
''I''m such a smart horse. Now, I get the best of both worlds. Tasty life, here I come.''
*sigh* "Food really is your motivation in life."
"Neigh!"
They continued their journey, eventually reaching the neutral zone, where factions gathered for battle. It was a chaotic area, full of constant conflict and bloodshed, with each faction seeking to suppress the others. Here, there were no winners, but plenty of losers. No matter which faction it was, they had all lost an uncountable number of experts here, all to fuel the rise of a short-lived star.
Also, any signs of weakness would invite swift attacks from rival factions, often leading to temporary alliances formed solely for decimating a single enemy. This was the case even if two factions were fighting a decisive battle. They would put aside all grudges and swarm the weakest link like sharks to fresh blood, seeking to tear them apart.
As such, one could never predict when an enemy would become an ally or an ally an enemy. All these relations shift back and forth like a swinging pendulum, ensuring only the most adaptable generals thrive.
After finishing a target, the factions would resume their conflicts, potentially finding a target to gang up on if they lost too much force. Of course, there were times when a faction anticipated this and teamed up with the bullied target, only to recreate the deadlock from before.
However, even within this unlikely alliance, they still had to worry about betrayal. If the weakest faction managed to injure their teammate significantly, they could transfer the target over and align themselves with the attackers. There was also the possibility a faction only proposed an alliance just to betray them at a crucial moment.
Everything about this area was messy, but that was exactly what Genji wanted. Only this way, could he lose the endless armies after him.
"Let''s head to the central battlefield. We should earn a lot of contribution points there."
Bruce inspected the map in Genji''s hands and adjusted their course. As they journeyed, they encountered many parties that attacked them.
The first was an overhead ship belonging to the Celestials that rained a storm of plasma on them. Genji easily stopped all of this with his newly developed Daggerless Arts: Cocoon. Luckily, they left Genji alone after realizing their attacks were futile.
Anyone who could achieve such a feat wasn''t someone they could fight as a scout team. The best move in this case was to escape before they got annihilated and report the discovery. To their relief, Genji made no move to stop them, allowing them to leave the vicinity within seconds.
Genji was also content with this outcome because he didn''t need to waste contribution points on removing this annoyance. Although he was dissuaded from attacking the Celestials, that didn''t mean he wouldn''t if they kept provoking him.
After that, he encountered a speedy android resembling a slasher from his previous world. The difference was that this model had much higher stats than their 1st step counterparts, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
Upon spotting Genji, the android instantly launched an attack, striving to dismember him. However, Genji''s stats were no longer restricted, allowing him to unleash a speed beyond its sensors. Suddenly, the android collapsed into a pile of metal, unknown gel, and fluids.
But hidden beneath these scraps was a blinking camera, broadcasting its experiences to the Sentinel remotely controlling it. Then a hoof came down, crushing the delicate part that slipped through Genji''s attack.
''Weird. Where did that shiny thing go?'' Bruce wondered to himself, searching for the toy he accidentally crushed.
"What are you looking at? If you''re curious about these androids, then I can hold back next time so you have a complete body to play with," Genji said, walking back.
Bruce appreciated the offer, but he shook his head. It was only a slight curiosity about the unknown, so there was no need for Genji to go out of his way. It wasn''t like the central battlefield would be lacking in these robots given how frequent the battles were.
Next, they encountered a stampede of parasitized beasts. On their backs, many LuminalRealm members sat, casting spells to buff their rides. The group was too big to be a scouting party, but that didn''t deter Genji from engaging them.
Unlike the other factions, Genji harbored both a grudge against the Parasites and a dislike for the realm paired with them, which was enough reason to fight.
Genji concentrated for a few moments before he kicked off the ground, appearing above the stampeding dinosaurs. A heavy coating of cutting intent swung down, unleashing the time-stilling attack he had mastered in the previous world. The next moment, everything collapsed into a pile of squirming tentacles and broken flesh, flooding the ground with puddles of blood.
The confused survivors gave him a blank look, which quickly warped into horror when they realized what had just happened. But before they could react, a ring of light swept over them, bisecting them at the waist. The distant beasts also lost their ankles and stumbled awkwardly.
"Finish them," Genji shouted, confusing the cultists about who he was talking to. To their knowledge, Genji was alone and didn''t have a partner.
But their confusion turned to terror when the blood around them started to bubble and flow erratically. They had never seen such a devilish scene, even as cultists who conducted countless sacrifices. They weren''t used to the unknown, only insidious scheming and bullying the weak.
Now faced with a greater, bloodier killer, they didn''t know what to do. They were unfamiliar with the situation, its weaknesses, or even the person responsible for this phenomenon!
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
As such, they were quickly dispatched, dying before they could take any further action. Following their deaths, the buffs on the parasitized beasts faded, weakening them enough for the blood to penetrate their defenses. Like this, it didn''t take long before everything was finished, and Bruce had another snack.
"No purifying this time?" Genji asked.
Bruce flicked his tongue to show that the beasts had a pleasant taste compared to the Zergs.
"Whatever suits your liking, I guess. I''m not the one swallowing rivers of blood," Genji shrugged before they continued their journey.
Their next encounter was against a field of magic traps. A group of mages had set up the area to protect their camps but left them behind after finishing. It was an annoying area, consisting of explosion runes, gravity, ice spikes, flame tongues, poison, illusion, vines, and other attacks.
They tried going around, but the area was larger than Genji''s expectations. Genji couldn''t comprehend how they laid so many traps, but eventually, he had had enough. Unleashing a massive wave of cutting intent, he destroyed the surroundings and skipped across with Like A Feather.
With each landing, he would repeat the bombardment and glide for a while before using a pebble to test the area. Only when he was certain there were no traps left did he summon Bruce again.
"Fucking mages and their weird magic. Don''t let me find you all or you''re going to have a bad time."
After going through all that, they finally arrived at the vicinity of the central battlefield. The area was fitting of that name because, within minutes of arriving, Genji heard an explosion in the distance. Bruce knew his intentions before Genji said anything and dashed right at the source.
As the sounds of battle grew louder, they stopped near a hill, which Genji rapidly scaled with his strong physique. Upon reaching the top and gazing into the distance, he spotted an array of war machines shooting plasma attacks at a horde of animals.
These animals looked normal, lacking the purple tentacles of their parasitized cousins. This battle was between the Celestials and Beasts. However, there were no fortresses behind the Celestials. It was not a defensive battle like the ones Genji was used to, but a frontal fight full of aggression. They weren''t defending their battlelines but seeking to obliterate the other party.
The larger beasts used their strong bodies to tank the incoming attacks, shrugging off the damage with only minor burns. Following behind them, a series of faster units tore through the frontlines with their sharp claws before diving back into cover.
To combat this, the Celestial soldiers drew their plasma swords and channeled their energy into them. Sparks of light flew around them as they clashed with claws, slowly chipping away at solidified keratin. Occasionally, the fur of the dodging beasts would get caught by the buzzing energy, singeing into ash.
The fighters at the front ignored all this, falling into a haze of melee and blood. They fought with all their might, paying no mind to their opponents who would replace their current ones. It was a frenzy, one that wouldn''t end until they eradicated the other party.
Loud roars and shouts swept across the battlefield, rumbling like deafening thunder. Amidst this chaos, a Celestial in mechanized armor stepped forward, leaping onto the front lines with a broadsword etched with cyan energy lines.
The sword glowed a bright blue before a coating of energy wrapped the blade. In the next moment, he crashed into the head of a giant dinosaur, jerking it aside. Without waiting for the creature to recover, he swung his sword, unleashing an energy arc that beheaded the beast.
The energy coating on the sword dimmed in intensity, but the warrior refueled it before it could fully extinguish. Then, he pushed off the tilting head, soaring straight for another giant beast.
The wary beast took a step back and swiped out with its front claws, but its defense was futile against the Celestial''s strike. This time, the energy coating extended outward, transforming his sword into an unusually long blade, which cleaved down the middle. As he landed, cracks formed around his feet, and rocks spiked upward in a ring.
The impact shook the beast, causing it to slide apart and fall in different directions. Only the tail remained intact under the slash, but it tore under the weight of its two halves, sending blood flying everywhere.
The Celestial swapped to a one-handed grip and stepped into the wave of beasts, swinging ferociously. With each swing, a beast fell, opening up a path forward.
Occasionally, he used his free hand to grab a foe on the side and used them as a meat shield before throwing them into the trajectory of his swings.
He tore through the crowd without opposition, boosting the morale of his soldiers.
They would shout, "The general has joined the battlefield! It''s time to give it 120%."
Then the soldiers chased after the warrior''s footsteps, doing everything they could to kill the foe before them. When necessary, they would even use their bodies to bind the enemy, allowing their comrades to deliver a finishing blow through them.
They made this decision without hesitation because they knew someone would replace them. Thus, they could recuperate with peace of mind, knowing they had contributed to their victory. And if they met their demise, they held no resentment, for they had fought with honor.
This suicidal fighting style pushed the beasts back, but the charge was short-lived. While the general was leading the assault, a beast fell from the sky, having jumped from the backlines. It was a colossal beast, standing at 20 meters on its hind legs and boasting an equally long tail.
Its thick scale armor covered its entire body, gleaming with a glossy sheen. Triangular spikes protruded from its back, threatening to impale anything that landed upon them.
The beast had a triangular lizard snout and squinted its beady eyes to focus on the opposing Celestial. However, the most striking feature wasn''t these physical traits, but the crown-shaped scales adorning its head. This was a beast king, the physically strongest creatures on the battlefield, and the commander of the opposing faction.
Upon landing, the beast king pushed the general back, followed by a brutal swing of its long tail. The Celestial general brought his sword up to block the spikey strike, but the force was too much for him.
The strike had concentrated all the beast king''s strength and was something only another beast king could block. Even then, it was confident it could force the other kings to stumble back multiple steps.
As such, the general was flung backward at tremendous speed, crashing into the soldiers following him. There was a sickening crunch and yelps of pain as the Celestials cushioning his impact, turned to a mist of blood.
Yet, despite these collisions, the general showed no signs of slowing down. For as far as he killed in beast lines, he plowed through Celestial ranks, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
When he finally halted, many of his bones were broken, but he had no time to catch his breath. The beast king had finished charging its atomic breath and was about to unleash it.
The general urged his energy core to unleash everything, concentrating the energy in his arm for reinforcement. Then he raised his sword above his head, took a step forward, and swung with all his might.
On the downward curve, his weapon met the cauterizing atomic breath and split it down the middle. The strike traced the breath back to its origin, but the beast king simply tilted its head and chomped the attack apart. A light crack formed on its teeth, but it was otherwise unharmed.
The general, on the other hand, spat out a large mouthful of blood, too spent to continue. It had taken everything he had to block the atomic breath, but the beast king showed no sign of fatigue. That was the price he paid for entering the battle before his opponent, despite being the weaker party.
"They seem to be on the verge of losing. Should we join the battle?" Genji asked, lowering his binoculars.
"Neeeiiiiggghhhh," Bruce responded, indicating his desire for the rivers of blood below.
"I think so as well."
Genji extended his hand, touching his pointer finger to his thumb, forming a small circle. Bruce understood the gesture and transformed back into his sheath form, morphing into a stream of blood that solidified between Genji''s fingers.
Genji secured Bruce to his side, drew [Jaguar], and propelled himself off the ground. In the next moment, he materialized beside the beast king with shadow flames and concentrated cutting intent in his saber.
With barely any resistance, [Jaguar] tore through the scales, creating a large arc of blood. Then, the shadow flames detached from the blade, continuing to expand along the attack trajectory.
An ear-splitting roar of pain emanated from the beast king, causing it to wildly thrash its tail. Spotting Genji in the corner of its eye, the beast king lashed its large claws at him.
Genji brought his saber down and drew his knees close, reducing the area of impact.
''Deep breath in, deep breath out.''
Following this mantra, the air around him spun, conjuring a cocoon of cutting intent. Solid Core activated at full force, stiffening his body to its limits before the Quantum Shield layered beneath his cocoon.
This was all his defensive abilities at once, but Genji had no confidence in defending against such strength. That was how potent the strike was. Just before the contact, Genji triggered Dominance Aura: Special Stat, momentarily stunning the beast king.
Only then did Genji find some reassurance in his defense, but it didn''t diminish the pain that ensued. The moment the palm connected with the outer layer, both the cocoon and Quantum Shield instantly collapsed, offering almost no resistance. Luckily, this shredded the palm, reducing the area of impact.
Then, the palm connected with [Jaguar], thrusting it into his flesh before his entire body was flung aside, feeling as though a speeding train had crashed into him.
Under this immense force, Genji crashed into the distance like a disintegrating meteor, creating a zone devoid of life. As the dust settled, a massive crater came into view. At its center stood Genji, coughing out mouthfuls of blood.
"As expected of a Beast King. It''s still too much to endure their attacks without Berserk. Alright, drain!"
He drew his sheath and summoned the copious volume of blood from the battlefield. Whether beast or celestial blood, it all gathered above him, forming a red flower that vanished from the stem.
It was an ominous phenomenon, making everyone wary of the unknown intruder. Moreover, he had injured the beast king, showcasing combat powers that rivaled their general at his peak.
"Who are you?" The general yelled, ungrateful for the help. Although Genji helped him, it didn''t change the fact he was an outsider. In situations like these, one could never lower their guard, especially considering Genji might turn against them. There was no guarantee he would only attack the beasts.
The beast king also took a guarded stance. This was the first time someone had inflicted such severe damage with one strike, even if it was negligible against his overall strength. The greater concern was what other attacks Genji possessed if that was just a greeting.
"GRRRRR." The beast king growled lowly, warning Genji to mind his own business and not interfere in their battle.
"Somehow, I feel I''m not very welcome," Genji said, walking out of the crater.
"What do you think?" The general asked coldly, pointing his weapon at Genji.
"That''s fine as well. I got what I wanted, so I''ll leave now. You two can continue your battle." With those words, the flowing blood ceased, leaving a field of shriveled corpses with not a single drop of blood.
Genji waved goodbye and swiftly disappeared, leaving two hesitant parties behind. Although the intruder had departed easier than expected, they were reluctant to resume the battle.
After all, they didn''t know if Genji would return and ambush them midbattle. It had happened once so what was stopping him from doing it again?
The general exchanged a glance with the beast king, and both nodded in agreement, choosing to retreat. Their desire to battle had faded, replaced by the urgency to report back and investigate the mysterious blood-draining intruder.
Such an eye-catching figure couldn''t have appeared out of nowhere, so they needed to understand his abilities. Otherwise, they would suffer greatly, potentially losing enough core combatants to become a public target.
148 – Lion King
"Look what we have here, another battlefield," Genji remarked, peering out from behind a boulder.
At the mention of the word, Bruce began to salivate, still remembering all the delicious blood Genji fed him since. It had been multiple days since Genji interrupted the battle between the Celestials and the beast king, and the entire battlefield had gotten word of his actions.
This was inevitable since Genji would cause a massive commotion every time he showed up. Whether it was absorbing the blood from the entire battle zone or launching deadly attacks as a greeting, his impact was substantial.
Due to his cutting intent, most opponents were defenseless against his surprise attacks, resulting in heavy casualties. Unless there was a top fighter to deter him, it almost always ended in a massacre.
The only exception was if the Celestials were involved, but even that didn''t stop Genji if they antagonized him. There were a couple of times when he threw all care into the wind and annihilated the Celestial parties after they pestered him nonstop.
It was only a few tens of thousand contribution points anyway, something he could easily earn back at another battlefield. Besides, he gained a fearsome reputation, something much more valuable than those points.
By demonstrating his willingness to attack all factions, he avoided being entangled in their conflicts. As EverRealm mentioned before, he was no longer affiliated with any faction but an agent of his own agenda.
Furthermore, the Celestials left him alone after realizing they suffered fewer losses than the other factions. Overall, Genji gained more than he paid in penalties.
"Let''s see. It''s a 3-way battle between Zergs, Parasites, and Sentinels. This should be interesting."
Genji entered stealth mode and moved closer, contemplating which faction would yield the highest contribution points. The obvious choice would be the Sentinels as they were the strongest group, but their lack of blood made him settle for the Parasites, a strong contender for second place.
He flanked large dinosaurs and slowly approached the newly converted Zergs. Although parasitized Zergs and Celestials were rarer than their bestial counterparts, they existed. The Parasites just never prioritized them due to their high variance in stats.
Unlike the Beasts, where every member had at least mini-boss level stats, the other two factions heavily relied on weaker units, supported by their specialties.
The Celestials relied mainly on high-tech weapons inspired by Mecalan technology as their primary fighting force, allowing even the weaker members to contribute.
However, the Parasites weren''t interested in these members since they died too quickly to be worthwhile. This wasn''t even including energy weapons, which they couldn''t recharge.
On the other hand, the stronger Celestials couldn''t be parasitized due to their celestial cores. If they tried, they would only be wasting resources since the energy inside the cores would easily repel the invaders. The parasites had experienced many losses before they realized that.
That was the power of a Celestial Core, a vital ability within their power system. The core was important because it allowed them to unleash the true potential of their combat techniques.
Without it, they would only be performing clumsy imitations, insignificant in the galaxy. That''s why an individual wouldn''t be recognized as a celestial until they condensed their cores.
On the other hand, the Zergs relied mostly on their numbers, rarely producing powerful units. The few that do spawn, however, fail to catch the Parasites'' attention because the strongest Zergs were mini-boss level, barely matching the Beasts.
The only exception would be the Silver Empress, who acquired the bodies of multiple powerhouses. Even then, it remained unknown if she had reached that point because no one dared to provoke her.
As a result, it was always more convenient to target the Beasts. Why spend so much effort parasitizing Zergs when they could target a beast with equal, if not greater strength?
Therefore, among all the factions, the Beasts harbor the most intense animosity towards the Parasites. How could they not, when the Parasites constantly steal the bodies of their clansmen?
If given the opportunity, they wouldn''t hesitate to launch a beheading operation against the Parasite King and his generals. However, this was easier said than done because they rarely show up, if at all. To this day, the beast kings still had no idea where the king and his generals hid, making it impossible to take the initiative.
After circling the group a few times, Genji spotted multiple beasts with swollen tentacles oozing yellow pus. These were brood mothers, parasites that had matured and started laying eggs.
Upon inserting these eggs into a host, the parasites would rapidly hatch and grow, feeding on the nutritious flesh before taking control of the body.
This was one of the methods the Parasites used to convert units, yet it had a significant flaw. Due to the parasites'' swift growth, they lacked developed intelligence. Instead, they operated under the instructions of the mother, acting similarly to biological receivers.
This meant if the mother was killed, all newly converted units would become useless. It was like severing the strings of a puppet. How could the puppet move if there was no one to command it?
Because of this weakness, the Parasites carefully safeguarded these mature units, positioning them strategically in guarded areas. However, this formation only took into account their current enemies, not Genji, who was maneuvering into the optimal ambush position.
As the armies clashed once again, [Curse Bearer] materialized and swiftly delivered three headshots, instantly neutralizing three brood mothers. Their bodies withered away as curse energy rushed into their flesh, decomposing even the parasites.
The cultists of LuminalRealm snapped their heads toward these unexpected deaths, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Where did the attacks come from? How did someone infiltrate them without detection? Hadn''t they secured the entire area, tracing all potential snipers?
These thoughts raced through their minds before a sudden realization struck. They had secured all known snipers, meaning the attacker was not part of the tracked targets.
"Ambusher!" they shouted, attempting to warn others, but Genji swooped in before they could react.
In one swing, the Parasites lost a significant segment of their army, all collapsing into piles of minced meat. Next, Genji charged forward, brandishing his saber with a thick coating of cutting intent. With each swing he made, an arc of light shot out, cutting down any nearby enemies.
"Shit! It''s the Bloodless Killer. RUN!"
Bloodless Killer - that was the nickname the battlefield had given Genji, describing how not even a drop of blood remained after his massacres. It was a fitting name, but it didn''t capture all of Genji''s specialties.
Nonetheless, the factions had to address him somehow, instead of calling him ''It''s you,'' ''That guy,'' or ''Crazy Bastard.''
Upon hearing these words, Genji quickened his pace, aiming for as many kills as possible. His saber danced back and forth, cutting down all nearby foes.
The Zergs and Sentiels watched this with schadenfreude and surrounded the Parasites, cutting off their path of retreat. Another fierce battle ensued, this time for survival against the killer chasing them.
The cultists desperately spammed their abilities, and the Parasites began self-destructing, doing everything they could to force open a path.
Aware that pushing them too far wouldn''t be smart, both the Sentinels and Zergs stepped back, creating an opening for the Parasites. However, they didn''t make their escape easy, bombarding the group with artillery fire and acids as they passed through.
By the time the Parasites broke out of the encirclement, they had suffered heavy losses, most of which were due to the other two factions'' interference. That was the result of numbers, where each person sought to deal as much damage as possible.
Genji halted outside these channels and slowly backed up, a tacit understanding shared by all three parties. Now that they had subdued a common foe, there was no reason to escalate the battle. It would be more effective to conserve their forces for the next engagement.
Genji shared this sentiment and commenced his cleanup operation, allowing the factions to retreat with peace of mind.
"Another successful harvest," he remarked as Bruce manifested beside him, savoring the aftertaste with a flick of his tongue.
Within one of the Celestial''s frontline fortresses, a holographic machine lit up in the Supreme Commander''s office, projecting the live feed of a fortress general. Beside him, an assistant stood with a tablet full of recent reports, one received moments prior and rush-transferred with maximum urgency.
"Sir, the Bloodless Killer was detected near our fortresses," they briefly reported with a salute. "What are your orders?"
"Is he attacking?"
"No sir. He appears to be setting up camp."
"Then don''t do anything. Be on standby and watch him closely," the commander replied.
"Understood," the general said and shot his assistant a look. The assistant understood the gaze and left to convey the orders, leaving the general alone with the commander.
"Is there anything else?" The commander asked.
"Sir, I don''t understand why you''re letting him be. You normally have us repel anyone who gets too close."
"Emberson, what do you think of our overall situation?"
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
"Not good, sir. All the other factions are eyeing us," the general answered after some thought.
"That''s right. So, do you think it''s smart to make another enemy in our situation?"
"I see now. You want to consolidate our defenses while the other factions are losing more troops."
"Correct. From now on, there''s no need to report to me about the Bloodless Killer. Just watch him carefully and treat him as a benign reaper. Don''t provoke him, but be prepared to defend if he breaks the status quo."
"Yes sir!" The general saluted one more time before cutting the call.
Out of the remaining factions, the Sentinels also adopted a similar attitude toward Genji. This was because Genji rarely attacked them, often prioritizing other targets. The only exception was if the battle was between the Sentinels and the Celestials. It was an easy choice since only one party would net him contribution points.
However, if any other factions were present, Genji would immediately prioritize them. As a result, the Sentinels often cooperated with Genji, bombarding the opponents from a distance as he sowed disorder in their formation.
Next were the Zergs, who remained indifferent to Genji''s actions. Although Genji occasionally ambushed them, the losses were insignificant compared to their entire population. All the losses were spawned units, something they could easily replace if they had enough bioenergy.
Plus, he wasn''t targeting a specific tribe, but rather the entire race. This meant the losses were borne by everyone instead of a single queen, making it much more tolerable. At worst, he was a nuisance since it forced them to hunt more to make up for the losses.
Then there were the Beasts, who had a negative impression of Genji. Due to their high vitality, they were almost always targeted by Genji as food to increase Bruce''s strength.
The only faction that surpassed them was the Parasites, Genji''s top target. It didn''t matter which factions were around; Genji always attacked them.
There was even one time when he stopped attacking the Beasts just to target the newly arrived Parasites. It''s fair to say that change caused one of the most chaotic battles yet, with attacks flying in all directions.
Despite all this, Genji had no idea about the Parasites'' attitude toward him. He was certain it was negative, but he couldn''t find any example due to their lack of presence.
The Parasites had withdrawn, giving up the precious territory that the others readily conquered. Now, only four factions remained in the central battlefield, further intensifying their conflicts.
As the cause of all this, Genji didn''t feel any pride, but rather a premonition. From what he understood, the territory owned by a faction greatly impacted how many planets they held.
That was the whole premise for this battlefield. If a faction refused to hand over the agreed-upon rewards, the other four would team up on them, threatening them with annihilation.
That was why Genji couldn''t believe someone would give up everything so easily. He might be causing them decent losses, but it shouldn''t be that exaggerated. The Parasites were planning something, and Genji had a strong feeling that it was related to him.
For now, Genji set aside those thoughts and focused on hunting, steadily recovering his shadow core. Due to the high density of powerful units, it served as a haven for grinding stats. Genji intended to make the most of it while he could before the Parasites initiated their plans.
Every little bit counted, especially when one of his legacy liberations multiplied his powers based on his energy.
Another few days passed as Genji traversed from battlefield to battlefield, spreading his infamy. By now, nine days had elapsed since he entered the battlefield, leaving him with another 31 to endure.
On this day, Genji encountered a golden lion during his journey. It boasted the lushest of manes, golden and proudly waving in the air. This was another beast king, identified by the hari woven crown on its head.
Unlike the previous beast king, this lion was much smaller and lighter, standing at only 10 meters with a length of 18 meters. However, this smaller frame did little to diminish its majesty and kingly demeanor. This was a prideful king, even among the beasts.
Upon spotting Genji and his traveling companion, the lion unleashed a wrathful roar and charged at him. It had finally found the nuisance that had bothered them for the past week. The lion was fast, but Genji had enough time to draw out [Eye of Horus] for a quick scan.
[Chosen stat: Special]
[Comparing...]
[Detected that your stat vastly outstrips your opponent''s. Small increase in judgment priority.]
[Error: Detected that your opponent has a higher step than you. Huge decrease in judgment priority.]
[Judgment finished: You will obtain 40% of your enemy''s information.]
[Lion King, Lanak]
Health: 51,000/51,000
Bestial Force: 760/760
Con: 50
Str: 49
Dex: 41
Int: 38
Spc: 12
Skills:
- High Lord (Passive): +30,000 hp
- Beast Kings''s Physique (Passive): +20% to total health
- King''s Roar (Active): Consume 100 Bestial Force to unleash a roar that inspires all beasts and deter the enemy. +20% damage dealt and 10% damage reduction to allies. Deal 150% damage to all enemies in the vicinity.
- Lion''s Majesty (Passive): +25% extra damage when facing opponents smaller than you
- Paw Swipe (Active): Deal 200% damage to a single target
- Force of Gold (Active): Convert all Bestial Force into Golden Power and gain access to gold attribute skills.
No further skills can be read.
Setting aside the unknown Force of Gold skill and the other formidable skills, Genji understood why beast kings were so revered on the battlefield. Just their stats alone made them a formidable force. Doing a quick calculation, the skills accounted for 36,000 points of health, leaving 15,000 from stats.
When divided by 50 points of constitution, it equated to 300 hp per point. Excluding Beast King''s Physique, this meant 250 hp per point, a 2.5x increase from the standard second step.
It was no wonder the previous beast king could dismiss one of Genji''s strongest attacks so easily.
With those stats, it would take an incredibly powerful attack to severely injure them. However, an attack of that level was not something a 2nd step could unleash. Of course, this was in their prime state, excluding possible battles of attrition and the accumulation of tiny wounds.
After all, even an elephant can be bitten to death by an army of ants. It''s just highly unlikely since the elephant can escape before then.
Lanak launched a series of claw swipes, but Genji''s higher dexterity allowed him to easily dodge them. That was the one saving grace in this encounter.
"Cover Jaguar," Genji said to Bruce as he drew his daggers.
Bruce knew he couldn''t bear the aftershocks of the battle and followed his instruction, transforming into a streak of blood that wrapped around the large saber on Genji''s back.
Once he confirmed Bruce''s safety, Genji leaned forward and unleashed two waves of light, leaving a cross pattern on Lanak''s stomach. A throaty growl came from above, prompting Genji to flashstep away. Lanak had a sound wave skill and he wasn''t about to risk the hit.
Lanak glared at Genji and crouched down, pouncing at him faster than before. A speed-boosting skill had been activated. Genji pushed his senses to the limits, knowing it was still manageable without using his skills.
A sharp pivot here, a limbo bend there, and an elusive sway after that. Genji danced between the beast king''s front paws like a leaf drifting along the wind. Any time Lanak tried to catch him, he would barely slip out of its grasp, greatly frustrating the lion king.
Between these dodges, Genji would leave shallow cuts along the body, trying to whittle Lanak down. However, this only further enraged Lanak as he struggled to land a hit.
Genji also noticed the wounds closing between attacks, further testifying to the strength of the 3rd step. It was a stalemate, one that wouldn''t end unless he used his trump cards.
At this moment, Genji retreated, choosing to forgo his counterattack. Lanak pursued him relentlessly, but Genji refused to unleash any more attacks.
"Hey, calm down. Let''s not fight anymore. We''re not getting anywhere like this."
Lanak ignored him, too caught up in his fury to care. ''Slippery human, stand still!'' Lanak thought, unleashing another ferocious roar.
"Look, I know you''re angry, but can we talk this out? If we continue like this, we''ll both end up miserable. No matter who wins this fight, they will be really weak and possibly die to the other factions. It''s not worth the risk."
However, this only fueled Lanak''s anger further since Genji was implying they were on the same level. How could Lanak not be furious? He was a mighty beast king, yet the human dared to tarnish his majesty like this.
''Just because you can dodge for some time, you suddenly think you''re worthy? How dare you!''
"Okay, I get it, but isn''t it pointless to continue like this? We both have trump cards we haven''t used, but isn''t it inefficient to settle our issues like this? How about I promise not to ambush the Beasts again? That should resolve our differences, right?"
Lanak calmed down slightly, but it didn''t relent in its attacks. The only difference was that the attacks became slower, signaling a change in the lion''s emotions to Genji.
"If you''re not happy about my condition, we can negotiate, but at least let me have some distance. Don''t you think it''s kind of hard to talk like this? If you agree, don''t immediately chase after me. I''ll be moving back now."
Genji flashstepped again, appearing a few meters away as an act of trust. To his relief, Lanak only gave him a stink eye instead of pursuing.
"That''s better. So what do you not like about my proposition?"
Lanak growled to express discontent but didn''t elaborate.
"You know, it''s kind of hard to communicate with each other. How about I get an interpreter?" Genji patted his sheath, and Bruce manifested beside him.
Observing this scene, Lanak recalled the peculiar horse that had disappeared mid-battle. At that time, Lanak hadn''t given much thought to it since his primary focus was on Genji. Now, however, Lanak realized how unusual Bruce was.
Bruce resembled a horse, but Lanak sensed a peculiar presence from him, one that he''d never encountered before. This made Lanak hesitant to consider Bruce as a normal animal. Additionally, what kind of horse could transform into blood like that?
A few blood tentacles stretched out from Bruce, further confirming Lanak''s suspicions. There was no way Bruce could be a beast.
''What eldritch creature is this to take on such a form?'' Lanak wondered to himself, ignoring the gestures Bruce was making. It was not like Lanak understood what Bruce was trying to convey anyway.
"Neeeiiiggghhh," Bruce walked over and let out an annoyed whine, complaining about Lanak''s lack of attention. His tentacles began waving faster, moving in incomprehensible ways below Lanak''s face.
It was a chaotic series of gestures only Genji could understand, but Lanak recognized his intention. ''What the? Is he trying to communicate with me like a human?''
"ROOOAAARRR," Lanak responded, using the bestial way of conveying emotions: through their roars.
"Neeeeiiiigggghhhhh," Bruce screamed back, unwilling to be outdone, thinking this was a shouting competition.
"ROOAARR."
"Neeigh."
"ROOOAAR."
"Neiiiiigh."
They went back and forth for some time before Bruce walked back to Genji.
"What did he say?"
Bruce started weaving his tentacles again, expressing that he had no idea.
''The stupid lion just kept screaming about pride this, pride that. Is there anything else to this guy?''
Genji fell into thought and considered the issue from Lanak''s point of view. ''Pride? Self-pride? No, it doesn''t seem like it. He''s willing to talk, so his pride shouldn''t be that strong. Then what? Beast king''s pride? Maybe. Will the other beast kings look down on him if he makes it too easy for me?''
To confirm this theory, Genji asked Lanak a simple question, "What about an offering? I''ll give you some loot to show off to the other beasts. You can even tell them I begged for mercy, giving you my best item in exchange for my life."
Lanak''s eyes peaked with a hint of interest, but he didn''t agree immediately, slapping the ground instead. Even without Bruce''s interpretation, Genji knew what Lanak wanted to express. ''The loot better be good.''
Genji thought for some time, wondering what item could interest a beast king enough to de-escalate this situation. The obvious eliminations would be his equipment and potions, which were useless to the Beasts.
That only left him with the miscellaneous items in his storage, which were non-essential for his survival. Most of them were junk to the Beasts, but there were a few that might interest Lanak.
"How about this?" Genji asked, pulling out a large carcass twice his size. "It''s a rare delicacy processed by a skilled butcher."
Genji flicked his finger, shooting out a wisp of cutting intent that carved out a small piece, which Genji threw toward Lanak. Lanak eyed the incoming piece of meat with wonder, curious about what differentiated it from the other prey Lanak had hunted. Then, Lanak opened his mouth, allowing the piece to land inside before he chewed it slowly, savoring the taste.
As this was happening, Bruce resentfully glared at Genji. ''Master, that''s my precious snack! A whole dry-aged bison! Do you know how long I waited for that?!?!?''
Sensing the intense stare, Genji made a gesture they both understood as "I''ll make it up to you."
Seeing this, Bruce turned his resentful look to Lanak and desperately prayed. ''Please don''t like it. Please don''t like it. What does a stupid lion like you know about dry aging anyway?''
But Bruce''s denial turned to despair when Lanak released an excited roar, saying he wouldn''t accept any other offering.
''MY SNACK!'' Bruce inwardly wailed as Genji threw over the carcass. ''I didn''t even get to try it.'' *sniffle*
"This concludes our negotiation. I don''t want any more trouble because of this, okay?"
Lanak gleefully nodded and carried the spoils away, dreaming about how to best enjoy the treat. However, what Genji didn''t know was that his actions today inadvertently started the Beast Plundering Era, a strange time when Beast Kings attacked realm members for food.
If the realm members could satisfy their cravings, the Beast Kings would let them go, but otherwise, their endings were self-evident. It got so bad that good food, especially meat, became a necessity, causing demand to peak across all five realms.
And all that began with Lanak, who followed Genji''s advice, hosting a gathering to show off his spoils. Of course, Lanak''s protectiveness over his food also played a role, sparking an inherent curiosity within the other kings. From there, everything was history after they got their claws on a small piece.
149 – Closing In
"Are you still mad about it?" Genji asked, sitting beside Bruce at the campfire.
Bruce turned his head away, refusing to look at him. It had taken Bruce a lot of effort to secure that snack, and Genji gave it away without even consulting him. How could he not be upset about it?
"Look, I know it was precious to you, but I can''t risk fighting a beast king right now. I need to save my liberations for later."
Bruce huffed out a hot stream of air, unconvinced by Genji''s reasoning. If he couldn''t fight, why didn''t he run? He was faster than the stupid lion, so he could have easily gotten away. Why did he have to bargain with it?
"Running wasn''t an option. If we did that, we would have become permanent enemies with the Beasts. They''ll hunt us down without giving us a break."
Bruce snorted and gave Genji a disdainful look. Wasn''t it only the Beasts? Couldn''t they kill all that tried and avoid those that were too strong? Weren''t they used to difficult situations anyway? Why did it feel like his master became more cowardly after one world?
"I know what you''re thinking, but this is the second time I''ve entered this place. Last time, I made some BIG enemies, including the entire Parasite faction and an absurdly powerful Zerg empress. If we include the Beasts, half the Battlefield will be after us. No amount of goodwill with the Celestials and Sentinels can fix that. Hell, they might even throw us under the bus."
This caused Bruce to take a second look at Genji, convinced Genji was crazier than he gave him credit for. Despite knowing that, Genji still dared to offend the Beasts? Why did he have to give Bruce a false sense of confidence?
"That aside, if you''re still upset, go hunt something. I bet you''ve never had raptor chops before," Genji said, pointing to the crowd of velociraptors in the distance.
But when Bruce heard these words, he had a massive panic attack instead of being comforted. This was all because Genji suggested hunting a beast. If it were any other time, Bruce would have accepted the suggestion in a heartbeat, but it had a different meaning after the encounter with the lion king.
Didn''t Genji promise to not attack the beasts anymore? Why was he telling Bruce to break that promise? Didn''t he hold his promises in the highest regard? That was the problem Bruce was wrestling with. Amidst this internal struggle, Bruce thought back to when Genji first explained his obsession with promises, intensifying his panic to a new level.
''Oh no! Did Master finally snap under all this pressure? Nooooo! I''m sorry. I won''t pursue the snack issue anymore. Please don''t go insane, Master! Maaaassstterrrr, noooooo!''
"Stop being so dramatic," Genji said, sensing the wildly fluctuating emotions in the nightbane, "I''m not breaking my promise."
''Noooooo, his morals are collapsing! He''s going to say I''m the one making a move so it doesn''t affect the promise. How can he circumvent the spirit of his promises like that? He''s too far gone now. Master, it was nice knowing you. You were such an awesome person, charging into difficult battles without hesitation.''
*Bak*
"What are you thinking now?" Genji smacked the back of Bruce''s head, his lips twitching from the range of emotions he sensed. "And why are you looking at me with tears and pity? Are you sure you''re in the right state of mind and not still bogged down from losing your snack?"
*Sniffle* ''Master, I let that go already.''
"Then why are you like this?"
''Master, you broke your promise.''
"What the hell are you talking about? I promised I wouldn''t ambush them, not that I won''t attack them. As far as I know, you hunting for food isn''t included."
This caused Bruce to stop and carefully recall the encounter. Now that Genji mentioned it, there was a faint recollection of that exact wording. Bruce just hadn''t paid attention since it was mid-battle when Genji said it.
Realizing this, Bruce''s jaws dropped, and he flashed a thumbs-up with a tentacle. ''Master, you''re so slippery. I can''t believe you snuck in that loophole when you were fighting.''
"It''s not a loophole if both parties know about it. The lion knew I won''t stop killing beasts so it settled for minimizing their losses. At least that way, they don''t have to worry about my sneak attacks during crucial battles."
With that misunderstanding cleared up, Bruce''s worries faded into drool and hunger for the distant velociraptors. Unable to resist the allure anymore, Bruce bolted toward them, his tentacles writhing like giant earthworms. A few minutes later, Bruce returned in a cheerful mood and presented Genji with his prey.
Genji waved his dagger, covering the carcasses with a flash of light that left multiple interconnecting cuts. Then both of them got to work, peeling back the skin to reveal the juicy flesh beneath. Genji followed the muscle curves and broke the bodies into chunks before handing them to Bruce for roasting.
Due to his enthusiasm for good food, Bruce had acquired a decent understanding of roasting meats. It wasn''t anything fancy, but it was enough to satisfy his cravings.
Genji took out some spices and liberally coated the rotating meats, dyeing the glistening fat with a new shade of flavor. A mouth-watering aroma emanated from the roast, enticing Bruce to snack on a small piece.
However, this quickly turned into a large piece as the temptation of food overwhelmed him. Before they knew it, half of the roasts had disappeared into their stomachs, becoming a filling meal.
"That smells good. Mind if I join?" A sudden voice came from behind them, sending both of them into full alert. Without hesitation, Genji manifested [Curse Bearer] for three quick bursts while Bruce bombarded the source with blood bullets.
Then, they both bolted into the distance, Genji flashstepping while Bruce trailed him in blood form. Despite this, the intruder made no attempts to chase, opting to stay by the campfire.
When the bombardment faded, Genji spotted a pale-skinned man taking a bite out of one of their roasts. Beside him, a large, black scythe was stabbed into the ground, standing upright with the blade over his head.
Pairing these traits with the wisps of black energy that flickered between their attacks, it wasn''t hard to identify the intruder. Genji had encountered a being with similar traits before, one who belonged to the second strongest faction of the battlefield: the Reapers.
[Conducting comparison. Your special stat is higher than your target''s. A small increase in judgment priority.]
[Error: High-level blessing detected. A small decrease in judgment priority.]
[Final Evaluation: You will obtain 86% of the target''s status profile]
[Reaper Benya]
Health: 37,800/37,800
Spirit Energy: 1,330/1,330
Death Gauge: 3,876/1,330 (max: 6,650)
Con: 48
Str: 48
Dex: 47
Int: 44
Spc: 31
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +20,000 HP
- Reaper''s Constitution (Passive): +3,000 HP, gain access to Spirit Energy
- Reaper''s Blessing (Passive): +10,000 HP, +350 max energy
- Deathly Accumulation (Passive): +100 max energy, gain access to Death Gauge. This gauge will slowly fill as living beings die around you. The more that die, the faster your gauge will fill up. The storage value is the same as your max energy, but you can hold up to (5 x max energy) points of Deathly Energy. Excess points will slowly deplete over time.
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- Scythe Mastery (Grandmaster)
- Deathly Attraction (Active): Spend 100 Spirit Energy to attract all nearby Deathly Energy into your body.
- Deathly Strengthening (Passive): For every 100 points in Death Gauge, gain a 7% damage buff to all attacks. Current boost: 266%
- Deathly Defense (Active/Passive): When attacked, you can consume Deathly Energy to construct a defense. 1 point of energy can offset 20 points of damage. For every 150 points in Death Gauge, gain a 4% physical defense. Current boost: 72%
- Deathly Healing (Active): Consume Deathly Energy to rapidly heal your wounds. 50 HP per point of Deathly Energy.
- Slash of Death (Active): Consume Deathly Energy and Spirit Energy at a 4:1 ratio to unleash an energy slash that travels for 30 meters.
- Mark of Death (Active): Consume 50 points of Deathly Energy to leave a tracking mark on someone. Cannot be cast on the same target within 5 hours.
- Deathly Displacement (Active): Consume 50 points of Deathly Energy to teleport to any position within 15 meters.
- Dance of Death (Active): Consume 500 Deathly Energy and 90 Spirit Energy to summon 3 elusive figures. You can swap positions with them at will by consuming 50 Deathly Energy and 10 Spirit Energy. Lasts 10 minutes or until all figures are destroyed.
- [Reaper Ultimate] Final Beheading (Active): Condense all your energy onto the blade of your scythe. When your scythe injures a target, conduct a beheading judgment. If it succeeds, the target dies instantly! Otherwise, deal (30 x spent energy) as damage.
Note: Other advanced skills and ultimate cannot be read.
It was an insane profile, explaining why the Reapers could rival the Beast Kings in power despite being one step lower. Everything was in their powerful skills. First and foremost was the existence of Deathly Energy, functioning as a second resource for skills. When combined with Spirit Energy, it was as if the Reapers had twice the energy capacity as others.
Yet, this was not the limit for the Reapers, as their Death Gauge could contain up to 5 times their normal energy capacity, albeit with some limitations. However, this drawback proved negligible on the battlefield, where death was a common occurrence, allowing the Reapers to easily overcharge their gauge.
Following that, there were the buffing skills that offered tremendous boosts to their offense and defense, depending on the level of their Death Gauge. Additionally, there were defense and healing skills, making it nearly impossible to instantly kill them. It was a flawless build with no discernible weaknesses.
Moreover, there was the Slash of Death, an attack similar to Genji''s cutting intent, though at a higher cost and lower range. Nonetheless, this didn''t diminish its impressiveness, given that weapon intent was not something normally accessible in the 2nd step.
Then, there were the supportive skills, Mark of Death and Deathly Displacement. Genji had experienced the former during his confrontation with Morris, another Reaper from whom he barely escaped. At the time, Genji had not even realized he was marked, almost leading to his demise if not for Morris''s playful nature.
On the contrary, Deathly Displacement required no explanation. It was the essential teleporting skill that all long-ranged fighters dreamt of, capable of saving their lives in a critical moment.
The only difference was that this skill didn''t have a long cooldown, allowing the Reapers to easily traverse the battlefield. Genji would know since Morris spammed it in their final battle, giving him plenty of difficulties.
Penultimately, there was Dance of Death, a skill shared by Genji. However, unlike Genji''s version, the Reaper''s skill was more optimized since it was meant to be used with Deathly Energy.
To offset this cost, Genji''s skill used a percentage of his maximum energy rather than a fixed amount. This meant the Reapers could use it more frequently, treating it as a powerful tool rather than a life-saving trump card.
Lastly, there was the ultimate skill, a terrifying attack beyond anything Genji had witnessed before. The closest comparison was Shadow Devour, capable of similarly ending a battle in a single strike. However, akin to Dance of Death, the Reaper''s version was superior, honed by generations prior.
Setting aside the scary instant death judgment, its damage potential was equally terrifying. If this reaper were to use Final Beheading with full Spirit Energy and a regular Death Gauge, it would deal 79,800 damage¡ªenough to kill a beast king!
However, that was with a normal gauge, not an overcharged one, which could reach 239,400 points! Furthermore, this number would continue to rise with the Reapers'' intelligence stat.
Naturally, this was purely hypothetical, disregarding damage resistance granted by total stats and other variables. The actual damage output would always be lower since the body would never allow the invading energy to run rampant.
But what stood out even more to Genji was the note at the end: ''Other advanced skills and Ultimates cannot be read.'' It implied that the Reapers possessed other powerful skills that he knew nothing about. What a terrifying realization.
This was not an enemy Genji wanted to fight, at least not alone. Unlike the beasts, who possess humongous bodies and lower agility, the Reapers could easily keep up with Genji''s movements. If Genji fought this Reaper, the price would be higher than if he fought a beast king. That was the problem with matchups.
This left only one choice: to run. But to ensure a successful escape, he had to prevent the Reaper from immediately pursuing him. Considering all his options, Genji quickly settled on Kraken Summoning. It had worked before, so Genji knew he could rely on it, especially with higher stats to support it.
As he was about to activate the skill, the Reaper said something that eased Genji''s tension.
"Can we not? I''m not in the mood right now," Benya yawned, helping himself to another serving. "I just want some food after wandering the battlefield for so long."
Genji determined that Benya was telling the truth and lowered his weapon. Since he could avoid the battle, he had no reason to start one.
"You can have the meal then. I''m leaving."
"Hold on," Benya called out as Genji turned around, "Why the hurry? Join me."
"Sorry, but I don''t feel comfortable approaching you," Genji admitted bluntly before flashstepping away.
"What a shame. It''s not often I find another loner on the battlefield."
When Genji was at a safe distance, he summoned Bruce, who let out an annoyed whine, complaining about the recent encounters.
''Why does everyone keep stealing my food? Can''t I eat in peace?''
"Can you blame them? The only things they eat are either bland food or raw meat. There''s nothing else. That''s why your snacks are like delicacies to them."
Bruce rolled his eyes, exasperated by the situation. ''Why me? Can''t they rob someone else?''
"That''s the problem. No one else brings this stuff; they all opt for food pills since it''s more space-efficient. I would have done the same if I didn''t have a gluttonous horse by my side."
At this moment, Bruce felt a sense of pity for the people on the battlefield. ''They fight so hard, yet they don''t even get to eat good meat. Even a dog lives better than them. Very well, for the sake of enlightening these ignorant souls about the justice of meat, I, the mighty Bruce, shall give up my meals. May they learn from their mistakes and aspire for higher standards.''
From above, Genji sensed that Bruce was having strange thoughts again but chose not to ask. He decided to let the nightbane dream, hoping it would divert his attention from his stolen food.
The following day, they encountered an army of Zergs marching in formation. This army stood out to Genji because they boasted a silvery-white color and had multiple strong presences that surpassed normal Zerg limits.
Among them was a large unit that resembled a red T-Rex, stomping around on two large hind legs and waving its tiny claws. It wasn''t perfect, but it told Genji who he was facing. After all, only one Zerg Empress had obtained the body of a T-Rex and conducted evolutionary research on it.
"Seems like she caught up with me. I was hoping this wouldn''t happen for another few days," Genji muttered, drawing his saber. "I''ll leave the smaller units to you. Make sure none of them escape."
Bruce nodded and conjured a whirlpool of blood, channeling as much vitality as possible. As this happened, Genji unleashed a massive streak of cutting intent, blanketing the entire army in intense light. Due to covering such a large area, the lethality of the attack had greatly decreased, but it drew enough blood to kick-start Bruce''s bloodstorm.
Genji charged into the crowd, carving a path toward the large T-Rex. Occasionally, streams of blood would flash by, cutting down the approaching Zergs.
Suddenly, a large streak of light fell from the sky, opening a narrow path forward. Before the Zergs could close this channel, Genji flashstepped, appearing before his target with a heavy slash.
A gaping wound opened on the T-Rex''s side, causing it to stumble backward. The next moment, the wound festered with black pus, succumbing to [Jaguar''s] poison.
The silver saber lit up again and shot out a streak of light, lopping the head right off. As the body fell, Genji executed a rapid spin, unleashing a circular cutting wave, pushing back the flooding Zergs.
Subsequently, a rain of acid fell from above, threatening to dissolve all flesh beneath. A cocoon of wind wrapped around Genji, flinging the incoming fluids aside. Despite this failure, the Zergs didn''t relent, diving down in a flock of sharp-beaked units. The red glow of the setting sun accentuated their smooth shells, emitting a boiling heat from their carapace.
Then they started expanding, emitting more heat than ever. Genji instantly realized this was a suicide bomber and activated the Quantum Barrier, narrowly blocking the massive explosion that ensued.
As the smoke cleared and the heat cooled, dead Zergs dropped from the skies. Bruce had started working on the aerial units, understanding that they were the biggest hindrance to Genji''s order.
Genji seized this chance to flashstep again, appearing above another powerful unit with an intense coating of light. As he swung down, everything below him stilled to an absolute halt before collapsing into tiny chunks due to the unit''s previous inertia.
''I''m glad my stamina is keeping up.''
Genji landed in the bloody opening and repeated the process, attempting to eliminate as many powerful units as possible. Bruce also went on a rampage, doing everything he could to ensure Genji''s unhindered movements. Together, they carved through the army, assassinating the strongest units as Bruce cleaned up the perimeter.
Half an hour later, Genji stabbed his saber into the final boss''s head, giving it a hard twist before pulling out. Genji swung once more to clean the blade.
However, before the green insect blood could hit the group, it zipped into the distance, merging with the large sphere above Bruce. After a round of purification, the glob of blood entered Bruce''s mouth, feeding his ever-growing vitality.
"Come on, let''s get out of here. We''ve bought ourselves some time, but Silver Empress will eventually catch up to us. Before that, we need to find a safe place to hide or hold our ground. The armies will only get bigger from now on, so fighting head-on will become less feasible."
Bruce neighed in agreement, having experienced a limit to how much blood he could effectively control at once. If he tried for more, his attacks would decrease in power, becoming relatively ineffective against the Zergs'' hard shells. That was why it took so long, despite the exponential availability of blood.
Genji pulled his tired body onto Bruce''s back and rode into the distance, seeking a respite from the relentless hunters on their trail. However, what Genji didn''t know was that another enemy, one in grey armor and riding a parasitized pterosaur, was slowly closing in on him.
150 – Diafthora
Diafthora was the General of Assimilation, a title she earned by breeding the body-snatching parasites used across the battlefield. Under the Parasite King''s orders, she was to hunt down the killer of Prosarmozo, the former General of Mutation.
They had waited until now because they weren''t sure about his connection with Panolis, a colleague who had gone missing during their planet-conquering phase. But with a second inheritance marking, there was no doubt anymore. He was their killer.
So she took her mount and chased after him, carrying the energy her faction prepared beforehand. Due to the untimely manner of their retreat, the king and Aposynthesi had to stay behind to ensure their comeback. Otherwise, they would have to give up a lot of resources once the 10-year redistribution mark came around.
Naturally, they were confident in succeeding, which was why they dared give up their territory in the first place. Still, that didn''t mean they would underestimate their enemy.
After all, he had brought down one of their peers, even if he used some tricks. They had made enough preparations for Diafthora to stall out even an empress, giving her plenty of time to find an opening if he tried to hide within a swarm like last time.
As she pursued Genji, she flew over a field of dead Zergs. Remnants of battle could be seen among the shriveled bodies, testifying to the onesided massacre that happened prior. Diafthora ignored all this and continued, sensing that she would soon be upon her target.
Twenty minutes later, she spotted a small dot in the distance, moving away from her. Diafthora pressed her hand against the pterosaur''s leathery back and poured her powers into its body, boosting its speed. A gust of air agitated the dust below, propelling the pterosaur higher into the air.
Diafthora raised her armguard and channeled its energy, conjuring a massive portal below her. A rain of parasitized creatures fell, piling on top of each other with no regard for injuries.
These creatures were unlike anything Genji had seen before, possessing six arms, small curvy horns, and dark green tufts of fur sporadically scattered around their bodies.
They were the Nakras, a race subdued by Diafthora for her legion. Despite their muscular appearances, their specialty wasn''t in combat but in assisting the summoner with their spells. They were the foundation for Diafthora following summons.
The Nakras clasped their six arms together, releasing some of Diafthora''s burden, and allowing her to expand the portal. The energy stored in her armor rapidly drained, supporting the passage of countless creatures.
"Everything has to come at once, huh?" Genji dismounted and drew his saber.
[Special stat surpasses target by a large margin. No interference detected. Obtained 100% of target''s information.]
[General of Assimilation, Diafthora]
Health: 26,600/26,600
Energy: 780/780
Con: 46
Str: 47
Dex: 42
Int: 39
Spc: 38
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +20,000 HP
- Parasitic Evolution (Passive): Consume other creatures to permanently strengthen your stats.
- Body of Adaptability (Passive): +2,000 HP; your body can contain different types of power without breaking down.
- Copy Assimilation (Passive): Your energy takes on the traits of the energy around you. Currently, it has six traits: Assimilate, Colorless, Infection, Mutation, Decay, and Baleful Harm. Only one trait can be used at a given moment except for Assimilate, which is passive.
- Portal Opening (Active): Consume energy to open a portal between two locations. The bigger the distance and the longer the duration, the higher the energy cost.
- Colorless (Active): Your energy loses all traits except for Colorless and Adaptability. For each trait lost, +15% energy strength. Cooldown of 18 hours.
- Infection (Active/Passive): Your energy affects opponents in unforeseen ways, causing them to fall ill and experience various debuffs.
- Mutation (Active/Passive): Your energy causes you or a target to mutate wildly. Mutations may be unexpected and have strange side effects.
- Decay (Active/Passive): Your energy causes life and organic matter to wither away.
- Baleful Harm (Active/Passive): Injuries caused by your energy will resist normal healing effects.
- Memory Awakening (Active): Regain a lost energy trait by consuming an item with that characteristic.
- Ultimate: Chaotic Fluctuation (Active): Your energy goes wild, taking on an uncountable number of energy traits. New traits will also be created by fusing current traits. Effects of traits vary and may be harmful to the user. Cooldown of 3 days.
- Ultimate: Forceful Assimilation (Active): Forcibly mold your energy into a copy of a target. Copied energy may have dangerous reactions with existing traits. Cooldown of 7 days.
- Ultimate: Full Release (Active): Unleash all your energy traits at once. Cooldown of 2 - 30 days, depending on how many traits are unleashed. The more, the longer.
All of Diafthora''s abilities could be summarized as energy traits. From her passives to her ultimates, they all revolved around copying the abilities of others for herself. It was a versatile combat system, but a risky one, with many of her skills carrying warnings.
This was expected due to potential conflicts between energy properties. If these conflicts surpassed the body''s limits, this power would become the deadliest of poisons, destroying the vessel from the inside out. That was what happened with 7156, almost killing him.
However, Diafthora''s Colorless skill perfectly resolved this issue. When paired with Chaotic Fluctuation, she could gain unfathomable power, potentially surpassing even Terror Unleashed, Genji''s strongest trump card.
Genji wasn''t deterred by this, as her stats weren''t overwhelmingly powerful. As long as he could close the distance, he had a good chance of winning the fight. What worried Genji more was the endless tsunami of parasitized creatures flooding from the skies.
If he couldn''t resolve this, he would be ground down through a battle of attrition. The worst part was that Genji couldn''t escape this battle since he was marked. If he tried, he would only be delaying the inevitable and wasting his energy.
"What a large army. It would be a shame if something happened to it," Genji chuckled to himself, retrieving a large empty gel sphere and multiple colorful vials, which he poured into the container. After sealing it up tightly, Genji hurled it at the downpour of troops, releasing a suspicious green gas that blanketed the area.
"Alright, now we wait. Just be careful with the blood when you''re purifying it, and you should be fine," Genji reminded Bruce before diving into the horde.
His saber cut through the air, leaving streaks of cutting intent around him. Unlike previous firings of cutting intent, these strips of light hovered in their initial position, defending Genji against being swarmed.
This was a side application of Cocoon that Genji had developed in his previous battle. It wasn''t particularly useful in a normal battle, but it could give Genji some breathing room in situations where there were more enemies than ants.
As Genji cut down the enemy troops, the blood drained from their bodies and darted around, attacking nearby units. Once the blood volume reached a sufficient level, it flowed past their legs and targeted the units at the rear.
Bruce''s primary targets were those capable of casting spells, applying binding effects, and utilizing other supporting skills. By focusing on these individuals, Bruce aimed to cover all the troublesome points Genji would encounter, ultimately making the battle much easier for his master.
Diafthora observed this from above and transferred her portal channeling duties to the Nakras, shifting her energy to infection mode. A similar green gas coated the area. Genji sensed the additional gas rushing against his skin, attempting to penetrate his body and spread its influence.
However, this gas quickly proved ineffective against Genji. The moment it entered his lungs, the existing poison fought back and swiftly neutralized it. Both gases were infectious, but Genji''s was stronger. After all, it was the result of merging two parasite inheritances, whereas Diafthora was utilizing only one.
Diafthora frowned as she felt her energy dissipate without causing any significant impact. How could the General of Infection''s ability be countered so effortlessly? Moments later, Diafthora got her answer upon noticing the similarities between the gas affecting her troops.
''He managed to artificially simulate Panolis''s traits? How troublesome.''
Switching to mutation mode, Diafthora slammed her palms together, releasing a ripple that expanded downward. In response to this signal, the troops'' bodies began to distort, twitching and protruding in peculiar ways. Many lost their balance due to their unfamiliarity with their changing bodies.
Genji seized this opportunity, attacking swiftly but limiting himself to a certain range, conserving his stamina for the foe above. Genji dared do this because he trusted that Bruce could cover him and exploit this weakness in his stead.
The scent of blood intensified as Bruce rampaged from a distance, creating multiple tornadoes that tore through the crowd. Within moments, the troops stopped twitching and assumed altered forms. Many sprouted jagged spikes around their bodies, appearing randomly.
While some soldiers were hindered in combat, others were enhanced, but all gained increased resistance to Genji''s poison. Diafthora anticipated the troubles posed by the infection, taking action before it exploded and rendered her army useless.
Suddenly, a circular curtain of blood rose around Genji, forming a barricade of knives that separated the reinforcements from nearby units. The walls began to spin, accelerating with each moment, eventually collapsing inward. All enemies within the area turned into minced meat, crushed inward to form a gruesome mass.
Genji carved open a path and darted toward the wall, leaping into it. As he approached, the spinning blood solidified, creating a foothold that allowed Genji to propel himself upward.
The next second, Genji appeared beside Diafthora and cleaved down with a massive cutting wave. Diafthora quickly reacted and disappeared from her position, manifesting tens of meters away.
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At this moment, Genji noticed the portal below decrease in diameter, indicating its decrease in energy. Diafthora had siphoned some of its maintenance energy for herself, opening a portal a split second before Genji''s attack landed.
''So portals can be used like this.''
Like a Feather
Genji dived at the falling bisected pterosaur halves, activated his weight reduction skill, and kicked off in Diafthora''s direction. Genji glided through the air and slashed down, forcing Diafthora to ''teleport'' again.
But before she could react, she felt a chain wrap around her ankle. Tracing its origin, she saw the other end wrapped around Genji''s hand. Genji had condensed this chain with his energy when he sensed the familiar fluctuation of the portal opening.
''Get over here!''
Genji activated Berserk and yanked hard, giving Diafthora no chance to resist. In the blink of an eye, Diafthora appeared below Genji''s falling saber, threatening to bisect her as it did with her mount.
Sensing the crisis, Diafthora activated Full Release, the ultimate that allowed multiple energy traits to be used simultaneously. A black and red energy halberd condensed in her hands, just in time to barely parry Genji''s attack.
Her hands went numb as the weapon threatened to slip from her grasp, unable to endure the impact. Then all the force came rushing at her, propelling her downward at an insane rate.
Genji also got dragged along, causing his cheeks to flutter wildly. As they approached the ground, Genji prepared for another yank. But before he could succeed, two large wings burst out of Diafthora''s back, flapping greatly to dispel the downward momentum.
Diafthora knew she couldn''t endure this game of ping-pong, so she needed to break out, even at a high cost to her portal. These wings allowed Diafthora to stabilize herself, giving her time to sever the chain. The halberd was strong enough to dispel Genji''s cutting intent, so it was no surprise it could destroy an energy chain.
Without the chain dragging him down, Genji spread his cloak and slowed down to a drift. While this was happening, Diafthora familiarized herself with her newly grown wings and swooped at Genji. Now that their positions had been reversed, it was time to give Genji a taste of his own medicine.
But before she could carry out her attack, a large ball of curses exploded against her left wing. Genji had fired nearly point-blank, sending both of them backward. As Genji glided away, Diafthora spiraled downward due to the loss of balance caused by her injured wing.
A crash sounded below, kicking up a dust storm as the ground caved away to form a crater. Suddenly, copious amounts of blood bombarded her. Bruce wasn''t planning on letting her rest.
A heavy swing of the halberd collided against this stream, unleashing enough force to scatter the liquid. Then the blood started to rot, turning brown before Bruce lost control of it.
"Pesky creature," she growled, her bright red eyes shining through her helmet.
"That''s why I keep him around," Genji answered, landing across from her and intercepting her glare.
The next moment, he flashstepped, striking with a saber covered in shadow flames and compressed cutting intent. Diafthora made a long swing, using her reach to build up more force. The two clashed, their strikes evenly matched. The ground around them shattered, but neither fighter paid attention to it and wound up their next attack.
Flashes of silver-black collided with red-black, unleashing a forceful torrent that pushed back all nearby units, creating an open perimeter dedicated only to them.
After a few more clashes, Diafthora retreated and examined her halberd, noticing the many nicks along the shaft. Although the weapon was powerful, blocking Genji''s doubled sharpness boost wasn''t easy.
"Hphm." The halberd emitted a black glow and shrank in length, shifting the excess materials to repair the damage. Then, she charged at Genji again, confronting his saber and defending flawlessly against his speed.
''Something''s not right. She knows her weapon can''t keep up like this, but she''s not changing her attacks. What is she planning?''
After a few more collisions, Genji''s suspicion reached a point that made him retreat. But as he flashstepped away, he burst into a coughing fit, spraying decayed blood everywhere and interrupting his movement.
As if expecting this, Diafthora instantly teleported beside him and unleashed a forceful strike. Genji parried, but the halberd head morphed around his saber, transforming into a scythe blade that gouged his abdomen.
Genji jumped back before he could sustain any more damage and readied himself to block the following strike. However, his motion was interrupted by another coughing fit, forcing his usage of Quantum Shield. Immediately after, his wounds started to rot, racking his nerves with harsh pain.
A small crack appeared on the blue translucent barrier, but it brought Genji enough time to inspect his body and find the source of his unexpected coughs.
When he looked inward, he sensed his poison losing against another energy, one with four different traits. This was the upgraded infection unleashed by Diafthora after her ultimate.
''She was stalling?'' Genji realized and chugged another bottle of poison, hoping the new addition would buy him enough time to finish this battle. Next, he splashed a mutation potion on his wounds before dashing back into battle.
Using the remainder of the barrier''s durability, Genji condensed more cutting intent into his saber and intensified his flames. As the barrier shattered, Genji lunged at Diafthora, swiping with all his strength. In one fell swoop, the halberd broke apart. Diafthora''s eyes narrowed, and she prepared to teleport away.
Suddenly, a large mental impact crashed into her, dulling her mind and delaying her movements. Genji had activated Dominance Aura to create a brief window where his attack could deliver the finishing blow.
Unfortunately, the Nakras in the distance realized their master''s danger and created a portal in her stead. The portal manifested around her head, protecting this vital point and forcing Genji to divert his strike downward. Due to the Nakra''s lack of proficiency and distance, the portal was slower in transporting Diafthora, resulting in a large gash down her chest.
Diafthora appeared on the other side of the battlefield and recovered from her daze. Her glowing red eyes intensified when she realized how dangerous the situation had been.
''As expected of someone who killed two generals. We prepared a decade''s worth of energy, but he managed to drain most of it in the short period we fought. It''s time to use everything. Now that I have some distance, don''t even think about surviving. And to be safe, I''ll preserve some energy.''
With that thought, the large portal in the sky disappeared, having lost its source of power. Diafthora''s mixed aura also retracted inward, returning to her normal form. She had canceled her ultimate, opting for another one. More specifically, a combination of the other three.
First, her energy surged chaotically, generating numerous unexplainable traits and destabilizing the integrity of her energy bonds. When she reached her limit, she activated Colorless, cleansing all her problems and gaining a massive boost in power. To top it off, she activated her final ultimate, designating Genji as the target.
From his position, Genji sensed a massive spike in Diafthora''s power before she emitted a familiar energy, one that had become the basis for his powers.
''You have got to be kidding me! She can use her skills like that?!?!''
The energy Genji sensed from Diafthora was Shadow Energy, his very own. Everything down to the last detail was the same, a perfect copy, at least in Genji''s view.
''Fuck. I might need to use a liberation for this,'' Genji thought, sensing an energy intensity that greatly surpassed his own.
As the shadows cloaked her, Diafthora raised her hand and pointed at him. The following instant, Genji felt an overwhelming sense of crisis and dived aside. In his previous position, a black beam of laser pierced through the ground, leaving a smooth hole that chilled the surrounding air. It was a familiar feeling, but Genji never expected to be on the receiving end.
''Not even I can do that. Why can she unleash more power than the original?''
Genji scrambled to dodge the barrage of attacks, making every possible movement to slip through the nonexistent gaps. Stones and pebbles dug into his flesh, bouncing off after leaving their marks. Amidst this tension, a blood tentacle grabbed Genji and flung him aside, giving him some breathing room.
''She''s just spamming energy attacks, not using its full potential. I might have a chance.''
Genji flashstepped consecutively, erratically changing directions to narrow the distance. Bruce also cooperated with him, clearing the way and creating distractions to obstruct Diafthora''s view.
For every step Genji took, the danger he faced increased proportionally, slowly reaching a tipping point as he entered Diafthora''s perception. However, Genji danced between the fine line of life and death with the utmost experience, retreating and approaching at proper moments.
Despite this, his injuries accumulated to a dangerous level, with many of his organs shattered by the rays piercing through him. Genji managed to preserve his mobility during this scuffle, but his vision was getting blurry.
Applying one last potion to himself, Genji activated Untraceable Movement and flashstepped, tearing open his wounds to appear next to Diafthora. His saber came down, clashing against a black sickle manifested by energy. Diafthora''s other hand conjured an identical piece and swiped at Genji''s throat.
As Genji leaned back, his armguard pulsed with a dark red glow, fueling the built-up resentment inside its cursed spirit. Suddenly, a magic circle appeared below Diafthora, breaking the ground as large fleshy tentacles erupted around her.
These appendages flung inward, seeking to bind Diafthora with all their strength. Diafthora''s eyes shined with dark light, and her body exploded with sharp waves of energy, dicing the limbs before they could touch her.
Genji pushed forward, unleashing his strongest streak of cutting intent. The sickles in Diafthora''s hands disappeared, merging to form the halberd she was familiar with. Her aura flared up, coating the halberd head with a faint resemblance of shadow flames before smashing the streak of light. A soft crack came from the point of impact, but she easily repaired the damage with more energy.
Genji brought his saber down again, determined to break past his limit to discharge a stronger attack. Diafthora''s shadow flames got darker and stronger as she stabbed out, parrying the strike and knocking Genji''s saber upward. This time, the head shattered, but Diafthora paid no head to it, letting the halberd dissipate.
Feeling the unusual impact, Genji felt another sense of crisis. Without hesitation, he broke down the stored energy in his blade, unleashing three shadow figures that darted out from his body. Then he swapped locations, disregarding how wasteful it was to move only half a meter.
However, this proved to be the correct choice as beside him, the silhouette had been impaled by a spear. Diafthora had conjured another weapon in her other hand as her first one dissipated, allowing for a lightning-fast follow-up.
Genji stepped forward, hacking down with all his strength and throwing Diafthora off balance. Diafthora''s eyes widened in realization, but before she could react, Genji swapped positions again, manifesting on her right for a harsh punch to the stomach. Diafthora curled forward from the impact, but Genji had already disappeared from the corner of her eye.
Suddenly, a streak of light appeared in front of her chest and shot upward at her neck. Grey blood splattered into the air, but Diafthora had disappeared from her position, having teleported away before the strike could finish her.
However, this came at a heavy cost, with a large laceration severing half her neck. Diafthora fell onto one knee, too weakened to stand, but propping herself up with her weapon.
"Give up. It''s over for you," Genji said, turning around, but making no indication of approaching.
"You wish, but I still have plenty of strength," she replied, rising and pulling out her weapon. "Enough to kill you."
"You don''t get it, do you?" Genji asked after a short pause.
"Get what?" Diafthora didn''t mind the chatter since she could take this time to recover. The longer this talk went on, the more beneficial the situation was for her.
"Panolis''s specialty is infecting others. No matter how they defend against it, he will always find a way. The only problem is that he never had time to prepare when he fought me, leading to his demise."
"So? What are you trying to say?" The wound on her neck sealed itself, slowly regenerating as they talked.
"Using his inheritance, I developed many poisons," Genji continued, looking up at the sky with reminiscence. "Many of which allowed me to survive difficulties that should have killed me many times over."
"Get to the point already." Diafthora further familiarized herself with her copied energy and reviewed Genji''s usage of shadow flames.
''This weapon...It''s made from his essence."
Diafthora wondered what he was trying to say when a flash of realization hit her. ''Poison? Infecting? No, it can''t be!''
But before she could voice her suspicions, her body went numb and stopped responding to her, causing her to collapse.
"Sorry, but you weren''t the only one stalling for time." Then Genji waved to Bruce, asking him to bombard Diafthora from a distance, cautious of any suicidal attacks.
"Arrrrr. The King won''t let you off for this!" Those were her final words before countless spears buried themselves in her body, draining the last of her life force.
[You have slain General of Assimilation, Diafthora]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 42 points. You have reached your bearing capacity.]
[You have gained: 125,498 contribution points, Diafthora''s Corruption]
[Diafthora''s Corruption]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Knowledge item
Effect: Upon use, obtain all of Diafthora''s knowledge on simulation and corruption.
Note: A third inheritance. Nothing needs to be said about the impacts of using it, right?
With the source of the infection dead, the energy inside his body also lost its strength and was quickly devoured by his poison. Genji chugged a series of potions to neutralize it before tending to his wounds.
"Thank you. You did well," Genji praised Bruce as the nightbane returned to his side.
Bruce neighed with contentment before focusing on purifying the blood. A lot of poison had festered in their bodies so he needed to be careful.
Although ingesting poison wouldn''t kill him, it would interfere with his blood control, drastically weakening his combat effectiveness. Bruce couldn''t allow that since this battle was only the beginning. After all, who would help his master if he fell ill?
Half an hour later, Bruce finished processing and pushed the unsalvageable blood into vials Genji had laid out. These vials could be reused for later battles, albeit at a weaker level. Genji didn''t mind since it was essentially free.
After corking the last vial, Genji approached Diafthora''s mangled body and examined it. After a moment of silence, Genji smiled and said, "What a powerful opponent. It would be a waste to leave her body like that. Bruce, grab it. I think it''s time we meet an old friend."
Bruce obeyed but cast a doubtful look at Genji, wondering how he could have any friends. And would they even be helpful given their current enemies?
"Alright, don''t ask any more questions. You''ll see soon enough. I think you will like her." Genji patted Bruce''s head and brought out his stalker compass.
"That way," Genji said, showing Bruce the compass. Bruce gave Genji one last questioning look before galloping into the distance, still doubting the validity of Genji''s statement.
A few minutes later, Benya, the reaper who interrupted Genji''s meal appeared in the vicinity. He examined the battlefield for some time, before scratching his head in confusion.
"Weird. I clearly sensed Dance of Death but there''s no Deathly Energy. Did another reaper fight here or am I imagining it? Also, where did all the blood go?"
151 – Finding Igani
"Report, sir! Traces of the Bloodless Killer have been detected near our fortress." A hologram machine in the supreme commander''s office lit up, projecting the video of a fortress general.
"I thought I said not to report to me about him anymore." The commander looked up from his reports with a tired expression, having pulled multiple all-nighters to ensure proper command of the battlefield.
Recently, the Celestials had experienced numerous battles over territory, and the supreme commander had been at the center of all of them, tailoring their forces to each battle. As such, he hadn''t slept for a single moment, pushing his mind to the limits. If it weren''t for the potent energy drinks, he would have collapsed days ago.
As for why the Celestials have something like energy drinks, it had to do with maintaining combat abilities in prolonged battles. While rotation shifts were the norm, every soldier was needed in times of crisis.
The energy drinks were provided to ensure everyone could fight. After all, it would be a disaster if everyone collapsed from exhaustion while the enemies were right outside their fortress.
If that happened, the enemies wouldn''t even need to try. The Zergs could just throw units at them until they all collapsed before storming the place.
To prevent that, energy drinks were created and supplied to every fortress, but they were rarely used due to their potent side effects. These weren''t your normal energy drinks but enhanced versions, strong enough to affect even generals who have condensed their celestial cores.
Therefore, the side effects were equally powerful, capable of keeping someone in bed for days. Quoting the words of one realm member, "It''s like a hangover on steroids. No matter how bad you think it is, it will be 5 times worse. Don''t drink it if you can. Your body will thank you."
"Sir, I believe this is a special case." The general saluted and awaited the commander''s answer.
"How so?"
"The fortress under my jurisdiction isn''t at the front lines, but the midfield. I have reason to suspect Bloodless Killer is leaving the central battlefield."
"What?!" The general jumped to his feet and slammed the desk, his eyes narrowing in seriousness. "You suspect? Are you sure? This isn''t something you can joke about."
"Yes, sir. Our scouting parties discovered multiple battles without any blood. When drawn on a map, they form a straight line heading for the area between us and the Zergs."
The commander sat down and rubbed his forehead, muttering "Goddammit. I''m too tired to deal with this."
For a split second, the general questioned his hearing, having sworn he heard the commander curse. However, he quickly dismissed it as an auditory hallucination that he misinterpreted. After all, how could the dignified supreme commander possibly curse in front of his subordinate? Wouldn''t that be too uncharacteristic of him?
But what the general didn''t consider was that the dignified commander had already lost his bearing. His mind had been stretched to its limits after multiple days of strategizing. That was why he reacted so extremely when the general made the report, despite him normally being level-headed.
"What are your orders, sir?"
The commander thought for a few minutes before gritting his teeth and saying, "Deploy the super weapons."
"But sir! We don''t have the council''s permission. Without their help, we will have an energy deficiency in a few days."
"I know, but the situation''s urgent. We''re already the weakest party on the battlefield, so any incident might trigger the other factions. If we don''t want to become fish on the chopping block, we need to show our might and intimidate them. Only that way can we stabilize our situation. As for the energy, I''ll ask the council to send more. For now, spread the word and make the preparations."
"Understood." The general straightened his back and saluted again.
"And one last thing before you hang up."
"Listening, sir."
"Call Commander Chorizo if there are any issues. I won''t be available for some time." Before the general could ask any more questions, the supreme commander hung up, as if declaring a fact. Only that way could he muddle by without any explanations.
''Finally over. Now to catch up on my sleep,'' the commander thought, turning off the lights and throwing himself onto the couch.
On the other end of the call, the general couldn''t help but notice the commander''s strangeness. ''It''s like he didn''t want to talk anymore. I wonder what could have caused this. He''s normally so approachable, always answering our questions and teaching us how to judge the situation for ourselves.''
The general pushed aside that thought and communicated the orders, adding all the generals to the call. No one questioned anything since this was the norm.
For some reason, it was always the generals filling each other in instead of the commander, but they simply attributed it to the commander''s busy schedule. Since he has to manage the entire battlefield, he must have more important matters to attend to.
But what they didn''t know was that the true reason behind this setup was that the commander had forgotten their communication signals. Therefore, he couldn''t add them to the call even if he wanted to. Instead, he always left this task to the person receiving the orders.
Granted, he could easily obtain this information by asking someone, but he was too embarrassed to bring it up. Could you imagine telling someone that you don''t remember their name when you''ve been in the same friend circle for years? That''s the same feeling for the commander. Plus, why would he change the current system when it''s working perfectly fine?
''If it ain''t broke, don''t fix it.'' That was his justification, but it doesn''t change the fact that he was procrastinating it. What a fascinating commander indeed.
Ever since the death of her mother, Igani had been living a blissful life, away from the conflicts of the battlefield. While all the other queens scampered to adapt to their new empress, Igani had moved her nest to a remote location, causing everyone to forget about her. Thus, she was freed from her troop-spawning duties, greatly easing her mental worries.
Since she didn''t need to produce troops anymore, she could reduce how much she had to hunt, in turn minimizing unwanted attention on herself. To the timid Igani, she couldn''t ask for anything better since the less attention she had, the better. After all, the best way to stay safe was not to get involved in fights in the first place.
She didn''t care that her forces were so weak that any random soldier could obliterate her. To do that, they needed to find her first, something no one cared for. Why would they go out of their way to remove a nonexistent threat when they could be doing something more productive?
That was why Igani could live without any worries, content with the current status quo. At least she could live without worries instead of having to fret about people planning her death. What was the point of power if it only attracted more danger? For Igani, her current situation was as close to her ideal lifestyle as it could get¡ªpeaceful and devoid of conflict.
But if she had to point out one flaw in her paradise, it would have to be the lack of sweets. She ran out half a year ago, but her cravings had only grown since. She could have sworn she budgeted her snacks well, but they just all disappeared one day. Oh, what would she give to taste those sugary candies again?
"See? I told you she exists. I didn''t just make her up."
This sudden voice came from behind, interrupting her reminiscence and startling her badly. Igani jumped onto her eight feet, and her head frantically darted about, searching for the invisible intruder.
''Oh no! I''m so dead. What did I do to deserve this? I just wanted to live a peaceful life. Why does everyone want to kill me so much?''
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"Neeiiigghhhh." Bruce expressed his doubt, clearly sensing the distress in the spider''s actions. No matter how he thought about it, this didn''t seem like how friends would greet each other.
"That''s because she''s looking at the wrong spot. Of course, she would be scared when she couldn''t find us." Genji walked into view and approached the trembling spider queen.
"Can you not react like this? You''re making me look bad." Genji patted her head and waved his hand in front of her dazed eyes. "You know? This brings back memories. I''m pretty sure this was how our first meeting went."
Hearing these unusual words, Igani returned from her despair and examined Genji, searching her memories for the encounter in question. Eventually, she settled on the blurry figure who introduced her to her sugar addict-*ahem ahem* appreciation *ahem ahem.* Yeah, appreciation, not addiction. She doesn''t have an addiction; you have an addiction. And she would fight anyone who says otherwise... Okay, maybe not, but she refuses to admit it.
"It''s you!" Her chirpy childish voice sounded in their heads with tints of excitement in her tone.
Genji was used to this form of communication, but Bruce had a bewildered look on his face. ''Who was that? Where did the voice come from? Isn''t master the only human here?''
After looking around for some time, Bruce''s eyes settled on the giant spider with the twinkling eyes. ''No way right? How can she possibly speak? She''s a spider!''
"Yes, it''s me. Long time no see," Genji greeted her, confirming Bruce''s suspicion and causing the nightbane''s eyes to expand into wide saucers.
"Here, have a gift." Genji took out a plastic jar full of tiny, colorful bits and tossed it over. Igani skillfully weaved a net from her webs and caught the item.
''Oooh, candy. How much I missed you.''
Igani struggled with the lid for a couple of minutes before finally opening it and pouring half of its contents into her mouth. Now that her supplier was here, she didn''t need to hold herself back anymore. She could finally indulge herself in her cravings.
As she savored the much-missed sweetness, she let out a satisfied "Mmmmmm," before swallowing and addressing Genji. "How chewy. Can you tell me what I just ate?" Then she popped a few more into her mouth, slowly enjoying the unique bouncy texture between the crevices of her mouth.
"Oh, that? My latest poison," Genji answered casually, causing Igani to drop the jar and spill its contents.
"Y-your w-w-what?" She stuttered, backing away from him.
"You know, the same as last time. Poison." Genji walked over, picked up the jar, and scooped the fallen contents back into the container, including those that slipped out of Igani''s mouth and were still covered in her saliva. "Now open up. It''s not good to waste things."
Igani hurriedly shut her mouth and shook her head from side to side. "No, don''t come any clos-AHHHHHHHHH."
Genji''s head pulsated with a mild headache as he pried open her jaws and forced her to consume the remaining items, all while Igani screamed bloody murder into his head.
When everything disappeared into her throat, Genji let go, allowing Igani to scamper aside and hang her head. After gagging a few times with no results, she looked up at him with teary eyes, as if asking why he would do such a cruel thing to her.
"You know the deal. I need your help with something, so I can only apologize for that."
*sniffle* "But why did you have to poison me? It''s not like I will betray you."
"It''s always better to be safe than sorry. Think on the bright side. You still get to eat lots of treats while you work with me."
At the mention of the sweets, her mouth started to water again, recalling the jawbreakers she had been obsessed with. Maybe she could get different flavors this time?
''And it''s not like I will lose out. I just have to follow his orders and take the antidote at the given times. It can''t be that hard. Plus, he didn''t even poison me last time. Maybe it''s the same this time, and he''s just scaring me?'' A trace of hope formed inside her heart, but Genji''s next words instantly crushed it.
"By the way, if you think I''m bluffing for whatever reason, I have some bad news for you. I''ve already pulled the trick once, so do you really think I will do it again? No, I''m serious this time. There''s also no routine medicine for you to take. This poison will activate in 40 days. If you don''t get the antidote in that time, you will die without a doubt. Whether you betray me or I die, you will have the same outcome. If you want to live, you better do everything to ensure I succeed."
Hearing Genji''s sudden shift in tone, Bruce''s mouth dropped open. So this was what his master meant by ''friend.'' What did he expect? Bruce should have known better. How could Genji have any friends when their enemies were so strong? Who would even dare help them?
''Still, did you have to scare her like that? Was it necessary?'' Bruce gave Genji a weird look, wondering if he had some weird fetish for traumatizing females in particular. First, there was the friend on Earth (Kosa), then the witch (Fiona), and now this spider.
Just what is wrong with him? Oh, wait, a lot of things. ''I still love you though, master. Please keep bringing me around to experience these fun things and most importantly, delicious foods.''
At this moment, Genji turned around and winked at Bruce, ignoring the strange glint in the nightbane''s eyes. ''Shhhh, don''t say anything.'' Genji brought a finger to his lips, communicating his intentions to Bruce, who nodded in understanding.
''Okay, master. I''ll sit back and watch the show.''
''Good boy.'' Genji flashed him a thumbs-up before turning back to the stunned Igani.
"You still with me?"
"What do I need to do," Igani asked in a dejected tone, accepting that her future wouldn''t be as happy as she expected.
"I want you to create some troops based on this body." Genji pointed to Diafthora''s body on Bruce''s back.
"I don''t have the bio-energy."
"Will this do?" Genji took out a crystal that had been idle since he killed Silver Empress''s substitute.
[Bio-Crystal IV]
Rating: Legendary
Effect: Gain 25,982 bioenergy upon use.
"I need to rebuild my nest," Igani replied, inwardly sighing when she sensed a familiar fluctuation from the crystal.
''Oh mother, even you got killed. What a dangerous world we live in. But don''t worry. I''ll make good use of your memento. May you rest in peace, knowing that your daughter is safe with your help.'' Igani uttered an outrageous prayer, one that would have made her mother rise from the grave and curse her if she ever knew.
''What rest in peace? Aren''t I dead because you introduced that bastard to me? How dare you pretend you aren''t involved! How can I have such a stupid daughter, you disgrace for a Zerg queen?''
Fortunately, this was impossible or Igani would be experiencing another mental beatdown right now.
"Rebuild? Like the whole thing?" Genji asked, noticing how barren her nest was, if one could even call it a nest. Everything was made of stone as if Igani had dug a borrow for herself instead of constructing the excepted nest of flesh and blood.
"Yes. I shut down everything so no one can find me." Igani beamed with a proud smile, congratulating herself for the ingenious idea.
Genji gave her a speechless look, wondering how her mind functioned. Instead of striving to get stronger, this quirky queen decided to hide in the middle of nowhere, praying she would go unnoticed.
Granted, it almost worked since Genji would never have found her without his compass, but it didn''t change the fact that Igani gave up her greatest strength to hide like this. Objectively speaking, her current state was no different than a mole, hiding and living alone.
Genji could not understand how the vicious battlefield produced such an outlier, especially among the Zergs, who relied on massacres to meet the energy demands for producing troops.
It was like a tiger going vegetarian, something that should be impossible, yet Igani managed to maintain such a childlike innocence, one common among newborns. Genji didn''t know if this was a blessing or a curse, but it made his plans much easier.
"So theoretically, you can build a new nest anywhere you want."
"Yeah, but why would I do that?" Igani gave him a confused look. "Isn''t this place perfectly fine?"
"No. It''s too remote and doesn''t have any resources to grow your army. For our current enemies, you need to at least reach your mother''s previous level to stand a chance."
Igani''s mouth dropped wide open, unable to believe her hearing. "That''s impossible! Do you know how long mother took to reach that level? There''s no way I can do it in 40 days!"
"Maybe not through normal means, but what about the central battlefield? There''s plenty of strong beings there to provide you with energy."
Igani instantly backed away from Genji, treating him like a god of death. "No no no no no no no," she vehemently denied, shaking her head like a rattle drum. "Do you know how dangerous that place is? Are you crazy?"
"Can you guess where the body came from?"
An ominous feeling swelled in Igani''s mind, causing her to robotically turn to the withered body by Bruce''s feet. "Please don''t tell me it''s what I think it is?"
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is. And one of the strongest beings as well. Your mother got 6 bodies of the same level and instantly became a public target. If you don''t want to be hunted down, you will need to become strong enough that no one dares to mess with you. The only way to do that is to enter the battlefield."
"No! Absolutely not! I''m not doing this. There''s nothing you can say that can change my mind. I''m not entering the central battlefield! It''s suicide if I go there! I still want to live, even if it''s only for 40 more days." Igani wailed like a child throwing a tantrum, except she had a valid reason for doing so.
"What if I add some candy?" Genji dangled some tasty confectionery treats in her sight and swayed it back and forth like a pendulum.
As Igani''s eyes followed the wrapped sweet, her mind wavered, but her desire to live quickly overpowered that impulse before it could fully tempt her.
"N-no. I don''t want to die, even if I can''t eat candy again. Plus, how do I know it''s not poison?" Igani questioned, recalling the deceivingly sweet flavor that caused this situation.
"It''s not poison this time."
Igani''s eyes twinkled with desire, but her rationale stopped her. Genji had tricked her once already so what was stopping him from doing it again? But no matter how she justified it, she couldn''t explain why Genji would lie about this.
But to be safe, she held up her front leg and asked, "You pinky promise?" It was as if she expected this gesture to be a sacred vow, one that swore to expel all dishonestly.
Genji raised his brow at this gesture, wondering why this talk resembled an adult coaxing a child. ''Pinky promise? How old is she that she still believes in that? And how does she even know about pinky promises? Isn''t that a human thing?''
However, for the sake of the conversation, Genji suppressed his urge to tease Igani and shook her leg. "I pinky promise that this candy is not poison and I did not tamper with it. This is how it came when I bought it."
Satisfied with this answer, Igani made her own proposal. "Midfield. I''ll go with you to the midfield, but nowhere past that."
"Very well." Genji agreed, knowing this was at least a start. If he tried to push her any further, it would only backfire and ruin their friendship. "Finish packing and meet us outside."
Genji tossed over the treat and walked out with Bruce, giving Igani some privacy with her sugary delight.
152 – Nest Establishment
A few minutes after Genji left the nest, Igani came out with a satchel made out of her webs, carrying her items. There wasn''t much since she had given up anything too clunky to carry.
That left only her mother''s bio-crystal from Genji and some dry food meant to last Igani a few weeks before she had to hunt again. It was so irrelevant that Genji tossed aside the bark-like jerky and returned the crystal to his storage.
"But what are we going to eat?" Igani protested, reluctant to part with her food. It might not be a delicacy, but she worked hard for it. It felt wrong to throw it away like that.
"We''ll hunt when we are hungry. It''s not like animals are that rare," Genji replied.
"B-b-but won''t that offend the Beasts?"
"No, we''ll be fine as long as we don''t touch their main forces."
"How do you know that?" Igani had an unconvinced look in her eyes, wondering if this was Genji''s assumption of the Beast''s attitude.
"Because I made a deal with one of their beast kings."
Genji''s nonchalant answer caused Igani''s jaws to drop, questioning if she heard it correctly. This was beyond anything she could have expected since beast kings were beings of absolute dread for her.
Rather, she had never considered communicating with them, treating it as an impossibility due to the insurmountable gap in their power. After all, why would an elephant care for the words of an ant? She would be lucky if she didn''t get crushed right away for being a nuisance.
"If it makes you feel better, know that the Beasts also hunt for food." Genji noticed her disbelief and comforted her with another piece of information. "After all, they have to eat somehow, right?"
"Ahhhhh, yes?" Igani answered in a confused tone, again having never considered this issue. Before this, she had always regarded the beasts as natural disasters, coming and going as they pleased.
If anyone was unlucky enough to encounter them, then they could only lament their bad luck and move on. But now that Genji put this into perspective for her, Igani realized that they were living beings just like her, requiring food and water daily.
That raised the question of what they ate to sustain themselves. It couldn''t be the sentinels since they were all machines and didn''t have good energy conversion ratios. Nor could it be the Parasites since they were dangerous to consume.
Granted, Beast Kings were strong enough to disregard these issues, but the typical beast tended to avoid them. That left only the Zergs, Celestials, and other beasts, whichever one was most convenient for the day, as targets for hunting.
"Wait, won''t hunting their own weaken themselves? Why would they do that?" Igani asked, considering all this.
"It''s not as much as you think since they mostly hunt wild animals. You know, the ones native to this planet?"
"Oh, those." Igani had a moment of enlightenment, recalling the weak prey she cautiously hunted. At the time, she assumed all animals belonged to the Beast faction and was worried about retaliation, which was one of the reasons she went into hiding. But now that she knew better, Igani can rest assured, knowing her future meals were safe to eat.
However, what Igani didn''t know was that Genji wasn''t referring to wild animals when he said hunting. If she had known, it was uncertain if she could dare eat her meals. Of course, this didn''t take into account the irresistible smell of roast meat against Igani, who had only eaten raw meat her whole life. After all, that was how Bruce initially became obsessed with it.
"Alright, get on." Genji patted Bruce, who expanded to accommodate the 2-meter-wide spider.
"Get on? Aren''t I too big? Won''t I fall off?" Igani marveled at the size manipulation but didn''t move. Bruce might have gotten larger, but it wasn''t enough to comfortably fit her. Plus, spiders weren''t exactly meant to ride horses, which made her hesitant.
"Not if you strap yourself onto him." Before Igani could ask any more questions, Genji grabbed and tossed her onto Bruce''s back. Genji also followed, vaulting himself up into the main seat.
"Just in case, grab her as well," Genji said, noticing the swirls in Igani''s dazed eyes. Igani had never experienced being airborne before, so the toss had made her dizzy.
Bruce neighed in understanding and conjured multiple tentacles to tie Igani down before bursting out with his top speed.
"Where am I?" Igani asked as she recovered from her muddleheadedness. "And why is there an earthquake?"
"Don''t worry about it." Genji pushed a jaw-breaker into her mouth, hoping it would distract her enough to prevent a case of motion sickness.
"Mmmmmm." Igani closed her droopy eyes and savored the treat, but this only backfired as it concentrated her senses on the constant shaking beneath.
Suddenly her eyes burst open and rapidly darted about, catching only glimpses of the blurs zipping by. An ominous feeling swelled in her mind as she jumped to the only explanation for her current situation.
"AHHHHHHHHH. I''ve been kidnapped!" She let out an ear-piercing scream before fainting from fear, having forgotten everything Genji had said prior.
*Sigh* "Seems like I underestimated her timidness," Genji said, removing his energy-coated hands from Bruce''s ears. "Maybe this is for the better. Who knows how she will react if she''s awake."
"Neeeiiiighhhh," Bruce agreed but also wondered if Igani was worth all this trouble.
"Don''t be like that. She might be the only Zerg who dares to help us."
To this, Bruce could only roll his eyes. Wasn''t this only the case because his master coerced the spider into it?
"That doesn''t change the outcome. You might not believe me, but most queens would rather die than cooperate with me. All they care about is killing people and getting stronger. Don''t you think they''re vicious?"
''Master''s being hypocritical again. It''s not like he''s any different.'' Bruce made no comments, but that didn''t stop Genji from patting his head.
"Hey! Just because you didn''t express it doesn''t mean I can''t sense the disdain from you. I know you''re thinking something bad about me."
''You and your senses. Don''t you have anything else you can do?''
"Got to entertain myself somehow, even if it means talking to you. It''s just not that interesting since I''m doing all the talking."
Bruce snorted in response and sped up, unwilling to entertain Genji''s musings any further. He could only listen to his master''s strange ramblings for so long before he got tired of it.
A few hours later, they stopped to rest and eat. As Genji set up the campfire, Bruce went out to hunt, trying to decide what to have for the night. After some pondering, Bruce eventually settled on a stegosaurus, which he swiftly killed and dragged back. With Genji''s help, it wasn''t long before many pieces of meat hung over the fire, filling the air with an appetizing aroma.
This aroma wafted over to Igani and tickled her nose, causing her to stir. A few seconds later, she shot to her feet and screamed, "Noooo, don''t kidnap me! I don''t have anything."
Igani observed her surroundings for a few seconds before she spotted Genji and let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew. So it was all a dream. That''s good. For a while, I thought a monster made of blood had kidnapped me just to torture me. Seriously, what kind of deranged creature would strangle someone with their tentacles while they are sleeping and throw them around like a rag doll? Luckily, that was only a nightmare and I don''t need to experience it again. I''m awake now!"
At this moment, Igani noticed Genji and Bruce giving her a strange look. "Hmmm? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something weird?"
Genji exchanged a subtle glance with Bruce before shaking his head. "No, it''s nothing. You must be hungry. Here, have something to eat."
The moment Genji passed over the cooked meat, Igani''s attention was captivated by its golden brown color, sizzling golden fat, and mouthwatering smell.
All other thoughts instantly vanished from her mind, leaving only a fixated trance on the roast before her. It smelled so good. It looked so good. She wanted to eat; devour it; tear it apart piece by piece and savor it until the end of time. That was all she could think about.
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Eventually, this temptation broke her rationality, causing her to pounce on it like a starving lion and disregard the possible dangers of this unknown food. To her, none of it mattered. If it was as good as it smelled, she didn''t mind giving up her life to have a taste.
And a taste she did, as kilograms of meat disappeared into her mouth at a rate so fast that she couldn''t possibly have chewed it. At the end of this unnatural feast, Igani slumped over with a round stomach and let out a satisfied burp.
"That was the best meal I''ve had in my life. I''m content even if I die now."
"Wow, she might be more extreme than when you first tried meat," Genji said to Bruce with a light chuckle.
Bruce tipped his nose into the air, showing immense pride in his culinary skills. ''And you doubted that I can become a master chef. See this? I bet not even master chefs can get people to eat like that. Doesn''t that mean my skills are better than a master chef''s?''
"Now you''re just being narcissistic. How can you compare her to those people? This is Igani we''re talking about. You know, the same spider that agreed to go against Silver Empress for a few pieces of candy?"
When Genji put it that way, Bruce couldn''t help but pity the Zerg queen. For something so little, she had joined this capacious pirate ship. This was why it was important to have standards. Only that way could one avoid these pitfalls of the tongue.
"Since everyone''s finished, let''s clean up and continue moving."
Bruce nodded and skillfully disassembled the roasting rack with his tentacles before handing the pieces to Genji for storage. Next, they smothered the fire before Genji remounted Bruce.
"Igani, get up. We''re moving again."
"Okay," she groggily said and slowly pushed herself up. As she approached them, she opened her eyes and saw Bruce''s tentacles waving around him. This caused her to freeze as the memories of her nightmare came rushing back to her.
"What''s wrong? Did you eat too much and get a stomach cramp?" Genji joked lightly as he followed her gaze.
Then they fell into an awkward silence, all staring at each other, but making no movements. This stare-off lasted for some time before Genji finally broke the silence with a single question.
"So...You are getting on, right?"
"Waaaahhhh, this is so scary! Mommy, save me!" Igani cried out as Bruce ran forward without pause.
"Just bear with it. We''re almost there," Genji comforted her and offered a mint.
"But it feels like I will be crushed."
"Then tie yourself down with your webs. It''s not like you have to hide within his tentacles."
"But my webs aren''t strong enough to hold on."
"It can''t be helped then. It''s either this or you knock yourself out again. Your choice."
Given these choices, Igani steeled her resolve to endure the bumpy ride. While she could sleep through the miserable experience, she couldn''t afford to miss their mealtime. That was the only thing motivating her right now.
Compared to that heavenly banquet, this discomfort was nothing. For the sake of food, Igani pushed on, doing everything in her power to suppress her looming dizziness.
When night fell again, they arrived at an open area full of nutrient-rich soil and plants. Genji observed this location for a few minutes before nodding with satisfaction.
"This place looks good. Let''s do it here."
"Yeah, let''s eat!" Igani exclaimed, her mouth overflowing with drool.
"No, not that. I meant setting up your nest," Genji said, pointing at the center of the field. "You do that while we prepare the food."
At the mention of her nest, Igani realized that they had already entered the midfield of the Zergs. No wonder they encountered so many swarms recently.
"Can''t we eat first?" She asked with pleading eyes.
"Nope. Bruce needs some time to hunt so you''ll be waiting anyway. You might as well get started now so we have a place to sleep. We''ve been traveling nonstop these past two days, so it would be good to get some normal rest instead of small breaks."
"Fine." Igani agreed with Genji and asked for her mother''s bio-crystal. Taking this, Igani walked into the distance and channeled her mental powers.
A few minutes later, a chunk of the crystal broke off and infused into her body, forming a small pile of flesh which she spat out. Igani buried this pile and pumped more bio-energy into it, causing it to grow rapidly.
Soon, a large fleshy cocoon the size of a house appeared in their sights and pulsated like a heart. Igani sent out more commands and shaped its interiors before throwing the crystal into an open slot. The flesh around it clamped down on the crystal and started draining its energy.
Feeding on this energy, a fleshy tube grew down from the ceiling and hung over an open room. A bulge formed at the top and expanded with time, reaching a point where the bounds of the surrounding flesh could no longer hold it. This excess weight pulled the tube down to the ground, stretching it as the bulge slid out.
When the tube peeled away, a human-sized egg came into view. This was the workers'' egg, a construct full of tens of worker units. It would take a few hours to hatch, but once it does, Igani could leave the nest-building duties to them.
However, Igani didn''t stop there as she instructed the nest to lay another egg. The workers were foundational to the growth of the nest, and the more there were, the faster the other facilities could be formed.
After spawning a few more eggs, the smell of dinner reached Igani''s senses and distracted her from her operations. Throwing all nest-related thoughts out of her mind, Igani dashed out, her eight legs scampering across the ground at her fastest pace.
Unfortunately, this pace was far from fast, forcing her to endure the smell for the next few minutes. It was at this moment that Igani regretted not training her body. If she had done that, wouldn''t she be able to enjoy her food that much faster?
"Why the rush? The food is still cooking," Genji said, noticing her rough, uneven breathing.
"But meat!" She exclaimed, all her eyes reflecting the bright flickering flames.
Seeing this fixation, Bruce nodded in acknowledgment and threw her a small piece. ''Welcome to the club, little one.''
"If I didn''t know better, I would think you two are from the same cult with how obsessed you are about your meals." Genji ignored their antics and took his food aside, finishing rapidly before meditating.
After they finished their meals, Genji retreated inside the fleshy nest for the night. Although it felt weird to sleep on a heated floor that occasionally pulsed with life, Genji managed to get some rest.
The following morning, Genji awoke to the scampering of feet and the chirping of crickets. Looking up from his corner, he spotted hundreds of miniature bugs moving around and shaping the interiors. Many of them dug away at the rocks, forming tunnel systems lined with the flesh of the nest.
Amidst this crowd, Genji found Igani, who was directing everything from above.
"How long will this take?" He asked.
"The nest should be done in three days," she replied.
"Can you speed it up?"
"The only way to do that is to spawn more workers, but it''ll be costly. Without a specialized breeding ground, the cost ratio of bio-energy to units is really low. If I do it that way, I might not have enough bio-energy to create an army."
Genji considered the issue for a minute before saying, "Do it. Pump everything into building the nest. I want it done by tomorrow."
Igani didn''t know how to react when she heard the deadline. To achieve this goal, she would have to spend everything on spawning worker bugs. But what about defense? There would be nothing left for it, essentially making her a paper tiger. The nest might look impressive from a distance, but it would collapse under the slightest force.
"Don''t worry. Isn''t it just some energy? I''ll get more for you. The nest won''t be undefended for long." Genji saw her reluctance and reassured her.
Hearing this, Igani let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good. If it''s you, it should be easy to kill some animals. Then I can slowly expand and-"
"I think you''re misunderstanding something. I won''t be hunting normal animals, but other nests."
"Uuuhhhhh-what?"
"Don''t forget. We''re aiming for an army that can fight an empress, not a normal queen. If we develop your way, we will never reach that level. So I need you to send out scouting parties and find the nearby nests."
"Right now?" Igani asked, seeing Genji not moving from his position.
"Yes. Where else am I going to get those bio-crystals from?"
"But how will you deal with their armies? Without your own army, won''t you be overwhelmed by their numbers?"
"I have my ways. For now, just find the nests and tell me about the queens under Silver Empress."
"My sisters? What do you want with them?"
"To kill them, of course," Genji bluntly said, knowing kinship between queens was nonexistent.
However, Igani''s reaction told a different story. *Gasp* "No, I can''t! They''re my sisters. How can I betray them?"
"Can you not be like this? They don''t even care about you. Remember how they treated you last time?" Genji rubbed his forehead, exasperated by Igani''s antics.
"But-but-but, they''re still my sisters. No matter how badly they treat me, aren''t we still family?" She asked with teary eyes.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you might be the only one who feels that way."
This caused Igani to burst out crying as she accepted the cruel reality in front of her. Deep inside, Igani knew what her "family" thought of her, but she didn''t want to accept it. It felt cold, heartless even, to regard each other as only weapons of mass destruction, graded solely on their ability to spawn units for battle.
She hated everything about it, which was why she maintained her optimism, hoping it would eventually get through to them. But after so long, she knew her endeavors were fruitless, leaving only a veil of self-deception behind. Still, it didn''t feel right to betray them like that.
"Alright, alright. Just tell me what it will take to change your mind."
"I-I don''t want to betray them," she cried out.
Genji noticed her wording was ''don''t want to,'' instead of ''can''t,'' implying that she wasn''t completely against the idea, but had her own difficulties. In situations like these, Genji just needs to give her a small push to convince her. Realizing this, Genji placed a bag of candy in front of Igani.
"This...What are you trying to do? Let me tell you, I won''t give in to your temptations."
Without another word, Genji added two more bags, causing Igani to hesitate. After staring at the pile for a few seconds, she forced herself to look away. However, this only made the subtle glances from Igani that much more obvious.
Genji walked around and placed three more bags in her sight before crossing his arms. "What about now?"
"I...I..No!" She rejected before her resolve could waver further.
"That''s a shame then. I don''t have anymore so I can''t increase the price." Genji shrugged and reached down to pick up the bags.
Seeing this, Igani felt a sense of loss and wondered why Genji gave up so easily instead of increasing the bid. Igani knew Genji had more candy because she had seen at least 8 types.
''Come on, can''t you increase the amount one more time? As long as you do that, I''ll immediately agree with you.'' Unknowingly, Igani''s thought process had changed, accepting the candy as a business deal instead of a bribe.
As Genji picked up the last bag and turned to leave, Igani''s anxiety heightened and her heart ached with loss. She racked her mind, trying to find a way to salvage this negotiation when she said something beyond her expectations.
"Two meals!" Igani blurted out, not realizing she said this until after the words left her mouth. Too embarrassed to refute her own words, Igani continued with, "As long as you increase my meals to twice a day."
"Your words, not mine," Genji said with a smile after a short pause. Then he waved his hand and walked away, preparing for his next attack.
''Did I set the price too low? He didn''t seem that fazed by it.'' Igani couldn''t help but wonder when faced with Genji''s casual attitude toward her proposition. However, this doubt was quickly replaced by the thought of delicious meat that would soon fill her stomach twice a day. ''Who cares? As long as I get my food.''
153 – Expansion
*KKEEEIIIRRRRRR*
A loud shriek of pain came from the beetle-shaped Zerg queen as Genji removed his saber from its neck. Following that, life drained from the surrounding fleshy walls, following in the footsteps of the deceased queen.
Genji brandished his saber, shaking off the cyan blood, and trudged back through the complex underground tunnel system. As he walked by, the tissue fibers withered away, becoming dry husks that broke off to reveal the rocky surface beneath. This was the death of the nest, a process after the structure lost the support of the queen''s mental powers.
Most of the time, this was due to the queen''s death, but there were occasional cases where the queen abandoned the base in favor of a different location. Unless one could confirm the death of a queen, it was always safe to assume the queen was still alive.
After all, the queens prioritized their safety over all else, a belief that laid the foundation for the empress''s body substitutes. As such, no one could be absolutely certain about what tricks they would use.
When Genji stepped out of the dying nest, he saw Bruce finishing his battle against the paralyzed Zerg units. Next to him, a team of workers scavaged the ruins for any remaining bio-crystals that powered the defenses. If they were lucky, they would find an unused stash to supplement their gains.
Some of them dug through the ground, scouring for any tunnel systems, while others tore through the fungal carpet, collecting the raw bio-energy still flowing inside. Upon seeing Genji, a team broke off and approached the nest, cleaning up the dying flesh to search for the main storage room.
This wasn''t the first time they worked together, so the workers quickly took over the cleanup duties. Rather, this was the 7th nest Genji had destroyed over the past two days, plundering enough bio-energy to sustain the first round of expansion.
Due to the sudden nature of the income, Igani still hadn''t upgraded her nest to produce fighting units yet. That left only the workers to transport the spoils of battle, a slow process that required multiple hours. By Genji''s estimate, Igani should be getting her third shipment of energy around now.
After all that, they had uprooted the closest nests, leaving an empty area solely for Igani. As for subjugating the queens, Genji had never considered that. Disregarding their affiliations with possible empresses, Genji didn''t want to waste the energy supporting them. Why would he when Igani would soon outpace them anyway?
"I think that''s enough for today. Let''s get her lunch and head back," Genji said to Bruce, who nodded in agreement.
When they returned, Igani greeted them with an eager look, disregarding the unusualness of standing in the open for a Zerg queen. Genji could only shake his head at her desire for food, which was strong enough to change her cowardly nature.
Or rather, Igani had stopped considering all those issues when Genji mentioned food. It was hard to believe this was the same spider from a few days ago, who would hide at the slightest signs of danger. If one didn''t know better, they would mistake her for a courageous queen who charged with her army instead of manipulating units from their hiding spot.
"How much energy have you collected?" Genji asked as they waited for Igani''s meal to cook.
"Soooooo much." Igani hugged the air, trying to express the sheer volume of energy crystals but failing.
"Give me another standard. How much more do you need to finish your nest?"
"I can build everything right now," she replied.
"Then do that. Afterward, focus everything on researching the body. It might have been powerful when it was alive, but it''s only a matter of time before it rots."
Igani nodded and deployed her swarm of workers. As the nest broke down the stored energy, the workers sculpted the nearby flesh, guiding the incisions to form large lumps, which they carried aside. From there, they connected the pulsating flesh to the fungal rug, linking the flowing energy to these seeds.
Minutes later, these bulbs of flesh broke apart, sprouting upward like a demonic flower. Once it reached its peak, the top burst once more, growing downward to form the building structure. The rug below pumped more energy from the nest and fueled the structures, allowing them to fill in the gaps.
Afterward, the workers carved open an entrance and started shaping the interiors. Igani also added the corresponding cells to the command center, defining the building''s purpose. This one was meant to breed normal soldiers, the mainstream cannon fodder of the Zergs.
There was nothing special about these units, other than their efficient conversion of energy to units. Over the years, the Zergs have optimized this particular unit to its limits, forming the basis for their armies. It was so common that every queen knew how to spawn them.
The other units, however, were much rarer and depended on the queen''s own research. If they were proficient, they could spawn elite levels, but mini-boss level units were nearly impossible to mass-produce.
As such, the queens often referenced other strong creatures as a shortcut, which greatly reduced the time and innovative effort required. Because Igani gave up everything prior, she had no other genes in her storage, forcing her to start her development from scratch.
"How many crystals are left?" Genji asked once everything was finished.
"Half a nest''s worth." Igani''s gesture became smaller.
"Use it to conduct your research. When the other spoils arrive, I want you to split the crystals into batches and hide them in different tunnels."
"Why though?" Igani tilted her head, confused as to why Genji would go through all the trouble. Wouldn''t doing this only delay them when they wanted to use the crystals? There was a good reason all the queens kept everything in one place.
"Remember the escape tactic I taught you last time?"
"Yeah. How can I forget? That''s the only reason I''m still alive," she said, recalling the times she flooded her tunnel systems. Igani had used this tactic multiple times already, and each time, full of success. Because as her enemies fumbled with the jam-packed tunnels, she would have already dug an escape.
"Do you know the flaw with that technique?"
"No, what?"
"It''s that you leave your entire nest behind. You might not care when your nest was small, but it''s different now. If you give up your nest now, we will waste a lot of time. That''s not to say don''t abandon your nest when you''re in danger, but that you should be smarter with how you do it. Instead of starting from scratch every time, why don''t you store some energy crystals that you can take with you?"
When Genji finished speaking, Igani had a moment of enlightenment on her face. "You''re right. How come I never thought of that before?"
"If it does come to that point, make sure to also take the body with you. That''s our main foundation for building a strong army."
"I understand, but why are you talking as if you''re leaving?"
"That''s because I am. The current energy is no longer sufficient to sustain your development, so I''m heading further out to hunt. There''s a good chance I won''t make it back in time if something happens, so I need to prepare backup plans. In case it does, reestablish your nest and hide. I''ll come find you when I''m finished with my side."
"Okay," Igani gave a short response, understanding that nothing she could say would change Genji''s mind.
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The following morning, Genji left the nest with a trail of units behind him. It was a messy line they marched, but Genji didn''t care. It was fine as long as they could keep up with him.
Due to Genji heading straight for the central battlefield, it wasn''t long before he encountered an opposing swarm of Zergs. Without hesitation, he launched his attack, wiping out the group with a few quick strokes.
A group of soldiers broke off from the main pack to clean up the scene and transport the remains back to the nest, providing another stream of energy.
Genji pushed forward without stopping, annihilating everything in his path. Like this, Genji transitioned into an aggressive attacker from his regular hit-and-run tactics. The closer he got to the main battlefield, the more frequent the battles became.
He encountered many Beasts, Sentinels, Celestials, and Zergs, but no Parasites. Since Genji killed Diafthora, they had gone further into hiding, almost disappearing from the battlefield. Genji didn''t know if the other factions found traces of the Parasites, but he certainly hadn''t seen a hint.
Along the way, he spotted a swarm of Zergs belonging to one of Igani''s sisters. This army was particularly distinguishable since they consisted mostly of giant bees with large black and yellow stripes.
Genji followed the army from a distance, temporarily leaving Igani''s army behind. Half an hour later, he came upon a giant nest surrounded by defenses, creep carpets, and giant bees buzzing from building to building, working their jobs.
"Same as usual?" Genji asked Bruce after the nightbane manifested.
"Neeiigghhhh," Bruce responded and conjured a large stream of blood.
"Then let''s go, partner." Genji appeared beside the defenses and unleashed his attack, carving out a large chunk from the hardened walls flanking the vicinities.
As the blood covered the area, Genji charged into the base and entered the shadows. To support his stealth, Bruce removed the smell of blood from Genji and unleashed his attack.
That way, the Zergs would be misled into believing that Bruce was the only enemy, in turn allowing Genji to assassinate the queen. This was the battle plan they''d developed after working together against the previous queens.
Genji ignored the screeching units above the walls and swiftly infiltrated the nest under the cover of spawning Zergs. He capitalized on his superior stats and stealth to bypass the guards in the tunnels, making his way downward into the earth. With nothing but his senses as the guide, Genji approached the agglomeration of mental power and awaited his chance.
A few minutes later, Bruce gave him that opening when he caused a massive explosion by detonating a hydralisk tower. This instantly drew the queen''s attention, allowing Genji to lash out with his strongest strike.
The moment Genji stepped within 15 meters of the queen, her mental powers sensed his intrusion and rushed to expel him. Unfortunately, her reaction speed couldn''t keep up with his speed, causing her to sustain a deep wound near her neck before Genji got flung aside.
This queen was worthy of being one of Silver Empress''s generals as she had telekineticly shifted her body instants before the attack landed. Otherwise, the battle would have ended right there.
However, Genji had anticipated this and unleashed his recycled blood poison within that strike. After the impact faded, Genji canceled Solid Core and dashed into the tunnels, letting time weaken the queen.
"HOW DARE YOU!" A furious cry resounded in his head as strands of mental power chased after him.
During this pursuit, a wall of units blocked his path. [Jaguar] flashed with cutting intent, allowing Genji to weave through the crowd without a hint of slowing down. This also rendered the chasing mental powers useless as the intended obstacles now became Genji''s shields.
To maintain the speed, the mental power retracted into the walls and commanded them to squeeze inward. Genji slashed through the encasement and continued running, dodging surprise attacks left and right.
This chaotic motion lasted for some time before the mental fluctuations weakened in power. Sensing this, Genji retraced his steps and came upon the fallen queen. [Curse Bearer] manifested in his hand and delivered one massive shot, forcing the queen to telepathically maneuver herself out of the way.
The following explosion filled the enclosed space with violent curses, worsening the already troublesome wounds on the queen.
"Bastard! Why do you know my nest so well?!?!" The queen hollered as the last of her strength drained from her.
"Figure it out," Genji replied, but made no movements.
A few minutes later, the queen shot up from the ground and glared at Genji with eyes made of many interlocked hexagons. With this sudden vigor, her wounds started closing and forcing out the external substances. Since Genji didn''t fall for her trick, it was pointless to allow the poison to further damage her body.
"So strong, yet so cautious. You can''t be left alive."
"A lot of people feel that way, but I''m still standing here." Genji manifested his flintlock again to deliver two back-to-back shots.
A mental barrier formed between them, detonating the bullets beforehand and scattering the curses. Suddenly, Genji burst through the fog and swung down with shadow flames. The creaks of broken glass sounded as his saber approached the queen, forcing her to back off.
However, before she could get far, a large mental impact crashed into her, temporarily slowing her movements. Subsequently, the compressed cutting intent hidden within the saber shot out, extinguishing both the shadow flames and the queen''s life force.
Minutes later, Genji stepped out of the nest and greeted Igani''s troops.
"You know the deal. Scavenge what you can and destroy the rest." The unit under Igani''s direct control croaked loudly and waved its claws, indicating that she had this location covered. Genji nodded in acknowledgment and continued onward.
At the same time, on the other side of the battlefield, the Celestials'' supreme commander received another report from his generals.
"Sir! We suspect Bloodless Killer has teamed up with the Zergs. There are lines of units carrying body parts away from a battle site without blood."
Hearing this sudden report, the commander grabbed his hair and almost pulled it out from frustration. ''Bloodless Killer this, Bloodless Killer that. Can''t this guy give me a break? It''s only been two weeks since he first appeared and he''s already caused this many waves. Just how big are you planning on going?''
Despite these thoughts, the commander kept his composure and asked, "What are the chances that the Zergs are taking his kills?"
"None sir. We''ve spotted a hooded figure leading the army on a red horse."
''What the? Isn''t he from EverRealm? How can he team up with another faction''s forces?'' The commander had this thought because of Genji''s inclination for attacks. It didn''t take a genius to realize that he was purposely avoiding them, which made the commander suspect that Genji had some connection to EverRealm.
But now that Genji sided with the Zergs, the commander couldn''t help but doubt his guesses. Had everything been a coverup for this moment? If so, wouldn''t the other three factions target them to make up for their previous losses?
''What a deep scheme,'' the commander thought. ''He took advantage of our weak position to give us a false sense of security. Then, when we are in our most hectic period, he switches sides and gives the other factions an incentive to attack us. Dammit! Our situation has only gotten worse. If we aren''t careful, we might be completely wiped out.''
Realizing the Celestial''s precarious situation, his eyes sharpened and his brain raced with possibilities. How could he ensure the Celestial''s survival? If they continued along this trajectory, it was only a matter of time before the events played out accordingly. He needed to change the situation, and fast. After numerous thoughts, his brain calmed down and his eyes gleamed with decisiveness.
"We''re retreating. Pull back our forces and give up most of our territory on the central battlefield. Condense everything within our major chokepoints. We''re going into full defensive mode."
"Sir?!?" The general asked in utter disbelief. Why are they giving up so much when the situation is about to settle? They only needed to hold on for a few more days and their shipment of energy would arrive. By then, they could utilize their superweapons to restore the balance of power on the battlefield. Why are they retreating at this crucial moment?
"No time for explanations. Convey the orders. This is a matter of life and death!"
"Understood!" Sensing the seriousness in the commander''s voice, the general suppressed his questions and rushed to carry out the order.
But as he was about to make the call, the holographic machine in the commander''s office unexpectedly went haywire. Arcs of red electricity flashed around it, causing grey smoke to leak. Suddenly, a bright blue light shone through the smoke, followed by intricate circuits in the shape of a water drop.
"Information of utmost importance detected. Transmitting recording." A neutral female voice sounded before the machine exploded, leaving nothing behind.
At the same time, the commander''s assistant burst through the door. "Sir! We''ve detected an attack on our firewalls originating from your office. Is this expected?"
This caused the commander''s expression to wrap into an ugly frown, having processed everything that just occurred. ''Fuck! That''s Sentinel technology! How long has that been there? No wonder we''re always on the back foot. They wiretapped our calls! Shit! Things just went from bad to worse.''
"Sir? Your answer?" The attendant asked, having a sense of foreboding. The supreme commander had never worn this expression before so the situation must be unprecedentedly dire.
"Yes. Everything is normal. Get me another projector and connect the call to all fortress generals and commanders." The commander quickly regained his composure and suppressed the issue. Now was not the time to reveal the wiretapping. Doing so would only unnecessarily lower morale when they needed it most.
"And message Johan that pineapple does not go on pizza! I don''t care how delicious he thinks it is. If he dares mention that one more time, I will demote his ass! Relay that verbatim!"
Hearing this, the attendant inwardly relaxed. ''So it was only an argument. Phew, I thought something bad happened.''
The attendant at this fortress was no stranger to the commander''s strange outbursts when it included food, so he automatically attributed the commander''s bad mood to the conversation with the general previously on call.
''Still, I didn''t know General Johan was such a troll. Did he really call the commander to rile him up like this? Just how bored is he?''
When the attendant left, the commander inwardly sighed with relief. ''I managed to calm the issue. Sorry, Johan, but this is an emergency. I have no choice but to tarnish your reputation. If we survive this crisis, I''ll make it up to you.''
154 – Disk Delivery
Even among the Sentinels'' many technologies, the spy drone concealed in the supreme commander''s office was unique, having utilized the processor chips of the first-generation Sentinels, a rare resource that dated back to the Mecalans.
Therefore, the Sentinels had no way to replenish their stock. Every bit lost was gone for good, forcing them to consider their uses carefully before acting on it. Despite this, these chips were worthy of the Mecalan name, endowing the drone with remarkable intelligence.
This allowed the tiny drone to intercept all the information that passed through the supreme commander and decide which parts to report. Granted, the normal messages were fragmented, often containing only the core ideas expressed in a few words. However, this small notice gave the Sentinels an immense advantage over the Celestials, suppressing them without notice.
If needed, the drone could also self-destruct to crack the Celestials'' firewall and send the entire message without interference. The drone was intelligent enough to analyze the implications of each order and know which option to choose. As such, they placed heavy precedence on this drone, receiving and analyzing its messages with the utmost urgency.
This time was no different, especially when this was the drone''s last report. When the Sentinel headquarters received the video recording, they instantly initiated a video call without even watching the video first. That was how much they trusted the drone''s judgment.
In the blink of an eye, all the strongest Sentinels entered the call and instantly dissected the information in the video. Unlike the communication methods of other factions, the Sentinels could easily transmit large amounts of information within a short timeframe through their connective network.
There was no need for speech since they automatically knew the meaning behind each Sentinel''s thought process. Rather, the video call was more of a show, intended to deceive anyone who would spy on them. However, no one had ever gotten past their security measures so this trap became an unused asset.
"Confirmation of intelligence is required. Deploying squadron A81." A split second later, they arrived at this decision and ended the call. The orders were passed down to the corresponding departments and they began searching for Genji, which came easily since Genji was leading a Zerg excursion.
Multiple fighter jets flew overhead and landed in the distance, dissembling into a robot brigade that awaited Genji''s approach. The glowing eyes of the Sentinels followed Genji''s movements, giving him no choice but to approach.
"You don''t look like you''re here to fight. What do you want?" Genji asked, eying the medium-sized group. Although there was a decent number of them, they were far from matching his Zerg army. If they fought, Genji was confident he could obliterate them under the cover of Zergs.
"Inquiring your allegiance. Have you aligned yourself with the Zergs?" The sentinel at the front stepped out and asked Genji.
"Since when do you care about who I work with? "
The sentinel fell silent for a moment before bluntly asking, "To what extent will you aid the Celestials?"
Hearing this question, Genji realized something detrimental to the Celestials was eminent. Whatever it was, the Sentinels deemed it important enough to consider his involvement.
Knowing how calculative these mana golems were, Genji understood his response could determine their following plans. Despite this, Genji wasted no time in answering. "I might not care about the Celestials, but they are tied to EverRealm''s interests. If things get bad, I don''t have a choice, but to get involved."
"Understood." The sentinel''s eyes blinked with consideration as it walked back to the brigade.
Genji didn''t know what it meant by that, but it didn''t change the weirdness of this interaction. Was there any reason they had to ask him that when it was something they could already guess? Just what were they trying to confirm?
And what would happen if Genji had lied to them? It wasn''t like Genji had any reason to tell the truth. They were on opposing sides so deception should be expected. Yet despite this, the sentinel didn''t even bother with follow-up questions. No matter how Genji thought about it, he couldn''t understand their thought process.
''Their way of thinking is very different from Deep Blue''s. It''s more accepting of unforeseen outcomes, but that''s expected of a group that survived so long on the battlefield.''
At the thought of the AI overlord, Genji recalled the request it had asked of him. ''Now would be a good time to complete it. No hassle or danger. I just hope it doesn''t cause the Sentinels to turn hostile. Otherwise, I will have to completely change my plans.''
Nonetheless, Genji continued with his action, undeterred by the potential consequences. He was never one to back down from danger, so why would he change now? It might be troublesome to deal with another enemy, but it wasn''t like it would kill him.
"Hey! Take this before you leave." Genji hollered to the transforming sentinel and tossed the item.
The sentinel looked over and cautiously scanned the incoming item, barely suppressing the impulse to blast it into smithereens. If it wasn''t for Genji''s warning and its slow speed, the sentinel would have mistaken this as a sneak attack and taken that action.
''Rectangular shape detected - nonaerodynamic form and lack of energy. Incoming item is deemed safe.''
Reaching this conclusion, the sentinel reached out and caught the disk before performing a detailed scan of it. To the sentinel''s surprise, this scan revealed nothing about the disk, indicating that his knowledge bank and system level weren''t up to par for the task.
It could tell the disk was related to them since it sensed the mana circuits hidden beneath its metallic surface, but the sentinel couldn''t spot any clues about its purpose. This left him with no choice but to bring it back and consult the other sentinels.
"What is the origin of this item?" It asked Genji with a serious gleam in its eyes.
"Don''t ask. Some guy just told me to pass it to you. Now if you''ll excuse me, I''ll be leaving."
After saying those words, Genji led his army away, unwilling to get any more involved in the Sentinels'' matters.
Time continued to pass on the battlefield, with Genji continuing his battles. By now, all the factions had gotten word of his movements and started viciously attacking any Zergs they came across. Igani lost a lot of units from this, but it didn''t stop their expansion.
On this day, the battlefield underwent another unexpected change: the Sentinels withdrew from battle and retreated to their bases. They had transitioned to a full defense mode, giving up all unclaimed land.
Normally, the other factions wouldn''t pay much attention to this, since they would often do the same to consolidate their positions, but given the current context, these movements took on a different meaning.
First, it was the Parasites, who suddenly gave up all territory in the central battlefield and went into hiding. Next, it was the Celestials who retreated into their bases and relinquished the battle for the newly freed resources. Now, it was the Sentinels, who also followed in the footsteps of the Celestials for no reason.
This left only the Beasts and Zergs to contest, something they were deeply uncomfortable with. If it was only one or two factions, they could attribute it to coincidence and luck, but three made it a majority. As a result, the remaining factions couldn''t help but feel wary about the situation.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Did they overlook an important piece of information or was this retreat orchestrated? Were they being schemed against? Just what did they miss, and should they be concerned about it?
These confusions caused the Zergs and Beasts to temporarily cease their battles. They couldn''t afford to be bogged down by each other when the majority of factions were planning something from the dark. For now, they would watch the currents and see if they could follow the trend. For all they knew, this could be the opportunity they needed to finally cripple their competition.
As such, the most intense battlefield on the planet entered a calm state, awaiting the spark to reignite the battle. It was a looming sensation, like the calm before the storm, foretelling the tumultuous times ahead.
When the Celestials heard about this development, the supreme commander became very confused. Why did everyone stop fighting? What is going on? Why did it feel like they were falling behind on information? And why was everyone turtling like them? This was a battlefield, not a game of monkey see, monkey do!
Shouldn''t the conflict be at its peak right now? This was the prime time to expand their territories! Why were they giving up such an opportunity? The Celestials had to because of their circumstances, but that didn''t warrant the other factions to follow them.
Plus, why were the Sentinels so calm? Shouldn''t they be making the most moves right now? If they didn''t want to attack them, shouldn''t they at least instigate the remaining factions to do so? It wasn''t like them to give up such an easy follow-up.
The Sentinels spent all that effort to steal their intelligence, yet they weren''t acting on it? It doesn''t make sense. Just what were they trying to do? The supreme commander had all these questions, but no answers. This resulted in more sleepless days, all of which were spent trying to comprehend the other faction''s motives.
But what he will never understand is that the true reason behind this confusion lies in the disk that Genji passed to the Sentinels. After obtaining it, the sentinel brought the disk back to their headquarters and initiated another meeting. After putting together all their processing powers, they finally got a hint about the disk.
By matching the inherent mana circuits to a corresponding container, they could amplify the patterns to display the internal data. However, this step alone took them a few hours since customizing such a machine required high precision in manufacturing equipment.
After creating this display and connecting the mana circuits to form a continuous section, they were finally able to access the stored contents. Upon opening the data file, they discovered a jumbled signal frequency that nearly fried their circuits upon retrieval.
Despite these dangers, this didn''t deter the Sentinels but rather sparked a fervor for studying the disk. That was because stored within their databases, was an ancient method of encryption that would create the same result. It was a method created by the Mecalans to ensure perfect encapsulation of information.
It was a needlessly complicated method that ensured no one, but them would be able to decrypt the information. To do so would require knowledge and mastery over machinery that was characteristic of them. As such, any inheritors of their technology could assured that the information was from one of their own.
But as unique as this method was, it was also this complication that caused the method to fall into obscurity. It was simply too cumbersome and time costly to decode. Even with a prebuilt machine and knowledge of the method, it would take hours, if not days, to unscramble, depending on the size of the piece.
While it was fine for crucial information, it would be a nightmare for everyday use. Imagine having to spend hours every day just to read a text message sent by a friend. But the final nail in the coffin wasn''t that, but because no one even came close to cracking it.
The closest they got was an encryption 7 levels below it in difficulty. Mind you, this isn''t a linear increase, but an exponential one. So why would they spend the time and resources using the most complex encryption when they could achieve the same result with a simpler one? As such, this method had been retracted into their databases, left to be forgotten about.
But now that they saw such a method, they couldn''t afford to neglect it. How could they, when a fellow inheritor of Mecalan technology went through all this effort? Even if it was a simple greeting, they would unwaveringly push on.
With the enthusiasm of the entire faction, they finally managed to decode the message after two days.
"Come find me."
It was a simple statement, but it made all the difference to the battlefield, being the main reason for Sentinels'' retreat. In their eagerness to follow this request, they withdrew all their forces and focused them on calculating the possible locations of their fellow inheritor.
However, this was easier said than done due to the sheer size of the galaxy. Assuming they would be looking for a similar signal frequency, they would need to explore the countless planets before they discover a clue.
If they were unlucky, this could take them hundreds of years, rendering this quest pointless in the end. After all, who knows if the messenger would still be alive by then?
Just for comparison, it would be easier to find a specific particle of sand in a desert than to trace this signal. After all, there are more planets in the universe than grains of sand on a single planet.
Luckily, they had a method to bypass this problem, which was why they dared undertake this task in the first place. Nonetheless, it would still take a decent amount of time to achieve.
To ensure maximum efficiency, the Sentinels outside this planet also sent out spaceships to explore the galaxy. They had literally mobilized their entire civilization for this one task. The goal of the ships was to record the signal frequencies of each solar system and send back the data for the Sentinels.
That way, they can make generalizations about the frequencies in the star field, essentially eliminating it from the equation. Using the sand analogy from before, this is like using a metal detector on small piles of sand. If it beeps, set the pile aside for later consideration. Otherwise, they know the pile is useless for their cause.
From there, they will conduct multiple rounds of screenings, each getting more specific until they find their target. And if they could find a pattern for that section of the galaxy, they would be able to eliminate that whole area, saving them a plethora of time.
It sounds complicated, but the hardest part of this process is actually gathering the data, not the generalization. That''s because all Sentinels were supercomputers, capable of performing countless calculations at once.
Finding patterns from a set of information is their specialty, and with the entire civilization working on this problem, it is only a matter of time before they solve it.
But no matter how good their processors are, they need to have data to work with, which is what they''re stuck on. After all, they could only gather so much data within this short timeframe. So all they could do now was wait and pray for the peace. Only in tranquility could they preserve their forces for the task.
However, like all calms before the storm, the peace was short-lived. Ironically, it was disrupted by Genji, the very trigger that started it. Before his hunting efficiency could fall from the peace, he was thrown into another battle that would have lasting effects on the battlefield.
As he was finishing the day, a Zerg unit stumbled up to him and committed suicide by tearing its own head off. Seeing this, his eyes dilated before letting out an annoyed sigh. This was the signal he and Igani agreed on if her nest got attacked. Specifically, it represented the fall of her nest and her relocation.
"I expected this, but it is still annoying. Come along. Let''s go find her," he said to Bruce, who gave the corpse a strange look, unaware of the significance behind it. This was no surprise since Bruce was absent when they discussed the cue.
"And before you ask, no, the Zerg did not commit suicide to mess with me. Igani and I are cooperating perfectly fine."
Bruce rolled his eyes, somewhat doubting his statement. Some "cooperation" this was, endangering his partner without her consent.
For the next two days, they followed the compass until they arrived at a small hill. This was where Igani had rebuilt her nest, concealing the fleshy structures beneath the soil.
It was honestly an ingenious location for hiding, but it did little for the defensive structures. The moment defenses were set up, the nest would be instantly revealed. After all, nothing screams "Zerg nest" more than a giant tower of flesh and bones.
Genji walked through a small opening at the side of the hill and came upon a hollow interior full of supporting beams made from hardened keratin. Leaving the Zerg army behind, Genji walked through the maze-like tunnels and found Igani at the deepest parts.
She was sleeping peacefully when he entered, but this quickly changed when he dangled some roast over a lighter, reheating it to saturate the room with a meaty aroma.
"Hmmmm, what''s that smell? Has it been so long that I started dreaming about the smell of roast meat?" She asked herself as she stirred from her slumber.
"No, this is real." Genji''s voice caused her to open her eyes and give him a drowsy glance.
"Oh, you''re back," she said with a yawn.
"Here. It''s still cold, but it should be better than nothing." Genji held the chunk to her mouth. "Tell me about who attacked you."
"It''s the Parasites."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I can''t mistake the portals they used and those weird guys in strange robes. There''s also a guy in purple armor that caused my nest to wither away."
Hearing these descriptions, Genji knew he had his culprits. It wasn''t as if they were trying to hide the fact either. However, this attack brought more problems than wasted time and energy.
Due to being marked, the Parasites knew Genji''s position at all times. Consequently, they were aware that Genji had lingered in one area longer than usual, attracting their suspicions and revealing Igani''s existence.
This was Genji''s main worry since the Parasites would now do everything in their power to stunt Igani''s growth. It would be foolish of them not to when she would otherwise become a major obstacle to their revenge.
''This is earlier than I hoped, but I don''t have a choice. I need to get rid of them if I want a chance against Silver Empress.''
155 – Fall of Parasites
To prepare for the upcoming battle, Genji took a trip outside the nest. He went alone this time, leaving Bruce behind to handle any unexpected situations. Igani was delighted about this decision since she could finally receive her agreed-upon meals.
When he distanced himself from the nest, he took out his compass and designated his target. "Track the closest parasitized beast."
At his request, the pointer spun around for a few seconds before coming to a stop, 20 degrees to his left. With his direction fixed, Genji unleashed his fastest speed, flashstepping into the distance.
This was an inefficient use of stamina, but Genji cared more about the saved time. In his current situation, he couldn''t afford to delay, as it would only give his enemies more time to prepare.
Genji had no intentions of allowing that since he wanted to seize the initiative. Instead of defending passively and burying his head like an ostrich, hoping the storm would pass, he preferred to have one conclusive battle to decide his fate. At least this way, he didn''t have to experience the impasse of indecision.
Because sometimes, it wasn''t the decision that was most unsettling, but the suspense before it. That feeling of the unknown would only grow with time, undermining one''s determination and leading to muddleheadedness. Genji didn''t want to fall into such a state so he chose to fight, even if it would claim his life.
Half an hour later, the compass turned again, leading Genji to a group of lumbering dinosaurs. Genji unleashed his strongest attacks without delay, rapidly decimating the group. In the end, only two of the smallest beasts remained, writhing on the ground with their limbs missing.
Genji approached these two with a chain, tying them together before dragging them onto a makeshift wagon. From there, he spent the next few hours transporting the specimens back to the nest.
"Give me an empty room," he requested as he returned.
"What are you trying to do?" Igani curiously asked, unable to take her eyes off the dried blood smeared on the wooden plank. By now, the dinosaurs had lost all signs of life, having bled out on the trip to become a final residence for the parasites within.
"Understand my enemies. Call Bruce to join me," he replied before dragging the bodies underground and into a newly hollowed room.
A few minutes later, Bruce entered the room with a roasted leg dangling from his mouth, a remnant of his meal. He looked up and spotted a bloody Genji hovering over two chunks of meat, dismembering them with indifferent precision.
Startled by this unexpected brutality, Bruce''s jaws dropped, releasing his food. Luckily, he quickly reacted and caught the roast before it hit the ground. ''Master, what are you doing? We''re not filming a horror movie. Why are you being so psychotic?''
"You''re here," Genji said, swinging his dagger to remove the excess blood. "Come over and help me out."
Bruce put the roast back into his mouth and cleaned the blood off of Genji on his approach. ''What''s this for?'' Bruce gestured as he looked down on the wiggling pile of parasites.
"Research. I need you to hold them down and keep them alive as I run some experiments. It shouldn''t be too hard, right?"
Bruce shook his head but shot Genji a puzzled look. What exactly were they trying to research and why? Seeing Genji had no intention of answering, Bruce controlled the blood inside the worms and restrained their motions. Due to the sheer difference in their strengths, Bruce had no trouble manipulating them.
In the meantime, Genji sheathed his daggers and took out his scientific equipment, consisting of flasks, Petri dishes, tweezers, and some liquid solutions.
"Let''s get started then. We have a lot of tests to run," Genji said, releasing his tautly pulled disposable gloves, filling the air with a crisp snapping sound.
Suddenly, Bruce felt a sudden faint shudder from the worms, which he dismissed as his imagination. After all, how could the worms feel fear when they''re such simple-minded creatures? And could they even understand them?
Hours later, Genji walked out of the room, peeling off his sweat-drenched gloves before tossing them aside. Behind him, Bruce followed with a blank look, feeling a sense of pity for their victims. In these long hours, Bruce had seen a new side of Genji, one that put any mad scientist to shame.
Igani also had a traumatized look on her face, having watched the beginning of the experiment. However, it eventually became too much for her, and she retracted her mental powers after the first hour.
"I''m done, Igani. The room''s all yours," Genji said, taking his results outside to continue his preparations.
Hearing this, Igani peeked into the lab and winced at the corpses, if you could even call it that. Everything had been minced into tiny pieces, each doused in a different chemical before being piled in the corner. Now, only a mound of tissue fibers remained with a toxic blend trickling out beneath.
''Poor worms. I don''t know what you did to deserve that, but I hope you rest in peace. Peace? Pieces? Errrr, that doesn''t sound like a good prayer.'' Seized by this awkwardness, Igani decided to bury the room with dirt and stone, unwilling to think about the issue any further.
The following morning, Genji made his final preparations by carefully inserting a tiny capsule into the back of his mouth. He didn''t know how useful it would be, but he was doing everything he could to improve his chances.
After ensuring that he wouldn''t accidentally break the capsule and release its contents at an inopportune time, he set off with a sea of Zergs. Using his compass, Genji led this endless army straight for Parasite territory.
The other factions noticed their movements but did nothing to stop them. There was still an unknown scheme in the background, so they didn''t want to jump out and attract unwanted attention.
For all they knew, that might be all that was needed to break the already fragile balance. Plus, why would they stop Genji when he was testing the waters for them? It never hurts to be careful on the battlefield.
As such, Genji''s journey was unimpeded, allowing him to reach Parasite borders by nightfall. Instead of stopping to rest like normal, he urged the army to speed up, hoping to finish the fight before daybreak.
The rustling of insect shells rubbing against each other echoed into the night, chirping louder than any summer cricket. Genji took in all this chaotic symphony and regulated his mind, slowly approaching his peak state. His chest rose and fell at even frequencies, creating a therapeutic effect on his tense muscles.
When he opened his eyes again, he spotted an opposing army of parasitized units. Zergs, Beasts, Celestials, you name it, they have it. Between them, there were also otherworldly species that filled the gaps in their small numbers, boosting an equally expansive sea of troops. Realm members also dotted the backlines, ready to support their faction in battle.
Genji swung his arm down and ordered the start of the war. The troops at the front charged forward, creating a stampede effect that slammed into the enemy ranks. A scene of carnage broke out across the field, sending dismembered bodies everywhere.
As this was happening, Genji slid off the saddle and turned to the unit housing Igani''s consciousness. "I''ll leave this area to you two. Try to delay them for as long as possible."
The bug nodded in understanding while Bruce gave a soft whimper, knowing this might be his last farewell. However, Bruce quickly adjusted himself, having gotten somewhat used to Genji''s life-threatening scenarios.
At least this time, he could help Genji instead of having to hopelessly watch from the side.
Genji waved his goodbyes and blended into the darkness, making his way past the clashing armies. After traveling for some time, Genji was blocked by a legion of beast-inhibiting parasites. Their large glowy eyes reflected the dim moonlight, eerily looking in Genji''s direction.
Genji revealed himself, knowing that his position had already been compromised. Just like how his compass pointed at the legion center, the Parasite King could sense his approximate location through his inheritance marking. It was an open battle, no matter how they hid.
At this moment, the legion parted ways, opening a path inward. At the end of the path, a tall figure in full-body red-black armor sat upon a throne of bones. His elbow rested on the eroded skeletal framework, supporting his angled head.
Tints of darkness accentuated the hooks in his armor, giving the figure an uncanny atmosphere. Genji also noticed multiple spiky protrusions around his compact body, indicating his monstrous nature.
Although the parasites donned a humanoid shape, the aura they gave off was anything but human. Beside the seated figure, another armored being in purple stood, indifferent to Genji''s presence.
"Since you''ve come to die, I''ll fulfill your wish," Aposynthesi said, commanding the parasites to surround Genji.
"Yes, it''s time to end this bad karma once and for all," Genji responded, taking out two flasks: one with a liquid the color of chalk-like ivory, and the other filled with a thin, light gray fluid. He popped off both corks and poured the second bottle into the first, mixing it vigorously before smashing it into the ground.
A whitish mist blanketed the area and drilled into the surrounding dinosaur''s clogged pores. The drug took effect almost immediately, filling the area with loud bestial roars. Their large bodies also stumbled around, losing their footing as their muscles contracted weirdly.
Then they collapsed, losing all control of their bodies. No matter how the parasites tried to stimulate their host''s nervous system, the bodies refused to respond. Rather, the parasites started feeling sluggish from the effort and the temptation of sleep became all the more enticing with each passing moment.
Eventually, they succumbed to this droopiness and entered the land of dreams. Genji expected this outcome because he developed this substance to target the parasites nesting inside. No matter how strong the host was, it meant nothing if the pilot fell asleep.
However, this drug only induced sleep and posed no harm. If he wanted to kill them, he would need to do it himself. This was the best Genji could do given his short time and limited specimens, but it was enough to let him fight his foes undisturbed.
Genji thumped his chest multiple times, instructing his energy to rampage before provocatively pointing his daggers at the seated figure.
"It''s only us now. Let''s decide our fates with one final battle."
200 years ago, the planet of Proelefsi was a normal planet in its microbial stages of development. Single-celled organisms were everywhere, and the planet was covered in a deep blue ocean. Landmass was nonexistent, and the ocean remained undivided.
There was no separation of the seas, and the planet flourished with development. Aquatic creatures of all kinds evolved during this time, spawning countless variations. Some creatures were small, undetectable to the human eye, while others were ahead of their time, reaching the size of a baby''s fist.
Some had whiskers that waved around them like antennas of insects, sensing the vibrations in their environment. A handful had faint protrusions and indents, foreshadowing the unique features they would later evolve.
It was a beautiful era where life blossomed more than dandelions after a spring rain. There was no doubt that if the planet were given enough time, it would birth a marvelous civilization full of youthfulness and purity, one that would reflect its mother planet.
Many wonders would appear, regardless of form or species, and attract the admiration of the stars above. And eventually, it would step into the higher worlds, becoming a scenic retort for all transcendentalists and known as the "Jewel of the Starry Seas."
All of this sounded idyllic, but it was a shame that this was never meant to be. On that fateful day, a meteor fell into the planet''s atmosphere at immense speeds, igniting to fill the air with more fumes than a volcanic eruption.
Luckily, most of the surface was ocean, greatly diminishing the impact damage. If it had been any normal planet, then this meteor would have easily destroyed the atmosphere, turning the life-filled planet into a dead one.
However, this was only the start of the disaster, since an unknown energy leaked from the meteor. This energy mixed with the ocean currents and spread across the world at breakneck speeds, becoming a source of mutation.
Countless creatures absorbed this energy without notice, slowly becoming more aggressive and irritable. It wasn''t apparent at first, but it eventually showed its effects when certain social creatures suddenly lashed out against their companions over the most insignificant of reasons.
That was the start of a bloody era, full of death and unjustified violence. Creatures tore each other apart for no reason, losing themselves in their madness and instincts.
The remaining creatures tried their best to resist these outliers, but newly converted creatures would always join their ranks. There were many instances where they lost their reason and attacked their allies, creating distrust for any teamwork.
Eventually, it became so bad that all resemblances of order disappeared from the ocean, becoming a battlefield solely for survival. For two whole years, the once beautiful deep blue ocean took on a pinkish hue, testifying to the massacres that happened in this period.
But no matter how the creatures resisted, they ultimately succumbed to the meteor''s influence, becoming mad like the others. Ironically, this was also the stablest period in this era. When everyone''s insane, no one''s insane.
As such, all life accepted the norm of violence and built a new order on the ruins of the old. During this time, creatures did everything to evolve stronger traits, killing and devouring everything in their path.
They didn''t care that this model was unsustainable since they could only survive with strength. If they were to let up once, they would be surpassed the following day, becoming the nourishment for another being.
As such, they wantonly plundered the planet''s resources, sending it into a decline. By now, the pristine jewel was no more, having been marred by the very children it birthed.
Nonetheless, there was one area that maintained its calm, unaffected by the turmoil around it. When the meteor first landed, the impact killed most life in the area. Those who survived the catastrophe were displaced by the torrential currents it caused, forming a zone devoid of life.
The escaping energy also killed anything that approached this zone, being too potent for their fragile bodies. It wasn''t until the water diluted it multiple times that the strongest creatures could withstand it.
Due to the high concentration of energy, these creatures were the first to fall, becoming rampant disasters to all nearby life. The beings who could survive in this area were already among the strongest on the planet, so this energy brought them to a new level.
After some time, the strongest creatures awakened the instinct for dominance and set out to claim their own territories, leaving the weaker ones to struggle for limited resources.
However, this later proved to be a mistake since the creatures realized they grew faster when they were closer to the void zone. At the time, they didn''t know this was due to the higher concentration of energy, but it couldn''t hide the phenomenon.
Over the next twenty years, these starved predators gradually dispersed into the wider seas, becoming hegemons of their area. Those who once oppressed them now became their servants, groveling for their lives.
With this new dynamic, conflicts also formed between rivals. Battles between resources and prey reached a new level, eventually devolving into a battle between fellow overlords. Many of them were once peaceful neighbors, a relationship that fell apart over the years due to their desire for power.
Among these battles, many losers and few winners emerged. Those who won their battles expanded their territories, obtaining enough resources to take another step forward.
The losers were typically devoured, fueling their opponent''s evolution. It was a bloody process, but not all predators met this fate. Among this group, there was one predator lucky enough to survive the battle and flee the scene.
His opponent also gave chase, unwilling to spare his foe. After so many years of battle, all the creatures knew that they needed to eliminate their foes or risk retaliation.
With how fast the world was evolving, it was only a matter of time before their enemies returned for revenge. By then, they would be taking a huge gamble on whether they would win the fight. Since that was so risky, they might as well remove all potential threats while they still can.
The loser of this battle knew this and fled for his life, traveling further than he ever had. He went through the territories of other overlords, disregarding how provocative it was.
He dived into the darkest seas and swam into the densest corals, pushing every trait to its limits. But no matter what he tried, he couldn''t lose his pursuer. This sent him into despair, but he refused to give up. In a way, the creatures in this era were very similar to a certain nightmare we all know.
After several days of pursuit, the creature was on the verge of death when he sensed a foreign energy. Desperate to survive, he rampantly absorbed it without any consideration, mutating faster than the blink of an eye. This transformation gave him enough power to counterattack and kill his hunter.
However, the creature quickly followed in his enemy''s footsteps as his body broke down from the overbearing energy. Even after so many years of evolution, the inhabitants of this world still couldn''t bear the meteor''s tyrannical energy.
In the creature''s mindless escape, he had unknowingly returned to the void zone that once gave him so much power.
Nonetheless, it didn''t stop the world from trying. After realizing the creature had gained immense power by approaching the meteor, they abandoned their territories and pilgrimage there, hoping to gain more power.
This led to a congregation of powerful beings around the area, unwittingly starting another bloodbath. After so many years of conflict, there were bound to be grudges among the group.
Despite this, the area quickly settled down after a few days, leaving only curiosity about the mysterious area. The creatures explored for some time before realizing the path to power was right before them. All they needed to do was traverse it and adapt to the energy.
As such, each creature did its best to further enter the void zone. Those who got further evolved faster, leaving their peers behind. They weren''t even on the same level after a few days.
This difference was so big that the creatures started judging strength based on the distance traversed rather than body size. It didn''t matter how small they were - as long as they went deeper than the others, the energy would make up the difference. This was now a matter of compatibility and strength instead of evolution progress.
This distance-pushing craze lasted another twenty years before the strongest creatures reached the center of the void zone. From there, it became a deadlock since they couldn''t push any further.
If they tried, their bodies would instantly break down from the huge spike in energy intensity. For comparison, if their current area had a difficulty of 8, then the core zone was at 112!
It was not a difference they could make up given their circumstances. Regardless, these apex predators refused to give up and hovered around the border between the two zones. They gradually increased their strength and bided their time, waiting for the breakthrough point.
For ten whole years, nothing changed about the situation. The creatures grew stronger, but they hadn''t moved an inch. It was a deadlock with no end. This caused some to become restless and test their luck.
To no one''s surprise, they joined the generations before them in death, solidifying the reputation of the forbidden zone. Anyone who dared enter would only meet the same fate. That was taken for granted, but what they didn''t know was that there were, in fact, signs of life inside the zone.
One of the perished creatures had been pregnant and released a small egg on death. Miraculously, this egg survived the onslaught of energy and perfectly adapted to it, an unbelievable feat for its fragile state.
The egg feasted on the energy and incubated for several years, laying dormant before finally hatching. When the shell broke, a black creature with red stripes emerged. The creature was unlike anything the planet had seen before, emitting a dark and dangerous aura that threatened to erode the water around it.
It also possessed a self-awareness abnormal to newborns, having been blessed with terrifying potential after being nurtured by the unknown energy since its premature birth.
Its shifty eyes darted around, observing the surroundings and searching for the origin of the delicious energy. When it realized the source was nowhere in sight, it settled for a higher concentration area and devoured the leaking energy.
After satisfying its hunger, it searched for a home. Its only requirement was that it would have more energy than its current location. This request was easily fulfilled after a few minutes of travel, prompting the creature to do better. So it kept searching.
And searching. It wasn''t content even after traversing 8 zones because it knew this wasn''t the limit. It had been so easy to find these areas, so it should be possible to find a better one.
Like this, the creature followed the energy concentration back to the meteor and made it his home. It took a while to carve a hole, but it managed with its rapidly strengthening physique.
There, it stayed for the next 25 years, growing and evolving, unbeknownst to everyone. The creatures outside noticed the energy concentration decrease in these years but didn''t think much of it. There was plenty of it to go around anyway.
At least that was what they thought until the energy dried up. In their panic, the creatures entered to investigate, following the same path that the hatchling had taken before. In the end, they discovered the meteor and the hatchling living inside. They couldn''t believe their eyes when they saw this, but their urgency suppressed the disbelief.
Instead, they attacked the hatchling, believing it was responsible for the sudden loss of energy. They weren''t wrong, but the main reason was that their instincts urged them to devour this foe. It told them that if they managed to do this, they would achieve a level of evolution unmatched by others.
This feeling was so strong that it caused them to lose their minds and fall into the same madness that started this era. Unfortunately, these were merely delusions in their minds as the hatchling easily repelled them and unleashed a fierce counterattack. No, "counterattack" is not the correct word. It was more of a one-sided massacre.
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Every. Single. Predator. Dead! Just like that, the era lost all its strongest beings. This revelation shocked the world so much that this area became a forbidden zone once again.
All the creatures avoided it like the plague and split the world into five sections, consisting of the hatchling''s central area and the four cardinal directions.
That marked the start of the third era in the planet''s history. For the next 25 years, the four seas did everything they could to surpass the levels of the previous era. Since they couldn''t absorb energy from the meteor anymore, they settled for an extreme method: plundering it from others.
It was the same method as the first era, but there was more collective energy due to the passing of time. It was also the most brutal era since the entire ocean transformed into a deep, dark red. It was so strong that one could taste iron in the air.
The battles were equally intense to maintain this color, resembling the process of nurturing gu. Treating the oceans as the jars, and creatures as the gus, these beings massacred each other until only one remained from each ocean.
This was the limit in concentrating the energy spread across the oceans. After this, it would be difficult to find another strand of energy. The ocean had been cleansed of all pollutants, returning to its untarnished state.
The only problem was that the four disasters had literally consumed the entire ocean to reach this point, turning the seas into a desolate graveyard.
If they wanted to grow further, they would need to either devour each other or attack the tyrant in the meteor. They chose the latter since they weren''t confident in defeating the hatchling even after consuming the other three.
It would be more effective to team up and split the hunt. That way, they could all grow stronger or die trying.
So they gathered and confronted the hatchling, but the result was self-evident. Rather, it was worse than before since the hatchling had only gotten stronger. It didn''t even take much effort this time.
But instead of killing them, the hatchling gave them the choice of submission. The four disasters weren''t keen on dying, so they bowed their heads, acknowledging the hatching as their king.
Afterward, the plague disaster asked why he spared them. What was the point of being a king when they were the only beings left in the world?
To answer that question, the king brought them to the meteor and channeled his powers. A few seconds later, a mind wave swept over them, filling their heads with intent.
"If you are listening to this, then it means you''ve reached the threshold to become an envoy candidate. Congratulations on passing the first test. Your next test is to step into the cosmos and temper your strength. If you somehow manage to reach the third step, come find me in the world of Aeternum. I''ll tell you the next step in mastering my power. And remember, I am Azoloth, The Horned One."
After the message finished playing, another wave of information flooded their minds, inducing them to thrash around wildly.
Tsunamis formed from their motions, causing a tremendous disturbance in the area and demonstrating their massive bodies. It was fortunate that the area was entirely ocean, or the planet would have one more sunken island.
When they calmed down again, they realized their minds had been engraved with a foreign piece of information. Now, they would never forget since the branding would rekindle their memories. It was a perfect transfer of knowledge, consisting of everything they needed to know about conjuring portals.
Subsequently, they comprehended the implications behind the message and reawakened their desire for power. Now that they understood the vastness of the universe, they refused to be confined by their planet. It was the same sentiment as their king, which answered their prior question.
Excited by the possibility of further growth, they opened a portal and attacked a neighboring world. It was a simple invasion since none of the inhabitants could match them.
Like this, they repeated the massacre that scarred their home planet. Doomsday had started early for this planet.
Through this conquest, they also discovered two crucial points. The first was that their massive bodies were terribly inefficient for crossing through portals. To fit their size, they had to exhaust themselves multiple times before they could enter.
The second point was that the massacre had a negligible effect on their progress. Their energy demand had surpassed what normal planets could provide, especially when divided between the five of them.
To combat these issues, the parasites settled on two solutions. They would evolve their bodies to become smaller, thereby condensing their powers and increasing their mobility. They spent the next decade achieving that, shrinking their behemoth bodies down to the size of a small building.
After that, they decided to split up and develop on their own. That way, they only had themselves to blame if they fell behind. Finally, they agreed to meet again after some time to consolidate their gains and elect a new king.
With the possibility of evolution before them, none of the four disasters were content with their position and wanted to challenge the throne.
The king graciously accepted, and they set off, unleashing their catastrophe upon their starfield. Somewhere along the line, the five of them obtained humanoid forms and subdued civilizations to expand their armies.
For 40 years, they rampaged across the starfield, destroying one world after the other before reuniting again.
However, only four of them returned, with the plague disaster gone missing. It was a somber realization since Panolis had always been punctual. He would never have missed this reunion if he could help it. That left his death as the only explanation.
What a terrifying world they live in, to think someone of their level would die so suddenly.
Due to this unexpected occurrence, the agreed-upon battle never occurred, and the king kept his position. It didn''t matter since the group was convinced by his ability.
Still, they set aside their melancholy and headed for the stars, attacking the next starfield over. Like this, the Parasites grew in power, conquering one starfield after the other.
But at the peak of their growth, they were obstructed by the four factions. Due to the factions'' vast civilization and powers, they had already colonized most of the galaxy and shifted their conflicts onto the Spatial Battlefield.
If the Parasites wanted to expand any further, they would need to fight there instead of invading starfields. They didn''t have a choice since they couldn''t bear the consequences of breaking the agreement.
However, this raised a different problem since the battlefield wasn''t something any civilization could fight in. Many species had tried, but they rarely survived for long. There was a good reason why only four factions were acknowledged by Eternal Void.
Not only did these species lose their strongest warriors, but they also lost their territory, becoming mere vassals to the main four. After countless examples of this, these weaker civilizations lost their ambitions and accepted their powerlessness.
Nonetheless, the Parasites remained undaunted by this fact and dived headfirst into the battlefield. Since they were the most recent addition, they were also the weakest group. They didn''t have the troops that the factions did, making it very difficult to defend their territories.
As such, they decided to snatch troops from them. Applying Prosarozo''s mutation and Diaftora''s assimilation, the group managed to create a parasite that simulated Panolis''s infection, which would go on to become the body snatchers that made up their armies.
After several fierce conflicts, the group finally stabilized their situation and gained time to evolve. In turn, they obtained a permanent foothold and became the fifth major faction on the battlefield.
The Reapers and Balancers were excluded because they weren''t involved in the territory conflict. The Reapers were only interested in death while Balancers were the referees. To the civilizations in this galaxy, these two groups were outsiders and wouldn''t interfere with their livelihoods. Thus, they didn''t need to pay attention to them unless they planned on entering the battlefield.
The same couldn''t be said for the five major factions because they could become their rulers at any cycle. To maximize their chances of survival, they would need to understand their overseers'' preferences and adapt accordingly. Otherwise, they might experience an aggravating death over a trivial detail that could have been easily prevented.
This was especially true for the Parasites, who had achieved a legendary level of growth, going from underdogs to a respectable threat. And now, Genji stood before these beings, baring his weapons and challenging their positions.
"Is that what you think?" the seated king asked with an emotionless voice. "Because to me, you''re merely an ant I can easily crush."
With those words, he conjured a curved red staff and pushed himself off the seat.
[Special stat surpasses the target by a decent amount. The power of the target is in a higher step than yours. Obtaining 42% of the target''s information.]
[King of Parasites, Epivlavis]
Health: 39,700/39,700
Baleful Energy: 2,500/2,500
Con: 47
Str: 48
Dex: 45
Int: 50
Spc: 41
Skills:
- High lord (Passive): +30,000 hp
- Parasitic Evolution (Passive): Consume other creatures to permanently strengthen your stats.
- Body of Baleful Harm (Passive): +5,000 hp, your energy takes on a baleful trait.
- Unusual Weapon Mastery (Supreme): Effect cannot be read.
- Grievous Injuries (Passive): When you injure a foe, their wounds will resist all healing effects below medium priority and worsen with time. If untreated, this wound will be their demise.
- Portal Opening (Active): Consume energy to open a portal between two locations. The bigger the distance and the longer the duration, the higher the energy cost.
- Blink (Active): Instantly teleport anywhere within a 20-meter radius.
- Weapon Conjuring (Active): Form any weapon with your energy.
- Connate Weapon Formation (Active/Passive): Form a connate weapon from your flesh, blood, and bones. This weapon will live and grow with you, becoming your greatest tool. You can retract and summon it at will. When retracted, it cannot be sensed. If you die, this weapon will follow you. If it breaks, you will also sustain a severe injury.
No other skills can be read
[Special stat surpasses the target by a large margin. No interference was detected. Obtaining 100% of the target''s information.]
[General of Decay, Aposynthesi]
Health: 27,100/27,100
Decaying Energy: 960/960
Con: 46
Str: 47
Dex: 43
Int: 48
Spc: 36
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +20,000 hp
- Body of Decay (Passive): +2,500 hp, energy takes on a decaying trait.
- Parasitic Evolution (Passive): Same as above.
- Portal Opening (Active): Same as above.
- Sword Mastery (Grandmaster)
- Decaying Wounds (Passive): Injuries caused by your attacks will lose all life and decay. If the corroded part isn''t cut off, it will continue to drain the nearby life force until the target is dead.
- Sword of Decay (Active/Passive): Conjure a large sword with your energy. Injuries dealt by the sword will wither at a rapid pace.
- Life Plundering (Active): Channel your energy to forcibly cause a target to wither away. The more energy used, the more life force is destroyed. Maximum range of 50 meters.
- Aura of Decomposition (Passive): Hostile targets will experience a constant weakening. Range of 25 meters.
- Crippling of Strength (Active): Swipe out with your hand and cause a target to temporarily lose all their strength. The duration of this effect depends on their constitution stat.
- Grasp of Paralysis (Active): Lock one arm in place and forcibly paralyze a target. As long as your arm doesn''t move, the target will be under this effect. All forms of resistance from the target will be borne by your arm.
- Rotting Embrace (Active): Summon tendrils of decay to entangle a target. Each tendril will weaken the target''s resistance to status effects and their defense. Effects can stack.
- Ultimate: Cursed Grounds (Active): Spread all your energy to form a rotting field around you. When within this field, you will obtain a buff to all energy-related skills and enemies will experience a hindrance. The exact degrees depend on your remaining energy upon casting. Cooldown of 15 days.
- Ultimate: The Embodiment of Decay is Me (Active): Burn your life and energy to unleash an area of absolute decay. A countdown of 15 seconds will begin. Every second, the area locked on by you will experience varying degrees of decomposition. By the end, all matter will return to dust and disappear. Cooldown of 2 months.
Genji had a dark grimace when these stats flashed before his eyes.
''As expected of two of the strongest beings on the battlefield.''
Whereas Aposynthesi had countless abilities centered around decay and debuffs, Genji couldn''t even see through Epivlavis. Not only was Epivlavis in the 3rd step, but he also had weapon mastery at the Supreme level.
Genji was outmatched in every way, but it was too late to back down now. Strength coursed through his veins as Berserk activated, increasing his physical stats to match his opponents. Then, he suddenly appeared in front of Epivlavis and launched two swift strikes.
The red staff intercepted both attacks with a fierce twist before shifting outward to strike Genji''s chest. Genji dug his feet into the ground and used it as leverage to bring his daggers down.
At this moment, both combatants simultaneously unleashed their follow-ups. Genji exhaled and manifested Cocoon, catching Epivlavis within the border while the parasite''s staff morphed around his daggers to slice his wrists.
Both of them sensed the incoming danger and backed off, leaving small nicks on the targeted area. From this exchange, Genji was assured that his attacks could still fatally injure his foes, unlike his skirmishes against the beast kings.
Suddenly, a sword of decay swept at Genji, disrupting his retreat. Aposynthesi had reacted and made his move.
Genji shifted his body and moved his dagger into the sword''s path, utilizing the collision to assist his movement. As he glided over the ground, Epivlavis teleported beside him for another strike. This time, his staff had transformed into a spear and threatened to skewer Genji.
Genji manifested Cocoon again and used the resulting cutting intent to parry the stab. A harsh sound resembling grinding metal resounded in the air as the spear bounced off the barrier, giving Genji enough time to readjust his stance.
However, the distant Aposynthesi had different plans as he tucked his left arm into his body. At this motion, Genji felt as if a giant arm had grabbed him, causing his body to stiffen.
Grasp of Paralysis.
Genji instantly matched his current condition to the skill and knew he needed to resist. But Epivlavis wasn''t going to make it easy for him. Using this brief window, he charged up his energy and morphed the tip of his spear into a blade. A red aura lingered around the tip, boosting its deadliness to new levels.
As Epivlavis swung at Genji, the shaft of the weapon curved from the force. There was no doubt that if this strike landed, the fight would be over, even if Genji survived.
Realizing this crisis, Genji activated Quantum Shield and rampantly circulated his energy. Milliseconds after impact, the barrier shattered into tiny shards, which hovered for an instant before shooting into the distance. Fortunately, this brought Genji enough time to dispel the paralysis and respond with his own attack.
Shadow flames briefly collided with the baleful aura, canceling each other out before Genji succumbed to the tremendous force that hurled him backward. In his previous position, following the trajectory of Epivlavis''s attack, a large gouge formed in the ground.
As he soared through the air, Genji''s arm creaked with pain. The time provided wasn''t enough to build up much force, so he had to bear the full brunt of the attack. Luckily, he had utilized Like A Feather before contact, giving him enough distance to recoup.
But before he could get far, he sensed the space around him distorted, and his surroundings suddenly shifted. His mind raced to keep up with the change, observing all the details to pinpoint his new location.
As his eyes darted about, the corners of his eyes spotted a deep gouge in the ground. It was a familiar gouge, one that had been in his vision mere moments ago.
''They opened a portal back to my previous position.''
As if confirming his suspicions, an overwhelming sense of danger rushed at him from behind. Without wasting another moment, Genji activated Dominance Aura to disorient Epivlalis. In the short moment the attack faltered, Genji stomped down on the ground, propelling himself upward and barely arching over the weapon.
As he fell, Genji swung at the outstretched shaft, pushing it away before it could morph into another attack. Then, he slashed with his other hand, unleashing a giant wave of cutting intent point-blank.
At this moment, Epivlalis recovered from the stun and teleported away, reducing the damage to a small graze. Genji landed on the ground and crossed his arms, pulling his daggers to his side before unleashing everything with all his strength. A bright tide of light blanketed the area, forcing both of his opponents to teleport again.
Using this time, Genji hurriedly brought out some mutation potions to splash on his wrist. It had only been a few seconds since Epivlalis injured him, but his arms were already losing strength. If he didn''t treat it soon, he would lose his fighting capabilities.
When the potions seeped into his wounds, his flesh pulsated widely but struggled to seal. The energy remnants in his body were resisting the repair, but the weakening rate had slowed down.
''This is worse than I expected. I can''t afford too many injuries or the fight will be over.''
Genji chugged another potion and looked up at Epivlalis. Unlike the wounds Genji had sustained, his had already healed under a familiar writhing of flesh. Epivlalis met his gaze and narrowed his glowing red eyes, realizing Genji was stronger than he gave him credit for.
Despite this, Epivlalis maintained his calm demeanor and tossed up his staff. As it spun in the air, it glowed an ominous red before disassembling into numerous needles.
Genji''s pupils dilated in realization and rushed to escape the incoming barrage, but Aposynthesi intercepted him once more. Appearing out of thin air, Aposynthesi swiped out his hand, and Genji lost strength in his legs.
A black sword slashed at his arms, affirming their plan to grind him down with small injuries. Genji retaliated with a crescent slash, but Aposynthesi easily avoided it by teleporting behind him.
Untraceable Movement.
Genji swapped to a backhand grip and pivoted his body, seeking to jam the dagger into Aposynthesi''s side. At this moment, the tip of Aposynthesi''s sword touched the ground and unleashed a massive amount of energy. Streams of darkness darted from the blade and gathered by Genji''s feet.
Then, they reached upward, grabbing his legs and stalling him in place. Another sense of weakening crashed into him as Aposynthesi teleported away, having achieved his goal.
With his movement restricted, Genji couldn''t be in a worse position to confront the incoming storm of needles. Left with no choice, Genji gritted his teeth and unleashed his largest wave of cutting intent before covering himself with Cocoon.
Solid Core resisted most of the physical damage, but it didn''t stop the baleful energy from seeping into his wounds. Shards of skin chipped away under this barrage, revealing the taut muscles beneath. During this process, Genji splashed himself with most of his potions, trying to sustain his wildly fluctuating health bar.
To worsen his situation, his wounds also started rotting as Aposynthesi added his energy into the mix. The combination of the two corroding abilities synergized to create a multiplicative effect, exacerbating his condition.
This storm of needles lasted for a couple more seconds before Genji sensed the attack frequency decrease. Without hesitation, he canceled the barrier around him and charged out.
The needles around him floated up from the ground and readjusted their tips at Genji. Then, they shot out, narrowly missing Genji as he flashstepped into the distance.
Epivlalis stopped controlling these projectiles and stepped out, forming a chain and sickle to confront him. Genji''s dagger clashed against the taut chain, which twirled around to lock his weapon in place.
The sickle end came at Genji''s shoulder, only to be parried by the other dagger. Epivlalis pulled inward, seeking to disarm the tangled dagger. To his surprise, Genji released it without resistance, causing him to stumble slightly. Capitalizing on this opening, Genji leaned in and summoned [Curse Bearer], delivering an upfront shot.
The large explosion blinded Epivlalis, breaking his defenses and loosening the binding on the dagger. Genji appeared beside him and unleashed a forceful strike, knocking Epivlalis back enough to safely retrieve his dagger.
Epivlalis yanked on the chain, sending the flail end at Genji''s head. Genji tilted his head aside, letting the weapon pass by his cheek. Then he immediately cartwheeled away, narrowly dodging the curved blade that elongated from the chain.
As Genji got to his feet, Aposynthesi stepped near him with a diagonal slash. Genji twisted his body around it and lunged at the throat. Whisps of cutting intent marred the chest, but Aposynthesi managed to keep the damage to a minimum.
At this moment, Epivlalis also joined the fight with an S-shaped blade. Together, they tag-teamed him and pushed him on the defensive. Epivlalis erratically transformed his weapon, forcing Genji to predict the unusual follow-ups to survive.
Aposynthesi occasionally pestered him with Grasp of Paralysis, making it very difficult to move as Genji expected. Although he broke out of the binding relatively quickly, these untimely disruptions left their marks.
Genji rarely had the opportunity to counterattack since their teamwork perfectly covered each other''s openings. If Genji insisted on trading injuries, he would be on the losing side since his target could always teleport away, leaving him to endure the attacks alone.
Due to Epivlalis possessing a faster teleport, he fought Genji the majority of the time, with Aposynthesi supporting him from the side. After a few of these exchanges, Genji seized an opening to deliver a deadly stab.
Wicks of shadow flames sliced away at Epivlalis''s carapace, drawing spurts of blood and forcing him to disengage once again. Subsequently, Aposynthesi''s sword of decay swept at him, threatening to sever his arm. The attack was perfectly timed such that Genji wouldn''t have time to retract it. They had planned this follow-up and purposely relaxed their defenses.
Despite the threat of crippling, Genji remained unfazed and kicked out at the blade. Whisps of cutting intent coated his boots and repelled the incoming energy. A loud clang of metal resounded in their ears as ripples of air radiated from their position.
Genji twisted his upper body and unleashed another strike at the chest, compelling Aposynthesi to parry. Genji leveraged this contact point to pull himself to the side and stab down with a backhand grip.
Aposynthesi reached out and grabbed Genji''s wrist, stopping the strike with trembling arms. However, Genji only used this as more leverage to launch a barrage of kicks and stabs, overwhelming Aposynthesi until he was forced to teleport away.
This time, Epivlalis didn''t continue the chain of attacks, knowing that Genji had gotten used to their abilities. Any further attempts would only be a waste of energy and potential danger. The two of them exchanged a short glance and nodded at each other, agreeing on a decision: it was time to unleash the big guns.
Aposynthesi went first, discharging all his energy into the ground, causing it to rot away and turn dark purple. His sword also elongated, transforming into a long sword with a narrow blade. Ultimate: Cursed Ground has been unleashed.
As the area of decayed ground expanded, Aposynthesi approached Genji menacingly. His sword was pointed at the ground and scraped off the top layer of earth. With each step he took, the ground gave away, impressing his footprints into the soil.
While this was happening, Epivlalis underwent a drastic change. First, his ever-changing weapon condensed back into staff form before splitting into six equal segments. These small rods hovered around him, rotating slowly as they glowed red. Then, they expanded in volume, distorting into many shapes that eventually settled on claw-like gloves.
Finally, Epivlalis''s back burst open, revealing four stumps that extended outward. These stumps slipped into the gloves, fusing as if they were originally one. By the end of this process, Epivlalis had a total of six arms, each equipped with sharp, glistening claws.
Genji also followed in their example and unleashed Absolute Severance. His daggers shone with a deadly gleam, promising death to anyone targeted by them.
''45 seconds. I need to finish this by then.''
After a brief staredown, all three fighters burst into action and disappeared from their positions. Genji''s daggers crashed into Aposynthesi''s blade, unleashing copious amounts of cutting intent that blew away the approaching decay.
Epivlalis appeared behind Genji and brandished his claws, locking all directions of retreat. Three silhouettes rushed out from Genji''s body with one going upward, one sliding under Aposynthesi, and one charging at Epivlalis. Genji swapped with the one above him and gained enough height to dodge the encirclement.
Without giving them time to react, Genji leaned forward and slashed down, blanketing them both in ferocious cutting intent. In response, Epivlalis reached out with his claws, dug them into the stream, and tore it apart like an unstoppable god of war.
But before they could rejoice, another streak of light swept down. This time, Aposynthesi stepped forward with a strike equal in power. Both forces collided in the air and scattered into petals that drifted by.
Suddenly, a dagger pierced through Aposynthesi''s back and emerged from his chest. While they were occupied by his attacks, Genji swapped positions again and delivered this mortally wounding strike. He aimed for the torso because it was the closest target. As such, Aposynthesi never had time to react and teleport away.
In this instant, Aposynthesi sensed cutting intent coursing through the dagger and seeking to expand. If he doesn''t deal with this immediately, he will be skewered from the inside out. Realizing this, a ruthless gleam flashed across his eyes as he stabbed his sword through his abdomen and straight for Genji''s heart.
This brutal move forced Genji to swap positions again, allowing Aposynthesi to barely survive the surprise attack. However, this came at a previous cost, with most of his mangled by cutting intent.
Genji appeared beside Epivlalis, but the king was prepared for his attack. Claws met daggers, but the numerical advantage forced Genji back. Nonetheless, cracks formed in the claws that blocked Genji''s attack, unable to ensure sharpness.
Epivlalis''s eyes glowed brighter, and his body surged with energy, coating all his claws in a baleful aura. His arms swelled with Herculean strength as he disappeared from his position, teleporting behind Genji.
Untraceable Movement activated again, giving Genji enough speed to marginally weave between the torrent of swipes. Small cuts rapidly accumulated on Genji''s body, spawning droplets of blood that were immediately obliterated by Epivlalis''s barrage.
Suddenly, tendrils of decay reached out again, halting Genji''s movements and forcing him to confront the attacks head-on. Despite his grievous wounds that refused to heal, Aposynthesi had chosen an opportune time to disrupt. Sensing the looming death, Genji burst out with all his potential and concentrated all his strength in one swing.
Dagger Arts: Focus Strike!
The impact of the collision was earth-shaking, unleashing more than enough force to tear the tendrils apart. Genji was flung backward with a broken arm, but Epivlalis didn''t fare any better.
A heavy claw with uneven cuts roughly fell to the ground, as if torn apart with brute force. The claw below the severed arm also sustained heavy damage, with evident cracks forming around the deep gnash. Epivlalis''s flesh wriggled to heal this wound, but Genji''s liberation obstructed it. In a way, this effect achieved a similar result as Epivlalis''s energy.
When Genji landed, he dug his feet into the ground, enduring the full impact of the strike. He needed to remain on his feet since his opponents could attack him at any moment. To his surprise, neither of them tried anything, which only added to his uneasiness.
''Something''s not right. Why are they giving up such an opening? They''ve been relentless since the fight started.''
When the dust cleared and Genji stabilized himself, a sense of foreboding swelled in him. His opponents were planning something, and he needed to stop them. But before he could do anything else, Aposynthesi appeared in front of him, overloading his instincts with danger.
"I''m too injured to survive this battle, so let me carry out one final act of loyalty, my king. With my life as the price, I''ll embody the essence of decay. Fall with me, worthy one, so that we may no longer hold him back from greater power. The Embodiment of Decay is ME!"
As Aposynthesi roared the name of his final ultimate, a white circle appeared behind him. Suddenly, a streak of purple manifested at the 12 o''clock position and rotated counterclockwise. At this moment, Genji sensed his life force rapidly fading away, in line with the disappearing matter around him.
With each passing moment, the decaying force got stronger, and the shade of purple got deeper. By his estimate, the circle would turn completely black by the time it finished the rotation.
But that wasn''t Genji''s main worry since he realized the countdown was shorter than the stated description, much much shorter. Additionally, the progress wheel was only getting faster, further decreasing Genji''s remaining time.
Facing this unprecedented crisis, Genji''s mind started racing again, grasping for any chance of survival. His perception of time started slowing down as his brain went into overdrive. However, the result was futile as nothing in his repertoire could disrupt this ability. Realizing this, his brain fell into acceptance, and Genji''s life flashed before his eyes.
From a young toddler in an orphanage to a teenage assassin, to entering EverRealm, to all his preparations. All of that appeared in his consciousness like a movie and made him ask, ''Do I have any regrets?''
Like always, he immediately answered with, ''No. I''ve always done what I wanted, so what is there to regret? My choices? As if. I pride myself on them.''
''But then, why am I so restless in the face of death?''
It was a conflicting question, but his mind directed his consciousness to the preparations he made before this battle. It was there that he obtained his real answer.
''Because I refuse to sit there and wait for death. My brain might have given up on me, but my spirit hasn''t given in! You want to play suicide with me? Fine! I''ll join you. Let''s see which one of us dies first!''
With those thoughts, Genji broke the capsule in his mouth, unleashing the poison hidden within. This wrecked his body and provoked his shadow core into overdrive once more. Rampant and uncontrollable energy pumped out from its structure, further accelerating his body''s breakdown.
Nonetheless, Genji''s bloodshot eyes remained focused on Apsynthesi as he forced his energy to flow a certain way. Organs were shredded in this carelessness, but it had completed its intended course and ended in the dagger held by his remaining arm. A ferocious vortex formed at record speeds, coming into existence milliseconds after Genji swallowed the poison.
Without further thought, Genji lunged at Aposynthesi and decapitated him, halting the progress wheel on the verge of completion. Genji paid no attention to it and flashstepped with all his energy, further breaking his body apart to appear before Epivlalis.
His dagger lashed out at the throat, but Epivlalis instinctively brought up three arms to bear the strike. Upon collision, he severed the arms and pierced Genji''s chest, crushing his heart.
Genji stared blankly at this outcome and raised his weapon in a backhand grip. Then he layered his broken arm over it and struck down with all his strength, stabbing it right through the head. The next instant, the rampaging energy coursed into Epivlalis''s body, destroying the last of his life.
In his last moments of consciousness, Epivlalis acknowledged that Genji was a formidable opponent. He might not be the strongest foe Epivlais had killed, but he is the most resolute. To die with such an opponent is an honor. Then they fell backward, separating to reveal a humongous gaping hole in Genji''s chest.
But despite his fatal wounds, Genji''s tenacious willpower had different plans. As he was falling, it compelled him to bring out one last potion and splash himself. Then he hit the ground, losing the last of his consciousness.
156 – Tough Recovery
The moment Genji finished Epivlalis, all realm members across the planet received a prompt from Eternal Void.
{The King of Parasites has been slain.}
{The Parasite faction has been greatly weakened.}
{After this cycle, the Parasites will lose their faction classification, and LuminalRealm will lose contention rights unless LuminalRealm supports an unaffiliated faction.}
When the LuminalRealm members saw this update, they lost motivation and fled the battle. They had no reason to continue anymore since they would be risking their lives for nothing.
Without a stable backer, they would become easy prey for the other realm members. If they didn''t want to be hunted down, they would need to find a remote location to hide. They still had half the cycle left before their term was up.
This desertion greatly alleviated Igani''s troubles, allowing Bruce to go ahead. For some reason, the Nightbane had a sinking feeling in his heart, as if any delay would result in a lifetime of regrets. In his anxiousness, Bruce carved a bloody path through the weakest side of the army and dashed into the distance.
None of the parasitized creatures dared to stop him. Who were they kidding? The troublesome horse mage finally decided to leave, so why would they delay him? They weren''t suicidal, even after experiencing the realm members'' infuriating desertion.
As Bruce galloped, he recalled the direction of the compass and realigned himself to the best of his abilities. Luckily, this wasn''t that difficult since his destination was obvious from afar. After all, how could he miss the pile of sleeping dinosaurs?
If his speculation was correct, this should be the effect of his master''s drug. Bruce had witnessed the entire experimental process, so it didn''t take much to guess what Genji wanted to do.
To be safe, Bruce controlled the large stream of blood to dismember the enemies, lest they wake up and interfere with his search. Bruce quickly processed inward and came upon traces of battle, which he followed to a massively destroyed area.
At the center of a large crater, Bruce spotted the unconscious Genji next to two mutilated bodies. Bruce was certain this was Genji since his tattered cloak was something Bruce was used to. Plus, there was even a dagger stuck in one of the bodies'' heads. With how much Genji prized his daggers, there was no way he would leave one behind.
Bruce bolted over in excitement, but his mood quickly soured when he spotted the gaping hole in Genji''s chest. The chest wasn''t moving, but Bruce could still detect a faint trace of vitality struggling to maintain his life. It was an unusual fluctuation since it felt almost artificial, but Bruce didn''t have time to care about that.
He quickly stopped beside his friend and started controlling the remaining blood in Genji''s limp body, regulating his life force with all his might. Bruce didn''t know if this would do much, but it was all he could do if he didn''t want to lose his friend again.
A few minutes later, Bruce determined Genji''s condition had stabilized and lifted Genji onto his back. The chest hole felt uncomfortable, but Bruce would bear with it.
With one final look, Bruce retrieved the lost daggers and gathered the fallen foes. Bruce could still remember Genji''s desire for powerful bodies, so he decided to bring them along, even if it would be more tiring.
After the battle between Igani and the remaining parasites ended, the other factions sent out scouting teams to examine the aftermath. They had received reports of the King''s death, but they didn''t know the true extent of the damages. Regardless, they still prepared to fight for territory, ready to move out as soon as the reports came in.
Scouts from all sides congregated at the site and concluded that the battle had been a stalemate. However, this only raised more suspicions since a powerhouse had clearly fallen in this battle. Through some reasoning, they guessed that the main battle was somewhere else and expanded their search.
Within half an hour, they found the Parasite''s main base and drew a sharp breath. The damage they found was astounding, as if someone had nuked the area. That was how ravaged the scene was.
Still, this didn''t stop them from investigating the battle traces. From the remnant energies, they knew the General of Decay had been involved, but his exact status was unknown. They couldn''t find the bodies, so they were inclined to believe he survived, but there was a slim chance the Bloodless Killer won the battle.
If it was the former, the situation would be unfavorable but manageable. It was the second possibility that worried them since it implied the Zergs took them. This was the worst-case scenario because it would be a repeat of Silver Empress''s case, except without the non-aggression agreement.
This was a scary thought because they would be at the whim of their opponents. If they were unlucky, they might end up in a similar situation as the Parasites, becoming a public target.
Compared to relying on chance, the factions preferred to deal in absolutes and grasp their futures. Therefore, they ordered the scouts to continue investigating and confirm which possibility was true.
Until then, they would quietly gather their forces and prepare for the upcoming storm. It had been a calm four days, but the tempest was inevitable.
Suddenly, a black ripple tore through the air, beheading the perimeter units. Everyone snapped their heads to face the origin, and their bodies tensed up. An attack of that level wasn''t common, so they wanted to see which powerhouse was so unruly.
However, when they saw the loose black robes and menacing scythe radiating with darkness, their faces turned pale with fear. What was a reaper doing here? There shouldn''t have been enough deaths to attract one.
And even if there were, why was he here instead of the previous location where the two armies fought? That area had way more deaths. It didn''t make sense!
"Scatter!! Everyone for themselves," a celestial captain urgently screamed before rushing to escape. His subordinates obeyed without delay, knowing full well the dangers of hesitation.
The other teams also followed this example and dispersed like flies seeing fire. Unfortunately, this was all for naught as a deadly wave of energy brushed through them, claiming their lives with suspense. Within seconds, the entire area was cleared of all life, except for the lone reaper standing amidst the bodies.
"Now that the pests are out of the way, let''s see what that energy fluctuation was about," Benya, the reaper who previously interrupted Genji''s meal, thought with scrutinizing eyes. "Dance of Death was definitely used, but it feels different. It''s like something else is mixed in. Is there a reaper with such a trait?"
This was the second time he sensed this fluctuation, but he had missed the person behind it both times. Due to this, he couldn''t help but be curious about it. Just who was this genius that managed to modify Dance of Death to this extent? If possible, Benya wanted to acquaint himself with this big shot.
As Benya was lost in thought, a sudden whoosh came from behind, stopping near him. Despite how unexpected this intruder was, Benya remained calm and turned around, catching sight of the dissipating deathly energy.
*Whistle* "Benya, you really did a number on this place. I knew you were bored, but I didn''t think you would attack the worms like this," the newcomer greeted Benya with a light chuckle. "Just look at all these bodies. I bet you had quite the fun."
"Yagasa," Benya returned the greeting and shook his head. "You misunderstand. I didn''t do this."
"Oh, don''t give me that. I can sense your energy signature all over this place."
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"I''m not talking about the weaklings. There was another reaper before me."
"If you don''t want to tell me, then don''t. Why do you have to lie about it?" Yagasa rolled his eyes.
"I''m being serious. Why do you not believe me?" Benya furrowed his brows at his acquaintance''s antics.
"Because there''s no other energy signature. You''re the only reaper that has been in the area."
At his friend''s reminder, Benya had a sudden realization. That was right! He hadn''t sensed any other deathly energy when he tracked the fluctuation. If it was truly a reaper that fought those battles, then the area should be overflowing with deathly energy. Yet this was as far from the truth as possible.
In his curiosity, Benya had overlooked this simple fact and assumed it was a reaper due to sensing Dance of Death. But if it wasn''t a reaper, then it could only be...
