Novels2Search

Ch. 43 - Exposition (Part 2)

"There's far more to that than just regeneration," Ada stated.

Tsk, I know that. That's why we're in this damn meeting! Kreuger thought with slightly furrowed eyebrows as he kept his annoyance hidden.

"I have gathered all the Intel about their abilities, weapons, and skills and compiled them in this book," Ada said as she held the book Charlotte gave her in the air.

It was a simple black book without any decorations to it.

"As expected of the president," Barry said. "You'd make sure to get all that detailed information."

Ada smiled in response. She began to recall the events that transpired in her getting that information.

That originated when she murdered and overthrew the previous US President and was met by the developer regarding her reward for successfully destroying the country's security.

* * *

"So, what is your wish for completing the mission, Ada?" The developer asked as the present Ada reminisced.

"Isn't it obvious? I want control over the uncontrollable," Ada responded as she leaned back in the president's chair.

"Oh! That's a pretty good wish!"

In a spark of amethyst-coloured flames, a book materialized in the developer's hand. It was the same book Ada carried in the meeting currently.

"This book contains a detailed description of the blessings and arsenals of your fellow game characters. In other words, their most secret information," The developer explained.

"Oh?" Ada uttered with an intrigued smile.

"There's no greater control than obtaining secret info of others in which you can draw weaknesses," The developer stated. "If you play your cards right, you can even control your uncontrollable party members you despise."

"Wow, and you're just giving me that?" Ada questioned.

"Yes, you are my game character, after all. Of course, I'll reward you," The developer reminded. "Plus, I'm sure there will be good character development from this."

* * *

Character development, huh? We'll see who gets developed. Ada said as she stopped reminiscing.

She then opened the book.

"I know you guys may be eager to hear about Jack, but I want to go through the others first," Ada said, to which everyone agreed except Kreuger, who facepalmed. "I'll go in order from least to most dangerous."

Sigh, even though I wanted to hear about that demon first. My god did place the mission of defeating all evildoers. Amber reminded herself. So, this is still good.

"So, up first is Olivia Gray. She has a poison blessing that gives her poison creation and knowledge of poisons. She can apply poison onto an enemy that can cause effects varying from paralysis to rapid necrosis," Ada stated as she read from the book. Hearing this, the soldiers became slightly shocked. "Her most dangerous weapon, though, is her blood, as it is extremely poisonous. Just a few nanograms can be lethal to most people."

Damn, that sounds like it would counter my blood blessing. Kreuger thought. I guess this information is good to hear after all.

"But her physical prowess is undoubtedly the lowest of the group. She has at most slightly above peak regular human physicality, so restraining her without causing bloodshed shouldn't be an issue," Ada added.

Ada then turned the page to comment on the second enemy.

"Next is Zack Isaac. His blessing can be rather problematic, depending on the circumstances. He's able to forcibly detonate explosives to yields well above the explosive's normal levels," Ada continued. "He was the man responsible for the nuclear equivalent explosion in the search and destroy war."

Because of that person, so many people died too. Amber thought with clenched fists.

"How did he accomplish such a feat?" Barry asked. "Are you aware?"

"After investigation, I found that a trailer filled to the brim with dynamite caused it," Ada replied.

That sparked whispers among everyone. What if Zack somehow got access to that and detonated it in this country? That was just one thing they whispered about.

Investigation, my ass. I knew everything that happened since I worked with those guys. Ada mused with a smile on her face. It's easy for them to believe me, as they have no clue what happened. Plus, my blessing comes in handy.

"It's worth mentioning that Zack possesses a pouch with a seemingly infinite amount of minuscule bombs. I say minuscule, but each packs enough power to rival missiles, especially when Zack detonates them," Ada explained.

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"...I see," Barry said.

Hmm, not a bad power, but nothing special. Kreuger thought.

"He might not be the strongest, but Zack's body was also modified by an illegal organization, thus giving him superhuman levels of physicality," Ada said. "But don't be daunted by him. He's not anything to worry about." He's nothing more than a gnat.

She then turned the page for a second time.

Ah, my personal favorite.

"Now, we have Nathan Hayes. He's the assumed leader due to being the smartest in the criminal group. His intellect is so great that he quickly forms strategies on the fly and puts his inventory blessing to its optimal usage. With it, he can store anything just by touching it with his hand," Ada explained. "Whatever he stores stays suspended in his inventory, meaning they come out the same way he puts them in the inventory. An example may be Nathan storing a grenade that's about to explode, then materializing it in the face of his enemy, exploding before they could react."

"Hmm, can he store living beings?" A soldier asked.

"No, it doesn't seem so," Ada said. "He might be limited to non-living things."

"That's sorta similar to my blessing," Trixie whispered. "Exploding in someone's face before they could react is a nice trick..."

"In the war, he displayed the capability to react and defeat several weaker super soldiers. He likely has gotten stronger as he is the type to train heavily," Ada stated. "And with the variety of weapons he has stored and armor he wears that reduces shock, taking him down may be tough...but not impossible."

