Kieran immediately noticed that the Vengeful Soul Trait increased from 9.81% to 10.01%. While a .20% increase may seem inconsequential, it was enough to make substantial changes.
The first modification was this new combat system Kieran gained. While the effects were extremely vague and didn't deliver some essential information, Kieran understood its gist more or less.
'It's a system triggered when enemies target me. It's essentially an addition to Retaliatory Sense that increases its worth and practicality,' Kieran noted.
As for finding out the effects of Prey, Hunt, and Predator Hunt, that would have to wait until he went up against enough foes at once to activate the Revenge Predator Combat System.
After cleaning up the battlefield, Kieran and Altair returned to the city's gates but were immediately given dubious looks.
The guards narrowed their eyes and scrutinized the two. "You two carry a pungent smell of blood. You're not here to cause trouble, right?"
"Not at all. There was just an issue that required immediate resolution, and we did just that—resolved the issue. I pledge against my knight's name that we are not here to raise trouble," Kieran said.
Even after recognizing Kieran and Altair's reputable honor, the guards remained doubtful, but their expressions lightened over time. After all, they had just learned of Jackson's offense. Probity seemed to be empty these days.
"As you say, sir. Welcome to Aeredale City," the lead guard nodded before returning to an eased position.
"You were right!" Altair whispered. The guards didn't prohibit our entry despite our Third Degree Infamy, which seemed related to our identity as Knight-level individuals.
"Knowledge is important. It's important to research the advantages of any benefit you receive. World Fame has countless uses meant to save your ass and neutralize unforeseen circumstances outside your control," Kieran said.
However, as he walked through the gates, he was ultimately stopped by an inadvertently familiar face. The mature beauty—Ezra, the Scarlet Eclipsing Blade, appeared before Kieran with an anxious expression.
Kieran noticed this expression and told Altair to continue without him.
Once it was just them, Ezra formally introduced herself. "It isn't official yet, but I would like to extend a formal greeting. I am Ezra, Guild Master of Eclipse."
"I know who you are. How can I not? You're quite famous," Kieran remarked.
Ezra wasn't surprised by Kieran's response. However, she was surprised by his demeanor. After watching that gory ordeal, Ezra felt Kieran was most likely a crude person.
"Ah, yes. I suppose that's right. But, I can't help but fail to understand how someone as talented as you has gone unknown. Is this your first VR title?" Ezra questioned.
At the same time, she gestured toward a nearby restaurant. "Would you like to join me for a drink?"
Considering food and beverages had become essential, Kieran would be a fool to decline this offer after expending a hefty amount of Stamina.
Blood Mania's activation seemed to consume an outrageous amount of Satiety as it plunged into the lower yellow spectrum, threatening to decline even further to the orange zone.
"I'll take you up on that offer. But, I can't help but feel you have other matters on your mind as well," Kieran replied.
Kieran followed Ezra into one of Aeredale City's reputed restaurants—The Savory Palace. The meals were expensive, costing Silver rather than Copper, but both of these individuals could afford the expenditure.
"So, what is it?" Kieran suddenly asked after placing an order.
"Your skill," Ezra spoke directly. "It's worlds above normal elites. And those skills you unleashed, what are they powered by? It seems like blood."
"That's because it is." Kieran didn't mince his words, answering directly.
Ezra didn't mind his direct way of speaking, but the fact she felt as if their familiarity wasn't budging made her frown. She folded her hands and crossed her legs under the table.
"I wanted to know if you'd accept an offer if Eclipse presented you with one," Ezra asked.
Kieran looked at her in silence for a few seconds, which produced an awkward atmosphere. Kieran continued to smolder Ezra with his eyes until she finally averted her gaze, earning Kieran's faint smirk.
"Is there something wrong, Ms. Scarlet Eclipsing Blade? I'm just testing to see how genuine you are," Kieran spoke lightheartedly but clasped his hands and leaned forward.
"This offer you speak of—it's an invitation to join you, is it not?"
"It is. If you're interested, I'll personally catapult you to Core Member Status, and we'll spare no effort with your training, even supplying you with X-hancers. If you're unfamiliar with X-hancers, they're a state-of-the-art medicine designed to improve us," Ezra revealed.
Kieran narrowed his eyes as they swept across Ezra's body and face, analyzing every piece of body language that surfaced. "X-hancers, was it? They seem like a pretty neat bonus. But I'll have to decline. I have no desire to join any guild."
"Then, does that mean you'll attempt to create your own?"
