“What spiritiual art did he practice Director Talcum?”

“The venerable Dream State Consciousness and he has already passed the first barrier.”

“For our viewers who has not encountered this art, what is it known for?”

Izo was still the focus of the show with Sun Hee and Sung Soo on the background.

“It’s stealth and power but also its side effects and the required mental strength to practice the art. To emphasize half of the ten deadliest assassins in the Nexus use this art.”

[ -Why’s he not doing anything?

-Dumb. That’s how this art works at first.

-Maybe he was too tired and fell asleep instead of using Dream State Consciousness. ]

“It seems that he broke through the first barrier in this art Director? Candidates are expected to breakthrough only after a month.”

“Yes, that’s why he’s my most anticipated candidate. #730 should be changed to #300 tomorrow.”

Director Talcum folded his hands in his chest area. His glow changed from green and yellow to red and blue.

Surprisingly enough the viewership remained steady even though the scene was only Izo sleeping. The footage changing every once in a while, to the ‘Spirituality Vision’ and the blue pulsing power from the still candidate looked fascinating.

“I’m now also very interested in this candidate Director. Admittedly not the most fit and not the most experienced but certainly has great potential.”

“Hmm. As of now, he can only be considered a street performer but soon enough.”

Talcum positioned both of his hands sideward as if to take the whole space of the room. Multicoloured light erupted from his body in a controlled manner while his rocky body disconnected to form the common Nexus letters. Corporeal mana appeared all around him as the floor cracked.

“C. I. N. E. M. A. He will become CINEMA!”

The viewership and comments exploded.

[ -He said it!

-I trust the man of culture.

-He was wrong a few times in the past.

-Shut up. Just fit in for now. If the candidate doesn’t live up to the expectations we can always boo him then. ]

“For now, let us visit #2 candidate Miner-8001. It has opted to fight on its own since its abilities of mimicry and invisibility can be maximized in this way.”

The view changed to a dark swamp where large bamboo like trees blocked the sunlight. It seemed to have only large frog beings. Then suddenly, a sword pierced one of them from below. The other frogs panicked and hopped to the other location.

“It’s currently hunting down all the frog monsters who are unable to even sense it.”

*

He exited the magical domain, the namesake of the art, the Dream State Consciousness in disappointment. Most of the pain had subsided and the twitching had completely gone. Unfortunately, the visions were still there. Thankfully, he had gotten used to how bizarre they were.

‘Can’t do it. Theoretically, I should be able to but why can’t I?’

Izo was in its first level where his dream could be used as a spring board to launch spiritual abilities at others. Of course, it wasn’t that simple. He could only affect their mind for now. If he practiced more, he’ll be able to affect the body and then the soul.

Izo should be able to affect other being’s minds. He dreamed about a gigantic squid about to swallow his Concealed Trout soul. The innate fear of living beings he thought about sending them to the orcs.

The book stated that as long you’ve seen the target and know their general direction, that it would work. Nothing happened however.

“It’s a fail.”

“Understood.”

Sung Soo was using his binoculars to study the orcs movements. They seemed to be completely oblivious to their own safety. Instead, they were even fighting over meat.

[ Kill all orcs 10/10 ]

They had a simple enough mission.

“Sweety, go act as bait there.”

Since the surrounding area was really rocky and dotted by steam there were hanging outcrops of rocks perfect for ambushes. Sun Hee looked at where her father was pointing. It was small passage where only one orc could fit at a time.

“Run and we’ll drop rocks on them.”

Izo also looked there and saw sizable rocks that would easily kill a normal Earthling.

‘They should still work against them.’

They were large and seemed bullish so Izo was he was worried. The good news however wasn’t that he won’t hesitate about killing them but he won’t feel bad.

‘They’re legitimately dangerous.’

If they were innocent beings who were however, he still wouldn’t hesitate but he’ll feel bad. If what they said was correct however then the beings used for their training were highly dangerous and hard to control. Otherwise, they would’ve been given a chance.

At least on the surface, the rulers of the Nexus seemed to value life.

“Ok, dad.”

“Izo, be ready to throw a flashbang.”

[ Izo Shelley, 18

Effectiveness Rating: E

Spiritual Strength: E

Spiritual Art: Dream State Consciousness

Spiritual Skill: -

Balance: 30 ]

Flashbangs cost 10 points. Izo had two just in case but with the inclusion of other necessary buys, he would be bankrupt pretty fast if he messed up using these consumables.

