Chapter 70 – Black Bullet

Even if I could keep the omega slime at bay like this, what should I do next?

While thinking, I was reminded of the large trench I saw to the north when I went through Babylon's outer wall.

If I wanted to reach the king's army, it would be faster if I jumped over it. Even the omega slime which I could sense swimming underground was heading toward that area either.

It would be a good chance to strike at its exposed body…..and then....

Breaking me from my thought, Greed called me via "mind reading".

『What's the matter?』

[No, it's nothing]

It's only an example, but regardless, I'll still have to go on.

Greed laughed at me while I was still deep in thought.

『Fate...your heart beat rate is rising.』

[It's because I've been running all the time. Even I can get out of breath.]

『Fuh, then I guess you're fine.』

It's the high and mighty black sword as usual. At the very least, I got distracted for a moment thanks to that exchanges.

Before long, the huge trench came into sight. While keeping my eyes on the omega slime swimming underground, I quickened my pace and dove.

In midair, I drew the black sword, and shifted it into bow form.

[Greed! 20% of my stats!]

At my approval, Greed began to absorb more of my stats. In exchange for the feeling of lack of power coursing through my body, the bow morphed into something even more sinister than before. I held up the even more terrible-looking bow and took aim.

In addition to that, just to ensure things.

I activated the mutation technique"Spiraling Charged Shot". This would be my first attempt to combine this new technique and Greed's secret form, but I'm pretty sure he'll be able to manage it. He's supposedly high and mighty after all, so let's give his capability to a test.

Greed rarely did this, but he actually got flustered thanks to the addition I made, which I frankly don't really care that much.

With the penetrative power of the mutated technique, I should be able to hit the core even if the omega slime split its body again to shield itself.

And that's why, I have to be able to see the omega slime properly before shooting. It's to end it once and for all.

With my eye that could see magic power flow, the omega slime was finally about to break through the trench's wall.

I waited for it to appear and for the right timing to shoot.

Now! !

It appeared by melting the rocks along the trench's wall. The omega slime under its whale form.

I took aim toward the core, then released the magic arrow that had been accumulating power to its limit.

Due to me having no footing while in midair, and the usual extreme recoil of the bow shooting, I was blown away as expected.

But the aim is accurate. If it's going as it is…. However.

[Kuh, at this timing?]

Someone shot down the omega slime. Something that looked like black lines coming from over my head and went straight to the omega slime below.

There were three of it. And it had such a tremendous speed.

Even with my improved dynamic visual acuity from being in semi-starving state, I was barely able to follow its movement.

I could only see black line passing by.

The next one was slightly red hued, different from the first one. It impacted right over the arrow I had shot.

Normally, my attack would have enough power to open a huge hole on earth alongside the omega slime, but what happened before me was unbelievable.

The omega slime continued to move despite having lost its core to my attack. To think such a thing is possible….

"Gluttony skill activated"

"Durability+13360000, Strength+8760000, Magic+11983000, Spirit+11248000, Agility+5347000 will be applied to your stats"

"Corrosion Magic is added to your skill"

The inorganic voice told me that I've successfully eaten the omega slime soul. But why is it still moving?

Losing its shape, the omega slime started to irregularly tremble.

I just gained over 10 million stats――having eaten a good quality soul after a long time, the gluttony skill acted up, making my head went numb.

By eating the omega slime, semi-starvation state was also cancelled. This was why I hesitated a bit a little while ago.

Oh well, it's not like I could take it easy just yet.

『Fate! Get away! It's dangerous』

[I know already]

Right after Greed's warning, I landed on the edge of the trench.

I immediately jumped in adhering to his warning.

『Finally it appeared. This feeling...it's a Mortal Sin weapon like me』

[Just as Eris said, is this guy a danger for us?]

『Yes, this will be the greatest danger we've faced so far.』

I landed back on the ground soon after. The guy with the mortal sin weapon hadn't attempted to attack me at all. An advantageous step since it kept them under the radar.

But even if that's the case, they had a great opportunity to attack me while I was trying to strike at the omega slime.

Don't tell me they didn't dare to do it….?

『You'll understand once you return up』

[Right.]

The landscape had been greatly devastated as usual.

A guy in black was standing there. His whole body concealed. He's also wearing a skull mask similar to mine. Strangely enough, when I saw the mask, I had a hard time recognizing his feature.

[Is that the same effect as my mask? He's imitating me...]

The man had in his hand a black sword. Thought its shape was quite different from Greed.

Apart from the blade, there is something like a tube built on it.

The man in black remained unmoved as he looked at me.

Greed answered the question that swirled inside my mind.

『That weapon the man has, is called Envy. It has bayonet-like shape. One can shoot out a projectile out of that tube. The projectile also has tracking function.』

[That's….in other word.]

『Exactly. It's the kind of weapon capable of handling both long distance and melee fight at the same time』

Are you kidding me? It's capable of something like that?

I tried to use appraisal, but couldn't see anything. I could sense that the guy was laughing behind that mask of his.

Perhaps he also knows how to nullify appraisal skill. One can disable the skill for a while by making magical burst inside their body as a countermove.

We continued to stare to each other for a while. Until the guy finally turned back first.

For some reason, after returning the bayonet to its sheath, he bowed and gave me a salute.

And then, the ground started to vibrate.

This was….no way.

I hoped that it's not what I expected. However, what went out was actually something more.

The shattered core split into one, two, three new omega slime...and the number continued to increase. On the restored cores, there is a coat of arms that wasn't there before.

Greed clicked his tongue.

『It seems that the projectile shot to the omega slime just now was capable of improving its abilities. Apparently, now it's able to split even the core to make a separate body without affecting its stats』

[Isn't that, bad…..?]

『Yes, it may continue to multiply infinitely with its new improved ability. But, this...has bad compatibility with Fate.』

That's not the case. I still haven't eaten enough.

Focusing my mind, I invoked the power of Gluttony once more.

Instead of saying a word of greetings to him, I drew black bow and shoot a magic arrow at the man in black who had decided to stay to sightsee.

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