"You used to envy our immortality, didn't you? It's okay, I will fulfill your expectations and turn them into Demi-Humans too~"
A chilling darkness crept up the backs of those researchers. Their eyes widened, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably at the foreseeable future.
They knew best the fate of Demi-Humans, and the thought of their loved ones experiencing such things made their emotions instantly collapse!
"Wait, wait… no…"
Rhode was immensely pleased by their dramatic change in expression.
"You don't need to thank me. I will also send them for free to your favorite workplaces. I believe they have long been curious about your work, haven't they~?"
Constantly giving hope, then constantly casting them into the abyss.
These researchers, who regarded Demi-Humans as guinea pigs, now found their positions reversed, becoming toys for Rhode to manipulate at will.
After realizing that Rhode would not let them go no matter what, the researchers stared at Rhode with bloodshot eyes, letting out desperate and painful roars.
"You devil, I curse…"
Bang, bang, bang, bang—
The man pulled the trigger expressionlessly, shooting them one by one in the head, then turned back and asked.
"Are you really going to do that?"
"Depends on my mood~"
The man couldn't tell for a moment whether it was the other party's mischievousness or if he really intended to, so he changed the subject.
"....What is the purpose of you saving me?"
"I said, I want to save my people."
Rhode calmly met the man's scrutinizing gaze, then grinned at the red-flashing surveillance camera in the corner, waving a greeting.
"And by the way, to pass judgment on you perpetrators~"
With a snap of his fingers, Rhode destroyed all the surveillance cameras in the room, picked up the camera used for filming on the table, and said without looking up.
"Now, I'll give you two choices."
"One, I will take back your Demi-Human abilities and send you to a place where no one knows you. You can try to start a new life."
"Two, I will provide you with sufficient firepower and give you five minutes to do anything you want. After five minutes, I will take away your abilities and send you on your way."
The man's eyes widened in astonishment.
The sudden influx of information almost made his brain crash.
He looked at the calm-faced Rhode, with too many questions he wanted to ask.
You can turn others into Demi-Humans? And turn Demi-Humans back into humans? How did you do that?
But in the end, he only hesitated and asked.
"Can I see the true appearance of my savior?"
Rhode looked up in surprise, raised an eyebrow, and finally looked squarely at this experiment subject for the first time.
"The voice, intonation, speech habits, they don't match a person of this appearance. And you don't seem to have deliberately hidden it, do you? It's like playing a game, waiting for someone to discover the flaw."
The man forced a smile, as if trying to laugh, but he had already forgotten how to smile.
"I used to be a detective, and I guess I saved quite a few people."
"The last time, to save a hostage, I took a bullet for him, and then my Demi-Human identity was discovered, and I was sent here."
The man lowered his head to change the pistol magazine, his voice deep.
"My former wife accused me of domestic violence in front of the media and married my former brother. My family disowned me, and my son was dragged off to be gender-reassigned, eventually overdosing and dying in who knows what rubbish heap."
"I once lived in this world with a clear conscience, but now I have nothing left to cling to."
"But at least… at the end of my life, I want to remember who the person who saved me from hell truly is."
Rhode was silent for a moment, then decided to fulfill this guy's wish, so he chanted softly.
"The Apocalypse Bell at Midnight."
As the incantation finished, Rhode's handsome profile emerged.
The man's eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe Rhode's age, and finally just shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I didn't expect to be saved by someone about the same age as my son. Can I ask who you are? What should I call you?"
Rhode casually put the camera into Kamui Space, a sight that made the man's pupils contract.
"My name is Rhode, just a passerby who answered your prayer."
"Rhode (Lord)?!"
The man's voice rose for a moment in shock, then his eyes showed a sense of relief, as if he had imagined something, and he murmured.
"Rhode… no wonder, no wonder…"
"You saved me, do you need me to do anything for you?"
Rhode shook his head.
"You just need to make your choice, and then follow your heart, live for yourself one last time."
[A-rank Wish has been issued.]
[Content: Free Aiden from the fate of a Demi-Human.]
[Reward: One of Aiden's abilities, and corresponding Wish Points.]
"Live for myself, huh. To hear such words at the end, it almost makes this old man cry."
The man named Aiden caressed the pistol, looking up at the ceiling, where the higher-level researchers lived.
"Then please wait for me a little longer."
Rhode had already guessed his choice, and with a wave of his hand, conjured a whole room full of weapons.
"Rocket launchers, proximity mines, grenade launchers, grenades, smoke bombs, tear gas, shotguns… A good deed done completely, feel free to use these."
Aiden's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he covered his forehead, unable to resist complaining.
"Fuck, does God sell weapons too?"
