[Host, I would suggest you to wear a mask.]
Ignoring those words, Ryuk exited the cave and turned towards the direction of the Royal Palace, standing hundreds of miles away from him.
Of course, Ryuk was not dense enough to neglect the system warning him about changes in his facial features, which didn’t matter much to him, after all, his face can’t change much with just a small body reconstruction, right?
CRACKLE
Energy slowly started to surround his body, but already knowing about the strength he possessed at his present level, which was the peak he had accomplished in his previous life.
He wanted to test something different, wanted to experience the strength he would reach soon.
‘System, activate Overdrive and use all energy from the Conduit,’ he commanded about the use of energy that the Heaven-Grade Artifact had stored until now, of course, he can’t make that energy him but the System can easily synthesize it to boost Overdrive—an ability which provides momentary boost but was in reset for 15 days previously.
[ Activating OVERDRIVE – -»
𝟷𝟻 𝙳𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚝 – -» Overwritting the time limit.
Ding!! ACTIVATED ]
System manipulated the ability’s time limit, overwriting the values to its own benefit.
SWOOSH
Suddenly, a huge surge of energy rushed through Ryuk’s body.
He could clearly feel the tremendous boost rushing through his energy veins; slowly, veins became visible on his skin.
[ Level Boosted – -» 〖EPIC〗-»〖LEGENDARY〗]
A smile formed on Ryuk’s lips as he slowly lifted his hand, clenched his fist, and felt excitement coursing through him, calming his mind. He noticed what the System had just done—Converting complete energy of Conduit and even overwriting that ability.
After he ordered the System to use its full potential, he realized how overpowered this System truly was.
He understood that right now, his system had complete access to the main grid to exchange abilities and even manipulate them to its need.
Just like how Overdrive, which is an exchanged ability with a time limit, got overwritten by the System itself, meaning he has a maxed system with unlimited points—like some cheat or hack.
Slowly leaning to get a grip on the ground before launching himself, his smile was visible due to the amusement he felt seeing the same Regression Sutra available now for free, which had cost 10 million points.
But of course, he can’t use it since such a huge transaction without real points will only lead to consequences for both him and the System itself.
BOOM!
Energy released from his foot causing him to directly launch towards the capital city, but it was instantaneous movement; the moment his foot left the ground, he vanished.
“Is it done?” Ryuk turned to observe a very familiar decoration and walls, specifically, it was his own room inside the Royal Palace, which was too fast for him to even ponder the speed he reached it.
Unlike previously, there was no feeling of exhaustion. It was approximately a distance of a thousand miles, and the speed was so fast that he couldn’t even feel he was moving.
Knock knock
Suddenly, a knock on the door caused him to pull out of his thoughts, turning towards the energy figure of himself which had now vanished, an advanced approach from the system to mix the timing so Alisia can’t detect two Ryuk’s leading to end of this advantage.
Seeing how the System was now working itself like an assistant, Ryuk felt satisfied. Since he can’t do anything about it right now, he can at least use it a bit.
“Come in, Mother,” he called out, already knowing about the identity of person.
Alisia slowly entered the room and the first thing she saw was a boy standing in the middle of the room.
“…What happened?” Ryuk calmly observed Alisia, who was blankly looking at him, making him doubt if there were changes in his bodily features.
“I see, it’s good that you are fine.” Seeing Ryuk completely fine, she turned to leave but was interrupted by him.
“Mother, can you tell me, is there something different about me?” Ryuk asked, curious about the result of the body reconstruction.
Alisia’s eyes slightly widened before relaxing and answering truthfully, “Yes, you are completely different from before.”
‘Seems I shouldn’t have done body reconstruction now,’ turning his gaze downward he pondered.
Slowly turning before placing her folded hand on her chest, she continued, “You started to hide things from me and even started to act as if you know everything…”
Ryuk blankly kept hearing all the complaints Alisia had with him from all these years; he heard everything except how he changed physically, making him assured that he was the same as before.
