CHAPTER 239: CHAPTER 239

Now that I’ve finished reading it, I was about to burn it when I noticed another paper on the envelope, curious I pulled it out.

Here’s a piece of echoescript book. Regular people like you probably don’t know what this is.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I can even buy a whole book if I wanted to. Simply put, once you write something on this paper, the same book where you ripped the paper shall reflect on it.

"Anyways, just write what happened here and I can read it without ever writing you a mail again. Don’t burn it or wet it. You can’t afford to buy even a sheet of paper of this magic item."

This rich spoiled brat! I huffed in annoyance, staring at the fancy paper. Of course he’d send something like this—expensive, magical, and totally overkill. But fine, if it meant I could tell my side without mailing back and forth, maybe it wasn’t the worst idea.

I tucked those letters into my expansion pouch and was just about to write to Edge when this piercing scream cut through the air. I spun around, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from, and that’s when I spotted them—monsters crawling out of the manhole right in the middle of the road.

Ah, this must be that part in the novel where the monsters start popping up everywhere. I just shrugged it off and kept sipping my coffee, like it was no big deal.

[Aren’t you gonna do something?] The system’s message popped up in my vision.

"Why would I?" I muttered back.

[Wow... You’re so heartless,] it replied.

I scoffed. "The heroes are gonna show up any second now, so I figure they can handle this mess—shit!" My coffee slipped from my hand and splattered on the ground as my eyes caught sight of a kid being chased by this huge, four-legged cockroach monster.

[I knew it. You aren’t heartless after all,] the system teased.

"Shut it! Scan the monster now!" I barked, darting forward and scooping the kid out of harm’s way just as that thing was about to chomp down on their head.

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Ravager Scarab

Difficulty: Standard 5

Description:

A large, robust insectoid creature resembling an exaggerated cockroach. It measures about 2 to 3 feet in length, with a heavily armored, chitinous exoskeleton that is dark brown to black, mottled with patches of iridescent green. Its six legs are powerful and jointed, allowing it to scuttle rapidly across surfaces. It has large, compound eyes that give it a wide field of vision, and a pair of powerful mandibles capable of crushing prey.

Attack Method:

Primarily relies on swift, aggressive charges and its powerful mandibles to bite and crush its prey. It can also secrete a corrosive acid from specialized glands on its mandibles to weaken defenses or break down materials. When threatened, it rears up slightly and charges forward, aiming to pin its opponent with its claws before biting.

Weakness:

The soft underbelly, just behind the head and extending to the anterior segments of the body, is less armored and vulnerable to precise strikes.

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The ground rumbled when the monster’s head slammed down right where the kid had been.

"My baby!" The mom, who was sobbing her eyes out, rushed over and snatched the child from me. "Thank you! Oh goddess, thank you so much!"

I just gave her a quick nod. "Head left down the street and cross the overpass. It’ll get you outta here faster."

"Thank you again, miss!" she called back as she hurried off.

The Ravager Scarab fixed its eyes on me and let out this ear-piercing screech, then charged straight at me. I dodged to the side just as the monster barreled past, its mandibles snapping shut on empty air. It skidded to a halt, screeching again, and spun around for another charge. I could see the soft underbelly exposed as it reared up.

I lunged forward, driving my dagger right into that vulnerable spot behind its head. The chitin gave way with a sickening crunch, and the monster convulsed, its legs twitching wildly. I twisted my hand deeper, feeling the acid glands rupture, and yanked out a chunk of its insides. The thing let out one final, gurgling screech before collapsing in a heap, its body going limp.

I wiped the goo off my dagger and scanned the area for more threats. The place was a total wreck—people screaming and running from monsters, crushed cars scattered everywhere, buildings smashed to bits. But I zeroed in on the monsters. Using my Gift, I quickly counted how many were tearing up the streets.

"There sure are a lot of them," I muttered, sighing. After slaughtering monsters almost every damn day, yeah, I was getting pretty sick of it.

