Twelve Years in the Dunes(4)

"Let him know the taste of blood and the evil within shall know of growth."

- Anonymous

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Zuba groaned, mumbling something before saying: "It disturbs me how easily you discarded those offers, Boss. The gods are easily offended and what you did there surely made a resounding slap on their pride."

'It was worth it, anyway.' I shrugged, chewing on the last bits of the Quetzalcoatl's leg. 'Watch this.'

[Personal Attribute: 'Profiteering' is activated!]

[Processing...]

[Success! Your latest rewards have been exponentially raised by the value of 2!]

[Units acquired: (10,600)^2 = 112,360,000pts]

'Jackpot!' I grinned.

"!?!?" Zuba choked on his imaginary spit. It took a while for me to calm down the greedy djinn from all his loud celebrations, making my head feel like it was about to explode.

¤

Challenger: Doma Curtis

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Strength: 476 (+50% Boost) ≈ 520pts

(Forced Limit)

Stamina: 463 (+50% Boost) ≈ 520pts

(Forced Limit)

Intelligence: 328 (+30% Boost) ≈ 427pts

Spirit: 369pts

Talent: 520pts

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Personal Attributes:

- [Crystal Clear] (A-Grade)

> Intelligence Boost is applied.

- [Heightened Cellular Regeneration] (A-Grade)

> Passively activated.

- [Crystallization] (S-Grade)

- [Dead Retribution] (B-Grade)

- [Siphoning Touch] (A-Grade)

- [Gigantify] (S-Grade)

- [Liars Go To Hell] (A-Grade)

- [Universal Translation] (S-Grade)

> Passively activated.

- [Profiteering] (S-Grade)

> On cooldown, time remaining: 11:59:36s

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Affinities:

- [Greater Affinity to Earth Magic]

- [Greater Affinity to Lightning Magic]

- [Basic Affinity to Gravity Magic]

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Artifacts:

- [The Medallion of Azubasara]

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Units: 490,602 (+112,360,000), (+2,500) = 112,853,102

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Power(s):

- [Indomitable]

> 'High Adaptability' attribute is passively activated.

> 'Strength Boost' attribute is applied.

> 'Stamina Boost' attribute is applied.

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- [Monarch of The 8th Sin; True Successor]

> 'The Scarecrow's Lust' attribute is passively activated due to the special attribute "True Successor".

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- [The Watcher's Regards]

> Personal Attribute: 'Profiteering' is on cooldown.

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¤

I'd come a long way since the day I was cast into this hell.

'Invest 10 million Units each on every stat.'

¤

[Confirm investing 10,000,000 Units into 'Strength'?(Y/N)]

.

[Confirm investing 10,000,000 Units into 'Stamina'?(Y/N)]

.

[Confirm investing 10,000,000 Units into 'Intelligence'?(Y/N)]

.

[Confirm investing 10,000,000 Units into 'Spirit'?(Y/N)]

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[Confirm investing 10,000,000 Units into 'Talent'?(Y/N)]

.

¤

It was time to aim for higher goals.

"Boss. I don't think this is a good idea. We don't know what would happen if you became that powerful all of a sudden!" Zuba tried to warn me.

'Confirm all.'

The panels disappeared. I felt strange as tremendous changes over my entire being occurred simultaneously; the over-investment of units forcefully stimulating my growth.

This traumatizing process of pain was at the same time, inducing a strange form of pleasure. I could feel myself getting stronger, smarter, faster, and so much more resilient that my previous body wouldn't even begin to compare.

But so did the agony that I had to endure.

[You have far surpassed the limits of your current body!]

['Indomitable' has been activated!]

These messages repeatedly popped into my feed but I couldn't notice them anymore as what I was experiencing could hardly be called something as sweet as pain. It was a form of madness that had undoubtedly erased a part of me of which I do not know what.

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[The stage will be renewed in: 15:10s]

By the time I woke up, it was almost time for the next stage. Overflowing vigor filled each of my cells as if I had just woken up from the most refreshing nap of a lifetime.

My body was vastly different from the previous one that emphasized brutality and survival. An air of grandeur and superiority that even I noticed, exuded from my new form.

I had reverted into a human shape yet at the same time, I wasn't what I seemed. My skin was as dark as the depths of the sea whilst my hair became longer and flowed as if I was underwater, all of which had a slightly bluish edge.

