Still unwilling to rely on Jack, Zhenin did not even consider using the ring of miracles.
Was it his pride, unwillingness, or just being practical? Whatever the reason is, he instead decided to put his own thoughts into action without anyone's help.
Since the red glow seems to be a charge-type laser sniper, it takes three seconds for it to charge to become lethal against Zhenin. Any less would just cauterize the wound that the laser made even if it passes through the body. Once charged over three seconds, the sniper becomes destructive as if a beam of flames had a punch of a mace swung at Mach-1.
Three seconds charge means fireworks of flesh and blood.
Even if a laser weapon is two ranks lower than a high-density plasma weapon, it is still lethal to a man lacking in protective equipment.
With the high adrenaline action, Zhenin began to overcome the throbbing pain on his back. Even the lingering heat seems to have disappeared and melded on his heating up body due to his heart overworking.
Looking at his path back, he saw a window that he could jump in to. Since the sniper had begun to glow red, it means that it is charged at least a second. With a burst of speed, it would only take a single leap from where he is and dive headfirst on to the window.
His body, currently on adrenaline, moved precisely when his thoughts were formed, kicking the ground with all his strength, and he jumped towards the window.
Fortunately for him, the window wasn't locked.
It easily opened.
For Zhenin, it felt like time slowed down. Every second felt like hours. With both his arms blocking his head, his body entered.
To what it felt like centuries, his torso also entered the safety of the house.
*WHOOM*
*SPLAT*
His left leg, caught by the condensed laser beam, bloomed like lavender petals carried by a strong gust.
Purple blood-splattered, along with Zhenin's flesh and bones, all over the small alley. Along with the smell of burnt flesh, his left leg was completely obliterated.
Due to the force of the hit, he was even pushed towards the window frame before falling inside.
At this moment, Zhenin's consciousness is fading. Pain coursing through his body like blood flow. Every beat of his heart brings immense pain. Every single moment he's awake, he can feel them.
In his vision, is a small cabinet. He couldn't see what's inside, but the utensils under it show that he's in the kitchen.
Slowly, he was sliding down the countertop, there his blurry vision shifted. In his eyes is a small table with four chairs. There was a small vase in the middle of the table with a yellow plant. In front of the four seats are four table mats, even so, only two mats have plates in them.
Above the table is a small conical light, detecting his presence, the light bulb already went on.
"Weird," Zhenin thought.
It had been sixteen years since the mass exodus. Every ordinary house was raided, everywhere is a mess.
But this sight in front of him, the four chairs but only two tables. The single light made the view look pristine.
"Ninzhe, are you ok?"
"Mom, Dad, why did you conceive us in a world like this."
"I've never thought a ceiling light could be so blinding."
His pain turned to worry, then worry turned to regrets, then his regrets turned to wishes, and finally, a thought that never appeared in his mind ever since he was born.
"Mom, Dad, Brother, please sit, let's all eat together."
It was so pure, so innocent. A boy thrown in a world of disarray, through stories and tales, he learned of a world where families sit in front of a table, eat dishes and laugh together.
Stories where one goes home after learning a lot of new things. Tales about how there are others the same age as him.
To survive, all these stories are left as fantasies. Forget about swords and magic, even opening the tap for clean water is already a fantasy. Some people wanted an adventure. Some people are willing to fight for honor, but for someone like him?
He never wanted much.
He had no goals in life.
All he wanted was to stay with his brother. Everyone else is gone.
"They say that this planet has no future anyways, so how can I have one?"
All his thinking, all his cunning, it was all for him and his brother to live on for the day until the world ends.
"Was it really too much to ask?"
Unable to grip anything, he began to fall down.
With his horns hitting the ground first, his already waning consciousness darkened even more.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, something hit his nose.
With whatever's left of his consciousness, he directed it towards his nose.
It was his necklace, specifically the threads that hold the stone of his necklace in a macrame style.
When he saw the end of the necklace, there he saw a white stone.
That same stone that promised to restore his family, the same piece of stone that saved Ninzhe, the same piece of stone that has been giving him energy crystals and live on for another day.
Usually, children and teens his age had dreams as vast as the universe. Be it becoming a hero, an adventurer, a savior, or an inventor, these little seedlings would always have something in mind that they want to become. No matter how unrealistic it is, there it is in their minds brimming with hope for their future.
But Zhenin? After learning there's a god on his necklace, what did he do?
Did the quests to save his brother, finished more quests to save his parents.
What about the rewards? The energy crystals? The cultivation method?
To him, he only saw it as a means to finish the quests faster to meet his parents once again.
And then… and then what?
Die again with his family intact?
How can someone so selfless be so selfish? Restoring the dead only for them to experience death again? Is that what I wanted?
Before he could begin tearing up in regret, a voice whispered in his head.
"Breakthrough! Breakthrough now! Use the lingering energy in your body to reform your cells, come on, you can do it!" Jack urged.
Right now, Jack is busy monitoring more than ten people scattered in seven different screens. Unlike Ninzhe, who's already a zealot to Jack and is easily heard regardless of any circumstances. Zhenin's doubts against him grew and grew, to the point that he couldn't hear any of Zhenin's thoughts unless he actively tried to.
Zhenin, thinking about how useless Jack's promises are, suddenly felt mad.
"What's the point," he replied on his mind.
When Jack saw how hopeless Zhenin really is, he began to frown. After considering it for a bit, he gave Zhenin a system mission.
[Get Stronger]
[With the amount of energy lurking in your body, how your cells are close to the point of dying, you should be able to break through to the third level of stage one.]
[Mission Requirements: Reach stage 1 - level 3 now.]
[Mission Item: Stage 1 - Level 2-3 knowledge]
[Mission Rewards: Restore broken leg.]
[Punishment: Death.]
Immediately as Zhenin saw the updated mission, golden light covered the stone and his head.
The contents were simple, it was very similar to the first level, except it was for the rest of the torso and his limbs. Not only that, but the light also restored his feeble consciousness back and even came with anesthetics.
This advancement requires energy as it needs to reform the cells so that each cell could carry and contain energy without the need for the mitochondria. Other than that, the body will be exposed to energy, thus making most forms of energy beneficial for the strengthening of the cells.
Even if he was shot by a condensed laser beam, the lingering heat energy would be consumed rather than lingering in his cells, which continuously burns his body.
All of these circumstances became an opportunity for Zhenin to breakthrough.
Jack thought that this was a sufficient push for Zhenin. Until he heard his shouts.
"Stop! So what if I get to live longer, we'll just die in four years anyways. You, a god, manipulating us little dying mortals with false hopes, must be hilarious for you, huh?"