Issac Richter's fingers savagely ripped the lock of the Sealing Restrainta sharp ''Click!'' echoed in the room, and as the steel shackles fell, Jun was finally free.
But the moment of freedom was immediately intertwined with a dreadful threat. The sound of earth dissolving from the ceiling_ ''Fizz... Fizz-fizz-fizz...'' became deafeningly loud.
Issac forgot he was holding his Rifle and stared at the melting ceiling.
"Mr. Richter," Jun spoke with a cold, calm voice. "What kind of power is that? Have you encountered it before?"
After the acid completely cut the ceiling, creating a gaping hole, a figure's shadow descended slowly and gracefully through the smoking opening.
The meager, faint moonlight was the only light source in the dark night, yet it was enough to clearly see the enemy's silhouette.
His height was around 190cm, and his tightly built body was concealed beneath a neat, black suit. The attire was so modern and spotless that it starkly contrasted with the inhabitants of this Corrupted City.
His gloved hands, crisp collar, and polished shoes suggested he was from the Noble Class or a very wealthy organization.
The mans face was obscured by a hat. The Hamburg Hat he wore was made of black felt, featuring a deep crease (Center Dent) down the middle of the crown.
The brim was slightly curved and rigid, conveying formality and authority. A black silk ribbon wrapped around the hat, holding a small metallic Emblem_ the sign of a detailed and secretive society.
The hats shadow plunged his face into darkness, but a faint light shimmered within that dark space.
Yes, it was similar to the glow of Jun's deep violet eyes. But this color was a dark, golden-yellow.
Issacs hard face was instantly overcome with horror. He didn't look away from Jun but answered curtly.
"Venom Catalyst... it's one of the most destructive Triggers. It has the ability to corrode everything, both Physical and Spiritual, like a poison."
Jun and Issac stood on opposite sides of the stone table.
The new enemy took heavy steps closer to them, his cold gaze lingering alternately on Jun and Issac. The Demon-like eyes beneath the shadow of his Hamburg Hat glowed with a dark golden-yellow.
Issac clenched his Rifle tightly and fully utilized his Body Enhancement. A faint light blue Vitality energy flowed slightly through his body.
(Issac is strong in Soul Essence and his Vitality application surpasses the three Scouters here. His non-Aethernal status is due to him not being directly influenced by the Chaos Impact.)
He took two steps back and securely took a position to shoot the enemy. Then, with his dark-smoke eyes, he glanced at Jun.
"Keep your promise, kid."
Jun replied, "Of course," and prepared to fight the enemy in front of him. In reality, Jun was terrified. He was only pretending to be confident because of the promises he made to Issac. He didn't even know the nature of his own Trigger.
To face such a High-Level enemy was simply impossible for him.
Issac assessed the terrain. The small size of the basement meant it would be extremely difficult to avoid the enemy's poison.
'This guy uses poison... the terrain favors him,' he thought.
Issac pulled Jun closer and whispered his plan.
"I have a plan... you see the hole he carved in the ceiling, right?"
"Yes, I see it."
Issac then handed Jun a Smoke Bomb.
"Pull the Pin. Roll it at his feet. Then run. We only have three seconds before the smoke dissipates."
Jun immediately understood.
'Of course... when dealing with a high-level enemy like this, the most important thing is to run if you can't win!'
Issac, without hesitation, racked the bolt of his Rifle and aimed at the enemy.
"BANG!"
The enemy easily dodged Issac's bullet by slightly swaying his body to the right.
Immediately after the shot, Issac took advantage of the brief moment the enemy was leaning right, planted his feet firmly on the ground, and lunged forward.
His Vitality-Enhanced leg cut through the air, creating a noise as he fiercely kicked the enemy's face with a high-speed momentum.
"Whip-crack! CRACK!"
The enemy, as expected, quickly crossed his arms and blocked the blow. Issacs powerful kick sent the enemy sliding backward, even causing his Hamburg Hat to tilt slightly. Issac's attack had momentarily broken the enemy's composure.
"NOW!"
Issac shouted, and Jun immediately rolled the Smoke Bomb at the enemy's feet and quickly pulled Issac away. The enemy instantly realized the danger rolling towards his feet but was too late.
Jun and Issac took the opportunity and scrambled towards the acid-carved hole in the ceiling, desperate to escape.