A small detail that I noticed was that those cloth-like scales of mine had gone from flowing tatters into a skin-tight suit. Lightning-Esque patterns coiled around my limbs and gathered to my back, including the brush-like tail where my scales became jagged.

I now also had horns and long, pointy ears. Yet for some reason, the missing part of my left ear that was lost during a childhood incident never healed up.

¤

[You have unlocked the second attribute of Monarch of The 8th Sin!]

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[Monarch of The 8th Sin]

- The Scarecrow's Lust

> Fear Feeding Ability

- The Phantom's Obscurity

> Shadow Integration Ability

- ??? ('Talent' is too low!)

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Strength: 476 (+43,572), (+50% Boost) ≈ 44,036

(Forced Limit)

Stamina: 463 (+43,609), (+50% Boost) ≈ 44,036

(Forced Limit)

Intelligence: 328 (+43,719), (+30% Boost) ≈ 44,036

(Forced Limit)

Spirit: 369 (+43,598) = 43,967

Talent: 520 (+43,516) = 44,036

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Units: 62,854,434

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¤

A/N: Yes. Note that every value is always calculated to the best of my abilities. ;)

The large numbers were pleasing to see, and more so to experience. My next opponent would be rather unfortunate to have to face me. As long as I've observed, the Stage Difficulty was designed with the previous fight as a foundation, assessing weaknesses and strengths to select the following opponent—but not the improvements applied during the break.

And sure enough, the system decided to pit me against a group.

"Hello there!" they called out to me. To my surprise, I was quite familiar with my opponents this time around as I'd seen them multiple times on television.

Beastkin.

"Where'd you come from, friend?" the Tiger with white fur asked.

"...wh...what?" I stuttered.

The air was pleasant. The pungent stench of burning iron was gone and the refreshing breeze of the night that I had long forgotten caressed my face.

I couldn't believe it. I was out. I was finally out. Like an inmate finishing his sentence and coming back into the world, that's how I felt. The sheer joy of freedom from that endless cycle of bloodshed brought me down to my knees.

"I-I'm home...? Alva! Alva, I'm finally home!"

Then, I blinked.

[Time Remaining: 91, 191 hrs]

I was back in hell. The shock halted my breathing and the feeling of hopelessness seeped through the crevices of a fractured mind. As if I was doused with frigid cold water, my body shivered uncontrollably.

Like a broken dam, all the pain that I've been holding back, all the pieces that I've worked so hard to hold together—was released.

'...ahh—!!'

*SNAP*

The last things that I could remember were the fleeing Beastkin and the white-hot crackling energy that poured out of my body accompanied by a rainstorm of black lightning devastating everything around me.

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"It's a pleasure to meet you, Harrower."

There was an unpleasant taste in my mouth. I felt rather warm despite wearing my favorite thin shirt and there was a loud buzzing in my ears. It was disturbing.

Yes. It truly was disturbing to be back in my first body.

"Tea? These Briglevaus leaves are quite exquisite, I must say. I've prepared them, especially for this occasion. Won't you have some?"

I glared. The walls were a vibrant white that assaulted my weary eyes while the sweet aroma of tea uncannily eased my nerves.

Before me, sat a gorgeous human woman with blonde hair stylishly braided into a bun. She was lightly tanned and that complimented the flowery Sunday dress she wore, giving off a homey feeling.

"..."

"I see. No matter." she smiled sweetly, flaunting her British accent. "Perhaps we should start with introductions?"

I stood, walking to the wall and looking for an exit.

"Oh, dear. You can't leave right now, darling. The connection can only be established and ended by higher-ups. It'd be better we just enjoy some tea in the meantime, no?"

I continued to search the surroundings, even lifting the furniture around to observe every corner. There was not a bit of intention in me to talk to this woman and I could easily guess what she is.

Some sort of god, I bet.

"...I can send you home." she grinned.

My head jolted faster than I intended to at those words, giving me a glimmer of hope. The rose-colored tints of her thin glasses matched well with her cute face and golden eyes.

"Ahh. Now that I have your attention, please take a seat."

My eyes narrowed, still doubtful about this elaborate setup. It was too good to be true.

"I am aware that you're a very straightforward character, Mr. Curtis. It's what I'm most fond of among all of your other quirks. So wouldn't it be better if you just listen to what I have to say?"

"...what if I don't want to?" I asked, testing the woman's intentions.

