Ch.8

[Name: Ain Richter

HP: 100% - MP: 100% - Stamina: 100%

Level: 5 (800/2500 XP)

Title: [Player - Fourth Natural Disaster (Equipped)]

Awakened Attribute: [Characteristic of Ant]

Skills: [Extreme Computing Power—Lösen Algorithm] [Skill: Construct Arsenal]

Combat Strength: Peak - Superhuman level]

I forgot to update his combat strength, so here it is: his raw strength comes from his awakened passive attribute, which is equivalent to that of a Peak Elite Warrior (Superhuman).

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Ain's GT purred to a stop in front of his home just as the clock struck 9 PM. The night air was cool, the kind that made the world feel quiet and calm. As Ain approached his front door, he noticed a familiar figure standing by the entrance.

"Katalina?" Ain said, surprised to see her there.

Katalina turned, her long, dark brown hair catching the light from the nearby streetlamp. "I got a message from a friend who was concerned about you. When you didn't answer your phone, I got worried and rushed over."

Katalina's tone was casual, but Ain could sense something more behind her words. He decided not to press her. Whenever she talked in riddles like this, asking questions usually led to even more cryptic answers.

Ain fished his phone out of his pocket, realizing it had been on silent mode the entire time. "Ah, sorry about that. I was out testing my new powers. Lost track of time."

Katalina raised an eyebrow, her concern shifting to curiosity. "Testing your powers? What do you mean?"

Ain smiled, stepping closer to her. "I registered as an adventurer today. Went out to the forest and fought a few monsters. Gained some experience, leveled up—it was pretty productive."

Katalina's eyes widened. "You're serious? You fought monsters on your first day as an adventurer?"

"Yep," Ain replied with a slight smile. "Took down an Iron Snail and a group of goblins. It was tougher than I expected, but I managed. My [Sense Augmentation] kept me safe."

Katalina looked him over, searching for any signs of injury. "And you're not hurt? Not even a scratch?"

Ain smiled reassuringly. "Nothing to worry about. I know you're concerned, but I'm fine."

Katalina's eyes softened, relieved but still curious. "You should be more careful. Sense Augmentation is useful, but it's not everything."

Ain nodded, keeping his other abilities—[Lösen Algorithm] and [Construct Arsenal]—to himself. Those were his secrets, after all. "I know. I'll be careful, I promise."

Katalina sighed, more resigned than worried. "Alright, if you say so. Just… don't make a habit of worrying people, okay?"

Ain chuckled. "I'll try my best. Thanks for checking on me, though. It means a lot."

She smiled softly, her usual stern expression melting away for a moment. "Anytime. Well, I should get going. I've got an early start tomorrow."

"Take care," Ain said as Katalina turned to leave. He watched her walk down the street, her footsteps fading into the night. Once she was out of sight, Ain let out a small sigh, feeling a strange warmth in his chest. It was comforting to know someone was looking out for him, even though he knew her concern was more about "him" than him.

Ain entered his home, closing the door behind him. The familiar silence of the house greeted him, and he quickly made his way to his bedroom, exhaustion finally catching up. Without bothering to change, he collapsed onto his bed, letting out a deep breath as he sank into the mattress.

"Today was... something," he mumbled to himself, his thoughts already growing fuzzy as sleep began to overtake him. Within minutes, he was out cold, the events of the day replaying in his dreams.

The next morning, Ain was jolted awake by the blaring sound of his alarm. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed. The sunlight streaming through the window indicated that it was already late in the morning. He had slept like a log after yesterday's adventures.

As the fog of sleep cleared, Ain remembered his plans for the day. He had something important to test—something he had noticed while using his Arsenal yesterday.

"When I opened the Arsenal to take out the Kriss Vector… that circle of space looked a lot like that certain golden street lamp hero's portal from Fate," Ain mused to himself, excitement bubbling up inside him.

He quickly got dressed, eager to see if his hunch was correct. If the Arsenal really worked the way he thought it did, then his abilities were even more versatile than he'd initially imagined.

Grabbing a quick breakfast, Ain practically ran out the door, eager to find a place where he could experiment with his powers without drawing too much attention. As he stepped outside, he felt a rush of anticipation. Today, he wasn't just going to test his strength—he was going to explore the true potential of his powers.

He pulled out his phone and mapped the nearest secluded area, an old, abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of the city. It was the perfect spot—far enough from prying eyes, yet close enough that he could get there quickly.

