Vincent got a brief breakdown about duty I had taken upon myself. I left out the amount of time it took me to get to this point and things that were none of his business.
Vincent was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his hands were covering his mouth.
A frown appeared on his brow.
“I see, so the multitudes of mysterious disappearances throughout the continent for at least the last century could be partly attributed to your target I assume. Do you reckon she is getting sloppy?”
I shook my head. “She always had a location as a hideout. I smoked her out and she is constantly on the run now. She was this messy when she started her killing spree. This is just a sign that she hasn’t settled down yet.”
The frown eased up a bit but didn’t disappear completely.
“I see. Well, the Verghis inhabitants are doing their best not to have it affect them but are worried. Fewer and fewer hunters have gone out due to this risk.”
Vincent pushed a tablet toward me which displayed a map of the area. It had several red crosses.
“This is where the hunters have disappeared.”
He tapped on the map and small skulls appeared on the map. “And this is where their corpses had been found. All towards the north.”
Would Cockroach be this stupid only to catch hunters from the same area? Wouldn't this point to her general location? Even if it was a diversion... why only north? Investigating the suspicious areas will still have clues, however.
“Thank you. Can you tell the hunters to travel in groups of 3 or 4 and have them move with their backs toward each other? It might be inconvenient but it will save their lives. My target employs some sort of perception filter. It’s impossible to lock on directly to it. Magic that gives them 360° vision might work but... have at least 2 use that and have them report to each other when they see something blurry and suspicious.”
Vincent pulled his tablet back and tapped on it.
“Perception filter eh? I’m sure some expert in the AA might be able to do something with this, thank you. We will pay you for this information and we will also compensate you when you succeed. Lease be careful”
“Oh, ehh thanks!”
Vincent got up and led me to a different room. I got paid out 50 silver and also got thanked again.
They were busy so they brought me back to the lobby.
Not sure what happened but I got paid handsomely for basic information.
I bought mountains of cake in an AA shop, left and went home while making up a plan. She doesn’t know that none of her curses will work on me now. Baiting them out would be in my best interest. I also have to land the killing blow with the frost marbles.
What else?
I bumped into a tree and crashed into my roof. “Oof! I suppose this is why they always taught us to pay attention while flying.”
My [Azure Aura] had prevented any injury but didn’t protect against ripped clothing.
I got lost in thought again while taking a bath.
I spent the next day throwing frost marbles, one by one, at my water and fire clones to find out how much damage they did.
The damage was moderate but some exploded and did a substantial amount of damage.
The explosions were random as far as I could tell.
“Ugh, I know he’s a trickster but did he have to add random elements to these?”
It became clear why he gave me so many. It allowed me to test enough to get a decent sample size and derive the chances they would explode. 9%... he surely loves the number 9.
The explosion damage was similar to an [Azure Spear] which required me to damage Cockroach enough that an [Azure Spear] could finish her off. Not an easy task
[Meteor Slap], [Dimensional Sword], [Azure Mist], and [Mistflower Field] would be off-limits. Cockroach is strong but not strong enough to survive those unless I start with them.
That might be my plan, see how close she is to death after those and take it from there.
Realisation set in that my offensive kit was relatively mediocre besides those heavy hitters.
“Oh! I have a wonderful idea!”
----------------------------------------
The day came; the day that the Cockroach would get squashed for good.
I had studied and practiced [Hattrick]. I had brewed primitive mana and healing potions. Some that could briefly obstruct the use of mana when thrown and simple explosive potions. I also had 5 different catalysts on me. I don’t need them like most Misha do but the staves can be used as transport to fly on and the wands can be thrown while being charged with [Explosion].
Fighting as a real Misha had been impossible for years as I had no lab, no supplies and no setup. The only aspect that was missing in my arsenal was curses but that was outside my area of expertise.
“It’s time to die bitch! I hope you’re ready!”
I walked out of the door and used [Hattrick]. My hairpin copied itself and I had one return to its hat shape. The other hairpin turned into my fan which floated up after I hopped on to it.
[Search: Imposter] revealed that she was north indeed. Her BS clones were relatively close packed but one had a dark reddish trail. Not the bright red that indicates that her reincarnation is complete.
The intervals she needs to reincarnate becomes shorter, which is not concerning at all as she will meet her maker today.
I flew over Verghis and over several watchtowers belonging to the village. The trail got stronger and stronger when I spotted an elaborate treehouse. Strange smoke was coming out of it’s chimney reminiscent of the chimneys in Witchaven.
It indicated that a Misha was brewing potions. It would be a shame if somebody carpet bombed her hideout while she was brewing potions.
