Chapter 32: Professor Vengeance (End) The Fruitful Operation
I stood amidst the fallen, my breath steady. The organization would be crippled, its lower ranks decimated, but the leaders would remain unaware of my true purpose.
Turning away from the carnage, I made my way towards the exit. The mission was far from over, but this was a decisive blow. The Deadly Hollows would feel the impact of this night for a long time to come.
I moved swiftly, using the chaos to my advantage. The remaining members were disoriented, their panic palpable. I dispatched them quickly, ensuring that none would be left to warn the higher-ups. The organization would be crippled, its lower ranks decimated, but the leaders would remain unaware of my true purpose.
As I made my way towards the exit, I encountered Alfred. It's quite a new feel looking at this wise man using a cloak not his usual butler uniform. His expression was calm, but I could see the concern in his eyes. "Are you certain this is wise, Master Draven?" he asked, his voice low. "You are taking a great risk."
I nodded, my resolve unwavering. "It is necessary, Alfred. The Deadly Hollows must be weakened, and this artifact is as crucial as it is,"
Alfred sighed, but he did not argue further. He knew Draven's mood well enough to understand that my mind was made up and it would be useless to ask further. Together, we made our way out of Varik's territory, the sounds of the disturbance still echoing behind us. The first phase of my plan was complete, but there was still much to be done.
We reached the outskirts of the city, where a carriage awaited us. Alfred had arranged for our swift departure, ensuring that we would not be followed. As we climbed inside, I felt a sense of satisfaction. The mission had gone smoothly, and the Deadly Hollows were now vulnerable.
But this was only the beginning. The artifact in my bag was a powerful tool, one that would give me the edge I needed. As the carriage rolled through the dark streets, I allowed myself a moment of reflection. I had the intelligence, the skills, and the determination to see this through. It turns out that it's not as difficult as what I've pictured in mind. But caution is a must.
Just like what I've been secretly doing as Dravis Granger.
Back in that world, I have lots of men, people that I helped in achieving their vengeance, and what to help people deliver the justice that the police couldn't or even won't do.
I glanced at Alfred, who was watching me with a mixture of respect and concern. "What is our next move, Master Draven?" he asked quietly.
Alfred is an interesting character.
In the game, he was set to be a very loyal butler towards the Drakhan Family, but I didn't set it too deep. but now that I observe him, he seems to be so loyal and cares about Draven's care. Or me.
What I'm doing is obviously a play of great risk, he's used to Draven's antics, the dark and dirty plays in order to glorify his name. But this time, it must be a different fear.
Since Draven is not that strong, he uses his wealth to order people and even asks another person to make the strategy for him. It's an unusual action for Draven to do something my way in his eyes.
"Our actions stop in this first phase, Alfred. The rest will be left for the knights, the Deadly Hollows, and my pitiful student," I shrugged. "This artifact has already fallen into my hands anyway," I said, taking the Devil's Gauntlet from the bag and examining it closely.
"Is that the artifact they were looking for, master? What do you think its use is?" Alfred's eyes lingered on the gauntlet, curiosity mingling with his usual stoicism.
"It's an artifact capable of absorbing souls and converting them into strength and mana. It can increase the mana pool of its wielder if used correctly," I replied. As I spoke, I activated [Vision], focusing on the status of the equipment.
The gauntlet's status materialized before my eyes. Its rank was A, and it possessed a skill that allowed the absorption of mana from defeated foes. No wonder the Deadly Hollows were so desperate to obtain it.
Should I try using [Chyrisus' touch]? I still have enough mana to do so anyway.
Without further hesitation, I decided to use [Chyrisus' Touch]. I focused my energy, channeling almost half of my mana into the artifact. The gauntlet began to glow, pulsing with a dark, ominous light. The air around it crackled with raw energy, and the very essence of the gauntlet seemed to shift and expand.
As the light faded, I checked the gauntlet's status again using [Vision]. The artifact had been upgraded to an SS rank, and two new, powerful skills had been unlocked.
[Soul Conqueror
Description: The gauntlet can now absorb and store life force, which can be used to heal the user, extend their lifespan, or resurrect the recently deceased.]
[Skill Name: Psyche Dominator
Description: The evolved gauntlet allows the user to control minds, and implant an order of enslavement, forcing a creature into a servant of the devil (user). Servants slots available: 2]
The significance of this artifact became even clearer.
"Interesting," I murmured, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "No wonder the Deadly Hollows wanted this."
Our carriage rattled through the darkened streets, the city's dim glow gradually giving way to the familiar grounds of the Drakhan Mansion. Alfred and I exited the carriage, and I immediately made my way to my study. The night was far from over, and there was still much to be done.
Inside the study, I summoned my magic pens: the Fire Pen, the Dark Pen, the Water Pen, and the Psychokinesis Pen. These tools had been essential in my previous plans, and I would need them now more than ever. But as the pens floated before me, something strange happened.
The Dark Pen suddenly moved on its own, drawn towards the gauntlet. A vast amount of dark clouds enveloped both the pen and the gauntlet, swirling and merging in a chaotic dance. I flinched slightly, my eyebrows knitting together in curiosity and concern. This was unexpected.
The dark clouds thickened, obscuring the items from view. I could feel the intense energy emanating from the swirling mass, a mixture of the Dark Pen's essence and the gauntlet's newfound power. Several seconds passed, each one stretching into an eternity, before the clouds finally began to dissipate.
What remained was not the gauntlet I had known, nor the simple Dark Pen. It had transformed into something entirely new. I activated [Vision] once more, and the status of the new item revealed itself to me: the Devil's Pen, an SS-ranked equipment.
The Devil's Pen was now a formidable weapon, combining the abilities of the original Dark Pen with the soul-absorbing power of the gauntlet. Its new design was sleek and menacing, exuding an aura of dark, potent magic.
I held the Devil's Pen in my hand, feeling its weight and the immense power it contained. This would be an invaluable asset in the battles to come. The Deadly Hollows would never see their valuable gauntlet getting consumed by my pen coming.
Alfred stood silently, his eyes never leaving me. "This is beyond anything we could have anticipated," he finally said, his voice a mix of awe and caution.
"Indeed," I replied, turning the pen in my hand. "This will change everything."
I saw the status and skill and saw that there are no additional skills except than one thing.
[Servants slots available: 5]
It's a significant increase. It became five from two.
I should experiment with it later.
The night was still, the quiet of the mansion a stark contrast to the chaos I had just left behind. I let go of the Devil Pen, letting it float independently and began to plan my next move. The first phase had been a success, but there was still much to be done. The Deadly Hollows were weakened, but not defeated. And there were still questions that needed answers.
There are other risks and incidents that would follow in the future if it was the same flow as what happened in the game. Since there are no players inside this world, there would be no one following quests in order to protect it from the possible chaos.
The successful operation increased my confidence, but overconfidence would lead to negligence. Hence, a defeat.
Let's play it beautifully.
This world, the threats, the enemies, the university, and everything.
Let's orchestrate a beautiful script for every part of them.