I Still Don’t Like You

As Henry powered up the gun in his hand and began to clench the trigger, a flash of messages projected in front of his face one after the other with barely enough time for him to even read what they said;

[You have activated 'Acidic Combustion']

[Your Mana Points are insufficient to activate 'Acidic Combustion']

['Acidic Combustion' has been activated anyway]

[Power reserves have been drawn from your Stamina…]

[Power reserves are insufficient…]

['Acidic Combustion' has been levelled down…]

[Power reserves still insufficient…]

['Acidic Combustion' has been levelled down further…]

"Oh God…" Henry let out. He still couldn't read any of the messages but suddenly he felt woozy. It was like he was sapped of all strength and so weak he could hardly keep his hand straight. 

But he still had a shot to make. 

[Activating Marksmanship Lv. 1 Active effect: +5% accuracy]

Henry didn't aim for Mr. Grant's head.

With Devon's body blocking the way and both his and Mr. Grant's heads moving so much, Henry knew he was more likely to shoot Devon in the head or shoot the wall than he was to make a successful headshot on Mr. Grant. Especially with his body being so sapped of Stamina. 

So Henry aimed for one of Mr. Grant's arms instead. The one that used to be armed with the strange gun now in Henry's grip remained mostly in place and with the added accuracy bonus, it was a relatively easy target. 

The shot was fired and the bullet pierced through Mr. Grant's uniform sleeve and lodged itself in his arm. Immediately, green veins began to bulge all over Mr. Grant's arm, steaming with a burning acidic heat as they extended to his shoulder, his head and most especially his heart. 

It was all over in a second. 

Like he had received a shot of poison directly to his heart, Mr. Grant raised his head and his mouth opened in a silent scream of pain he was never actually able to vocalise before he slumped against the wall, his head falling onto Devon's shoulder as his body flopped. Lifeless. 

[Quest Completed]

[Kill-Reward: 45 Exp]

[Sub-Quest Reward: 30 Exp]

*[Nyx has received 15 Exp]

[You have gained Skill Exp]

Henry couldn't remain standing. 

He fell on his ass taking multiple breaths like he had just run a marathon. He felt more tired than he had ever felt in his life and it was all because he fired a gun. 

'Insane,' he thought as he raised the gun and looked it over more closely,

'It really is a strange design… But beautiful too.'

"'The Hydra's Sting'," Henry mumbled. He might not have read the System's messages in detail but that name had stuck with him because it explained so much about the look of the gun.

Now he understood the Serpent heads on the gun's cylinder were Hydra heads and after counting, he affirmed that they were Nine for the maximum number of bullets the Cylinder could hold at a time.

"Hydra… Scales… Acid shots… Nine serpent heads. Very Clever," Henry said with a chuckle. 

All of it was in line with the Myths about Hydras he had heard in his past life so he had to admire the attention to detail of the one who had crafted the weapon.

A screen projected in front of Henry's face then with the information he had declined to read in detail earlier;

[You have acquired a Magical Weapon. 'The Hydra's Sting' responds to you.

You have unlocked 2 Magical Attacks;

• Numbing Gas: 

Shoot a magical bullet that turns your victim into a biological weapon and unleashes a Paralytic Gas cloud upon enemies and allies alike. 

Note: As long as you are in possession of 'The Hydra's Sting', you will be immune. 

Cost: 20 Mana Points. 

• Acidic Combustion: 

Shoot a magical bullet that burns through defences (Magical or Physical) and turns any part of your Victim's body into a cauldron of bubbling Acidic goodness (Or evilness). 

Note: Acidic Combustion burns and sizzles everything it touches. You will not be immune. 

Cost: 50 Mana Points.]

With his eyes on 'Acidic Combustion', Henry understood why his Mana Reserves had been insufficient and he also understood how his stamina of 6 was also not enough for support. What he was confused about though, was why the System had defaulted to the most costly attack available when he shot the gun. 

