Ray look at the three people in front of him.
The two males appear to be nervous, while the female appeared to be determined.
Ray checked the status of the three of them.
First was the status of their leader.
___________________________
[Name: Mender ]
----------------------------
Stats:
[Strength: 17]
[Agility: 20]
[Vitality: 16]
[Mana: 11]
[+] Skills
___________________________
___________________________
[Skills]
Recovery (Active Unique Skill) - hasten an individual's regeneration or recovery. (CD: 5 minutes)
Inspect (System Skill) - Examine object/ person's status.
Bullet Time (Active Awakening Skill) - x5 time perception for 5 seconds. (CD: 4 hours)
___________________________
As Ray looked at Mender's stats, he found out that Mender's Bullet Time Skill have different cooldown time compared to Jakal.
And as Ray saw this, he is thinking that he still hadn't inspected his own Bullet Time. He just thought that it would be the same as Jakal's at first, so he didn't bother looking at his skill.
Ray then check his skills.
___________________________
[Skills]
Divine Strike (Passive Unique Skill) - Each attack deals an additional 50% True Damage upon impact
Inspect (System Skill) - Examine object/ person's status.
Bullet Time (Active Awakening Skill) - x5 time perception for 10 seconds. (CD: 2 hours)
___________________________
A huge difference. It was not just the cooldown time, even the duration of the skill has doubled.
'Why?'
Ray pondered the reason why, and he could only think of two reasons.
The 1st possibility is that it could be because of the earlier notice he received earlier when he had awakened. The state of his body that had doubled the effects of awakening.
And the 2nd possibility is the difference in Mana stats.
Though there could be other possibilities, these two points are the only reason he could think of right now.
Moving on, Ray then checked the next person.
___________________________
[Name: Yale ]
----------------------------
Stats:
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 17]
[Vitality: 14]
[Mana: 5]
[+] Skills
___________________________
___________________________
[Skills]
Animal Instinct (Passive Unique Skill) - Enhanced senses.
Inspect (System Skill) - Examine object/ person's status.
Bullet Time (Active Awakening Skill) - x5 time perception for 5 seconds. (CD: 6 hours)
___________________________
This time, the schoolboy, Yale have the same Bullet Time as Jakal's. Then it was time for the last person, the haggard-looking office lady.
___________________________
[Name: Flaye ]
----------------------------
Stats:
[Strength: 9]
[Agility: 11]
[Vitality: 10]
[Mana: 5]
[+] Skills
___________________________
___________________________
[Skills]
Sleeping Bullet (Active Unique Skill) - Fire a bullet with minor sleep-inducing effect, can choose between a lethal sleeping bullet and an ethereal bullet that can't hurt an individual. (CD: 5 seconds)
Inspect (System Skill) - Examine object/ person's status.
___________________________
...
As Ray was inspecting the trio, they had already arrived in front of him.
"Um..." Mender tried to call Ray's attention nervously.
Earlier, as they were walking in Ray's direction, they had tried to inspect Ray's status only for them to fail for some reason.
[System skill 'Inspect' has failed]
The three only received such words when they had tried to do so.
Mender might have said that Ray could be a soldier, but Mender knew that there are other possibilities. Ray could be a hitman, a serial killer on the loose, or any other person already stained with the blood of the innocent.
That's why confronting Ray is already a gamble, they didn't know what his status is. And if he would attack them immediately without words or reason, then it would be a big problem.
'This is awkward' thought Mender as he tried to find words to say as he scratches his head.
As Mender was about to at least say the words 'hello', Ray had spoken first.
"I don't like beating around the bush, state your purpose"
'*Sigh' Mender sighed on his mind.
"My name is Mender, I'm a leader of a group of survivors, we had planned to go towards the portal leading towards the mansion and I would like to ask if you're interested in joining us, you're help would be much appreciated"
Hearing Mender's words, Ray had expected much, but still, his answer wouldn't change.
Ray then said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I don't plan on joining any group, and I don't plan on going to the mansion either"
*Sigh
Mender sighed; he had also expected such an outcome. He was even prepared to sacrifice the leading position if Ray would join them. But now hearing his words, he knew it was futile.
Since being forceful is out of the question, Mender could do nothing but step back.
"I see, then that is a pity. Still, if you ever change your mind, you can always join us anytime if you ever decided to go to the mansion"
"..."
