Chapter 49 – A monster’s leash
The next morning...
Tak* Tak*
Tess and I were eating our breakfast in the living room. I only wore a pair of trunks, while she only wore a bra and panties.
"Sss* Ouch. I know I told you to do it, but it stings to sit." - Tess complained while sitting uncomfortably.
"Be careful about what you wish for." - I smirked and kept eating.
Last night, she showed a masochistic side and wanted me to spank her until she couldn't sit, so I did. She only got what she deserved.
"I still can't believe you kept going for three hours. Did turning into a god's incarnation give you inhuman stamina?" - Tess asked.
"It did, but I don't see you complaining." - I commented.
"That I don't. But I am a human, so I need to take breaks, especially water." - Tess gave me a look.
"Hey, I did give you a break midway and water." - I said to my defense.
"And then proceeded to fuck me until I went unconscious." - Tess remarked with a hint of blame.
"I'm a man of my word. And you asked for it." - I smiled.
"That I did." - Tess smiled back and kept eating.
"How was yesterday, then?" - I asked.
"Before or after you returned." - Tess smirked.
"Before." - I grinned back.
"Nothing major happened. I spoke with your brother-in-law, Ewan, over the phone and discussed some details. After talking to him, we would like to postpone everything until after the vacation, which will be in a month or two. Until then, we can leisurely arrange some company legal technicalities and paperwork." - Tess said.
"That's fine. What about the stocks thing?" - I asked.
"As expected, I earned $210,000. I could have made over a million if I wanted to, though." - Tess remarked.
"Wait a few months, and then you can start thinking about that." - I replied.
By no means was I under any pressure. Without the Supers around, this world is just a giant sandbox.
"No, actually, isn't it already half a sandbox? In several days, I'll evolve into an Ascended Expert. Also..."
With a thought, I looked at Conceal Presence's description again.
Conceal Presence 7: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, sound, taste, sight, and temperature from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking. Immunity to detection means below a certain standard. Increases resistance to divine augury arts.
The description included almost all the senses, including sound, smell, and sight.
"I am not sure of the specific effects, but wouldn't that make me completely invisible?" - I asked myself.
I then wanted to try testing it out.
"Hey, Tess. I'm about to try something, okay? So don't be alarmed if you see anything strange." - I said.
"Hm? Okay." - Tess blinked and looked at me.
Nodding, I activated Conceal Presence to the maximum.
"Hah? Iver?" - Tess blinked and looked around.
Of course, I was still sitting in front of her.
"I'm right here, Tess." - I said.
But it didn't work. She just kept looking around.
"Ah, right. My voice is also concealed." - I thought and looked at my hands.
I can see them perfectly fine.
"Hah? Hey, Trod? Why can I see my hands? Aren't they supposed to be invisible?" - I asked.
{They're not invisible. It is just that your presence has been hidden. It interferes with the ability of mortals and mortal equipment to perceive you. In other words, you are hidden in plain sight.}
"Iver? Iver! This isn't funny anymore!" - Tess started anxiously yelling.
"Whoops..." - I undid my concealed presence, and Tess noticed me immediately.
"There you are! Where were you?" - Tess asked with a hint of blame.
"Believe it or not, I was here all along." - I shrugged.
"Oh... Cool!" - Tess's eyes glowed with curiosity.
"Can I try touching you when you do it?" - She asked.
"Go ahead." - I said and reactivated it.
Tess stood up and walked over.
"Okay... I'm going to touch you now." - Tess said and slowly reached out her hand.
However, I had a naughty idea.
Dodging her hand, I walked behind her and grabbed her giant boobs.
"Ah! Iver! Bad boy!" - She reprimanded as she held my mischievous hands.
Undoing my sound concealment, I kissed her earlobe and whispered.
"How about doing some invisible play?" - I asked while inserting a hand into her bra.
"Hn... Someone started getting proactive~ And I love it~" - Tess seductively said.
"Is that a yes?" - I asked while pinching a teat.
"Ngh... Challenge accepted." - She said with a demanding look.
"Good!"
I directly grabbed one of her thighs and raised it in the air. Instinctively, Tess leaned back and grabbed my head.
"You want to do it just like this?" - Tess asked.
"You can throw the towel now if you want." - I said provocatively.
"Who do you think I am?! Am I one to Nngh not accept aAhh~ C-Challenge~?" - Tess asked between moans as my hand reached her nether region.
"That's the Tess I love and know!"
And so, after a hard-fought battle, Tess continued her work while I went out to buy some things for Primrose.
...
In a shabby apartment in Belltown, Seattle. Early morning.
