After three hours of travel, Zac and Marty finally arrived in Maroon City.

"Where was that teleporter again?" Zac asked. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"I think it’s near the skyport we used when we came here for the exam."

"Right."

The two of them started walking toward the teleporter’s location.

[New information unlocked.]

"Again?"

[-30 Info Points.]

[The host is advised to leave the city as soon as possible. 15 hitmen are currently on their way to collect the host’s head.]

"Fifteen of them, huh? What’s the highest-ranked variant among them?"

[-20 Info Points.]

[The highest-ranked target is a C+ variant. All the others are C and C- level.]

"Hmmm..." After thinking for a moment, he turned to Marty. "Why don’t we grab some breakfast before continuing our journey?"

"That’s a great idea." As a certified food addict, Marty agreed instantly. The two then headed to an open-air restaurant and ordered breakfast.

"So, what happened?" Marty asked while stuffing his mouth with food.

"Nothing."

"We could’ve reached the outer perimeter of Central City in a few minutes. Instead, you suddenly decided we should stop and eat breakfast. There’s definitely a catch. Right?"

"My God, Marty. When did you become so smart?"

"Quit the sarcasm and tell me what’s going on."

"Okay. Promise me you won’t freak out."

"We’ve been followed."

"What? When?"

"Two people tailed us at the railway station in Mellow City. But I have already dealt with that."

"And now we’re about to be surrounded by a group of killers."

Marty nearly choked on his food. "So that’s why you went off on your own at the station."

"Wait. How do you know there are exactly fifteen people? And how did you even know we were being followed in the first place?"

"Well, unlike you, I actually pay attention to my surroundings."

[Liar.]

"So what are we going to do?" he asked with a tense expression.

"Most of them are C-ranks, and one of them is a C+ rank. We’ll find a secluded place to kill all of them, then continue to the teleporter."

"Are you serious? You said there’s a C+ among them, right? I just reached D-rank. How am I supposed to fight multiple C-rank killers?"

"You don’t have to." Zac took another bite of his breakfast. "Just stay alive. I’ll handle the killing."

"Are you sure? I’m literally putting my life on the line for you."

"Do I look like someone who does things without thinking?"

"Yes."

"...Okay, forget that, but trust me, I can handle it."

"Fine. But remember, I’m the only son for my parents; you have to keep me safe no matter what." Marty said funnily to reduce his pressure.

Once they finished eating, the two stood up and left the restaurant.

"System, find me a secluded place where their bodies won’t be discovered for at least a few days."

[-20 Info Points.]

[There is an abandoned warehouse approximately two miles east of your current location.]

"Got it."

Keeping their expressions casual, Zac and Marty began making their way toward the designated location.

Along the way, they occasionally stopped to browse a few shops, making it look as though they were simply sightseeing through the city.

Once they reached the abandoned warehouse, Zac walked straight to the entrance and broke the rusted lock with a single kick.

The metal chain snapped apart, and he stepped inside. Marty silently followed behind him with a confused expression.

The warehouse was enormous, with broken crates and rusted machinery scattered throughout the building. Sunlight leaked through the small holes in the roof, casting long shadows across the dusty floor.

Zac continued walking until he reached the center of the warehouse. He then turned toward the entrance and said,

"I know you’re all following me. Just come out so we can end this quickly. It’ll save us all some time." His voice echoed throughout the building.

After a few seconds, one figure after another began emerging from the shadows.

Marty’s face paled when he saw them. All of them radiated a heinous killing intent that gave him goosebumps.

A man who appeared to be in his thirties stepped forward and said, "When did you realize we were following you?"

"Right from the beginning."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah. You’re all kind of sloppy. You really need to work on your tracking skills."

Several hitmen frowned after hearing Zac’s words. The leader, however, laughed.

"When they told me I was hunting a newly awakened kid, I thought bringing all my men would be an overkill. But seeing how calm you are while facing death, you must have something up your sleeve, right?"

"Or is it just some dumb bravado?"

