5 Like the Predator
As heavy rain continued to pour from the sky, Michael searched his mind for any knowledge or skills that could help him survive in this unfamiliar world. On Earth, meticulous preparation and gathering of intel had been his modus operandi before every assassination. However, in this new world, he felt woefully unprepared.
"Am I missing Pink?" he wondered aloud, thinking of his former partner in the world of assassins. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
"Hey, system, what happened to my body back in my world?" he inquired.
"The host's body was disintegrated during the crossing over," the system replied.
"Well, at least my reputation won't take a hit, and those losers won't find me," Michael mused. With his physical body gone, he would remain a myth, a ghost with a flawless record in the eyes of law enforcement.
While reflecting on his reputation, he suddenly heard footsteps and hissing sounds. His initial concern was that a snake might be nearby, but upon closer inspection, he realized the sounds were coming from the ground.
Peering through the branches, he spotted a group of five strange creatures dragging something. On Earth, they would have left him shocked and terrified, but Abras's memories helped him identify them.
"Snakemen, freaky," he muttered.
Two of them had upper bodies resembling cobras, while their lower halves were humanoid. The other three had human upper bodies but serpentine lower halves.
Michael furrowed his brows when he noticed they were dragging a teenage girl.
"Datra, let's take a break here, I'm too tired to walk in this damn rain," one of the snakemen complained, prompting the group to stop.
"He's right, we have been walking for two days straight without any break," another chimed in.
"But we still have a long way to go to get back to Nagaland. We can't afford to lose her again; the queen will skin us alive if we do," a third snakeman cautioned.
One of the snakemen with a cobra head hissed, but the others chuckled, gazing at the helpless girl.
"Look at her, Datra. The elders crippled her cultivation, and now she's as harmless as a butterfly. Besides, how can she escape with ropes tied around her limbs?" one of them remarked.
"And she can't turn into her true form anymore," another added.
As Michael observed the girl more closely, he noticed a small glimmer of snakeskin on her neck, confirming that she wasn't human but one of the snakemen.
"Three body refining stage level 7s, one level 8, and a level 10," he mentally noted. Killing them with his current level of cultivation would be nearly impossible. However, the system had given him a potent tool to deal with them if he could catch them by surprise and silently eliminate them one by one without alerting the others.
Before taking any action, Michael decided to open the system and explore the subordinate tab. Currently, the interface appeared empty, but in one corner, the system displayed the maximum number of subordinates he could have.
"Three, huh? That should suffice for now. But, system, please explain how this subordinate feature works."
[When the host wants to make someone his subordinate, you can activate the system's recruitment feature. The target must be willing to agree to be the host's subordinate, and if the target is willing, the system will recruit the target as the host's subordinate.]
"Can a subordinate betray me or discover your existence, system?" Michael inquired.
[The host need not worry about that. A subordinate cannot betray or harm the host in any way. If the subordinate acts in a way that might bring harm to the host, the system will activate countermeasures to eliminate or penalize the subordinate before any harm occurs. Regarding your last question, apart from the host, no one will be aware of the system's existence unless the host chooses to reveal it. However, the system strongly recommends against revealing its presence.]
Michael absorbed this information as he considered his options.
"Cool, that's what I like to hear. Also, I'm neither crazy nor foolish enough to announce that I have a system in my head."
With that, he closed the system, allowing the world around him to come back to life.
"Okay, okay, let's take a break here, but once this rain stops, we'll be leaving. Understood?" Datra announced, and the snakemen sighed in relief. The girl, bound and gagged, continued her futile struggles.
"Sleep well, snakes," Michael muttered from his perch above, feeling like a predator watching its prey.
"If only I had my sniper or an assault rifle with a silencer," he lamented.
[Does the host truly intend to eliminate those snakemen?] the system's voice chimed in.
"You do reward badass points and bonuses for their elimination, right?" Michael countered.
[Indeed.]
"Then that's my answer. I need to accumulate points and experience somewhere. Why waste such an excellent opportunity? Plus, I have a healing potion if things go south."
"Good."
