YM778.TV Chapter 44: The Unlucky Thieves
{Rel\'s Pov}
[Story Side Quest!: 3 for 3! Defeat The Infamous Theifs of Golden Horizon!]
[Rewards: 5.00 Strength, 25 QP, 2.50 HP]
A Quest? Well it\'s been a minute since the system has given me one but is it worth using QP on this?
"System what are the reward enhancements if I add QP to the side quest?"
[Here are the following reward enhancements!]
[Current QP: 185]
>[Base Reward: 5.00 Strength+, 25 QP+, 2.50 HP+]
>[45 Point Rewards: 8.50 Strength+, 15 QP+, 6.00HP+]
>[Maximum Reward 100 Points: 11.50 Strength+, 10.00HP+]
This is not really what I was expecting... But I think the base reward already looks good enough.
I also don\'t want to be facing them with restrictions so It\'d be better to just to defeat them now and probably use the QP for better rewards later.
"Let\'s just keep it to the base reward system..." I said while carefully watching the thiefs movements.
[Sure! Mr. Axel and Also you still have the 1+ Upgrade for the standard abilities.]
[Would you like to use it now?]
Oh... I had completely forgotten about that. Well, I haven\'t been using Vulnerability Reader as of late but I should\'ve just upgraded Projectile Disarm much sooner than needed.
"Can I upgrade projectile disarm?" I asked.
[You sure can!]
[Processing Standard Upgrade... 25%... 50%... 100%... Upgrade Complete!]
Like a standard loading bar in the game I just looked at the window slowly progress like the system couldn\'t just instantaneously move it up a grade.
[Standard Ability: Projectile Disarm [Grade 4] -> [Grade 3]...]
[Projectile Disarm: The ability is a precision-focused skill that allows the user, to actively deflect or parry incoming projectiles with remarkable accuracy.]
[Your ability can now parry weaponry on command upon activating the ability: projectile disarm.]
This definitely makes it more than just a disarming ability but now I can deflect weapons and maybe even Jan and Louise\'s attacks... Actually that sounds like a stretch.
As the trio dropped their bags, weapons flashing under the dim glow of the remaining chandeliers a pistol, a sword, and the menacing glint of cold steel.
[Tenacity has been activated!]
[You\'ve gained a strong resistance to the sleeping gas.]
This does answer the question to why I was able to stand against them in the first place.
I was unarmed and hopelessly outnumbered, I didn\'t have my bow or crossbow on me either. I\'m useless against these guys.
I felt a small thump hit the back of my heel as I moved away towards the front door as my foot landed on an unconscious guard crumpled at the entrance, a discarded pistol lying beside him like a forgotten toy.
I quickly took the pistol and my fingers closed around the cool metal of the weapon, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over me. Though I help it this feeling felt familiar somehow...
Suddenly, a deep roar shattered the tense silence. "Let\'s teach this wannabe hero a lesson!"
The pistol-wielding thief raised his gun at me but I had nothing to worry about.
CHING!
Focusing on the build-up of mana within me I had manifested a lot of my mana to summon a medium-sized portal that was about the size of my head and luckily it was able to turn transparent since the bright light would\'ve been a hindrance to my vision and I had nothing to worry too much apart from the melee range criminals.
"Die wannabe hero!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
As the thief pulled the trigger, I activated the clockwork of time just to be safe so that the bullets landed towards my portals, with time slowed, the bullet\'s trajectory etched in an agonizingly clear line.
Safely the bullet made its way through the portal exiting out the other portal I had placed at the back of my head.
his face smiled as if he waited for my head to be blown off but I was still standing looking at him like I was waiting for something to happen.
A flicker of doubt replaced his earlier sneer. "Did... I miss?" he stammered.
"Ricky! You idiot how could you miss an open shot like that?"
Mitigation is my knight in shining armour... Still holding this gun, there are bullets loaded into this clip and even if this is a novel I don\'t think killing is right.
But they could always get their injuries healed since there are machines that could fix what couldn\'t be done back on my earth.
I held the gun pretty firmly but could I shoot someone and not feel anything?
Images flashed in my mind of monsters that I had fought, driven by instinct and survival. Were these criminals any different?
My stomach felt uneasy. No, they weren\'t mindless creatures. They were people, capable of feeling and understanding.
There were too many questions to ask but my hands were shaking at the thought of harming a person.
