THE BUSES LEFT, the reserve group heading to the Institute building, while a military hospital awaited us. It was the most suitable location for the transfer…
Would you like to study Search for Life?
Yes/No
I leaned back in my chair, letting the skill activate. The sensations were rather strange, but not exactly unpleasant, for a change. I remained conscious and could even talk, although some changes were clearly occurring in my body and brain.
“Tell me about the sniper.” Ilyin said as he sat down beside me. The other players were sitting at the back of the bus, which gave us a modicum of privacy.
“It was Saint. Here are the documents he was carrying,” I handed over the passport. “I will unload the body and other trophies when we get there. I hope nothing will get lost?”
“Wait, wait, wait. Sergeant Sudakov? The one who disappeared on one of the missions?”
“Exactly. Based on our conversation, he was captured and defected the other side. By the way, I’d rather this information didn’t go beyond the department…”
The process has been completed.
“Agreed. You can sign a non-disclosure agreement later. Anything else I should know about?”
It made little sense to study combat skills on the bus, and I could do without foreign languages and horseback riding for the next few hours. It was time to spend my points.
“I went up a level. If you don’t mind, I need to spend the points. I’ll write the report later and sign the NDA.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
The lieutenant colonel stood up, and I focused on the task at hand. Although the analysts had given us recommendations for development, too much depended on the situation. So, what did I have?
Attributes:
Strength: 8/10 (100 SP) +1=9.
Agility: 11/15 +1=12.
Intelligence: 10/10 (80 SP) +2=12.
Vitality: 11/15 +1=12.
Stamina: 10/10 (80 SP) +2=12.
Perception: 7/10 (80 SP) +1=8.
Luck: 2/10 (1,000 SP).
Race Attribute:
Intuition: 11/15.
Additional Attributes:
Wisdom: 12/15.
Spiritual Energy: 0 (blocked).
Faith: 0.
Heresy: 9 (Cult of Cain).
Fame: 5.
Free Points: 2.
+n — Bonus from the combat form.
Expendables:
Mana: 2,117.
I had enough experience points to break through the Intelligence and Stamina limits. Or level up Strength to the cap and get a bonus for the ten. But I still wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted. I was quite satisfied with my current attributes, and I could get the rest using the combat form. Limits it is, then.
Attention! Do you wish to break through the first limit (Intelligence)? (80 SP)
(Success rate — 89%)
Yes/No
Let’s try. A few seconds of agonizing waiting and…
Attention… Success! The Intelligence limit has increased to 15! (103/300)
I should have probably done it earlier, instead of pouring the experience points into cards, but I’d been in a hurry. There were too many options, and my priorities had shifted — I was certain that I wouldn’t be the first. The other Alliance leaders had scored the bonuses, so there was no point in rushing. I probably wouldn’t increase the other attributes, what I could transfer from the combat form would be enough.
Transfer the Intelligence attribute to the Main Body?
Yes/No
I put a mouth guard in my mouth and confirmed the decision. For the next ten minutes, I gnashed my teeth from the sensations. Hell, it was several times worse than just raising the attributes.
Intelligence: +1 (11).
No special achievement… as I’d expected, though.
Attention! Do you wish to break through the first limit (Stamina)? (50 SP)
(Success rate — 85%)
Yes/No
The percentage had dropped a little, but I didn’t care. I wouldn’t be too upset if the attempt failed.
Attention… Success! The Stamina limit has increased to 15! (23/300)
Now, for the next step. I paused to wonder if it was worth shifting the second attribute from the combat form, but... I couldn’t backtrack all because of a little pain.
Transfer the Stamina attribute to the Main Body?
Yes/No
“Aaargh!”
Stamina: +1 (11).
I slumped back in the seat, allowing myself fifteen seconds of rest. A whole fifteen seconds. Only fifteen seconds. The rest would be easier, I just needed to distribute the two attribute points. I immediately decided to invest one in Perception, which was lagging behind the rest.
Perception +1 (8).
Compared to last time, the slight sensory shock felt almost like relief. Keep going, there’s no time to waste.
I was tempted to spend the last point on Wisdom, but it made more sense to level up the Moderate Magical Ability and raise the attribute to the cap through the skill bonus. Otherwise, the limit would most likely cut off a third of the bonus.
Intuition + 1 (12).
Speaking of… I placed a hand on my chest and activated Healing. I had almost completely recovered by this point, but I still needed to take care of the raven.
I popped a crystal in my mouth and proceeded to check the rest of the loot. Apart from the emptie I’d gotten from the firefly, I’d finished off six Hellhounds in the last battle, and each one had dropped a card. The first three were empties, although one was a Rank E card. The other three turned out to be quite interesting…
Monster Initiation
Rank: F.
