Is it possible... that I'm also part of that cult? Alistair thought.
He recalled the last meeting—the one where he'd "counseled" the lonely Mrs. Yoshino. The "counseling" had been intense; Mrs. Yoshino was shy but possessed a hidden, voracious hunger. The cult's leader, Shima, used a special "Calming Incense" that was actually a potent aphrodisiac. Alistair had absorbed a massive amount of "Lust" from those sessions. His progress was now at 85%. He was approaching the "Wall."
Alistair gave Hwa a final nod and turned to leave. He needed to secure the apartment building his grandfather had left him in the Demi-Human District. He needed a base of operations.
"How is your progress toward Transcendence?" Hwa asked suddenly, grabbing his wrist. "My power lets me sense the gap between us. When I shot you, I felt it. You're far beyond me. Even Aokawa doesn't feel this overwhelming. On a scale of one to ten, where are you?"
Eight, Alistair wrote.
Hwa let go, her eyes wide with shock. Level 8? No one had ever broken past Level 5 in recorded history.
If Hwa sells me out, I'll just use the Word Soul to wipe the threat, Alistair thought. He wasn't afraid anymore. He could lock onto a "concept" and delete it.
"That's... incredible," Hwa whispered. "Wait, do you know where the inner base is? I can have someone take you."
I have personal business first. Just give me a map, Alistair wrote.
"Fine. I'll have the manager give you the digital map. One rule: don't kill other humans. Fighting is fine, but murder is a red line unless it's a sanctioned duel."
You think I'll lose?
"I think you'll accidentally turn someone into paste," Hwa retorted. "I saw your speed when you snatched those sunglasses from 200 meters away. One punch at that speed and their head will explode. I can't heal 'exploded'."
Alistair smirked and headed upstairs.
"Hey! New guy! You back for that sparring match?" the drunk yelled as Alistair emerged.
The female manager stepped forward, holding out a phone with a QR code. "Scan this, Mr. Kujo. It downloads our internal app. Maps, marketplace, and mission boards."
"Hah! The rookie wants the inner base already?" the drunk laughed. "The spirits in the deep zone have brains, kid. They'll eat you alive!"
Alistair didn't look back. He had an apartment to claim and a world to rewrite.