"This whole city makes me sick to my stomach," Merlow said as he tirelessly made his way through the slums and back to his tiny hideout.
(Merlow's Perspective)
I sighed and put my hands in my pockets. "Tch, my body hurts all over. That manor had better security than I anticipated, at least I managed to rescue a few people in the end though."
"True enough. Merlow, your approach to espionage is improving, but you still have a long way to go. You were spotted at the last minute. Continue training," Drelmoth took the liberty of informing me.
"I-I understand," I placated.
Drelmoth is a demon that appeared to me about 4 months ago. I was locked up in some nobles dungeon, being used as a personal play thing. You can guess what that would intel.
To be honest, I've been a slave my entire life, my parents sold me at the age of 4 in order to support their own livelyhood. Since then, I've been passed around all over the capital of Dsor, serving different assholes and what not.
I've had friends before, but...they were all killed, and/or missing. I miss them all of the time. There's not a second that goes by where I'm not feeling some sort of anger at those who took them from me.
They taught me a lot, I probably wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for them, even with Drelmoth.
Drelmoth offered me the power I so desperately desired in exchange for my loyalty after I fulfillled my goals. Ever since then, Drelmoth has been with me, speaking inside my head. Also, he named me, my birth name had long since been forgotten.
To be honest, I don't really know what my goal is, I just have this unyielding hatred for unfairness.
This city, this world, was built on the foundation of imbalance.
I recently offended one of the lower ranking nobles, I don't even know the fucker's name, but he did some pretty horrible things. I do this for a living now.
I expose the dark under belly of various nobles and wicked people, and bring them to justice. I make sure to hide my appearence using umbra magic, clouding myself in darkness. I learned this from Drelmoth.
I freed about 5 of his slaves, all of which I'm bringing back to Ms. Merideth. It's not like I know what to do for them.
I met her a while back after making my grand escape from the capital.
I was practically dead when she found me, but she managed to nurse me back to health.
I walked in silence, thinking about what my next move would be. I'm pretty hungry and I haven't eaten in a while, but I have food at home.
Oh, there's Merideth up ahead.
"Ms. Merideth! I've got some patients for you," I called out to her.
She huffed before turning to look in my direction. She saw the group of girls behind me and became wide-eyed.
Her surprise subsided and she calmly walked over to me.
Without warning, I was wacked on the head by her cane, leaving my hair in split ends.
"Oww! What was that for?!" I said while holding me head.
"You delinquent, playing around with a harem of women! Who taught you to that?"
Who? Me?
"That's not it! These girls are ex-slaves, I just freed them," I pleaded.
Merideth glared at me for a second before clearing her throat.
"I seem to have misjudged the situation, you can leave them to me," Ms. Merideth said while avoiding eye contact.
This isn't the first time I've been hit by that cane of hers.
"Yeah, I'll do that," I said as I walked off.
"You know, it's strange that you still can't anticipate her strikes," Drelmoth noted.
I growned in response.
"Please wait a moment!"
Someone's voice called out to me.
I turned my head to see who it was. It was one of the girls I had freed. She seemed the oldest and most mature out of all of them.
Her eyes had a sort of fire, I once had. I assumed they couldn't speak, none of them said anything when I tried to speak to them earlier.
"So you can talk afterall."
"Yes, I'm sorry for our silence earlier, we weren't so sure we could trust you at the time," she confessed.
Her voice was gentle, yet stern and confident at the same time. She really gave off the impression of a leader.
"That's understandable," I agreed.
The girl nodded. "Even so, you still saved all of us, I can't thank you enough. May I ask your name?"
"It's Merlow..."
"Merlow... I'll remember that. I'm Melissa. You saved us from a that horrid place. We're forever in your debt. Just find me when-"
"No," I stated flatly.
Melissa was visibly confused. "I-I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"You don't owe me a thing," I said.
Melissa spoke again in protest, yet I was done here. "But-"
I used Shadow-Walk to escape the situation and travel home quicker. Anymore of this back and forth talk, and I'll starve to death.
(Melissa's Perspective)
"That boy is troubled dear, don't fret over it," Ms. Merideth said trying to consol me.
I've never met someone who never wanted anything in return for a favor. A deed like these is worth my life, how strange.
"I suppose everyone has their circumstances," I trailed off.
Will we meet again? I wonder.
(Milo's Perspective)
Status Open.
Name: Milo Foster
Race: Super-Human/Crimson Slime (33% Awakened)
Rank: C
(Status)
Lv.32-Exp(1,234/32,000)
HP: 25,000/25,000
MP: 5,500/5,500
Strength: 210
Agility: 220
Endurance: 200
Intelligence: 185
Sense: 190
Mana: 240
Spirit: 227
Attribute Points: 50
Passive skills:
G.P.S. (Lv.Max)-Mapping and positioning of areas.
Regeneration (Lv.16)- The rate at which the body heals.
Calculator (Lv.Max)-
Understanding of numbers.
Electro-Magnetic Perception (Lv.4) The ability to feel and sense Electro-Magnetic Fields.
Mana-Sense (Lv.12)-The abilty to sense mana within people or the environment. Currently works within a 130 meter radius.
Fashion-Sense (Lv.3)-One's understanding of clothing and fashion.
Martial Arts (Lv.15)- Understanding of physical and combat prowess.
Stealth (Lv.8)-The ability to conceal one's presence.
Acting (Lv.Max)- The art of social deception.
Weapon Mastery (Lv.10)- Understanding of weapon-based combat.
Mana-Recovery (Lv.14)-Increases the natural speed at which mana recovers.