Most of the soldiers diligently made note of everything that Ada said about the criminals' abilities.

"Now we are down to the last two and by far the most troublesome to defeat. So, we have Charles Warner, aka the battle-crazed killer. He has a physical enhancement blessing that allows him to increase his blood flow to boost his physical prowess," Ada said. "His two techniques are blood and adrenaline doping. Blood doping boosts his attack and reaction speed, and its usage is evident by visible arteries on Charles's body. Adrenaline doping, on the other hand, boosts his attack power and speed, and its usage is evident by seeing Charles's muscle mass increase."

Sigh, none of that matters when I have my bloodbaths. Kreuger thought.

"With those techniques alone, Charles can accomplish feats like moving well over re-entry speeds or easily destroying skyscrapers with his bare hands," Ada explained. "But his most powerful technique, which he killed the strongest super soldier, the blessed slaughterer with, was his physical enhancement - stacking."

Upon hearing that, the Queen Deathbringer became intrigued.

"That technique combines blood and adrenaline doping at their maximum to give Charles even greater power," Ada explained. "His punches alone easily decimated multiple city blocks, and he traversed numerous cities in seconds while fighting the blessed slaughterer. Truly a monster if you ask me."

Slight nervousness clouded the expressions of the Enlightenment Program's soldiers as they heard the feats that Charles accomplished.

"I've heard them a lot on Fox 5 news, but to think these are the people the Americans had to deal with," Sariel said. "How unsettling."

Her friends agreed.

"Don't worry, Charles isn't invincible, as it seems he can't use that technique for too long as it stresses his body too much," Ada said. "We got this."

But, now that all other criminals were out of the way, Ada turned the page to what everyone, especially Kreuger and Amber, was waiting for.

"I know this took a while, but here it is. Jack Knight, aka Jack the Ripper," Ada said. "It was difficult to see who was more dangerous between Jack and Charles, but with his immoral and murderous personality, combined with the abilities I gathered from him, I can safely say that Jack is the strongest and most dangerous of the S-Class criminals."

"I agree. That vile bastard only cares about murdering and ruining people's lives," Barry said.

I agree too... Both Amber and Kreuger thought.

"So, Jack possesses a speed blessing which greatly enhances his speed. Just like Kreuger, he has two known techniques to that blessing: flash step, which increases his max movement speed thrice over, and sleight of hand, which also triples his attack speed."

I have more than two techniques, but that's not what I want to hear! Kreuger thought with slight impatience. What is his second blessing!?

"But his speed would have never been so great if it wasn't for his second blessing - his murder blessing," Ada revealed.

That revelation, of course, shocked everyone. Not so much that Jack had a secret blessing, but because he had such a menacing blessing like that. Of course, Amber and Kreuger were more shaken.

"This may be hard to hear, but please bear with me. The murder blessing gives Jack a permanent boost to himself with every life form that he murders. It isn't limited to humans, but the stronger the life form he kills, the bigger the boost Jack gets," Ada explained. "His physical strength and durability rise with every kill, but his speed gets a much greater increase, considering his speed blessing."

W...What? Amber thought with widened eyes.

"Jack also has a passive skill, 'Life Reaper,' that allows Jack to heal his wounds based on how many people he killed. So if he has killed a thousand people, Jack can heal that many times," Ada continued. "And it doesn't matter what injury he sustains. Jack will heal from them all at rapid speeds. Stabbings, shootings, burnings, and even explosions, Jack will heal from them all."

"Then how do we kill him!?" Kreuger suddenly yelled with frustration on his face, much to everyone's surprise.

"Well...I theorize that there are two ways. We either keep inflicting damage until Jack can no longer regenerate..."

"But that's unlikely...considering how many people that monster murdered," Barry said.

"Yeah, which is why I think there is a second way," Ada responded. "And that's to destroy him in one shot. He can't regenerate from nothing."

"Hmm...that's not a bad idea," Barry agreed. "No human can survive that."

In response to that, Ryzen slightly chuckled.

Damn it! So you're telling me I couldn't kill Jack anyway!? Kreuger thought with clenched fists and anger written on his face. No! There must be another way! I have to avenge my clan!!!

"His murder blessing also gives Jack the skill to sense others' killing and harming intent towards him. Because of this, sneak attacks or attacks to his blindspot will never work as he will sense the killing intent and prepare accordingly," Ada said. "He also can completely mask his presence and murderous intent with his stealth skill. He will be the hardest one to defeat without a doubt, especially since he can travel thousands of miles in seconds."

"Especially since he what!?" Aiden uttered in shock. His allies also matched his surprise as they heard this.

Thousands of miles in seconds!? How are we supposed to win!? Aiden thought with worry. It wouldn't have been so bad if that was the only thing we had to worry about, but it's too much!

I-I understand now... Amber thought with gritted teeth and clenched fists. You truly are a demon.