Playing inventor in a cultivation world

Chapter 122: Divine Body, Cursed Body

The man appeared next to him, his face aged. "You killed Zoldyk? Why?"

Seraph didn’t answer. He merely stood before the man, staring at him through the mask.

The man did the same, silently staring at Seraph’s mask.

’Trying to stall me? Sigh,’ Seraph thought as he rolled his shoulders.

Then, he took out the crimson spear from his storage ring, pointing it at the man.

The man smiled, then struck forward with his palm. "Flattening Pattern!"

A palm-like construct made entirely of flames shot towards Seraph at incredible speed. Eyes narrowed, Seraph raised his other hand and flicked his fingers.

A water tornado shot from his arm at an incredible pace, crashing into the palm of flames.

The two attacks canceled out each other, producing steam. Seraph immediately used the steam to his advantage, slipping into the man’s blindspots and throwing attacks from there.

The man was being hit, and at some point, he decided to only focus on protecting himself.

After a while, he noticed that no new attack came, and he opened his eyes. The blinding steam was gone, and so was Seraph.

"He escaped that fast?" The man thought, his gaze solemn. "Tch, these Reapers have become annoying."

Lifting his head, he felt the presence of someone swiftly approaching. Recognizing who it was, he thought, ’Your son is gone, old man. Well, he wasn’t a good son anyway.’

Soon, an old man with strands of white already in his hair appeared, his expression grim. He looked towards the King Stage mercenary and asked, "You couldn’t catch the killer?"

He regrettably shook his head, "I engaged him briefly, but he still managed to slip away. As for his cultivation, I couldn’t tell, but he’s strong enough to actually counter my Flattering Pattern attack."

Hearing this, the old man, Zoldyk’s father, was surprised. "A reaper countering such top-tier attack? Hm, looks like they really wanted my son dead."

His fists clenched by his side, and he unconsciously released his spiritual pressure. The guards that had been rushing over were immediately pressed to the ground, groaning and struggling under the pressure.

Only the mercenary remained standing, though one could see that he was tense. He knew how much of a madman this old man was whenever he got enraged.

"Zoldyk..." The old man said, his voice trembling. "I will avenge you. Regardless of it all, you are a member of this family, it is my duty to protect you, and I have failed."

’I will not fail to avenge you.’

Turning around, he withdrew his spiritual pressure and said to the mercenary. "Get information... as much as you can about whoever could have reported my son to the Reapers. I want them all dead."

The man stayed silent for a while, then nodded. "Understood, sir."

.........

Meanwhile, Seraph had escaped the city altogether, returning to the top of the hill where he was standing before.

He looked back at the city, more precisely the mansion, and said with a frown.

"That was a bit much. Thank goodness I escaped before that freaky whoever arrived."

While the mercenary was stalling him, he had considered waiting and fighting a two versus one battle. However, when he spread his spiritual sense, he felt the strangeness of his soon-to-be opponent.

Hence, Seraph was weirded out and decided against fighting.

While he was thinking about it, another Reaper agent appeared before him, offering him a cloth to be wrapped around his head.

Seraph complied, and he was transported back to the base.

He entered the Mission Dome, submitted the mission plate back to the girl behind the tinted glass, then left.

He walked through the hallway, returning to his room after a few minutes.

Removing his mask, he laid on the bed, breathing calmly.

’Life as a Reaper agent feels too monotone and boring. I think I’d die of boredom before I can find anything useful.’

Sighing, he covered his face with his hands.

["Well, you can go commit suicide, then."] Halo chipped in with its own advice.

Grunting, Seraph replied in an irritated tone. ’Will you quit being annoying? I should probably find a way to silence you for life.’

["Oh, really? Then you wouldn’t be able to receive my support at all! Bahahahahaha!"]

’Who needs the support of a slave system that’s not even independent? Tsk, you’ve grown really arrogant,’ Seraph shot back, his tone mocking.

["You..."] The system became speechless and could not form a proper reply to his words.

After all, Seraph was somewhat correct. Of all the novels he had read in his life as Stephen, he hadn’t seen a system as weird as Halo.

