Irene then began narrating a brief version of her story to me.
Summarizing the whole thing, she was actually one of the gifted ones who took part in the rebellion against the leader of the 'The Gifted' and its whole organization. Her father was one of the strongest rebellion members but was killed by the leader and now the 'Gifted' ones are hunting for her while she is out here in the middle of nowhere.
She was here to find out about an A-Grade Core that her father found by accident and absorbed only about 10% of it. According to her, the reason her father was so strong was because of that A-Grade Core. But sadly, her father couldn't absorb anymore of it for reasons unknown to anyone.
So what she wanted me to do was help her at least find her that A-Grade Core and my answer was,
"Sure. Would love to help you out?"
There was a bright smile on my face as I realized that I could get an A-Grade used Core soon, which would surely help me out later on.
"I know that you won't agree to help me for free... So I am... huh? Wait, what did you say?" She started speaking first, but when my answer hit her mind, she was taken aback. She just looked at me with confusion as I spoke with a smile,
"I said I would love to help you."
"But... why?" she asked in confusion and I chuckled before speaking,"You don't want me to?"
"I do but-"
"No buts then. Well, now that is on the plate, can you answer my questions as well?" I asked her and she just snapped out of her stupor and looking at me, she nodded before speaking,
"I don't know how much I can answer, but okay.. I will try my best."
"That's fine. Can you explain what is going on here? Let's just say... that I was visiting somewhere for 6 months and now that I have returned, I am finding all these things... in this state... Can you explain what just happened in the last 6 months?" I asked with a curious expression.
Her eyes widened in realization a little before she spoke,"that's really... All right. I won't pry much and answer everything honestly."
I don't know what went on in her mind, but she answered without holding back.
So, just like I had anticipated, bombs were dropped, more precisely a dozen hydrogen bombs at various places around here. Obviously, it was the military that did that. Reason being the zombies getting too powerful around this area... which I kind of doubt.
However, the people were informed one month prior to that and everyone left this city and the neighboring ones.
After the bombs were dropped, for one month no activity occurred in this area but later on people started coming here searching for Cores and stuff. It was more of a treasure trove, which even the f*cking military was eyeing.
Though it wasn't just the humans who started coming here, the zombies started reforming themselves from the ashes. More zombies began swarming here. The surviving ones evolved and many stronger zombies were born.
Things started taking a step for the worse when the 'Gifts' came into existence. Some of the people became special. The ability to manipulate blood, enhance their strength, fast speed, etc. Some of them with enhanced senses, while others with eyes which could see the energy levels as a flame were also born.
While it was a special moment for one to unlock a 'Gift' but to those who couldn't do it... it wasn't really a great outcome. A disparity started and a difference between those who had Gifts and those who didn't started developing. And soon formed a group of people who only had Gifts.
Their leader Mallorn, with the ability to manipulate zombies itself, took a step forward and started speaking bullsh*t like how they are a superior race and stuff. Irene's father was a non-Gifted one and was killed by another Gifted in a riot. Her father fought with them, soon fighting against Mallorn himself, but in the end he wasn't strong enough.
Somehow he did manage to help his daughter escape from those bastards, but being sh*tty as they were, they were still searching for her. In fact, Mallorn had used his underling's ability to put a curse on Irene.
"Hmmm?" I questioned before I looked at her status screen once again
[Inspect!]
[Name: Irene Campbell
Race: Zombified Human (B-Grade)
Class: The Saw-woman
Description: A petite and calm girl who used to live a normal tomboyish life before the apocalypse hit. Her dream was to become the best graffiti artist, but after the apocalypse, all she wants is to find a happy and stable life. Searching for her presumably dead family, she is trying her best to find whatever clues she can.
Zombification: 56%[Reach 100% to get to the next Grade]
Cessation Energy: 14,232,022/15,000,000
Status: Weakened
[Curse by the Skill: [Finders Weakness] Until the person on whom the skill is casted returns to the castor, the person will lose 1% of Health every 3 days permanently. Cannot be placed on someone whose power is above the castor.]