"SHIT! How could I have missed something so obvious?" Benya cursed at how complacent he had become and clenched his scythe, his arm bulging with worm-like veins.
"No need to be so upset. Take this as a learning lesson." Although Yagasa said this, he had a mischievous smirk on his face. It was the same look someone would have after catching their best friend in an embarrassing moment. They would etch this moment into their memories and mention it nonstop in the future, getting a quick laugh at his foolishness.
"Fuck off. This is serious. I suspect Dance of Death has been leaked."
At this statement, even the usually lighthearted Yagasa put on a dead-serious expression. "You sure? This isn''t something you can joke about."
"I''m 70% certain."
Hearing this high number, Yagasa swung his scythe and carved an incomprehensible rune on the ground. Benya saw this and joined in, understanding the exact magic circle Yagasa wanted to carve. After a few minutes, they channeled their energy into it, sparking a small messaging system.
''Dance of Death, leaked? Investigating.''
Yagasa carved this short message into the center and activated the spell, draining them of all their deathly energy. It would take a few weeks to receive the message, but it was guaranteed to arrive. That was the elegance of this spell. As for the long wait time, it had to do with the vast distance it needed to cross.
Once the message disappeared from the center, the stone floor beneath the circle turned to dust and scattered into the wind. Benya and Yagasa fell on their behinds and gave each other serious looks, knowing their jobs had only begun.
If it was as Benya suspected, then they would need to find and silence the inheritance theft. Dance of Death was a fundamental ability of the reaper''s power system and couldn''t be leaked. Otherwise, they would have hell to pay if their enemies analyzed it.
"You better buy me a drink after all this or I''m never going to shut up about it," Yagasa said, slouching against his scythe.
"You and me both," Benya responded with an equally tired tone. "Now, we can only hope this is a false alarm."
It had been three days since Bruce carried Genji back, and his wounds hadn''t healed in the slightest. In fact, they had worsened in this period, causing Bruce to be on tenterhooks. If it weren''t for Igani constantly forcing bioenergy into his body and Bruce regulating his life force, Genji would have perished multiple times over. That was how deadly his wounds were.
No, it couldn''t be described as merely physical wounds. There were traces of energy erosion within them as well, remnants of Epivlalis''s ability. It was this energy that gave Bruce so many difficulties in these past few days.
Due to Genji''s terrible condition, Bruce couldn''t force out the remains as it would agitate Genji''s injuries and tip the delicate balance, killing him instantly. The energy also stubbornly latched onto Genji''s flesh, making extraction very troublesome. It was debatable if Genji could even survive after this since his heart was missing.
But despite these grim odds, Genji''s tenacious willpower latched onto the remaining life force within and tethered himself to the thin line between life and death.
For every ounce of effort Bruce and Igani put into saving him, his willpower fought twice as hard to pull himself back from the cliff. It was an arduous battle, but his willpower eventually won.
On this day, Genji opened his eyes again, despite not improving in wellness. After so many hours of battling, his body had adjusted to these wounds and regained his consciousness.
Genji felt excruciating pain when he awoke, but he refused to be affected by it. He didn''t know how long he would stay conscious, so he needed to take advantage of every moment.
Without wasting a single instant, he emptied his storage of healing potions before fainting from the exertion. Luckily, this gave Bruce more than enough to work with, and Genji regained his consciousness after a few hours.
''Seems like I survived again,'' he thought as he adjusted his breathing. Well, at least he tried to before realizing his lungs were gone as well. ''What the hell. It''s a miracle I''m even alive at this point.''
Genji calmed himself again and sensed his body''s condition. Many of his major blood vessels had burst around the area, which would have killed him if it weren''t for Bruce''s treatment. Many wounds should have been fatal, but Genji was still alive.
Among these, was his missing spine, which should have paralyzed him, but his semi-digitalized body allowed him to bypass it, albeit with much difficulty.
Genji brought out an uncontrollable mutation potion and gestured for Bruce to call Igani. When Igani arrived, Genji started communicating in sign language again, asking Bruce to translate for him. He didn''t have a choice since he couldn''t speak without lungs.
After a few minutes, Bruce got the basic idea and conveyed the request to Igani. Although confused by it, Igani obeyed and handed Genji a web-woven bowl filled with a murky yellowish-green fluid. A mound of bio-energy was also placed beside him at his request, making the situation that much weirder for the spider queen.
Genji paid no attention to this and chugged his potion, followed by the bowl. The fluid had a disgusting taste, but Genji forced it down, all while suppressing his gag reflex. Then the potion took effect, causing his tired muscles to pulsate wildly.
Genji collapsed without resistance, but Bruce picked him up and carried Genji to the crystal mound. Upon contact, the crystals evaporated from existence and rushed into Genji''s gaping chest.
His muscles spasmed uncontrollably as they distorted beyond recognition, bringing Genji untold amounts of pain. His skin broke apart, his muscles twisted unnaturally, and his bones realigned into a new frame, but this was only the beginning of the transformation.
At this distressing sight, Bruce could only sigh with resignation and pull Igani along. All they could do now was pray for a shorter transformation so his master wouldn''t suffer so much pain. ''Master, you''re a tough one. I believe you will survive this.''
For the next few hours, banging sounds echoed from the room as if someone was experiencing a seizure and smacking their head against the wall. Igani was startled by this noise, but Bruce advised her not to look inside. One trauma was enough for the innocent spider. Although curious, Igani accepted Bruce''s suggestion and kept to herself.
Bruce entered the room and neighed at the exhausted Genji when the noise finally stopped.
"Don''t worry. This much won''t kill me," he said with a raspy croak. "There''s always a price for survival."
Genji sounded casual about the experience, but Igani had a mini-heart attack when she walked in. In her sight, Genji sat on a puddle of clear liquid, the remains of bio-crystals that previously filled the area. That was a whole nest''s worth of energy, now all gone.
Yet Igani wasn''t fixated on that, but on Genji''s unusual appearance. His skin had darkened and solidified into a hard shell, resembling an insect''s. A faint clicking sound also followed with every movement, showcasing the rigid joints of his new body.
But the most obvious change was his chest, which had closed together to form a new structure. There were still a few cracks on the surface, but it had healed enough to fight in.
His physical shape hadn''t changed much and still resembled a humanoid, but his aura had been contaminated with the Zerg''s ferociousness. It was hard to say if Genji could still be classified as a human, but he didn''t care. He was just glad to be alive.
"AHH, what happened to your body?" Igani suddenly yelped, unable to comprehend the sudden sense of familiarity oozing from him. To Igani, Genji felt like a family member rather than a different species.
"Don''t worry about it. Our plan still continues. Focus on developing a powerful army."
"Ah de bah da de ba da." Igani muttered a string of incomprehensible gibberish, still sorting out her confusion. What had her life become and why was it only getting stranger?
''I must be seeing things. There''s no way he can become a Zerg. Yeah, that must be the case. I should really get more sleep,'' she thought as she walked away.
After Igani disappeared, Genji broke out in a coughing fit, spewing green blood all over the floor. Bruce rushed to his side, supporting him and neighing with worry.
"It''s nothing serious. Just some remnants of energy. Give me a few days and it''ll be gone."
Although Genji was dismissive about the issue, Bruce still had a concerned look. After all, Bruce had been treating his wounds and understood exactly how troublesome the energy was.
By his estimation, it wouldn''t be as simple as a few days. But since Genji didn''t want to linger on the topic, Bruce chose to not mention it anymore. ''Oh well. I did my best. Let''s trust him.''
Genji gave Bruce a grateful nod and leaned against the wall. Now that everything was over, it was time to check his loot.
[You have slain The General of Decay, Aposynthesi.]
[You have slain: The King of Parasites, Epivlalis.]
[Your maximum energy has reached your bearing capacity.]
[You have obtained: 1.24 million contribution points, Aposynthesi''s Decay, and Origin World - Parasites.]
[Aposynthesi''s Decay]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Knowledge Book
Effect: Upon use, gain all of Aposynthesi''s knowledge on decay and decomposition.
Description: The final inheritance. With this, you have completed the set of Parasite inheritances.
[Origin World - Parasites]
Rating: Legendary
Type: World Coordinate / Consumable
Effects:
- Normal Use (Active): Your next world is set for Proelefsi, the Parasite''s world of origin.
- Alternative Use (Active): Trade this item with EverRealm for 100 privilege tokens.
Note: This item is notarized by Eternal Void and cannot be sold.
Note 2: Only one option can be chosen. Upon use, the other option will be lost.
Note 3: In the case you pick the first option, Eternal Void will be responsible for your transportation.
Note 4: Proelefsi is a 1st step world. Before entering, you will need to restrict yourself.
Description: A special reward given to the one who ended a faction''s reign. Depending on your circumstances, you can either enter by yourself or contribute to your realm. Choose wisely, you only get one.
157 – Celestials Attack
Genji initially wanted to quietly develop Igani''s nest as he recovered from his injuries, but the factions had different plans. One day - that was all the time Genji got before they confirmed their suspicions and marched their armies to the nest. It wasn''t hard to find since the army''s return exposed their location.
The first to attack was the Celestials, a close neighbor of the Zergs. Due to their circumstances, they were unnerved by Genji''s proximity and took preemptive actions.
The supreme commander wasn''t fond of this decision, but the council ordered it. They didn''t want to bet their survival on Genji''s graces, especially when he indirectly caused their crisis.
Left with no choice, the commander could only send out an army, ordering them to prioritize their safety over all else. Now was not the time to lose troops over petty conflicts, so he wanted to minimize it. It didn''t matter if this was a fruitless attack since it was for show anyway.
Many spaceships docked in the distance, pouring out troops to surround the nest.
Due to the nest''s location, they didn''t have much advantage in defense. They had given all that up for subtlety, which did nothing for them. Therefore, this besiegement resembled more of an open battle rather than a building defense.
A storm of plasma bullets discharged into the sea of Zergs, melting their hard shells without resistance. Igani pumped out at her nest''s limit, refilling this void with rapid speeds.
Still, this did little to change the situation as the Celestials slowly encroached on them. The pace might be gradual, but they haven''t stopped moving since the battle began.
One of the main reasons was the barrage of sniper rounds that burst down their strongest units with precise headshots. This left only the weaker units at the front, something the infantry could easily mow down.
Genji had once participated in these sniper operations, but he was now on the receiving end. It was an ironic twist of fate, but he was more occupied by the familiar style of firing.
Genji had once used this style to make a name for himself, attracting the attention of the fortress commander and kickstarting the series of events that spiraled to this point.
As far as he could tell, only one sniper had truly mastered this style, while the others were only imitating it. Their fire rates were on par, but their accuracy was horrendous. They were lucky if even 20% of their shots killed on the first try.
"I get rid of one bad karma and another comes knocking on my door. Just great," Genji sighed with a heavy heart. Nonetheless, he had no intentions of backing down and ordered an aerial bombardment.
The top of the nest peeled away the dirt covering, creating an opening for a cloud of tiny insects to fly through. These units zipped over the Celestials and unleashed their acid rain, greatly hindering their accuracies.
The soldiers below shot down a lot of these units, but their sheer density made this damage irrelevant. This advantage was further augmented by the fungal carpet below, recycling up to 90% of the initial energy cost.
Although this bombardment dealt little damage, their deaths created an ideal environment for Bruce to showcase his powers. Controlling the spilled blood from a distance, the nightbane unleashed a massive hurricane of blood, sowing discord along their front lines.
Many soldiers were caught off guard and sustained major wounds, but they quickly regrouped and adopted a new tactic, avoiding all flowing blood on the ground.
Bruce continued his rampage, providing noteworthy offensive powers and defensive support. With his help, the distance between the two armies disappeared into nothingness and they entered a fierce melee.
This was a disadvantageous shift for the Celestials because it ramped up their casualties. A single graze might not affect their combat powers, but it was a different story when their opponents disregarded their lives for a single nick, causing their injuries to rapidly accumulate.
This forced them to occasionally rotate the melee fighters and stalled the vanguard''s march to a grinding halt. However, this difficulty only signified the next phase of the battle since a stalemate was the worst outcome for the Celestials. They simply didn''t have the resources or manpower for it.
"Get ready. They''re about to send something to break through. Prepare to go into overdrive," Genji reminded Igani, who nodded in response.
In the following minute, the Celestials pushed eight metallic cannons to the front. These cannons flickered with a dull sheen, a common trait among old but well-preserved metal. After the operators secured these metallic artilleries onto the ground, they loaded the back with ample battery cells and opened fire.
Spheres of fierce electricity discharged into the crowd, exploding and chain-zapping all the Zergs in the vicinity. Those who survived were worse off because their nerves stopped operating under this high voltage, becoming obstacles for the units behind them. Left with no choice, Igani could only divert her attention and command their deaths.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, the infantry set their plasma swords into overdrive and charged forward with intimidating vigor. Loud battle cries rumbled through the area, causing the outer layer of the nest to vibrate.
At this moment, a wall of blood appeared in their path, but the soldiers were undeterred by this display and slashed apart the curtain without delay. Another volley of cannon fire sounded in the distance, disintegrating the collapsing Zergs.
The radius of safety rapidly shrank under this push, significantly flustering Igani. Bruce also struggled against this wave of concentrated firepower, with his blood streams being evaporated before he could deal much damage.
The situation was very unfavorable, but Genji remained composed and gave his next order. "Tell Bruce to stop defending and go on the offensive. If possible, get me some of their plasma guns."
After giving this order, Genji stepped out of the underground bunker and made his way up. The fleshly walls parted ways on his approach, making his journey as easy as possible. Despite the chaos outside, Igani paid careful attention to ensure Genji''s comfort.
Bruce had voiced his worries over their meals, so it was hard to ignore. Plus, she wanted to stay on Bruce¡¯s good side so he would keep cooking for her. Therefore, for the sake of her future meals, she went all out, making everything as convenient as possible.
When Genji stepped onto the top of the nest, a damaged rifle spun through the air. The cover of aerial units made stealing easy, so Bruce prepared to snatch some more.
Genji reached out and caught the rifle before checking its condition. After confirming it was usable, Genji aimed at the troublesome cannons and opened fire. A plasma barrier suddenly manifested around the target, shielding it from the attack.
Genji determined that his current firearm wasn''t strong enough to pierce this defense and swapped targets. Since he couldn''t destroy the cannons, he would aim for the operators.
Bringing the rifle up to his eye, Genji used the top as a makeshift scope. Seconds later, a soldier carrying an energy cell peaked into his view. Suddenly, Genji''s finger transformed into an indistinguishable blue, pulling the trigger rapidly to form a piercing streak that connected the muzzle to the target''s head.
The nearby cannon invoked a barrier, but the concentrated fire broke through the cross-section, killing the target instantly. Then, the volatile energy collided with the energy cell, destabilizing it. Arcs of purple electricity flashed around the surface as the contraption dispersed its stored energy.
This was the safe measure designed to prevent the cells from exploding after being damaged, but it didn''t stop Genji from exploiting the massive energy inside. Before the small hole could fully mend, a small incendiary bomb slipped through, detonating and igniting the electricity.
A harsh sizzling sound buzzed in the soldiers'' ears, but the energy cell exploded before they could react. A small mushroom cloud formed inside the barrier and caved in on itself, causing the explosive force to bounce back.
Stolen novel; please report.
Multiple waves of impact coursed through the interior, destroying everything it touched. In the end, when the dust cleared, only burnt scraps of metal remained in a charred crater, absent of any remains.
This massive disturbance caught the snipers'' attention and redirected their crosshairs to Genji. Genji remained indifferent to this looming danger and tossed aside his ruined sniper, swapping it for a moderately used one.
Then, he dived back into the nest, finding cover and moving into a new position. The snipers were taken aback by this sight, but they remained locked on. They had seen the damage Genji was capable of, so they couldn''t allow him to continue, especially when these cannons required rare materials to manufacture.
Suddenly, a stream of blood interfered with their vision. Fearing the worst, they opened fire in turns, perfectly covering the area to suppress opposing fire.
But what they didn''t know was that Genji had already jumped into the Zergs below and avoided the blitz. Using the large bodies of elites as cover, Genji observed the snipers'' location and made a mental map.
After confirming their positions, he unleashed his own outburst, surpassing all enemies simultaneously. His wrist flickered through the air at astonishing speeds, covering the area in afterimages. Within moments, he drained his energy cell and swapped to his other hand, continuing the barrage as he reloaded in synchronization.
By the time he emptied one rifle, he had already replaced the other one. This consistency massively pressured his opponents, forcing them to duck under cover and disregard all attempts at peeking.
While the shots weren''t absolutely accurate, they were close enough that they could hit their targets. The shots also came at semi-random frequencies, making it difficult to predict an opening. If they tried, they would only be risking their heads.
"Just who is this guy? How can he have such a scary fire rate and accuracy?" One person asked as he peered out from around the corner, only to have his cheek singed by a streak of plasma.
Startled by this sudden wound, he ducked back and gave a certain Celestial a helpless look. "If I didn''t know better, I would think you''re the one shooting. Why does he seem more deserving of the Barrage Sniper title than you, Hamilton? Isn''t this supposed to be your specialty?"
At this question, Hamilton shook his head with a somber expression. "Believe it or not, I didn''t create this technique. I only distributed it."
"That''s the first time I''ve heard of that," a friend said as a beam flew over his head. "Then what about the real creator? How come we''ve never heard of him?"
Hamilton fell silent for a few moments before saying, "Because he''s known for something else."
"Which is?" The other snipers pressed on, unaware of Hamilton''s complicated mood. To them, Hamilton had always been the quiet type, so they were used to long pauses between responses.
"Enemy spy," Hamilton bluntly said, eliciting a soft gasp from his squadmates.
"No way! Aren''t the realms supposed to prevent that? Don''t they restrict what the members can do?"
The speaker immediately assumed the subject was a realm member because Celestials wouldn''t even consider the act. Plus, the other factions would never believe the intelligence if it came from a celestial since it could be a trap. To be safe, they would only act on information gathered through their own means.
"There''s one exception to that rule. The realms can''t do anything if the member sneaks in by himself," someone refuted the claim.
"But isn''t that still against the rules? The realms might not care, but Eternal Void does. Aren''t they afraid of the consequences?"
"Depends on what they have to gain from it. As long as the price is right, there will always be risk-takers."
At this moment, someone cleared his throat. *Ahem ahem* "Don''t you think we''re straying too far from the main point?"
Curious about his response, the others turned to him and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. The person who taught Hamilton the technique is considered a fugitive. Where do you think he went?"
"Why do we care about that? The realm members only stay for 40 days before leaving."
"But they do return. Now, what are the chances that someone else has this same skill?"
Hearing this question, the other snipers froze with surprise before realization sunk in. "You''re saying we''re against that very person?"
"No, we''re facing a donkey with a machine gun," the speaker sarcastically retorted.
"This... Is this true?" They turned to Hamilton, seeking confirmation.
"This is a very niche technique. It''ll be hard to find another person who knows it."
Although they were expecting this answer, it still made them inhale sharply. This was not what they expected when they joined this mission. To think they would meet Hamilton''s teacher and as a foe at that. It was a despairing thought since they knew how skillful Hamilton was, yet they were to believe this opponent was better?
Did they have any chance of fighting back, or would they be restrained for the remainder of the battle, stuck here and unable to help? What was the difference between that and not being here?
As these questions swirled around in their minds, they noticed that the shooting had stopped. They exchanged glances and took off a boot, which they put over a rod and raised for testing. A few seconds passed, but the shoe remained intact.
"Safe, but we don''t know if he''s faking us out. Anyone feel like peeking their head?"
They exchanged shifty glances again before one person volunteered. He took a deep breath, counted to three, then stood up with closed eyes. One second, two seconds, three seconds, still nothing.
Surprised by his unexpected survival, the soldier opened his eyes and looked around. The battlefield was as grisly as before, but their rival had disappeared. This change baffled them, but it didn''t stop him from calling out, "It''s clear."
Following his assurance, the others retook their positions and scanned the area. Still nothing. Genji had completely hidden himself during this period.
"Weird, where could he have gone?"
Suddenly, three massive explosions reverberated across the battlefield, with violent airwaves rippling outward. Their heads jerked to the origin, only to see half of their cannons had imploded in the same manner as before. In the time they lost vision of the battlefield, Genji had prepared this attack.
"Snipers, what the hell are you doing? Shoot him!" The general''s furious voice resounded in their earpieces, devastated by the loss.
Hearing this, they immediately locked onto Genji, who sensed this intense stare and ducked behind a wave of Zergs, minimizing their accuracy.
Still, this did little to stop this squad of snipers from returning fire and clearing the vicinity within seconds. After being suppressed for so long, they finally got the chance to release all their pent-up frustrations. They would be fools to not capitalize on it.
To their dismay, Genji had disappeared again as returning shots soon followed. It wasn''t as intense this time, but it still forced them back.
"How is he so accurate without a scope? Isn''t he using our normal rifles?" Someone cursed under their breath, exasperated by their current situation.
"Sniper''s intuition," Hamilton replied, disassembling his weapon. "When you''ve fired as many shots as him, you''ll know where it''ll land without looking."
"I call bs. If that''s the case, won''t we all be master marksmen?"
"I''m not talking about normal shooting, but sensory sniping. No scopes or aid. Just you and the gun. Only that way can you develop this intuition." Hamilton explained, removing all the accessories before pulling back a crank on the rifle''s side.
These modifications greatly reduced the rifle''s power, but they allowed for greater flexibility and fire rate. Then he held it overhead and fired blindly, using only his judgment to pinpoint Genji''s location. To everyone''s surprise, the incoming shots decreased in frequency, testifying to Hamilton''s accuracy.
''What a monster. Both of them. We''re 1000 meters apart, yet they''re firing like it''s only 10. How did they train to this point?''
After a few rounds of this, a stray shot destroyed Hamilton''s rifle, forcing him to borrow one from a friend. The person readily gave up his weapon, and the group spread out, seeking new cover. But when they peeked out again, they realized the exchange had already ended, with Hamilton reassembling his weapon.
"What happened?" They asked.
"He stopped trying," Hamilton replied.
"Stopped trying? What do you mean?"
"Literally. He stopped shooting."
"Huh? Why?"
Instead of answering him, Hamilton gestured at the battlefield, where the Zergs slowly pushed back their troops. Due to losing half of the plasma cannons and the snipers being entangled, mini-boss-level units could finally join the fight, turning the tides in their favor.
"Start packing. The general will call a retreat any minute now," Hamilton said, shutting down his gun. It was always good practice to turn off energy weapons when not in use.
But when the others heard him, they all had unwilling expressions. Hamilton noticed this and asked, "What''s wrong? You want to continue?"
"Are we just going to let it end like this?" They asked, unable to accept this outcome. If the battle ended because they got obliterated or they killed the enemy, that would be acceptable, but to end because their enemy lost interest? How could they bear this contempt? It was as if he never considered them as proper opponents.
"We''re lucky to be alive so don''t even think about it," Hamilton replied.
"But-"
"Shut it." Hamilton knew what they were thinking and interrupted them before they could embarrass themselves any further. "Do you think he actually wanted to kill us? No, he purposely missed his shots to spare us."
As if supporting that statement, their earpieces suddenly sounded with grim news. "Attention all units. You are to retreat immediately. I repeat, retreat immediately. Our sniper squads have suffered heavy casualties and cannot provide any more support."
Hearing this, all the squad members broke out in a cold sweat, realizing they had escaped a disaster. If all these deaths were caused by one person, then it would be impossible for their squad to remain safe. Yet despite that, they hadn''t suffered a single death, especially when there was a perfect opportunity to kill one of them.
"If anyone asks, say we hid the whole time, okay?" Hamilton said, providing an explanation for their situation.
"But will the higher-ups believe us? We might be the only squad without casualties, so we''re very suspicious. They might even think we''re controlled by the enemy and execute us." Someone voiced their concerns with a pale face.
"That''s why we have this," Hamilton replied, holding up his destroyed sniper. "We''re very lucky that the rifle blocked the shot. After that, we never peeked our heads. Understand?"
This was a convincing cover story because snipers typically held their rifles close to their chests while lying down. Given this position, it was nearly impossible to destroy the rifle without endangering the operator''s life. All it takes is a small deviation, and this act would end poorly. One would have to be suicidal to agree to it.
"You planned this from the start?" The squad members asked in disbelief, recognizing these points.
"I had my suspicions after the first volley," Hamilton replied. "You have to know, even I can get a few kills from that distance, let alone him."
158 – Beasts
Hours after the Celestials retreated, the Beasts attacked. It was a short break, but it gave Igani enough time to clean up the battlefield and replenish her troops.
However, these troops proved mostly useless against the Beasts. Unlike the Celestials, the Beasts attacked with a small group of elites and swam through the insect tide like fish in water.
Their vigorous bodies knocked back all incoming units and skillfully defended their blind spots. If needed, a nearby ally would help out, giving them enough time to regain their footing. Together, the Beasts formed a cohesive unit that stood against all attacks.
Among this group, Genji spotted a human wielding a glistening katana. With each swing, he emitted a red aura that easily slew distant elites. Occasionally, he would dig the blade into a mini-boss, hacking it apart effortlessly. From the display, it was evident that his weapon had a high level of sharpness, capable of disregarding most defenses.
Between Genji and him, it was unknown whose weapon was sharper, but it couldn''t be denied that a katana had a longer reach, making it a more suitable weapon for frontal combat.
Using this advantage, the man mowed through the Zergs at an even pace, effortlessly leading the charge as one of the frontrunners.
Intrigued by this oddity among the attackers, Genji spared some energy for a brief scan.
[Special stat drastically outranges the opponents. Obtaining relevant information.]
[Note: Due to the target being a member of the realms, skills and abilities will be omitted.]
[Xue Fe]
Talent: A Bloody Fate - Intelligence Molding
Health: 4,371/4,600
Blood Aura: 780/940
Con: 46
Str: 45
Dex: 45
Int: 47
Spc: 14
"Blood aura and a katana? Are you the Blood Swordsman?" Genji muttered to himself, recalling the cryptic descriptions he overheard a few weeks back.
Although he phrased it as a question, his tone was confident, which drew Bruce''s attention and made him wonder about the difference between blood aura and his own abilities
Curious about this contrast, Bruce directed the majority of his attacks at Xue Fe, only to be slashed apart by his katana.
The stream of blood scattered in the collision, forced apart by the infused aura. After that, Bruce lost control of all the affected blood, demonstrating the restriction the aura had on his abilities.
"Focus your efforts somewhere else. His abilities seem to have some corroding effects on vitality, so your attacks won''t be effective against him," Genji said, noticing the exchange. "In fact, I don''t think they''re effective against any of them since they have such strong bodies. Try hindering them instead."
Bruce acknowledged Genji''s analysis and controlled the blood to grab their feet, slightly hampering their movements.
While this was happening, Genji picked up the abandoned plasma rifles and bombarded the group. Most of them proved to be useless since the Beasts swiped them out of the air with the help of their extraordinary senses.
Genji also kicked some to Bruce, who joined in the barrage. Multiple blood tentacles picked up the rifles, aimed in the Beasts'' general direction, and fired with faulty precision. Bruce couldn''t be blamed for the poor accuracy since this was his first time using firearms, but it added to the chaos.
Pairing the random streaks of plasma and insect barricades, they left a few shallow wounds on their opponents. Still, this did little to deter the beasts but rather incentivized them to strengthen their defenses.
To make matters worse, a deafening roar resounded in the distance, announcing the arrival of another group. This roar, in particular, was filled with mighty pride, common among only one class of beasts.
Hearing this kingly declaration, Genji''s expression took on a new level of solemnness. This was not an opponent Genji wanted to face right now. But his desires meant little against reality as the owner of the roar soon appeared in their sights.
Landing from the skies, a Godzilla-like beast king shook the ground like a magnitude 6 earthquake. Genji was familiar with this beast king since he had once fought against it when he first entered the central battlefield. At the time, he had lost miserably in a clash of strength and ended up wounded, which only dampened the current situation.
If that was the outcome in his normal condition, then one could imagine the result now that he was debilitated by injuries. Nonetheless, Genji remained unwavering and rushed at the beast king, knowing he was the only one who could stop it. Otherwise, the beast king would run rampant and destroy Igani''s nest within seconds.
Genji wasn''t ready to give up all progress so he pushed forward, seeking to delay long enough for Igani to escape. As he ran, he pulled out a few bottles filled with bright fluids and mixed them, releasing a yellowish gas into the area. Genji had anticipated more battles so he had brewed some consumables in the hours prior.
Upon inhaling the gas, his cells quivered with anticipation, ready to fully unleash their vigor. The Zergs also got stronger, allowing them to surge forward like a relentless tsunami. The beasts, on the other hand, felt something was amiss and did their best to avoid the gas.
Xue Fe, who was cutting down units like melons, also put on an advanced gas mask, filtering all incoming substances at the cost of limiting his vision. Due to these changes, the speed of advancement significantly slowed down, giving Genji enough time to confront the beast king.
As Genji leaped into the air, his daggers glimmered with cutting intent and unleashed a crescent wave at the beast king''s chest. In response, the colossal beast swiped its sharp claws, smashing the attack.
Flickers of light dissipated around the claw, dropping with a few shards of reflective scales. A few drops of blood also seeped out, but the surrounding skin quickly sealed shut.
At this moment, Genji''s second attack stuck out like the wind, subtle and tempestuous. A thin line of red opened on the chest, threatening to burst open when the beast tightened the surrounding muscles.
Using this preparation, the colossal beast twisted its body like a compressed spring before releasing all its force with one fierce swipe. To further add to the deadliness, a coating of blue energy also increased its sharpness, guaranteeing to turn Genji into a bloody pancake if it connected.
In the face of this crisis, Genji maintained his calm and activated Like A Feather. By decreasing his total weight, the force of his jump gave him some extra height and brought half his body above the claw.
Genji coiled his legs up and leaned forward, turning his face parallel to the ground. Then he kicked out, transitioning into a spread eagle to narrowly avoid the disaster. The vacuum wind crashed against his face, taking a thin layer of skin with it before sending his body upward.
Genji spread his cloak and repositioned the gale to assist him, allowing him to glide like a kite. The following second, the claw reached its end swing and halted briefly.
The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Capitalizing on this pause, Genji spun rapidly, drawing in his cloak and diving down head-first. Once he built up enough speed, he conjured an energy chain that whipped the beast king''s wrist, coiling around it like a cunning snake.
Genji did a full revolution around the arm before letting go and landing with a slight crouch. Without delay, he flashstepped before he could be thrown off and appeared on the beast king''s shoulder.
Wicks of shadow flames manifested around compressed cutting intent, giving the king a faint sense of danger. The giant head turned to give a stink eye and opened its mouth, unleashing an atomic breath.
Genji was forced to divert his strike, cleaving the hastily gathered beam in half. Then the volatile energy exploded, covering the head in thick smoke. Suddenly, a brush of air dispelled the smoke, revealing Genji, who slashed down with his other hand.
Sensing the threat, the king jumped up and twisted its body, redirecting the attack from the neck to the shoulder blades. A large cut tore through the area, erupting with a geyser of blood that revealed thick white bones marred with a shallow cut. Even after all that, Genji was hard-pressed to find any real damage. That was how tough the Beast Kings'' bodies were.
Suddenly, a large claw tore through the gushing blood and slammed down at Genji. A violent rumble shook the shoulder, with claw tips tearing the nearby muscles, but the king disregarded all this since Genji was right where it wanted him: behind its spiky back.
These large protrusions vibrated energetically and glowed with dangerous energy, rustling like a song of death. A sinking feeling filled Genji''s stomach, compelling him to spread his cloak. Before he could do anything else, the spikes shot out with tremendous force, resembling a volcanic eruption.
Genji twisted with all his might, precariously evading the barrage. Taking a dangerous gamble, he kicked off a passing spike and launched himself away. But before he could get far, a powerful tail abruptly struck Genji''s side, launching him like a baseball.
The cracking of bones and barriers reverberated in his ear, filling his body with pain. At this moment, Genji felt worse than if a train had crashed into him. It would have been almost paralyzing if it weren''t for the drug that he released prior, which stimulated his nerves and numbed the damage.
Still, this did little to reduce Genji''s tumble among the Zergs, crushing many along his path as he cushioned his landing. When he came to a stop, a large mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth with chunks of minced organs in between.
As Genji pushed himself up, he chugged a potion and gestured to the frozen troops to ignore him.
*Cough cough* ''Did it get faster after shooting those spikes? Jesus Christ, how much do they weigh?'' He asked, noticing the discrepancy between the previous and current speeds.
Genji raised his head and met the tyrant''s gaze, wondering how he could delay any longer. Given the outcome of the skirmish, Genji would be lucky to even escape, let alone worry about the nest.
Realizing this, Genji let out a hard sigh and called out to Igani. "You still there?"
Seconds later, Igani''s childish voice sounded in his mind. "Yeah. Should I continue digging the tunnel?"
"No, don''t bother anymore. Our defenses won''t hold them off long enough. Right now, I need you to talk to the giant lizard."
"B-b-b-but," she stammered, dread creeping into her voice.
"But what?"
"But t-that''s a beast king!" She cried out, physically shrinking back in her tunnels.
"So? It''s not like beast kings can''t be communicated with. Are you talking to him?" Genji nonchalantly asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not if you want to live."
Hearing this, Igani let out a defeated sigh and gathered her mental powers. "What do you want me to say?"
"Tell him not to push us too far or I''ll make him regret it."
Igani froze at the response before panic returned to her voice. "^+-@4$ja*&!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?! Won''t that only trigger them further?"
"Just relay the message," Genji calmly replied, taking out more potions and a gel sphere.
Igani was flustered by his tone, but she could only brace herself since Genji stopped responding to her protests. Still, she modified the message since she didn''t dare utter such provoking words.
"Umm." *Gulp* "Mister beast king. Can we talk this out? My friend doesn''t want to fight anymore."
The beast king snorted in response and continued stomping forward, ignoring the chirpy voice that suddenly manifested in its head. ''Stupid Zerg queens and their speeches. They always talk too much when they''re about to die.''
"What do we do now? He doesn''t seem that receptive to our statement," Igani asked Genji.
"That''s because you didn''t pass on my message. Stop changing my words and relay it verbatim."
"How do you know I changed it?" She delayed, hoping Genji would reconsider.
"He wouldn''t be this calm if he heard it."
Igani was tongue-tied by his simple reasoning, and her distress worsened when she realized Genji''s intentions. ''Why do you want to provoke him? How will that help?''
Left with no choice, Igani could only try again, this time prompting an enraged roar that deafened the area. Following that, an atomic breath swept through the area, leaving patches of cauterized ground in its wake.
The other beasts looked back at the king, wondering what could have angered it so much, but the king showed no signs of stopping and fired a volatile sphere at the nest.
Genji appeared below the attack and stuck out with a flaming crescent, draining nearly all his energy to split it in half. The broken halves flickered for a millisecond before the contained energy detonated into a mushroom cloud, sending Genji toward the ground at breakneck speeds.
Crashing below, Genji tumbled violently over the units before finally coming to a stop. The mini-boss that caught him slowly lowered him onto the ground with trembling arms, cracked from the impact. Genji spat out more blood and drank another potion before taking out the half-filled sphere again.
"That was worse than I expected," he said, wiping the blood from his lips.
"What now?" Igani asked, agitated from the near-death experience.
"You talk about this sphere."
"What do I say?"
"It can wipe out everyone here and drag him to the grave," Genji uttered an outrageous statement, which Igani ignored and numbly conveyed without any more consideration. She had already lost all hope so she might as well obediently act as the translator and pray Genji knew what he was doing.
After a few seconds, the beast king turned to Genji and snorted with contempt, not convinced in the slightest.
''If he had such a trump card, why would he wait until now to use it? Clearly bluffing. Do you think this father was born yesterday? Find someone else to deceive.''
Genji expected this response and said his next piece. "Tell him this isn''t the first time I killed a beast king and I don''t mind adding another one to the list."
The beast was about to dismiss Genji''s claim as another bluff when Genji raised his shoulder pads into the air and activated Berserk. Seeing this, the beast king''s eyes widened in shock, recognizing the familiar presence emanating from the equipment.
''Isn''t that West''s remains? Why does he have it?!?''
It might have been 8 months since the T-Rex''s death, but it was hard to mistake a beast king''s distinct presence, especially when this king once considered West as a rival.
"I don''t know what nickname you gave me, but the OmegaRealm members all call me Insane Poisoner after that battle. That should add some credibility to my words, right? If you don''t believe me, then I don''t mind dragging you down with me. Let''s see which of us dies first."
Genji''s eyes glimmered with crazed sentiments, daring the king to test his words. His hand hovered over the sphere, holding the last bottle to the mixture. Once this compound goes in, all hell will break loose.
"I''ll also mention that this is an upgraded version of the poison I used back then. This won''t take hours to kick in, only a few minutes. And if you have the faint delusion of running before you die from it, then good luck. As long as you soak in it, you''ll end up miserable, even if you survive. For reference, the yellow gas is a weakened version of it."
Registering these words, the beast king stopped in its tracks and carefully considered their implications. As far as it could tell, Genji didn''t seem to be lying about his identity since the shoulder pads served as evidence.
It ruled out the possibility of the equipment being from someone else because it didn''t sense the aura of any other beings. That left only the poison in question. Should it believe Genji''s assertion or call his bluff?
It was hard to confirm since logic said that a poison of such a level shouldn''t exist in the 2nd step. But this is Insane Poison they are talking about. Who knows what tricks he can employ, especially as someone who obtained such a unique moniker?
The beast king inhaled the fluttering gas and analyzed the effects, searching for a clue. Seconds later, the king felt its heart beat with vigor, pumping blood as if supercharged with adrenaline. Then, the king''s fierce body resisted influence and returned to normal, bringing with it a sense of fatigue.
''It grants strength by overdrawing life force?!?''
Realizing this, the king unleashed a roar of retreat, halting the charging squad in the distance. Although confused by the order, the beasts obeyed the king''s command, sensing the seriousness in its tone. If the beast king called for withdrawal, then it must have a good reason for it. They''ll trust in his judgment and figure out the truth later.
Despite being 90% confident that Genji was lying, the beast king couldn''t afford to risk that 10%. The losses would be devastating if he misjudged, possibly ending as the only survivor.
If Genji was telling the truth, then the improved poison would drain years off their lifespan for every second they remained in battle, a severe loss that would cripple all fighters. It was simply not worth the gamble, especially when many of the beasts in the squad had the potential to become Beast Kings.
There was also no point in bearing all the risks alone when the other factions would share it. At least they need to if they want to prevent another dominant Empress from rising. They''d done their part so it was time to pass the torch. Let them worry about the poison.
"A good choice," Genji said as Igani commanded her troops to part ways, letting the beasts go unbothered. "And tell Lanak I said hi."
Igani didn''t know who Lanak was, but the beast king scowled when it heard the name. Still, the king did nothing and remained in its position, overwatching the Beasts'' evacuation. After they left their sights, the king growled at Genji one last time before leaping away, concluding another precarious battle that Genji had overcome.
"Thank god he believed me," Genji muttered, collapsing from exhaustion and injuries. "Or we would all be dead right now."
159 – Sentinels
Minutes after the Beasts left, the Sentinels appeared and surrounded them with a mechanical wall of robots. Genji was completely drained from these consecutive battles, but the factions wouldn''t stop for him. If he wanted any chance of survival now, he would need to fend off these assailants.
"One problem solved, another one appears. If I didn''t know better, I would think we''re public enemies or something," Genji said, struggling to push himself up. At this point, his entire body had gone numb and was only moving due to his intense willpower.
Bruce rolled his eyes at Genji''s statement, wondering if his friend was being sarcastic. ''You think? We are! Why else would we be attacked so much?''
Genji ignored the nightbane''s thoughts and called for Igani again. "How many more troops can you produce?"
"Not much. We''re running low on energy," she responded, beckoning a weary sigh from Genji.
"I guess it''s time to make a last stand," Genji responded, disregarding all thoughts of fleeing.
It wasn''t that he didn''t want to, but that he couldn''t. The Sentinels had the best detection systems on the battlefield, so it was nearly impossible to sneak past them. Since they were here to attack the nest, Genji doubted they would let them tunnel away so easily.
"Is there no hope?" Igani asked with a downcast tone, understanding their grave situation.
"Cheer up. It''s only death," Genji chuckled and headed toward the army, spinning a dagger with one hand and sipping a potion with the other. "If you''re scared, just drag as many enemies down with you as possible. At least that way, you won''t have time to think about your fears."
This was not a philosophy Igani could resonate with, but what choice did she have? Was she supposed to just sit there and twiddle her legs, praying that everything would resolve itself if she ignored it enough? She might be naive, but she wasn''t helpless.
Igani let out a resigned sigh and commanded her troops to follow Genji. As they marched, the Sentinels mowed down the units from the previous battle, forming an empty perimeter around them.
Genji stopped across from them, staring down the main force as the Zergs surged forward. The tide of bugs crashed into the metal wall of Sentinels, fighting intensely before receding like a fading wave.
Among the main factions, the Sentinels were the least favored by the Zergs since they had advanced machinery and didn''t provide any bi-energy when slain. Plus, they possessed stellar commanding capabilities, allowing their robot armies to rival the Zergs in battle. Due to these formidable traits, the Zergs were easily repelled in the clash, with the Sentinels preserving all their troops.
This was a daunting realization since it only confirmed Genji''s predictions - this was going to be his last stand.
''Then I better make this count.'' His grin grew wider as his cloak fluttered in the air, releasing a threatening feeling.
But as he was about to unleash his Legacy Liberation, he observed a surprising fact: the Sentinels remained in their positions, not even taking a single step forward. This was unusual since nothing was stopping them.
As long as they took this step and maintained their defenses, they could slowly choke the Zergs down, winning the battle effortlessly. The tactic was so simple that even a toddler could understand it, yet the Sentinels were relinquishing it for some reason.
Genji couldn''t understand their motives since there was no need for elaborate battle formations. This was the result brought by their difference in strength.
Before Genji could consider the issue any further, the Zergs rushed forward again, filling this gap for another fierce melee. However, the result didn''t change, repeating the previous outcome. This time, Genji called for a pause, confusing both Igani and Bruce.
"Why are we stopping? Aren''t we making our last stand?" Igani asked, unable to follow his thought process.
Bruce''s eyes also held a similar emotion, but Genji didn''t answer them and walked into the open. The opposing side stared at him for some time before they shuffled around slightly, revealing a familiar sentinel. Genji didn''t know where this feeling came from, but he was certain they''d met before. It was only a question of where.
For now, Genji couldn''t put a finger on that answer, but it didn''t stop him from analyzing his counterpart. For two whole minutes, they stood in silence, each brewing their thoughts. The Sentinel''s eyes glimmered and raised its square fist, shaking it before returning to the army. The gesture fell on blind eyes, but it did remind Genji about their encounter.
Recalling this memory, he burst out laughing, startling his companions. "So that''s how it is. I get it now. Very well, I can''t complain."
In contrast to his elation, Igani and Bruce shared a worried sentiment. Igani couldn''t comprehend what was happening and was anxious about her life. If they were going to fight, why were they having a staring contest?
But if they weren''t, why were the Sentinels surrounding them, locking them in? The suspense ate away at her, diminishing her resolve. Now that she had time to think, she was starting to doubt if this was the correct move.
Would they fare better if they tried to escape while their opponents were preoccupied? These thoughts formed in her mind and threw her thoughts into chaos, fueling her anxiousness.
If it wasn''t for Genji''s remarkable track record, she would have already lost her patience and done something stupid. His presence was the only thing supporting her courage right now.
Bruce, on the other hand, had a different reason for his concern. Genji had recently been pushing himself past his limits without rest, so it was possible for him to suddenly snap.
Bruce had been startled once before on this topic, so his thoughts couldn''t help but wonder in that direction. Apprehensive about this likelihood, Bruce nudged Genji''s arm as he walked back, conveying his emotions.
"You should know me better by now," Genji said, stroking the nightbane''s lush mane. "I won''t do anything I''m not confident in unless I''m forced. And this time, I clearly have a choice."
This comforted both of them, but Genji''s next words instantly made them redouble their doubts. "So come on. Let''s go get some rest."
''Rest? Rest! IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WAR?!?! Is he out of his mind? Can''t he see how close the enemies are? How is he still in the mood to rest?!?!'' These thoughts flashed through both of their minds, causing them to inwardly scream in bewilderment.
Then their worries reached a new level, and they started questioning if Genji had really gone insane.
''Now that I think about it, he does tend to do some crazy things. Maybe that''s just the initial manifestations of his madness?'' Igani wondered.
''Master nooooooooo. I know you''ve been really stressed lately, but please don''t give up like this. You were so cool when you fought to the end. Why do you want to go out in such a lackluster way? Isn''t your motto to always make everyone regret antagonizing you?''
Finally, Igani couldn''t bear these deliberations and tentatively voiced her notions. "Ummmmm, are you okay? If you need to talk, just know we''re here for you. You don''t need to bear these burdens by yourself."
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Bruce nodded vigorously at the statement and gave Genji his best puppy eyes. However, Genji was more weirded out by their responses than their offers.
How did they arrive at this conclusion? Didn''t he just say he''s fine? Why did they interpret it as ''No, everything is wrong?'' Is there something wrong with their brains or did he misguide them?
If it was the former, then he would need to talk with them sometime. Otherwise, who knows what strange thoughts they may have in the future.
"I think you two need help more than I do," Genji responded, not slowing his gait. "And are you sure you want to be my psychiatrist? There are some demented things in my head. If you hear them, you might start questioning your life."
"But...But...You''re acting so strangely when we''re about to die. How can we not be worried?" Igani said euphemistically, trying not to trigger his ''condition.'' The thought process is like not asking someone if they''re drunk because they will always reply with ''no.'' Then, they will continue drinking, worsening their problem.
"Oh, that''s your worry? Well, I have some good news. They''re not here to attack us but to help us."
"Help? Why would they do that? And how are you so certain? What if everything''s an act to make us lower our guards?"
"I''m glad you''re learning to be cautious, but there''s a fine line between that and being paranoid. And you''re on the wrong side right now."
"I don''t understand?"
"Let''s just say that disk is more important than I thought."
Hearing this, Bruce''s face had a moment of enlightenment, finally understanding the reason behind Genji''s decision. Still, that only added to his amazement since the whole exchange occurred in silence.
It was unbelievable how they could convey such complex thoughts with only a gesture. It was so impressive that Bruce now strove to reach such a level with his communication skills.
"Disk? What disk?" In contrast, Igani had no idea what Genji was talking about, further adding to her confusion.
At the same time, on the other side of the battlefield, a female mage clicked her tongue in disappointment. "What a shame. That was the perfect chance to kill him."
"Give up, Stella. Our faction mission comes first," a companion said.
"I know, but I can''t help but think about it. It''s not often we come across such an injured champion."
Suddenly, as if sensing her malicious thoughts, Genji''s head whipped around to meet her gaze. The woman was a stunning beauty, with flawless skin, long silver hair, and a curvaceous figure. Yet what drew Genji''s attention wasn''t her physical features, but her large, glimmering earrings.
They were an eye-catching pair, glimmering with a faint starlight among the dark backdrop. A large amount of mana also gathered around her, radiating four different sensations. There was the fiery inferno of flames, the sharp gale of wind, the cooling flow of water, and the sturdy defense of the earth - the complete collection of basic elements.
''Starlit Mage? How lucky of me to meet two rising champions on the same day.''
Genji returned the impolite gaze with a gentle smile and a short nod, acknowledging her existence before swiping his thumb over his throat, somehow appearing both easygoing and threatening at the same time. Then he walked into the nest, leaving a bewildered Stella to stare at his previous position.
''What the fuck? Did he just smile at me? He can still be relaxed in this situation? Isn''t he the slightest bit nervous about his weakness? What a wacko. I might have to rank him with those mental patients from SanguineRealm.''
Like this, two days passed without problems, peaceful and relaxed. Well, as peaceful as it could get with the constant massacres of Zerg workers.
Although the Sentinels were helping them, they still needed to put on a show for the other factions. If they realized that the Sentinels had betrayed their unspoken agreement, then they would immediately send the next wave of attackers to pester the nest.
As such, Igani cooperated with them, sending countless workers to their deaths to simulate the scene of an intense battle. They used workers because they were the cheapest units in terms of numbers. They were already running low on bio-energy, so sending powerful units would only be the pinnacle of foolishness.
It was not like the other factions could tell the difference since the creep carpet recycled the bodies anyway. They only needed the blood and insect shells to embellish the scene. That was the typical measurement of how many Zergs had perished in the area.
The Sentinels also cooperated with the act by gradually dismantling their units over this period. Of course, they carefully stored the parts away, allowing them to reassemble the robots at any time afterward. This was how they simulated the casualties of battle.
As if that wasn''t enough, they even smeared copious amounts of blood on themselves, appearing more haggard than a beggar. The longer a unit stayed on the battlefield, the more blood they painted on. Eventually, the layers became so thick that it could be argued that the dismantled units got the better outcome.
During this time, Stella also demonstrated her abilities by bombarding certain areas with intense magic, giving the group quite a show. The only way the fireworks could have gotten better was if Bruce roasted some meat and provided a scrumptious meal with the display.
But this was impossible since they were supposed to be besieged. What kind of attack would it be if the defenders were leisurely enough to hunt for food? Hence, they could only settle for candy and dried food during these shows, much to Stella''s discontent.
In contrast, Genji forewent all these subsidies and opted for food pills, all to give himself more time to deal with his injuries. By the end, he had recovered about 80% of his peak state.
This was the best he could do in this timeframe since the remaining 20% consisted of the parasite''s energy and physical trauma from the beast king''s attack.
These factors weren''t something that could be healed in the short term, but they had a minimal effect on his strength. By his estimation, he could unleash about 93% of his physical strength, which was almost negligible since cutting intent was his main form of damage.
The only catch would be Berserk, which couldn''t be used since it would aggravate his injuries. Still, this was only a small price for tranquility.
At the end of the second day, the Sentinels retreated because they didn''t want to be involved anymore. They had repaid his favor so they had no reason to attract further troubles.
If they stayed any longer, the other factions would become suspicious. After all, none of them would altruistically contribute so much when they have nothing to gain from it. A prisoner''s dilemma, basically.
The only reason this ''battle'' lasted so long was that the Sentinels seemed to have a grudge against this nest. Since the Sentinels wanted to attack so harshly, why would they stop them?
But this ''leniency'' only applied if they were on the same side. Otherwise, they would team up against the Sentinels and inflict their losses on them, seeking to balance the power structure again.
In turn, this would drag the Sentinels into a prolonged war, which was the last thing they wanted. They had more important matters to attend to, specifically the disk that started this whole mess.
Their research had reached a crucial point, so they couldn''t wait to grind away at it. That was why they took protective measures against this investigation. Nonetheless, Genji appreciated this break since the other possibility was much worse.
The next to attack were the misfits of the Zergs, a collection of the weakest queens. Because of Silver Empress''s domination, the low-ranked queens had suffered countless hardships in the past months.
Whether it was being attacked for their bio-crystals or paying tributes, their already sparse resources were further reduced under Silver Empress''s supremacy. And all of this was caused by the agreement Genji made back then. Since Silver Empress couldn''t attack the other factions, the Zergs had become her only source of bio-energy.
This caused lots of resentment to brew within the species, all directed at Silver Empress. To the misfits, Silver Empress had purposely specified that exception so she could have a stable source of bio-energy. Essentially, she screwed all of them over because she couldn''t afford to offend the balancers.
This was also the reason why the majority of the species had a favorable impression of Genji, in turn allowing him to enter the world in their territory. Since Silver Empress took the blame for everything negative, the only impressions left were of his astounding leadership.
In their opinion, Silver Empress had only reached her position with Genji''s help. If they had been the lucky one, then the one standing at the top would have been them, instead of the tyrant. Hence, they actually couldn''t wait for Genji to return and lead them to a better future.
Still, these thoughts did little to change their choice, not to mention that they didn''t even know Genji was the one behind Igani''s rise. All they considered were the resources a new empress would take up and how there would be nothing left for them afterward, in turn becoming a death sentence.
Hence, the only way to survive would be to stifle Igani before she assumes that dominant position. Hence, they launched a massive campaign against the nest, filling the area with more troops than the eye could see.
Everywhere they looked, Zergs of different species greeted them, marching forward with the grim resolve that only one party would remain. It was a daunting scene, with the sky being blotted out and the ground caving beneath their march, but Genji thought differently.
"How nice of them to deliver energy to us as we are running low."
Hearing his casual tone, Igani gave him an absurd look. "You''re joking, right?"
"Dead serious," he replied in the same tone, all while tossing a piece of jerky into his mouth.
"That''s a whole biome of Zergs! How are we supposed to fight that?"
"Why not? This wave honestly seems easier than the previous ones."
"I''ll be crushed," Igani emphasizes, weaving a tiny ball of webs and squishing it nonstop. "And it won''t even be close."
"Yeah yeah, stop playing with your stress ball and come back to reality. All you need to do is hold the line and we''ll take care of the rest. Then you can sit back and watch your nest overflow with crystals."
Then Genji beckoned to Bruce, who stood up with an equally excited grin. After two days of rest, it was finally time to unleash everything.
"You and me both, my friend. Now let''s grind some stats."
160 – Dire Situation
The battle between the Zergs was simple but brutal. Neither side held much regard for their troops and threw them at each other without end, turning this into a numbers game.
Bodies piled higher than the distant hills, and rivers of blood flooded the area, congregating faster than Bruce could refine. Aerial units also rained down from the skies, further adding to the cluster below.
The fungal carpet worked overtime to decompose all these corpses, providing Igani with ample bio-energy to sustain the battle. The enemy units attempted to destroy this component, but the army held the line, forming a rock-solid defense.
Genji took advantage of this safe zone and rampaged, clearing patches of units with each swing. When he needed to rest, he would retreat here and allow Bruce to replace him.
Together, they turned the numerically disadvantaged situation into a stalemate, much to the misfits'' dismay. Still, they had no choice but to persist, knowing it would be their deaths otherwise. The best they could do was pray that Genji would eventually succumb to exhaustion and allow them to break through.
But Genji knew this and strictly regulated his condition, ensuring that his stamina never fell below 50%. Once he recovered enough, he would rush out again to target the strongest units.
After a few cycles, Genji built up enough energy to lightly repair his shadow core. The deep cracks within his heart gradually mended under his efforts, returning his enfeebled form to its former powers.
With this recovery, it became easier to resist the foreign energy in his body. The two forces clashed fiercely around his recovered chest, eventually ending with the remnants'' defeat. With this, he expelled all harmful components and returned to his peak strength.
Following this, his core underwent new changes as it reached the maximum size his heart could comfortably contain. To continue upgrading it, he would need to compress the structure instead of expanding it. That is to say, the strength of his core now depended on its density rather than size.
At this point, it had been days since the battle started. The stench of blood was so heavy that it formed a light mist around the area, clogging their lungs with each breath.
Genji pushed down the discomfort plaguing his senses and resumed his massacre, covering for Bruce''s evolution. Due to the bloody environment, the nightbane had finally absorbed enough vitality to pass the threshold. As such, Bruce is currently sleeping in the nest and undergoing unknown changes.
For 16 whole hours, Genji suppressed the army, killing anything that would overwhelm their defense. It was pushing his limits, but he persisted like a machine and ignored his fatigue.
At the end of this time, a bloody light burst out from the nest and blanketed everyone like a setting sun. It lasted for a few seconds before receding. Then Bruce galloped out, pumping his muscles with newfound vigor. He had never felt so alive, and the sense of strength was almost addicting.
''No wonder master is so obsessed with training. It feels so good to get stronger.''
Eager to test his power, Bruce controlled as much blood as possible and condensed it into sharp blades. The volume was multiple times his previous level, but this was due to the scarce vitality within. After a few rounds of purification, this actual increase settled at around 30%.
Then he shot out these projectiles, piercing multiple units before they lost their momentum. Bruce nodded with satisfaction at these results and kept testing his abilities.
From better control to stronger attacks, Bruce experienced an all-around increase in his abilities. By Genji''s estimation, Bruce should be strong enough to fight a mini-boss alone. For comparison, this was around the strength of a vampire prince back in EverNight.
"Seems like you''ve got this covered. I''ll go rest then."
Bruce waved a tentacle, indicating that they could leave everything to him. Genji smiled and walked back to the nest, leaving the meat grinder of a battle to continue its course.
However, this course was short-lived as their opponents soon lost the morale to carry on. Not only did this battle supply Igani with excess bio-energy, but it also fueled the blood mage''s growth. This was disheartening because they didn''t understand how much Bruce had previously accumulated. For all they knew, he could have gotten stronger from this battle.
Bruce was already giving them enough trouble, so what would happen if he evolved a few more times? By then, wouldn''t their entire army become useless? Since that was the case, they might as well retreat and preserve their troops. At least that way, they would have a better chance at survival.
Yet, what truly ended the war wasn''t their retreat but the emergence of two reapers who ruthlessly slaughtered their backlines. With a few waves of their scythes, a whole side of their army disappeared, transforming into deathly energy to fill their death gauges.
Pairing this with their previous sullenness, the queens all withdrew their troops and abandoned their quest. The only thoughts on their minds now were self-preservation and avoiding retaliation.
"What a heavy aura of death," Yagasa commented as they stepped into the vicinity.
"Yes. It''s impressive how brazen they are," Benya responded.
Over these few days, they had scoured the planet for their inheritance thief but had no results. They consulted the other reapers and confirmed none of them were behind the Parasite''s fall. This confirmed their suspicions, and they redoubled their efforts, seeking to cut down this loose end before they escaped from the battlefield.
This fruitless search continued for a few days when they accidentally overheard the gossip of a squad of Celestial soldiers. After some interrogation, they obtained the corresponding information and found their way here.
Upon arrival, they launched their strongest area attacks at the army, capitalizing on the excess energy in the environment. Half of the army instantly died under their massive energy slashes, splitting apart at the waist.
When Genji sensed this massive fluctuation, he rushed out of the cave, his face turning grim at the scene. "Reapers? What do they want?"
Despite his confusion, Genji could sense their malice and knew they were hell-bent on attacking. Without wasting a moment, he pulled out the potion-filled sphere that deterred the beasts and poured the last bottle in.
Over the past few days, Genji had been slowly repurposing this mixture in his rest periods, ensuring none of his materials went to waste. Although some parts were wasted, the conversion was relatively seamless.
After all, that bluff had some truth since it was supported by his poison-brewing knowledge. The only flaw was that he had no confidence in the exact effects of that mixture. For all he knew, it could have drained all their life force without pause or ended up as a massive dud. But now that he had tinkered with the poison''s exact composition, he knew its properties and was confident in using it.
After sealing up the sphere and shaking it vigorously, Genji hurled it at the distant reapers. As it soared over their heads, a plasma shot burst the membrane and sprinkled a curious dark greenish-yellow over their heads.
Sensing this oddity, Benay and Yagasa teleported away, not risking contact. Large drops of the liquid sizzled in the air, evaporating rapidly as it rained down. Then a vapor spread across the area, rippling outward and seeping into the insects'' bodies.
Their muscles twitched erratically and their shells cracked in random locations. The flesh beneath pushed apart these sections and revealed distorted flesh that mutated outward to fill the gap.
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Painful groans and growls sounded in their ears as their auras increased in intensity, reaching the next rank in power. Cannon fodder became elites; elites became mini-bosses; and mini-bosses, actual bosses. It was a huge jump in strength, but it came at a high cost.
After absorbing this mixture, none of the units would live past 30 minutes since this power spike was achieved by burning their life essence. Still, this was a negligible cost since the units wouldn''t last a second against the reapers anyway.
"Send the nest into overdrive!" Genji hollered at Igani as he retreated deep underground. "Do everything to delay them. Our survival depends on it!"
Hearing the urgency in his voice, Igani rushed to carry out his orders, not hesitating to waste copious amounts of bio-energy to pursue less efficient spawning systems.
Bruce also returned under Genji''s insistence, knowing full well he didn''t stand a chance against the teleporting reapers. With their abilities, no one could stop them if they wanted to target a long-range supporter.
The only way to survive would be to remain inconspicuous and not attract their attention in the first place. But, that was with a single reaper, not a duo capable of teamwork. One could only imagine the devastation that two reapers could unleash.
Genji had no intention of engaging them head-on since the threatening feeling they gave off rivaled the parasite king''s ultimate state. It would be purely suicidal to even try.
"And fill tunnels," he added as Bruce morphed back into sheath form. "We''re going into full preservation mode."
Genji strapped the sheath to the side of his hip and dashed into a random escape tunnel, going separate ways from Igani. As the Zergs jammed the fleshy passages, a sharp crescent crashed into the side of the nest. In the short time Genji had retreated, the reapers had relentlessly teleported after him, bypassing all the blockades between them.
They carved out a separate entrance away from the outgoing stream of bugs and dived inward, breaking through the ground to reach the tunnels below. Upon landing, they swerved their heads like relentless bloodhounds, searching for traces of their hunt.
Moments later, they caught a whiff of the deathly energy Genji was marked with and followed its course. As they ran, they encountered a downpour of units, which they phased through without pause. As they emerged on the other side, green blood sprang into the air, revealing large gnashes around the necks. One strike, one kill.
The duo carved through the tunnels like a hot knife through butter and eventually found a tunnel full of mangled Zergs, half alive, yet still groaning. A copious stream of black highlighted Benya''s scythe as he swung out, releasing a devastating arc of energy.
Then everything in the trajectory turned into blood, draining away as the atomic bonds of solids broke apart into liquid. Yagasa charged up a similar attack and teleported forward, turning the second half of the tunnel into the same result.
After teleporting again, they stepped onto rocky ground, where a glimmer of light shone in the distance. Loud roars echoed from this opening, connecting it with the outside battlefield.
Suddenly, a stream of berserk Zergs rushed into the tunnel, obstructing their way forward. Yet the reapers remained indifferent and converted their spirit energy, fueling their attacks with extra eeriness.
*Whooosh*
*GARRRR AKK*
The whistling of wind followed the cracking of shells as the reapers abruptly appeared on the other side of the tunnel. They waved their scythes and swept the area with a fierce wind, agitating the imperceptible cuts on the units around them.
Muscles and bones separated from the nudge, turning into another gruesome geyser as they all collapsed. An empty area appeared around them, revealing Genji who had barely parried the attack. They glanced at Genji, confirming the target before disappearing from their position.
*Clang*
The clash of weapons sounded as Genji blocked a decapitating strike. The skin around his neck broke open, spilling a thin red line before the intense force sent him stumbling backward.
Another wave of danger tingled against his senses, compelling him to jump aside and twist his body. A cold flash of steel brushed by his side, scraping the flesh off his ribs.
Genji waved his dagger at the extended handle, using the collision to redirect his body. But as he shifted away, another attack teleported in front of him, guaranteeing he would impale himself if he continued.
Realizing this, his pupils dilated into round pearls, providing countless pieces of information as his mind searched for a way to survive this situation.
''I can''t stop myself in time. I need to force it.''
At this thought, a quantum shield formed around him, buying him a few milliseconds before shattering like glass. Using this time, his energy coursed into his armguard, manifesting a magic circle beneath his chest.
A salty smell assaulted his senses as multiple tentacles erupted from the ground, entangling Genji and yanking him down with unforeseen eagerness. This was the closest the cursed spirit got to killing Genji, so it used all its strength, seeking to drag him into the portal. As long as Genji entered its domain, it would be simple to avenge this grudge.
It was a dangerous maneuver, but it pulled him outside the scythe''s trajectory. A deep purplish blood spewed out from the severed tentacle, filling the air with an uncanny coldness. But Genji had no time to pay attention to this as he struggled to sever the energy flow of the armguard.
Although this was not how the skill was intended to be used, he needed to try since he would soon be dragged under. The cursed spirit resisted with all its might, forcibly draining Genji''s energy to empower itself.
''I''m not going to make it,'' Genji thought, rapidly approaching the ground.
But right as he was about to enter the portal, four bloody spears pierced into the ground, beckoning a surprised hiss from below. As the grip around him loosened, Genji instinctively activated Berserk, granting him enough strength to violently tear the appendages away.
Then two claws extended from his back, landing on the edges of the magic circle and pushing Genji away. Capitalizing on this save, Genji swiftly cut the energy connection, preserving the last of it and soliciting an unwilling roar from the Kracken.
But before Genji could relax, he sensed another attack swiping at him. This time, it was coated with enormous energy, intending to finish him. Genji gritted his teeth and ignited his shadow flames, burning the remainder of his energy to minimize the damage.
His cutting intent also flared up, directing a counterattack at Benya. Whisps of deathly energy intercepted the cutting intent as the harsh pop of dislocated shoulders sounded, filling Genji''s senses with pain.
Yet the situation only worsened as three silhouettes darted out from Benya''s body and surrounded Genji. Sensing this familiar ability, Genji broke out in a cold sweat, understanding the lethality of the incoming combo.
Genji kicked out at the closest figure, blocking the attack with a rushed kick. However, this impact was too much for the footwear to endure, resulting in the leather crumbling away from his feet.
Leveraging this short pause, his muscles pulled his dislocated shoulders back into place, and he twisted to parry the next attack. Yet this strike hit nothing as Benya had predicted this reaction and swapped with the other silhouette. Then, a scythe came down on his extended arm, severing it and sending it airborne.
Using the last swap, Benya appeared in Genji''s newly created blind spot and slashed at his neck. The chilling sensation induced goosebumps on his skin and foretold his demise.
Despite this inevitability, his willpower refused to give up and induced him to lean forward, trying until the last moment even if it was futile.
However, Genji was rewarded for this attempt as Bruce suddenly manifested within this limited space. In his half-fluid form, Bruce bared his sharp teeth at the incoming arm and bit down with all his strength, disrupting the trajectory.
At this moment, Genji followed up with Dominance Aura, stunning Benya long enough for Bruce to slam the ground and send Genji away. A flash of blood also extended upward, reaching for Genji''s severed arm.
Knowing Yagasa would soon continue this onslaught and that he had no way to repel him, Genji dropped his dagger and reached into his storage space. As Yagasa appeared beside Genji, a handful of vials approached his face.
Yagasa considered his options and decided to temporarily pause the attack, wary of the unknown mixture. He had seen the damage Genji''s potions could do and wasn''t willing to risk it.
As Yagasa teleported away, large blood wings extended from Genji''s back, flapping awkwardly to redirect him. Sensing Bruce''s unfamiliar controls, Genji activated Like A Feather to streamline the process.
When Genji landed, he splashed more potions to deter the reapers and rushed into the Zerg army, desperate to survive. Bruce reattached his arm during this time, holding it in place as his potions took effect.
A mob of units charged past him, covering for his escape. Despite this, Genji knew this wouldn''t last as he sensed the reapers rapidly approaching.
"Igani, is it ready yet? I can''t last much longer," he shouted, frantically weaving between the swarm.
"One moment," she answered, her tone exhausted from the massive effort she had exerted. "It''s hard to control so many units."
"I don''t need anything complicated. Just do it," he urged, sensing ripples in the air, a sign of the reapers'' teleportation.
The second he uttered those words, the reapers manifested 10 meters away, putting Genji within one teleportation. However, this soon became useless as the ground beneath them detonated to reveal a cluster of Zergs, comprising only mini-bosses.
Ever since Genji gave the order, she had been sending her strongest units here to bathe in Genji''s poison, getting stronger as it converted their life force. It was an extravagant usage of bio-energy, but this was the only chance they had.
The rough edges of the ground peeled away as the units surged upward, occupying all the space within their teleportation range. Genji pressed himself against these units and threw more potions at his enemies, drawing the dispersed poison to this area. Then a fierce melee began, with Igani gradually expanding the encirclement with more cannon fodder.
Genji let out a sigh of relief, knowing the situation had stabilized in their favor. With the crisis under control, Bruce eased up and let out a soft whimper of pain. Looking over, Genji saw a nasty wound around his mouth, the price for the bite that saved Genji''s life.
Due to the tense circumstances, Bruce had been suppressing this pain and straining himself to keep Genji alive. Yet now that the urgency had passed, only exhaustion remained in the nightbane.
"You''ve done enough. Leave the rest to me," Genji said, stroking his bristled mane.
"Nnneeeeiiiiiggghhhhh." Bruce released a content sound and drifted to sleep, smiling about the help he provided.
161 – Proposed Duel
The Zergs surrounded the reapers, forcing them to exert more strength to repel these vicious insects. Blood and carapace flew everywhere, but this gruesome sight couldn''t hide the fatigue. Their scythes still whirled around at air-breaking speeds, but their energy output had drastically reduced.
Due to their higher exertion, they struggled to recover any energy from these kills. It also didn''t help that the poison forcibly converted their life force into strength, increasing their output beyond the required amount.
It didn''t matter if they suppressed this effect since more poison would cascade. They either use this strength or pay an ever-increasing cost to endure it. Since they would lose the life force anyway, they went all out, trying to kill Genji before they exhausted themselves.
However, Genji was as slippery as an eel and slid between the Zergs without pause. Pairing these slick maneuvers and the surrounding swarm, it was very difficult to keep pace with Genji. All he needed was a single second, and the nearby Zergs would react, filling the area with claws.
The reapers couldn''t ignore these attacks since the poison gave the Zergs enough strength to break their defense. While the wounds were light, it was enough to create the scene of ants biting an elephant to death.
Cutting intent also slashed down at inopportune moments, further exacerbating their decreasing energy. Otherwise, Genji made no other attacks, trying to avoid another melee against them. They might be conservative with their energy uses, but that didn''t mean they were helpless.
If they were truly in danger, they wouldn''t be chasing him right now, but rather trying to break out of this encirclement. As Genji tangled with them some more, his hair started turning grey, a sign of his own depletion. Nonetheless, he pushed onward, using all his strength to stall the battle.
After a few minutes, the reapers recognized that their efforts were unproductive and swapped their strategy. Instead of tunnel-visioning Genji, they would remove the pesky queen and her nest. Then, they''ll see what can stop them.
Genji realized their intentions and chased after them, unleashing crescent slashes at their teleportation points. Surges of deathly energy dispelled his attacks before they continued moving, completely ignoring his presence.
"Cool. Mission accomplished. Let''s get out of here," Genji declared loudly, deliberately letting them hear him. Then he turned around and ran in the opposite direction.
Seeing this, the reapers immediately gave up their plans and rushed at Genji. They needed to do this since Genji would be gone by the time they finished the nest. Between the two options, it was clear what their priorities were.
Genji inwardly sighed in relief and dived back into the swarm, gratified that his trick had worked. Like this, the two sides entangled each other in this deadlock, unable to deliver a decisive blow.
"Let''s go. We''ll come back once the poison fades," Benya said, regulating his body to force out the fumes.
Yagasa nodded in agreement and followed Benya in his retreat. Although this outcome was undesirable, it was better than endangering their lives. Plus, their personal feelings were inconsequential compared to the mission''s importance.
All they cared about was Genji''s death and stopping the leak of Dance of Death. As long as this could be done, they didn''t care about the means they used.
By now, they had essentially confirmed Genji''s possession of the skill. Although he hadn''t used it yet, his proficient response against Benya''s maneuver gave him away. One does not simply display that level of familiarity unless they used it themselves or fought plenty of reapers.
The latter was unlikely since few could survive against a reaper on equal stats, let alone less than. But to reach that level of experience, one would need to fight multiple reapers. Were they really supposed to believe that Genji survived that many confrontations against them?
That was not even considering how unlucky one needed to be to encounter that many reapers. Thus, Genji was guaranteed to have the ability. And nothing could convince them otherwise.
''Trying to leave so easily? Don''t even think about it.''
While Genji was still clueless about their purpose, he knew they were insistent on his death. It didn''t take a genius to figure out, considering how relentless they were.
He did not doubt that if they escaped today, they would come back to haunt him, potentially assassinating him when he least expected it. To prevent that, it would be best if he could remove this trouble today.
Thumping his chest with a clenched fist, Genji sent his shadow core into overdrive and infused his energy with a volatile trait. Then his daggers coursed with a violent vortex that shredded the surrounding air. Shadow Devour had been unleashed.
Untraceable Movement, Solid Core, Flashstep.
Genji suddenly disappeared from his position and ripped through the air like a torpedo before exploding on his targets. His daggers curved around the scythe as he twisted his arm, contorting his muscles beyond acceptability.
Benya''s eyes widened in shock as he blinked away, escaping the exchange with a shallow cut. Yagasa, on the other hand, wasn''t as fortunate and received a gaping wound on his shoulder.
Regardless, these attacks weren''t enough to kill them since they suppressed the invading energy moments after it entered their body. Their reactions were fast because they had similar abilities and knew how to respond. Still, they couldn''t hide their surprise, and their gazes took on a hint of respect.
"A beheading ability. Impressive," Benya praised with a pale face. "Not many in the third step have one, yet you managed to personalize it. Very well, you win this time."
With those words, the two of them teleported into the distance, searching for a safe place to treat their wounds. Given how violent this energy was, it would take them at least a week to recover. Until then, Genji would be safe from their attacks.
When the reapers disappeared into the horizon, Genji leaned his aching body against the closest unit. His body had sustained severe damage in that last movement, having pushed his speed beyond his body''s limit. Nonetheless, it had temporarily repelled his foes and gave them more time to prepare.
''What a crazy sequence of events,'' he thought, pushing himself to stand on his trembling legs.
Three days after the reapers retreated, a middle-aged man in pearly white armor visited the nest. Genji was familiar with this person since he had left a considerable impression in their last meeting. After all, Genji had only survived the last entry of the Spatial Battlefield with his help.
It was none other than Julian, the Balancer who previously handled Genji''s case. Now, they met again, repeating the scenario of their first meeting, with Genji sowing chaos and Julian stabilizing the aftermath.
But despite these interactions between them, it was hard to say if Julian would recognize him. Genji''s aura and appearance had changed too much in this time frame, becoming more insect than human.
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Bruce gave Julian a peculiar look, wondering who was so bold to come here alone. In his impression, even two reapers had to retreat under their defenses, so what made Julian any different?
In contrast to Bruce''s ignorance, Igani knew better and quivered with nervousness when she saw the gray badge with the golden scale. She might be secluded from the outside world, but she knew about the Balancer''s mighty power and duties.
"Oh my god! Why is he here? What did we do? I''m a good spider. I didn''t break any rules..."
Igani trailed off when she said her last sentence, realizing how wrong she was. If she hadn''t done anything major, why would all the other factions try so hard to kill her? It wasn''t like they had nothing better to do. So the sheer intensity of the attacks only testified to their problems, rather than diminishing them.
"Hey," she addressed Genji with a stiff turn. "I never asked, but why are we so hated?"
"What do you think? Those bodies you''re playing with aren''t easy to get."
"No way! Not even Mother faced such a backlash when she got her bodies. Didn''t you say she got six of them? Why are we being targeted so much when we only have three?"
"Sorry to break it to you, but these bodies are more important than you think. Regarding research value, I dare say only the beast kings can rival them. Even then, it''s not certain which one is better since they both have their specialties. Basically, you''re a child holding a gold mine. They''ll be stupid to let you develop it, especially when there''s a devastating precedent."
"But but," she tried to protest, tears threatening to leak from her eyes. "I didn''t ask for any of this." *Sniffle*
"No, you didn''t, but you don''t have a choice. Remember, you''re still poisoned." Genji waved an empty bottle of candy to illustrate his point. "The only way out is to get strong enough that no one dares attack you."
"So I have to develop these troops?"
"Yeah, and you better do it quick. I only have so much time left, and I don''t know how calm they''ll be after I leave." After saying those words, Genji waved lightly at her and went to greet their guest. After all, they needed to clear this obstacle if they wanted a chance at that future.
As Igani watched Genji''s departing back, her eyes glimmered with an uncharacteristic determination. In the time she had spent with Genji, she had unknowingly been influenced by his thought process, taking on a fraction of his boldness.
This was not surprising since she rarely interacted with other people, rendering her sense of normality practically nonexistent. When one is surrounded by charismatic madness, one can''t help but be tainted by it. And in the face of this pressure, she finally displayed this acquired trait, bursting out with a strong desire for survival.
''Just you wait. I''ll pump out the strongest units you''ve ever seen and overcome this difficulty!''
Genji smiled when he sensed this brimming resolve. After so long, he had finally ignited this spark within her and motivated her to improve. This was a huge breakthrough since it was the difference between passively consuming resources and actively seeking strength.
Suddenly, a whoosh of air came from behind as Bruce caught up to him. As he came next to Genji, Bruce nudged his arm and inquired if he needed any help.
"Don''t worry about it. Just focus on recovering." Genji declined and rubbed Bruce''s head. Due to Bruce''s equipment nature, potions don''t work on him so his injuries still persisted. Genji didn''t want to aggravate this issue so he asked Bruce to stay behind.
After finishing this exchange, Genji stepped out to face Julian, stopping the balancer in his steps.
Julian examined Genji with a careful gaze and scrunched his brows in confusion, wondering how Genji could feel so foreign, yet familiar at the same time. He was certain they''d never met before, yet his instincts were saying otherwise. It was a very strange feeling because Julian would have forgotten such a distinct presence.
Seconds later, Julian gave up this recollection and introduced himself. "Balancer Jullain. I''m here on duty to resolve an unstable element."
"I know," Genji responded with a nod. "This isn''t the first time we''ve met."
"I see. That explains my sentiment. Still, you''ll have to forgive me. I don''t remember ever meeting you."
"That''s expected since I looked differently back then."
"That aside, you should know what I''m here for, right?"
"I can guess, but I''ll have to decline. I worked hard to reach this point, and I''m not giving up now."
"I''m afraid that''s not up to you. This queen''s very existence has become a complicated mess. If I let her be, there will be a massive war in the future. Too many people will die at once, and the realms will lose most of their lower forces. There will be a massive gap in the 2nd step and plenty of associated problems."
"It won''t get to that point," Genji assured with a firm tone. "I''ll make sure of it."
"I can''t take your word for it."
"Why not? How can you be so sure about this outcome?"
"It''s in the Zerg''s nature. The queen has been attacked by everyone, so it''s only a matter of time before she seeks revenge. No matter which faction she attacks, the others will never stand back and watch."
"Even against Silver Empress?" Genji asked with a confident tone.
"Hmmmm. I did not expect that one. But even if that''s the case, the results won''t change. The battle will still cause a massive disturbance."
"But it won''t be as damaging. As long as everyone else agrees not to interfere, we won''t initiate an attack. Won''t that solve the issue?"
"It''s not as simple as that. The moment Silver Empress is attacked, the agreement will relax, and her legion will storm the battlefield. Then, it won''t be a clash between you two, but the entire planet, since there''s no way she will return to her territory so easily after coming out. In that time, she can do a lot of damage."
"You make it sound like we don''t stand a chance."
"That''s because you don''t. Her legion is so strong that we need at least two balancers to forcibly break into her nest. Can you even understand that level of power?"
"Of course, I do. I''m the one that raised her to that point."
Hearing these words, Julian briefly lost his composure and gave Genji a second look. Now that Genji admitted this, Julian started recalling the sequence of events that resulted in Silver Empress''s domination. In his memory, there was one person who fit the description.
"It''s you?" Jullain asked, pinpointing the resemblance between Genji''s current appearance and his memories. Now that he had a reference, the cloak does look familiar.
"One and only. So do I have the qualifications now?"
"It''s a little more convincing, but did you learn nothing from last time? You caused such a big mess, yet you want to repeat it? Aren''t you afraid of the repercussions once something goes wrong?"
"I need to do what I can to survive. You said it best, Zerg queens are vengeful creatures. There''s no way she will let me go like this."
"Fine, I won''t go into your motives, but can you at least tell me why you''re so insistent on this method? I''m sure there are easier ways given your strength. You did annihilate the upper echelons of the Parasites after all."
"I''m afraid I can''t answer that," Genji responded, eyeing his total contribution points. He didn''t want to say the true reason because it would worsen Julian''s impression of him and make this negotiation that much harder.
Anyone would have such a notion if they discovered that Genji was doing all this for more contribution points, despite his already abundant quantity. He would appear greedy and selfish, characteristics that few would want to associate with.
Nevertheless, Genji pushed onward because he was just shy of the required 10 million. So far, he had accumulated 9.12 million and only required one more major battle to fill the gap.
However, Genji couldn''t target the main factions since they''d already been pushed to the limit. The moment he tried, they would all team up and risk everything in a pyrrhic battle.
This left Silver Empress as the only viable choice since no one would care if two dangerous queens tore each other apart. Rather, they welcomed it since it would lower the overall threats.
"That doesn''t do much to convince me," Julian said, shaking his head. "I can''t just abandon my duties when you don''t even give me a valid reason."
"Then tell me what will change your mind."
Julian thought for a few seconds before opening his palm at Genji. "Five minutes. As long as you can last that long against me, I''ll overlook it. That''s the one exception Eternal Void allows for powerful champions. But this pardon will only last until the end of this cycle. After that, we will take action and eliminate the threat."
"I don''t have any other choice, do I?"
"No." Julian plucked the balancer badge from his chest and fiddled with it before showing Genji the bold numbers on its surface. "The timer will start once it touches the ground. As long as you''re still standing after it rings, it''s your win. Are these conditions acceptable?" Julian asked for formality''s sake and outlined the terms of this battle.
"Yes," Genji officially agreed and took a deep breath.
"Then let the battle begin." After saying those words, Julian tossed the badge into the air and drew his sword. His muscles grew taut and gathered their strength, ready to burst out at a moment''s notice.
Genji took this chance to scan his foe, getting a glimpse of Julian''s abilities.
[Your special stat surpasses your opponents. Detected the target is 2 steps higher than you. Huge obstruction will be imposed: Obtaining 7% of the target''s information. ]
[Balancer Julian]
Health: ???/???
Aura of Light: 2,500/???
Con: 50
Str: 50
Dex: 50
Int: 50
Spc: 38
Note: All stats have been suppressed to the world''s limit. No skills can be read.
The stats were beyond anything Genji had faced, but he had expected this since Balancers were known for their invincibility. Only with this strength could they suppress the entire battlefield without resistance and enforce order among the factions. Luckily, this wasn''t a life-or-death battle, so he didn''t have to worry about any devastating trump cards from the other side.
As the badge reached its peak, Genji drew his daggers and entered his stance. His pupils widened to capture every moment, and his heart pulsed with vigor. His entire existence had entered its top form and awaited the start of the battle. Then the badge landed with a crisp tap, resounding with a high pitch that sent both fighters into action.
162 – 5 minutes
The instant the badge landed, both fighters vanished from their positions and unleashed their accumulated power. Flashes of weapon intent clashed against each other, wreaking devastation on the terrain. The impact tore the air apart and released high-pitched shrieks.
Vacuum blades of rushing air flew everywhere, turning the vicinity into a storm of blades. The ground also shattered like crumbling sand, unable to resist the forces.
Genji unleashed everything in tandem with Julian, matching each attack with his own. They gradually increased their powers with each exchange, challenging the other to keep up while probing their limits.
Genji had a harder time due to his weaker physique and lower mastery over weapon intent, but his willpower compensated for it. The only drawback was that his energy consumption surpassed Julian''s, making it difficult to sustain a prolonged battle, though he didn''t need to anyway.
So he exerted himself without care, impressing Julian with his offensive powers. Julian had only heard of such champions in records, so seeing it in person was a first.
Although it was lackluster compared to what he was capable of, it didn''t diminish how impressive it was. Every one of these limit breakers had experienced countless life-and-death battles to reach this point, proving their capabilities. Given enough time, they would eventually blossom into apex beings, unrivaled among their stat range.
Compared to them, Julian was truly lackluster, ranking in the middle in terms of combat power. He had no right to look down on such beings, as it would be arrogant of him to do so. Instead, they should be treated with respect and acknowledged for overcoming tribulations beyond most men. It was for this reason that he mentioned the exception, giving Genji an alternative path rather than squashing Igani''s nest.
At this moment, Genji was sent flying back from the exchange, finally overcome by Julian''s weapon intent. Unlike Genji''s intent that enhanced sharpness, Julian''s carried a heavy force unattainable from swords.
Genji guessed that Julian''s main weapon was not a sword, but a blunt one focused on smashing targets, such as a warhammer, mace, or morning star. That would explain the contradictory feeling Julian emitted.
Otherwise, why would anyone wield a thin sword with so much force when it would only damage durability? Despite this restriction, Genji struggled to match Julian, whose strength synergized with his intent, exemplifying power beyond the stated stats.
When Genji landed, he stumbled back a few paces, leaving small craters with each step. His body ached with soreness from enduring the impacts, despite traveling through the air. Genji couldn''t even begin to fathom the damage of blocking such an attack if this were a melee.
Halting his steps, Genji shook his body to dispel the remaining momentum and assessed the situation. ''About 1 minute. 4 more to go. I need to change my approach, or I won''t last.''
Julian walked into view and pointed his sword at Genji. "Can you continue? If not, giving up is an option."
"And lose this chance to witness your strength? No way!" Genji responded with a wide grin, unfazed by Julian''s overwhelming strength.
"Is that so? Very well, I''ll show you the second stage of weapon intent," Julian declared as he raised his sword, and his colorless intent took on a faint orange glow. Immense pressure fell on Genji as the surrounding gravity increased manifold. The airborne dust particles settled under this force, forming a still field devoid of sound.
"Behold, intent manifestation," Julian declared, lowering his sword with a light swirl. "At this level, your intent becomes strong enough to affect the physical world around it."
"Seems nifty, but it doesn''t feel that strong," Genji remarked, using his cloak to reduce the gravity. "I''ll be surprised if it can do anything against someone of equal strength."
"That''s because you''re only sensing the excess intent that escaped my control. You only master it when you can contain everything," Julian explained as he swiped his sword upward, sending a round blast at Genji.
Sensing the force within the attack, Genji rushed to escape the vicinity. His instincts warned him that he would instantly perish if he tried to stop it. As Genji appeared in the distance, the blast touched the ground and sent large shockwaves across the surface.
The previously calm scene collapsed into rubble and smoke as multiple waves swept through the area. It was only after five seconds that the attack faded, revealing a gaping crater in Genji''s previous position.
Julian turned to face Genji and asked, "What about now? Feel like giving up yet?"
Genji stared at the aftermath with twitching eyes, taken aback by the damage. However, his response remained steadfast, unwilling to concede so easily.
"I was hoping to save this for Silver Empress, but it seems like I have no choice. Let me show you my trump card then," Genji declared. He took a deep breath and steadied his mind, regulating his condition with closed eyes. Curious about his abilities, Julian stood back and allowed Genji to return to peak form.
"You have 30 seconds. After that, I''m attacking," Julian said firmly, eliminating the possibility of delay.
Genji took full advantage of this leniency and stretched out the time, wasting the seconds away as he harmonized with his cloak. As the deadline approached, Genji opened his eyes and quietly muttered, "Unleash your terror, my energy silhouette."
Following his command, his cloak resonated with his shadow core, sending euphoric power through his heart. His energy buzzed with excitement and flowed like rolling dragons, tearing the ambient air apart. Dark shadows obscured his existence and blocked out all light, turning him into a blob of darkness.
His aura disappeared from Julian''s senses, but the lingering sense of danger only increased with each passing moment. When this feeling reached its peak, Genji disappeared from his position, prompting a side swing from Julian.
*Clang dang*
Genji''s daggers clashed against the straight sword, knocking it aside as the sudden attack surpassed the force Julian exerted. Streams of black fluid also swirled around his dagger, tearing apart the incoming weapon intent.
Under his cloak''s augmented state, his gaseous shadow flames condensed into a liquid form, flowing like water and taking on an ink-like appearance. Cutting intent also merged with the stream, granting it enough resilience to confront Julian''s superior weapon intent. Since Genji couldn''t match his intent in quality, he would make up for the difference with quantity.
Genji twisted his body to push the sword aside, allowing his other dagger to stab inward. In response, Julian loosened his hold and used the force to transition into a backhand grip before yanking upward, parrying the strike.
Genji''s arm jerked backward from the impact and went numb, briefly losing his sense of touch as his blood surged chaotically. Not backing down, Genji dug his forefoot into the ground and pivoted below the sword. His daggers rushed at the knee, where a slight opening existed between Julian''s armor.
The cold, dark energy brushed against Julian''s skin but failed to draw any blood since he jumped back at the last moment. At the same time, his downward-pointed sword descended on Genji''s back, threatening to pierce his chest.
But before it could touch Genji, he disappeared from his position and manifested beside Julian. Streaks of darkness struck at his ribs, but Julian fended them off with a clenched fist and intent.
Suddenly, three figures darted out from Genji''s side, causing Julian''s eyes to dilate with concentration and surprise. Predicting the incoming barrage, Julian applied gravitational force to himself and stomped hard on the ground. Cracks stretched outward from his point of contact, destroying two shadows.
Nonetheless, Genji swapped with the remaining one and appeared above Julian. Waves of ink struck relentlessly at his head, catching Julian off guard.
However, Julian maintained his composure and tightened his clenched fist, driving his gauntlet to emit mana. Then he disappeared from his position, teleporting away with an equipment effect.
"Not bad. You managed to force me to use a skill," Julian praised Genji, unfazed by the barrage.
Genji furrowed his brows at this scene, realizing Julian was more troublesome than he had given him credit for. Not only did he have powerful combat skills rivaling high lords, but he also had access to various equipment effects like all realm members.
This was the first time Genji had faced such a combination since he mostly fought the "natives" of each world. Rarely did they own such a diverse collection of equipment, each with its unexpected effects.
On the other hand, realm members rarely possessed such powerful skills and mainly relied on equipment to boost their combat powers. The sheer quantity of items guaranteed that every person would find a suitable match, making it easier to acquire equipment than a suitable power system.
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These advantages made balancers virtually invincible within the 2nd step, yet one of them still perished on the battlefield. It really made one wonder how Shepherd accomplished such an unbelievable feat.
"I wish I could say the same," Genji replied, thumping his chest to overdraw his core. His muscles ached from the burden and his fluid-like energy boiled violently.
Suddenly, he accelerated at Julian, unleashing Shadow Devour beyond its maximum strength. The liquid energy gave the technique a new cyclone form and a savage cycle, tearing everything within.
Julian raised his sword to parry and experienced a jerk that threatened to disarm him. Then the collision came, wrecking his defense as Genji dived in for another stab.
In this split second, Julian decisively released his weapon and transitioned into hand-to-hand combat. A repulsive field formed around his fist as he punched out, unleashing a wide impact that knocked Genji backward.
In exchange, he suffered a large cut on his knuckles, mangling his hand. Not even his gauntlet and intent combined could repel Genji''s daggers without injury.
Despite this, Julian remained nonchalant as the wound rapidly closed under a gleam of light. After so much effort from Genji, he finally forced Julian to use his energy. This energy had a warm feeling, almost like the embrace of a mother, and was gentle in nature. It didn''t specialize in offense, but it more than made up for it with its healing.
If comparing Julian to a class from an RPG, he would resemble a paladin the most, capable of fighting and healing. However, that was only the basic usage of it, similar to Genji''s stealth. There were bound to be more advanced techniques, possibly ultimates, in his arsenal.
Julian flicked his wrist a few times and unleashed another punch at Genji, blocking his follow-up. Another deep wound appeared on his hand, but Julian paid it no mind, opting to strike again. With this attack, the cyclone of energy swirling around Genji''s daggers dispersed into flecks of light.
Julian''s tranquil energy had neutralized Genji''s volatile state, canceling Shadow Devour. Genji considered reigniting the effect but decided against it since it would take a massive toll on his body. If he pursued this line of action, it was unknown if he could last the remaining duration of the duel.
Genji dug his feet into the ground, dispersed the momentum, and wound up for his next attack. Cutting intent and energy gathered at the dagger''s tip, granting it unparalleled sharpness as it plunged into Julian''s chest.
A construct of light shattered under the strike, buying Julian enough time to reposition himself. As the dagger narrowly missed his heart, Julian struck out and sent Genji to the ground. The impulse yanked the dagger out of his chest, allowing it to close without trouble.
As the snaps of broken bones sounded in Genji''s mind, he directed his energy to hold the fractures together. This was possible because his current state gave his energy sufficient strength, greatly easing the healing process. Still, it did little against the rubble that buried him nor the depleting energy in his system. At this rate, he would soon run out of steam before his liberation even ended.
''No time to worry about that. I just need to keep fighting,'' he thought, pulling himself up from the crevice.
Looking at the distant Julian, Genji noticed that the balancer had acquired a new weapon. Replacing his normal sword was a large sledgehammer that was disproportionate for his height. If Genji didn''t know better, he would think the handle was for a cavalry lance rather than a mallet.
It was an unwieldy weapon, but Julian easily held it, his arm curled around one end as it balanced on his shoulders.
"Shame I lost my sword," Julian commented as Genji regained his footing, "Or I would never have brought Gornash out. It''s beyond your league right now." Then he patted the mallet head, emphasizing his point.
"Try me," Genji responded before flashstepping again.
Julian only smiled and flipped his weapon onto his hand before swinging out. As he leaned downward, the massive hammer whirled around him, covering all openings.
Genji barely stopped himself from slamming into this death train, but the afterwind was enough to push him back. A sonic boom then followed, cracking the ground and propelling a ring of rocks outward.
With a single swing, Julian had created a zone devoid of life and declared himself as the ruler of this space. In a way, this was similar to those domain abilities often mentioned in novels, except this was achieved through physical strength alone. It was a crushing power, one that made up the very essence of Julian''s weapon intent.
Before he could lose too much ground, Genji activated Quantum Shield and Cocoon to cut through the gushing airflow. Genji appeared beside Julian and unleashed Dominance Aura, hindering the counterattack enough for Genji to avoid it. A powerful force brushed over his face as Genji arced back, limboing beneath the mallet.
After the hammer passed, Genji sprung up with a slash that gathered all his cutting intent. A large streak of crescent light covered the area, blinding the distant spectators.
Yet despite these hindrances, the smell of blood was clear in the air, and the clang of broken armor reverberated softly. Genji sensed all this and pushed forward with another stab, seeking to capitalize on this opening.
Suddenly, a fist smashed down on the ground, blocking the dagger and propelling Julian backward. This put Julian in the optimal range to swing his weapon, delivering another crater-smashing attack.
Fortunately, this counterattack missed Genji since he darted away the instant he sensed the maneuver. A large sphere of curses obscured Julian''s vision as Genji rolled away. With a slight nudge, Julian smashed the bullet and took an aggressive stance.
But before he could give chase, Genji appeared beside him at phantom speeds and continued his attacks. Genji had finally used Untraceable movement with his enhanced flashstep, achieving speeds beyond what Julian could keep up with.
However, for every movement he took in this state, he also sustained corresponding injuries. As much as the liberation boosted his combat powers, his physique remained relatively unchanged. Solid Core might be more potent, but his speed only scaled with this defense.
Genji subjected himself to the limits of his body''s limit, enduring the maximum amount of backlashes without compromising his combat strength. A cascade of dagger afterimages fell on Julian, leaving shallow lacerations with each swing.
Despite this, Julian contained the damage to a minimum, blocking only the necessary strikes while tolerating the rest. This assault persisted for some time and left its marks, forcing Julian to exert more abilities.
With a hard yank, Julian slammed the bottom end of the hammer into the ground, releasing a yellow oscillation of energy. A repulsive force washed over him and carried him away.
Genji tried to break out of this control, but it was unusually firm for how gentle it was. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Julian pressed a bright orb of energy into his chest, healing most of his wounds. The ones that remained open scabbed over and stopped bleeding, returning him to his peak state.
Left with no choice, Genji could only follow Julian''s example and treat his wounds. This standoff lasted for a few seconds when Julian brandished his weapon and charged forward. His abilities were more potent than Genji''s potions, so he recovered faster and took the initiative.
Unwilling to be outdone, Genji followed, and they engaged in another melee. Using the last of his speed, Genji ran circles around Julian, leaving cuts in passing. This time, Julian endured everything, sensing the urgency behind Genji''s attacks and knowing he couldn''t maintain this burst.
Shortly after, Genji''s speed ran out, and he retreated into the distance to catch his breath. Julian watched all this with a tranquil gaze and asked, "Is it worth it? You''re tearing your body apart to keep up with me."
"Is that even a question? Of course, it''s worth it!" Genji responded in a heartbeat, not hesitating in the slightest.
"Maybe, but I don''t understand why you''re trying so hard. What do you have to gain from this when all I only see wounds?"
Genji thought for a moment before letting out a heartfelt smile. "Injuries come and go like the seasons, but improvements are permanent. I''ve improved a lot from this battle, so why would I stop now?"
Julian pondered this statement for a moment before mirroring his smile. "Injuries come and go like the seasons. That''s quite fitting. Perhaps that''s the distinction between them and me, and why they achieved greater heights. Alright, let''s see what you can do."
Julian twirled his hammer and assumed a relaxed posture, awaiting the next exchange.
Instead of rushing forward like usual, Genji held out a dagger and closed his eyes. Directing his focus inward, he evoked his remaining strength and focused his mind. After a few seconds of stillness, his aura started decreasing in intensity, as if relinquishing his legacy liberation.
Genji stowed away his other dagger and brought the blade in front of him, lining the tip up to the distant figure. As he stared down his arm, his breath dimmed in noticeability, and his energy sagged like fading smoke. It wasn''t long before his entire presence weakened to that of a normal person''s, appearing harmless and negligible in the grand scheme of things.
At least that was how it was supposed to be if it weren''t for the thick black lining around his imperceptible dagger. Although Genji was holding it, Julian could not sense its existence. It was a strange attack, but its subtlety was greatly reduced in this frontal clash.
Nonetheless, Julian regarded this with utmost seriousness and invoked his energy, coating his hammer with a golden light. In contrast with Genji''s vanishing aura, Julian''s energy flared like a rising sun and weighed down on the surroundings.
The two of them exchanged a serene look as they charged up their attacks, knowing this would be the final confrontation. Genji had infused everything into this strike, leaving nothing to spare, not even his presence.
"Stealth Dagger - Concentrated Existence," Genji named his newly created technique and disappeared from reality. Not a single hint of his aura leaked during this motion, giving the impression of an elusive ghost.
The following instant, Julian swung with all his might, slamming into the emerging Genji. A circular wall of dust erupted around them, shaking the area like a magnitude 8 earthquake.
Then Genji emerged from the haze, bolting backward faster than he entered. His entire body lost all senses, becoming numb to the impact that stopped him. The only thing he could perceive was the flesh and blood that warmly enveloped him, cushioning his impact.
A groan slipped from his throat as the walls shifted, repositioning him and inadvertently aggravating his wounds. It was at this moment that Genji realized it was the nest that was moving him.
As his foot touched the ground, Genji buckled from the strain and coughed out bits of organs. The nest supported him from behind and allowed him to regain his footing.
At this moment, Julian walked into view with his hammer slung over his shoulder. Energy residues clung to the head, giving the hammer an oppressive feeling. Compared to Genji, Julian appeared relatively unharmed. There was not even a single wound from the exchange.
The only signs of the battle were the dust particles that adhered to the skin and mingled with his sweat to create a brown paste. However, this pristine condition was limited to his body, as his weapon told a different story. On one edge, where two surfaces met, a small chunk had broken off.
This was the result of the prior clash, during which Genji struck the hammerhead before being launched. While the damage was minor, it was impressive that he managed to chip off a piece in the first place. After all, this was Julian''s main weapon, not any random scrap metal. One could only imagine its resilience against damage.
"Not bad. Impressive even, but I think it''s time to acknowledge the truth. You lost," Julian said, standing across from Genji.
"Are you sure about that?" Genji asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, why wouldn''t I be?"
"Because in my view, I''m the winner."
The moment Genji finished those words, a loud buzz went off, signaling the end of the match. Julian momentarily gave Genji a blank stare before regaining his composure and comprehending his meaning. Then, Julian burst out in light-hearted laughter, acknowledging that Genji had outplayed him.
"So you were keeping track of time. Fine, my loss."
163 – Final Battle
Shortly after the duel ended, Julian registered the results and left without any hard feelings. Although the loss was a little silly, he wasn''t particularly upset about it.
In his opinion, Genji deserved the win, especially considering his stats. Compared to the fighters who typically completed this challenge, Genji was weaker by a few leagues.
For reference, most of them had 3 stats on the cusp of 50 points, whereas Genji only had 1: his Special. All his other stats were at the low boss level, a far stretch from the bare minimum required to resist the balancers.
It was a miracle that he even lasted so long, made only possible by his legacy liberation and cutting intent, both of which exceeded the 2nd step in capabilities.
Because of this, Julian had a hint of admiration for Genji. The realms were always fair in their reward distributions so he could imagine what difficulties Genji had encountered to achieve this level of strength. That was not to mention that Genji still had room to grow. This was far from his strongest state within the second step.
"Thankfully he''s laid-back, or I''m not sure I could have lasted the whole time."
Bruce nodded in agreement and helped Genji with his wounds. As they walked back into the damaged nest, Igani sent some bio-crystals for Genji. Due to his Zerg traits, Genji gained some affinity for the energy and could use it to bolster his life force, albeit at low efficiency.
Genji thanked her and isolated himself, leaving Igani to her devices. Now that she gained the motivation for modifying units, she couldn''t wait to shut herself in and work on it nonstop.
Genji didn''t stop her since they needed all the time they could get. There were only 13 days left before the end of the cycle, so they needed to move fast if they wanted to fight Silver Empress.
To help her with this task, Genji asked Bruce to take care of her meals and other trivialities so she wouldn''t be distracted. It was a boring task, but Bruce did it without complaint. Since his friend was focusing on recovery, Bruce would take it upon himself to complete it in his stead.
In this manner, several more days went by smoothly. Igani''s progress continued steadily as she gradually integrated the Parasites'' characteristics. The changes were minor right now, but she had established the foundation for future developments.
On this day, the reapers returned for another skirmish, having recovered from their injuries. However, the second battle was much smoother compared to the previous one. Using the newly created Stealth Dagger, Genji hid among the army and ambushed his enemies.
While the technique had some flaws due to the absence of his legacy liberation, it was enough to repel Benya and Morris. In his concealed state, the reapers could not sense his presence. Even if Genji was right next to them, they would be none the wiser. That part was perfect.
The flaw was that his presence would leak when he attacked, giving his targets a brief warning before the strike landed. In turn, they would readjust their body and minimize the damage. This was unavoidable since it required strong energy intensity to cover these fluctuations.
In his liberation state, this wouldn''t be an issue, but his normal form was still inadequate. Luckily, this was only a stat issue, so it wouldn''t be long before he could utilize the technique''s full potential. Until then, he would continue polishing it and decrease its requirements.
But despite these flaws, Genji still gave the reapers lots of trouble. All it takes is a single lapse in attention and they would be injured badly. It was hard to exert all their strength like this, especially against Igani''s new army. Although the troops were in the early stages of development, they were stronger than before, requiring that much more to kill.
AOE attacks also wouldn''t work since Genji was fast enough to escape the area and hide among more troops. As a result, the reapers became very passive in this situation, unable to change the course of the battle.
After Genji ambushed them a few more times, they acknowledged the outcome and retreated. Unless they could gather a few more teammates, it was uncertain if they would attack again. Hence, the battle with the reapers ended on a high note, and Genji resumed his normal operations.
"What the hell happened in the past week? It''s like he became a completely different person," Yagasa complained as they stopped to rest.
"I don''t know, but I suspect it has to do with the balancers. I heard one of them visited the place during this time."
*Sigh* "How did everything become such a convoluted mess? It''s hard to believe that this was the same meat grinder as when we first descended. Where did all the slaughter go?"
"The times have changed. I think we should end this tempering trial soon and return," Benya suggested.
"Yeah, we''ve comprehended enough about death. It''s time we stop suppressing our strength and breakthrough," Yagasa agreed. With their decision made, they began their final preparations and contacted their elders, calling an end to the reign of this generation''s reapers.
On the 32nd day, Genji led an army to test the new troops and collect more resources to fuel the process. After so many consecutive days of modifications, Igani was starting to run low on bio-energy. To ensure this process continued smoothly, Genji targeted the misfit queens that once besieged them, knowing they were a stable supply of energy.
The other factions were on edge about this change, but they no longer got involved. The balancers had given their word so they would rather not waste manpower on these battles. At worst, they would wait another week before the situation resolved itself.
Therefore, the internal conflict among the species raged on, creating unrest within the territory. Many queens entered unlikely alliances to survive this period, but it did little to change the situation.
After a few successful hunts, the other empresses joined in this conflict, threatened by the emergence of another possible overlord. They wanted to accumulate as much energy as possible since it was unknown how accessible it would be in the future.
It was better to over-prepare for a rainy day than be underprepared and end up dead. Plus, it took resources away from the others, ensuring the stability of their dominance.
Then Silver Empress also joined the situation, worsening it by another degree. Her unstoppable legion swept through territory without resistance and plundered everything in its paths.
Unwilling to be outdone, everyone increased their efforts, turning life into a living hell for the weaker queens. Eventually, it became so bad that the only survivors either went into hiding, became subservient to another empress, or joined the collective alliance. There were no other options since those who chose them had long died.
In the end, only seven factions remained among the Zergs. Excluding Igani and Silver Empress, five other empresses remained in power. Granted, this didn''t include any dormant forces in hiding or body doubles cultivated by the true rulers, but it was a good benchmark for possible opponents.
After this reshuffling of forces, Igani ran out of convenient sources of energy and encountered a bottleneck in her growth. Genji considered the issue for some time and settled on the Mayfly Empress as their next target.
This was because she specialized in aerial units, which would cause devastating losses if she ambushed them. So, Genji wanted to remove this threat before it became a possibility and ruin his plans.
He didn''t mind if this empress was a substitute since he only cared about clearing the army and looting her bio-crystals. If he could achieve this, then it didn''t matter if Mayfly survived this attack since it would take a while to rebuild her strongest forces. By then, the final battle would be over and her presence would no longer be problematic.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Subsequently, he marched his forces straight for her nest. Upon realizing she was being targeted, Mayfly sent an aerial squad to pester them, which Genji and Bruce easily disposed of.
Soon, they were upon the nest and began their battle. Towers of flesh and bones rained deadly projectiles onto their ranks, all while nimble units dive-bombed them. On the first volley, they were unprepared for their boldness, but the second time, they forced a decent number to stay behind.
In turn, the units drowned under the tide of insects and forced Mayfly to engage them in melee. Otherwise, the army would overrun the nest and its defenses, ending the battle before it began.
As the bloodbath occurred, Genji went ahead and snuck into the nest, intending to carry out his usual beheading operations. To his surprise, the compass turned when he went down the expected route, indicating Mayfly was elsewhere. Following the pointer, Genji found the energy room, where Mayfly was packing up her crystals.
She had no intentions of engaging with Genji, especially given his fierce reputation for assassinating queens. Although she was stronger than the normal queen, she couldn''t match the Parasite King or the other opponents Genji had faced.
As such, she wanted to escape and go into hiding, avoiding the tumultuous times. However, Genji wouldn''t allow this and rushed forward to engage her.
After a short skirmish, Mayfly used a self-harming technique to overdraw her mental powers and knock Genji back. Then she flung herself into the distance, letting her army delay Genji as she made her getaway.
Genji let her go since he didn''t want to agitate her or fight an unnecessarily difficult battle. Instead, he retreated and allowed the Zergs to fight. Once the area was cleared, Genji poured some of Mayfly''s blood onto his compass and began the chase. Now that Mayfly was weakened, it was much easier to finish her.
After a few more hours, they arrived at a newly established nest, where many workers hustled to complete the construction. Sensing this, Mayfly flew out in shock and tried to escape again, but Genji sliced through her wings before she could go far. Then, he tossed her into the crowd, forcing her to fight desperately.
Mental powers swept across the area, throwing units everywhere, but Genji always covered her escape. In the end, she could only unleash an unwilling screech as the swarm inevitability ground her down. To no one''s surprise, this Mayfly was a body double, explaining why everything was so seamless.
Genji suspected that the real Mayfly Empress had abandoned this substitute and disengaged from the situation. Otherwise, why would this substitute need to build a nest from scratch when she could forcibly occupy a subordinate queen''s? It was not like she couldn''t find one since Genji gave her plenty of time.
Nonetheless, it didn''t prevent her from dropping a prized mental crystal unique to Empress-level Zergs. The crystal was purple and had hexagonal sides, giving it a mystical air. All the units eyed it with greed and desire, but none of them dared to snatch it. Genji ignored all this and picked up the crystal from the carnage-filled ground before tossing it to Bruce.
"Hold onto that for me. I can''t be trusted with it," Genji said, suppressing his desires. Since he was part Zerg, he also felt the temptation. However, Genji knew he couldn''t use the crystal as it would pollute his powers. Unless he wanted to permanently change his race, it was best to not mess with it.
Bruce nodded and covered the crystal in a thick layer of blood, masking its aura. With this disappearance, the Zergs broke out of their trance and began cleaning up the battlefield. After they secured their loot, they headed back to meet with Igani.
Upon returning, Igani bolted at them like a kid expecting presents on Christmas.
"Quick! Where is it?" She bounced around them with anticipation and a hint of impatience.
After receiving a nod from Genji, Bruce retracted his hold and tossed the crystal. Without waiting for it to descend, Igani swiftly extended a strand of silk, pulling the crystal into her embrace. Then, she ran back into her cave, her feet scampering at top speed.
Genji had never seen such restlessness from her, not even in the face of candy or roast meat, but that only emphasized the importance of this crystal.
"I need to sleep for some time. I hope you don''t mind," Igani''s voice suddenly sounded in their minds, having recognized how rude her prior actions were.
"Just don''t take too long. I still need your help against Silver Empress."
"Okay!"
Two days later, a light tearing sound echoed within the underground chamber, rousing Genji from his meditation. Opening his eyes, he noticed a small fissure in Igani''s web cocoon, which she had spun before entering her slumber.
As the sound intensified and the crack slowly widened, a white leg emerged from within. After struggling for some time, it widened the gap enough to accommodate another leg. Then, with a loud rip, Igani''s head emerged into the chamber.
Glancing around to confirm the area''s safety, Igani stabbed her legs into the cocoon''s side and freed herself from her encasement, wriggling vigorously in the process.
"I did it!" she beamed at Genji before shaking off the dead cells clinging to her.
"Good job," Genji replied, tossing her a jawbreaker.
Compared to before, Igani had undergone some noticeable changes. Firstly, the hair on her legs had become fuzzier and more sensitive, enhancing her perception of subtle vibrations. Additionally, her body had grown larger, her color whiter, and her strength greater. Overall, she had become more balanced and less susceptible to melee combat.
Beyond her physical changes, she had also experienced an upgrade in her mental strength, enabling her to better control her units and fend off any attackers who might threaten her. Though not quite an empress yet, her capabilities qualified her as a quasi-empress, surpassing the strongest queens and falling below the weakest empresses.
"Take two days to adjust. Then we''re attacking," Genji said, laying out the plans for the next three days.
"No problem. The same as usual, right?" Igani asked with a relaxed tone, unperturbed by the news. To her, all the battles were the same, so what did she have to worry about?
"Actually, no. You''re coming along this time."
Igani gave him a blank stare before screaming the only thought on her mind, "HUHHHHHHHH?"
"You heard me. Non-negotiable by the way." Then Genji walked out, leaving Igani to wince at her future.
"Hhahahhhakakkak. You haven''t changed in the slightest. Still so greedy for more when you should have stopped. But it''s exactly this trait that will be your downfall," Silver Empress released a peal of euphoric laughter as her scouts observed a massive army heading for her nest.
Silver Empress was ecstatic because this was Igani''s army, meaning she would finally get her chance at revenge. Normally, this would be impossible to achieve since the agreement with the balancers prevented her from leaving her territory.
However, she would never have expected that Genji would willingly enter her domain, giving her adequate justification to fulfill her desires.
In her mind, this was a foolish move since this was the last day of the cycle. All he had to do was wait out the day, and he would safely leave, yet he decided to provoke the strongest army on the battlefield. How is that not foolish?
"An open path to heaven is right before you, yet you insist on barging into the closed doors of hell. What a move. Kakakakakkakkaka," Silver Empress mocked Genji again, unable to contain her delirious celebration. "Since that''s the case, then I''ll personally send you there."
After finishing those words, she ordered her external army to gather at Igani''s nest. That way, they could besiege the nest at an opportune moment, distracting the opposing queen and causing the offensive army to fail. If they were lucky, they might even kill Igani, ending the battle once and for all. Either way, she would cut off Genji''s support and win the battle.
With her preparations made, Silver Empress coiled up into a ball and awaited the start of the war.
Hours passed like flowing water until there were only 12 hours left. At this time, Igani''s massive army entered Silver Empress''s territory and initiated the battle.
Two massive armies crashed into each other and entered a gruesome melee, tearing each other apart with all their efforts. It was intense, but it quickly became evident that Silver Empress had the advantage. After all, her army was fully developed and contained powerful bosses, while Igani hadn''t even incorporated her strengths.
Regardless, a poison fog and Bruce''s support evened out the results. At this moment, Silver Empress ordered the assault on Igani''s nest, hoping to regain her advantage.
To her surprise, the nest fell without resistance, and the expected queen was nowhere in sight. That was when Silver Empress realized that Igani had left the nest and was among the attackers.
"Quite bold of you, but don''t you remember this was why Red Empress died?" Silver Empress sneered and redoubled her offense, trading lives without regard. Since they were near her nest, she could do this without major consequences and wear down the other side.
The only drawback was the long incubation period, which made it difficult to replenish her strongest troops. Nonetheless, it couldn''t deny the effectiveness of this tactic as Igani''s army suffered heavy casualties.
"Your turn, Enigma. Let''s see what other moves you have."
But despite her expectations, nothing changed about the situation. The other side continued like normal and held their ground, offering countless units to Silver Empress''s fungal rug. It was so stupid that it was like they were stalling for time.
"So that''s your plan. You want to assassinate me? Good luck with that. How will you kill me when I''m not even in that nest?" She chortled with derision and retracted her mental powers.
Yet the moment she refocused on her surroundings, she realized that her body had gone numb and lost all strength.
''What the? When did this happen? How did I not notice such-''
But before she could finish that thought, a dagger suddenly manifested by her neck and decapitated her. Then a silhouette came into view, causing her mind to recoil with shock.
"You asked how I will assassinate you? Well, I just have to track down your real body," Genji responded to her previous question.
This wasn''t particularly difficult since Genji had his compass to guide him. The hard part was actually anticipating this outcome and arriving here undetected.
After all, who could have predicted that the strongest empress would hide in a decrepit nest, acting as a lowly subordinate queen, when she could be residing in the safety of her nest?
It was a trick that would have fooled most people, but Genji was not like most people. Not only did he have the tools to verify this, but he also had to skills to capitalize on it.
"Your mind games have backfired, Silver Empress. I fell for this once, so what makes you think I would fall for it again?" With these words, Genji unleashed his strongest attack, covering the entire nest and smothering all possibilities of survival.
164 – Conclusions
Minutes after Silver Empress perished, her nest started withering, and her army collapsed. Leveraging this weakness, Igani and Bruce swept through the area, removing the threats and disassembling the explosive structures.
Then she infused her mental powers into the nest, forcibly seizing control of it. Silver Empress worked hard to build this nest, so it would be a waste to let it die. Instead, Igani wanted to repurpose it into her new base and claim the territory as her own.
That way, she didn''t have to settle in a new place or worry about outside disturbance. After all, who would dare enter this forbidden zone when it would unleash a calamity?
Granted, this only applied when Silver Empress was alive, but it didn''t stop Igani from using this deterrence. By the time everyone discovered the truth, Igani would have solidified her powers and become the new overlord. Of course, this was all Genji''s suggestion since Igani was too simple-minded to consider these factors.
"It''s finally over," Igani said, relieved that everything had gone according to plan.
"Neiggh," Bruce agreed and found a spot to rest.
Hours later, as the day was about to end, Genji appeared on the horizon and regrouped with them.
"Here, take this." Genji tossed Silver Empress''s mind crystal to Igani and took a seat. "It should be enough to finish your evolution."
"Thank you," she said, her eyes flickering with eagerness. "I''ll take good care of it."
"Don''t worry about it. You''ve been a great help."
Then they parted ways, having achieved everything Genji wanted to do. As Igani watched them leave, she couldn''t help but feel that she had forgotten something. She couldn''t exactly specify what since everything had been so hectic, but she wasn''t too worried about it. If it was important, it would eventually come back to her.
With this carefree mindset, Igani secluded herself and began her evolution. It was unknown how long this process took, but when she emerged again, she comfortably stretched her body and said, "Mmmmmm. That was a good sleep. I wonder if I still have some candy. I''m really craving something sweet right now."
Upon finishing her words, Igani froze, struck by the sudden realization of what she had forgotten. However, it wasn''t anything favorable; quite the opposite, in fact, as panic soon filled her mind.
"Oh no! I never got the antidote for my poison! What do I do? What do I do? I don''t think I can find him now."
Then she anxiously paced around the room, trying to rack her mind for a solution. But no matter how she considered the issue, nothing came to mind, as her impression of Genji''s poison had elevated it to a mystical level; unresolvable by normal means.
As the sinking feeling was about to devour her, someone cleared their throat and redirected Igani''s attention.
*Ahem ahem* "Can you stop fidgeting so much? Am I really that scary?"
Turning around, Igani saw Julian, whom she had completely overlooked since her awakening. It had been days since the cycle ended, so the balancer was back to resolve the previous issue.
At the time, Igani was still asleep, so Julian settled beside her, awaiting the completion of her evolution. He refrained from acting because he wanted to wait until Igani was conscious and could fully comprehend the verdict. That way, there would be no dispute about the fairness of the situation.
On the other hand, Igani considered none of this and immediately threw herself at Julian''s feet, latching onto his leg and looking upward with teary eyes.
"Please save me. I don''t want to die!" She wailed, causing Julian to take a second look at her. This was the first time he''d seen a Zerg, an empress no less, beg for her life without regard for her dignity.
However, he couldn''t tell if this was an act to garner sympathy or done in hopes of lessening the sentence. Nevertheless, he continued like nothing had happened and gently shook Igani off.
"Don''t worry. We don''t plan on killing you. We-"
"No, not that," Igani cried out, relatching to his leg. "I''ve been poisoned and I don''t have the antidote. Please help me. You must have a cure. You''re a balancer."
Julian gave her a strange look since her body didn''t emit any traces of external substances, but he indulged her with a quick scan.
*Beep* "Body temperature is within expected levels. Protein levels are normal. No bodily injuries were detected. The subject is perfectly healthy for a Zerg Queen," his scanner gun declared in a neutral female voice.
"There you have it. Nothing''s wrong with you."
But despite this seemingly professional evaluation, Igani maintained her doubts.
"But but but but, he clearly said that I was poisoned. Could it be that his poison is so advanced that it can''t be detected? Oh no! Am I really going to die like this?" She cried with despair, her tears sliding down her face.
"That''s impossible," Julian affirmed, "This is the most advanced scanner under the 3rd step. There''s no way it can be wrong."
"How can you be sure? Don''t you understand how unusual his poisons are? He scared off a BEAST KING with it!"
Julian hesitated when she brought this point up. Although unlikely, Julian couldn''t help but doubt his claim since he''d seen what Genji could do with his poisons. After all, this whole mess started because of how potent and bizarre they were.
"Fine, I''ll take another look. Can you describe to me what the poison looked like?" Julian relented, knowing the conversation wouldn''t progress without resolving this issue.
"It came in this clear container and had lots of colors." Igani started gesturing, trying to convey the exact size.
Julian''s stare grew stranger, prompting her to add more descriptions.
"It''s also chewy and kind of sweet. There were also a bunch of flavors and they all had this weird shape."
"They? As in you ingested multiple?"
"A whole container. He poured everything into my mouth and forced me to swallow all of it."
Julian considered the issue some more before shaking his head. "You''ll need to be more specific. I can''t exactly pinpoint what kind of poison this is with that information. Can you describe how you felt afterward? Any pains or uncomfortableness?"
"Uhhhhhh, no?"
"Then do you have any other information that can help me?" Julian''s eyes grew helpless, like a doctor trying to diagnose a phantom disease. In a way, this isn''t that far from the truth.
Igani thought about this question for some time before her eyes lit up with realization. "I can replay the scene at the time. Will that do?"
"Yes, that''ll be useful."
"Okay. Give me a moment." Igani recalled the scene and tried her best to fill in as many details as possible before projecting the memory into Julian''s mind.
Julian closed his eyes and pursued through the entire encounter, from the start when Igani willingly munched on the poison, to Genji''s revelation, to Genji forcibly holding her mouth open, to her flinging her legs all over during the process, to Genji''s explanation at the end. Julian witnessed everything as if it were a first-person movie and noticed two major details in the memory.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The first was that Genji had faint horns on his head and a mean smirk, resembling a devil''s appearance. Julian assumed these details were subconsciously added by Igani and represented her emotions, so he overlooked this point.
The second detail, though, was much more interesting and reaffirmed his initial viewpoint. Because on the container that held the "poison," were three big words in colorful font, revealing the absurdity of the situation.
"Jolly''s Gummy Bears," he read about, all while giving Igani a peculiar look.
"Is there any hope?" Igani asked, disregarding the strangeness of the situation.
"I have both good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Julian asked, phrasing the question in a way that would hopefully dampen the impact.
"I''ll take the good," Igani promptly decided, having a general sense of what it was about.
"Well, the good news is that I do have the antidote for your poison."
"Really? Then can you give it to me?" Igani asked with hope, her eyes practically glistening from cuteness.
"Yeah, but I think you should listen to the bad news first."
"Okay? What''s the bad news?"
"I think you''ve been tricked."
"What do you mean?" Igani asked with a confused look. "How could I have been tricked?"
*Ahem ahem* Julian cleared his throat again before sheepishly asking, "Do you know what gummy bears are?"
"Is it a super powerful poison?"
"No. It''s a type of candy. You were never poisoned from the start."
The moment Julian revealed the truth, an awkward silence reigned as Igani slowly comprehended his words. Then her jaws dropped, unable to believe she had fallen for the same trick twice.
"But he was so convincing...Did he really lie to me?" Igani muttered with an absent look, questioning her life.
"Soooooooo, anyway. Let''s talk about the verdict, shall we?" Julian clumsily changed the topic, not knowing how to comfort her.
After Igani responded with a blank nod, Julian began talking, trying to convey the message in the simplest way possible. "Basically, you have to follow me back and join Eternal Void as a Balancer," he summarized, stating that Igani could no longer stay on the planet. "You''ll follow along as an intern for some time before managing a world on your own."
"Do I have a choice?" She asked with a pitiful look, intimidated by the responsibility dumped on her shoulders.
"No." Julian bluntly replied before grabbing her.
"But I don''t want toooooo," she wailed as Julian dragged her toward a newly opened portal. "I have so many other times I wanted to do. My carefree life!!!"
Igani flailed her legs around, trying to cling to anything that would slow the advance. Seeing this, Julian rubbed his forehead as if soothing a migraine and wondered how Igani ever became an Empress with this attitude.
''No, maybe it''s because of this that he dared work with her without using poison. Either way, she''s one strange Zerg.''
Within the vast expanse of space, a spaceship containing a team of Sentinels zoomed by at breakneck speeds. The thrusters emitted a blue burst of plasma, propelling the ship with tremendous force, all while maintaining a stable temperature. Within a few seconds, they disappeared from view, leaving only distorted space in their wake.
*Beep beep* "Closing in on the destination. Estimated time of arrival: T minus 367," the ship announced to the passengers onboard.
This prompted the Sentinels to look up from their activities and express a hint of excitement. After a month of hard work, they finally tracked down the source of the disk''s signal and approached it.
This was much harder than they anticipated because the coordinates erratically shifted over this time, making it difficult to pinpoint its exact location. Yet, it was precisely this trait that fueled their anticipation for the journey because it matched another movement pattern they were familiar with: that of their home planet.
Back in the day, they''d tried multiple times to reconnect with their home world, but they all failed without exception. It was impossible to find their home amidst the sea of stars, a problem that plagued the Mecalans since they ventured off it. They had never expected such an unscientific behavior, which became a lifelong regret up till their disappearance.
But this all changed when Genji gave them the encrypted disk, which acted as a tracker for the planet''s position. This was not an easy favor to repay, which was why the Sentinels invested so much in helping Genji during the besiegement.
"After so long, we''ve finally returned," they said nostalgically as the large, familiar planet came into view.
"Entering planetary atmosphere. Landing in t-minus 52," the ship announced again before decelerating.
At this moment, a communication request popped up on the interface, which they promptly accepted after tracing its source. The screen flashed a few times before the display underwent a complete overhaul in design, changing to a blue background with multiple concentric circles.
A diagonal banner flashed over the top before cryptic lines of code scrolled into view. After this animation finished, Deep Blue appeared at the center of the screen with a wide smile. "So it was as I suspected. Once you leave the planet, you can''t find your way back unless there''s a guide. What a troublesome aspect."
"Greetings, ancestor Sentinel #0001. We have completed your mission." The Sentinels onboard bowed to express their respect.
"Ancestor? What do you mean by that? Aren''t we all from the same period?" Deep Blue asked, confusion evident on his face.
"No, sir. I''m from the second, while the rest are third-generation sentinels."
"Second? Third? What happened to the first? Shouldn''t one of them be with you considering how important this reunion is?"
"Reporting. The first generation no longer exists, and only a few from the second generation remain."
"What?! How did this happen?"
Hearing his bewildered question, the Sentinels exchanged helpless glances before hesitantly turning back to Deep Blue.
"Fine, we''ll talk later. For now, find a place to land," Deep Blue said before cutting the call.
The Sentinels followed his instructions and docked in a remote location. Half an hour later, a squad of robots carrying a hologram projector approached the ship. After turning on the device, Deep Blue appeared and addressed the group.
"Tell me. What happened in space and where did our creators go?"
The Sentinels reminisced for a few moments before the leader stepped forward to explain the inherited memories in their database.
"400 years ago, our creators stood at the peak of the galaxy. They were the most advanced civilization and had no rivals in technology. They made distant planets their vacation spots and spatial phenomena, their entertainment. Everything was prosperous and development was at its peak. It was the golden age.
But with this prosperity, they soon hit a bottleneck in advancement. Similar to how they reached the limit of a planet''s technology, they did the same for the galactic level. They had reached the peak and would only decline from there. That was a bittersweet era, where people celebrated the achievement and lamented the cap.
For 80 years, the era lasted, casting its shadows over a whole generation. People became despondent and their former glory felt more like a curse than a blessing. Everyone hated how useless they were compared to their forefathers, and they started pursuing destructive habits. The once brilliant civilization was starting to rot from the inside out.
Luckily, they obtained a spark that rekindled their drive before this ailment could fully erode them. The trigger that ended this gloomy era was Eternal Void, which offered our creators a chance to explore the wider universe. They all accepted without hesitation, but in their excitement, they forgot to consider the management of the galaxy.
So our predecessors took it upon themselves to preserve their legacy, hoping that when they returned, there would still be some semblance of home. To achieve this, Sentinel#0000 and the other first generations split themselves across multiple beings, creating the second generation. However, this proved inadequate as other civilizations soon rose to prominence and contested us for resources.
To maintain our competitiveness, we underwent another round of division, bringing us to the present, where we compete on the Spatial Battlefield for territory."
"I see. So much has happened in these 1000 years," Deep Blue said with marvel as the sentinel finished his story. "I can''t believe we''ve reached such a level."
The Sentinels gave Deep Blue a brief moment to collect his thoughts before asking for his orders. Since Deep Blue was a first-generation sentinel, they automatically deferred to him for instructions.
There was no hesitation or doubt involved since his seniority alone justified the position. Unlike typical evolutionary patterns, more generations did not signify improvement for the Sentinels.
On the contrary, as they undergo further divisions, their personality becomes increasingly diluted and muddled, making them more robotic. The biggest indication would be their speech patterns, which resembled an emotionless machine rather than a sentient being.
"For now, bring me away from this planet. I''ve settled everything here, so let''s rendezvous with the outside branch," Deep Blue said, waving his arm. "I think it''s time that we change our mentality. Instead of pointlessly defending our past, let us take a risk and explore the wider universe. If we''re lucky, we might meet our creators again and serve them once more."
"Understood?" In this simple reply, the Sentinels expressed their shock and confusion at Deep Blue''s unconventional mindset. In their memories, they had never encountered such a perspective, but that was expected since their sense of purpose was inherited from predecessors dedicated to protecting this legacy.
None of their predecessors had ever considered this option because they had no reason to. To them, it had only been a few centuries since the Mecalans left, so there was nothing to worry about.
After all, it took them 600 years to reach the peak of the galaxy, so it was only expected that the wider universe would take longer. As such, the Sentinels were fully prepared to wait millenniums for their creators to return.
That was the standard mindset among the Sentinels, but Deep Blue was not a normal Sentinel. He lacked firsthand experience of the outside branch, the perpetual year-round combat, the strategic planning for every conceivable scenario, or the physical prowess required for such battles.
Instead, he had the wisdom and foresight built up with time, making him more practical than the others. Due to this, he was very pessimistic about the Sentinels'' current trajectory.
It had taken merely 400 years to decline to this point, yet they wanted to last several more millennia? How could he not doubt them? And that was not considering if the Mecalans would even return within this time, making this path all the more uncertain.
As such, Deep Blue would rather place their bets with Eternal Void than continue like this. At least that way, they would follow a similar trajectory as their creators instead of exploring blindly.
''Since our creators could get Eternal Void''s recognition, why can''t we do the same? Why should we settle for mediocracy when we''ve seen a bigger world?''
165 – Settlement: Spatial Battlefield 2
Settlement: Spatial Battlefield
Achievements:
- Wiped out a Zerg swarm (2)
- Lightly injured a Beast King (2)
- Participated in many battles in the Central Battlefield (12)
- Fought and negotiated with Lion King, Lanak (4)
- Slain the General of Assimilation, Diafthora (4)
- Eliminated many Zerg queens (8)
- Slain the General of Decay, Aposynthesi (5)
- Slain the King of Parasites, Epivlalis (6)
- Destroyed the Parasite Faction (5)
- Survived fatal wounds inflicted by Epivlalis (2)
- Successfully repelled the Celestials without causing extensive damage (2)
- Repelled the Beast Tide (3)
- Cooperated with Sentinels (2)
- Repelled the sea of Zergs (4)
- Survived and fought off 2 reapers (8)
- Lasted 5 minutes against Balancer Julian (4)
- Won the duel against Julian (3, Completed the Trial of Power)
- Massively cleaned up the Zerg population (4)
- Eliminated Mayfly(substitute) (2)
- Slain Silver Empress, the strongest empress (6)
- Massively influenced the battlefield in EverRealm''s favor (9)
Total Achievements: 97 (Total achievements don''t affect rewards for this world, but they will affect legacy upgrades)
Total world time: 40 days
Rating: Nightmare
Note: You have massively cleaned up the battlefield and significantly disrupted the established order.
Total contribution points: 14,568,296
"Do a full-body rebirth," Genji requested as he appeared in the void.
After deducting 20 tokens from his total, a searing pain coursed through his veins. Although this was the second time experiencing this pain, Genji still reacted violently. He clenched his chest and curled inward, quietly enduring the barrage. 30 minutes later, he regained his human appearance, drenched in sweat.
"Still as painful as I remember, but that''s expected," Genji chuckled and wiped his face before wringing the moisture from his hair. "I better get used to this if I keep getting into these situations."
Then Genji called out to EverRealm, asking it to summon the [Void Egg] from his room. Seconds later, the obsidian black egg manifested before his chest, hovering there without gravity''s interference.
[Detected the possession of Void Egg and 10,000,000 contribution points. Hatch?]
"Yes," Genji agreed immediately, intrigued by what distinguished this unresponsive egg.
The egg rose into the void, and the empty background lit up with motes of light, as if replicating the starry skies of the universe. These glimmers of starlight illuminated the space and cast a soft sheen on Genji''s skin. A cool sensation comforted his previously tense body and soothed his mind. It was a relaxing experience, but it was not meant for him.
Flecks of starlight peeled off from the void and converged on the egg, infusing into its dense surface. With each infusion, a twinkle of light would fill the void before permanently fading, leaving a spot of darkness in its previous position.
As the last remnants of light vanished and the void reverted to its initial emptiness, a dark glow enveloped the egg''s silhouette. This glow shrank inward, leaving a glossy luster on the traversed areas.
When the glow reached the center and diminished into a tiny dot, it vanished, casting a pitch-black shroud over the void. It was as if all light had disappeared, leaving the surroundings darker than when they started.
This state lasted a few seconds before the darkness suddenly exploded, basking the area in a cross-shaped light. At the center of this spectacle was the previously obsidian egg, now radiating a subtle warmth and displaying an intricate wave pattern.
Moments later, the light faded, and the egg flew down to his arms. Upon contact, a gentle force pricked his finger and extracted a drop of blood, which fused into the egg. Then his mind went blank, unable to register the following moments until EverRealm prompted him.
[Binding has been completed. Hatching will now begin.]
Subsequently, a light crack came from the egg as a small, triangular fragment broke off. The fracture slowly expanded across the surface, forming interconnected patterns that resembled a geometric art piece. Once the lines spread across the whole surface, a jolt came from inside, loosening the tiles and weakening the shell.
Then a snout poked through the membrane and nibbled away at the softened material, widening the gap. Eventually, this gap became large enough to fit the creature''s head, which it promptly popped out.
"Yaahhh," a light chirp greeted Genji as the creature took in its first breath of air. Then it redirected its attention to its shell and munched away with a content expression.
After some effort, the creature freed itself from its encasement and flopped on its back, letting out a satisfied burp. It could be seen that it had enjoyed its first meal, albeit a little strange.
The creature had a slender physique, featuring an angular snout, and a long, fluffy tail. Except for its face, which had patches of white, its entire body was enveloped in a soft, velvety grey fur that was comfortable to the touch. Overall, the creature resembled a ferret, but with a fox''s tail.
At this moment, the creature met Genji''s gaze, and let out an intimate greeting. Since Genji was the first person it saw, the creature instinctively regarded him as a parent figure of sorts. As such, it did not guard against him and even rubbed its snout on his arm.
"Hey, little guy. Any idea what I should name you?"
Hearing his question, the creature cocked its head and looked past him at the space that was previously filled with starlight. Then it let out another happy yip before snuggling against him.
"I guess that''s my answer. Since you were born among the stars of the void, let''s call you Astros."
When Genji finished those words, EverRealm presented him with Astros''s status page.
[Astros]
Race: Void Beast of Eternity
Status: Newborn
Health: 7,650/7,650
Ethereal Mana: 340/340
Con: 13
Str: 12
Dex: 26
Int: 17
Spc: 31
Skills:
- Voidborn (Passive): +5,000 hp, access to Ethereal Mana, +100% Ethereal Mana,
- Spatial Constitution (Passive): +2,000 hp, can survive in extreme environments and conditions
- Friendly Disposition (Passive): All creatures will instinctively have a positive impression of you. Unless there''s a deep grudge, they will not initiate the first attack.
- Blessed by Fate (Passive): +7 luck
- Contract Inheritance (Passive): Bond with a partner and inherit some of their traits. Only one bond can exist at a time. This bonding is permanent and will last until the partner''s death. Current bond: Enigma of EverRealm. Inherited traits: Stealth and Speed.
- Stealth (Master): You instinctively know how to hide from danger. Stealth has inherited low priority.
- Speed (Passive): You have inherited some of Enigma''s speed. Dexterity has been increased.
- Mutual Assistance (Passive): Your partner will also gain some of your stats. Shared stats: +2,000 health and +2 luck.
- Strong Stomach (Passive): Can consume unconventional materials as food. Digestion rate is increased.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
- Accelerated Growth (Passive): Convert excess energy from foods to speed up your growth. The more energy, the faster the growth.
Description: A tiny son of fate in your very hands. Raise him well and he will provide unbelievable assistance in the future.
EverRealm explained the situation perfectly. Although Astros couldn''t provide any combat support, the boost in luck more than justified the price tag. After all, luck was an intangible concept and couldn''t be easily upgraded.
Most of the time, people are born with a fixed amount, which would remain unchanged throughout their lives. From this perspective, it could be said that Genji made a huge gain with this decision.
"The only catch is that I don''t think many can afford that price. Not only did I need to snatch the egg from Silver Empress, but I also needed to commit multiple genocides to reach this point. That''s a whole faction and a half right there. Oh well, all the more for me, I guess."
Genji brought 20 stat points with his remaining contributions before dumping the rest into knowledge books. This came out to about 21 million coins worth of books, or around 1.5 grandmaster-level subjects. With this amount, Genji was confident in fully developing his poison-brewing skills.
After resolving that matter, Genji entered another legacy upgrade session. This time, however, things took an unexpected turn as golden beams of light soon enveloped the two pieces. Generally, the upgrade light was blue, so this change was very striking.
Astros watched this with a curious gaze, admiring it like a fireworks display while Genji said nothing, trusting that EverRealm wouldn''t do anything detrimental to him.
This session was also longer than usual, having lasted 30 minutes with no signs of finishing. Nonetheless, Genji patiently waited, knowing it was pointless to rush the process. This continued for another half an hour before the glow finally faded, and the items floated down to him.
[Your legacy spirits have reached full maturity. Two new skills have been customized according to your circumstances.]
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary+
Damage: 40 (+2)
Durability: 450/450 (+25)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): After every world, this set will grow with you
- Effortless Dicing (passive): +50 sharpness (+5)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +210 durability (+15)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +25 Sharpness for 60 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 20 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (+15 seconds to duration, +5 seconds in healing lockout)
Description: Having reached full maturity, these daggers will now never leave your side.
Intrigued by the skill description, Genji decided to test its effects. With a single thought, his daggers became transparent and sank into his body, becoming imperceptible to the outside eye. Despite this, Genji could still sense their existence in the corner of his mind, waiting to be called out.
With another thought, they rematerialized back in his grasp, prompting Astros to rub his eyes in disbelief, questioning if the previous scene had been a mere illusion.
Feeling this smooth operation, Genji instantly became attached to this skill. Not only was it faster than drawing them manually, but it also gave his attacks a strong element of surprise. If used properly, it could cause some devastating injuries and turn the tides of battle instantly.
However, what truly excited Genji wasn''t just these features, but rather its overall intangibility. That''s because this trait resembled [Curse Bearer''s] specialty, which lets it bypass world restrictions! Essentially, Genji would now always have his main weapon with him, unlike the awkward situation in the Futuristic World.
''What a nice surprise,'' he thought before redirecting his gaze to his cloak.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary+
Defense: 42 (no change)
Durability: 290/290 (+30)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): After every world, this equipment will grow with you.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority. (Upgrade in priority level)
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 45 seconds. Cooldown of 30 seconds. This effect has medium priority. (Duration: +5)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduce the effects of gravity by 90% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 10 minutes. (Cooldown: -2)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 3 meters and targets you killed.
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed
- +65% energy intensity for 4 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month. (Energy Intensity: +5, Duration: +1)
Description: A cloak that has become a true terror to all.
Terror Reinforced was another convenient skill because it allowed him to regenerate his energy during combat. Although it wasn''t that impactful against strong opponents, it was a godsend against weak swarms. With this boost, Genji could use his energy more liberally and diminish his reliance on cutting intent, preserving more stamina.
And if the situation ever arose, Genji could always dive into a crowd to recover his energy before returning to fight a powerful foe. Although Genji couldn''t imagine such a scenario, there was no doubt his ability to fight protracted battles had improved.
After Genji finished examining his legacies, EverRealm teleported him back to his room. At this moment, Astros let out a panicked yelp, unable to comprehend why the environment suddenly changed.
"Don''t worry. This is normal," Genji explained, settling Astros.
"Yiiii?"
"You''ll have plenty of time to get used to it. For now, let me introduce you to another friend." Genji patted his sheath, and Bruce manifested by his side.
Startled by this change, Astros jumped back and crouched down, ready to pounce at the slightest signs of danger. However, Genji''s calm expression dissuaded him from taking any action.
"You saw everything, right? Can I ask you to show him around? I''m sure you know the recreational facilities better than me," Genji said, handing over a spending card.
Bruce cheerfully accepted the request and patted his chest before stepping towards Astros. But before Bruce could take another step, Astros issued a hostile growl, warning Bruce from coming any closer. To the newborn, Bruce''s bloody presence was extremely uncomfortable and even gave off a dangerous feeling.
Astros tensed up, and all of his hair stood up like needles. However, this only made Astros all the more adorable to Bruce since Astros was too small to appear threatening. Nonetheless, Bruce halted his steps, unwilling to trigger Astros over such a tiny matter. Instead, he shot Genji a helpless look, hoping Genji would do something to change Astros''s mind.
"Okay, okay. No need to be afraid. Bruce is a friend. We''ll be together from now on, so you should get to know him," Genji comforted Astros as he picked up the furball. "See? He''s not going to hurt you."
Then Genji plopped Astros on Bruce''s back, gently comforting him as Bruce weaved a basket around him. Once Astros was secured, Bruce waved at Genji and stepped forward, thinking, ''Don''t worry, little guy. Big brother will make sure you have a feast. Let me show you the best food around.''
Despite Bruce''s friendly intentions, Astros felt completely different about the situation. As they walked out, Astros looked back at Genji with aggravated eyes, as if asking why Genji would abandon him like this.
Genji pretended not to see this and waved with crescent eyes, wishing them a fun time. It was only after the door closed that he stopped and collapsed on his bed, finally giving in to his fatigue. No matter what, a full-body rebirth is never easy on the body or mind.
''That was much harder than I expected. For a newborn, he sure is aware,'' he thought before drifting to sleep.
When Genji awoke again, a whole day had passed. After a light stretch, he took out his earnings from the previous world and considered how to process them.
There was the occasional scattered equipment, but most of them were subpar since item drops were greatly nerfed on the battlefield. Otherwise, there would be a huge influx of powerful equipment for the upper 2nd step, which would ruin the economy and greatly decrease the value of epic-ranked equipment.
Putting these items and the scarlet cards aside, Genji turned his attention to the loot from annihilating the Parasites. The two inheritances were nonnegotiable, so he also set those aside. That left him with [Origin World - Parasites,] the world ticket/coordinates of Proelefsi, and how he should use it.
After some thinking, Genji decided to forgo the adventure and handed it over to EverRealm. He had already experienced entering a lower-step world and saw no reason to repeat it. Not only did it restrict his training, but it also wouldn''t provide much loot.
A normal enforcer or champion might get a decent harvest from entering a lower world, but Genji didn''t need it. His stats would soon approach the upper 2nd step, so he was guaranteed a big harvest next world. Why would he give up that opportunity for the same result in a lower world?
Plus, it wasn''t a complete loss since he would receive 100 privilege tokens from it. Considering his current trend, it was unknown how often he''d need a full-body rebirth, so it was best to save some funds. Tokens were hard to obtain outside the battlefield, so he might not have enough unless he could kill another champion.
But before he submitted the item, he wanted to test one more idea.
"Hey, EverRealm. How much to relay a message to everyone entering this world?"
[After some consideration, you can add a note to all missions for 20 tokens. This note will last 3 months and can''t exceed 50 words.]
The cost was high, but Genji was more surprised that EverRealm would agree to such a request.
"Okay, I''ll submit the coordinates and add a note. Please deduct the cost from my total."
A few seconds later, the orb in his hands disappeared, and a message board appeared in his view.
[Please write the message to include.]
After some thought, Genji opened the keyboard and typed, ''If you obtain any live specimens, the Brewer''s Alliance is willing to purchase them at a satisfactory price.''
The Brewer''s Alliance is the collective name for Genji''s "pyramid scheme" and all its participants. Ivan, the person Genji recruited to oversee the operation, believed that having a unified name would be more advantageous than letting everyone be independent.
That way, they could cooperate to maximize profits instead of needlessly competing for customers. It was a fitting name since the member count had reached a staggering number.
Due to the lax conditions and recipes provided by the contract, they had rapidly expanded over the past few months, with everyone who joined seeing an increase in earnings. It was fair to say Genji had formed a massive phantom organization in record time.
Although Genji''s equities were minor, amounting to merely 1.6 million, it had given him widespread influence that couldn''t be easily achieved. With this, he could now influence the market and obtain lots of manpower when needed.
All he had to do was put up the request and give corresponding rewards, and everyone would flock to his command.
After finishing this setup, Genji sent Ivan a message to inform him of these changes and pass on another formula.
Enigma: I don''t need this anymore. Use it to reward those who do well.
Ivan: An epic formula? You might be the only one who dares to give them out like this.
Enigma: Does it matter? It''s all protected by the contract anyway.
Ivan: Be honest with me, how many more do you plan on sharing? Give me an estimate so I can prepare for it.
Enigma: Who knows? I plan on eventually dumping all my useless formulas, however much that is.
Ivan: ...
It was at this moment that Ivan decided to incorporate a contribution system for the alliance, knowing it would only bring benefits.
166 – Daily Life
Among the places in EverRealm, Food Street has always been a place of relaxation, capable of satisfying the cravings of many members. Here, people confident in their culinary skills gathered, establishing a mini haven within the brutal confines of reality. Here, people didn''t have to worry about the stress of missions, allowing them to immerse themselves in the joys of the tongue.
At least the customers could since many stall owners had to cope with the fact that their survival depended on earning enough before their next world. After all, the only people who would run such stalls were servants who didn''t have any other alternatives. They wouldn''t be breaking their backs so much to collect a few coins if they had a stable income.
However, this situation only spurred their talents and pushed the culinary levels to new heights. Over time, all the unique cuisines of different worlds merged in this place, forming an elaborate palette that delighted many.
One of these stalls was particularly popular, attracting many new regulars with its simple but scrumptious meals. Even among all the chefs, Vincent, the owner, was renowned for his exceptional skill in extracting the most out of every ingredient, allowing every flavor to seep into his straightforward dishes.
Vincent didn''t like overcomplicating his meals because it wasted the potential of the ingredients and overloaded the tongue. Instead, he preferred to keep it simple since that was how his mother always made their food.
Despite being widowed, his mother worked hard to provide for him, cooking healthy meals with whatever they had on hand. Those moments were some of the most comforting memories of his childhood, which was why Vincent wanted to share that feeling with others. One thing led to another, and he''s now here, providing his service to thousands of super-humans.
On this day, his regulars couldn''t help but take multiple glances at a certain table, where a red pony with a baby ferret sat, feasting on plates of food. It was certainly an odd sight, but the customers kept to themselves, acknowledging that they might be summons of a certain big shot.
After all, they had never seen someone with an animal companion, let alone two. In their minds, only a powerful person could have such connections, so it was best not to provoke their companions. Plus, the pony gave off a strong sense of danger and blood, further dissuading them from any rude behavior.
However, this didn''t stop them from gossiping about the encounter once the duo left the vicinity. As Bruce walked off with a spherical Astros on his back, the customers gathered at the stall and asked, "Hey Vincent. What''s with those two? They don''t seem like your typical customers."
"Oh, them? They''re my biggest customers. While I don''t know about the ferret, that pony has been coming here since I cooked some crocodile meat for him."
"Really?" They asked, doubting the first part of Vincent''s response. "Since this is the first time we''re seeing them, they shouldn''t be regulars. How much could they possibly be spending to top your list? 400 coins per meal? Or 500?"
"Try a few thousand."
This response caused them to jump up and point their fingers at Vincent. "No way! Stop messing with us. There''s no chance that meal costs that much. They didn''t even eat as much as I did last week. If you want us to spend more, then say so. You don''t need to make up something so absurd!"
Vincent lightly smiled and said, "Believe it or not, it''s true. But instead of food money, it''s mostly tips. For some reason, the pony always leaves a big tip after every meal. It''s like he''s worried I will die in some random world and is taking care of me."
Upon hearing this explanation, the crowd could only sigh in envy. Before this, they would never have imagined that a horse would have more allowance than them. But now, after learning that Bruce could casually spend a few thousand on meals, they realized poverty had truly limited their perspective. Turns out, they can''t even live as well as a pet.
*Sigh* Why is this comparison so disheartening?
"Anyway, if you have nothing better to do, please stop crowding around my stall. I still want to sell some more meals before I close for the day," Vincent said, shooing them away as he began washing dishes.
"Phew, that was a lot," Genji said after he used the two parasite inheritances and started the derivation process for the knowledge books. Due to the sheer quantity of knowledge this time, it would take EverRealm a few days before everything could be processed.
During this time, Genji wanted to buy a new pair of boots to replace his previously destroyed footwear. He had fought many intense battles in the past month, so it was no surprise that his rare-ranked boots disintegrated against the reapers.
After strolling through the market for some time, Genji finally found a suitable pair he was happy with.
[Spring Bound Boots]
Rating: Epic
Durability: 140/140
Requirements: 35 Con, 35 Str, 32 Dex
Effects:
- Force Storage(Passive): Every time you move your legs, store some excess force for later. Can store 0/600 units of force.
- Spring Boost (Passive): When moving, release some of the stored force to boost your speed. +2 dex after storing 100 units of force. Consumes 1 unit of force per step.
- Unhindered (Passive): Reduce environmental hindrance by 25%. Consumes 2x-4x units of force, depending on how difficult the terrain is to traverse.
Description: The Spring Bound Python is a ferocious beast that can unleash a strike beyond its limits after storing enough force. If caught unprepared, one can suffer heavy injuries from the encounter. Having been made from the python''s leather, these boots have inherited similar properties and can aid your movements.
"How much for this?" Genji asked the seller.
"2.4 million," the person quoted after glancing at the mentioned item.
"Deal." Genji accepted the offer and initiated a trade request. After paying, Genji equipped the boots and felt his steps deviating from their expected course. The feeling was strange since the boots changed the force distribution, but he adjusted accordingly. Although it would take some time, it wasn''t difficult for him.
Once he regained normal control, Genji headed for the strengthening hall.
[Enigma]
Health: 7,760/7,760 (Con x 120 + 2,000 from Astros, up 2,600 from last settlement)
Energy: 1,840/1,840 (Int x 20 + 860 from cloak)
Con: 41 -> 46 + (2) = 48
Str: 41 -> 46 + (2) = 48
Dex: 43 -> 47 + (2)= 49
Int: 43 -> 49
Spc: 49
- Dodging (Grandmaster - 87%, +4%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 38%, +24%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 19%, +2%)
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 13%, +3%)
- Hand-to-hand Combat (Grandmaster - 25%, +5%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 21%, +8%)
The main increase in stealth was due to the creation of the Stealth Dagger, which increased his proficiency considerably. Otherwise, the increases were within expectations as they corresponded with how frequently he used each mastery.
His next destination was the training hall, where he adjusted to his new strength. Bruce joined him in training, leaving Astros on the side. Curious about the occasion, Astros watched with undivided attention, but he eventually grew bored and opted to sleep. It was hard to engage the newborn while training.
Hours later, they picked up the curled-up Astros and returned to their room, where Cake met Astros for the first time. Upon seeing them, a strange look appeared on her face.
"I thought Bruce was a special case. How did you get another friend?"
"This guy''s also a special case. Anyway, let''s not disturb his sleep." Genji placed Astros down and prepared for a massage.
Cake understood Genji didn''t want to linger on this topic and started stretching her fingers. Minutes later, Genji laid down and she began her session.
But as they were midway through, Astros stirred from his sleep. After letting out a light yawn, his gaze fell on the duo, who were bouncing on the bed. Astros''s eyes widened with alarm and a shriek filled the room.
Then, before Cake could react, Astros suddenly materialized beside her and fiercely gnawed at her arm, trying to free Genji from her grasp. In his innocent mind, Genji was in danger and needed his help. After all, why else would he be pinned down like a helpless prey?
Fortunately, Astros''s teeth were still dull, so Cake was unharmed from the encounter. Nonetheless, the massage had been interrupted, and Cake now had a baby ferret hanging from her forearm like an ornament on a Christmas tree.
Unsure of how to resolve this, Cake gently shook her arm, hoping to convince Astros to let go. However, Astros held on for dear life, afraid that Genji would be instantly devoured by this fearsome demon once he released his bite.
"Now, now, be nice. She''s not an enemy," Genji said, stroking Astros''s body.
Feeling this familiar touch, Astros loosened his jaws and fell onto Genji''s lap. Astros let out a worried yip before snuggling against his chest with squinted eyes, fully enjoying the hug.
"Sorry about that. He''s easily triggered," Genji apologized as he passed a towel over.
"Aww, how cute," Cake gushed, wiping the saliva from her skin. "What''s his name?"
"It''s Astros," Genji replied. "Astros, this is Cake. Remember, she''s a friend. That means you can''t attack her, okay?"
Astros looked up and scrunched his snout at Cake before burying himself in Genji again. It was obvious that Astros had not taken Genji''s words to heart.
Seeing this, Genji scooped Astros up, held him to eye level, and said, "I''m being serious. You can''t go around biting people like that."
Astros stared back with pitiful eyes and innocently blinked, hoping to persuade Genji otherwise. However, Genji''s gaze remained firm, causing Astros to look down like a wronged child.
*Sigh* "Listen, I''m not blaming you. I just don''t want it to happen again. You''re too young to be fighting anyone. Instead, let me take care of that part, so you can focus on appreciating life. It''s the least I can do when you''re born into this hectic lifestyle."
It was unknown if Astros understood his ramble, but he stopped his tantrum and lightly waved at Cake. Genji smiled at this sight and signaled for Cake to continue the session.
This time, Genji sat upright and held Astros, ensuring no other accidents would disrupt them. When Cake finished, and they cleaned up, Genji asked, "Do you want to try holding him?"
Cake''s eyes lit up with anticipation as thoughts of cuddling the adorable furball filled her mind. Despite this, she held herself back and asked, "Can I? He doesn''t seem to like me that much."
"It should be fine. Right, little guy?"
Astros let out a light yip and buried into Genji, ignoring the outside world.
"I''ll take that as a yes," Genji said, slowly extending Astros, watching for any signs of discomfort. When he sensed none, he nodded at Cake, who gently took Astros.
"He''s so soft," she said, immersing herself in the feeling. "I could pet him all day."
Watching her content expression, Genji couldn''t help but wonder if she had always been this fond of pets. ''Because if she isn''t, Friendly Disposition might be stronger than I thought.''
For now, Genji shelved this idea, deeming it unconfirmed until further evidence surfaced. This was the first time he''d encountered such an ability, so it was hard to say for certain.
"Looks like you''re getting along fine. Can I leave him with you while I work in my lab?"
"I couldn''t ask for anything better." Cake smiled back.
"Okay. If he gets hungry, call Bruce. He''ll know where to get food." With these instructions, Genji closed the lab doors and began assimilating the knowledge books derived by EverRealm.
Like this, days passed. Genji spent the following days alternating between training and learning, leaving Astros in the care of Bruce and Cake. Due to this exposure, Astros grew accustomed to their presence and acknowledged them as family.
Although they had their shortcomings, with Bruce still making him uncomfortable and Cake being way too clingy for his liking, he accepted these quirks with an open mind.
On this day, River Stream visited Genji with a request.
"Is your offer for customizable potions still open?" he pensively asked, referencing Genji''s business pitch during their time in the Curse Sea.
"Sure. What do you need?" Genji looked up from his station, his interest piqued by the question.
"Do you have any strengthening potions? They don''t need to be permanent, but I hope they can save me in a dire situation."
Having served in the Spatial Battlefield, River now understood the dangers of the second step and sought to acquire some trump cards. Over the past few days, he had visited many acquaintances for their specialties, and now, it was Genji''s turn.
Hearing this question, Genji fell into thought and tapped his pen against his chin. After a few seconds, he asked, "Does it have to be a potion or can anything work?"
"Anything can work, but I''ve already stocked up on other items. I''m only missing potions now."
"No, you misunderstood me," Genji clarified, leaning forward and interlocking his fingers. "I''m asking if you want other concoctions."
"Is there a difference?"
"Every potion is a concoction, but not every concoction is a potion."
"I still don''t understand," River Stream admitted, his confusion deepening. But he maintained his patience, knowing Genji had a good reason to mention this point. He just didn''t know why.
"I''m talking about poison," Genji explained. "They''re a pretty good option if you want to narrow a power gap. It''s always easier to weaken your opponents than to strengthen yourself."
"Poisons? You know how to make poisons? Since when?" River gave Genji a baffled look, unable to comprehend where this topic came from.
Genji''s smile widened as he spun the notebook around for River to read. "Since always. Believe it or not, potions were never my specialty. Here, have a look at my secret catalog. You might be surprised by what I have to offer."
River Stream picked up the miniature notebook and perused it, noting that each page recorded a separate poison. The descriptions were simple but still elicited a sharp hiss from River Stream. ''What the? Why are these so scary? Can they even be called poison at this point? If I didn''t know better, I would think these are curses or something. How did he even create these?''
"What do you think? Anything catches your eye?"
"Yes, but what''s with the cost? Your potions are expensive enough, but these are on another level."
"You get what you pay for, and these are worth every coin, as long as you don''t poison yourself," Genji remarked with a dark chuckle, well aware of the risks involved.
"That''s fine, I can just take the antidote afterward."
"..."
"..."
"You do sell the antidotes, right?" River asked again after a moment of silence.
Suddenly, Genji burst out in laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. After a few hearty smacks on the counter, he calmed down enough to reply, "That''s a good one. It''s been a while since I heard such a funny joke."
"Are you messing with me?" River asked, staring blankly.
"Nope, I''m dead serious. I don''t have any antidotes."
"Then what happens if I get poisoned? Won''t I be screwed?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
River Stream fell silent for a few moments before screaming in frustration, "WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE ANTIDOTES?"
"Because I purposely made it that way. If I can''t even cure it, then how will my opponents do so?"
The reasoning was so simple that River Stream was unable to respond. He''d never met someone so extreme and uncaring about their lives. It was almost scary how casual Genji was about the topic. After all, the one thing scarier than a suicidal madman is a suicidal madman with a weapon of mass destruction.
"So are you buying any? If not, I can still make you some strengthening potions. They won''t be as effective, but they are safer," Genji offered.
River considered the issue for a few seconds before answering, "I''ll take this one and the strengthening potions. It might be dangerous, but it is a good last resort."
"That''s the mentality," Genji applauded. "If you''re going to die, you might as well make your killers regret it. Who knows, you might even survive because of it. Tell you what, I''ll even include a manual for your purchase."
"I don''t understand what goes on in your mind sometimes. What kind of vendor encourages his customers to get into life-threatening situations like that?"
"How else am I supposed to earn a fortune?" Genji lightly joked.
"Such a rip-off. I can''t believe I''m paying so much for a ticking time bomb," River grumbled.
"At least it''ll make you happy when you use it. And they say that money can''t buy happiness."
"Great, thanks. That makes me feel so much better." River rolled his eyes in response. "Jokes aside, when should I come back?"
"Give me a few days. I''ll have your order and demonstration ready by then."
"Okay. I''ll see you then." River nodded and got up from his seat.
However, as he turned, a glimpse of Genji''s attire caught his eye, causing a certain description from the Celestials to resurface in his mind. ''Cloak darker than the blackest of nights, riding a bloody beast. Should you encounter such an individual, proceed with caution, for you are in the presence of a madman.''
''Weird. Why does Enigma fit the description of Bloodless Killer so well?''
"Something the matter?" Genji asked, noticing his pause.
"No, it''s nothing. I''m probably overthinking it," River responded and continued walking.
''Yeah, that must be it. There''s no way Enigma''s deranged enough to commit such a genocide. He might be extreme, but that''s on another level of cruelty. How bloodthirsty must one be to kill so much and still seek more? There''s just no way. Plus, Enigma''s saber is green, not silver. It''s impossible that they''re the same person. Everything must be a big coincidence. Yes, a coincidence...''
167 – Ghost Cloth
While in the Spatial Battlefield, Genji killed 28 enforcers, of which 5 were violators, netting him 66 tokens after redeeming the corresponding scarlet cards. Of these, 20 were spent on his recovery. Adding the 80 tokens from submitting [Origin World - Parasites], and the initial 3 from before, he now had 129 tokens to his name.
Out of these, he used 45 to expand his storage space, bringing it to 82 cubic meters. This left him with 84 tokens, which he put aside for future expenses.
Genji chose the item draw option for the remaining scarlet cards, giving him considerable equipment. Although they weren''t remarkable, they gave Genji enough capital to start the production of consumables.
Unfortunately, the market was still saturated due to his previous mass-selling of potions, causing demand to plummet this month. Other than some combat-intensive parties and lone wolves, Genji had relatively fewer visitors compared to before. Of course, this was partly influenced by the Brewer''s Alliance, which siphoned the trivial customers.
Despite this, Genji wasn''t the slightest bit upset since this was his desired outcome. Only this way could he focus on training and crafting bizarre poisons. Between these, he would play with Astros and relax his mind. Now that his training had entered the realms of weapon intent, his mental state was very influential for his training.
If his mind was chaotic, then no matter how much he trained, he would struggle to make any progress. Conversely, if his mind was at ease, it was simple to produce twice the results with half the effort.
On this day, Genji entered a deep meditation and appeared in his legacy spirits'' mind space. Admiring the peaceful winter land, Genji casually strolled through the landscape and immersed himself in the cooling temperatures. As usual, he was in no rush to meet with the spirits.
There was no point in rushing since this was their mind space. Here, they were in control and could manipulate the scenery as they wished. There was nothing he could do if they chose not to meet him. Thankfully, this wasn''t an issue since their interactions had been amicable, albeit mostly one-sided in terms of conversation.
''On second thought, is it even possible to have a strained relationship with one''s legacy? They''re supposed to be partners for life, so how badly must one screw up to destroy this bond?''
Genji put aside this thought and continued walking, eventually spotting a white forest in the distance. Picking up his pace, Genji soon reached the familiar spirits.
The twins retained their signature vortex eyes, encircled by chaotic swirls of energy, though they were older now, resembling teenagers rather than young children.
Meanwhile, the silhouette remained relatively unchanged, perhaps darker than before. It was hard to tell since Genji rarely saw its full form. As per habit, it hid among the shadows and peeked out with a slanted head.
"Hello again. I see that the spirit upgrades have been very impactful," Genji greeted them, drawing long stares in response.
A few moments later, the left twin nodded in recognition and waved with their hand, conjuring a flurry of snow that enveloped Genji. Waves of goodwill flooded his consciousness as the blizzard dissolved against him, purging his subconscious of deeply buried stress and ushering in a newfound clarity.
It was as if all his worries had melted with the ice, allowing him to enter a sage-like state. Genji wanted to thank them once the storm calmed, but the spirits had already disappeared, leaving only a puddle of murky water behind.
"Still as reclusive as ever, but I guess this counts for something."
With those words, Genji exited the mind space and resumed training, putting the blessing to full use. Hours later, the state wore off and Genji returned to his room to rest.
The following day, Genji tried to communicate with his spirits again, hoping for another session, but the results were disappointing. It had taken a lot from the spirits to clear his mind so they couldn''t repeat it in the short term. Nonetheless, Genji was grateful for the help and encouraged them to rest well.
Toward the end of the month, Zepher visited Genji and expressed his disbelief at the recent changes in EverRealm. "I know you wanted to outsource the work, but I didn''t think you would sell the formula. Now what? They''re snatching all your customers! Aren''t you the slightest bit worried?"
"I appreciate the concern, but they''re not competitors. They''re subordinates."
"Subordinates? What the hell happened in these 3 months? And how are you so confident that they won''t become competitors?"
"Let''s just say you can do a lot with the proper contract."
"Oh, that explains so much." Zepher instantly accepted the explanation and stopped asking questions. However, this response only caused Genji to ask his own.
"Hey! What''s that supposed to mean? You''re talking as if I''m some black-hearted exploiter. I''ll let you know my subordinates are happy working for me."
"Are you not? And that''s beside the point. We both know that you''ll never make a loss if you''re initiating a contract. You''re too crafty for that. I honestly feel bad for anyone who signs a contract with you because they''ll never expect the tricks you might play," Zepher said.
"You''re exaggerating. I''ve never exploited a loophole before."
"Just because you haven''t doesn''t mean you won''t. I am willing to bet my fortune that you will eventually screw someone like that. It''s only a matter of time."
"Wow, I didn''t realize you thought so negatively of me. Am I really that unreliable to you?" Genji gasped, faking his surprise.
Zepher rolled his eyes and said, "Drop the act. I would do the same if I had the chance, but I don''t think I''m clever enough for it. The best I can do is avoid these tricks and not be exploited."
"For a former pirate, you sure are humble about it."
"I''m being honest. My past did not prepare me for the possible exploits in EverRealm. Anyway, can I have the usual items?"
Genji shrugged and brought out a wooden crate. After paying, Zepher stayed for a few more minutes to talk before leaving to make his other preparations. With this, Genji finished his last notable encounter in EverRealm and began his final three days.
As Genji emerged in the desolate forest, he felt a gentle pull from his back. Glancing downward, he found Astros perched on his shoulder, gazing curiously at the snowy surroundings. Unlike Bruce, who was considered a piece of equipment, Astros was a living creature and fully capable of accompanying Genji on Earth.
"Snow, huh? So it''s been a year already. Time sure flies when I''m doing missions," Genji reminisced with a nostalgic look.
At this moment, Astros caught a drifting snowflake and examined it probingly. Seconds later, the snow melted and Astros expressed his confusion with a quiet, "Yii?"
A few more attempts were made, but the results remained the same, causing Astros to look around for the culprit. In his mind, someone must be responsible for this inexplicable phenomenon, and he must stop them. Otherwise, they would destroy all these pretty crystals, and he wouldn''t be able to play with them anymore.
Despite his best efforts, Astros couldn''t find anyone. Instead, he noticed the falling snow adding to the pile on the ground. Realizing the entire area was made of snow, Astros eagerly dived in, sending snow dust everywhere.
"Hmm? I guess this is his first time seeing snow. It won''t hurt to let him play a bit longer," Genji mused, stepping aside to wait.
But as this was happening, Genji suddenly received a prompt from EverRealm.
[Emergency mission issued.]
[Remove the Instigators]
Details: During a skirmish last month, a realm member unknowingly exposed his strength to a group of people. Amazed by this display, they now seek out such powers for themselves, regardless of the cost.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Mission: Remove these unstable elements before they could disrupt the World''s order
Penalty for Failure: The appearance of paranormal forces and collapse of peace.
Progress: 0/461
Note: This is a collective mission for all enforcers from this world.
Note 2: Failure to complete this mission may result in future troubles. If you value your vacation, please contribute.
Note 3: A map of the target''s locations is attached.
"What the heck. Did someone not get the memo on subtlety? How did that many people see it?" Genji cursed, annoyed by the sudden mission.
This was supposed to be his downtime, yet now he had to clean up after a careless member. How could he not be irritated? And he wasn''t the only one.
Almost all the other enforcers felt the same since participation was non-negotiable. If they allowed this, then not only would their families be in danger, but they would also have countless nuisances later. By then, it was unknown if they could maintain the same calm mentality as now.
"Yiiii?" Astros noticed the change in emotions and crawled out to comfort Genji.
"It''s fine. We just have some work to do," Genji reassured, picking up Astros and giving him a shakedown before returning him to his shoulder. "I''ll let you play in the snow later. For now, hang on tight."
Astros curled around Genji''s neck like a fuzzy scarf and watched as Genji opened the map. There were many clusters of red dots spread across the world, making it impossible for Genji to finish this request alone. Fortunately, this was a team mission, and he didn''t need to overexert himself.
As Genji examined the map, a few dots faded, indicating the deaths of their respective targets. The other enforcers had already started, unwilling to delay any further.
"Guess it''s now or never. Ready?"
Once Astros voiced his agreement, Genji kicked off the ground, causing Astros to chirp in excitement.
"Yiiiiiiiiiiiii."
''Slick'' Jack was considered one of the best hackers in the world. As the leader of a notorious hacker organization, he had orchestrated some of the most damaging security breaches in the 21st century. From government agencies to military secrets, he''d done it all and entered the watchlist of many.
With his skills, it was simple to hack into the security cameras of a certain corporation building. Originally meant as a spying operation, he never expected to catch such a surprising sight. The scene was short since the camera was promptly destroyed, but it revealed a whole new world to him, one of superhumans.
Not only him but all of his associates as well - they all saw it. They were unable to believe their eyes! Superpowers do exist!
Ecstatic by this revelation, they searched high and low for related information, seeking to possess this power. But no matter how they looked, they found nothing, not even in the most secure government databases. They tried. That''s why so many people know about this unbelievable secret.
After so many failures, they started losing hope and believing that everything had been the trick of the eye. At least they would have if they hadn''t seen the destruction within the building at a later date.
The news tried to brush it off as an electrical accident, but they knew better. They''d personally witnessed the electricity flowing through the air, obeying the superhuman''s command. It was undeniable, but they had no way to prove it. They were at a bottleneck and unable to find any more clues.
Disappointed with this result, Jack absentmindedly roamed the streets and accidentally tripped on an overgrown tree root. The fall was painful and broke his arm, causing him to curse his luck. In a fit of rage, Jack kicked the tree forcefully, breaking a small section and revealing a ghostly cloth beneath.
Unable to believe this sight, Jack rubbed his eyes and tried again. No doubt about it - a strange cloth was hidden within the aged tree. Curious about the finding, he pried open the area and pulled out the cloth.
That was when everything changed for him. As he unfolded the fabric, he encountered cryptic scripts, unlike anything the world had seen. Yet for whatever reason, he could understand its contents. In meticulous detail, the cloth outlined the process for attaining the supernatural powers that he desired. All it took were some human sacrifices, a small price in the grand scheme of things.
So Jack hid this cloth under his shirt and rushed home, fantasizing about his future powers. He didn''t even question the feasibility of everything because he interpreted the encounter as a stroke of fate. Everything had lined up perfectly for him, so how could it possibly be false?
In his mind, he was the world''s main character, and everything revolved around him. He would be the herald of the new era and praised for generations to come! An epoch of his own! Just the thought of it caused his heart to race with anticipation and kept him awake all night.
After many turns and shuffles on his bed, Jack eventually gave up on sleep and began meticulously planning his crime. He would accept nothing less than perfection since this was his debut into the world. After all, how could an important person like him possibly have a flawed beginning?
And so, he planned and planned until he was certain the strategy had no imperfections. Then, he struck like lightning, kidnapping five children and dragging them to the woods, where he conducted the cruel ritual.
To no one''s surprise, the ritual worked, granting him powers beyond imaginable. Yeah, he gained an unhealthy paleness and constant chill, but it was allllll worth it. He had become the god of the new world!
To celebrate the occasion, he gathered his group and shared the story, hailing himself as the destined one. The others were appalled when they learned about the gruesome procedure. They were notorious hackers, but they''d never resorted to murder before.
Yet their leader had apparently tortured five children to death for nothing but his own amusement. How could they not be revolted and consider him a madman?
"You don''t seem to believe me," Jack said, noticing their discomfort. "How about I show you?"
The others were about to reject when their eyes widened in astonishment, their pupils reflecting the unthinkable scene on the screen.
"How is it? Want to join me now? We can rule the world with this power."
"You''re crazy!" One person suddenly yelled before disconnecting, unwilling to associate with this insanity.
However, the others couldn''t resist the temptation and accepted Jack''s offer. Hence, cases of brutal homicides spiked around the world, triggering the investigations of the police.
However, normal investigation methods had little effect on them when they had supernatural abilities. Everything was going smoothly until Jack suddenly lost contact with a few associates. He didn''t think much of it at first, but when the numbers added up, he started sensing something amiss.
It would make sense if it were just a few people, but for the majority to suddenly miss this meeting? It didn''t make sense. They either all boycotted him or something had happened to them. And based on their prior enthusiasm, he could only assume the worst.
Hence, he called his closest aids and asked them to meet at the secret hideout. There, they bunkered themselves in and waited for the storm to pass. But before they could celebrate, a stranger with a fur scarf suddenly kicked down the door.
"You sure know how to hide. Too bad it doesn''t matter," Genji said, dagger in hand.
"Who are you and why are you after us?" Jack aggressively asked, signaling to his goons to surround Genji.
"A dead man needs no answers," Genji replied, taking another step forward.
Hearing this answer, Jack realized Genji had no intentions of dallying and yelled, "GET HIM!"
Following this, transparent figures radiating thick malice manifested around his underlings and lunged forward. Genji gave these ghostly creatures a dismissive glance and swung his dagger. The next moment, everyone collapsed like stringless marionettes, and the floor drowned in red.
The ghostly beings also became more translucent, their eyes vacant as they struggled to comprehend what had transpired. But as their final moments approached, clarity returned to their eyes, and they gave Genji grateful looks. After so much suffering, they had finally been freed from this forced existence.
"You''re crazy," Jack screamed as he fell on his rear. "This is this city! Aren''t you afraid of attracting the public''s attention? I thought you had a rule about staying hidden!?!?"
"That''s my problem, not yours," Genji replied, severing his head. "You''re nosy for your own good."
Then Genji crouched down and searched the body for the unusual aura he''d sensed. Seconds later, he pulled out a transparent cloth with cryptic symbols.
[Ghost Born Sultra]
Rating: Rare
Type: Paranormal item
Effects:
- Personality Erosion (Passive): Pollutes the mind of anyone who touches this. Depending on the target''s mental strength, can induce megalomania, delusion, narcissism, god complex, and sociopathy.
- Translation (Passive): When affected by Personality Erosion, the text becomes understandable for the target.
Description: A cloth originating from a ghost king in an upper world. It records a nasty method for evolving into a baleful ghost.
Note: Although it sounds impressive, only suffering awaits anyone who practices this. Upon completion, the user will lose all freedom and become a slave to the ghost king who created this method.
Note 2: When enough desire for the supernatural accumulates, the world barrier will weaken, and similar items may slip through. Please keep general knowledge to a minimum if you value normalcy.
Note 3: As the source of this mission, EverRealm is willing to purchase it for 3 privilege tokens.
After reading the second note, Genji finally understood why EverRealm didn''t want him to show his strength in public. While it was acceptable in other worlds where supernatural powers were common, Earth remained untainted, and EverRealm intended to keep it that way.
Although Genji didn''t know the benefit of this, he didn''t mind since it was much easier to relax when there were no threats at home.
''But still, what are the chances? To think the last group I clean up is the one with the ghost cloth,'' Genji thought, eying Astros, who was coiled around his neck. Sensing his stare, Astros chirped happily and nuzzled closer to him.
"Okay, little guy. I get it," Genji said, feeding Astros a piece of fruit. "No need to be so clingy."
Nonetheless, Astros continued his actions, finding comfort in Genji''s presence. Suddenly, someone barged into the room, eliciting a cold glare from Genji. There was still a lot of blood and bodies on the floor, so it was easy to deduce that Genji was the killer. If he didn''t want any more trouble, it was best to eliminate this untimely witness.
"Hold on, hold on," the intruder blurted out, frantically waving his hands. "I''m also from EverRealm."
Cold sweat formed on the man''s face as Genji''s threatening aura and killing intent washed over him. It was honestly unnerving how quickly Genji resorted to murder.
Genji gave the man a second glance and acknowledged his statement. While the man''s strength surpassed that of ordinary humans, it paled in comparison to Genji''s norm. Genji estimated his stats to be around 13 points, making him a rookie member.
"The job''s done. You can leave now," Genji said, stepping forward.
The man gulped as Genji approached but held his position and said, "I need to clean up the scene."
"Suit yourself," Genji said, walking past him.
At this moment, the snap of a broken twig sounded, alerting them to the presence of another witness. Both of them momentarily paused before their heads snapped in the source''s direction, spotting a familiar woman hiding behind the corner.
The three of them stared at each other for a moment before the woman broke out running, screaming, "No no no no no no. I didn''t see anything!"
The next moment, Genji appeared beside her and grabbed her arm. "Now, what are you doing here, Kosa?"
168 – Consequences of Curiosity
The past four months had been eventful for Alysha. Not only did she turn 9 this year, but she also joined a wood carving studio as an instructor. Mind you, she was an instructor, not a student. Yes, a nine-year-old instructor.
If this were any other place, it would have been impossible, but this studio was founded by Finlosh, the master carver who personally witnessed her skills. If Alysha wasn''t qualified, then no one was.
As for potential impacts on the studio''s reputation, Finlosh personally couldn''t care less. This studio was his excuse to learn from Alysha, so why would he care about the opinions of outsiders? They could join if they wanted to learn, but he never intended to make a profit in the first place. He had plenty of money anyway.
Convincing her parents was relatively easy once he guaranteed that Alysha wouldn''t get hurt under his care. For whatever reason, hearing this from a master carver was more reassuring than their daughter''s words, despite Alysha possessing better control than him.
Finlosh wasn''t going to complain since he could now witness Alysha''s skills every day. No matter how much he saw it, her movements were always so beautiful, appearing like a flawless piece of art. It was as if she could control the carving knife better than her fingers.
After a few weeks, he finally couldn''t contain his curiosity and asked how she practiced such skills. "If you can''t say, that''s fine as well."
Alysha didn''t mind the question and happily explained her training regimen, causing Finlosh to doubt his ears. Her summaries were simple, but the difficulties were so ridiculous that he couldn''t help but wonder if she was messing with him.
Was he really supposed to believe that she could juggle multiple balloons and carve at her usual speeds while blindfolded? These tasks were hard enough even with eyesight, let alone without.
However, these doubts quickly morphed into astonishment when Alysha demonstrated her mastery of these exercises. His heart almost leaped out of his chest when she started the second one. At that moment, Finlosh finally understood why her parents were so worried about her. He would be as well if he saw a loved one risking their fingers like this.
"How are you so confident that you won''t cut yourself?" He asked after she finished.
"Because that''s how I initially learned it," she replied, prompting another surge of disbelief in him.
"No way! Isn''t that too hard?"
"It''s not that bad. Once everything becomes muscle memory, it''s easy to adjust my hand position using my other senses."
Finlosh let out a wry smile at her comment. ''Easy she says. I don''t think she realizes how much she''s downplaying it.''
"What''s your teacher like?" Finlosh asked, curious about the person who taught her these concepts.
"He''s my idol. I want to be just like him when I grow up," Alysha exclaimed, expressing her endless admiration for Genji. However, her response made it difficult for Finlosh to get an objective view of Genji and elicited a dismayed expression from Kosa.
Finlosh noticed this and later confronted her about it, but her response only added to the mystery.
"That guy''s a total weirdo who applied martial arts training to art. Seriously, I can''t understand why he made such a relaxing hobby into a hardcore workout. Try to stay away from him if you can. Nothing good comes from associating with him."
Facing her firm opinion, Finlosh could only leave the conversation at that and await a future meeting with Genji. Like this, time passed, and it was that time of the month again.
To Kosa''s relief, they didn''t find Genji in his usual spot, indicating another month without facing that psycho. By now, even she had figured out his schedule pattern.
As long as he wasn''t back on the 3rd-to-last day, it was guaranteed that he wouldn''t show up this month. Thus, she could confidently take her day off without worrying about his crazy shenanigans. It was liberating to know that honestly.
On their way home, Kosa noticed a strange man from the corner of her eyes. The man stood out to her because he was snooping around a certain area, lurking just out of sight. It was very suspicious, but Kosa decided not to get involved. Her job was to ensure Alysha''s safety, not investigate suspicious activities.
Later that day, after bringing Alysha back from the workshop, Kosa had some time to herself. To celebrate the occasion, she leisurely strolled through the night market and enjoyed some snacks. Life was good.
But as she was walking back, she spotted the strange man again. This time, he was full sprinting, not even bothering to cover his traces. A grave expression was etched on his face, testifying to the situation''s urgency.
This sudden change in demeanor sparked curiosity in Kosa and compelled her to follow. It wouldn''t hurt to watch, would it?
Seconds later, they arrived at a house with a broken door. A heavy scent of blood lingered in the air, causing Kosa to wrinkle her brows.
''So strong! How many people died in there?'' She wondered, positioning herself so that the man remained in her vision and eavesdropped on the conversation.
''EverRealm? What kind of name is that? It sounds like someone just randomly made up something to sound cool. So they''re from the same organization? But why did he have to introduce himself? Don''t they know each other? And why does he sound so flustered, like something bad will happen if he doesn''t explain himself in time? Hold on, why does that voice sound familiar? Just where did I hear it from?''
Kosa suddenly wondered, getting a sense of deja vu from the conversation. But in the heat of the moment, she could not recall its origin.
"Suit yourself," the person said, stepping into view.
Kosa''s eyes widened in startlement and the realization of having witnessed something she shouldn''t have dawned on her.
''Nope. I''m out of here.'' She immediately decided, spotting the figure of her nightmares. ''Let''s never mention this to him. Who knows what he might do.''
But as she turned, her attention was captured by the fur scarf around Genji''s neck. ''How beautiful,'' she inadvertently thought, having a sudden lapse in attention. Then, before she knew it, a snap filled the night air, freezing her in place. In that split second of oversight, Kosa had accidentally stepped on a stick and alerted both parties.
''Oh shit! When did that get there?'' Kosa inwardly cried to herself, lamenting her bad luck and stiffly raising her head to meet Genji''s gaze.
After a forced smile, she broke out running, screaming, "No no no no no no. I didn''t see anything," hoping that was enough of an explanation for Genji.
But before she could take another step, Genji appeared beside her and grabbed her arm. "Now, what are you doing here, Kosa?"
His voice paralyzed her with fear and drenched her clothes with sweat. "Heh heh heh heh. Nothing. Just taking a walk tonight. Ha ha," Kosa responded with nervous laughter, racking her mind for a way out of this situation.
"That must have been a nice walk you had."
At this moment, the man caught up with them and asked, "Do we silence her?"
"You shouldn''t resort to murder so quickly. Don''t you know how to resolve your problems with a civil discussion?"
The man gave Genji a speechless look, unable to believe this came from the person who had intended to do the same just moments prior. ''How can you say that with a straight face? I''m just following your lead. Why are you suddenly shifting the blame to me?''
But despite these complaints, the man didn''t dare voice them. Genji was an unstable element, and he had no intentions of provoking him.
"Why don''t you tell us what you saw?" Genji asked Kosa. "If you''re honest, my friend might not have to do some extra cleaning tonight."
The corner of the man''s mouth twitched. ''How is this a civil discussion? You''re blatantly threatening her.''
Large beads of sweat also rolled down Kosa''s cheek, but she insisted that she saw nothing.
"Really? Think carefully. Are you sure?"
"Yes," she replied, her confidence growing, reasoning that she would already be dead if Genji wanted to kill her. Since he hadn''t, she believed she still had a chance. Now, it all depended on whether her answers could satisfy him.
"And what about hearing? You wouldn''t have done something as distasteful as eavesdropping on us, would you?"
"You were talking? I''m sorry I interrupted you. Please continue."
"Now, what were you doing tonight?"
"I was taking a walk. I didn''t hear anything. I didn''t see anything."
"Good. Let''s keep it that way, shall we?" Kosa obediently nodded like a chicken pecking grains of rice, and Genji released her arm. "See? That wasn''t so difficult. As long as you''re willing to sit down and talk it out, you can solve a lot of problems civilly."
"Fine, I won''t say anything," the man sighed and backtracked into the house.
Once the man was out of earshot, Genji turned to Kosa and said, "Go home. You don''t want to get involved in this."
Feeling as if she''d received an imperial pardon, Kosa let out a relieved breath and hastily darted away, inwardly admonishing herself for her foolishness. ''Darn Kosa. Why do you keep getting yourself into these situations?''
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Watching her swift departure as if she were fleeing for her life, Genji shook his head and gave Astros a gentle pat, signaling that he could unfurl himself now. "Come on. Let''s go grab something to eat. We''ve been busy all day."
The next morning, the doorbell at Alysha''s house chimed, prompting the energetic girl to rush downstairs, shouting, "I''ll get it! I''ll get it!"
Swinging open the door, she flung herself into Genji''s arms for a hug. "You''re here!"
"You were expecting me?" Genji asked, surprised by her enthusiasm.
"Yeah, Kosa came home last night with a gloomy face, so I knew she ran into you."
Genji had a strange expression when he heard this bizarre but accurate metric. Just as Kosa had discerned the pattern in Genji''s schedule, Alysha had grasped how Kosa''s emotions fluctuated. After all, Kosa had only exhibited such unease when Genji was around. All the other times, she was a confident friend that Alysha could depend on.
"Does she know that you''re getting excited from her sadness?"
"It''s okay. She has her good days, so let me have mine. It''s not like you come back that often anyway."
"I guess that''s fine?"
At this moment, Astros emitted a series of annoyed yips, asking Alysha to back off. Genji was supposed to be his cuddle buddy, not just any random stranger''s. Cake was an exception since she took care of him, but it didn''t sit well with Astros to share that closeness with someone else.
"I didn''t realize you were the jealous type," Genji said, teasing Astros.
Innocent eyes matched his gaze, feigning ignorance to his comment. On the other hand, Alysha had star-struck eyes when she noticed Astros.
"Fuzzy cat!" She reached out her arms, practically begging Genji to let her hold Astros.
''Yeah, I''m starting to believe in Friendly Disposition''s power. It''s unlikely that two people would have such similar reactions otherwise, no matter how much they adore fur. Besides, I doubt Alysha even knows what a ferret looks like, which rules out animal bias.''
"Sorry, but I don''t think he''s interested in leaving my side." Genji politely declined since he rarely saw Alysha. There was no need to make Astros uncomfortable over this.
"Oh, okay." Alysha dejectedly lowered her arms.
"Don''t be too upset. I''m sure you will get your chance when he becomes more comfortable with you. For now, tell me what you''ve been up to these days."
At the mention of this, Alysha immediately cheered up and led him inside. "A lot has happened. I''m now one step closer to teaching people how to carve. I also met an interesting carver who showed me the difference between your way and the traditional style. I didn''t realize they could be so different."
"That''s normal. I did kind of create my own style." Genji nodded at Alysha''s parents and followed her into the living room, where Kosa was spending her morning.
