Chapter 5 - Contract Complete

(A sloppy chapter I admit. But well hope you don't mind it much. My head hurt af dealing with my irl matter.)

(There will be an info dump. I'll put up a warning.)

Was he having fun?

Perhaps. It's debatable if he considered a gunfight with clear risk of death against an army of mechs and well trained soldiers, fun. However, with adrenaline literally pumping through his bloodstream. Adam cleared floor by floor, enemies one after another at every corner trying to halt his advance toward their valuable weapon.

"Eat lea- tungsten fuckers!" Adam with his cheat, the minimap able to locate the enemies in his surroundings, sneaking upon them and pump tungsten pellets into their mechanical craniums.

He never felt more alive than this moment in his twenty years of living. The strain that sets into his body due to his aggressive advance. His numb arm from handling such a high recoil shotgun like an automatic gun. His sticky sweaty body that clings to his suit with great discomfort.

Finally at the parking lot on the 8th floor, Adam exits the stair to a well prepared ambush set by the enemies. Muzzles aimed at the stair and immediately opened fire the moment Adam's head poke out even a little.

Adam scattered three Cryo grenades after checking on the minimap and froze the ambushing team momentarily which he quickly capitalized and took them down. But this is far from the end as there are a dozen more enemies guarding the turret that look the same as the one on the Typhon tank he saw earlier except it's deployed on top of a green camo military truck. He swiftly came up with a plan and used Reinforcement to act as his shield as he rushed at the dozen enemies, rapidly dispatching them. Fortunately, one of them came armed with a rocket launcher which Adam ordered to destroy the beam cannon.

For a weapon this strong, there sure is lack of proper unit guarding it. Not that he is complaining since it made his job easier.

"That's done. Fiuh…" His body instantly sagged when his natural Adrenaline faded, leaving a beaten and exhausted body behind for Adam.

Was he supposed to be capable of taking on this many enemies alone?

Not with his current capability. Yet he somehow exceeded that and did the impossible and came out nearly unscathed. Perhaps it's too early to say that. But he did.

"Time to retreat back to my squad." Adam reminded himself as he quickly left the building and rejoined his squad.

———

A short walk later, he regrouped with his squad and Team DEFY.

"There you are." AK-12 said when seeing Adam approaching.

"Has the leader been killed?"

"Yes. But ignore that. We have a new task." Ak-12 said and urged Adam to walk while she informed him of this new task. "The nearby cities had sent a fleet of military and civilian VTOLs to evacuate the citizens. But the SAMs and AA batteries of the KCCO are shooting them down."

"And we're gonna destroy them I assume." Adam guessed which earned him a nod from AK-12. "Yes. You assumed correctly." She replied with a sarcastic tone and probably even an eye roll. Like what else would they do with that information. But Adam didn't notice it as he looked at his new objective and marker that appeared on his minimap.

"I think we should split up. There are 3 SAMs and 5 AA batteries scattered across the battlefield. It would take too much time if he took care of it one by one." Adam suggested after he analyzed the new information.

They have limited time before more VTOLs arrive and 8 targets that are scattered quite a distance away from each other.

"Sure." AK-12 said before leading her silent partner AN-94 to split up. "We will regroup back at the quarantine center."

Adam and his squad take the right side which has 2 SAMs and 3 AA batteries. He expertly weaves through the narrow alleys with the help of his minimap that accurately shows all available paths.

The SAMs aside, which are unmanned and controlled by AI, the AA batteries are only guarded by humanoid robots and a few human soldiers. They are hardly a threat and easy to be eliminated.

After he took care of it, he could see in the sky, a fleet of helicopters and other VTOLs arrived and picked up the civilians. Meanwhile, the sky on the southern wall is getting darker. Adam saw the green storm cloud approaching slowly.

[New objective]

Battle had nearly been won. However the incoming Collapse Fluid Storm forced the government to evacuate all humans from the city.

-Defend the quarantine center from the encroaching ELIDs until everyone is evacuated.

On a borrowed Humvee, Adam drove quickly to the quarantine center.

Upon arriving, he is greeted with Team DEFY already arriving before them, Commander Gentiane and the Garrison Commander.

