Annihilation
"You've always been so soft, brother. It's your greatest weakness…" Javis looked at his brother. They had similar faces, but their hairs were already turning white.
"I'm the person in charge right now. If not for the citizens, I would long since have applied for the Shadow Weave Team to destroy the entire city…"
Javis dug his ears, "Where are the soldiers? Remove unauthorised personnel from this tent at once!"
Suddenly, a group of armored troops entered and chased the middle aged officer and his subordinates away.
"People who get in the way should leave. Now… Let us play our game of hide and seek!" Javis looked at the screen, his extreme insanity spilling over into calmness, "Enable city surveillance. Lock down all spells using the Shadow Weave, and disable teleportation. Scan for any strange sightings and energy movements. Begin the purge!"
"Go! Action!" Mole and Wolf Fang waved their hands in a forward motion, and the armoured troops behind them began their operation to kill the people on the list.
"Hey, what are you trying to do?" Armoured troops entered a civilian's home, and began shooting at the family of three who were having a meal at the dining table.
*Bang! Bang!* Very soon, the head of the man exploded, and his body lay in a pool full blood, followed by his wife and his daughter.
Although middle-grade spells in the empire had seals that needed unlocking and high-grade spells were reserved for soldiers and royals, commoners still had the right to use low-level spells. However, Javis had already locked down on magic in Amdo City, so all Rapid Shadows watches had turned to trash.
Without those tools, these commoners were weak and small in front of the armored troops. Wave after wave of flying drone encircled the air around Amdo City, releasing messages of warning.
"Troops of the empire are currently in the midst of capturing spies. All civilians are requested to stay in their homes, and not to leave. We will not hurt the innocents. I repeat, we are troops of the empire…"
Gunshots sounded from time to time, and there seemed to be a flurry of activity within the city. However, the soldiers had still managed to suppress the situation and keep it in control.
After all, ten thousand was still only a small fraction of the ten million plus population here. As long as their own names weren't on the list, these citizens wouldn't be brash enough to resist the executions.
As for Javis, he sat in the command post and watched the screen in admiration, enjoying the wine in his hand.
*Bang!* Yet another man was killed in his own home, and blood spilled everywhere.
"No! Don't…." This was the plea of a young lady before her death, but the soldier did not even spare her another glance.
To obey commands was the basic duty of a soldier, and one who didn't think for themselves was basically the ultimate weapon. Only resolution and strength would carry them through all situations and missions.
The mass killing was executed quickly, but there were still some hiccups from time to time.
"Damn it! The Empire still has a hostile outlook on us extraordinary humans?"
A bespectacled young man howled at the gun pointing towards him. Suddenly, he was covered in flames as he turned into a malevolent creature that was filled with scales.
"Shoot!" The psi energy filled bullets only left white scars on the scales.
"It's a mutant! Extraordinary person! Hurry and call for backup!" A squad leader howled at the communicator, but it was already too late.
*Zoom! Whoosh!* The monstrosity leap forward, turning into a black line on the screen.
*Crash!* The armour that the troops wore was soon torn apart, spilling out broken white bones and blood.
"Huff… Want me to die? You first!" A human voice sounded from the creature's mouth, as he ducked into the sewer quickly.
"Ding! Target's identity confirmed! Second level civilian, Chengfei! Father… Mother…Current home address:… Beginning lock-on!"
The central system screen revealed pieces of information on the target, and on the left side was the appearance of the young man before he transformed.
"Good! These mutants are hereditary. Mole, find a couple of men to get rid of him. As for the rest, look for his parents and blood-related kin!" Javis ordered.
"Kiddo! You had a fun time earlier huh?"
The sewer duct was shattered into pieces, reveal the underground pipe network and the creature's shocked expression.
A black-uniformed soldier stood in midair before the creature, looking down on him in mockery.
"Spawn of the witch! Meet your maker today! Before you die, I hope you can give me some fun…"
"It's only a low-level bloodline carrier?" Javis nodded his head indifferently as he watched the young-man-turned-creature being brutally killed on the screen.
The expansion of technology and the constant purges from the empire had dropped the numbers of these mutants. Some of the present generation didn't have strong powers. On the other hand, people who had obtained extraordinary strength through training rigorous techniques were still around.
However, these two types of extraordinary humans were as weak as ants in front of the forces of the Empire and the Shadow Weave. As the killing in Amdo City continued, many innocent civilians who were caught in the crossfire ended up dead as well.
There were also other unlucky ones like the mutant earlier, killed mercilessly without any proof or verification needed.
These mutants formed the underground world of the each city, but after this event they were completely purged from Amdo city. However, if Amdo City could survive this ordeal, they would instead reach a very high level of society.
As the massacre continued, the several thousand names on the screen disappeared, finally showing only the last few hundred targets.
"All teams on alert!" As the target area grew smaller, even Javis himself had turned more solemn.
...
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
A woman wearing an office outfit rapidly ran down the streets, as if a predator that was searching actively for its prey.
Suddenly, a metal net appeared from the side of her vision. She leapt upwards for a distance of more than five metres, passing through a wall to disappear from the scene.
"I have to avoid the surveillance cameras, and also throw away any hi-tech equipments related to hidden energy and the Weave!" The office lady face changed as she crushed the Rapid Shadow on her wrist…
About ten minutes later, in an abandoned factory. Blood splattered on the walls like plum blossom in a dark corner.
The office lady took off her coat, revealing a white blouse underneath. She had a hole on her hand.
"Urgh…" However, she gritted her teeth and moved her muscles, forcing out a golden metal bullet out from her body. After expelling the bullet, she heaved a sigh of relief. She then tore part of her blouse to wrap the wound, and her face turned extremely pale.
"The empire is quite resolved this time. Was our organisation discovered?"
"No! Even if we were exposed, they would not need to take such drastic actions. Moreover, the whole of Amdo City is filled with gunshots… We were just unlucky to have been discovered… Were they after some powerful mutant organisation?"
The office lady smiled wryly, "Even if I learned a few body techniques and trained my Plum Blossom Fingers to rank 5, I can only run in the face of the Empire… If not for the other mutants diverting the attention from me, I would have been captured or killed by now… After they narrow down the radius of their hunt, the situation will grow even more troublesome. I need to leave this place as quickly as I can!"
She did not realise that a strand of her hair had already turned crimson red, with a phantom voodoo doll faintly floating behind her back.
[Host Command: Gather intelligence and conceal as much as possible! Chances of current target being discovered is too great! Abandon current target immediately!]
Very soon, the phantom of the voodoo doll left the office lady's body and merged into the darkness.
[Current location is unsafe, attempting to leave! Traces of spatial lockdown discovered! Attempting to break through!]
Light flashed within the dim eyes of the voodoo doll.
"Found you!" Javis howled from within the command post, "Gather up immediately. Attack!"
A dazzling white light flashed as the abandoned factory and the office lady within it disintegrated, turning into dark liquid before sizzling and evaporating into thin air, not leaving behind a trace.
[Beep! Whereabouts discovered, mode changed to breaking through!] The smile on the voodoo doll's face turned even more sinister than before, as light flashed past its eyes once again.
*Boom!* The incendiary bomb which contained a huge amount of energy caused a quarter of Amdo City to be completely destroyed.
Javis and the other members of the Special Forces stood above the explosion in mid-air, surrounding the voodoo doll.
"First apostle found!" Javis snapped his fingers, and powerful spells took form nearby. The energy waves they radiated were no less than that of legendary spells!
"Damn it! That crazy Javis!" Javis' brother, that middle-aged commander, couldn't help but curse as more than a quarter of Amdo City was destroyed.
"I knew it… Handing over the Weave to him was not a wise thing!"
...
Leylin was shocked for a moment as he received the news in Thousand Bears City.
"Although they have made a large sacrifice, they still managed to capture the doll and destroy it, huh?"
Snakebite Fist
"Able to destroy my voodoo dolls… This empire is much stronger than the kingdoms on the surface of the Magus World…"
Leylin nodded his head from Xavier's old home in Thousand Bears City. His voodoo dolls were as strong as peak Breaking Dawn Magi, at the limits of rank 6. On the surface world this could afford one a throne, yet that strength was now obliterated by the special forces of a single empire.
Put in other words, the Monarch of the Skies, the Blazing Flames Monarch and the like would not meet with a good end if they came to this world.
'I haven't discovered the Mistress of the Night yet either. She could track my dolls down using the central neural net and the Weave, forcing one out into the open. Such swift and decisive action…' Leylin evaluated indifferently, at the same time not harbouring much more hopes for the other two dolls. With the powers of this empire, discovering the other two was just a matter of time.
However, the goals of acquiring intelligence, data, and even stalling for time had been achieved, so it was already enough.
...
Leylin stayed in Thousand Bears City for some time, watching Xavier train recklessly in the Snakebite Fist. Curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he'd bought a large quantity of medicinal herbs and training dummies for practice.
Another of the dolls was discovered during this time. However, several important cities had suffered collateral damage to destroy it, and the destruction and viruses spread by the doll reached millions. The government had started a donation drive for the victims of this tragedy, and Xavier's sister Jill herself donated part of her pocket money.
As for the last surviving voodoo doll, it was currently hiding in the vast ocean. However, it was only a matter of time before it was discovered.
Leylin didn't mind that, having it gather as much data as it could before being tracked down. Past that he didn't bother with it. In any case, he was confident in infiltrating this world even without the help of the voodoo dolls, and could avoid the surveillance of the Shadow Weave himself…
Within an underground basement. Xavier had already moved most things out of this place making an empty space the size of half a basketball court. The area was littered with sandbags and dummies.
Xavier did not have his shirt on, and he'd wrapped his fists with cloth as he began practicing the technique written in the Snakebite Fist Manual.
*Sssii!* Every punch of his seemed to soften his bones, letting them twist and contort in different ways. A hiss sounded with each fist thrown, as if it was a venomous snake that was striking.
