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SM/DC Chapter 8 : The Bane of the Unworthy
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 00:48:52 +0000 UTCArthur stood over him, breathing slightly heavier now, but still calm. His eyes moved back to the woman, who was now staring at him with a mix of awe and fear. The alley was silent once more, save for the distant hum of the city and the soft, panicked breathing of the woman.
Arthur walked over to her, his expression unreadable.
“You okay?” he repeated, his tone gentler now.
She nodded, her voice shaky. “I I don’t know what to say...”
“Don’t mention it,” Arthur said, glancing down at the thugs. “I was just passing through.”
He turned away, his senses alert, but before he could leave, something caught his attention. He looked over his shoulder one last time.
“Just... be careful next time,” Arthur said with a slight nod, his eyes softening for a moment before he disappeared into the shadows of the alley, leaving the woman in stunned silence behind him.
Arthur paused in his tracks as a new notification flickered across his vision, glowing faintly in the dimly lit street.
[Title Earned: "Bane of the Unworthy"]
Description: Your actions have marked you as a harbinger of retribution. Criminals and wrongdoers tremble in your presence. Attack power against thugs and evildoers increased by +20%.
He exhaled sharply, muttering to himself, "Bane of the Unworthy, huh? Sounds dramatic, but I guess it fits."
Another notification followed, demanding his attention.
[New Reward Unlocked: Weapon Selection]
Choose your weapon:
Gauntlets of the Lowborn
Dagger of the Lowborn
Sword of the Lowborn
Greatsword of the Lowborn
Arthur’s eyes immediately landed on the last option. His lips curled into a small smirk. "A greatsword, huh? Now that’s my kind of style—big, bold, and intimidating." He selected it without hesitation, and a faint shimmer of light appeared before him. Slowly, a massive blade materialized, its hilt wrapped in dark leather, with intricate carvings running along the blade's length. Despite its size, it looked perfectly balanced, exuding raw power.
The system chimed again.
[You have equipped: Greatsword of the Lowborn]
Description: A weapon forged for those who rise from nothing to challenge the mighty. Wielded with pride, it symbolizes strength through hardship.
Arthur took hold of the weapon. It felt cold and heavy in his hands, but he knew instinctively that it could deliver devastating force with ease. Yet, something about the name made him pause. "of the Lowborn," he thought, his smirk fading.
Turning the weapon over in his hands, he said quietly to himself, "How ironic. In this world, I’m highborn—living in a mansion, attending a private school, and driven around in a fancy car. Yet the system gives me a weapon that screams 'rise from nothing.' What are you trying to say, huh?"
Arthur took a deep breath, gripping the massive greatsword in his hands as he admired its intricate design. The blade seemed to hum faintly with latent power, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship.
But then reality hit him. "Yeah, this thing is awesome... but walking around with a massive sword on my back? Not exactly subtle."
With a thought, he accessed his system interface and focused on the weapon. The blade shimmered, dissolving into particles of light before vanishing entirely.
[Weapon Stored in System Inventory]
Arthur flexed his empty hands, feeling the weight of the weapon disappear. "Handy. I need to fight more, but one casuality for the day is enough, i can’t make myself the target of ‘justice’ this early on”
Arthur paused in the middle of the street, pulling his attention inward. His fingers flicked through the system interface as his mind began to process the changes. A steady hum of energy surrounded him, the quiet rhythm of his growth settling in as he focused on the stats screen.
Name: Arthur Blackwynd
Job: None
Title: Bane of the Unworthy
Level: 4
Fatigue: 0
HP: 350
MP: 250
Strength: 23 > 30
Health: 12 > 15
Agility: 11 > 13
Intelligence: 11 > 13
Sense: 11 > 13
Available Ability Points: 6 > 0
Passive Skill: Tenacity Level 1
Skills: Bloodlust Level 1
Arthur’s lips twitched upward as he glanced at the stats, nodding in approval. "Strength for now. I’ve got to make sure I can at least do my daily quest without dying," he muttered to himself. "And the rest can wait. Once I unlock my shadow powers, I'll focus on mana and the other specifics. But for now..."
He allocated the six available ability points into strength. As he confirmed the changes, he could feel a surge of power running through his muscles. The weight on his body felt lighter, like he'd just shed an invisible burden.
"Much better," Arthur thought, a sense of satisfaction filling him as he looked at his newly enhanced stats. "This should make those damned sit-ups and running a little less torturous."
He took a moment to mentally catalog the changes before closing the interface, his focus shifting back to the world around him. The streets bustled with activity, but Arthur felt different now. Stronger. More capable.
Up in the sky, amidst the sprawling city of Jump, two figures floated silently, watching Arthur below. Their presence was barely noticeable to anyone on the ground, but their keen eyes tracked his every move. The air around them hummed with an otherworldly energy.
Raven, dressed in her signature dark cloak, her hood raised to obscure her face except for her piercing violet eyes, stood with a calm but calculating demeanor. Beside her, Starfire floated effortlessly, her long fiery hair flowing in the wind, the vibrant green of her outfit glowing under the setting sun. The contrast between their appearances was striking—Raven with her brooding, mystical aura, and Starfire with her radiant, almost ethereal presence.
Starfire, her gaze fixed on Arthur, tilted her head slightly. "He looks strong," she said, her voice laced with both admiration and concern. "But what he did earlier… it was wrong. Those thugs didn’t desrve death."
Raven's eyes narrowed as she studied Arthur’s form below. There was a subtle tension in the air around her, a quiet intensity that made it clear she wasn’t simply observing. "I... don’t know," she replied, her voice calm, yet carrying a weight of something deeper. "What he did wasn’t justified. But... I sense something more beneath the surface."
Starfire turned to her, her golden eyes reflecting concern. "What do you mean?"
Raven’s lips twisted into a slight frown as she closed her eyes for a moment, sensing the lingering energy around Arthur. "He’s hiding a greater source of power. What he did back there—those thugs were nothing to him. That was just a glimpse. He’s far stronger than what he’s showing. Whatever he’s capable of… it’s much more than that." Her eyes snapped open, her voice firm. "I don’t trust him yet. There’s something dangerous about him, but it’s still too early to make a decision."
Starfire watched Arthur intently, her gaze softening with a touch of empathy. "So… should we capture him? Bring him in for questioning?"
Raven shook her head, the edge of her cloak fluttering in the wind. "No. Not yet." Her voice was firm, yet tinged with a sense of resolve. "I’ll observe him more. If he proves to be a threat or if he’s worth the risk, I’ll bring him to Robin. But for now, we wait."
Starfire nodded, understanding the weight of the decision. "I trust your judgment, Raven."
With one last glance at Arthur, the two women turned their attention away, vanishing into the shadows of the sky as they continued their silent watch.
