Bobby leaned into the curve, the hover bike responding smoothly to his touch. The wind whipped past his face as he navigated through the ruins of London, testing the limits of his new ride. He felt a thrill of excitement as he zipped between crumbling buildings and overgrown streets. The wind streaming through his hair.

With his power armour exo-suit not ready for him to use yet, he wore his new armour provided by the Kra’zak. With his Neutron blaster locked to his back, he was ready to test out his new skills.

He had chosen Lucky Break, Quantum Intuition and Energy Weapon Proficiency. Now he sought some lower levelled foes he could grind some exp out of. Which wasn’t that easy considering he was still in a Capitol Zone.

Still, he was only level 6, but if he could gain a level or two before the fight for Mic’s daughter, he’d stand a better chance of surviving.

Bobby weaved through the debris-strewn streets, the hover bike humming beneath him. The new armour felt snug against his body, a comforting layer of protection he never knew he needed until a few days ago.

As he rounded a corner, Bobby slowed the bike, his hand reaching for the neutron blaster on his back. Three rat-like creatures scurried across the road, their bodies twisted and enlarged by the System's influence.

"Perfect," Bobby muttered, a grim smile playing on his lips. He brought the bike to a stop and dismounted, drawing his weapon in one fluid motion.

The rats noticed him, their beady eyes glowing with an unnatural light. They hissed, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Bobby's interface flickered to life, displaying their stats:

Mutant Sewer Rat

Level 6

HP: 80/80

Bobby took a deep breath, feeling the energy of his new skills coursing through him. He aimed the neutron blaster, the weapon feeling surprisingly natural in his hands thanks to his Energy Weapon Proficiency.

As the first rat lunged, Bobby squeezed the trigger. A burst of energy erupted from the barrel, catching the creature mid-leap. It let out a piercing shriek as the blast tore through its mutated flesh.

The other two rats charged, forcing Bobby to dive and roll. He came up firing, his movements guided by an instinct he couldn't quite explain.

One rat caught a glancing blow, stumbling but not falling. The other leaped for Bobby's throat. At the last second, he twisted away, the rat's claws scraping harmlessly against his armour.

"Not today," Bobby growled, bringing the blaster to bear on the closest rat. Another burst of energy, another fallen foe.

The last rat, wounded but still dangerous, circled warily. Bobby tracked its movement, waiting for the right moment. As it tensed to spring, he fired.

He didn’t bother checking his battle log, even though it had been an even fight in terms of levels, they hadn’t stood a chance.

He glanced at his ammo counter on his blaster. Even though he had only fired four shots, his counter had depleted by more than that.

"Bloody hell, ten rounds gone already?" Bobby muttered, frowning at the ammo counter. "Right then, quick taps from now on. No use having a fancy gun if I run out of juice before the fight's over." He chuckled darkly. "Story of my life."

He checked the rats for loot, but there was nothing of value. With a shrug, Bobby mounted his bike and set off once more, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through his veins.

He was lucky to have encountered three low-levelled rats, but luck alone wouldn't be enough in this high-level zone. Bobby continued his patrol through the ruined streets of London, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger or opportunity.

Seeing no immediate danger, he pulled up the description of two of his latest skills and overlaid them over his normal vision.

Reading the opaque words while still taking in your surroundings took some getting used, but he felt more confident with it now.

He looked at Lucky Break and Quantum Intuition and wondered about how they would complement each other.

Bobby squinted at the translucent text hovering in his vision, comparing the descriptions of Lucky Break and Quantum Intuition. He mused over how these skills might interact, wondering if the unpredictable nature of luck could somehow enhance his ability to perceive quantum probabilities.

As he delved deeper into this thought, the ruined cityscape around him faded into the background. His focus narrowed to the words before his eyes, his mind spinning with possibilities. Bobby was so engrossed in his analysis that he almost missed the glint of metal in his peripheral vision.

Almost.

A chill ran down his spine as his Quantum Intuition kicked in, a fraction of a second before disaster struck.

A violent impact rocked the hover bike. Bobby's world turned upside down as he was launched from his seat. The ground rushed up to meet him, and he barely had time to brace for impact.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He slammed into the cracked pavement; the air driven from his lungs. His armour absorbing much of the blow, but pain still radiated through his body. The world spun around him as he rolled to a stop, debris and dust settling around his prone form.

Gasping for breath, Bobby struggled to orient himself. His ears rang, and his vision swam. He blinked, trying to clear his head and assess the situation.

As his senses returned, Bobby realised he'd been thrown several meters from his bike. The hover bike lay on its side, smoke rising from its damaged frame. Whatever had hit them had done so with some force, but the bike still looked rideable.

Bobby groaned, pushing himself up onto his elbows. His interface flickered, displaying a damage report:

Minor bruising detected. Armour integrity at 92%.

He silently thanked the Kra'zak for the quality of their equipment. Without it, he might have been in far worse shape.

Bobby's head throbbed as he scanned the area, searching for the cause of his sudden tumble. His eyes narrowed, focusing on a glint of metal amid the debris-strewn street. Realisation dawned, sending a chill down his spine.

A wire, now snapped and coiled like a dead snake, lay across the path. Bobby's stomach churned as he traced its trajectory. Had he been on a regular bike, that wire would have caught him square across the throat. The hover bike's elevated position had saved his life.

