Chapter 432 - Proof of Death (Patreon)

Round 1 of the Latias Grand Prix, the second day.

The night didn't stop the proceedings. Inside the Biome, there were those who chose to take it easy to recover their stamina, while others kept doing pest extermination throughout.

Viers belonged to the latter.

He did this even though Croix wasn't close enough so the team’s score wouldn't increase. At first, Croix insisted on accompanying him but Viers sent him when the night was late enough so he could rest. Viers’ and the young prince’s bodily endurance was different after all.

He was already a Level 4, even though he pretended to be a Level 3 right now. He also got his healing factor after eating the body of a bull demigod. That healing factor improved his recovery time from injuries substantially and had many other benefits, such as fatigue tolerance from physical activity.

Viers liked how similar his regenerative ability was to a certain adamantium-clawed man in his yellow superhero suit. He didn't know yet if he had decelerated aging biologically but he was aware how much lifeforce he currently had and could replenish it by eating vitality-rich food. Since Pathseekers got an increased lifespan when they leveled up, on top of Viers’ ability, it was safe to say he had no fear of dying of old age for centuries to come, if ever. A long time was needed to test his theory.

His regenerative quirk aside, physically, Viers was still weaker than Jessica the Body Pathseeker and Boram who focused on tempering their body. When the situation called for it, Viers could strengthen his body using Victa but his default spec was lower compared to them. A Body Pathseeker, Viers was not. Be that as it may, Viers made use of his day-by-day active hours to reach new heights of power, such as now.

Three years ago, Viers created an Arte based on the Blood Church’s prized Arte, Blood Seraph Arte. Izabella taught him the principle while she herself learned the original version, as payment for delivering a certain prince alive.

Viers’ self-made Arte was not called Blood Seraph but Proof of Death.

When he killed someone or something with his own hands, he could absorb their blood and store them. The ‘blood energy’ then could be released for a great burst of power at a later date.

Red mist rose from the cockroaches that he killed and flowed to the back of his left hand, forming the shape of a wing. This was the third wing, two were already fully formed, but the third was still faint. This indicated how much power Viers had accumulated with Proof of Death.

The first victim of this Arte was the cultist Fajrin, Viers tied up the loose end from the Book World during the elf village debacle three years ago. He couldn't use this Arte much since that time because of his seclusion but the nature of round 1 gave Viers a great opportunity to utilize this Arte to the fullest.

Viers was afraid that Arte wouldn't work because he wasn't sure if cockroaches had blood or not since he didn't see any red fluid when he opened them up. However, to his relief, the Arte worked as intended.

I guess the Blood Demoness didn't care about the color of the blood, hm? Red, white, blue, blood is blood.

After confirming he could extract blood energy from the cockroaches, he had to prevent the Church's observer and the drone crows from seeing him performing the deed. It was an unorthodox method and he didn't want them associating him as a member of a devil cult. They wouldn't know what was happening if he was careful, and the night helped.

Viers had two of these types of power-reservoir Arte. Proof of Death was starting to get filled after three years of drought but the other reservoir had been getting constant rain and filled up nicely. It was the Arcana Links Arte. Those with Viers’ arcana cards collectively pooled their energy bit by bit and they got to temper their souls in return.

When the time came for Viers to release these dams, it would be glorious.

Future delusion aside, the night was ending and the second day had arrived. Time for Viers to clock out of his night shift. But before that…

“I’m going back,” Viers said aloud. “Satisfied, you behind the tree?”

A person revealed himself, another contender. He was alone, but seeing the badge on his lapel, that meant he was the leader of his team.

“You realize me then? Not bad,” the handsome youth smiled. “I suppose I should thank you for your hard work. For your troubles.”

A mana crystal was thrown at Viers’ feet, like a scrap of meat at a street dog. Viers didn't pick it up.

Without Croix nearby, the score of the kill went towards the nearby badge holder. In other words, the man reaped the score from Viers’ kills without lifting a finger.

“I realized it from the start. You’ve been shadowing me for four hours,” Viers wiped his sweat. “Quite the hyena.”

The man’s smile went wider. “It’s only natural for the commoners to work for the benefit of their betters. Did I wound your feelings? Want to take a swing, commoner?”

“...Once I get Prince Croix’s permission, I will.”

The youth’s chuckle was full of mirth and derision. “Your need to act strong like a bristling kitten is amusing. Just be honest and admit you’re afraid of us, just like how you slap yourself at the ball. It’s more befitting.”