Water clones dropped down to control the carnage I would unleash.
A mana wave went out as my hair turned into water. It was immediately followed by dropping [Triple Flares] on the treehouse.
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A mana wave burst out of the burning treehouse and a poor imitation of me with sandy hair emerged from it.
“You again! But you don’t seem to have any mythical beasts helping you this time! Your skills will be mine!”
“Dream on Cockroach! You will die today so I can live in peace!”
I pulled the fan from below me and waved it at her sending icy winds and icicles at her. A [Dirt Wall] blocked it as multicolored crystals flew at me.
Their name was unknown to me but it’s magic circle suggested that each colored crystal had some random effect.
Gravity helped me escape as I stopped floating and the fan returned to its hairpin form which I threw like a dagger.
“Hah! Fool! I didn’t forget! Your fan is your hat now!”
Her eyes then rested on my hat. “Huh?”
The hairpin dropped next to her and she stared at it confused. “a bluff? Haha!”
Her gaze went back to me which was when i used [Hattrick’s] teleport function.
My hat continued floating at my previous location but I appeared next to my hairpin which turned into my folded fan.
“Enjoy this [Meteor Slap]!”
Fire burst from my fan as i gave Cockroach a satisfying slap.
A horrifying scream was mixed with the sound of the explosion.
A mana signature got launched the moment my skill hit, suggesting that she survived that, truly a Cockroach but that worked for me.
My hat floated toward her charred body and shot [Azure Spears] at her.
“What is this?! How do you know that skill? I’ve been hunting for it for years?!”
“Oh [Hattrick]? I know the creator, he considers me to be his mentor, even though all he did was read my research. He gave it to me for free.”
Black goop erupted from Cockroach and she started deforming and becoming large. This doesn’t heal her right? As I felt like that [Meteor Slap] put her one foot in the grave.
My floating hat continued flinging [Azure Spears] at the Cockroach while I flung some frost marbles and potions blocking mana.
“Aargh! How obnoxious!”
Cockroach’s voice had dropped several pitches making her sound demonic.
“How about you eat some wonderful curses?!”
I hopped on my fan and flew off. It’s difficult to evade curses as it’s still unclear how they apply exactly.
[Acedia] returned and I got some newcomers in [Ira] and [Gula].
A smile crept up my face as I started to dispel the curses as I had learned from Agnis’ research paper.
My floating hat used [Meteor] to distract her as I needed to buy time.
“Are you insane? [Meteor] in a forest?!”
Cockroach’s attention went toward preventing the [Meteor] from hitting the ground. She did send BS clones at me but none could catch me.
[Acedia] got lifted, and next up was [Gula]. [Ira] was feeding my anger towards her so it could stay a bit longer and get dispelled last.
My hat spread [Azure Petals] which swarmed at her hideous blobby form and continuously cut into her.
[Hattrick] is so versatile! It’s like a clone but better!
I was slowly getting boxed in so I sat on my staff catalyst, used [Levitate] on it, teleported to under my hat and left my fan behind.
My fan was now acting on its own and took over the skills my hat had been maintaining.
I released all my anti-mana potions onto Cockroach which was still going through some sort of transformation.
Her mana plummeted and 4 large golems rose up from the earth. One flung boulders, 2 used some strange propulsion magic to fly up and the last one protected Cockroach.
My fan came into motion and smacked the boulders back with weak [Meteor Slaps].
[Hattrick] was mentally tiring. It was as if I had to control something I never had before. The research paper described it as suddenly growing 2 more arms and expecting to use them as well as your normal arms. Doing tasks with your non-dominant hand also got used.
It would become normal over time and with practice but the start will be rough and ugly.
The fan missed a quarter of the boulders which meant that I had to evade.
The flying golems were slow but they restricted my movement by guarding the air above Cockroach.
“It's time to say goodbye to one of my old catalysts.”
An old wand got charged with a lot of fire mana and I threw it at one of the flying golems. The explosion took out both of them and rocks rained down on Cockroach who succeeded stopping the [Meteor].
I cast another [Meteor] and worked on removing [Ira].
The [Levitate] on my staff got cancelled as I had been hit with [Heavy]. Cockroach smirked as she started on dispelling the new [Meteor].
I got hit by the golem’s [Boulder Throw] and got wedged between it and a tree.
It didn’t hurt much but I was stuck.
The golem chucked more boulders as I tried to melt the boulder. I shook my head, causing my hat to fall off which caused [Hattrick] to teleport me toward my fan.
“Phew...”
