“Green shirt and blue Shirt..” Danny’s voice cracked.
‘He is getting panicked, if they notice him in this state they will start a shoot out without thinking’.
“Rob lead everyone away, I will pull their attention, I will make a move for the ones with The guns, I am more than certain that I can outrun them” he gave a stern nod to his second in command.
“Ethan, stay safe!” He whispers as his group catches some space fleeing the scene.
fixing his guns better with the disguise of fixing his clothes, he put them in a quick draw position as he prepared a plan of attack - ‘Cause chaos, incapacitate the long range, when they are in shambles I will take my leave’.
“Danny, stay like you are, as soon as you hear gun shots run, don't let them see your face, If they see you like that they will shoot us down immediately. Do they know about the ‘inspect’ command?” asked Danny.
Barely responding, Ethan is eventually receives a shake of head in response, “I thought of it as something I will tell them about down the line, I kept all the system interaction for later phases”
Hearing this response Ethan walks towards ‘Danny's lackeys’ with his hand raised up looking harmless.
Standing fearlessly in front of the local group, “Hi I am here by the request of Danny, he told me you know of the system thing, I also seem to be a fan of the genre as well and I just taught him a few cool tricks. He told me to pass it on to you, in order to make good connection with a close by hideout - a cup of sugar from the guy next door, if you wish”
Doubtfully they stare at Him, he notices the blue and green shirts noticeable arm movements towards their belts, “go on”, speaks up one of the men in the front.
“Try looking at an item or person and call out mentally ‘inspect’” he told them.
Their eyes widened, as his words seem to be truthful.
“What do you think?” Ethan asks his crowd, their darting heads looking all over the place.
“Now look, the farther the items the less detailed it gets” Ethan lies and points on a distanced street pole behind the group - they turn around look for the more distanced things to check Ethan’s claim.
A successful distraction.
Ethan pulls the guns and shoots down the blue and green shirts guys, they fall down.
Getting some distance before they even manage to understand what happens, the group of fourteen is now twelve.
[Ding! Classless human level 3 defeated!]
[Ding! Classless human level 3 defeated!]
The group of twelve struck with disbelief that very quickly turned into anger. They take a quick formation, covering two of their friends that go for the guns of their fallen comrades.
Ethan expected chaos, freight, distraught, confusion, however they did not run away or lost their cool.
They far exceeded his expectations - he fell for the classic sin of underestimating his opponent.
Committing to this crazy move full heartedly, he pulled the triggers, raining them down with bullets, hitting seven more down.
5 people breathed their last, leaving 2 on the ground groaning, they won’t be running around anytime soon.
[Ding! Classless human level 2 defeated!]
[Ding! Classless human level 3 defeated!]
[Ding! Classless human level 3 defeated!]
[Ding! Classless human level 2 defeated!]
[Ding! Classless human level 2 defeated!]
Over all, seven are dead, two are incapacitated and There are five more still in a formation.
With enough time under their belts, two new guys reclaim their comrades' guns and bullets start running rampant at Ethan's direction.
They are fury stricken.
One leg moves past the another in increasing pace, Ethan begins to flee in a zigzag pattern, his agility stats making an appearance, showing it's not just for display.
Ethan zigzags towards a cover he laid his eyes on from the beginning, almost getting unarmed in his escape a bullet pierce his left shoulder as he dive ungracefully behind an electric car that was parked by the road.
“Damn! That hurts!” Ethan exclaims.
The five remaining enemies, leave no place for rest, “Fucker! Get The dumb kid, he sold us out!” a man shouts.
They soon open fire at Danny who is having a massive panic attack, he is too distressed to even move.
Hearing some bullets ricocheting around him he turn around his eyes widen, he then realize he became the target of the men’s fury.
Too late he realized it as two bullets hit him and he falls on the ground unmoving.
Ethan growled from frustration holding back a flood of fancy descriptions he has of those guys watching Danny falling to the ground, the cruelty of this world strikes his nerves time and time again.
looking at his guns, and his kill count, with none of the guns’ slides locked back he assumed there are three to five bullets left on in both of the guns ready to be fired.
His spare bullets and clips scattered among his people.
He truly believed two fully loaded guns would be enough, he didn’t imagine he would have to go for 1 vs 14 so abruptly.
taking one gun in his good arm, holstering the one held in the wounded arm in an awkward and time consuming poor display of dexterity.
