Someone's Using System Skills?

The second bonus chapter for Bluerain and Lynnifer's votes. Thanks again!

Bonus Challenge: For anyone that donates a powerstone to this story over the next day, I'll release an extra chapter dedicated to them in the spirit of the holidays. Bring it on...my stockpile stands ready. (JK please don't make me write too much...but that would be okay too!)

1,400,038.

Instantly, I go on high alert.

"Stay close, stay quiet!" I pull Yin down gently. We're too exposed by the Gate. Hopefully whatever killed over a hundred thousand people has already been dealt with by those who entered first.

"Hey what's…oh my god. The counter went down! It went down by a lot!" She practically shrieks as I drag her to the side of the road. Looking around, I try to get my bearings but I've never been to Tiendas City before. Plus, the System would have changed it anyway. Broken towers of warped steel, crumbling apartment complexes, and everywhere this slight, pervasive wind which continuously blows bits of sand into our faces. This is what most people thought the apocalypse should look like. The System likes to play games like this. Or maybe it's not a game. Maybe it's trying to show us something. Regardless, this massive city has fallen into ruin.

"Do you recognize anything? You had family here right?" I ask Yin. She shakes her head furiously at first, her eyes wandering all around in panic.

"Uhm! Um…it's all different now, like those people said. None of this even looks like how Tiendas was! Except…maybe, there! That tower, the tallest one!" She points off into the distance where a dull lightning rod still pierces into the sky. "Tiendas Tower! I've been there for sightseeing! Ugh, I wonder what my cousins are doing? There's no way we're going to be able to find them like this!"

"Maybe we'll run into them along the way, who knows. Listen, something has already eliminated a ton of Hunters. This is just the beginning. We need to get moving and find some things for you level off of. For now, everyone's going to just be figuring things out and trying to find the boss. Be careful…if you see anything strange, let me know immediately!" I let go of Yin's arm and start to walk down the cracked sidewalk. However, something isn't right…

*Clack*

I whirl around instantly drawing my cleaver from inside my coat in one smooth motion. Yin gasps, pulling out her katana as well. My eyes scan furiously, trying to see what's wrong. However, there's nothing behind us but the entrance. The archway is filled with blue light preventing anyone from leaving the city. Up above, at the top, four stone gargoyles stare down at us heartlessly, their gemstone eyes gleaming.

"Did I imagine it?" I take my time examining every inch of the archway. But there's nothing except the creepy gargoyles.

"What was it, Lin?" Yin asks in confusion. However, even I don't have an answer.

"Nothing." I start walking deeper into the city. This time I don't go too far ahead of Yin. Just a step or two. I'm not sure if I should be worried about something coming from in front of back. Despite my assurance, I know what I felt.

Something in this city was starting at us with killing intent.

#

The streets are unusually wide in this city. It seems the System has really changed the inherent design. Everything feels just a little bit too big for normal humans. As if a race of supermen came and rebuilt the doors and roads to their ideal specifications. Every couple of blocks, entrances to the metro appear. I'm hoping we won't have to enter those. From the looks of it, the sewage system has fallen apart to the point that it links up with the subway. In other words, there are three different levels to this dungeon. First, street level is already bad enough. You could spend days wandering inside the city without reaching the other side. Second, if you're brave or very stupid, you could go down into the underground level. But I bet there's all manner of nasty things in the darkness. Last, you can enter the skyscrapers and apartments. Just looking at the Tiendas Tower in the distance, I'm already getting an ominous feeling. Like I said, the System has a sense of humor. I wouldn't be surprised if that's where the boss is hiding. Doubtless, many Hunters are racing towards the center of the city right now hoping to find it there.

"Lin…I hear something." Suddenly my companion stops. The orange cat pokes its head out of her jacket and listens intently while flicking its feline ears. "Do you know what that is?"

I tilt my head. Now that you mention it, I do notice something. However, my hearing isn't as sharp as Yin's because of the level difference.

"Can you take us closer?" I say. We've avoided meeting anything for a few minutes, but as we get deeper, I except to start seeing bodies of both undead and Hunters. "I can't hear it well."

"Ahh, okay. This way!" Yin isn't used to taking the lead on these things. However, she quickly grabs my hand and tugs me along in-between a side alley. After a few seconds, I begin to understand what she's getting at.

*Dong!*

*Boom*

The noises must be coming from several blocks away. Now that we're closer, I think I can identify them to some degree.

"Back. We're going the other way! Back! BACK!" I hastily reverse and pull Yin with me. She throws a confused look after the sudden change.

"Lin?"

"System Skills. Someone's using System Skills!" I hastily put the pedal to the metal and start jogging. We'll go around whatever's going on to our right.

"Aren't those the abilities you were talking about before? The ones that let you do crazy things?" Yin catches on to what I'm saying and I'm grateful for her quick learning. "I thought you said no one would have any of those for a while?"

"I was wrong. I thought I might have seen some people using them the other night, but I didn't think it was possible." My explanation causes her to run faster. "This is bad, people who can use System Skills are on a whole other level from regular Hunters. We need to find somethings for you to level up on now!"

"Is it really that bad?" Yin breaths heavily, her katana streaming out to her side. "Are they stronger than you?"

"Maybe." I spit tersely. "System Skills let you open up a whole new way to fight. However, at the end of the day, just because you have a great sword doesn't mean you can win every battle. At the end of the day, true skill will outshine even System Skills. But it all depends on which one and who's using it. If it's someone talented who means harm, they'll be very hard to stop without multiple regular Hunters working together."

"So what you're saying is…in this place where no one trusts each other, someone with a System Skill…" Yin stumbles on something and I haul her back up. Turning back, I see what it was. Someone dropped their club. A good sign. We're getting close to the others.

"Someone with a System Skill will be like a demigod to these new Hunters. We need to avoid them at all costs!"