"Time to see what this Arsenal can really do," Ain said with a grin, summoning his GT from the Arsenal. The sleek car appeared with a flash, and Ain hopped in, revving the engine before speeding off towards his destination.

Reaching the warehouse district, Ain took a deep breath. The place was as desolate as he remembered—perfect for testing out his powers without any interruptions. He scanned the area one last time, making sure he was alone, then focused on his Arsenal skill.

Ain had already discovered that he could summon a single portal from his Arsenal, but today, he wanted to push that limit. He held out his hand and concentrated. Slowly, one portal appeared in the air before him—a glowing circle of shimmering light, slightly reminiscent of a golden street lamp from a certain heroic spirit in his favorite series. Then, with a slight smirk, he willed another portal to appear. And another. Soon, the air around him was filled with them, hovering like ethereal gates ready to unleash their power.

Fifty. He counted fifty portals surrounding him in a semi-circle, all shimmering with energy. Ain's heart raced with excitement. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. This was more than just a cool trick—this was power. Real, tangible power.

"Let's see what you can do," Ain muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. He reached into his Arsenal and mentally selected a few weapons. Unlike the legendary king who summoned swords and spears, Ain's portals would deliver something more modern.

He needed a way to fire guns from these portals, and after some thought, he had devised a simple but effective trick. By using a small mechanical trigger device that he could construct instantly from his Arsenal, each portal would serve as a firing mechanism, and the weapons within would shoot automatically as long as they had ammunition.

Ain focused, and the portals began to shift. Instead of the usual flat circles, the openings took on a new shape—longer, narrower, like the muzzle of a gun. From each portal emerged the sleek barrel of a firearm, perfectly aligned and ready to fire.

With a command, the first gun fired. Then the second. Soon, all fifty guns were discharging in perfect synchronization, a thunderous barrage that shook the ground around him. Ain watched in awe as bullets flew from the portals, tearing into the targets he had set up earlier. It was like watching an army of invisible soldiers, all under his control.

When the firing finally ceased, Ain surveyed the scene. The once-pristine field was now littered with bullet casings and shredded targets. He couldn't help but laugh—this was beyond anything he had imagined. Not only could he summon fifty portals at once, but he could also arm them with a variety of weapons from his Arsenal and fire them all simultaneously.

"And that," Ain said to himself, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, "is how you level the playing field."

He was practically unstoppable now. As long as he had bullets or ammunition stored in his Arsenal, he could keep this up indefinitely. The potential was staggering—he could overwhelm any enemy with sheer firepower, all without ever having to pull a single trigger himself.

Ain looked at the scene before him, feeling a mix of satisfaction and excitement. The test had gone better than he had hoped, and he could already think of countless ways to improve and refine his technique.

With a final nod, he dismissed the portals, the guns disappearing back into the void. He took a moment to catch his breath, his heart still pounding with the thrill of what he had just accomplished. Fifty portals were impressive, but Ain couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't the limit of his Arsenal—just the limit of his current strength. The thought both excited and frustrated him. He knew there was so much more potential, so many more possibilities, waiting to be unlocked.

He needed to get stronger. That much was clear.

As Ain stood there, reflecting on his newfound abilities, a sudden thought crossed his mind—he hadn't done his daily sign-in yet. He quickly opened his system interface, ready to see what new rewards awaited him. But just as he was about to sign in, something caught his eye.

Ain looked up at the sky, squinting against the bright sunlight. At first, he didn't understand what he was seeing—a distant object moving erratically, smoke trailing behind it. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what it was: a plane. And it was on fire.

From his vantage point, Ain could see the flames licking at the plane's fuselage, the way it wobbled in the air, losing altitude rapidly. His mind raced, the Lösen Algorithm kicking in to analyze the situation. Based on its trajectory and speed, Ain could tell that the plane was going to crash—soon, and not too far from where he was standing.

A strange mix of emotions welled up inside him: concern, curiosity, and a strange sense of urgency. The plane's descent was horrifying, yet something about it piqued his interest. Without another thought, Ain snapped out of his daze, forgetting all about his sign-in, and started running towards the predicted crash site.

Ain is no hero nor saint, you can even say that he hates their existence according to the many novels he read, but that doesn't mean he will ignore people who need help, He will only help someone according to his judgment. Are you worthy to be helped or not?

