I turned around, and decided to make my way back to George. I was about to take a left at the corner, but I was startled by this big red thing.
"Holy shit!!"
"GaH!!"
"Bloody hell, George! Why did you surprise attack me?!"
"I didn't! I followed you because I was worried!"
I felt annoyed, but I could understand how he felt.
"Thank you," I sighed out. "Anyways, I found the next dungeon. It's called the toy dungeon. We hafta kill something called the Toy Master."
"That... sounds weird."
"It is. Let's wait for our food first. No way in hell am I fighting something while hungry."
We walked back to our campfire, which was on the ground floor of the mall. I looked at the dough that I placed there, but one of them was missing. I put five, but only saw four.
"George, did you eat one of the dough?" I asked in a low voice.
"No. Why? Is someth-"
As George was talking, I felt something strange. Maybe it was due to being watched by the Constellations for so long, but I could feel gazes hitting my back. They felt... human.
[You have activated "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" Lv.3!]
(Shit, he's here...)
(Is that him?)
(Do we shoot?)
(How do we know...?)
(Damnit... I don't want to do this... I have to...)
(Is that "Ethan Nakamura?")
"FIRE!!"
"George, get down!!"
I grabbed his arm and threw us onto the ground. As that happened, I heard deafening gunshots zipping over us.
(Shitshitshit!! Reload!!) I heard someone think.
"Reload!! Quickly!!" I heard someone order.
I focused my flame stigma, and saw the heat of human individuals. I saw all them. They were hiding behind pillars, or they were scrambling up stairwells to get a higher vantage point. I couldn't count all of them, but they numbered around 20 people. That was an entire goddamn squad.
"George, move move move!!"
I pointed to some pillars on our level, and we hid behind it. The second we did, bullets ripped apart the edges, and plaster and stone flew into the air. I could see George shaking behind his hiding place. I felt calm though.
[Be ca ref ul.]
(I will.)
We couldn't hide forever. Whoever they were, these assholes would eventually have an angle to shoot at us. I actually saw people several floors above us. What would've happened to George if he didn't come to find me?
"George, pass me your katana!!"
George nodded, unstrapped it from his side, and threw the katana to me. As the sword moved midair, I could hear bullets whizzing past it. Thankfully, none of them hit it. As I strapped the katana to my side, George unslung the rifle around his back, and clutched it. We couldn't use too many melee tactics. Our opposition had guns. I felt the katana in my hands. He must've received it from his movie. It was beautifully crafted. I looked at his red armor. It came from a historical setting, but it could've been converted into an A-grade item that could absorb bullets. I could only hope.
With a silent sweep of the hand, a swath of flames was unleashed, and it lashed through the decimated mall. I called this attack "flame sweep." I wanted to cause chaos and confusion, but it came with a negative: I wouldn't see as many heat signatures.
We quickly changed positions, and I focused my mind as hard as possible to hear as many thoughts.
(Nine are down!! Nine are down!!)
I heard people shout.
"We gotta retreat!!"
"We need backup!!"
"NO!! I have to do this!!"
[Constellations are interested in this development!]
I felt the anger within my spirit rekindle. I was treated as nothing but a show to others. Within my simulation, I was able to work through my aggression over the years. It threatened to resurface. I had to control it.
"Duck!!"
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
George and I ducked behind another pillar, and bullets whizzed by.
"George, get ahead! I'll cover you!!"
George began to crawl forward; as he did, I threw flames overhead to prevent anyone having a clear shot at him. He was hiding behind a metal food cart, which seemed sturdy. I looked back, and saw three men, who were adorned in grey uniforms.
(I knew it. It's them.)
Holding George's LeMat pistol in my left hand, I peeked around the corner. Bullets were ripping through the area; it was only a matter of time before they shot us. I saw the heads of the three men. The time it took to raise the pistol was only a matter of seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
I raised my arm forward, and felt the weight of the gun. Thanks to my increased strength, it didn't droop at the end as I held it. As I aimed, I heard Fraggy say something to me. It was in a different voice. It was a feminine one. I didn't know why they did it.
["Good, you don't have any bad habits."]
It was such a simple sentence that came out of nowhere. It meant nothing to no one else, but it meant so much to me. I recognized that voice.
"Petra," I muttered.
I remembered everything Petra told me. How she showed kindness to me, and how she spent her time to train me. It was years ago, but all of that resurfaced. I remembered how she would grab my arm, and straighten it properly. I recalled every lesson she taught. She taught me essential physics so I could maximize my efficiency. She taught me how to relax my body. I remembered every one of her teachings.
I felt the tension in my muscles lessen. I considered how my enemy moved, and I accounted for it.
(Even if you aren't here,) I thought.
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
(I'll always remember you're stories.)
Every bullet I fired ripped through my enemies' flesh; two of my shots passed through the skulls of two men, while the other two pierced one man's chest. The three men slumped forward, or fell backward. I confirmed the kill when I received their coins. Soon, I was moving, and I was investing coins in obscene amounts.
[You have invested 3,000 coins into Strength Lv. 24!]
