A middle-aged man, his face bloodied and one eye swollen shut, panted heavily as he approached a peculiar building amidst the chaos of psychotic purgers. He had miraculously evaded more than five pursuers who were chasing him relentlessly. However, the moment he entered the front door of the distinctive building, his pursuers inexplicably halted their pursuit. Although the five purgers had witnessed him enter the building, they hesitated to follow him inside. Despite the possibility that the building might belong to another purger, the middle-aged man sought refuge within and opted not to explore this unfamiliar structure. "Sir, are you a returnee as well?" inquired a teenager. The middle-aged man started at the sudden voice, his muscles tensing as he prepared to flee. However, a teenage girl raised her hands in a placating manner as she approached him. "Sir, I'm not a purger. Are you hiding from the purgers too?" she asked persistently. The middle-aged man gradually relaxed upon
As they stepped into the room Gaige had emerged from, a chill ran down their spines. The scene was a grotesque tableau of blood and death, a gruesome reminder of the horrors they now faced. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, bearing signs of unimaginable torment. The teenager clung tightly to Gaige, her heart aching for the child who had endured such horrors. She couldn't help but shed tears, her arms wrapped protectively around him. Gaige, however, remained oddly detached, his eyes focused on the carnage before him. He pointed at the lifeless forms and spoke in fragmented sentences, trying to convey something to his newfound companions. "Family," he gestured towards the nearby bodies, then pointed at the others, saying, "Strangers." His message was clear: his family had perished here, while the rest were unimportant strangers. The teenager's eyes welled up with empathy as she held Gaige even closer. "We'll take care of your family. You don't have to worry," she reassured him, cast
After waking up from his extended slumber, Gaige inquired, "Adal, how long was I asleep?" [Answer: Twelve hours, thirteen minutes, and eight seconds] Gaige blinked his eyes several times, reveling in the knowledge that he had enjoyed a lengthy and restful sleep. He surveyed his surroundings, realizing that they had relocated from their previous locale. He lay comfortably swathed in a large blanket on the floor, feeling like a newborn. No one had noticed his awakening, as the trio who had been safeguarding him were engaged in a fierce battle. Gina knelt about a meter away from him, devoting herself to bolstering the two men with her magic, rendering her oblivious to his consciousness. Meanwhile, the middle-aged man and the hooded figure had joined forces in combat against a lone purger. This provided Gaige the perfect opportunity to check his status window for any health progress and to investigate the blinking mission notifications. "Have new missions surfaced?" Gaige queried. [
Gina couldn't help but question Gaige's actions. "W-why did you have to do that?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and concern. She reached out to wipe the child's face, which was adorned with an innocent smile. She felt a pang of guilt for not noticing what had been happening behind her while she was engrossed in helping the two men battle the purger. Gaige looked at Gina with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "That too!" he declared, gesturing toward the other purger who lay motionless on the ground. He wondered how much more money he could accumulate by deceiving the remaining purger, but Gina walked away from the scene, leaving him looking slightly disappointed. "Gina, let's go before another purger shows up," urged Blink, the middle-aged man. He gently scooped Gaige into his arms, taking charge of carrying the child while the three of them continued their search for a safe haven. After finding new temporary shelter, Zeno, the hooded man, noticed Blink studyi
Gina poured every last drop of her mana into the spell, acutely aware that this moment represented their only chance for escape. Gaige, with his diminutive stature, rested securely in her protective embrace, while Zeno and Blink clung tightly to her shoulders, determination etched across their faces. Thoughts raced through Gina's mind, doubts and fears warring within her. "Is my magic strong enough for this? Can I truly carry us to safety? Failure isn't an option; there may not be a second chance." With a subtle shift of her shoulders, she whispered, "Please watch over me. I'll lose consciousness after this." In this precarious alliance forged in the crucible of shared trials and battles, trust remained a fragile thread. But the bonds they had unknowingly begun weaving during their harrowing journey provided a semblance of reassurance. Zeno's thoughts raced, grappling with his newfound reliance on Gina. "This girl, Gina, is our lifeline now. In this unforgiving world, survival hing
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, they found themselves living through an entire day without the horrifying sight of bloodshed and violence. Nestled within the sanctuary of the forest, they basked in the rare sensation of safety. However, despite this newfound respite, they remained vigilant, their movements measured and their voices hushed, as the threat of the spirits dragging them back to the hunt area are still hunting them. A full day had come and gone, and Gina, the first to awaken, lay resting in the protective embrace of Zeno's arms. With the passage of time, she had seized the opportunity to replenish her depleted mana, ensuring her readiness to continue monitoring events unfolding across a distant continent. Gina had masterfully employed her teleportation magic, traversing vast distances to assess the situation. Her dedication was unwavering, and she was determined to confirm that the purgers and spirits that had relentlessly pursued them were no longer a th
The forest, with its solemn grandeur, exuded an aura of bygone solitude. Untouched by the relentless march of humanity's spirit, this wilderness remained a hidden realm of nature. Towering trees cast long, enigmatic shadows, while dense undergrowth veiled the land beneath a lush canopy, shielding it from the harsh sun's rays. The forest stood as a timeless sanctuary, its towering sentinels guarding the enigmatic realm beneath. Yet, for the three souls venturing deeper into this tranquil wilderness, the forest's allure remained unnoticed. Their faces bore the weight of sorrow, their steps slow and deliberate. In their midst, Blink bore the lifeless form of Gaige, carefully making his way up a hill. Zeno had found this serene spot to be the final resting place for their cherished companion. Gone were the signs of weariness that had plagued them during their arduous journey. They had found time to cleanse themselves and had lovingly prepared Gaige's tiny form, making it presentable for
Gaige's eyes remained fixed on the screen in front of him as he contemplated his dire financial situation—negative two million EC and a staggering debt of -1500 EXP. The mission displayed on the screen offered the highest reward yet, but it still fell short of what he needed to secure a flight back to Adermordna, the place where the purging had occurred. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to accept it and work tirelessly to earn what was required. [Mission: Purge the Spirit Criminal] [Target: Rosina] [Target’s description and background information are locked.] [Requires 5 EXP to unlock] [Reward: 1000 EXP and 100,000 EC] [The mission must be completed in twenty-four hours.] [Do you accept? Yes or No] With a wicked grin, Gaige confirmed his acceptance of the mission, but his excitement waned when he noticed the timer. [Mission accepted; the timer starts now!] "There’s a timer?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the mission details. Amidst his exhilaration, he had overlooked this