Cutting out the Faceless

I pull her into a hug as I look deeply into the sexy smile on her face. She detransforms after a moment and snuggles into me causing me to feel a slight wetness from her crotch. I literally just showered and a minute ago our mothers had called for us.

I must sadly not engage in lewd acts with the ravenous magical girl for now. I hold her hand, and with a smile I speak into her ear with my soft voice.

“We should make reintroductions to our mothers.” She blushes, however her embarrassment is abstend for now and instead joy dances in her eyes.

“Are we going to tell them about . . . us?” I nod. This girl is the love of my life, I hadn’t realized it growing up but I loved her. Finding out she was a sexy villainess was just the cherry on top that completed this perfect meal.

“We’ll be down in a minute, just finishing up!” I crack the door open as I speak, Utena already changing her panties out for new ones again. I grabbed her hand when she finished and started taking her down the stairs with measured steps. I was a bit taller than her so I had to be careful with my movements.

Inevitably we’d gotten down and our parents saw us holding hands. Instantly they started gushing over the two of us.

“So you are dating Utena-chan then?” Of course Mom knew, that woman is scary! Honestly it's only a matter of time before she figures out I’m Veil. She’s freaky like that. 

“I am.” I kiss Utena on the cheek, but doing it in front of our parents causes me to blush in embarrassment. Utena sits on my lap as I sit on the sofa.

“Well then, it looks like everything solved itself.” Ms. Hiiragi remarks. We exchange pleasantries and our parents are supportive of the relationship, but it's quite late so we have to go. I’d spent multiple hours in her room at this point.

As we got in the car mom asked me a question.

“Is she pregnant?” I pause and glance over at her with incredulity.

“I’m not that irresponsible.” She nods and pats my head lightly.

“Alright Akihiko-kun.” I grumble under my breath at the gesture.

We arrive home and a thought occurs. I want to finally get my revenge on the faceless fucks.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 4

STR: 18 

DEX: 20 

CON: 15 

INT: 16 

WIS: 10 

CHR: 14

Skills:

• Stealth II

• Sneak Attack I

• Dodge I

• Dash III

Perks:

• Self Mastery

• Bloodshot Lunar Eye (Howling)

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

• Blade of Red Moon

• Faceless Mask

Claims:

Red Moon Army 2/5

+ Damage against Humans

+ Strength of Rage Effects

I briefly eye my status with a resolute nod. It’s time to see what I’m capable of. I head out into the backyard and don my mask. The mask claimed from my foes that shall now be their downfall. Making my way over to the shrine under the moonlight I spent a moment simply standing on a tall building.

I’ve got to farm aura and appear like I’m protecting the city after all.

A few pictures are taken of me as I speak.

“The dark waters are beginning to boil over. Perhaps I should rip out the rot before it can spread.” With that I activate Stealth and disappear. Staring down from the high spot I’m in I decide it's finally time to test the extent of my new Dash skill.

I walk off the building and a shadow platform appears underfoot allowing me to stand upon it. I can feel it slowly fading, but by plugging more energy into it I can sustain it for a longer period of time. Additionally its presence speeds me up to a massive degree.

My Dash always is making the platform, which is what speeds me up. 

Chaining the ability together with itself I jump through the city and I spot something quite interesting as I move. The tallest building in the city has an orange portal at the top. Isn’t that the company that makes magical girl products? Interesting.

Either way I go to the Shrine and enter the portal's first stage.

Finding myself back in that barren land my eyes narrowed slightly. It was time to get to work.

[Clear Worshipper 0/49]

[Clear the Faceless Heir 0/1]

[Secret: Halt the Ritual]

[Secret: ???]

Looks like I can see the secret objective because I’ve done it before. Interesting. I approached the door and summoned my blade. Fully enhancing Stealth I’d softly opened the door and the ability blared at me but allowed me to slip inside.

