Chapter 531: Key Ingredient? (2)

Chapter 529

Van’s room was just beside Ray’s, so it didn’t take long for them to disappear into the room.

And the moment they walked in, Ray almost cursed aloud, wondering why he had even bothered coming.

The room was just like his, with the luxurious bed, study table, couch, expansive space, kitchenette built into the side, a door leading to the bathroom, and even a wardrobe.

But for fuck’s sake, at the same time, the room wasn’t like his at all.

The couch was nowhere to be found, buried underneath piles and piles of what Ray always called ’Junks.’

Even the bed wasn’t spared. Only a small space remained visible where the tech genius probably slept.

But even that small space looked clean and barely used at all.

It was as if the boy hadn’t had a single wink of sleep.

Looking at his friend more closely, Ray could indeed see deep, heavy bags underneath the boy’s eyes.

His eyes were almost red, and he occasionally let out a yawn while rubbing his face.

Van was casually being lifted off the ground by his mechanical limbs, which acted as a pair of legs as they navigated through the sea of junk covering the entire floor.

They carried him towards a clear space in the room.

Instead of the study table with a small computer on it like in Ray’s room, this area had been transformed into something entirely different.

A chair with small wheels that could spin when sat upon rested before an incredibly wide table.

And on this table, even more junks were scattered around an ultra-sleek computer interface, with three additional screens positioned around it.

Some of the screens displayed the hallway outside the room they were in.

Van was gently placed onto the chair, which almost... ALMOST looked like a gaming or content-creator chair.

In fact, the entire setup gave Ray the impression of a true gamer.

Off to the side, a few metres away from the table, there was a pod—oval in shape, with its front made entirely out of glass.

Tons of different cables protruded from the back of the pod, connecting it to the main computer in front of Van.

And on that table, there was a mask placed neatly beside the equipment.

A black mask with very plain features.

Around him, his mechanical hands whirred and hovered, waiting for a command.

Turning his head towards the kitchenette in the hope of maybe seeing some more junks, Ray was surprised to find that the place was clean and completely devoid of them.

There were several toasters, packages, and drinks on the counter.

"Come over," Van called out as he twirled his chair around to look at his best friend.

"First off, how am I supposed to come over when there’s a carpet filled with jun... uh... your techs?"

Ray noticed his friend’s eye twitch at the near slip-up.

Choosing to ignore it, he continued:

"Secondly, how the fuck did you manage to get all these? It hasn’t even been three days since we got into the Order, and you have transformed this room into this?"

Van raised a brow.

"Huh? Didn’t you receive a stipend too? Like a welcome bonus from the Captain? Because I did, and that was how I was able to get all this."

Ray’s eyes widened in disbelief for a moment before he slammed his palm against his face.

"You spent all that money on jun... on these?!"

Van scoffed and turned around in his chair.

"I didn’t call you here to question me. I called to ask for your help."

Ray’s brows drew closer as he looked down at the sea of junks for a moment.

Clicking his tongue, he looked towards his System.

[Wings of Light]

A loud crackle sounded behind Ray as a pale, weak light began forming into existence.

Van’s attention was immediately piqued as he turned his head around to see a pair of dragonfly-like wings forming behind his best friend.

Soon, the wings blurred, and Ray was slowly lifted above the ground, floating over the sea of junks while moving towards his friend as though he were gliding through the air.

Van’s eyes slowly widened in surprise.

Then, with a click of his tongue, he turned his head back towards his screens.

"Show-off."

Soon, Ray landed beside his friend, on a space that was thankfully devoid of his tech.

With that, the wings snapped out of existence after completing their mission.

"So, what’s up? What do I have to do?"

Hearing the question, Van held out his hand, and one of his mechanical limbs reached towards the mask and placed it directly into his palm.

Then, passing it over, Ray looked the mask over before taking it.

"That’s what I’m working on. But I just can’t seem to get it to work."

Ray stared down at the mask.

It was a black, gas-like mask, similar to the ones individuals usually wore when about to handle or work with chemicals.

"So what do you need me to do?"

Looking intently at his screen for a few moments, Van exhaled before turning around in his chair.

"I need to know everything about that skill of yours. How does it work? What do you see when you use it? I need every detail I can get."

"That’s all?"

Van nodded for a moment before his eyes narrowed in thought.

"I have a feeling that there’s still going to be more." Ray frowned.

Van shrugged.

"For now, give me the information."

Looking at his best friend dubiously, Ray clicked his tongue and began.

"The skill was unlocked by my System. It allows me to see beyond the physical."

As he listened, one hand remained on his keyboard, typing with chilling precision while his eyes and entire attention stayed locked onto Ray, somehow managing to type without even looking at what he was entering.

"...It allows me to bypass the barrier of the physical, like human bodies, walls, and so on."

"Like X-ray vision?"

"Kind of. But the difference is that I can also see the lifeforce of a creature—animals, beasts, humans, werewolves, Aberrants... you name them. I can see their lifeforce inside their bodies in the form of a ball of flames.

"The bigger the flames, the stronger they are."

To say he wasn’t surprised would have been an understatement.

So many things were beginning to click inside Van’s mind.

The previous darkness was unfurling with perfect clarity, but he still needed more.

More...

More ingredients.