The word "No Mercy" struck Kaires with a wave of shock.
Josier and Elaine exchanged a glance before nodding slowly. "It's true," Josier said gravely, "we've witnessed several 'Seers' attempt to leave the Sanctuary, only to be 'removed'…"
Kaires asked cautiously, "Removed? Does that mean your Sanctuary harbors powerful 'Seers'?"
Elaine sighed softly, "I'm not sure how familiar you are with the term 'Seer,' but within our Sanctuary, there are two A-ranked 'Seers'."
Josier glanced around the area before speaking in a low voice, "I've observed this Sanctuary closely. Aside from Shakiri and Hades, the highest-ranked individual is Achilles, but even he is just B+ rank."
Kaires asked in astonishment, "You can discern ranks? Are you a 'Seer' too?"
Josier nodded with a hint of resignation in her tone, "Yes, I am a 'Seer,' but my abilities are rather modest. I can sense the ranks of other 'Seers' and conceal my own presence, which is why Shakiri and Hades haven't noticed me."
Elaine couldn't suppress her laughter, "But there are devices nowadays that can measure a 'Seer's' power level! Your ability is practically useless! Hahaha…"
Josier's face flushed instantly, and she shot Elaine a sharp look before sighing helplessly, "Alright, alright, stop laughing at me!"
Elaine stifled her laughter and gazed at Josier with concern in her eyes, "In truth, your ability is quite important in its own way. The power to hide oneself is crucial for survival in this world."
Josier offered a faint smile, though doubt lingered in her expression. "Yet, even with this ability, I still have no way of finding a path back to my original world."
Kaires listened quietly, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever considered seeking help from those two A-ranked 'Seers'? They might possess more knowledge."
Elaine scoffed, "But they're not exactly easy to reach. Getting their help won't be a simple task. The hierarchy in this Sanctuary is rigid and unyielding."
Kaires pondered for a moment, sensing there was little more to learn for now, and finally said, "Alright, tomorrow at dawn, we'll set out early. Let's try to avoid any unnecessary conflicts."
Josier nodded in agreement. "Yes, we'll meet before daybreak and quickly return to our Sanctuary."
The night grew deep, and an eerie stillness enveloped the surroundings.
Suddenly, Achilles' voice pierced the silence. "Kaires, come with me," he said, gently shaking Kaires awake and gesturing for him to follow.
Still groggy and half-asleep, Kaires trailed behind Achilles to the outer edges of the Sanctuary. Confusion swirled in his mind—why call me out so late? Unable to suppress his curiosity, he finally asked.
At that moment, Narcissus appeared behind Kaires, his voice breaking the silence. "Have you made up your mind about leaving with Josier and the others tomorrow?"
Kaires nodded resolutely. "Yes, I want to find a way out of this place... Don't you want the same?"
Achilles walked slowly ahead, his voice carrying an air of indifference. "We've tried before. Shakiri and all of us have searched endlessly, but the exit remains elusive. It's a futile effort. All we can do now is protect ourselves."
Narcissus picked up the conversation, a faint glimmer of hope in his tone. "If you stay, having another companion wouldn't be a bad thing."
Kaires shook his head, his voice firm. "No... My fate is in my own hands. I believe if I managed to come here, I can surely find a way to leave."
Hearing this, Achilles' steps faltered slightly. He turned sharply, his voice suddenly cold and unyielding. "In that case, we can't allow you to leave."
With those words, he unleashed an attack—countless grains of sand transformed into sharp needles, raining down upon Kaires like a deadly storm.
Panic gripped Kaires as his thoughts raced. "This is it...!" His eyes widened in terror as the sand needles hurtled towards him.
Just then, a thick iron wall materialized before him, shielding him from the deadly assault. Kaires' face was a mix of astonishment and cold sweat.
He thought to himself, Had that attack struck me, I would've been gravely wounded—perhaps even killed.
Turning towards Narcissus, Kaires saw him standing there calmly. Narcissus spoke evenly, "You may go now."
Still utterly bewildered, Kaires asked, "What is this? Achilles? Narcissus? What are you talking about?"
Achilles spoke urgently, "Shakiri has already made up his mind to kill. You must leave at once!"
Narcissus followed, "Whenever a new 'Seer' appears and refuses to join, Shakiri ensures they are 'removed'..."
Kaires frowned and asked, "But if you let me go, won't Shakiri come after you two?"
Achilles shook his head, though his voice carried a trace of unease. "He might hold us accountable, but he still needs both me and Narcissus. He won't strike us down, though he might assign us more difficult tasks as punishment."
Kaires pondered for a moment, then inquired, "If I leave now, what will happen to Josier and Elaine?"
Narcissus reassured him, "Don't worry, we don't harm civilians. Even if they're considered enemies, Shakiri still follows a certain moral code—he abides by the rules of this world and won't hurt the innocent. Josier and Elaine will be safe when they leave tomorrow."
Achilles pulled a "smartphone" from his pocket and handed it to Kaires. "This is a 'Seer Detector.' It can display a Seer's power levels and their officially ranked data."
Kaires asked in astonishment, "There are smartphones in this world?"
Narcissus nodded. "Everyone who arrives in the 'Abyss' comes from a different time or dimension. Some are familiar with smartphones, while others have never even seen a handgun. The people here vary greatly—you must be cautious of everyone you meet. Some may not be as simple as they seem."
Kaires took a deep breath and expressed his gratitude sincerely, "I understand. Thank you. If fate allows, let's share a drink together again."
With that, Kaires turned toward the forest, disappearing into the darkness.
