Yodo Barseto (2)
Esperro's southern city, Adreas. At its heart stood a building of staggering height. The owner of that building was the corporation, Orion. Right in front of it loomed a massive statue modeled after the chairman himself.
"Hoo..."
Up on the top floor, a meeting was in full swing amid a haze of cigarette smoke. There were five people gathered, all level 60 or higher. They were executives and employees of the Orion Corporation.
"Kim Department Head, how'd the arrangements go?"
A man in a impeccably tailored black suit—Choi Eosa—gazed down at the city from the window, his voice low and measured.
"Yes, sir. We've received confirmation that everything went off without a hitch."
"And we called in everyone except that Rank 1 guy?"
"Of course. We double-checked that part specifically. He wasn't invited."
"Good."
Kim Department Head replied with utter confidence. These people were employees of Esperro's game development company. They had entered the game themselves and selected a few players to bring inside with them.
"That Rank 1 bastard was a real pain in the ass. Who the hell comes up with builds like these? Thanks to him, our whole game direction got flipped on its head."
Another voice cut into the conversation between Choi Eosa and Kim Department Head. A man with his white hair slicked back, dressed in a white suit, red-tinted sunglasses perched on his nose—Kim Eosa.
"If we'd dragged that fucker here, we'd be totally screwed, right Kim Department Head?"
"Y-yes, sir! Luckily, that's not happening. Plus, I instructed all our employees to use the builds he created."
It was right then.
A man burst in, his face pale as a ghost. Clatter!
"What the hell? I said no interruptions during meetings!"
Kim Department Head glanced at the executives' faces and barked. But the frantic newcomer fidgeted, barely able to speak.
"B-big trouble, sirs!"
"Big trouble?"
Choi Eosa, who had been staring out the window, turned at the words, repeating them questioningly.
"Y-yes. It's just that..."
"Ah, fuck. You gonna drag this out? Spit it out already!"
Kim Eosa urged the man on as well.
"D-Damian's gone missing."
"What? Damian? Why the hell would that character just vanish?"
"W-we don't know the reason yet..."
"You call that an answer?!"
Whoosh!Bam!
Kim Eosa, enraged, hurled his ashtray with force. The simple toss cratered the wall. These guys were no longer ordinary humans.
"Th-the mansion exploded, and when we checked the bodies... D-Damian's wasn't there."
"..."
Step. Step.
Choi Eosa approached the man quietly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What's your position again?"
"D-deputy, sir!"
"Right. Deputy. At your level, I'd assume you know how to handle things properly. Don't you realize how crucial that character is? Without it..."
Crunch!
"G-guh...!"
Immense pressure bore down from Choi Eosa's hand on the man's shoulder. It felt like it would shatter any second.
"That fucker's... the most important one!!!!"
Snap!
"Gaaahhh!"
"Get this piece of shit out of here. Kim Department Head."
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Scour the entire city if you have to and drag him back here. Find out why he bailed too."
"Yes, sir!!!!"
Kim Department Head bolted out. Kim Eosa spat on the floor.
"We're fucked now, huh? Ptooey!"
His words hung heavy, silencing the room.
I headed straight for Hamilton's house. Several trucks were parked outside, along with what looked like locals.
"Wh-who the hell are these guys? Why are they after Hamilton...?"
"They said they were on a job. Who the fuck puts out a request like that?!"
A request, huh. So these aren't just gangbangers. Real gangs don't take commissions. These guys are a crew that fulfills requests.
'Can't let them take him.'
They'd arrived first. And it looked like they were after the same thing I was. No way I could let him slip away here.
Crash! Clatter!
Something smashed inside. Sounded like they were roughing him up.
"G-gaaah!"
I peered through the window from the side. A man tied to a chair, beaten to a bloody pulp—definitely Hamilton. And five guys in matching outfits surrounded him.
'That's the one.'
One stood out. Black leather jacket, tattoos crawling up his neck. In his hand, a dagger glowing green.
"You ain't talkin', huh?"
"...G-guh."
"Hah, wasted our time. Hey, untie this fucker. I'll give him 10 seconds. Run if you can."
"F-for real?"
"Yeah. Make a break for it."
What the...? Why let him go all of a sudden? Something's off.
"Heh heh heh."
"Yo, better run while the boss is merciful. Heh heh."
The crew's reactions were weird too. They're up to something.
"U-uaaaah!"
They really untied Hamilton. He kicked the door open and bolted, running for his life.
"How far'd he get?"
"Aw, that bastard really wants to live. He's already that far."
"Got it."
The dagger guy stood at the entrance. He shaded his eyes with his hand, spotting Hamilton's position.