"Huff… Snakebite Fist! Ruthless, insidious, and the trick lies in it being unexpected, striking at an angle that the opponent will not anticipate! Hence, I have to soak both my arms inside a special concoction broth in the beginning stages, to soften the bones…" Xavier muttered.
After practicing one stage of the technique, he went to the nearby water tank and picked up a white towel and dabbed into it. He then applied the black substance on the towel onto his hands, not missing a single pore.
The blackish liquid seemed to burn his skin upon contact, and bored its way through the pores into the bones, as if wanting the melt the entire arm.
"Argh… Damn… It hurts so fucking bad…" This pain caused Xavier to curse. He stuffed another towel he had prepared into his mouth as his expression turned malevolent, and faintly let out the hissing roar of a beast.
This pain lasted for over half an hour before it subsided, leaving Xavier with cold sweat.
*Pu!* He spat out the towel in his mouth and looked at his own hand. Once the residue of the concoction was washed off it revealed fair, whitish skin with a glossy sheen.
"This…" He touched his own hand, and felt that the skin had gotten thicker.
"No… It's totally adding on another layer of outer skin…" Xavier looked at it for a while longer before he took out a needle and pierced his own skin.
Resilient and smooth, just like hide…
He needed about half his strength to finally pierce through the skin, and even that only made him feel a pinch.
"Both of my arms have an increased piercing effect, and even my bones have turned softer, arriving at the minimum requirement of the Snakebite Fist…" Xavier nodded his head, and suddenly felt his heart ache a little, "The ingredients for the concoction is too expensive, and this pain…"
His heartbeat grew fast as he looked at the manual, "Just the elementary stage cost me all my savings. I even need to put my hands in poison in the later stages, giving my strikes a toxic effect. No matter what it doesn't look like an orthodox skill, more demonic…"
In fact, Xavier's guess was rather accurate. Back in the past, the Snakebite Fist was was a manual used by the servants, so it was not anything great. However, it granted great power in a short period of time.
However, with the thinning of these bloodlines and the suppression from various kingdoms and empires, bloodlines had regressed over time. Manuals like the Snakebite Fist instead became treasures to be passed down.
'If he continues to train like this, he'll most likely deviate and go crazy. Even if he's lucky enough to succeed, it'll at most be some skill around the mid-grade Rapid Shadows…' Leylin stood by the side and casually watched Xavier train. 'Forget it… I've been a guest this long, it's about time I pay some rent…'
*Po!* Leylin smiled as he reached out with his hand, and a black light entered the manual of the Snakebite Fist. As this light was too weak, Xavier who had been practicing diligently did not notice it.
However, the ancient manual trembled, before it resumed a stationary position.
In a certain page within the book that recorded the runes of the black datura flower, the lines of the runes continuing to extend and fill out as the flower bloomed. Very soon, these lines lost their powers and did not move any longer. However, the black datura flower which was originally only quarter full was now halfway done, and energy waves seemed to be spreading from the runes.
*Hiss!* Naturally, Xavier did not notice these changes. However, as he punched, the hissing of a giant serpent sounded once again, causing the rune of the black datura flower to flash. An energy radiation that the original owner, a Magus, had placed into the book was now drawn out, as it began to move towards the only bloodline descendant around the manual.
*Hiss!* *Hiss!*
The Snakebite Fist's hissing sound grew louder and louder, as the vibration of the sound waves grew stronger. It was like a giant serpent had coiled itself around Xavier's body.
The teenager had entered a miraculous state. His eyes grew dull as he unleashed punch after punch.The teenager now had enter a miraculous state. Black gas formed a phantom of a black snake behind him, its crimson eyes and tongue giving off a dangerous aura.
With the appearance of the phantom, the skin on Xavier's arms began to molt. Once the old skin fell off it revealed scales underneath.
'This energy is only to pay rent. However, it's like a key that unsealed the radiation locked inside the manual.' Leylin smiled as he watched the black gas engulfing Xavier whole. With his current powers, he could easily grant Xavier the strength of a Breaking Dawn. However, this did not stand in line with the principles of Magi, that trades demanded equal measures.
Moreover, such a spike of foreign power would definitely alert the Weave. Why would he do such a thing?
Hence, Leylin chose to pay his rent in equal measure. This had unsealed the energy radiation within the book, allowing Xavier's ancestor's intentions to be fulfilled.
'Although your ancestor was a low ranked Magus, this is a start to having extraordinary abilities. Moving forward, it's all up to you…' Leylin smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation.
He did not do this because he was bored, but because wanted to confirm a few things through this boy. For instance he wanted to know whether mutant organisations existed, as well as other bloodline carriers.
After Xavier demonstrated his abilities, he would immediately turn into a magnet and attract many people who intend to use his powers. This would put the boy in a bit of a perilous situation, but that only served to give Leylin some excitement as he watched.
'Don't let me down, young man…' Leylin looked at the figure that was still training in the basement. The phantom of the snake now grew larger, and Leylin's smile grew wider…
Xavier only woke up from this unconscious state the next morning. He scratched his head and muttered, "Eh? What's happened to me?"
*Pat!* Suddenly, a piece of wood from the table that he used to prop himself up had been ripped off, causing him to fall onto the ground again.
"What? This wooden table is really unsturdy?" The teenager exerted more force, and his eyes grew bigger as he saw that the wooden block were grinded into fine wooden chips which fell to the ground.
"This situation… It's not that the table is weak, but I've gotten stronger…" Xavier stood up and looked at both his hands. Suddenly, he punched out— Piercing Strike!
*Swish!* A sharp whistle and roar filled the room, carrying the bellows of a giant serpent. A small hole was punched into the walls, causing dust and wood to fall.
'It seems like my body has completely adapted to the movement of the Snakebite Fist… and this…' Xavier looked at his hands, at the scales that had already grown on his skin.
"Complete mastery of the Snakebite Fist?!"
Rapid Shadow
Xavier remained confounded over the next few days.
His family inheritance, the Snakebite Fist that was extremely difficult to train in, had been mastered just like that? It was too good to be true, leaving the teenager so distracted he didn't even notice the change to the manual. In the end, he broke seven to eight more items in the house, being nagged by his little sister until he finally learned to control his own strength and stop crushing things.
However, Xavier soon put these issues to the back of his mind. There were more important things to consider.
"Greater Skill Proficiency Test…" Xavier clenched his fists as he looked at a date circled in red on the calendar, "I need to pass no matter what. The access to the Shadow Weave will give me stronger and more powerful spells, letting me find a good job and take care of my family…"
"Martial techniques only enable one to serve as a fighter or security guard even if you master them. Talents who can use high-level techniques are instead sought by many organisations…"
Hence, Xavier did not care much about the strange phenomenon that occurred to him, and immediately delved into a questionnaire and database to study for the test.
Leylin too did not idle around. He casually browsed through the books that Xavier had bought, and saw a small advertisement on one of them.
"Advance sale of answers, a 100% pass rate?" Leylin smiled as he called the number that was left on the note, and got an address.
"Lad, it's you who wants that copy of answers for the high level skills test?" Leylin met two muscled hoodlums at a certain corner of Thousand Bears City. Their bodies were littered with piercings and tattoos, the kind of people one would avoid on the street. They were the type to get into trouble with the police often.
"Yes! Is it true, the 100% pass rate?" Leylin left his concealed state, looking like a youth who wore a jacket and jeans. He was also carrying the ad pamphlet.
"Hehe… Of course it's true!" A hoodlum exchanged gazes with his partner. "We sell everything here, do you know Rapid Shadow 5.0? We can even get one of those, so the answer sheet is definitely not a problem!"
This expression on the hoodlum, as if he was looking at a fat juicy sheep, caused Leylin to sigh inwardly. However, he still put on an expression of unease, "Okay. But I want to see the item before we trade, and it has to be simultaneous!"
"Of course, what do you take me, Azure Dragon, as?" The hoodlum grinned and turned around, "Follow me…"
A group of thugs were littered across a messy underground basement. *Bash! Bam!* Many items fell to the ground, and a few pitiful wails resounded as well.
The two hoodlums which had led Leylin here were now lying on the floor, with blood splattered around them. The group's leader was here as well, one with the tattoo of a black rose on his face. Leylin proceeded to step on his head.
"You have guts, huh? Not only did you use fake answers to try and fool me, you even wanted to rob me? Hmm?" Leylin threw a crumpled piece of paper on his face, "How many fingers do you think I should chop off?"
It was a rare chance for Leylin to be this rampant. He didn't need to fear security cameras, since the underground wanted nothing to do with the country. Even their accounts book was by manual entry and not digitised.
As for any authorities colluding with them? Leylin looked at the boss in disdain and gave him another kick to his stomach, causing the boss to curl up like a prawn. It was not that Leylin did not think highly of them, but collusion occurred at a far greater level than that of this unorganised rabble.
"Do you want to live, or die?" Leylin looked at the boss toyingly, and the answer was immediate.
"So then, take out all the money you have on you! I only want cash! Also… Tell me which underworld organisation is the strongest here? And who is their head?" No matter how good a society was it always had its dark side. Several rounds of questioning gave Leylin the information he needed, and he left unworried that this group would seek revenge. They wouldn't be able to find someone with the same looks Leylin had displayed here, and even if somehow they managed it that would be their bad luck, not his.
This encounter gave Leylin an understanding of how organised falsifying documents was here. Special providers had established good reputations in manufacturing identities, able to give him true blue documents that could withstand scrutiny. As for the source? It was the extra income of a government official working in the safety bureau.
'Exploitation by selling real yet falsified identities? Why does it give me a feeling like I'm being tracked?' Although Leylin complained in his heart, he still paid the money. After a round of genetic inspection, an identity card was now attached to his body. From this day forth he became a third-class citizen of the empire, not afraid of investigations.
The identity card allowed Leylin to rent a house, and buy a low-grade Rapid Shadow and even surf the net. Of course Leylin could've just stolen someone else's identity by transforming into them, but he wanted to witness the authentication process himself.
