CHAPTER 37: ARE YOU AFRAID?

Cipher looked at the Fly Mode cheat.

Now this was something. Being able to fly would be quite good for fighting, especially at the lower levels. Although higher-level awakeners and monsters could fly, at the lower levels, not many could do this unless it was an intrinsic trait of theirs, like having wings.

Another advantage was that it didn’t cost mana but rather stamina proportional to walking normally at the same speed. Although high-level awakeners could get flying skills, they would have to pay an arm and a leg to use them efficiently, so they mostly used them for transport and not battle.

But for him, he could even use it in battle. And if he got a sidearm, he could combine this with his Aimbot to safely farm mobs from the air.

Speaking of, he decided to pay Iris a visit. But before that...

He clicked on his owned cards and activated the Class card. A menu opened, asking him to choose a single element. The Class card was a card that applied elemental edition to a skill, allowing it to deal additional elemental damage.

The elements were: water, fire, metal, earth, wood, wind, lightning, ice, light, and dark.

He selected dark and applied it to his Assassinate skill.

[Skill: Assassinate (E-Rank)]

[Type: Active]

[Edition: Elemental]

[Cost: 25 Mana]

[Cooldown: 20 seconds]

[Description: Burst forward up to 5 meters and strike with lethal precision. Deals 300% physical damage and an additional 300% dark elemental damage. If attacking from behind or while the target is unaware, this attack becomes a guaranteed critical hit.]

He looked at the description. He didn’t know exactly how to feel. It wasn’t like he had expected, but it also wasn’t bad. He had expected it to gain a dark elemental effect like stealth, which would allow him to always hit the crit.

Well, he supposed it was fine. Maybe the effect would manifest as he used the ability. If it really didn’t gain an effect, then this would be quite the waste - it would’ve been better to just take the light element so he could gain even more damage against monsters.

He waved his hand, closing his system screen and getting up to leave.

...

A while later, Cipher arrived at the workshop. Selene and the others had already arrived before him.

"You guys came early," Cipher said.

"We were just excited to see what work we’ll be doing," Maya said, and the other two nodded in excitement.

"How was your rest?" Selene asked, walking over.

"Good. I finally feel alive again. Thanks for yesterday," he said.

"No problem at all," she said.

"I’ll need your help with something," he said.

"Sure, what is it?" she asked.

Cipher looked at the rest of the party. "There really isn’t much to do here," he said. "You guys can take the day off. Feel free to hang around in the workshop or do whatever you want."

"Maya, you come with me," he added.

"Oki!" Maya said as she walked over to Cipher.

Maya, Selene, and Cipher then left the workshop.

"What did you need help with?" Selene asked as they walked.

"We need to prepare for the next raid. Why don’t you go to Elaine for the potions we’ll need? At the same time, you can collect the items she needs help appraising and take them to the workshop. I’ll work on them later," he said.

"Sure," she said.

"You wouldn’t happen to be afraid of Elaine, would you?" she asked with a teasing smile.

"What? What made you think that?" Cipher asked, playing dumb.

"Well, you keep visiting Iris personally, but for Elaine, you’re sending me," she said.

"It’s just faster this way," Cipher said.

"Sure..." she said as she left.

After she left, Cipher exhaled. He was indeed a little wary of Elaine. Since he knew her secret, she might do something to him. Although all her physical stats were below average, he was extremely scared of her Charm skill. It didn’t seem like anyone was aware of it.

With her insane mana, she might even be able to charm the Association head.

"Let’s go," he said to Maya, and they walked to Iris’s lab.

...

At Iris’s lab, Maya had wide eyes as she walked into the room.

"It’s Dr. Iris’s lab. I’ve never seen it before," she thought. But as she walked in further, her expression slowly shifted.

Rather than the sophisticated laboratory she had expected - pristine white surfaces, organized workbenches, cutting-edge equipment displayed on shelves - this looked more like an abandoned workshop on the verge of collapse.

Live wires hung from the ceiling, sending sparks flying in random intervals. The clanking and grinding of machines echoed throughout the space. Half-disassembled weapons and armor pieces were scattered across every available surface.

Scorch marks decorated the walls and floor.

Cipher observed her expression with a smile. It seemed her entire world had been flipped upside down. It was the same for him when he visited for the first time.

"Iris, you there?" Cipher called out, but he didn’t dare walk in further. He called once again and was about to leave when he finally heard her voice.

"I’m here," she spoke.

A small hatch opened up on the floor, and she climbed up. Her face was covered in soot and dust, welding goggles pushed up on her forehead. She held a drill in one hand and wore heavy-duty work clothes covered in pockets and loops, each filled with tools - wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and things Cipher couldn’t even identify.

"Cipher, you’re finally here! I have so many things I want you to appraise. Come in quick..." she spoke, then paused when she finally noticed Maya. "Who’s that?"

"This is Maya, my teammate," he said.

"Hello," Maya greeted with a bow.

"I came here to receive equipment for my party. Do you have anything in mind?" he asked.

"I see..." Iris removed her work clothes and put them down on a nearby bench, revealing regular clothes underneath. "Come on in," she said.

But Cipher and Maya remained still.

She turned to look at them. "What are you waiting for?"

"Um... is this safe?" Cipher asked.

"Of course! Who do you think I am?" she asked.

Right on cue, a live wire shot across the room, sending a shower of sparks flying.

"Mmm, maybe we should come back later..." Maya said.