Immortal In A Death Game-Chapter 172: Seeking Trouble

<Endless, we’re getting close.>

"Thank you, Chip."

<No problem, hoss.>

The helicopter’s rotors buzzed overhead, their steady rhythm cutting through the morning air. Inside the cabin, Beatrice slumped against the window, her red hair falling across her face as she dozed.

Harvey... had somehow contorted his flexible body into an impossible sleeping position, his limbs twisted around the safety harness like a pretzel. His snore was almost louder than the rotors.

As for Adam, he was staring at the text floating before his eyes... as he’d been doing for the past half hour.

[Name: N/A | Planet: SS4E | Strength: 34 Agility: 4 Endurance: 1 Perception: 1]

[Free Status Points: 42]

Forty-two points. The number had grown steadily over the past weeks, each cleared Leak adding to the total. Adam’s finger traced the air where the numbers hovered, invisible to everyone else.

What do you think would happen if you put everything into Strength all at once, Adam? Do you think your body would explode from the transformation? Do you think it’ll hurt more than when the Administrators forced your rebirth?

Or maybe... you’d finally die?

"Hm..." Adam didn’t really wave his thoughts off, just letting them linger as he continued to stare at the number that had been growing and growing in front of him—Adam didn’t know when he became aware of it, but he realized he felt really... satisfied whenever the number went up.

Over the past ten days, Adam had cleared more than twenty Leaks. Most were white or blue, and half weren’t even High-risk Leaks at all. He began finding Leaks that guilds ignored because the profit margins were too thin. But for Adam, they were the perfect thing to do during his free time.

No civilians in danger, no time pressure, just monsters to eliminate and crystals to shatter.

"A-ah. Leona... don’t touch there."

Adam quickly glanced at Harvey as he heard his voice on the intercom. His entire flexible body was twitching, his eyes shadowed by dark circles. It wasn’t only him; Beatrice was also knocked out cold.

"...Sorry," Adam whispered. He felt a pang of guilt—while they needed rest, he could work indefinitely. His body never tired, never needed recovery time. He wanted to go alone because of this, but the two didn’t really give him a chance to go solo, saying what if the Hospital suddenly ambushed him.

<Endless, we’re here.> Chip’s voice crackled through the intercom. <Blue Leak confirmed below. No civilians sighted within 500 yards.>

Adam peered out the window. The portal shimmered like a vertical pool of water against the sandy coastline.

And true enough, there were no panicking crowds at all. The only thing that felt chaotic was the violent waves pushing the sand. He could spot, however, rainbow-colored dots surrounding the blue Leak.

<I don’t know, Hoss. Are you sure about this one?> the pilot continued. <I’ve been hearing chatter back in base that we’ve been getting complaints from the guilds.>

"Well..." Adam shrugged. "Did someone already buy the rights to this Leak?"

<No, sir.> Chip checked the tablet beside him. <It’s unclaimed as far as I know.>

"Then we’re getting rid of it."

Adam stood and grabbed the Shion from above him, unlatching it.

<Should we wake Beatrice and Harvey?> Cid asked.

"No. Let them sleep."

Without another word, Adam opened the cabin door and just jumped.

The wind rushed past him as he plummeted toward the beach, unsheathing his sword. Below, the rainbow-colored shapes moved among the sand—monsters that looked more like walking bushes than creatures, their rainbow-hued leaves rustling as they swayed; their movements reminding Adam of mantises.

"Kree?!"

Adam landed directly on one of the creatures, the Shion driving through its head... if that was its head. It was hard to tell since they truly looked like colorful, overgrown, but malnourished shrubs.

The monster was only able to let out a single kree before its rainbow blood muddied the sand beneath it.

The remaining creatures turned toward him, their movements jerky and almost curious. Adam counted eight of them, each standing nearly seven feet tall with limbs bent like praying mantises.

"Kee Kree!"

The first one lunged. Adam dodged to the side and brought the Shion down, cleaving the monster in half. Once again, its rainbow blood sprayed across the sand as the creature collapsed.

Two more attacked simultaneously. Adam ducked under their reaching limbs and drove the blade upward, piercing both monsters with a single thrust. Their leaves scattered like confetti and were blown away by the ocean breeze.

A fourth creature managed to rake its claws across Adam’s cheek, opening a deep gash. Blood ran down his face, but the wound was already closing by the time he decapitated the monster.

Within minutes, the beach was littered with... confetti. The creatures’ carcasses seemed like they would fetch a high price due to their color... this should be enough to appease the IBAA from the complaints they were getting because of him.

"Let’s go..." Adam breathed out, wiping the Shion clean, and approached the shimmering blue portal.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Before he could step inside, however, a group of armed figures approached from the dunes. The man who seemed to be their leader, a massive man with scarred knuckles and a shaved head, pointed a finger at Adam.

"This Leak belongs to the Breakbones Guild," the man shouted. "You have no right to be here!"

Adam counted twelve guild members, all carrying weapons and wearing mismatched armor. Out of all of them, only the leader was well-equipped and actually looked like he knew how to fight.

"I’m Adam Smith with the RLRD," Adam called back, sheathing the Shion and flashing the badge the RLRD gave him. "This is an unclaimed Leak and is scheduled for clearing. Sir, please tell your men to step back. You’re obstructing official IBAA business."

"Bullshit!" The guild leader spat in the sand, stepping forward as he glared at Adam. "You government dogs really think you can just take whatever you want, huh?!"

"Sir..." Adam sighed. "What’s wrong with you?"