Chapter 8 Devourer Part 1
Miyong
A few minutes earlier
These new functions in the systems have pretty much solved our ration shortage problems. Everywhere I look, people are eating all kinds of lavished foods that we never had the chance to eat even in the old world. Cavia, A5 steaks, lobsters, BBQ, sushi, Dim Sum, and various expensive foods are left on the table for anyone to eat freely. Mali bought a cold chest that we use as a refrigerator. I even bought a glowing blue stone that expels cold air to use as an air conditioner.
That Market function in the system allows us to exchange our possessions for hell coins (HC) that in turn can be used in the market to buy various items, and information, unlock new functions, even buildings, and anything we need to live in this world. The problem is what the system asked in return for these HCs. On the first day, the market system was unlocked, and everyone tried to trade away student desks, clothes, and even garbage. Everything, regardless of size or value in the old world, is given minimal value in the marketplace. Then, someone tries to trade away their skill, and that's when the problem starts. The market values stats and skills extremely highly. One skill that seems to be completely useless can be traded for thousands of HC, meanwhile, the spread of food on that table only costs a few dozen coins.
All of the freshmen girls have traded all of their skills and stats for HC. Now they are no different from normal humans with a stronger body. I can't blame them, some of the items sold in that shop are too tempting even for me. Potions that make your skin spotless, potions that supposedly grant eternal youth, even permanent shapeshifting potions that allow the drinker to look like anything they wish. If I didn't constantly hear Yue’s voice nagging me in my head, I would have been tempted as well.
Our group’s combat power went down drastically after the appearance of that market, and the News function is even worse.
I had thought that it would be an information section about what is happening in the world or the system. That's what most people would think when “news” is mentioned, but that's not what it is. It is like a wanted poster. The emergence of a particularly powerful mana user. A community that managed to build some resemblance of a stable society. Their names, numbers of people, and locations are posted here. This is no different from putting a giant target on these communities.
I am looking down at the screen in front of me. Yue’s smiling face is staring back at me. The overgrown skyscrapers behind him, the stars in the night sky, this appearance. This picture was taken when we were talking on the roof before he fell unconscious. How was this picture taken?
[Qin Yuelian]
Exile Prince
Devourer
One of the most promising rising stars, if left alone, he will devour the heavens.
A prince? What the fuck?
There are comments and ratings under the post. Some comments are in weird language that I had never seen before.
[Red hair blacksmith]
~*#*$$#**$***$##
[Teeth]
~*#$&:”#(@??
[Ice nomad]
~€¥¢¥¢√÷§√∆{%=€€×€÷√§§•
[Monkey]
√¢√÷€^™##&$/)$)#/#
These alien language-speaking people are saying things that I couldn't understand. And it's weird that I could only read their names but not anything else. Looking further down, there are comments from languages that I have seen before. Languages from all over the world.
[Katana]
A human on the list?!
[He who watches]
Many powerhouses are human, but none had been on the list from the beginning. This is a first for humanity.
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[Beautiful young girl]
Old man, are you saying this kid will surpass all the powerhouses of humanity?
[He who watches]
Only if he survives and comes up.
[Albion Captain Red]
Still in the tutorial. We don't even know if he will survive. People get excited about new toys all the time.
[Lady]
Still, bookmarked. Looking forward to his performance in the invasion.
I could get glimpses of information, but I couldn't see the whole picture. Yue was always better with puzzles. A nearby voice brought me back to my surroundings. Mali is looking at me with worry.
“Mimi…………. I think we need to consider moving.” I can tell that Mali is casting a wider net with her skill than usual. She is wearing some beautiful clothes made from materials I have never seen before. Mana infused cloth? “Our location is exposed. Maybe other people will come to attack us.”
“I agree. Currently, we only have six mana users. Jackie has no combat power and he is a coward.” Jenny stood behind Mali. “And our leader is still in that state. So we only have four mana users. Whatever the invasion is, it's happening in over a week from now. we should consider finding a place that can be easily defended.”
“It's not so bad here.” What the hell is she talking about?
“We are surrounded by open windows….” Jenny did not look happy.
“You are free to go, but I will stay here. Jason probably won't leave either.” We are not your parents. We are not responsible for you two.
“...........ok, we will wait-” Mali trails off and her face progressively gets more serious. I know that reaction. Something caught in the spider net?
“Are they monsters?” I started to stretch my body.
“Humans.” Mali’s face is grim. “Eight people at least. They have players. I can't tell how many.”
“Jackie, run and tell Jason immediately,” I said to the air.
“Ok.” the air answered.
—-------------------------
The second floor of the school building
As we came down the stairs we could see the eight people waiting for us. They don't look like seasoned fighters. A few middle-aged men, and women. They are all holding guns, those guns that can shoot a lot of bullets at once, an automatic gun? That's cute.
