Alley

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO STORE THE ITEM IN YOUR INVENTORY?

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The message kept popping up but I couldn't say a word. I was overwhelmed by the sensations running through my hands. It was as if the swords were brimming with energy, which was now flowing in me.

I felt... strong, strong enough to bend reality through my bare hands. I wanted to cut someone's head off, I didn't care if it was a monster or a human. I just wanted to swing the swords.

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SWORD SKILL ACTIVATED: BLOODLUST

SKILL EFFECT:

¤ PHYSICAL ATTACK: +80%

¤ PHYSICAL DEFENSE: +100%

PASSIVE EFFECT:

¤ ENRAGED:

WHEN THIS SKILL BLOODLUST IS ACTIVATED, THE USER IS IMMUNE TO ANY TYPE OF DAMAGE FOR 10 SECONDS. THIS DURATION CAN BE INCREASED BY INFLICTING DAMAGE TO ENEMIES.

MAXIMUM DURATION 60 SECONDS.

¤ RARITY: S RANK.

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"Zeroll? ZEROLL!" A familiar voice ringed in my head.

"Yeah!" I snapped back into reality.

"Are you alright?" Kayla said placing her hand on my shoulder. "You were unresponsive for ten minutes straight."

"I'm fine, I was just thinking about something." I replied.

"You got us worried for a moment there, son." President Niall said. "So do you like them?"

"Thank you Mr. President, I shall cherish them for the rest of my life." I said bowing to him.

"Don't need to thank me young lad, after all it's my way to pay you back. Now off you go, you'll have some other tasks to do as well, if I'm not wrong?"

"It's been a pleasure Sir." Both of us replied as we left the building.

*13 PORTAL JUMPS LATER*

"Nope, it still sucks." I complained, while gasping for air.

"You'll get used to it soon enough, though it'll be more entertaining if you don't." Kayla smiled.

"You're heartless, you know that right?"

"Yeah people do say that to me sometimes." she said sarcastically. "Too bad for you that I'm a heartless bitch, We still have to get you a rank remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, I remember. But I still hate you."

"But I love you."

"You what now?"

"Idiot! get inside the portal or I'm leaving you here." She said preparing for another jump.

"Wait up!" I said.

*INSIDE THE RANKING FACILITY*

"We'll have to take your measurements, so could take off your shirt?" A women who seemed to be a nurse asked.

"Shouldn't you guys already have it?" I replied.

"New ranks, new measurements, standard procedure." Kayla replied in her bitchy tone.

"Okay, got it."

"Then, lose the shirt." Kayla ordered.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" I asked as I was still wearing the black body suit.

"Don't you remember a thing? Just press the upper part of the badge." she said, clearly annoyed from my questions.

"There wouldn't be a need for that, Kayla."

I had heard that voice somewhere before, I turned around to look who the person was...

"Leroy?" I asked, it was him, except his body wasn't as built as before. And he was wearing a doctor's suit.

"Close but not close enough." The guy said smiling. "I'm his twin, Lawrence Smith. Pleased to meet you.

"What do you mean there's no need for it, Dr. Lawrence?" Kayla asked.

"This." Dr. Lawrence said, handing her a holographic pad.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A direct order from The President's office, stating that you've been promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, rank 4. Congratulations." Kayla replied.

"Promoted? Already?" I said. "What's your rank by the way? I have a feeling it's just not a plain rank as section Chief right?"

"I have the same rank as you do now." She said. "Fortune is really favouring you."

"I guess so." I smiled.

"Since we're done here, let's go to the living quarters and set you up there."

"Let's go then." I replied.

After changing to our casual clothes, we decided to walk to the living quarters as it was close. It was the first time I got the chance to admire the fortress. This place was really beautiful, unlike the areas surrounding the base. The sky looked surprisingly normal, black with full of glittering stars, and a moon. The sun was long gone. It felt so... soothing, something inside me felt happy for some reason.

"It looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Kayla said looking at the night sky.

"It sure does." I nodded.

"Does it look real enough? You're the first one who may be able to answer that." Still looking at sky.

"I thought it was real!" I said acting surprised.

"Haha, glad to know at least it looks real enough. Let's keep going though, this illusion won't disappear anytime soon."

"So how long have you been here, in Livania?" I asked wanting to continue the conversation.

"Honestly speaking, I've been here for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents were in the army."

"So you live with your parents?"

"With my Mom. My dad was killed by a mutated giant 8 years ago, and my mom has been in shock ever since."

"Sorry I-"

"It's okay Zeroll, it's been a long time. But that incident was the reason I joined the academy." Kayla shook her head. "And we're here. Your things have already been delivered. Here's the key, you should rest now, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye and take care." I said and went inside my new home. The quarter had it all, a swimming pool, a gym, two bedrooms, a shower and a modernized kitchen. It was definitely better than my room back at the Base.

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CRAFTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED. ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN YOUR INVENTORY.

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Something felt off. I went outside, people were still roaming around. Everything looked normal but I couldn't shake this feeling off.

*Nicholas, can you locate Kayla.* I thought.

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REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGED.

TARGET FOUND.

TARGET IS 500m AHEAD.

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*SOME TIME LATER*

"LET ME GO, ROMAN! I'VE ALREADY PAID YOUR MONEY BACK!" Kayla shouted.

She was being pinned down by four guys. Another couple of men were standing near the front of the alley, acting as lookouts. While a tall brown guy with prosthetic arm, with a knife in his hand, was standing over Kayla.

"Oh it has nothing to do with the money, baby." He grinned.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!"

"Not happening baby, no man can resist a body like yours, Haha."

RIIIIIPPPPP

He ripped her shirt off.

"NO!!! LEAVE ME!"

"Hold her down, you dudheads." The tall guy barked. "I should probably mark you first, your face would be an optimal place for that, don't you think?"

He lifted his prosthetic arm up. "You're mine now!"

SLICE

"What the... My arm!" The prosthetic arm fell down with a loud thud. "Who the hell are you!"

"Ze- Zeroll!" Kayla looked at me, tears in her eyes.

I looked at the ones holding her down.

"You have two choices, leave her or leave this world."

They quickly left her and backed away.

"Here, wear this will you?" I said handing her the shirt I was wearing.

"You punk! Who do you think you are meddling in my business!"

"Back out now and maybe you'll live to see tomorrow's sunrise." My was voice as cold as ice, but each word I spoke was filled with rage.

"You've got a big mouth for a guy who's about to get his ass kicked. Seven against one. I like the odds." The bastard smirked. "Take him out."

"Count again." I said.

The 'boss man' looked confused. After a while he turned around, to see that the lookouts were laying on their backs, unconscious.

"Still we are five and you're alone!"

"COUNT. AGAIN." I roared.

BOOM!

The guy and his brats turned around to see something huge falling down, and was blocking the sole entry and exit the alley had.

"A-A Giant!"

They turned back, only to see a three headed dog, a tall humanoid creature covered in black armour, and a beautiful yet deadly mermaid staring back at them.

"Wh-Who are you?" The guy asked sweating profusely.

"Your worst nightmare."