Of course, he could see a mirror, but it is impractical to judge himself since he can’t see himself from others’ points of view.
“I understand, Mother.” Ryuk nodded and moved forward without even hearing Alisia’s reply and left the room.
‘Sigh, is every child the same as him?’ Alisia felt helpless and turned to leave too. Her reason for coming here was to confirm Ryuk did not go to the North.
Alisia was already aware of the presence of the Conduit inside the North, which was also the reason she chose this continent among others. With a broken energy core, it was a suicidal move from others’ perspectives.
By doing so, she made her sisters let their guard down since they would never think that Alisia would become stronger in Heindal, indirectly saving her from any hassle in the future.
Alisia also wanted to just live calmly without focusing on strengthening herself, but then Laila came into play, a good friend of Alisia, at least until then.
Alisia had two choices: first, to remain weak and even lose her present strength under the influence of the Heaven-Grade artifact, making her helpless when it comes to protecting her child; second, to betray her friend to secure a better future for her child.
‘Laila, I will repent one day, but until then, let me see my child grow.’ Alisia moved in the hallway, alone.
Her approach was cruel for others.
She destroyed a whole family for her selfish desires, but she would do it again if needed.
After all, between her child and this world, everything was crystal clear: what she would choose.
.
.
.
Moving in the long hallway, Ryuk thought about the letter he sent Countess Carlien a week ago to send Jenny to the Royal Palace.
Of course, his initial approach was to protect Carlien, more especially Count Carlos, from dying due to all the torment Carlien has inflicted on the Daughter of Heaven.
His thinking always remained about different possibilities when taking another step, and from there he realized that the background family of Jenny, meaning the Soul projection that had tried to attack him five years ago, would have definitely been keeping an eye on Jenny.
Due to Ryuk cutting off the Soul projection link at that time, he was sure Jenny couldn’t be aided directly by that figure. But still, that woman’s not taking any actions from outside seemed suspicious to Ryuk.
Meaning, the Devereaux family somehow didn’t allow anyone to interfere here.
In a sense, even if the Conduit repelled smaller continents, if Ardoros attacked, the overwhelming number of energies would become blockages for the Artifact.
But why would the Devereaux family do something for free?
Of course, they were interested in him.
And Ryuk needed to satisfy their interest until he was done with his preparation for the Flagbearer battle.
Yes, he had already decided to participate in that heir battle.
He was still unaware of anything outside the continent, but one thing was clear: the more exposure he gets through the Flagbearer title, the stronger he will become.
After using the System’s Overdrive to reach the one more level temporarily, he realized the enormous gap they held.
His body was reconstructed, helping him withstand the pressure, but still, his mind couldn’t catch up to the speed he reached.
He needed practical battle experience.
Emperor Ryuk Von Selvius had killed millions of humans or some thousand smaller monsters, but not once had he fought someone stronger than him except for Demon Belial.
Ryuk, while moving, thought about Bella. Since the last time he saw her, she was doing his mother’s errands about drugging him.
‘What must Cat be doing?’
.
.
.
Bella’s POV
‘I will challenge that guy and defeat him,’ my mind was filled with thoughts to finally put Ryuk in his place.
Don’t know how many times I had already been defeated until now.
I moved towards the Prince’s palace. Since he had already rested for a day after taking the Mana Repellent, I was sure it would not be hard to defeat him.
‘Today will be do or die. Even if I had to use my spirit beast, it would not count as cheating since once I am done with my work, I will just—’
badump
Thud
“Ugh!” Suddenly, a sharp smell assaulted my senses. My legs became numb, making me fall due to something which was very familiar.
‘R-Ryuk,’
I couldn’t understand.
This was unexpected since normally this happened whenever he was too close and had a breeze, but this intense smell.
“Haa….Haaa….I-I need to leave now.” My eyes started to become hazy.
His scent seemed to become even more intense.
