Chapter 183: Chapter 183 – A Personal Grudge

I had just finished off a pack of ten Rank B Rabid Roosters with [Mindrender], their black blood evaporating from my blade. In the sky, the leaderboard continued to change at a frantic pace. Numbers skyrocketed, names rose and fell. Everyone was truly giving it their all.

And to be fair, the average contestant in this tournament was a Rank B to A Awakener. They were no pushovers. They were the cream of the crop from elite academies. Top students like Leonhardt, Seraphina, Isaac—they were clearly pure Rank A’s, with deep mastery of their abilities. They couldn’t be underestimated.

And then there was Yukie Iceblood.

Rank S.

That made all the difference. Going from Rank A to S wasn’t just moving up a level. It was like leaping from a cliff into the sky. Even Rank S monsters, which should be nightmares for most contestants, were probably like toys to her.

Just look at her score. More than a thousand points. Meanwhile, the second place, Leonhardt, was only at two hundred and twenty. A chasm so deep, so wide, it was as if they were competing in different leagues.

I yawned, sleepy, then decided not to think about it. Focus on what’s in front of me.

A loud roar echoed from the direction of this ruined city’s center. It was a sound full of authority, different from the usual caws of the rabid roosters. It seemed to be the ruler of this zone. This entire dead city area was clearly dominated by that species of rabid rooster monster.

I darted towards the sound, killing a few Rank A and B Rabid Roosters that happened to be in my way. I ignored other contestants I saw. At one intersection, four contestants in different uniforms—probably from different academies—were seen cooperating against a pack of Rank A roosters.

They protected each other, supported each other. Good tactics. But I didn’t have time to join or observe longer.

I kept running, until I finally arrived at a wide square that might have once been a city park. But now, the place was a nest.

In the center of the square stood a monster that made me pause.

A Giant Rabid Rooster.

It was about six meters tall—the size of a two-story house. Its feathers were no longer red and black, but dark purple and iron-gray, with patterns like pulsing, open wounds glowing with an evil red light.

It didn’t have two eyes, but four, arranged vertically, all glowing red with slit-like pupils. Its actual mouth—that tooth-filled maw—now had fangs protruding like swords. And from its back grew sharp bone spikes.

Above its head, a blood-red holographic label flashed: [MONSTER – RANK S – GIANT RABID ROOSTER]

And around it, at least sixty more Rank A Rabid Roosters were milling about like guard soldiers.

But what was more disturbing was what I saw next. The Giant Rooster was rumbling lowly, its rear end writhing, and then… it laid an egg.

An egg the size of a tombstone, with a dull red, semi-transparent shell. The egg hatched instantly on the ground. Out came a wet, sticky Rank A Rabid Rooster, which immediately stood up and joined the horde.

So this Rank S monster wasn’t just strong. It could also multiply its forces. Intelligent, and with instant reproduction abilities. A dangerous combination.

So, how to attack them all?

If only I had a wide area-of-effect ability like Yukie’s ice, or Ophelia’s or Arianna’s fire. I’m sure I could destroy them all if I had a way to hit them simultaneously.

But I didn’t have that.

I peeked from behind the rubble of a collapsed building, observing the surroundings. This area was deserted of other contestants. Most likely, they preferred to avoid a fight that was clearly suicidal.

But I couldn’t rule out the possibility that other contestants were hiding like me, waiting for someone to take on the monster and then, at the perfect moment, strike suddenly and steal the points after the battle. That would be very smart, and very annoying.

On top of that, facing that entire horde alone with my current stats… wasn’t that simple.

My mind drifted to my utterly useless stat sheet in the middle of a fight.