'As expected. All this genetic inspection mumbo jumbo is a lie to trick the people. The true goal is to let the Shadow Weave scan a person's spiritual sea, huh?' The surprise had caused Leylin's eyes to turn darker, and even harder to read.
His experiences with the Weave in the World of Gods was why he had revealed no traces just now. Even if he'd forcefully assumed someone else's identity it wouldn't have ended up well.
However, through the help of that corrupt official, he was now an ordinary citizen living amongst ten billion others. Even Shar would not be able to find him.
"Hello, Mister Ley! This is your communication device, and the first generation Rapid Shadow. Since you don't have any degrees or a greater skill certificate, you can't use Rapid Shadow 3.0 or above…"
The service staff smiled apologetically to Leylin and took the cash that he handed over. This cash and the money used to buy his identity was funded by those unlucky hoodlums from earlier.
"Hmm… They are all portable retina displays, just a little worse off from my previous world…" Leylin looked at the internet that was similar to his past life, and the various tools and advertisements within. Nostalgia filled him, but it was quickly suppressed again.
"I also need to rent a place… Do you know anywhere that would suit me? I want a house that is close to the outer circle…" Leylin mentioned the area that Xavier and Jill were living in.
"This place?" The staffer was a woman in her twenties, with some slight makeup on. This question exceeded her authority, so she was rather stunned as she looked up at Leylin.
"I'm offering adequate compensation," Leylin added immediately.
"No problem!" The lady very quickly replied, but it was unclear whether it was the promised money that coaxed her or Leylin's looks. "My house is near that area, so it's quite convenient for me as well. However, you have to wait for me to end work…"
...
After busying himself for a while, Leylin immediately moved into a house close to Xavier's. Not knowing of their new neighbour, the siblings carried on with their own tasks.
"A first generation Rapid Shadow… Everyone in the empire has one now…" Leylin looked at the watch that had a black crown labelled on it, and activated the thing.
"Ding! ZESKNG988273221 activated, beginning automatic identity scan… Identity confirmed and locked. This Rapid Shadow is for your personal use, if it is damaged please call…"
Once the startup screen faded, Leylin immediately moved to the most important feature of the watch.
"Ding! Identity locked, account confirmed! Current Balance: 3000 Seres." A notification appeared on the Rapid Shadow, followed by a list of spells and their prices.
"Rank 0 spell— Illumination. 200 Seres per use."
"Rank 0 spell— Increase Resistance. 300 Seres per use."
...
"Rank 1 spell— Shield. 1000 Seres per use."
"Rank 2 spell— Shadow Ball. 3000 Seres per use."
"Ding! Authorisation currently limited to rank 2 shadow spells. Please obtain increased authorisation and buy a newer Rapid Shadow to upgrade…"
"The wizards from the World of Gods would definitely cry at this sight. They take painstaking effort to learn spells, but here people can just buy and download the same things…"
Leylin shook his head. All his money had been used to buy his identity and pay for his rent, so he didn't have much left. However, he had enough to buy a couple of rank 0 or 1 spells for fun. 3000 Seres was not even the salary for a normal office job. If the wizards came over here, they would definitely be devastated and cry.
'However, is it really that easy? Would the Mistress of the Night be so nice?' Leylin rubbed his chin, "Purchase Illumination."
"Ding! 200 Seres deducted. Current Balance: 2800 Seres," the Rapid Shadow notified. Leylin felt like this device connected to the Weave, leaving him with a ball of light in his hands.
'It's the same as wizards' spells, but cannot be stored. If one can't control these they'll land in trouble easily…' Leylin very soon discovered the disadvantage of this system. 'Furthermore… Although it is in minuscule amount, the Weave steals spiritual energy from every person who makes a transaction…'
Examination
The Weave and its spells cost a lot of energy to maintain. Even with the World Origin Force to support her she wouldn't use it recklessly. This was why she'd adopted a system similar to the World of Gods. Every cast of a spell extracted a small part of the caster's spiritual force.
"But this plays takes much less from the caster…" Leylin smirked in disdain. "A.I. Chip, begin analysis!"
[Beep! Mission established, analysing 3d structure of the Shadow Weave…]
A stream of data ran past Leylin's eyes. Compared to the World of Gods, the analysis of the Weave here was much faster and more accurate.
[Beep! ETA: 68 hours 23 minutes and 19 seconds.] [Beep! Level 3 spells and above sealed. 78.55% chance to breakthrough without alerting anyone. Proceed?] The A.I. Chip voice intoned.
"Not necessary. I can just go and take a greater skill test…" Leylin shook his head and denied the A.I. Chip's prompt.
After toying with the Rapid Shadow, Leylin immediately opened his computer and browsed the sea of information that was available on it. The entertainment and leisure section was skipped as he moved onto the empire's map, governance, military news, and various related issues. With Leylin's processing abilities now, he managed to quickly browse through the information on the internet. Slowly, everything in the empire was revealed to him.
"Hmm? What's this?" Leylin witnessed something strange amidst the sea of information. He opened a new page, entering a forum.
"Explosive news! Extreme beauty found in City A! I'm flabbergasted after looking!" This thread attracted many fans, and even many had applied to follow it closely. However, many of the replies were 'seeing is believing' and the like…
"I wanted to take a picture too, but I did not bring my communicator device!"
"I brought mine, but the communicator device was spoilt. I couldn't take any photos, but she was really gorgeous, even causing a few car accidents on the streets…"
"Yea! That woman mysteriously left soon after that. Many rich people in City A have been offering sky high prices to catch a glimpse of her…"
"Could it be a ghost?"
Leylin gave that post a downvote. Many of the posts on the thread were similar to comments like 'OP is trolling' or 'Absolute bait', until a cocky guy posted a new image.
"Haha… Those above me are retards! I happened to have the latest Rapid Shadow there, and I managed to take a photo!"
A rank 8 existence wouldn't leave behind an electronic image even if she suppressed her own aura and radiation. The forcefield around their body could contort the space around them, and even if a photo was actually captured or their true name discovered it would come with unimaginable power or even curses!
The person posted a blurry image on this thread, faintly revealing an extremely seductive figure. Even the corner of her dress left people wanting more.
"A photo from the front! I beg you…" Many online 'wolves' were asking for more on the thread, but there was no more response from the person who posted the image.
'Hmm. City A. huh? But the Snake Dowager should have moved quickly, not wanting to meet Shar…' Leylin could only silently pray for the Snake Dowager. After all, Thousand Bears City was extremely far from City A, and required him to travel across half the empire.
Furthermore, with the Snake Dowager drawing all the attention to herself, he would be less likely to be found by the Mistress of the Night. He only had a partnership with that woman, so only after his own safety was assured along with an equal exchange did he even consider helping her.
As for now? The Snake Dowager used to live here in the Shadow World. No matter how much it had changed, she could surely adapt to it quickly. Were she to fail at even that, Leylin would choose to walk away from the place right away. After all, lousy teammates were extremely scary creatures who could cause the party to be wiped.
"The Snake Dowager is a rank 8 existence after all… I should believe in her…" Leylin shrugged his shoulders and began pulling the window curtains apart. From his position, he could clearly see Xavier's two-storeyed home. The study room's light was still on, which meant that Xavier was studying hard.
"Hmm! The skill test begins in three days huh?" Leylin took out his communicator and also signed up for the test. He'd wanted to obtain greater authority with the Shadow Weave, as well as higher status.
'Once I get a mid-grade Rapid Shadow even some extraordinary abilities won't attract attention from the central neural net. It'll let me do quite a bit…'
...
The three days passed very quickly, and the day for the greater skill test had arrived.
Xavier exhaled loudly and looked at the mirror after packing his things. Ever since that mysterious change in him, he'd matured greatly in his looks. His skin had grown smooth and glossy as well, causing even his sister Jill to be jealous.
"Okay, I need to succeed this time!" Xavier cheered himself on as he looked at his reflection, before walking out of the house.
"All the best, Brother!"Jill saw him out of the house, and prayed as Xavier's figure left. Her voice reverberated through the alley.
"Woah… There's so many people in here…" Even if he'd prepared himself mentally, Xavier was still taken aback at the sheer number of people at the examination venue.
"The greater skill test is one of the most difficult tests in the empire. Once one qualifies they can use middle-rank spells, equivalent to holding gun rights. Apart from that, many organisations will clamour to hire you… It's pretty normal to have so many people apply…"
A familiar voice sounded from behind Xavier, and he turned around. He saw a young man standing there, his long sideburns causing him to look middle-aged.
"Why? You don't recognise me anymore?" The young uncle patted Xavier's shoulders and laughed.
"What? Un…Uncle Crowley!" Xavier immediately recognised the man from the aircraft.
"I told you not to call me uncle…." Crowley touched his own face. "My beard and sideburns are a little thick, but in fact I'm still very young… I'm only twenty five! Twenty five!"
'But isn't twenty five already considered an uncle?' Xavier disagreed inwardly, but he still changed his form of address.
"Mm. I remember Big Brother Crowley already has his license? Don't you already have the latest version of the Rapid Shadow?" Xavier asked.
"Indeed. I'm not a candidate today, I'm exam staff." Crowley placed an exquisitely made license in front of his chest, "Even if we know each other well, don't think that I'll go easy on you… Each and every test is invigilated by a computer system as well as the authentication of the Shadow Weave. There's no use in cheating…"
After speaking, Crowley swept his gaze at the surrounding candidates. Some of them held gazes of unease, restlessness and jealousy.
"The authorisation of middle rank spells requires technical skills, and extremely strong concentration. People who don't meet these two criteria can go home now… If you turn into an idiot in any case, we don't need to take any actions because you have signed the indemnity form…"
However, this advice did not bring about any effects. Crowley could only sigh as he bid Xavier farewell before entering the hall.
"Drats…" After Crowley left, Xavier felt the fervent gazes concentrate around him, as if able to melt his body. His senses had been magnified by the Snakebite Fist, causing him to feel uneasy.
"So…Sorry!" he muttered, before running to the side where less people were gathered.
'There aren't as many candidates here, surely they didn't overhear my conversation with Crowley?'
