Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 6 - 1, H.O.T.D

I was alive.

Lying in the back of the pickup truck the next day around noon, after the first events of the H.O.T.D apocalypse I had awoken. I didn't perish yesterday night and considering I am looking over my body I haven't been revived as one of THEM.

Shin: So... That meant that I'm alive! That I hadn't died, that I survived despite all odds. Does this mean that I have a main characters luck after all!?

Rei: What nonsense are you talking about the first second you wake up?

Shin: ...

Embarrassingly, Rei overheard my brief moment of eighth graders syndrome. Takashi and Rei were in the front seat of the pickup truck and after getting up to take a look around we were parked in a lot somewhere. Looking around, we were in the city and have escaped the residential area. I sat up I found that my left shoulder hurt like hell, confirming the fact that I had been shot last night. It looked like whatever adrenaline effect that I was on during that fight had long since past, leaving me a parting gift of intense pain.

From the two of them, I learned that they were worried since I hadn't woken up once since the events of last night at the gas station. We were ambushed by two rioters who had lost their minds in the tragedy, and after disposing of the two we left the station in a hurry to avoid the incoming undead drawn in by the conflict. I passed out right after the fighting was over, so Takashi and Rei filled me in on the rest. The two dragged my unconscious body into the pickup truck (I have to thank them later) and escaped THEM who had come over after all the sounds we made during the confrontation with the rioters.

From there, Takashi and Rei kept driving and only stopped to rest a little and to apply bandages to my gunshot wound (I have to thank them again later). We had just now enter the city in the afternoon and had come to a stop once they heard the sounds of me waking up. It was great to know that I was in the company of such great companions, but it was getting bad that I was constantly owing them favors. Especially now since Rei was helping me change the bandage on my shoulder, but she then all of a sudden she gasped in surprise.

Takashi who was off to the side guarding us came over and saw what had surprised Rei, and then I finally noticed as well. My gunshot wound that I sustained last night was no longer there. The area still looked a bit red and hurt like hell, yet the wound had closed completely. Rei herself said that there was definitely a hole in my shoulder when she bandaged me up late last night, and now it was gone. Takashi and Rei thought it was a miracle, a small one in this apocalyptic world where nothing good happens, but a miracle nonetheless, yet I felt otherwise.

It had to be because of my enhanced stats, right? Of the two special limits that I had some how accidentally broken last night, the first of which was the Physical Realm. Muscle Density, Cell Vitality and Immunization Strength stats (Yeah, I have stats!) were increased. If stats are real and they can increase (Just look at Aqua to know that it is real) then the reason for my wound being healed would have to be because of Cell Vitality. Cell Vitality would have increased my healing ability and if Immunization Strength played a part in it then it kept the wound from getting infected, so the healing process went much smoother. It was half-assed logic, but I had nothing else to go on, so I went with it.

Shin: (Is this a sign that I'm meant to go down the path of immortality and rule forever as a lone king... Well, it's not the worse, yet not OP enough for me! Hahaha!

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After seeing that I was recovering well (Shoulder is killing me), we went back on our way to meet up with our comrades. We had high expectations, but what we saw left just reminded us of the horrors of this world will only continue to get worse. The land before us had become a battle field. Just like a real war zone there was confusing and violence in every direction.

The rioters had fully taken over and were beating up any and everything that they saw moving, both THEM and their fellow human beings. These people had gone mad in the truest sense of the word and to get where we need to go next, we had to somehow get by all of this. I knew that this scene was coming up, but it was worse then I could have ever expected. There were rioters for sure, but it was much more spread out then what I remembered from the manga or anime. The increased difficulty of this scene had to have been a result of changing the plot, but I doubt that I was the cause of all of this.

It had to be the others, and the only one I can imagine purposely changing the plot was Aqua who is confident in her ability to survive. My only concern is that if the others are alright. I don't care much for Misaki, but he is a comrade in this world and is strong (Blowing away zombies with his fist alone). Hikari on the other hand is a weak girl. Not to look down on her, but I can't imagine her surviving through chaos like this without anyone to look out for her. She is not at all as capable of a woman like Aqua who can take a stroll through this kind of world with a smile on her face.

