Laura's Story!

[Host has devoured 131 points of life force. Life purification activated. Growth value increased by 262 points. Life force storage: 20 points.]

James rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he processed the system's notifications.

"So, a mid-grade F-class can survive six hits from the Death Scythe, while a low-grade F-class only survives three. By that logic, a high-grade F-class should withstand about twelve strikes before it succumbs." His mind worked through the calculations, considering the implications. "Twelve hits from the scythe… and even the strongest F-class would fall."

Satisfied with his conclusions, he couldn't help but feel an eager hunger rise within him. He needed stronger prey; top-tier F-class targets to continue his evolution. There was no turning back now.

"You really are merciless." A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

James glanced to the side and saw Laura walking over, her expression clouded with a mixture of sadness and judgment. She came to stand beside him, her gaze lingering on the lifeless body he had left in his wake. "That guy didn't deserve to die like that."

"In a place like this," James replied coldly, "being too soft is the same as signing your own death warrant." His voice was steady, a sharp contrast to the turmoil she seemed to feel. He looked at her and added, "Sometimes, you kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. It saves a lot of trouble down the road."

Laura followed his gaze to the crowd that had been watching, now quickly dispersing into the shadows. She nodded slowly, as if understanding his logic, though the sadness in her eyes remained.

The two of them continued walking in silence down the road. James noticed that Laura had been quieter than usual ever since Harvey's death. She carried herself with a certain heaviness, her usual energy dampened by something unspoken.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, his tone gentler now. With the immediate danger gone, he dismissed the Death Scythe, letting it fade from sight.

Laura shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together for a moment before she spoke. "There are some things I've been wanting to talk to you about," she said, her voice low.

James raised an eyebrow, curious now. "I'm listening." He gestured toward a secluded corner, stepping over first. Laura followed, stopping a few feet away from him.

"I grew up with my teacher," she began quietly, her eyes fixed on the ground. "From a very young age, it was just me, my teacher, and my fellow apprentice brother. My parents... I barely ever saw them."

She paused, as if collecting her thoughts before continuing. "My teacher was strict, but he took good care of us. He was obsessed with building a solid foundation for us, for our G-level ascension. He even gave us a special drug to slow down our promotion speed, making sure we progressed properly." She smiled then, but it was a bitter, distant smile. "But two years ago, my brother was promoted, and everything changed. He and Teacher had a huge falling out... something serious, though I never knew what. Teacher expelled him from the dojo. I was furious with him for a long time because of it."

James leaned against the stone wall, crossing his arms as he listened closely. "What happened next?"

"After my brother left, I started going through the things he left behind. While cleaning up his study, I found a notebook… one he had hidden away." Her voice wavered as she spoke, and she bit her lip before continuing. "The notebook contained techniques… cruel, dangerous techniques. One of them was about creating artificial blood crystals, something that horrified me. I couldn't believe my own brother had written it."

Her eyes closed as she exhaled deeply. "I showed it to my teacher, hoping there was some mistake, but he confirmed it. My brother had been practicing those techniques behind his back, conducting horrible experiments. That's why Teacher expelled him."

James remained quiet, letting her tell her story at her own pace. He could see the weight of these memories pressing down on her.

"I didn't believe him," she admitted, her voice small. "I was so angry, so confused. When my teacher left for a trip, I ran away. I came here to find the truth for myself."

"So, you think your brother is here?" James asked, his voice measured, though the information intrigued him.

"Yes. I wouldn't have come all this way if I wasn't confident." Laura smiled, but it was a sad, weary smile.

James eyed her curiously. "Why are you telling me all of this?" he asked. They were only temporary teammates, after all, and he had no intention of getting involved in her personal affairs. Her story, as tragic as it was, didn't seem relevant to their current mission.

Laura's expression shifted. She suddenly laughed, though the sound was hollow. "Because you're probably the only person I can talk to who won't tell anyone else," she said, blinking at him with a mix of teasing and seriousness. "Let's be honest, you're not even really human anymore. No one would believe you if you tried."

She stuck her tongue out playfully, her eyes still holding that flicker of sadness but brightening with a bit of her usual spirit.

James couldn't help but smirk at her bluntness, shaking his head. "Fair enough."

"That's a bit much, don't you think?" James muttered, adjusting the robe that covered his head, his voice low but laced with dry amusement.

Laura, standing a few feet away, smiled softly, though her eyes were distant. "I'm leaving now," she said, her tone light but resolute. From her storage bag, she pulled out a small bundle and handed it to him. "These are the blood crystals Harvey collected. They're of no use to me, so you can have them."

James's red eyes narrowed, flickering with curiosity. "Leaving? Where to?"

Laura chuckled, a bit of mischief in her voice. "I'm going to advance. I need to find somewhere quiet where I won't be interrupted." She reached into her bag again, pulling out a silver-white mask adorned with a delicate orchid pattern. Before James could react, she pressed the mask onto his face with a playful grin.

"You've been pulling at your robe too much," she teased. "If someone sees your real face, you're done for. This mask is the one I wore when I ran away. Consider it a gift."

James raised a hand to adjust the mask, feeling the cool metal against his skin. "Let me at least help guard you while you advance—"

Before he could finish, Laura cut him off, her demeanor shifting abruptly. "No need." Her voice turned icy, and she stepped back, creating distance between them. Her hand moved smoothly, drawing a Nepalese blade from her belt, its edge gleaming in the dim light.

James's eyes flashed dangerously. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked, frowning.

Laura's face was cold and unreadable as she studied him. "I'm smarter than you think," she said softly, her words like a sharpened knife. "After spending enough time with you, I've figured out how you grow. Every time someone dies near you, your aura strengthens. And when you devour a blood crystal, your power increases. I may not practice those dark methods, but I've read that notebook enough times to recognize what's happening. You grow by consuming the lives of others."

James remained silent, his expression unreadable. He hadn't expected her to piece it together so quickly.

"You're a monster, James," Laura continued, her voice steady but filled with quiet resolve. "I can't trust you." She sheathed her blade, her decision final, and without another word, turned on her heel and began walking in the opposite direction.

James watched her go, the soft sound of her footsteps fading into the distance. A chuckle escaped his lips, growing into a low laugh. "Women really are good at changing their faces," he mused. "Her mood shifts faster than a Opera performance."

His fingers brushed the mask, still faintly carrying her fragrance. With a quiet sigh, he murmured, "I'll return it to her someday… if I get the chance."

He turned his attention back to the bundle she had left him, unwrapping it to reveal a dozen blood crystals, each pulsing faintly with stored life force. "Harvey really was something else," James remarked, holding one up to the light. "To gather this many in just two days…"

He began absorbing the crystals, feeling the rush of energy as each one dissolved into his body.

[The host devours the primary crystal of life force and gains 57 points of life force. Do you want to save it?]

[The host devours the primary crystal of life force and gains 102 points of life force. Do you want to save it?]

One by one, the crystals were consumed, their power flowing into him. When he had finished, James opened his system panel to check his progress.

[Host: James

Body: Death Scarecrow (0 evolution points)

Rank: F-grade inferior

Mentality: None

Growth value: 2480/10000

Life force storage: 1000/1000

Skills: Fear, Life Harvest, Straw Binding.

Talents: Life Thirst, Devouring Fear, Scythe of Death, Purification of Life force.

Condition: Severely injured, 24% of body damaged. Life force is recovering rapidly. Time remaining: 05:31:27]

James sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "Still so far from advancing," he muttered. But then, an idea sparked in his mind, and a wicked grin slowly spread across his face. His eyes glowed with a crimson light.

"Why not... pay the camp a visit?"