[Congratulations. Due to your reckless endeavors, your heart pumps for more action. Your innate instincts run dominant.]
[You have acquired a new passive skill.]
The system sound hit Nero, surprising him with another gift.
… Another skill notification right after checking his loot? The timing felt almost deliberate, like the system had been waiting for the perfect moment to drop another bomb.
[New Passive Skill Acquired: Heart of the Beast (SR)]
"Wow, another gift?"
Another SR-tier skill just dropped into his lap just like that? Is the system trying to spoil him rotten or something?
Not that he minds, though.
Although… why the fuck did this come so late? Usually the system handed out rewards faster than a casino dealing cards to suckers.
Nero blinked at the skill description, trying to make sense of what he was reading.
---
[Heart of the Beast (SR)
Type: Passive Enhancement Skill
Description: The primal essence of a beast's instinct has awakened within you. Makes the user more direct with their thoughts and instincts. +10% efficiency to all melee combat abilities. +10% increased effectiveness for all instinct and sense enhancement skills.]
---
The sweet bonus efficiency increase in percentage was more than welcome to Nero's embrace.
But…
"... What the actual fuck does THIS even mean?"
More direct with thoughts and instincts? That description was more vague than a politician's campaign promise.
Did it mean he'd become more honest? Like some kind of walking truth serum that couldn't lie anymore?
Or maybe it meant he'd get even more brash and impulsive than he already was, which honestly sounded terrifying for everyone involved.
"Lord Nero? You appear perplexed. Has something transpired?"
Aurelia's sharp golden eyes were studying his face with that concerned expression that made his chest do weird things again.
Her formal speech pattern was back in full knight mode, probably because she was worried about his condition.
"Yeah, I just got another skill drop, but the description is cryptic as hell."
He scratched his head, still trying to wrap his brain around what 'more direct with thoughts and instincts' actually translated to in real world application.
And so he shared what was being described in his system screen.
"... Perhaps it signifies that Lord Nero would become more instinctive in your actions?"
"Could be. Or maybe I'll just start saying whatever pops into my head without a filter."
The thought made him grimace.
He already had a tendency to speak before thinking, and if this skill amplified that...
God help us all if that's the case.
"Anyway, let me tell you about the other loot we scored."
Nero decided to not stress about it further, his excitement returned as he remembered the ridiculous haul from the Verdant Tyrant, deciding to share them with his angel waifu.
"We hit the jackpot, angel. Like, seriously broke the slot machine kind of jackpot."
He then share the details of the Verdant Core's mana reduction, the Nature's Wrath Essence skill upgrades, and the Greater Mana Potion's combat enhancement.
Watching her golden eyes widen slightly as she processed just how game-changing these items felt almost as satisfying as getting them in the first place.
"These rewards are... most extraordinary, Lord Nero."
"And there's this SR-tier Greater Mana Potion that completely restores mana plus gives enhanced abilities for 30 minutes. We're gonna need it for whatever Vincent's planning."
"Actually, Lord Nero..."
Aurelia reached into the air as if grasping something invisible.
"I have received an identical potion as a reward."
In her hand materialized a vial filled with swirling blue energy that seemed to pulse with concentrated magical power.
"No fucking way."
2 Greater Mana Potions meant they both could go into the final confrontation at full power with enhanced abilities.
Vincent was about to learn what happened when his carefully laid plans met overwhelming force.
"This changes everything. We're not just surviving the next fight, we're going to dominate it."
***
Several hours later, after everyone had gotten some much-needed rest and medical attention, Nero asked Aurelia to gather the group.
Time to lay all the cards on the table.
The small room felt cramped with everyone squeezed in, but they didn't have a choice since Nero was still recuperating from wounds and fatigue.
Not to mention there were also some wounded frontline survivors who wanted to join the planning session despite their condition.
"Alright, everyone. Time for the reality check nobody wants to hear."
Nero's voice cut through the nervous chatter as all eyes focused on him.
"Before we talk strategy, you all need to understand what's actually happening at the main camp where me, Aurelia and the others are currently staying."
Everyone's attention was immediately on Nero as they listened to his next words.
And without further ado, Nero began recounting the details and information about the Camp and its leader, Vincent Cross.
And surprisingly, upon the mention of his name…
"Vincent Cross… huh?"
Mina's expression shifted from casual interest to a sudden realization.
"Wait, isn't that the recently famous businessman who went bankrupt after a major controversy about some sexual assault to a rising star actress?"
"Do you know about him, Ms. Mina?"
One of the frontline survivors asked with curiosity to which Mina nodded after thinking for a bit,
"Yeah, based on what I learned from the news, the bastard was on court for trial… well, until this apocalyptic crap happened. I didn't know he's… the leader of this camp."
"..."
The silence was palpable with the fact that the leader of this Camp… is actually a sexual offender.
