◇ Location: Kiffel City // District 22 // Hasterion Domain
◇ Time: A Few Days Later // Morning
Dripping water from the entrance, a rusty massive building covered in thick brown and dark gray metal, with the fiery torch light from within. The Floor seemed full of blood as corpses of people with coat, junk weapons, and low tier equipment scattered around the dim corridor. Through the hallway of death opened a door to a courtyard of the place, a person on his one knee.
The alone person surrounded by eight men, seven with swords stabbed into the ground with medieval-like equipment. Then there's one with heavy armor, a wolf pelt helmet, and a massive two-handed sword pulsing from its sunrise color gem. Flaming sparkling smoke came from his breath, his eyes covered by the helmet's visor, but glowing golden eyes could clearly be seen inside.
"You syndicate came walking into my territory with over thirty men and think you could defeat just the eight of us. The majority of my men may be out there, though there shouldn't be any room of underestimation. If you wanted to raid us, bring a Dusk Tier personnel. Other words... Don't... COME... HERE!"
The seven people around the injured stepped aside as the leader of the castle, the one with the wolf helmet took a step forward and kicked the syndicate members at the door.
"And DON'T COME BACK! This is a warning and make it clear to your SYNDICATE!"
He reached in his pocket and took out a cigar then breathe on it. The cigar got lit and he began to smoke it.
"Tch-phuu..." He clicked his tongue then breath a massive flaming smoke ring in a short distance. "Now then. The morning interruption won't deny the inevitable. The knights should be returning after in a few hours with information and perhaps cleared some pest. The Syndicate within the outer district had struck my nerve many times. They'll continue to grow and the only way we catch up is if we say low on their radar and chip them off little by little."
"Master." A man from the seven raised his hand up to his face and spoke. "The Pale Office had scouted an office called the Lunar Light. That office currently stands as Lower Dawn."
"That is nothing. If it helps the Pale, then our business gets fraction of the benefit."
"From a member of the Pale Office, they also explained that the Lunar Light had only started less than a month ago and had eliminated two Unknownity."
"Lower Dawn and two corruption of the world is less than a month. Impressed. Don't mind me if I discard a knight in a few hours. Follow, survey, and return. Don't overdo your duty."
◇◇◇◇◇
◇ Location: Kiffel City // District 22 // Lunar Light Office
◇ Time: Evening
Ughh-hmm... My body still felt sore, but I slowly opened my eyes to the sight of the gray cloud outside the window. I got out of bed and noticed all my wound disappeared when I check under my shirt. I equipped the coat and hoisted the sword before heading down and feeling myself adapting back to normal.
◇ "You are no longer fatigue, faithful one. Your body took the few days to fully recover the core, allowing expansion and healing of your soul."
Expansion of my soul? I supposed healing comes naturally with my vanilla abilities. But does that mean increasing the limit of my powers?
◇ "Not true, faithful one. In fact, it's circulating all the souls you've consumed and making sure it stays purified and compressed. Think of it like a power overload. If that happened, it would burn out your soul for a while until recovered."
Did the Missing Wing Harpy's soul really do that to me?
◇ "Partially, faithful one. There was also the instinctive nature to sleep on unimportant days and that no harm will come to your safe zone."
Hahaha! I have to skip the days with papers, boring tasks, and having to listen to the office worker talk to each other nonstop. Usually combative and what I deemed important work appeared every other day or longer.
I noticed Cerlia wasn't in her office neither anywhere in this building. People here greeted me and applaud for me waking up and feeling perfectly find. I just smile and wave at them before heading out of the place. I noticed that sun slowly setting down so the linear gradient of blue and orange filled the sky.
As Cerlia isn't here, there wasn't much I can do and haven't moving in three, four, or how many days I had passed out, I should see if I self-train myself some agility skill. It started with running and pacing myself through this street.
All these generic and ruined building would do well for some testing. I went to one of the alleyways and jumped up high and grabbed on a gap of a wall. I slowly started to climb up quick before I hopped off the wall onto another one near me. This small passage would do great for mobility. I spoke as I made it to the roof with somewhat ease.
"WOOO! Yeah! Look at me go! I can climb just like that? Then I can go anywhere with enough enhancing tasty souls and a bunch of jumping around."
I went to the edge and looked down, noticing how quiet it was when the night is near. It's when it gets dangerous due to many reasons within the outer District. The middle District isn't as worst, and the Center District is rare since the society there actually care about their jobs. As someone from there as a head scientist, I can confirm.
"Oh? Who's that mystery man?"
I squinted and noticed a man with metal over its body, limbs, and head. He wore a coat over the light armor and a two-handed steel sword sheathed in the back. The knight helmet had a visor alongside a scarf around its neck.
I jumped toward the wall in the alleyway then slowly made my way down. I then went to the corner of the building and peek at the person. Should I confront him? Although I shouldn't go around killing for no reasons. He doesn't seem like a threat but my body aching for some more fight.
I am an Ace Predator, belonging to an office. Not a syndicate! As someone from an office, it's bloodthirsty, unmoral, and might make me a criminal if he indeed is just an innocent person. Even if he seemed strong.
