Chapter 898 - Do you want to know something?

I watch as Nyssa quietly nibbles on the dried, broken pieces of what used to be bread. She even spreads some jam on it, scooping it out of a nearby crushed metal tin. All of her food is in a similar state as she pulls it from her bag. For now, though, she has laid everything out on a small square of clean cloth.

All of this unfolds while we sit atop a small mountain made from the dead drakes she killed.

“After I killed half a dozen of them, they stopped coming here. They are smart,” Nyssa says, nodding seriously as she answers my question.

As she looks at me, I return the nod, pick up a piece of bread, and very, very carefully use thermal energy to toast it. It gets a very nice crunch before I put some jam on it. I’m so tired, and my body feels so starved for rest, or anything, really, that I close my eyes as I enjoy the peace.

When I open my eyes, Nyssa is looking at me. She has stopped mid-movement with her hand outstretched toward me, holding a piece of bread.

I toast it for her as well. Neither of us cares as the heat washes over her hand, since it does not damage her in the slightest.

Nyssa pulls it back when I’m done, sniffs it, puts some jam on it, and takes a crunchy bite.

“So why have you never used binding energy? I expected it to be some very rare secret weapon, but while it is much rarer than Stellar Wind or the common five, it is not extremely rare like your blood,” I ask.

“Mormor would be sad,” Nyssa answers simply, stretching her hand out toward me again with another piece of bread.

“Mormor would be sad,” I repeat after her.

“Mormor would be sad,” she nods.

I toast her bread again, this time making it slightly charred, but Nyssa does not notice the difference and takes a bite, leaving some of that black char clinging to her lips.

“Just because of that...?” I manage to get out.

“What else for?” she says, as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.

“I guess it was silly of me to expect something else,” I shrug it off before asking, “Will my key stay if I return to the 5th floor?”

“Nope,” Nyssa answers.

“So you killed the second Champion to get back here again after you left the first time.”

“I had to.”

“Obviously. Makes sense. Why the hell not. Are you planning to stay here now?”

“Yes. There are zones with stronger monsters that I have yet to examine, and I might go on the Beyond quest Lady Kindness mentioned, though she is still a little angry with me after I fought that Handler.” Nyssa smiles gently as she talks about her Handler and looks at me. “I also learned about how you and The Boys got so high in the rankings. I was a bit sad when I learned it was due to cheating.”

“I saw nothing against that in the rules,” I say, putting more effort into keeping my mind stable.

As much as I was fine during the fight, it took a heavy toll on me and my body. I really had to go all out to match her speed and defend against her attacks. But hell, at least I got to test out a few things I have long wanted to try.

At this point, I think there might be only one or two attendees who can actually face me in melee. With my defensive layers, weaving mana and kinetic energy to reinforce my body while absorbing impacts, there is not much anyone else can do.

What a silly thought that is. Melee fighter Noname is back.

Furthermore, combined with my read on the movement of mana, which only becomes useless when facing someone as ridiculous as Nyssa, or… now that I spell it all out... this albino demon really didn't allow me to use my usual way of fighting.

Actually, if I think about it, if I squint my eyes a little and dial up my delusions, didn't Nyssa cheat? Why doesn't she rely on mana a little bit more? Isn't it akin to accepting defeat against me?

If I draw a conclusion from all of this, didn't we just draw?

And all that while I still have over a year and a half left in the tutorial, while Nyssa only has a few weeks or months. Taking that into calculations as well, I… I won.

I actually did it. That crazy bastard 12th Floor Nathaniel really did it. He defeated the scariest attendee from the past 1,000 years.

My mood improves, and I become gentler, making sure not to char the next piece of bread for Nyssa.

Then, while she continues to nibble on her food, I check my rewards for the 5th floor quest. Sure, I got the key from a Champion, but the second reward was only granted once I stepped onto the 6th floor, and as the System likes to do, it was personalized. The reward for merking a Champion-grade being: a Mid Pristine item.

