Issac Richter's fingers savagely rip the lock of the Sealing Restraint—a sharp "Click!" echoes in the room, and as the steel shackles fall, Jun is finally free.
But the moment of freedom is immediately intertwined with a dreadful threat. The sound of earth dissolving from the ceiling—"Fizz... Fizz-fizz-fizz..." becomes deafeningly loud.
Issac forgets he is holding his Rifle and stares at the melting ceiling.
"Mr. Richter," Jun speaks with a cold, calm voice. "What kind of power is that? Have you encountered it before?"
After the acid completely cuts the ceiling, creating a gaping hole, a figure's shadow descends slowly and gracefully through the smoking opening.
The meager, faint moonlight is the only light source in the dark night, yet it is enough to clearly see the enemy's silhouette.
His height is around 190cm, and his tightly built body is concealed beneath a neat, black suit. The attire is so modern and spotless that it starkly contrasts with the inhabitants of this Corrupted City.
His gloved hands, crisp collar, and polished shoes suggest he is from the Noble Class or a very wealthy organization.
The man's face is obscured by a hat. The Hamburg Hat he wears is made of black felt, featuring a deep crease (Center Dent) down the middle of the crown.
The brim is slightly curved and rigid, conveying formality and authority. A black silk ribbon wraps around the hat, holding a small metallic Emblem—the sign of a detailed and secretive society.
The hat's shadow plunges his face into darkness, but a faint light shimmers within that dark space.
Yes, it is similar to the glow of Jun's deep violet eyes. But this color is a dark, golden-yellow.
Issac's hard face is instantly overcome with horror. He doesn't look away from Jun but answers curtly.
"Venom Catalyst... it's one of the most destructive Triggers. It has the ability to corrode everything, both Physical and Spiritual, like a poison."
Jun and Issac stand on opposite sides of the stone table.
The new enemy takes heavy steps closer to them, his cold gaze lingers alternately on Jun and Issac. The Demon-like eyes beneath the shadow of his Hamburg Hat glow with a dark golden-yellow.
Issac clenches his Rifle tightly and fully utilizes his Body Enhancement. A faint light blue Vitality energy flows slightly through his body.
(Issac is strong in Soul Essence and his Vitality application surpasses the three Scouters here. His non-Aethernal status is due to him not being directly influenced by the Chaos Impact.)
He takes two steps back and securely takes a position to shoot the enemy. Then, with his dark-smoke eyes, he glances at Jun.
"Keep your promise, kid."
Jun replies, "Of course," and prepares to fight the enemy in front of him. In reality, Jun is terrified. He is only pretending to be confident because of the promises he makes to Issac. He doesn't even know the nature of his own Trigger.
To face such a High-Level enemy is simply impossible for him.
Issac assesses the terrain. The small size of the basement means it is extremely difficult to avoid the enemy's poison.
'This guy uses poison... the terrain favors him,' he thinks.
Issac pulls Jun closer and whispers his plan.
"I have a plan... you see the hole he carves in the ceiling, right?"
"Yes, I see it."
Issac then hands Jun a Smoke Bomb.
"Pull the Pin. Roll it at his feet. Then run. We only have three seconds before the smoke dissipates."
Jun immediately understands.
'Of course... when dealing with a high-level enemy like this, the most important thing is to run if you can't win!'
Issac, without hesitation, racks the bolt of his Rifle and aims at the enemy.
"BANG!"
The enemy easily dodges Issac's bullet by slightly swaying his body to the right.
Immediately after the shot, Issac takes advantage of the brief moment the enemy is leaning right, plants his feet firmly on the ground, and lunges forward.
His Vitality-Enhanced leg cuts through the air, creating a noise as he fiercely kicks the enemy's face with a high-speed momentum.
"Whip-crack! CRACK!"
The enemy, as expected, quickly crosses his arms and blocks the blow. Issac's powerful kick sends the enemy sliding backward, even causing his Hamburg Hat to tilt slightly. Issac's attack has momentarily broken the enemy's composure.
"NOW!"
Issac shouts, and Jun immediately rolls the Smoke Bomb at the enemy's feet and quickly pulls Issac away. The enemy instantly realizes the danger rolling towards his feet but is too late.
