Wait, System! Stop Helping The Protagonist!

"Kill...it..." Ashton muttered as he felt his consciousness and strength slowly leaving his body.

Step!

Step!

Step!

Footsteps echoed alongside the noise of the Plague Extinguisher trashing. Anastasia slowly yet surely walked closer to the heart.

Sensing Anastasia’s arrival, the Plague Extinguisher became more violent. As a result, Ashton began to suffocate as the weight of the impact pressed heavily on his chest.

Fortunately, there was no third-party interruption, as Anastasia was able to safely arrive before the heart. With trembling hands, she took the heart from Ashton’s bloody, messy hand.

Thump!

Anastasia smacked the heart before her feet. She raised the spear, which vibrated alongside her right hand.

Puchi!

The spear penetrated the heart, dimming the purple glow.

Puchi Puchi!

She began to thrust the spear as much as possible until the purple glow was completely gone.

Seeing Anastasia’s complete, the spear in her hand dropped to the ground. Afterwards, she knelt on both of her knees, her arms limp.

"I...I want to...leave this...place..." Anastasia muttered under her soft breath with tears rolling down her eyes. The Filth Drop has consumed her spirit, which always shone, romanticizing the Filths as it heard the stories of her father’s deeds against them.

Ahead of her, the Plague Extinguisher’s body started to turn into specks of green light. One half entered Anastasia’s body while another entered Ashton’s.

Like Anastasia, Ashton also had tears rolling down his eyes. Not from his will or spirit shattering but from the pain swimming inside his body.

His body convulsed as he writhed in pain. He couldn’t scream properly, as if some kind of barrier were holding back his words.

Ashton knew that he was stupid and there was a better way of killing the Plague Extinguisher. But this is Filth Drop. There is no outside help except for yourself. When you go into a mess, you have to solve it right there, right now. There should be no hesitation in your mind.

As hesitation will lead you to death.

Fortunately, the Life Essence entered his body. Soothing his pain as it strengthens his body.

Ashton and Anastasia both went silent, not uttering a single word for a few minutes. They needed time to calm down their emotions and pain once again!

"Ashton! Anastasia!" At that moment, a girl’s voice resounded through the silent world.

Ashton tried to sit up, propping his elbow. Anastasia’s eyes also regained color.

They looked at the direction they came before and saw Lovia approaching them with Rias on her back. A tear could be seen on her joyous face. She didn’t try to wipe them away as she approached them with hope.

After coming closer to them, Lovia put down Rias, resting his head on a stone slab. She began to walk toward them with her arms open.

Seeing this, a smile also appeared on Ashton’s face as he began to forget about the pain inside his body.

Ashton opened his arms too, letting Lovia hug him properly.

"Don’t wor—" Ashton’s face froze with black lines visible on his forehead.

Lovia brushed past Ashton like she was passing by a street dog. She went straight towards Anastasia and hugged her tightly, ignoring the pain from squeezing her limp arms.

"Wahhh! I thought you guys were dead! Leaving me all alone! I was sooo scared! Wahhh!" Lovia grieved, breaking down in tears on Anastasia’s shoulder.

Ashton stopped on his tracks to curse this girl. He shook his head, whispering to himself. "She is just like me. An average person from earth. When have we experienced something like this? We were just slaves to the system. Surviving a painless life."

Despite Anastasia’s arm hurting from Lovia’s hug, she didn’t tell her to let go. "It’s okay. I was also scared. But with everyone together, nothing can happen to us here. So, stop crying, you silly."

Lovia let go of Anastasia. She sniffled as she wiped away the tears and snot. "I...I will."

On the other hand, Ashton sank his consciousness inside his Life Palace. Beside his Inner Bon, a yellow paper could be seen floating. He arrived in front of it and saw a few words written on it.

[ Plague Doctor’s Blessing: You will gain 20% poison resistance.]

"I once again got a reward by killing a Filth, and it is an ability unheard of. Another reward appeared that wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the book. Has something changed? Or is it because of me?"

Ashton squinted his eyes, contemplating this situation. "It didn’t happen with the Sharp Bumpers and Baby Holders. What is the reason for this? I don’t think my luck is as good as the protagonist’s to get the rewards... wait! Rias killed Sharp Bumpers and Baby Holders with his own hand, receiving rewards related to them. But in the book he didn’t deal killing blows to Blood Curled Nurse and Plague Extinguisher. He only helped them weaken while Anastasia dealt the killing blow."

Ashton’s eyes flickered with strange light. "So, if I kill Filths that Rias didn’t kill, can I get guaranteed exclusive rewards related to those Filths?"

He couldn’t imagine what those absurd Filths could drop, but he knew if his hypothesis is correct, he would have an alternative method of getting stronger without relying on the system.

However, he had to test this theory further.

Yet thinking of items and abilities related to those Filths made Ashton drool slightly.

"What is wrong with this guy? Has his brain been damaged?" At this moment, Anastasia’s concerned voice entered Ashton’s ears, waking him up from his dream.

"This guy already says many unhinged words. If his brain is damaged even more, then he will become completely retarded." Before Ashton could defend himself, Lovia’s sarcastic words sealed his mouth, leaving him speechless.

"Huh?" Puzzled, Anastasia looked at Lovia and asked. "What is retarded?"

Lovia’s lips curved up as she said, looking down on Ashton. "It is from my hometown. It essentially means someone with no brain."

"Oh." Anastasia looked at Ashton with a sense of pity. "Then... has Ashton become retarded?"