Fogged Up (6)

"Or, we can fight it." Jeff took out three silver bristles.

Alice shook her head, as if saying 'don't bother'.

"Hey. Got to take your chances sometimes right?" Jeff injected mana into the bristles in between his fingers.

In an instance, three silver rays shot towards that approaching goose. Like bullets hitting a tank, the bristles bounced off.

Bam! The bristles exploded like fire crackers on the ground.

'Huh...' Jeff squinted at the result.

A short moment after being hit, the goose looked down at itself.

Processing what had just happened...

Realizing that it's actually not injured...

Hooonnnk!

The goose angrily honked.

Or at least that's how Jeff understood it. He didn't actually speak geese.

Nevertheless, the truck-sized goose sped up. Looked like it's determined to run over the little humans in front of it.

"Just go! We can't even harm it! I'll lead it to the houses!" Alice shouted at Jeff. The girl looked like she had tears in her eyes.

"Give me a second to think." Jeff knitted his brows a little.

According to his [Beast Instincts], this goose monster didn't feel strong at all. This thing felt more like prey to him.

'A predator being chased by its prey huh...' Jeff chuckled. 'What a weird feeling.'

"We. You. I... Ugh..." Alice seemed rather frustrated. "Just go! You don't need to be in this with me!"

Looking back, the goose was just 20 feet (~ 6 meters) away now.

'Can't damage it with mana projectiles... How about brute force then?'

'Haste!'

Everything around Jeff instantly slowed down.

Alice was saying something to him, but it's too blurred out. Looking back, the goose was also moving in slow motion.

Walking to a car parked by the street, Jeff landed a solid kick onto its front passenger door. Under his supernatural level strength, that car slid right into the middle of the street.

Going back to the road, Jeff kicked the car like a soccer ball, sending the battered car rolling down the street.

Slam!

Before the goose could react, its legs collided with this incoming vehicle.

Tripping over that car, the monster flew into the air, and crashed onto the ground.

Looking at the monster sliding towards them, Alice almost dropped her egg.

The girl looked at Jeff in disbelief. Fully understanding the situation, her gaze changed. She looked at Jeff as if Jeff was the actual monster here.

"Hey. Got to take your chances sometimes." Jeff smiled and nodded.

Without further hesitation, Jeff walked up to the monster.

Taking a deep breath that reeked of gasoline and engine oil, Jeff cracked his knuckles. 'Sorry... But peace was never an option.'

'Shield.' Jeff enveloped his fist with an invisible shield.

Shielded punch!

...

Looking at the evaporating monster, holding her giant egg, Alice stood there in silence. This girl needed a moment to accept the situation. By the looks of it, this monster had been bothering her for a while now.

Jeff also waited by the evaporating goose. Nodding in thought, Jeff analyzed his last battle.

'Since I'm much faster, there was actually no danger in the battle.'

'I could always land my hits on that monster. But that thing could never hit me with its slow-motion movement speed.'

'If I wanted to run, this thing would never be able to catch up to me.'

'If this goose monster wanted to flee, it's simply not happening.'

'In other words, my [Beast Instincts] ability gave me the right information.'

'But what if something faster than me appears. What if I'm the guy in slow-motion in battle...'

Realizing this, Jeff suddenly felt a sense of urgency...

A transparent blue screen broke off Jeff's train of thoughts.

[ Unique Quest: Energy Collection (Incomplete) ]

[ Quest Description: A new energy signature has been detected! Stay within (25) meters of the source of energy signature for (5) seconds... ]

[ Quest Reward: In accordance with the recording energy signature ]

[ Now recording energy signature... ]

Jeff actually managed to read over the entire quest this time.

...

[ Unique Quest: Energy Collection (Complete!) ]

[ You Have Gained: ]

[ Passive Ability - Blessing of Wind (Common) / Toggled Off ]

[ Ability Description: After toggling on this ability, You Gain: ]

[ 1. 45% resistance to common-tier wind-elemental attacks ]

[ 2. Wind has 50% less resistance to your movement ]

[ 3. 1.5% quicker movement speed ]

[ Cost: N/A ]

[ Ability - Aura Vision (Common) / Toggled Off ]

[ Ability Description: Energies and auras are visible to you after toggling on this ability ]

[ Cost: Corresponding Mana ]

[ Physique Level: Supernatural - Early 5.0% => Supernatural - Early 15.0% ]

[ Loading Update... ]

[ Update is expected to complete in: 20 seconds... ]

[ Thank you for contributing this data to the system. Please seek out more unique energy signatures. The system wishes you a great day ]

Quickly reading over his newly gained abilities, Jeff lightly nodded. 'Looks like the fastest way to get stronger is by hunting new monsters.'

'In order to stay safe in this world... I will need strength to protect myself.'

'Close interface.'

Looking down, that monster had totally evaporated into grey mist now.

On the ground, there was a dead normal-looking goose and a glinting round shield. The round shield was made out of the scale-like feathers.

"You eat what you kill right?" Alice tilted her head. "Looks like we'll have some wild flavors for dinner."

Jeff lightly knitted his brows. Even without [Canine Nose], something smelled off in the air.

So Jeff grabbed a stick and poked the dead goose. Slime dripped off its body.

"Tsss... Unless it's been dead for days." Alice quickly changed her mind.

"I second that."

Now that this killer monster was dead, Alice seemed way more relaxed, like weights had been lifted off her shoulders.

Picking up the shield, the two continued to move forward.