Legendary Grade, The Wraith of the Dead (2)
There were two items lying around the bastard. One was the staff he'd been using. The other was the coat he'd been wearing.
'The staff's nothing special, but the coat's different.'
Unlike other weapons, staves weren't all that helpful unless you tried them out yourself. Unless they had skills engraved on them, they were just sticks. But this bastard's coat was different. The shield skill on it seemed pretty damn useful.
I snatched the guy's coat and draped it over my shoulders.
◈ Item Tier: Grade 2
◈ Coat-Type Armor
◈ Defense: 28
◈ Mana +5
◈ *Upon taking damage, activates Lv.1 【Lightning Shield】
A Grade 2 advanced item. It had a +5 mana stat, and as expected, the shield skill too. Pretty solid gear for advanced grade.
'Fits the game perfectly—great rewards for tough fights.'
Whether in reality or the game, the sweets you earn after hardship taste the best.
But the sweet reward I wanted was something else.
'Let's check the staff.'
I scanned the memories of the staff the mage had used. The guy's actions and those of his crew imprinted naturally in my mind, starting from the staff as the focal point.
They'd stockpiled gear in a warehouse near Brockton. Probably reselling it through black market dealers.
'Is this the gear?'
Then I saw a conversation between the guy and his underlings.
'Yes. We've finally found the item Lord Descartes was looking for.'
'Hoo... impressive.'
They peered into a box containing an orb. A round, red-glowing orb where white smoke swirled inside, almost like it was alive.
'[Soul of the Dead].'
It was the orb I was after. The one that amplified the black mage Descartes's power. The root of his real growth spurt—and now I was about to snag it.
The curse-like side effect on my body. The item I needed for my mana issues.
'Basically the staple for all magic classes.'
Unlike the game where you could dupe items, now that it was reality, it might be the only one.
But there was a catch. It came with a curse. One that steadily drained the wearer's health.
So you needed another item to offset it.
'Might not be a problem for me.'
Not certain, but Damian should be fine.
'Lord Descartes stepped out briefly, so we'll store it here for now. Guard this place tight—it's valuable.'
'Yes, sir. We've already assigned 80 reinforcements.'
80 men. And that was just around the warehouse, not even in an open field.
This wouldn't be an easy encounter to claim.
The memory ended there.
Vroom! Screech!
Jackson's truck pulled up. Bullet marks everywhere. The bumper and one door were gone. You could guess how fierce the fight had been.
"He taken care of?"
Jackson hopped out of the bed and checked the fallen bastard. Well, seeing it charred black, he knew it was done.
"...Definitely handled. Impressive."
"Whoa, Ability Man bro! You're the real deal... urk!"
Michael chimed in with awe, but he'd hurt his shoulder and was getting treated by Jerome while gesturing.
'They even have a healing kit.'
Jerome had jammed a metal chunk the size of a 1.5L bottle next to Michael. Gold-colored, leaking green mist—clearly healing the wound with the vapor.
"Anyway, seems we've cleaned up all of 'em. Time to head back."
"Mm, got it. Alright! Let's roll!"
He slapped the truck's rear to signal departure.
The escort quest was a success. Not every piece of gear made it intact, but losses were negligible.
'Jackson's squad's got some serious skills.'
On the way in, I'd seen their handiwork. Burned-out trucks scattered across the vast wasteland, surrounded by heaps of bodies.
'Just four of them took down over 50 organization goons. Even as a squad of non-abilities, that's nuts.'
Wonder where the chairman dug these guys up. Made my job a lot easier.
"Ah, aigo!"
We raced back into Brockton and pulled up at the merchant guild building. The chairman rushed out, beaming.
"Y-you really pulled it off?"
"Lost a few pieces to them, but not many."
"This is more than enough! Hahaha!"
He circled the truck bed, marveling. Enough to stock shops for a while, sure.
But I wasn't done here. Still needed that orb. Might as well help them out more in the process.
'Deepen ties with the merchant guild president that way.'
Needed a special rapport with him. Merchants knew every gear spot inside out.
I knew major item locations from the original, but not everything came from there. Expansion pack stuff was a blind spot.
'Use them, and I can pinpoint it all.'
If delivering the warehouse gear solidified relations, they'd bend over backward to please me. Leverage that for info.
"Found the locations of the missing gear too. Might as well grab it all while we're at it."
"W-what? For real?"
"Yeah. Pay's fine—no charge."
"N-no... What kinda talk is that? Debts must be settled proper. Can't just let that service slide. Succeed there, and we'll up the reward!"
Hm. Skipped pay talk to build rapport, and merchants would love freebies. Same wavelength? Wants to keep ties too.
"Mm."
"Don't refuse. Who knows? This might not be the end of our paths crossing. Gotta settle accounts right. Haha!"
