If his life and freedom hadn't been at stake, Loshu would never have killed "Cupid."
But now, there was no room for reconciliation with the Foundation.
He had finally reached this point.
From now on, they were enemies.
Yet, in a way, this also freed him from a self-imposed restraint.
No longer would he have to hold back when facing Foundation personnel.
If they don't provoke me, I won't provoke them.
But if they come for me… well, self-defense is fair game.
"Cupid" had been positioned at the outermost edge of Achilles' Heel's encirclement.
Behind his building lay a golf course, its vast open greens offering nowhere to hide.
With dusk deepening, the course was deserted, and beyond it ran National Highway G45, its lanes buzzing with traffic.
Loshu activated Vertical Climbing, descending the building's outer wall facing the golf course.
Once on the ground, he "borrowed" a golf cart and sped toward the highway.
Achilles' Heel in Disarray
Meanwhile, Achilles' Heel was reeling from Loshu's sudden disappearance.
Barbie roared in fury: "How?! How did he escape again?! 'Cupid', you useless bastard! Where the hell is he?!"
"The Master" frowned, glancing up at the rooftop.
"Cupid" was loud, arrogant, and often interrupted orders—yet now, he was completely silent.
And more importantly, his ability had never failed before.
Every target struck by Cupid's Arrow had been utterly subdued.
But Loshu had resisted.
There was only one explanation…
"Boss…" The Master's voice was grim. "I think 'Cupid' is dead."
Barbie froze, then snarled into her comms: "'Cupid'! Respond! Answer me, damn it!"
Silence.
She pulled up the team vitals monitor on her tactical terminal.
"Cupid's" status was grayed out.
No pulse. No breathing. No blood pressure.
"LOSHU! I'LL KILL YOU!"
She lunged toward the building, but "The Master" grabbed her arm.
"Boss, think! If Loshu could kill 'Cupid' instantly—without triggering the Arrow's penalty—what does that mean?"
Barbie halted, her fists trembling.
She understood.
Loshu was strong.
Far stronger than they'd realized.
Before this, he'd always held back, never showing his full power.
But now, pushed to the brink, he'd struck back lethally.
"Cupid" was dead. "White Eyes" and Aeolus were still unconscious.
If she charged in blindly, more of her team could die.
"The Master" continued, voice low.
"Somehow, Loshu bypassed Cupid's Arrow. That means he can steal or nullify anomalous abilities."
He was right.
That was the power of the Anomaly Catalog.
The moment "Cupid" died, his ability had been seized.
Normally, even if someone under the Arrow's effect killed "Cupid," they'd still die from the "betrayal penalty."
But Loshu had broken the rules.
Barbie's rage cooled into something darker.
She was reckless, but not suicidal.
She wanted Loshu captured, but not at the cost of her own life.
"Report to the O5 Council. Request reinforcements."
The Anomaly Killer Milestone
By the time Achilles' Heel regrouped, Loshu was already on Highway G45, speeding away in a taxi.
He flipped open the Anomaly Catalog to its newest page.
Surprisingly, "Cupid" had still contributed an entry—even in death.
[Page: 64]
[Item No.: Omega-12-C-043]
[Item Name: Cupid]
[Object Class: Neutralized]
[Abilities: Cupid's Arrow. I hold your heart. I command your life. Defy me, and love's wrath shall strike you down. My love needs no permission.]
[Status: Executed]
[Historical Footage: Click to Play]
[O (Anomaly Killer Milestone – Activations Remaining Today: 1)]
The implications were staggering.
"Executed."
Not "Deceased." Not "Neutralized."
"Executed."
That word carried weight.
A murderer kills. A judge executes.
The Anomaly Catalog—or perhaps Loshu himself—was acting as an executioner.
Just like how Level-4 personnel executed D-Class.
Another piece of the puzzle.
And then, there was the milestone.
"Anomaly Killer."
The seventh milestone.
Loshu flipped back to the Catalog's title page, where a new entry now glowed:
[Milestone: Anomaly Killer]
[Tier: 1]
[Effects:]
1. You emit an aura that terrifies sentient anomalies.
2. You inherit the abilities of anomalies you execute (once per day).
Fascinating.
Execute anomalies. Inherit their powers.
The Anomaly Catalog was encouraging him to kill.
Somehow, Loshu had become an anomaly's executioner.
And he was just getting started.