Chapter 2161

Chapter 2161

As Devick rose in the air, gleeful at her ability to foil the plans of the Iron Giant’s team, she relished in the slew of notifications she saw.

Congratulations! Your Skill Methodical Recalibration (Ru) has grown to Level 301!

Congratulations! Your Skill Competitive Spirit (Un) has grown to Level 129!

Recalculating... Skill Competitive Spirit (Un) is evolving!

Warning, if you possess insufficient energy, Skill evolution will result in death.

Congratulations! Your Skill Competitive Spirit (Un) has evolved into Maverick’s Psychosis (A)! Skill Level will be maintained!

Congratulations! Your Skill Maverick’s Psychosis (A) has grown to Level 130!

Congratulations! Your Skill Maverick’s Psychosis (A) has grown to Level 131!

Devick twirled in the air, luxuriating within the cheers of the audience. She didn’t even need to read the details of her new Skill; her intuition proudly announced this was a powerful Skill. With it, they would pull off the shocking comeback she had been working toward this entire match. Her entire body thrummed with pleasure, the inevitable truth of the next five minutes filling her with joy.

Hell, perhaps her dramatic actions would even capture the Nether King’s heart. She likely cut a very dashing figure at the moment.

Strangely, Devick felt oddly weak and hollow as she reached the apex of her jump. She ignored the sensation; she believed firmly in good vibes only. She refused to allow some passing stomach twinge to bother her.

Congratulations! Your Skill Maverick’s Psychosis (A) has grown to Level 132!

...

Congratulations! Your Skill Maverick’s Psychosis (A) has grown to Level 160!

So it was with abundant mirth that she opened her eyes to look at how shocked and defeated the opposition would be below her. Yet as she looked down at them, they seemed nothing of the sort. With irritation, Devick realized they all seemed determined to continue standing against her. Worst of all, some random nobody from the other team now burned with flames due to Larson’s interference.

“I will flay you all,” Devick announced to the group. As soon as she gathered up all of her Willpower to release the sort of domineering blow to lay all of these pretenders low, she felt another horrid cramp in her stomach. The muscles and tendons of her hand flexed. Yet the cramp deepened into something more than physical. She felt a deficiency in her body that kept her frozen midair.

After that, events began to accelerate.

Her words cut off abruptly. There was an audible thump as a body collapsed to the ground. Devick swayed, a vicious pressure squeezing the air around her as the Nether King glared toward Larson. Time ticked past, but the pressure remained. Devick felt blood rushing to her head. Soon, she would burst. Popped out of existence without being able to struggle.

The muscles along her jaw clenched. She hated it. Hated her weakness.

Another voice cut across, easing back the pressure. “Nether King. How kind of you to volunteer to discipline my unruly daughter... but I think you will find such an action entirely unnecessary.”

Nether King Hungry Eye grunted, but Devick recognized that his expression shifted to something more guarded. The speaker, likely Lord Cerulean himself, took another step into the tent, but still remained out of sight for Devick.

Larson spoke back up. “Father this-”

“Child,” Lord Cerulean clicked his tongue. “I meant what I said, but not in the way you want it to be. Nether King Hungry Eye need not punish you... because I will gladly do so. Your games here had no prize but your own vanity, while endangering the people’s trust in the ruling class with your every stumble. Did you think no one would notice how Miracle’s opponents repeatedly had an individual who suddenly manifested Skill with flames?”

“I-” Larson hesitated, finally losing her self-assurance. “No one associates fire with me.”

“A petty defense,” Lord Cerulean said mildly. “Go. Now.”

Devick heard soft departing footsteps. For a few seconds, the two remained silent. Then Lord Cerulean spoke. “Do not pursue it further than this. Both of you, no matter your motivations, interfered in the Hobfootie match. Leaving it here can be considered balance.”

“Balance,” Nether King Hungry Eye scoffed.

“What right do those without power have to complain about balance?” Lord Cerulean chuckled. “But honestly, this is utterly meaningless. I came here with another question. What connection do you have with the one name Devick? She is also one who walks the Narrow Path. And should she come into your own... she will devour you, Hungry Eye. Nothing would give her more pleasure.”

Nether King Hungry Eye lifted his chin. “Lord Cerulean, perhaps you are not such a capable ruler as you think if you are in such constant fear of those beneath you rising up and devouring you.”

“Tch, don’t be obtuse. You saw her in the match; she had grown so intoxicated on the cheers of the crowd and her own hubris that she put herself into a position where her teammate needed to sacrifice himself.”

Devick couldn’t breathe. Her whole body burned. Did she... really do that? It was so hard to remember. But maybe that was the point. She hadn’t been focused on winning the Hobfootie match, not really. She had been spinning up in the air, drunk on the cheers. When she came down, she had been so damn sure of herself. So sure she could handle anything.

And she had been wrong.

For several seconds, there was silence in the tent. Nether King Hungry Eye turned back to the bed where Toll was resting. “You should leave, Lord Cerulean. I have a patient to see to.”

“Heh. Would you have acted so blithe about it if our selfish little mouse wasn’t observing from the side? You do her a disservice; knowing the depths of her own derangement would not harm her.” Lord Cerulean cackled as he departed.

Devick took one step back. Her hands shook. Then she turned and limped away, every movement an agony, looking for a private location to cry.