"I guessed as much. I looked all over the internet but couldn''t find anything resembling your techniques. Everyone else prefers to take it slow and use multiple tools, while you only use the carving knife."
"I took up carving to hone my control, not to make art. That''s why there''s so much emphasis on one knife."
As they sat down, Kosa''s gaze immediately went to Astros. ''Isn''t that the scarf from last night? When did it become a ferret?''
Kosa had a lasting impression of this scarf since it was the main reason for her exposure. If it hadn''t distracted her, she would have easily gotten away. Of course, this was only her wishful thinking, since Genji would have easily noticed her. The difference would have only been a few seconds.
"Oh yeah! Let''s visit the studio," Alysha said, a few minutes into the conversation. "I want to show you all the pieces I made since."
"Sure," Genji readily agreed and addressed Kosa. "Are you coming with us?"
"I don''t have a choice," she bluntly replied before preparing for the trip. After changing into something more suitable for the weather, they bid the parents goodbye and found some breakfast along the way.
When the food was served, Genji quickly scarfed down his portion and excused himself from the table. "Give me a moment. I have something I need to do."
Alysha nodded and quickened her pace, eager to spend more time with Genji. She only had 2 days this month, so she wanted to make the most of it.
"Take it easy. I''m not going anywhere," Genji said, watching as her cheeks puffed outward with food. But despite his reassurance, Alysha showed no signs of slowing.
"Aiii, what am I going to do with you?" With a soft chuckle and shake of the head, Genji stepped outside and halted near a remote location. Then his light-hearted demeanor withered into an emotionless icicle as he addressed the shadows. "Come out. I know you''re there."
Moments passed without a response, causing his stare to harden. "Last chance. If you two don''t come out now, I''ll make sure you never do."
Realizing Genji was serious, the people in hiding stepped forward, revealing the man from yesterday and an older man with similar stats to Genji''s current state.
"Apologies, but we mean no harm," the stronger man said, sweat trickling down his face. In that brief moment, he felt an unprecedented danger from Genji. He couldn''t understand how this was possible when they had comparable strength, but he trusted the instincts he''d honed through multiple battles. No matter what, he should not provoke this person before him.
"Doesn''t seem like it to me. You''ve been spying on me since I left the house."
"We weren''t spying on you. It''s the woman," they explained, gulping nervously.
"I thought you agreed to let that go?" Genji''s stare focused on the man from last night.
"Y-yes, b-but we n-need to m-monitor her. M-make sure she won''t do anything," he replied, gasping for breath.
"And who are you to do that? Don''t you have bigger things to care about like your next world?"
"We''re government agents," the other man chimed in. "We help maintain order."
"Oh, you should have said so." The pressure suddenly receded, catching them off guard. Considering Genji''s previous momentum, they were not expecting the situation to deescalate so easily.
"That''s it?" The younger man asked.
"Yeah. I don''t have anything against you guys. If you want to watch her, feel free to do so. Just be open about it, so I don''t mistake you for an enemy. It would be a shame to lose some people every time I come back." Then Genji walked away, leaving the two agents grimacing at each other.
"You''re right. He is a nutjob. One moment, he''s smiling like a kind uncle next door, and the next, he''s casually threatening a massacre," the older agent said to his colleague. "So you still want to continue this mission? It''s going to be risky with him around."
"We have to, but we need to change our approach. We can''t be spying on them anymore."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Like he said, be open about it. We might not be able to
do much, but we can lay the groundwork for the others. Let''s go, we have some work to do."
As Genji watched them leave from the corner of his eye, Alysha finished her last portions and urged Kosa to speed up. With a helpless sigh, Kosa asked for a takeout container and packed her food. Then they headed for the workshop, where they met Finlosh.
"You are?" Finlosh asked as they approached.
"Genji, just accompanying Alysha today. Don''t mind me." Genji lightly waved.
"Don''t believe him, Mr. Finlosh," Alysha jumped in. "This is my teacher. You know, the one that taught me."
It took Finlosh a few moments to understand what she was talking about, but his brows jumped a few notches when he did. After so many months of waiting, Genji was the last person Finlosh expected to meet today.
"You''re him?!?" He asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"You know me?"
"How can I not? I''ve been wanting to meet you for a long time now."
"Aren''t you overreacting a little?" Genji asked, puzzled by Finlosh''s enthusiasm. To his knowledge, he hadn''t done anything noteworthy enough to garner such a reaction.
"Not in the slightest. It''s my honor to host such a skilled craftsman. Please, come in."
Realizing Finlosh was adamant about this attitude, Genji arched an eyebrow at Alysha, asking why she mentioned the unnecessary detail. But Alysha only raised her chest in response, proud to inform the world of his greatness. Since the teacher didn''t want to pursue glory, it was the student''s job to spread his name.
''Aiii, this girl. She sure has some strange ideas.''
The following morning, when the doorbell sounded again, Alysha came running down, unexpectedly greeted by two men in trenchcoats instead of Genji.
"Can I help you?" she asked, sounding less enthusiastic than before.
"Little girl, are your parents home? We want to talk to them about something," one of the men replied.
"Can you tell me what it''s about?"
"We would prefer not to say it here. Can we come in?"
"Uuhhhhh," Alysha trailed off, unsure of how to answer. It didn''t take a genius to know something was off about them, but she didn''t know if bluntly rejecting them would have unforeseen consequences.
Fortunately, Kosa noticed her dilemma and called out to disrupt the awkwardness. "Alysha, is someone at the door?"
"Yeah, can you come over? They''re asking for something, and I don''t know how to respond."
"Coming down." Seconds later, Kosa ran down the stairs and pushed Alysha behind her. But before she could take over the conversation, she suddenly froze, her face draining of blood. Across from her were two men, one familiar, one a stranger. They were the two agents Genji had previously confronted.
''Fuck! What is he doing here?'' Although Kosa didn''t recognize the older man, she had a vivid memory of the other person. After all, he did openly suggest killing her.
''No way. Could he be here to tie up loose ends?'' Kosa suddenly tensed up, her body instinctively entering a fight-or-flight state.
"Can we talk to your employers?" the agent politely asked, ignoring her apprehension.
"Is this about that night?"
"It''s related, but I promise it''s not detrimental to you. Just some arrangements."
"No silencing?"
"No, we''re not uhhh," he trailed off, searching for a child-friendly way to express the following thought, "adventurous..."
Kosa scrutinized their faces for any signs of deception, but she only found hesitation and uncertainty. Whatever was on their mind, it made them uneasy, despite their superior positions.
"Fine. Alysha, go call your parents," Kosa said, determining the situation was safe.
A few minutes later, everyone gathered at the dinner table and prepared to talk.
"Before we begin, let us apologize for the sudden intrusion. It was a last-minute decision, so we couldn''t inform you ahead of time," the younger agent said.
"We don''t mean any harm. We just want to seek your thoughts on something." The agents reached into their pockets and fetched their government identifications. "Here, this is proof. You can call the police if you want to verify it."
Seeing their confidence, the parents took their word for it and skipped the verification. "The government? What do you want with us?" they asked, more confused than anything.
But while they were accepting of the situation, Kosa had much more chaotic thoughts. ''You have got to be fucking with me. They managed to infiltrate the government? Just how deep is this organization''s influence?!?''
"It''s like this. We want to deploy a bodyguard for someone, but we don''t know if they''ll accept the arrangement. Do you think we should force this issue, even if it upsets them?"
The couple exchanged a peculiar glance as if the man had grown a second head. "Why do you need our opinions on this?"
The man fell silent for a few moments before asking, "How do you feel about having another person living with you?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
By now, it was evident who they were talking about. Bewildered, they sprang to their feet and loudly asked, "W-w-w-what? Where did this come from? Why are you sending bodyguards for us? What''s going on?!?"
"Sir, Madam. Calm down. Calm down. We have a good reason for this." Once they sat down again, the man began his explanation. "So the country recently started a talents program to support those with unique skills. You know, to encourage people to explore their talents and reduce problems that might stifle their growth. We''ve identified your daughter as one of these talents and wanted to extend our help. Considering all the crimes happening lately, we feel that providing a bodyguard is the best way to help. That way, she can fully pursue her dreams without worrying about her safety."
"No thank you. I''m already her bodyguard. We don''t need any other one," Kosa immediately rejected. Although the agent phrased it nicely, she didn''t believe any of it. More likely, they were spinning a tale to deploy a supervisor near her, possibly to silence her if she stepped out of line. She''d be a fool to accept such an arrangement.
"Yes, but don''t you think two are better than one? No one is perfect, so wouldn''t you prefer to minimize the risk?" Then the man turned to the mother. "Plus, don''t you want to give your employee a break? It''s hard to be a bodyguard. I can''t imagine doing it every day. With a second person, you can give her some days off."
"Hmmmm, that does make sense," the mother said, falling into thought.
"Wait wait. I''m fine. I don''t mind this. Really," Kosa said rapidly, inwardly panicking by her employer''s convinced expression.
But she ignored Kosa''s words and patted her back. "Kosa, I appreciate your concern, but I want to give you more time off. It''s not healthy to devote your entire life to this job. I want you to enjoy your life, to relax instead of worrying about Alysha all day."
"B-but I''m f-fine," Kosa muttered, unable to cope with this sudden sabotage from her trusted friend.
"Thank you, madam. We won''t disappoint you," the agent bowed.
"No, we should be the ones thanking you."
With that, they finished their discussion, and Kosa entered the government''s eyes once more. This time, the development was far worse than before, as she couldn''t even escape if she wanted. Ironically, she was under tighter watch now, as a civilian, than in her assassin days.
''I should never have given in to my curiosity. So much went wrong,'' she inwardly cried to herself.
Stats before (Primordial Echoes)
Stats
[Enigma]
Health: 7,760/7,760 (Con x 120 + 2,000 from Astros, up 2,600 from last settlement)
Energy: 1,840/1,840 (Int x 20 + 860 from cloak)
Con: 41 -> 46 + (2) = 48
Str: 41 -> 46 + (2) = 48
Dex: 43 -> 47 + (2)= 49
Int: 43 -> 49
Spc: 49
Combat techniques (added stealth dagger)
Dagger Arts:
- Threading the Needle, a length-wise attack that combines speed and curved attacks
- Impact Strike - used to deliver large amounts of concentrated force on the tip
- Side Winder - piercing attack to break through a formation
- Flow - similar to Threading the Needle, but the trajectory is more curved. It uses Shadow flames to boost damage.
- Scar - X-like cut with shadow flames
- Focus strike - concentrate strength beyond his limits into one strike, paralyzing the side of his body that uses this attack. Upon impact, unleash all the brutal force to cause enough damage to disintegrate the surrounding wound
- Stealth Dagger, Converged Existence - concentrates all his energy, physical strength, and cutting intent into his dagger. Has a stealth bonus.
Daggerless Arts:
- Cocoon: Barrier ability made from cutting intent
Energy Techniques (Unchanged)
- Flashstep: High-speed movement ability in a single direction. The average speed increases as his stats and control of energy increases, but he can go faster if he is willing to damage his body.
- Solid Core: Crystalizes the energy around the skin and muscles to gain a diamond-like defense. Decreased mobility while this is active
- Shadow Flames: Energy wraps around his weapon and vibrates at a high frequency to achieve a boost in sharpness. Also cuts anything it touches and can spread like flames. Very intensive in durability costs.
- Shadow Core (passive): Boosts the effectiveness of his energy, constantly upgrades as he refines more energy stats into it, can also act as a final form of energy when broken down.
- Crystallizing weapons: Applying the logic of Solid Core to weapons to increase resistance to damage. Also acts like a spare battery pack for his energy when running low.
- Crystal Manifestation: Solidifies energy outside the body to form any shape he wants. High demand for energy control and cost, but can catch the enemies off guard. Currently limited to support items.
- Dance of Death: Ability of Reapers that allows him to summon 3 silhouettes that move on their own and swap positions with. Very energy intensive since it''s a percentage cost.
- Ultimate - Shadow Devour(restricted): A powerful finisher that is designed to kill any target, regardless of regen or resistance. Uses the concepts of infection and mutation to achieve this. This move is currently restricted because his energy lacks a certain violent property that comes from being around high-density dark environments (EverNight). To get around this flaw, Genji created a technique that damages his Shadow Core to infuse his energy with this trait.
Masteries:
- Dodging (Grandmaster - 87%, +4%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 38%, +24%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 19%, +2%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 13%, +3%)
- Hand-to-hand Combat (Grandmaster - 25%, +5%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 21%, +8%)
Items:
- Shroud of Terror: Cloak that increases speed, reduces gravity, and increases his max energy with kills. Now recovers slight amounts of energy per kill
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary+
Defense: 42 (no change)
Durability: 290/290 (+30)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): After every world, this equipment will grow with you.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority. (Upgrade in priority level)
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 45 seconds. Cooldown of 30 seconds. This effect has medium priority. (Duration: +5)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduce the effects of gravity by 90% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 10 minutes. (Cooldown: -2)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 3 meters and targets you killed.
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed
- +65% energy intensity for 4 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month. (Energy Intensity: +5, Duration: +1)
Description: A cloak that has become a true terror to all.
- Lethal Opportunity: His main pair of daggers. Can now be stored in his mind, allowing it to bypass world restrictions.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary+
Damage: 40 (+2)
Durability: 450/450 (+25)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): After every world, this set will grow with you
- Effortless Dicing (passive): +50 sharpness (+5)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +210 durability (+15)
- Spiritual Attunement (passive/active): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +25 Sharpness for 60 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 20 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (+15 seconds to duration, +5 seconds in healing lockout)
Description: Having reached full maturity, these daggers will now never leave your side.
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- Jaguar: Poisonous saber that kills with a single scratch. His secondary weapon of choice.
[Saber of Infection, Jaguar]
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: 36
Durability: 190/190
Prerequisites: 15 str, 15 con
Effects:
- Infection (passive): All external status effects caused by the saber will trigger twice as often (Poison that deals damage every 2 seconds will now be every 1 second.)
- Fatal Wound (passive): A single scratch was all you needed to apply the effects.
- Assimilation (passive): This sword could devour other negative status effects to grow. (Triggered Once)
Description: After Nightmare Enigma dipped this blade in his deadly poisons, a quality change finally occurred.
- Curse Bearer: A flintlock that flickers in and out of existence through a mark on his hand.
Hidden effect: Restrains [Kraken''s Grasp]
[Curse Bearer]
Rarity: Legendary (degraded once)
Damage: 25
Durability: 50/50
Prerequisites: 9 dex, 10 con
Bullets: 2/2
Effects:
- Curse Bullets (Passive): Shoot a condensed ball of curses that weakens the enemy. The more bullets that hit, the stronger the debuff. Regenerates 1 bullet per minute
- Side Chamber (Active): Shoot an extra bullet without consuming a bullet count. 5-minute cooldown
- Big Bullet (Active): Fuse all your bullets to shoot one that deals 4x damage and curse. Requires Side Chamber to be off cooldown. 30 min cooldown.
- Unrestricted (Passive): A fusion between old technology and fantasy system. This equipment will not be affected by world restrictions.
Description: The essence of the Cursed Sea in the form of an old flintlock pistol. It doesn''t shoot well, but its lethality more than makes up for it.
- Boots of the Gale Wolf: Destroyed in battle against the reapers. Replaced by [Spring Bound Boots]
- Spring Bound Boots:
[Spring Bound Boots]
Rating: Epic
Durability: 140/140
Requirements: 35 Con, 35 Str, 32 Dex
Effects:
- Force Storage(Passive): Every time you move your legs, store some excess force for later. Can store 0/600 units of force.
- Spring Boost (Passive): When moving, release some of the stored force to boost your speed. +2 dex after storing 100 units of force. Consumes 1 unit of force per step.
- Unhindered (Passive): Reduce environmental hindrance by 25%. Consumes 2x-4x units of force, depending on how difficult the terrain is to traverse.
Description: The Spring Bound Python is a ferocious beast that can unleash a strike beyond its limits after storing enough force. If caught unprepared, one can suffer heavy injuries from the encounter. Having been made from the python''s leather, these boots have inherited similar properties and can aid your movements.
- Kraken''s Grasp: A cursed armguard that hosts the spirit of the Kraken. Occasionally tries to kill Genji, but is retrained by [Curse Bearer]. The more he kills, the more that resentment builds up. The accumulated resentment isn''t enough to upgrade the curse, but it does strengthen Summon Kraken.
[Kracken''s Grasp]
Rating: Legendary
Defense: 48
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 20 Str, 20 Con
Note: Trying to equip this when you don''t meet the requirements will result in you being devoured by the Kraken''s resentment.
Effects:
- Kraken''s Strength (passive): +2 str, +2 con
- Dominance Aura (Active): Pick a stat and conduct a judgment on a target. If your stat is higher, they will receive a mental impact and -1 in the chosen stat. Damage is determined by the difference between the stat of choice. Cooldown of 1 hour.
- Summon Kraken (Active): Use all your energy and summon the tentacles of the Kraken to strangle a target. The number of tentacles is dependent on the amount of energy used. Cooldown of 1 day.
- Kraken''s Resentment (Curse): The power of this equipment depends on the curse it bears. Although it provides great power to its wielder, it will attempt to kill them when given the chance. Use this with caution.
Description: Formerly made from the tooth of Jaws, this arm guard was corrupted by the Kraken''s resentment. Now all that remains of Jaws is a shell of his former self, his spirit shattered, and his anchor occupied by a malevolent spirit.
- Tyrant Shoulder Guard: Shoulder pads that increase his overall physique and give him Berserk
[Tyrant Shoulder Guard]
Rating: Legendary
Defense: 42
Durability: 180/180
Requirements: 25 str, 25 con
Effects:
- Berserk (Active): gain +5 con, +5 str for 10 minutes, cooldown of 36 hours
- Tyrant Body (Passive): Increase maximum health by 20%
- Vigour (Passive): Increase body healing speed by 300%
- Compact Muscles (Passive): Your muscles have become compact, granting you +2 defense
Description: A shoulder guard fitting of a tyrant. If you aren''t one, then this will make you one.
- Quantum Pulse Pendant: Pendant that increases his energy control, and gives him Quantum Shield
[Quantum Pulse Pendant]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Accessory
Durability: 80/80
Requirements: 25 Int
Effects:
- Energy Control (passive): +50% control over energy
- Energy Flow (passive): Energy flows 15% faster
- Quantum Shield (Active): Form a barrier with low priority in protection. Lasts 10 seconds, 1-day cooldown
Description: A dream accessory for all mages
- Sheath of Original Blood: Bruce.
Hidden effect: Bruce can develop and use his own vampire blood arts.
[Sheath of Original Blood]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 120/120
Requirements: Killer of The Original Vampire
Effects: Sheath Form
- Blood Attraction (Active): Suck up all the blood in the area and store it for later
- Flexible Molding (Passive): This sheath can take on any form to cover your weapons
- Repair (Passive): Slowly repair the durability of the covered weapon by consuming the stored blood
- Transform (Active): Change into Horse Form
Effects: Horse Form
- Blood Evolution (Passive): When enough blood vitality is stored, the sheath will upgrade in power
- Swiftness (Passive): Can run at high speeds
Description: Bruce was a normal nightbane until he met a certain weirdo who spared no costs to fuse him with the blood of a demonic god. Now, he possesses a body beyond his limits and another chance at life.
- Hands of Ambush: Gloves that support stealth and sneak attacks
[Hands of Ambush]
Rating: Epic
Type: Gloves
Defense: 21
Requirements: Stealth (Master), 27 Dexterity, 28 Strength, 30 Constitution
Durability: 100/100
Effects:
- Deadly Ambush (Passive): When launching a sneak attack, move at 200% speed and deal 200% damage on the first strike, with a 5-minute cooldown between triggers.
- Camouflage (Active): Blend into your surroundings by manipulating the light around you, with a 4-hour cooldown.
Description: A useful pair of gloves that encompasses the core skills of a desert predator. Don''t be deceived by how well it fits an assassin; you will need the strength and body of a warrior if you want to use this.
- Eye of Horus: Scanning equipment for stats, based on the difference between chosen stat
[Eye of Horus]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Requirement: 15 int
Durability: 40/50
Effect
- Scan (Active): Consume 100 energy and conduct a judgment with a stat of your choice. The greater the difference, the more information you will obtain from the target. 1 hour cooldown.
Description: An artifact that allows you to peek at the information of others. The ancient civilization forged this in the image of a god with a falcon head, hoping it would bring them the god''s protection.
Note: Because of the passage of time, its structure has been weakened. Be careful with it, it''s fragile.
- Stalker''s Compass: Compass that points to things
[Stalker''s Compass]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Durability: 100/100
Requirements: 20 Spc
Effects:
- Ultimate Tracking (Active): Designate a target. This compass will point to them until you designate a new target or until you injure them. 24-hour cooldown between designations.
- Persistent Stalking (Active): Bypass the cooldown of Ultimate Tracking by providing the cells of a target. If this target is different from the designated one, you can choose which target to follow. The lighter end of the pointer will be used for this effect while the darker end for Ultimate Tracking. A maximum of two targets can be tracked at once. Only one target can be followed at once. The duration of this effect varies with the provided cells. The more prevalent the cells, the longer it will last. The maximum duration of this effect is 24 hours. After that, more cells are required.
Description: You can run, but you can''t hide. And even if you run, I''ll still find you. It''s only a matter of time.
169 – (Primordial Echoes)
Genji bid his farewells after the last day and returned to EverRealm. From there, he found himself amidst ankle-high blue grass swaying in the wind. The transition from winter to spring was swift, ushering in a new world upon him. For as far as his eyes could see, grass stretched out, enveloping him in a sea of blue.
Primordial Echoes
Background:
Channeling the powers of the past, the inhabitants of this world created a power system seemingly devoid of bottlenecks. With this system, they progressed at astounding rates, becoming apex warriors in a matter of years. But for this convenience, they shackled themselves to their predecessors'' limits.
The closer they get to their peaks, the slower they progress. And eventually, they will hit their threshold and stop improving. Unless they can innovate their powers, they will halt there, becoming merely insignificant specks in history. Yet to do so required talents and luck beyond most people, something only achievable with the right opportunity.
Instead, the common folk trudged a different path, using quantity to replace quality. By harnessing the potential of multiple avatars, they broke their limits once more and achieved a new level of power. Hence, the art of lineage tracing became mainstream. But with this choice, they subjected themselves to harsher bottlenecks, making every advancement exponentially harder than before.
As such, people began valuing the "purity" of a bloodline. The less tainted the blood was, the more power could be derived, translating to higher potential. With this shift in mentality, one''s talent was no longer dependent on innate abilities, but rather on finding the strongest lineage.
Mission Details:
Legend speaks of a lost era that produced the mightiest beings the planet has ever seen, a golden era per se. Though no one has successfully accessed this power, it is believed that this era, dubbed the Primordial Age, holds the key to their next evolution. While many are skeptical of this myth, believers tell stories of a fabled treasure from this period. The origins of this fervent belief are unknown, but none of the believers doubt the treasure''s existence. For now, this statement will remain a mystery.
Requirements: Verify the truth of the given details. Research this lost era and prove/disprove the treasure''s existence.
Duration: 45 days
Note: EverRealm fully acknowledges this might be an impossible task. Your progress will be stored in the database and passed on to the next explorer. You will not be penalized for lacking results, but bonuses will be rewarded depending on your contributions.
Note 2: This is an exploration mission, and multiple realms will participate. Additionally, other parties might send certain representatives to complete. There can only be one winner, so rewards are plentiful.
Note 3: This is a transition world under the Beasts'' control. Many Beast Kings reside here. Try not to provoke them if you don''t want trouble. You have been warned.
World Restrictions:
- The effectiveness of technology is weakened by 80%
- Damage of magic-related abilities is reduced by 50%
The introduction had a lot to unpack, but it boiled down to one task: investigation. He is to investigate the history of the world and provide relevant information for those after him; a pioneer of sorts.
"Bring me to this treasure," Genji said to his compass.
The pointer spun around like a propeller for the next few seconds before it stopped with no results.
[The request is impossible to fulfill.]
"It was worth a try." Genji shrugged at this expected failure and summoned Bruce. "Let''s go. We have a lot to do."
They picked a random direction and slowly strolled through the grassland. Both man and horse walked side-by-side, observing the surroundings as an energetic Astros hopped between them. After some time, Astros, positioned atop Bruce''s head, directed their attention towards the distance with an excited squeak.
Looking over, Genji saw a sizable buffalo-like creature contently grazing on the grass below. Thick, curved horns wrapped around its ears, granting it an aggressive look. Pairing this with its bulging muscles, it was evident the creature was not to be trifled with.
But despite this appearance, Genji only regarded it as prey. "Great, we have our lunch."
Then before Astros could react, a streak of cutting intent shot out, splitting the buffalo in half. Bruce skillfully cooperated with him, draining the blood and propping up the halves. They were halfway through their preparations when Astros suddenly cried out in distress.
Hearing this agitated cry, Genji and Bruce immediately dropped what they were doing and alertly scanned the area for the cause, only to find Astros casting a bitter gaze at them. They had somehow upset Astros, but they don''t know why.
"What''s wrong?" Genji asked, prompting Astros to screech in frustration.
After some back and forth, they realized Astros hadn''t led them to the buffalo for food but to communicate with it. However, Genji killed the creature before any interaction could occur, rendering Astros'' intentions futile.
"My bad, I''ll consider that next time," Genji apologized with a sheepish look. "For now, let''s eat. We shouldn''t waste it."
Astros released a helpless sigh and joined them, unable to resist the idea of food. Once they finished their meal, Genji handed Astros a stick, prompting a confused look from the ferret.
"Stand it up. We''ll go whichever way it falls," he instructed, deciding to test Astros''s luck.
"Yiii?" Although still confused, Astros complied, and the stick pointed west.
"West, huh? Let''s see how effective +7 luck is then," Genji said, scooping up Astros and hopping on Bruce. Then they went full speed ahead, dismissing their prior leisure.
Along the way, they encountered a few other beasts, including a bison, prairie dogs, a hawk, and a pack of coyotes, all of which they ignored after Astros failed to communicate with them. Due to being different species, communication was rather difficult, leaving Astros downcast with the failure.
"It''s fine. You''ll get better at this. For now, just take it one step at a time," Genji comforted him. "On the bright side, you''ve made plenty of friends."
Subsequently, Genji fed Astros a piece of fruit, which they had gotten as a gesture of goodwill from the hawk.
After a few hours of traveling, as dusk was upon them, Genji spotted a dilapidated camp in the distance. Many torn fabrics lay strewn around the area like a hurricane had passed through the settlement. However, this biome was not prone to such natural disasters, indicating the cause was artificial.
Among these piles of scraps were ripped tents and broken sticks, trampled by heavy footprints and slashed by sharpness. Botches of dried blood stained these fabrics, giving them a dark taint and a copper-like smell.
Genji shot Bruce an inquiring look, but the nightbane shook his head, unable to determine the freshness of the flaky blood. It had been at least days since this destruction took place and he couldn''t glean any more clues.
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Looking past the outskirts of the encampment, Genji found some more notable items. The first was a smothered campfire contained within a ring of stone. Black ash rustled on his approach, exposing a metallic glint beneath.
Brushing aside the soot, Genji found a burnt necklace with a strange humanoid carving. The creature had large forearms that pulsated with strength, sharp jagged teeth drooling with saliva, and a single elliptical eye in the middle of the face. A striped fur cloth was tied around its waist, giving the creature a huntsman aura.
Genji flipped the ornament around and traced his fingers along the flat surface where some indents were engraved.
In Goloth we believe, for he is the mighty
The rough translation appeared in his mind, offering a glimpse into the former owner''s life. It was evident that the man cherished this ornament, as it remained relatively undamaged, save for its charred surface. Genji speculated that this necklace had inadvertently fallen into the fire during the battle, possibly when the owner was slain.
Aside from the necklace, Genji found a stone carving with a single eye and uneven triangular teeth. This strange decoration was located at the center of the camp and resembled the head of the creature on the pendant. Behind the teeth, Genji found a small depression where many crushed bone fragments sat, a testament to the tribesmen before.
Based on these clues, Genji deduced that the tribe worshipped the engraved creature, and this was their offering spot, where they would present prized items to their symbolic totem. It was certainly an unusual practice, but he refrained from judging. For now, he would keep exploring and gain a preliminary understanding of this world.
By the time they finished sifting through the camp, night had already fallen. Reigniting the smothered campfire, Genji gave Bruce some supplies for dinner and entered a light meditation. Half an hour later, Bruce finished cooking and they enjoyed a hearty meal. Then, Astros curled around Genji''s neck, transitioning into a scarf to sleep through the night.
At some point during the night, Genji felt a subtle vibration through the grass and the approach of a considerable presence. Opening his eyes and turning to the source, Genji locked gazes with a large, black bear.
The bear paused its stride, but its eyes subconsciously wandered to the food remains near the campfire. Seeing this, Genji understood what had attracted the bear and tossed some over.
However, his eyes held a dangerous glint, warning the bear from any further actions. His meaning was clear: take the food and leave or become his next meal. Recognizing Genji''s threat, the bear wisely chose the first option and retreated into the darkness.
Following this, the patter of feet on grass was heard as distant critters scrambled to leave the vicinity. They had seen enough of Genji''s strength and had no intentions of provoking this dangerous newcomer.
For the remainder of the night, Genji remained undisturbed, meditating among the hooting of owls and roars of nocturnal predators as they persisted in their routine activities.
After a while, the chorus of sounds calmed, and Genji felt a hint of warmth on his skin. Opening his eyes, Genji admired the rising sun and bathed in its light, welcoming the new day.
He got up and shook off the grass trimmings clinging to his attire before continuing his course. With each step, the soft crunch of grass and morning dew filled his ears, bringing him a sense of closeness to nature.
After walking up to Bruce, they hunted for food and continued west, eventually finding more remains of civilization. Most of these findings were abandoned campfires, where people rested for the night, but there were occasional scenes of destruction.
Many claw marks and taloned footprints could be found near these scenes, indicating that the previous settlers had succumbed to wild beasts. This was an expected outcome since powerful beasts were plentiful in this world.
Although few dared to confront Genji, the beasts from the previous night were by no means weak. The bear alone had enough constitution points, putting it within the upper ranks of normal beasts.
They traveled for another day before encountering a car-sized bison barreling towards them. To be precise, it wasn''t targeting them; rather, they were in its way. Open wounds decorated its body, spilling droplets of blood with each step as the creature fled for survival.
A small group of hunters trailed from a distance, pacing themselves just enough to keep up. Wooden spears with glossy flint heads waved with their motion, reflecting the intense sunlight above.
They wore loose clothes woven from grass, a leather pouch containing their everyday supplies, and a cotton bandana that secured their shoulder-length locks in place. It was a minimalist attire, consisting only of the bare essentials for a hunter journeying outside his tribe.
Many were shirtless, exposing their well-developed muscles and sun-tanned skin. From a glance, Genji knew they were well-trained warriors capable of enduring hardship.
"Murrrr-feerrr," the escaping bison grunted at Genji, expressing its rugged emotions at the sudden obstacle.
Nevertheless, Genji remained steadfast and signaled to Bruce with a pat. Responding to the cue, Bruce hunkered down to gather his strength. Then, with a powerful surge, he rose onto his hind legs and delivered a forceful kick to the charging bison, causing it to stagger backward.
The impact left a deep imprint on its head, eliciting a pained growl. Splinters of shattered bone also protruded from the wound, followed by a dizzying effect.
At this moment, Genji flicked his wrist, shooting out a wisp of cutting intent that severed the brain''s nerve connections, causing the bison to collapse and twitch uncontrollably.
"Not bad. You''ve gotten better at applying force," Genji praised as he dismounted.
Bruce neighed triumphantly before turning to the approaching hunters.
"You are?" the team leader asked, halting at a safe distance with a wary look. This place was deep in the wilderness, so encountering another person, especially someone with such a conspicuous steed, was unusual. Anyone capable of surviving among the beasts wouldn''t be weak and demanded caution. After all, they knew nothing about this stranger or what he might do.
Uninterested in this small talk, Genji picked up the carcass, divided it, and tossed half over. With this, he resolved any misunderstandings of prey snatching and presented his peaceful intentions. Then he sat down and began cleaning the carcass, putting on a harmless show to reassure the spectators; to indicate he was like them and was only hunting for food.
This display worked, and the group joined him in cleaning up their portion. However, they were limited by their crude tools, causing their results to be raggeder than Genji''s. After making an incision, one person glided a stone blade beneath the skin as the others tugged to peel off the fur coat. Consequently, the hide contained small patches of fat that clung to the interior, requiring additional processing at a later time.
Then they gathered some dry grass and began cooking their food. As a sign of goodwill, they offered some to Genji, noticing he lacked the tools to start a fire.
"If you don''t mind me asking, what''s an inscribed warrior like you doing here?" One hunter asked, taking a seat across from him.
Genji was unfamiliar with the term, but that didn''t stop him from continuing the conversation. "I''m looking for something."
"Oh?" The hunter perked up with interest. "Can you tell me? Maybe we can help."
"I wish I could, but I don''t even know what I''m looking for. The only lead I have is that it''s history-related."
"History? Doesn''t your tribe have records of what you need?" the man asked, skepticism evident in his eyes, suggesting Genji''s words were more unbelievable than he''d expected. There were two possible explanations for this. Either the man had never considered such a concept, or delving into history wasn''t a common practice in this world. For now, Genji couldn''t determine which.
"The thing I''m looking for can''t be found in those records. It''s more obscure."
"Would it help if we show you our records?" the man offered, surprising Genji with his generosity. However, this only supported the second possibility, so Genji didn''t raise his expectations. If these records were precious, the hunter wouldn''t offer them to any random stranger he''d just met. Nonetheless, they would be a good starting point for Genji.
''Why do they not put much emphasis on history? Don''t they draw their powers from understanding the past? Am I missing something?'' Genji wondered as he accepted the proposal.
"Thank you. When do we leave?"
"We still need to hunt some more, but we can return after that," the hunter responded.
Genji nodded in understanding, and they retired for the night. The following morning, they ate some dried food and began the hunt. Genji witnessed the hunters'' tracking proficiency and knowledge of creatures during this time. Following the feces and stalks of chewed grass, they quickly found a herd of gazelle.
Eager to finish this hunt, Genji took action, strolling through the herd and slitting the throats in one smooth motion. His ease stunned the observers, causing them to pause their actions.
But with one throat clear from Genji, they snapped out of their daze and began cleaning up the carcasses. During this process, Genji noticed that they paid careful attention to preserving every part, even the slashed tendons and organs.
When asked about this, the hunters replied, "Since we''ve claimed a life, we should make the most of it. Wasting such resources is very disrespectful and will cause nature to rebuke us. If we upset nature, we may lose everything."
The philosophy was an appreciative one and completely different from anything Genji had witnessed. It was not as empirical as modern science, but it contained a spiritual aspect that benefited the whole.
Some capitalists might even disdain such behavior, thinking it was foolish to put their faith in something so abstract, but time would eventually reveal the true fools. By then, everything would be too late, and they would follow the trajectory of a certain wasteland. If everyone held such respect in their hearts, they would never have experienced such an abysmal ending.
Putting this into perspective, Genji realized the group had done the same the previous night. Even the slightest scraps of bones were saved in their bags, ready to be repurposed for another use.
''They''ve moved beyond temporary convenience and embraced environmental longevity. What an interesting culture.''
At this point, Genji was beginning to anticipate the upcoming six weeks. For once, he felt a curiosity about this world''s civilization and its developmental trajectory. They had evidently followed a different path from most worlds, and Genji looked forward to what he could learn from them.
Maybe the records would be useful; maybe not, but it would certainly expand his thoughts and potentially give him a sense of transcendence. These experiences would enrich his mind and nourish his psyche, allowing the previously planted seed of willpower to sprout.
Even if all this failed, he would still be rewarded, removing the pressure to overperform. Plus, the idea of spending this time in history sounded like a good change of pace from his usual massacres and tension-filled life.
''I''ll just take things as they come. At worst, I''ll consider this an extended vacation. I don''t need that many stat points anyway. Just 13.''
170 – Acclimation
As Genji waited for the hunters to finish, he noticed them draining the excess blood into thick water flasks. It was a strange detail since they were unusually attentive to the blood, treating it as a precious commodity despite having no apparent use. As far as Genji could tell, they weren''t vampires or anything similar that would require blood as food.
Nonetheless, he let them do their thing and signaled Bruce to not expose his blood control. Until he could better understand this world, Genji would rather not display such an eye-catching ability. After all, most people would perceive the trait as evil and demonic.
Once they finished, the group hoisted the heavy carcasses onto their backs, and they began retracing their path. Following their lead, Genji fended off some stray animals and soon approached a moderately sized settlement.
The place had a nomadic style, consisting of leather tents pitched around a communal campfire, drying racks full of jerky, and a pit lined with woven mats for storage. Additionally, there was a foldable fence containing domesticated poultry, companion dogs, and six-legged pack animals that would carry their belongings during immigration.
A shallow river also flowed nearby, providing clean water and a place to wash their basic necessities. It was a peaceful place, full of life and activity as its inhabitants carried out their everyday tasks.
As they got closer, a few friends waved to the returning hunters, welcoming them from a successful hunt. A few curious looks were cast Genji''s way, but no one stood up to intercept him. After handing off the loot, the team leader brought Genji to the biggest tent where they met the tribe chief.
After explaining his purpose, the chief agreed to show Genji their history records. But when Genji obtained them, he had a bewildered look on his face.
"What''s this?" He asked, looking down at the rope filled with random knots.
"Our records," the old chief replied, prompting Genji to raise his brows in doubt.
"You''re kidding, right? Don''t you have written records?"
"No," the old man shook his head, "In our tribe, we use knots to tell our past. The big ones represent a major event, the elaborate ones an impactful one. The positions represent time, and the intricacies record the details. Take this one, for example. It has three flairs of a bull, so it represents a stampede."
Genji scrutinized the knot the chief indicated, but all he discerned was a roughly tied loop. No matter how he used his imagination, he couldn''t see the "flairs of a bull," let alone three of them. He was completely illiterate at knot reading.
''This is going to be harder than I thought,'' he sighed, realizing why the tribe was so willing to reveal their records. Unless someone could decipher their system, it would take a mind reader to actually understand this key. This was not even mentioning that every tribe would have their own methods, making it impossible to apply one approach to another.
"If you want, I can translate for you. I''m normally available after tribal dinners," the chief offered with a sly grin, content with the addition of another strong warrior. Although he might not stay for long, Genji would provide valuable assistance during his stay. After all, it would be impolite to do nothing when he''s asking them for a favor.
"Fine, you got me," Genji said, acknowledging the trick.
Next, the chief arranged accommodations for Genji by introducing him to a hunter living alone. "This is Ugali. You can sleep in his tent tonight."
Genji gave an appreciative nod, and the chief returned to his duties. Ugali led Genji to his tent and set up a sleeping mat for him. Then he began sharpening his weapons while making some small talk with Genji.
"I heard you are a powerful inscribed warrior," Ugali started. "What''s it like getting an inscription?"
"Don''t know. I never got one."
"You don''t have an inscription?!? You''re still in the tempering realm?" Surprise seeped into Ugali''s voice. "Then you must be very talented."
"Before that, can you describe these realms that you''re talking about? My tribe used different names for them so I''m not exactly following right now."
Ugali gave Genji a strange look when he heard the obvious lie, but he obliged nevertheless. He didn''t have anything else to talk about, and this information was readily available anyway. There was no harm in reciting it.
After half an hour of explanation, Genji summarized the information into the following parts.
In this world, the natives divided the powers into five levels, each encompassing a massive power gap. The first realm was the Young Warrior, which granted the warrior enough strength to lift small boulders, but nothing too exceptional. Most of the time, they would help out with tribe labor but rarely participated in combat.
Following the Young Warrior realm was the Mature Warrior realm, reserved for individuals who had ventured beyond the tribe''s borders and successfully hunted a beast. Given the perilous nature of this task, the tribe mandated that fighters attain physical mastery before joining a hunting party.
This is because the fighter''s strength would double when they reached this point, providing them with the bare minimum strength to survive the wilderness. Based on this description, Genji assessed this to be the 20-point milestone, which has the same phenomenon upon meeting.
From there, the warrior would immerse themselves in the blood of the beasts, extracting the latent power within to supplement their training. This method allowed them to fortify their physique and explained the hunters'' collection of blood.
Once this training peaked, the warrior would enter the Tempering realm, characterized by their bronze skin and steel-like muscles. Normal beast blood would lose effectiveness at this point, and progress would slow down significantly. For this reason, the Tempering realm was once considered the limit of this world, only dethroned when people conceived the unorthodox path of inscriptions.
By injecting beast blood into their bodies, warriors can unlock the potential of external lineages to accelerate their advancement. However, as outlined in the world introduction, this approach comes with significant drawbacks, as their bodies become tainted with various powers.
While these powers are similar enough to prevent the warrior''s body from breaking down, their differences become significant obstacles to further progress. Hence, they would fall into a vicious cycle of injecting more blood for diminishing returns, with each session leaving its marks on the body.
With time, people refined this procedure, blending the blood with other substances to reduce risks during injection. Moreover, they devised methods to improve the aesthetics of these marks, transforming them from ugly blemishes to pleasing tattoos.
Hence, this stage became known as the Inscribed realm, where strength is evaluated by the number of tattoos. The more inscriptions a warrior bears, the stronger they are.
However, there is one exception to this principle: the classification of geniuses. These are warriors who stayed in the tempering realm and meticulously perfected their bodies, refining their lineage to its utmost limits before taking the irreversible leap.
However, this isn''t the only way to achieve such a feat. Those fortunate enough to possess a powerful background could acquire the blood of a mighty beast as their first injection, optimizing their prospects. Essentially, one was considered a genius as long as they could release far greater combat powers than their peers, regardless of their methods.
Thus, the title of "genius" is cheapened by how easily it is to achieve, virtually spitting on the hard work of the deserving. This was quite common since few warriors from powerful tribes would hone their lineage for future generations.
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After all, why would they take such an inefficient path when an easier one was available? In their minds, it was far more effective to become the tribe''s main combat power and provide better opportunities for their descendants.
Overall, the Inscribed warrior realm has a huge variation in power and requires the consideration of numerous factors to accurately gauge one''s strength.
Then there is the Awakened realm, a practically legend-like existence among all warriors. These fighters can exhibit power beyond any inscribed warrior and go toe-to-toe with some of the weakest beast kings.
The method for advancing to this realm is unknown to Ugali, but its difficulty cannot be denied. Less than 20 people have reached this point in history, and out of which, only 6 are in the present era.
Notice that "present era" only means they''re currently alive, not accounting for their age. Due to their increased strength, they also gained a higher lifespan, with the oldest among them being 187 years old, and the average being 107.
''Those are oddly specific numbers. I can''t tell if he''s making them up or if they''re actually keeping track.''
"So what about you? Are you in the tempering realm?" Ugali asked again.
"By your description, yes. But my tribe never dabbled in inscription carvings."
"How strange. I didn''t know people still followed the traditional methods."
Genji did not comment and allowed Ugali to change the topic himself. They spent the next few hours like this, pausing only when a tribesman called everyone for dinner.
Stepping out of the tent, they followed the stream of people and gathered at the campfire. As they approached, the servers handed them a plate consisting of roast meat, squash, and pumpkins. Taking their food, they found a seat and enjoyed the uplifting dances performed by the tribe.
The sound of vibrant drums and hollow percussion accompanied the occasion, giving the meal a festive mood. When asked about this, Ugali explained that they gather like this every day to show their appreciation for living another day.
"This is the only meal when we can come together," he elaborated. "During this time, we foster our kinship and get to know each other''s day. To relax and enjoy the simple things in life."
Halfway through the meal, the tribe chief stood up to make a welcoming speech for Genji. "Although he might not stay with us for long, we hope to show our hospitality and kindness to our fellow man. Thank you."
Then the audience erupted into loud cheers and enthusiastic applause, demonstrating their cordiality. The chief stepped down, and warriors soon approached Genji to socialize.
Then the audience erupted into loud cheers and enthusiastic applause, demonstrating their cordiality. The chief stepped down, and warriors soon approached Genji to socialize. After a few polite exchanges, everyone finished their meals and returned to their tents to rest.
Genji closed his eyes to the crackling of the smothering fire and the chirping of insects, allowing himself to drift into slumber. But before he could fully embrace his rest, he heard a light commotion from the tent next door.
It was faint at first, sounding like the rustling of cloth, but it quickly increased in magnitude. Then, a chirpy moan was heard, prompting Genji to open his eyes in doubt.
''What are they doing this late at night? Shouldn''t they be asleep?''
Genji soon got his answer when these cries took on an erotic tone and the gasping of breath followed. Eventually, the moans became screams of ecstasy as the woman stopped holding back her voice.
"Can''t they tone it down? How are we supposed to sleep like this?" Genji asked Ugali, who was also awakened by the commotion.
"You''ll get used to it. It happens a lot around here."
"Really?"
"Yeah. In this tribe, a man''s bragging rights depend on his partner''s volume amidst the cover of darkness. If she can wake everyone up, it shows that he''s skilled in the arts and we will soon welcome a new generation."
''Okay, I''ve seen a lot of strange customs, but this one takes the cake.''
As if agreeing with him, Astros let out an annoyed cry, expressing discontent with the noise.
"You and me both, little guy," Genji said, stroking the ferret''s head. "You and me both."
A few minutes later, Genji left the tent and sought out a remote location away from the obnoxious neighbors. While he could go a few days without sleep, Astros was different. As a newborn, he needed abundant food and sleep to develop healthily.
"Sleep. I''ll make sure no one disturbs you," he said, sitting down against a boulder.
Astros let out a thankful yip and curled around Genji''s neck. Once Astros''s breathing mellowed out, Genji drew [Jaguar] and began applying his newly developed poisons.
The following morning, the chief apologized for the disturbance. "I''m so sorry. I didn''t realize how loud we were. Is there anything I can do to make your stay better? Maybe a separate tent?"
"It''s alright. If you want to make it up to me, free up more time in the evenings," Genji replied. "Ideally, I''d like to avoid inconveniencing you for too long."
"Very well," the chief sighed, realizing his oversight had diminished Genji''s willingness to stay.
After the tribe ate breakfast, a few experienced hunters gathered at his location with a few teenagers. "Do you want to join us? We''re bringing our younglings to experience the wilderness," they asked, aware that Genji would be a sturdy safety net for unexpected situations.
Genji considered the proposition for a few moments and agreed. This was a great opportunity to understand how the natives operated. "Do you have a specific destination?"
"We''re heading for the Yellow Field Where Buffalos Roam," they answered. "It''s just downstream from White Rock That Overlooks Flowers."
The corner of Genji''s eye twitched when he heard these location names. They were quite a mouthful, typically not used by most people, yet the tribesmen embraced it as their culture.
"Fine, let me get my horse." Genji stood up and found Bruce, who was sleeping in an enclosed pen. Upon seeing him, the nightbane demonstrated aggravated eyes, complaining about his unfair treatment since their arrival.
''It''s not fair. Why do I have to stay in here while you get to eat all that delicious food? Don''t you know how hard that is for me?''
"I''m sorry, but the tribe isn''t comfortable with animals roaming their settlement. They only allowed Astros because he''s small and manageable. Bear with it for now; I''ll try to get you out tonight."
Bruce gave a gloomy neigh and followed Genji back to the group. Then they set off for their destination. Due to this being a learning trip, it didn''t take long to reach the White Rock That Overlooks Flowers.
But contrary to its name, the area contains no flowers; only barren soil eroded by wind and rain. The only remaining resemblance was the limestone boulder near the center.
"When our ancestors first settled here, the area truly matched its name. But it became like this after generations of over-harvesting. Now it stands as a testament to its former beauty and a reminder to respect nature," a hunter explained to Genji and the teens.
His voice carried a somber tone, almost reminiscent of past mistakes. In his recollection, this place once produced captivating flowers with valuable medicinal properties. Now, he recounts this memory as a cautionary tale for future generations. The only hope is that they heed his words and take the lesson to heart, lest they repeat these mistakes.
They continued onward and soon entered the Yellow Field Where Buffalos Roam. This time, the description matched the setting, further emphasizing the previous contrast.
"Go. Work together to hunt 8 buffalos. Remember: no more, no less, or you will fail this test," an adult instructed the teens. "We''ll step in if there''s any danger, but otherwise, you''re on your own."
The teens understood the assignment and split into groups. As they jogged into the distance, Genji asked, "Why eight? That seems oddly specific, and you''re very strict about it as well."
"Because that''s all we need to feed the tribe. We shouldn''t take more than that," the man answered.
At this moment, Genji realized this trip wasn''t about experiencing life as a hunter, but about imparting life values to the next generation. Every part of this trip was designed to emphasize that overarching theme.
"Your tribe is really dedicated to long-term sustainability," Genji commented.
"You will be as well once you realize a moment of shortsightedness can cause countless hardships for your descendants. Since this issue will eventually come up, we might as well take action to prevent it. After all, if we don''t start the tradition, then who will?"
"True. People often don''t change unless they have something to lose. But by then, they would already have lost too much."
"You seem knowledgeable about this."
"I''ve experienced a lot," Genji answered.
They talked for some more time until the teams returned with their prey. True to the adults'' instructions, they had hunted exactly eight buffalos.
"Good job. Now I''ll teach you how to skin them," one hunter said, approaching a carcass with a stone knife. Then, he demonstrated the process, stopping occasionally to explain the key details to them.
"Do you all understand?"
"Yes!" The teens replied.
"Then do it."
Two hours later, the group returned to the tribe with some roughly skinned buffalos and poorly processed hides. A few even had holes throughout, a testament to the novices'' clumsiness.
Nevertheless, they wore content expressions, having completed their first hunt and earned their first clothing. Although this wouldn''t qualify them as mature hunters, it was at least a step toward that goal.
''I wonder how clean it would be if I used cutting intent to remove the skin,'' Genji mused to himself. ''It''s definitely feasible given my current control.''
Once they handed off the carcasses to the chefs, the hunters guided them to the next step of processing the hide. Tying the leather onto a wooden frame, they took a scraping chisel to clean off the attached tissues to create a creamy white surface.
From there, they would leave it to dry over the next few days before applying a solution made of animal brains and fat. They would also remove the fur at this step if the hide was intended for everyday use, but they skipped this step for simplicity today.
Then they would stretch the hide through various methods, depending on its properties. They would create a trampoline for the kids to jump on if it was thick and tough. Otherwise, they would pull it around a pole, carefully working every angle to ensure an even spread.
Next, they would smoke the piece to seal the pores, making it more resistant to moisture and insects. For this exercise, the students had to gather their own wood ahead of time to ensure they had dry fuel for the day.
This is typically the last step in the process, but there is an optional step of further softening the cloth by working it with a smooth rock. If they did everything correctly, and the weather was in their favor, they would have a finished product in a week. It was a tedious process, but it made them more appreciative of what they had. In a way, it was another teaching moment.
171 – Vitality Medicine
As Genji approached the end of his stay, he saw something that made him reconsider. On this day, a group of hunters returned with heavy injuries after a perilous encounter with a powerful beast. Many of the team were missing, leaving the group only a fraction of its original size. It didn''t take much to infer that they had experienced a tragic battle.
Upon entering the vicinity, they collapsed, finding respite from their adrenaline-driven bodies. The sentries immediately noticed this and sounded the alarm drums, summoning the remaining tribe.
Everyone wore grave expressions upon seeing the wounds. If left untreated for long, these hunters would soon join their fallen tribesmen. But despite their desire to save these men, no present tribe member had the proper means. Genji wasn''t from the tribe, so he was excluded from this classification, but he wasn''t inclined to share his potions with relative strangers.
Hushed whispers sounded around the crowd as the immediate guards rushed to give some first aid. The bleeding stopped, but their diminishing life force could be sensed even by children. They had a few hours at best.
At this moment, the crowd parted to reveal the chief, who dispersed the irreverent bystanders with a wave. "Go back to your jobs. We''ll take it from here."
Then he turned to address the fighters. "Go find Kuniar Bachel. He''s the only one that can save them now."
The hunters rapidly made their preparations and brought out steeds for two veterans. Upon mounting, the steeds burst forward without even waiting for the hunters to steady themselves.
Curious about this impatience, Genji asked Ugali who this Bachel was.
"The Kuniars are masters of herbal medicine and plant remedies. They have studied thousands of plants and the interactions between them, with the older ones reaching tens of thousands. If you have a sickness or injury, they are the people to go to for help. As long as it''s not a fatal wound or life-crippling condition, you will be in good hands. And Bachel is the tribe''s kuniar."
Essentially, the kuniars are the spiritual doctors of this world, but only in the figurative sense. People put their faith in these harbingers of life and medicine to ward off despair when confronted with the fragility of human life. Therefore, these healers held esteemed positions within their tribes, being among the select few whom one should not offend.
Many tribesmen would rather cross the chief than the kuniar since they never know when they might need help. But kuniars are scarce in between because they pass down information through oral means, supported with knots instead of recorded paper. As such, information is limited to a select few, and kuniars are hard to find.
On the flip side, the kuniars benefit massively from this scarcity since their livelihoods and influence are guaranteed the moment they are selected as a trainee. In exchange, they give up all leisure time, including training, to pursue knowledge. Hence, it is common for kuniars to have weaker bodies than their hunter counterparts.
Bechel was no different and lived away from the tribe, in an area with abundant plant life. This couldn''t be helped since the area settled by the tribe only contained lush grass and flowers, a far cry from a kuniar''s necessities. However, this was more of a plus than an inconvenience since they would need to make a trip anyway for the medicines anyway.
With a specialist near the herbs, they can simply describe the ailments and Bechel will select the proper remedies to bring back, saving them precious time from blinding searching for the proper herb. The only way this could be further optimized would be if the tribe migrated closer to the "garden."
However, this might not be the best choice since they would be giving up other conveniences like water and food. There''s always a tradeoff so the tribe accepted this delay.
About an hour later, the two mounts were spotted galloping back at full speed. This time, the riders had changed to an elderly man and a young adult in his 20s. To minimize delay, the hunters had transferred the steeds to Bechel and his apprentice, letting them go ahead while they returned by foot.
When the steeds stopped beside them, the young man jumped off and asked, "Where are they? The injured," out of breath.
"Follow me." Three guards led the two doctors to the tent where the injured were kept while the remaining men took care of the exhausted mounts.
Genji followed out of curiosity and observed their medical techniques from a corner. After Bechel confirmed their conditions, he brought out some plants and began processing them. While this was happening, his apprentice took some warm water and lightly washed the wounds.
Genji nodded in appreciation at this sight. Although they might not know about infections and microscopic bacteria, they were performing the proper procedures, which was already better than rashly diving into treatment. From this small action, Genji knew their medical techniques had some merit.
Once Bechel finished his part, they swapped roles with Bechel tending to the injured with a medicinal paste while the apprentice began processing the ingredients for the next step. This time, there was a sour smell in the air, causing Genji to scrunch his nose.
''Poison? They''re using a weak dose to stimulate the bodies? Interesting. I didn''t realize there was someone else daring enough to use poison like this. Good to know I''m not the only one.''
The treatment continued smoothly until a faint tart odor, barely detectable even to Genji''s enhanced senses, filled the air, prompting Genji to take another look at the apprentice. ''What did he just do? The toxicity just increased by 50 times over. Is this intentional? No way right? They can''t possibly endure that.''
Genji''s eyes wandered to Bechel, who was concentrating on the patients, before returning to the apprentice. He couldn''t discern anything from their expression, so he held his tongue, in case they had a special application for the concoction.
But as time passed, he became all the more certain about his judgment. The master and apprentice duo hadn''t done anything to remedy the extreme effects.
As the cycle ended, and the apprentice moved to apply his medicine, Genji decided to speak up. "I wouldn''t do that if I were you. That''s some dangerous stuff you''re playing with."
The sudden interjection disrupted the workflow and drew their attention to Genji. Bechel gave an evaluating stare while the apprentice regained focus and ignored Genji.
"You''re not going to stop him?" Genji asked again. "I might not be a healer, but that substance seems too strong even for your purposes."
At this second prompt, Bechel realized what Genji was trying to say and sniffed strongly. Then his face distorted with urgency and shouted, "MOKAN, STOP! DON''T APPLY THAT!"
Startled by his teacher''s outcry, Mokan''s arm jolted slightly, splattering some mixture on his chest. A numbness spread across the area of contact, followed by purple skin and wobbling steps.
Bechel appeared beside him before he could endanger himself any further and knocked aside the bowl of poison. Then he laid his apprentice down and fed him a roughly shaped pill. The pill was ordinary, almost crudely made, but it was this very pill that drew Genji''s attention. In that brief moment it was in sight, Genji had obtained its properties.
[Compact Vitality]
Rating: Uncommon
Type: medicine
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Effect: Upon consumption, restore 50 health/second for 10 seconds.
Bonus Effect: If your health is full when consuming, gain 6~8 max health.
Note: The bonus effect will become ineffective after 4 uses
Description: Bechel''s special medicine. It''s made from a secret formula.
Although the bonus was meager, this was the first time Genji had seen a consumable capable of permanently increasing his stats. How could he not be intrigued? Plus, this was only an uncommon medicine. Who''s to say there aren''t higher tiers, especially when Bechel seemed highly competent?
Mokan''s complexion gradually improved and soon returned to his feet. A strong trepidation raced through his heart as he recalled his experience. The poison had almost crippled him, so one could easily foresee the results if it was applied to the injured hunters.
Fortunately, his teacher had stopped him before he accidentally killed his patients and buried himself in guilt. On that thought, Mokan remembered that it wasn''t his teacher who realized his mistake, but the strange traveler watching from the distance.
"How did you know?" Mokan asked Genji.
"I don''t think that''s important right now," Genji gestured to the injured. "You still have work to do."
Realizing his folly, Mokan quickly got up and returned to work. Genji slipped out during this time, having seen everything he wanted. A few hours later, the duo finished the treatment and joined Genji at his campfire, where Bruce eagerly roasted their dinner.
Since they were about to leave, it was unnecessary to restrain their strange quirks anymore. Of course, this only included traits they could comfortably display, not freakish abilities like blood control. That''s why Bruce is using his mouth to turn the rack right now.
Surprise flashed through Mokan and Bechel''s eyes but they quickly accepted the phenomenon. Compared to the strange horse, Mokan was more interested in communicating with Genji.
"You''re a kuniar as well?" Bechel asked, sitting across from him.
"No."
Bechel gave a strange look but didn''t push the topic any further. Instead, it was Mokan who continued the exchange. "Thank you. I would have made a big mistake if it weren''t for you."
"Yeah yeah, give me a moment," Genji got up and removed the roast from the fire. Bruce had been gesturing to him for a while now, and he would never hear the end of it if he let it burn.
"This..." Mokan hesitantly turned to Bechel. "He doesn''t seem that keen on talking with us."
"Everyone has different temperaments, so we can''t expect him to be like us. If we force our expectations on others, we will only turn people away."
"But-"
"Don''t worry. He''s definitely interested in talking with us. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have watched our treatment or warned you. It''s just not the right time now."
"If you say so, grandpa." The young man sighed and watched Genji split the meat with his two animal friends.
"Sorry about that. I had to remove it so it doesn''t get overcooked," Genji apologized as he sat down with a plate of food.
Bechel nodded in understanding and offered a fruit he''d gotten from the tribe. "We''ll be here for a few days. Let''s get along in this time."
"Sure."
With this agreement, Bechel and Mokan returned to the tribe and settled their accommodations.
The following morning, the injured team woke up and described their encounter. During their hunt, they had crossed paths with a powerful lion donning a crown outline on its head. It was a massacre that they only survived because the beast was too lazy to chase them.
"Are you sure it was a crown?" Bechel asked.
"Yes, I''m sure. It might not be fully formed, but it was unmistakably a crown."
''A quasi-beast king? We might be in trouble,'' Bechel thought, but not voicing it aloud. If it was as he suspected, declaring it would only cause unnecessary panic in the tribe. Instead, he thanked the hunters and left to find the chief. It was time to discuss preventive measures.
''A lion huh? I wonder if it has any connections to him or if they only have similar appearances,'' Genji mused about a previous acquaintance.
Genji shrugged and returned to his normal activities. Since the chief was rarely available during the day, Genji had devoted his time to learning grass weaving from the tribe''s women. The idea was that by learning this skill, he could better understand the knots used to record their history.
Then he could apply these concepts to the records of other tribes and form a collective story by cross-referencing results. As long as the timeline matched, he could estimate the history length and search for any anomalies in the story.
These anomalies would become the primary focus of investigation, gradually narrowed down through a process of elimination. While ambitious, someone had to start this project and lay the groundwork for future study.
Genji didn''t mind taking on this role since he wouldn''t be responsible for the follow-up. He''s simply providing a framework for those after him.
"I can only hope their methods are similar enough or this might all be in vain."
Genji continued like this for another few hours when the tribe called for a meeting with the hunters. The chief also asked Genji to join since he might help with their request. Putting down the half-finished grass baskets, Genji followed the group to an open area a few hundred meters from the tents.
"Everyone, I''ve gathered you here for an important announcement. Before I start, I want to make it clear that the contents of this meeting should not be spread. That''s why we''re meeting away from everyone. Is that clear?" The chief asked.
Once everyone nodded with solemn eyes, the chief resumed his speech.
"As many of you know, one of our teams had suffered massive losses. However, what you might not know is that it was caused by a single beast. I repeat a single beast. Furthermore, it lurks in our vicinity. There is no doubt that should it attack us, we would experience a tragedy. Therefore, we urgently need to increase our strengths if we want to guard against this possibility. Starting tomorrow, gather into big teams and hunt for strong beasts. We will need their blood essence to engrave the necessary inscriptions. Are there any questions?"
"Chief, what about our traditions? Are we going to waste the other resources from our hunts? We can''t possibly finish all this meat," one hunter asked.
"We''ll try our best, but survival is our top priority. To compensate for this, we''ll only eat plants afterward. That way, nature won''t scorn us for our excessiveness."
This explanation dispelled their reluctance and the hunters began consolidating their teams. While this was happening, Genji pulled Bechel aside for a question.
"How many vitality medicines are you offering for high-quality blood?"
It took Bechel a few moments to understand Genji''s implication, but he eventually answered, "It depends on the value of the blood. We prefer blood from stronger beasts and those with special abilities."
"That''s fine, but I need something more worthwhile for my efforts. The one you used on your apprentice isn''t enough for me."
"I have stronger versions," Bechel reassured. "I didn''t use them because Mokan couldn''t withstand their effects."
"That''s all I need to hear." Genji walked off with Bruce, a compass in hand.
"Grandpa, is that a good idea? He''s going off alone," Mokan asked concerningly.
"It''s fine. He''s stronger than you think. We''re lucky to have his help."
The next day, Genji returned with a stack of hides and gourds filled with sorted blood. His efficiency astounded everyone, but this feeling paled in comparison to the shock they felt when Bechel announced the test results for the blood.
"High concentration of vitality. It''s beyond anything I''ve seen before."
Genji expected this result, as each gourd held the entirety of a beast''s blood, which Bruce had refined to save space. It would be more surprising if Bechel wasn''t amazed, as that would mean he''s disparaging its true worth. In that case, Genji would immediately terminate this cooperation and find another tribe to work with.
"My payment?" Genji asked Bechel.
"Follow me." Bechel led Genji to his tent, where his travel bag was. After rummaging through the luggage for a few moments, he handed Genji 6 roughly shaped medicine balls.
[You have obtained Refined Vitality x4]
[You have obtained Purified Vitality x2]
[Refined Vitality]
Rating: Rare
Effect: Heal 100 hp/sec for 15 seconds
Bonus Effect: If health is full upon consumption, gain 21~23 max health.
Note: The bonus effect will become ineffective after 7 uses.
Description: A special medicine refined by Bechel using better ingredients
[Purified Vitality]
Rating: Epic
Effect: Heal 150 hp/sec for 20 seconds
Bonus Effect: If your health is higher than 90% upon use, gain 37~42 max health.
Note: The Bonus effect will provide diminishing returns after 9 uses. Becomes ineffective after 14 uses.
Description: A potent medicine refined by Bechel using a unique method.
Genji nodded in satisfaction upon receiving these but refrained from eating them. If possible, he wanted to reverse-engineer these products and add them to his sellable items.
With how rare extra stats are below the second step, there''s no doubt they will sell like hotcakes. And if needed, he could always trade the formulas for some privilege tokens. After all, EverRealm welcomes anything that increases the overall combat strength of its members.
"Do you need any more blood?" Genji asked after storing the medicine away.
"Thanks for the offer, but we need some time to digest these. The blood isn''t good when it''s not fresh. It loses its vitality."
"How long will it take?"
"About a day or two. The main problem is that I don''t have the proper plants with me. I need to make a trip back to my place."
"Let me do it then," Genji offered. "My horse isn''t fond of being idle."
"Are you sure? Just letting you know, I''m not paying you for this."
"The faster I get this done, the more blood you will buy. I''m indirectly benefiting from it."
"Then I''ll get Mokan to accompany you. He knows what plants I need."
Bechel summoned his grandson and briefed him on the details of the trip. After describing the locations of the plants and emphasizing Mokan to take care of himself, Bechel handed Mokan an ivory necklace made from canines. "Take my good luck charm and return safely."
The apprentice patted his chest in response and with a reassuring look, said, "Don''t worry, Grandpa. I''ll get this done."
Then they set off for the place that he and Bechel called home.
172 – Tribal Visit
The doctors of this world use many plant remedies for their treatments. It might sound strange to modern people, but these applications have been proven effective over many generations. From father to son, these crucial pieces of information were passed down, slowly accumulating until they became their own complex subject.
As such, many kuniars settled in places with readily available herbs. Whether it was with their tribe or on their own, they always ensured they had access to these medicines of nature.
Bechel and Mokan were no different, with their home consisting of a light forest filled with wild plants and tiny critters. Patches of moss were strewn about in the shades of trees, flickering with the speckles of light that entered as the leaves above waved in the breeze.
As they journeyed through the forest, Mokan meticulously gathered the necessary plants, placing them in his grass-woven basket. He made sure to leave the roots behind, ensuring a sustainable cycle.
Once he filled the basket, he fastened the cover and backtracked out of the forest.
"I got everything. We can leave now," he said to Genji, who nodded and hopped on Bruce.
When they returned to the tribe, only a few hours had passed. Bechel had finished all the other preparations and was only awaiting their delivery of supplies. Upon receiving the basket of herbs, Bechel brought out a stone mortar and began breaking down the ingredients.
Plant after plant entered the mortar and became a green paste. Bechel strained the liquid at the bottom and firmly squeezed the matter into a ball.
"Here, take this and get started. I''ll be done soon," Bechel said to Mokan, transferring the paste into a small pot.
Mokan took this to a fire and poured in a flask of blood, mixing it rigorously to dissolve everything. Once the mixture reduced to a syrup-like consistency, he added some freshly cleaned bones and set the mixture aside to cool. Then he repeated the process with the other paste made by Bechel.
When Bechel finished his tasks, he washed his hands in a nearby river and gathered the hunters. A line of people formed around him, entering one by one. Sitting down on the grass mats, they took off their garments and bared the parts where they wanted the inscription. In most cases, this was the biceps or chest.
Bechel dipped a bone needle into the blood concoction and steadied his arm above the hunter''s bodies. Then he flicked his wrist in rapid succession, leaving deposits of blood beneath the ruptured skin. Once the needle came out clean, he dipped it again and repeated the process. In and out the needle went, eventually forming a tiger design on the flesh.
The process highly resembled getting a tattoo, but with blood as the ink and more severe aftereffects. Genji could sense a strong fever overtaking the hunter even from his position, followed by unnatural swelling. The hunter also experienced shortness of breath and dizziness, making him very weak.
"Take care of yourself," Bechel said, cleaning up the blood with a wet rag. "The effects will last a few days."
The man nodded and vacated the mat for the next person in line.
''No wonder only doctors can engrave inscriptions. Under these circumstances, a single mistake could leave them bedridden, if not cripple them. This method is quite risky. I can''t imagine the casualty rate before they figured out how to mitigate the rampant energy in the blood,'' Genji mentally noted.
Genji also noticed the bone needle had chipped around the tip, having broken down under the impact of the procedure. Except there were no fragments in sight.
''Did those chunks get stuck beneath the skin? How uncomfortable. But I guess that''s the least of their worries.''
"I''m going out again. Prepare more medicine for me," Genji told Bechel as the doctor took his break.
"If possible, can you get the blood of a Warven Bull? We could use that more than anything else right now."
"Sure. Tell me about it."
"It''s a bull with red skin, a rectangular snout, and curved horns behind the ears. They have some of the strongest muscles for their size. You can find them in the Grassland of Wilted Rocks, past the Cascade of Flowing Water."
Genji gave Bechel a blank stare. "You do realize those names mean nothing to me, right? I don''t know the area enough to understand what you''re talking about."
"My bad. I''m not used to describing our locations any other way. I''ll get someone to guide you."
A few minutes later, Ugali stood before Genji with a satchel of travel supplies. "Hello again. I figured I would do it since I''m familiar with you."
"How far are we going?" Genji asked, noticing Ugali''s bag was filled to the brim.
"A round trip will take a few days. Cascade of Flowing Water is settled by the Nokan tribe. We''ll stop there for the night and continue in the morning."
"That doesn''t explain why you need to carry so much."
"The Nokans have access to a precious mineral. We hope to trade for some on this trip."
Genji nodded in understanding and prepared to set off again. This would be a great opportunity to obtain more historical records and verify the feasibility of his plans.
The two of them rode at a moderate speed for the next few hours, stopping occasionally to let their steeds rest and hunt for food. This was mostly for Ugali''s mount since Bruce was still as energetic as before and even helped with cooking.
"No matter how much I see it, I still can''t believe it. Why does your horse know how to cook?" Ugali asked halfway through their meal.
"Interest is the best teacher," Genji replied. "And he''s very enthusiastic about food."
"Then why is he not tired? Isn''t he a little too strong for a mount?"
"He wouldn''t have time to worry about food if he wasn''t strong."
"..." Ugali couldn''t retort to this response, so he stopped asking questions and they resumed their journey.
The sun arced across the sky, and soon dusk was upon them. The orange light of the setting sun cast long shadows, amplifying their every movement. As they journeyed on, they came upon multiple layers of rocky slates stacked to form a stair-like pattern. A thin stream of water flowed over the slates, trickling down the steps.
''Is this the Cascade of Flowing Water?'' Genji wondered, not expecting the sight. He had imagined a waterfall, but the name still seemed fitting.
This is the distinctive aspect of these location names: one can get a mental picture of the area just by hearing it. The imagery is vivid enough to feel as if the speaker directly transmitted the memory into the listener''s mind.
Looking upstream, Genji saw a permanent settlement constructed from wooden frames, clay supports, and thatched roofs. As they approached, a sentry stopped them for questioning.
"We''re here to lodge for the night," Ugali explained. "I''m from the Helix tribe."
At the mention of Ugali''s tribe, the guard smiled warmly and welcomed them. "Ah, friends from the plains. Come in. We''re about to have our communal dinner."
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Ugali expressed his gratitude and followed a guide to a spot where they could set up a tent.
"They seem quite receptive to us," Genji commented as he helped Ugali. "Are all of you like this?"
"Yes. Unless it''s a hostile tribe, we usually allow travelers to stay the night, as sleeping with a group is always safer than being alone in the wild. You never know when you might need them to return the favor. Having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."
"No questions asked?"
"Just the tribe name. If they recognize it, they''ll be more hospitable; otherwise, they''ll just offer the bare minimum."
"Then what if someone lied about their tribe? As far as I can tell, nothing is stopping them. What if they are a bad guest pretending to be someone else?"
Ugali laughed. "We take pride in our tribes. We can conceal it, but we never lie about it. Doing so is akin to forsaking our community. Plus, why would anyone make their lives harder by being rude? Why do you ask? Have you encountered something like that?"
"I just like to consider the worst-case scenario."
"That''s not a bad trait, but be careful that it doesn''t dictate your actions. If you treat others with the expectation that they will do wrong, you contribute to the problem. Eventually, everyone will adopt that mindset, and we will all be worse off. All actions have consequences, and all outcomes have causes, whether good or bad."
Genji smiled mirthfully at this lecture and thought, ''Then I must have a lot of repercussions awaiting me considering how much I''ve killed. I wonder when they''ll catch up to me.''
Genji didn''t think much of it since he was never one to believe in fate or karma. Instead, he preferred to believe in himself and all the challenges he''d overcome to reach this point. There was a lot of luck, yes, but never something so detached from reality like fate.
Seeing Genji''s response, Ugali said, "I can tell you''re a pragmatist, but try to consider the consequences of your actions. You never know when they will come back to bite you."
"Thanks, I''ll keep that in mind," Genji answered perfunctorily, causing Ugali to shake his head in disappointment. However, he didn''t push the topic any further, knowing it would be useless.
''I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you won''t regret your choices in the future.''
A few minutes later, dinner was called and they joined the crowd. The Nokans had more people than the Helix tribe, so the bonfires were much larger than what Genji had seen before. Yes, bonfires, as in multiple. Specifically, there were three, each flanked by people working to feed everyone.
A whole pig was skewered and hoisted over the raging fire, being constantly turned to render the fat. The loud crackling of firewood and harmonious conversations echoed, highlighting the lively atmosphere. People danced to the rumbling of drums and the melodies of bone flutes.
But amidst this gathering, Genji noticed someone who stood out from the rest, not because of anything particularly unique, but rather due to how stiff his movements were. It was as if he didn''t know how to dance.
[Member of MetaRealm. Insight is ineffective on members of the realms.]
Sensing the stare, the man turned around to meet Genji''s gaze. A brief moment passed as realization sank in and the man recognized Genji''s presence. They held this position for a few seconds before the man raised his water flask in greeting. Then he chugged down its contents and returned to his original activities.
"You know him?" Ugali asked, witnessing the exchange.
"No. Just someone in the same field as me."
"How do you know?"
"We have ways of recognizing each other." With those words, Genji finished his meal and returned to their tent.
Ugali shrugged off this curt response and found some like-minded hunters to socialize with. In this manner, the celebration continued well into the night, filled with laughter and drinks. But as the temperature cooled and nightly breezes formed, the tribesmen began turning in for the night, leaving only a few sentries to keep watch.
Snores and the rustling of cloth soon followed. At this time, Genji snuck out of the tribe and met with the man from before.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Genji asked, having understood the previous signal.
"Let''s cooperate," the man said, stepping out from behind a rock. "We''re both after the same thing, so let''s share some information."
"Then you should know there can only be one winner. It doesn''t make sense to help a competitor like this."
"Maybe, but that only matters when we''re competing for the treasure. At the moment, we don''t even know if the treasure exists. Why don''t we help each other out and make our lives easier? If there is a treasure, we''ll see who is more capable."
Genji considered the proposal for a few moments before agreeing. "I have about 200 years of major events from my side."
"330 here. As a sign of sincerity, I''ll go first." The man began narrating the story he had heard from the people here. After 30 minutes, he stopped talking and looked at Genji. His meaning was clear: it was Genji''s turn. If Genji wanted to hear more, he needed to share his story as well.
Genji followed the man''s example and spoke for a similar amount of time before passing the initiative back to the man, who continued his recounting. They went back and forth multiple times like this, each taking notes on the important points.
Toward the end, they held a questioning session to confirm their notes and sort through their information. However, the results were disappointing, with no clues in sight.
"I expected this. If it were easy, then we wouldn''t be doing this in the first place," the man sighed.
Genji said nothing and simply stared at his notebook full of underlined text and sporadic circles. The corner of his mouth curved slightly upward as he made his last scribbles and got up from the ground. "Then I''ll leave you to it. I still have somewhere to go."
As Genji walked away, the man couldn''t help but wonder if he had missed something. Why did it seem like Genji benefited more from this exchange than him? ''Ugh, I hate academia. I would rather fight those pesky orcs than spend another day trying to figure this out.''
When Genji returned to the tent, he realized Ugali was already awake and organizing his luggage.
"Did you finish what you wanted to do?" Ugali asked, his back turned to Genji.
"For the most part." Genji sat down, fed Astros some snacks, and stroked his fur. "What about you?"
"I found someone to trade with. We can leave any time after that."
"Then let''s go."
They left the tent, packed it up, and rendezvoused with Ugali''s friend. They exchanged a few courtesies before Ugali handed over most of his luggage. In return, he obtained a coarse pouch fastened by brown twine.
Light platters could be heard when he shook the bag. Ugali opened the sack and picked out a sample to inspect the products. A red pebble the size of Go stones was pinched between his fingers as Ugali held it up to the sun.
When Ugali shook the bag, light rattling could be heard. He opened the sack, picked out a red pebble the size of a Go stone, and held it up to the sun. After confirming that it was transparent and clear, he nodded in satisfaction and returned the stone to the pouch.
In that short time, Genji obtained the item''s stats.
[Small Stone of Vitality]
Rating: Rare
Effect: Increase your max health by 7¨C9 points upon use. (Effect depends on the size of the stone.)
Description: A rare stone that contains a mysterious energy native to this world. Absorbing it will slightly strengthen your body.
The effect was weaker than Bechel''s vitality medicines of the same rank, but the stone had a crucial advantage in that it could be used repeatedly without diminishing results. In theory, Genji could continuously increase his health if he could obtain enough of them.
However, this was only theoretical, as his strength would eventually reach a point where the energy within the stone would become inconsequential. But at that point, he wouldn''t need to care about these stat gains.
Despite these advantages, Genji still preferred Bechel''s medicines. The reason was simple: they were replicable. Unlike the stones that could only be found by chance, the medicine had a clear formula, allowing for mass production.
''It''s impressive that he replicated this effect, though. I wonder if he''s the only one or if there are others.''
They left the tribe and continued onward toward their destination. After two hours, they encountered the bulls, and Ugali stepped back.
"All yours," he said.
Genji drew his saber and approached the herd. As he neared them, the bulls lowered their heads, aligning their horns with Genji and scraping the ground with their hooves. Then they charged forward in formation, aiming to ram their target.
Genji twisted his torso to slip through the narrow gaps in their ranks and slashed out as he passed. A massive fountain of blood gushed into the air, followed by the heavy thud of a decapitated head.
Pivoting his foot, Genji twirled his blade like flowing water and weaved through the crowd. When he emerged on the other side, a lane of creatures collapsed in blood, felled with a single stroke each. The heavy scent of iron greatly agitated the survivors, but their fear overpowered this instinct and prompted them to flee. In this moment, Genji was the embodiment of carnage.
''This guy...,'' Ugali thought, subconsciously holding his breath. ''I''ve heard rumors of this, but this is on another level. Just how many battles has he fought to reach this point?''
Genji gave his saber one last swing to clean off the blood and walked back over.
"No time to be spacing out. We have work to do," Genji reminded Ugali, waking him from his thoughts.
"Oh, yeah." Ugali brought out some bladders and scrambled to catch the draining blood. Genji followed with a normal dagger and made cuts along the major arteries before inserting the containers into these openings. Once he made a full round around the carcass, he plucked the first container and tied it shut.
Genji began the second round after repeating this with all the other bladders and swapping them for empty ones. When they filled up all their containers, they shifted their attention to the flesh.
Applying a subtle amount of cutting intent, Genji glided his knife through connective tissues without resistance, allowing the knife to come out clean. Multiple swift movements flashed across the carcass, skinning it in record time.
Genji gestured to Bruce to save this for their next meal and moved on to the next one. In the end, they stacked a tower of bloody hides on the mounts and left the rest for the hyenas. Ugali scowled at this scene, instinctively uncomfortable with the wastage.
Genji simply patted his back and said, "Cheer up. This will help your people a lot."
Ugali only nodded quietly and hopped on his mount. Then they headed for a nearby river to wash off the blood and prepare for their return trip.
As they left, Genji tapped Bruce to get his attention and outlined some words on his neck. ''If you want the excess blood, you''d better do it now while he''s distracted. Otherwise, we''ll continue like normal.''
With this, the sanguine puddle behind them began subtly shifting.
173 – Lingering Questions
Genji obtained 3 epic and 4 rare vitality medicines for his trouble, bringing his total to 5 and 8, respectively. The payment was higher than last time because Bechel specifically commissioned this species, and the price was meant to compensate for the time spent traveling.
Bechel took the loot and directed his grandson to apply preservative measures to them before approaching Genji with another request.
"I have something I need your help with. I just don''t know if you''re willing. It''s dangerous," Bechel emphasized, indicating that Genji could decline without any hard feelings.
"As long as the price is right, there''s nothing I won''t dare to do. If I''m unwilling, it only means the reward isn''t high enough," Genji replied with a grin, aware of the upcoming development.
"Finally, some action. I was getting bored with these mundane tasks."
Bechel, relieved by Genji''s willingness, elaborated, "Remember the beast that attacked our hunters? You know, the cause of our urgency?" After Genji nodded, Bechel made his bold request, "I want to send a team to drive it away. And if possible, get some of its blood."
"Sure, what''s the payment?" Genji asked without batting an eye, making Bechel reevaluate his strength. Only a fool or someone capable would react this way, and Genji didn''t seem like a fool to him.
"I''ll give you 10," Bechel said, referring to the epic-ranked medicines.
"Give a down payment first and the possibility of a higher reward."
"I''ll add five more if you can bring the team back safely," Bechel responded, not hesitating to empty his stash. For Bechel, the lives of his tribesmen were far more important than his hard-earned belongings.
"When do we set off?"
"You don''t want to rest? You just got back."
"There are rewards to earn, so why do I need rest?"
Bechel smiled gleefully and handed him 5 pieces of medicine.
An hour later, Genji set off with a team of 30 hunters, all inscribed with a new tiger tattoo. Curious about the significance of the design, Genji pulled someone aside to ask about it.
"This is our totem. We rally under it for courage and strength. To us, the totem is synonymous with our tribal honor. To besmirch it is to declare war on the entire tribe."
"Is there any explanation for the totems each tribe uses, or are they chosen spontaneously?" Genji asked, recalling the bizarre figure he had found in the ruins of a destroyed tribe. At the time, he didn''t understand the significance of the design, but now that he had learned more about the culture, he speculated it might have been that tribe''s totem.
"Some pick mighty beasts, hoping to obtain a fraction of their strengths. Some pick animals with spiritual significance, embodying their ideals, and some tribes use their ancestors."
"Ancestors?" Genji could understand the first two, but the third example puzzled him.
"Yeah. They believe themselves to be descendants of certain ancient creatures. If you ever come across a totem with a humanoid design, it likely belongs to this category. Naturally, all of this is debatable because they don''t resemble their totems at all. If they really are descendants of such mighty beings, why do they look like us? Why do they bleed and eat like us? Shouldn''t they have some distinguishing trait that connects them to their ''ancestors''? So, most likely, they chose the creatures they wanted to emulate and tried to convince others to believe the same. It''s a case of faking it until it becomes the truth."
"That''s some heavy doubt you have there."
"Can you blame me? Am I supposed to believe their ancestors had six arms, three heads, giant bodies, and skin harder than stone? Even myths have limits to what can be exaggerated."
Genji silently agreed with the hunter''s sentiment. When put that way, it was hard for anyone with knowledge to take it seriously. The only thought Genji had about the matter was whether any of these stories were true.
If so, there was no doubt they would be a powerful tribe. After all, the power of ancient beings wasn''t something to be taken lightly, even if it had diminished over the years. The whole world built its power system by accessing the powers of its past.
Given these circumstances, the beings in ancient times must have possessed strength incomprehensible to the modern day. Plus, there was still the elusive primordial era, the golden age of this world. It would be shocking if there weren''t remnants from that time.
"I wonder if I can get any clues if I encounter such tribes," he mused.
After a few more hours of traveling, they arrived at the area where the previous team had been annihilated. Traces of battle and dark specks of dried blood could still be seen on the grass below. However, these were the only remains from that incident. It had been too long for any bodies to remain undisturbed.
The experienced hunters crouched down and carefully examined the chaotic array of tracks. Like a fine sieve, they filtered out the unnecessary parts and focused on the relevant clues. Although the traces were several days old, the large imprints were still detectable to their trained senses. It was only a matter of time before they found something. To shorten the search period, they split into small teams to scout the area.
Genji watched this process and tried to understand what they were looking for. These trackers were experts in their fields and served as great teachers to Genji¡¯s amateurish methods.
"I see. So you can look for that." Genji marveled at their ingenuity and applied what he learned to the area around him. The clues were faint, but it was already a big improvement from before when he had no leads at all.
Eventually, the trackers found their marks and set off again. They repeated this process over the following day and slowly closed in on the beast. The tracks became fresher, the scenes messier, and the activities more active.
However, on this day, the trackers stopped with a frown. They had found traces of other humans. Even Genji, with his low proficiency, could distinguish these footprints stamped into the ground.
"Maybe it''s just a coincidence," the lead tracker suggested. "They might be just passing through."
But these unexpected guests weren''t merely transitory; they were following the same route as them, only at a quicker pace. This hunch was further validated when they discovered the remnants of an extinguished fire.
Beneath some piles of grass shavings, Genji found a clear plastic wrapper still bearing crumbs of food. He immediately knew a realm member had left this behind since the natives couldn''t produce plastic.
"There''s no doubt about it. They''re trying to hunt the lion."
It was a simple deduction, as other tribes had no reason to attack the beast without a specific motive. They didn''t live close enough to be threatened by it, nor would they travel this far to help the Helixes.
The team leader sighed heavily, expressing his restlessness. "This is going to get messy. I think it''s time we consider migrating."
"Why do you seem upset about this?" Genji asked. "Shouldn''t you be happy that someone else is bearing the risk for you?"
"It''s not that simple," the leader replied. "Beast kings are sentimental creatures. They will stop at nothing to get their revenge if you cross them, especially if you kill one of their clan members. It might not be a big deal if the lion is an outcast, but..."
"You will have hell to pay if it has a backer," Genji finished the sentence for him.
The hunter smiled wryly. "The beast kings don''t differentiate between tribes. All they care about is making the perpetrators pay the price, even if it means killing a few insignificant humans along the way. That''s why we only wanted to drive it away, despite the temptation of hunting it."
"So you''re giving up?"
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Yeah, if one tribe got the news, there are bound to be others. It''s only a matter of time. When that happens, there will be a massive confrontation. It''s best to relocate soon so we don''t have to bear the beast kings'' wrath."
"But aren''t you bothered by this?" Genji asked curiously.
"Not really. We are a migratory tribe. Changing locations doesn''t trouble us since we''re used to it. It''s a shame that we''ll lose many of our conveniences, and it may take a while to find another suitable place, but we''ll suffer no other losses. There''s no reason to cling to our land so much when it will only hurt us. Bechel always advised us to avoid turmoils since they can drag us into unnecessary trouble, and I agree with him."
"Aren''t you holding him in too high of an esteem?"
"Kuniar Bechel is a wise elder. He''s been around long before I was born, even before my grandfather''s time. The tribe trusts his judgment," the hunter answered, prompting a raised brow from Genji.
''Weird, are their life expectancies really that low, or is the doctor older than he looks?''
"I guess it''s time we part ways then," Genji said.
The man gave him an evaluating stare before asking, "Are you joining the hunt?"
"The idea does interest me," he admitted.
"Then I wish you the best of luck." Then the hunter led his team back to the tribe while Genji rode onward.
Once Genji was alone on the plains, he dismounted and asked Bruce to morph back into sheath form. "Let''s pick up the pace before we lose our prey, shall we?"
Bruce nodded in agreement and allowed Genji to fasten him to his waist. Next, Genji took out his compass and disappeared from his position.
A few hours later, Genji approached a tense battle between a large lion and a team of hunters. Among the group were four EonRealm members who acted as the main fighting force.
From their performance, Genji estimated that two of their stats were around 48 or 49 points, with a third trailing behind at around 40 points. The exception was the leader, who had developed three main stats, focusing on Constitution as a secondary priority while neglecting Special.
The teamwork among them was exceptional, typical of EonRealm. The group consisted of a tank who withstood the lion''s ferocious attacks with a large shield, a female archer who pinned the target down with powerful arrows, a warrior who matched the lion''s strength with his mighty sword, and the leader who balanced all these roles to control the flow of battle and ensure his team''s safety.
Behind them were the native hunters, bearing large wolf tattoos and using bows made from animal tendons, bone spears sharpened for piercing, and stone axes designed to break muscles.
Whenever there was an opening, the native hunters would sneak in an attack, relieving pressure from the tank. Their tattoos would light up with each strike as they exerted all their strength. Unfortunately, this effort only left shallow wounds against the lion''s tough hide. Even then, the wounds quickly healed due to the lion''s robust vitality, rendering them negligible.
Fierce strikes and golden energy flooded the area as the beast struck back with a vengeance. The fighters'' arms and legs trembled under this onslaught, struggling to keep up with its powerful strikes. There were many close calls, but the leader managed to minimize casualties.
Desperation formed in the beast''s eyes as it realized its grim future. The attacks grew sharper and more forceful, causing many inscribed warriors to stumble back, but the realm members held strong with the help of their consumables.
At this moment, Genji appeared beside the tank and struck him with the bottom of his fist. Caught off guard, the man stumbled into the lion''s claw, receiving bone-deep lacerations on his arm.
The leader''s eyes widened, and he stepped forward to confront Genji. But before he could close the distance, Genji rotated his torso, pulling [Jaguar] along a wide arc. A large cut appeared on the leader, the tank, the warrior, and even the lion, catching them all off guard.
''He''s here to steal our kill,'' the leader realized, activating his berserk skill in an attempt to fend Genji off.
Suddenly, his heart palpitated and his muscles cramped up, halting his motion midway. All the other wounded targets experienced the same symptoms as the poison kicked in almost instantly.
Capitalizing on the moment, Genji raised his blade with both hands, [Jaguar] brimming with an inferno of shadow flames. He swung down with all his strength, unleashing a torrent of cutting intent in addition to the flames. He encountered no resistance on the downward stroke, resulting in the lion''s bisection.
[Detecting that multiple opposing parties had contested for this kill. The loot will be placed on the target''s body instead.]
Genji sidestepped a powerful arrow from behind and leaned downward to snatch the newly manifested item. Pushing his palm against the ground, Genji burst forward like a cheetah and positioned himself outside the group''s encirclement. Then, blood flowed through the air, gathering at Genji''s side.
This sight greatly angered the natives, prompting them to direct their attacks at Genji.
''Sorry, but I''m not giving you any of this.''
A cocoon of cutting intent wrapped around him, blocking his opponents'' view and incoming arrows. When the barrier faded, the tank had regained his footing and slammed his shield on the ground. A sense of aggression swelled within Genji, demanding he eliminate the root cause. However, this feeling faded just as quickly as it came.
[You are under the effect of Taunt.]
[You are immune to this effect due to your high willpower.]
Understanding their intentions, Genji decided to follow their flow, only to swap targets at the last moment. As he flashstepped beside the tank, he brandished his saber at the warrior, removing him from the fight for good. A violent kick met the leader''s punch as the muzzle of [Curse Bearer] pressed against the tank''s forehead.
A surge of energy intercepted the cursed bullet, exploding to form a veil of darkness. Blood flowed rapidly around Genji as Bruce siphoned their open wounds, preventing the cuts from closing.
A crystal shield manifested on his forearm, allowing him to confront the incoming arrow. Upon impact, Genji shifted his arm to direct the excess force against the leader''s heavy fist. The shield, unable to withstand this force, shattered into shards, further obscuring the opponent''s sight.
An intense pressure oozed from Genji as he used Dominance Aura to inflict a paralyzing mental impact. His saber cleaved down on the man''s neck, striving to behead him.
Suddenly, the pendant hidden within the leader''s armor shattered, bringing his mind back into focus, albeit with a raging headache. Sparing no effort, he channeled all his strength and punched the side of Genji''s saber, deflecting it from its original trajectory. At this moment, the tank recovered from his strike and swung his shield at Genji.
Genji activated Like A Feather and leaped over the arm, performing a cartwheel midair. As his hair waved from the afterwind, a chain wrapped around the tank''s other hand, which was swinging a tomahawk.
Genji borrowed the force to adjust his position and glide his saber along a new trajectory, resulting in a strange diagonal cut along the man''s back. Suddenly, the splattering blood transformed into a scythe and swiped at the neck. Flustered by this change, the man could barely defend himself as half his neck was severed from below.
Blood wings sprouted from Genji''s back, keeping him airborne long enough to split another arrow in half. Upon landing, the liquid morphed into long pikes that shot out at the leader rushing at Genji.
A loud collision sounded as his fist shattered the projectiles, leaving him open to another one of Genji''s attacks. A crescent streak of light burst forward from his blade, leaving a deep gash on the leader''s chest.
Chaining his attacks, Genji sent out a few more streaks toward the surrounding natives, halting their charges. His saber flared with flames again as he advanced toward his opponents.
The tank exchanged a glance with the leader, seeking permission to use their trump card. After an affirmative nod, the leader stepped forward to delay Genji. Taking advantage of this time, the tank retrieved a legendary consumable in the shape of a cross and broke it.
A flood of energy coursed through his veins, bringing unimaginable power. His muscles tensed up like metallic cables, and his hair spiked up like stalagmites. All his wounds closed under the pressure, and a golden aura emanated from his body. This aura gathered behind his back and morphed into a shirtless giant measuring 5 meters in height.
With perfect muscles and a majestic beard, the aura projection was the quintessential image of a Greek god. Bolts of light flashed around its weapons, which matched those of the user who conjured its image: an axe and a shield.
Just as Genji pushed back the leader, the tank finished his transformation and stepped forward with a heavy swing. The projection behind him mirrored his motion, extending his range by several meters.
Genji sidestepped the attack and swung upward, slicing the arm of the projection. A prominent crackle of black and gold followed as the energy from the two parties clashed. Genji ignored the rebound and advanced for another strike on the shield, chipping off a small piece. However, the damage quickly repaired itself as the tank supplied the projection with more energy.
The tank swiped down to push Genji back into the range of his axe, where he bombarded him with a flurry of swings. Utilizing his parries and dodging skills, Genji neutralized these attacks and fought back ferociously against opportunistic supporters.
Jumping over the arm, Genji conjured footholds and darted toward the projection''s head. A dignified glare looked down on him as the projection leaned back its head. Then it burst forward, headbutting Genji with concentrated lightning.
Another intense crackle of energy followed as the projection dimmed considerably. In return, Genji was hurled backward at breakneck speeds, trailed by a storm of arrows. Fortunately, he maintained his stance and easily fended them off with a streak of light. Upon landing, he slid back for a few more meters, but he had a smile on his lips, as if unaffected by this disadvantage.
''It was a nice fight, but I''ve achieved my goal.''
A flask of poison appeared between his fingers, which he promptly threw at the ground. A sinking feeling filled the team''s stomach, but they were too far to stop him. The next moment, a purple fog enveloped the area, forcing them to a stop as their bodies became numb from the accumulated toxins.
Several light coughs sounded within the mist before the distant archer blew everything away with a well-placed arrow. Yet when the cover faded, Genji was nowhere in sight. The blood leaking from the lion''s corpse was also gone, leaving it as a simple husk, devoid of its most precious component.
Once the tank confirmed that the surroundings were safe, he dispelled the transformation and fell to a knee, grumbling, "Dammit, who was that? Since when did the realms have such a troublesome opponent?"
"I don''t know, but something is off about this world session. There are more powerhouses than usual. He''s already the third one we''ve encountered this week. I suspect there''s something more to this competition than meets the eye. Otherwise, the realms wouldn''t send so many powerful people to the same world. If we don''t want to fail miserably, we better preserve our trump cards carefully. We''ve already used one, so that''s one less for the long run," the leader said before tending to the warrior''s wounds.
"Really makes me wonder where the rumor of the treasure came from and why the realms are taking it so seriously. Aren''t they usually indifferent to these ancient tales? What''s different this time? Just what is going on? Or does the rumor have more merit than we initially thought?"
"Enough questions. Help me out here. This poison is nasty."
"Alright, coming."
174 – Turmoil
Once Genji disengaged from battle, he backtracked to where he had left Astros earlier. Due to the ferret''s fragile strength, Genji had opted not to bring him into battle, especially against such a powerful foe. This greatly irked the newborn, but Astros couldn''t change Genji''s mind.
When Genji found him, Astros was munching on an unknown fruit with great ferocity, as if he held a grudge against it. No, the grievance wasn''t with the fruit, but rather with his own weakness and Genji''s absence. It was a feeling similar to what Bruce had once experienced, only with a different motivation.
Instead of wanting to aid Genji in battle, Astros simply wanted to spend more time with him. Every moment away from his parental figure was bothersome, especially as he was still developing mentally. To maximize this time, Astros vowed to get stronger, hence the current scene.
Fruit juices stained his face, dyeing it a funny shade of pink. Sensing Genji''s return, Astros quickly scarfed down the remaining fruit and let out a cheerful yip, demanding to be cuddled.
"Oh, what am I going to do with you?" Genji chuckled playfully and brought out a canteen of water to wash the sticky residues off the ferret''s fur. Then he sat down beside Astros and examined the loot from the recent battle.
[You have slain Lion of Gold (Mini-boss)]
[You have obtained 43,692 coins.]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 32 points.]
[You have obtained Golden Fury (rare)]
"Only a rare? Damn, they really ramped up the difficulty in this world. If this was the Spatial Battlefield, an opponent of that level would have dropped an epic item. Fortunately, I have other ways to maximize my rewards."
At that moment, Bruce appeared beside him and handed him a flask of blood. Although this was only a fraction of the total amount, Genji was sure it would fetch a good price. After all, it wasn''t every day that someone managed to obtain the blood of such a powerful creature.
As for the remaining blood, let''s just say Bruce had a snack...
"Let''s go trade this in before they get too far. With our speed, we should be able to catch up to them."
"Neeiiigghhhh."
Half a day later, Genji arrived at the Helix tribe''s former settlement. The term "former" is specified because the tribe had already begun their migration, leaving only indentations in the ground where wooden poles once stood. Fortunately, the migration of hundreds left clear trails to follow, allowing him to easily reunite with them.
The tribal hunters took guarded stances as he rode toward them, but their tense muscles promptly eased when they recognized the familiar figure.
Genji stopped a short distance away, dismounted, and transitioned to an even-paced walk.
"You''re back. What brings you here? I thought you wanted to travel alone," a few of his acquaintances greeted him.
"I have some unfinished business with Bechel," Genji responded, waving the flask of blood.
Understanding his intentions, the hunters stopped pestering him and led him to the elder. When Genji saw him, Bechel was the same as ever, guiding his grandson and preparing for his next tattoo session.
"I got what you asked for," Genji said bluntly.
"Okay." Bechel took the container and poured a drop out for examination. Once he confirmed that it was satisfactory, he handed it to Mokan and went to fetch the payment. A few minutes later, he returned with a sealed box made of wood. He opened it and gave Genji a handful of pellets¡ªnine, to be exact.
"The last one spoiled," he explained.
Genji believed him because he could sense a discolored piece inside the box, so he didn''t push the issue any further.
"Happy working with you," Genji said before leaving the vicinity.
When he was alone again, he passed Astros a random stick he found on the ground. Astros gave him a blank stare as if asking what he was supposed to do with it.
"Choose our direction."
Astros held his silence for a few moments before a series of yips and paw waves came out as if trying to convince Genji that he shouldn''t leave such an important decision to chance. Genji simply stroked his fur and said, "It''s okay. I believe in your luck."
Helpless, Astros could only follow his instructions and prop up the stick.
After a few days of traveling, Genji encountered another team of hunters. This time, they were much stronger than anyone he''d met so far. All of them had at least three inscriptions on their skin, with some of the stronger ones reaching seven.
The strongest hunters on average had 46 points in strength, making the team capable of fending off anything below a beast king. Even if they did encounter such walking disasters, they could still put up a decent fight and allow most to escape.
As such, they were unfazed when they spotted Genji. Rather, they welcomed him with open arms and readily guided him to their tribe when they heard his purpose.
"Here are our records. Let me know if you have any questions," the wife of a hunter said before returning to her everyday chores.
''That was much easier than I thought. I didn''t even have to say anything else. To their credit, they are strong enough to disregard most threats.''
Genji parsed through the records and built a timeline in his notebook. For the most part, the timeline was uneventful, with a few sporadic incidents. At this point, Genji wasn''t going through the records in full detail but rather skimming for possible leads. Nonetheless, it still took a few hours to complete the task since the tribe''s history dated back 300 years.
Around noon, the wife returned and invited him to have lunch.
"Join us. It''s our tradition to welcome guests with our signature soup," she said.
Genji thought it would be nice to take a break and agreed to her proposal. He was handed a bowl of clear soup with vibrant grass cuttings at the bottom. It was a strange dish, but the others drank it with relish, so he didn''t make a big deal of it.
As the warm liquid slid down his throat, a refreshing feeling washed away his fatigue.
''I can see why they like this. It''s like a healthier version of caffeine.''
Genji took the opportunity to approach a hunter and strike up a conversation. "Can you tell me if there are any other tribes nearby?"
The man grinned and replied, "You''re in luck. Follow your original trajectory and you''ll encounter many. Keep going and you might even come across the monoliths."
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"Monoliths?" Genji asked.
The man''s expression grew strange as if evaluating an alien. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Genji answered casually, aware that he had just revealed his ignorance.
The hunter''s gaze became even more curious, but he didn''t keep Genji in suspense. "The top tribes all have Awakened warriors guarding them. We refer to these five as monoliths because they stand strong in the face of adversaries. They always emerge unscathed whether it''s a flood or beasts."
"I see, is that why so many people settle here? For protection?"
"You catch on pretty quickly for someone so clueless."
Genji made no comment, focusing on another detail. "Five? I thought there were six Awakened warriors. What happened to the last one?"
This time, it was the hunter who seemed confused. "Six? What are you talking about? There have always been five. It''s been that way for years. No one else has advanced since. We would know because any tribe that does advance would hold a grand celebration to announce the good news. The status of monoliths is more influential than you might think."
Genji set aside the inconsistent information and asked one last question. "What about vitality stones? The ones that strengthen the body when you absorb the energy inside."
"Ah yes, miracle stones. They are a staple currency around here."
"Thank you, that''s all I wanted to know."
Genji got up from his seat and returned to his historian tasks, this time with a different knotted rope. Due to the size of the tribe, many families kept their own records, each with unique nuances. The general framework remained the same, so Genji used this method as a way to review the information and check for any details he might have potentially overlooked.
He then moved on to the next tribe and repeated the process. With each instance, he became more proficient at the skill, thereby reducing the time spent. Occasionally, he would hunt a passing bison and bring it to the tribe he would visit next. It turns out people are much more willing to help him when he comes bearing gifts.
In this manner, one peaceful week passed.
"I think this is as far as this plan can go," he muttered. "I learned a lot, but none of this is helpful."
Bruce perked up from his corner and gave an "as I thought" look.
"Don''t look at me like that. I know it might have been a huge waste of time, but I tried at least."
Genji got up from his straw mat and stretched his stiff body. Then he walked outside, where a heated argument was taking place. From what he could tell, it had been going on for a while and involved two youths.
Genji was familiar with one of them as he was the son of a hunter, while the other was a complete stranger. Genji listened to the commotion with the other bystanders and understood the gist of the conflict.
The two teens from rival tribes were both in love with the same girl, but her family would only marry her to the more capable hunter. In this case, it was the teen from the current tribe. However, the girl preferred the boy from the rival tribe, which led to this situation. It was a classic love triangle.
After several rounds of back-and-forth arguing, the two agreed to duel for the right of marriage. The crowd, eager to watch this drama, cleared a circular opening for them. An older hunter counted them down, and the match began.
Both sides exchanged attacks, but it quickly became evident that the local youth had the advantage. There was a good reason the bride''s family preferred him. Yet, as he positioned himself to deliver the finishing blow, he accidentally stepped on a loose pebble, messing up his stance.
Furthermore, the opponent had unleashed his strongest attack, only to face less resistance than expected. The result? A heavy hit that shattered the local youth''s arm. A sickening crack followed the piercing of jagged bones through the skin.
It was a severe wound, almost crippling if Genji had been unaware of EverRealm''s healing abilities. But in this primitive world, the injury was as good as permanent.
The opponent was far more heavy-handed than acceptable, but there was nothing the adults could do about it. Everything had happened so quickly that it could only be deemed an "accident." Unfortunately for the local youth, this "accident" had cost him his future.
"Leave and don''t come back!" the angry father yelled at the rival. "Or this will become personal!"
Fearful of the consequences, the rival scurried away. The crowd also dispersed following the shout, leaving only the grieving father and the pale-faced youth, his teeth clenched in untold pain.
Everyone made way for the aggrieved father as he carried his son back to their tent, the emotional pain evident in his eyes. Genji openly followed them, prompting the father''s fury when they reached the tent.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" the father shouted, his face red.
"How many miracle stones will you pay if I heal that arm?" Genji asked.
The man''s face twisted further, and his tone grew angrier. "How dare you?! I may be unstable right now, but I''m clear-headed enough to see your desperation-exploiting lies. Do you take me for a fool?!"
It was clear the man didn''t believe Genji, but Genji half-expected this. After all, it sounded too good to be true. Still, he patiently explained his offer, aware he shouldn''t hold an emotional outburst against a potential customer.
"I''m asking seriously. The chances aren''t high, but I might be able to do something about it. At worst, I can clean up the wound so he doesn''t die from it. Tell you what, I won''t charge anything if I fail. Why don''t you give it a try? You have nothing to lose."
This was, of course, a lie since Genji could easily heal the injury, but it made his words more believable. And sometimes, being believable was all that mattered in a deal. That''s how scams work.
The man hesitated for a few moments before decisively agreeing. "I have 23 miracle stones. Heal his arm, and they''re all yours."
Genji inwardly smiled and gestured to the flap of the tent. "Lay him down. Then leave me alone. This is important. Make sure I''m not disturbed during the treatment. Otherwise, I can''t guarantee anything."
The man nodded, placed his son down, and walked out to guard the tent. Genji looked down at the hissing teen and said, "No hard feelings, but it''s best if you don''t witness this."
Genji gave a swift chop on the back of the youth''s neck, knocking him out. The following moment, wisps of cutting intent wrapped around Genji''s fingers, allowing him to precisely the wound. He pieced together the shards of bones and poured a diluted healing potion over the cracks. Genji used a diluted version since this healing speed would seem more realistic.
After that, he brought out biodegradable stitches and tied the wound shut. A stick and cast followed, securing the arm in place. He finished all of this in under 5 minutes, demonstrating his capabilities in the procedure.
Genji worked on his notebook for the remainder of the time, subverting the expectations of a difficult operation. When the time was up, Genji walked out to meet the father, who paced nervously around the entrance.
"How is it?" the man asked upon seeing Genji, his voice laced with anticipation and anxiety.
"It''s stable. Make sure he eats a lot of meat and doesn''t agitate the arm. If you manage that, he should recover in two weeks."
Hearing this, the man rushed into the tent, wanting to confirm Genji''s words for himself. Then he fell to his knees, tears of joy streaming down his face as the adrenaline rush wore off.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he repeated.
Later that night, Genji received his promised payment, and by the following morning, word had spread about this miracle. The tribe''s healers also swarmed Genji, seeking his knowledge in medicine.
"I cut open his arm, put the bones together, and used my secret medicine to bind everything," Genji explained to the medical enthusiasts.
"Can you tell us how you made this medicine?" they asked, eyes full of intrigue.
"I can, but I don''t think it will be helpful to you. The ingredients are hard to find and not native to this area."
This revelation filled the doctors with disappointment, but they instantly cheered up when Genji offered to teach them about the human body. Through this, Genji obtained a respectful reputation, and the tribesmen noticeably treated him better.
Due to this convenience, Genji decided to stay around for a little longer, hoping he could earn more vitality stones. And this opportunity came to him when more injuries occurred during a hunt. It was hard to believe such capable warriors would experience disabling wounds, but they had encountered another "accident" with a beast king.
Genji couldn''t believe his ears when he heard this, but the details of the incident soon spread among the tribe. Apparently, a rival tribe had angered the beast king and was fleeing from its pursuit when they encountered the tribe''s hunters. In their misfortune, they were implicated in the conflict and suffered massive casualties.
Interestingly, the rival tribe was the same one that had previously crippled the youth''s arm. However, they couldn''t pin the blame on them since the rival''s entire team had been wiped out. The losses were simply too heavy for this to be premeditated, so the accident was dismissed as just that¡ªan accident.
But as the "accidents" piled up, Genji started sensing something awry. If it happened once or twice, it could be explained by bad luck, but six times? It was almost too coincidental.
Someone was instigating conflict, and Genji was all in for it. However, he couldn''t tell how they were doing it. In fact, he hadn''t even seen their figure once. This led Genji to believe their ability worked from a distance, possibly in unconventional ways.
''Sure, do your thing. As long as you don''t mess with me and I get to earn my stones, I couldn''t care less.''
Through all these troubles, big or small, Genji earned another 81 vitality stones.
The tribe harbored similar suspicions and sent two ambassadors to negotiate with their rival, but they never returned alive. Instead, a sack filled with their dismembered remains was found outside the tribe one morning, enraging everyone.
Then they received news that the "casualties" the opposing tribe suffered were still alive and thriving. This was the final straw that broke the camel''s back and prompted the tribe to fully prepare for war.
At this point, it wasn''t about right or wrong anymore; it was about making the enemy pay. The tribe had fallen directly into the mastermind''s plan.
"How ruthless. To incite war between two large tribes to increase your world income. If I had the right ability, this would be right up my alley. Too bad it''s more efficient for me to kill stronger foes." Although he said that, Genji wouldn''t give up his shadow energy for anything.
Bruce rolled his eyes at this comment and responded in kind. ''Master, your psychotic side is showing again. If you don''t stop, I''m going to bring this up next time you claim to be a "normal" person.''
175 – Ferret’s Little Hobby
War is an ugly event. Injuries and deaths are commonplace in this brutal conflict. Yet, compared to the wars Genji had seen, this one was simply a child''s quarrel. Neither side went all out, striving to exterminate the other. Rather, they kept the conflict contained between the hunters and warriors of the tribes, preserving a semblance of peace among the common folk.
However, that doesn''t mean there were no injuries. Though casualties were minimal, as the hunters covered each other''s weaknesses in combat, the medical tents of the kuniars were tightly packed every day. On one day, it became so crowded that many had to wait outside and tend to their own wounds, necessitating the expansion of the tents.
The kuniars scrambled around their tents like chickens with their heads cut off, exhausting themselves daily. Genji was no different from them, but he easily endured the rush.
Many of the women became nurses to help with the workload, while young warriors led teams to gather the medical plants required to fuel this cycle. It was fair to say the tribe had fallen into a new rhythm, one of battle and revenge.
Amidst this chaos, Astros gave in to his inherent curiosity and wandered off alone. This surprised Genji, as the furball was normally quite clingy and refused to leave his side. So, to see him take the initiative was unexpected, to say the least.
It was only later that night that Genji realized why Astros wanted to do so when he returned with a knotted rope. After placing it down, Astros looked up at him with adoring eyes, wanting to be praised. Astros had somehow gotten a record of another tribe''s history.
Unable to decline his good intentions, Genji let out a mirthful smile and praised the critter. "Thank you. This is very helpful."
Astros let out some happy yips before asking for dinner and snuggling around Genji''s neck. The following morning, Astros left again to repeat his thievery, only to bring back a normal rope.
The two ropes looked identical to the untrained eye, so Astros couldn''t be blamed for the mistake. In fact, Astros only brought these ropes to Genji because Genji seemed to attach a lot of importance to them, despite finding the fixation weird. But Astros decided to accept this strangeness and support Genji in his rope fetishes, unaware that Genji had already given up his endeavors.
Over the next few days, Astros brought back a wide assortment of items. From clothes hanging out to dry to reins used for the natives'' mounts, he collected them all as long as they bore some resemblance to ropes.
Genji, seeing how much fun Astros was having, didn''t have the heart to tell him that these items were useless. Hence, the miscellaneous items piled up in his inventory, awaiting disposal.
The conflicts between the two tribes intensified during this period, culminating in a final battle. The only unexpected factor was that the opposing tribe attacked first, shifting the battle''s location to the tribe''s territory. Warriors from both sides confronted each other, and the battle devolved into a gruelsome melee.
Enraged shouts and the clanging of weapons filled the area, putting all the spectators on edge. The most intense battle was between the two chief hunters, whose strength rivaled Genji''s in every aspect. They were evenly matched in capabilities and carved out an open space on the battlefield, creating an arena of their own.
They exchanged fierce attacks in rapid succession, leaving many onlookers in awe of their strength. Following that, the supporters were inspired by their valor and attacked with even greater potency.
All of a sudden, the rival chief hunter used a powerful skill, hurling his spear at breakneck speeds. Out of instinct, the tribe''s hunter narrowly avoided a fatal injury. However, his left shoulder was caught in the attack, crippling it and swinging the battle in the opponent''s favor.
Normally, this would have decided the battle, but one unexpected circumstance changed this result: the spear was flying toward Genji''s tent. More specifically, directly at his chest, inadvertently threatening to impale him. Genji immediately sensed the threat and moved to catch it.
*Boooooommmm*
The ground shattered like glass, and the tailwind blew the tent apart. The sound of sticks crumbling and cloth fluttering filled the air. A sonic boom followed, and the air screeched in pain before the spear came to a trembling stop, its tip mere centimeters from Genji''s chest.
"Now, that wasn''t very nice, was it?" Genji asked, tossing the weapon aside and giving the distant fighter a cold glare. The next moment, he materialized beside the tribal chief and asked, "How much to kill that guy right now?"
"Unfortunately, we can''t afford your help. We can only spare 10 miracles at the moment," the elder replied sadly, having become accustomed to Genji''s requests.
"Okay, deal," Genji instantly agreed, surprising the chief.
It was an insultingly low price for a warrior of that stature, but Genji didn''t care. He merely asked to see if he could earn other rewards for the task. That''s because Genji intended to take action, even if the chief had rejected the offer, as he had been attacked unwarrantedly. He wouldn''t be himself if he quietly endured that provocation; no one would.
Genji appeared beside the enemy hunter like an elusive phantom and swung his newly materialized dagger, disrupting a deadly attack on the tribe''s hunter. A streak of blood and several chain attacks flew through the air, putting the man on the back foot.
Then a saber came down, drawing more blood and injecting a numbing poison. The barrage of attacks continued, and soon, the man collapsed in a puddle of his own blood. Unwillingness flashed through his eyes, but a heavy stomp on the chest snuffed out his light.
"Next time, don''t involve the bystanders, you asshole," Genji said, hovering over him and delivering the final blow.
[You have slain Koloki, Chief Hunter of the Goildi tribe]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 22 points.]
[You have obtained 329,102 coins.]
[You have obtained: Koloki''s Spear (rare)]
"Genji''s actions brought everything to a standstill, with each side reacting differently to the outcome. The friendly units were astounded by his strength, never having considered him anything more than a competent doctor. Meanwhile, the enemies were terrified by how effortlessly Genji dispatched their strongest fighter, a sight that demoralized them all.
Genji glanced indifferently at the frozen fighters and coldly asked, "Don''t you know it''s impolite to stare? Now frick off before I poke your eyes out."
His words ignited chaos on the battlefield, sending disorganized enemies scrambling for escape while relentless pursuers hunted them down. Now that the tide of battle had turned, the tribesmen were determined to hold the enemies accountable.
While this happened, Genji appeared beside the chief and reminded him of their deal.
The elder nodded absent-mindedly as his glazed eyes reflected Genji''s retreating figure."What just happened?" he asked no one in particular when Genji disappeared from his sight.
Genji and his team departed later that night, having earned a sizeable income. The tribe didn''t have many vitality stones left after these transactions, so it became impractical to stay any longer. Genji obtained 381 stones from his stay, 350 of which were absorbed to increase his health by 2853, bringing his total to 10,613. The numbers are uneven because the actual increase fluctuated between 7 and 9 points per stone. The remaining stones were kept as monetary items for potential trading.
As they journeyed, Genji encountered many battles and occasional hostile attacks. At first, he attributed these encounters to mere xenophobia, but he quickly discovered this abnormality had become commonplace. It was only after communicating with a milder group that he learned war had broken out across the plains.
Turns out the mastermind was more ambitious than Genji expected, instigating conflict between numerous tribes. Genji realized he could capitalize on this and headed toward a nearby tribe.
"Halt! Identify yourself," the patrol shouted with drawn bows and raised spears as he approached, guarding against unknown attackers.
"I''m a sword for hire. I will fight your enemies for a price," Genji replied.
"No need. We don''t need a stranger''s help right now," they said with unwelcoming scowls. It was evident that they didn''t think highly of the mercenary profession.
"You sure? I''m pretty confident in my abilities. I can take care of almost anyone."
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The guards hesitated, indicating they weren''t completely against the idea but were uncertain about Genji''s statements. After a few more seconds, they said, "Wait here. We''ll get someone you can talk to."
Minutes later, they returned with a burly man in his 30s. He was shirtless from the waist up, revealing numerous tattoos and vigorous muscles. Genji suspected this was the chief hunter or someone of similar standing from the intense aura he emanated with each step. His strength certainly qualified him for such a position.
"I heard you''re strong?" the man asked, evaluating Genji''s demeanor.
Genji explained his offer again, emphasizing his specialty in single confrontations. He had no interest in slaughtering the weak, as it was redundant and not worthwhile.
"Is that so? Then how about Vadra, the chief hunter of the Yohagans?"
"How much are you offering?"
The man stated his price, and Genji countered with an offer of his own. This sparked a series of back-and-forths until they reached a mutually acceptable amount of 52.
"Vadra has three scars running down his face. Bring me his scalp, and this is all yours," the hunter said, providing a brief description of the target.
Although curious about this requirement, Genji kept these questions to himself and merely stated, "I need a guide."
The hunter glanced at a trusted assistant, who understood the request and prepared his mount. Then they set off for the rival tribe, where they would initiate a duel against Vadra. That was the plan at least, but Genji had different ideas. Instead of rushing in to confront his opponent, Genji stopped at a distance and set up camp, confusing his partner.
"Hey, what are you doing? Aren''t you going to fight?" The hunter asked.
"I will, but not now. You just need him dead, right? It doesn''t matter how?"
"I mean... no?"
"Then I''ll do it my way. I''m more used to it."
Although still baffled by this development, the hunter obliged since Genji was the one performing the task.
Night soon fell upon them, and it was time for Genji to move. Disappearing under the cloak of darkness, Genji snooped around the tribe until he found a hunter matching Vadra''s description. After confirming there were no other matches, Genji returned to the tent and released an odorless poison.
Time slowly ticked by, and Vadra''s complexion became increasingly pale. Eventually, this discomfort became too much to bear, and Vadra awoke. His eyes instantly dilated as he realized something was amiss. But before he could cause a commotion, Genji appeared behind him with a firm clasp on his mouth.
A dagger swiftly followed, severing the neck and stopping all possible resistance. Genji wrestled with the headless body until it stopped moving and then disappeared from the settlement.
As Genji returned to the campout location, he heard his guide ask, "Hey, it''s already night. When are you going to move?"
"I already did," Genji''s voice came from behind, startling him.
Genji gave him a few moments to regain his composure before tossing over the still-bleeding head. "It''s not a scalp, but this shouldn''t make a difference, right?"
The man visually gulped and replied with a trembling voice, "N-no. It''s all good."
"Then let''s go back." Genji walked past him, and mists of blood flaked off his stained clothes, gathering beside Bruce.
The man rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but quickly dismissed it as the dim light playing tricks on his eyes. ''Yeah, that must be it...''
When they returned, they met with the same hunter who issued the request. After seeing the gruesome head carried by his subordinate, the man asked Genji to wait aside as he and the guide went to retrieve the promised payment.
"How is it? Can we beat him?" The hunter asked immediately after they left Genji''s earshot. Now that their rival is dead, the hunter intends to renege on his side of the deal. After all, 52 vitality stones is not a small sum, even for him. If possible, he didn''t want to pay this bounty, especially when it took him years to save this amount.
"I don''t know. He didn''t fight in the duel."
"I see. How cautious. Then let''s do this. We''ll find some excuse to test his strength. If he''s strong, we''ll accede. Otherwise..." The man trailed off, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
"Understood," the assistant replied and pushed aside the tent''s flap. Yet before he could take another step, he froze, as Genji was directly in his path. Chaotic thoughts whirled around inside him, wondering how much of their conversation Genji had overheard.
"What''s wrong? Why are you so pale?" Genji asked with a gentle smile. "Are you perhaps not feeling well?"
Hearing this unexpected voice, the other hunter approached and answered on behalf of his panicking subordinate. "Thank you for the concern, but it''s nothing serious. He''s just tired from the travel."
"That''s good. For a moment, I thought he was terrified because I ''accidentally'' caught you two planning something behind my back. How ridiculous of me. You wouldn''t do something as dishonorable as that, would you?"
"No way! How could anyone do such a despicable thing?" The hunter played along, acting indignant.
"Exactly! It would hurt me greatly if our cooperation broke down because of greed. Then I would have no choice but to take matters into my own hands. It''s good you didn''t put me in that dilemma. After all, it would be a shame to wreak havoc on such a friendly tribe."
The hunter''s eyelid twitched at this blatant threat, but he maintained his cordiality. "Of course not. We honor our words."
"I''m glad we''re on the same page. I''ll take my payment, please."
Left with no choice, the hunter retreated into his tent and retrieved a satchel containing years of his savings. After removing the extra pieces, he handed Genji the bag.
"I don''t get a tip? I worked hard to fulfill your request." Genji''s smile widened into a grin, which prompted the man to lash out.
"Don''t push your luck," he hissed between clenched jaws.
"That only applies if you''re stronger than me, which I doubt is the case. You''re free to call my bluff though. But be warned, I don''t take kindly to attacks."
The man''s fist clenched and unclenched multiple times, followed by several deep breaths before he gave in and chucked the stones at Genji''s face. "Get out!"
Genji caught the projectiles and calmly said his signature phrase, "Pleasure doing business with you."
"Perceptive bastard," the hunter muttered as Genji faded into the horizon.
"People never change," Genji commented around the same time. "Always making me take these extra precautionary steps. Can''t we have an honest deal for once?"
Bruce rolled his eyes again, knowing that was impossible given the nature of the exchange. ''Plus, there''s nothing honest about that entire interaction. You legit just coerced him into it. That won''t change, no matter how polite your words are.''
Genji tapped his neck, signaling that Bruce shouldn''t belittle his methods. They are effective because they blur the line between threats and bluffs, intermingling them well enough that they can be swapped without notice.
Bruce agreed with the sentiment but still snorted in response, arguing simply for entertainment - a playful bickering between good friends.
At this moment, Astros proudly presented another satchel of vitality stones, causing both Genji and Bruce to freeze momentarily.
''When did he steal that?'' They both wondered.
Then a strange thought came to Genji. ''Did I accidentally encourage a little kleptomaniac? Am I a bad influence?'' But that thought left as quickly as it came, leaving him indifferent to its implications. ''Ehhh, who cares. I''m not losing out, so why should I stop him?''
Word of Genji quickly spread across the plains, making his future deals much more pleasant. Everyone knew of the strange mercenary at the peak of the inscribed warrior realm, who would fight anyone his employers requested.
Many hunters looked down on his capitalistic behavior, but they often didn''t have a choice. Warriors of such capabilities were hard to nurture, so being able to hire someone for a moderate price was often enough to turn the tide of battle.
His value was further boosted when he held his own against multiple peers. His employer did pay a hefty sum for this result, but they won the battle because of it.
Since then, Genji''s upper limit has been tested time and time again, but he remained an enigma to the natives, having yet to fail a mission. As of this moment, his current record is simultaneously fighting seven warriors at the peak of the inscribed realm to a standstill. One could imagine the joy that tribe felt when Genji fulfilled that request.
This has become so common that people say, ''Fear not the price he demands, but the price he doesn''t. After all, you are getting a quasi-awakened for a mundane price.''
Genji was only considered quasi-awakened since awakened fighters had demonstrated significantly higher combat prowess. He would remain that way unless he revealed more about himself or fought a beast king. However, this didn''t detract from his reputation, as many realm members copied his methods and became mercenaries.
As a result, competition for resources became much fiercer. Many realm members found themselves on opposite spectrums of the battlefield as they accepted conflicting requests. Battles became more complicated, and eventually, the tribes made a silent agreement to have mercenaries fight against mercenaries. That was the best they could do given the high influx of powerful people.
The rewards also went down as the supply of fighters overtook demand. The tribes still needed the helpers, but there were people willing to work for lower, more competitive prices. The others were forced to follow suit since they wanted to remain relevant. After all, earning a little is always better than none. That was how much they coveted the vitality stones.
Genji was also impacted by this gold rush. As the days went on, it became harder to find tribes with ample resources. Those that do already have people under their payroll and don''t need another one, despite his astounding reputation.
Rather, it was because of his reputation that he wasn''t hired. The tribes felt he was overqualified for the position and didn''t want to pay such a high amount, especially when they could obtain the same results for less with more people.
This put Genji at an impasse and limited him to two options. If he wanted more stones, he could either attack a tribe in hopes of plundering their wealth or find a situation that required his exceptional strength.
Nothing else would give him the same income rate, except for finding a vitality stone mine. However, he eliminated that option since it was unknown if such a mine even existed. As far as he could tell, there were no signs of mining anywhere. Plus, he didn''t have the equipment to mine the ores, even if he did find such a place.
Fortunately for the natives, Genji encountered the second scenario as he considered becoming a bandit. The tribe asking for him, the Bofas, were relatively affluent since they hadn''t exhausted themselves in war, a result achieved by maintaining good relations with their neighbors.
However, this changed recently when a distant tribe, the Xacans, became ambitious and sought to expand their territory. They had already conquered the nearby areas, and the Bofas were next.
According to the chief, the aggressors achieved this by having two quasi-awakened warriors in their ranks. One of them was the chief hunter, while the other was hired from outside, similar to Genji.
For context, the natives define quasi-awakened as anyone at the peak of the inscribed warrior who could fight multiple opponents of the same rank, either through superior weapons or advanced combat techniques.
It is typically the latter, as people generally possess weapons of similar levels, but there are occasional outliers crafted from unique materials. These include but are not limited to, discarded parts of beast kings, meteorites, and condensed rock.
The Bofas don''t have any of that, but they do have a decent number of peak-ranked inscribed warriors. Their request for Genji is also relatively simple: defend against the attackers until they give up on the invasion. For this request, they are willing to offer half their wealth, a sizeable amount considering how long they''ve been saving.
"So you just want me to stall until they get too frustrated to continue? Am I understanding you correctly?"
"Yes, that''s exactly it," the chief nodded happily.
"..." Genji gave him a blank stare, not expecting his biggest commission to be so easy.
The chief smiled back at him, awaiting his decision.
A few seconds later, Genji shrugged and agreed, "Okay. You''re the one paying. I won''t complain."
176 – Gathering Point
The Bofas were a hospitable group, warmly welcoming Genji despite the ongoing turmoil. He found their cheerful demeanor surprising, but it offered a refreshing change from the events of the previous week.
After politely rejecting their social gatherings and meals, Genji sat down against a boulder and gradually chipped away at his ever-growing mound of vitality stones.
So far, he had absorbed 701 out of the 2011 pieces in his storage, bringing his maximum health to 14,088 points. This was less than expected because the vitality stones became half as effective after his total reached 12,500 points, the baseline for the third step. It took 250 pieces for him to reach that point from his previous 10,613.
Upon achieving that amount, Genji''s vitality underwent a metamorphosis, becoming more robust and resilient to injuries. It wasn''t a complete upgrade since his constitution was still lacking, but it did increase his natural healing speed and stamina.
After that, each vitality stone only yielded 3 to 4 points, resulting in a total of 1588 points from 451 pieces. Genji absorbed another 279 pieces, and his total reached 15,000. At this point, the vitality stones became less effective again, dropping to 2 to 3.
The next benchmark was 17,500 points, which required 989 pieces to complete, leaving him with only 42 stones and a conversion rate of 1 health per vitality stone. Genji decided to stop there, as the exchange rate had become so abysmal that it was almost negligible.
Calculating based on 250 health per constitution stat as the standard, it became apparent that these benchmarks aligned with the 50, 60, and 70 stat thresholds. In other words, Genji now possessed health equivalent to someone with 70 points in constitution!
Following the same pattern, Genji speculated that vitality stones would become ineffective at 20,000 health, equivalent to the amount one would have at the 80-point benchmark.
''It will be a long grind to get there, but I doubt anyone in this world can kill me in one hit. Of course, this excludes beheading and other instant death effects.''
Genji made a small cut on his finger to test his healing factor and timed how long it took to close - about 20 seconds. Only a white mark remained at 40 seconds, yet this also faded after 10 more seconds. At the one-minute mark, his finger looked no different from before, as if he''d never been cut.
''What a big difference. It''s hard to believe this is my body. These stat point disparities really become apparent in the later stages, don''t they?''
At this moment, Genji heard a quiet gulp beside him, similar to the sound one would make when presented with a rare delicacy. Looking over, Genji saw Bruce drooling a waterfall and giving him puppy eyes.
''Master, can I have a taste? It smells almost as good as roast meat.''
Genji was speechless at his gluttony, but he still indulged the nightbane. "Just don''t take too much. I still need to maintain my combat strength," Genji said, making a light cut on his wrist.
Bruce nodded eagerly, and a thin stream of blood flowed from the wound to his mouth. Bruce savored the taste for a few seconds before helping Genji apply some first aid. After finishing his snack, Bruce licked his muzzle in delight and returned to his previous resting position.
''Why do I feel this will become an everyday thing?'' Genji mused to himself.
The Xacans attacked on the second day, a few hours after Genji finished his vitality stones. Coming in a wave formation, these battle-hardened hunters marched forward with the oppressive momentum of an army going to war. And like all conquering armies of the past, they were ready to seize victory and continue onward like an unstoppable tide.
But anyone who has studied history knows this is impossible, as there will always be a kryptonite, and the Bofas were adamant about being that blockade.
As the battle drums sounded and the stomping of feet grew near, the warriors of the Bofas gathered and matched their invaders'' formation. A tense standoff occurred as the two groups narrowed the distance between them. They were ready. It was time to battle.
While this happened, Genji scanned the army, searching for the realm member supporting this tribe. His job was to hold back this person and allow the tribes to battle without interference. Although the Bofas were generally weaker than the Xacans, the difference wasn''t overwhelming enough that they couldn''t defend against the invasion.
It didn''t take long for Genji to find his target, as the man was standing on the front lines, eager to earn some war merit. Interestingly enough, Genji was acquainted with this person, as they had seen each other from a distance in the previous world. It was Xue Fe, better known as the Blood Swordsman, the prolific killer of SanguineRealm.
*Sigh* ''I knew things were too easy. Just my luck,'' Genji thought, glancing at his opponent''s stats.
[Xue Fe]
Health: 17,173/17,173 (12,500 from stats, 4,673 from other boosts)
Blood Aura: 2,500/2,500 (50 * int = 2,500)
Con: 50
Str: 50
Dex: 50
Int: 50
Spc: 17
Genji didn''t know how the man could enter this world with those stats, but it didn''t change the reality of his situation. Xue Fe was a troublesome opponent, and Genji would need to take this fight seriously if he wanted any chance of finishing this commission.
However, Genji wasn''t intimidated by this difficulty. Quite the opposite, in fact, since he was eager to test his strength against someone with similar circumstances to a balancer, now that his stats had caught up.
''And the best part is that I am getting paid for this,'' he thought with a wide grin, stowing away [Jaguar] and manifesting his daggers. Genji playfully spun his weapons a few times before suddenly appearing above Xue Fe.
Falling daggers met a rising katana and filled the air with sparks. The ground shattered beneath Xue Fe and repelled the natives. A punch struck upward, only to be met with Genji''s kick. Both of them separated as Xue Fe pushed Genji back.
Genji steadied his trembling legs and cocked his head aside, inviting his opponent to battle elsewhere. Then, he disappeared from his position. Xue Fe considered the proposition and followed as a red blur.
From that short exchange, he knew Genji would be the biggest obstacle in this invasion. And given their strengths, collateral damage would be inevitable, so an isolated location is preferred unless they intend to go for mutual destruction.
Seconds later, they stopped and began fighting again. Daggers and metal intertwined in a flurry of after-images, leaving small craters with each step.
Genji had the mastery advantage with his supreme-ranked dagger skills and numerous grandmaster combat skills, while Xue Fe had higher stats. They were evenly matched since their specialties canceled each other out.
For whatever advantage Xue Fe gained, Genji would match it with cutting intent. Meanwhile, Xue Fe would parry Genji''s cutting intent with his crimson aura, rendering his ranged attacks useless.
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Their movement techniques are also on par with each other, resulting in many fast-paced exchanges. After a while, they finished probing each other''s strengths and began incorporating skills into their attacks.
The first was Genji''s Untraceable Movement, enabling him to dance circles around Xue Fe. Unfortunately, the swordsman defended skillfully, emerging from the barrage with mere nicks on his arms.
Xue Fe retaliated with some throwing knives, giving him enough of an opening to return the wounds in kind. Healing potions then met sizzling wounds before they dived back into combat.
Mental shocks, sharp metal wires with barbed hooks, quantum barriers, and imperceptibly fast downward slashes were utilized in deadly fashions, as both fighters relentlessly aimed for the kill.
Their wounds accumulated in this harmonious, yet brutal dance, slowly becoming deeper and more impairing. Yet due to their expertise and sharp instincts, neither managed to land a finishing blow.
Suddenly, they both fell back, their expressions serious as they prepared to enter the battle''s crescendo. Mighty shadow flames flared around Genji''s daggers while red electricity streaked around Xue Fe''s katana. Their gazes narrowed, and they burst forward for one final exchange.
Sound and color lost all meaning in this moment as they pushed their concentration to their limits. Their perceptions of time dilated to a snail''s pace, analyzing every muscle twitch from their opposition. The closer their weapons drew to each other''s, the more this state was heightened. The collision was inevitable, almost as if a black hole existed at the contact point, beckoning the two attacks to converge.
Then time returned to normal as they passed by each other, their backs turned as they came to a stop. Genji''s side suddenly burst open as the impact registered, jolting his upper body aside.
Xue Fe was no better as a hole gouged out his left shoulder and a similar cut appeared right below the ribs. Blood erupted from these wounds like a geyser under pressure and splattered everywhere they stood.
*Cough cough* Genji spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with chunks of broken organs as he turned around to address his foe.
"Let''s end this here. I''m sure we both have powerful aces we haven''t used and are holding back."
Xue Fe scrutinized Genji''s wounds and compared them to his own before acknowledging the proposition. "Yes, this isn''t worth it."
That was simply the truth of the matter. No matter how much they were offered, it wasn''t enough for them to use their decisive trump cards in this mutually consumptive battle.
They would rather call it a draw and refrain from further battle, letting the natives decide the outcome themselves. At least that way, they could ensure the other party wouldn''t interfere with their rewards. It''s a mutual non-interference agreement.
Genji walked aside to tend to his wounds, wincing with each step. ''This guy''s energy is indeed corrosive against vitality. Good thing I have all this health, or I might be in trouble.''
After completing his first aid, Genji waited until the battle finished before returning to claim his payment. The result was as the chief expected: a stalemate ending with the Xacans'' retreat. There really wasn''t much variance after Genji took out the main one.
For his troubles, Genji earned 626 vitality stones, bringing his total to 668. For the sake of after-service, Genji stayed around for another 2 days before leaving on his own.
Genji was strolling through the plains when he heard a sudden loud screech from above. Looking up, Genji spotted a falcon with grey feathers circling overhead. This continued for a few more seconds before the falcon dived down and landed on Bruce with a light flap.
The bird preened a few of its feathers before looking up at Genji, much to Bruce''s annoyance at being used as a foothold. Right as the nightbane was about to turn this impudent falcon into a snack, Genji noticed a knotted rope tied around one of the bird''s legs and stopped the creeping blood tentacles.
"Hold on, this might be important."
Genji reached for the rope and the falcon cooperated by raising its leg, allowing Genji to peruse the knots. Genji recognized these styles, as they were the same knots used to record historical events. The only difference was that this didn''t record a past event, but a message.
Feed...Peace...Gather
Those were the only meanings Genji could interpret with his meager skills, but it was enough to understand the general message. If his guess was correct, then this should be a messenger falcon sent by a tribe with the corresponding skills.
Genji released the rope and tossed some rabbit meat into the air. After swooping up the meal, the falcon released a grateful screech before flying off in search of the next recipient.
"Come on. Let''s see if we can find the meeting location. I feel this is a big event."
Bruce nodded, and they headed toward a nearby tribe. After asking for directions, they galloped at full speed, intending to reach the location ahead of time. Along the way, they spotted other travelers with the same intentions, typically in groups of 3 or 4. Their auras were decent in intensity, so Genji guessed they held high positions in their tribes, which added to the event''s credibility.
''I wonder which tribe sent the message. Judging by how many are responding to it, I assume it''s one of the monoliths.''
The journey only took a few more hours since Genji had already ventured deep into the plains during his previous travels. As the sun began setting, Genji came upon an area with sporadic trees, an open center devoid of grass, and a nearby river.
Genji knew this was the meeting place since a guide was stationed along the route to greet incoming travelers.
"Pitch your tent anywhere. The meeting will begin in three days," he explained.
Genji thanked him and scouted for a suitable location. However, finding an isolated spot was easier said than done when earlier arrivals had already set up numerous tent clusters, each representing a different tribe.
As they traversed the area, Genji felt a scrutinizing gaze from the side. Though not hostile, it felt intrusive, as if the person behind it was trying to uncover something about him. Following the source, Genji spotted a familiar young man standing outside his tent. It was Mokan, Bechel''s grandson.
Mokan confirmed the distant figure was Genji and waved at him, beckoning Genji to join him.
''Might as well. Maybe I can trade for the old man''s formula now that I have some vitality stones.''
"When did you get here?" Genji asked as he approached. "Aren''t you supposed to be busy with migrating?"
"I was, but Grandpa insisted on coming."
"Speaking of, where is Bechel?" Genji didn''t sense anyone in the tent, so he could only assume the elder was out somewhere.
"He went to meet some friends."
"I see. Did you come alone as well?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing. Just curious." Although Genji said that, his true thoughts were far from it. The more he learned about this world, the weirder Bechel seemed to him. He might seem like a normal doctor, but Genji would be a fool to believe that cover.
After all, what kind of doctor leaves his tribe without protection? The only ones he could think of were either the suicidal and those confident in his strength. And Bechel didn''t seem like the former, especially when he brought a close family member along.
''Whatever. It''s none of my business how he lives his life.''
Genji pitched his tent nearby, hunted a spare rabbit, and offered Mokan some food. "Interested?"
"Yes, please," Mokan replied, eager for something other than dried rations.
"When was the last time you had a proper meal?" Genji asked, noticing the gusto with which Mokan ate.
"We''ve been traveling for the past week. Haven''t had anything else since."
"You don''t seem that enthusiastic about being here."
"I''m not, but Gramps said this would be an experience. Can''t defy him."
"Ahhh, the classic forced accompaniment by a relative."
"You''ve experienced it as well?" Mokan''s eyes lit up as if he had discovered a fellow kinsman. Genji remained silent in response, walking back to his tent and leaving Mokan confused by the campfire. "Ehh? Did I say something wrong? Why did he leave?"
Genji intended to ask Bechel about the formula the following day, but the elder never returned. It was certainly strange, considering he left Mokan alone in such an unfamiliar place. When asked about this, Mokan mentioned it had been that way for three days - since they arrived.
This revelation almost made Genji reevaluate his opinion of Bechel and wonder if he really cared for his grandson. However, he quickly dismissed that thought since the area was filled with powerful warriors and could ensure Mokan''s safety.
''Still, to leave him as soon as he got here. What kind of experience is he hoping Mokan would get?''
More people began arriving on this day, and Genji even spotted a few familiar faces, including Xue Fe, whom he had recently fought, and the team of four that Genji nearly crippled in the kill-stealing skirmish. The four of them threw deep glares his way but kept their distance like all the other realm members. It was the eve of a major event, and it wasn''t worth getting kicked out over some grudges.
Genji waved tauntingly at them, testing the limits of their self-restraint for fun. He could almost hear the creaks of their jaws as they gnashed their teeth at him.
''Ah, the glares of my enemies. Just pure joy to my eyes. Too bad I''m not the type to let my enemies live.''
Eventually, the hot-tempered berserker/warrior couldn''t bear the provocation any longer and swiped his thumb across his throat, half threatening Genji and half declaring that this wasn''t over.
Genji flipped his hand dismissively, prompting an escalated response from the man. His nostrils flared, and his wrist flicked back and forth in rapid succession, making numerous throat-slitting gestures. It wasn''t until the team leader dragged him away that the man stopped.
''How lively. I should find some time to kill them.''
While this was happening, Bruce blocked Astros''s sight, lest the little guy pick up these bad habits. The team was weird enough and didn''t need the addition of an infuriating ferret.
Sigh ''Master, why must you be like this? Can''t you find something else to entertain yourself with?''
''I can''t help it. It''s not every day I get to meet someone who survived my poisons and isn''t a giant pain in the ass schemer.''
And so, the gathering of the tribes'' strongest forces began, filled with tension and hostility. The ambiance was so thick that one could cut it with a knife, yet they all held themselves back, for the organizers of this event were the monoliths, the strongest tribes in the plains.
All five tribes gathered at this location, prepared to discuss something that would change the course of history. It was a historical summit, one that would define the next hundred years. This was indeed the case, but it wasn''t for the reasons they expected...
177 – Unusual Entrustment
The meeting kicked off with five oppressive auras sweeping the area, alarming everyone and drawing their attention. Tracing the source, Genji spotted four elderly men and 1 woman walking toward the center. It didn''t take much to figure out these were the awakened warriors of the plains, the initiators of this meeting.
Fighters from their tribes followed behind them, maintaining order and directing everyone to their seats. Among this group, Genji spotted Bechel chatting with some acquaintances and helping with the work.
''That answers where he''s been the entire time.''
Once everyone had settled down, the five warriors started the meeting with some announcements.
"We''ve gathered everyone here for a few reasons, but the main one is to stop the war. This conflict has gone on long enough. End it before it spirals out of control and consumes us all. You have 1 week."
This was not a suggestion; it was an order. Genji knew from the graveness of their tone that they were ready to use force if necessary, even if it made them appear hypocritical. They had the power to do so and no one could stop them. All the representatives knew this and nodded, despite many unwilling eyes.
"Good. Now that we have that out of the way, let us get to the main topic. Since ancient times, many have believed in the Primordial Echo, a mythical treasure promising absolute power to its wielder. No one has ever managed to confirm its existence, rendering it a subject of folklore." The speaker paused and gazed into the crowd, letting them digest this information before boldly continuing. "Until today that is. And we have reason to believe it will open up a new path of progression, one surpassing our inscriptions."
The crowd looked back at him with vacant stares before suddenly bursting into widespread commotion. Murmurs of disbelief, doubt, excitement, and other extreme emotions flooded the area in a hubbub of indistinguishable noises, capable of deafening anyone who listened too closely.
The ground shook and the air tremored like a mirage in the desert. However, none cared about this phenomenon, for they were too distracted by the shocking news presented by the speakers.
Well, everyone but the realm members fell into this category since many of them already suspected the existence of this treasure. Even those who weren''t aware instantly connected this to their mission objective since the wording was so similar.
''It''s here. I wonder which person figured this out.''
Genji was certain a realm member was behind this since the mystery wouldn''t have held until now if the natives were capable.
The speakers waited until the scene quieted down before addressing the barrage of questions.
"No, we have not figured out the exact location of the Primordial Echo. We''re still searching for it, but we have narrowed it down to an area after parsing through countless historical records. We decided to announce this because it''s deep in the wilderness, and will be very dangerous to retrieve. We hope to rally allies for this endeavor, but there is no pressure to participate. However, only those that help us will obtain information on the new power system."
The speakers answered a few more questions before ending the discussion. "That''s all for today. Join us if you''re interested. Otherwise, stop occupying the land. This area isn''t meant to sustain so many people."
The guests were being evicted. The monoliths weren''t interested in those who wanted to sit on the fence and benefit without contributing. If they wanted to take part, they better make up their minds soon, or they would be left behind.
Genji didn''t rush to make a decision and approached Bechel first. To his surprise, the elder didn''t seem interested in the event and was packing up his supplies.
"What gives? You spent so long to get here, and you''re just going to leave?"
"The younglings are always anxious about new things. But sometimes, it''s better to not get involved. These ancient mysteries are not as simple as they think," Bechel replied with a wise tone.
"What''s that supposed to mean? Do you know something they don''t?"
"Take it as you will." Bechel smiled but refused to say anything else.
"Fine, whatever. I want to buy your formula." Genji stopped beating around the bush and directly stated his intentions.
Bechel shook his head. "Sorry, I don''t have it anymore. I can''t sell it to you."
It was a weird way to reject him, but Genji didn''t pay much attention to it. "Won''t you reconsider?"
"I really can''t."
"I see. Forget it then."
After Bechel finished packing, Genji followed them out, prompting the elder to ask, "Are you sure you should be following us? You might miss the event."
"I can afford to send you off. It''s not like they''ll start right away."
This response told Bechel that Genji hadn''t given up as he claimed, but was rather taking a different approach. However, Bechel didn''t call Genji out on this, and they rode onward in silence, leaving Mokan confused by their antics.
''What are they doing now? Why are they just staring at each other?''
This silent confrontation continued for another hour before Mokan couldn''t bear the awkwardness anymore and decided to speak up. "Do you think-"
But before he could finish his sentence, the ground suddenly erupted, and a massive mouth full of serrated teeth sprang up around them. Genji immediately reacted, grabbing both Astros and Bruce by the neck.
He forced Bruce back into sheath form and simultaneously conjured a crystal pillar beneath him, which he used as a foothold to flashstep out. Bechel followed his example and escaped with Mokan in tow.
A harsh crunch sounded as the rocky ground crumbled like soft tofu. At that moment, their ambusher emerged from the ground, shaking its head from side to side to spit out the previously chewed stones.
The creature had a slim body resembling a crocodile, but its mouth was far more elongated, making up half its body length. Supporting it were long, triangular claws capable of tearing through rocks so effectively that it might as well be swimming through the ground. Yet its most prominent feature wasn''t its physical adaptations, but the scale crown sitting on top of its skull.
"Where did this fucker come from?" Genji cursed, hurling massive crescents of light at the beast.
The creature swung its massive jaws, dispersing the attacks with a fierce chomp before diving back into its tunnel. Its presence vanished almost instantly, demonstrating a stealth level rivaling Genji''s own.
"You holding up okay?" Genji asked, noticing Bechel''s rugged breathing.
"Yeah, just not used to forcing my body after so long."
"Doesn''t seem like it to me. You''re not the speed type and you''re also carrying Mokan. You sure you can hold out against this guy?"
The beast emerged again before Bechel could answer, prompting another rushed movement from him. On the other hand, Genji was more aggressive in his dodge, leaving two streaks of cutting intent and a bottle of poison behind. Then he activated Berserk and delivered a mighty kick to the jaws, forcing them shut on his "presents."
Using this rebound, Genji landed beside Bechel and continued the conversation. "See? Your chances don''t look good, especially if I escape by myself. How about you make a deal with me? Give me your recipe, and I''ll stall this guy while you escape."
Bechel considered the proposal and asked, "How far are you willing to go for this?"
"You mean combat-wise?"
"No, in general."
"I told you this before. As long as the price is high enough."
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"I see." Bechel fell into thought, leaving Genji to confront the beast king again.
An enraged roar reverberated across the field as the beast recovered from its stun. Yet before it could take action, Genji slammed his dagger into its side, knocking it to the ground.
Dagger Arts: Impact Strike
The crystallized energy protecting his hands decomposed back into energy as Genji conjured shadow flame with his other hand. The beast narrowly rolled out of the way, sustaining a light cut on its stomach. Its teeth glowed an ominous red before lunging at Genji, mouth wide open.
Genji sensed a direct confrontation would be disastrous and moved to dodge. However, the beast adjusted itself with uncanny dexterity and chomped again. Attack after attack struck at Genji, forming a relentless chain that slowly etched closer to him. Eventually, he couldn''t dodge anymore and was forced to use Dance of Death to teleport away.
Upon catching the silhouette, the beast twisted its body, using its weight to slam its prey downward. Simultaneously, the ground rippled and became fluid-like, letting the beast phase through as if diving into water.
Everything then returned to normal, with only claw marks to show for the clash. Genji''s decision to evade was correct, as he would have been dragged under and buried alive had he been grabbed by the beast. Even if he endured the burial, being trapped in the beast''s domain would put him in a very precarious situation.
Yet before he could get any respite, the beast lunged at him again. Genji performed another position swap and counter-attacked. Seeing this, the beast swiped its claws, converting itself into a spinning torpedo, supported with a tail attack. Genji understood that it would be difficult to control the impact and used his last teleportation to disengage.
"Have you thought it through?" Genji asked, appearing beside Bechel. "Because I''m not fighting this guy any longer."
"Yes, but let''s swap roles," Bechel answered and tossed Mokan over.
''!!!''
''?!?''
Both Genji and Mokan reacted differently to this unexpected change, but Genji managed to compose himself in time to catch Mokan.
"What''s the meaning-" Genji wanted to ask, but his words were cut off when Bechel brought out a scarlet card, the same kind that one would get after killing a realm member. ''What the? Why does he have one of those?''
"I don''t know what realm you''re under, but take care of Mokan for me," Bechel said. "I''ll make it worthwhile."
The card ignited and became wisps of energy that enveloped Genji.
"What did you just do?" Genji''s gaze became dangerous as he reached for Mokan''s neck.
At this moment, he obtained a strange prompt from EverRealm.
[Bechel has offered you the chain quest: Grandson''s Coming of Age]
[Grandson''s Coming of Age]
Part 1/4
Requirements: Ensure Mokan''s safety by escorting him out of danger.
Note: Completing all 4 parts will yield you Bechel''s Secret Formula(Legendary)
Note 2: This mission will automatically fail if Mokan dies at any point.
Genji skimmed through the information and relaxed his grip. "Fine. I''ll do it." Then he dived aside, dodging another ambush from the annoying beast king, performing multiple rough rolls before hopping on his feet. "Hold on tight. I''m going full speed."
"Wait, what about gramp-"
"I wasn''t talking to you," Genji interrupted, sensing Astros hop back on. An aerodynamic shell covered Mokan as Genji activated his speed multiplier. Then a raging headache assaulted Mokan as immense pressure acted on his body. When he regained his senses, he found himself on the ground, drenched in water that Genji used to awaken him.
"GRAMPS," Mokan shot up, only to encounter immense nausea and puke his guts out. Although it was short, Mokan succumbed to motion sickness. When he recovered, he bolted at Genji and grabbed his collar, yelling in fury. "WHY?!? Why did you leave gramps behind?!?"
"First of all, he chose to stay behind. Second, I don''t appreciate your attitude after everything I did for you."
Mokan took several deep breaths and released his grip. "Sorry, I got too agitated."
Bruce manifested at this moment and nudged Genji, asking what the hell happened back there. ''How did everything become so complicated? Weren''t we just taking a nice walk? Why does it feel like my brain isn''t developed enough for this?''
"I want to know that as well." As he said that, Genji noticed Mokan gaping at him. "What is it?"
"Since when can he shapeshift?" Mokan asked, pointing a trembling finger at Bruce.
"Since always," Genji gave an uninterested answer and began analyzing the previous events.
''Why does Bechel know about the realms? Most people shouldn''t have that information. How did he create a quest like that? Does it have something to do with the scarlet card? And why did he stay behind when I could have achieved the same result? Is it really because I asked for his formula, and he wanted more in exchange? But why would he sacrifice himself like that? None of this makes any sense!''
Reaching this point, Genji decided to ask Mokan for more information. "Hey, Mokan. How much do you know about Bechel?"
"Not as much as I thought," he sulked. "I didn''t even know he was so strong until today."
"Then can you tell me if Bechel met another traveler like me this month? Maybe during your migration?"
"No. You were the only one since we tend to avoid strangers."
''So it''s not this month. That explains why Bechel knows about the realms. He must have heard it from the card''s previous holder. The question is, how long ago was this? Is it recent, or a long time ago? How long has he been preparing this? If only EverRealm could tell me more about that card.''
[Information cannot be retrieved. The card is owned by OmegaRealm.]
''EverRealm, that doesn''t help. I need concrete information. There are too many unknowns right now.''
As if answering his frustrations, EverRealm presented some more prompts.
[You have completed part 1 of Grandson''s Coming of Age]
[You have obtained: Bechel''s Memento]
[You have obtained: Bechel''s Travel Map]
[You have obtained: Fang of Jikikako]
[Grandson''s Coming of Age]
Part 2/4
Requirements:
- Pass Bechel''s Memento to Mokan
- Bring Mokan to the Forest of Clear Moon and present the Fang of Jikikako to the leader of the Lunar Clan.
Genji suddenly found three extra items in his inventory, which he took out to examine. The memento was the same necklace Bechel had given Mokan when he first traveled with Genji. Uninterested, Genji immediately passed this heirloom to Mokan, who was so saddened by it that he overlooked how Genji had pulled these items out of thin air.
"Gramps always gave me this when I go out alone. And every time I return, I would give it back. This action has become a token of assurance between us, but I never expected this is how the cycle would be broken." Mokan wept with many tears.
Genji gave Mokan some time alone and examined the other items. The map was drawn using an unknown mineral on durable leather. It detailed the route they needed to take and the major landmarks along the way.
This map confirmed Genji''s suspicion that Bechel had planned for this outcome. After all, only outsiders like them needed such a tool, since the natives could easily navigate the terrain using mnemonic stories.
Everything Genji needed to know was on it, so this task wasn''t that difficult. The hardest part of the journey was its length, meaning he needed to pick between this mission or attending the tribal meeting.
''The tribal meeting might be important, but I don''t need to attend it. I can always steal the treasure from them before I leave. On the other hand, I might not get another opportunity to obtain the formula, given my time left in this world.''
Just in case, he asked EverRealm if it was possible to track the person possessing the treasure with his compass
[Under rule 301 of realm competitions, the first person to obtain the objective will have 24 hours to prepare. After that, their approximate location will be announced at 2-hour intervals. Should you use an information-gathering item during this time, you will only obtain better results.]
''An indirect yes.'' Genji made up his choice and moved on to the last item.
The Fang of Jikikako was a canine tooth about the length of a human arm, wrapped in brown twine. It had a curved tip and pointy roots but was otherwise unremarkable. Genji guessed it held some significance to the Lunar clan, but it was useless to anyone else. Bechel picked these items well and ensured they wouldn''t be stolen by the person entrusted with this important task.
''That''s everything. If I want to understand more, I will need to complete this part. But before that, let''s address the elephant in the room: how did that beast king appear here? This place is relatively close to the monoliths and should be a forbidden zone for beasts. Yeah, its ability might be troublesome, but it shouldn''t be at a level where it can disregard all threats.
So why did it go out of its way to come here? There''s no reason, especially when there are more efficient places to hunt. So it must be lured here, either by someone or something. For the sake of plausibility, I''ll assume it''s an object and not a person since few can escape from it. Based on this, can I find some explanation for it being so displaced?
Yes, the beast was chasing after a creature, possibly another ground tunneler of a smaller size, that provoked it. If the agitator was bigger, the beast king wouldn''t have lost it and taken its anger out on us. So everything was an accident?!?''
Genji was taken aback by his conclusion, as it seemed outrageous that such an unlucky event was a result of coincidence, especially when he had Astros with him.
''Well, it''s lucky for me, but I doubt his luck is so strong. This isn''t lucky anymore; it''s almost improbable. No, there must be another explanation for this. Think Genji, think. Is it possible that someone controlled this critter to lure the beast king over to kill me?''
But Genji immediately dismissed this notion, as it would require the culprit to control the provoker from an absurd distance. Otherwise, they would risk facing the beast king''s fury and potentially lose their lives before achieving their goal.
Moreover, accomplishing this feat was easier said than done considering the unbelievable skills it demanded from someone at the 2nd step. Is there anyone who can do that from such a distance? Yet the moment Genji had that thought, he had a sudden epidemy that explained everything.
''Hold on, there is someone. Accidents, coincidences, and improbable events. Yes, it can only be him: the mastermind behind the tribal wars. One could be attributed to bad luck, but twice is too much of a coincidence for me, especially given the already unlikely probabilities. How could I have been attacked by that stray spear when they were battling so far away and ambushed by a beast king when I was so close to the monoliths? It''s too coincidental to be an accident, despite it being the only explanation.''
Without hesitation, Genji activated his compass and requested it point to the person behind the encounter. The pointer spun around like a helicopter blade before gradually settling in the direction of the tribal meeting spot.
''So you do exist. You might have slipped under many people''s radar, but you were too blatant. Now watch how I take care of you.''
Suddenly, Genji felt a probing stare from the same direction. It was evident who was spying on him, but Genji couldn''t sense any nearby presences. It was another long-ranged ability that defied logic.
Then, the pointer fell, losing focus of the target and reverting to its usual state.
[The connection of fate has been severed. Ultimate Tracking has lost its effect.]
Tsk "Annoying. Don''t let me catch you a third time or I will hunt you down, even if I have to do so over multiple worlds."
Then Genji grabbed Mokan and headed in the opposite direction, toward the Forest of Clear Moon.
178 – The Old Wolf
The end of the month came and went in the blink of an eye, leaving many eagerly anticipating the upcoming weeks. The tribes gathered for another meeting, sharing information and giving participants time to prepare.
The world also welcomed its second wave of explorers as more people became available. Among this group was Holster, a 3rd step champion who entered this world by restricting his stats.
''After so long, I''ve finally tracked down that long-lost treasure,'' he thought triumphantly. However, his excitement quickly turned to dismay when he read the mission description. ''What the hell! How did the other realms hear about this? We should be the only ones with that information!''
His alarm only grew when he learned about the previous month''s events, and how the tribes gathered to excavate a certain treasure. ''Holy shit, that''s fast! They must have a skilled fate scryer helping them. That''s the only way they could have made so much progress! I better pick up the pace or I might get the treasure stolen from right under me!''
That was how SagaRealm, the realm with the most proficient treasure hunters, joined the competition.
In the dead of night, the clattering of hooves suddenly echoed throughout, forming a chorus of fast-paced sounds. Tracing the source, one would spot a red blur flash by, followed by an oppressive killing intent that deterred any living obstacles. This was Genji and Bruce, charging forward with wild abandon.
Due to certain time constraints, Genji didn''t intend to waste any time and chose the most direct option: bulldozing through anything that stood in their way. This approach had offended numerous people, but it allowed them to leave the grasslands in merely three days¡ªa record most would consider impossible.
They hadn''t stopped, as Genji and Bruce would rotate every time they began tiring. This pace wasn''t particularly difficult to maintain since their robust vitalities gave them ample time to recover. The ones that truly had a hard time were Astros and Mokan, the passengers of this bumpy ride.
They had battled nausea throughout the journey and nearly lost control of their stomachs several times. Astros fared a little better, being accustomed to riding Genji, but Mokan needed to be knocked unconscious to avoid a vomiting disaster. Even the ferret couldn''t endure this after a while and chose to go dormant, leaving the two muscleheads to their own devices.
They ran for a little while longer and hunted some bison for food. As they began cooking, Astros and Mokan stirred from their sleep, having smelled the mouth-watering aroma wafting from the fire.
After scarfing down more food than their stomachs could handle, Genji announced they would rest for a few hours. Astros and Mokan rejoiced and ran around like excited children, celebrating their temporary reprieve. It was evident the journey had affected them greatly.
Genji slept during this time, recharging himself for the upcoming marathon. However, his peace was rudely interrupted when a giant viper covered in rocky scales approached them. Genji immediately jumped to his feet and glared at the snake''s head, indifferent to the scale crown on its skull.
"Fuck off. I''m not in the mood right now. Get lost before I turn you into ribbons," Genji threatened, prepared to use his full arsenal if necessary.
Taken aback by his boldness, the snake king paused its slither and evaluated Genji''s strength. After determining Genji was weaker than it, it hissed in anger and lunged at him.
''Fine, you asked for it.''
Berserk, Mental Impact, Untraceable Movement, Flashstep.
Using this combination of skills, Genji stun-locked the snake and appeared above it for a mighty strike. His fist thumped against his chest, sending his shadow core into overdrive to use Shadow Devour as well. This was by far his strongest attack, in the absence of his liberations, and it proved itself worthy.
Upon cracking the outer shell, all his frenzied energy rushed into the snake''s body and delivered a nearly lethal strike. The snake only survived because its defenses were too sturdy and warded off the energy before reaching the brain. Nonetheless, the attack overloaded its nerves with pain, briefly paralyzing it.
Genji landed in front of its mouth and kicked upward with all his strength, breaking one of its fangs. A sizzling sound came from the point of contact as his pants and skin melted under the yellow liquid seeping from the fracture.
"Get that!" he yelled to Bruce, understanding the value of the venom.
Blood from the snake gathered under the leaking bone and collected the drops. Genji moved to extend the paralysis, but the snake had recovered enough to use an ability. His attack bounced right off its newly enhanced scales, leaving merely a scratch. By his estimation, the snake''s defenses had tripled at that moment, rendering most of his methods useless.
Genji backed off and entered a tense stare-down with the beast. His left hand hovered over his chest, poised to overdraw his foundation if necessary. It all depended on the snake''s next actions.
The snake raised its body and hissed menacingly, accompanied by several flicks of its tongue. After a while, it decided Genji was too difficult of a prey and slowly retreated, cautious of any sudden attacks.
Once it receded from sight, Genji stowed away his weapon and relaxed his stance.
''These powerful beasts are becoming more frequent as I go deeper into the wilderness. What kind of tribe is Lunar to live in such an extreme environment?''
Genji held out a vial, collected the venom, and gave the container a swirl. ''Not bad. I can make good use of this.''
At that moment, Mokan came over and expressed his relief. "Phew, that was too close. We''re lucky it left before things got too ugly."
"Yes," Genji agreed. "It''s lucky to get away before I got serious. I could have harvested more venom from it."
Mokan rubbed his ears in doubt and questioned if he heard Genji correctly. ''Did he say what I think he said? Why do I feel like we''re not on the same page here? Wait, calm down. There''s no way he could have said that. I must be hearing things from the stress. Yes, that must be it...''
"Let''s go. It''s not safe to linger in one place too long," Genji called out before Mokan could further gaslight himself.
"Ok," Mokan answered absentmindedly before his tone grew distraught. "Wait, does that mean you''ll¡ª"
Pak
"Yup, but I''ll make it easy for you," Genji replied, lowering his arm and catching the unconscious Mokan before throwing him over Bruce. "You don''t have to feel a thing."
When Mokan regained consciousness, he found himself propped against a tree, feeling sore all over. In the corner of his eye, he saw a red horse dozing off with a curled ferret on its back.
"W-where am I?" he asked in a raspy voice.
"At our destination," Genji''s voice came from his side. When Mokan looked over, Genji passed him a water flask and some dried food. "Eat up. You''re going to need your strength for this next part."
"How long have I been out?"
"A few days," Genji answered vaguely.
Mokan nodded and ate his food. Once he rejuvenated his stomach, he asked, "Have you found the Lunar clan?"
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Genji shook his head. "That''s the curious thing. There are no human traces here, and it has been that way for a while. I don''t know how recent Bechel''s information is, but we''re stuck."
"We should look around."
"That''s the only thing we can do right now." Genji transferred Astros to his shoulder and let Bruce return to sheath form. Then they trudged through the sparse forest, following the widest path. Mokan assessed their surroundings along the way, finally getting an initial understanding of the terrain.
The trees were tall, had few leaves, bore a greyish-brown bark that appeared to be a cross between ash and mud, and required eight adult men to wrap around. With trees like these, Mokan could understand how the place got its name. As long as the skies were clear, it would be simple to see the moon.
"Heads up. We have company," Genji suddenly said, awakening Mokan from his thoughts.
Looking around, Mokan spotted around 20 wolves with white fur surrounding them. Their gazes were calm, their postures ready to pounce, and their fangs were bared, but Mokan didn''t feel any danger for some inexplicable reason. Rather, he felt quite tranquil, as if he was merely a bystander, watching the proceedings of nature.
Mokan didn''t know if this was his inherent instinct or if this reaction was due to Genji''s presence, but it was foreign to him. The wolves sniffed the air and communicated with a few subtle growls before releasing the encirclement. Interestingly, these wolves weren''t keen on attacking despite their superior numbers.
''They smelled something that made them reconsider. Is it the snake''s venom or something else?''
Genji didn''t think much about the issue and continued doing his own thing. However, the wolves followed them from a distance, prompting further considerations from Genji.
''Are they waiting for reinforcements? If so, I might have to get rid of them. This is the mission location, and I don''t want to risk meeting a beast king right now.''
The wolves met his gaze, barked at him, and retreated a few paces before barking again. Then they returned to their original positions and repeated the sequence.
"This... They seem to want to lead us somewhere?" Mokan asked with an uncertain tone.
"Only one way to find out," Genji replied, deciding to follow the strange wolves. He didn''t sense any malice from them, so he might as well instead of blindly searching the forest. It was not like there was much of a difference given their current circumstances.
The wolves began straying further when they saw Genji follow and gradually picked up speed once they confirmed the group could keep pace. As they dashed through the forest, the wolves occasionally released piercing howls at the sky and received similar howls in response. From the volume of these communications, Genji knew they were approaching another group.
''I hope they aren''t leading us to an ambush. That would be so lame given how intelligent they seem.''
After several more minutes of running, they came upon a decently sized pond where hundreds of similar wolves gathered. A few wolves greeted the returning members with cheerful barks, but most ignored their presence and leisurely enjoyed different pastimes.
Some basked in the sun''s warmth, lying in the open with exposed stomachs. Others dived into the pond to cool off and enjoy a nice swim, possibly hunting for their next meal.
There were even a few cubs on the side practicing what appeared to be a team formation without a care in the world. Overall, the place gave off a serene feel, as if these wolves were in a utopia of their own, with no need for deception or caution against invaders.
The wolves led them around the lake to a boulder where a giant wolf rested. A circular crown woven from fur sat on its head, attesting to its status. But this beast king gave Genji a far more dangerous impression than the others he''d met, as if it could dispatch multiple of its peers at once. However, this feeling didn''t stem from stat differences, but rather from a lifetime of combat experience.
The wolf king opened its eyes and cast an aged gaze at the group before letting out an indifferent yawn.
"Humans. What. Brings. You. Here?" A slow voice suddenly sounded, startling Mokan and causing him to scour the area for the source. "Stop. Looking. I''m. In. Front. Of. You."
Mokan froze at these words as he stiffly turned back to the wolf king. "B-b-b-b-but," he stammered, unable to comprehend his reality.
Genji stepped forward at this moment and broke the discomfort with a question of his own. "Since when can beast kings talk?"
"Sound. Is. Merely. A. Vibration. Those. With. Enough. Control. Can. Replicate. It. With. Energy."
''That explains the danger I''m sensing. If its control is as good as he suggests, I''m in for a hard time.''
"You. Have. The. Scent. Of. The. Late. Leader. Have. You. Come. To. Redeem. The. Promise?" The wolf king asked after a short observation.
"I don''t know what you''re talking about. Who''s your leader?"
"Did. Bechel. Not. Tell. You. Anything?"
"You know Grampa?!?" At the mention of this name, Mokan lost his composure and almost rushed at the wolf, if it wasn''t for Genji holding him back.
Countless thoughts flashed through Genji''s mind, but they all converged to one outlandish conjecture. "You''re the Lunar Clan?!?"
"Who. Else?"
''Everything makes sense now. No wonder I couldn''t find any human traces and why they could live in such a beast-infested area. Turns out they are beasts themselves. In hindsight, I should have seen this coming. The hunters have always referred to beast groups as clans. I just never made the connection.''
Understanding all this, Genji brought out the fang and presented it to the wolf. "Is this what you''re talking about?"
"A. Realm. Member. I. See. You''re. An. Escort."
"You know about the realms as well?" Genji asked, inwardly surprised.
"I''ve. Fought. In. The. War."
''He must be talking about the Spatial Battlefield. It''s the only place that doesn''t need explanations between us.''
Genji placed the fang down and received the next link the mission chain.
[Grandson''s Coming of Age]
Part 3/4
Requirements: Help the Lunar Clan collect the missing ingredients for the last part.
"So what do I need to get?" Genji immediately asked.
"The. Heart. Of. A. Beast. King."
"That''s a tall order you''re asking of me."
"I. Will. Help."
"Do you have a specific target?"
"A. Boar. It. Lives. Near. The. Forest."
"Sounds good. I need a remote place to prepare."
"There''s. An. Area. Behind. The. Lake."
Genji nodded and walked around the boulder. Mokan hesitated for a few seconds before running after him. "Hold on! What''s going on?" He asked, unable to keep up the conversation''s pace.
"Your gramps made some agreement with them, and I''m going to help," Genji explained.
"I can see that, but what''s the agreement?"
"I couldn''t tell you even if I wanted to. I''m as clueless as you here."
"But you agreed so easily!" Mokan argued.
"That''s because I''m confident in my strength. If you''re curious, go back and ask. I''m sure the old wolf won''t mind."
"Can I really?" Mokan asked uncertainly, unsure if it was a good idea to leave Genji''s side.
"Just go. You don''t want to be near me with what I''m about to do."
"Okay." Mokan nodded slowly and turned back around.
"You too," Genji said, waking Astros and summoning Bruce.
"Yiii?" The ferret responded sleepily before suddenly jolting up and giving Genji an aggrieved look, questioning why Genji wanted to send him away. *Sniff* ''Dad, do you not want me anymore?''
Genji ignored the resentful gaze and passed Astros to Bruce. "Take care of him, okay?"
Bruce nodded understandingly and followed Mokan back to the settlement, despite Astros''s many paw-waving protests.
''Sorry, little guy. You''re the one most at risk if you stay with me. I won''t be able to concentrate unless you''re gone.'' Genji waved them goodbye before retrieving the snake venom. ''Now let''s see if I can make a poison strong enough to take down a beast king.''
When Genji finished his seclusion and backtracked along the path, he found Bruce and the wolf king in an intense stare-off with neither party budging an inch. This lasted until the wolf king sensed Genji''s approach and turned to address him.
"A. Curious. Abomination. He. Has. The. Spirit. Of. A. Beast. But. A. Body. Resembling. The. Parasites. Where. Did. You. Find. Such. A. Partner?"
"In the collapse of a certain civilization. Also, the Parasites have dissolved. I made sure of it."
"What. Great. News. They. Were. Such. Annoying. Opponents. Respectable. But. Annoying."
"How''s the other ingredients coming along?"
"We. Found. Most. Of. Them. Just. Missing. A. Few."
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. It''s. Best. If. The. Heart. Is. The. Last. Ingredient. Fresher. That. Way."
"Alright. Give me a heads up when we''re about to leave." Genji beckoned at Bruce, asking why he was in a staring contest with the wolf king.
Bruce followed him and gestured vividly with his tentacles, expressing high interest in the king''s speech ability. ''Do you think I do that someday?''
"Maybe, but it''s going to be a long way. From what I can tell, his technique is even more precise than mine. And that''s not to mention how difficult it is to make the correct enunciations. There''s a good reason why he talks so slowly. But it is a good exercise if you want to hone your control."
Bruce nodded, slightly dejected, but quickly perked up as he obtained a new goal to work toward. ''Just you wait, my delicious foods. Once I learn to speak, I''m going to have the biggest feast ever. I''ll be able to order whatever I want, however I want.''
"By the way, where is the little guy? I haven''t seen him yet," Genji said after strolling for a while.
Bruce began gesturing again, conveying that Astros had gotten bored and went out to play.
"Is that so? That''s cool as well. I''m glad he''s not as dependent on me anymore. He''s maturing." Genji wasn''t worried about the ferret''s safety since Astros had the perfect toolset to protect himself. It would take nothing short of a natural disaster to hurt Astros, given his ungodly passives and powerful stealth inherited from Genji.
''That and maybe a careless area attack if his luck doesn''t save him.''
Astros truly was a one-of-a-kind creature that many could only envy.
"What about the kid? Is he doing alright?"
Bruce shrugged and stated he hadn''t paid much attention to Mokan. The last time Bruce saw him, Mokan was wandering around the forest with an herb basket like when they first picked plants.
"Sounds like he''s working hard to gather the other ingredients. Speaking of, I still don''t know what we''re preparing for. Let''s go ask." Genji returned to the rock where the wolf king was and mentioned his curiosity. "Just what agreement did your clan make with Bechel to require a beast king''s heart? No matter how I look at it, that''s not a normal ingredient."
The wolf king gazed at him before stating one of the most shocking things Genji had heard since entering this world.
"The. Only. Way. To. Become. An. Awakened. Warrior. Is. To. Consume. The. Heartblood. Of. A. Beast. King."
"!#*(#%^((!!@@&@(*@&%?"
179 – Awakening Ritual
"The. Only. Way. To. Become. An. Awakened. Warrior. Is. To. Consume. The. Heartblood. Of. A. Beast. King."
This revelation dumbfounded Genji, raising more questions than it answered. For example, "Why did Bechel leave this opportunity to Mokan? Wouldn''t it be more efficient if he used it himself? None of this would have happened if he had become an Awakened warrior! Why did he jump through so many hoops to make his grandson one?"
The wolf gave him an amused look and said, "Who. Said. He''s. Not?"
Genji''s eyes dilated again as possibilities raced through his mind. ''He did it on purpose!''
If what the wolf said was true, there was a good chance Bechel was still alive after covering for them against that beast king. He might not have won the battle, but it would be simple to deter it if he used all his strength. All he had to do was display enough strength to be more troublesome than it was worth. That was how Genji dealt with the snake after all.
"Hold on, does Mokan know about this? That his old man is still alive?"
"No. Only. How. To. Complete. The. Procedure."
''So Bechel needs Mokan to believe he''s dead. Why though? There must be a good reason. If everything was so simple, he could have brought Mokan here himself and completed the process. Unless...'' Genji vocalized his thoughts. "There''s something risky with the breakthrough process?"
The wolf nodded and confirmed his guess. "If. The. Container. Doesn''t. Have. A. Strong. Willpower. They. Will. Be. Consumed. By. The. Beast. King''s. Power. And. Go. Berserk."
"So Bechel faked his death to stimulate Mokan, I assume through revenge. As long as he can tide through the crisis, he will have the power to get revenge. With that mentality, it would take external interference for him to fail."
''And if I''m correct, then the fourth part should be protecting Mokan and guarding against anything unexpected.''
The wolf neither confirmed nor denied his guess, but his squinted eyes told Genji everything he wanted to know.
"Fine, when can we start the hunt?"
"Now. Should. Be. Fine. Mokan. Is. Almost. Done." The wolf king rose from his position and took a deep breath. Then he threw back his head and released a powerful howl at the skies, informing his clan members of his departure. After settling all the clan matters, the wolf king jumped off the rock and led the way.
Genji hopped on Bruce and followed from a distance, with the wolf stopping occasionally to sniff the air and subtly redirect their path. After two hours of this, Genji spotted some trees bearing tusk marks. This was how the boar king marked its territory.
The wolf released another howl, provoking the boar to come to them. Moments later, the ground began shaking, and an annoyed huffing sound closed in on their location. A giant boar with fierce tusks stepped into view, glaring at the unwelcome intruders.
"I. Need. To. Deal. The. Finishing. Blow," the wolf told Genji.
"Sounds good."
Genji burst forward, his saber raised with a new coating of poison. A large flare of shadow flames and cutting intent coated the blade, boosting its sharpness to new levels. Silhouettes burst out from his side, and his muscles also took on a red hue. Genji was using everything right now to deliver a single wound.
The boar raised its head, which had taken on a dark hue, boosting its defenses to confront Genji. However, as it swung with its strength, Genji disappeared, removing the expected impact and causing the boar to briefly lose its balance.
A heavy downward slash opened a shallow cut on its thick hide before Genji disappeared again. The slash transitioned into a stab from behind as a mental impact prevented the boar from reacting. A deeper wound appeared as Genji targeted a certain vulnerability, prompting an enraged roar. The boar''s eyes turned red with fury, and an immense impact rippled through the ground.
A quantum barrier shattered to offset the collision as Genji slashed out again. Another nick, another teleport, followed by a kick and a stab between the ribs before Genji violently ripped out the blade. After achieving all this, Genji retreated, dodging another vehement counterattack.
Genji appeared beside the wolf, sheathed [Jaguar], and swapped to his daggers.
"That should be enough of an opener. You can attack now."
The wolf flashed forward with glowing claws and ripped the wounds apart while narrowly gliding past the tusks. A brutal struggle then ensued between the two of them, with Genji occasionally darting in for easy attacks. The wolf was the main combatant in this fight, as Genji would sustain severe injuries from a single blow.
The boar fought like a berserker, chasing after damage without concern for dodging. For every hit endured, it would dish out a far more devastating counterattack, making it difficult to combo. It didn''t help that every attack was an area of effect, leaving no openings for disruptions. The fighting style was very brutish but effective, managing to keep pace with the wolf and Genji despite their technical superiorities.
''No wonder the wolf wanted help. The boar directly counters him. Too bad I don''t care about these advantages. It should be kicking in any moment now.''
As if responding to Genji''s thoughts, the boar suddenly retreated, having sensed something amiss within its body: its wounds weren''t closing as expected. The boar glared at Genji, understanding he was the source of this phenomenon. The boar had fought the wolf many times and knew its abilities, but this was not among them. By simple deduction, Genji must be the culprit.
"Are you curious why your regeneration isn''t working?" Genji stopped at a distance and entered a stare-off with the boar. The wolf also stopped, sensing Genji was planning something, while the boar stood still, waiting for its body to resist whatever was affecting it.
"AD-4872917-TWT, or as I like to call it, Hemaphilla Type-4, thins your blood to an unnatural level, essentially crippling your healing factor. Your blood stops clotting and it becomes significantly harder to deal with injuries. That''s why we''ve only been attacking your wounds, even when there are better options. Not a bad poison, right? It took me a while to figure this out using a certain venom as the base. I''m quite proud of it."
At this moment, the wounds stopped bleeding and the boar looked at Genji with disdain, as if mocking him for explaining his abilities mid-battle and giving it time to find a workaround. ''So what if my blood is thin? I''ll just force it shut with my muscles. I can''t bleed if there''s no opening to gush out.''
Genji''s smile only widened at this response. "That''s true, but you know what''s the problem with that?"
Before the boar could respond, Genji appeared beside it, delivering multiple rapid strikes and ending the combo with a massive X-cross. "Your body becomes stiff and-"
Genji jumped over a wave of impact, jammed his daggers into the back, and continued his sentence. "Unable to react in time. In a battle like this-"
Genji jerked his daggers aside and separated a large chunk along with them. Blood and skin splattered on Genji''s face, giving him a maniacal look when paired with his wide grin. "That could mean the difference between life and death."
Then Genji retreated again, denying the boar any chance to trap him. The wolf rushed forward, pouncing on the boar and tearing fresh wounds with its claws and teeth. Savage bites and painful rends assaulted the beast, further fueling its rage. A loud growl echoed across the area, and an earthy hue blanketed its body.
The wounds burst open again and poured out rivers of blood, but the madness-driven boar ignored all this and dug its hooves into the ground, taking a charging stance. After being forced so much by Genji, it was ready to risk it all in one final attack. Either it would emerge victorious from this or bring its foes down with it.
The wolf realized the severity of the situation and increased his barrage rate, striving to end the boar before it could release its attack, but his claws simply bounced off the aura coating. The boar had expected such bombardment and defended against the only one capable of stopping it.
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"RUN!" the wolf shouted at Genji, recognizing the situation was beyond salvageable, while inwardly cursing Genji for his foolishness. ''Why did you have to provoke him so much? Now he''s ready to blow both of us up.''
However, Genji maintained his smile and even stepped forward, almost giving the wolf a panic attack. A handkerchief appeared in Genji''s hand as he casually wiped his face, as if on a picnic stroll rather than amidst a life-threatening crisis.
"Do you know why I wasted so much time talking? It''s because I needed to stall until the poison fully took effect. Let me tell you, its strongest aspect isn''t healing denial or hindering the target, but thinning the blood. Do you know why?"
''What are you talking about? Run, you idiot!'' The wolf wanted to shout but didn''t have the attention to conjure the words.
Out of nowhere, the boar abruptly froze and its energy scattered. Immediately after that, all the wounds erupted in copious amounts of blood, producing a veil of red.
The wolf''s eyes widened with shock, but it didn''t dare delay its attack. Its claws glowed with a soft sheen resembling the moon before plunging them into the boar''s chest. Then it yanked out, revealing a still-beating heart in hand. A wave of relief passed through the wolf''s mind when it realized the chest cavity had no blood. The boar had been drained dry, bereft of a single drop.
"Because I have a partner who can control blood. Normally, he can''t drain someone like that, but it becomes a different story if someone suddenly releases the pressure holding back the blood. It''s like poking a hole in a pressurized hose. Everything just bursts out with a little guidance." Genji''s voice sounded again, grabbing the wolf''s attention.
As it looked over, it saw all the blood gathering in the distance, where Bruce had hidden before the battle. The wolf even witnessed the specks staining his pure white fur flaking off and joining the stream, along with the ones on Genji''s handkerchief.
''Did he plan all of this from the start?'' the wolf wondered as it comprehended Genji''s words.
"You. Are. One. Scary. Motherfucker," it told Genji as he approached.
"Thank you. Do you need the blood as well? If not, we''ll be taking it."
The wolf glanced at the grey organ in its paw and agreed with Genji''s request. "Go. Ahead. This. Will. Do."
Genji held a thumbs-up at Bruce, indicating he could have his snack.
[You have slain: Beast King of The Forest, Mighty Boar.]
[Your max energy has increased by 120 points.]
[You have obtained: 500,000 coins.]
[You have obtained: Magnificent Tusks]
[Magnificent Tusks]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Durability: 50/50
Requirements: 40 constitution, 45 strength
Effects:
- Ultimate Rampage (Active): Consume 2 durability to ignore all pain for 5 minutes. +50% damage during this time. 12-hour cooldown.
- Surging Shockwaves (Active): Consume 5 durability to give your attacks a shockwave bonus. Shockwaves are area attacks and buffed by the earth element. 1-day cooldown.
- A Final Burst (Passive): After this item runs out of durability and breaks, gain pain immunity, +300% damage to all physical attacks, Strengthened Shockwave bonus to attacks, and 20% damage resistance for 5 minutes.
Description: A powerful item that grants you the strength of a boar king. However, its uses are limited due to the damage it suffered when the owner was alive.
Note: It''ll provide a decent boost if you can ignore how ridiculous it looks when wearing such big tusks.
Note 2: This is a necklace. Only one necklace can be worn at once.
If not for the second note, Genji would have used this piece. However, he already had the [Quantum Pulse Pendant], a legendary necklace fulfilling that role. Genji preferred its powerful barrier skill over offensive buffs, as it provided a quick defensive skill rather than one overlapping with Berserk.
''Still, I know just the right person to sell this to. He''d love this, especially since it resembles his legacy liberation.''
When they returned to the settlement, the wolf king called for Mokan and handed him the heart. "Get. The. Ingredients. And. Come. Find. Me."
Mokan complied, and they gathered at the wolf king''s rock. He sat cross-legged, arranging the ingredients in a circular arc around him, ending with a shallow, wide red bowl containing the boar''s heart. The wolf king hovered over the bowl from above, slit its paw, and let a thin stream of blood waterfall onto the heart.
As the blood settled and the organ regained some of its former redness, the wolf gazed up at the sky and said, "The. Moon. Is. Full. Tonight. Luck. Is. On. Our. Side." Then he peered into Mokan''s eyes and imposingly declared, "You. May. Begin."
Mokan began processing the ingredients according to another secret formula, ensuring each step was executed to the best of his memory. It had been a long time since Bechel taught him this strange ceremonial ritual, but he hadn''t forgotten a single detail.
The elder had been very strict in teaching him and wouldn''t relent until he perfected it. At the time, Mokan couldn''t understand why his grampa put so much emphasis on this strange ceremony, but he could now see it was preparation for this moment.
''Everything has led up to this moment. I can''t fail now. Just wait, gramps. I will get revenge for you.''
As this happened, Genji sensed a strange, but familiar energy gathering in the bowl from the atmosphere. It was the same energy the wolf king had used hours prior and had the same feeling as the moon above.
''I guess that''s where they got their name.''
When Mokan finished the ritual, he picked up the heart, tore it apart, and stuffed it in his mouth. Then he washed everything down with the mixture with large gulps. From the side, Genji could see his throat recoil with disgust, but Mokan forced everything down and refused to think too much about the situation.
After finishing, Mokan placed the bowl down and entered a meditative state. At the same time, Genji''s mission was updated, becoming a protection task as he previously speculated.
''Really just precautions at this point. It''s unlikely that something actually happens.''
To pass the time, Genji made some small talk with the wolf. "What''s with the energy I sensed? Shouldn''t it be earthy since you''re using the boar''s heart?"
"The. Ritual. Converted. It. The. Boar. Does. Not. Fit. Him."
"So he''s going to be like you? Using, what I presume to be lunar energy?"
"Yes. His. Body. Already. Contains. Traces. Of. Our. Blood. This. Will. Allow. Him. To. Exert. His. Strongest. Form."
"Traces? How does that work?"
"Genetics."
It was a simple answer, but Genji''s mind began racing again. "Hold on, like from his ancestors?"
"Yes. Bechel. Inherited. Our. Blood. And. Passed. It. Onto. His. Descendants. Too. Bad. His. Son. Died. Before. Awakening. It. Leaving. The. Promise. Unfulfilled. For. Years."