Description:
— Allows you to turn an Extrasystemic Creature into a monster.
— Monster I. The creature can absorb 30% of the victim’s spirit and life force, regardless of the presence of a System weapon.
Saturation:
10/10 SP
This seemed quite wasteful, since it cost only one experience point to initiate a unit. However, the card’s full saturation meant that there was definitely use for it. A pity that I had no need for me.
Attention! The card can only be used to initiate a non-system creature!
Fine, fine, I get it. Although I suspected that Oleg wouldn’t turn down such a chance. He’d done well and deserved the encouragement.
Canine Sense of Smell
Class: E.
Level: 1/5.
Description:
— Improves the user’s sense of smell.
— Can be muted at will.
Saturation:
0/100
I’d received something similar from the rats in the Dungeon, but this skill had no drawbacks, and it could be levelled up. Yet I wouldn’t spend my points on something like that. Could I sell it to someone? And finally, the last card.
Combat Form (Hellhound)
Rank: E (1/5).
Description:
— Enables you to turn into a Hellhound.
— Poorly compatible with human physiology.
Slots:
— Canine Sense of Smell I.
— Strong Hide I.
— Claws I.
— Teeth I.
— Tail I.
Activation:
— 100-1,000 mana units.
— A sufficient amount of biological material.
Saturation:
0/100
Another practically useless card — for me. A newbie wouldn’t turn it down, but I had no idea what to do with it for now.
I could add the corpses to this, some of which should have been collected without us. I hadn’t found the remains of the fireflies, but maybe I hadn’t looked properly? Or did they crumble to dust? In any case, the search team would leave no stone unturned.
“Attention!” the driver proclaimed. “Get ready to unload. We’ll arrive in two minutes.”
I placed a fresh crystal in my mouth and leaned back, allowing myself to rest a little. I could complete the last stage of the preparation on the spot.
Time remaining: 14 minutes and 12 seconds.
* * *
Once we’d arrived, I immediately demanded a separate room. The mask on my face was insurance against another divine curse — besides, curses and such strengthened it, allowing me to move up to the next rank. Well, let’s get started…
A spear lay in front of me, containing the experience I’d received for killing the traitor, and my prize for winning the duel. Taking off my glove, I touched the shaft.
Attention! You have gained 180 SP! (203/300)
Attention! The attitude of the Great Izur towards you has worsened!
Attention! The attitude of the Great Izur towards you has improved!
The flow of energy, which would have made me collapse in convulsions once upon a time, was now quite tolerable. No curse? A pity, really, since a brand of this kind would serve as additional proof of my loyalty. A card appeared in the air, clearly different from everything I’d seen before. Had I hit the jackpot?
Temporal Barrier
Rank: D+ (1/5).
Description:
— Creates a Temporal Barrier with a radius of up to 10 meters. Time flows much faster inside the barrier, giving the impression that the outside world has frozen.
— Focus points. A number of parameters must be specified to create the barrier.
— Variable activation methods.
— Time fluctuation. An attempt to cross the activated barrier causes the subject to age rapidly.
— Duration: 1.5 hours.
— Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Activation cost:
100 SP
Saturation:
500/500 SP
Would you like to study the Temporal Barrier skill?
Yes/No
Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time left for that. I took off the mask and left the room, soon entering the makeshift “launch hall” where everyone else had gathered. They appeared calm, but there were small giveaways to indicate that everyone was nervous, except, perhaps, Rodyakha. He was probably enjoying what was happening.
“I’ll remind you all again. We accept the mission and teleport over there. We join the mission at the last possible moment. Don’t take unnecessary risks, your main goal is to get out. I have three return cards. Is there anyone here who feels that they need it more than the others?”
A dangerous question, but I wanted to see their reaction. There was no answer again. What shy companions I had.
“What about me?” Yuki asked.
“Our guest gets the first card. I hope there are no objections?”
“Wow.” Yuki waved her ‘return ticket’ in the air. “Can I keep it?”
“No. Don’t be greedy.”
“Baka...”
“And don’t swear. Join our group and I’ll think about it.”
This simple squabble relieved some of the tension or, rather, shifted the focus — the others looked greedily at the remaining two cards.
“Right, the time of democracy is over. I will distribute the other cards myself. Warlock will take one, the second will go to... Yokai.”
“Is that because I’m a woman?” The young woman wore a mask almost constantly and had even acquired one made from Golden Monkey skin for the missions. I knew what she looked like only from the photo in her personal file. Given her ability, the information was clearly outdated.
“Yes, that’s why. Does this bother you?”