My brain was tingling with a sensation, it wanted me to run towards the source of the smell.
‘Damn it!’
I am losing myself.
I let down my guard.
‘Why a human!’ My heartbeat was rising at an unprecedented pace, eyes started to become teary feeling such an intense sensation. ‘Please help, Mother.’
“Bella, what happened?”
drip
I could only hear my tears falling on the floor the moment a familiar voice reached me.
Lifting my gaze, my eyes met with hers. “Mother!”
Without any hesitation, I ran towards her. My numb legs seemed to again become alive, and with a jump, I wrapped my hands around her.
“Oh my, Bella, did that child do something again?”
I only shook my head while burying my face in Mother’s embrace.
Slowly, her own scent dominated that pig’s.
“Are you fine now?”
She kept moving while carrying me. Of course, I was not going to leave her until we left this damn place.
‘I hate you, Ryuk.’
.
.
.
Alisia, holding Bella in her embrace, observed the girl who was fighting the hardest battle of her life, winning over her instincts.
Just like normal humans, who lose themselves with their instincts like greed, wealth, and all other things, Cat-kins had one instinct too—an immense attraction towards their fated ones.
Once the Cat-kin finds someone’s smell to their desire, they slowly become addicted to it and then obsessed with it, leading to death.
Alisia was not confirmed, but seeing Bella fallen on the ground while covering her nose, her doubt finally became true: Bella was attracted towards Ryuk.
Something Alisia would never accept because She knew about this being a momentary instinct which led to several deaths of Cat-kins, and this weakness was used at a vast level by Incubus’ for dealing with this race.
Slowly patting Bella’s back, caressing it, Alisia brought her to the room, understanding the need to console this girl and teach her about the way to overcome this sensation.
Yes, Alisia had also developed some small care for this girl, who kept referring to her as Mother, and just because of that, she would help her overcome the only weakness Cat-kins had.
It was good that Alisia had noticed such a condition of Bella. Normally, outside the continent, the Incubi-race uses their scent manipulation to manipulate Cat-kins.
“Bella,” Alisia called out.
“Yes, Mother,” Bella’s soft voice let itself out, while slowly calming herself down.
“I can’t accept you as my daughter-in-law,” Alisia teased her, noticing a subtle movement of Bella’s hand. After all, only Bella and Ryuk deserved to see her soft side.
“Ok,” only a small answer left Bella’s mouth, knowing about Alisia’s teasing, she tightened her grip before adding, “I am fine being your daughter.”
“Hehe, child, you seem to become smart.”
Hearing praise, Bella slowly retreated her head back, adding, “More than Ryuk?”
Alisia acted as if she were thinking before answering, “That child is different, girl.”
“Yeah, he is a pig.”
“Pfftt.”
With those words, both of them burst into laughter, a moment which only belonged to the mother-daughter duo, some talk to lighten their mood from all stress.
.
.
.
.
Far away from Selvius Kingdom’s capital city, in the Aidiac Kingdom.
At the borders of Aidiac’s capital city existed an underground space belonging to the Assassin Guild—an organization growing rapidly in the past few years.
Moving inside the dimly lit room, two figures became visible standing in front of a silhouette.
“It’s fine, Yui. Saintess is still under coma, you did great,” the head of the Assassin guild looked at the girl who was at the tender age of ten, belonged to the highest level assassins the guild had.
Looking at the small girl whose eyes were devoid of any sympathy and face completely blank, the Leader slowly passed a letter to Yui.
“Take this. Your next mission is to kill Ryuk Von Selvius.”
Let me explain some confusion, The System is like an Unrooted phone or Modded Application, which can give him things for free and send wrong data to the main server but there is. chance for Server to detect it if things seem more suspicious, So, Ryuk and System will not exchange something enormous without having any points to exchange, this way, Until he can’t becomes strong enough, he will remain low-key ( Of course System verse or whatever you call them, not like some strong hero acting weak, Rest assured, He is Ryuk)
