As I gazed at Aroha, her unwavering stare bore into me. The intensity of her gaze was palpable. "Are you okay?" I finally inquired, unable to ignore her piercing scrutiny any longer. Aroha slowly lifted her eyes to meet mine, and her response was unexpected. "I can see your stats," she confessed.
The revelation sent a wave of surprise through me. She could see my stats? Intrigued, I pressed on with my questions, hoping to uncover more about this newfound ability. "What is my strength stat?" I asked, curiosity burning in my voice. Without hesitation, Aroha promptly replied, "25, same as your speed." Her swift response left me in awe. She must know more about my abilities than I initially thought.
Driven by curiosity and the desire to understand the extent of her newfound powers, I continued my questioning. "How do you know?" I probed, eager to unravel her knowing.
Her explanation shed some light on the situation. "I think it's because of your book," she began, "The little blue screen thing appeared to me and said that it would grant me the ability to see stats." It could do that?
If Aroha indeed possessed this unique skill, she could become an invaluable asset. I couldn't afford to let her sit out of future conflict; she'd need to take on a crucial role in reconnaissance missions and strategic planning.
However, our conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud knock at the door, jolting me from my thoughts. Without hesitation, I turned towards the entrance, my hand instinctively reaching for the handle. As I swung the door open, a massive fist suddenly burst through, catching me off guard.
The stats that increased over the last month had sharpened my reflexes, and I managed to evade the surprise attack by swiftly moving to the right. In response, I launched a punch of my own, but amidst the adrenaline-fueled exchange, I heard words that stopped me in my tracks. "Relax, Oren. It's the police."
Blinking in astonishment, I refocused my attention on the doorway, now revealing three uniformed police officers. The one who had initially attempted to punch me loomed impressively large among them. The officer standing at the back of the group continued, his voice measured, "We know what you can do. You must have an ability that increases your stats daily or something, even someone with a limit of the upper hundreds doesn't grow this fast."
Caught off guard and realizing that my secret was no longer entirely concealed, I glanced aside, silently admitting the truth. Fortunately, they remained oblivious to the existence of the mysterious book, which was a relief as it could have caused serious complications.
The imposing officer scrutinized the surroundings, his gaze eventually landing on the meticulously kept garden. With a strategic offer, he finally spoke, "Can we come in?"
Without missing a beat, I responded firmly, "No. We can talk outside." I gestured toward the garden, and the officer nodded in agreement. As we settled outside, the fragrant blooms and vibrant colors of the garden served as an unexpected backdrop to this peculiar encounter. The stage was set for a conversation that would undoubtedly shape the path ahead. "Nice garden you have here," the officer remarked, his tone now laced with a hint of negotiation. "I can give you things if you help us."
Aroha gracefully emerged from the house, a tray of steaming coffee cups in hand. She handed the officers their drinks with a polite smile, displaying a level of hospitality that seemed incongruous with the unusual circumstances. With a polite nod, she returned inside, leaving me to deal with the impending conversation.
As the officers accepted their coffee, I couldn't help but muse on my personal aversion to the beverage. Coffee had never been my cup of tea, so to speak. But now wasn't the time to dwell on such trivial matters. I turned my attention back to the officers, fully engaged in the task at hand.
I inquired, "Help you how?" The officer across from me, who was sipping tea rather than coffee, leaned back comfortably in his chair. His demeanor conveyed a sense of authority and experience. He began to explain, his voice measured and purposeful, "Remember those people who came to your school? Those are called 'Workers,' the lowest rank of the Criminal Alliance. There are five ranks in total: the Leader, the Heads, the Representatives, the Deputies, and then the Workers. As you are right now, you could probably take out some Deputies with a decent amount of trouble."
I listened intently, absorbing the information about the Criminal Alliance and its hierarchical structure. The officer's words began to paint a clearer picture of the dangerous world I had inadvertently become entangled in. He continued, "We don't care about how you are now; we care about how you will be in the future. Almost everyone with a decent growth limit goes to the 'dark side', and we want to recruit you to help us finally take down this terrorist organization."
The mention of the quest and the Workers resonated with me, reinforcing the credibility of their words. My desire to eliminate this malevolent organization aligned with their intentions. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of self-reliance. "I believe I can handle them on my own," I asserted.
The officer, now leaning back further in his chair, offered a wry smile. "You can't do it on your own," he retorted. "Judging by your actions, you seem too eager about this. I need to make something clear. These 'people' are insane; they possess knowledge and skills that surpass your current understanding." He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "Everyone you care about will become a target, and you'll need us on your side."
