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[Ruination System Activation: Fourth Mission]
Objective:
Steal one more face! You can't stick to one appearance forever.
Reward:
Completion of this task will grant you 100 Ruination Points (RN).
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'That means I have to take out another poor soul, huh?'
The town of Elmsworth was alive with the kind of energy that Serafine couldn't resist. Bustling market stalls lined the streets, their vendors shouting over each other to advertise fresh produce, glittering trinkets, and steaming meat pies.
Children darted between the adults, their laughter carrying over the hum of conversation.
The air was rich with the scent of roasted nuts and spices, and Serafine inhaled deeply, letting it fill her with a rare sense of delight.
"This place is perfect," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Perfect for what?" Calix asked warily, trailing behind her like a nervous puppy.
"For experimenting," Serafine replied, her grin wide enough to rival the crescent moon.
"Can't we just pass through like normal travelers for once? You know, without making a scene?"
"Where's the fun in that?" she shot back, already scanning the crowd for her next target.
Mariella, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. "Maybe we should focus on keeping a low profile. There are bounties on us, remember?"
"Yes, yes, we're wanted criminals," Serafine said, waving a dismissive hand. "But this is research. I have a shapeshifting skill, and I intend to use it."
Without waiting for further protests, she ducked into a quiet alley.
The pair of them continued their little adventure, strolling through the bustling streets, when they suddenly came across a rather unfortunate scene.
A man was getting pummeled by a group of burly, muscular thugs, each one holding a knife with a look in their eyes that said they were ready to make it a permanent affair. Just as Serafine was about to roll her eyes and keep walkin because who had time for that kind of drama?
Her feet seemed to have other plans. With a swift movement, they planted themselves right between the attackers and their victim.
Now, don't get it twisted. Serafine wasn't trying to be some knight in shining armor or anything. No, no. This was purely strategic. She could easily avoid any guilt for this if the troublemakers were, in fact, criminals. That was the loophole, wasn't it?
"Tsk! Woman! What do you think you're doing?!" one of the thugs snarled, his knife glinting menacingly.
Serafine raised an eyebrow. "What do you think I'm doing?" she shot back. "I'm just trying to enjoy my day, and you're making a scene. Some people have no decorum."
"Get out of the way," another thug growled, "We've got unfinished business with him."
Serafine smiled sweetly. "And what business would that be?"
"It's none of your business!" one of them snapped, and honestly, Serafine was getting a little bored with all the shouting.
Just then, a larger, bulkier man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles like he was about to write an opera of violence. He eyed Serafine up and down before licking his lips with a grin that made her stomach burn from revulsion. "You know what? Deal with her," he said, motioning to the others. "But don't kill her. Her body's gonna be a real service for the night."
Serafine made a face, her expression twisting in disgust. "Ugh, disgusting," she muttered under her breath.
Just when things were about to get unpleasant, Calix, who had been lurking around in the shadows like the little hero he thought he was, jumped in with all the grace of a flailing goose. "Quick! Blind them!" he shouted, all wide-eyed and full of determination.
"Mariella, close your eyes!" Serafine barked.
"Okay, okay! No peeking, I promise!"
"Alright, hold on tight," Serafine muttered, as if she were preparing to give a lecture, but she was already activating her Soul Sigil. The air around them shimmered, and before the thugs knew what hit them, a burst of burning, blinding light shot out from Serafine's hand.
The men screeched in pain as the searing light made their eyes feel like they were being scrubbed with sandpaper.
"Aaaagh!" one of them howled, stumbling back. "My eyes!"
"That's the idea," Serafine grinned, reveling in the chaos.
As the men scrambled, clutching their faces in agony, Calix darted forward. His little hands glowed with an eerie light as he quickly moved in on the thugs. "Hold still," he muttered to himself, and then, with a look of pure focus, he tapped one of the men on the shoulder.
The thug's face immediately drained of color, and he staggered, looking dazed.
It wasn't exactly the sort of thing that could kill.
Calix's reverse healing wasn't for that, but it was perfect for this situation. Rather, it was in certain cases where individuals were losing their life and one could willingly transfer their vitality like a blood donation.
By draining the men's vitality, he was able to sap their energy to the point of death, essentially making them feel like they had just run a marathon backwards.
The men began to slump, their eyes losing their fury as their bodies gave out from the energy drain. They collapsed, one by one, groaning in defeat, until they were all passed out in a pile of muscular limbs.
Serafine let out a long, dramatic sigh, brushing her hands together. "Well, that was certainly more exciting than I expected."
The man, still trembling from his recent ordeal, bowed deeply before the trio, his gratitude palpable. "Thank you for saving my life, lady savior!"
Serafine's eyebrow twitched as she looked at the man, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile that was as practiced as it was perfect. One she'd used countless times as a saintess. 'Well, I didn't exactly do that to save you...' she thought, but when she saw the adoration in Mariella's eyes, she sighed and played along.
"Of course," Serafine said sweetly, her tone smooth as silk. "If others are lost in the dark alleyways of life, they can't stay there forever, can they? Someone must show them the light and reveal what lies beyond. It's only right." She offered her hand, and the man gratefully took it, his eyes wide with reverence.
"Who are you, my lady savior?" he asked, still overwhelmed by the encounter.