• Chapter #16: [COLLISION]

The opening ceremony had passed. It wasn’t that much, just like any regular ones with an additional special performances from some of the students. Most of the boys had gathered themselves for their idiotic fiasco in the night. The others did not want any part of their foolishness that would earn them the rage of all females and the other school staff.

“It’s 5:30 already… I need to get moving…”, I muttered, staring at my empty dorm room.

Activating [Inventory], I equipped my [Enigmatic Mask] and [LightSeeker Outfit]. Then, I activated [Bloodlust] and [Spectre]. [Spectre] is a skill which allowed me to hide all of my traces, including presence, scent, sound, tracks, etc., from anyone who’s Rank is beneath me. Conveniently, it’s also applicable to items I want to hide.

Last time I used this was at New City Hospital…

Anyway, opening [Store], I had bought an Arcane Mannequin. Strangely, the price wasn’t ¥1, but instead, 14 Novels, all having different tags but Loli.

Wtf? Why would CheckYourInventory need 14 Loli Novels…?

Checking my purchase, I had found out the reason.

[Barter System: CulturedOjiisan has traded 14 Novels for the Arcane Mannequin.]

[Additional: Runic Programs – Golem Scripture.]

… My eyebrows twitched in irritation. The old god is actually a Lolicon?

*Police Siren Noises*

…

*Sigh*

Whatever, I just turn my attention to the additional item that I received. Hmm… This sounds quite important, not right now though.

[Morph]

My vision blacked out for a few moments. A while later, it returned, though my surroundings had gotten considerably larger. The shadowed areas became much brighter as well. I had transformed into a black furred and golden eyed cat.

It’s quite weird, being a cat and all. However, I eventually got used to it.

“Nya hell?”

“I nya still speak?!”

"Why would nya speak like this?!"

Ugh… Shaking my head, I cleared my mind of distractions and proceeded in doing the mission. I jumped out the back window, walking the small ledge before I had jumped on a nearby tree.

[Morph]

I turned into a Japanese Golden Eagle this time before flying away.

[Feather Light]

I immediately felt the speed boost as I activated my flight magic. I wonder if I would be an OP monster if I combined it with Dragon Morph…?

Even if I turn into a giant monter with great agility, would it be OP?

It felt quite good to be flying and I spent a few minutes doing so, before eventually going to LightWays Media.

…

“Are you sure about this?”, Kogi asked the foreigner in front of him, which was Carter.

“The Zodiac's objectives still isn’t clear, so we were ordered to stand by.”

“Did Hiro come?”, Kogi asked, now focusing at the building before them.

“Yeah, but they’re in a different group. Our focus here is to watch the area and support them.” Carter said, before adding.

“I don’t think we really need to though, there’s 2 Supreme Rank Members that’ll join us.”

“That’s a relief…”, Kogi breathed out, as he closed his eyes.

The only thing worries him is his childhood sweetheart Misa.

LightWays Media is known as one of the largest media and broadcasting companies in the eyes of the public. However, it’s also one of the largest branches of Union here in Japan, which means that it’s always heavily guarded, even more so now.

And with the additional back-up, it seems like the Black Zodiac is doing a suicide mission…

The action they made is akin to chicken running into a fox den.

…

[Plotter's Discernment: Active]

People passed by the building, harboring zero ill intents towards it. However, I do wonder on what’s so special about this place and what would the disaster be.

I looked around some more. Now, I noticed some people guarding the place quite stealthily, along with a static in the air.

Hmm… Barrier, Concealment, and Restraint Magic.

Flying around some more, much more powerful Wards and Magic were settled in the school, along with many capable people.

However… What truly got my attention is the several, small magic circles, which appears to be implanted on the other Wards. It also looks like the others cannot notice it, which means that it’s quite powerful and only thanks to my [Plotter's Discernment] that I’m able to see it.

Zooming in, I quickly examined the magic circles…

The runes were ones used for transportation within blocked areas… And by their formation… They were designed to support each other, becoming more powerful and capable of transporting large amounts of people or objects…

Hmmm… It looks like they were altered to be able to hide within other magical circles as well. Whoever made this, is quite the Spell Maker.

Though I also deadpanned, as it also means that this’ll be quite a long night.

Though the Union had taken quite the caution, it seems that the enemy was still able to sneak and probably, get the drop on them later.

“What annoyance…”, I grumbled, as I know that some civilians would definitely be roped in this fiasco.

*Flash!*

A bright glow had encompassed the school, alarming me and the others. I scanned the area immediately and had found out that the students and normal humans had vanished as the light came.

Many of the extraordinary were now panicking in shock and confusion. So this is how they’re going to get the drop on them…

Tracing my gaze upwards, there’s now a shift in the space. Hmm… [Space Concealment] eh?

Looks like they still hasn’t noticed me, or rather, my eagle form, so I immediately went to one of the buildings beside LightWays Media.