Only half a minute passed, and he stood still and swiftly draw his sword out! He noticed me in the alleyway and glared at me, turning his direction toward me way. Does this mean he's a threat now! He seemed like a revengeful ghost than a human!
◇ "Faithful one, the man in front of you shown hostile emotion."
◇ "Analyzing..."
◇ Hasterion Knight
◇ Health: 315
◇ Mental: 140
◇ Stamina: 110
◇ Hasteful Knight <> On Success with Evade, Gain 1 Momentum (2.5% Speed Stats) and 1 Agility (5% Evade Stats)
◇ Horizon Morale <> If Positive Emotion is Above 60%, Burn deal 50% more Fire Damage.
According to his status, this knight might be difficult one to hit. As well with that armor of his, I'm going to have to do less grazing and more direct attack. Two-handed sword... That weapon would fit me very well. I'm glad it's only one on one!
I stepped out and smirked and had my hands in my coat's pocket. I stared at him and stuck my tongue out. "Oh, come on, at least speak to me or something. How about tell me why you being such a hostile being with metal over yourself."
The knight glared behind his visor and sprinted toward me! His armor doesn't seem to weigh him down. He went for a horizontal swing at me, making me jumped up and dodged it with it grazing my shoes.
"Silent but swift. I hate people who don't talk. It's boring!" I shouted as took out my sword. I landed down and came in close with a stabbed at his chest. The armor reduced the penetration and when I attacked again, he sidestepped, and shoulder bashed me away.
I growled and went close again, swinging my weapon twice! But for some reason, he dodged them both with slim grazing then jabbed his long sword. It cut my arm a bit, but I managed to avoid a direct hit. I then hopped back because of a slash right after the pierce.
"So quick! Stupid slick crap!" I picked a metal shard and tossed at him. He dodged right away and as he does that; I dashed at his direction and pushed his sword away. I grabbed on his coat sleeves and stabbed at the armor, inflicting "Wet" effect before had to ducked down and rolled away when he pointed his blade tip.
The knight dragged his sword and flickered the ground with sparks and minor flame trail. His speed slowly accelerated before a powerful circular slash bestowed at me. The sword engulfed in flame and ended when the action finished.
I stumbled back from the sheer force, and it had made a semi-deep cut in my body! I started to receive the burn ailment, feeling the constant external pain. I took a deep breath and endured the pain from bothering my fight.
He's too fast and with a mid-range melee weapon long that, it made my sword looked very small. Damn it!
◇ "Faithful one, there are more than one Negative Catalyst. You could choose from your instinct, the one you desire."
I took a deep breath and glared with a grin. I'm trying the new Unknownity Catalyst and that'll be the "Despaired Claw".
◇ Negative Catalyst Initiated: Despaired Claw
◇ Risk:
◇ Your limbs imbued with the power of the harpy's shadow and Gain 2 Strength (10% Melee Stats)
◇ Weaponless Attacks deal Double Damage and Weaponless Block reduced Damage by half.
◇ Lose 10% Mental per Segment. If Staggered from Mental Lost, this Catalyst get deactivated.
There was a changed in my limbs. My legs became surging of unknown powers as my arms slowly manifested into shadow claws which still allowed me to use my weapon but gaining the Unknownity's traits. I gripped on my sword and had my left hand bending and pointing at the enemy.
"GRAHHH!" I yelled as I leaped at him with my sword clashing with his. He pushed me back then went in with a quick attack, although I used my arm to parry it before I gave him a backfist in his face. He moved back stunned then I rushed in with a flurry of clawing and slashes!
He became staggered and fallen on his knees, stunned and weakened! I came in and gave a kick, sending him far back as I continued the flow using my claw!
The knight stood back up and swung his blade, though I easily dodged it. I tossed my blade into his shoulder. He noticed me getting close and took my blade out. However, I was fast and instead of him attacking, I went first, moving my shadowy claw upward, sideways, then puncturing deep into his wounds. His armor couldn't handle the overwhelming damage.
He got back up and dashed backward, walking away as if he was retreating from this fight. I picked up my sword and ran toward him, giving him no chance to do so!
"Get back here! You give me threat and I shall give it back to you!" I chased after him, going faster than he goes backward.
The man became desperate and decided to change his movement, going at me with accelerating speed! His sword scraped against the ground once more, lighting the blade on fire. We both were at a near distance, he spun his sword vertically up in a circle.
My arm blocked it, but it made a deep cut to my bones! I gritted my teeth as my left limb became inflamed and stabbed my sword into his chest. I immediately jumped and kicked the handle, letting it pierce to the other side of his body!
The knight fell and I stood on his body, grinning with pride. "And there you go. I have no idea why you attacked me, but I won. Grreh..." I noticed my head started to pulse painfully though the shadow limbs vanished.
◇ Negative Catalyst Exhausted
◇ "No need for the Catalyst anymore, faithful one. Once a battle is over, it is no longer in effect."
Thanks, EnNn. And now it's time to consume the soul. Uwah! Fresh strong soul from a worthy foe. I definitely deserved it.