Figured. No reason to say no. More cash is good.
"Then..."
Was about to head straight there—they might move the orb anytime.
"Second run?"
Jackson approached.
"Yeah. Picked up info fighting that mage."
"Hm. If you're cool with it, we'd like to tag along. What say?"
"Boss! Best quest ever—take us!"
"Yeah! Learned tons—wanna go!"
Michael and Jerome begged to join. Even silent Alpano.
"...Please."
Alpano spoke up. Really wants in.
No loss for me. Their skills were proven.
"Let's go together."
They cheered.
Their warehouse was in a forest just outside Brockton. Michael and Alpano scouted ahead. Jackson lit a smoke and walked beside me.
"Dunno if I should ask, but got a question."
"Shoot."
"You... Experiment 51?"
"......"
Jackson. What's this guy's real deal?
He'd dropped a bombshell. Guessing experiment from abilities wasn't wild if you knew about them. But he knew the number 51.
"No misunderstanding. Handled an Orion job back in the day. That it?"
Had to think. Truth or lie? If he's Orion's plant? Made sense for their skills.
"Captain Jackson was a beast back then. If not for that one thing..."
Jerome spilled, but Jackson shut him down.
"Jerome."
"S-sorry!"
Jerome fell back. But now I was curious about his past.
"Mind sharing what happened? I'll answer too."
"Fair trade. Nothing big. Was in SP-9 battalion is all."
SP-9. Elite nine-man quest squad. Famous in Esperro lore. Top quest rank holders.
But fame came from members becoming powerhouses later.
This guy's from SP-9? I'd know him...
Wait.
"Mind sharing your old handle?"
"Handle? Went by 'Speros'."
That's why. Speros, future ally against Damian. Not just name—looked totally different then.
'Right, lost power in that SP-9 incident. Explains the non-ability senses.'
Huge get. From Damian's arch-nemesis to ally.
Feels contrived, but whatever. Fine by me.
"Yeah. They called me 51."
Knew his character now—past and future. No need to hide. Speros, aka Jackson, was first to leak Damian's experiments to rivals. Knew about 51.
"Figured. Bastards kept the experiments going."
He stubbed his smoke, face darkening.
"Rough life, huh. But you escaped."
"Yeah. Got a lucky break."
"Good. You're out, their plans are toast."
Didn't dwell. In original story, it'd be different, but Damian wasn't personal yet. That came later.
This might rewrite his arc. Foe to ally.
Short talk done, we reached the target. A three-story building, mossy from neglect. Crawling with Descartes' goons.
"Whoa, packed house, boss?"
Michael sighed through his goggles. Jackson shrugged it off.
"No sweat. Not just us. With him, it's fine."
True. Easier with them.
"Let's start."
"Michael, Alpano—positions. Jerome, barrier kit on Michael, then follow."
Click! Jackson gripped his shotgun, barking orders.
Michael and Jerome climbed a tree with building view. Alpano slipped to the rear.
Shing. I prepped too. Fast daggers for range.
"Huh? Who's that punk?!"
"Intruders!"
Jackson charged. Building erupted. MG gunners on roof and windows, but he ignored.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Michael's sniper fired. Roof guards dropped one by one. I shifted a shield for Jackson.
Ting ting ting! Bullets ricocheted off.
Jackson nodded thanks over his shoulder, accelerating into the welcomers.
Boom! Boom! Splatter!
Bodies exploded on shotgun hits. Blood-soaked, he pressed relentlessly. Battle Jackson was a beast—reckless.
Bodies piled. Guns and daggers littered the ground.
'Now.'
Skill points from the mage went to 【Weapon Revive】. Plus +2 summons from [Yodo Barseto].
Could register three more.
Thud. Thud.
Lifted three fallen daggers. Now eight weapons total under control.
'My turn.'
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Sent six daggers flying. Far targets from angles—nailed them.
More to control, but no issue. 【Look On】 handled it. Agility boost helped.
Stab! Stab stab!
Daggers to foreheads. More weapons, more takedowns.
"A-Ability user! We got an Ability too!"
My entry flustered them. But Jerome hustled too. Barrier on Michael, then kits around building.
Rear sniper. Front shotgun. Support kits. Invisible assassin.
Tank, ranged, melee DPS, support. Perfect comp. Add my all-rounder...
"Gurk!"
"Gaaah!"
Perimeter cleared fast.
Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat!
But innards holed up behind factory junk, firing.
【Look On】 blocked by cover.
"Hm, pushing in looks rough."
Even Jackson halted. Obvious honeycomb fate inside.
'Then.'
Used to hesitate with crap armor, but not now.
Step. Step.
I strode in bold. Jackson tried to stop me, but...
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Crackle!
No worries. The coat's 【Lightning Shield】 wrapped me tight.