Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 569 Crash Landing of a Con Man

Utilizing his corrosive essence, Vritra caused Drino's consciousness to shatter into nothingness.

As his mind began to decay, Drino's physical vessel was soon left as a hollow shell. To ensure no loose ends remained, Vritra meticulously scanned the inventory to verify that no hidden contingencies or backup plans existed.

Being a demi god, it was certain that Drino possessed a vast hoard of treasures and mystical resources.

Indeed, Vritra uncovered several artifacts that could have facilitated Drino's resurrection; he promptly obliterated them all.

The remaining treasures were transferred into his own storage for later inspection, as a solid surface finally appeared in the distance below.

Dissolving the platform of dust he had been resting upon, Vritra positioned himself atop Drino's corpse, using the body to absorb the force of the landing.

BOOOOOOM!!

The instant Drino's remains struck the ground, they erupted into fragments, scattering across the terrain.

However, the debris was quickly devoured by the crimson flames Fiona had left behind. These fires proved truly inextinguishable.

Once Drino's corpse had vanished completely, Vritra finally took in his surroundings.

He found himself standing on the edge of a massive landmass suspended in the center of a void.

Enormous walls encircled the area, and a monumental gate loomed before him. Beyond the land, there was only the infinite darkness of space.

'Where have I ended up?' Vritra pondered, prompting a response from the Divine:

"Just keep moving forward, and whatever you do, do not answer his questions."

'Huh?' Vritra didn't even have time to curse the voice before the gates creaked open slightly.

A figure draped in shimmering white armor descended from the air, landing directly in front of him.

It appeared to be… a gnome?

The diminutive man cast a skeptical gaze at Vritra, demanding, "Identify yourself. What is your business here at the World Bank?"

'The World Bank? Is this some sort of vault where the most powerful beings stash their loot?' Vritra thought to himself.

"Slightly lift your right hand," the Divine commanded.

Vritra complied with the instruction. Although the gnome didn't radiate immense personal power, the armor he wore pulsed with a clear godly aura.

For a full minute, the gnome scrutinized Vritra's hand before tapping his own forehead in realization.

"Ah, it finally clicked! It is you, demi god Zihong!" he exclaimed, his face brightening with recognition.

"It has been ages since your last visit; I nearly failed to recognize you. Has your physical form undergone a change?"

"..." Vritra lowered his hand and remained silent, his mind racing with a flurry of questions.

After a brief pause, the gnome let out a boisterous laugh. "Ahaha, I assume you stumbled upon some rare treasure that enhanced your looks. You shouldn't keep such secrets to yourself!"

His tone shifted slightly as he asked, "But why does the energy of your charged fist feel… different than before?"

Vritra: "..."

Silence remained his most effective weapon, as the talkative gnome seemed more than happy to provide his own explanations.

"I suppose you've simply refined your ultimate technique, haha. I wasn't doubting you, demi god Zihong, merely curious. Please, follow me inside..." The gnome gestured toward the entrance and turned.

Internally, Vritra was reeling. 'Zihong was a demi god?!'

Zihong was the individual from whom he had acquired the charged fist, the same technique that eventually evolved into his Nuclear Fist.

Vritra's knowledge of the man was limited; he only knew that Zihong had appeared suddenly, causing all demons to retreat into the shadows for reasons unknown.

'Was this the real reason the demons went into hiding? It wasn't just because of that single attack like I assumed. But what was his purpose there? And does he still draw breath?' Vritra wondered as he trailed the gnome, who continued to prattle on.

"Sir, is your visit today for a withdrawal or a deposit?" he inquired while walking.

Vritra: "..."

Predictably, the gnome answered his own query after a few seconds.

"Ahaha, forgive me, I was only joking. It is not our place to pry into your business; your locker is yours to do with as you please."

Passing through the gates, Vritra was met with the sight of a structure so gargantuan it could easily house dozens of metropolises.

The building appeared ancient, with visible cracks marring its walls, yet it radiated an undeniable sense of indestructible durability.

Vritra had expected the interior guards to be gnomes as well. Instead, he saw thousands of sentries representing a multitude of different races.

A staggering few among them were even at the demi god level of power.

Vritra couldn't help but speculate on the caliber of treasures stored within. For a fleeting moment, he felt the urge to raid every locker in sight, but he quickly suppressed the thought.

With his current capabilities, a direct assault on this bank would be suicide.

'Are demi gods the only ones who use this bank?' Vritra asked internally.