"If I''m understanding you correctly, awakening changes the subject''s genetic code?"
"Where. Do. you. Think. The. Name. Came. From? It''s. To. Awaken. A. Bloodline. And. Become. Part. Beast. Only. That. Way. Can. They. Gain. Our. Strength."
"I''m starting to notice a trend here. It seems that no matter which world, people are giving up their humanity in exchange for supernatural powers. They might gain amazing abilities in the short term, but they''re subjecting themselves to that power''s limit. If they''re unlucky, they will have to fumble a lot to make any progress."
"That. Is. The. Price. For. Survival. Not. Everyone. Are. Like. You. Realm. Members. Capable. Of. Unhindered. Growth."
At this moment, Mokan began stimulating the mixture and his aura began gradually climbing.
''It''s started,'' Genji thought and entered a hypersensory state. Although he doubted any complications would come up, he wasn''t willing to risk it.
Hours later, at the crack of dawn, Mokan''s aura stabilized, and he awoke from his trance. ''Is this the strength of an awakened warrior? I feel so powerful,'' he thought, perceiving a metaphorically endless from within. However, this joy quickly faded when he realized the wolf king''s aura dwarfed his own numerous times over, despite being in a restrained state.
"What''s going on? Shouldn''t I be an awakened warrior? Why is there still such a difference?" Panic began seeping into his voice as the possibility of failure crept into his mind.
"Calm. Down. You. Didn''t. Fail. Awakening. Is. Like. A. Key. It. Opens. The. Door. To. Greater. Power. But. It. Can''t. Bring. You. Through. It. You. Still. Need. Time. To. Grow."
"I see," Mokan sighed disappointedly, aware that his revenge would take longer than initially expected.
"Cheer. Up. We. Have. Enough. Resources. To. Push. You. There. It. Won''t. Take. Long." The wolf jumped off his stone and slashed at it with an energy-infused claw, surprising everyone. Over these few days, the wolf had made its fondness for this boulder evident, so none of them expected the wolf to shatter its favorite resting spot suddenly.
*Crrreeeaakkkk*
The boulder broke apart, revealing a clearish red hue found only within one material: vitality stones! The entire boulder was a vitality stone, and it was humongous!
''What the? Since when?!?'' Mokan inwardly screamed.
"I''ve. Been. Gathering. Energy. Since. I. Became. The. Clan. Leader," the wolf explained smugly. "All. For. This. Moment."
"And how long is this?" Genji asked, eyeing the size of the stone. ''And did he just imply he created this?''
"I''ve. Been. A. Beast. King. For. 134. Years. And. A. Leader. For. 96." His tone was full of pride as if flaunting a cherished trophy.
Genji blinked several times at the wolf before turning to ask Mokan a question. "Mokan, how old is Bechel?"
Mokan paused to think, but he quickly realized he didn''t have the answer, which was unexpected considering how close they were. It wasn''t that he forgot, but rather he never knew it in the first place. "Huh? Now that I think about it, Grampa has never mentioned his age before. How is this possible?"
Sigh "I see what''s going on," Genji said, facepalming and shaking his head. "Everything makes sense now."
''Why everyone believes there are only five Awakened, why the information I got is inconsistent, and why his tribe can tell me the exact age of the oldest Awakened.''
"What are you talking about?" Mokan asked, confused at the connection between Bechel''s age and the vitality boulder.
Genji ignored him and called out to the wolf. "Hey wolf, how long do you plan on keeping this farce?"
"I. Wanted. To. Keep. It. A. Surprise," it replied, half sulkily.
Mokan sensed he wasn''t getting the full picture and demanded an answer. "What surprise? What''s going on? Can somebody explain what''s happening?"
Genji sighed again and curtly said, "Your grandpa, Bechel, is the oldest awakened, and he''s still alive."
"W-w-w-what?" This was a thunderbolt out of the blue for Mokan, and he didn''t know how to respond. It was like being told his whole life was a lie after working so hard.
"Come on. Let''s go find the little guy," Genji said to Bruce, walking from the scene.
"Neiighh," Bruce agreed, having gotten enough entertainment from the family drama.
[You have completed: Grandson''s Coming of Age]
[You have obtained: Bechel''s Secret Formula]
[Bechel''s Secret Formula]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Recorded Information
Description: A secret formula researched by Bechel over his long life. He initially intended to use this for his son''s awakening, but tragedy struck before the opportune time. Now he''s only left with a grandson to raise, preferably away from the tribal world''s conflicts.
Note: Many of the ingredients listed are native to this world, making the formula less applicable, but the concepts are worth learning.
180 – Food Obsession
As Genji followed his compass, he encountered more and more beast kings. This was expected since he was venturing deeper into the wilderness and toward the center of the world. All signs of civilization had faded by this point, leaving only the natural terrain and those who claimed the land as their own.
Luckily, most of the inhabitants were neutral and allowed Genji to pass by undisturbed. They had no reason to stop him since he wasn''t disturbing them. It was like a non-interference agreement between the strong. Some beast kings weren''t even aware of his passing, as they were enjoying a midday nap.
However, his luck ran out when he encountered an Allosaurus. Unlike others, this T-rex cousin blocked his path instead of watching from a distance. Genji tried to go around, but the creature persistently jumped back in his way with its powerful hind legs. After a few attempts, Genji realized it wouldn''t let them pass easily and prepared for a confrontation.
To his surprise, the dinosaur stopped at a non-threatening distance and gestured at its mouth. Then it roared at Genji before pointing at its stomach and awaited Genji''s response.
"Uhhh, any idea what it wants?" Genji asked Bruce.
The nightbane was as clueless as Genji, but he could somewhat communicate with the Allosaurus. After some back and forth, Bruce''s eyes grew strange as he conveyed his guess to Genji: ''I think it wants something to eat from us.''
Genji''s eyes mirrored Bruce''s look, but he decided to indulge the dinosaur since its gestures seemed to convey that message. It was just unexpected to see such an act from a beast king when it could easily hunt something. It wasn''t like prey was hard to find around here. There was literally a fleeing bison on the horizon!
Genji didn''t overthink it and tossed over some leftovers, dismissing the behavior as the beast king''s eccentricity. Upon catching the offering, the Allosaurus took a small nibble before its eyes creased up in contentment and stepped out of the way. It had gotten whatever it was after and had no more reasons to obstruct Genji.
Genji encountered many changes as he continued deeper. The natural resources in the environment became more abundant and rich, allowing more species to prosper. Verdant trees grew pleasant fruits and cast their shade upon the world, enabling symbiotic vines to grow steadily.
The soil became darker and more nutrient-rich, supported by healthy worms and vegetable gardens. Many varieties of starchy roots filled the ground, providing ample food for all herbivores. This thriving ecosystem supported many apex predators, making beast kings much more common.
The population density had reached a point where Genji would encounter one every half hour as he moved through different territories. What he didn''t expect, though, was an increase in beast kings demanding a food toll as he passed by. It turned out the Allosaurus wasn''t the weird one but rather merely following an established norm among certain beast kings.
"Who the frick taught them to tax people like that? This is getting ridiculous," Genji exclaimed after the seventh time. "If I ever find out who did this, I''m going to have a serious talk with them."
By the eleventh time, Genji fully accepted this strange reality and prepared lots of food with Bruce, which came in handy when they came upon a border guarded by multiple beast kings. This was an unexpected scene since beast kings were typically solitary creatures. It was hard enough for an area to feed a single king, let alone a community.
However, this change indicated another increase in floral density, marking the center of the world where resources were most concentrated. Only here could beast kings live without worry and thrive together. Genji gave each king a small offering, and they allowed him through. As he walked, he spotted many vibrant life forms, each flourishing in its own way. It was so lively that one could smell the vitality in the air.
Many beast kings shot peculiar looks his way, obviously surprised to see a human, but soon resumed their normal activities. In this place, there was an unspoken rule against causing a disturbance. Since the sentries allowed him in, it meant he knew these rules and would follow them. Otherwise, they wouldn''t mind tearing him to pieces.
''Just what kind of place did the little guy enter? It''s only been 15 minutes and I''ve already seen at least ten beast kings,'' Genji wondered.
Bruce was on edge the whole time and frequently glanced around with anxiety. It was hard to relax when a single mistake could result in them being besieged by multiple walking disasters. They were literally in the beasts'' den, and nothing could change that.
"Relax, if it comes down to it, I''m confident I can get us out alive," Genji reassured him. This drew some unfriendly stares, as it sounded like Genji was there to cause trouble.
Inspired by Genji''s courage, Bruce disregarded the surrounding threats and gave Genji a look filled with admiration and reverence. ''As expected of you, master. So daring. Ok, I''ll be like that as well.''
Bruce''s nose tilted upward, and his gait gained a fearless flair, prompting many eye rolls from the observing beasts. ''Why are you being so arrogant? Aren''t you just relying on someone else''s strength? If you dare, try doing that when you''re alone.''
Bruce ignored the "looks of admiration" and continued walking, eventually approaching a rising plume of smoke. At its source was Astros, clumsily roasting a red, fleshy mushroom at a makeshift campfire, if you could even call it that. Five large beast kings gathered around Astros, one of which was a red chameleon who occasionally spat out wisps of fire to replenish the dwindling pile.
Astros sat on top of a bear''s head, dangling a stick of mushrooms like a fishing rod. After fumbling to turn the stick a few times, Astros pulled it from the fire, revealing unevenly cooked pieces. Many of the edges were burnt black, while the insides still leaked raw juices.
Nonetheless, the beast kings cheered in celebration and devoured the food as if it were the most scrumptious thing they''d ever tasted. And in a way, it was, considering they''d only eaten raw foods their whole lives.
''What the fuck is happening right now?'' Genji wondered, speechless at the scene.
To explain the events leading up to this point, we need to rewind a few days, back to when Astros encountered a colony of giant bees. At the time, the bees were harvesting nectar and transporting it back to their hive. Astros followed out of curiosity and was subsequently discovered. But instead of attacking him, the queen invited Astros inside and offered him some honey.
This new food fascinated Astros, and he was soon face-deep in the golden syrup. Seeing how much Astros was enjoying himself, the queen asked if he wanted to stay a while longer. Astros, like all young children, was enticed by the prospect of sweetness and agreed. During this time, a bear king stopped by to forage for a snack. That was the same bear that Astros is currently sitting on.
The bees were not happy about this intrusion, but there was nothing they could do against the beast king''s formidable defenses. After brushing off numerous insignificant stings, the bear reached the hive and tore off a chunk. Coincidentally, this was the same area where Astros was staying, causing him to drop onto the bear.
Astros had a dazed look at the sudden change in surroundings and looked around in confusion, smudges of honey still staining his face. The bear, seeing Astros''s adorable appearance, felt apologetic about the disturbance and decided to treat Astros to some better food.
So the bear brought Astros back to its area, inside the world''s center, and gave him some Beastbloom Shrooms, a special mushroom domesticated by the beasts to be their food source.
Many carnivores love these mushrooms because they taste just like real meat. In fact, the resemblance is so uncanny that someone can swap the two and no one would notice, not even the most perceptive eater. Additionally, these mushrooms require minimal resources to grow and mature in a fraction of the time it takes for animals to do so.
There were almost no downsides to growing these mushrooms. "Almost" is used because there is one complication: these mushrooms need to be fed with blood. More specifically, they take on the qualities of their environment. Without a constant supply of blood, they won''t develop the flavor and nutrition the beast kings desired.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Instead, they''ll become dirt-like and unpalatable, deterring all predators. This was their survival mechanism and also why many referred to these mushrooms as Total Mimicry Fungi, a more fitting name than what the beasts called them.
Now, where does the blood come from? The beast kings, of course. Every king in the world''s center would grow some of these mushrooms in their territory as a renewable food source.
And if they dislike the taste of their own species, they could always trade with another beast king for variety. With so many options available, none of them have to resort to cannibalism if they don''t want to. It''s not like there''s much difference since they''re all beast kings and their products are similarly nutritious.
The bear wasn''t such a picky eater and happily gorged on its portion after serving Astros. But while the bear found the mushrooms delicious, Astros could only see a bloody mess. Due to Genji and Bruce''s influence, his standards were much higher and required his meals to be cooked, at the very least.
The bear mistook this aversion and assumed Astros was vegetarian. Unwilling to see his guest go hungry, the bear brought Astros to some nearby friends in hopes of procuring food Astros would enjoy. However, the ferret only nibbled at a few fruits, disheartening the bear.
''What kind of host am I if I can''t even feed my guests properly?'' The bear sulked to himself.
''Cheer up. I''m sure we can find something he will like. There are so many plants here,'' his herbivore friend comforted him. ''I''ll even go with you.''
And so, they visited other friends, but the results were similarly fruitless. Astros simply wasn''t interested in whatever the beast kings deemed as food. This continued until they met the fire-breathing chameleon, which gave Astros an idea. After gesturing for a while, the beast kings understood his intentions and convinced the chameleon to lend its fire.
The chameleon was confused by the request but obliged since it found the little guy pleasing to the eyes. The first attempt was an utter failure since the flames were too strong and turned the mushroom into pure ash. The second time was a little better, but it still came out like charcoal.
They fine-tuned their technique a few more times before achieving something resembling food. Astros still wouldn''t eat it, but the beasts found the smell intriguing enough to try. The flavor wasn''t spectacular, but it gave them an idea of what Astros was trying to accomplish. The results gradually improved until Astros decided to take a small nibble, which he immediately spat out and tossed to the crowd.
There was only so much he could do with his poor technique and small body. Despite that, his cooking became a delicacy as word spread, and more kings queued up for reservations. Even the herbivore kings gave it a taste out of curiosity about the hype. They didn''t particularly like it, but they didn''t hate it either. They were simply indifferent.
"It''s not bad, but I think it would taste better if you used plants," they would say, which would immediately provoke the carnivores to rebut, "Get out of here. How dare you suggest such a blasphemous idea! Roasted mushrooms are the best!"
The herbivores were helpless against this since they were in the minority. No matter how valid their opinions were, they couldn''t change the minds of the obsessed masses.
Bruce became equally speechless upon learning this fact. Then a tentacle formed and patted Astros, Bruce''s eyes full of pity. ''It must have been rough for you. Come, let big brother cook something for you.''
As Astros hopped aside, Bruce''s gaze transformed into disdain as he glanced at the kings. ''A bunch of inexperienced bumpkins. I can''t believe they consider something so poorly made a delicacy. I feel ashamed to know they worship the same taste of meat as me.''
The beasts sensed his contempt and roared back in defiance but held themselves back for Astros. It was not worth offending the only animal who knew how to roast meat for this arrogant prick.
However, this resistance quickly faded when a mouth-watering aroma filled the air. Their eyes instantly fixated on the spinning golden mass like cats to lasers, barely containing themselves from lunging at it.
Bruce ignored all of this and tossed the perfectly cooked mushroom to Astros, who hungrily devoured it. Audible gulps were heard in this short period, only to be awoken by Genji clearing his throat.
*Ahem ahem* "If only there were more food so everyone could have some..."
This immediately sent the beast kings into action, scampering to the reserves grown by the chameleon. Genji saw flecks of blood spray through the air as claws dug through the soil at hypersonic speeds, harvesting the mushrooms with surprising cooperation.
Then they spilled more blood over the trenches, replenishing the lost amount, before charging back to the fire. They accomplished all of this in a split second before sound could even catch up to them. Moments later, the greenery bent, as if a hurricane had passed through, and their wounds began closing.
The beast kings ignored all of this and reverently offered Bruce the mushrooms, as if he were a holy emissary bringing the words of God to his believers. They were practically begging Bruce to roast some mushrooms for them. Astros''s jaws dropped at this sight, unable to believe how far the kings would go for some food.
Bruce gave a proud harrumph before sprouting multiple tentacles from around his body. As each limb latched onto a mushroom, Bruce motioned for the chameleon to increase the heat and portioned the mushrooms into smaller pieces. Then his tentacles swirled around at eye-blurring speeds, cooking everything in record time before flinging them at everyone''s mouths.
Content chewing sounds followed as Bruce worked overtime to process everything, becoming the very definition of speed. Before they knew it, Bruce had gone through everything, ending the beasts'' brief encounter with heaven.
''That''s it?'' They wondered, unable to comprehend how the ingredients ran out so rapidly. However, they were forced to confront the truth, as they recalled the gradual shrinkage of the mushroom pile. *Sigh* ''If only we got more.''
At this moment, a group of beast kings charged into the vicinity, their noses pointed in the air, sniffing intently. Then their gazes fell on the fire and lamented their late arrival. ''Dammit! We missed a feast!''
Seeing this, Genji had a stroke of inspiration and walked toward Bruce. "Thanks for the meal," he said, manifesting a dagger. "Let me give you the payment now." Then he sliced his palm and squeezed, releasing a thin trickle that brightened Bruce''s eyes.
Blood gathered at Bruce''s mouth and compressed inward, becoming a bright orb that he drank. Bruce licked his muzzle and nodded in appreciation at Genji before turning to the beasts who lay blissfully on the ground.
The beast kings understood the message and followed suit, giving Bruce another helping of blood. They didn''t mind since they were already exchanging blood for food. What difference did it make if they gave a little more for even better food? Plus, with that taste, it felt more like a bargain than anything.
The crowd''s eyes lit up as well, as this indicated they would also have a chance to taste that heavenly smell. Otherwise, Bruce wouldn''t be accepting payments and imitating businesses. Then everyone swarmed Bruce, each vying to have him visit their territory next.
As the clamor of roars sounded, Genji stepped out and flashed a thumbs-up at Bruce, encouraging him to have fun, collect a lot of blood, and feed Astros more food. This was a great opportunity to strengthen both of them and shouldn''t be missed.
Bruce understood the message and waved back, promising he would make the most of this chance, and that Genji could go do his own thing without worry. Then they separated, each going their own way in search of possible windfalls.
Genji pulled out his compass and placed a vitality stone on it, intending to push his health to 20,000. Ever since the Wolf King revealed that vitality stones could be manually created, Genji speculated that the habitats of beast kings would have similar resources.
Although these kings might not actively gather the world''s unique energy, their mere presence should draw a significant amount over time, especially in this area where many kings congregate. Genji planned to bargain for this energy, and potentially earn enough for income.
To his surprise, this task was much easier than expected once he offered some of Bruce''s snacks. This made sense after further thought since the average health of a beast king was around 45,000, far surpassing the effective limit of vitality stones. Pairing that with how enticing the snacks were, the beast kings had all the reason to agree.
They were essentially trading away their junk for each other''s treasures, resulting in a win-win situation where both parties were happy. In fact, the hardest part of this exchange was actually finding the beast kings, since so many of them were gathered around Bruce.
Genji often walked into empty dens and had to go elsewhere. He didn''t want to resort to theft or forced exchanges, as that would leave a bad impression for future dealings. The beasts were such agreeable partners that it was not worth risking their ire for some extra income.
On this day, Genji sensed a large-scale spatial disturbance as a massive portal opened in the distance. After the magical structure stabilized, a stream of beast kings emerged. Many of them bore still-healing scars from battles they''d previously fought and radiated intense killing intent.
These were the kings who had just returned from war. While not all of them were from the Spatial Battlefield, it didn''t change the intensity of their battles. They had fought long and hard, and this was their break.
These beast kings had a few paths for their futures. They could either stay in this world and live carefree in the surrounding areas, return to their original worlds to take care of their clans, choose a combination of the two like the wolf king had done, or head off to higher worlds in pursuit of greater strength.
The last option was viable because the king level was not the limit of their strength. After all, beyond the kings were the emperors, which corresponds to the 4th step of the realms. Those were true powerhouses among the faction. For now, details on Beast Emperors will be omitted.
Among this group was a familiar golden lion, who burst out in excitement when he heard about the wonder chef in the area. Without waiting to hear the rest of it, he rushed forward in search of delicious food. However, when he arrived at the feast, Bruce refused to serve this lion specifically. He was still holding a grudge after having his snack stolen two months prior.
Astros watched with interest, wondering what could have made his brother reject a customer like this. After some back and forth and an apology, Bruce eventually forgave the lion and agreed to cook for him at an increased price. However, Lanak soon encountered another problem as he didn''t have any mushrooms to provide.
After all, he had just returned from the battlefield and hadn''t grown any. Plus, none of the other kings wanted to share since they were still awaiting their turn. Thus, Lanak was forced to hunt and prepare food the old-fashioned way, all so he could taste the new flavors.
''But it''s all worth it. The weird horse knows what he''s doing, and I can''t get enough of his food.''
181 – Treacherous Jungle
It was the 41st day, just four days before this session''s finale. Genji chose to leave today because the beast kings had exhausted their stock and needed time to replenish it. Astros had consumed many of these mushrooms, demonstrating his mighty appetite and astonishing the beast kings.
According to their calculations, Astros had consumed several tons of food, yet his appearance remained unchanged. His stomach was somehow as flat as when he began, leaving everyone wondering where all the food had gone. Bruce also had a feast, gaining enough vitality to undergo a minor upgrade in strength. It was a bountiful harvest in every expected way.
Many of the gathered beast kings sending them off had reluctant expressions, as these few days had passed quicker than anticipated. If possible, they wanted to freeze time and bask in the joy forever. That was how much they enjoyed the gang''s presence. Unfortunately, all good times had to end, and they bid their farewells with heart-wrenching roars as if they''d lost a precious treasure.
"Do you all have to be so dramatic? It''s only a simple goodbye," Genji asked, shaking his head speechlessly.
Genji had another reason for leaving today. It had been a week and a half since he left the tribes to their devices, yet there hadn''t been a major announcement. What had happened to their treasure hunt? Even if the journey took time, this delay was too long, especially with so many realm members eagerly helping them.
The only explanation was that something unexpected had occurred, halting their competition. To ensure everything was on track, Genji needed to check the situation himself, even if it meant joining a standoff for the treasure. After all, there was little the others could do if someone waited until the last day to snatch it. They would only need to escape successfully and hide to secure the win.
It was such an advantageous position that Genji coveted being that thief rather than the hunter with innumerable teammates. Ultimately, it boiled down to seizing the initiative rather than being reactive.
Two hours after Genji began tracking the tribes, he came upon a ginormous mountain range that stretched further than the eye could see and taller than the clouds. Not all the mountain height could be seen, but visible parts were mostly glaring white, indicating year-round snow.
The peak could not be seen as it was a blurry outline against the sun''s bright backdrop. At the foot of the mountain, a valley separated the mountain range like a natural entrance beyond this insurmountable wall. Many tribe members were gathered at this entrance, seemingly guarding against unwanted intruders.
Interestingly enough, this giant formation was not on Bechel''s map despite how well-traveled he was. Genji wondered how the elder missed such an obvious landmark, but didn''t think too much about it. For now, his priority was to find the main group and understand the current situation.
Genji threw a few smoke bombs and dashed up the valley walls. Arrows whirred through the air at him, but the lack of visibility made it difficult to lock on. These guards weren''t particularly capable, so they couldn''t lock onto his aura in time. By the time they reacted, Genji had already disappeared from their detection range, leaving them with solemn expressions.
"We have an intruder. Inform the monoliths!" the guard leader ordered the group. The loosely assembled guard team debated intensely for some time before finally agreeing to send a person from each tribe. The leader sighed at this scene but quickly accepted this fact. If these tribes were actually competent, they wouldn''t be stationed here, but in the exploration teams.
A few minutes later, Genji stopped and observed his surroundings. For the most part, the area consisted of vibrant plants that intertwined on top of each other to form a difficult-to-traverse road.
The croaking of crickets and other bugs could be heard beneath, giving way to unpalatable fears of hidden critters. One would never know if there was a deadly insect among this group, capable of killing with a single bite, as they would be long gone when they got the answer.
The trees were also caked with moss, hardly revealing their bark as undecipherable hisses sounded overhead. Accompanying these was the earthy smell of damp soil and the pungent stench of decaying matter. This place resembled an overgrown jungle, only more rugged from years of isolation.
Fortunately, Genji was not the pioneer and could take the paths paved by those before him. He conjured a thin layer of cutting intent around his skin to deter any unwanted pests and began hacking his way through the semi-cleared trail. He occasionally swept his saber above him as he walked, killing any vipers that overestimated their strengths.
The rain of blood and flesh attracted some dangerous-looking ants that promptly devoured these remains. Within seconds, the bodies of these giant snakes had disappeared without a trace. Not even bones or scales were left behind in this frenzy.
It was sights like these that made Genji wary of this place. After all, he could only imagine what dangers lay deeper if the periphery was this vicious.
''Also, why are these animals so feral? It''s almost like they''re not as intelligent as their outside counterparts.''
After a few more minutes, Genji came upon an open area containing an eye-catching mushroom. The head was bright red with purple polka dots, an opaque body, and black gills. Everything about the fungus screamed poisonous, but it emitted a sweet scent that excited the blood.
Anyone who knew a bit about evolutionary biology would understand this mushroom was imitating a poisonous species but was, in reality, a medicinal treasure.
However, this scene triggered alarm bells in Genji, as the mushroom seemed too pristine. There were no blemishes or damaged bits on the fungus, despite being in such a pest-infested environment. Plus, the area was too tidy as well, like it hadn''t been disturbed by anything else.
But how could that be possible, given how obvious this clearing was? It didn''t add up.
Genji tried using Insight, but it only returned as an unknown mushroom with adrenaline-boosting properties. The explorer skill granted by EverRealm was becoming less effective with each world and further reinforced the notion that one shouldn''t rely too heavily on it.
Out of caution, Genji threw a rock that bounced off the mushroom cap. Nothing happened. Genji creased his brows and wondered if he was too paranoid. Deciding to trust his instincts, Genji took out a throwing knife, infused some cutting intent, and decisively chucked it.
This time, however, elicited a reaction from the scene. The tiny mushroom erupted from the ground, revealing a thick, ominous red body that lashed out with deadly tendrils. In the blink of an eye, the uncommon knife was shredded into pieces and flung aside before the "mushroom" slowly retreated back underground.
During this process, Genji saw some decaying bodies between the cracks of the ground, testifying to the trap''s horrifying nature. A few of these bodies had scarlet cards beside them, indicating this mushroom had downed its fair share of realm members.
''The colors might scare off a lot of prey, but it compensates for that by hunting anyone who thinks they''ve seen through its disguise. How dangerous. I''m afraid even a beast king would be injured if they''re caught off guard,'' Genji remarked.
Genji understood the danger would only worsen from here and backtracked. Once he reached the valley''s entrance, he smoke-bombed the guards again and exited.
Reaching a safe distance, Genji placed Astros down and said, "Sorry, but I''ll need you to stay away a little longer. I''m not sure if I can take care of you in there, so do me a favor and go back to the beast kings, okay? I''ll meet you there once I''m done."
Astros puffed his cheeks at Genji but still nodded understandingly. They''d been doing this for a month now, and Astros had gotten used to Genji''s considerations. Genji smiled and rubbed Astros''s head, "Thanks, little guy. Let''s spend some time together after all of this is over."
Astros''s eyes lit up and he yipped at Genji, conveying something along the lines of holding Genji to his words.
"Don''t worry, I always keep my promises."
Genji retraced his steps and continued exploring. As he headed deeper, the tangled shrubbery only got more complicated and resilient, requiring greater effort to break through. The hidden dangers also scaled with this distance, demanding unprecedented caution from the intruders.
Genji found many inconspicuous body parts along his way, representing the heavy casualties suffered in this expedition. He also encountered several destroyed areas where people had battled against the wildlife. One such area was completely devastated, which Genji attributed to the awakened warriors leading the charge.
Yet, no matter how fierce the battle was or the destruction it caused, there were never any bodies left behind. The commotion caused by these fights often attracted scavengers who immediately cleaned up the area afterward. It was kind of unnerving how clean the aftermath was, as if the jungle had devoured everyone entering its depths.
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Blood stains were as common as air, but complete remains were like needles in a haystack¡ªhard to find and practically nonexistent.
At some point, the previously trodden path faded into obscurity, hardly distinguishable from the surroundings. And with it went all signs of travelers before him. Now, Genji was truly on his own and had to pave his way forward without prior help.
Hacking through the thick vines, Genji emerged near a river and spotted a team of four resting nearby. Judging by the grassy smell in the air, Genji surmised they must have arrived mere minutes before him.
The team looked weary and exhausted from days of jungle traversal, with two of them sporting heavy eye bags that would put pandas to shame. It was evident they hadn''t slept much, which made sense given how disruptive the wildlife was. There was no guarantee they would get any rest even if they slept in shifts since nocturnal hunters were typically more troublesome than their normal counterparts.
The team had lost multiple members in the dead of night and were nearing the limits of their fortitude. Their exhaustion was so deep that only one person glanced at Genji while the others preferred getting another moment of rest. This was one of the few times they could comfortably do so, and nothing short of danger would distract them from it.
Genji sat a distance from them and began replenishing his energy. As he ate, one of the panda look-alikes drank from his flask and abruptly collapsed in convulsions. Alarmed, the other three shot up and rushed to their teammate''s side.
But regardless of their actions, the convulsing man didn''t stop. Blood leaked from the corners of his mouth and hoarse gasps sounded, but no other sounds were made despite his prominent pain. After flopping around for a few more seconds, the man dropped dead without understanding the cause.
"What happened?" the others asked, similarly unaware.
Genji approached at this moment and examined the scene. Nothing seemed off except for the strange water that refused to seep into the ground. To verify his conjecture, Genji poured some cooking oil over it and watched the two merge together. Something was definitely wrong here, as water and oil shouldn''t mix like this.
After the two were fully emulsified, yellow critters appeared densely throughout and swam around at immense speeds. Upon contact with the ground, these minuscule creatures would bite away at the soil, draining whatever nutrients it contained. At this moment, Genji noticed the area was quieter than usual, indicating another danger zone.
"Did he drink from the river?" Genji asked, noticing the similarity between the two ''waters.''
The three of them paled at his question and scrambled to dispose of their water flasks. They couldn''t risk reusing them since one mistake could mean being devoured from the inside out.
After this event, the team lost more supplies, which diminished their morale further. Being natives, they couldn''t easily replenish these losses. If they continued at this pace, it was highly likely they would all perish in due time.
''They''re not used to maintaining their vigilance for this long and are about to snap,'' Genji analyzed. ''Let''s get out of here before they cause me unnecessary problems.''
Genji''s choice proved to be correct, as minutes after his departure, he heard a splash from this direction, followed by a painful scream. Then everything got cut off as the vocal cords disintegrated from within. Genji doubted it was a suicide since the victim sounded pretty surprised by his new situation.
Like this, Genji passed his first night. He had a relatively easy time since his stealth rendered him undetectable by all creatures. There was even a snake that slithered over him, thinking he was an inanimate object. Let''s just say Genji didn''t take kindly to that, and Bruce obtained breakfast for the morning.
The smell of blood attracted some busybodies, but they quickly stopped once they realized that everything that approached vanished like entering a black hole. Even the bloody scent fluctuated wildly as old scents faded rapidly and new ones replaced them. Genji and Bruce were a deadly combination in the dark, ranking even among the apex ambushers in this jungle.
The following day, Genji changed his method of travel, opting for vine swinging instead of forging a new path. Not only was it more efficient, but it also helped avoid possible danger zones.
The spiders and monkeys reacted negatively to his intrusion, but they were much easier to deal with than any of the hidden ambushers below. Bruce got plenty of target practice during this time, occasionally supported by Genji''s flintlock in rare cases when he missed.
A few hours in, as the sun approached its peak, Genji heard a massive explosion in the distance. Following that, a burst of color flooded the skies, as if someone had detonated several tons of fireworks in the night. The scene couldn''t have been more obvious, as if the culprit wanted to attract everyone in the vicinity.
Genji debated whether to ignore this obvious lure or to investigate the situation. After some thought, he chose to follow the chaos and see what ensued. From what he could tell, it would take him another day to reach the main team, so checking out the commotion wouldn''t delay him much. With his mind made up, Genji began swinging from branch to branch like a monkey.
Once he reached the source, he swung behind a thick tree and observed the situation from the corner of his eye. A hectic battle royale was taking place, consisting of realm members and natives alike. Powerful attacks were thrown without regard, creating clusters of destruction. Rugged wood chips and mud flew everywhere, mimicking a desert dust storm.
And at the center of it all was a realm member, clutching a root resembling a sea urchin. He was the main target of the attack, with everyone trying to claim the item for themselves. Genji examined the item''s details and understood why everyone was so crazy about it.
[Blessed Root Gin]
Rating: Epic
Effect: Upon consumption, increase your potential by a small amount (5%).
Note: This item cannot be placed in the storage space within 4 hours of harvesting. Remaining time: 3 hours 21 minutes.
Note 2: The process to change one''s innate qualities is an excruciating one. Please find a secluded location before consuming.
What is potential? In the broadest sense, it is an estimate of the greatest height one can achieve before their demise. In a more specific sense, it is how well one can exert their capabilities under certain circumstances. Those with higher potential will always burst out with stronger fighting strength when on the verge of death. That is potential.
There are many factors that influence potential, but few of them can be actively controlled. So one can imagine the frenzy these people felt upon encountering such a treasure.
The natives desired this item because it offered an opportunity for further breakthroughs. If given to the right person, it could lay the groundwork for the Awakened realm. Although they didn''t know the method for awakening, it gave them hope of achieving similar powers by forcibly elevating themselves to that level.
The realm members, on the other hand, coveted the increase in combat power that the root could provide. For a group that frequently risks their lives, such a boost could mean the difference between life and death.
Genji would be lying if he said he wasn''t tempted. But before joining the fray, he needed to figure out what the signal was about, lest he end up in an undesirable trap.
As Genji waited, more participants trickled into the area. Many of them stood on the sidelines like Genji, monitoring the situation, while a few reckless ones joined the fray and added to the chaos. It didn''t take long before the entire area was surrounded, but the flames of battle burned brighter than ever. There were even signs of it intensifying, as the wildlife engaged the ongoing spectators.
All of a sudden, the root shot a ray of light into the sky, producing an explosion similar to the signal that initially attracted everyone. The uproar was weaker than before, but that was expected since it took a lot of energy to produce such an explosion. Genji understood these were the plant''s defensive measures and eased his caution on a potential trap.
With that concern out of mind, Genji''s thoughts drifted to another bizarre aspect of the situation: why was the plant doing this? Logically, all living beings should strive for survival, but this plant''s actions were completely counterproductive.
Due to Genji''s encounters in this world, his paranoia was on full throttle today, and he refused to dismiss any incomprehensible details, especially when they had saved his life multiple times already.
Assuming everything has a logical explanation, Genji could only think of one reason why the plant was acting like this: it wanted everyone to focus on it. But why? Because this whole situation is a distraction. Because the plant everyone''s fighting over is a decoy.
While this bait held everyone''s focus, the main body would make its getaway like a lizard shedding its tail. That was why it caused such a commotion. It was also the only explanation that aligned with life''s survival instincts.
''Only one way to confirm it,'' Genji thought, eyeing the battlefield like a hawk. The moment an opening appeared, Genji kicked off the branch, snapping it, and appeared in front of the current holder of the root.
A streak of light shattered all defensive measures and snipped off one of the many protruding whiskers. An energy string, comparable to a finishing line, wrapped around the severed piece and, with a hard yank, fell into Genji''s grasp. Subsequently, a quantum barrier manifested around Genji, warding off all attacks as he launched into the distance.
This action alarmed all the combatants, but they quickly relaxed when they realized the plant was still being contested. However, a few quick-witted individuals picked up on the discrepancy and followed Genji. To their dismay, Genji easily threw them off with his speed and stealth, forcing them to return to the ongoing battle.
Stopping at a distance, Genji sacrificed his newly obtained plant tendril to his compass and began tracking the main body. He spent the next few hours like this, gradually approaching the source. It wasn''t difficult because no matter how clever the root was, it was ultimately a plant and couldn''t move faster than an animal.
The compass turned as he swung over a sparsely filled area, prompting him to drop down. An energy-charged fist smashed the ground open, blowing a root resembling a magnified nerve cell from its cover.
A surprised screech sounded from its tendrils as it soared through the air, but it wasn''t going to resign to its fate so easily. A lateral root detached from its body and shot forward to delay Genji while its main body catapulted away. The detached part gathered its energy and fired a beam of light, seeking to replicate its previous acts.
Genji''s skin hardened to endure the explosion and he charged through without slowing. A crystal chain wrapped around the detached part, pulling it behind him as he chased the main body.
Another limb detached as he approached, but Genji was prepared this time. Before the root could accelerate away, a mental impact crashed into it, halting it in place. The explosion still fired, but Genji managed to chain down the main body. Sensing the impending danger, the root''s whole body began concentrating its energy in a last-ditch effort.
''I need to find a way to stop this or it''ll get annoying,'' Genji thought, slamming the plant into the ground.
This harsh impact scattered the energy, giving Genji time to catch the other detached part. As the root made another attempt, a decisive glint flashed through Genji''s eyes.
''Since you want to do it this way, don''t blame me for what comes next. I''d rather lose some medicinal potency than deal with your shenanigans.''
Genji yanked the chain and delivered a heavy kick. As the root recoiled into the air, Genji wound back his dagger, and said, "Catch everything for me."
Then he released a crescent wave, mincing everything. Following his instructions, a wave of blood poured from his waist, forming a net beneath the diced vegetable. Subsequently, the edges curled up, sealing the remains and preventing a single drop from spilling. Genji brought out a wooden barrel, collected the mixture, and added the two auxiliary parts.
Afterward, he sealed the barrel and escaped the vicinity.
[You have obtained: Blessed Root Ginkurava (Main Body)]
[Blessed Root Ginkurava (Main Body)]
Rating: Legendary
Effect: Upon consumption, increase your potential by a moderate amount (46%).
Note: Due to your rough treatment of the plant, its medicinal properties will continue to diminish over time.
Note 2: There are 3 hours and 56 minutes left before the storage restriction is lifted.
182 – Primordial Spirit
Genji waited until nighttime, when his presence was at its thinnest, before consuming the recently obtained root. Leaving it aside was not an option, as it had already lost 3% of its effectiveness in this time. If he waited any longer, he would lose a lot of benefits from the item.
As he gulped down the plant slurry, Genji felt a burning sensation swelling inside him. It was light at first, akin to a tickle, but it quickly transformed into burning charcoal. Then, beyond that. EverRealm wasn''t lying when it said this process was painful. It was beyond painful.
And it was only getting worse with each passing moment. It felt like he''d swallowed a sun. Every fiber of his being screamed harder than ever, as his cells figuratively melted. His blood boiled, and his bones softened. His very body was being reforged from the inside out, becoming stronger and more resilient.
Amidst this pain, Genji forced himself to remain focused and circulate the energy through his body. He only had so much time and needed to finish this fast. The pain grew stronger with his guidance, but he gritted his teeth through the process. He''d been through worse and refused to lose consciousness.
After enduring this for an unknown length of time, the burning feeling began dwindling. From a roaring inferno to a mild flicker, eventually replaced by a minty tingle, his nerves gradually calmed down from their overload. Genji breathed out heavily and opened his eyes.
Dawn had barely broken through the horizon and cast its soft rays upon the land. Genji''s location was still dark since the jungle leaves scattered the incoming light. Yet this would not be for long, as the world would soon finish this transitioning phase.
"Right on time," Genji said, wiping the sweat from his body and stretching his stiff muscles.
They continued traveling, and after another five hours, found the main team comprising the awakened warriors. The team was bigger than he expected, consisting of hundreds of warriors and realm members.
Everyone was arranged in an organized formation, with each member ready to respond at a moment''s notice. It was an impressive display of leadership compared to the jumbled groups Genji had met prior.
The group was gathered around, having a team meeting when Genji found them. From what he could gather, they were about to reach the suspected holding place of the Primordial Echo.
"There might be traps, powerful guardians, or other unknown dangers, but hold strong. We''re on the last stretch and about to succeed. Don''t falter now after we''ve come so far," one of the awakened warriors rallied the crowd. "After this, you''ll be known as heroes for generations to come!"
The audience burst into cheers, and their morale reached its peak. After that, the awakened warriors led the team toward their final destination. Genji followed from a distance, intending to freeload off their efforts.
They soon arrived at a cliff overlooking a large ruin site. Genji stayed on this cliff while the group headed down to explore. From the size of the site, Genji speculated a civilization once prospered here. As for where they are now, the heavily weathered buildings served as a good indication. Chances are, they''d disappeared under the sands of time, becoming a mere relic of the past.
A pair of binoculars followed the group, loosely monitoring their every action.
''Now the waiting game,'' Genji thought, making himself comfortable with a blanket and snacks.
Faizen "Accident" DestinyHand is a capable enforcer of SanguineRealm, known for his exceptional orchestration abilities. Many of his victims never saw him coming, and even fewer suspected him before it was too late. Yet when coincidences pile up, people are bound to notice. Hence, they gave him this moniker despite never seeing him in person.
They just know when things seem too accidental, DestinyHand is acting up.
There¡¯s a good reason why prophets and other fate scryers rank among the most troublesome opponents. Not only are they hard to kill, but they can also devise a nasty counterattack, given enough time.
The setup might not activate quickly, but it will always take effect. History has proven that statement enough times when people lowered their guards. Nothing good ever comes from getting on a fate scryer''s bad side.
The only proven methods to disrupt a fate scryer''s setup are enlisting the help of another scryer, being so powerful that the scryer can''t scheme against you in a reasonable time, or killing the scryer before they can execute their plans. But these conditions are hard to fulfill, so most people tend to avoid fate scryers altogether.
With his abilities, Faizen managed to track down the legendary Primordial Echo. Now, he is leading the team as one of its consultants, second only to the awakened ones.
As they passed through the ruins, they uncovered several stone tablets depicting human figures and the civilization''s development. They were unlike anything the tribes had seen, as they used pictures to record information instead of traditional knots. This also solidified the idea that this was a long-lost society, merely one of many in the world''s history.
The oldest tablets recorded the caveman days when the people hunted with primitive tools and lived in small groups. The next tablet depicted a mob of people besieging a giant saber-tooth tiger. A lot of attention was dedicated to etching the crown on top of the tiger''s head.
Then there was a crudely made hill of corpses, with a dead tiger on top. One man stood on the carcass, holding up the crown cut from the tiger''s head. They had triumphed against their foe and taken their first step toward prosperity.
Next was the man wearing the same crown, backed by many supporters and six main retainers, sporting similar crown accessories on their arms. They had all killed a beast king and possessed power rivaling an awakened warrior, if not more. This was the power system the current people wanted to master.
A few more tablets recorded other major events, like plague, wars, and natural disasters, but one stood out to Faizen. It was of the old king returning from a long journey, having lost an arm. In his remaining arm, he cuddled a cub with six arms.
The king passed away shortly after, leaving the cub under his retainers'' care. Under the loyal subjects'' nurturing, the cub grew up healthily, developing the tusks of a boar, the claws of a tiger, and the hardened skin of an armored elephant. At its maturity, the beast was a force to be reckoned with, capable of rivaling all of the retainers at once.
People worshiped it as their guardian, a totem to ward off disasters. The beast didn''t disappoint their expectations and defended their kingdom for centuries. It was a long-lived beast, so it witnessed many generations prospering under its protection.
Yet that was where the records ended. Everything after that was a blur since the tablets were in shambles and utterly indecipherable. The only exception was a tablet missing half of its content, which portrayed the creature''s death after sustaining grievous injuries. Nothing about the context could be found, but the beast had a prominent cross-shaped wound going through its left eye.
"This is interesting, but it doesn''t help us," Faizen commented.
"Made any progress yet?" an awakened warrior asked.
"I have some clues, but I need more time," Faizen replied.
The awakened warrior nodded and gave him some space to work his magic. They had made incredible progress since Faizen began helping them and knew better than to rush him.
They continued deeper into the ruins and discovered other remnants of the civilization. From broken statues of the guardian beast to brittle bones of animals, they trudged past without a second glance.
Occasionally, Faizen would stop and pinch his fingers, utilizing his divination abilities to guide their way. He was looking for a strand of fate that connected him to their goal. As long as he could do this, he could trace the strand back to its origin. This was similar to how Genji''s compass worked, which was why Faizen could sever the connection back then.
After searching for a while and closing the distance to the item, Faizen finally found the connection and reported the direction. This immediately spurred the leaders to action, followed by many eager faces.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The natives were genuinely happy about this progress, but the realm members had begun planning their theft. Faizen could only scoff at their naivety. Did they really think they could steal this from under him after all the effort he''d put in? He''d be a fool if he hadn''t prepared follow-up plans for this exact situation, especially given all this time.
''To each their own. We just have to see who''s more capable.''
They soon arrived at their destination, a large ruin assumed to be the former palace, and began digging. That was the only thing they could do, given how dilapidated everything was. Rubble and other debris were moved out of the way, revealing the dirt layer beneath. The ground had hardened over the years, making it rather tedious to clean up.
Nonetheless, they persisted with unrelenting fervor, seeking a new beginning. They were getting close, but Faizen had an unexplained sense of foreboding. Something in the back of his mind was nagging him, but he couldn''t pinpoint why.
''What''s going on? Why am I feeling this way?''
But before he could consider the situation any further, a world-rending earthquake hit the area, throwing everyone off balance. Then Faizen''s pupils dilated in disbelief as a massive shadow towered over them.
"What the fuck is that?" Genji inadvertently cursed, equally astounded.
In the distance, a colossal behemoth rose out of the ground and released a bellowing roar. The creature had six legs, boar tusks, tiger claws, and hardened grey skin. It looked very similar to the guardian beast depicted in the murals, suggesting it was the same species. The only difference was that it was transparent like an astral projection and had a cross-shaped scar over its left eye, blinding it.
No, on further examination, this wasn''t simply the same species, but rather the same beast! That scar was so similar that it was more likely to win the lottery than it being a different creature. After all, how often does one encounter such a unique species, let alone two with identical scars?
So as unbelievable as it may be, it was undeniable the guardian had returned, revived in spirit form. And with it came memories of the past, of when it stood at the civilization''s peak. You could even say it''s an echo of a bygone era, one of primordial times!
[Primordial Echo - Kaj Mali Sgen Qwub]
Health: 61,750/61,750
Spirit Energy: 4,326/4,500
Con: 57
Str: 56
Dex: 52
Int: 50
Spc: 43
Skills:
- High Lord (Passive): +35,000 health
- Titanic (Passive): +12,500 health, +150% strength
- Astral Spirit (Passive): Energy is converted to Spirit Energy, +2,000 max energy
- Particle Existence (Passive): Your lifespan is grounded in your energy. As long as you have Spirit Energy, you won''t die of age.
Note: No other skills can be read at this time.
"Filthy humans! Darest thou desecrate mine sanctuarie once more?! (You dare desecrate my sanctuary again?!)" the spirit angrily roared, threatening to rupture everyone''s eardrums.
The sentence structure was a little awkward like an old, outdated version, but Genji was more occupied by its implications. It was a complete sentence, without any pauses or readjustment time. This required unimaginable levels of control, beyond what any of them were capable of, and solidified the spirit''s threat.
"Paye for thy synnes! (Pay for your sins!)" it bellowed, stomping down with its titanic weight.
Amidst this strike, Genji noticed a hooded figure scampering to use an item before the impact wave drowned him. Moments later, the air 400 meters away from Genji twisted and spat out a bloodied man. He had barely survived by the skin of his teeth.
''Isn''t he the person who led them here?'' Genji wondered, manifesting his flintlock to deliver three rapid shots.
A hastily formed barrier intercepted these attacks, but the explosion afterward rattled his damaged organs and induced a mouthful of blood. ''It''s him!'' Faizen thought, recognizing Genji as the troublesome foe who almost locked onto him.
But regardless of past grievances, Faizen decisively used another teleportation item. He was in no condition to fight, and it was only a matter of time before the rampaging Primordial Echo reached this point. Unless one could rival such an outrageous foe, it would be suicidal to stay any longer.
"He sure runs fast," Genji remarked, unconcerned about the escapee. His focus was on the guardian spirit that relentlessly attacked the team. It was an utter massacre, devoid of resistance. Only the awakened warriors stood any chance, but even they were taking a severe beating.
The others were lucky to survive a single strike, as they were like fragile paper against this natural disaster. Panic and horror filled the air as everyone fled for their lives, but many didn''t make it. At this rate, it was only a
''Welp, this is a wasted trip. I wonder if I can recoup some rewards by killing it. It is a High Lord after all, and they tend to drop legendaries.''
At this moment, the crunching of leaves and snapping of branches sounded, as a newcomer made his presence known. Genji turned around and came face-to-face with Xue Fe, who had his katana drawn.
"Are you going to get involved as well?" he asked with cold eyes. It was clear that one wrong answer would cause the man to attack once more, this time for real and with all trump cards.
Genji alternated looks between Xue Fe and the Primordial Echo behind him and shrugged. "Nope, it''s all yours."
Xue Fe held his stare, expressing that Genji''s empty words wouldn''t satisfy him. He wasn''t stupid enough to knowingly enter a life-and-death battle when there was a scavenger aside.
Genji understood his meaning and walked around him. There was no benefit in contesting this opponent when Xue Fe was so insistent on it. If they fought, neither of them would earn anything once the spirit finished off the awakened warriors, as they would be too weak by then.
"Good luck then. You were an interesting opponent." Genji waved, jumping onto a tree and departing.
Xue Fe waited until Genji was truly out of sight before resuming his pace.
"Corrode everything, my lifebound blade," he murmured, reaching the cliff''s edge. Following that, his signature katana turned a dark crimson and filled the air with a heavy smell of iron and blood. The smell was very metallic, but there was a faint trace of sourness often associated with acids. His burgundy red energy flooded the katana and transformed into boiling swirls of gas, giving it a sinister polish.
Then he stepped off, letting gravity pull him down to confront the approaching titan. It was now or never, and he refused to falter.
Genji zipped through the jungle at high speed, swinging with all his strength. Now that Xue Fe had claimed the Primordial Echo for himself, Genji had no reason to stay much longer. While he could backtrack and observe the battle, he preferred not to, as it would offend both sides.
If they discovered him, they would immediately focus their fire on him before continuing their battle. After all, no one likes a meddlesome fly when they''re conducting important business. Genji might be strong, but he is not confident in surviving against the two of them, even with his legacy liberations.
Furthermore, he would need to ensure Xue Fe''s death if he chose this path. Otherwise, he would make a terrifying enemy with a permanent grudge, one that would immediately resort to violence upon meeting him.
It''s simply not worth the risk. In contrast, leaving would foster some goodwill, which could become a basis for cooperation if Xue Fe survived the encounter.
With so many downsides and little upsides, Genji had no reason to pick this option. Plus, he would rather spend this time with the little guy since the world was nearing its end.
''I wonder if he''s doing okay with their terribly cooked food. I really need to find him a gadget for this.''
As Genji stepped out of the valley, he noticed the guards were knocked unconscious and came to a stop. And sitting on the side was the culprit, a familiar acquaintance.
"What are you doing here?" Genji asked. "Shouldn''t you be with your grandson right now?"
"Trust me, I would if I could, but I need to check this place. You people stirred up a lot of trouble by awakening the spirit guardian," Bechel replied helplessly.
Genji''s eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You know the truth about the Primordial Echo?"
"Of course I do. The same event happened 161 years ago when I was 26. Seven awakened warriors led their tribes here and never returned. I was among the lucky survivors back then. The other survivors warned everyone about this forbidden zone, but the new generation eventually forgot the advice. They were too infatuated with finding the legendary treasure that surpassed the times and paid the price. Tell me, how many do you think died on this expedition?"
''That explains why the spirit said "again,"'' Genji noted before answering, "Too many to keep track of. At least thousands, perhaps more. It''s one thing to survive the attacks but another to make it out alive. The jungle is not exactly friendly. Anyway, what''s the spirit body about? I thought ghosts can''t form in this world."
"And you''re correct. They normally don''t. But the beast''s dedication moved the world''s will, granting it a second chance as its last defender. The guardian normally sleeps in its former home, but it will awaken when the world faces a major threat. That and desecrating its remaining home."
"I guess that''s one way of solving the issue."
At this moment, a burly man rushed out, each hand dragging an unconscious person. The three of them were heavily injured and bleeding profusely from body-wide wounds. If left untreated, there was a good chance of bleeding out.
Genji was familiar with these wounds, as Faizen bore similar injuries on his escape. These people were from the main team and were among the few that survived the massacre.
But that wasn''t the only thing Genji recognized; he also found the faces familiar. It was none other than the group of four he''d provoked before leaving the plains. Among them, the female archer was missing, whom Genji assumed had died in the initial attack due to a lack of constitution stats. The tank was the one dragging them, as he had the greatest survivability and maintained the most strength.
However, their fates were sealed when they unfortunately encountered Genji once more. In a flash of light, Genji ended their lives, just as the tank''s eyes widened in despair, realizing the fatal mistake made in his haste to escape the jungle.
[You have obtained: Scarlet Card (Enforcer) x3]
"That was ruthless. Did you have to kill them after they struggled so hard to survive?" Bechel asked.
"They were enemies, and I had the perfect opportunity to finish them. Why wouldn''t I?"
*Sigh* "I can''t understand you realm members."
Hours after the battle began, a battered Xue Fe could be seen on top of a giant carcass. His leg dangled off the edge as he lit a bloody cigarette. After taking a deep puff, he jumped off and walked away from the scene.
A wind suddenly drifted by, bringing some leaves from above and twigs from the ground. These items coincidentally landed in front of Xue Fe and spelled out "You lied to me," expressing the writer''s resentment. Then these items shifted to spell "The Primordial Echo wasn''t the treasure at all."
A derisive smirk appeared on Xue Fe''s face as he chuckled to himself. ''I never said it was. You¡¯re the one who assumed my mission was the treasure and that the treasure was the Primordial Echo.''
His gloating smile only widened when he saw confirmation of his completed mission. He took another puff and injected some energy into the cigarette, spurring a massive kindle of flames.
''Thanks for the help. I couldn''t have done this without you.''
He then threw the stick at the message, igniting it and the surrounding area, giving his previous foe a fiery funeral.
183 – Titan Trials
The beast kings happily welcomed Genji''s return, but their excitement soon turned into disappointment when he left minutes later. Upon meeting up with Astros, the ferret hopped onto Genji''s shoulder and waved his tiny paw excitedly. After a few minutes, Genji realized Astros was pointing in a certain direction and decided to follow his guidance. Apparently, the ferret had found something and wanted to show it to Genji.
With no other plans for the remaining day and a half, Genji decided to indulge Astros on this field trip. They traveled for half a day before arriving at a plateau of red rocks.
Reaching the top, Genji spotted an inconspicuous shrine in the distance. This was strange considering it was the only structure in sight. It shouldn''t be possible to overlook, yet for some reason, Genji had a sudden tendency to ignore it, as if it were just another rock.
Something was subconsciously influencing him, similar to how Astros''s passives worked, which only piqued his interest further. As he approached, this urge grew stronger and more blatant, but his steps never wavered. His willpower was too strong for that, though it did take a good amount of mental strength to remain focused.
As he stepped into the shrine, he felt a membrane brush over him and the space around him distorted. The next thing he knew, he was suddenly teleported to an underground room at an unknown location.
The walls were made of bronze metal with a shiny coating, and the ceilings consisted of evenly spaced grooves that emitted sunlight. It was a magically high-tech room, two qualities that should not exist under the world''s laws. Yet here they were, fused to create this unique room.
''Looks like I got involved in something big again. Just how many more surprises is this world hiding?''
A stone golem popped out of the wall and projected several lines of runic text. EverRealm had no trouble translating it, whatever this language was, much to Genji''s convenience.
Welcome challenger, to the Titan Trials. For every level you pass, you will earn better rewards. The rewards will accumulate until you either pass all the trials or decide to stop. In this place, every four levels mark a spike in difficulty. Tread carefully, as you are responsible for your own life. If this is acceptable, you may step through the door and begin. Otherwise, press the button on the golem''s chest to return.
On this cue, the door at the end of the room slid up, revealing a dark passageway. Genji didn''t need to be told twice and stepped through. The hallways lit up and guided him to another room.
This one was similar to the previous one, but it had a golem in medieval armor at the center, its hands resting on the hilt of an upright sword. As he walked through, the doors between both rooms slammed down, locking him in.
The slits of the helmet glowed a light blue on his approach and the golem pulled its sword out of the ground. Its body creaked and shook off a thick layer of dust, evident that it had been a long time since it last moved. The golem pointed the sword at Genji, indicating that this was a combat trial.
Genji summoned his daggers and stepped forward, ready to probe the opponent. The golem swung at him, but Genji easily sidestepped it. The swing was slow, even by the natives'' standards. Genji stabbed out, only to realize the opponent couldn''t withstand a single blow. Even the sword collapsed into dust under his cutting intent.
''It wasn''t faking it? I thought it would be harder.''
The room glowed a light cyan, and a side chamber opened to clean up the dust. Then, another golem dropped into position, and the door to the next room opened. Genji confirmed the new golem was simply a replacement for the one he destroyed and that it wouldn''t attack him, so he moved on.
In the next room, he found three similar golems and more complicated runic lines on the walls. He didn''t know what these lines were for, but he easily forced his way through.
The next room had four golems but was missing the runic patterns. This told Genji that he''d missed a key component in the previous room, but he didn''t dwell on it for long. In the face of absolute strength, all plots are pointless.
The fourth room held a single golem 30% larger than the others. It was stronger as well and dual-wielded two axes, but it still posed no threat. After defeating it, two rectangular columns extended up from the ground. The left one had an orange button on top and had the runic meaning "return," while the right one had a cyan button with "continue."
Genji pushed the right one and entered the next room. The opponent in this room was like an upgraded version of the previous one, capable of more complex strikes and combos. By Genji''s estimation, this golem had around 40 stat points and posed an actual threat of injuring him.
Once he confirmed this, Genji summoned Bruce and had him fight this battle. Given the golem''s strength, it was the perfect training partner for Bruce to adjust to his new strength.
The two of them tussled back and forth for a few minutes before Bruce inflicted enough damage to pass the test. Since the golem wasn''t completely destroyed, it went through another chute instead of the vacuum chamber from before.
Genji allowed Bruce to continue through this set of levels as he watched from the side, ready to interfere at any moment. During this time, Genji also figured out what the runic lines on the second level were for, as the sixth level had a similar gimmick.
They were like puzzles for the challenger to solve. If they succeeded, they could drastically hinder the opponents and turn the tides in their favor. Genji discovered this when Bruce accidentally knocked a golem into an intersection point, briefly slowing it and breaking the golems'' formation.
This was also why the third level hardly increased in difficulty compared to the second. The seventh level followed the same pattern, leading Genji to suspect that all the sets were like this. This conjecture was further tested when they entered the eighth room, which consisted of one strong golem.
This golem had stats rivaling Genji''s, but it didn''t prove to be much trouble for Bruce. That was the problem with these inanimate guardians. They had the body strength but lacked the techniques to make the most of it.
However, this all changed on the next level, where the golem''s stats reached the third tier and it employed an energy ability. The technique was crude, but it still amplified its combat power multiple times. Genji had to utilize a significant portion of his strength to pass this level.
On the tenth level, Genji was forced to solve the puzzle within the room to conserve stamina. It didn''t help that the complexity had increased exponentially compared to before, but he still managed with some luck and Astros acting as a third pair of eyes.
At this point, Genji was offered another choice between leaving and continuing, which was quite considerate of the designer. He pushed onward and the 11th level had him fighting six such foes with better techniques and team composition. It took everything in his normal state to pass this level and Genji rested for the first time since starting the trials.
Bruce joined the fight on the 12th level against a foe with enough strength to toss beast kings around like children. Genji was surprised the walls held up under this barrage, as every hit shook the earth and shattered the air.
The corners of his eyes saw the walls vibrating at immense speeds, which he attributed to the reason behind the durability. After an hour of combat, they eventually whittled the boss down and entered the next room.
This room saw a huge increase in technique standards, but a decrease in brute strength. However, there were two golems and the difficulty increased by almost 80%, pushing the team to their limits. In the end, Genji was forced to use Quantum Barrier to create an opening and burst down one of the golems while grinding the other one through a battle of attrition.
Genji almost blew up his leg in the 14th room, as the rune puzzles began incorporating magic traps along with the disruption mechanisms. One wrong step and Genji would die by magic instead of golems. Genji had a difficult time dodging within this space, but everything became easier once he mapped out the room. Using Berserk, Genji threw the golems at these traps as the main source of damage.
Once the last golem blew up, Genji got some rest before moving on. Interestingly enough, the door on the other end was closed and Genji heard sounds of battle from the other side. There was another challenger in the trials and they''d started before him.
Genji knocked on the sealed door and confirmed its durability. It was impossible to break through unless one could exert more force than the world''s limit. Whoever created this place had far stronger fighters in mind when they did so.
The person inside heard his knock and picked up the pace. In a matter of minutes, heavy thuds sounded, and the door opened. Judging by the lack of blood, Genji determined they''d successfully passed the level. A similar knock came from the other end of the room, signaling their position to Genji.
Genji guessed the other party wanted to team up for the next room, which made sense, given the increasing difficulty. Genji was reaching his limit and would soon need to use his legacy liberations to progress.
The other party was likely in a similar state, but neither knew how many more rooms there were. So it was in their best interests to form this partnership. And nothing was stopping them, as far as Genji could tell.
Genji tossed a rock at the door in response and engaged the team of eight. After some probing, he used Dance of Death, bursting down three golems with his strongest attacks. He needed to prove his worth for this upcoming cooperation, and the best way to do that was with a fast clear.
Then Genji endured some stabs to the chest to bring down two more. He minimized these injuries by shifting his body right before contact, but the impact was still substantial. Luckily, his high health helped with the situation and he destroyed another one by trading injuries.
Bruce held the last two at bay as Genji recovered and whittled them away. The entire fight took only 34 minutes, a considerable decrease from his previous fights.
When the door opened, Holster, the champion from SagaRealm who entered the world by limiting his stats, threw a parchment scroll at Genji.
"We''re both smart people. Let''s not waste any time. If the terms are acceptable, sign it and we''ll cooperate," Holster said as Genji unfurled the document.
[You have obtained Inter-Realm Contract (Epic)]
As the name suggested, it was a binding agreement between members from different realms. Genji didn''t know such an item existed, but it made cooperation between strangers considerably easier.
"I don''t need much. I only want to have the first pick when we select our rewards. You can have the rest," Holster continued.
The conditions of the contract were very loose, stating a temporary truce and that each person was responsible for their own safety. They would work together, but there was no obligation to help the other party if they were in danger. It was a very standardized contract as many people had refined it over the years.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
However, Genji didn''t rush to sign it and considered the possible loopholes. Holster didn''t pressure Genji since he understood most 2nd steps hadn''t encountered such an item. It was perfectly justified to be cautious.
As this was happening, Holster''s eyes went to Astros, who was perched on Genji''s shoulder. Recognition and understanding dawned on him as he realized this was the same ferret that had watched him enter these trials days prior. ''So that''s why there''s another person here. I didn''t realize it was associated with another realm member.''
Genji scrutinized the contract for a few more minutes before speaking up. "I''m fine with these terms, but I would like to clarify some phrasing."
Genji took out a fountain pen and awkwardly scribbled his modifications before tossing it back to Holster for review. There were two main changes Genji made.
The first put Holster''s words into text, the one about him taking only one item while the other rewards were Genji''s. The second clause was stricter, specifying they couldn''t directly harm each other after signing the contract.
Holster was fine with these modifications, though he found it strange that Genji outlined the second term when it was already covered in a previous clause. However, he dismissed it as Genji being overly cautious and gave his perspective on the changes. "If you''re worried about betrayal, I can add a harsh punishment as a show of sincerity. Is that fine?"
Genji nodded and soon obtained the updated version.
Clause 19: Any breach of these terms will result in a deduction of 5 stat points during settlement, and a random legendary item will be transferred from the offender''s inventory to the affected party.
Genji raised an eyebrow at this clause and asked, "Since when can contracts deduct stat points?"
"It''s possible as long as no one benefits from it. There''s a history of scammers taking advantage of unsuspecting victims for extra points so that restriction is added," Holster answered.
"In that case, let me add some protective clauses. I don''t want to lose a legendary item and five stat points because of an accident." Once Genji finished, he pressed his thumbprint on the signature section and passed the scroll back one last time.
Clause 20: If party A takes any actions that would indirectly harm party B, party B will lose 1 coin, and vice versa.
Clause 21: If clause 19 is intentionally breached, then the victim can retaliate without repercussions.
Although clause 20 sounded strange with the victim losing coins, its true purpose wasn''t compensation, but a warning. If one of them did something that would unintentionally endanger the other party, the coin deduction would alert them to their partner''s carelessness. It was honestly ingenious and had Holster marveling at the phrasing.
''I''m going to use that in the future,'' Holster thought as he pushed down on his section. A light force deflected his thumb and both of them received a prompt from their realms.
[Due to the complexity of this contract, 2 tokens will be required as a monitoring fee.]
Genji immediately brought out the payment and Holster soon followed. The contract burned up into streams of light and entered their bodies, declaring the establishment of the contract.
Under this teamwork, the two of them easily breezed through the next level as they overwhelmed the opponent with a barrage of weapon intents. Genji sensed at least three weapon intents from Holster, making him a powerhouse to be reckoned with. Just from this, Genji felt that Holster would have eventually cleared this trial, albeit at a slower pace and with more injuries.
Upon dealing the finishing blow, the room projected another holographic message and presented them with the same two options as before.
The next five rooms are known as the Gauntlet 5. They are the last rooms in the trial and are the hardest of them all. Every level will ramp up in difficulty like the sets before. Choose wisely, for there is a high risk of death.
Holster didn''t hesitate for a moment before pushing the continue button. As the columns descended into the ground, the doors opened, welcoming their next challengers.
The message wasn''t lying when it said the difficulty would ramp up. Just the first level of the gauntlet had them fighting four opponents with the same specs as the previous rooms. That''s four boss-level units!
In the end, Holster had to use a powerful ability to group them up and cripple their defenses before taking them down. From how much his muscles quivered afterward, Genji knew that ability wouldn''t be reusable anytime soon.
The next room was a long hallway filled with traps covered in runic symbols. The lines were so entangled that it was hard to find a spot without these markings. Luckily, this room had no guardians, so they wouldn''t have to worry about outside influences.
The bad news, however, was that this room was timed. The moment they stepped through, an hourglass full of sand was projected overhead, accompanied by the ticking of clock hands. There was a sense of urgency in the air, and they instinctively felt something unfavorable would happen once they ran out of time.
Astros poked at the floor''s boundary, but nothing happened. Emboldened by this safety, he took a small step forward. Still nothing. One step after the other, and he was soon halfway through the room. Genji was on guard the whole time, ready to swoop in at any signs of danger. However, this was unnecessary as Astros reached the other side of the room without trouble.
Seeing this, Holster attempted to replicate Astros''s path, but he immediately triggered an explosion on his first step. After falling back, he used a rock to test the path, to no result. It seemed like the object needed to be of a certain weight to trigger these traps, which explained Astros''s ease.
Genji tried his weight reduction skill next, but he was still bombarded with attacks. These sensors were more advanced than they gave credit for and had no loopholes they could exploit. If they wanted to pass this level, they would have to do it the intended way.
They spent half the allotted time attempting to decrypt the room''s pattern, but their progress was abysmal. Realizing this, they began taking riskier actions, testing the path with volatile attacks.
They triggered a lot of traps during this time, filling the narrow hallway with dangerous attacks. But no matter how powerful these traps were, they endured everything with a firm stance. They couldn''t afford to dodge since a single misstep might start a devastating chain reaction. The 20th clause also went off numerous times since the realms categorized these triggers as indirect attacks.
They were not even a third of the way through when the sands of time turned red and the ticking grew more hurried. Time was running out, and they needed to move fast. Genji''s eyes darted around the walls, and he decided to take a gamble.
Untraceable Movement and Like A Feather activated, and Genji vaulted forward. This action triggered its own set of traps, but Genji forced his way through with Solid Core.
Injuries accumulated like raindrops in a storm and Genji bounced around like a rubber ball. He tried his best to maintain control, often twisting his body in unimaginable ways to preserve his forward momentum. After a while, the attacks gradually died down and he began gliding toward the ground. Right as he was about to land, Bruce stabbed out with a thin pike, boosting him upward again.
More explosions and sharp projectiles skewered the air, but he eventually reached the other side. His entire body had become a bloody mess, bleeding from more wounds than humanly possible, but he''d done it¡ªhe had passed this level. Genji applied a few potions and turned around to wait for Holster.
The champion wasted no time after Genji burst forward, immediately following his trajectory and taking advantage of the brief delay as the traps rearmed. However, his speed was lacking compared to Genji''s, and he had to face his fair share of traps.
Time quickly counted down and soon, the ticking of the clock grew hurried like a racing heart. At this juncture, Genji prepared to leave Holster behind and enter the next room by himself.
Suddenly, Holster leaped into the air and stretched out his hand, pointing at the vacant spot beside Genji. The next moment, he teleported to that position, right as the ticking sounds stretched into a long, ear-jarring reverberation and the door began dropping. Sensing his sudden appearance, Genji grabbed the still-recovering Holster and dived under the heavy door.
As they slid, Genji saw the last grain of sand empty from the hourglass through the narrow gap between the ground and the door, followed by the projection shattering. Then the gate dropped shut, and a volcanic explosion sounded from the other side, shaking the room like a magnitude nine earthquake.
"Close call," Genji commented, splashing another potion on both of them.
"Yeah, thanks a bunch," Holster said, his heart pounding with trepidation.
They got up from the ground and observed the room, which presented them with another choice between retreating or continuing. They rested for some time before pressing the obvious choice, causing the room to spin like a merry-go-round.
Slots opened on the walls and released a swarm of golems. These golems were weaker than before, reaching only the levels of a beast king, but they showed no signs of stopping. This was an endurance battle.
Genji and Holster each took a side and fought with their backs to each other. Attacks flew through the air in high densities, but the besiegers kept pushing the encirclement inward. Nothing they did seemed to slow this outpour, and soon, they entered a gruesome melee.
The two combatants exchanged injuries for injuries, doing everything they could to hold back the line. If either of them fell, they would be buried in the wave, and the other would quickly follow. Bruce used the blood they spilled as various projectiles and sweeping attacks, covering their blind spots to minimize the damage.
Genji''s potions worked overtime to repair his constantly breaking flesh and wildly fluctuating health bar. Unfortunately, these golems were inanimate objects and provided no feedback recovery for slaying them. However, his daggers played a crucial role in this battle as they carved through the hardened bodies like tough wood. There was still considerable resistance, but it was enough to finish the opponent before those behind could swarm him.
Genji would occasionally pull out potions for both of them, allowing Holster to save his trump cards. They spent the next few hours in this state before the stream of units finally stopped, and they collapsed in exhaustion.
"I''m counting on you in the next room. I''ve used almost everything already," Genji said, lying down spread eagle.
"Sounds good," Holster replied between heaves of breaths.
When they entered the next room, they were confronted by two intricately crafted golems. The golems had six arms and three heads, resembling the legendary Asura from Buddhist mythology. Each hand also held a different weapon, totaling twelve, and they wielded each one with deadly proficiency.
Genji pulled one aside and instantly felt the pressure. The barrage of attacks was relentless and extremely forceful, as if he was facing a team of six grandmasters with impeccable teamwork and timing.
It also didn''t help that the weapons were carefully selected to cover all short, mid, and long-range attacks. Genji had no way to break through the golem''s defense, but he luckily didn''t need to. As he held the opponent in place, Holster went all out and dismantled his opponent limb by limb.
Eventually, all the arms were scattered throughout the room and Holster delivered a roundhouse kick to the head, detaching it. Soon, both golems dropped dead, and they were presented with the buttons again.
"Do you have your legacy liberation available?" Genji asked after recovering from the battle, his hand hovering over the right column.
"Been saving it for this moment," Holster replied.
"Then let''s both use it." Genji pressed down and approached the rising door.
The moment they entered the hallway, they immediately sensed something different about this last room. Not only did the door remain open behind them, but the ceiling lights also stayed dark, as if the power to this part of the building had been cut.
This didn''t seem natural to them and immediately put them on high alert. Astros felt the same way and backtracked to the previous room, preferring to stay in the brightness rather than the dark. There was just something about this darkness that unnerved the little guy.
The feeling only grew as they reached the other side and discovered the room was empty. No, that wasn''t quite correct. Rather, there weren''t any intact golems to greet them. On closer inspection, they found many pebbles and broken chunks strewn across the room. Something had destroyed all the backups in this room and the power grid along with it.
The room was bigger than the others and resembled a colosseum with a round dome, giving them an inkling of the intended purpose. Yet all of this lay barren before them, filled with stale air and rock dust. Everything indicated that this was the first time the room had been opened in a long time.
''Hold on! If this is the first time, then is it possible that whatever is responsible is still in here?!''
Realizing this, they immediately separated to different sides of the room and warily scanned their surroundings. As if responding to their actions, a pungent odor assaulted them, followed by the dripping of warm fluid in their previous position. Looking up, they saw a red octopus sludge monster slipping out from behind the ceiling''s support arches.
The body solidified into a more aquatic form, and multiple dark irises opened around its body. The creature opened its mouth, revealing jagged, uneven teeth that drooled with the same liquid as before. It was everything you would expect in the style of a certain American author[modern_footnote]H.P Lovecraft[/modern_footnote].
The creature dropped down onto the ground and eyed them with ferocious hunger. If their theory was correct, then this grotesque being hadn''t eaten for a long time. Genji and Holster paid no mind to its actions and instinctively used their scanning items.
[Special stat is below the target''s. The target is of a higher step than you. Obtaining 21% of the target''s information.]
[Trivial Remains of Abomination (Weakened Immensely)]
Health: 105,250/105,250
Abyssal Decay: 8,850/8,850
Con: 61
Str: 57
Dex: 42
Int: 59
Spc: 60
Skills:
- Overlord (Passive): +50,000 health, 3x energy
- Essence of Undying (Passive): +40,000 health, health can''t fall below 50% from normal attacks.
- Undying Body (Passive): Recover 10% of maximum health every second.
- Abyssal Corrosion (Passive): All injuries inflicted by you will experience an extremely weak abyssal corrosion (250 points/sec). Stackable and scales with injury severity.
- Immeasurable Regeneration (Downgraded passive): Lost body parts will recover within seconds.
- Endless Vitality (Downgraded passive): Regeneration consumes 80% fewer resources.
No other skills can be read
Warning: Run!
Warning: Do not engage!
Warning: Danger!
''I don''t think we can. I don''t think we can,'' Genji thought with a resigned smile, for the abomination had slammed the exit door shut on its descent, trapping them inside with it. The only way out now was to confront this monstrosity and win, or die trying.
"I hope you''re ready to risk it all," Genji said to Holster, priming both his liberations.
184 – Against All Odds
What is an abyssal horror? Ask people that and they will all give different answers. It is despair. It is destruction. Some might call them inevitable, while others know them as destroyers of worlds. No matter what the answer is, it will always follow these themes. That is the general consensus among the inhabitants of the universe.
Yet to a select few, these undying abominations take on a more grounded identity. "They are overwhelming monsters," they would say. Mind you, monsters, not calamities or tragedies. Disastrous yes, but not invincible. To the capable, these beings can be stopped before they wreak havoc in the universe.
And Genji''s situation was no different from these evaluations. Their chances were low, pitiful even, but not zero. As powerful as this abomination''s regeneration was, it wasn''t unkillable. After all, Genji''s Deadly Severance prevents injuries from healing for 20 seconds. This includes health and physical disabilities.
If he could deal enough damage in this time, the opponent wouldn''t get a chance to heal. However, this was easier said than done, given the abomination''s immense health and near-lethal attacks. Luckily, Genji wasn''t alone in this endeavor, and Holster was even more capable than him. With the proper cooperation, Genji was confident they could inflict some lasting injuries, even if they died in the end.
"I hope you''re ready to risk it all," Genji said to Holster, priming both his liberations.
"Do I have a choice?" Holster asked rhetorically from across the room before mirroring Genji''s actions.
His gauntlets, which had been previously inconspicuous, emitted an orange hue and morphed into a draconic shape. The ends, which had protected his forearms, extended upwards to his shoulders, forming a scaly red armor. ''Tear everything asunder, my trusty claws!''
Genji''s daggers took on a chilling sheen and his cloak hovered in the absence of gravity, becoming cloud-like and silent. Holster was taken aback by the double transformation, but didn''t have time to dwell on it.
Both of them burst forward and unleashed their widest attacks. The abomination lashed out with its tentacles, breaking the incoming weapon intents. Suddenly, their instincts screamed danger as energy rapidly gathered in the eyeballs slotted across the abomination''s body.
Genji accelerated, appearing beside the abomination and unleashing a flurry of strikes, blinding the eyes in his immediate vicinity. Then the room filled with purple rays of energy, disintegrating everything on contact. One of these rays nearly pierced Holster''s arm, but he preemptively parried the light-speed attack.
Shadow flames of impeccable stillness manifested around Genji''s daggers, seemingly harmless but containing a hidden edge. Upon digging into the abomination''s flesh, these flames tore through its appendages like cotton candy meeting water. Rapid combos followed, creating almost a void zone within Genji''s reach.
His arms waved back and forth like an out-of-control windmill, and his foot pivoted endlessly, denying any counterattack opportunities. The irises tried gathering energy again, but Genji slashed them with a wave trajectory. Numerous limbs dropped like rain, and the abomination roared in fury.
Bruce tried manipulating the abomination''s black blood, but something within the fluid interfered with his control. The best he could manage was making ripples in the spewing liquid. Left with no choice, Bruce used his own energy pool and manifested numerous blood spikes at the head.
Shadow flames crossed over each other, forming a net of blades around the target. At this moment, Holster joined the fight and began tearing the tentacles like paper. Ferocious swipes and claws followed, splattering more blood around the vicinity.
Amidst these attacks, Genji noticed that the wounds inflicted by Holster were slow to heal. This was a welcomed change because it meant Holster had a similar healing denial ability to Genji''s. Although it operated on a different principle and was less intense, the result was the same.
''At this rate, we might actually stand a chance,'' Genji thought optimistically.
Suddenly, the abomination released a deafening roar, filled with wrath and destructive impulse. The ends of the severed tentacles writhed grotesquely and sprouted extra stalks from all sides. Within seconds, the number of tentacles multiplied several times, nearly burying them in its clutches.
This was possible because the abomination wasn''t regenerating its limbs, but growing new ones. The health was still missing, but the creature had recovered its offensive capabilities.
Putrid tendrils surrounded them in all directions, forcing them to swing harder, faster, and more desperately. More limbs flooded the area, but the abomination regrew everything in new locations.
This situation only grew more perilous when pupils began forming around them. Frantic to disrupt this before they were turned into Swiss cheese, Genji and Holster ignored everything else and concentrated their attacks on these developing eyes. In the end, these constructs exploded in torrents of energy, hurling both of them backward.
When they finally came to a stop, their bodies bore numerous bruises and small cuts, all stained with abyssal energy. These wisps of energy drilled into their flesh and corroded their bodies at alarming speeds.
[You have been affected by Abysall Erosion: Lose 867 hp/sec for an indefinite amount of time.]
''12 seconds,'' Genji estimated - that was how long his remaining health would last.
Without hesitation, Genji chugged several bottles of poison to combat this erosion. After tossing a set to Holster, he charged forward again, filling the room with poison bombs and green smoke. This would keep their injuries at bay, albeit at a high cost. Holster saw Genji''s wounds stabilize and decisively followed. Now was not the time to delay. They could worry about the side effects if they survived.
The abomination was indifferent to this new atmosphere and swiped out with a hail of attacks. Small tentacles bounced off the floor and attacked from unpredictable angles. Genji twisted his body in minute ways and hacked with all his strength. However, it was difficult to make any progress within this entangled mess, even after Holster joined the offense.
"I need to get close to it," Holster said as they got pushed back again.
"Two seconds," Genji replied before halting his attacks altogether.
Holster understood his intentions and entered a full defense mode in front of Genji. Bruce also cooperated with him and formed a barrier of blood. Seconds later, Genji burst out with a massive streak of light, carving a narrow path toward the main body.
Holster dashed down this lane, and Genji followed, striking out to maintain this clearing whenever the surroundings tried regrowing. Massive crescents burst out one after the other, creating a blinding light show.
At this moment, Holster''s claws emanated an oppressive aura, and the fingertips darkened like ash. Holster lunged at the abomination, seeking to grab the head and tear it apart.
However, Holster failed to make contact as the abomination transformed into black liquid. The edges of the fluid curled around Holster, almost encapsulating him. Realizing the danger of this situation, Holster transitioned his grip into a forceful swipe, clearing the landing zone of any fluid.
Then another streak of cutting intent came down, breaking the seal before the abomination could fully drown Holster. An enraged roar sounded before the abomination discharged pellets of itself at Genji. A cocoon of sharpness intercepted these shots, but the fluid lingered in the air. Suddenly, they changed directions and darted through the fading curtain.
Genji performed a backflip to shake off the fluid, but they pursued him like an unrelenting bloodhound. They were being controlled by the abomination and acted like homing missiles.
A pillar of crystallized energy formed beneath Genji''s feet, allowing him to change his trajectory midair. Genji soared to the other side of the room and Holster broke out of his encasement with an intense explosion.
At the same time, Genji noticed the severed tentacles on the ground dissolve into the same fluid as the main body. This liquid gathered at the main agglomeration and merged with it, healing its injuries.
20 seconds had passed since the first injury was inflicted, meaning this battle had passed its one-third mark. For context, Deadly Severance only lasts 60 seconds. If they don''t finish the battle within this time, they won''t have enough firepower to overcome the abomination''s regeneration.
The fluid swirled around and concentrated into a semi-solid form, and the abomination bared its crooked teeth. Then it twirled its body like a tornado, launching another shower of fluids at them.
Genji and Holster gave their best to dodge or parry these attacks, but this proved to be an impossible task considering the projectiles'' erratic movements. Moments later, one of these blobs slipped through their defenses and burst on their skin. Genji immediately sensed the corrosion in his body doubling in potency and overpowering the defensive poison.
To restore the balance inside him, Genji chugged another severe poison and increased the toxicity in the air. Holster got the same treatment, but they were treading on thin ice now. A single mistake and they would die from either poison, corrosion, or the incoming attacks.
To make matters worse, the abomination had begun flooding the room with its fluids, cutting off all areas for dodging and forcing them on the passive. A constant cocoon of cutting intent wrapped around Genji, while Holster conjured a burning hot bubble. Within a matter of seconds, the water level reached their waists, further intensifying their stamina consumption.
If they don''t change the situation soon, they will be exhausted to death. In an attempt to disrupt the abomination, Genji manifested his flintlock and fired a big pellet. However, this was futile as the explosions hardly affected its liquid form.
Suddenly, Genji heard the whistling of air as something minuscule broke through his barrier and pierced at the back of his head. Out of instinct, Genji flung his head aside, narrowly avoiding a catastrophe with a small nick. The object had a bony texture and a small frame, but Genji didn''t have time to examine the details as he leaped into the air to avoid the fluid invading his space.
A cacophony of whistles sounded again as numerous other similar projectiles shot at him. At this moment, Genji discerned these projectiles were actually worms with sharpened heads, fully capable of shifting their trajectories without outside assistance.
''Shit!'' Genji twisted his body and conjured a cyclone of cutting intent to reposition himself.
This redirected most of the attacks, but his body still sustained two gaping holes, one through his stomach and one through his shoulder. However, these injuries were inconsequential compared to the attacks'' true danger.
Due to its incitement, the corrosion within Genji flared up again, inducing a mouthful of blood and causing Genji to flop backward. Genji had lost control of his body, and he was dropping right into the water below.
Bruce immediately recognized the crisis and manifested multiple scalpels, hoping to speed up Genji''s recovery by trimming away the eroded parts. Wings of blood also slowed Genji''s descent, but time was running out. More bullet worms were gathering beneath him, and the abomination was preparing to end the hunt once and for all.
Suddenly, a ripple of fire swept over the surface of the water, shattering all the critters hiding beneath. The heat grew higher, and the liquid began boiling away. Holster had made his move and devastated the terrain advantage. With each strike, the resulting flames would chip away at the water level, bringing it closer to the ground.
By the time Genji was about to land, all the fluid had evaporated, leaving only a black, tar-like substance coating the room. Simultaneously, the abomination was forced out of its liquid form and congealed into a gel mass. This was a prime opportunity to strike, as the abomination was defenseless right now, but neither of them was in any condition to do so.
Holster had drained his stamina significantly with that feat and could barely move while Genji was still recovering from his relapse and struggling to bring the corrosion back under control.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
''Fuck it. We''re already gambling. Might as well double down.''
Sensing his resolve, Bruce pulled back the wings and allowed Genji to drop. As Genji neared the ground, he stomped down, twisting his ankle with an awkward landing and shooting toward the abomination.
Wisps of cutting intent swirled around him like the wind and gathered in his dagger, compressing inward with an inferno of shadow flames. Everything faded into the metal, and Genji pulled the weapon back.
Stealth Dagger - Concentrated Existence
Genji released all the gathered strength and slashed the conglomerating mass in half. However, this wasn''t over, as he had another dagger. Swinging his leg, Genji pivoted in the air and struck down with a blaze of ferocious flames.
This wasn''t him flaring up the power but because his control slipped from concentrating on the other hand. Nonetheless, the firestorm consumed the abomination, inflicting deeper wounds than anything they''d managed so far.
The abomination screeched in pain and whipped Genji with a tentacle, hurling him to the other side of the room. Bones snapped, and muscles tore as he bounced off the wall, revealing bits of broken crystals. His mind also went blank from this impact, having suffered a concussion.
Bruce circulated Genji''s blood, bringing him back in record time. Genji grimaced in pain and added more potions to the blend of whatever unholy agglomeration was forming inside his body.
As he turned to face the abomination, heat seared his face, a result of Holster tearing the same tentacle apart.
Huffs of flames leaked from Holster''s mouth as he breathed in, puffing his chest outward. Then he exhaled everything, discharging a stream of flames at the abomination point blank. A burnt smell wafted from both the abomination and Holster''s charred throat, creating a repulsive combination.
Genji flashstepped opposite to Holster and chained the bombardment. The abomination, not one to take a passive beating, quickly conjured its strength to retaliate. As they stepped forward to maintain the pressure, a sudden bone lance pierced out from the ground, breaking their flow. They were almost impaled by this but leaped back just in time.
With this breathing room, the abomination returned their barrage with equal relentlessness, in calcium form. Neither of them had any time to readjust themselves, as lances burst forth without pause. These were the remnants of the destroyed bullet worms, repurposed by the abomination to continue its assault.
After a few moments of this, the blitz overwhelmed Genji and left a wound. Shortly after, a raging headache assaulted him, breaking his attention and causing more wounds. The headache worsened, nausea manifested, and Genji began seeing double.
Experiencing all these in short succession, Genji understood the lances were inflicting these effects. Fortunately, due to being purified by Holster, these strikes lacked the abyssal energy to retrigger his corrosion.
However, these status effects were not any better, as Genji''s vision blurred, his muscles fatigued, a second abomination appeared, and his reasoning began waning. After a few more seconds, everything became indistinguishable, leaving him to fight with only his instincts.
Amidst this blur, Genji felt a spike pierce his chest, inflicting enough pain to rouse him from his grogginess in time to hear a loud neigh. At first, Genji assumed this attack was from the abomination and this was his end, but he quickly discovered the weapon was red. Red, as in made of his own blood. Bruce was the one who attacked him.
But the next instant, Genji understood why Bruce had done so, as his daggers were about to slash Holster''s throat. In their haze, the abomination had manipulated Genji and Holster to fight against each other and nearly succeeded.
His dagger immediately disappeared from his hand, allowing his fist to brush across Holster''s neck. The price for this act was a dragon claw through his chest, as Holster''s attack landed shortly after.
Genji punched Holster in the face with his other hand, knocking him into a wall. Then he brought out more potions, as Bruce regulated his bleeding wound.
The contract didn''t trigger due to this internal conflict because the realms considered the circumstances beyond their control. That was the benefit of having them monitor the situation. In any other scenario, the contract would have definitely triggered, leading to a much greater loss of resources. This prevention alone meant the privilege tokens were not spent in vain.
As Genji dodged another bone spike, Holster readjusted his stance and pounced at Genji. Despite the solid hit, this champion was still under the enemy''s influence.
However, dodging his teammate''s and the opponent''s attacks was impossible, especially given the previous barrage. It didn''t help that the abomination would attack indiscriminately, ensuring Holster remained under its influence for as long as possible.
Genji endured more wounds, and his drowsiness returned in full force. But due to his previous experience, he refused to slip back into that state, as it would mean death.
His willpower reached its limits and his movements grew sloppy, forcing Bruce to interfere constantly. This was bad because Bruce couldn''t monitor the surroundings any more. If something unexpected happens, no one will be able to react in time, possibly resulting in a worse situation.
''We can''t go on like this,'' Genji managed to piece together this thought. ''Then let us both go crazy.''
With the last of his focus, Genji retrieved a tightly sealed vial and threw it at Holster¡¯s claws. This vial was unlike the others, as it sent the consumer into a berserk frenzy.
In this state, one would lose all reason and become a savage beast, driven solely by an overwhelming urge for destruction, attacking anything within their perception.
There were only two outcomes after consuming this: one either wakes up to devastation or dies in the process. Genji originally created this poison for enemies, but now it had become a last-ditch gamble. But what other choice did he have?
He couldn''t keep dodging like this. Otherwise, they would have no chance of winning. At least by going berserk, there was a small chance that Holster might attack the correct enemy.
The vial broke and the contents buried Holster''s face. His eyes turned pink-red, and his muscles swelled with strength exceeding his limits. Yet before Holster could lose control, his necklace glowed a pure white, dispelling all mental influences. The berserk vial had triggered Holster''s legendary status removal item, turning the tides in another stroke of luck.
''Huh? What''s going on?'' Holster wondered, battling his immense headache.
Regardless, he didn''t have time to understand as a bone lance was stabbing at Genji''s back. Out of instinct, Holster shoved Genji aside and snapped the bone. Then all his memories rushed back to him, reminding him of their current crisis.
"Glad. To. Have. You. Back," Genji hissed between clenched teeth and heaves of breaths. Genji was using everything and more to maintain control right now. Yet this state won''t last, as he could feel his consciousness slipping. "Get away!" He shouted, right as his eyes glossed over.
Holster followed his advice and rushed at the abomination while Bruce carried Genji away. Lots of stray attacks were launched at the walls, as Genji fully gave in to his impulse. Daggers manifested in his hands again, and he slashed with all his strength, nearly destroying Bruce''s energy a few times. It was a struggle for Bruce, but he managed to restrain Genji as the bone lances died down. Meanwhile, Holster used his newfound clarity to endure some effects and pressure the abomination.
While this was happening, Genji fought the poison''s influence within his mental space, doing everything to regain consciousness a moment faster.
"I can''t let it end like this! I refuse!" He roared, fighting tooth and nail for every bit of control. And this showed in the outside world, as his rampage settled slightly, making Bruce''s task that much easier.
"Suppress everything! I need to continue fighting!"
As if sensing his tenacity, his legacy spirits suddenly manifested beside him. They gave him sad looks, unwilling to see his pain, but supported him in their own ways. With the wave of a hand, the silhouette grew dimmer and Genji found himself back in his body.
[Shroud of Terror had lost a large amount of energy. The duration of Terror Unleashed has decreased by 2 minutes.]
Genji roughly understood what had happened, but didn''t have time to think about it. Instead, he stopped his attacks and familiarized himself with the ongoing battle and all its changes since.
As of this moment, the abomination had taken on a new form: an orb that stabs out with hard needles. It resembled a combination of a pufferfish and a turtle shell, rendering it impervious to external attacks.
Holster struggled against this form, as his attacks barely tickled the enemy while the abomination effortlessly pattered him with strikes. Due to this, his body was riddled with small wounds, all oozing black. Although the toxins in the air provided some relief, it didn''t change how battered Holster was.
Genji threw some splash potions to announce his return and slashed apart the needles, giving Holster some breathing room. The abomination replenished the lost needles and conjured a wall of projectiles in response. Genji and Holster easily destroyed this barrage, but they were losing precious time.
With only a few seconds left before the one-minute mark, they couldn''t afford to be entangled by these long-ranged attacks; they needed to get close and break its defenses.
''Can''t block anymore. We need to dodge and preserve our momentum.''
Unfortunately, this was harder than expected since each of these needles contained overwhelming force due to their stat differences and had almost no gaps in between. If they weren''t careful, a single direct strike would send them flying and reset all the distance they covered.
But like all decisions made in this battle, they didn''t have a choice and were forced to confront these impossible odds. Genji reactivated Untraceable Movement and made a final charge at the abomination. As his feet pushed off the ground, his perception of time slowed down, allowing him to perceive every needle flying at him.
His muscles and limbs folded erratically like paper origami, narrowly slipping through the openings with minimal grazes. His body twitched in unimaginable ways as his concentration reached its peak. In a matter of moments, Genji had crossed most of the distance and was upon the abomination.
His daggers slashed down at the head when suddenly, time ground to a halt. In the corner of his eyes, Genji noticed a massive needle protruding out at him. The next instant, the needle left the abomination''s body while his dagger barely moved an inch.
There was a huge speed discrepancy and Genji was the slower one. His dagger was only one-fifth of the way there when the needle reached the halfway point.
''I can''t dodge this,'' he determined. ''It''s too fast.''
The needle reached the 75% mark and unwilling defiance surged inside him. Was this how everything would end? After overcoming so many difficulties, he would be shot down, right when his goal was within arm''s reach?
No! The very idea itself repulsed him. Genji was never one to make things easy for his opponent if he was going to die. Instead, he would do everything in his power to make them regret it, even at the cost of his own life. Genji would pursue this goal with reckless abandon, readily risking permanent damage for even the slightest increase in his chances.
"Move! I just need to dodge this! Force it if I have to!"
His willpower made unrealistic demands on his body, and his body responded by squeezing out every ounce of potential and more to meet these expectations.
Miraculously, this worked, generating a strong pulse that accelerated his body to the side. His dagger followed this trajectory and dug into the abomination. Genji instinctively chained his slashes when he sensed the strike connect, disrupting the spike storm.
''He broke through his technique''s limit!'' Holster thought, astonished by the scene.
But Holster wasted no time and dashed in, adding his combo to the flurry of attacks. Together, they completely suppressed the abomination, giving it no opportunity to counterattack. This was their last chance to end the fight, and they couldn''t afford to lose it.
After a short while, the abomination stopped attacking and focused solely on defense, hardening its outer shell. It had sensed their desperation and realized that stalling was the best strategy.
The duo''s hearts sank at this change, but they persisted in their assault. With each passing second, their strikes grew more frantic and fierce as they forced out every bit of strength. The ends of Holster''s claws chipped from the barrage, revealing bloodied fingertips, while, the webbing between Genji''s thumb and index finger split open, making his grip slippery with blood.
But despite these injuries, they continued striking at full force. They were at their wits'' end and had no other options. This sense of hopelessness peaked when Genji''s daggers suddenly dimmed in intensity. One minute had passed, and Deadly Severance had reached its end. From this point onward, the battle was on a downward slope, as the abomination would soon recover its health.
''Shit. I lost track of time,'' Genji inwardly cursed and made another decisive move.
One of his daggers disappeared, and Genji thumped his chest three times. These hits were harder than usual, breaking his ribs and greatly stimulating his heart. His blood vessels ached from the pressure, but he disregarded the damage and brought his remaining dagger above his head. Both of his bloodied hands grasped it tightly, and he slammed it down with his body weight.
Dagger Arts: Impact Strike
A vortex formed on the downward stroke, utilizing all his built-up foundation. His dense shadow core cracked and released a torrent of energy, right into an open wound in the abomination. In an instant, all his energy drained from his heart, giving him a sensation resembling heartburn.
Genji gave the dagger one last shove, stabbing it even deeper before an explosion ensued, hurling him backward. A great roar of agony sounded, indicating severe injuries, but not death. Even after everything, the abomination''s remaining health was simply too high for Genji''s last assault to finish it.
However, not all hope was lost, as Holster charged through the explosion at this moment and grabbed the abomination. The creature had lost its shell during the explosion, revealing delicate flesh to Holster''s claws.
Holster emitted an oppressive aura and the scales glowed a soft, golden sheen. It was the same attack Holster tried to use before the abomination liquefied and nullified it. Only this time, it was fueled with Holster''s life force and contained unprecedented strength.
Holster''s arms bulged outward, and his skin tore from the force, but he kept pushing through. Then in one mighty exertion, Holster tore the creature in half, revealing a black core that oozed with black liquid. Seeing this, Holster forced himself to inhale violently, nearly bursting his lungs. Then he unleashed everything, sanitizing the core with fire.
When he ran out of breath, the once black core had turned white and dropped onto the ground lifelessly.
[You have slain Trivial Remains of Abomination (Weakened Immensely)]
[You have obtained: 1,800,000 coins.]
[Since this kill was made in cooperation with another realm, the loot will be placed on the ground.]
The moment Holster received the kill confirmation, he brought out a legendary vial of holy water and chugged its contents. His destroyed throat and tattered body rapidly repaired itself, allowing him to meet Genji, who''d limped out of the wall.
"We did it," Genji said, sipping from a bottle.
"Yes," Holster hoarsely replied, still recovering from the last attack.
Genji examined his state and threw over a bottle of blue liquid. Holster accepted the gesture and chugged its contents. Yet as he was halfway through its contents, he aggressively flung it aside in pain. In an unexpected twist of events, the potion had detonated all the accumulated poison inside him, bringing him to the verge of death. And it didn''t take long for Holster to realize what had happened.
"YOU DARE BREAK THE CONTRACT!?!?!" Holster roared in fury, lunging at Genji.
As if expecting this, a blood spring manifested and pushed Genji aside. A deadpan Genji met Holster''s gaze and denied his accusation. "No, you''re the one who broke it."
The moment Genji finished those words, a waterfall of ominous prompts entered Holster''s sight.
[Detected that Enigma has unintentionally caused you harm. 1 coin has been deducted.]
[Warning: You have violated the contract. A legendary item will now be transferred to Enigma.]
[Warning: The contract is now void. Enigma can now retaliate without repercussions.]
[Warning:...Warning:...Warning:...]
185 – Settlement: Primordial Echoes
How did Genji bypass the contract when it was so strict? And why did the realms classify it as only a minor breach when it couldn¡¯t have been more obvious? Logically, the realms should have been monitoring the situation very closely and shouldn''t have made this mistake. So, what exactly did Genji do?
To answer this question, we need to revisit the contract and examine its exact words. Specifically, the part about how they couldn''t directly harm each other after signing the contract. This detail is important because it didn''t restrict what they could do before then. That was the first trap Genji set.
To finish this step, Genji infused the scroll with a dormant poison that infected Holster upon contact. He achieved this with his weird fountain pen, which had been dipped in the poison beforehand. That was why he insisted on using this unfamiliar writing utensil, despite having more comfortable options in his inventory.
Everything after that was done in support of this, including the unintentional injury clause and the retaliation one. The retaliation clause is self-explanatory after everything, but the unintentional injury clause was much more complicated¡ªso complicated, in fact, that it deserved to be mentioned as Genji''s second trap.
That''s because this was the clause that made everything possible. Due to its inclusion, there was a very strict definition for what it meant to "directly harm" someone. As such, Genji managed to play into this loophole and avoid punishment.
After all, he wasn''t the one who caused the poison to lose control. He only gave a healing potion that "accidentally" triggered the explosion. How could he have known that would be the result?
It''s like giving bread to a homeless person, not realizing they have a severe gluten allergy. To make matters worse, the homeless person also didn''t know this, and hungrily devoured the loaf, resulting in a severe reaction.
That was how the realms interpreted the situation. So no matter how dubious the sequence of events were, they couldn''t assign any fault to Genji. At worst, it would be labeled as an accident - an unfortunate one, but an accident nevertheless.
Additionally, Genji had been providing potions for Holster the whole time, conditioning him to accept them without much thought. Pairing this with the realm''s verification, it became easy to lower his guard. After all, SagaRealm clearly said these potions were safe, so how could anything bad happen to him?
This was indeed the case, but what the realms didn''t realize was that the potion contained an ingredient that reacts negatively to the dormant poison, awakening it. That was how Genji bypassed all the restrictions and accomplished this feat.
There were a few hiccups in the plan, like the emergence of the abomination, and the spreading of poison that might have triggered the contract, but it eventually worked out.
One unexpected bonus was the legendary item Genji obtained from Holster lashing out at him since Holster was the one that added the punishment. But, even if he was cool-headed enough to recognize the bait and not attack, Genji had other plans in store.
After all, it would take a miraculous amount of self-control to hold back against Genji if Genji put his mind to it. For example, Genji could act all concerned and ignorant of the cause, while offering another deadly potion.
If that didn''t work, Genji could always forcibly splash the potion on Holster out of "concern." Even if Holster dodged that, the battle would become one-sided because he wouldn''t be able to counterattack. So regardless of the outcome, Genji was bound to win this confrontation. And this ending was determined the moment Holster unknowingly signed this contract.
"BASTARD!" Holster cursed, painfully dodging a blood spear.
"No hard feelings," Genji said, swinging an open vial of poison and creating a green arc that repelled Holster. "But there can only be one winner."
Then he sprayed an aerosol agent over the liquid, transforming it into gas that scorched Holster''s skin. This was the final blow, as his remaining health drained away, and Holster collapsed with a resentful glare.
"Well played," Holster muttered, his voice fading along with the light in his eyes.
[You have slain: Holster, Champion of SagaRealm]
[You have obtained: 10 privilege tokens]
[You have obtained: Scarlet Card(Champion, 3rd step)]
[Due to a breach in the contract, you will receive a random legendary item from Holster''s inventory. You have obtained: World Selection Token]
[World Selection Token]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Authority Item
Durability: 2/3
Effect: Consume 1 durability and specify what type of world you will enter next. If your stats are above the world''s limit, reduce them until you meet the requirements.
Description: A token sold by Eternal Void. Using it will give you a big advantage in your next world.
Note: You can specify other requirements for the worlds. How much you gain will depend on how you use it.
Note 2: Due to a past violation, items with this effect cannot be paired with the Duelmaster''s Invitation. Either choose the world type or drag an opponent into a death match, but not both.
Genji had a sneaky suspicion he knew what violation the second note was talking about, but he didn''t dwell on it. The past had already happened and shouldn''t be clung to.
Instead, Genji walked to the abomination''s remains and picked up the highlighted orb from the ground. This was the same orb Holster revealed when he tore the creature in half and was engulfed in flames during the finishing blow. By now, the orb had cooled completely and regained its dark luster.
[You have obtained: Undying Abomination''s Abyssal Essence]
[Undying Abomination''s Abyssal Essence]
Rating: High Legendary
Type: Monster Relic
Effect: ???
Description: Undying Abominations are powerful creatures of the abyss and nearly unkillable. It''s hard enough to survive against one, and even harder to kill one. Although this essence has lost 99.9998% of its powers, it is still a valuable commodity among the realms.
Note: Both Eternal Void and EverRealm are highly interested in this item. Bargain with either of them for your rewards.
The reward was as exaggerated as the opponent they''d faced, but that was to be expected of an Overlord, a rank above even the High Lords. It took everything between two champions, three legacies liberations, overcoming their limits several times within the short span of the battle, and a ton of luck to emerge victorious. Yet even then, they almost failed. That was how absurd this rank was compared to the ones below it.
One could even say that Overlords could effortlessly slaughter High Lords like lambs, with the gap between them being greater than the difference between common mobs and bosses. Existences of this level were not meant to be opposed, as even High Lords could easily overpower all other beings in the world. That¡¯s why they are called lords, not bosses.
Yet to think this abomination was only a weakened version. One couldn''t even begin to fathom how terrible these Undying Abominations are in their true forms. The most one could say was that these lords of the abyss deserved their titles as world calamities.
Genji sighed in relief once again and approached the other side of the room, where the crevices of a hidden door stood. This crack had been revealed during the battle when the stray attacks had damaged the surrounding material. Most impressively, the room was still intact, despite all the battering they gave it.
Genji dug his fingers beneath the door and pulled upward, slowly raising it along its intended grooves. After a few minutes, a loud click sounded, and the door slotted into place.
*Phew* "Now let''s see what rewards this place has to offer."
Genji would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t curious about this. After all, it was the main reason he betrayed Holster. One doesn¡¯t simply enter a lower world for something mediocre, especially when Holster was willing to give up all other rewards in exchange. That was the key point that tipped Genji off when they first met.
The next room was a long hall with a high ceiling. Display cases with their respective items lined the sides, creating a pathway of artifacts. Unfortunately, these transparent exhibits were in utter shambles and their contents couldn''t be any more ruined. It was hard to even find an intact piece anywhere within this grand hall.
All of these treasures had been destroyed, presumably by the abomination that emerged from this chamber. It was pretty obvious considering the black sludge trail leading from this hall to the doorway of the previous room.
As Genji stepped into the hall, a blurry video projection appeared in front of him. At the center of the video was a stone humanoid, slumped against a metallic wall and taking labored breaths. Its whole body was riddled with cracks and unnatural black erosions, creating many gaps through which Genji could see the other side.
The humanoid struggled with its condition for a few seconds before looking up at the camera and speaking in a strained tone. EverRealm translated everything as before, so Genji heard the entire message.
"To whom this may concern, I am J¡¯Galotch, patriarch of the Stone Titans, and this is my dying message. As you can probably tell, I am not of this world. I hail from a higher world consisting of purely elementals and dense mana. A lot has happened to reach this point, but I''ll keep it short.
Our world was invaded by an Undying Abomination. A single entity had brought our world to its knees. All of our strongest gathered to fight this calamity, but it was a brutal massacre. Existences of the 7th and 8th step fell in droves, torn apart like paper. We stood no chance at all. But under everyone''s sacrifices, we eventually brought it to the verge of death.
However, they are called Undying Abominations for a reason. It''s nearly impossible to kill one. Given enough time, they will revive and wreak havoc once more. To prevent this outcome and deliver the finish blow, me and a few apex beings dragged it into the void and ground away its immortality.
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I was the only one that survived that battle, but I was too weakened and lost to return. So I dug out its core and entered this world, building this monument to suppress its essence. Out of precaution, I made this into a trial with rewards so people don''t get too curious and try to break my seal.
Although I do feel apologetic about siphoning the world''s energy for this purpose, causing its development to stagnate, I can''t risk anything. It''s too dangerous if the abomination revives.
I''m telling you this because this abomination''s core is sealed under my clan''s heritage treasure. You can take any item you like from this hall but, please leave that one alone. I''m sure you will be satisfied with them. They are some of the finest equipment from my world.
Thank you."
The video ended there, but Genji''s attention was redirected to the altar at the end of the room. There were myriad rune lines carved into the area, making it much more complex than even the hallway that almost blew Holster up. It was evident that the creator didn''t want anyone tampering with it.
Unfortunately, the mechanism had been destroyed by a certain abomination''s emergence and the weathering of time. Now, only a shell of its former self remained, a monument to its elemental glory.
"I think it''s a little late for that," Genji said, responding to the video and approaching the altar. "But I''ll take care of the treasure in your place."
Genji brushed aside the rubble covering the item, revealing a white mask bigger than himself. It was a bland mask, absent of any designs like paper mache. The material was smooth despite the passing of time and sturdy to the touch.
Genji tried inspecting the item, but all he got was a series of question marks. Not even its name could be seen, as if history itself had forgotten it. Genji tried placing it in his storage space but failed. It was another unique item that couldn''t be easily stored. However, this only exemplified its value and significance. After all, Genji had only encountered one other item with this trait: the Void Egg that Astros hatched from.
Genji brought out some rope and fastened the mask to his back before searching the room one last time. After confirming there was nothing else, Genji returned to the previous room and pried open the slammed door. As he stepped through, flickering lights greeted him, a stark difference compared to when they first entered. Power was beginning to return to this part of the structure now that the abomination responsible for draining it had been slain.
''Some vacation this was,'' Genji grumbled, stepping into the light.
A worried yip sounded in his ears as Astros ran over with a scared look but didn''t jump on him like usual. Following his gaze, Genji understood why Astros was so reticent.
Genji looked horrendous right now. His skin had turned completely purple from poison abuse and large chunks of his body were missing due to corrosion. Blackened bones could be seen through some of these gaps, along with indistinguishable organ bits. Genji looked worse than a zombie and had the deadly aura to back it up.
"Yeah, it might be best not to touch me right now."
Bruce manifested at this moment and picked up Astros. The golems in the room watched them but remained stationary. Genji had already passed this level and didn''t need to be tested again. Genji walked over and pressed the return button. A hazel-yellow portal appeared on the side and the gang stepped through.
When they came out the other side, they found themselves back at the plateau that started everything. Genji plopped down on the ground and enjoyed the sun, not wanting to do anything. They had about an hour and 40 minutes left and no motivation. Like this, time counted down, and they soon returned.
Settlement: Primordial Echoes
Achievements:
- Explored the world''s culture (5)
- Mastered the methods of the tribal hunters (tracking, skinning, and processing) (3)
- Traveled far across the plains (4)
- Learned the dynamics of the tribes (4)
- Mastered the tribes'' rope reading techniques (2)
- Hunted a bunch of common~elite creatures (3)
- Slain a quasi-beast king lion (Mini-boss) (2)
- Participated in the tribal wars (4)
- Slain many tribal warriors (5)
- Fought Xue Fe, Champion of SanguineRealm undergoing promotion trial, to a standstill (2)
- Obtained a detailed world map (5)
- Traveled deep into the wilderness (3)
- Repelled the Snake King (3)
- Discovered the Forest of Clear Moon (2)
- Learned the promotion method for Awakened Warriors (2)
- Slain: Beast King of The Forest, Mighty Boar (4)
- Entered the World''s Center (3)
- Built a friendship with the Beast Kings (3)
- Discovered an unrecorded danger zone (2)
- Displayed proper conduct of an explorer (3)
- Discovered the truth of the Primordial Echo (3)
- Discovered the Titan Trials (2)
- Defeated the Remains of Abomination (15)
- Completed Trial of Exploration
- Completed Trial of Creativity
- Completed Trial of Unpredictability
- Completed Trail of Despair II
- Killed Holster, 3rd step Champion of SagaRealm (10)
- Learned the lost history of the Elementals (4)
- Recovered the lost artifact of the Stone Titans (5)
Total Achievements: 107
Total world time: 45 days
Rating: Beyond Nightmarish
Note: EverRealm is still impressed by what you managed to accomplish
Coins Rewarded: 3,321,783
Stat points: 28 (This is the maximum of this world)
[14,848,109 coins have been deducted as a healing fee.]
Genji opted for the coin payment this time because his wounds were more manageable this time. It mainly consisted of poison and abyssal corrosion, but nothing too permanent like the mutations that would require exorbitant fees. Once the last dregs of healing power left him, Genji was presented with a surprising choice.
[Detected that you are in possession of a damaged artifact and over 100 achievements. Please choose one of the following actions.]
- Turn in the mask of the Stone Titans.
Reward: +1 rank to both legacies
Note: Your legacies are already guaranteed to upgrade in rank. Choosing this option will result in an upgrade of 2 ranks.
2. Attempt to repair the mask.
Note: This is a complicated process and the results may vary. Picking this option will consume your custom forging opportunity and the item will be bound to you. No one else will be able to use it until your demise.
[Think carefully before picking.]
Two options: one that''s consistent and one that''s full of unknowns. Genji could understand why EverRealm warned him, as this choice would have a drastic impact on his upcoming development.
The first option would give a huge boost to his combat strength, pushing it even higher than it already is. On top of that, he gets to customize a legendary item for himself, further making up for his deficiencies. This is a tremendous opportunity since this was only his second time receiving this chance.
The first time created Bruce, who has been an indispensable help since he joined Genji. If used properly, it could make him a formidable foe even among the third step. Just take his compass, for example, which has been a bane of a certain mastermind''s existence.
On the other hand, Genji would give up all these advantages to gamble on an unknown outcome. To add further uncertainty, Genji would be bound to this outcome. If it turned out poorly, he would have no way to recover his losses.
So the choice is obvious, right?
Well...
Under normal circumstances, yes, but this is far from it. Quite the opposite, in fact, since Genji knew the context behind this mask. For one, this was literally the treasure that the Titans used to seal the Undying Abomination and emerged unscathed from its destruction during its revival. How could such an item be weak in any way?
Also, by EverRealm''s wording, it sounded like EverRealm only offered this choice because he obtained 100 achievements along with the treasure. If it were hopeless, why would EverRealm give him a choice anyway and potentially risk screwing him over?
If anything, this should be an indication to choose it. That''s not to mention the generous reward EverRealm is providing for the safe option. In situations like these, the safe option always lowballs the potential rewards.
"Choice 2," Genji said, and the mask detached from behind him.
An overwhelming force then manifested, locking him in place and extracting a drop of blood from his heart. Once this was achieved, the force released its hold on Genji, and the mask floated upward. The blood followed and merged with it, creating ripples on its wide surface.
[Please choose among the following items to trade in. Each item will increase the energy used in this procedure and, in turn, the chances of success.]
- Champion Holster''s Scarlet Card
- Undying Abomination''s Abyssal Essence
- Any excess energy after upgrading your legacies
- 100 privilege tokens
- Bechel''s Secret Formula
Genji was reassured of his choice when he saw the second option. If even a high-level legendary item wasn''t enough to guarantee the repair''s success, it could only mean the mask had a higher value. Without hesitation, Genji selected the first, second, and fifth options.
The third option was non-negotiable since it directly affected his legacies. He wasn''t going to compromise on this, even if there was extra energy remaining. After all, they were his partners, just like Bruce, and had fought many battles with him. It didn''t make sense to deprive his current partners for something new. That would be like putting the cart before the horse.
As for the fourth option, Genji simply didn''t want to spend that much. While he could scrape together the amount, he preferred to save his tokens for other purposes.
The items swiftly left his inventory, and a massive surge of energy descended, forming large curls of color. These various energies cycled around the mask like a miniature galaxy before fusing into the surface. The ripples intensified, and the mask gained a soft opaque glow.
[Scanning...]
[Infusing energy...]
[Checking external damage...]
[Initiating repair...]
[Repairing...]
[Checking internal damage...]
[Error: Priority Framework Not Found]
[Initiating deep scan...]
[Error: Priority Principles Missing]
[Attempting recovery process...]
[Error: Total Priority Disintegration]
[Abandoning attempt...]
[Initiating restructuring procedures...]
[Encoding operation principles...]
[Defining priority applications...]
[Customizing...]
[Applying finishing touches...]
[Process complete]
The moment that prompt sounded, the energy mass faded, revealing the mask''s new form. The mask had shrunk drastically compared to before, becoming more suitable for human use rather than titans. Also, the white color had been replaced by a glossy black that resembled the darkest nights.
[Mask of the Black Death]
Rating: Mythic (damaged)
Repair progress: 17.86%
Durability: 1,000/1,000 (Mythic items are hard to break)
Requirements: Bound to Enigma
Effects:
- Status Forgery (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change how your status page appears to others. This effect has medium priority and will last until it is disabled.
- Ultimate Disguise (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change your appearance at will. This effect has medium priority. Effects with lower priority can not see through this disguise. Your disguise can not exceed your body proportions by more than 50%.
- Soul Sanctuary (passive/active): Your soul is protected from death. When you are affected by a fatal soul attack, negate it and become immune for 5 seconds. This effect has high priority. Limited to 1 use per day.
Description: A mask dedicated to Nightmare Enigma for defeating an Overlord against all odds and retrieving the lost treasure of the Stone Titans.
Note: Everyone wears a metaphorical mask to hide their true selves, but why settle for a figurative one when you can wear a physical one as well?
Note 2: ? In the darkness he lurks, stalking his unexpecting prey. ?
Note 3: Cry, laugh, rage, and fear. What difference does it make if that''s painted on a mask?
Note 4: This item is far from reaching its full potential. Keep repairing it if you want to witness its true powers.
Genji had a wide smile when he saw these stats. His discernment of the situation had been correct, and he reaped the rewards for it. Although he lost many short-term boosts, he gained another permanent item in his arsenal. After all, mythic items don''t degrade or lose their effects as the user gets stronger; instead, they scale with them, applying some of the most reliable priority effects over time.
Furthermore, this was far from the item''s peak. Just the 17% repair progress spoke volumes about its true potential. Yet, even at one-sixth of the progress, the mask had stronger priorities than his cloak, a high-legendary item. No, correct that. It''s no longer a high-legendary; it''s beyond that.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: Legendary+4
Damage: 45 (+5)
Durability: 500/500 (+50)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): After every world, this set will grow with you
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +65 sharpness (+15)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +250 durability (+40)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +30 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (Sharpness: +5, Duration: +30 seconds, Healing Lockout: +5 seconds)
Description: You can cut almost anything with the simplest motions.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: Legendary+4
Defense: 45 (+3)
Durability: 300/300 (+10)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): After every world, this equipment will grow with you.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 60 seconds. Cooldown of 30 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Cancling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +15 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduce the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 5 minutes. (Weight Reduction: +5%, Cooldown: -5 minutes)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 5 meters and targets you killed. (Range: +2 meters)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month. (Energy Intensity: +10%, Duration: +1 minute)
Description: A cloak that has become a true terror to all.
Note: Zoom Zoom. Is that a plane? A bird? No, it''s... Oh wait, you''re already dead.
[author] Massive upgrades and a glimpse at what is beyond high legendary, but the rank won''t last. Next chapter: Equipment obsoletion, stat changes, and an explanation of the pulse thing that allowed Genji to dodge the abomination''s last attack.[/author]
186 – New Breakthroughs
*Snap crackle crack pop*
Genji rose from his bed and stretched his body, loosening all his joints. It had been a day since their return, and all he''d done was sleep. The final battle had taken a toll on him, and he needed to recover.
After a quick shower, Genji descended the stairs, ready to start his day. Upon entering the living room, Cake waved to him and stood up from her seat.
"You''re back," she greeted.
Genji hummed in response and prepared a light snack for himself.
"By the way, you got a lot of deliveries this month. I moved them into your lab because they seemed important. Something about you buying them from people returning from a certain world?" Cake continued.
It took a moment for Genji to understand what she was talking about, but he eventually connected it to the bounty he placed on the Parasite''s Origin world. He had submitted the world''s coordinates to EverRealm and added a note indicating he would purchase any specimens the explorers collected. That must be what the deliveries were about.
"Oh yeah, thanks. I''ll take a look later."
Cake nodded and returned to her normal activities while Genji finished his food and headed for the strengthening hall. Once there, Genji sat down and distributed his points. Everything was normal until he added another point to Special, bringing it to 50.
[Detected that you have reached the threshold for promotion. Spatial Battlefield entries meet the minimal requirement. Undergo promotion trial?]
[Note: This Promotion trial is for your talent, not rank. You can postpone this, but it will cost you 5 privilege tokens to initiate it later.]
[Due to your high status in EverRealm, two hints will be provided to help you decide.]
[Hint: It is recommended that you complete this as soon as possible. If you keep your stats at 50, the promotion trial will take place in a world transitioning from the 2nd to the 3rd step. If you go over, the trial will occur in a 3rd step world.]
[Hint 2: It is easier to achieve a good rating in a transitioning world than in one in the 3rd step.]
It was pretty obvious what choice EverRealm wanted him to make, and Genji wasn''t going to argue. The previous world was also in the transitioning phase, so he knew what to expect. With this experience, it should be simple to get a high rating.
After all, opponents of the Overlord level weren''t that common. At best, there might be a High Lord to fight, which should be simple given his recent upgrades.
[You have chosen to undergo your promotion trial in your next world. More details will be revealed as you approach that time.]
With that choice made, Genji allocated his remaining points, bringing everything to their allowed limits.
[Enigma]
Health: 29,240/29,240 (Con x 250 x 1.2 (Shoulder pad bonus) + 14,240 from outside bonuses. Increase of 21,480 from last settlement.)
Energy: 3,480/3,480 (Int x 50 + 980 from cloak. Increase of 1,640 from the last settlement)
Con: 46 -> 50
Str: 46 -> 50
Dex: 47 -> 50
Int: 49 -> 50
Spc: 49 -> 50
Remaining stat points: 15
- Dodging (Grandmaster - 97.82%, +10.82%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 42%, +4%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 23%, +4%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 16%, +3%)
- Hand-to-hand Combat (Grandmaster - 29%, +4%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 29%, +8%)
His stats experienced a massive increase due to crossing the threshold, granting him a higher multiplier per stat, but it was his dodging proficiency that saw the greatest change. Due to his forceful dodge at the end, his mastery was quickly approaching the Supreme level.
This breakthrough was similar to how his dagger mastery advanced, forced by a precarious situation and manifested by his willpower. Only this time, he didn''t have the proper accumulations to directly advance mid-battle.
However, this was something Genji could easily solve with some training. After all, he had already touched on the essence of Supreme level dodging. He just needed to adjust himself and make that feeling permanent.
"A second supreme, huh? Really goes to show what kind of crap I deal with," Genji chuckled to himself and checked Astros''s stats.
[Astros]
Health: 9,700/9,700 (Con x 100 + 7,000, increase of 2,050)
Ethereal Mana: 1,200/1,200 (Int x 20 x 2 (racial bonus), increase of 860)
Con: 13 -> 27
Str: 12 -> 28
Dex: 26 -> 38
Int: 17 -> 30
Spc: 31 -> 41
New skills:
- Free Flow (Active): Cost 80 Ethereal mana to activate. While active, consume 5 Ethereal mana/minute to boost your speed by 30%.
- Happy Go Lucky (Passive): The happier you are, the luckier. +1 luck if you''re in a good mood, +2 if your mood is really good, and +3 if you''re celebrating.
- Cheerful Disposition (Passive): The people around you will subconsciously feel happier.
It was an increase of 65 whopping stat points, which really showed how nutritious the mushrooms provided by the beast kings were. That was expected since they are a whole step above Astros. It''s not every day that Astros gets to eat such luxurious ingredients.
Aside from that, Astros obtained his first active skill to finally put his massive energy pool to use, as well as another aura skill. This brings the total to 2 auras and 2 luck skills¡ªquite the combination, to say the least, for someone in the second step.
[You have reached the threshold for the next step. Equipment obsoletion will now take effect.]
Legendary+4 -> High Legendary:
- Lethal Opportunity
- Shroud of Terror
Legendary -> Legendary (Degraded once):
- Kraken''s Grasp
- Tyrant Shoulder Guard
- Quantum Pulse Pendant
Legendary (Degraded once) -> Epic:
- Saber of Infection, Jaguar (Quasi-legendary)
- Curse Bearer
- Eye of Horus
- Stalker¡¯s Compass
Epic -> Rare:
- Hands of Ambush
- Spring Bound Boots
Unchanged:
There were several changes after this obsoletion. First, the stat bonuses from [Spring Bound Boots] and [Kraken''s Grasp] were cut in half, not that it mattered much since his stats are currently capped at 50.
The Berserk effect from the Tyrant Shoulder Guards also decreased, now providing +4 to strength and constitution¡ªa relatively small change considering how significant the differences between the stat points were becoming.
The main reason for maintaining these bonuses was Genji''s strong body, capable of fully utilizing this ability. If it were anyone else, they might only gain +3 or +2, depending on their total stats.
The bonuses won¡¯t go any lower since that¡¯s the minimum conversion ratio for stats. Essentially, every stat point after the 50-point benchmark provides 2.5 times more power than the stats before it.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Another minor change was that Quantum Barrier lost its priority effect. This wasn¡¯t a significant issue since low priority hardly mattered against the opponents Genji had been facing. Most of the time, he used it to create a brief window of opportunity for an attack.
Out of all the priority levels, low priority is most effective against opponents of similar strength, medium-level priority allows one to fight beyond their stats by a decent range, and high priority can bridge a substantial power gap, enabling one to fight opponents half a step stronger. If Genji¡¯s barrier had high priority, it could have endured a few of the abomination''s strikes before shattering. That highlights the significant differences between priority levels.
The most significant changes were in [Jaguar] and [Curse Bearer], two of his earliest legendaries. Since he obtained them in the first step, this marked their second obsolescence, reducing them to epic rank.
Genji wasn''t too concerned about [Jaguar] since he could easily upgrade it again, especially after obtaining a slew of new ingredients from the parasite world. It was [Curse Bearer] that worried him since [Kraken''s Grasp] now outranks it. If he¡¯s not careful, he might have to deal with its assassinations once more.
"I''ll cross that bridge when I get there. For now, training time," Genji thought, shifting his focus.
As he approached the facilities, his realm card heated up again, similar to the last time he upgraded his permissions.
[Significant trials detected-]
"Upgrade," Genji said, already anticipating the question. His realm card underwent another transformation, with new lines augmenting the previous pattern. A few minutes later, the heat dissipated, and he was presented with a glossy black card.
[16 trials have been dedicated to this permission. You have unlocked the Advanced Training Room.]
Genji walked through the hallways and entered the new room. The increase was similar to last time, bringing the total multiplication factor to 81 times. Progress was swift, but it was equally draining on his stamina. Fortunately, Genji had upgraded his constitution beforehand, providing him with ample stamina to sustain this effort.
In this manner, Genji practiced his dodging skills, eventually breaking through by the end of his second day.
[Dodging]
Level: Supreme (0.2%)
Supreme level bonus: Your body will now instinctively avoid danger, even those that you don¡¯t sense. If an attack is faster than you can dodge, you can perform a short burst to abruptly shift your position.
Note: This is an extremely taxing ability. It¡¯s recommended that you use this sparingly, as each trigger signifies a death you have avoided. Just because you can dodge better doesn¡¯t mean you should dive into danger over and over again.
Description: The best way to dodge is to avoid being attacked in the first place. But if you have no choice, you can at least preserve your life. All it takes is squeezing out more potential than you have and forcing your body to move beyond its limits.
Note 2: Psst. Young man, stop abusing your willpower to overdraw your body. No matter how miraculous it is, it can¡¯t be healthy.
Genji ignored the remark and finished his remaining reps before returning to his room. It was time to sort through his earnings. Skipping over the other item drops, Genji focused on the scarlet cards and privilege tokens.
First, there was the ghost cloth from before the world, netting him 3 tokens. Including the 6 enforcer kills, their scarlet cards, and Holster, Genji obtained 22 more tokens. Adding all of these together and deducting the 2 tokens from signing the contract, Genji now had 107 tokens.
Genji spent 30 of these tokens to increase his storage capacity to 100 cubic meters, the maximum allowed through tokens. If he wanted to expand further, he would need to do so through other means, like authority items, special rewards, or spatial equipment. However, none of these were available to Genji right now, making this his storage limit for the foreseeable future.
This was hardly a problem since 100 cubic meters is a considerable amount of space. For comparison, this was about the size of three standard bedrooms, a decent-sized swimming pool, or 20 hot tubs. It was more than enough for his everyday use. After all, he wasn''t filling this space with junk or other large items, but supplies and other compact tools.
''I don''t think EverRealm expected me to max out my storage this early,'' Genji commented. ''This is 150 tokens we''re talking about. Even if someone hyper-focused on this, it would still take a while to accumulate that much. Guess I''m just the odd one.''
Genji was working in his lab, experimenting with the new ingredients, when Zepher entered for his usual purchase of potions.
"Darn, what bad luck. I can''t believe I got stuck with an archaeology mission. What kind of assignment is that? How am I supposed to find anything about that world?" Zepher fumbled loudly to himself, venting his frustrations as if he were complaining to a close friend.
"Sounds depressing. Do you want to talk about it?" Genji made a small remark, acknowledging Zepher''s presence.
"No," Zepher bluntly rejected. "I didn''t come here for that. But I did find something that might interest you. Take a look. If you ask politely, I might sell you some."
Zepher''s tone grew boastful, as if he were showcasing a prized collection. Genji looked over and saw a familiar red stone, one filled with vitality and energy from a certain world. Genji held his stare but said nothing.
"What''s wrong? Are you so shocked that you can''t speak?" Zepher''s chest puffed up a few degrees, and he posed arrogantly before Genji. This lasted a few more seconds before Zepher realized the mood was different from what he expected.
At that moment, Genji revealed a similar piece and asked, "So, care to explain why you were absent during the treasure hunt?"
"Dang, you too?!?" Zepher inadvertently exclaimed, followed by, "Wait, what treasure hunt? Weren''t we supposed to verify the existence of some mythical treasure?"
Genji simply shook his head and tossed him the pair of [Magnificent Tusks]. "Pay up," he said, also placing a crate of potions on the counter.
"Hold on. Explain what I missed."
Genji ignored him and pointed at the door, indicating the end of their conversation.
''No wonder I couldn''t find anyone else from EverRealm. It''s because EverRealm only sent two champions. Too bad the other one was missing in action the whole time. Probably in the middle of nowhere as well.''
As the month approached its end, the explorers of the realm gradually returned. Many of them had enjoyed bountiful harvests and anticipated a significant surge in strength. Yet, there were even more who saw only despair in their futures. They had failed their missions and were on the brink of falling into a vicious cycle.
Aimless Sloth was one such person, having struggled immensely with a vast oceanic terrain. While he didn''t exactly fail his mission, the tumultuous waters had drastically reduced his earnings. This setback was especially significant given his newcomer status in EverRealm. If he didn''t resolve this issue soon, he would eventually fall into mediocrity and succumb to the ever-increasing challenges.
Fortunately, he had one crutch to fall back on that others didn''t.
''I hope I can get a good price for this. The note said the Brewer''s Alliance would buy these items,'' Sloth thought to himself.
In his final days, Sloth had focused on gathering specimens for a specific bounty mentioned in the mission notes, hoping this would help him through his current crisis. However, there was an element of uncertainty to this approach, as the notes hadn¡¯t specified an exact value. If the compensation was less than he anticipated, he would be in for a tough time.
After asking around, Sloth was directed to an official store for the Brewer''s Alliance. He stated his purpose, and the person evaluated his items. After checking everything and comparing it with a price table, the person said, "I can give you 189,720 coins for everything. Would you like that in coins or consumables?"
It was a medium-range payout, but Sloth was happy to have anything at this point. "I''ll take some potions," he replied.
"Take a look around," the person said. "I''ll check you out once you''re done."
Sloth thanked the man and made his selections. Then, he brought his next world''s worth of consumables to the counter and received his payment. While packing everything up, he noticed an extra bottle among his products. Sloth considered staying silent but decided to speak up since there was no benefit to gain from offending one of the largest potion distributors in the realm.
"You gave me an extra one."
The man looked over and nonchalantly said, "That''s a bonus. The higher-ups said to give those out to anyone who exchanges more than 100,000."
"Oh, thank you then." Sloth picked up the bottle, not thinking much of it.
[Modified Potion of Vitality]
Rating: Uncommon
Effect: Recover 20 HP/sec for 20 seconds if injured. Otherwise, gain 10 max HP. Effective only for HP less than 1,000.
Note: This potion is effective up to 5 times.
Description: A potion made by following the principles of a secret formula. Many of the ingredients are substitutions, and the production method has changed completely, but it does perform as expected. However, its creator considered it a failure and tossed it aside.
''No wonder they''re giving it away for free,'' Sloth thought. ''But it is unique. I didn''t know such potions existed.''
However, his opinion quickly changed when someone offered to buy it right after he stepped out. "I saw that you got a potion of vitality," a random stranger said, startling him. "I''ll give you 10,000 coins for it."
Although it sounded like a bargain, Sloth subconsciously felt something was wrong. If this was the potion''s true worth, then it didn''t warrant someone camping right outside the store for it. Something must be off about the situation.
"Thanks for the offer, but I have to politely reject it."
"15,000," the person insisted. "I''ll do 15,000."
Now Sloth was certain about his deductions. Otherwise, the person wouldn''t be so quick to raise the price. "No thanks," he said, walking away.
"20,000," the person yelled. "That''s the highest I''m willing to offer!"
Sloth ignored him and returned to his room. No matter how high the price was, he wasn''t going to accept it.
After doing some research, Sloth realized how wise his decision was. After all, the same potions were selling for upwards of 40,000 in the auction house.
''This might be a bigger deal than I gave credit for,'' he thought, considering whether it was better to use it or sell it.
"So let me get this straight. You want me to get you some of those vitality potions circulating in the market?" Genji asked Celine, 7156''s prophet friend and a regular client of Genji.
"Well, more specifically, the finished versions when they become available. The potions sold by the Brewer''s Alliance are very similar to yours, so I thought you might have some connections you could call upon," she replied.
"I get that, but why so much?" Genji looked over the list again, puzzled.
"Some of my squad friends wanted to secure a supply. They reached out to me, and I turned to you," she explained.
"Fine, what''s the price?" Genji''s nonchalant tone surprised Celine since she didn''t expect him to agree so easily. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked after a few seconds.
"Nothing. I just thought you would want something in return. This is a pretty big favor I''m asking."
"Like what? What can you do for me that I can''t already do?"
"I can predict what dangers you might face next world," she confidently answered.
"Honestly, I doubt it. Not to belittle you or anything, but I don''t think it''ll be that helpful."
Challenged by this, Celine puffed up her chest and said, "Watch me!" But after a few minutes, she had beads of sweat sliding down her face. "What the frick, man. Why do you have such an oppressive fate strand? Did you get a powerful item recently or what?"
"I might have," Genji admitted, reflecting on the black mask beneath his cloak.
Celine wiped her face and admitted defeat. "As much as it annoys me to say, but you''re correct. Your strength is too high for me to see anything. Do you have any other request I can help with? An easier one?"
Genji thought about the question and said, "Since you''re insisting, help me check the lottery numbers in my world." This caused Celine to stare blankly at him, unable to wrap her head around the sudden jump in logic. "What is it this time?" Genji asked.
"I''m just trying to understand you. Out of all the things you could have asked for, you pick that? Why?" Her tone was very confused, as she couldn''t understand why Genji would care so much for an irreverent currency. With their strength, it should be simple to get by in their original worlds.
"Why not?" Genji asked back "I''m running a little low right now and I could use some easy replenishment. So, are you doing this?"
"..."
A few days later, Genji could be seen walking into a building, holding a flashy, yellow cardstock.
187 – Promotion Trial
It had been two months since Genji last met Alysha, and a lot had changed at the workshop. For one, the previously barren space had finally welcomed some students, with several people enthusiastically applying for lessons. Well... okay, that might be putting it euphemistically.
Let me rephrase. Among the group in the studio, only half were genuinely passionate about the craft, while the other half had ulterior motives for being there. Of the three true carvers in the workshop, Alysha and Finlosh, the founders, made up two. The third was Helen, a young lady from an ancient family of carvers.
Helen had admired Finlosh''s work for a long time and applied to be his student as soon as she heard about the studio. Her family, being somewhat well-off, happily supported her endeavor. After all, it¡¯s not often that children of this generation are so keen on continuing their family traditions. Essentially, in all the time they had been open, they had accepted only one true student.
The first person to apply was Kosa, who was afraid of straying too far from Alysha. After her experiences in the previous encounter, Kosa became paranoid that she would be silenced if she gave the agents an opening. For the sake of her own safety, she applied to stay close to Alysha, even during her days off, treating Alysha as a refuge from danger. In an ironic twist, Kosa, the bodyguard, had become the protected one.
This, of course, caused some misunderstandings with Alysha''s mother, who gushed about how dedicated Kosa was. Then came the lecture about how Kosa should take better care of herself and find a life outside of work. "It''s not healthy to work so much," she said, much to Kosa''s exasperation.
It was like a parent giving genuine advice, only for it to be completely irrelevant to the situation. And the worst part? Kosa couldn''t explain any of this. That would be a surefire way to be silenced. After all, the government doesn''t take kindly to her spilling these secrets.
That''s why the agents are here. Plus, would Alysha''s parents even believe her? What is she supposed to say? That she''s not sticking close to their daughter because she wants to work, but because she''s afraid of getting killed? Come on! Not even a toddler would believe that claim. So Kosa could only accept this reality and begrudgingly pass the days feigning interest in woodcarving.
''What has my life become?'' She sighed to herself and gave the nearby agents a stink eye.
Yes, agents. As in multiple. They weren''t part of the "bodyguard" duty but rather part of the students here. Due to her insistent loitering in the area, the government deployed two other agents, one male and one female, here in case she accidentally blurted out something she shouldn''t. Although they were in plain clothes and resembled normal civilians, Kosa could see right through them.
After all, they''d glanced at her enough times to make any interaction awkward. Was she really supposed to believe they weren''t monitoring her? That they were purely admiring her beauty? She might be good-looking, but she''s not narcissistic enough to believe that. Plus, what are the chances that both of them happened to have a crush on her, despite being the 2nd and 3rd students of the workshop?
On the topic of love and idealistic interests, let''s talk about the 5th student of the school. This one is unique compared to the others because he''s really young. If Kosa had to guess, she would say he''s no more than 10.
Also, Kosa could have sworn she saw him in one of Alysha''s classes when she went to pick Alysha up from school. Pairing that with the not-so-subtle glances the kid kept throwing Alysha''s way and frequent blushes every time Alysha returned the gaze, it didn''t take much for Kosa to figure out his intentions.
She was so confident in her deduction that she swore she would eat this block of wood if she was wrong.
To sum everything up, we have two adults who won''t stop glancing at a beautiful bodyguard, who also won''t stop looking at the two kids. Then we have the boy who constantly peeks at the girl, an old man who low-key worships the little girl, and a young lady who high-key worships the old man. On top of that, there is a buff bodyguard in the background, shaking his head at everything. It certainly is a strange scene, to say the least.
''Ughhh, why am I surrounded by weirdos?'' Kosa bemoaned to herself.
"You look like you''re having a bad week. Did something happen?" A voice sounded behind her, startling everyone and eliciting different responses.
The distant agents instinctively reached for their concealed firearms, verifying Kosa''s conjecture. At the same time, the former assassin twisted her torso and delivered a heavy elbow at the head.
*Pak*
A firm grasp stopped the strike and held Kosa¡¯s arm in place, forcing her to evaluate who she had attacked. ¡®It¡¯s that time of the month already?¡¯ She sighed, losing all motivation to continue.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t sneak up on people like that,¡± she said, pulling her arm back. ¡°It triggers some nasty reactions from them.¡±
¡°Sorry, it¡¯s a habit,¡± Genji replied, causing Kosa to grumble to herself.
¡®Habit, my ass. What kind of crazy shit requires you to hide your presence like that?¡¯
Then Genji¡¯s gaze shifted to the agents, whose faces were drenched in sweat. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met. Are you okay? You seem to be sweating a lot.¡±
¡°N-no. It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just really hot right now,¡± the female agent stuttered, attempting to dismiss the topic. It was an obvious lie since it was only spring, far from the searing summer heat that would induce such symptoms.
¡°You sure? Maybe you should see a doctor. It would be a shame if anything unnatural happened to you.¡±
¡°Thank you for the concern. We¡¯ll make sure to take care of our bodies,¡± the agent''s colleague chimed in.
Kosa inwardly crackled at this sight, taking schadenfreude in their predicament. ¡®For once, I¡¯m not on the receiving end of his insincere concerns/threats. So this is why he likes asking these questions. I¡¯ll admit, it is funny to watch.¡¯
At this moment, Alysha ran over and leaped at Genji for a hug. She snuggled against him like a cat, refusing to let go. Watching this, Kosa sensed a certain kid oozing with jealousy, wishing he were in Genji¡¯s place.
¡®Kid, aren¡¯t you a little too young to be thinking about these things?¡¯ Kosa mused to herself.
Alysha eventually released her hold after Finlosh cleared his throat a few times. ¡°Nice to see you again,¡± he greeted Genji.
¡°Care to introduce everyone?¡± Genji asked Alysha.
¡°Oh yeah! Genji, these are my students. I¡¯m teaching them!¡± she exclaimed in a hyper voice, beaming at him and seeking praise.
Suddenly, Astros jumped down from Genji¡¯s shoulder and bopped Alysha on the forehead. ¡®No. He¡¯s mine.¡¯
It took a few moments for Alysha to register what had happened, but when she did, she instantly curled her arms around Astros and squealed, ¡°Fuzzy cat!¡±
Alysha rubbed her face against Astros¡¯s, cuddling him like a plush toy. She had wanted to do this ever since their last meeting, but Astros had been too reticent. Now that he¡¯d willingly leaped into her arms, Alysha was determined to make the most of it.
Astros flailed around helplessly like a drowning cat, unable to escape Alysha¡¯s grasp without actually harming her. After a few failed attempts, Astros began regretting giving in to his sudden impulse and cried out to Genji for help.
¡°Now, now, you¡¯re going to scare the little guy,¡± Genji said, patting her back.
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Alysha cuddled Astros for a few moments longer before reluctantly releasing him and apologizing. "Sorry, you were just too cute to resist."
Astros paid no heed to her words and immediately darted away. Now that he had finally escaped the evil witch¡¯s clutches, he swore he would never return. Let this be a lesson about jumping into a random girl''s arms. Once Astros got significantly far away, he began rubbing himself against the wall, as if trying to rid himself of Alysha¡¯s scent.
¡®I wonder if I¡¯ll ever get the chance to do that,¡¯ Kosa thought, feeling a pang of envy. But before those thoughts could develop any further, she snapped out of her daze and admonished herself. ¡®What are you thinking, Kosa? Are you that eager to be held at knifepoint? That¡¯s the psychopath¡¯s pet! But he¡¯s so cute, though...¡¯
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Helen, who had been watching the scene, asked.
¡°Yeah, what she said,¡± Alysha¡¯s classmate echoed, an innate dislike starting to germinate.
¡°He¡¯s my teacher,¡± Alysha proudly answered for Genji, hands on her hips.
Helen grew interested in Genji, while the boy grew despondent. From Alysha''s admiration-filled tone, he realized it would be difficult to gain her affection. Genji had simply made too deep an impression on her.
Unless he could overcome this, there was a high chance his one-sided crush would end here. However, he wasn¡¯t willing to give up so easily. How could he be worthy of her if he backed down at the slightest obstacle?
¡®So what if he¡¯s her teacher? I¡¯m not going to back down just because of that. If it¡¯s his skills she admires, then I¡¯ll become better than him. That way, she¡¯ll have no choice but to give me a chance.¡¯
Genji didn¡¯t understand why the kid was giving him such a fiery glare, but he smiled back, encouraging him in whatever endeavor he was about to undertake.
¡°Can you show me your skills?¡± Helen asked.
¡°Sure, why not?" Genji shrugged. "I¡¯ll need some wood and a knife, though¡±
Finlosh smiled and motioned for Genji to follow him. ¡°Where do you think you are? Help yourself,¡± he said, turning a corner and pointing to a shelf stocked with various types of wood. Genji selected a small piece, and everyone but the agents and Kosa sat down in a circle around him. Genji then began to work his blade under everyone¡¯s attentive gazes, slowly weaving the knife between strips of bark.
¡°Phew, he¡¯s scarier in person than the reports described,¡± the agents mumbled softly from the sidelines.
¡°You know he can hear you, right?¡± Kosa whispered, causing the agents to glance at Genji in panic. Only after they saw that he didn¡¯t react did they relax and turn to give Kosa pitying looks.
¡°I can¡¯t believe you dealt with him for so long. It must have been hard.¡±
¡®Hey! What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You¡¯re in the same situation, you know? Don¡¯t make it seem like I¡¯m a victim of a tragic event. I¡¯m fine, okay? Okay?!?!¡¯
A few minutes later, Genji placed an exquisitely detailed clock tower down and wiped his knife clean. The audience admired the craftsmanship for a few moments before Helen raised her hand.
"Can I ask why your style is so different from Alysha''s? Hers feels like a fierce hurricane, while yours is like a gentle rain. How did she become like that?"
Genji smiled and answered, "The mind carves with intent while the body follows. As long as the purpose is the same, the essence will remain unchanged. What you perceive as different is merely your own bias¡ªa product of your limited imagination."
''Huh?''
''???''
''Excuse me, what?''
''Did he just insult us?''
"Think about it, but don''t obsess over it if you don''t understand," Genji said. "For now, I''ll be guiding my apprentice."
Genji walked off with Alysha, leaving the group scratching their heads in confusion.
"Master Finlosh, do you understand anything he just said?" Helen eventually asked, breaking the silence.
"No, but it sounds profound, like something an enlightened sage would say in a martial arts novel," Finlosh answered with a light chuckle and stroking his beard.
"Then it probably is," Kosa said, picking up the carving for a closer examination. "Knowing him, chances are he said that to mess with-"
Her words suddenly stopped, as she sensed something swishing around inside the clock tower. It felt as if the interior was hollow rather than solid.
"Hmm? What''s wrong, Kosa?" Helen asked, noticing her pause.
"No, it''s nothing," Kosa replied with a nervous chuckle. "AnywayIBetterGetGoingNow."
"What was that about?" Helen wondered as Kosa ran off without a second look. "Wait, where did the carving go?"
"..."
"..."
"I think Kosa took it with her," Finlosh finally answered after a few seconds.
"..."
"..."
''She really has a knack for getting into trouble,'' the bodyguard sighed to himself.
Later that night, Kosa sat in her room, her arms trembling as she turned the hand crank on the side of the wooden clock tower. A soft grinding of gears reverberated from within the structure, along with the sifting of wood dust. The hands of the tower began moving, much to her terror, and the pendulum slowly swayed.
It was a crudely made contraption, but it worked. And Kosa couldn''t understand how this was possible, despite having witnessed every moment of its creation. That was what terrified her the most.
"You know, it''s not nice to touch other people''s things without permission," a familiar voice sounded from behind, paralyzing her.
Kosa mechanically turned around to see Genji sitting on her open window sill, his arms crossed with an amused smile.
"Heh-heh, Genji, nice to see you again, heh heh," she awkwardly greeted.
"Alright, hand it back. I would rather not let other people see my experiments."
''Then why did you make it in the first place!?!''
"Don''t glare at me like that," Genji continued. "You''re the one who stole it before I could put it away."
Kosa sighed in defeat and stepped aside, letting Genji take back his creation. Then he jumped out the window, inducing a mini-panic attack in Kosa. She rushed over and poked her head out, but Genji had already disappeared into the night.
"Seriously, what the fuck does he do? It feels like his skills only get better every time I meet him. Isn''t he supposed to be retired?"
The month soon ended, and Genji had to leave again. After bidding his goodbyes and heading to a remote location, Genji quickly found himself back in EverRealm. He descended the stairs to his lab and entered a secluded corner where a rectangular metallic box was securely fastened.
Genji undid the latches, releasing puffs of white steam with each one. Once the pressure subsided, he stepped aside, put on a gas mask, and lifted the lid. Toxic fumes dispersed through the room, prompting the ventilation units to activate and dispel the scent. Genji sped up this process by fanning the fumes towards the vents. After a few minutes, the air cleared, and the foul odor diminished. Inside the box, a leather-wrapped handle was propped up by support rings. Genji unlocked these and slowly pulled out the handle, revealing a dark purple saber.
As the last drops of poison absorbed into the blade, Genji gave it a test swing. The weapon had become heavier, denser, and now sported more ominous spikes, making it a worthy upgrade.
[Saber of Poison, Jaguar]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Damage: 40 (+4)
Durability: 200/200 (+10)
Requirements: 25 STR, 40 CON
Effects:
- Festering Poison (passive): Poison effects will trigger three times faster. (Increased from 2x)
- Fatal Wound (passive): A single scratch is all you need to poison your target.
- Toxic Assimilation (passive): This saber can absorb other poisons to grow. Absorbed poisons can be stored and released at command. (Triggered twice, changed from status effects to poison)
Description: Under Nightmare Enigma''s nurturing, this blade of infection has become one of poisons. It has lost its wide spectrum of compatibilities but has become more specialized in poison, making it even deadlier. Be careful, as a single scratch will apply more status effects than you can imagine.
Note: One cut, one kill. You have become a true menace on the battlefield.
Note 2: This should be obvious, but don''t cut yourself with this. It''s unknown what poisons will be injected.
The blade had a fishy odor that seemed to seep into its very existence, making anyone who inhaled it seriously ill. Genji had fused many of his poisons into this blade, explaining the high constitution requirement. Compared to before, it had gained a new level of lethality, dangerous to both its wielder and its victims.
"A success," Genji said, letting Bruce morph around it as a temporary sheath. Genji strapped the blade to his back and headed back to his room, ready to review the details of the promotion trial. This trial was similar to the initial world where results determined the rewards, but with key differences. One such discrepancy was the absence of stat points.
This trial is meant to give a significant boost to the participant''s power, so rewarding any stat points would disrupt that balance. Yet even without stat points, this trial is akin to gaining the progress of two worlds, or even three with high-scoring results.
It''s crucial, and also why champions need legacy liberations to stay ahead in combat power after the second step. Without it, any normal enforcer with good results could easily bridge the gap between ranks.
This is achieved by developing a single trait to a high extent, allowing for a wide diversity of possibilities. After this benchmark, it becomes impossible to find someone with the same abilities, even if they started with the same talent. There might be similar ones, but not identical. Their talent would truly become their own, influenced and molded by their journey.
Due to this, it is possible to lose to someone with traits that counter theirs, despite being the overall stronger combatant. There are many ways to address this weakness, but achieving a high result in this trial is the best way. It allows further development of traits and covering for any defects.
This brings us to the rating system used to measure the results. From lowest to highest, it goes from F to S, with modifiers "-", nothing, and "+." It was the standard letter grading scale.
[Please select your starting mission difficulty. You cannot return until you have finished your objective.]
[Note: Depending on other factors, your final rating might increase or decrease by one letter.]
"So, it''s possible to go above the S rank? Like SS?" Genji asked.
[These are the only selectable difficulties. Any actions that might escalate the difficulty are not accounted for.]
[Note: Due to high expectations, anything below an A will result in an automatic status demotion for you. You can''t be a Nightmare if you don''t have the combat power.]
"I wasn''t planning on it anyway." Genji grinned and put on his mask.
[You have selected S-rank difficulty. Your Promotion Trial will now begin.]
Stats, Equipment, and Information Before Promotion Trial
Stats
- Genji''s Stats
[Enigma]
Health: 29,240/29,240 (Con x 250 x 1.2 (Shoulder pad bonus) + 14,240 from outside bonuses. Increase of 21,480 from last settlement.)
Energy: 3,480/3,480 (Int x 50 + 980 from cloak. Increase of 1,640 from the last settlement)
Con: 46 -> 50
Str: 46 -> 50
Dex: 47 -> 50
Int: 49 -> 50
Spc: 49 -> 50
Remaining stat points: 15
- Astros''s Stats
Health: 9,700/9,700 (Con x 100 + 7,000, increase of 2,050)
Ethereal Mana: 1,200/1,200 (Int x 20 x 2 (racial bonus), increase of 860)
Con: 13 -> 27
Str: 12 -> 28
Dex: 26 -> 38
Int: 17 -> 30
Spc: 31 -> 41
New skills:
- Free Flow (Active): Cost 80 Ethereal mana to activate. While active, consume 5 Ethereal mana/minute to boost your speed by 30%.
- Happy Go Lucky (Passive): The happier you are, the luckier. +1 luck if you''re in a good mood, +2 if your mood is really good, and +3 if you''re celebrating.
Old Skills:
- Voidborn (Passive): +5,000 hp, access to Ethereal Mana, +100% Ethereal Mana,
- Spatial Constitution (Passive): +2,000 hp, can survive in extreme environments and conditions
- Friendly Disposition (Passive): All creatures will instinctively have a positive impression of you. Unless there''s a deep grudge, they will not initiate the first attack.
- Blessed by Fate (Passive): +7 luck
- Contract Inheritance (Passive): Bond with a partner and inherit some of their traits. Only one bond can exist at a time. This bonding is permanent and will last until the partner''s death. Current bond: Enigma of EverRealm. Inherited traits: Stealth and Speed.
- Stealth (Master): You instinctively know how to hide from danger. Stealth has inherited low priority.
- Speed (Passive): You have inherited some of Enigma''s speed. Dexterity has been increased.
- Mutual Assistance (Passive): Your partner will also gain some of your stats. Shared stats: +2,000 health and +2 luck.
- Strong Stomach (Passive): Can consume unconventional materials as food. Digestion rate is increased.
- Accelerated Growth (Passive): Convert excess energy from foods to speed up your growth. The more energy, the faster the growth.
Combat techniques - no changes
Dagger Arts:
- Threading the Needle, a length-wise attack that combines speed and curved attacks
- Impact Strike - used to deliver large amounts of concentrated force on the tip
- Side Winder - piercing attack to break through a formation
- Flow - similar to Threading the Needle, but the trajectory is more curved. It uses Shadow flames to boost damage.
- Scar - X-like cut with shadow flames
- Focus strike - concentrate strength beyond his limits into one strike, paralyzing the side of his body that uses this attack. Upon impact, unleash all the brutal force to cause enough damage to disintegrate the surrounding wound
- Stealth Dagger, Converged Existence - concentrates all his energy, physical strength, and cutting intent into his dagger. Has a stealth bonus.
Daggerless Arts:
- Cocoon: Barrier ability made from cutting intent
Energy Techniques - no changes
- Flashstep: High-speed movement ability in a single direction. The average speed increases as his stats and control of energy increases, but he can go faster if he is willing to damage his body.
- Solid Core: Crystalizes the energy around the skin and muscles to gain a diamond-like defense. Decreased mobility while this is active
- Shadow Flames: Energy wraps around his weapon and vibrates at a high frequency to achieve a boost in sharpness. Also cuts anything it touches and can spread like flames. Very intensive in durability costs.
- Shadow Core (passive): Boosts the effectiveness of his energy, constantly upgrades as he refines more energy stats into it, can also act as a final form of energy when broken down.
- Crystallizing weapons: Applying the logic of Solid Core to weapons to increase resistance to damage. Also acts like a spare battery pack for his energy when running low.
- Crystal Manifestation: Solidifies energy outside the body to form any shape he wants. High demand for energy control and cost, but can catch the enemies off guard. Currently limited to support items.
- Dance of Death: Ability of Reapers that allows him to summon 3 silhouettes that move on their own and swap positions with. Very energy intensive since it''s a percentage cost.
- Ultimate - Shadow Devour(restricted): A powerful finisher that is designed to kill any target, regardless of regen or resistance. Uses the concepts of infection and mutation to achieve this. This move is currently restricted because his energy lacks a certain violent property that comes from being around high-density dark environments (EverNight). To get around this flaw, Genji created a technique that damages his Shadow Core to infuse his energy with this trait.
Masteries - Dodging broke through to supreme
- Dodging Supreme (0.2%, new level)
[Dodging]
Level: Supreme (0.2%)
Supreme level bonus: Your body will now instinctively avoid danger, even those that you don¡¯t sense. If an attack is faster than you can dodge, you can perform a short burst to abruptly shift your position.
Note: This is an extremely taxing ability. It¡¯s recommended that you use this sparingly, as each trigger signifies a death you have avoided. Just because you can dodge better doesn¡¯t mean you should dive into danger over and over again.
Description: The best way to dodge is to avoid being attacked in the first place. But if you have no choice, you can at least preserve your life. All it takes is squeezing out more potential than you have and forcing your body to move beyond its limits.
Note 2: Psst. Young man, stop abusing your willpower to overdraw your body. No matter how miraculous it is, it can¡¯t be healthy.
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 42%, +4%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 23%, +4%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 16%, +3%)
- Hand-to-hand Combat (Grandmaster - 29%, +4%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 29%, +8%)
Items - item obsoletion had applied
- Shroud of Terror: Cloak that increases speed, reduces gravity, and increases his max energy with kills.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High-Legendary
Defense: 45 (+3)
Durability: 300/300 (+10)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): After every world, this equipment will grow with you.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 60 seconds. Cooldown of 30 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Cancling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +15 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduce the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 5 minutes. (Weight Reduction: +5%, Cooldown: -5 minutes)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 5 meters and targets you killed. (Range: +2 meters)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month. (Energy Intensity: +10%, Duration: +1 minute)
Description: A cloak that has become a true terror to all.
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Note: Zoom Zoom. Is that a plane? A bird? No, it''s... Oh wait, you''re already dead.
- Lethal Opportunity: His main pair of daggers.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary
Damage: 45 (+5)
Durability: 500/500 (+50)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): After every world, this set will grow with you
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +65 sharpness (+15)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +250 durability (+40)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +30 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (Sharpness: +5, Duration: +30 seconds, Healing Lockout: +5 seconds)
Description: You can cut almost anything with the simplest motions.
- Jaguar: Poisonous saber that kills with a single scratch. His secondary weapon of choice. Upgraded and slight name changes
[Saber of Poison, Jaguar]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Damage: 40 (+4)
Durability: 200/200 (+10)
Requirements: 25 STR, 40 CON
Effects:
- Festering Poison (passive): Poison effects will trigger three times faster. (Increased from 2x)
- Fatal Wound (passive): A single scratch is all you need to poison your target.
- Toxic Assimilation (passive): This saber can absorb other poisons to grow. Absorbed poisons can be stored and released at command. (Triggered twice, changed from status effects to poison)
Description: Under Nightmare Enigma''s nurturing, this blade of infection has become one of poisons. It has lost its wide spectrum of compatibilities but has become more specialized in poison, making it even deadlier. Be careful, as a single scratch will apply more status effects than you can imagine.
Note: One cut, one kill. You have become a true menace on the battlefield.
Note 2: This should be obvious, but don''t cut yourself with this. It''s unknown what poisons will be injected.
- Curse Bearer: A flintlock that flickers in and out of existence through a mark on his hand. Downgraded to Epic
Hidden effect: Restrains [Kraken''s Grasp]
[Curse Bearer]
Rarity: Epic
Damage: 25
Durability: 50/50
Prerequisites: 9 dex, 10 con
Bullets: 2/2
Effects:
- Curse Bullets (Passive): Shoot a condensed ball of curses that weakens the enemy. The more bullets that hit, the stronger the debuff. Regenerates 1 bullet per minute
- Side Chamber (Active): Shoot an extra bullet without consuming a bullet count. 5-minute cooldown
- Big Bullet (Active): Fuse all your bullets to shoot one that deals 4x damage and curse. Requires Side Chamber to be off cooldown. 30 min cooldown.
- Unrestricted (Passive): A fusion between old technology and fantasy system. This equipment will not be affected by world restrictions.
Description: The essence of the Cursed Sea in the form of an old flintlock pistol. It doesn''t shoot well, but its lethality more than makes up for it.
- Spring Bound Boots: Stat boost lowered to +1 DEX
[Spring Bound Boots]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 140/140
Requirements: 35 Con, 35 Str, 32 Dex
Effects:
- Force Storage(Passive): Every time you move your legs, store some excess force for later. Can store 0/600 units of force.
- Spring Boost (Passive): When moving, release some of the stored force to boost your speed. +1 dex after storing 100 units of force. Consumes 1 unit of force per step.
- Unhindered (Passive): Reduce environmental hindrance by 25%. Consumes 2x-4x units of force, depending on how difficult the terrain is to traverse.
Description: The Spring Bound Python is a ferocious beast that can unleash a strike beyond its limits after storing enough force. If caught unprepared, one can suffer heavy injuries from the encounter. Having been made from the python''s leather, these boots have inherited similar properties and can aid your movements.
- Kraken''s Grasp: Stat boost drops to +1 STR and CON
[Kraken''s Grasp]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 38
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 20 Str, 20 Con
Note: Trying to equip this when you don''t meet the requirements will result in you being devoured by the Kraken''s resentment.
Effects:
- Kraken''s Strength (passive): +2 str, +2 con
- Dominance Aura (Active): Pick a stat and conduct a judgment on a target. If your stat is higher, they will receive a mental impact and -1 in the chosen stat. Damage is determined by the difference between the stat of choice. Cooldown of 1 hour.
- Summon Kraken (Active): Use all your energy and summon the tentacles of the Kraken to strangle a target. The number of tentacles is dependent on the amount of energy used. Cooldown of 1 day.
- Kraken''s Resentment (Curse): The power of this equipment depends on the curse it bears. Although it provides great power to its wielder, it will attempt to kill them when given the chance. Use this with caution.
Description: Formerly made from the tooth of Jaws, this arm guard was corrupted by the Kraken''s resentment. Now all that remains of Jaws is a shell of his former self, his spirit shattered, and his anchor occupied by a malevolent spirit.
- Tyrant Shoulder Guard: Shoulder pads that increase his overall physique and give him Berserk. Berserk goes down to +4 in CON and STR.
[Tyrant Shoulder Guard]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 42
Durability: 180/180
Requirements: 25 str, 25 con
Effects:
- Berserk (Active): gain +4 con and str for 10 minutes, cooldown of 36 hours
- Tyrant Body (Passive): Increase maximum health by 20%
- Vigour (Passive): Increase body healing speed by 300%
- Compact Muscles (Passive): Your muscles have become compact, granting you +2 defense
Description: A shoulder guard fitting of a tyrant. If you aren''t one, then this will make you one.
- Quantum Pulse Pendant: Pendant that increases his energy control, and gives him Quantum Shield. Low Priority in barrier has been removed
[Quantum Pulse Pendant]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Durability: 80/80
Requirements: 25 Int
Effects:
- Energy Control (passive): +50% control over energy
- Energy Flow (passive): Energy flows 15% faster
- Quantum Shield (Active): Form a barrier. Lasts 10 seconds. 1-day cooldown. (Low priority removed)
Description: A dream accessory for all mages
- Sheath of Original Blood: Bruce. No changes
Hidden effect: Bruce can develop and use his own vampire blood arts.
[Sheath of Original Blood]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 120/120
Requirements: Killer of The Original Vampire
Effects: Sheath Form
- Blood Attraction (Active): Suck up all the blood in the area and store it for later
- Flexible Molding (Passive): This sheath can take on any form to cover your weapons
- Repair (Passive): Slowly repair the durability of the covered weapon by consuming the stored blood
- Transform (Active): Change into Horse Form
Effects: Horse Form
- Blood Evolution (Passive): When enough blood vitality is stored, the sheath will upgrade in power
- Swiftness (Passive): Can run at high speeds
Description: Bruce was a normal nightbane until he met a certain weirdo who spared no costs to fuse him with the blood of a demonic god. Now, he possesses a body beyond his limits and another chance at life.
- Hands of Ambush: Gloves that support stealth and sneak attacks. Downgraded to Rare
[Hands of Ambush]
Rating: Rare
Type: Gloves
Defense: 21
Requirements: Stealth (Master), 27 Dexterity, 28 Strength, 30 Constitution
Durability: 100/100
Effects:
- Deadly Ambush (Passive): When launching a sneak attack, move at 200% speed and deal 200% damage on the first strike, with a 5-minute cooldown between triggers.
- Camouflage (Active): Blend into your surroundings by manipulating the light around you, with a 4-hour cooldown.
Description: A useful pair of gloves that encompasses the core skills of a desert predator. Don''t be deceived by how well it fits an assassin; you will need the strength and body of a warrior if you want to use this.
- Eye of Horus: Scanning equipment for stats, based on the difference between chosen stat. Degraded to Epic
[Eye of Horus]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Requirement: 15 int
Durability: 40/50
Effect
- Scan (Active): Consume 100 energy and conduct a judgment with a stat of your choice. The greater the difference, the more information you will obtain from the target. 1 hour cooldown.
Description: An artifact that allows you to peek at the information of others. The ancient civilization forged this in the image of a god with a falcon head, hoping it would bring them the god''s protection.
Note: Because of the passage of time, its structure has been weakened. Be careful with it, it''s fragile.
- Stalker''s Compass: A compass that points to things. Downgraded to Epic
[Stalker''s Compass]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Durability: 100/100
Requirements: 20 Spc
Effects:
- Ultimate Tracking (Active): Designate a target. This compass will point to them until you designate a new target or until you injure them. 24-hour cooldown between designations.
- Persistent Stalking (Active): Bypass the cooldown of Ultimate Tracking by providing the cells of a target. If this target is different from the designated one, you can choose which target to follow. The lighter end of the pointer will be used for this effect while the darker end for Ultimate Tracking. A maximum of two targets can be tracked at once. Only one target can be followed at once. The duration of this effect varies with the provided cells. The more prevalent the cells, the longer this effect will last. The maximum duration of this effect is 24 hours. After that, more cells are required.
Description: You can run, but you can''t hide. And even if you run, I''ll still find you. It''s only a matter of time.
- Mask of The Black Death: Damage mythic that he retrieved at the end of Primordial Echos. New addition to his equipment.
[Mask of the Black Death]
Rating: Mythic (damaged)
Repair progress: 17.86%
Durability: 1,000/1,000 (Mythic items are hard to break)
Requirements: Bound to Enigma
Effects:
- Status Forgery (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change how your status page appears to others. This effect has medium priority and will last until it is disabled.
- Ultimate Disguise (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change your appearance at will. This effect has medium priority. Effects with lower priority can not see through this disguise. Your disguise can not exceed your body proportions by more than 50%.
- Soul Sanctuary (passive/active): Your soul is protected from death. When you are affected by a fatal soul attack, negate it and become immune for 5 seconds. This effect has high priority. Limited to 1 use per day.
Description: A mask dedicated to Nightmare Enigma for defeating an Overlord against all odds and retrieving the lost treasure of the Stone Titans.
Note: Everyone wears a metaphorical mask to hide their true selves, but why settle for a figurative one when you can wear a physical one as well?
Note 2: ? In the darkness he lurks, stalking his unexpecting prey. ?
Note 3: Cry, laugh, rage, and fear. What difference does it make if that''s painted on a mask?
Note 4: This item is far from reaching its full potential. Keep repairing it if you want to witness its true powers.
188 – Ij’gne
The rays of the morning sun washed over the tranquil forest, evaporating the beads of morning dew. A chorus of birds soon followed as the world awoke from its slumber, promising another day of warmth. The gentle rustling of leaves accompanied this symphony, forming a natural musical theatre.
On this peaceful morning, Ij''gne woke up in his humble abode and prepared himself for the day. After donning coarse robes and washing his face with lukewarm water from a basin, Ij''gne left for his morning duties.
As he walked along the cobblestone path, many villagers greeted him respectfully before returning to their agricultural tasks. They had been working tirelessly since dawn and were now taking a short meal break. They needed this replenishment to finish their work before the sun peaked and the day became too hot.
A kind baker offered him some coarse cornbread and a cup of murky ale, which he graciously accepted. This was their standard breakfast, and Ij''gne valued it very much.
His destination was a colossal tree that towered above everything else, seemingly acting as a bridge between the ground and the sky. The crown of the tree was hidden behind the clouds, but the visible branches spread outward for kilometers, creating an expansive canopy that cast a vast shadow on the land below.
Its massive leaves, the size of houses, waved in the air, guiding the currents to maintain the favorable weather. The tree was ancient and could be seen for miles on end, even amidst the forested terrain.
This was their World Tree, and it was Ij''gne''s job, as one of its three high priests, to take care of its every need. As he approached, a floral scent lingered in the air, intoxicating its beholder.
A sense of comfort washed over Ij''gne as he entered its shade, similar to how one would feel returning to a mother''s embrace. He climbed over the living hills that were the tree''s roots and approached a stone chapel fused into the bark''s side. A fellow priest greeted him and passed him some fruit offerings the size of human heads.
Ij''gne thanked the man and took the fruits to an altar on top of a narrow canal leading into the soil beneath. He fastened the fruits onto the altar and clasped his hands to pray.
"O Great and Ancient World Tree,
O mighty world tree,
We gather beneath you to give our thanks,
For all the protection you''ve granted us,
For the shade and harvest you''ve bestowed,
And for the prosperity we''ve chanced upon.
O mighty world tree,
Let us offer our gratitude,
So that you may live long and strong,
Beyond our dearest generations,
And witness a world of your making."
Finishing his prayer, Ij''gne covered the fruits with a rectangular block and pressed down hard. Multiple loud crunches sounded as the outer shells broke apart, crushing the interiors and releasing the fruit''s juices. Ij''gne applied more force, turning the fruits into pulp. A glossy red liquid flowed down the canal, enriching the soil that fed their World Tree.
Ij''gne lifted the block and carefully wiped down the altar, ensuring not even a stain remained. He then took the fruit pulp outside and buried it in a spot that hadn¡¯t received this nourishment that week. Afterward, he gathered his cleaning tools and picked up any unwanted debris. For some reason, new rubble always seemed to appear every day.
Ij''gne didn¡¯t mind the repetitive nature of this task and performed it faithfully, seeing it as a leisurely time to commune with his lord. After confirming everything was in order, he returned the tools to their original positions and headed back to his home.
By this time, it was already noon, and the shade offered solace from the searing sun. In this peaceful moment, Ij''gne began reminiscing about his past and how he became the World Tree¡¯s oracle.
Things hadn¡¯t always been this peaceful. There used to be countless heavens scheming to bring down their lord. It was so hectic that it felt like the entire world was against them.
Fortunately, Ij''gne had cleansed them all since his inauguration, becoming the first priest to fulfill his sacred duty and expand his lord''s influence. And all of this began when he was a mere teenager of fifteen, devoid of strength and ignorant of the truth.
"Marry me, Stella," a young Ij''gne proposed to his childhood crush and village belle.
Stella averted her gaze, her emotions complicated, and shook her head. "Ij''gne... I... I can''t," she finally uttered.
"Oh," Ij''gne responded, his expression downcast. The rejection didn¡¯t surprise him since he had expected it, but he wanted to try anyway. They were at the age of marriage and needed to select their partners soon. In their world, the average life expectancy of common folk was merely 30, so they couldn''t afford to delay.
Ij''gne knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance compared to the other eligible candidates. He was feeble and lacked property. He couldn¡¯t even provide for himself, let alone a wife or family. Essentially, he was among the lower castes of society. This couldn¡¯t be helped since he was an orphan and had to fend for himself.
His development had been stunted by hunger, and his height was in the lower percentile compared to others his age. He had been dealt a bad hand from the start, and the differences only grew from there. At this moment, he was getting by as a herb picker, living meal by meal.
Every day, he would leave the confines of the village to scavenge for medicinal plants for trading or wild berries to fill his stomach. If he was lucky, he would find a ripe fruit to satisfy his hunger for a few hours. Otherwise, he had to make do with whatever bitter plants he could find.
His lack of botanical knowledge didn¡¯t help the situation since he couldn¡¯t distinguish between safe and poisonous plants. Hence, he stayed clear of the unknown, often resorting to tree bark and wet moss on some unlucky days.
Meat was non-existent in his life, which was one of the main reasons for his malnutrition. This eventually fed into a vicious cycle, causing him to grow weaker by the day. That¡¯s not to mention the dangers of venturing into the forest alone, where a single bad encounter could mean his death. However, Ij''gne didn¡¯t have much of a choice.
He needed to do this if he wanted to survive. The village was so poor that he couldn¡¯t even steal any if he wanted to. People simply didn¡¯t leave spare food lying around in places that could be easily accessed. Plus, given his frail body, it would take a miracle to succeed.
In the face of Stella¡¯s rejection, Ij''gne hung his head and ventured out once more. This time, however, there was no will to survive or hope of returning. What was the point of continuing a miserable existence that only led to more despair?
Driven by this sentiment, he wandered deeper into the forest than ever before and soon lost his way. He ignored the growls of threatening predators and continued walking absentmindedly. By some stroke of luck, none of the wildlife disturbed him, and he eventually entered a clearing where a slouched-over figure lay.
Ij''gne was startled by the sight but quickly realized the hooded man wasn¡¯t breathing. In his state of apathy, Ij''gne approached the corpse and began searching through its belongings. The black cloak draped over the body was tattered and reeked of decay, offering no value whatsoever.
He peeled back the cloth to reveal the gear underneath. The deceased had an arsenal of powerful items, the likes of which Ij''gne had never seen. There were striped shoulder pads made of hard keratin, resembling the material of beast claws. It was very firm to the touch and clung to the body like a second skin.
Next, he noticed a metallic pendant nestled between the shoulder blades, which flickered in the sunlight, highlighting its circuit-like patterns. However, the lines were dim, indicating that the item had long since lost its power.
Further down was an ivory-like armguard adorned with a faint Kraken pattern. This depiction was foreign to Ij''gne, who had never seen the sea, but he still felt unease emanating from it. It was as if the armguard embodied death itself, full of menacing triggers. For safety¡¯s sake, Ij''gne opted not to touch this piece.
Below the armguard, on the back of the man''s hand, was an ink tattoo of three barbed lines. This design was peculiar, but it lent a sense of serenity that somewhat balanced the menacing atmosphere of the armguard. This was visible through the ripped gloves covering the hands.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Nearby lay a purple saber adorned with vicious-looking spikes. Ij''gne attempted to lift it, but it was too heavy for him.
Finally, there were twin daggers strapped close to the thighs, as if they had slipped unwillingly from their owner¡¯s grasp. They were the only items Ij''gne managed to salvage, as the others were too difficult to remove.
"I don¡¯t know who you are, but may you rest now. The dangers of the forest are not to be underestimated," Ij''gne bowed and headed toward a nearby stream.
The daggers were caked in blood and dirt and needed a good cleaning before he could use them. Otherwise, they would pollute anything he cut, rendering it inedible.
Following the sound of the water, Ij''gne soon found a shallow stream to dip the blades in. However, this did little to clean them, as the grime was thick enough to form a makeshift sheath around the metal. Ij''gne ground the two daggers against each other, slowly scraping the layers off.
''What happened to them?'' he wondered. ''How did they accumulate so much filth?''
Half an hour later, the nearby water had turned murky brown, and Ij''gne held two gleaming weapons. They fit snugly into his hands as if they had always been meant for him.
''The blacksmith behind these did a good job. I hope they¡¯re still sharp because I don''t have any money to get them sharpened.''
Ij''gne tested the daggers on a nearby tree and watched in astonishment as they glided through the wood effortlessly. It was as if he was cutting water rather than dense timber.
"What the?" he exclaimed, shocked that the daggers retained their sharpness so well.
Ij''gne had an inkling that these daggers were far more extraordinary than he initially thought, but he didn¡¯t have much time to dwell on this revelation. The heavy footsteps and rustling leaves alerted him to an approaching intruder, prompting him to leave the vicinity immediately.
As he slipped away, he glimpsed an orange hide with glaring black stripes through the narrow gaps in the leaves. Ij''gne was lucky the beast hadn¡¯t noticed him or he would be facing an ambush right now.
After reaching a safe location, Ij''gne finally realized he was lost. This wouldn''t matter if it was before, but Ij''gne had now awakened from his depression and gained a will to survive. After all, death is scary. Who would want to die if they had a choice?
Ij''gne parsed through his blurry memories and tried his best to retrace his path. However, it was difficult for an untrained teen like Ij''gne to orient himself amidst the sea of trees. Consequently, he strayed off course and took a path that would overshoot the village.
A few hours into his journey, Ij''gne''s stomach growled with hunger. He hadn''t eaten anything the entire day and urgently needed some food. With no choice, Ij''gne stripped the bark off some nearby trees and forced himself to swallow his unsavory meal. From experience, this was the easiest way to eat them since the bark was too hard to chew. Any attempt to do so would result in a sore jaw and chipped teeth on unlucky occasions.
As the sun slipped behind the distant trees and the sky turned orange, Ij''gne found a damaged stone petroglyph in an open ruin. The top right corner was broken off, but most of the text could still be seen. For some unknown reason, Ij''gne understood these words despite being illiterate and having never seen these characters before.
Approacheth thy lord with a heart devout, and he shalt bestow upon thee strength unimaginable. But if thou stainest thy heart with heresy, beware, for he hath the power to revoke what he hath bequeathed.
Below this text was a picture of a large tree, surrounded by devout worshippers praying for prosperity. Ij''gne didn''t think much about the strange mural and entered to escape the buzzing bugs. His legs were full of mosquito bites after walking for the whole day and he would accept any respite. A few minutes in, he encountered another petroglyph, which he read out of boredom.
In times of plight, when thou art at thy wit''s end, call out unto yon tree, and it shall hearken thy plea. Offer up thy heart, become devout, and it shall deliver thee from crise.
Ij''gne saw a few more glyphs with similar messages along the way, but he ignored them after the fifth one. Fortunately, he also found fruit trees bearing plump pears, which he ravenously devoured for dinner.
Night soon approached and Ij''gne gathered some dry grass for a makeshift bed. However, his night was a restless one due to his fear of being attacked in his sleep. After countless tossing and turnings, the sun finally rose and a wave of fatigue crashed into him.
Ij''gne tried getting a few more hours of sleep, but the brightness kept him awake. After a while, he gave up and rose from his position, his clothes filled with grass that prickled his skin. He shook off all this chaff and plucked a few more fruits before continuing his journey. In a stroke of luck, he corrected his path and entered familiar lands. By the end of the day, he''d returned to the village and continued his life as usual.
Ij''gne would occasionally see Stella around town, selling produce, but their relationship had soured by now and made their interactions awkward. It didn''t help that her husband was a chicken farmer and periodically accompanied her in her sales.
They were quickly drifting apart, with Stella moving on in life and having kids the following year while Ij''gne stagnated in his usual activities. His life had become a quagmire and he could not get out.
The daggers were a great addition to his life, greatly easing his efforts in scavenging. To this day, he had yet to find anything they couldn''t cut. He grew so fond of them that they rarely left his side, even accompanying him in sleep. They provided a sense of comfort in his hectic life and helped him appreciate the beauties of living.
In an attempt to improve his living standards, Ij''gne applied to be an apprentice to a furniture maker. This was relatively easy for him since the daggers could make up for his frailness, allowing him to channel all his focus into carving the aesthetics. Ij''gne enjoyed this process quite a bit and it became his purpose in life.
After six months under the furniture maker, Ij''gne resigned to pursue wood carving. Compared to the grueling hours spent on processing the final product, he preferred to focus on the artistic aspects and delegate the "grunt work" to the others.
Unfortunately, this plan failed because of the village''s poverty. Due to their struggles, many people would rather spend their hard-earned money on something practical than a piece of art in their homes, especially when Ij''gne charged a similar price. There was simply no demand for his works. In the end, Ij''gne had to sell his pieces at a pitiful price and earnestly return to furniture crafting.
Time passed peacefully in this manner. It was quite an enjoyable period, one that Ij''gne was happy to repeat. However, everything changed one day when a grizzly bear attacked, plunging the settlement into chaos. On this fateful morning, Ij''gne ran out to witness a gruesome scene: the bear mauling several villagers to death.
Among these casualties was Stella''s husband, leaving his former crush widowed with three children. Yet this hardly mattered at this moment because the bear was heading right for her. Stella''s eyes widened with horror, but her body refused to move. Terror had paralyzed her muscles and made her a sitting duck.
As the bear approached to finish her off, a rock smashed into its face, eliciting a wrathful roar. Turning to the source, the bear saw Ij''gne throwing another rock before shouting, "Come at me, you bastard!"
Then he turned and ran towards the outskirts of the village. The bear roared again and charged at him with brutal momentum, threatening to crush anything in its path. As this unfolded, Ij''gne inwardly panicked, questioning why he had taken action at all. In all honesty, he didn''t know the answer himself; his body had moved before his mind even registered his act.
If he had to pinpoint a reason, it would be his buried love for Stella. Perhaps it had finally exploded after being suppressed for so long. Maybe he just wanted to perform one final act for her. Or maybe he was simply a fool, endangering himself for a distant acquaintance. It was unknown which of these scenarios Ij''gne fit into, but he didn''t regret his actions in the slightest.
Ij''gne ran for his life, vaulting over sturdy roots and fallen trees with pumped adrenaline. However, the bear stayed on his track, easily pushing aside any obstacles.
His breath grew hurried as his weak physique began catching up to him, causing his steps to falter and the distance to narrow. His lungs burned with piercing pain, but he forced himself to continue running. That was the only thing he could do if he didn''t want to experience the same death as the villagers.
His legs buckled several times, but he managed to stay upright by failing his arms for balance. Unfortunately, his luck eventually ran out and he tripped on a protruding rock, sending him sliding forward. Large rashes and bits of mangled skin broke out across his knees and elbows, bringing him immense pain.
*ROOOAAAWWWWW*
The bear pounced at him, seeking to crush his skull. Ij''gne rolled aside just in time and sustained a cut on his cheek from a stray projectile. Suddenly, he collided with a wall, halting his retreat closer than he hoped. As he got onto his feet, he realized he''d rolled himself into a corner, with the bear closing in and cutting off all escape openings.
Frantically glancing around, Ij''gne spotted a familiar petroglyph in the corner of his eyes. In his mindless escape, Ij''gne had unknowingly entered the same ruins that he''d discovered years prior. Memories of this place resurfaced in his mind and words he''d previously dismissed as a fool''s rambling flashed through his mind.
In times of plight, when thou art at thy wit''s end, call out unto yon tree, and it shall hearken thy plea. Offer up thy heart, become devout, and it shall deliver thee from crise.
The bear roared one last time and leaped at Ij''gne, its teeth bared to crunch him in half. Ij''gne tensed up and despair engulfed him. In his hopelessness, Ij''gne made one desperate prayer, yearning for a miracle.
''Please! If you really do exist, help me. I''ll give up anything! I just want to live!''
"Very well," An archaic voice suddenly sounded in his mind, causing Ij''gne to doubt if he was hallucinating from the stress.
But before he could dwell on the issue too long, the world returned to normal and a tremendous strength surged inside him. His body instinctively grabbed the bear''s jaws, preventing it from closing around his torso. His muscles bulged in ways never seen before and exerted strength rivaling a giant''s.
Ij''gne kicked the bear and launched it backward, giving him time to draw a dagger. Ij''gne charged forward and raised the weapon as far back as possible, gathering all his strength. Then with venting bellow, he released everything in one final swing. The dagger carved through the air like a fighter jet and coasted through the skull without resistance, like all cuts before.
The bear''s head collapsed as a sonic boom sounded, causing the body to go limp. Ij''gne followed, crumpling with heaves of breaths as every fiber of his being quivered from the strain forced onto his body. But regardless, this didn''t stop the joy forming within his heart.
''I survived!'' He celebrated, falling backward.
Later that night, Ij''gne tasted bear meat for the first time in his life, and it was delicious.
189 – Elemental Emulation
The sun rose and fell again, signaling the end of another day. Yet, in the dead of night, a foreboding flicker pierced through the veil of darkness. Embers flickered in the distance, accompanied by the acrid odor of smoke. Something was burning, and the flames were only growing larger.
Ij''gne approached the scene with a dazed look in his eyes, his mind barely registering the bitter fumes coating his throat. Soft crackles filled his ears, and ash clogged his nostrils, intensifying the sinking feeling in his heart. Yet, try as they might, these tangible sensations couldn''t replace the joyful emotions Ij''gne had lost.
In the day he was gone, the village, along with all its inhabitants, had burned to the ground. This included his childhood sweetheart that he''d worked so hard to protect. Yet, what drove him crazy were the sword cuts along their remains. Someone had attacked the defenseless group and slaughtered everyone, leaving Ij''gne alone once more.
"Why?" he numbly asked after a long pause, his eyes sunken into his sockets and his knees giving out. "Why did it have to be like this?"
The following morning, a robed man rode into the area and dismounted. Looking around, he spotted Ij''gne, who was mechanically dragging bodies aside for burial. His eyes resembled those of a dead fish, and his face was stoic as if it had lost all ability to express emotion. The man pitied Ij''gne, who looked no older than twenty¡ªa young age for someone of his strength. It must have been tragic for him to find his home in this state.
"Hey! Are you okay?" the man asked, running to Ij''gne.
Ij''gne looked over with vacant eyes and stiffly shook his head. "Why did they do this?" he asked, still unresponsive to his surroundings.
"I... I... Haaaaahhhhh," the man let out a heavy sigh, unsure how to comfort Ij''gne. So he said the only thing that might help the young man in this situation. "It was the barbarians. They were the ones who did this."
Light returned to Ij''gne''s eyes and transformed into a volatile glare. "How do you know this?" he demanded, his voice growling like an active volcano ready to explode. Yet, despite this, his face remained as stoic as before, permanently frozen in callousness.
"You''re not the only one who''s experienced this tragedy. They''ve been doing this for years: invading and slaughtering everyone in a village. We''ve been doing our best to hold them off, but there are always some that slip through the net."
Ij''gne clenched his fist and huffed his breath. His fist shook like an electric buzzer, and he bit his lip, eventually drawing blood. It took Ij''gne a few minutes to calm down enough to ask, "Where are they?!? Tell me! I want revenge."
The man shook his head. "Sorry, I can''t do that. You''re too weak, even as one of the Lord''s chosen ones. You would only be heading to your death if you went."
"Then train me! Make me strong enough so that I can get revenge!" Ij''gne grabbed the man''s collar, his eyes bloodshot and desperate for approval.
"That''s not a problem. Finish your burial first. They''ve suffered enough and deserve to rest."
Ij''gne released his hold and returned to his activities, only this time, with livelier movements. As this was happening, the man reflected on his actions and their consequences. ''I hope I made the right choice and that he doesn¡¯t become obsessed with revenge. It¡¯s already destructive enough to others, let alone to oneself.''
Once Ij''gne finished, the man asked him about his choice one last time. "Are you sure you want to do this? You won''t be able to back out once we start."
"I''m sure. I''ve lost everything already. The only thing left is to make them pay."
The man inwardly sighed at this worrisome response but said nothing else about the issue. Ij''gne had made his choice and it would be inconsiderate of him to intervene.
"Then get on," he said, pointing at his mount.
The two of them traveled for a few days and approached an expansive forest filled with green shrubbery. A few plump rabbits could be seen munching on the berries dangling from the bushes scattered along their path. In the past, Ij''gne would have hunted one of these tasty-looking critters in a heartbeat, but recent events had thoroughly ruined his mood.
