Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Progressing Smoothly

As the elevator descended, the team headed for the -7th floor. Along the way, Lloyd finished his preparations.

First, he bit down on a small wooden stick to keep himself from speaking. Next, he inserted earplugs, blocking out all sound. Finally, he put on the metal mask, and his vision went completely dark, leaving only the Projections left by the Chief Judge.

The projected pocket watch was still ticking. Only 30 minutes remained.

Then, Lloyd wrapped the chain of the ’X’ shaped pendant around his left hand and clasped the pendant tightly in his palm.

His vision suddenly cleared, and he could see again.

However, everything was just a hazy, black-and-white outline, barely visible. Yet, he could see right through the elevator walls to the steel cables and moving gears outside.

This meant he had entered a special state of Spiritual Vision.

To be precise, he was sharing the Spiritual Vision of another Executor behind him.

This was the plan deployed by the Chief Judge: four Executioners would enter the cell unable to see, hear, or speak, responsible for carrying out the execution;

four Executors with prominent Rationality and inspiration would share their vision with them, three of whom were survivors of the previous library attack;

and the remaining four scholars would carry four Holy Artifacts from the Saint’s Favor Court—the contents of the silver briefcases—to help everyone stabilize their minds and resist the Spiritual Contamination.

It seemed like a meticulous plan, which only made one wonder: what kind of Demon required such a complex strategy to handle?

The whole thing made Lloyd wonder whether this trip was an opportunity or a massive risk...

As he was pondering this, he heard the voice of the Executor drift into his ears, striking up a conversation:

"Whew~ So tense... What was your name again? I think I saw you a few times at the library before?"

"Lloyd."

The two were communicating telepathically; no one else could hear them. Otherwise, with the wooden stick in his mouth, Lloyd wouldn’t have been able to speak at all.

"Alright, nice to meet you. I’m Aiden. Glad to be your partner... Have I told you about the new girlfriend I just got?"

Lloyd was left speechless by him...

’This partner... Isn’t he a bit too unreliable?’

It was true that some people used conversation to relieve stress when they were extremely nervous, and Lloyd could understand that.

’But who starts a conversation by talking about their new girlfriend?’

’Didn’t the Chief Judge hold me in high regard? Why would he assign me a partner like this?’

As he was complaining internally, the elevator jolted and came to a stop.

They had arrived at the -7th floor.

The lead scholar first stood in the elevator doorway, adjusted the monocle on his left eye, and after two seconds, nodded and said:

"The situation is relatively stable. The Orbit here is still effective. Let’s go. We need to deploy the Holy Artifacts first. We’re short on time."

As he spoke, he began repeatedly chanting, "Don’t overthink, Don’t Ask Too Much," and was the first to step out of the elevator.

Lloyd and the others followed close behind.

The moment he stepped inside, Lloyd felt an almost tangible wave of Spiritual Contamination wash over him. It felt like he had entered water; every movement of his hands and feet felt heavier.

Through the shared Spiritual Vision, he could even see two forces colliding and grinding against each other in the air. This must be the blessing of Shelter taking effect.

Furthermore, a continuous stream of notifications sounded in his ears:

[Ding! Madness Value +50]

[Ding! Madness Value +50]

It seemed the level of Spiritual Contamination in the air was comparable to when he fought the giant cicada of Danger Level 6.

But this time, it was being suppressed by the Orbit, blocked by Shelter, and they had a meticulous plan...

’Perhaps this is what a Danger Level 7 Demon is like?’

Lloyd then surveyed his surroundings through the other person’s Spiritual Vision.

The area was laid out as a large circular hall, not an ordinary corridor. In the very center sat a lump of something indescribable, with several cells arranged in a circle around it.

Lloyd didn’t know if it was due to the nature of the lumpy thing or the effect of the Spiritual Vision. In any case, he ransacked the memories of two lifetimes but still couldn’t find the right words to describe its shape. He couldn’t even think of a basic metaphor or anything to compare it to.

But this indescribable lump wasn’t his target; it was the core component of the Orbit here.

The four scholars, heads bowed, quickly ran to four sides of the lumpy object. They opened their silver briefcases and took out several syringes filled with a dark green fluid.

Then, they simultaneously plunged the syringes into the indescribable lump and slowly pushed the plungers, injecting the fluid bit by bit.

The notifications in Lloyd’s ears immediately changed:

[Ding! Madness Value +30]

The Spiritual Contamination in the air was weakening.

By the time the countdown approached the 16-minute mark, the notifications Lloyd received had dropped to increments of just +5.

This meant it was time for the Executioners to act.

Lloyd hurried toward Cell 704, his assigned target.

’There’s a humanoid creature imprisoned in here?’

Through his Spiritual Vision, Lloyd couldn’t make out any specific details. He could only see a black-and-white humanoid silhouette, kneeling on the ground with its head bowed, looking dejected.

As soon as it sensed someone enter, the humanoid creature quickly raised its head and spoke in a weak, hoarse voice:

"Finally... has the release I’ve longed for... arrived..."

’It’s actually speaking a human language?’

It even sounded distinctly impatient.

Even though Lloyd’s ears were tightly plugged, he still heard those words...

"Kill me... Whoever you are... Kill me, don’t hesitate... I can still buy you... 30 seconds..."

The kneeling figure continued, a trace of bitterness in its voice:

"No... you probably can’t hear what I’m saying..."

"But if... if you can hear me, and if you make it out of here alive, remember to go to 8 Champagne Avenue in the West City District. Find locker 611. It might just save your life..."

Lloyd listened in silence, not responding. He simply followed the Chief Judge’s plan, watched the countdown hit the 15-minute mark, then drew the ’flashlight’ he had just been issued and infused it with Spiritual Power.

A blade in the style of a stick-figure drawing instantly extended from the ’flashlight’.

Without hesitation, Lloyd swung the blade, cleanly slicing at the figure’s neck.

A head flew high into the air, and the remaining body collapsed limply to the ground.

Wasting no time, Lloyd delivered a few more cuts, then turned and left, staying within the allotted thirty seconds.

’Whew, everything went smoothly,’ he mused with relief.

But just as he was about to step out of the cell, his vision suddenly went black. He couldn’t even see the black-and-white images anymore.

Then, he heard a voice ask him to stay:

"Leaving... so soon?"

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