Chapter 37: First murder.
This time, for real, he had a look that was even colder than the ice around him.
It was not a feigned expression or look like all the others, it was a real look that could freeze any living being, a look that even Lars, who was looking directly at him, felt that Nova was looking beyond his mask and even beyond his soul.
'I will become stronger, even if the world is against me,' Nova thought with his gaze still on Lars.
Lars, a little startled and frightened by his gaze, stepped back and looked away from Nova, to the surprise, and amazement of all present.
"Leiden, your request has been granted," Lars stated, his tone a bit irritated, but he wasn't done yet.
"Tsk," I clicked my tongue in frustration.
"You lived this time only because of the help of... that person, but next time, I won't hesitate to become an ice statue, even if I'm turned into ashes the next second," Lars stated looking at Nova again, then turning around returning to Sarl's side.
Sarl only nodded empathetically and reluctantly, conveying in his look also the intention to support Lars.
He didn't show it by his indifferent attitude, but he also wanted to kill Nova right now, but by a certain "authority", they couldn't do anything.
The onlookers were also astonished by the turn of events, especially the higher-ups, who firmly believed that today would be the end of Nova's life.
But under their watchful eye, Lars backed down and also granted his last request, everyone found this ridiculous.
After hearing Lars' words, everyone understood at least something, finding some calm and reassurance that Lars would not let himself be intimidated by a man who didn't even look older than 20.
But still, everyone was interested in the words of "that person". Everyone wanted to know who he was, several already had theories, but nothing concretely confirmed, leaving them with doubt and curiosity growing more and more.
On the other hand, the recruits were... some good, some terrible.
Alex and the tall man were still the same, though surprised as well by the turn of events, they didn't seem alarmed, still naturally afraid of Nova because of who he was going to choose to eliminate.
The other two missing subjects, the recruits were scared shitless knowing the confirmation of Nova's request, looking at him in fear and begging through their eyes for mercy.
And Nova? This one himself was moving again after almost his entire body froze.
'Interesting turn of events,' Nova thought, also remembering Lars' words like the others.
Especially, 'that' person he named seemed to be interested in him.
The idea that someone has been watching him and is very curious about him made Nova feel a little frustrated, but he soon calmed down. After all, that person had made Nova alive today.
If it was just keeping him alive, Lars did that, but besides that, he granted Nova's request, accepting it fully and this was not something that person had communicated to him, at least not in Nova's logic.
The eyes, lifeless and emotionless, did not stop Lars from trying to kill him, but apparently, they exerted so much pressure that they made Lars agree to his request.
The thought brought a smile to Nova's face, who was now looking down on the two recruits from above.
All his trace of indifference was gone as a solemn expression seemed on his face, which stared mostly at the fat man and the only woman in the group.
'It's fortunate and at the same time unfortunate that someone from earlier took such an interest in me, but it's natural, I haven't tried to hide either,' Nova thought with a faint smile the next moment.
'I had a thousand plans to avoid death, but thanks to that person, now everything will be easier. 'Drawing attention is not bad after all,' concluded Nova mentally with a smile, which for the fatty and the woman, was like the smile of a demon.
Nova didn't try to hide, only what he needed to hide like the system or his unique ability, but other than that, he would do whatever he wanted and whatever was convenient for him, he didn't care if it meant attracting unwanted attention.
Thinking of this, he extended a hand that pointed towards the two subjects who looked at him with fear in their eyes.
Suddenly, from his hand floated a fist-sized ball of fire, which Nova single-mindedly created.
Staring at the two figures he was aiming at, a feeling of guilt and disgust surged through his body, but his guilt and disgust were not directed at another person.
No, all those negative feelings were directed at himself, who could only meet them with annoyance.
The reason for the guilt? the disgust? the other negative feelings?
The reason was that Nova had never killed a human being before. When he killed a Bull, he felt a sense of disgust and extreme discomfort. Now how would he feel about killing a person of his species?
Nova unconsciously felt discomfort as he guessed whatever his state would be at that moment, being multiple times worse than when he killed the Flaming Bull.
But suddenly, an idea popped into his mind... His ability, Calm!
The Calm Skill is capable of setting anyone's thoughts.
This was why he bought the Calm Skill because he was going to kill a large number of enemies in the future.
But he had not foreseen needing it as soon as now.
And the worst thing was in the way he currently needed it, he wasn't going to kill someone who was at least trying to kill him, he was going to kill a person who hadn't even done anything to him.
This feeling of guilt slowly gnawed at him, until he began to gather Mana, having a thought of calm and serenity.
Accustomed to this calmness and serenity that he had already faked, it was easy to have the feeling of calm.
'Calm!", recited Nova mentally, when suddenly in his mind, unnecessary thoughts disappeared almost completely.
At the same time, everyone present could once again see Nova's ice-cold gaze fixed on the other two recruits.
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