Shun POV:
I rested an arm over my knee, and Clowny took a seat on the wet soil. We both stared at the gravestone in silence; the downpour of rain unable to offer any more comfort.
“Codex.”
The book of opportunities lost even more of the lustre it once had. Limited by restrictions; it was inferior to Original in far more ways than one.
“Huh?! I didn’t know you had an ability like that! Maybe you can upgrade the roul—Oh, it’s too far for Bookmark to be used.”
Clowny got to his feet and looked at the pages through the connection we shared. An upgrade would only benefit the other aspects of Krazy Roulette, not the revive option.
“Shut up for a minute.”
“But I-I didn’t say anything!”
His small feet were about to stomp the earth before he sat down instead. Clowny took his hat off in front of the grave and lowered his head to pay respects that wouldn’t reach Byeol in the end.
“Whispers of the Dead.”
Transparent Ki flared out of my body. It separated itself into gentle tendrils that approached the grave. They looked back at me to confirm if this was indeed the target, and once my splayed hand flexed, the Ki moved on. Their light hues caressed the grave with care until no soil remained in view.
The next step was the hard part.
I closed my eyes and recalled all the interactions I had with Byeol. A white chain responded to my command and connected the memories into one before a bright window formed above it.
[What was Seung Byeol to you?]
Only the truth would be accepted. However, the ability would cancel itself if the answer desecrated the dead in any form. My mouth parted, and the rainfall drowned out the sounds that left it.
“...”
I opened my eyes and saw white particles coalesce. They shaped themselves into stars before bundling together to take on the image of Byeol. Her features were obscured, but her mouth could be seen in a clear manner.
[The last thoughts of Seung Byeol will now be uttered. Hear the whispers of the deceased in a respectful manner.]
“It hurts... I’m in pain... I’m... alone.”
I bit my quivering lip. The sentences were short, but the weight they carried pressed down on the clouds above. The rain no longer crashed. It cascaded with a thunderous growl that swept over the graveyard.
“Phoebe... is so kind... Aiden... is so caring. Katherine... is an angel in human form... At least... That’s what I believe... Minji... Hic... Minji, help me! I don’t want to die here!! Please!!! Somehow, someway... Anyone!!!!”
I didn’t look away. I didn’t wipe the tears standing out from the dense fall. I understood it well—that loneliness capable of trapping you in a box. That isolation aimed at breaking down your mind. That torture... which robbed you of the ability to function like a normal human being.
I went through it.
I survived it.
But it still broke me in the end.
“I wish... I called Minji, Sister... Just once... Uri... keep... her safe... please... My fellow... Scouts... stay strong... We... are needed...”
The silhouette of light turned its unfocused gaze toward me.
“Shun... Gerard... told me... you have... a lot of abilities... Somehow... Tell... the love of my life... to move on... But... let him... know... I, Seung Byeol, love Gerard... Ha... ha... how could... he hear me...”
My fingers balled into trembling fists. Despite the torture, Byeol was able to rationalise the possible extent of the Codex. She wasn’t doing this on a whim; this was the result of keen senses developed and harnessed through hundreds of dungeons.
“You’re kind... Thank you... for apologising to me... in private... Thank you... for increasing my pay... Thank you... for booking me a room in Yeongyeol to surprise... Gerard... You don’t... show it... But I... knew... Behind that darkness... is warmth... that extends... to everyone... Shun... keep my Gerard... my sister and Uri... my Chunhae... my home...”
Pure thoughts turned around.
“Keep them... alive... Because... I won’t be coming home this time...”
Byeol faded into white particles. They danced around her grave, illuminating the gravestone with a vibrance that represented the type of person she was.
A star.
Clowny wiped his eyes before grabbing a tissue from my pocket and blowing his nose. It joined the small mountain next to him when I placed the blue hat back on his head.
[The technique has come to an end. Respect has been shown, and the cooldown reduced.]
“Sir... What will you do now? Miss Byeol wants you to relay this important message to her friends.”
‘Inventory.’
“Hold these.”
I threw several pieces of Legend Grade armour toward him until he collapsed under their weight. Spy activated, and I undid the top buttons of my shirt.
“S-Sir?! This is not what Miss Byeol wants! We just listened to her last wish!!”
I rose from my seat and turned away from the grave.
[Ki Artifact: Dual Bloodbursting Blades (Legend)
Ownership: Shun
Durability: 40/110
Description: Bloodlust... My husband was taken from me... What wife... does nothing about it?! These blades hold immense power, but what brings it out is... Bloodlust.
• When held by an amateur, all physical attributes are reduced by half unless the wielder has ‘Bloodlust.’ If the latter is true, then all physical attributes are significantly increased.
• When held by a skilled wielder, all physical attributes are doubled for 10 minutes. This effect can be reactivated if the wielder has ‘Bloodlust.’ (Cooldown: 5 minutes)
• When utilised with the Fire Ki Nature, all damage is doubled, but perception is halved.
• When utilised with the Wind Ki Nature, all damage is doubled, but accuracy is halved.
