[there's no other way.] the system calmly said and jack agreed for the first time. He'd tried to make things play out a different way, but unfortunately luck wasn't on his side.
[Blood decay deactivated!]
Having no other choice jack activated blood decay. Shooting out a blood ball from his palm, which was still raised.
[+1 intelligence stat]
[Body state: 10/30]
The system notifications flashed before his eyes, to which he immediately dismissed. He was already aware blood decay didn't restore his body state or hp unlike decay.
Using the momentum, he tried shooting a blood ball at the other officer. But the latter was prepared, shooting him point blank in the chest.
'Bam!' His body was sent back a bit from the force, slightly spinning out of balance. Blood gushed out from his wound, with a great amount of pain coursing through his body.
[-15hp]
[-1 body state]
Another system panel appeared before his view, alerting him of the reduction of 15 of his health points. It was much compared to the prior one's but he considered it fair. Since he was shot by a gun, and not hit by a fist in the face.
'Bam! bam!' The female officer fired two more shots. One of which hit jack in the back, while the other missed flying past him.
[-15hp]
[-1 body state]
Taking cover behind a parked vehicle, jack ducked for safety. And also to regroup himself.
"Shit.. this is worse than dying." Jack gritted his teeth, placing his hand tightly to his chest in hope to stop the bleeding. He could see 2 points from his body state was also deducted.
Looking down to his chest, he could see a small hole where his heart was meant to be. Which made him wonder if he still had a heart or not.
Peeping a bit, he took a quick glance of where the female officer was before shots were rained down on him. Forcing him to duck down.
'I can't get to her with all this heat.' He couldn't accurately shoot a blood ball at her, with her constantly firing bullets at him. And attempting to get close to her was out of the question.
[Time remaining: 4min 28sec]
[Warning user's body state will now deplete by one every 1 minute because of the damage sustained]
As if his current predicament wasn't enough, the system notification flashed before his eyes. Giving him yet more bad news.
'Back up will soon be here.' He knew the female officer would've called for backup. And he couldn't afford to be here when they arrived, or it'll just spell more danger for him.
'I have to get out of here.' Jack thought his mind racing on what to do.
[Create a diversion] the system finally spoke in his head after a while.
'How?' Jack asked not sure what the system meant.
[Blood decay not only dissolves living things but also non-living things.] The system hinted making Jack's eye go wide.
'Of course! how could I be so stupid.' Jack felt like slapping himself, for being such an idiot. He'd forgotten blood decay though similar to decay wasn't the same. Decay could only make living things he touched decay. While blood decay on the other hand could dissolve both living, and non-living things.
Either by touch or the blood ball he shot from his palm. As long as it came in contact with his poisonous blood.
[Aim for that glass opposite. I've calculated a 90% success rate it'll hit that gas cylinder.] The system specified to which jack nodded.
'Wait. I get the logic but blood balls only dissolves things right, not explode them?' He understood what the system was trying to do, but he didn't feel the plan would work.
[Just shut up and trust me!] The system angrily retorded.
[Just aim and wait fory signal until I give you the go ahead.] Nodding jack put his trust in his system. He wasn't left with any other choice, and he could tell the female cop bullets weren't about to finish any moment soon.
[Blood decay activated!]
The same small cut appeared on his right palm. Getting bigger until it was just wide enough. He could feel the infinite ancient blood coursing through his veins. channeling the ancient blood to his right hand it turned red, with the familiar vein like lines running across his arm.
'Bang! bang! bang!'
Shots were still being fired by the female officer directed to jack. She was in a dilemma, having witnessed her partner killed by this mysterious individual.
"Code 516. This is officer jaymee. Shots fired at sanders street, officer down. I repeat officer down!" She panted, speaking into the small police radio hung on her chest.
"Backup is in route officer jaymee. What is your position?" The male response team spoke from the other end.
"Am currently engaged in a shootout with the killer." She paused catching her breath a bit. "I suspect he may be in connection with the mass killings at ardo street."
[On my mark shoot out two blood balls] the system said prepping jack.
"Sorry can you repeat that? transmission is breaking." He said as the feed was interrupted by a static humming.
"I said killer could be a prime suspect for the mass murder killings at ardo street!" She yelled once more, sweat sliding down her head.
[Now jack!] The system commanded to which he obliged, shooting out the first blood ball. It shot fast reaching it target, bouncing off the glass cracking it and hitting the gas cylinder.
"What was that?" Officer jaymee was caught off guard by the sudden ruckus. Out of rage she blindly fired more shots at jack.
[Now!] The system inwardly shouted again. Firing off the second ball, it bounced against the glass completely shattering it. Flying past jaymee at the exact moment she fired a shot.