"It's glad to finally meet you and your squad in person, Operator Adam White." Gentiane, the pink haired commander in a red military coat, greeted Adam.

"Your welcome?" Adam replied awkwardly, unsure what to say in reply and felt uneasy with how many people were staring at him and whispering. Thank goodness his gas mask hides his expression.

Ignoring the people cheering him in the background as the hero of Belgrade, Adam ask Gentiane how much time is needed for them to evacuate everyone.

"We have more than 30 thousands people including the garrison troops that needed to be evacuated and with limited landing area… I'd say approximately 1 hour." Dragovic said. "However, with our current ammunition and supplies. I doubt we could last another half an hour."

"I send three Echelons out to scavenge all the nearby supply depot. That should last us a little longer." Gentiane added.

"Indeed, however it would still be difficult to defend the quarantine wall. Please assist us, Mr Adam White." Dragovic implored Adam.

"Don't worry, that is my intention." Adam replied.

"Good. Good. If we survive this. I will throw a party in your name, friend."

Adam only laughs sheepishly knowing he wouldn't even be in this world after his Contract is done.

After he is done talking with both commanders, Adam and his squad go to join the garrison troops to kill all approaching ELIDs.

———

40 minutes later.

"How is the evacuation?" Adam asks in the channel to the two commanders.

"All civilians have already been evacuated. Now it's soldiers." Dragovic is the one that replied with much relief in his voice knowing none of his men will be sacrificed with Adam taking the helm in stopping the hordes of ELIDs swarming in from the breached wall.

"15 more minutes before the storm arrives." Gentiane recalled with worry in her voice.

"Don't worry. The evacuation is going smoothly and we might even complete it ahead of schedule." Another female voice replied. Maybe the voice is Kalina.

Adam looks at the dwindling numbers manning the inner wall around the quarantine center.

"The rest of you soldiers fall back to the helipad and roof." Adam ordered the captain in charge of the wall.

"But sir… Who will defend the wall?" Ths captain asked with a frown.

"I will. My squad will be sufficient. We will fall back into the building and defend only the entrance."

The captain gave the order a thought and agreed because there is literally no civilian left or many soldiers to defend a wide wall. Better to fall back into a narrower area and guard a smaller passage.

"Besides, most of your mens are running out of ammunition to keep fighting." Adam interrupted the captain's thoughts and added another reason to persuade him.

"Alright, comrade Adam. You better survive this and get back alive." The captain tapped his shoulder with a fist and a smile of gratitude.

"Yeah! No way we will be able to throw a celebration without the heroes with us later." Other soldiers laughed.

"Unfortunately, I will not be returning with your forces. We are mercenaries of different groups." Adam explained to them.

"I see. That is a shame." The captain showed some sorrow on his face. "I have a cute dau-"

"Just get going already you shameless old man. Your daughter is barely even a teen to be married, I heard." Adam snapped at the captain and chased him away with the rest of his mens.

"Are you saying my Anastasia is not enough for you?" He looks offended and ready to defend his daughter's honor but his mens thankfully drag him away while thanking Adam and his squad for taking their place.

"Yeah yeah. Just let me do my job in peace." Adam huffed and turned his head ahead. 001, 002 and 003 are still firing at the zombies without stopping. "Let's go. We are retreating back into the quarantine center."

10 minutes later.

Most of the soldiers had retreated. The one left is a few T-Dolls and soldiers to escort both commanders.

"Let's go, Adam. The last bird had landed." Dragovic called Adam, still defending the sole operating passage up to the Helipad.

"Go ahead with me. My squad has our own transport." Adam said.

"Where? I don't see any?" Dragovic asked while looking at the storm that had already arrived in front of the city wall.

"Just go. We will be fine." Adam insisted again while looking at the timer that shows 01:48.

"Sir, another variant is incoming!" 002 informed as he focused his shots on the Smasher, smashing the barricade open to open the path bigger for more zombies to pass through.

"You better not die, friend." Dragovic reluctantly boarded the last helicopter after seeing more and more infected pouring in considering the gunfight is getting more intense.

"I am not. So, just leave already." Adam shouts back frustrated and exhaustedly, wishing his last objective to be completed so he can leave already and rest his weary body and mind.

