??Chapter 96: 096 Mourning_1
Chapter 96: 096 Mourning_1
Of course, the level of the risks varies, and so do the rewards received after victory. For Ugo and his team, defeating a Shadow Demon only yields about one-third of the physical strength and combat skills. Ugo, after three victories, could only amplify his physique by 2.3 tis which, while much more than an average person, still falls far away from a professional boxer.
He hasn’t even touched the threshold of human limits.
Casio, however, progresses in leaps and bounds.
So, both have their pros and cons. Ugo’s way of hosting the Shadow Demon poses a lesser risk, offering multiple opportunities but naturally the gains are lesser. With the way Casio hosts the Shadow Demon, the threat is enormous, resulting in instant death upon failure. As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold, hence, the higher the risk, the greater the reward.
“The organization just sent so intel – at least five Steel Claw Level Shadow Demons have arrived in Baichuan City, and even a Red Eye Level one!”
The lady in black speaks gravely, especially about the latter piece of news. Upon hearing this, Ugo frowns, showing a troubled expression.
Steel Claw Level and Red Eye Level are categories created by the Shadowless Organization to gauge the strength of Shadow Demons. As the na of Steel Claw Level suggests, the claws of these Shadow Demons are extrely sharp, like finely forged blades. In addition to their physical capabilities and the original combat skills of their host, each of them is a top-notch assassin, proving to be too powerful for their human counterparts.
Ugo reckons that his power is quite formidable but even so, he could only distract a Steel Claw Level Shadow Demon with the help of others.
As for a one-on-one confrontation, he would be dood.
The Red Eye Level is even more terrifying, having totally surpassed human limits. A case in point, a single Red Eye Level demon could slaughter an ard gang of a hundred in the dark of night.
The na Red Eye, as you would guess, cos from the fiery red eyes the demons possess when committing their massacres in the dark.
“Why have so many Shadow Demons gathered in Baichuan City? And high-level ones at that!” Ugo exclaims, widening his eyes, “Other than that guy, could there be any other hosts in Baichuan City?”
“Or, did these Shadow Demons just happen to pass by here?”
Ugo shakes his head. He finds it improbable to connect the major actions of the Shadow Demons to Casio who has only ever practiced so combat techniques. These Shadow Demons probably have a bigger plan in mind.
“I suspect they are planning so major operations. The organization has drawn attention to this and is planning to send so agents over to monitor the actions of the Shadow Demons in a few days.” The lady in black knocks on the table, “As for our future comrade, we should find an opportunity to remind him quickly these next couple of days… Otherwise, if any of those five Steel Claw Level Shadow Demons that have arrived in Baichuan City perceive him…”
“No need to fear, he would be dead! I’d be dead too if I encounter a Steel Claw Level demon one-on-one. How about this, I’ll find an opportunity to explain this to him in a day or two.” Ugo shakes his head.
The lady in black’s beautiful eyes shift between Ugo’s clothes and hairstyle, then she sighs, “I should go instead…”
“Mind that he doesn’t kick you again.”
********************
The next morning breaks with clear weather. Sunlight filters through the white gaps of the hovering clouds, casting strands of golden light that seem to clothe the tall spires and dos of Baichuan City’s buildings in a golden veil.
On either side of the road, dew drops brush past the delicate green leaves on the ornantal trees, pitter-pattering onto the soft surface of the mud ground.
“Ding ding ding, ding ding ding…”
The tal alarm clock on the wooden bedside table rings incessantly.
Thump, a coarse, hefty hand silences it.
The pure white sheet is pulled back, Casio doesn’t have the habit of lazing in bed. He promptly gets up and stretches lazily.
He casually opens the curtain, allowing the brilliant sunlight from outside to pour in. The grey road outside is mostly obscured by the lush protective trees, though the gaps between the leaves still offer glimpses of black cars rushing by.
After standing by the window for a while, Casio steps into the bathroom for a wash and to change his clothes. To be honest, he feels a bit of a stranger to his surroundings now, having spent two years in the past 70 years ago. A sudden change of scene and era does make one feel sowhat lost.
However, fortunately, Casio is good at adapting. After showering, he manages to shake off that sense of unfamiliarity.
But then, he encounters another problem.
His clothes are too small, they won’t fit.
Standing at the mirror on the wooden wardrobe, Casio tugs at his black and white striped casual top. Though he gets it on, it strains at the shoulders and arms, and it’s also too short at the bottom. If he zips it, it probably won’t even cover his belly button.
“A crop top?!”
Casio makes a weird face, shaking off the ridiculous image in his mind. He takes off the ill-fitting outfit, and starts rummaging in his closet again.
If you must say that Casio is smart, he is, to so extent. He anticipated that when he returned to the real world from the Era of Retrospection, the increase in strength and size would an his old clothes would no longer fit. Thus, he made a point of bringing a box containing larger sized clothes he had purchased.
But, Casio didn’t think it through entirely – he only bought one change of clothes and neglected to take into account clothes for daily wear. The Shadow Demon spilled a lot of blood from the gangsters while it was killing them, a lot of which got onto Casio’s clothes.
Casio doesn’t have any clothes after washing the stained ones.
After ten minutes of searching, the only outfit he can comfortably wear turns out to be the coach’s combat suit given by the Grey Stamp Martial Arts Hall.
With no other choice, Casio puts it on.
After sorting out his bedroom layout, he opens the door and heads downstairs, bumping into Mrs. Jessica on his way.
“Good day, Mrs. Jessica.”
“Oh… Good day… Mr. Azimbek.”
Maintaining a smile, Casio nods and quickly exits the apartnt.
He still rembers that the last ti Mrs. Jessica called him Mr. Dimitrios, this ti she called him Mr. Azimbek.
In a word, don’t hold grudges against people with severe amnesia.
The weather is sunny. A row of camphor trees block the sunlight, and only the scattered patches of golden light filtering through their moving leaves shine on people’s faces.
Casio arrives at the north side of Banner Street. The breakfast shop there has already begun its business for the day, and the air is filled with the aroma of grilled sausage.
He takes a seat at a random breakfast shop, orders so food, and while chewing, he watches the ceaseless stream of pedestrians and vehicles on the main road. As the Federation Calendar 156 draws near, the world seventy years ago slowly blurs and recedes.
What is unreal remains unreal… I can’t change anything in that ti, I’ll simply be a silent observer then…
Casio pulls at the corner of his mouth, taking a huge bite of the juicy sausage.
After a couple of chews, he swallows.
He takes out a colored photo from his pocket and gazes at it deeply. The antique pocket watch in the corner is so inconspicuous.
“Perhaps, I can still give a brief mont of rembrance to that ti…”
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