The Hunted Regressor: My Heretic Saint System-Chapter 76: I Heard You
It came to reason that since he could benefit from the Souls of monsters in that way, Ignotus could do the same to humans. And yes, that explained the small jumps earlier, the House goons’ Soul Fragments coming through.
He hadn’t checked it in the chaos, but yeah, their Souls counted.
The system didn’t discriminate.
A grin formed on his face.
"Murder really does pay."
Still, since he wasn’t the one who actually killed the Acolyte, with the cave-in being the actual finishing blow, he wasn’t given all of the Soul Fragments. But thankfully...
’A hundred isn’t too bad.’
He got a fair amount, enough to increase his Ordination.
The ’Ordination-up’ washed through him like a wave.
All where there was pain quickly eased. Skin closed where it had split, and even bones were fixed, returning to their earlier state, ultimately stabilizing his breathing.
Ding!
’Hm?’
Something else came up.
—
╔═════════════╗
║QUEST COMPLETE!║
╚═════════════╝
[You Have Killed Both Targets!] 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
[You Have Stepped Closer To Divinity.]
[+ 5 STAT POINTS!]
—
’Right, the quest.’
It seemed he’d almost forgotten about it.
Even now, while experiencing this stat increase that had essentially come out of nowhere, Ignotus didn’t understand or even gain a glimpse at the description of its origin, Rule Breaker.
The Soul Glyph eluded him.
Anyhow, this was incredible, but that was about all the good news.
He didn’t have any more time to stay and look at his system.
Because again, this place, Hell’s crust, wasn’t meant for humans.
Especially not a Runebearer of his Class and his strength.
The reason why the air was so heavy was because it was filled with Corruption.
That was why his fall seemed eternal, despite it concluding in no more than five minutes.
Even Runebearers much stronger than him needed Divine Relics to come here, so-called Divine Masks.
They didn’t supply oxygen but rather transformed Corruption into Divinity.
He, of course, didn’t have one.
So yes, staying here wasn’t an option.
Unless he wanted to lose all of his Divinity and turn Hollow, he had to escape now.
"Alright..."
Far from panicked, Ignotus glanced around.
"Where’s the exit? Eris, help me out here."
He could feel her shake her head.
’I’ve never been here before...’
"Great."
’But... I think I might be able to guide you to the outer fissures.’
"Good enough."
He cracked his neck, brushed the dust off his clothes, and started walking.
His boots scraped against the black stone, each step echoing softly through the cavern.
Moving made him feel heavier, and every breath burned...
But he kept going, the act of giving up far from his mind.
’Ah.’
Only to suddenly pause.
His divine guide had paused as well.
Ignotus saw them.
Far ahead, moving between the pillars, were towering silhouettes.
Monstrous beings that spoke of incredible strength.
Cyclopses.
Each one was easily five meters tall, their bodies covered in rough, ashen skin.
Their single eyes glowed red, sweeping across the floor as they dragged chunks of bone.
"Yeah, no. I’m not fighting that."
Ignotus immediately shook his head, knowing what was impossible.
’You’ll have to go around them.’
Eris, of course, was of the same opinion.
"Or through. Preferably through."
’Ignotus!’
He chuckled.
"I’m kidding... mostly."
Ignotus crouched low, his body blending into the darkness.
He moved slowly and carefully, timing each step with the tremors in the ground.
One Cyclops passed close enough that he could see the veins in its one eye.
Another stopped to sniff the air.
Ignotus was so still he could hear his own pulse.
They were everywhere, and they were only increasing in number.
For a while, it worked, using what little cover the jagged terrain gave him.
He slipped between shadows, hugged walls, and hid under crumbled arches.
But after turning the second corner, he froze.
There was a whole cluster of the damned things.
Ten, maybe more, too close together to sneak through.
’Eris...’
He called for Her.
’I know.’
And She immediately picked up on it.
’They’re everywhere. You’ll have to improvise.’
His eyes scanned everything around him, and before a second could pass, he spotted one of the Cyclopes standing off to the side, its one eye closed... perhaps injured.
’Perfect.’
Quickly, he slid behind it, close enough to touch its leg.
The creature’s massive form blocked the light from the molten cracks, letting him move unseen while he matched its gait, keeping perfectly within the shadow it cast.
Around him, the other Cyclopes moved in unpredictable patterns that he barely matched; some lifted boulders, while others dragged chains that sparked against the black stone.
Step...
Step...
Step...
One wrong sound and he’d be torn apart. Even a pebble could give him away.
For long minutes, he stayed in sync, shadowing the giant as it lumbered past the others.
Sweat rolled down his face as the heat increased, becoming unbearable. And to make things worse, his lungs were screaming at the Corruption around him, begging for relief, his Divinity reserves reaching an all-time low.
Though it wasn’t entirely a lost cause.
Ignotus could almost see the edge of the clearing.
’Careful. It’s just a bit more—’
Ding!
—
╔═══════════════════╗
║NEW SOUL GLYPH ACQUIRED!║
╚═══════════════════╝
[Son of Lelantos (Upgradable)]
[Description: You are much harder to see in the dark.]
—
’...huh?’
Even Eris went silent.
’You... obtained a Soul Glyph from hiding?’
’Maybe I’m a natural?’
There wasn’t time to think about it.
It was time for him to slip out from behind it.
Matching its slow movements, he quickly dashed away.
When he was finally a fair distance from it, Ignotus exhaled hard and leaned on a rock.
’Never again.’
That was tough, his tunic clinging to his back with sweat being fair evidence of it.
’You did well.’
Eris complimented him softly.
’Yeah, well, let’s get out before I get turned into floor paint.’
Ignotus looked ahead.
’That’s the exit?’
The path opened up, the cavern stretching into a cracked tunnel.
’Yes.’
Eris nodded.
’Go straight through—’
"ᛂᛊᛪᛜᚸ ᚼᛜᚾ ᛃᛟᚬ ᛋᚻᚬᛟᚬ."
A deep rumble cut Her off.
No, it was a heavy voice.
And it originated from...
’Behind me?’
Directly behind him.
Ignotus slowly turned his head.
"I heard you."
A Cyclops stood there, towering above him, its single eye burning bright.
"Well..."
He stared up at it for a long moment, deadpan.
"...shit."
