The light continued to burn for several seconds. Feng Ye continued to close his eyes. He also used his arm to shield the blinding light that could still be seen despite his eyes being closed.
The intensity of the light made his vision a blur. He knew that if he opened his eyes, he might become blind. However, the pain of doing so would have prevented him anyway.
The resulting explosion still rang in his ears. The light slowly dimmed. It felt like a long time, despite only being a short brief moment.
No one made a sound. It was silent.
A scorched scent hung thick in the air. The scent that resulted from scorched meat and blackened paper. It was a scent that was not of the good kind. It is not the scent of BBQ, but the disgusting burnt smell that happens when someone accidentally leaves food in the oven for too long.
The tentacled demon twitched slightly. Its tendrils had been burnt to crisps. Its main body was charred black. There was no blood. There was no liquid at all.
The charred body suddenly shuddered. Its core in the center of its body had a crack. It started with a small crack, then more fractures spread rapidly on its surface.
Then a loud sound was heard by everyone in the room.
CRACK.
The numerous fractures gave way. The entire core shattered into numerous pieces.
The creature's entire body started to collapse.
BANG. The charred body pounded the floor. The entire office shook.
For a brief moment, no one moved.
A brief thought flickered in Feng Ye's mind. "Was this worth any money? This loot?"
However, as if ruining Feng Ye's happy idle thoughts, the remains started to blur and break into small pieces. Each small piece slowly faded away.
Its parts continued to disappear as though melting into the air until no remains were left.
Then, a flash appeared in Feng Ye's consciousness. A familiar screen appeared.
A familiar emotionless voice also resounds in his mind.
--
[System Notification: You have eliminated an Otherworlder]
[System Notification: You have gained +10 Free Attribute Points]
[System Notification: You have eliminated an Otherworlder]
[System Notification: You have gained +10 Free Attribute Points]
--
Feng Ye's heart pounded. He was in the presence of others, so forced himself to stay calm and not show any reaction.
He had not heard this emotionless voice in a long time.
'Two Otherworlders?' he thought. His eyes narrowed as they darted at the guild branch leader collapsed nearby and the area where the smoldering corpse had previously been.
'The guild branch leader and that thing? Did the other creature really count as well?' he thought to himself. However, regardless, twenty attributes were a huge boost.
He closed his eyes and called the attribute window in his mind. A familiar looking screen appeared in his consciousness.
--
Candidate 15864457 Information.
Name: Feng Ye (Candidate)
Rank: 1
HP: 71%
Mana: 25
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Stamina: 6
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 4
Free Attribute Points: 20
Note: An average human (non-candidate and non-contractor) has standard attributes of 4-5. After accepting the contract and becoming a candidate, the
Talent: None.
--
Looking at the interface, he hesitated. Strength? Agility? Intelligence? Which should he improve? Maybe go for an all-rounder build?
But something inside him hesitated. A third sense seemed to tingle and tell him that this wasn't the time for this.
He dismissed the screen and opened his eyes.
Across the room, the demon was no more. Its remains were no more. All that was left was the remnants of a ceremonial dagger, and broken furniture. Even the bloody marks forming a circle had completely been obliterated.
Anne stepped forward while casting a healing spell on Feng Ye.
Her body was drenched with sweat. She panted heavily.
"It's dead," she confirmed. "Completely."
With some effort, she glanced at Feng Ye and gave him a thumbs up.
Feng Ye chuckled to himself. This girl who had previously been incredibly wary of him and looked at him coldly had changed her attitude over the past several hours. It seems life and death experiences truly brought them closer.
However, Feng Ye tightened his grip on his blade. The biggest problem was resolved, however, there still was one more. Feng Ye closely observed the cloaked guild watcher.
The guild watcher didn't speak at first. He silently cleaned his blade and patted the dust and dirt from his cloak. He looked over his shoulder to where Anne and Feng Ye were.
"It was only a fragment. Only a fraction of its power of the terrifying creature that lies beyond the gate."
Anne's eyes widened. "Only.. a fraction of its power…Do you know what that thing was?"
"It was one of many that answered the call beyond this world through the gate." He titled his head towards the broken ceremonial dagger a few steps away.
Without another word, he walked over to the nearby guild branch leader who had long drawn his last breath. He crouched over beside the body.
His finger pressed against the man's neck. There was no pulse. A dead man.
He exhaled. "He's gone."
Anne sighed. "Then, it's really over…"
"No." The guild watcher stood up and turned towards them. His voice was low. "It's only the beginning."
Feng Ye tensed up and gripped his blade. Was this a friend or foe? The blade in his hand was dimmer now, but it still pulsed and was ready.
The watcher's gaze turned to Feng Ye and Anne. It was neutral, observant, and calm.
"You," he muttered. "The spell you cast earlier. That wasn't magic."
Anne blinked, "What are you talking about?"
"Not you. Him." The watcher's gaze locked directly with Feng Ye.
"Spatial manipulation. Summoning a weapon from thin air. That's not something that the top tier mages could do."
Anne was struck with a moment of realization. She glanced at Feng Ye with a confused expression.
Feng Ye remained calm as he asked. "You saw that?"
The observer nodded. "I've seen it before."
"Only once.. Many years ago from another like him. Another..Otherworlder."
Anne gasped softly. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and doubt. "You are saying..?"