“Arte — Pillar of Heaviness! Stalagmite!”

“Same old tricks! Arte — Prominence Flame! Heat Ray!”

A pillar covered with magical writing appeared from the ground at Wesk‘s back then a three meters wide area below Angelo’s feet become a forest of sharp stones. Angelo responded by creating an offensive fire all around him and a beam of scorching heat strike through the air.

Angelo had fought Wesk a few times and they both were familiar with each other fighting style. Because both of them were almost equal in strength, the battle was at a stalemate. Angelo observed his subordinate’s battle while still trading blows with Wesk.

Levi seems to be slightly inferior compared with Abe but no matter. He could get stronger still, this encounter would fuel his growth. Edward had experience fighting Ghouls so Bach and Rose would be fine under his leadership. It’s Leon who worries me, I felt he used Thundering Lion’s Might. Was his enemy so strong that he was forced to use his trump card?

Stay safe you brat, don’t you dare die before me!

“Ruahhh!!”

Angelo intensified his attack, intending to resolve this as fast as possible. Fire met earth and wind met poison, the area around the four combatants. The streets, walls, buildings, were getting wrecked and ruined by the might of their Artes.

***

“Arte — Mud Bog!”

“Arte — Wind Chain!”

“Arte — Wood Spears!”

“ROOOAARR!”

Edward’s bog impeded the Ghoul’s movement and Bach’s chain of wind restrained its limbs. Rose created two spears that hit the Ghoul straight in the face but her attacks only made it angry.

“Rose, it’s useless, you don’t have the power to deal any meaningful damage to it. Even we can’t pierce its skin,” said Edward to the younger girl.

“We’re losing! The Ghoul only have a level 1 strength but its body is so tough. It just shrug off all our attacks, restraining Artes are our best choice at the moment.” Bach was desperately maintaining his wind chain.

“I’m sorry…” The sixteen-year-old girl with short black hair apologized to her seniors.

“What’s wrong? You suddenly being aggressive, this isn’t like you.” Edward asked.

“…” Rose didn’t answer.

“Arte — Restraining Vine!”

The Ghoul was starting to break free so Rose added another Arte on top of her two seniors'.

Why am I feeling so worried all of a sudden… did something happen to Captain Angelo and the others?

A bit far from there, a cage of lighting could be seen followed with a thunderous sound.

Leon's Lightning Cage and Thundering Lion’s Might? Was his enemy so strong that he have to use it? It decreases his life span!

While Rose was distracted, one of the Ghoul’s tail extended and its sharp tip was going straight to pierce the girl.

“Rose!!!” Bach roared.

Oh no! I messed up! Wood Shie- I won’t make it!”

Suddenly Rose was shoved to the side, someone jump-dived and saved her from a fatal blow.

“Hey, hey, it’s dangerous to be distracted in a fight, pretty girl.” The youth wearing leather armor spoke to her, their face was close enough that they could feel each other’s breath.

“U-um, thank you.” She told her savior, still a bit shaken by her close brush with death.

“Hey playboy, get your ass back up and fight.” A man in his early thirties with the army cut hair said to the youth. He wore heavy armor with a shield and an axe on his hands.

Two more figures came out and started attacking the Ghoul, lessening the burden on Edward and Bach.

“So lacking in delicacy, that’s why you’re still single.” He said in a soft voice while getting up.

“Aaahh? You said something you twerp?” The heavy armor guy cocked his head.

“Nothing, are you hurt, pretty lady?” The youth offered his hand and Rose took it.

“I’m alright, thanks to you… adventurers?” She asked.

“Yup, not all of us sit on our asses during a crisis.” The youth grinned.

“Hail, we four are the adventurer group Red Talons, we’re here to provide assistance.” The army cut man spoke to Edward and Bach.

“We are most grateful.”

Crash!

Edward and the heavy armored man spoke while keeping the Ghoul busy. Rose wanted to join them but the abruptly broken cage lightning caught her attention.

“Leon… Vice-captain Edward!” Rose was almost screaming. Her voice was desperate, and filled with agitation.

“I know, go! We can handle things around here, go help Leon. I think he’s in trouble.”

“I’m sorry. Arte — Flying Dandelion Steps”

Rose left the battlefield using her fastest Arte.

Please be safe, please be safe, please, please... I don’t want... anyone I love to die anymore.

With rugged breath and worried face, she ran as fast as she could. On the other street next to her, a cultist wearing a white mask was running from the direction she was going to.

