Extra's Descent

"You really are quiet here, huh?"

"I was always quiet."

"Not in front of me. I can still feel the bruises from last year, you know?"

Brandon and Evelyn roamed the hallway as soon as they left Lancelott's chamber.

After all, they were tasked with a job.

They were the only guards the heads could trust at the moment.

That, and they were the only ones qualified.

"Couldn't be helped. I didn't want too many people approaching me."

"I see."

That simple reason.

"Is this plan of yours proceeding well?"

"Everything's in place. There could be variables. Just focus on the task for now."

"Okay."

"Ah."

A voice cut through. In a separate hallway, a man who seemed to have been walking halted in his steps as he noticed both Brandon and Evelyn.

On his hand were a couple of pastries as his mouth was stuffed with them.

Looking at Evelyn, her facade broke for a second as she stared at the pastries.

'Is that… drool?'

However, she soon fixed her expression and Brandon turned as the man they had encountered spoke.

"Mori and Evangel? What are you two doing here…?"

"Just because."

"Huh—Ukh!"

Before the man could voice out his words, a thread extended from Brandon's fingertip and speedily headed towards the man.

Clank—!

However, the man was fast to react.

Thump!

The pastries abruptly fell to the ground, and as he swallowed the pastry in his mouth, he brandished his sword, cutting off the thread.

It wasn't surprising.

Brandon recognized the man after all.

One of the few guards who were in the S ranks. Particularly, the man was an S- ranker.

"I'll handle this."

"What are you two doing?! Fuck, wait tell the heads know about thi—"

"Why do you think we're doing this?"

Evelyn cut him off.

"...."

The man found himself speechless. A cream smudged his face and he wiped it off as he took a stance.

"So that's how it is. Haha. I thought we were safe since they didn't know of our involvement."

"...."

Not responding, Evelyn extended her hand forward. Magic energy gathered around her and her hood fluttered down.

Her eyes started glowing a hollow glow.

"...."

Brandon could see the looks of anxiousness on the man's expressions.

"You're… You've been hiding your abilities this whole time?"

"...."

And yet again, Evelyn didn't respond as a magic circle hovered in front of her.

The mana around her skyrocketed for a brief second. And in that brief second….

Spurt!

A hollow light shimmered and Brandon looked away. It was too bright.

As soon as the light faded, Brandon turned his head slightly.

Only to find….

"...."

Nothing.

No flesh.

No bones.

No traces.

As if the man had never stood there to begin with.

But on the ground smeared an ash mark.

Then, Brandon turned and met Evelyn's gaze.

Pulling her hood back up, she went on to say,

"Okay, let's go."

"...."

Speechless.

Brandon was utterly speechless.

Evelyn…. She was way stronger than she was back then.

'This is the gap between me and an SS- ranker, huh?'

He had yet to breach the S ranks. And now he had seen a glimpse of what an SS- ranker could do up close.

'Still…. This isn't enough to defeat Jin.'

Pushing down his thoughts, only to see that Evelyn was walking ahead of him, Brandon followed suit.

"Let's make this quick."

Evelyn suddenly spoke as they strode the hallways.

"Those pastries looked good."

"...."

That was all on her mind, huh?

After all, as soon as his plan started, there was no time for Evelyn to visit the food hall.

A few minutes passed, and as soon as they arrived at the vantage point, they halted.

Then, Evelyn turned around, meeting his gaze.

"Are you sure you can handle it? It'll take time, but I can do it for you. Your safety is more important."

"It's fine."

Brandon shook his head.

"I've gotten pretty strong myself."

"Have you?"

"...."

"Just kidding."

Evelyn's lips curled up to a smile and left shortly after.

Brandon was stunned as he stared at her departing back.

"So she can crack jokes like that now, huh?"

Shaking his head, Brandon walked to his own direction.

It took a few minutes, and finally he arrived at his destination.

The first chamber.

Knock, knock—!

Knocking on the door, it opened in a matter of seconds and what greeted Brandon's side was the familiar sight of a guard.

"Mori?"

The guard spoke with raised brows.

"What are you doing here?"

"The head called for me."

The guard turned back slightly, seeking permission from the head present in the room.

"Let him in."

The head nodded his head, and the guard stepped aside for Brandon to enter the room.

Brandon looked around the chamber. It had the same interior as Lancelott's chamber.

In the room, there were two guards present.

"All of you, come here."

At the head's instructions, Brandon and the rest of the guard approached the head—who was seated in his seat, watching the entire auction play out.

Standing behind the seat, Brandon shared subtle glances with the head.

Shortly after, the head's voice reached their ears.

"I need all of you to cancel the mana in your body. We have an important guest in the other room. It would be quite rude if you actively show a hint of your hostility."

Then, he stood up, walking towards the railings.

"And besides, there seems to be no trouble. I'll permit you all to relax."

The guards exchanged looks with one another, and then to Brandon, nodding their heads.

"Understood, Sir Astelle."

Just like that, the mana surrounding them gradually dwindled until they were unnoticeable.

Then, the head turned back around. Looking at the guards with a smile on his face as he went on to say,

"Thank you for your service… traitors."

"....!"

SHIIING—

Swiftly unsheathing his blade, Brandon slashed forward in one wide quick swing.

Thump! Thump!

Two heads fell to the ground as blood splattered on the floor.

A clean kill.

Blood smeared Brandon's face as he wiped his cheek.

Raising his head, his gaze met with the head who had a look of approval in his expressions.

"Not bad."

The head nodded, scanning the ground.

Raising his head, he looked at Brandon who looked back at him with indifferent eyes.

"Quite a technique you got there. I could barely sense your intent."

It wasn't as if his intent wasn't noticed. Particularly, his mana. He had just refined it to the point where it was barely noticeable.

Still, compared to Evelyn, who had completely concealed it, Brandon was still at surface level.

Regardless, this was his confirmation.

This head….

He couldn't notice his intent.

The head turned back around and scanned the vicinity once again.

Brandon narrowed his eyes as he listened to the auction.

'That amulet….'

Milis continent technology.

It was at a whole different level compared to what Holy Britannia had.

And to think they had only shown one of it.

It was obvious.

These artifacts.

These weapons.

They were mass produced.

Regardless, he can only do what he can.

Brandon stepped forward.

Hiding all of his intent.

Clearing his mind.

Tak. Tak. Tak.

The sound of his footsteps.

"Hm? You still need something, Moriarty?"

"Yes."

"Well speak up, you still need to clean the other cham—Ukh!"

In an instant, Brandon unsheathed his sword and slashed forward.

The head was able to react in time. But in exchange, his arm was cleanly sliced off.

Thump!

Holding onto his shoulder as blood gushed out profusely, the head's expressions crumbled.

"Fuck are you—Kh!"

At that moment, the threads revealed themselves, wrapping around the head's neck.

The entire time, Brandon had discreetly set up threads in the entire room.

Since the head and the guard present in the room were mostly in the same level as him, just subtly canceling his mana had allowed him to conceal them.

That, and he had sacrificed his half grown nails for a bit of power.

∟ STR: A

A jump to A rank.

The pain didn't matter.

He was used to the pain.

Drip. Drip…!

Regardless, blood dripped from his gloves.

At that moment, magic power surrounded the head.

But regardless…

Slash—!

He was completely defenseless. All of his limbs had been neutralized.

No mana was going to save him, especially against someone on the same level as him—who had thoroughly prepared for this exact scenario.

Thump!

And his head dropped on the ground.