Code Collector

It took three whole days for Allen to master hiding his overwhelming aura. Sebastian taught him every trick he could do to avoid people noticing him.

In these three days, he has exchange messages with both Gary and Gwen. He lied to them by saying he was going to hunt beasts. The two believed him, and Allen was just glad that they did.

He had a lot of things on his mind while he was training, but he managed to finish it all. The last day he was standing on top of the grass and it was green like its normal color.

"I have a question," Allen said out loud. He was just about to go back to camp since his training was done. "Why don't the other Hunters notices me when my aura is too strong?"

"Something to do with levels of perception," Sebastian replied. "Among these Hunters, they have lower levels of perception therefore their senses mostly blocks the ones that are out of their range unless they see the power in the flesh.

"It's like when you see a giant tiger and it does nothing, you'll barely notices its killing intent. Most of the time, when Hunters face higher grade beasts than them, the beast had shown their power and it was the first thing the Hunter sees," Sebastian said. "So, they think that it's strong because it looked strong. They saw it firsthand."

Allen nodded as he slowly understood what Sebastian meant. Before he received the Snake's Code, he would barely feel aura that some felt. When his teammates would say something to each other, warning themselves about an impending danger, Allen was clueless.

"Also, the fact that you're not showing any aggression towards them also contributes to their aura deafness," Sebastian added. "Since you're not furious in front of normal people that you see everyday, they don't necessarily feel your presence."

"It's like I'm in a camouflage," Allen said. "But it's a different case for the stronger ones, right? I now get what you are saying. If any means that others would sense me, it would probably result to not desirable outcomes."

"True," Sebastian said. "Especially when you encounter people from the Eternity and up. They can feel the ones who are close to Bearers. And since the Snake's sigil has been lit, it won't take them too much time to connect the dots."

"Last, really, final question," Allen blurted out right before he exited the gate. "What do you wish for me to do for you in the future? You have power, fame, money, and even looks. What could you possibly want from me?"

"A deal," Sebastian smirked. "I saw you that night with Jeremy, and I lightly overheard your conversation."

"You were eavesdropping?" Allen smirked. "That's out of character for you, Sebastian."

"Perhaps I was," the man said without shame. "But I was already looking for the Phantom Cunt. I want a deal with him. And since I have found you and realized you're still not fit for my deal, it'll have to wait."

"Tell me the deal," Allen said sternly. "Maybe if you tell me, I can do something about it."

"This deal isn't just a deal," Sebastian smirked. "It's a matter of pride and honor. And the minimum requirement for this deal is a Hunter that has ascended to at least Eternity. You're not even half of the level requirement for Haven yet, so I don't think we can work this out."

"But I'm already stronger than most Hunters here," Allen argued. "You know how strong I am and how much potential I have. Maybe I can do this deal, and of course, you give me the payment."

"The payment is the Ox's Code," Sebastian said, making Allen gasp. "Why are you so surprised?"

"You want me to kill Bernard?" Allen scrunched his face. "But he's your friend! And I don't do murder. I am bound to do good, even if it's against the law."

"You're confusing law with the right thing," Sebastian chuckled. "I told you, you're still not up for this deal. Once you're there, I will be the one to contact you. For now, what you have to do is get stronger and solve that little puzzle of yours."

"Puzzle?" Allen asked. "You know who's behind the Phantom Cunt?"

"I do," Sebastian smirked. "But it will be a waste if I just tell you right away. You need to earn it with your effort that you started."

"Then tell me at least a clue then," Allen said. "I'm in a loop between different people and none of them seemed to match anything. I'm losing my mind."

"Nine, one, one," Sebastian said. "You should start there."

What happened next happened all in a blink of an eye. Sebastian launched a cape out of nowhere and Allen was swallowed inside it. Suddenly, Allen found himself outside outside of the fence. Sebastian was inside, waving at him goodbye.

"*sshole," Allen grunted and walked away.

Meanwhile, Sebastian snatched his phone from his pocket while Allen walked away. He dialed a number and placed the phone on his ear, "Hey. He's going back to camp. Don't leave your eyes off of him. He's our only hope."

"But Seb—"

"No more buts," Sebastian cut the person from the other line off. "That b*tch is going to pay, and so will we. She's absorbed too much of the power anyway that the Ox seemed like its useless."

The other line was silent for a second. The person sighed before talking again, "You didn't tell him about Hereditary Effect, huh?"

"No," Sebastian chuckled. "Why would I? I just told him an elaborate lie about some special Primordial Beast Codes."

"Pfft," the other person snorted. "You're evil, Sebby."

"I'm not," Sebastian said. "I'm just protecting him from his pride. The Zodiac are on the move too, so we have to be very careful."

"Okay," the person said. 

"When all of this is over, we will run away and we'll live in my villa. We can live peacefully here, forever," Sebastian said. "One day."

"One day," the other person said their last words before the call hung up.

Sebastian returned his phone on his pocket as he raised his head to the skies. He basked on the sun for a few moments before he walked back to his villa, the fence and the villa vanishing into thin air right after.

Meanwhile, Allen arrived back at camp. He immediately went to the hospital without even going to his apartment. He looked around and managed his way to Jeremy's ward.

The hospital seemed silent that day. The busy nurses and healers would usually roam the halls, but there were only few that day. Allen wanted to ask what was wrong, but he has to check in with Jeremy first.

"Jeremy?" Allen knocked on the door and a female nurse walked out. "Oh, where is the patient here?"

"He's in the gym," the nurse said. 

"The gym?!" Allen gasped. "What do you mean the gym? That man had holes in his body. How could he possibly endure the gym?"

"We tried stopping him, but he was too strong for us," the nurse said. "Even the guard had no other choice but to oblige."

"That's because he's a top grade—" Allen stopped himself and massaged his temples. "This man is a headache. Where is he right now?"

–

"No, sh*t," Allen gasped when he arrived at the gym. It was located at the top floor of the hospital and was usually filled with patients who ar undergoing muscle rehabilitation.

"He's so cool."

"I heard he's a police officer, and he just healed."

"Really? That's amazing. How on Earth could he possibly do these things?"

…

A large crowd of both male and female nurses and healers were filling up the gym. Allen deadpanned after realizing that this was where most of the staff of the hospital went. 

The women were swooning over the boy at the treadmill while the men we're pissed at him. They were glaring at the man while his body glistened with sweat and his physique got more defined due to the lighting.

"Jeremy?" Allen swerved himself through the crowd and got on the front. "You're still injured. What in the hell are you doing?"

Jeremy stopped his run, making the women groan in frustration. Some of them even cussed at Allen for making Jeremy stop.

"Wow, there's a lot of people here," Jeremy said. "But where were you all this time? I've been looking for you since I woke up about three days ago. Gwen said you were hunting. That's such a great friend. You're hunting while I'm here dying."

"Who said we were friends?" Allen quirked his brow up. "Dude, wake up."

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "You looked concerned enough and even ran to get here. Anyone would think that you're close friends with me or something— oh, you're sweating."

Jeremy took his towel and gently pat Allen's forehead with it. Some of the women were giggling after seeing this, they were whispering to themselves with incoherent words.

"Oh, lord," Gwen gasped. "I ship this."