"Alright, how about we head back to those ruins together in five days?" Carmen suggested, his smile wide and inviting. He could see the agreement in James's expression.
"Are you still thinking about that reward for the city defenders?" James shot back, grinning in return. "Sounds good to me! I'll follow your lead and we can explore together in five days."
The two exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, the kind that friends share after years of camaraderie. Yet, beneath their light-hearted banter, both were secretly plotting their own strategies, each wondering how to outmaneuver the other.
For James, those five days offered the perfect opportunity. He needed time to absorb all the blood crystals he had on hand and to refine his skills and techniques.
---
Time passed swiftly. During the day, James worked with the city defense army, taking advantage of the downtime provided by Carmen's hunts against alien creatures to practice his mental skills. At night, he stealthily slipped out of the passage to hone his abilities in Gale and Plunder.
After several days of intense training, James realized something remarkable: his aura was not just amplifying his magic, it was also enhancing the potency of his own skills. Thanks to this newfound understanding, his abilities like Fear, Straw Binding, and Life Harvest saw significant improvement. The most astonishing transformation was in his Life Harvest skill.
Previously, when he was only at level G, Life Harvest could only be activated on creatures that were seriously injured or on the brink of death. But after evolving from Scarecrow to Death Scarecrow; perhaps in sync with the passive abilities of his Death Scythe, he found that he could now use it on any creature with less than 20 vitality. Now, after his promotion to intermediate F-class, the skill description had changed yet again. It could now be employed on any seriously injured or dying creature with less than 50 vitality.
"What a game changer!" he thought, excitement surging through him. Lower-grade F creatures typically had vitality ranging from 20 to 50, which meant he could now use Life Harvest on almost any creature below that threshold.
Additionally, watching Carmen in battle revealed another layer of insight. Carmen used the immense energy within him to create a protective barrier that enhanced both his offense and defense. Every attack he made or received, was accompanied by devastating fire damage.
James attempted to envelop himself with his Aura as Carmen did, but quickly discovered that his limited Aura couldn't sustain a protective aura. It was a frustrating realization.
Despite the challenges, James's growth value surged to over 43,000 due to the gains from the passage and the blood crystals he had traded. However, this rapid growth came with its own burdens. The requirements for promotion to upper-grade F-class were daunting: 100,000 for the next level, then 1,000,000, and ultimately 10,000,000. The mere thought of it made his head spin.
---
On the evening of the fourth day, James ventured outside the passage for his usual magic practice. As he passed the sentry post, he noticed something unusual: the Mercenary Association staff members, who typically guarded the passage, were slumped unconscious at their posts.
Frowning, he approached one of them and checked for a pulse. The staff member was alive, but clearly incapacitated. It was evident that whoever had knocked him out wanted to avoid direct confrontation with the Mercenary Association.
"Interesting..." James mused, peering deeper into the passage and noticing the absence of the city defenders. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Looks like the team that threatened both me and Carmen is supposed to be on duty right now, but they're nowhere to be found. Seems like something went sideways." The realization sent a thrill through him. Whatever had happened could change everything.
James shook his head, dismissing the chaotic scene behind him as he made his way toward the deserted side road he had discovered earlier. This was his sanctuary, a place to practice Gale and Plunder. What had happened to that group of people? It was none of his concern.
As he ventured deeper into the fork in the road, a familiar figure came into view, and James's lips twitched involuntarily.
Some things are unavoidable, even when you want to keep your distance.
At the end of the path stood Carmen, clad in an orange combat suit that flickered with dancing flames. He looked both formidable and terrifying, surrounded by several mangled corpses at his feet. The large man from before dangled helplessly from his grip, lifted high in the air as if he were a mere trophy.
Carmen sensed someone approaching and turned, his expression shifting from one of focus to casual amusement upon seeing James.
"Well, if it isn't Brother 3206," he said, a grin spreading across his face. With a nonchalant gesture, he tossed the big man to the ground like a discarded toy.
James raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't 'Brother 3206' sound a bit odd?" His voice was steady, but he was keenly aware of the storage bags and number tags Carmen had been collecting from the fallen.
"What should I call you then?" Carmen asked, busying himself with the spoils of the recent skirmish as he stood up.
"Just James," came the reply, James's gaze scanning Carmen's nimble movements. It was clear this wasn't his first time doing something like this.
"Alright, I won't keep Brother James any longer," Carmen said with a yawn, casually brushing past him. "It's getting late, and I'm off to get some rest."
"No need for farewells," James replied coolly, watching as Carmen waved and walked away.
As Carmen's figure receded into the shadows, James felt a surge of restlessness bubbling within him. Witnessing Carmen's display of power ignited a fierce desire to confront him, to challenge him.
"Not yet, not yet…" he muttered under his breath, his eyes flashing a warning shade of red. He pressed his left hand against his restless right, struggling to contain the overwhelming urge to unleash his fury.
Just then, a sudden shift in the air caught his attention. Unbeknownst to him, the faint aura surrounding him began to intensify, shifting from a milky white to a deep, blood-red hue, imbued with newfound energy.
Roar!
A monstrous roar echoed from outside the fork in the road, the sound reverberating through the air. An upper-grade F-class alien creature, resembling a massive turtle, cautiously poked its head around the corner. It was drawn in by the scent of blood lingering from the fallen.
James raised his gaze, locking eyes with the enormous turtle head. A cold, sinister smile crept onto his face, and the crimson light in his eyes flared up, piercing through even the mask he wore.
"You arrived just in time," he murmured, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Hehehe..."