Viers was woken up by a splash of water poured onto him. The cold water splendidly returned his consciousness from his stupor. Viers gasped and saw that he was still in the same room. He saw Joho holding and an empty bucket upside down.

“Wakey, wakey, disappointed? Were you expecting woken up in a warm bath and being attended by naked women? Too bad, now put on your clothes, we still have one last step.” Said Farley while tilting her head.

Viers’s head was still full of complicated thoughts but he did as he was told. His body felt the leftover ache from the ritual but it wasn't hindering his movement.

Now is not the time to indulge in sentimentally. I will think about those children later.

They at least provided Viers with a towel. When Viers was drying himself, he noticed that the tribal blood paint on his body had disappeared without a trace. He put on his clothes then followed the sisters out while Joho was left behind to deal with the ritual aftermath. Viers took a long last look on the lifeless small bodies before leaving without a word.

They brought Viers to a place very similar to an alchemist laboratory depicted on Earth’s fictions. The inside of the room was filled with a pungent smell. Viers didn't expect to meet someone familiar to him.

“Hello again, child. Fate brings us together again, it seems. How have you been since our last meeting?” A plump woman wearing a grey robe was mixing various herbs in a glass flask.

“Evening, aunty. I heard you two know each other, so we will cut the introduction short. This is aunty Somaya, she handles our medicines, potions, and other related things.” Monica spoke.

After their first meeting, Viers also returned to Somaya’s potion shop to purchase various things a few times in the past. They weren't close, their relationship was a familiar acquaintance at best.

“It could be worse, aunty Somaya. It appears we will meet more often in the future.” Viers returned her greeting.

“Yes, indeed. I already prepared what you came for. Wait a second.” Somaya went to the back and returned shortly with a small bowl on her hand. There was a gooey, black and blue substance inside it. Viers suspected what he needed to do, but he didn't like it.

“This is the last step. Drink this is one go.” Monica told him.

Viers sighed and took the bowl from Somaya’s hand. He knew he didn't have a choice. He already went too far to turn back at this point. The black and blue colored porridge emitted a nauseating smell, Viers made his resolve and drank it with big gulps.

Just like its appearance, the gooey thing tasted bad. Viers almost puke on the ground but managed to hold on after it reached his throat, he swallowed the vomit back in. After a few coughs, he felt something warm spreading from his stomach.

“It’s done, you will feel the effect of your raised affinity shortly. Apologies for the intrusion aunty, farewell.”

“Bye-bye aunty Somaya, best of luck on your potion brewing.”

Monica and Farley said their farewells. Viers followed them out after made a nod to the plump woman. She waved him a goodbye while smiling.

They returned to the surface, back to the manor. The ritual was complete so it was time for Viers to return. They went inside a common room before sitting on comfortable sofas. Viers caught a glimpse of the clock, it was already past 3 o’clock. Monica rang a small bell put on top of a small desk and the butler showed up shortly.

“Uncle Gavin, please lead him to the town and give him that. Viers, we will contact you about your assignment in a few days. Familiarize yourself with your current affinity in the meantime.”

“Certainly, lady Monica. Mr. Viers, this way please.”

“Bye Viers, I need to take care of something before returning to the dorm, see you later,” Farley said.

“...What should I call you both? Lady? Miss?” Viers asked the two sisters.

“Just Monica is fine.”

“Same, no need to be so formal with us.

“I understand. Excuse me then, farewell.” Viers left after making a small bow.

The sisters remain in silence for a while, a female servant brought two cups of tea for them before leaving the sisters alone.

“...So? What do you think big sis?”

“Not much to say, I found nothing special about him.”

“Hmnnn, was I wrong?” Farley frowned.

“Only time will tell. When the first sacrifice was killed, I saw hesitation in his eyes. But his hands are already smeared with blood, after he has a taste of the increase of his power, he will want more. We'll keep dirtying his hands so he won't be able to return to his former life.”

Monica drank her tea elegantly.

“...I don't think he wants to return to his former life.”

“If he’s incompetent, we will wring him out of all his value before tossing him aside. Either way, we need to bolster our numbers for the clash on the winter solstice.” Said Monica calmly.

“Father’s master plan... I’m looking forward to it.” Farley let out a devilish grin.

***

It was almost summer, the air was getting warmer for every sun cycle that comes and goes, but Viers felt very chilly tonight. The butler accompanied him into town, with him at Viers’s side, he returned to his room without problems.

Before he left, Gavin gave him a pouch containing 10 Mana crystals. It was a new member starting fund, but starting fund of what, he didn't say. He only warned him to not spend them carelessly.

