World's Best Protagonist [BL]

He lifted the side of my shirt quite aggressively and then started drilling on my skin without warning. I felt a painful vibration as the needles pricked my skin repeatedly. I gritted my teeth silently.

"The ink...how?" To veer my mind off from the prickling, itchy sensation, I asked again.

He chuckled. Amusement flickered in his eyes as his gaze briefly glanced at me before focusing on the job again. "Boy, you’re quite brave, asking someone to reveal a Chamber’s ability just like that."

He hit the mark. I was really curious about what kind of power these Chambers hold. Are all of them awakened?

"Well, since you’re a special case, I’ll tell you something interesting. The ink is deadly because I can control it and give it life. Imagine if I draw a fire-breathing dragon using my ink..." His eyes moved up to mine. "This world will witness the birth of dragons again."

"Dragons made of ink," I corrected.

There’s no way the World Tree will give an ability similar to a god. His ability is Creation, but there must be a limit other than using up his energy and going berserk. My eyes narrowed at the arms with the morphed hand. Veins popped, angry, as if the tattoo machine was heavy and straining him. I stared at those veins as they moved like their breathing, rolling, and popping.

Slowly, my eyes widened. The ink! It comes not from the machine, but his own body!

The old man grinned. I shuddered. "Not to worry, boy. It’s not blood. That’s gross. We wouldn’t want our Seekers to catch whatever disease I have, would we?"

"Fuck, yeah," I asnwered, breathless.

The old man laughed, seeing disgust all over my face. Thankfully, he wasn’t the least bit concerned.

"It’s just ink. Clinically proven and tested."

"So...your blood turned into ink? All over your body?"

"That’s right." He leaned back and slapped the part where he tattooed me. I gasped due to the stinging pain.

"You’re done. And I should remind you that if you tried to remove it in any way possible: tear it, scrape it, cut it, or burn it...results in instant death. Goodluck running away from us, boy." He grinned, then cocked his head to the door, telling me to get the hell out of the room immediately.

I pulled my shirt down and walked out. He didn’t say ’cancel it’, but if I do that, that would make him aware. Seeing how he didn’t mention it, he was confident that I couldn’t cancel it. I’m confident I can.

My control significantly improved from all the vortices we conquered while searching for my teammates’ worlds. Not just it, the range widened too, and the number of targets increased. I can nullify a group’s ability without worrying about contaminated energy spiking up inside me.

If I can’t cancel this sickening barcode now, then it will only be a matter of time before I can. For now, it won’t hurt to be cautious. Once I step out of this building, the game of pretend and chase will begin.

Before the door closed, I looked back inside the room one last time and froze at what I witnessed. The lights were turned off, but the white walls were not white at all; they were filled with drawings—scary, mythical monsters—glowing in the dark.

The crisp sound of the door hitting the jamb snapped me out of a dazed state.

What the hell is that?

"Seeker Jade Dela Torre."

I turned to look at the male employee who called out my name. I asked him ’what’, and he told me he wanted to walk me out of the building. My brows furrowed, but I still followed him. Once we were outside, I realized why he insisted on escorting me out.

A white BMW sedan was parked outside the building.

"This car is now yours. Here’s the key, Seeker Jade."

The male employee extended his hand holding out the key fob, but as skeptical as I was, I just stared at it for a while. A vehicle is what I need the most right now, yes, but isn’t it suspicious that something this expensive is given to me? I highly doubt that the UAO is behind this.

The employee looked burdened. It seemed that he would be scolded if he didn’t get me to accept it.

"Sir, this is a gift. The giver said that, now that you’re living in an isolated place, you need to have your own mode of transport. So—"

"Who is it from?"

The employee gulped. He stepped closer and whispered, "From the 3rd, sir. That’s all I know. Please, take it."

As soon as the key fob was in my palm, the employee scurried away as if I was going to throw it back to him. My gaze landed on the thing, my mind replaying what the guy said. From the third.

Which ’third’?

There were seven lords of the evil UAO, now six. Is it their third one? My father’s friend? Pfft. No way. So, then, my father’s enemy? Seems likely. Which led me to believe that if I open the car door or start the car, it will explode.

Nuh-uh. I’m not going to use it unless I find out who gave it. I left the car after that. Let it be towed, so the owner will need to get it back. I just kept the key in my pocket and hopped in the taxi.

By the time the car arrived at Noir’s Sanctum, the taximeter was already reaching the sky. I cursed out loud due to the amount I had to pay, and in return for cussing out, I was kicked out of the car after the driver ripped me off.

I suddenly regretted not taking the damn sedan. Dusting off my butt, I looked up at the two-story contemporary residential building in front of me, then I glanced around the vicinity. The place was indeed isolated.

There were no houses nearby, only tall trees and fields of grass. It’s not in the middle of the forest, maybe just the outskirts of the city. Sanctums are built in places like these to avoid getting civilians involved in case Nightmares occurred.

Even though the materials used are indestructible, these safety precautions are still taken for all possible contingencies.

I approached the door with careful steps. I had no idea how to open the door with the tattoo on my rib side, so I just stood on that square-meter porch and faced the door. There was nothing on the walls on either side, so I was unsure of how to proceed. The doorknob wasn’t budging either.

After a few minutes of waiting, I decided to call the UAO, but before I dialed the number, the door clicked, opened, and then a grinning, unexpected individual appeared before my sight.

"You should have used the car instead, Jade."

Ah. The ’third’. Why did I not think of him? He’s the third Chamber!

"I’ve been waiting since this morning. Come inside, let’s talk." Joseph Armand opened the door wider. His smile grew wider when I decided to step in.

Although I was surprised to see Allen’s brother inside the house that was supposed to be mine, I doubt that he will harm me. I find no malicious intent in his actions, his speech, his aura, or the way he looks at me.

So, what did he come here for?