“No, thank you.”
“Hey, did you choose me because I’m a man?”
This time, everyone laughed much more sincerely. I couldn’t help smiling myself.
“Alright, the fun is over. Get ready...”
Time remaining: 20 seconds.
Accept the mission? (0/10)
Yes/No
* * *
I opened my eyes in the personal room and headed straight for the “sacred stool”.
Would you like to transfer the System Points to the Minor Altar (Heresy of Cain)?
Yes/No
Enter number: 103/10,000 SP
Total: 263/10,000 SP
I left a hundred points as a mandatory reserve. The remaining time was spent on changing clothes and adjusting equipment. After all, the Earth counterparts were superior to the System equipment that we had.
Time remaining: 29 seconds.
As discussed, I waited until the very last second, gazing into the murky portal. “Bri, go!”
The ghost dived in first. Combat form and spear in hand. Activate Invisibility. It was time...
* * *
Current quest
Primary objective:
— Destroy all the enemies!
Personal objective:
— Survive.
Reward:
— Better reputation with the local gods.
Additional Reward:
— Variable.
Penalty:
— None.
* * *
I almost ran into a puddle of blood right from the start. Wonderful. The corpse — or what was left of it — lay nearby. Mostly bones, with almost all the flesh and clothing removed... I didn’t take a closer look. Judging by what I saw, I had landed in the “nursery”, located somewhere in the basement of the complex.
“Enemy, boss!” The ghost spun on the spot due to the lack of tentacles, not really knowing how to convey direction, but I understood what it meant. A hound stood near one of the cages, sniffing the air and turning its head from side to side in suspicion. Perhaps it was doing it even before I appeared. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t miss the chance, rapidly approaching and striking with my spear. Split.
Attention! You have gained 22 SP! (122/300)
Hmm. Not much. Based on the amount of experience, I’d just finished off one of our captive dogs. But, given the human bones inside the cage, I didn’t regret it.
“More, boss! Fighting!”
Another, much bigger creature, appeared from behind the cages. It was also smarter, because it instantly realized that something was wrong and rushed forward, forcing me to jump back to avoid being knocked down by the massive body.
Stopping abruptly, the creature spun around, growling menacingly, but this actually made my job easier.
Attention! You have received 135 SP! (257/300)
I didn’t touch the corpses, taking only the cards.
The door to the laboratory was locked with a very serious magnetic lock made of steel. The same couldn’t be said of the walls — I could make a hole in them if I expended some effort. But I did something even easier and went back to the pile of bones to fish out a plastic card. The younger Hellhound had borrowed only the organic matter when assembling its combat form. The pass worked, letting me out into the corridor, and I automatically checked the progress of the group.
Players left: 8/10.
Shit. I hoped they were evacuees, not corpses. There were shots outside: the military were supposed to launch their assault right at the start of the mission, to distract the creatures and give us an extra chance to get out of such an obvious trap.
“Bri, find the others!”
I jumped over another corpse in a white lab coat. What percentage of employees had managed to evacuate? What goals were the enemies pursuing? Never mind.
“Help!”
I sped up and flew into a room, seeing a Hellhound knock down and try to finish off one of the players. A scuffle with an obvious outcome, unless I intervened. Split... the creature’s head was blown off, but this only destroyed the combat form. The puppy abandoned it without hesitation and dived behind the sofa, like some kind of rat.
“Ilyas? Are you alright?” I laid my hands on him, spending a hundred points on Healing. The puppy tried to poke its nose out, but a spear thrust drove it back.
“Pretty shit,” the Kazakh man replied. “But you got here just in time. Moscow isn’t Paris, I didn’t plan to see it and die. To walk right into it… It would have been a stupid death, by Shaitan.”
Shaitan? It sounded rather strained, but I smiled anyway. It was the nerves. Common in such situations.
“The six-eyed beastie is somewhere behind the sofa. Can you finish it off?”
“I’d get up on broken legs for that.” He picked up the spear. “Help me a little, drive it towards me.”
I pushed the sofa, and the puppy ran to the exit in fright, in an attempt to escape. Ilyas was faster, impaling it on a spear.
“Congratulations on the new level,” I nodded. “Do you know how to use explosives? Here you go, take out the bars, and I’ll try to find someone else in the meantime.”
Congratulations! Mission completed. Would you like to leave the location?
Yes/No
Attention! The relationship with the Seven Gods of Earth has improved slightly!
I froze, feeling a strange mixture of anger, relief, and disappointment. Once again, the enemy had prevented us from finishing the job by retreating. Something told me that this would be happening more and more often. In the meantime, we had to find the corpses, and the survivors.