Sinner System

Chapter 716: Chapter 716: Cleo vs Mutants (Part 1)

Point-of-View: Cleo Nova

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"Alright, this is as far as I can take you, Miss Cleo. It’s about half a kilometer ahead."

"Got it. Thank you," I nodded, speaking a bit slower than usual and carefully enunciating, to avoid stuttering.

I hopped out of the vehicle, making sure to keep my Aura suppressed to its absolute limit, before making my way forward.

Today’s the 15th of April, 2172, it’s been close to a month since we cleared the Gods’ trial and returned to our lives. A few days ago, the HUC reached out to each of us X-Aces, requesting that we take on some Quests that have been pending for a while, since there was no one strong enough to take them on.

So, Kai, Ariella, Ciel, Jaden and I had each been deployed on solo Quests. While Kavi and Baraqiel are also above X-Ace level, the latter very comfortably so, the HUC decided to refrain from involving them until they decide to register as official Hunters.

They won’t need to go through the Academy, since Kavi is already very skilled and Kai told the HUC that Baraqiel should be ready to work as a Hunter with a bit of training. So, exceptions will be granted for both of them.

That’s pretty encouraging...the HUC could’ve easily suggested fast-tracking them into becoming Hunters. The fact that they didn’t must mean that the current situation isn’t urgent.

Anyway, I was currently several kilometers to the north of Sanctuary Eta, in what used to be India. Technically, it’s my first time here in this timeline...but in my own experience, I was here not long ago, this is where we fought Baraqiel.

There’s a pack of dangerous Mutants that the HUC wants eliminated, the creatures have made their home by a large rock formation in this area. A couple of parties of Aces and K-Ranks were deployed to deal with it previously, but they failed, most of those Hunters dying and the rest barely escaping.

After the second party was defeated, the HUC decided to shelve the Quest instead of send more Hunters to their deaths. But now that we’re back, they can get this Quest, along with others that have been set aside, cleared.

Mutants go into a frenzy when they sense Mana, and since suppressing our Auras naturally isn’t possible, the HUC’s research division created a device for that. A Suppression Ring, which hides the wearer’s Aura, making it impossible for Mutants to detect our Mana unless they get real close.

Alright, time to focus up, I see the rock formation up ahead, I’m almost there. And sure enough, the pack of Mutants are there, I see a few and I can sense plenty more.

I let out a slow exhale as I approached the rock formation, most of the Mutants asleep. Killer Komodos, a Critical Level species. In other words, individually, they’re each about on par with an Ace-level Hunter.

That said, the problem is their sheer number, they’ve multiplied exponentially. According to the HUC, there are over a hundred of them in this area, and they’re only continuing to grow.

They’re large reptile creatures with thick, leathery dark gray skin. They have short, straight black horns on their heads, and a row of curved spikes down the middle of their backs and along the lengths of their tails.

They have venomous bites that rot flesh and inject a toxin that prevents blood coagulation, which keeps wounds from drying up. But since I can regenerate and have Status Effect Immunity, that isn’t a concern to me.

Now, then...

"Here goes. <Spirit Fusion, Atomiguana: Nuke>!" I chanted, taking off the Suppression Ring and unleashing my Aura as a burst of energy erupted around me.

Black scales spread out over my entire body, several cracks appearing across the scales, a deep blue hue glowing out through the cracks. Wings and a tail extended out as my teeth and nails curved and sharpened into claws and fangs.

I narrowed my eyes as the snoozing Killer Komodos jolted awake, their attention snapping towards me, right before dozens of the creatures came charging towards me with vicious snarls. Oh, they’re faster than I expected.

"Now, <Spirit Art: Atomic Surge>!" I roared, my power surging further, the glow shining out through the cracks in my scales intensifying sharply as my body got cloaked in nuclear energy.

I then took a powerful step forward and snapped my jaws open, unleashing a devastating wave of destructive nuclear energy, sending it barreling towards the Mutants with immense force.

The wave of energy expanded sharply as it roared forward, engulfing dozens of the Killer Komodos before they could react. A loud crash rang out as the wave crashed onto the rock formation ahead and drilled through, obliterating most of it, what was left of the entire formation collapsing into a large pile of rocks.

As my attack petered out and the energy began to dissipate, thick clouds of dust rose up as I sensed the remaining Mutants spreading out. Huh, they’re not running away...so, it’s true, human Mana sends Mutants into a frenzy.

The way they’ve spread out in such a coordinated manner, it suggests a decent level of intelligence among these creatures. They must know that they’re up against a serious threat...but their attraction to human Mana is overriding their survival instincts.

Still, they’re able to think clearly enough that the ones that survived my opening attack are avoiding a blind, suicidal charge. They’re keeping their distance while they surround me, and now they’re steadily starting to creep in, keeping their distance.

My attack wiped out about a third of them, there are still plenty left, somewhere between sixty to seventy, I’d say. I then sensed several of the Killer Komodos that had slipped behind me rushing in, rapidly sprinting across the ground while avoiding bunching up together too much.

I spun around as they closed in on me, one of them lunging at my legs with its jaws wide open. I swiftly raised my foot and stomped it down on the Mutant’s head, its jaws snapping shut as I slammed it down and crushed its head against the ground, triggering an atomic burst upon impact, the force blowing away the others that had rushed in, several snarls ringing out as they got sent hurtling back through the air.

I then shifted my gaze around as dozens more of the Mutants shot in towards me from multiple directions. Alright, I think I’m adequately warmed up now, time to get serious...

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