When the helicopter took off, his System congratulated him.

[Congratulations for completing your Interdimensional Contract. Host will be returning in 10 seconds.]

Adam continues to fight a little more before the blue holographic light teleports him away.

———

(Info dump warning.)

On the Orbital Fortress, Adam reappeared alone in the same room he appeared in. The screen starts displaying his results.

Completion Grade: SS-

Objective: 12/12

XP: 10,000,000

SAS $: 1,500,000

Looking at the screen, Adam questions is that all he gets? Boat load of XP and Cash. Don't get him wrong, his levels shot through the roof from 11 to 60+ in one go. But he played the game before. XP and Cash means little. The real reward is the Strongboxes that will give guns and armors.

[Host is correct. Host still has other rewards. For achieving SS- completion grade, Host obtained 1 Black Strongbox, 3 Nantonium Strongboxes, 5 Prometheum Strongboxes, 5 GFL Strongboxes and 2.5 Million SAS$.]

[Rewards will be transferred into the Inventory.]

[Do Host have any questions?]

"I in fact do. How does the grading even work?" Leo wondered as such function didn't exist in the game and probably exclusive to his System only.

[The grade is taken into account the completion rate of each of the given objectives and the effect of Host's intervention to each Contract on the world.]

[Host's intervention had saved many civilians and soldiers that would have originally died during the battle or turned into ELIDs due to the Collapse Fluid Storm. Beside that, the peace conference between the Rossartist government's representative with the Neo Soviet Union that was supposed to take place in the city of Belgrade will take place in another city will garner much success due to the incident in Belgrade which raises awareness to the hidden enemy, the Paradeus. Causing the people to seek peace instead of more war.]

"I see…" Adam nods.

He reached a new understanding of his System and its purpose.

From the way it explains, the attack on Belgrade already took place and the results were devastating with numerous citizens and soldiers dead. But due to his intervention, a new timeline and a new possibility occured. Those who supposedly died during that day, survived. History took a different course for the better.

This made Adam feel his efforts were even more meaningful. His presence cannot change what already happened. He can still create a different outcome in a form of a different timeline.

"So… now what?" Adam asks his System since his Contract is already done.

[Host can rest for a while or return to Host's world immediately.]

"I rest for a while first." He immediately made his choice. He rather not return to the forest filled with hostile fauna that wanted nothing more than to rip him apart especially when he is dead tired.

[Host has a personal room in the Orbital Fortress. Host can rest there for another 28 hours before Host is forcibly returned to Host's world.]

"Aigh… thanks." Adam heaved in relief that he had a proper place to rest.

He immediately unequipped his gears which made his body felt light and less stuffy. But he keeps the ACE Suit on because underneath it is his birthday suit.

When he followed the navigation arrow to his room and arrived, he found it was a bedroom equipped with a shower. He quickly took off the bodysuit and hopped into the shower to clean away all the sweat and grime sticking to his body with a warm shower.

After the shower, Adam realized he forgot to bring a towel with him and had to walk with his body dripping with water to the closet and grab one to dry his body before putting on a bathrobe. He walked to his bed after that and plopped down on the soft bed feeling his entire body turning heavy like they were filled with lead.

"System, is there any food I can eat?" Adam asked when he felt his stomach growls for food.

[None on the Orbital Fortress. But I can allow the host to buy any food Host wants with currency.]

"For real? Then I want 1 large Pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and one jug of orange juice." Adam orders while wiping his drool away, feeling very very famished.

[That would be $ 700 including tax. Anything else to add?]

"First. Fuck taxes. Second, why is it so expensive?" Adam wondered. He had little concept of value for the System currency but he knew it was over priced when he could buy 200 shotgun shells for $180 but 700 for a large pepperoni pizza with a jug of OJ.

[The System is specialized to fabricate guns, armor and munitions. Not food. To make something other than what the System is specialized to would cost extra energy which means food will be more expensive.]

"Fine. Whatever… just get me the food." Adam relent to the System's argument.

Once he gets his food and drink. He starts slowly eating them instead of gorging them down. He got bored having no entertainment to go with the food. So, he moves to his Inventory and opens the Strongboxes one by one.

