'If Triss survives, if Triss dies? Shit!' Henry thought and he looked to the side at Triss. Her reddish-brown hair flowing behind her from under her hat and he knew that for the System to have been specific and for the Quest to have such high rewards, this would not be easy.
He thought back to the Train and the situation with the Warlock for tips on how to fight a magic user but then stopped in realization that he had not had a part in that fight. He had been more focused on Mr. Grant and the Sub-quest at the time.
'But it should be fine. We can take a detour. Throw them off and then make our way back to…'
A bullet flying past his ear pulled Henry out of his thoughts. He glanced behind him and just as they were getting closer to the apparent magic wielders ahead of them, the Langlot boys had mounted horses and were gaining on them by the second.
Nyx could outrun those horses easily following the increase of her Stats from her level-up. But the same was not true for Triss' horse and Henry did not want to leave her behind.
"Calm down," Triss said gently about the two figures ahead of them, "They might just be passing through."
People did pass through New Freudein quite a bit in their travels. It was why it was a good place to stay as a Gang. There was always a considerable supply of targets to rob.
However, Triss was just being optimistic and even she knew that.
Sure enough,
From behind them, Colm yelled,
"HERE THEY ARE! THEY THE ONES YOU BEEN LOOKING FOR!"
"Fuck!" Triss said, "Henry, come on!"
The redhead turned her horse and left the path with Henry following after. The intent was to put as much distance between them and the Magic-wielding strangers as possible.
She still remembered Colm saying; "They're Strong. Numbers mean nothing to them."
She did not want to have to confirm his report.
Shots kept getting fired and Henry decided he had had enough. He arched his neck around to glance behind him and cocked the rifle in his hand before firing a shot.
Even with Nyx's gallop slightly impacting his aim, Henry fired two shots into his target's chest and the Langlot gang member died and fell off his horse.
[Kill-Reward: 8 Exp]
As Henry picked his next target and fired, a shot sounded out and a bullet struck his shoulder with such force that it pierced out the other side.
Colm had his rifle pointed with a focused glare and one eye closed to better his aim. His face was still bleeding from where glass pieces had pierced his face.
[You have lost 5 Hit Points]
[Hit Points: 25/30]
"Hngh," Henry groaned and the shot he fired went wide and missed.
"Henry!" Triss called out in worry as she pointed her revolver behind her and fired every bullet left in her cylinder. Successfully killing another Langlot Gang member.
Now they only had five still after them including Colm at the lead.
That was one advantage the Langlot Gang always seemed to have over the Dionisio Gang. Angus picked and allowed members into his fold with considerable care but Doran Langlot was more indiscriminate.
He was happy to let any able-bodied man or woman join their ranks. It allowed their numbers to swell but also put them at risk of getting caught. Which was why they had multiple bases strewn all about the countryside.
If the Langlot boys were all they had to worry about, Henry was sure they would be fine but they were not.
Thanks to the past few days of meditative Daily Quests, Henry's perception could spread away from him in a considerable radius and pick out elements of the world his actual sights could not reach.
He sensed the approaching horses of the magic-wielding strangers and frowned because he and Triss were not yet gaining ground.
Just then, Triss yelled with genuine hurt in her voice.
"No. Anders!"
Henry looked to the side at her. Her reddish-brown horse had multiple bullet holes in its backside and was bleeding. His speed plummeted and with a final stagger, it fell to the ground.
Triss only managed to avoid getting crushed under its weight by leaping off the saddle at the last minute.
Nyx suddenly bucked under Henry and let out a whine of pain. Henry looked and saw she had been shot as well.
[Nyx has lost 5 Hit Points]
[Nyx's Hit Points: 30/35]
*After leveling up, Nyx's Hit Points (previously 20), increased by 15.
'Those bastards,' Henry thought, seething, 'They're targeting the horses.'
Henry pulled on Nyx's reins and stretched his hand toward Triss,
"Get on!"
Triss grabbed the outstretched hand and got on Nyx's back. Henry placed her in front of him.
"I should be behind you," Triss said.
"No," Henry said calmly, "Take Nyx's reins."
Triss took the reins and with a spike of it, Nyx's jet-black agile body burst into an explosive gallop. The seconds that had been spent stopping and getting Triss onto Nyx's back had allowed the Langlot Gang to gain ground but now, without having to keep pace with Triss' horse, Nyx could let loose the true extent of her speed.
"Wow," Triss let out.
She was sad about her injured horse but at that moment, she was amazed at the speed Nyx was capable of. At their current pace, they were going to leave the Langlot horses in the dust but Henry was not simply going to let the enemy dwindle into the distance.
He pulled out one of the Rifle Ammo boxes he had looted back in New Freudein and reloaded the Rifle in his hand to maximum capacity.
He raised the rifle…
[Activating Marksmanship Lv. 1 Active effect: +5% accuracy]
… and began to fire.
Thanks to the Range of a rifle and his Accuracy bonus, every two fired shots killed a Langlot Gang member, causing their horses to run out of control.
[You have gained Skill Exp]
[Kill-Reward: 8 Exp]
[You have gained Skill Exp]
[Kill-Reward: 8 Exp]
[You have gained Skill Exp]
[Kill-Reward: 8 Exp]
[You have gained Skill Exp]
[Kill-Reward: 8 Exp]
[Skill Level-up!]
[
[You have unlocked a Marksmanship Active Sub-Skill: Quick-Thinking]
[
For five seconds, you and everything in the world will be frozen but your brain will continue to operate. Allowing you enough time to make split-second decisions even in moments of great distress.
Costs: 5 Mana Points.]
Henry was forced to read the alert of the Skill level-up and brushed through the description of
"Ahhhh!"
Just then, Colm cried out and Henry watched as one of the out-of-control horses of his dead gang members, slammed into his own, causing it to topple over and trap his foot in a loud and deep *Thud*.
With Nyx still riding at top speed, Henry didn't get the chance to fire his shot. He hated that. He had a feeling Colm would give him more Exp than he had gotten from the other Langlot boys.
Speaking of Exp, as they rode away to safety, Henry called out his Status screen;
[Name: Henry Morgan]
[Level: 3 (239/400 Exp)]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Gunslinger]
[Title: Gangbanger]
[Hit Points: 25/30]
[Mana Points: 40/40]
[Strength: 14]
[Agility: 10]
[Stamina: 6]
[Perception: 7]
[Skills:
{Marksmanship Lv. 2
———————
After a Quick Look through his Status screen, Henry remembered Nyx had also made a kill so he called up her status as well;
[Name: Nyx]
[Creature: Horse]
[Breed: Valaeren Racehorse]
[Level 2 (35/50 Exp)]*
[Hit Points: 30/35]
[Strength: 30]
[Speed: 60]
[Stamina: 25]
———————
While Henry was looking the Status over, Triss looked back and when she saw there were no more horses after them, she let out a breath of relief,
"We're safe," she said.
Henry opened his mouth to speak but an alert from the System arrived to stun him;
[Two Vykers approach you with violent intentions.]
[You have received a Sub-Quest;
Defeat the Vykers or survive the Encounter.
Kill Reward: 65 Exp (For Each)
Sub-Quest Reward: 50 Exp.
Good Luck.]
"Shit!" Henry let out.
"What?" Triss asked.
"I think you just jinxed it," Henry said with furrowed brows.
Behind them, two horses leaped onto their path with thunderous thuds. The black-cloaked magic-wielding strangers were their riders.