The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

”Don’t provoke me, human.” The Outerworlder woman snapped. ”I can take your life just as easily as swatting a fly. Your kind disgusts me the most.”

Aisha looked at the woman. If she so much as twitched a muscle, she would charge and counter her attacks. She wouldn’t go down easily, even if her opponent was taller and obviously had more tricks up her sleeve.

Nykos had gotten silent and didn’t try to coax her to stop fighting either. Not like she’d actually stop if he told her. But his voice had made her feel somewhat comforted, knowing that she had him watching her back. So, when he suddenly got too quiet, she couldn’t help but gaze at the shadows around her.

They were thinner now, fluctuating here and there, as though any minute now they would disappear.

Aisha did not know what that could possibly mean, but she hoped it didn’t mean he could no longer support her in her battle here, as she needed him now more than ever. If only she wasn’t exhausted and injured by overusing her ability, she could have had a chance of surviving all of this.

But that also meant she had to give up on her older brother.

If it was in the past, Aisha would’ve chosen herself and survived alone. But no more. She didn’t want to lose someone who had considered her his family. She couldn’t bear to face her little brother if she sacrificed someone else’s life to survive in this world too.

”I’d say the feelings are mutual,” Aisha bit back at the Outerworlder woman’s harsh words. ”But for someone who says they’re disgusted with our species... Aren’t you all too eager to use us for this so-called Lord’s Blessing of yours? Aren’t you contradicting yourself?”

She glanced at the back of the Outerworlder woman. The people loading the tanks did not stop moving. The Sentinels moving the tank where Zenick was in only turned to look in their direction, but did not show any signs of joining the woman in attacking her.

She initially thought that after the two Outerworlders who had their bodies filled with miasma were cut by her, they would try to drop everything and stop her as well. Aisha planned to use Nykos’ shadows to shatter the tank Zenick was in and get them to pull him out of here while she played as a bait.

But it didn’t go as she planned.

Aisha guessed that their priority was loading the tanks rather than playing guards for the Outerworlder woman. That meant they wouldn’t interfere with their fight unless absolutely necessary.

Annoyance appeared on the Outerworlder woman’s face. She scoffed and replied, ”It’s because you don’t understand. We’ve tried many times using other species, yet humans are more suitable as Miasma Vessels. It’s the only reason why your kind is still alive.”

Aisha laughed at that. ”You can’t admit, can you? Let me help you... Humans are superior to other species in the Galaxy, and you’re jealous. The Order will forever be inferior and need humans to—.”

Whoosh.

In a flurry of wind, a huge shadow appeared before her. The Outerworlder woman opened her mouth and screamed. Once her voice came out of her mouth, it sounded like glass scraping against a blackboard. Aisha covered her ears immediately to block it. But it was too late. The red-skinned woman was too close when she screamed.

Aisha’s ears started bleeding, and it took a lot of effort for her to resist doubling over on the ground.

The only good thing that happened to her was that before she came here, her head had been hurting, and she could still hear a ringing in her ears after she woke up.

Still, it didn’t mean she was unaffected by the sudden scream that exploded beside her.

With bloodshot eyes, Aisha took out a long needle from her boots and plunged it into the woman the second she was closer. She drove it into the bottom of her chin and rolled on the ground, avoiding the fist that smashed the ground where she had been standing moments before into pieces.

”Haa... What a shame.”

Aisha breathed a short sigh as she whispered. It took a lot of strength for her to speak, but she couldn’t stop the overly sweet, venomous smile spreading across her lips. ”I had hoped this method would work on you. I guess not?”

The Outerworlder woman stood upright, twisted her fist to shake off the rubble that had stuck to her. Frowning at Aisha’s words, she was about to speak when she felt something move beneath her chin.

Naturally, she knew what was creeping inside her. She handled way too much miasma and had become way too familiar with it, the same way an assassin would be familiar with blood. But what surprised her was that Aisha had taken advantage of that as well.

As a member of the Order, it was normal for them to intake large amounts of miasma into their bodies as a sign of their obedience to the True Lord of the Universe. But that did not mean they were immune to miasma. Even they had a hard time handling it. Most had even died trying to ingest miasma into their bodies without any precautions or methods to safely take it. But they learned the best method to become one with their Lord.

Using a Vessel, they cut it into pieces and attached those pieces to their own bodies. Then, slowly, their bodies would eventually adapt to the Miasma, and soon, they would be able to ingest miasma safely without ever needing to die again.

The Outerworlder woman’s hair was proof of that. She had taken off a human’s scalp with the hair still attached, then sewed it onto her own head!

She tried to pull out the needle lodged inside her, but it was difficult. Her fingers were far too big to pinch the end of the needle. So, she couldn’t take it out.

Thinking she had to finish Aisha and run to a doctor to get it out, the Outerworlder woman took a step forward.

The human girl was still crouched on the ground, panting heavily and breathing heavily. Sweat soaked her face, and dirt from rolling on the ground had ruined that pretty face. Still, that fierce gaze did not lessen even slightly.

Irked by the tenacity Aisha had displayed despite knowing the disparity in their strength and the disadvantageous situation she was in, the Outerworlder woman sent a kick toward her.

’Boom!’

Aisha flew into the air and slammed against a nearby wall. Pain shot through her stomach. For a moment, she could even see red dots. That kick could’ve torn a hole through her body had she not guarded herself with her elbows and knees. But what truly protected her from being completely wrecked by it was the shadows that had converged into a single ball as wide as a plate at the exact point where the Outerworlder woman’s foot would make contact with her.

Aisha glanced at the shadows amidst the pain pounding through her. They had thinned a bit more after that kick.

”For a tiny human, you sure know how to use your mouth. But that’s it.” The red-skinned woman walked over, wiping the blood dripping from her throat with the back of her hand. She glanced at her bloody hand, and at once, her anger rose once again. ”I’ll make sure to turn you into a toy. But first, I’ll smash you into pieces and ensure you’ll turn into an adequate Vessel for the Lord’s Blessing. Though as a Sentinel, you’ll probably beg me to kill you later.”

She approached slowly. In just a couple of steps, she reached Aisha.

Taking another step, the woman lifted her other leg to aim a kick at Aisha’s chest.

But—

Thud.

Suddenly, her legs went soft, and one of her knees touched the ground. The kick she was aiming at Aisha did not arrive. Suddenly, her vision blurred as though it was covered with film.

Blinking her eyes, she lifted her head and looked at Aisha.

The little human girl she was belittling smiled wryly with her back against the wall.

”You...” The Outerworlder woman croaked. ”What did you do?”

Aisha spat out a mouthful of blood and met her glare evenly.

”After knowing what your toys are made of... I knew using Miasma wouldn’t work.” Aisha inhaled sharply, the pain in her ribs making her groan and flinch. But she continued speaking to the woman. ”But I gambled on a little something... I wonder if the miasma I have stored in my storage bag can also be familiar with you.”

Aisha pulled out her storage bag and took out a jar from it. The jar came out like a tiny pebble, but as it came into contact with the real world, its appearance returned to its original state.

Because she was weakened, Aisha was unable to keep hold of the jar. It landed sharply on the ground, shattering into pieces. The dark, liquid-like slime inside it splatted on the ground.

As soon as they were released from the place where they had been caged, the miasma moved excitedly. But strangely, they only moved in every direction except where Aisha sat.

They avoided her as though they wouldn’t dare even think of touching her.

Letting the corner of her lips curl into a smirk, Aisha looked at the shocked Outerworlder woman.

”You see... they don’t like me that much. But I guess they found you more preferable.”