SSSSS-Rank: Negative Leveling

Moria sat in what used to be Silas's throne room, running his metal fingers over a petrified child's hand like it was a wine glass. Alfred stood behind him, somehow managing to look disapproving of the entire mine despite his face never changing.

Luthra walked in, still favoring his left side where the ribs weren't quite healed. Rebecca stayed close, practically vibrating with nervous energy. Khorvash leaned against the doorframe.

"You're late," Moria said, not looking up from the stone hand.

"I was unconscious."

"For three days, I heard. Very inconvenient." He set the hand down with a soft click. "You were supposed to deliver Silas's head to my estate. The deal was two weeks. It's been..." He made a show of checking his pocket watch. "Two weeks and three days."

"That doesn't sound correct and fighting him took—"

"I don't care what it took." Moria's eye fixed on him. "A deal is a deal. You're late."

Rebecca stepped forward, fists clenched. "He nearly died getting that stupid head for you! You could at least—"

"Rebecca." Luthra's voice was quiet but firm. She stopped, but kept glaring at the old man.

Moria smiled, the expression not reaching his eye. "Ah, the little killer. I heard about you played a big part in his victory."

"She did her part well."

"I'm sure she did." He turned back to Luthra. "You've caused quite a stir. The Syndicate's in chaos. Three different branches are arguing over who gets the mines. The freed slaves are telling everyone about the man who killed a B-rank hunter with his bare hands. Very dramatic."

"What do you want, Moria?"

"What I'm owed. Plus interest for the delay."

Luthra felt his jaw tighten. "I killed Silas. Freed the slaves. Gave you everything you asked—"

"You gave me a headache is what you gave me." He stood, his metal arm whirring softly. "Do you have any idea how many problems you've created? Three hundred freed slaves flooding into my town with no money, no food, no plan. The Syndicate branches breathing down my neck because you've disrupted their entire operation. And now..." He gestured at Khorvash. "You've let loose a dragon. In my territory."

Khorvash straightened up from the doorframe. "I'm right here, you know."

"I'm aware." He didn't look at her. "Dragons are walking disasters. Your kind burned half the continent once."

"That was three hundred years ago."

"Time doesn't change nature."

The temperature in the room jumped. Khorvash's scales started glowing. "You want to test that theory, old man?"

"See?" He pointed at her without looking. "Five seconds and already threatening violence. This is exactly—"

"Enough." Luthra stepped between them. "Both of you. Moria, what do you actually want? You didn't come here to lecture me about dragons."

The old man was quiet for a moment, then laughed. Not the warm kind. "Straight to business. I can respect that." He sat back down, fingers drumming on the throne's arm. "The Syndicate wants these mines. All three branches are ready to go to war over them. That war would happen in my territory and that's bad for business."

"So?"

"So you're going to stop it."

"I'm going to—" He paused. "How exactly?"

"By doing what you do best. Being an impossible pain in everyone's ass." Moria leaned forward. "The Northern Branch leader, Kane, is coming here tomorrow. He wants to challenge you for ownership of the mines."

He stared at Moria for a good 10 seconds.

"Let me get this straight," he said, his voice flat. "You want me to fight another Syndicate leader. Tomorrow. While I can barely walk."

"You walked in here fine," Moria observed.

"I'm holding myself up through pure spite."

"Good. Spite's useful." He stood, brushing imaginary dust from his coat. "Kane's B-rank, like Silas was. But he's different. Pure physical type. No magic tricks, just raw strength and speed."

"And you expect me to win?"

"I expect you to not die on my territory and make more problems for me." Moria headed for the door. "Win, lose, I don't particularly care. Just make sure whatever happens doesn't turn into a war that burns down my town."

He paused at the threshold. "Oh, and boy? That dragon you freed? Keep her on a leash. If she burns even one building in my territory, I'll hold you personally responsible."

After he left, the room fell silent. Rebecca looked at where he sat. "I don't like him."