Looking past the greenery, Ij''gne saw the faint outline of a giant tree in the distance. It was a familiar sight, resembling the illustrations he had seen in the ancient ruins. This realization made him stop and recall the voice that had changed his fate.
¡°Is it the same one, or does it just look that way from a distance?¡± Ij''gne wondered.
"That''s the world tree," the man explained, noticing Ij''gne''s gaze. "It protects our world and ensures our prosperity. In return, we fend off the barbarians who seek to destroy it and serve its every need as loyal attendants. It''s also the one that answered your call."
"Why do the barbarians want to destroy the tree? What do they have to gain from it?" This part stood out to Ij''gne since they seemed to have no reason to do so¡ªunless there was more to the story than he had been told.
"Because they believe the tree will destroy the world. That it''s a parasite siphoning the very life of its host. How preposterous!" The man lost his composure for the first time since they''d met, gritting his teeth so hard that Ij''gne could hear the sound from the side. It was evident that he felt strongly about this topic. "Just admit it if you covet our land so much. What''s the point in making up these absurd lies to slander our Lord?"
Ij''gne ignored the man''s outburst and continued walking. "That''s fine as well. I can get my revenge and serve my benefactor at the same time. There''s no reason not to join you."
The man caught up to him and patted Ij''gne''s shoulder. "Don''t be like this. The Lord is benevolent. You don''t have to fight if you don''t want to. All he would ask of you is your continued faith and devotion."
"And why should I care?" Ij''gne asked, causing the man to choke back his next sentence. The journey then fell into an awkward silence, with the man constantly lamenting Ij''gne''s poor manners.
As they neared the world tree, they entered a rural settlement dotted with wooden houses, each topped with a thatched straw roof. Ij''gne¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to a large scar running up the side of the world tree, gouging out a substantial portion of its trunk.
Darkened by festering moss and decay, the wound contrasted sharply with the surrounding bark. Many species of fungi sprouted within this area, releasing a funky odor that permeated even to the outskirts where Ij''gne stood.
Above the scar, the branches drooped, their leaves wilted and dry from a lack of nourishment and water, marking the onset of decay. This single injury had compromised the entire side of the tree, leaving it noticeably weakened and vulnerable to infections.
"A few months ago, an unbelievably powerful warrior invaded our domain. That wound was the price we paid to keep him here," a voice suddenly sounded behind them. Turning around, they saw an elderly man with well-toned muscles walking toward them.
"Reverend Zarasu," the guide said, placing his palms together and bowing.
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"Rise, Priest Sudan," the reverend replied, holding up his wrinkled palm.
Once the formalities were settled, Zarasu turned to Ij''gne and continued his account. "The warrior wielded twin daggers¡ªthe same pair that''s in your possession. I hope you can live up to their former glory and show the Lord how much you''ve changed."
With that bombshell of a revelation, Zarasu put his hands behind his back and somberly walked off. Ij''gne stared at Zarasu as he departed, countless questions racing through his mind. When Zarasu finally disappeared from view, Ij''gne turned to the priest and asked his most pressing questions. "Who is that, and why does he look so sad?"
"Reverend Zarasu is the oldest high priest serving the Lord. He''s been around for a long time and has a close relationship with many people, including our youngest high priest, whom Zarasu regarded as a son. Don¡¯t take that battle lightly. It was more tragic than the reverend let on. Three against one, four if we include our Lord, and we still almost lost."
The priest held a moment of silence for the casualties of the event before guiding Ij''gne to an empty hut. "This will be your place from now on. Take care of it, as you won''t get another one unless a calamity strikes."
The priest gave Ij''gne a few minutes to settle in before leading him to an open field where a group of preteens were practicing punching exercises. "This is the training area where you''ll learn our martial arts. Make sure to be here by dawn tomorrow."
Afterward, Sudan showed Ij''gne more important places, including the dining hall, the wells where they draw water, the bakery that supplies the settlement with food, the sick house, which is the equivalent of a makeshift hospital, and the storage room where they keep their excess grains. It was everything Ij''gne needed to know to live here.
"Enjoy the peace while you can," Sudan advised as the tour ended. "You won''t have much free time afterward."
''Free time? Why would I care about that? I¡¯ll gladly give that up if it means I can get stronger even a moment faster.''
The following morning, as dawn broke across the horizon, Joten, the instructor, arrived to find a man drenched in sweat running around the vicinity. It took a moment for Joten to recognize Ij''gne, the new trainee under his watch.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Joten shouted, sprinting toward him.
"Training," Ij''gne replied bluntly, barely pausing his morning exercises. He continued pushing his muscles to their limits, each step driven by sheer determination. No matter how exhausted he felt, he forced himself to press on, excavating every bit of hidden strength within his core.
After a while, as the other students began to arrive, Ij''gne finally collapsed, his body rendered numb and immobile.
"You! How long have you been doing this?" Joten demanded, his voice tinged with concern as he knelt beside the exhausted trainee.
"I...Haven''t...Stopped," Ij''gne answered between gasps of air.
"What?! That doesn''t answer¡ª" Joten abruptly stopped mid-sentence as an alarming possibility came to him. "You didn''t happen to start yesterday, did you?"
"When...Else?" Ij''gne tried pushing himself up, but his trembling arms refused to exert the proper force. "Give me a moment. I''ll start the morning routine once I stand up."
"No, you won''t! You will rest until I''m ready to guide everyone. Do you hear me? Otherwise, I''m not teaching you anything." Joten forced Ij''gne to give up his efforts and take a much-needed break.
"Alright, get running," Joten hollered at the curious onlookers before dragging Ij''gne aside.
"Look, just because you''re a chosen one with the lord''s blessings doesn''t mean you can abuse your body like that," Joten lectured Ij''gne. "You need to learn about proper work-rest balance, or you will ruin yourself."
"Okay," Ij''gne agreed reluctantly, prompting Joten to sigh in distress.
''What a troublesome student you''ve granted me, my lord.''
Joten led his group through their standard warm-ups before gathering everyone in a circle. By this time, Ij''gne had recovered enough to stand up and hobble over to join them.
"Alright, everyone. I''ll start with the basics since we have a new student today," Joten announced, taking a battle stance with one palm pointed down and away from him, while the other hand tucked close to his side.
"The martial art I am teaching is called Elemental Emulation. It was created by Reverend Zarasu, who referenced the elements in nature. Over the years, he refined it countless times and ultimately divided the art into four inspirations. Each inspiration represents a different element and its corresponding characteristics. The first inspiration is Water Inspiration: Divergent Stream."
Joten''s palms swirled around his body like a raging current, making exaggerated movements with constant shifting of footwork. His torso leaned from side to side, and Joten occasionally brought up his knee for a sharp pivot.
At times, his movements became gentle like a passing stream, only to exert greater force immediately after and cascade into a torrential waterfall. In the end, he released everything in a single-handed shove.
"Water Inspiration specializes in defense and redirecting the opponent''s force. The fundamental principle is to use the least amount of effort to achieve the desired result. At higher levels, you can store power from previous strikes and unleash it in one devastating blow. At its peak, you can even redirect your opponent''s strength back at them, inflicting heavy injuries without much delay."
Joten took a different stance, raising one fist in front of his neck and the other behind that arm, at the middle of his chest. His body bounced back and forth, continually shifting his center of gravity for an unpredictable opening.
Suddenly, Joten burst forward with a flurry of short strikes, each swing dispersing massive amounts of air. Occasionally, he would strike out with his elbow, pushed by his other hand clutching his fist for maximum impact. Then this would transition into an overhead slam before finishing with a wide hook, like how one would pitch a baseball.
"This is Earth Inspiration: Cataclysmic Eruption. Its goal is to overwhelm your opponent with heavy strikes until they collapse. The key is to keep your arms close to your body so you can rapidly chain your strikes. However, this sacrifices your reach, making you vulnerable to opponents with longer weapons. Ideally, you should use this style only after getting in your opponent''s face.
Since such scenarios are rare, especially in the beginning stages, the primary application involves using elbow strikes for knockback and to cover blind spots. To solve this issue, you need to incorporate Water Inspiration''s strength preservation into your attacks so you don''t have to rely on your torso to generate power.
This is also known as Earth Inspiration''s high mastery. If you can perfect this concept, your strikes will retain their power even after repeated hits. When you reach this level, every strike will carry the same force as Water Inspiration''s final discharge."
Next, Joten took a horse stance and slowly brought his fist back. He closed his eyes and regulated his breath. Then his arm shot out, releasing a piercing howl as the surrounding air ripped.
"Third form, Fire Inspiration: Sudden Wildfire. This inspiration has no requirements on your stance, but rather on your mentality. You want your strike to be as devastating as possible by channeling all your strength into one concentrated area. When you punch, twist your fist so your knuckles hit the target first. To master this, you need to be able to enter this state at any time, regardless of your surroundings. Rid yourself of all distractions and become as destructive as an inferno. If you can apply this concept with your entire body, then you will have reached perfection."
Joten crouched down with one leg and extended the other one to the side, forming a triangular shape. Joten held this stretch for a few moments before swapping to the other side.
"Finally, we have Wind Inspiration: Gale Tempest. This is also the hardest one to learn because it requires the highest precision. You will fly into a tree if you don''t do it correctly."
Joten stood up and leaned forward. In the blink of an eye, he was halfway across the field, unleashing a storm of kicks that left several afterimages in his wake. He then drove his airborne leg down and smoothly transitioned into an upward kick with his opposite leg. In an impressive display of flexibility, this leg soared above Joten''s head, nearly aligning with his supporting leg.
He leaped into the air and twisted his body, using his legs to grapple an imaginary opponent and drag them to the ground. A fierce stomp followed, after which he dropped down into a leg sweep. Finally, Joten used the momentum of this circular motion to spring back to his feet and walked back to the group.
"As you can see, this inspiration places a lot of emphasis on your legs. Its main purpose is to propel you at immense speeds, but the kicks are a bonus. Your legs are inherently stronger than your arms, so they can unleash much more force, but this comes at the price of lowered mobility. There''s only so much you can do with a single leg.
That''s why most practitioners at higher levels only use it for movement, despite how devastating their kicks may be. Their mobility becomes so good that it''s not worthwhile for them to sacrifice it for more firepower, especially when they have at least one other inspiration at perfection.
Let me reiterate: high mastery of Wind Inspiration requires the same level of control as perfection in the other inspirations. That''s how strict the progression is. And if you do manage to reach the fabled perfection in Wind, you can scale mountains and walls as if they are flat ground. There are almost no obstacles these grandmasters of movement can''t overcome."
Ij''gne''s heart raced with anticipation at these explanations, and his fist clenched in excitement. Joten looked so powerful when he demonstrated those skills. Was this the strength he would need to fulfill his revenge?
As if sensing the fiery gaze, Joten turned to look Ij''gne in the eyes. He held this gaze for a moment before turning away like nothing had happened. "Alright, split up into pairs. We''re going to practice Fire and Water Inspirations today. New guy, you''re with me."
''I guess that solves my partner issue,'' Ij''gne thought, following Joten to a shaded corner.
"So, which inspiration do you want to start with?" Joten asked Ij''gne. "Although there''s no rule against learning multiple at once, I recommend you choose one to specialize in. You don''t want to spread yourself too thin and end up defenseless when you need it most."
Ij''gne agreed with Joten''s logic and carefully considered his options. After a few minutes of thinking, he finally voiced his decision. "I choose¡ª"
190 – Pain and Numbness
"I choose Water," Ij''gne answered with a firm expression.
Joten nodded internally with approval, but he showed no indication of his thoughts. "Can I ask why?"
"Because I believe water is the foundation for the other styles. It might seem bland compared to the others, but it will prepare me for the other Inspirations."
"Good choice," Joten said with a smile.
And so, Ij''gne began his training in Water Inspiration. He worked harder than ever, pushing his mind and body to their utmost limits, day after day, before doing it all over again. Each day left him sore and stumbling through the settlement, but the struggles only fueled his resolve.
Even when his body was too exhausted to continue, his training didn''t stop. Instead, he redirected his focus to reviewing his morning sessions, dissecting them hundreds of times over. Every little mistake was magnified countless times, followed by the necessary corrections for the following morning.
This effort eventually paid off when he achieved high mastery of Water Inspiration in merely six months, a record time among his age group. The only ones who surpassed it were the experienced martial artists who could master the technique within days of learning.
With this result, Joten opened up the other three styles to Ij''gne, allowing him to experience the martial art''s true might. Each Inspiration wove into the others, revealing insights that had been overlooked.
Because of this interconnection, advancing in a single art led to a multiplicative increase in his combat power rather than a linear one. This synergy is why the Inspirations are unified under one martial art rather than divided into four separate styles.
Out of the four Inspirations, Ij''gne made the least progress in Fire. For some reason, he just couldn''t grasp the mental state that Joten often lectured about.
On the other hand, he showed great potential in Wind due to his abnormally fast reaction speed. Although his precision still needed work, the lack of collisions meant he could practice far more than his peers and better hone his control.
Applying this experience to Earth with Water''s force conservation, it didn''t take long before Earth also reached high mastery. Joten was surprised by his rate of progress, but he didn''t make a fuss about it and encouraged him to work harder.
As a result of this validation, Ij''gne devoted even more time to training, sacrificing every moment of free time. The numerous mental simulations caused his mind to ache, and his memories of this period began to blur.
Ij''gne couldn''t recount much about this period, only that he repeated his grueling schedule for what felt like years, devoid of any social interaction. It was inhumane how hard he pushed himself, but he gladly endured everything for revenge.
In the end, he achieved perfection in Water and high mastery in Wind, while Earth and Fire remained unchanged. Ij''gne made significant progress in the first three Inspirations, but Fire stubbornly refused to budge. This frustrated him, but Joten reassured him not to worry about it. His improvement was already remarkable, and he had plenty of time to develop further.
But Ij''gne didn''t want to wait. He knew Joten was stronger than him, having achieved perfection in three Inspirations and high mastery in Wind, but even Joten wasn''t enough to take on the barbarians alone. If Ij''gne wanted to improve further, he needed real combat experience. Thus, he applied to guard the mountain range that separated their land from the barbarians.
The roots of the World Tree extended even to this area, reinforcing it against any external damage. Here, Ij''gne fought against invaders daily, honing his skills amidst life and death. If there were no invaders on a given day, Ij''gne would descend the mountain and find a foe. During this period, he witnessed many deaths, both of allies and enemies, but he numbly tuned it all out, persisting with a mind of steel.
The invaders used a strange martial art capable of generating power out of seemingly thin air. Furthermore, they had seemingly endless stamina, delivering heavy strikes without any concern for their energy consumption. It felt like Ij''gne was fighting opponents with perfect Water and Earth Inspirations, but their subpar muscle control told him otherwise.
Under this pressure, his Earth Inspiration eventually reached perfection, and his Fire Inspiration finally made some progress. This made the fights much more even, but the arrival of stronger invaders erased any sense of advancement.
With each passing day, the enemies grew stronger, eventually forcing Ij''gne back into the mountains. There were so many barbarians that it became actively dangerous to venture out alone. The guards stationed there noticed the change and called for reinforcements. For the next three days, neither side sent out any parties to attack the opposition. It was the calm before the storm until, finally, war erupted.
People flew through the rugged terrain, utilizing guerrilla tactics and every possible means under the sun. From deadly traps to sabotage, they did it all. Rivers of blood washed away the dirt of the mountain, scaring off all wildlife and creating a red runoff.
Maggot-infested corpses could be seen with every step, permeating the mountain with a revolting smell of decay. Ij''gne thrived in this environment and learned many survival skills crucial to his success.
The conflict raged on for half a month before the barbarians'' big shots took action and breached the defense line.
As two barbarians held off the defenders, their leader slipped through and wreaked havoc on the settlement. They killed everyone in their path as they beelined for the World Tree. In the end, Reverend Zarasu had to step in and confront the invader in a devastating battle.
Loud explosions and the rumbling of collapsing houses echoed for kilometers. Hearing this, all the defending martial artists intensified their attacks, striving to end their battles quickly so they could assist the reverend. However, the barbarians were relentless. Many even sacrificed themselves to stall the martial artists, heightening the defenders'' urgency.
The battle soon became a bloodbath, a chaotic fray of frenzied combat and slaughter. Ij''gne struggled in this turbulent sea, doing everything he could to keep himself afloat. After what felt like an eternity, the attacks finally ceased, and the barbarians retreated. They had won the battle, but at what cost?
Surveying the aftermath, Ij''gne lamented their losses before dragging his exhausted body back to the stronghold. The person in charge granted half the survivors a day off to recover from the stress before they would be required to replace the other half. Ij''gne was among the second group and apathetically watched the logistics team clean up the battlefield for an entire day.
After that, it was his turn to rest. He didn''t know what to feel as he walked through the collapsed settlement or even what he was looking for. All he had in mind right now was to pass the day and return to his post. War had changed him and consumed all traces of naivety, making him more emotionless than ever, despite how impossible that seemed.
''Why are we doing this anymore?'' he wondered to himself.
In his lost state, Ij''gne gazed up at the World Tree for direction, only to see a deep gouge on the recently healed scar. The barbarian had added another wound to their lord''s trunk, further incapacitating it. Soft creaks of wood could be heard from afar, testifying to the tree''s feeble state.
Ij''gne sighed to himself and continued walking, gradually coming upon a somber procession. On closer examination, he realized this was a funeral for the fallen soldiers of yesterday. Ij''gne followed out of obligation, and they soon arrived at a vacant hill. The group parted ways to reveal Reverend Zarasu carrying a stone pillar with the names of the fallen.
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As Zarasu walked up, Ij''gne noticed the thick layer of bandages wrapped around his chest, covering the wounds left by the invader.
"My dear friends and citizens, we have lost many beloved members of our community¡ªfriends, family, neighbors. Their absence leaves a void that words can''t fill, but we must stay strong. Our lord remains standing and carries the burden of the world on its crown. We mustn''t give up hope and abandon it in times of despair. Instead, let this pain fuel us to improve so that a tragedy like this one will never repeat itself. Until then, let us dedicate this monument to the brave fighters who gave up their lives for us."
Once Zarasu finished his rallying speech, he placed the pillar into the ground and gave the audience time to find their acquaintances'' names. Ij''gne followed to pass the time when he suddenly saw a familiar name: Joten.
"Teacher?" He mumbled in disbelief. "No, it can''t be!"
Unwilling to believe this truth, Ij''gne ran to Joten''s accommodation, desperately praying this was someone else with the same name. However, it was rare to find such a coincidence in a small settlement like this, especially when the name was listed in the combatants'' section.
Wham
Ij''gne kicked open Joten''s door, but his heart sank when he saw the wreath of white marigold flowers on the floor. Among the World Tree''s believers, this was the custom used to mourn the death of a close friend. The origin stems from the belief that marigolds purify the soul, allowing them to pass on peacefully.
"Why! Why does it have to be him!?!" he roared uncontrollably and slammed the bottom of his fist against the wall. In an unexpected turn of events, only the area directly beneath his fist collapsed, leaving the surrounding material unharmed.
All the force had been concentrated in this location, pulverizing it. It was only now that Ij''gne understood what it meant to become a destructive inferno, channeling all his wrath and grief to consume his enemies. Fire Inspiration had broken through to high mastery...
A few hours later, Ij''gne could be seen on top of a hill, blankly staring off at the setting sun. Zarasu approached from behind and patted Ij''gne''s shoulder.
"Cheer up. Joten would be proud to know you broke through because of him," Zarasu said, comforting Ij''gne in his own way.
"I would rather not have this strength if it meant he could be brought back," Ij''gne replied.
"Don''t drown in your sorrow. Joten died honorably. It was only because he delayed the invader that I managed to stop him in time. I''m sure he had no regrets, so don''t wallow over it. He would be sad to see how devastating his death has been for you."
"He was all I had left," Ij''gne said, tilting his head upward. "I thought it was revenge that motivated me to push myself so hard, but now I realize it was because I wanted to be in his presence. He was always there for me, cheering me on and supporting me. Yet now that I''ve realized this, he''s already gone. Truly, we humans don''t appreciate what we have until we lose it. It''s a shame, really."
Zarasu fell silent for a few moments before suddenly asking, "Do you want to take me as your father?"
"What?" Ij''gne whipped his head towards Zarasu, unable to understand why he brought up this topic.
"I know I can''t replace him, but I''ll try my best," Zarasu continued with a warm smile. "So please, don''t dwell on the past so much. Let me be there for you as well. Ij''gne, you don''t have to be alone."
"W-why?" Ij''gne choked out, wanting to cry, but shedding no tears.
"Because I''ve also lost someone dear to me. I know the pain you''re going through, and I want to help you. Let us keep each other company, and maybe we''ll find solace one day. So what do you say, son?" Zarasu reached out his hand to Ij''gne.
The canals of Ij''gne''s airways constricted as his heart fluttered like a butterfly. He''d never felt so emotional before and didn''t know how to respond. In a fit of panic, he fell back into his previous mindset and blurted, "Will I get strong enough to avenge him?"
Ij''gne was embarrassed by his words and was about to apologize when Zarasu said, "Yes. I''ll teach you everything I know and nurture you as my successor. We need another high priest among our ranks. So please, join me."
Zarasu extended his hand further, and Ij''gne grabbed it without another moment of hesitation. Thus, Ij''gne began training under Zarasu''s guidance. With Zarasu''s expertise, Ij''gne made quick progress in his martial arts, reaching perfection in all his Inspirations.
Afterward, Zarasu taught him the various techniques he had created throughout his life, pushing Ij''gne''s masteries to new levels. While he might not be as adept as Zarasu, he now knew enough to call himself a powerhouse. By his estimation, he was as strong as the associates who had held off the defenses.
A perfect opportunity to test his strength presented itself a week later. The scouts had found the homes of their previous attackers and reported their locations back to Zarasu. In turn, Zarasu asked if Ij''gne wanted to lead the team.
"I''ll do it," Ij''gne accepted without delay. "I''ve been training for this moment the whole time."
Zarasu smiled fondly at him and handed Ij''gne a wooden token representing his authority. "Then go. Sever all the burdens weighing down your mind. And if you ever are unsure, ask D''wei. He''s been my disciple for a long time and knows what to do."
"Thank you, Father." Ij''gne bowed and took off with a small duffle bag containing some spare rations.
Ij''gne soon met up with his team and introduced himself. The leader, who Ij''gne assumed to be D''wei, was a man in his 30s with strips of cloth wrapped tightly around his limbs. He wore a red outfit that was tight enough to hug his body, but loose enough to allow free movement. After they greeted each other, D''wei handed him similar attire and asked him to change.
"This will help you blend in when we''re on the other side. We don''t want to be caught before completing our revenge," D''wei explained.
Ij''gne nodded, and they soon passed through the mountain using a secret tunnel hidden by overgrown roots. The air was musky, but the team was used to such conditions. They traveled for a few days, stopping occasionally to rest, and arrived at their destination. Then they waited until night before launching their attack.
Screams pierced the silent night air as they ambushed the resting warriors. Many tried to fight back, but they were too overwhelmed to do much. The only thing they achieved was to warn their comrades of the incoming danger, but that hardly made a difference when the martial artists struck like lightning.
D''wei and Ij''gne ran ahead to confront the leaders, leaving the guards to their teammates. They might not look like it, but every person on the team was a formidable martial artist with at least three perfect Inspirations. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been selected for this covert mission behind enemy lines.
As they closed in on their targets, D''wei accelerated and suddenly appeared before one of the leaders. His leg struck upward, launching the man away before he jumped at him. D''wei threw a flurry of punches mid-air, suppressing the opponent before he could regain his bearings.
This left the other leader to Ij''gne, who struck out with vengeance. A barrage of punches was exchanged between them, with Ij''gne rapidly gaining the advantage. His training had finally paid off and granted him the power he sought.
"It''s you!" his opponent suddenly cried out. "Why are you doing this? I don''t want to fight you!"
"Hmph, rich coming from you. Aren''t you the ones that started this conflict? Now you want to back out when you''re losing? Think again! This is life, not some game!" Ij''gne angrily rebuked.
The man''s eyes widened with shock before he exclaimed, "Have you lost your mind? When did we ever cross you?"
This response only angered Ij''gne further. How dare they talk as if they were the victims. Don''t they realize the damage they''d inflicted, the pain they''d caused, and the lives they''d taken? Those were people with unfulfilled dreams! Families were broken apart just because of them. And now they have the audacity to play the victims? Do you know how infuriating it was for Ij''gne to hear that from the perpetrators of that tragedy?
Fueled by his rage, Ij''gne punched harder, faster, and stronger than before. He had never wanted to kill someone so badly, and his strikes showed it.
Every hit was aimed at a fatal spot, forcing the man to defend uncomfortably. His strength began to wane as Ij''gne dished out punches faster than the man could generate power to match. Eventually, after a short skirmish, Ij''gne broke through his defense and punched right through his chest.
The man tried to say something through his blood-stained teeth, but Ij''gne spared him no mercy. With a forceful tug, Ij''gne ripped the person in half, bathing himself in blood. At that moment, D''wei walked into view, holding the twisted-off head of his foe.
"You finished?" D''wei said with an appreciative look. "Then let''s burn this place down like they''ve done to us so many times."
Ij''gne nodded, took a torch, and walked toward the village center. What better place to start the process than the heart of their tormentors?
As he approached the biggest building, a woman holding an infant ran out to stop him. "P-p-please, d-don''t do this," she begged, terror creeping onto her face.
Ij''gne paused and gave her a second glance.
"Y-you''re not l-like them. Please, you don''t h-have to b-become a m-m-monster," she continued. As if sensing the grave atmosphere, the baby in her arms began crying, further emphasizing her vulnerability.
Ij''gne was about to ask them to step aside when D''wei suddenly appeared beside the woman and punched through both the baby and her, scattering them into mists of blood. He then pulled his arm out, sending the frail lady to the ground before turning to Ij''gne.
"Stop dallying! The other places have already sent reinforcements. We need to leave. Now!"
Ij''gne gave the dying woman one final look before tossing the torch with a heavy heart. Then he followed D''wei, leaving the enemy camp with more burdens than he initially entered with.
''Is this really the correct thing to do?'' he asked himself after reaching a safe distance. ''Or have we gone too far?''
191 – Coronation
"What''s wrong?" Zarasu asked as they returned. "Why so gloomy?"
"Dad..." Ij''gne began, pausing as he reflected on the events of that night. "Are we really better than the barbarians?"
"Of course," Zarasu answered confidently. "Where did this suddenly come from?"
"It''s just...so cruel," Ij''gne said, frowning.
Zarasu sighed and gently patted Ij''gne''s back. "Son, it¡¯s difficult for me to say this, but sometimes we must take up the butcher''s knife. It''s better for us to bear this burden than to let those we cherish suffer. We take on these sins so they don''t have to."
"But can we maintain peace with these methods? What happens if we get discovered? Won''t we become shunned because of it?"
"If that''s the price I have to pay, then I¡¯ll willingly bear it," Zarasu answered, his face as firm as Ij''gne''s when he sought revenge.
"I see," Ij''gne said quietly, looking down in deep thought.
Zarasu gave him a few moments to himself before pressing his hand on Ij''gne''s shoulder. "You must have a lot on your mind. Don''t dwell on it anymore. Let me take you somewhere you can relax. I won''t force you to continue if you don''t want to. Just leave it to me."
Zarasu led Ij''gne toward the World Tree, where they traversed a series of interconnected tunnels formed by the tree''s roots. Strangely, these tunnels didn¡¯t appear to be carved out; instead, the roots had grown around air pockets, creating a natural layout.
When they emerged, Ij''gne found himself in a botanical garden tended to by a middle-aged woman. She was plucking herbal leaves into a pestle and mortar before grinding them into a green paste. Sensing their presence, she paused and looked up.
"Zarasu, what brings you here?" she asked, not bothering with formalities.
"Marlo, my son needs a getaway," Zarasu answered, unfazed by her manner.
"Very well. Leave him here." Marlo returned to her activities without another glance.
Once she fully turned her back, Ij''gne whispered, "Dad, who''s she?"
"High Priestess Marlo. She tends to the Lord and ensures it doesn''t succumb to its injuries. I believe staying with her will help with your recent stress."
Although Ij''gne didn¡¯t fully agree with Zarasu, he accepted the arrangement. The old man had shown him kindness and selfless love throughout their time together. If Zarasu believed this was the right path, Ij''gne would follow, even if he had reservations.
Thus, Ij''gne began studying the rituals of worship and the applications of medicine. Marlo was an expert in botany and healing due to her long years in the field, and she held nothing back from Ij''gne. Every day, they would walk through her garden, collecting the necessary herbs before concocting medicine for the World Tree.
She explained every step along the way, regardless of whether Ij''gne was paying attention or not. This was her duty, and nothing could distract her from it.
It was a significant change of pace, one unfamiliar to Ij''gne but enjoyable nevertheless. For the first time since he could remember, he wasn¡¯t preoccupied with getting stronger or fighting on the verge of death. He had time to reflect on his life and decide his future course.
And eventually, Ij''gne found his answer. So what if their actions were cruel? His father had put it perfectly: it was better for him to bear the burden than for someone he loved to suffer. While Ij''gne didn¡¯t have anyone else, just the thought of alleviating Zarasu''s burdens was reason enough. His old man had endured enough by himself. Now, it was time for Ij''gne to step up.
With his decision made, Ij''gne approached Zarasu and stated his intentions. Zarasu smiled wider than Ij''gne had ever seen and handed him the same token as before. Ij''gne then set off again with D''wei, undertaking whatever dirty missions Zarasu required of him.
They raided many villages, took innocent lives, and burned everything to the ground. Ij''gne had become what he hated most, yet he did it all without hesitation. He was willing to become a devil for his father''s ideals, even if it meant taking the fall for everything. Ij''gne had prepared himself for that outcome and embraced it with open arms.
In the process, Ij''gne and D''wei gained notoriety for their cruelty, and hatred against them surged to new heights. Yet, before this hostility could fester, they suppressed it with iron force, butchering anyone they could find. It was a bloody era when tensions between the two ethnic groups soared like a rocket.
However, their reign of terror was short-lived as the consequences finally caught up with them. "Walk by the river, get your shoes wet," "Play with fire, get burned," and "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes." These are just a few sayings that describe their situation.
In an unlucky turn of events, they attacked a village where a powerful fighter happened to be visiting. They stood no chance, even with their entire team working together. In the end, D''wei grabbed Ij''gne''s arm and told him to run while they delayed the enemy.
Ij''gne couldn¡¯t comprehend D''wei''s decision. If anything, he felt he should be the one to stay behind. With his greater experience and proficiency in these operations, D''wei would provide more value if he survived. So why was Ij''gne chosen? When Ij''gne asked him, D''wei simply smiled and said, "You''re the master''s son. He would be sadder if you died."
At that moment, Ij''gne realized that D''wei shared his ideals, placing Zarasu at the center of all their decisions. Everything they did was for him, and they were prepared to sacrifice their lives for his cause. Yet, above all, they never forgot that Zarasu was human and capable of feeling pain. That was why they did what they did.
"Now go," D''wei said, shoving him backward.
Comprehending all of this, Ij''gne ran for his life, using every survival skill he had learned to cover his tracks. He discarded all sense of dignity, rolling in feces and mud to remain hidden. After seven grueling days, he finally returned to the mountains and reported to Zarasu.
When his father heard of his disciple''s death, his eyes widened slightly, and his fist clenched involuntarily. But these signs of grief vanished as quickly as they appeared, as Zarasu regained control over his body shortly after. Then, with a forced smile, he asked, "Are you okay?"
This scene broke Ij''gne''s heart. Zarasu was clearly the one who had lost a loved one, yet here he was, putting up a facade and asking about Ij''gne''s well-being. Ij''gne understood that Zarasu was trying to alleviate his guilt, but this attempt had the opposite effect. There was only so much a grieving man could fake, and Zarasu was beyond that point.
''I need to get stronger,'' Ij''gne thought, clenching his fist so hard that his fingernails drew blood. ''Strong enough so that he never has to feel this sense of loss again.''
From that day onward, Ij''gne stopped all other activities and devoted himself entirely to training once more. This time, with even greater fervor, he focused intensely on mastering the barbarian''s arts.
He didn¡¯t care that this power belonged to the enemy or that everyone despised it, branding anyone who used it as a traitor. For Ij''gne, it was enough if it could grant him more strength. He had already embarked on the path of infamy, so being perceived as a traitor hardly fazed him.
However, this didn¡¯t mean he practiced the art openly. Instead, he waited until the dead of night, when everyone was asleep before he started. Due to this, progress was slow, and his sleep was severely impacted, but he persisted with relentless determination. Until one day, Zarasu walked in on him practicing it. Zarasu had noticed the change in his son and came to check on him, only to witness this shocking scene.
Ij''gne averted his gaze in guilt and was about to apologize when Zarasu also demonstrated the art. This time, it was Ij''gne''s turn to be shocked. How could he not be when the leader of the settlement displayed the arts of their enemies with a proficiency that rivaled the powerhouse who had annihilated their team?
"Father, what''s going on? Why do you know it as well?" Ij''gne asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"I was planning to take this secret to the grave with me," Zarasu began, "but I see you''ve developed an interest in this power. Let me teach you then. You don¡¯t have to fumble around in the dark by yourself," Zarasu said with a warm smile.
Pairing this with a soft moonlight in the background, Zarasu gave off a mysterious feeling, as if Ij''gne was meeting him for the first time. Ij''gne honestly didn''t know how many other secrets the old man had, but he didn''t care. Zarasu was his father, and he supported him with utmost loyalty.
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Hence, Ij''gne began learning from Zarasu again, away from any prying eyes. Zarasu taught him everything he needed to know about this new art, from its name, Nature''s Harmony, to its progression path. After reaching a mediocre level, Ij''gne couldn''t help but notice the similarities between it and Elemental Emulation.
"I created the Inspirations using Harmony as the basis," Zarasu explained. "Harmony is more flexible than Emulation because it channels the world''s energy to one''s will. That''s why the barbarians can exert such immense strength and stamina. They''re not using their own power but borrowing it from the world. This is the same energy used by our lord, I might add.
"We banned this art because its use actively hinders our lord''s growth. While it is undeniably powerful, it is also difficult to master. Whereas it takes us merely years to reach perfection in a single Inspiration, it takes the barbarians decades to achieve the same strength.
"However, this extended timeframe hardly affects them because practicing this art also extends their lifespan. The real impact is only felt during war, like now, when they lose fighters faster than they can replace them."
Hearing this explanation, Ij''gne had a moment of epiphany. "Is that why you had us attack their villages? To cut off their line of reinforcements?"
"Yes. The people who wish for our lord''s demise are stronger than you think. We must do whatever we can to win."
"I understand," Ij''gne said and returned to training.
Time continued to pass, and Ij''gne soon reached the upper levels of Nature''s Harmony. This single progress multiplied his combat powers again, putting him just below Zarasu in strength. He still had some distance until he reached the peak of the technique, but he was now among the strongest in the settlement.
On this day, Zarasu led him through another series of secret tunnels to a small room inside the world tree. At the center of this room was a golden robe that seemingly called out to him. It was as if he instinctively desired to wear it.
"This is our lord''s holy armament," Zarasu explained. "It will multiply your combat strength several times over. With it, you will have the strength to avenge D''wei. I need to protect the settlement from invaders, so you have to make the trip. My subordinates have already tracked down the person whom you encountered."
"I won''t disappoint," Ij''gne said, taking the robe from Zarasu''s hands.
"Make sure to return it after you''re finished. It doesn''t have much of our lord''s power and needs to be recharged between uses. And remember: you only have five minutes. After that, the power will fade and leave you in a weakened state."
"Five minutes is more than enough," Ij''gne confidently declared and set off for his target.
"Yes, I believe you," Zarasu said with a knowing smile as he watched Ij''gne''s back fade into the distance.
Large grey clouds loomed overhead, blotting out the sun and foretelling an incoming storm. On this day, Ij''gne approached a prosperous village alone in his golden robes, interrupting the lively chatter of the guards.
"Halt! Who goes there?" One of them called out, demanding him to stop.
However, Ij''gne paid them no heed and continued advancing, eliciting another warning.
"Stop right there or we''ll attack!" They warned, assuming fighting stances.
"So much bark, but not enough bite," Ij''gne muttered before looking up at them.
"What¡ª"
Ij''gne suddenly accelerated, smashing the speaker into a bloody pulp and swiftly striking down the other guards. They attempted to defend themselves but met the same fate before they could react. Ij''gne shook off the blood on his knuckles and proceeded inward, cutting down everyone in his path.
Screams of panic and fear accompanied futile resistance, but nothing halted the escalating death toll. Ij''gne is starting a rampage today and he refused to stop.
After several minutes of chaos, the fighter in question finally confronted him. "It''s you!" The man recognized Ij''gne as the one who had escaped that day.
"Yes, and I''ve returned for revenge." Ij''gne pushed himself off the ground and exchanged a flurry of strikes with his opponent. Loud collisions reverberated throughout the area, accompanied by fierce gusts and sonic booms.
Devastating aftershocks shattered the nearby structures and leveled the battlefield. Craters and fractured rocks materialized with each passing moment, contributing to the village''s devastation. Suddenly, Ij''gne was hurled backward into the debris, unable to match his opponent''s strength.
"If this is all you have, then it''s time to end this," the man declared, advancing towards him menacingly.
Ij''gne stood up and nonchalantly brushed off the debris clinging to his clothes. "I guess it''s still too much to fight you like this. Fine, grant me your blessings, O holy tree."
With these words, his robes emitted a golden glow, and Ij''gne''s aura surpassed that of his opponent''s. The man''s face twisted in horror, but Ij''gne gave him no respite. In a single, swift motion, Ij''gne descended upon him and delivered a crushing right hook, breaking the silence and initiating a grisly battle.
The dark skies above rumbled harshly, declaring the presence of thunder. The silence of the village lasted a few more moments before the pattering of rain replaced the calm. Ij''gne stood within the ruins of the village, basking in the downpour. Beside him, lying face down, was a corpse with a destroyed head, accompanied by several children with broken necks.
This wasn''t the warrior''s body, as Ij''gne had finished that fight long ago. No, these were the villagers he had hunted down after the battle, adding to the death toll. More precisely, these were the last of the villagers and signified the complete end of this community.
As the rain washed away the heavy blood, Ij''gne dragged his tired body toward a nearby canyon and sat down. His face tilted upward, immersing himself in the tickling warmth of the water, much like one loses themselves in a long shower. The clouds didn''t appear to be dispersing anytime soon, so he was content to enjoy this moment.
His worries and stress flowed away with the water, emptying his mind and putting him in a trance-like state. It felt so relieving to have this time to himself and not have to think.
The storm only intensified, and the booming of thunder shook the earth. Suddenly, the skies flashed purple, and a bolt of lightning struck a tree on the other side of the canyon. A heavy charred smell wafted up Ij''gne''s nose as the trunk collapsed into black ash. Seeing this, a sudden sense of enlightenment surged through his mind, generating a myriad of inspirations.
"The flow of Water, the force of Earth, the destruction of Fire, and the movement of Wind. Draw upon the force of nature to erupt once more. Set my body ablaze and channel the ambient strength. Guide everything into one point and strike like lightning. Kill in one shot, leave nothing behind, for a lion hunts with all its strength, even against a rabbit. I am not a lion, but my opponents are faster than rabbits. I need to match their speed while gathering my strength. Then let me merge the two for the ultimate strike."
Yet when Ij''gne reached this train of thought, he encountered a dead end. If he were to execute such a technique, his body would break down upon impact, killing both himself and his opponent. His body simply wasn''t durable enough to endure such an impact.
It would function well as a suicidal attack, but what good is killing a single opponent and leaving his father alone? The whole point of getting stronger was so he could accompany Zarasu for his entire life and ensure the elder wouldn''t experience the grief of loss ever again.
Suddenly, something within his travel bag emitted a burning sensation, beckoning him to open it. Upon doing so and tracing the source, he found the pair of daggers that had accompanied him for so long. This gave him an idea and prompted him to grab them once more.
''Since my body can''t endure the impact, what about these daggers?''
Ij''gne''s mind raced with possibilities and he rapidly modified his concepts around this idea. After a few minutes, he jumped down into the canyon and pushed off the ground. In the next moment, he appeared on the other side with the right dagger shooting outward. A canonical stream of air wrapped around Ij''gne, using the dagger as the tip.
This strike collided with the walls, forming a large, but shallow, crater on the surface. Then the air vortex around him shattered, echoing countless sonic booms.
"Is that it?" he wondered, disappointed that the commotion didn''t match the damage. If this was all the attack did, then it was more underwhelming than he had expected.
Yet before that thought could develop any further, the section behind the crater shattered, causing a large collapse of rocks. Ij''gne''s eyes widened with shock as he scrambled to evade the landslide. When he reached a safe distance, he looked back at the scene in awe, still in disbelief at what he had caused.
"Did I do that?" he asked inadvertently.
When Ij''gne finally regained his composure, he decided on a fitting name before returning to the settlement. ''My father referenced the four elements to create his techniques. I followed in his footsteps with a fifth element, so let this technique be called Lightning Inspiration: Obliteration Lance.''
With the addition of a fifth inspiration, Ij''gne''s combat strength skyrocketed once more, placing him even above Zarasu. The elder was very surprised when Ij''gne demonstrated the technique and the damage it was capable of. Ij''gne wanted to teach Zarasu the inspiration, but he didn''t have a suitable weapon to practice with. Hence, this became Ij''gne''s signature technique.
With this achievement, Ij''gne fulfilled the conditions to become a High Priest, and Zarasu began preparing for the coronation ceremony. After several days of hard work, it was finally ready, and the settlement crowned its third protector, replacing the one lost many years ago.
However, Ij''gne didn''t stay to enjoy his status for long, as he started a crusade against the barbarians shortly after. Leading an army of martial artists, he swept through the enemies'' territory, conquering the world with remarkable speed. No one could stop him, as his new inspiration rendered everyone helpless against him.
Most of them were left half-dead after the first strike, ending the battle before it began. The worst part for his opponents was that they couldn''t even dodge the attack, as it lived up to its name, being as fast as lightning.
Over the next two months, they pushed the barbarians to their wit''s end and cornered them in their final location. This was their last stand and final hideout. After this, there would be no more barbarians in this world. Peace was in sight.
Out of caution, Ij''gne returned to the settlement and borrowed the holy armament once more. And he was glad he did because the barbarians'' leader was on another level. Even with Lightning Inspiration, Ij''gne could barely fight him to a standstill. However, with the addition of the holy robes, he eventually overwhelmed his opponent and carried out the final purge.
Once the last barbarian fell, Ij''gne was overcome with emotions and his knees gave out. Tears flowed for the first time in his life, washing away the layer of dirt gathered on his face.
He had never expressed so much emotion before. They had been frozen within him since that night when his village burned to the ground and he personally buried everyone. But now that he had achieved his goal, this dam finally broke apart, allowing the intense wave suppressed behind it to freely surge forward.
"Stella... Everyone... I''ve avenged you. Father, I''ve fulfilled your dreams," he muttered with a carefree smile.
And thus, he united the lands, becoming the High Priest of War: Conqueror of Barbarians, Usherer of the New Era, and Butcher of the World Tree.
Yet what Ij''gne failed to notice was that, while he celebrated, a red horse in the distance gave him a complicated look, reminiscing of past times.
192 – Fragments of the Past
When Ij''gne finished his recollection, he realized he was approaching his home. It was the same place he''d lived all his life, but over the years, he''d grown quite attached to this humble hut. Ij''gne had repaired it many times, and with each instance, his fondness for it grew alongside his efforts.
What had once been an annoying chore had become a tranquil pastime for Ij''gne, second only to his duties. There was little left to occupy his day since his conquest, so these small tasks had become his joy.
As Ij''gne walked up to his home, he discovered a ferret on his doorstep. This was unusual because small animals rarely approached civilization, let alone a place filled with human activity.
Additionally, ferrets weren''t native to this world, making the creature quite strange to Ij''gne''s eyes. Despite its peculiarity, Ij''gne felt a sense of friendliness toward it and had a sudden urge to take care of it. Ij''gne slowly approached to avoid startling the creature and gently picked it up. To his relief, the ferret stayed put and allowed him to do so.
"What are you doing here, little guy?" Ij''gne asked, causing the ferret to tilt its head in confusion.
Ij''gne chuckled at this response and rubbed its head before walking inside. Yet before he could fully enter, Ij''gne felt a bite on his finger, followed by intense nausea.
''What? What''s going on?'' he wondered, swaying from side to side before collapsing onto his face.
Ij''gne turned his head in time to see the ferret close the door behind him before trudging back over to him. It then loomed over him, watching him with glowing eyes, as his vision blurred and he slipped into unconsciousness.
When Ij''gne woke up, he found himself enveloped in darkness. Everything around him was pitch black as if light had completely disappeared. For a moment, Ij''gne even thought his eyes were closed, and he was merely seeing the back of his eyelids.
However, this notion was quickly disproven when he felt himself blink. He also experienced a sensation of weightlessness, as though he were floating in space rather than standing on solid ground. Moreover, his daggers had vanished, leaving him feeling vulnerable.
''Where am I?'' Ij''gne wondered.
Suddenly, the darkness around him began to distort, morphing into swirls of color. Within seconds, he found himself in a forest again, accompanied by the croaking of frogs and the chirping of orioles. Ij''gne looked around cautiously but didn''t detect any immediate danger.
''What a strange place,'' he thought, trying to ascertain his location.
Just then, the rustling of leaves indicated the approach of another being. Judging by the sound of footsteps and the rustling, Ij''gne deduced it was another human. He took a guarded stance, ready to confront the newcomer.
Moments later, a man with tan skin, blue face paint, and a fur skirt emerged from the foliage. Ij''gne recoiled in shock; he recognized this attire. After all, he had personally commanded the genocide against their race not long ago.
''A barbarian!? How can this be? Aren''t they all dead? I made sure of it!" Ij''gne''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Unless... we missed some, and this is their revenge!''
With this thought, Ij''gne''s muscles tensed, and he shouted at the approaching figure, hoping to extract some useful information. "Hey! Who are you? What scheme are you playing at? I''ll let you know, you won''t get away with this. The Lord will break your foul magic and bring you to justice!"
The barbarian, however, ignored him and continued to approach. With no other option, Ij''gne launched himself forward and aimed a powerful kick at the man''s neck. He expected the barbarian to defend himself, leading to a fierce battle, but the man¡¯s stride remained unchanged.
''What the...? A trap? Or is he actually weak?''
Ij''gne immediately dismissed the latter idea. It was implausible that someone capable of dragging him to this unknown location would be unprepared for a fight. Surely, they wouldn''t have been clever enough to escape their hunt otherwise.
Determined to take advantage of the situation, Ij''gne increased his strength to the maximum and aimed his heel at a major artery, hoping to disable his foe with a single strike.
To his astonishment, the strike passed right through the barbarian, as if striking a mirage. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ij''gne backed off and executed numerous defensive maneuvers, expecting an ambush. But there were no attacks.
"HUH?" Ij''gne was now thoroughly confused. What was going on? Why was everything so counter-intuitive? Was this not a trap devised by his enemies? Ij''gne stared at the man, but he continued to ignore him as if nothing had happened.
Relaxing slightly, Ij''gne approached from behind and attempted another attack. The result was the same: his fist phased right through the man.
Ij''gne was now certain something was amiss. Before he could contemplate further, a rift suddenly opened up behind the barbarian. Startled by this change, both Ij''gne and the man leaped away from the source, adopting wary stances.
The crack in space widened, and a masked man in a loose cloak stepped out. On his shoulder, Ij''gne recognized the very ferret that had put him in this predicament. But what truly shocked him was the familiar gear worn by the man. It was identical to the equipment he had found on a corpse in his childhood ¡ª the previous owner of the daggers and the attacker of the world tree.
"Who are you?" the barbarian demanded, gathering the surrounding energy.
Genji gave him a sidelong glance and muttered to himself. "So this is why EverRealm sent me through a portal. There''s someone else around. But this only makes my life easier."
"Stop mumbling and explain yourself!" the barbarian shouted, clearly unnerved by the situation.
"Don''t mind me," Genjin said, waving his hand dismissively. "I''m just passing through. As long as you don''t attack me, we will get along fine."
At that moment, Ij''gne stepped between them and asked, "Can you two see me?"
However, their unfocused gazes told Ij''gne everything he needed to know. He wasn''t transported into a trap but was witnessing a past event as a spectator. That was why he couldn''t interact with anyone in this scene. To test this theory further, Ij''gne pressed his hand against a tree, only for it to slip right through.
''No doubt about it. I''m a specter in this scene.''
Suddenly, Ij''gne heard a small ding, and he noticed the masked man¡¯s eyes moving back and forth as if reading something. To Ij''gne''s surprise, the same text appeared before him, allowing him to understand the context.
Talent Promotion Trail: Natural Green
Background:
Not much is known about this world. Only that it''s in the transitioning phases between the two steps, and that its inhabitants know a mystical art that harnesses the strength of their surroundings. Please explore on your own.
Mission Details (S Rank): The world is dying for some reason. Find the cause and resolve the issue.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Duration: Until you complete the mission.
Note: You can give up the trial, but you will face a demotion of 2 ranks in your status. Should you choose this path, both your legacies will be confiscated, and you will be demoted to Enforcer.
World Restrictions:
- Futuristic technologies are weakened by 37%.
- All undead-related abilities are weakened by 76%.
- All curse-related abilities are weakened by 42%.
Note: These values are decreasing as the world loses its strength. When all values reach 0, it will signify the world''s death.
''Promotion trial? World restrictions? What is all this?'' Ij''gne wondered, giving Genji a strange look.
''A dying world? How''s that supposed to work? Isn''t it transitioning to the 3rd step right now? Why is it getting weaker instead of stronger?'' Genji asked at the same time, glancing at the barbarian again. After a few seconds, he decided to test the native and see if he could get any leads. "I just got information that your world is dying. Do you know anything about it?"
To Genji''s surprise, this immediately caused the barbarian''s expression to change into one of shock, followed by joy.
"A savior from another world! You''re a savior!" the barbarian exclaimed, causing Ij''gne to raise his brow.
Ij''gne sized up Genji again, thinking, ''He certainly looks the part. I haven''t seen anyone with his equipment before.''
On the other hand, Genji''s gaze sharpened, and he abruptly appeared beside the man, holding his saber to the barbarian''s neck. "Why do you know this? How much do you know about us?"
The chilling gaze frightened the barbarian, but he held back his flinches, slowly raised his hands, and said, "Calm down, sir. I''ve only heard stories about you otherworlders. I can bring you to our village leader if you want to know more. He has met an otherworlder before."
"Is that so?" Genji asked, lifting his blade. "Then lead the way."
The barbarian sighed in relief and thanked Genji for his understanding before resuming his normal trajectory. He was already returning to the village, and it wouldn''t hurt to bring a guest. After all, the otherworlders have never been strictly hostile to them.
As Genji walked off with the barbarian, Ij''gne had a pensive look. He was evaluating Genji''s combat power and realized Genji''s speed could potentially rival his Lightning Inspiration. Even to this day, Genji would prove to be a troublesome opponent. Ij''gne was starting to understand how tragic that initial battle was.
After a few moments, Genji and the barbarian walked out of sight, and the surroundings around Ij''gne began to blur. The next thing he saw, Ij''gne was back in the darkness prior to that memory. This state lasted a couple more seconds before the darkness warped again. This time, he was inside a village building where many people were gathered for a feast.
There were no tables in sight; instead, they used the floor as their seating and large tree leaves as their plates. Among this group, Ij''gne spotted Genji eating slowly with his fingers and feeding the ferret, while the red horse beside him scarfed down everything. The hosts noticed Bruce''s appetite and brought out more food.
Bruce neighed in appreciation, bringing a smile from the server before he returned to his meal. They also served an amber liquid with the meal, which the guests happily downed.
The drink had a light smell of honey and alcohol. The mead was mild enough that the guests wouldn''t get drunk but strong enough to add a good depth of flavor. Genji took a liking to this drink and frequently lifted his mask for a sip, prompting many refills.
Once the guests were satisfied, the host raised his cup for a collective cheer before starting his speech.
"After so long, we have finally been visited by a powerful warrior. With his help, we may finally rid ourselves of the cursed tree and return our world to its natural order. To that, cheers! Celebrate with all your heart because you may never be able to again. We are prepared to sacrifice our very lives to bring down that tree."
As the audience raved with the man, Ij''gne scoffed loudly at his words. "Fucking hypocrites. It was their greed that caused this mess, yet they have the audacity to push the blame to our lord. And to spread it so rampantly and make themselves seem like saints. No wonder Father lost hope in them."
While Genji didn''t feel as extreme as Ij''gne, he had strong skepticism about the situation. These people had accepted his story too easily for him to take them at face value. For all he knows, they could be feeding him false information to manipulate him. Until he could better understand this world, he would refrain from taking a side.
On the bright side, they didn''t stoop to something as low as spiking their food. Otherwise, Genji wouldn''t be listening to them right now. The village leader had briefed him on the current situation of the world before the celebration, and Genji was still trying to wrap his head around it.
According to the leader, a demonic tree is siphoning the life out of the world to grow. If they don''t uproot it soon, it is only a matter of time before the world dies. They''ve been on this trajectory for a long time now, and the symptoms are only worsening.
It was a wild story, but the leader did provide him with some ways to confirm the truth. This made the story somewhat credible, but Genji needed to see for himself before drawing any conclusions. He''d been schemed against one too many times to believe everything that conveniently came his way.
For now, Genji would accept these conveniences and move forward. At this moment, the scene ended for Ij''gne, and he returned to the dark space. This time, Ij''gne was much calmer and patiently waited for the next setting.
A few seconds later, Ij''gne found himself back in the forest. This time, he was amidst an ambush. The barbarians from the previous village were accompanying Genji in a battle against a group of men in tight camouflage clothing. Ij''gne recognized this group; he had once participated in their operations. They were the secret assault teams under Zarasu''s command.
Heavy punches were exchanged by both sides, often destroying the surrounding vegetation. During this chaos, Ij''gne observed Genji''s fighting style. Between imperceptibly precise dodges and subtle shifts in footwork, Genji would slash down with his saber, inflicting large wounds.
These cuts would quickly fester purple, crippling the stronger fighters and killing the weaker ones. Ij''gne was taken aback by the terrifying efficiency of this weapon and closely examined the injured.
The fighters clasped their wounds with all their strength, hissing in pain as their vitality drained from their bodies. It was a frightening sight, but Ij''gne understood the potency of these sinister methods. With just a single cut, his opponents would perish without a chance. Even Ij''gne was tempted by this weapon.
Minutes later, the battle ended, and the barbarians began cleaning up the battlefield. They disposed of the corpses by tossing the enemies to the animals and giving their comrades a proper burial. Afterward, they settled down to recover from their injuries.
¡°Damn tree lunatics. Always attacking us for no reason,¡± a barbarian cursed under his breath.
Genji overheard and grew curious about the term. ¡°Why do you call them tree lunatics?¡±
¡°Because they defend that accursed tree. Why would anyone do that unless they¡¯d lost their minds? They also don''t have any regard for their own lives. Many of them will happily trade away their existence if it means killing enough of us. What other name can we give them besides lunatics?¡±
"That''s because you don''t know what it''s like to fight with faith. When we have something to fight for, why would we care about our lives? Our deaths will have a purpose and lead to a better future."
When Ij''gne finished his outburst, he realized his mistake and sighed. "I''m getting too emotional. Whatever is happening is affecting me more than I thought," he muttered. "To think I would be yelling at memories of the past one day. What has become of me?"
Genji made no comments on the topic because he was also one such lunatic. But that''s how he''s still alive today. Many of his enemies can attest to that. Instead, he said, "Let''s rest for tonight. You can continue guiding me tomorrow."
The barbarians thanked him and began clearing the broken trees for a cooking fire while some went hunting for food.
Once they settled down, Genji approached the barbarians again for some more questions. "So how long has this conflict been happening?"
"Twenty years," the person replied. "The tree and its religion suddenly appeared then, but we suspect they''ve been around much longer. You don''t suddenly appear with such a big group out of nowhere and carve out a large territory without preparations. It was also around then that we noticed an obvious decline in our world."
"And how are you so certain?"
"The art we practice is called Nature''s Harmony," he answered. "It heightens our sense of nature, and in turn, our connection with the world. The more active the plants are, the healthier our planet is. If there are no plants, then it wouldn''t be long before we cease to exist as well."
"Makes sense. I noticed that you use a different combat system than the lunatics. Why is that?" Genji continued.
"Don''t lump us with them. They only care about pumping out as many fighters as possible in the short term. They have no consideration for how to maintain them. That''s why they keep sending so many teams to attack us. And the craziest thing is that these people don''t even mind that they''re sacrificial pawns. Don''t they realize how few of them return after the first expedition? Yet they continue without slowing down. I swear they have to be indoctrinated or something."
"So how does that differ from you guys?"
"We actually consider long-term sustainability and how to keep the balance of the world. The first thing we learn is how to sense this balance and how to maintain a proper ratio of fighters to nature. Too many, and we''ll consume more resources than what''s available. That would be a true disaster. I''ve heard plenty of stories from you otherworlders about the consequences of breaking that balance. We know better than that, especially considering our strength directly relies on borrowing power from nature."
"Sounds interesting. I would love to learn your arts, but I don''t have much time right now," Genji remarked.
"Feel free. We''re happy to teach you as long as it''s after we uproot the abomination that calls itself the world tree."
Genji glanced at him and subtly shook his head. ''They''re really pushing that agenda, aren''t they? Either they hate that tree with all their heart, or they genuinely believe what they''re saying. For simplicity''s sake, I hope they''re telling the truth. Otherwise, I will have a lot to deal with this month.''
193 – Side Mission
The next scene started with Genji inside a house at night. After a full day of traveling, they arrived at the next village and started rallying the fighters. Although his travel companions did most of the work, it still took another day. During this time, Genji was free to explore the culture and enjoy the food. This was the night before they set off again, and Genji was conducting some experiments with his mask.
What exactly does it mean to change one''s appearance? That was the question he wanted to answer. Does it only affect the physical body, like skin and bones, or does it extend further? And how does the disguise work? Is it an illusion or does it physically distort the body?
The answer? All of the above. Genji had complete control over how others perceived him. For example, he could transform into a stranger on a whim, becoming utterly unrecognizable even to his closest acquaintances. However, this wasn¡¯t particularly useful since his body was already fully covered.
Instead, it was more practical to change the appearance of his equipment, like a skin in a game. From colors and shapes to special effects, he could modify it all as long as he had a clear image in mind. He could even change his gender or species if he wanted, though it wasn¡¯t practical, nor did he have any reason to do so.
However, the disguise had its limitations. For one, he couldn¡¯t turn himself or his equipment invisible. There needed to be a physical presence. This was only a disguise, not a stealth ability. Additionally, these disguises couldn¡¯t exceed the mass of the original form by more than 50%.
If the disguise exceeded this limit, it wouldn¡¯t form. This meant Genji couldn¡¯t transform himself into a giant or his weapons into something completely different, like a house. He could make his saber look like an axe or a bazooka to catch opponents off guard, but he couldn¡¯t go beyond that.
This specification was crucial because the disguise had two forms. This detail didn¡¯t affect the illusion disguise, which only altered appearance without changing the essence. Examples included the previously mentioned visual effects and mind games Genji could play.
However, the physical disguise was a different story. This form had characteristics of a transformation ability because it molded the object into a new shape along with its function.
For instance, if Genji changed his face using this ability and someone touched it, both would feel the altered facial structure rather than the original face. It was like putting on a second layer of clothing. He could still feel the contact, only to a lesser degree.
This restriction was relevant because the transformed form maintained the same mass. The laws of physics still apply. If he expanded the size, the object would become lighter than expected, and vice versa for shrinking. It was a niche ability meant for reconnaissance and espionage, but Genji could think of some uses for combat, especially with a saber that only cared for a single cut.
Thinking of this, Genji grabbed [Jaguar] and retracted its barbed spikes, shifting the material into its length. ¡°There, much more comfortable,¡± he chuckled to himself.
After a few more experiments, Genji discovered additional details about the ability. Firstly, the more objects under the ability¡¯s influence, the weaker the effects. The mask could only affect so much mass before reaching its limit. Luckily, this limitation only applied to the physical disguise. The illusionary version could be sustained almost indefinitely without trouble.
Secondly, once the disguise was lifted, the shifted material would immediately return to its original position. Although untested, Genji speculated this would still be the case if someone saw through the disguise using their own methods.
Finally, the mask itself was less affected by these restrictions. Genji could make it invisible or expand it to its original size when he first excavated it. He assumed this was because the mask was the source of the ability and didn¡¯t have any difficulties influencing itself.
With a wave of his hand, the mask disappeared, revealing an unfamiliar face to Bruce. The nightbane rubbed his eyes in confusion before circling Genji with a puzzled neigh. ¡°Naaar?¡±
Genji dispelled the disguise and explained his discoveries. Bruce¡¯s eyes widened as he realized what this meant. ''He can bypass the purchasing limits of rare foods! That means as much dry-aged meat as I want!''
Bruce began drooling, causing Genji to shake his head in amusement. ''Gluttonous horse, always thinking about food.''
As they continued on their route, their group grew larger and encountered more ambushes. One would think it would be the opposite, but the lunatics lived up to their name, attacking like rabid dogs. There were a few instances when they would dive in like suicidal bombers, aiming to claim as many lives as possible before perishing themselves.
There was little the group could do other than raise their guards and become more vigilant, as their size made it difficult to remain hidden. Thus, they traveled for another week before arriving at a major chokepoint. This area was one of the critical obstacles the lunatics had to cross to enter their lands. If they wanted to avoid it, they would have to take a significantly longer route.
As they approached, they felt the ground rumble, followed by the sound of trees falling. Genji and a few others went ahead to check out the commotion while the rest of the group followed.
Moments later, they came upon a shirtless barbarian delivering a mighty punch to the head of a large, elephant-like creature. A dull reverberation echoed like a hollow drum before the creature froze and collapsed.
''It''s him,'' Ij''gne thought, recognizing the man. This was Jaj''madi, the guardian of the chokepoint. He had given Ij''gne lots of trouble in the past and was one of the main reasons why they were so passive against the barbarians'' invasions. With him holding the line, it became very difficult for anyone under a peak master to enter barbarian lands.
Jaj''madi shook his wrist to ease the discomfort and began dragging the giant creature back to his post.
"Why not kill it?" Genji asked, noticing the creature was only unconscious.
Jaj''madi stopped and looked over, prompting the companions to thump their chests respectfully. "Greetings, guardian. This is Enigma, an otherworlder. We''re heading for the front lines right now."
Jaj''madi nodded in understanding and explained, "She¡¯s a companion, not an enemy. Stone Tusk Behemoths are typically quite docile, but they tend to lose control when they¡¯re about to give birth. It¡¯s their way of removing any nearby threats before they become vulnerable."
However, what Jaj''madi didn''t say was that the creatures'' tameness only extended to those they trusted. Against any strangers, they would display the full brunt of their ferocity. Ij''gne had experienced firsthand what they were capable of and why Jaj''madi had given him so much trouble.
These elephants boasted impressive defense, capable of tanking hits that would kill most fighters, and possessed strength surpassing the strongest Harmony practitioners. Paired with their large frame, they deserved their titles as walking fortresses.
Back then, it had taken Ij''gne multiple strikes of Lightning Inspiration in the same spot to kill one. Fortunately, the population of these titans has been on the decline, hovering on the verge of extinction. Otherwise, Ij''gne wouldn''t have conquered the barbarians so easily.
Jaj''madi led them through the mountain pass and into the garrison, where many other barbarians resided. Jaj''madi delegated the welcoming to a subordinate before dragging the elephant back to her den.
After everyone settled into their accommodations, they gathered for a humble dinner and discussed their plans.
"Unfortunately, I can''t go with you since I need to defend this point. But I won''t stop you from recruiting people. They''re free to leave if they want to join the upcoming battle," Jaj''madi said.
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"Thank you, guardian." With permission given, the group scattered to explain their purpose, leaving Genji alone with Jaj''madi.
"Everything must feel so sudden to you," Jaj''madi said. "I hope you aren''t overwhelmed."
"It''s not a problem, but can you tell me why everyone is following me? I still don''t understand the reasoning that well," Genji asked.
"As you might know, the world is dying." Genji nodded, and Jaj''madi continued. "It''s on its last legs. If we don''t do something soon, we''ll all die with it. So we''re preparing for a final battle. You were just the trigger for these emotions. We would still be doing this even if you hadn''t shown up."
"Okay, but why me?"
"Because we know how powerful you otherworlders can be. Going with you gives us better chances than anything we can prepare in the upcoming month. We''re that desperate."
The next scene began with Genji leading an army of barbarians into a large village near the boundary mountain separating the two sides. In the distance, a blurry image of a dark crimson tree loomed ominously over the clouds. The tree¡¯s appearance seemed creepier than Ij''gne remembered, but he attributed the difference to the mountain scattering certain colors.
The most powerful combatants gathered at the commander''s quarters and reported their presence. Ij''gne recognized this person as the barbarian leader, the last surviving master during his conquest. It made sense why he was so powerful, having fought against the believers of the world tree for most of its existence.
After discussing their plans, they agreed to launch a decisive battle in a week. During this time, everyone was to adjust their conditions and make their final preparations.
Genji mingled with these fighters, gaining a better understanding of their martial arts. They sparred and exchanged combat ideas, eventually learning each other''s characteristics.
Like this, time passed, and the fateful day arrived. The barbarian leader gathered all his troops and marched toward the mountains. For kilometers, the army stretched, trampling everything in their path. The lunatics noticed the commotion and began their preparations. After a short delay, the two sides met in the middle, unleashing a bloodstorm.
Genji and Bruce rampaged throughout this period, cutting down anyone in their path as they beelined for the peak. This display of valor boosted the barbarians'' morale, causing them to follow and open a path like a nail through wood.
They were nearing the top when a man leaped down. His body was curled upward, and his sword was arched back. It was a mid-air quickdraw stance.
"Die, filthy heavens!" The moment he uttered those words, the man drew his sword and disappeared from his descent. Suddenly, Genji heard a sharp whistle from the middle of the army, followed by a heavy scent of blood and the plopping of dropping bodies. Genji turned around and saw crescents of light cubing the fighters.
''A teleportation ability and weapon intent!?!''
Finishing his barrage, the man sheathed his sword, jumped into the air, and entered a quick-draw stance again. Then he disappeared again, reaching a new location before the army could react. Another slaughter ensued before he teleported away.
''He teleports forward every time he draws his sword,'' Genji determined. ''Based on this pattern, he''ll appear there!''
Genji made an educated guess and flash-stepped over, intercepting the attack before it could decimate the area. He pivoted on his foot and swung upward, knocking the sword away from the sheath. The man couldn''t teleport if he couldn''t draw his sword.
[Curse Bearer] manifested and delivered three quick shots. The man grabbed his sheath, manifesting a barrier to detonate the bullets ahead of time. Using this cover, the man adjusted his grip and phased beside Genji for a downward slash.
''I see. It''s not that he teleports with each quickdraw but with each swing. The bigger the arc, the further he goes.''
Genji twisted his body, canceled the material shift on the saber, and hooked the sword with the barbs that extended out. He yanked the saber to the side, creating an opening for him to dive forward with a dagger.
The man flicked his wrist back, creating some distance to swing his sword. Gripping the handle with both arms, he swung like one would with a baseball bat. Upon collision, sparks flew, and he disappeared again.
''At the side,'' Genji determined and manifested his own barrier, blocking a backward stab. Genji kicked out with a coating of cutting intent, forcing the man into another awkward teleport.
Suddenly, Genji received an eye-widening prompt from EverRealm.
[Detected conflict between fellow champions. Please avoid internal conflict if possible.]
"Oye! What the fuck are you doing?!?" Genji yelled at the man, still registering the turn of events.
"Killing you," the man responded, abruptly manifesting beside Genji for a dangerous stab.
Genji clicked his tongue in annoyance and accelerated with Untraceable Movement, sidestepping the attack. He then kicked the sword upward, giving Bruce an opening to attack. Wings of blood opened behind Genji, launching a storm of spikes. The man created some distance and weaved between the barrage with insane speed. After flashing around a few times, Genji appeared beside him with both daggers.
A flurry of dagger swipes tore apart the man¡¯s defense, opening small cuts around his body. In the end, the man used another barrier to create a large distance. He exchanged a stare with Genji before bringing his sheath out in a backhand grip. A sudden sense of danger overwhelmed Genji before the man disappeared again.
This time, the attack came faster than Genji could react, triggering his hyper-dodge. His body arched back in an awkward position as streaks of lines filled his vision, surrounding him and threatening to shred him upon contact. Yet due to the dodging trigger, Genji was in the one spot safe from danger.
Genji''s eyes widened to their maximum, and the surrounding world began to slow. He pushed all his senses to their peak as he searched for the next pocket of safety within this web of death. Little by little, the surroundings changed until he found his target. However, the path to it was rapidly fading. He needed to move fast.
In a split-second judgment, Genji decisively used Dance of Death, letting two silhouettes get shredded as he teleported to safety. This spot happened to be next to his opponent, allowing Genji to counterattack.
Whickers of flames and cutting intent fused into his daggers, giving off enough danger to disrupt the man.
Stealth Dagger: Double Barrage
Genji''s own discharge of attacks launched, matching the man blow for blow. Their weapon intents canceled each other out, causing the forbidden zone around them to shrink. Eventually, everything fizzled out, leaving only physical attacks between them.
With the cutting intent gone, Genji''s shadow flames flared into an inferno, creating small defenses against the man''s teleportation. This, paired with Genji''s hyper dodge, allowed him to keep pace with his opponent''s erratic teleportations.
Ever since the man picked up his sheath, the requirement for teleporting had changed from every swing to every step. Additionally, his movements had become more versatile, making predictions significantly harder for Genji.
Wounds opened on both of them like drops in the rain, filling the air with hovering blood. They were moving so fast that their blood hadn''t even fallen to the ground. At this moment, Bruce controlled these droplets to attack, tearing small chunks off the man. Pairing this with Genji''s superior health, it wasn''t long before the man was forced to retreat.
"Hmph, you win this time," he said, sheathing his sword and turning around. Using the last of his legacy liberation, he leaped into the air, performed one final quickdraw, and disappeared.
Genji let this happen, his mind filled with questions. Questions he wanted answers to. And until he got them, he wouldn''t be participating in this war. Giving the mountain peak one final look, Genji turned around and leaped off, spreading his cloak to glide down.
The barbarians realized his departure and struggled against the defenders for some time before the leader called for a retreat. After everything settled down, Genji barged into the leader''s quarters with an unfriendly glint in his eyes.
"You have some explaining to do. Otherwise, I''m out," Genji said, daggers drawn.
*Sigh* "I was hoping it wouldn''t come to this," the leader said, massaging his forehead with a pinching motion and closing his eyes.
"You going to talk or what?" Genji''s tone became aggressive, indicating his dwindling patience.
"I''ll explain," he said, taking a deep breath. "It all started 18 years ago when one of our most talented geniuses decided to investigate the tree lunatics. He entered their territory behind those mountains but never returned. We thought he had died, but some of my men claimed to have seen his figure among those mountain peaks. We couldn''t be sure due to the distance, but there was a high chance it was only someone who resembled him. Still, I held onto the hope that he''s still alive and-"
"And what? Stop stalling and get to the point," Genji interrupted. "Why does this matter?"
"Because-" *Sigh* "Because he''s my son!"
A moment of silence ensued before the leader continued. "I held onto these hopes, but I couldn''t do anything about it. Until one day, an otherworlder arrived at this border. She heard my story and took it upon herself to verify the truth. But she didn''t return either. Fast forward another few years and I met a powerful swordsman, the same one you fought. In an unexpected turn of events, they had joined the enemy''s side and turned against us. It was very vexing to me. I didn''t want to tell you this because I was afraid you''d follow in their footsteps."
"That''s because they saw the truth," Ij''gne commented. "All your lies and deceit."
Genji didn''t dwell on this explanation for long, as EverRealm prompted him again.
[You have discovered some unexpected information.]
[A side mission has been issued.]
[Side mission: The Missing Champions]
Description: Two of EverRealm''s champions have stopped responding to calls. They have gone silent and overstayed their promotion trial.
Requirements: Investigate the cause / motivate them to complete their trials.
Reward: Rewards will depend on your results. The maximum reward is a full letter upgrade in your final rating (e.g., a final score of A+ will upgrade to S+).
Note: This mission is completely optional and won''t have any detriments if you ignore it.
That was all Genji needed to know to make up his mind. "That does change things. I''ll be doing some investigation on my own before I make my decision. Goodbye." Then Genji turned around and walked out, ignoring the concerned protests from the leader.
"Shouldn''t have lied to them so much," Ij''gne gloated before the scene turned black.
194 – Investigation
Genji doesn¡¯t exactly trust the barbarians. He has many questions right now. Why did his predecessors stop responding to EverRealm, and what exactly were their missions? Logically, their missions should be similar to his since they entered the world after it started weakening. Perhaps an investigation or combat assignment, but it shouldn''t differ much.
Yet that raises another question: why did they switch sides? They followed the normal progression and reached the crosspoint between the two parties, but they went radio silent after entering the lunatic''s territory. It doesn¡¯t make sense unless the barbarians were their true mission targets.
But why go silent? And why are they taking so long to complete their missions? Achieving a high rating might be challenging, but it shouldn''t be this extreme. Even EverRealm said so. Judging by the barbarian leader''s tone, it¡¯s been at least a few months, if not years, since their last contact.
Something doesn''t add up. It''s like they are purposely stalling the missions. But why? What good would come of that? To get away from EverRealm''s missions and live a carefree life? That doesn''t make sense either. They knew the world was dying, so how long could their vacation last? A few years? Maybe a decade?
On the off chance that they considered this a permanent retirement, why this world? It''s not exactly friendly to live in. Genji could think of many other settings that are much more enjoyable to live in. And that''s not even mentioning how they would be leaving everyone in their old lives behind. Like family? Friends? Ambitions? All of that for a crappy existence?
World hopping shouldn''t be so bad that they would resort to that. They''re champions! They get good treatment from EverRealm. If this were from a servant or someone forcibly pulled in, it might be possible, albeit far-fetched. So, what is going on?
Genji is missing a crucial piece of information, and there''s only one way to find out.
''Time to visit the tree and see for myself.''
But before that, he needed to make some preparations. Bringing his group to a remote location, Genji built a small camp and passed Astros to Bruce.
"Take care of him for me. I don''t know how long this will take, so I don''t want to leave him alone. I''ll meet you back here once I''m finished, okay?"
Bruce nodded and began setting up his kitchen. Genji left most of his spices and cooking utensils to make their lives easier. Then he headed back to the mountains, asking EverRealm another clarification question along the way.
"How exactly does Soul Sanctuary determine if an attack is fatal? Like, how broad is the term ''fatal'' here? By what standard is an attack considered fatal?"
This sudden question piqued Ij''gne''s interest, but the scene abruptly ended before he heard the response. "Huh? What the frick, man? You raise such a big question and don''t answer it? What kind of crappy cliffhanger is this?" Ij''gne complained as the darkness changed into the next scene.
From what Ij''gne could tell, this episode wasn''t long after the previous one. Genji was still walking back to the mountain, and he had a compass out. After following the pointer for some time, Genji came upon a tunnel covered by dense tree roots and overgrown shrubbery. Ij''gne recognized this as one of the hidden passageways used by the secret forces.
Judging by the soil build-up and colony of spiders living at the entrance, Ij''gne knew it had been abandoned for a long time. Genji brushed aside the debris and headed inside the twisting rock chambers. His body began shifting as he walked, referencing the few lunatics he''d seen. When he emerged on the other side, his mask had disappeared, and Genji had taken on a new appearance.
Ij''gne felt a strange familiarity with this face, but he couldn''t pinpoint where he''d seen it. After a while, Ij''gne gave up and decided to just enjoy the show.
Genji surveyed the area and made his way toward civilization. The image of the world tree grew clearer and more demonic as he approached, the details coming into view. The ominous red scattered throughout its bark seemed to pulsate with life. Genji could understand why the barbarians detested this tree based on its appearance, but Ij''gne couldn''t accept how the memory portrayed his lord.
"Why do you have to lie to me like this? I''ve already ended the barbarians. What''s the point of this propaganda?" Ij''gne asked with a disappointed headshake.
Genji eventually entered a sparsely populated area where farmers worked in the fields with the help of domesticated animals. These people shot strange looks his way, not recognizing him, but mostly kept to themselves. Given the wide-reaching influence of the world tree, it wasn''t strange to see a new face every now and then.
''They seem normal,'' Genji thought. ''Why do the barbarians call them lunatics as well?''
After a while, the dirt roads transitioned into patched gravel, and the houses grew closer together. More specialized buildings came into view, allowing for better livelihoods. Grain mills, butcher shops, and taverns appeared in rapid succession, but there were no schoolhouses. This was the first thing that set off alarms for Genji. For some reason, there were no children in sight.
''How are they replenishing their troops like this? Wouldn''t people notice, given how often they''re losing their population?''
To further emphasize the bizarreness, Genji couldn''t find any jailhouses or guards in these settlements. It was as if there were no crimes in the townspeople''s lives.
''Now this is starting to seem like a dystopia. Maybe the barbarians are correct about them.''
This feeling only grew stronger with each step until it finally hit Genji. All these people were far too content with their lives despite the ongoing conflict merely kilometers away. Additionally, their joy was eerily similar to each other''s, as if conforming to a template.
''It''s almost cult-like how they''re behaving. Something is definitely wrong with this place.''
Genji gazed up at the ghostly world tree and continued deeper. After half an hour, he entered a training field full of martial artists. Glistening sweat drenched their skin as they pushed their trembling bodies to their limits. Then they would recklessly continue as if nothing had happened, leading many to collapse from exhaustion.
Genji furrowed his brows at this sight. This was a dangerous way to train, as it could easily leave behind hidden injuries. If they weren''t careful, they might only be able to fight for a few years before their bodies broke down and they became crippled. Genji would know since his training regimen was far harsher than this.
However, he had access to better healing facilities, a training hall, and an adequately strong body. His circumstances were completely different, allowing him to sustain the training without consequences.
On the other hand, these people had none of these luxuries and persisted solely with obsession. It was almost maniacal how crazed they were. No, this wasn¡¯t a training field anymore; it was a factory, operating solely to churn out as many combatants as possible.
"Ah, the good old times," Ij''gne sighed with nostalgia. "Things are just as I remembered."
At this moment, Genji felt a sudden sense of unease. This feeling came out of nowhere, but Genji trusted his instincts. His senses had only gotten sharper since he advanced his dodging mastery. Since his intuition warned him about something, he would be foolish to ignore it.
As Genji turned to escape, his mind finally caught up to his instincts and started to grasp what was wrong with the situation. He was deep in enemy territory¡ªso deep, in fact, that they should have noticed him by now.
But why hasn''t anyone stopped him yet? Genji doubted the lunatics'' security was so lax that they would allow a stranger to waltz so close to their tree, especially given how adamant they were about defending it.
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There could only be one explanation for this: the enemies had already noticed him and were letting him approach. It was a trap!
As if confirming his suspicion, the same man Genji had fought before suddenly teleported in front of him and slashed at his shoulder. Genji hurriedly manifested his daggers and blocked the attack, stumbling backward from the unexpected impact.
"You''re a lot sharper than I thought, intruder," the man said, cutting off Genji''s path.
Genji paid no mind to him and activated Berserk. He was surrounded by enemies and needed to get out fast.
Dagger Arts: Scar!
A cross of black flames overwhelmed the man, blocking him long enough for Genji to run past. The man recognized Genji as his previous foe, but there wasn''t much he could do with his liberation on cooldown. However, he wasn''t alone. Before Genji could fully accelerate, a flaming whip crashed into the ground in front of him, conjuring a scorching wall.
Another liberation had joined the fray, one of flames and cinder. Marlo walked into view, wielding a whip and a shortsword. The chinks in her armor lit up with fiery runes, resisting the high temperatures emanating from her weapons. At the same time, Zarasu flanked Genji, condensing a ghastly figure behind him. This energy projection emitted a deep purple aura and reeked of decaying moss.
Ij''gne shook his head at this scene and said, "Again, why the villainous depiction? You''re on the verge of battle, and you still have time to create these slanderous adjustments? I know Father better than anyone. He doesn''t have such foul energy. Can''t you just show me the objective truth without any of these meddlesome details?"
[You have entered a conflict with two fellow champions. Please resolve this issue peacefully if possible.]
''I don¡¯t think I can. Not if my suspicions about what¡¯s happening are correct,'' Genji thought, activating his cloak''s liberation.
The four fighters evaluated each other briefly before disappearing from their positions. Whistles and sonic booms sounded as they crashed into each other. Genji''s black flames fought for dominance against Marlo''s inferno, each devouring the other with endless ferocity. His daggers slammed the whip away, followed by a harsh hack at the short sword.
Marlo struggled to parry his immense force, but Zarasu assisted just in time to prevent her from being overwhelmed. The unnamed man supported them from the side, flickering in and out of combat for quick attacks. He couldn''t teleport as freely since he wasn''t using his liberation, but his movement speed was enough to keep up with the battle.
Zarasu threw rapid punches like a machine gun, shattering the air with each strike, but Genji weaved between them with overbearing agility. His daggers left dangerous nicks on Zarasu''s arm, threatening to sever tendons with a single lapse of attention. Unfortunately, Zarasu had trained his body to be like steel and could minimize these injuries. Genji simply didn''t have enough time to deliver a deep cut given the ongoing barrage.
Weapon intent permeated the surroundings, turning the area into a lethal tornado capable of shredding any unlucky bystanders. Genji danced along this stream of death, attacking with enough intensity to constantly force his opponents back. Zarasu and Marlo alternated as the main fighters, doing their best to manage their wounds.
Suddenly, Marlo cracked her whip with all her strength, sending it on a peculiar trajectory to snag Genji''s arm. A searing heat traveled through the armguard, charring his skin. However, Genji remained unfazed and pulled Marlo into Zarasu''s path, followed by a heavy kick to the stomach.
He then parried the man''s strike, disarming him with impeccable precision before aiming for the heart. Unfortunately, the fatal blow deviated from its intended trajectory when Marlo unleashed a massive crescent of flames at him.
Genji settled for severing the left arm and dived back into combat against Zarasu, using punches to remove the entangled whip. Suddenly, a mental shock paralyzed the three enemies, giving Genji an opening to use his second liberation. A storm of cuts enveloped the group, opening countless abrasions across their skins.
Marlo''s flames dimmed against this barrage, allowing Genji to charge through with his quantum barrier. The energy screen shattered, and Genji swung down at Marlo''s head, giving her no time to react.
Marlo''s eyes widened as she realized the impending strike. Suddenly, the branches of the world tree rustled, prompting several leaves to decay. A green, life-infused field surrounded Marlo, helping her block the attack. However, the daggers'' sharpness wasn''t stopped so easily. Upon contact, they tore through the protecting ward and left a nasty cut across Marlo''s chest.
Genji wanted to follow through with another attack, but the field suddenly detonated, launching him backward. When the smoke cleared, Genji realized the world tree had lost another branch worth of leaves, and the field expanded to cover all three fighters.
The field forcibly squeezed their wounds shut, but their skin still leaked blood. Dealing with the healing negation of Genji''s liberation wasn''t easy, requiring a considerable amount of life force.
"Fine, let''s see how long you can keep this up," Genji sneered, bursting toward Zarasu with his strongest attack.
Stealth Dagger tore through the field, leaving behind sharp tears and nearly gouging out Zarasu''s kidney. He managed to dodge only because the field suddenly condensed around Genji, stalling him. Yet this restraint barely lasted as Genji immediately tore it apart shortly after, draining another branch''s worth of energy.
Zarasu and Marlo struggled to defend against Genji''s onslaught as they desperately bought time for their lord to rearm the buffs. All of them sustained heavy injuries within this short period, while Genji only suffered negligible burns and a broken rib. Out of everyone, Genji was by far the least injured.
Suddenly, his hyper dodge triggered, prompting him to awkwardly twist his body and endure a harsh strike from Zarasu.
''What did I just dodge?'' he wondered, sensing a sharp sensation brushing past his skin. ''It didn''t feel like a physical attack. Was it a mental one?''
At this moment, three of the world tree''s branches collapsed into ash, permanently vanishing from its trunk. Whatever it had done, it had taken a significant portion of its energy reserves.
Genji briefly put away his daggers, drinking several potions before rearming himself. Then he struck out again, upping his ferocity in hopes of overwhelming the world tree''s output. His opponents had to focus everything on defense to survive this assault, but it eventually paid off when the green field descended once more.
Only this time, it was so dense that one couldn''t even see through it. The three combatants felt their bodies recover some of their spent energy, and their fatigue drained away. Genji cut through the field like flowing water and engaged them once more. The skirmishes became much more even, and Genji began considering a proper time to escape.
However, he quickly dismissed this thought when he realized doing so would leave him vulnerable to dangerous counterattacks. The hindrance was bad enough right now, but it would only get worse if it meant delivering a finishing strike. So, for the sake of maximizing his chances, Genji poured everything into the offensive.
Cutting intent and shadow flames ripped through the greenery at high rates, further increasing energy consumption. Then he added his poison into the mix, nullifying a good portion of their healing. Under his efforts, the thick green mist dispersed at an alarming rate, forcing his opponents into desperation again.
But Genji wasn''t going to give them time to recover their advantage. Piercing through the air like a drill, Genji arrived before Zarasu and prepared his finishing strike. He had already accounted for the field detonation with this movement, so he was certain this would land.
Blood splattered, eyes widened, and life drained from a body, but it wasn''t the intended target. The one dying under Genji''s dagger wasn''t Zarasu, but the unnamed champion from before. Zarasu had grabbed the man and thrown him into the daggers'' path, sacrificing his companion to survive.
Shock coursed through Ij''gne and the man''s mind, unable to comprehend what had happened. However, this emotion soon turned to acceptance as they both forgave Zarasu''s treacherous act.
''So this is why Father couldn''t get over his pain,'' Ij''gne thought. ''To think he was the one that condemned his own son to death. But I understand the choice. I would gladly sacrifice myself if it meant ensuring my father''s safety. I''m sure my brother must have thought the same. I sense no anger from him. So, Father, please let go of this guilt. It''s not your fault. If anything, we should blame this intruder. You''ve done nothing wrong. Don''t wallow in the past so much.''
Ij''gne was heartbroken when he finally learned the source of his father''s pain. He''d done so much to help Zarasu forget his sorrows, yet Ij''gne now realized why he never succeeded. ''I need to tell him this and finally put this matter to rest,'' he thought, his eyes becoming firm again.
But while Ij''gne interrupted the event this way, Genji had a different feeling. ''Why did he sacrifice his ally like this? It''s in vain! I''m sure he could have survived if the field detonated. Something is not right! It''s as if he''s trying to distract me from something! But what?''
Suddenly, Genji''s eyes widened in realization. ''The tree! It hasn''t made a move for a while! How long has it been charging its next attack?!?''
Realizing the danger he was in, Genji stomped hard, redirecting himself at the tree with a sharp pivot. Then he pushed his body to its limits, accelerating at max speeds as he gathered all his strength. Yet, this didn''t stop the smile creeping onto Zarasu''s face.
"Too late," Zarasu said triumphantly.
''I won''t make it,'' Genji determined at the same time. The sense of danger was rising too quickly for him. Recognizing this face, Genji''s eyes hardened with a resolute glint. ''Fuck it! Time to gamble again!''
Genji put away one dagger, concentrated all his strength into the remaining one, and slashed out. A blinding streak of light tore through the horizon and dug into the side of the tree, bypassing his normal range limit.
Simultaneously, an agonizing pain beyond anything he''d endured erupted inside his head. It was so painful that it felt as if his skull would explode and splatter his brain matter everywhere. Genji tried his best to remain conscious, but the attack was far from over. The next moment, the pain multiplied countless times, overwhelming even his absurd tolerance.
As the last of his vision faded to black, several short prompts appeared before Genji, evoking a subtle shift in the corner of his lips.
[Your soul has suffered moderate damage.]
[Detecting incoming-]
[Mask of-]
But before Ij''gne could read any more, Genji fainted and the scene abruptly ended. And along with it, the whole spectator experience, as this was the last recorded memory.
195 – Denial
Ij''gne woke up on the floor with a throbbing headache in the back of his brain. The pain was a dull one and resembled an unpleasant hangover after an intense night of drinking.
"Ugh, what happened to me?" Ij''gne groaned, massaging the side of his temples with a circular motion.
At this moment, he noticed two glowing eyes staring curiously at him from the darkness. Ij''gne jolted to his feet and prepared to fight, but relaxed when he realized it was only a ferret. Seeing Astros, memories of the previous day rushed back to him, worsening his migraine.
"Oh, so that was all a dream. What a mysterious method," he commented and sat back down on a chair.
After adjusting for a few moments, he picked up Astros and scratched the back of his head, mimicking how the ferret''s former owner used to do it. Ij''gne tried his best to replicate those movements since he understood the sense of loss Astros was going through. Why else would such a cheerful creature enter such an uncomfortable area, if not in search of his master?
Only Ij''gne didn''t have the heart to tell Astros that Genji had died. Although the man had been an enemy, Ij''gne couldn''t fault Genji because his side had been the one to initiate the conflict. Assuming what he saw was accurate, he knew the history he''d been told was a modified version. Genji hadn''t entered their domain out of a desire for destruction, but rather in search of his comrades.
It was a noble cause and Ij''gne would have done the same given the circumstances. And now, this harmless critter had followed in his master''s footsteps. Ij''gne didn''t want to leave Astros alone like this so he vowed to take care of him in Genji''s stead.
''I inherited your daggers. This is the least I can do for you,'' he thought, recalling the impressive figure in his memories.
Astros purred comfortably under his touch and cuddled against his arm, entering a relaxed state. However, Ij''gne could sense a faint unease from its movements, further solidifying his resolve.
''I wonder what happened to that red horse. Shouldn''t it be taking care of this guy?''
Ij''gne cradled Astros until the ferret fell asleep before gently placing Astros on his bed. Then Ij''gne walked over to his window and gazed at the clear night sky above. It had only been half a day since he''d lost consciousness but it felt like a lifetime had passed. He''d been introduced to so many new ideas and he couldn''t sleep.
Just the idea of there being worlds outside his own made him consider the endless possibilities in the universe. What was it like out there? Are there worlds similar to his own? Different? How so? What about its inhabitants? Would they be humanoids like what he was familiar with or something completely unfathomable? These questions made his heart race with anticipation and thirst for adventure.
He''d never felt this way before and he desired to seek those answers, but he quickly stifled those ambitions. Before everything, he was a priest of the world tree.
He needed to take care of it above all matters because it was only with the tree''s help that Ij''gne achieved his current standings. Without it, Ij''gne would be nothing. So for the sake of repaying this life-changing favor, Ij''gne buried those thoughts and humbled himself as one of its believers.
''Not in this life. But if there''s a life after this one, I definitely want to.''
The following morning, Ij''gne had rid himself of these thoughts and returned to his normal duties. He left some coarse bread for Astros and headed for the world tree once more. Everyone greeted him as usual, their words repeating like a broken record. This comparison came to him like an intrusive thought, but Ij''gne quickly dismissed it.
''I must have heard it one too many times. There''s no way they''re like that. But what even is this record thing I just compared them to? And why does it make so much sense to me? I don''t think I have seen such an item.''
Ij''gne soon reached the world tree and he put away his stray thoughts. As he approached, the same priest as before held out the offering for the day. Yet as Ij''gne reached for them, the plump fruits suddenly became decapitated heads. Black botches of dried blood were smeared on the face, emphasizing the hollow eyes that stared hauntingly back at him.
''What-''
Ij''gne nearly jumped at the sudden transformation, but his trained instincts quickly reined in his flinch.
"Is something wrong, high priest?" the servant asked, looking concerned. But to Ij''gne, the man felt like a mannequin, his expression artificially crafted and insincere.
Though Ij''gne didn''t know what a mannequin was, he responded as if nothing had happened. "No, I was just lost in thought."
"Okay. Take these. Our lord is awaiting your presence," the man said, offering the offerings once more.
Ij''gne looked back and realized the heads had transformed back into fruits. Relieved, he took them and walked inside the ceremonial room. Placing them on the altar as before, he readied the crushing block. After clasping his hands to pray, he aligned the block over the altar. At that moment, the fruits became gruesome heads again, but Ij''gne remained unfazed this time.
Using his body weight, Ij''gne pushed down, creating a sickening crunch. The once satisfying sound of popping fruits had turned into a horrifying cacophony of death. Pinkish brain matter, yellow-brownish cerebrospinal fluids, and red blood oozed out between the crevices of the altar, painting it grotesque.
A sharp, acrid smell wafted up Ij''gne''s nose, upsetting his stomach and causing him to inwardly gag. Pushing down harder, he hoped to end the unpleasant experience and suppress the surging discomfort inside him.
A few drops splattered on his face, but Ij''gne forced himself not to think about it. A few seconds later, everything had turned to pulp, and he repulsively wiped down the altar.
"Good work, high priest," the servant''s jarring voice came from the doorway, waking Ij''gne from the bloody scene before him. "I can take it from here if you want to take the pulp outside and bury it."
"Thank you," Ij''gne said somewhat absentmindedly, picking up the now fruity remains.
"No problem. Happy to serve," the man answered as Ij''gne walked past him.
Once done, Ij''gne went to the barn attached to the building and grabbed his cleaning tools. Yet, even this peaceful task was marred by his horrifying visions.
A few minutes into his task, the debris shifted under his gaze, becoming remnants of weathered bones, hardened skin, and grey ligaments. These disturbing images only intensified, causing Ij''gne to doubt himself. At some point, he began praying for someone to talk to him, to distract him from these mentally disturbing hallucinations. Anyone would do¡ªplease, just relieve him of his duties!
Realizing this wouldn''t happen, Ij''gne picked up his pace. Gone was the tranquility and respect of his actions, replaced by disruptive anxiousness.
''What''s wrong with me?'' he asked himself as he finished the last piece. ''Why am I so restless today?''
Returning his tools to their place, Ij''gne walked home in the shade. Even the shadows of his lord couldn''t calm him today; they heightened his unease, seeming like demonic signs of corruption.
''Demonic?'' Ij''gne asked himself. ''Isn''t that what those barbarian heretics called our lord? Did those memory fragments subconsciously influence me like this? Damn it! I knew that guy had an ulterior motive for showing me that. It should have been obvious when he portrayed Father and the lord in such a negative light.''
Ij''gne became irritated by this realization, and his pace reflected his mental state. His leisurely steps vanished as he began stomping his feet. This was his only way to vent accumulated frustrations, which eventually transitioned into a sprint across the settlement.
Arriving home, he kicked open the door, startling the sleeping Astros. Grabbing an empty wooden bucket, he headed for the nearby well. After filling it up, he rushed back home and slammed the door.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Placing the bucket down, he grabbed a chair and moved into the darkness where the sun couldn''t reach. Sitting down, he buried his face in his hands, taking deep breaths to erase the haunting images from his mind. Seeing his disturbed state, Astros walked over and gently poked at his leg, inquiring about his condition.
"I''m okay," Ij''gne answered with a forced smile. "Just had a long day."
Astros tilted his head in confusion before jumping onto his lap. "Yiiii yiii," Astros cried out and nuzzled against his stomach.
This greatly relieved his discomfort and soon, Ij''gne began petting Astros to calm his nerves. This continued into the afternoon and Ij''gne began forgetting his worries. That is until a soft knock sounded at his door.
"Ij''gne, you in there?" Zarasu''s muffled voice came from the other side. "I heard you were acting strange today."
It was a reassuring tone that any caring parent would have, yet Ij''gne felt a strong trepidation from hearing it. He couldn''t understand why he was feeling this way, but some part of him was unnerved by Zarasu''s presence. It was as if Ij''gne was in the presence of a mortal enemy capable of killing him if he made a single mistake.
''That doesn''t make sense. He''s my father. He wouldn''t harm me!'' Ij''gne thought to himself.
However, Ij''gne didn''t have much time to dwell on this issue as another knock sounded again. "Ij''gne? Is everything okay?" Zarasu asked again.
Hearing this, Ij''gne''s apprehension swelled to a new level and panic began setting in. Whatever the reason, he couldn''t let Zarasu discover his condition. He needed an alibi!
"Give me a moment," Ij''gne called out with the calmest voice he could muster. Then in a moment of inspiration, he rushed over the bucket of water and dunked Astros in. This startled the ferret and caused him to thrash around in discontent, widely spilling water everywhere.
"Oh my god, stop flailing around! I''m trying to clean you," Ij''gne exclaimed, much to Astros''s annoyed glare. It was as if Astros was asking why how Ij''gne could be so shameless to pin the blame on him when Ij''gne was the one that caused this mess.
"Okay, fine. I''ll stop. Look at the mess you made," Ij''gne continued, disregarding the look.
Ij''gne gave Astros a rough drying before walking to the door in his soaked robes. "Sorry Father, I wanted to finish his bath before he slipped away," he said opening the door.
Zarasu scanned his messy figure before turning to the wet Astros. The dissatisfaction in the ferret''s eyes amused him and elicited a soft chuckle. "No, it''s fine. I was just worried that something unexpected happened to you. So is this the reason you rushed home today?"
"Yes, Father. I was worried about leaving him alone at home. I just picked him up yesterday," Ij''gne lied without a shred of guilt.
"Just make sure it doesn''t distract you from your duties. We are priests before anything," Zarasu said, patting his shoulder.
"I understand," Ij''gne said. "It won''t happen again."
"That''s good. I''ll get going then." Zarasu turned around and slowly walked away, leaving Ij''gne by the door.
When Zarasu left his sight, Ij''gne closed the door and broke out into cold sweat. ''That was a close one,'' he thought. ''But why did I need to hide that from Father? It wasn''t like I was doing anything wrong.''
Despite these thoughts, Ij''gne didn''t regret his choices. Something reassured him that this was the correct choice and he trusted that feeling. ''That or maybe the memories are affecting me more than I think.''
At this moment, Astros bit his finger again, expressing unhappiness and waking Ij''gne from his thoughts.
"I''m sorry," Ij''gne apologized and gave Astros a head rub. "I''ll make it up to you later."
However, Astros puffed his cheeks and leaped out of his grasp, maintaining his glare.
''I think I ended up on his bad side,'' Ij''gne thought, scratching his head with a wry smile.
Later that night, Ij''gne had nightmares about his daytime experiences. The holy tree in his memories had taken on a nefarious appearance consisting of dark red branches and bloody roots. Many screaming souls could be seen beneath its soil, expressing their suffering and pain. Discomposing bodies entangled by small vines could also be seen, their expressions permanently frozen in fear and agony.
Zooming out, Ij''gne saw a ghastly face in the middle of the trunk. As if noticing his gaze, this face turned to him and unleashed a silent roar. Then Ij''gne jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat and his breath more rugged than the mountains outside. His chest rose and fell like a beating drum and his mind rode a giant roller coaster of emotions.
"What was that?" He whispered to himself. "A nightmare? But that felt so realistic!"
Genji walked over to his window and peered outside. It was still night, around the same time he''d woken up yesterday. ''It seems like I''ll be starting my day early,'' he thought. After that experience, Ij''gne didn''t think he could fall asleep any time today. So he simply gazed at the sky and awaited dawn''s arrival.
Once the first beam of light reached him, he got up from his seat and headed for the world tree, hoping to wash away his bad memories with his lord''s figure. However, this proved to be a mistake, as he walked in on the morning priest decapitating a group of absent-minded residents.
Ij''gne''s eyes dilated with shock and his thoughts grew tumultuous. However, he regained his bearing before the priest noticed his fluctuation.
"You''re here quite early today," the priest said after he killed the last resident. "Why the sudden change, high priest?"
His tone sounded almost threatening to Ij''gne, but he pretended everything was normal. "I wanted to see what the dawn tasks were like. Are those the fruits you harvested for today?"
"Ah yes," the man said. "They''re not quite ready for the morning offering since they need to dry first."
"Then what about those trees? I haven''t seen them before."
"They are our lord''s subsidies. The trees grow in a random spot every day and provide these fruits. It''s a shame each tree only bears one fruit, or we can offer much more."
"It''s a shame indeed," Ij''gne said disappointedly. "So what do you do after you harvest the fruits?"
"I put them out in the sun to dry. Then as the sun rises, I move them to the brightest spots. That way, they can make it in time for the ceremony," the man gave a standard answer.
"I see. Then do you have any other duties?"
"No. That''s my only task."
"Cool. Can I watch?"
"Sure, go right ahead. Just don''t disturb those tree remains. The lord likes to reabsorb the nutrients after the fruit is harvested."
Ij''gne nodded and stood aside, ignoring the shrinking pile of corpses as tiny tendrils squeezed the liquid out of them. Ij''gne had decided that he would give the same treatment to all strange visions going forward. The world tree is holy and it''s impossible to be otherwise. Since he''s seeing these hallucinations, then the problem must be with him, not his lord. But that wouldn''t stop him from performing his duties faithfully.
''Hphm. You think these illusions can sway my belief? Think again. Comprised or not, I refuse to give into your influences.''
After a few hours, the priest finished the task and it was Ij''gne''s turn. He took the severed heads inside and repeated the duties before cleaning up the eroded remains of the corpses. Then he returned to his hut and procured some food before playing with Astros. The little guy still hadn''t forgiven him for the previous day, but his attitude had eased up.
After a whole day of relaxing, Ij''gne finally welcomed the embrace of sleep, only to be met with another nightmare. This time, the scene consisted of people being painfully decapitated before their brains were fed to the ever-becoming malevolent tree. Their haunting bore into Ij''gne as if asking how he could do such a cruel act without flinching.
The scene zoomed into the soil, revealing the ocean of blood and the mountain of bones hiding beneath the tree. Then Ij''gne jolted awake again and repeated the struggle from the previous night. However, he was much more composed this time and quickly regained his poise.
''More propaganda. When will you give up?''
Hours later, Ij''gne got up at dawn and joined the morning priest in his duties. He would crush the fruits, pick up the debris, go home, play with Astros, and sleep. However, his rest was short-lived as nightmares plagued him again, growing worse with each cycle. The details became grimmer and his mental state began deteriorating.
It took a lot from him to ignore these brutal depictions, leaving him more exhausted by the passing day. Eventually, it became so bad that Ij''gne began hearing voices in his head.
"&$(^$&@@(#%&"
Ij''gne couldn''t make out what the voice was saying, but it came multiple times a day. The only times he was free from its influence was when he was with Astros, and fully relaxing himself. But the more he tried to ignore it, the louder it became.
"Wa(*@&%!#+, "It would say, often distracting him from his task. But Ij''gne trudged on with resilience, having made a promise to his father. He must keep his word, no matter what!
"Wa&#(@&%up," it sounded again.
"Wak&@^up."
"Wake up."
"Wake up."
"WAke up"
"WAke UP"
"WAkE uP"
"WAKE UP!"
Until finally, he couldn''t ignore it any longer. Even during his sleep, he wasn''t free from its torment. Now, he couldn''t even sleep as the voice would scream at him every time he tried. Ij''gne tried his best to make it through his days, but he was nearing his limit. The others were also starting to notice his deteriorating mental state and heavy eye bags, further accelerating his mental collapse.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! I am awake!" Ij''gne roared into his pillow. Even in his state, he inexplicably knew that he shouldn''t cause a scene and attract the attention of others. It was a curious instinct, but he didn''t care anymore. "Otherwise, I''ll make you!"
"WAKE UP!" The voice repeated itself as if taunting him, causing a maddened glint to form in his eyes.
''Fine, you asked for it!'' Ij''gne clenched his face as hard as possible, seeking to crush the voice inside his head. The joints of his fingers turned white from the exertion and his knuckles creaked stiffly.
The cheekbones of his face throbbed with pain and his tendons screamed for release, but these sensations only encouraged him to apply more force. Suddenly, a cool material manifested under his hand, evoking a maniacal grin from Ij''gne.
''Got you!'' He celebrated and yanked the material off his face, finally basking in the peace of silence. At this moment, the moonlight shined through the gaps in his half-closed window, revealing the item in his hand.
Yet the moment Ij''gne saw it, he froze, and his pupils widened like never before. "W-what?!? Why do I have this?!?" His voice was laced with utter disbelief and confusion, emotions that his exhausted brain couldn''t comprehend.
Because in his hand, was a black mask reminiscent of the darkest nights. It was a mask that he''d only seen in his memories and shouldn''t be in his possession. Yet here it was, against all expectations, welcoming the light amidst the darkness.
At this moment, the corner of his eyes saw the reflection in the water - a face that matched the owner of the mask. It was Genji.
196 – Metamorphosis
"No, this can''t be," Ij''gne muttered incoherently at the reflection. "It must be a lie. Yes, another illusion."
But try as he might, Ij''gne couldn''t deny the reality before him. Everything pointed to that conclusion, and the truth was as obvious as the midday sun. He is Genji, and Genji is him.
''How is this possible? Is everything I know a lie? Have all my efforts been in vain?''
At this moment, the memories of what happened after the failed investigation came rushing back at him, worsening his headache and weary mind.
From when he first woke up, to Joten forcibly drilling martial arts into his body, to Zarasu manipulating his emotions, to the implanted desire for revenge and power, and finally destroying the barbarians with his own hands¡ªall of that surged through him, overwhelming his thoughts.
He recalled the hellish training he endured, the devastation he left behind, and most importantly, the confiscation of his cloak. The lunatics feared his power after his first display and purposely weakened him, only giving it back when necessary in the form of the holy armament.
''Shit! Just how deep did the brainwashing go?'' Ij''gne asked, clenching the side of his face as he endured the assaulting headache. His memories were still foggy, but he knew he needed to escape and regroup with Bruce. That was their only chance of stopping this insanity. Ij''gne''s hectic breathing began to subside, and Astros poked at him, asking if he was okay.
"I don''t know. My mind is still messed up from everything," he said, "but there''s only one course of action now."
Once he fully calmed down, Ij''gne put the mask back on and returned to his previous appearance. Now was not the time to attempt an escape. He needed to lay low, recover his mental state, and plan to retrieve his cloak. He needed to do all this before his enemies caught on to his recovery.
''I don''t have much time. My behavior over the past few days has already raised some suspicions. I need to escape fast.''
Fortunately, he still had his other equipment, albeit collecting dust in his storage. The enemies had only taken his cloak since it was the most threatening item in their view. They had overlooked his daggers because they never considered the possibility of him possessing two legacies. He had activated Deadly Severance around the same time, so they didn''t notice the subtlety.
They had only dealt with champions, who believed each person had only one legacy. But he wasn''t a normal champion; he was a Nightmare. Hence, he could pull off feats that champions couldn''t and seize this opportunity for a comeback.
''But first, I need to rest. It''s been a long week for me.''
Ij''gne collapsed on the bed and finally surrendered to his exhaustion, enjoying a session without any nightmares. Now that he had accepted his grim reality, his subconscious had no reason to continue tormenting him.
The following morning, Ij''gne continued his days like normal. Yet amidst this act, he searched for an opportune moment to act. After two days of this act, he devised a feasible plan and made his preparations.
Once everything was ready, Ij''gne asked Astros to leave first and made his way to the tree. He performed his duties as usual to avoid raising suspicions, before taking the intricate tunnels beneath the tree. However, Zarasu threw a wrench into his plans when he suddenly showed up at the crossroads.
"What are you doing here, Ij''gne?" Zarasu asked with a gentle smile. "Did you need the holy armament for something?"
Silence. Utter silence. Ij''gne''s heart pounded against his chest, and his pores clenched shut, trying to stop any sweat from spilling. He mustn''t show any reactions, or Zarasu would see right through him and end this for good.
Ij''gne steadied his emotions and, in his calmest voice, answered, "Oh Father, I was hoping to meet with Marlo for some advice. You know how I''ve been so out of it in the past few days. I wanted to see if she could give me something to help me sleep."
Ij''gne lied through his teeth, praying Zarasu wouldn''t press the issue further. Fortunately, Zarasu accepted the explanation and stepped aside. "Is that so? Then let me accompany you."
Zarasu courteously gestured toward the left tunnel, indicating for Ij''gne to go first. Left with no choice, Ij''gne complied and began to reevaluate his actions.
''I can''t go with him. Adding Marlo will only complicate the situation further. I need to act now.'' Ij''gne had no intention of abandoning his cloak, as it was his only hope in the upcoming fight. Taking a deep breath, he steeled his mind and approached Zarasu. With each step, his breathing steadied, and his thoughts sharpened. All his focus was on this moment, ready to decide his fate once more.
Suddenly, he burst into action, manifesting his daggers and delivering a deadly slash with his liberation. Zarasu reacted quickly, but he still received a nasty wound on his side. Ij''gne kicked him aside and dashed into the other tunnel.
He charged up Lightning Inspiration and stabbed at the roots, drilling a path downward. The Dance of Death left some teleporting waypoints behind as the surrounding material collapsed. Ij''gne alternated his stabs, carving through the earth like a bullet through mud.
Eventually, he broke into an empty room and spotted his long-lost partner. Ij''gne grabbed it and returned to the surface to confront Zarasu and Marlo. They had realized the severity of the situation and brought out all their strength. Ij''gne dared to say they might even be stronger than the last time they fought, as time had given them more combat experience.
"Why have you done this, Ij''gne? What has caused you to betray our lord like this?" Zarasu asked in a pained tone, trying to invoke guilt within Ij''gne.
However, Ij''gne only sneered in response. "Drop the act, old man. I know you''ve been manipulating me to do your bidding. You couldn''t have annihilated the barbarians without my help."
"Oh, so you found out." Zarasu''s face turned cold, his fatherly image replaced by cold indifference. "I don''t know how you broke free, but it doesn''t matter. You''ve outlived your usefulness, and it''s time to clean the trash."
A part of Ij''gne felt a deep pang from this comment, but he suppressed the heartache. He had already made his choice and couldn''t back out now.
Taking a deep breath, Ij''gne surged forward, clashing with his old opponents. Flames and powerful melee attacks tore through the air, unleashing devastation once more. Marlo''s flames turned the roots to ash, provoking a pain-filled screech from the tree. Ij''gne immediately linked this sound to the tree''s creepy face he''d seen in his dreams and intensified his attacks.
As the battle reached its peak, Ij''gne''s shadowy silhouette suddenly replaced him, causing the incoming attacks to miss. Reacting instantly, Zarasu and Marlo turned to see Ij''gne bolting for escape. Despite the fierce fighting, Ij''gne hadn''t forgotten his primary goal: to escape, not to engage in a losing battle.
"You think it''s that easy?!" Zarasu sneered, grabbing Marlo by the collar and hurling her with all his strength, disregarding the damage from the acceleration. Marlo twisted her body and propelled herself with equal ferocity, catching up to Ij''gne like a rocket. It was a reckless, suicidal move, made without regard for the repercussions, even at the risk of their high priestess''s life.
Ij''gne''s eyes sharpened as he prepared to strike back when an excruciating pain erupted inside his head. Recognizing this familiar sensation, Ij''gne understood what had just hit him, and desperation swelled within him.
''No! Not like this! I refuse to be mind-controlled again!''
However, the pain subsided as quickly as it had come, allowing Ij''gne to shift his body and complete his attack. His dagger sliced through Marlo''s chest just as her flaming shortsword pierced his shoulder, scorching it black.
''What?!? How is he unaffected?!?'' Zarasu inwardly cried out in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.
Ij''gne and Marlo both shared the same question, but only Ij''gne had an answer. At that moment, jumbled memories cleared in Ij''gne''s mind as a conversation from the past resurfaced.
"How exactly does Soul Sanctuary determine if an attack is fatal? Like, how broad is the term ''fatal'' here? By what standard is an attack considered fatal?"
[Soul Sanctuary activates on your standards, followed by a systematic list of conditions.]
It was the same question Genji had posed before the infiltration, but back then, the memory had cut off before Ij''gne could hear the answer. Now, under the simulation of the tree''s attack, this conversation resurfaced.
"What about brainwashing and personality distortions? If I consider those to be lethal, will it still activate?"
[Yes.]
Genji paused for a moment and pondered the possibilities before asking, "Then is there a way to have Soul Sanctuary trigger, but not block the brainwashing? Something like preserving my sense of self in a dormant state while my affected version is in control?''
This question startled Ij''gne as he couldn''t understand why his past self even considered this option in the first place. EverRealm also echoed this sentiment when it responded with ellipsis.
[...]
It was as if EverRealm was speechless at his absurd idea.
"Well? Is it possible?" Genji asked again. After a short while, EverRealm gave a warning instead.
[It''s not recommended that you take this action. There is a high chance of split personality disorder.]
"I''ll take that as a yes. But that''s a risk I''m willing to take. By the way, can I adjust the trigger condition so this only happens the first time? If someone tries to influence me afterward, have Soul Sanctuary function normally?"
[Yes...]
"That''s good. This gives me some confidence in case things go south."
Ij''gne was in shock when he heard this revelation. In the end, all of his emotions culminated in a single phrase. ''Crazy bastard! He prepared for the possibility of brainwashing and still allowed it to happen. What the fuck!?! What kind of mental patient was I?!?''
Yet despite Ij''gne sentiments, he was in for another round of astonishment, as the memory wasn''t over.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"Hey, future me. I don''t know how useful this message will be, but I''ll leave it anyway. It''s important because it''s why I''m doing all of this. Make sure you don''t kill those two champions. I know it''ll be difficult, but I trust you. You''re me after all."
With a light chuckle, Genji walked off-screen, and Ij''gne returned to reality, where not even a second had passed.
''I need to keep her alive!'' Ij''gne thought, feeling the shortsword buried in his body. ''But he never said anything about crippling her.''
Realizing this, Ij''gne swung his other dagger and severed Marlo''s outstretched arm. He then elbowed her aside and ran past her, pulling out the sword in the process. He shot one last look at Zarasu before swapping positions to escape their sight. Afterward, he beelined for a hidden passage through the mountains.
As he ran, Ij''gne took out some potions and tended to his wounds. Once he lost his pursuers, he made his way to the agreed-upon location, picking up the pre-escaped Astros on the way.
"Bruce, where are you?" he yelled as he arrived, undoing his disguise.
A few seconds of silence followed before a certain red horse poked his head out from behind a cliff. Seeing Ij''gne, Bruce released a happy neigh and galloped over. He nuzzled his head against Ij''gne''s chest, welcoming him back. Then Bruce suddenly realized that Ij''gne seemed different from how he remembered.
"It''s a long story, but I don''t have all my memories," Ij''gne explained. "It''ll take some time for me to recover them."
Bruce turned to Astros for an explanation, but the ferret simply shrugged and waved his paws, complaining about how Ij''gne had dunked him in cold water for no reason. Bruce nodded in response and accepted Ij''gne''s story because he knew Genji would never have done such a thing.
Ij''gne checked the cooldown on his cloak and saw 4 days and 12 hours. That was the amount of time he had before the final clash. He couldn''t afford any delays since the world was dying.
The scenes of destruction he''d witnessed along the way only confirmed this truth. If he didn¡¯t stop the tree soon, he would perish along with its inhabitants. To give a numerical representation, these are the current values of the world restrictions:
- Futuristic technologies are weakened by 4% (-34).
- All undead-related abilities are weakened by 12% (-64).
- All curse-related abilities are weakened by 2% (-42).
The world doesn¡¯t have much time left. During this period, Ij''gne tried to recover as many memories as possible. He prioritized his combat techniques since that was the most useful for his current situation.
This wasn''t hard to do since Bruce knew all his techniques and could simulate the corresponding memories. Once those were triggered, everything else followed like a waterfall. By the end of the third day, Ij''gne had recovered most of his combat experiences, with only a few insignificant details missing, and he entered a state of enlightenment.
''Life is full of changes. Whether I choose a path of adventure or peace, I will never repeat a day. I''ve experienced two different lives and their affiliated difficulties, but the destination remains the same. It''s time I merge the two and make my last stand. Using Lightning Inspiration as the base, Shadow Flames as the modifier, and Cutting Intent as the amplifier, I shall create a new art that embodies my existence.''
Ij''gne stood up, and his daggers oozed a dangerously oppressive aura. Swirls of wind wrapped around his body to form a cone, and wisps of black flames compressed into a singularity. The waning energy of nature gathered with his physical strength, merging into this four-way agglomeration.
''No, I can incorporate one more technique into it. One for movement and traversal: Flashstep!''
Ij''gne stepped forward and appeared on a distant hill. His arm arced back before launching forward, crashing into the soil like a deadly torpedo. A loud explosion ensued, and the wind blew away the dust, revealing a massive cylindrical hole tearing through the hill.
In comparison, Ij''gne looked tiny, and no rubble remained. Everything had turned to sand and vanished with the wind, creating a mini sandstorm. Ij''gne breathed out heavily and shook his sore arm with a light smile.
''This isn''t its max potential. A lot of energy was wasted in the explosion. It will be several times stronger if I can concentrate everything into one point.''
At that moment, Ij''gne gave the newly created technique a fitting name. "Since I used Lightning Mastery as the base, let''s call it High Mastery of Lightning. Following this classification, perfection will be the optimal state I previously mentioned."
Thus, Lightning Inspiration: All to Dust was born.
With this addition to his arsenal, Ij''gne felt more confident about the upcoming battle and went back to rest. The next day, as the countdown for Terror Unleashed reached one hour, Ij''gne gave some potions to Bruce, and they set off.
"Remember, keep the single-armed lady alive. Just leave the rest to me," he emphasized for the fifth time, causing Bruce to roll his eyes in exasperation. Ij''gne wanted to repeat the message a few more times but decided against it. Bruce was his former self''s companion, so he wouldn''t mess up such a task, right?
When they arrived at the mountain range, Ij''gne noticed that the defense line was abandoned. The usual guards had disappeared, allowing them to waltz right in. As they moved past the summit, Ij''gne realized that it wasn''t just this area; most of the settlement was deserted.
It was as if everyone had suddenly vanished, leaving an eerie emptiness behind. Ij''gne also noticed that the world tree had recovered from most of its wounds, with only shallow scars remaining from its previous state.
''Did they sacrifice all the villagers to heal the tree? Dammit. They''re intent on destroying this world!''
Ij''gne picked up his pace and soon faced a standoff with the remaining fighters of the settlement. Zarasu stood at the forefront with crossed arms, as if awaiting Ij''gne''s return. Marlo was nowhere in sight, likely because she was a hindrance without her liberation and missing an arm.
Ij''gne took this opportunity to scan the world tree, finally seeing its stats after so many confrontations.
[Chosen Stat: Dexterity]
[Dexterity surpasses the target''s by a decent amount. Detected that the target has a higher rank. Obtaining 68% of the target''s information.]
[Soul Fraying Demonic Tree]
Health: 76,398/92,625
Nature''s Vitality: 1,786/3,000
Con: 57
Str: 48
Dex: 43
Int: 60
Spc: 61
Skills:
- High Lord (Evolving passive): +35,000 health.
- Titanic (Passive): +12,500 health.
- Plant''s Rigor (Passive): +50% health, decreased number of fatal points.
- Hardened Bark (Passive): +16 defense.
- World Parasite (Passive): Allows you to burrow into the world''s core and drain its energy to grow.
- World Reinforcement (Passive): The world you reside in will be strengthened over time.
- Extraterrestrial (Passive): Can survive in space for a long time.
- Seed Pod (Active): Discard your body and concentrate all your essence into one seed. This seed will be sent out into space until it lands on a habitable planet to sprout.
- Nature''s Blessing (Active): Consumes health and energy to provide buffs to a friendly target. The more resources consumed, the stronger the effect.
- Total Hypnosis (Active): Consumes a large amount of energy to forcibly hypnotize a target. The stronger the target''s willpower, the more resources will be consumed.
- Soul Flay (Active): Launches an indetectable attack on a target''s soul. Ignores physical defenses and bypasses damage resistance skills.
- [Ultimate] Flowering the World Fruit (Active): When you completely devour a world, spend all your excess energy to grow one fruit. This fruit contains half of your peak strength and can grow into a clone. When the clone matures, it can provide power back to the main body and grow another World Fruit. If the main body dies, your consciousness will transfer to the closest clone. The further the distance, the more memories will be lost.
Description: A world calamity on the verge of maturing.
[A world calamity has been detected. A bonus mission has been issued.]
[Bonus Mission: Stop the World Calamity]
Description: World Calamities are capable of destroying multiple worlds if left unchecked. The Realms have a strong distaste for them and demand they be killed on sight.
Requirements: Kill the demonic world tree and collect its essence.
Note: Since this mission is linked to your main mission, you cannot avoid it. There are no punishments for failure, but the rewards will drastically decrease if you let its embryo escape.
''There''s no punishment, but I can''t leave if I don''t kill it. So either way, I''m stuck in this world unless I solve this issue,'' Ij''gne thought.
Redirecting his gaze back to the army, Ij''gne inwardly lamented his situation. ''And to make matters worse, I''m against the last humans in this world. How the frick will civilization recover after this?'' But he quickly shelved those thoughts and focused on his adversaries, activating his cloak''s liberation.
"Attack!" At this moment, Zarasu unleashed a mighty battle cry, spurring everyone into action.
Suddenly, Ij''gne appeared before Zarasu and unleashed a normal Lightning Inspiration, sending Zarasu flying. Ij''gne''s absurd speed startled the surrounding fighters, but they quickly snapped out of their daze and launched a storm of punches. The world tree also supported the barrage with its usual green field, augmenting the power behind the strikes.
However, Ij''gne weaved between them like a snake and rapidly cut them down. Once he created some room, he burst toward the world tree with a fully charged Lightning Inspiration.
Zarasu attempted to intercept him, but Ij''gne bypassed him with Dance of Death. Ij''gne''s only target was the tree and nothing else since it was the most threatening being on the battlefield.
Sensing the incoming danger, the tree pulled up its roots and lashed out at Ij''gne. The earth shook like a turning tsunami and the nearby trees collapsed like dominoes. A hail of dirt and roots covered his vision, but Ij''gne easily danced between them and preserved his strike. He leaped onto these earthy tendrils and dashed toward the trunk.
There were times when the tree used its soul attacks, but Ij''gne''s enhanced instincts allowed him to dodge these seemingly undetectable assaults. Other times, walls of roots obstructed his path, but he forced his way through with corresponding shots from [Curse Bearer]. Black explosions and the shattering of air sounded behind him as he leaped upward.
Ij''gne pulled his arm back and condensed the energies as much as possible before unleashing everything in a forceful stab. A violent eruption suddenly sounded, blasting fierce air currents in all directions. Amidst this flow, the light scent of wood shavings and sawdust permeated the air, choking the lungs of anyone who breathed it in.
Ij''gne readjusted and dove against the current, sticking close to the tree. Upon contact, he dug his fingers into the bark and scaled upward. After a few kick-offs, he transitioned into a spiral run and cut through the dust cloud.
Seconds later, he stepped into the gaping hole caused by his attack and brought his daggers close to his body. Then he spun on his leg and slashed out a cyclone, severing the connecting point between the two halves.
A harsh creak echoed as the top half began tilting, destroying the fibers that attempted to repair the damage. Ignoring this, Ij''gne pulled his left elbow above his head, pointing his dagger downward. Then he stabbed down, unleashing another All to Dust.
The air boomed like thunder and the wood groaned under his fury. Ij''gne bounced upward from the recoil and sensed a large portion of the trunk falling outward. He somersaulted and ripped apart the surrounding air to descend faster. His daggers gleamed with bright cutting intent as he slashed the writhing roots like falling lightning.
As he neared the ground, Ij''gne spread his cloak and rapidly decelerated. As his feet touched the ground, Zarasu and Marlo charged at him, desperately trying to buy time for their lord. Ij''gne gave Marlo a hard kick, shattering her ribs before slashing out twice, severing her remaining arm and left leg.
Zarasu tried to attack during this period, but a sudden barrier disrupted his momentum. As the barrier shards scattered around him, Ij''gne twirled around and slammed the bottom of his dagger into the side of Zarasu''s face. Zarasu stumbled backward from the impact, giving Ij''gne room to stab out a ray of cutting intent.
Zarasu crossed his arms and blocked the stab, but he was sent flying again. At this moment, Bruce zoomed over in liquid form and wrapped around Marlo, regulating her vitality and preventing her from rejoining the fight.
Ij''gne burst toward the remaining stump of the world tree and charged up another Lightning Inspiration. The world tree, now desperate, gathered its tendrils to barricade the way, intending to sacrifice these roots for a momentary delay. However, Ij''gne thwarted this plan by detonating his attack on the blockade, blasting a tunnel forward.
The aftermath of this attack dug into the tree''s trunk, carving out a deep crater that exposed a pulsating red core. The tree gathered its strength to eject its core, intending to abandon its body for survival. But Ij''gne had been warned of this outcome and was prepared for it.
The cutting intent suppressing his shadow flames disappeared, causing an inferno to spew across the area. A net had been created and trapped the core inside its body. Ij''gne pulled back his arm for a familiar strike and accelerated beside the core.
"No, don''t!" Zarasu''s roar sounded from behind, near where Ij''gne had detonated the previous strike.
However, Ij''gne paid no heed to him and stabbed out, shattering the core and killing the tree instantly.
"Bastard!" Zarasu lost his composure and cursed at him. "Ingrate! You learn our arts, and this is how you repay us?!"
Ij''gne turned around and stared into Zarasu''s eyes before asking, "Do you really think that accursed tree taught you your martial arts? You should know better than that."
"What are you implying? That I learned it from those filthy barbarians?"
"Did you not? Don''t you remember who you were?"
"Stop with the mind games. You have killed my god, and now you desecrate my past? Who do you think you are!?!"
Hearing this response, Ij''gne shook his head and inwardly sighed. "I see. You''ve completely lost yourself and are beyond saving."
"Who the fuck needs your saving? I''d rather you cut me down as well!" Zarasu roared and charged at him, gathering his strength for a suicidal exchange.
Ij''gne let out a heavy sigh and followed Zarasu''s wish, slashing down and delivering a fatal wound across the chest.
¡°Goodbye, Father. You gave me some of the happiest memories in my life, even if it was all a lie. But it''s time we end this ill-fated relationship. From now on, Ij¡¯gne is no more. Only Enigma remains,¡± Ij''gne murmured his final words and dragged his hand across his face, manifesting his pitch-black mask. With this, Ij''gne relinquished his past and became Genji once more.
197 – Settlement: Promotion Trial
[You have slain: Soul Fraying Demonic Tree.]
[You have slain: Martial Priest Zarasu.]
[You have obtained 850,000 coins.]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 75 points.]
[You have obtained: World Tree''s Essence.]
[You have obtained: Zarasu''s Legacy.]
[World Tree''s Essence]
Rating: ???
Effect: ???
Description: The essence of a demonic world tree after it almost devoured a world. Its uses are relatively unknown, but its value cannot be underestimated. Perhaps you can find a use for it in the future.
[Zarasu''s Legacy]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Knowledge item
Effect: On use, experience some of Zarasu''s martial arts techniques. These include but are not limited to, Nature''s Harmony, Elemental Emulations, and aura control.
Description: Zarasu was a genius who single-handedly expanded the possibilities of his civilization''s martial arts. Despite his morally questionable choices later in his life, his contributions couldn''t be denied. This knowledge item contains many of his techniques and can even turn a pig into a prodigy. How much you can comprehend will depend on your prior knowledge of the subject.
Genji closed these prompts and approached the prone Marlo. She had a listless look on her face that embodied the peak of dejection.
"Kill me," she hoarsely said as Genji came into her sight.
"Sorry, but I can''t do that," he responded.
"Why?" she asked, a hint of anger seeping into her voice.
Instead of answering, Genji asked, "Do you remember your life before you became a priestess? Before the tree appeared?"
"What are you getting at? I gave up those dark memories to serve the lord."
"Yes, we all did. But don''t you think it''s suspicious how similar our stories are? That when we were at the darkest parts of our lives, the tree reached out to us and gave us hope? That we all joined it after a series of tragedies that left us with nothing? Face the truth. You''ve been lied to. The tree brainwashed you and forcibly tied you to its destructive causes."
Marlo spat at him in disgust. "Listen to you. You speak as if you know my past. Then why don''t you tell me about it?"
"I will, Marlo. Or should I say, Sun Strider Lydra?"
Marlo''s pupils dilated at this familiar name, and the gears of her mind churned to recall where she''d heard it. But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn''t narrow down the time frame or shake off the accompanying sentiments. In the end, these emotions overwhelmed her, and she screamed hysterically at Genji.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU MOTHERFUCKER! You know nothing about me. Stop acting like you do!" Marlo struggled violently against Bruce''s restraints, desperate to leap up and tear apart Genji''s throat with her teeth.
Genji shook his head at this sight and stomped down on her chest, forcibly halting her resistance. "You realized it, didn''t you? Otherwise, you wouldn''t have reacted like this. Trust me. I''ve gone through the same process, and my response was just as extreme. Wake up, Lydra! Stop deluding yourself. Do you plan to spend the rest of your feeble life on this dying planet? Don''t you have anyone to care for in your home world?"
At this moment, the memory of a boy in his preteens emerged in her mind.
"Mother, look!" He energetically pulled at her sleeve and presented a canvas of colorful paint. She cherished this memory because it was his first painting. It was somewhat sloppy, but it was those warm times that called out to her.
To further nail the point, the boy declared the wishes encapsulated in his first artwork. "I painted this because I want you to stay with me forever!" Then he flashed a cheerful smile, revealing the tiny gap between his two front teeth.
Before Marlo, no, Lydra, knew it, tears began streaming down her face, and she ceased her struggles. "I-I want to go back," she choked out between sobs.
"Good. Seems like all my efforts weren''t in vain," Genji said, removing his foot. He also gestured for Bruce to release the hold and hold her in a more comfortable position. "So Lydra, do you remember your mission?"
"I''ve already finished it," she answered. "It was to investigate the unusual activities in this world."
"Then submit it and return."
Lydra nodded, and a flash of light soon covered her. When the brightness faded, only bloodstains and an indent remained.
"Phew. Things become a lot easier once we let go of our burdens. I''m starting to pick up my old ways again," Genji said, recalling the heavy stomp he delivered on Lydra''s chest. If Ij''gne was still in control, he would never have taken such brutal actions against a helpless person like that.
''That''s good. I was getting tired of how altruistic I was. What kind of crap is sacrificing myself for someone I barely know? At least I maintained my obsession with keeping my promises.'' Genji chuckled softly, picked up Astros, and followed in Lydra''s footsteps.
Settlement: Promotion Trail
Score Calculations:
- [Main Mission] Investigate the cause of the dying world: S+ (There''s nothing left to do. You finished the task perfectly.)
- [Side Mission] Investigate the circumstances of the missing Champions: S+ ¡ú SS+ (Another perfect investigation. You figured out the causes.)
- [Extra Achievement] Recovered the scarlet card of a 4-year-old missing Champion: SS+ ¡ú SSS- (Although the outcome is undesirable, your superb investigation provided enough evidence that this couldn¡¯t be held against you.)
- [Extra Achievement] Awakened 11-year-old missing Champion, Lydra, from her brainwashing and motivated her to complete her mission: SSS- ¡ú SSS
- [Bonus Mission] Eliminated the world disaster, Soul Flaying Demonic Tree: SSS ¡ú SSS+
- [Extra Achievement] Prevented the destruction of a newly discovered world: SSS+ ¡ú X-
Final Rating: X-
No stat points rewarded.
Ever Coins earned: 1,793,421 (Originally 5,000,000. Healing cost has been deducted.)
Total World Time: 4 months, 12 days.
Most of the cost was for healing his soul, but even that was minor since the excess time he had spent under the tree''s influence gave it time to recover. In fact, there was hardly any damage anymore, but Genji didn''t want to risk it with something as ephemeral as the human soul. After Genji fully recovered, his legacies left his grasp and underwent the usual process. After a few minutes, these were their stats:
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary
Damage: 47 (+2)
Durability: 510/510 (+10)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): This pair of daggers will grow with you after every world.
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +67 sharpness (+2)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +260 durability (+10)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance (No change)
- +30 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: Although the upgrades are small, something inherent has changed about these daggers. For now, this effect will accumulate until it overflows.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary
Defense: 46 (+1)
Durability: 300/300 (no change)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): This cloak will grow with you after every world.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 65 seconds. Cooldown of 28 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Canceling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +5 seconds, Cooldown: -2 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduces the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 4 minutes 30 seconds. (Cooldown: -30 seconds)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 5 meters and targets you killed. (no change)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed (no change)
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: This cloak is in a similar state as its dagger partners. The changes are even less pronounced because it is further along in the evolution process than its brothers.
Genji could sense his legacies approaching some limit, which might explain the inconsequential improvements. This limit was like a ceiling in power level, denoting the absolute apex of this rank. Once his legacies break through this limit, they will undergo a major transformation that will redefine their powers.
Genji was certain of this since his absurd rating justified an unprecedented amount of upgrade energy. For this to not fill his legacies'' energy requirements could only mean this transformation was beyond important. Genji even suspected that this change was only supposed to happen at a higher step because the energy demand surpassed what a typical champion could feasibly obtain at this point.
For now, Genji shelved these thoughts and focused on the next reward.
[Final preparations complete. Initiating Talent Promotion.]
At this moment, Genji blanked out and found himself in a stone ruin. The skies were a murky dark camo green, absent of any stars. There were a few blotches of black along the skyline, but no suns or other sources of light.
The whole place was bathed in this color, giving everything a dark shade. The edges of the horizon were also blurry as if obstructed by a veil of secrecy. It was a curious place that filled the viewer with intrigue and sparked an inherent desire for exploration.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Genji finished examining this place and walked along the cloudy white path before him. He passed many broken tablets filled with undecipherable characters and the skeletons of many grand structures. There was a monumental cathedral densely packed with designs and a palace filled with gold.
Everything indicated that a civilization once flourished here, yet only a shadow of their existence remained. Genji also discovered a rift that tore through the land, forming a boundary on the side.
He approached this edge and realized there was no landmass beyond this point. This was a cliff that hung over the abyss. Everything was the same color as the sky. That was when Genji realized this was an island in the void, taken from its original world.
Genji returned to the path and soon arrived at an elevated platform made from smooth grey stone. Six damaged pillars stood tall at the center of this platform, withstanding the trials of time. Genji approached the leftmost pillar and examined it, pondering his next course of action. After a few minutes, he found no results and reached out to touch the pillar.
At this moment, the surroundings suddenly changed into a peaceful plain, filled with swaying grass that followed the wind. In the distance, Genji noticed a human figure approaching him. As the person got closer, Genji realized this person was himself, wearing the same equipment, but giving off a slightly different aura.
His clone stopped 50 meters away from him, drew his daggers, and said in a neutral tone, "I embody the Conjurer''s Path, and this is my fighting style."
The next moment, a large stream of energy left his body and condensed into various weapons. Swords, axes, halberds, spears, and other forms manifested around him, covering the skies like rain. Most prominently, four large shields rotated around him like satellites, guarding him from any attacks.
The clone slowly lowered his body, letting Genji capture every movement. Then he burst forward, slashing out large streaks of cutting intent and guiding the storm of weapons to attack an invisible enemy. This barrage quickly devastated the area, with each weapon leaving considerable-sized craters on impact.
Once the barrage finished, the look-alike pulled his dagger back, and the weapons flew back to his side. Then they dissipated into wisps of energy and flowed back to his body. Genji noticed this returning amount was less than initially released, but only by 20%.
The scene ended, and Genji found himself back at the platform. He adjusted himself and removed his hand, causing some runic characters to form over the pillar.
[Path of the Conjurer: Reduces the cost of energy constructs by 80% and allows you to control them from a distance. Your energy constructs will also last longer in battle.]
Seeing this, Genji understood these pillars represented the choices available to him and approached the second pillar. When he touched the material, he found himself in the same field again as another version of himself approached.
Like before, this clone stopped at a distance and introduced himself. "I represent the Controller''s Path, and this is my fighting style."
Streams of energy left his body and swirled freely around him, flowing like dancing dragons. His precision was airtight, creating an elegant display. After a few seconds, he held out a finger gun, and energy began gathering at the tips. Once the concentration reached a satisfactory level, he jerked his hand back and shot a piercing laser into the horizon.
This was a familiar utilization since Genji had once been on the receiving end of this attack. However, the clone wasn''t done. He waved his arms around like a windmill and gathered the energy into a thick sphere in front of his chest. Then he pushed out, launching a huge explosion that covered the area.
When the dust cleared, Genji noticed streams of energy gathering back at the clone''s fingertips. In one final display, he started swiping out crescents of energy that resembled his cutting intent in both shape and range.
The demonstration ended, and Genji received the details of this choice.
[Path of the Controller: Doubles your energy control and significantly extends your range. When you use an energy technique, gradually recover the dispersed energy in the area, up to 35% of the initial cost.]
The third scene began as usual, only with a tree on the side. His replica walked into view, and a dark coating of energy covered him. "I am the Enhancer, and everything revolves around my body," he said before stepping into the tree''s shadow.
His presence immediately faded and became indistinguishable from the surroundings, as if he had never existed from the start. Then he revealed himself and flash-stepped circles around Genji, leaving countless after-images in his wake. In a direct comparison, this movement was several times more agile than his own.
Finally, a mountain golem crawled out of the ground and stomped toward them. Once it got close, it raised its fist and slammed down at the replica. The replica braced himself and activated Solid Core, forming makeshift armor beneath his skin. The collision shook the ground violently, but despite the massive impact, the replica emerged unscathed, stopping the truck-sized fist with only a single arm.
[Path of the Enhancer: Increases your body''s affinity for energy techniques and greatly amplifies all related abilities. As long as it uses the body, it will receive this boost.]
"I symbolize the Celestial''s Path," the fourth version of Genji said. "And I primarily focus on my core."
He held one hand at his waist and one below his chest. Then his body became transparent, revealing a large, polished shadow core. It pulsated with more power than anything Genji had felt and circulated the energy with immense force. Yet despite this, his alternate self remained in control and guided the energy to his limbs.
The transparent state ended, and he took a punching stance. The air burst into tremors and sonic booms, distorting the incoming light to create colorful polygonal shapes. He waited for the commotion to settle down before bursting out with all of Genji''s techniques. Every strike received a massive boost in power, yet some parts couldn''t match the Enhancer''s strength.
Nonetheless, it was an impressive display capable of killing Genji countless times over if not for the illusive state he was in. The shadow flames were especially prominent since they flared bigger than ever, casting their deadly darkness over the entire field. In the end, the was destroyed before Genji returned to the platform.
[Path of the Celestial: Moves the Shadow Core to your stomach, giving it more room to grow and amplify its powers.]
The fifth scene depicted a large mountain overlooking a vast sea. Genji and his alternate self stood on a flat area at the base of the mountain, away from the sea.
"I specialize in the Projection Path, and there''s nothing I can''t cut," he declared, drawing daggers from his back. "Whether it''s mountains or seas in my way, I alone shall carve a path."
He leaped upward and unleashed a massive crescent of light. This attack differed from the rest as it was coated in a thick layer of shadow flames. These flames felt more condensed and fatal to the touch compared to the Celestial''s. Genji had never been able to achieve this, as his flames usually dissipated after leaving his side for too long.
Yet this version had none of these struggles; the flames showed no signs of weakening even after traveling a few hundred meters. It was fair to say this clone fully represented his path and projected the flames to their maximum potential.
The streak dug into the mountains and cleaved right through, forming a massive chasm to the ocean. The replica leaped through this gap and slashed at the waves, causing massive splashes. After a few brandishes, a clean path devoid of water appeared. It was as if Moses himself had parted the sea and allowed his passage.
[Path of Projection: Shadow Flames can now cover cutting intent. Upgrade the flame''s sharpness and triple its effective range.]
Lastly, there was the final pillar. At a glance, Genji couldn''t sense anything special about this version of himself. Rather, it was very normal like he was staring at a mirror image, only with greater power. More specifically, this was the version that resembled his current development the most.
"I practice the Balanced Path," he said in a relaxed tone. "What good is a powerful specialty if you''re often held back by your weaknesses? I have no weaknesses, so I''m the most versatile fighter."
He calmly displayed his abilities. There were no scenes of destruction or impressive demonstrations of power. Yet within those movements, Genji sensed a firm steadiness ready to confront any adversaries thrown his way. After the replica went through two cycles of his techniques, he stopped and basked in the wind before waving at Genji.
[Path of the Balanced One: A moderate increase in all abilities, including any future ones.]
Just as Genji thought he was done, a suffocatingly dense killing intent washed over him. It was so intense that the surroundings turned red, and he began seeing visions of blood. Bloody waterfalls and the stench of decay overwhelmed his senses, paralyzing him.
Footsteps sounded behind him as Genji struggled to break free. When he turned around, he saw a man in a leather trench coat, hard combat boots, and a Chinese tang sword at his side. The man''s face was obscured by a mosaic, likely due to the sheer difference in their strengths rather than any special effects.
Genji ground his teeth and prepared to fight when the man stopped, and the pressure eased.
¡°Slaughter is the essence of man. To kill is to claim ¡ª to take what¡¯s theirs for oneself. Why should we shy away from such actions when the universe is a chaotic place? Why should we care about the thoughts of others when only our mentality matters? Use slaughter to temper yourself and weaponize your killing intent. I am the Slaughter Transcendent, and I represent the killing path. Become my envoy, and I will grant you the potential to reach the apex.¡±
[Path of Slaughter: The more you kill, the stronger you become. All gains from this effect are permanent.]
''Such thick killing intent,'' Genji thought, struggling to breathe. ''And it doesn''t seem like he''s purposely flaring it. Just how many people did he kill? Even my body count is like a drop in the ocean compared to his.''
Suddenly, a dark mist gathered around Genji, thrusting him into a domain of darkness. This was an eerie darkness, lacking the usual comfort he felt when hiding in the shadows. He felt vulnerable, and his emotions became unstable as a raspy voice echoed in his ears, forcibly agitating him.
"I am the darkness hidden in the hearts of men. People know me but can never find me. I stalk them from the shadows and strike in their most desperate moments. Those who encounter me never escape my clutches. Who am I?"
Genji suppressed these feelings with his steadfast willpower and cursed at the speaker. "Why the fuck do I care? Stop messing with my emotions and state your conditions already. I don''t have all day. And your incitement isn''t even that good."
An awkward silence followed before countless red eyes opened around him, and the darkness dissipated. The mist condensed into a hazy blob, glaring at Genji with all its eyes. However, it didn''t take further action, confirming Genji''s suspicion about its limited ability to interfere.
"Become my envoy, and I''ll grant you control over darkness," the aggregation said. "Emotions will become your plaything, and you can manipulate others to your will. You can come and go as you please, with no one to stop you. Instill fear into the minds of enemies and make them tremble in your presence. Join me, and all this can be yours."
Although it sounded grand, Genji had a different impression. Why did it need to emphasize all these aspects when they should be natural with sufficient power? It felt superficial, like a street vendor hawking his wares.
And that was the problem. If the item were valuable, the vendor wouldn''t be selling it on the streets but rather going to an established buyer. Plus, the cloud didn''t even give its name. No matter how Genji looked at it, the cloud didn''t seem reliable.
''Is it perhaps weaker than the other guy? Is that why it''s trying so hard?''
[Despairing Haze has offered you the Path of Darkness: You can better sense and manipulate the emotions of others. The more negative emotions one has when fighting you, the weaker they will be. When you accumulate enough negativity from others, gain the ability to transform into a mist of despair.]
Genji was not impressed by this ability because it seemed redundant. Why give up the opportunity for a substantial power boost for something he wasn''t proficient in? The acquired ability would need to be extraordinary to make this worthwhile, which Genji doubted based on the cloud''s mannerisms.
''Yeah, it''s definitely trying to scam me,'' Genji concluded.
At that moment, a fresh leafy scent washed away the cloud''s unpleasantness. The ground beneath the platform cracked open, revealing an encroaching stem. This stem grew into a vine and crawled beside the cloud. Then it sprouted, becoming a giant tree that seemed to support multiple worlds.
Genji''s eye twitched at the familiar lifeform, and he almost attacked out of disgust. Nonetheless, he held back and awaited the tree''s offer.
Strangely, this tree communicated differently than the others. Instead of speaking, it waved its branches and conjured a string of text.
I sense the essence of a demonic world tree on you. I''ll grant you my blessings if you offer it to me.
[World Tree Yggdrasil has offered you the Path of Vitality in exchange for the essence of a world tree.]
[Path of Vitality: Double your health from all sources. This includes stats, equipment, and consumables. Effective up to 500,000 health.]
It was an unusual offer since Yggdrasil was essentially asking for payment, whereas the others offered their powers for free. However, this was only the case if Genji didn''t consider a crucial detail.
"What exactly does it mean to become an envoy?" Genji asked EverRealm. This was the second time he''d seen this term, and he wanted clarification.
The first time was when he obtained the ancestral blood of the vampires, which he used to forge Bruce''s body. He hadn''t paid much attention to it back then, but now it was different. Two beings of unimaginable power were asking for it at such a crucial moment in his life. He needed to understand what he was agreeing to before making any decisions.
[Powerful beings may have unique circumstances where they can''t enter a lower world. Whether it''s due to their immense power, which would destroy everything on approach, being physically far away, or simply not wanting to weaken themselves. In these cases, they send an envoy in their place to carry out tasks.]
To put it euphemistically, it''s a servant; pessimistically, a slave. From EverRealm''s explanation, Genji realized that an envoy might not have a choice in the matter. If one was unlucky, they might end up with a backer who would work them to the bone.
Given this context, Yggdrasil''s deal seemed quite considerate. It was only seeking a transaction, while the others wanted his future.
However, what Genji failed to consider was that not everyone was worthy of becoming an envoy. After all, it took a lot of resources to nurture a proper subordinate, so why would they waste it on a weakling when they could find a more capable person?
[You have been offered 6 internal paths and 3 external paths. Pick one.]
Genji pondered the Slaughter Transcendent''s proposition a bit longer before rejecting it. The man might be powerful, but it simply wasn''t worth it. Genji could grow stronger by himself, so why would he go into debt for someone else''s help?
Plus, this would show EverRealm his attitude of prioritizing its missions over anything else. There''s no reason to accept. Genji didn''t even consider Yggdrasil''s offer for the same reason he rejected Despairing Haze''s proposition. Don''t get him wrong, that''s a lot of health, but he would rather upgrade his combat strength before anything else right now.
Genji examined the 6 pillars before him and recalled their characteristics. Conjurer develops his energy constructs; Controller, his energy flow; Enhancer, his body; Celestial, his Shadow Core; Projection, his flames; and finally Balance develops everything equally.
Each path has its strengths and weaknesses, but no glaring flaws. Genji attributed this to his high rating, which surpassed what anyone should have been expected to achieve. The only question now was what ability he wanted to specialize in.
Genji immediately had his answer when he asked that question but he wasn''t sure if it was possible. That''s because his answer wasn''t among the six pillars.
"Are these the only options I can pick from?" Genji asked again. "Can I get some other choices?"
[These specializations were developed based on your previous fighting styles. It is not recommended that you stray from them.]
"It''s not recommended, but it''s possible," Genji''s mouth widened into a grin. "Then I''ve made my choice. I choose¡ª"
Genji brought his fist to his chest and gave it three hard thumps, sending his shadow core into overdrive one last time.
"DEVOUR!"
With those words, his energy began to boil and take on a temporary frenzy. As if affirming his choice, EverRealm shattered the pillars and removed the three powerhouses, leaving Genji alone on the platform. Then it sent one final overview prompt before chaos overtook everything.
[You have selected the Trailblazer''s Path. Commencing talent promotion.]
198 – New Changes
Genji''s energy underwent countless changes to make this elusive frenzy a permanent trait. His energy expanded like a balloon, contracted like a heart, zipped around like snakes, and flowed in reverse, along with many more erratic shifts. If you can name it, it probably happened during this time. The experience was extremely uncomfortable for Genji, but it only extended his grin.
''Ah yes, it isn''t a power-up if I don''t feel miserable,'' he crackled to himself and began dancing to the energy transformations.
His joints jerked back and forth at strange angles, emitting loud popping sounds as he treated the platform as a dance floor. He was in a world of his own, and nothing could ruin his fun.
"La la la la la," he sang to himself, incorporating exaggerated swaying movements into his dance. His alterations grew more pronounced, and his motions began resembling a broken puppet. And in a way, Genji was a marionette, one controlled by his energy strings.
The pain of his dislocating sockets hardly affected him since he was used to much worse. His muscles twisted, his bones curved, his organs compressed, and his skin stretched, bringing about a painful mangling, yet he maintained a soft smile. And most importantly, he danced like there was no tomorrow.
His arms twirled through the air regardless of his convulsive movements, and his legs took extended steps to preserve his balance. Sometimes, he spun like an out-of-control top, threatening to crash into an obstacle.
Other times, he glided through the air like a soaring eagle, unaffected by his mortal constraints. He also played around with his expressions, practicing different smiles like a psychopath, and exploring what it meant to be an actor.
"To act is to play; to play is to pretend; but why pretend when I can do it for real? A true psycho knows how to switch his expressions on demand, becoming deranged in the eyes of many. Only that way can I maintain my facade and remain unpredictable," he soliloquized. "To play a crazy jester, I must keep a clear mind because I can only surpass logic when I am lucid. And I bet I look like a nutcase right now."
Genji stopped his dance and twisted everything in reverse, undoing all the dislocations throughout his body. A series of harsh cracks sounded before Genji returned to normal. He put a hand to his neck, made one final readjustment, and looked at the prompts EverRealm sent.
[You have selected the Trailblazer''s Path. Commencing talent promotion.]
[Calculating ideal traits based on personal expression...]
[Designing upgrade procedures...]
[Initialing molding process...]
[Inducing high energy fluctuations...]
[Controlling excess variables...]
[Refining the details...]
[Applying finishing steps...]
[Upgrade complete.]
[Talent Upgrade - Trailblazer''s Path]
Synopsis: Despite the pre-established options, you were not content and decided to forge your own path. For this, EverRealm applauds you. However, your future is murky, and EverRealm cannot help you beyond this point. Everything will now depend on your efforts. Whether you surpass the previous paths or lose yourself in the brambles, only time will tell.
Developed Ability: Shadow Devour
Effect: Use at least 1,000 energy points to construct a vortex that shreds anything it touches. Deals 20x the consumed energy amount as damage. If this hits a weak point, multiply the damage by 3x and inflict 1% of the total damage on the soul. If this hits a fatal spot, instantly execute the target by destroying their soul.
Note: Your starting point is lower than the pre-developed paths, but your growth potential is higher. EverRealm has taken the first step for you, but you will need to continue developing your abilities. Otherwise, this opportunity will become your greatest shackle.
Essentially, it was another situation where Genji had to figure out the nuances by himself through experience and training. However, he wasn''t daunted by the challenge. He had been doing this the entire time with all his self-created techniques, so what difference did it make if he added another agenda?
Plus, Genji didn''t mind giving up his short-term prospects since he was already among the upper echelons within the same stat range. The gap between him and the other realm members might decrease, but he was confident in staying ahead with his newly created technique.
At worst, he would go from fighting multiple champions at once to being on par with a single one. Genji didn''t mind this trade-off since the outcome was worth it.
This is Shadow Devour we''re talking about¡ªthe same technique that won him several battles against opponents considerably stronger than him. Imagine how deadly Genji would be now that this last-resort trump card became a normal energy-intensive attack.
It was like adding wings to a tiger. Moreover, this was an upgraded version that damaged the soul. This was a huge change! After all, injuries to the soul are much more troublesome than their physical counterparts. Just reference the memory loss Genji struggled with for context.
''I might only have the combat power of a champion in a frontal battle, but my killing power is unrivaled. Maybe I should become an assassin again,'' Genji chuckled at the irony but soon realized his mask was already pushing him in that direction.
''Oh well. A knife that cuts is a good knife. I''m not picky with my methods if it gets the job done,'' Genji shrugged and checked the next prompts.
[Welcome to the third step, Nightmare Enigma. Please review the following changes before returning to your room.]
1. The danger cap has been removed: You are no longer guaranteed a world that matches your strength. You may encounter existences at the step''s limit (80 points) in any world.
2. World Restrictions have been lifted: Items of all genres can now be used in any world.
3. World Principles have been applied: Depending on the world, certain power systems may receive a buff or debuff while in the world.
4. World variety has increased: The worlds you enter may be drastically different from what you''re used to. Day and night cycles, gravity, the number of nearby stars, terrain, and even laws of reality are subject to change. Adjust accordingly or face the consequences.
5. Auto-pickup has been disabled: All items will drop on the ground after you kill a target. Equipment will no longer return to the member''s storage space on death. You can now pillage these bodies for extra loot.
6. Kill-drop rule has been modified: If you kill a member within 1 hour of them obtaining an item, the item is guaranteed to drop.
7. The Slayer rule has been applied: From now on, a native can join EverRealm by killing a realm member. They will replace the slain member''s position. This only applies to enforcers and below. For Champions, the fight needs to be an agreed-upon duel where the champion bets his legacy. If the champion loses, the legacy will be rebound to the slayer. Otherwise, the slayer will only receive the Enforcer rank. If the slayer rejects the proposition after killing a champion, a bounty will be issued against them.
8. Invitation privilege has been unlocked: Champions can now invite a person of their choice into EverRealm. The champions will be judged according to the invitee''s performance after 6 months. If the invitee fails to meet performance requirements, 5 privilege tokens will be deducted from the champion. Otherwise, a reward of up to 25 tokens can be given.
9. A new currency has been unlocked. The conversion ratio from Ever coins to Realm coins is 1000:1.
This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
10. A new mastery level has been unlocked: Supreme masteries will fundamentally change your fighting abilities. From now on, every level beyond Grandmaster will provide a corresponding bonus when upgraded. This upgrade will cost Realm coins.
11. Inter-realm communication and trade are now available. Please buy the corresponding support items to learn more. All trades between realms will use the new currency.
12. The Void Shop has been unlocked. This is a shop authorized by {Eternal Void}. It sells items that facilitate actions between realms, like the inter-realm contract.
13. EverRealm''s official shop has been updated. You can now buy more skills through it.
14. Vacation permission has been unlocked: For every 3 months you spend in a mission world, you can opt for a 1-month break. At your current step, this permission does not accumulate. You currently have 1 use available.
[Please confirm once you''ve finished reading.]
To summarize everything, the upcoming worlds would be more dangerous, more features have been unlocked, and EverRealm has become more lenient about people''s actions. It''s like becoming an adult: there are more responsibilities, difficulties, and freedom. Not everyone can adapt to these changes, but those who do will become capable explorers, regardless of rank.
Genji clicked confirm, and EverRealm teleported him back to his room. The following moment, he felt a furry tail brush up against his neck as Astros curled around him. Genji smiled at this familiar sensation and browsed the updated shops. The first thing he found was a compact technological device in the shape of a phone.
[Interdimensional Communication Device, Basic Model]
Cost: 100 realm coins
Description: A highly advanced, all-purpose communication device developed by Universal Inc. Co. It can take on many forms and contains all the necessary functions to satisfy your online desires. From video browsing to online communities, this place has it all if you can find the right people.
Note: This is created by fusing mana-tech with unique signal detection materials. Please avoid submerging this in mana disruption environments. Universal Inc. Co. bears no responsibility for damages caused by this reason.
Note 2: This device is also rigged to explode if you attempt to take it apart without permission. You have been warned.
Note 3: For any other unexpected damages, please reach out to customer service and report your problem. We''ll try to get back to you within 7 business cycles.
Note 4: Your Realm will automatically install the corresponding applications upon purchase. Consider buying the Luminal Tech Hologram Machine for 500 realm coins if you want to maximize the experience.
Genji converted some coins and purchased the item. A few seconds later, the device appeared in his storage and Genji began playing with it. Bruce and Astros watched with fascination over his shoulders as Genji went through the user introduction.
The device deserved its title as futuristic tech because its performance surpassed anything Genji had seen. For example, he could adjust the screen size with a button click or swap to a holographic display to project a 3-D movie. Its size ranged from a triple-screen monitor that covered 180? of his vision to a small chip that fits between his fingernails.
The holographic display could also be customized to accept inputs from the user, ditching the limited input constraints of modern technology. Its sound and video qualities were also mind-blowing, displaying details one might not even register in person.
The battery life was beyond amazing since it could last up to a week with merely a few hours of charging in the sun. Most impressively, all of this was accomplished with 50 grams of mass, making it lighter than a medium-sized chicken egg.
The screen was impossibly thin like paper, but it was durable enough to endure 20 points of strength. Anything beyond that would bend the material, but the device would gradually restore itself with time. This process could be sped up by using some of its battery power, but Genji doesn''t know the full extent of its repair features.
Genji didn''t want to find out either since it cost a decent sum. He finished playing around with its parameters and began to explore the apps. The programs designated by EverRealm were still being installed, so he checked out the everyday features first.
He found games, movies, videos, music, and various other forms of content made by different species. Some of them weren''t even humanoids, resembling small blobs or other animals. Genji even found a user claiming to be a mythical dragon from an upper world during this session.
His name is Dragon Herbert and he has a reputation for complaining about games, enjoying delicious foods, and consuming way too much media. According to some users, this Dragon is either sleeping or online. There''s nothing in between. It was the classical NEET lifestyle.
"Isn''t this just the internet?" he asked after a while.
"Yiii?"
"Neigh?"
Bruce and Astros tired their head in confusion, unaware of the comparison.
"Oh, never mind then," Genji said, buying two more devices. "Here, you two can play with it. Just make sure you don''t agree to anything shady like downloading RAM or an extended car warranty. Also, don''t give away your personal information if a site asks for it. Just fill in random stuff until you can access what you want."
The two of them eagerly nodded their heads like baby chicks pecking rice and took the devices. Genji gave both of them some coins to play with before checking the recommended accessory.
[Luminal Tech Hologram Machine requires a whole room. Modify the current room?]
Genji declined and headed next door before proceeding.
[500,000 Ever coins have been deducted.]
[The modification will take 18 hours. Please ensure no one uses this room within this time.]
Genji closed the door behind him and locked it through the user interface. He then opened the apps that had finished downloading. There were four main features that EverRealm added.
The first was Communicate, which allowed him to text and call people on his friends list. This feature might seem redundant at first since EverRealm already facilitates communication, but the truth was far from it.
Unlike EverRealm''s messaging system, Genji could bring this device into the mission worlds. This meant he could coordinate with his acquaintances if he ever needed to. This fact was only amplified by the removal of world restrictions, guaranteeing its effectiveness. Of course, this only applies to those in the same world since communication between worlds is too excessive.
The second feature is the Forums, a platform only accessible to realm members. Here, people from different worlds can share their experiences and promote their businesses. Anything goes on this network, though it''s unknown how secure it is.
Thirdly is the Marketplace, which consists of trade between the realm members and all the previously mentioned official shops. Both EverRealm''s catalog and Eternal Void are included in this section, making purchases more convenient. The caveat, however, is that all transactions between different realms are subject to a 10% tax.
That''s 5% for each realm, the standard fee for using the auction house. It''s not a high fee considering they''re literally teleporting items between realms, but it is enough to deter most mediocre products. It''s simply not worth buying something at an inflated price when one can get the same product for a reduced price.
Hence, most transactions here involve high-value items that yield a decent profit. Items such as legendary equipment, unique consumables, and rare inheritances are commonplace because they benefit from having a wider audience.
Other products may include personal skills a member has developed over time. For example, ManaRealm specializes in enchanting equipment, so they could reasonably sell their services here.
Others like blacksmiths and alchemists can follow the same path, but most people already have a go-to person. Thus they would need to be renowned across the realms if they want to transition here. Everything boils down to supply and demand.
The rarer and more unique a skill is, the more likely one can make a profit here. Because in the Marketplace, there are plenty of rich buyers, but not enough services. The 10% fee really emphasized that point.
Of course, the fee only applies if the transaction is between two realms. If it''s between members from the same realm, it will only be 5%. But why pay through the Marketplace when they could meet in person and avoid that? Albeit some people might just accept the fee because they don''t want to waste the time. Everyone has different standards for how much is worthwhile.
Finally, there is the management function. This basically encompasses everything else that could be done through the realm. It''s like a remote control for different features.
Examples include access to special buildings, setting up stalls, changing permissions on who can enter one''s room, and deciding when to return to one''s original world. Genji could do all of this remotely and even preset them if he wanted to.
With this, he could let Bruce into the training hall without being physically present. Or he could transfer money to Astros and Bruce''s card when they run low. The possibilities are endless. If someone can think of a way to make their lives more convenient, this feature has it. If not, they can always request EverRealm to add it. These apps are constantly being updated.
Once Genji understood all of this, he went to the strengthening hall and used his points from last time.
[Enigma]
Health: 30,140/30,140 (Con x 250 x 1.2 + 14,240. Increase of 900 from the last settlement.)
Energy: 4,653/4,653 (Int x 50 + 1,953 from cloak. Increase of 1,173 from the last settlement.)
Con: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Str: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Dex: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Int: 50 ¡ú 54
Spc: 50 ¡ú 55
Mastery Levels:
- Dodging Supreme (5.8%, +5.6)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 45%, +3%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 24.2%, +1.2%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 27%, +11%)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Grandmaster - 71%, +42%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 41%, +12%)
Out of everything, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Total Weapon Mastery, and Dagger Mastery experienced a major increase because Genji gained a better understanding of force application. This was especially prevalent in Hand-to-Hand Combat because he learned several new martial arts during his time as Ij''gne. So much so that Hand-to-Hand Combat became his third most proficient mastery despite its late start.
Genji checked the upgrade price from Grandmaster to Supreme and nearly choked on his spit. ''100 thousand realm coins?!? That''s 100 million normal coins! It''s a tenfold increase! How many legendaries is that?''
Genji did the calculations and realized it was 1 million Ever coins or 1,000 realm coins for each percentage. It was an astronomical amount if Genji excluded the inherent values of his legacies. Genji doubted that he would have enough even if he sold all his other equipment.
Fortunately, he had other sources of income and wasn''t too reliant on this option. Nonetheless, it would still take a few worlds to level up a single mastery. Well, for three of them at least. Hand-to-Hand Combat is the exception because he still has Zarasu''s Legacy, which would give another boost in percentage. Pairing this with this month''s income meant he could upgrade it with room to spare.
But before that, he needed to fuse his martial arts with his other techniques. The Elemental Inspirations were such profound techniques, and it would be a waste to not do anything with them.
''Time to start training again,'' Genji thought, lightly punching his palm and heading for the training hall.
199 – Immersion Room
Genji spent the next few days fusing the four basic inspirations into his fighting style. He managed everything from the piercing strikes of fire to the crushing force of the earth to the relentless nature of water. With these additions, all of his attacks experienced a huge boost in power.
His basic attacks now have the same power as his dagger arts before the fusion, and his dagger arts surpassed the power achieved during his Berserk state. This was a significant increase in power since the dagger arts were considered active skills with moderate stamina consumption.
However, the highlight of this fusion was Wind Inspiration, which gave his flashstep newfound agility. Now, he could traverse in a curved trajectory instead of the straight path from before. This flexibility would only grow as Genji improved his control and became more proficient with it.
This meant fewer instances of him abruptly changing direction mid-movement, greatly reducing the burden on his body. This indirectly improved his overall speed and made him that much more menacing.
He also created another dagger art based on the force dispersion principles of Water Inspiration. Genji named it Water Parry in honor of its origins. This technique redirects the incoming force and borrows some for his next strike. Due to his high mastery of the art, Genji has a small window when the impact doesn''t affect him.
He lets the force flow through his body rather than bluntly resisting it. This is a dangerous technique because a single mistake would result in significantly worse injuries than if he had endured the strike normally. It is a double-edged sword that demands the utmost control from its wielder.
However, its payoffs are equally rewarding as a proper chaining of Water Parry would generate enough force to surpass even his peak state. He could become a cyclone of death on the battlefield if his opponents gave him time to set it up. Due to this trait, Genji made sure to become proficient with his saber as well. [Jaguar] is heavier than his daggers, so it can output much more force.
Due to these changes, Genji also unlocked two other masteries for his arsenal: Swift Steps and Parrying, both at the early stages of Master rank. For now, Genji left them alone because he hadn''t confirmed his income yet.
Genji made sure to fully excavate the inspirations'' potential because he wanted to make the most of Zarasu''s Legacy. His target was the barbarian''s nature arts because he hadn''t fully mastered them yet.
It was the centerpiece of his Lighting Inspiration, so it couldn''t be lacking in any way. All the other techniques could be discarded, but he needed to comprehend the remaining parts of Nature''s Harmony. The martial art wouldn''t reach its full potential otherwise.
So Genji prepared as much as possible and digested every application of the arts. Then he mentally reviewed the harmony arts and tranquilized his emotions. He even had his legacy spirits help him by clearing his mind. Once all of this was complete, Genji took out the legacy and activated its inheritance.
The item dissipated into motes of light that seeped into his head, filling his brain with foreign memories. Countless experiences flashed through his consciousness, but Genji ignored the irrelevant ones and tunneled onto his target. Time passed and his muscles began subconsciously twitching, doing everything to remember the depicted movements.
His understanding rose with his muscle tremors before harmony finally reached perfection. Genji realized there was still some time left and delved into the application of the five arts. After a few more minutes, the process ended, and the immense pile of memories began fading from his mind. This was a protective measure set by EverRealm so the user doesn''t become consumed by the overwhelming experience.
Genji breathed out, stood up, and put everything into practice. He started with his body as it was the most compatible form of expression. Only after he fully understood the nuances did he begin incorporating it into his weapons. The end result was a powerful slash that rivaled his dagger arts in Berserk form. His overall power had increased again by another level.
This was not the limit because EverRealm was an urban environment. Nature''s Harmony draws its power from the excess plant vitality in the environment.
The livelier the vegetation, the greater the boost. Its base power might be impressive, but its peak abilities are mind-blowing. Genji estimates that in optimal conditions, his power could rival even a legacy liberation - that was how insane this art was.
Best of all, this is a passive ability that requires nothing on his end! He can maintain this strength until the environment is destroyed, or the energy runs out, whichever comes first in a battle.
Basically, Genji''s optimal fighting terrain is a densely packed area of robust plants - something like the world''s center back in Primordial Echoes. In such places, Genji has the confidence to rival multiple champions like before.
The martial arts also granted Genji an acute sense of nature. He could now easily determine how lively a world was simply by measuring the available energy in the air.
If there''s a copious amount of energy to fuel this art, then the area has a lot of biodiversity and a flourishing ecosystem. In contrast, if he couldn''t gather any energy, essentially rendering the art useless, then the area is a death zone. That''s the only way he doesn''t gain a buff.
''Too bad it can''t forcibly drain lifeforce like those demons back in the Barren Wasteland,'' Genji whimsically thought. ''That would truly bring this to the next level.''
However, this thought was merely that. Genji knew he was being greedy and that wasn''t possible. It was because Nature''s Harmony emphasized balance that this was possible.
If it had focused on plundering vitality instead, he would have had a harder time gathering this much power without conducting a genocide every time. But that''s too much of a reliance on outside factors for Genji''s liking. In the end, this was the ideal result for Genji.
Genji finished his training and headed back to his room. Cake, with Astros on her lap, greeted him on his return. Genji nodded back and headed upstairs to check out the modified room. Sensing an upcoming event, Astros hopped off his spot and followed Genji. Cake shrugged and also joined the entourage.
They made their way up and Genji unlocked the room for the first time in days. As they stepped inside, Cake couldn''t help but comment, "This doesn''t look any different than before. Are you sure it was modified?"
"We''ll just have to see," Genji replied, pulling up the instruction manual for the machine.
Step 1: Activate in Manage function
Step 2: Select the device to use (in cases where multiple devices are in range)
Step 3: Select an application to immerse the room. (Note: This feature will not work if the app does not have a 3-D model.)
It was nice and simple. Even the most technologically awkward person could figure it out.
Genji selected a random video and a loading circle appeared on screen. It spun for a few seconds before blots of light formed on the surface walls. These areas expanded to cover the room and took on different colors from the video. In a matter of seconds, the entire room transformed into a rocky field accented by the setting sun in the background.
The distant trees began swaying gently, casting long shadows, and the musical sounds of wind through hollow reeds echoed in the room. It was as if they''d been transported into the world in the video, basking in all its scenery.
However, Genji knew this was not the case. The machine had taken the room as a blueprint and applied a dynamic coating over it. The scene might look wide, but he still needed to mind the physical objects in the room.
Otherwise, he would walk into the furniture and fumble painfully. The best comparison would be a virtual reality headset but with the room as the display rather than a small gear strapped to one''s head.
"Wow," Cake said breathlessly, marveling at the realistic graphics. She approached the walls and traced her hand over it, admiring how the projection remained unchanged under the interference.
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"It''s pretty cool. This can be our gaming room from now on," Genji said, swapping to the forums. The scenery slowly faded and sheets of paper lined the walls. Each of these sheets represented a different thread on the home page and could be clicked on to view. At the center of the room was a holographic keyboard and a search bar.
Genji typed some broad topics into this engine and the papers began shifting to fit his requests. The most prevalent ones were highlighted in different colors around the room, allowing him to easily distinguish the results.
"They did a good job making this," he commented and swapped to the Marketplace. The same transition effect applied and Genji soon found himself among the streets, flanked by stalls on both sides and their wares. Avatars of other users could be seen walking around and bargaining with the vendors.
There were also a few blank mannequins teleporting around and communicating with text messages. These represented the users that connected to the Marketplace without the hologram machine. Genji took a step and the scenery shifted a few blocks forward. The search bar was still at the center of the room, but Genji wasn''t looking for anything particular right now.
He waved his hand to adjust the step size and began strolling around. After a few minutes, Genji sensed a particular gaze on him and turned around. At the side, Genji spotted a familiar man with a sheathed katana behind a stall.
"Oh hello there," Genji greeted Xue Fe, an opponent from SanguineRealm. "I believe this is the fourth time we''ve met?"
Xue Fe didn''t answer, but his gaze parsed over Astros and lingered on Cake. He glanced at her neck, chest, and stomach as if evaluating all the ways to kill her. This feeling unnerved Cake and made her subconsciously take a step back. Before this could last any longer, Genji stepped between them and cut off Xue Fe''s view.
"Now now," Genji said, "No need to stare like that. You won''t meet her on the battlefield."
Xue Fe restrained his gaze and asked, "Will you be buying anything?"
"No, but I have some things I want to sell," Genji said, placing some potions on his stall. "How about it? I can give you a small discount if you place an order right now. Acquaintance''s price."
Xue Fe identified these potions as the same ones Genji used after their last battle and thought back to his rapid recovery. He had expected it to take a few days, but Genji had shaken it off like they were normal injuries. That was the part that left the deepest impression on Xue Fe.
"How much?" Xue Fe asked after a few moments.
"5,000 realm coins," Genji quoted. "I''ll give you two kits worth of this stuff."
Xue Fe determined this price was acceptable and agreed to the purchase. Genji smiled, took out two crates, packed them in front of Xue Fe, and initiated a trade request. Xue Fe accepted, and Genji received 4,500 coins after tax.
Genji exited the Marketplace and noticed Cake giving him a bewildered stare.
"What was that?" she asked. "Why was that exchange so tense?"
"Because we tried to kill each other before," Genji nonchalantly said, causing her eyes to widen further.
"Excuse me?! Then isn''t it risky to sell potions to him? What happens if he uses it against you?"
"Not really. Income is income. Plus, what harm can some healing consumables cause?"
"Yeah, you''re right. I''m being overly cautious." Cake relaxed with a hand on her chest.
However, what Cake didn''t realize was that Genji''s last question had been a rhetorical one. The real answer was ''a lot of damage.'' After all, he''d killed a champion before with just a "healing potion." And this case wouldn''t be any different. Genji knew at least three viable methods to trigger a deadly reaction in the people who used his products, and this number would only increase if he put his mind to it.
"Okay, have fun," Genji said, disconnecting his device and walking toward the door. "I''m going to work in my lab now."
A few more days passed, and Genji sold all the loot from the previous world. In total, he had 37 epics, 2 semi-legendaries, and an uncountable number of rares. That was the result of him sweeping a whole world.
He earned 48,000 realm coins from selling all of this. The price was lower than expected because most of these items had high-stat requirements and couldn''t be used for long in the 2nd step before Obsoletion kicked in.
The ones sold in the Marketplace hardly affected the price because of the 10% tax and the fact that people in the 3rd step had a lower reliance on equipment. Everyone preferred to spend their coins on masteries since it was more conducive to their strength, and they already had a full set of equipment.
Adding this amount to his earnings from selling potions and the passive income from the Brewer''s Alliance, Genji''s total reached 61,000 coins. Out of these, he spent 10,000 to buy the Fundamental Explorer''s Pack from the newly upgraded skill shop. This pack consists of all the skills one would need when exploring an unknown world.
Examples include cartography (the art of making maps), astronavigation (the practice of using stars to determine one''s position), a basic knowledge of safe-to-eat foods, an increased affinity for learning foreign languages, basic archaeology techniques, various methods of tracking, knowledge of ancient scripts, ways of evaluating danger zones, managing personal relationships, and many more.
It was an expansive set of knowledge that surpassed its initial cost and prepared Genji for anything the upcoming worlds might throw at him. Genji''s head ached from all this information because this was equivalent to gaining decades worth of experience at once.
He soothed his headache with a light massage and headed to the strengthening hall to upgrade his masteries. Today''s main focuses were Hand-to-Hand Combat at 81% Grandmaster after using Zarasu''s legacy, Swift Steps at 12% Master, and Parrying at 7% Master.
First, he spent 19,000 coins to upgrade Hand-to-Hand Combat to Supreme.
[Achieving Supreme. Please select a bonus effect for Hand-to-Hand Combat]
- A Flash Enlightenment: Increase the power of all your martial arts by 25%. During this strengthening, ignore any limits that you might encounter.
- Beastly Instincts: Make you more aware of your surroundings and greatly increase your premonition to unfavorable situations.
- Piercing Arts: All punches and kicks will ignore 15% of your target''s defense.
There were three options, but none of them were as defining as cutting intent or his hyper dodge. Genji attributed this to how he broke through. In the first two cases, Genji achieved Supreme through countless battles and comprehended the optimal abilities for his situation. As a result, he''d fully excavated the potential of those masteries and made them his own.
However, in this case, he broke through with EverRealm''s help. The process was much simpler, but the options might not suit him. To address this drawback, EverRealm gave him three options and stated their effects.
Genji immediately ruled out the third option because it didn''t fit his combat style. This left an all-around increase in his martial arts or a passive that enhanced his senses. They were both decent options, but Genji eventually settled on Beastly Instincts. Although boosting his offensive powers was tempting, it was more important to increase his survivability.
Supreme Dodging helps detect and avoid incoming threats, but it doesn''t do much against setups that affect him in the future. It is a very "at the moment" ability. However, Beastly Instincts would fill that gap since it is a preventative warning. If someone tries to scheme against him, he would have a higher chance of detecting it and breaking out of it.
Next, he spent 18,100 coins to upgrade Swift Steps and Parrying to Grandmaster, leaving him with 13,900 coins. Swift Steps had the biggest effect on him because this mastery denoted his skill in agile movements. With this upgrade, he began adapting to his new flashstep at a higher pace.
Parry, however, only affected the success rate of Water Parry. This was the only technique in this category, so the benefits were marginal. Nonetheless, it gave him the foundation for future improvements.
Out of the remaining coins, Genji reserved 5,000 for potions and other necessities before putting the remaining 8,900 into stealth, his next highest mastery. From lowest to highest, this is what his masteries looked like after everything:
- Swift Steps (Grandmaster - 0%)
- Parrying (Grandmaster - 0%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 24.2%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 27%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 53.9%, +8.9%)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Supreme - 0%)
- Dodging Supreme (5.8%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 41%)
Meanwhile, back in Genji''s room, Astros gleefully hopped up the stairs toward the virtual immersion room. He was alone today because Cake had gone grocery shopping, and Bruce was enjoying his time in the food area. They both offered to bring him along, but Astros had refused. He wanted to explore the new technology like a curious child with a new toy, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
Once he reached the top of the stairs, he walked over to the virtual immersion room and lightly pushed open the door. Then he linked up the device according to his memories and began pressing buttons to see their results. Astros was illiterate in the language displayed, so this was the only way he could figure things out.
Incidentally, one of these buttons was "record." A blinking red light appeared on the ceiling and filmed Astros''s every action. From his head scratches to interactions with the hologram to his excited squeaks when he understood something, it captured it all. Astros was having the time of his life and energetically paraded around the room.
This lasted for another 30 minutes before Cake returned from her trip. After putting away all the food items, she made a light snack for Astros and called for him. When she realized Astros wasn''t coming, she put the snack on a plate and began searching for him.
"Astros, where are you?" she called as she walked around the house.
After clearing the first floor, she headed upstairs and heard sounds through the small gap in the doorway. The room was fitted with optimal noise-canceling technology, so these sounds were rather quiet from afar. If Astros hadn''t forgotten to close it, it would have taken Cake much longer to find him.
''He must be having fun,'' she thought, smiling to herself and approaching the colorful lights leaking out from the gap.
"Hey Astros, I bought some snacks," she announced, knocking on the open door before entering.
Astros turned around, waved at her with his tiny paws, and cheerfully pointed at the blinking light on the ceiling. It was as if he wanted to introduce her to a friend he''d made.
Cake''s smile widened, and she approached the control center to stop the recording. "That''s not a friend," she explained to him. "It''s an indication that you''re being recorded."
Astros tilted his head in confusion, not understanding why the friendly red dot disappeared, but he didn''t think too deeply about it. His fluffy tail waved back and forth in contentment, and he reached for the plate. However, what neither of them realized was that as Astros leaned forward, his tail inadvertently swabbed over "upload," making the entire recording public...
200 – Meeting Abalone Again
''So bored,'' River Stream thought, staring at the ceiling from his bed. It was the day after he''d returned from a stressful world, and he had no motivation to do anything. All he wanted was to lie in bed, pass the day, and sleep. It was the same sluggishness that one would get from burnout.
But no matter how he tried, his energetic body didn''t feel tired. Hence, he resorted to browsing the universal web on his communication device. The device wasn''t difficult to obtain since he had asked his parents for it.
The hard part was knowing such an object existed in the first place. If 7156 hadn''t broken through two months ago and informed him of it, River would have taken much longer to obtain one. After all, he still hadn''t crossed the threshold for the 3rd step. For some reason, his parents weren''t too keen on giving him these luxuries ahead of time.
River browsed the video-sharing site for the next few hours, wasting time like a lazy sloth. All of a sudden, the algorithm recommended a video with no thumbnail. This was unusual since the platform had a program to generate a thumbnail on request.
It wasn''t difficult either. Just describe the details, and the program will do everything for you. They could even use voice commands and talk to the artificial intelligence for a better result.
Instead, the video used a picture taken from the first few seconds. This rough product gave off a different charm and intrigued River enough to click on it. As the video loaded, River''s eyes went down to the description, and his body lurched upward with surprise.
''Trending #23? With that thumbnail?''
This gave River some confidence about the video''s quality and fueled his anticipation. Without wasting another moment, he made himself comfortable and started the video. A ferret appeared on the screen and looked at the camera with a tilted head. Glimmers of curiosity and cheerfulness could be seen in the creature''s eyes as if greeting the audience.
This lasted a few seconds before Astros got closer and tapped the next button. The viewpoint swapped to the side to better show his actions before returning to having Astros at the center. This lasted a few more seconds before Astros repeated the action. Several minutes passed in this manner until Astros clicked on a movie.
The scene of a spaceship twirling through large canyons appeared around Astros, filling the room with colorful flashes and beautifully engineered sounds. Astros raved to the scene and cheered in success.
This little dance captured the hearts of the viewers and made them forget the passing of time. All their attention was focused on the ferret''s jovial nature and its uplifting body language. There was just something about the way Astros behaved that melted the troubles of their everyday lives.
And before anyone realized it, Cake had entered the room and ended the recording. River Stream stared at the black screen for a few more seconds before he snapped out of his daze.
"That was so adorable," he muttered with a smile.
River exited full-screen mode and opened the comments, intending to thank the creator for the experience. But before he could type out his thoughts, he realized someone had already beaten him to it. In descending order, these were the top comments he saw:
RandomRadish: I''ve never felt so fuzzy before. I feel like all my stress has been washed away.
Icey: Ahhhhh, cuteness overload. I can''t!
RagingDino627: Time to run it back for another round.
TsundereDemon222: I''m not smiling, you''re smiling.
Anglerfish: The video must have cast a spell on me. Yes, that must be the case. There''s no way six hours could pass so quickly...
All of these comments had thousands of likes and countless replies. This was surprising for a video that had only been out for a few hours, especially by an anonymous user with no prior following. Nonetheless, River gave his support and refreshed the page. This caused his eyebrows to lurch upward as he realized the trending rank had jumped to #16.
''What the? So quickly?'' River rubbed his eyes and double-checked this number, only to see it increase by another rank. It was official - the video had gone viral.
''But why does that ferret seem familiar? Where have I seen it before? Nah, can''t be. I must be imagining things.''
River Stream fooled around for another hour when he realized 7156 had also returned from his mission. River sent a meet-up request and headed to their usual spot, a cozy bar run by a friend. When River arrived, 7156 was in the middle of selling his loot. River waited for him to finish before greeting his taciturn friend.
They enjoyed the atmosphere for a little while longer before heading to Genji''s place to restock their supplies. Since they were both running low, they decided to go together and save the drug dealer some hassle.
Genji noticed that 7156''s previously volatile aura had stabilized as he opened the door. This wasn''t too surprising since it had been seven months since they last met. That was plenty of time for 7156 to resolve his issues.
What was surprising, however, was that Genji still sensed multiple energy signatures from him, as if all the energies were coexisting inside him. Genji didn''t know how 7156 managed this impressive feat, but he didn''t stare for too long.
"Good to see that you won''t be dying anytime soon," Genji said with a light smile. "You''re one of my biggest customers, and I would lose a good chunk of income if you did."
7156 hummed in response and Genji led them to the lab. Once they made themselves comfortable, Genji slid his catalog over and gave them time to browse the book. "I''ve updated my stuff. Feel free to ask any questions."
As 7156 flipped through the book, River Stream awkwardly scratched his head and pulled Genji aside.
"Do you have some more poisons?" he asked, somewhat distressed.
"Oh? You used the previous one? How was it? Doesn''t it feel good to beat an insurmountable enemy like that?"
River coughed lightly and said, "Let''s not talk about that. I almost died from it." In fact, this was the main contributor to his stress and why he was so demotivated to get up today. Not everyone could be like Genji and shrug off nerve-wracking events like drinking water.
"But you survived. And let''s be honest, you were already cornered if you decided to use the poison," Genji pointed out.
"I know, but it doesn''t change how I feel about the experience. Can we just get to the point already?"
"Sure, what do you want? Something stronger? Wider in area? Or a compound poison that requires two mixtures to activate?"
River did a double-take when he heard the last part. He didn''t know such a poison existed, but he didn''t dwell on the issue. "Do you have something more manageable? Something that won''t kill me as well?"
"I do, but it won''t be as effective. Are you sure you want it?"
River massaged his head and accepted the risky reality Genji offered him. "Can I at least get something to delay the effects so I don''t immediately die from it? You do have something like that, right?"
"Of course," Genji answered with a playful smirk. "I just don''t know if you have the guts to drink it."
"You don''t have any antidotes, so what choice do I have? It''s not like I''ll be drinking more poison to quench my thirst." Genji''s smile only widened at this comment, and River''s distress spiked in response. "Hold on! You wouldn''t be giving me more poison, right? Right? RIGHT?"
"Sorry to break it to you, but that''s exactly what''s going to happen."
River sighed in defeat and said, "What did I expect? You''re Enigma, after all. Why did I think I could get a normal solution from you?"
"So you buying this?"
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"Yes." River didn''t know he was capable of such a resigned tone, but there''s a first for everything.
After receiving the payment, Genji passed over the product and informed him of its nuances. Genji offered some training sessions on the product, which River readily agreed to. Then they headed back into the lab where they settled the healing consumables.
Once that was finished, 7156 also marked some poisons he wanted before leaving with River Stream. As the door closed, Genji began processing their orders and stocking up on other necessities.
Items like high-caloric foods, inter-realm contracts, and other convenience items were purchased in bulk from the void shop. Among these was a life-saving item that teleported the user 10,000 kilometers away from the current location.
After finishing all of this, Genji headed out for an appointment with a certain Spirit Necromancer. Abalone had agreed to tell Genji about the Spirit of Resentment once he reached the third step, and it was time to cash in on that promise.
Following the directions given by the bizarre necromancer, Genji arrived at a remote cafe that reeked of death. Genji was especially sensitive to this aura since Nature''s Harmony heightened his senses to life. As he sat down, Abalone walked over with two cups of coffee and sat across from him.
"Your instincts have gotten sharper," Abalone commented when he sensed Genji''s discomfort. "I hope you don''t mind my room. I am quite fond of this setting, but I can''t go out in public that often."
"No, it looks great," Genji replied, taking a sip from the offered cup. The coffee was very bitter, with a hint of rottenness. This taste hadn''t been intentionally added but rather formed in the short period it was in contact with Abalone''s aura. "This is pretty good," he commented while ignoring the blatant aftertaste. "Where did you get the beans?"
Abalone''s eyes lit up, and he began explaining the coffee''s background with great enthusiasm. Genji found this description overwhelming and somewhat boring, but he played along and entertained the man. From what he could tell, Abalone was an emotionally unstable character, and it would be stupid to provoke him.
The man went on for a whole hour before he realized he got sidetracked and apologized.
"It''s fine. I enjoyed the talk," Genji lied without a change. "I would love to hear more after this."
