3) Wild, Wild West The only danger was myself

Chapter 55

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

3:03 pm

(Ivan's POV)

I angrily stare out the window as two people on horses run by. I grit my teeth to try to drown out the sound of spoons, and forks scraping the bowels. I look over to Jen and Dominique, they were slowly eating their food. Dominique spooned some rice into her mouth while Jen was struggling to cut the steak on her plate. I pick up my mug and drink the rest of my coffee. I put the cup down disappointingly. I wish they sold Ca Phe Sua Da. That coffee was so much better than what this is.

I look over to Dominique.

"Can we go now?" I complained. Dominique barely glanced at me before responding.

"You know what you can go, just make sure you take your self off our team." He said annoyed. I smile as he started to scoot out of his seat to let me out.

Finally! They've been eating for two hours.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

4:56 am

Sombra slowed down as the Kirin ran down the hill. There was less and less snow the further we went down. I spot a forest at the bottom of the hill. I stroke Sombra's sides as Sombra lowered himself down into the ground. The wet sloshing of water could be heard as the dirt in front of us turned to mud. Mud flew through the air as Sombra slid on the mud.

"Sombra you're so smart!" I happily say as Sombra neared the bottom of the hill. I heard the sound of grass moving in the wind behind me. I look to the side only to see a brown-skinned man sliding down the hill while his horse was running by his side. He had a hat that had yellow, emoji smiles accompanied by a large, face hurting smile. The corner of his lips looked like they were forced to be up at all times. Is he just way too happy or does he have some sort of problem? How is he even sliding down the hill anyway?

I point my finger at him and spin a wind arrow around my finger. The guy ignored me as he jumped and grabbed the horse's saddle. The horse sped up as I released my arrow. I was suddenly knocked off my horse as a log smacked my face. The guy's horse could be heard running off into the forest. The side of my head throbbed with pain as I got back up onto Sombra. I glared at the guy's back as Sombra sped up to catch up to the guy. The guy hummed a loud happy tone. Did this guy predict my attack? How come he didn't attack back?

Sombra quickly caught up, Sombra ran behind the guy's horse. I send a wind arrow at the guy's back. The guy turned a sharp right. Sombra couldn't turn in time. Sombra quickly ran off a tiny ledge that had a rock at the bottom. Sombra quickly changed into necklace form. I quickly catch myself with the wind and fly back onto the ledge. Sombra quickly changed back into his original form. Sombra quickly took off towards the guy the second I put myself on Sombra's back.

Sombra rushed through the forest with little difficulty, it felt like the forest was shifting around to stray away from Sombra. In what felt like just a few seconds, Sombra once again was able to catch up to the guy again. I raise up my finger and start spinning a wind arrow around my finger. I put down my finger and shake my head. He's just going to doge my arrow again. I stare at him before patting Sombra to make the Kirin speed up. I wonder what his power is though.

The second I pass him, he suddenly sped up. Without me doing anything, Sombra quickly followed behind. Maybe I can hurt that guy. I take out a poster and point it in the guy's direction. Sword like Icicles flew out of the poster. The guy's horse suddenly started widely running from tree to tree as one icicle penetrated the guy's shoulder. The guy stopped behind a tree and reached into a pocket on the side of his horse's saddle. He pulled out a First-aid kit, before the guy could do anything I quickly shot a wind arrow into the guy's neck. The guy's body fell to the ground, he didn't make a single sound as his body fell. There wasn't even a look of fear or any emotion on the guy's face.

I look back ahead as Sombra ran through the forest. I quickly put the poster back in my Inventory. I thought he was going to dodge that.

I sigh as the forest filled with silence. The only noise that could be heard were the trees rustling in the wind along with the Sombra's hooves pounding the ground. I heard another pair of hooves hitting the ground behind me. I turn around to see the guy back on his horse with his horse just a yard away. The guy had a soft, warm smile on his face. He rolled his head around in a circle. The sound of his neck popping could be heard as he moved it from side to side. How did he even survive? I point my finger at the guy and spin a wind arrow around my finger. The arrow pulled bark off the trees as Sombra ran by the trees. A piece of the bark scratched my face as the arrow picked up more bark. The bark flew towards the arrow as the arrow struck the guy's chest. The arrow dug into his chest, the bark quickly struck his face and his chest. The guy flew back and off his horse. He rolled for a second before smashing into a tree. He groggily and blinked several times before rubbing his eyes. My eyes widen as he reached into his shirt and pulled out a cracked phone.

That's bull shit! My arrow digs into things! How can just one phone stop my arrow? The guy's horse jogged back over to him, he quickly got back on his horse.