"Join the club," Luthra muttered.

Khorvash pushed off from the wall. "He's not wrong about tomorrow though. You're in no shape for another fight."

"I know."

"So what's the plan?"

"Rest. Heal what I can. Hope something clever occurs to me before Kane shows up."

"That's not much of a plan."

"It's what I've got."

---

Back in his room, Luthra collapsed onto the silk sheets. Everything hurt, but it was getting better at least. Rebecca had curled up in a chair near the window, already half-asleep. Khorvash had gone to find food, promising to bring something back.

He stared at the ceiling, trying to think through the situation. Another B-rank hunter tomorrow. This one without magic to seal away. Just pure physical combat against someone probably faster and stronger than him.

'I need an edge. Something to even the odds.'

The system screen flickered into existence, surprising him. It had been quiet since the fight with Silas.

[System Notification: Quest Complete - Landlord's Request]

[Objective Achieved: Eliminate Gorgon Silas]

[Time Taken: 11 days]

[Bonus Objectives Achieved:]

[Completed within time limit]

[Minimal collateral damage]

[Freed all slaves]

[Secured mine ownership]

'Finally. About time you showed up, Lilith.'

[I apologize for the delay. The energy surge from your transformation required extensive recalibration of my core processes.]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Rewards Granted:

[Level Down x10 (Automatic)]

[Title Unlocked: "Chain Breaker"]

[Unique Skill Unlocked: [???]]

[5,000 Negative Points]

[Hidden Reward: Skill Evolution Token x2]

The level down notifications flashed rapidly:

[Host has Leveled Down!] x10

[Current Level: -24]

[Strength: 720]

[Agility: 985]

[Stamina: 850]

[Mana: 150/150]

The increase in his parameters was noticeable immediately. His body felt denser, more compact. The aches from his injuries seemed more distant.

[Title: Chain Breaker - You have freed over 300 enslaved souls. Passive effect: All binding, sealing, or controlling effects have 50% reduced effectiveness against you.]

'That could be useful.'

[Now for the Unique Skill. This is directly tied to your paradoxical nature and cannot be obtained through any other means.]

[Unique Skill Unlocked: Null State]

[Null State Lv. -1: For 30 seconds, you exist in a state of absolute negation. Physical attacks pass through you as if you don't exist. Magical effects cannot target you. You cannot be perceived by any sensory skill below S-rank. However, you also cannot interact with the physical world while in this state. Cooldown: 24 hours. Warning: Overuse may result in permanent dissociation from reality.]

'So I become nothing for half a minute. Can't touch anything, but nothing can touch me either.'

[Correct. It's the ultimate defensive technique, but purely defensive. You cannot attack while using it.]

'Still useful for buying time or avoiding killing blows.'

The two Skill Evolution Tokens floated in his inventory, glowing softly.

[Skill Evolution Tokens can upgrade any skill to its next tier. Would you like to use them now?]

He thought about his current skills. Mind's Eye was useful but limited. Predator's Instinct helped in combat but was mostly passive. Void Step was his most versatile ability.

'Use one token on Void Step.'

[Confirmed. Evolving Void Step Lv. -1 to Void Step Lv. -2]

[Void Step Lv. -2: Teleportation range increased to 25 meters. Stamina cost reduced to 3%. New effect: Can carry one additional person or object up to 200kg during teleportation.]

'Much better. What about the second token?'

Before he could decide, there was a knock at the door. Khorvash entered carrying a tray of food, the smell making his stomach growl.

"Figured you'd be hungry." She set the tray on the bedside table. "Managed to find actual meat, not the dried stuff."

"Thanks."

She sat in the chair Rebecca had vacated, watching him eat. "So, tomorrow. This Kane person. What do you know about him?"

"Nothing yet."

"Misha might know something. She seems to know everything about everyone in the Syndicate."

"Good idea. Could you call her for me? Please?"

She stared at him for a fear seconds, "fine, but only because you asked nicely."