124 FATAL ENEMIES ANYONE?
Dark clouds gathered, and electricity surged in the air. A powerful bolt formed—but to everyone's shock, it struck the man instead of the spider. He screamed in agony as the lightning consumed him, his body smoking and twitching from the failed magic.
"Damn," Leo muttered. "He must've made a bad crack."
Yun-Yun smirked. "What are you waiting for? Get his head."
Leo grinned. "Time for another kill steal."
He leaped from the boat, descending on the disoriented man with deadly precision. Before the man could recover, Leo's claws slashed through him, severing his head in one swift motion.
As he held the man's head, Leo shook his head in disbelief.
"This world," he said, his voice filled with bitter amusement, "is seriously fucked up."
As Leo finished mopping up the battlefield with his summoned dark beings, his demon magic surged within him, growing wild and unstable. The essence of sacrificed blood and magic he had absorbed churned violently inside, pushing him to the edge of transformation.
Suddenly, an intense aura erupted from his body, and a column of light shot into the sky, piercing the murky atmosphere and illuminating the swamp.
The power coursed through him, reshaping and strengthening his core. He felt his boundaries shatter and expand. When the light faded, he stood taller, his presence more commanding. Leo had broken through—he was now Tier 3 of the Svad Cakra.
Breathing heavily, he made his way back to Yun-Yun. She looked at him carefully, studying the shifts in his energy with an approving gaze.
"You've advanced again," she said, a faint smile on her lips. "With this kind of power, we might actually leave this place alive."
Leo met her eyes and chuckled. "I wouldn't mind staying here if it meant being with you."
Yun-Yun's smile deepened, though she shook her head at his teasing.
"But," he added, his tone sharpening, "I definitely don't plan on dying here."
Her expression softened. "Then let's make sure that doesn't happen."
-----
Suddenly, Vanessa appeared before Leo, her usual sly grin plastered across her face. "Told you the demon skill would pay off," she said, folding her arms. "You've broken through much sooner than you would have otherwise."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "That may be true, but I doubt you came all the way here just to say that."
Vanessa chuckled. "Of course not. I'm here to congratulate you—you've completed another mission. Actually, several missions."
She gestured casually, and a cascade of notifications flashed in front of Leo's eyes.
Mission Accomplished: Killing a human player.
Mission Accomplished: Killing a human player.
Mission Accomplished: Killing a human player.
Leo frowned. "I don't remember accepting any mission to kill human players."
Vanessa's grin widened. "You didn't. It's an inherent mission tied to your starter choice—Black Cock. From the moment you chose that path, your core mission has always been to eliminate other players."
Leo's expression darkened. "Are you saying I'm the villain in this fucking game?"
"Exactly," Vanessa replied smugly. "But not yet."
"Fuck you," Leo snapped, glaring at her.
Vanessa's grin remained unshaken. "Relax. You're not fully on the path of villainy yet."
Leo paused, confused. "What does that even mean? When does villainy 'consider' me?"
Vanessa raised a finger, as if lecturing a child. "Villainy only becomes your active designation once you've accumulated enough fatal enemies. So far, you've made none."
Leo crossed his arms. "That's absurd. I've got plenty of enemies. How can you say none of them count?"
"To qualify as a fatal enemy, the opposing player must actively register you as such in the System," Vanessa explained with a shrug. "And so far, no one has done that."
"Whatever," Leo muttered, rolling his eyes. "Let's talk about my reward. What do I get for these completed missions?"
Vanessa's eyes glinted mischievously. "What do you want?"
Leo thought for a moment. "I need another casting tab. You replaced my old one with the Black Cock spell, and now I'm short."
Vanessa tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Fair enough. I'll grant you a second casting tab."
"Really?" Leo said, surprised but pleased. Then he smirked. "Actually, while you're at it, get rid of the fucking cooldown on the tab. It's making spellcasting unbearably slow."
Vanessa's tone turned stern. "The cooldown exists to prevent abuse of System mechanics. It's a safeguard."
"I don't care. Get rid of it," Leo insisted, his tone bratty but resolute.
Vanessa sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll modify it. You'll be able to recast on the same tab during cooldown, but you'll need to expend a Lust Counter to do so."
Leo considered it briefly and then nodded. "Deal."
Vanessa smirked. "There. Now you can fast-cast repeatedly, Happy?"
"Ecstatic," Leo said sarcastically but couldn't hide his satisfaction. "Now I can cast faster without the stupid cooldown slowing me down."
"Enjoy it while you can," Vanessa said with a knowing smirk before disappearing into thin air.
------
A massive pavilion emerged amidst the murky depths of the swamp in the Ruins of Sodom, standing as an opulent beacon of wealth and power.
It was a marvel of construction, draped in luxurious silks of crimson and gold, its edges trimmed with embroidery that sparkled under faint sunlight. Adornments of polished ivory and glistening gemstones accentuated its grandeur, while golden tassels swayed gently in the swamp's breeze.
Yet, the most remarkable feature of the pavilion wasn't its resplendent decor but the mode of its transportation. It wasn't animals or machines that bore its immense weight, but men—each a powerful mage of at least Svad tier.
Despite their immense magical prowess, these individuals served as mere laborers, straining to carry their master through the treacherous terrain. Their sweat and toil underscored the dominance of the one they served.
Inside the pavilion, its master reclined on a lavish bed draped in silken sheets, exuding an air of effortless luxury.
Agathae Deghad, the most formidable mage to grace this realm, radiated an aura of unchallenged superiority. A scion of the illustrious Deghad family, his name alone commanded fear and respect.