Usually, the sentient systems were always cooperative, powerful, and beings on a cosmic scale. At least they weren’t mass-produced beings made by some higher entities without any specialty.

Halo didn’t even have an exclusive name. Not a Supreme Cloning System, Supernatural Cultivation System, or Reincarnation System. It was just a random guide called a system for naming sake.

’Whatever, I’ll still put you to use anyway,’ Seraph thought with a snort, then remembered something. ’Ah, right! What is so special about that Ariadne girl?"

["Why should I answer you? Didn’t you say you didn’t need my support?"] Halo’s voice rang out, regaining its earlier smugness.

’Oh, really? You’re right. I’m not asking for your support. I’m asking you a question. After all, you’re a guide. Or could it be... you’re useless in that aspect too?’ Seraph countered with a mocking sneer.

Instantly, he felt Halo choke on its words, then it spoke in a subdued tone.

["Good game you played brat. I see how treacherous you are now."]

It sighed, then answered his question.

["That girl Ariadne is indeed special just like Ariana, possessing a Divine Body."]

Instantly, Seraph was intrigued. ’Oh? A Divine Body? What type?’

["I’m not sure, but judging from the weird aura around her, it’s probably the Cosmic Meteor Divine Body."]

Seraph frowned, ’Cosmic Meteor? Sounds dangerous.’

Snickering, Halo answered. ["Of course, it is. That Divine Body is a very explosive one, and its power is to create large detonating explosions that can wipe out an entire continent or a planet depending on the strength of the person having the Divine Body."]

’Hm, that’s really interesting. I’m very intrigued,’ Seraph thought, then asked. ’What about myself? Do I have a Divine Body?’

Halo went silent for a moment, then answered in a grim tone. ["No. Instead, you have a Cursed Body."]

’Cursed Body?’ Seraph felt like something was wrong, and he frowned.

["Yes..."]

His frown deepened, and he asked, ’What is the name of this Cursed Body?’

Halo fell silent, like it was contemplating telling him, then it sighed.

["Your Cursed Body is called, I Tricked You Cursed Body! Bahahahahaha!"]

Unexpectedly, Seraph wasn’t embarrassed. Instead, he just flashed a smile.

’As I expected. You are really a dumb child in every sense.’

Halo’s laugh was abruptly cut short, and Seraph could almost imagine the cube now glaring at him.

’Hm, that’s enough toying with you for now, I should get some rest.’

Turning to his side, he took a breath, closed his eyes, and fell asleep in a few minutes.

Inside his mind space, Halo sighed and thought, ’With his personality, I doubt the higher-ups will be willing to allow him cause any trouble on the universal scale.’

In the end, it could only spin quietly, choosing to get some rest too.

Meanwhile, in another location of the Reaper Bade, a meeting was being held.

Seven figures sat around a table, with only one of them being at the head. They had been discussing for a while now, and their discussion was finally coming to an end.

"... as long as we do this, we will have completed our mission to help that prince succeed in rising to the throne."

One of them said, his face covered by a gorilla mask.

"Hm, good. Once that is done, we can proceed with dismantling the palace. This one mission requires patience and resources. But it is something we can handle," The leader, a woman wearing a fox mask, answered.

The others at the table nodded, then glanced at a quiet figure sitting at the tail end of the table.

"Manager-0Y, I’m curious," The leader said, tilting her head as she looked at his masked face.

"Ask away," He replied, seemingly carefree.

The woman nodded. "Your new recruit. He seems to have a good foundation already. Where did you find him?"

The man wearing a plain mask fell silent, then answered her. "I took him from the Soul Cross Sect."

"Oh? That’s surprising. I didn’t expect that you’d be able to make such a good catch." She said in a pleased tone, as if smiling behind her mask.

The plain masked man rolled his eyes. "I was just lucky. Nothing more."

Suddenly, the gorilla masked man asked in a displeased tone. "But how come the other reaper who followed you didn’t make it back?"

Glancing at him, Manager-0Y, the plain masked man, replied.

"That is because my new recruit, Agent-YX, killed him."