Chapter 203: Divine Providence

Adrian P.O.V.

Finally I could see the city in the distance, with my speed it would take but a minute to reach it. I wonder if my party managed to survive in my absence, poor children of summer, what would they do without me?

I was in a really happy mood after managing to take down that stupid behemoth, but with the resources I plundered from its den I could probably afford that extremely costly bloodline. I would really like to see if it meshed properly with my skillset, last run I made a big mistake with the draconic one.

Mmm, maybe I could even convince that ballerina to dance the horizontal dance with me tonight, she looked ripe for the taking.

My more lustful thoughts came to a halt as I saw a shadow looming far ahead, moving slowly forward. I stopped and focused on it, despite the distance my aura improved my vision enough to clearly see the hunched figure trudging forward, step by step, as if it was weighed down by a mountain.

Is that Elias?

What the hell is he doing here? And why is he in such a wretched state?

I fucking lost a chance to get rid of the bastard, he was already a couple of steps from crossing the border, damn it all, I couldn’t let anyone see me just cut him down, I had an image to maintain.

But this opened some opportunities, I needed to talk with Nikki about following him outside. The girl, despite her penchant for assassinating monsters, was still not ready to take a life. I found what made her click into place many instances ago, I would have to send someone to kill her. After surviving that experience, she would be totally amenable to eliminating whoever I would point her to, but I had to be careful about it for now, especially with that guy, he always has another trick up his sleeve.

Still, what could possibly have brought him to that wretched state? There are not many strong monsters around here, and he doesn’t have any visible wounds, his clothes are immaculate too...

Eh, whatever, I would deal with him, maybe I could just go and ask him, friendly neighbour style. Mmm... nah, it wouldn’t work, that guy was already suspicious enough of me, such a paranoid bastard, I only showed you goodwill and that’s how you repay me?

I was thinking how much we could accomplish if we worked together, not only him, but the others too.

Marlene, Joshua, Toshiro... Bob. They were all monsters in their own right, it grated on me that they managed to become so powerful by themselves, if it wasn’t for my cheat ability I would have been dead on the first day.

I shuddered, damn, that had been really tough to overcome, being torn apart by Cave Dwellers is not the way to go. But I survived, well, I went back at least, so many times... and now no one can defeat me, at least in direct combat.

Even I wasn’t so arrogant as to think I was unbeatable, there were too many abilities and skills, one couldn’t possibly plan for them all, but I was prepared for most. Then there were bloodline powers and more esoteric ones that I just read about. The multiverse was vast, between the different races, monsters, primordial beings, eldritch entities and who knows what more... I was still a worm.

But my heart burned with a fire, I wanted it all, I wanted the power, I wanted the recognition, I wanted-

I started walking forward again, this time musing. If I was willing to spend a little, I could just take him out with a Tear of Gosvild, that poison should be more than enough, and would not point towards me... but spending nearly a million for taking down that guy at this juncture would delay my plans too much.

No, what else could I do? Send him towards a powerful monster? Again? Maybe something that would resist his curses properly, there was one around here, the Spectral Witch, she could manage, probably... maybe with a little help.

Otherwise I can just se-

“Hey you,” said a voice from behind me.

I turned around just to see a man walking toward the town, blond hair, blue eyes, looking like he spent his time since the beginning of the tutorial in the woods. No weapons in sight, his clothes were a disaster, I could still see unhealed, angry wounds peeking through some lacerations on his jacket, but more than anything...

He was strong, not Elias-level strong, but nearly there, stronger than anyone in my party, stronger even than Andrea for sure.

Who was this guy? At first glance I couldn’t place a name to the face, a face that had a couple of scars on it now, ruining his upper lip and cheek. But I had a feeling I met him before.

I plastered a smile on my face.

“Hey man, need something?”

“Is that a real city or just an illusion?”

That would be a very strange question if there wasn’t a fake safe zone far from here in the east. So that’s where he probably came from.

“Real, real, we call it the City of Elementals, but its official name is Safe Zone 101. It seems like you had it rough, come, I can show you around, help you get settled and all.”

As he approached I extended a hand. His eyes glowed a magical blue as he scanned me, he hesitated for a moment then wiped his hand on his pants to clean it as best as he could, and gripped mine firmly.

“Pleasure to meet you, I’m Adrian, Adrian Vale.”

He should recognize the name from when I killed the first King, and indeed his eyes widened a fraction, but he managed to remain composed well.

“Marco Turetta, it would be good if you could show me the shop and a place to stay for the night, but first: did you perhaps see a guy named Elias? Tall, grey eyes, uses curses? He goes around with a big group.”

Oh? Interesting, tell me more.

“Yeah, I know the guy, he arrived just yesterday with nearly sixty people, he had a goth girl with him too, why? Your friend?”

His eyes sparkled as I confirmed that he was in town.

“Nah, not a friend, actually I have a score to settle with the guy.”

What was this? Divine providence?

“I knew it!” I said while smashing my fist into my open hand, “I knew there was something wrong with the man, please, tell me more...”