"Hardly. Many gods and even higher-tier entities maintain accounts here. The security you see now is merely the tip of the iceberg. Not even a true god would be foolish enough to attempt a robbery here," the Divine explained.

'But isn't that exactly what we're doing? Playing the part of a con man to steal from them...' Vritra felt a surge of anxiety. With such extreme security, his chances of being caught seemed high.

After a moment, he asked, 'If I am discovered, what is the penalty? Immediate execution or life in a dungeon?'

"It is better that you don't know. The punishment is far more agonizing than death. Just keep your mouth shut and you will be fine," the Divine replied, dismissing his fears.

As they moved deeper into the colossal building, hundreds of sharp, scrutinizing gazes locked onto Vritra.

"Demi god Zihong, I must say I am impressed. Your power remains as potent as ever. There were whispers that you had been imprisoned on a world called Zoratian, but I see those were merely groundless rumors," the gnome remarked before adding,

"Was that Drino, the level 3 demi god, whom you just finished off? I sensed a powerful presence the moment you arrived."

The lingering essence of a slain demi god was clearly the evidence they needed to confirm Vritra's "identity" as Zihong.

Vritra began to wonder just how long the Divine had been orchestrating these events.

It seemed that even his acquisition of the charged fist had been a calculated move.

In fact, it felt as though his entire journey since arriving in this world—from his fall into the death zone to his encounter with Yasmine—had been scripted by others.

'Is Zihong actually dead? If he isn't, where is he?' Vritra questioned. Inside the main hall, he observed thousands of floating corridors weaving through the air in a complex web.

Though it appeared chaotic, the system was clearly highly organized.

"Allow me to escort you to your private locker," the gnome said, pausing before one of the aerial walkways.

The Divine's voice echoed in his mind a moment later: "Zihong lives, but he is currently ensnared by the laws of that planet. He remains trapped there. Effectively, you snatched his signature ability right out from under him."

'...I see. But why was he there? Was he trying to take Wifey and Tess too?' Vritra asked.

The gnome stepped onto a hovering platform attached to the walkway. Once Vritra joined him, it began to glide forward.

The entire corridor system shifted slowly as they progressed.

"No, his target wasn't my sisters. He sought my unique powers, the Sin Wheel, and clues regarding the first mythic halo," the Divine clarified.

'Understood.' Vritra and his guide continued their journey through the labyrinth of pathways.

Other figures could be seen heading toward their respective vaults. Entry was strictly forbidden to anyone below the demi god rank.

Several guards intercepted them for verification, but Vritra remained silent as the gnome handled the explanations, allowing them to pass through each checkpoint.

After several minutes of travel, the platform finally came to a stop.

"This way, sir. Your vault, number one thousand six hundred twenty-one, is just ahead," the gnome announced, his chatter never ceasing.

After a few more minutes of walking and several more security screenings, they reached their destination.

Because Vritra had recently utilized the Nuclear Fist, the lingering aura convinced most observers that he was indeed Zihong.

They halted before a massive, circular door made of reinforced metal. The gnome pointed to the mechanism and asked, "Sir Zihong, may I have the key to your locker room?"

Vritra: "..."

'What key? Divine, do I have this? I don't think "silence" is going to open this door,' Vritra thought, maintaining a stern, unbothered expression.

"Sir, did you perhaps neglect to bring it with you?" The gnome's cheerful demeanor wavered, replaced by suspicion. It was unheard of for a client to forget their key.

While losing a key was nearly impossible for beings of their stature, the possibility of an impostor was a constant concern for the bank.

"You have it on you," the Divine finally spoke. Suddenly, a stone drifted out of Vritra's inventory and settled into the gnome's hand.

'What?! Zengis was the key this whole time? How is that possible?' Vritra watched in shock as the gnome nodded, turned, and placed Zengis onto a small stone pedestal. The massive gate began to retract immediately.

"There we are, sir. Here is your key back. Pardon my brief suspicion. You must understand, many charlatans attempt to gain access through deceptive means," the gnome said with a loud, jovial laugh as he returned Zengis to Vritra.

Vritra felt a heavy sigh in his soul. Had even his closest companion been a plant by the Divine from the very start?

"Please, enter. I shall wait out here, unless you require my presence to assist with your inventory." The gnome gave Vritra a hopeful look but was met only with a cold stare.

As Vritra stepped into the cavernous room, the heavy metallic door sealed itself shut behind him.

"Haa. What in the world is happening? Why are we even inside a bank?" Vritra finally spoke, his voice echoing in the silence.

He surveyed the room, seeing numerous items protected by shimmering energy barriers.

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