Irkun Marakkus had to die.

Viers had no great enmity with him. Viers' decision was based on the fact that Irkun was a loose end and Viers had a habit of dealing with loose ends before they bit him in the ass. The fact that Irkun was pretty much a scum of humanity made Viers pass the judgment without feeling bad about it.

Viers wanted to test a question he always had from a long time ago. In xianxia stories, characters with background on them usually cannot be killed without consequences. One of the most common templates was because if they were killed, the killer would get marked so the clan or sect or teacher of the departed would know the identity of the killer.

What would happen if Irkun died by drowning in a chamber pot? Would the soul mark tell the recipient Irkun died by an object or it could somehow identify Viers as the one responsible? A fascinating question.

There were many ways of killing someone without dirtying one’s hands, especially if that someone could be moved like a puppet. Viers could make Irkun slit his own throat with a knife or jump into a ravine -if there was one nearby- or make him choke to death by making him place his head in a chamber pot full of water.

After taking all of Irkun’s high-class and expensive life-saving treasures, Viers was watching Irkun drowning himself from the other end of the room with amusement and curiosity.

Viers could make a soul inside him get hit by the marker and cast it off as he had done so against Homen, the big shot chief of the guards of Marakkus but there was no need to waste a soul when he didn't have to.

As he suspected, the moment Irkun asphyxiated to the grave, the soul mark from his Level 4 father was searching for a person to blame but it didn't latch on Viers. He was ready in case he got implicated but he was glad his untested solution about killing someone with a soul mark was a success.

If I spread this method in a xianxia world, it definitely will become very popular, heheh. I wonder why this method is not widespread already. Aren't those places filled with wise people thousands of years old? Are their brains not working anymore? Stagnant technology in the xianxia world is bad enough but stagnant innovative thinking? It's the death of progress.

After making sure Irkun was undoubtedly dead and the body did not contain any booby trap, Viers ripped his soul for his own purposes. Irkun’s soul could still be soul searched for all kinds of information.

He had robbed the vault and dealt with the residents. Viers summarily left through a secret passage, leaving an obvious trail for whom it may concern. Viers had an inkling.

“Why didn't you leave under the protection of that Level 4?” Clarissa asked.

“Making him my bodyguard might be the safest option to take but I still have a couple of things I need to do on my own,” Viers was treading the underground path holding a torch. He walked in haste. “He’s escorting Boram and Brownie outside of the city. We’ll talk then.”

“Is that related to this insane notion of yours? Why are you bloody leaving a trail for pursuers?” Paina cut in. “You’re always making a point of being untraceable after doing murder and mayhem.”

Before Viers could answer, Viers saw a light at the dark tunnel in front. Viers arrived in an expanding underground cavern. He was still underground but the rock ceiling was pretty high and there was a lake of water there. The chamber was pretty much divided between half ground and half water.

“Mana spring...” Clarissa muttered.

The rich mana Viers felt on his skin was confirmation enough. This was one of the power sources that the city above tapped as natural resources. A nice place and useful place but it was the area that Viers took note of.

One look at the expanse and it all clicked. Viers had played too many video games.

“How fitting, Fate gives me a boss area.” Viers chuckled. “We’ll wait here.”

“Uuuh… what?” Paina was not the only one confused.

“Look around us. Isn't this the perfect stage for fighting a formidable enemy? I’ve seen enough Fables to know what I see. The only thing missing is the boss music.”

“Alright. I give up. The nonsense is too much for me,” Paina said.

“Why do you suspect you’ll fight an enemy, Lord?” Farley was trying to understand him.

Viers opened the small box storage item near the mana lake and let it suck some of the special water while he communicated with his tenants.

“I’ve been too involved with Marakkus’ plot. The threads of causality entwine me. The Blood Church’s scheme of releasing the Demon King’s left eye is at the final phase and I choose this time to play my masterstroke. All that’s left is the climax to close the circle. I’m sure Fate has already prepared a fitting foe.”

“Your way of thinking does not make any sense,” Clarissa said.

“Not everything does. Not everything has to,” Viers replied with a quote from an MCU movie.

“This one behavior of yours is contradictory to everything you usually do. It’s baseless,” Clarissa criticized harshly.

“You’re right. My conduct is usually about avoiding enemies that can give me trouble. But that’s not going to work this time. Like I said, the threads of causality, Fate if you want to be dramatic. There will be a battle before this all comes to a close,” Viers replied calmly. “I only choose the stage.”

