Accesories and 1st Trial

--- Chapter 4 ---

Yawn~!

I yawned sleepily as my dad took me in his futuristic-looking motorcycle and left some light trail. 

Yup, like the one from Tron. 

Of course, the light trail is harmless. We are just moving too fast. 

He showed me the city and how active it was with cars and pedestrians on the sidewalks. 

I visited Ground Zero City twice before. This place is just too massive and separated into districts. Gates Household is in the 801st Residential District, which means there are 800 more districts in the city. 

Vrooom~!

He droved skillfully and dodged several unknown energy-powered cars, entering an alley near the Shopping District and Hospital District, 

We arrived at the dilapidated-looking store and saw a one-eyed man smoking something. He's big and tall, having a body builder-type physique.

Weirdly, I don't think his movement would be slow.

"Still smoking?" My dad questioned while walking to the one-eyed man. 

"At this point, you won't get past sixty-nine." 

"Bah." The smoking man snorted at my dad.

He glanced at me and asked, "Who is this little shrimp?"

Little shrimp? That's new. 

I stepped forward and confidently said, "Theomars Adam Gates. My dad's only son!"

"Bwahahaha~!" He laughed at my introduction. Well, I definitely made an impression now. 

My dad also chuckled, "You heard him, Bob. He's my son." 

"Also, the one I asked for customization."

Bob grabbed my head and ruffled my hair, "Follow me, little shrimp." 

We entered the dilapidated store, and I sucked a cold breath because there were some of Syluman's body parts lying around there. 

I only saw Sylumans in videos before, but seeing their body parts in real time was very different. I know the Sylumans have this innate aura that can intimidate their enemy, and feeling the residual aura alone made my stomach churn in fear.

I also felt suffocated.

"Breathe." My dad gently rubbed my back.

"Run the Breathing Technique I taught you." 

I followed his words and breathed in a specific sequence, allowing my muscles to become loose. I finally calmed down, but my finger was still trembling slightly. 

"Haha, my bad. I forgot to put these materials away." Bob apologized to me with a small laugh. 

But why do I feel you're testing me? I frowned at him. 

Thankfully, Bob neutralized these body parts, so I didn't get sick from Syluman's residual genetics.

As long as my dad is here, everything will be fine. 

Bob brought us to a cleaner office area and pulled two iron boxes from his drawer. He placed them on his table and said, "Feel free to check on them."

My dad opened the iron boxes and revealed a silver ring and a bracelet made of earthy-yellow beads to my eyes.

He examined the goods with his eyes, probably using his Appraisal.

Aih, I also wanted an Appraisal Skill!

"Breeze Ring, and Bracelets of the Mole. I've customized them to fit your son." Bob said casually. "As for the price..." 

"Check your system's bank." My dad returned.

"..." Bob's mouth widened in disbelief.

Damn, that was cool. 

I couldn't hear a thing because the transaction was between two system users, but I'm sure my dad prepaid everything from Bob's reaction.

After that, my dad and I bid farewell to Bob, leaving him giggling alone in his office.

"Just how much did you play?" I curiously asked.

"Enough to shut his mouth." My dad answered coldly. 

I thought we were a middle-class hunter family.

Where did you get all that money?

I will tell Mom if you don't tell.

My dad noticed my gaze and chuckled, "Basic accessories like these aren't expensive."

"They are the lowest of the lowest and allowed in the Gifted Young Hunter Program. Of course, you can only wear two at a time. The same goes for equipment and weapons." 

"What about the customization he mentioned earlier?" I was confused.

My dad smiled and continued, "Bob's workshop is unique. He likes to intimidate others but is quite a softie..." 

"I could get to know him by chance." 

"As for the customization, do you know the basic stats you could get from an F-grade Accessory?" 

"Uh, like 1-5 basic attributes? That depends on their nature." 

"Good champ, Valerie didn't teach you less than I do." He nodded in satisfaction. "Well, Bob's class is Enhancer." 

"He could enhance items and customize their attributes. Well, rearrange is a better word for it." 

"The ring and bracelets are customized for you."

"I ask Breeze Ring to increase five agility attributes and Bracelets of the Mole to increase five strength attributes." 

