Chapter 87: Fame and Glory
Silas was currently sleeping on his sofa, while the girls played in the bathroom. How close they’d become in just a day...
Well, that wasn’t part of his concern at the moment. He was on his system. Earlier, he’d almost gotten a panic attack after looking in the mirror. Even he couldn’t help, but comment, "beautiful." He was handsomely beautiful, or rather beautifully handsome... you know what? However you take it.
The system continued with the explanations. It was on the Thread Manipulation, Stage 2.
[Before I start, you realize that you instinctively Thread Analysis and Weak Point Detection when using Thread Sight and Perception. That is very commendable. The ability isn’t wasted on you.]
’This fucker...’
[Now to Physical Thread Manipulation. Yes, you can now create physical threads. It is as simple as that. How use it depends entirely on you.
Razor Thread is more of an offensive skill. You can compress threads into nearly invisible cutting wires, good for traps and even fighting multiple enemies.
Thread Spear is also an offensive skill. You can condense numerous threads into a piercing attack, like a spear. And the best part, you can will the threads to be either visible or invisible. This is perfect for assassinations. And it is silent, just like a thread.
Marionette Grip temporarily restricts the movement of a living being by attaching threads to them. This is also good for traps.
Web Domain allows you to create an area filled with invisible threads. Anyone entering becomes detectable, and if you become more proficient, you can even set up thread spears and razor threads to trap and kill enemies.
Congratulations. You are officially a broken entity.]
’Thanks for nothing...’
[Hey, chill. It’s not like you are gonna die or anything. Yes, it sounds some way, and looks too much...]
’IT IS TOO MUCH!’ Silas almost shouted out loud again.
[Right, right. Geez! But it is your reality. I thought you wanted to show the world how OP you were. Where did that guy disappear to? Don’t tell me you are going to back out now. I will be very disappointed.]
’I’m not, okay? It’s just... Fine. Hit me with the rest.’
The system continued as he requested. It explained his new Cupid Trait, Possession and Obsession, causing him to shiver in fear. That trait was more dangerous than his other traits. He will literally turn into a madman if anything he takes as his is threatened, hurt, or pained in anyway. And the person or thing that caused it would suffer the consequences, until he is satisfied. This was one aspect of Cupid that wasn’t shown in the books and movies. That guy was scary when someone took something that was his, and Silas had inherited that trait.
Orc King’s Vision gave him the four-vision sight of the orc king he killed. Same with the Orc King’s Strength, he got the strength of that A-Rank orc king. It didn’t mean he would become a fifteen-foot-tall giant, NO. It meant that he would become as strong as the orc king, essentially, and that was without adding his own strength.
Perfect Stature granted him the perfect body stature and physique in any cloth, armor, and even when having sex. For instance, when having sex with Gromda, his body would automatically become the perfect version of itself to deal with the orc. And by perfect version, even his little guy was included.
Anna settled comfortably on the other end of the sofa and reached for the television remote. The living room was immediately filled with the sound of a professional news anchor. Silas didn’t react. His eyes remained closed while he continued speaking with the system inside his mind, sorting through the absurd amount of information he had gained.
From the bathroom came laughter.
"Those two got along frighteningly fast.," Anna blinked.
The bathroom door slid open and warm steam rolled into the hallway. Chloe stepped out first. Her long white hair was still slightly damp, falling behind her like flowing silk. She wore a simple oversized white hoodie with black shorts, looking far younger than she had inside the Rift.
Behind her came Gromda. The enormous orc woman had somehow managed to fit into the specially tailored clothes Silas had purchased through the system. She wore a loose gray shirt and black sweatpants.
Seeing the two together, one looked like an elegant ice princess, and the other looked like a powerful barbarian queen. Somehow it worked. Anna couldn’t explain why.
Chloe glanced toward the sofa. "Sleeping?"
Anna looked over and answered. "He hasn’t moved."
"He isn’t asleep." Chloe answered confidently. "He’s talking to his system or whatever it is."
Anna simply nodded. She knew about the system too now. She had accepted long ago that Silas’s life made less sense the more she learned about it.
"Come." Chloe looked toward Gromda. "Kitchen."
Gromda immediately smiled.
"Food?"
"Food."
The two disappeared toward the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Gromda stared at every cabinet like a curious child. Chloe opened one and found rice. She opened more and gave up. Everything they would need was already there. The refrigerator was even more ridiculous. Fresh vegetables, premium meat, juices, milk, egg, everything was neatly arranged.
"The academy..." Chloe muttered. "They stocked everything."
Gromda looked impressed.
"They fear mate."
Chloe actually smiled.
"They do."
"Good."
Back in the living room... The television volume increased.
"Hmm?" Anna frowned. The screen switched to live footage and a massive headline appeared.
[BREAKING NEWS]
[THE BLUE RIFT INCIDENT]
The reporter stood before the now heavily fortified rift entrance. The entire place had become a restricted zone.
"Our latest reports have now been officially confirmed. The Blue Rift that trapped forty Valecrest Academy students has officially been cleared. Authorities have confirmed that the Rift Boss was defeated yesterday evening."
Images appeared, students exiting, medical staff rushing around, parents crying, ambulances and the white portal. Then Silas, covered completely in blood with pink hair and pink glowing eyes, standing beside Chloe, and beside him, Gromda.
The footage paused as the screen highlighted them individually.
[Silas Ashard]
[Estimated Rank: S-Rank]
[Status: Hero of the Blue Rift Incident.]
[Chloe Montreal]
[Potential Rank: S-Rank]
[Status: Evaluation Pending.]
[Unknown Orc Female]
[Status: Tamed Monster Companion.]
[Threat Level: Unknown.]
Anna looked toward the kitchen. "They really called her a tamed monster."
The reporter continued.
"According to eyewitness reports, Silas Ashard was responsible for defeating the Rift Boss alongside fellow survivor Chloe Montreal and his monster companion. Official confirmation is still being processed. Authorities have also confirmed that Silas Ashard returned with every surviving student."
"The current casualty count remains..."
The screen changed.
[Blue Rift Casualties]
[Dead: 1]
[Missing: 0]
[Survivors: 31]
"The deceased has been identified as David Gronsan. Our condolences go to his family."
A brief silence followed. Then another image appeared, the giant corpse of the Exalted Orc King. Even on television it looked unimaginably enormous. The reporter swallowed.
"Military officials estimate this monster to have been an A-Rank existence. How three students managed to assist in its defeat remains under investigation."
Anna almost laughed.
"Assist? If only you people knew..."
***
Inside Silas’s mind the system continued.
[You are now one of the most famous awakened in the country.]
’Wonderful.’
[Correction. Infamous.]
’Better.’
[Search engines are exploding.]
’Even better.’
[Social media has already begun creating fan pages.]
Silas twitched.
’Delete humanity.’
[Cannot comply. You are trending.]
’...’
[Congratulations.]