Ch-27: Planning their Demise

[Congratulations for reaching 20 points in STR. You have been granted the skill {Shield Block}.]

[Congratulations for reaching 20 points in INT. You have been granted the skill {Cerebral Dominance}.]

[Congratulations for reaching 20 points in WIS. You have been granted the skill {Discerning Eye}.]

Ethan looked at the notifications and wished to laugh like a diabolical megalomaniac. The happiness of getting new skills and leveling up felt quite good. 'This is quite addicting, even more so than social media and games.'

The ability to see his progression was something he had always liked in games, and now that he had it in real life, it always made him happy to look at it.

With a grin, he opened [Skills] to check the descriptions of the newly obtained skills.

---

[Passive Skills]

{Cerebral Dominance}: Increases INT by 10%. Improves magical control by 10%. Boosts mana regeneration by 5%.

{Discerning Eye}: Increases WIS by 10%. Improves detection of hidden enemies by 10%. Enhances tracking ability by 5%.

[Active Skills]

{Shield Block}: Level 1

Cost: 5 mana

Duration: 5 sec / until an attack is blocked

Cooldown: 1 sec

Block an incoming attack with your shield, absorbing up to 10 damage + 2% of STR.

---

Ethan marveled at the new skills. 'Cerebral Dominance,' he thought, already feeling his control over shadows getting better. The mana regeneration in percentage was going to help him forever.

'Having a passive like this at my current level is pretty good, especially with my lack of offensive skills.'

' {Discerning Eye} is perfect for my current mission, making it easier to track and locate hidden enemies. If only I'd added points to WIS earlier, I might have found one more vampire. But no use crying over spilled milk.'

{Shield Block} provided a much-needed defensive measure, allowing him to absorb attacks and buy time to counterattack. With this skill along with {Bone Shield}, {Fortify}, and {Skeleton Repair}, his defense was pretty solid.

'With these powers, I feel like I should have a superhero name for myself. What should I call myself? Captain Batman? Capbat? American Batman?…Batman was an American, you dingus!' Ethan thought amusedly while looking at the blue panel.

Feeling the newfound power coursing through him, Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. After all, these upgrades would make a significant difference in his effectiveness and survival, especially in the upcoming fights.

Looking at the stats, Ethan found that INT and WIS had also increased due to the newly obtained passives, both reaching 22.

After checking on his progress, Ethan looked at the setting sun and decided it was time to return to his quarters and wait for Union Jack to come back with new information.

[An Hour Later]

There was a familiar knock on the door, and Ethan, looking through the peephole, saw James standing outside. Before he opened the door to let him in, he donned his [Slime] suit.

After entering, James looked around briefly before speaking. "I found a few more of those Hydra blighters today. Trailed 'em and found out where they're bunking. What about you, mate? How many vamps did you manage to find?"

Ethan smiled sheepishly, then turned to look under the bed as he summoned four of his prepared silver-laced stakes from his inventory under the cover of the bed, hidden from James's sight. Retrieving them, he straightened up and showed the stakes to James.

James raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Well, I'll be damned. Look at these. Silver-tipped and sturdy. You've got a knack for makin' things lethal, mate."

Ethan grinned under his mask, "Yeah, managed to take down four of them."

James nodded, his admiration clear. "Four, you say? You've been busy. Good job, mate."

Then, suddenly, thinking of something, he asked, "Do you remember where you killed those vamps?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, why?"

James reached into his coat pocket and brought out a folded map. He unfurled it and spread it on the mahogany table in the middle of the room. The blueprint of the ship's structural layout was detailed, showing different locations and pathways.

Before Ethan could ask where he got it, James said, "Snagged it from the Navigation officer's quarter. Wasn't easy, but with a few disguises, I managed."

Ethan noticed that James was sharing slightly more than earlier, meaning his trust in him had increased, albeit slightly. Perhaps it was the result of the charisma stat increasing or perhaps it was natural after saving the man's life twice.

James continued, pointing at the map. "Right, now, let's mark the places where you've staked those vamps. If there's a pattern, it might lead us to their nest or somethin' more important."

Ethan leaned over, studying the map intently. The ship's structural layout was intricate, a complex set of lines and words that indicated rooms, and hidden compartments.

He pointed to the four locations where he had killed the vampires. Each mark was a small, precise dot on the sprawling blueprint.

James looked at the points and then pointed out the quarters of the Hydra agents he had found. "Here, here, and here," he said, tapping the map with a calloused finger.

They both stared at the map in silence for a moment. The points formed a rough perimeter around a section of the ship.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he traced the lines between the points. "James, look at this," he said, pointing to the area enclosed by the marks. "The vampires' locations form a sort of protective barrier around this section. And the Hydra agents' quarters are spread out around it. It's like they're guarding something."

James frowned, considering Ethan's observation. "You might be onto somethin', mate. That area... Could be somethin' important there. Somethin' they're all keen to protect."

Ethan nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Exactly. It's too much of a coincidence. Whatever they're guarding, it must be significant. Maybe it's a hidden stash of weapons, some critical intelligence, or even a high-ranking Hydra or vampire leader."

James's expression turned grim. "If that's the case, we need to investigate tonight. We can't let 'em keep whatever it is. Too dangerous. We'll need to be extra cautious. If they're guardin' it, they won't give it up easy."

Ethan agreed, feeling excited. "Right. We go in quietly, take out any guards, and find out what's so important. But we need a plan. We can't go in unprepared."

