Seeds of Discordia

Liam appeared in a puff of black smoke in a darkened alleyway. The moment he did he felt his Spirit Weave ability deactivate. His legs shook as he almost fell against the wall. He held himself up the best he could as he breathed heavily. While the pain he had felt earlier had dulled, it hadn't fully disappeared. As it stood now he knew there were going to be some sort of backlash he was going to have to suffer.

Liam tried to think back on everything that had happened. During his time under the effects of Ariyana's Bedlam Aroma spell he had no control over his body. He was able to see everything, but his arms, legs, body movements, speech, and even facial control was lost. It was like someone else was in control and he was just an observer. If he had to put it into a better words, the whole thing felt like he was in a trance. A chaotic trance.

However, thanks to that trance and those words that echoed in his mind right before falling into the trance, he had used all three of his Field of Sin abilities on not just one person, but the entire group of people. While majority of the people didn't understand what was going on with them, the two Demon-kins in disguise knew it. They knew and understood he was using three abilities from three different Focus Points in the Field of Sin.

Liam turned around and allowed his back to rest against the wall as he continued to process everything. Something that puzzled him was their reactions when they finally realized what he was doing. One went into a crazed state of mind sure, but it wasn't a rage fueled craze like all those other Demon-kins did back in Cashat Port. The other guy looked like he was mad, but his anger wasn't on him being what those others called him, but on something else he didn't understand.

Liam thought back towards the end of the fight. Those words that guided his chaotic mindset at the time had been correct. The best way to fight against a Sin User, as the voice called them, was by using Sin abilities. Using his Hubris Aura to create doubt and timidness within the people was enough for him to use Avaricious Potency Absorption and gain enough levels in his sub-stats to be able to catch Languid Peril off guard to use the same ability on him.

While gaining all of those levels in his sub-stats were amazing, they were also a double edge sword he had come to learn. He had increased his sub-stat levels too much too fast and because of that he was all over the place. He had noticed that even with a mind so chaotic, his body was adjusting slowly and ever so slightly as he moved about to the jump he had gained.

In the future he was going to need to learn to adjust to the increase on the fly or slowly. It would have to depend on the situation, but for now he believed it would be better to start slowly before trying to gain them quickly and having to adjust on the fly.

It was a scary thought to him that he was considering using the ability more since it could have some ramifications if used on the wrong person. However, if he used it smart and only during certain situations then it could be a powerful ability in his arsenal.

Liam's mind drifted to the last ability he used. It was the first time he had used it and from what he saw it was a terrifying one. Passionate Caress was a touch ability just like Avaricious Potency Absorption. However, unlike the level stealing ability where all you needed to do was touch a person, Passionate Caress required you to keep hold of the target. Only when keeping a hand on the target will the effects of the ability remain in effect.

The ability, while keeping a hand on the target, sends a wave of Lust Mana throughout the captive target's body. This mana swimming within them causes the target to grow weak in the knees as well as the arms and hands. It soothes their body and mind, so they won't attack while having the ability active. The target's body also begins to grow super sensitive as the seconds go by. After a certain amount of time passes the target gains a certain nasty debuff called Lascivious Passion.

Lascivious Passion is a debuff that only appears when the body and the mind relaxes enough and reaches a certain level of sensitivity that the targets mind begins to feel aroused by the user's touch. As time goes on the target's body begins to feel hot and any movement from either the user or target sends ripples of pleasure that causes the target to grow infatuated with the user. They view the user as a passionate lover that hits all the right spots and gives them the ultimate pleasure. All while this is going on the target's health is being drained slowly.

This ability was scary to Liam because of the way Mystic Gorger reacted after he finally let go. He didn't get to see much before he left, but the look in her eyes told him that there was a possibility there were some lingering aftereffects that could be bad in the long run. He would need to use this ability in very specific situations. However, even though he found the ability scare he did have a thought that sent chills down his spine. How would this ability look after reaching higher levels in it?

Liam felt his heartbeat finally start to slow down. He took a deep breath before activating Veil of Shadows. He then used Devour on a couple of Flawed Soul Orbs so he could replenish his Spirit Pool. He needed to fill it up enough so he could make his report and quickly get back to the others before someone went to look for him. However, before he could make his way back to the Web Branch of the Fiddler's Spider Web, Eri sent him an urgent message.

[Liam. You need to head back to the inn. That Naro guy just arrived with Key, and they are not happy. He is about to make his way to the Crafter's Association to find you. – Eri.]

What? Why is he going to the Crafter's Association? Liam asked, full of confusion.

[Mercer and the others told him you went there instead of going to the concert with them. After all that racket you caused with those assassins and what the group had just said happened they are planning to head out now instead of the morning. I suggest you get there now. – Eri.]

Shit. Liam cursed internally. I'm supposed to go and turn in the request. Not only that, but I'm not in the best condition to be going back to them in. What do I say? I also have an issue of me gaining something that has nothing to do with crafting.

[Don't worry about going back to the Fiddler's Spider Web. Best guess, those people that arrived will report your success for you and the next branch you go to will give you your reward. As for the other thing…make up something like you went to the Magic Tower and decided to practice there and got it while practicing some things out. You can say your condition was caused because you got too excited and overdid it by not paying attention to the pill's timer. – Eri.]

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Liam grumbled as he thought it over. The Magic Association was always opened twenty four hours in case there were night owls who loved to practice instead of sleep. The lie could work as well as the one about him not paying attention and getting to excited. While it was a half-truth, it was still true he didn't pay attention to the pill's timer. Grumbling out his agreement, Liam made his way back to the inn.

Liam limped around the corner right as Uncle Naro was about to leave the inn. Liam had changed from his Phantom Cat armor set to his regular clothes not too long ago. He made sure any blood he had on him was wiped away so there wouldn't be any questions as to why he had blood, but he made sure to leave the sweat and grime, so it looked like he did what he was about to go with as an alibi.

