[Your party has entered combat!]

“They’re all level thirteen. Good,” Kitome said. “This is where you’ll haul some experience.”

Clyde’s eye twitched as she donned a twenty-second transformation. For some reason unexplained reason, the enemies politely waited. When she finished, one them clapped.

“Bravo, bravo. Your naked view is appreciated,” a pumko said, causing the magical girl to blush furiously. “Ah, smells so nice. So hungry. Come girl.”

It wiggled a black tongue at her.

[Enemy used taunt!]

[Kitome is enraged.]

Kitome dashed toward the group and unleashed a flurry of punches that did nothing to the creatures.

“Ah shit, she’s going to end up getting raped,” Clyde said as he raced forward, Toru and Harumi following. He took an internal note of the slight combat changes with a party. He’d also have to learn to fight with them properly. He struck at the first pumko with Precise slash then followed up with a roundhouse kick.

With hands outstretched, Harumi unleashed incredible magic. Clyde’s jaw dropped.

[Harumi casted Thunder streaks.]

Streaks of electricity jolted from her fingers and covered the monsters. They screamed.

[All enemies are stunned!]

[Toru used Brawl shout!]

“Kill them!” he yelled.

[Party attack boosted by 15%. Party fighting spirit increased by 20%]

Clyde felt the effect of the skill enter him, intoxicate him. He whooped with the others and soon, they were beating the shit out of the group of monsters.

[Battle completed. Victory! Reward: 400 EXP and $220.]

[Congratulations, you have reached level 7! Stats increased! You have learned Scatter Shot!]

[You have earned 3 free points which could be distributed to any of your stats. Use them wisely.]

Clyde smiled, hyped. His hopes have been confirmed. Distributable stat points are the honey and sex of every gamer. He’d save these up, jam them toward one stat and see what happened.

“We’re not done yet,” Toru said. “If there was a squad of these things moping about here, there’s a chance that the leader’s nearby. He’s most likely a minor official in the demon lord’s army.”

“The demon lord’s army,” Clyde said then sighed. “I seriously hope you guys aren’t talking about going up against an entire freaking army.”

“No, idiot,” Kitome said. “We’re aiming for the demon lord, but in the meantime, picking off his officials will make things easier.”

“Well, it’s not the worse plan I’ve heard,” Clyde said, “but if it levels me up, I’ll take it.”

The party continued throughout the streets, avoided a police patrol that passed by every now and then, and slaughtered another handful of imps and pumkos.

The police especially bugged Clyde. With the increase of monsters, they weren’t accomplishing anything. What if the demon lord had roots in the city government?

Just then, he spotted a petite young woman sitting on the bench, eating a candy bar without a care in the world. The blonde hair with twin tails triggered his anime trope senses.

This scene wouldn’t be disturbing if monsters didn’t roam the city like bottomless gluttons. The news already reported missing people every now and then. Mostly the homeless, but a few late workers vanished too. Clyde put up a hand and then silently pointed at the girl. His party nodded and followed him.

“Excuse me,” Clyde said to the girl. She ignored him, munching heavily at the last of her chocolate bar. “Hey, it’s dangerous out here. You may want to go inside.” The girl continued to ignore him, driving his anger. He shook his head then turned to the others. “Forget it. Hell, watching her tackle that thing makes me want to chomp up the cupcakes you brought over, Harumi.”

Abruptly, the girl stood, starry-eyed. Clyde turned back to her. “What’s gotten into you? Are you back to earth yet?”

“You said cupcakes,” she said then wiped away what Clyde hoped wasn’t drool.

“Yeah,” Clyde said. “And?”

“I want cupcakes.”

“You could just walk to the convenient store—”

“Give me cupcakes,” she said, well into Clyde’s personal bubble. “And I don’t have any money. My boss is lousy at paying us.”

The sweet scent of perfume and…candy, surprised Clyde a little. Still, just because she had a pretty face—Harumi barged in between the two.

“Who are you?” she said. “Anyone with an ounce of wit wouldn’t be out here after dark, unless they had a way to manage.”

“I want cupcakes!” the girl suddenly paused, her eyes gazing at Harumi’s chest. Clyde stepped back, feeling the tension in the air. He also pretended that he didn’t notice the girl’s lack of…Harumi’s secret weapons. The girl glared at him anyway before poking at a boob. “It’s not fair.”

Harumi gave her a confused look, but Clyde figured she knew damn well what the girl implied. She stepped back.

“I am among the eyes of the great demon lord!” she said, pointing at the group. “Remember that! Especially you…you cow.” She ran.

“Shit, catch her,” Clyde said, rushing forward but suddenly, the girl disappeared. “Dammit. I should’ve analyzed her.”

“Great job, Watermelons,” Kitome said sarcastically, clapping her hands. Clyde could feel her envy too—she had nothing on the wonder that was Harumi. For once, he welcomed Toru’s blank stare. The brown-haired, blue-eyed rich boy for once didn’t comment, though he did stare just a little too long at Harumi’s chest.

The group moved on at a faster pace. Clyde picked up a stick, a piece of paper then attempted to utilize his crafting skill. Nothing happened. The interface revealed that nothing was possible, which didn’t surprise the young man. He only wanted an experimental jab at his new ability. He’d shop for a few things the next day to get started. Crafting was probably the most important ability he had—and if he didn’t master it, the Viper would wipe the floor with him.

Just then, Clyde noticed a small group of pumkos trotting around. A little further ahead stood a larger, metallic version of the creature with eyes of red embers. The group quickly dispatched the normal pumkos then started toward the leader.

[Congratulations, you have reached level 8! Stats increased!]

Clyde analyzed the obvious mini-boss.

Meta-Pumko.

Level: 25

Type: monster.

Work under: Your hostile detection isn’t high enough for this nor do you know the information to fill this in. Geeze boy, hit puberty already. Some athlete.

Special: Your hostile detection isn’t high enough for this. Tsk, tsk. You’re a disappointment

Weakness: Your hostile detection isn’t high enough for this. Big surprise.

Resistances: See above.

Secret: Your hostile detection, luck, and will isn’t high enough for this. Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. Noob.

Ignoring the prompt that nearly sent him into a rage, Clyde said, “he’s a strong one.”

“Good,” Toru said. “I’ll have it no other way.”