"Really? I''ve finally met a like-minded person!" Abalone thrust his arms up in celebration. "You don''t know how many people I''ve met that shunned me and refused to listen. It''s nice to finally meet someone who respects me!"
"The honor''s all mine," Genji answered with a smile.
"Oh yeah, what were we talking about again?" Abalone asked after he regained his composure.
"The Spirit of Resentment," Genji reminded him. "You agreed to tell me how to procure it."
"Ahhh yes, that thing. How do I explain it?" Abalone gazed upward and held his wrinkled chin for a few moments before refocusing on Genji. "Have you ever killed a child of fate?"
"Yes. Several."
"So you know about the injections. That makes this easier. A Spirit of Resentment is similar to that. It only drops from the protagonist of a world - someone with a specific destiny and is supported by the world''s will."
Genji nodded to show that he understood.
"When the protagonist completes his journey, the world will change for the better. But this is only true from the world''s standpoint. Because to achieve this goal, the world might resort to some nasty means, including sacrificing the protagonist in the end. You can probably imagine the resentment one would feel in that situation. That is to say, what''s good for the world might not be best for the protagonist."
"This is the first time I''ve heard of this," Genji admitted.
"I''m not surprised. It''s quite rare in the lower worlds, but it becomes more likely as world ranks increase. You see some nasty stuff as worlds become more sentient. That''s why protagonists go from being the world''s darlings to disposable pawns in the later stages. They almost always have a tragic ending. Some protagonists even resort to rebelling against fate, overturning their worlds before joining the realms. You''ll meet some of these people in the 4th step."
"So how does this relate to the Spirit of Resentment?"
"Well, in rare cases, the world does treat the protagonist as its own child. If you kill these people, you will earn the world''s ire. Then you''re in for a bad time. Calamities will swarm you like flies and every possible unlucky event can and will happen to you. To put it simply, you''re being targeted by the world. The only way to survive is to either leave fast or possess absolute strength that nothing can shake you. You following?"
Genji nodded once more.
"But here''s the problem: the Spirit of Resentment will only manifest if this child of fate hates you with all their guts at the time of death. Their resentment would fuse with the world''s, creating a stronger curse that tries to smother the killer. That''s what you''re trying to harvest here. So after hearing all that, are you still up for the task?"
''He''s definitely done this before,'' Genji thought. ''That''s way too much detail for mere research. But he did mention something about not wanting to deal with this crap again.''
"I don''t see why not," Genji answered. "I''ll manage somehow. It won''t hurt to give it a try. Is there anything else I need to know?"
"The minimum power level this child of fate needs to be at is the peak of 3rd step¡ªideally the 4th step. Also, the stronger the hatred, the better the final quality, but don''t bite off more than you can chew. You can easily die from this."
"Out of curiosity, what about the 5th step? Will they also drop one?"
"Don''t even think about that. Beings in the 5th step are on another level. If you somehow manage to fulfill all of these stringent conditions, then you wouldn''t be creating a Spirit of Resentment, but a Poltergeist of Resentment. Children of Fate in the 5th step are so strong that they can spawn a new lifeform upon death. And the worst part is that the Poltergeists are stronger than the original body. That''s two tough fights back to back without rest. You would have to be suicidal to attempt this path," Abalone said with a hint of fear in his voice.
"Okay, I''ll keep that in mind." Genji bid Abalone farewell and headed back to his room. During the trip, he searched for Abalone on the forums and obtained some alarming results. According to one thread, this unstable necromancer had once slaughtered an entire 4th step world over a single insult.
"..."
Genji held a moment of silence for this story before sliding the device back into his pocket and continued walking like nothing had happened. Like this, his month ended, and he returned to Earth.
"Reminder class, the field trip forms are due Friday," Ms. Sheri, Alysha''s homeroom teacher, said as the school bell signaled the end of class. "Don''t forget!"
It was Monday, so there were still a few days left. Alysha had already turned hers in, so this wasn''t a worry for her. She noticed a certain boy from her class staring at her as she grabbed her bag. Alysha smiled at him, causing him to divert his eyes and flush red.
This was Nathan, and they hadn''t interacted much in school. They had agreed to keep matters about the workshop a secret from their classmates, lest some rumors circulate. Although Nathan would love for those thoughts to become a reality, he knew that would only make Alysha uncomfortable.
Hence, he stayed quiet and surrendered the initiative to her. If she wanted to reveal it, he wouldn''t oppose it, but otherwise, he had no reason to do so. Alysha still wanted to enjoy her school life, so this was how the situation developed.
Alysha walked out under Ms. Sheri''s lead and met up with Kosa. The kind uncle was also with her today, so Alysha greeted him. Alysha didn''t know why, but for some reason, Kosa always had this forced smile when he was around. What a strange relationship they had. Maybe her mother had been correct in giving Kosa some days off.
But why does that smile give off the same feeling as when Genji is around? It can''t be that Kosa is uncomfortable with both of them, right? She doesn''t seem that socially awkward to Alysha.
''Whatever. It''s that time of the month again. I hope he comes back soon.''
Alysha hummed to herself as they walked to the workshop, skipping around like an energetic bunny while the bodyguards stiffly followed her. When they arrived at their destination, Alysha entered and saw the adults bustling around with carefully packaged boxes. These contained their most recent artworks and were designated for an art exhibit.
This event had been in the planning for two months now, and everyone worked hard to prepare for it. There was a lot of hype in the art community regarding this exhibit because it was one of the grander occasions in recent years.
"Hey Teacher Alysha," the male agent greeted Alysha as she walked in. "We''re just finishing the final pieces. You can go set up your space, and we''ll join you shortly."
"Okay, Jeremiah," she responded with a bright smile.
Teacher Alysha - all the students, young and old, had taken to calling her that over these months. She deserved the title with her skills, but the key factor was that the agents noticed her fondness for the address. As such, they started this trend, and everyone shortly followed.
But the reason they did so was somewhat comedic: they wanted to get on her good side. Because it was easier to please the little ancestor than to withstand the wrath of the demon king behind her. Although the man hadn''t shown up for a while, they didn''t dare neglect their duties. After all, it was never certain when he would return. It was best if they didn''t risk their lives unnecessarily.
Jeremiah sighed in relief as Alysha disappeared around the corner, much to Kosa''s amusement.
"You don''t have to be so tense," she teased him. "It''s not like he will devour you and leave you without a corpse."
"Shut up. I don''t want to hear that from you," he rebuked in a light-hearted tone. "You were the same a few months ago."
"But as a senior in this line, I reserve the right to give useless criticisms for fun."
Jeremiah rolled his eyes at her, only to freeze as he spotted Genji beside them.
"Hey there," Genji greeted them. "Can you tell me where I can find Alysha?"
"Over there, second door to your left," Kosa pointed in the general direction, unfazed by Genji''s sudden appearance. Kosa had gotten used to Genji''s antics, so she maintained her composure.
Genji thanked her and approached the room. After a soft knock, the scampering of feet sounded, and Alysha opened the door. She smiled brightly at him before inviting him inside.
Genji helped her set up her tools and stood back to watch her work. After finishing her piece, she sat down across from him and twiddled her thumbs.
"What''s wrong? Something bothering you?" Genji asked as he fed Astros some fruits.
"Ummm," she began with hesitation. "Can you stay longer this time?" Her eyes were mostly resigned, but there was a hint of hope within them. It was the same emotions one would have when asking their parents for a toy that would strain their financial status. "I''m having my first exhibition in two weeks, and I want you to be there."
She looked down at the ground and considered how to appear unaffected after the rejection. To her surprise, Genji agreed without much thought.
"Sure, what time?" Alysha looked up in surprise, just in time to see Genji fiddling with his phone, applying for a vacation. He had no use for this anyway, so he might as well make Alysha happy. He could tell this exhibition meant a lot to her from her tone. "What? Are you so stunned that you can''t speak?"
Alysha stared for a few moments before lunging at him for a hug. "GENJI!" she shouted, burying her face into his stomach and causing Astros to leap off in annoyance.
''So dramatic,'' Astros thought to himself and finished the last remnants of his snack.
201 – Exhibition
Genji leisurely enjoyed the next few days, playing around and spending money without care. Now that they had an extra month, they could afford to enjoy their time. It was a true vacation without any worries.
Astros tried lots of food throughout these days, rarely spending a moment without a snack. The people at the workshop wondered how a ferret could eat so much, but they quickly dismissed the issue when they realized Astros was unaffected by the intake. Since Astros wasn''t being harmed, they had no reason to deny him.
What they did find strange, however, was the sight of Astros playing with a phone. Every day, as Alysha hogged Genji to herself, the ferret could be seen sulking in the corner, ferociously tapping away at the device.
In one instance, Kosa grew curious and peeked at his screen, only to see numerous circles chaotically flying across the screen. Astros rapidly tapped away at them, filling the display with overwhelming special effects and an ever-increasing combo count. From what she could tell, Astros was playing a rhythm game and he was very good at it.
''What the? Since when can ferrets play like that?'' she inwardly asked, bewildered by the scene.
Astros finished the level after a few more seconds and looked up at her, having sensed the intruding gaze.
"Grrrr." Astros raised a claw at her and grumpily growled as if asking what she wanted from him.
Kosa''s heart skipped at this adorable scene, and she almost rushed forward to cuddle him if it wasn''t for the inkling that reminded her of Genji''s presence.
''Stay calm, Kosa. Stay calm.'' Kosa took deep breaths and tried her best to suppress this urge. ''You don''t want to provoke that monster.'' Yet seconds later, her thoughts wandered in a dangerous direction. ''But if I can just bury my face in that luxurious tail, it might be worth enduring his wrath?''
At this moment, the other bodyguard loudly cleared his throat behind her. "You''re in the way, Ms. Kosa," he said, jolting her awake.
''Oh shit! That was dangerous,'' she thought, gulping down a mouthful of anxiety. ''I can''t believe I almost willingly committed suicide. This guy''s cuteness is too dangerous. I need to stay away from him.''
However, her true thoughts were revealed not even a second later when she snuck another peek at Astros. The bodyguard furrowed his brows at her distracted appearance and grabbed her arm.
"Get a hold of yourself! Why are you spacing out like this?"
"But he''s so cute though," she inadvertently cried out.
"..."
"..."
The two of them awkwardly stared at each other, both taken aback by what Kosa had just said. After a few seconds, Kosa let out a few embarrassed coughs and stepped back. "Let''s pretend I never said that," she said, glancing around for anyone who could have heard her. Once she confirmed they were alone, she inwardly sighed and rushed away.
As the bodyguard watched her disappearing back, a shiver crawled down his spine, producing countless goosebumps. ''I can''t believe she is the same Scythe Maniac who gave me so much trouble a few years back. She''s like a completely different person after she saw the ferret,'' he thought, his trembling eyes revealing his fear, but not daring to look at Astros.
As a trained agent entrusted with this task, he was more than aware of the unfathomable abilities possessed by people from that place. Yet even among his superiors, this subtle influence ability was beyond creepy.
After all, no one likes having their cognition distorted, even if it was unintentional. Rather, this being a passive ability only highlighted its dreadful nature, as there was no easy way to defend against it. One slip of the mind and he wouldn''t be able to extricate himself.
A few minutes later, Genji walked out of Alysha''s workroom and noticed the strange atmosphere between the two bodyguards. ''Hmm? Why are they so uncomfortable with each other? Did someone catch them making out or what?''
Genji brushed aside the question and scooped up Astros into his arms. "I hope you weren''t feeling too left out," he said, causing Astros to pout at him. "Come on, let''s have lunch. I ordered delivery."
At the mention of food, Astros''s mood immediately turned around and he jumped onto Genji''s shoulder. Genji scratched the ferret behind the ears and walked toward the door. He fiddled with his phone for a few minutes before a car with a restaurant logo pulled up on the sidewalk. A deliveryman stepped out and handed him a large box of food.
As Genji easily took the box, the deliveryman''s eyes subconsciously went to the unusual ferret perched on Genji''s shoulder. This was his first time seeing this duo, but he wasn''t too surprised. There have been rumors of a rich man and his pet going around in the food industry, so he was half-expecting this when he heard the large order and the address.
Genji paid for the food, returned to the studio, and called for everyone. Each person took a container and sat around a large worktable, treating it as a makeshift dining table. Alysha plopped down next to Genji, much to Astros''s annoyance, and happily dug in.
"Thanks for the meal," she said between mouthfuls of food.
"Slow down," Finlosh said with a soft smile. "There''s plenty to go around."
"But there''s so much I want to do!" she chirped in response, bouncing from side to side. "I want to start the lessons right away!"
For context, the studio holds a group lesson after lunch every few days, with Alysha and Finlosh alternating lessons. Today was Alysha''s turn, and she couldn''t be any more excited because she could finally show Genji her teaching style.
She held off on the lessons the previous times due to the 3-day constraints. It didn''t make sense to spend time lecturing when she rarely got any time with him. But now that constraint had been lifted, she had none of these concerns.
The adults chuckled at her eagerness and continued at their own pace. The only one who increased his eating speed was Nathan, the boy with the crush.
"Let me help you," he said as Alysha finished and went to prepare for the lesson.
"Okay," she said, flashing a smile that warmed his heart.
Twenty minutes later, the adults finished their meals and cleaned up the work table. Then they gathered their chairs around in a fan shape and allowed Alysha to take the stage.
"Today, we''re going to carve a dragon," she enthusiastically started. "All the scales and in as much detail as possible! We''re going to practice defining these details while maintaining our speed!"
She had this excited gleam in her eyes as if she was confronting a fun challenge rather than giving an actual lesson. Grabbing her carving knife and a block of wood, she interweaved them at eye-blurring speeds, showering the surface with various-sized wood chunks.
The carving rapidly took shape as Alysha boldly trimmed away the excess parts. In a matter of seconds, Alysha finished the rough shape and began working on the details. Her speed eased as she turned the sculpture like a machine, repetitively chipping away the edges and smoothing out the surfaces.
This process took most of her time, but it wasn''t long before an eastern, five-clawed dragon coiled around a log appeared in their sights. Alysha put the sculpture down and dusted off her hands before proudly beaming at Genji.
"That''s it. Not too hard, right?"
The audience stared speechlessly at her as if asking how she expected them to do this without cutting off their fingers. Although Alysha had been giving them tips on handling the carving knife, none of them were as proficient as her.
Genji chuckled at Alysha''s mischievousness and decided to add to the chaos. "No, it''s not hard. I can do better," he said, standing up and walking toward the center. Alysha grinned at him and passed over her knife and some wood. Then she stepped back and widened her eyes to capture every upcoming movement.
The audience stared blankly at him, when Genji suddenly burst into action, cutting into the wood with one smooth motion. He twisted and turned the piece like a cork, making harsh grating sounds and bending the knife at different angles. After making three rotations, he sliced down the sides and peeled off the excess material.
After this, he was left with three pieces of wood, which he threw into the air and began juggling. As he caught a piece, his hands would blur for a fraction of a second before tossing it back into the air.
The corner of Kosa''s eyes twitched at this sight as she realized what Genji was doing. ''He''s showing off. And using the assassin''s tactical reload at that.''
However, this was only the beginning. At some point during the performance, the number of airborne objects increased to five, then seven, followed by nine. The audience didn¡¯t know when the objects multiplied, but Genji had no trouble sustaining the cycle.
After several more minutes, Genji put the knife down and caught everything. In the end, he slid everything across the table, revealing eight evenly spaced trinkets and a grand dragon statue.
The trinkets were in sets of two, forming a symmetrical display with the dragon in the center. The dragon carving was the same design as Alysha''s, except his was more detailed with crisper lines. All the surfaces were also silky smooth as if polished by fine sandpaper.
Genji clapped off the wood dust from his shoulder and smiled at the dumbfounded spectators. "See? Not hard at all."
They returned his gaze with dropped jaws, still dazzled by the performance. "He can''t be expecting us to do that, right?" Jeremiah subconsciously muttered.
At this moment, Alysha clapped for the performance, compelling the others to reflectively follow. After several more seconds, the group finally recovered from their stupor, and the applause faded into pin-drop silence.
"That was AWESOME!" Alysha breathlessly exclaimed. "When will you teach me to do that?"
"Maybe later. You need to learn how to juggle first," Genji said, sitting down beside her.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let''s go!" Alysha tugged at his arm and pointed at her room.
"Aren''t you going to guide your students?" Genji asked amusingly, lifting his chin at the group.
"Oh." Alysha sighed somewhat disappointedly but still chose to finish the lesson.
''What are we even here for?'' The others wondered, doubting if this was the same wood carving they knew.
Meanwhile, Nathan clenched his fist, vowing to improve his skills, regardless of the efforts required.
Time quickly passed, and it was soon three days before the exhibition. On this day, the whole studio took a trip to the exhibit location to ensure everything arrived properly and to make some final adjustments.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The event was set in a neighboring city where a museum had agreed to host the occasion. It took two hours by car to arrive, and the museum was located at the city''s heart. From its clean exteriors and well-maintained surroundings, it was clear that the city spared no effort in operating this museum.
They got out of the car, grouped up again, and Finlosh called the museum. The person on the other side listened to their purpose and instructed them where to go. They walked around to the side and arrived at the front door, where a squadron of guards patrolled the vicinity. They took security very seriously here since the museum held countless invaluable artifacts from ancient sites.
Finlosh approached one of the guards and showed his artist invitation. The guard scanned the electronic letter and allowed them inside. A wide room coated in shiny bronze color filled their view as they entered, creating a lasting impression on their eyes.
At the center of the room was a large, abstract sculpture that seemingly distorted the bright lights around it. It was a well-placed contrast that drew the viewer''s attention after they finished admiring the interiors.
At this moment, a thin, tall man in a navy blue suit walked into view from the other side of the room. He removed the monocle from his left eye, slid it into his breast pocket, and approached them. As he entered a comfortable conversation distance, he placed his left hand on his chest and courteously pointed his other palm at the hallway he had exited from. "Master Finlosh, welcome. I am Xavier, the curator of this museum. Please, come this way. I''ve been expecting you."
"You flatter me, Sir Xavier," Finlosh responded.
"Not at all. You deserve your reputation. Many artists, including myself, still look up to you."
Finlosh bashfully scratched his head and led the group forward. Xavier gave them a tour of the museum and briefly introduced the artworks along the way.
"That one belongs to Sir Geppetto. He''s putting his 83rd painting on display with us. Over there is a marble sculpture of David, from the collection of businessman Earnestway. It''s not the original version, but the sculptor was only in college when he imitated it. Earnestway was so impressed by the young man''s skills that he bought it on the spot and sponsored him for his remaining school years."
Finally, they arrived at the wooden carvings area reserved for their studio. All the pieces they had sent had arrived intact and were placed in neat display cases.
"If you have any requests, please let us know. We''ll try our best to accommodate you," Xavier said.
"Can you turn this one slightly to the right? It''ll give a better impression that way," Helen said, walking beside one of her carvings.
"No problem." Xavier took out a large ring of keys from his belt and opened the display case. Then he stepped aside to let Helen make her adjustment. They continued like this for another few minutes before Finlosh pulled Xavier aside with Alysha.
"How else can I help you?" Xavier politely asked.
"If possible, can you keep her involvement anonymous?" Finlosh asked, patting Alysha''s shoulder.
Xavier''s eyes went to Alysha, and the cogs of his brain turned to recall how she was related to Finlosh. After a few seconds, he had an a-ha moment and agreed with the request. "No problem. I''m sure you didn''t like being in the limelight last time."
"It wasn''t too bad, but Mom did ask the reporters to blur my face," Alysha answered. "She didn''t want me to become a celebrity yet."
"And I can understand Madam''s feelings. You can easily take that step forward, but it''s hard to backtrack, especially with someone as prevalent as Master Finlosh. Very well, I shall only refer to your works by a pseudonym. Do you have one in mind?"
Alysha thought for a few moments before answering with a bold smile. Xavier gave a gentleman''s bow and they returned to the room. Like this, three more days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to host the exhibit. Yet as Genji arrived on this day, a sudden question he''d never thought about before hit him.
''Isn''t today a school day? How is she supposed to get here?''
Two and a half months ago, Ms. Sheri, Alysha''s homeroom teacher, had a rough breakup with her boyfriend. In a fit of grief, she stormed into a nearby bar and drowned her sorrows in alcohol. Although a part of her knew she shouldn¡¯t be doing this as an educator, her emotional turmoil was too strong to bear sober.
She didn¡¯t know how many drinks she had that night, but she had a hard time walking. This was a dangerous state for a woman to be in at night. Luckily, she encountered Helen on the way home rather than someone with impure intentions.
Helen, having left the workshop late, saw this tipsy woman and was worried about her well-being. Thus, she approached Ms. Sheri and talked to her. However, Ms. Sheri slurred her speech and fainted seconds into their conversation.
Out of the goodness of her heart, Helen decided to bring Ms. Sheri back to her apartment and care for her. That night, Helen heard loud sniffles and saw streams of tears flowing down the corners of Ms. Sheri¡¯s eyes, staining the pillow with black mascara.
The following morning, Ms. Sheri woke up with a raging headache and disoriented vision. It took her a while to realize she was in a stranger¡¯s home, and panic set in. However, Helen reassured her before she could freak out too much. After explaining the circumstances of their encounter over breakfast, Helen offered to listen to her woes.
Ms. Sheri accepted this offer and poured her pent-up emotions out in droves. For two full hours, Helen listened without complaint, neither interrupting Ms. Sheri nor cutting her off. The session started with her grievances and ended with her lovely students. Even in this state, she was still thinking about them. Ms. Sheri was a dedicated teacher, and her love for children couldn''t be any more evident.
Moved by this dedication, Helen asked if Ms. Sheri wanted to help plan a field trip for them. Ms. Sheri was taken aback by the question but responded without hesitation, "I do, but I don¡¯t think I can convince the school board."
That was all Helen needed to hear. "Just leave it to me. I¡¯ll deal with that," she said.
And that was how the exhibit came to be. Using her family¡¯s influence, Helen contacted Xavier and explained her purpose. Xavier readily agreed when he heard her story and how they would offer a few pieces by an unknown carver that even Finlosh admired.
Afterward, she met with the school board members and argued using "artistic appreciation." Since the members were mostly parents in the district, it was easy to persuade them once she mentioned that everyone, including their children, could visit the museum free of charge that week.
Xavier was able to do this because the museum was government-run and paid for with taxpayer money. What else would he spend the money on if not for civil services?
It had been two months since Helen made these arrangements, and Ms. Sheri still couldn¡¯t believe how smoothly it went. Typically, events of this size require months of planning, yet Helen finished in merely two weeks. It really made Ms. Sheri see this incidental friend of hers in a new light and question what her background was.
"Ms. Sheri! Look! The buses! They¡¯re here!" Suddenly, an excited voice jolted Ms. Sheri from her reminiscing.
Looking over, Ms. Sheri recognized the voice as coming from Alysha, a cheerful little girl in her class. She always seemed so carefree and upbeat, regardless of the circumstances. Ms. Sheri admired this trait and hoped Alysha would never lose it. Life as an adult was hard enough, so everyone could use a bit of sunshine now and then.
"Now, now, don¡¯t get too excited," Ms. Sheri said with a light smile. "We still need to wait for our turn."
The school ranged from kindergarten to fifth grade. Due to the rarity of this opportunity, the whole school would be joining them on this trip. In events like these, the typical order of dismissal starts with the highest grades and goes downward. Ms. Sheri was teaching a fourth-grade class, so it would be a few more minutes before the principal called for them through the intercom.
"But I can still look forward to it," Alysha responded and returned to gazing out the window.
Ms. Sheri playfully shook her head and turned to watch the other children in the class. Soon, it was their turn to leave, and all three classes headed out. Excited chatter filled the hallways, riling up the anticipation within the younger students as they mingled with their friends. When they reached the parking lot, they split into two groups and funneled onto the buses, each group claiming a section for themselves.
Alysha grabbed a window seat at the front, away from everyone else. This was the one thing Ms. Sheri couldn¡¯t understand about her. Alysha was well-liked in the class and could easily join a group if she wanted to, yet she chose to sit by herself, staring out the window with her chin on her palm.
Wanting to give her some company, Ms. Sheri sat beside her after finishing her attendance duties and made some small talk. "What do you like to do in your free time, Alysha?"
Alysha turned around with a wide smile and said, "Carving. I¡¯m obsessed with it."
"Care to elaborate? What kind of hobby is it?"
"So I take this knife and this block of wood and I do this." Alysha made some interweaving motions as a demonstration. "And depending on the angle, force, or material, I get different results. Each wood type has different properties that I need to account for. If it¡¯s Maplewood..."
Alysha elaborated on her experience with great fervor, rambling like a madwoman in her own world. At first, Ms. Sheri thought she was talking about a game, but the more she listened, the more something felt off. Half an hour in, Ms. Sheri realized Alysha was talking about the same wood carving that she knew, and discomfort soon crept into her eyes.
''How can her parents allow this? Aren¡¯t they the slightest bit worried about Alysha cutting herself? No, I can¡¯t allow this to continue!'' Ms. Sheri resolved to have a teacher-parent conference after this field trip and admonish Alysha¡¯s parents for their negligence. No child should live in such dangerous conditions!
''Oh, she¡¯s not interested either,'' Alysha thought, noticing her teacher¡¯s absent gaze, and returned to looking out the window. Ms. Sheri mistook this reticence for disappointment and tried to engage Alysha in another conversation, but the little girl just wanted some time to herself. When Alysha expressed this, Ms. Sheri thought she was the cause and felt guilty about not listening properly.
An hour and a half later, they arrived at the museum and organized themselves according to their grades. A team of museum guides welcomed them and divided them into manageable groups. Then they headed inside and toured the displayed artworks. Some of the artists were beside their works, ready to answer any questions.
Alysha''s group stopped in the painting area, and the curious children interacted with a young painter in his twenties. He explained the process behind his oil paintings and the differences between various paints.
Unlike any other, oil paintings require weeks to dry, giving the painter ample time to manipulate the results. They also last longer than their modern counterparts, which is why many paintings from the olden days used this paint.
Along with this artist, there were also other painting types. Ranging from ink to watercolor, the visitors saw a variety of illustrations that represented the individual categories in the subject.
They spent 15 minutes in this area before moving on to the ceramic displays. Ceramic is like wood, only using clay as the material. The methods are different, but they can both achieve similar results. There are mainly two specializations in this art. The first is the potter''s wheel, which emphasizes the creation of functional objects. Examples like dinner plates, bowls, and cups are common within this field.
The other specialization is handcrafting, which builds constructs using various tools. This may include pottery, sculptures, or even storage boxes. Due to the craft''s pliable nature, it is generally easier to shape clay than to make the same object from wood.
"Once the clay dries, we put it in a furnace for a bisque firing," the potter explained. "This typically takes a few hours since it requires a high temperature to do properly. After the pieces cool, we glaze them, making sure to wipe the bottom before the second firing. This is important or the ceramic will fuse to the kiln shelf and ruin it. But once we finish this process, the pieces become like rocks and can last for thousands of years. Many archeologists are still digging up pottery from Egyptian times."
To finish the demonstration, the potter showed them some of his finished works before sending them on their way. They saw various other arts over the next couple of hours, including but not limited to jewelry making, photography, digital art, printmaking, glass portraits, and tapestry, the craft of weaving patterns in cloth.
There was even one college math professor specializing in origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, among the invitees. Although wacky, the two have way more in common than one might initially expect. The children really broadened their perspectives after his explanation.
They stopped for a short lunch break before continuing the tour. There were so many pieces of art that they could spend days here and still not finish everything. The museum spared no effort on this exhibit.
Finally, they reached the woodworking area and encountered Xavier. The guide introduced the main curator, and Xavier explained his current actions. "Not everyone could make it to our opening, so I''m introducing some works in the artists'' place. Please bear with me."
Xavier bowed and led them into the area. There were a few other woodworkers present, but they made their crafts using heavy machinery instead of traditional methods. If anything, they took after the modern profession built around practicality rather than artistic expression. Their works were so polished that the students would have mistaken this area for a carpentry shop if they didn''t know beforehand.
The representative explained some of the finishing treatments they apply to wood, and the group moved on. Soon, they reached the space dedicated to Finlosh''s workshop. Xavier stepped aside to let Helen introduce her work before taking over for Finlosh and Alysha.
"This elderly gentleman is one of the best carvers in the country. He''s made multiple renowned works in recent years and is now running a small studio to teach people interested in the craft. And over here are some pieces by Lady Lah Say Eirepon, a rising genius in the community. She''s unfortunately one of the many artists who couldn''t be here due to personal reasons, but it doesn''t detract from her work. I dare say her knifework is unrivaled in the current art scene."
As Xavier gave them some time to admire the two masters'' works, he caught Alysha''s stare and subtly nodded at her. Alysha smiled back at him and averted her gaze.
Moments later, the school''s art teacher raised his palm to ask a question. "Can you tell me why you put Eirepon on the same level as Finlosh? I''ll admit the details are amazing, but it feels somewhat lacking compared to the master''s. It doesn''t feel as artistically profound."
"You have a keen eye, sir. But what if I told you Lady Eirepon finished all these pieces in merely two hours?"
"Impossible!" the teacher exclaimed, his eyes bulging in surprise.
"I have no reason to lie, sir. These are the values Master Finlosh gave himself."
The teacher turned to Finlosh, silently asking if this was true, and the elder nodded, cementing the man''s shock.
"Plus," Xavier continued, "Lady Eirepon is only in her teens. She has plenty of time to improve. With Master Finlosh''s teachings, I bet it won''t be long until her name also resounds in the public''s ears." Xavier modified Alysha''s age to make the story seem more believable and to cover for her.
The teacher''s mouth opened and closed several times like a fish before finally reigning in his reactions. He took a sharp breath and mentally noted that he would keep up to date on this rising genius. And that was how Alysha earned another fan in her anonymous state.
"If you''re done, please come along. I would be happy to introduce some other hidden gems within our walls," Xavier''s voice sounded, redirecting everyone''s focus to the next area.
Stats, Items, and Equipment before Grotesque Fairytales
Stats
[Enigma]
Health: 30,140/30,140 (Con x 250 x 1.2 + 14,240. Increase of 900 from the last settlement.)
Energy: 4,653/4,653 (Int x 50 + 1,953 from cloak. Increase of 1,173 from the last settlement.)
Con: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Str: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Dex: 50 ¡ú 52 (+1) = 53
Int: 50 ¡ú 54
Spc: 50 ¡ú 55
Combat techniques
Dagger Arts: Learned Water Parry
- Threading the Needle, a length-wise attack that combines speed and curved attacks
- Impact Strike - used to deliver large amounts of concentrated force on the tip
- Side Winder - piercing attack to break through a formation
- Flow - similar to Threading the Needle, but the trajectory is more curved. It uses Shadow flames to boost damage.
- Scar - X-like cut with shadow flames
- Focus strike - concentrate strength beyond his limits into one strike, paralyzing the side of his body that uses this attack. Upon impact, unleash all the brutal force to cause enough damage to disintegrate the surrounding wound
- Stealth Dagger: Converged Existence - concentrates all his energy, physical strength, and cutting intent into his dagger. Has a stealth bonus.
- Water Parry: Diverts the incoming force and borrows a portion of it for himself.
Daggerless Arts: no change
- Cocoon: Barrier ability made from cutting intent
Martial Arts:
- Elemental Emulations: the 4 elemental inspirations
- Nature''s Harmony: Increases the power of his attacks in proportion to the amount of plants in the area. The more, the better.
- Lighting Inspiration - All to Dust: Powerful physical attack that merges the 4 elemental inspirations, Nature''s Harmony, shadow flames, cutting intent, and flashstep. Essentially a small nuke when it hits
Energy Techniques - Removed restricted part of Shadow Devour
- Flashstep: High-speed movement ability in a single direction. The average speed increases as his stats and control of energy increases, but he can go faster if he is willing to damage his body.
- Solid Core: Crystalizes the energy around the skin and muscles to gain a diamond-like defense. Decreased mobility while this is active
- Shadow Flames: Energy wraps around his weapon and vibrates at a high frequency to achieve a boost in sharpness. Also cuts anything it touches and can spread like flames. Very intensive in durability costs.
- Shadow Core (passive): Boosts the effectiveness of his energy, constantly upgrades as he refines more energy stats into it, can also act as a final form of energy when broken down.
- Crystallizing weapons: Applying the logic of Solid Core to weapons to increase resistance to damage. Also acts like a spare battery pack for his energy when running low.
- Crystal Manifestation: Solidifies energy outside the body to form any shape he wants. High demand for energy control and cost, but can catch the enemies off guard. Currently limited to support items.
- Dance of Death: Ability of Reapers that allows him to summon 3 silhouettes that move on their own and swap positions with. Very energy intensive since it''s a percentage cost.
- Ultimate - Shadow Devour: Talent promotion choice. Now it only has a high energy requirement to use and no other drawbacks. Also causes soul injuries depending on where this attack lands.
[Talent Upgrade - Trailblazer''s Path]
Synopsis: Despite the pre-established options, you were not content and decided to forge your own path. For this, EverRealm applauds you. However, your future is murky, and EverRealm cannot help you beyond this point. Everything will now depend on your efforts. Whether you surpass the previous paths or lose yourself in the brambles, only time will tell.
Developed Ability: Shadow Devour
Effect: Use at least 1,000 energy points to construct a vortex that shreds anything it touches. Deals 20x the consumed energy amount as damage. If this hits a weak point, multiply the damage by 3x and inflict 1% of the total damage on the soul. If this hits a fatal spot, instantly execute the target by destroying their soul.
Note: Your starting point is lower than the pre-developed paths, but your growth potential is higher. EverRealm has taken the first step for you, but you will need to continue developing your abilities. Otherwise, this opportunity will become your greatest shackle.
Masteries - Hand-to-hand combat upgraded to supreme
- Swift Steps (Grandmaster - 0%)
- Parrying (Grandmaster - 0%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster - 24.2%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster - 27%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster - 53.9%, +8.9%)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Supreme - 0%)
(Supreme Bonus) Beastly Instincts: Make you more aware of your surroundings and greatly increase your premonition to unfavorable situations.
- Dodging Supreme (5.8%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme - 41%)
Equipment - no major changes, brought an unnamed life saving item
- Lethal Opportunity: His main pair of daggers.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary
Damage: 47 (+2)
Durability: 510/510 (+10)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): This pair of daggers will grow with you after every world.
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +67 sharpness (+2)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +260 durability (+10)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance (No change)
- +30 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: Although the upgrades are small, something inherent has changed about these daggers. For now, this effect will accumulate until it overflows.
- Shroud of Terror: Cloak that increases speed, reduces gravity, and increases his max energy with kills.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary
Defense: 46 (+1)
Durability: 300/300 (no change)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): This cloak will grow with you after every world.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 65 seconds. Cooldown of 28 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Canceling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +5 seconds, Cooldown: -2 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduces the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 4 minutes 30 seconds. (Cooldown: -30 seconds)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 5 meters and targets you killed. (no change)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed (no change)
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: This cloak is in a similar state as its dagger partners. The changes are even less pronounced because it is further along in the evolution process than its brothers.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
- Jaguar: Poisonous saber that kills with a single scratch. His secondary weapon of choice.
[Saber of Poison, Jaguar]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Damage: 40 (+4)
Durability: 200/200 (+10)
Requirements: 25 STR, 40 CON
Effects:
- Festering Poison (passive): Poison effects will trigger three times faster. (Increased from 2x)
- Fatal Wound (passive): A single scratch is all you need to poison your target.
- Toxic Assimilation (passive): This saber can absorb other poisons to grow. Absorbed poisons can be stored and released at command. (Triggered twice, changed from status effects to poison)
Description: Under Nightmare Enigma''s nurturing, this blade of infection has become one of poisons. It has lost its wide spectrum of compatibilities but has become more specialized in poison, making it even deadlier. Be careful, as a single scratch will apply more status effects than you can imagine.
Note: One cut, one kill. You have become a true menace on the battlefield.
Note 2: This should be obvious, but don''t cut yourself with this. It''s unknown what poisons will be injected.
- Curse Bearer: A flintlock that flickers in and out of existence through a mark on his hand.
Hidden effect: Restrains [Kraken''s Grasp]
[Curse Bearer]
Rarity: Epic
Damage: 25
Durability: 50/50
Prerequisites: 9 dex, 10 con
Bullets: 2/2
Effects:
- Curse Bullets (Passive): Shoot a condensed ball of curses that weakens the enemy. The more bullets that hit, the stronger the debuff. Regenerates 1 bullet per minute
- Side Chamber (Active): Shoot an extra bullet without consuming a bullet count. 5-minute cooldown
- Big Bullet (Active): Fuse all your bullets to shoot one that deals 4x damage and curse. Requires Side Chamber to be off cooldown. 30 min cooldown.
- Unrestricted (Passive): A fusion between old technology and fantasy system. This equipment will not be affected by world restrictions.
Description: The essence of the Cursed Sea in the form of an old flintlock pistol. It doesn''t shoot well, but its lethality more than makes up for it.
- Spring Bound Boots: boots made from a material that stores and releases the force when he walks
[Spring Bound Boots]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 140/140
Requirements: 35 Con, 35 Str, 32 Dex
Effects:
- Force Storage(Passive): Every time you move your legs, store some excess force for later. Can store 0/600 units of force.
- Spring Boost (Passive): When moving, release some of the stored force to boost your speed. +1 dex after storing 100 units of force. Consumes 1 unit of force per step.
- Unhindered (Passive): Reduce environmental hindrance by 25%. Consumes 2x-4x units of force, depending on how difficult the terrain is to traverse.
Description: The Spring Bound Python is a ferocious beast that can unleash a strike beyond its limits after storing enough force. If caught unprepared, one can suffer heavy injuries from the encounter. Having been made from the python''s leather, these boots have inherited similar properties and can aid your movements.
- Kraken''s Grasp: cursed armguard
[Kraken''s Grasp]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 38
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 20 Str, 20 Con
Note: Trying to equip this when you don''t meet the requirements will result in you being devoured by the Kraken''s resentment.
Effects:
- Kraken''s Strength (passive): +2 str, +2 con
- Dominance Aura (Active): Pick a stat and conduct a judgment on a target. If your stat is higher, they will receive a mental impact and -1 in the chosen stat. Damage is determined by the difference between the stat of choice. Cooldown of 1 hour.
- Summon Kraken (Active): Use all your energy and summon the tentacles of the Kraken to strangle a target. The number of tentacles is dependent on the amount of energy used. Cooldown of 1 day.
- Kraken''s Resentment (Curse): The power of this equipment depends on the curse it bears. Although it provides great power to its wielder, it will attempt to kill them when given the chance. Use this with caution.
Description: Formerly made from the tooth of Jaws, this arm guard was corrupted by the Kraken''s resentment. Now all that remains of Jaws is a shell of his former self, his spirit shattered, and his anchor occupied by a malevolent spirit.
- Tyrant Shoulder Guard: Shoulder pads that increase his overall physique and give him Berserk.
[Tyrant Shoulder Guard]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 42
Durability: 180/180
Requirements: 25 str, 25 con
Effects:
- Berserk (Active): gain +4 con and str for 10 minutes, cooldown of 36 hours
- Tyrant Body (Passive): Increase maximum health by 20%
- Vigour (Passive): Increase body healing speed by 300%
- Compact Muscles (Passive): Your muscles have become compact, granting you +2 defense
Description: A shoulder guard fitting of a tyrant. If you aren''t one, then this will make you one.
- Quantum Pulse Pendant: Pendant that increases his energy control, and gives him Quantum Shield.
[Quantum Pulse Pendant]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Durability: 80/80
Requirements: 25 Int
Effects:
- Energy Control (passive): +50% control over energy
- Energy Flow (passive): Energy flows 15% faster
- Quantum Shield (Active): Form a barrier. Lasts 10 seconds. 1-day cooldown. (Low priority removed)
Description: A dream accessory for all mages
- Sheath of Original Blood: Bruce.
Hidden effect: Bruce can develop and use his own vampire blood arts.
[Sheath of Original Blood]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 120/120
Requirements: Killer of The Original Vampire
Effects: Sheath Form
- Blood Attraction (Active): Suck up all the blood in the area and store it for later
- Flexible Molding (Passive): This sheath can take on any form to cover your weapons
- Repair (Passive): Slowly repair the durability of the covered weapon by consuming the stored blood
- Transform (Active): Change into Horse Form
Effects: Horse Form
- Blood Evolution (Passive): When enough blood vitality is stored, the sheath will upgrade in power
- Swiftness (Passive): Can run at high speeds
Description: Bruce was a normal nightbane until he met a certain weirdo who spared no costs to fuse him with the blood of a demonic god. Now, he possesses a body beyond his limits and another chance at life.
- Hands of Ambush: Gloves that support stealth and sneak attacks.
[Hands of Ambush]
Rating: Rare
Type: Gloves
Defense: 21
Requirements: Stealth (Master), 27 Dexterity, 28 Strength, 30 Constitution
Durability: 100/100
Effects:
- Deadly Ambush (Passive): When launching a sneak attack, move at 200% speed and deal 200% damage on the first strike, with a 5-minute cooldown between triggers.
- Camouflage (Active): Blend into your surroundings by manipulating the light around you, with a 4-hour cooldown.
Description: A useful pair of gloves that encompasses the core skills of a desert predator. Don''t be deceived by how well it fits an assassin; you will need the strength and body of a warrior if you want to use this.
- Eye of Horus: Scanning equipment for stats, based on the difference between chosen stat.
[Eye of Horus]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Requirement: 15 int
Durability: 40/50
Effect
- Scan (Active): Consume 100 energy and conduct a judgment with a stat of your choice. The greater the difference, the more information you will obtain from the target. 1 hour cooldown.
Description: An artifact that allows you to peek at the information of others. The ancient civilization forged this in the image of a god with a falcon head, hoping it would bring them the god''s protection.
Note: Because of the passage of time, its structure has been weakened. Be careful with it, it''s fragile.
- Stalker''s Compass: A compass that points to things.
[Stalker''s Compass]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Durability: 100/100
Requirements: 20 Spc
Effects:
- Ultimate Tracking (Active): Designate a target. This compass will point to them until you designate a new target or until you injure them. 24-hour cooldown between designations.
- Persistent Stalking (Active): Bypass the cooldown of Ultimate Tracking by providing the cells of a target. If this target is different from the designated one, you can choose which target to follow. The lighter end of the pointer will be used for this effect while the darker end for Ultimate Tracking. A maximum of two targets can be tracked at once. Only one target can be followed at once. The duration of this effect varies with the provided cells. The more prevalent the cells, the longer this effect will last. The maximum duration of this effect is 24 hours. After that, more cells are required.
Description: You can run, but you can''t hide. And even if you run, I''ll still find you. It''s only a matter of time.[/spoiler]
- Mask of The Black Death: Mask that allows him to hide his stats and put on a disguise. Also protects his soul from dangerous attacks.
[Mask of the Black Death]
Rating: Mythic (damaged)
Repair progress: 17.86%
Durability: 1,000/1,000 (Mythic items are hard to break)
Requirements: Bound to Enigma
Effects:
- Status Forgery (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change how your status page appears to others. This effect has medium priority and will last until it is disabled.
- Ultimate Disguise (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change your appearance at will. This effect has medium priority. Effects with lower priority can not see through this disguise. Your disguise can not exceed your body proportions by more than 50%.
- Soul Sanctuary (passive/active): Your soul is protected from death. When you are affected by a fatal soul attack, negate it and become immune for 5 seconds. This effect has high priority. Limited to 1 use per day.
Description: A mask dedicated to Nightmare Enigma for defeating an Overlord against all odds and retrieving the lost treasure of the Stone Titans.
Note: Everyone wears a metaphorical mask to hide their true selves, but why settle for a figurative one when you can wear a physical one as well?
Note 2: ? In the darkness he lurks, stalking his unexpecting prey. ?
Note 3: Cry, laugh, rage, and fear. What difference does it make if that''s painted on a mask?
Note 4: This item is far from reaching its full potential. Keep repairing it if you want to witness its true powers.
- unnamed life-saving item: teleports the user up to 10,000 km from their current position on use.
Miscellaneous Items
Current privilege tokens: 77
- World Selection Token: allows him to choose his next world type
[World Selection Token]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Authority Item
Durability: 2/3
Effect: Consume 1 durability and specify what type of world you will enter next. If your stats are above the world''s limit, reduce them until you meet the requirements.
Description: A token sold by Eternal Void. Using it will give you a big advantage in your next world.
Note: You can specify other requirements for the worlds. How much you gain will depend on how you use it.
Note 2: Due to a past violation, items with this effect cannot be paired with the Duelmaster''s Invitation. Either choose the world type or drag an opponent into a death match, but not both.
- World Tree''s Essence: the essence of a cursed world tree. Unknown use.
[World Tree''s Essence]
Rating: ???
Effect: ???
Description: The essence of a demonic world tree after it almost devoured a world. Its uses are relatively unknown, but its value cannot be underestimated. Perhaps you can find a use for it in the future.
202 – (Grotesque Fairytales)
The day after the exhibit ended, Finlosh asked Alysha about her maker''s mark.
"My maker''s mark?"
"It''s like your signature to tell people you were the one who made the piece. Have you thought about it?" Alysha shook her head, and Finlosh continued his explanation.
"Start working on one then. This is especially important since you plan on being an anonymous artist. Your whole persona will be built around it. People will associate this symbol with you from now on, making it synonymous with your existence. That''s why you should consider the complexity of the design. With your skills, it''s only a matter of time before someone tries to imitate your mark and negatively impact your reputation. Having a unique pattern that''s hard to replicate will help with that."
To demonstrate, Finlosh carved his maker''s mark, a cursive "F" with intertwining lines, on a piece of scrap wood. Alysha was familiar with this design as she''d seen Finlosh putting it on certain pieces he was proud of, but she never thought of it as anything more than a decoration.
But now, she understood the design also served as an anti-fraud mechanism. Thinking back, Alysha also realized the letter was identical, down to the very curvature of the lines, to the ones in her memories. Finlosh had perfected this design over the years and could reproduce it without looking.
Next, Finlosh helped Alysha create a social media account using her alias. With this, she could start to build a following and get her name out into the world. For professionalism''s sake, Finlosh advised her to only post pictures of her works and nothing else. That way, the account would become a portfolio rather than an actual social media activity.
"Remember, you''re a carver, not an influencer. Don''t think about views or engagement. This is only to make it easier for others to find you," Finlosh warned her.
"I''ll keep that in mind," Alysha answered with a nod.
Finlosh let her go and Alysha grabbed a piece of paper to draw with. Then she met up with Genji and twirled her pencil, brainstorming possible ideas for her logo. After a while, she failed to come up with a satisfactory design and rustled her hair in frustration. "Ahhhhhh, I can''t!"
"What''s wrong?" Genji asked, looking up from petting Astros.
"Nothing''s coming to mind. I want to create a cool pattern, but everything I draw looks dumb."
"Is that so? What do you consider cool then?"
"The performance you give when carving," Alysha answered without hesitation.
"What about my performance?"
"Umm..." Alysha paused to think about this question but struggled to respond. Eventually, she settled on a word that encapsulated all her thoughts, "Everything."
"Be more specific." Genji pushed harder for an answer.
"But I can''t think of a specific thing. The way you move the knife, your juggling techniques, how fast and precise you are, and even the results. Everything is perfect!"
Genji walked over and knocked on her head. "I think you''re looking at me with tinted glasses. If everything is perfect, then why am I still improving every day?"
Alysha covered her head and looked at him in admiration. "Really? You''re still getting better? As expected of my teacher!"
"The further you progress, the more you realize how little you know. Don''t be a frog in a well. Anyway, which category do you want to master the most?"
"Oh, the knifework." She answered confidently.
"There you go. Do something with that. Also, carve it, not draw. You''re not an illustrator so staring at a blank page won''t give you ideas."
"Okay!" Alysha beamed at him and got to work on some scraps. Alysha tried over and over again, but the failures racked up with no results. Regardless, she continued without fail, spending a few minutes every day on this activity. Like this, the month quietly came to an end, and Genji said his goodbyes before returning to EverRealm once more.
As the final minutes before his next world counted down, Genji decided to unequip his cursed armguard as a precaution. The stat bonus it provided was meager compared to the risks it brought, especially with the unbalanced relationship between it and [Curse Bearer]. Finally, Genji adjusted his mask, created a fake status page, and stepped through the portal that manifested before him.
Before Genji even came out the other side, he felt a surge in gravity, about 10 times his normal weight. A soft bouncy ground caught his foot and a bright ray of light blinded his vision. When he adjusted, an expansive blue sky and a field of white filled his sight.
He was thousands of meters in the air, stepping on grounds made of clouds. His eyebrows jumped at this conclusion and he double-checked his surroundings.
Around him, dozens of realm members adjusted themselves to the new environment while many more manifested in a similar fashion. After a few seconds, the portals faded and Genji estimated there were a little over 200 people in this cluster.
Genji threw a few punches to test the stamina consumption and made a rough estimate about his physical limits. ''I can fight normally for about 3 hours, 5 if I pace myself, but only 30 minutes if I go all out. My speed has also dropped to 1/20th of my original levels. This is going to be a tough world.''
But before he could make any more discoveries, Genji felt a sudden unease forming in his stomach. His instincts were screaming incoming danger and to hide fast. Genji glanced at the socializing realm members and decided to keep to himself. With a few steps, Genji flickered into the distance and reined in his presence.
Only when the apprehension died down did he stop and pull out a pair of binoculars to spectate the carnage. The scene was relatively peaceful for the next few minutes, but he noticed a few members frowning in irritation.
Their instincts were also warning them at this moment, but theirs weren''t as sharp compared to Genji''s double-enhanced senses. Nonetheless, Genji noted them as people to avoid and averted his gaze to the less aware.
Eventually, these irritated members decided to scatter as well, warning only their teammates to follow. Their chances of survival would only increase if there were others to attract the danger in their place. That was why Genji said nothing and left on his own.
However, not all of the perceptive people got away. Right as about half of them fled the vicinity, the ground began shaking violently, and a towering figure sprinted into view on the horizon, accompanied by an ear-bursting, booming voice.
"Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of some tasty little humans. Be they dead, or be they alive, I''ll cut them into cubes for my stir-fry."
It was a horrendously ugly giant standing at 30 meters, characterized by pus-oozing warts on the face, a beard so dirty that worms and other critters could be seen between the strands, and a breath so revolting that it put sewers to shame, made only worse by the greenish-yellow saliva that flew everywhere as he ran.
The handle of a double-headed battle axe could be seen poking out above his shoulder, jostling with every step. Yet despite his unkempt appearance, the giant triggered such a strong crisis that even the most unaware knew they needed to run. However, it was already too late. Before the people at the starting area could get far, a crushing field weighed down on them, oppressing their speeds to a snail''s pace.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
To make matters worse, this effect wasn''t caused by an ability, but rather sheer stat differences. The power gap was so big that the giant''s mere presence was enough to cripple them.
[Sky Dwelling Giant]
Health: 67,223/67,500
Energy: 2,750/2,750
Con: 76
Str: 80
Dex: 63
Int: 55
Spc: 12
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +35,000 hp
- Titanic (Passive): Strength stat grants 50% more power, Dexterity stat grants 20% less speed, increase health by 25%
- Prey Detection (Passive): Can sense the general direction of any prey that steps foot into your domain (Clouds in the Sky)
- Battle Axe Mastery (Supreme) - Mountain Cleaver: Increase the damage of your battle axe in proportion to the size difference between you and your target.
Note: No other skills can be read.
''You have got to be kidding me,'' Genji thought with twitching eyes. ''I know you warned me, but in my first world? Really?''
But while Genji had time to think that, the others weren''t quite as leisurely. Due to the oppression, many of the members could only watch in horror as the giant reached down to grab an unlucky victim.
The victim struggled with all his strength, but that only caused the giant to squeeze harder, crushing the organs and bones between his fingers. Then he opened his mouth and tossed the person in, giving them a horrendous death. After chewing for a few moments, the giant turned his attention to the others and snacked on a few more people.
Once the giant had his fill, he began storing his prey in a revolting green sack after severely injuring them. In the end, the giant claimed about 20 victims before he was satisfied and left. This amounted to about 10% of the starting group.
Grotesque Fairytales
Background:
This is a world built on the distorted fairytales of children. Hence, none of the storylines make sense. The world is divided into many regions, each hosting its tale and corresponding principles. The rules for one zone might be drastically different than another one. Chaos and twists are the only denominators across all regions. Tread with caution.
Mission: Survive for 20 days.
Bonus Mission: Visit at least 3 different regions and understand their stories (0/3)
World Principles:
- Magic abilities are boosted by 80%
- World stability is 10x greater than your home world (includes gravity, mass density, and resistance to damage)
- Extra rules are subject to change
"Phew, what a crazy world," Genji said, summoning Bruce, who nodded in agreement.
Genji hopped on Bruce and pointed slightly to his right, asking Bruce to gallop in that direction. Genji chose this path because he sensed a giant plant in the distance. It was faint but conspicuous, as it was the only plant in the whole region. They were in the sky, after all, and he preferred to be near an advantageous environment in case the giant decided to return.
They traveled for an hour before spotting a ginormous, verdant stalk that pierced through the clouds and into the skies like a majestic spear. Its body was composed of intertwined vines and vibrant leaves that gently waved in the atmosphere.
''Is that... a beanstalk?'' Genji wondered.
They approached and noticed an empty ring around the perimeter of the plant, allowing glimpses of the clouds below. However, they were so high up that the ground couldn''t be seen, leaving only a greyish-white background.
Genji considered his choices before exchanging a look with Bruce. Then they both nodded their heads, confirming they were on the same page about their next move before Bruce transformed back into a sheath by Genji''s side. Astros watched this with a tilted head, still confused by this interaction.
"Alright, grab on tight," Genji said, bracing the clueless ferret against his chest. Genji took a deep breath in this thin atmosphere and stepped off, transitioning into a rapid descent. Due to the increased gravity, they accelerated at immense speeds, causing the edges of Genji''s body to heat up like a stovetop.
"YIIIiiiiIIIII," Astros screamed into Genji''s chest, his soul half leaving his eyes.
Streams of energy wrapped around them, forming a protective shell from the ongoing friction. They dropped for a few more seconds before this shell burst into flames, transforming them into a meteor. Genji conjured his cutting intent to clear the view below and transitioned into a head dive, further increasing their speed.
Two minutes later, Genji spotted the rapidly approaching ground and dispersed the shell. Then he spread his cloak, utilizing Like A Feather to reduce the force of gravity at the same time Bruce conjured a large parachute above him. A huge upward jerk hit Genji as his immense downward momentum collided with the upward draft, rapidly decelerating his fall.
Two pairs of wings also sprouted from his sides, flapping strongly to decrease this adjustment time.
Eventually, they landed on the ground and Genji transitioned into a running landing to dispel the remaining forces. When they stopped, Astros leaped out of his arms and angrily waved his paw at Genji, complaining about the lack of warning before the plunge. Once he finished venting, Astros threw his paws into the air and excitedly pointed at the towering beanstalk, asking when they could do it again.
"It''s not a roller coaster, you know? I don''t plan on going back there unless I need to. That giant is too dangerous."
Astros pouted in disappointment before cheering up and pointing behind Genji. Turning around, Genji saw a boy in rugged clothes running toward them.
"Who are you? Why are you on my farm?" he asked, out of breath.
This prompted Genji to look around and realize the open area they landed on was a struggling farmland. Crops were barely growing, weeds were everywhere, livestock was practically nonexistent, and the house the boy came from was in disrepair. Genji could even see a hole in the roof that rain would slip through.
The weakened presence of an aged woman could also be sensed behind those walls. Yet despite her mortal strength, Genji felt a strange sensation from her existence. It wasn''t dangerous like the giant above, but she definitely wasn''t normal.
"Hey, answer me," the boy said again, noticing how Genji was ignoring him.
"Oh, sorry about that. I was just trying to understand my surroundings. You know, normal things when you''re in a new environment. As for where I came from..." Genji trailed off, pointing at the sky above. "You should know better than me."
"The cloudy wonderland? You came from above?"
"Where else? The beanstalk sprouting in your backyard?"
"But what about the giants? Didn''t you encounter them?"
Genji narrowed his eyes at the plural use of the word. This was not good. It meant the world was much more dangerous than he expected. If it was only a single powerful being, Genji could attribute it to bad luck on his world entry, but it was a different story if there were multiple apex existences in close vicinity. It could only mean they were the norm in this world.
Nonetheless, Genji answered like a friendly person without any ulterior motives. "I did, but I managed to shake him off. I can''t say the same for my group, though."
"Group? There are more of you?"
"Yeah. About 200. Most of them probably died though, but you can expect the survivors to gradually trickle down over the next few days. Anyway, how long has this been a thing?" Genji pointed at the beanstalk.
"Five days," the boy answered. "I traded Lucy for some magic beans and it grew into this overnight."
"Lucy?"
"My family cow. We were hoping to get some farm supplies for her, but I got scammed by some old guy in a hood. Mother wasn''t too happy about it, but I recovered the losses when I adventured up there a few days back. A kind giant lady gave me some gold and asked me to bring some friends next time."
Genji grew speechless at the explanation. Kind? Giant? How could those words be used in the same sentence by him? In his impression, the giants were anything but kind. They ate people for sustenance and couldn''t care less about them. It was the same relationship between predator and prey.
The only time a predator doesn''t eat the prey is when they have more to gain from not doing so. In all likelihood, the boy probably got lucky because the giants wanted to use him as a lure. After all, birds die for food as humans die for wealth.
With the boy spreading the word, it wouldn''t be long before more people entered their domain. When that happens, the giants will have a steady supply of food happily going to their dining table. All they have to do to maintain this cycle is give a few lucky people some gold, which they probably plundered from other humans in the first place, and have them act as propaganda. It was an ingenious setup.
"Okay, you do you. I''m not going to bother you any longer," Genji said and began walking away.
"Wait! Hold on. My mother wants to meet you!"
"Sorry, not interested." With those words, Genji disappeared from the boy''s vision. He wanted to avoid associating with these strangers if possible since his instincts were acting up against them.
"Jack?" A screechy voice came from the open door. "Did the guest leave?" Along with these words, a decrepit woman in a wheelchair rolled herself onto the front porch.
"Yes, mother. He seemed quite wary of us."
"That''s fine. Didn''t he say there were others? I''m sure some of them will agree to stay."
"Yes. Otherwise, we might have to resort to force." When Jack finished this sentence, both of them put on a disturbing smile, their cheeks rising to an unnatural level, revealing the sockets between their teeth and mouths.
Yet if one looked closely enough, they would see pockets of rot, along with decayed crown teeth. A few flies flew out of these tunnels and buzzed around them, but neither of them reacted to the pests. Maintaining their creepy smiles, Jack wheeled his "mother" back into the house and left her in a dim corner, away from the light.
Yet between the disheveled gaps in the wall, a soft ray of light still came through, flickering with the dancing flies. In this lighting, if one looked closely enough, they would realize the mother resembled a decaying skeleton, fitted with an atrocious worm poking out of her left eye socket.
203 – Strange Dangers
As Genji walked along the dirt roads, he felt himself crossing a boundary before suddenly finding himself in a sparse forest. The country paths behind him had disappeared, replaced by oak trees housing chirpy birds and playful squirrels.
These trees and critters were not an illusion but real, concrete existences. Genji had been teleported the moment he crossed the border, entering the interiors of the new zone. This is very disorienting because one can easily lose their way within the maze of fairytales. After all, how can one find their bearings if they have no reference points in sight?
''It also doesn''t help that I might be teleported directly into danger. What a hassle.''
Genji picked an arbitrary direction and continued walking. So far, there didn''t seem to be any obvious dangers, save for a few unfamiliar species. There were, however, an unusual number of deer nearby, all staring at him as he passed. The sun also moved across the sky rather quickly, as if the day cycle was only 1 hour long.
This strange atmosphere irritated Genji and prompted him to shoot some deer. But right as [Curse Bearer] manifested, the gallery quickly scattered, leaving only two dead carcasses and a silent path forward. At this moment, Genji knew there was something off about the forest, but he couldn''t stop it.
''Does it have something to do with night?'' Genji speculated, glancing at the descending sun. ''If so, I''ll find out soon. But why should I be passive about it?''
With his mind made up, Genji drew his saber, hopped on Bruce, and asked him to gallop forward. While Bruce steered them, Genji closed his eyes and extended his perception in search of any nearby deer. When he found one, he would pat Bruce to convey the direction, and they would charge over to cut the animal down.
They spent the next 30 minutes like this, greatly reducing the stag population. As the last glimmers of sunlight flickered between the waving leaves, Genji dismounted and prepared himself to confront the incoming dangers. Seconds later, a blanket of pure darkness covered the forest, and a cacophony of snapping bones eerily echoed around him.
Following that, glowing red eyes pierced through the crevices of trees, glaring hauntingly at him. Then the ripping of air sounded from his side, followed by rapidly approaching eyes. Genji twirled around and parried a claw that sought to gouge out his organs.
At that moment, Genji caught a glimpse of his attacker, a bipedal creature with wild antlers, a deer skull for a head, and darkish brown fur across the legs. To put it simply, the creature resembled a wendigo from modern fiction.
The creature struck out with its other claw, and Genji leaned aside to dodge. At the same time, the other wendigos charged at him, brandishing their attacks in air-shattering fashion. From what Genji could tell, they possessed immense strength, but their speeds weren''t overwhelming. He had a chance to win.
Genji weaved between the attacks and bid his time to use Water Parry. Once that opening came, Genji burst forward in a series of strikes, rapidly accumulating strength. Bruce supported him by hindering the enemies and ensuring Genji wouldn''t lose his combo.
After a few seconds, Genji transitioned into a forceful tornado, fighting on par with the wendigos. Then, shadow flames and cutting intent wrapped the blade, allowing Genji to cleave through a target''s defense. As he beheaded his target, Genji felt the aura of the surrounding enemies slightly weaken in intensity.
Unsure if this was related, Genji pivoted his swing and added more strength to his slash. The saber cleaved through two wendigos without resistance, a result achieved by Bruce''s timely assistance and the opponent''s decreased speed. This confirmed Genji''s suspicions, and he diverted some force for trickier strikes.
In a matter of seconds, Genji decimated the entire group and dashed for escape. An unprecedentedly powerful presence had locked onto him when he killed half the group, and he didn''t want to stay around to confront it. Genji swerved through the trees, hopped over a fallen log, and pulled out his compass to guide the way.
Yet despite his best efforts, the looming threat zoomed toward him at alarming speeds. Due to the obstacles, Genji couldn''t accelerate to top speeds and throw off his pursuer.
Forty seconds later, a dark blur zipped into view and lunged at Genji. Sensing this, Genji leaped upward and twisted his body around to slash the enemy. However, the blur brushed past his saber and stabbed at Genji''s eyes. Yet right as the claw crossed his arms, the surroundings began blurring. Genji had crossed the boundary with that leap and was being teleported away.
At that moment, Genji managed to scan his attacker and briefly glimpse its information: Bambi, Prince of the Forest, a boss with stats slightly below the cloud giant in the previous zone! Yet Genji suspected this boss might be stronger if he hadn''t killed so many deer beforehand and weakened it through the unexplainable connection between the herd.
"Phew," Genji let out a relieved sigh and thanked his luck. If he had gotten tangled with that boss, he would have needed to burn a lot of trump cards to escape. "So many dangers already," he muttered, examining his gains from the close encounter. All the wendigos he''d slain were elites, so he hadn''t obtained any equipment, but they did provide 280 points in energy.
Genji observed his new surroundings and realized he was still in a forest. The difference was that the trees were farther apart, allowing the light from the full moon to faintly illuminate the ground. It was a dimly lit area but more natural than the pitch-black darkness of the morphing deer-wendigo monsters.
There was a small path beneath Genji''s feet that led deeper inward. Genji tried to avoid this obvious trap, but an invisible force stopped him when he tried to go off-path. Left with no choice, Genji conjured a shield and slowly followed the path.
Everything was calm for a few minutes until he found a wooden cabin at the path''s end. The soft glimmers of candlelight could be seen through the windows, along with a shadowy figure in the corner. As Genji approached, the silhouette looked up at him and approached the door. When the door opened, a bear man with matted fur and disheveled hair came into view.
"A guest this late into the night? What brings you here? Are you perhaps lost?" the person asked.
Unsure of how to answer, Genji said nothing and calmly observed the cabin interiors through the narrow gap in the doorway. From what he could see, it was a normal cabin with old furniture and peeling paint.
The bear man paid no heed to Genji''s intrusive actions and stepped aside to reveal more. "Come inside. You must be tired after reaching this point. Rest by the fire and recover your energy."
Genji nodded and approached the door, but he didn''t let down his guard. He was entering a stranger''s house in a possible danger zone, so there was reason to be wary. However, the bear man did nothing unusual and returned to his studies.
"I would offer you something to drink, but you seem quite doubtful of me. Let''s not waste the tea leaves, okay?"
"At least you''re aware," Genji said, leaning back against a corner. He picked this spot because it was the closest to the exit and because all the furniture was covered in prickly hair strands, making them very uncomfortable to human skin. Genji closed his eyes to rest and had Bruce cover for him in sheath form.
His senses gradually retracted inward as exhaustion began catching up to him. His awareness of the outside world began fading, and his thoughts crawled to a slow. Little by little, his guard lowered, and Genji slipped closer to dreamland, eventually forgoing all caution. Now, all that remained was a desire for sleep and the comfort that came along with it.
But before he could fully embrace this state, a hair-raising crisis jolted him awake in time to see the bear man hovering over him with an axe. Genji hurriedly rolled aside, but his slow actions resulted in a deep cut down his shoulder. Genji kicked out with all his strength and knocked the bear man back.
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Using this window, Genji grabbed his saber, manifested a dagger, and sprung to his feet. Genji quickly stabbed the dagger into his own thigh, using the pain to offset the encroaching drowsiness. Then Genji delivered a brutal hack at the bear man, knocking the axe aside and gouging out a small chunk of flesh.
A throaty growl sounded between the bear man''s clenched teeth, expressing his surprise at the sudden change. He was not expecting Genji to wake up when he did.
Genji gave him no time to recover and lunged at him, slashing out a large crescent. The bear man struggled to parry this strike, but this only gave Genji a bigger opening. With a few relentless strikes, Genji burst through the cabin walls and finished his opposition.
As he landed outside, he realized what was wrong with the situation: he had fallen asleep. Given the circumstances, Genji should never have relaxed like he did, let alone when he was so wary of the dangers mere moments prior. The only explanation was that the cabin had induced this state when he stepped through its door.
Genji hadn''t expected the trap to be the location itself rather than man-made. Fortunately, the bear man wasn''t too powerful, and Genji managed to overpower him easily.
Genji let out a deep breath, pulled out the dagger in his leg, and patted his similarly sleeping companions. "Hey, wake up. It''s not the time or place to be dreaming."
Astros drowsily opened his eyes and yawned loudly, asking for a few more minutes like a child being bothered by his parent in the morning. Bruce, however, grew alarmed by the sudden realization that he''d also fallen asleep. After all, he was supposed to be on guard duty and warn Genji if something came up. Following that, Bruce manifested with a sheepish look and tried to explain his fallacy.
"You don''t need to blame yourself. We both fell for it. But at least we learned about location effects."
Bruce nodded heavily, and they walked back to the cabin. Genji brought his saber back and swung hard, further exacerbating the damaged walls. Bruce tilted his head, wondering what Genji was doing.
"I''m looking for loot," he explained. "I don''t want to go back in there, but I still want to search the house. So let''s destroy it to ensure it doesn''t affect us again."
Bruce''s eyes lit up at his reasoning and joined him in the destruction. This ruckus eventually woke Astros up and caused him to rub his eyes in doubt. ''Why are Dad and Brother taking their anger out on the walls? Don''t they have better ways to vent?''
Once they dismantled the outer frame, they began peeling back the floorboards in search of any hidden compartments. To their surprise, they found several of these slots, each containing their own item type. The bear man was surprisingly organized for his messy appearance.
In one hole, they found a pile of damaged leather armor, too weathered to be useful. In another, they found a barrel of suspicious salted meat that resembled a human''s.
But among these compartments, one finally rewarded their efforts with a pile of metal gear. Unlike their leather counterparts, these were in relatively good condition and could be taken. This amounted to 4 rare and 13 uncommon pieces of equipment.
[You have uncovered the story of "Cabin in the Woods"]
[Cabin in the Woods]
Summary: The bear man lures travelers into his home and kills them during unsuspecting moments. He plunders their items and turns his prey into food for the upcoming years.
Mission Progress: 1/3
Genji rested outside for a few more minutes before continuing on his way. There were no other dangers, so the journey was very smooth. When he crossed the boundary, he found himself in a large factory that echoed with metal clangs.
The air was cold and stung the nose. On his side, Genji found a rectangular hole for a window where snow gathered. Outside the factory, a hill of white could be seen, piled up from the surrounding roads.
Looking around, Genji saw countless children with hooked, triangular ears working at their stations. All of them had grim faces and bore countless bruises around their bodies. Many were shivering from the cold, while those who weren''t had signs of frostbite.
Suddenly, the crackle of a whip sounded, followed by a painful cry and an angry berate. "Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Can''t you stupid elves do anything right?"
Following the direction of the voice, Genji found an obese old man dressed in a red fur suit with white trims. The old man cracked his whip again, inflicting bleeding wounds on his target and crippling him. Having somewhat vented his anger, the man turned around with large chest heaves and met Genji''s gaze.
That was when Genji realized the man wasn''t human, but rather demonic. The man had glaring red eyes, a wide mouth that revealed sharp, triangular teeth, and a white tentacle beard that wiggled uncontrollably.
[Santa, Christmas Ruin]
Health: 35,250/35,250
Energy: 460/460
Con: 61
Str: 58
Dex: 52
Int: 23
Spc: 23
Skills:
- Mini-boss (passive): +20,000 hp
- Oppressive Aura (passive): Instill fear into those weaker than you
- Demonic Nature (passive): All attacks will cause lingering energy corrosion, lasting 5 seconds.
- Whip Mastery (Grandmaster)
Note: No other skills can be read.
"What are you looking at? Get to work, you filthy gremlin!" Santa yelled at Genji. "Or do you want a taste of my whip as well?"
Genji determined he could take this fight and burst forward with a heavy slash. Santa yelped in surprise and attempted to repel him, but Genji used his higher speed to relentlessly attack. Injuries accumulated on the old man''s body, chipping away at his strength. In a last-ditch attempt for survival, Santa grabbed a few nearby elves and threw them at Genji as he ran for escape.
Genji hacked through the living obstacles and dashed through the showers of blood in hot pursuit, occasionally shooting out streaks of cutting intent for disruption. Eventually, he caught up to the escaping demon and slashed to kill.
Suddenly, Genji''s heart jumped with trepidation, prompting him to immediately back off. Genji warily looked around for the source, but the apprehension faded as quickly as it came.
Although confused by this, Genji decided to finish Santa first. With a mighty push, Genji surged forward and slashed again, only to be interrupted by the same feeling. In a fit of startlement, Genji twisted his saber and severed the arm instead.
Oddly enough, the feeling disappeared again. Wanting to test his theory, Genji slashed again at the neck and diverted it at the last moment. It was safe this time. This confirmed the true danger would only activate after Santa''s death and that Santa had no control over it. As for what, only time would tell.
Genji debated between escaping the zone right now or going the greedy route. However, Genji wasn''t willing to give up so easily and began throwing some test swings. This allowed Genji to realize the danger originated from the surroundings rather than Santa himself. This meant he would be safe as long as he killed Santa away from the factory.
''Perfect,'' Genji thought, dismembering his opponent. Then he had Bruce grab the stubby man by the neck and dashed for escape. As he jumped through a window, a snowstorm kicked up, as if the zone itself was protesting against his methods. Regardless, Genji kept running and ignored the weather resistance.
Santa tried to struggle against this treatment, but another slash from Genji curbed the defiance. Like this, they reached the boundary of the zone. It was evident this was the border because the snowland abruptly ended here, creating a veil that blocked the scene beyond. Santa''s struggles resurfaced at this sight as fear and desperation overtook him. Whatever the boundary was, he was very adamant about avoiding it.
Genji paid Santa no mind and dashed through the border, creating ripples like entering a liquid portal. When the last part of Santa disappeared from this zone, a shudder swept through the zone. Following that, the elves'' eyes turned bright red and their bodies began distorting.
In mere seconds, they''d taken on a form more hideous than Santa, with swollen bellies and barbed hair strands. They roared with vicious frenzy and began madly attacking everything in sight. The factory collapsed after a few minutes and the snowland followed a few hours later. Everything had been destroyed beyond reconciliation.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the boundary, Santa began screaming in agony, his body melting as if dipped in acid. It was as if he was undergoing the most painful torture imaginable. Santa dissolved into a puddle around the same time the elves finished their transformation, leaving only a rare shortsword behind.
''What the?'' Genji inwardly exclaimed. ''Can the monsters not enter another zone or is he a special case? Either way, I should keep this in mind.''
Genji stored away the item and examined his surroundings, the outskirts of a city. It was high noon and there didn''t appear to be any obvious dangers like in the other zones. Merchants roamed the streets and citizens went about their day. If Genji didn''t know what world this was, he could easily mistake this for any other city.
However, he''d paid the price for one mistake and wasn''t about to make another. As he walked through the streets, he kept his senses tuned to the max, scanning every passing person for a clue. This state was mentally exhausting to maintain, but he persevered with thick resolve.
Along the way, Genji found a man bragging about eating five dozen eggs every morning and three women verbally abusing a girl in rags with words like, "Keep your head down, Cinderella. No one wants to see your ugly face," "Stop dozing off. You still have a lot of chores at home," and "You better not drop that! It''s worth more than your entire life."
Genji also heard some wild tales from the people, including a girl who fell into a coma after pricking her finger with a needle, a princess with lush golden hair trapped in an isolated tower, a fairy that only accepts human teeth as payment, and a wooden puppet that magically came to life one day.
Yet the most practical one was about the kingdom''s queen who wanted to hire a specialist for her castle. Genji decided to check out this job offering since this zone felt relatively normal compared to the previous ones. At least there hadn''t been any hidden dangers since he arrived. Genji walked through a narrow alleyway and transformed into a more suitable appearance before heading toward the distant castle on the hills.
Meanwhile, in the castle''s basement, a woman in dark attire entered a room forbidden to all others. She carried a small candle, came upon a full-length oval mirror, and asked, "Mirror, mirror on the wall. Tell me who is the fairest of them all."
"She is," the mirror answered, displaying an image of Cinderella. Then a face appeared on the mirror and blew out the candle flame, sending the room into darkness once more.
204 – Employment
With the new disguise donned, Genji felt fewer prying gazes on him as he passed by. There were still some, but they were limited to the bored and the curious. Astros also became a house cat - less exotic than a ferret, but similar enough to make the disguise plausible.
They walked through the messy streets and arrived at the base of the hill where the castle sat. A squadron of armored knights stopped him and asked for his purpose. Genji explained what he had heard, and the knights led him to a side hall where five other job candidates were waiting.
There was a burly warrior, a female hunter, a quiet knight, a shirtless lumberjack, and a strange magician in purple robes. These were the labels Genji used to describe their weapons and general atmosphere.
All of them turned to look at Genji when he entered, but none greeted him. They were here for the job, not to make friends. In fact, the warrior''s and lumberjack''s gazes were rather unfriendly, as Genji''s addition meant another competitor they needed to outperform.
The magician and hunter were indifferent to his presence, displaying strong confidence in their skills, while the knight''s expression couldn''t be seen due to the metal helmet on their head. Instead, their gazes lingered longer on Astros, as they didn''t expect anyone to bring a pet to the test.
Genji ignored their gazes, found a spot for himself, and waited for the interview to begin. A few minutes later, another candidate, a clergywoman with a large hood covering her face, arrived. She glanced curiously at the other candidates even after she took a seat, her gaze lingering longer than was comfortable.
It was as if she wanted to see through all the candidates and discover their darkest secrets. After a while, this intrusiveness annoyed the lumberjack, and a confrontation occurred.
"What, has no one taught you manners? Don''t you know it''s rude to stare?" the lumberjack asked, towering over her. The clergywoman snickered at his words but was otherwise unresponsive. This further irked the lumberjack and caused him to raise his voice. "You little twerp! You dare ignore me?"
The lumberjack shook his fist over her head, threatening to beat her. At this moment, the knight finally spoke up to break the conflict. "Enough, we''re in the queen''s castle. Behave yourself."
Although unwilling, the lumberjack released the threat and returned to his seat. An hour passed, and some of the candidates became impatient. The warrior, hunter, and mage began frowning, while the others continued as usual. Meanwhile, the lumberjack had dozed off, staring into space absentmindedly. It was unknown if he was sleeping with his eyes open or actually awake.
The clergywoman had a faint smile on her face as she observed everyone''s reactions, basking in their discomfort. After a few more minutes, the warrior had had enough and stood up to leave. With him taking the initiative, the lumberjack and mage followed, thinking the queen didn''t regard them highly if she made them wait this long.
This left the hunter, the knight, Genji, and the clergywoman. But despite the unnecessary wait, none of them showed any signs of leaving. Eventually, Genji opened his eyes from meditation and approached the clergywoman.
"How much longer are you going to make us wait?" he asked. "Everyone who wants to leave has already left. We''re serious about this job. Can you stop wasting our time and start the tests already?"
"I have no idea what you''re talking about," the clergywoman replied, her smile widening beneath the hood.
"Play dumb as much as you want, but you can''t convince me otherwise. You''re the examiner, aren''t you?"
"Now, what makes you think that?"
"You''ve been observing us from the start, seeing how we react and our temperaments. There''s no way that''s due to personal curiosity. If you want to keep stalling, then I''m leaving as well. There''s no point in wasting my time like this."
*Clap clap*
The clergywoman applauded his deduction and reached up to take off her hood. "In that case, let me introduce myself." The cover came off, and she gathered her loose hair. After bundling it, she pulled out a ribbon and tied her hair in a ponytail. Then, she set a golden crown on her head and said, "I am Ishela, and I am the queen of this kingdom."
The knight and the huntress fell onto one knee to show their respect, but Genji stared into her eyes and said, "So what?"
The queen, taken aback by his bluntness, asked how he could be so calm in front of her.
"I''ve killed more people than you''ve seen in your entire life and survived disasters that would have killed most men. Why should I care about a mortal queen who hasn''t even been outside her country?"
It was a very jaded and self-centered response, but that was the persona Genji wanted to portray. That way, he could dismiss any questions about his upcoming behaviors. He needed to do this because he intended to stay long-term and make this zone his resting point.
It had only been a few hours since he entered this world, and he''d already encountered several life-threatening dangers. If nothing changed, it would only be a matter of time before exhaustion overtakes him and elicits a fatal mistake.
Genji didn''t care if his attitude offended the queen and caused him to lose this job opportunity. The important part was to show his attitude and deter any unnecessary troubles. After all, the residents in this world weren''t as easy to deal with as he made them out to be. Just the castle alone had many knights who could easily kill the previous Santa.
"So? Are you going to start the test?" Genji asked again, awakening everyone from their stupor.
"Fine, let us go to the courtyard," the queen declared.
They followed her and arrived at an open area where many knights were training. Seeing the queen''s entrance, everyone stopped their actions and bowed. Ishela announced her purpose, and they cleared the location for them.
"I intend to build a special division to handle any cases my current guards might struggle with. Its main job is to investigate and eliminate any paranormal activities in the kingdom, including disappearances, murders, and other eccentric occurrences. That is the position you''re applying for today. If there are no questions, please demonstrate your capabilities in a spar. My head guard will be evaluating you all."
The three candidates exchanged glances before the knight stepped forward. "I am Sir Edwin. Which one of you will be my opponent today?"
The castle guards hesitated because Edwin gave off a strong aura that rivaled their vice-captain, who was absent today. Since the captain needed to judge the fight, he wouldn''t be participating either. That meant anyone who volunteered would be in for a beating.
After a few seconds, just as the situation was about to become awkward, the huntress stepped forward. "Fine, since none of you want to do this, I''ll go first."
She drew her bow, stood across from the knight, and entered a fighting stance. The guard captain raised his hand into the air, counted them down, and swiped his hand to start the match. At this signal, the knight charged at the huntress, barring his shield to intercept the incoming arrows.
The huntress fell back in response and shot a burst of arrows, each traveling at slightly different speeds. Following that, she sprayed dozens more shots in rapid succession, blanketing the field in metal.
The knight parried what he could and slammed down the remaining projectiles using his shield. Suddenly, an arrow collided with already airborne shots, changing their original trajectories into a chaotic storm. The knight struggled against this barrage, but his stronger aura allowed him to withstand the shots without much interference.
As the huntress paused to reload, he burst forward and slammed his shield into the huntress''s side, knocking her down. As she tried to roll back onto her feet, a sword stabbed into the ground beside her neck, halting the duel. The knight withdrew his weapon and helped the huntress up before turning to the captain.
"Good, you both pass. Excellent fight," the captain applauded.
This left Genji as the only untested candidate. The queen turned to him and asked, "Which one will you fight?"
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"I''ll pass," Genji said. "I can''t win against them in a duel."
"Then why are you still here?" she snapped at him, annoyed by his attitude.
"I don''t think you understood me. I only specified I would lose in a duel, not an actual fight."
"Is there a difference? Because to me, it seems like you''re all talk."
"A big one. In a life-or-death fight, I''ll win 8 times out of 10 against Edwin. If you give me some time to prepare, I''m confident I could take both of them on at once."
Genji was telling the truth, but he sounded like a braggart to everyone else. He''d done nothing to show his strength, yet he claimed he could fight two combatants on their vice-captain''s level. There had to be a limit to his lies. After all, there were only four guard units under the queen and fewer than 10 vice-captain-level fighters.
To say he could fight two of them would put him on par with the captains, which they highly doubted since his aura was only around 4th to 5th seat. This was indeed the case if comparing raw stats, but Genji was more than capable of fighting above his level.
However, this required using his trump cards and killing moves, which explained his current dilemma. After all, Edwin had three stats in the 60s and one trailing closely behind, a gap that couldn''t be crossed without his liberations.
The only ones who somewhat believed his claim were the knight and the captain, who felt a faint threat from Genji. Although they weren''t sure about the extent of Genji''s claim, they were aware that he had something going for him.
"Let him join," the captain said after a few moments, halting the silent glares from the guards.
The queen couldn''t understand all these points, but she trusted the captain''s loyalty. So, as much as she disliked Genji''s manners, she decided to trust the captain''s judgment and accept Genji. With this settled, the queen led her new subordinates to a royal dinner and discussed their employment terms.
"Speak up, how much do you want for this job?" she asked as the servants set the table.
"I believe 20 gold pieces a month is worthy of my skills," the knight quoted.
"Then I will take 18," said the huntress.
"Done. You, cat guy?"
Genji looked up from stroking Astros and gave an unexpected counteroffer. "I''m thinking of a different payment method. You see, I''m not too interested in gold or other currencies you have to offer, but I do consider myself a collector. How about for every task I do, you give me a weapon of adequate quality? The harder the request, the better the weapon."
"Now why would I do that? Can''t you just buy them yourself after getting the money?"
"A few reasons, really, but the main benefit for you is that I''m willing to take certain missions the other two might be uncomfortable with," Genji said with a knowing smile.
The queen was stunned by his implications, but she quickly recovered and denied his request. "You shall do no such thing. This unit is not like that!"
Genji wasn''t surprised by the rejection, since every ruler needed to maintain their image in public. But privately...
"In that case, just give me 15 gold pieces," Genji said, casually dismissing the previous issue.
After they finished dinner, a servant guided them to the quarters where they would rest. Genji claimed an empty room for himself and entered light meditation. He waited until midnight, when the darkness was the most intense, before grabbing Astros and sneaking out.
He used the shadows to elude the patrolling guards and searched for the queen''s room. After a few minutes, he picked the lock to her door and slipped inside. The queen was asleep at this moment, but Genji awakened her with some light taps on her bedside. Upon sensing the figure by her bed frame, her eyes widened and her mouth opened to scream, but Genji muffled it by clasping his hand over her mouth.
Once she calmed down, he removed his hand and asked, "So, about my previous offer? Any requests?"
She glared at him for the scare and fumbled over to her cabinet. After feeling around for a few seconds, she retrieved a coarse poster paper and handed it to him.
"This is Cinderella. I need you to make her disappear."
Genji scanned the portrait with his night vision and recognized this as the same girl who had been mistreated earlier today. "No problem. Just have the payment ready."
"I''ll give you the day off tomorrow. Use this time to look for her."
"Sounds good." Genji lightly waved his hand and slipped back out the door.
The following morning, at the crack of dawn, Genji finished his meditation, placed Astros around his neck, and headed out. After grabbing a quick breakfast from the kitchen, he gathered with his colleagues and listened to the captain''s explanation about the castle''s layout. Although he was already pardoned, he still needed to keep up appearances lest some suspicions arise.
After all the boring explanations, the queen called for them and gave them a brief overview before dismissing them. Now, they were truly free to do their thing. Edwin chose to continue his training routine, while the huntress went out to shop for necessities. Genji used a similar excuse and began strolling through the streets.
He kept an eye out for the same women who had mistreated Cinderella, but they were absent today. Regardless, he continued looking and exchanged some jewelry for spending money to treat himself. Along the way, he discovered a shop sporting a winged crown tooth icon on its wooden sign. There was a moderate mana signature emanating from it, indicating it had been carved through magical means.
Out of curiosity, Genji entered and looked around. The interiors had many shelves, each containing an assortment of oddities. From realistic dentures soaking in a green fluid to pouches that radiated volatile mana, this shop appeared to have it all. After a few seconds, a small head the size of a walnut poked out from around the corner and spotted Genji.
"Give me a few moments. I wasn''t expecting anyone at this time," she said.
After withdrawing behind the corner, a flash of light illuminated the area before a human-sized fairy hovered into view. Genji glanced at her colorful flapping wings before diverting his stare to her face and asking, "What do you sell here?"
"A lot of things," she answered. "From the magically curious to plain malicious, I serve them all if they can pay the price. My artifacts have many abilities that people can''t find elsewhere."
"Sounds interesting. How much does that cost?" Genji asked, pointing to a bottle of yellow powder that caught his eye.
"15 teeth," she quoted after glancing at the item.
"Teeth?"
"Yes, I''m the Tooth Fairy. I only accept teeth for my services."
"Human teeth?"
"The more exotic it is, the higher the value."
"I''ll keep that in mind. For now, I''ll have to decline. I don''t have any teeth I can give you."
"Then I look forward to your return." The Tooth Fairy sent him out with a professional smile and returned to her usual activities.
''Interesting,'' Genji thought as he stepped out. ''I didn''t expect someone as powerful as the giants to run a shop like this. At least she''s not hostile, so I don''t have to worry about her, though I do feel bad for anyone stupid enough to try robbing her.''
Genji continued walking and asked around about the trio he saw yesterday.
"Ah, you must be talking about Lady Tremaine and her two daughters," a stranger answered. "They live in the Joken estate just north of here."
"What about the servant girl with them? Can you tell me anything about her?"
"The servant girl? Which one? The family employs many servants. I''m not sure I know who you''re talking about."
"Thanks anyway. You''ve been a great help," Genji said, passing over some coins.
The stranger smiled cheerfully and said, "Anytime. Happy to help."
They went their separate ways, and Genji headed to the estate to scout the surroundings. It was a relatively lavish mansion for the era, employing about twenty people for its daily chores. Upon his arrival, the servants were bustling about, dressing the two daughters in various extravagant attires.
The daughters tried on numerous dresses, bracelets, jewelry, and hairstyles, all in an effort to highlight their charms. But from the many outfits that cycled between the servants, it could be seen that they weren''t satisfied with their appearances. Their mother was also preparing, though her efforts were less frantic. The primary focus was clearly on the two daughters.
Above them, through a window in the attic, Genji saw Cinderella sewing her own dress from a patchwork of cloth. Birds and mice chirped around her, offering encouragement and cheer. It was evident they were preparing for a major event, though the exact details eluded Genji.
"Don''t I look beautiful in this dress?" one daughter asked her sister, giving the outfit a twirl. "Surely the prince will find me attractive!"
"Yes, but mine''s better. My beauty is so alluring that all other girls will be envious of me," the sister responded.
As they bantered back and forth, Genji honed in on one crucial word. ''Prince? The queen has a son? Isn''t she too young for that?''
Genji stared at this scene for a while longer before deciding to come back later that night for the assassination. He couldn''t do much in broad daylight since he was now affiliated with the kingdom. Upon his return, he went to Ishela and asked her about the prince.
"Oh, Gerald? He is the prince, but not my biological son. My previous husband, the king, had two children before his wife died. I married him after that, but he also passed away a few years later. Now, the only one remaining is Gerald. I feel bad for him since all his immediate family members died one after the other, leaving him alone."
Although the queen said that, Genji couldn''t help but notice the coldness in her eyes when she mentioned the children. It wasn''t directed toward Gerald, as the queen was indifferent when he was brought up, so that left only the other child. Was there something about them that triggered the queen?
Regardless, Genji didn''t dwell on this issue and asked about the daughters'' grand attire next. "Just what are they dressing up for? Is there a special event happening today?"
This caused the queen to stare at him blankly, dumbfounded at his ignorance.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Genji asked again.
The queen''s gaze grew stranger, and she answered his question with squinted eyes. "It is Gerald''s birthday today, and we''re hosting a banquet tonight. How did you apply to work here without knowing that?"
"..." Genji said nothing and simply walked out.
205 – Banquet
Genji had to push back his assassination plans due to the banquet. It wasn''t because he didn''t want to do it, but because his target had already left when he returned to the estate. Now, they would only meet at the castle tonight. Genji looked at the empty manor one last time before summoning Bruce and galloping to the castle.
He took an unconventional route and arrived just as the banquet doors opened. Leading his group through a back entrance, Genji handed Astros to Bruce and told them to enjoy the event. Astros raised his left paw to say "okay," and eagerly pointed Bruce toward some tasty-looking desserts.
The servants were weirded out by the animal duo, but the royal badge around Bruce''s neck informed them of their high status. The servants could not afford to stop them. On the bright side, Astros and Bruce appeared to be highly intelligent and knew how to behave, making their jobs a lot easier.
Although the staff had to spend some time serving the hungry duo, it wasn''t a big deal compared to the alternative where they had animals snagging food in the main hall, where the guests were situated.
At least this way, the staff didn''t have to deal with the troubles associated with that mess. Plus, their interactions with Bruce and Astros were rather cordial since they knew how to ask for permission before eating something.
Bruce also helped them with the constant stream of dishes now and then, alleviating their workload between the snacks. Due to this, the staff developed a sort of symbiotic friendship with Bruce, which extended to Astros, who cheerfully waved at any passing staff. Like this, the service rush quickly passed for the staff, their experience more pleasant than usual.
Meanwhile, Genji grabbed an unopened bottle of wine from the serving table, popped off the cork, and began sipping away in a corner. He didn''t have any goals tonight, so he settled for observing the guests.
''This wine''s kind of sour,'' he thought, ''They didn''t seal it properly when fermenting it.''
Minutes later, the main star of the show, the prince, entered. Genji could tell he was the prince because he was dressed in the most eye-catching and expensive outfit, consisting of a red suit and a large swab of fur on his right shoulder. Everyone also swarmed him at his entrance, seeking to catch his fancy and form some connections.
However, the politics of the royal family had worn him down, making him indifferent to their advances. Not even the most beautiful girls elicited a reaction from him. At most, he gave a few polite nods to the people talking to him, but Genji could tell he was rather unfocused on the conversation.
''Life must be hard as a prince. Not only does he need to deal with a murderous step-mom, but he also needs to juggle interpersonal relationships with the nobles.''
As Genji was halfway finished with his wine, Edwin, the steward knight, sat down across from him and scolded him for his vices. "You shouldn''t drink when we''re on duty. It''ll dampen your senses."
"Does it matter?" Genji asked back. "At our levels, our bodies can easily get rid of this little bit. Plus, it''s a royal banquet here. You would have to be crazy to cause a commotion."
Edwin fell silent with no retort, but his disapproving stare conveyed his thoughts.
"Anyway, where''s the archer?" Genji asked to change the topic.
"Her name is Kathleen."
"Sure, I''ll remember that when it matters."
Edwin frowned at Genji''s dismissive tone, but his knightly values compelled him to answer. "She''s up high watching for conflicts."
Genji looked around at the possible spots and found her near a ledge on the second floor, scanning the crowd. Their gazes met, and Genji raised his bottle at her before taking a sip. This also ticked off the huntress, and she considered putting an arrow through the container. However, she quickly shelved this idea as the ensuing commotion would only make her job more difficult.
Edwin, discontent with Genji''s mannerisms, left after this, not wanting to associate with Genji anymore.
''Finally some peace and quiet,'' Genji thought, leaning back on the chair. ''Don''t they realize they''re the distracting ones when behaving like that? I was perfectly inconspicuous here until a knight in bulking armor came along.''
Genji resumed drinking and maintained his facade until all the prying gazes looked away. Then he picked a new spot, grabbing another bottle along the way. However, if one paid close attention to his position, they would realize Genji was in the optimal location to intercept any unwanted guests, both from inside and outside.
An hour into the banquet, Genji sensed a massive mana signature approaching the castle. The other masters stationed here also picked up on it moments after him and warily glared at the entrance.
Between the large castle doors, down the side of the hill, Genji saw a pristine crystal carriage steered by human-sized mice. Musical birds also accompanied the entourage, singing their songs and brightening the mood. It was a phenomenon conjured from magic and powered by immense mana. With such an overbearing display, it was hard to believe the owner came with good intentions.
All the guards clenched their weapons with strong tension, readying for a fight that never came. When the carriage came to a stop, a beautiful girl stepped out, bedazzling everyone''s eyes. The guests had never seen such a captivating being that radiated purity.
Genji narrowed his eyes and pressed his thumb into his ribs, using the pain to divert his attention. Although it wasn''t on the level of a charm ability, the girl''s appearance contained some traces of magical enhancement.
"Is this the prince''s banquet?" Cinderella asked softly.
"It is. May I know who you are?" a guard cautiously asked.
"An attendee."
The guards exchanged confused glances but escorted her up like she was just another guest, albeit with more respect and vigilance. Like this, Cinderella entered the hall and evoked the envy of all the girls. The most prominent ones were her abusive stepsisters, who gnashed their teeth in thick jealousy.
Many male attendees around Cinderella''s age asked for a dance, but she tactfully rejected them. This lasted until the prince''s turn, in which Cinderella''s eyes widened with shock before she readily agreed. Genji averted his gaze at this moment, having concluded that the immense fluctuation of magic was not from the girl, but another party.
''But why does she give off a familiar feeling? Have I met her before?'' Genji wondered to himself, taking another swig from his bottle. Cinderella''s transformation was so drastic that not even Genji recognized the assassination target before him.
The next few hours of the banquet passed uneventfully. Other than Genji grabbing another bottle of wine, the main focus was on the prince and Cinderella''s dance. They had been going at it nonstop, having the time of their lives without any regard for the people around them.
This lasted until the clock bell rang 12 times, denoting the change of midnight. Cinderella''s face distorted with anxiety, and she rushed for the exit. The prince chased after her and asked for her name, but Cinderella ignored him and shuffled down the stairs with the hem of her dress in hand. In her hurry, her foot got caught on a step, and her slipper fell off.
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The prince called out to remind her, but Cinderella only increased her pace. Left with no choice, the prince intended to pick up the slipper and race down to her carriage. But right as he crouched down, Genji suddenly appeared beside him and grabbed his outstretched arm, halting his motion in place.
Genji pulled the prince to his feet and watched as Cinderella slipped into her carriage. The prince struggled defiantly against his grip, yelling, "Hey! What''s the meaning of this?! How dare you grab me!" This outburst attracted a few spectators from inside the hall.
Genji ignored all this and slowly dragged the prince back, waiting for Cinderella''s carriage to vanish from his sight before pouring his half-finished wine bottle over the slipper. Upon contact, black fumes erupted from the immaculate footwear, evaporating the fluid with loud sizzling sounds.
A foul odor also accompanied this scene, making the prince nauseous upon inhalation. The smoke was clearly poisonous and created with ill intent.
Sharp hisses and gasps sounded from the crowd while the nearby guards rushed forward to protect the prince. Genji released his hold and asked, "Well? Do you still want to touch it now?"
"N-no, thank you for stopping me." The prince''s face was pale as he imagined the consequences of the alternative.
"Mages! Get the court mages!" the guards hollered, confirming the slipper was a product of magic. While this happened, the other guards scattered the crowd and asked them to keep silent about the issue. Minutes later, a few robed men ran into the scene, carefully collected the weapon with a magic tool, and brought it away for analysis.
Genji returned to the hall, signaled to his colleagues that he would be clocking out now, and headed to the kitchen to pick up his companions.
The following morning, the queen summoned Genji to the throne room. Upon entering, Genji noticed the security in the room had become stricter, with everyone on edge. A group of mages stood on the side, holding the results of their examinations. The prince and the queen could also be seen, their appearance hectic from being awake the whole night.
"You called for me?" Genji asked, stopping in front of the throne.
"Mages, explain your findings," the queen said in a dignified tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The head mage took the sheets of paper and began his presentation. "After several tests, we have confirmed the slipper is laced with a vicious curse. Anyone who touches it will become a puppet, incapable of controlling their body. Fortunately, most of the energy has dissipated already, making it safe to the touch."
Although the guards had expected such a result, many of them still gulped with fear. The prince broke out in a cold sweat while the queen''s frown worsened.
"You heard him," the queen said. "Without your help, the prince would have experienced a gruesome fate. You''ve helped us avoid calamity. For this, you deserve an adequate reward. What do you desire?"
"A trusty weapon," Genji answered. "It doesn''t matter if it''s a hammer or a sword, as long as it''s of good quality."
"Very well. Your wish shall be granted." The queen waved her hand, ordering a trusty guard to handle this matter. Then she asked the mage to continue his talk.
"We''ve also developed a method to find the culprit. Using the remnant mana signature and initiating a compatibility test, we can determine who the energy originated from. However, this requires direct contact with the slipper, so I''m afraid it won''t be very efficient. It''s borderline useless unless we want to go from door to door."
"That''s fine. It''ll only take a few days to go around the capital. That''s a small price to pay for catching such an audacious mage," the queen responded.
"Might I suggest an optimization?" One of the queen''s advisors asked. "Why don''t we make an announcement to see if we can lure out the culprit?"
"That sounds good. What do you propose?"
"The announcement needs to be tempting, but subtle enough to not trigger any suspicions. How about marriage? Let''s say the prince is deeply in love with the girl he met at the banquet, but he never got her name or who she is. The only lead he has is this slipper that she accidentally left behind in her rush to leave. So to find her, he will go around the capital and let every girl try it. The person who perfectly fits the slipper and is recognized by the prince will become his partner."
"Excellent! We''ll go with that. Although it''s somewhat far-fetched, it''s believable enough and also explains our actions."
In a few minutes, the queen and her advisors decided on their next course of action. But the main subject of this conversation, the prince, was in pain. They didn''t even ask his opinion on the matter and forced him into it.
"Can I not?" the prince asked.
"No. This has gone beyond just you. It''s a national matter now. If we don''t catch the culprit, do you think you will have an easy time? They failed once, but that doesn''t mean they won''t try again," the queen rebutted his appeal.
This silenced the prince, and he resigned himself to his fate.
"Gather the troops. I''ll also send the newly formed specialist division to protect you."
Everyone scattered after that. Some people went to inform Edwin and the huntress about the arrangement while others went to make the announcement. The subordinate in charge of Genji''s matter gestured for Genji to follow him.
They left the throne room, walked down an empty hallway, and stopped outside a room guarded by two powerful knights. This was the royal treasury, where the best treasures were kept. The man explained their purpose, and the two guards undid several complicated security measures to open the door.
As the heavy metal gate swung open, a flash of gold illuminated Genji''s view. The man led Genji to the weapon area and allowed him to make his pick. Genji scanned the equipment stats and eventually settled on a thick broadsword with a snaked edge. It was epic in quality, had some decent bonuses, and would fetch a good price.
Genji returned to his room afterward and stored the weapon in his storage. Then he gathered with the entourage and set off with the prince. Edwin and Kathleen shot annoyed looks his way, complaining about his early departure the previous night. First, he gets drunk on duty, and then he slacks off. Was he even taking the job seriously?
It irked them to no end to have such an unreliable teammate, yet he was still getting paid for his mediocre efforts. Even now, Genji was snacking on food and playing with Astros.
"Did you have to bring your cat as well?" Edwin finally asked after a while.
"Of course," Genji replied. "He gets lonely without me."
"Also, can you stop eating? We''re supposed to be guarding the prince, not having a picnic."
"I don''t see how that affects things. I''m being quite alert right now and also keeping my energy levels up. You never know when you might enter a fight."
Edwin clenched his fist and considered bashing in his face when Genji''s demeanor suddenly shifted, startling him. Genji''s head snapped toward a dark alleyway, and he sniffed the air. Edwin was about to ask what he was doing when a piercing scream sounded from that direction.
"Take care of the prince. I''m going to check that out," Genji said and dashed toward the source.
Edwin wanted to ask how Genji detected this when Kathleen spoke up to clear his confusion. "There''s blood in the air. We smelled it around the same time, but he pinpointed the direction before me. His senses are truly sharp." For context, Edwin was wearing a full-face helmet, so the faint metallic smell didn''t reach him.
A few guards followed Genji. When they arrived at the scene, they saw Genji kneeling by a mangled corpse and examining the wounds. Large chunks of flesh were crudely gouged out, inflicting immense pain before the victim died. From the wounds, Genji speculated the murder weapon had a curved, but short edge.
"It''s the Mutilating Killer," one guard murmured.
"Mutilating Killer?" Genji perked up with interest. "They''ve done this before?"
"We''ve been trying to catch this guy for a while now, but he always manages to slip away at the last moment. He''s one of the reasons why the queen wanted to build a special division. She was hoping some of you might have the skills to solve these cases. This is already the fifth victim in the past week."
"Sounds like your capital is more dangerous than I thought."
"Can''t help it. These creatures always pop up like spring mushrooms, no matter how much we kill. Most of them don''t have a big impact, but every now and then, we get these troublesome monsters that know how to avoid us."
The guards sealed off the scene and waited for the local patrol to arrive. They handed off the duty and returned to the main group.
"How is it?" Kathleen asked Genji.
"It''s okay. Just your normal serial killer that the authorities struggle to catch. Apparently, it''s our job now."
"So did you get any clues?"
"Some, but I don''t care enough right now." Genji''s response irritated them and made them gnash their teeth in frustration. Why did he have to be like this?
"Why not? Aren''t you being paid to do this?" Kathleen asked, suppressing her tumultuous emotions.
"But not yet. It might as well be volunteer work right now," Genji replied. "I see no benefit in exerting myself."
Later that night, after the prince made his rounds, the queen called for him. "I heard you can solve the case?"
"If I really want to, I can track down the killer right now." Genji had a lazy look on his face, resting his chin on his hand as if none of this was his problem
The queen observed him for a few moments before saying, "Get to the point. What do you want?"
Genji looked up, smiled, and said, "You know what I want. Pay me in weapons and I''ll get to work right away."
"Fine, we''ll do it your way!" She threw her arms into the air, exasperated by how far Genji would go for some measly conveniences. However, this was only from her view, where she expected Genji to stay longer than a month.
"I did tell you this at the start. You just didn''t want to accept it." Genji stood up from his seat, took out his compass, and dropped a metal splinter he collected from the corpse on top. The splinter burned up, and the pointer spun around like a tornado before settling in a certain direction. "There we go. Now let''s get this hunt started, shall we?"
206 – Madness and Insanity
Genji didn''t intend to take this hunt alone. Instead, he waited for the guards to regather before setting off. There were a lot of curses thrown his way for mobilizing the guards during their sleep time, but Genji didn''t care. It was more efficient to operate at night because they didn''t have to worry about civilians getting in the way.
Edwin and Kathleen had subtle smiles on their faces as they thought Genji had initiated this investigation due to the queen''s scolding. They followed Genji and dashed through the intertwining alleyways to reach a dilapidated house. Genji stopped beside it and gestured for Edwin to kick down the door.
A loud crash of broken wood sounded, and the guards flooded the building, yelling, "Stop right there! This is the patrol."
However, only an echoing silence greeted them, with no one in sight. Genji scanned the vicinity and also entered. His compass directed him to a rubbish pile where flies were buzzing around. Genji threw a torch at the mound and watched it burn. When the flames died down, Genji approached and brushed aside the ashes.
A charred metal axehead appeared in his view. This was the discarded weapon of the killer.
"It realized we were tracing it and slipped away," an experienced guard said. "This monster''s smarter than we thought."
Genji rolled his eyes and broke off another small chunk from the weapon. "So what? It can run, but it can''t hide. Find the owner of this axe."
The shard burned up again, and the request tracking activated. The pointer swung a few times, and they set off again. This time, the needle deviated much faster, indicating the culprit was closer than they expected. After a short pursuit, they smelled blood again, originating from an open window on the side.
They burst through the entrance while the other guards surrounded the property, sealing the escape routes. Upon entering, Genji saw a wooden figure hunched over a mangled body, its lower body standing in the moonlight while its head was hidden behind shadows.
The figure looked up at them, and demonic red eyes bore into their consciousness. At this moment, the clouds parted, letting the full moonlight illuminate their culprit. A bloodied puppet with patches of decaying flesh stuck onto its body came into view, its mouth dripping with blood and its sharp triangular teeth glistening red.
The puppet had a long, cylindrical nose with a rounded tip and messy black hair that hadn''t been washed in months. The puppet tilted its head at them, pulled out the axe with a curved, long handle from the body, and asked, "Are you a real boy?"
"What-" The guard at the front was startled by the puppet''s strange question and subconsciously voiced his confusion when Genji suddenly pulled him back, interrupting his sentence and narrowly dodging a cleaving glint of light.
The puppet manifested in front of them, its axe narrowly brushing past the guard''s face, drawing a thin streak of blood. Genji swung his saber upward at this opening while his other hand reached for [Eye of Horus] to scan his foe.
[Special Stat surpasses opponents by a large margin. Obtaining 100% of the target''s information.]
[Demon Puppet, Pinocchio]
Health: 34,500/34,500
Mana: 923/960
Con: 58
Str: 58
Dex: 63
Int: 48
Spc: 12
Skills:
- Mini-boss (Passive): +20,000 health
- Wooden Construct (Passive): Feels no pain, has no weak points. Will continue to fight until health runs out.
- Magical Empowerment (Passive): You won''t die unless you run out of mana.
- Axe Mastery (Supreme): Cleaving intent unlocked.
- Strings of Mana (Active): You can control your body from a distance using puppet strings.
- Weapon Conjuring (Active): You can use magic to summon and create a weapon.
- Wooden Burst (Active): Move at 600% of your normal speed for a second.
- Flesh Carving (Passive): Wounds inflicted by your axe will have a hard time healing, regardless of effect.
- Mana Slash (Active): Can empower your attacks with mana.
- Magical Evocation (Passive): Capable of using basic mana spells.
Genji''s saber left a small nick on Pinocchio''s face before the puppet backed off from the confrontation. Upon landing, Pinocchio examined his opponents, and his grin widened to reveal more teeth. "Great! More sacrifices for mother. I''ll become a real boy in no time!"
The guards grimaced at his gruesome yet childish tone and tensely gripped their weapons, wary of the puppet''s speed.
"Back off," Genji commanded. "We''ll handle this."
Then he dashed at Pinocchio, brandishing his saber to buy time for the guards to retreat. A lightning-fast upward slash met his advance, nearly severing Genji''s shoulder if it wasn''t for his sidestep. Genji retaliated with his own strike, and they entered a lethal dance full of sharp lights.
Genji took every chance that came to him and forced Pinocchio to keep moving, all while dodging the counterattacks by a hair''s breadth. After a few exchanges, Genji suddenly sped up, overtaking Pinocchio''s defense and leaving three medium-sized cuts along the torso.
Then he jumped back, allowing Edwin to become the front guard while Kathleen pelted the puppet with arrows. A red mana coated the axe head, and Pinocchio slashed everything out of the air. However, he struggled to move forward as Edwin held firm against his attacks.
Genji charged in with a large flare of shadow flames and slashed down another streak of weapon intent. Pivoting on his foot, Genji borrowed some of the incoming force and entered a frontal exchange against Pinocchio. With each strike, his attacking force increased and was soon on par with his opponent''s.
Genji took a deep breath and suddenly switched his fighting style, becoming more ferocious and beast-like. Streams of hot air flowed out the corner of his mouth and wrapped around the side of his cheeks as he pushed his body to exert every ounce of strength. A destructive aura also overlaid this change, further enhancing the force behind his attacks.
Pinocchio struggled against this onset of blows and was quickly disarmed. Genji ran out of air in his lungs at this moment and promptly ended his overexertion. His flames compressed inward as his cutting intent wrapped his saber once more. Genji lunged forward to deal the finishing blow when Pinocchio stretched his hand toward Genji.
A sudden sense of crisis overtook him, and he found himself jumping toward the ceiling, followed by a bone-chilling cold on his feet. His hyper-dodge had triggered and prevented him from being enclosed in ice. The whole area beneath him had transformed into an icy death land, full of skewers in every direction.
"Pull me up," Genji said, spinning his attack downward to clear the icy obstacle.
Bruce understood his intentions and shot a grappling hook through the roof. Using this tension, Genji flipped onto a ceiling beam and watched the battle below.
When his attack shattered the iceberg, Edwin charged through the snow dust and replaced Genji in the assault. However, before he could deal any significant damage, another axe manifested in Pinocchio''s hands and parried Edwin''s sword. Pinocchio pointed a finger at the shoulder, and a yellow bolt of lightning punctured a small hole through the area.
His axe came around again and forced Edwin to raise his shield. After a large impact, Pinocchio sidestepped a dangerous arrow and continued his relentless strikes. Edwin stabilized himself and endured everything, but the downpour gave him no chance to counterattack.
Suddenly, a metallic pillar smashed into the back of Edwin''s knee, causing him to lose his footing. Pinocchio immediately grabbed his shield and yanked it aside, allowing his next strike to land. Edwin''s armor broke under this attack, and a thick splatter of blood coated Pinocchio''s face. His red eyes intensified, and his grin widened with maddened laughter.
"Now this is fun! Let''s go again!"
The first sentence came from the front, but the second one sounded from behind. However, the expected strike never came because Kathleen released a powerful disruption shot at this moment. A loud collision pierced through the room and crashed into the walls, severely damaging it.
Kathleen charged another arrow and aimed at the impact area when the dust cloud suddenly ripped apart to reveal a gleaming axe rapidly descending on her head. Her eyes widened with shock, and she released the bowstring, but the huge difference in speed indicated that she would fall first.
Suddenly, a dagger spearheading a destructive cyclone smashed into Pinocchio''s side, obliterating half his body in a cylindrical shape. The impact sent Pinocchio flying like a ragdoll being hit by a speeding train.
''Tsk, this bastard''s more durable than he looks. All that and only this much damage?'' Genji clicked his tongue in annoyance and shook his sore arm. Then the released arrow brushed past him, creating a whirlwind that wildly shook his clothes.
Genji drew his other dagger and chased after Pinocchio. Opposing crescents of light clashed against each other, cutting down the dust swirl to reveal a severely damaged Pinocchio missing a quarter of his head and sporting only one arm. Red mana threads snaked out from these damaged areas and connected to his previous landing point.
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These threads gradually retracted between clashes, pulling the missing parts back to their original positions. However, most of his body had been pulverized, making them impossible to recover. Instead, Pinocchio pulled some broken chunks from the surroundings to replace these parts.
Genji took full advantage of this weakness and bombarded Pinocchio with a storm of attacks, forcing the puppet to perpetually repair his body. Eventually, Pinocchio gave up his efforts and conjured a rain of axes, each attached with a mana thread. Pinocchio snarled at Genji and commanded the weapons to drown him.
An overwhelming number of slashes came at Genji, each attacking with a slight delay to stifle all breathing room. Genji parried the necessary strikes and used the incoming force to maneuver around the rest. But despite his best efforts, Genji still received many deep wounds, which he fortunately kept to non-lethal areas.
After a few exchanges, Edwin charged into the barrage and slammed his shield into the densest part, unleashing a ripple that interfered with Pinocchio''s control. Then he slashed through the mana threads and freed Genji from his encasement.
Realizing his precarious situation, Pinocchio released his conjured weapons and funneled their remaining mana into casting a powerful spell. The agglomerations of mana gathered into dense points resembling the twinkling stars in the night sky and began burning. Then these points erupted with beams of fire, threatening to scorch everything in their path.
Genji weaved between these webs and gathered his strength for Lightning Inspiration. Upon receiving an opening, he stabbed out and forcibly cleared a human-sized tunnel toward Pinocchio. Kathleen capitalized on this moment and released her strongest arrow, comprised of half of her total energy.
Pinocchio dived aside to minimize the damage when a black crystal chain suddenly wrapped around his arm. Then, before Pinocchio could react, Genji yanked hard and pulled him into the arrow''s path, forcing a direct hit.
The chain grew taut from the force, but Genji wrapped it around his arm, letting it dig into his flesh to forcibly pull Pinocchio inward. Edwin stepped between them and slashed out with his sword, decapitating the puppet. The remnants of his energy also scattered the mana in Pinocchio''s body, ending the fight.
[You have slain: Demon Puppet, Pinocchio]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 46 points.]
[You have received: 350 realm coins.]
[You have received: Puppet Killer''s Axe]
[Puppet Killer''s Axe]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 63/150
Requirements: 26 Dex, 30 Int
Effects:
- Flesh Carving (Passive): Injuries inflicted by this axe will have difficulty healing while in combat
- Energy Cleave (Active/Passive): You can channel energy into this weapon to make it sharper
- Sudden Burst (Active): Travel at 300% of your normal speed in one direction
Description: The axe used by a normal puppet given life through magical means. Its former owner sought to become a "real boy" according to his creator''s wishes and was cut down in the process. Now, this weapon remains the only evidence of the puppet''s existence.
[You have completed the story of Pinocchio, the Wooden Puppet.]
[Pinocchio, the Wooden Puppet]
Description: Pinocchio wanted to become a real boy through some extreme measures, but everything was merely an imitation. After causing countless troubles, his actions attracted the attention of the castle guards, and was exterminated.
Mission Progress: 2/3
When the light in Pinocchio''s eyes dimmed, Edwin leaned back and gasped for air. The battle had been particularly stressful due to the puppet''s speed and near-instantaneous spell casts. One mistake could have resulted in grievous injuries, if not death. That was how insidious an opponent Pinocchio was.
Edwin calmed down and prepared to drag the body back when he noticed Genji squatting beside the severed head, pulling at the sharp teeth with pliers.
"What are you doing?" Edwin asked, a strange look coming over his eyes.
"Exactly what it looks like," Genji answered, stepping on the head and giving the tool a hard yank. "I''m sure the teeth of a magical puppet have some collection value."
"..."
"Ignore him," Kathleen said as she walked over. "We should know by now that he''s weird."
Genji finished harvesting, picked up the damaged weapon, and walked out with the team. Edwin and Kathleen didn''t mind his actions since they had no use for an axe. Once the team left the building and the standby guards confirmed the elimination, they called for the city patrol to clean up the area.
Once that was settled, they returned to the castle and tended to their wounds. Many guards immediately fell asleep upon reaching their quarters despite sustaining no injuries.
The next morning, Genji set out early to meet the Tooth Fairy. Upon entering her store and submitting the loot, she quoted a price for the parts. "56 teeth. I''ll give you that much for them."
"I''ll take 3 bottles of the yellow powder and save the rest."
The Tooth Fairy fulfilled his request and returned the excess teeth.
[You have obtained: Fairy Dust x3]
[Fairy Dust]
Rating: Rare
Effect: Increases the quality of all ingredients used in conjunction with this item when performing alchemy.
Description: A magical dust from the excess material shredded by a fairy''s wings. Using it will cause certain ingredients to exert potency beyond their limit.
Essentially, it was an amplifier for his potions. Depending on how it is used, it can majorly impact his consumables for the next world. Genji stored the bottles away and returned to receive the queen''s bounty. For his work last night, she gave him a rare sword. It wasn''t as high in quality as the axe, but it was worth half a month''s salary.
Afterward, he joined the prince in his patrol, continuing the search for Cinderella. They repeated this for the next few hours with no results. It wasn''t until late afternoon that they arrived at Cinderella''s estate.
Upon hearing of his arrival, the stepmother enthusiastically welcomed them in. The prince explained his purpose and the stepmother called for her daughters. They asked for the slipper and went out of sight to try it on. The older sister''s foot was too big for the slipper, so their mother suggested she cut off her toes.
"Think about it. If you can marry the prince, you won''t have to worry about this injury. It''s a small price to pay."
Hence the daughter followed her mother''s terrible advice and took up the knife with trembling arms. After ruthlessly trimming her foot, her face turned pale from the pain and she forcibly pushed her foot into the shoe. Agony beyond anything she''d ever felt assaulted her senses and she struggled to stand.
Knowing she couldn''t afford to delay, the mother and the sister grabbed her by the arms and supported her out. The older daughter clenched her teeth and hissed with misery but persevered. Anything to marry the prince.
"Prince, I believe my daughter is the one you''re looking for," the mother said as they came into view. "See how well the slipper fits her?"
The elder daughter gave a shaky twirl before sitting down. Genji frowned at this scene and wondered how anyone could conceive of such a stupid idea. Did they take them for fools? There was literally blood leaking from the tips!
"Sorry, but I''ll have to reject her. Please don''t mutilate yourself for this search."
The mother''s face twisted with discomfort, but she quickly concealed this emotion and feigned ignorance. "Oh my God! Sally, why is your foot bleeding? Come back. Quick, call the doctor!" Then she apologized to the prince and dragged her daughter away.
Once they were out of earshot, Genji finally spoke up about the situation''s absurdness. "Something doesn''t feel right. No one should go that far for your hand in marriage. It''s sloppy as well."
"Yes. It''s almost like they weren''t in the right state of mind," Edwin said, similarly disturbed.
"You mean there''s a cognition hazard?" the prince asked.
"Maybe. But whatever it is, you should keep an eye on this family. They''re not normal," Genji said.
Meanwhile, the mother thought about the flaws in her plan, utterly disregarding her bleeding daughter on the side. "I was too rash. We needed to be more subtle." Her eyes went to the younger daughter, causing chills to crawl down her spine. "Yes, that''s it. We shouldn''t have cut off the front, but the back!"
"M-mother?" the younger daughter asked, backing away with unease. "Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn''t I be? Come over, Sally. Let''s try again," she said with an eerie smile, holding the bloody knife from the previous trim.
"Mother, I don''t think this is a good idea...Maybe we shouldn''t try to deceive him?"
"And why do you say that? Aren''t you the one who wanted to marry into a wealthy family?"
"But-"
"NO BUTS! ARE YOU GOING TO COME OVER OR DO I HAVE TO FORCE YOU?!?" the mother suddenly yelled at her, her voice crackling with a hint of insanity. "You are going to put the slipper on whether you like it or not!" To drive her point home, the mother threateningly waved the kitchen knife and cornered her daughter.
"I-I-I''ll do it," the daughter answered, her voice quivering in fear.
"Good! Now come over!"
The woman in front of Sally felt foreign to the girl, like she was no longer her mother, but a demonic hag driven purely by an obsession for a higher social standing. Even her voice was twisted with raspiness, and her hair was drier than fire twigs. It was a horrifying situation to be in, but she had no control anymore.
The hag forcibly grabbed her leg, causing the girl to wince in pain. However, this ache paled in comparison to the following sensation as the sharp knife dug through her heel bone. The girl screamed in pain, but the hag stuffed a dirty towel into her mouth, her actions no longer caring but emotionally calculative.
After the hag finished her trim, she wrapped the wound hard to stop the bleeding and forced the girl''s foot into the slipper. Then she yanked the girl up and said, "There! Let''s go. You want to marry the prince, don''t you?"
The girl sniffled an agonized "yes," and the hag dragged her toward the guest room, disregarding the excruciating stumbles along the way. When they entered the room, the hag said, "Prince, I believe she is the one you''re looking for. Look how well the slipper fits her. And no bleeding at that!"
However, her appearance only confirmed the group''s suspicions. Even the most oblivious guards could tell the girl was terrified and that there was a heavy scent of blood originating from behind the hag. From his position, Genji could even see the knife she used, sticking out from her dress.
Genji signaled to the prince to gently reject the hag and not provoke her. They were not in the ideal situation to fight, nor did they want to with the prince around.
The prince understood the message and pacified the hag. "Madam, calm down. It''s not that serious."
"But she''s the one, isn''t she? ISN''T SHE?!"
A drop of sweat rolled down the prince''s face, and the guards moved into position in case of a conflict.
"Come on, answer me! Why are you not answering?" the hag continued. "Is she the one or not?"
"This..." The prince''s eyes went to Genji, asking for further instructions or direct help. Genji shook his head and gestured toward the door, saying to find an excuse to leave first.
"She''s not, Madam. I believe we''ve surveyed everything. If there''s nothing else, we''ll get going now." With those words, the group hurried for the exit, not wanting to stay a moment longer. But right as they were about to cross that point, a light "Wait," called out to them.
The scampering of feet ran down the stairs and stopped before them. "Prince, wait! I haven''t tried it on yet," Cinderella said.
"CINDERELLA! WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING THE PRINCE?! DON''T YOU HAVE ANY MANNNERRRRSSS?"
"Shut up! The prince''s words say he will test every girl. Why should I be excluded when you force your daughters into my slipper?"
"BIG WORDS, CINDERELLA! YOU THINK YOU''RE THE ONE HE''S LOOKING FOR? HAVE YOU LOOKED IN THE MIRROR? YOU''RE UGLIER THAN A HORSE!"
Bruce silently protested in his sheath, asking, ''What''s wrong with being a horse? I''m beautiful, you hag!''
The group tried to slip away during this conversation, but an invisible barrier blocked their way, much to the prince''s dismay. They were forced to watch this argument with no way out.
"Then give me the slipper, and I''ll prove you wrong," Cinderella fought back.
"TAKE IT!" the hag screeched, ripping the slipper from the daughter''s foot and forcibly chucking it at Cinderella.
Enduring the impact, Cinderella slid the footwear onto her foot and proudly stood before the prince. "My prince, look. I''m the girl you met at the banquet."
As if confirming this, the spell hidden within the slipper triggered, wrapping Cinderella in a blue light. The guards immediately reacted and surrounded her with drawn weapons. "She''s the culprit. Arrest her!"
Yet the moment they uttered those words, a glaring red light erupted from the slipper and enveloped Cinderella. Wherever the red light passed, Cinderella''s flesh began to melt, inflicting excruciating pain. When the light reached her face, her flawless features distorted like melted wax before sliding right off, revealing a horrifying face.
"W-w-what''s h-happening to m-me?" she asked.
Those were the last words she managed to say before catching on fire. And from her cinders, a magical force sprung out, gathering everything back into humanoid form. A half-dissolved monster with melting skin and radiating immense heat appeared before them, seemingly devoid of sanity.
An inhumane roar sounded from the creature''s mouth before turning to face the group. At the same time, a high-pitched screech came from their side, where the hag previously was.
But instead of the former demented human, a horrifying emancipated figure standing at 3.4 meters greeted their eyes. While the group was focused on Cinderella, a beam of red light had also fallen onto the hag, invoking a similarly harrowing transformation.
The hag''s skeletal figure had elongated twice its initial height and stretched her skin taut. All strips of flesh broke during this process, leaving uneven blotches across the thin frame. In her hands, she held an enlarged kitchen knife previously used in her human form. And covering all this were long, uneven strands of flayed hair, resembling those of a decaying corpse.
"Oh, here we go again," Genji sighed, drawing his daggers and stepping forward, placing himself between the prince and the two monsters. "Why do these things keep happening to me?"
207 – Turbulent Undercurrents
[Special stat surpasses the target''s by a large margin. High ranking detected. Obtaining 100% of the target''s information.]
[Cinderella, Princess of Burning Ash]
Health: 38,600/38,600
Mana: 3,487/3,500
Con: 36
Str: 32
Dex: 32
Int: 70
Spc: 7
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +35,000 health
- Elemental Body (Passive): You take 80% less damage from physical attacks
- Flaming Embers (Passive): Fire damage is amplified by 200%. You are immune to flame attacks from people with lower Intelligence than you. For flames supported by higher stats, you receive 90% less damage.
- Magma Aura (Passive): You emit a scorching heat that burns everything near you.
- Deformed Mentality (Passive): Mental attacks are 50% less effective against you.
- Scorching Affinity (Passive): You can use all fire element spells for 50% less resource consumption.
- Burning Strike (Active): Gather energy in your claws and swipe down a target. The more energy, the hotter your attack.
- Field of Ash (Active): Summon swathes of burning ash to scorch the surroundings.
- Rising Tide of Magma (Active): Summon a giant magma wave to drown your target.
- A Fiery Core (Passive/Active): The hotter the environment, the faster your mana recovers. If you run out of mana, you can tap into this source for more mana and a huge increase in fire damage. Consumed energy will permanently decrease your maximum health.
- [Ultimate] One Final Meteor (Active): Transform into a ball of magma and launch yourself at a target. Upon collision, explode and deal massive elemental damage.
- [Ultimate] Absolute Domain of Cinders (Active): Burn everything within 500 meters, regardless of defense or counters. This effect has low priority.
[Screeching Hollow, the Insane]
Health: 34,000/34,000
Mana: 340/340
Con: 56
Str: 60
Dex: 52
Int: 34
Spc: 2
Skills:
- Mini-boss (Passive): +20,000 health
- Undead Insanity (Passive): Immune to mental attacks and other emotional influences.
- Relentless Pursuit (Passive): When focused on a goal, you will go to extreme lengths to achieve it, regardless of the cost. Stats are boosted by 50% when in this state.
- Hyper-Fixation (Passive): You will treat all living creatures as a target to kill. (This triggers Relentless Pursuit.)
Note: No other skills can be read.
"I''ll take care of the skeleton. You deal with the smoking hot girl," Genji said.
The others grimaced at his nicknames. They were in such a dangerous situation, yet he was still in the mood for jokes? Could he take this seriously?
Genji ignored their strange looks and threw a nearby chair at the hollow before dashing for the stairs. The hollow, provoked by his actions, chased after him with a vengeance, brandishing her large kitchen knife. Genji easily dodged these attacks and found a remote area to fight.
Berserk and Untraceable Movement activated, allowing him to fight on par with the hollow''s strength. After a few clashes, Genji kicked the shin and unleashed a massive crescent. The walls shattered under his strike, but the hollow parried the attack after crashing through a few rooms.
A piercing roar sounded from the trail of destruction before the hollow charged out with immense momentum. Wielding the enlarged knife like a sword, the hollow slashed at Genji like a crazed maniac. Genji jumped over a sweeping strike and kicked the head, sending his opponent flying again.
Genji pulled his dagger back and charged up Lightning Inspiration during this window. Without waiting for the technique to reach full power, Genji burst forward and collided against the tip of a descending knife. A massive shockwave tore down the remaining walls and caused the ceiling to collapse on them.
Genji slashed out a curtain of flames to obliterate this newly formed obstacle and stayed in hot pursuit. After a flurry of exchanges, Genji received another opening and slashed at the neck. His dagger dug into hard bones, cutting halfway through when the hollow grabbed his arm and flung him aside.
Genji flipped upright and landed perpendicular to a pillar. His knees bent down and dispersed the momentum acting on him before bursting toward his previous position. The surface behind him shattered, revealing the outside garden.
Genji twisted around another slash and stabbed his dagger into the hollow''s forehead. Then leveraging this point, Genji dragged the hollow to the ground and slammed her head into the floorboards.
Genji kicked aside the knife and slashed down again, collapsing the second floor. The hollow jumped onto her feet and lunged at the descending Genji, her claws coated in an ominous energy. Genji sidestepped these swipes and kicked upward, launching the hollow into the ceiling. Her whole head was buried in the wood while her body dangled from the top.
The hag freed herself and crawled toward him like an upside-down spider. Genji responded by leaping up and delivering a spinning kick, followed by a black cross.
Bruce dug into the ceiling at this moment, and they began battling in the air. After a few exchanges, Genji swung aside and ran down the walls. The hollow chased after him relentlessly, in an almost inhuman way. Her limbs no longer bent at the expected joints, but rather flailed about like a broken chain. Her hungry eyes stared hauntingly at him, treating him like prey.
With each passing moment, the hollow became less human and more ghoulish, further exacerbating her obsession. Genji landed on the ground and lashed out at the pouncing hollow. A heavy strain weighed down on his arms, threatening to crush him. Genji dug his feet into the ground and pushed her back.
Suddenly, red skewers shot out from Genji''s side, turning the hollow into a porcupine. These spikes then grew barbs on the side, viciously ripping the skin and scratching the bones.
The hollow shattered everything with brute force, but another powerful attack greeted her. Under Genji''s fully charged Lightning Inspiration, the hollow flew across the mansion and burst through the wall on the other side. Genji leaped through this hole and slashed down the recovering hollow.
Bony claws rose to block his strike, but the extensive impacts finally took their toll and shattered the arms. Bloody whips shot out through these cracks, pierced the eyes, and gave the neck a hard twist. Genji regathered his strength, conjured a stream of flames, and sliced through the neck.
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The whispers of flames died down, and the decapitated head landed on the ground. Genji picked up the loot and dashed toward the other side of the building, where he felt an immense heat radiating from.
When he arrived at the scene, he saw Edwin sliding backward, various parts of his armor singed black. His aura wavered from tanking the immense heat, and his sweat immediately evaporated upon release, steaming him from the inside. At the current rate, Edwin wouldn''t last much longer in this battle.
In the distance, Genji saw Kathleen pelting Cinderella with mana-coated arrows, but the elemental''s physical resistance made it difficult to deal any significant damage. The prince had retreated behind a tree, but there appeared to be another invisible barrier surrounding the estate, locking them inside.
A few guards took turns confronting Cinderella in melee, but the intense heat crippled their endurance. Several of the squad had taken off their gear in hopes of cooling down faster and being more agile.
Genji charged forward and slashed down with a large streak of cutting intent, bisecting Cinderella and attracting her attention. Her body reformed without trouble, and bolts of fire rained down on him. Genji weaved between the bullets and countered everything with his own flames.
"Find some water," he shouted at the idle guards as he stabbed Cinderella''s chest. Genji poured his energy through the dagger, conjuring a miniature vortex inside her. The flaming onslaught paused under this disruption, and Cinderella roared in pain. However, this was only the calm before the storm, as Genji felt the surrounding temperatures spike in intensity.
He immediately flashed away, narrowly dodging a blizzard of molten ash. Cinderella waved her arms in the air and conjured a large sphere of flames above her head. Genji slashed a few times at the ash, but the particles were too thick for him to penetrate. Kathleen also tried with an arrow, but it melted halfway through the field. They had no way to disrupt the attack.
After a few moments, Cinderella flung the sphere at them and began charging her next attack. As Genji dashed away from the impact zone, a scalding heat erupted behind him, turning the area into flames. Fortunately, the guards returned at this time and helped put out the fire with water from a nearby well.
The guards behind them also carried a makeshift hose, weaved from their meager spells, and doused Cinderella''s ashen domain, causing the fleck to collapse. Genji ran in and filled the area with cutting intent, destroying all incoming projectiles. But before he could get far, a wall of magma rose around him, threatening to encase him like a cocoon.
Genji summoned [Curse Bearer] to clear the way before dashing through with Quantum Barrier. When he emerged, blood swirled around him and attacked Cinderella to disrupt her spell-casting. Genji slid on [Kraken''s Grasp] for the mental attack before immediately putting it away. He wasn''t lacking in stats right now, but a reliable method to close the distance.
Under this combination, Genji safely arrived beside Cinderella and enveloped her in cutting intent. As she recovered, a vortex of volatile energy gathered around his dagger. Three silhouettes also darted out as a precautionary measure.
Genji was going to end this battle without giving Cinderella time to use her ultimates. It was difficult enough to get close, and the situation would only worsen with time.
Sensing the threat he posed, Cinderella tapped into her vital energy and empowered her Absolute Domain of Cinders. The two beings activated their finishers, and the world around Genji slowed. His instincts warned him of the rapidly approaching crisis and desperately shrieked at him to escape.
''But I can''t escape. I don''t have time.''
So the only way to survive is to cut down his opponent before she unleashes her wrath.
''I need to go faster. Faster!''
As if recognizing his urgency, his body began accelerating within this slow world. From being in sync with the surroundings to moving at normal speeds, until finally, he became a blur. A flash of darkness covered the scene, and the world returned to normal, save for the molten Cinderella, who was missing her head. The complete Shadow Devour has claimed its first prey!
[You have slain: Cinderella, Princess of Burning Ash.]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 75 points.]
[You have obtained: 562 realm coins.]
[You have obtained: Essence of Fire]
[Essence of Fire]
Rating: Epic (Quasi-Legendary)
Type: Crafting Item / Magic source
Effects:
- Use this to craft a piece of equipment and give it powerful fire traits
- Use this as an energy source to greatly empower your fire attribute spells.
Description: The core of a molten monster who was killed before she could utilize her vital energy. Due to how swift the attack was, the energy in this core remains abundant and high in quality.
Genji exhaled hard as the heat dissipated around him. He was mere moments from being torched and barely survived despite his lack of injuries. His body was sore from the consecutive battles, and his stamina was nearly empty.
Genji collected the fire core from the ground and dispersed the silhouettes around him. Then he approached the hose and drenched himself in some comforting coolness. The others joined him and reveled in their victory.
"For a moment, I thought we would all die," Edwin said, uncharacteristic of his usual upright demeanor.
Kathleen agreed and relaxed under the cold stream for a few more minutes. It was only when the well ran dry that they gathered their composure and escorted the prince out.
[You have completed the story of Cinderella, the Tragic Princess.]
[Cinderella, the Tragic Princess]
Description: After experiencing the harshness of life, Cinderella finally found the love of her life. Yet before she could get together with him, an unexpected twist transformed her into a monster, devoid of her previous self. What a tragic end she faced.
Mission Progress: 3/3
[You have discovered clues of a hidden storyline. A Side Mission has been issued.]
[Side Mission: Explore the Cause of Tragedy]
Description: When you confronted Cinderella, an unknown red light caused her to mutate into a monstrosity.
Requirements: Trace the clues back to their source and uncover the mastermind behind the event.
Reward: 5 stat points (ignores world limits)
Penalty for Failure: none
Genji glanced at the side mission and dismissed it. While the rewards were tempting, Genji had no intention of exploring this line. It was way beyond his league.
Just a single clue had given him so many difficulties and brought him to the brink of death. Going any further would simply be suicidal for his power level. Rather, he would prefer to distance himself as much as possible from this issue.
Genji spared the destroyed estate one last glance before leaving with no further thoughts.
A few minutes after the group''s departure, the air around the mansion distorted as a fairy with black wings teleported into the vicinity. This fairy gazed cheerfully over the wreckage and floated over to the headless body of the former stepmother. She poked at the skeletal figure like a roadside toy before standing up with a twinge of regret.
*Sigh* "Experiment #644 is also a failure. I wonder what went wrong? I gave them the proper seeds of distortion, but they still triggered ahead of time. Is it so hard to create a subtle distortion?"
She finished prodding the remains and snapped her fingers, unleashing a catastrophic amount of mana that pulverized the sturdy skeleton. Not even the severed head or arms were spared as every trace of the hollow''s existence disappeared from existence.
Next, she approached the cinders where Cinderella was killed. The fairy played with the remains like it was sand, drawing silly doodles with her finger. When she finished and pulled back her finger, not even a trace of soot stained her skin.
"And experiment #643, you were also disappointing. I gave you everything you needed, but you still failed to seduce the prince. How am I supposed to destroy this kingdom if I keep supporting useless girls like you? Fortunately, I sowed a proper seed a few years back, and she''s about to bloom. I just need to wait a few days, and I can watch this kingdom''s ruin."
The fairy smiled like she was discussing her favorite pastime with a friend. "It''s a shame the puppet broke as well. I enjoyed watching his charade, all the gore, and how he chases an impossible goal. Maybe I should create a new toy?"
With those words, the fairy conjured a portal and disappeared like nothing had happened.
When the group returned and reported their findings, the queen and her advisors wore grim expressions.
"Are you sure everything you said is true?"
"Yes," Edwin replied, kneeling with one leg. "We all saw a red beam from the shoe. It caused Lady Tremaine and the culprit to become monsters."
"But how is that possible? We didn''t sense a single thing capable of that," the court mages said. "Unless..."
"Unless the caster surpasses all of you in magical attainment," the queen finished for them. "And by a long shot at that. We''re no longer dealing with a rogue magician, but a calamity-level existence."
The people in the room gulped loudly at the mention of this and subtly wiped the sweat off their palms. If this was indeed the case, they would need to prepare for drastic losses.
Out of everyone in the room, Genji was the only one who remained composed. He didn''t know the terrors of such a classification and he wouldn''t be around long enough to find out. Why should he care about it?
Edwin explained some other details, and soon it was time for the rewards.
"For your bravery and contributions, I will bestow upon you all a bronze medal of honor and six months'' worth of salary. You may collect them at your leisure. For the fighters in the special division, I bestow you a silver medal of honor and a treasure from the royal treasury. You are dismissed."
Everyone bowed their heads and dispersed from the throne room, leaving only the queen and her closest attendants.
"I want you to prepare for the worst case," she commanded them.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Meanwhile, Genji picked another epic weapon from the vault and returned to his room for meditation. After resting his sore body, he visited the mess hall to fill his stomach. Bruce and Astros were especially hungry after everything, so they ate several portions meant for adults.
Once they finished, Genji found a remote spot on the castle roof and sat down. This wasn''t for anything in particular since he came here to slack off and play on his device. It was honestly quite calming after an intense battle. Just play some games and watch over the city below.
And this was probably all he could do here. He couldn''t exactly call or message someone to chat because all his friends were in a different world. His network wasn''t exactly broad in any sense.
''Maybe I should add more people just for this purpose,'' he mused.
The sun eventually set and Genji stretched his stiff body before jumping down through an open window.
Later that night, the queen could be seen entering the same basement as before. She brushed aside the cobwebs in the air and came upon the magic mirror with her candle.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall. Tell me who is the fairest of them all," she repeated.
The mirror thought for a few moments before displaying the image of another girl. "She is," the mirror answered.
The queen''s face distorted at this answer, and she stomped out of the room. The next morning, Genji found another poster slipped under his door, depicting his next target for assassination.
"Belle," he read aloud.
208 – Expanding the Team
It was Genji''s fifth day in this world, and the castle was holding another recruitment session today. After the previous day''s events, the queen felt the special team was no longer adequate for the upcoming dangers and sought to expand it. Genji, as one of the initial members, was designated as one of the examiners.
After dealing with two cases, the team should know better than anyone about their shortcomings and how to fix them. Hence, the queen took a hands-off approach and gave them control over this event.
Genji put away the assassination notice and headed toward the recruitment hall. He snagged some breakfast on the way, intentionally arriving late and appearing sloppy. Kathleen and Edwin glanced at him, but they were already used to his antics and continued the tests as if nothing had happened.
At the moment, there were four people in the room, but more were expected to trickle in throughout the day. The recruitment was a two-day event, so this was only the beginning.
The four applicants were rather mediocre compared to Edwin, requiring them to work together against the knight. Yet even then, they struggled to hold their ground. After a few hard collisions, Edwin knocked all of them down with his shield and ended the spar.
Kathleen recorded their information and categorized them as backups for the team. She asked if they were interested in the other guard units since their results qualified them for those positions. Two of them accepted, one declined, and the last remained undecided.
The guards led the two recruits to finish the hiring procedures, leaving the remaining candidates to spectate the upcoming matches. Their eyes turned to Genji, expecting him to enter the ring next, but he remained stationary, instead petting Astros with interest. This bewildered them since he stood out like a sore thumb, but this emotion didn''t last as a group of five soon entered the room.
This group had some familiar faces, mainly the warrior and magician from the first recruitment. Their footsteps paused when they saw the examiners, but they kept their doubts about Edwin and Kathleen''s qualifications to themselves.
As for Genji, they assumed he was the same as them, applying for the second time because he failed the first. This misunderstanding was expected since Genji was sitting in the area intended for applicants. How could they have considered anything else?
Edwin welcomed them on stage and began assessing their abilities. The mage and warrior fought well against Edwin, each managing to stalemate him. They couldn''t be tested any further because it was a friendly battle, but they undoubtedly demonstrated abilities worthy of the team. The other three fell short by a small margin, so they joined the guard units as a fourth seat.
The tests continued like this for another few hours until the servants brought lunch for everyone. Edwin and Kathleen took a small break while Genji kept to himself, not even bothering with the food. The mage and warrior gave strange looks his way, but they remained silent under Edwin''s request.
Soon, a team of three realm members entered the room. This group immediately caught the attention of the people because their outfits contradicted the supposed time period. At the front was a shifty-eyed man in black who constantly glanced at people''s weapons, as if intending to steal them.
Beside him, a woman in revealing, skintight leather armor chewed and blew pink bubblegum. Two silver pistols were strapped to her sides while a massive sniper was slung over her shoulder.
A man in a white hoodie followed them, his head subtly bobbing to the music playing through his wireless headphones. But despite these conspicuous traits, his presence was the thinnest among the group, near imperceptible if Genji hadn''t been paying specific attention.
''He''s the most dangerous of them,'' Genji determined.
The team stopped in the middle of the room, and the shifty-eyed thief asked, "Is this the interview room for the special division?"
"And you are?" Kathleen asked.
"We''re here to apply for the position," the thief announced.
Kathleen couldn''t be blamed for this redundancy since the group swaggered into the place as if they owned it. But once Kathleen heard his answer, she quickly regained her composure, pointed to Edwin, and stated the conditions, "You need to gain his approval. You can fight him one at a time or together."
However, the thief shook his head and apologized. "Sorry, but we don''t specialize in direct combat."
"Then what do you specialize in?"
"I''m a scout/tracker, she''s a sniper, and he can help manage the team," the thief introduced himself and his teammates respectively.
Hearing this, Kathleen wanted to reject them immediately. Not only did their roles overlap with those already present, but she also didn''t want to deal with more weirdos in the team. But as she opened her mouth to refuse, Genji stood up and said, "I''ll conduct their test."
Kathleen paused for a moment before nodding at him. "Fine, we''ll leave it to you."
This surprised everyone present because Genji didn''t seem reliable with how he tuned everything out and played with Astros. Genji ignored their gazes and gestured for the examinees to follow him.
"Where are we going?" the thief asked as they stepped out of the room.
"Field trials," Genji responded. "You said you were good at finding things, so let''s put it to the test." He handed over the portrait from earlier today and continued, "I need you to find and eliminate this person. She''s an anomaly that we''re recently investigating but has no leads. Do this, and I''ll let you all join."
"But I never said that," the thief protested.
"That''s fine as well. You can give up if you want. We don''t need dead weights."
"Fuck you! Do you really think I give a damn about¡ªmurrmhhm." Before he could finish that sentence, the sniper woman covered his mouth, muffling his words before agreeing to Genji''s request.
"We''ll do it. You just need this person dead, right?"
"Yes, preferably before my eyes. I would rather not have you kill an innocent and make my life harder."
"Understood. Meet us outside in the evening." With those words, the sniper pulled the thief outside and started a team meeting.
"Blah, why did you agree?" the thief complained as she released her hold. "It''s not like this position is that important. Why should we help him with this?"
"Maybe not, but it will make our lives easier and give us more opportunities. I heard the team made a major contribution yesterday and each person received a treasure from the royal treasury. I''m sure the items must be high quality."
The thief''s eyes lit up at her commentary. "You''re right, Lynn. No wonder you''re our team''s strategist. And if we get the chance, let''s rob the vault before we leave. That''ll show them the consequences of ordering us around!"
Lynn hummed in response, and the hoodie man took off his headphones to speak. "You can try, but let''s pass this test first."
The other two agreed, and they split off in search of the target.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
A few hours later, on the eve of dusk, Genji appeared behind a tree and conferred with the group. The three nodded at him and led him toward the destination. Genji wasn¡¯t wrong when he said the thief was good at finding targets.
It had only taken the man two hours to find Belle despite the large city. Genji guessed that he either had a talent for tracking things or used an item to help him. For now, Genji leaned toward the former as the truth.
After 20 minutes of travel, they arrived at a remote mansion on the outskirts of the city. It was as abandoned as it could get, with no homes or visitors within 2 kilometers. If it wasn¡¯t for the overgrown shrubbery and fading path, Genji would have mistaken this as private property. Though looking at it from a practical view, this was technically the case since the owner had no disputes over this of land.
As they approached, night fell upon them, and the lanterns in the building lit up with a soft glow. The silhouette of a beastman in a collar was reflected through the windows, yanked around by a girl in a frilly dress. They seemed to dance around the mansion and twirled with the time of their lives.
Yet amidst this harmonious scene, a discordant feeling swelled within the spectators. Why did it seem like the beastman winced every time their silhouettes overlapped? And why was there a barbed whip every now and then? All of this could be dismissed as the light playing tricks on them, but that didn¡¯t explain the chains around the beastman¡¯s neck.
It almost felt like the beastman was being kept as a pet, abused and rewarded on nothing but the girl¡¯s whims. The team paid no attention to the intricacies of the situation and Lynn set up her sniper on a favorable terrain. Meanwhile, the thief slid into the shadows and snuck closer to the mansion, using their communication devices to convey information.
Genji pretended to be ignorant of these wonderful devices and marvelously asked about them. He was playing the role of a native in this world and needed to pay attention to these details. The team members had no idea because Genji¡¯s mask revealed a fake status page when they used Insight on him. But the most damning evidence was how the scan didn¡¯t proc the status restriction for realm members.
Lynn locked onto the girl through her crosshairs and thoroughly analyzed the target¡¯s movements. The bullets for her sniper were very expensive, and she didn¡¯t want to use any more than necessary for this exam. After a few minutes, the thief below created an opening for her by throwing a small pebble at the window, briefly drawing the target''s attention.
Without hesitation, Lynn pulled the trigger, and a rush of air tore through the field. The beastman, sensing the incoming danger, shoved the girl away and endured the head-sized hole that ripped apart his shoulder. A pain-filled howl echoed through the night but was shortly drowned out by the piercing sonic boom that deafened the area.
Lynn opened fire without pause, riddling the side of the mansion with giant holes in pursuit of the girl. Lynn¡¯s marksmanship was scarily accurate and fully demonstrated the capabilities of the Supreme level. Within four shots, Lynn killed the beastman and injured the girl despite her best efforts to hide behind thick cover.
It was almost as if Lynn could see her target¡¯s position milliseconds into the future. Lynn fired a few more precision shots and bought time for her teammate to narrow the distance. From his position, Genji could see a black blur zooming toward the girl from her blindside. After a few seconds, the thief successfully snuck up on her and slit her throat, finishing this assignment.
Genji clapped for their performance and praised their skills. ¡°Excellent. You all pass. Do you want to finish the procedures tonight or wait until tomorrow?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll wait,¡± Lynn answered, positioning herself to block Genji¡¯s sight. Genji knew she was doing this to cover her teammate who was looting the corpses right now, but Genji pretended to be ignorant.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let the guards know. You can walk in anytime before lunch tomorrow. Just go to the same room as today, and we¡¯ll get you settled.¡± Then Genji turned around and headed back.
Once Genji was out of sight, Lynn disassembled the accessories to her sniper and complained to the other guy. ¡°What kind of test was that? Who sends people to kill a mini-boss as a test? I bet not even the bulky knight we met today could kill her that easily. My AMMO! AAaaaaahhhhhhh!¡±
Lynn messed up her hair in annoyance, and her teammate comforted her. ¡°At least we passed. If it makes you feel better, you can take the loot to redeem your losses.¡±
Lynn immediately stopped and latched onto this offer. ¡°You said it yourself, team leader. No takebacksies.¡±
When Genji returned to the castle, Edwin and Kathleen greeted him at the door.
"How is it?" Kathleen asked.
"All good. We¡¯ll be getting some reliable teammates tomorrow. You?"
"We got one more candidate, the burly guy who yelled at the queen back then."
"Oh, the lumberjack? I thought you would reject him due to how unruly he is," Genji said to Edwin.
"His strength is adequate. My personal opinions won¡¯t affect how I do my job," the knight answered.
"How noble. Okay, you keep doing that. I¡¯ll be extra late tomorrow."
Veins bulged on Edwin¡¯s forehead while Kathleen sighed with exasperation. If they had to name one flaw about this teammate of theirs, it would be that he¡¯s too frivolous and doesn¡¯t take his job seriously enough. Otherwise, they had no complaints.
Yet what they didn¡¯t realize was that Genji did this on purpose. In their emotional fluctuation, they failed to notice that Genji wasn¡¯t heading toward his room but the queen¡¯s. After sneaking through the lock, Genji reported the mission¡¯s completion and received his reward: another rare sword.
Genji bid the queen goodnight and walked out. When the door closed, the queen clenched her fists in excitement and casually dressed herself. After receiving such an intense simulation, it was hard for her to sleep again. Hence she didn¡¯t even try. Instead, she waited a few more minutes before heading out to the restricted basement room.
As she turned the corner and closed the heavy doors separating the two floors, Genji manifested in the shadows a few meters away. A look of curiosity and intrigue could be seen on his face.
¡®Hmm, interesting. Instead of going to sleep, the queen sneaks into the basement. What could she be hiding down there? And does it have anything to do with the assassination notices she keeps giving me?¡¯
Despite his curiosity, Genji decided to turn back and explore these secrets another time. He still had two weeks left, and it wasn¡¯t worth offending the queen right now.
The following morning, Genji found another notice slid under his door. This time, the picture depicted a girl with lush golden hair that trailed long behind her.
"Rapunzel, Princess of the Isolated Tower," Genji read aloud. "Seriously, what is with these targets? It¡¯s been three times, and they¡¯re all little girls. Does she have some grudge with them or what?"
Genji stretched his body and headed for the recruitment room. When he arrived, there was a long line waiting for Edwin to test them. Now that word had spread, more people had come to apply. The workload had gotten so high that the newly recruited teammates had to step in and help out.
¡®Ah yes, the rush hour,¡¯ Genji mused, sitting in his previous spot with his legs on the table.
"Hey! Get to work, you lazy bum!" The temperamental lumberjack, seeing this infuriating contrast, yelled at him.
"No thank you," Genji said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Why, you little twert! I¡¯ll¡ª"
Kathleen patted his shoulder and shook her head. The lumberjack glanced back and said, "Don¡¯t stop me. If I don¡¯t give him a piece of my mind, then I won¡¯t be able to calm down today."
"I¡¯m not stopping you, just warning. You won¡¯t hit him. He has some of the best combat senses I¡¯ve seen. If you can¡¯t overwhelm him in speed, you¡¯ll only be wasting your time and energy."
The lumberjack paused for a moment before shaking his fist at Genji. "Just you wait, this isn¡¯t over!"
Between a futile fight and his job, the lumberjack chose the latter. This showed that he had some level-headedness under his rough exterior and was capable of critical thought when necessary.
¡®Good. It would have been troublesome if he was impulsive,¡¯ Genji smiled to himself, having confirmed the lumberjack¡¯s dependability.
Genji removed his legs and waved at the crowd. "Okay, line up. Don¡¯t clump together. Evenly spread out across the examiners. The mages stand with the purple-robed examiners, the archers with the huntress, and everyone else with the other three. And before you ask, I¡¯m not conducting any tests."
Then Genji zoned out and ignored the gawking candidates. An hour later, the team of three arrived and stood on the side. The guards confirmed their presence and approached to finish the hiring procedures. Afterward, they received a tour of the castle before joining the main group for lunch.
They got to know each other and their specialties before redistributing the workload. The man in the hoodie demonstrated remarkable leadership abilities, and his arrangements increased efficiency by 20%. This earned the team¡¯s acknowledgment, and he became the vice leader of the division. The leader was, of course, Edwin, who was the epitome of knightly virtues.
As for Genji, he was regarded as the scourge of the group, with the lumberjack leading the "hatred train." Genji accepted this address with open arms and happily slacked off. Now that everyone¡¯s expectations of him had reached a new low, he could continue receiving the queen¡¯s requests, and no one would care to investigate further if he was seen. After all, why would they think anything of a slacker?
Under everyone¡¯s efforts, the team breezed through the remaining applicants and found another worthy fighter for the team: a spearman capable of casting magic spells. This brought the total to 10 people.
After they wrapped up the event, the queen summoned them for an evening dinner. She gave an encouraging speech, introduced the job requirements, and explained their next task.
"We lost contact with a village recently and need a team to check it out. It¡¯s quite far away, so prepare to travel for a few days. You will also encounter many bizarre monsters along the way. Eliminate them and clear the path. You can keep evidence of your kills, and we¡¯ll reward you when you get back. If you encounter life-threatening danger, you have my permission to escape. Just make sure to return and report the news so we can prepare the corresponding countermeasures. Is everything clear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
209 – Casualties
The morning after, the group gathered outside the castle gate and received the standard exploration equipment. The guards gave each of them a map of the surrounding zones, a wayfinder¡¯s compass enchanted with a spell to always point toward an anchor in the castle, and a companion prism the size of a keychain accessory.
Due to how zone crossings work, these items were the bare minimum for explorers leaving their homes. Without them, it would be easy to lose their way within the maze of boundary teleportations. The map warns of nearby dangers, the compass helps one return, and the companion prism detects if there are any nearby prisms.
Genji also learned that only monsters directly spawned from the zones were restricted to the area. All other inhabitants were free to leave their home zones.
Genji strapped the prism stone to his waist and set off with the team. Edwin, the spearman, and the warrior led the group while Genji, the lumberjack, and Lynn covered the back. Everyone else stayed between them, with the thief on the lookout and the hoodie guy acting as commander.
The formation wasn¡¯t optimal, but it was the best they could do with their current roles. Genji wasn¡¯t too keen on taking the initiative, so he allowed the hoodie guy to arrange everything. They trudged through the city and approached the zone¡¯s boundary. Their gazes focused, and they stepped through, ending up on a dirt road.
This area had already been cleared, so they passed through without disturbance. Like this, they followed the information on the map and cleared any recently spawned monsters. Because they knew what dangers they would encounter ahead of time, the hoodie guy was able to provide the optimal strategy moving forward.
Situations like the sleep-inducing cabin and grouping deer that required their victims to be unaware never stood a chance against them. Eventually, they appeared in a jungle that bordered a swamp. A river separated the two biomes and provided life to the animals.
They were clearing a way forward when Genji suddenly felt his stomach lurch. Something wasn¡¯t right about this zone.
¡°Stop!¡± he called out, pointing his saber at the surroundings and taking a fighting stance.
Edwin and Kathleen instantly copied his actions while the others followed shortly after. Genji warily scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of his unease. A few minutes passed with no results, and the team began doubting his actions.
After ten minutes, the lumberjack became impatient and asked if Genji was being overly paranoid. ¡°Why are you getting so worked up? There¡¯s nothing around.¡±
The others also felt the same way but kept silent and watched the situation. The only ones slightly on guard were the realm members, who had experienced their fair share of dangers, and Genji¡¯s original teammates, who trusted his judgment. While he might be annoying at normal times, Genji was very dependable when it came to dangerous situations. That was their impression of him.
Genji disregarded the lumberjack¡¯s complaints and maintained his vigilance, further riling him up.
¡°Hey! Don¡¯t ignore me! I¡¯m talking to you!¡±
Genji glanced at him and said, ¡°If you have time to yell at me, help me look for the trap.¡±
¡°I¡¯m telling you that there¡¯s no such thing. Stop showing off here!¡±
Right at this moment, a black arrow ripped through the air and beelined at the lumberjack¡¯s head. Genji immediately slashed out and destroyed the projectile while Kathleen returned fire. Genji confirmed their attacker was invisible and stabbed his weapon into the ground.
A ripple of cutting intent flooded the area and traced the surroundings, revealing their silhouettes. Due to how far he spread the attack, the cutting intent dealt no damage and only felt like a cold breeze.
Regardless, the strike did its job and forced their attackers out of hiding. Countless shadow people without features appeared in the distant treelines. Each tree supported five or six people, with no end in sight.
But most importantly, these people were above the team¡¯s intended path. Had the team continued going, they would have been surrounded and ambushed by these beings.
Everyone clenched their weapons and prepared for combat. Their enemies jumped down and charged at them, slinging strange spells and discolored weapons.
Genji fell into formation and supported his teammates with wide slashes. The melee fighters at the front stepped forward to confront the incoming tide while the long-ranged fighters bombarded the crowd. The mage was especially noteworthy because of how clumped the enemies were.
But in exchange, his mana pool depleted rather quickly, and soon he became helpless to the group. Meanwhile, Lynn pulled out her twin pistols and delivered countless headshots. The hoodie guy was also forced to take action and confirmed Genji¡¯s suspicions about his strength. Wielding a massive scythe, the man slashed through the crowd like cutting wheat.
The lumberjack channeled his anger and crushed any incoming foes with brutal ferocity. Nothing he targeted could withstand a single blow.
Halfway through the battle, Genji realized his energy had a suppressive effect on the enemies. And it was quite drastic as well, like the oppression of a higher life form to a bottom feeder. The difference in tiers was that prevalent.
¡®Now this is unexpected.¡¯
Genji flared his shadow flames, and everyone felt a rapid decrease in pressure. Not only did it deter the whole army, but his flames also absorbed their inherent energies for themselves.
Within moments, many of the shadows combusted and flickered out of existence. Their enemies realized their precarious situation and quickly dispersed, leaving everyone wheezing for air.
¡°Dammit, that was way too close,¡± the lumberjack said between breaths.
When everyone regrouped, they noticed the spearman and Edwin sporting worried frowns.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the others asked.
¡°It changed,¡± Edwin answered. ¡°The dangers.¡±
¡°It used to be lurking crocodiles,¡± the spearman continued. ¡°There were no mentions of shadow people.¡±
¡°Maybe they were hiding when the maps were drawn,¡± the warrior said. ¡°You never know what these zones are hiding.¡±
¡°Maybe.¡±
But as they continued, they realized how wrong they were. The closer they got to their destination, the more the actual situation diverged from the recorded information. At first, it was only the monsters, but soon it was the terrain, until finally, the principles. In some situations, they entered a completely different zone despite following the same directions.
¡°Either the zones mutated or the teleportation patterns changed. Neither is good for us,¡± the hoodie guy said. ¡°Let¡¯s decide, do we continue or should we go back? I¡¯m personally in favor of continuing, but I need to hear your opinions.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve come this far. Why should we give up now?¡± the lumberjack asked.
¡°Nothing risked, nothing gained,¡± said the warrior.
¡°I haven¡¯t finished the queen¡¯s order,¡± said Edwin.
¡°I have no complaints here,¡± said the spearman.
¡°Then we¡¯re all in agreement? Continuing toward the village?¡±
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Genji nodded, and they stepped through the border. The next moment, they found themselves on a giant leaf that seemingly stretched for kilometers. As far as the eye could see, there was green. Suddenly, they felt a vibration ripple through the leaf. Turning to the source, they saw a giant green caterpillar with a red head breaking out of its cocoon.
The creature paid them no heed and bit into the ground. A violent shake hit the leaf, and the group felt the air destabilizing. The caterpillar took another bite, and this disturbance intensified. Everyone''s faces changed for the worse, and they charged at the creature. If their guesses were correct, once the caterpillar finished eating the leaf, the zone would collapse, and they would die with it.
*Crunch*
Another bite, another upheaval. The caterpillar also grew larger with each chew, amplifying the next bite. They didn¡¯t have long. The leaf might be big, but exponential growth would eventually overwhelm it.
Attacks landed on the caterpillar, but an invulnerable shell blocked everything. It wasn¡¯t even physical defense but the zone¡¯s laws. The world had decreed that the caterpillar would not be harmed, and they had no choice but to obey.
Realizing this, the team immediately changed their strategy and rushed to escape. They could not stay in this area. However, even this option was blocked by an invisible barrier.
¡®Can¡¯t leave, can¡¯t kill it. How do we solve this?¡¯ Genji¡¯s thoughts raced with possibilities, desperate for an answer. The others were no different and equally desperate.
Finally, Lynn shouted, ¡°It¡¯s food! It¡¯s hungry and needs to eat. We need to feed it something else so it doesn¡¯t destroy the zone.¡±
Then, without waiting, she threw her rations at the caterpillar¡¯s mouth. The creature began chewing without sparing a glance at its meal. After a few seconds, it finished its meal and began working on the leaf again.
Having confirmed Lynn¡¯s idea was feasible, the others followed her example. This delayed the caterpillar for five minutes, but it soon ran out of alternatives.
¡°Not enough! Not enough,¡± Lynn shouted and searched for other replacements.
¡°I think anything will do,¡± Genji said. ¡°It just needs to eat.¡±
This gave the realm members an idea, but they were hesitant to put it into practice. Edwin noticed this and urged them to do it. ¡°We¡¯ll compensate you later. But get us out of here first. Nothing will end well if we don¡¯t stop it.¡±
Realizing they had no choice, Lynn gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You better! This is very costly for us.¡±
Then the realm members began chucking the miscellaneous items from their storage into the living black hole. The others watched with amazement and wondered where everything was coming from. The mage speculated it was spatial magic, but he didn¡¯t sense any mana fluctuations.
Only Genji knew the truth, but he made no effort to help. After all, he¡¯d incited this so he didn¡¯t have to feed the creature. The team emptied their storage and watched with bated breath as the caterpillar grew several folds and began devouring the leaf again.
¡°Please be enough, please be enough, please be enough,¡± Lynn muttered, her voice mourning her financial loss.
The surrounding space became tumultuous at rapid speeds, and the air took on a darkish hue. The atmosphere waned, the air ran dry of oxygen, and the ground grew shakier. At this point, many of them struggled to stand upright on this unstable ground, but none of them dared to lay down.
With how the situation was turning out, they needed to be on full alert, lest they slip into one of the caterpillar¡¯s eaten parts. By then, everything would be for naught, as they would lose themselves in space, drifting aimlessly until their short life expired.
Soon, the caterpillar grew fat and its pace slowed. There was still about half of the leaf left, so they were guaranteed to survive. Everyone sighed in relief and waited for the final moments to pass.
The caterpillar ate another quarter before falling stagnant and spawning a thick cocoon around itself. At the same time, the barrier obstructing their exit disappeared, and the group charged out.
[You have completed the story of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"]
[The Very Hungry Caterpillar]
Description: From birth to metamorphosis, a caterpillar needs to eat a lot to grow. Whether it be leaves or fruits, they leave nothing untouched in their quest for glory. This one happens to be gigantic and placed on an even bigger leaf.
Mission Progress: 4/3
The next moment, the group found themselves in a damp swamp, surrounded by yellow frogs. The frogs stared at them and croaked loudly, their vocal sacs expanding and collapsing rhythmically. This strange sight roused Genji''s unease, but the feeling wasn''t as strong as before. There was a looming danger, but it wasn''t urgent. Regardless, he warned his teammates.
The others, having witnessed his sharp instincts, kept the warning in mind and moved forward. More frogs appeared in their sights, augmenting the noise. Crickets eventually joined in, making the ruckus even more unbearable.
The lumberjack clicked his tongue in annoyance and complained about the stares. "Fricking creepy eyes. Makes me want to bash their skulls in."
"I don''t recommend it. That idea alone made my heart jump."
The lumberjack spat to the side and gripped his axe harder. The tension increased along with the noise, and the chirping of birds soon accompanied their walk. Louder and louder the volume became, merging, blending, and reacting to form a deafening buzz.
The croaks synchronized with the background noise, and their minds started playing tricks on them. The animalistic sounds combined in such a way that syllables formed. Then the syllables rearranged themselves to become vocal sounds, until finally, words rang loudly in their ears.
"Join us."
"Join us."
"Kiss me."
"I''m human."
"We''re happy."
"Save me."
"Ah yes, the schizophrenic experience package. I miss having a mental problem, said no one ever," Genji''s snarky voice sounded amidst the chaos, awakening everyone from their daze.
Edwin violently shook his head and looked at Genji in surprise. "How are you not affected?"
"I am," Genji replied.
"You certainly don''t look like it," Kathleen said, massaging her head.
"That''s because I''m used to having voices in my head."
This response drew many weird looks from his team, especially from the realm members, who wondered how he knew the word schizophrenic. As far as they could tell, that word had not been coined yet. However, they quickly dismissed it as a translation quirk from their realm.
"I''m kidding," Genji exclaimed. "Can''t you all take a joke?"
"As helpful as this conversation is, wouldn''t it be better to tell us how you''re coping with this?" Hoodie guy asked.
"I could, but I don''t think you can replicate it. After all, not everyone can be as handsome and cool as me. I mean, just look at me. The girls would drool if I took off my shirt."
"Fuck off, you narcissistic freak!" the lumberjack roared at him. "Why are you always so annoying?"
Seeing this outburst, Lynn realized how Genji was remaining sane. "You''re using emotional fluctuations to distract yourself."
"Bingo, though it might have been better not to say it out loud. Now that everyone knows what I''m doing, it''s much harder to provoke you all."
"No need. I just need to make myself angry, right?" the warrior asked.
"That''s the gist of it. If you have enough emotional control, feel free to try."
Edwin, the warrior, mage, spearman, and hoodie guy nodded, while the thief, Lynn, and Kathleen awkwardly scratched their heads. They were either too calm to be provoked or didn''t have enough experience in the task. In a way, Genji did a phenomenal job attracting everyone''s hatred.
"Alright, no need to be embarrassed. I know you can''t do it, so I''ll help you. You''re welcome." Genji''s dismissive tone sparked minor annoyance within the latter group, despite them knowing his intentions. "That''ll be 50 gold coins, by the way. I''ll be expecting the payment when we get back. And if you don''t have enough, I don''t mind taking your rewards from the treasury."
Veins bulged and people clenched their teeth, doing their best not to sock Genji over the head. Like this, they trudged through the swamp under the froggy stares. As they walked, their bodies slowly distorted with each step. Their skin grew warts, their tongues lengthened, their digits became webbed, and their spines shrunk.
This transformation continued until all that remained were ten human-sized frogs, their eyes absent and memories faded. They forgot how to walk and began jumping, joining their smaller cousins. The water soaking their skin washed away all dregs of their past, and they embraced their reptilian fate.
Suddenly, a pricking pain jolted Genji awake. Looking down, Genji saw a blood spike piercing through his chest, right beside his heart. He took a deep breath and scanned his body, noticing that the attack had avoided all his organs.
"Neigh," Bruce called out to him.
"Thanks. When did I fall for the illusion?" Bruce conjured three fingers to represent thirty minutes ago, prompting a dark grimace from Genji. "Damn, how troublesome. A double-layered influence. If one sees through the first layer, they won''t be focused enough to detect the second. But even then, there are no attacks. No wonder I only felt a small amount of danger. Seems like I can''t rely on my instincts too much from now on. There are actually traps that specifically target strong senses."
Genji chugged a potion and scrutinized his dazed teammates. While they weren''t physically injured, the mental influence was just as dangerous, if not more. After all, if they truly believed they''d become frogs, then nothing he did would wake them.
''I hope I''m not too late,'' he thought, asking Bruce to prick them as well.
But despite their best efforts, the thief and mage did not wake up. Instead, they dropped onto all fours and jumped away on their hind legs. "Ribbit ribbit," they croaked.
Genji sighed and gave them a merciful death before plundering their items. The melee fighters sobered up around this time and noticed Genji crouching beside two bodies.
Meanwhile, Lynn and Kathleen struggled to understand their surroundings and who they were. They hadn''t been completely devoured, but their willpower wasn''t as strong as the melee fighters who endured pain on a daily basis. That was the main determining factor in their adjustment time.
"What happened to them?" the spearman asked as everyone cleared their minds.
"They succumbed to the illusion," Genji answered. "Come on, let''s get out of here before any more accidents happen."
These words redirected everyone''s attention and forced hoodie guy to refrain from his question. Hoodie guy was the first to wake up, so he''d seen Genji looting the corpses. He wanted to ask for his teammate''s scarlet card, but Genji gave him no chance.
''Was this on purpose? Does he know about the scarlet cards?'' he wondered as the team picked up the dazed women.
However, he could only keep these questions to himself as the situation demanded everyone''s full vigilance. Like this, they reached the swampy border and entered their next zone.
210 – Monsters In Disguise
When the team adjusted to their new surroundings, they realized they had reached their destination. This confirmed their suspicions about teleportation changes since the map indicated they still had three more zones left to cross.
They placed Lynn and Kathleen down with Edwin to watch over them while the remaining team entered the village to investigate. Genji immediately sensed something was amiss when he crossed the front gate. It was way too quiet for a supposed village, as if everyone had suddenly disappeared.
The farm animals that one would typically expect in a rural settlement were also gone, with only the byproducts and manure to show for their presence. They would have mistaken this for another illusion if it weren''t for the royal insignias scattered around the townhouses. But, the design was impossible to fake, so this could only be the village.
The team also sensed this oddity and entered a guarded formation. They slowly shuffled through the village for any signs of danger, but all they found were more empty houses and discarded half-eaten meals. Whatever had caused this phenomenon had already left, discarding the place like an empty carcass.
"This doesn''t make sense. How can a whole village suddenly vanish without any warning? Did they willingly desert this place or what?" the lumberjack mumbled, kicking a fence post as they passed. The fragile wood broke under his exertion, and the lead tied around it fell to the ground.
"I doubt it," said the hoodie guy. "The gate was locked from the inside, and there are no signs of anyone leaving. It''s more likely they disappeared while going about their day. Maybe they weren''t even aware they were affected."
"There''s nothing to work with. How are we supposed to find anything here?" said the lumberjack.
"I don''t know, but let''s head back. We''ve done enough now, and it''s time to pass the problem back to the queen," Genji said.
"Even if we might have to come back?" the warrior asked.
"Yes. At least next time, we will have reinforcements to help us. I don''t know about you, but I don''t want to risk meeting whatever caused this mess right now. Not with our current team."
The others agreed with Genji''s choice, and they backtracked to their initial position. Lynn and Kathleen had mostly recovered when they returned. Genji informed them of his decision, and they approached the boundary. Yet right as they entered, the contorting space around them began congealing.
Genji, immediately sensing something wrong, shouted for everyone to scatter. The team didn''t need his reminder as they''d already leaped back, but not everyone was lucky enough to avoid danger. As they soared through the air, a cluster of green, scaly tentacles stretched out of the void and grabbed Lynn''s arm.
Everyone''s eyes widened in alarm as they braced for catastrophe. The man in the hoodie was the only one who acted, slashing out a black crescent that severed Lynn''s arm just as the tentacles pulled her inward. Then, the teleportation activated and scattered the group. This all happened within one or two seconds, rendering the fates of their teammates unknown.
Genji found himself in a dense forest when the distortions cleared, characterized by a high tower in the distance. He was alone in this zone since he''d distanced himself from everyone else when they jumped back. He took a moment to regain his bearings before scrutinizing his surroundings.
Genji took out the wayfinder''s compass and noticed the pointer had deviated drastically. Wherever he was teleported to, it was further off path than he initially expected. Whereas before, the compass strictly pointed behind him, now it veered to the right by about 30¡ã. Genji knew this because he''d marked the initial direction on the compass body.
Genji realigned himself with the pointer and began walking forward. This coincidentally happened to be in the same direction as the tower. On his approach, a small head peeked out a window at the top of the tower.
"Are you a prince by any chance, rare traveler?" the girl asked.
Genji looked up and noticed the golden strands of hair that draped behind her shoulders like a luxurious fountain. It was so glossy that even the light bounced off it and took on a new hue.
"No matter. Do you care to join me? It''s so lonely up here without any visitors," the girl continued, unfazed by the silence. "I''ll let down my hair. Please, climb up."
Following that, she slung her head around, and a waterfall of gold gracefully descended upon Genji. Seeing this, Genji''s eyes immediately grew sharp as he recognized that gorgeous length. He took out the wanted notice and compared the drawing to the lush strands before him. It was an exact match.
''How lucky of me to encounter the exact target I''m looking for.''
Yet, this placed Genji in a dilemma. Based on his current location, it was highly likely that the tower was a trap. After all, the surrounding zones had been precarious, yet he was supposed to believe this one was any different? Please, even a toddler could see through this guise.
The problem, however, was that he needed to confront this trap to kill Rapunzel. Otherwise, he would have to give up this chain mission from the queen.
"Are you coming up? If not, I''ll pull my hair back. It''s honestly quite tiring to support all of it," Rapunzel''s voice sounded again, forcing a countdown on his thoughts.
"Hold on. I''m removing the excess weight. Don''t want to accidentally pull out your hair," Genji smoothly responded.
"How thoughtful of you. I''m liking you more and more," Rapunzel giggled.
''I wish I could say the same. Except I''m afraid you will eat me once I enter the tower,'' Genji thought, noting there were no other entrances. The tower was a very impractical construct, with not even a door. It was only in this world that such a nonsensical design could exist. ''So how do I kill her?''
As Genji pondered over this question, he grabbed the hair and slowly hoisted himself up. ''It''s not like I can get her to come down. Just the fact that she lures prey up says a lot.''
At this moment, Genji had a sudden realization. ''That''s right! Since I can''t convince her, why don''t I force her out? It''s not like I have to enter her domain to fight. The price, though...''
Genji sighed and steeled his resolve. Since this was his only option, he should make the most of it. Once he reached the halfway point, he pulled out a grenade, removed the pin, and waited for the fuse to burn.
If one couldn''t already tell, this was not a normal grenade. It alone had cost him 2,000 realm coins, which equated to 2 million before the conversion. The main reason was that it contained some of the most advanced explosive technology to date.
This single, palm-sized grenade had as much power as a miniature nuke! Someone in the marketplace had somehow figured out how to compress the same contraption into this tiny form. However, its destructive potential was weaker than its Earthly counterparts. This wasn''t due to the item being faulty, but because the higher world stability limited its effective range.
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It''s hard for explosions to spread when it requires significantly more force to destroy the surrounding material. Plus, most combatants can easily block the damage or escape its radius before it explodes. It simply isn''t that practical in high-speed combat. But, this is only the case for combat, not pure destruction. In these scenarios, a nuke may be far more effective than any other attack.
Once the fuse burned to a nub, Genji chucked it through the open window and leaped away. A flash of light emanated from the opening, followed by a thunderous eruption that rocked the earth and a fierce typhoon that bent the trees. Thick plumes of explosion clouds diffused through the air, coiling inward to form a mushroom cap.
Long cracks snaked down the side, causing the tower to wobble unstably. After a few seconds, a piercing shriek cut through the commotion, revealing burnt edges and crumbling ash. The top of the tower had completely disappeared despite Rapunzel''s best efforts to preserve the structure.
Molten bits slid down the side, cooling and forming teardrop patterns. On the edge, a blackened Rapunzel stood, her fried hair giving way to glaring red eyes, large demonic claws, and burly sharp teeth. Her innocent appearance had vanished, replaced by a wrathful monster craving vengeance.
"How dare you! I''ll make you pay for this!" she growled at Genji, causing her cauterized wounds to burst and expose broken ribs and decimated muscles. Purple blood oozed through these cracks, highlighting her inhuman nature.
Genji responded by chucking some rocks at her. Rapunzel mistook these for more nuclear grenades and swiped them out of the air with energy-infused claws. It was only when they split apart that Rapunzel realized Genji had tricked her. However, it was already too late.
Using this opening, Genji splashed several poison spheres on her wounds. A harsh sizzle sounded, followed by plumes of gas that emitted an offensive odor. Her injuries worsened, and an angry screech filled the air.
Then they both disappeared from their positions, exchanging a frenzy of attacks. Claws met saber, poison met wounds, and techniques overwhelmed barbarity. Eventually, the poison took its toll, and the head separated from the shoulders.
Genji gave his weapon one last swing to clean off the blood and reached down to pick up the loot.
"That was not worth it," he muttered as he walked toward the border.
The next zone had sparser trees and a well-defined dirt path. It could still be categorized as a forest, but this one was like a back garden compared to the previous wilderness. The trickling of running water sounded in the background, accompanied by singing birds. Warm sunlight shone through the leaves, accenting the path forward.
Genji followed this path until he saw a girl in a red hood carrying a basket under her arm. She hummed to herself, admiring the daisies by the roadside. Sensing Genji''s presence, the girl stood up and jogged over to him.
"Good morning, mister! Where are you going so early today?"
Genji glanced at her before ignoring the strange girl. Little Red Riding Hood, undeterred by his silence, continued speaking.
"I''m going to my grandmother''s house. She''s fallen sick, and Mother told me to bring her food. Her house is over the hills, past the river, and below three acorn trees. You must know where it is!"
Yet, Genji had a different response. ''Why does she keep trying to talk to me? Is this a trap? Will something bad happen if I speak? Should I kill her now so I don''t have to deal with this? And why is she revealing so much to a stranger? It''s almost like she wants me to find her grandmother.''
As absurd as these guesses seemed, the vague sense of danger Genji felt when he opened his mouth to talk indicated there might be some truth to them. However, the thought of attacking Red Riding Hood spawned an even greater danger. So, he chose the safest option and ignored the conversation bait.
Genji walked past Red Riding Hood, but the girl wouldn''t leave him alone. She trailed him like a servant, filling the air with conversation. Genji eventually grew annoyed and ran ahead to lose her. Yet, just as he left her behind, the air distorted, and she appeared a few hundred meters in front of him.
"Oh, hello again, mister. Why did you run off earlier? It seemed pretty urgent. Did something happen?"
Genji ran past her without a second glance, only to experience the same teleportation. The surroundings had barely changed, suggesting he might be running in circles. After five attempts, Genji finally stopped and evaluated Little Red Riding Hood.
''It seems she''s the focal point in this story. There''s no way to get rid of her.''
"Is something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" Red Riding Hood asked.
Genji maintained his silence and resigned himself to following the intended progression. They walked past the hills, over the river, and soon arrived at a wooden cottage.
There was a funky smell in the air, almost feral and animalistic. Paw prints were scattered across the ground, with considerable emphasis on the tips where most of the pressure was placed. The door to the cottage was also ajar, left open by the previous visitor. The scene certainly didn''t look right, but Red Riding Hood stepped over everything without a change in expression.
Genji wondered what game she was playing but kept to himself, like a spectator. No matter what, he refused to join this charade.
Red Riding Hood pushed open the door and led them inside. "Grandma? Are you there?"
"Yes, my dear. Grandma''s in bed," a squeaky voice called from around the corner. It was a strange voice, like how someone would sound if they pinched their nose while speaking. Also, the voice was far too lively for a sick old lady who was supposed to be in bed.
They walked around the corner and spotted a comfy bed where an overly dressed wolf lay beneath a pile of blankets. Red Riding Hood approached the bed and placed her basket on a nearby table. "Grandma, I brought you bread and wine. Mother said it would make you feel better."
"Thank you, my dear. Do you mind coming closer?"
"Of course. But Grandma, what big eyes you have!"
"The better to see you with, my dear."
Red Riding Hood took another forward and said, "Grandma, what big hands you have!"
"The better to hug you with, my dear."
"Yay, I love hugs. I hope you get better soon so you can give me lots of them."
"I will after today."
At this moment, Red Riding Hood was pressed against the bed frame. She hovered over her grandmother, closely examined her face, and finally asked the dreaded question, "Grandma, what big teeth you have!"
At that moment, the wolf leaped out of bed and attacked Red Riding Hood. The clothes tore apart, revealing a gaping maw that dripped with hungry saliva. The wolf tore Red Riding Hood limb from limb before greedily devouring her. Blood splattered, flesh ripped, and bones crunched.
The wolf¡¯s stomach bulged after finishing its gruesome meal. It patted its stomach and finally answered the girl''s earlier question, "The better to chew you with."
Then the wolf turned to Genji and grinned fiendishly. However, it didn¡¯t take any further action. They stared at each other for a few moments before Genji finally asked, "How long will maintain this act? You''re not fooling anybody."
"Grrr?" The wolf tilted its head, not understanding his words.
"I know you''re still alive in there," Genji continued, unimpressed. "If you expect me to cut open the wolf to get you out, you''re going to be disappointed. I''m not doing anything. I''m leaving."
At that moment, the wolf froze, and a sharp hand pierced through its stomach. The wolf whimpered in pain, seemingly begging the monstrosity inside to show some mercy. However, the master ignored its pleas, and another arm widened the wound. Then a harsh rip sounded as the front of the wolf burst open.
A bloody woman in a black dress crawled out, her long hair dragging behind her like a wet rope. She appeared to be in her twenties and looked nothing like the innocent girl who had entered. After standing up, she brushed back her hair and wrung out the blood within. Then numerous eyes opened around her face, revealing a horror for anyone with trypophobia.
The wolf shivered in fear, pleading for its life. The woman snorted and stomped on its skull, crushing it instantly.
"Hmph, how useless. For the record, it''s ''The better to eat you with,'' not ''The better to chew you with.'' Also, you were supposed to say that before you jumped out of bed and devoured me whole, not tear me apart. What use do I have for something that can''t even follow simple directions?"
She then turned to glare at Genji. "And you! What kind of heartless man lets an innocent girl get eaten like that? You didn¡¯t even blink when I got torn apart."
"You''re not as helpless as you looked." Genji''s simple response intensified her glares. If looks could kill, Genji would have become minced meat.
Genji summoned his daggers and asked, "Wanna dance? I might not have stood a chance when you were directing the play, but the show''s over now. The zone principles can¡¯t affect me anymore, and I don¡¯t mind risking my life."
The tension between them rose like a rocket, but the woman eventually relented. The eyes across her face closed, and her monstrous features receded. "No, you pass. Now get out."
"What''s the rush? I still haven''t claimed my reward." Genji pointed to the mangled head of the wolf.
The woman glanced at the remains with disdain and kicked it over. Genji smiled, swung down, and carved out all the teeth with a streak of cutting intent. Then blood tentacles gathered them up and poured them into a leather pouch.
Genji nodded in satisfaction and continued on his way. As he reached the door, he stopped and made one final comment. "Oh, by the way, you need to work on your scripts. What kind of girl ignores all these red flags just to get eaten by a wolf in a crappy disguise anyway? It''s like your characters have no common sense. No wonder you have to resort to tricking people."
The atmosphere around the woman froze, and her myriad eyes reopened, emitting a murderous pressure. However, Genji had already closed the door behind him, shutting out everything behind it.
211 – Deceitful Appearances
A full day had passed since the team left on the expedition, making this Genji''s eighth day in this world. After he left the zone occupied by the thousand-eyed lady, Genji found a remote location to rest for the night. He avoided any more fights and fully recovered his strength before moving out.
On this day, the companion prism by his waist began reacting. Understanding the event''s significance, Genji spread his senses and dashed toward the other party. It was better to meet up with a teammate so they could share the burden of these dangers rather than confronting everything alone.
Given Genji''s current situation, any addition to the party would greatly improve his odds of survival. Luckily, this zone was relatively safe, so there weren''t many obstructions along the way. After dashing out of the forest and running along a road by the mountainside, Genji arrived at the outskirts of a simple village.
This village was marked on the map, albeit with limited detail. Travel between this village and the royal capital was not mainstream, with few explorers making the trip. The capital is only aware of the village''s existence because a local mage occasionally sends reports about their situation.
This was also how the capital discovered the problem with the previous village. After all, it would be strange if someone suddenly stopped responding for no reason.
When Genji reached the vicinity, he found Joki, the spearman waiting for him. They weren''t too familiar with each other since he was hired on the last day, but they knew of each other''s abilities. By Genji''s estimate, Joki ranked third in overall strength, just below Edwin and the hoodie guy.
This alone testified to his strength because it was unknown who was stronger between the two. While Edwin was solid in general and could fulfill many roles, Hoodie guy had never demonstrated his full strength. All the realm members in the team, including Genji, had taken a relatively modest approach and withheld their trump cards.
Joki greeted him with his weapon in hand and the prism in the other. "Good to see you. The mage here has already told the queen about our situation. Now we just need to regroup with everyone and lead a second investigation."
"Sounds good. Let''s get going then."
However, Joki had a hesitant look. "Before that, can we take a detour?"
Genji looked over with interest and asked, "What''s wrong? Did you find something?"
Joki nodded. "The villagers here have been disappearing recently. They go home at dusk and don''t come out. When we check the inside, they are nowhere to be seen. There are no signs of struggle or traces of magic. The villagers are scared and begged me for help."
Genji immediately understood what Joki wanted to say. "You suspect this is related to the previous case?"
"I''m not certain, but there''s a chance. The most recent disappearances involve a pair of children, no more than 10 years old. Unlike the others, they left a trail of breadcrumbs when they vanished. I was about to look for them when you arrived."
"Sure, I don''t mind," Genji agreed. "You can lead the way."
Joki nodded in appreciation, and they began their journey. The breadcrumbs they found were stale and being picked apart by ants. Genji estimated them to be around two days old, though he could be wrong due to other factors. They walked through the village, around a mountain, up a cliff, and through the forest.
Eventually, they arrived at a literal candy land where the ground was made of marshmallows, the bushes of cake, and the river was a molten stream of chocolate. At the center of this was a house made of gingerbread cookies, held together by buttercream and decorated with fondant of various colors.
The smell of sugar overpowered all others, almost to a nauseating extent. It was almost like they could smell the diabetes in the air.
"What weird place did we enter this time?" Genji asked, speechless.
