The sun beats down mercilessly as Rachel and I navigate the bustling park, our senses on high alert. Though I am still wearing my formal black suit and pants, I don’t mind the heat. I invoke my ability, a subtle application of my Gift that shields me from the scorching heat.
Rachel glances at me, aware of where I’ll stand as I have clued her. She smirks. "You know, your invisibility thing is a real cheat in this scorching heat. How's it working for you?"
An ability that allows you to hide from the heat? Yeah, it is ridiculously a cheat.
I nod, feeling the coolness envelop me. " comes in handy. You should try it sometime."
She chuckles, adjusting the hoodie. "Maybe next time. This hoodie is already making me sweat like crazy, though. Moreover, Lancaster might find it suspicious."
I glance at Lionheart, the sword hanging by her side. "You sure it's a good idea to bring that around? I mean, exposing it like that? I can clad it with my magic power."
She shrugs. "You never know when you might need a national treasure. Besides, it's a good conversation starter."
As we walk, Rachel keeps talking. "No signs of trouble so far. This park seems peaceful enough. What do you think?" A conversation starter, huh? I can imagine her stabbing Lancaster with it.
I remain silent, scanning the surroundings with my enhanced senses. "I'm not letting my guard down. He wanted you for a reason, and I doubt it's for a leisurely stroll in the park."
We find a bench and sit, blending in with the park-goers. Rachel glances around, her eyes sharp. "Our contact should show up soon. Keep your eyes peeled, partner."
I nod, maintaining my invisibility. "I've got it covered. Just stay alert. We don't know what exactly we're dealing with."
As the minutes pass, we continue to wait, the tension palpable. The sun beats down relentlessly, but our focus remains on the task at hand. The person we are waiting for is none other than Lancaster, former royal swordsmanship instructor of Rachel, bodyguard to royalty, and former Hero of England.
“Your Majesty, Rachel,” A voice suddenly calls out to Rachel, breaking the ambient noise of the park. I'm surprised, my usually acute perception lacking in comparison. My stealth skills might be peerless, but detection is another matter. Good thing I have my AI System, equipped with soul wavelength tracing. I focus, honing in on the voice emanating from a seemingly ordinary black cat.
The voice reveals itself as Lancaster, the very figure who has haunted Rachel for an extended period. Rachel remains composed, but there's a subtle rattle beneath her exterior.
"Lancaster," she interrogates, her voice steady but laced with tension, "what are your intentions?"
Lancaster responds with a vague threat, or perhaps it's more of a sly amusement playing across his features. "Oh, my dear Rachel, of course, I called you here to torment you."
He smirks, his cat-like demeanor seemingly endearing, as if he's relishing in teasing Rachel. The air thickens with an unspoken challenge, and the tension escalates as they confront each other in the heart of the park.
My impression of Lancaster is thoroughly upsetting, a sense of malevolence emanating from him like a dark aura. Rachel, showing a remarkable level of composure, faces him, her eyes unwavering.
"What are you up to, Lancaster?" she demands, her voice a mix of suspicion and defiance.
Lancaster, however, doesn't seem fazed. He smirks, as if reveling in the power play. "Oh, my dear Rachel, you think you can bluff me? Go on, tell me what you think I'm planning for the Hero Association."
Rachel, undeterred, puts on a facade. "You're planning to expose their vulnerabilities, undermine their structure, and dismantle them from within."
Lancaster laughs, a chilling sound that echoes through the park. "Nice try, Rachel. But let me enlighten you on what I've been doing for the past year." His eyes gleam with fervor as he reveals his grand ambition, shrouded in ambiguity.
"I've built a secret organization," he confesses, a sinister satisfaction in his tone, "solely devoted to my goals."
Rachel's skepticism lingers, prompting her to press for more. "And what are these goals of yours?"
Lancaster remains vague, his intentions obscured in the shadows. "Power, Rachel. Ultimate power. But that's not all." He leans in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I've been working with the Hero Association, researching the 'technology' of Time Travel."