◇ 175 Soul Essence Obtained
◇ Sun-Edge Laceration - 80 Stamina
◇ Evade Rate 40 - 80% // On Success, Gain 2 Momentum (5% Speed Stats)
◇ Deal 50% Slash Damage // Increased Damage by 10% per Momentum Attribute. On Hit, Inflict 10% Burn.
◇ "Allocating Soul Essence..."
◇ Soul Passive Unlocked
◇ Hasteful Knight <> On Success with Evade, Gain 1 Momentum (2.5% Speed Stats) and 1 Agility (5% Evade Stats)
◇ Constitution 10 to 11 // 390 to 405 Health
◇ Momentum 4 to 6 // 12.5% Speed
◇ "Allocating complete..."
Phew... This skill from this knight might be extremely useful. It might be expensive in consuming my stamina, but I could always regain more over time. I could focus on dodging and emergency block then I'll shall be less physically exhausted.
Although, consuming his soul is one thing. Another thing is getting his equipment. It may be damaged by me though that's only the chest plate area. It could be repaired easily and may cheap as well, and also that his two-handed sword would provide another new level to my name.
I searched his body before stripping the armor from him, including his weapon as well. I then held these items in my arms and made my way back to the office as I noticed the sky becoming darker blue. Night approached as the horizon made its way out of my vision.
◇ Hasterion Claymore - Heavy Weapon - Fire
◇ Damage Rate: 90% Slash, 75% Pierce, 60% Blunt
◇ Fire Element: On Hit, Inflict 3-6% Burn
◇ Haste Knight Gear - Medium Armor - Neutral
◇ Defense Rate: 20% Slash, 10% Pierce, 5% Blunt
◇ Low Durability [-50% Defense Stats] - Requires Repair
I left the corpse behind and whistled, calming myself to numb the aching pain in my left arm. This equipment is quite heavy, especially the sword that is as heavy as the armor itself. I might need to do some strength training and focus allocation of strength next time. I don't want to be slowed because of a weapon meant for muscled men.
◇ "Faithful one, the amount of additional strength required for wielding the claymore as fast as the Lunar Light blade is over four more attributes. However, training yourself may physically help your body and does well for your soul."
Less combat, more training! I want to end long dragging fight quick so here I go! By tomorrow, watch me get strong!
◇ "..."
◇◇◇◇◇
◇ Location: Kiffel City // District 22 // Lunar Light Office
◇ Time: Night
"I'm BACK!" I shouted as I entered the office, dropping the looted equipment aside and looking around for Cerlia. I found her, outside the room, eating alone on a desk as everyone else had left for the day.
She seemed to be daydreaming in the middle of dinner, her meal consisted of a subway of ham, lettuce, pickle, and mayonnaise.
"Cerlia?" I walked up to her and then sit on the desk next to her, my hands waving in front of her face. "Hey—boss? Cerlia? Person? Daydreamer? Hello—!?"
That suddenly spooked her, and she came back to reality, jumping a bit as she stared at me with surprised. She looked at me for a few second before tearing up and pouting. Her eyes became watery, and her arms wrapped around me.
"Suki! You leave without telling me! I thought you might be hurt, or I don't know what might happen to you! I haven't spoken to you in a few days!" She whined like a child, and I only responded quietly by hugging her back.
"Don't worry about me. I can't die just like that or just forever. And besides..." I slowly moved her back and then pinched her cheeks. "...I killed a threat out in a street! He decided to pick a fight, so I murdered him and I'm SOOOO happy!"
Cerlia scanned my body and noticed the bleeding wound on my arm and body. She immediately became worried and hopped off the desk, getting some medical aids.
"You're hurt, Suki!"
"W-wait! I'm fine—" I replied but I could see that she doesn't care and proceed to patch up me wound for tonight.
I let her wrap the bandages and once she done, she smiled and gave me a hug. A kind of like a motherly one with a soft tone and gently touches. It made me relaxed, dozing off into the hug and closing my eyes...
I fell asleep peacefully...
◇◇◇◇◇
◇ Location: Kiffel City // District 1 // [REDACTED]
"How is the Association doing in District 7?"
"Sir, it seemed like they're being aided by one nearby guild against the attack of the 'Echoing Tyrant' and haven't fully suppressed the Midnight Threat Unknownity. There were several casualties but over these few days, the creature had been weakened."
"Is this wild Unknownity a future problem to the Capital?"
"Not from I been reported, sir. It's an Unknownity of immense mental power, though large-scale damage won't be result from it. And one more thing to report. District 25's Noon Unknownity is still causing destruction within the outer districts. The constant digging might be a problem and perhaps the Pale Office of District 23 might not be able to handle it on their own."
"If it continues, force the Lunar Light Office's focus onto the case as well. Since they're partners, it should be recommended that they both work together."
"Yes, sir. But it would be easier if we send a Dusk Tier loyalist to take care of it easily."
"No need. If the District fails, then it is destined. If not, keep an eye on Suki. Assuming when they're in conflict with the borrowing beast."
"I'll notify the DRC about her. And that is all for today."