4 Chapter 4

Foley's squad walked through the woods coming across different colored Balloon monsters but nothing new yet. "So what do y'all think of this world so far."

"Well Dunn considering we saw Naofumi get falsely accused of Sexual Assault and hardly did anything to defend his name, I think it's going great just like how we're walking through the woods of some fantasy world helping protect the Kingdom who clearly lied about him, what do you think Sarge." In a clear exaggerated voice Ramirez stated "Well I do think we could have done more to keep the kid safe from getting his name slandered so I do blame it on myself and the Colonel, Now that's the past so we move forward in order to change history." Speaking in a somber tone to their failure in defending the kid

"Well damn never knew you were on for speeches, sarge." "I never was one for speeches not my thing, Now lets keep moving and keep your guard up, Volker, Wade watch our back. Dun, Ramirez watch our sides i'll be taking point those SOB's can be anywhere." "Yes sir!" the Rangers moved to position.

Foley spotted something "Contact infront of us a huge pack of rabbits unknown if they are just rabbits or a danger." getting in position to engage one of the rabbits heard them quickly turning around and spotting. Foley taking notice he quickly responded. "ENGAGE, TAKE THEM OUT, TAKE THEM OUT." Quickly they opened fire against the rabbits catching them by surprise but still too late for some of them too evade. "Shit, some of them managed to evade watch your backs!." "Copy, over" the Rangers quickly regrouped to watch their backs.

"Contact to our back, some five rabbits." Both Volker and Wade we trying to find the enemy contacts "I can't see him!" "Me neither I can't see those SOB's!" "Sarge, These woods are limiting our vision we got to move to an open area!" "Copy that Dunn! lets get our asses to a more secure area! lets move!"

Moving running through the woods they managed to find a small open area in the woods "Form a circle don't let those sons of bitches get through."

"Hey, I'm having deja vu this just like when we got cornered at DC." Looking at the woods that surround them aiming their rifles for any movement."Hey Volker I got no visual on them how about you." "I got nothing on my side Wade, anyone see them." "Shut it, I think they're coming make sure your ready reload your weapons, whose got grenades, prepare to use them because were about to need them." "Ah shit, well lets show these bastard who we are." "Hell yea." Wade prepared a grenade to cook and throw.

Finally the bushes started to rustle, the Rangers were now more confident as they had lured them into an open plain field so they had an advantage. One rabbit poked its head out but was quickly smoked by Ramirez as he spotted it.

More started to appear but were quickly dispatched as Wade threw his grenade that blew up on the contacts faces. "Shit, there are tons of them but can you see the amount of exp we're getting." Dunn said as he laughed while reloading "Hell yea, this is great how much do you thinks these monsters will sell for." Wade asked while firing his M249 Machine gun "I don't know but all this shit won't matter if we don't make it out." Quickly killing the monsters that came to their position. "Hey, uh... do you think the reason there are tons of them coming is because of our loud assguns?" Ramirez asked in suspicion. "Oh really Ramirez, Do YoU ThInK ItS BeCaUsE Of OuR LoUd AsS GuNs, YEA ITS BECAUSE OF OUR GUNS NOW THAT YOUR QUESTION IS ANSWERED QUIT BEING A DUMBASS AND KEEP FIRING!!" "OH GO FUCK YOURSELF!!"

As the monsters were repelled they had finally been able to relax. "Fucking finally, those fuckers would not stop coming we can finally collect the bodies and head back." "Wade we know we're all exhausted but considering how we almost got overrun we're pretty lucky to find this open area." Sitting down they relaxed for the moment as they didn't need to over work themselves. "Well how do we upgrade our weapons I know it has something to do something with these dead fuckers." Ramirez said kicking a dead rabbit. "Hmm How about we put some of their parts into the shiny orb on our weapons." Volker said as he grabbed a pair of ears and cutting them with his combat knife, inserting it into the orb eating the rabbit ears. As he finished inserting the ears he looked at a pop up that said 'Light Weight Gun Acquired Agility +5 and Attack +2' "Holy shit it actually worked." The rest realized what happened but as that happened the other Rangers got a pop out that said the same thing. "Hey, I think our weapons might be connect in some way so that means the others probably got the same pop up." "Well this will make our lives easier, collect all the dead carcasses we're gonna make a pit stop to the market."

"What would happens if we insert a bullet?, you think it will allow us to have unlimited ammo?" Volker was curious so he put in a bullet in a pop up appeared 'Ammo Acquired +10 Capacity' a description followed 'Weapon type will allow the replenishment of ammo when in hand.' "Well not the one we wanted but it's better than having to make it ourselves." A second pop up appeared 'Explosive Bullet +10 Damage Low Explosive Shockwave Resistance, Low Explosive Resistance' "Hey this is fantastic we have Normal and Explosive Bullets." Volker said a happy to be able to explode shit.

"Well, let's get a move on!" foley yelled to the squad.

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Naofumi's POV

Set free he was walking through the streets of the Kingdom everywhere he went he was glared at and whispered about him. His name was tarnished lied to and betrayed by those he thought would help him but now he knew better.