A cold realization dawns on Rachel's face. "Time Travel? What for?"
Lancaster smirks again, relishing in the revelation. "To reshape the past and control the future. But that's not the only secret I have. I have a hand in the 'vanishing' of Kim Suho, your close friend and comrade."
The revelation hangs in the air, a dark cloud over their conversation, as the severity of Lancaster's malevolent machinations becomes clear.
The revelation of Lancaster's entanglement with the Hero Association cuts deep, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Suspicions were one thing, but the extent of his influence is far more insidious than we anticipated. I've spent the past year tirelessly hunting him down, balancing the relentless pursuit with the weight of my other responsibilities, but he eludes me, slipping through my fingers like smoke. It's as if he's always one step ahead, predicting our every move.
Rachel senses my frustration, her gazes secretly meeting mine. "We have to do something about this," she says in code, determination etched on her face.
I nod, my jaw clenched. "I won't let him continue unchecked. We need to stomp out this blight." These thoughts run in my head like a promise.
As Rachel draws her sword, the tension in the air thickens. She directs the gleaming blade towards Lancaster, her voice laced with a threatening edge. "Lancaster, you've gone too far. You won't get away with this."
But Lancaster just laughs, a mocking sound that reverberates through the park. "Oh, my dear Rachel, threatening me won't do much. You see, this isn't even my real body." He gestures to himself, the seemingly innocuous black cat, his host.
Rachel's grip tightens on her sword, frustration is evident in her eyes. Lancaster's amusement only grows, confident in the knowledge that no harm can be done to him through this feline vessel.
The conversation is kept secret as Rachel has promptly enveloped their surroundings with her Wind Elementalism to ensure their conversations do not escape.
Lancaster's laughter echoes, a sinister undertone beneath his amusement. "Rachel, my dear, you'll understand my goal one way or another. Follow me. There's something I want you to see."
A chill runs down my spine as Rachel, with a brave resolve, accepts his invitation. My instincts scream that something ominous is about to unfold, a sense of impending doom settling in the air. Villains and their grand reveals, it's always a prelude to something disastrous.
I shadow them discreetly, every step carefully calculated to avoid detection. Lefts and rights through the bustling park lead us to a dark alley. The atmosphere grows tense as Rachel, undeterred, confronts the black cat.
"What are you up to, Lancaster?" Her words are sharp, a blade of accusation cutting through the silence.
Rachel doesn't hold back, admonishing Lancaster for the depth of his fall. "You've fallen far, Lancaster. How could you become such a puppet to their schemes?"
Lancaster, seemingly unperturbed, responds with a chilling calmness. "Rachel, my dear, you'll understand soon enough. And a puppet? I hope you can do better than that… I shook hands with a Devil not for some selfish purpose…"
The alley's shadows seem to intensify, a backdrop to the unfolding confrontation. The air is charged with uncertainty as the cat, Lancaster's vessel, and Rachel engage in a tense exchange.
Without warning, the cat before us explodes in a burst of poisonous gas and disintegrating flesh. The noxious cloud envelops us, and my invisibility shatters instantly. The vile aftermath settles on my skin and clothes, a sickening realization that the danger has escalated beyond our expectations.
I see maggots, grotesque and wriggling, attempting to burrow under my skin. My AI System urgently warns of various afflictions and curses, each word a sinister echo in my mind. [Poisoned. Cursed. Stats Downgraded. Dangerous.] Overwhelmed, I collapse to one knee, the ground spinning beneath me.
Rachel, seemingly less affected, catches my arm, her touch grounding in the midst of the chaos. "Stay with me," she insists, her voice a reassuring anchor. "We'll get through this. Everything will be fine."
I cling to her words, a boiling surge of anger simmering in my clenched teeth.
"Of course, the Savant of Sloth is here. You should have come alone, Rachel..." A voice echoes from the shadows, chilling me to the bone. The mention of Savant of Sloth hits too close—my alter-identity exposed. How does he know? I'm left grappling with the mystery.
