"Wait. Before you start, do you feel we're being watched? From the end of the alley, I mean," said Eric after which he stilled his breath and tried to pick those faint sounds and swift movements.
"I can feel it too," replied Alley, "but for some reason, I'm waiting for you to make a move."
'That's right. You've become my slave after all. It's only fair for you to wait for my commands.'
'I'm however not bothered by some weak bunch. I might as well just finish listening to Alley and get on my way back to the facility.'
"Get up, Alley. I should be on my way. Tell me about Aerokinesis on the way," the slave master commanded.
"Aye, master."
To the system, while he was getting up, Eric asked:
'Can you just brief me about this ability transfer process? Is it instantaneous or it's another long boring process like the initiation?'
[Whenever you are ready, prompt the system. Ability transfer is instant]
'Good. Guess we have some bummers we gotta deal with tonight. I'll leave it all for Alley to clear after I've transferred the ability.'
'I just wish she doesn't freak out again.'
"Let's go."
Alley shook water from her hair and scrambled up after the command. Still butt naked, she trotted after her master with no care whatsoever.
'What a spectacle. An alien boy and a butt naked slave trying to find their way in the middle of a cold night.'
"Hey, you better find something to cover yourself. I'm not gentlemanly enough to pull out my jacket for you. It won't fit anyway."
Alley mumbled something that escaped Eric's understanding. He didn't press to find out though.
By the time they got to the end of the tiny way, whatever was lurking there earlier had moved away and hid. Eric stopped and turned to Alley. "I'm about to start the ability transfer process, and I'll really appreciate it if you don't freak out. Let's make it easier for both of us."
"Okay."
"Remember that screen on your face earlier? I'd like for you to bring it out again... Now, don't go panicking. It's nothing, really. I have the screen too, and we're together in this. Just think of the screen and it'll pop up. Then calmly read what's on it."
They walked slowly down a lonely street, and while Eric was prompting the system to start the ability transfer, Alley was battling with trying not to yell in fright at the screen again. She succeeded in keeping mute but was breathing heavily as she focused on the content of the screen.
"Stats? I can see my name... Alley Queen... And what are these stats? Am I a character in a game now? I have 50 Health Point... Blah blah blah...
"...and duh, no special ability. Why's the tab there when the screen knows I have no special ability in the first place. Rubbing it in my face, is it?"
She continued mumbling, already getting over her initial shock.
Eric reached to his own system...
'You can begin now. I can feel some scumbags following us in the shadows. They are probably the same people that tried to kill Alley Queen.'
'She must do this herself.'
[Ability Transfer processing]
[Target slave: Alley Queen]
[Host must select an ability to be adopted by the slave]
'The night is too dark. I need to brighten things up, so... Give her the extra Pyrokinesis.'
[Transferring Pyrokinesis from Host to slave...]
[Loading: 30%]
[Ability transfer completed]
[You have achieved the title: The Giver (I)]
[Reward: +5 random stat point]
[Reward is out of bounds to host. It is only applicable to any selected mana slave]
'Selected mana slave, Alley Queen.'
[+5 stat points added to Stamina for mana slave, Alley Queen]
[Stamina: 50 => 55]
Alley Queen saw how her status changed, right from the sudden appearance of a special ability in her tab, to the slight upgrade in her stamina... And this time, she forgot she's been commanded not to freak out.
"C'mon, stop. You'll wake the street. Remember you're still naked," said Eric glumly. He was keeping his ears peeled, still taking note of the silent movements in the shadows.
"Uhm...sorry, master Eric. But am I seeing correctly? Did I just get a special ability called...'Pairokhainesix'?" Alley asked, somewhat meekly but just enough to hide her excitement.
"It's Pyrokinesis," Eric corrected.
"And what does the ability do? I know you told me, but I've forgotten. You know, the word...is kinda strange."
"What? You know what a Pyro-man is. You talked about them earlier with dreamy eyes, yet you can't link it to Pyrokinesis?"
'What a strange being. Both intelligent and dumb when you least expected.'
"Whoa, master Abyss. You mean I am a Pyro-man now? Is this even real?"
"No, you're a Pyro-woman, and a naked one at that," Eric replied with a nasty grin. "And yes it is real. You have now become a special being with a very special ability. I don't know how powerful you are when compared to your world's tier system— because this system does not go by the rules— but I know for certain you'll be helping my selfish interest... And that's all that matters to me."
However, all that mattered to Alley was conjuring and throwing out her first fireball. She didn't even notice the rapid changes that was going through her body, like the sudden warmth she was radiating, and how less the cold air affects her now. She couldn't take notice of how her cascading jet black hair had increased in temperature, and how the black was slowly changing to crimson.
"How do I use this? How do I use this?" she repeated.
"I don't know," replied Eric, still keeping his nasty grin. "Maybe you should think of it as if you're trying to bring back up from your belly, the last food you ate. That was exactly how the system taught me. Yeah, it's all about the core of your belly."
'Right, system?'
[I'd rather you call me The Mana Reaver System henceforth, and no, that's not how I taught you Pyrokinesis]
'Okay then.'
'Time to force some real action out here. I wish nobody else is watching from their upstair rooms... 'cause I'm about to blow their minds, and nobody will believe them.'
"Use Killer Dash," he whispered as he turned to face the dark corner where he sensed their stalkers were hiding.