Diaman walked out of the school compound. Most of the students had returned home or were in their hostels, keeping the compound clear. He paused for a moment, feeling someone's eyes on him. Looking at his class block, he could see Shira watching him from the window.
"Bye." He waved at him.
Shira waved back before walking away from the window.
Shira had suggested MrSan test Diaman's power in a dungeon. But that wouldn't be even possible since Diaman hasn't gotten his carness. So, Diaman had to come back tomorrow for his test properly.
Finally, Diaman's first day at Toven Academy was over.
He had made a friend, and a rebellious one. And learnt a little about the school.
And more importantly, created his first parasite.
Diaman's shoulders sagged as he continued his walk back home.
The bus at this time was sardined—he couldn't move without bumping into someone, and no matter where he kept his foot, it got stepped on. It was five in the evening. Most people had already closed from work.
'It's exhausting.'
*Click*
[IMPRESSIVE USE OF PARASITE CREATION.]
"Well, that was the only thing I could think of."
[BONUS REWARD AVAILABLE.]
'Thanks. What is it?'
[LOADING...]
Suddenly the bus jolted to a stop. Most people lost their stamina and staggered, but Diaman held his stand firm.
The passengers on board began cursing the driver for his reckless driving, ignorant of what was in front of the bus.
'What's that?'
Diaman could see a blue light coming from the driver's seat, but since he was at the other end of the bus, he wasn't sure what it was.
'Is this the bonus?'
"Excuse me. Excuse me."
He began pushing forward, navigating the standing crowd. Getting closer to the light, he noticed people's features shifted.
Fear, visible in their faces. The bus tire revved as it began reversing, but it felt like it was still on a spot.
Diaman reached the driver's seat and his eyes widened. 'What's that? A gate?'
Right before the bus was a huge dungeon gate that sucked the bus into it.
'This gate shouldn't even be here. Shira mentioned that only Players with Carness can summon gates and dungeons. So who opened this? Or is this a natural occurrence?'
[NATURAL SSS RANK GATES ARE RARE]
[USUALLY SUMMONED BY HIGH-RANK PLAYERS]
[THIS GATE: SUMMONED BY SYSTEM FOR ENTERTAINMENT]
[YOUR BONUS.]
'This isn't a bonus!'
[SSS RANK GATE: DIMENSION DEVIL ANGELS]
[CONTAINS: HIGH RANK BEASTS, POWER STONES AND DEVILISH HOARDS OF ANGELS...]
'But why now... I'm on a bus. Wait!Diaman panicked as he looked around to see the innocent lives about to be dragged into a SSS Rank dungeon.
[GREAT! WITH HUMAN LIVES ON THE LINE, THE STAKES ARE HIGH.]
[HIGHER STAKES = BETTER ENTERTAINMENT.]
'How can you play with human lives?'
[HOST CAN ALSO DISREGARD THE HUMAN LIVES.]
[THEREFORE BEING MORALLY GRAY, WHICH IS ALSO ENTERTAINING.]
'I'm not doing that.' Diaman looked around, seeing the fear in the people's face. 'I can't let them die. I'm not taking them with me either.'
'I can pull the bus from entering the gate, but... with the number of people around, it will expose me. I know what I need.'
'PARASITE LAB, ENGAGE.'
[PARASITE LAB LOADING.....]
[ENGAGED]
[PARASITE TYPE.]
'Ectoparasite.'
[...]
[PARASITE FORM.]
'Flat, oval-shaped, porous. Dry skin.'
[...]
[DEFINE ABILITY]
'When latched onto my face, it will help hide my identity. By shape shifting my features and changing my voice. It can't be removed until I want it to. And should leave no damage when removed.'
[LOADING...]
*Click*
[COMPLETE.]
[PARASITE CREATED]
[THE CARAPACE VEIL ]
'Good.' Diaman raised his palm and slowly the Carapace Veil formed in his palm.
He took a deep breath and placed it on his face.
[THE CARAPACE VEIL ACTIVATED!]
The feeling was odd as his face changed and took a new form. Most of the people didn't realize it because they were focused on breaking the windows or doors to jump out, but the windows or doors budged.
'It looks like the system reinforced the doors. But can it hold the strength of an SSS rank?'
"Move!" Diaman ordered. The mask made his voice sound guttural.
A female passenger turned around and saw Diaman's face. She gasped and immediately shifted aside. Diaman didn't mind—he had seen a little reflection of himself on the window. His face was smooth and without features like a mannequin.
The rest noticed too and parted the way.
With no one left at the door, Diaman took some steps back, giving himself more space to run.
He dashed with speed. His boots carved into the bus floor. He crashed his shoulder into the door. It shattered open, the door sent flying.
"Quick, jump off now."
A man pushed others aside as he attempted to get off the bus first.
But something else happened. The dungeon gate shot out an energy substance that coated the bus, blocking his way out.
He slammed into the energy wall, but it was useless. "Get me out! Please, I have a family." The man cried as he banged the blue transparent wall.
Diaman looked into the man's eyes. He could see tears gathering. It made him feel sad, knowing their lives were being toyed with because of him.
"Move back." He warned, then punched the wall. Nothing. He tried again, but the same result.
'I can't keep punching the wall. I need something else. I only got one parasite active. I can create another one that can penetrate it.'
"Parasite—"
Before Diaman could finish his sentence, the bus jerked and the gate pulled the bus halfway in. It was so fast that before Diaman noticed or could hold the bus from entering forward, it was already halfway in the gate.
Tsk.
[HOST IS SMART]
[SYSTEM IS SMARTER. *wink*]
'Stop winking at me.' Diaman grunted. He planted his foot to the ground, forming a crater on the road. His fingers dug into the bus as he gripped onto it like his life depended on it.
His arm was buffed , ripping his uniform sleeves.
'I'm not going to put them in danger.'
Step by step, he moved backwards, pulling the bus out of the gate.
People around the street pulled out their phones, videoing the masked kid in Toven's uniform fighting the force of a possibly SSS RANK GATE.
They murmured. Some cheered him on.
Diaman continued, finally pulling the head of the bus from the gate.
'Yes, I did—'
[HOST IS STRONG]
[SYSTEM IS STRONGER]
'Oh no.'
The gate pulsed, grew stronger, and before Diaman could react to what was coming, the gate sucked the bus and Diaman inside like it was nothing.