Chapter 81
Later that day, William was making his way back to his dorm after his special class. He had chosen potion-making for a simple reason: it was one of the few ways one could safely earn insane money. Potions like the elusive soul potion could fetch exorbitant prices on the market.
While others sought dangerous combat-related jobs or missions that risked life and limb, William had seen the value in mastering a skill that could make him wealthy without gambling his neck. After all, a well-made potion could be worth more than gold in the right hands.
As he crossed the academy grounds, a commotion caught his attention. Heads turned as the rumble of engines filled the air. A convoy of battered buses, escorted by military vehicles, rolled into the academy gates. The buses bore scorch marks, dents, and bullet holes—grim reminders of their harrowing journey. The students from Military Academy 5 had arrived.
William slowed his steps, merging into the crowd of curious onlookers. Whispers rippled through the students around him. These weren't just transfers—they were survivors. Survivors who had faced the Heretics and lived.
When the bus doors swung open, students filed out, their faces tired and wary. William's curiosity burned, and he subtly activated his Third Eye. His gaze shifted to the soul crystals of each student, gauging their strength and potential. Most were unremarkable—mediocre power levels, faint glows indicating competence but nothing extraordinary.
Then he saw him.
A wiry boy stepped off the last bus, his soul crystal wrapped in a sinister, dark aura. Deep red energy swirled like venom, clinging to it. William's heart froze, his mind flashing back to Mr. Duke. The same cursed energy that had caused Mr. Duke to explode radiated from this boy.
"The Heretics must have implanted him," William thought, his stomach twisting.
As he focused, William's system suddenly activated, a cold, mechanical voice filling his mind:
"You're on your own, William. You know what you must do."
A notification flashed before him:
[Quest: Eliminate the boy before he explodes.]
[Time Remaining: 1hr 58min 25secs.]
[Quest Reward: Level Up.]
William clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't report this. No one would believe him. Worse, the academy might accuse him of being part of the Heretics. After all, he'd already predicted one attack before. The suspicion could fall squarely on him.
"I'm short on time," he muttered under his breath, quickly walking away to formulate a plan.
---
Later, as the shadows stretched across the academy grounds, William spotted the boy standing near the dormitory entrance. He was looking around, unsure, his body tense.
William's pulse quickened as he checked the quest timer. [Time Remaining: 0hr 41min.] Less than 45 minutes.
Taking a deep breath, he composed himself, approaching the boy with a casual wave. "Hey there! You must be one of the new transfers from Academy 5, right? Name's William. Figured I'd come by and say hello—welcome to Academy 4!"
The boy, tall and wiry, turned to him with a wary glance. "Yeah, thanks. I'm... trying to get used to it here." He avoided eye contact.
William smiled warmly. "I bet it's tough. I can't even imagine what you went through... I heard the Heretics went after Academy 5. Must've been rough seeing that much action."
"Trust me, I really know how it's like," William added, trying to sound empathetic.
The boy shifted uneasily but finally shrugged. "Yeah, something like that."
"Listen, if you need help settling in or want someone to show you around, I'm your guy," William offered. "The academy's a big place, and things are a little... different here than Academy 5, I'm guessing?"
The boy cracked a faint smile. "Yeah. It's a lot more peaceful here." His eyes darted around nervously.
William tilted his head, pretending to be concerned. "You seem tense, man. You sure everything's okay? Look, I know it's none of my business, but if you ever feel like you're... struggling, I'm a good listener."
The boy mumbled, "Thanks, but I'm fine. Just... tired from the trip."
William nodded sympathetically, slipping his hand into his pocket. His fingers closed around a small spray bottle filled with red gas. Without hesitating, he brought it out and sprayed a fine mist in the boy's direction.
The boy flinched, inhaling sharply. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, but his voice wavered. His pupils dilated, his breathing quickened, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Symptoms of heavy aphrodisiac exposure hit the boy almost instantly. His expression shifted as confusion gave way to an intense, unnatural desire. His movements became erratic, his gaze locking onto William with an unsettling intensity.