________________

NAME: Adam Socheron

CLASS: Depraved Time Lord

LEVEL: 60

EXP: 2700/5000

<Strength: 80>

<Agility: 60>

<Vitality: 65>

<Charisma: 9>

<Libido: 100>

Available Stat Points: –

SKILLS:

[Time Stop]

[Eye of Desire]

[Lustful Touch]

[Fertility Control]

[Mind Control]

[Five-Minute Rewind]

[Dreamweaver]

[Elixir of Bliss]

ITEMS:

[Faceless Mask]

[Aphrodisiac Elixir]

[Mindrender]

[Dragonroot Rope]

[Aegis Pendant]

[The Edge of Bliss]

[The Fleshcraver’s Loop]

[Ring of Self-Control]

[Key of the Tower of Space]

________________

My Strength, equivalent to Rank S. Agility and Vitality, both equivalent to Rank A+. My pathetic Charisma of 9, forget it. And Libido equivalent to rank SSS, completely useless here.

I felt incredibly stupid then, allocating so many stat points to Libido just for personal pleasure, satisfying my lecherous desires, instead of distributing them to Agility or Vitality which could be very useful in situations like this. But on the other hand… the pleasures I’ve had, the women I’ve dominated, that dark satisfaction… I don’t entirely regret it.

But that doesn’t solve the current problem.

I don’t have teammates. Yukie, Maximus, Isabel, Ace—they’re somewhere, and even if they were here, we’re not a cohesive team. So I’m alone.

In that case, there’s no other choice. I have to create a situation advantageous to me. I have to form a team my own way.

I gripped [Mindrender] tightly. Then, from behind the rubble, I measured the distance, regulated my breathing, and with all the strength in my arm, I threw my sword.

[Mindrender] shot out like a fired arrow, slicing through the air with a whistling sound. The target was right in the center of the Giant Rooster’s chest, where its heart might be.

THWACK!

My sword sank deep, maybe only a third of the blade, but enough to pierce.

ROOOOOOOOARRRRKKKK!!!!

A deafening roar of anger shook the entire area. The Giant Rooster threw its head back to the sky, all four of its eyes now focused with rage in the general direction the attack came from. Thick black blood flowed from its wound. Though not fatal, it hurt.

And more importantly, it got its attention.

It immediately knew the general direction of my location. Along with its entire horde of over sixty Rank A Roosters, it turned its massive body, and then… charged.

Thirty Rank A monsters plus one wounded, angry Rank S monster, all headed straight for my position.

I didn’t wait. I immediately turned and RAN.

My legs pushed off the ground with all their might. I didn’t run towards open roads, but along narrow paths between ruins, leaping over debris, crashing through broken windows, into half-collapsed buildings.

Behind me, the thunderous footsteps of sixty monsters and one giant shook the earth. The sound of destroyed rubble, angry screeches, and wild caws filled the air. They pursued me with unstoppable ferocity, demolishing everything in their path.

I ran faster, heart pounding from the adrenaline.

“Run, Adam, run,” I whispered to myself as I jumped over a gap in the floor that immediately collapsed under the Giant Rooster’s foot behind me.

.

.

.

In the Audience Stands

The camera spotlight and the host’s commentary were still focused on the screen showing Adam Socheron running for his life, chased by the horde of Giant Rabid Roosters. But amidst the sea of noisy spectators, there were two figures who were completely unfocused on the match.

The woman sat relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, revealing her smooth thigh exposed high by her tight black leather shorts. Her skin had a healthy olive tone, contrasting with her long, wild, untamed blonde hair.

She wore a dark red tank top that was extremely tight and provocative—braless, the fabric clinging so much that the shape of her large, voluptuous breasts was clearly visible, even her hardened nipples slightly shadowed beneath the thin material.

Beside her, the man sat stiffly. He was tall and thin, wearing a plain black suit that made him blend into the shadows. His face was sullen, with dark brown eyes that were always alert.

“Miiichaaeeeell,” the woman whined, her voice seductive and full of complaint. “Aren’t we going to do anything? I’m so bored lately. Really, bored to death.”

Michael didn’t turn his head. “We have orders. To observe. That’s it.”