• Quadruples the power of chain strikes within a Bloodlust window. (Cooldown: Dependent on wielder)
• A ‘Bloodburst Slash’ can be used after 4 consecutive chain strikes land on the target within a Bloodlust window. (Cooldown: 8 minutes)
• When enraged, all physical attributes are enhanced.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
----
Dark Bloodluster Set:
• Bloodlust (1/1)
• Dark Bloodplate Chest Armour (1/1)
• Death Gauntlets (1/1)
• Dilation Kill Boots (1/1)
• Dual Bloodbursting Blades (1/1)
----
Set Effects
• When 2 pieces of Dark Bloodluster are equipped, physical attack is doubled.
• When 3 pieces of Dark Bloodluster are equipped, physical attack is tripled.
• When 4 pieces of Dark Bloodluster are equipped, Ki Recovery Rate is doubled, and Stamina Drain is reduced by 1/3rd.
• If the user has ‘Bloodlust,’ all effects are increased by up to 3x depending on the quantity.]
This was the only time I would wear a full set of Ki Artifacts.
“Give me a good spin, Clowny.”
He pressed his chubby fingers against his chin and examined the refreshed wheel.
“Sir is reckless, so I’ll go with number 3: Increased regeneration rate.”
Clowny flicked his hand, and the sound of flapping added to the surrounding downpour. His round eyes stared at the blur before splaying his hand to stop it. This was only possible because of Whispers of the Dead. The respect shown empowered nearby abilities within the Codex.
“Sir... I’m not a cheater, but congratulations. You landed on number 3. Also... you’ll still feel the pain when regen—never mind. You already know this...”
Clowny kicked his foot to the side. His small frame soon faded along with the roulette, and I was left alone in the graveyard.
“...”
I offered a final moment of silence before drawing two blood-red blades. The longswords had a swirling dark green pattern on their hilts, matching the overall aesthetic of the armour I wore.
“Atlas.”
An old companion re-emerged from the inventory. The map it covered was enough for me to locate the dungeon site Byeol had entered. Despite it being somewhat close to Shako in the South, I didn’t care.
“The target’s changed.”
I closed the large gates to the cemetery and shot through the streets of Chunhae.
“I’m going to kill them all.”
***
[The Mission Log has been updated.]
[Mission: Arcane Dungeon Route
Difficulty: SS+
A new target has been added to the hit list. Bloodlust grows. It festers deep within the troubled heart, but in order to release it, you must first reach the source. Arrive at the Arcane Dungeon within the time limit.
Rewards: Bloodlust is tripled.
Failure: Dependent on how close you are to the target.
Time Limit: 4 Hours.]
‘Useless.’
A red blur sliced the mission window in half. The reward it offered would be the result of whatever difficulties it took to reach the Arcane Dungeon. In other words, it was no different to the Rest and Recovery mission.
‘I’m still far.’
Another monster horde rushed toward me. It was the fourth one I had encountered in two hours of running at full speed.
‘Tch.’
Bloodlust leaked out of my body and coated the extended longsword. Each pulsation magnified the power coalescing within faint dark red wisps.
Troll Guardians jumped forward; their feet splintered the ground before they shot ahead. Ki exploded with the thundering leaps they took.
“You’re in my way.”
Clubs created shockwaves that dispelled the rain, but what parted the clouds was a downward slash. A red wave of Ki split the Guardians in half, and fire scorched the remains.
Ogres.
The only similarities they shared with Trolls were their large size and four limbs. They had dark green skin that became darker the more human flesh they consumed. Brown scleras and black irises drew attention to the thick brows seated above them. An oversized jaw emphasised their blank expressions, unable to focus on more than one thing at a time.
In terms of their attire, Ogres wore lamellar armour and chain mail crafted by their own hands in the furnaces of dark caves. It covered a body without any semblance of fat; pure muscle bolstered a deceptive speed they concealed to catch their prey.
“Ogre Style: Speedy HUNGRY HUNGRY!!”
They were also idiots.
An Ogre ripped through a Troll Guardian. Its jaw extended, making the level teeth clack against one another in quick succession. Each clack rose the monster’s speed, physical strength, and desire to enact brutality.
A longsword met its fist when another Ogre picked up the Troll Guardian’s club. It spun around, summoning a hurricane that increased the movement speed of all monsters within a 50-metre radius.
“HehOho! FRESH MEA—”
[You have entered the ‘Bloodlust window.’]
Bloodlust silenced the horde. It weighed down on the area until Death moved. A blur. A trail of blood swept over the battlefield; it spiralled up into the sky, forcing the clouds to open for the descent of a Bloodburst Slash.
When I looked back, a sea of marred corpses was all that remained. I sheathed the blades, wiped the blood from my nose, and continued on.
By utilising bloodlust to the limit, in conjunction with either the Fire or Wind Ki Nature, chain strikes would activate the Bloodlust window. However, the Stamina Drain doubled.
‘Tch. The entire set already affects stamina by default.’
Currents of air enhanced my empowered speed. The plains flashed past me till I arrived at an enormous expanse devoid of any vegetation apart from a single green sprout. In the centre was a massive hole, directly underneath where the sun would reach its peak at midday.
