Chapter 348 - Corrupted Mind

"Why the hell are you here?", Rex said tiredly.

The mission was about to start and Rex haven't even visited Kyran in the hospital, time is not on his side and since these two people are in front of him it seems he won't have the time to visit Kyran before going to Eqosa City.

Edward poked his head from Rex's back and saw two people standing outside the door,

It was a guy with his arms covered with tattoos, while the other one is a woman with sparkling blue hair. Rex recognize both of them from the 25 Banquet before.

The two are none other than Dray and Valery,

Both of them fought each other at the banquet but Rex stopped them, he was not expecting the two to come here since they're from very high-rank Families.

Higher than the Reed or even the Atkins,

"If you're here to talk about joining my team during the mission, just forget it", Rex said

Looking at Rex with a wry smile, Dray then said, "I didn't even say anything, How do you know I want to talk about that?"

"I just know", Rex replied nonchalantly.

Dray is wearing a green battle robe with armors around his joints, his lower half was covered completely but his upper half is only covered by chainmail underneath the robe.

It looks more of a casual armor but Rex already scans that all of his armor is the sixth rank.

The sword that is strapped on his side is the seventh rank and considering he's Daniel Burton's son this much is natural since he owns the ATC.

Although Daniel definitely have higher ranked weapons,

The reason Dray is only using a seventh rank sword is that he can't handle a higher-rank sword, the rune on the sword will amplify the element of the user to the point that it will go out of control if Dray for example holds an eighth rank sword.

Even now, Rex is quite surprised to find Dray using a seventh rank sword though he's a sixth rank.

But then his eyes landed on Valery, she is already wearing a full plate armor that is thinner around her breast, and thighs. The blue veils that decorated her armor make her look stylish even though she's wearing this armor made for war.

Her face is exposed since she's not wearing a helmet, but the necklace she wore close that weakness gap as it's engraved by a protection rune.

Aside from the necklace, Rex can see a couple of accessories she wore that added extra protection for her.

With a stoic gaze, Rex then asks, "Why did you bring her here?"

"This hard-headed girl followed me here, I tried to get her off but she's very persistent", Dray replied while eyeing Valery in annoyance.

Hearing this, Valery looks at Dray angrily, "You're the one that's hard-headed!"

"What did you say? I asked you nicely to stop following me but you didn't even listen!", Dray replied feeling wronged by what she said.

Rex looks at the both of them quarreling in disbelief,

With a shake of his head, Rex then wanted to slam the door on them but Dray notice this as he held the door mid-way, "Rex! Just hear me out!"

"I'm not going to put you on my team, Gerrard and I already made a deal", Rex replied.

But upon hearing this, Dray then replied, "What deal did you make with Gerrard? Is it really not possible for me only to join your team?"

"Hey! What about me!", Valery added from the side but ignored.

Rex sigh before he finally explains the deal that Rex made with Gerrard,

Contrary to what Rex expected, Dray and Valery look at each other before Dray then said, "We're not here for the Seventh rank Undead. If it's about the seventh rank Undead, you don't need to worry and just leave it to Gerrard"

Hearing this, Rex frowns, "Don't need to worry? Then why are you asking to join my team?"

Dray smile with a troubled look and so do Valery as they both look at Rex with weird gazes, this makes Rex frown since he doesn't get why they need to join his team if not for the seventh rank undead that Gerrard will tackle.

"The truth is, we're asking to join you because we don't want to be inside a team with Gerrard"

Rex frown harder upon hearing this, 

He then noticed a subtle bleak aura coming out of Dray and Valery.

Based on his first impression of Gerrard, he thought that Gerrard is a good and charismatic person so he didn't get why Dray and Valery doesn't want to be on the same team as him and even fears him.

He's even from the first rank family, so he must be really strong!

It should be safer sticking with the strong, but then again Rex didn't really know Gerrard.

While they are talking, Rex suddenly saw a blonde woman stopping behind Dray and Valery's back, she's looking at Rex with her clear blue eyes which surprise Rex for a bit.

This woman, Rex is familiar with her since this is the third time they met.

She's Vanessa from the Rirgas Family that Rex met in the Supernatural territory as a scavenger and also during his training in the Crystalline of Mana.

Upon seeing her here, Rex was confused since when did his room known by everyone.

"You see now? I'm sure other families are also dying to join your team instead of Gerrard's team. There will be others after Vanessa over here", Valery added.

Hearing this, Vanessa was also surprised to see Dray and Valery.

Vanessa bowed slightly after seeing Dray and Valery's presence since she's from a way lower rank family, and she didn't have the guts to cut their conversation.

But Rex didn't see this,

He is dwelling in his thoughts because of the turn of events, Edward from the back notices something before he whispers something on Rex's ears.

"She's quivering", Edward whispered.

Rex heard what Edward said before he saw Vanessa quivering, 'Are they really scared?'

'Are they scared because if they die when they're in Gerrard's team, not only their family but Gerrard's family will be punished by the UWO too? Is that it?', Rex thought.

There's only one reason Rex can think of for Dray, Valery, and even the other descendants of the 25 Families are scared of the Macias family.

Since Macias family is the first rank family, the others don't want to become an enemy of the first rank family.

If they died while they're a part of Gerrard's team then they basically burdened the Macias Family, and no matter how Rex looks at it, this will certainly not end well to go against the first rank family in the 25 Golden Crest.

Rex then crossed his arms in front of him before he asks, "And why is that?"

"You might already realize that if we're on Gerrard's team and then we die the UWO will punish Gerrard's Family too, but there's actually another reason for us wanting to join your team", Dray said making Rex curious,

Hesitating for a moment, Dray finally said, "It's because of Gerrard's power..."

