70 Those that dwell in the smoke [2]

"Who the hell are you?" Esther points her sword at the face of the man they have met during their quest

"Please don't kill me, I'm only a poor man that was assaulted by those monsters that appeared out of nowhere," the man pleaded for his life even to the point where he kneeled in front of their presence when he felt the Killing intent that was overflowing within Esther

"Hold on Esther, he might have some information about those monsters," Morris grabbed her by the shoulders to calm her down, her body was a little red with a simple touch of his hand, her memories inside the Cafe resurfaced making her uncomfortable with his body closed against her own

[What's wrong with that girl, she's looking a little shaky all of a sudden]

'Hmmm, this is a good idea all I need to do is to interrogate this person, which leaves the two of them all alone,'

"Boss, leave this job to me, we can't waste our time while I interrogate this person the two of you should explore the area for any clue that was left by the monsters," Kyo dragged the injured man inside a building that was durable enough to leave him alone

2 days ago

"Hey, Esther you like the boss right? so listen I got a hmmp" Kyo was dragged away from the kitchen along with his mouth completely covered by Esther's hand

Kyo was carried to the roof where no one would ever enter as the entire place was covered with a lot of roots along with the smell of the failed potions that were thrown away. her killing intent was pouring out into their surroundings as her heart skipped a beat after she remembers what he said

"You've misinterpreted my actions, I don't like Morris I just think of him as a great leader and nothing more. so can you do me a favor and forget that sick joke of yours," Esther denied his assumptions before he pulled out a book that belonged to her

"The White-haired Tyrant and the Blond-haired Slave, it's a little strange that the Tyrant kind of reminds me of the boss. I'm not here to spill your secrets or anything I want to support you in your endeavors," Kyo returns

her book after he witnessed her other side that was completely different from her usual self

"Wh - what do you mean? do you know that he isn't that kind of person, he's not even treating me like I'm a girl. whenever he sees the two of us it feels like we're his siblings,"

"Esther, I know that you're inexperienced in this sort of thing, but you can't ignore the fact that he's going to be snatched from the two of us. your relationship only stretches to your contract with Agni, I'm someone that he promised to raise, ignoring your feelings will only make it worse I can help you. just call me once you're ready to go,"

Back to the present

'I wasn't this shy when it was the three of us but as soon as Kyo left my heart won't stop raising once I'm alone with Morris,'

"Esther, hey Esther, hello Esther can you hear me?"

"What?"

"Your spacing out again is there something on your mind? I kind of noticed that you're a little distant. seriously how do you expect me to call you when you are 2 meters away," Morris noticed her irregular movements once he got closer to her body, she was averting his gaze along, he tried to place his hand on her forehead that was knocked away with her hand

'Shit it's a little troublesome, her emotions are getting the best of her, sigh I didn't want to do this knowing that I created her but thats the only way. I'm gonna get arrested after this but fuck it, I can't have her in a stats like this,'

[Whoa, I never thought I'd see something like this]

Morris leaned over her body and reach her lips, Esther was surprised by the sudden turn of events, she was witnessing the person she admires connecting his lips with her own. he stroked her back with his left hand and placed his right on her face, her overflowing emotions were suppressed with a single kiss

[Appraise: the player Esther Lander's emotional condition has been stabilized]

'He kissed me? no way is this a dream yes maybe I'm dreaming, no I can feel his lips. calm down I need to keep my composure, Morris this isn't the time for this sort of stuff, I'm not even ready,'

"Looks like you came back to your senses, I'm not good with my words so I let my body do the talking you and Kyo are important (Tools) to me I won't let the two of you go. since losing the two of you would lead to my death (Im not joking) I need some trustworthy allies (Tools) in my journey but the two of you are different from everyone, watch out," Morris grabbed her body and cast Ignite that destroyed a Black spear that was aiming for their body

"You were able to block that? it looks like I found a mortal that can entertain me," a shadowy figure appeared in their presence its body was similar to the monsters that they defeated yet it was bigger than the rest and had the intelligence to speak the human tongue

[Side quest: You've encountered the mini-boss, Ageris the leader of the smoke dwellers]

Before Ageris could even take a step forward he was launched by a powerful punch that came from Kyo min soo that was watching them from the sidelines along with the Npc that was tied at his back

'Damn it!!! why the hell did you have to ruin the moment, you useless pieces of shit I'm gonna kill you,'

[System: the player Kyo min soo has activated the skill Rampage, turning him into a Beast that will annihilate anything that he targeted, the mini-boss Ageris has been the target for Rampage]

He severed the rope that was keeping the injured Npc bound to his body before his whole body turned into a beast-like form that pummeled Ageris to the ground creating a powerful vibration that was the same power as his Seismic fist, he kept on swinging his arm. Ageris managed to break off his continuous attack and attempted to disappear into the shadows that send him to a location where his minions were awaiting his next orders injured from Kyo's attack he sends his army to attack only for them to witness the face of a monstrous figure that was faster stronger and vicious killing their men in a flash

[System: the player Kyo min soo has activated the skill Bestial rage, increasing his speed and power, it will only work once Rampage is activated]

"Come back here!!!"

Kyo's rampage didn't stop as long as his prey was alive, he charges with a murderous Aura that frightened Ageris's subjects some were able to move but they were slow to dodge his claws that tear them limb from limb while the others were frozen in place. even with the injuries, they inflicted on his body they were not even enough to make him cautious as a second there was a deep cut it was healed without a trace of it being afflicted. they could only do was to surrender struggling would only prolong the inevitable even Ageris tried to beg for a painful death that wasn't provided

"Please even if I can't escape from your grasp send me off with a painless death,"

"You would ask me for mercy? I can't let you die without knowing my pain, I had a hard time finding the perfect weather, along with giving the two of them some time to be alone. they were progressing just as I predicted, but you have to step at that moment and ruin everything and for that, I can't forgive you,"

Kyo splashed a potion in Ageris's body healing his wounds completely before he starts tearing down his body limb from limb. his screams echoed through the silent night whenever his arms and legs were to fall apart he would pour another healing potion and repeat his actions over and over. until Ageris even resorted to committing suicide by stabbing his spear into his chest was repelled by Kyo's arm and continued with his attack until he finally kills Ageris by pulling every single organ inside his body and feeds it to his mouth

[System: the mini-boss Ageris that was targeted by Rampage is dead, the player Kyo min soo's skill has ended]

[System: You've killed a monster the collected experience will now be given]

"Boss, Esther, I can't move I've used up all of my energy," After his rampage was over he returned to his previous form

[Side quest: you've completed the first part of the Side quest, the one that contributed the most will be announced

1st place, Kyo min soo

2nd place, Esther Landers

3rd place, Christopher Morris]