136 Three Tickets

Rose was thinking the same as me. On our first defense we managed well, probably they did expect us to have higher losses, so they interrupted the attack of the first wave to add the remaining one to the second one and make it more effective.

The problem was that even if we managed to repel the attack we wasted resources, and the battle was tiring for all of us.

'Rose? Can you stay up there and survey our surroundings?'

'Sure, go and rest.'

'Yes I'm going to sit a little, but we are going to start moving again soon.'

I looked around, after what happened during the battle, I felt like I should have some authority for the moment.

"Everyone take this chance to rest for 15 minutes we are moving forward after that! Help the wounded, and share your supplies, give the bullet to the best shooters, so they don't get wasted!"

They were happily talking but took what I said, and some lay down whole other started to check their equipment. The same guy I send to speak with Giorgio was in the group passing down his remaining bullets.

"Hey, can you go and say to Mr. D'Aurora that we are moving to the west soon?"

"Yes, Sir!!"

The guy ran again towards the main group, I could see them in the intersection half block behind us.

I sat for a moment to worry about the future when I got an idea and looked at my amount of system point.

405…

It wasn't enough to get another E-Rank power… with all the beasts I killed, I thought that I might be able to get enough points, but there were too many normal beasts in between for it so if I was lucky I got five points for it.

I thought a few seconds and browsed the store to look for powers. The most useful abilities in my price range were enhanced Stamina that cost 250 points and Enhanced Endurance for 350. Enhanced strength and agility cost 400 that would leave me without the option of getting the grenades in the case I need them.

I always have the option of getting tickets instead and try my luck, but I still remember when I got taste and touch enhance… I mean… they are great for intimate moments, but besides that, they are useless.

Should I try my luck with the tickets? It would be awful if a get a sense I already have…

'System can the powers I already have appear again in the roulette?'

[Depending on the power you can get a similar one or get a reroll.]

Great I will not get repeated powers then… It would be great to get any of the other two powers right now. They would help me carry on during the fights but only enhance endurance might be able to make a little difference in my real battle prowess.

…

Screw it…

'System buy three F-Rank tickets.'

If I get three of them, I should be able to get at least one decent ability… right?

[Buying F-Rank Tickets, which category do you wish to use them?]

I was going to throw them all into the enhancement, but then I thought if I get a good ability I might try my luck in another category.

'Use one in Enhancement.'

The wheel spin until it stopped in and ability labeled as Adrenaline Rush.

[Congratulations user for Obtaining Adrenaline Rush, do you wish to activate your power? (Y/N)]

'Yes.'

I clenched my teeth ready for what was about to come… but just a notification appeared on my head.

[F-Rank Enhancement ability Obtained: Adrenaline Rush]

Unexpectedly it didn't hurt at all.

'System what does this ability does, and why it didn't hurt?'

[The change was too little for the user to notice it, the user now has some control over the adrenal gland, allowing him to release adrenaline at will, that will boost physical attributes and reactions in 50% for a short time, the backlash will depend on the amount of time that the user is in that state. Max limit 5 minutes.]

I nodded it was a good ability that will allow me to get some explosive force if I'm against a powerful beast, the backlash didn't sound too good, but at least it will boost my fighting ability, even if it is only for a short moment and only if I'm in danger.

'Use another ticket on Enhancement.'

The wheel started to spin again until it stopped in Enhanced Stamina.

[Congratulations user for Obtaining Enhanced Stamina, do you wish to activate your power? (Y/N)]

It was sad it didn't was Enhanced Endurance but Stamina was good enough for now… I think.

'Yes.'

This time I felt it.

It wasn't painful, but it was like I was burning from inside, like when you spend too much time exercising. My breathing and heart rate were fast. A minute later it stopped contrary to what I expected I wasn't drenched in sweat and didn't felt tired as before.

[F-Rank Enhancement ability Obtained: Enhanced Stamina]

[Enhanced Stamina, allows the user to be physically for more extended periods of time without getting tired, it also shortens the time he requires to recover for physical fatigue]

[Body Upgrade Endurance+5 Str+3]

[Endurance reached max, the extra point will be added when the max is increased]

[Achievement Unlocked]

[Well Built

All that training finally paid off, and your body reached the milestone to the next level.

Get 25 Point in Endurance

Reward: Choose (Improved Recovery/Lower Regeneration/ Tough Skin)]

'What is the difference between improved recovery and lower regeneration?'

[Improved Recovery, will help you recover faster, from fatigue, physical and mental it might in some cases also work against some debuffs. Lower regeneration is a low rate self-healing ability]

It was a tough choice.

Healing wounds or get ready to fight faster in between? The second one should be covered by Enhanced Stamina, but improved recovery might work well against the backlash from Adrenaline Rush.

Regeneration was helpful for me… after all, I kind to tend to get hurt always, Hard skin is also useful to prevent it thou, and it might have a synergy effect with my damage reduction ability.

My mind is a mess, and I have no idea which one to pick.

'Rose?'

'mmm?'

'Help me pick one of these they all seem good.' I used my thoughts for her to understand what I was talking about.

'mmm, I would ignore Recovery for now.'

'Why?'

'Because with the Enhanced Stamina you don't need it, probably they will work well together, but it's unnecessary. About the idea of it with Adrenaline Rush, I don't think it would be enough for you to use it constantly or during the same fight so it's not like it would be a huge upgrade to your battle prowess right now. The same with regeneration, it's good to heal your wounds, but none of this will work fast enough to make a difference in battle as you want. They are good, but they will not be an upgrade for the situation now.'

I nodded to myself, she was right. I have no guarantees that the fights today will be like the one before or that it will be a resistance test this might not happen again and if it occurs, I already have Enhanced Stamina.

'You are right, I'll take Tough Skin.'

'Wait…Will your skin get rough at touch?'

…

'What?'

'You know, will your skin get rougher or something?'

I was trying to hold back my laugh.

'Don't laugh!!! It's important you know!!! Would you like if MY skin gets rough???'

For a second a imagine myself caressing her face, and that it felt like sandpaper… indeed it wasn't funny.

I can't believe I'm asking this…

'System will my skin get rough with Tough Skin?'

[…]

'…'

[No… maybe a little harder but nothing else…]

'The system said that it will just be a little harder.'

'O-okay…'

I could imagine her all blushed and embarrassed about the question, I felt a little stupid asking about it to the system too, so I changed the subject to leave this embarrassing moment behind us.

'Thanks for the advice, is there any weird movements in the beasts?'

'No, they regrouped a couple of blocks to the northeast. There are no signals of other groups.'

'Ok, tell me if there is any change or if you get tired.'

'Don't worry I can't get tired in this body, go keep retrieving powers.'

'Right… I still have a ticket.'

Since I already got what I wanted I was thinking about obtaining a power from another category.

'System use the last ticket in the Random category.'

I thought about using it in one in mental or scout abilities, but I might get something from the Special category.

The wheel started to spin in my mind until it stopped in a wholly unexpected yet familiar place.

2x.