The Degree
Dangerous Rookie

“J-don't think you can—”

“Threatening you? Of course I can, the fact is I'm doing it. Is it necessary for me to show you straight away that there is no doubt for me to destroy it?”

Ray brought the needle closer to his eye. If the man still shows doubt over his threat then real proof is needed.

“You don't believe it, do you? Then say goodbye to your right eye.”

Ray unhesitatingly stabbed him slowly to make it painful and miserable.

“Argh! It hurts, it hurts! Forgive me, please forgive me!”

The fat man cried and every hole in his face let out water. His right eye was shattered and had lost sight for the rest of his life.

There was no way for him to recover it.

Because his eyeball was instantly destroyed, even if he tried to surgically replace his retina it would not have been possible if his own container had been destroyed.

“Don't you understand that the people who arrived at the Open World have thrown away their humanity. Not just you but everyone is.”

Ray brought his face to his ear and whispered words that were not just a bluff.

“You still have one eye, two ears and if things don't change I'll force you to swallow dirt. Now tell me your name.”

The fat man was still crying, his condition did not turn out to be good, quite the opposite.

An increasingly sad and disgusting condition to behold. There's no way to cover up how sad he is.

“Eagh ... my name, Endruid .. please forgive me, let me go!”

“Endruid, yes. I don't care what Degree is yours but what do you mean by the Eight Dangerous Rookies?”

Rookie, a term that is commonly used by the first generation to refer to the second generation.

This has become common but unheard of about the "Dangerous Rookie" in question.

“Say briefly and clearly. Slewing and trying to cheat will only make you suffer.” Ray pierces his needle deeper and gives more suffering to the Endruid.

“Eurgh...it is eight beginners who have a Degree and ability to concentrate. According to the boss, these eight people were the greatest of the Rookies.”

With all the tears and the heavy sounds due to the intense pain, it would be difficult for a man like Endruid to concoct a lie.

Such a perfect lie was almost impossible even if he had prepared it beforehand.

“Then besides Arthur do you know anyone who is wary of these eight rookies?”

Ray is sure at least Terumi's name is on one of the rookies to watch out for.

It is undeniable that his Degree can be dangerous depending on how he uses and utilizes it.

Not everything that looks trivial can be underestimated, such as Erina's words that something commonly viewed as trivial has great use as a Degree.

“I only know a few ... Other than Arthur, that woman you are with, Sakura Terumi is also included. Then, Ronald Franklyn, Euclesia Gehenna, Udin Saipuloh .

“It's new five, where's the other three?”

“Bos did not say it .. The last three people are still gray Degree so the strength can not be ascertained the limit.”

Ray could hardly believe it. Moreover, where did these people know the names of the Rookies and understand how far one's abilities were.

“Where and how do you determine that there are eight dangerous Rookies?”

There could be no tool capable of revealing such important information, nor a person capable of hacking into the system developed by Secret.

He is not at all opposed that there may be people who have a Hacker Degree. He also believes that Secret has created a security system by assuming that people with this Degree will be born.

“It ... I can't say it .. .”

“So, you don't want to talk, huh? Then I'll give you another pain.”

“Please stop this, let go of me! I don't want to be blind!”

The endruid cries and sobs as Ray exerts his needle into one eye.

“Then what should I destroy instead? Your throat and ears are still important right now, only your eyes are what I don't need.”

What is the best move that can be done? Sure do. Only eyes are not really needed.

Although one's lies can be seen clearly through one's eyes, but when the situation is urgent like today, even a genius will not be able to concoct lies.

“Alright, I'll talk so please stop!”

“Good, you know not to force luck.”

“Bos has that information from the data he got from the bonus task. I myself do not know what the data is like but it is so valuable he never showed it to anyone.”

Ray was surprised, this was the first time he had actually shown it expressively.

“Data? You mean all the data about us from the second generation? How can ...”

Ray does not believe this, is it true that Secret provides personal information that easily?

Secret once said that the confidentiality of one's Degree will be guaranteed but the fact is that someone has data about it.

It'll be dangerous if someone finds out about my degree. The worst part is that everyone will be my enemy. Her thought.

Although he can not use his Degree but that does not mean it will be safe for others to know.

Ray hid it not just to keep it secret from his powers, but for himself.

The secret of his Degree must be that he carries it to death.

“He got it from a bonus task .. I don't know what he did but there was a lot of damage done thanks to him.”

The endruid was still whining and every time he finished answering he would beg to be released.

“Is this guy Rookie the same as Arthur and Terumi?”

“I don't know for sure but it seems. After all he's the one who pulled me to revolt against the big union.”

That means Ray had at least seen this mastermind before this death game started.

Because the Endruid is the leader of a union, it means he has heard the voice or seen the figure who is considered "Boss.

“Then, who is your boss? Whether he is a man or a woman, tall or short, if you know his name just say.”

For some reason Endruid tried to glance at Ray who would earnestly do things to get what he wanted.

There was no way he could lie. A pejorative glare as if looking at dirt, the look in his eyes that contained commands and all fear.

If I want to survive after answering it, or from the boss's threat, then I must follow this person ... After all, Retsuji Arthur seems to be his partner. Think Endruid.

“Ya ... my boss, he is ...”

Before he could say anything Ray felt something fierce darting towards him.

With Ray deftly away from the Endruid, when he was about to ask him to leave but in reality the Endruid was too fat to be able to move in a short time.

Not a gun bullet or a firearm but an arrow that gripped the Endruid's forehead like a spider's leg

Can't punch a hole in his body but the arrow has no purpose in doing so. The real purpose is after.

“That arrow ... Endruid, quickly release—”

— late. The arrow emitted high-voltage electricity and made the Endruid electrocuted.

His body became stiff. Ray clucked in annoyance and opened his robe, he wrapped around his hand and quickly plucked it from the forehead of the Endruid.

The endruid was still alive but it appeared to be shortly before it died. Both Ray and Endruid stared at the origin of the arrow.

A man with a modern-looking arrow, wearing a mask and tight clothing was standing in the clock tower.

When Ray and the Endruid saw it, the person saluted as if to know being noticed before jumping off.

Ray won't be able to catch up to him because the distance isn't close. The only thing he could do was make a futile effort.

“Hold, Endruid!”