When I turn, the unsettling truth unfolds before me. Lancaster, a supposed swordsman, holds a gun in hand. The incongruity leaves me bewildered, my expectations shattered. The man himself stands there seemingly waiting right for this moment.
Summoning Fenrir, Rachel’s loyal companion, Rachel hopes for a swift resolution. But Fenrir, reduced to the size of a dog, seems subdued, perhaps by the lingering effects of the poison. Rachel, angered by the audacity of Lancaster, commands Fenrir to attack.
However, Lancaster nonchalantly ignores the approaching wolf. Instead, his gaze locks on me. A snake-like centipede emerges from the shadows, swiftly coiling around Fenrir. The situation takes a surreal turn, leaving me both alarmed and mystified.
Lancaster, unfazed, offers sincere praise to Rachel. "My, how much you've grown as an individual," he commends, his tone dripping with an unsettling blend of admiration and malice.
"You will understand, my lady... You will understand why I am doing all this," Lancaster intones, his focus unwavering on Rachel. With a deliberate motion, he extends his gun and takes a shot. The bullet misses us, leaving a lingering sense of dread in the air.
Despite the dire circumstances, I can't help but offer a sarcastic quip. "Nice aim, Lancaster," I sneer, my voice tainted with the taste of blood and the unsettling presence of wriggling worms.
Lancaster smirks, a self-satisfied expression on his face. "I didn't miss," he retorts smugly, the meaning sinking in slowly.
I turn to look behind me, only to find a swirling purple portal, its vortex drawing me in. Lancaster explains, "This is not the same method I used to trap Kim Suho, but this works better..." He snaps his fingers, and suddenly, my body is no longer under my control.
My limbs move against my will as I grab Rachel by the throat. I drag her towards the ominous portal, my feet following the whirling purple path, despite the internal struggle raging against the compulsion. The helplessness intensifies, a sickening realization that we are caught in a meticulously orchestrated trap.
The sun beats down mercilessly as Rachel and I navigate the bustling park, our senses on high alert. Though I am still wearing my formal black suit and pants, I don’t mind the heat. I invoke my ability, a subtle application of my Gift that shields me from the scorching heat.
Rachel glances at me, aware of where I’ll stand as I have clued her. She smirks. "You know, your invisibility thing is a real cheat in this scorching heat. How's it working for you?"
An ability that allows you to hide from the heat? Yeah, it is ridiculously a cheat.
I nod, feeling the coolness envelop me. " comes in handy. You should try it sometime."
She chuckles, adjusting the hoodie. "Maybe next time. This hoodie is already making me sweat like crazy, though. Moreover, Lancaster might find it suspicious."
I glance at Lionheart, the sword hanging by her side. "You sure it's a good idea to bring that around? I mean, exposing it like that? I can clad it with my magic power."
She shrugs. "You never know when you might need a national treasure. Besides, it's a good conversation starter."
As we walk, Rachel keeps talking. "No signs of trouble so far. This park seems peaceful enough. What do you think?" A conversation starter, huh? I can imagine her stabbing Lancaster with it.
I remain silent, scanning the surroundings with my enhanced senses. "I'm not letting my guard down. He wanted you for a reason, and I doubt it's for a leisurely stroll in the park."
We find a bench and sit, blending in with the park-goers. Rachel glances around, her eyes sharp. "Our contact should show up soon. Keep your eyes peeled, partner."
I nod, maintaining my invisibility. "I've got it covered. Just stay alert. We don't know what exactly we're dealing with."
As the minutes pass, we continue to wait, the tension palpable. The sun beats down relentlessly, but our focus remains on the task at hand. The person we are waiting for is none other than Lancaster, former royal swordsmanship instructor of Rachel, bodyguard to royalty, and former Hero of England.