Jun and Issac take the opportunity and scramble towards the acid-carved hole in the ceiling, desperate to escape.
Reaching the upper floor, the two of them sprint onto the corrupted, decaying boardwalk of the Corrupted City. The poisonous fumes rising from the basement quickly cover the surrounding air.
"Hurry! That Venom can't be contained in the basement for much longer!" Issac shouts, clutching his knee tightly.
At that moment, the enemy stares at them from the fumes beneath his Hamburg Hat with his Demonic Eyes.
The enemy activates his 'Viper's Shadow.'
His entire body mingles with the poisonous mist, becoming nearly invisible within the surrounding shadows. His speed increases significantly. Dark-green poison spreads across the wet ground along his path, making their movement sluggish and rendering him extremely hard to track.
"This guy... he's gone!" Jun grits his teeth. Even his Violet Eyes can't find the enemy in the mist.
As Issac and Jun race for their lives on the boardwalk, the enemy, in Stealth, swiftly catches up with them.
"Mr. Richter... he's catching up... Do you have any other plan?"
Issac: "No."
Jun: "Damn it!"
Then, a sharp object emerges from the poison fumes chasing them, heading straight for Jun and Issac. Jun clearly sees the object with his violet eyes—four slender poison needles.
Jun immediately warns Issac.
"Mr. Richter... quickly dodge to your right!"
Issac immediately understands, and both of them smoothly avoid the poison needles.
Suddenly, Issac feels an extreme exhaustion in his chest, and his skin turns pale. His speed instantly drops.
"Mr. Richter... what's wrong?" Jun asks anxiously.
Issac's knees tremble, and he nearly falls to the ground. Jun quickly turns back.
Issac feels like his Soul Essence is being eroded by something. He immediately realizes.
'Why am I so careless?' Issac mutters to himself in self-reproach.
He pulls up his trousers and examines his slightly aching leg near the knee. He sees a worm-like parasite clinging to his calf.
(The enemy sends a 'Jealousy Parasite' to Issac when Issac kicks him.)
The parasite sucks his Vitality and injects poison.
Issac draws the dagger hidden in his waist and stabs the parasite. The parasite dies, but blood heavily streams from his calf. The poison, however, is already spreading through his body.
The spreading poison forces Issac to stop running. Jun understands Issac's condition and immediately stops running as well.
Issac: "Leave me and run..."
"No!" Jun stubbornly refuses Issac's command.
Jun then focuses on sensing his Soul Essence. He feels the Vitality energy flowing through his body and prepares to fight.
The enemy stops his Viper's Shadow and reappears from the fumes. He speaks with a dark, merciless voice:
"Have you given up running? You pitiful little insects..."
Under the moonlight, Jun and Issac finally see the enemy's face clearly.
He wears a white mask. His mask has a design like a cold Jester. The color is a bone-white, and dark shadows, like laughing scars, are etched around the mouth area. Intricate red and black markings, the symbol of his Secret Society, adorn some parts of the mask.
His eyes, visible through the mask's holes, are even more unique than Jun's Deep Violet Eyes. They glow with a blend of golden-yellow and black, and his pupils are not circular like a human's but long and slit-like, giving off a Demon Vibe. The 'Envy' power of the Venom Catalyst emits a cunning light.
Issac immediately freezes upon seeing the mask.
"Vi... Viper!" Issac cries out, trembling.
"Viper?" Jun asks, confused.
Issac then explains, "He's Viper, a notorious Aethernal Mercenary from a famous organization called 'The Stranger.'"
Issac's eyes are locked on Viper's Jester Mask.
"Viper! The Stranger sends you to a minor city like this... for what? What can possibly be valuable in Mistveil?"
Viper replies with a seemingly amused expression beneath his mask. His Demon Eyes coldly assess the dark violet eyes of Jun.
"Don't try to fool me. I know you're searching for an Artifact here in Mistveil."
'Artifact?' Jun thinks.
Issac is astounded that Viper knows their secret.
Issac: "You got us, Viper. So, you're here to take the map and the information regarding the Artifact?"
Viper lets out a brief, chilling laugh. His Classy Voice echoes eerily in the dark alleyway.
Viper: "Your mind is quite sharp. But you should know this: My organization isn't the only one chasing after that Artifact. Soon, Mistveil will become a battlefield for all the Secret Societies. Some truths are simply unfit for mere insects like you to know."