“Ok.”

Izo and Sung Soo lied in wait. Sun Hee picked up a pebble and aimed it towards one of the orcs. It missed and hit one high.

They were incredibly focused and no nonsense as Sun Hee retried and this time the pebble hit the head of an orc,

“Grur?”

It turned towards the bait.

“Ouhhhh. Uah. Uah. Uah.”

It placed it hands on its mouth and did something between a scream and yodeling. It was high pitched, frightening and it didn’t stop. The orc even paired it with stomping.

Their whole camp was soon rowdy. They picked up their weapons and began hitting them.

The orc that got hit by the pebble walked towards Sun Hee. It pointed its spear and screamed at the smaller human. Sun Hee, who was holding a spear too, responded by running away.

It enraged the green menace and they chased her. White foams even dripped to the ground as their weighty foot prints marked the soil.

The father and daughter pair had their guns but it was their consensus to save them since there were no bullets for them in the Nexus. If they wanted sustainable gun fighting, they’d have to buy models common here. They’d have to make do with something more primitive for now.

Izo watched them get close.

‘Now.’

Sun Hee passed their position and the lumbering beast were unaware that projectiles were flying toward them in the night sky.

Sung Soo’s javelin hit one in the throat and silenced it’s loud mouth. Izo however came up short. While he was aiming at the chest, it hit the dirt in front instead. He didn’t however watch the effect.

As Sung Soo had repeated to him ‘Never watch the result unless you want your head blown off’. It didn’t matter if it was sword, gun or any kind of fighting. Just keep attacking.

More javelins flew through the sky. Most missed but some hit. One of the orcs was dead, three were injured while the others were enraged.

They however couldn’t reach Izo and Sung Soo so their only way to vent their anger was to follow the human through the passage.

“Aruuuh!”

One of the orcs shoved aside the injured and moved ahead.

“Ugh.”

Its enthusiasm was stopped short as the force of gravity clamped its open orifice. It bit through its tongue as it hit the ground. Green blood flowed down it’s the new rift in its skull.

‘Uhh. They only got more angry.’

If a human saw a fellow teammate dies, unless the person was ex-military or a psychopath, he would be highly discouraged. The orcs however growled and run more desperately toward Sun Hee.

Izo just kept throwing and with abundant rocks the orcs were whittled down to three.

“Remember the flashbang Izo.”

Sung Soo shouted as Sun Hee reached the end of the tight passage. After that was open terrain where she could be surrounded so she smartly stood at the mouth.

The last enemies though injured and weakened were still high spirited. Excited to finally have a chance to hit something, the closest one threw itself towards it’s prey.

Sun Hee was incredibly serious and was no nonsense, she didn’t stab with her spear since it was too high risk. She opted for a wide swing to have more chance of contact.

This decision proved correct as the wooden part hit the orc to its left temple. It was knocked out instantly. The two other also went after Sun Hee but she wisely surrendered ground for time as Izo and Sung Soo continued the rock barrage.

The last of the green humanoid fell as the mass fell on its arm and a loud crack audible to Izo from above was heard. It whimpered and fell on its knees.

Sun Hee, who could have finished it off easily, hesitated. She was pale losing the healthy gloss of her lips.

“It’s still dangerous.”

Hearing the old man’s words, Sun Hee regathered her thoughts and prepared a thrust when a final rock fell from above.

[ Arena Completed! ]

Izo was winded especially since a great amount of adrenaline was pumping through his body. Finally, seeing Sun Hee hesitate in front of a very much capable of harm enemy, he pushed himself to lift the last rock.

‘Phew.’

A dark gate finally appeared to return them to camp.

“Should we loot this things Sung Soo?”

Other than a few javelins, only scrap wood, orc loincloths and stone weapons were there.

“We can sell these weapons for points. Come help young man.”

Their blood smelled fishy. The viscera and excretions only worsened the looting job. One of them was somehow pooping even though it was dead.

Sun Hee became even more queasy than she already thus it was inevitable that she began puking.

Izo doesn’t really know how to comfort her so he just moved her hair out of the way and patted Sun Hee’s back.

‘I forget that most people don’t feel great around, this.’

He could see a hallucination of a giant maggot exploding in the distance. He himself would prefer otherwise looting dead humanoid bodies but adding just this, Izo could still bear it.

*

“Petro has been hurt!”

The vampire was currently transformed into his true form and his right arm was bleeding.