The terrain was rough, but Ain moved quickly, the adrenaline fueling his steps. He weaved through the trees and over uneven ground, his mind focused on reaching the site before the plane hit. As he ran, he could hear a faint distant sound of sirens—emergency responders were on their way, but Ain knew he was closer. He could get there first.

Minutes felt like hours as he pushed his body to its limits, good thing he has the passive of Ants so even if he pushed his body, it wouldn't be a problem. The sky above was now filled with dark smoke, and the smell of burning fuel reached his nose. He could see the plane more clearly now, its angle too steep, its descent too rapid. There was no doubt about it—it was going down.

Finally, Ain burst through a thicket and arrived at the edge of a small clearing. He stopped dead in his tracks, his breath coming in short gasps. The plane was directly overhead, its engines roaring as it plummeted toward the ground. Ain's Lösen Algorithm calculated the impact point—it was going to hit just a few hundred meters away.

For a split second, Ain considered what he could do. Could he help? Should he even try? But the decision was made for him as the plane came crashing down, hitting the earth with a deafening explosion. The ground shook beneath Ain's feet, the shockwave nearly knocking him off balance. Flames and debris scattered in all directions, and a massive cloud of smoke billowed into the sky.

Ain shielded his eyes from the intense heat, his heart pounding in his chest. The scene before him was one of utter devastation—twisted metal, burning wreckage, and the unmistakable scent of disaster. For a moment, Ain just stood there, staring in disbelief at the carnage.

But then, something inside him clicked. He wasn't just an observer—he had power, he had the Arsenal, and maybe, just maybe, he could help.

Without wasting another second, Ain summoned a portal, pulling out a first aid kit and some emergency supplies from his Arsenal. He wasn't sure what he'd find in the wreckage, but he knew he had to try. With the supplies in hand, Ain cautiously approached the crash site, his mind racing with possibilities.

As he moved closer, he heard a faint groan. People were still alive in there. The smoke was thick, making it hard to see, but Ain's senses were sharp.

With Ain's current strength of a peak superhuman, he moved with speed and precision. He quickly navigated through the wreckage, finding the survivors trapped in the twisted metal of the plane. Despite the chaos, Ain remained calm, his mind sharp and focused. The Lösen Algorithm worked overtime, helping him assess the situation, prioritize the most critical injuries, and find the safest routes through the debris.

There were fewer than twenty people on the plane—a surprisingly small number considering its size. Ain found it odd, but there was no time to dwell on it. He pushed the thought aside and concentrated on rescuing the survivors. One by one, he dragged them to safety, using his limited medical knowledge to administer first aid and stabilize those in the worst condition.

The passengers were unconscious, likely from the impact, but Ain was relentless in his efforts. His strength allowed him to lift debris that would have been impossible for a normal person to move. Within minutes, he had managed to pull every last passenger from the wreckage, laying them on the ground a safe distance away.

He took a moment to catch his breath, surveying the scene. The flames from the wreckage crackled ominously, and the thick black smoke continued to rise into the sky. The sound of sirens grew louder, signaling that emergency responders were close. Knowing he couldn't afford to stick around, Ain quickly gathered himself.

Without wasting any more time, Ain backed away from the crash site, moving quickly and quietly to avoid being seen. He knew that the authorities would have a lot of questions, and he wasn't ready to answer any of them—because Ain hates trouble, and rescuing them is just out of his kindness.

Once he was far enough from the wreckage, Ain summoned his GT from the Arsenal, the sleek vehicle appearing before him in an instant. He climbed in, started the engine, and sped off, heading toward the forest he had explored the previous day. The familiar roar of the engine was a comforting sound as he left the scene behind, the wind rushing through his hair as he drove.

But what Ain didn't realize was that he had left one crucial detail unnoticed. Among the passengers he had rescued, there was one who hadn't been unconscious. A beautiful girl, with striking features, had been awake the whole time, though she had been unable to move due to a paralyzing poison coursing through her veins. She had watched everything through half-lidded eyes, her mind hazy but aware.

She had seen Ain's face, memorized every detail. Despite the paralysis, her mind was sharp enough to recognize that this boy—this mysterious stranger—had saved her life. She didn't know who he was, but she intended to find out. For now, though, she had to wait. She could hear the sirens approaching, and rescue was finally on the way.

As the sounds of emergency vehicles drew nearer, the girl closed her eyes, her mind replaying the image of Ain over and over again. Whoever he was, he had left an impression on her that she wouldn't forget. And when the time was right, she would make sure to find him.