Shrieks and gasps, escaped from the mouths of the small crowds of people in this street. Looks of horror and fear plastered on their faces, staring at jack covered in blood.
'It's not my fault.' Jack muttered trying to find closure. But it was hard, with the lingering look on the dead man's eye directed at him.
He knew there would be trouble for him seeing the father of the little girl approach, but he didn't mind. He was all well used to this harsh life and brute environment.
Taking the first kick it hurt a lot, but jack had been through worse. So he took the next couple of kicks gritting his teeth through the pain.
[-6hp]
[-6hp]
He could see his hp which was his life dropping before his eyes, but it didn't matter. He'd been dead once so what could possibly be worse?
'It reduced?' Before when he was hit by the man in the alley, he could remember each hit took away 7hp. But now it was 6 of his hp being deducted for each hit.
[Because host has reached level 01 he has become more tolerant to attacks.]
'So does that mean I get more tolerant to attacks each time I level up? And how do I even level up? Isn't there meant to be like an experience bar or something?' Jack found it weird he couldn't see an experience bar or resistance stat, just like the games he played. He didn't know how to describe the system, but he felt it was a higher class of artificial intelligence, not even meant to be in this world. And it also has characteristics of game like properties.
[Unfortunately that information is undisclosed to host for this moment.]
'Who created this system anyways?' Jack wondered still perplexed about that mystery. He had a hunch, but he still couldn't be sure yet.
"Am talking to you you piece of shit!' The man's voice snapped jack from his trance. He'd thought it was over but in truth, it was far from it.
[If you don't retalate you're going to die.] The system warned in his head.
'Am already dead.' Jack grunted shaking his head a bit. Sure he wanted to retaliate, but he refrained for several reasons. Being an orphan without parents, he knew what he passed through in the streets of harum city.
If he decided to retaliate now and hit the man he feared something bad might happen, which would affect the innocent little girl. Which he clearly didn't want.
[You're a fool if you think getting yourself killed again makes you a saint.] The system coldly said.
[The world is a dark place and you can't change it whether you like it or not. The strong preys on the weak leaving them to suffer. Having a soft spot for others will only lead to your downfall]
'B-ullshit! I-i can try..'
[As your guide I won't let your naivety be the end of you.]
"Don't you dare come near my daughter again or I'll kill you. Do you understand?" The man roared crouching down to jack. Before the latter could utter a word he could feel his body suddenly go limp.
'What's happening? I can't move.' Just like before jack couldn't feel his body. His mind gave out commands, but his body didn't respond. controlled by an unknown force.
Struggling to take back control he eventually gave in, succumbing to the strange entity.
"Yes, I understand." He said in a more omnious voice with a crazed smile. Activating decay, he shove his hand to the man's heart instantly killing him. While his body began decaying shrinking in size.
"Monster!" The woman screamed staring at the eyes of not a human, but a monster.
Getting up, Jack stretched his palm towards the woman still frozen in shock. His eyes then trailed down to the little girl clutched in her arms.
'No~' his mind raced fast trying to regain control of his body but unfortunately, his will was too weak.
[Blood decay activated]
The holographic screen flashed before his eyes. A small cut then formed at the center of his palm growing bigger. He could feel it, his blood boiled more faster surging throughout his veins, directed to a particular location.
'Bam!' A gunshot sound was made, followed by the protrusion of a small red ball with hints of dark. The ball was fast closing the distance between the woman in seconds.
Realizing the incoming danger she tried to dodge. but unfortunately she couldn't completely scathe through, as she was hit in the shoulder.
"Argh!" She screamed in pain dropping the little girl, feeling the effects of the ball. It looked as if her shoulder was on fire, spreading throughout her body.
"A-acid?"
"How did a begger get his hands on such?"
"Forget that look! It's expanding." The crowd watched in horror as the woman squirmed in pain, while being disintegrated alive. Her left shoulder was now already gone, leaving just bones with strange red veins running on it.
