'Why don't I try using that…?' My thoughts trailed, remembering a means I had devised in case of situations like this.
I had to be careful though. Since they were members of an expedition team, that meant they possessed some of the best assault capabilities in the camp they came from.
From my memories in the Sacred Hall, groups were classified into Ranks.
Even if they belonged to a lower rank, their strength would at least be on par with mine. That meant I couldn't make any unnecessary moves, else they would sense me too. Still…
Observing the group of Gifted approach my location at a steady pace, their gear and outfits didn't match what I was used to.
"They barely have any enhancements… and the strongest energy I can sense is from the woman who appears to be the leader. What's going on?" I whispered.
'Well, no use thinking about that now. I'll soon find out, anyway!'
I currently had 10 Skills overall, a few of which I obtained after obtaining my 'Job' as a thief. Having to no longer summon my Subspace and tap on the selected item of use, I only needed to say the magic word.
"Summon"
Instantly, the Vending machine I saw a few moments back appeared at the designated location I desired.
'Perfect! Now let's see how they react!'
Using my binoculars, I made sure to place the contraption in a place they would easily notice, drawing their attention to the scarce resource they were after.
Immediately, I saw one of the girls notice the Vending machine, alerting the rest.
'Oh? That was quick! Is that the effect of her Gift?' I reasoned.
"L-leader… there!" Her tiny voice rang in my ear.
'Welp, it doesn't matter. They've taken the bait. It's time for step two!'
As the group happily advanced to the object I set before them, my mind went to the 'guy' I had sensed a while back. It was the only one in the area, but at that moment it was asleep, and I really didn't want to engage it at that moment since I was having fun too.
Another thing I did, alongside exploring the grounds, was spread many of the Demon Cores in my possession around the vicinity. In a situation whereby I was surrounded or caught by an unprecedented assault, I could easily activate the Demon Core explosion, like landmines which would serve as a surprise attack on my opponents.
'To think I would use them like this instead. Oh well…'
"Boom" I let out with a grin.
Instantly sending my mana to the nearest Demon Cores behind the group, I caused a chain reaction among my little bombs.
>BOOOOOOOMMMMM!<
The sound was amplified due to my heightened senses, and I could feel the vibration in the air as clouds of smoke rose from the site of the blast.
The 'guy' who was asleep suddenly woke up, letting out an angry growl at the disturbance. Of course, I was referring to a Demon.
"GROOOOOWWWWLLLL!"
The group became flustered and slightly frightened by the Demon's presence, making me smile more in anticipation.
"Let's test out your strength… dance for me, everyone!"
But, to my surprise, the group grew even more afraid and appeared to not have the desire to fight the monster who was rapidly charging toward them.
'What's the holdup?! It's just a Grade 1 Demon, not a Boss or anything like that. You're on the Expedition team, right? Deal with it!' I thought in slight annoyance.
After what seemed like a deep moment of consideration, the leader decided to fight. However, her team was not so convinced.
Still, the Demon had closed in on them, leaving combat the only choice available to them if they desired to live.
"Everyone… on my mark, we ATTACK!" The leader shouted.
"At least she has some backbone. Despite their earlier hesitation, they're still an assault team. Maybe they're new at this, that's why they reacted that way. But now it seems they're ready to fight." I thought.
"This should be an interesting fight, nonetheless…"
Or so I thought.
[The Present]
"Unbelievable…" I whispered, completely shocked by the sight I witnessed.
All five members of the Expedition team were exhausted, heaving in desperation as they struggled to remain conscious.
Four of them were on the ground, holding their injuries as they huffed, while the last one standing, their leader, was battered with countless bruises.
"She hasn't lost her fighting spirit, but… at this rate…"
The entire scenario was different from how I expected it to play out. I clearly remembered that the barest minimum for being on an expedition team was being at Level 100.
They also needed to possess the Gifts and Skills necessary for combat and obtaining supplies.
However, what was this nonsense I was seeing?
Focusing on the monster, I could tell what kind of Demon it was.
[System Alert]
- Name: Hell Ogre
- Level: 39
- Race: Demon (Lesser) – Grade: 1
- Age: 25 Days
[Stats]
- HP: 3000/3,000
- MP: 400
- Strength: 2,000
- Agility: 600
- Vitality: 3,000
- Intelligence: 20
[End Of Information]
This was what they were finding so hard to handle? All five of them?
Glancing at their Status Information for the first time, I could finally tell why.
"This is… don't tell me, they're actually this weak?!" I exclaimed.
I covered my mouth as an afterthought, thinking they would sense me if I raised my voice too much, I noticed that none of them did.
"So, not only is their fighting power low, but their detection skills are also trash. This isn't what I expected."
I fought so hard in my apartment, trying as much as possible to reach the barest minimum I needed to survive in the outside world, only to be greeted by this underwhelming sight.
"Status Window"
"Skill Window"
"[Subspace] Summary"
Three different windows appeared before me as I compared my current abilities with theirs.
[STATUS INFORMATION]
- Name: Jeremy Lewis
- Level: 102 – Exp: 30.61
- Race: Human – Job: Thief
- Age: 16 Years
- Sex: Male
- Height: 5" 3. – Weight: 115 pounds
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Karma Points: 500
- (G) Karma Points: 100
[Stats]
- HP: 5,200/5,200
- MP: 1,000/1,000
- Strength: 1,070
- Agility: 5,400
- Vitality: 5,200
- Intelligence: 15,800
- (G) Factor: 70
- Gift: [Subspace]
- Items Equipped: None
- Allies: None
[Additional Information]
A human with the last Gift. Possesses the interest of God.
[End Of Information]
[SKILLS]
- You Currently Possess 12 Skill Slots
• Slot 1 -
• Slot 2 -
• Slot 3 -
• Slot 4 -
• Slot 5 -
• Slot 6 -
• Slot 7 -
• Slot 8 -
• Slot 9 -
• Slot 10 -
• Slot 11 -
• Slot 12 -
[Skill Slots Will Be Added As Your Level Increases]
[SUBSPACE]
Name: Hell Kobold King's Tooth
Rank: F+
Level: 1(Upgradable)
Strength: 600
Durability: 5,900
Core Power: 1,200
Core Energy: 100%
[.]
Name: Hell Kobold King's Claws
Rank: F+
Level: 1(Upgradable)
Strength: 1,000
Durability: 7,000
Core Power: 2,000
Core Energy: 100%
[.]
Name: Enhanced Daggers (Core 1) ×100
Rank: F
Level: 1
Strength: 20
Durability: 200
Core Power: 60
Core Energy: 100%
[.]
Name: Enhanced Daggers (Core 2) × 50
Rank: F
Level: 3
Strength: 60
Durability: 600
Core Power: 180
Core Energy: 100%
[.]
Name: Enhanced Sword (Core 5)
Rank: F+
Level: 10 (Max)
Strength: 500
Durability: 5,000
Core Power: 700
Core Energy: 100%
[Other Items]
- Regular Weapons (Knives, Clubs, Swords, etc.)
- Makeshift Weapons (Metal Rods etc.)
- Food
- Water
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Survival Supplies
- First Aid
- Medicine
- Furniture
- Fridges/Freezers
- Inverter
- Solar Panel
- Generator
- Chemicals
- Gasoline/Fuel
- Gas Cylinders
- Juice and Wine
- Miscellaneous
[See More]
Giving a deep sigh, I finally figured it out. The reason for the disparity between my Level and theirs, and how it appeared as though they were weak.
"So that's how it is… what a predicament"