"I guess there’s only one way to find out." Saying that, Zac drew his sword from his inventory. At the same time, faint blue sparks began dancing across the blade.

The leader immediately shouted, "Kill him!"

The moment the order was given, four hitmen rushed forward at incredible speed. Unfortunately for them, they had underestimated Zac.

With a burst of lightning exploding beneath his feet, Zac vanished from where he stood. The next moment, the nearest hitman’s head rolled across the floor.

Before his body could collapse and the other hitmen could realize what had happened, thin lines appeared across the necks of two more hitmen.

The fourth one immediately tried to back away, but Zac didn’t give him the chance. He kicked him directly in the ribs.

The hitman rolled across the dusty floor like a ragdoll before crashing into a wall and slowly slid down with a punctured chest while blood seeped from his mouth.

[+4 killed]

[+1 level]

A small smile crept onto Zac’s face. "Nice."

[Phycho!]

Seeing how ruthless and powerful Zac was, the leader immediately shouted, "Spread out! He’s not normal at all!"

The remaining hitmen immediately obeyed and surrounded Zac from all directions. Zac once again disappeared from where he stood and appeared behind two hitmen.

A discharge of lightning surged through their bodies, frying them on the spot.

Seeing the situation getting worse and worse, the leader also joined the fray and attacked Zac with his machete.

Among the nine remaining hitmen, four were magic users, while the other five, including their leader, were weaponists.

While the five Weaponists fought on the front line, the four mages supported them from the back.

Whenever they saw an opening, they launched fireballs and ice shards at Zac. However, despite being outnumbered, Zac overwhelmed them with ease.

He maneuvered around all of their attacks while effortlessly dodging the magical projectiles.

"He’s playing with us!" one of the hitmen shouted. "Isn’t he supposed to be newly awakened?"

Overtaken by fear, two of the weaponists turned around and started running. Without them, the formation they had been maintaining immediately broke apart.

Zac used the opportunity to kill them and injured the leader. The remaining two weaponists also began running.

The leader looked at them and cursed. "Idiots!" Having already witnessed Zac’s speed, he knew there was no way they could outrun him.

Without any Weaponists left to fight on the front line, the mages felt completely vulnerable. Zac easily killed all four of them before walking toward the wounded leader.

The leader slowly stood up. "What are you?" he asked.

"You’re clearly not a newly awakened."

"I am indeed a newly awakened, just a little special."

"But that’s not possible."

The leader’s hands trembled. "I’ve been a Variant for more than fifteen years, and you’ve already become stronger than me. How is that possible? How is that fair?"

Zac looked him in the eyes.

"A drop of honey will always be denser than the whole ocean."

The leader clenched his teeth.

"I can’t accept that!" With a roar, he rushed toward Zac.

Zac slashed toward the man’s chest, but to his surprise, the leader managed to block it with his machete.

"What?" the leader asked with a grin. "Surprised? My strength increases every five minutes I’m in battle. Right now, I’m twice as strong as I was before."

"Hmm." Zac nodded. "That’s a good skill. But I have something better."

"Overdrive. 2x power."

Instantly, all of Zac’s abilities doubled. He swung his sword once again. The leader tried to block the attack.

But this time, Zac’s blade shattered the man’s machete and carved a massive slash across his body. The leader collapsed to the ground.

Zac slowly walked toward him. "Tell me who sent you."

"I don’t know," the man replied.

"I’ll spare your life if you tell me the truth."

"I really don’t know." The leader coughed up blood.

"We receive tasks through the black market. Once the job is done, the market gives us the reward. We never contact the clients directly."

"Quite unfortunate for you." Zac shook his head. With a single swing, the man’s head rolled across the floor.

Zac wiped the blood from his sword and stored it back in his inventory.

When he turned around to look for Marty, he found him standing near the entrance with a trembling body.

Fear and unfamiliarity filled his eyes as he looked at Zac. After a long moment of silence, Marty finally spoke.

"What have you become, Zac?"