But it didn't stop there, cause the strange avid moved to the rest part of her body. Not sparing any part behind, except the bones.
"Mommy! w-what's happening to you." The little girl tried going close to her mother, but was kicked away.
"R-un patty!" The woman screamed on top her lungs, tears streaming down her eyes. She knew it was over for her as she could feel her heartbeat slowing. And she didn't know what strange substance jack threw at her.
"B-but I can't! Our promise was to stick together forever. Y-you can't leave me alone by myself.' Patty cried shivering all over, watching her mother's life slip before her very eyes.
"You'll never be alone sweetheart." Letting out a weak smile, her eyes then rolled back going white.
"No!" Patty screamed tears streaming down her eyes. She just witnessed her father killed by a begger and now her mother, few minutes after. Never in her life, did the thought of losing both her parents on the same day cross her mind.
Glancing back at jack she saw he just kept staring at her. Like he was observing her emotions, and next course of action.
"You're evil." Those were the two words that escaped her mouth, with her running out from the street.
[Time remaining: 30seconds]
...
In a street named force street, located in the heart of harum city. a three story building painted black and white stood in the middle of two law firms. A huge label was hung on the building, reading: 'Harum police department.'
Many police cars painted black and white could be seen parked here. As this was not only a branch, but the HQ of the police department for harum city.
"Yes, what is it?" A chubby bald man picked up the office phone on his desk.
"Sir! There's been a murder in ardo street, with the possibility of a deranged psycho killer still on the loose."
"So.. why the hell are you calling me sergeant? Handle it yourself!" He frowned about to drop the phone but paused, hearing the next words of the other end of the phone.
"Y-you don't understand sir. It's not just one murder, it's a whole mass body count for the entire street." Hearing this the bald man's face turned pale.
"A mass body count? W-we haven't had such death rate since a decade ago." The bald man stuttered in shock not believing his ears.
"Am on my way." Ending the call, he picked up his brown suit storming out the office. His facial expression turning sour, heading to his car and driving away.
.....
Back in Eden street, a brunette haired lady putting on a purple top and black skirt made her way down the street, to a local restaurant called Eden's gate.
"Welcome to Eden's gate where pleasure becomes your favourite dish." She was welcomed by a hostess, putting on a blue dress with a brown appron.
'That's new.' She thought staring at the woman. Observing her movements, she could tell she was a sentinel from how coordinated it was.
"Please follow me." The female sentinel hostess gestured with a smile. Shrugging she followed behind, led by the sentinel to an empty table by the huge glass window.
"You may scroll through our various catalogue of exquisite dishes or simply place an order."
'Why's it so nice. It's irritating.' Kelly never really liked sentinels, so this 'nice attitude' just irritated her more.
"I'll order the usual. Coffee and the pasta and sauce special. Uhh.. Amy." She said reading the name tag on the hostess choice.
"Splendid choice! Your order will be ready in some few minutes, please wait.' Amy clapped walking away.
'Can things get any weirder.' She sighed rubbing her forehead which ached. It was no doubt Agathe was changing, as the impact could be felt in harum city. The once small peaceful town she grew up in besides jack.
"Where the hell are you idiot~" she whispered, clutching a small rusty pendent given to her by jack before he went missing.
'How could you be such a coward. W-we were meant to have a happy ending, just like the fairytales.' She clenched her fist tightly, balls of tears sliding down her cheeks.
'Clang!' The sound of a metal tray, followed by hurried little footsteps pulled Kelly from her grieving.
"What's that?" Getting up, she could see a little girl being chased by the female sentinel hostess. Rushing to her, the little girl hugged her tightly tears streaming down her eyes.
"Am sorry for the disturbance miss. I'll take her away now." The sentinel apologized her hands stretched out.
"No! Please.. d-don't let them take me away just like mom and dad." The girl screamed clutching Kelly's leg refusing to let go.
"It's alright." Kelly gestured placing her hand to the girl's head, gently brushing her hair.
"It's alright now, you're safe."