With conviction, he continued, "I've obtained permission from Administration to assess your abilities. If you perform well, you'll have our full support. We'll provide training, assistance in confronting the higher-ranked members, and more."
The weight of his proposal hung in the air, and I couldn't ignore the magnitude of the decision before me. I pushed back my chair and stood, inadvertently gripping the handle, which broke instantly under my grip. The officer's piercing gaze met mine as I demanded, "Why are you doing this? I'm just a kid, barely seventeen years old." He leaned forward, his expression solemn, "Don't act coy. We know you want to see this organization destroyed. Time is running out, and they've already made a move at your school. The threat is real, and we've seen it firsthand." The urgency of his words resonated deeply, and the path ahead appeared increasingly clear.
I lunged forward, my fists raised in what appeared to be a haymaker. However, it was a feint, carefully orchestrated not to harm the officer. The intention was merely to test his reactions and gauge his abilities. As I closed the distance, a sudden gust of wind seemed to flow past him, a telltale sign that something extraordinary was afoot.
In that fleeting moment, I realized the officer had been keenly watching my every move, tracking my punch with an uncanny precision. He was undeniably faster than me. His unwavering gaze locked onto mine, and he calmly stated, "I can sense killing intent, and you had no intent to harm me."
My ill-conceived action had dire consequences, prompting the other officers to react swiftly. They withdrew their firearms, leveling them in my direction, their voices rising in unison with alarm. "You can't just try and punch an officer, kid! What the hell are you doing?"
The officer I had initially confronted rose to his feet, a gesture that carried an air of relaxation. The officers put down their arms. He looked down at me with a sense of solemnity in his expression. "Oren," he addressed me by name, "I promise, on our pride as protectors of citizens, we will help you. Do you want to hear about the test we have planned for you?"
Caught in this unexpected situation and sensing the odds stacked against me, I weighed my options carefully. It was clear that refusing was not a viable choice at this moment. Reluctantly, I cast my gaze to the side, acknowledging the officer's proposal. The reality was that, under the circumstances, I had limited room to maneuver.
The officer, touched his thumb to his chin as he elaborated further. "We've located the individuals who ordered those men to attack you at your school," he divulged. "Among them is a Deputy, and we want you to assist us in a raid. We'll have around ten gifted officers on-site, some of whom witnessed your encounter with Jack."
The specifics of the mission weighed heavily on my mind as Mike continued. "It's scheduled for five o'clock, at the Aper Warehouse," he stated matter-of-factly. "While technically you don't have to come, if we don't make it, they will come for you. By the way, my name is Mike."
With a nod, Mike signaled to his fellow officers, and they began to withdraw, leaving me to contemplate the gravity of the situation. Just as they were about to disappear from sight, Mike executed a sly wink, a gesture that left me feeling both intrigued and slightly betrayed. The notion of being coerced into a potentially life-threatening mission at the age of seventeen gnawed at me, and I couldn't help but question the ethics of their actions.
As Aroha approached me, her concern was palpable in her eyes. "I heard everything," she said softly, her voice laced with worry. "Are you really going to go?" I looked at her, feeling a surge of gratitude for her unwavering support. "Let's get inside," I replied, "I'm going, and I will dismantle the local branch of the Criminal Alliance."
Aroha's response was resolute. "I'm going with you," she declared. "Worst case scenario, we'll drive out of there in my car." The mere mention of her car made me cringe. "You don't mean that car, right?" I asked hesitantly. She nodded with determination. "Yeah, THAT car. The Lada."
The thought of Aroha putting herself in harm's way weighed heavily on my mind. I wrestled with the dilemma of allowing her to accompany me. She could be risking her life, but at the same time, if something were to happen to me, they would eventually come for her. It was a frustrating catch-twenty two, a situation with no clear solution other than to press forward.
We retreated indoors together, our shared resolve cemented as we decided to skip school for the time being. The clock ticked away the hours, the tension in the air palpable as we waited for five o'clock to arrive.
In the confines of the living room, my thoughts were consumed by the impending showdown. The possibility of failure gnawed at me, and I grappled with the stark reality that losing meant my own demise. Selfish as it might be, I couldn't help but think of my own survival. But with every fiber of my being, I was determined to emerge victorious. I had grown stronger, honed my skills, and the belief in myself surged like a wildfire.
I contemplated the option of upgrading my strength and speed even further, but I knew that time was of the essence, and upgrading my book was a priority. The choices weighed heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't help but second-guess myself.