Viper lets out a long, feigned sigh, adopting a mournful posture.
"Now, you pathetic little insects have only two choices. Shall you let my parasites corrode your Soul, or will you give me the Artifact map and the necessary information? If you listen to me, I won't kill you..."
Viper stares down at Issac, who is kneeling on the ground due to the Jealousy Parasite's Corrosion.
"I will even absorb all the poison spreading inside you from the parasite. How about it? A win-win situation, wouldn't you say?"
Issac's eyes burn with fierce anger.
Issac: "Win-win my ass!"
Viper chuckles again, the sound is laced with madness.
"You have five seconds. After five seconds, I'll assume you reject my offer. It doesn't matter anyway... you won't last long, will you? You're already suffering the agony of poison throughout your body..."
Viper makes a gesture of sorrowful crying.
"You poor little insects... I'll send you to hell quickly so you won't suffer. Hah... hah... hah."
Viper lets out a bizarre, slightly insane laugh.
Issac: "His humanity is completely gone..."
Jun remembers what Bander said: that Aethernals are dangerous.
"That's why," Jun realizes.
(Aethernals can wield supernatural powers, but if they can't control their emotions, even a strong Soul Essence can lose its humanity.
Strong Soul Essence users can Reject the Chaos Impact. However, they are not completely free from it. Side Effects always exist. Once a Rejector is formed, they start at Trigger 0 (Awakening), which can go up to Trigger 12.
Activating one's power at Trigger 0 instantly makes them an Aethernal. But the most difficult time is the moment of advancement to the next stage. With each step up, the influence of the Impact grows stronger. Therefore, training the Soul Essence further before advancing is the safest path.
If an individual advances without sufficient Soul Essence strength, their Emotion Core can crack under the influence of the Chaos Impact. The consequence? A complete loss of humanity.)
Then, Viper begins counting backward from the number five.
Viper: "Let's begin, shall we..."
"....5...."
Jun stands frozen in a defensive posture, desperately racks his brain.
"Think, dammit... Do I have any other plan left?" he mutters to himself.
".....4....."
Issac knows that regardless of what happens, he won't be able to escape. However, Jun still has a chance. That's why Issac secretly retrieves a hidden magical item he has left.
The item is a spherical object about the size of an apple, resembling a bomb with a Pin at the top.
".....3....."
Issac then looks at Jun with eyes that convey a profound apology.
Issac: "What's your name, kid?"
Jun: "Huh?... It's Jun", Jun replies, turning his head toward Issac with a confused expression.
".....2....."
Issac smiles slightly, a look of peaceful resignation washes over his face.
"Jun... I apologize for doubting you, kid. The truth is, we never suspected you were the killer... We only suspected you as the killer's accomplice..."
Jun realizes Issac is about to do something drastic. Jun senses it from the look on Issac's face, but: 'Please, don't let it be what I think...' Jun desperately hopes.
"....1...."
Issac: "...I'm sorry, kid."
Viper: "Time's up, you pathetic insects. Ready to die?"
Issac has already pulled the Pin.
Gathering the last of his strength and Vitality in a final surge, Issac abruptly rushes toward Viper with fierce momentum. The force of Issac's charge sends both of them flying away from Jun.
Issac clings to Viper tightly.
"This bomb won't kill you, but it's enough to seriously wound you, you bastard!"
Then, Issac glances back at Jun with eyes brimming with tears.
"Makus... Clara... Edgar... I have to go now... Goodbye to all of you..."
"BOOM!"
The explosion envelops the alleyway with a speed faster than sound. But it isn't a mere explosion. From the blast, an incredibly beautiful blend of red, blue, green, and violet light bursts forth, scattering into the night sky like a fireworks display, creating an unbelievable spectacle.
Issac Richter's Vitality completely disperses, lost within that beautiful light. His journey as a Fighter comes to an end in this terrifying Chaos World, in a manner that bravely claims a victory.
Issac saves Jun.
Jun collapses, staring blankly at the fading light. His Deep Violet Eyes shine brightly with an unbelievable agony and loss.
(Issac Richter passes away on Corrupted Era - 1172, 3th Month, 3th Day with ''The Beautiful Demise")