[You have invested 3,000 coins into Stamina Lv. 24!]
[You have invested 3,300 coins into Agility Lv. 18!]
[You have invested 2,500 coins into Mana Lv. 20!]
[Constellation "Angelic Harbinger of Peaceful Death" is satisfied from your murder!]
I felt my body increase in power. My body had achieved level thirty in strength and stamina, and my mana and agility had increased to level twenty-five. I ran towards George, who was trying to shoot back.
"George! Use your stigma!!"
He nodded, and we began making a plan. I could see where the people were, and we used this information to create a strategy.
I unleashed flames from one of my hands, and we ran forward. Our goal was to get onto the other side of the mall, where we came from before we were attacked. I unleashed more flames, which obscured our opposition's view of us. As that happened, we turned around at the last second as we heard more people shout.
"Down there!!"
"Fi-"
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
-!!BANG!!-
George fired one shot, and I fired two more. He killed someone, while I missed.
(Crap.)
We ducked behind pillars again, and I saw the stairwells and escalators in sight.
"Go go go!!" Someone shouted.
People were on a walkway above, and they had the perfect angle to shoot us. The small stores in front of us were locked. We didn't have enough time to break them, and get inside. People were coming onto this floor from a different stairwell, and they were about to have another chance to kill us. George and I were like a single king on a chessboard; the pawns were coming closer, trying to corner us.
(This isn't a checkmate though.)
"George, get down," I said.
George ducked, and I peeked from a pillar. I extended my arm, and I focused all of my power.
[Constellation "The Black One, Lord of Muspellheim" is staring at you.]
[Constellation "The Black One, Lord of Muspellheim" hopes that you won't be a disappointment.]
I grinned from the message.
(Don't worry, Surt.)
I gathered flames within my hands, until they coalesced into a ball.
(I'm not.)
Perhaps it was due to having more mana, but the ball I unleashed from my hand actually held it's integrity, and shot forward. Right into the connecting bridge filled with shooters.
-!!BADOOSH!!-
-!!SHATTER!!-
The glass of the walkway shattered, and the people fell down to their death while burning alive. As more people came from the other stairwell, George and I maneuvered ourselves to avoid the incoming fire. I neutralized the people on the walkway; we wouldn't be shot from above. I activated my [Flames of Muspellheim] stigma, and saw several heat signatures running away from us. One contingent of the squad was fleeing. The group shooting from behind was probably trying to distract us.
"I'm going to go ahead and hunt them down!! Some of them are fleeing!"
"Wait, Ethan, it's dangerous!! You're just a kid!"
I was about to run forward, but stopped when he said that.
"I'm not a kid, George," I retorted.
His face was anguished as I said that.
"You got this!" I said confidently. I gave a thumbs up as I ran away from him.
I bolted ahead, and used a skill that I didn't have the chance to use yet. I waited seven years to use it.
[You have activated Air Steps Lv.1!]
I leapt forward, and the air below my feet gathered and morphed, until it solidified into slabs. I was able to step on them, and ran as if I was charging up an existing staircase. It didn't last long, probably because of the low level of the skill. Still, it was enough. I jumped the railings made of glass, and paused. I focused my omniscience and flame stigma as much as possible, and saw eight people trying to flee. I chased after them.
"Open the door!!"
"It's jammed!!"
I ran through the hallways, and saw signs on the wall. They said things such as "fire exit" and "fire escape" and "proceed in case of emergency."
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" is staring at you!]
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" is warning you!]
(It doesn't make any sense! That Constellation is supposed to be in Virginia!!)
I charged into the dark hallway, and saw a sign above two large doors; it said "fire exit." I saw a group of men crowd around them. They didn't see me yet. They were too busy trying to open them and escape. I gripped the pistol in my hand, and recalled every bullet I fired. I fired five in total; this gun had nine chambers, plus the secondary chamber, which held buckshot. I raised my arm, and aimed.
(Just like fish in a barrel...)
Although, I made a decision. Bullets would be too clean, and too easy. I looked at the numerous plaques on the wall, which showed drawings of people running from flames and proceeding in an orderly fashion to escape. I looked at the men in front of me, and couldn't help but smile from the irony.
(Order? I see none of that.)
"I just see little rats scrambling," I said aloud.
Instead of wasting precious bullets, I decided to use precious mana instead. Flames gathered at my hands, but I didn't fling them yet. I wanted them to notice. To feel the despair. As the light of the flames lit up the hallway, I saw the men look back. What would they see? A small figure, encased in flames, growing brighter and hotter? Would they fire their rifles, even though the bullets might melt as they flew towards me?
I saw the looks on their faces. I saw every single one of their uniforms. As the fear on their faces peeked, as I heard them shout, I casted an inferno towards them. The blaze latched onto them, but their screams were drowned out by the conflagration that ate the oxygen and their skin. The roar of fire yelled as if it had a soul, and devoured the mortal ones it touched. I was the only one left.
I turned my back to them, and ran back to George. As I did, I could hear the haunting wails of Confederate soldiers.