*Bang!* As he was looking down on the ground, Xavier knocked into someone, and the supple rebound force sent him falling backwards as his bottom hit the ice cold floor.
"Are you alright?" This was a black-haired youth with black pupils, more handsome than even superstars. That apologetic look on his face was so warm it seemed like spring had bloomed. He reached his hand out and pulled Xavier up.
"I'm fine, thank you!" Xavier couldn't deny this man's looks, and they even aroused his ire. He refrained from punching that face.
"Hmm, you have great strength…" Xavier responded quickly and saw the physical appearance of the youth before he praised him.
Xavier had already mastered the Snakebite Fist. Even if he suppressed his own strength, and the technique itself didn't excel in raw power, he had a good idea of his current physical prowess. He'd be fine even if a car crashed into him, but now he'd been knocked down easily.
"Yup, I like to train my body regularly!" The youth smiled and revealed a tidy row of white teeth.
This person was naturally Leylin. His appearance had not changed much from before, and was the exact same one on his identification card. He'd now worn jeans, and had a jacket on. After seeing Xavier, he had decided to greet him 'by accident'.
"I'm called Ley, and what's your name?" Leylin asked rhetorically.
"Xavier! I'm Xavier!" Xavier answered only after he patted the dirt off his body and inspected his belongings.
Written Examination
The two quickly began to strike up conversation. With Leylin's experience and knowledge, duping a youth was an extremely simple matter. Xavier had soon lost all traces of jealousy in his heart, feeling like this Ley was a talkative and humorous person.
"Mm, so you have a little sister. Thousand Bears City's little bear biscuits are favoured by many girls. I should bring some with me when I come to visit," Leylin said with a smile.
"You coming over to visit is already enough. You don't have to be so courteous," Xavier replied. But just as he was about to continue, a sharp bell sounded out.
Drawn in by the urgent sound of the bell, the crowd streamed towards the main gate in waves, like a limitless sea of people.
"Mister Ley, the examination is about to begin! Let us continue our chat later…" With Xavier's physique, he was involuntarily swept away by the surging sea of people, leaving Leylin behind.
"Of course!" Leylin smiled. This sort of scene seemed to bring back a rather nostalgic feeling, and he also entered the examination hall.
"The examination has been split into 2 sections— a written examination and an on-site test. Candidates AS1 to SD100 please proceed to examination hall 3," a mechanical voice echoed in the hall. Leylin followed its prompts, arriving at an exam hall.
At the destination were several silver-grey nutrition cabins. The metallic surface shone brilliantly, looking like something out of science fiction.
"Your written examination will be conducted in the nutrition cabins, so please find your seats." A staff member with a blue exam badge entered the hall, scanning the crowd with a piercing eagle-like gaze.
"The exam will take a long time, but don't worry about your constitution. We will prepare enough nutrient liquids for you." The blue-badged staff member monitored them all and Leylin found his own nutrition cabin.
"Beep! Scan has been completed. Welcome, candidate GF87." Ice-cold and solid… This was Leylin's first impression of the nutrition cabin. Even he felt nauseous with the influx of nutrient liquid, so it would definitely be a form of torture for normal people.
A light flashed before his eyes suddenly, and a virtual exam room appeared. The room itself was limitlessly vast, but it only had a single hardwood desk with paper and pen on it.
"A virtual environment? Mm, this can eliminate cheating, and allows the examinees to be given different questions each. Unless one can break through their cabin's lock, they can't possibly cheat." Leylin sat down, sweeping his eyes across the questions on the table.
His ability to gather information was shockingly quick. He's crammed hard last night, so none of these questions could trouble him one bit.
"It's a written examination, but many things can be tested in a virtual environment. It absolutely won't be limited to just these unlimited questions…" Leylin smiled to himself before answering the questions at rapid speed.
In this environment, ordinary candidates were completely unable to perceive the passing of time. Leylin was of course the exception. After completing over ten examination papers, the surrounding environment began to change. He was taken to an operating workshop.
'Question 35— Use the given materials to repair this Rapid Shadow wristwatch.'
Leylin looked at the lathe here, and saw a broken wristwatch upon it, with several electric pens and other items scattered around it. Its screen had been smashed to pieces.
'This must be the on-site test,' Leylin stroked his chin, 'Unless the on-site tests directly open the limits of authority, and evaluate the use of mid-ranked spells?'
The current empire did not have sufficiently advanced virtual reality technology to simulate magic. Only Leylin's A.I. Chip was able to do something on that level. After all, the flesh and soul were the same as spiritual force and matter. It was an extremely difficult matter to fuse the two together and analyse all their mysteries.
It was only with the space-time travel that his A.I. Chip had abandoned physical form. It had fused with his soul, and even then it took multiple advancements to reach its current level.
Crowley had changed into a well-ironed uniform, walking into the control theatre of the examination hall. His eyes sparkled as he saw a fair-haired beauty and greeted her, "Oh, Miss Bobbi! Did you discover any useful seedlings?"
"Your job is to patrol the examination hall, Proctor Crowley," the beauty rejected him without hesitation. It caused all the other proctors to smile.
"Alright, alright! I'm impatient too. If we discover an outstanding mechanic, we'll get a reward as well," Crowley looked at Bobbi with a pitiful look in his eyes, "I think we need to discuss it."
Bobbi looked at the monitor screen and then at her wrist before she finally agreed. "Five minutes, then…"
The other exam proctors kept their calm in the face of something so unexpected. An amorous glint immediately appeared in Crowley's eyes, and he followed Bobbi outside.
Although on the surface it seemed as if there was melodrama here, with one person pursuing the other, their conversation was transmitted to the rest through secret means.
"Let's have dinner tonight? A new restaurant opened up recently in the Champs Elysees," Crowley spoke non-stop, his performance making the other proctors knit their brows and turn away.
In secret he'd sent a short message to the woman, 'I see that TY13 and the others are quite good. They're worth recruiting and nurturing…'
"I don't have any time tonight." Bobbi said with a cold expression on her face, replying using their secret code, 'Pay attention to them and protect them. The best thing is to fail them in their written exams, or chase them out of the examination hall. Don't give them access to the on-site tests. Other than that, you seem to have missed one of them…'
'I'll take responsibility for Xavier, don't interfere.' Crowley's expression changed..
'I know, I know, but the thing is…'
'As long as you understand. Let's not say too much, the surveillance from central intelligence and the Weave is quite serious.' Crowley finished his final message and then fell to the ground to release a heart-piercing cry, "Oh, Bobbi, my Bobbi…"
The fair-haired beauty smiled coldly and returned to the control room under the surveillance of many guards and onlookers.
'What happened?' She'd originally expected a lot of busybodies to circle her, but she was rather stunned to see all the proctors surrounding the screen. The melodrama from earlier did not attract any attention whatsoever.
'Did my acting skills fail? Or am I under suspicion?' Bobbi's heart twisted. She saw a proctor come over to her with an extremely solemn expression on his face, as well as a look of ecstasy. "Bobbi! Come and take a look."
"Mm?" Bobbi leaned against the wall with a curious look on her face. In her heart, she secretly sighed in relief, 'I wasn't discovered!'
Afterwards, she saw an examination paper with a perfect score broadcasted on the screen.
"Ah, so such an exceptionally intelligent seedling appeared," Bobbi sucked in a breath of cold air. She looked at the candidate's information column. "So his name is Ley? It seems like he answered everything correctly, this is really…"
"Everything must be compared. Look at this," the proctor produced another record. That was Leylin's progress in repairing the Rapid Shadow wristwatch. Every movement flowed like the movement of clouds, filled with a unique sense of beauty.
"He does not hesitate in the slightest before committing to every action. This youth has already grasped the techniques of 2-dimensional objects. His intuitive use of materials and his confidence are monstrous…" Bobbi bluntly put it, her words full of praise.
"Mm. Xavier and Rambo aren't much compared to him…"
"Are you ready to directly recommend him to the empire?" Bobbi asked.
"No, the written examination is the most basic part. What we need is a talented person with keen spiritual force, sufficient willpower, and tenacity to manipulate high-ranked spells…" The proctor's words were very reasonable. After all, there were many good examples of those with a good foundation but terrible spell execution.
"Then let's wait and see," Bobbi said with a smile. There was some hesitation in her heart, however. 'This Ley… Nothing was strange about him before, and even Crowley didn't discover anything. He has this sort of intelligence, how abnormal…"
...
With a desperate round of eliminations, less than a hundred candidates remained for the second. Xavier was amongst them, his face filled with curiosity and excitement as he looked all around him.
"Oh, Xavier!" Leylin arrived by his side and clapped him on the shoulders.
"Mm, Mister Ley has also passed?" Xavier said with a smile.
"I just got lucky, haha…" Leylin scratched the back of his head and replied courteously.
"You're too modest. Just got lucky? You topped the entire examination!" Crowley arrived, dressed in the official uniform of a proctor. The candidates made way for him.
"Brother Crowley! Let me introduce you. This is Ley… Wait, what did you just say?" Xavier suddenly seemed to feel a little dizzy.
"I said that your friend isn't as simple as you thought. He placed first in the written examination!" Crowley smiled as he shook hands with Leylin. His eyes, however, were filled with unconcealed warning.
'He feels rather nervous, and he has a similar bloodline aura…' Leylin looked at Crowley then at Xavier, his smile deepening.
"Oh, this really is amazing," Xavier made a big fuss. Crowley had to quiet him down forcefully, "Take note of the exam hall's rules!"
'You're the one who disrespects the rules the most…' Xavier protested in his mind, but he lowered his voice a little in the end.
Mastermind
'This extraordinary strength, it's similar to a bloodline aura but also contains vicissitudes of the spirit…' Leylin looked at Crowley and then back at Xavier, finding them both similar. Of course, without knowledge nobody would notice these similarities.
'Bloodline carrier, huh? Finally found one, and an organisation suppressed by the empire at that… ' Leylin felt somewhat delighted, and at the same time he observed Xavier's conversation with Crowley as the latter left something with the teen.