Something tells me the reward shouldn't be that high. Or maybe because it was just a ??? in the quest? Did the system factor in my time left in the tutorial and such? Is killing a Champion a bigger deal than I thought? Are attendees even supposed to reach the 6th floor?

Also, if I sell a key, will the attendee who uses it to reach the 6th floor receive a mid pristine item? I’ll need to check with Ruby, because if they do, I need to factor that into the price.

Anyway, it is a bit scary, and I will decide what to do with it later. Maybe I will get a single-use item and do some fucking around with the System. Or I could get a tattoo. Even though... I don't know how many options I will be offered when I go to pick the reward.

Future problems for future me. Screw that guy.

That also reminds me that I left behind some low Pristine items from those assassins who attacked me. Sure, I took some and tried to hide them, but you would have to be trash to not be able to sniff them out while I was here.

It makes me wonder who could be rich enough to armor people like that with low Pristine items. For sure not some random guild, maybe only one of the top three, with Crimson Forge likely having the most of them and others being able to reach into ancient vaults. Yet I still don't think it was any of them. What comes to mind is some Handler messing around, or possibly a corporation.

To that, I can only wish them good luck. Knowing her, once Ruby finds out, she will fuck them up.

When we are done with the food, it is Nyssa who stands up first, and I follow her, standing up as well.

Taking a step closer, she offers me her hand. “This is how humans from your planet usually greet and say goodbye, right?” she asks.

“Kind of,” I answer and take her hand, shaking it. “I will be seeing you after the tutorial.”

“Yes. I'm sure we will meet again.”

When I enter the 4th floor again, I find the low Pristine weapons exactly where I put them. The three of them: dagger, bow, and chains.

I pick up all three items and move toward Megacity. Nothing so much as scans me, and no more assassins appear.

Even with my slightly damaged Mana Heart from the trait strengthening previously, and even with all the damage the fight against Nyssa caused, I do not worry much and am ready to face them again.

Yet, it is peaceful, and the same goes for the city, which seems suspiciously quiet. There are people on the streets, but they move faster and whisper quieter. There is a hum of suppressed excitement mixed with a hint of worry.

A bit later, I learn from Talon why.

Apparently, a few Handlers conspired with a powerful corporation and aided them in doing something strongly against the rules. That caused the Ruler of Diligence to lock them up when he found out, waiting for more Rulers to decide their fate.

That was until the Ruler of Greed returned. Carrying the head of the Ruler of Envy, whom she had hunted and killed, she learned about what had just happened.

Enraged, and despite the efforts of the Ruler of Diligence, she killed the three Handlers and then left, with many only suspecting where she went.

I think it is safe to say that the corporation mentioned is done for as of now. There are not many in this universe able to face one of the most powerful combat mages to ever live.

My leg is still missing, so with time to spare before meeting Lily, I head to one of the healing guilds' headquarters out of curiosity. I remember Weslin telling me about them, and apparently, this one is the best.

Deciding to put the healing tab on my guild as a workplace injury, I’m quickly greeted by a representative in a white robe who keeps bowing and welcoming me.

We wait briefly in a room that is likely worth more than some guilds’ entire headquarters. The person waiting with me is polite and skillful when it comes to keeping the conversation comfortable. She doesn't engage in useless, bootlicking talk, instead, she shares information about her guild, likely after seeing my curiosity.

I also think she is flirting with me.

I observe her for a while, wondering if I'm just that sharp for noticing, or if she's letting me notice as a deliberate strategy.

In the end, I’m unable to come to a clear conclusion, which amuses me.

And as amusing as it is, she eventually goes too far. Likely due to a miscalculation or relying too much on her beauty, she places her hand on mine. It is intended as a fleeting gesture, but when she leans back and looks up at me, the smile freezes on her face.

She quickly masks it by coughing and placing her hand over the one that has begun to shake. Though her smile remains intact, it doesn't reach her eyes anymore.