Reaching the upper floor, the two of them sprinted onto the corrupted, decaying boardwalk of the Corrupted City. The poisonous fumes rising from the basement quickly covered the surrounding air.
"Hurry! That Venom can't be contained in the basement for much longer!" Issac shouted, clutching his knee tightly.
At that moment, the enemy stared at them from the fumes beneath his Hamburg Hat with his Demonic Eyes.
The enemy activated his 'Viper's Shadow.'
His entire body mingled with the poisonous mist, becoming nearly invisible within the surrounding shadows. His speed increased significantly. Dark-green poison spread across the wet ground along his path, making their movement sluggish and rendering him extremely hard to track.
"This guy... he's gone!" Jun gritted his teeth. Even his Violet Eyes couldn't find the enemy in the mist.
As Issac and Jun raced for their lives on the boardwalk, the enemy, in Stealth, swiftly caught up with them.
"Mr. Richter... he's catching up... Do you have any other plan?"
Issac: "No."
Jun: "Damn it!"
Then, a sharp object emerged from the poison fumes chasing them, heading straight for Jun and Issac. Jun clearly saw the object with his violet eyes_ four slender poison needles.
Jun immediately warned Issac.
"Mr. Richter... quickly dodge to your right!"
Issac immediately understood, and both of them smoothly avoided the poison needles.
Suddenly, Issac felt an extreme exhaustion in his chest, and his skin turned pale. His speed instantly dropped.
"Mr. Richter... what's wrong?" Jun asked anxiously.
Issac's knees trembled, and he nearly fell to the ground. Jun quickly turned back.
Issac felt like his Soul Essence was being eroded by something. He immediately realized.
'Why was I so careless?' Issac muttered to himself in self-reproach.
He pulled up his trousers and examined his slightly aching leg near the knee. He saw a worm-like parasite clinging to his calf.
(The enemy had sent a 'Jealousy Parasite' to Issac when Issac kicked him.)
The parasite was sucking his Vitality and injecting poison.
Issac drew the dagger hidden in his waist and stabbed the parasite. The parasite died, but blood heavily streamed from his calf. The poison, however, was already spreading through his body.
The spreading poison forced Issac to stop running. Jun understood Issac's condition and immediately stopped running as well.
Issac: "Leave me and run..."
"No!" Jun stubbornly refused Issac's command.
Jun then focused on sensing his Soul Essence. He felt the Vitality energy flowing through his body and prepared to fight.
The enemy stopped his Viper's Shadow and reappeared from the fumes. He spoke with a dark, merciless voice:
"Have you given up running? You pitiful little insects..."
Under the moonlight, Jun and Issac finally saw the enemy's face clearly.
He wore a white mask. His mask had a design like a cold Jester. The color was a bone-white, and dark shadows, like laughing scars, were etched around the mouth area. Intricate red and black markings, the symbol of his Secret Society, adorned some parts of the mask.
His eyes, visible through the mask's holes, were even more unique than Jun's Deep Violet Eyes. They glowed with a blend of golden-yellow and black, and his pupils were not circular like a human's but long and slit-like, giving off a Demon Vibe. The 'Envy' power of the Venom Catalyst emitted a cunning light.
Issac immediately froze upon seeing the mask.
"Vi... Viper!" Issac cried out, trembling.
"Viper?" Jun asked, confused.
Issac then explained, "He's Viper, a notorious Aethernal Mercenary from a famous organization called 'The Stranger.'"
Issac's eyes were locked on Vipers Jester Mask.
"Viper! The Stranger sending you to a minor city like this... for what? What could possibly be valuable in Mistveil?"
Viper replied with a seemingly amused expression beneath his mask. His Demon Eyes coldly assessed the dark violet eyes of Jun.
"Don't try to fool me. I know you're searching for an Artifact here in Mistveil."
'Artifact?' Jun thought.
Issac was astounded that Viper knew their secret.
Issac: "You got us, Viper. So, you're here to take the map and the information regarding the Artifact?"
Viper let out a brief, chilling laugh. His Classy Voice echoed eerily in the dark alleyway.
Viper: "Your mind is quite sharp. But you should know this: My organization isn't the only one chasing after that Artifact. Soon, Mistveil will become a battlefield for all the Secret Societies. Some truths are simply unfit for mere insects like you to know."