Ethan Looks down between the car’s wheels he sees their legs coming forward, three taking front and two on the back leg, possibly the ones with the guns in ranged support.
‘Damn, they are wise and their team work is impeccable, I massively miscalculated’.
Waiting for them to move closer, he shoots two in the hills from beneath the car aiming for a nasty angle that will make them so deep in pain it would incapacitate them.
Those two won't be able to go for a melee combat soon, or at all.
Having only one good arm and only one of the guns still loaded, the gun’s bridge he just shot with pulled back - showing an empty bullet chamber. Ethan’s face slumps. With one good arm he can’t even check if he has one or two bullets left, but having two will be a miracle.
Looking down the car between the wheels again, he sees the two new gunners doing the same locking gaze with him, the last melee guy taking a step back.
Hiding behind a wheel completely covered by it, courses and words full of wrath can be heard from his sides, they are not happy with the damage he caused to their gang members.
A round of bullets hits the car’s wheel, causing Ethan to coil inside himself and flying stone pieces that ricochet from getting shot at hits him causing minor damage - not deadly, yet an inconvenience nonetheless.
The gunners are closing in, they are 8 meters away from the car, slowly coming from different angles as the melee guy scouts his movements from the bottom of the car.
Sensing him reaching the end of his rope he let out a deep sigh, ‘let’s go all out’, he pulls the improvised deodorant Bomb from his small backpack.
the lighter that is ducked to it gets lit up by Ethan, waiting for them to reach closer.
Thumping his gun on the car, he shouts at the gunner coming from two sides, “Who wants to get hit first? I have two guns with your names on them” he tries to lie and create a false threatening sense in approaching him in order to slow them down and finalize his not-so-magical fire show, his gun on his lap and left arm's movement decreased significantly.
As he sees them in a relevant range, he tosses the can.
The can, pressed by a duct tape starts to release the gassy deodorant and hits the ground, initially there are two seconds in which there is a steady and attention drawing stream of flames but it doesn’t last long, the can spiral and spin on the ground engulfed by flames from all its sides.
The fire eventually explodes the can half a meter away from the melee armed man on the right.
Ethan jumps out of his hiding as if on sign, using his gun he shots the guy on the left - successful hit that partly incapacitated the gunner being shot somewhere around his torso with the last bullet, the gun's slide locks back.
The gunner is still in the game but getting hit caused him to recoil and significantly step a few meters away.
Charging the closer gunman on the right, Ethan tosses the now empty gun at the second gunman, causing him great confusion, enhancing the daze already existing from the explosion of the deodorant can and the his friend getting shot.
Using this confusion he drew the long knife and slash a vital.
It takes a few seconds after finishing his successful assault on the right gunman but the sound of the system arrives eventually and steals his attention.
[Ding! Classless human level 3 defeated!]
Turning his head to the side, the wounded gunman takes a shot, the gun aimed at Ethan.
As Ethan embraces himself for a hit, A strong vertigo hits him, his movement and speed of thoughts are not in sync with his body's movement.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
time seems to stop, everything moves in slow motion.
Turning his head, He sees a bullet an inch away from his left eye, moving his head at the last moment, a nasty cut finds its place on his brow.
Looking around for a second more with Everything moving around in slow motion, he registers the melee guy still attending a nasty cut, most likely from the can that exploded.
Time snaps back to place, Ethan loses his balance, and falls to the ground dizzy and about the black out.
Blood floating down his right brow coloring his sight a bit red on one side, and a massive migraine strike him, he sees the two men between flashes of pain closing in on him, he can barely register any external simulations.
‘Was that the bloodline talent doing? quick power up is a moment of weakness and big life saving graces will knock me down good, ah?’ he managed to gather a thought before multiple shots were heard, unable to register any external simulations any further, everything went black.
After an unknown amount of time his conscience comes back, he manages to gather his thoughts, but his sight and other external simulations are none existent.
No reaction from his body and no sight.
‘Damn, is this death? Feels like a loading screen. I had such good cards, what a waste…never thought shit would escalate like that’.
After a moment of self reflecting about his hubris and his improper reading of the situation, muffled and heated chatter becomes noticeable, ‘Ah?’.
The muffled voices become more discernable, “How are we to deal with Dana and his folks?! What was he thinking?!” Rob's voice resounds in his ears, and soon his party starts a rage fest on his hasty behavior.
