Mark smirked at the sight of the three students, but his smirk died down quickly.
Their stats had changed.
When he ran away from the school right after he appeared, he was still slightly stronger than they individually were. Sure, if they ganged up, he would be in trouble, but if not, it was a fight he could win.
He had run away mostly due to that. If they ganged up, he would have a hard time surviving. But their bodies or minds weren't individually strong at that point.
But now, all three of them had each reached Tier 0 (High) in their Physique and Mind.
They had done nothing—no eating souls, no hunting, no struggle—but they were naturally growing stronger and stronger.
Their abilities were being Awakened.
They were becoming… Hunters.
Mark could bet that if they tried now, they could already use their abilities.
It was just that the people of this world considered the first accidental use of powers as the moment of Awakening. This trio was already more powerful than normal humans.
They had awakened, and their body and mind were growing stronger and stronger by the moment. Soon enough, they would surpass the current him.
Awakening as a Hunter was so much more convenient than a demon's life.
Mark felt as if he would have preferred that. But thinking of it, the potential of a Hunter was limited to what Rank they initially Awakened in.
If they were a C-rank Hunter, they would remain so forever, and even if he awakened as an A-Rank, that was barely equal to Tier 2.
Tier 2 was nothing in the demon world. Mark's ambition was in Tier 10.
Maybe even beyond that.
Hiding himself behind the turn of the corridor, Mark thought with a frown.
This was trouble. He had wanted to quickly kill Shiden, use the Seal of Destiny to take over Shiden's ability, and use the ability to change his own and Dona's appearance before melding into the media masses outside and then slowly into human society.
That would have helped them hide in plain sight of the humans. He could slowly plant Dungeon Heart Seed on everyone and that would make him grow his dungeon bigger and bigger.
How troublesome. Now, Shiden and the trio were not easy targets.
With his Physical Resistance being at the Pinnacle level, their High Physical Stat meant nothing to Mark. It wouldn't be able to touch him. But that didn't mean shit if they began using their ability.
Shiden's ability, Alchemy Shapeshifting, itself would be an incredible threat—
One touch of it and Mark's shape might change into something hideous and weak.
Just thinking of it made Mark's hair rise. Just one touch and the abilities activation. That was all the enemy required—of course, Shiden himself must be unaware of that fact now. He shouldn't yet be aware of his own powers.
—Shiden's ability was not the only threat.
The incredible healing ability of the fat youth, Fulan, would completely replenish his team's stamina with a single heal. It would even heal any wounds Mark might inflict.
As of now, Shiden would be exhausted after one use of Alchemy Shapeshifting, but the fat youth Fulan's healing could heal Shiden, and that would allow Shiden to use the ability multiple times.
The chance of Mark dying was high in a battle if they fought as a team.
Above all that, Mark had to remain 5 meters within Dona. That was the most deadly aspect of it all—they just had to separate him from her, and he would die. She was his dungeon and he had to be beside her at all times.
Mark contemplated the risks.
Fulan was an incredible Healer if he used his ability, and Shiden was an incredible offense. They really might kill me if they worked together.
The only harmless one among the trio was the woman, Maki, who had the ability—'Shadow Dimension.'
Her shadow was a dimension of its own, and she could store anything inside it.
That was not a threat.
She was an incredible support but not a threat on her own, not when her body was weaker than Mark himself.
But the other two alone could end Mark's life.
'Should I risk it and go for a deadly battle?' Mark wondered hesitantly.
This could as well be him heading to his own death, blinded by greed. He had too many disadvantages. But if he could get that power, Mark knew he wouldn't have to fear humans anymore.
'There is only one way… I have to bait only Shiden to somewhere else. Split the forces and fight him when he is alone—assassinate him without giving him a chance to figure out his powers.'
'That's it. I'll tell him to go to the bathroom for some alone time using Heart Input. Nobody in his situation would be against that…'
Shiden had been bullying a youth called Seo Jin Hu for years, and that had apparently caused Seo Jin Hu to die. Suicide.
