19. Legendary Grade, Soul of the Dead (4)
Angela came face-to-face with the man Jena had dragged in. His entire body was a bloody mess, his eyes brimming with terror.
"P-please... spare me..."
"Just a few questions."
Angela dragged a chair over and sat down in front of him.
"First. What exactly were you guys doing?"
"Y-yes?"
"Jena."
"Yes."
Crack!
"Gaaahhh!"
Jena twisted his arm, inflicting agony. The limb was already a mangled wreck, but that didn't stop her.
"Don't play dumb. Answer properly."
"We were... s-searching for the... the test subject!"
"Test subject? You mean those secret experiments Orion's been running?"
"Y-yes!"
That piqued Angela's interest even more. If so, then Damian—the one who'd taken her request—must be one of Orion's test subjects.
"Second. The guy who came before was looking for someone specific. A man with silver hair and red eyes. Is he an Orion test subject too?"
"...Y-yes. The m-most important one."
"What does 'important' mean?"
"It's the chairman's direct order... the one we've poured our hearts into... Called Number 51... Orion's pinnacle experiment... But then he escaped..."
Orion's prized test subject. From the people she hated most. Which meant they'd lost him now. It made Damian all the more intriguing.
"Was the experiment a success?"
"I d-don't know the details... But from what I heard, aside from the side effects, it was a success in terms of abilities..."
And he'd escaped with those powers intact. This could be my chance. Angela exchanged a silent glance with Jena, who was thinking the same thing.
"Jena, what about the guys who came with him?"
"All taken care of. But according to him, they missed their leader. He said he knew the position and went after him."
"You sure? No one else?"
"Y-yes! I swear!"
Terrified of more pain from Jena, he conveyed his sincerity with his whole body.
"Good. Then report back to your company."
"W-what?"
"We searched every inch of Brockton, but no trace of the test subject."
"......"
"You do have a way to contact them, right?"
"Y-yes! I can! D-does that mean... you'll spare me?"
Angela nodded quietly, and he hurriedly pulled something from his pocket—a business card infused with magic. Esperro had several communication methods, and enchanted business cards were one of them. He infused it with mana to prove himself. The front glowed gold, transforming into something writable.
Brockton search report. No traces found here. Zero is occupied with other duties, so reporting on his behalf. End report.
The card worked like chat. Writing on the recipient's card transmitted the message to its owner.
"L-like this?"
"Perfect."
"Th-thank you."
He'd become Angela's loyal dog. Thanking her for mere approval. Anyway, she'd wrapped it up flawlessly. Damian would be off Orion's radar for a while.
That guy was suspicious from the start, but I didn't think he was this important. I need to back him as much as I can. It's the only way I'll achieve my own goals.
Angela nodded to Jena, ordering her to finish him off.
Summoning the orb boosted all my skill levels. Their effects amplified accordingly. The most immediate change was the finer control from Weapon Manipulation.
"...You're really Serendos? We specifically excluded you, so how... No, more importantly, why are you in Damian's body?!"
He stammered and yelled. My sudden arrival had thrown him off. So, they never planned to bring me along. That's why only my alt got the invite. But why exclude me?
"H-however... no problem. You're barely level 6, I'm 30. Heh heh, taking down Serendos? This could get me promoted..."
He muttered to himself, his expression hardening. He'd decided to kill me.
"And the Orbs of the Dead were really here. Didn't know that..."
From his words, these guys were devs. But they didn't know the orb's location? Time to probe.
"You don't even know your own game?"
"Kekeke, caught on, huh? Fine. You'll be dragged back for experiments soon anyway. Might as well satisfy your curiosity."
Leaning on his massive crossbow, he rambled. Drunk on his own power, it seemed. Meanwhile, I claimed the weapons scattered around. Weapon Revive had leveled up thanks to the orb.
"You haven't been here long, right? Guess when we arrived?"
"......"
"Months ago. Months. Kekeke, get the gap? Even Rank 1 can't bridge it. But we got here early and found one issue."
He spilled everything without hesitation. His methods were odd—normally, you'd keep quiet. Maybe he'd been dying to brag.
"We set details fine... but vague 'obtained something!' was the problem. Damn game NPCs started doing whatever. The orb too—just said Descartes got it."
That explained why he didn't know its whereabouts. Whatever their reason for entering the game, things weren't going to plan.
And his level isn't that high for how long he's been here. Plans derailed bad?
Whatever. The gap wasn't huge.
"Anyway... chasing merchants led us here."
He slowly raised his massive crossbow with a smirk.
"You were desperate for that cursed orb, huh? It eats your blood. Wanna die? Can't let you. I need you alive!"
He hastily aimed. Sudden attack incoming. But I was ready.