An average-looking young man with tattoos woke up naked next to a naked punk girl who looked like a girl next door.
But to him, she looked like an angel sent from heaven. So pure and holy.
"I came back to her again." - Was the man's first thought.
Over two weeks back, he washed up in Seattle, disguised as some homeless punk he killed and ate near the marina... And then met her, Demi.
While he was confused and trying to find himself, Demi was mugged by a stupid hoodlum with a knife, so he beat him up. And when she wanted to thank him with a cup of coffee, he revealed that he was homeless, so she offered for him to stay with her until he stood back on his feet. And he readily agreed.
Over the last two weeks, she offered him shelter and food... And later, company.
Unknowingly, he fell in love with her but couldn't repay her for all she did for him.
Not only that, he was also putting her in danger.
It wasn't just the people after him. It was mainly himself.
Even now, the creeping and all-consuming madness whispered evil.
"Kill... Consume... More Souls... Hungry!" - The voice echoed in his head.
He gritted his teeth and shouted back.
"Shut up! I fed you last night, so shut up! Not her! Anyone but her!" - The man shouted at his inner monster.
The voice quieted, but he knew it was lurking, waiting at the back of his head.
It was waiting for an opening, an opportunity to be uncaged, like a hungry man-eating tiger.
"It's all those scientists' fault! Why did they overdose me with Ichor?! Fucking greedy for a high-class assassin..." - He inwardly cursed.
However, there was nothing he could do.
He was now teetering on a tightrope, on the edge of insanity. And his only lifeboat was her.
Without her, he would have gone on a rampage already.
However, he is in a losing battle. It is only a matter of time before he snaps.
While he was struggling, his angel woke up.
"Mm... Good morning, Jase." - She said in her pure and loveable voice.
Watching her loving eyes staring at him, his heart and worries softened as the monster finally receded.
"Good morning, Demi." - Jase smiled and pecked her lips.
"Mm... We have a busy day, Jase. We should get up and make breakfast before going to work." - Demi said and got up.
"Hm. It's going to be a good day." - Jase smiled and followed suit.
After quickly dressing up, they prepared a quick breakfast before separately going to work.
Demi worked as an online service coordinator and part-time as a bartender while he worked... as a street food vendor. Ironic, right?
Really, with his current identity, the only jobs he could get are related to cooking and customer service.
But at least, with this job, he can help pay part of the rent and food costs.
And so, as usual, he headed to his workplace, a food truck selling doughnuts.
It was also very low-key, so the chances of meeting with the Supers after him are close to zero. And with his energy concealment ability, it is hard for detectors to find him assuming he doesn't have one of his outbursts.
.
.
.
"Hello! What can I get you?" - Jase gave a business smile and asked.
"That one, Please!" - A ten-year-old kid said while pointing at a Marshmellow Treasure donut.
"$1.20, please." - Jase said.
He then took the prepared donut from the casing and put it in a paper bag.
"Here you go, young man." - Jase smiled and handed it over.
But just as he did...
"Hungry..."
"Shut up!" - Jase cursed in his mind.
"Mister?" - The Kid's confused voice sounded, his hand extended to receive the donut.
"Ah, sorry." - Jase smiled and handed the donut over.
"Thank you!" - The kid took the donut, put money on the counter, and walked away.
"Hah..." - Jase sighed while maintaining his business smile.
It wasn't an easy assignment. He had to smile, be polite, be careful with his work, and...
"Hungry... Need Sustenance..."
The damn madness kept whispering in his ear, scratching at his sanity.
If it weren't for Demi, he would have snapped that kid's neck then and there.
Just then, a new customer arrived, some middle-aged man, unremarkable in whatever way.
Putting on his usual business smile, he spoke.
"Hello, sir. How can I help you?"
"Hello! One Strawberry glaze and one Chocolate glaze, please." - The man said.
"$2.30, please." - Jase said and prepared the donuts.
"There you go." - Jase smiled and handed the donuts.
"Thank you!" - The man said and extended his hand.
However, instead of grabbing the bag, he accidentally grabbed his hand.
Jase shook as the inner thoughts whispered again.
"Food... Kill..."
"Shut up! Just shut up!" - Jase winced and inwardly cursed.
Trying his best to remain calm, Jase was about to tell the man to let go of his arm when he felt something.
The madness... Changed. For the first time, it sounded... calm.
"Ah... Full at last..."
After many days, finally, inner peace was restored to his mind.
Jase looked up at the man with widened eyes.
The man had a meaningful smile on his face as he asked.
"Feeling better, Elian?" - He casually asked.
Thump*
Jase shook, his heart missing a beat. Elian is his real name.