“Your Majesty, Rachel,” A voice suddenly calls out to Rachel, breaking the ambient noise of the park. I'm surprised, my usually acute perception lacking in comparison. My stealth skills might be peerless, but detection is another matter. Good thing I have my AI System, equipped with soul wavelength tracing. I focus, honing in on the voice emanating from a seemingly ordinary black cat.
The voice reveals itself as Lancaster, the very figure who has haunted Rachel for an extended period. Rachel remains composed, but there's a subtle rattle beneath her exterior.
"Lancaster," she interrogates, her voice steady but laced with tension, "what are your intentions?"
Lancaster responds with a vague threat, or perhaps it's more of a sly amusement playing across his features. "Oh, my dear Rachel, of course, I called you here to torment you."
He smirks, his cat-like demeanor seemingly endearing, as if he's relishing in teasing Rachel. The air thickens with an unspoken challenge, and the tension escalates as they confront each other in the heart of the park.
My impression of Lancaster is thoroughly upsetting, a sense of malevolence emanating from him like a dark aura. Rachel, showing a remarkable level of composure, faces him, her eyes unwavering.
"What are you up to, Lancaster?" she demands, her voice a mix of suspicion and defiance.
Lancaster, however, doesn't seem fazed. He smirks, as if reveling in the power play. "Oh, my dear Rachel, you think you can bluff me? Go on, tell me what you think I'm planning for the Hero Association."
Rachel, undeterred, puts on a facade. "You're planning to expose their vulnerabilities, undermine their structure, and dismantle them from within."
Lancaster laughs, a chilling sound that echoes through the park. "Nice try, Rachel. But let me enlighten you on what I've been doing for the past year." His eyes gleam with fervor as he reveals his grand ambition, shrouded in ambiguity.
"I've built a secret organization," he confesses, a sinister satisfaction in his tone, "solely devoted to my goals."
Rachel's skepticism lingers, prompting her to press for more. "And what are these goals of yours?"
Lancaster remains vague, his intentions obscured in the shadows. "Power, Rachel. Ultimate power. But that's not all." He leans in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I've been working with the Hero Association, researching the 'technology' of Time Travel."
A cold realization dawns on Rachel's face. "Time Travel? What for?"
Lancaster smirks again, relishing in the revelation. "To reshape the past and control the future. But that's not the only secret I have. I have a hand in the 'vanishing' of Kim Suho, your close friend and comrade."
The revelation hangs in the air, a dark cloud over their conversation, as the severity of Lancaster's malevolent machinations becomes clear.
The revelation of Lancaster's entanglement with the Hero Association cuts deep, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Suspicions were one thing, but the extent of his influence is far more insidious than we anticipated. I've spent the past year tirelessly hunting him down, balancing the relentless pursuit with the weight of my other responsibilities, but he eludes me, slipping through my fingers like smoke. It's as if he's always one step ahead, predicting our every move.
Rachel senses my frustration, her gazes secretly meeting mine. "We have to do something about this," she says in code, determination etched on her face.
I nod, my jaw clenched. "I won't let him continue unchecked. We need to stomp out this blight." These thoughts run in my head like a promise.
As Rachel draws her sword, the tension in the air thickens. She directs the gleaming blade towards Lancaster, her voice laced with a threatening edge. "Lancaster, you've gone too far. You won't get away with this."
But Lancaster just laughs, a mocking sound that reverberates through the park. "Oh, my dear Rachel, threatening me won't do much. You see, this isn't even my real body." He gestures to himself, the seemingly innocuous black cat, his host.
Rachel's grip tightens on her sword, frustration is evident in her eyes. Lancaster's amusement only grows, confident in the knowledge that no harm can be done to him through this feline vessel.
The conversation is kept secret as Rachel has promptly enveloped their surroundings with her Wind Elementalism to ensure their conversations do not escape.
Lancaster's laughter echoes, a sinister undertone beneath his amusement. "Rachel, my dear, you'll understand my goal one way or another. Follow me. There's something I want you to see."
