Chapter 42.1: Cleaning Up the Streets With its Filth
Year 0003, Month XI-XII: The Imperium
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Day 125-132: The Blood of my Enemy
What had once been mere fear keeping the criminal underworld cowering in shadows had evolved into something far more tangible and deadly. The streets, once-familiar alleyways, and hidden underground bases now bore witness to countless corpses—the remnants of those who had traded in human misery for far too long. Drug dealers, human traffickers, and other parasites who had profited from the suffering of innocents found their days numbered. The Blurred Devil had come to collect their souls as payment for their sins.
August moved through the city like death incarnate, his blade singing a symphony of justice that had been delayed far too long. The pleas of his victims fell on deaf ears; the time for mercy had passed when they chose to build their fortunes on the broken backs of the innocent. During his meticulous investigations conducted in his spare time, August had compiled detailed dossiers on every notorious criminal who had evaded justice through corruption, intimidation, or sheer luck. Now, they could hear the sound of death knocking at their doors with increasing urgency.
The distinction August drew was calculated and precise. Small-time criminals—those driven by desperation or circumstance—were granted a chance at redemption, their names temporarily spared from his ledger of death. However, repeat offenders and those who had made careers out of human suffering would find no such mercy. This systematic approach had been agreed upon in his pact with Count Gremory, a wise nobleman who understood that sometimes justice required methods beyond the reach of conventional law.
As the streets ran red with blood during the dark hours, the surviving criminal organizations scrambled to hold emergency meetings during daylight, believing the sun might offer them sanctuary. Their hope proved misguided. August struck whenever opportunity presented itself, whether under the cover of darkness or in broad daylight. His presence had become a constant specter haunting every corner of the criminal world.
The city's upper echelons had been briefed on the situation unfolding within their jurisdiction. Count Gremory, operating as both patron and informant, provided August with detailed intelligence on untouchable targets requiring elimination. These individuals were so deeply entrenched in corruption that their influence extended into noble families, creating a web of complicity that had protected them for years.
Even the notorious Corvus Syndicate, with their extensive network and resources, could not escape the methodical purge. August had systematically dismantled their local operations, gathering evidence of their crimes before leaving their surviving members to face investigation by city authorities. The psychological impact of his campaign was devastating—within a single week, criminal activity had dropped by ninety-five percent compared to the levels that had persisted after his initial massacre months prior.
The survivors faced a stark choice: abandon the city of Gremory entirely or surrender themselves before the reaper could come calling. Many chose life over profit, fleeing to distant territories where August's reputation had not yet reached. Others experienced genuine conversions, surrendering themselves to authorities and attempting to make amends for their past transgressions.
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Day 133: Bloodhounds of the Corvus Syndicate
While most criminal organizations chose retreat or surrender, some possessed the hubris to fight back with violence of their own. The Corvus Syndicate, operating as the true face behind the seemingly legitimate Zargos Mercantile, represented the most dangerous of these holdouts. They had dispatched their elite enforcers—bloodhounds trained specifically for situations requiring the elimination of troublesome individuals.
For August, this escalation held deeply personal significance. The Corvus Syndicate bore responsibility for Uncle Christopher's death, and forgiveness was not merely a low priority—it was entirely absent from consideration. When rumors reached him that their bloodhounds were en route to the city, he welcomed the news with grim satisfaction. This would be their first encounter since that fateful confrontation in the Forest of Lonelywood, and the circumstances had changed dramatically in his favor.
During their previous meeting, August had been weaker, less experienced, and caught off guard. Now, he possessed the skills, knowledge, and burning motivation necessary to ensure their blood would stain the ground where they stood. Unlike other criminals who might receive offers of surrender, the Corvus Syndicate would find no such mercy. They had forfeited that possibility when they chose to eliminate Christopher.
Intelligence reports indicated that two bloodhounds had been dispatched to address their "crisis." These were the nearest available operatives capable of responding to the situation with appropriate force. The first was an Expert-Level Category III Humanoid, possessing capabilities far exceeding those of a regular Category III Human with Mana. The second was a low-rank Category IV Demi-Human Master, representing an even more formidable opponent.
Understanding the magnitude of the threat these individuals posed, August recognized that direct confrontation without proper preparation would be reckless. Instead, he employed the hunting techniques he had learned in the Great Forest of Lonelywood, treating his enemies as dangerous prey requiring careful observation and strategic planning.
