Chapter 78: One Condition

“What about Lady Sunfire? Can’t she help instead?” Roy asked. Because obviously, with her included, the entire mission would be an easy fix.

“Unfortunately, no. Sunfire’s too important and busy. She will only arrive to escort us back to the City Gate,” Master Abraham answered.

’Nothing can ruin my day,’ Roy repeated inwardly.

He folded his arms and raised a finger.

“We’ll help on one condition.”

And then he smiled.

“What is it?” Dr. Gretsch asked with a sigh.

“You must have already guessed it. But if I have to spell it out, no problem. Tell us about your system.” Roy held a smug grin.

Dr. Gretsch looked at Master Abraham, a bit offended at Roy’s request, but Master Abraham just glanced at him and seemed indifferent to the request.

Roy liked his reaction. “Master Abe, looks like—”

“Fine,” Dr. Gretsch interjected. “My system’s name is…”

“And you better not lie. Master Abraham can tell,” Roy quickly added.

Dr. Gretsch just sighed.

“FARM.exe…”

The corner of Roy’s lips stretched, and he gestured as if saying, “Go on.”

“And the title is: Feeding the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland with my FARM.exe.”

Roy raised an eyebrow, and he sat down on the right hind chair and muttered, “Not bad. But that’s not all. Kindly share your starting skills, please.”

Dr. Gretsch frowned this time and looked at Black Zero. This was seemingly becoming too much.

However, Master Abraham, who knew Roy’s system could link to others, could understand why the boy was so curious about Dr. Gretsch’s. Hence, he didn’t stop it.

Dr. Gretsch quickly understood that an executioner such as Black Zero wasn’t going to support him over his initiate, so he could only weigh his options. Was keeping his system information confidential worth more than retrieving that top-secret sample? Of course not. However, being bullied in such a manner by a sixteen-year-old was quite annoying.

“My active skill is [Seed Duplication], and my passive skill is [Enriching]. The first is self-explanatory, and for the second, well, I can enrich soil quality, improve plant health, and hasten their growth just by being around them. Are you satisfied?”

’I should ask for his system world’s name, but it’s probably “Wasteland”. Hmm. It’s a mid system. No, wait. That’s dumb me speaking. His system is priceless in a situation where plant-grown food is scarce. I wonder if he would be able to control vines at some point, or instantly grow poisonous plants,’ Roy analyzed in his mind and picked his nose with a finger absentmindedly.

“Yeah, yeah. I didn’t think you’d tell us. I really didn’t want to have to go on some dangerous mission,” mouthed Roy.

“So it’s settled then.” Dr. Gretsch faced ahead with a light smile.

Roy thought of just how the System Creation Engine granted the systems. From what he already knew about Dr. Gretsch, the man had studied life sciences, which included botany. So what were the odds that he got such a system?

’He’s going to be good at clearing his levels,’ Roy predicted.

“We will set out in two hours,” Master Abraham coldly said. At the moment, it was still the early hours of the morning, just an hour since the sun rose.

Roy wondered if the man even got any sleep last night. Master Abe was reviewing the map of the fallen city, creating a route for their new task and taking note of dangerous areas.

’Does he never get tired?’ Roy wondered when he heard a loud voice.

“WOLFMAN IS AWAKE! AHAHAHAHA!”

The wide-eyed, brutish, and overly muscled D-Class Executioner stood at least six and a half feet with his arms folded. His revealed sunburnt arms had so much hair, and so did his face and head, like a mane. His dark brown hair had an almost auburn hue, but it wasn’t too noticeable.

“YOU!” He pointed at Master Abraham. “I WANT TO HAVE A DUEL!”

“…I don’t bully those weaker than me,” Black Zero said, focusing on the console’s images and not even bothering to turn around or glance at who he was speaking to. He was aloof and calculated as always.

Roy coughed out loud at that comment. He didn’t bully those weaker? What a bold lie.