Hearing no reply, Mender could only turn his back on Ray and go back to his group.
However, the two with him didn't join him, and Mender didn't call them either.
Seeing this, Ray then asks the two.
"What about you two? I don't plan in changing my mind"
Hearing Ray's words, the schoolboy, Yale, then opened his mouth to reply.
"We want to join your group"
They might be from the same group with Mender at first but the three of them have different reasons for coming in Ray's direction.
The three of them didn't know anything about Ray but considering the circumstances, having his help in the current situation would be certainly beneficial to them.
Considering the event earlier, Mender has decided to take the group to the Mansion, but still, he didn't know if there aren't any surprises awaiting them there that could potentially take their lives.
And having seen Ray's capability through the rankings, Mender wanted to try recruiting Ray.
The other two on the other hand want the opposite of Mender.
They don't want Ray to come to the mansion, they want Ray to join them in the wasteland.
That's why before coming in Ray's direction, the two had already decided to left Mender's group after an earlier discussion.
"Why?" Asked Ray, their group should've been good enough.
"I want to revive someone" Replied Yale.
"I am of the same purpose" then said Flaye.
The two of them had just lost someone close to them and hearing the angel's words before, they thought that the only way to resurrect the ones they lost was to do their best on the current task. And right now, they both believed that doing their best must've meant killing the monsters on the wasteland.
Hearing their reason, Ray had already come up with an answer.
"I am sorry but no" He found them pitiful, but that's it, he didn't plan on taking burdens with him. Right now, he still wanted to meet someone.
Hearing Ray's cold response, Yale got teary and then spoke in weak sobs.
"... I beg you, K-Kei was my best friend... he was-"
But before he could speak further, Ray interrupted Yale.
"I'm not interested in hearing your monologue, and even if I did hear it full, I could certainly tell you now that I still won't change my mind"
"..."
Hearing his words without any hint of emotion, Yale knew he couldn't change Ray's mind. Thinking so, Yale then slowly backed away with an expression of disappointment.
*Sigh
Ray sighed on his mind. He thought he would be the same as the old him on his dreams, one who was already cold-hearted to the core, but it seems he still isn't there.
When the kid was begging him in tears, he found the kid a little bit pitiful. If it was the old him on his dreams then he wouldn't have felt a thing. Still it was just pity, he thought that it was the same as seeing an abandoned puppy on the streets. He would find it a pity, but he certainly doesn't plan on adopting it.
Now there is only one person left.
"I w-would give you this..." The woman, Flaye, was presenting something in her hands.
"And if there's still anything you want from me, I will t-try my best..."
Ray look at the object in her hands and saw that it was a T1 Syringe. When he checked her status from before, Ray found out that her status doesn't seem to be affected by an awakening when she should've been one of the rankers in the area.
It seems that she had planned to offer it for him at the start, this must be the most valuable thing on her hands right now.
The woman is on the verge of tears and is nervously waiting for his reply.
"I'm sorry but I can't accept that... What you're offering is of no use to me"
"I, I see..." It was the things most valuable she could offer right now, and since it was of no use, it seems it was futile, Flaye then slowly turned around.
"Wait" Ray interrupted her.
As Flaye heard Ray's voice, she stopped trying to walk away and felt a bit of hope in her heart.
"I advise you to use that on yourself, go to the mansion to stack for a bit of food, then make a group with the kid earlier on the wasteland"
"..." Flaye then waited for a while waiting if there are still words Ray wanted to say, still hoping to hear the words she wanted to hear the most.
And Ray seeing that Flaye isn't moving and seems to be waiting for something. He then said, "That's all..."
Hearing his final words, Flaye then walks away in disappointment.
...
Seeing the back of a lonely woman, Ray was a little bit disappointed with himself.
The woman might be beautiful despite her haggard looks, and she certainly had the charm of an adult woman, but it was not the reason that Ray was disappointed.
'I'm still somewhat softer than I think I am' He thought.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
Considering what is bound to happen, he needed to be decisive.
He is weak and doesn't have the time to take pity on others.
He had decided right now, that it was the last. His feelings of pity should only at least exist for his people.
He might be strong in the eyes of others right now. But on the eyes of God, the one who could decide anything on a whim, and other beings, it was the other way around.
'I am weak' Ray said to himself.
...