Chapter - 17

"2 hours? Will have to take a watch with me."

Seeing the time on the home screen, he decided on it and then unlocked the mobile. The mobile was still buzzing from the messages that continued to come in. He checked some messages, they were all fighting about some ethics and as he went up, it changed into corruption in the government, bureaucracy, and military. As he scrolled up and up through hundreds of messages, the conversation appeared to be started from the discussion about beggars. Then he reached the start of the conversation, a video shared by Imran.

'They would shred each other apart the next time we meet.'

He scrolled down for a brief moment, reading the messages but as he saw the long thread that was waiting for him, he gave up. Already, he was mentally strained too much, stalking through the forest, dragging the body, bruised black and purple, fighting, killing until all the ammunition was used up and still fighting. Physically, he was healed but mentally he was taxed sorely wanting to sleep.

Sunlight shined upon his mattress as he jumped onto its embrace. He tried to sleep but even though the mind was tired, the body was brimming with energy. He changed his positions a few times, all proving to be pointless. Unable to do anything, he opened the link, curious what it was that pumped them with so much vigor.

A person, wearing all black with the only blemish on the helmet, a horizontal line of red light where there should have been eyes. It was strange and captivating, instantly arousing his interest. As the video continued and the guest was introduced he found himself falling into a trance.

The video started lightheaded, the guest sometimes trying to antagonize the host while answering the questions. It seemed as if it was a stage drama. Then the tone took a slow turn. Starting from the blowing of the leg and then using some drug to quickly seal the fatal wound. No longer was the guest allowed to even speak unless required, otherwise, there was a punishment. Visual started coming in as the atrocities that were performed by the mafia slowly came to light.

He tried to pause the video but his thoughts refocused upon the video. The question continued, they were currently talking about how the kidnapping occurred, how a whole family was quickly dragged into their sphere with just a little opening. Again, he wondered how nearly a million people had watched it. Then he wondered why he was watching it. His hands did not move towards the close button however he tried. Unable to resist, his mind refocused upon the video, watching a horrible world hidden in the plain sight

Beggars were a common sight, especially in the cities. Children, women, men, elderly. So common a sight that any sympathy was slowly pushed out as the hearts slowly hardened to protect themselves. Sometimes people gave alms to placate it when it occasionally melted.

Again, he tried to force his thoughts away. It had been years since he had stopped watching the news. All of them filled with every disaster that was occurring 24/7 making him miserable, knowing that there was nothing that could be done individually. Neither could any organization, there were a lot of them operating already after all.

In the end, he could do nothing but watch. The interview, if it could be called that, dived deep into the dark sludge as the uncensored content continued. The drugs, the prostitution, the trafficking both of humans and organs. It was near the end when the cherry was placed on the top of the cake. The host, Manifest, started announcing the name of individuals along with their position. Some form civil, some for military and some politicians. All were introduced along with their crimes. At the end, it was announced that the criminal charges against all would be pursued.

He laughed at that, having no doubt nothing worthwhile will be done. His interest was instead focused upon the so-called mafia boss as he felt his mental control coming back. Crippled, as both of the legs were blown off with numerous other wounds inflicted upon the body, he appeared visibly weaker as his muscles seemed to have shrunk down.

He took a big breath when the video ended, throwing the phone aside and standing up for the prayer. At the start it was going well, but then his mind started wandering back to the video, repeating its content. It was with difficulty that he ended the prayers as he tried to keep his thoughts focused. He tried to start zikr but his mind was unable to concentrate as his thoughts wandered back. He tried again and again but was unable to gather his thoughts.

A punch

A bite

The pain made it somewhat better and madness overcame him as he harmed himself more and more as he felt his thoughts become a tiny bit clearer. At first, it was light then he started hitting himself more and more severely as he felt his mind regain freedom.

His head was swollen and his arms and legs bruised, pain flowed from all over his body but he was instead laughing, finally having attained his freedom. He grabbed his phone and went into the dungeon.

-----

White as always, it was beautiful but he ignored it. He quickly opened the shop. Two crates of bullets and 10 grenades, grenade holster, and seven points for the Body stat bringing it to a total of hundred.

Slowly his body visibly started gaining some mass as his twig-like body gained some bulk. He started performing some stretches and found them much easier than before. As he started exercising, a grin bloomed on his face. It was so much easier as he pushed himself and directly went to 17 pushups, only then did his muscles start feeling the strain.

Taking out a packet of bullets from one of the crates, he started reloading the pistol causing him to remember the revolver that the Manifest used. Even more than that though, he remembered the injection that they had used to instantly heal the stump that they had created in the show. He was sure that such things did not exist in the outside world so he started searching about them in the shop.

Revolver (Adjustable Power): CP 30 1(F)

A basic revolver for peak Level 2 divers. One of the most powerful revolvers at Level 2 with the highest power exchanged for an equally high recoil. Has a mental interface that the user can use to adjust its power. Different ammunition for different levels of power required.

Healing Drug (Level 1, 2): CP 5

Rapidly heals injuries. Requires nutrition, if not available then they are sucked from the rest of the body.

The only thing he could think was how many spare points he had to administer such a VIP treatment to that mafia boss. He tried to avoid thinking about peak level 2 that was mentioned. It should take nearly two thousand points to reach the peak in all stats. Thinking how he was beaten up each time in the dive, he shuddered at how much pain that person would have endured to get so many points in a bit above 20 days.

"What is the mission?"

"Mission Type: Patching

Minimum Requirement: Closing all the gates in the vicinity of the ritual grounds by the item placed in the inventory.

Base Payment: 2 CP

Successful Dives: 3

Additional Payment: 20 CP

Total Payment: 22 CP"

He checked the inventory but there was nothing there.

"Dive"

Slowly, his body disappeared, then his thoughts slowed down until they disappeared.

-----

He was in the forest, again. Around him was full of pieces of flesh cut down. These were the last of his hunts that he had performed using the sword as his bullets had ended by then. The smell caused his stomach to protest but there was nothing in there that could be thrown out. He stopped breathing as he ran away into the cleaner part of the forest.

The forest around him was much less dense than the previous location. Soft light flowed down as it seemed that suns were just coming out. He stared through a small clearing and started moving around. Now that the light was out, he was able to see the area was somewhat familiar. He started moving straight towards where the forest was becoming even less dense until he came out into the grasslands. Looking around, he saw the town, or what was supposed to be the town.