'Boom!' An explosion went off as the cylinder combusted, blasting everything within it's radius away. And coincidentally jaymee was unlucky to be caught in the radius.
Sprinting towards the location he saw her body fly towards, jack planned to end this swiftly and evacuate this area.
"Phough! phough~" It didn't take him long before he spotted her. She was in a very bad condition as her body was a mess. Her left arm was missing, while blood flowed from the deep cut in her head.
"H-help me." She barely uttered shivering. Her heartbeat fluctuating like the temperature.
"Of course." Jack softly uttered. "You deserve a swift death." Raising her head a bit he twisted his arm, snapping her neck and instantly killing her.
[Skills decay activated!]
Under his eyes he watched as the female's body shrinked. Her once smooth skin replaced by a dark substance, spreading throughout her body.
[Body state: 20/30]
[+15hp gained]
He was confused why his hp and body state wasn't replenished full like before. But he chose to worry about that later, and focus on getting out of here before the guys in blue arrived.
Running he blazed past the buildings. Thanks to the increase in his stats he was much faster than before. Before few people could be seen on the road, but now there were absolutely none.
[Jack am detecting multiple vehicles approaching this area.] The system warmed to which jack nodded. He avoided staying on the main road, sticking to secluded paths and alleys he could find. Harum city didn't have much hidden corners to hide, but there were still some.
Hiding behind a huge dumpster in an dark alley, he could hear the dozens of cop sirens blaring past him.
[Time remaining: 1min 52sec]
He still had some minutes before he was transported back to the swampy area. And he knew he couldn't stay here with this much heat, as it'll only be a matter of time before he was caught.
Thinking of a safe place to go there was only one place that lingered in his mind. Having no other choice, jack made his way to the apartment of the only person he could trust.
"I might as well use this opportunity." He let out a weak smile.
...
"Ahh! it's already nighttime." Kelly exclaimed, jolting up from the bed seeing everywhere was now dark. She'd just decided to take a little nap besides the girl. Never did she expect to oversleep this long.
"Someone's a deep sleeper." Kelly joked seeing little patty was still sound asleep. She decided to let her be for some few minutes, before she woke her up for dinner.
Getting up she stretched a bit heading to the kitchen. Opening the fridge she was about preparing dinner but stopped, hearing a knock at the door.
'Who's that?' She wondered startled. She wasn't expecting any visitors, so who could it possibly be this late in the night.
Ignoring it she hoped whoever it was would go away, but the knocking only got worse.
'Bang! Bang! Bang!'
Grabbing a knife she slowly made her way to the door. Peeping through the small gap, she could see a masked figure with a foul stench she didn't recognize.
"You got this Kelly.. it's in self defense." She muttered to herself. Taking a deep breath she opened the door, shoving the knife into the person's skin.
"Argh! what was that for?" Jack grunted pulling the knife from his shoulder.
"J-jack?" Kelly uttered in shock clearly recognizing that voice.
"No.. it can't be." She found it hard to believe as this monster didn't look anything like jack. But still, she couldn't forget his voice and it was exactly the voice this thing had used.
"It's me Kelly. You don't have to be scared, am still your number one fan." Jack smiled, further sending Kelly into a state of confusion.
"B-but how? You disappeared five years ago. What happened to you?" Kelly stuttered, tears streaming down her cheeks staring at a ghost.
'So it's been five years.' Jack inwardly sighed finally knowing how long he'd been dead.
"I don't have much time Kelly so you have to listen to me. I was killed by a sentinel manufactured by Bryce Harper. I don't know whatever shit Ronald and Bryce are up to, but it's no good." Jack hurriedly spoke, seeing the system timer counting down before his eyes.
[Time remaining: 30seconds]
"I was then reincarnated by a strange old man and his cat. And given a game like system that allows me to travel back here for only 5minutes." Hearing him Kelly was frozen in shock, still not sure if this was reality or a dream.
"I've done some bad things Kelly and am no longer human. It's ok if you hate me, I understand. But know this.. I love you." Jack uttered. He tried to force out a tear, but all that came out was a drop of blood.
[Time remaining: 15seconds]
Standing in place Kelly's mind was at crossroads, trying to process what was happening right now. It didn't look anything like jack, but it's claims were somewhat true.
"Tell me something only jack would say."
"Ha.. you a hard one huh? I like it."
"J-jack." Kelly uttered without life. She'd hoped to prove herself wrong, that this wasn't jack. but it only backfired on her.
Stretching her hand she tried hugging him. But just before she did a strange drawing appeared under his feet. The ground then sank, leaving a hole to which he sank into.
"Was it a dream?" She questioned as it felt so real.