"Alice?! Quit fooling around!" Desmond's voice reverberated through the street, drawing strange glances from passersby.
As seconds turned into minutes, Desmond grew increasingly agitated, his eyes darting anxiously in search of Alice. He hurriedly checked the toy shop, only to find it devoid of its owner.
[System detected a surge of similar energy in this vicinity, emanating from a caster.]
"Tch," he scoffed, assessing the situation within the shop. But his attention was suddenly captured by a sound—soft moans drifting from behind a nearby door. Without a second thought, Desmond made his way towards the source, his fist rapping sharply against the wooden barrier.
[The caster is in close proximity.]
The door refused to yield, yet the moans grew louder. Frustrated, Desmond attempted to kick it down, but his efforts proved futile. Undeterred, he relentlessly assaulted the door, each powerful strike amplifying the resonant moans.
"Damn this door!" His irritation mounted, and he tapped into his [Swordsman Skill: Body Enhancement], gradually hardening the skin on his legs. With renewed determination, he launched another forceful kick, and this time, the door toppled forward.
"Where the hell is my sister?" Desmond's voice seethed with anger as he surveyed the scene before him.
The room appeared dilapidated, its atmosphere heavy with a pungent odor that assaulted his nostrils. Dim lighting cast a gloomy haze, but two candles affixed to the wall provided a flickering illumination. In the center stood a solitary, oversized bed.
Resting atop the mattress was a middle-aged man, his hefty frame drenched in perspiration. Completely exposed, every inch of his bare form was on display.
Contrasting sharply, Desmond's gaze settled upon a woman of undeniable beauty. Layers of makeup adorned her face, and her flowing locks cascaded over the bed, nearly enveloping its surface. Her voluptuous curves, accentuated by the beads of sweat glistening on her skin, left little to the imagination.
[Scanning the target...]
[Scan Complete!]
[Name: ??
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Race: Human
Class: -
Occupation: Shop Owner (Disguise) (Caster)
Unique Energy: 11.00
Strength: 7.00
Agility: 3.00
Stamina: 2.00
Trait Effect: -]
[System Suggestion: Eliminate the caster to regain clarity of mind.]
As Desmond's eyes absorbed the information, a chilling coldness crept into his gaze, his instinctual aura of menace seeping out. Swiftly, he closed the distance, wrapping his fingers tightly around the fat man's throat. Observing this, the woman on the bed hastily covered herself with a thick blanket before fleeing the shop.
"My sister came in here and bought some toys. But when I turned away for a moment, she vanished."
"Tell me what you've done to her, or I'll snap one of your fingers," Desmond growled, his grip relenting slightly.
Gasping for air, the fat man collapsed onto the bed, coughing uncontrollably.
"Screw you! Why the fuck should I..." Before the man could finish his sentence, Desmond ruthlessly stomped down on one of his fingers, snapping it without remorse.
The fat man's scream pierced the air, but Desmond's grip tightened, squeezing the life out of him as another finger snapped beneath the relentless force.
"Stay silent, just tell me where my sister is." Desmond released his hold, granting the fat man a brief respite.
Clutching his injured neck and gasping for breath, the fat man coughed several times before speaking through strained breaths. "P-please... don't hurt me... please. I... I only... I told her... about a way to get a free toy."
"That ra-" *scream* The fat man's words were abruptly cut off as another one of his fingers bore the weight of Desmond's foot, the pain reverberating through his body.
"Don't you dare utter that name in reference to my sister... continue," Desmond growled, his patience wearing thin.
"Y-yes... after that, I guided her to a narrow alley and told her that she could find a free toy in the corner of the alley."
"I see."
"Please... release..." Before the fat man could continue, his head suddenly jerked to the side, his gaze meeting his own headless body.
Desmond wiped his blade clean with a handkerchief, observing the shock etched across the fat man's face.
"Too noisy."
Preparing to leave, Desmond was abruptly interrupted by the system interface.
[The Mind spell on the host has been canceled.]
A surge of clarity flooded Desmond's mind, dispelling the fog that had clouded his thoughts. Reflecting on his earlier erratic behavior, he calmed himself, refocusing on the task at hand. "Stay calm, stay focused, find Alice, and bring her back."
[Mass of Unique Energy Detected!]
[Would the Host like to absorb it? Y/N]
Desmond hesitated for a moment. Could he gain energy by taking lives?
Without hesitation, he replied with a resolute "yes," and the system interface materialized once more.
[Please touch the source. The absorption time will depend on the energy contained within.]
Touch the source? His gaze fell upon the lifeless corpse of the fat man, and he reached out to make contact.
[Commencing Absorption... | Time remaining: 55 seconds]
Gradually, he felt the unique energy seep into his being, growing stronger with each passing moment. An invisible thread seemed to connect his body to the lifeless vessel before him.
[Absorption Complete]
[Status Updated!]
[-Status-
Name: Desmond
Gender: Male
Age: 3 years
Race: Human
Class: Swordsman
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 5.05 -> 5.6
Strength: 7.04
Agility: 0.44
Stamina: 1.63]
A mere 5% increase in the target's energy, not bad at all. Finally, he had discovered a swift method to enhance his power.
Desmond's elation was palpable. For three long years, he had relentlessly sought a means to grow stronger. "But now is not the time for celebration."
His expression grew serious, his aura of menace intensifying, fueled further by the absorbed energy.
"System, scan the entire area and use my energy to locate Alice's energy."
[Creating Task...
Using 1 Slot
Status: In Progress 0%]
[Progress: 50%...]
[Status: Completed]
[Saving to Database...]
[Data Saved!]
[Target Found!]
Exiting the shop, Desmond caught sight of his bodyguards making their way toward him.
"We're relieved to see you unharmed, young master. Please refrain from causing us such worry again," the captain of the bodyguards said, glancing behind Desmond. "Where is the young miss?"
Without meeting the captain's gaze, Desmond continued walking, his voice resolute. "Alice is missing. Split the team in two—follow me, and the rest secure this shop."
The captain's shock and confusion mingled as he struggled to comprehend both Alice's disappearance and the unexpected order to clean up the shop.
As he began to inquire for further details, one of the guards inspecting the shop called out, "Captain, we've found a body."
In an instant, realization dawned upon the captain. Initially skeptical that a child could be responsible for a man's demise, he now witnessed his master's calm demeanor devoid of panic or fear. It became clear to him that his young master was anything but ordinary.
"Hush, clean the area, and provide false reports to the patrol guards." The captain spoke while placing a hand over the guard's mouth, slipping a bag of coins into his hand.
Desmond stood in silence, patiently awaiting the resolution of the situation. Once the arrangements were made, he simply stated, "Follow me."
With urgency in his steps, Desmond hastened toward the location indicated by the system, the place where Alice was last seen.