Creeping behind the Heir I went to take him out first again. The blade in my hand slowly moved with me. Each heartbeat in sync, each breath taken with another member of the crowd as I’d slowly moved towards the boy.

My eyes glazed over, calm overtaking my form. Then without a sound I walked past him, and the boy’s throat was slashed open. My Stealth dispelling and the knight letting out a howl of rage. 

The child’s face turned pale in horror as the veins within him turned black and he died from the curse finishing him off.

[Clear the Faceless Heir 1/1]

The crowd let out enraged screams as well but I’d felt calm in that moment before I’d engaged against the knight.

I wouldn’t run this time, I knew he would be weakened in a moment.

“Missing something?” My smirk was accompanied by a magical array cracking apart, the red fire in his eyes dwindling to a faint spark. A massive swing flew towards me, but I simply moved under it as I analyzed my target. Suddenly an idea swirled in my mind.

“Let us see whose eyes burn brighter then.” I ignited my eyes and I could see so much more of the world. The corrupting mana deep in the brains of the worshippers, and the magical knight in front of me barely being a person at all.

We engaged in a clash of steel, sending the knight flying backwards as I smiled.

“That’s it isn’t it? You’re a masterless knight. You’re nothing.” I turned to the audience and started butchering them with a sigh.

“These rabble need to rest, no one here can be saved. Not even myself.” The chunni was coming out in full force thanks to my eye, but I wasn’t mad. I was joyous. 

[Clear Worshipper 48/49]

There we go, perfect my dramatic exit later!

I turned back to the weighty knight and hopped onto the stage with a ‘come at me’ gesture. The knight let out a howl and charged, allowing again an easy Dodge.

“You’re TOO SLOW!” I dashed again and again, tearing through the gaps in the figure's armor and leaving massive cuts on its body. Suddenly a sense of pain rushed into me and my eye. I turned it off and peaked at my status much to my own horror.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 4

STR: 18 

DEX: 20 

CON: 10 (-5)

INT: 16 

WIS: 10 

CHR: 14

Skills:

• Stealth II 

• Sneak Attack I

• Dodge I

• Dash III

Perks:

• Self Mastery

• Bloodshot Lunar Eye (Howling)

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

• Blade of Red Moon

• Faceless Mask

Claims:

Red Moon Army 2/5

+ Damage against Humans

+ Strength of Rage Effects

That was a massive decrease from using the eye, and it didn’t immediately go away after turning it off. Damn it, why does that thing make me so chunni! I had twenty four strength I could have probably two shot this fucker!

Whatever. Duel time I guess. As I stare him down he suddenly keels over and drops to a knee.

Oh yeah I’m using a cursed sword.

“You have no honor. You have no master. Do yourself a service and kill yourself.” I stared down at the figure and tossed him an arrow. It paused and actually fucking considered it. 

Slowly reaching for the arrow its hand trembled causing me to pause. Dude what the hell. You shouldn’t kill yourself!

“Pathetic. To even consider such an outcome. Pick up your blade, and face me.” The knight crushed the arrow at my words and rose up. The spark behind its eyes reignited for a moment as it flew towards me with a brutal horizontal slash covered in purple energy.

The attack ripped through the walls behind me as I dashed behind him. I have to end this, I still have some Ki left but I’m not risking it. Rushing up to the knight whose armor was falling apart I stabbed through his shoulder and into his heart. The sensation was almost mushy, very unlike a human.

Weird. I ripped my blade from his back as I got a notification.

[Secret Objective Completed (Defeat the Faceless Knight)]

I threw an arrow into one of the worshippers' heads and then I’d finally gotten that sweet, sweet, notification. This was oddly easy, but I think it was thanks to weakening the big threat and then curb stomping him with my Demon Eye.

[For defeating the Faceless Heir. Gain a compatible Skill. Gain a Skill Point. Gain associated equipment.]

[For completing Secret Objective (Halt the Ritual) gain a Skill Point.]

[Clear the Worshippers. Gain a Skill Point.]