"Agility Strength Build," I mumbled in realization. "You trained me to focus on both." 

"Yeah." My dad placed a helmet on my head. 

What I didn't know was that my dad lied to me. Although the Breeze Ring and Bracelet of the Mole are low-graded accessories, they could increase my attributes by seven.

They have exceeded their grades thanks to Bob's Rare Enhancer Class.

"Let's go, I'm starving. Your mother probably has cooked us something delicious." 

I hugged him and joked. "Dad, Let her cook!"

"Pfft, where did you learn such an old joke?" My dad burst out laughing as we drove back to the house.

...

After buying me accessories for the upcoming event, my father warned me about the dark side of the world. Even though humans are united, a small portion is rotten and wants to watch the world burn. 

He explained the traits of such people and instructed me to be careful at all costs. Do not let my guard down, ever!

Even if I met a damsel in distress, he told me to ignore it. That damsel is probably a Syluman or human-skinned psychopath. 

My survival is the most important. 

And then, the eventful day arrived. 

Human Alliance has sent fortified transportation for the young talents and escorted them somewhere. 

"Mom, Dad, Grandma, my ride is coming," Wearing a combat bodysuit, black hoodie, and pants. I lifted a backpack and glanced at my parents and grandmother.

"Be safe." My dad said with a smile.

"Remember, be cautious." My mom added.

"Kick their asses!" My grandma is the most excited. 

Three months ago, you were against this, grandma.

"Watch Gates' name on the sky later." I smiled and walked to the bus before my bus's gate.

As soon as I entered the bus, my younger appearance caught everyone's attention, but I ignored them. These seniors are not important to me.

I grabbed a seat near the robot driver and hugged my backpack.

The bus moved at what I called an uneven pace.

It drove us to an unknown area. 

I don't know if it was inside or outside Ground Zero. 

God forbid if the area for the trials is outside the protection zone, as we couldn't do shit to the Sylumans. 

And the bus stopped. 

My trained sense is tingling. 

I opened my eyes and looked around, finding the surroundings strange and dark. I glanced at the window and breathed in disbelief.

Everyone also noticed these changes and stood up from their seats. 

Then, I heard a howling sound.

"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

I don't want to be a hero.

It was just a pure instinct. 

BAM!

Something heavy hit the bus and scraped the roof, making a dent that could have injured some contestants who stood up earlier. 

Before I could guess, the bus suddenly rolled around. Thankfully, my grips are strong enough to hold on to the iron bar nearby. 

Everyone got flung inside the bus, moving like dirty clothes in the washing machine. They cried out in pain and crashed against each other non-stop.

SWOOSH! BAM!

Our bus fell off and crashed into a body of water. 

I adjusted my breathing and pulled something from my backpack. It was an ice pick. 

Warily looking at the bus's door, I saw water leaking in. 

I tested my grip on the ice pick and stabbed it on the window. 

Tak!

The ice pick bounced off.

'Fuck me! What was that window made of? Who designed this fucking bus, you're making this thing into a dead box!' I thought bitterly. 

Aih, why should I enter the Gifted Young Hunter Program in the first place?

I could have lazed around on my bed right now.

'That's enough.' I shook the negativity off my head and observed the bus more carefully. 

One second.

Crack!

The glass on the bus's door cracked.

Two seconds.

Crack! Crack!

Three seconds.

'What was that?' I looked at the robot driver's head. There is a faint blinking red light. 

"Here it goes." I readied the ice pick again and stabbed at the robot driver's head this time.

CRACK!

I destroyed the robot driver's head and saw a red button inside. 

BAM!

I punched the button, and all the craziness suddenly stopped.

"Congratulations, Candidate No. 6920, you have passed the first trial and are eligible to enter the next round." An unknown woman's voice entered my head.

'Fuckin hell, you almost made me get a heart attack!' I cursed in my heart.

...

The Mother Earth, Raia, observed the trials with great interest. Her mind wandered all over the planet. 

"So far, 435 children have passed the first trials on Ground Zero." 

"And 6,969 children in all Grounds." 

"I hope we can reach the quota...'

'After all, my children... All of you will be the future of humankind.'