The first one he opens is the Black Strongbox but as expected, he needs a Black Key just like in the game and he has none. Moving on, he opened other strongboxes except the GFL Strongboxes.

Sabre Pistol ★★★(Red)

Raptor AR ★★★(Red)

Hardplate Chest Vest ★★(Red)

Ronson 50 SMG ★★

HMV MPG Rocket Launcher ★(Red)

R1 Interceptor Helmet ★(Red)

Ronson 55 SMG ★★

RIA 20 DSC AR ★★(Red)

Adam was happy with his gain although most of them are straight trash. The first three from the Nantonium Strongboxes is the only okay one.

First, the star symbol is the indication of how many slots of augment the weapon or armor can get up to 3 for guns and 2 for armors from strongboxes and maximum 4 for guns and 3 for armors when augmented with Elite Augment that requires Elite Augment Core. Each slot should have another sub slot that indicates the level of augment. The higher level of augment the stronger the augment effect is. from 1 to 10 from strongboxes and maximum 12 with Elite Augment.

So, any guns or armor pieces that didn't have maximum augment slot is generally not worth using and augment because to reach its maximum potential, Adam would have to invest Elite Augment Cores that is very rare and have like 5 to 15% chance of dropping from a Nantonium Strongbox that drop by a specific boss at level 400 according to the game.

Yes, this isn't a game but the rarity should persist and so does his opinion.

Other than the first three, he sells the rest of it. 4k for Standard grade and 10k for Red grade gears.

Quite meager compared to the effort spent to get the strongboxes but this is the gambling or gacha. Losing is to be expected. But in his opinion, the Hardplate Vest is well worth it. It has a straight up crippling negative speed modifier of -35% but its defensive stats is the highest among all. However, he has plenty of stats to invest after his rapid jump in level and Adam can simply invest on a skill that can reduce the negative speed modifier.

Adam glanced at the GFL Strongboxes. He wanted to open it as it said he will get things from this world. The definition of 'things' is quite wide and encompassing. He doesn't think he is ready yet and his luck isn't good, especially with the strongboxes he just opened.

Instead, he looked at his gear. His recent battle made him realize many things and the one he realized the most is death is something he would be facing a lot. Thus, having the best armor to preserve his life in battle is more important than the strongest gun. After all, what good is a powerful gun when the gunner is dead?

But before Augmenting his armors, Adam distributed his skill points.

Fast Movement (25/25)

Toughness (10/25)

Health Regen (7/25)

Heavy Gear (25/25)

Tough Body (25/25)

Die Another Day (1/25)

Aerial Bombardment (1/25)

Adrenaline shot (25/25)

Reinforcement (1/25)

Stim Shot (1/25)

First Aid (1/25)

(Skill description refer to Auxiliary chapter.)

He picks and maxes up most skills that will immediately increase his survivability in battle.

After that is armor. The only Hardplate series armor he had is the vest and boot only. Although it might look like a problem for not having the full set because the protection would be lacking. But according to what he experienced in battle. It's not the armor that protects his body but the ACE Suit.

The armor piece is more like a modification that can change the behavior of the Suit to make it more fortified, more heat resistant, more chemical resistant, more energy resistant, etc. So, even if only his vest has high defensive stats, it's not just the chest area that is the most defensive. But the cumulative defensive stats extend and apply all over his body.

He chose to only Augment his Hardplate Vest for now. His money might look a lot with almost 4 Million. But Augment costs more with each subsequent level, double or even quadruple the previous cost. It might start at a harmless 40k at the first level but goes up to 12 Million on the last level.

His 4 Million could only afford to put 5 levels into both Fortified and Heat Resistant which respectively reduce physical and heat damage received.

Just when he is done, his food is finished with half a jug of Orange juice left. He is already feeling sleepy and he laid on the bed before he fell asleep with a full stomach. His sleep is bound to be a cozy one.

———

(I know he didn't wipe his mouth after eating or washing his hands. But when he is exhausted and very tired fighting hours upon hours. I doubt a minor hygiene problem would even matter. I felt that once, tired from work, I returned home at 1 am, working the late night shift. I ate in bed while watching YT and fell asleep after eating.)

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