Rhode always felt that this guy misunderstood something, but he just shrugged casually.
"Anyway, I got these from your country for free. So use these to unleash the last fireworks of your life. Remember, only five minutes."
After saying that, Rhode's figure began to twist, instantly disappearing from Aiden's sight.
Aiden was no longer surprised at this point, but rather nodded slightly.
After all, a god should have such means!
But the Bible never said God was Asian.
Wait, I think I heard a rumor that God had a second son in a great Eastern country… Damn, was it really true…
After a while of wild thoughts, Aiden turned to look at the dazzling array of military equipment in the room, and a grin spread across his lips.
"Revenge time, begin."
On the opposite rooftop, Rhode sat on the edge of the building, eating the junk food hamburger Suzuki Jun bought, enjoying with great interest the constant explosions coming from the building opposite.
"Although Demi-Humans have many shortcomings, just being fearless of death is enough to make their enemies tremble with fear. And how many soldiers in a capitalist empire are truly unafraid of death?"
"Woah, ah, ah—fly, fly slower~"
Suzuki Jun was currently being held by the claws of her female IBM, wobbling and experiencing the sensation of flying in the air.
Rhode glanced up, and after confirming she was not in danger, he let them continue their antics.
The IBMs in this world come in various types; some have parts of their bodies mutated into animal parts.
For example, a mouth turning into a lizard's mouth, or hands turning into claws.
But Suzuki Jun's IBM was rare in that it grew wings, giving her a natural ability to fly!
And after Rhode obtained her ability through the wish, he naturally also possessed this type of IBM, which was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Speaking of which, most adventurers in the Danmachi World can't even fly…
Even low-level worlds might have unexpected gains beyond imagination.
The IBM beside Rhode glanced over, silently moved a step closer to Rhode, subtly enjoying the satisfaction of being close.
She secretly cast a scornful look at the woman in the air. Although she had no eyes, she could somehow convey that meaning.
He glanced down at the time; six minutes had passed, and finally, no more sounds came from inside the research facility.
Rhode tossed away the wrapper in his hand, put his hands in his pockets, and leaped down from the rooftop.
The IBM beside him immediately spread its wings, let out a joyful hum, caught Rhode, and flew towards the research facility.
In the center of the ruins, Aiden sat on a pile of corpses, leisurely smoking a cigar.
Seeing Rhode descend from the sky, he smiled happily and waved in greeting.
"Yo, you're late."
"It's not my fault someone's too slow; your old methods must be rusty."
[A-rank Wish fulfilled.]
[Task completion is Over-achieved, Wish-granter satisfaction is Ultimate.]
[Congratulations! You have received an A-rank reward.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained Aiden's ability: Ajin.]
[Detected that you already possess this ability. Your recovery time will be shortened, and IBM particles concentration will increase.]
[Congratulations! You have received 1000 Wish Points. Current balance: 8000 points.]
"Hahaha, after all, I've been tormented for so long. And I owe it to you, who are more merciful than anyone else in the world, for giving me a chance for revenge. So, please, send me on my way."
Aiden spread his arms calmly, accepting his end.
Rhode raised one hand towards him with an indifferent expression and, in his mind, gave an order to the System, using another of the System's abilities for the first time!
"System, materialize his Ajin power and plunder it."
[Detected normal Ajin power with no manifest ghost and low IBM concentration, relative rating is C-rank.]
[Tip: Replicating corresponding abilities consumes corresponding Wish Points. Plundering and granting consume 1.5 times the Wish Points.]
[Continue execution?]
"Continue."
[Received. 300 Wish Points deducted. Current balance: 7700 points.]
A surge of power was drawn from Aiden's body and flowed into Rhode's.
Meanwhile, the IBM beside him also began to grow taller, its wings became larger, gradually moving beyond the basic human size.
A sharp glint flashed in Rhode's eyes.
It really can be done this way!
Use a wish to replicate the opponent's ability, then use points to plunder it!
This way, he can reap two Ajin powers from one person!
Heh heh, I'm starting to look forward to seeing what changes this guy beside me will undergo after all the Ajin are used up.
"That's it."
Aiden sighed.
"That's all it took, how amazing. I didn't feel a thing."
Rhode took out his pistol, loaded it, and aimed at Aiden's forehead.
Sunlight streamed through the broken research facility dome, a column of light quietly falling upon the blood-stained ground.
Aiden stumbled to his feet and walked in front of Rhode, kneeling amidst the silent ruins.
This former detective, once an Ajin, seemed to have transformed into a lost pilgrim, finally arriving before the divine.
Aiden clasped his hands devoutly, looking up at Rhode, his slightly trembling voice mixed with earnestness and uncertainty.