"Damn, he made it pretty far."
Whoosh!
What was this guy doing? He suddenly gripped his dagger and hurled it.
Whirrr!
The dagger spun through the air. No drop in speed, straight for Hamilton's back.
Thuk!
"Guhk!"
The distance was huge. Hamilton had sprinted like hell. Yet this guy nailed him perfectly.
"Puhahaha!"
"Like running would help! Hahaha!"
"Hey! You're marked now! No escaping! Just spill it, asshole!"
They laughed like they'd planned it—imprinting on Hamilton that escape was impossible.
'No way that dagger's option is...'
[Lock On]. Locks onto a target once chosen, hits guaranteed. Looks like that's what it has.
"...Who the hell are you?"
Right then, our eyes met. Unlike the others, he'd sensed me. Ability users can detect mana.
"You here for that guy too?"
...Is now the moment? His hands are empty—no dagger. Unlike me, he probably can't recall it instantly. Taking on five plus a Lock On user would be tough.
'Chance.'
Shhk. Shhk.
I summoned my weapons on the spot. His eyes bulged at the sudden blades.
"Wh-what the fuck?!"
Swish!
I slashed with my dagger. We were close—no need to throw.
But...
Bang bang bang bang!
"Kyaaah!"
"D-dodge!"
The guys inside opened fire with pistols. I had no skill to block projectiles yet. Too dangerous.
"Kill him! Kill this fucker!"
The leader, putting distance between us, bellowed. His goons charged. I ducked around the house corner for cover.
"He's hiding here!"
"Hurry! We gotta crush him!"
Footsteps closing in. Couldn't throw without knowing positions...
'Level's too low—can't fully unleash Weapon Summoner power yet.'
Step step step.
Getting louder. All coming together, looks like. Perfect.
Shhk.
I summoned a massive axe. Pressed against the wall, waiting.
"I'll go first. Follow right up."
One appeared, as whispered.
Vrooom!
I swung the great axe horizontally. [Powerful Cleave] activated. Dagger might struggle, but this could cleave them all.
Crack! Splatter!
The power was insane. The five clustered goons split in half—like dominoes.
'Attack power's on another level compared to the dagger.'
Already high, plus [Powerful Cleave]. No wonder. Five down...
Whirrr! Splatter!
"Guh!"
Then—a dagger flew from nowhere, slicing my arm before returning. He'd recalled his [Lock On] dagger.
"Hey, you fuck! Who the hell do you think you are?! You touch me and live?!"
No flinch despite losing his crew.
Whirrr! Whirrr!
His dagger kept coming. Unpredictable path. I circled the house edge to evade. But I was marked— it pursued relentlessly.
Clang! Cliiing!
Blocked with the axe flat. Defense only. Couldn't pinpoint him.
Couldn't just take this.
'There you are.'
Spotted him through the back window. Pacing outside, throwing nonstop.
Time.
Shhh.
Cast Shadow Strike on the great axe. Hurled it at him.
Whiiiish!Crash!
Black mist shattered the window, barreling straight. Axe head solid, handle vaporized—full power intact.
Whoosh!
Dead on. But he dodged instantly.
...Something's off. No one reacts that fast.
Testing again.
Whiiiish! Whiiiish!
Three daggers with Shadow Strike. He evaded every one.
'If he can react like that...'
Only one thing: my 'extreme evasion build'. If he's got that incorporated, predictable attacks won't land.
How does he even know it?
"Wh-what the hell?! Who are you, throwing axes that fast?! F-fuck, almost died."
His eyes wide, face ashen. Really felt the danger.
Boom! Rumble!
?"B-boss!"
Worse—trucks approaching, calling him. Not all of them. A whole swarm.
"Hey! Grab Hamilton and smash the hider out back!"
"Got it!"
Through the window: dagger guy loaded Hamilton into a truck and peeled out. Seven left here.
'Not easy.'
But I needed that weapon. [Lock On] would solve accuracy issues.
"Come out, you fuck!"
"Skin you alive or just lop your head off? Huh?!"
They taunted leisurely.
...Probably decoys left behind. Without the leader, doable.
I hit them with Shadow Strike.
Whiiiish! Whiiiish!
"Come ou...! Guhk!"
"Gaaah!"
Black trails pierced straight through. Easy if I connect.
Acquired 80 EXP.
Acquired 80 EXP.
Acquired 80 EXP.
Acquired 80 EXP.
Acquired Skill Point.
Anyway, he got away. Now I had to deal with him again. Only one answer: an un-dodgeable attack.
And I knew exactly what skill to learn.