At least fifty or more had crawled out of that manhole. They all looked different, but the toughest one among them was only at Advanced rank three. No big deal, then.

I pulled out my daggers as my Spectral Seal glowed. "Serenade of Daggers," I whispered, hurling them straight at the monsters’ weak spots. Instantly, the blades multiplied, swirling around me like a deadly dance as I dashed forward, chasing the beasts down.

One of the Ravager Scarabs tried to charge me, but I sidestepped and let a dagger slice into its underbelly, dropping it mid-stride. Another monster, some kind of slimy tentacle thing, lashed out, but the multiplying blades intercepted, hacking off limbs before I closed in for the kill.

I weaved through the chaos, my Gift letting me spot vulnerabilities on the fly—eyes, joints, soft spots—while the daggers kept multiplying, turning the air into a whirlwind of steel. A pack of smaller critters swarmed me, but I spun, letting the blades do the work, carving through them like butter.

The Advanced rank three beast roared and lunged, bigger and meaner, but I baited it into exposing its flank, then drove a cluster of daggers right into its weak points. It staggered, acid spraying everywhere, but I was already moving on, my ability keeping pace as I picked off the stragglers one by one. Blood and ichor splattered the pavement, and the screams of the monsters mixed with the distant wails of heroes finally showing up. I wasn’t stopping until they were all down.

With the last monster finally crashing to the ground, the road went dead silent. My spectral seal faded away as I deactivated the Serenade of Daggers, wiping the blades clean before sliding them back into the sheaths on my legs.

In a flash, the crowd swarmed me, phones out and snapping pictures like crazy. Shit, I’d forgotten to put on my mask. I yanked my coat up to cover my face. "Please, no pictures," I said, trying to slip away through the throng.

A bunch of them looked bummed, but I caught them furiously typing on their phones anyway. I sighed again. There wasn’t much I could do to stop them. But hey, it was common knowledge that heroes, mercenaries, or assassins all used daggers as their go-to weapon, so maybe it wouldn’t blow my cover too badly. Still, I hated the attention.

I headed back to the same coffee shop to grab another drink. Luckily, the place hadn’t taken any damage from the chaos.

"One Java Chip Frappe, please," I said, reaching for my wallet to pay.

"No need," the cashier replied with a big smile.

My eyebrows shot up. "What? But I ordered—"

He waved me off. "It’s on the house. Just our way of saying thanks for taking out all those monsters."

I was stunned then let out an awkward smile. "T-Thank you then." I said then sat down on one of the chairs. I pulled out the Echoescript Paper and thought what to write at that spoiled brat when sudden news appeared on the TV.

{Royal Dominion’s guild leader, Matthias Owen, let’s his daughter take on important guild matters.}

{The world’s third ranker guild, Royal Dominion, caught in grave arrogation. The person in question is still a minor?}

{Emergency. Monsters have invaded various parts of Monfort’s underground system. Although the danger level is low, civilians are recommended to stay at home...}

I’m sure Whitney can handle that issue regarding of their guild especially since I have an ace hidden on my sleeve. On the other hand, I looked back at the letter again. This is a more important matter to deal with. What should I write? Should I write everything or should I annoy Edge first so that he can tell the secret he knows about me?

I stood there stunned for a second, then managed an awkward grin. "Uh, thanks then." I plopped down at one of the tables, pulled out the Echoescript Paper, and started mulling over what to write to that spoiled brat. That’s when the TV in the corner caught my eye with some breaking news.

{Royal Dominion’s guild leader, Matthias Owen, lets his daughter take on important guild matters.}

{The world’s third-ranked guild, Royal Dominion, caught in grave arrogation. The person in question is still a minor?}

{Emergency. Monsters have invaded various parts of Monfort’s underground system. Although the danger level is low, civilians are recommended to stay at home...}

I’m sure Whitney can handle that guild mess, especially with the ace I’ve got hidden up my sleeve. But then I glanced back at the letter. This is the real priority here. What should I write? Lay it all out, or mess with Edge first to get him to spill what he knows about me?