29 Here Lies The Dead: R.I.P

'For now, I think it would be better if I get a new skill instead of upgrading Speed of a Devil to Evolutionary Stage II. From my ten active skill slots, I only have one skill placed in it. It would be better if I have another skill in my arsenal to have a different power to use, making me more versatile in battles. And so, that only leaves me with three choices…'

Should it be the Speedster passive skill? Or the Mirror Split and Afterimage, which are both active skills?

Solis closed his eyes while contemplating. Eventually, he let out a deep breath as he had finally come to a decision.

"I'll pick Afterimage."

He said to himself and paid the cost of two genetic skill points to acquire the skill. With that, he was once again back to having zero genetic skill points, but nonetheless, he was very satisfied with his expenditure.

'A passive skill isn't what I'm looking for right now. At first glance Mirror Split is the most impressive choice here, however, I can't control the ten clones as I please and they don't even do any damage. It's a good offensive skill to confuse an opponent, but what I want is a burst of speed, so Afterimage is definitely what I'm looking for. It can both be used as an effective escape skill with its vanishing perk in addition to the afterimage it leaves behind, and it can also be a great offensive skill to instantaneously close in on an enemy…'

Solis' thoughts were clear and set. Thus, he now had two active skills which he can employ in the heat of battle, expanding his capabilities by a fair margin.

Afterward, he closed the Game Menu and looked in front of him. Before he knew it, there was no longer a breath-halting clash happening, as what entered his view instead was a bloody scene of Valedd staring down coldly at the corpse of the muscular horseman Gaius.

"It's finally done, huh…"

***

(Young Master Valedd of the Nebuchadnezzar Aswang Clan, LVL. 10)

Type: Special

State: Heavily Injured

Health:98/500

Mana: 5/250

Physical Defense: 35

Magic Resistance: 30

Skill/s: Lifesteal, Crisscross Slash, Ghoul Transformation, Aswang's Heightened Senses, Eye of Darkness

***

'He looks to be in a pretty bad shape. Almost like the wind could blow him over.'

Valedd seemed to be aware of Solis's gaze locking on to him from behind because he turned around to regard him.

"Thank you for saving my life back then kind stranger, and I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. My sincerest apologies." Valedd began to bow his head, to which Solis responded by waving a hand at him.

"Don't mention it. It was nothing at all. More importantly, you seem to be heavily injured there. I've got a Health Potion right here if you want."

Solis took out a small health potion from his inventory and dangled it with his fingers.

"You are way too kind benefactor. Could you please pass it over to me? My body is extremely weak right now and I'm finding it hard to move around."

"Sure thi—"

"Stop…!"

As Solis was just about to walk over to him and hand over the health potion, Valedd urgently yelled for him to halt. Naturally, Solis raised an eyebrow at him with a perplexed expression.

"Is something wrong?"

"Uhm… I'm so sorry to say this, benefactor, but could you just kindly throw it over to me please?"

"Oh?"

Solis squinted his eyes imperceptibly at Valedd's words. He closely observed him for a second and noticed that he wasn't standing straight, which is normally the right position or gesture when receiving someone fully and openly. Instead, his posture was slightly bent; almost as if he was prepared to bolt right away at the first sign of danger.

'Well, isn't he being overly cautious…'

Without any indication of being mad at his skepticism, Solis simply gave a carefree smile while saying, "Okay, then. Here you go. Catch."

Solis tossed the small health potion overhead towards Valedd. In reaction, Valedd tilted his head upwards to see and catch the incoming potion.

'Wait, NOOOO!!!'

Horrified, Valedd's pupils dilated. Alas, he made a big mistake—too bad he realized it a little bit too late.

PIIIIIISSSHHHH!

Puak!

Valedd puked out blood. He looked down at the dagger that was plunged in his chest, then at the only person that could be responsible for this.

"Why…?"

"Because you and that fat pig pissed me off by dragging me in your own messy sh*t."

Valedd stared at his benefactor's—no, his murderer's colorless pitch-black eyes. In his peripheral view, he could also see the same man standing a fair distance away, eyeing him coldly; the once amicable smile now upturned into a chilling smirk oozing with disdain.

"You thought you could just use me like that and leave scot-free? What a load of bull. You are far too naive, but I'll give you props for managing to notice your downfall at the very last second."

In response, Valedd strained himself to reply, "You… are… scum."

"Hoh? Am I now?"

"…Yes."

Hearing that, Solis twisted the dagger he was gripping with both his hands inside Valedd's chest.

"Argh!"

Then, he moved his head forward so that it was parallel to Valedd's before breathing out a lengthy whisper—

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I am scum. The sh*ttiest of them all, in fact."

Next, in one swift motion, Solis took out the dagger in Valedd's chest and used it to slice his head off cleanly from his neck. A short spray of blood came out before Valedd's headless body dropped down (still headfirst though) to the ground.

The head rolled over to his feet, and Solis mercilessly kicked it away without batting an eye.

"My first few minutes in the game and I've already committed two counts of murder… The day has just only started, I wonder what else this game has in store for me?"

Solis narrowed his obsidian eyes, and his mouth formed a thin crescent grin.

"This game's going to be lots of fun." He had that feeling while licking his lips demonically.