As Kaires stepped into the woods, his thoughts were in disarray. Achilles and Narcissus' words echoed in his mind, and the perils and uncertainties of this world sent chills down his spine. Yet, amidst the fear, a fierce determination ignited within him: no matter what, he had to find a way back to his original world.
The night deepened, and the moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow on Kaires, bringing him a moment of calm. However, he knew the real challenges had only just begun. The surrounding darkness seemed to harbor countless dangers, and he remained on high alert, ready to face whatever sudden threats might emerge.
In a small clearing, Kaires found some dry wood and used his electric current to create sparks, igniting a fire. Sitting by the flames, he took out the phone Achilles had given him and began to browse through its contents. As he scrolled, he discovered:
Hmm... the database contained detailed information on many 'Seers.' He flipped through and was stunned—Achilles was ranked B+! No wonder that earlier attack of 'sand needles' had posed such a deadly threat. Kaires couldn't help but feel relieved, thankful he hadn't faced another blow.
Narcissus… ah, even Narcissus is rated B-... As Kaires continued scrolling through the phone, his interest deepened. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: I've only just arrived—could I already be registered in here?
Kaires conducted a search, and to his surprise—there it was! But wait... my rating is... E-??? Ability: Unknown... Who in the world registered me like this??? I'm sure I have the strength of at least a B!
Feeling somewhat bored, Kaires put the phone away and lay down beside the campfire, gazing at the myriad stars above. He muttered to himself, "What happened to me? How did I suddenly end up in this world?"
He strained to remember, and fragments of memory began to surface. "I recall that day… after work, my colleagues and I went to an izakaya... and then... nothing. I can't recall a single thing after that."
He remembered what Shakiri had said, that arriving in this world caused the loss of some memories, though over time, they would gradually return. Quietly reassuring himself, he thought, "Well, no need to rush, then..."
Closing his eyes, he began to ponder whether there might be greater potential within him beyond his ability to manipulate electricity.
Suddenly, a faint breeze swept past. Kaires opened his eyes to find a shadow approaching silently. He quickly sat up, his hands crackling with electric current, his gaze sharp and alert.
"Who's there?"
From the darkness came a soft chuckle, followed by a deep, cold voice. "Your senses are sharp. Are you in such a hurry to meet your end?" As the voice spoke, a tall figure emerged from the shadows, its face obscured, save for a pair of eyes glinting with a cruel light.
"Who are you?" Kaires asked tensely, his hands ready to discharge lightning at any moment.
The figure merely snickered... a long, mocking laugh echoed.
Kaires frowned, instantly realizing this visitor had no peaceful intentions. He focused the electricity into his palms and replied icily, "If you've come to test me, don't expect me to hold back."
Nightcrawler laughed derisively, his arms moving like the wings of a raven as a thick, dark mist began to swirl around him. In a low voice, he said, "Let's see if you're truly worthy of surviving in this world."
Before the sentence had even finished, Nightcrawler lunged at Kaires, closing the distance between them in an instant. Kaires unleashed a burst of electricity to repel him, only to find, to his shock, that Nightcrawler passed through the electric barrier, like a shadow slipping through the light.
Startled, Kaires retreated, thinking quickly, "His ability... my attacks have no effect?"
Nightcrawler let out another eerie laugh, prompting Kaires to scowl and retort, "Has anyone ever told you? Your laugh is seriously grating!" With that, Kaires mimicked "Enel's" stance, coldly shouting, "100 million volts!"
Instantly, bolts of lightning erupted in the air, flashing like swords, lighting up the surrounding darkness.
Nightcrawler was taken aback by the sudden strike, hastily diving into the ground—no, vanishing into his own shadow. Kaires' heart tightened with shock. "This... isn't this Cleio's ability?"
Nightcrawler's laugh echoed once more. "Hehehe, that weak Seer doesn't have half my skill, hehehe~~"
Kaires coldly questioned, "Did Shakiri send you? Are you the fifteenth 'Seer' of the sanctuary?"
Nightcrawler cackled. "Hahaha, you're quite sharp! Achilles and Narcissus—those two useless fools needed me to clean up their mess…"
Kaires' mind raced. "Damn! If this guy's power is on par with Narcissus and Achilles, I'm in serious trouble!" Just as the thought crossed his mind, Nightcrawler suddenly vanished again!
Kaires quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for any sign of his adversary. Without warning, the shadow beneath him came to life, transforming into sharp spears, thrusting toward his legs.
In a split second, Kaires reacted, using electricity to enhance his body and dodge to the side. The shadow spears grazed past him by mere inches.
Yet, the dodge wasn't entirely successful—a spear left a deep gash on Kaires' thigh. Though the wound wasn't severe, it was enough to hinder his movement.
Nightcrawler's eerie voice chimed again, "Not bad… adapting your power in such a short time, and even applying it to your body directly. Shakiri was right—you must be dealt with before you become even more of a threat."
Kaires glanced at his wounded leg, panic rising. "This wound might not be deep, but it's already affecting my mobility... I need to think of a way to counter him, fast!"
Taking a deep breath, Kaires forced himself to stay calm. He knew brute force alone wouldn't work against Nightcrawler. This enemy's ability to manipulate shadows as weapons made his fighting style unpredictable and dangerous.
"Shadows that can take physical form…" Kaires thought quickly, and an idea flashed through his mind. "He must need light to cast shadows!" He quickly scanned the area and noticed how sparse the light sources were, giving Nightcrawler full control over the shadows.
"Light… I need more light!" Kaires narrowed his eyes, his mind racing, contemplating how to use his lightning to create more illumination, weakening Nightcrawler's shadow-based attacks. But Nightcrawler seemed to sense Kaires' plan and disappeared into the darkness once more, a sinister grin spreading across his face.