ocean-life Chapter 126 An accident
Chapter 126 An accident
With calm, deliberate steps, Silas approached Osborne, who lay battered and broken on the ground. His shadow loomed over the defeated man, stretching ominously across the bloodied earth—a silent testament to his dominance.
Osborne's body screamed in protest as he tried to move, every shattered bone and searing nerve conspiring against him. The pain was unbearable, his limbs trembling with the effort of even the slightest twitch. For the first time in his life, a chilling realization washed over him:
It was over.
As Silas gazed down at him, a crimson holographic screen materialized in front of his eyes, glowing faintly against the desolate backdrop.
> [An optional quest has arrived]
>[Kill the enemy in front of you and consume his soul]
>[Rewards: 10 extra attribute points, Choose a new skill of your choice]
Silas studied the screen with an indifferent expression, his sharp eyes scanning the message. This quest wasn't like the mandatory ones he was accustomed to, where refusal meant an immediate and fatal consequence. This one was different—it was optional, allowing him the rare privilege of choice.
Unlike past quests, where the rewards were only revealed after completion, this one dangled its temptations in plain view: a substantial boost in attribute points and the acquisition of a new skill. The system clearly intended to make the decision harder, ensuring he knew exactly what he stood to gain—or lose.
'A new skill would definitely go a long way,' Silas mused silently, his fingers absently brushing against his chin as if deep in thought. His mind wandered briefly, considering the possibilities.
'Offensive skills like Soul Claws or Soul Jab could give me an edge in future battles.'
But then, as if a switch flipped, his expression hardened. He shook his head slowly, dismissing the idea.
'No... I can't. I've spilled enough blood already,' he thought grimly.
'The staffs in the Grade 5 realm, Caleb and his friends, the Crafter, and Sensei Josh... I know none of them were innocent. They all tried to kill me first. But still—they were human. And I can't keep walking this path. I won't let myself turn into something monstrous.'
The staff member, Klaus, frowned, his gaze lingering on Silas's retreating figure. "With everything collapsing, are you sure you'll be okay on your own? You should wait for me to find the last student so we can leave together."
"We're fine. Don't worry, sir," Silas affirmed, his voice firm and unyielding.
Klaus hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright, then," he muttered, turning away to continue his search.
After a few moments, he stumbled upon Osborne, who lay motionless on the ground, his battered body barely able to move. Kneeling beside him, Klaus studied the injuries with a critical eye.
"What happened to you?" he asked, his voice calm but probing.
Osborne hesitated, his breath hitching before he spoke. "I... I was careless. While carving out valuable body parts, I forgot I hadn't killed all the goblins. One of them surprised me."
Klaus raised an eyebrow. "You're a Grade 4. Gobtants shouldn't even be a challenge for you."
Osborne bristled. "I already told you—they took me by surprise. It happens."
Klaus's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not to me. But I guess you're one of those rich kids who awakened a low-grade mutant ability and bought your way into a Grade 4 skill slot."
"That's not true!" Osborne protested, his voice tinged with desperation. "I awakened a Grade 3 ability and trained rigorously to upgrade it. This was just bad luck."
Klaus didn't seem convinced, but he said nothing more, pulling Osborne to his feet with little effort. As he steadied the young man, his thoughts drifted back to the scene he had witnessed.
Angelica had been injured, Osborne was beaten to the point of near collapse, but Silas had emerged completely unscathed. Klaus couldn't ignore the possibility that Osborne had targeted Angelica, prompting Silas to retaliate. But how had Silas—a boy with no known mutant abilities—overpowered a Grade 4 like Osborne?
The pieces didn't fit, and Klaus wasn't ready to jump to conclusions especially when they both said it was an accident. For now, he decided to let the matter rest.
"Brace yourself," Klaus said, placing two fingers on Osborne's forehead. In an instant, they vanished, leaving the desolate battlefield behind.