CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 62: FORTUNE WHEEL SAVES THE DAY

Infecting Zaen took the highest priority for the broodlings. They desperately wanted access to the ’system’ he possessed. Once they did, they’d get rid of their only weakness, which was literally, weakness.

Unlike other possessing anomalies, Broods had only the ability to occupy a being. Moreover, they were like cancer. The longer they stayed inside a host body, the weaker it got.

Now that the broodlings had infected others for months, naturally they were quite weak. However, with Zaen’s system, they could effectively ’replenish’ their stats.

They never thought that their only strength of possession would prove useless against him. The system was effectively rejecting them. Whenever the worms invaded his body, they’d die and instead heal him.

Now that they know they couldn’t infect him, the only thing remaining was to dissect him and see what made him different from the others.

"Keep his body intact," Johann ordered while Zaen kept flinging his arms in all directions. "We don’t know where this ’system’ resides."

Karloff clicked his tongue and holstered his gun. He was eager to blow the boy’s head, but that wasn’t an option anymore. The next second, he ran and threw a punch straight at Zaen’s face.

Zaen couldn’t see him or dodge the attack. The fist connected with the face, flinging him towards the control room.

[You’ve been hit. HP -8.]

...that’s it?

The force behind the punch had literally thrown him away, yet he only lost 8 HP? It took him a moment to realize why. The attack wasn’t weak at all. However, his increased stamina had negated most damage.

As much as that thought eased his nerves, he knew the relief wouldn’t last long. Without zombies to fight on his side and his weapons locked away, the broodlings just had to keep hitting him to inevitably kill him or knock him out.

I need to get my weapons back.

Just like killing the one with the [Dreamland] ability broke his hallucination, killing the one who sealed his weapon should also work.

But how was he supposed to do that?

Zaen didn’t know his own position, let alone where that faceless bastard was hiding. His inventory was sealed, so nothing he had kept there would help him.

The situation was desperate, but Zaen had a smile on his face. After all, there was one thing their pesky abilities couldn’t seal.

"Why don’t you give up?" Johann commented after noticing Karloff’s punch didn’t do anything to him. "If you do, Brood Mother promises she will keep your brother and uncle safe."

Zaen wasn’t hearing a thing Johann said as he was a bit preoccupied.

[Would you like to combine 15 spin points for 3 super spins?]

"Yes."

Johann raised an eyebrow, and so did the other possessed agents. They didn’t expect Zaen to readily agree to their suggestion, which was a lie. Brood Mother had no intention of sparing any human from being consumed.

"Very well," Johann mumbled. "Karloff, finish him off."

"Of course, Captain."

Karloff reached out, wanting to wrap his arms around Zaen’s neck and choke him to death, as it was the safest method to keep his ’system’ preserved.

However, the moment he did, Zaen’s hands shot out, grabbing his. At the same time, the bandages over his eyes were replaced by a black silk blindfold.

"Gotcha, bitch," Zaen smiled, staring right into Karloff’s eyes.

***

A few seconds ago...

[Super spin activated.]

[Generating reward...]

[Congratulations!]

[You’ve earned Slayer Equipment #117: Tiresias’s Blinfold.]

[You’ve earned Slayer Accessory #722: Ring of thorns.]

[You’ve earned Slayer Mark #1433: Mark of Aceso.]

[Due to overexertion, OB-126 ⟨Fortune Wheel⟩ will be entering a comatose state.]

[Time remaining in inactive state: 3 days: 23 hours: 59 minutes: 58 seconds]

[Due to the player’s inventory being sealed, all items will be auto-equipped in their respective slots.]

Just like that, the blindfold replaced the bandages, a ring appeared on the index finger of his right hand, while a strange tattoo formed on the back side of his left arm. (click here to see the mark).

Instead of the line-art of the stick, strange golden lines filled his vision. Zaen reacted to grab the two brightest lines, and the next thing he knew, he caught Karloff’s arms.

"You can see!?" Karloff asked, surprised by how Zaen intercepted him.

Zaen didn’t bother answering the obvious. He used his entire strength to grip Karloff’s arms tightly and lifted the latter off the ground. The entire brood colony was taken aback by the display of strength.

Before Karloff could try anything, Zaen twisted his arms, flipped him over his shoulder, and slammed him into the ground. The sound of cracking bones echoed inside the basement level, but Karloff’s expression didn’t change to show any pain.

Zaen would have hesitated and checked on his condition if he didn’t already know that Karloff had been completely consumed by the Broods. The one before him had died long ago.

"Then let’s send you off with a bang," Zaen smiled, tightening his grip.

Veins bulged all over his arms and face as he kept applying more pressure on Karloff’s arms. Zaen’s fingers broke through the skin and muscle of Karloff’s arms, but he didn’t stop pulling.

Karloff tried getting up, only for Zaen to slam his foot on his chest to keep him in place. Also, because he needed some leverage to do what he wanted.

Barely a second had passed when the sound of tearing flesh and cracking bones was all one could hear in the basement.

"YARGH!"

With a final pull, Zaen ripped both his arms as his feet crushed whatever remained of the man’s chest.

[Infected Broodling killed! Exp +250]

[Exp: 395/26,000]

Once again, a dozen worms shot out from Karloff’s body, only to be absorbed by Zaen to recover the minuscule amount of damage Karloff’s punch had done.

But the possessed weren’t mourning for the loss of their kin. Their eyes were fixed on the severed limbs that were held by Zaen like they were blades, only to turn into crowbars the next second.

He slammed the crowbars against one another and smiled.

"Let’s open you up, shall we?"