James nodded, respect clear in his eyes. "Agreed. We move in a few hours. Till then, let's study the blueprint, see if there's a way to slip in unnoticed."

Ethan smiled under his mask, "Good idea, let's get ready then."

.

.

.

In the dark corridors of the massive ship, two figures moved quietly, their footsteps silent on the steel floors. Ethan and James had studied the ship's map extensively, memorizing the labyrinthine passages and hidden routes that would allow them to reach their destination undetected.

Now, they navigated one of these hidden paths, intent on reaching the quarters of one of the Hydra spies.

In the few hours they had, a simple yet effective plan had taken shape. They would dismantle the perimeter, taking out their targets one by one, and then advance to the center.

This way, they minimized the risk of being surrounded if an alarm was raised, and could leverage their numbers to ensure a two-on-one advantage against any Hydra agents or vampires they encountered.

They also reasoned that if there were other vampires on board, they might be lurking in this parameter of rooms and hidden spaces.

As they moved forward, the air grew cooler, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows on the walls. After a few more minutes, they reached the first room.

James stepped forward, his knuckles rapping against the door with practiced ease. "Room service," he called, his voice a model of politeness and authority.

A muffled response came from within, and a moment later, the door swung open, revealing a man of average build.

"About time," the man grumbled, as he opened the door.

His eyes were sharp, and his posture was stiff, betraying a readiness for confrontation. He wore a tailored suit, but there was something off about him, something that set Ethan's instincts on edge.

Ethan didn't waste a moment. As the door opened wider, he slipped into the shadows using {Shadow Meld}. In a heartbeat, he reappeared behind the spy, his movements silent as the night.

Meanwhile, James moved with a sudden, explosive speed. His fist connected with the spy's jaw, the force of the punch sending the man reeling. The door closed behind them with a soft click, cutting off any escape.

The spy, taken completely by surprise, crumpled to the floor, unable to even let out a scream. James grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet.

"What are you hiding on this ship?" James demanded, his voice low and menacing. "What are you guarding?"

The spy's eyes widened in terror, pupils dilating until they were nearly black. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled visibly. His fear was palpable, the reaction of someone who knew the consequences of speaking out.

James noticed something unusual on the spy's neck. Holding him by the collar, he spotted two small, slightly healed puncture marks, about two inches apart. He eased the collar aside to get a better look.

Ethan, observing from the shadows, leaned in. "Looks like he's been bitten. Maybe the vampires have hypnotized him to keep quiet," he suggested, his voice a whisper in the tense silence.

Before they could press further, the spy's hand darted to his belt, pulling out a dagger with a flash of steel. In a desperate move, he thrust the blade towards James's belly. The attack was swift, leaving no time for a full defense.

The dagger's point reached James, penetrating his clothes, but it stopped abruptly with a dull thuk.

With a snarl, James twisted the dagger from the man's grip and flung it aside and then headbutted him. He tightened his hold on the spy, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. "Right, sunshine," James growled, his accent thickening with intensity. "You're gonna spill every last drop of information you've got, or I'll make sure you regret the day you signed up with Hydra."

The spy's fear was now mixed with the agony of his broken nose. Blood trickled down his face, staining his collar. Still, his body language screamed defiance. His silence, however, spoke volumes, suggesting he wouldn't talk even if faced with death.

Ethan sighed, before he spoke. "It's no use, James. He won't talk. We'll have to stick to the plan. But first, we need to deal with this one before we proceed."

James's eyes turned grim, a hard resolve setting in. He nodded and reached for his dagger, the steel glinting in the dim light. "Right, then. Let's finish this."

Ethan put a hand on his arm, stopping him. "Leave it to me," he said, his voice sounding cold and determined. "I have a personal vendetta against these Hydra scum."

Before they could move, the spy, regaining some of his senses, lashed out in a desperate attempt to fight back. But Ethan was faster. He caught the spy's hands effortlessly, twisting until a sickening crack echoed through the room. The spy's face contorted in pain, a strangled cry escaping his lips.

James stepped back, a grim look on his face. "Fair enough, mate. Do it your way."

Ethan moved swiftly, his dagger a blur as he plunged it into the spy's skull, the strike precise to avoid a messy scene. The man's body went limp instantly. A notification blinked in Ethan's vision.

[You killed a Level 7 Human. You gained 490 Exp.]

Together, they moved efficiently, dragging the body to a porthole. They removed the communicator from the spy's body before unceremoniously tossing the corpse into the dark waters below. The splash was barely audible over the ship's ambient noise.

With the first spy dealt with, they pressed on, their mission clear in their minds. Moving methodically through the ship's outer perimeter, they took out four more spies in less than half an hour. Each time, Ethan executed the kill with ruthless efficiency, and James collected the communicators.

Ethan's {Shadow Sense} scanned continuously, but he detected no vampires in the outer ring, confirming their theory that the undead were likely hiding deeper within the ship.

The outer perimeter was clear. Now, it was time to move inward, where the vampires might still lurk, even after their daytime cleanup.

"Ready for the next round?" Ethan asked, his voice low but steady behind the mask.

James tightened his grip on his weapon, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Always, mate. Let's give those bloodsuckers a proper send-off."

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A/N: Btw, just for your info. The Evolution paths aren't fixed once saved, they can be changed in the future. Once MC thinks more about it, and as his knowledge grows.