Avery Light

Chapter 36 - Finisher

Clang!

What the hell!? So much force!!

Viers didn't expect Jarret’s strike would overpower his own so greatly. Gritting his teeth, Viers managed to avoid the broadsword’s path and successfully evaded the first strike. But the hasty evasion made his posture thrown out of order and Jarret kicked him on the chest.

“Megaton Kick!”

Viers conjured a water barrier by reflex, a feat that saved a great chunk of his HP.

Using his left hand, Viers pulled a ...

Chapter 35 - Law

The sun’s light was starting to chase away night’s darkness but the forest still provided ample cover because of the foliages and mists.

Leaving the scene of the battle, Viers strode away. If a normal human was standing five meters away and looking right at him now, they would only see a blur in their vision.

Arte — Fade in Shadow.

Viers used this Arte a few times in the earlier battle and now he used it to escape.

Viers got this Arte from Demetrus’ memory, thi...

Chapter 34 - Kill Streak

Dominating!

Viers killed his fourth victim, a man with a big helmet. He was in the middle of doing ‘number one’. Viers didn't even have the honor to uphold the sanctity of bathroom break.

A flash of light came from the body and went up to the heavens. A firework brightened up the night sky. It was like a star shell right above Viers’ position.

Did I trigger something? Viers was being very careful but his cover was now blown.

“Guys, over here!”

...

Chapter 33 - The Battle Begins

[Error. Error. Malicious enti– enti– STOP: 0x010010WK… Host: Error. Data corruption detected. More than 80% of the system’s functions are corrupted.]

“Well, that’s that then,” Viers observed the aftermath.

Other than ending a volatile variable that was Sigma/Renji, Viers also aimed at his system. Viers already had quite an assortment of cheats himself but he wouldn't say no to another cheat in his arsenal. If Viers could supplant Sigma as the system’s host then wou...

Chapter 32 - Water, Water, Fire

He always thought that soulspace was a strange place.

Perhaps it was just another name for the realm of consciousness. Physics applied but at the same time it did not. If some conditions were met, people could create something out of nothing. And yet he couldn't simply create an atomic bomb and blast the drones to pieces, invisible rules prevented him from doing so.

What about this cybercentric soulspace then?

Was this the inside of Sigma’s soul or simply an arena provided...

Chapter 31 - Warpath

Night, Osemore town.

Jarret was walking to the infirmary when he overheard his men talking.

“Bandits… What makes them suddenly so bold? They still retained some common sense and are not attacking the town directly but travelers, caravans, farms... everything outside the walls got attacked. Hells and Damnations, what is happening?”

“Apparently, they got news we’re lacking in manpower. With the people we lost in the Beast Tide… and considering the condition of Fran...

Chapter 30 - System Breach

Before Viers engaged Jarret and the others, he opened a war council.

“Viers?”

“What’s wrong?”

Paina and Clarissa asked respectively.

“Here’s the current situation. I killed a potential enemy in broad daylight on the streets of Osemore. I have successfully got away from the town at the moment but pursuers are hot in my heels. They have a tracker on me which I’ll use to my advantage later. What are your thoughts about this?”

Viers dropped the bomb...

Chapter 29 - First Blood

At the town's east gate.

“He went to the east, Captain Heskins, to Coulis Forest. We tried to stop him but he was too fast. He injured a couple of guards during his escape,” the town’s guard responsible for this gate explained the situation to Jarret. Apology was written all over his face but Jarret’s fury only burned stronger.

Jarret, Franco, and Roger spoke to their fellow guards. The scene around them was as if a rampaging elephant passed through.

“I need two fr...

Chapter 28

“Stalking Kate again, Captain Jarret? Is this really necessary?” Franco said to his commanding officer.

“Of course it is, Franco. This is my sister we’re talking about.” Jarret peered from the shadows, looking at the happy couple taking a seat at the restaurant.

“Old friend, she’s not a kid anymore. She can make her own choices. You’ve got to trust her judgment.” Roger said. Thinking how big the little girl had become.

“Right… and who got herself captur...

Chapter 27

What he found changes things.

Viers examined the area to confirm his suspicions. He went deeper inside the nearby forest. According to the amount of blood, it must be originated from something bigger than a human. High were the chances it came from a monster. If the bullet-user hunted monsters, he might found the next clue where there were a lot of monsters, inside the forest.

“Lord Viers, what’s wrong? Weren’t we going to the next town as soon as possible?” Farley called....