Whoosh!
"Wh-what?!"
Just as he moved, I sent the weapons dropped by his thugs flying. Ten in total. Weapon Revive's level-up increased my capacity.
Screeech!
Screeech!
I activated Shadow Strike. My mana swelled from Soul of the Dead, so ten weapons barely strained me. Already feeling the boost.
Whish!
Whish whish whish!
"......"
But the problem was elsewhere. Directions perfect. His insane evasion just dodged everything.
"Kekekeke, you made this build—you know normal attacks whiff!"
Need faster. More attacks. Let's try this.
Whoom.
Whoom.
Shadow Strike followed by Void Rift. Fifteen rifts around him. Weapons popped out, pressuring him.
"Sh-shit...!"
Tat tat tat!
But he wasn't a regular mob. Instinct kicked in; he dodged instantly. Can't let him escape. I stuck weapons to him, hounding relentlessly.
...Not easy.
More weapons demanded focus. Higher proficiency would help, but now I had no slack. Our exchange began.
He repositioned, I cast Void Rift. He slipped out mockingly fast. When it landed...
Whish whish whish!
He evaded leisurely. That evasion rate. And counterattacks on dodge. Problem.
I'm sensing his weapons more.
Lucky break. Fleeting moments, but I detect pre-attack. Lets me read and dodge. Probably Weapon Detection level-up.
"You little shit... pissing me off."
BOOM!
BOOM!
"Guh!"
His attacks brutal. Endless Explosion Arrows, batting my weapons aside.
"Hoo..."
Blasts generated heat waves. I dodged into the office, leaning against the wall.
He couldn't see me now...
Crackle!
Crunch!
"Guh!"
His Critical Strike pierced the wall, grazing me. Lightning Shield triggered instantly, but imperfectly. Arrow tore my side.
...Predicted I'd come here.
Firing Critical Strike right away? Maybe lured me. Level gap huge.
"Toying with Serendos! Kekeke, this place makes me a god!"
Intoxicated by power. Meanwhile, agony from the wound.
Ziiing—
"Grrgh..."
Worse, side effects kicking in early. Mana plentiful, but... Orb-boosted skills guzzled more than expected.
"......"
This way, no win. But must kill him. Then, an idea hit.
I eyed the side-effect pills and orb.
Leftovers...
Not many. But push it. This'll work.
Crunch!
Downed two side-effect pills. Glanced at thugs' corpses outside via window.
That many's enough.
Shooo!
Whiiiiiing!
Soul Exchange
Absorbing mana from corpses.
Mana increased by soul. (+20)
Mana increased by soul. (+15)
Mana increased by soul. (+50)
......
......
One of the orb's options: Soul Exchange. Absorbs souls from corpses to boost max mana. Plenty of bodies. Messages poured in, mana climbing steadily. Max now at 3,000.
About one minute duration.
Time-limited, but enough.
Step. Step.
"Kekeke, used the orb? Worth it? Eating your scant blood just to use it?"
He didn't know. Soul of the Dead's penalty skipped me.
Took two side-effect pills. Don't know duration, but gotta try.
New habit: restraining mana use fearing side effects. Not now.
Burn it all.
Whoom.
Whoom.
"...Huh?"
Stepped out, cast Void Rift on him. One, two, three... Fifteen rifts encircled him like before.
"Boring now, right?"
He'd adapted. No tension from this.
"You know evasion builds ignore attacks! Told 'em not to bring weak shit like you. Pathetic. Kekeke."
Casually reloading bolts, gathering light on my leg.
But I wasn't done.
Whoom.
Whoom.
"...Hm?"
Whoom. Whoom. Whoom. Whoom.
Fifteen to twenty. Twenty to twenty-five. Five more. Thirty rifts, still going.
"W-wait...!"
No escape now. Rifts packed tight. His face paled.
"You know half-assed attacks can't pierce your evasion."
But...
"What if I overwhelm it?"
"Sh-shit...!"
Over seventy rifts around him. Spectacular sight.
"...Is this Number 51's power?!"
Jackson's awe too. Jaw dropped at the impossible scene.
"Dodge this."
Ready. Payback double.
Screeech!
Screeech!
Dozens of rifts spewed black smoke. Speed like light. Countless strikes. Evasion useless.
"Shiiiit! This can't...! I'm what level and you...!"
Stab stab stab stab stab!
Stab stab stab!
"G-gack!"
Dodges mid-way. But not one or two attacks. Rifts endlessly pulled and spat weapons. Impossible to count.
"Kuh... cough...!"
Body shredded beyond recognition. No resistance left.
Thud.
Achievement reward: 6,000 EXP acquired.
Downed him. Repaid several times over what he did to me.