Teacher (Lv.1)- Those who learn under you will experience accelerated results.
Pain Tolerance (Lv.8)-Heightened resistance to pain.
Hyper Resistance (Lv.2)- Heightens resistance to all attacks.
Activation Skills:
EX Combat Mode (Lv.Max)- Greatly increases abilities when faced with danger. Power scales with threat level.
Crimson Web (Lv.Max)-Eject adhesive spindle fibers from your body. Detachable.
Metamorphis/Shapeshifting(Lv.Max)- The body can shift anyway the user imagines. Harden, soften, sharpen, etc.
Transmutation (Lv.8)-Change the properties of a material manually.
Absorbtion (Lv.Max)-Take in material and assimilate it with your being.
Appraisal (Lv.Max)- Observe someone's status. May even be possible to see skills with heightened proficiency. Works within 50 meter radius.
Meditation (Lv.Max)-Focus youself with a calm mind and guided breathing.
Intimidation (Lv.Max)-By will of thought, you can send waves or terror and dread through your enemies.
Clean (Lv.Max)-make something/ someone free of dirt, marks, or mess, especially by washing, wiping, brushing, or using mana.
Healing Magic (Lv.8)-Restores health and mends the wounds of targets via mana.
Potential Unlock (Lv.Max)- You can distribute the attribute points of those you've established a bond with accordingly.
Wind Magic (Lv.13)-Wind can be manipulated by the user via mana.
Mana Link (Lv.Max)- You can link your mana with those around you if they're in range of mana sense.
Max-Charge (Lv.Max)- Absorb Mana from the environment to refill your supply.
Berserker (Lv.Max)- Lose your sense of self to rage. Feel no pain, feel no fear.
Body Enhancement (Lv.8)-Enhance the abilities of the body via mana.
Fire Magic (Lv.Max)-Fire can be manipulated by the user via mana.
Spatial Magic (Lv.5)-Laws of reality can be manipulated by the user via mana.
Draconic Aura (Lv.Max)-The closer you are to fully awakening, the stronger Draconic Aura will make you. Unique State Skill.
ESP (Lv.Max)-??? Unique State Skill.
Flow State (Lv.Locked)- Enter a state of being where one's body can act independently of thought, unwavered by emotions.
Mana-Crystals: 0
"Incredible, all of your abilities have been greatly enhanced; enhanced to a level that would be impossible to achieve through standard training alone," Erythro stated in amazement.
No kidding, but I have some weird skills now. ESP like Vanessa, but I'm not an esper.
Draconic aura, it's a unique state skill, meaning I somehow have it.
Flow state sounds like an enhanced berserker mode, but why is it locked?
"ESP was probably unlocked as a result of evolving. It doesn't rely on mana, rather it relies on your spirit and intelligence. As far as flow state goes, I'm afraid there are unspecified conditions to unlocking that skill," Erythro explained.
"That all makes sense and all, but what about Draconic Aura? It's a unique state skill, did I gain that through evolving too?" I asked Erythro.
"Not quite. My theory is that you inherited the skill from the Welsh Dragon. It must've imbued it's blast with Draconic Aura, which you, in turn, absorbed. That coupled with the subsequent evolution is what probably gave rise to the newfound skill. You've broken the barrier of unique skills."
"EX Combat Mode Initiated. All stats multiplied by 6."
Our discussion was broken up by an ear-splitting roar. I looked up to see the Emperor Welsh Dragon once again. It was descending upon me at a... actually it appeared to be moving rather slow.
I took a few steps back and the dragon crashed into the ground, making the ground crack and kicking up dust and ash.
The dragon followed up with a fire ball, which I destroyed with a glare.
I assume it figured out that conventional means wouldn't work, so it charged at me. It was clad in that all too familiar aura.
I decided to use it too, and I instantly felt like I had become the embodiment of power. Crazy, I know.
The fiery, electrified aura surged from my body, like the radiance of the sun. Although the aura was powerful, I could easily control it.
I put my hand out and stopped the dragon in its tracks with one arm.
I then increased the gravitational constant by hundreds of times on the dragon, sinking it into the ground.
The dragon strained to remain standing, but it was obviously failing.
"T-this can't be happening!? You've gotten stronger! I've never seen an evolution happen to a human in my life, truly facsinating. I absolutely must have you, I insist," Lilith said.
"..." I didn't respond.
She tapped into this dimension via spatial magic. Telepathic communication doesn't work here, however she had to have established a long distance connection to manipulate this space.
I need to find her mana. I concentrated hard. Prettt soon it was like I had exited my body. This is-
"Astral Projection, an ability provided by ESP," Erythro finished.
I see, so I'm currently outside of my body, that means Erythro's still in it.
"I'll keep the dragon in place, you find her connection," Erythro stated.
I nodded. I could see a strange tether of mana extending from the dragon up into the sky.
I flew up higher and higher, following the trail until I finally found the source.
There was a strange vibrant eyeball in the sky. It had a violet iris with a black scelera. It saw me and it's pupil shrank in an instant.
"You! How are you doing that?! So you were an esper as well. So you've chosen to defy me. No matter, once your body dies, you will too! Ahahahah!" Lilith mocked.
I placed my hand in front of the eyeball and imagined destroying it.
"AUGH!!! Stop! It hurts! Damn you! AHHHHH!" Lilith's scream trailed off into nothingness.
The connection is broken now. I suddenly felt a strong pulling sensantion as I hurdled back down to my body, reentering it.
The dragon didn't turn into mist, rather it just vanished. Soon, the world around us vanished as well and I was back in Vanessa's living room.