Yani closed her eyes, fists clenched and awaited the impact of the bullet but felt nothing. (What!? I'm bullet resistant too!?) she excitedly declared, opening her eyes and spotting a tall frame in front.
Frizz had intervened, raising a single hand, telekinetically stopping the bullet midair.
"You could've died." He blankly added, noting that he almost didn't made it.
"T-t-thanks. You got my b-back." Yani added, chuckling nervously.
"What are you people?" The disheveled middle-aged leader muttered and promptly fired, emptying the revolver and aiming for the head.
The bullets halted in mid-air before clattering to the wooden ground as Frizz slowly approached. "This is the part where you kneel and beg for your life, scum."
[Venomous Presence] is active.
The disheveled man dropped to his knees, clutching his head. His vision blurred, and his words devolved into incoherent slurs. "Av-ss-hh-unghhh."
"I didn't expect that to activate. Yani, make sure these people stay down," Frizz ordered as Yani eagerly nodded. "NON-LETHALLY!"
(I was going to ask some questions. Politics are dirty, but they can be quite entertaining.) Frizz mused, staring at the slurring, disheveled man trying to crawl away.
(No point in asking then, they're poisoned.) He mused, kicking the head and knocking him out.
"Wait, I could've healed him."
"I wish I could heal," Yani said, stomping the head of the last conscious target. *Thud!*
"You're going to kill them if you keep doing that. You need restraint," Frizz suggested. For him, killing was crossing a point of no return. Once you do it, you'll never go back.
"Why? They're criminals."
The heavy rain poured stronger as several thunders in the distance boomed. "If you keep leaving dead bodies, you're going to attract the wrong attention. We're not the only ones with a system. There are several people out there," Frizz countered, slightly considering to reveal the group that he'd recently joined.
Yani was about to counter, but hearing the possibility of max-level levelers going after her was enough to give her pause. "I suppose you're right," she said, looking outside.
"What do we do with them? They know our faces. They live in our town too. We're bound to bump into them eventually." Yani added, crossing her arms.
"Call the police. Tell them that you've heard several gunshots."
[System]
<⬪ Daily Talent Creation and Acquisition Mechanic ⬪>
<⬪ Talent requirements met!⬪>
⬪ Rewarding:『Intuitive Proficiency』
New name received:『Intuitive Proficiency』
Displaying descriptions: The talent user's intuition is significantly heightened, granting them insight above simple understanding when encountering unfamiliar concepts, mechanisms, or complex circumstances.
The talented user can instinctively grasp the nature of a problem, recognizing the wrong but not the full why or how without deeper analysis.
"Huh?" Frizz grunted, reading the recently acquired talent description. (That's strange. I never used my intuition that much.) He said, rubbing his chin.
(But then again, maybe I did?) Frizz mused, picking up the revolver the disheveled man dropped. A small rush of information then rushed through as he inspected the revolver closely.
The revolver was old yet still in fine working condition. Frizz hummed while observing the revolver. "Six shots and thirty-two caliber rounds." He mulled, spinning the revolver and closing the cylinder via swinging.
"Hey! That was a cowboy move, and I also called the police!" Yani exclaimed while Frizz darted his eyes around, confused.
(Huh, I didn't even know I could do that.) Frizz chuckled, chucking the pistol away. (This intuitive proficiency is the best talent so far!)
"The authorities are coming. Let's go. We need to leave."
One hour later...
Despite an hour of relentless rainfall, the weather wasn't letting up. Instead, the wind and rain intensified. The two were taking refuge under an old shed that was barely holding on. Yani was shivering while Frizz remained still and blankly glared forward, waiting for the rain to let up.
"Can't you fly us out of here?"
"The wind is too strong, and I can barely see up ahead," Frizz shouted since the heavy rain was drowning his words. "Did you have plans for tonight?"
"Aside from the school business earlier? No." Yani answered, blowing into her cold hands and occasionally stealing glances at Frizz. "I have a question!"
Yani slightly hesitated before adding, "What do you feel about Mina? Are you two a thing?"
"What brought that question up?"
