Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 731 Jackal

Vritra remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead in contemplation.

The tower loomed quite near, and with no sign of their quarry, the decision seemed straightforward.

"Let's proceed towards the tower. There's a high probability he'll reveal himself to us," he declared, shrugging.

"Haa, finally! Just this last challenge and we'll be free of this cursed place. I'm so weary of the constant scent of blood," Fiona exclaimed, her voice laced with mental fatigue.

The group of eleven pressed onward, their steps directed towards the imposing structure.

It stood so tall that its pinnacle vanished into the heavens, the tower itself a colossal, round edifice of pure white.

A massive door was set into its base, and otherwise, it appeared quite ordinary.

After a period of walking, the group found themselves approaching the grand entrance.

"Is everyone prepared?" Vritra inquired, pausing to glance back at his companions.

"We are, my love!" Vanessa confirmed with a nod, earning agreement from the others, though one hand tentatively rose.

"U-Uhm, may I depart now? I don't believe I can be of any assistance to you," Asmodeus stammered meekly.

"No, you're coming with us. We require a scapegoat, don't we? Just in case things go awry," Vritra responded with a shrug. He advanced towards the door, reaching out to push it open.

But at that precise moment…

RUMBLE

The earth convulsed, and fissures snaked across the ground. In the ensuing instant, swarms of minuscule insects erupted from the soil.

They appeared forged from steel, their buzzing a violent, piercing sound that saturated the atmosphere.

"Sigh. It seems someone wishes to prevent our entry. Mother, can you handle this situation?" Vritra queried.

To draw out the hidden culprit orchestrating this assault, they needed to exercise restraint, avoiding the deployment of their full might.

"Naturally," Vanessa replied, snapping her fingers.

Yet, no discernible change occurred. The metallic insects immediately descended upon them.

These deadly, metallic creatures began tearing into their flesh. Asmodeus, making a desperate attempt to flee, was the first to be consumed.

Vritra and the others found themselves utterly defenseless against the onslaught, their physical conditions deteriorating with every passing second.

Far from the unfolding chaos, a slender, tall man observed the scene through a small, handheld mirror.

The mirror displayed vivid images of Vritra, Onest, Shitless, and the rest of the group grievously wounded. Even the women appeared to be on the brink of death.

"Hmm? They seem weaker than anticipated. But what else could be expected from individuals associating with that feeble Asmodeus," he mused, shaking his head. He then pocketed the mirror and rose to his feet.

Leaping from the building, he landed gracefully upon the back of a colossal bird, which swiftly carried him towards the site of the one-sided confrontation.

He possessed the ability to command a considerable number of mutant beasts, though this power came with a significant limitation: any life taken by his subordinates failed to yield mutation energy for him.

Consequently, after his enemies were subdued, he was compelled to deliver the final blow himself.

"Those women were quite comely. I wonder if I should spare one or two. Hehe, it's been an age since I last conversed with anyone. While I'm here, I should claim one of them."

This thought filled him with considerable excitement.

He had been actively seeking suitable female companions, but this desolate region offered none.

After a short flight, he reached the battleground. Peering down, he expressed satisfaction that no one had yet perished, as he had instructed the insects to hold back from killing them outright.

After carefully assessing all the women, he found himself perplexed, unsure which one to select, as they were all stunningly beautiful.

"Well, first, let's deal with the men. I mustn't allow them the opportunity to utilize their abilities." With this decision made, he descended and drew a knife.

"So, Jackal, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." A voice materialized from an unseen source, startling the player.

In the blink of an eye, the entire scenario underwent a radical transformation. The buzzing insects lay inert on the ground, all deceased.

The severely injured individuals were now perfectly unharmed, regarding him with mocking gazes.

Vritra stood with his arms crossed, his attention fixed on the enemy's status panel.

[You have encountered a player!]

[Eliminate him to seize his ascension path and opportunities!]

[Player: Jackal]

[Ability: Control]

[Ascension Path: Mind Hex]

"W-What? An illusion?!!" Jackal's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He scanned his surroundings, verifying that they were indeed all well.

He surmised that the green-haired woman was likely responsible for conjuring such a convincing illusion.

"Y-You scoundrel, Asmodeus! You're colluding with an outsider to kill your own comrade?!! You cowardly dog, you backstabber, you traitor, you absolute piece of trash-!" Jackal erupted in a furious tirade.

His primary objective was merely to purchase sufficient time; soon, every creature under his command would arrive.

Even if they couldn't defeat these opponents, he would have ample time to effect his escape.

He continued his verbal assault for several minutes, simultaneously broadcasting a mental call for reinforcements. However, just as his summoned creatures drew near, they inexplicably vanished.

'What's happening here? They must be trying to ensnare me in another illusion, hah, as if I'd fall for the same trick twice. I'm going to eliminate every last one of them!'

Jackal's actual combat strength was quite considerable; he could even defeat individuals who had reached their sixth evolution.

However, his misfortune was to cross paths with this particular group.

'You scoundrel Asmodeus, once we return, I swear I'll slaughter everyone you know. I'll rip out your intestines, I'll make you eat your own filth, and I'll cut you to pieces for my dog to devour!'

Several more minutes elapsed, yet no reinforcements arrived.

'What have you done? Why aren't my mutants manifesting?' Jackal could no longer maintain his facade and questioned Vritra and Vanessa with a peculiar look.

'Oh, you were still anticipating them? I assumed you were merely directing your curses at your associate, which is why I refrained from interrupting. As for those mutants…'

Vritra uttered a low sound, then pointed his finger towards the ground and swept it upwards.

Subsequently, countless deceased mutants of diverse varieties were exposed, all having met their end the very instant they ventured too close.

Their bodies bore no visible wounds, yet all signs of life force were utterly absent.

'Uwaaaaah!!' Jackal collapsed onto his posterior in sheer terror. Initially, he harbored a sliver of confidence in overcoming them should circumstances turn unfavorable.

But now, complete despair had engulfed him.

'Wait, this must be your illusion, you scoundrels, I'm going to kill you-'

Vritra simply shook his head and propelled a stone forward, which pierced through Jackal's waist, creating a gaping hole in his body.

COUGH COUGH

He retched violently and slumped backward, his internal organs in disarray and his abdomen savagely torn open.

Vritra then tossed a few more stones to hasten his demise, unwilling to prolong the engagement with this insignificant player.

The moment Jackal perished, a cascade of messages materialized before Vritra.

Once more, he acquired a new ability and an ascension pathway.

'It's peculiar; so many individuals possess abilities that directly or indirectly command other beings, like Morgan, Magna, and Jackal. I wonder if this phenomenon is connected to the tower's challenges.'

He pondered this, but further contemplation seemed futile.

At last, Vritra pushed the door open, and a blinding luminescence assaulted their vision.

An expansive chamber was unveiled, swarming with thousands of zombies, and at the heart of the undead throng stood a colossal giant.

❖❖❖

Thank you for reading...