When he got home, he took a nice, scolding hot, skin peeling shower. Like any normal person would. When he finished and dried himself off, his skill screen popped.
Objective Complete
[Become One With the Venomous Burn]
??? Rank ★: Owner has slight fire resistance
Mastery: 10%/100%
New Objective: Burn yourself 10 times
Burn myself 10 times? That doesn't seem too bad.
Axel simply lit a candle and dipped his finger in and pulled it back out quickly, basically feeling nothing. He repeated this 9 more times, but…the objective wasn't completed. He let his finger simmer in the fire a bit more, barely feeling anything.
And still, nothing.
Maybe I have to try a more sever burn?
He heated his stove on high heat, took a deep breath with a potion on standby, and pressed his hand on it. Steam curled up from the stove as he pressed his palm flat against the iron surface. The smell of scorched skin rose faintly into the air. Pain, sharp and biting, flared instantly, but he barely flinched. His teeth clenched. His jaw locked. Then he pulled back, flexing the raw red hand.
A normal person would've been screaming. Axel just frowned.
He dipped his hand in 9 more times then drunk a potion, turning his scorched hand back to normal.
Objective Complete
[Become One With the Venomous Burn]
??? Rank ★: Owner has slight fire resistance
Mastery: 15%/100%
New Objective: Drink a low-grade poison
Axel simply ordered a one-star toxin online. With that, he went to the training room to complete his day.
____________________________________
Night fell quickly. The kidnapping plan was in motion.
Axel slipped into his position, mask and robes blending him into the darkness. The crow mask's holographic eyes glowed faintly. He crouched behind a stack of crates, fingers curled around a rope.
Someone else was already there.
"Axel," a cold voice whispered.
He turned his head, catching the glint of crimson eyes behind a half-raised mask. Yanin. Of course.
"Yanin," he said back, equally quiet.
"...Yanin what?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, I thought we were just saying each other's names," he murmured with a grin she couldn't see.
She huffed, looking away. "Forget it."
The two of them settled into silence. The tension was almost comfortable. Almost.
"Actually," she spoke again, voice softer this time, "what… would happen if Mico gets caught?"
Axel's gaze didn't waver. "She won't. Trust her. Just focus on the job."
"Not everyone's as optimistic as you," Yanin muttered.
Optimistic. Funny word for a guy who thought about death every other day. But he let her have that one.
"Yeah, well, you can keep drowning in your own sorrow. I'll be frolicking in the sunshine with the rainbows," he said lightly.
"You're so annoying."
He didn't reply because the door creaked open.
Showtime.
Celestia entered with Joshua Travich wrapped around her finger. Literally. The rich brat had his arm locked tightly around her waist, swaggering like he owned the place.
"This is it?" Joshua sneered, glancing around with a wrinkled nose. The place's stench offended him.
Celestia leaned closer, her voice dropping into honeyed tones. "I know it's a little dusty, babe, but trust me... no one will bother us here."
She let her lips brush his ear. "And there's a private room where we can spend all day in~."
The echo of her voice bounced around the hollow garage, clear bait for everyone hiding in the shadows.
Joshua grinned, predictably thinking with his dick and not with his head. "Lead the way."
He didn't notice the faint shuffle of feet. Didn't see the faint glint of metal in the dark.
He just sat on the couch Celestia had lured him toward, oblivious to the predators closing in.
Celestia straddled his lap, wrists pressing his down with deceptively gentle strength. "Are you ready?" she asked, voice sweet poison.
"Fuck yeah, bitch!" Joshua laughed, not even realizing Celestia just said the code phrase.
Celestia's smile sharpened. "Good."
Pressure. Hard enough to bruise. His wrists locked under her grip.
"What the—?! Let me go!" Joshua yelped, thrashing. "That hurts, you crazy—"
The shadows exploded.
Five figures burst out of the darkness at once, crow masks flashing violet under the dim light. Their robes flared, boots pounding against the cracked floor as they surrounded him. The sound of rushing footsteps and snapping rope filled the room.
"Young master," Celestia purred, her seductive tone twisting into something cruel. "It's time to pay for your sins."
Joshua's face drained of color. "Do you know who my father is?! You'll all—"
His words cut off as Yanin's hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing just enough to choke out his protests. Her crimson eyes glared through the mask, cold and merciless.
Axel moved with practiced precision. Rope whipping around Joshua's struggling arms and legs in clean, ruthless loops. The brat kicked, spat, and cursed, but the gag silenced him quick. His screams became muffled, desperate sounds.
The others held him down, each movement coordinated, swift. Joshua's panic filled the air, raw and animal, as they overpowered him like a pack of wolves tearing down prey.
It didn't take long. He was no fighter. Just an arrogant heir stripped bare of power.
Eventually, he went limp. Whether from fear or exhaustion didn't matter. He was out.
Rodrick slipped in after everything was done. His presence so low only Axel noticed him.
"That was easy," Axel said flatly, breaking the silence.
Celestia stepped back, disgust flashing across her flawless face. She yanked off her mask, breathing hard, and gagged. "I'm going to throw up."
She didn't lie. She staggered off toward a trash can, hand over her mouth.
Axel tilted his head toward Yanin. "Go check on her."
"Why me?" Yanin frowned.
"You're the only other girl here. It'll be weird if I do it."
Yanin rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Fine."