Frostfire Legacy

Aster couldn't dodge the matter, as he had given his word about doing what he could. As such, he had to speed up his plans by getting a non-transferable, encrypted, and protected copy of the file he was reading for his Holo tab.

Right after that, he also went down to the first floor underground and checked the taxidermied monsters there, along with some monsters' replicas, like slimes. After seeing every single variant up to the 30th floor's samples, he finally returned to the lobby, where someone was already waiting for him.

"You're done? Then let's go!" The one waiting for him, Vanessa, declared flatly as soon as she saw his figure. "I've already arranged our ride. Follow me."

Although Aster wasn't worried about his safety since Vanessa was given permission by the government—in short, approved by Mayor Magnus—he still couldn't help but worry about his "body."

"Where are we heading?" Aster asked.

Vanessa grabbed him, her twin peaks pressing tight against his arm as she replied. "To my lab, of course."

Although still slightly worried, Aster didn't resist as he was pulled toward the entrance. As they got out, a familiar face was waiting for them, with a familiar black car.

"You are... Mistelle, was it?" Aster confirmed this while grabbing the white scarf around his neck.

The elf woman smiled at him, her gold hair waving in the strong winds, damp and cold, a telltale sign that summer was ending and fall was approaching.

"So you remember me? That makes me happy." The elf, Mistelle, smiled sweetly. "Officer Mistelle Foress! Dispatched as the observer for Doctor Vanessa Ross's request duration." She saluted crisply, explaining her situation and introducing herself at the same time.

"Observer?" Aster repeated this before releasing a sigh of relief.

With a third party watching over Vanessa, the "risk" lessened greatly.

"I told them I didn't need someone to watch over me, but Magnus, that bastard, didn't listen," Vanessa grumbled. "His condition for approving my request was to let someone else watch over the proceedings of my sample gathering."

Aster nodded his head in understanding. This was a move made not only to ensure his safety but also to partially help clear up the cloud of mystery covering his Nameless Disease. Furthermore, whether or not this "research" succeeds, the government will still benefit from it.

After the short chat, the two got on the backseat, sitting side by side, as Mistelle sat over the driver's seat and started the car. Of course, she wasn't technically driving since the controls of the car were completely reliant on the Hivemind AI, which controls all traffic in the city.

Looking at the GPS on the dashboard, he could tell that their destination was a laboratory from a pharmaceutical company set near the hospital he frequents. The place was a mere three minutes away, so it didn't take too long before the three reached their destination.

The car moved to the slow lane before flying down, reaching the rooftop parking lot. As the car came to a stop, all three of them alighted from the car.

Aster looked around the almost empty parking lot, wondering if there was anyone else using this place.

"There's nobody here but guards." As if reading his mind, Vanessa spoke in a clear voice. "And their company vehicle usually parks on the underground lot, so nobody is using this place other than me."

"Really...?" Aster asked before pointing toward the other end of the passage. "Then, what about that guy? Your acquaintance?"

"What?"

"...!"

Vanessa turned toward where Aster pointed and opened her eyes in shock. It should be impossible for someone else to be in her personal laboratory, but a mysterious figure was already standing there as if waiting for them!

Before she could move, Mistelle already dashed before the two, her mouth moving lightly as she chanted a spell.

"Secundi Tiroe Skild! Wall of Earth!"

As soon as her chant ended, the ground suddenly moved, surging up and forming a wall before them. At the same time, spears of ice flew over, piercing through the wall until halfway.

"Kuh...!" Mistelle grunted, seeing that her slapdash 2nd stage defense barely blocked the attack! Only on m v|le|mp|yr

"Miss Vanessa, please take Aster and run!" Realizing that the situation wasn't in their favor, she turned around to shout. "Huh...?" But she went speechless.

Vanessa was gone from behind them!

"Who are you? How did you get inside my laboratory?" She casually asked while standing behind the mysterious, hooded figure, holding his shoulder tight. "You have a thick scent of blood on you. Don't tell me... you killed all my security guards?"

"...!"

The man, surprised by the fact that Vanessa appeared behind him before he could notice, jumped forward and rolled. His hands extended out, revealing sharp claws as if he were a mongoose.

His movements were fast, almost like a blur to Aster's eyes. However, Vanessa caught his arm without much effort and tightened her grip on it, causing a resounding echo of cracking bones.

"GAAAAAH!"

The man screamed in pain as he tried to get out of her hold. However, both his arms were now bent at 90-degree angles, and the bones on them were completely disconnected!

"You... are from the Anti-Human Movement, right?" Vanessa asked once more, rhetorically.

As she spoke, spears of ice appeared around her before flying while aiming toward her vitals. Her eyes darted around for a short moment before letting go of the arms she was holding.

*SHATTER!* *SHATTER!* *SHATTER!*

With a casual slap, the ice lances that could even puncture a level 2 earth-element shield were turned into harmless fragments in a flash!

"Where do you think you're going?"

The hooded man, who had broken arms, tried to take advantage of her being distracted by the ice lances and tried to run away. However, without even showing that she was exerting much effort, she quickly caught up with the man and kicked his right shoulder from behind.

*CRACK!*

Not only did it break his clavicle, but even a few of his ribs cracked! He fell to the ground like a puppet with a cut string, but Vanessa didn't let him off just yet. She walked over him, her left foot above his center of gravity and her right foot over his head.

Aster and Mistelle could only watch as Vanessa handled the situation like a pro!

Of course, this was natural. After all, despite appearances, Vanessa was a powerhouse who had already reached the 1,000th floor. Her level had long gone past four digits!

"Huh?"

However, even she could be careless at times. By the time she noticed a package strapped around the man's body, it was too late.

*Tick!*

*KABOOOOOOOM!*

A bright flash covered the entire top floor, the explosion demolishing almost the entire room.