Chapter 460: Role-Playing Once Again (1/2)

'It's close.'

After three days of moving at maximum speed and one more day of moving at half of that speed, I could feel that my target was critically close.

Unlike back then when I was moving randomly, tracking through the help of the Darkness elements in the Darkness Space was much more efficient. In fact, even when comparing it to tracking through limited Darkness elements before I achieved complete purification, my efficiency through the last four days was 4 or 5 times higher!

'I should get prepared.'

As the hoop I had around me almost turned into one 'arrow, I separated it from me before starting to finalize my plan.

”Long!”

Calling out to Long who hadn't come out in a while, I started optimizing my 'mental state', which was one of the main requirements for my plan to work.

Naturally, I didn't plan to simply run into that demon and bash his head even though I was confident enough in my current ability to do so, this would be a very poor decision.

After all, I had to at least probe him about why I was discovered and added to their main target list. Otherwise, without some precautions, the same situation could occur once again. Besides, since they planned to extract information from me, it was only fair that I do the same.

Furthermore…

'Killing him quickly doesn't count as payback.'

{Yeah? What do you want?}

Long came out from my ring nonchalantly as he floated in a sleepy pose with both hands behind his head, it seemed like I got the lazy personality Long this time.

”Nothing much, I just want some 'Illusion' to disguise myself with. It would be great if you can make me look as close as possible to the state of a 'Corruption Puppet'.”

Since I even took the pain to lower my speed on the last day so that I wouldn't be discovered by the target, I obviously didn't plan to approach him carelessly in my current form.

{Another undercover operation, huh?}

Just like how I disguised myself before entering my first demon base, I planned to do the same this time, although it wouldn't be as elaborate as last time.

Perhaps it would have been easier to do what I did back then considering I now had control over Darkness and Shadow elements. Unfortunately, that wasn't the focus of this undercover operation.

”You could say so, but you have less work to do this time. Apart from maintaining my 'Illusion', manipulating some corrupted Darkness elements would do the job.”

As I had already completely purified my Darkness elements, I couldn't do a perfect role-play as a 'Corrupted Puppet' on my own, which was why I had to rely on Long's 'Elemental Manipulation'.

While I could have simply waited till I dealt with the demon before completing the purification to play a more believable role, it was a decision that I would make. After all, I was basically risking being tainted by 'Corruption' at any point. As such, completely clearing the Tower of Refinement was my first priority target ever since I obtained Darkness elements.

{Alright, I got it, just be quick with it. Yaaawn, I really want to go back to sleep.}

”Don't worry, it shouldn't take 'long'.”

{That… isn't funny.}