Chapter 6
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Episode 2 - Second scenario [2]
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"The second main scenario has begun."
I looked at the rectangular screen with the words inscribed in bold.
'It has begun.'
Suddenly, a golden square screen appeared before me and the rest of the people.
— — — || Main Scenario || — — —
Category: Main
Difficulty: E+
Conditions: The Forest of Nightmares is filled with monsters and hidden detours. Destroy the demonic 'altars' and prevent the resurrection of Mystra, the demonic vampire.
Time Limit: 30 days
Reward: 1,000 coins
Failure: Death
Progress: Ongoing
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Upon seeing the golden screen in front of me, I let out a long sigh.
I knew this scenario would start in a rather simple way, but in the end, it would be a nightmare.
'Originally, Seth failed to prevent Mystra's resurrection, and that triggered the hidden main scenario.'
Mystra was of the vampire race; however, her obsession with blood led her to drink demon blood, evolving into a different race:
Demonic vampire.
Her figure remained the same as always, but her abilities and powers changed drastically.
'The first D-rank monster Seth faced.'
Leaving Mystra aside.
I knew everything about this scenario, so I wasn't worried about searching for the location of the altars and detours.
'First things first, I need to raise my stats to the maximum.'
I turned around and headed toward the Forest of Nightmares, which was right in front of me.
"Hey, where are you going?"
Upon hearing Seth's voice, I glanced at him briefly.
"To hunt monsters."
***
Spread out one after another.
Dozens of different monsters lay on the ground, cut in various ways.
Putting the skills I have into practice improves their control. I could even raise their level if I use them for a long time.
'Hah, good. I've wanted to try this for a while.'
The stigma 'Requiem of Devoured Souls'. But in the sewers, I didn't have time to use it.
While constantly fleeing from giant rats, I could barely notice some characteristics of the stigma.
— — — || Requiem of Devoured Souls || — — —
Type: Stigma
Description: ???
Progression: 「0%」
Effects:
「Voracity: By devouring the soul of the dead, you can obtain 1/3 of their stats」
「Soul Touch: By using the power of devoured souls and touching a living being, you can freeze their soul and leave them paralyzed」
「Extraction: By touching the head of any being, whether dead or alive, you can rip out their soul and raise the level of skills」
「Requiem: The constellations cannot see you if you so desire. You can use the soul to avoid the punishments of the constellations」
Karma: Using 'Requiem of Devoured Souls' too many times or on beings more powerful than you accumulates karma. The likelihood of being dragged into the 'Abyss' depends on the % of karma.
Karma Progression: 「0.00%」
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
'The characteristics of this stigma are even better than those of the protagonist.'
But upon seeing the last part...
A grim expression appeared on my face.
'So I have to use the stigma in moderation. It doesn't specify that it has a usage limit, but rather that I shouldn't use it too many times in a short period.'
If I don't overuse it, I think I could avoid the karma percentage increasing.
'But being dragged into the Abyss… It's better to avoid that until before the final main scenario.'
Seth, at some point, enters the Abyss before the story's final scenario.
'Now, looking at its effects… if I devour the souls of the dead, my stats increase, and if I extract the soul of any being, I can use it to raise the level of any skill.'
All of that leads me to a single conclusion:
'It seems I don't even need to use coins to increase the level of stats and skills.'
Coins in 'The Hero in a Ruined World' were the way to grow and become stronger quickly.
Characters with large amounts of coins in the novel became powerful very quickly.
In less than two years, Seth reached SS rank, also approaching the third-to-last main scenario.
'Well, I'll have plenty of coins to spare.'
Upon extending my hand, a screen appeared in front of me.
「Stigma: 'Requiem of Devoured Souls' has been activated」
It was time to test what the stigma could do.
When I aimed at all the monsters, a purple glow appeared throughout the area, only where the monsters' bodies were.
"....."
My heart skipped a beat.
'What the hell...?'
Countless teeth emerged from the purple glow covering the monsters' bodies.
It was right as a mouth opened, fully revealing all the teeth. There were countless mouths, and with a single bite, all the monsters' bodies disappeared.
Upon witnessing such a scene, a cold sweat ran through my entire body as I realized what had just happened.
'Is this… the stigma?'
The stigma itself is described as devouring in every sense, but what were those mouths?
"The only thing that described the stigmas was that they are innate abilities of the constellations. The stigma is like a skill and not a being in itself, but this stigma is completely different from the logic of the stigmas I created."
The concept of stigma was like a skill, but a special skill of the constellations.
Just as I was in the middle of my thoughts, several notifications appeared in front of me.