“But that pervy brat isn’t coming anymore!” Yumi sighed dramatically, pushing her chest forward which made her tank top strain even more. “I’ve been waiting. And Zephyr? He’s too busy with his own thing and barely saw me this week. I’m just so… lonely.” The last word was said with a fake tremor in her voice.

Michael finally tilted his head, his eyes still fixed on the empty space in front of him. “Calm down. And don’t cause trouble.”

“Calm? CALM?!” Yumi suddenly sat upright, her pretty face contorted with dramatic irritation. “I am the calmest woman in this world, Michael! Look at me! Sitting here, wearing revealing clothes in the middle of these thousands of boring people, and I am NOT feeling embarrassed or anything! That is the pinnacle of calmness!”

She pointed roughly towards the arena. “Damn it! Why did I get paired with a boring man like you? A tombstone is more interesting than you!”

Now Michael turned, his dark eyes finally looking at her. There was a flash of annoyance in them. “Bitch, I don’t want to be your partner either. But orders are orders. The Boss told us to wait. So we wait.”

“Wait! Wait! Just wait!” Yumi shrieked, then lowered her voice to a fierce whisper as some nearby spectators glanced over. “Until when? Huh? Don’t you read comics or novels, Michael? This is a BIG TOURNAMENT! All the important people are gathered here! The Guardian Council! Academy heads! Gifted students! This is the PERFECT time for villains like us to ATTACK! To announce the horror of the Abyss Syndicate to the world! We could… I don’t know… at least plant a bomb under the stage!”

She leaned back, a self-satisfied smile on her face as if she’d just revealed a genius plan.

Michael let out a long sigh, the breath of someone who’s endured this kind of nagging too many times.

“The Boss has a bigger plan. And it doesn’t involve drawing the attention of the entire Global Hunter Authority with an open attack on a globally broadcast event.”

“But—”

“No ’buts’. We observe. We gather data. That’s it.”

Yumi snorted, then her restless eyes darted around, finally landing on one of the giant screens. There, Adam’s face was displayed, fully concentrated as he ran.

“Hmm,” Yumi hummed, her red lips curling into a smile that suddenly shifted from boredom to dangerous interest. “But… at least I can have a little fun, right? Look at that.” She pointed at the screen. “That handsome steel-gray-haired boy. Adam Socheron. Son of the Star Witch. He’s… interesting.”

Michael immediately turned, now with a genuinely wary and warning look. “Yumi. Don’t.”

“What? Why not?” Yumi tilted her head, toying with a strand of her blonde hair. “He’s Handsome. And… I have a little grudge against him.”

“A grudge? What did he do to you?”

Yumi smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes which had suddenly turned cold. “Oh, not much. Just… somehow, a few months ago, he suddenly made me… wear all of that. Inside me. Humiliating me like that. In my whole life, no one has ever dared treat me that way.”

Michael saw the strange expression on Yumi’s face.

“And it felt,” Yumi continued, slowly licking her lips, “so… ah… incredibly good. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

“Yumi, I’m warning you—”

“I know, I know! We might provoke the wrath of the strongest Awakeners, blah blah blah.” Yumi waved her hand as if shooing a fly.

“But think, Michael. That boy… is weird. His abilities… unusual. And most importantly… he’s a pervert, a huge pervert. I can definitely subdue him, imagine what we could get from him if I succeed.”

She stared at the image of Adam on the screen, her tongue slowly, sensually licking her upper lip. Since Adam first walked into her shop, Yumi had known that pervy brat was the child of the Sword Saint and Star Witch.

Michael looked at her with an expression mixed with disgust and concern. He knew just how dangerous and unpredictable Yumi was when she got an idea in her head. And an idea involving the son of a Star Witch… that was a recipe for disaster.

“Don’t do something stupid, Yumi,” he hissed, his voice heavy. “The Boss won’t be happy.”

“The Boss doesn’t need to know everything,” Yumi replied with a sweet, fake smile. “This is just… a small personal matter. I want to see how that boy gets out of the trouble he made for himself.”

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