[Constellation "Angelic Harbinger of Peaceful Death" is pleased that you are upholding the deal!]
I saw this message.
(Enjoy the souls, Thanatos.)
I remembered the conversation I once had with Persephone, the frightening queen of the Underworld.
***
"My, my, what an interesting proposition, Ethan! Although, why would I bother with such a deal?"
"Thanks to the scenario system, regular people have become much more powerful. The humans on Earth are no longer normal, and they ha-"
"Don't bother explaining it," Persephone interrupted, "I already know about the scenarios on your planet. It means nothing. Contracts with Constellations can even transcend death, and are legally binding in that manner. There is no guarantee that we would receive their souls."
"Wouldn't it be better to have a deal in place then have no deal at all? If you do eat my story, you'll be satisfied with one meal. But if you let me live, I can kill people with interesting stories. Once they come here, you can judge whether they are worth it or not. Not everyone has a Constellation. Plus, I know the Underworld uses souls as their labor forces. I'll be fighting people who can be useful for your military."
"Hmm. It would benefit my husband and I. Although, how do I know you'll work as hard as you say?"
"Your Majesty, you could have Thanatos and Hypnos watch the channel I'm on."
Persephone smiled.
"Hmph, it sounds like an excuse for you to have more viewers. I'll agree though."
***
Back then, a contract was drawn. I was under heavy stipulation. I had to kill powerful people, and if I died a "final death," then my soul would be claimed. Thanatos and Hypnos would watch the channel #HE-2020, and he would acquire the souls and ferry them to the Underworld. The contract wasn't permanent, but it lasted for three years. I was lucky I was able to get away with something as lenient.
As I returned to George, I saw he was alive. He was hiding behind a pillar, reloading his rifle. The other men were slowly coming forward, inching closer. I shot at the soldiers, and some fell to the ground. Using my speed, I charged past George as he yelled my name. Bullets flew past my head and body, but I could read the thoughts flooding in. I knew where they'd aim, and accounted for that.
Consider this: you have an enemy in sight, who knows where you're going to shoot, so they adjust their position, only for you to adjust yours, but they read your thoughts to readjust again.
(The frustration they must feel.)
I straightened myself out, and resumed my charge. I zigzagged, dodged, and ran up against walls. As I came closer to their position, I unsheathed the katana. I cut one man at the waist and saw his intestines spill onto the floor. I used Air Steps to achieve the high ground, and I lopped off one man's head. I activated skills I earned long ago.
[You have activated "Blackening" Lv.1!]
[Blackening Lv. 1 will link with Self-Taught Sword Fighting Lv. 8!]
I ran forward, and quickly incapacitated the soldiers.
"Gah!!"
"How is he so fast!!?"
"Uwurk!!"
I saw one more man standing. He was tubbier than the rest, and was about to shoot his own LeMat pistol. I heard Fraggy's voice in my head.
[The Fragment of the 4th Wall has said "As time slowed down for Ethan Nakamura, he recalled one of his favorite movies: The Matrix. He wasn't Neo, he wasn't the Chosen One, and he wasn't the protagonist. He didn't know if he was a reader, or a character. He was a boy in a ruined world. The only goal he had at the moment was to survive. So, remembering one of the most iconic scenes in movie history, Ethan made a dangerously stupid decision."]
As the barrel of the gun ejected balls of lead towards me, I bent myself backward. I didn't know if I was imagining it, but I thought I could see the bullet trails rip through the air. I straightened myself, and stepped to the side as another round was fired. I charged forward, and I focused all of my strength into these attacks.
I cut the legs of the man, kicked him in the stomach, and as they fell backward, I used the butt of the LeMat pistol, and bashed their face. I used the heel of my sneaker to crush their wrist until they released their grip on their gun. When they tried to grab me with their other hand, I impaled the katana into their shoulder.
As this man squirmed, I turned around and saw George tending to the people I hurt. He was taking out bandages, and medicine.
(Perhaps he's saving them to so we can have prisoners. Or maybe he's just being too merciful.)
After a few minutes, George was done addressing their wounds. They muttered and cursed under their breath, but they seemed so lax - I guessed George must've drugged them. Perhaps he was trying to spare them of pain? I would've dressed their wounds while they were completely conscious.
I looked carefully at the man who lay at my feet. He seemed quite old; his appearance belonged to someone in their 50s to 60s. He had a round belly, and he had a beard that was grey-white as his hair. I used my skills, and saw their attribute window. I saw their supporting Constellation. I felt deep anger course through my veins. I ripped the katana from their shoulder, and impaled it deep into one of the man's shins.
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" is screaming out!]
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" is feeling agony!]
I looked to the sky.
"Hello, Robert E. Lee. You seem to have quite the nice Incarnation," I seethed.
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" feels hateful towards you!]
[Constellation "Defender of Virginia" orders you to cease your actions!]
I gently twisted the katana, and the man cried out from the excruciating pain.
"No, I don't think I will. Unless we make a deal. Or else I'll just kill him."
That's how I met this old Incarnation, who had one of the most infamous generals in history as their sponsor.