A surge of high-voltage electricity erupted through the rod.
ZZZZZT!
White smoke instantly erupted from the Crimson Howler's body. Its movements seized up—just for a second—but that was all Jake needed.
In one swift motion, he yanked the rod free and slammed it hard into the creature's head.
THWUMP.
Dark fluid splattered everywhere. The creature collapsed to the ground, twitched several times, and fell still.
Still cautious, Jake tapped a button on the rod. A sharp blade emerged from its tip.
Only after he severed the Crimson Howler's head did he finally allow himself to relax.
Who would've thought this "mace"....
His mind flashed back to the smuggler in the outer sector black market who'd sold it to him:
"Looks like a steel rod, right? ACTUALLY—it's a four-edged mace! Looks like a mace? SURPRISE—it's a high-voltage stun baton! Looks like a stun baton? WELL, ACTUALLY...."
"Hey-hey-hey, c'mon kid, don't walk away! Trust me, this is THE essential tool for monster slaying, treasure hunting, and safe travels! The legends call it… the 'Life-Taker 3000'! Also answers to 'Fate-Crusher Mace'! You can't afford to miss…."
Jake hadn't stayed to hear the rest. But he did remember one thing from the textbooks: the most effective weapon against Ash-Howlers was a sharp, rectangular-sectioned steel bar—exactly like this.
So he'd used the loan money—the very same he'd borrowed from those loan sharks—to buy it. At the very least, it gave him a slightly better chance of surviving this mission.
With still no word from his mother, in the best case scenario.
Though his sharpened mind may temporarily push his science scores to the top of the class, it only barely offset his slipping performance in combat training.
Maybe just enough to keep him from being expelled from the OC Elite Track.
So—making money, buying physical enhancers, and boosting his combat grades became his absolute priorities before he gets back to school.
He'd studied the mission Marcus had sent him carefully.
Tasks like this—ones that a baseline human could even qualify for—were extremely rare in the outer sectors.
That alone signalled how dangerous it was.
That's why he'd desperately used his high-interest loan to buy this weapon.
Who would've thought the black market actually sold something reliable? It had just saved his life.
Looking at the headless corpse, an idea flashed in Jake's mind. He quickly slit open the blood-blister on the creature's back.
As dark, foul-smelling blood oozed out, a smaller, bright red sac emerged beneath.
It really was a Crimson Howler!
Without hesitation, he cut into the newly exposed sac and reached into the stinking mess, searching through the bloody pulp.
A Blood Crystal!! I found An actual Blood Crystal!
Even among Crimson Howlers, these were incredibly rare. The black market offered a fortune for them.
Even if I fail the mission, this trip wasn't for nothing!
Though formed within the filth of the creature's body, the crystal itself was as clear and brilliant as a ruby.
It was solid, yet inside, wave-like patterns shimmered as if liquid, captivating and strangely beautiful.
Jake couldn't resist holding it up toward the hazy, diluted sunlight.
Huh? This one has… golden threads drifting inside?
He stared in disbelief, looking closer.
A Gold-Thread Blood Crystal!
It had been so long since he'd felt real excitement—now his hands were actually trembling. This was intense. Too damn intense.
Tight, tight, tight!!!
They say these are connected to supernatural abilities… incredibly valuable. I need to research this properly when I get back.
He was just a high school student, after all. He knew little about the world beyond the sanctuary walls—he'd only ventured out now out of sheer desperation.
Suppressing his thrill, Jake carefully stored the crystal in his pack. Then he pulled out a small vial and poured a green liquid over the Crimson Howler's remains.
Within moments, the body slowly dissolved into a pool of black, viscous sludge. The whole process was silent and odourless.
That should keep other Ash-Howlers from tracking the scent.
For most people, watching a corpse rapidly decay—from flesh to bone to a pool of viscous sludge—would be deeply unsettling.
But ever since that severe illness, Jake had noticed his own emotions rarely fluctuated.
Feelings like fear and dread, in particular, had dulled significantly. Even when stirred, he could quickly force himself back into calmness.
Seeing that nothing remained of the creature, he slipped silently into the building shrouded in dried Bloodvine.
The hallway was pitch black and reeked of decay. Jake quietly activated the night vision on his glasses.
Shattered windows, scattered furniture, stained patches of blood—all lay in terrifying silence.
He first found a hidden corner, silently observing his surroundings and marking his position before slowly rising.
Following the indicators on the building's 3D map, he began moving cautiously.
As he stood, his gloved hand brushed against the wall—and came away coated in a thick, dark-red sludge.
He knew exactly what it was. Frowning, he wiped it off on the ground, then looked up and carefully stepped into the dark corridor.
Perhaps out of luck, or because the building had already been cleared, nothing appeared in the shadows except the mournful wind whistling through the halls and occasional dark-brown stains on the floors and walls.
After navigating several turns, he finally spotted the room marked on the map.
Jake didn't rush in. Instead, he switched to thermal imaging to scan inside—but to his surprise, the room showed no heat signatures. No one was there.
His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly as he double-checked the map. Just then, a soft voice drifted into his ears:
"Come in, little one. You're in the right place."
Jake whirled around, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the Fate-Crusher Mace.
But there was no one there.
The air was dead silent, broken only by the sound of his own tense breathing.
He could feel the cold sweat soaking through his clothes, but he had no choice now—he had to move forward.
Cautiously, he approached the door of the designated room.
The moment he reached it, the door slid open without a sound.
Inside was pure blackness.
Even with night vision and thermal imaging, he could see absolutely nothing.
Instinctively, Jake took a step back—but suddenly, a powerful force yanked him forward.
Caught completely off guard, he was pulled straight into the room. Behind him, the door shut with an almost inaudible click.
The sound of a lock engaging.