Henry wanted to get out of there ASAP. He ran as if his life depended on it.
He was so panicked that, throughout his mad sprint, the System often had to correct his steps to prevent him from falling. Nonetheless, his dreams of escaping were soon crushed.
"System detects a four-man squad rapidly approaching from Host's left. Does the host wish to initiate evasive manoeuvres or engage in combat?"
"EVADE!! There's no way I'm fighting them. It's not reasonable. Their ship is RIGHT above us; why do you even offer the option? Stupid AI!"
"Engaging evasive manoeuvres," the System said in his head, not even hearing the rest of his answer.
He lost all feeling in his legs as the control switched over to automatic. The System made him switch course 45 degrees to the right and kept running.
Dodging the trees and rocks in his way, Henry was getting anxious about his pursuers, as he couldn't see them.
"System, how far are they behind? I can't see them."
"We can offer the Host a view of detection range. Would the Host like to see such information?"
"Yes! I would really like that!"
A round screen appeared in the upper right corner of his sight. It looked like a radar with three layers in it.
He guessed it was separated into layers of a hundred meters. He could see four dots of light on the 'radar' that were slowly creeping closer to the middle.
They were a little more than two hundred meters behind.
After a few minutes of chase, the small armed group was almost on him, only fifty meters behind him by what he could see.
They started shooting at him, and he was going to get hit any moment now.
"System advises a change in strategy. We recommend engaging the enemy in guerilla tactics, as fleeing is no longer viable."
"Shit! What are our chances of combat with the recommended tactics?"
"We estimate a 60% chance of victory without injury."
"And if I permit a minimum of injury? Like a flesh wound, let's say."
"System can guarantee victory with only minimal injuries."
With a shot nearly missing his shoulder, he decided to go with that. Disappearing from his assailants' sight, he ducked behind a rock and stayed low to the ground while circling back to get behind them.
On the way, he let go of the jetpack and rifle as they would get in his way.
The System was pathing his way, but for once, he was in control. He wanted to learn this, as his survival depended on him being capable of such fighting.
The Tamarain soldiers had come to a stop. Losing sight of their target, they were now surveying the trees, awaiting an evident ambush.
While they expected to get ambushed, what happened next took them off guard.
Running out from his hiding spot, Henry yelled as he ran at his enemies. The System had recommended him so, as it would confuse the well-trained soldiers.
They were indeed confused, as not one of them thought about taking a shot, and one even stumbled back. Taking advantage of the moment, Henry pulled out his two knives and slashed the first man's throat with one blade.
Pivoting on his left foot, he stabbed the second one under his chin, right into his brain. Leaving the knife there, he ran back into the forest's cover, dodging the plasma shots from the two remaining soldiers.
"I can't believe that worked! Hahaha!"
He was delighted with what he had done, but the fight was far from over. Spotting a large tree, he went to hide behind it.
Looking at his newly acquired mental radar, he could see that the two Tamarains had taken chase of him. They were moving slowly, but, sure enough, they were closing in on him.
"System recommends Host to climb the tree and wait for assailants to come around before dropping on them."
"Good idea! This is where you shine. Maybe I'm not cursed after all."
He hurriedly climbed the tree. He got about 15 meters up before having to stop making noise.
The soldiers were very close now. As they slowly made it around the tree, Henry awaited the signal from the System.
Getting his green light, he dropped down on the first soldier, stabbing him in the heart. He then quickly raised the Tamarain's arms, with the rifle in them, and blasted two shots into his second target.
***
Meanwhile, on the ship. A tall man in military attire was in the control room, watching from a screen. On the screen was a display of his men's body cams.
As one by one, the displays lost power, due to their users dying, rage was clearly gaining his heart.
"How is he killing a full squad while being alone? He doesn't even look like a soldier."
"We don't know, sir. He appears able to predict our soldiers' movements."
Bringing his fists down on the console before him, electricity sparked from his hands. The crew on the bridge were all frightened of that power.
Captain Hart was the officer's name. He was a class C Tamarain fighter who had climbed the ranks quickly because of his potential.
Being class C meant one could extend the electric current to a small part of their body and externalize it, bringing forth lethal weapons from their own body.
Captain Hart had only recently been promoted to commander of this small reconnaissance ship. He had only four squads of foot soldiers and his bridge crew. So, losing one unit to a man alone was already insulting him.
Now, he had lost a second one.
He would have to explain to his superiors every man he lost since he should not engage troops in combat at all. His mission being reconnaissance; he thought he needed to find out if a base was nearby, which could be a significant discovery.
But he had found not a base but a man alone. He had taken upon him the decision to take him down and sent another squad after him.
Now, he was two squads down, and the man was still alive and well.
Fuming from inside, Captain Hart considered going down there himself to punish the insolent fool. Looking up from his screens, he glared at his crew.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill all of you myself. ONE GOOD REASON!!!"
"Sir, we can send our two remaining squads to end this lone human."
Smacking the imbecile who dared talk back to him with his backhand, he watched him fly off his chair and skid across the room before hitting the wall and losing all his air.
*SSSKK* *THUD*
"HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE!!!"
The Captain was now angered beyond imagination. He was weighing out the option of killing his men and just leaving them here to rot.
"The man has already killed two squads. AND YOU IMBECILE WANT TO SEND OUR LAST TWO!!?"
Walking to the man, who was now getting up, he punched him in the face, lightning streaking across his fist.
*BANG!*
He almost killed the man instantly. He ordered 2 of his men to carry the fool to the infirmary and decided he had enough.
He was going down there himself.
***
Back on the ground, Henry was stealing another knife from his latest victim.
Back with two knives again, he kept running towards his shelter. He stole a new rifle and jetpack from these two goons, not wanting to return to where he left his previous bounty.
As he turned to leave, he heard a booming voice in the sky, towards the ship.
"Come out, you coward!!! I know you're there!!! Come face your death like a man if you call yourself one!!!"
He could hear the vanity and arrogance in the man's tone. Not knowing why this man wanted to challenge him so badly, he asked the System to scan him.
"Figure appears to be a class C Tamarain fighter."
"Okay. What can a class C do with his ability that a class F can't?"
"Class C fighters are the first level of fighters that can externalize the current in their gland. Only a small part can be brought out, making them capable of coating a part of their body with electricity."
"Hmm. I'm better off not fighting him then."
Turning towards his cave again, he began to run away. Soon were his movements caught by the Tamarain, as he gave chase not long after.
Seeing the dot on the radar get closer at a blazing speed, Henry became terrified.
"How can he be so fast?!!"
"Tamarain officer has boosted power in his legs with electricity, permitting him to move past his limitations and gain momentary speed burst."
"FUCK! So you're saying I HAVE to fight him?"
"Affirmative, as chances of escape are at 0%."
"Well FUCK ME!!!! Fine. Plot me a course of action. This is going to be a tough one. It's life or death, DON'T... FUCK...UP!"
"Affirmative."