'Interesting… Is he trying to protect Xavier or set him up?' Leylin looked at Crowley, but Crowley walked away instead.
"Alright everyone, the examinations will begin!" Under the vigilant gazes of the officers, Leylin and the other candidates walked into a large field with a white jade floor. In the centre of the field was a spell formation in the shape of a hexagon.
"The examinations requires you to connect with the Weave, and also to accurately cast a middle ranked spell…" A well trained military officer stood at the forefront, and his voice echoed throughout the entire field.
"I'll repeat myself… There is a certain level of danger in this examination. You may choose to give up now and walk away, we will not look down on you…" Evidently, with success just one step away, none of the candidates chose to give up.
"Very well. If I call your name please step forward for your examination. Firstly, WE23, Deery…" A girl with freckles walked forward, her face filled with unease.
"Stand inside the formation, the Weave will grant you temporary authority…" The officer ordered with a voice that could not be disobeyed. After the candidate stood at the spot, he nodded his head and looked at his watch before saying, "Authorise middle-rank spells from the Shadow Weave."
*Buzz! Buzz!* The white light in the spell formation began to shake, and the pressure from within caused the freckled girl to cry.
"Central neural net, pick a topic," the officer shouted from outside the formation. Many spells names begin to rotate quickly on a large overhead screen, and it finally rested on one.
"Rank 3 spell— Shadow Wings!" the officer said as he looked at the girl. "Connect to the Shadow Weave through the spell formation, and cast the spell to the best of your ability. Our judges and the central neural network will perform the scoring…"
"Damn! Shadow Wings is a difficult spell to cast even amongst the rank 3 spells, she really is unlucky…" Xavier sighed in pity, not noticing that Leylin was looking at him with an even more pitiable expression.
Xavier concentrated on the spell formation, watching as the girl attempted to summon a pair of black wings. However, all that formed was two balls of black mist, not materialising into wings. The two were even uneven.
*Bang!* A loud explosion sounded out at the end, and the balls exploded behind the girl's back. She was sent flying, with flesh and blood oozing out of her body.
"Final score: 0.2. Fail!" The officer had an indifferent expression on his face as he waved his hands, indicating for the medical team to carry the girl away and treat her.
"How is it? Does anyone want to quit now?" The officer surveyed his surroundings, and the candidates all bowed their heads. However, even now nobody chose to quit, each thinking that Lady Luck would stand by their side.
"Very well… Next!" The officer resumed the examination, smiling icily.
"Final score: 0.4. Fail!"
"Final score: 0.3. Fail!"
"Final score: 0.6. Barely passed!"
...
Candidate after candidate was disqualified quickly. It took fifty candidates for a single plump candidate to pass. The unlucky ones had been carried out of the venue, causing the atmosphere to darken.
If not for that candidate scoring a pass, most people would have given up by now.
"Next, Dinar!" The officer called a name.
"Sir!" The candidate called Dinar was a tall lanky man, looking to be in his thirties. However, his sideburns were white and his eyes spoke of a long past.
"Yes, you look promising. Enter!" After seeing him, the officer's eyes brightened.
"Thanks!" Dinar walked into the spell formation and took a deep breath.
"Begin! Your chosen spell is Phantom Fireball!" The officer announced.
"Whaa… It's one of the easiest spell to control! He's so lucky…" The candidates below clamoured.
The man seemed extremely pleased with his own luck too. He closed his eyes as a formless spiritual force spread and connected to the Weave. Very soon, a dark red fireball appeared before him, as gentle as a tamed beast.
"Very well. Finally, another candidate passed!" Xavier clenched his fist, and his confidence was rebuilt.
However, just as he thought Dinar would pass, a strange even occurred. The dark red fireball began to shudder, and seemed to cracked at its sides, causing Dinar's expression to turn bad.
*Boom!* The dark red fireball exploded, charring Dinar into ashes.
"…" Absolute silence reigned, death permeating the field. The silence was finally broken by a scream, and immediately a cacophony was stirred up.
"SIlence, or you'll be disqualified!" The threat was extremely effective, and the field became quiet once again.
"Sad. This Dinar's spiritual force was cracked, causing a backlash with the spell. This is one of the three primary ways of suicide in the books, you should all be wary of it." The officer lectured them and waved his hands as he inspected the spell formation. Several members from the medical team came forth and carried the burnt corpse away.
'Oh, so that's what happened.' Leylin looked at Xavier, who seemed to be scared silly. Crowley smirked in secret as well, nodding his head.
'Although the Shadow Weave's requirements are lower than Mystra's, regular humans can only control low-ranked spells. Middle-ranked spells and above need thorough examination. This is not something peculiar, just… The death, it's abnormal! These officers can all use the Shadow Weave, but they didn't manage to save an amateur? It has to be deliberate!
'So then, the only difference with Dinar was… He had mild traces of extraordinary abilities!' Leylin's eyes brightened.
'So there's a secondary purpose to this screening. Apart from choosing those qualified to cast middle-ranked spells, it serves to differentiate true humans from mutants of bloodline carriers!
'Since they have better talent in the first place, it's quite likely that they'll take these examinations. By tweaking some things in the dark and under the disguise of accidents, the empire can purge and massacre these impure humans…
'No wonder I found it strange that even with psi energy and the Weave the number of extraordinary humans has been dwindling too quickly… There was this screening…' Leylin nodded his head, not disagreeing with what they had done.
Any centralised government would abhor those people who could form their own forces and become a threat. Those like Magi that could not be controlled by the Shadow Weave were better off purged in order to maintain peace and public security.
Moreover, if one could even stamp on the seal in the name of justice, it would be even better. Had Leylin been the ruler, he would most likely have made the same decision.
'So regular humans who apply for the exams will only pass or fail, suffering some injury at most. However, extraordinary humans…' Leylin looked at the headless corpse, which was a good example.
After constant repeats of this scenario, with the development of science, extraordinary humans would then become a myth and legend of the distant past. So, Crowley was in fact protecting Xavier earlier?
"Hmm? Are there any now who want to leave?" Evidently, the death earlier scared several candidates, and some chose to withdraw. The officer did not stop them, and allowed their departure by waving his hands. After all, if they had to force every candidate to go up and attempt the test, then it would be too obvious.
This plan was set for the long term. As long as there were a huge numbers of bloodline carriers dying each year, the seeds would eventually be eliminated.
"Next, Xavier!"
"It's my turn!" Xavier felt pumped.
"Go up! All the best!" Leylin encouraged him at the side, and saw the worry in Crowley's eyes.
'After all this time, the rebels should have thought up a way to counter this by now, huh?' However, Xavier did not know anything regarding these issues, and he walked to the spell formation in trepidation.
'Okay! The spirit scan is not a problem, he's not a bloodline carrier!' The officer looked at a secret report before he announced the choice loudly, "Chosen spell— Phantom Fireball!"
'I've already casted this countless times in my head. I'll surely succeed!' Although Dinar had died earlier, Xavier did not allow his death to affect his spiritual force from reaching into the spell formation.
"Hmm?" However, he suddenly realised something. The spiritual force which he could use to cast low rank spells was now like a dead puddle, not moving one bit.
"Damn it! Move! Come on!" Xavier turned beet red, only feeling that his spiritual force would not budge no matter what.
*Puff!*… Finally, a small wisp of flame was formed before him. But it very soon turned into a black pillar of smoke.
Pass
"That flame, don't tell me it's actually a Shadow Fireball?" The candidates below were completely stunned. The whole room erupted into laughter.
Xavier wanted to dig a hole and throw himself into it. The embarrassed blush on his face extended all the way to his neck.
"Such a shame… You scored so well in the written examination, but it turns out you're a squib." The proctor regretfully shook his head.
A squib was a normal person who was innately weak in terms of spiritual force. Although it wasn't difficult for them to cast low-ranked spells, they were idiots at the practice of higher ranked spells. With their spiritual force unable to support them, they were like machine guns with no bullets.
"Pity… Final score: 0.1 Fail!" The military instructor announced loudly. Everyone around Xavier sighed.
Just as Xavier began to walk away despondently, he saw Crowley walking towards him. "Don't be upset, everything will get better soon," he said, and Leylin keenly noticed a look of relief in the man's eyes. He shook his head involuntarily.
'Normally, the juniors take advantage of their elders. Seeing a senior do that to a younger man is quite rare… ' Leylin watched rather speechlessly as Crowley used his acting skills to score points with Xavier.
"Next, Ley!" The proctor raised his voice as Leylin calmly stepped forward and walked into the pentagram spell formation.
'It seems like my performance in the written exam scared them. Did I arouse some suspicion?' Leylin saw the bewilderment in the proctor's eyes, and laughed coldly to himself.
'This Ley…' Crowley fixed his eyes on Leylin's back, 'It's very strange that our organisation never discovered someone like him. It's very suspicious… I hope he's a natural genius, otherwise…'
Very quickly, Leylin felt a gentle scan from the pentagram's spell formation. [Beep! Soul aura sweep detected, creating a fake profile…]
His truesoul of laws suddenly shrank back a little, hiding itself in a crack between the spiritual and material planes. All his power left with it, making him seem like an ordinary person. With the A.I. Chip as well as his own self-concealment methods, nothing was discovered.
'Everything is normal? It looks like he really is a genius. I hope he can pass and contribute to humankind in the future.'
The proctor glanced at the screen out of the corner of his eye and announced it in a loud voice, "The central neural net has selected the spell— Shadow Servant!"
"What? Isn't that the hardest exam question? Shadow servants need a fixed amount of intelligence!"
"He's finished! People say even high-ranked engineers with mechanic permits can't cast it properly…"
The candidates who were watching below rejoiced in Leylin's misfortune.
"Shadow servant? Ley's luck is really too bad…" Xavier seemed to recover a little from his knockback, and began to worry for Leylin who stood at the centre of the pentagram.
"Begin authorisation of the Shadow Weave," the proctor nodded. The pentagram suddenly let out a faint white light, and the Shadow Weave rumbled as the restriction on the middle level was lifted.
