I Only Want To Kill-Chapter 60: Even More Shadows

A message from the system immediately pops up.

[Your Hidden Power One as Shadow has received a temporary effect (Upgrade)]

- One as Shadow (Upgrade): You can transform into a shadow. Light sources no longer neutralize this power immediately once you have activated it.

Blaze can feel the effect of the Tattered Mask on the Tattered Cloak immediately. He can feel the shadow form becoming much easier to control and more stable.

Blaze runs out to the part of the floor that has sunlight shining on it.

One as Shadow maintains like normal, but the dark color of the shadow is fading slowly.

Blaze stays still to test its limitations. Around thirty seconds in, his body jumps up from the floor and is kicked out of the Shadow Form.

"Hmmm. It is the same with One with Shadow. It lowers the limitation down from instant to half a minute..."

Half a minute may not be that much, but if Blaze wants to do some espionage or run away, this small window will be enough for him to react.

It has changed from immediate exposure and instant death to a good chance of staying hidden.

"Now. Which one of you two should I enhance?"

Blaze unequips the Tattered Cloak and returns to the bed.

He is once again pondering what to do with his reward.

One with Shadow is a very good combat tactic, especially in combination with Moonlight Karambit.

One as Shadow helps Blaze to do stealth more and can move around without being detected.

But he really isn’t the guy to sneak around and assassinate his enemies. So Blaze decides to upgrade One with Shadow instead.

"Use the Equipment Enhancement Kit on One with Shadow."

[Applying Equipment Enhancement Kit (Uncommon) to the Hidden Power One with Shadow of Tattered Cloak (Uncommon)...]

[Congratulations, your Hidden Power One with Shadow has evolved to Shadow Phantom!]

- Shadow Phantom: Retains all of its previous power. You can also teleport a maximum of one meter to a nearby space that is also filled with darkness. The occupied spaces between your teleportation position must be connected by any type of darkness.

"Teleportation..."

Blaze equips the Tattered Cloak again, it does not have any physical changes. He also equips the Moonlight Karambit and creates a small shadow sphere inside his room.

Blaze uses the new Shadow Phantom power and fades into darkness. He blinks around the room exactly like the way Henry was moving.

One second Blaze is on the bed. The next he is already teleported beside the door. The speed of the teleportation is almost instant, a very formidable power.

After testing, Blaze quickly withdraws the darkness to not raise any attention to his house.

"Only one last thing left. Use the Equipment Booster Kit on the Tattered Cloak."

[Applying Equipment Booster Kit (Rare) to the Tattered Cloak (Uncommon)...]

[Congratulations, your Tattered Cloak (Uncommon) has been upgraded to Tattered Shadow Cloak (Rare)]

[A new Hidden Power has been added to the equipment. Current Hidden Powers have also been changed.]

[Tattered Shadow Cloak]

- Equipment Rank: Rare

- Hidden Power: Shadow Phantom; Shadow Form (change from One as Shadow); Shadow Shroud (New).

- Shadow Phantom: Retains all of its original powers, but now you can teleport three meters instead of one.

- Shadow Form: Retains all of its original powers, but now you can customize the appearance of your shadow.

- Shadow Shroud: While staying within darkness, you can create three other lifelike illusions that look exactly like your appearance.

This time, the Tattered Cloak changes. It becomes longer, reaching the floor and spreading out like a shadow on the ground.

Its fabric becomes smoother but still retains its ragged appearance.

Golden patterns that only exist in Blaze’s face now spread to his entire body and onto the fabric of the Cloak.

They do not shine like the gold of the Sun Bird but instead only slightly emphasize, like an old piece of jewelry.

Blaze looks at his hands and feet. The golden patterns also run on his pitch-black skin, adding a little contrast to the Wraith’s appearance.

The Tattered Cloak now looks more in line with its other equipment in the same Set Piece, the Tattered Mask.

Blaze activates its newfound Hidden Power immediately. Three other exact figures appear in the room.

They look exactly like Blaze and will act according to his will.

Blaze tries to command them to speak a few words.

"I am the Wraith."

"I am the Shadow."

"We are one."

The three illusions speak up like actual beings. It is hard to tell them apart from Blaze. A very interesting power, indeed.

With this power, Blaze can hide his true body much better and avoid a lot of strikes.

"Awesome!"

Blaze clenches his fist tightly, feeling the power of the Tattered Cloak coursing through his body.

He is slowly becoming more and more powerful. So strong that he isn’t even sure what level of Awakened can stop him.

Blaze tries to stay humble and calms himself down.

"Relax. Relax, Blaze! You are still weak. There is still space for improvement. You cannot be arrogant."

He has seen so many people die due to their arrogance. He killed most of them, actually. The people who thought they were strong enough to take him out.

They all died in the end. Blaze does not intend to repeat their mistakes.

[Digestion complete!]

Suddenly, a System window pops up.

[Your Lantern of the Damned has finished digesting the ten trapped souls!]

[Lantern of the Damned has grown stronger!]

[You have gained one more slot for Ethereal Slave!]

"Oh?"

Blaze takes out the Lantern of the Damned. It does not look to be any different at all. But now he can make a new Ethereal Slave, one that is useful in the physical world.

"What kind of servant can help me right now?"

Blaze taps his finger on his jaw, pondering how to use the next Ethereal Slave slot. Isaac is already a scout. So the next Ethereal Slave needs to fulfill another role.

There is also the question of whom Blaze should choose.

He obviously will not consume Nadyr. The fact that the man is related to some unknown being is more than enough to prevent Blaze from eating him.

Nadyr can also prove useful later, as his several miracle survivals need to be examined more. It may be his own hidden power of some kind or something the Bunny Man did to him.

Whatever it is, Blaze decides to find them out eventually.

Nadyr is both unworthy to be a servant and also too dangerous to be one.

Blaze takes a look at the clock. It’s just past two in the afternoon.

"I can take a look at the souls’ memories later and pick a suitable one. Hugo and Anton can also give some recommendations.

But I need to go to the Pocket Center."

Pocket Center, it has this bizarre name because of its particular nature. Blaze has heard a lot about it and sees it inside other memories, but he has never come to one before.

He has lots of Crisis Cores and materials that need to be processed as well. The Pocket Center is able to take them all.

After extracting the Cores, Blaze can sell them or give them to other people as well in case they are of no use to his powers.

"But to enter the Pocket Center, I would need to register a power badge and credit code first."

To join the Academy, you would need to be at least A-rank. Blaze has no intention of revealing his S-rank Genesis Legion, so he will need another power.

Force Blast used to be perfect. It is a powerful candidate after upgrading to A-rank.

But Force Blast’s evolved power, Force Thunder, can be easily associated with the Wraith. No one else in Akansa is an electrokinesis user.

Blaze does not want to attract attention to him. Purely out of safety concern for Kana.

Blaze may be a powerful Awakened now, but she is still but a normal person. It is extremely important for Blaze to make sure his mother is alright.

He has no other choice but to upgrade the upcoming B-rank power that he’s going to receive from the remaining Superpower Blindbox.

This process, however, can be demanding for Blaze’s body at the moment. He needs more rest before taking in more superpowers.

Well. Since there isn’t anything to do, spending quality time with family is more important.

Blaze walks downstairs to see Alyson and Kana are having some small talk. Marshall has already left, so there is no one left to ruin the fun.

"Mother! Alyson! What are you guys talking about?"