Chapter 26 - Denied

“My name is Jarret Heskins. Little buddy, I’ll explain to you as plainly as I can. Two days ago, there a new law was in effect in Osemore town. No adventurers may enter the town’s borders and conduct business here. Any act of wanton “adventuring” shall no longer be tolerated,” the mid-twenties man overflowing with the charisma of a leader said to Cain with a patient face.

“Well, that’s a shitty law that’s what. Let me in, I got a quest to complete with the guild.” Ca...

Chapter 25 - Road Bump

“Halt, traveler.”

A wild bandit appeared.

“Hmn?” Viers suspected that one of the oldest clichés in the book was happening in front of him right now.

The bandit stood in the middle of the road as if he was the owner, he had a spear on his hand. Meanwhile, a group of bandits appeared around Viers, boxing him in.

“Good day. What can I do for you gentlemen?” Viers counted. There were half a dozen of them, give or take.

“To pass through this road, you m...

Chapter 24 - Savior

It was early in the morning and his host wasn't up yet, Viers let him sleep. After yesterday, he would need much rest. Viers went to the lawn of Mercer’s house, tossing a ghostly pale blue ball into the air. As it slowly fell downward, Viers slashed it with his sword in one swift stroke. Unlike the usual watery blue, the sword was wreathed in milky green color.

“Hmph!”

The bluish-white ball split into two parts.

“Hyah!”

Another stroke and the ball separated i...

Chapter 23 - Excavation

“That went well.”

Inside the log house, Viers conversed with the girls while looking at Mercer hugging with the Force Ghosts he called. “With this I’ve confirmed I can now make you three manifest in the real world as well.”

“Lord Viers, I don't understand. You can simply make the soul of the wife and child appear in front of the man. And yet you spoke something in tongues and reinforced Mercer’s faith first, whatever for?” Farley asked.

“It was a prayer. As...

Chapter 22 - What Dark Magic Is This?

Mercer was confused.

A stranger came to him when he was in the abyss of misery. He thought the boy was Death itself, coming to visit him at the endpoint of his life. But the boy stopped him from killing himself and offered to let him see his family again.

If that was true, Mercer would pay anything, would do anything.

So Mercer thought that he was wrong. The boy was not Death but an agent of the Devil, the Devil’s Envoy. Like the stories priests at the church used...

Chapter 21 - The Unfortunate Man

He had new boots.

He had become Man in Boots.

Man in Boots delightfully ran through the land like a maniac.

“Hahahaha!”

Man in Boots eyed a short bush just right in front of him and jumped over it flamboyantly.

“Ett! Ot-to-to-to...”

The grass was slippery because of the morning dew. His landing was less than graceful. It took all he had to keep himself from falling as his legs were sliding.

“Ack! There’s dirt on my new shoe,” Viers compl...

Chapter 20 - Leaving Town

Viers would make enemies in the future, lots of them. This was something unavoidable whether he was a villain or a hero. All stories in his head told him so.

He feared that one day his enemies or someone that had a grudge against him went after his family.

This was particularly a frequent occurrence in xianxia novels. The MC offended someone - most likely by killing a pretentious young master prick. He managed to get away, but then the bad guys went after his family. His parents, ...

Chapter 19 - Closure

Why not Stheno’s Sight? Because Euryale is the ‘Archer’ that’s why! Hur-hur-hur. Viers chuckled while praising his own good naming sense.

After finishing his power-up segment, Viers looked at his pocket watch. There were only four hours left until sunrise.

Thankfully, I don't need much sleep anymore.

Viers did his before sleep training routine then hit the bed. The sun rose and Viers also rose with it, a bit sluggish but fit nevertheless. As a moder...

Chapter 18 - Euryale’s Sight

“I have what you requested. It took quite an effort to complete this. Mother’s mind is a mess,” Clarissa said to Viers who appeared in front of her.

“So I expect. My tearing between you and her was not gentle. I’ll take what I can.”

Kala’risyah -before Viers bestowed the name Clarissa upon her- was a unique existence. Viers found her already in soul form, her flesh long returned to the earth. The caveat was she also had another soul latched on hers. The Lamia Queen, ...

Chapter 17 - Level Up

Viers shed the persona he wore all day and become simply himself when he was in private. As smooth as changing gloves.

Sun had fallen and night loomed. When it was possible, Viers preferred to separate training, socializing, and the likes during the day.

Villains, him included, had unexplainable harmony with shadows and nights.

After dark was the time to improve his ‘unvirtuous powers’, so to speak, since he obtained those not by heroic means.

Improving his power, ...