Takashi: Do you think we should ditch the pickup truck and find bikes to get through this mess. The pickup truck would be too big of a target for those rioters to spot.

Rei: If we had two or three bikes then sure, maybe we could get through all of this, but... I still think it is too dangerous to go through here. Lets find another path.

Shin: ...No. We'll cut straight ahead in the pickup truck.

Rwi: Why? It's too dangerous.

Well, I can't say that I am too afraid to change the plot any more then we already have, since I don't want to lose points for every sentence for spoilers.

Shin: Do you see that. I highly doubt that there is going to be any safe passage for us to get to the bridge on the other side (Not like we can pass through it with all the traffic). Beside, we don't have to be afraid of them.

Takashi: Why not?

Shin: This is why.

I took out one of the three guns we had to remind them both that we weren't powerless. I explain to the two that as far as we knew, there are very few rioters armed with guns, so if we drive the pickup truck through the war zone and focus on picking off those who have guns and those trying to stop us, we can make it safely to the other side in one peace.

Takashi and Rei were both reluctant to kill another human being with intent, but reminding them that we were no longer the same people as yesterday before the apocalypse had an effect on them. Last night Takashi shot a man who for no better word for it wanted to gang xxxx Rei with his friend, and both he and Rei were more then willing to leave said man to be eaten by THEM... They came around to my way of thinking which wasn't too hard. With that decided, we begin formulating our plan.

Rei would drive the car through the crowd, while Takashi and I shot the rioters who attempt to stop us. I will position myself above the hood of the car and shoot the rioters ahead of us, while Takashi takes the rear and shots those behind us and the one who pose a threat that I miss (Sure as hell don't plan to). Takashi asked if I was capable of shooting in my condition by bringing up that I was shot not even twenty-four hours ago, but I assured him that I am fine and won't hold any of them back. I wasn't acting tough either. My shoulder hurt like hell, but I could move my body just fine. I guess these the benefits of increased stats.

With all of our roles decided upon we began to move out!

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Rei drives through the chaos of the street filled with undead and mad rioters and we are quickly spotted... Unfortunately for them.

Rioter: Hey, stop that pickup truck!

Rioter: Everyone don't let them get through, ghaaaa!!!

The first few rioter that stood in our path were run over and blown away. I was jealous towards the driver Rei since I don't get points for the rioters she killed, yet I bet she wouldn't agree. I couldn't see her face right now, but I heard her scream a little just now and may have even leaked a little. I wouldn't condemn her for that. Takashi was also worried for her, but we had our own problems to deal with.

Rioter: Shoot! Shoot them. They are trying to run us over!

Now it was our time to act. The rioters with guns began shooting at us and we had the job to stop them. It would be the end if Rei or a tire were to be shot. If we were to stop here then we would be all to quickly surrounded and killed by either the rioters or THEM.

Shin: You ready!?

Takashi: Yeah!

Then the two of us began to shoot into the crowd of enemies. While Takashi shot the rioters behind us, I shoot the one in front of us. In front of the pickup truck were to rioters, one with a gun and another a shotgun, and I quickly took them out. One bullet towards the handgun rioter and two towards the shotgun rioter just to be extra safe. That thing could cause a lot of damage even if not accurately shot at us.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

My shots quickly took them down and Rei drove right over their corpses. It was a nasty sight when one of the heads were crushed by a high speed revolving tire, but I didn't have the time to throw up. More and more of the enemy were coming our way. Rioters with more guns and those who were trying to jump onto the moving pickup truck were all dealt with as soon as they reared their ugly heads. If they weren't carrying a dangerous weapon like a shotgun, I would let them get as close as possible before I shot them. The reason was because that I was no expert shooter, so I needed them all to get as close as possible for me to shoot them dead, and once they did I could easily get head shots on all of them.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

Takashi turned around and saw the bloody work I was making out rioters and complimented my shooting and asked if I was a legendary gunman in my past life, but I didn't have an answer for him other then maybe. Both of us were surprised by the high accuracy of my shots. I can hit the head or chest with a 8/10 accuracy rate, and we were on a speeding vehicle. If we were still I wouldn't be surprised if my shots were 100% accurate long as they were close enough.