"... Ara~ Just for confirmation, does the leader you're talking about match with the appearance Mina-chan is speaking about?" Haori presented a verification to which Mina nodded as she gave a list of physical descriptions to what she saw and knew…
And well,
"They're the same person."
"..."
Aurelia's formal tone carried distaste beneath her usual stoic composure which made everyone quiet.
And to add to the insult and verification of being a sexual offender…
"The behaviours are also identical. His advances were... persistent and unwelcome."
That's it. The nail was plunged into the coffin.
"Haori…"
Juno called Haori, whose complexion suddenly turned pale especially considering that their daughter, Yui, is staying there.
The grave look on their faces almost made Nero not want to reveal the next pieces of information he still got in store for them.
But alas, the man had to do so.
"That's the thing, we have a speculation that the Camp… might be endangered right now."
"!!!"
Everyone's eyes widened.
"W-What do you mean?"
Haori asked with a trembling figure, to which her husband supported her in kind.
"There is a young girl named Lisa Chen who possesses telepathic communication abilities… I won't go into details but she's our contingency plan if ever Vincent Cross planned to do something by the time we were dispatched here on a mission to rescue you guys after sighting your location."
Nero continued seeing everyone listen,
"Originally, me, Aurelia, Kaito, Yui, and Haru… we already have a vague feeling that the manipulative bastard might make a move, especially considering that he's been eyeing Aurelia since day 1 when we arrived at the Camp."
"The moves were pretty bold, but after Aurelia persistently rejecting him with my side cock-blocking, he seems to have given up… at least, that's what it looks like, but knowing now that he's a sexual offender and trusting my instincts… Well, we can say for sure that he got something more behind his hands."
"And considering how me, Jin and Aurelia were almost assassinated and how one of our comrades died by traitors of our same group… how Aurelia received a thought help transmission from Lisa… there's something going on at the Camp right now."
"..."
The atmosphere got heavy as the silence continued.
Jin, in particular, had a mortifying expression as Yuki rubbed her back, showing her comfort and condolence.
The parents also had somber expressions, knowing that their children might be in danger, and the same could be said to all for the other survivors.
But Nero then told what he thinks is the most likely scenario,
"You don't have to worry. If Vincent is as smart and cunning as I think he is, he wouldn't touch the trio… at best, they would just injure them, but not to the point of being life threatening."
My words immediately made the parents somehow sigh in relief, but hearing their children might be harmed made them feel rage inside their hearts like no others.
"Yeah, you're right… That bastard, I'll kill him if he does something to our boy."
"Mhm."
Genya agreed with a seething rage in his tone while Ren nodded in agreement with a stern expression on his face.
But with that being said…
'There's a possibility that he could also poison them, with the only antidote being in his hands… or none at all.'
Nero and Juno momentarily met each other's eyes.
It looks like they had the same thought.
In the end, they have to prepare for the worst, and different kinds of scenarios that could likely happen either way.
***
After that, Nero continued explaining the situation at the Camp, including his speculations and some add-ups by Aurelia…
By the time the explanation and the strategy was drafted with the lead of Juno and the others, almost 1 hour and a half had already passed.
"That's it for today. The meeting has adjourned."
Juno fixed his glasses, while announcing the end of the meeting,
"Rest up, everyone. Tomorrow is the day we strike… I know we're all tired, but knowing the situation, we have no choice but to strike as early as possible, with the chance of success being almost 67.0016% based on the data that we currently have... an unstable probability that could change depending on the situation that's about to transpire."
Everyone nodded at his words, his glasses reflecting the light before prompting everyone to leave.
"..."
Seeing that everyone finally left after a long ass meeting, Nero went up on his chair as he stretched his body with a deep, exhausted sigh.
"Damn, that was intense."
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the familiar ache from his injuries beneath some gauzes.
Although the pain was still there, it was amazing how just a few hours had managed to alleviate most of the damage.
Though, to be fair, nothing was too major or critical.
That's why it was healing alright… but still, he was impressed with his body's recovery rate.
It's the working of his enhanced VIT stat… or maybe he was just getting used to being beaten to hell and back on a regular basis.
Either way, he wasn't complaining.
"..."
The room felt strangely quiet after all the heated discussions and tactical planning.
The weight of tomorrow's mission was settling in, and honestly, Nero was ready to crash.
His body was screaming for actual rest, not just the brief medical attention they just managed between crises.
He glanced at the dark sky through the window.
It's already night before they knew it.
Everyone would need to be up early for the assault on Vincent's camp, which meant he had maybe quite some hours of sleep to recover all of his stamina and mana.
'Should probably get some sleep–'
Just as Nero was about to push himself up from the chair and find somewhere to collapse for the night, a familiar mental voice cut through his thoughts.
It's Aurelia from beside him.
And this time there was a hint of uncertainty behind them.
'... Lord Nero, there is urgent information I would like to speak to you about.'
***
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