Ethan’s body starts to react to his wishes after some time, His eyes slowly open up, his sight hazy and blurred, a dry feeling in his mouth and a crude movement of the limbs can now be somewhat carried out.
A feminine voice is heard, “He wakes up! Rob!”. chatter and curses is being spoken about among the people present in the room.
“He had no pulse for a moment, we are so lucky, Dana would have killed us” one of the men calls out happily.
“God dammit, I know you can hear me wake up!” Rob’s frustrated voice could be heard inch away from his face.
After some time Ethan’s senses and control over his body comes back.
“Water…” Ethan manages to form a word and his back slowly straightens as he sits back up stiffly.
Rob jumps him with a hug, ”crazy son of a…what were you thinking?!”.
This time, true and deep concern could be felt in his voice.
Halfway to recovery and an unknown amount of time later, Ethan speaks, an almost empty bottle of water in his hands, “What happened back there? I remember the gunman and the other guy closing in on me and I fainted, I thought i died…”
“I and those two came stealthy behind them as soon as We heard shots getting fired, using their lowered guard as they ambushed you, we took them down, and the 4 wiggling worms that were still alive, one got away though” Rob explains pointing at two more guys from the groups.
“We found you in a weird state, you were unconscious with a deep graze wound on your brow, we suspected head injury. Your pulse was irregular, almost completely stopping two or three times…We moved you to this room and Rob’s wife took care of your gun wound and head injury” One of the two men that was pointed at speaks up.
‘The penalty using the bloodline talent was severe this time, they think I hit my head, this will be a good cover up for now, had it happened mid fight..’ Ethan shuddered at the close call, he just danced with death it seems, looking at the stiches in his shoulder.
“Thank you, Without you I would be dead by now” he says weakly.
“Are you really thanking us? thank you my children are safe, and those bastards…” Rob’s wife interferes, anger still flickers in her eyes when speaking on the gang in the sentence she never finished.
This remark aligns with Rob’s fury and he hopes to be mistaken with his unspoken theories of her experience with them.
Managing to stand up slowly, he looks for Danny, “where is the boy?” Ethan asks.
The silence is loud, their faces are the answer to this question.
“This is the price for being incompetent. Who freezes still in the middle of a shot out?!” Ethan, filled with anger and self blame, the boy's last words haunt him - “I don't want to die”.
He slams the table beside him with a fist causing the table to creak, “Dammit!”
“This is not your fault, he was just standing there, I saw it for myself. The look in his eyes, I think he realized how he was helping the 14 crazy gang members, his consequences came biting back” The man who came came with Rob to support Ethan adds, “This might have been him punishing himself” The young man concludes with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood by normalizing another death in this cruel world.
After a bit more of his motoric abilities returning, Ethan speak up, “Rob, first, I assume an introduction is in order”
Moving to the next room, a group of 13 people of many ages sits there to Ethan’s surprise.
Looking around the room, the strangers looks at Ethan with deep gratitude for reasons he is unaware of.
Approaching three kids Rob speaks up, “Everyone, meet Lianna,my wife and my kids: Ned, Eddy, and baby Rose” he shows his family, a bright proud smile full of relief on his face.
A quick round of names, and one ‘thank You for saving my life’ later, They go back to the previous room to figure things out.
Ethan's eyes turned calculative, “Now please Lianna, Rob, tell me Who are the others that sit in that room?“
Ethan’s face turns darker at Rob’s explanation, “Danny was used by those brutes, they were terrorizing the residents of this place and random wanderers. In this room per your briefing we picked up people In need or with solid ability and good potential”.
Taking a step back pulling Ethan with him, he lowered his voice and explained further, “men were murdered brutally, and the women..” His voice turned colder and he took a dramatic pause. Digesting the information himself, “Why Would they?! Killing them was the right choice. Luckily for everyone here, those brutes were here for just a bit more than a day, most were spared but they still killed so many”
“They were 14, all level 2, some level 3, that's about 20 victims, minimum” Ethan spoke his calculated guess, his group members nodded solemnly, leaving Lianna confused by the terminology he uses.
“You will be brought up to speed on the way back” Rob states straightforwardly.
“How long was I out?” Ethan inquired.
“Almost two hours”
“So we have to move back before It gets dark” Ethan concludes, standing back on his feet.
