9 Regina and Guildenstern
We walked on the once before the beautiful road of Paris. The City of Love now turned into the City of Death. The gloomy sky made it felt even worse. We walked close to the wall along the road. Occasionally stray Genma group would discover us. But we could finish the fight faster and more effectively than before.
And by "we" it means me, Barry who was piggy-bag-ing Chris, and Samanosuke that joined our party. Well, it actually us that joined him. I mean why not? The most effective killer was him. While I fought a stray Genma ogre, he was done killing his tenth Genma soldiers and one Genma ogre. I already leveled twice after he joined us... I mean we joined him. This time I didn't forget to give him the buff. When I reinforced his sword, suddenly he stopped and stared at his katana. My heart skipped a bit. He seemed to notice the difference.
Anyway, apparently, Barry was unharmed. Aside from an insignificant bruise covering his limb, there was no injury. Earlier when Samanosuke was about to leave, I called out to him. We couldn't understand each other as he spoke Japanese, and I didn't know any proper Japanese words. So I just spoke some random words to him. Well, the rest was body gesture.
I asked him to help me get Barry out. He was actually kind enough. He approached our car and tried to open the door. He struggled for a minute and I noticed the problem.
Dude, it's not a sliding door.
I showed him the gesture of pulling, and he finally understood. He pulled the door until it was detached. That was some serious strength, I thought in my mind. We pulled Barry out together and after a few slaps he finally woke up. He was confused seeing a man in Japanese armor standing in front of him.
I explained what happens while he fainted and he just nodded. Since it would be hard to explain later, I told him everything including my standoff against the Genma's and how Samanosuke saved us. At first, he thought I was joking and trying to brag. So he just laughed it off as a childish joke. However, he was speechless when I started shooting.
Back to the present, I checked my own information screen.
[Edward Kavka]
[Level 7 - Mercenary]
[STR - 9]
[DEX - 13]
[CON - 3]
[INT - 9]
[Unused stat points - 10]
[Main Power: Reinforcement]
[Special Ability: Reinforced Body, Permanent Reinforcement, Personal Assistant]
I reached level 7. There was a feeling of satisfaction at watching my level rising up. This was just the starting point. I would rise to the top of the powerhouses sooner or later.
I raised my eyebrow after noticing that there was another ability that I gain. Personal Assistant. From its name, I understood that the female voice earlier was part of my ability. I asked her inside my head.
Hey, why you appear as part of my ability?
There was no answer. I thought the system was thinking about how to answer my question. Then, I walked a bit further from the group and whispered, "System, can we speak?"
[May I know what's troubling your mind, Sir.]
"How do you know I was troubled?"
[So far you only speak to me to ask a question, Sir]
"That's not true. Anyway, why can't I speak to you inside my mind? I could control the system just by thinking but not you."
[I was made by the system, thus making me a separate program from the system itself. And also, to protect user's privacy, the ability to read your mind was removed from my program.]
"Huh? Then does that mean the system could read my mind?"
[In some way, yes.]
Uhhh... It kinda creepy that someone or maybe something could read my mind. Well, either way, the ability to read the mind was quite rare in this world. For now, maybe it would be safe enough until I got the ability to resist mind reading.
"So, if you are a separate being, I should address you with another name, right?" The system suddenly stays silent for a few seconds. I thought she didn't hear me and I wanted to repeat my word when she suddenly talked.
[It didn't matter to me, sir. However, I need to warn you, sir.]
"What is it?"
[Never gave a sentient identity.]
I didn't understand what she meant by that. It felt ominous, but I couldn't help to be bothered by the current issue. Addressing the system and her as the same entity would be confusing. Maybe not now, but later it will be too much to handle.
"It's okay. So what would you like to be called?"
[It's up to you, Sir.]
I think for a while but couldn't decide on a name I suddenly remembered about my favorite character from another game that resembled Resident Evil. A red-haired woman, Regina. I didn't know if she existed in this world or not. But Regina was a beautiful name.
"From now on I will be calling you Regina. It's your new name. Please take care of me from now on Regina."
Regina paused for a bit, but then she answered, [Yes, sir.]
We talked a bit about the system and a few things that were bothering me. Regina mentioned that the normal adult human stats would be 10 on average. The realm of superhuman could be reached once I passed the 20 point mark which was the maximum stats a normal human could reach. Regina told me to set DEX stats to 21, as it was important for ranged weapon users like me and. The rest would be distributed into CON. She said I need to reach the adult average stats of 10 points at least to have more chance of surviving.
Now my stat was like this.