I turn back around and try to think of a way to slow him down. I smile as I simply look behind me and create a pillar of ice. I close my eyes and continuously add more and more ice to the side of the wall. I open my eyes to see a wall that was as long as what looked like the whole forest. I notice my Mp bar was fifth full. I take out an Mp potion and drink all of it. The potion only filled up the bar to seventy-five percent. I take a deep breath as I quickly build back up my bar.

I look over at the wall, the wall got smaller and smaller in the distance. I'm pretty sure he won't be able to get over that. Unless he somehow breaks it down or goes over it. He could with his ability, but I have no idea what was. Maybe he could predict the future? Change the environment? Maybe both? I turn back around to look in front. Hopefully, he was just really lucky.

I take off my sweater and beanie as I felt the heat pounding down on my body. I suck air through my teeth as I put my hand up to my head. The throbbing in my head just got more and more painful the more the adrenaline left my body. I wish I couldn't feel pain after a fight. Sombra took a right turn. After just a few seconds a lake appeared in the distance. I jolt my head back in disgust looking at the lake. The lake was filled with algae. It was difficult to make out what was underneath all the green, mucus-like algae. The lake emitted out a strong foul odor. The smelled reminded me of when a rat died in my room. I felt my eyes water from the odor. I direct Sombra over to the side of the lake.

I would just make a path of ice, but I rather not have someone ambush me in the middle. I also rather not touch the water. I could fly over it. I thought about that for a moment. It would probably be faster with Sombra. Sombra slowed down to a jog as the Kirin ran by the lake's side. I stared down at the water. I saw my reflection looking right back at me. I look back up and stare down at the saddle. I put my finger on the saddle and start tapping the saddle. Hopefully, the next checkpoint is close. I suddenly heard splashes coming from the middle of the lake. I quickly turn my head towards the lake. I furrowed my eyebrows in anger. I saw the guy running in the middle of the lake with him and his horse caked in mud. How is he even running on water? I look down at the water and notice a tiny bridge hidden beneath the moss. How did he find it, let alone see it?

He quickly crosses the lake while I was barely halfway through. I grit my teeth as I point my middle finger at the guy and spin a wind arrow around my finger. Leaves and sticks gathered around the. I make sharp icicles and drop them into the arrow. The arrow flew from my finger and in the direction of the guy. Before the arrow could touch him, a random person burst out from the trees and into the path of my arrow. The random person noticed the objects hurtling through the air towards him, his face turned white. Smoke quickly released from his body before the items could hit him. My arrow disappeared but the items flying with the arrow were suddenly launched back in my direction. Before I knew it they were less than just a second away. The sharp ends of the icicles felt like they were going to stab my eye out. At the very last second, I move my head just barely dodging an ice icicle. Everything seemed to slow down as the icicle slowly flew by my head. Sombra suddenly teleported behind a tree.

Sombra wasted no time rushing over in their direction. I saw the guy who blocked my attacked run one way while the other person from earlier went another way. Sombra chooses to run after the guy who blocked my attack. I form another arrow around my finger and spin it. On my other hand, I make an icicle. I look down at it and think about Perfect Dodge.

Did Perfect Dodge just activate on my own attack? Technically it was his. I wonder if Perfect Dodge doesn't care about what attack I dodge. The wind arrow disappeared as stretch out my arm and position the icicle at the tip of my fingers. I use Wind Cannon to launch the icicle through the air. Before the icicle could hit the tree, I quickly use the wind to steer its path in one giant loop before it started flying towards me. The icicle lost most of its speed when it looped back to me, before the icicle could touch me I slightly move my head. Everything seemed to slow down, Sombra teleported just a few feet ahead. I smile as the guy who blocked my attack quickly came into view. I notice the leg of the horse was injured. There was a bright red patch on the side of the horse, its skin seemed to hang over the patch. I notice that in front that its skin was an ugly long streak of grey. It looked like the skin was decomposing. I focus on the guy and make a few icicles in my hand.

I wind up my arm and use Wind Cannon to launch the icicles through the air. The guy didn't even look back as a burst of smoke came out of his body. The icicles quickly switched direction and towards me. I quickly grab the joystick thing on the saddle and use it to hang off the side of Sombra at the last second. A rush of energy through my body as three icicles rushed by the place where my head was supposed to be. My body felt restless as I noticed that everything wasn't moving except me and Sombra. I get back up on Sombra. Sombra stopped but didn't teleport like before. Sombra whimpered as he looked around. The world felt still, silent, it was like I was in another world. I quickly form icicles in my hand and throw them towards the guy. The icicles traveled towards the guy before stopping just a few feet away from the guy. The sharp tips of the icicles were pointing straight at his back.

