[Underground Labyrinth] (2)
If anybody asked Ken if remembered [Last Life]'s story mode's story, then
His answer would be a blunt no.
Let alone the story, he didn't even remember the names of the characters he had played in the story mode. He remembered the characters' figurine designs and their skillsets because he had played them because he was forced to accept the story mode's completion percentage competition against "her." Of course, thanks to the way he played the game, he won the beat and even got a 'reward' for it.
He also remembered the character named Elfrida Alegre only because "she" had said that, that character was similar to herself.
He was #1 ranked in world rankings, and if one was smart enough they should know that the "world ranking" wouldn't come under single player mode or story mode games. Ken was ranked #1 in the world for his PVP.
His account [Daddy_Darkness] was purely an account customized for extreme PVP and his characters were the best at it.
He could have potentially recognised the characters and their skillsets if he saw them, but
Well, he couldn't see, so.....
Fuck that?
Then how did he recognise Yuri as Hertha?
Well, first: he couldn't see, so he didn't really "recognise" her.
Then how did he find out her identity?
That's a valid question!
And the answer to that is extremely simple.....
It was thanks to the upgraded system!
After he pulled out of her, since he had nothing else to do, he decided to check out his status window and called it up.
<[Status window]>
[Mark – Ken]
[Username: Daddy_Darkness]
[Class: Heavenly Sword Emperor] [Rank – Ex] [Max]
[Titles:
• Warmonger
• Thief
• Cold Hearted
• Indomitable
• Sword Master]
[Skills:
• [Abyssal] [Rank – Ex] [Max]
• [Heavenly Martial Body [Rank – SSS (+)] [Max]
• [Heavenly Emperor's Sword Art [Attribute – Dark] [Rank – SSS] [Max]
• [Abyssal senses [Rank – Ex] [Max]
• [Ki control [Rank – SS (+)] [Max]
• [Ki breathing [Rank – SS (-)] [Max]
• [Sword Ki [Attribute – Dark] [Rank – A (-)] [Max]
• [Heavenly Emperor's Footwork [Attribute – Dark] [Rank – A (+)] [Max]
[State: Blind, sexually relieved, inquisitive]
DING-!
[Please call out 'Display mode' to check the newly upgraded features!]
'Display mode'
|:::::::::
[HP: 49,000/49,000]
[MP: 10,369/10,369]
|::
[Quests [0/7] [v]]
[Events [0/0] [v]]
[Daily Quests [0/0] [v]]
[Stats:]
STR: [A-]
STA: [S+]
AGI: [S]
END: [S-]
KI: [A]
INT: [A+]
DEX: [S-]
|::
[Skill slot 1] [+]
[Skill slot 2] [+]
[Skill slot 3] [+]
[Skill slot 4] [+]
[Skill slot 5] [+]
|::
[MAP [6% Explored]]
|::::::::
The upgraded system features were displayed at the right corner of his mind, blurred, but the moment he wanted to see them, everything was displayed extremely clearly; it was quite literally a game-like interface.
DING-!
[Please call out 'Inventory' to access the newly upgraded feature!]
'Inventory'
[Inventory]
::| [Auto-loot] [✓]
[Slot 1]
[Slot 2]
[Slot 3]
...
.....
::|
And the inventory slots seemed endless as it scrolled as long as he swiped up in his mind.
"Hm?"
[Quests [0/7] [v]]
Noticing which, he clicked on [v] in his mind and the list expanded.
:::::::|
[Quest: Avoid getting kidnapped]
[People associated with the 'Underground Labyrinth' have infiltrated into the 'Dreams Academy.' The group infiltrated are on a mission to kidnap those who are strong enough to entertain the 'Labyrinth's investors' by making the examinees fight in a Death-match]
[Rewards: Bronze crate (1x), Silver crate (1x), Skill acquisition ticket (1x)]
[Clear conditions:
• Kill Hertha
• Escape from Hertha
[[Abyssal (Ex)]: Help Hertha (hidden condition)]
[Failure penalty: Become a slave of the 'Underground Labyrinth.'] [Acquisition: [Title: Slave]]
:::::::|
:::::::|
[Quest: Get assigned to class A]
[Rewards: Metal crate (7x), Bronze crate (7x), Silver crate (2x), Platinum crate (1x)]
:::::::|
:::::::|
[Quest: Get assigned to class B]
[Unlocked upon [Quest: Get assigned to class A] failure]
[Quest: Get assigned to class C]
[Unlocked upon [Quest: Get assigned to class B] failure]
[Quest: Get assigned to class D]
[Unlocked upon [Quest: Get assigned to class C] failure]
[Quest: Get assigned to class E]
[Unlocked upon [Quest: Get assigned to class D] failure]
[Quest: Get assigned to class F]
[Unlocked upon [Quest: Get assigned to class E] failure]
:::::::|
Noticing the name 'Hertha' mentioned quite frequently and the one who had the opportunity to even try to kidnap him was someone who was near him, and except for Yuri, he could find no one, so he decided to take a shot and played his part calmly, confirming his suspicion much easily than he expected.
