At first, it was a simple ploy of stalling for time so his regeneration could kick in. Leon’s voluntary exposition of his backstory baffled him but it was all okay to him. Viers only had gains and nothing to lose, more info on your opponent was a good thing… most of the time.

After Leon exposed his past to Viers, Viers viewed him as a youth with the seed of hero. A lad with a good heart, reasonably strong, he fought for justice and the innocents, and he extended his hand to help someone who was and still his enemy. Viers granted him extra points on his hero-ness for his handsome face.

Of course, one conversation wasn't enough to tell the sum of a man but Viers didn't care about those, he had enough assurance that his sneak attack would work.

Viers’s show of regret? Mostly fake, more fake than counterfeit money. He took off his mask and showed Leon his face as an icing on the cake, so Leon relaxed his guard further. His plan succeeded, Viers ruthlessness was beyond the anticipation of the ‘believer of human goodness’ Leon. Viers didn't know whether Leon was as naive as he thought or simply he got a lucky shot.

For power and selfish benefits, Viers was willing to do dark things but some things left a bad taste in his mouth, those five children was such a case. He felt pity for them but he didn't have nightmares nor lose any sleep over it.

Is it coming?

Viers kept a cautious distance from the downed body of Leon, pool of blood was slowly growing larger. He grabbed his mask and put it back on, his eyes were never away from the wounded youth. While Viers gave him a deep and fatal wound, Viers wasn't yet convinced of his victory.

Unfortunately, I’ve got no system, no notification would pop up after I killed something… I’m a bit envious of those system users.

Viers’s HP was almost back to full capacity, thanks to his healing factor, but it couldn't be said Viers was in good condition. One of the reasons he chose to underhandedly stabbed Leon, was because of his concern over his Victa reserves, his MP.

Victa continuously produced overtime, he’d learn that there was no limit in how much one could hoard said Victa. Therefore someone who had stockpiled Victa for weeks, significantly had more Victa to burn rather than those who only had a few days' worth.

His transformation to a Tomalica and back to a human was only yesterday! Then he fought against the goblins which depleted his MP even more. Viers used his Victa to train his Arte and body every day so he never was swimming in an overabundance of Victa.

After his talent was upgraded, he produced a higher quality Victa but he was already forced to do his first cult mission the very next day. His slowly decreasing Victa was like a noose that gradually tightened on his neck.

His current reserves weren't yet critical but the sooner he defeated his opponent, the better. A Path-seeker without Victa was akin to a car without gas. A super-car or a scrap-car, no matter how high or how low the quality of the machine, the engine won’t run without fuel.

When my Victa got dangerously low, I’m ready to flee like a beaten dog. Orders from the cult be damned. I’m not dying for some grunt work.

Sooo, is this guy dead yet or will IT come? Time to find out. In the movies, this is the part where the villain is gloating but I’m not making such a stupid mistake. My eyes, ears, Spid… Viers-senses, are all on high alert.

Hmm, I should poke him with something, but I don't wanna get close to him… yet I have no long-range attacks! I can't use a water sword beam in place without water, no bow and arrow either, should I just throw my knife? Sheesh, I should’ve practiced throwing knives... the stone throw when I fought the poor bandits was a disaster… added to things I have to do.

When Viers made a throwing motion, Leon was slowly rising up. His face was still looking down so Viers couldn't see what kind of expression he had but Viers could imagine it.

Heh, looks like 'it' is really coming.

Viers saw a spark of electricity on his body, only a few at first but gradually increasing in numbers. The sound those sparks made when they crackled, was akin to an angry growl of a fierce beast. Viers was watching the process intently and smiling behind his mask.

The air exploded accompanied by a loud sound, almost immediately, Viers felt a light shockwave passed by him. In front of him, Leon’s appearance had changed.

His golden hair became spikier. His new look did not make him appeared ridiculous, on the contrary, he became more dashing and fierce. Leon’s blue eyes turned into two golden orbs, it was as if lightning itself was inside his eyes. Sparks of lighting enveloped his body, the air around him was vibrating.

…Add a little golden aura as visual, then he would become a Super S*iyan. And he jumped straight to SS2…

“Arte — Thundering Lion’s Might,” said Leon softly. Gone were the compassion from his eyes, now he’d the eyes of a resolute warrior.