I quickly send a few wind arrows at him, just like the icicles they stopped just a few feet away from the guy. I waited just a second before the icicles and wind arrows suddenly went straight through his chest in a blink of an eye. The horse suddenly collapsed to the ground, the guy's body was slammed to the ground as the horse fell. The guy's head bounced off the floor. Sombra ran over to the guy, the guy looked up at me with hate in his eyes. I quickly get off Sombra and take out my spear. I raise my arm up and prepare myself. The guy suddenly spat in my face. I glare at him as I put my arms back down. I rub my face on my sleeves before kicking him straight in the nose. He groaned as he held his nose. Sombra whimpered as I quickly raise up my arms and bring them down. I ignore the guy as his body laid motionless and look over at his horse. His horse looked sick. I could see its ribs through its skin.

What should I do with the horse? It's not going to survive out here. I turn around and hop back onto Sombra and make three icicles in my hand. I put two on the saddle and launch it into the arrow with the wind cannon. I loop back around and dodge it. Everything seems to slow down. I teleport off Sombra and onto the ground. How did everything stop? I grab the two icicles off the saddle and launch them into the air. Maybe I have a bunch of attacks at the same time? I loop them back around and towards my chest. I jump out of the way before they could hit me. My body surged with energy as I felt something was off. I tried to teleport as I did usually when Perfect Dodge activates. I took one step and walked around for a bit. I looked over at Sombra, even Sombra wasn't moving. I walked over to Sombra and stare up at the Kirin. Does Sombra not notice me? I wave my hand in front of Sombra's eyes.

I close my eyes to think. Maybe Sombra can't see me because... some power? I close my eyes as I heard Sombra neigh. Sombra lifted his front legs into the air and stomped them right next to me.

Sombra rubbed his head against me as a box appeared.

Thanks to you finding a way to make Perfect Dodge more powerful, the perk evolved into the perk High Voltage!

What. I think back to when I first got my powers. I do remember it saying that perks can evolve, but not like this. I quickly bring up my Perk tab and read what High Voltage does.

High Voltage- Whenever you dodge an attack at the last second. Time will stop for 3 seconds. In this time anything you touch will act the same. If the objects you touch are away from you for less than a second, it will stop in time. You can bring other people or creatures with you but only if you're touching them while High Voltage activates.

I freeze up as I close the box. I can stop time now! I felt the corners of my lips form a wide smile. This is my best ability! This is probably the best perk I will get! I open the Perk box back up and look for Perfect Dodge. I couldn't find it anywhere. So I can't use a perk if evolves. I scroll to High Voltage. I don't mind losing Perfect Dodge. I got something way better now.

I quickly get back onto Sombra and look down at the horse. It struggled to get back on. I take out a pistol and aim straight at the head. I pull the trigger. The body flinched before going motionless. I really hope that horse is better in whatever afterlife it goes to. Sombra whimpered as it took off.

Can animals even go to heaven? Now that I think about what about other afterlives. Greeks have the Elysium and other parts like that, the Norse have Valhalla for their heaven. Shinto has Yomi as our afterlife. I breathe in deeply as I think about Yomi. What did my brothers tell me about Yomi? I close my eyes and think for just a second before remembering. A chill washed over my body as I remember that they described Yomi as neither hell nor heaven but a place gloomy and dark place.

I close my eyes at the thought. With that description, Yomi sounds like hell. Yomi could be described as purgatory. I frowned. Why does every other religion have a heaven or hell, but we have purgatory as our afterlife? I form a fist as Sombra turned a corner. I look back up at the sky. At least I know where I'm going. I look back down. I wonder if I start to worship other gods they will let me into their heaven? I shake my head. I rather not think about it.

Sombra rushed through the forest with little difficulty. I look around for that guy that kept predicting all my attacks from earlier. I couldn't find a clue of him being anywhere near me. I open up my Inventory tab and look for the skill disc I got from the quest I did yesterday. I find it after a while of looking for it. My eyes widen as I saw it said level twenty-five right next to its name. Should I use it on something? I take it out, the disc was as large as a vinyl record. The disc had nothing on it other than the color black. I close my Inventory tab and open up my skill tab. I scroll down to Wind Arrow. I should probably start upgrading the skills I use the most.

I look at the disc. How do I use this? I tap on the disc, surprisingly a box showed up. The box asked me which skill I wanted to level up. At the bottom of the box was a huge X. I guess that's the cancel button. I scroll until I find Wind Arrow. I click on it. The disc disappeared from my hand. I felt nothing. A box telling me Wind Arrow suddenly appeared along with the description for Wind Arrow.

Lvl 38(68%) Wind Arrow- You can manipulate the wind well enough for you to use the wind as a projectile. Whenever you shoot at someone with the intent to harm or kill, the arrow will automatically track the opponent down. Mp per use- 15 mp. Damage- 250

Now I don't even have to aim? This just keeps getting better and better. I kind of wish it said something about me turning arrow though. I wonder how Jen knew to tell me to spin the arrow in the first place.

