Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 93: Target Acquired - The Demon Unleashed

Her words were abruptly silenced as Daisuke's firm grip on her shoulder whirled her around to face him. A sense of urgency flickered in his eyes, causing a tremor of alarm to course through her as she registered his cautious demeanor, his index finger pressed against his lips in a wordless command for silence.

Petula nodded, her lips pursed in understanding. Mimicking Daisuke's stealthy movements, she followed his lead down the remaining steps, tiptoeing quietly until they reached the bottom. Taking cover behind a nearby wall, she held her breath as Daisuke scanned the cavern ahead, his eyes narrowing as he detected the mana signatures of several individuals.

"There's no point in hiding," called out one of the men, a hint of amusement lacing his words. "Your stealth is impressive, I must admit. If it weren't for that woman, I might not have detected your presence at all. But unfortunately for you, she completely blew your cover."

Petula's heart sank like a stone, her breath catching in her throat as she turned to Daisuke. The telltale signs of fear etched across his face mirrored the panic gripping her own body.

Or so she thought.

Daisuke slowly rose to his feet, his eyes smoldering with a silent fury ignited by the sound of a familiar voice. Without a moment's hesitation, he abandoned their hiding spot and strode purposefully into the chamber, driven by a burning need to confirm his suspicions.

Standing at the helm of at least a dozen men ominously clad in black attire was an individual Daisuke couldn't quite forget—a man whose memory haunted him like a specter. As he locked eyes with the sinister figure, a flood of memories rushed back, each one carrying its own weight.

He remembered the man's swift movements, his ability to catch the falling mana crystal before it had shattered on the ground. He remembered the cruel smirk on his face as he aided his comrades to beat him within an inch of his life. And most vividly, he remembered the satisfaction in the man's eyes when Zephyr was killed.

"Wait," the man remarked, cupping his chin as he sifted through his own memories. "Aren't you... that kid we taught a lesson a while back? Hah. So you're still alive," he uttered with indifference. "If you had half a brain, you would've skipped town, but instead you—"

Daisuke tilted his head back, an unexpected laugh bubbling up from his throat that caught everyone off guard. "To think I'd run into one of you this soon," he mused darkly while palming his face, a malicious grin stretching his lips. "It must be my lucky day."

The man frowned, a muscle working in his jaw as a cold and malevolent energy rolled off the intruder's body. It was almost unsettling. "...You've changed."

"Gee... I wonder why."

Unamused, the man clicked his tongue in annoyance and raised his hand in a commanding gesture. In response, his loyal lapdogs took a confident step forward, their defensive stance clear as they brandished an array of weapons.

"You've obviously lost your mind," the man accused bitterly. "If I knew this is how you were going to turn out, I would've done you a favor and finished you off back then. This time, I won't make the same mistake."

Still palming his face, Daisuke regarded the bastard over the bridge of his nose, the brilliant gleam from his golden eyes peeking through his fingers like laser beams. "Lost my mind?" he chuckled, the tones of his voice fluctuating as he arched his back forward, his arms falling limp at his sides. "Do you honestly believe that's what this is?"

The man narrowed his eyes, a gleam of defiance flickering within them. "Then what else could it be? Please, enlighten me."

Daisuke ominously lifted his head with deliberate slowness, his eyes wide with a glint of madness, his grin veering into the realm of the unhinged. "This is the exhilaration of someone who's finally about to exact his vengeance... by sending his enemies to the deepest depths of hell."