After absorbing the Devil Jack Rabbit, I felt stronger. My level increased, I can tell, but I don't even feel like checking it.
The distortion's gone, so I could use magic again. I focused my mana and aimed for Dsor's capital where Victoria and Fayen were. I activated my spatial magic and teleported there.
Luckily I managed to transport myself into the meeting room. Victoria was sitting at a desk and seemed to be working extremely hard on some paper-work.
It also seemed like she was talking to some one. There was a glowing crystal ball on her desk that was somehow outputing sound and imagery.
Over at a sofa on the far left side of the room, Faylen was laying down with her kids fast asleep on top of her. No one in the room seemed to acknowledge my presence.
To be honest, seeing that kind of tugged at my heart strings. It reminded me of when my family and I would fall asleep in my brother's hospital room from time to time.
Sentimental thoughts aside, I solved the situation in the Elven Forest and need to let Victoria and Faylen know.
I took a seat at a table and waited for Victoria to finish her business call.
To my surprise, there was now a completely full plate of food on the table. I'm not sure what exactly it was, it looked like something you would find at a high-end resturant though.
Let me tell, the tempatation to devour it was there, but I restrained myself from doing so. The food was probably for some else anyway.
With nothing to do, I just decided to put my head down to rest.
It's been a while since I allowed myself to just rest. A lot happened in such a short amount of time.
I've got an insane psychic esper stalking me, I still need to take the advancement test at the adventurer's guild, there's a crime syndicate in the slums threatening the well being of innocent people, and I've been near death way too many times among other things.
Even so, I still feel fine, but that's what worries me. I should feel stressed, I should feel worried, yet I'm not.
Alone with my thoughts, I suddenly felt a gentle nudge on my right shoulder.
"Milo, are you awake?" Victoria's voice pulled me back to awareness.
"Yeah," I said as I lifted my head up.
"Based off your current state, I'm guessing it wasn't successful."
"No, I found the root of the issue and dealt with it. I'm just tired is all."
"Well that's good, I'm sorry to hear that you're exhausted. If it's not too much to ask, could you tell me about what happened?"
(About 10 Minutes Later)
I explained practically everything to Victoria, leaving out the details about the mental attack the monster had used on me.
"Even with your mana sealed, you were still able to defeat an A-rank monster?"
I simply shrugged my shoulders. "I suppose so, it wasn't exactly easy though."
"I could imagine so, but to think that you could be so capable. I was going to enlist the help of one of my A-rank adventurers to deal with the issue just in case," Victoria explained.
I smiled at her. "You're too kind Victoria."
"Not at all, I'm simply telling the truth. Back on topic, I'll send scouts to confirm the situation. From there, we'll establish peaceful relations with the Elven Forest. By the way, the food's for you," Victoria said as she walked back to her desk.
I looked over at her. "I wasn't sure at first so I left it alone. Thanks for the food."
Victoria shot a sly smile at me before sitting down. "No, thank you."
Victoria got back to work and turned my attention to the food.
Needless to say, I devoured it. It was probably one of the best tasting things I have ever had to honest. Definitely in my top ten.
I'm not sure what to do with this empty plate though. I'm sure it'll be fine if I leave it here.
I stood up from the table and stretched. Alright, guess I should get going. I still need more info on Roland and his crime syndicate.
I can still kind of feel his aura lingering around me, like a sort of rancid stench.
I teleported out front of Victoria's manner. The moment I appeared on the pavement, I saw that all hell had broken loose. Numerous corpses decorated the streets.
The inhabitants of the capital were running in the opposite direction of the way I was facing; all of them we're visibly fearing for their lives.
What the hell? That's when I noticed it, not everyone was running for their lives; some were running to claim the lives of others.
Many of the slaves who were once chained were now free. A great majority of them were brandishing weapons, setting fires, running away, or executing the nobles who weren't fast enough. Some nobles were even fighting back.
It's like a war broke out while I was gone.
Some of the nobles were even being pushed down by their significant others to selfishly ensure their own chances of survival.
I saved everyone I could, teleporting them to nearby rooftops.
I ran through the streets, kicking up a strong wind storm via raw speed and wind-magic, suffocating all of the nearby fires as well.
As I went further into the capital, I spotted a crowd of ex-slaves rallying around a large platform. Getting closer, I spotted the silhouette of a person standing above them. No, it wasn't a silhouette. It had glowing white orbs where its eyes should have been.
It's like there's a person being covered in darkness envoked by magic. That mana...it feels like Merlow's.
"Aren't you tired of being oppressed, to have your lives stolen from you without ever even having the chance to live it?! Now is the time to take back what is yours! Now is the time to get your revenge!"
The crowd cheered in response. Damn, what am I even suppose to do? Yes, I want them to be free, but I never wanted anyone to die for it.
If I try to stop them, I'll only doom them to the same fate they were already forced to suffer.
Come on, think!
....
Alright, I have an idea, but there's no telling how it will affect the future from now on.
I aimed my hands at the crowd and focused on teleporting them into the capital.
Instantly, they were gone, but Merlow remained.
He slowly lowered his head to look down at me; those piercing white orbs staring daggers into my soul.
I couldn't tell at first if I had imagined it, but it seemed like the orbs narrowed as if to express anger.
Merlow vanished from the platform he was standing on, and was now standing behind me.
"Who do you think you are?" His voice echoed from behind.
I whipped around, but he was nowhere in sight. Strangely enough, I could feel his mana all around me.
"Did one day in bed with the nobles really blind you so much?"
"They get their chance at retribution, and you take it away from them?!"
His voice reprimanded me from all angles.
"I understand what you're saying, but people are going to get hurt like this!" I yelled.
Merlow appeared in front of me again and started speaking. "A small price to pay for justice."
I put my fooy down. "No, that's fundamentally wrong. Your sense of justice is flawed. Vengeance is what you hope to accomplish. If that's the case, then I'm afraid I'll have to stop you."
Merlow, just who are you? Your actions go far beyond your words. There's so much hatred in that vessel of darkness.
Merlow covered his face with his shadowy hands and sighned.
He removed his hands and revealed his face. "I never really expected you to understand."
His face then broke into a crooked smile.
The next thing I knew, jagged spikes made of darkness rose up from the ground, accelerating toward me at an unreal speed.
"EX Combat Mode Activate: All stats multiplied by 7."