CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 155: A SMILE OF SORROW [4]

Chapter 155 – A Smile of Sorrow [4]

Finally.

Since the moment she learned about the church’s hierarchy, Rea hadn’t stopped for even a single minute in her search for a way to evolve.

You might think it’s easy, but hear me out — it’s absolutely not.

First of all, Rea was nothing more than a pitiful Awakened rank whose only ability was to see the fears of others and influence them to a certain degree. And even that was heavily limited — anyone aware of her Origin’s nature could block it with a specific artifact.

That’s why, for now, the only way she could survive without constantly flirting with death was to hide the nature of her Origin as much as possible... something she obviously didn’t do.

But she had her reasons.

It was either hide it and remain a simple penitent in the church forever... or reveal it and work her way upward and reach Weeping Acolyte, then Disciple of Sorrow, and eventually... the Saintess of Sorrow.

Yes, it was a wild goal. But Rea was determined.

She needed strength, political influence, and wealth — all of it — to revive her fallen family and find her grandfather’s murderer.

She would not back down. And as for what she was willing to lose...?

Rea smiled inwardly, her mind drifting back to that starry night on the colline with Kaden.

The day he had asked her what she was willing to sacrifice to reach her goal. She hadn’t known back then. But now... now she knew.

’I am ready to lose everything, Kaden... even myself if I must.’

A glint of madness flashed in her beautiful, ruby-red eyes as, for a brief moment, black tears welled beneath them — only to retreat as if they had never been there.

"Are you interested in the offer?" Mother Esmere’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Rea smiled sweetly, a smile both sorrowful and serene.

"Mother Esmere, I truly don’t know how to thank you for this sorrowful opportunity," she said, her voice deepening with emotion as her face took on the weight of grief.

"I do not deserve such grace from your noble self."

Mother Esmere’s smile widened and widened still — until her lips parted, revealing her aged mouth and the few teeth within.

The sight was... sorrowfully blinding. So much so that Rea felt her own emotions stirring, an ache rising in her chest, a faint urge to cry.

"My dear child, this is my favor upon you so take it," Esmere said, her voice rich with dark glee.

Rea’s answer had clearly pleased her. Not only was Rea polite, sharp, and in possession of a useful Origin, but she had never overstepped and always appeared sincere.

’With her on my side... maybe — just maybe — I can finally have the chance to be named heir to a Disciple of Sorrow, take my evolution quest, and rise further,’ Mother Esmere thought, already plotting how to use Rea’s resourcefulness to serve her own ascent.

"I accept gladly, Mother," Rea said, rising and bowing deeply to show her gratitude.

"Ease, ease, my child. You know I can only give you a recommendation to take the test to become a Weeping Acolyte."

Rea nodded.

"And also — to qualify, you must at least be Intermediate rank. So..."

She smiled faintly.

"It’s time for you to take your evolution quest, my dear child." She reached into her space ring and withdrew a stone.

An evolution stone.

But its glow, its mystical weight, was far weaker than the one Kaden had obtained and even less than Meris’s.

A simple Rare-rank evolution stone.

Well, simple might be an exaggeration. To the common populace, Rare rank was something they could never dream of.

But Rea wasn’t common. She had ambitions too large to let a low-grade evolution stone define her potential.

Still, she accepted it with a grateful smile while hiding her contempt for the stone. "Thank you, Mother. I will not disappoint your expectations."

After a few more pleasantries — and a few subtle praises — Rea left the room.

Once back in her quarters, she sat on her bed, hands holding her head as she thought of a way...

A way to get a better stone.

’I have money... but money alone won’t buy an evolution stone of that rank.’

Still, wealth could bring her closer to the kind of people who could make it happen.

Her next step was clear — she needed to find someone like that in the City of Pain.

And she had a lead.

’It’s time to go to the Tycoon’s Merchants.’

...

Darklore – Ruined Death’s Dungeon

A whole day passed since their escape from the undead, and only now did Kaden and Asael wake up.

Which meant they had been tired — or foolish — enough to sleep while the undead went berserk last night.

Alright, let’s be honest — it was foolish. But by chance, or fate, they had survived. The undead hadn’t come near their hiding place.

And now Kaden was sitting in the cave, back against the smooth wall, eyes fixed on the notification panel before him.

[Death Coins: 16000 | Stat Points: 100]

He tilted his head. Last time he checked, he had only 14000 Death Coins and zero stat points.

Where the rest came from...?

Then it clicked.

’My Love Life quest.’ Kaden thought, wondering how the fuck did he even forget about a reward from Death.

It was the one quest that tasked him with winning over Mayari to make Meris his wife.

’I honestly forgot about that quest.’

He shooks his head softly before a grin tugged at his lips. This was an unexpected gift. In his current situation, every point mattered.

With Asael out for a well needed bath, now was the perfect time.

’Death, show me my stats profile.’

[Stats Profile]

STR: 311

AGL: 360

MANA: 360

INT: 360

WILL: 350

PER: 311

He noticed the additional ten points in each stat from his earlier transformation.

And with that, he realized something.

Beyond relentless training or quests, he could also raise his stats by synthesizing his body with others — living beings or objects.

This trait... it was terrifying in its potential.

’I haven’t even been using it at half its worth.’ He thought as he shook his head, finding himself quite incompetent sometimes.

Because this trait alone can make him someone people will fear across both worlds, without taking into account his system.

He can be...a monster. Figuratively or...literally.

He sighed, feeling regretful.

But now that the thought settled inside his mind. He now knew what to do next.

This dungeon was crawling with Master-ranked corrupted undead. He would kill them all, take their cores, saturate his own, and then... fuse their bodies into his.

By the time he left this dungeon — whether by finding a way to a damn Grandmaster or finding another way — he would be death incarnate.

His lips curved into a sharp, dangerous smile.

’Death, add fifty to Will and fifty to Perception.’

It was time to remind these corrupted bastards that the Envoy of Death... was here.

And he is not a prey.

—End of Chapter 155—