Nothing happened.

There was no change to the crystal ball.

"What is…."

Neo stopped speaking when he noticed the flying skull and Selene dumbstruck.

"Boy, what are you?"

"…?"

"The crystal is not reacting. It means you are 100% contaminated."

"Maybe it's malfunctioning?" Selene chimed in. "It's clear he has maintained his sanity.

"There is no way his contamination can be higher than 50%."

"True…."

The flying skull stared at Neo.

"Boy, next time, you are in the town, come find me. I'll have a new measurement device prepared by then."

He created a badge out of thin air and threw it towards Neo.

Neo took a good look at the badge,

[Neo Hargraves]

[Contamination: ???]

[Soul Hunter rank: Soul Initiate]

[Soul Points: 00]

"Soul Initiate?"

"It is the newbie rank.

"You go from Soul Initiate, Soul Keeper, Soul Warden, and finally Soul Reaper.

"After that, you get a shot at becoming a Grim Reaper and entering the paradise." the flying skull explained.

"I take it as we receive soul points among the mission reward?"

"Yes, and it's the basic currency here.

"I've explained everything. Now, off you go."

"Wait, Skalix, we aren't done here."

Selene continued.

The spider's voice was a strange mix of hissing and intelligible words.

"He is going to accept a mission with me."

"Lady, you mean 'that' mission? You want to take a newbie with you?"

"Skalix, you know—"

"Oh, I know you, lady.

"Your last team was one of the best team in Tartale and they were wiped out in the blink of the eye.

"You don't defeat the Mad Hound.

"Stop trying to get this young boy killed for your revenge."

Selene hissed.

Her aura flared dangerously.

"Skalix, just do your own job. Don't meddle in my life."

"Harr, Harr, I am doing my job."

The flying skull looked at Neo.

"What will you do, boy?

"Mad Hound isn't someone you can handle and he recruited a few Zeus clan souls recently.

"He has never been stronger."

"How much do I need to pay to know the location of the blood droplets that fell during Veldora and Neromax's battle?" Neo asked.

"…"

Skalix understood the intent behind Neo's question.

The flying skull sighed.

"Selene is going to reveal the location of one of the droplets, huh?

"You'll become a Soul Warden in one go if you sell that information."

His words confirmed Neo's intention.

Neo would help Selene and get the information in exchange.

"Fine. Give me your Soul Hunter badges. I'll issue the mission to you two."

Selene took out her badge from the Shadow Space.

She passed it to Skalix.

Neo did the same.

The flying skull added the mission details to the badges before returning it to them.

"You can read the mission details on the badge, boy.

"Now, go away. You two have blocked the line long enough."

Neo and Selene stood to the side.

"Neo… I'm sorry about hiding about the Mad Hound."

"I'll return a few days later to help you with the mission."

"…Are you going to run away?"

Selene let out a melancholic chuckle.

"It's fine. You don't need to give excuses.

"I'm at the fault to begin with. I shouldn't have hidden the request from you—"

"Selene, shut up."

Neo clicked his tongue.

"I wouldn't have accepted the mission if I was going to run away.

"Whatever you think, I'm not going to let a failed mission stay on my record."

Neo had to leave.

His time limit was nearly up.

He had another task to do before returning to the world of living.

"I'll meet you here again in a few days. Bye."

Neo wandered to the left wall.

It was clear Selene did not believe his words.

However, he was sure she would wait for him.

Because she was desperate.

The life side of the hall was filled with Hunt targets.

Neo went through thousands of names and photos place on the wall.

"Found them."

He stared the names of Kendrick, Gwen, Clara, and Leonora.

They were still in the Forest of All Beginnings.

"Christian isn't here. He must've been sent to paradise already."

Neo knew.

He had been gone for three months.

The corpses must've rotted already.

There was a high chance Nathan could've buried them or cremated them, not knowing what Neo planned to do with the corpses.

"The fourth vision completely messed up my plans."

Neo exhaled.

"Fuck.

"I have to awaken my time element."

He used Immortal and returned to the world of living.

Opening his eyes, his focus first went to the hard object in his hands.

He lowered his gaze.

"The Soul Hunter badge came with me?"

Neo was a bit surprised.

It seemed the badge was not as simple as he thought it to be.

He pocketed the Soul Hunter badge and checked time.

It was early dawn.

"I'll take a shower and attend the classes.

"I also need to meet Nathan and ask him about the—"

Neo opened the door to the hall.

The scene before his eyes made him shut up.

Mars, shirtless, was doing push-ups while Felix, female form, sat on his back.

Jack was playing Enma Shrine 3 on his console.

Arthur was juggling daggers to pass time.

Amelia and Nathan were cooking food in the kitchen.

"…"

Neo rubbed his eyes.

The scene before him did not change.

"Strange, my mastery of Darkness should be enough for my current level.

"Why am I still seeing hallucinations?

"Guess I'll just cut them down. It will do for a morning warm-up."

"Neo?"

Arthur noticed Neo stretching his arms.

"You are awake?"

"Neo! Why didn't you tell us you returned from your mission?

"We wouldn't even have known if the principal did not tell us!" Jack shouted excitedly.

He closed the game.

Mars stopped doing push-ups, and Amelia and Nathan peeked from open kitchen.

They all looked happy until they noticed Neo's surging Aura.

"Neo…? W-what are you doing?"

Arthur felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Neo covered the distance between them in a single step.

His punch, covered in red lightning, shot towards Arthur's face.