Chapter 652: The one they call the Butcher [2]

’Nodal degradation.’

The details inside the files were still vivid in my mind.

’The process of a node sustaining more and more fractures. By fracturing a node beyond its structural threshold, the point at which regenerative stabilization became computationally impossible, a byproduct known as a Cognitive Shard is produced.’

It was hard to forget the information when it was so interesting.

’By fracturing a node beyond its structural threshold, the point at which regenerative stabilization becomes computationally impossible, a byproduct known as a Cognitive Shard is produced. The resulting destabilization creates a transient breach in the node’s containment field, through which excess energy can be introduced and rapidly assimilated. If the energy injection is sustained within the correct parameters, the cascading reaction will coalesce into a self-sustaining anomalous entity.’

In other words, an anomaly could be artificially created through nodal degradation, and that was exactly what this "fan" of mine had been planning to do. The file contained everything.

His Decree, his plans, the exact location of where he lived, and even the exact times when he used a specific time to ’spy’ on me.

I knew everything about him...

Johnattan Banker.

That was what his real name was. Not the nonsense that he was currently using.

He was also a man with many flaws, such as his obsession with order and control. The moment someone stripped him of that control, he’d start to go on tilt. I knew... every little thing about him.

There was nothing that I didn’t know.

From the moment I had gotten my hands on his information, he had already lost control.

The original plan was to mess with him through such information.

But that was when I came to learn of something else.

’I guess I’ll have to thank you when I see you again, Mr. King.’

There was some additional information in the files. One regarding a certain ’Cedrick’ whose real name was ’Osvald Marlon’. Just like me, he was targeting the Team Leader. That was also the moment I came to learn about this other organization.

In a way, I did feel a little bit of regret.

’Perhaps, things would’ve been a bit easier if I had asked about them.’

But back then, I wasn’t aware of them. And even if I had been, I probably wouldn’t have changed my wish. This ’Cedrick’ was more than enough.

He was more than enough for me to send a message.

"How is it not working...?"

His voice whispered in the air as I looked back at him.

Seeing the surprise spread across his soft features, I felt my chest tingle. I wanted to move, but the massive eye behind me stopped me short as I felt a noticeable shift in it. Its size grew, swelling in the dark, and the weight pressing around my body deepened, tightening just enough to make it hard to breathe.

He was starting to put more force.

But⎯

I knew everything that there was to know about him and his Decree.

’Warden Decree, just like Mirelle. Just that he seems to have taken a different path within that Decree. Not that it matters...’

Since I was aware, I knew how to handle it.

He could stop me, but not my anomalies. I didn’t control them like the Team Leader. They operated independently of me.

It was for this reason that his actions were useless.

His mistake was targeting me, and not my anomalies. But even if he did target them, it wouldn’t matter. I had already taken everything into account.

There was nothing that he could do to change the situation.

SPURT!

The surprise on Cedrick’s face only deepened as blood splattered across the ground. I didn’t need to look to know what was happening. The bloodlust in the air intensified as I raised my head slightly, taking in the iron-like scent that hung thick and heavy around me.

’Yeah, just a little bit more.’

The eye behind me shifted, and the air grew even heavier.

It was hard for me to remain standing.

But that only made me smile.

By now, it was clear to me that I wasn’t right in the head. It wasn’t that I was fundamentally broken or anything of the sort... I was just like this from the start.

This was the true me.

I had never realized it before, since I had always been a coward. Perhaps it was due to the disease that had plagued me since I was young that my ’true’ personality had never gotten to shine. However, with everything I had experienced, and the fear growing weaker with each passing moment, that hidden side of me began to shine more and more.

I...

...Just fundamentally enjoyed taking things to the extreme and making sure I left an impression. In this case, there were several other ideas that had entered my head to sort out the entire situation.

But when I thought about all of them, there was only one that truly stuck with me.

There was only one... that I could go for.

SPURT!

As blood spurted all over the ground, belonging to one of the anomalies the Team Leader had tried to develop, I could feel the weight of the knife growing even further. My entire mind tingled at the sight of it as the Realmwalker continued to stab at each new anomaly.

And when I turned my attention back to the Team Leader and Cedrick, I could see that they had also begun to realize the gravity of the situation.

Especially when I read their words⎯

"Don’t do it."

There was a trace of alarm in his voice.

"If you take that knife, you’re⎯"

"Too late~"

I reached out with my right hand, and a figure appeared as a knife fell into my grasp. The moment my hand came into contact with it, my entire vision turned dark red as voices began to whisper in my mind.

’Ho, it charged quite well.’

Thinking about it, the number of anomalies the Team Leader had prepared was quite a lot. Not only that, but they were all of a high grade. In a way, they were the perfect nourishment for the knife.

But there was an issue⎯

Perhaps, they were a little too good nutrition.

"⎯!!"

Cra Crack! Cra Crack!

Faint, yet unmistakable cracking sounds began to echo from deep within my body as I felt several of my bones shatter under the massive strain. The power within the knife was far greater than I had originally anticipated, my body bearing the full brunt of it, as witnessed by my hand bending at a weird angle.

Crack⎯!

The pain was hard to describe.

It felt as though I had fallen from the top of a skyscraper, smashing into the ground at full speed, only to be pulled back up and dropped again.

My mind also grew number number.

But within the numbness, I started to see beyond the red that colored my vision. I began to notice red dots everywhere. From the weaknesses in the structure of the house around me to the flaws in the two people who stood before me, moving as if to stop me before it was too late.

But it was already too late.

There was no point in stopping me.

For even I couldn’t stop myself.

CRACK!