The mercenary leader gave a hand signal. In a fraction of a second, the two subordinates charged along the alley walls, moving with surreal speed. —Die! —shouted the one on the left, driving his poisoned dagger straight into my chest.
CLANG!
The poison-coated blade struck my skin and snapped in half, as if it had hit a titanium wall.
The mercenary froze, his eyes widening behind his iron mask.
[Your current Vitality and Strength exceed the attacker's physical damage.] [Damage Received: 0]
—My turn —I murmured.
I grabbed the attacker's wrist before he could pull away and activated [Devour].
Dark mist emerged from my palm, enveloping the mercenary completely. He tried to scream, but the black mist muffled the sound as his muscles and magical energy were drained directly into my body.
[Absorption Complete!] [Agility +8, Mana +50] [Ability Acquired: Silent Steps (Rank B)]
The Hunter's body collapsed to the ground like an empty, desiccated shell.
The second mercenary tried to turn and flee by leaping over the alley wall, terrified by what he'd seen.
—[Shadow King's Domain] —I commanded.
My own shadow stretched across the ground at high speed, launching spikes of black energy that pierced the fugitive's legs and dragged him back to the ground.
I slowly walked toward the mercenary leader, who was now trembling uncontrollably and taking steps backward until his back hit the brick wall.
—W-who are you?! —the leader stammered, drawing a short sword with trembling hands. —You're not a human Hunter... You're a monster!
—I'm the guy you tried to rob —I replied, raising my hand. The black mist already covered my fingers. —But before I devour you, you're going to tell me who hired you to follow me from the auction.
The mercenary swallowed hard, feeling the overwhelming Rank A aura suffocating his lungs.
—I-it was the Alvorada Guild! —he screamed desperately. —Vice Guild Leader Vane! He said a Rank F kid had shown up with high-level cores and ordered us to recover the money and eliminate the witness!
I clenched my teeth. Vane. The same man who had left me to die in the Dungeon was still trying to clean up the traces of his filth.
—Thanks for the information —I said.
—Y-you said that if I talked...
—I said you'd tell me —I corrected him. —I never said I'd let you live.
The black mist covered the leader.
[Absorption Complete!] [Strength +12, Agility +10] [Current Level: 22]
I brushed the dust off my gloves and looked toward the illuminated Alvorada Guild skyscraper in the center of the city.
—The Rank S Dimensional Rift can wait a few days. Tomorrow, the Alvorada Guild will have a new owner.