Chapter 303 - 142: Outburst
BOOM—
BOOM—
’His power increased again!?’
Ales’s expression changed drastically. He knew his current strength had long since surpassed the Director Level and was now on the cusp of the legendary stage. All he needed was time.
Given enough time, he was certain he could use the Calamity Origin as his foundation to ascend to a true legendary status, not the nominal legends of the West Coast.
But—
"No, I absolutely will not fall here!"
Facing Wei’en’s relentless fists, Ales felt a chill for the first time. He had prepared for so long, poured in so much effort, and sacrificed so many important things. He absolutely could not fall here!
BOOM, BOOM...
Wei’en remained silent. Empowered by the Calamity Origin, his physical strength grew even more bizarre, each attack leaving a bloody gash on Ales.
’Bloody gashes!?’
Wei’en whipped out his Revolver and, in a gap between his attacks, fired a bullet into one of Ales’s wounds.
[Your Revolver has hit Ales Kilibali, triggering Death Trait - Calamity. Instant Death progress 10/31342. Evaluation: You finally remembered you had another card up your sleeve... Special Reward: Survival Points +20, Marksmanship +5, Resilience Level +1, Spirit Level +1.]
’Thirty thousand for the progress bar?’
Wei’en instantly put away his Revolver, whipped out a sniper rifle, and tossed it into the air. He then began to shuttle between the sniper rifle and Ales, his body becoming a complete blur of black.
BOOM, BOOM—
BANG, BANG—
[You have hit Ales Kilibali with your sniper rifle, triggering Blast Rune and Death Trait - Decrepitude. Instant Death progress 53/31342. Special Reward: Survival Points +20, Marksmanship +5, Resilience Level +1, Spirit Level +1.]
"What is this?!"
The moment the bullet exploded inside his body, Ales suddenly felt a wave of weakness.
He would never forget this feeling—it was the decrepitude caused by injuries and age before his resurrection, that feeling of being willing but weak!
"Oh? This power..."
The giant, motionless phantom standing behind Ales saw this and took on a thoughtful expression, as if it had seen this somewhere before.
’Is that someone’s Divine Power Origin?’
’A very familiar feeling. Why don’t I remember His name?’
’Still, that young man is a much better fit for the Calamity Origin than this old man.’
"Heh heh..."
Then, the giant phantom took a step and positioned itself behind Wei’en!
"No—"
Ales noticed the phantom’s movement. A flicker of despair flashed in his black eyes, and the eye pattern on his brow grew even more illusory. He stared at the phantom in disbelief.
’Why?’
’It was supposed to be me!?’
"The one who brings calamity... that should be me—"
Ales could no longer hold back. He gave up on devouring Wei’en and Tina, and his body transformed into a streak of light, fleeing into the distance.
He could not, he absolutely could not die here!
BANG!
[You have hit... with your sniper rifle, triggering Death Trait - Chaos. Instant Death progress 1353/31342. Special Reward: Survival Points +10, Marksmanship +3, Spirit Level +1.]
’Hm?’
Wei’en watched Ales instantly break free of the Church District and flee into the distance, and couldn’t help but falter for a moment. "This..."
He hesitated, but ultimately decided not to give chase.
If he could maintain his current level of power, he definitely wouldn’t have let Ales go. But seeing his Resilience Level had dropped to less than forty thousand, he gave up on hunting Ales down.
Wei’en flashed to the top of the bell tower. He looked at the increasingly weak Tina and remained silent.
Tina’s small body was leaning against the roof tiles of the bell tower. When she saw him appear, a smile spread across her face, revealing a pair of small dimples. "Brother Wei’en, I want my little bear..."
"Where is it?"
"It’s... just down below..."
Talent - Spirit Conversion. Resilience Level converted to Spirit Level.
A powerful Spiritual Power enveloped the entire Cathedral—the bell tower, the confessional, the chapel, the secret chambers... ’So many people survived after all.’
’The protection of Dawn...’
Wei’en’s form flickered, and he found a teddy bear—one almost as tall as Tina—inside one of the Cathedral’s walls. Its plush body was tattered and worn, its eyes were just two empty sockets, its nose was long gone, and it was covered in stitched-up tears.
He placed the doll in Tina’s hands. "I found it."
"Thank you... brother..."
Tina’s smile grew a little warmer. Her black pupils slowly faded away, revealing a pair of bright, azure eyes, no longer lifeless and empty as they were before.
"I think... it’s time for me to go home..."
[Your contract partner, Calamity Species Tina Klosterman, has died. Due to the effects of the Companion Contract, you have lost your power amplification. Evaluation: Oh my, she actually died! Special Reward: Survival Points +20, Origin +1, Resilience Level +2, Spirit Level +2.]
Along with this notification, the tentacles behind Wei’en twisted and retracted into his body. The six black eyes on his face closed, and the eye pattern on his brow vanished.
"Tsk."
The giant phantom behind him let out a sound—it was unclear whether it was a scoff of mockery or a sigh of disappointment—and slowly faded away.
Wei’en looked at Tina, who was clutching the teddy bear. Her final smile remained on her face, but the light was gone from her eyes. It seemed she had truly gone home.
’Three heads?’
’Tina likes you. Can we be friends?’
’Tina, happy.’
’Tina, okay.’
’Tina, home...’
Wei’en reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of Tina’s mouth, then straightened her dress. A cold, deathly smile appeared on his face.
[You are being eroded by the Death Origin. Because your Spirit Level is less than...]
"Tina, just wait a little longer. I’ll take you home..."