Rogue Villain-Chapter 318: Homebody

Ackster grabbed the hands on his shoulders and gently removed them while maintaining eye contact. He could sense Mara’s and Karandiel’s gazes pointed toward Mastrax like a pair of sniper lasers.

"If your desire is carnal, I will have to refuse. But if it’s from a research standpoint, I think we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement."

Mastrax belatedly realized what he had done, not just the part about touching Ackster and saying he wanted him. But he had also gotten very close and personal.

He jumped back behind his cover and peeked out at Ackster.

"W-what do you mean?"

Mastrax was too enticed by Ackster’s suggestion to let his social anxiety interfere more than keeping him at a safe distance.

Ackster smiled and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Well, you want something I can offer, and I want something you can offer. It’s as simple as that. So, why not cooperate?"

"What is it that you want?"

"As I mentioned earlier, we need your help."

"With what?"

"I would rather not say."

"Then how am I supposed to help you?"

"You’ll find out when the time comes. Of course, there’s also the option of joining us on our journey. If you promise to keep it a secret and stuff like that, I can tell you."

"You’re saying you want me to accompany you and, when the time comes, help you do or deal with something?"

Ackster nodded.

"Exactly."

"No can do."

Mastrax crossed his arms and shook his head.

Ackster’s face stiffened.

"...And why not?"

"I don’t want to leave."

Mastrax was resolute.

"Can’t you just control this island to come with?"

Ackster wasn’t sure how that would work in practice since the island was huge.

"That would be impractical."

Mastrax shook his head again.

Ackster sighed.

"So you’re going to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to research and experiment on and with me because you’re afraid of leaving home?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Mastrax wasn’t sure whether to nod or shake his head, so he did both.

’What’s that even supposed to mean?’

"Whatever you say, I won’t leave. If someone like you appeared once, someone like you will appear again."

Ackster sighed and rested his forehead against his fingertips while shaking his head slightly.

"And what makes you think you’ll live to see that day?"

Ackster glanced at Kargas and the others before taking the lead.

Mastrax was stronger than they had anticipated or thought he would be. But that only meant he would be that much more useful against The Hero. They couldn’t let him sit this one out.

Since he seemed adamant about not coming with them or helping them, Ackster stopped the pretenses. They would have to go with the original plan of forcing his aid.

Ackster flushed his body with his three sources and shot through the air while Mastrax was hopefully still processing the meaning of his words. He ignored the tables and equipment on them as he retrieved his sword from within himself.

Ackster imagined Mastrax being water as he lashed out with his arm and the sword that was like an extension of himself. It whipped out like a snake and cut through the air in a flash before arriving at Mastrax’s side.

"Eek!"

Mastrax yelped as he reflexively lashed out with his hand and smacked the Demon Sword out of Ackster’s grasp into the floor with overwhelming force.

’Fuck, he’s strong.’

Ackster put recalling the sword on the back burner as he changed his stance and tightened his fist, still aiming for Mastrax’s side.

"Y-you...!"

Mastrax’s eyes widened as he looked at Ackster in surprise, comprehending the situation.

"I knew it!"

Mastrax’s eyes narrowed, and his expression turned fierce as he reached toward Ackster.

Before Mastrax even reached Ackster, Ackster could already feel his movements slowing down as if his body was turning to stone. It was like his insides were stiffening and freezing as they stopped moving.

Ackster’s eyes narrowed.

No, it wasn’t his insides. His prediction and estimation of Mastrax’s ability were correct.

Mastrax controlled the flow of vitality inside Ackster. He made it stop flowing entirely. Instead, it acted like a poison that not even his mana and Will could break through. He was completely immobilized.

’Fucking perfect.’

Ackster was the worst match-up for Mastrax since he had an overwhelming amount of vitality that made it overwhelmingly easy for Mastrax to control him. The more vitality he had, the easier it would be for Mastrax to interfere with his movements and the more he could do with that interference.

However...

Ackster’s vitality receded into the center of his chest along with his mana and Will.

Ackster grinned. He fanned the flames of his Smelting Furnace and started refining his three sources. They would only be a hindrance now, even if they were useful.

But that wasn’t his only supplement.

Ackster’s Ichor escaped the marble in his chest. It filled his body, breaking it completely free of Mastrax’s control and letting the vitality Mastrax had tried to hold onto escape into the Smelting Furnace. Ackster’s Ichor shielded his body from Mastrax’s uncanny influence over any and all vitality.

Mastrax’s eyes widened in surprise as Ackster’s body shone with a radiant luster before moving like a flash and crashing into his own with a fist that made Mastrax doubt his initial assessment of Ackster being a human. Was he some kind of super-advanced golem?

Before Mastrax could catch his breath, Ackster lunged out again. This time, he wasn’t interrupted mid-strike, and he could land a full-powered strike in Mastrax’s gut that had his entire body shaking with ripples of force.

Ackster’s eyes shone in excitement.

Mastrax was the perfect punching bag. He was sturdy but responded to his strikes, and he was strong enough to react to but not completely avoid his strikes.

As far as Ackster could tell, Mastrax wasn’t technically good at combat. So, he wouldn’t be a great sparring partner. But he was a perfect target to practice how to deal with a seemingly invincible foe.

Even Ackster’s full-powered strike had only made Mastrax tremble a little. The chill that ran down Mastrax’s spine when he saw Ackster’s smile did more damage.

It would be a long fight.