Oh? So some sort of empathy style skill? Likely visually based, and not very reliable?

Before I can start testing my theory out, a man introducing himself as something like the Grand Healer of whatever this guild is called joins us, and the woman quickly leaves.

After a short conversation, the man begins to examine my missing leg. He fairly quickly recognizes the injury as one caused by a drake, noting that they are lesser, distant descendants of wyverns.

He talks for a while to avoid addressing the wound directly, but when it comes down to it, he tells me he cannot help me. He says no attendee will be able to if he can't, as this is his specialty.

He mentions a few Local Healers, but adds that rules bind them and they are extremely expensive, often requiring an introduction from a powerful Handler. The injury itself might take multiple healing sessions too.

At this point, I politely thank him for his time and leave.

Later that day, the surprises keep coming, with this next one being very worrisome.

I meet with Lily, who was supposed to leave Kindness’s clone in my care while she, the Bloodline members, including my sister, Sophie, and Frontier head to the 5th floor to challenge the Champion Frontier has been preparing to fight for so long.

Yet, the clone of one of the oldest Rulers is gone. Kaput. Disappeared.

Not wanting to make Lily worry before her fight, I promise her I will look for the clone. I also remind her to take Vic and Sophie and run away if the battle looks too dangerous.

After she leaves, I sit there for a bit. I’m still relying on my passive to regenerate the damage to my body, and even then, it is a few days away from being back at 100%. My circuits, my blood, my poor, tired, abused mind, all of it needs recovery. So I don't mind sitting here on a bench under a nice tree on one of Megacity's upper streets, looking out over the canyons.

Once in a while I look down at my restored leg, which Lily healed in a matter of seconds. I had wanted to stop her so she wouldn't waste her resources before the fight, but she just looked at me like I was strange. She said it wasn't that difficult and restored it completely.

After pushing these thoughts away, I just keep sitting here and taking in the view. I don't stay here in hopes that she will find me, but I'm not that surprised when she does.

The little girl with curly golden hair and violet eyes approaches from my side and, without asking, hops onto the bench next to me. She then shamelessly reaches into the basket beside me, which is full of high quality, very expensive food, snacks, and drinks I bought. It is rare for me to feel hungry, but right now, it feels like my body is screaming at me to feed it.

“Thief,” I mutter as she bites into one of the desserts.

“Is that meant for the body or the snack?” She smiles, her eyes entirely ruining the innocent appearance. That look is far too unfit on the face of a child.

“Both,” I answer.

“If you give it some thought, this body is actually mine. And as for the snack... I could probably give you an item for it, but Diligence would get angry at me again, so I would prefer not to.”

“Do it. Anger the Ant. Don't be a coward.”

She just gives me a tired smile that doesn't reach her eyes and takes another bite. “You know, I'm surprised by how compatible this clone is.”

Swinging her legs over the edge of the bench, she gazes out at the city, lost in thought. “Of course, it cannot compare to the vessels the Aurate Consortium makes for me. Many of my memories are missing since this body is incapable of hosting all of my mind, but it's not a bad experience.”

When she looks at me, the smile remains on her face, but it feels melancholic, matching her eyes.

“It's not a bad experience,” she says. “I feel a bit like a human.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask.

“It is,” the Ruler of Kindness smiles. “Originally, I came here to take this body away. The Aurate Consortium asked if I could after the other Rulers refused to assist, and I agreed. This is not something meant to be left in the hands of a mere attendee.”

“But?”

“But I changed my mind.” Her smile looks a bit more genuine for a moment before she changes the subject. “Do you want to know something? I think I can tell you as a reward for the snacks.”

“If you put it like that, you're going to scare me. But why not? Tell me.”

She gestures for me to lean down, so I bend lower for her to whisper in my ear.

“I haven't told this to anyone yet, not even Ruby.” her voice drops to a whisper. “I think Pride is trying to become a god.”