Viper let out a long, feigned sigh, adopting a mournful posture.
"Now, you pathetic little insects have only two choices. Shall you let my parasites corrode your Soul, or will you give me the Artifact map and the necessary information? If you listen to me, I won't kill you..."
Viper stared down at Issac, who was kneeling on the ground due to the Jealousy Parasite's Corrosion.
"I will even absorb all the poison spreading inside you from the parasite. How about it? A win-win situation, wouldn't you say?"
Issac's eyes burned with fierce anger.
Issac: "Win-win my ass!"
Viper chuckled again, the sound laced with madness.
"You have five seconds. After five seconds, I'll assume you reject my offer. It doesn't matter anyway... you won't last long, will you? You're already suffering the agony of poison throughout your body..."
Viper made a gesture of sorrowful crying.
"You poor little insects... I'll send you to hell quickly so you won't suffer. Hah... hah... hah."
Viper let out a bizarre, slightly insane laugh.
Issac: "His humanity is completely gone..."
Jun remembered what Bander had said: that Aethernals were dangerous.
"That's why," Jun realized.
(Aethernals can wield supernatural powers, but if they can't control their emotions, even a strong Soul Essence can lose its humanity.
Strong Soul Essence users can Reject the Chaos Impact. However, they are not completely free from it. Side Effects always exist. Once a Rejector is formed, they start at Trigger 0 (Awakening), which can go up to Trigger 12.
Activating ones power at Trigger 0 instantly makes them an Aethernal. But the most difficult time is the moment of advancement to the next stage. With each step up, the influence of the Impact grows stronger. Therefore, training the Soul Essence further before advancing is the safest path.
If an individual advances without sufficient Soul Essence strength, their Emotion Core can crack under the influence of the Chaos Impact. The consequence? A complete loss of humanity.)
Then, Viper began counting backward from the number five.
Viper: "Let's begin, shall we..."
"....5...."
Jun stood frozen in a defensive posture, desperately racking his brain.
"Think, dammit... Do I have any other plan left?" he muttered to himself.
".....4....."
Issac knew that regardless of what happened, he wouldn't be able to escape. However, Jun still had a chance. That's why Issac secretly retrieved a hidden magical item he had left.
The item was a spherical object about the size of an apple, resembling a bomb with a Pin at the top.
".....3....."
Issac then looked at Jun with eyes that conveyed a profound apology.
Issac: "What's your name, kid?"
Jun: "Huh?... It's Jun", Jun replied, turning his head toward Issac with a confused expression.
".....2....."
Issac smiled slightly, a look of peaceful resignation washing over his face.
"Jun... I apologize for doubting you, kid. The truth is, we never suspected you were the killer... We only suspected you as the killer's accomplice..."
Jun realized Issac was about to do something drastic. Jun sensed it from the look on Issacs face, but: 'Please, don't let it be what I think...' Jun desperately hoped.
"....1...."
Issac: "...Im sorry, kid."
Viper: "Time's up, you pathetic insects. Ready to die?"
Issac had already pulled the Pin.
Gathering the last of his strength and Vitality in a final surge, Issac abruptly rushed toward Viper with fierce momentum. The force of Issacs charge sent both of them flying away from Jun.
Issac clung to Viper tightly.
"This bomb won't kill you, but it's enough to seriously wound you, you bastard!"
Then, Issac glanced back at Jun with eyes brimming with tears.
"Makus... Clara... Edgar... I have to go now... Goodbye to all of you..."
''BOOM!''
The explosion enveloped the alleyway with a speed faster than sound. But it wasn't a mere explosion. From the blast, an incredibly beautiful blend of red, blue, green, and violet light burst forth, scattering into the night sky like a fireworks display, creating an unbelievable spectacle.
Issac Richter's Vitality completely dispersed, lost within that beautiful light. His journey as a Fighter came to an end in this terrifying Chaos World, in a manner that bravely claimed a victory.
Issac had saved Jun.
Jun collapsed, staring blankly at the fading light. His Deep Violet Eyes shone brightly with an unbelievable agony and loss.
(Issac Richter passed away on Corrupted Era - 1172, 3th Month, 3th Day with ''The Beautiful Demise")