Having left the library with rage at heart, Henry headed back to his cave in the forest. The System mapped him a path following how he had travelled thus far.
Making his way back there, he sat down and let his emotions pour out. Half crying and half enraged, he yelled and hit the trees outside the cave until his knuckles bled.
"System, what would be the fastest way to kill all those sons of bitches?" he asked angrily.
"We can see two efficient ways to achieve such goals. The first would be to join the military, as they constantly battle the Tamarain threat. But we would like to advise against that, as military forces do frequent DNA checks to regulate their soldiers."
"What's the other way then?" he asked, almost frothing at the mouth.
"The second option is to become a mercenary, a war hound of sorts. The host would need to buy equipment and weapons to enact the second option, as the military would not grant them."
"But I don't have money! How do you want me to buy gear if I don't even have a penny to my name?"
"System suggests Host go back to the entrance of the lab, where he killed his first hostile and loot the corpse. There should be a plasma rifle and a flight-enabling backpack still on the body."
"Can I even still go there? How far is that?"
"We estimate half a day's walk to the crash site."
"Fine. Then, let's get going. Show me the way."
Once again, the System made a mental map appear to him, and he started walking.
He sometimes jogged to shorten his distance, using the forest density to mask his path from above. Getting the mountain in sight, he was happy with his progress.
Only eight hours had passed, and he believed he could reach the mountain in only one more.
Finally, making it to the side of the mountain, he went into full alert, ensuring to keep on his toes in case the scouting party was still around. Slowly walking towards the corpse of the Tamarain, he encountered no one.
He took the rifle from him, which was strapped around his neck. He wasn't capable of firing it, as its power source was on the ground, dead, but at least now he had some hope.
He tried taking the backpack off of him, too, but it was apparently stuck to his back.
"System, how can I take the jetpack off of him?" he asked, not wanting to leave such a bounty lying there.
"Host will have to dislodge the backpack from his nape and spinal cord to remove it."
"Okay, but how do I do that? That thing is stuck to him like glue."
"Soldier has a knife in his belt. The host will have to separate the backpack from the body forcibly using said knife."
Locating the knife on the belt, he took it out. He stuck the knife between the back and jetpack until he was at the hilt.
He slid the knife down, following the edge of the backpack, feeling all the flesh he was cutting through. Once he had reached out of under the jetpack, he stepped on the Tamarain's head and yanked on the backpack, dislodging it with a suction sound.
*SHLUCK*
"SYSTEM ON FULL ALERT!! We have detected the scouting party airborne and incoming. We advise the host to hide or get ready to engage in combat."
"I can't fight them! It's three against one! Could I fire at them with the rifle?"
"System detects enough energy remnants in Tamarain's body to fire two shots with the rifle. With Systems' aid in aiming, the Host could take down two hostiles."
"What about the third one?"
"System will advise the Host once situation advances, as it cannot predict enemy movements."
Dragging the body into the tree line, Henry hid behind a cluster of closely grown trees, waiting for the Tamarains to land in the clearing he had left. A few seconds later, he heard the jetpacks overhead and saw the three soldiers land.
They inspected the ground and then noticed the marks left by him when he dragged the body into the forest. Cursing at himself for being so stupid, he realized it was time to act.
He put the rifle back into the body's hands and ordered the System, "Fire the shots! Make them count!"
*BLAM* *BLAM*
*Thud*
As he heard the bodies crumple to the ground, Henry dropped the rifle and zig-zagged into the dense forest, hearing shots whizzing near his head.
''Hostile number three has taken chase of Host on foot. The recommended course of action is to circle back and confront the threat."
"Seriously?! I barely know how to fire a gun! You expect me to fight a soldier?! Are you mad?!"
"System estimates this as the best course of action. Guidance will be provided in case of need."
"Fuck! Okay, guide me, and don't fuck up! You and I both don't want to die here!"
"Affirmative."
He circled around as the System took slight control, guiding his steps. Weaving himself through the trees, avoiding the rifle shots, he closed in on the Tamarain soldier.
When he got near enough, he ducked behind a rock. Hearing the shots stop and footsteps approaching, he asked the System to notify him when to lunge. Holding the knife with a firm grip, he waited for the signal.
"Proceed!"
In a swift motion, he jumped out from his hiding spot, ducked beneath the rifle's aim, lunged and stabbed his assailant straight in the throat. Seeing the soldier grab him, he yanked out the knife and struck again, this time in his ribs.
Feeling the soldier's grip loosen, they both dropped to the ground, one dead, the other his breath taken away.
"I did it. I Fucking did it! Ah ha ha ha ha! Who'd have thought Karl Hampton had a fire in his veins? Certainly not me! Ah ha ha ha!"