I do not remember how long I was out; however, I knew I was conscious amidst the darkness. I twitched at a sensation I hadn't felt for over a century--one that I had sacrificed for my father's experiments. But wait a minute… If I recalled, just moments ago I was at grid ‘Zebra’ fixing an anomaly and got pulled in by a portal of unknown origin. In the midst of processing my thoughts, I felt a sudden jolt from my lower body causing me to let out a moan. Not knowing what that sensation was, I decided to lift my upper body up. When my body reached the halfway point, I felt two hands tightening around my neck and pushed me back down. At that point I knew I was in danger and had to act fast as my air supply is being slowly drained out of me. As if the depletion of air was the trigger, I saw heard a familiar voice in my head.
[Warning! User anomaly detected! Initiating emergency boot up.]
[Booting up Core Systems.]
……
[Experience Bar: Online
Identification Scanner: Online
Waypoint System: Online
Assisted Target System: Online
Avatar Menu: Online
Medic Menu: Online
Stamina Bar: Online
Skill Menu: Online
Skill Tree: Online
Construction Menu: Online
Command Menu: Online
Generals Menu: Online]
……
[All Core Systems online]
……
[Booting up HUD subsystems]
…..
[Health Bar: Online
Mana Bar: Online
Assist Aim: Online
Mini-Map: Online
Bank: Online]
……
……
[All systems online and operational.]
[Handing full control to user.]
I immediately materialized a silenced Glock 18C into my right hand with seconds to spare. Fire off two shots upward and a third blindly to the area where I assumed was the neck. I no longer felt the pressure on my neck indicating that the person I shot towering over me was dead. Still lying on the floor, I took off the blindfold off from my eyes. I was immediately hit with blurred vision which dissipated a couple seconds later .
“Whoa, how long was this blindfold on me?”
I quietly asked myself before looking towards my left where there was a motionless muscular body. Upon close inspection, I saw that I hit the guy’s liver twice and the blind headshot was the confirmed kill. I lifted my upper body up with ease and sat cross legged facing towards the dead body. I had to kneel since the blood coming out of the punctured holes started to form a blood puddle. I frisked the body hoping to find some items of interest, instead I collected some coins mixed with silver and gold. I noticed on his pants pocket there was something metallic sticking out, so I grab those as well. A message popped up.
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[2 gold and 50 silver acquired
“House of Gentiane” necklace acquired]
When I saw the necklace especially with a house name, I knew that necklace would be troublesome later. I decided to wear it so I can hide it over my clothes but first, I need to take care of any remaining hostiles within my area of operation. I materialized my “Command Tablet” from my ‘Core’ and activated a ‘pulse scan’ which fired off a sound only I could hear. If the pulse hits anything biological it will bounce back to me with a highlighted silhouette figure to which I can see easily with the help of my “Core Systems”. Another useful function of the ‘pulse scan’ is that it also sends a copy of the scanned terrain into my tactical map on my “Command Tablet”.
I counted ten silhouetted figures, four of which are huddled together presumably in a cage. The remaining six I tagged them “red” as hostiles on my tablet and through my HUD, the ‘Identification Scanner’ changed the silhouette outline color from white to red with the outline of their weapons. Carefully looking at the red highlighted silhouette figures, I saw two were lying down sleeping. I saw the next three standing in front of the huddled figures, looking at them. The last one was further away from the camp was probably their sentry, so I plan on killing him last.
After confirming the number of hostiles, I stored my tablet away as it vanished back into my chest. I inspected my sidearm that was still equipped in my right hand.
[Glock 18C. A sidearm manufactured by GLOCK Perfection from Austria. It uses 9×19mm Parabellum bullets capable of being fired in single or burst mode. The Glock magazine capacity varies from 20 rounds to 50 with extended magazine. Many seasoned fighters prefer to use the 'Akimbo' perk with the Glock. Currently you are unable to access the 'Extended Magazine' perk and the 'Akimbo' perk]
“Brrrrr!”
I shivered realizing how cold it was outside at night, I decided it was best to first scavenge the crates near me to find some form of clothes before executing my plan. While going through each crate filled with both goods and luxury products, I started to think that these were his spoils. Well since he’s dead and these “goods” needed new ownership, I decided to take them. So I stored all of them into my inventory so I can sell them off to the next village or town. As I reached the last crate, a message popped up again.
[Alert! High Grade loots detected!
Chances of clothes is high!]
I raised my eyebrow a little at the last part of the message and I quickly shrugged it off thinking it was nothing. I store my Glock back into my inventory then proceeded to open the lid sealing the last crate and lord and behold, it was clothes! But… I stared long and hard at the contents.
“Why does it look like priest garments?”
As I picked up the clothes another message came up.
['Saint garments’ acquired!]
“Oh you gotta be kidding me..”
My voice trailed off when I saw the design of the garments. The white one-piece dress felt smooth to touch and elastic so if I were to perform aerobatics, I won’t have to worry about the clothes ripping. Next item was the hooded robe, it was beautifully decorated with gold patterns on the hems and the hood. First thing before I do any crazy stunts is to take the robe off because it will slow me down. Following the hooded robe is a white colored knee-high sandal like looking shoes. It seemed that the elastic fabric is sewn all the way to the heel of the sandals to make it look like a boot of sort. I guess its to give the wearer easier movement. Last but not least, I picked up the panty from the crate and it definitely felt like it was made from silk. After confirming that I got all the garments out of the box, I started to put them on myself.
“Well, being a digital lifeform switching between sexes on and off for a century really made this process feel natural. Kind of, since I can feel my face becoming red indicating I am embarrassed being naked for five minutes.”
I muttered softly to myself as I wore the panty last and from the corner of my eyes I saw a ring and bracelet that wasn’t in the box before. I slid the sing on my left index finger and the bracelet on my right wrist. Lastly, I wore the “House of Gentian” necklace on my neck and unexpectedly, the necklace started to take on another form. Instead of the “House of Gentiane” emblem, it was replaced with gem encased within a see through locket. A message popped up following the new necklace form
[‘Vetris’ set unlocked.
‘Saint’ garments name changed to ‘Vetris Beloved Child’.
Check set bonus through ‘Avatar Menu’]
Time is a luxury that I do not have, I closed the message and took out my Glock. Taking a quick glance at the ammo counter that appeared over the pistol grip when I tilted it sideways
[17/40]
More than enough for the six dudes that’ve been ‘pulsed’ and probably some left over for stragglers I thought to myself.
“Let’s dance... To this beautiful Moonlight Serenade ”
A small grin started to form on my lip as I cocked the slide of my Glock 18C and made my way towards them.