[Beep! Authority to use mid-ranked Shadow Weave acquired. Injecting background virus, beginning analysis…]
'The middle layer of the Weave has been opened to its limits. There should be a small crack for me to exploit to get to the higher ranks. A.I. Chip, attempt analysis of the high-ranked Weave!'
[Beep! Mission established! Initiating task…] the A.I. Chip loyally answered.
"Mm, what's the matter?" At this moment, the main proctor was suddenly enveloped in fear. But when he came back to consciousness, nothing seemed to have happened. The A.I. Chip had used that moment of unconsciousness to use a backdoor into the upper levels of the Shadow Weave, completely concealed from the man himself.
'As expected, the Shadow Weave is quite imperfect. Although it's like Mystra's Weave on the surface, it's severely lacking.' Leylin's eyes glowed, 'After all, this is something Shar built alone, and not even as a god. If it's like this…'
A sudden unbidden thought revealed itself within Leylin's heart, 'If I use the rank 12 arcane spell here, Karsus' Avatar, what would happen?"
The World of Gods was far too powerful, with quite a few gods at the peak of rank 8. He couldn't imagine their response if he broke the Weave apart. Here, though, it was different. The Shadow Weave was incomparable to the real Weave, and Shar herself was only an intermediate god when she left.
Leylin had quite looked forward to using the exam to test the Shadow Weave's response to arcane spells and the like. A conscient that had already died but could still pass the crystal wall structure and make it to the Shadow World was rather curious.
'Well, they're both the Weave in the end. Karsus' Avatar has quite a high chance of succeeding, and I only need to overwrite the Shadow Weave's research program. It's best to act only after I've analysed the tenth level of the Weave…'
Leylin's mood vastly improved after he thought about this point. Shar wasn't a full incarnation of the Shadow Weave, but their existences were tied inseparably. If the Shadow Weave was destroyed, the damage done to her would be terrifying.
It seemed like Leylin had a trump card in his hands, one which he could use to threaten Shar at any time. It said, 'Don't come over here, or I'll let you have it!'
'However, how do I let Shar know about this deterrent? That is the true problem.' Even nuclear weapons were at their strongest before they were fired. Leylin naturally wouldn't just act without a prior warning.
"Can you begin, Ley?' the proctor seemed to have misunderstood, "If you aren't sure about it, you can choose to give up. After all, your safety is of utmost importance.'
It had to be said that the proctor loved to protect ordinary human geniuses.
"Oh, thank you. It won't be necessary," Leylin politely waved him off and directly connected to the Shadow Weave.
*Zzzz!* A layer of concentrated black smoke formed beneath his feet, slowly sketching the outline of a person. The proportions of the four limbs were perfect and in harmony, only its facial feature left fuzzy and indistinct.
"Master…" A hoarse voice was emitted from the shadow servant's body as he knelt down in front of Leylin.
"This intelligence… It's the highest grade of shadow servant!" The proctor smiled fervently, "Ley! Your complete assessment score is 1, you gave an exceptional performance!"
"Woah…" The people below were stunned into silence. A long moment seemed to pass, and the cheers that erupted afterward were incomparable to the cacophony caused by someone passing before. After all, those before him had very barely passed, whereas Leylin had scored full points.
"Ley really is a brilliant person…" Xavier looked at Leylin who stood up on the stage. Everyone's attention was focused on the black-haired youth, and in his heart he felt slightly inferior when compared to him.
"What's the matter?" Crowley casually patted him on the shoulder, "Although you don't have talent when it comes to controlling the Weave and using spells, your personal strengths lie in other areas. The one who invented the Rapid Shadows was also a squib! However, who can deny his contributions?"
'That's true! Even if I don't have a diploma, I still have the Snakebite Fist!' Xavier inwardly thought to himself and clenched his fist. Seeing this scene, a trace of gratification flashed across Crowley's eyes.
...
His high-ranked permit was hot off the press, and the government had strongly urged Leylin to stay. He said he needed some time to consider his options, using that as an excuse to leave.
After that, he went directly to the shop for Rapid Shadows. He didn't actually need one to cast shadow spells, but he had to conceal that fact so he ended up buying one.
"You want to buy Rapid Shadow 5.0? Please show me your permit." This was the same shop assistant from before, and there was a trace of astonishment in her eyes, 'He only had authority for the most basic model just a while ago. Now…'
"Mm," Leylin calmly handed his new permit to the assistant. Once the computer attested to its veracity, her eyes were filled with fervent passion. It wasn't just this assistant, the others nearby were completely starstruck as well!
Leylin didn't suspect in the slightest that as long as he took care, it was very possible for him to get his hands on everything. However, now was not the time. He ignored the bitter gazes directed at him from hiding, settling the payment for the device and leaving the shopping centre. The gazes had never been a problem for him.
"Ding! Welcome to Rapid Shadow 5.0, customer. Your account balance is currently 23000 Seres." His communication device flashed immediately after he equipped the wristwatch, receiving several messages in succession.
"Hello, Mister Ley! Thousand Bears Market is honoured to have served you your title. ID data and authorisation refreshed, citizen class changed to first rank. You can enjoy public facilities for free, overdraft on the Shadow Weave, and receive beneficial treatment when it comes to immigration visas. Please send an enquiry for further details…"
The messages of several private firms followed, offering sky-high salaries of hundreds of thousands of Seres a month.
'No wonder those attendants all became like this. So high-ranked mechanics are equivalent to nobles here?' After seeing this, Leylin involuntarily sighed. No matter how science and technology progressed, humans in the end were still divided into different ranks.
Sadly, he himself didn't have the slightest of interest in these things. He was too lazy to even send a reply.
Shar
On his way back to his villa, Leylin went to Xavier's house to greet the siblings, especially making an appearance in front of Jill. Agreeing to visit them again, he returned to his room and closed the doors and windows.
'Woman of the shadows… Mistress of the Night, it's time I greet you.' Leylin closed his eyes slightly, his conscient traversing boundless space in an instant as it arrived at the seas. An eerie smile emerged on the oily face of the voodoo doll as it emerged from the blue depths.
"Target discovered. Attack!" Many warships and aircraft carriers equipped with psi energy generators surrounded it, numerous powered submarines gathering around it like sharks. Spells gathered at the malicious mouths of the cannons, causing a great sense of danger.
"Hehe…" The smile on the voodoo doll widened, and the glint in its two black eyes dimmed before beginning to flicker even more vigorously than before.
This slight change resulted in an extreme transformation of the aura of the doll. From a brutal, robotic puppet hunter, it had now turned into a bundle of unfathomable darkness.
*Crack! Crack!* The voodoo doll turned its neck and scanned the huge warships with terrifying artillery, as well as the dense crowd of powerful spellcasters atop.
"You've done the best you possibly can in terms of technology. Unfortunately, your personal evolution has been stagnant…" Leylin shook his head, and then made a sound.
*Chii!* Piercing sound waves swept the area, and large batches of the navy collapsed with blood spurting out of their orifices.
"Infrasonic attack! Quick, activate shadow protection!" The surrounding warships entered a frenzy. Guided by powerful mutants and the empire's special forces, they formed multicolour shields one by one.
Unfortunately, these shields had no effect at all. The normal people were mowed down like grass, and only the mutants with exceptional mental power were spared alongside a few powerful spellcasters.
"Your weak mental force makes it difficult to counter attacks on the soul…" Leylin believed this to be deliberate on the part Shar. In this scenario, no matter how far human civilisation advanced it would always remain in her grasp.
Things were harder with mutants and those with ancient bloodlines. While the chances were low, some beings of laws could still appear among their ranks. This was why they had to be exterminated.
'Take rank 1 and 2 Magi, for example. They wouldn't be able to fight my old world's military head on, only turning to dust under their laser cannons. However, if they were to keep a low profile they could bewitch and hypnotise people in a bid to set up terrifying organisations, and to devastating effect…'
*Rumble! Rumble!* Having lost most of their crews, the warships and aircraft carriers sank into the sea. Those workers had been normal humans, and there was little they could do to withstand the might of Leylin's soul when he intentionally attacked them.
Some aircrafts even began to smoke and spark, exploding violently. This was the disadvantage of using external tools; all sorts of accidents could occur without a controller.
"What do we do, Captain?" The survivors gathered on the few warships left, staring at the figure that was like a devil in the sky.
"We attack!" The captain, who looked wise and had a scar on his face, gritted his teeth, "This person's attacks are only effective against normal humans. There's little effect on us extraordinary beings so we can take him on. Do what you can, and have the rest retreat. Get the empire to draw up other methods to annihilate them!
"We should prepare an elite team formed entirely of extraordinary beings, which will definitely be enough to dispose of the enemy…"
Light flickered on the wristwatches of those present, and shadow wings formed on their backs as large numbers rose to encircle Leylin in the air.
'I see…' Leylin took a look around and smiled slightly, 'Besides high-levelled spellcasters, the special operatives of the empire also have a batch of extraordinary beings and bloodline carriers? This policy of having some pulling the rest forward really seems to be instinct for large countries…'
"Quick! Notify the naval headquarters! Apostle 3 has special offensive abilities and no ordinary being can get close to him. Only the Special Forces can do anything to him, call them in!"
The surviving ships were started at this moment, and some jumped on to lifeboats as they all left the area quickly. It was like there was a great ferocious beast watching them from behind.
Leylin paid no mind to them leaving. It was like a normal being stepping on a group of ants in their way, and then continuing on while paying no heed to the ants lucky enough to survive.
'A rank 6 blood carrier, and other ability users…' On the contrary, Leylin was slightly interested in this wave of elites surrounding him. The burly man at the lead was almost equivalent to rank 6 in the Magus World, and he also had the inheritance of an ancient bloodline.
'The empire even managed to buy over someone like him? It looks like Shar's plans aren't so simple…'
"What the hell are you?" The captain eyed the voodoo doll in front of him, astutely sensing the wisdom and intelligence in it. A single look from the doll had made him feel transparent, causing a chill up his spine.