For the first day following their arrival, August maintained surveillance from a distance, cataloging their movements, habits, and behavioral patterns. The bloodhounds conducted their own investigation, seeking information about the legendary Blurred Devil—his fighting style, capabilities, and potential weaknesses. However, they encountered a carefully constructed maze of misinformation and disinformation, with conflicting accounts of his abilities and methods.
What they did manage to extract from survivors was consistent on one point: the Blurred Devil possessed extraordinary strength. Some witnesses claimed he had already reached the Master category in terms of power level. While this assessment contained truth from their perspective, August knew his actual System classification remained Level 1: Novice Version 1.23. The gap between perception and reality would serve as another weapon in his arsenal.
The humanoid bloodhound possessed a fascinating genetic composition—thirty percent beastman heritage blended with seventy percent human genetics. Her bearlike ancestry was immediately apparent despite her predominantly human appearance, granting her enhanced strength, endurance, and sensory capabilities. The demi-human presented an even more complex genetic profile, with sixty-five percent orc genetics merged with thirty-five percent human heritage. His appearance leaned heavily toward his orcish lineage, though he could potentially pass for either race depending on circumstances.
Both operatives carried the social burden common to mixed-heritage individuals. Pure-blooded members of their respective races often viewed them with disdain and suspicion, creating internal conflicts that had driven them toward organizations like the Corvus Syndicate. The Empire of Elms-Arkanus had officially banned racial discrimination, but centuries of prejudice could not be eliminated through legislation alone, especially in other kingdoms. Stereotypes portraying half-breeds and demi-humans as savage persisted, often becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.
Their enhanced physical capabilities made them genuinely dangerous opponents, though August had faced far worse threats in his journey. The genetic imprinting that influenced their behavior patterns made them somewhat predictable, a weakness he intended to exploit when the time came for direct confrontation.
Both sides began developing strategies for the inevitable encounter. August's primary objective remained the elimination of both bloodhounds without endangering the city's citizens or infrastructure. His enemies, operating under no such constraints, would likely view civilian casualties as acceptable collateral damage in achieving their goals.
The stage was set for a deadly game of cat and mouse, though the roles of hunter and hunted remained fluid. August intended to ensure the final confrontation would occur far from population centers, where he could engage both opponents with full intensity. Whether they truly understood the magnitude of their opponent's capabilities would be revealed in the battle that would surely claim lives on both sides.
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Information Panel
THE GAME-LIKE SYSTEM LEVELS:
**August's System can be divided into 5 distinct categories:**
**SYSTEM LEVEL 1: NOVICE**
- Player level 1-25 (no multiplier)
**SYSTEM LEVEL 2: ADVANCED**
- Player level 26-50 (×2 multiplier on all stats/sub-stats/combat-support stat/support stat)
**SYSTEM LEVEL 3: EXPERT**
- Player level 51-75 (×2 multiplier on all stats/sub-stats/combat-support stat/support stat)
**SYSTEM LEVEL 4: MASTER**
- Player level 76-100 (×2 multiplier on all stats/sub-stats/combat-support stat/support stat)
**SYSTEM LEVEL 5: GRAND MASTER**
- Player level 101-150 (×2 multiplier on all stats/sub-stats/combat-support stat/support stat)
Each time a player advances by one level, the System receives an update to its version number at System Level 1. For example, a player registered as level 20 would cause the System to update to version 1.20.
Each System level advancement increases the maximum achievable player level by an increment of 25 levels, with the exception of System Level 5, which extends the maximum to 150. In total, players can achieve a maximum level of 150 and a System level of 5.
Additional changes and upgrades manifest within the System as these advancements occur. While August operates within the world's general System framework, he represents what could be considered a bug or glitch in its matrix. However, this anomaly might be better understood as a specialized feature granted by the World's System Administrator and Manager, with approval from their divine superiors. He functions as a System within a System, making him a unique anomaly feature currently active within the greater framework.
Each System level increase multiplies his overall stats, sub-stats, combat-support stats, support stats, and other capabilities by two, continuing until System Level 5.
However, due to August's anomalous nature, the world's balance mechanisms prevent his advancement from creating unnatural disparities. As his game-like System upgrades progress, the world's general System undergoes corresponding improvements, ensuring that the general population can grow alongside August's development. This creates a dynamic equilibrium where his exceptional nature drives evolution rather than domination.