“Hey girls, how are you doing?” One of the women steps forward. A blonde woman in her late 30s or early 40s. She is wearing a skirt suit and looks like one of those bank teller ladies. The gun is still in her hand, despite her friendly smile.
“What do you want, auntie?” I immediately cut her off. Looking at Mali, she is nodding to my right. That's probably where the mana user is hiding.
“Hm…….cute kids. This is a nice place. Spacious. You can't use all-” I already know what they want after they have said this much.
“No. Leave.” If they were normal people, it wouldn't be bad to take them in. Or at least allow them to camp nearby in the building. But these assholes show up with guns and have mana users hiding nearby. They don't have pure intentions.
“Wait a minute, you don't own this place. We are only being nice by ask-” The woman looked annoyed. Me too, auntie. I picked up a small pebble nearby, covered it with mana, and lightly chucked it at the gun in her hand.
Boom!
The lady was quick, she let go of the gun and jumped back. The explosion could have taken her arms. She looked at me with anger. What the hell is that look for? I wasn't the one who came to someone’s house with weapons in hand and threatened to take it if we didn't let them stay.
“Little bitch! You don't know who you are messing with!” Mana bursts from the eight people.
“Mimi, they are all mana users!” Mali tug on my shirt.
“A little late for that Mali.” I could feel the smile on my face. Ever since I awaken to this power, I have felt the urge to fight. An overwhelming urge to burst my mana and charge at my enemies. This situation is awful and dangerous. I would be stupid to fight these eight people with only the three of us.
But, I couldn't stop shaking with excitement.
—-----------------------
Jennifer
It was a bad idea to fight while vastly outnumbered. Thankfully my skill Shield Master specializes in defensive battle. After Miyong charged at the enemy, range attacks started to come from the right side of the building. It looks like condensed mana arrows. A range attack squad? These guys are not amateur looters. I immediately summon a massive transparent shield that covers us like a dome. The range attacks from the right immediately stopped and changed target to Miyong instead.
But that is a big mistake.
That girl has gotten so strong after the fight with the red rabbits. Since she did not know any martial arts and there were no available teachers, she took inspiration from the way those rabbits fought. Even I can't be her sparring partner anymore.
Miyong is dashing from one person to the other, her speed is so fast that we can't see her at all. The mana attacks from the right building could not keep up with her speed either. I don't think they know where to aim. She would appear in front of one person, smash them with her fist, then disappear.
“Ahhhhhhh” The second floor is now filled with people screaming and curling up on the floor.
Only one person from that group was able to react to her attacks and defend herself with mana. The rest had their arms shattered and one particularly slow person got his entire body disintegrated by her mana punch. Miyong appears next to us, taking refuge behind the shield as she regains her breathing. It looks like using that fight style is extremely draining. Miyong turned to us and gave us a beautiful smile. That girl is really scary.
The middle-aged woman who spoke to us was the only one left standing on that side. She motioned to the right building and a few more people came out. They are the main attack force from that side. The mana concentration of these people is much different from the fodder before. They are much younger and more fit, were they athletes before the old world fell?
“You bitch! You don't know what you did.” The older woman is touching something in the air.
“She is sending out some type of mana communication,” Mali said. This is dangerous, we don't know how many mana users they have. What if they have hundreds?
“Are you calling your daddies? Are those people behind you better than the trash just now?” Miyong giggled like a little girl. I have noticed this before while we spar or even on that hunt. That girl, she is getting off on fighting. So dangerous.
One of the younger men walks out of the right building. His build is lean but muscular, the way he carries himself reminds me of a snake waiting to strike.
“You are strong, but you should show some respect to your elders.” The man walks forwards, while his mana bursts out. That amount is no joke. Perhaps on the same level as Sam? This guy is level 1?
“Ugly” Miyong disappeared again. I saw her fist appear before I saw her body. Her fist sunk into that guy’s head.
“You got bad luck. If I hadn't come along, maybe you could have wiped these guys out. But my powers Living Liquid is the perfect counter to your bullshit physicality.” His body is moving around like liquid metal from that famous old movie.
“Ew, you are so fucking gross!” Miyong shook her hands, trying to get the guy’s liquid face of off her. “So I can't kill you, but it's not like you guys can harm any of us. Are you stupid?”
“Oh, but we can.” A voice came from the window.
An old man is outside the second-floor window. He is floating in the air. No, he was standing on something.
“What the fuc-!” Before Miyong could finish her words, an extremely thin sword was right in front of her eyes. None of us could even see that sword before it appeared. Miyong’s superhuman reactions did not see it either. For the first time, Miyong looked scared in a fight.
“I need to teach you some manners.” The old man said as he flicked his finger. I instinctively summoned the strongest shield that I could and covered all of us with it.
I could feel that thin sword slice through the shield like it was butter, however, the sword did not move towards us. I turned around just in time to see it.
The thin sword went into Miyong’s eye.