Making their way to the base, the cohort informs the new recruits of the new world order, and what they are expected to do in the base in a more detailed manner, throwing them into an emotional turmoil.
“Why didn't we take everyone?” A young child asks naively.
“The base is not strong and everyone here still needs to look for their families too. We don't have enough food and beds” A guard explained to the lonely kid, looking at the kid with pity.
Asking of the kid's experiences is not a story to open in this setting.
Hearing such a scary and elaborate explanation, tears formed in the kid's eyes, but one of the young ladies attended to him, placing a hand On his head following up with holding his hand as they walked together.
Their morale dropped significantly by this exchange of words. Looking at her Ethan says “thank you” wordlessly by moving his lips.
She smiles back politely and nods, the kid walking along side her.
Walking along the city on their way back to the fortress, the chit chat reignites, “So, how did You even defeat 12 people on your own? And with two guns on them nonetheless, can you please tell us?” one of the group’s guards asks.
Overhearing this remark the group fall in silence, their eye's sparkle both in amazement and in curiosity for his answer.
Admiration and appreciation showing In their eyes. “I don't know, I just played along”
“Whatever you did, one man versus fourteen men, this is some fine skills” Rob highlights.
Ethan suddenly stops walking after a few moments, a realization dawning upon him, “The guns?!” His hands look for his weapon, he feels the knife sheathed on his belt but not the guns.
Internally he adds to himself ‘The 10 dead people? Using the bloodline talent, that's a really needed stats point I could have right now!’
“Also,” Ethan moves closer to Rob, asking in a whispering voice, “What of the bodies of the gang members?”
Confused by such a worry Rob answers in a weird tone, “We picked up your two guns, also picked the three from the gang, looking for two leaders suggested by this group, we…we actually gave them a gun, so we have two extra guns and there was also three spare full clips of the gang members we looted. Staying low key and friendly, not telling of the base and resources they didn’t ask any questions when receiving the gun and their freedom back and just let us be”
Taking an awkward pause, “The bodies…we instructed one of the new leaders to move them away, burning them…” He awkwardly changed subject quickly, “Those are yours,” , he passed on Ethan’s guns back to him.
Taking them back, Ethan holstered them.
“We refilled them both and still got a clip and a half, luckily they didn’t waste all the clips on you”, he finished by laughing at his own choice of words.
‘Dammit!’ Ethan’s face clearly shows his thoughts about missing on the free stats, causing Rob to have a weird look in exchange.
‘Two more guns and extra bullets are treasures, what's wrong with him…’ Rob scratched the back of his head
Letting the moment dissipate in a long awkward silence Ethan speaks once more, “I want you to have two deputies, in future cases like this. I also have to recover for a bit in base for a day or two and soon you would need to go for the runs on your own”
As if prepared, Rob nods pointing at two men, one at the back and one in front of the group, ‘tactical location is well thought’, Ethan nods.
“so you found your deputies? Looks like I can retire for a day to heal” Ethan let out a sigh of relive.
Rob's face became stern, “Looks like it, For a test run I will have to go for a very close location on the other side of the base”, Saying that he earns a nod from everyone close to him, Ethans performances lit the fire in them.
Ethan add his two cents, “keep it discreet, pick the family member and disappear let's not recruit too many people in one day, integration must be slow and steady”
The way back is slower but uneventful, luckily enough.
Letting the new recruits and Rob family to their new residence, he takes the cohort for a briefing.
“Sunset is about to start. With no light or electricity, leaving this place at night is practically suicide. the severing wings, those bone birds…they would've killed us before we knew how we died had we left on time like now. Is There a destination on the list you can make it in twenty minutes?”
Rob Nods, “in thirty five - forty minutes, if things will go easily. I can pinpoint two locations really close by to one another”.
“Do so, but if it's getting dark or things gets complicated you come back running” Ethan orders in a manner that leaves no place for objections.
Nodding Their heads, they turn to leave.
Ethan Enters the base, the transformation is immense. The living quarters are more defined, and wooden walls are being erected, simple wooden tables are in the communal area. In there he sees Jessica working the people around.
Ethan's eyes widen in shock as he looks at a patrol team, two carrying crude metal swords.
It looks more like a sharpened piece of cut out metal but a sword nonetheless.
‘This is new’ he internally notes to himself already heading their way.
