He shot four of them in quick succession, his sights locked on the location of the others.

[Enemy defeated!]

[Enemy defeated!]

Only two notifications, huh. He supposed that meant the other two had survived.

Sophie grabbed his arm. "We need to run!"

Lance nodded. "Agreed."

They sprinted off, dodging and weaving between the buildings and avoiding the monsters chasing them.

Ahead of them, Lance saw a building, a large brick block, with a sign above the door reading 'police station.'

Lance grabbed Sophie's hand and pulled her toward it. They threw themselves against the glass windows and broke through, finding themselves in a dingy hallway.

"This way!" Lance said, leading her down the hall.

The monsters were closing in from either side of them. Lance turned and fired a bullet into one of them, sending it flying backward.

He heard Sophie scream as she was dragged away from him by a pair of claws.

"Look out!" Lance shouted.

The creature swung its claws at him, but he jumped out of the way, causing the monster to stumble forward.

He ran after Sophie, firing bullets at the creature to try and slow it down.

Lance's shots hit the monster, but they didn't seem to have much effect. It continued to charge toward him, flailing its clawed arms wildly.

Lance fired his last bullet into the creature's leg, which caused it to lose balance.

Sophie took the opportunity to free herself and jumped onto the creature's back, wrapping her legs around its neck. She formed that same blue energy between her hands, and soon enough the creature was roaring with pain.

She rolled off to the side, landing on her feet, and ran over to Lance.

The creature roared once more, its cry painful to listen to, and then it keeled over, its distorted grey head crusted with ice.

[Enemy defeated (cooperative)!]

[Level up!]

─ Name : Lance Samson

─ Race : Human

─ Level : 2

─ Class : None

─ HP: 19; Magic: 21; Strength: 18; Agility: 23; Luck: 20

─ Status Points: 2

─ Skills : Speed (S) +1; Perception (P); Stealth (E)

─ Skill Points: 5

─ Gear: Leather Jacket; Brown Belt; Black Trousers; Blue Shirt; Gun; Knife; Ring.

─ Special Abilities : Lance has the ability to read minds. When he touches someone or if his eyes meet theirs, he will have an idea of their thoughts. He also can sense the presence of any other person within a ten-foot radius. He can use this skill to spy on people without them knowing.

***

Lance fired three shots into the monster's chest. It continued to rage against him, trying to dislodge him from his position.

"Stop moving!" Lance shouted.

The monster stopped, and Lance began to move again. He kicked the creature in the chest, knocking it to the ground.

"Stay still!" He ordered.

The monster glared at him, its red eyes flickering with anger.

Lance stepped back, drawing his knife from his belt. He gripped it tightly, ready to throw it at the creature.

A spear of ice came sailing past his ear, and he barely ducked out of the way before it slammed straight into the creature's neck.

"Hey, you stole my kill!" Lance complained, though his smiling face belied his true emotions. "Thanks, Sophie."

She scowled back at him, though he could tell that was an affectation too. "It was a team effort."

Lance shrugged. "Whatever."

The monster's body shuddered once, twice, and then it was still.

[Enemy defeated (cooperative)!]

Lance sighed. "Okay, let's go."

Sophie gave him a smile and nodded. "Right behind you."