Devon let Mr. Grant's body go so that it could fall to the ground. The manic glow in his eyes were gone completely now and he cradled his slashed arm looking more annoyed than in pain. 

"Hey," he called to Henry. 

Henry looked up with furrowed his brows,

"What?"

"Why did you come here?" Devon asked.

"I don't understand," Henry replied, looking confused. 

"Why did you come IN here?" Devon clarified, "I didn't need your help."

"Really?" Henry asked with twitching lips, "'Cause I seem to remember a sword swinging at your neck when I arrived."

"I had it under control," Devon said through gritted teeth. 

"No, you didn't. But don't worry, you don't have to thank me," Henry said graciously. 

"I wasn't going to!" Devon let out, "Besides, I helped you too."

"Not true but Okay. So, we're even then," Henry said, his body still feeling weak, "Now that that's settled, I need to rest."

Devon was silent for a while as he sat on the ground too while tying a strip of cloth up his arm to reduce blood loss. He had his eyes on 'The Hydra's Sting' gun in Henry's hand,

"That gun…" Devon started. 

Henry stayed silent. 

"It's magic, isn't it?" Devon asked. 

"It's mine. That's what it is," Henry said firmly. 

Devon snorted,

"I don't want to take it from you. I wouldn't want to use a pistol anyway. Too small. It's just, that gun… I don't like how it feels."

Henry raised a brow. This, he found interesting. The corner of his lips were twitching as he asked,

"Devon, are you— are you scared of my gun?"

"I'm not scared. I'm never scared. But it's evil. That gun. It has a negative aura… Feels bad," Devon said and there was a slight quiver in his extra-long canines. 

"Hmm," Henry said and then chuckled, "If it has you this scared, I want to keep it even more."

"I told you, I'm not scared," Devon said in his deep growling voice. 

Henry just shrugged and said nothing more. 

Another few seconds of silence passed and then Devon said,

"You really have changed."

"…"

Henry remained silent, wondering where this was heading. 

"I still don't like you," Devon said, "But at least this current you is not totally useless. Seems all you needed was to shoot yourself to finally actually do something to help the Gang."

Devon stood up after that, picked his shotgun off the ground and walked out of the inner Cabin to join the others in the lounge. 

Henry remained where he was not sure what to make of Devon's words but decided to push them aside. At least for now. Instead, he looked at the system 'Loot' Prompt that appeared in front of him to reap all of Mr. Grant's remedial wealth. 

*Ching*

[You have looted 250 Verlans]

[You have looted 2 Revolver ammo boxes. X42 bullets]

"What, no Quids?" Henry asked out loud in jest. 

In all seriousness though, he was surprised to find that Mr. Grant didn't have any special bullets to use with 'The Hydra's Sting' so he popped out the gun's cylinder and pulled out one of its bullets. 

It was a normal average revolver bullet. 

"The gun makes them magical," Henry realised, "Convenient." 

He popped the cylinder back in and with a single thought, he made the Inventory interface appear and placed 'The Hydra's Sting' in it before looking around to pick up the normal revolver he had come into the inner cabin with and then he left to join the others in the lounge.

The green Numbing gas had dissipated already and everyone was back on their feet, shaking off the last few stubborn effects of their paralysis. Angus had the chest tight under his arm as they all stood around Kirk's body, mourning his death. 

Henry took a step toward them before his eyes fell on the Warlock with a hole in his head. 

He tapped the 'Loot' button immediately. 

[You have looted 320 Verlans]

[You have looted 10 Gold]

[You have looted 1 Engraved Silver Ring]

[You have looted 1 Magical Scroll]

Henry's mouth gaped. 

Gold! 

A coin minted in a distinct shape and the height of this world's currency. One Gold was worth 200 Verlans and he had just gotten 10 of them at once!

Strange as this world might be, the prospect of amassing wealth excited Henry all the same but he had to remind himself of the solemn mood in the lounge and at least act like he was sad for the death of a 'comrade' he cared nothing about.