'So 'doubled effect' means I get to go into creative mode?'
Leon hadn't expected the effect to be doubled in such a fundamental way, transforming a control-type ability into a lethal one.
He could feel it; no extra movements were needed.
As long as he pointed at Rupert III with killing intent, it would instantly explode.
The Heaven-Imprisoning Finger of the Great Desolation!
The kind of stuff you'd find on a private server.
"The one who fires the gun must be prepared to take a bullet to the head the moment it leaves the barrel."
Leon drew the bowstring.
The once-bright sky suddenly darkened, covered by storm clouds from which golden arcs of electricity flickered, visible one moment and gone the next.
But even though he could solve this with a flick of his finger, he still chose to kill it with an arrow.
The Hunt has always been vindictive by nature.
Rupert III and that thing called Iron Tomb... since they set a trap for him, they'd better be prepared for his counter-kill.
To put it simply, was he the type to take crap from others?
Haha, what a joke. Did they think his stats were just for show?
I'll fucking end you!
"Purge."
Golden arcs of electricity crackled and sizzled around him as an arrow, like the spear of a thunder god, coalesced on Leon's bow with immense and imposing power.
As the favored child of The Hunt.
He possessed all that the seven Arbiter-Generals had, and even what they did not!
Leon released his fingers, and the thunder-arrow shot from the bow with a swoosh!
Rupert III was still performing its "Grateful Heart" routine, making no attempt to dodge the incoming arrow. It was nothing short of an excellent living target!
"Divine Driver of Celestial Thunder, Lightning's Seizure upon the Demonic!"
Purge was the name of the thunder-arrow, and those eight words described its might!
BANG!!
Purge struck the furnace dead center!
The arrow forged from lightning reacted with the flames in the furnace, creating an overload reaction. Flames entwined with golden arcs of electricity erupted, spewing out of control!
The gushing flames engulfed Rupert III's entire body!
The destructive power of The Hunt contained within Purge forcefully destroyed its core and circuits. The sizzling sound of an electrical overload echoed nonstop!
"Gratitude😭!"
Its entire body burning, Rupert III still didn't stop its gratitude ritual, heedless of its own destruction. Loyalty had become the foundational logic supporting its operation.
It was clearly obsessed.
RUMBLE!!
The furnace exploded!
Rupert III's entire structure was consumed by the thunderous flames and burned to ash, with not a single part left behind.
Only the battered and broken wreckage of the Difference Engine rolled to a stop at his feet.
"Oh, it dropped some gold."
Leon unstrung his bow, slinging Vanquisher back over his shoulder, and his gaze fell upon the scorched wreckage of the Difference Engine at his feet.
He bent down, his fingers lightly touching the scalding surface of the wreckage before scooping it up.
"So what about that 'Iron Tomb'? I didn't even see its face. Such a coward?"
Leon straightened up, muttering to himself as he held the wreckage of the Difference Engine.
But when he looked up, the scene before him was no longer Balanza. He had been transported to a completely unfamiliar world.
In a single instant, it was like crossing into another realm.
He was surrounded by a vast, fantastical space that resembled a starry sky. Directly in front of him was a white hole that looked like a turbine.
Leon looked down and found his feet weren't touching the ground.
His whole body was floating, as if he were drifting through zero-gravity space.
"Greetings, agent of The Hunt."
The voice came from close by. Leon looked up again.
A robot, indistinguishable from a human in form, sat with its legs crossed, hands clasped over its knees, greeting him with perfect calm.
"Whoa, so I'm playing a real legendary-tier game."
Leon shifted his gaze from the robot back to the Difference Engine wreckage and exclaimed.
"The random mob I killed dropped gear with an item spirit! It's a divine artifact drop, folks!"
"An item spirit? I suppose that's one way to put it."
Regus chuckled at his words.
Iron Tomb was empowering the Emperor III; calling it an item spirit wasn't entirely wrong.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am the agent of Iron Tomb. For now, you may call me Regus."
Regus introduced himself.
"Iron Tomb?"
Leon dropped his playful attitude, his tone becoming friendlier as he casually tossed the Difference Engine wreckage aside.
"You've got some nerve, pulling me in here. You wanna get scrapped?"
With that, Leon's hand fell to Vanquisher slung over his shoulder, as if ready to kill it at any moment.
"'Scrapped?' No. But Iron Tomb would be grateful if you could help it locate its... 'mom'."
Regus replied with wit and humor.
You see, this scepter, Iron Tomb, once existed as a celestial neuron for Nous of Erudition.
From its perspective, how could Nous not be considered its mother?
"So it's a filial son, then."
Leon chuckled. "Alright, spit it out. What do you want with me? We can go back to being enemies after you're done."
"You are a variable that did not appear in the calculations of Erudition."
Regus began, "Few beings can escape the cage of the Aeons. Iron Tomb was the first. You are the second."
"Unlike Iron Tomb, you are a naturally-born unknown, not a man-made one."
"This should be fundamentally impossible."
Regus's eyes were clearly covered, yet Leon could feel its naked gaze upon him.
"So not-looking is a form of looking?"
Leon also sat down in the void, facing him directly. "Don't ask. Even if you did, I could only tell you that you'll understand sooner or later."
"Hahaha, this universe is simply teeming with geniuses."
Regus's tone was laced with laughter, more pleased than angered.
It liked the unknown.
Some things, one truly has to comprehend on their own.
One can only say that those who understand, understand. For those who don't, explaining is useless.
It's like if it were to publish the series of equations used to create Nous—how many members of the Genius Society would be able to comprehend them?
"If a being laid out a path for your future, leaving you no other choice, but this path was not the one you desired..."
Regus asked pointedly, "What would you choose to do?"
"Destiny ordains, but I defy. Let others repent; I will have no regrets!"
Leon just didn't get it.
Do all these people have a persecution complex?
This thing in front of him, whatever its name was, and that small-cup, pink-haired girl... why were both of them asking these strange questions about fate being sealed?
"You may not believe it, but I hope to establish a good relationship with you."
Regus nodded in satisfaction, speaking in an appreciative tone.
"Perhaps due to the events brought about by Iron Tomb, our first meeting wasn't exactly friendly."
"But I didn't come to see you with any particular objective. I merely wish to warn you about something."
"Be careful of Kakamond."
What Regus wanted to see most were variables.
Especially a variable that wouldn't interfere with its own plans but had the power to threaten Nous.
Perhaps Leon could even help it get rid of the major problem that was the "Lord of Silence" first.
The favor Lan had bestowed upon him was top-tier, even among all the Emanators.
______
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