"Heehee…" Unfortunately, Leylin had no intentions of communicating with beings like this. Under his control, the voodoo doll's smile widened and became more eerie. Light glinted in its eyes.
*Rumble! Rumble!* The survivors who had managed to escape now found that the ocean behind them began to roar, the waves surging to over a hundred metres tall and swallowing them.
*Drip! Drip!* Crimson blood fell from the voodoo doll's straw arm as it held onto the head of the scarred captain. His wide, terrified eyes had lost all signs of life.
The voodoo doll stood silently in the sky, and only after a long while did it turn back, looking towards a certain area.
"I imagined you would do something, Mistress of the Night…" A layer of light appeared from the voodoo doll, revealing Leylin's figure.
"Heehee… those are just some pawns. If you like it, what does it matter if you killed a few more?"
The Shadow Weave flashed, and a young girl dressed in black walked over leisurely. She had a pair of beautiful and long eyes, and a face that was just exquisite. There was a hint of a mischievous smile on the corner of her lips, and she seemed like a little sister you'd find living next door who loved playing tricks.
If the Snake Dowager's beauty was that of maturity and charm, Shar was like an orchid that was very approachable. The Mistress of the Night sized Leylin up and down, eyes full of unconcealed curiosity.
"I thought the Dowager would be the only one coming, I didn't expect she would invite you as well. The smell of this bloodline… Hehe…" Shar's voice was like a clear spring, graceful and beautiful.
The smile on her face grew bigger, and she held on to her belly as she started chuckling, "Haha… I never thought that woman would actually face such a disadvantage as to have a portion of her bloodline ripped out. There's nothing more delightful in the world!"
The grace of shadow force evidently allowed Shar to see through Leylin's bloodline with a glance. The fact that Leylin was not feeling the pressure from the world was enough proof of his identity.
"While I may have separated from her bloodline, we are currently allies," Leylin said with a steely expression.
"That's true… you are her ally now…" The smile on Shar's face froze, and turned austere.
In the World of Gods, she wasn't exactly one who was benevolent or loved peace. Gods lost their immortality and part of their personality in the astral plane, but some things would still remain the same.
"So… You came here just to see me?" Shar asked, and Leylin suddenly felt a huge pressure applied on him. Part of it came from the world itself. Large amounts of origin force surged forth, seemingly able to destroy his puppet in an instant as it tried to search for his main body.
"It isn't quite convenient here… shall we go somewhere else?" Leylin looked exceptionally calm in the face of this threat, motioning for Shar to go first. Then, with his five fingers stroking lightly, the space seemed to open like a curtain, revealing spatial cracks and turbulence.
With a challenge like this, Shar naturally felt no fear. She was all smiles as she took the first step, and the surrounding space immediately changed as they reached the boundary of the world.
The great origin force of the Shadow World gushed and tumbled, glimmering with a hint of civility. The huge Shadow Weave revealed itself, acting like a backbone that controlled everything.
Leylin watched this magnificent scene and looked back at the black-veiled girl, "Is this your goal? Using the Weave to control everything, and then becoming the world itself…"
"If you invited me here to say that, then you can die now…"Powerful shadow force twined around the former goddess, the power of multiple laws signifying her power as a rank 8.
Leylin merely laughed in answer, asking, "Should I call you the Mistress of the Night, or Shar?"
With this sentence, the earth seemed to shatter! Her secret having been seen through, Shar's expression changed!
"You've been to the World of Gods?" she asked, a silent acknowledgement of her identity. Beings like her would not be so easily startled by quibbles, and since Leylin was already so sure she wouldn't be able to change his thoughts anyway.
Seen Through
"Mm, I've been there. The world makes one wish for a leisurely life, and it's filled with all sorts of interesting laws…" Leylin chuckled, and then looked at the weird girl, "I'd never have thought that the shadow girl didn't actually fall, instead coming to the astral plane…"
"Faith is powerful, but it's also a cage for us gods…" Shar grew dazed, seemingly recalling past memories, "When we were on the verge of falling in the dusk of the gods, I actually managed to see through some things. No matter how great it is, restricted power is worth nothing. In comparison, the Magi's approach to the truth…"
"Even so, you were the only one able to make a real change…" Leylin's eyes glinted as he inquired subtly.
"Hehe… you don't need to try sounding me out. I was the only one who crossed the crystal sphere to come to the astral plane. Devoid of faith, we gods are like fish out of water, and things become dangerous for us. Passing through the crystal sphere in the face of imminent death requires a great amount of courage and luck. I was the only one fortunate enough to succeed…"
Shar's lips quirked up in a smile, "I've answered your questions. Now, you can fall at ease …" In the next moment, she suddenly attacked!
*Rumble!* The entire Shadow World seemed to come to life. Great origin force descended through the Shadow Weave, somehow boosting her strength past its limits as she seemed to reach the peak of rank 8.
[Beep! Target has locked on to host's aura, is tracking. Countdown…] The A.I. Chip warned in blood red. Leylin understood that she'd be able to find his main body sooner or later if he didn't do anything, such was the terror of a peak rank 8 Magus!
With his clone here, Shar could connect to his main body, injuring it grievously or even killing him along with it.
"The Shadow Weave allows you to completely wield extraordinary strength. It can even amplify World Origin Force… As expected of the Mistress of the Night, your wisdom is as dazzling as the stars…"
Leylin was also one of those beings of laws that did not have to worry about the World Origin Force. This method was like a breath of fresh air for him. Shar's usage of it wasn't something simple, instead optimised, boosted, and altered slightly.
If World Origin Force was crude oil, then the Shadow Weave allowed her to process it, separating it into diesel, gasoline, and asphalt at different times, making it more usable. Leylin's own origin force weapon was similar, though it held a few more advantages. Although the Shadow Weave gave Shar power, it restricted her movements. On the other hand, the origin force weapon could adapt to various worlds.
*Pilala!* The raging Shadow Weave emerged from different areas, like a powerful electric grid that trapped Leylin within.
"If these are your last words, then I humbly accept your praise…" Shar's sweet voice sounded, with no bloodlust whatsoever. However, at this moment, she had already issued a death penalty to this being of law under her.
Before she reached the peak of rank 8 and completely fused with the Shadow World, Shar still had a weak point. She wouldn't be able to break out of a siege of peak rank 8s, which was why she couldn't let the Magus who knew her secret leave!
With her foresight, she naturally knew that Leylin's main body was at most a rank 7 Magus, and could likely be heavily injured or killed by her. Her killing intent multiplied, and under her control the Shadow Weave swept towards him.
WIth the support of a large world's origin force, even one with the power of a rank 8 Magus would definitely be in trouble under this one move!
"It's been a pity, Miss Shar… We could have discussed more possibilities…" The A.I. Chip's rays glinted in Leylin's eyes, and he suddenly sighed.
*Rumble!* All of a sudden, a streak of green flames blazed on the voodoo doll's body, and quickly spread all over its body.
"Are you trying to break all connections? Dream on!" Shar snorted, and with a wave of her hands, powerful restrictive force descended.
"You overestimate yourself."
*Sou!* Amidst the green waves, Leylin's figure suddenly turned into a meteor. As if he was committing suicide, he crashed into the Weave that was closing in on him.
*Boom!* All of a sudden, a feeling of extreme danger struck Shar's soul. It was a warning of failure, instantly reminding her of the danger she felt during the dusk of the gods. In fact, this sensation was even worse than what she'd felt back then!
'What's going on?' Shar suddenly retreated, numerous spell rays flickering on her body. Circles of origin force formed an armour that began to envelop her. In what had been a sea of origin force, within the palace, the girl in the crystal slowly opened her eyes, a trace of fear appearing on her expression!
*Buzz!* Turbulent! Immense! A conscient that had initially been in a deep slumber suddenly awakened as it descended.
*Whoosh!* The Shadow Weave extended, causing the little green meteor to jump out of the siege and leave behind a bright curve in the sky before disappearing.
Shar knew that the Magus had already completely destroyed all traces of the puppet, and it would be impossible to pursue him further. Now, however, her focus was on something else.
"What's going on? What's with this huge sense of danger that could harm my life? And the World Will?" Shar closed her eyes, as if interacting with the great shadow will. Only after a long time did she open her eyes.
'It sensed an aura dangerous enough to kill me?' Shar bit her lips, looking serious.
The more powerful a being was, the more afraid it was of death. This applied even more to her, who had been lucky enough to survive the dusk of the World of Gods.
'What is it? A Netherese flying city? An extraordinary divine weapon? Or is it the Earthern Plate of Destiny?' All sorts of thoughts streaked through her mind, one after the other. Following that, she turned towards a region of the empire. Although she had not been able to pinpoint his location, she's still found the general vicinity.
"Allsnake… you've truly found a great helper this time…" Shar sighed, her body merging into the shadows. A terrifying web of darkness encircled the region Leylin was in under her command, surging in the shadows.
...
Thousand Bears City, within the bedroom of a villa. Leylin opened his eyes slightly as a trace of black lightning flickered in the room.
Some of the threads that had tried to pursue him were disconnected and swallowed, dissolved by darkness. Only once the process was complete did he stand up, recalling his meeting with Shar.
'Most of her divine immortality has been converted…' Leylin sighed with a hint of pity.
The divinity was the most important part. Godly power of laws could be devoured completely and used in an instant, allowing a Magus to multiply their strength. However, the reverse was not true. Having changed, Shar was no longer a god. Even if Leylin devoured her, it would be great if he got even a fifth of the law of shadows.
That small fight using his avatar had allowed him to determine Shar's strength. She was near the peak of rank 8, only a few steps away from the boundary of rank 9! This strength exceeded that of the Snake Dowager.
If Shar had beings of laws helping her, even Leylin would have to consider retreat. Just like the wars between large countries in his previous world, these battles in the astral plane were all for profit. If there was little profit out of it along with the danger of injury or curses, nobody would want to fight.
'But it's too clean… the whole Shadow World doesn't seem to have any other rank 7s aside from Shar…' Leylin felt a deep chill inside.