10 crystals were a lot of money, it could propel his Mana-mastery by a huge amount. Nakala said that a level 0 needed about 10 Mana crystals worth of Mana to have the qualifications to ascend to a level 1 Path-seeker. Viers felt very tempted to gobble all the crystals but he didn't do it.

Other than Gavin’s warning, he also didn't forget about the body limitation to absorb the crystals. He put aside the matter of the crystals to the back of his head and started sorting out his jumbled thoughts.

This all started from a fishing trip… then I turned into a fish, Terry was killed, half-forced to join an evil cult, my buried treasure was taken, and five children were killed for me… Sigh, what a day.

The main problem is I’m entangled with them… this is a bad thing. Maybe not immediately but surely in the long run. I need to find a way to break the contract.

The blood sacrifice, I’m not so naive to think there won't be some kind of side effects. I better check it immediately.

Viers went to the realm of consciousness. The first thing he did was examining his Intio and Victa. After a detailed check, he found that there were no changes. Then he went in front of his astral projection to inspect his body.

What he feared came to be, on the Mana layer, he saw a few sinister red lumps inside his body. They were like tumors, dark red spheres with tendrils. Most of them were concentrated on his stomach area.

FUCK! They really screwed me over, they didn't say anything about this! This must a negative effect from the ritual… wait, perhaps these came from the black porridge? Whatever the case, the bastards really fucked me. What effect these red tumors have on me? I need to keep a close eye on them.

Viers was livid, but he wasn't finished checking everything so he put a lid on the burning feeling for now. When he changed to the life-force layer, he felt a volcano erupted on his chest.

Bastards… Fucking, bastards!!!

The life-orb that represented his life energy, was reduced in size. If the life-orb was at the size of 10, it was now the size of 6, it was depleted by 40 percent.

They took about 40 percent, a whole 40 percent gone! Just like that! And my life-force is not normal! If I’m a normal person, won't I be an old man now? Maybe 30 years was gone, maybe more! Fuck this! I haven't found a way to increase my life-force but it's already 40 percent lessened! ARRRGGHHH!!!

Viers was raging inside his consciousness, he was punching and screaming at the void. He vented out here because he couldn't scream his hate out at the dorm. Even though he still had quite a lot, Viers treated his life-force very preciously, it was his very life.

After some time, he managed to control his temper and analyzed his situation with a clearer mind.

Must be the ritual. Trading your life for an increase in ability or power is a common happening. Spring of Wisdom will not fail me. The bright side is, I had a tier 4 talent now. Does this mean my strength has doubled? We shall see…

I will remember this! Cult of Dumuzin, Styra family, Farley! I am… someone with a very deep grudge.

Viers scanned the other layers but didn't find anything wrong with them. He returned to the real world but one matter still weighted his mind, the five kids.

They died because of me, they are the first innocents that die in my quest for power. It may be mere hypocrisy but doing nothing doesn't sit well with me, perhaps there’s something I can do for them…

...I've decided, I will kill fifty bad guys in their name, Dumuzin cultist got priority. No, I don't know their names but it's the thought that counts. Fifty less bad guys in the world, so tragedies that might occur because of them, prevented.

Its hubris, I know. Whatever I do, it won't erase my sins. But so what? I will do it anyway. There, problem solved, no need to be gloomy about the children anymore, at least for now. I pray you five find a better life in heaven, whichever heaven that is, amen.

Viers offered a short prayer for the five young souls. After satisfying his ego, he turned his attention to the water inside the glass. Purely using his affinity to control water, he managed to make a water ball and play catch with it a few times before breaking. Viers wanted to know how much difference there was with his current ability.

The water from the glass floated, Viers telekinetically moved it to the front of his face. He willed the water ball to orbit his head like a planet orbiting the sun, he succeeded. Without much effort, without strain, then he tried something else.

He separated the glob of water into tens of tiny droplets, all of them were floating in the air. He felt a bit of strain now but manageable. He pushed himself further, every droplet he separated into two. With double the amount, the concentration he needed to use was immense.

After moving those around like a swarm of insects for a little while, he merged them all back together. Viers then grabbed the water ball with his hand. It felt like a ball of viscous jelly, he put some strength on his grip but the ball of water didn't break.

Viers was happy, for the final test, he threw the ball to the wall with all of the strength of his right arm. The water ball bounced back and hit him square in the face then broke apart with a splash. He was drenched and his nose was bleeding, he felt like someone just punched him square in the nose.

Ouch… well, there’s been an improvement.