"Just curious! I know you're aware that she's flirting with you despite already in a relationship," Yani shouted and anxiously waited for a reply.
"It's complicated. I really do think that she can be an 'okay' friend."
Yani scoffed, snorting at the reply. "You know she wants more than that!" She paused, pointing a finger. "Take the opportunity!"
Frizz furrowed his brows, confused as to what Yani meant by taking the opportunity. "What!?" He clarified, noting that he might be hearing her words incorrectly.
"Take the opportunity. If she wants it, then give it to her, but no strings attached."
The expression on Frizz's face soured; he didn't want to be labeled as a homewrecker. He saw Mina as a potentially viable partner, but the relationship status was an issue.
"To answer your question, tempting, but no. People will talk, especially if that boyfriend discovers us and decides to post on social media. I don't want that kind of attention."
"We're levelers. Who cares what the others think? We can grow stronger every day and every week. How the average person sees us is irrelevant."
"We have the ability to do whatever we want! I already am doing it. It feels great to take a bite of a forbidden, pleasurable fruit," Yani added while glaring at Frizz with primal intent.
"Princess is probably reeling by now." She scoffed, remembering a bedroom encounter.
The neutral and blank expression on Frizz's face cracked, breaking eye contact. He was aware of what Yani was implying: her conquests.
A frustrated sigh escaped him. The idea of 'might makes right' was an understandable mindset. (Pride comes before a fall.) He recalled an adage, despite his sympathy.
"You know, you're very different than before. Remember when you stopped those two robbers and made those loan sharks lives a living hell, stealing from them and breaking their bones?"
"You have mellowed. I think that's the word."
Frizz paused, thinking. "I mean, I love beating people up. That's for sure. However, knowing that there are people like me, like us, out there and way more powerful... It makes you pause for a minute."
"You got that right."
A sudden voice from behind interrupted the two, sending shivers down their spines.
The pair quickly tensed, stepping back and assuming a defensive posture.
What they saw made their throat swell as their body jittered.
In front of them was a giant, hulking figure, leaning down on the shed with a huge, sadistic grin plastered on their face. A thunderstrike briefly revealed their towering figure.
"Didn't mean to ruin your date."
The giant added, his voice was rough and coarse, similar to a habitual smoker. The giant ripped out the roof, tossing it away and soaking the two in the rain. *Tssh!*
"Fighter's Judgment!"
[System]
<14% chance of victory.>
Present afflictions: None.
"Ah, I know that skill. It measures the chances of victory, right?" The giant, hulking man commented. "Let me guess, probably less than thirty?"
"Identify," the hulking giant muttered, boring his sight into the two.
The hulking giant's eyes suddenly bulged as his grin got even wider. "JACKPOT!" He loudly shouted, causing the two to take another step back.
"Two second-rate levelers? Just my luck. This will be useful for my growth."
"Is there something we can offer for you to leave?" Frizz approached, raising his hands up.
"No. Not a single thing."
"What if we surrender?"
"Then I will harvest your experiences and systems. Then..." The hulking giant licked his lips while staring at the shivering Yani. His intense stare focused on the contours of her undergarments beneath her drenched attire. "Have some fun with your date."
[Adaptive Predator] perk is active.
"Yani, run! Now!" Frizz shouted at the shivering Yani. Pushing forward to face the hulking giant. "Lesser power, guard, surge, dash, fortress."
[Wind Dash] perk is active.
Frizz charged, buying Yani a window to escape. "God will handle the rest! Tag!" He roared, dashing forward while Yani stared in horror.
[Righteous Fury] perk is active.
[Mark of Decrepitude] perk is active.
For Frizz, time had significantly slowed. The hulking giant's face still plastered a huge and wide arrogant grin.
The hulking giant's eyes followed his movements, creepily darting to him. There, upon closing the distance, Frizz noticed that the man was steaming despite the cold hard rain.
*Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!* *Thack!*
Temporarily, Frizz stopped holding back on his punches. He then turned away, grabbing the frozen Yani and lifting her petite frame. Flying straight toward the sky. Producing a loud sonic boom.