「The soul of 12 different races of Lv 7 and Lv 5 monsters has been devoured」
「Stats have increased」
「Strength Lv 30 → Lv 37」
「Endurance Lv 30 → Lv 39」
「Agility Lv 30 → Lv 37」
「Magic Power Lv 30 → Lv 36」
Seeing the increase in stats, a smile appeared on my face. Anyone would be thrilled to boost their stats without the need to level up or use coins.
"Now I should test it with skills."
After a few minutes, I kidnapped a wandering orc and knocked it out.
I placed my hand on its head and used the stigma again.
「Stigma: Requiem of Devoured Souls has been activated」
Suddenly, the orc's body twisted in a strange way. Its body lost the red color from before and changed to a dark gray.
And just when I thought that was it, its body suddenly began to crumble into dust particles in the air, disappearing without a trace.
「An orc soul has been extracted」
「Skill: Master of Steps has been raised to Lv 2」
Stunned, I didn't notice the message in front of me until after I snapped out of it.
"Forget it. This stigma is too strange…"
Then I looked at the improved skill and smiled.
"The stigma itself is very good, but…"
I opened the window and checked the karma.
Karma progression: 「0.00%」
Fortunately, it was still the same as before and hadn't increased at all.
"Maybe it's because I was stronger than the orcs, or because they weren't enough to raise the percentage."
I understood the karma part better now.
So I just had to avoid using it too many times or against a being with a level or rank much higher than mine.
Sighing, I turned around to head back to the starting point, and just at that moment…
'Crack!'
The sound of a branch snapping was heard.
Drawing my sword, I looked around.
"There's nothing…"
Was it just my imagination?
"Well, it can't be a person. I got far enough from the starting point, and there shouldn't be anyone."
Yes, maybe it was just my thoughts. I ran as fast as I could to get here, and if someone had followed me, I would have easily noticed.
Shortly after, I resumed my walk.
***
"Damn it, I should have been more careful."
Realizing she had almost been discovered, she blamed herself.
"Anyway… What was that I just saw…? Is that even some kind of skill?"
No, she should forget it. It's not like she cared about what others did, but…
"Then I didn't see wrong."
Yuri thought back to that moment when she rescued Zeth in the sewers.
It was right when Elia cast her fire magic to distract the rats. Henry and Zeth took the chance to run, but at the last moment, Henry tried to go back for her. That's when she saw it with her own eyes: Zeth killed Henry and pushed him toward the rats… then escaped without looking back.
Yuri had witnessed it all.
A guy who used people to get what he wanted, no matter who fell.
She thought about letting the giant rats catch up to him, letting them eat him alive, but… seeing that he could be useful later, she forced herself to save him before it was too late.
"I made the wrong choice by helping him."
Yuri stood still for a moment, biting her lower lip.
"It's too late now anyway."
At this point, he was part of her group. And with the second scenario getting harder and harder, she had no choice but to keep him close.
Besides… what would happen if he weren't in her group?
Could Zeth kill her too?
Yuri was aware that Zeth was the strongest on the team. Sure, she didn't know much about Seth's abilities, but now, after seeing what Zeth did to those monsters…
"He's definitely dangerous. But having him on my side would be safer than having him far away and trying something against me."
Besides.
"For some reason, I don't feel like he wants to use me like he did those people in the sewers."
Zeth acted differently with her and Seth. It was as if… he wanted something with the two of them.
"I should head back."
She realized she had lingered too long watching. Zeth might discover her, and that would be trouble.
Yuri turned around and ran back toward the starting point.
***
Jerry's advice not to go to the ruined city was valid, but there was also a need to do so.
"There's a sword I need from that place, plus it's the perfect spot to level up and reach the next rank as quickly as possible."
The ruined city was the endpoint of the scenario. First, they had to clear the three hidden detours somewhere in the Nightmare Forest.
One of the detours was located in the ruins of a temple, not far from the starting point.
Plus, they had to destroy the six altars to prevent Mystra's resurrection.
"But… should I let Mystra's resurrection happen or not…? I could change the story pretty easily if I prevent it, but…"
What she could gain from a demonic vampire was too good to pass up.
"Whatever, I should think about that later."
Sitting on a log in front of a lit campfire, I looked at the two people in front of me.
"I found a detour in some temple ruins. How about we go there and clear it?"
Seth and Yuri looked at me attentively.
"A detour?"
I nodded.
A detour was like a dungeon. They should already know that, thanks to Jerry's explanation.
Catching the idea, Seth spoke:
"No problem, but… wouldn't it be better to go with more people? I mean, it could be dangerous with just the three of us."
Yuri nodded.
"I have someone in mind. I saw her when that Jerry guy showed up."
Someone in mind?
A smile appeared on my face.
I know who Yuri's talking about… and how could I not?
"Seems like the crazy girl in love with the protagonist has already made her appearance."