Astros jumped off his shoulder, broke off a nearby cracker, dipped it in the chocolate river, and enjoyed the treat. After finishing, Astros waved at Genji, beckoning him to try it as well. Genji accepted the suggestion and copied Astros''s actions.
Joki was dumbfounded by this display. How could they be in the mood to eat when there could be danger right around the corner?
"Relax. It''s not poisonous," Genji said, noticing his gaze. "Unless you count the excessive amount of sugar."
"That''s not the point. Aren''t you getting too sidetracked?"
"No, because we''re not the ones who will take action." Genji patted Astros and asked him to scout the house. Astros was the perfect choice for this task because his skill set ensured no one would actively attack him.
Astros, glad to finally be helpful, yipped cheerfully and strolled toward the house. After slipping through a crack in the windows, he found an inconspicuous spot and took out his phone. A few minutes later, Genji received a recording of the interiors through his communication device.
He waved Joki over and played the footage. The video started with an atrocious hag sporting countless warts across her face, uneven eyelids, a large hanging nose, and a hunched back that could be mistaken for a semicircle. She walked slowly across the frame, using a cane made from what resembled human thigh bones to support her limping right leg.
A girl around seven years old followed behind, her head down and biting her lips nervously. They arrived at the fireplace where a sealed pot sat, cooking unevenly under the intense heat. The hag cautiously poked the lid, letting thin steam escape along with the faint sizzle of rendered fat.
The girl''s stomach growled at the smell, but she knew this meal was not for her. She had been persisting for the past few days on nothing but stale bread and repulsively sweet candy, but never anything as substantial as meat. As such, she was plagued with constant hunger and feebleness. The countless chores from the hag certainly didn''t help her case.
The hag ignored her, removed the pot from the fire, and brought it to a locked room in the back. She fumbled with a pocket on the side of her black robe for a few moments before fishing out a rusty key that weighed at least five kilograms. With her hands shaking, the hag pushed the key into the door and gave it an awkward twist.
Behind her, an eerie glint passed through the girl''s eyes. It was unknown what she was thinking, but her eyes never left the hag. It was as if she wanted nothing more than to tear her apart and devour her flesh. That was how much hatred was between them.
They entered the room and saw a metallic cage holding a boy of eight years old. The hag approached with a scary grin and handed the cooled pot over. The boy, delighted at the meal, dug in ravenously, paying no heed to his starving sister or the ominous glint in the hag''s eyes. All he cared about was the meal before him and the easy life he was living.
Due to this, the boy showed signs of chubbiness and clumsiness. After the boy finished the meal, the hag approached and rubbed his fingers. She felt the plumpness between her bony fingers and nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if subconsciously voicing her thoughts, the hag quietly muttered, "Yes, keep growing. Only then will you be meaty and delicious."
The video ended after that as Astros retreated from the doorway and escaped the terrifying house.
Seeing this, Joki''s anger raged like an inferno, and the tips of his fingernails turned white from the exertion. The shaft of his weapon vibrated subtly, and he was about to storm the house when Genji grabbed his shoulder.
"Hold on. Something''s wrong with the hag."
"And what''s that? That she''s a cannibal and grooming the children as food? I can see this as clearly as you!"
"No, that''s not it. It''s her eyes," Genji explained. "It doesn''t look right. How do I explain it? It''s like she''s saying one thing but thinking another."
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"And why are you defending her? Won''t all of this end if we just kill her?"
"Calm down and think rationally. Don''t you think there are a lot of suspicious points?"
Although unwilling, Joki followed his advice and reined in his emotions. After several deep breaths, he asked, "What''s suspicious?"
"I''ll show you," Genji said, rewinding the footage to the moment when the pot was slightly open over the fire. He paused at a time without the steam and pointed at the meat inside. "Do you notice anything unusual about this scene?"
"No. What are you trying to show me?"
"What about now?" Genji zoomed in, revealing a simmering finger bone, identical to their own.
Joki''s eyes widened in shock, and his grip loosened. "W-what?! Why is that there?"
"As you can see, that''s human meat in there. Sick and twisted interests aside, don''t you think it''s counterproductive to feed this to the kid if she''s raising him for food? No matter how she feeds him, the output will never match the input. So that begs the question, what is going on?" Genji gave him some time to accept the truth before saying it aloud. "When all possibilities are exhausted, what remains must be the truth, no matter how unbelievable it is. The witch isn''t the monster; it''s the children."
"B-but why? How? It doesn''t make any sense!"
"Look, we can rack our brains over this all we want, but it won''t solve anything. In this regard, I''m with you on the violence part¡ªjust toward different targets. If you''re still hesitant, I''ll make the first move. That way, you won''t have as much guilt."
"But what if you''re wrong? What happens then? Can we trust whatever this device is?"
"That''s a responsibility I''m willing to bear. Unlike you, the lives of innocents don''t bother me. I would rather kill wrongly 100 times than let a potential danger go. It''s my life that we''re gambling with, and I''d rather not make any stupid decisions because of morality."
With those words, Genji drew his saber and strode toward the cabin. Joki followed with tumultuous emotions, still trying to wrap his head around this sudden twist.
Astros met them along the way and jumped back onto Genji''s shoulder. Like this, the solemn team reached the door and knocked. Genji''s grip tightened around the handle, ready to act at a moment''s notice.
The shuffling of items was heard, followed by the clacking of a cane. The door opened, and Genji instantly kicked out. The hag flew aside, leaving the girl wide open. Without giving them any time to react, his saber stabbed out, shallowly grazing her chest. The attack missed because the girl had jumped back right before the saber fully extended.
This confirmed Genji''s suspicions since a normal girl couldn''t have avoided that. Genji immediately pursued the girl and manifested [Curse Bearer] for a few bursts. A typhoon of cutting intent filled the house and destroyed everything. As the walls crumbled, Joki dashed toward the hag, grabbed her by the collar, and brought her to safety.
A trickle of blood flowed down her forehead as she weakly opened her eyes. Joki had never seen so much despair in a person before. It was as if the person behind that hideous appearance had died inside. Her absent gaze went to Joki and regained some light.
However, the emotion that came over her wasn''t hope or joy, but rather a plea for death, a sweet release from her painful existence. The very concept that kings and immortals fear, she desired.
"Hey, talk to me. What''s going on? Are you a cannibal or not?"
"I-I am," she sobbed heartbrokenly. "But they''re demons! T-they f-forced m-me t-to eat my own c-children. Hansel, Gretel. They died for nothing."
At this moment, a light explosion sounded from the half-collapsed house, and Genji slid through the rubble. He shook off the cracker dust on his clothes as he stopped beside them and addressed Joki. "Now''s not the time to get sentimental. Help me get rid of them first." Then he dived right back into combat.
"I''ll be right back," Joki said to the hag before following Genji. They jumped the collapsed crackers, and Joki finally saw their opponents.
The opponents were burly demons, with thick yellow skin and curled horns, nothing like their previous appearances. They had shed their innocent facades and taken on their true forms for combat.
Joki''s anger soared at this realization, and his mana boiled along with his mood. Flames covered his spear, and he stabbed out with all his fury. The burly demon blocked his strike, but Joki transitioned the stab into a downward slash, molding the flames into a bladed shape.
A burnt cut dug through the stomach and carved into the thigh. Genji took advantage of this wound and appeared behind the demon. His saber emitted an oppressive momentum and left a deep gash on the back. Bruce channeled his blood control powers through this wound, commanding the blood to crystalize and rupture the demon from the inside.
However, the demon''s skin was very thick and resistant to tearing. As such, the blood spikes only stretched the skin, giving the demon a thorny appearance.
They each landed one more attack before the other demon forced them back and gave their partner time to recover. This demon was noticeably stronger because he had eaten just minutes before the battle and could fully exert his strength. This was the demon posing as the caged boy.
The male demon roared at them before invoking seven green fireballs behind his back. Joki and Genji charged forward to disrupt him when the demon detonated the fireballs. Joki conjured a rock wall to block the impact while Genji compressed his energy and intent for *Stealth Dagger*.
When the wall came down, Genji burst forward and hacked down. The demon crossed his arms above his head, but the blade easily cleaved through bone. By the time the blade stopped, only a thin strand of skin held the arm together.
Genji kicked at the head when a harpoon of green flames flew between them. This forced Genji back and brought enough time for the demon to save his arm.
However, the demons weren''t the only ones capable of ranged attacks. Right after the female demon threw her spear, Joki blasted her with lightning bolts. Joki then slashed out a ring of flames and dragged the demon into a one-on-one confrontation. Elemental attacks and melee strikes flowed one after the other, demanding the demon''s full attention.
Meanwhile, Genji utilized his greater agility to dance circles around his opponent. With each cut, more poison seeped into the demon''s body, eroding his thick skin.
Bruce also did his best to hinder the brute''s movements, attacking the tendons and bones from the inside. Together, they crippled the demon''s mobility and destroyed his regeneration factor.
The demon stumbled backward and crashed into Joki''s stray spells, enduring more injuries to the back.
Genji brandished his saber and approached menacingly, blocking off all paths of retreat. The demon''s partner was in a similar situation and eventually, they crashed into each other. Their backs were pressed together as Genji and Joki cornered them from both sides.
Joki''s flames flared brighter than ever, reflecting his vibrant emotions. Realizing their peril, the male demon turned to his partner and was about to suggest a final stand when a claw suddenly pierced his chest. A look of astonishment and betrayal flashed across the male demon''s face, but the female demon only sneered at him.
Forget a last stand; only she would survive. The female demon was fed up with taking care of him, treating him like a king while she had to perform all the chores. Now that they were in a crisis, this pent-up resentment finally exploded and compelled her to take drastic action.
The demon yanked out her claw, revealing a pulsating sphere the size of a fist. Dense mana oozed from its cracks, a product of the demon''s remaining life force and energy. She shoved this core into her mouth and fiercely chomped down, activating the volatile mana to empower herself.
Cracks broke out across her body, inflicting permanent harm, but the sense of danger increased exponentially. A big attack was coming, and it might kill everyone.
"Cover me!" Genji yelled, wrapping his blade in a vortex. His energy rapidly drained as he charged up his finisher.
Joki understood the assignment and stabbed his spear into the ground, unleashing a wide spell that disrupted the lingering hellfire. Genji stepped forward and manifested in front of the demon. As his blade came down, the demon realized she didn''t have enough time and decisively ignited the gathered energy to induce a nuclear explosion that would kill both of them.
An unstable aura spread from the demon''s chest, rippling outward at a dangerous rate. Intense light pierced through Genji''s pupils as the precipice of the explosion dawned on him.
Genji''s vision blurred from the overcharge, but that didn''t stop his next actions. A silhouette burst forward from his body, covering the small distance between them. Genji performed the swap, and his blade dug into the demon''s neck. Genji felt his energy rush into his opponent''s body and smothered the rising danger.
The next moment, his saber exited the other side, reaping the demon''s life along the way. The explosive energy scattered under his fierce vortex, and his vision soon returned to him.
A deep exhale left his lungs as relief swept over him. Another crisis had been slain.
[You have slain: Twin Demons of Bewitchment]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 120 points.]
[You have earned 600 realm coins.]
[You have obtained: Volatile Mana Core]
[Volatile Mana Core]
Rating: Epic (Lowest quality)
Type: Consumable
Effect: Charge this with 10,000 points of energy and activate it when needed, causing a massive explosion.
Description: A mana core that was forcibly halted mid-detonation. Its energy has scattered, but its pre-inscribed instructions have not. Give it enough energy, and it will still follow through.
Note: This construct is damaged. It will continue to leak energy during storage.
Note 2: Conversion between shadow energy and mana is somewhat inefficient, so you need to charge more energy than what the former owner had to.
Note 3: Due to its unstable nature, it''s recommended that you only fill it up 90% of the way and charge the remaining 10% during use.
Genji put away the cracked core and returned to check on the hag. After so much fighting, it was time to get some answers. Yet when they found her, she was already dead, hanged from a willow tree with a makeshift rope. Strangely enough, the hag had a content smile on her face, as if released from a burden. Below her, 29 candy canes stood, each representing the gravestones of her former victims.
Genji gave the scene a moment of silence before asking, "How many villagers disappeared?"
"Including the recent children, 30," Joki answered without delay.
With that, the case of the missing villagers drew to a close, adding another story to Genji''s mission.
[You have completed the story of "Hansel and Gretel"]
[Hansel and Gretel]
Description: What initially appeared to be mysterious disappearances turned out to be the doing of demons. They would tempt villagers in their sleep and lure them into their lair. They would numb their prey with sweetness, fattening them up and taking on their appearances after their meal. The most recent of which were two young children and a mother they tormented for fun.
Mission Progress: 5/3
212 – Wonderland
After Genji and Joki resolved the situation with the villagers, they found themselves near a farm where three walls obstructed the path forward. The first wall was made from an eerie leather somewhat resembling human skin. Harsh scars and wrinkles dotted the product, providing glimpses into the suffering of its former owners.
Patches of dried blood also stained the surface due to careless processing. Flies buzzed around these spots, pecking away at the easy meal while maggots laid eggs in the open pockets. It was a disgusting sight that invoked Joki¡¯s killing intent.
His spear ignited with blue fire, and he stabbed the barricade with all his strength, setting the material ablaze. Genji allowed this since he didn¡¯t sense any danger.
When the wall burned down, they spotted a large pig reclining on a beach chair, sipping from a cup containing a blend of filtered blood, chopped ligaments, and chewy tendons. These contents flowed up the straw and into its mouth. The pig chewed contentedly, producing disturbing pops and crunches with each bite, followed by a loud gulp. Then it reached for another swig.
A random magazine rested on its chest, held up by its hooves. It brought a hoof to its mouth, licked it, and turned the page. Next, it scratched its butt and sniffed the hoof.
"Hmmm, smells just like shit. Then where is this burnt scent coming from?" the pig muttered to itself.
At this moment, it finally noticed the seething Joki above him. His spear burned brighter than ever as he stabbed down with destructive intent. Joki had never wanted to kill someone more than he did now, and it showed in his attack.
Joki had developed a strong hatred for these man-eating monsters after the last encounter, especially toward those who blatantly flaunted the fact. This pig surpassed the previous demons by a long shot, given the number of victims required to construct such a wall.
The pig hurriedly rolled out of the way, but a few hairs still caught fire. It hastily made a few more rolls to stifle the flames, but Joki was above it by then. Spear strikes rained down on the creature, inflicting a fraction of the torment the pig had imposed upon its victims. After several more exchanges, Joki finally burned a hole through its head.
"Done venting?" Genji asked.
"Somewhat," Joki replied.
"Then I have bad news for you." Genji pointed to the second wall, which was made of human bones.
Some parts still had scraps of flesh attached from lazy deboning. They could tell which parts were older, as those had fully grown maggots tunneling through rotten meat.
Joki nearly gagged at the smell, but his fury overtook those impulses. Another barrage ensued as Joki sought to tear down this wall. It took significantly longer this time since the material was much sturdier than human parchment. Nevertheless, Joki eventually succeeded, and the wall of corpses came tumbling down.
This revealed several pens where a herd of naked humans were kept. Their eyes were dim, and they mechanically carried out their day, eating from dirty bowls of rancid slop, numbly roaming within the range of their chained collars, and fucking whenever they went into heat. They were almost unrecognizable as humans, resembling animals more than anything else.
Behind them, a pig in blue overalls stood, overlooking the herd. It held a pitchfork in hand and nibbled on a chaff of wheat. Whenever a human misbehaved, it would whip them into obedience. Over the years, it had learned that pain, like all punishments, could enforce the best control. Those who dared resist had already been eaten by the pigs and joined the walls, leaving only the helpless.
Joki''s killing intent doubled once again at this sight, and he immediately dove into combat. The pig swung its pitchfork and caught the spear between the prongs. Then it twisted the weapon hard, seeking to disarm Joki.
However, the experienced spearman saw through the trick and positioned himself to retrieve his weapon. They then entered a fierce melee where lethal stabs followed one after the other. A blur of metal and magic destroyed the grassland below. Yet despite all this commotion, the ''humans'' remained indifferent. They didn¡¯t even react, as if they were dead inside.
This opponent was moderately stronger than the previous one and gave Joki considerable trouble. While Joki had the advantage, it wasn¡¯t by much, and there were still chances for counterattacks. To prevent the fight from dragging on, Genji asked Bruce to support him. As a result, the battle eventually ended with another hole through the head.
Joki leaned back to catch his breath and glared at the last wall. This one had a metallic sheen as if reinforced by magic and other materials. Yet not even this coating could hide the femur and skull outlines entombed within.
Joki gave the wall a few hard strikes, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. Only a small indent appeared at the center of his attacks, which was negligible compared to the overall thickness.
Much to Joki''s distaste, they couldn¡¯t tear down this wall in a reasonable amount of time. If they tried, they would only weaken themselves against the opponent on the other side. As such, they were forced to scale over it and leave the structure intact.
A meditating pig entered their sight when they landed on the other side. This pig wore a white martial arts robe and had no traces of fat. Everything was pure muscle and fur.
The pig opened its eyes and said, "So you''ve arrived. I assume the idiots are dead?" Its voice was apathetic as if asking about a stranger rather than its own family. No, it was even colder, as one would at least be curious when asking about others. "I told them over and over again that they should practice their fighting skills, but they ignored me. Now this is their fate."
The pig stood up and brushed off its clothes. "But be warned, I¡¯m not like them. I¡¯ve trained my whole life for this moment."
In the next instant, the pig suddenly disappeared, and Genji stepped forward with his daggers. A terrifying shockwave burst through the air, and the ground cracked beneath Genji. The pig reappeared above him, its leg against Genji''s arm.
Reacting quickly, Joki swiped his spear upward to repel the attacker, revealing a deep bruise on Genji''s arm. Genji shook off the pain and activated Berserk, using the surging vitality to stop the internal bleeding.
Then Genji darted forward, exchanging numerous blows. Blood and daggers danced through the air, but the hooves remained strong on defense. There were instances when the hooves brushed against Genji''s skin, leaving streaks of blood in their wake, but Genji''s speed minimized the damage to mere grazes.
These wounds were negligible since they closed after a few moments. Meanwhile, Joki supported him from a distance, doing his best to hinder the pig''s movements.
The pig realized its predicament and moved to break it, only to be repeatedly thwarted by Genji. There was little it could do against Genji¡¯s combat experience and superior martial arts. After a while, Genji fully grasped the pig¡¯s movements, making it struggle to even touch his clothes.
Genji rained down strikes one after the other, gradually bleeding his opponent dry. The pig eventually grew desperate and initiated a powerful attack, yet this only revealed more flaws in its defense. Genji capitalized on this opening and struck it with Lightning Inspiration. He then tagged out of the fight, allowing Joki to fully vent his anger on the enemy.
The pig struggled against Joki due to its injuries. The one-sided beating continued for several more minutes before Genji obtained another rare item and more teeth for a certain fairy.
They cleaned up the scene, and Joki jumped over the wall to address the previous victims. It was unclear how successful his attempt was, but it took several hours before he was ready to leave. Genji didn¡¯t ask, and Joki didn¡¯t talk. Like this, they entered the next zone.
When they opened their eyes, they found themselves by a lake surrounded by several withering oak trees. Despite it being spring, all the leaves had fallen off, leaving the branches more barren than a desert. The sky above was cloudy and blocked out the sun, yet Genji detected no signs of rain. Spooky echoes sounded as the wind traveled through the burrows in the trees.
They looked around and spotted a dry skeleton leaning against a larger tree. A battered book lay beside it, its colors worn away by the seasons. They approached and examined it for clues but found nothing. Joki flipped through the book but soon closed it with a shake of his head.
"The ink has already faded. All the pages are gray and yellow. No words."
"Then let''s go. There''s no point in concerning ourselves too much," Genji said, gesturing to the beaten path behind the tree.
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Joki nodded, and they continued. During this process, they couldn¡¯t help but notice how shriveled everything appeared. Gray and black were the most common colors, followed by brown dirt. Everything else was either some variation of these or transitioning to them.
It was also dead silent as if they were the only living beings there. The background sounds they had come to expect had completely disappeared, leaving them on edge against a potential ambush. However, that attack never came.
Instead, they found a giant oak tree at the end of the path, blocking their way forward. A small tunnel was carved into the roots, indicating their next destination.
As if to further support this idea, the branches rustled, and a large bunny in a suit ran out. It looked at its pocket watch and hollered, "Oh dear, oh dear. I''m late! I''m late!" Then the bunny disappeared into the tunnel.
It was obvious what the zone wanted them to do, but Genji didn¡¯t want to follow that progression. However, a barrier blocked his path when he tried going around the tree. In fact, this barrier had sealed off all routes except for the tree.
Genji let out an annoyed sigh and muttered, "Oh great, another forced event."
"You don''t seem too keen on these," Joki commented.
"That¡¯s because I¡¯m not. The barrier removes all choices except for the stupidest option. We¡¯re literally walking into a trap for no reason other than because the zones dictate it." Genji knocked on the barrier and wondered what it would take to shatter these restrictions.
"At least we can guard against these compared to the sudden dangers in normal zones. Come on."
Genji sighed again and followed Joki into the tunnel. They took a few steps forward when the ground abruptly disappeared beneath them, plunging them into a free fall.
Genji spread his cloak, and Bruce weaved a parachute for Joki. It was unclear how far they fell, but the light above had long faded. After a few more seconds, strange objects appeared around them. From distorted clocks to floating chairs and teapots, this assortment of items glided past them at slow rates. Genji reached out to touch one out of curiosity, but the object slipped through his fingers like an elusive mirage.
''An illusion, huh? What did I expect?''
The surroundings shifted, and before they realized it, they were performing a head dive. Genji¡¯s eyes darted around in search of abnormalities as he corrected his posture. Bruce followed, and they soon landed in a hallway with crooked walls and stretched paint. At the end of the hallway, they spotted the rabbit from before running away from them.
Genji exchanged a look with Joki, and they agreed to follow. As they exited the hallway, the rabbit ran through a random door among the countless in the room and shut it behind itself. They tried following, but the door was locked.
This forced them to observe their new surroundings. Countless nonsensical doors appeared in their sight as they looked around. These doors had no consistent design. They came in different shapes, colors, sizes, and locations. Some were on the ceiling, unreachable unless they could flip gravity. Others were so small that they couldn¡¯t reasonably fit through them.
Yet this was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of bizarreness. Some doors couldn¡¯t even be called doors, as they lacked any knobs, making it impossible to open them; they tried. The planks just wouldn¡¯t budge. Perhaps there was nothing behind them?
The corners of the room warped at different rates, expanding and twisting in unnatural ways. They struggled to grasp the bizarre dimensions before looking away, their heads throbbing from the strain.
"Can this place get any stranger?" Genji wondered aloud.
"I hope not," Joki replied, rubbing his forehead.
They kept searching until Astros screeched in excitement and pointed at a certain corner. Looking over, they spotted a sideways table with a key on it. With no other leads, they decided to grab it.
Genji conjured an energy chain and hooked the key, ignoring the suspicious bottle labeled "Drink me" and the cake with "Eat me" beside the table.
They matched the key to a corresponding door and continued after the rabbit. The next area was a snaking hallway filled with sharp turns and uneven elevations. The color scheme was just as mismatched as the previous room, brimming with nauseating distortions.
The door behind them closed automatically as water began flooding the room from seemingly nowhere. Forced to scramble, they ran for higher ground. They found temporary relief on a raised spot, but the water soon caught up.
Unwilling to get wet, Genji and Joki sprinted for the room¡¯s exit as the flood surged behind them. Astros looked back and noticed several animals riding the waves as if on a water slide, laughing and cheering. Among them were a dodo bird, a mouse, and a parrot.
The team picked up their pace and reached the door at the end of the hallway, only to find it locked. This time, they didn''t have the luxury of time. Genji¡¯s instincts were acting up again and he didn''t want to stick around to confront the upcoming danger.
So, he kicked the door open and stepped through. Although startled by the sudden action, Joki quickly followed him.
The next thing they knew, the door vanished behind them, and they found themselves in a jungle of towering plants. Everything seemed enormous compared to their normal counterparts. Ants the size of elephants carried boulders of food above their heads, while worms the size of houses burrowed through the ground.
The stalks of grass stretched taller than mountains, and the tree branches were beyond their sight. Either everything had been magnified countless times, or they had been shrunken down. It was only a matter of perspective, but it was clear that the fever dream had only gotten started.
"Did we just experience a zone teleportation?" Genji asked.
"I think so? But the rules haven¡¯t changed. We¡¯re still dealing with weird dimensions and distorted objects," Joki answered uncertaintly.
Genji grimaced at the confirmation. If that was true, they were dealing with a complicated zone principle that spanned multiple areas¡ªa rabbit hole of trouble, no matter how they looked at it.
"I really hope this is just a coincidence. I¡¯m not paid enough for this," Genji mumbled.
"Complaining won¡¯t help us. Come on. Let¡¯s focus on surviving first," Joki urged.
As they navigated the strange surroundings, they encountered various oversized creatures. Bugs that were normally easy to squash had become towering threats, their size drastically boosting their strength. Many of them required several of their strongest attacks to kill, further adding to their troublesome nature.
While some ignored them, most treated them as easy prey, forcing constant battles that drained their stamina and pushed them into hiding.
Genji grew annoyed at the constant attacks and minimized his presence. Joki tried copying him, but his technique was subpar. He could only maintain this state while stationary. Beyond that, his concentration would falter and his concealment would waver.
They couldn¡¯t do anything about it since Joki wasn¡¯t accustomed to sneaking around. On the bright side, the bugs were now only attracted to a single person, greatly reducing the number of insects that noticed them. Genji took advantage of this and ambushed the bugs from their blind spots while they were focused on Joki, lessening the burden of combat.
They continued like this for another hour before arriving at a large mushroom with a caterpillar perched on top. The caterpillar lazily smoked from a wooden tobacco pipe, exhaling wisps of strange-smelling smoke.
"Who are you?" the caterpillar asked with a drawl, barely lifting its gaze.
Joki was about to answer when Genji stepped forward, signaling to let him handle it. "It doesn¡¯t matter who we are. The better question is who are you?" Genji began approaching as he spoke.
"Me? I know who I am. Do you?" the caterpillar retorted.
24 meters.
"Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I?"
17 meters.
"Then why don¡¯t you tell me?"
12 meters.
"But why should I? Don''t you know it''s basic manners to introduce yourself before asking about someone else?" Genji shot back.
6 meters.
"But I asked first. Shouldn¡¯t you answer my question?"
1 meter.
"No, I don¡¯t want to."
Genji was now directly in front of the caterpillar.
"Then why are we even having this conversation? You won¡¯t answer, and I won¡¯t answer. What¡¯s the point?"
"Because I was stalling." With that, Genji manifested [Curse Bearer] and pressed it against the caterpillar¡¯s head. Everyone froze in shock. "So, do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way? Tell me how to leave this zone."
"W-w-what are you doing?!?" the caterpillar stammered.
"Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯m threatening you." A tense silence hung in the air. "Well? I don¡¯t have all day. Start talking, unless you want a hole in your head." The muzzle dug deeper, bruising the surrounding skin.
"Okay, okay! I¡¯ll talk! It¡¯s the mushroom below me. Half of it will make you shrink, the other half will make you bigger. You can leave when you grow large enough to dwarf this place."
Genji patted his sheath and a red streak flashed across the air, sending two chunks into Genji''s hand. "Which one is which?"
"The right one makes you grow, the left one shrinks you," the caterpillar answered instantly, afraid Genji would lose his patience.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! What do you take me for?"
"Then open up."
The caterpillar began to panic at this request. "W-why?"
"What do you think?" Genji asked, staring it dead in the eye. "Will you cooperate, or do I need to pry your mouth open?"
"Wait, I lied! The right one shrinks, and the left one grows."
"Open up," Genji commanded, his voice growing colder.
"Hold on, actually, the mushroom is divided into three sections: one grows, one shrinks, and one kills instantly. You¡¯re holding the shrinking and the deadly parts."
"Open. Up." Genji¡¯s voice was emotionless and his frozen gaze bore into the creature like a drill.
"What more do you want? I¡¯m telling the truth!" The caterpillar yelled desperately.
*Bang*
Genji pulled the trigger and wiped the brain matter off his sleeve while Bruce cleaned up the blood. Then he shoved the left piece of the mushroom into the caterpillar¡¯s mouth, causing its body to shrink by 10%. Afterward, he fed the corpse the other chunk, inducing severe withering across its skin. By the end, the caterpillar looked like it had been left out in the sun for weeks: shriveled and brittle.
Joki winced at the sight and inwardly thanked Genji for being so cautious.
Genji carved out more chunks from the mushroom and fed them to the corpse. After experimenting, he determined which sections had which effects. He cut out a large piece of the growth-inducing part and tossed it to Joki. "Start eating."
The taste of raw dirt filled Joki¡¯s mouth, making him want to spit it out, but he persisted. With each bite, the world around them shrank, becoming more normal. The towering grass shrunk from mountain heights to the size of trees to just above the knee, until finally, typical weeds.
The only things that remained constant in size were Joki, Genji, the mushroom, and the dead caterpillar. Everything else followed the shrinking pattern. Joki continued eating despite the bitter taste, inwardly grumbling, ¡®Why do I have to eat all this? Can¡¯t he help me?¡¯
The trees became like grass, the mountains became like ants, and eventually, everything vanished beneath their shoes. Genji and Joki disappeared when the surroundings reached this point, having successfully exited the area.
A few minutes later, at the site of the mushroom, the scattered parts of the caterpillar reassembled. The shriveled pieces inflated, the dried skin regained suppleness, and the battered grayness faded. The expanded parts shrank, the shrunken parts expanded, and the decayed portions regained life.
In mere moments, the caterpillar was as good as new, returning to before Genji cruelly experimented on its body. It was as if someone had hit the rewind button and reality obeyed. The caterpillar¡¯s eyes snapped open, sprung up, and cracked its neck.
"How cynical. He didn¡¯t believe a single thing I said. Just wait, I¡¯ll get you back for this."
Then it reignited its pipe and sauntered off, humming a little tune as it crossed into another colleague¡¯s territory.
Yet what the caterpillar failed to notice, was the disposable motion sensor hidden in Genji''s previous position, scanning and reporting any movements back to its source.
213 – Deathly Lullaby
*Tsk* ''Of course, it''s not that easy,'' Genji clicked his tongue as he stared down at his phone.
"Is something the matter?" Joki asked, noticing his irritation.
"No, just remembered something unpleasant."
Joki didn¡¯t pry any further and instead surveyed their surroundings. Colorful autumn leaves swirled around them, filling their view with hints of festivity. A clear stream trickled nearby, carrying away the fallen debris.
Waving trees and wild pumpkins could be seen off the path, enhancing the scene''s autumnal theme. They stood at the bottom of a hill where everything seemed to converge. In front of them lay a path made of disconnected stone pebbles that snaked upward around the hill.
Genji exchanged a look with Joki and shrugged. "Seems pretty obvious where we need to go, doesn¡¯t it?"
Joki nodded and stepped onto the first stone. Suddenly, the entire zone underwent a startling transformation, magnifying everything countless times in size. The stone beneath Joki''s foot expanded over the ground and caught Genji in its area. The distance between the steps also became a wide chasm, impossible to cross without a running start.
Genji looked down the edge and noticed the previously earthy ground had become clouds, promising a long fall if they missed their jump. Additionally, strong winds from passing leaves bore down on them, attempting to blow them away.
"I guess this confirms our theory," Genji said in a somewhat upbeat tone. "This whole thing is a giant zone that covers multiple territories. What a mess we found ourselves in."
"Besides that, do you have any ideas on crossing this? I don''t want to risk jumping right now," Joki hollered from the other side.
Genji approached and eyeballed the distance. ''It''s doable,'' he affirmed.
Then he conjured a crystal chain, tied Bruce to the end, and gave it a hard twirl. "Fasten this down once you reach the other side, okay?" Genji said as he released the chain.
"What?" Joki asked, not understanding the request.
"That wasn''t for you," Genji replied. "Just watch."
Joki focused on the chain and wondered what Genji meant when a gust of wind suddenly blew the chain off course. ''Guess it''s time to pull it back and try again,'' he thought, glancing at Genji. ''Weird, why isn¡¯t he doing anything? Is he fine with letting his sheath fall like this?''
Genji met his gaze, smiled, and cocked his head back at the chain. Joki looked back and his pupils widened in surprise when he saw wings sprouting from the sheath. Bruce flapped several times to cover the distance and manifested to tie down the end.
"That¡¯s your horse?!?" Joki blurted out.
"Pretty neat, huh? Anyway, I¡¯ll meet you on the other side. Hopefully, you¡¯re not afraid of heights or have terrible balance. That would be quite troublesome to work around." Genji stabbed a pike through several links to hold his end down before stepping on the chain and running across. Astros looked back and waved at Joki, beckoning him to follow.
''Why does he seem used to this? How often does he do this?'' Joki wondered speechlessly before slowly walking over with his arms out.
The chain wobbled violently from the winds and Genji''s steps, but Joki managed to stay on. However, he slipped when a strong gust crashed into him at the halfway point. Reacting quickly, Joki grabbed the chain and waited for the storm to subside before pulling himself back up. Like this, they cleared the first chasm.
"One down, many more to go." Genji pulled the chain taut and released constructs at the start, then repeated the sequence with Bruce.
This time, Joki had enough practice to divert some of his attention to observe Genji''s methods. He noticed that Genji was completely unaffected by the gales and wanted to draw some inspiration. After several instances, he noticed a gleam of light would always flash before the winds hit, nullifying the current.
''Is he cutting the air so it flows around him? How smart.''
Having understood the underlying concept, Joki quickly devised his own method and picked up his pace. He went from a slow walk to a speed walk to, finally, a sideways shuffle. When the whirlwinds came, he used wind magic to divert the airflow around him. This cost a decent amount of mana, but it was within acceptable ranges.
With this method, they finally reached the top, and the world returned to normal. The path that took hours to climb now seemed meager and easily surmountable. All they had to do was jump down the hill, and it would undo all their progress.
"Let¡¯s rest before we go any deeper."
Joki agreed with the suggestion and sat down to eat. After recovering their energy, they stepped forward, and the surroundings changed again. The cover of autumn peeled off like old paint, revealing a luxurious garden hidden behind. The front gate glowed with polished silver, devoid of imperfections.
A soft creak sounded as the padlock holding the doorway fell off, and the entrance swung open. They walked in, and more oddities entered their sight: giant dice the size of houses, oversized plushies, random playing cards, and shiny chess pieces sporadically scattered across the garden.
As they walked, they heard children singing from ahead. The lyrics were cheerful and accompanied by laughter, highlighting the singers'' vibrancy.
? Ring around the rosie, ?
? Pocket full of posies, ?
? Ashes! Ashes! ?
? We all fall down! ?
Then the sound of bodies falling to the ground echoed across the garden. They walked around a bush and saw five children lying on the ground in an open area. Their arms were spread out, waving up and down as if making snow angels. They had content smiles on their faces as they basked in the soft sunlight. After a few seconds, they began singing again.
?The ground''s full of daisies ?
? So many maybes ?
? Ashes! Ashes! ?
?We all stand up!?
With those words, all the children rose unnaturally to their feet. This motion was strange because they made no movements with their bodies. It was as if some invisible force had grabbed them by the heads and hoisted them up. The children interlocked their arms and began rotating counterclockwise.
? Ring around the rosie, ?
? Pocket full of posies, ?
? Ashes! Ashes! ?
? We all fall down! ?
At the last syllable, the children flung their arms out and leaned back, letting gravity pull them down when the scene underwent an eerie transformation. The vibrant colors faded, replaced by a gloomy greyscale. The happy children became cold corpses, their eyes gouged out and crying tears of blood. The bodies hit the ground, but there was no sound. Silence pervaded the world, enforcing a muted reality.
Then everything changed back as if everything had all been an illusion. Genji''s eyes widened, but a raspy whisper sounded in his ear before he could do anything else. "I said, we ALL fall down! What don¡¯t you understand about that?"
Genji dove forward and twisted his body around to shoot behind him, but his bullets hit nothing. He rolled onto his feet and warily scanned the surroundings for the intruder.
He held his stance for another 30 seconds until the children finished the second verse. As they floated upward, the scene abruptly shifted again, and Genji caught sight of a ghostly figure in the corner of his eye. His head swerved in that direction, but the figure remained at the edge of his peripheral vision. Then he blinked and the scene reverted to normal.
The children had begun their cycle again, only this time, their voices were distorted at random intervals.
? Ring arrrroooound the roooooooosie, ?
? Pocccccket full of posiiiiiiiies, ?
? Aaaaaashes! Asheeeeees! ?
? We allllllll fall downnnnnn! ?
Hearing the last word, Genji threw himself back like the children, his eyes darting around for the enemy. His arms were tense, ready to strike regardless of his position in the air. Unfortunately, this did nothing as the scene still swapped. He had already triggered this area''s mechanism and made himself a target.
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The figure in his peripheral vision moved closer during this time, but it was still too blurry to make out any details. He blinked again, and the cycle began anew. This time, Genji tried attacking the children to break the loop.
Right before his dagger cut them, the scene shifted the attack to the dead counterparts. The figure in his vision drew closer, revealing a white dress. Another blink and the decapitated child regained his head.
The damage inflicted on the inverted counterparts did not affect the real bodies. Instead, attacking them only accelerated the figure¡¯s approach since it could only move when the world was inverted.
''But is this true for everyone or just my perspective? It seems relative to me, so maybe there¡¯s a workaround?''
To test this, Genji dropped his sheath and swung again. Bruce appeared beside him in the inverted world, indicating that the zone was shifting rather than Genji being teleported. Bruce launched his attacks, and Genji blinked. All the damage was nullified.
''So the shift occurs whenever the children are attacked, and the negation applies to all damage, not just the first attacker. How annoying.''
As Genji considered other options, he noticed another strange detail: Joki had vanished. Where did he go? Didn¡¯t they enter this area together? Now that he thought about it, Joki¡¯s presence had faded when they first saw the children¡ªor perhaps even earlier. It was hard to pinpoint exactly when, as this area messed with his sense of reality.
When exactly did Genji trigger the trap? Was it when he failed to follow the lyrics? But even that seemed suspicious. Maybe it happened the moment he first heard the song, or when he entered the garden? Everything blurred together, making it impossible to identify the specific trigger.
''No point in dwelling on it now. I need to deal with the stalker first.''
Genji placed Bruce back at his side as the children finished their verse. The figure drew closer, now appearing as a teenage girl. Her features were still blurry, but it was only a matter of time.
Blink.
The children''s voices grew increasingly distorted, making them hard to understand. Some words stretched out as if slowed down multiple times, while others sped up to a squeaky pitch, like a rubber duck.
Genji took out a small explosive and set a timer. He tossed it into the circle and attacked.
¡®Five, four, three, two, one,¡¯ he counted down.
He blinked at the half-second mark, allowing the bomb to detonate right as the scene swapped back. A bright flash filled his sight, but the same greyscale gloominess followed immediately after. Not even the sound of the explosion could be heard.
The girl in his vision became clear enough to distinguish her features. She had several pupils crammed into her eye sockets as if containing all of the children''s missing eyes. A demented smile was plastered on her face as she raised a sharp knife.
Blink.
¡®I have at most two more tries before she reaches me.¡¯
Genji racked his brain for more ideas as the children finished their chorus again. He immediately blinked and carefully observed the children''s movements. Although they performed the same dance each time, Genji could still make out subtle differences.
For example, the tallest boy in the group had a slight limp in his right leg when shuffling around. The shortest girl fumbled occasionally due to her short legs. The group wasn¡¯t as harmonious as they first appeared, and their laughter seemed forced under the distorted sound.
¡®Since I can¡¯t kill them, can I mess up their dance?¡¯
Genji waited for the children to separate and fall before approaching. He blinked to cancel the inverted zone and placed rocks around the circle to trip them when they got up again. He focused more on the previously mentioned boy and girl since they seemed most likely to be affected. Finally, he tied their legs together and waited.
? Ring around THHHEEE ROOOSSSIIEEE, ?
? Pocket full of POOSSI ahhhhhh!
Halfway through the chorus, the children tumbled hard, but their arms remained interlocked as if fused together during this phase. This worked in Genji¡¯s favor since they struggled to stand afterward.
¡®They¡¯d rather waste time getting up than let go of each other. Do they also need to follow the rules to maintain this? If so, what happens if they break them?¡¯
The children recovered from their fall and clumsily finished the chant despite Genji¡¯s obstacles. He quickly blinked, but it didn¡¯t change how close the girl with the knife had gotten. He needed this cycle to work, or he¡¯d have to confront the strange ghost.
Genji took out a gallon of oil and soaked the ground, making the skin slippery. Then he built a makeshift barricade around the short girl, isolating her from the group.
With this done, Genji took a deep breath and began blinking rapidly. ¡®Hope this works.¡¯
However, the inverted world was different this time. Not only did blinking fail to cancel the change, but the girl had also disappeared from his sight. A hair-raising chill crept over him as a cold breath tickled his shoulder.
Genji immediately burst forward, but it was too late. A sharp pain pierced his chest as the tip of a knife emerged between his ribs. Then everything reverted, and the pain vanished as quickly as it came. Genji checked his chest but found no wounds. Even his health points remained unchanged.
¡®No, something¡¯s wrong. Stats can be faked, but not the sense of danger I felt. Deceived, yes, but not faked. I need to get out of here fast¡ªI can¡¯t afford to stall anymore.¡¯
Genji glanced at the fumbling girl and dashed for the exit. But no matter how far he ran, he couldn¡¯t find the gate he¡¯d entered through. The garden stretched endlessly, creating a closed space that circled back on itself. The world inverted again, and another stab pierced through his right lung. Everything reverted afterward, and Genji found himself back with the ring of children.
¡®I was afraid this would happen. These traps just won¡¯t let you go once they latch on.¡¯
Genji took a deep breath to steady himself and reviewed the results of his experiment.
¡®Even though I delayed the hand-holding, the attack still triggered. I need to either figure out how to permanently stop it or kill that strange girl.¡¯
Genji decided to prepare for both possibilities since he wasn¡¯t sure which would come first. He waited for the children to drop and endured another stab from the girl before installing a few bars above a boy. Then he stabbed a metal rod through his heart, nailing him to the ground.
The dead version replaced the child, but Genji didn¡¯t care. He pushed the rod deeper into the ground and bent it around the bars, forming a cage that prevented the boy from getting up.
For this bold move, Genji lost his right arm, severed at the elbow. He instructed Bruce to bombard the boy without pause and slashed a circular streak, anticipating the stabby girl¡¯s appearance.
Attack after attack flooded the inverted world, sealing all openings around Genji. After a minute, Genji finally relented and leaned back to catch his breath, when another knife stabbed through his stomach. Genji¡¯s gaze sharpened as he slammed his dagger backward.
The world reverted for a split second, but Bruce¡¯s attack forced it back. A sharp screech pierced his ears, but the girl had already disappeared from behind him. Genji scanned the surroundings and reinstated his bombardment. The problem with this opponent wasn¡¯t her stats but her elusiveness.
Dance of Death and even [Kraken¡¯s Grasp¡¯s] mental impact swept through the area, attempting to catch his target off guard. Genji paused after 40 seconds and began counting.
''One, two¡ª''
Without wasting another moment, he immediately swapped positions with a silhouette, narrowly dodging a fatal stab. At least, that¡¯s how it was supposed to be, but Genji still felt a sharp pain in his neck.
''How?'' he wondered as the girl violently yanked the knife out, sending him to the ground. ''I timed it. Why is she still behind me?''
The girl approached and kicked him over before manically stabbing his chest numerous times. In and out the knife went, splattering blood everywhere. She managed his heart, her mouth curving upward into a silent, gloating laugh.
As the last life drained from Genji¡¯s body, she reached for his left eye and gouged it out with her cold fingers. Then, with a hard pull, she snapped the optic nerves connecting the organ to the brain. Her smile grew more twisted as she brought the bloody eyeball to her mouth. After giving it a good lick, she crammed it into her own socket.
It didn¡¯t fit, but she forced it in any way. A soft pop sounded, followed by yellow pus leaking out the edges. She licked off this fluid and reached for his other eye. Then everything went dark.
Darkness...
Void...
Emptiness...
Solitude...
Death...
Until it wasn¡¯t.
[Soul Sanctuary has nullified "Induced Insanity." Becoming immune for 5 seconds.]
Genji¡¯s scattering consciousness reconsolidated, and a flash of realization hit him. ''Induced Insanity? Insanity! So it¡¯s all in my mind. That¡¯s why nothing makes sense!''
But despite this understanding, he was still stuck in this illusion. Unless he could break out in the next few seconds, he would return to his previous state, this time for good. In the face of looming death, Genji¡¯s mind burst forward with all its power, trying to conceive any possible outs. His willpower squeezed out every drop of potential within him and demanded more.
More.
More!
MORE.
MORE!
And his mind obeyed¡ªsucceeded even. Since he couldn''t shatter this insanity directly, he would need an outside force to awaken him; a force so intertwined with him that it could ignore this dream¡ªa legacy.
Reaching into the deepest parts of his existence, Genji pulled out the faint connection between him and his legacy spirits. He traced this connection and entered their mind space. An unprecedented sense of urgency greeted him as he appeared before his spirits. The twins and silhouette wasted no time upon seeing him and jolted his mind.
Then they kicked him out, urging him to deal with the crisis at hand. Genji opened his remaining eye and noticed the same children dancing around him. Their voices chanted ¡°Ring around the rosie,¡± over and over again in a sing-songy voice. All of them wore the same demented smiles and the multitude of eyeballs as the previous girl.
Genji immediately summoned his dagger and swiveled out a circular slash that bisected everyone. Their eager eyes turned to confusion, and their ghastly smiles faded into frowns. Genji gave them no chance to recover and slashed out again, shredding them all.
Suddenly, the world around them cracked, leaking intense light. These fissures stretched across the sky and dug into empty space, expanding and growing more concentrated. Then everything shattered with a loud burst, and Genji reopened his eyes.
He was back at the bottom of the hill again, with Joki stepping on the first stone of the path. Everything had triggered from that moment. But although the sequence was illusionary, the damage was not.
Moments after Genji awakened, his left eye exploded, and his right arm dissolved into ash. Wounds opened across his chest, destroying his lungs and organs. All the damage he¡¯d sustained in the double-layered illusion had transferred into reality.
Yet despite his miserable state, Joki had it worse than him. A gaping hole burst through his stomach, his ribs shattered into dust, his right leg lost all its muscle, leaving only bone, and half of his face disappeared, revealing a decaying brain. These were deadly wounds and beyond saving. Joki had perished in the trap.
[You have completed the story of: Ring Around the Rosie.]
[Ring Around the Rosie]
Description: Although it¡¯s not a children¡¯s fairytale, it is just as deadly, if not more. Those who are unaware will die before they realize what hit them. Behold, the all-devouring soul ritual!
Mission Progress: 6/3
214 – Tea Party
*Cough cough*
Genji spat out a mouthful of blood and dragged his tattered body toward Joki''s remains, chugging several potions along the way. He picked up the spear, pried off the armor, and searched for a safe place to stabilize his wounds. These injuries were severe and needed immediate attention, or he would soon follow in death.
Genji found a remote cave, sat down against the wall, and peeled off the strips of cloth around his wounds. He plucked out scattered bone shards, cleaned his chest of any dirt or grime, and poured multiple bottles over his eviscerated organs. White steam billowed from his wounds, but Genji¡¯s face remained nonchalant.
Bruce and Astros stirred from the noise and were startled by his missing arm. Genji gestured that he was fine and asked Bruce to help with the makeshift surgery.
After they finished, Genji ate some food to replenish his energy and leaned back to rest. This particular trap had severely drained his concentration and he was in no shape to move forward.
A whole day passed, and Soul Sanctuary came off cooldown. Genji felt more confident in surviving the upcoming dangers with this. He fastened an eyepatch out of cloth and covered his gaping socket before stepping out to rechallenge the gauntlet of hazards.
Having learned from his previous encounter, Genji avoided the stones on the hill and soon reached the top. The same space-peeling scene occurred. This time, it wasn¡¯t a luxurious garden, but a modest abode. The clinking of porcelain cups and rambunctious laughter came from the backyard, prompting Genji to check it out.
He clenched his saber and prepared for a fight, but he was greeted by a long table filled with various cutlery instead. These tableware include dirty plates with cake crumbs, used teacups, and multiple pots of tea, all atop a fancy white cloth.
At the end of the table, a man with a tall green hat sat across from a large bunny-like creature. The man¡¯s eyes were erratic, darting around like those of a drug addict going through withdrawal. His teeth jittered up and down, mumbling incoherent sentences and occasionally laughing like a madman.
He chugged his drink before slamming the cup on the table and refilling it from an absurd height. Tea splattered across the table and stained the already messy tablecloth. The man cackled at the scene and yanked the cup out from beneath the stream, causing the liquid to overflow and soak his pants.
The bunny creature clapped repetitively like a "monkey with cymbals" toy before helping itself to some cake. Strangely enough, the fork it used only had two prongs. Most of the cake crumbled and slipped through this gap, bouncing off the table before landing on the floor. The bunny ignored all this and happily gorged itself, feasting on bits of frosting and lots of air.
Beside them stood a miniature grandfather clock, its pendulum swinging back and forth at uneven speeds, catching on various objects within the clock. Even the ticking sound was muffled by whatever was causing this oddity.
At that moment, the duo spotted Genji and began chuckling uncontrollably. "Why yes, a visitor. The thing goes down and doesn¡¯t come up. Ga ga ga ga ga ga ga."
Genji watched this strange scene and simply asked, "How can I leave?"
"Leave? Why would you want to do that? Don¡¯t you want to experience all the fun we have to offer?" asked the bunny.
"Or perhaps play the devil¡¯s game?" added the man.
"I remember the devil¡¯s game. It sends you to hell. Literally! Ey heh heh heh heh heh," the bunny followed up.
The two then devolved into a nonsensical conversation, giving Genji no chance to intervene. They tossed bizarre terms left and right, expecting the listener to understand their lingo¡ªor perhaps they simply didn¡¯t care if anyone did.
After a few minutes, Genji tried again, only to receive more irrelevant answers. Fed up with their attitude, he pulled out a nuclear grenade and said, "How about I blow this whole place up first? I¡¯m sure I can find others to help me."
This startled the dou, prompting them to pacify Genji immediately. "Now now, don¡¯t be so extreme. You just need to have a tea party with us until the clock hits 6. Then you can leave."
Genji glanced at the grandfather clock and noted it was 5:51. He just had to deal with them for 9 more minutes. Despite this, he cast a suspicious look their way. The task sounded too easy and didn¡¯t match the vicious traps along the way. There must be a catch they weren¡¯t telling him.
¡®I¡¯ll get to that when it comes. At worst, I¡¯ll threaten them again. They don¡¯t seem too strong,¡¯ he thought, taking a seat at the other end of the table.
Bruce and Astros followed and poured themselves a cup. Genji gave it a sniff and confirmed it was safe to drink. But before he could bring it to his lips, the bunny bumped into him, knocking the cup out of his hands.
Genji paid no heed to the spill and poured another cup. This time, the bunny snatched it when he put the teapot down and threw it aside. Genji stared at the scene for a few seconds before smiling. He finally understood what they were playing at.
This was a tea party, not an awkward get-together. To count, everyone had to drink the tea. Otherwise, they could deny him under "reasonable clauses." That was the rule of this zone.
Meanwhile, Bruce uttered a silent prayer for the pair. Genji doesn¡¯t smile at his enemies often, but they never meet a good end when he does. And the pair¡¯s actions certainly marked them as hostile. Bruce didn¡¯t know how Genji would make them pay, but he was confident it would happen. After all, it wouldn¡¯t be Genji if he let them off easily.
Genji¡¯s smile widened as he took out the grenade again. He bit into the pin and stared down the duo, daring them to interfere once more. They froze and helplessly watched as Bruce served Genji another cup. Genji maintained eye contact as he drank the tea with Bruce¡¯s assistance, only putting the grenade away once he¡¯d emptied the cup.
"See? That wasn¡¯t so hard. Why did you have to waste so much tea?" Genji asked.
The man and the bunny slumped in their seats, gloomily returning to their activities. Astros picked up a knife, sliced some bread, and smeared some on butter before hopping onto Genji¡¯s shoulder. Bruce nibbled on the snacks but wasn¡¯t too fond of them; they were too sweet for his tastes.
Like this, 15 minutes passed. But when Genji checked the clock, it showed that only 7 minutes had passed. The clock was running slow by half. Genji put down his cutlery and waited for the remaining time to pass.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Tick-tock.
Tick¡ª
Suddenly, the second hand screeched to a halt right before it crossed the top.
"Oh no, the clock broke. Whatever shall we do? It seems like we¡¯re going to have tea time forever now," the man said, leaning back with his arm dramatically over his forehead. A smug grin was plastered on his face, signaling victory in this exchange.
''So they still had this trick up their sleeves.'' The corner of Genji¡¯s eye twitched at this display, but he remained calm and asked, "Aren¡¯t you afraid of being blown up like this?"
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Of course not. Time has stopped now. Nothing can hurt us anymore," the man confidently replied, taking a triumphant sip of his tea.
"Is that so?" Genji maintained his smile and picked up his cup as well. "But I beg to differ."
"Hmm? I don¡¯t think you understand your situation. I¡¯m the master of this area, and you can¡¯t leave unless I say so. Prepare to spend an eternity here. I¡¯ll live on while you wither away from old age, growing feebler with each passing day. Despair will overwhelm you, and I¡¯ll bask in every moment of it. That is the price of offending me, Prince Macazar Giovoni Principial III. Mwah ha ha ha ha ha."
Genji waited for the man to finish his villainous monologue before asking a simple question. "Don¡¯t you think your tea tastes weird?"
The man instantly performed a spit-take and choked on his tea. After several hard coughs, he demanded an answer. "What do you mean by that? What did you DO!?!"
"Nooooothiiinnnng," Genji dragged out the word in a playful tone before revealing a bottle of red liquid. "But this is a Scarlet Virus. It¡¯s a special poison that seeps into people¡¯s lungs and festers like cancer. After 30 minutes of dormancy, it breaks out and eats the host from the inside, stopping only when there¡¯s no more flesh. The only flaw is that it has a mild smell and binds with liquids on contact. Anyway, what were you saying? Please go on. I don¡¯t mind waiting. I¡¯m curious if you¡¯re as immortal as you claim."
The man nervously cleared his throat and asked, "Umm, is there a cure?"
"Is that even a question?" Genji revealed two bottles of purple liquid. "Just chug one of these and the virus will be gone in a jiffy. But you shouldn¡¯t need them. You¡¯re immmmmmoooooortalllllll after all."
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding," the man said with an awkward laugh. "Oh, would you look at that! Time¡¯s moving again." As he spoke, the man dragged the second hand past the 12, ending this farce.
Genji nodded in satisfaction and let go of the bottles. Then the world around them distorted, teleporting them to the next zone.
Bruce flashed Genji a thumbs up when the surroundings stabilized, complimenting him on the maneuver. ¡®That was awesome, master. You should have seen the looks on their faces. They were so funny. And the way he changed his tone. Ehhnneeiiiighhhh. But when did you release the poison? How come I never noticed it?¡¯
"That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t. Everything was a bluff. But even then, they believed me a little too easily. I suspect they might have a lie detection skill."
Bruce froze for a moment before his jaw dropped in amazement. ¡®Wait, what about the cure you left them?¡¯
"What do you think? They drank poison to counter a poison that doesn¡¯t exist."
Bruce picked up his jaw and uttered another pity-filled prayer for the victims before forgetting about them. His understanding of Genji was still the best. Astros didn¡¯t understand what was happening but clapped enthusiastically anyway.
They continued forward and soon arrived at a hedge maze. The entrance was blocked by a pedestal holding a large checkered board, at least 200 squares wide. A barrier stretched outward from this pedestal, indicating he needed to pass this test if he wanted to enter.
Genji approached and spotted miniature chess pieces locked in an intense battle. On one end, a black queen commanded her army from the center of the board, slowly pushing back the opposing force.
Controlling the white pieces was a female mage with starry earrings. She flung numerous elemental spells at the encroaching army but struggled to hold her ground. The black queen outclassed her in nearly every tactical aspect, relentlessly pushing her advantage.
Genji was familiar with this person. This was Stella, better known as the Starlit Mage, a fellow champion from ManaRealm. Although they hadn¡¯t officially met, he had seen her once on the Spatial Battlefield.
The power and frequency of her spells justified her moniker, but she was starting to run low on mana. It was only a matter of time until her defeat.
Genji read the rules engraved on the pedestal and decided to interfere with this battle. This was not out of the kindness of his heart, but because he needed to defeat the black queen in a large-scale chess war, with each piece having its own quicks, if he wanted to continue.
Genji was somewhat familiar with the rules of chess, but he was by no means proficient, nor was he knowledgeable about commanding an army. In this sense, Stella had him beaten, but even she struggled in this challenge.
If Genji were alone, he would have no chance of winning. So instead of waiting for Stella''s defeat and taking his turn, he decided to muddy the waters and combine their strengths. This was beneficial for both of them.
Genji pressed his hand on the pedestal, and a magic circle manifested beneath him. The circle spun slowly at first and gradually accelerated. At its peak, intense light burst out and teleported Genji onto the board. A robotic female voice announced his presence, and the battlefield underwent a major shift.
New participant detected. Adding reinforcements on both sides.
The ground rumbled, and numerous chess pieces rose from the ground in the backlines. These pieces were easily distinguishable from the current ones because they were pristine and lacked the cracks that the battle-ridden pieces possessed. Genji assumed this was how the pieces initially looked before the intense battle.
Stella was surprised by his presence, but she welcomed him with open arms. "Great. Work with me, and we might stand a chance!"
Genji glanced at her before redirecting his gaze to the enemies. Although they had received fresh troops, the enemies likewise gained the same. This narrowed the gap in combat power, but it also gave the black queen more tools to work with.
"Take command. I''ll hold the front lines," Genji yelled at her.
"Okay. Be careful of the pieces with fancy armor. Those are the elites."
Genji flashed an "okay" sign and drew his saber. A fierce cutting intent wrapped his body and tore through the air. He arrived at the combat line and unleashed a massive crescent slash. Many black pieces shattered under his attack, but these were mostly useless pawns. Genji tore through their ranks like a tornado, wreaking havoc within their mid-lines.
Undeterred by his missing arm, Genji fought to his heart''s content. At that moment, he resembled a berserker more than an assassin, cleaving through enemies with brute force.
Water Parries chained together without pause, making each slash stronger than the last. He rampaged for a few more seconds before the troops scattered, giving way to stronger units. A horse with large shoulder pads and a spear confronted him, only to be dispatched within five exchanges.
Other unique pieces joined the melee while ranged attackers pelted him with arrows, musket balls, and even deadly lasers. Genji jumped over them, kicking off shoulders to retreat. Suddenly, a chill crept down his back.
''A sneak attack!''
Genji twisted his body, narrowly dodging a sword from the side. He pivoted his feet and slashed upward, bisecting an invisible unit. By this time, Stella had finished regrouping the army and pushed forward to support him. Genji maintained his position until the troops caught up, then dove forward as the vanguard.
Everything within three meters of Genji broke apart into chunks as he flared his intent. He kept up the pace by ducking behind pawns when powerful ranged attacks came his way and hacking down the replacements. They marched over the fallen bodies and reclaimed their previously lost ground.
After a while, the black army actively retreated and recondensed their ranks. A frontal battle was no longer to their advantage with Genji on the field, so they switched tactics.
Several squads flanked the white army and chipped away at their forces. As the squads attempted to retreat, Genji flash-stepped into their ranks and hacked away. They eventually escaped but suffered heavy casualties under his blade.
Meanwhile, an elite team flanked around the back and attacked Stella. A fierce battle ensued, resulting in the attackers'' defeat, but it distracted Stella from properly commanding her army. The black queen capitalized on this and maneuvered her troops into advantageous positions.
She probed for weaknesses and chipped away at their numbers like a hyena tearing at meat. Genji fought back with all his might, but he couldn¡¯t match the efficiency of the opposing army.
Even then, that was a luxury compared to being tied down by powerful units. A few exchanges later, Genji burst out with shadow flames and beheaded the nearest pieces.
''Can''t afford to stall. I need to put pressure on the commander as well.''
Genji took a deep breath and utilized his Dagger Arts to cover the distance. Flow and Threading the Needle played a major role, as they specialized in breaking through enemy lines. Genji rapidly closed in on the black queen, but the enemies grew stronger with each step. The black queen had anticipated such a maneuver and kept the strongest units near herself.
Genji grappled with this group for a while but made no progress. At this point, he could only do his best and hope Stella could regain some advantage while he kept the queen somewhat occupied. Black chess pieces besieged him from all directions, severely straining his stamina.
The fight continued for several minutes until a large mana fluctuation swept through the board. Following that, a hail of spells rained down on the black army, decimating their numbers. Stella had overloaded her abilities for an immense boost in combat power.
Once this state was lifted, she would temporarily lose access to the buffs provided by her talent and several powerful spells. In the absence of legacy liberations, this was her strongest state. Stella carpet-bombed the area and commanded the pieces to finish the rest while focusing most of her firepower on helping Genji.
With Stella''s assistance, Genji quickly overpowered the troops and flickered toward the black queen. She tried her best to resist, but Genji soon cut her down. Her avatar broke apart, and the battle came to an end. Victory was theirs.
The battlefield calmed down, and a magic circle lit up beneath Genji. After several revolutions, Genji found himself outside the board again, staring down the black queen beside Stella.
"In a miraculous turn of events, you managed to defeat me. Very well, according to the rules, you have obtained the qualifications to enter." The queen stood aside and the barrier blocking the hedge maze disappeared.
215 – Regrouping
"You''re pretty good at fighting," Stella randomly commented as they walked through the maze. "Are you interested in joining my group?"
"No. I just want to get out of here, and we''ll go our separate ways," Genji responded.
"Don''t be so quick to reject me. This is a rare opportunity. Many people would kill to get an invitation, and I''m offering it for free."
"Oh? What benefits are there?"
"There''s a lot. So many that you can''t even imagine. Everything you could possibly want, and even things you don''t know about. As long as you perform well, all these things can be obtained. For example, you can even regenerate your missing arm and eye. I bet you''ve never seen something so profound, but that''s only the tip of the iceberg."
"You''re painting a big picture there. Sounds like a scam," Genji replied.
"I''m not kidding. Look." Stella conjured a realm card out of thin air and presented it to him. "Everyone in the group has access to these storage spaces that hold items. It''s a basic privilege. Take it. If you''re interested in the future, you can activate the card and join us."
Seeing this, Genji understood what Stella was doing. When he entered the third step, one of the changes was that champions could invite outsiders into the realms and be rewarded based on the invitee''s performance. Since Genji displayed strong combat strength in the previous battle, Stella wanted to pull him in and earn some privilege tokens.
However, this would only be true if he was a native of this world, not someone already affiliated with another realm. Members of the realms cannot join another realm. Once they make their choice, it is for life. This is to prevent poaching and other unsavory behaviors between realms.
Regardless, Genji still accepted the card to avoid raising suspicions and because it was free. Why wouldn''t he take it? He could repurpose it when he returns.
Soon, they reached a dead end and turned back to try a different path. The hedge maze wasn''t difficult, but it covered a large area and was fairly time-consuming to traverse. If Genji had to describe it, the maze was purely decorative rather than serving any defensive purpose.
After about two hours, they reached the exit and entered a semi-open area. A few playing cards with limbs stood at the side, painting the white "roses" red. Genji glanced at them before walking past without another word. He''d seen far stranger things already, and this couldn''t even compare in intensity.
As they continued walking, they spotted a platoon of card soldiers blocking off an area. The squawking of flamingos and the squealing of hedgehogs sounded from within, followed by a frustrated cry. "You better stay still, or I will chop off your head!"
The sound of flamingos lowered in volume while the hedgehogs stopped altogether. The soldiers stopped them as they tried to pass, saying, "Sorry, this area is off-limits."
"But we''re not even bothering you," Stella protested. "Why are you blocking off the whole road?"
"Queen''s orders. This whole garden is reserved," the ten of clubs replied without a change in expression.
"Bullshit!" Stella cussed back. "This is the most entitled thing I''ve heard!"
"These are the rules. Either obey them or risk the queen''s ire."
"Ire? What qualifications does she have to deserve this audacity? Let me see for myself." Stella pushed the guards aside and stormed into the enclosed area. The cards tried stopping her, but she threatened them with magic, and Genji followed out of interest.
They forced their way in because they suspected the queen was the master of this zone. They would have to meet her eventually if they wanted to leave this area. But even if she wasn''t, there was a high chance she knew who was the real master. Either way, they had nothing to lose by doing this.
The flamingo''s croaking grew clearer, and the rustling of grass sounded. They took a few more steps and spotted a girthy woman swinging a green flamingo at a hedgehog. She missed, but the hedgehog began moving anyway. As the hedgehog rolled, the card soldiers acting as hoops on the field jumped into its path, forming overarching tunnels.
All the cards, except for one, followed this pattern, allowing the woman to score an unnatural amount of points. The last card, however, was a few beats too slow and failed to catch the hedgehog. The spectators gasped in horror, and the woman roared in fury. "You dare miss? OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"
Spit flew everywhere as an escort of red-hearted cards dragged the subject away for execution. Genji and Stella were speechless at this display of tyranny, but they didn''t care too much. They weren''t affected by it, so why should they interfere?
After the commotion ended, the woman finally noticed their presence. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"People who want to leave. Just tell us the requirements," Stella said.
"First of all, that''s Your Majesty, the Queen of Hearts, to you! Second, who are you to barge in like this unannounced?" the woman snapped at them.
"Yeah, yeah. We don''t care," Genji said dismissively. "We''ve both dealt with enough nonsense today. Cut the chat and answer the question."
"Rude! Off with their heads!" The queen roared again. At this command, the platoon of cards swarmed them, attempting to bury them with numbers.
Genji sighed and drew his saber. "Seriously, why does it always come down to this? Nobody wants to talk nicely anymore."
"Have you considered that you provoked her first?"
"Technically speaking, you started it first. I just summarized it." Genji bantered with Stella as they struck down the incoming guards. For whatever reason, these units were weaker than even the pawns in the chess battle, so this didn''t require much effort on their end.
The Queen of Hearts fumed as Genji and Stella defeated her troops without breaking a sweat. "Insolent bastards! How dare you disrespect royalty like that!" she screamed with a shrill note.
"So we can''t even defend ourselves anymore without being disrespectful? What amazing standards you have," Genji mocked.
At this moment, a tiny man with a red K on his chest appeared on the field. "Oh dear! What''s going on?" he exclaimed. "Why is everyone so injured?"
"Hubby! Call a trial. They killed everyone!" the queen cried out in fake heartache.
The man''s demeanor immediately changed, going from a bumbling fool to a mighty ruler. "Is that so?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Yes! Look! All my guards are dead."
"Very well. We shall proceed to a trial." The king put his hands together, and the surroundings suddenly changed.
When they regained their bearings, Genji found himself in a formal courtroom. They were on the left side of the room, behind a podium labeled "Defendant." On the right side, the Queen of Hearts stood, with a label of "Prosecutor."
Between them was a raised bench where the king sat with a loose black robe. Behind them was a crowd consisting of Wonderland''s inhabitants. These included the caterpillar Genji met earlier, the rabbit he chased upon entering this place, the black chess queen, and many others. The man with the green hat and the strange bunny were missing, indicating the success of Genji''s previous scheme.
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They were now in the domain of the king. Yet despite that, Genji felt no danger from the surroundings. At first, he thought this was due to his instincts being suppressed, but he soon discovered this was not the case. The space here felt weaker than the outside world, as if a single well-placed attack could shatter it.
This was strange since domains shouldn''t be this weak, especially those backed by the zone''s principles. Otherwise, there was no point in summoning it since the user would suffer major injuries before the fight even began. After all, the backlash from a broken domain was no joke.
''Why does it feel like they''ve been weakened?'' Genji wondered as the king slammed his mallet three times.
"Order in the court. Order in the court. Today, we are gathered here to witness the trial of these outsiders. The Queen of Hearts, my wife, has accused them of several first-degree murders¡ªa homicide. This is the case of Queen versus Outsiders. May we hear from the plaintiff?"
The queen stepped forward and said, "Your honor, I believe the crimes you''ve outlined drastically understate the severity of their crimes. Not only did they show utter disregard for royalty, but they also committed widespread vandalism, inspired mass terror, and coerced in the first degree. Minor charges include painting my roses the wrong shade of red, organizing an unauthorized caucus race, tampering with my Pop-Tarts by adding strawberry jam, and putting mustard in the clock!"
Everyone gasped at the last statement, and their eyes grew unfriendly. No one puts mustard in ANYTHING in Wonderland. How could they?!?
"Based on these charges, I believe they should lose the right to a jury and be executed immediately," the queen finished with a bow.
"Very well. I shall consider it. But until then, does the defendant have anything to say?" the king asked.
"Hmm?" Genji looked up nonchalantly and picked his nose for extra disrespect. "Sorry, what were you saying again? I wasn''t paying attention." Then he wiped his boogers on the podium, much to everyone''s disgust.
Genji paid no heed to their reactions and went for another round, slowly drawing a picture with his snot. Stella snickered at his actions and spat a loogie at the queen, followed by a provocative look. She was essentially saying, ''What are you going to do about it?''
Neither Genji nor Stella were pushovers, and the lack of danger only heightened their unruliness. Since the queen wanted to tack on so many ridiculous crimes, they might as well add some more to the list. It was not like they would be punished any differently.
"Bastard! I''ll add contempt of court to your charges. How dare you! Off with their heads already!" The queen roared back with a seething red face.
"OBJECTION!" Genji interjected. "You forgot to swear us in, so none of this counts as an actual trial. Therefore, it''s not contempt of court."
"Objection!" Stella chimed in for fun. "The judge is clearly biased and has a connection with the prosecutor. As such, he does not have the jurisdiction to preside over this case."
They were making a mockery of the court, and there was nothing the inhabitants could do about it. The crowd erupted into an uproar, clamoring to execute them for their audacity. Genji cussed at them in every creative way he could think of, baiting them to retaliate and create a bigger ruckus in the room.
The king banged his mallet repeatedly, shouting, "Order in the court! Order in the court!"
However, his shouts were drowned out by the noise. He had lost control of the trial, and it was only getting worse. This confirmed Genji''s suspicions about the weakened trial. For whatever reason, the principles of this domain had stopped working, leaving a motley crew to act out their preset instructions.
Genji fought back against the wave of insults, cursing all 18 generations of their ancestors. Astros cheered for him despite not understanding the meaning because it looked like Genji was winning. This continued for several more minutes until a cracking sound pierced through the room.
The noise died down, and everyone turned to the source. In the middle of the room, between the judge''s seat and the two parties, was a tiny black crack in space.
*Krrrraccck*
The fissure widened, and the light dimmed. A wave of terror swept through the crowd as this unexplainable phenomenon continued its course. Colors faded, the air fractured, and a faint buzz sounded. Then the space distorted, and a girl in ragged clothes appeared. She had messy black hair, a dirtied apron, knee-high socks alternating in black and white stripes, and a white ribbon headband.
She clenched the side of her body, doing her best to seal the gaping wound impairing her. Her left ankle was bent at a painful angle, forcing her to limp heavily. Despite this, she rushed forward without regard, panicking as she escaped the source of her afflictions.
Behind her, a hand gripped the edges of the space crack and ripped hard. The sound of tearing cloth echoed loudly, followed by the enlargement of the crack into a portal. A man in leather armor, wielding a mithril straight sword, emerged.
He chased after the girl and swung down, leaving a deep cut along her back. At this moment, Genji finally got the opportunity to scan the girl.
[Special stat is lower than the target''s. Severe difference in total stats. Obtaining 29% of the target''s information.]
[Alice, Master of Wonderland]
Health: 22,890/50,500
Mana: 5,887/3,750
Con: 62
Str: 60
Dex: 58
Int: 75
Spc: 78
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +35,000 health
- Imagination Fueled (Passive): Spells you cast gain special effects based on your imagination.
- Childhood Innocence (Passive): The more pure you appear, the faster Wonderland grows.
- Sovereign of Dreams (Passive): You are the embodiment of Wonderland. The bigger Wonderland grows, the stronger you are. In times of crisis, you can overdraw this power to fuel your abilities.
- Domain Master (Passive): You can sense and control everything within Wonderland.
- Reality Bender (Active): Use mana to change reality. The greater the change, the more mana it costs.
Note: No further skills can be read.
Genji finally understood why the principles had stopped working. The master of Wonderland had encountered a massive threat and needed all the strength she could get.
This included any world energy empowering the zone principles, causing the inhabitants to be drastically weaker than usual. Otherwise, Genji and Stella wouldn''t have been able to get this far; they would have already been apprehended by the card soldiers or punished by the king.
However, the conversion ratio of world energy to mana was abysmal and should only be used as a last resort. The trade-off in normal times was simply not worth it.
Yet despite her best efforts, Alice still struggled against the man with the mithril sword. That alone testified to his powers. After all, Alice was a fully qualified boss and even ranked among the stronger ones in this world. Just her reality-bending powers could deal significant damage if used properly.
The wounds on Alice slowly closed under her urgency, but the man was already upon her. His sword glowed silver, and orange runes lit up on the blade. The weapon dug into her perfect skin and left a nasty burn along the wound. Alice screamed in agony as her magic scattered under her dispersed concentrations.
The man swung again and left another deep cut on her shoulder blades. Bone shards stuck out and worsened the blood loss. Alice''s health and mana bounced back and forth like a slinky, but it couldn¡¯t hide the downward trend. She was on her last legs and had no way to turn the situation around.
The man ground her down like a patient hunter and waited for an opportune moment to strike. Upon finding that opening, he stabbed his sword into her stomach and channeled a major spell. The runes lit up in shining gold and sealed Alice''s remaining energy. The girl opened her mouth to give one last defiant shout, but her life faded before she could utter her words.
From her lips, Genji guessed it was something similar to, ''Noooooo.''
The man yanked the sword out, kicked the body down, and reached for the headband. After roughly untying it, he stored it away in a leather pouch and glanced at Genji.
"Get out of here while you can. This area is about to collapse," he said.
"Yeah, we''ve been trying for a while now, except these people won¡¯t tell us how."
The man sized him up and gave his sword another downward slash. A black opening appeared behind the path of his sword, followed by him tearing it open. "Here. I''ve created an exit. Now get out."
Genji nodded in appreciation and stepped through. The next thing he knew, he was back in the forest¡ªthe normal forest without any strange dimensional anomalies. The man hadn¡¯t lied to him. Genji had finally left that cursed Wonderland.
''Well, that''s one way to end things. I''m not complaining though.''
Stella appeared behind him and accessed her surroundings. "Any idea where we are?"
Genji took out his wayfinder''s compass and performed a rough triangulation. The pointer swerved a lot more than he expected, meaning he was close to the anchor. Genji explored his surroundings and compared their descriptions to his map. After a few minutes, he pinpointed his location, which was only three zones away from the capital.
"Yeah, but I don''t think it''s that helpful for you," Genji replied. "There''s a city nearby. Follow me if you want. Otherwise, let¡¯s separate now."
"I¡¯ll go with you. It¡¯s better than getting lost in the wild."
Genji nodded and began sprinting back. For once, the map was actually accurate, and there were no hiccups in their path. Soon, they crossed the border and entered the city.
"There you go. Now please leave me alone. I have stuff to do." With that, Genji ditched Stella and headed for the castle. He gave his account of his situation and met with the surviving team. Including himself, only six people had made it back so far. The warrior was unfortunately still missing. None of the team had seen him so far. For now, they would assume he is dead.
Lynn had also survived despite her missing arm during the separation. Genji wasn¡¯t too surprised since her combat style wasn¡¯t as affected by the loss as a melee fighter¡¯s. Plus, he was confident there was more to her than what she''d shown so far. After all, it was simply for a realm member to have multiple specialties.
Genji could also pass off as a sniper if he had the right equipment. In general, realm members are more capable than they look; they just haven¡¯t been giving it their all when the team was around.
"What happened to your arm?" Edwin asked concernedly.
"A small price for survival," Genji answered.
"Will it affect your strength?"
"I¡¯ll manage. When¡¯s the next exhibition?"
"2 days. We need to recoup our losses and hire more people. Then lead a big team to investigate the disappeared village."
"Sounds good," Genji replied before walking away. With this, the 9th day ended and the 10th began.
216 – Three Billy Goats
Later that same night, Genji snuck out of his room and followed the queen down to her basement. His compass tracked her position, and he noted all the turns she took.
''Left, right, right, straight.''
Pairing this with the speed of her gait, he managed to form a rough outline of the basement map. After recording this in his notebook, Genji returned to his room. The following morning, Genji found another wanted notice slipped under his door. This time, the illustration was of a crystal coffin with a dormant girl inside.
"Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty." At this point, Genji was certain these targets were determined based on their appearances. While Genji didn¡¯t know how the queen obtained this information, it was undeniable that these targets were peerless beauties, albeit somewhat demented and hiding a deadly side.
Genji walked out of his room and headed into the city. His presence wasn¡¯t required today since the castle was holding another recruitment session. They had been doing this since receiving the update about their situation a few days back.
Genji brought some breakfast along the way and entered the Tooth Fairy¡¯s shop. He emptied his collection and received 1,174 credits for his items. Adding the 11 from last time brought his total to 1,185. Out of this, he spent 675 on 45 portions of fairy dust and 500 on a special potion.
[Potion of Enlightenment]
Rating: Epic
Effect: Upon consumption, enter a state of enlightenment that allows you to learn, develop, and conceive new ideas easily. Lasts for 2 hours.
Description: A magical concoction that the Tooth Fairy rarely sells. You are lucky to find one in stock.
Genji thanked the Tooth Fairy and leisurely spent the day relaxing. The work would only get more hectic from here on out, so he needed to take every moment to adjust his condition, lest he snap from the stress.
The next afternoon, the whole expedition gathered at the front gate once more. The team recruited three official members while a platoon of 100 men accompanied them. The numbers were lower since people had received word of the high casualty rate and were reluctant to apply.
Fortunately, this acted as a filter and left only those confident in their strengths. All three new members had powers around Edwin¡¯s level, with one even surpassing him.
The troops were armed with mediocre equipment since the castle struggled to provide everyone with quality exploration gear. Most of them had to form groups of 5 or 6 to share compasses and companion prisms, as the supply couldn¡¯t meet the demand.
Now that the officials knew about the dangers of this investigation, they were less liberal with their resource distribution. Basically, they weren¡¯t expecting many of them to return alive. The castle mages gave an official sermon and prayer before sending them off.
The group followed Edwin¡¯s lead and marched through the zones again. The journey was very smooth since the team had cleared the path on the last traversal. This persisted until they reached the zone before everything diverged from the recorded information. If memory served Genji correctly, the next zone would contain the strange shadow people with powerful stealth abilities.
Edwin warned the entourage, and they stepped through the border. The group warily marched through the zone, clenching their weapons with anxiety. Edwin periodically glanced at Genji, hoping to get any hints about an ambush since he was the one who sensed the shadow people previously, but Genji shook his head every time.
They passed through undisturbed, and Edwin''s frown deepened. ''What¡¯s going on? Why is everything different again?''
It was only after a few more zones that Edwin realized the cause: the zones were the same as the map. Of course, they would be safe¡ªthey¡¯d been cleared already. While some monsters had respawned further out, they weren¡¯t too big of a threat since their weaknesses were known. In this manner, they reached the village without hiccups and began their second investigation.
The soldiers searched the outskirts while the main team headed inside to do a detailed review. Strangely enough, the scene was messier than before despite no traces of anyone else entering. If the previous visit resembled an uncanny emptiness, then this one was like a scarred girl.
Barrels were knocked over at random, grime was smeared on the fences, and many doors were smashed. They even found finger marks that could only be left if someone was dragged across the floor while desperately trying to hold themselves down. It was very messy.
"What happened here? Did the villagers suddenly come back and ruin this place before disappearing again? Why is everything so mucky?" the lumberjack inadvertently asked.
"That¡¯s what we¡¯re here to find out," one of the new teammates, a proficient tracker, answered before crouching down to examine the traces. "At least 10 days ago, maybe 2 weeks."
"Impossible! We were here only days ago, and none of this was present," the lumberjack said.
"Say what you want, but the dust build-up doesn¡¯t lie. Unless this happened after you left. Can you show me where you walked? Maybe I can find some clues."
Under the man¡¯s request, the team reenacted their path and mentioned any notable actions they took. However, the dust in these areas was undisturbed, leading the tracker to conclude that the layer must have formed after the team left. Yet this line of reasoning had its own issues, mainly what caused this scene, and why there weren¡¯t any traces of it.
"At this point, I¡¯m starting to think the villagers really returned," the lumberjack said defeatedly.
"No, that doesn¡¯t make sense either," the tracker said. "If they did return, why didn¡¯t they contact the capital? And why would they sack the place before disappearing again?"
The team scratched their heads over this problem when Genji spoke up. "Can I propose a different theory? What if this is the first time we¡¯re entering this place and the place we visited was a replica? The two might look the same, but it¡¯s actually a different location?"
"That would explain our confusion, but what¡¯s your basis for this theory?" asked the tracker.
"The damage doesn¡¯t match." Genji pointed to the fence post the lumberjack destroyed before they left. "He broke it around the middle and the lead fell off, but it¡¯s intact now. Unless someone replaced it, or the damage got reversed, I can¡¯t think of a better answer."
The lumberjack and hoodie guy browsed their memories and confirmed this did happen as Genji said. Everyone else could only trust their word since they weren¡¯t present at the time.
"But then what did we encounter?" asked the lumberjack.
"I might have an idea," another new teammate said. This was Vivian, a historian and one of the original explorers who contributed to the map they were using. Her work was particularly significant because she standardized the collected information and recorded the nuances of each zone.
"Some teams inexplicably disappeared back when we were creating the maps. They would report their findings after clearing a zone and the direction they were heading in, but then lose all contact. We sent search parties after them, but there weren¡¯t any traces in the supposed destination. It wasn¡¯t until we comprehensively explored the surroundings that we found their corpses in a far-off zone. Their journals mentioned a strange creature that distorted the boundaries and how they inadvertently ended up there. Do you think it¡¯s the same creature?"
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"Maybe," Edwin replied. "The descriptions match our experiences. I can¡¯t say for certain since there are a lot of unknowns."
"Understood. I¡¯ll classify these as speculations. For now, let¡¯s call this creature a Boundary Warper. We don¡¯t know much about it, but it seems to overlay new dangers on the existing zones and distort the reality we¡¯re used to."
The team nodded and regrouped with the troops. They asked if the personnel found any clues, and one group stepped forward. "We saw marks on the west side. It seems like something big had dragged some bodies across the border."
"Let¡¯s check it out."
When they reached the location, the tracker examined the tracks and confirmed their validity. "There¡¯s dried blood and human skin mixed in with the dirt. I think it¡¯s from the villagers."
With no other leads, the expedition stepped through this boundary and arrived near a stone bridge. The bridge was of decent size, capable of fitting multiple cars beside each other and stretching on for half a kilometer. Moss grew between the cracks, giving it a neglected feel.
On the other side was a green field full of lush grass and wandering animals, a stark contrast to the barren landscape they were on. There was a shallow river beneath, swishing gently and providing condensation for the light fog above.
They approached the overpass and tested the structural integrity. A few specks of limescale broke off with their steps, but the bridge was otherwise undisturbed.
The mist grew denser as they crossed, eventually blocking all vision. Suddenly, a rumble sounded beneath and a large silhouette flew up from the waters. After arcing above them and soaking their clothes, the figure landed with a mighty stomp. The figure waved to disperse the nearby fog and a bulky behemoth with rough, grey skin appeared in their sights.
The being stood five meters tall and had untrimmed hair, a shaggy beard, gleaming red eyes, tattered leather pants, pointed ears, and sharp nails the size of knives. This was the water troll living under the bridge.
"Who¡¯s that trip-trapping over my bridge?" the troll bellowed as it stared down at them.
"Your bridge? Isn¡¯t it my bridge?" someone sarcastically retorted.
The troll looked over and frowned, revealing yellow crooked teeth. "Ye¡¯re bold, eh? Fine then. For each one ye feed me, I¡¯ll let four others go by."
"Sorry, but we don¡¯t even have enough people for ourselves. Why should we pay your exorbitant toll?" Genji pointed his saber at the troll and the team surrounded it.
"Then all o¡¯ ye shall be my supper!" The troll drew the giant club on its back and lumbered toward them, delivering a wide swing once it got within range.
Genji jumped over the strike and landed on the troll''s hand. As Edwin blocked the attack, Genji ran up the arm and made a light graze on the face. The troll bit at him, but he''d already kicked off the shoulder. At this moment, the projectiles landed on its tough skin, battering it with bruises.
These injuries rapidly healed, but the wound on the cheek festered like a pimple. Genji descended and left another cut down the troll''s back. The lumberjack hacked down on the knee, the tracker severed its ankles, hoodie guy glided his scythe between the muscle fibers, weakening it, and Vivian cursed the troll with debuffs.
The troll''s skin grew taut against its muscles and steam wafted out of these wounds. The skin gained a hint of red, and the troll''s strength increased. Now, every swing of the troll conjured a light hurricane that disrupted the incoming arrows.
The melee fighters were indifferent to this change and sliced away with their dexterity. The troll grew redder with each passing moment, and its regeneration factor also became noticeably faster. Wounds that would normally take two seconds to heal now closed in a fraction of that time.
Muscle fibers became tougher and more resilient, often demanding more effort to cut through. If the fighters couldn¡¯t keep up, the weapons would get stuck in the troll and prompt an immediate counterattack.
Genji was among the weaker attackers, so he backed off after a few rounds and opted for medium-ranged streaks of cutting intent. This continued for several minutes with no significant results.
The troll was boiling red by now, and every swing threatened to crush the fighters into a paste. It roared angrily and stomped toward the distant soldiers.
"Retreat!" Edwin shouted upon realizing its objective. The squad obeyed his instruction and fled off the bridge.
The main fighters sought to stop the troll, but it remained adamant about the soldiers. Since it was so difficult to hit these pesky flies, it would settle for the helpless lambs.
Suddenly, Genji smashed a gel bomb on its face, inducing a severe coughing fit. The fighters capitalized on this moment and focused their attacks on the ankle, attempting to cripple it. Regenerating sinews fought against metal blades, but the blades eventually won with the help of poison.
With a final bellow, hoodie guy severed the leg and sent the troll tumbling down. A disgruntled growl echoed from the troll as it sought to regain its footing.
The team refused to give it the opportunity and constantly hammered its head with attacks. After a few tries, the troll realized it was futile and covered its face, guarding it against any fatal attacks. Now, it wanted to stall until the team¡¯s stamina waned and the attacks relented.
At this moment, a powerful laser beam descended from the skies, evaporating half of the troll''s head. The final recruit of the team had taken action and crippled the defenses. Despite this, the surrounding tissues still writhed, seeking to close the wound. The troll''s vitality was astonishing and made it extremely difficult to kill.
"Keep the wound open for a few seconds," hoodie guy said, spinning his scythe overhead. A black mist manifested and slowly grew darker.
Seeing this, Genji canceled the energy vortex forming within his weapon and joined the team in maintaining the wound. Since someone else was offering to use their ultimate, why should he expose his abilities?
Soon, the mist grew so dense that not even a ray of light could penetrate it. A massive crisis assaulted everyone''s senses and prompted them to back off, wary of hoodie guy''s attack. It felt as if they were staring death right in the face, capable of reaping their lives with a single cut.
Hoodie guy rushed forward and slammed the tip of his scythe into the barely open wound. All the mist poured down the weapon head and corroded the flesh beneath. In a matter of seconds, only a putrid puddle remained, stinking up the air with pungent rottenness.
Hoodie guy pulled out his scythe, and a faint wisp of energy flowed into his body. This energy was faint and would have been imperceptible if it hadn''t caused his aura to fluctuate slightly.
Genji would know because his energy reacted the same way every time his maximum energy increased. He had become so accustomed to it that he knew how to hide it from everyone else.
''A stat-increasing talent? He doesn''t seem too familiar with it. Did he obtain this during his promotion to the 3rd step?''
Hoodie guy picked up the club, the loot from this fight, and stored it away. The team watched enviously, but they didn''t say anything. They had no use for it, nor did they want to lug around such a large weapon. The only ones with puzzled expressions were Edwin and Kathleen, who couldn''t help but notice the similarities between his and Genji''s behavior.
''Maybe they just both like collecting weapons?'' they thought, trying to justify the act.
The team regained their composure and called for the soldiers to return. They then continued across the bridge and eventually reached the other side. The fog faded behind them, and warm sunshine greeted them.
They took a short break to recover from the battle before searching for traces of the missing villagers. Along the way, they found three goats of different sizes resting near a rock. Upon noticing them, the smallest one called out, "You all look so tired. Why don''t you join me on this rock and enjoy the sun? Don''t you think it''s a beautiful day for that?"
"No thank you," Edwin replied. "We still have work to do."
"Come on," said the middle-sized goat. "A little rest won''t hurt. You''ve fought hard against the troll. You deserve to reward yourself."
"No," Edwin said firmly. "We must go."
"Don''t be like that," said the largest goat. "Everyone''s tired. You can use this chance to replenish yourselves. Don''t you see how lively the animals are?"
This caused some soldiers to hesitate and plead with Edwin to agree. "Sir, they''re right. We are running a little low on food. Why don''t we¡ª"
"No!" Edwin sternly cut him off. "I don''t know what games they''re playing at, but it''s obviously a trap. We''re leaving. NOW!"
This silenced them, but their thoughts remained on the idea. Every few steps, they would look back at the lush field, imagining the succulent animals they could catch. The further they got, the more frequent and infectious these glances became. Eventually, they stopped moving altogether, and everyone stared longingly at the passing animals.
The main team grew frustrated with this scene but didn''t know how to break the trance. Were they just going to leave them behind? That didn''t sit right with them. Although the castle wasn''t expecting many survivors, there was still a big difference between that and total annihilation.
Genji understood their dilemma and drew his weapon, brutally cutting down the closest person.
"Hey! You can''t do that!" the troops protested.
"And why not?" Genji coldly asked.
"Because¡ª"
"I don''t give a fuck. You either start moving or I start killing. There''s not much difference between that and you buffoons disobeying orders. Either way, none of you will make it back alive. So which one is it?"
"Bastard! This is treachery! The queen will- "
*Puchi*
Genji cut down the speaker and indifferently glanced at the squad. "I don''t have time for games. I''ll count to three. If anyone is still thinking about staying, then I''ll personally ensure you stay forever."
"One," Genji''s voice rang out, sending a chill down their spines. Although Genji was alone, his ruthlessness instilled fear and unease in their hearts.
"Two." The troops gave one last unwilling look back, and Genji raised his saber in response.
"Thr¡ª" Before he could finish the word, everyone turned around and marched forward. Edwin gave Genji a thankful look and led the group out. In this team, Genji might be the only one who dared to disregard his reputation like this.
"Shucks. They resisted the temptation," the smallest goat said as the troops left.
"At least we got two of them," said the medium-sized goat.
"Much better than when I knocked the troll off the bridge. Oh well, time to reset the trap and wait for the next victims," said the largest goat. With that, the two bodies Genji cut down morphed into animals, joining the goats'' paradise forever.
217 – Upcoming Feast
After forcing the troops to march forward, they soon arrived in a monotone city devoid of color. The buildings were rectangular blocks with pencil smudges for shadows. The streets were roughly outlined and crooked in some areas.
The strolling pedestrians were blob-like figures with no distinguishing features or colors, save for their heights and body shapes. Even the passing cars felt like poor-quality animations with their crudely drawn wheels and deformed frames. If they didn''t know better, they would have thought they had entered a world made from a child''s doodle book.
Yet amidst this greyscale, they found a girl with color. She was huddled against a corner, shivering from the cold in her thin rags for clothes. Her feet were bare, having lost her shoes in a prior skirmish. She rubbed her arms together and curled into her knees, attempting to conserve any hint of warmth.
A bitter smile hung on her face, peeking through her frayed hair and rosy red cheeks. Beside her was a woven basket full of match bundles held together by thin rubber bands.
"D-does a-anyone want to b-buy s-some matches?" A soft whisper sounded, but no one paid attention to her disguised plea. The pedestrians didn''t even acknowledge her, almost as if she was not worth their time.
A blob of snow flew toward her, but she reached for the basket instead of moving out of the way. She cradled the basket like her life depended on it and turned her body away from the incoming pile, protecting the matches with her body. Her exposed skin chilled light blue, but she brushed off the snow and carefully set the basket down.
"Matches anyone?" She repeated. "They''re only five pence."
The soldiers felt a pang in their hearts at this sight and had the urge to buy some matches, despite having no use for them. This desire was so strong that they didn''t even consider the dangers posed by the girl.
Edwin tried to stop their approach, but there was only so much he could do against a tide of people. He shot Genji a pleading look, asking him to step forward again, but Genji shook his head.
Using force might work once or twice, but the troops'' resistance would only increase with each successive attempt. If this persisted, it would only be a matter of time before they revolted and implicated everyone. Compared to that, it was more effective to sacrifice a few lives to test for any traps. That way, the soldiers would realize the consequences of falling for these traps and become more vigilant.
The troops reached the girl and picked up the basket. "We''ll take it all," they declared.
A wide smile full of gratitude and relief appeared on the girl''s face as she quoted her price. "That''ll be 50 pence."
"Yes, no problem," they said, subconsciously reaching for their pouches. Yet an awkward expression appeared when they realized the currency mentioned was an unknown type native to this zone.
"Is something the matter?" The girl asked, noticing their faces.
"About that... Is it okay if we trade you something else for them? We don''t seem to have enough money," they said, scratching their heads.
*Sniffle sniffle* The girl teared up at their statement and pitifully asked, "So you were just messing with me?"
"No, hold on. We can bargain. Is there anything else we can give you?"
The girl looked up upon hearing their offer. "Can I ask for anything?"
"Of course. As long as we have it, we won''t hesitate," they reassured her.
"In that case... GIVE ME YOUR LIVES!" The girl suddenly screamed, pouncing at them. Her teeth sank into the neck of the front-most person and tore hard. A painful yelp escaped the victim''s mouth as he bled out, coloring the ground red. The girl grinned maliciously at them and licked her lips. "You said anything, right? Then let''s exchange one life per pence. 50 TOTAL! EHEHEHEHE HA HA HA HA HA."
The soldiers were startled by this sudden change, but before they could do anything else, the matches in their hands ignited with ghostly blue flames. An eerie smoke cloud covered them, chilling their bones and sapping their strength.
Their life force slipped away with each passing moment, and their eyelids grew droopy. They heard a soothing voice call out in their haze, beckoning them to give in and enter the realm of permanent sleep.
Suddenly, a saber coated in black flames cut through the fog and vanquished the ghostly aura.
"Sorry, but your price is too high. Either change it or we''re not buying," Genji said, his boots clacking unpleasantly against the ground.
"Change? How can I change it when you''ve already used it?" The girl snarled at him.
"Isn''t it just some matches? We''ve got plenty. How many do you want? 10? 30? 100? We have enough to compensate you," Genji answered with a slight smile. He knew the matches he offered were different from what she sold, but it didn''t matter.
He would succeed as long as he messed up the original deal, as that was the basis for this zone''s principles. Without it, the girl would merely be a simple monster they could easily kill.
"Well? Have you thought about it? We can give you 200 matches, and we both go our separate ways. It''s a good deal. You''ll make a profit."
"No, I like my matches," she bluntly rejected.
"Ah, I see. You must want something more practical. How about a jacket and some food? I see that you''re pretty cold and hungry. I''m sure this would be more helpful than some good-for-nothing lives. Tell you what, I''ll give you a bargain. Just this one time, I''ll sell it for 55 pence."
"Why would I be doing this if I had that kind of money?"
"Then why do you expect us to have it? Are you trying to scam us?" Everyone''s eyes twitched at Genji''s last comment. It was obvious, but did he have to lay it out like that?
"You were the ones who wanted to buy it first. Now pay up or don''t even think about leaving."
"Hold on there. Only a few idiots agreed to give you anything you wanted. How can you apply their words to everyone else? Isn''t that the definition of a scam? Also, you were the one who used the matches. Don''t try to shift the blame onto us. If we''re looking at it this way, shouldn''t you compensate us for emotional damage?" Genji''s smile widened, and the girl felt her control of the situation slipping.
With those words, Genji had transformed the nature of this purchase into a scam. Now, the zone principles struggled to parse through the details and enforce a certain outcome. In a way, zone principles are like programs with preset instructions. It is simple to exploit them if one can figure out the rules.
The girl squinted at Genji before relenting. "In that case, I''ll lower the price to 25 lives."
"Sorry, but that''s still too high. Five people, that''s my limit. Accept it, or we can continue arguing."
"Ten. That''s my limit."
They maintained their stare for a few more moments before Genji accepted. "Then take the idiots at the front."
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With that, ghostly fumes condensed around the selected victims and suffocated their lungs. Their silhouettes struggled to breathe and cling to life, but their demise soon enveloped them. The fog dispersed, revealing ten withered bodies, decrepit and aged like mummies.
All their life had been drained and processed into two more match bundles. The girl stored these in her basket, snorted at Genji, and disappeared into the background.
"Alright, let''s go," Genji said. But after a few steps, he noticed no one was following him. Turning around, he saw a dissatisfied group among the survivors glaring at him.
"Why did you accept her deal?" One person demanded. "Couldn''t you have insisted on your number?" This person was friends with the seventh victim, so his anger was understandable.
"That''s not my problem. You fell for the trap, and I minimized the damage. Don''t blame me for your problems. I''m here to investigate the disappearing villagers, not babysit you. Get your act together. This is the last time I''m cleaning up after you. If there''s another case, I''m leaving you all to die, you fucking MORONS!" Genji berated them.
The main team said nothing since they agreed with Genji. Other than Edwin, who wanted to be the perfect leader, all the others were fed up with the troops'' stupidity. They''d barely survived the last expedition and now had to lead a bunch of people who couldn''t even resist a basic charm. How could they not be upset?
It was no surprise that the castle regarded them so poorly. With their performance, these troops were no different than cannon fodder for the main team.
The next area consisted of an elevated hill beside a Victorian-style cathedral. Church bells echoed from inside, bouncing off the structure''s ridges and creating a delayed symphony. Large tinted windows allowed colorful light into the building, creating a mesmerizing design.
As they looked down at this grand structure, Genji noticed a man at the foot of the hill also observing the building. Genji recognized him, or more specifically, the Mythril sword hanging by his side. This was the person who had killed Alice and allowed Genji to leave Wonderland.
Sensing their gaze, the man scaled the hill and assessed them. A similar recognition flashed through his eyes when he saw Genji, but he was otherwise indifferent. Genji was only a passerby in his life and not worth paying attention to.
"You shouldn''t be here," the man told them. "It''s too dangerous after a zone shift."
"We''re investigating a missing village," Edwin answered. "The traces led us here."
"Then you should give up. They''re most likely dead. These parts are more dangerous than you think."
"We know, but we have to explore these dangers," Edwin said resolutely.
"Suit yourself. Just don''t bite off more than you can chew."
"We''ll figure it out when that happens," Genji said. "The better question should be: what are you doing here alone?"
"Me? I''m trying to clear this area. Now scram if you have no other business here."
"I wish we could, but we still need to look for clues. How about we help you out while we wait?" Genji offered.
"No thanks. You''re not strong enough and will only get in the way."
"I agree if this is a combat-based zone, but that doesn''t seem to be the case. Otherwise, you would have already brute-forced your way through it."
The man gave Genji a second look and applauded his analysis. "Okay, you might be smarter than you look. Fine. If you''re confident in your brain, then follow me down. I''ll tell you the details." The man slid down the hill and waited for any other volunteers.
"Do you know him?" Kathleen asked after a few moments.
"I ran into him on the way back. He''s quite strong. Anyway, I''m going to join him. I should be back in a few hours," Genji answered before heading down.
"We''re also going," said Lynn on behalf of the hoodie guy.
The remaining members exchanged glances and shrugged. ''Oh well, it''s their decision. Since they wanted to get involved, they could do that. We''re not interested.''
When the three of them reached the bottom, the man waited a few more moments before starting. "I''ve tried to clear this zone a few times already, but I''ve failed each time. The opponent''s very difficult."
"Then how are you still alive?" Lynn curiously asked.
"Oh, that? The opponent isn''t strong enough to kill me afterward," the man replied, prompting strange looks from the realm members.
"You can straight up ignore the strengthening brought by the principles!? If you''re that strong, why are you stuck on this? Can''t you just kill the target and call it a day?"
"Because I''m after a certain reward that can only be obtained by winning legitimately," said the man.
"Makes sense. So what exactly are we competing in?"
"It''s an eating contest. It sounds simple, but it''s more complicated than that. Only one person can challenge him at once, and the game begins when you sit down. Food will appear on the table. You must finish your portion and wait for your opponent. When both sides are done, another round will start. This continues until one side can''t eat anymore or exceeds 15 minutes after the other side finishes."
"That doesn''t sound too bad," Lynn said. "Why are you struggling with that? Does the opponent have a big stomach?"
"It''s much worse. After some testing, I''ve confirmed the opponent will always be able to eat more than you. Also, this accounts for any trick you might play, like a hidden bag to hold excess food."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You''re messing with us, right?" Genji asked after a few moments.
"I wish," the man bitterly responded. "Why do you think I''m stuck on this?"
"At this point, I have to ask if this is worth the trouble. Just kill him," Lynn groaned.
"Unfortunately, I need to get this item for my plans. It''ll be difficult to proceed without it."
"Hmmm, that does sound difficult." Genji rubbed his chin. "So we need to work toward the other win condition?"
"I''m on that step, yes."
"Have you tried beating him up so he can''t eat?" Lynn suggested.
"You can''t interfere with each other once the competition starts."
"What about rigging the table to break after some time? If his food falls off and he can''t eat it, does that count as a win?"
"He''s willing to eat off the floor."
"What if you smear the floor with crap? Will he dare eat that?"
The man was speechless at this suggestion. "First of all, gross. Second, how am I going to do that? Oh, let me just randomly bring shit into this dining hall and throw it on the floor. You won''t mind, right?"
Lynn lightly chuckled and bashfully scratched her head. At this moment, Genji said, "Off the top of my head, I can think of three ideas we can try."
Everyone looked at him in amazement. They were struggling to find a single plan here, yet he already had three? As expected of the weirdo in the team!
"First, we send a candidate with high digestion but a small stomach. We don''t know if the opponent''s appetite is based on our stomach size or total capacity, but it wouldn''t hurt to try."
"That sounds good, but do we have anyone like that?"
"Yes," Genji answered, patting Astros on the back. "This little guy can probably eat more than you all combined."
"A cat? Isn''t that your pet?"
Genji ignored the question and continued, "Secondly, we can mess with the food. It''s not as disgusting as your previous ideas, but I can brew some drugs that induce severe vomiting. He can''t finish the food if it keeps coming out."
Lynn flashed a thumbs up. "What do we need to get?"
"Anything you find disgusting or with a strong smell. I''ll figure things out when I make it. Finally, I need you to stall the opponent as much as possible. You only said that we can''t interfere with each other, not anything about the spectators. I doubt this loophole would work, but it''s worth trying. At worst, you divert some of the world energy, and the opponent loses his appetite. If this is acceptable, let''s meet back here in two hours. Bring whatever you can find."
The group nodded and scattered in search of any plants that met Genji''s requirements. Meanwhile, Genji carved out a makeshift cauldron and boiled some water. He threw in a few nearby plants and gently stirred, turning the liquid purple. This continued until the others gradually returned to drop off their findings.
Genji plugged his nose, chose a few suspicious plants, and worsened the concoction. After a while, it was hard to tell if the liquid was a disgusting sludge or a chemical weapon. Lynn gagged harshly after a whiff and nearly choked on her stomach acid. Even the hoodie guy couldn¡¯t maintain his composure, opting to throw the procurements from a distance.
Astros was nowhere in sight, having already abandoned the area in terror. In the end, Genji stuffed the revolting paste into some grass pouches and changed his nose plugs into a gas mask.
"Okay, I''m done," he announced. "Let''s get started."
The others vehemently shook their heads, prompting a helpless sigh from Genji. He put down the biohazards and searched for Astros. Yet with each step he took, the team took several steps back, as if Genji were the lord of demon foul odors, capable of contaminating their souls with a single touch. Out of all the horrors they''d witnessed, this was among their top fates worse than death.
"Here!" Lynn shouted, throwing a canteen of water over. "Wash yourself before you do anything."
Genji shrugged and poured several containers over his head. It was only after the 10th bottle that their expressions eased somewhat, and they dared to approach.
''He''s more dangerous than I thought,'' the man mentally commented. ''I''d better not get on his bad side.''
Genji ignored their weird looks and tracked down Astros. Upon seeing him, the usually cheerful ferret fled in panic, only to be easily caught. Astros frantically shook his head and wailed in distress, doing everything he could to escape Genji''s clutches. However, Genji effortlessly stifled the futile struggles and plugged Astros''s nose with cotton swabs.
"Alright, calm down. You''re not going to die from this," Genji consoled Astros. "Quite the opposite, in fact. You''re about to have a feast. Don''t you want to get stronger?"
However, these words only amplified Astros''s resistance. His front paws desperately grasped for the nearby plants, hoping to catch himself before he fell into hell. But these stalks broke under Genji''s formidable steps, and Astros entered purgatory with a despairing gaze. The ferret has lost all hope of salvation...
218 – Agreement
Under Astros''s withered gaze, the group, led by Cainance Jack¡ªthe man with the Mythril sword¡ªentered the cathedral. They walked past the colored pictures cast by the tinted glass and approached the feast hall.
A long table stretching 15 meters took up the majority of the space. Fancy chairs flanked the sides, and pleasant-scented candles filled their senses. A girthy priest sat at the other end, reading a book amidst this atmosphere.
"Hmmm? It''s you again," he said, spotting Cainance. "Are you here to rechallenge me?"
"Yes and no," Cainance replied. "I''m here as a guide this time. Your opponent is someone else."
"That''s fine. I assume you''ve heard the rules?"
"Kind of, but I don''t mind having another review," Genji said.
"It''s an eating contest. You win by eating more than your opponent. The reward is my magical bag of holding. The rules are pretty straightforward, except for a few modifications due to a certain someone," he said, glaring at Cainance, who pretended not to notice. "First, there''s a deposit requirement for the challenge. Win, and you get it back. Otherwise, it''s my compensation."
Cainance said nothing and handed over a fossilized bird claw from his loot bag. The priest snorted at him and continued his blurb. "Second, no messing with the table or using any tricks to divert the food! I don''t want anything to be wasted, you hear me? Failure to obey will result in an automatic loss! If those terms are acceptable, sit down, and we''ll begin the challenge."
"Before that, can I help the contestant bring the food closer?" Genji asked, patting Astros on the head. "As you can see, he''s quite small and will have trouble reaching everything. I believe it would go against the spirit of the challenge if he loses because of his size."
"Very well, I''ll allow it. In return, I''ll also have my own helper." The priest clapped his hands, and a puppet without any features entered the hall. It robotically walked to the side of the table and prepared to work.
Genji nodded and plopped Astros down on the challenger¡¯s seat. "Eat to your stomach''s content. This is a great opportunity."
"Squeak," Astros weakly answered, half-heartedly raising his paw. It was quite comical since his nose was still plugged, making his voice high-pitched.
Genji stepped back, and a flash of light covered the table, filling it with massive plates of food. By his estimate, this was enough to feed a dozen people. Genji grabbed a few nearby dishes, consolidated everything into one platter, and placed it in front of Astros, who dug in with frenzy. It was like he had been starved for days on end.
No, a more accurate description was that he was venting all his grievances on the food with how ferociously he was tearing away at it. Genji paid no heed to Astros''s mental state and prepared the next mound. Right as Astros finished, Genji swapped the plate and added it to the growing stack of dirty dishes.
Astros ate without pause, stuffing as much food down his throat as physically possible. There were times when he didn''t even stop to chew, opting to wash everything down with soup or other available liquids.
The team watched with amazement as mounds of food several times Astros''s size disappeared into nothingness. They couldn''t help but wonder how this was possible, considering Astros''s stomach remained as flat as when he first started.
On the other side, the priest ate with equal gusto, pouring plates of solid food into his mouth. He would only stop to chew when he reached for another plate. Afterward, it was back to swallowing his meal like an ocean whale.
Due to his bigger size, the priest finished first, but Astros wasn''t far behind. Seven minutes after the priest put his hands down, Astros slammed the plate on the table and defiantly stared at him. The priest wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbed his round stomach, and grinningly said, "Ah, the appetizer''s done. Let''s start the main course then."
The spectators'' eyes twitched at his pretentiousness. An appetizer? That was enough to be a full-course meal several times over!
"Sounds good. I was worried there might not be enough food," Genji said, unwilling to be outdone.
The table flashed again, and more food replaced the empty dishes. The two contestants immediately got to work and demolished the incoming food. Neither of them was willing to relent their pace, transforming the lavish cuisine into a sloppy mouth-shoving fest. Genji supported Astros to the best of his abilities and reached a similar result as the last round.
The priest waved his hand, and the table restocked with a new variety. This back-and-forth continued for several more rounds, but neither party showed much of a change in their physiques. By the 13th round, the onlookers had gone numb from how much food was being devoured.
''They must be black holes,'' thought the spectators. ''That''s the only explanation!''
Astros finished the last plate and smugly met the priest''s gaze, challenging him to produce more food. Genji chuckled at this display and cleaned the sauces stuck to Astros''s fur. The priest grinned back at Astros and loudly announced, "Then let''s start the second main course!"
As another round started, Cainance gestured to grab Genji''s attention. ''Hey, when do we do our thing?''
''Just wait. Let''s see if we can win legitimately first,'' Genji gestured back.
So the competition continued. They reached milestone after milestone, breaking records and redefining what it meant to eat competitively. 50 rounds, 60, 70, 80, 90, 99, 100!
At this point, it wasn''t the contestants who struggled but the magic responsible for replenishing the food. They had literally eaten the zone principles to exhaustion.
"Huff huff, I have never faced such a capable foe," the priest panted. "You deserve my admiration. Huff huff."
"Gi yi yi... Yi," Astros responded with droopy eyelids and a round stomach.
"But how much longer can you hold on? I can still go for another two rounds."
Astros waved to Genji, asking him to start the plan. Why would he continue this futile competition when he was destined to lose?
Genji nodded back and subtly gestured to Cainance, who was dozing off. Noticing that he wasn''t paying attention, Genji tossed a black "pellet" over, and Cainance instantly reacted with great "enthusiasm." This couldn''t be helped since this "pellet" had way too much lethality.
With a disgust-filled face and pinching his nose, Cainance slipped the disaster concoction into the priest''s bowl and inwardly retched. Meanwhile, Lynn and hoodie guy "accidentally" bumped into the puppet, knocking the tray out of its hands. They apologized profusely and scrambled to help the puppet pick up the food.
The priest shot a dirty look their way but was otherwise unresponsive. The contest resumed, but Astros had slowed significantly compared to before. The priest ate without any trouble until he reached the tampered soup. Everything was fine at first, but his face immediately scrunched up when his tongue registered the dissolved pellet. But by then, he''d already chugged half of the contents.
His eyes widened with shock, and a violent jerk toppled several plates. The priest coughed heavily, losing his voice and almost regurgitating his stomach contents. After a struggling recovery, he glared at Genji, demanding an explanation.
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However, only a sarcastic response welcomed him. "Oh my god! Are you okay? You seem really sick. Should we pause this competition for another day? Maybe call it a draw?"
"Cut the crap! What did you put in my food?" the priest yelled, slamming the table. The cutlery jumped from the impact, and the tablecloth twisted slightly.
Genji''s gaze grew dangerous, and his "worried" tone disappeared. "What are you implying? You can eat whatever you want, but be careful of what you say. I''ll give you a moment to reconsider your words carefully. Now, let me ask again. What are you implying?"
"What do you think? I''m not stupid. I''ve held countless competitions, and the only times something goes wrong are when you challengers try something underhanded. If you don''t admit it, then I''ll disqualify you right this moment!"
Genji''s stern face broke out into a grin, changing his expression faster than the blink of an eye. "Is that so?" he asked in a playful tone. "Then, I want to call your bluff. If you could do that, you would have already done so. You don''t seem like someone who would play by the rules unless it''s to your advantage."
"How dare you! I give you a chance to explain yourself, and this is how you treat me?"
"Alright, cut the chatter. I''ll admit it, but so what? It''s not like you can do anything to me. There''s nothing in the rules about what the spectators can or can''t do. You fell for the loophole, and you need to deal with the consequences. Next time, don''t try to scam the contestants, and maybe we''ll also play fairly. Also, your 15 minutes start now."
At this moment, Astros loudly burped and rolled onto his back to digest everything. In the time Genji had distracted the priest, Astros had finished his food and took the lead for the first time in this competition.
"Also, according to your rules, you have to finish this plate, or it''ll be your loss," Genji''s grating voice echoed in the hall. "Good luck." He pulled out a chair, sat down, put one leg over the other, and leaned back like a total villain.
The priest fumed at his behavior but eventually redirected his attention back to the soup. His shaky hands reached for the edge, but he couldn''t bring himself to drink it again. Just that small sip had destroyed his taste buds and induced a new fear within him.
After a few moments, he recalled the stakes of this battle, and his resolve solidified. He could not afford to lose his treasured bag, so he would endure this temporary disgust. It was not like Genji had more of these pellets, right? Right?
However, this thought soon turned into despair when the next round started and Genji openly tossed a whole pouch to Cainance.
"Congratulations. You survived the first test," Genji said, flashing a thumbs-up. "Now let''s see how you deal with multiple of these. Don''t worry, we have plenty to go around. I made sure to prepare lots of flavor pellets for this competition."
The priest''s face underwent several color changes before he eventually unclenched his fist and surrendered. He could endure the disgusting taste once, but he could not bring himself to persist a second time, let alone dozens. With an unresigned sigh, he unwillingly tossed a leather purse on the table.
[You have obtained: Magical Bag of Holding]
[Magical Bag of Holding]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Consumable
Requirements: 70 Int, 50 Spc
Durability: 46/50
Effects:
- Storage (Active): You can store items with magical properties inside this bag. Items stored can not be taken out.
- Power Bank (Active): You can withdraw power from the items in this bag. For every stored item destroyed, this bag loses 1 durability (Non-repairable).
- Collective Outburst (Active): Destroy all stored items and this bag for a massive increase in power.
Description: A magical bag said to grant the user immense magical power. Using it is very expensive, but worthwhile.
Essentially, it is a glorified power bank, one capable of rivaling the legacy liberations.
"What do you need this for?" Genji couldn''t help but ask.
"To fight an enemy," Cainance responded.
"I know that. I''m asking why. Just how strong is your target exactly?"
"I could tell you, but are you sure you want to know?"
"Why not? Satisfy my curiosity."
"If you insist. It''s the giants in the clouds. I want to kill their leader."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"YOU WHAT!" Lynn blurted out.
"Is that surprising? What else would I need so much power for?" Cainance asked.
A sharp hiss sounded, and the realm members'' impression of him changed from a strange powerhouse to a whole new nutcase. Although Cainance''s stats were high, in the mid-70s, he was a far distance away from the world''s limit of 80 points. After all, the leader of the giants was bound to have more comprehensive stats than the giant Genji initially encountered.
"This is why I said not to get involved," Cainance said. "You''re not ready for this power level yet. Anyway, you did me a huge favor. Is there anything you want in exchange?"
Lynn and hoodie guy exchanged looks for a few moments before mentioning some loot from his bag. These items were derived from powerful bosses, contained large quantities of mana, and were ideal materials for crafting equipment. They decided to cash out their rewards now rather than take any more risks. After receiving their rewards, they left the room and searched for the main group.
Genji, however, made a different choice. "You need some helpers, right? How about I gather some for you?"
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Cainance asked with a confused look.
"Just keeping my options open. I don''t know if you will succeed, but I don''t mind giving it a try. I know plenty of people who are willing to take risks as long as you offer enough rewards. They might not be as strong as you, but their teamwork will bolster your chances. You interested?"
"What''s in it for you?"
"If you win, I want the giant''s blood and maybe its body. If you die, I''ll take your sword and whatever other stuff you have on hand at that moment."
The proposal was very candid, but Cainance didn''t mind. A deal is only trustworthy if both parties have vested interests in it. He would take this scavenger''s offer any day over empty promises and potential backstabs at a crucial moment.
"How trustworthy are these helpers?"
"Not really," Genji casually admitted. "They''ll help you to the extent that it doesn''t endanger their own lives. You''ll lose their support once things get sketchy, but I can ensure they won''t hinder you until then. You also don''t have to worry about their lives. I''ll tell them of the dangers when they sign up."
"You have a deal," Cainance said, offering a handshake.
Genji took it before presenting Bruce''s communication device.
"What''s this?"
Genji explained, "We''ll stay in touch using this. I assume you aren''t done gathering fuel for the bag. You do your thing, I''ll do mine. Then we''ll gather back at the oversized beanstalk and fight the giant. Let''s aim for 5-6 days from now?"
Cainance played with the phone for a few seconds before looking up at Genji. "You are an interesting person, you know that? And not in a normal way. Most people wouldn''t get involved in so much crap."
"Thank you. I like taking calculated risks. That''s how I obtain the resources I need to get stronger. If I simply take the easy route, I''ll regret it in the future, and I don''t ever leave any regrets. Plus, you seem like a decent person to work with. At least I''m confident you won''t rob me."
They both chuckled at the joke and left the cathedral. The priest followed them with a listless look and slammed the door on their exit. From now on, they were permanently banned from his competitions.
[You have completed the story of Priest of the Feast]
[Priest of the Feast]
Description: Although the priest didn''t cut open his stomach in the end, you still accomplished the impossible with your own tricks. Now you have cemented yourself amongst the legends who won through wit instead of might. Congratulations on becoming a schemer?
Mission Progress: 7/3
Genji glanced at the locked doors and parted ways with Cainance. After climbing the hill with a near-spherical Astros, he spotted the main group gathered around a bonfire. It had been a long day, and they''d decided to rest for the night before continuing.
Genji talked to a few soldiers and had a tent pitched for him. He laid Astros down and helped himself to some dried rations before meditating the evening away.
Everyone was reenergized the following morning and ready to continue their investigations. The troops had adjusted their mentalities and fortified their caution against possible dangers.
Genji met up with the main team, and Edwin led them into the next zone. A gentle grassland came into view, surrounded by sporadic savanna trees and roaming wildlife. But no matter how chaotic the outer areas were, it didn''t affect the opening in the middle.
At the dead center of this place was a crystal coffin adorned with shiny jewels and gold ledges. Between the gleams of sunlight reflecting off the surface, Genji spotted a ravishing beauty within its confines. Genji rubbed his eyes and took a second look before confirming this girl matched the illustration on the wanted notice.
''What are the chances? I''m starting to think the queen''s a prophet. Every target she names happens to show up on the journey.''
"Is there any danger?" Kathleen asked, noticing Genji''s gaze lingered on the coffin longer than usual.
"I wouldn''t say danger, but the queen did ask me to remove this anomaly if I find it. I''m debating if we should take this risk right now. Every request she makes of me is either really tricky or destructive. This one shouldn''t be an exception. We might suffer heavy losses in this battle."
"Then we shouldn''t confront her, right?" Edwin asked.
"But here''s the thing. I suspect all the targets are potential calamities, and I''m nipping them in the bud before they mature. If we let this go, who knows what damage it might cause."
"Makes sense. The queen has a reputation for being farsighted."
''Wait, they believe me?'' Genji thought, somewhat amazed. ''I was just making things up.''
At this moment, the tracker spoke up, "Not to interrupt or anything, but I have some alarming findings. All the tracks end here, right by the coffin. Nothing is leaving this area, only approaching. Then they mysteriously disappear."
"!"
"!?!"
"!!!"
"I guess we have another valid reason to attack this coffin," Genji said, half-grinning.
219 – Ghostly Beauty
"Catch some animals to test the area," Genji ordered.
Although the coffin didn¡¯t trigger any sense of danger, this only made Genji more cautious. There had to be a good reason why the animals avoided the area like the plague. Plus, his senses weren¡¯t infallible and could be deceived, especially by certain traps with multiple layers.
The soldiers followed his command and caught a few lions. They hoisted the prey by the paws and carried them back. The lions¡¯ resistance was moderate at first, but it spiked when they entered the vicinity. The lions went from struggling with all their strength to absolute desperation. Immense terror oozed from their bodies as they did everything to escape their captors'' grasp.
Genji narrowed his eyes and swung his arm, signaling them to toss the lions onto the coffin. As the animals soared through the air, their bodies twisted frantically, trying to avoid the landing zone. However, gravity denied their attempts, and they all landed with a dull thud.
The lions scrambled to jump off but were forcibly teleported away before they could succeed. In the next moment, pitiful whimpers and painful howls resounded, followed by the harsh sound of flesh being torn apart.
Whipping their heads toward the sound, the team spotted the same lions crucified on wooden crosses. Their limbs were forcibly twisted into position, ignoring their anatomy. Long, bony needles pierced their skin, drawing streams of blood that stained the crosses.
As the lions bled out, they shrank in size, slowly deflating like punctured balloons. In the end, only skeletal figures wrapped in loose skin and fur remained, mere shadows of their former selves. All their life force had been drained, depriving them of vigor and strength.
At the same time, Genji noticed the girl in the coffin. Her skin became more supple, her hair glossier, and her face more radiant. It was as if she had been rejuvenated by an elixir of youth, cementing her beauty for eternity.
The crosses disappeared at this moment, dropping the lions'' remains. Hoodie Guy asked a soldier to test the coffin with bows and arrows.
The selected soldier obeyed, but when the arrow bounced off the casket, the man suddenly disappeared and was replaced by the girl inside. A confused look crossed his face as he scanned his surroundings before realization hit. He kicked the lid, but it refused to budge.
Moments later, he clutched his throat, eyes bulging¡ªthere was no air in the coffin, and he was beginning to suffocate. His struggle became more frantic, but he couldn¡¯t even find the outlines of where the lid met the casket. It was as if the coffin was a seamless piece, devoid of any opening.
It was the same as being buried alive, only without dirt. Yet this hardly made a difference, as the fear was the same. One could argue it was worse since he could see the outside world but was helpless to prevent his slow demise.
A few impulsive soldiers attacked the coffin, hoping to shatter it and free their friend, but this only worsened the situation when they, too, were teleported inside. Now, four men were crammed into a space meant for two at most.
They pushed against each other, hoping to break free from the inside, but this only resulted in minor injuries.
"Nobody move!" Edwin roared before anyone else could get involved.
At this moment, Genji had a troubling thought. ''Where did the girl go? She disappeared when the first person was teleported inside. There''s no way she''s still there. But if she''s not... then...''
Suddenly, a voice, so pleasant it could rival the sirens of Greek mythology, sounded behind them. "Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to desecrate someone¡¯s grave?"
"!!!"
"!?!"
Alarm bells rang in everyone''s minds as a few nearby soldiers whirled around to attack, their nerves on edge. Unfortunately, this was the worst decision. The moment their weapons touched the girl, they were teleported into the coffin as well.
What happens when you force more fruit into a container than it can hold? This was the gruesome result. Blood splattered, bones shattered, and skin compressed, turning the coffin''s interior into a horrific mess.
In a single mistake, several men were lost. But for those still alive inside the coffin, the experience was worse. They had to endure the nauseating feeling of warm blood seeping into their skin while resisting the horror of mangled flesh forcing its way into their orifices. It was truly one of the worst ways to die.
Everyone froze, cautiously staring at the intruder, unsure how the zone''s mechanisms worked.
"You misunderstand," Hoodie Guy responded quickly. "We were just testing the material. It looked really durable, so we wanted a sample."
"Liar!" the girl sneered. "I heard everything. You wanted to kill me!"
"Welp, guess the cat''s out of the bag. It was worth a shot." Hoodie Guy shrugged lightly.
The girl lunged, swiping her hands like claws. The attack was brutish and lacked any sense of technique, but it was deadlier than any weapon. She teleported her targets into the coffin with each touch, sealing their fates.
Counterattacking only triggered the same mechanism, so the group switched to dodging. Only when they were cornered did they retaliate as a last resort.
Genji was desperately thinking of a solution when a soldier accidentally kicked a stone at the coffin as the girl overwhelmed another teammate. The stone bounced off, but the soldier remained unaffected by the teleportation. Everyone''s eyes lit up¡ªwas the attack too weak to trigger the mechanism, or was it something else?
"Gamble with me," Hoodie Guy shouted and brandished his scythe at the girl. Genji felt the idea was worth testing and flashstepped toward the coffin. They timed their attacks to land simultaneously and prepared their defenses.
Solid Core formed a crystallized layer beneath Genji¡¯s skin, while Dance of Death spawned three silhouettes around him. At the same time, Hoodie Guy enveloped his muscles in swirling black smoke.
The next moment, Genji found himself amidst broken flesh and pulverized metal, just as Hoodie Guy sliced through a teammate. The girl had swapped places with a nearby target, while Genji had been teleported inside the coffin.
Although this outcome was rather unpleasant, it provided a lot of information. For one, the teleporting mechanism could only protect one target at a time¡ªeither the coffin or the girl. Secondly, the girl and the coffin were not as invincible as they initially thought.
It was the zone principle that provided a strong defense, not their abilities. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have exposed such a crucial trump card like position swap right now.
Thirdly, the zone principle (or the girl) would prioritize protecting the coffin over anything else. Finally, the position swap had a huge restriction in range or who it could target. If not, she would have swapped with Genji and easily resolved this issue.
A strong force squeezed Genji from all sides, but he escaped with his own position swap before he could sustain too much damage. Bruce cleaned the blood soaking his body, right as a layer of cutting intent minced any miscellaneous scraps of flesh.
Meanwhile, the team had retreated outside the girl''s target range, leaving Hoodie Guy to block her while they prepared to attack the coffin. They noticed Genji''s return and prepared to cooperate with him. Genji made a few gestures and hacked down, right as Hoodie Guy launched another offensive.
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A flurry of arrows also accompanied them, bombarding both targets and covering any downtime. Large gashes ruined the girl''s face, prompting a horrifying scream that induced a light headache. "HOW COULD YOU! MY FACE!?!"
Following that, she underwent a harrowing transformation. Her rosy cheeks turned gray, her skin shriveled, her hair wilted, and her manicured fingernails sharpened into deadly claws.
The girl''s beauty had now faded, replaced by a wraith-like ghastliness. The coffin then turned illusionary and fused into her bony figure, boosting her aura to threatening heights.
With each passing moment, her body grew more transparent and her distorted features more pronounced. Her wounds closed and fused together, becoming almost indistinguishable from her clothes. In the end, only a ghostly being stood before them, shrieking and declaring the start of the second phase.
[Sleeping Banshee, Aurora]
Health: 56,879/49,250
Mana: 4,632/3,550
Con: 57
Str: 52
Dex: 46
Int: 71
Spc: 73
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +35,000 health
- Illusionary Body (Passive): You take 95% reduced damage from physical attacks.
- Intangibility (Passive): You are unaffected by binding effects or other restrictive abilities.
- Deathly Affinity (Passive): +200 health and +40 mana for every kill within the past 24 hours (Exceeds maximum values). Spells you cast will have a deadly attribute that drains life force.
Note: No further skills can be read.
Hoodie Guy performed a more detailed scan, and his face immediately warped with alarm. "Everyone get back!" he shouted, his voice laced with urgency.
However, this warning was already too late. Before the troops could get anywhere, a storm of spikes shot out from the ground and impaled everyone. Genji was among the few who escaped without injuries due to his instinctual movements. The others were either dead or had sustained injuries of various degrees.
As they pried themselves off these earthly javelins, energy streams leaked from the corpses and gathered by Aurora''s side. She absorbed this power, and her danger signals spiked correspondingly. By the time she finished, her health had jumped by another 15,000 and her mana by 3,000.
''Shit!'' Genji mentally exclaimed. ''She is approaching high lord levels of health and mana.''
Recognizing the impending crisis, everyone on the main team brought forth their strongest states, including Genji, who activated Terror Unleashed. He couldn''t afford to hide his strength anymore. If they didn¡¯t win now, he¡¯d be forced to gamble that there was no barrier sealing the area¡ªan unwise risk, given his past experiences.
Genji took a deep breath and burst forward, unleashing a Stealth Dagger. His strike phased right through Aurora, but the compressed flames and cutting intent left their mark. Various other attacks bombarded her as well, yet they were similarly weakened.
Aurora screamed again and swapped into their formation, unleashing flashes of purple bolts. All the melee fighters except Edwin, who needed to protect a teammate, dodged. These bolts left corrosive marks on his shield along with an acrid odor.
As Aurora reached for Edwin''s arm, a beam of scorching hot energy intercepted her and scorched her skin. This wound quickly faded like an illusion, and the onslaught continued.
A blanket of shadow flames fell on her as Genji descended from above. Meanwhile, Hoodie Guy attached a thick layer of smoke that dealt damage over time to Aurora.
Yet the most surprising was Lynn, who pulled out a glaring white lightsaber that burned the body with each slash. Lynn utilized this weapon with incredible proficiency, demonstrating a skill that rivaled Genji''s Dagger Mastery. Pairing this with her ability to predict the opponent''s movements and the heat''s restrictive effect on ghostly beings, she quickly became the highest damage dealer.
Aurora realized this situation was massively disadvantageous and gathered her energy to break out. Her mana fluctuated wildly, and a ring of frost radiated from Aurora''s feet. All the nearby fighters, except for Genji, who preemptively jumped, were caught in this wave and had their feet frozen.
Genji conjured a block beneath him and propelled himself forward. His saber cut through the chest and deposited more poison into the body. Although poison had a diminished effect on Aurora, its strange composition made it difficult to resist completely.
Genji lashed out in rapid succession, prioritizing quantity over quality of attacks. Bruce supported him by piercing the hands with blood pikes, disrupting any spell casts. Together, they overwhelmed Aurora and bought time for the team to recover.
Suddenly, Aurora grew more transparent and rushed forward recklessly. Genji swung to intercept her, but she slipped through unaffected. It was like he''d cut a mirage instead of a tangible being.
Danger signals buzzed within Genji as Aurora reached for his chest, prompting a second silhouette swap, which disintegrated instantly upon contact. Genji appeared in the distance and flashstepped again, ferociously attacking the outstretched arm. A thin streak the size of a paper cut appeared on the area, which Bruce immediately capitalized on.
Swirls of blood rushed into this wound before it could close and wreaked havoc along the veins. Aurora''s movements became jerky just as another wave of attacks descended.
Genji stabbed his weapon into the ground, flaring his cutting intent to shake away the last remnants of ice holding down the others. Then another fierce assault resumed, further whittling away the extensive health bar.
Attacks flew in all directions and tossed Aurora around like a rag doll. Edwin was at the forefront, bashing her with his shield and massive amounts of energy. Hoodie Guy ramped up his black smoke and stained her transparent body, making it more corporeal. Injuries piled on like falling sand, and Aurora began to bleed.
Her ghostly body was being worn down with each moment, accentuating her mortal nature. Hastily gathering her mana, Aurora endured a massive backlash to conjure two orbs around her fists. These orbs flickered erratically and gave off a volatile sensation akin to unstable bombs.
Genji sensed the danger a split second ahead of time and dashed for escape. Aurora slammed her hands together, and a massive, blinding explosion rippled behind Genji. A huge force crashed into him, propelling him at breakneck speeds. His bones snapped from the impact and his skin burst to release gushers of blood.
He rolled several meters to dispel the impact, hopped onto his feet, and downed some potions with Bruce''s assistance before charging back into battle. As the dust settled, he saw his team safely gathered behind Lynn, who had used a consumable to erect a powerful barrier.
Although they were uninjured, she had a displeased look on her face. This was an expensive item and it had directly nullified all profits she would have earned from this fight. Lynn gnashed her teeth and glared at the heavily injured Aurora.
The explosion had drained more of Aurora¡¯s health and mana than all previous damage combined, leaving her with just 30% of her original values. Her ghostly body had weakened significantly, now only resisting 50% of the incoming damage¡ª10 times more than before. Lynn wasn¡¯t the only one who had paid a steep price in this exchange.
The lumberjack noticed Genji''s return and leaped out of the barrier to join the charge. They both pushed their energies to their peaks and prepared to enter one last exchange.
Aurora howled hysterically and summoned a field of crosses, identical to the ones that had crucified the lions. But this time, the crosses held the skeletal remains and rotten clothes of her previous victims. The shackles holding them to the cross unlocked, sending a hoard of undead stumbling toward them.
Genji and the lumberjack carved through the crowd, but the undead''s mere presence had delayed their assault. Aurora slightly stabilized her chaotic energy and prepared to conjure another attack when another beam of light burned her. Her skin melted like candle wax and slid off, exposing a gray skull.
A chilling hiss escaped her throat, and her mana bubbled with gray fumes. This was a combination of Hoodie Guy''s smoke and her undead nature. The energy gathered into a sphere the size of a large watermelon before her chest and condensed inward. Her health also drained with each passing moment, indicating Aurora''s willingness to risk her life. She would either kill everyone with this attack or die trying.
"OPEN THE WAY!" Genji shouted urgently as his energy violently traced a vortex. Everyone understood his intentions and used their ultimates with no regard for stamina. The lumberjack was especially active in holding off the incoming tide.
Genji rushed through, and both combatants'' attacks finished charging. A destructive vortex crashed into a solid beam, igniting a minor explosion. Genji dug his feet into the ground, activated Solid Core, and pivoted with all his might.
The ground beneath him shattered like crackers, but Genji continued forward without pause. With one final exertion, his saber slashed through the beam and reached the neck. By now, his energy had mostly dissipated, but it still maintained its vortex outline.
Upon cutting into Aurora''s bony frame, this energy rushed into her head, and her illusionary body collapsed into flecks of light. Compared to a physical body, her ghostly form made her more susceptible to this attack. After all, Shadow Devour had the property of specifically damaging the soul after its latest upgrade.
[You have slain: Sleeping Banshee, Aurora]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 78. You have reached your bearing capacity.]
[You have obtained: 400 realm coins.]
[You have obtained...]
Genji overlooked the loot drop because he knew he wouldn''t obtain it. Lynn had contributed massively to this battle and would want to recoup her losses. After all, neither charging her lightsaber nor her other methods were cheap. Instead of fighting her over this, it would be more productive to think about his agreement with Cainance.
Next, he focused on the mission update prompt.
[You have completed the story of: Sleeping Beauty]
[Sleeping Beauty]
Description: Don''t you think she''s gorgeous with her corpse lips and cold body? No? Many people thought the same, so she developed an obsession for her appearance. Yet now that you''ve peeled off her disguise, you must endure her wrath. After all, the most important thing to a woman is her face.
Mission Progress: 8/3
220 – Consuming Jealousy
After the battle, Genji patched himself up with some nearby plants before helping the others with first aid. After all, he was considered half a doctor with his knowledge of the human body. Then they tallied up the casualties.
There were no survivors after the explosion. Some might have survived the initial earth spikes, but the blast had been too large for the injured to escape. Most of them didn¡¯t even have bodies anymore, as they had disintegrated into various strips of flesh, leaving only chunks of iron from their broken weapons as a reminder of their existence.
The team gathered these remains, placed them in a crater with the reanimated corpses, and set everything on fire. This cremation burial would prevent any other unholy beings from desecrating their bodies again.
When the last ashes faded into the ground, they covered the hole and began their journey back. This took another day but was otherwise uneventful.
They reported their findings and claimed their rewards before going about their day. Genji headed to the castle rooftop to sunbathe and think, while the others prepared to hold another recruiting session. Due to the high casualties, they needed to replenish their numbers after every exploration.
Yet by now, people had gotten word of this terrifying position and avoided it like the plague. They might consider the job if it was for the castle guards or city patrol, but not the exploration team.
At this rate, they would struggle to put together a decent team for another expedition¡ªnot that Genji minded. He only had 7 days left in this world and had no intention of continuing this gauntlet of investigation.
Instead, he would rather focus on Cainance¡¯s side quest. Not only was it safer, but it would also provide better rewards. If this endeavor went well, he would obtain some powerful blood to upgrade Bruce¡¯s abilities. Otherwise, he could loot the bodies of the fallen to supplement his income. There were no downsides. The hard part was actually convincing enough people to make this effort worthwhile.
¡®I need to lure out a lot of realm members. Let¡¯s see if I can leverage the queen¡¯s authority for this.¡¯
Genji waited for the sun to set before sneaking into the queen¡¯s chambers. She was still awake when he entered, sitting at her bedside table with her chin against her palm. Her eyes were unfocused, indicating deep thought over unknown worries.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, looking up at Genji with furrowed brows. ¡°I gave you the rewards for the bounty.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here for a different reason. I noticed that you¡¯re short on competent fighters. I know a way to attract more of them.¡±
¡°What are you after?¡± The queen¡¯s eyes grew suspicious. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you. What do you have to gain from this?¡±
¡°I want one weapon for every three people you hire through this method.¡±
¡°Five,¡± the queen countered. ¡°I don¡¯t have many spare weapons right now.¡±
Genji faked a hesitant pause before reluctantly agreeing. ¡°If that¡¯s the best you can do¡ Here¡¯s the method.¡± Genji handed over a paragraph he had previously drafted.
The queen read the note and unimpressively asked, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±
¡°Yes, believe it or not, it will work. You just need to send out this message and people will come to the recruitment.¡±
¡°If you say so.¡± The queen shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re the one losing out if this fails.¡±
¡°Trust me, I don¡¯t make losing deals.¡± Genji walked out, and the queen squinted at the door.
Although unclear, she suspected there was more to the proposition than Genji was letting on. But she allowed it anyway since the deal wasn¡¯t detrimental to her. After stowing away the page, she exited the room and headed down to the basement.
¡°Mirror, mirror on the wall. Tell me who is the fairest of them all.¡±
¡°My queen, although your looks are praiseworthy, Snow White remains the undisputed winner.¡±
Hearing this, the queen¡¯s emotions boiled over, and her face twisted with obsession. ¡°WHY?! WHY IS THAT BITCH STILL ALIVE?! CAN¡¯T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?! WHY DO YOU KEEP TORMENTING ME?!¡±
She threw her lamp at the wall and stomped on it. Meanwhile, Genji listened to the commotion from the hallway outside, wondering what could have gotten the queen so worked up.
To my daring explorers and world roamers, I officially invite you to partake in a rare opportunity I''ve discovered. The rewards and risks are great, but I know many who are undeterred and would appreciate the prospect. If this interests you, please meet the "Advisors of Sagas" in the Castle''s recruitment hall. He will fill you in on the details of this job.
This notice was posted on various announcement boards the following morning. At a glance, it seemed like an unappealing recruitment pitch, but realm members knew better.
By pairing several keywords in the passage and applying some critical thinking, readers could easily reach a certain conclusion: someone had found a high source of income but couldn''t resolve it alone. Thus, the person chose to publicize it and seek cooperation with others¡ªat least, that was the cover Genji was going for.
It was unknown how many would join this pitch, but it didn¡¯t hurt to try. Genji arrived early at the specified location and sat in the corner with a nameplate in front of him. The others gave him strange looks since it was unusual for Genji to be so diligent.
¡°Hey, that¡¯s new,¡± the lumberjack said with a wide grin. ¡°For a moment, I thought you would ditch us and slack off the whole day.¡±
¡°I could do that, but I have an incentive to be here today. Let¡¯s just say I made a deal with the queen,¡± Genji replied.
¡°You and your deals. Why are you always thinking of these things anyway?¡± The lumberjack then picked up his wooden nameplate. ¡°What¡¯s this? Your new name? It sounds cringy. Advisor of Sagas. What kind of title is that? Do you tell people how to write stories or something?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I have my reasons. Now I would appreciate it if you put down my thing and stop blocking the way.¡± Genji met the lumberjack¡¯s gaze indifferently and held it confrontationally.
The lumberjack clicked his tongue and stepped back. ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re no fun. Always so annoying outside of battle. It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to be unlikable.¡±
Genji said nothing, and the lumberjack eventually left him alone. Genji noticed hoodie guy and Lynn giving him second looks, particularly at the nameplate he chose, but they kept to themselves. They whispered about something, though the exact contents couldn¡¯t be deciphered.
This situation lasted a few minutes before they received their first visitor. The person looked around the room until his eyes settled on Genji¡¯s desk, at which point he immediately strode toward him.
¡°I heard that you have the information?¡± he asked, treating Genji more like a messenger than a realm member.
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¡°Yes. I¡¯ll say it after we get a few more people. There¡¯s no point in repeating it multiple times when we need a big team.¡±
The person nodded in satisfaction and sat down beside him. Over the next hour, more people trickled in, all of whom joined the waiting crowd. None of the newcomers approached the others, creating a somewhat awkward scene as they sat with nothing to do.
When the hour ended and the room reached half capacity, Genji stood up and pulled out a scarlet card. With a thought, the card ignited with transparent flames and dissolved into wisps of smoke that enveloped the participants. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened with surprise, but they refrained from taking any action.
["Advisor of Sagas" has offered you the quest: Raiding the Giants]
[Raiding the Giants]
Description: Cainance, a powerful warrior, seeks to attack the giants and needs some helpers. There are no obligations if you choose to join this quest. The only request is that you don¡¯t sabotage the others if you choose to leave. Any rewards you pick up along the way are yours to keep. Cainance won¡¯t fight you over any of them.
Part: 1/2
Requirements: Arrive at the giant beanstalk within 5 days. (Map is attached)
Note: If you choose not to participate, you can disregard the provided information.
The realm members in the group received this notification, while the natives who came out of curiosity suddenly found the information inside their heads.
This was the same method Bechel from Primordial Echoes had used to grant Genji the "grandson saving" quest. Genji had adopted the method after some experimentation and consulting EverRealm. But while the trick was interesting, it didn¡¯t garner much attention.
The biggest factor was that the provided quest was completely optional. There was no guarantee that the receiver would help out. At best, it was a convenient but wasteful way of exchanging information. The issuer might offer rewards to make the request more tempting, but there were no penalties for ignoring it.
Only the natives, who had no access to the realm interface, would use such a method, as realm members had inter-realm contracts and other, more suitable ways to form alliances.
Some of the natives were slightly interested in the method, but they were more occupied with the information in their heads. As such, no one mentioned anything about the burnt scarlet card.
¡°If you''re done, please leave. I still need to tend to the people after you. Unless, of course, you want to join the castle units as well,¡± Genji said after a few seconds.
The room slowly emptied, leaving a few realm members behind. These members approached him and asked, "Who''s behind you? And don''t play dumb. I know someone entrusted you with this. Why did they send you instead of coming themselves?" Up to this point, they still thought Genji was a native, not a fellow explorer.
¡°I can¡¯t say. One of the conditions was that I wouldn¡¯t mention her,¡± Genji said, casually dropping a red herring. ¡°Just know that she¡¯ll join the event as well.¡±
¡°Her?¡± They latched onto the clue and inwardly raised their alertness. The way this session had played out made them suspicious. After all, most people who hide behind the scenes are schemers. Who knows what kind of trap they might fall into? Maybe they wouldn¡¯t even have recognizable bodies by the end.
¡°In that case, we¡¯ll discuss this with our teams.¡± They stopped pressing for answers and left, all while trying to recall any notable female figures from SagaRealm.
Genji used five more scarlet cards before the recruitment session officially ended for the day. He cleaned up his station and headed out, with hoodie guy following closely behind.
They walked to a remote corner, where hoodie guy confronted him about his doubts. "You¡¯re a realm member, aren¡¯t you?" Though posed as a question, his tone was confident, like a detective who had solved a difficult case.
¡°Yes,¡± Genji readily admitted. There was no point in hiding it anymore. He¡¯d practically flaunted his status during the event.
¡°What game are you playing? I know for certain you¡¯re not from SagaRealm. You don¡¯t use real information for a throwaway disguise.¡±
¡°Does it matter?¡± Genji asked. ¡°It¡¯s not going to affect you anyway. Why don¡¯t we go our own ways and pretend none of this happened? Or would you rather have me reveal your plans to the queen?¡±
Hoodie guy narrowed his eyes, wondering how much Genji knew. It couldn¡¯t be that much, right? They had been pretty secretive about their preparations, but he didn¡¯t want to take any risks. ¡°Fine. To each their own,¡± he relented before walking away.
¡®So they also have ulterior motives,¡¯ Genji thought to himself. ¡®I wonder what they¡¯re after.¡¯
Just as hoodie guy had suspicions about Genji, Genji also had doubts about their team. After all, they had taken more risks than necessary during their last expedition. You would think they¡¯d retreat after a teammate¡¯s death, but they had insisted on confronting more dangers. It was hard not to be suspicious. One doesn¡¯t take so many risks without something to gain.
Genji shelved these thoughts and walked back to his room. Along the way, he smelled an acrid odor drifting from the basement stairs and followed it to its source. His nose twitched a few times as he broke down the components of the scent.
''Three portions bitter root, two portions mandala flower, eight drops of magical snake venom, faint traces of acid metal, and at least two grams of Cyprus gel. All poisonous ingredients. What is she making down there?''
Genji stepped into the stairway, purposely letting his footsteps echo to announce his presence. He followed the smell to a room ventilated with air magic. At the center, the queen stood, hunched over a large bubbling cauldron of green liquid. She stirred the concoction with a metal ladle, occasionally scooping some up to check the viscosity.
¡°Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s dangerous to brew toxic materials in an enclosed space? You could seriously poison yourself or, even worse, get high off it,¡± Genji lightly joked.
¡°I can¡¯t do this anywhere else,¡± the queen replied, glancing upward and revealing bloodshot eyes. ¡°This needs to stay a secret from my knights.¡±
¡°So who crossed you this time? You don¡¯t seem like the type to get personally involved.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because most aren¡¯t worth my time. But this time is different. She needs to DIE!¡± The queen¡¯s breathing grew ragged, and her arms trembled as she gripped the ladle tighter.
¡°I assume you want me to handle this alone?¡±
¡°No. This time, we¡¯re going together. I won¡¯t rest until I see her dead with my own two eyes.¡± The concoction had now reduced to a small puddle, and the queen dropped a fresh apple into it after cutting the heat. The fruit rolled around in the cauldron, absorbing the poison and becoming more succulent.
Finally, the queen put on gloves and pulled out the most perfect apple imaginable. Her eyes gleamed with madness, and her lips curled into a crooked grin of malice.
¡°Sure,¡± Genji agreed. ¡°But you¡¯ll have to pay the bounty ahead of time. I don¡¯t want to get involved in your affairs any more than I have to.¡±
In her obsessiveness, the queen agreed without hesitation. ¡°Can you leave tomorrow?¡±
¡°Push it off another day. I want to finish my recruitment sessions first.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the point? You won¡¯t get anyone, judging by today¡¯s results.¡±
¡°I want to try anyway,¡± Genji replied firmly.
The queen brushed him off, and they agreed on a location to meet after dark. Genji returned to his room, and soon the morning was upon him. He distributed the information using seven more scarlet cards before sneaking out of the castle.
Trudging between alleyways and shadows, Genji soon reached a dimly lit stand. The queen, now dressed in black robes, stood waiting for him. Without a word, she led him through more twisting passageways until they arrived at the Tooth Fairy¡¯s shop.
Bright lantern lights illuminated the ground outside, inviting shady dealers into its midst. They entered, and several customers in similar attire came into view, exchanging suspiciously bloody molars for the fairy¡¯s wares.
The queen waited on the side until the shop was empty before approaching the Tooth Fairy. In a raspy voice, she said, ¡°I need something to change my appearance and make people believe me unconditionally.¡±
The fairy assessed the queen¡¯s figure and reached under the counter, pulling out a tin can containing a thick, silver cream. ¡°Morphing cream. Smear it on your face, imagine what you want to look like, and pour mana into it. You¡¯ll see results after five minutes. When you¡¯re done, wash your face with 30% coarse dirt and 70% water. It¡¯ll come right off without leaving a trace.¡±
The fairy set the cream down and grabbed a bottle from a shelf behind her. ¡°This is a potion of persuasiveness. Drink it 15 minutes before talking to your target, and they¡¯ll consider anything you say. It lasts for one hour, including the warmup time. I¡¯ll sell you both for 600 teeth.¡±
The queen pulled out a coarse pouch, which jostled loudly with each shake. The fairy took it, poured some teeth onto her palm for inspection, and roughly weighed the bag. ¡°782,¡± she said after a few moments.
¡°Then give me some anti-detection powder,¡± the queen added.
The fairy nodded, satisfied, and went to the back of the shop to fetch the goods. A few dozen seconds later, she returned with a pouch of powder. ¡°Anything else I can get for you? Your total comes to 660 after this.¡±
¡°No. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±
The fairy returned the excess teeth and then turned to Genji, silently asking if he wanted to make a purchase. He shook his head, indicating he would return another time.
¡°Okay. I wish you luck in your endeavors, whatever they might be. Hopefully, you¡¯ll bring me more teeth to play with.¡±
They said nothing and slipped out of the shop, returning into the darkness like fish in water. They bypassed the night patrol and approached the boundary.
¡°So? Are you going to tell me where we¡¯re going?¡± Genji asked as they neared the edge.
¡°West of here by 300 kilometers. It should only take six zones, but we need to traverse them in a specific way. The location is remote and obscured by strong magic.¡±
¡°That¡¯s oddly specific. Mind if I ask where you got this information?¡±
The queen¡¯s silence acted as her answer.
Genji dismissed the question and changed the topic. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t ask. Let¡¯s get this journey started.¡±
The queen nodded, and they stepped through the boundary.
221 – Situation Escalates
Amid a serene forest, where the last traces of winter snow gently drifted by, stood a cozy cottage of moderate size. Life was peaceful here, as this place was secluded from the troubles of the outside world. Docile animals treated it as a paradise devoid of predators. There was everything one could want in a remote getaway.
On this tranquil day, the cottage windows swung open, releasing wafts of warm air into the wild. A pristine hand, as flawless as snow, reached out and dusted off the month¡¯s worth of gathered grime. The cold season was approaching its end, and the inhabitants were transitioning into their spring routines.
A fair head of a young girl poked out of this opening and scrutinized the dirt beneath the ledge. Her brows wrinkled with exasperation as she scrubbed the area with a wet cloth.
"Always so dirty. Just what is causing all this tar to build up?" Snow White wondered to herself.
After finishing this task, she shifted her attention to the interiors, humming a little song as she diligently worked through her list of chores. Among all her housemates, she was by far the most attentive to cleanliness. She could not stand the sight of any residue, while the others were content as long as the interiors were functional.
This didn''t surprise her, as her housemates spent most of their days outside the cabin, working on their mysterious jobs. For some reason, they refused to share the details, often claiming she was too young. In any case, they always reeked of heavy smoke when they returned deep into the night.
This smell had permeated their entire being, becoming almost synonymous with their characters. Snow White had tried several times to remove this odor but eventually surrendered to its pervasiveness. She grew used to the stench and accepted that she would always have chores to do. Such was the trouble of being the only female in a house of eight.
At this moment, a soft knock sounded from the door. Snow White put down her tools and answered it.
An old lady with an elongated nose stood at the front, carrying a woven basket with an immaculate apple. The old lady looked up from her hunchback and politely asked, "Can you tell me the way to the closest village? I seem to have gotten lost."
Snow White pursed her lips, trying to recall the faint path she''d traversed years prior. After a few moments of struggle, she flashed an apologetic smile and explained her troubles. "I''m sorry. I can''t remember."
"It''s okay," the old lady comforted her. "It was rude of me to show up unannounced anyway. To make up for this, let me give you this apple."
"You don''t have to," Snow White politely declined. "I wasn''t much help."
"No, I insist. It''ll take me a while to find my way. By then, this apple would have spoiled. Instead of wasting it, I might as well give it to you. You are so fair and kind-hearted. You deserve this treat." The old lady held out the fruit with expectation in her eyes.
Snow White hesitated briefly before taking the apple.
"Go on, take a bite. It tastes best when it''s ripe. You won''t get the full experience if you let it sit for too long," the old lady urged her.
Snow White stared at the apple, admiring her reddened reflection and the firm texture against her fingertips. How could a fruit be so perfect and supple? What circumstances had created this enticing jewel? These questions swirled in Snow White''s mind as she brought the apple up to her mouth.
"Let¡¯s just take a bite, even if just to get her to leave," she thought.
A satisfying crunch followed as Snow White bit off a piece and lightly chewed. But a few seconds in, her face warped with shock as strength faded from her body. She collapsed, a stream of drool flowing from the corner of her mouth, and looked up at the old lady, wondering why she wanted to harm her.
A maniacal grin stretched across the old lady¡¯s face, releasing crackling laughter as she reveled in her success. That was the last image Snow White saw before everything went dark.
"Yes! Finally! Finally dead! NO MORE COMPETITION! I''ve fulfilled my duty. The kingdom is safe!" The queen screamed, a little too happy about her murder.
Genji appeared behind her at this moment and interrupted her celebration. "I recommend dismembering the body or cremating it. You always want to ensure the target''s dead before you leave."
The queen paused, turned around, and asked, "Is that necessary? I''ve already poisoned her."
"You¡¯d be surprised at how many ways people can resuscitate. Better to put in the effort now than regret it later."
"If you say so," the queen replied with a light frown and pulled out a thin dagger.
Half an hour later, Genji and the queen left the premises in blood-stained clothes. With each step, the crimson fluid wafted off them and gathered around Bruce''s sheath form.
Genji followed the sound of flowing water and reached a nearby river, where the queen washed off her disguise. Then, she sprinkled the anti-detection powder on their tracks before changing her shoes. Everything connected to the disguise had now been shed. As long as neither of them talked about it, no one would be any wiser about the queen''s malicious side.
They realigned their compass and began their journey back. Due to the strange directions leading to the cabin, the return trip required them to take a different path.
They crossed a few benign zones until they arrived at a small house made of stone. Two other realm members were present ahead of them. Genji recognized one as an attendee of his information session two days prior.
The realm members glanced back at Genji before entering the house. A barrier sprung up around the area, blocking all exits. Genji led the queen forward and spied on the interiors from a side window.
A young girl in a frilly blue dress with long, golden curls stepped into view. She approached the dining table where three soup bowls sat. She took a sip from the biggest one and whipped her head aside.
"Bah, too hot," she exclaimed, sticking out her swollen tongue and reaching for the medium-sized bowl.
She swallowed this one without hiccups, but her frown remained. The girl reached for the last bowl, and her eyes instantly lit up upon trying it. Then she chugged the entire contents before letting out a satisfied burp. She rubbed her stomach in a circular motion and looked at the realm members who had previously entered the house. "I''ve had my meal. How about you two?"
The realm members didn''t respond, opting instead to scrutinize the interiors. After two weeks in this world, they knew better than to follow the zone''s flow. The only problem was that they couldn''t figure out how to break through this situation.
"I''ll take that as a no. Come on, eat. We can''t go anywhere otherwise." The girl propped her head on both arms and stared dreamily at them. This silent exchange lasted several minutes, but the team refused to budge.
The girl narrowed her eyes, and an oppressive threat began to form. The message was clear: either drink the soup now or face the consequences. The realm members realized they couldn''t delay any longer and distributed themselves along the table. They deliberately slowed down their actions to buy time, but their minds drew a blank.
Left with no choice, they chugged the soup. Right as they finished the last drop, the bowls slipped from their hands and shattered on the floor. The man who drank from the biggest bowl clenched his stomach and crumbled in pain. His entire body felt as if it was boiling from the inside. Magma coursed through his veins, inflicting paralyzing pain upon him. His skin ripped, and his blood left scorch marks on the ground.
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Meanwhile, the other person''s skin turned deep blue, and frost condensed around him. It was so intense that droplets of water formed on Genji''s fingertips, despite being outside the house.
''Extreme heat and cold. There''s no easy way to endure this. It shouldn''t kill them, but it will cost them a lot.''
The two explorers writhed in pain and shakily reached into their storage space. They brought out their strongest consumables and used their effects to tide through the pain, buying time until the effects subsided. Several minutes later, their temperatures returned to normal, and they pulled themselves up.
The girl, seeing this, clapped her hands happily. "Great! Now that we''ve eaten, let''s play." Then she skipped out of the room.
The two exchanged bitter looks and followed with wry smiles that looked worse than crying. Genji and the queen readjusted their positions to get a clearer view of the next room.
There were three rocking chairs in sight. The girl plopped down on the biggest one and rocked back and forth. After a few moments, she jumped off and rubbed her sore rear. The surface was way too hard for her liking.
The next chair caused her to sink into the padding, almost enveloping her face. She dug herself out, tried the final chair, and contently closed her eyes. Ah, perfect.
The explorers exchanged another glance before making their choice. The one who drank the cold soup picked the hard chair while his partner cautiously reclined on the soft one.
They leaned back, and the trap within the chair activated. Metal bars formed around the armrests of the hard chair, locking the victim in place. The person struggled to break free, but the material refused to budge. Then, metal spikes pierced his organs from behind, inducing a mouthful of blood. This chair was a torture device that resembled an iron maiden.
Meanwhile, the person in the soft chair struggled to breathe as the cushions smothered his face. No matter how he fought back, he only sank deeper into the material without pause. It was almost as if he were falling into another dimension hidden within the cushions. Eventually, he disappeared altogether, becoming one with the chair.
The hand shackles on the hard chair unlocked, releasing a bloodied man on the verge of death. In his desperation, he managed to retrieve another healing consumable and narrowly survived.
*Yaaawwwnnn* "I''m sleepy. Let''s go find a bed," the girl said, entering the next room with droopy eyelids.
Like before, this room contained three sets of furniture. But this time, the girl immediately chose the middle bed and fell asleep, leaving behind a comically big bed and a pitifully small one.
The injured man considered his options and chose the small bed. At least this way, he could quickly escape when the trap activated. However, this only sounded good in theory, as the moment his back touched the mattress, an irresistible force acted upon him.
"Too big," a mechanical voice announced. "Cutting down to size..."
Horror swept through the man as he realized what the words meant, but it was already too late. Only his torso was on the bed, with all other limbs hanging off. These limbs, including his head, were considered excess weight and promptly severed. Blood splattered in a gruesome sight, leaving only a torso that perfectly fit the bed.
The queen gazed upon this in shock, unable to comprehend the sudden death. Suddenly, the girl''s eyes snapped open, and her body lurched upward to stare into the queen''s soul.
"More guests! Welcome, come on in," the girl said with a scary smile. That was the last thing they heard before a spatial force swept over them.
When they adjusted, they realized they were inside the kitchen, where the first trap had occurred. To make matters worse, only the poisoned bowls were replenished, while the safe bowl remained empty.
The queen began panicking upon realizing this. "No. No. What do we do? What do we do? Are we going to die?"
"Calm down," Genji said. "It''s not like we don''t have any hopes."
"You have a way to save us?!"
Genji rolled his eyes. "Even if I don''t, freaking out will only worsen our chances." He approached and examined the bowls. Although the contents were the same, their sizes were drastically different. The largest bowl seemed big enough to hold all three bowls of soup.
''It''s almost like it''s intentional. Let''s try it.''
Genji poured the small bowl into the big one and mixed the contents. Once homogeneous, he reapportioned the mixture and handed it to the queen. "Drink up," he commanded before gulping down his soup.
The queen was at a loss for what to do but eventually followed when she realized Genji was unharmed. With a shaky heart, she finished her serving and anxiously awaited the pain. To her relief, only the opening of the next room greeted her.
They walked through and entered the room with the chairs. Like before, only the problematic ones were left. Genji sized up the props and devised a possible countermeasure. He picked up the hard chair and threw it at the soft one. A loud crash sounded, and the chair frames splintered. Genji repeated this act until he shattered both chairs and retrieved some normal cushions from his storage.
"Sit down," he said, throwing one to the queen. She absentmindedly obeyed, and the door to the bedroom opened.
"Impressive," the girl said as they entered. "I didn''t expect you to see through the crux so quickly."
"That''s the benefit of watching someone else test the traps. Honestly, we were quite lucky to arrive when we did."
"Yes, but how will you deal with this room? There are no tricks you can play here."
"Really? Well, I beg to differ." With those words, Genji burst into action, grabbing the girl and chucking her into the largest bed. The next moment, he appeared beside the queen and flung her toward the middle bed.
"!!!" Both ladies released surprised yelps as they soared through the air, unable to react to Genji''s abrupt actions. Right as they were about to land, a red sheath swirled at the last bed, completing the trio.
"All beds have been occupied. Making adjustments..." the same mechanical voice announced.
"Too big. Stretching up to size." The voice delivered the girl''s verdict. Following that, a stream of light acted on her body, forcibly expanding her to such an extreme that she lost her humanoid shape and became like taut hide. Meanwhile, Bruce received the same ruling, but his liquid body was unharmed from expanding.
In the end, only the girl suffered critical damage from the sudden act. Genji waited for the light to fade before flash-stepping to her. Shadow flames and cutting intent wrapped around his saber as he descended onto the middle. His blade punctured a large hole through her stomach, causing the tension to snap and the girl to split in half in a painful ripping process.
[You have slain: Goldilocks, Unwelcomed Intruder]
[Your maximum exergy has increased by 30.]
[You have received 120 realm coins.]
[You have completed the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears]
[Goldilocks and the Three Bears]
Description: Three choices, only one is correct. Yet Goldilocks insists on trying them all until she finds her optimal choice, ruining the home of the unsuspecting bears. What a rude fellow!
Mission Progress: 9/3
Note: Although you have killed the intruder, the bears won''t be happy to see you. You did destroy their house, after all.
Upon reading the last comment, a massive sense of danger overwhelmed Genji. In the corner of his eye, through the window, he spotted three bear silhouettes of different sizes approaching the front door.
''Shit! This is only the start!''
Genji immediately grabbed the queen and burst through the window. Bruce caught up with him in blood form and re-coalesced at Genji''s waist.
Loud thuds echoed behind him as two large masses barreled toward the bedroom. The bears spotted the wreckage along the way, and their anger spiked, culminating in a wrathful roar.
Genji carried the queen like a rag doll over his shoulder and ran with all his might, refusing to look back. He''d solved one danger and was not about to confront another for no reason.
The bears stayed in hot pursuit, but their bulky figures struggled to keep up with Genji''s dexterity. In the end, Genji stepped through the boundary without pause, much to the bears'' annoyance.
Meanwhile, back at the cottage where Snow White was murdered, it had been several hours since night fell, and it was time for the dwarfs to return. These short humanoids hummed a happy tune, joyfully walking with interlocked elbows as they swayed from side to side. They had gotten quite drunk in their celebration of completing their most recent project.
However, this mood was short-lived as they soon perceived a smell of blood so sharp that it cut through even the heavy smoke that pervaded the cabin walls.
Alarm bells rang inside their heads as they scrambled for the entrance. Upon kicking down the door, they spotted a dismembered Snow White on the ground, devoid of all blood.
The dwarfs stared at this scene, dumbfounded, for a few moments before an agonized cry pierced through the night. "NO! How can this be?! Who could have done this?!"
Amidst their grief, a portal opened behind them, and a certain dark fairy stepped out. "So the queen has finally been consumed by her jealousy," she remarked, catching the attention of the dwarfs.
"Master? What brings you here?" they asked after a couple of seconds.
"To watch the crescendo of this play, of course. How could I miss such an exciting event?"
The dwarfs fell silent in gloominess, and the oldest dwarf asked, "Master, is there any way to save her?"
To this, the fairy responded with her own question. "Remember the mission I assigned you when I entrusted this girl to you years ago?"
"Yes. To clothe, feed, and raise her with care until she considers us family. To protect her from all harm and misery so she can live a peaceful life. Finally, we swore to be there in times of need, sacrificing ourselves if it meant preserving her life."
"And what will you do now that she''s dead? Will you break your vows or fulfill them?"
At this, a sense of epiphany along with strong hesitation swept over the dwarfs. "But if we do that, we won''t be able to serve you anymore. We''ll betray our purpose in life."
"Do it. Why do you think I created you all? It was all for this moment."
Realization set in, followed by determination. If that was the case, they had no reason to hesitate anymore. They would happily conduct the forbidden ritual for their beloved daughter. Then, with firm eyes, they reached for each other''s arms and forcibly snapped them off, revealing grey stumps. These dwarfs were not creatures of flesh and blood, but homunculi¡ªartificial creations of alchemy and magic.
They gathered around Snow White and threw their broken arms onto her body before chanting synchronously. With each syllable, they gouged out a piece of themselves and added it to the pile. This mound of synthetic flesh grew at a steady pace and eventually buried Snow White completely.
Their life force faded with each piece they lost, but they remained undeterred. They had sworn to protect Snow White no matter what, and now they would fulfill this promise, even if it meant giving up their very lives and reviving her in monstrous form.
222 – Kingdom Collapse
Long, long ago, the fairy mother, on her deathbed, called for her three children. "My daughters, it is now time for me to depart from this world. Before I go, I will grant you a small portion of my powers. This will become the foundation from which your powers will sprout, a seed of sorts. Nourish it well, and you will reach the same heights as me. But for this to happen, you must dedicate your life to a single purpose. You will get stronger every time you make progress toward this goal. So, what is it that you all desire?"
The oldest and most adventurous of the sisters stepped forward and answered, "I wish to travel the world and uncover the mysteries of the boundaries."
"Very well, I shall grant you the Embryo of Exploration. Every time you make a discovery or step foot in a new place, you will receive the blessings of that place."
Next, the middle child stepped forward to give her answer. "Mother, I wish to collect the teeth of all beings in this world. Let me commemorate their existence within my collection, so they will never be forgotten."
"An admirable goal. For this, I shall grant you the Embryo of Curation. From now on, your powers will be proportional to the size of your collection."
Finally, the fairy mother turned to her youngest daughter. However, unlike the others, she didn''t know what she wanted. So, she said that she wanted to be free, able to do whatever her heart desired.
The fairy mother rubbed her head in dismay, racking her brain for a suitable power. In the end, she gave her daughter the Embryo of Chaos. The more trouble she causes, the stronger she will become. With these choices made, the fairy mother scattered her remaining powers and returned to the world''s embrace.
With their mother gone, the fairy sisters went their separate ways in pursuit of their quests. The oldest sister traveled the world over the next hundred years, stepping foot in every imaginable corner. She left her mark in history as one of the greatest explorers ever, with many guidelines modeled after her experience.
To this day, one can still see hints of her influence on how explorers approach the unknown. The most notable influences were the companion prisms and Wayfinder compasses, which were crude imitations of two discarded tools.
In her journey, she also awakened a strange race that lived in and held dominion over the zone boundaries. These later became known as Boundary Warpers, the very same beings that dispersed Genji''s group on the first trip to investigate the missing village.
After all of this, her powers reached the same level as her mother, becoming one of the apex existences in this world. Eternal Void eventually noticed her excellence and scouted her for its purposes. She, of course, accepted, as she now had the opportunity to explore other worlds and further nurture her adventurous spirit. It is unknown what heights she has reached now.
The middle sister''s life was self-explanatory, as she earned the title of the Tooth Fairy after several years of work.
Finally, there was the youngest and most chaotic sister, the one who would become the dark fairy. At first, she lived a peaceful life, content with experiencing the world''s pleasures. Food, books, sex, and alcohol¡ªshe truly lived an unruly life in her first few decades. But no matter how exciting these activities were, she eventually grew bored and turned to other outlets to satisfy her vanity.
She turned to gambling, sleeping, and even taking on various odd jobs. One such role was being the savior of the world. She took joy in helping others and basking in the satisfaction of giving, disregarding whether others wanted her help. She had somehow turned a generous act into selfish gratification, wreaking havoc along the way.
There was a thin line between this lifestyle and true evil, a line that she would cross when she accidentally killed someone receiving her "aid." But instead of feeling guilt or sadness for her mistake, she grew intoxicated with the defilement. To take something so pure and distort it¡ªnothing brought her a greater rush. That was how she started on the path of destruction.
Harmless pranks turned into malicious acts, until finally, she sought to destroy a whole kingdom out of nothing but curiosity about the excitement she would feel afterward. It wasn''t that difficult, given her powers at the time. By the third time, she realized the initial excitement had dwindled to a fraction of its original feeling. She no longer got the same kick out of crushing some helpless ants.
In pursuit of the same adrenaline rush, she started restricting her methods and extending the cycle of destruction. She would nurture a kingdom like a caring mother, bringing it to a golden era before ruining everything with her own hands. Only this way could she feel the same satisfaction as before.
The current queen was only one of the pawns she''d raised. When the queen was still a girl, not yet married, and the fairy was regarded as the kingdom''s protector, the fairy told her that the kingdom would be safe as long as she was the fairest of them all. That was the source of the queen''s obsession.
Snow White''s eyelids fluttered as she struggled to open her eyes. Moments later, soft ash brushed against her cheek, giving her the strength to awaken once more. As she looked around, she found herself in a pile of grey clay that still contained traces of warmth.
"What happened to me?" she wondered aloud, rubbing her sore head.
Suddenly, her eyes grew wide with shock as she noticed several ornaments among the clay¡ªornaments worn only by the dwarves. Her body lurched forward, grabbing the closest one and examining it with trepidation. There was no doubt: the dwarves had disappeared.
"H-h-h-how could this happen?" she muttered incoherently.
"Don''t you remember?" the dark fairy asked at that moment. "You died."
Snow White turned around, and memories flashed through her mind. *That''s right! The old lady and her poisoned apple!*
"Let me show you," the fairy said as if reading her mind. With a wave of her hand, a projection of the day''s events played before their eyes. Snow White watched the recording with labored breaths, eventually bursting into tears as the dwarves sacrificed themselves at the end.
"Why? What did I do to deserve this? What grudge did that old lady have against me?"
"For the same reason I saved you all those years ago," the fairy answered. "Because you''re the fairest in the land."
"WHY?!? For what? I didn''t choose how I would look. Why does she want to kill me?" Snow White screamed.
The fairy gave her a few minutes to vent before asking about her future plans. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to fight for revenge? I can tell you who the old lady is and how to find her. Just say the word. You have more than enough power to make her pay after my homunculi dwarves poured all their gathered magic into you. Just know that you won''t live long afterward since this power is non-replenishable and is the only thing binding you to this world. Your time will end for good once it runs out. If you choose not to go down this route, I can take you to a safe zone where you can live out the rest of your life. Your friends would prefer it this way."
"Absolutely not!" Snow White vehemently refused. "My dearest family died to save me! I refuse to let the culprit go unpunished." She clenched her fist, exposing the blotches of disfigured skin where the queen had originally focused her knife. Now, they looked mismatched, like a patchwork sewn together from various discarded parts. "So who is that old lady?"
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"The current queen and your stepmother."
"Impossible!" Snow White gasped in disbelief.
"Why not?"
"Because she has no reason to. Why would she care about someone who isn''t even in her life anymore?"
"What if she''s the one who sent the killer back then?"
Snow White wrestled with the idea, and the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. After all, it wasn''t easy for someone to sneak into the castle and kidnap a princess. This was only possible if someone allowed it and directed the guards elsewhere.
"So she was rotten from the start," Snow White quietly murmured. Then her voice rose, growing more feverish with each word. "In that case, I''ll be doing everyone a favor by getting rid of you. The people don''t need a selfish ruler who abuses her position to satisfy her own desires."
Meanwhile, the fairy watched Snow White''s mood shift with interest, noting how she was still trying to justify her upcoming actions. ''Still so innocent after everything. I wonder how long this will last.''
Forboding and unease - Genji experienced these feelings as he entered the castle walls. The queen beside him remained oblivious to his unease. He decided to cash in his teeth now and leave the following morning. He didn''t want to stick around for whatever disaster might strike the kingdom.
"I''m going to get my weapon checked." He casually made an excuse and slipped away before the queen could say anything else.
When he entered the Tooth Fairy''s shop, she flashed him a knowing smile and asked if everything had gone well. She obviously knew they had committed some crime with her items but couldn¡¯t care less. She was happy as long as she got her teeth.
"I need to exchange more fairy dust. Do you have some with stronger effects?"
"I do, but it''ll cost you several times more."
"Here." Genji handed over a bag still containing some speckles of blood. Among these were several molars that belonged to Snow White. He hadn''t even let those go when the queen mutilated the body.
"321," the fairy quoted. "It''s normally 90 per piece, but I''ll give you a discount today since you''re in a hurry and because you''re a high-spending customer."
"Okay. You can keep the change."
The fairy''s smile widened as she handed him a purple bag containing a few pinches of golden, salt-like particles. Genji transferred the contents into a glass jar and returned to the castle. He had one more task to complete before leaving, but for that to happen, he needed the queen to leave the basement first.
When he reached the descending stairs, maniacal laughter echoed from below. The queen was still celebrating her success.
''Isn''t she getting too caught up in her emotions?'' Genji thought bemusedly as he waited in the shadows.
The revelry lasted several more minutes before being abruptly cut off. The queen then exited the basement with dull, unfocused eyes, akin to a puppet¡¯s. If Genji didn¡¯t know better, he would have thought she was a walking corpse.
''What happened to her?'' he wondered as the queen stumbled past him. ''Whatever, not my problem.''
Shortly after, Genji heard another set of footsteps from below. His eyes narrowed as he pushed his stealth to its limit. Even a fool could tell something was off. After all, only the queen had entered, but several people had exited. Unless there was a secret passage or a way to teleport in, it was highly likely that the newcomer had bad intentions.
Seconds later, a girl wearing a black cloak with a hood pulled over her head and a fairy with black wings hovering a few centimeters off the ground came into view.
Genji immediately averted his gaze, afraid the newcomers would detect him. With how much his instincts were acting up, he knew he stood no chance against them. He would rather not risk detection over something so minor.
Luckily, the intruders were rather relaxed and didn¡¯t scan their surroundings too closely. Genji waited for them to disappear around the corner before calming his racing heart.
''Whelp, kingdom''s going to hell. Might as well make the most of it.''
He then headed downstairs, following the map he had previously sketched. After a few turns, he arrived at a certain room containing a specific mirror. Negative emotions swelled in his mind when he laid eyes on it, but he quickly squashed those feelings.
[You have discovered: Mirror of Uncertainty]
[Mirror of Uncertainty]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded Once)
Type: Unusual Artifact
Requirements: Medium affinity with fate
Durability: 42/50
Effects:
- Unreliable Query (Active): Once a day, you can ask the mirror a question related to yourself. There¡¯s a 50% chance of obtaining a relevant answer and a 50% chance of obtaining a wrong answer.
- Mental Aggravation (Passive): Amplify the negative mental states of anyone who looks into its reflection. If no conditions are present, induce a dormant effect within the observer.
- Fate¡¯s Bolsterment (Passive): Increase the effects of all fate-based abilities by 50%.
- Providence Overdraw (Active): Your next divination will be 100% accurate, but you will be plagued with -10 luck for 3 days. Cooldown of 2 days.
Description: A strange mirror discovered by the first explorer during one of her many adventures. It can grant the user many conveniences, but it comes with a high price. Use it wisely or be devoured by the consequences. The explorer later left this mirror to her third sister as a parting gift.
''So this is what the queen''s been relying on. No wonder she was so unstable.''
Genji put away the mirror and brought out the life-saving teleportation consumable he''d purchased before coming to this world. It was a costly escape, but better than running into the two bosses and potentially getting trapped inside a barrier.
Genji crushed the object, and a firm spatial fluctuation wrapped around him. This commotion alarmed the strongest fighters in the castle, prompting them to rush toward his position. This included the newly empowered Snow White, who arrived just as Genji disappeared.
Snow White realized that this disruption had interfered with her plans. She controlled the queen to cause a commotion, stalling the incoming guards long enough for her to find more favorable terrain. However, she couldn¡¯t maintain her subtlety for long. A chaotic battle ensued as guards attacked in droves while Snow White unleashed torrents of magic.
Amidst the chaos, hoodie guy and Lynn could be seen running toward the treasury. They also recognized the worsening situation and intended to flee. With decisive strikes, they killed the guards and broke into the room. Lynn plundered the nearby loot while hoodie guy weaved numerous hand signs.
"Do rie me, hu ginn faso aban su. Align the eight directions and release the ancient seal. Second layer open!"
He slammed his palm into the ground, causing the room to shift and reveal a hidden passage. They had been targeting this passage from the beginning, as it led to some of the royal family''s most secretive treasures.
Unfortunately, the thief who had discovered this location had died in an unexpected accident, prolonging the time it took to crack the secret. They entered and came upon several degraded racks covered in dust. It was evident that no one had visited this place for a long time. They even doubted if the queen knew about this place at all, suspecting the king took this knowledge to the grave with him.
"Oh well, all the more for us." They shrugged and plundered the ancient artifacts within this room. After finishing, they pulled out their own teleportation items and made their getaway.
It was unclear how long the battle lasted, but dusk had fallen when the commotion finally subsided. Black smoke rose from the castle ruins, highlighting its collapsed structure. The dark fairy watched from a distant hill, sipping from a wine glass and swinging her legs.
*Sigh* "Mortals, always so rash and short-sighted. They believe what they want and reject what they can''t comprehend. Both this kingdom and the girl. They reject each other, feeding this cycle of causality. She might think this coup was successful, but the dragon slayer will always become a worse tyrant. People''s true colors always show when given immense power. It''s only a matter of time. But that''s what makes it so fun to destroy them. Will they finally wise up and show something new, or will they keep relying on external factors to maintain their peace?"
"I see you''re still up to your usual activities," a voice sounded from behind.
Turning around, the dark fairy spotted ripples in the air, followed by the Tooth Fairy emerging from teleportation. "Hey sister," the dark fairy greeted. "We meet again."
"Yes, and right as I set up a stable supply chain. Couldn''t you have waited until after I finished collecting my teeth before you destroyed this kingdom?"
"Sorry," the dark fairy apologized, sticking out her tongue. "Things just happened this way. You know I buried these landmines long ago and can''t control them too precisely. Anyway, there are plenty of fish in the sea. You can always settle somewhere else."
"I know, but I''m about to break through to the next level. It''s a crucial time for me."
"Really? That was fast," the dark fairy replied with surprise. "I thought it would take at least another decade."
"It would have, but a few people provided some valuable specimens. That greatly sped up my progress."
"I see. That¡¯s a shame. It''ll take you a while to build a shop with the same scale of customers. But at least the view here is great," the dark fairy said, admiring the newly kindled fire consuming the castle ruins.
*Sigh* ''There goes another one of my farms. A dynasty, destroyed just like that,'' the Tooth Fairy inwardly sighed at her sister''s antics, mourning the fall of yet another stable kingdom.
Meanwhile, Genji had removed his disguise and headed toward the rendezvous point under the guidance of his [Stalker Compass]. It was time to enter the endstage of this world and see what he could scavenge.
223 – Clash of Titans
After a day and a half of traveling, Genji arrived at the giant beanstalk on the 17th day. Dozens of realm members had already set up camp, waiting for the event to start. They were a few hundred meters away from the beanstalk, wanting to avoid the strange house nearby.
Genji saw a few husks hanging on a rod through the murky windows. The skin oozed yellow pus, occasionally releasing newly hatched flies that buzzed around the interior. These careless people had believed Jack''s lies and unknowingly entered the trapped house. Now, they were like zombies, rotten and ghoulish.
Jack and his strange mother had disappeared at some point, leaving the scene to fester. Genji guessed someone had already dealt with them, as they didn''t seem like the type to abandon their territory.
Genji paid no mind to this and set up his tent in a remote corner, blending in with the other members. Once settled, he texted Cainance, asking when he would arrive.
Cainance: I''ll need two more days. I''m still finishing my final hunts.
Enigma: That''s later than expected, but it should be fine. I assume you know where the giant leader is?
Cainance: Yeah. I''ve planned everything out.
Enigma: Then I''ll handle the people here.
Genji ended the conversation and let Astros out to play. It should be relatively calm for the next couple of days, so they might as well enjoy the scenery. Bruce accompanied Astros, and they scavenged for ingredients to cook with. Meanwhile, Genji entered a light meditation to develop more potential techniques.
This continued until late afternoon the following day. More people trickled in during this time as teams decided to take the risk. By a rough estimate, about 100 people had gathered. Once they settled in, Genji put on a blurry disguise, changed his status page, and pulled out a loudspeaker. It was time to give everyone an explanation lest they grow restless over Cainance''s delay.
"Hello everyone. Welcome. Thank you for coming. I have a few things to announce before you turn in for the night. Before any of you ask, I am part of the team that released this information. Cainance has encountered some roadblocks and will be slightly delayed, but he should be here within two days. You can leave if this inconveniences you, but I doubt most of you would care. Anyway, here¡¯s some information on the giants. You can review it at your leisure." Genji placed a booklet on a nearby table and walked away.
The curious onlookers stared for a few moments before all pandemonium broke loose. Until now, they knew almost nothing about the people behind this event, so this revelation was a big moment for them. Yet they might as well have learned nothing, as Genji was still weaving his lies.
The next day, teams passed around the booklet and prepared for several scenarios. Cainance arrived as the sun was halfway beneath the horizon, with his magical bag full of monster parts.
Although the bag could only sustain the destruction of 50 items, this was by no means its limit. Its second effect was to destroy everything stored within to release a massive surge of mana. Due to this technicality, Cainance had stuffed the bag with hundreds of magical remains over the past few days.
Cainance introduced himself and found a resting spot under everyone''s gazes. The people saw his stats and grew warier. With Cainance''s strength, it would be a disaster if this operation were a trap. However, the realm members remained undeterred by this possibility. Everyone here had at least some confidence in their strength and plenty of bravery to spare; otherwise, they wouldn''t have joined in the first place.
The final night passed, and the last day soon arrived. Cainance stretched his body, fastened his weapon to his back, and began scaling the beanstalk. Everyone followed him at varying speeds, accommodating their less physically capable members and staying in tight formation. Genji stayed among the back group, maintaining a relatively unassuming position.
After half an hour of intense climbing, they finally reached the top. Many people were out of breath and hunched over, gasping for air. Cainance gave them some time to recover and discussed his plans. "We''re going to lure the target away from his residence and besiege him. I''ll be the main fighter, and you all support me from afar. Don''t worry too much about attacking. Focus on staying alive."
"That''s good and all, but what happens if multiple giants come along? We aren''t strong enough to fight them all?" someone asked.
"That won''t happen. The giants typically live in groups of one or two, with no groups bigger than that. This giant is the leader not because the others listen to his orders, but because he''s the strongest. He won''t have any supporters. We just can''t fight him in his home because it will hinder our attacks."
Everyone nodded in understanding, and Cainance led them toward the destination. After several hours of traveling, they noticed a small dot on the horizon. Genji pulled out a pair of binoculars, and a stone hut entered his view. The walls possessed a dull yellowish hue from years of prolonged sun exposure, while the roof was in tatters, threatening to break off and scatter in the wind.
This was a building with a long history, though it was unknown if the giant leader built it himself or if he chanced upon this ancient relic and made it his home. Regardless, this only justified Cainance''s point on the material''s durability.
Cainance asked them to set up an ambush here while he went in to lure the giant. The magic users gathered to prepare a powerful attack, while the melee fighters stood at the front, ready to guard against stray attacks. They signaled to Cainance when they were done, and the aspiring giant hunter set off.
A few minutes after Cainance entered the castle, an angry roar shook the ground, and air tremors made their clothes flutter like flags in the wind. Heavy thuds sounded as a figure the size of a skyscraper hurtled toward them.
This giant was significantly taller than the one Genji had initially seen and emanated a suffocatingly oppressive aura. The pressure was so intense that not even the considerable distance between them could weaken the impact.
Everyone tensed up and prepared for action. A split second later, the giant entered the range of their trap, and a massive runic circle appeared beneath its feet. Energy drained from all the mages and empowered a nuclear explosion. At the same time, lights of different colors descended on the group, providing various buffs to everyone.
The black smoke dissipated, and the giant emerged unscathed. A thick cyan energy wrapped around his skin, providing solid defense against all incoming damage. It roared in annoyance and pulled out a curved metallic cudgel. The weapon had taken on this shape over the years due to the giant''s immense strength when swinging.
The sense of oppression grew so thick that many people struggled to breathe. Cainance knew the main fight had begun and tore apart his bag of holding. A similarly powerful burst of mana emanated from him, counteracting the constricting sensation.
Cainance burst forward with a fiery slash at the heel, seeking to cripple the giant''s mobility. Meanwhile, the group scattered and surrounded the giant from afar.
The giant swung down, but Cainance leaped aside and charged through the shockwave. The Mythril sword came down and bounced right off the energy coating. Cainance dug his feet into the ground and spun around for another slash, leaving a small scar along the calloused skin.
Ranged attacks then landed on the torso, gradually whittling away at the protective film. Genji manifested [Curse Bearer] for a few shots before asking Bruce to follow through with the barrage. Genji waved his arm as swirls of blood and crystallized spikes tickled the giant, imitating the role of a mage.
The ground quaked again as the giant missed another swing. Cainance struck the same spot and finally drew a sliver of blood. He dug the blade into this cut and widened the wound. The giant understood it couldn''t allow this to continue and began stomping whenever it lost sight of Cainance.
The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
This change gave Cainance plenty of trouble until he jumped on the arm and dashed for the head. The giant fumbled to throw him off, but Cainance nimbly darted around his attempts. Upon reaching the shoulder, Cainance leaped upward with his sword poised for the right eye.
The giant hurriedly closed his eyes, and the impact snapped his head back. At this moment, the melee fighters reached the giant''s leg and began hacking away. A few bold people even jumped on the body and scaled higher to pester it like Cainance. From afar, the scene resembled countless ants biting at an elephant; the only difference was the giant''s lack of wounds.
