Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: Nothing More Than This
The [Bottleneck Stage] is a common phenomenon for Extraordinary Beings, usually manifesting as stagnant power, an inability to master abilities, or difficulty absorbing knowledge.
The reasons for a bottleneck are many and complex. It could be that one has maxed out the abilities that can be mastered at the current stage, requiring another [Transcendence] to reach a deeper level of the Extraordinary System. It could also be due to a poor mental state or learning capacity, making it impossible to master more knowledge and abilities.
During a previous dinner, Weiya had mentioned that she encountered a bottleneck three years ago. She used Swordsmanship to readjust her mindset and spent a considerable amount of time gradually overcoming it.
But she only encountered that after being an Extraordinary Being for several years. Someone like Lloyd, who hit a bottleneck just one month in, was likely a rare case.
"My situation is likely the first kind, requiring a [Transcendence] in order to break through. But this system I’m in... ugh, how did I ever end up on this misguided path?"
Lloyd sat in his private office, muttering to himself as he flipped through a copy of *Extraordinary System Overview*.
Although the formal promotion ceremony hadn’t been held yet, he was already performing the duties of an Executioner, dealing with the Demons on Execution Floor -3 every day. Naturally, he could also enjoy the benefits of the position. Not only did he get a private office of the same standard as Weiya’s, but he could also borrow books from the library, which made things much more convenient and comfortable.
After flipping through for a while longer, Lloyd closed the book and wondered:
’Do I have to try dabbling in the [Veto] system? Take an indirect route?’
According to the book, it wasn’t uncommon for people to dabble in two Extraordinary Systems at once, but that was mostly a choice made by High-Position Extraordinary Beings when they were truly at a dead end—
After these powerful individuals had undergone [Transcendence] seven or eight times in their original system, it became incredibly difficult to advance any further. It was beyond the scope of hard work and had entered a stage where talent and luck were everything. Its difficulty was on par with pulling a fully maxed-out five-star character in a single ten-pull.
To do so, they had no choice but to experiment with other systems, seeking a "resonance" or "synergy" to achieve a breakthrough.
But even for high-level experts, this was an extremely risky move. In this day and age, the more knowledge one accepted, the faster one was likely to go mad.
Lloyd wasn’t afraid of going mad, but he was a little afraid of the Veto Saint...
According to the book, when learning the knowledge and abilities of the [Veto] system, one forges a special connection with the Saint and can be observed and noticed at any moment. It was a bit like being in a classroom, with yourself as the student below and the Saint as the teacher up front.
While a Saint wasn’t a Deity and couldn’t pay attention to everyone, there was no telling if she would notice him.
If his cover was blown in front of her, things would likely be difficult to resolve. He might not even get a chance to explain...
’Looks like the indirect approach isn’t very reliable either. I’d better keep thinking.’
In the end, Lloyd shook his head and looked toward a silver-gray uniform hanging in the corner of the office.
Tomorrow was the formal promotion ceremony, which would be presided over by the inscrutable Chief Judge. He would need to change into this new uniform to attend and officially become an Executioner.
Far from feeling excited, Lloyd found himself worrying about the future.
’To get by in the Holy Judgment Court from now on, I’ll probably have to get involved with the [Veto] system. It might be fine for a while, but who knows what will happen in the long run...’
’For now, I should just calm down, keep adding points, and maybe I’ll run into a pleasant surprise one day?’
...
That evening, Lloyd practiced his Swordsmanship as usual and didn’t prepare to head home until the sun went down.
’Even without any skill fragments, it still strengthens my body, so the practice isn’t a waste.’
He then went to ’ride the subway’ home, but as he reached the cave entrance, he heard a rapid series of coughs and retching sounds from within.
It was immediately followed by a roar filled with madness and despair...
’Has this spiritually-polluting subway finally claimed a life?’
That was Lloyd’s first thought.
The next second, he saw a figure stumble out of the cave.
The person wore the black uniform of a Priest, their body still recognizably human—except their entire head was split in two along the line between their eyebrows and nose, from which a mass of wildly writhing tentacles gushed out.
’An Out of Control...’
The moment it saw Lloyd, it was like a traveler seeing a Treasure Chest. It let out a piercing shriek and rushed forward.
Behind it, a man dressed as a Saint’s Grace Court Hunter was leaning against the wall, struggling to pull himself out. As soon as he saw the Out of Control pouncing on Lloyd, he shouted:
"COUGH COUGH COUGH! Run! COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH..."
As he spoke, he raised the Flintlock Gun in his hand with great difficulty, aimed at the Out of Control’s back, and pulled the trigger.
But his aim was terrible; the shot wasn’t even close. He could only watch as the Out of Control lunged at Lloyd, cursing in frustration:
"Damn it... COUGH COUGH COUGH... Why aren’t you running? COUGH... Are you scared stiff?"
Lloyd neither dodged nor retreated. He remained rooted to the spot, as if he really were scared stiff.
However, his right hand had already gripped the Short Sword at his waist, positioned for the perfect angle, as he casually let loose a string of vulgarities:
"BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP~"
The Out of Control instantly froze, completely motionless. Even its shrieks, which could spread Spiritual Contamination, came to a halt.
Lloyd used [Aggressive Speech]. It was super effective!
While his opponent was stunned, Lloyd drew the Short Sword from his waist and injected it with Spiritual Power, causing ripples like water to spread across the blade.
He then fluidly took a Half-Step forward, turned sideways, bent at the waist, dipped his shoulder, and spun into an upward slash.
A bright silver arc flashed through the darkness, grazing past the Out of Control.
A bright red line of blood instantly appeared on the Out of Control’s body, extending diagonally from its ribs to its shoulder.
With a spray of bloody mist, its upper half, already mutated into that of a Demon, slowly slid to the ground. Its lower half, which had barely maintained a human form, sank to its knees as if in repentance before Lloyd.
Lloyd smoothly sheathed his sword and shook his head, his expression one of slight disappointment.
"Even without the suppression from the Orbit, it was nothing special. A single slash was all it took..."
But the moment the words left his mouth, he drew his Short Sword again and viciously stabbed the mutated upper torso a few more times. Only after confirming with his inspiration that all signs of life were gone did he finally relax.
’An Out of Control that had just fallen hadn’t fully mutated into a Demon, and its Life Force wasn’t as tenacious. Still, I absolutely can’t give it any chance to make a comeback!’
After all, his job every day was to land the killing blow.