"Gulp* W-Who are you?" - Jase shook and asked.
"A monster's leash." - The man responded and let go.
Jase's heart sank to the bottom. He knew this wasn't for free.
And the man was anything but simple.
"... What do you want." - He asked in trepidation.
"Allegiance." - The man replied.
"... I agree. How do I find you?" - Jase asked.
"I will find you soon. For now, enjoy your freedom. And keep the change."
The man smiled, took the donuts, placed a hundred dollars on the counter, and walked away.
Jase stared at the man, but the moment he blinked, the man vanished.
It was then that Jase understood he just met someone incredible.
"Is he from THAT organization? Is he one of the elders?" - Jase wondered.
"Mister! Mister!"
A voice sounded.
He turned his head and saw two teenage girls.
"Oh, sorry! What can I get you?" - Jase asked with a smile.
But this time, his smile was a lot more genuine.
...
After reaching an alley, I turned off my concealment as I remembered the result of analyzing the man.
Name: Elian Byers
Race: Human(Mutated, Corrupted)
Species: Human
Age: 23 years and seven months
Lifespan: 98 years
Gender: Male(Straight)
Body Type: Human (Adult)
Intelligence Level: Above Average(Being Eroded by Corruption)
Personality traits: Kind, Determined, Loyal, Compassionate, Loving, Patriotic, Sly, Ruthless, Desperate, Bloodthirsty(Corruption), Cannibalistic(Corruption)
Mental Energy: 398
Notable Racial Characteristics: Enhanced Body, Temperature Adaptability, Powerful Immune System, Pack Mentality, Tool-Maker, Omnivore, Shapeshifting Affinity(Mortal 4), Concealment Affinity(Mortal 4), Telekinetic Affinity(Mortal 3), Fake Soul Eater(Corruption), Corrupted Body(Corruption).
Stable Evolutionary Branches: None
Description: This Human has been ministered with weakened and cursed cells of an unreality creature. Due to the treatment, this subject experienced a violent growth in bodily attributes but failed to achieve true evolution. However, he did get mortal affinities at random. Due to being administered an overdose, this human has become corrupted and unstable, and his will is gradually eroded by madness and hunger for fuel to feed the curse. If he doesn't get sufficient power, he will become insane.
Combat Ability Evaluation: This mutated human has shapeshifting and telekinetic abilities, making him a versatile foe in a fight. However, his true strength lies in disguise and assassination. When he loses control, his power will increase and eat the Mental Construct(Fake Soul) of the ones he slays and eats to restore energy.
Method of Treatment: Because of his curse, he needs external energy to survive. To treat the symptoms, Basic Energy is enough. However, to cure the curse, you can either use sanitization to purify the weakened curse or use Evolution Energy to integrate the cells into the body, thus grinding down the curse.
Mark of Zeal Validity: This Human is mutated, and his mental energy is high. Although he might be helpful as a believer, his relatively low lifespan, corruption, and high cost-effect ratio leave much to be desired.
So, how did I find him? I walked around and wanted to buy some tasty-looking street food for Primrose when Trod informed me that he found the guy. I used my analytical eye and found everything about the guy. Although he has higher Mental Energy and Concealment affinity, the guy didn't even notice I was spying on him.
Also, I got Arly to scan his current face. He is now a punk hobo named Jase and lives with his new girlfriend, Demi. The guy probably killed Jase and took over his identity.
Anyways, I approached the guy for several reasons.
First and foremost, the guy was trouble. Leaving him like that was bound to create a disaster I didn't want to happen and might affect people I know. It was better to treat the symptoms for now.
Second, he was a Super, so he has valuable info I need. Although Arly tried to gather data, she ultimately failed to collect much on the Supers because it was off the grid. Yeah, they use closed networks on super-top-secret human experiments. Go figure.
Third, I might have a use for him in the future, so I kept him.
As for the final reason... I felt pity for the guy.
Funny, right? I felt pity for the monster that ate many people.
Did he have a right to live more than others? No.
Did he have the right to eat people? No.
BUT!
I can understand that it isn't this guy's fault. At least, most of the blame isn't on him. It's on the assholes who experimented on him.
Because of their abuse, this loyal guard dog became a leashless monster.
And so, I decided to become his new leash, to take him under my wing.
If he still doesn't accept, I will have Arly report him and get him euthanized by the so-called God Hunters.
Luckily, the guy was sensible enough.
"Oh, well. Let's see how things go. If he is unlucky and accidentally gets caught, so be it." - I shrugged and walked away.
...
And so, time flew by, and the next day arrived.
And I received my long-awaited message.
{Synthesis Complete.}