Chapter 16 - My Fair Lady

Thunk.

In a pleasant morning weather, an arrow hit the target at its exact center.

Irene blew a breath and took another arrow in the quiver. Her white breath scattered like enchanted mist.

Thunk!

A knife came from behind her and also hit the target albeit a bit off to the left.

“As expected, my accuracy isn't comparable to yours.” Cain said as he approached her.

Irene didn't say anything, she resumed training as if Cain did not exist.

“Wow, that...

Chapter 15 - Villainous

33.26%, nice increase. Mon-hun gives good experience. Viers  was doing a casual check on something inside him. Seeing the number  steadily rising every time he checked was very gratifying.

“...Done,” Viers let go the hand of a girl he had been holding for quite some time.

“Thanks,” Paina replied.

After  the discussion with his fellow adventurers, Viers returned to his room  in the inn and did some soul maintenance for the girls. He had ju...

Chapter 14 - Stirrings

Knock knock.

A man in his fifties opened the door of a makeshift office after there was no answer, just as he expected. There was a young woman looking at parchment very intently, her desk had a tall stack of it. She didn't even realize someone entered the room.

She was beautiful like a flower. Her face looked scholarly and academic yet enchanting. She had bob-cut black hair and onyx black eyes.

He put a freshly brewed hot tea on the table right in front of her before she no...

Chapter 13

Wollter made his entrance after an intense battle against the Cockatrice.

His aim was Lena, as long as Lena couldn't pay her debt then she would become his. Failure of her quest was something he wanted to see, not success. However, a Cockatrice suddenly appeared. And what’s more unbelievable, Lena’s group managed to kill it. With the materials left behind by the rare monster, Lena would be able to clear her debt, which put Wollter's dream into jeopardy.

He couldn't accept it.<...

Chapter 12 - Bump With Chicken

“Shit!” Paul cursed before sprinting towards Lena’s position. He used his Victa to raise his movement speed as high as possible.

The sight prompted Irene and Oliver to follow. They only took one step before Cain spoke.

“Leave the eggs to me! Put it on the ground then go!”

The pair did so before hastening to Lena’s direction.

Cain realized this was a time for quick action so he didn't dawdle. He put the eggs under a tree and cast Water Barrier Arte before fo...

Chapter 11 - Fury of the Owls

“You’re late!”

When Cain came back, Lena, Paul, and Oliver were waiting for him. Oliver was the one who rebuked him.

“Sorry, I should’ve eaten more green food,” Cain apologized.

“Well… that’s enough. Time to change shifts. Paul, Cain, good work. Get some sleep. We’ll take over from here,” Lena said, nothing unordinary in her voice and appearance.

“Kay, good night.”

“Stay safe,” Paul said. There’s a bit of fatigue in his voice.

Chapter 10 - Camping Leisurely

“Eyes up,” Irene said.

Following her line of sight, Cain saw three birds perched on a tree branch at his 2 o’clock direction. There was still quite a distance between them and the monsters didn't seem to realize their presence yet.

Cain noted that the Tukukus were similar in shapes and sizes to owls. Most of their feathers were white with some black or blue mixed in. One of the owls flew away, leaving only two Tukukus left to observe. The one that left made snowflakes with e...

Chapter 9 - A Must Have

“Wollter…” Lena looked at the approaching man with apprehension.

Cain saw the man with a big body. Black haired, thin beard, and wore a leather armor that showed his big biceps. This Wollter walked closer with two other men with him in the center.

All three are Level 1… Is this what I think it is? Cain thought.

“The hell you bastards are doing here?” Oliver spat out, standing near Lena.

“Oh nothing but a coincidence,” the man smiled evilly. “...

Chapter 8 - Egg Hunting Preparations

Viers woke up with the sunrise.

While shedding the leftover drowsiness Viers tootled to a bucket filled with water and splashed his face. The coldness of water reminded him of the low temperature of the winter outside but it helped when freshening up in the morning.

After he was done, Viers did his morning routine. He sat cross-legged on the floor with his palms upwards on his knees, basking under the morning sun from the window.

At one glance, he was doing meditation which ...

Chapter 7 - Ghosts of the Past

Carrying precious experience of being reprimanded by someone close to his age for being smug, Cain returned to his room without so much of a speck of bitterness. Arrogance was the reason for the demise of more villains than he could count.

After closing the door of his room and turning the lock, Cain once again went to the world inside of his mind.

Some might liken it to the Method of Loci, or the mind palace. For him though, he always found the experience no different than being ...