"I hoped for a miracle that would destroy those that destroyed my life..... I don't know why, but for me, you felt like a miracle....." Hertha's strangely heart warming words trickled Ken's ears, but
[Title: Cold Hearted]
It was title he had gotten thanks to his near-emotionless nature. Even though he believed nothing when it came to the words spoken by those with sentience, the words Hertha uttered about her mother made a slight crack in his consciousness.
There seemed to be a gap in his consciousness that he didn't like one bit.
"Haaaa....." Ken reached out to the back of his head and began to undo his blindfold.
SHUFFLE....
"I was able to see till I was a six year old.... Some hooded assailants attacked our village and slaughtered everyone there...." Ken began to mumble as he undid his blindfold which was coiled over his eyes trice.
".... My mother was an extremely beautiful woman...." Ken suddenly said and a frightening understanding dawned upon Hertha which made her clench the bedsheets.
"They used mana and forced me to watch everything they did to my mother before....." Ken muttered as he turned to face in the direction of Hertha's anxious heartbeat.
"They did this...." Ken said as he opened his eyelids which revealed a horrifying scene that sent chills down to her very existence. His eyeballs had a horizontal caved in line that had cut exactly in the middle of his eyeballs, on his pupils to be precise, making him blind.
The cut seemed fresh and before long his sclera turned bloodshot and blood began to trickle down on his face before he closed his eyes, wiping off the blood tears.
"Urp!" Hertha's eyes hurt as she held in her urge to puke
"They said that I am to remember what they did till my last breath...." Ken said and began to tie his blindfold.
A few minutes of anxious silence passed by before Ken broke the silence.
"Bring me to the Labyrinth. I'll show you what really happens the miracle you wished for comes true." Ken declared in a confident tone and an ominous smirk as he leaned back, supporting himself with his hands on the bed.
[Selected clear condition: Help Hertha (hidden condition)]
*
Nearly two hours ago.
As Fleta followed behind the guide named Eadda, she was amazed by many things she saw seeing for the first time. Everything that wasn't a forest, river, wooden houses, and campfires was an amazement in Fleta's curiosity filled twinkling eyes.
But,
No matter what she saw, no matter how amazing it was in the eyes of a country bumpkin,
The most amazing fact was the blind man she met today.
'From what I know, nobody except for the academy's staff and me should be strong enough to defeat you, so don't lose, Fleta. Else I might be very disappointed' Mark's husky cold tone sounded in her mind and a shiver crawled up her spine as a weird smile crept up on her face.
"..... That was a weird way of saying 'be sure to win!'" Fleta mumbled with a pout, looking incredibly cute. Her cheeks burned red at the thought of how she held his hand.
'..... He said I'm strong.....' Fleta thought inwardly and almost yelped out loud at her already fantasizing thoughts that ran wild without an halt.
"..... Hehehehe, I made a strong friend on the first day!" She exclaimed under her breath as Eadda struck a conversation with her, noticing how joyful the silly young woman was.
Fleta's guard was up the very moment an unknown person started a conversation with her and thanks to her agitation and uneasiness, her hooves began to stomp on the ground as she walked next to Eadda with her fists clenched tightly.
But,
As they wandered through the academy grounds, Fleta began to get comfortable with Eadda, who had dark brown hair with wine red eyes.
The more they wandered, the more comfortable Fleta became; enough to let the woman even pat her head. Soon, she was lead to her room which was the second room at the end of the corridor with the first room occupied before their arrival.
"Ahn..."
"..." Both Eadda and Fleta froze for a split second before they continued to explore the room, thinking they must have heard it wrong. Of course, they didn't try to confirm if the other also heard that moan which could have potentially cleared up their suspicion, but it was too shameful to talk about it with another unknown person so they shut their mouths, under the delusion of them having heard it wrong.
"..... And that's the bathroom." Eadda exclaimed as she stood straight with a smile while Fleta excitedly looked around the almost empty room.
CRE....AK....
".... Hehehe, the washroom is simple toooooo-"
THUCK-!
SLUMP-!
THUD-!