"Huh?" Michael was briefly taken aback as the system's voice momentarily sounded almost human, but the sensation quickly faded.
Surveying the area, he noted that the branches of the tree were long and substantial. Michael nimbly jumped from branch to branch like a monkey, keeping an eye on the surroundings to ensure there were no other groups of snakemen approaching.
As Michael observed the group, he witnessed Datra conjuring fire from his hand, a stream of flames erupting and igniting the wet wood.
"Cool magic," Michael muttered, his eyes sparkling with awe. It was the first time he had witnessed such a phenomenon in real life.
"System, can I do that?" he inquired mentally, and the system presented him with a red card.
Skill Name: Dragon Fire.
Class: Offensive-type skill.
Function: The host can emit a stream of dragon fire from their hands.
Range: Small.
Current Level: Level 1.
Next Level: The range and intensity of the fire will increase. The host can use both hands simultaneously to emit the fire stream.
Price: 600 badass points.
"I must acquire this," Michael decided, his grin widening. The prospect of earning more badass points by eliminating the snakemen became even more enticing.
In his previous line of work, patience had been a crucial attribute, and he had honed his mind to replay movies in his head whenever necessary. As the snakemen began to hiss, which resembled yawns, the forest grew increasingly dark, with only the campfire and flashes of lightning providing illumination.
Clad in his black robes, Michael blended seamlessly with the tree, becoming almost invisible in the dark environment.
"We'll take the first watch," Datra announced, directing his gaze at the other cobra-headed man.
"Fine with us," they responded.
Michael was surprised to see that they had not placed anything beneath them, such as a bedsheet or blanket, as they settled down to sleep on the damp ground.
As the minutes passed, the snakemen began to snore, unfazed by the thunderclaps echoing through the forest, while Datra and his companion remained vigilant, keeping their eyes on the girl.
Michael patiently waited for an opportunity, hoping they would momentarily divert their attention from each other. However, even after some time had passed, they showed no signs of moving from their positions.
"A minor distraction should suffice," he thought.
His gaze fixed on the tree behind Datra, which had a massive trunk capable of obstructing the other snakeman's view if he were to eliminate Datra.
With his plan in mind, he leaped to another branch, positioning himself directly above Datra's head. Using his knife, which felt as though it cut through butter, he trimmed a small stick from the tree.
"Thup."
Michael tossed the stick behind the tree, creating a startling noise that caught the attention of both Datra and the other snakeman.
"Go check it out," Datra instructed.
The other snakeman nodded and continued to watch over the girl, while Datra cautiously moved toward the source of the disturbance. Michael seized the moment, ready to execute his plan. He intended to descend swiftly and thrust his knife between Datra's eyes.
With a sense of relief that Abras had learned the weak points of various species during his training, Michael carefully observed Datra's movements.
Step by step, Datra inched closer to the point where the other snakeman's view would be obstructed.
"Diddle diddle, we are so-"
Just as Datra reached this concealed spot, he muttered, "Little."
Seizing the moment, Michael leaped from the branch, driving his knife between Datra's eyes. The loud clap of thunder, combined with Michael's remarkable agility, muffled the sound of his landing.
Even after stabbing Datra, the snakeman's body convulsed violently. Michael exerted all his strength to press Datra's body against the tree until the movement ceased.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for eliminating a Body Refining Stage, Level 10 cultivator. The reward is 7000 experience points and 200 Badass points.]
Michael had no time to revel in his victory; his focus remained on dispatching the remaining foes. Swiftly and stealthily, he moved towards his next target, using the cover of bushes and darkness to his advantage.
"Da-"
Just as the other snakeman began to call for his comrade, Michael struck from behind, thrusting his knife through the snakeman's forehead. He dragged the lifeless body away from the campfire and the slumbering snakes.
The girl watched the sudden turn of events with wide eyes, her expression a mixture of shock and surprise. However, she wisely refrained from making any noise that might awaken the sleeping snakemen.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for eliminating a Body Refining Stage, Level 8 cultivator. The reward is 6000 experience points and 250 Badass points.]
