Taking a step, slow but steady, Hao Xu gradually came closer to the town.

His brows raised, clearly taking the sight before him with great care. Naturally, he was interested in the look of the town.

The surrounding itself looks hideous. With its rusted rooftops, faded rustic stone walls and foggy surroundings, this place had quite a savage feeling to it. Along the chimney, thick cord of wires and cabled hang tight onto the building, not knowing where it began and ends as it filled the gaps running along the wall.

The fence… It looks liked some scavenger didn’t even spare parts of the fence when looting this place. Honestly, Hao Xu had the urge to turn around when looking at his surrounding but still press forward.

At this moment, Hao Xu stood in the middle of the street, glued on by the sight of a very old industrial-like architecture. A sight rarely seen from where he lived.

Not long, a voice behind his head interrupted the moment.

“Little fellas, I advise you to move away from that street.” Hao Xu looked toward the source of the voice, located at the big ‘pub’ looking building where a double door-way stand guard.

Hao Xu look toward the roof of the empty building with broken pieces of machinery, spotting several individuals sitting atop. Some busy tending to their peculiar weapons, with a skinny man on the other side drinking alcohol.

Nonetheless, they all seem to be gazing at his direction.

When in roman, you ought to do what’s roman told, Hao Xu followed the suspicious looking man waving gesture and walked steadily toward the pub. His hand was still gripping behind his back, in contact with his Steam Rifle.

“Tense fellow ain’t ya? Where you escaping from, Sonya? Lorena? ” The suspicious man flurry a wave of question, a man who’s unusually talkative to strangers.

“None of your business.” Hao Xu ignored the man as he moved past the door, gazed past the old man, as if he didn’t exist.

“Woo, a feisty fellow ain’t ya? Don’t you know where you are right now?” The suspicious man fold his arm as he whipped out a pipe and began smoking out of nowhere. Hao Xu continue to put a facade as he naturally continue to ignore him.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“You’re also naked, where did your shirt go?” His pointed finger stopped as he gazes at Hao Xu up and down, finally stopping his finger at Hao Xu face.

Uuuush!

Hao Xu ear twitched like plucking a string.

Hand already behind his back, the shirt wrapped around his Steam Rifle unfold like a curtain as he placed the weight of his foot toward his waist, twisting his body around in a 180-degree manner.

In a split moment, Hao Xu made a minute movement to dodge the bullet!

“Who the FUCK is shooting?!” The old man who was smoking his pipe almost jumped and dropped the bottle of alcohol in his hand as he madly cried.

In the meanwhile, Hao Xu already position himself facing where the bullet came from, with the rifle stock touching his shoulder, Hao Xu finger step on the trigger.

Bang!

[Focus Shot — 50 energy]

Starting from the tube barrel, the cog in each gear began to kick in, like a bustling engine ready to race the field. A clicking sound tick in place, as all the pieces assemble like the chorus of a play, a dimming red-light burst forth from the center of the barrel, sending away another shipment.

When the bullet left the chamber, a swirl of howling wind linger onto the metal shell — shredding air into crumbs.

“BULLEYES!” Hao Xu raised his eyes looking at the ridiculous old man shouting crazily, more unexpectedly, the old man was not startled.

He didn’t look back at his target, since his battle notification was right in front of him.

A sensation of cold, yet gloomy fog seems to emptied out his mind as he held onto his rifle tightly to support his sagging posture.

“W-What was that feeling?” Hao Xu couldn’t help but question himself after shaking off that strange sense of burden.

Meanwhile Hao Xu occupied with himself, the Old Man, who was next to him drew his eyes narrow, before resuming his usual smile. This moment felt extremely long for Hao Xu, but for an outsider, it was a split second pause in his action.

Hao Xu looked at his interface notification to his left after recovering his mental state to check for any strange effects from somewhere, all the while, keeping his eyes on the surrounding.

[...]

There was nothing displayed on the combat notification, so he could only assume that the strange burden sensation is the effect of overclocking his body for too long. In the end, he couldn't help but look back towards the rooftop.

He expected someone to attack him, but still didn’t think they would attack him in such open fashion. But it was also a great opportunity to scare off the rest… No matter the difference in places, strength ultimately triumph even in the most desolate planet, he believes in showing of forces to cow the malicious.

“No wonder you’re so ain-sty, casually killing someone in the daylight. What’s with all the brats these day being so savage.” The old man prick his teeth with a toothpick, then re-lit his smoking pipe before downing another mouthful of alcohol.

“What is this place?” Hao Xu casually asked after wrapping up his rifle with the ragged shirt, ignoring the weird closeup look from the old man.

“So that’s why you’re naked… Ain’t you too poor even though you’re carrying a Steam Rifle?” At this point, the alcohol and smoke reeking from his mouth caused Hao Xu to pinched his nose as he shoved him away.

“Tch Tch. No respect for your elder.”

“If you enter this place, at least know the name. Ya know, it’s the Shelbur Town.”