A tinge of worry flashed in Ezra's eyes because she had seen many brilliant rising stars fall because of their obstinate demeanor. Talent didn't equate to power. If a powerful entity viewed a rising star as a threat, it was likely they'd be dealt with before they could become a concern.
"Perhaps."
"You should reconsider!" Ezra exclaimed loudly. It was almost loud enough to cause a scene. However, the other visitors didn't seem to mind the conversation or Ezra's mild outburst.
"Why is that?" Kieran asked, feigning obliviousness. He knew the reason very well. After all, it was spoken to him just before he died.
"Those who become interested in you won't be limited to first-class guilds. Your actions will soon attract the attention of Overlord and Behemoth guilds, especially once they dissect your combat."
"Oh? Kieran's eyebrow rose with interest. "Did something stand out to you?"
"Yes. This—"
Ezra swiped her hand, sending a screen before Kieran's. It was footage of his fight. However, it was slowed down, annotated, and zoomed in to highlight important moments.
Kieran looked back at Ezra after watching the entire thing. "The way I fight?"
"Precisely the technique you employed to make an unspoken statement. Anyone at my level or beyond will understand its meaning—I am an expert. Those are movements displayed when you want to announce your presence."
"So what if I do?" Kieran countered. There was a reason he chose this battle to reveal his possession of heightened combat abilities—to make allies. Because she was here, Kieran had to do something that would attract Ezra's attention.
After all, there's a reason Ezra was known as the Scarlet Eclipsing Blade. The title came from how blood from her sword splattered and blotted out the sun from the right angle, but it also had to do with her Eclipsing Sword Style, which used two slender blades to execute a tricky attack pattern.
"Someone experts don't take this kind of display of grandeur lightly. They'll want to challenge you and exert their dominance. Similarly, established organizations won't appreciate you declining their offer only to create your own," Ezra said.
She sighed when she thought about the bleak path Kieran wanted to walk upon.
"I've heard this all before," Kieran indifferently shrugged Ezra's caution aside.
"Then, this isn't your first VR game title?"
"You can say that," Kieran responded vaguely.
"What was your name, if you don't mind me asking? Perhaps you aren't a rising expert, but a returning one."
However, Kieran shook his head. "You wouldn't know."
He was correct. The odds of Ezra knowing a name from the future and possibly even a parallel future was zero!
"Well, if you won't accept the offer extended to you, then at least take my advice. Tread carefully because there are problematic days ahead of you."
"What about you? Will you be present during those troubling days?"
Kieran's question resulted in Ezra's furrowing her brows. Not because she didn't like the question, but because she didn't understand what he meant by asking this.
"Before you make the wrong assumption, I'm asking whether you will be part of the many who try to suppress me." While asking this question, Kieran's gaze was indifferent, neither imposing nor servile.
"I recall my days of growth, and I have my morals. There is no reason for me to stifle someone's growth in such a vast world. There are more than enough opportunities to go around. However, that doesn't mean I'll shy away from any challenge or ignore any opportunity. Everything is fair game at the end of the day."
Kieran smiled after listening to her response. Even if Ezra didn't explicitly say she was willing to ally with him, it was enough that she wouldn't suppress him.
Throughout their conversation, the food arrived, and both Kieran and Ezra ate while continuing to talk. Kieran eventually brought up the fact that she wasn't from this kingdom.
"How did you know that?" Ezra asked with a complex expression. Part of her feared she was being stalked! After all, it wouldn't be the first time she experienced an invasion of privacy.
"That day when we met eyes, and I avoided you, you were coming from the Teleportation Hall's direction. It's easy to understand why," Kieran answered.
Afterward, he wiped his face with a napkin and set the empty plate aside.
"I knew when I first saw you that you'd be dangerous. To think you could escape my notice that easily. That isn't something accomplishable by everyone."
〈System: You have received a friend request from Lv.32 Sword Master, Ezra.〉
'Sword Master?' Kieran's eyes widened when looking at Ezra's class. This class was undoubtedly a step above typical Swordsmen and could only be bestowed by the master of the sword.
Kieran accepted the friend request, which revealed information on himself as well.
"True Berserker… So when you said you'd show those Berserkers a true display—"
"I truly meant it," Kieran interjected.
The desire to befriend this young man before her became more apparent in Ezra's mind. Unusual classes were a sign of unnatural skill that warranted special treatment.
"Perhaps we can become allies in the future. Call me if you ever need an addition or assistance," Kieran said before standing up from the table. He had idled long enough to make some progress with Ezra.
Forming a relationship wasn't something that would happen overnight. It took time, experience, and most of all, trust.
