Rebirth: The Shadow Of Greed

... "I think it's time."

"Boss, isn't that the special serum? Didn't they tell us not to use it unless we're in a safe place?"

Odrunn asked once he saw the special serum in Z's hands.

"Yeah, the special serum does have some side effects that cause pain and partial paralysis for a while. But right now the situation is quite dire and we need to get stronger quickly, otherwise, we won't be able to survive in this jungle. After taking the Serum, you probably will have stronger control over your manifest, but with this amount and grade of Serum, I think it'll only bring you to tank level, with every increase in your level, your body will be repaired as well. So this is our golden opportunity now."

"Boss, there are different grades of Serums as well?"

Odrunn asked looking at Z with a confused look.

"Well, we've always been taught that if we had the opportunity to take the serum we would have to take it. The one issued to us is considered a tier 1 serum which is most effective for a militia level power to push through to a tank level. If a tank level power should try to take a tier 1 serum, it probably won't have any effect."

Soli explained, seeing how confused Odrunn was.

"That's right, serums are rare and the production method is kept a secret, although you can level up on your own, using it gives you a great boost, which is why it's sought after.

Here's what I think, Odrunn, you and Soli should take the serum first, since you have a healing manifest, you will probably be quicker to recover. I'll stand guard first, although I believe that it will take a while before we're found."

Soli and Odrunn nodded, as they immediately took out their vials and swallowed it immediately.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, the time slowly ticked by, until around the 30-second mark, Soli unwittingly let out a groan, before lying on the ground clutching her stomach.

"It seems like the serum is taking effect, Odrunn, yours is coming too." Z said, before preparing to head out to keep watch.

Odrunn collapsed to the ground and clutched his stomach next to Soli.

"Oh, God! It hurts so much."

Odrunn whispered while clutching his stomach.

"You think I don't know that!" Soli responded, in a short burst as she was focusing on the pain.

Soon, the pain started to spread with their stomach as the core and managed to reach their limbs. The sharp pain they felt gradually subsided as it changed from a stinging pain to searing pain. Now they had felt like the pain permeated through their bodies, it felt like their soul was burning up.

_______________________________________

"Has the guards set out yet! How can they find Soli if they take their time like this!"

A middle-aged man slammed the table with a look of absolute anger.

"Husband dearest, you have to be calm, If Soli is alive we will get her back."

A woman calmly said by her side.

"You seem to be in a good mood Karin, is it because with Soli gone, you'd be able to do as you please?"

Soleil spoke out, being the blood-related sister of Soli, she felt that her father's anxiousness was well-founded. Even she was anxious for the return of her sister.

"Come now, darling, you know I love you and Soli as if you're my own, who's the one providing you motherly love since your mother tragically passed away all those years ago."

Lady Karin spoke hiding daggers in her words as her eyes showed a trace of murderous intent behind her sadness.

"Honestly, I don't know what I did wrong to deserve such antagonistic looks from you Soleil. I'm disappointed."

"Enough! Both of you! Soli is missing and both of you can only quarrel here! I'm going to supervise the guards, the both of you can just continue fighting here"

Soli's father, the great Daymus Aquos, left the room to supervise the guards, if his presence was not needed at home, he would have already headed into the forest himself to look for Soli himself.

----

A hunter investigator was sent to the grounds to check up on the situation.

"bzzt.... bzzt... Hunter HQ? This is Dispatch 01, we have arrived at the cliff face, no sign of the kids, but we found 4 corpses, it seems that they are our people, and they weren't killed by wild beasts but by someone else instead. The last corpse we found was that of the tiger beast that was reported earlier, it was killed by an icicle judging from the remnants as well as the water, pieces of flesh were chopped off as well.

Judging by the stuff we found here, the kids should still be alive, but they should also be in quite a bit of danger, someone is after their lives."

"Understood, Daymas that bastard has been pressuring the association to work quickly, give us a rough estimate of the location of the kids and we'll send a group over with the Aquos guards to secure them."

______________________________________

Z stood at the mouth of the cave watching outside the cave while simultaneously keeping an eye on Odrunn and Soli. The pain Odrunn had felt had subsided, his body was completely repaired by both his manifest as well as the serum. He stood up like a new man walking towards Z smiling.

"Boss, I feel great, I feel like I've completely healed up and I have so much energy."

Odrunn spoke as he started doing push-ups.

A while later, Soli was next, she stood up and removed the splint holding her arm together. I'm recovered too.

"Boss, you should take your serum now!" Odrunn said excitedly.

"What for? I don't even have a manifest, wouldn't it just be a waste?"

Z said, raising his eyebrow in confusion. Of course, Z wanted to take the serum now, but with Odrunn and Soli around, how could he explain taking the serum with no manifest? It's too illogical.

Z took out his dagger and sliced it through the air, cutting a fly straight in half.

"Shit... We have to go..."