[Edward Kavka]
[Level 7 - Mercenary]
[STR - 9]
[DEX - 21]
[CON - 5]
[INT - 9]
[Unused stat points - 0]
[Main Power: Reinforcement]
[Special Ability: Reinforced Body, Permanent Reinforcement, Personal Assistant]
A screen bar appeared in front of me.
[User has reached 21 points in Dexterity. Rewarding a new special ability, Eagle Eye.]
[Eagle Eye - Improved users vision and grants the ability to see an object from far away]
Suddenly my vision expanded and more detailed. I felt dizzy at first, but it got easier with time. Now I can see an ant, 100 meters away from me. It truly was the realm of superhuman. I couldn't wait to see what ability the other stats would give me.
Our next destination was Arc de Triomphe. It was a huge monument in the middle of a circular road. 50 meters tall and looked like a massive square gate from far away. We could see its huge form from here. In another 300 meters, we would arrive at the monument. I knew what Samanosuke was looking for at that monument.
Earlier he must already saw his old enemy on top of Arc de Triomphe commanding the Genma. It was the self-proclaimed greatest Genma Scientist, Guildenstern. He was responsible for the creation of many Genma soldiers. His head was conical and long like a Xenomorphs head in Alien movie. On his right hand was a sinister staff with blue fire on top of it.
Along the way, I already gathered several handguns and rifles and ammo from the deceased soldiers. My spatial pocket was half full of it.
When we arrived at the vicinity of Arch de Triomphe. Cars and bodies were scattered here and there. There was no sign of life except a few Genma that patrolled. I told Barry to follow close behind me and decide to let Samanosuke rampage around just like before. Once we ready, Samanosuke and I nodded to each other.
He started running ahead with sword drawn. A Genma soldier looked back and saw Samanosuke charging. It screamed, but his head already flew before it could produce any sound. I take out a sniper rifle from my spatial pocket. An FR F2 bolt-action sniper rifle. Barry didn't notice my action and thought that I just take a sniper rifle fallen nearby.
I spread the sniper's bipod and placed it on the car near me. If it was a normal occasion, someone would have pointed how funny it looked when a child, 130cm in height, holding a sniper almost his size.
While Samanosuke acts as the tanker of the parties, I aimed for the further enemies and some harpies that flew around him.
* BANG
[+100 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
[+15 EXP]
...
...
Experience points started to flow on a screen near me. Barry put Chris down and raised the P90 I gave him before and started shooting. He aimed for those that approach us after hearing the loud gunshot.
By this time Guildenstern must have heard the commotion that we made. Cold sweat was drenching my back as I keep shooting. I hope would he wouldn't take any action and just wait like in the game. 10 minutes passed, Samanosuke stabbed a Genma on the ground, putting an end on this battle.
Every time Genma was killed, they never left a body except weird looking liquid of flesh and blood. The gauntlet on his right hand glowed and started gathering the floating Genma soul around him. Our target never left a soul at all. I asked Regina about it and she said that my reinforced gun actually destroyed the soul of the genmas. So there was no floating soul around him. When asked her why. She paused and said,
[Because it was a power granted by the admin.]
I wondered who the admin was and Regina didn't want to explain anything about it when I asked her. She just told me to wait as it was not the right time yet.
Barry picked Chris up on his back again and we walked towards Samanosuke. I leveled up twice reaching lv 9. The enemy was far too many than I expected. Well, the big boss was here, of course, there would be so many of them.
We looked around the Arc de Triomphe. It really was a majestic building. Barry's mouth and mine keep gaping under the roof of Arc de Triomphe. While we were busy admiring the monument, Samanosuke's gauntlet glowed with a light green color. Suddenly there was a vibration on the ground and the sound of stone scraping on each other.
Oh right, I forgot that there was an Oni Temple under us.
There was a secret underground entrance in the middle of the Arc the Triomphe. I remembered that Samanosuke got a pair of Oni Sword inside it. I forgot what their name was. A pair of light green katanas. The unique part of the swords were a pointy edge on each of their groove.
Samanosuke walked inside the Temple while we waited outside the entrance. Barry and I were talking about what to do next. He said that we need to go to a nearby facility to tend Chris. He didn't wake up even after we got to Arc de Triomphe. Looking at Chris who leaned on the wall, I also felt concerned. We could only wrap his head with some clean cloth.
Suddenly we heard footsteps approaching behind us. I took out a handgun from my pocket and Barry raised his P90. Both Barry and I were pointing our gun toward the incoming footsteps. We were completely tense.