A chill runs down my spine as Rachel, with a brave resolve, accepts his invitation. My instincts scream that something ominous is about to unfold, a sense of impending doom settling in the air. Villains and their grand reveals, it's always a prelude to something disastrous.
I shadow them discreetly, every step carefully calculated to avoid detection. Lefts and rights through the bustling park lead us to a dark alley. The atmosphere grows tense as Rachel, undeterred, confronts the black cat.
"What are you up to, Lancaster?" Her words are sharp, a blade of accusation cutting through the silence.
Rachel doesn't hold back, admonishing Lancaster for the depth of his fall. "You've fallen far, Lancaster. How could you become such a puppet to their schemes?"
Lancaster, seemingly unperturbed, responds with a chilling calmness. "Rachel, my dear, you'll understand soon enough. And a puppet? I hope you can do better than that… I shook hands with a Devil not for some selfish purpose…"
The alley's shadows seem to intensify, a backdrop to the unfolding confrontation. The air is charged with uncertainty as the cat, Lancaster's vessel, and Rachel engage in a tense exchange.
Without warning, the cat before us explodes in a burst of poisonous gas and disintegrating flesh. The noxious cloud envelops us, and my invisibility shatters instantly. The vile aftermath settles on my skin and clothes, a sickening realization that the danger has escalated beyond our expectations.
I see maggots, grotesque and wriggling, attempting to burrow under my skin. My AI System urgently warns of various afflictions and curses, each word a sinister echo in my mind. [Poisoned. Cursed. Stats Downgraded. Dangerous.] Overwhelmed, I collapse to one knee, the ground spinning beneath me.
Rachel, seemingly less affected, catches my arm, her touch grounding in the midst of the chaos. "Stay with me," she insists, her voice a reassuring anchor. "We'll get through this. Everything will be fine."
I cling to her words, a boiling surge of anger simmering in my clenched teeth.
"Of course, the Savant of Sloth is here. You should have come alone, Rachel..." A voice echoes from the shadows, chilling me to the bone. The mention of Savant of Sloth hits too close—my alter-identity exposed. How does he know? I'm left grappling with the mystery.
When I turn, the unsettling truth unfolds before me. Lancaster, a supposed swordsman, holds a gun in hand. The incongruity leaves me bewildered, my expectations shattered. The man himself stands there seemingly waiting right for this moment.
Summoning Fenrir, Rachel’s loyal companion, Rachel hopes for a swift resolution. But Fenrir, reduced to the size of a dog, seems subdued, perhaps by the lingering effects of the poison. Rachel, angered by the audacity of Lancaster, commands Fenrir to attack.
However, Lancaster nonchalantly ignores the approaching wolf. Instead, his gaze locks on me. A snake-like centipede emerges from the shadows, swiftly coiling around Fenrir. The situation takes a surreal turn, leaving me both alarmed and mystified.
Lancaster, unfazed, offers sincere praise to Rachel. "My, how much you've grown as an individual," he commends, his tone dripping with an unsettling blend of admiration and malice.
"You will understand, my lady... You will understand why I am doing all this," Lancaster intones, his focus unwavering on Rachel. With a deliberate motion, he extends his gun and takes a shot. The bullet misses us, leaving a lingering sense of dread in the air.
Despite the dire circumstances, I can't help but offer a sarcastic quip. "Nice aim, Lancaster," I sneer, my voice tainted with the taste of blood and the unsettling presence of wriggling worms.
Lancaster smirks, a self-satisfied expression on his face. "I didn't miss," he retorts smugly, the meaning sinking in slowly.
I turn to look behind me, only to find a swirling purple portal, its vortex drawing me in. Lancaster explains, "This is not the same method I used to trap Kim Suho, but this works better..." He snaps his fingers, and suddenly, my body is no longer under my control.
My limbs move against my will as I grab Rachel by the throat. I drag her towards the ominous portal, my feet following the whirling purple path, despite the internal struggle raging against the compulsion. The helplessness intensifies, a sickening realization that we are caught in a meticulously orchestrated trap.
