168 WHO PAYS FOR THE BROKEN FLOOR?
The apparition remained unfazed. "You fell victim to the schemes of a cunning villain and died at the hands of a powerful mage."
Memories flashed back into Mendiace's mind, like a tidal wave crashing over him. The cunning scheme. The pain. The realization of his downfall.
"That damn brothel owner," Mendiace growled, clenching his fists in anger.
A prompt appeared in his vision, the familiar system interface flickering to life.
Mission acquired: Seek vengeance against the schemer who caused your downfall: Lilleo Gullee.
Mendiace scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "So, this is my mission? To kill this Lilleo Gullee?"
"Vengeance is yours to pursue," the handler's voice responded, distant but clear. "How you achieve it is up to you."
A fire ignited in Mendiace's chest, and his thoughts began to sharpen. His body was healing, but there was something more he needed—more power, more allies, more to fight his enemies.
"I need to leave Sodom City," Mendiace muttered to himself, the weight of his thoughts settling in.
"Lilleo Gullee is tied to the Cho In An and the Assassin Workshop. I'll need everything I can get to stand a chance against that fucker Boss."
The handler's voice cut through his thoughts again. "Where will you go?"
Mendiace stood tall, the weight of his newfound resolve settling within him.
"Debauchery City. The Koresh Guild of Brothers has a branch there. It's time for me to rise again."
-----
"Congratulations, you've just made another fatal enemy," Vanessa announced as she sauntered up to Leo, a mischievous grin on her face.
Leo groaned, already exasperated. "What the hell? Who is it this time?"
Vanessa's smile widened. "You know him—Mendiace, from the K.G.B."
Leo's frustration boiled over. "Wait, didn't we just kill that guy?"
Vanessa chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction. "The System revived his character. He's coming after you for vengeance."
Leo clenched his fists, muttering under his breath. "This damn System never gives me a break. And you're congratulating me? Why the hell would I celebrate someone wanting me dead?"
"Well," Vanessa began with an exaggerated shrug, "your pursuer is far stronger than you, which means the System will likely rebalance things in your favor. That's good news, isn't it?"
Leo scoffed, throwing his hands up. "Fantastic. Here we go with the same nonsense again. I've got dozens of potions, and I can brew more, but they're practically useless crap."
Vanessa paused theatrically, flipping open her so-called "sex diary" for a moment before looking back at him with a sly grin.
"How about this?" she teased. "I unlock another spell tab for you. Congratulations, you now have three casting tabs."
Leo raised an eyebrow. The offer was tempting. His first tab was locked to his magic missile spell, and the second was bound to Black Cock Sacrifice. A third tab would give him more flexibility in combat.
"Fine. I'll take it," he said, nodding.
Vanessa leaned in, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "Would you like us to give you a spell for it?"
"Depends. What are you offering?"
"What about the Touch of Immobility?" she suggested, her tone playful.
"What does it do?" Leo asked, his interest piqued.
"It allows you to immobilize an enemy for a moment on contact. Could be useful against someone like Mendiace," Vanessa explained.
Leo mulled it over before agreeing. "Alright, I'll take it."
"One more thing," Vanessa added, her teasing smile giving way to a more serious expression. "If you face another fatal enemy, your path in the Realm of Sins will change. You won't be a normal player anymore."
Leo froze, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"
"You'll become a Boss," Vanessa said, her tone laced with amusement. "Congratulations again."
"A Boss?" Leo echoed, staring at her. "What does that even mean?"
"You'll shift from adventurer to villain," Vanessa explained, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You'll become one of the key villains in this realm."
Leo's jaw tightened, his mind racing. "Screw you," he muttered, then asked reluctantly, "Do villains get better perks?"
Vanessa's grin returned. "Of course. The more threats you face, the better the rewards."
-----
Leo turned to Yun-Yun, his expression serious. "My enemies are getting deadlier, and Magic Missile hasn't kept up. Is there any way to improve it?"
Yun-Yun shook her head regretfully. "Unfortunately, I don't have a spell that directly enhances Magic Missile. It's a simple and efficient spell, but its potential is limited."
Leo's eyes brightened with determination. "Then we need to get creative. Let's head back to the Tome Arena. There has to be something there that can help."
Yun-Yun sighed but couldn't hide the flicker of interest in her gaze. "The Arena does house some rare techniques. Fine, let's see what we can uncover."
-----
[Tome Arena, Sodom City Academy of Magic]
Leo strode into the Arena Tome library, its towering shelves filled with ancient and forbidden knowledge. He approached the desk where Counselor Huggins was scribbling notes.
"Counselor Huggins, I'm here to borrow some books again," Leo announced confidently.
Huggins glanced up, adjusting his spectacles. "Ah, Master Lilleo, always a pleasure to see you. What can I help you with today?"
Leo smirked. "The dean said I could access anything here—even the forbidden spells."
Huggins nodded slowly, "That's correct. As an honorary counselor, you have full access. What are you looking to study?"
Leo surveyed the shelves but didn't spot anything that immediately caught his attention. Instead, he turned back to Huggins. "Let me give you an idea."
With a flick of his wrist, several glowing projectiles materialized and shot toward the floor, smashing tiles into shards.
Huggins winced, throwing his hands up. "Oh dear, those tiles aren't cheap!"
Leo shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll cover the cost. Now, focus. Do you have anything that can make those better?"
Huggins sighed, muttering something about reckless students, before his expression shifted thoughtfully. "Actually, there is something. A forbidden spell—Velocity Extremes. It doesn't alter your Magic Missile directly, but it enhances the speed and impact of projectiles."
"Really? What's the catch?" Leo asked, intrigued.