[Shade Walker: Active]

Activating the skill, I entered some random shadow and morphed back to my human form.

Someone soon stepped out of the concealed space on the sky, clad in black cloak. Though he also discarded it soon, revealing a handsome man with blonde hair and emerald eyes. He wore a checkered coat and pants, having alternating black and white color scheme. He also wore black leather shoes, black neck tie, and white long sleeves.

However, his most notable feature is a snake tattoo circling on his hands. What had caught my attention to the snake tattoo is that it’s body also looked like a chain.

A grin broke on his face, as he raised his arms.

“Beyond the darkest nights…!”, His voice boomed. Rather than resounding through the area, it appeared that his voice actually spoke inside our minds.

I frowned, it was even affecting me.

“The serpent awaits to strike…!”, He continued, his voice still being dramatic.

Please stop… it’s too cringy…

The others were below looked up, now finding out on where the voice came from.

“What the hell?!”

“Who’s that?!”

“Is it the Black Zodiac?!”

"Is this a new curse magic?! My hair is standing!!"

However, the man appeared to be undeterred by the panic and chatter, as he just continued.

“When the darkness intensifies, the serpent shall devour everything…!”

The people below slowly stopped panicking and were now looking at each other awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

In the minds of this people one thing is in common, "who the hell is this thundering Chunni?!".

“In the midst of the dark, there’s a spark…!”

“The flames of emotion roaring against the darkness…!”

“The flames of Darkness shall rise!”

… Well… I wonder if he and OldFriendDarkness would go along pretty well…?

Then, a woman appeared on his side. Her face was one of irritation as she smacked his head.

“You idiot! Stop saying darkness over and over again!”, She screamed, as she twisted his ear sharply. The man winced, as he tried to pry of her hands.

“Hmph, I didn’t expect that the Black Zodiac would hire a clown like you.”, A female voice below the two resounded.

Looking down, I saw perhaps one of the most beautiful women. She had snow white hair and sky blue eyes, along with a pale complexion and voluptuous figure, which fitted her tight, Eskimo-like outfit quite well.

Over all, she looked like an intricately designed doll.

Her face was stoic, though her eyes held a mocking glint on it as she stared at the aggressor.

As I tried to determine her rank, I was quite surprised on what I saw.

Supreme Rank.

What a monster. Even though she appears to be just a year older than Hiro, she was miles ahead of him. This girl’s even more talented than him.

I had asked more information in regards to ranking from the gods, after the fiasco on the party. And there seems to be a lot of them.

The middle ranks were Novice, Warrior, General, and Lord.

The top ranks were Predator, Emperor, Conqueror, and finally, Dominator.

The highest rank above them all was Supreme.

However, there’s still other two ranks above Supreme: Enlightened and Ascended. As far as I know, most of the union members know that the highest is Supreme.

The Enlightened and Ascended are on a completely different level, as they would tip the balance of power should they join a specific group. That’s why they’re kept as secret, but still monitored carefully by Supreme Rank members.

Oh, and by the way, I’m at Enlightened Rank.

Above these rankings weren’t classed as humans or any creatures any more, as they rose to divinity. These are the Spirits, Demigods, Deities, and Ancient Gods.

These ranks are extremely powerful, to the point where they’re able to create their very own home planets. However, they cannot directly interact within Earth, the center of all other planets. The only way that they could directly affect the world is for them is to possess a vessel, create a sect and it’s followers, or just by blessing humans.

Apparently, this was made by the thing that sits on the topmost, as a way to balance out the world, the Primordial Rank. The rank is bore by only 1 creature, the creator of everything and the center of the universe.

Sadly this Admin, Primordial is nowhere to be seen.

“Such a shame. The Bound Serpent is nothing more than a jester.”, The female continued, openly mocking the man.

“Bound Serpent?!”

“Shit! It’s one of the twelve!”

Forgetting the awkwardness earlier, the soldiers prepared their weapons and magic.

In response, the man released his aura, effectively stopping the stragglers below. glared at the woman below, angry that his introduction had been stopped. The woman beside him backed away silently, her face now blank.

The man, Tatsumi, raised his index and middle fingers, as if mimicking a gun. A magic circle soon appeared at the tip of his fingers.

[Hell Storm]

A small blaze shot out from the magic circle, moving moderately. The woman narrowed her eyes as she also prepared her magic.

Then, without warning, the small fire violently exploded in a blaze that rained down fireballs from below.

However, before it could reach them.

[Blizzard]

A snowstorm had intercepted the fire spell. Being opposite elements, the two immediately cancelled each other.

Massive amounts of steam covered the area and as it subsided, Tatsumi was now scowling darkly, while the woman still held her blank face. Looks like he realized that the girl held the same ranking as him or even higher than him.

My mouth curved into a smile. Let’s see which one comes out on top…

[•END•]

Revised by BaNaeNae.