Besides, what good is chasing power if you can't use it? It’s precisely for times like this. Having the power to smash problems away.

“...What if you’re wrong?” Paina challenged.

“I’ll wait five minutes. A bunch of Silver Legion arrived in the city by teleport and the scene past the portal was total chaos. All the big players should be busy with whatever is going on inside the Biome. Just five minutes,” Viers firmly said.

The girls sighed because of Viers’ antics. He closed the Thousand Treasure Casket, taking half a dozen barrels' worth of mana-rich water. Viers then stood in the center of the stage and stood still. Waiting. Preparing his body and spirit for the battle ahead.

Because it seemed in this boss battle, he was in the boss’ role, not the challenger’s. A boss had to play his part, like standing menacingly in the center of the room.

“I’m in a good mood so I’ll begin with diplomacy,” Viers said.

“How nice of you,” Paina dourly replied.

The sound of footsteps made Viers’ lips edge curled upwards. Alan arrived in three.

“Goddess Holy Mother, someone really came!” Paina gasped.

“He’s the Level 3 of that time...” Farley’s eyes turned sharp.

“It’s like predicting the future… What is this Fable he keeps talking about...” Clarissa murmured.

Alan stopped his run ten meters before Viers. “Avel, you… did all this?” he asked, half believing.

Under the helmet, his eyes glowed with green light as Euryale Sight was invoked. When he saw the pendant on Alan’s chest under the clothes, Viers smiled.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Blade in the mist,” Viers said leadingly. Just in case Alan took him for a fool and thought Viers hadn't realized he was the one who attacked him two weeks ago.

“Since we’re only enemies because of circumstances without prior great enmity, I’ll give you one chance,” Viers’ icy words flowed. “Give my moon pendant back and I’ll let you live.”

A couple of long seconds came and went in utter silence. Alan didn't believe what he was hearing.

“I have no time for this,” Alan shook his head. “Did you kill Irk-”

Viers kicked the earth.

Arte - Raging River Steps!

A flash of steel.

Arte - Cut the Crap!

Alan’s eyes widened and he felt the cold kiss of metal.

Viers’ blade was at his neck. In an instant, Viers had closed the distance between them and put Alan inside the range of his sword.

“Oops. My hand slipped. No, no, by all means, keep your guard down. Showing wariness to a younger and weaker person is definitely the logical thing to do. I’m not a threat to you at all.”

There was a small cut on Alan’s neck. The realization just dawned on him. If he did not raise his defensive Arte in time, he would have died already.

“Haaah!” Alan was blasting mist at Viers for a counter but Viers already jumped back.

I know I said I want to fight him but I just can't help it, man. He’s so defenseless. My hand is so, so itchy. If he really died because of that, that is also an interesting development, Viers thought.

The wound he suffered was a minor one but not so for the wound on his pride. Alan pulled the twin knives and assaulted Viers with a flurry of attacks.

Four strikes were all Viers could weather despite fully concentrating on dodging and defense. The fifth had grazed him and the ninth would have hit him somewhere important so before the sixth strike landed, Viers disengaged by jumping away.

Alan and Viers were watching each other warily.

“The gloves are off now, angels. We’re doing this seriously. Farley, Paina, Overclock Mode!”

“Lord Viers, you can count on me.”

“A sword to the throat and an insult when it failed. That’s your idea of diplomacy? Sigh...”

Like flipping a switch, two new consciousnesses were linked to Viers’ Victa reserves, primed and ready.

“Try not to die too quickly,” voice like iron and Victa blaring threateningly. His dark green cloak swayed in the air. “At least make me use half of my hidden cards. Surely it's not too tall of an order for a Level 3 such as yourself?”

Alan sharpened his senses and invoked an investigative Arte. It wasn't a false feedback that he received. The man in front of him was really weaker than him by a whole Level. So why did he speak as if he was the stronger one? And Alan’s warrior’s instinct picked up something was changing inside his opponent. He didn't know what but it was bad news for him.

“Paina, start the Symphony. Farley, do the usual,” Viers directed.

Thanks to many drills, Paina and Farley were doing their thing like a well-oiled machine. Paina started playing her flute while Farley weaved Arte preparations. When the first tune resounded, an Arte made of Viers and Paina’s effort was kindled.

Arte - Combat Overture.

“Come,” Viers pointed the sharp end of his katana at Alan’s face. “Let’s dance.”

Viers was hearing boss music in his head and he was damn well happy about it.