As Alex thought of the command, it clicked.
[Yes!]
[Quest Accepted!]
[Time Limit: 00:25:00]
He began walking towards the three of them, mysteriously. More texts began to appear, ones that intrigued Alex.
-------------------------------
[Ability Shop Unlocked!]
[Refreshes: 24:00:00]
[Coins Received Upon Obtaining Victor's Contract]
[Amount Remaining: 100 Coins]
[C = Coins]
[Refresh Rolls Remaining: 2]
[Speed Boost: 10 C] → [Common]
[Description: Temporarily increases the user's movement speed and reaction time for a short duration in comparison with an E-Rank]
[Beast Sense: 20 C] → [Uncommon]
[Description: Allows the user to detect nearby beasts and instinctively gauge their danger level within a 50-meter radius]
[Fear Aura: 40 C] → [Rare]
[Description: Emits a terrifying presence that weakens enemies and instils instinctive fear towards individuals that are C-Rank or below]
-------------------------------
Alex thought about it for a quick second, then decided to reroll. He was hoping for something more effective, a better rarity maybe, using only the two remaining he has.
towards individuals that are C-Rank or below]
-------------------------------
[Refreshes: 24:00:00]
[Rolls Remaining: 1]
[Quick Heal: 10 C] → [Common]
[Description: Heals 30% of the user's health once activated]
[Shadow Step: 40 C] → [Rare]
[Description: Instantly teleport a short distance (5 meters) through shadows, leaving no physical trace behind]
[Life Detection: 40 C] → [Rare]
[Description: Reveals the location of all living beings within a 100-meter radius]
-------------------------------
Alex liked the descriptions they proposed, but something in his will, wanted to continue gambling.
"A gamble," Alex sneered, "I like that."
-------------------------------
[Refreshes: 24:00:00]
[Rolls Remaining: 0]
[Hypnotise: 80 C] → [Epic]
[Description: Forces any Beast C-Rank or below into temporary mental submission and obedience.]
[Mind Tweak: 100 C] → [Legendary]
[Description: Allows subtle manipulation of a target's thoughts, emotions, or memories without them realising, not only applies to both the individual and beast]
[Restraint: Will only function towards individuals who are A-Rank or below]
[Strength Boost: 10 C] → [Common]
[Description: Temporarily increases the user's physical power and attack force to E-Rank]
[Choose Wisely]
-------------------------------
Alex tapped his jaw, "A legendary ability can also affect the user, compared to the others, which only function against Beasts." He sneered, "But it involves a restraint where the beasts have to be of a certain rank."
He thought about it closely, "It's almost like the beast and the individual have a connected soul." Without much thought, he decided to pick the legendary ability.
-------------------------------
[Ability Received!]
[Uses: 1]
└ Once used, you can never obtain that same ability again unless you get lucky with it popping up in the shop again
[Coins Remaining: 0]
[Abilities Info]
└ Abilities will only function once]
[Ability: Mind Tweak]
└ Mind Tweak: Compliance Towards The User
[Effect: Obedience]
[Usage]
└ Only works if the opponent is A-Rank or lower
-------------------------------
Alex continued to walk forward, "Good, this'll apply to him."
He stopped moving. Not because he was scared, but because he was choosing his target.
A bit in front, Miro was laughing. The others were too distracted to notice Alex standing only a few meters away.
The snow continued to fall. The dark sky covered Alex's silhouette, like a true Demon.
Even though Alex felt the cold breeze and the snowflakes fall flat on his hair, he obliviously continued, in sight of his quest. The other three had comfortable pieces of clothes and armour on, enough to handle the outside at this hour.
"I hate people who are loud." Alex muttered, "Miro Crowe, I hate your entire family."
-------------------------------
[Target Successfully Locked: Miro Crowe]
[Miro Crowe's Beast: White Fang Serpent]
[Beast Rank]
└ S-Rank
[Individual Rank]
└ C-Rank
[Condition Available]
-------------------------------
"Your family," he added, "Is the problem."
Since Alex was on a quest, he remembered, he wouldn't be able to hear Victor's voice until completion.
[Condition: Do not speak with and about Cassie or return to the establishment unless the user grants otherwise]
[Penalty: Death]
[Ability Activated]
And just then, Miro looked around, almost like he had felt something. It was the same uneasy feeling he got when Miro first tried crawling his hands through Cassie's chest.
His smile froze; he felt something cold wrap around his heart.
"W-what…"
Alex stepped forward once, just enough for Alex's shadow to touch on Miro's boots.
"You don't remember Cassie, and Cassie doesn't know you," he murmured, "You don't interact with her, and she will do the same as you."
Miro's eyes widened, and for the first time, in a long while, a noble like himself, one who came from the Crowe family, felt fear.
"M-Miro?" One of them asked, seeing how he stood there, shaken by this uneasy feeling that came from Alex.
Miro raised his hand violently, "d-don't talk."
Each of them froze; none of them had the willpower to summon their respective beasts. Even if they did, how would that have helped them in this situation?
Alex leaned closer into his ear, and Miro trembled.
"You threaten her again," he whispered, "your heart stops."
"You say her name again," his grin widened, "you die."
"You step inside the restaurant," Alex continued, "you perish."
"Say what happened today to anybody else," His eyes venemously stretched outwards, "I'll kill you myself."
"Never come in contact with her again, you understand?"
Miro shook as he tried to breathe, "Y-yes."
"Just make sure to relay this message on to Cassie," Alex paused, "I never want to see your face again."
For some reason, Miro was forced to comply. He felt as though his heart might shatter if he didn't. No one had time to summon beasts, or maybe, they couldn't. It felt more like a law than an ability.
[Bounded Successfully!]
[Effect: Absolute Obedience]
Alex then stepped back, his gaze piercing through Miro's soul.
Miro rattled, breathing hard, sweat pouring from his face like the snow above.
"L-let's leave." Miro declared, averting his gaze.
One of them frowned, "But you said-"
"NOW."
They didn't argue; both of them collectively nodded and decided to follow.
Alex watched their silhouettes disappear into the vast darkness as they walked in the direction of the Inn.
-------------------------------
[Quest Completed!]
[Rewards Unlocked!]
└ User is now capable of levelling up!
-------------------------------
[Current Level]
[Level 1]
[EXP: 0/100]
[Personal Rank]
└ F-Rank
[Tamer Rank]
└ Unidentified
[Hp: 100/100]
[DE: 0]
└ Demon Energy
[Fatigue: 0]
[State: Slightly Well]
[No System Points! Go On Quests To Earn Some!]
[Stats]
└ STR: F [●○○○○] → +
└ DEF: F [●○○○○] → +
└ AGI: F [●○○○○] → +
└ INT: F [●○○○○] → +
└ CHARM: F [●○○○○] → +
[DP: 0]
└ Demon Points
[Skills]
└ None
[Abilities Used]
└ 1 → Mind Tweak
└ Chance of receiving [Mind Tweak] ability again in the [Ability shop] has drastically decreased by 50%!
-------------------------------
"Well done, Alex." Victor's voice ran through his head once more, "Exactly what they needed."
"This just made me realise," Alex began walking back into the Inn, "How much I love instilling fear into people I despise."