"I've nothing to lose. Only that it'd be less entertaining to watch you just keep on ripping apart monsters again and again. It would cost me quite a lot to lower your sentence, but I have a feeling you're the type to not forget the debts you owe. Am I right?"

I stood there for a while, thinking about what I should do. Returning was my first priority, of course. However, that also made me susceptible to shady offers like this one.

"Who are you?"

"Oh, right! You know me as 'Watcher'. It'd be nice if you were at least grateful, you know? I had to endure a lot of complaints since I went against those geezers and gave you that power! Hmph. You're welcome!" She cutely pouted.

'Geezers...? Does she mean the other troublesome figures that Azubasara mentioned?'

I sat down, sighing.

"Thank you."

She smiled brightly, stars glimmering in her eyes as she held back a squeal.

"Gosh, this is so exciting! Though it's not official yet, you'd surely become Humanity's Race Champion without a doubt. So I wouldn't worry about how much your bail is if I were you."

"Race Champion?"

"Ah...whoops. Spoilers! I'm not supposed to tell you that. Sorry."

Body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, speech patterns. Watcher's bubbly and carefree personality was genuine as far as I've observed. I tried to use the 'Liars Go To Hell' Personal Attribute but it seems that it was impossible to use any type of active power in this space.

"...what do you want from me?" I frowned, recalling a few bad memories.

"You have no idea how many beings are greedy for the earth! I can't deny that I'm one of them though. Gods, Celestials, Old Ones, Transcendents, Higher Entities. Whatever they're called, they all hunger for the same thing.

Souls. The Essence of Life. Life-Force, you could call it."

There was a green flash the moment she snapped her fingers. An orb the size of a tennis ball floated on her palm, emitting a faint green light and a fleeting mist.

I looked at it and memories that were not my own flowed directly into my brain as if I had instantly finished a film. I saw a quarter of the life of another person, of a heretic who challenged the gods. Neither his name nor his face was ever made clear, just his intentions.

The sorrows and regret that he burdened himself with. I was taken aback for a moment.

"Are you alright?" Watcher's voice brought back my presence of mind.

Grasping at my chest, the pain I shared was present. Without my consent, my will was affected by that man's intense longing for vengeance. There was a slight difficulty as I struggled to isolate and contain the intense resolve that was trying to overwrite my personality.

"Oh, dear! What's wrong Mr. Curtis?"

I barely made out the bitch quickly erase her smirk.

"You're lucky I can't use my abilities here. Else you'd be dead by now." I glared, releasing unbridled bloodlust.

"Oh, you slay me! Yes! That's it! This is what I'm looking for!" she squirmed, moaning and gasping in her seat as her face became flushed.

"You will do, Doma Curtis." she excused herself, returning into a straight-laced attitude as if nothing happened.

"...no more tricks. I have no qualms when it comes to rejecting this offer. Try me, you'll see what I mean."

So I say but I was actually desperate. A deal with the devil wouldn't mean much if it helps me return home.

"Very well. My only term is that you entertain me as much as you can. But of course, you should avoid anything precarious to your daughter's safety. And pleasant talks like this would happen occasionally from now on."

Was I doing the right thing? I don't know. What if I'm signing myself up into something worse? I don't care. As long as I'm there, nothing can harm my baby.

"I accept."

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"This guy's dead. I bet you 10 Perns."

"Get. I bet 12, he's alive."

"Do you really have to bet on a life?"

"What? It's exciting. And besides, there's not much to do until we get unstuck from this place, Morigh."

The beastkins gathered around a campfire, chewing on strips of jerky.

"I bet Marin is worried-sick about you right now, Vadiel." said the one who looked like an upright boar, polishing his tusks with a cloth.

"Yeah. I wonder how long we'll be here. What if we're never sent back—!!?" the humanoid tiger couldn't finish his sentence, a short owl-person slapped the back of his head.

"Don't jinx it, you idiot!"

"Ow! C'mon boss. It's the basic principles of an adventurer to always prepare for the worst. Ain't that right, Morigh?"

"Mhm. Maybe Boss Eumic is feeling claustrophobic again."

"What? How'd you even come to that, you dumb boar? And no, I am not claustrophobic. Not one bit."

The other two laughed their hearts out at those words. They had set up camp in the middle of a crater, one that was created just recently. A yellow glow covered the tent that they stayed in, regulating the temperature whilst keeping away the hazardous dust.

"...um, excuse me." a voice called out from the makeshift stretcher in front of them.

The group froze.

"How long have I been out?"

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