Surely, Shiden was an emotional wreck at the moment and needing a bit of toilet-alone-time wouldn't be against his nature.
That was surely a Heart Input that would work.
Mark knew that as long as he made the thought appear as if they themselves were the ones to think of it, the chance of the thought being rejected was low.
Assassinating the youth before he could figure out his own powers wouldn't be that hard after he was alone. He was, in the end, a simple student.
Readying himself for Shiden's chaotic and emotional mind, Mark looked at his opponent from the shadows. Entering his mind, he would whisper the needed thoughts and run to the bathroom himself to set up an ambush.
Confirming they were close enough, Mark activated Heart Input.
Suddenly, effortlessly, Mark entered Shiden's mind.
Unlike how he expected, though, there was no noise inside Shiden's mind. It was silent to the point there were no thoughts at all.
It was as if he had entered the mind of a corpse.
No sadness, no hatred, no remorse.
Just silence.
Feeling creeped out, Mark whispered, "You want some alone time in the toilet. Go out without anyone else."
Silently, Mark left the enemy's mind and returned to his own body. He looked at Shiden intently.
Without any change, Shiden was still huddled with his group of friends, and they were still sobbing. There was not even a change of expression in Shiden other than the sadness he was already displaying.
"…" Mark paused.
Even basal demons had thoughts and emotions, but this youth seemed to have nothing at all. Even the thought that echoed within his mind had no effect on Shiden whatsoever. Nothing. Nada.
He was completely non-responsive.
'What is going on?'
After about 5 minutes, Mark gritted his teeth as he looked at his own Mind Stat. It was nearing exhaustion.
[Mind: 1.8/10]
Shiden's own Mind had been completely exhausted, though. So, Shiden couldn't perform his abilities anymore. Shiden was now harmless.
So, the enemy's gun had already been removed. Now they had the bullet—the healer—and also the shadow dimension.
The enemy team now only had good support and a healer, not an offense. But if Fulan, the healer, activated his Healing powers, there would still be a danger due to Shiden regaining his exhausted mind stat.
'Should I go for it and first kill the healer before anything?'
Just as he was about to move, Mark froze.
From the girl, Sanae Maki's shadow, two eyes with white sclera and black pupils popped out and looked around. It looked towards him, too, but Mark had already hidden by that point.
His heart beat as heavily as drums, and he took deep breaths.
What was that?
Was something residing inside Maki's shadow?
'This is too mysterious…'
Clicking on the phone, Mark looked for the location of Country Q and seeing it was around 3 hours of distance, he gritted his teeth and left through the way he came. It was disappointing, but he decided to leave.
If he moved now, by the next three hours, he would be able to reach Country Q—the mega demon dungeon—and he would no longer have to worry about the A-Rank Hunter who was on his way to hunt him.
Mark could learn how to break through to the next Tier and continue on his natural progression. This was just one lost ability—and maybe he would come back for it later.
He had the advantage of the system and more, he didn't have to risk it all for nothing. He just had to move in a slow and steady manner. Even if he didn't rush, he would become a higher rank one day or the other.
Rushing would only lead to his demise due to greed.
Mark couldn't risk what could be inside the shadow, and now that the creature inside was already wary, the best choice would be to leave and only take part in rational risks worth taking. He didn't have to dive into the unknowns.
"I really wanted that ability, though…" He looked back reluctantly as he climbed down the backyard of the school.
He didn't know what kind of Demons waited in the demon-dominated country, nor did he know how to break through to the next Tier of demonhood, but for now, he was more optimistic about playing with dumb demons than these cunning humans.
They were too well prepared. Too united. Too troublesome.
Demons were simple, dumb, and easy to deal with.
As long as he could fist them to death, nobody would care they died.
Hiding his features with a cloak, whirring on the truck, Mark left towards Country Q—wondering if he had done a mistake or not.