The first thing Yuki and I decided to do upon reaching the city, City Zeta to be specific, was seek out one of the Foundation Dorms. For heroes constantly moving around and traveling and not particularly stationed at one city, the Foundation set up living spaces for heroes to stay at.
We reached the massive building, gaining access to rooms on the lower floors since we were both lower class heroes. At least we both got our own rooms.
I quickly set my stuff up and took a breath. What exeactly was my plan to become the rank one hero as soon as possible? The answer is I’m not sure. Until some super big threat appears of which I can harvest exp off of I’m condemned to chilling out in the city grinding missions and getting stronger.
Low and behold, after a brief moment of waiting, a notification chimed from my quest folder.
HF QUEST
Target Name
Eight Shot
Target Stats
Strength - D (LV 33)
Dexterity - B (LV 72)
BIQ - B (LV 78)
Charisma - B (LV 71)
Def. - C (LV 52)
HP - C (LV 66)
Stam. - C (LV 62)
Luck - B (LV 71)
overall - Class C+
Ability - Seeker Bullets (Class B)
Desc:
His bullets from his various guns can swap between different properties, such as exploding, freezing ice attacks, etc.
Objective
- Neutralize the threat as quickly as possible
- Escort nearby civilians outside of danger zone
Rewards:
- Increased reputation ^+20
- x2000 currency
- x300 EXP
Quest Reciever:
Yoshida Ren (CLASS F,
OVERALL CLASS RANK - # 6,927,273,332
OVERALL CITY RANK - #556,231,448
OVERALL WORLD RANK - #15,621,982,121)
I quickly sat up from the couch I was on watching some shows, getting dressed into some nicer more standard clothing that the Foundation supplied for heroes whilst staying in their housing areas.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
By the time I got to the hallway, Yuki would already be waiting there, having most likely already seen the quest pop up for her too since we’re in a party.
We rushed over to the sight of the quest, marked by a blinking yellow label in the distance. Loud popping grew in my ears as we approached the location.
We arrived at the city block where the mission was. Ahead of me I spotted a gargantuan supermarket, for reference to the real world this would be nearly as tall as the Empire State Building, and far wider.
“If you find any civilians, get them out of there. I’m going to take down Eight Shot.” I told Yuki.
“Tch, but if you get hurt I’ll have to-“ She tried to detest, I’d stop her mid sentence.
“I’ll be fine. Go!”
The two of us diverged, I closed the distance on the growing banging. I realized it was coming from above, on one of the higher floors…
So, naturally I sprinted over towards an elevator, noticing countless other people scattered around, here’s and civilians alike who’d seemingly lost to this villain.
All these heroes defeated, he was most likely growing increasingly stronger as the time passed at this very moment. Was that his entire motive for coming here? Attracting a ton of fodder heroes by putting a highly populated area at risk?
I inched closer towards his location, I could feel it. I was on the fifth floor, slowly moving past the shelves. Cluttered grocery items lined the floors, shards of glass from broken jars creating small noises upon making contact with the floor.
Taking coverage behind a nearby shelf of which had toppled over, I’d see him, the villain.
He adorned a cowboy like outfit, with jeans, brown boots, a vest and a standard cowboy hat. The difference between him and any normal cowboy is that his eyes were some kind of demonic red, with a small yellow pupil peering through.
He’d roam through the halls in an eerie manner, seemingly having defeated all the heroes here, I guess I was sent here as reiniforcememts? No, that’s not quite correct. I was sent here as cannon fodder, to hold out and stall for a far more powerful hero to appear.
Little did the foundation know they sent in the future champion of all heroes to this location.
I quickly grabbed a bag of chips, tossing them to a random spot nearby. The loud crinkling of the chips snapping and cracking within the little bag would attract Eight Shot over as he’d come sprinting by.
I would follow after him, eventually cornering him into a miniscule area where two shelves closed together into a triangle formation.
He would reach the spot where the chips had fallen, realizing he had been tricked.
“DAMMIT!” He shouted in frusteration, his razor sharp pointed teeth showing clearly through his rage. Whilst he was distracted, I ran up to him with the Ness’ Blade.
“Who the hell’re you…” He growled, turning and spotting me from the corner of his eye, he drew his revolver, firing off a singular shot.
In response, I brought the sword up to deflect the bullet. The small metal pellet would get closer…Closer…
SHING!
I did it! I successfully shattered the bullet-
BOOM!
My brief moment thinking I had gained victory defending myself from the attack would come to its end.
Fire and smoke would engulf my body, sending a giant shockwave of which blasted me far across the area as I’d crash into a mountain like structure of cereal boxes. The bullet…Exploded?!
“Good, more heroes for me to devour…AHAHAHAHA, what’s yer name…Kid?” Eight Shot would cackle, walking out from the smoke, clutching his revolver closely at his side.
“I don’t give my name to villains…” I muttered, pushing myself up from the pile of small rectangular cardboard boxes that I had sunk into.
“Eh…Doesn’t matter to me, yer a dead man! DEAD!” He shouted, his voice thick with a western accent, he’d begin to laugh drawing a second revolver now dual wielding them, he fired off various shots of which would approach me with deadly and destructive speeds.
I leaped out of the way of the first bullet, tumbling onto the floor as smoke and fire flew up. Another would follow, then another, then another, explosions hailed down in unpredictable manners all around me.
I just barley maneuvered out of all of them, ducking and rolling, heat would be felt upon my skin as I moved further and further outwards with a plan.
Another bullet would fly out, no, a cluster of them?! It’s fine.
I was carefully counting the amount of bullets he was wasting with each of the passing shots he took towards me. As this particular shot landed, I would maneuver out of it, just out of its range now rushing towards Eight Shot suddenly.
“Hah! I outsmarted you! I exited the range of the explosion just as you were running out of ammunition-“ I thought, but once again, my moment of seeming intelligence would be snuffed out in moments.
My leg would tighten up, before feeling completely constrained and paralyzed. I was pulled down onto my feet?! I looked back to see what had done this, this time instead of exploding the bullets turned into vines! They grabbed along my feet making their way up my legs to my body, I slashed them up and got back up onto my feet.
I moved my head up to see Eight Shot, who now had a revolver and double barrel shot gun in his hand.
This ought to be fun.
Clusters of bullets and singular bullets whirled out at me at random, I was surrounded by a flurry of explosions and vines, the vines worked to constrain and keep me in one place so that the bullet could take its full effect of damage, but I kept just barely making it out on time, repeatedly activating the twister skill on the sword to slash through the vines and blow away the fire.
“So the shotgun allows him to make the vines, and the revolver allows him to make exploding bullet attacks. What can I exploit..?” I thought to myself, before gaining a wicked smile upon making a brief epiphany.
All his attacks could only activate whenever his bullets made contact with something…
So I waited, and I lurked and lurked, to the point of which shots from both guns would strike forth, then I’d seize my opportunity, leaping forth boldly as I closed the distance, hearing the bullets whiff by me and make contact with some things behind me, I would point the sword forth, the point of the blade would light up, charging a tight, condensed beam of light as I prepared to activate another move the blade had…