"I... I don't feel right," the boy stammered, stepping closer.
William fought the urge to recoil, his stomach churning. "I hate this," he muttered under his breath. But there was no other way.
Placing his hand on the boy's chest, William forced a flirtatious smile. "Tell you what," he said, lowering his voice to a sultry tone. "I know a place where we can unwind, away from all the noise. You know, just a spot to chill after a long day. Just me and you."
He gestured toward the forest beyond the academy grounds, an area that was usually deserted at this hour.
The boy, his mind clouded by the aphrodisiac, leaned in as though to kiss William on the cheek. William jerked his head back, narrowly dodging the attempt. "Not here," he said quickly, grabbing the boy's wrist and pulling him toward the forest.
The boy followed without resistance, his movements erratic but compliant. William's mind raced as they disappeared into the trees. He had only one thought: Finish this before it's too late.
__________________________
As William dragged the boy deeper into the forest, he kept a wary eye on his surroundings. He passed by the red flowers he had used earlier to create the spray and noted a cluster of purple flowers nearby. Another weapon he used, he thought grimly, . Suddenly, he sneezed, the tickle in his nose a sharp reminder that he had likely inhaled a trace of the spray himself.
Damn it, he cursed internally. While his Immunox ability made him impervious to poisons, aphrodisiacs weren't technically classified as such. He felt a faint, irritating warmth building at the edges of his mind, but he shook it off, and it seems his little dragon is coming to life.
The boy, clinging tightly to his arm with an unsettling smile, asked in a zesty tone, "Are we there yet? You're not planning to keep me waiting all night, are you?, not that I'll mind."
William suppressed a shiver, realizing the spray's effects were beginning to wear off. He needed to act fast. His destination wasn't far now. Pushing forward, he finally reached the edge of the foggy chasm he had scouted earlier and made his plan. Without hesitation, William shoved the boy away, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.
The boy stood up slowly, shaking his head. The haze in his eyes cleared, and the unnerving demeanor disappeared. His tone, now laced with cold malice, cut through the forest air. "Where am I?" he growled, his voice hard and threatening.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"You're where you'll die," William replied, his voice steady despite the racing of his heart.
Without waiting for a response, he pressed the button in his hand. Hidden mechanisms scattered across the forest floor hissed, releasing clouds of purple mist that quickly enveloped them both. The poisonous vapor spread like a shroud, the scent of the purple flowers suffocating in its intensity. William's lips curled into a grimace as he anticipated the boy's screams of agony.
Instead, what greeted his ears was a low, mocking laugh.
As the mist began to dissipate, William froze in place, his expression shifting to one of deadpan horror. The boy stood amidst the clearing, utterly unscathed.
"Impressive trick," the boy said, brushing his uniform casually. "Too bad it doesn't work on me."
William's pulse quickened. His Third Eye flared to life, and he focused on the boy's stats, desperate for an explanation.
And then he saw it.
The boy's ability: Toxic Amplification.
It allowed him to absorb poisons, converting them into raw energy to fortify his body. Not only was he immune to the purple mist, but he had likely grown stronger because of it.
William's shoulders slumped as the gravity of his mistake hit him. He had been so fixated on the dark energy surrounding the boy's soul crystal earlier that he hadn't thought to check his abilities.
A sharp ding interrupted his thoughts, and the system brought up another notification:
[Time remaining: 10 minutes.]
Panic flared in William's chest. The clock was ticking, and now he faced an enemy who was not only unharmed but stronger than before. What was he supposed to do now?
William's shoulders slumped as the gravity of his mistake hit him. He had been so fixated on the dark energy surrounding the boy's soul crystal earlier that he hadn't thought to check his abilities.
A sharp ding interrupted his thoughts, and the system brought up another notification:
[Time remaining: 10 minutes.]
Panic flared in William's chest. The clock was ticking, and now he faced an enemy who was not only unharmed but stronger than before. What was he supposed to do now?
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