Conquering the Mythos: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Skill Corruption

Kai's mind was going into overdrive as he tried to find a way out of this mess. Although uncomfortable due to Lord Shuzen's leering stare, Kai knew better than to let that weakness show.

'I just need to survive long enough to-'

Poison shot out of Lord Shuzen's finger before Kai could even perceive its existence. Raising his hand to his neck and already bracing for pain, he was confused and terrified by the lack of any effect.

'What the hell is this poison?! What did this bastard do to me?' Kai thought as he tried to keep a calm expression on the exterior.

"There was no need to brace yourself there, son. I wouldn't hurt you, I just need some insurance. See, that poison is going to lie dormant until I activate it. If you don't give me a reason to, you won't die. You have my word on that."

Kai paid no mind to the sympathetic gaze Lord Shuzen gave him, as he knew it was fake. Still, Kai was perplexed.

'Why wouldn't he use this from the start then? There has to be some reason because, from how he described it, this poison should've been within me all along. He could've just come into my room as I slept and poisoned me. I would've never known. The only explanation is that either I'm missing something or he's stupid.'

Knowing that the second was unlikely based on his previous experiences, Kai was thinking through various reasons when Lord Shuzen said, "Now stay here. You and I are going to go on a hunting trip. I'm going to go say goodbye to little Est."

"I can't say goodbye to my mother?" Kai asked, not even feeling any excitement. He was finally going to be able to tame beasts, but was it worth the price?

Only if he kept his wits. This was a dangerous game of cat and mouse that he found himself in. The poison embedded into his neck was all the evidence he needed.

If he made a mistake, Kai knew he would die.

"No, you can't see your mother. She's far too busy cleaning Est right now and we have to leave quickly. All of my belongings have already been packed, but if you have anything I'd suggest you focus on that. The second I'm done consoling my daughter and giving directions to the head servant, we're going."

In an attempt to sell his haste, Shuzen hurried past Kai, calling out as he left, "We'll see how good your skills are tomorrow. Our first beast will be the b-rank Bès Rap."

'The Bès Rap?' Kai thought, already knowing the beast Shuzen had referred to.

It was a huge monster with the head of a pig but a long body with spikes on its back, like the dinosaur beast Stegosaurus. The very air around it was poisonous due to its breath, however...

Such an ability would be an amazing addition to his small collection. And if he was right, if his beasts were able to level up instead of having a fixed power level, maybe one day...

'The very air my enemies breathe will cause their death.' Kai thought as a malicious smile darted across his mouth.

The prospect of such power had momentarily paused any thoughts about his new prison. Instead, Kai went to his room to pack, as Lord Shuzen had suggested.

...

Myria had just fitted a new, fresh, bloodless pair of clothes on Ernest when Shuzen knocked on the door.

Although Myria wanted to see her son and almost needed to, she had no desire to press such an issue. Shuzen... he lost his son. Whatever pain or fear she felt, she knew he was dealing with something much worse.

It had taken her almost an hour to get all the pieces of flesh out of Ernest's hair. The stains on her clothes still weren't clean.

There wasn't any point in cleaning them anyway. How could she ever wear those clothes again?

The worst part was they didn't even have a body to bury. If Myria wasn't so thankful to Jideva, she would have wondered how her kids had survived.

As it stood, she didn't care if it was merit, luck, or divine intervention. She was only thankful.

"Are you 2 doing ok?" Shuzen asked in his normal, tender voice. 

Ernest shook her head before laying on her bed, her back turned to her parents.

Shuzen nodded, knowing that such a traumatic event would have lasting effects on his daughter. Even if he told himself that he was unaffected by his son's death, that he was only happy for this new development, he knew that to be a lie.

Yes, he wanted power. But he also wanted a family. He just didn't know which he wanted more.

As he sat on his daughter's bed, placing his hand on her shoulder, he whispered, "Hey, Est. It'll be ok. I- I'll never allow something like this to happen again."

Ernest lay still in his grasp even as she began whimpering. "Why does everyone keep lying? There's nothing you could've done, Daddy. My Brother died because of me. I'm a bad girl."

Drawing in a deep breath, Shuzen averted his gaze from his daughter to look out the window. It was a pleasant night. The moon shone valiantly through the darkness, illuminating a beautiful garden. In the distance some deer were running around the field, playing.

'Why do they get to be peaceful?' Shuzen thought with disdain.

"I promise, Daddy! I- I'll never let you get hurt! Or Myria, or Kai!"

Returning his attention to his daughter, recently revived with fervor, he was shocked by the amount of passion that shone through her young eyes. He knew that she meant every word that she said.

'Just 6 years old... and she's...'

Smiling, Shuzen lowered his head to kiss her forehead. "I know you will, Est. You are the brightest, most courageous creature in this land."

He remained in that position for a few seconds, relishing the feeling of his daughter safe in his arms.

But power awaited him. He wasn't lying to Kai that they had to leave soon.

Once he conquered everything, Shuzen promised that he'd never feel this again. Nor would his daughter.

Their lives would be as peaceful as the deer playing outside.

Whoever he had to kill for that life, he would.

"I'm going to be leaving soon, dear. I know I just got back, but there's another beast that's shown up. I have to go tame it."

Shuzen paid no mind to the shuffling of Myria as she tried to keep herself quiet. Instead, he intently studied his daughter, wishing tranquility would befall her face.

Instead, she just nodded. "Be safe, daddy. I- I won't leave this place. I promise. I'll be good!"

Shuzen didn't know how to respond, so he just kissed her forehead again before lightly shaking her. Ernest didn't even crack a smile. She just continued watching the deer, wondering if some beast would come out and eat them.

As that would be their right. The deer were being very stupid, playing in danger.

Shuzen was the first to leave her room, though Myria was quick to follow.

"Y- you can't just leave again!"

"Why not?"

"Because! Our- Est needs you now! Didn't you hear her?"

"You're the mother, I'm the Lord! There isn't much I can do to protect her except to hunt beasts."

Defeated, knowing that Shuzen would not even pay attention to her words and that he was being so stupid he outwardly shared their secret, Myria asked, "Where's Kai? I want to talk to him, it's he ok?"

Grabbing his pack while barely acknowledging her, Shuzen began walking to the door. "He's fine. He even said he wanted to come with me."

"Wi- with you?" Myria spat in disbelief. "Does he want to die?"

Shuzen shook his head, offering a slight smile before he left the estate. "On the contrary, he's unlocked a latent ability. He's going to become strong, your son. Don't worry, I'll keep him safe."

He blew her a kiss as he closed the door, not giving her time to rebuttal.

She ran to the door, prepared to swing it open and scream for him.

'What is he talking about?'

But for some reason, her hands wouldn't move.

Something was constricting her movement.

The same something that was now in Kai's neck as well.