A moments later,

Rex closes the door after talking briefly with Valery and Dray, there's a troubled look on his face after hearing Dray's explanation.

'System, What is the Corrupted Light element?', Rex asks.

<Information will cost 5,000 Gold, Continue?>

'Yes'

<Corrupted Light Element>

Another form of the light element that has been corrupted by the darkness but is still categorized as a part of the light element, this element has the healing and buff spells of a Light Elementalist and also an offensive spell of a Dark Elementalist. Because of its nature, the holder of this element has to be very controlled in the mind. If the holder is unstable or exposed to deathly or dark energies the Corrupted Light will be influenced by darkness and will trigger a special state from the Corrupted Light element called Corrupted Mind. The holder of the Corrupted Light will be erased of all emotions and become increasingly evil.

Reading this, Rex started frowning.

Now that he knows this Corrupted Light Element, Rex finds that it's natural for the other 25 Families wanting to be in the same team as him.

The mission took place in Eqosa City against the Undead,

Everyone knows that the Undead can manipulate Death Energy which is the source of their magic, and the description of the Corrupted Light Element by the system stated that the holder of this element will not be in the right mind when exposed to Death Energy.

Or at least will be affected by this Death Energy,

If Gerrard perfectly controls his mind, his magic prowess will be a great asset against the Undead since the Undead is weak to light element.

But if he becomes unstable, there's a high chance that he will attack the others too.

'That will be bad, I need to find a way to stop him if that were to happen', Rex thought with a troubled look, he's concerned about Gerrard's probability of going berserk.

Truthfully, if that were to happen and the mission is non-existent Rex doesn't care.

Now that there is a mission given by the UWO, Rex needs to be careful because although the ones that died will be on Gerrard's team, Sebrof might just use it to bound him.

So he can't let that happen,

Edward already left to do what Rex told him to do while Rex is standing by the door.

Stuart is looking at Rex who stands by the door thinking, he knows that Rex is thinking so he didn't disturb Rex.

While Rex is thinking, his door is knocked on a couple of times.

Just like what Dray and Valery said, the other 25 Golden Crest Families also came to visit him one by one asking if they can be in Rex's team instead of Dray.

It was shocking to see many that Rex didn't know came to see him,

But Rex replied to all of them that his team is already packed, he already made a deal with Gerrard so he can't take any of them anymore.

After tending to the 25 Families,

Rex enters his room and finds Adhara who doesn't even turn her head towards him.

It's almost time for his departure since the clock already strikes half-past nine, Rex will head to the designated place in a bit.

While Rex is putting his preparation items to a black bag,

Rex can't help but sigh since Adhara didn't even talk at all after he came in, she's still mad because of the earlier events where Rex refused.

"Fuck it", he said taking off his clothes.

Feeling that Rex climbs onto the bed, Adhara turns her body around and finds Rex is already topless before a smile blossoms on her face.

She instantly opens her arms wide intending to embrace Rex with a sweet smile.

"We got about half an hour", Rex whispers while kissing Adhara's chest.

But upon hearing this, Adhara puts her lower lips forward pouting as she said, "But that's barely one round! You need at least about 12 times to calm down"

"You count that?", Rex replied wryly.

With a cheeky smile, Adhara then replies, "Of course, you have a Werewolf stamina so I know you can at least go for 20 times if you try"

"Shut up", Rex said before he flip Adhara's over as she started chuckling.

A moment later,

<The user has finished mating with the Female Alpha, Obtained 1,000,000 Exp>

Rex finished his session with Adhara and just like she said, they only manage to do it one time which troubles her but there's no time left.

"When are you coming back?", Adhara asks.

Hearing this, Rex thought for a moment while putting on the new armor that he bought.

Rex is wearing sleeveless waistcoats black leather armor with white linings for his top increasing his endurance and agility, black pant that also has knee pads on them that also increases his agility and endurance, and black gloves that fit his hands perfectly.

In total, Rex spent about 200,000 gold on this set he bought from the system.

Not only the increase in endurance and agility, but the armor that he's wearing also has 15% resistance to death and dark energy which Rex bought specifically for this mission.

The black gloves have increasing power of lightning element spell,

All of the armor that he bought is sixth rank equipment.

With the Tetuka Ring on his finger and the Amuerus Katana strapped on his back, and also the silver sword that he bought, Rex looks fresh and ready for combat.

"Since it's the UWO, we will probably use a teleportation formation to go to Eqosa City so it'll be quick and based on the situation when I will come back will vary. But it's roughly around two or three days at least", Rex replied.

Hearing this, Adhara nodded her head while playing with her feet.

She then suddenly asks, "I've been stuck at the peak of the fifth rank for a while now, should I just get a spirit from the ATC? Kyran is also nearing the peak fifth rank"

"No, I'll bring your spirit in a bit", Rex replied decisively.

Because of the events that are happening to Rex and also the Supernatural stronghold, he can't finish the quest that he got from the Tree's spirit near Wedron City.

Rex intended to bring that to Adhara, but if that's not possible he can just buy it from the shop.

After putting on his new armor, Adhara gives him two thumbs up with starry eyes since Rex looks quite good in that black set of armor.

This even makes Adhara's eyes turn heart-shaped as she inspects Rex up and down,

Seeing Adhara's excited look makes Rex quite confident as he puffed out his chest unconsciously, his expression then turns serious before he said, "Edward will be here with your father and my parents, If he didn't come back in a bit, you tell me okay?"

"Also check if Kyran is okay. If he is then just bring him back, the wounds will heal", Rex added.

Hearing this, Adhara is confused but she still nodded her head in understanding.

Rex nodded his head before he turns around showing his wide back, he then said, "Alright I'm going to kill some walking bones, It won't take long"