Chapter 165: 164 The True Moment of Heartfelt Awakening

Neither moving nor fleeing? Quite cautious indeed.

Feeling the heart on the main stage beat faster and faster, yet never moving from its spot, an elderly man among the guests—clothed sloppily, face twisted in pain—raised an eyebrow in surprise.

My ability temporarily strengthens the hearts of everyone within range, accelerating their blood flow simultaneously.

If the target grows overly anxious or attempts to flee at the first sign of trouble, the enhanced heart receives double stimulation, pumping blood at double speed until circulation exceeds the body's limit, rendering them utterly incapacitated.

In short, anyone within my range moves faster and collapses sooner—just like the two old men from the Rayne family.

During the dozen or so minutes my ability slowly took effect, they ran around, chatted with guests, chased the target back and forth twice, endured repeated emotional shocks, and—being elderly with frail health—collapsed before my ability even fully activated.

But the target on stage, though affected by my ability, somehow felt only sixty to seventy percent of its full force; combined with his slightly above-average physique, he still hadn't lost mobility…

Looks like I'll have to increase the intensity!

After silently apologizing to his companions in his mind, the scruffy old man pressed his palm harder against his chest, his aged body jerking violently.

Simultaneously, nearly everyone in the hall shuddered in unison with him.

"N-no… I can't…"

"Help… help me…"

"I don't want to die!"

Due to varying physical conditions, some had still been propping themselves against pillars—but under this sudden surge of blood to the head, all finally collapsed, clutching their chests, even losing the strength to beg for help.

Now, the only person still standing in the entire hall was Leon.

…

Got him.

Feeling the heart on stage beat faster and faster, racing toward its limit, the scruffy old man's lips curled into a quiet smile.

Even if you saw through my ability—knowing that violent movement leads to quicker collapse—it won't matter. You won't run, you'll collapse from strain. You run, you'll still collapse.

"Tap… tap… tap…"

Hearing the sudden footsteps on stage, feeling the heart finally move, the scruffy old man wore a look of "I knew it."

Finally lost your composure?

Too late. My ability has many limits—narrow range, long activation time, no distinction between friend or foe—but if you didn't flee the moment you sensed something wrong, you've already lost.

"Tap."

Yet unexpectedly, the footsteps on stage didn't last long—never even descended from the platform—only stopping at its edge, at a spot ideal for addressing everyone.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

After confirming the guests below had all lost mobility, Leon took a deep breath and called out clearly:

"Why aren't you standing to bow before a Prince of the Blood?"???

Are you insane?

Hearing Leon's shout, the scruffy old man hidden among the guests nearly burst out laughing.

These people are under my ability—they're nearly dying from heart strain. How could they possibly stand to bow to you? Right now, only I—the one who activated the ability—could…

Wait… only I can stand up?!

A faint unease struck him—he shuddered, eyes wide with terror, wishing he could deafen himself instantly.

But

It was already too late.

As Leon's words ended, the scruffy old man, who had been writhing in agony on the floor, released his grip on his chest, rolled up from the carpet, and bowed deeply—face filled with terror and utmost respect—toward the target he'd intended to assassinate.

"My lord…"

"Thud!"

The scruffy old man, barely upright, was suddenly seized by an invisible hand, thrown into a violent backward arch, his skull slamming into the floor with a crack—he rolled his eyes back and fainted.

…

So it was him.

Feeling his heartbeat gradually return to normal, confirming the anomaly that accelerated hearts had been deactivated, Leon finally relaxed his furrowed brow.

He gestured with a finger toward the fallen old man, using the power of the Saint's Pendant to drag him over, then searched his body—finally finding a hard metallic object pressed against his chest.

【Name: Heartbeat Moment (Amplify, Synchronize)】

【Appearance: A pacemaker made of soft brass, implanted in the patient's chest cavity, powered by timed injections of highly concentrated whale oil; its internal structure is exquisitely precise.】

【If you lean close and listen, you can hear the hiss of a micro-steam engine and the clicking of dozens of tiny connecting rods driving gears.】

【Ability: Heart Amplification, Heartbeat Synchronization】

【Cost: None】

【File: This precision instrument was smuggled out of the Mechanical Capital Kolok, designed to sustain the heartbeat of patients born with weak hearts. The cost of materials alone could buy a hundred acres of sugarcane plantations.】

【Due to its exorbitant price, every user, though granted healthy health and spared death from cardiac failure, ultimately fell victim to the greed of raiders.】

【Evaluation: Though this anomaly's ability is extremely covert and nearly undetectable, if you do not possess a heart weaker than normal by several times, it is strongly advised not to use it.】

【Contamination Level: 2. 】

【Through personal observation and deduction, you have acquired extensive knowledge of "Heartbeat Moment." The Chromatic Badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" has activated.】

【Having understood the mechanism of "Heartbeat Moment," your resistance to it has greatly increased—you can now fully resist its deeper effects.】

…

So… its ability first amplifies its own heart, then forcibly synchronizes all hearts within range?

Tearing open the old man's shirt, Leon studied the complex, intricate device, hesitated, then did not remove it immediately. Instead, he pulled out a rope and bound the unconscious man.

After instructing Black Goat to keep watch and alert him at any sign of trouble, Leon took the 【Infected Blood Band】 he'd taken from the female prisoner, wrapped it around the old man's leg to temporarily drain his leg's vitality, then wrapped it around the back of his skull to heal his head injury.

"Ah! My… uh?"

After his concussion healed, the dazed old man felt sudden agony in his leg—but before he could scream, a salty, stale sock was shoved into his mouth.

"I'll ask you once."

Removing his other sock and tossing it into his pocket mirror, Leon, now re-shod, stared at the despairing old man and spoke rapidly:

"Are your accomplices nearby?"

"So there are more… including you, how many anomalies are among the rebels around here? One? Two? Three?"

"Only two? Then…"