Chapter 29: Abyss Souls

“…”

Master Abraham remained silent. For the first time since they met (just a day prior), Roy saw a new expression on the executioner’s face: a look of dumbfounded astonishment.

It seemed that even Donald’s unexpected production of five million dollars didn’t shock him as much as this.

“Master, I received an Abyss Soul!” Roy said in excitement.

Abyss Souls were a manifestation or copy of a deceased abyss creature, gotten from defeating them, of course. They were practically soulless versions of the original at the time before their death, and were sustained through energy.

Why could all system hosts receive abyss souls? No one had the answer to this mystery. It was similar to all systems being able to mention the rank, class, and name of an abyss creature slain by a host. Only Roy’s system had the extra feature of receiving exp in addition.

“That’s… a surprise. I can count the number of abyss souls I’ve received since I became an executioner on one hand,” Master Abraham said with squinted eyes.

Roy returned his attention to the system and opened another panel.

+

Abyss Soul: [Veinback Ripper]

Threat Level: Strange

Class: Beast

Skills: Beastly Howl (Active), Aura of Submission (Passive), Bloodthirst (Passive)

Description: “An outcast turned alpha, once destined to lead her pack to great heights.”

+

Roy’s mouth fell open after reading the description of the abysshound.

“It was a SHE?!”

Master Abraham raised an eyebrow, instead surprised that Roy didn’t notice she was female.

“Veinback Rippers are matriarchal. The most dominant female of the group leads the entire pack. While the males are always ready to die for her.”

“Whoa, that’s crazy…”

His mind was entirely blown away. He looked at the towering creature, well above five feet, but it was only now that he realised why it always stayed behind when all the other abysshounds were risking their lives.

A second later, and the strange beast dematerialised into blue speckles of light.

“I think I’m out,” Roy said, referring to his energy reserve. He had used [2x Multiplier], which already drained about ninety-five percent of his energy.

Master Abraham easily responded by throwing him one of the energy crystals he had just harvested.

Roy tried to catch the small, roughly shaped crystal, but he wasn’t reflexive enough and missed, so it fell just beside him. He picked up the F-grade energy crystal, and its glassy, yet glowing bright feature constantly intrigued him.

If one could picture cosmic energy rushing to one point and then suddenly freezing in place, then one had imagined what most energy crystals looked like. Beautiful light trapped in a mirror-like, glassy encasement.

Roy had no idea when a smile rose on the corner of his face.

“Damn…” he said in passing, still marvelling even though the crystal was covered in blood and grime.

Master Abraham glanced at Roy and grinned slightly, too.

“Even such twisted creatures can possess something so beautiful. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”

Roy pondered for a second and raised his head to speak.

“But Master, we’ve killed how many abyss creatures so far, and all I get is one F-grade energy crystal?”

“You will always get another when you need it,” was what the C-Class Executioner said in response.

’Tch. Greedy bastard.’

“What was that?”

“Nothing! I didn’t say anything for heaven’s sake!”

With that, Roy held the energy crystal tightly in his fist and let the white particles flow out from it and enter his body.

“Get up. They’re coming,” Master Abe announced and grabbed onto his chainsword.

Roy immediately became alert and sprang up to his feet.

“What is it?” He wondered, as he couldn’t hear or see anything.

Master Abraham stretched his arm out, and his Array appeared a second later.

He grabbed a unique two-handed gun from it and handed it to Roy.

Roy ave back the pistol and took hold of the gun.

“Your brother questioned my killing of that Spiked-Tail Rat earlier. It’s best if you see why yourself,” he said.

“Follow me.”

The C-Class Executioner led Roy away from the small pile of dead beasts, maintaining just about five metres distance away from it.

But some seconds later, Roy heard it. The sound of numerous, tiny footsteps all adding up to be quite audible.

A horde of at least twenty ratty beasts with spiked, long tails engulfed the pile of dead abysshounds and chumped down aggressively.

Their squeaks and noises resounded in this lonely, forgotten railway tunnel.

Roy was visibly shaken, unknowingly even taking a few steps back. The way they appeared as though the pile was theirs since the beginning of time sent him out of his wits.

“M-Master…” he was going to ask something, but Abraham spoke before he could.

“Spiked-Tail Rats have poor awareness of their surroundings. And this is because they’re practically blind. Hence, we just have to stand a short distance away for them to ignore us. But once they’re done with their meal, make no mistake, we’re next on the menu.

“So before that happens… burn them to a crisp.”

Something clicked in Roy’s mind, and he looked at the gun in his hand.

He raised it and pulled the trigger.

And to his immense surprise, it poured fire like a furious red dragon, torching the carcass of abysshounds along with the horde of Spiked-Tail Rats along with it.

Amidst the sound of burning and dying rat screams, a monotone voice spoke nonstop in Roy’s mind.

[You have slain the weak beast, Spiked-Tail Rat.]

[+20 EXP.]

[You have slain the weak beast, Spiked-Tail Rat.]

[+20 EXP.]

[You have slain the weak beast, Spiked-Tail Rat.]

[+20 EXP.]

[You have slain the weak beast, Spiked-Tail Rat.]

[+20 EXP.]

[…]

Some of the abyssal rats tried to run, but the flames already engulfed them. Hence, they couldn’t get too far before coming to a dead still.

Disregarding the smell of burning flesh and the choking smoke, Roy couldn’t believe this was happening.

’So many exp at once… Is this what it means to have a skilled executioner as your mentor?’ He thought with a frantic smile.

Master Abraham pointed a place for him to focus the flames on, and Roy obeyed.

“The blood of abyss beasts can be quite flammable,” he said, referring to why the fire burned so brazenly and intensely. The blood of the dead abysshounds and the one in the Spiked-Tail Rats made it so.

Beads of sweat fell from Roy’s face, but he kept on burning. How was it so easy?

Of course it wasn’t. The ease of this current moment was borne from years Master Abraham suffered, fought, and lost.

It wasn’t so easy, but now it sure did look like it.

Just three minutes after the burning began, Roy heard a particular voice. This was still the voice of his system, but it sounded more alive, less monotone. It had simply announced:

[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2!]

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