Sombra turned a corner and went down a hill. I sigh as I look up at the sky. I wish I had something to skip boring rides like these. I look back down and notice a small town made of wood. There were only three buildings. I spot the guy that kept predicting my moves from earlier on a bench admiring a tree. I pat Sombra's sides, Sombra sped up. I aim my finger at him and launch a wind arrow towards him. The guy didn't notice the arrow just in time. I rush past the guy. I didn't get to see what happened to him.

I look back and try to see what happened to him. All I was met with was silence. I turn my body to face the front. I suddenly get a box telling me that I lost the third part of the race.

"Shit, just one more part."

8:34 pm

I launch an icicle from my hand and into the poster. Before I could walk up and grab the poster from the rock, a box appears.

Thanks to you using skills multiple times, they leveled up!

Lvl6 Ice Creation -> Lvl7(2%) Ice Creation

Lvl15 Wind Cannon -> Lvl16(4%) Wind Cannon

I look at the boxes before closing them. I walk up to the poster and quickly grab the poster off the rock. I'm surprised Wind Cannon didn't level up sooner. I walk over to Sombra who was laying on the ground. I sit down and rest my head on Sombra's sides. I set a blanket over me and lay my head on the side of Sombra's stomach. I shift around a bit and eventually find a comfortable position.

I look up at the stars and stare at them mindlessly. I rub my eyes and look at the stars again. The stars didn't look real, they looked like a picture that was stretched over the sky. I'm happy I don't have to stare up at some pieces of rock though. I stretch as I heard a soft purr coming from Sombra. I close my eyes and try my best to fall asleep. I take a deep breath and release a shaky breath. I quickly open my eyes and roll over to my side. All I saw were trees. I hear an owl hoot in the distance. I grab my blanket and put it back in my Inventory. I quickly take out my sleeping bag and place it on Sombra. I get inside my sleep bag and sigh.

"I hate the outside so much." I roll around until Sombra started moving around. The grass tickled my ear. I roll back onto my back. I flinch as I hear a loud howl.

That one sounded close. I look up at Sombra's head. Sombra looked peaceful in his sleep.

"I wonder where you'll go to when you die." I stare up at Sombra for a few seconds. Before looking back down. Where do normal animals go when they die? Now that I think about it, I've never heard what happens to animals in any religion. They can't be judged like humans, but their soul has to go somewhere. I know that Buddhists and Hindus believe in reincarnation but what about everyone else? I don't think Shinto has ever mentioned it. Actually, how do you even get into the afterlife you want? Is it a locational thing? Or is it what you believe in? If it's the latter, what about the Atheists? Who would accept them? I hug my body close to warm up.

Is there even a guarantee that I'll get into the Shinto afterlife? It would probably be safe to think so, but what if I start to worship other gods? Would they accept me? I shake my head and remember the war between the demigods from all religions. They won't accept me so that only leaves the Shinto afterlife for me. Wait no, I heard that Shinto took a lot of things from Buddhism. They also took creatures from Chinese mythology and named them something else. I look back up at Sombra. I wonder what Kirin are called in Chinese mythology. Would Chinese demigods still call Sombra a Kirin? Or something else? I close my eyes for a second before opening them back up.

If I have to go to the Shinto afterworld because I'm a demigod, will my mom have to go to the same afterworld since she had me? Or would she get to go to another afterlife? I grit my teeth at the thought. Why does she get the chance to go to another afterlife while I have to go to an afterlife that acts like purgatory? I slam my fist against the ground. I want the chance to go somewhere similar to heaven! I take a deep breath to calm down. At least with the Shinto afterlife, I don't have to worry about my actions. I could do whatever I want, good or bad, and still, go to the same afterlife as someone who did good. My mom can do the same thing too! My hands trembled with anger, I quickly calm myself down and think. If I and her are going to the same place anyway, I shouldn't I send her there earlier.

What if she doesn't go to the same afterlife as me. Even if there is the chance that she goes somewhere way better than where I'm going, there is also a good chance that she will go somewhere worse than where I'm going. With everything she has done, she will definitely go similar to hell. I should take the chance. I know for sure she isn't going anywhere good. I smile as I suddenly get a quest.

New quest!

Kill your mom!

Rewards:

1,000 xp

$500

150 points

New perk

New weapon

Possible failure consequences:

Death

Your mom will live to see another day

Nothing

Accept?

Yes

No

I smile as I click accept. Finally a quest I want to do. I close my eyes with a smile and fall asleep.

A/n Like always I'm explaining the abilities of random people.

[Guy with the injured horse] Barrier- Anytime the user is about to get attacked, a barrier will surround the user. If a projectile hits the barrier, the projectile will flip its direction and go back the way it came. If the user focuses hard enough, the user can make the barrier into any shape the user wants.

[Guy that 'predicted' Ivan's actions] Dancin on Sunshine- The user will be unnaturally happy about anything.