At an alley that connected both streets, their figures crossed for a split second, separated by almost twenty meters. It was as if time was slowing down when they crossed path but both of them continued on their way.

Both weren’t aware of each other, they were too busy with their own thoughts. One was desperately wishing the wellbeing of another, while one was thinking how to get the most benefit during the ongoing chaos.

Rose’s steps were gradually getting slower, she felt as if her heart was pierced by a sword. Near a bodiless head, she dropped to the ground. Her legs gave out, her head was blank and her sight was blurred by something watery. With trembling hands, she reached out. With the gentlest touch, she took the head.

Rose hugged it and wept.

***

“Fuu…”

Viers was very careful of not being seen while entering the house and the ongoing battles were far away so less human activity in the vicinity. He removed his mask and let out a long breath. Viers sprawled on the floor of the safe house, he allowed himself to relax a little.

The haul wasn’t much but it will have to do, no way I’m going back out there with my Victa tank empty.

Leon…

Viers took out a sun pendant, he organized his complex thought while looking at it.

The existence of plot armor… either he did have it or it was really his own strength… or his plot armor was weaker because he’s a minor hero! His destiny is to die so the true hero could have character development! Brother, sister, friend, rival, or… lover.

I hope I didn’t screw up big time because of this. Either way, more testing would be required to confirm the plot armor's existence. Because of its danger, I should observe the fight of other villains and heroes first. When the hero got his second wind, it would be foolish of me to be the villain at the receiving end.

Because of this world is somewhat xianxia-ish, I thought simply powering up, killing my enemies, and don’t dig my own grave would be good enough. But if the plot armor variable exists, it would complicate things a lot. Leon’s unusually high Victa reserves and using his ultimate three times? Not normal, not normal I tell you! And good guys' plot armor, fucking scares me.

Enough of that, now I should address the two problems that I currently face, the red tumors and my temporary affinity. Since the affinity would last for a few years it isn’t urgent but the tumors are another story, I have to deal with this.

Come to think of it, I hypothesized that my healing factor could heal it. Can it? Commencing dive.

Viers’s healing factor was unblocked during his fight with Leon. Viers went to his realm of consciousness to observe if there are any changes in the red tumors while the healing was active.

Viers was observing his astral projection in a dark and empty world.

Where did the tumors come from? From the ritual or from the black goo Somaya made me drink?

There were pulses of healing in a regular interval from his life-orb. When it met the tumors, nothing notable happened. Viers didn’t feel anything different so he was at a loss.

Is it because it is untreatable or because my healing factor is too weak? How to improve my healing factor anyway? I eat monster flesh and my life-orb increase in quantity but the amount of healing I received didn’t change. It’s like having gallons of water but I could only drink a few drops at a time!

Hmm, I’m powerless to do anything to the tumors right now so the next order of business, is to get stronger. I must ascend to level 1 ASAP! Perhaps my healing could get stronger after my level up. If after that it’s still impossible then the cure must be in the hands of the cult. And my chance to obtain it will increase with the more power I have! Log out.

Viers rose up to a sitting position, he wanted to wear Leon’s pendant despite not knowing its effect but when he saw the dried red blood on his hands he paused. The blood on his left was his own, while on his right was Leon’s. Viers got it when looted his bloody corpse.

I think… I should tone down the fighting and killing business a little bit. At least until I got stronger, after all I’m still a level 0 with only three Artes in my arsenal. Unlike other MCs that like to fight life or death battles, I prefer ‘curb-stomp win’ battles.

Because I’m not a hero, I’m just… wait. Am I not the two-dimensional villain in other MC’s stories? No sad back story, selfish and unlikeable, no complex motivation but good intentions… I’m even a member of an evil organization… nay, the LOWEST member of an evil organization!

Change my white mask to a white bucket-type mask and I would be those guys that can’t hit a target that stays stationary ten feet in front of them. Those guys that lose to a bunch of teddy bears with rocks and spears despite wearing space armor and had a laser gun!

Well… even if I’m the lowest of the low, I will show all of them that I could rise to the top with the help of my cheat, the Spring of Wisdom!

One MC got his A.I. chip.

One MC got his dragon ring.

One MC got his copper mirror.

One MC got his time traveling insect.

One MC got his red loli star god and evil god power.

One MC got his Asura spirits and a real MC as his dad.

One MC got his eternal dao heart and plot armor itself as his cheat.

My cheat… is their stories and more… a whole load more.

Viers wore the pendant on his neck then took out Leon’s 4 Mana crystals. Viers held the crystals with the size of marbles on his hand and started absorbing the Mana inside them.