“AHAHAHA!” Wolfman just let out a thunderous laugh and palmed his chest. “FIGHT ME!”

Dr. Gretsch spoke up, “Executioner Wolfman, I am certain there will be unlimited chances for you to request a bout with Black Zero back at the City Gate. Right now, we have to conserve our energy and focus… on… the mission.”

The volume of his voice reduced when Wolfman shot him an unfriendly glare.

Black Zero suddenly stood up.

“7 AM. Roy, let’s go.”

“Oh…” Roy just remembered. They had their morning fight and workout sessions by this time. Yet, he had totally forgotten. He sprang up from his seat, had Wolfman excuse him, and went to put on a better training outfit.

“DO NOT IGNORE WOLFMAN!” Wolfman screamed, his smile still as wide.

Dr. Sally raised her head and voiced scoldingly, “Don’t be selfish, Wolfman. They’ve had their routines before we arrived. You can’t expect them to break it up just for him to fight you.”

Wolfman nodded, his smile unwavering. “SORRY!”

Master Abraham and Roy went outside. The military vehicle was parked in what was the parlour area of some high-end bungalow house that had a swimming pool at the back. Although what was left of the area was overgrowth and debris. Roy spotted broken older technology like the hunched back television that was in trend by the time God’s Abyss arrived.

It was like viewing a forgotten time encapsulated in this place.

Roy and Master Abraham didn’t stray far and just stayed outside the APC.

Standing at a distance away from each other, Roy held his netherstone dagger with a lot more confidence, grip, and control.

Master Abraham was with his trusty baton stick, the true source of agony for Roy.

“You’ve grown… taller.”

Roy grinned. His mentor was acknowledging his Physical stat increase.

“I know. Things are going to be different this time,” Roy said.

With a light step, he charged forward at Master Abraham.

Clang! Clang!

Roy struck at Black Zero straightforwardly, but was blocked repeatedly by the baton.

Since Master Abraham’s body stat was Quickness, Roy believed that in terms of raw strength, he was higher than his master.

Roy followed up his strikes with turning kicks and punches, but Black Zero dodged and blocked with little movement.

Roy mainly aimed at the vitals, like the eyes, side abdomen, neck, and groin. After all, he was to try his best to kill Master Abe.

“You’re more agile. And stronger,” Black Zero assessed, and Roy stared fiercely, having stepped back to catch his breath.

He blinked, but Black Zero was no longer at a small distance away. No. He was at Roy’s left with a left hook coming at his lower rib cage.

Roy had no time to evade or block, so once it impacted, he felt the pain of his ribs cracking, and he was sent flying.

His back hit the APC, and he let out a painful scream.

“…However,” Master Abraham continued from his statement before, “not stronger than me.”

Roy’s face was contorted in agony. The pain that radiated from his abdomen and back was immense. His will had been broken, and now he just wanted to go back inside and lie down.

“Argh…” he mouthed, curling on the debris-covered ground. It had become his new home.

’You don’t bully those weaker than you, my ass!’ Roy lampooned inwardly.

Black Zero stepped before Roy and monologued, “You must be thinking something foul. But you forget that the rule for our duels is: you try to kill me, and I try to do the same to you. Previously, you were just too weak for me to actually try, and I didn’t want to break your morale.”

“I’m done, please. I’m done,” Roy simply begged and tried to stand up.

Master Abraham’s health box materialized in his hand and bent down to Roy, who sat upright with his back against the lower part of the APC.

Simultaneously, a black halo spread out from Master Abraham. He placed a hand on Roy’s shoulder, healing him while he spoke, “You were rewarded stat points from your sign-in last night, weren’t you?”

Roy felt the pain subside and let out a sigh of rejuvenation. He nodded. “Yeah. I put everything in my Physical stat. Is that shadow still here?”

Master Abraham solemnly nodded.

Roy smiled bitterly.

’N-Nothing can ruin my day.’

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