There were still a few beings of law under the Snake Dowager's rule. They'd made deals with her, allowing her to watch over them without worry. However, there were no auras of law in the current Shadow World anymore!
'Shar is from the World of Gods, after all. She wouldn't want her secrets discovered by other Magi before she reaches the peak of rank 8…' Leylin sighed. He had a feeling the rest of those existences had probably met their ends.
"The Snake Dowager should have discovered this by now, right?" He pushed side the curtains, his eyes seeming to pierce into the boundless starry skies and into another part of the empire.
...
There was an ancient castle sitting atop a hill at the outskirts of a bright city. Such medieval structures had grown rare in recent times, becoming tourist sites more than anything else.
A lady with a long black umbrella was leisurely walking across a shady pathway. She'd worn a coat of mink fur, and her tall black heels created piercing noises as they hit the ground. With her black silk gloves, she seemed elegant and posh.
Under the headscarf was the face of a middle-aged woman. Her long eyes and lips were smeared with bright red makeup, giving her an enchanting look.
The Snake Dowager had evidently learnt from the previous lessons, and restrained much of her charm. While her current figure was beautiful, it was not enough to create trouble and suffering for the country.
Raindrops dripped onto the roads and created a lively rhythm. The soil was all muddy, yet nothing seemed to stick onto her high heels. However, as there weren't many people nearby, nobody discovered this startling scene.
Kidnapping
"Alilux, Jar Spectre, as well as a guardian of the mermaid clan, the prophet Kalle…" The Snake Dowager's eyes held a trace of sadness, "You should have chosen me from the beginning…"
She walked directly into the ancient castle, but the dozing security guard did not notice her at all. Intensely familiar with everything in the castle, she continued on her way and walked into the basement. She finally arrived in front of a wall.
The dirt yellow manson stones were covered with the mottled marks of history. The likeness of a two-handle vase had been carved in there with simple skill.
"In Allsnake's name…" the Snake Dowager bit her lip, a trace of blood appearing and piercing into the body of the wall. The entire wall seemed to collapse, revealing a pitch-black passageway.
In the end, she arrived in front of a simple altar. There she saw fragments of ceramic, radiating an atmosphere of chilling horror with concentrated resentment. The grudge had materialised even after thousands of years.
"Jar Spectre, so this is what became of your body?" The Snake Dowager picked up a dirt-yellow fragment of the vase, traces of black patterns wandering on the surface as they let out hissing sounds. It seemed like a thousand snakes were flowing over each other.
Having gotten what she wanted, the Snake Dowager quickly left. The passageway was discovered by a cleaner later, becoming a popular tourist destination.
...
Another bright and beautiful day dawned in Thousand Bears City.
"Ah…" Xavier stretched lazily and sat up in bed.
"Oh dear, I didn't manage to get my license again. I still have to ask for money from my parents at this age… Shouldn't I hurry up and find some odd jobs to do?" He kneaded his temples in worry as he put his clothes on.
The imperial university was expensive to go to, and normal families could not afford it. Xavier had grown a bit of pride over his life, and he didn't want to use up his parents' money after he grew to adulthood.
'Tiring jobs like waiting tables don't have high salaries. I should become a bodyguard instead! My physique was crafted well by the Snakebite Fist, giving me great attack power. I can earn in excess of ten Thousand Seres a month…' His self-confidence was greatly bolstered by his sturdy physique and willpower from training in martial arts.
Several minutes later, he walked into the living room with toothbrush in mouth. He saw fried eggs, bread, and milk on the table, with a note stuffed under the plate.
"Jill's already gone to school?" The scene of a little girl cooking breakfast from atop a stool appeared in his mind, and a smile blossomed on Xavier's face. Washing his face and rinsing his mouth, he sat down to eat breakfast and turned on the television.
The television screen appeared in midair, broadcasting the clear and simple voice of a female anchor, "Welcome to the morning news. Let's begin with economy. A few days ago the Imperial Corporation declared that…"
Suddenly, the expression of the female anchor changed.
"Breaking news! Thousand Bears City's Golden Flower Primary School was attacked by an unknown party this morning. The casualties are currently unknown, and the police department and firefighters have hurried to the scene. Five different organisations have presently taken responsibility for this attack…"
A sudden scene of dense fireworks appeared behind the anchor, showing a primary school. The police had erected a perimeter of warning tape, and faint weeping sounds could be heard from within.
*Bang!* Xavier's expression turned blank, the cup of milk in his hand shattering on the floor.
'That's Jill's school!' He immediately rushed out, pulling out the door with so much force that a hole the size of a fist was formed where the handle used to be.
"Mm, has it begun?" Next door to Xavier, Leylin also walked out from his residence. He saw Xavier rushing hot-bloodedly to Golden Flower Primary School, strolling behind him calmly with his own breakfast in hand.
'Jill! Jill! You must be alright!' Xavier looked into the distant horizon. He could already see the dense black smoke over the school building, an ominous sign. Sirens could be heard in the distance.
The closer he got, the worse the traffic jam became. There seemed to be a long queue of maglev trains on the tracks, with numerous traffic policemen maintaining order.
"Damn!" Xavier ferociously slammed his taxi's door open and fled. In a few moments, he had disappeared to the end of the street, with money left carelessly on the seat. The driver's mouth gaped as if he had seen a ghost.
With his agility and the fact that he was not all that far from the primary school in the first place, Xavier very quickly reached the location.
"Stop! What are you doing?" An armoured policeman blocked him from going ahead, examining him closely.
"I… I'm the brother of a student here, her name's Jill. How is she?!" Xavier asked in a panicked voice.
"The robbers have taken hostages, we are currently working hard to rescue them," the policeman's gaze turned into a pity, "I promise you that we will do our absolute best to rescue them. Now please, go over there to register and wait…"
He pointed at an empty space where a group of parents had gathered. Many mothers were weeping openly.
"Damn… I want to go in!" Xavier's face flushed with rage.
"I'm sorry, that is impossible!" The policeman's expression changed, "Don't make things difficult for us…"
Seeing a gun's black muzzle, Xavier rolled his eyes, "Fine, I'll leave. I'm leaving…" As he slowly left and walked around the school, he arrived outside an enclosed wall. There were policemen here as well, but it wasn't as densely protected as the last area.
"Okay, now!" Xavier deeply breathed in and emitted a serpent's hiss, suddenly becoming a shadow which rushed forward.
"Stand still!" "Shoot!"
A cacophony of voices could be heard, as well as dangerous gunshots. However, Xavier had displayed his extraordinary power here, bending into an S as if he was a snake to dodge all the gunshots. He barely flipped over the wall into the campus, and exasperated howls sounded behind him.
"Jill! Jill!" Xavier was extremely panicked in his heart, but his thoughts were eerily calm. He began to stealthily make his way towards Jill's classroom.
The once happy campus had now become hell. The corpses of several students and teachers littered the hallway, the fresh red blood unpleasant to the eyes.
'It's impossible, Jill would not have fallen here…' Xavier encouraged himself to move onwards, silently drawing closer to Jill's class.
The robbers had evidently based themselves here, congregating together. However, their attire was extremely strange. They were wearing black wind jackets with sunglasses.
'They don't look like robbers…' A faint thought arose in Xavier's heart. However, at this point he already had no choice. After seeing the crowded figures and their firepower, he began to feel a little anxious.
'Right, the ventilation ducts… If I can restrain my life undulations, I can hide.' Xavier's eyes brightened. He used Snakebite Fist to control his entire body's muscles and blood flow. Under the mysterious force, his blood slowly grew cold. His life undulations also became increasingly weak, until he resembled a rock on the ground.
*Bang!* A ventilation duct was kicked open, and Xavier slowly climbed towards the school building.
"Why do we have to act like robbers, boss? Can't we just act directly?" Nobody was alerted to Xavier's presence, exchanging words which made his heart beat faster.
"It's the mayor's fault, he said it would be bad influence. Well, someone else will take his position after this, that's the price for provoking the Special Forces…"
'The empire's Special Forces Division?' Xavier's heart turned cold. He felt like he had interfered with some disastrous affair.
"Ah…" Just at this moment, the sound of a girl crying out in alarm could be heard. Xavier's eyes widened in response, 'It's Jill's voice!'
He crawled across at lightning speed. Looking through the opening in the ventilation shaft, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets at the scene he witnessed. Within the classroom, a teacher's body had slumped over the desk. Many little girls were crouched on the ground crying, with a huge man dragging Jill up.
"So annoying!" He pinched a nerve behind Jill's head, which made her immediately faint.
"Let go of my sister!" Seeing this scene, Xavier couldn't hold back anymore. He jumped down from the ventilation shaft directly.
"Oh, so there was one left?" The man in the wind jacket looked at Xavier and at the black apparatus in his hand, "It's a shame he's too old. There's no value in nurturing and brainwashing him…"
"Let go of my sister!" Xavier roared as he charged ahead. However, he was blocked by a slanted-eyed youth with a pallid face.
Heavy makeup was smeared on his face in thick layers, and he swiped his tongue across his brightly coloured lips, "Give this one to me, he seems rather amusing," he said with an evil expression.
A Rapid Shadow wristwatch flashed with light, and a wall of shadows stopped Xavier in his tracks.
"Alright, but pay attention to the time," the middle-aged man nodded. He threw Jill and two other girls over his shoulder and left.
"Damn it, DAMN IT!" Xavier's expression flushed a deep red. His arm suddenly softened, and like a snake with sharp fangs he shattered the shadow wall into pieces.
"Oh, a martial artist? I like it!" Slant Eyes seemed to brighten, "I know from experience that trash like you can last a little longer, so don't disappoint me…
"Don't even think about stubbornly resisting. I've already surpassed high-ranked mechanics and can directly connect to the highest layer of the Shadow Weave. Your martial skills are just a joke compared to high-ranked spells."
"Sss…" A black shadow flashed past. Xavier reappeared in front of Slant Eyes, his fingers stabbing directly into his throat.