While he was walking he noticed the Weaponsmith as he walked by him the man spoke. "Hey shield kid." The smith said getting the attention of Naofumi. in a moment he had dragged him, lifted him from the ground and was about to punch him. "I heard what you did to that girl, I oughta punch in the face." "So you're against me too." The smith was taken back to his response and so he put him down. "What gives I thought you were ready to punch me?" With a sigh he spoke "I changed my mind."

"Good you were about to lose your life there." as he started walking away. "Hold up a second." They had moved into an alley the smith had handed him some clothing. "Here you wont get far being dressed like that, Consider this a parting gift." "How much" Naofumi said in suspicion. "Doesn't matter since your broke, but lets call it a clearance sale and say 5 copper." "Alright" grabbing the cloak and putting it on, as he walked away "I'll come and pay you back some day."

Arriving outside of the kingdom where some Orange balloons were biting Naofumi. he finally had enough of the Orange balloons shit he roughly grabbed the ballon that had bit his arm and threw it to the ground, followed by continuous punching this went on for other orange balloons. He finally finished them off "I feel like I could hit these things all day but it takes way to much time." frustrated to the fact that it took so long for him to defeat one.

"That was enough to make me hungry." turning his head he spotted a plant that was right next to a tree "Those leaves, they're like the ones I saw at that shop." he picked them up and started examining it "are they edible?." he soon realized that his shield was reacting towards the plant, deciding to feed the plant to his shield.

'Due to use of Medical Herb the Leaf Shield is Acquired'

Finally he returned to the City he set out to a shop to sell the leftovers of Orange Balloons. Overhearing the merchant selling 1 copper for every pair.

As he arrived to the counter he sets down the leftover Balloons "looks like 20 of them by my count how does 1 copper sound for all of them." "You offered the last guy 1 copper for every 2."He was angered by the dude having the guts to try to scam him. "Really now I don't recall that." finally he had enough "Is that so!" he said in a rough and angered voice, pulling him while opening his cape revealing some Orange Balloons "I see so than these will fish a better price than, They're quite lively."

Sticking his head into his cape leaving the man in stuck with the Orange Balloons. "AHHH!"

"Look i'm not trying to rip you off here, all i'm asking is for a fair market price. Is it personal, is there maybe some reason for hating me." finally the merchant gave in "Okay fine I give up, just get these things off of me." Grabbing the man by the front of his coat "Sounds like we have a deal than, if you consistently buy from me i'll even give you a discount, One more thing make sure to spread the word around to the other merchants that any trader who tries to mess with me will be covered in bite marks." "Don't you worry" "To a fruitful relationship." he said as he walked away. While passing he saw a Herb store but just walked by it.

Naofumi had set out to the smiths shop and left 5 copper. While the smith was carrying a chest he was about to set it down when he spotted the 5 coppers realizing who left them.

Naofumi had returned outside of the City laying there on the ground, deciding to sleep outside of the city. As he laid there he heard some bushes rustling behind him quickly stood up and prepared himself to see who or what came out. Finally someone came out but it was more like a group of them. He soon realized who it was, It was the Rangers "Jesus, we finally made it out of there." "Yo who is that." They all looked at Naofumi "Oh, it's Naofumi the Shield Hero what you still doing out here it's dark." Foley said trying to start a conversation with the Kid. "I could say the same thing to you,what are y'all doing this far out." "Well we got lost and attacked by a whole ton of monsters, we managed to eliminate them all but we were almost overrunned." Naofumi had noticed that they were all exhausted. "Looks like you guys got in a huge fight or battle." Looking at the other soldiers carrying some of the carcasses of dead monsters. "Yea, tons of them i'll tell you about it some other time, we've gotta go as we're trying to catch some sleep."

"How long were you guys fighting out there." In curiosity he asked.

"Well we started this morning and now that it's the middle of the night 10 to 14 hours of being out there but fighting at least 4 hours the rest was spent trying to find our way back home with a couple attacks here and there. Hey Naofumi you never said why you were out here?" Asking in an exhausted voice.

"Well I got little money for a room so i'm staying out here especially after what they stole everything from me." He said it harshly all aimed towards the Kingdom.

"Well kid can't have you getting attacked by some monsters while you sleep, here 15 Silver get yourself some food we could have probably defended you better in that trial so take that as one our 'we could've done better gifts' for you. Well kid stay safe we're heading out." Foley had handed him the silver and headed off, not pitying him but helping him out of a mistake made by them.

"Well men, get up we're moving lets go!" Every Ranger groaned as they were exhausted

"Yea, I know you're tired but the sooner we get this done the more you guys can eat, now let's move." As they were walking away Dunn turned to Naofumi "Hey kid, Take this for your shield." Handing a bullet to him "Use the gunpowder to upgrade your shield I don't know at what level it will activate for you but make sure to use it well." Finally he ran off to rejoin his squad.

Naofumi looked at the bullet and inserted it to his Shield surprised to say he saw a new shield unlock

'Explosive Shield Unlocked, Low Explosive Resistance, Low Explosive Shockwave Resistance.'

He was a bit surprised by their generosity but they did try to stand up for him at the trial. Since he had money to get a room so he went into the city who knows what awaits him tomorrow.

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To Be Continued