Chapter 8: The Adventurer Squad

The two Rust Surges were entirely unprepared, pressed up close against Ye Mi, when suddenly her metallic fingers expanded, transforming into sharp blades.

A muffled, wet sound split the silence of the junkyard—the unmistakable noise of metal stabbing into flesh.

With uncanny precision, Ye Mi’s blade pierced straight through the brute’s chest, impaling its beating heart.

Its electronic eyes flickered madly.

It was only when the spike recoiled that the brute realized what had happened, but by then it was already sinking to the ground. Ye Mi’s black filaments were already devouring it.

A shrill metallic screech rang out; the spike tried to escape, but it was too late—Ye Mi had already split off another portion of her form, engulfing it like a tide of black waves.

When the final strand of metal filament was absorbed, Ye Mi’s new body swelled with power.

The heavy armor granted her impressive defenses, while the razor-sharp alloys elevated her attacks to a new level.

“Thank you,” Ye Mi murmured gently in her heart, as if truly grateful for the sacrifice of the three Rust Surges.

Then her tone shifted: “Compared to the agony I endured yesterday, your dissolution was merciful.”

After all, what could be faster than absorbing two ready-made pieces of high-grade metal?

Ye Mi could not think of an answer.

Her time was running short.

As the sun set, Ye Mi turned and left.

She needed more advanced metals, perhaps even offensive prosthetics.

What impressive strength could three Rust Surges from District One really possess? Ye Mi didn’t believe for a moment that she was powerful yet. She had to seize every opportunity to increase her abilities, endlessly if possible.

She still remembered everything she’d learned from Ian’s intelligence.

The OC Corporation had established a simple classification system for espers and Light Ruins monsters, which the rest of humanity had adopted as well:

E: Risk Level. As the name implies, these pose a certain risk. Monsters and humans of this level are relatively common, with the highest concentrations in Districts One and Two.

D: Controlled Level. These require special attention, as they can cause significant trouble. Most are found in District Two or deeper, while only a few Defense Bureau personnel operate in District One for transport and related tasks.

C: Out-of-Control Level. Highly destructive, capable of devastating entire areas. Among humans, these are the backbone of exploration teams, usually following B-level leaders along the fringes of District Three. For monsters, this is the dominant class in District Two.

B: Annihilation Level. The most powerful espers known to humanity, only four in total, each capable of single-handedly opposing an entire army. These are the main force for deep exploration of the Light Ruins. So far, no B-level monsters have been reported to the outside world.

A: Catastrophe Level. As the name suggests—beings theoretically on par with natural disasters.

S: World-Ending Level. Possessing enough power to destroy the entire world.

Of these, S and A levels were only theoretical estimates by humans. To date, even within the Light Ruins, no one had encountered entities of such high rank; after all, the most elite humans barely reached B Level.

Even so, this was terrifying enough—for these were all individuals.

“It’s not even close,” she murmured.

At least, compared to the Rust Surge in the containment facility—one with lightning speed and electrical powers—she was nothing.

That monster had been evaluated as D+, able to survive in District Two. Not quite dominant, but certainly formidable.

The team that delivered it to the containment facility were the backbone of the Defense Bureau’s exploration division, led by a C+ level captain and four D-level members; without such strength, they never would have captured the Rust Surge.

Ye Mi knew all too well that her current power was barely E level—not even reaching the D Controlled Level. The OC Corporation’s exploration teams wouldn’t bother to capture her for containment.

It was common knowledge that, among ordinary citizens of Prism City, the Defense Bureau’s security forces were invincible. Against espers, they could field squads able to contend with D-level espers.

Moreover, no esper would ever seek trouble at the Defense Bureau; too few who ventured out ever returned, and the higher their level, the greater the “reckoning” they would suffer upon leaving the Light Ruins.

Thus, even in this era of frequent espers, the OC Corporation maintained an unshakable hold over Prism City.

For now, Ye Mi had merely gained a ticket for self-preservation and preliminary exploration of the Light Ruins.

...

Three hours later, a light rain began to fall from the sky.

Ye Mi moved through the ruins, her figure light and ghostly.

Despite moving swiftly for so long, she barely felt fatigue—perhaps a benefit of her metallic body, which was far superior in function to her original form.

“No wonder so many ordinary people want to enter the Light Ruins, even knowing the mortal risks,” Ye Mi mused.

After advancing another three hundred meters, she suddenly halted. Like a cat, she leapt lightly onto a broken rooftop and crouched behind a crumbling wall.

Wait… why did that feel so familiar?

Ye Mi paused, momentarily stunned. Her reaction had been almost instinctive, a seamless chain of movements, but she was no longer in a feline body.

Which could only mean that, even though she had changed forms, the cat’s motions and instincts were deeply imprinted in her mind.

Would she, after changing bodies again, someday subconsciously try to disassemble herself?

“Habit is a frightening thing.”

After this brief self-assessment, Ye Mi pushed the thought aside and focused on observing what lay ahead.

Tap, tap.

The sound of boots splashing in puddles reached her ears—a small exploration team of three passed along the street. At the head was a brown-haired girl of East Asian features, looking young—perhaps twenty-one or twenty-two—dressed in a sleek silver combat suit, armored at the joints and vital areas. The color and fine craftsmanship marked her as Defense Bureau personnel.

A long blade was strapped across her back, and a compact pistol hung at her waist.

Her teammates wore the same style of combat suit, but the armor over their left breasts bore different holographic insignia.

The brown-haired girl’s badge was a blue hexagonal crystal, with a conspicuous “-” sign beside it; the others bore gray hexagonal crystals.

This rank insignia was internal OC Corporation knowledge, but Ye Mi recognized it—the exploration department.

Blue indicated a D-level esper, a full-fledged explorer with advanced weapons and clearance for District Two; gray signified an E-level esper, an apprentice explorer with the lowest grade equipment, restricted to District One.

Other ranks were color-coded as well: light green for C, gold for B and A, and black-gold for S.

The symbol next to the brown-haired girl’s badge marked her as a D-minus, the lowest tier of D-class espers—likely just recently promoted.

Which was why her team operated in District One.

As Ye Mi studied them carefully, the brown-haired girl seemed to sense something, turning her head to scan in Ye Mi’s direction.