Uncle Naro looked worried after he saw him limping and questioned what happened. Going with what Eri had suggested, Liam told him that after he went to the Crafter's Association he made his way over to the Magic Tower to use one of their training rooms to get some more practice in before coming to the inn.

In the corner of Liam's eye he could see the others staring at him. He made sure not to look at them as he continued to talk to Uncle Naro. He looked like he wasn't buying the story, but then the look on his face changed after hearing Liam explained why he was limping. Uncle Naro looked both excited and shocked.

He let out a loud belly rumbling laugh as he reminded Liam that he needed to make sure to pay attention to that timer and that it was probably good that he learned the pain of his mistakes in a training room instead of during a battle. Liam winced at him saying that but then nodded and agreed he would not want that to happen.

As Eri had told him, they all decided to leave the port city and head back to the sea. The ship had gotten the repairs it needed done earlier than planned and Uncle Naro had taken care of the supply restocking with a few of the crew members, so they didn't need to worry about anything. As they loaded up into the ship, Liam saw Omira. She wore a determined and calm expression as she walked up the plank with Sebastean right behind her. He looked annoyed and irritable as he walked behind her.

Liam questioned himself internally where the man was during everything that had happened. He had heard from Mercer later that he claimed to have been asleep in his bed back at the inn. Roman and Artem both made comments around the line of how he was a horrible bodyguard. To his surprise though a new person had joined them. It was Valetrix.

Liam was introduced to her and was informed how they all had met. Apparently Uncle Naro was impressed with her and asked her if she wanted to join them. Liam wasn't sure why he would do that, but he wasn't in any place to say anything. The man had basically taken him and his team under his wing or rather…paw?

Gimmel informed him of the things he believed he should know. Eri had also sent him a couple of messages telling him as well that she had some potential of becoming a follower and should try to keep her interested in their group the best he could. He sighed after reading that. He was only happy that he didn't need to do anything right then and there since he was so tired.

However, he needed to talk to the others and look over the gains he had received earlier. As majority of the people either went to their stations or to bed, Liam made his way to the training room he had been using. Inside the room Ariyana, Artem, Avery, Blair, Gimmel, Mercer, and Roman were already waiting. After shutting the door, Blair and Roman both posted themselves by it to make sure they could hear if anyone was making their way to the room.

After the all clear was given, Liam retold them everything that had happened. While most things that happen at the Fiddler's Spider Web was supposed to be kept a secret, he had already informed them of him being a member of this group. While they knew he wouldn't tell them everything that had happened there, he did inform them of certain important things. Important things like how a request to kill Omira had arrived while he was there and that she was a princess. Mercer and Blair knew of this, but he wasn't sure if the two had told the others since he didn't. From the looks on their faces after revealing that bit of information, he understood they didn't know that.

After revealing that he then recounted everything that had happened after they had left. From his fight with the group to the fight with the two Demon-kin Sin Users who weren't apart of the Seven Immoral Vices. They were just as confused as he was when he told them what the two had informed him about.

They were split in their thoughts about this. Half believed it was a lie to throw people like them off, while the other half said there might be more to it than they knew. It was Gimmel who informed them that what they had said was indeed true. He then explained that there were many different Underground Associations like the Fiddler's Spider Web. Each had their own thing going for them. The place the two Sin Users were from was one such place.

The Underground Association they belong to was one called House of Transgressions. The House of Transgressions was an Underground Association that operated the same way as the Fiddler's Spider Web. The only difference between this one and any other was that the people who operated there were all Demon-kins who had left the Seven Immoral Vices due to some reason or other. They had no ties to the cult and had to prove that by either stealing an important object from the section they were once in or either kill or kidnap and bring a member of the cult to a designated location to be executed.

Liam nodded at that information. While it was absurd to believe, it didn't feel too farfetched. It also made Liam believe that Languid Peril's and Mystic Gorger's reaction to him using the Sin abilities made a little more sense. He still felt a bit uneasy since they were still alive and knew he could use the abilities, but that would be a problem for another time.

Liam had explained how the two had fought and how he faired. He then told Ariyana about the results of the effects of her Bedlam Aroma. After hearing what had happened to him they all agreed that they would need to practice the ability in a controlled environment to see how everyone else reacted to it.

Mercer was fascinated when Laim explained what had happened when he used Avaricious Potency Absorption so many times. He was also enthusiastic about wanted him to give more details on Mystic Gorger's reaction to Passionate Caress. Everyone else's reactions were mixed when they listened. Artem, Gimmel, and Roman looked uncomfortable with slightly red cheeks while Blair look intrigued. Ariyana had her hands on her cheeks trying to cover the blushing while Avery had a wide eyed as her face flushed bright red.

Most of them agreed that he would need to practice the ability and learn when he should use it and when he show not to use it. However, majority made it a point that he should never practice the ability on them. Especially Avery. She had made a very pointed threat that she would end his manhood if he ever practiced the ability on her.

Liam wasn't sure why they would think he would ever practice the ability on them. However, after Mercer smiled and said he wouldn't mind volunteering to see how the ability felt, Liam made sure they all understood he would never use it on them, practice or not. Mercer look unhappy and even muttered something about how it would be better if everyone understood how his Sin abilities felt so they knew what to expect if they came across someone with the same abilities. Even that grumbling was met with firm no's.

After that they all agreed they would go to sleep since they hadn't got any due to all of the adventure that happened this night. Liam stayed behind saying he needed to look over some stuff before heading to bed. After they left, Liam pulled up his notifications. He let out a sigh as he saw the number he had to go through. It looked like he wasn't going to bed any time soon.