‘!’
I leaned back, avoiding a heel that cratered the earth in the distance.
“Are you here for the Virdlu too?”
I peered down at the woman’s maroon-coloured eyes. She ran her hand through turquoise hair that stood out from the rain before pulling the zipper, holding back large breasts, even higher.
“...”
Dozens of other Monster Hunters arrived in the area, but I couldn’t care less about any of them. I took a step forward when the same damn woman blocked my path.
“Move.”
She clicked her tongue, yet her eyes curved upward every time her gaze swept over my body.
“It... looks like we have a mercenary on our hands. Whatever should Mavis do?”
The Monster Hunters took a step back when her fist arrived in front of my face a second later.
“Mavis doesn’t mind hot guys staring at her, but Mavis loves killing monsters even more than that.”
“Did I ask?”
I shot past her and continued on. The veins around my mouth bulged at Mavis’s persistence that kept me locked in the area. I drew both blades and pointed them at her.
“I’m already annoyed.”
Bloodlust poured out of my body. It thickened the density of the air with a grip that held it hostage and imposed a newfound order. The minuscule amount of patience I had left was already searching for an exit, and this damn woman was testing how long I could remain rational for.
“Pointing a weapon toward Mavis? You’re brave.”
“And you’re an idiot who refers to themself in third person in order to feel special.”
Mavis’s lips fell. Her eyebrows dropped, and the rain parted around her body. Steam rose once she switched into a frontal stance.
“...You’re going to pay for that remark, Mercenary.”
‘Hawkeye.’
I spun with the blades, lacerating everything in my path when Mavis fragmented the earth with a single step. The two forces met, but the darkness lost to the steam.
‘Damn it...’
I flipped backwards from her fist, only to see a high heel graze past my cheek; that was enough for the skin to boil.
‘This...’
Something... entered my bloodstream. It penetrated the cells before causing... Haemolysis: the excessive breakdown of red blood cells. Despite my blood cell count still being within normal range, fatigue began to set in.
Her techniques also attacked the body’s stamina.
‘She’s the worst match-up for me.’
I widened the distance and sheathed one of the swords. Spurting the blood out made no difference since it now flowed at a faster rate than normal. The steam was a cover for the core of her ability; that was what I needed to watch out for.
“Wow. You’re hot and smart.”
Mavis cocked her head to the side, but there was no attraction in her gaze. I made a mistake attacking the fragility I saw. I... was too preoccupied with the Arcane Dungeon.
“Time of an Emperor.”
On my way here, I changed the main page of the Codex to this ability. It allowed my entire base to rise by 100% in all areas, which was the equivalent of giving me a 2x increase to all physical attributes and recovery rates.
Time of an Emperor also used timers. These timers ranged from 10 minutes to 5 hours before the ability would automatically activate. Manual use was possible at any point within the time frame set, and once active, Time of an Emperor’s appearance represented the ability’s duration.
So why didn’t I use it more often?
The problem wasn’t the 5-hour cooldown or the strain it put on my body; it was the ability’s placement in the Codex.
It wasn’t near Rise.
It wasn’t near Imagine Body.
It wasn’t near any teleportation abilities either.
This was a severe restriction in itself, and it lowered Time of an Emperor’s viability.
Scarlet hues added colour to the darkness. They swirled around the pupil, bringing starry glints of light to the surface. In response, the steam coalesced around Mavis till its density gained a lighter shade of turquoise. She pointed her finger down before grabbing hold of a sickle.
‘!’
The curved blade tapped against my neck. I couldn’t even react to the speed of her attack, but I didn’t need to either.
“I’m sorry.”
Pride wouldn’t interfere with the revenge I needed to carry out, so I dropped the longsword and stared into Mavis’s eyes. They trembled from the directness. Her pupils dilated from the sincerity. The sickle quaked before retracting, unable to deny the truth in front of her.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have attacked without asking questions.”
Mavis lowered her head, dispersing the steam with it. Her palm rested against the gash on my cheek for a few seconds until it reached her side again.
“M-Mavis, are you sure... you’re alright?”
“I’m curious about that, too.”
“Me three.”
Mavis avoided the gaze of her colleagues and stared at the massive hole.
“It was a misunderstanding. He apologised, and that’s better than what most do.”
It was as I expected.
Fragility came from insecurity, and insecurity stemmed from perception. Whether the cause was trauma, inadequacy, or desire, it didn’t matter once the balance was restored.
Mavis gained more than self-importance from referring to herself in third person; she gained acknowledgement. It was what she wanted to receive from others. However, what twisted her also led to others fearing her, and that wasn’t the way she wanted to receive it.
That was why I looked her in the eyes and apologised. Her last sentence verified the hypothesis I made.
“Good luck.”
I picked up the longsword and walked past her.
“I don’t need luck.”
Her lips curved into a soft smile before the distance between us doubled, then tripled. I dashed through the area ahead, and Atlas whizzed by my side.
[Time Remaining: 03:20:44…]