[Ira] got dispelled and I was curse free. Just under the effect of [Heavy].
My water clones were fighting the forest fire but also occupying the BS clones. They weren’t strong enough to keep this up indefinitely so I had to wrap this up.
A [Tsunami] washed over the forest, killing all the fire and flushing the BS clones away. It also swept away the golems and Cockroach.
A mixture of black goop and dark brown crystals rose up and formed an enormous ugly version of Cockroach. Its only features were goop and crystals, not very appealing.
“Say bye to your [Meteor]!”
Cockroach sent a goopy punch at the [Meteor] which shot out a beam of the same sludge she was covered in and destroyed the [Meteor].
It was impressive but it was just a distraction.
The azure petals couldn’t damage her anymore so they floated toward the water [Tsunami] had summoned and turned into large [Azure Sharks].
Several strange earth and sand attacks flew in all directions attempting to injure me and destroy the sharks. There were too many to derive their functionality or effects. My best bet was to evade everything..
There were crystals, magnetic sand, colored sand, various gravity magic imitations and more.
Mental fatigue set in from continuously keeping up [Hattrick] and I chugged some energy drinks. To think I would still need them post [Acedia].
My hat floated towards the giant Cockroach, turned into a folded fan and started [Meteor Slapping] it.
“I will just steal [hattrick] from you after I kill you!”
A wave of black goop rushed at me and I countered with another [Tsunami]. They cancelled each other out and created murky water. The forest had turned into a swamp at this point. Prolonging this battle would not be beneficial for me or the forest. I gambled and used [Mistflower Field].
She stopped flinging attacks but started running. Her gigantic form wasn’t particularly fast. She either fears [Mistflower Field] or [Azure Mist] which often follows.
The attack continued chipping off black sludge and crystals causing her to shrink.
I pulled the bag of frost marbles out of my dimensional pocket as she might die any moment.
Any defensive skill she put up got instantly shredded.
She cursed me again but that wouldn’t change anything. I got to dispelling the curses while keeping an eye on her state.
This version of Cockroach seemed to be only able to use earth magic and curses. Earth is great at defending but terrible at escaping.
[Mistflower Field] stopped chipping off goop and crystals and started to chip off flesh which was when the screams commenced.
[Acedia] and [Gula] had been lifted. Just [Ira] was left. It was interesting how I only got hit by the same 3 curses out of the 7. Could I only be hit by those that suit me the most?
The last curse disappeared and I started throwing frost marbles as I was unsure when she would die. I threw more than 40 but only one exploded.
This is when I realized that I had messed up in my test. The exploding marble caused a chain reaction that turned this desperate attempt into something lethal.
It froze all the water around us and kicked up an icy fog. I landed on the ice and kept myself warm with a flame.
Cockroach was stuck in a large light blue translucent ice crystal. Only her head and upper part of her torso stuck out.
Her blood had frozen and her skin was turning blueish.
“Heh, you might have gotten me now but I can reincarnate whenever I want. You can’t stop me.”
I played with several frost marbles as I walked up to her.
“We’ll see about that.”
Cockroach tried to move but failed to do so. “Wait?! Why is my mana getting drained?”
“Courtesy of these special frost marbles. Here have a taste.”
I forced a handful of frost marbles through her throat after which I punched her face.
Something exploded in her torso. It was visible through the transparent ice as red seeped into it from her destroyed torso. Cockroach froze over completely before she could do anything.
I sent out water clones to confirm whether the BS clones are still present.
A report came back 30 minutes later that tat every BS clone they dug out the ice had disappeared there were only masses of inert black goop left, shaped like a Misha. It had confirmed that their creator had passed away.
I cancelled [Hattrick] and returned to having 1 fan. I charged it with mana and focused on Cockroach’s frozen head.
“This is for everything you put me through!”
I swung with all my might and all my mana with this one [Meteor Slap]. The head shattered into a million pieces just like the ice crystal. I was out of breath and out of mana. The ice, or more accurately frost, had reduced the effects of my final attack on Cockroach.
It was over. I was free. Cockroach was dead. I cut ties with the Misha. I can finally live how I want. I chugged some mana-replenishing potions, climbed on my battered staff, and flew back home.
Proving to the AA that I beat her would be difficult as nothing was left of her but I didn’t kill her for a monetary reward.
Only when I sat on my couch after arriving home did I realize my exhaustion.
“I finally got her. After millennia!”
It wasn’t much but I partied by myself with mistflower tea and cake. I ate myself into a stomach ache but still went to bed satisfied.
I kept this up for a week when a question popped up into my head; Adventure or Research?