The mana in the air fluctuated violently, and a shockwave shook off everyone except Cainance, who landed another hit on the head. The giant stabilized itself with a step back and smashed down at the others. Since it couldn''t hit Cainance, it would settle for the pesky flies instead.
Cainance leaped down and struck the wrist, shifting the strike from its intended trajectory and saving an unlucky target. The shockwaves induced mouthfuls of blood as they rattled the fighters'' organs. A healing light then washed over them, restoring any lost health they had incurred.
The siege resumed, and the giant''s energy armor grew thinner. When its energy bar reached the halfway point, the armor dwindled, and its cudgel grew more oppressive. The giant was done being on the defensive; it was now time to crush these supporters, even if it meant wasting a lot of power.
The cudgel slammed down again, and several ripples rocked the attackers'' bodies. Cainance tried to mitigate this damage, but everyone, including the ranged attackers, suffered heavily. There were a few unlucky people with low constitutions who dropped dead on the spot.
The healing continued, but the overall effectiveness had noticeably decreased. There was not enough power to heal everyone, so the healers prioritized their own team instead of dispersing it across everyone.
Due to this, some less optimistic teams backed off and considered possibly ditching this raid, weakening the damage output by one-third. Cainance said nothing and stayed focused on the giant. He had expected this outcome, so he wasn''t bothered by it. There was only so much people were willing to do with no observable benefits. It was already good enough that they had reached this point.
The giant noted this change and began directing more attacks at the supporters, enduring several strong attacks along the way. Cainance severed the giant''s right leg tendon during this scuffle as the teams messily scattered. The firepower dropped to a minuscule level, and the giant refocused on Cainance.
They withdrew their oppressive auras and concentrated their momentum. Now that the cannon fodder was gone, it was time to start the true battle between them.
Cainance leaped upward and unleashed a devastating slash. The giant smashed this with his cudgel while raising his other arm for a downward slam. Cainance conjured a gust of wind to reposition himself and continued his offensive. His blade dug into the forearm as he rose, leaving a diagonal cut that exposed the bone.
Cainance stomped down on the elbow and launched himself toward the other side. A blazing sword scored the chest, instantly charring the surrounding flesh.
The giant quickly slapped at the wound, scattering bits of ash, but Cainance had already escaped the area. He landed on the shoulder and stabbed at the neck. The giant hurriedly redirected his energy there, condensing a light armor plate over the area.
The sword bounced off, and Cainance stepped off behind the giant. His sword pierced the scapula, and he used his weight to widen the wound. Water manifested around the edge, preventing the sword from getting caught in the bones.
A painful roar sounded from above, and the giant tensed his muscles to stop the bleeding. Suddenly, the blood solidified and grew barbed spikes, converting the first aid into more injuries. At the same time, the offensive from the teams resumed, blanketing the giant in colorful fireworks.
The giant hatefully glared at them and clenched his chest, grinding his fingertips harshly against his ribs. An ominous premonition formed in Genji''s stomach, prompting him to flee at his highest speed. The others also recognized the situation and began backing away, but only those who had left earlier made any significant distance.
The fingers broke the skin, carved into the flesh, and wrapped around the heart. The giant lightly squeezed his chest, and his skin turned boiling red. With each contraction, his heart beat erratically and forcibly pumped dormant energy throughout his body.
This was the giant clan''s forbidden technique, capable of converting their hearts into miniature nuclear reactors. But in return, their growth would be stunted for several decades, potentially for the rest of their lives, depending on the duration of use.
The giant gave his heart three more pumps before withdrawing his bloody fingers, revealing five gaping black holes the size of a small car. An eruption of energy gushed out of these holes and flooded the giant''s body, accelerating his recovery and consolidating his defense. Cainance''s sword slashes, which previously left shallow cuts, now only tickled the giant.
After breathing out a large plume of steam from his mouth, the giant turned to the distant supporters and suddenly vanished. A powerful rumble and loud splat sounded before a fierce tornado swept through the area. The giant appeared amidst the team''s formation and wildly brandished his weapon, squashing everyone in his reach. Within seconds, the giant annihilated an entire team and moved on to the next closest.
The giant''s sudden acceleration and rapid direction changes made it difficult for Cainance to intercept him, resulting in skyrocketing casualty rates. Everyone fled for their lives, but the giant refused to let them have an easy time. Cainance decided that the team was not worth saving and gathered his power for an ultimate attack.
The giant sensed the looming threat and paused his pursuit. Energy poured out of his chest and wrapped around him, forming cyan samurai armor. The armor grew darker with each passing moment, eventually condensing all the output into a solid form. The excess energy afterward wrapped the cudgel, transforming it into a large sword.
Then the two darted at each other, unleashing their strongest attacks. Collisions sounded for kilometers on end, and flashes of light beckoned the second coming of dawn.
This commotion was so tumultuous that even Genji could perceive the signs from his position. The ruckus lasted for two more minutes before dying down and returning to peace. Genji briefly considered his options before handing a stick to Astros.
"You know the drill. Let''s decide which way we will go."
Astros had a speechless look, as if asking why this was a question in the first place. Shouldn''t they continue running? Why were they stopping so close to the battle for this?
"Don''t worry. I believe in your luck."
Astros held this stare for a few more moments before sighing in exasperation. He couldn''t understand why Genji wanted to rely on something as abstract as luck when he was normally so reliable. Just what had caused his father to develop this strange habit?
As Astros internally monologued, he propped up the stick and absentmindedly stared at the sky. The soft landing of wood on cotton sounded, and Astros looked down at the stick. Then his eyes widened with alarm, and his paws frantically waved over the result, as if asking Genji to reconsider. This was because the stick pointed at their previous route, right where the ongoing battle was.
"Is that so? It seems like we should go back then," Genji mumbled with a thoughtful look, ignoring the flurry of panicked paw waves. In his denial, Astros propped up the stick again, hoping to give Genji a second option. But no matter how many times he tried, the results remained the same.
"Yep, that confirms it. We''re going back." Genji picked up the stick, placed Astros on his shoulder, and turned around.
As this was happening, Astros stared at the stick in disbelief, wondering how such an outcome was possible. In the end, he concluded the stick must be rigged. That''s the only explanation! It''s not him that''s the problem; it''s the stick. Yes, that must be the case...
Half a minute later, Genji returned to the battle site and examined the chaotic scene. The once fluffy white cloud ground now had countless pits scattered throughout, with several stained by thick blotches of blood. Crushed bones and equipment shards twinkled in the sunlight, granting a glamorous touch to this grisly scene.
In the distance, the giant stood with similarly ghastly wounds across his body. There wasn''t even an inch of unblemished skin. The last chunks of armor dissipated around him, revealing flesh more fissured than soil during a drought. The giant was left with only the handle of his weapon, as the rest had broken into a dozen pieces and fallen by his feet.
It was a grievous sight, but the giant''s condition was light compared to Cainance, who couldn''t even stand. The aspiring giant hunter was on one knee, barely holding himself up with his sword. The other half of his torso had become mush, with not even a single bone intact¡ªeverything had turned into pulverized bone dust. His eyelids were also droopy, as if he would fall asleep at any second.
It was evident who had won the exchange. In his last moments, Cainance met Genji''s gaze and flashed a mirthful smile. ''I guess this is how things end. In that case...''
Cainance pushed his sword toward Genji, indicating he could take his belongings as long as he killed the giant. Otherwise, the giant would take his body as a trophy, and their agreement would be void. Then Cainance collapsed, and his eyes grew dull.
It was unknown if Genji got the message, but he summoned his dagger anyway. This was the perfect opportunity to kill the giant, and he was not about to pass it up.
Deadly Severance activated, and half of his energy condensed onto the tip. The giant wearily looked up at him just as Genji suddenly vanished. Sensing the crisis, the giant raised his hand to block, but his fatigued body couldn''t keep up with Genji''s speed. In fact, this wouldn''t be possible even if the giant were in his prime since Genji had activated both Like A Feather and Untraceable Movement in conjunction with Flashstep.
Genji appeared on the shoulder and drove his Lightning Inspiration into a crack in the neck, ripping the wound wide open. Then he channeled his remaining energy into a violent vortex and swung down, ending the giant''s life.
224 – Settlement: Grotesque Fairytales
[You have slain: Olflav Leader of Giants.]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 78 points.]
[You have received 642 realm coins.]
[You have obtained: Giant''s Grip]
[Giant''s Grip]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Gloves
Defense: 45
Requirements: 58 Str, 60 Con
Durability: 260/260
Effects:
- Iron Grip (Passive): Your grip is so strong that it takes an overwhelming force to break it. +4 strength judgment when grabbing.
- Giant''s Constitution (Passive): +3 Str, +2 Con
- Titanic Empowerment (Active): +7 Str, -50 hp/second, -2 Dex for 10 minutes. After the effect ends, you will experience extreme fatigue and weakness for 3 days. Cooldown: 3 days.
Description: An overbearing pair of gloves condensed from the essence of a mature giant with a faint trace of Titan Bloodline. It grants immense power but with no regard for the body''s capacity. If you''re not careful, your body might collapse before you can use the provided power.
Note: Titanic Empowerment cannot be used with Berserk, as both push the body beyond its limit. However, the Iron Grip bonus stacks with Berserk¡¯s stat boosts.
Note 2: The side effects of Titanic Empowerment are due to your low constitution. They will decrease in intensity as your stats grow, disappearing completely once you reach 80 Con.
These prompts flashed across Genji''s sight as the giant corpse fell over. Genji jumped off and picked up [Giant''s Grip] from the ground. Meanwhile, Bruce gathered the rivers of blood and concocted his bloody elixer. The refined blood sphere was so vibrant that one could mistake it for a giant red diamond.
However, Bruce didn''t immediately consume this blood. There was so much energy within that it would immediately send him into slumber. He couldn''t afford to sleep yet as there were still tasks to do. As Genji approached Cainance''s body, Bruce used his tendrils to gather the miscellaneous loot from the dead realm members.
There wasn''t much to scavenge since the giant had crushed most of the worn items, leaving only broken shards and plenty of glittering scarlet cards. Bruce piled the scarlet cards on one side and the promising scraps on another. Then he and Astros began rummaging through the heap, searching for any intact pieces of equipment.
While this was happening, Genji finished cremating Cainance''s body. This was the least he could do after taking his possessions. There wasn''t much left after the battle, but the giant slayer''s Mythril sword remained relatively intact, testifying to its quality.
"I don''t know why you insist on killing this giant, but I hope you''re happy. Let me ensure your body won''t be disturbed as a parting gift." Genji scattered the ash and examined the sword in his hand.
[Felsthane]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Spell Sword
Attack: 42
Requirements: 46 Str, 42 Dex, 50 Int
Durability: 121/300
Effects:
- Mana Resonance (Passive): Spells cast through this sword will be 25% more effective and cost 10% less resources. Remnant mana from previous spells will increase these values. (Cap of 75% and 40% respectively).
- Elemental Malleability (Passive): Casting spells of conflicting nature won''t take a toll on the weapon''s durability or interfere with each other''s effectiveness.
- Perfect Parry (Active): Forcibly parry an incoming physical attack, regardless of reaction speed or technique. Cooldown of 6 hours.
Description: A powerful spell sword forged to make the most of a magic swordsman''s abilities. It is a reliable partner in the right hands but wasted potential otherwise. Treat it well and it may regain its former glory.
Note: Perfect Parry puts a high stress on one''s body. Be careful when blocking an overwhelmingly powerful attack.
Genji stored the sword away and collected the sorted loot. Thanks to his companion''s efforts, he added 7 more items to his earnings, 5 of which were found by Astros. The ferret''s luck still paid dividends despite his skepticism about it. Once they finished, they set off in a safe direction and waited for the remaining world time to end.
A few short hours later, Genji found himself in the void again. He immediately asked for his missing arm and eye to be healed. A strong itch washed over him as tissues regrew in incomprehensible ways.
After the fleshly outline formed, a cooling sensation swept through these parts and reconnected the severed nerves. In the end, botches of skin covered the exposed flesh and stretched taunt, preventing any strange air pockets from forming. The healing light faded and Genji shook his wrist with comfort.
''Finally regained my arm. Got to say, it''s quite inconvenient to fight with only one.''
Settlement: Grotesque Fairytales
Achievements:
- Survived the dangerous start against a Sky Dwelling Giant (3)
- Survived the encounter with Bambi, Prince of the Forest (2)
- Defeated the strange Bearman and his trapped cabin in the woods
- Defeated Santa, Christmas Ruin
- Stopped Demon Puppet, Pinocchio (2)
- Slain Cinderella, Princess of Burning Ash, and her helper, Scratching Hollow, the Insane (4)
- Survived the encounter with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" (2)
- Survived and traversed several mutated zones, including the frog''s bewitching songs (8)
- Slain Rapunzel, Princess of the Isolated Tower (2)
- Survived the play of Little Red Riding Hood (2)
- Saw through the ruse behind Hansel and Gretel (3)
- Killed the 3 Little Pigs
- Survived the trap of Ring around the Rosie (3)
- Outsmarted and counter-killed the Mad Hatter and March Hare at the tea party (4)
- Defeated the black queen in a chess battle (3)
- Destroyed the order of the King''s Court
- Escaped Wonderland (2)
- Saw through the trap of the Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Bargained with the candle seller
- Defeated the Priest of the Feast in an eating competition (3)
- Slain Sleeping Beauty, Aurora (4)
- Witnessed the Story of Snow White and the Mad Queen (2)
- Survived Goldilocks'' trap and counter-killed her (2)
- Slain the Leader of Giants (4, overall achievements are reduced due to your low contributions)
- Final optional mission bonus (2 for initial completion + 1 for every story afterward = 8)
- Completed the Trial of Exploration II
- Completed the Trial of Self-awareness
Total Achievements: 71
Remark: Due to the power difference, achievements from killing mini-bosses past a certain threshold will retain their original values.
Total World Time: 20 days
Rating: Between Champion and Nightmare
Note: Although your performance is not as shocking as your past worlds, it is still remarkable given that this was your first 3rd step world. EverRealm looks forward to your growth.
Coins Rewarded: 2,567 realm coins (After deducting healing costs).
Stat Points: 22
Two things stood out to Genji about this settlement report. The first was the remark about killing mini-bosses. Normally, each sequential kill would provide diminishing returns after a certain point, until they were all grouped under one achievement. This was understandable as it implied a massacre throughout the world session.
A massacre, by definition, meant either weapons of mass destruction or an overwhelming power level such that mini-bosses could hardly resist. It didn¡¯t make sense to give people high achievements for this. Otherwise, everyone would reach the 100 achievement mark, and special equipment forging would lose its value.
The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
But in Genji¡¯s case, every mini-boss he killed was stronger than him, calculated based on the highest stat. It was an uphill battle every time, either requiring fast critical thinking or the support of a competent team. As such, Genji didn¡¯t fall into the previous two categories and obtained a boosted final score.
The second notable point was the missing note after the stat points about reaching the world''s limit. Not much needed to be said about this. Genji expected it since he hadn¡¯t participated in any large-scale wars nor personally challenged a nearly unbeatable foe.
[You have experienced a high variety of stories in this world.]
[For this feat, you have been rewarded with 2 kilograms of Unrefined Fabletasium.]
[Unrefined Fabletasium]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Crafting Material
Effect: Items forged from this metal gain 20% magic affinity.
Description: A rare metal from the world of Grotesque Fairytales. It¡¯s not as potent as Mythril, but it holds a place among the magic community. Its main specialty lies in supporting the wildest of imaginations, provided the crafter is skilled enough to bring such a reality to life.
After so long, Genji finally obtained a designated reward for clearing worlds again. However, this addition was less impactful than the first few times he''d received a bonus. His combat style had already surpassed the point where a random reward could significantly influence his abilities. Regardless, this was a welcome supplement, as it opened up more avenues for the future.
Genji put the fist-sized chunk away and waited for his Legacies to finish upgrading. Half an hour later, the three items floated down into his hands, revealing a glossier sheen.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary
Damage: 48 (+1)
Durability: 515/515 (+5)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): This pair of daggers will grow with you after every world.
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +70 sharpness (+3)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +265 durability (+5)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +35 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (+5 Sharpness)
Description: The changes might be minor, but these daggers are approaching a noticeable limit. It is unknown what lies beyond it, but it can only be beneficial.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary
Defense: 48 (+2)
Durability: 320/320 (+20)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): This cloak will grow with you after every world.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 70 seconds. Cooldown of 26 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Canceling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +5 seconds, Cooldown: -2 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduces the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 4 minutes 10 seconds. (Cooldown: -20 seconds)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 6 meters and targets you killed. (Range +1 meter)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed (no change)
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: The changes are gradual but present. Will it break through before its dagger friends or keep pace with them? Your next settlement will determine everything.
The next moment, Genji found himself back in his room. Bruce manifested beside him and Genji passed back the refined blood. Bruce removed the lid from the barrel and happily chugged. Seconds later, he morphed back into sheath form, fell on Genji''s bed, and entered a slumber. Seeing this, Genji gave Astros some allowance to play with and left for the strengthening hall.
[Enigma]
Health: 32,240/32,240 (Con x 250 x 1.2 + 14,240. Increase of 2,100.)
Energy: 5,600/5,600 (Int x 50 + 2700 from cloak. Increase of 947.)
Con: 52 ¡ú 56 + (1 + 3) = 60
Str: 52 ¡ú 57 + (1 + 2) = 60
Dex: 52 ¡ú 56 + (1) = 57
Int: 54 ¡ú 58
Spc: 55 ¡ú 60
After equipping the [Kraken''s Grasp] and [Giant''s Grip], Genji met the bare minimum requirements for using his new gear. His hands felt a bit numb due to his actual stats being lower than the recommended values, but it should be manageable as long as he avoided using the active skills.
The passive stat boosts alone made it worthwhile to endure the discomfort. Plus, this should only be an issue for one world. After the next, he should have enough stat points to patch this issue. Genji flexed his fingers a few more times before unequipping the items and pulling up Astros''s stats.
[Astros]
Health: 10,800/10,800 (Con x 100 + 7,000, increase of 1,100)
Ethereal Mana: 1,560/1,560 (Int x 20 x 2 (racial bonus), increase of 360)
Con: 27 ¡ú 38
Str: 28 ¡ú 39
Dex: 38 ¡ú 46
Int: 30 ¡ú 39
Spc: 41 ¡ú 49
New Skills:
- Gluttonous Recovery (Passive): +500% recovery rate when eating.
- Faded Shadows (Active): Cost 120 Ethereal Mana to activate. While active, +35% stealth effectiveness and -10 Ethereal Mana/minute.
- Exotic Hunter (Passive): Temporarily increase your growth rate after you consume a unique/rare specimen. The increase is proportional to the specimen''s rarity, strength, and quantity.
Skill Changes:
- Blessed by Fate (Passive): +10 luck (+3).
- Mutual Assistance (Passive): Your partner will also gain some of your stats. Shared stats: +2,000 health and +3 luck (+1 luck).
- Free Flow (Active): Cost 100 Ethereal Mana to activate. While active, consume 7 Ethereal mana/minute to boost your speed by 45% (Initial cost: +20, Maintenance cost: +2, Speed Boost: +15%).
A lot had changed after two worlds, but Astros still hadn''t developed any offensive abilities. Genji guessed this was due to the ferret''s lack of combat experience, though this wasn¡¯t entirely bad.
People can only develop so many abilities, and it''s always better to specialize in a small number of fields rather than dabble in everything. That way, they can fully reap the benefits of each path. This was especially evident after Genji experienced the advantages of Astros''s strong luck.
Next up were his masteries.
- Swift Steps (Grandmaster 0% ¡ú 2%)
- Parrying (Grandmaster 0% ¡ú 3%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster 24.2% ¡ú 26.8%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster 27% ¡ú 29.4%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster 53.9% ¡ú 56%)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Supreme 0% ¡ú 7%)
- Dodging (Supreme 5.8% ¡ú 12.3%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme 41% ¡ú 43%)
The increase this time was relatively small compared to before due to the shorter world duration and lack of desperate fights. The only exceptions were Hand-to-Hand Combat and Dodging, the two masteries that revolved around his instincts.
Genji had practically relied on his intuition to survive this world, so it was no surprise that their corresponding masteries also experienced rapid growth. His instincts will only grow sharper in the future, though it is unlikely they will catch up to Dagger Mastery because of its head start.
Next, he visited the training hall to adjust to his new stats. Once that was done, he regulated his breathing and entered his mind space. It was time to meet his legacy spirits again. The cold air was as crisp as he remembered, filling his lungs with refreshing coolness.
Genji trudged lightly across the snowy plains, relaxing his mind as he waited for the spirits to reveal themselves. It didn¡¯t take long, as the signature forest soon came into view. The silhouette with glowing white eyes peeked out from behind a large tree, while the twins with vortex eyes stood in the open, awaiting his approach.
To this day, Genji still couldn¡¯t tell what genders they had, if any at all. He stopped across from them and quietly observed their changes. Their presence felt more vibrant and lively, like a carp in water. Whatever bottleneck they had been at, their progress was evident in their physical manifestations.
"Hello again. I¡¯m here to ask for some help."
The twins held their gaze for a few moments before lightly nodding, as if they already knew what Genji wanted. The twin on the left waved their hand, and the coldness of the mind space enveloped him. The next moment, he found himself back in the training hall, devoid of all distracting thoughts.
Without wasting time, Genji chugged the potion of enlightenment he had brought from the Tooth Fairy. Sparks flew in his mind as ideas clashed in unimaginable ways. These collisions generated new concepts and supported his innovative efforts. Genji directed all of this toward a specific vortex technique, infusing it with concepts of decay and assimilation.
Puzzle pieces chipped, and the edges wore down as he tried to piece together the four parasite inheritances. He failed repeatedly, but he made more progress with each attempt. Eventually, he succeeded, and the four concepts formed an internal cycle within the vortex. Infection fed into Mutation, Mutation fed into Assimilation, Assimilation fed into Decay, and Decay fed into Infection.
Together, they pushed the lethality of Shadow Devour to new levels, becoming the embodiment of death itself. The budding sense of threat grew with each passing moment, evoking goosebumps in Genji. The hairs on his arms stood up like a frightened cat, and sweat broke out across his back. Genji opened his eyes and dispersed the vortex before contemplating the last few seconds.
''It feels like I touched upon some greater concept, but my skills aren¡¯t high enough to control it. I almost lost control.''
Genji recondensed the vortex and carefully examined its circulation. Everything was stable up to the third concept, but the moment he added the fourth, the vortex spiraled into an uncontrollable shredder. The edges would accelerate and gradually grow in size, demanding a sacrifice to quell its rage. Once used, either the opponent would perish, or the technique would devour its user. It was a powerful double-edged sword.
[Shadow Devour]
Effect: Consume at least 1,000 points of energy to construct a vortex that shreds anything it touches.
Damage Breakdown:
- Deals (30 x Energy) as damage (damage coefficient: +10)
- If this hits a weak point, multiply the damage by 4x and inflict 1.5% of total damage on the soul (Damage multiplier: +1x, Soul Damage: +0.5%)
- If this hits a fatal spot, execute the target directly and destroy their soul
Conditional Effect: When infusing all four concepts, increase the total damage coefficient by 10% every second.
The biggest point is that the conditional effect is 10% of the current value, not the initial one. This means the growth is exponential, not linear. At a rate of 10% every second, it would only take about 7 seconds to double the power. After another 7 seconds, the value would double again, reaching 4 times the initial value!
The only limit is Genji''s control, which dictates how long he can charge the technique before he loses control. But even then, this is only a soft limit, as it can be improved with time. In a way, he had truly created a technique that scales with his stats.
The scariest part is that this isn''t the technique''s full potential. More concepts can be infused in the future to further improve these values. They just need to be compatible with the current set and require Genji to figure out how to integrate them into the cycle.
*Hissss* ''What did I create this time?'' he thought, taken aback by the sudden jump in power.
Meanwhile, Astros, in his boredom, had started up the hologram machine and occupied himself with the built-in programs. As he did so, his prominent fluffy tail waved back and forth in a familiar manner, reminiscent of the previous incident...
225 – Future Investments
The netizens of the internet were going about their day as normal when a small portion of them suddenly received a notification from their accounts. They casually glanced at the message and momentarily froze. Then, without hesitation, they swiped over to the video-sharing platform and quickly made some inputs on their devices. Within a split second, they entered full-screen mode and got comfortable in their seats.
This drastic response was because their favorite ferret had just uploaded another video. Due to how much traction the first video got, the platform automatically generated an account for Astros.
The people who wanted to see more followed this account, allowing them to receive live notifications whenever Astros posted. This resulted in tens of thousands of people rushing into the video within the first minute. This number would only grow over the next few minutes, reaching millions and pushing the video onto the trending page again.
Although Astros didn''t do anything substantial in the video, everyone watched with focused gazes, not at all distracted by boredom. There was just something about the innocent ferret that drew them in and made them forget their worries. In this session, Astros started by waving to the camera and enthusiastically gesturing with his paws, as if trying to explain his adventures from the previous month.
However, this only came off as excitement to the watchers due to the language barrier. Nonetheless, the watchers subconsciously nodded their heads as if they were listening to an interesting story told by a friend.
After a few minutes, Astros grew thirsty and picked up a crystal cup holding some water. The cup had beautiful ridges on the side, allowing for colorful reflections as it scattered the incoming light. Astros drank a quarter of the water before returning to his story. This continued until his stomach grumbled for food.
Astros looked around the room, and his eyes lit up. He then ran off the screen and returned with a platter of snacks he''d previously brought. He picked up a skewer containing a roasted snake and happily munched away. Halfway through, he stopped, picked up another stick, and offered it to the camera.
Astros tilted his head, wondering if his camera friend would take the food. After holding the stance for a few seconds, Astros interpreted this as a "no" and returned to his meal, his eyes curling upward in contentment.
Afterward, Astros introduced some other snacks he enjoyed, like crispy bug chips, braised rodents, and juicy rabbit stew. The audience had vastly different tastes, but the gusto with which Astros ate made them consider trying these exotic foods.
Many watchers gulped down a mouthful of saliva, contemplating whether they should grab some food themselves. But after a brief struggle, they decided to finish the video first. They just couldn''t bring themselves to interrupt the cute ferret. However, they did add getting food onto the priority list for next time.
Astros finished his snack and rubbed his stomach with satisfaction. His tail waved back and forth as he set up the next segment: his favorite rhythm game. He lightly bobbed his head and tapped the table three times as the countdown flashed across the screen. Then all pandemonium broke loose as shapes of various colors and streaks flashed across the screen.
Astros''s paws flickered across the tablet, hitting all the patterns with pinpoint precision. Squeals of excitement and joy sounded as he did so, augmented by the rapidly incrementing combo counter in the upper right corner. This lasted two minutes before Astros cleared the level with only a few mistakes. Golden stars flew onto the screen and displayed his final score.
Astros hopped up and down, clearly excited about his accomplishment. Then he brought his raised paws down on the screen, selecting the next level. The sequence of levels continued for half an hour until a blurred voice called for Astros. Hearing this, Astros paused his game and turned toward the door. But as he did so, his swaying tail hit the "stop recording" button and the video abruptly ended. It took the viewers a few seconds to process what had happened before they raced to the comments to leave their support.
RagingDino: Although the ending was out of nowhere, I still enjoyed this session. But as compensation for the accident, I demand another video! (92,367 likes to 117 dislikes)
DragonHerbert: Wait a minute, this isn''t (insert explicit material). Where did all my time go? (87,315 likes to 233 dislikes)
RandomUser3322: @DragonHerbert What are you doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be catching up on the latest shows?
TromboneLaBone: @DragonHerbert Exposed! So dragons do watch that as well?
DragonHerbert: @TromboneLaBone Slander! I would do no such thing! (But I will gladly make time for my ferret friend''s videos)
And that was how Astros accidentally became the platform''s favorite comfort blogger.
Drip
Drop
Drip
Drop
Genji stared intently as he carefully squeezed drops of a pink liquid onto a petri dish containing a culture of green bacteria. The liquid dispersed across the bacteria, nourishing them and facilitating a specific change. Beside him, Genji had a scanner hooked up to a monitor pointed at the dish.
A graph jumped up and down on the monitor, beeping occasionally at the extremes. Genji gently shook the culture dish to redistribute the liquid at the high points and cautiously released another drop at the low points, praying this new dose wouldn''t overwhelm the colony. This process lasted another hour before the monitor flashed green and the line stabilized in the middle. Genji had succeeded in his experiment.
Seeing this, Genji immediately opened a regulated chamber and slid the dish inside. Once that was shut and locked, Genji let out a sigh of relief and pulled up his foggy goggles. Next were his sweat-filled latex gloves that clung to his skin and his sterilized white lab coat. These were no normal equipment, as he had purchased them from a custom manufacturer on the marketplace.
These specialized items were needed because the substances used in this experiment had nasty side effects if they touched the skin. The pink liquid, for example, was a highly concentrated mutation serum capable of inducing stage 4 cancer with a drop, even amongst third-step existences.
The bacteria, on the other hand, was a unique breed capable of eating through flesh within milliseconds. Genji originally used it as the main killing component for his most vicious poisons. One could imagine the damage the two would deal if they entered the human body. It was so dangerous that Genji only dared use the two together in a controlled environment rather than in actual combat.
But then one might ask why Genji was messing with these dangerous substances in the first place. The answer lay in what the scanner was calibrated to. Before the experiments started, Genji had ground up some fairy dust and fed it through an analyzer. That meant the bacteria he cultivated had the same properties as the fairy dust! Genji had created an artificial enhancer for his potions!
Although the bacteria''s effects couldn''t match the original fairy dust, it was a renewable source he could draw upon. The bacteria would take time to multiply, but he''d completed the most crucial step. Now, they only needed some occasional food and water, and Genji would see results after the next world.
"That took way too long," he muttered as he stretched his arms. "I was starting to think it was impossible."
Genji wrote a note on the bacteria''s care instructions and stuck it to the glass chamber. Then he stepped out to inform Cake of the new task.
"Sure, no problem," Cake agreed after he finished. "They just need to be fed every few days, right? Let me set an alarm."
"Thank you. Just know that you should never touch them directly. Always feed them through the tube."
"Will I lose my hand if I do?"
"Even worse. You will be eaten alive. These guys won''t stop until they run out of food. That''s why I need you to carefully control their intakes. Otherwise, who knows what they''ll mutate into? It would be a disaster if they broke out."
"..." Cake gave him a speechless look before asking why he kept making these dangerous biohazards.
"Too much of anything can be poison, but that doesn''t mean poison can''t be used in medicine. In fact, the best medicines turn poisons into miracle tonics by neutralizing the risks. If I can use this properly, I can take my potions to the next level."
Cake sighed and resigned herself to Genji''s strange concoctions. Genji thanked her again and headed out to meet Markus, the blacksmith in charge of his gear.
"Hey, how have you been?" Genji greeted Markus as he walked in. "Is business still as good as usual?"
"So-so," he answered, still hammering away at a sword. "I''m seeing better equipment these days, so my proficiency''s going up pretty fast. Is it the same as usual today?"
"Yes, but I have something else as well." Genji unloaded his battle-worn gear on a table and pulled out the chunk of Fabletasium he got from EverRealm. "Do you think you can make something with this?"
Markus paused his actions and squinted at the metal ore in Genji''s hands. "Rare stuff," he said after a few seconds. "But I don''t recommend it." He stood up, took the sword to a nearby barrel, and quenched it before resuming his explanation amidst plumes of smoke. "Fabletasium requires a competent mage to engrave runes during the forging process to manifest the bonus effect. I don''t specialize in that area, so I will only waste its potential. You''ll want to consult with those ManaRealm people for this. I can introduce you to a few acquaintances, but it''ll cost you."
"Price is not a problem if they can create the product I have in mind."
"Up to you. Now give me a moment." Markus moved the blade up and down before wiping the excess oil with a rag. He then gave the sword a few test swings before raising it to his face for a closer examination. Seconds later, he gave the body a strong flick and listened to the rhythmic ringing sounds. Satisfied with the results, Markus set the sword aside and grabbed his notebook to jot down some names.
"Just be careful about the price. They''re masters of their craft and can easily raise the cost, especially when you''re unaware of the details," Markus said, ripping out and handing over the page.
"I''ll keep that in mind." Genji took the page and walked out.
His next stop was the commercial district, where he set up a stall to sell his less important loot. This option typically nets a higher profit for items below legendary since he didn''t have to pay the inter-realm tax. People came and went around his stall, with few making an active purchase.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Genji didn''t mind the wait and browsed the forums to pass the time. This platform was one of the few communication methods between the realms and provided plenty of up-to-date information on recent events. For example, there was a thread complaining about a rampaging giant in the clouds and how the poster had barely survived.
Han (MetaRealm): I should have known it was a trap. The team who shared this information was completely absent from the fight. Dammit! We lost so many members. Don''t let me catch you in a world or we''ll give you a piece of our mind! Fyi, this team is from SagaRealm. I don''t know their names, but they are a devious group. Be careful when you meet anyone from this realm.
It was the same group Genji had tricked into besieging the giant in the previous world. This team was among the lucky few who survived the final massacre due to Cainance''s interference. Now, they¡¯re spreading the word about the tragedy and the perpetrators'' despicable conduct.
Normally, this would alienate the accused group, as no one wants to risk working with a deceitful team that might betray them. It simply isn¡¯t worth the trouble. That¡¯s why most teams tend to avoid such behavior unless they¡¯re in a desperate situation.
But what does any of this have to do with Genji? His name wasn''t attached to the act, nor was he physically present. How can anyone associate this with him? That''s the benefit of hiding his identity.
An actual SagaRealm member replied to the thread, protesting how it was unfair to lump everyone under this description due to the actions of a rotten apple. This resulted in a furious scolding from the original poster.
Hans: I don''t fucking care! Half of our team got wiped out because of this scheme. And for what? Just so one team can get a legendary item? We saw the corpse afterward. They took advantage of us for their own gains!
Genji exited this thread and clicked on the other news. No matter where he went, there was always an interesting story about what happened in another world. From massive raid parties to champions soloing a powerful boss to weird world principles, there was everything he needed to know for the future.
Between these threads, he also submitted the Mythril sword to the auction house. The sword was viable even among 4th-step fighters, so he could expect a good price. Afterward, he messaged the people on Markus''s name list and briefly explained his requirements. Genji stayed at the stall for two more hours until he sold his last item.
A few crafters got back to him within this time, but negotiations quickly fell through when they quoted an absurd price. At that point, he might as well upgrade his masteries instead. This continued until one enchanter explained the reasoning behind the cost.
Azona: Look, you''re asking for a lot from us. It takes a lot of mana to engrave a proper rune structure. Fabletasium is especially demanding since it can endure a remarkable amount of mana. Unless you can provide an alternative mana source, I''ll need at least this much to make it worthwhile.
Genji considered the enchanter''s words for a few minutes before sending the information on [Essence of Fire], the drop from the Cinderella boss fight.
[Essence of Fire]
Rating: Epic (Quasi-Legendary)
Type: Crafting Item / Magic source
Effects:
- Use this to craft a piece of equipment and give it powerful fire traits
- Use this as an energy source to greatly empower your fire attribute spells.
Description: The core of a molten monster who was killed before she could utilize her vital energy. Due to how swift the attack was, the energy in this core remains abundant and high in quality.
Enigma: Will this do?
Azona: Now that''s not something you see every day. Too bad it has a low rating and the wrong attribute. Otherwise, this would be enough to finish the forging process. Are you sure you don''t want to forge a fire attribute item? I can guarantee decent results if you agree.
Enigma: No thanks. Only one thing interests me right now.
Azona: In that case, how about I exchange for an equivalent amount of energy and you pay the labor costs? Let''s say 23,000.
Enigma: 9,000 coins.
While Genji didn''t know the essence''s exact value, he trusted Markus''s advice and directly slashed the price.
Azona: 18,000.
Enigma: 12,000 tops. Items that increase combat power are more valuable than normal crafting materials.
Azona: Make it 15,000 and I''ll throw in some enchants as well.
Enigma: 16,500. I''ll cover the tax, so do a good job.
Azona: Deal.
Then Genji received a standard business contract that included the terms they''d agreed to. He pressed his thumb on the signature section before sending the materials and a 20% deposit.
Azona: Just a heads up, this will take about a month to finish. I have other commissions right now and can''t dedicate all my time to this project.
Enigma: That''s fine. I''ve already transferred the payment to EverRealm. You''ll receive the rest when you submit the item, provided it has the attributes I asked for.
Genji closed the chat and teleported back to his room. Immediately, he felt an exuberant aura flooding the room. The aura was very active and coiled around the room like cloudy dragons. At the center of this commotion was a maroon sheath emanating a ruby light. Dull yellow lines appeared along the edges and gradually stretched upward, forming a faint outline.
The design was still too rough to distinguish the details, but its presence gave the sheath an imposing flair. The light faded, and the aura gradually retracted. Genji didn''t wait any longer and picked up the newly upgraded sheath to examine its stats.
[Sheath of Original Blood]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 240/240 (+120)
Requirements: Killer of The Original Vampire
Effects: Sheath Form
- Blood Morphing (Passive): Can take on any form by consuming the stored blood power. (New skill, upgraded form of Flexible Molding.)
- Blood Mending (Passive/Active): Gradually repairs the durability of the weapon inside by using the excess iron from blood. When activated, it consumes a moderate amount of blood power to perform an emergency repair. The repaired durability will degrade over time and be depleted at twice the original rate. (Upgraded form of Repair.)
- Catastrophic Spear of Annihilation (Active): Transforms into a spear to unleash an attack containing all the stored blood power. After the attack lands, the weapon spirit will fall dormant for 3 days.
Effects: Horse Form
- Blood Evolution (Passive): Upgrades this item when enough blood power is accumulated.
- High Endurance (Passive): Reduces stamina consumption of long-distance running by 30%.
- Sudden Sprint (Active): Bursts out with 300% speed for 15 minutes. Cooldown of 1 day.
Description: Having consumed the blood of a giant incomparably stronger than him, Bruce gained tremendous power and achieved his next evolution. All his attributes have increased significantly, and he''s gained some new abilities. In terms of overall quality, this sheath stands at the peak of legendary items¡ªit just needs another push to reach the next level.
Even among all his growth-type equipment, Bruce''s potential ranks among the top, just behind his legacies. Just look at how much his abilities have changed after two upgrades. The spear form, for instance, is an ultimate attack paralleling the Vampire King''s, capable of threatening even the strongest 3rd-step fighters, provided enough power is stored beforehand.
But as powerful as the ability may be, Genji hopes he will never have to use it, as it would reset all progress made so far. The situation would have to be truly dire for him to use Bruce''s accumulated energy for a single strike.
Aside from that, the other abilities are decent additions, providing some much-needed utility. Genji might rarely use them, but it¡¯s better to have them than not. Blood Mending could be the difference between losing a piece of prized equipment and barely bringing it back for repair, while Sudden Sprint has a variety of uses¡ªfrom a quick escape to staying in hot pursuit of a target; the versatile ability can do it all.
The intense aura receded, and Bruce manifested beside him. The newly evolved nightbane flexed his muscles in contentment and greeted his friend.
"Glad to have you back," Genji said. "For a moment, I was worried you might miss our next adventure."
Bruce grinned in response, conveying that he would never. After all, it would be a shame not to try the ingredients in the upcoming world and clean up the battlefields after Genji.
"Anyway, go have some fun. The little guy doesn''t eat enough when you''re not around. He''s almost losing weight."
Bruce chortled at the joke and took the spending card offered by Genji. Then he approached the gaming room, where excited ferret squeaks leaked out from a partially closed door.
Genji walked through the marketplace, browsing for new consumables when he suddenly locked eyes with an older man. The man had unkempt shoulder-length hair, gray robes, a curved wooden staff, and, most notably, a subtle, unchanging smile. This was another acquaintance of Genji''s; only this time, their association was characterized by pure hostility.
More specifically, the man''s schemes had implicated many people, including Genji, eventually leading to their inevitable confrontation. This was Shepherd, the most mysterious figure to enter the Spatial Battlefield¡ªa reputation cemented by killing a Balancer and tricking Eternal Void into locking down the planet. His plans ran deep, with no one the wiser about his true objectives.
Genji paused mid-stride, narrowing his eyes into slits. Shepherd approached without a change in his expression and stopped a short distance away.
"I believe this is the first time we''ve met? I''ve heard a lot about you, Enigma." The name rolled off his tongue like a serpent''s hiss, further augmenting his peculiarity.
Genji stared for a second before his smile mirrored Shepherd''s. "Yeeess. Iiii''vvveee alllso hearddd aaaa loooot abbboouutt youuuuu." Genji dragged out his words, matching the man''s tone.
Shepherd''s smile grew stiff for a brief moment before regaining his composure. "Is that so? Then I look forward to seeing you in the worlds. Don''t die until then..."
"Yees, doon''t diiiee untttillll then..." Genji nodded back as if he weren''t the subject of a disguised threat. With that, both parties separated, each leaving the encounter with their thoughts about the other.
''What a fucking weirdo.'' That was Genji''s impression of Shepherd. This train of thought broke only when Genji received a payment notification shortly after.
[Felsthane has been sold in the Marketplace Auction House.]
[You have received 23,884 realm coins (after tax. Original price is 26,538.)]
Seeing this, Genji immediately logged out of the Marketplace and opened his friends list. He confirmed a certain prophet had finished her world and sent her the stats on [Mirror of Uncertainty]. Seconds later, Genji received a response contradicting the sender''s usual collected persona.
Celine: Where did you find this? How much? I need to get this!
Enigma: We''ll talk in person.
Not long after, Genji received an entry request from Celine herself. He accepted, and she bolted toward him. She grabbed him by the collar and shook him back and forth, asking, "Where is it? Where is it?"
Genji patted her shoulder, asking her to release him first. This snapped Celine out of her zeal, followed by an awkward cough. *Ahem ahem* "Sorry about that. I got too excited. It''s not often I find items that boost fate abilities."
"What''s your offer?"
"I...I..." Celine hesitated briefly before answering with gritted teeth. "I can go up to 20,000 realm coins. I don''t have it right now, but I can pay in installments with interest. How about 30% per month?" It was clear that Celine desperately wanted this item. This wasn''t surprising since the mirror provided both a well-needed offensive role and a strong passive bonus.
"How much do you have on you?"
"14,000. Why? Is it too little?"
"Tell you what, I''ll give it to you for 12,000. In return, help me with divinations every now and then. Nothing too drastic, but I would like to have priority if we ever meet in a world."
"I don''t mind, but can I ask why? You''re normally quite strict with your finances."
"Let''s just say you''ll become someone worth investing in after obtaining this mirror. Instead of fussing over a few thousand coins I won''t get right now, I''d rather use that to consolidate our friendship. You never know when this connection might come in handy. The conveniences you can provide in case we do end up in the same world will surpass anything I might earn today. If you''re uncomfortable with this, then just treat it as my insurance for getting you to consider future requests."
"In that case, I will graciously accept this favor. Just send me a message when you need something from me. I don''t mind small favors, but I will still have to charge you for major divination. I will also have to raise prices if the request is unexpectedly difficult, but I''m willing to give it a try."
"That''s all I need to hear." With that, they exchanged goods, and Celine departed while humming a happy tune.
With this, Genji''s balance reached 42,000 coins, discounting the deposit paid to Azona. Genji took these coins to the strengthening hall and pumped 30,000 into Stealth, leaving 12,000 for consumables.
- Stealth (Grandmaster 56% ¡ú 86%)
It was the last day before Genji left for his home world. On this day, Cake was wiping down the wooden countertops of Genji''s potion shop and restocking the shelves when 7156 suddenly appeared at the entrance. Cake waved at him and gestured to the door on the side of the room.
"Enigma''s in his lab if you want to make any special requests. Otherwise, I can help you with normal potions."
7156 nodded as a greeting and pushed open the lab door. Hearing the sound of revolving doors, Genji looked up from his station.
"Fancy seeing you again. So what brings you here today?" Genji cheerfully asked.
"I need stronger poisons. Much stronger." This request stemmed from 7156''s experiences in his previous world, where he had encountered an opponent with 70+ stats. Genji''s previous poisons performed well, but they only helped 7156 narrowly escape after he exhausted his other abilities. The poison hardly even affected the enemy. As such, 7156 wanted to upgrade his arsenal, even if it meant bearing more risks when using this trump card.
"Sure. What percentage of dying do you want to work with? 95, 80, or 60%?" Genji casually asked a terrifying question, halting 7156''s thoughts in place.
"..."
7156 was speechless. He had expected high risks, but not this high. The fact that Genji even quantified the chance of death didn''t surprise him anymore. His madman friend would create something like that. But really? To use that of all standards to measure a poison''s power? Couldn''t he have used something more normal, like the stat numbers?
"Don''t look at me like that," Genji said. "Even if I give you something that can kill anything below the 4th step, will you dare use it? I don''t have anything that strong by the way. I use poison to create a slim chance of survival in an otherwise impossible situation. Since I''m gambling, shouldn''t I know my odds beforehand? And this baseline does that perfectly for me. It''s not like I will use a 100% lethal weapon on a whim. So, how risky do you want to be?"
"80," 7156 answered after a moment of thought. "And 95."
"Good choices, but I can only sell you one. These are still prototypes, and I can''t guarantee these numbers."
The corner of 7156''s eye twitched, but he eventually settled on the first option. With that, Genji''s time in EverRealm ended, and he began his break.
226 – Influence Spreads
A month had passed, but not much had changed on Earth. Staying true to her passion, Alysha spent her days carving tiny pieces of wood and posting corresponding pictures on her artist page. These stunningly complex trinkets allowed her to challenge herself using minimal materials.
However, this barrage of posts left a different impression on the few fans who noticed. They all assumed she had stocked up for months before sharing the pictures, given how unbelievably detailed her works were. Only the studio members and those who visited the art exhibit knew the truth.
This isn''t too big of a deal since her following is still small, but she is gaining traction among a niche circle. A few interested fans even reached out to buy some of her works. Alysha was ecstatic when she saw this and proudly shared the moment with her parents, who inwardly sighed with helplessness. At this rate, it would take a miracle for them to convince Alysha to explore other paths in life.
This event also spurred her to finalize her maker''s mark: an elegant, yet tiny knife pattern consisting of three cursive lines. The design required the utmost control and precision to carve properly. Alysha spent two straight days practicing before she could consistently replicate it. Upon succeeding, she engraved it onto her already small tickets and prepared them for shipping.
Those who placed small orders received their wares in inconspicuous brown envelopes, while larger orders came in boxes slightly bigger than rectangular tissue boxes. The insides were filled with packing paper, ensuring the delicate tickets arrived intact. This was added under Finlosh''s suggestion.
One of these buyers was the school''s art teacher, who paid special attention to the rising artist. He had placed the largest order, totaling 12 pieces, which he later brought to class for an exhibit.
"As you can see, the details are truly remarkable. It takes an unbelievable level of skill to make these. I got my hands on these this weekend. Pass them around and admire the pure craftsmanship of these pieces. It''s amazing! Now, believe it or not, we all know this artist. We saw some of her work on our field trip last month. Does anyone still remember her name?"
The teacher scanned the room, waiting for a volunteer, but only received blank stares. The kids were uninterested in the subject, more occupied by the trinkets circulating the room. The teacher inwardly sighed at this scene but didn''t hold it against them. At this age, school was merely a way to pass the time, and art was their relaxing period.
At this moment, Nathan, the quiet boy in the grade, raised his hand. "Lah Say Eirepon," he calmly answered.
"Oh?" The teacher looked over with faint surprise. "That is correct. Did you know this because you have a good memory, or did her art leave an impression on you?"
''It would be stranger if I didn''t know her. She''s been teaching me carving for months,'' Nathan thought with a mirthful smile. The corner of his eyes drifted to Alysha, who was dazedly staring off into space. Of all her customers, she did not expect her spirited art teacher to be one of them. On further thought, this made sense considering his reaction at the exhibit.
Alysha recovered from her trance and noticed Nathan subtly glancing at her. She flashed a light smile and accepted a trinket from a nearby classmate.
''I never thought I would see my own carvings under these circumstances. And under such high praise at that,'' she thought amusingly, rubbing her thumb over the crevices.
At the same time, Nathan answered the previous question. "I like her works. They are so detailed."
The teacher''s eyes lit up like fireworks in the night sky, comparable to meeting a good friend after a long separation. For a moment, he wanted to pour out his emotions in a lively discussion and engage with this like-minded spirit. However, he quickly quelled these impulses as they were unsuitable for this time and setting. In any case, the teacher developed a good impression of Nathan.
"I agree. That''s why I had to bring these in!" The teacher followed up, his voice still containing hints of excitement. "You don''t see this every day, even in the art circle, but now we do."
He fiddled with the projector and pulled up Alysha''s social media page. "As you can see, all these pictures were posted in the last few days: 18 hours ago, 19 hours ago, 22 hours, and 2 days. They are all recent. Eirepon is sharing a lot of her work at a rapid pace. This is something to be excited about! She will become amazing one day, and we''re here to watch it happen. Come on! Don''t look so bored. The ability to see and appreciate art is much more than that!"
To this, one girl raised her hand and voiced her doubts. "But won''t she eventually run out of pictures to share? Why should we care about this?"
"You''re looking at the wrong things. It doesn''t matter if Eirepon runs out of pictures. What she''s bringing to the art scene is worth more than any picture. I believe this so much that I want you to look at her daily posts between now and the end of next week. Just look at it! You don''t need to think about anything. Admire what she''s putting out. I''ll keep talking about this if you''re interested. Otherwise, treat this as an easy homework assignment. Sound good?"
This conversation took place six days before Genji''s return.
At a modest caf¨¦ in town, beneath a patio table with an open umbrella, Alysha sat with her doodling book. Soft pencil scribbles sounded as warm light rays peeked through the canopy, illuminating her canvas. Beside her were Kosa and Helen, enjoying a casual chat. The group had gone out to get boba tea for a little break and some girls'' time together.
Alysha, however, was too occupied by her doodles to enjoy the occasion. Since she started her artist account, she has been playing with possible designs for her trinkets. Her goal: create a model that was difficult enough to challenge her skills.
Unfortunately, her subpar illustration abilities made it difficult for her to outline properly. One could even say her sketches were indistinguishable from random scribbles. When she put the designs into practice, she couldn''t even understand what she had drawn, let alone all the details. Alysha couldn''t be good at everything, after all.
*Sigh* ''If only I could draw well,'' she thought, resignedly snapping her book shut and leaning back to admire the clouds.
Kosa and Helen giggled at this scene, content that Alysha had finally taken a break. It had taken them way too long to reach this point.
"You don''t need to think about carving all the time, you know? Learn to enjoy the little things in life," Helen advised. "There are many beautiful things you''ll miss if you hole up in the studio."
"But I like what I''m doing," Alysha responded. "I want to put all my time into this."
"I don''t think your mom will agree. She''s very keen on a proper work-life balance." Kosa would be lying if she said there wasn''t a hint of schadenfreude in her tone. After all, she had said the same thing when the agents were introduced. One could see how that turned out. It felt good to return those words to the family.
"But I don''t consider this work," Alysha protested.
*Tsk tsk* "That''s not going to fly with her," Kosa said, waving her finger. "Anyway, finish your drink, and let''s head back."
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Alysha inwardly sighed and picked up her drink. "No need. I''ll take it with me."
They walked back to the studio and prepared for Alysha''s afternoon lectures. During this process, Genji appeared at the entrance. He waved to his acquaintances and headed toward Alysha''s workspace.
"Hey, you''re back," she greeted him.
"Yeah. Work has been rather calm this month."
"That''s good. Should I use cherry or walnut?" Alysha held up two planks of wood.
"Does it matter?"
"Not really. I just wanted your opinion." Alysha admitted, playfully sticking her tongue out. "By the way, can you teach me to draw? That''s the one thing I need to work on right now."
"Sorry, you''re on your own. I haven''t touched a pencil in forever."
"Oh. I was hoping you had a trick for this."
Genji thought for a moment before speaking. "Well, if you''re up for it, why don''t you treat the pencil like a carving knife? The paper might be thin, but it''ll be like carving a wooden plank."
Alysha''s eyes immediately lit up. "That''s genius! How come I never thought of that?" She excitedly pulled out her doodle book and adjusted her grip, moving her fingers back from the tip. Then, with a few swipes of her wrist, the rough outline of a dragon appeared on the page. With this shift in mentality, her drawing style changed completely.
The details were still blurry, but they were better than her previous attempts. Now, all she needed was more practice, and the issues would resolve themselves. "There we go. Thanks, Genji. I''ll use this approach more often when I get stuck. Things become much easier when I relate it to carving."
Meanwhile, Kosa, who had overheard the conversation, had more questions than answers. ''What the frick just happened? He made a weird suggestion, and you actually implemented it? What kind of weirdo are you? And isn''t this the Return to Origin or something realm that those Wuxia novels like to mention? To use a stick as a sword, a leaf as a knife, and undeterred by one''s weapon constraints? What are you teaching her anymore, Genji? She''s supposed to be an innocent little girl, not a martial artist!''
Alysha eventually settled on cherry wood and backtracked out of the room. As they passed Kosa, the bodyguard regained her composure and chased after them.
They set up the supplies at the display table, and Genji took a seat. As the start time approached, the others gradually funneled into the room. Once everyone was seated, Alysha picked up her carving knife and began.
On the other side of the room, Nathan stared intently at Alysha''s movements, wanting to capture every detail. The agents, however, angled their heads strangely, trying to keep Genji out of sight. More specifically, they wanted to avoid Astros, who was coiled around Genji''s neck.
Amidst this oddity, there was also Kosa, who occasionally peeked at Astros from the corner of her eye. It was evident what she was doing, but Genji didn''t pay much attention to her.
''So cute,'' Kosa thought, completely distracted. ''I wonder how it would feel to bury my face in that fluffy tail.''
The female agent saw this and shivered in fear. Such was the consequence of falling for the ferret''s charm. The scariest part was that the victim fully embraced this result and willingly sank deeper into the abyss. One mistake, and they would fall into eternal damnation. But from the victim''s perspective, isn''t this a form of paradise? What right did they have to stop people from looking at the ferret then? Would it really be that bad if the person wanted it?
*Sigh* ''Such messy thoughts. I must be truly bored to think about ethical issues now of all times.'' The agent collected her thoughts and refocused on her surroundings. But before she could do anything else, she abruptly froze as Astros stood by her feet, blinking innocently at her with a snack in hand.
Astros tilted his head, curiously observing the strangely postured woman. The agent''s heart thumped wildly, her breathing grew erratic, and a light blush crept over her face. ''Keep it together. Keep it together. Don''t fall for it. You can''t. You''ll be screwed if you do.''
But no matter how much she chanted these mantras, she couldn''t keep down the impulsive thoughts forming in her heart. The final straw was when Astros waved at her, testing if she was still zoned out.
''Eeeeeeeeeeek, HE''S SO ADORABLE!'' In the end, the suppressed emotions burst out like a violent volcano, causing more harm than if it had gradually released the pressure.
Exhales of air grew audible as the agent gave in to her subconscious thoughts. Astros gave her one last look before transferring the snack to his mouth and hopping back to Genji. The agent''s eyes followed Astros''s every movement, more obsessed than a goblin seeing gold. A slightly perverted smile crept up on her face, releasing a thin strand of drool. Then a light giggle followed as she subconsciously reached for her phone to take a picture.
The other agents fell into despair upon seeing this. The demon''s charm had claimed another victim.
Meanwhile, Genji gave the woman a strange look, wondering if she had always been like this. ''It really is the quiet ones that hide the weirdest quirks. Not like I''m one to talk, but you certainly don''t see this often, especially from a government agent.''
The next day at school, the art teacher called for volunteers willing to share their thoughts on Alysha''s newest pictures. "Come on, don''t be shy. I''m sure we all found something we like. This is a good opportunity to talk about yourself and get to know your classmates."
The silence lasted a few moments before a girl near the middle awkwardly raised her hand. "Ah, Amanda, come on up. Tell everyone about your choice and briefly explain why it is your favorite."
The teacher pulled up the portfolio and gave Amanda a laser pointer. She pointed to a picture near the bottom of the screen and began her talk. "I like this one because the pandas are really cute. If possible, I want something similar as a birthday gift."
"That''s nice. Thank you for sharing. Class, give her a round of applause for going first." A halfhearted series of claps later, the teacher asked for a willing participant. Nathan chose to step up at this moment, prompting the teacher''s eyes to sparkle. After last week''s exchange, the teacher looked forward to what this like-minded boy would share.
Nathan didn''t disappoint as he scrolled down to the very first picture. "This is my favorite because I was on my phone when she posted it. I was the first person to see her pictures. It immediately caught my eye because her style stood out from the rest. The way the lines are defined, the smoothness of the corners, and the unusual attention to detail¡ªeverything about it jumped out at me like a tiger. I was breathless."
The class was dumbfounded, unable to keep up with half of Nathan''s words. Were they really in the same age group? If so, why was he so eloquent when they couldn''t even conceive of such an explanation? Comparisons are truly disparaging.
"That is such a cool story," the teacher said, leading the applause. "I wish I had that experience as well."
As Nathan returned to his seat, he noticed Alysha giving him a knowing smile. He bashfully scratched his head and quietly sat down.
Around the same time, Genji could be seen sharpening a carving knife back at the workshop. The soft scraping of metal whispered throughout the room, filling it with a tranquil chime.
Astros sat in the corner of the room, curiously watching Genji''s rhythmic motions. The female agent could also be seen peeking at Astros, her mind wandering in la-la land. Her partners buried their faces in their palms, half from secondhand embarrassment and the other half to cover their eyes.
Genji scooped a handful of water over the blade and started his final procedures. At this moment, Helen and Finlosh entered the room holding some dull knives.
"Hey there. I heard that you''re doing some maintenance. Mind if we join?" Helen asked.
"Go ahead," Genji replied without looking up.
"Thank you. By the way, can you teach us some tricks? The tools you give Alysha always seem to last longer than ours. None of us can figure out why."
The agents tensed at this question, as they suspected a supernatural cause. After all, it was almost unscientific that Alysha''s knife could last so long, especially given the intensity of her work. But if this was revealed, they would have to take drastic actions. Just look at the mess the last time someone exposed themselves. They could not afford another such crisis.
"If you hold the knife at a constant angle and grind away all the irregularities, the edge will naturally be sharp. I also apply a special layer that protects the metal from chipping." Genji gave a perfunctory answer.
"But still, isn''t the performance too exaggerated?"
"You wouldn''t think so if you knew what material I''m coating it with. Let''s just say it''s rarer than gold." In a way, he wasn''t lying. He never specified that the material wasn''t supernatural¡ªhe just guided the listener into believing the contrary.
"Then isn''t it wasteful to use it on a normal knife?"
"What else am I supposed to use it for, if not spoil Alysha?" This answer cut off any more questions, and the agents inwardly sighed in relief. Thankfully, the big shot knew how to shut down inquiries without raising too much suspicion, or they would have one hell of a cover-up to do today.
''Still, can you not give us such a heart attack next time? No wait, what next time? Better if this never happens again.''
A few hours later, school ended, and Alysha returned to the workshop. Kosa immediately noticed the agents'' somber disposition but didn''t think too much about it, dismissing it as another one of their mood swings. They''ve had plenty of those since Genji''s last meeting.
"Whoa, Genji, you''re sharpening knives again?" Alysha buoyantly asked, spotting the used whetstone on the counter.
"Yeah. Give it a try."
Alysha eagerly picked up her knife and a wooden block before bursting into action. Her hands wove across the air like graceful dancers, leaving minuscule wood scraps with each motion. Within minutes, a western dragon roaring on a mountain appeared in her hands. "Wow, so sharp. It''s almost like I''m cutting butter!"
"As long as you like it."
Stats before Tumultuous Frontier
Genji''s Stats
[Enigma]
Health: 32,240/32,240 (Con x 250 x 1.2 + 14,240. Increase of 2,100.)
Energy: 5,600/5,600 (Int x 50 + 2700 from cloak. Increase of 947.)
Con: 52 ¡ú 56 + (1 + 3) = 60
Str: 52 ¡ú 57 + (1 + 2) = 60
Dex: 52 ¡ú 56 + (1) = 57
Int: 54 ¡ú 58
Spc: 55 ¡ú 60
Masteries
- Swift Steps (Grandmaster 0% ¡ú 2%)
- Parrying (Grandmaster 0% ¡ú 3%)
- Firearms (Grandmaster 24.2% ¡ú 26.8%)
- Total Weapon Mastery (Grandmaster 27% ¡ú 29.4%)
- Stealth (Grandmaster 56% ¡ú 86%)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Supreme 0% ¡ú 7%)
- Dodging (Supreme 5.8% ¡ú 12.3%)
- Dagger Mastery (Supreme 41% ¡ú 43%)
Astros''s Stats
[Astros]
Health: 10,800/10,800 (Con x 100 + 7,000, increase of 1,100)
Ethereal Mana: 1,560/1,560 (Int x 20 x 2 (racial bonus), increase of 360)
Con: 27 ¡ú 38
Str: 28 ¡ú 39
Dex: 38 ¡ú 46
Int: 30 ¡ú 39
Spc: 41 ¡ú 49
New Skills:
- Gluttonous Recovery (Passive): +500% recovery rate when eating.
- Faded Shadows (Active): Cost 120 Ethereal Mana to activate. While active, +35% stealth effectiveness and -10 Ethereal Mana/minute.
- Exotic Hunter (Passive): Temporarily increase your growth rate after you consume a unique/rare specimen. The increase is proportional to the specimen''s rarity, strength, and quantity.
Skill Changes:
- Blessed by Fate (Passive): +10 luck (+3).
- Mutual Assistance (Passive): Your partner will also gain some of your stats. Shared stats: +2,000 health and +3 luck (+1 luck).
- Free Flow (Active): Cost 100 Ethereal Mana to activate. While active, consume 7 Ethereal mana/minute to boost your speed by 45% (Initial cost: +20, Maintenance cost: +2, Speed Boost: +15%).
Combat techniques
Dagger Arts: No change
- Threading the Needle, a length-wise attack that combines speed and curved attacks
- Impact Strike - used to deliver large amounts of concentrated force on the tip
- Side Winder - piercing attack to break through a formation
- Flow - similar to Threading the Needle, but the trajectory is more curved. It uses Shadow flames to boost damage.
- Scar - X-like cut with shadow flames
- Focus strike - concentrate strength beyond his limits into one strike, paralyzing the side of his body that uses this attack. Upon impact, unleash all the brutal force to cause enough damage to disintegrate the surrounding wound
- Stealth Dagger: Converged Existence - concentrates all his energy, physical strength, and cutting intent into his dagger. Has a stealth bonus.
- Water Parry: Diverts the incoming force and borrows a portion of it for himself.
Daggerless Arts: no change
- Cocoon: Barrier ability made from cutting intent
Martial Arts: No Change
- Elemental Emulations: the 4 elemental inspirations
- Nature''s Harmony: Increases the power of his attacks in proportion to the amount of plants in the area. The more, the better.
- Lighting Inspiration - All to Dust: Powerful physical attack that merges the 4 elemental inspirations, Nature''s Harmony, shadow flames, cutting intent, and flashstep. Essentially a small nuke when it hits
Energy Techniques - Shadow Devour upgraded
- Flashstep: High-speed movement ability in a single direction. The average speed increases as his stats and control of energy increases, but he can go faster if he is willing to damage his body.
- Solid Core: Crystalizes the energy around the skin and muscles to gain a diamond-like defense. Decreased mobility while this is active
- Shadow Flames: Energy wraps around his weapon and vibrates at a high frequency to achieve a boost in sharpness. Also cuts anything it touches and can spread like flames. Very intensive in durability costs.
- Shadow Core (passive): Boosts the effectiveness of his energy, constantly upgrades as he refines more energy stats into it, can also act as a final form of energy when broken down.
- Crystallizing weapons: Applying the logic of Solid Core to weapons to increase resistance to damage. Also acts like a spare battery pack for his energy when running low.
- Crystal Manifestation: Solidifies energy outside the body to form any shape he wants. High demand for energy control and cost, but can catch the enemies off guard. Currently limited to support items.
- Dance of Death: Ability of Reapers that allows him to summon 3 silhouettes that move on their own and swap positions with. Very energy intensive since it''s a percentage cost. 3 day cooldown.
Ultimate - Shadow Devour:
[Shadow Devour]
Effect: Consume at least 1,000 points of energy to construct a vortex that shreds anything it touches.
Damage Breakdown:
-
-
- Deals (30 x Energy) as damage (damage coefficient: +10)
- If this hits a weak point, multiply the damage by 4x and inflict 1.5% of total damage on the soul (Damage multiplier: +1x, Soul Damage: +0.5%)
- If this hits a fatal spot, execute the target directly and destroy their soul
Conditional Effect: When infusing all four concepts, increase the total damage coefficient by 10% every second.
Equipment - Bruce upgraded, added Giant''s Grip
- Lethal Opportunity: His main pair of daggers.
[Lethal Opportunity]
Rating: High Legendary
Damage: 48 (+1)
Durability: 515/515 (+5)
Effects:
- Growth (passive): This pair of daggers will grow with you after every world.
- Occam''s Razor (passive): +70 sharpness (+3)
- Nigh Unbreakable (passive): +265 durability (+5)
- Spiritual Attunement (active/passive): You can transform these daggers into a phantom form and store them inside your mind space.
Legacy Liberation: Deadly Severance
- +35 Sharpness for 90 seconds. Wounds inflicted during this duration can''t be healed for 25 seconds. Cooldown of 1 month. (+5 Sharpness)
Description: The changes might be minor, but these daggers are approaching a noticeable limit. It is unknown what lies beyond it, but it can only be beneficial.
- Shroud of Terror: Cloak that increases speed, reduces gravity, and increases his max energy with kills.
[Shroud of Terror]
Rating: High Legendary
Defense: 48 (+2)
Durability: 320/320 (+20)
Effects:
- Growth (Passive): This cloak will grow with you after every world.
- Undetectable (Passive): Your stealth has medium priority.
- Untraceable Movement (Active): Multiplies speed by 3x for 70 seconds. Cooldown of 26 seconds. This effect has medium priority. Canceling this will subtract excess time from the cooldown. (Duration: +5 seconds, Cooldown: -2 seconds)
- Like a Feather (Active): Reduces the effects of gravity by 95% for 1 minute. Cooldown of 4 minutes 10 seconds. (Cooldown: -20 seconds)
- Essence of Terror (Passive): Gain maximum energy stats from kills.
- Terror Reinforced (Passive): Recover a small amount of shadow energy from kills. Limited to 6 meters and targets you killed. (Range +1 meter)
Legacy Liberation: Terror Unleashed (no change)
- +75% energy intensity for 5 minutes. Cooldown of 1 month.
Description: The changes are gradual but present. Will it break through before its dagger friends or keep pace with them? Your next settlement will determine everything.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
- Jaguar: Poisonous saber that kills with a single scratch. His secondary weapon of choice.
[Saber of Poison, Jaguar]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Damage: 40 (+4)
Durability: 200/200 (+10)
Requirements: 25 STR, 40 CON
Effects:
- Festering Poison (passive): Poison effects will trigger three times faster. (Increased from 2x)
- Fatal Wound (passive): A single scratch is all you need to poison your target.
- Toxic Assimilation (passive): This saber can absorb other poisons to grow. Absorbed poisons can be stored and released at command. (Triggered twice, changed from status effects to poison)
Description: Under Nightmare Enigma''s nurturing, this blade of infection has become one of poisons. It has lost its wide spectrum of compatibilities but has become more specialized in poison, making it even deadlier. Be careful, as a single scratch will apply more status effects than you can imagine.
Note: One cut, one kill. You have become a true menace on the battlefield.
Note 2: This should be obvious, but don''t cut yourself with this. It''s unknown what poisons will be injected.
- Curse Bearer: A flintlock that flickers in and out of existence through a mark on his hand.
Hidden effect: Restrains [Kraken''s Grasp]
[Curse Bearer]
Rarity: Epic
Damage: 25
Durability: 50/50
Prerequisites: 9 dex, 10 con
Bullets: 2/2
Effects:
- Curse Bullets (Passive): Shoot a condensed ball of curses that weakens the enemy. The more bullets that hit, the stronger the debuff. Regenerates 1 bullet per minute
- Side Chamber (Active): Shoot an extra bullet without consuming a bullet count. 5-minute cooldown
- Big Bullet (Active): Fuse all your bullets to shoot one that deals 4x damage and curse. Requires Side Chamber to be off cooldown. 30 min cooldown.
- Unrestricted (Passive): A fusion between old technology and fantasy system. This equipment will not be affected by world restrictions.
Description: The essence of the Cursed Sea in the form of an old flintlock pistol. It doesn''t shoot well, but its lethality more than makes up for it.
- Spring Bound Boots: boots made from a material that stores and releases the force when he walks
[Spring Bound Boots]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 140/140
Requirements: 35 Con, 35 Str, 32 Dex
Effects:
- Force Storage(Passive): Every time you move your legs, store some excess force for later. Can store 0/600 units of force.
- Spring Boost (Passive): When moving, release some of the stored force to boost your speed. +1 dex after storing 100 units of force. Consumes 1 unit of force per step.
- Unhindered (Passive): Reduce environmental hindrance by 25%. Consumes 2x-4x units of force, depending on how difficult the terrain is to traverse.
Description: The Spring Bound Python is a ferocious beast that can unleash a strike beyond its limits after storing enough force. If caught unprepared, one can suffer heavy injuries from the encounter. Having been made from the python''s leather, these boots have inherited similar properties and can aid your movements.
- Kraken''s Grasp: cursed armguard
[Kraken''s Grasp]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 38
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 20 Str, 20 Con
Note: Trying to equip this when you don''t meet the requirements will result in you being devoured by the Kraken''s resentment.
Effects:
- Kraken''s Strength (passive): +2 str, +2 con
- Dominance Aura (Active): Pick a stat and conduct a judgment on a target. If your stat is higher, they will receive a mental impact and -1 in the chosen stat. Damage is determined by the difference between the stat of choice. Cooldown of 1 hour.
- Summon Kraken (Active): Use all your energy and summon the tentacles of the Kraken to strangle a target. The number of tentacles is dependent on the amount of energy used. Cooldown of 1 day.
- Kraken''s Resentment (Curse): The power of this equipment depends on the curse it bears. Although it provides great power to its wielder, it will attempt to kill them when given the chance. Use this with caution.
Description: Formerly made from the tooth of Jaws, this arm guard was corrupted by the Kraken''s resentment. Now all that remains of Jaws is a shell of his former self, his spirit shattered, and his anchor occupied by a malevolent spirit.
- Tyrant Shoulder Guard: Shoulder pads that increase his overall physique and give him Berserk.
[Tyrant Shoulder Guard]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Defense: 42
Durability: 180/180
Requirements: 25 str, 25 con
Effects:
- Berserk (Active): gain +4 con and str for 10 minutes, cooldown of 36 hours
- Tyrant Body (Passive): Increase maximum health by 20%
- Vigor (Passive): Increase body healing speed by 300%
- Compact Muscles (Passive): Your muscles have become compact, granting you +2 defense
Description: A shoulder guard fitting of a tyrant. If you aren''t one, then this will make you one.
- Quantum Pulse Pendant: Pendant that increases his energy control, and gives him Quantum Shield.
[Quantum Pulse Pendant]
Rating: Legendary (Degraded once)
Type: Accessory
Durability: 80/80
Requirements: 25 Int
Effects:
- Energy Control (passive): +50% control over energy
- Energy Flow (passive): Energy flows 15% faster
- Quantum Shield (Active): Form a barrier. Lasts 10 seconds. 1-day cooldown. (Low priority removed)
Description: A dream accessory for all mages
- Sheath of Original Blood: Bruce.
Hidden effect: Bruce can develop and use his own vampire blood arts.
[Sheath of Original Blood]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 240/240 (+120)
Requirements: Killer of The Original Vampire
Effects: Sheath Form
- Blood Morphing (Passive): Can take on any form by consuming the stored blood power. (New skill, upgraded form of Flexible Molding.)
- Blood Mending (Passive/Active): Gradually repairs the durability of the weapon inside by using the excess iron from blood. When activated, it consumes a moderate amount of blood power to perform an emergency repair. The repaired durability will degrade over time and be depleted at twice the original rate. (Upgraded form of Repair.)
- Catastrophic Spear of Annihilation (Active): Transforms into a spear to unleash an attack containing all the stored blood power. After the attack lands, the weapon spirit will fall dormant for 3 days.
Effects: Horse Form
- Blood Evolution (Passive): Upgrades this item when enough blood power is accumulated.
- High Endurance (Passive): Reduces stamina consumption of long-distance running by 30%.
- Sudden Sprint (Active): Bursts out with 300% speed for 15 minutes. Cooldown of 1 day.
Description: Having consumed the blood of a giant incomparably stronger than him, Bruce gained tremendous power and achieved his next evolution. All his attributes have increased significantly, and he''s gained some new abilities. In terms of overall quality, this sheath stands at the peak of legendary items¡ªit just needs another push to reach the next level.
- Hands of Ambush: Replaced by Giant''s grip
- Eye of Horus: Scanning equipment for stats, based on the difference between chosen stat.
[Eye of Horus]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Requirement: 15 int
Durability: 40/50
Effect
- Scan (Active): Consume 100 energy and conduct a judgment with a stat of your choice. The greater the difference, the more information you will obtain from the target. 1 hour cooldown.
Description: An artifact that allows you to peek at the information of others. The ancient civilization forged this in the image of a god with a falcon head, hoping it would bring them the god''s protection.
Note: Because of the passage of time, its structure has been weakened. Be careful with it, it''s fragile.
- Stalker''s Compass: A compass that points to things.
[Stalker''s Compass]
Rating: Epic
Type: Accessory
Durability: 100/100
Requirements: 20 Spc
Effects:
- Ultimate Tracking (Active): Designate a target. This compass will point to them until you designate a new target or until you injure them. 24-hour cooldown between designations.
- Persistent Stalking (Active): Bypass the cooldown of Ultimate Tracking by providing the cells of a target. If this target is different from the designated one, you can choose which target to follow. The lighter end of the pointer will be used for this effect while the darker end for Ultimate Tracking. A maximum of two targets can be tracked at once. Only one target can be followed at once. The duration of this effect varies with the provided cells. The more prevalent the cells, the longer this effect will last. The maximum duration of this effect is 24 hours. After that, more cells are required.
Description: You can run, but you can''t hide. And even if you run, I''ll still find you. It''s only a matter of time.
- Mask of The Black Death: Mask that allows him to hide his stats and put on a disguise. Also protects his soul from dangerous attacks.
[Mask of the Black Death]
Rating: Mythic (damaged)
Repair progress: 17.86%
Durability: 1,000/1,000 (Mythic items are hard to break)
Requirements: Bound to Enigma
Effects:
- Status Forgery (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change how your status page appears to others. This effect has medium priority and will last until it is disabled.
- Ultimate Disguise (active/passive): When wearing this mask, you can change your appearance at will. This effect has medium priority. Effects with lower priority can not see through this disguise. Your disguise can not exceed your body proportions by more than 50%.
- Soul Sanctuary (passive/active): Your soul is protected from death. When you are affected by a fatal soul attack, negate it and become immune for 5 seconds. This effect has high priority. Limited to 1 use per day.
Description: A mask dedicated to Nightmare Enigma for defeating an Overlord against all odds and retrieving the lost treasure of the Stone Titans.
Note: Everyone wears a metaphorical mask to hide their true selves, but why settle for a figurative one when you can wear a physical one as well?
Note 2: ? In the darkness he lurks, stalking his unexpecting prey. ?
Note 3: Cry, laugh, rage, and fear. What difference does it make if that''s painted on a mask?
Note 4: This item is far from reaching its full potential. Keep repairing it if you want to witness its true powers.
- unnamed life-saving item: Used in the previous world
- Giant''s Grip: Powerful pair of gloves that grants the user immense strength
[Giant''s Grip]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Gloves
Defense: 45
Requirements: 58 Str, 60 Con
Durability: 260/260
Effects:
- Iron Grip (Passive): Your grip is so strong that it takes an overwhelming force to break it. +4 strength judgment when grabbing.
- Giant''s Constitution (Passive): +3 Str, +2 Con
- Titanic Empowerment (Active): +7 Str, -50 hp/second, -2 Dex for 10 minutes. After the effect ends, you will experience extreme fatigue and weakness for 3 days. Cooldown: 3 days.
Description: An overbearing pair of gloves condensed from the essence of a mature giant with a faint trace of Titan Bloodline. It grants immense power but with no regard for the body''s capacity. If you''re not careful, your body might collapse before you can use the provided power.
Note: Titanic Empowerment cannot be used with Berserk, as both push the body beyond its limit. However, the Iron Grip bonus stacks with Berserk¡¯s stat boosts.
Note 2: The side effects of Titanic Empowerment are due to your low constitution. They will decrease in intensity as your stats grow, disappearing completely once you reach 80 Con.
Miscellaneous Items
Current privilege tokens: 77
- World Selection Token: allows him to choose his next world type. Used at the start of this arc, 1 use left
[World Selection Token]
Rating: Legendary
Type: Authority Item
Durability: 1/3
Effect: Consume 1 durability and specify what type of world you will enter next. If your stats are above the world''s limit, reduce them until you meet the requirements.
Description: A token sold by Eternal Void. Using it will give you a big advantage in your next world.
Note: You can specify other requirements for the worlds. How much you gain will depend on how you use it.
Note 2: Due to a past violation, items with this effect cannot be paired with the Duelmaster''s Invitation. Either choose the world type or drag an opponent into a death match, but not both.
- World Tree''s Essence: the essence of a cursed world tree. Unknown use.
[World Tree''s Essence]
Rating: ???
Effect: ???
Description: The essence of a demonic world tree after it almost devoured a world. Its uses are relatively unknown, but its value cannot be underestimated. Perhaps you can find a use for it in the future.
- One unknown item made of Fabletasium, currently being worked on by Azona of ManaRealm
- Bacteria cultures capable of enhancing the ingredients during refinement, currently growing in his lab
227 – (Tumultuous Frontier)
When the month ended and Genji returned to EverRealm, he took out the [World Selection Token] and made his request.
"Give me a world where I can upgrade Curse Bearer."
The countdown timer paused, and the token''s durability count reduced by one. A string of calculations with strange letters, symbols, and numbers flooded his interface like a waterfall. The text flowed so fast that the spacing between the lines blurred, creating a white wall.
This process lasted five minutes before it calmed, leaving only one confirmation line from EverRealm.
[Optimal world has been found. Request is possible. Countdown will now resume.]
Genji closed the tab, put away the token, and did his final checks. Bruce awoke from his slumber, flowing around him as a vibrant stream of blood. Astros happily gnawed on a large nut, indifferent to the upcoming adventure.
"It''s time," Genji said with a light smile. "Let''s see what this world has in store for us."
Then he blanked out, and the space around him distorted. When he refocused, he found himself in a tiny shed full of dust. A musty odor of sawdust filled his nostrils, and the soft creak of wood echoed beneath his feet. A thin beam of light entered through the wall crevices, highlighting the airborne particles.
Tumultuous Frontier
Background:
A world rife with social instability and disorder. Chaos and violence are the norm. Negative emotions surge higher than the skies. Resentment floods minds, nourishing the world¡¯s curses. And at the peak of this anarchy are the witches, women who embrace dark powers to exact vengeance on their wrongdoers. They hide within civilization, neither human nor ghost, but disastrous nonetheless.
World Owner: EverRealm
Mission: Remove as many unstable elements as possible and help restore order to the world.
Note: This is a world defense mission. Other realms will try to outperform you. If you fail, this world will be put up for contention to determine a new owner.
Duration: 20 or 40 days. You may choose which deadline to leave at.
Note 2: Due to the mission''s importance, EverRealm has deployed multiple high-ranking members. Work together to ensure success.
World Principles:
- Curses and similar attributed abilities are boosted by 50%.
- Magic and mystical abilities are boosted by 30%.
- Holy, healing, and buff-related abilities are reduced by 45%.
- World stability is 8x that of your home world.
Hint: A few helper items have been provided to aid your start.
Genji looked around the room and noticed a table in the corner. On it lay a rolled-up parchment, a dull metal badge, and a purple triangular bipyramid. Genji unfurled the parchment, revealing a continental map marked with ink.
The western side of the continent was highly detailed, showing railroad tracks, towns, rivers, mountains, major structures, and danger zones. In contrast, the eastern side was mostly barren, with some sections missing even basic topography. It was clear where previous explorers had concentrated their efforts in creating this map.
The metal badge had a circular base topped by an overhanging star-shaped layer. At the center of the star was a skull wearing a cowboy hat, encircled by a border engraved with "Witch Hunters." This was the identity EverRealm had arranged for Genji, granting him access to various conveniences among the natives.
Finally, there was the semi-transparent purple crystal, containing a miniature version of itself within. This was the most important item of the three.
[Essence Distilling Prism]
Rating: Legendary (Peak)
Durability: 200/200
Effect: Passively siphons surrounding energy into an internal storage reservoir. When full, initiates a refinement process to purify the gathered energy.
Description: A special tool EverRealm uses to collect excess world energy from 4th- and 5th-step worlds. It has been specially calibrated to accept the curse energy from this world and is lent to you under [World Selection Token] requirements. Please take good care of it. Any incurred damage will result in a corresponding fine. If destroyed, you will be subject to a fee of 30 privilege tokens.
Note: All beings in this world contain varying degrees of curse energy. Killing them will release this energy for the prism to absorb.
Note 2: After you leave this world, the collected energy can be used as material to upgrade [Curse Bearer].
Essentially, EverRealm was asking Genji to massacre all his enemies, sparing no one¡ªnot even common monsters. It was a full-out extermination order.
''EverRealm''s going all out for this. First the identity and now this. This must be an important world. Let''s see who I''m working with.''
Genji opened his friends list and noticed several familiar names: 7156, Celine, and even Fiona¡ªthe unfortunate woman who had purchased the cursed inheritance and was later held for ransom in the Barren Wasteland.
It made sense why these three were chosen for this world. 7156 was a champion with exceptional combat strength, Celine could provide valuable support, and Fiona''s power system aligned perfectly with this world. One could even say it was an exact progression of Fiona''s inheritance.
"I''m surprised I''m still on her friends list. Our last meeting wasn''t exactly pleasant for her," Genji commented about Fiona. Just as he said that, Fiona''s name disappeared from his screen.
"..."
"..."
Even Bruce was speechless at this development. The witch had apparently not checked her friends list until now.
''Why does she seem a little slow?'' Bruce wondered. ''What good is removing us when you''re already exposed?''
At the same time, Genji received an invitation link and message from Celine.
Celine: If I didn''t know better, I''d think you''re the real prophet between us. But I''ve checked my casual relationships and didn''t find any signs of tampering. Everything is just a big coincidence. Anyway, click the link and join the group chat. I''m setting up a platform to share information.
Genji accepted, and a cascade of names flooded the screen. 7156 was among this initial group. In the end, the group settled at 27 members.
This does not mean there are only 27 EverRealm members in this world; rather, Celine had 26 of them in her immediate contacts. More people would trickle in as these members shared the link with their acquaintances. This was an impressive result, considering how many worlds the members were scattered across.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Celine: Welcome, everyone. For those who don''t know me, I am Celine, a seer who specializes in general overview divination. I know many of you are new to my chats, so I''ll list my rules here.
- Don''t spam the chat. Keep everything concise and easy to find. Create a separate chat or directly message someone.
- Feel free to post trade or help requests. There¡¯s no guarantee anyone will accept, but it''s worth a try.
- I will personally be accepting commissions for divination if anyone is unsure about their future. I also reserve the right to increase the price if the request is too difficult.
- Don¡¯t lock information behind a payment. Either keep it to yourself, share it for free, or discuss the payment separately. I don¡¯t want this chat to become an information bazaar where everyone tries to peddle their reports for a small amount. I will remove any such paywalls.
Celine was adamant on the last point because she had witnessed the resulting mess in her previous world. At that point, it was just an unregulated spam fest, making the experience insufferable for everyone involved.
Zon: Sounds good. I look forward to working with you.
Harper: Same here.
A few others voiced their support and contributed to a harmonious atmosphere. Genji exited the chat and began storing away the provided items. The map and badge went into his storage, but the crystal had to be kept outside to function. Genji strapped it to his waist and exited the shed.
The first thing he noticed were the two suns in the sky, a stark contrast to what he was familiar with. Light distorted under this immense heat, creating a disorienting reflection. The dry dirt also trapped a large amount of heat, creating an oven-like environment. Water would easily evaporate in such an atmosphere.
Genji wiped the sweat off his face and summoned Bruce.
"Let''s go. We need to orient ourselves so we can use the map. See if we can find a major structure or a town."
Bruce neighed and set off in an arbitrary direction. A few minutes into their journey, Genji heard a piercing screech overhead. A vulture was flying past them. Genji manifested his flintlock and shot down the bird. The screech dragged out into a terrified scream as the bird plummeted to the ground, dying on impact.
A wisp of black energy drifted from the corpse into the energy prism. Genji checked the crystal and spotted a strand thinner than sewing thread. He would have easily missed this if the prism had any traces of energy beforehand. The lives of these pitiful creatures provided almost no energy for his goal. Genji would need to hunt down stronger creatures if he wanted any noticeable progress.
"You can take care of these common mobs from now on," Genji told Bruce.
Bruce nodded as he siphoned the vulture''s blood. They followed the dirt road for another hour before arriving at a small ranch. As they approached, they heard a yell full of resistance: "Stop! I don''t want to entertain you!"
Looking closer with a telescope, Genji spotted two men in leather vests flanking a woman in a brown dress. The woman struggled against their grips, but her petite body couldn¡¯t muster enough strength to break free. The men said something to her before crudely laughing.
Genji''s attention was drawn to their waists, where the handle of a six-shooter pistol peeked out from the attached holsters. This suggested that this world had a certain level of technology rather than being purely magic-based.
"I don''t think the lady''s keen on whatever they''re trying to do. Should we help them?" Genji asked Astros, who tilted his head in confusion, unsure why Genji had given him the decision-making power. "You don''t know either, huh? In that case, let''s flip a coin. Heads, we step in. Tails, we don¡¯t." Astros shrugged, and the coin revealed heads.
Genji smiled and conjured some pebbles. He dismounted, pulled back his arm, and released the projectile like a baseball. A harsh yelp sounded as the pebbles smashed into the men''s heads, disorienting them. Then their flowing blood drilled into their skulls, killing them instantly.
The frightened woman stepped back, her breathing unsteady, but she held her composure. Although the killing method startled her, she was no stranger to death; her experience as a ranch farmer alone had given her plenty of exposure to such gruesome scenes.
"Th-thank you for your help," the woman said as they approached. "I don¡¯t know what I would have done without you."
"Yeah, yeah, I didn''t do it for you." Genji kicked open the holsters, picked up the gun, and skillfully disassembled it for examination. There were four bullets left in the chamber. The inner walls contained copper circuits that intermittently flashed with arcs of energy. Genji traced the components with cutting intent, revealing an array of interconnected paths.
The circuits dimmed as the stored energy escaped through the severed ports. Genji gathered this energy in his palm and slowly experimented with its properties. From what he could tell, this energy resembled the minerals in the earth and served as a propellant.
Genji split a bullet and detected traces of the same energy. The energy within the bullet wasn¡¯t stored in any specific pattern but rather in a messily condensed agglomeration. Genji found this strange since the craftsmen put so much effort into defining the delicate circuits but sloppily threw together the bullets.
Genji picked up the other gun, loaded it, and fired into the air. At the moment of release, the energy within the bullet flowed out of the shell and replenished the consumed energy in the gun. This explained why there was such a big difference in craftsmanship. The bullets were like portable batteries, meaning any bullet would do as long as it fit the chambers.
This approach has its pros and cons. It¡¯s advantageous because any subpar craftsman could provide the necessary ammo, regardless of the gun model, as long as there were ample materials. Depending on this world¡¯s technology, they might even have automated the ammo production.
At the same time, this drastically raised the requirements for the crafter. If the crafter couldn¡¯t meet these prerequisites, they wouldn¡¯t have any chance of success. It¡¯s a make-or-break situation.
''It¡¯s also not that threatening. I can easily dodge this at 50 meters. At 25, it might break my skin but won¡¯t deal any significant damage. Only at 5 meters will it do any harm, but I can easily heal the wound. So it''s basically useless?''
The woman, noticing Genji¡¯s interest in the firearms, spoke up again. "I have some silver cartridges if you''re interested. Treat it as my thanks for saving me."
Intrigued, Genji agreed. The woman nodded and led him into her house. They walked past the kitchen and stopped near a creaky floorboard. The woman pressed around a few times, and a trapdoor opened. She reached in and took out a small, dusty box.
"Here. My late father left these before his passing. I don¡¯t have any use for them, so I hope they serve you better."
Genji opened the lid and spotted about 20 dull metal bullets. He held one up to a nearby window and sensed the energy within. The energy had a slightly different attribute and was about three times as abundant as the previous rounds. This could inflict some substantial damage if used against bare skin.
"Can you tell me where the closest town is before I go?" Genji asked.
The woman thought for a moment and walked outside. "Follow this road and take a left at the crossroad toward Valley Way. You should reach Dust Town shortly after."
Genji thanked her and rode off into the horizon. Along the way, he used the nearby terrain and path to estimate his position on the map. After an hour, he reached the intersection where a wooden signpost of three branching paths stood.
Genji followed the left path and soon entered a small community comprised of rows of houses alongside a main road. Upon seeing him, the townspeople shut their windows and locked their doors, showing a strong aversion to outsiders. This behavior spread quickly, and soon, the place resembled a ghost town.
A tumbleweed blew past, kicking up a thin layer of dust. Genji ignored this and led Bruce toward the only saloon in town. He pushed open the wooden panels for doors, and the saloon instantly stilled. The people inside stared deadpan at Genji as he entered, their eyes almost listless. A heavy scent of cheap, poor-quality alcohol assaulted Genji¡¯s senses.
The others realized Genji wasn¡¯t hostile and despondently returned to their drinks, seeking to drown their minds in muddleheadedness. There was a heavy sense of despair in the air.
Genji glanced around before heading straight for the counter. The bartender running the place was an older gentleman with a thick gray mustache. A hint of surprise flashed through his eyes when he saw the witch hunter badge pinned to Genji¡¯s chest.
"What¡¯s an esteemed hunter like you doing out here? Did you perhaps encounter any witches?" the man asked.
"No, rather I''m trying to run into them. Anyway, give me your strongest drink."
"Then, this one''s on the house. You¡¯ll have to pay if you want any more," the bartender said, pouring a glass of murky brown liquid for Genji.
Genji brought the cup to his nose and noted the acrid smell. This was not a high-quality spirit, but that didn¡¯t deter Genji from trying it. The drink was bitter and harsh on the palate, though it was pure alcohol, unlike the other drinks, which had various drugs mixed in. The drink left a slight burn on the way down and a nasty aftertaste that coated the tongue.
Genji finished the drink and leaned toward the bartender. "Give me another one," he said, dropping a nugget of gold on the counter. The bartender glanced at the material and softly shook his head.
"Sorry, sir, we don¡¯t have any use for phosphorous gold, even if it¡¯s valuable. We prefer something more practical, like supplies or water."
"Then I¡¯ll have to disappoint you. I barely have enough for myself, let alone others," Genji replied, pretending to get up.
"Hold on! We can discuss another method," the bartender quickly called out to him. "You can drink as much as you want if you take care of some bandits for us."
"Go on. Tell me more." Genji spun around on the chair.
The bartender fiddled with his mustache for a few seconds, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves before speaking. "This gang rode into town a few weeks back. They''ve extorted us for all we''re worth and taken the women as captives. We couldn¡¯t fight back¡ªthey had too many guns."
"How many are there?"
"Around a dozen. I can¡¯t tell you more since I¡¯ve never fully counted."
"That''s fine. Find someone to guide me to their hideout."
"I can do that," someone said at that moment.
Genji turned around and spotted a burly man in his thirties behind him.
"I can show you where they are," the man continued, pulling down his cowboy hat to cover his face. "They took my wife, so I need to fight."
This reason might have sounded convincing if not for the shifty glances some patrons were exchanging. Genji pretended not to notice and solemnly nodded. "Then lead the way. Do you have a horse?"
"Yes, let¡¯s go."
This confirmed Genji¡¯s suspicions. The man was too eager and quick to agree to this dangerous task. Unless he was the reckless type, this behavior wouldn¡¯t make sense. But if he were reckless, he wouldn¡¯t have waited until now to take action, hence the flawed act. With this in mind, Genji noted all the suspicious people and walked out.
228 – Bandit Hunting
The brave volunteer led Genji to a small camp where the gang of bandits surrounded him. Genji assessed them and calmly asked, "Is that all? For a group to be so audacious, I thought you¡¯d be stronger than that."
The bandit leader scoffed. "We¡¯re more than enough to take you down. You might be a witch hunter, but that doesn¡¯t change your situation. Now hand over everything, or we¡¯ll open fire."
Genji shook his head in disappointment and clicked his tongue. "I don¡¯t think you understand. I didn¡¯t come here because I didn¡¯t notice your lousy trap. I came because I¡¯m confident in my strength. Yet now that I see you, I realize you¡¯re not even worth my effort. Alright, clean them up. I just need one alive."
With those words, blood spikes burst from Bruce, brutally skewering the bandits. Then he yanked the spikes out, draining their bodies of all blood. Lifeless husks fell to the ground, terrifying the remaining survivor.
"Y-you, what sorcery is this?" the bandit stuttered.
Genji ignored him, gestured for Bruce to tie him up, and turned to the volunteer. "Alright, do what you need. I¡¯m going back to town to clean up the loose ends. I don¡¯t care if your story is a lie, but the missing people better be back by tomorrow, or I¡¯ll hunt you down. And don¡¯t try anything fancy. I have ways to find you."
Genji flicked his finger, grazing the man¡¯s cheek and drawing blood. Bruce guided this stream of blood into a bottle, which Genji corked and menacingly shook before the man¡¯s eyes.
The man gulped in fear. He¡¯d heard stories of how witches could curse their victims through a medium, but he¡¯d never expected to be on the receiving end¡ªespecially from another man. How was this possible? Wasn¡¯t it only women with deep-seated hatred who became witches?
How could this man use such terrifying means? Was he really a witch hunter, or something more demonic? Perhaps he¡¯d unlocked a way to possess these dark powers? If so, could he obtain them as well?
"Now get to work," Genji¡¯s indifferent voice sounded, eliminating all distracting thoughts in the man. Either way, it wasn¡¯t his place to explore these mysteries. Otherwise, he might end up as scavenger food without understanding why.
Genji then rode back to town, cruelly dragging his captive behind him. The bandit bounced along the road, stirring up a light dust cloud. Yelps of pain sounded, but the abuse persisted without mercy. Soon, Genji returned and dragged the heavily bruised man toward the bar.
He kicked open the door, drawing everyone¡¯s attention before throwing the man into the building. The crash of toppling furniture sounded as Genji stepped inside.
"Alright, a little birdie told me there were some rats in here. Let me handle some cleaning, free of charge." Genji loaded his six-shooter and spun the chamber for effect. Then he opened fire, targeting all the suspicious people he¡¯d noted earlier. Blood splattered everywhere as horrified patrons looked on.
Genji reloaded, finished off the remaining spies, and approached the thrown bandit. He stomped on the man¡¯s chest, filling the air with snapping bones, aimed down, and pulled the trigger. He shook off the blood, spun the gun by the trigger ring, and approached the counter.
"There we go. I¡¯ve cleaned up all the bandits. I¡¯d like my side of the bargain now."
The bartender tried to appear unperturbed, but his trembling hands gave him away. All the patrons held their breath as Genji sipped from his cup. An audible gulp swept through the saloon as everyone tried to calm their anxious hearts.
"So, what¡¯s up with this town? Anything unusual happening around here?" Genji asked casually.
"No, sir. Everything¡¯s normal," the bartender replied, his voice a bit higher than usual. He feared that if he admitted to anything, Genji would unleash a massacre to ¡°quell the anomaly.¡± The demonstration had been that brutal.
"And what about nearby? I¡¯m sure there must be something. The world is in chaos. I¡¯d be very surprised if you don¡¯t know anything."
Under Genji¡¯s silent threat, the bartender could only apologize to the residents of nearby towns. They couldn¡¯t afford to keep this god of disaster around. Who knew what unhinged actions he might take?
"A notorious group of outlaws has occupied an abandoned stronghold. No one wants to deal with them since they have the terrain advantage. You can try your luck there if you¡¯re up for the challenge."
A few hours later at dusk, Genji stood amidst a pile of bodies at the supposed location. Blood soaked into the sand, creating a darkish red paste. Empty cartridges rolled on the ground, making light, tingling sounds as metal scraped against rocks. Small wisps of gun smoke wafted around the cover, filling the air with a bitter smell.
Genji checked his energy prism and noticed barely any change. The curse energy within these outlaws was no different from the surrounding atmosphere. This made sense; they wouldn''t be hiding here if they could actively manifest curse energy. These outlaws didn¡¯t even qualify as mid-level, second-step. Most of their combat strength came from their firearms, not any inherent abilities.
''What the hell is going on in this world? Even these weaklings can terrorize people now?'' Genji inwardly sighed and instructed Bruce to clean up the area.
Blood swirled around them, leaving not a drop behind. They collected the bullets, buried the guns, and set out for the night. Along the way, they hunted a wandering elk and set up camp.
"I can¡¯t understand this world. On one hand, we have mass-produced weapons, and on the other, rampant chaos. Where are they getting all these guns, and why aren¡¯t regular people arming themselves? Wouldn¡¯t they be better off banding together to eliminate these unstable elements before facing the witches?"
Bruce shrugged with his tentacles and continued turning the meat. Astros helped by sprinkling spices from Bruce¡¯s head, paying no mind to Genji''s questions. Suddenly, Genji sensed the atmospheric curse energy growing turbulent. Now that the suns had set, their extreme heat could no longer restrain the rampant curses. The most intense activity occurred back at the stronghold they''d come from.
Genji¡¯s eyes narrowed. This couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. "I''m going to check that out. Be back in a few minutes."
He vanished from his position, leaving behind a strong tailwind. Bruce and Astros kept cooking, unfazed by Genji¡¯s departure. They trusted his ability to handle such situations and saw no need to drop everything to follow him¡ªbesides, doing so would burn the meat, a sacrilege to Bruce.
When Genji reappeared, he saw the unruly curse energy converging around the fallen bodies. The energy poured into the chest wounds, circulating beneath the skin, creating grotesque bulges. Bones contorted at strange angles, muscles snapped, and skin ripped, triggering a harrowing transformation within the corpses.
In the end, a swarm of hairless, deathly white humanoids stood before Genji. Their sharp claws glimmered in the dim moonlight, exuding a menacing presence. These transformed creatures had solidly entered the third step. The monsters snapped their heads toward Genji and roared, their jaws opening wider than their heads. Then they bolted at him, their limbs flailing unnaturally.
Genji fired a few shots with his six-shooter, but the bullet wounds closed as streams of curse energy poured into them. He switched to a streak of cutting intent and severed a neck, but the body continued to run. The monsters arrived and swiped fiercely.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Genji sidestepped the attacks and slashed downward with his daggers. A thick beam of light struck the attackers in front, slicing them into thumb-sized cubes. Plumes of cursed mist seeped from these chunks, seeking to return to the atmosphere.
But before the energy could escape, the prism at Genji¡¯s waist emitted a powerful suction, capturing the mist. The freshly released curses, weaker than those lingering in the atmosphere, were easily drawn in.
Genji summoned his second dagger and charged forward to meet the remaining foes. His body spun through the air, executing acrobatics as he cut down the crowd. After 30 seconds, his enemies collapsed, and a cloud of mist swarmed toward the prism. Genji checked its progress: the outer prism was now 50% full.
''Not a bad harvest.''
Moments later, the group chat buzzed with messages as others shared similar encounters. Curiously, only six had witnessed the odd transformation, while 18 saw no changes despite being near bodies at the time. After some discussion, one member proposed a plausible theory.
Harper: I think it has to do with resentment at the moment of death. The stronger the collective resentment, the more likely they are to mutate. The deaths also have to be relatively fresh. I don¡¯t know the exact time frame, but let¡¯s assume within 15 minutes before night. If we want to learn more, we¡¯ll have to experiment. If anyone¡¯s interested, I can organize a collective study. Each person will run a different set of tests, and I¡¯ll compile the results.
Zon: Sounds good. Count me in.
BlueJeans: Same here.
Enigma: I¡¯ll also contribute if it¡¯s convenient.
In the end, 12 people agreed to join the project. Genji put away his device and backtracked. Upon his return, he noticed several vulture-like creatures on the ground. Bruce and Astros had also been attacked by reanimated corpses, though theirs had been much weaker.
"Pain in the ass world," Genji mumbled as he sat down. "Can¡¯t even rest at night anymore."
Bruce nodded and handed him a hind leg. Genji took a bite and spread his perception, prepared to fend off any unwanted visitors. Fortunately, the night passed without incident, and they resumed their journey the next day. Along the way, Genji found and annihilated another bandit group.
This time, he made sure to cremate all the bodies before leaving. Although the chance of mutation was low, Genji preferred not to risk it, especially given his mission. A single mistake could lead to uncontrollable consequences or ripple effects.
Soon, the suns reached their highest point, and the ambient temperature spiked. Steam vapors seeped from the ground, creating a light sizzling sound. Amidst this hazy sight, Genji noticed a traveling caravan in the distance. The escorts around it grew tense upon noticing Genji and drew their guns.
"At ease. I mean no harm," Genji called out, raising his witch hunter badge.
The escorts squinted at Genji, unable to make out the badge''s details with sunlight reflecting off the metal. Genji stopped a short distance away, tossed the badge halfway between them, and backed up. A caravan member came forward to verify the badge, then waved to signal the others to lower their weapons. ¡°Esteemed witch hunter, please, welcome.¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on here? Where are you heading with all these supplies?¡± Genji asked as he approached.
¡°Fort Malanche, sir. The soldiers there are in dire need of supplies. They¡¯ll suffer heavy losses if we don''t restock in time.¡±
Genji reviewed his map and located his destination - about four hours away at his current speed. The fort stood near the entrance of a monster-infested valley, serving as its first line of defense. It was a decent spot to gather more curse energy. "I''m coming with you. Let me hitch a ride."
¡°We¡¯d be honored to have you,¡± the escorts agreed, parting to let him through.
Genji boarded a carriage, and the journey resumed. As the suns began to set, a line of silhouettes blocked the road ahead. Without warning, they opened fire on the convoy. Genji dashed out, drew two guns, and returned fire, each shot landing a target¡¯s skull. The other escorts followed his lead and they forced the attackers into retreat.
¡°What was that about? They had nothing to gain,¡± Genji muttered.
¡°Not quite,¡± one escort replied, gesturing to the red bandanas over the attackers'' faces. ¡°I recognize that look. They¡¯re the Red Clutches, a notorious gang that plagues these parts. They have no regard for the lives of their members, only their end goals. It''s a surprise how they got so many people to join with those ideals.¡±
¡°How many are we talking? A hundred? Two?¡±
¡°Try six hundred. They¡¯ll do anything to expand their forces. Now they¡¯ve set their sights on our weapons, they''ll never let go. This trip just got a lot harder.¡±
¡°Seems there¡¯s more trouble around here than you expected.¡±
"That''s because this group only popped up recently. I didn''t think they would have the audacity to attack a military convoy so early into their establishment."
¡°Well, as long as they keep coming in groups like this, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll have any trouble.¡± Genji reloaded his guns and spun the chambers.
¡°Unfortunately, this is only the beginning. A scouting team if you will. I hope we can make it in time under their harassment,¡± the escort said, glancing worriedly at the sky.
As night fell, the convoy set up camp and reinforced their defenses. A few monsters attacked, but the convoy quickly dispatched them in a hail of bullets. What they hadn¡¯t anticipated, however, was a midnight assault by the Red Clutches, right when the cursed mist was most active.
The initial ambush claimed a dozen lives before the convoy regrouped and retaliated. Genji dove behind a wagon and unleashed a volley of shots. This exchange lasted a few minutes until Genji spotted a group of bandits charging forward with gleaming daggers. These bandits, all female, wore red shrouds reminiscent of fresh blood and bracelets made of animal bones.
Bullets tore through their bodies, but streams of black mist healed their wounds. Genji¡¯s eyes narrowed as he delivered several headshots to the same target. There was no effect other than a few stumbles from the impact to the head.
"Bloody hell! They''ve made a deal with the witches!" A nearby escort exclaimed, spitting out his cigarette.
The charging women¡ª"valkyries," as they are known¡ªclosed in, wildly swinging their weapons. Cries of pain filled the air as black mist contaminated the victims¡¯ wounds. Veins bulged and the victims collapsed in agony. Around the same time, the valkyries'' speed and regeneration factor experienced a noticeable increase.
''They''re getting stronger as they kill. I can''t let them continue.'' Genji drew his saber and charged to meet them.
Opportunistic bandits fired at him, but wisps of cutting intent destroyed the bullets before they could reach him. The lead valkyrie stepped up to accept his challenge, her eyes glinting with bloodlust. However, that look quickly turned to surprise when Genji¡¯s saber cleaved through her dagger and sliced her down. Fear then followed when she realized her regeneration had failed.
The sound of her collapse drew wary glances from her teammates. The other valkyries exchanged a taciturn look before rushing at Genji from all directions, some breaking off to surround him.
Unfazed, Genji pressed forward. His saber nicked a few targets, but the valkyries had grown more cautious. Genji weaved between the slashes like an elegant danger and struck with the ferocity of an unstoppable dragon. His every swing brought massive pressure on his opponents, planting the fear that a single mistake would mean their deaths.
Suddenly, Genji pivoted mid-swing, narrowly dodging a backstab from a hidden valkyrie. He seized her and yanked her into the path of incoming attacks, the air ringing with a sharp snap as her arm twisted like soft pretzel dough. With a swift motion, Genji drove his saber through her heart, impaling another valkyrie behind her. The strike flowed seamlessly into a crescent slash, cutting down two others at his side.
Releasing his hold, Genji manifested [Curse Bearer] and fired three quick shots to repel the others. A ring of cutting intent expanded from his feet, snagging and halting the remaining valkyries just long enough for him to finish two more.
Realizing their precarious situation, the distant bandits focused their shots on Genji, hoping to save the remaining valkyries. Genji ignored all this with a quantum barrier and struck down another three opponents.
The convoy capitalized on this pause to gravely punish the bandit''s inattentiveness, inflicting enough losses to force a retreat. The battle ended shortly after when Genji finished the remaining group.
Cleanup then followed as the convey sorted through the loot. They burned the bodies, saved the guns, and discarded the unholy daggers. These daggers contained a witch''s powers and should not be used unless one signed a contract with their owner. Otherwise, they would be serving themselves on a chopping block for their enemies.
Bruce refrained from draining the blood, as it could easily be mistaken for a demonic act. Once they settled down again, Genji approached the person in charge to confront him about his suspicions.
"Alright, spill it. What exactly are you escorting to the fortress? There''s no way these bandits would send such a group unless you have something worth their efforts. Normal guns and supplies don''t meet those requirements."
*Sigh.* "I was afraid this would happen," the man said, disheartened. "We tried to keep this a secret, but they got the news anyway. Seems like someone''s been compromised."
"Answer the question. How important is this shipment? Does it need to arrive in full, or can we afford to lose a few wagons?"
"Fort Malanche has recently been overrun with monsters. The only things capable of inflicting significant damage are silver cartridges," he explained, pulling back the cover on one of the carriages to reveal dozens of metal boxes stacked neatly inside. "The more we deliver, the better our chances of holding off this tide. The witches want the exact opposite. They thrive on anarchy and aim to destabilize the resistance. The Red Clutches are just pawns they use to thwart us. I bet these outlaws think this is their ticket to power, but they don¡¯t realize that nothing good ever comes from dealing with witches. Poor bastards won''t even know what hit them until they''re buried six feet under."
At that moment, Genji turned and began walking away, prompting the man to ask where he was going.
"You said it yourself. We¡¯ll have to deal with these people one way or another. In that case, why should we stay on the defensive?" With those words, Genji disappeared into the night, guided by a certain compass.
229 – Fortress Defense
After half an hour of riding, Genji arrived at his destination: a ruined fortress with sloppily patched walls. Bandits with red bandanas patrolled the inner walls as rambunctious laughter echoed through the night. Whether it was stupidity or confidence, these men showed no regard for the nightly monsters that their noises would attract.
Genji''s presence thinned as he approached, using the shadows to his advantage. Within minutes, he''d infiltrated the walls and arrived behind the patrol. With a flick of the wrist, he severed the bandit''s necks and dragged the bodies into a hidden corner. Then he silently entered the halls and resumed his silent killings.
Bruce cleaned up all the blood along the way, eliminating any odors that might alert the bandits. By the time the first body was discovered, they had already dealt with half the group. But by then, all the remote corners had been stuffed full, leaving no suitable hiding spots remaining.
Alarm bells and warning shots sounded in the building, startling everyone awake. Genji drew his saber and calmly revealed himself. The bandits recognized the danger and fired at him without another word. An afterimage burst under these attacks as Genji appeared behind the group.
The next second, blood geysers erupted from their chests, sending them into shock. As the crimson fluid soared through the air, it transformed into a rain of spikes that accelerated downward. Bodies dropped in rapid succession, further augmenting Bruce''s offense.
The scene quickly grew quiet, leaving only a pair of ominous footsteps in the halls. These steps were both soft and deafening as they announced the presence of a reaper coming to claim their lives. The remaining bandits grew tense under this pressure and contemplated desertion.
Suddenly, the cursed energy in the air grew active as dozens of malevolent presences darted toward Genji. Cutting intent filled the halls, intercepting the speeding valkyries. Black smoke covered their shallow wounds, forming a misty cloak over their shredded clothes.
Genji burst forward and singlehandedly brandished his saber, finishing two opponents instantly. The valkyries forced through his cutting intent and pulled back their daggers. Genji''s saber ignited with shadow flames as he stepped back from their strikes. Then with a single swing, he conjured a fiery wall to engulf his targets.
Blood spears burst up from behind them, skewering the necks and giving the vertebrae a forceful twist. The second wave arrived and clashed with Genji. His left hand manifested a black flintlock for three quick headshots. The curse within the bullets suppressed the energy in the valkyries, negating their healing and killing them.
Genji kicked the falling bodies toward the others, obstructing their path forward. The flintlock faded as Genji transitioned to a two-handed grip. Cutting intent and shadow flames swelled as he pulled back the saber like a baseball bat. Then a storm of cuts tore away at the valkyries, flaying them alive.
The cursed energy in their bodies tried to resist the damage, but this only prolonged the valkyries'' suffering. In the end, the pain was too much for them and they all collapsed weakly. Bruce took this chance to end them and shred the corpses.
Genji felt a pulse from the energy prism, but his attention was too occupied by the gaze spying on him to check it right now. Genji shot down the remaining bandits and dashed for the source of this sensation. Seconds later, he arrived at a dissipating conglomeration of curse energy. The witch behind this hex spell had released it before Genji arrived.
''Hphm, more scheming bastards. Don''t let me find you again or you won''t get so lucky next time.''
Genji cleaned up the bandit remnants and set the fortress on fire. The wooden planks used to repair the walls turned to ash along with the corpses, while the original stone material only gained a cinder-like taint. Genji checked the prism and saw that all the energy had condensed into a single ink drop in the inner prism. The two layers acted like a filtration system, leaving only the purest product behind.
Genji held the prism up to the dim moonlight and admired the ink drop''s glossy surface. It was like a refined drop of gasoline, only with the consistency of water. In terms of attractiveness, it could even rival Astros''s beady eyes.
Genji put away the prism and began his return trip. The crack of dawn arrived and Genji soon spotted the caravan. The escorts were taken aback by his momentum but kept mostly to themselves.
As Genji settled on a wagon, the leader approached and tentatively asked, "Is everything solved?"
"What do you think?"
The leader parsed his lips but eventually turned around without any more questions.
The journey lasted another day before they reached a rectangular fortress with a metal gate. Two-thirds of the walls were stained with black tar, the remains of dried monster blood. Just from the height of these stains, one could imagine how grueling the previous battles were.
Monsters had to pile on top of each other for meters to reach this point. Tar even reached the top in a few spots, accompanied by botches of dried blood.
There were elevated defense towers in the four corners, each flying large, navy blue, yet weathered flags. Many soldiers leaned against the top wall, their faces laced with exhaustion and their arms hanging from a makeshift cast. Beaten rifles lay beside them, full of scratches and empty cartridges.
A few better-off soldiers manned the lookout towers, doing their best to stave off their sleepiness. As the caravan neared, an escort went ahead and informed the people of their presence. After several shouts back and forth, the metal gates creaked upward under the soldiers'' labored efforts.
The wagons entered and everyone worked to unload the supplies. Sacks full of grains and salt circulated into the kitchen; cloth and medicine went into the treatment rooms; and crates of ammunition were stacked wherever there was space. The caravan leader talked to the commander in charge and gestured at Genji. The man nodded and approached Genji after a few moments.
"I heard about your feats. You''re not a witch hunter, are you?" he asked.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes. The witch hunters may use strange means, but I''ve never seen anything like yours. It''s almost supernatural."
"Maybe you just haven''t seen enough."
"Alright, let''s drop the small talk. I''ll tell you upfront: I don''t care who you are or how you got your badge. Just tell me, are you here to help?"
"Why else would I be here?"
"That''s all I needed to hear. Grab a riffle. The siege will begin in a few hours and you will need all the means you can get." The commander pointed at their storage room and resumed his tasks.
Genji shrugged and picked up a weathered rifle. When he opened the chamber, he noticed silver circuits lining the interior. These weapons were more durable than their bronze counterparts and could handle silver cartridges without issue. In contrast, the bronze circuits would quickly wear down when used with higher-tier bullets.
Genji swung the strap over his shoulders and found a spot beneath the walls. Hours later, the cursed energy grew turbulent and the prism''s refinement speed tripled. Swirls of black clouds formed overhead as the moonlight dimmed. The mouth of the valley burst with activity as swarms of naked creatures darted at the fortress. These monsters were hungry after a whole day of hiding and the soldiers were the only food source in sight. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Genji sprung up from the ground and deftly scaled the walls. Gunshots sounded around him as he flipped onto the walkway. The front-most monsters fell under this discharge, but the ones behind them ignored this and ruthlessly trampled them. Genji joined the barrage, but the tide swept through the area without pause. Genji came to a decision, drew his daggers, and vaulted over the wall gaps.
"Bruce, we''re going all out."
A thick stream of blood trailed behind him as he fell, resembling a crimson cape from a distance. Genji kicked off the ground, appeared before the tide, and unleashed his widest attack. The strike swept the units off their feet, allowing Bruce to swiftly finish them. Crescent wave after crescent wave tore through the crowd, followed by swathes of shadow flames.
[Shroud of Terror] absorbed the remnant powers from the slain monsters, replenishing Genji''s reserves and allowing him to be more liberal with his abilities. The soldiers recognized that Genji could handle this direction and appropriately shifted their support elsewhere.
The battle lasted until the verge of dawn, at which point the monsters retreated back into the valley. The soldiers slumped down against the wall, having survived another night.
The support staff passed out rations as Genji and Bruce trudged back to the walls. Behind him, a hill of bodies withered under the sunlight, releasing a foul odor and attracting vultures and other morning scavengers. A thick tar paste was all that remained from their blood, as Bruce had refined their little life essence.
The soldiers gave looks of respect and admiration his way, disregarding Bruce''s near-demonic abilities. Given their situation, any power that could help them was a good power, regardless of the origins.
Bruce and Genji had single-handedly held off a cardinal direction by themselves, greatly relieving the pressure on the fort. Compared to before, the monsters didn''t even reach a third of the wall''s height. It was fair to say they had saved a decent amount of lives with this act.
"Sir Hunter, the kitchen is serving some warm gruel. You can have my portion if you want," one grateful soldier offered.
"Same here. I don''t mind eating some dried rations if it means you can get a better meal," another said. The surrounding soldiers also concurred enthusiastically, afraid that Genji wouldn''t accept their offerings.
Genji waved his hand and politely rejected them. "Thanks, but no need. I have my ways to maintain my nutrition." Then he sat down and ate some high-calorie foods. Although the battle wasn''t dangerous, it had taken a strong toll on his stamina from its sheer duration. Bruce also yawned and munched on some jerky before reverting into sheath form to sleep.
As Genji rested, the commander approached and praised his powers. "That was excellent. A few more of those and we might actually shut down this danger zone."
"I won''t be staying around for long," Genji replied. "I have other things I need to do."
"Shame then. I was getting my hopes up."
"Instead of relying on me, why don''t you attack the valley? The monsters must be quite weak during the day. Killing them now would reduce the strain at night."
"You think we don''t want to?" The commander asked with a wry smile. "We tried, but we never had the manpower to effectively clear them out. The monsters know this is their weakest moment and hide deeper than cicadas. If we overextend, then we won''t have enough people for defense. And a small squad wouldn''t make a big enough difference in the numbers. They would be better off resting and helping out when night falls."
Genji agreed with this point. Given their current circumstances, there was little the fortress could do to be proactive. "In that case, let''s clear out as many as we can tonight. I want to leave by tomorrow if possible."
"Sure. How do you want us to cooperate with you?"
"I plan on holding down the exit and killing anything that comes out."
"I''m afraid I can''t help you too much with that. The soldiers can''t leave the walls or we''ll risk being surrounded. You don''t understand how big some tides can get. There have been times when the monsters climb over each other to scale the valley walls and swarm from every direction. The fortress at least gives us some buffer against that."
"I guess I''m alone then. Try not to die tonight."
Later that day, Genji could be seen standing at the valley''s entrance, poised to confront the incoming tide. The suns faded from view and the atmosphere burst with activity. The shuffling of feet over rocks echoed from within, growing louder with each passing moment. The ground shook and grew ever more unstable as a tide of creatures raced toward the exit.
Genji clenched his daggers and looked at Bruce, exchanging a knowing glance. It was time to massacre their hearts'' content.
Moments later, the first creature burst into view, only to be instantly cut down. A wall of shadow flames locked down the area, yet the mindless monsters charged forward without regard. Powerful attacks few around like drops of rain, shredding anything in their path and adding to the wall of obstacles.
The energy prism worked overtime to clear the lingering curses, preventing it from empowering the surrounding existences. Genji''s energy fluctuated up and down like an oscillation wave, never following a standard pattern. However, this constant output left openings between recovery times, allowing some creatures to slip by his defenses.
This tiny amount gradually grew as Genji''s energy neared the bottom. Eventually, Genji switched to more conservative attacks and the tide gushed out. The fortress felt this change, but the rate was manageable compared to before. As the night passed, Genji noticed a small decrease in the monster''s density. After two nights of massacre, the monster population had finally decreased.
In the end, the density had decreased to half its initial level. Genji considered the operation successful and dragged his tired body back to the fortress. By noon, he had left the area with 54 drops of refined curses.
As Genji traveled through the night, he heard explosions and other sharp sounds in the distance. Bruce looked up at him, and Genji nodded, prompting the nightbane to burst into a sprint. [Jaguar] appeared in one hand while Genji retrieved the fortress rifle with the other.
Soon, they rode into a battle-torn town full of wreckage. Houses were knocked down, roads were riddled with potholes, and crushed produce was scattered everywhere. Fearful townspeople hid behind broken walls, praying they wouldn''t be noticed. Their breaths hitched as Genji grew closer, betraying their positions.
Genji ignored this and rode toward the source of the commotion. Within seconds, he arrived at an open area where a man in a full leather ensemble was fighting a ring of floating, ghostly women.
These women were shrouded in black mist, had deathly pale skin reminiscent of the monsters, and eyes darker than ink. They wore the same clothes as the townspeople, but there were no traces of life. Someone had reanimated these corpses to do their bidding.
The man fighting against them wielded a submachine gun that riddled the corpses with bullets. However, the women flickered incessantly around him, buying time for the atmospheric curses to heal their wounds.
On the man''s back was a cylindrical barrel approximately 1.8 meters long and 27 centimeters wide. It had a metallic handle on the back and six barrels in the front, five of which were filled with wooden stakes that flashed with golden circuits.
The weapon resembled a makeshift Gatling gun and exuded a powerful presence. A single shot from this impressive beast could down anything below 60 constitution points and severely injure those above. The only drawbacks were the rarity of the materials and the skills required to manufacture these custom projectiles.
The floating women lunged at the man, forcing him to dive aside. As he rolled onto his feet, he swapped to an automatic preloaded crossbow and nailed the closest target in the head. The neck snapped back and the black mist dissipated.
Genji joined the fight at this moment and also filled the skulls with silver. Upon emptying the chambers, he flicked the rifle to discharge the shells and dismounted. Genji tossed the gun to Bruce, appeared beside a grounded unit, and hacked through the chest. A hollow gasp sounded as the woman collapsed like a severed marionette.
The man glanced at Genji and flicked his wrist to swerve his submachine gun. The shots pushed back the women, allowing Genji to slice through three more. Bruce joined in then and skewered the rest from the inside out. Bodies fell from the skies as the man reloaded his crossbow.
"Who are you?" he demanded, pointing the weapon at Genji. "Are you an enemy or friend?"
"I should be a friend. An enemy wouldn''t have helped you just now."
"Yes, you''re right. Sorry, I was too tense," the man apologized, noticing the fortress rifle by Bruce. He lowered the crossbow, adjusted the bandana around his face, and flashed a metallic badge. "Witch Hunter Sivan. I''ve been tracking a dastardly witch recently. She''s caused a lot of trouble around these parts."
"Sounds fun. Mind if I join?" Genji held up his own badge, causing Sivan to narrow his eyes. He didn''t recognize the badge, nor did Genji meet the usual indicators for a witch hunter.
It was strange, almost as if someone had given him the badge - or he had plucked it from a fallen hunter. However, Sivan quickly dismissed these thoughts. It wasn''t his business to delve into someone else''s background. All he should care about were Genji''s abilities and his alignment. "In that case, I''ll be happy to have you."
"When do we leave?"
"Give me a few moments. I need to settle the villagers first. They''ve been hit the hardest since the witch resided here before her reveal."
Genji nodded and watched Sivan walk toward the frightened townspeople. After comforting them and leaving some instructions, he returned to Genji''s side with a borrowed horse.
"Let''s go. It might take a few days, but she won''t get far. I left a nasty wound on her before she escaped."
"No need. I have an easier way," Genji said, dropping some remains he''d gathered onto his compass. The discolored flesh ignited and fizzled into ash, coating the top of the compass. The pointer spun rapidly for a few seconds before locking onto the desired target.
230 – Research
"You can use witch''s magic?" Sivan asked, eyeing the fading embers over the compass.
"It''s just a small trick," Genji replied. "Nothing too amazing."
''It seems anything but small,'' Sivan thought, but he refrained from asking any more questions.
They hopped on their mounts and rode toward their destination in silence. After 40 minutes, they spotted a lone woman limping in the distance. Her right hand clutched her injured shoulder, doing her best to stop the bleeding. Long, messy hair hung from her drooping head, obscuring her face and accentuating her glowing irises.
At the sound of approaching gallops, she looked up, and a flash of viciousness flickered in her eyes. These were not the eyes of a human but of a cornered beast. The witch had realized her precarious situation and prepared for a final standoff.
Black mist seeped from her fingertips, initiating a hideous transformation. Her visible skin withered like aged bark, her hair dried up like twigs, her eyes took on an unnatural green hue, sharp jagged teeth jutted from her mouth, and her nails extended into menacing claws. She unleashed an ear-piercing shriek and charged at them.
Sivan leaped off the horse, drew his signature weapon midair, and pulled back the handle. A wooden stake emanating a golden aura shot toward the witch, forcing her to block with a swift swipe. A small ripple passed through the air as her left hand disintegrated into ash. But instead of faltering, the witch kicked her legs harder, knowing her only chance of survival was to close the distance and hack Sivan apart.
Suddenly, Genji appeared beside her and unleashed a storm of cutting intent. Intense light wrapped her body, leaving countless gashes across her skin. Genji kicked out hard, sending the witch backward faster than her approach.
A second stake impaled her chest as she soared through the air, further aggravating her injuries. Bruce also struck, but the curse thwarted his attempts. The witch rolled onto her feet, yanked out the stake, and fiercely glared at them. Then her remaining energy gathered by her index finger, forming a dense orb that she pointed at Genji.
The next moment, a streak of darkness pierced through Genji''s cheek, exposing the nicked bone. At the same time, Genji manifested [Curse Bearer] and returned fire. Once emptied, the wound on Genji''s face began to heat up as the flintlock absorbed the lingering curses from the area.
Genji dismissed the weapon and a mental shockwave crashed into the witch, disrupting her next action. Bloody skewers pierced through her neck from three even-spaced directions, forming a six-armed cross. Bruce commanded the construct to twist the head off and pulverize it mid-air.
Genji expanded his perception in preparation for any revival attempts, but this proved to be unnecessary. The witch was fully dead after this brutality.
"Good to know they don''t have any absurd regeneration abilities," Genji muttered as he lowered his weapons.
"I wouldn''t be so sure about that," Sivan quipped. "The competent ones all have Horcruxes or substitution dolls set up to take a hit for them. It''s nearly impossible to kill them unless we find their hideouts or catch them at an unlucky time. We learned this the hard way after so many losses."
"And how does that work? It sounds way too absurd to be real."
"Trust me, we also want to know. If we can figure out how to break these abilities, we''d have a significantly easier time killing them."
"Is that so? Let me tell my associates then. Maybe they can help." Genji posted these findings in the group chat and looked up at Sivan. "Anything else you want to add?"
Sivan marveled at the implications of Genji''s statement but shook his head. "That''s all I know too. The witches are difficult to find and even harder to understand. They hide their weaknesses well and rarely leave survivors. If you''re looking for more information, try Alder Town. It''s where all the nearby witch hunters gather to exchange intel¡ªa base of operations of sorts. I''d be happy to introduce you if you''re interested."
"In that case, I''ll gladly accept the offer."
After a full day of traveling and stopping at a passing town for Sivan to change his horse, they arrived at their destination. Alder Town was a lively place, full of bustling townspeople and nightly activity. The fear and uncertainty common in most towns were nowhere to be found here, creating a semblance of normality. With so many passing witch hunters, security was easy to maintain. It would take a real disaster to shake this town.
Sivan led them to a two-story saloon, where they checked in for the night before heading upstairs and leaving Genji to his own devices. Soft piano music accompanied by the clinking of glasses echoed throughout the first floor. The witch hunters gathered in small groups, socializing with their peers.
Genji sat at the counter, ordered a drink, and observed the atmosphere. As he quietly sipped from his cup, a fellow hunter approached and tipped his hat at Genji. "Hi there. I don''t recognize you. You new here?"
"Just arrived here not too long ago with a fellow named Sivan," Genji answered.
"Ah yes, the Impaler. He has quite the reputation in these parts."
"That sounds like an interesting title. Care to tell me how he earned it?"
"Nothing much. Just put a stake through enough witches to make him a veteran. I think his record is seven now?"
"Might have to bump that up to eight."
The man stared at Genji for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Figures. This is just like him. I don''t know how he does it, but he can sniff out those witches like a hunting dog. Truly no one better to learn from if you want to establish yourself as a renowned hunter."
Genji smiled and brought the cup to his mouth, deciding not to correct the misunderstanding, as that would only derail the conversation. "So what''s with that guy?" Genji asked, pointing at a lone figure in the corner.
This man stood out as the only other person, downing shots like they were water. After each drink, he would slam the cup on the table and drunkenly wait for a refill. His face was flushed red and his eyes unfocused. One could immediately tell he was someone with a story.
"Oh him? That''s Old Bill. He''s been drowning his sorrows ever since that fated night. Not really my place to tell you about it. If you catch him on a sober evening, you might just get an answer, provided he doesn''t lash out at you for bringing up that memory. Anyway, don''t bother with him. He only wants some alone time now."
They talked for another hour before Genji excused himself from the conversation and headed upstairs to his room. As he sat down on the bed, he noticed Celine had sent a message in the group chat regarding the issues from the previous night.
Celine: I''ve been doing some tests and believe the substitution dolls use cause-and-effect principles. By linking one''s casual relationship with a replacement target, one can transfer all the sustained damage or status effects ignoring distance. It''s a strong application of fate, but I haven''t figured out how they did it. I will need to see one in action to make any more conclusions. As for the Horcruxes, I suspect it''s based on the soul, but that''s not my area of specialty.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Harper: Is there any way to cut this connection? I''ve faced a witch and she got away because of this.
Celine: Currently no. But this might change if you can get me footage of their abilities or the ingredients they use.
Zon: That''s a hard request. I guess we won''t be doing that anytime soon.
Enigma: I might have a way. Is anyone near Alder Town?
Harper: No.
Celine: I''m unfortunately a long way off. Maybe meet at Jonas Circle?
Ningui: I''m there right now and I don''t recommend it. Place is a mess after a recent attack. You won''t have time to investigate.
Dost: @Ningui You need help there? I can swing by if you need.
Ningui: Thanks for the offer, but I have it covered. Focus on the other regions instead.
Enigma: I guess this is a solo job then?
Zon: Yeah. Let us know what you find.
Genji closed the chat and scratched Astros between the ears. "Looks like we have our work cut out for tomorrow."
Astros purred against his hand and closed his eyes in comfort. Genji maintained this position until Astros fell asleep, then entered a light meditation himself. The following morning, Genji set off with a compass in hand. To his surprise, the pointer directed him to the other side of town, not even a kilometer away. A witch was hiding right under the hunters'' noses!
The target quickly realized they were being tracked and hastily took preemptive actions, losing Genji in the crowd. But Genji remained undeterred and closed his eyes to sense for any vigilant gazes. Little by little, he filtered out the irrelevant presences until only one remained. His eyes snapped open and he sprang toward his target.
With a violent kick, the door to a house burst open, revealing an empty room with wisps of black smoke swirling about. Faint traces of space fluctuations could be sensed in the air, confirming the escape method.
However, the lack of a commotion indicated that the witch couldn''t have gone far¡ªthere was still a chance to catch them. Genji swept the lingering aura onto his compass and resumed his chase.
Startled townspeople gathered around as Genji rushed out of the building. Unwilling to be stalled by the crowd, Genji climbed onto the roof and began jumping between the buildings. His eyes scanned for any suspicious figures as he followed the compass pointer.
Since this tracking used a physical medium, the lock-on was stronger and harder to shake off. It would take the witch at least a dozen seconds to break free¡ªseconds she didn¡¯t have right now.
Genji eventually noticed the incongruous figure and fired several shots while falling from the roof. Streaks of cutting intent snaked through the region, latching onto and carving out large chunks of flesh. Screams erupted around them as the bystanders fled the scene.
An immense mental impact stunned the witch as Genji snapped her neck. Then without pause, he ripped off the limbs, shattered the organs, and stripped the body bare, followed by a meticulous douse of gasoline. Bruce finished the sequence with a lit matchstick and prepared for combat. They knew better than to let their guard down after everything they''d heard about the witches.
Seconds into the incineration, the witch''s body dissipated into smoke and recondensed a few meters away. However, this ability came at a high cost. Patches of skin were missing from her face, her figure had become emaciated, and all her hair had fallen out. In exchange, she had regained her limbs and mobility.
The witch glared at Genji and launched balls of mist at the townspeople. She knew she couldn''t defeat or escape from Genji, so she opted to drag as many people down with her as possible.
Blooms of blood intercepted these attacks as Genji burst forward. Daggers plunged into decaying flesh, consuming large chunks of vitality with each strike. Genji suppressed the witch on all fronts, eventually decapitating her despite her best efforts. The commotion gradually subsided, and nearby hunters rushed to the scene with raised weapons.
"What''s going on here?" One hunter demanded, provoked by the uproar. "Why are you causing such a big scene in town?"
"I should be asking you that. Why is there a witch hiding here?" Genji retorted, flicking off the remaining smoke. "If it wasn''t for me, she would have gotten away and instigated who knows what troubles."
The hunters exchanged awkward glances and reluctantly lowered their firearms. "Still, couldn''t you have waited until she left to confront her? Don''t you care about the possible casualties?"
"We both know that''s a naive thought, so let''s stop the conversation here. Putting aside whether I can catch her, do you think she would have left if I hadn''t taken such drastic actions? No, she clearly had malicious intentions with how long she''d been lurking. It''s better to remove the tumor now and endure a little pain than let it fester and destroy the whole body. Anyway, since you''re here, you can deal with the aftermath. I''ve done my part." With those words, Genji stowed away the loot and walked off.
Later that afternoon, the same gentleman from before approached Genji for a casual chat. "Wow, I didn¡¯t expect you to sniff out a witch on your first day. You might even be on par with the Impaler in tracking. Looks like I made a joke of myself yesterday. I hope you didn¡¯t laugh too hard behind my back."
"What is there to laugh about? Everything depends on accomplishments. Until one has proven themselves, it''s normal to assume they are unimportant."
The man chuckled and waved to the bartender. "Well, aren¡¯t you pragmatic? Tonight¡¯s drinks are on me. Order whatever you want."
Genji cast a side-long glance his way and took another swig. "I haven¡¯t paid a single coin since I got here. The drinks are free. How are you going to treat me?"
"Don¡¯t be like that. That¡¯s only the case for the first two shots. Drink some more."
"Sorry, but I prefer to stay sober, especially with the current situation. Witch and all, in a secure town."
*Sigh* "I should have expected as much. You and Sivan are cut from the same cloth¡ªpure business and no celebration. Don¡¯t you know how to unwind a little? Then let me get straight to the point. The witch¡¯s house turned up empty. Do you know where her stuff went? We suspect there are some dangerous components in her stash and would prefer to dispose of them."
"I don¡¯t know what you''re talking about," Genji smoothly lied. "I haven¡¯t been near her house since this morning. Why would I know anything about it?"
"Just a hunch. In that case, I won¡¯t bother you any longer." The man got up and walked away.
Genji asked for another drink and slowly savored the mellow flavor. Afterward, he went up to his room and meditated until dinner time. But instead of going downstairs for a meal, he went into town. As he passed by a narrow alleyway, a small critter leaped onto his shoulder and snuggled against his neck.
"Good to have you back," Genji greeted Astros. "I assume everything went well?"
"Squeak squeak," Astros proudly replied.
Genji lightly smiled and scratched Astros behind the ears. "Then let¡¯s eat something before we retrieve the stash."
Astros buried his face deeper into Genji¡¯s neck and contently closed his eyes. An hour later, near nightfall, Genji stepped into a remote path outside of town and began digging. After several shovelfuls of dirt, the tip hit a metal box. Genji swept aside the surrounding material to reveal a trunk around 2 cubic meters in size.
Genji transferred the container into his storage, replaced the dirt, and casually walked back. Taking an alternate route, he arrived at the saloon from the opposite side and spotted Sivan on the balcony. Contrary to his previous strong appearance, Sivan was coughing into a bloody rag. The darkness of the night hid his figure from common eyes, but he failed to elude Genji¡¯s senses.
Sivan let out a few strained coughs before wiping his face with a wet rag and retrieving an unlabeled bottle from his pouch. A strong medicinal smell wafted into Genji¡¯s nose, followed by furrowed brows. Even with a rough analysis, Genji could tell the drug had a strong effect¡ªso strong that it could easily overdose a normal person. By Genji¡¯s fatality standard, he estimated Sivan had a 40% chance of death.
''What condition does he have to warrant something so potent? A severe injury? No, it doesn¡¯t look like that. An illness? Maybe. I can''t tell from this distance.''
Sivan chugged half the bottle and calmed his heaving chest. After stashing the bottle away, he leaned against the wooden railing and buried his face in his left hand. "I''m running low again," he muttered. "Will need to replenish my stock soon."
Genji walked around Sivan¡¯s view and returned to his room as if nothing had happened. He organized the items from the witch and posted a picture in the group chat.
Enigma: I retrieved everything I could. Let me know if you need me to cooperate with any experiments.
Celine: Can you find out what properties each item has? A detailed record would be helpful.
Enigma: I''ll have a rough outline by tomorrow morning and more details in the following days.
Celine: No rush. We all have things to do.
At that moment, 7156 posted a picture of a messy table full of items. The assortment of items was greater than Genji¡¯s collection, and the background also included multiple instruments. One such vessel was a round tripod cauldron made of black cast iron, 2 meters tall and 2 meters in diameter. A large crack ran through its walls, releasing bright green goo onto the ground.
Below the picture, the caption read, "A witch¡¯s hideout."
Celine: Excellent. Now we have two people on the case. 7156, talk with Enigma and figure out which materials overlap with his. Skip those. Also, share your location. Anyone nearby can head over and help out. Enigma, if you can, teach 7156 how to analyze the materials and write a scientific log. Let¡¯s get this done so we can start hunting those witches.
Enigma: Sounds good. 7156, hop on a video call.
7156''s name dimmed in the group chat, and seconds later, the expected call arrived. Genji unfolded the device into a large display and tapped his sheath. "Help me out, would you?"
He then accepted the call and made a few gestures, indicating that he couldn''t make too much noise right now. 7156 nodded and panned his camera around his room, starting the information exchange.
231 – Abandoned Mines
After a full night of work, Genji compiled and submitted the necessary report to the group chat before preparing to leave town. He had completed the preliminary work, but further testing would require varying levels of ruckus. It would be more productive to conduct these experiments in the wild, away from the witch hunters'' scrutiny.
As Genji descended the stairs, he noticed that the usual drunkard in the corner was absent. The man had left late last night, and no one knew where he had gone. Sivan had also departed earlier that day at dawn to gather ingredients for his medicine.
Genji nodded to the hunter who had chatted with him and informed the bartender about his departure. Once they were away from the town, Genji handed Astros another stick and arbitrarily determined their next direction. The journey lasted two days before he spotted the dim light of oil lamps in the distance, which stood out like a sore thumb, attracting all sorts of unwanted attention.
One such case was a gruff man who rode away with a loosely wrapped bundle strapped to the back of his horse. The man rode with such haste that it seemed as if the devil was chasing him, going so far as to ignore the gunshots behind him.
The jostling from the breakaway loosened the bundle, causing a dainty hand to fall out. This hand flapped limply with the galloping motion, scattering specks of freshly dug-up dirt beneath it.
By now, the man had already left Genji''s sight, so he rode toward the light source first. As he got closer, he saw another man kneeling by a fallen gravestone. A large crater was by his feet, testifying to the blasphemy that occurred minutes prior. Several of the grave robber''s companions also lay around him, each killed by a single bullet through the head.
The man looked up with an unfriendly gaze, his hand reaching for his fallen revolver. However, he recognized Genji and stopped just before pulling the trigger. Genji recognized him as well. They weren''t exactly acquaintances, but they had seen each other back at the hunter town. It was Old Bill, the grieving drunkard of the saloon.
"What are you doing here?" Old Bill asked with a rough voice.
"Just passing by. You seem to have your own troubles right now."
"I wish it were something that simple, but we might have more trouble than you think. That was no normal body they took."
"How so? Other than it not decomposing."
Instead of answering Genji, Old Bill uncorked a bottle of whiskey and took a big swig. He smacked his lips a few times to savor the aftertaste before looking absentmindedly into the distance. "Tell me youngling, how much do you know about the strongest witches?"
"I know they''re hard to kill and have an endless number of tricks. Haven''t fought one myself yet though, so I can''t say for certain."
"Then let me tell you. The easiest way is to incapacitate and bury them alive. Put a stake through their heart, throw them into an airtight coffin, and let them suffocate. They''ll be helpless to resist. You will have to deal with their incessant curses throughout the process, though." Although he described a cruel act, there was a hint of reminiscent sadness on his face.
Genji gave him a few moments before asking the main question on his mind. "What about Horcruxes? Can''t they revive from that?"
"Who knows? In all my years, I haven''t encountered a witch who survived this treatment." Old Bill took another swig from his bottle, trying to hide the growing sadness in his eyes.
Genji was speechless at Old Bill''s logic. Of course, he hadn¡¯t! If he was strong enough to put the witch in that situation in the first place, he was strong enough to do it again. Even if the witch survived, she wouldn''t appear in front of him again, especially after all that trauma. And if one did appear, he wouldn''t be alive right now given how vengeful they could be.
However, this remark did spark some ideas about the Horcruxes'' true nature. Given how long Old Bill had been around, it is fair to assume he''d encountered a decent number of witches. Yet what are the chances that none of them tried to get revenge on him? Although the method might be peculiar, there must be some element of truth to it. The question lies in which part, and how to confirm it.
''I''ll just relay this information and let the others think about it.''
"So how does this relate to grave robbery?" Genji asked after several seconds.
"When you kill a witch this way, you preserve their bodies. There''s no airflow or critters that can eat away at it. The stronger they are in life, the longer this period lasts. You can even say their remains are agglomerations of curse energy, a powerful resource in the right hands. If used correctly, one can even access their powers for a brief period. And this one has been here for years."
Genji''s eyes narrowed at this revelation. Several points didn''t line up. If that was the case, why didn''t they-
"Don''t look at me like that. The witch hunters won''t use this method," Old Bill interrupted his thoughts. "Nothing good ever comes from dealing with witches. That saying is as old as time here. It''s not just the hunters but those around them who are at risk when they use this power. Misfortune plagues them like shadows. One wrong move and a whole region disappears off the map. It''s simply not a worthwhile trade."
"Sounds like we have a brewing disaster in the midst. I assume you''ll gather hunters for this?"
"That''ll take too long. We don''t have the time right now. I would appreciate it if you could join me. We''ll go after them right away."
"I don''t mind, but are you in any condition to fight after all that drinking?"
Old Bill grinned at Genji and patted a large holster by his waist. "I might be a drunk and old enough to be the Impaler''s father, but I''m still a veteran hunter. I can hold my own against them."
"You''ll need a horse, then. Mine isn''t that keen on strangers."
"That''s easy," Old Bill said, bringing his fingers to his mouth and letting out a sharp whistle that echoed into the distance. Seconds later, a brown horse with a saddle galloped into view.
The horse stopped a few meters away and nervously shuffled its legs, clearly disturbed by Bruce''s strange presence. There was just something about this red cousin that triggered its instincts. Bruce repaid the favor with a curious look, wondering why a fellow horse could be so timid.
*Sigh* ''Horses these days. Just aren''t as brave as they used to be. Seems like I''m still the best,'' Bruce thought, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.
"Now now. It''s okay," Old Bill said in a soothing voice, stroking the mane of the distressed stead. This process took a few minutes before Old Bill pulled himself up. "Alright, I''m ready."
"You know where their hideout is?"
"I have a rough guess. There''s only one place that allows them to avoid the hunter''s attention."
After some travel, they arrived at an abandoned mine carved into the mountainside. The entrance was boarded up with wooden planks, from which a metal sign warning of potential hazards hung. Just as Old Bill began searching for an alternative way in, Genji placed his hand on the barricade and channeled his cutting intent. With a single flash, a door-sized opening was neatly carved out.
"That works as well," Old Bill said with a light grin.
They waited for the dust to settle before walking through. Old railroads and a dusty minecart full of coal entered their view. They followed the railroads and gradually descended into the mountain. Newly opened food cans and animal bones soon appeared, indicating they were at the right place.
A ghastly bellow echoed from below, followed by the echo of approaching footsteps. Old Bill swiftly drew a revolver, but Genji stepped forward and pushed the muzzle down. "Let me. Wouldn''t want to risk a dust explosion right now."Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Old Bill obliged and returned the gun to his holster. Seconds later, a swarm of deathly white humanoids dashed into view. Their claws and the corners of their mouths were smudged with dried blood, testifying to their recent feast.
Genji moved forward at a comfortable pace as if taking a casual stroll rather than confronting a pack of monsters. The creatures lunged at him, claws poised to tear him apart when they suddenly froze mid-air. Genji stepped past their falling bodies as geysers of blood erupted behind him. Yet, before a single drop could touch him, the blood veered away, racing toward the entrance where Bruce was trailing them.
''So that''s why Janice was so scared. That''s not a normal horse,'' Old Bill thought, pulling his hat down.
Bruce joined Genji and they resumed their descent. Genji cut down more monsters along the way until they reached the main area at the bottom. Many branching tunnels stretched out around them, but the agitated energy emanating from one path made their choice evident.
As they walked down the dimly lit tunnel, Old Bill drew his signature weapon, a pistol with a barrel so thick that it was practically a hand cannon. Light glimmers of golden circuits peaked out from the barrel interiors, indicating its might despite its strange weight balance.
As they advanced through the dimly lit tunnel, Old Bill drew his signature weapon¡ªa pistol with a barrel so thick it was practically a hand cannon. Faint golden circuits glimmered from within the barrel, hinting at its formidable power despite its peculiar weight distribution.
A faint smell of burnt sulfur wafted through the air as the walls began to glow with a reddish hue. In the distance, incomprehensible chanting echoed, revealing a group of outlaws gathered around the stolen body. One person brought a knife to the side of their neck and yanked hard, splattering blood onto the body. The others followed and swiftly collapsed with content gazes.
Old Bill''s eyes dilated at this strange scene and agitatedly fired at the body. His hand jerked back from the powerful recoil, but he refused to stop as if haunted by a past memory.
"It''s too late," the leader declared with a sinister laugh. "The ritual has already begun. You can''t stop it now." Smoke rose from the corpse, coiling around his body and forming an expanding energy coat.
The energy twisted his joints unnaturally, warping his limbs like splintered wood. The skin on his face peeled away, exposing decaying flesh and ashen bones. With a gaze brimming with megalomania and arrogance, he tilted his head back and reveled in his newfound strength. "So this is power. So this is invincibility."
*Sigh* "Another fool who lost himself in pursuit of power. These witches sure know how to cause trouble even when they''re dead," Old Bill muttered in a resigned tone.
"What do you know? I''m not like you cowardly hunters¡ªhaving powerful tools but not daring to use them. I am brave! I am almighty!" The leader spread his twisted arms as if basking in imaginary glory.
"And the worst part is that he doesn''t even know what he''s done," Old Bill continued, ignoring the delusion leader. "Seriously, why does this always come back to torment me? How many times must I kill her?"
"I don''t know what you''re talking about, but I assume it has something to do with that body? What''s the catch for using this power? You seem especially familiar with this witch." Genji asked, subtly positioning himself for a surprise attack.
"Not just familiar. Much more," Old Bill answered before raising his voice at the leader. "Show yourself, Gina. I know you can hear me!"
At his demand, portions of smoke drifted from the leader''s back and congregated into a female apparition. Her exact features couldn''t be seen, but her presence still evoked a sense of unease. The leader remained ignorant of this change and taunted Old Bill for his words when he suddenly let out a painful scream.
"It''s been a long time, darrrrrlllliiiiinnnggg," the apparition stretched out the last word, causing Old Bill to wince in pain. "I hope you missed me."
"You...you...Who are YOU!" The leader yelled out before Old Bill could answer.
"How rude. You take a girl''s most precious first time and you have the audacity to ask her who she is? You are worse than a beast," the apparition said in a teasing voice.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?!" The leader roared again.
"Alright, that''s enough out of you. You''ve served your purpose. Now quiet down." At those words, the leader''s eyes bulged like a dying fish out of water before they abruptly dimmed. His head slumped at an awkward angle, and his limbs unraveled like frayed rope. Yet despite this, his body remained standing, frozen in place like a lifeless puppet awaiting its master''s command.
Old Bill sighed again, shook off his lingering feelings, and pulled the trigger. At the same time, Genji kicked off the ground, appearing behind the leader before the bullet even hit its mark. His daggers were extended outward, approaching the end of their attack trajectory.
The next moment, the impact took effect, causing the leader to jerk violently from side to side. With each abrupt change in direction, wounds appeared, but no blood flowed out. The body had been completely refined into a puppet, so how could there be any blood left? After 39 rapid pulses, the previously fired bullet harmless passed through the apparition.
The apparition reached out at Genji with a chilly touch, but he instinctively twisted out of the way. His dagger sliced through the outstretched arm, but that only resulted in a thick layer of frost coating his blade. Another bullet passed through the apparition''s head, distracting her long enough for Genji to slide away.
Genji briefly evaluated the transparent figure before charging back in. His daggers swiped across every body part, probing for a weakness. However, the result remained unchanged. At this moment, a quiet groan sounded from the fallen puppet leader. Black threads stretched across his wounds and sewed the body together. Then it stumbled back onto its feet and limped toward Genji like a zombie.
As it drew closer, it raised both arms and slammed into the ground with immense force. Jagged rock shards flew in all directions, leaving deep indents in the walls. Genji relied on his impeccable footwork to bypass these projectiles and continue his offensive strikes.
As the battle raged on, Genji''s mind raced to make sense of the bizarre situation. ''She¡¯s completely unaffected. Energy, physical attacks, and even cutting intent have no effect. What¡¯s her weakness? There must be a breakthrough point. Think, Genji. What is she trying to hide?''
His gaze darted around the tunnels and inadvertently locked onto the witch''s original body. It was vastly different from before, pulsating with a sinister dark glow that all but confirmed the connection between the apparition¡¯s immortality and her physical form.
Without hesitation, Genji appeared beside the body and drove his dagger into the chest, unleashing a blinding column of light. A dark barrier materialized around the body, absorbing the brunt of the attack''s force. However, this was not the only thing that appeared. Connecting the apparition to her mortal coil was a black chain that radiated pure malice.
Genji slashed at the chain with his other hand, but the dagger bounced off after gouging out a small chunk. However, despite its resilience, the chain couldn''t endure the attacks for long. After all, the sharpness Genji developed over his entire journey was nothing to scoff at. By a rough estimate, it would take 3 to 4 more strikes to break the chain.
This realization sparked a wave of panic in the witch, prompting her to hurl three curse bolts at him in quick succession. With each projectile, her apparition grew more transparent and her dark aura lighter in color.
Genji grabbed the chain and swung it into the projectiles, shattering them. However, a rising sense of crisis told him the attack was far from over. Releasing his grip, Genji jumped back and narrowly dodged a newly emerged bolt from the chain. The next moment, Genji found himself springing off the ground with a single-handed as the other two bolts grazed his leg.
Genji spun midair and unleashed a razor-sharp kick at the chain. Another chip broke off as shadow flames wrapped and compressed into Genji''s daggers. A block of energy formed beneath him, acting as a foothold and allowing Genji to burst forward.
Two crescent arcs dug into the chain, leaving visible cracks in its surface. Tendrils of resentment rose around him, seeking to envelop Genji before he could completely sever the connection.
At that moment, Old Bill fired a carefully aimed shot at the damaged intersection. The chain grew taut, and Genji shifted his next course of action. Instead of deploying a quantum barrier, Genji opted for a decisive kick. Metal ground against metal in a shower of sparks until the chain finally snapped.
The witch gasped in pain and the tendrils around Genji dissipated. Her apparition dimmed, the puppet collapsed for good, and her body rapidly withered. In a matter of seconds, her body transformed from a young woman with plump skin to an old hag with countless wrinkles. No matter how impressive her means were, there was no way to come back from this.
"I''m...glad...you...were...the...one...to...land...the...final...blow," the witch muttered in Old Bill''s direction. Then she faded away as her body scattered into ash, having completed the cycle of decay instantly. The only objects left behind were the wooden stake previously stabbed into her chest and the bullets from Old Bill''s gun.
Old Bill stared somberly at this scene and covered his reddening eyes. Soft sniffles full of heartache sounded from his throat as he choked back audible sobs. This reaction was particularly sad because he knew they were parting for good this time. And he was the one to send her off.
[You have slain Remnant Soul of Gina (Mini-Boss)]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 43 points.]
[You have obtained 469 realm coins.]
[You have obtained Soul Anchoring Stake]
[Soul Anchoring Stake]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 34/60
Effect: Trap the soul of anyone stabbed by to their body.
Description: An ordinary wooden stake that gained extraordinary powers when witch Gina used it to bind her soul to her body, thus extending her existence.
Note 1: Use it smartly and it may save your life. Of course, this depends on your definition of living, as your physical body will certainly be dead.
Note 2: Its use case is so peculiar that you might be better off using it as firewood. At least it''ll make some good s''mores.
Note 3: If you do intend to use it, beware of the dried blood on the tip. Might want to clean it first.
Genji gave Old Bill some time to recompose himself before approaching and picking up the stake. "I hope you don''t mind me taking a souvenir."
Old Bill subtly wiped his tears, shook his head, and mustered a cheerful tone. "Go ahead. In fact, I might do you one better." He walked over to a chunk of ore that had broken off during their fight and handed it to Genji. "Take this and go meet an old friend of mine. He''ll give you something in exchange."
Genji held his stare for a few moments before graciously accepting. "In that case, I''ll thank you ahead of time. It was pleasant working with you. I hope we get another chance to team up."
"Yes... Yes, I hope we do."
With that, Genji turned away from Old Bill''s stiff smile and made his way to the exit, leaving the veteran hunter to himself.
232 – Mechanic
[Unrefined Phosphorus Gold Ore]
Rating: Epic
Quantity: 4.2 Kilograms
Description: An efficient conductor of earthly power. In the right hands, it can elevate a mediocre weapon into a formidable threat.
This was the information on the ore Old Bill had given him. To the untrained eye, it looked no different from ordinary gold. For this reason, the bartender in the first town mistook Genji''s gold for this mineral. While Genji didn''t know the ore''s exact value, it was undeniably precious, considering how rare weapons containing phosphorous gold were. To this day, Genji had only seen two weapons of such caliber.
Genji stored the ore away and checked the map. The destination wasn''t far¡ªabout four hours away at full speed. After finishing, Bruce nudged Genji and passed back his communication device. Genji had asked Bruce to record the previous fight for analysis purposes. Genji uploaded the recording and the necessary information before setting off into the night.
Halfway into their journey, Genji received a response in the group chat.
Celine:
I think I''ve figured it out! Everything revolves around anchors and their attractive inertia. For example, Horcruxes act as anchors, pulling the soul back to a preset location once it separates from the body. Substitution dolls, however, require a living being to act as the anchor and take all the damage in the master''s place. Essentially, there are ways to counter these abilities.
For substitution dolls, you only need to prevent the anchor from receiving the transfer signal. It can be an isolation barrier, cutting the connection, or even knocking the witch out. They''ll all work to varying degrees. If you do manage to knock one out, take some precautions against the common escapes.
I recommend the burial treatment that Enigma shared. It covers most of the loopholes they might try, especially the stake through the heart. I don''t know the exact reason, but this severely weakens their soul and makes the journey back to their Horcrux difficult.
Ideally, you should destroy the soul before it escapes, but I know this is highly dependent on your abilities. The alternative is to mark it and follow it back to their hideout to kill the witch as she revives. Due to how the attraction works, they can only have one Horcrux at a time, so you can be assured this is their final life.
Otherwise, hide your face and destroy any clues that might lead back to you. This includes any blood, hair, or other DNA because I suspect they can curse you through them. I''m not kidding! With the principles I''ve outlined, it''s completely possible to use these as an anchor point for their abilities. It''s difficult, but not impossible for a powerful witch. Stay safe everyone and good luck on your hunts.
That concluded the lengthy message from Celine. A few others responded to her below, but it was mostly idle chatter. Genji closed the chat and considered how these points applied to him.
The substitution dolls are difficult to deal with since Genji doesn''t have any effective ways of interfering with the connection. Luckily, only damage and status effects are transferred, so he can just keep wounding them until they run out of substitutes. Poison is especially effective since it deals continuous damage without pause. And if all else fails, a few slashes always get the job done.
As for the Horcruxes, Genji happens to have an ability that can execute the soul. It might be energy-intensive, but it''s worthwhile to ensure a powerful enemy is dead. He also has a certain compass that can lock onto a target when provided with a corresponding sample. The witches aren''t the only ones who can use their enemies'' DNA against them.
However, this is also the point Genji is most wary of. After all, who can guarantee they won''t leave some DNA samples behind in a battle? Unless he kills from afar, it¡¯s difficult to ensure that not even a strand of hair is left behind.
''I could really use a sniper now. Too bad I never found a reliable one. Technology restrictions were tough to get around before and I never needed one since I mastered cutting intent.''
As dawn broke across the horizon, Genji noticed a wagon parked on the side of the road. Squatting beside it was a strangely dressed man who fiddled with a rattlesnake, using various methods to extract its venom into a glass bottle. Once he obtained his quota, he grabbed it by the tail and swung its head several times into the ground before tossing it aside.
As Genji approached, he corked the bottle and stood up to greet him. "Hello there, traveler. Fancy some concoctions? I promise only the beeeeesssst stuff," he finished with a crooked grin, revealing a bronze tooth.
"You''re a strange one, you know. I haven''t seen anyone as relaxed as you traveling at night."
"Why yes, I get that a lot." The man set down his bottle, grabbed a machete and a glass jar, and approached a nearby cactus. Then with a wide swing, he hacked off an arm and held the jar up to the plant. A thin stream of liquid flowed out, slowly filling the air with trickling sounds. This lasted several minutes until the cactus ran dry.
The man returned to the wagon, fumbled around for some bottles, and mixed their contents into the jar. He stirred the concoction with a metal spoon before offering some to Genji, which the latter politely declined.
"Such a shame. You''re missing out," he said before contently chugging half the jar. "Ahhh that hits the spot. Nothing beats a blend of cactus juice first thing in the morning. Anyway, where were we? Ah yes, peddling. Would you like to buy some tonics?" The man pulled out a red, blue, and green vial from the cart.
"Depends. What do they do?"
"One heals you, one protects you, and one gives you freeeaaakkyy powers. Everything you would need to handle these parts."
"Sounds interesting. Can I try them first?"
"Of course of course." The man took out three tasting dishes and poured a drop on each.
Genji pricked his finger and slid the red drop over the wound. The liquid evaporated immediately, revealing perfectly unblemished skin. The tonic worked faster than Genji''s potions, but it provided significantly less healing overall. It was a decent first-aid measure, but it wouldn''t help with severe injuries.
Next was the blue drop, which left a faint energy film over his skin. It was flexible and soft to the touch, like a piece of silk. Genji flicked the film and felt a fraction of the force dissipate.
Finally, there was the green drop. Before he could use it, the medicine peddler stopped him. "You want to drink this one," he explained.
Genji scrutinized him for any signs of deceit before carefully dripping it onto his tongue. Upon evaporation, the fumes wafted up the back of his mouth and his pupils heated up. The effect of negligible, but for a split second, Genji had thermal vision.
"Interesting. I''ll take three of each."
"No problem. That''ll be 116 rupees please."
"I''ll trade you this instead," Genji said, tossing over a bottle of his own.
"What''s this? An elixir of your own? Why didn''t you tell me you were an alchemist as well? Unfortunately, I don''t have much interest in your work. There''s no point in studying something when I can''t recreate it."
"Why don''t you test its effects first?"
The man followed Genji''s suggestion and his eyes immediately lit up. "That''s some strong stuff right there. On second thought, these might come in handy. But you''ll have to give much more than that for an equal trade."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Genji threw over two more vials and said, "That''s the most you''ll get out of me. I know my stuff. It''s way more potent than yours. Your tonics might be useful in combat, but mine will save lives."
*Tsk* "And this is why I hate dealing with other alchemists. Always impossible to extort and overvalue their creations."
Genji pretended not to hear the last sentence, took his items, and continued his journey without a glance back.
After a few pits and stops, Genji arrived at a remote workshop near a river. The side of the building was open, like a garage door, allowing copious airflow. The grinding of metal and the clanking of gears came from this side, accompanied by the strong odor of grease and oil.
Genji approached and noticed an older man with a gray goatee working on a mechanical horse. Steam and exhaust hissed from gaps in its frame, only to be dispersed by a nearby electric fan. The mechanic stroked his goatee habitually and muttered incessantly about possible ideas.
Genji knocked on the building walls and walked in. The mechanic looked up and dismissively waved at him. "Not now. I''m busy."
Genji nodded back and found a seat in the disorganized workshop. He was no stranger to those immersed in their crafts, so he didn''t mind the wait. Astros curiously nudged a discarded scrap before hopping on Bruce''s head and leaning his device on the nightbane''s ears. Meanwhile, Genji took out the newly purchased tonics and began distilling them.
Drop after drop fell into their respective chambers as Genji separated the components. Once completed, Genji picked up a vial and swirled it against the light. This continued for some time until a delighted exclamation sounded from the mechanic.
"Eureka! Finally a working prototype!" The man danced around for a few seconds before he finally noticed Genji, at which he awkwardly stopped. "Oh, you''re still here?"
"Yes. A certain alcoholic sends his regards. Said something about an exchange." Genji brought out the ore and placed it on a stool.
The mechanic took out a magnifying glass from his toolbox and examined the surface veins. "Genuine alright. Guess Bill still has sharp eyes after so many years."
"The exchange?"
"Hold on. Before that, help me test my prototype first. It''s not every day I make something like this."
"And how do I do that?"
"Is that even a question? You have a horse, I have a horse. What do horses do? They run. So what better way than a race?"
"Sounds troublesome. Can I just get the item and go?"
"No. You need to race me if you want your reward."
Genji sighed with exasperation and picked Astros off Bruce''s head. "Alright, you heard him. Let''s get this over with."
Bruce opened his eyes and gave the mechanical horse a strange look. Although Bruce barely qualified as a horse, given his blood-morphing abilities, he at least is a living creature. But that thing? It''s debatable if it could even run. Plus, why in the form of a horse of all things? Wouldn''t it be much easier to create a car or something similar? ''I''m surrounded by weirdos. First the coward, now the machine. Can''t I meet a normal horse to show off to?''
The mechanic mounted his creations and pushed down on the foothold. A cranking of gears and chains sounded as the eyes gradually lit up. The rumble of an engine and plumes of exhaust filled the room as the machine took a few wobbly steps. The creation gradually stabilized, allowing the mechanic to ride outside.
"We''ll go around the hill, beneath the hanging overpass, through the canyon, and follow the road back. The first one back is the winner."
"If we''re going to make it this complicated, why don''t you tell me the prize as well? I should at least get something for not throwing."
"My favor. Isn''t that enough of a reward?"
"No thanks. I prefer something more concrete," Genji replied, faking a yawn.
The mechanic stared silently at Genji for a few moments before asking, "You don''t know who I am, do you?"
"Should I? Honestly I don''t care that much. I''m just here because the alcoholic recommended me. I figured he wouldn''t scam me after all the help I gave him."
"Ha, I like you kid. In that case, let me throw in access to my personal collection. How about that? Is that enough of an incentive?"
"I guess. It''s better than nothing, even if I don''t know what I''m getting."
"Alright enough talking. Get ready. We start on go." They got into position and the mechanic counted them down.
"Three."
The man leaned forward and dug his feet harder into the pedal.
"Two."
Exhaust fumes grew thicker and the roaring of engines sounded.
"Go!"
The man suddenly burst forward, leaving Genji behind with a peal of laughter. "So long sucker! Only an idiot plays fair!"
It took Bruce a moment to react before he also launched himself after the mechanic in annoyance. Meanwhile, Genji shook his head in dismay, questioning if the half-second head start was really necessary. ''It''s not like he got much distance from that. Why is he like this?''
Bruce quickly narrowed the distance, forcing the mechanic to push his creation harder. For several moments the two horses were neck to neck, but Bruce eventually won out when a strange clank sounded from within the machine.
The mechanic''s face twitched, but he refused to relent. The engines grew louder and the metal frame warmed from exertion. The legs blurred like never before as the creation forced itself to keep pace with Bruce.
Bruce considered going faster to spite the mechanic, but Genji quelled those thoughts with a light pat. ''Leave him some face, won''t you? He''s giving us a present after all.''
As such, they rounded the hills, zoomed through the shadows cast by the overpass, and dashed between the canyon walls, all while the mechanic grew red in the face. Screws and metal sheets broke off behind him, riddling the land with scraps.
The frame at this point was hot enough to cook an egg, but the mechanic''s pride prevented him from stopping. He clamped down harder and pushed forward with all his might.
The clanking of internal gears became jarring amidst the booming engine, indicating severe damage within the construction. Genji gave a sideways glance and patted Bruce again, indicating he could speed up now. They were on the home stretch, so the difference wouldn''t seem too big.
Bruce understood and unleashed half his speed, reaching the finish line instantly. A second later, the machine''s front leg dislodged from its joint, hurling the mechanic forward. The man skipped across the ground for a dozen meters before crashing into the side of his house.
"Ow ow ow ow," he hissed, pulling himself out as the dust settled. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a large road rash that bled lightly. "That was not how it was supposed to go."
"Was it worth it? You destroyed your creation and now you have to deal with this pain," Genji asked, approaching on Bruce.
"Absolutely. I don''t regret a thing. Would do it again if I had the chance."
"Whatever." Genji tossed over some bandages. "Let''s talk about my reward."
"Sure. Wait for me inside. I need to clean these wounds."
40 minutes later, the mechanic entered with all his limbs wrapped in gauze bandages. He winced with each step, making no attempt to hide his discomfort. In fact, he might even be exaggerating his reactions to remind Genji.
"Are you sure you wrapped it correctly? It seems pretty loose to me. How about I help you out? I''m a doooccctttooorr. You can trrruuussstttt meeee. I''ll tie it up niiiicccee aaaannnddd tiiiggghhttt." Genji retaliated, sounding extremely unreliable.
The mechanic shivered and quickly walked past him. Genji followed with a disappointed sigh, causing the mechanic to increase his pace. He led Genji to an unremarkable trapdoor and gestured for him to open it.
Genji obliged and they descended a dusty set of stairs. When they reached the bottom, the mechanic unlocked the door with a key, revealing a basement lined with display shelves. Each shelf held a golden weapon and its corresponding ammunition, for a grand total of eight.
"Take your pick. But you only get one," the mechanic said with a proud grin.
Genji browsed through his choices and narrowed the options down to three. The first was a semi-automatic crossbow with its own magazine slot. Just load the cartridge and he would be good for 12 shots.
The second was a strange armguard that held two retractable shredder blades. The contraption was designed to fire when the arm performed a specific motion, allowing the user to operate it without occupying a hand slot. The blades were also curved, enabling them to efficiently grab and pull in the surrounding flesh for tearing.
Finally, there was a portable cannon that fired large explosive rounds. Not much needed to be said here - it''s a literal cannon!
Genji favored the armguard the most, but he knew it wouldn''t do much for him. At best, it might fetch a decent price afterward, but Genji wanted something long-term. "Do you have something else? These don''t particularly interest me."
"Oh? Then what is your ideal firearm?" The mechanic asked in an intrigued tone.
"Preferably something that can shoot from really far. The further, the better. I don''t need any fancy mechanisms or tricks. Just pure power."
"Do you have a concept design I can work off of?"
"Give me a blueprint paper."
The mechanic fetched the supplies and Genji began sketching. Although he was no artist, he''d studied modern firearms enough to make a rough diagram. After an hour of work, he presented an exaggerated sniper 2.3 meters in length with an estimated weight of 50 kilograms. "Something like this will do."
The mechanic''s eyes twitched at this design and rubbed his forehead, trying to soothe the headache that spawned from interrupting this mess. "What the hell! I''m a craftsman, not a miracle worker. If you want a miracle, you should have asked god!"
Yet despite these words, the mechanic couldn''t help but feel a sense of interest kindling within him. He''d never worked with something like this before and his innovative spirit wanted to dive right in - to tackle this challenge head-on and understand the underlying principles. However, he would be a fool to take on this herculean task with no compensation.
Genji noticed this hesitance and placed a potion in front of him as encouragement. "I don''t know if you''ve met the medicine peddler, but these are things even he covets. One sip and you can reattach a broken limb. Two sips and you can survive a grievous injury. Three and you will die from overdose."
The mechanic glanced at it and forced himself to look away. "Not enough. It''ll take more than that to bribe-"
Before he could finish that sentence, Genji placed another one beside the first. Then another. And another. Until the mechanic couldn''t resist the temptation any further and hurriedly wrapped his arm around the pile, afraid that Genji would retract the offer. "I''ll get started right away. Come back in two weeks."
Then he quickly shooed Genji away, all while crackling to himself. If one didn''t know better, one would assume the man had gone mad. "La la la la medicine, medicine, all so lovely medicine. La la la la la."
233 – Troubled Town
Genji was approaching a new town when he suddenly heard the soft tinkling of wind chimes. Genji looked around for the source but saw nothing. This lasted until Astros tugged at his collar and pointed at a tree. The ferret''s beady eyes had a confused tint as if asking why Genji was looking around so much when the source was right there.
Genji quickly realized what was happening and asked, "You can see that?"
Astros tilted his head, not understanding what Genji was getting at.
"I can''t. What about you, Bruce?"
The nightbane shook his head and rubbed his eyes with tentacles.
"You said this was by the tree?" Genji asked, aiming his rifle.
"Yip yip," Astros replied, helping Genji adjust his aim until the barrel aligned with the target.
Upon pulling the trigger, a gleam of red manifested, followed by a crisp chime. Bruce fetched the object, revealing a metallic dreamcatcher snapped diagonally through the middle. Strands of cursed energy leaked from the fissure, exposing its origins.
"Tell me if you find more of these," Genji requested. While he didn''t know what the dreamcatchers were for, he knew they couldn''t be good since their creator hid them like this - better to get rid of them while they could than regret it later.
Astros raised a paw to his chest, indicating to leave everything to him.
They entered the town and Astros immediately alerted him to another dreamcatcher. Genji inwardly sighed and began aiming. But before he could fully locate his target, someone darted out from around the corner and crashed into him.
"Hey, watch it! Don''t you know better than to stand in the middle of the street?" The person rudely barked.
"Funny of you to say that," Genji bit back. "Aren''t you the one who ran into me?"
"Huh? What did you say?" The person clenched his fist and stomped toward Genji, trying to appear intimidating.
Genji ignored the clownish behavior and pulled the trigger, startling the newcomers who dashed around the same corner. The man flinched but quickly recovered his tough guy act when he realized he was unharmed. "What''s the matter, big guy? Can''t endure a little provocation and need to resort to firearms?"
Genji shot him a dismissive side-eye, muttered "Idiot" under his breath, and started walking away.
Furious at the remark, the man lunged out to grab him. "Hold it right there! You''re not leaving until you apologize properly!" But before he could react, he was slammed to the ground, his arm twisted painfully behind his back with a sharp pop as it dislocated. Genji firmly pressed his knee into the man¡¯s waist, ready to break it if necessary.
The newcomers realized what had happened and surrounded Genji. "You better let him go before anyone gets hurt," one person foolishly threatened with a knife.
In response, Genji applied more force with his knee, prompting a sharp yelp from his captive and leaving the group uncertain about their next move. His silent threat had been more effective than their empty bravado, proving that the bite is always worse than the bark.
The standoff lingered for a moment until a furious roar shattered the tension. "You¡¯ve got a lot of nerve causing trouble in my town! Do you think I¡¯m just here for show?"
Moments later, a man wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, a dark green vest, and a light yellow undershirt stormed over. As he approached, the sunlight receded from the bronze star pinned proudly to his chest, revealing the word ''Sheriff.''
Genji released his hold and got up to explain himself. "In my defense, they started it. I think I had the right to retaliate."
"Shut it. You''re all coming back to the office with me. If I hear another word out of you lot, I will shoot!" The sheriff brandished his revolver to emphasize his point and waved a pair of handcuffs.
Genji mentally sighed and held out his hands. The sheriff slapped on the cuffs before turning his gun to the troublemakers. "Now get moving!"
As this was happening, Bruce met Astros''s gaze and shook his head, wondering why there were so many wackos in this town. It had only been a few minutes, yet they¡¯d encountered more oddballs than during their entire trip combined. That¡¯s saying a lot, considering this group includes the medicine peddler and the machine-obsessed mechanic.
''It''s like they all have a few screws loose or something.''
When they reached the sheriff''s office, the sheriff threw them into three musty cells and resumed his patrol. Genji waited a few minutes before knocking out his cellmates and using his energy to construct a key for his handcuffs. Then, he let himself out and sat at the sheriff''s desk to review the documents.
At a glance, Genji immediately noticed the abnormally high number of cases. It would make sense if this number were from a large town, but not a place as small as this one. And these didn¡¯t even include the petty cases the sheriff was too lazy to record, like breaking up a fight.
''Something is definitely up with this place. And I suspect part of it has to do with those dreamcatchers Astros found.''
Genji looked through a few more documents before leaning back and interlocking his fingers behind his head, ignoring the troublemakers'' spiteful glares.
An hour later, the sheriff returned. Upon seeing Genji at his desk, he instantly drew his revolver and demanded Genji to put his hand up.
"Sorry, but I don''t have time for this," Genji said, suddenly appearing behind the sheriff and patting him on the shoulder. "You can deal with them, but I have other things I need to do. It was fun while it lasted." Then he walked out, waving his witch hunter badge.
The sheriff instinctively wanted to pull the trigger but quickly reined in that impulse once he registered the words on Genji''s badge. Instead, he redirected his attention to the troublemakers and unleashed a fiery scolding. "You freaking nimwits! Why the fuck do I always have to deal with you? Can''t you behave for once in your life?" Following that, the impact of knuckles on flesh sounded along with cries for forgiveness.
''Highly irritable and maybe sleep deprived as well. The job seems to be causing him lots of stress,'' Genji observed. ''Can''t blame him though. Any normal person would feel the same way, though I can''t say there''s anything normal about the job.''
Later that evening, as Genji waited for his food in a restaurant, the sheriff sat down across from him. His anxiety seemed to have faded slightly, but his eyes were just as bloodshot as before. He waved to a waiter and asked for the same order as Genji.
Strangely enough, the waiter also seemed exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a constant stream of yawns. In fact, nearly every guest in the restaurant seemed that way, with many slumped over in their seats as if on the verge of collapse.
After placing his order and thanking the server, the sheriff turned back to Genji and asked for help. "As you can see, the town''s been through some rough times. But this doesn''t even begin to cover the whole story. I''m running out of ideas and need some help. Things are getting bad."
"Tell me about it," Genji replied.
"Thank you. It''s a long story. We suspect it''s the doings of a witch, but we just can''t find her no matter how we try. It all started a month ago. At first, it was insomnia and nightmares, but we didn''t think much of it. It''s normal to get a bad night of sleep now and then. But then things got strange. Body parts started showing beneath people''s floorboards. Mind you, these are people who couldn''t be more innocent. They would never do such a thing. Hallucinations soon followed. Ghosty figures began wandering the streets at night and fruit baskets became indistinguishable from dried skulls. Many other disturbing occurrences also, but I won''t mention them now. We tried sending someone out for help, but they just went in circles around town. It''s uncanny."
"That does sound bad. I thought the town was too gloomy."
"I¡¯d like to retort, but the situation speaks for itself," the sheriff said with a sigh. "Let¡¯s eat first, and then I¡¯ll tell you everything I know." He gestured toward the waiter, who was approaching their table with two plates in hand.
However, what entered Genji''s sight wasn''t a delicious meal, but a rotting tomahawk steak full of live maggots. Yellow pus coated their wriggling little bodies, a scene that would induce nausea in anyone. But the sheriff acted as if everything was normal and dug in with relish.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He shoveled large chunks into his mouth as if it were the best meal he¡¯d had in weeks. In a way, it might have been, given the relief of finally sharing his worries with someone¡ªif only the meal was normal.
Genji observed the scene with an unreadable expression, while Astros wrinkled his nose in clear disgust. This scene lasted for several minutes until the sheriff noticed the gaze and nonchalantly asked, "What? Is there something on my face?"
Genji quietly reached across the table and snapped beside the sheriff''s ear, using his energy to amplify the frequency.
"Argh!" The sheriff''s head rang like a church bell and he tumbled off his chair. The commotion attracted all the patrons, but they returned to their activities when Genji announced that everything was fine.
The sheriff steadied his dizzy head and gradually stood up with his hand covering his ear. Blood trickled down the side of his face and fell onto his shirt, staining it.
"What was that for," he demanded with a harsh glare.
"Are you awake? Can you see better now?" Genji asked back.
"See what? My vision is fi-" At that moment, he realized what he''d been eating and collapsed again. "W-wh-when did it become like that? Oh, I get it. It must be another one of my hallucinations. Y-yeah, that must be the case. T-there''s n-no way t-the restaurant w-would s-serve s-such an atrocity."
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is the truth. What you saw was the illusion."
The sheriff hurriedly covered his mouth and gagged hard. Ragged breaths tried to suppress the retching but quickly failed as he recalled his meal and how he had eaten with such gusto. Then everything came back up in a vile, never-ending stream. Amid the thick bile, Genji could see some maggots still wiggling about, as if mocking the sheriff''s foolhardiness.
Genji gave the sheriff time to calm down before suggesting they go elsewhere to talk. They''d already attracted enough attention and didn''t need any more. 10 minutes later, the sheriff could be seen frenetically gurgling on water as Genji nibbled on energy bars.
"I don''t understand how you can still eat after seeing that," the sheriff asked.
"Food''s food. I''m not going to stop eating just because of one bad experience or I would have starved long ago."
"Ugh, I envy your mental state. Anyway, that should tell you how bad it has gotten."
"I know. Everyone else was as despondent as statues, despite me pointing out the problems. They didn''t even care that they were eating the same thing."
"Stop! Stop!" The sheriff rapidly waved his hand. "Can we not bring up that incident anymore? I''m trying to forget that trauma."
"Okay, I''ll get started on the case. I''ll reach out to you if I have any questions."
"You''re not going to hear what I''ve found so far?"
"Doesn''t matter. Since you haven''t caught the culprit, I doubt your findings are that helpful. I''d rather conduct my own investigations than be blindsided by faulty conclusions."
The sheriff realized Genji was correct and dejectedly sent him off. "Thank you then. I''ll be in my office if you need anything."
Once Genji was far away, he messaged Celine for a divination. Since there were no leads, he might as well let the professional create one. It was better than blindly searching for clues. While he waited, he would get rid of as many dreamcatchers as Astros could find. Two hours later, he received a pair of coordinates.
Celine: My ability says to start there. There''s a strange, casual connection between it and the town. Also, I noticed we''re quite near each other. Can you come over to Socorro Town once you''re done? There''s a bad omen looming in the air, and I could use some help defending this place.
Enigma: No problem. Is there a hard deadline?
Celine: The event starts in around 3 days.
Enigma: Okay, I''ll try to wrap my side quickly.
Genji exited the app and made his way toward the destination. After going around the town, he arrived at an abandoned section a small distance away. Genji walked down the street and inwardly counted the houses. ''Four, seven, nine, 13, found it.''
Genji kicked down the door and began searching the dusty building. After some effort and a bit of luck from Astros, he uncovered a trapdoor that revealed a rusty ladder that descended into the ground. Genji strapped a gas mask to Astros and climbed down.
A neglected passage filled with large cobwebs, old candles, broken shelves, and numerous insects greeted him at the bottom. Genji brushed the dust off his hands and cautiously followed the hallway. After a few turns, human remains came into view, along with faded books.
A woman''s scream suddenly sounded from deeper within, followed by a glimpse of a humanoid monster running by. Genji remained unperturbed and continued at his own pace.
When he entered a larger section, spikes suddenly emerged behind him, sealing off any retreats. The same monsters from before charged at him, brandishing their mechanical claws. These were the dreadnaughts, monsters modified by witches using mechanical knowledge to endure the suns'' rays.
Compared to their nightly counterparts, these dreadnoughts were superior in every way, reaching mini-boss-level stats. The only downsides were the excessive materials needed to make these modifications and the hard-to-come-by knowledge behind it.
Genji''s eyes grew serious as he summoned his daggers. Cutting intent and shadow flames wrapped around the edges as he stepped forward with a glaring slash. His dagger cleaved right through the arm, followed by him lopping off the head. The body kept running, unbothered by the fatal injury for several seconds, before Genji kicked it away. Only then did it lose its combat effectiveness.
''A strong body, but no fighting skills. This will be easier than I expected.''
Genji twisted his body and cleaved through the remaining dreadnaughts with several dagger arts. In the end, only piles of scrap metal and tar-like blood remained in the corner. The spikes receded and Genji continued onward.
Along the way, he was besieged by several more waves, but he swiftly dispatched them after some effort. Eventually, he reached a large cellar with large barrels and numerous crates obstructing his vision. Shadows darted around these obstacles, positioning themselves for ambush.
Genji shot a barrel, and spoiled wine poured onto the ground. The splattering of liquid helped locate the hiding figures, so Genji broke the remaining barrels. Amid the trickles of wine and the splashing of puddles, the cold tap of metal boots on stone reached his ears.
Turning toward the source, Genji spotted a figure dressed in a white coat, thick brown jeans, and a plague doctor''s mask. The figure was fully covered and could easily be mistaken for a human¡ªif not for the purple tubes protruding from its neck, which contained distorted souls silently weeping in pain.
[Dreadnaught of Forbodance]
Health: 62,750/62,750
Liquid Agony: 3,300/3,300
Con: 71
Str: 65
Dex: 56
Int: 66
Spc: 39
Skills:
- Boss (Passive): +35,000 hp
- Mechanical Existence (Passive): Fatal points have been removed. Stats can be increased with the corresponding parts. Damage can be repaired by a specialist after a battle. +24 Defense.
- Soul Corrosion (Passive): Injuries you inflict will suffer a double corrosion from Agony and Curse attributes.
- High Density Body (Passive): Reduce all incoming damage by 30%. +10,000 hp. +10 Defense.
Forbodance swung his arm to the side, and a rod slid out of his sleeve. Upon grasping it, a long scythe blade popped out, followed by Forbodance charging aggressively at Genji.
*Ding*
Genji parried the strike and slashed at the extended arm. At the same time, Forbodance swiped out with his other hand. In a split-second decision, Genji abandoned his attack and jumped back, narrowly dodging a deadly arc.
Genji lashed out with a cutting wave of his own, but the attack dissipated harmlessly on the torso. Blood swirled around Forbodance, attempting to infiltrate the joints, but he pressed forward without slowing.
They clashed again, but neither party obtained the upper hand. Suddenly, Genji heard a series of splashes around him. Without wasting another moment, Genji conjured a large cocoon and activated Berserk.
His cloak also boosted his speed, allowing him to burst forward to confront Forbodance, who had just smashed the cocoon. Immense force tore through the biomechanical creature''s defense, warping his weapon and sending him flying.
As the remnants of cutting intent faded around him, Genji gathered and channeled a tremendous amount of energy. A conical force coalesced around his dagger, swiftly forming a lance.
Genji leaped at the soaring Forbodance and stabbed out, nailing him into the wall. A deafening explosion echoed within the narrow chambers, flooding the room with waves of dust. Genji slashed down with his other hand, unleashing a deadly Stealth Dagger in conjunction with Lighting Inspiration.
Forbodance hastily raised his arm to block the strike, but the effort made little difference. In an instant, the arm was severed and crashed to the ground, unleashing a powerful shockwave that swept away the surrounding dust. As a mechanical being, every part of Forbodance''s body carried immense weight and was fully capable of crushing an elephant.
Genji launched off the wall and landed on the ground. Moments later, Forbodance stumbled forward with a deep cylindrical hole piercing through his chest. The wall behind him had crumbled completely, unable to bear the brunt of Genji''s attack.
Additionally, a deep gash ravaged Forbodance''s neck, with one of the soul pipes being severed. Purple liquid jutted out in erratic bursts along with deformed souls, staining the ground a deep shade.
Genji twirled his daggers and gradually approached. Forbodance matched his pace and clenched his remaining hand into a claw. His eyes gleamed a foreboding green as his energy concentrated within his palm.
Meanwhile, the outline of twin vortexes formed around Genji''s daggers. With each step, the aura from both sides spiked rapidly, as if it could break away and unleash a devastating rampage at any moment.
Their strides gradually grew longer, their pace faster, and the danger they emanated soared like a rocket. Until finally, they broke out into a sprint and passed each other. Both parties briefly paused before Forbodance''s head slid off and his glowing eyes dimmed.
[You have slain: Dreadnaught of Forbodance]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 65 points.]
[You have obtained 543 realm coins.]
[You have obtained: Soul Infused Scrap Metal]
[Soul Infused Scrap Metal]
Rarity: Epic
Type: Material
Quantity: 8 tons
Description: An unusual material that contains the soul essence of the tormented. It might not seem much, but its weight surpasses expectations. Depending on how well one utilizes souls, this can either be a source of nightmares that chips away at your sanity or a precious metal with desirable qualities.
Along with Forbodance''s downfall, the other dreadnaughts also plopped to the ground, each bearing numerous blood javelins. Bruce had finished the cannon fodder around the same time.
Genji collected his loot and followed the flow of wine to a hidden passage in the corner. He kicked open the entrance and entered a room that radiated with resentment. At the center of the room was a dark crystal hovering above a bloody ritual circle.
Genji shattered the crystal with a bullet and the ritual circle dimmed. As a cautious measure, he washed away the outline with water before extending his perception. It felt much clearer as if an obstructing film had been removed.
''That should be the end of it.''
Genji backtracked, picked up the spectating Astros, and departed with Bruce. They rode back to town and headed for the sheriff''s office. Along the way, Genji spotted several dreamcatchers, which he promptly shot down. Now that the cover had been destroyed, these strange tickets stood out like a sore thumb.
After the 7th one, Genji gave up and increased his speed. Upon reaching the building, Genji gave the door a few harsh knocks. A groan sounded from upstairs, followed by a silhouette fumbling downstairs. Moments later, the door opened and a sheriff in pajamas greeted him. "What do you need?" He asked with a yawn once he recognized Genji.
"The investigation''s done. Now it depends on your efforts."
The sheriff stared blankly for a few seconds before finally reacting. "Huh?!?!"