The acrid scent of smoke and sweat filled my lungs as the thieves moved, weapons flashing in the dim light.
My black robe felt heavy, suffocating, under the weight of their gazes. They saw a hero, a potential threat and I just needed to render them unconscious so I could complete this quest.
But instead of drawing the gun against them, I let it clatter to the floor with a resounding clang. Their gazes snapped to my empty hands, surprise looks on their faces.
"I don\'t need this," I said, my voice steady despite feeling a little scared. "I\'ll beat you three with my own two hands." I needed to trust myself that I could win without a weapon.
"Did the wannabe hero forget his toy?" the pistol thief, cackled, gesturing towards the discarded gun on the floor. "Guess he learned his place after all."
the hulking machete wielder, snorted. "Yeah, right. Do you think you can take us all on, barehanded? That\'s rich!"
The third thief, the silent short swords, remained impassive, but a smirk tugged at his lips. The unspoken message was clear he thought I was naive foolish person.
I\'d like to show them that I\'m not just an archer... But an archer who could throw these hands.
With a burst of speed, I closed the distance on the shooter, using his surprise to my advantage.
My foot shot out, connecting with his gun hand. The pistol flew across the room, clattering harmlessly against a fallen statue.
The man with the machete roared, his blur of steel as he swung down. I leaned back avoiding the blade, feeling the wind of its course kiss my chest.
As he stumbled in his attack, I sprang up, delivering a sharp kick to his knee. He bellowed in pain, dropping to one hand, momentarily incapacitated. With a fist that connected to his face he landed face flat onto the ground.
[Sixth Sense Passive Has Been Activated!]
Then a sharp feeling had my senses on edge and as I saw the twin blades flashing. My body reflexively moved on it\'s own with my right hand a flash of black lightning enveloped around me as I saw the man with the short swords strike down from above my hand in one strike connected with the two blades.
[Parry Successful!]
I had parried the two swords and returned with a kick to his leg. He stumbled, dropping one of his swords.
"AHRH!" He screamed in pain from my kick.
SHING!
As the man with the machete got up once more he swung at centre of my chest and a loud force of wind blew into his face looking at me in confusion as if his weapon had hit a brick wall.
"What the?" He looked at me confused and a wide grin was put on my face.
(I had two sandwiches ready for him.)
ESH, ESH!
I struck his right cheek with my right hand with and then followed with an uppercut to his jaw and he was sent flying with a boost of power...
[Critical Hit!]
Seconds after 2 blades appeared before my eyes and I could see that the duel wielder recovered and I followed with a right jab to his chest.
[Critical Hit!]
As a another spark of black lightning appeared out of my fist he was sent flying away into a wall.
Wondering where the shooter went he was crawling onto the floor trying to reach for the gun after I had defeated his two fellow friends.
"Don\'t MOVE!" He grabbed the gun after pointing it straight at me. But I didn\'t even bother listening as I slowly walked towards him.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
"IM BEING SERIOUS I\'LL SHOOT YOU!" Still I had not listening and then I could see the shaking fear of his hands pulling the trigger.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
All the shots fired were useless against me. The bullet tracers disappeared into thin air and with a face twisted in a mask of desperation.
his hands shook, betraying his fear. His weapon which had no ammo left to shoot, replaced by a whimper of defeat.
"Look," he rasped, voice hoarse, "we messed up, alright? Just let us go, and we\'ll disappear, I swear!"
Part of me wanted to leave them be and just go but since they had already wasted my time here I might as well finish them off and get the rewards for this quest.
"Yes," I said, my voice barely a whisper, but carrying the weight of conviction. "I\'ll Disappear once you\'re asleep."
Clenching my fist with all the strength I swung at him and a flash of black lightning poured out from my fists once more.
[Critical Hit!]
I could feel my body only get more exhausted after beating these guys up.
My mana reserves feel over-exhausted from using Mitigation.
haah.... taking a deep breath of relief I think after today I\'d probably just chill out for the rest of the weekend. I couldn\'t see any reason why I would need to go outside.
[Quest Complete! Story Side Quest!: 3 for 3! Defeat The Infamous Theifs of Golden Horizon!]
___________
Authors Notes:
- Everyone is born with an essence or a core of mana it is up to the dedication of the person to learn how to use it which is the reason why some people know how to use their talents or not.
- Rel back in his earth was a dan 2 black belt in taekwondo during his prime years as a teenager.