The man leapt to a tree branch, before he left, he turned back and spoke while looking down on Viers.

“One more thing, tough guy. I’ve been watching you since the prince went to bed, hahahaha!”

Which was a few hours earlier than what Viers detected. The man left in high spirits. He had gotten a bunch of score points easily and got one up on the commoner who didn't know his place and dated the gem of the kingdom, Ciel Valentine.

Little did he know this was precisely what Viers wanted him to think.

Viers purposefully revealed he detected the intruder much later. By doing so, the man would underestimate Viers in the future encounter. As for why Viers let him gain the scores, well, without Croix the scores would go to waste anyway. This way, after he would give that man a smackdown, he would still get half of their scores.

Fattening the sheep before slaughter.

Viers walked back to his team’s camp. Even while drinking from his waterskin, his sinister smile didn't fade. Viers was thinking how satisfying it would be if he added that man’s to the Proof of Death on the back of his hand. Compared to cockroaches, naturally the gain from killing a more powerful Pathseeker was greater.

But Viers reined in his bloodlust for now.

For now.

***

The fervor didn't diminish after the second day. After the night, the masses were treated with the shifting of the team's scores in the leaderboard. The editorial staff of House Crowe also did a good job of summarizing and highlighting the good parts of yesterday's period. Most people wouldn't stay to watch everything for hours and hours after all. They had done a great job thus far, making sure there was always something interesting for the crowd to see on screen to keep the hype.

The cool handsome young lords and the charming young ladies of high births enjoyed the highest popularity. As a prince, Croix belonged to this category. With the red dragon, he was amongst the most popular.

While the crowd enjoyed the Grand Prix for the spectacles, some looked at the magical broadcast more analytically.

At a certain gentlemen's club, a group of men belonging to the upper class of Latias' social hierarchy discussed the prowess of various groups with expensive brandy in their hand and exclusive cigars in their mouth.

“The favorite Princes and Princesses are strong as expected. They should pass round 1 easily.”

“Too early to say. Who said things will be the same to the end?”

“And it is not unthinkable that they will cannibalize each other. As every group moves close to the center, conflict between groups will be a certainty.”

“Quite right… By the way, quite the gathering of rare affinities we have this Grand Prix. Even without counting the royal line, there are sand, light, magma, metal, ice, and even soul.”

On the screen, it showed someone who was not Viers.

“A very rare affinity to be sure but his attunement is quite low, isn't it? Soul 2 or at most 3.”

“Perhaps it is for the best. Some whippersnapper with a high soul attunement made a big mess in our south a few years ago.”

“Tanael? Isn't he dead?”

“Who knows.”

“Shame. I’ll take him in if he comes to me. Hell, I’ll even marry my granddaughter to him if it's what it takes.”

“A dangerous thought.”

“Oh buzz off. Like you wouldn't do the same for a Pathseeker of his caliber.”

Not only having a powerful affinity, but skilled at it too. The mark of a true master. Tanael’s pyramid scheme of creating soul Pathseekers at the Free People Coalition put him among the world’s most wanted but it also showed the world’s recognition of his ability.

People wanted to have people like that on their side. If they weren't, they should be disposed of before upsetting the status quo. Nothing odd about it, just human nature.

There were 93 groups entering the Grand Prix. Truthfully, there were 100 tickets in its entirety. For some reason or another, 7 groups simply didn't show up.

While the majority of the group leaders belonged to a prominent organization or family, thus their guaranteed participation, their teammates and others were not.

Thus the Grand Prix was like a giant exhibit of promising and talented Pathseekers and these men were the buyers. They needed talents for their organizations to thrive so recruiting Pathseekers from events like this was not unusual.

For the other side, entering a prominent organization that valued your talent was a dream come true and many youths joined a Pathseeker tournament for that very reason. Gaining resources to keep walking the Path of Power was not easy. Even someone with a wealth of talent would wither before they could bloom if they didn't get enough water. Entering a School or House could help with that.

Independent Pathseekers like Viers who could finance their own growth was a rare case.

“Oh?”

On the video feed, there was a white firework shooting up to the sky. The signal left easy-to-spot traces that lingered for a long time, visible from a great distance. It was the sign the observer from the Church would use when some from their charge group retired for one reason or another.

It wasn't a signal for death but close enough.

The crows in the Biome gathered toward the spot and soon the information flowed.

“Hmm, the Rank 4 roaches have begun to move.”

“Finally it's getting real.”