Just as Don had the thought, a system prompt popped up right in front of him again.
———
**Congratulations, you have unlocked the bronze trait 'Honeyed Words.' Your lies now have a 10% higher chance of being believed by someone with 50 or higher trust in you.**
———
'Well, what an oddly useful trait for someone in my situation. If this is what rolling a 10 got me, what would a 2 have landed me in?' Just as Don had this thought, some banging could be heard from the other side of the wall, likely coming from the cell right next to Don's.
"No, no, stay back," a muffled plea could be heard, followed by a loud, begrudging voice. "I said I like you, and I want you! Your booty is mine!"
Hearing this, Don felt a shiver down his spine and couldn't help but wonder, 'Wait, was this guy...' worried by the thought, Don clenched his butt cheeks three times before sighing in relief. 'Thank goodness. But if I wasn't a victim? What if I was...'
Just as Don's thoughts trailed off, another system prompt appeared.
———
**Congratulations, the bronze trait 'The Thinker' has been unlocked. You will now have deeper and more insightful thoughts on situations than the common person.**
———
'What the...' Don was speechless. But before he could think further on this, Lady Noir spoke up.
"Predator," she addressed him. Don couldn't help but wonder why he had such a name. 'Just what was he thinking? Maybe I should change it. I'm more of a MILF man at heart anyway.'
Unaware of Don's thoughts, L. continued to speak. "Predator, are you listening?"
Hearing himself be called that again, he couldn't help but reach an immediate conclusion. 'Yeah, I'm definitely changing it the first chance I get.' But as soon as he had this thought, another system prompt appeared.
———
**Supervillain and hero names are assigned by birth. All humans who possess the potential of awakening abilities are given these names. It is more of an identity than an actual name and cannot be changed under any circumstances whatsoever.**
———
Reading this particularly specific prompt, Don couldn't help but look absolutely stone-faced. 'Well, isn't that just convenient.'
"Predator, what's wrong?" Lady Noir asked.
"Nothing," Don forced a smile and shook his head. "Just overwhelmed with joy that destiny has finally brought us together…"
"Oh, Predator," Lady Noir replied with a mild blush before clearing her throat, "but we must stay focused. The world shall not conquer itself. But before that, I've prepared a surprise for you—a gift to commemorate our souls finally meeting."
'Souls? Why is it that the pretty ones that like me are never normal?' Don thought but continued to listen, simply nodding on the surface.
"Let us leave now, the guards won't be kept at bay forever." After revealing this, Lady Noir lowered her gaze and began to stare at Don's hand almost hungrily.
Worried as to why she was looking at it that way, Don cautiously asked, "Shouldn't we get going?"
At this question, Lady Noir shyly lowered her head, her bangs hiding her eyes behind her hair as she raised a finger to point at Don's hand. "Your... your hand, Predator. Can I... can I hold it?"
'Is she serious?' Don immediately thought. More than that, he also couldn't help but wonder if it was even safe to hold her hand. Just as he thought this, a system prompt appeared in the corner of his eye.
———
**50-50**
———
As Don was immersed in the system, Lady Noir fell into thought. 'He is such a deep thinker. Look at him, I can only ever dream of what complex thoughts must always be passing through his mind.'
Meanwhile, in Don's mind…
'What do you mean, 50-50?' Don thought but got no response.
Not wanting to waste more time in his head, Don cleared his throat and cautiously extended his hand out for Lady Noir to hold. As he did this, one could see his hand shaking ever so slightly. "Go ahead," he quickly agreed.
Almost instantly, at a speed too fast for even Don's heightened senses to see, her hand sprung forward and held Don's right hand firmly. He felt an immense chill run up his spine, not from fear, but from actual coldness. It almost felt like she was touching ice— incredibly soft ice.
"You're so warm," she muttered, seemingly enamored. She began to trace her fingers all over Don's hand, giving him a strange sensation he had never felt before. 'I never knew hands could be molested.' While thinking this, a system prompt appeared in front of him.
———
**Quote unlocked: 'I never knew hands could be molested.'**
———
As quickly as the prompt appeared, it vanished, not leaving Don any time to even contemplate it. Thankfully, L. was too immersed in groping his hand to even notice that they were wasting time.
*Bum! Bum! Bum!*
Suddenly, loud banging could be heard coming from the still-intact metallic door of Don's cell. This immediately alerted Lady Noir, who let go of Don's hand and frowned. 'They ruined our time together,' she thought to herself before quickly turning toward Don and stating, "Predator, let us go."
"Yes, let's," Don replied. Without saying anything more, Lady Noir reached into the pocket of her leather shorts and took out a small red marble, which she proceeded to throw toward the door.
It hit the door with a metallic thud and then rolled onto the ground where it began to flash brighter and brighter.
"Is that...?" Don asked as he followed her through the settling dust to exit via the hole she had come in through.
"Oh, nothing. Just a parting gift for the people who so rudely interrupted our personal time. Don't pay it any mind."
Despite her saying this, Don couldn't help but give occasional glances back until...
"Stop there, Predator!" Don immediately came to a halt, realizing that if he had kept walking, he would have walked over the edge of the cell. Right after the hole was a long plummet down the rugged surface of the island prison. 'Damn, that was close. I need to stay focused. But this is so much to take in.'
Don sighed in relief but tried to play it off as cool as possible. Though the near-death experience certainly left his heart beating incredibly fast, it wasn't all bad, as in the next moment, a system prompt appeared.
———
**Bronze trait 'Unfazed' unlocked. Minor near-death experiences and slightly creepy people no longer faze you.**
———
'What is with these odd yet strangely useful traits?' he thought. But before he could think of an answer, Lady Noir turned his way and stretched out her hand for him to hold.
"Let's go."
Looking over at her, Don was surprised to see that she was standing on what seemed to be air. She had gone over the ledge, yet she was still standing as if there was something solid underneath her. If not for his new trait, Don's face would have been contorted in confusion.
However, not wanting to blow his cover and with nowhere better to go, Don could only grit his teeth and proceed over the ledge as well. Strangely enough, it did indeed feel like he was stepping on a metallic surface of sorts.
While holding Lady Noir's hand, he was led forward and before he knew it, he was inside what looked like a luxurious interior. Before he could even question this, the door slid closed and Lady Noir casually walked over toward a seat, acting as if all this was normal.
She showed Don a small smile. "Predator, have a seat."
Don couldn't help but gulp slightly, hearing this. As if to make the situation worse, shortly after she said this, *Boom!* The sound of a loud explosion could be heard, though muffled.
Shortly after, the interior began vibrating slightly, though Lady Noir looked completely unfazed.
'Seriously, just what have I gotten myself into?'