Amidst the turmoil of my thoughts, Aroha entered the room, bearing food and a comforting embrace. She hugged me from behind, her warmth and support providing solace. "I believe in you, Oren," she whispered, her words like a lifeline. "If you can do this, you can do anything."
I turned my gaze forward, my eyes filled with a mixture of determination and guilt. "Aren't you mad at me?" I asked, unable to shake the feeling that I was endangering her life. "I know what you said a month ago, but because you're associated with me, you could very well die." Aroha rested her head on mine, her gesture of affection melting away my doubts. "I wouldn't have it any other way." she reassured me, her unwavering commitment shining through.
Acknowledging her strength and the depth of her heart, I decided to momentarily divert our thoughts from the impending danger. I reached for the remote control and turned on the TV, selecting a comedy show to watch together. As the laughter filled the room, it served as a brief respite from the weight of our impending mission, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, moments of joy could still be found.
At precisely four forty, we made our way to the garage and climbed into Aroha's car. She started the engine, and the low hum filled the garage. Her voice held a mixture of concern and determination as she said, "I'll take you near the warehouse. If you need to get out of there, come a few blocks down while screaming your lungs out, and I'll be there in a jiffy." It was a somewhat risky plan, but it was our best option given the circumstances.
As we hit the road, it quickly became apparent that today's traffic was unusually heavy, further delaying our journey. Aroha's driving skills, however, proved invaluable as she deftly navigated through the congestion, allowing us to make up some lost time. But despite her efforts, we were still running late, the clock on the dashboard reading five ten. The weight of the delay settled heavily on my shoulders. They might think I had flaked or abandoned the mission altogether.
Desperation began to set in as we neared the warehouse. I knew I had to act fast. Opening the car's sunroof, I instructed Aroha, "Get into your position. I'm heading in." With those words, I propelled myself out of the sunroof, landing gracefully on the street below. My adrenaline surged as I started sprinting toward the designated location.
As I dashed through the streets, I expertly weaved through the pedestrian traffic and obstacles in my path, my senses heightened, and my focus laser-sharp. Every second counted, and the urgency of the situation spurred me forward. I rounded the final corner, my heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, and arrived at the location where destiny awaited.
As I approached the front lot of the warehouse, a horrific scene greeted me. The lifeless bodies of all the officers lay scattered across the ground, their once-pristine uniforms now stained with blood. My eyes quickly scanned the scene, searching for any sign of hope, but the sight was grim. Mike, the officer who had offered me help, was lying on the ground, grievously injured. His voice was strained as he managed to utter, "Get the hell out of here!"
Fear clenched my heart as I registered the dire situation. Mike's voice grew desperate as he added, "His strength stat is in the nineties!! Oh no... killing intent." Before I could process his warning fully, a sinister presence appeared on the scene.
The bastard was a massive, imposing figure, built like a fortress. With a sense of dread settling over me, I realized that this must be the deputy. He stood there, cockily mocking the fallen officers, his arrogance apparent. "This was all you got, cops?" he taunted, his words laced with disdain. He continued to desecrate their bodies, his actions callous and brutal. Could I have saved them if I got here sooner? Am I the one responsible for these deaths? I looked down, distraught.
But then, his attention shifted towards me, and he smiled in a menacing manner. "That's the one, Oren, right?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm going to..." Before he could finish his ominous sentence, a surge of rage coursed through me, and I couldn't hold back any longer. I roared in fury and unleashed my power with a cry, "Skill Combination!"
Soul: 95 (-55)
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Skill Combination (Speed + Strength Booster) - Stacked the Speed and Strength Booster skills. The cooldown has activated for both of these skills, not for skill combination, however. You have one use left.
My fist surged forward with true hatred, aiming for his imposing frame. However, before I could make contact, the deputy unleashed a counterattack of his own.
In an explosive clash of titanic strength and speed, our fists met with an earth-shattering impact. It took every ounce of my enhanced strength and agility to hold back the overwhelming force of the deputy's strike. The sheer power behind his blow threatened to push me back, but I stood my ground, gritting my teeth in the face of the brutal confrontation.
The deputy's cold, menacing voice cut through the tension as he declared, ".. kill you, right here, right now." His intent was clear, and the battle had escalated to a life-or-death struggle. The air crackled with the intensity of our clash, and the outcome hung in the balance, a test of strength, speed, and skills.
Quest 5: Deputy Destruction
This will be your strongest opponent yet. Kill
the Deputy for his wrongdoing.
Requirements:
Kill the Deputy.
Recommendations:
N/A
Rewards:
8000 points
Free Book Upgrade