"Bloody hell," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His muscles protested, but the armour had taken the brunt of the impact. Bobby approached the wire, noting its placement and construction. This was no accident – someone had deliberately set this trap.

He glanced around, aware of how exposed he was. Whoever had set this snare could still be nearby, waiting to finish the job. Bobby's hand went to his neutron blaster, finding comfort in its solid presence.

Jeez, who'd be twisted enough to set up something like this? Bobby thought, a chill running down his spine. His lips curled into a grim smile. "Well, mate," he said under his breath, "looks like you've stumbled into a proper mess. Might as well see it through, eh? Not like you've got anywhere else to be."

He limped over to the hover bike, checking its systems. The vehicle hummed with power, its systems undamaged. A plan formed in Bobby's mind. He left the bike where it was, deciding to use it as bait.

With renewed purpose, Bobby scanned the surrounding buildings. His eyes settled on a collapsed office block across the street. The third floor looked accessible and would provide a good vantage point.

Ignoring his aching body, Bobby made his way to the building. He climbed over fallen debris, wincing at every noise. The stairwell was mostly intact. As he ascended, he remained alert for any other occupants within the building.

Reaching the third floor, Bobby found a spot near a broken window that offered a clear view of the trap site. He crouched down, using a fallen desk for cover. His neutron blaster was at the ready, its weight reassuring in his hands.

Now came the hard part – waiting. Bobby regulated his breathing, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his body. His eyes never left the street below, watching movement.

Minutes ticked by, feeling like hours. Bobby's muscles ached from holding his position, but he didn't dare move. He knew that patience could mean the difference between life and death in this new world.

As he waited, Bobby wondered who would come along and see. Whether it would be human or an alien. Either way, setting traps like that only had bad intentions, so if he could, he would end them and cash in on the valuable experience he desperately needed.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the ruined cityscape. Just as he considered changing his strategy, two figures emerged from the shadows, their appearance sending a jolt of adrenaline through Bobby's system.

Raider

Level 8

HP: 120/120

Raider

Level 9

HP: 140/140

He watched as they approached the hover bike, their movements cautious yet predatory. Even from this distance, Bobby could sense their malevolent intent. Their conversation drifted up to his hiding spot in fragments.

"...shame there's not another easy prisoner..."

"...need to look around..."

"...find the person..."

Bobby's jaw clenched as he pieced together their words. These weren't just scavengers looking for loot. They were hunters, seeking victims to torment. His grip tightened on the neutron blaster as he watched their search of the area.

The raiders circled the hover bike, their eyes scanning the surrounding ruins. One of them knelt to examine the broken wire trap, while the other kept watch. Their casual discussion of torture turned Bobby's stomach, confirming his initial assessment. These were dangerous individuals, a threat to any survivors they encountered.

As the raiders fanned out, searching for signs of their intended victim, Bobby weighed his options. They out-levelled him, but he had the element of surprise and his new skills. The thought of letting them go, potentially to hurt others, didn't sit well with him. Plus, they would either find him, or take his hover bike and leave. Neither were feasible options.

Bobby held a deep breath, steadying his aim. The raider nearest to the hover bike presented the perfect target. Without hesitation, he squeezed the trigger of his neutron blaster.

The first shot struck true, catching the raider square in the chest. The man stumbled backward, a look of shock crossing his face. As the raider turned to flee, Bobby tracked his movement, firing two more times in quick succession.

The second shot clipped the raider's leg, sending him sprawling to the ground. The third blast hit him in the back, and he went still.

Bobby didn't hesitate. He fired two more shots into the fallen raider, ensuring he wouldn't get up again. The smell of ozone and burned flesh filled the air.

Bobby checked his battle log. A surge of relief washed over him as he saw the experience points gained. The raider was dead.

But in the moment's chaos, Bobby lost track of the second raider. His eyes darted around, searching for movement. The other raider had vanished, leaving Bobby on high alert.

“Fuck's sake!” Bobby said, scanning the immediate area.

Bobby's eyes darted across the ruined landscape, searching for any sign of the raider. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional creak of settling debris.

A flash of movement caught his eye. Before he could react, a hail of bullets tore through the surrounding air. The sharp crack of gunfire echoed off the decaying buildings.

"Shit!" Bobby yelled, diving behind a crumbling wall. Chunks of concrete exploded around him as bullets slammed into his cover. He pressed himself flat against the ground, feeling the vibrations of each impact. The raider's voice rang out, filled with rage and promises of retribution. He was pinned down, but he was far from outgunned.

Bobby smiled to himself. It’s one on one now, buddy. He thought, a fierce grin spreading across his face. Let’s see how tough you are on your bod.

As he hid behind cover looking for a solution, a stray bullet burst through the crumbling brick of the wall and grazed his arm, slicing through the armour and drawing blood. Bobby hissed in pain before sprinting away from his position as more bullets tore through.

“Shit!” He shouted as he dived into another room. More bullets raced after him, as if the raider was tracking him somehow. “Probably got a skill,” he muttered.

Not waiting to be hit again, he dragged himself back to his feet and sprinted down the stairs. He would take the fight to the raider.

“Let’s see how he likes a round of neutron blasts in his face.”