Is it because of my enhancements that I had become a better shot? Does Intelligence, Reaction Speed or Mental Capacity have anything to do with shooting? Whatever the case, I didn't have much time to think it through. As we were almost out of all the chaos on the streets, the worse and most expected enemy you would meet in an apocalyptic world, a mad man equipped with a blazing flamethrower (God, where did he find that kind of thing!? Did he make it? You have to much time on your hands during the apocalypse, Die!!!). We only had 5-10 seconds before the flames of his flamethrower would devour us whole.

Rei: You guys, do something!!

Takashi: Shin, your the better shot! You do it!

Shin: I"m not the the MC here! Fine, I'll do it!!

I couldn't help but complain that the true main character here gave me the hardest job. I am not Kouta, so if I am not going to get the girl(s) here then don't give me the toughest scene. If not Rei, then Saeko, or Alice in plus 10 years. Anyways, I steady took aim with both hands (I had been shooting with the right arm to avoid the recoil reopening the shoulder wound). I was no expert marksmen, but what I had was increased mental abilities thanks to breaking the Mental Realm, or whatever it was. I already had enhanced vision and reaction time, so my shooting naturally improved, but when I focused my mind, I could get back that sensation from last night when I was fighting the rioter with the gun.

If only a little, time slowed down and the scope of my vision increased to their limits. I saw the man and his flamethrower amidst the bright flames he was summoning and took aim. Then at the very last second before the flames devoured us, I pulled the trigger of my gun. The bullet flew from the muzzle of the gun straight and true, and hit the tank of the flamethrower, causing a large explosion in front of us.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, KILL THE RIOTERS - 5 POINTS ACQUIRED.

Rei drove through the flames and through some miracle we came out the other side all right. On the other side of the flames we had fully escaped the chaotic battle field and put it well behind us. Rei was fine and I pushed Takashi down at the last moment (Whose existence was worth negative 1000 points, the equivalent of negative 200 lowly rioter ), so we all came out unharmed, yet my back felt like something was burning, probably from the flames, but thankfully it didn't hurt much.

Both Takashi and Rei complained about the explosion, half sure I did it on purpose (Guilty), yet I feigned innocence and they dropped the matter. Once the three of us confirmed that we were in the clear, I checked how many points I had acquired after going through that madness and found 75 additional points after killing fifteen rioters.

Shin: ...So unbalanced.

I thought as much when I went over my total points. Killing over forty of THEM gave me 2 points, yet fifteenth rioter gave me 75 points. There were the 10 points for last nights incident, 1000 points for the breakthroughs and 2500 points for saving Hisashi. Altogether, I now had 3587 points. It was a lot of points, especially considering that this was my first mission, yet I still felt cheated. For seventeen rioters I got 85 points, but for forty plus undead I only received 2 points.

I didn't notice as much when I first saw the side quest rewards, but the effort to kill an undead was much higher then a human being in my opinion. Sure, humans can have guns, but I am still more terrified of a group of THEM, then I am of rioters so long as I have a gun as well (Half the time it could make the situation worse when fighting Them, since they are attracted by sound). Unless you have an infinite ammo gun like Aqua who has no shortage of bullets, it isn't even worth the time or bullets to spare to get points from them. I would rather go hunt rioters. I just heard myself just now and I noticed that my moral view point have shifted since yesterday, but I was in no mood to care.

Should I? Yes.

Will I? Not anytime soon at the very least.

If someone one wanted me to be an upright citizen even in a different world then don't send me into an honest to goodness zombie apocalypse. The Hero of the Shield was right, don't outsource heros (Not like I am one yet)!

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After crossing that hellish battle ground, we found that we couldn't cross the bridge due to new regulations placed by the police to stop THEM and those possibly infected from crossing. It was when were were loss as what we were to do now that we saw something that brightened our mood. It was the minibus.

None of us expected to see it here, including me since I knew the original plot, but there it was. Out side it on the streets, taking a guarding position were my comrades and the main characters from H.O.T.D. The first to spot us was Hikari who was right next to Misaki (At least he is doing his job), and on the roof of the minibus I even saw Aqua wave us over. I was honestly glad to see them again, I was, but I just had one thought as I looked at the bus, the great damage to it and the lack of a certain group's presence.

Shin: ...What did they do?

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Proofread by Deltoren.