Viers shuddered a bit when he met Leon’s eyes for the first time. Whether it was because of his intensity or a magical effect of his technique, Viers didn’t know.

“Hey there, you look good for someone who just got fatally stabbed in the gut,” Viers opened a conversation.

“Cultist, I will give you no mercy, but I will try to make it as painless as possible. Try to repent with whatever consciousness you have left when I separated your head from the rest of your body. May the Goddess have mercy on your soul.”

“Awww thanks. Please do, I don’t like pain. Thanks again for the funeral prayer, I'm sure it will help during my journey to hell.” Viers unsheathed his sword and readying himself for round two.

“Hhaaah!!” Leon dashed straight towards him.

“Humph,” Viers raised his sword with both arms and swung it downwards when Leon was in range.

When their sword met, Viers heard a sound as loud as thunder exploding right in front of him. Before he could process what was happening, he already got thrown away five meters by the force.

“Urgghh…” Viers was slowly gotten back up after rolling on the ground. Leon was slowly approaching him, like a grim reaper clad in lightning. Viers stared at the lightning warrior.

…Okay then, so that’s his PLOT ARMOR. Just as I suspected, he have it... his type is a super mode. All of his stats are higher than me now, but it’s not the worst-case scenario. In a straight-up fight, I reckon I can still win against this. But even if I did, it won’t be pretty for me afterwards.

Every good guy got a plot armor in Viers’s mind, but he didn’t know how it worked in this world. He always thought that the good guy or hero would win, it might be only his paranoia because it only happened on Earth’s fiction and not Earth’s real world but he remained unsure. So he tested his theory on Leon, his first ‘good’ opponent.

If this world is a world where the ‘good’ guys can die with enough deadly force, then great! My dream of getting stronger and stronger is on the right course, I shall continue as a power-hungry maniac. Till have enough power to do whatever want.

If this world is a world where the good guys always win… that means I must redo my whole life’s plan! If ‘good’ always wins, that means those on the side of good, have PLOT ARMOR! Thanks to the Spring of Wisdom, I have ways to break through the armor if I have enough power but depending on the results of this fight, my ways of dealing with the good guys will differ greatly.

“…Nice, you really are a hero. The way you turn things around after almost losing is very… hero-like.” Viers said his words slowly because he was hurting.

“...What are you talking about?” Leon asked.

“No need for concern, just my senseless rambling. So, since you already go all out... it would be impolite of me to not show you my true strength. Heheh.”

“I wield my sword for protecting the weak... no matter how strong you become, I won’t lose.” Leon gripped the handle of his sword tighter.

“Spoken like a true sword of justice! BEHOLD! HAAAHHHH!!!”

Viers gathered his Victa to cast his most powerful Arte. It wasn’t at Leon’s level but he air was trembling a bit, Leon kept his guard up in anticipation of Viers’s power-up.

Leon had full confidence that he would win, Thundering Lion’s Might was a high-level Arte even among the church’s plethora of Arte collections. He would finish this fight shortly and helped the others dealing with the Ghoul. The longer he got held up here, the more victory for the cultist.

“ARTE — Rapid Water Steps”

Viers said the Arte name softly as he ran away to Leon’s opposite direction. His only Arte for movement and speed, for running away. He'd put on a front of going to power up just like Leon but he didn’t, he couldn’t.

Viers only had THREE Artes, he didn’t secretly master a fourth or construct one from his memory. The Artes he could currently use... were just three of the most basic water-type Artes.

Since the start of the fight, Viers and Leon both used their Victa to improved their physical capabilities. By coursing Victa to their bodies, their body became faster, stronger, and tougher. Just like Viers could telekinetically move water, coursing Victa through one’s body was one of the most basic uses of Victa for a warrior-type.

One step above that was what Leon used. The Arte — Thundering Lion’s Might was an Arte that enhanced the body’s capabilities but the difference between the two of them couldn’t be compared. Therefore Viers chose to run, he had no intention of trading blows with a hero in his ‘heroic second wind’ so he made a dramatic exit using Rapid Water Steps to its full potential.

Leon was stunned for two seconds before he went after him while speaking with a loud voice.

“Coward! Fight me like a man!”

Viers replied with an equally loud voice.

“HHAAAHAHAH, catch me if you caaaan!”