"God punishes the wicked and saves the good, right?"
Rhode stood amidst the interplay of light and shadow, golden sunlight bathing him in a soft glow, making his silhouette appear much taller and more sacred.
He remained silent for a long time, then a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
Rhode's voice was low and solemn, echoing in the emptiness, like an apocalypse descending.
"It is precisely because of your past good deeds that you met me at the end and were redeemed."
This ambiguous answer seemed like a silent oracle, but Aiden still let go of all the doubts and burdens in his heart.
He closed his eyes, a relieved smile on his lips, his posture still maintaining devout prayer.
Thank you, my Lord.
Bang--
The silver metal gleamed like a sacred artifact in the sunlight, and Rhode calmly pulled the trigger.
Aiden remained in his praying posture, kneeling in the sunlight, and fell into a peaceful slumber with a look of release on his face.
Suzuki Jun, circling high above, witnessed this scene, her heart trembling, deeply moved by it.
Rhode stood amidst the golden radiance, like an angel of judgment.
Aiden knelt at his feet, his posture solemn and serene.
Surrounding them were the corpses of the wicked strewn across the ground, as if those who had committed heinous crimes had finally met their judgment.
The scene at this moment reminded her of the solemn religious frescoes in churches.
Light and shadow intertwined, death and salvation coexisted, creating a magnificent and transcendent divinity.
Suzuki Jun instinctively raised her phone, capturing this moment of grandeur and solemnity frozen in time.
In the image, Rhode and Aiden's figures were bathed in golden light, like new gods descending, judging the mortal world and saving humanity.
She gazed at this moment in a daze, murmuring softly.
"Perhaps you treat everything as part of a game, but at least in his heart, you are undoubtedly the God who saved him...."
Rhode silently put away his pistol. After some thought, he used Kamui Space to teleport Aiden's body to a place with singing birds and fragrant flowers, considering it a final gift.
The System suddenly popped up another notification.
[Congratulations! You have triggered an S-rank World Wish.]
[Content: Personally 'eliminate' all Ajin and become the savior of the Ajin.]
[Reward One: Title - God of Ajin. Effect: Can freely grant or strip anyone of Ajin characteristics without consumption.]
[Reward Two: Permanently anchor to this world, not occupying a slot in the Myriad Worlds Wish, allowing free travel at any time.]
[Reward Three: Corresponding massive Wish Points.]
.....
"It was originally just a fabricated rhetoric to make it easier for Ajin to generate wishes, but I didn't expect it to become real."
Rhode clicked his tongue, his mood a bit subtle, but overall he was quite pleasantly surprised.
Suzuki Jun, with the help of the IBM, flew down beside Rhode, looking at the corpses strewn around, her face filled with trepidation.
If not for Rhode's help, I probably wouldn't have fared any better than that guy.
She suddenly felt a bit fortunate to be a girl, at least she could be favored by Rhode because of it.
Otherwise, even the most righteous person would at most only receive Rhode's rare mercy, and never truly gain his favor.
Rhode took a camera from Kamui Space and tossed it to Suzuki Jun.
"Can you edit videos?"
Suzuki Jun clumsily caught the camera, giving an awkward smile.
"Uh..."
Rhode sighed, placing his right hand on Suzuki Jun's shoulder.
"Never mind, I should have known. Next, I'll take you to some places."
"Okay, I'll listen to you, but what are we going to do?"
"Completely fill you up."
....Huh?!
After that, Rhode first spent 1000 Wish Points to extend the time stagnation of the DanMachi world relative to the Ajin world by one month.
Then he took Suzuki Jun to various Ajin research centers around the world.
Most Ajin had similar experiences to Aiden and chose to slaughter the researchers who abused them before dying without regret.
And Rhode, after activating the System mission, also slightly changed his mindset and retrieved data from the research facilities.
The names of stakeholders and superiors were recorded one by one by Suzuki Jun in a notebook.
Although the researchers were direct perpetrators, they were only following orders. The real orchestrators of all these tragedies were the high-ranking figures.
There were also a very small number of countries where Ajin, although restricted, were only required to undergo basic, non-harmful cooperative testing.
For such Ajin, Rhode merely used words to induce their wish to become normal people, then plundered their abilities.
Given the attitude of those countries' high-ranking officials, they would probably only monitor these individuals for a period of time, and after confirming that they had truly returned to normal, they would regretfully allow them to live normal lives.
Although wishes of this level were only B-rank, and the points obtained could at most only match those consumed during plundering, he was happy to do so with a clear conscience.
As his Ajin power continuously multiplied, Rhode even gained ultra-fast regeneration without needing to resurrect!