Fallen Chronicles

Chapter 48 48: Annihilation (Part 3) [7/20]

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-[Eileen]

- [Eclipse Rank: ???? (Danger Rank)]

- [Current Eclipse Role: Vanguard]

- Update* [Level: (10 -> 31)]

- Update* [Base Stats: Strength (D+ -> C-), Agility ( C- -> C), Physique (C -> C+), Stamina ( D- -> B-), Special Ability D-]

- Update* [Advanced Stats: Luck E, Miasma Affinity (D -> C+)]

-[Skills:]

- [(Common) Berserk Lv1: Slightly increases strength, stamina, and health recovery rate, slightly enhances agility, while reducing the damage taken by 10%. However, when the skill is activated, there's a 50% chance of entering a "Chaotic" state]

- New [(Danger Rank Exclusive) Annihilation Lv1: Greatly enhances all attributes and additionally grants a 30% increase in attack power. This lasts for 15 seconds. The boost decreases over time. During the skill's duration, 15% of the damage inflicted is converted into self-healing. In the "Annihilation" state, every enemy unit eliminated refreshes the skill's duration and effect. This passive skill has no trigger limit]

-New* [(Note: The term 'Exclusive'—Unique to this Eclipse. When 'Affection/Obedience' level is above 80%, the skill can be 'copied')]

-New*[(Note: The term 'Copy'—The selected skill, along with its proficiency, can be copied into your own skill bar. Current remaining skill bar slots: 0)]

- [Miasma Authority: None (Unlocks upon reaching "Disaster Rank")]

- Update* [Base Specialty: Trash Master (III -> IV): A "medium chance" to turn gathered trash into treasure.]

Renji immediately checked Eileen's updated stats. From the attribute values, it was evident that the girl had specific strengths and was leaning towards the [Harvester] role.

The [Harvester] is a refined sub-branch of the major profession [Vanguard] typically referring to those Eclipses with high agility and attack – the offensive type.

As a comparison, Renji couldn't help but recall another wife from his first cycle, who was also of the [Vanguard] profession, Nova the dragon girl.

Her Vanguard specialization was the [Tyrant]

Five hundred years ago, in an era where Miasma monsters roamed freely, the Harvester wasn't particularly popular among the Vanguards. Renji had a preference for the half-tank, half-offense [Tyrant] role.

However, now, five centuries later, times have changed. With a clear decline in the average strength of enemies, the advantage of the Harvesters has become evident.

In simpler terms, they dominate weaker foes more fiercely.

"Give it back! That's an 'artifact' belonging to our Callewa! What have you done with our possession?" Ajax shouted...

Realizing their "Emperor's Relic" was gone—completely gone—Ajax was livid.

"Roca! You bastard! Didn't you say no one could activate the relic? No one could use it? What is she then? How did the relic end up inside her?!"

Ajax violently shook the doctor, who now could only chuckle mindlessly, muttering things like "the gods" under his breath.

Frustrated, the Callewa gang leader tossed the limp Roca aside and yelled at his men who were still standing around, dumbfounded.

"Open fire! Shoot her down! Make her cough up our relic!"

Failing to obtain the dark red crystal was bad enough, but now even their fallback—the "Emperor's Relic"—had been taken. The enormous disappointment had driven Ajax beyond reason. Now, all he had was a thug's primal urge: to kill.

It was laughable, really.

Previously, the "Crimson Star" had sent most of the gangsters in the factory fleeing for their lives. But now that the "Crimson Star" had entered Eileen, they were strangely less afraid when facing her, a fellow human. Some even found the courage to follow orders and shoot at her.

Ratatat! Ratatat! Ratatat!

Although more than half of the Callewa gang had fled, at least a hundred remained. The firepower they collectively directed at Eileen was terrifying.

Amidst the deafening gunfire, the area around the furnace where Eileen and Renji were was engulfed in smoke. The flashes from the muzzles illuminated the manic expressions of the gangsters. It was as if they were trying to confront their fear, to defy it, with this act of violence.

'Did it work?'

As the first round of gunfire ceased, Ajax stared intently at the smoke-filled furnace area.

"She's dead, right? Surely, she's dead! Even an Eclipse couldn't withstand such a barrage of bullets."

"She... she must be riddled with holes by now?"

However...

Before the smoke had even cleared, a mocking voice echoed in the ears of every gangster in the factory.

"Is that all? Tickling me, are you~?"

And then they saw it.

A dark brown gust of wind dispersed all the smoke. Eileen stood leaning against the furnace, shielding Renji behind her. And now, in front of her, was a monstrous, crimson greatsword.

It was this towering crimson sword, almost as tall as the girl herself, that had blocked the relentless gunfire aimed at Eileen.

At her feet lay countless bullets, proof enough of what had just happened. A sight that left the gangsters dumbfounded.

"Old-timer, you're okay, right?" Eileen slightly turned her head to the young man behind her.

In such a crucial moment, Renji wouldn't fail her.

Actually, the safest option at the moment would be for him to release the [Magnetic Pulse], disarming all the gang members in the factory, ensuring the battle's outcome would be without suspense.

But,

'How should I put it?'

'It's like when you've just drawn a powerful new character in a game. After eagerly investing all resources into it, you can't wait to use this new character to take on dungeons, defeat bosses, and reap rewards. This is the joy of role-playing games'

And Renji wanted to experience this joy.

Thus, he didn't take any action. Instead, he simply nodded at the girl, giving her a look that said,

"Go ahead, don't mind me."

"Sure~"

"Just be careful" he warned. But be careful out there. Their firepower sounds pretty fierce. Make sure you don't get overwhelmed."

To Renji's feigned concern, Eileen lifted her huge sword over her shoulder. Compared to the red sword that was over a meter long, she appeared petite, creating a stark contrast.

She only left Renji with her silhouette and two brief sentences.

"I'll make them shut up."

"In a way that they'll never make a sound again."

Blocking the rain of bullets from the gang took her seven seconds. Talking to the antique took five seconds. Eileen felt that the explosive power within her had diminished considerably. Even the crimson sword in her hand had lost its glow and became a blurred phantom.

She probably had about three seconds left before this "state" completely wore off.

The gang members, led by Callewa's head Ajax, saw this as a sign that Eileen was weakening. The leader frantically tried to boost the morale of his men, intending to launch another attack and eliminate Eileen in one fell swoop.

But for Eileen, three seconds were more than enough.

She set her sights on the closest group of gangsters. Bending her knees slightly, she leapt into the air. With her sword held high above her head, she then descended rapidly, slashing down with all her might.

Boom!

As the blade hit the ground, the unlucky gangsters at the center were obliterated by the powerful force of the sword's energy, turning them into minced meat. The fractured floor revealed a deep trench. Clearly, the girl with the huge sword was not just skilled in one-on-one combat. Each of her moves, bolstered by the crimson sword, had area-of-effect damage (AOE).

Moreover, a moment ago, the girl appeared weakened. But with the next strike that took out seven or eight gang members, her aura surged dramatically. The crimson sword, made from the Tainted Miasma, regained its solidity as if it were tangible.

The red sword vibrated in Eileen's hand. Each time she used it to deliver death to a Callewa member — crushing the bodies of these insignificant ants who dared to imprison and steal its power — it emitted an excited sound, almost like a triumphant cry.