[For completing Secret Objective (Defeat the Faceless Knight) Gain associated equipment. Gain a Skill Point.]

[Performance Reward: A-

• Combat Performance B+

• Primary Objectives Completed A+

• Secret Objectives Completed A

Gain special equipment. Gain a skill point. 

[Choose to upgrade Stealth, Sneak Attack, Dodge, or Dash]

[Choose associated equipment Faceless Legionare’s Curved Sword, Armor of the Faceless Legion.]

[Gain Spirit Array: Faceless Wanderer’s Paths]

While making my way home I start selecting my rewards. Firstly I upgrade Dodge and Sneak Attack to the second level. It’s been a long time coming after all. Both are passive so I don’t notice the difference instantly, but I’m sure it will be useful later. I decide to just save my next Skill point for the moment as I don’t notice anything specific I should use it on.

I take the sword and the array is just given to me, whatever that means.

[Faceless Legionare’s Curved Sword]

A blade belonging to a Faceless Knight. The Faceless Knights used these blades in defense of their masters. The knight who wielded this blade was the only knight who chose to side with the weakest of the three Faceless Heirs. This massive sword is enchanted to have its power amplified. 

[Spirit Array: Faceless Wanderer’s Paths]

This powerful array requires setting up in advance using Mana. Once the array is set up it will exist as long as it is supplied mana. The array allows anyone permitted by the use to teleport to any place within the array.

While its combat application was supremely frightening, this array was used for suddenly moving a large force across an area. Setting up the array took much time but the Faceless Dragon was famed for setting up hundreds of these in order to rule the massive Three-Tailed Spirit Valley.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 4

STR: 18 

DEX: 20 

CON: 13 (-2)

INT: 16 

WIS: 10 

CHR: 14

Skills: 1 Point

• Stealth II 

• Sneak Attack II

• Dodge II

• Dash III

Perks:

• Self Mastery

• Bloodshot Lunar Eye (Howling)

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

• Blade of Red Moon

• Faceless Mask

• Spirit Array: Faceless Wanderer’s Paths

• Faceless Legionare’s Curved Sword

Claims:

Red Moon Army 2/5

+ Damage against Humans

+ Strength of Rage Effects

Lots of new information there. This faceless dragon is definitely very powerful, I wonder if I’ll fight them later? Turning back to the portal to my surprise it has turned to a yellow color the next stage being added.

[Stage Two Unlocked]

[Monks]

I’ll worry about that later. Cracking open the back door I finally make it home. I wonder how Mom is doing?

??? POV Earlier

Walking into that room my eyes hovered over the little graph my child had made. I scan over it, and ignore most of the red yarn. Instead my eyes flick between the words Veil and Akihiko Inoue. My eyes trace an invisible red line between the two with a sigh.

I’d often wished my son didn’t have to be born this way, with such a responsibility, but he was still my son. He loved me, and I loved him. That was all I could ask for.

It’s all I could do as his mother after all.

Akihiko Inoue POV

Mom was passed out with a tea book on her face again, honestly I think I’ll join her in that regard. This long and stressful day is over, and I’ve got a busy day tomorrow. Its the last day of the weekend meaning I’ll have to farm as much aura as I can before I’m forced back to school!

I flop into bed with a nice glass of green tea. A certified tea lover classic, I take a sip and set it on the desk as I come to a realization.

I totally forgot to get a phone!

AN: Finally the Faceless Heir is dealt with and a new revelation comes to mind! A yellow portal from a green!? That’s right, portals only get stronger over time, as the danger level spirals out of control. Some of you may have seen me say that portals can dungeon break as long as they are yellow or higher . . . that’s going to be fun . . .

Aki also finds out how strong his eye is in this chapter, the answer is: It's stupidly broken! Truly once Veil pulls away the curtain upon his demon eye is his true power released!

Anyways I appropriate all your comments and questions so feel free to ask away!

Thanks for reading and see you next time!