Skills*
Strength: 452(+904)
Constitution: 567
Dexterity: 678(+678)
Intelligence: 1345(+300)
Wisdom: 919
Charm: 743]
"Hmmm... Irene... " I looked at her as I had a certain idea before I moved closer to her and holding her chin in my hand as I looked down at her, I spoke,
"Want to become mine?"
"Huh?" She questioned as she looked at me with a dumbfounded and embarrassed expression as she asked,"that... I..."
"I will protect you-"
"Sure!" she spoke as soon as she heard my words and then...
"Huh?" She realized and even I smiled at her.
[Status: Healthy]
Her status returned to normal in an instant. How?
Well, that is because..
[Title: God Hunter
(7) Anyone working under the user will have their Stats doubled as long as they are within 5000m of the user]
It was one of the effects of my title... a really powerful one at that... she should be feeling that power as well.
[Save the Archeologist (Grade-B)!(Completed)]
[Rewards: +1 Special Upgrade Skill Points]
Not wasting any time I upgraded the Special Skill that I was saving it for,
[Multiple Copy (Special)]
[Allows the user to copy any 3 of the skills in his arsenal. Can only copy Rare Skills and below.
Currently Copied Skill: (1) Temporal Deceleration (2) Unassigned (3) Unassigned
Note: Once the user locks a particular skill to copy, he can't change the skill for another 12 hours]
On which skill should I use it, I have an idea for that too... but for now...
"Hey, so what Gift do you have?" I asked Irene as she was still stupefied looking at me, before a slightly embarrassed expression came to her mind and she spoke,"I... don't have a... Gift."
I looked at her for a few moments before speaking,"Is that so? Well... want one?"
She just looked at me as if I were a God or something. I wonder if I can take complete control of her mind right now... make her completely mine or something... let's see..
"But the question is... what can you do for me?" I asked as I pretended to see her from the corner of my eyes and she spoke out,
"Everything. You can have my soul, my body, I will become completely yours... "
"Are you sure about that?" I asked in confirmation. That was a big statement to make, but she then spoke out,
"Without a Gift, I will be left behind in this world. While I trust that you will take care of me, it's not guaranteed. Maybe you will get bored and leave me someday? What will happen then? I will surely die. It's not like I had any option to begin with, I was counting my days, anyway. If I get a chance to live a better life or heck, even survive till the end, then why would I not take it?"
There was a determination in her eyes.
"What if I ask you to die for me?" I asked, and she spoke,
"I won't lie. I want to kill that bastard Mallorn. After I finish that, forget about killing myself, I will kill even a hundred thousand for you. All in a word's command."
'Well, at least she is honest... okay, that should be enough for me,' I nodded before I moved closer to her and questioned in my mind
'How long till her Gift manifests?'
[17 Years: 8 Months: 14 Days]
'All right,' I thought before adding [Advanced Time Manipulation] into the [Copy] skill.
"Close your eyes," I muttered, and she nodded in slight excitement.
[Advanced Time Manipulation!]
[Advanced Time Manipulation(Copy)!]
While normally it was a 200 times reduction, now it is 400,000 times reduction... cool isn't it?
What should have taken 18 years or something was now being done in...
[23 Minutes: 15 Seconds]
A smile formed on my face as I spoke,"Sit down on the floor. It should take a bit of time."
And soon the wait began as I scrolled through the System Screen trying to figure out which other skill should I put into [Copy]
And after a bit of consideration I decided that it was this skill which suited best for [Copy] over the others.
[Gaia's Call (Rare)]
[Allows the user to call out nearby plants to help the user.
The plants can be used to heal the user, form a defensive barrier, or attack the enemy.
The plants share the same Health and Defense as that of the user.
When in a forest or surrounded by vegetation. The Plant's powers increases by +100%
Duration: 5 mins || Cooldown: 2 hours ||Cost: 10,000 TP]
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