[EP has suffered more reduction: -60EP]
[EP: 60/230]
[Host must rest to regain EP]
"I know... I'm almost there," Eric said as the dome roof of the hi-tech company came rose slowly into view. Even he could feel the subtle drag in his movements. Not that he felt too weak— even 60 EP was way beyond an average human's EP— but the drastic reduction was enough to make him conscious of the decline.
That and also, Alley Queen, who he strapped on his back, wasn't helping matters.
"Bring up Alley's Status screen, System."
[Call me the Mana Reaver System.]
[But sure, here it is...]
[Mana Slave: Alley Queen]
Mana Gauge: 102/1000
Special Ability: Pyrokinesis
HP: 50/50
EP: 57/57 (completely restored)
Strength: 70
Speed: 59
Stamina: 50
"Goddamn it, Alley!" he yelled, his voice a shadow of his usual one. "You've been conscious all along, yet you let me carry you till we're almost at our final destination?"
Alley gently slid down his back, neatly bowing in what was clearly a mockery of apology.
"I am sorry, Master Abyss. It's just that you give the best back rides. I fell asleep twice while you cruised through the streets."
Eric suddenly forgot how to use his tongue as he looked at Alley with a bit of distaste. The sleeves of the extra-large coat he "borrowed" from the brothel stretched past her hands, while the body part clung to her like overcooked spaghetti. That was all the clothing he could scavenge for her out of the ridiculous ones that crowded the wardrobe, except for a strip of shorts which was also completely covered by the large coat. Her legs were still bare.
She looked good even in those ridiculous clothes.
And I didn't notice she had red hair?
[Bum. It changed after you transferred the Pyrokinesis ability to her.]
Oh.
To Alley, he said, "You have such high life recovery rate for someone who tried to kill herself over an over-burnt boss. I thought you'd not wake for a few months."
Alley tried to say something, deep apologies written all over her face. She clasped her hands together and hung them close to her thighs while she slightly bowed her head meekly.
"Save your guilt. Henceforth, you do not have the permission to act suicidal unless I allow it. Now let's go. I can see the crest of the facility already."
[You have issued your first command to your mana slave.]
[Reward: +5 HP to Alley Queen]
[HP: 50/55]
Why is the reward hers when I'm the one who issued the command?
[I do what I think is best. Don't question your life support.]
Tch. Life support, indeed.
"Oooh, did I just get an increase in HP?"
"Tch."
Why do I feel like the system and Alley are colluding?
It was almost dawn when they finally cleared the footpaths and arrived at the very gates of the dead-silent company. Eric noticed the facility's name, boldly designed and beautiful with neon lights at the top of the round dome building.
"Echevarria Group, huh?"
"Should people know what secret abomination lies in the basements of this company?" Eric said, sounding deep.
"This is the company I heard them hushing about," Alley piped in. "The CEO is the head of the Echevarria family— Vleton Echevarria. So we're really up against such a powerful family?"
"Somehow, I feel determined. Taking down a Tier-5 social-status family has been one of my fantasies, anyway," she concluded.
He moved, humming as he jumped lightly over the low gate. Alley followed, but with a less grace and nimbleness.
"We just gotta get close enough to get noticed by the guards," they both muttered under their breaths, the cold dawn air pricking at their skin.
"Put on your puppy face as I feed them with the best lie you've ever heard."
"Aye, boss Abyss!"
You really are hopeless with your name-title combo selection
They pushed towards the back entrance, only to be immediately apprehended by three heavily armed guards — all dressed in black suits, muscles bulging out of their tight fittings, each men carrying mean, determined looks behind their dark shades.
Why wear shades when it's dark?
"Now, look how fast they work," said Alley, already in her puppy-face mode. "They look hot too."
"Stop right there!" one of the guards raised a baritone voice, guns clicking while they advanced slowly with calculated steps. Their small piercing guns were held high and firmly aimed at the visitors.
"Hey, it's me, Eric. The one from the abandoned airfield. I told you about those spy bastards then, remember?"
"Huh? Eric?" The leader asked, remembering but still unsure about him. "Why are you here? We saw you leaving the facility from our surveillance cameras, and we instantly sent men after you. They've not reported back since then. Why did you leave? And why are you back here... with... another girl?"
Alley gave a quick surprised glance at Eric that screamed, "really? Another girl?"
"I didn't mean to cause such disturbance. And I promise you, I didn't leave to give information about the facility's secret or about how you have stray children in there. I only went to get her so she could come with me and be safe. Since we are all strays with no solid source of living, I figured we'd be taken care of better at the secret facility. She's my sister, Alley... and I'd be grateful if you take her in. Please."
The leader blinked rapidly, left even more unsure of what to do. Since he was the one overseeing the secret facility for his boss, all decisions regarding the kids must come from him, but now, he was in a pickle.
"Sure, I'll let you in, but you must never sneak out again."
"I didn't sneak," Eric said. "I walked out with so much aura to my name."
"I see. But she must be your second sister. The last one too was declared your sister. How many sisters do you have?"
"Oh, a lot," replied Eric with a boyish smile. "And oh, she has the fire ability. Tier 3. Since you said you have your reasons for doing this secretly, you'd rather not tell. But I guess your boss will be fired up if we show up with great enough abilities."
"Uhm..." The man swallowed. "That's right. Now, go right back in."
"Thank you," the worldless gratitude said through his face. "But what about her? Y'know, the first girl, uhm... Erica... my sister. Is being taken care of now?"
"Yes, sure she is. She'll be back on her feet in no time."
Like hell she'll be safe. Your uneasy reaction gives too much away for a guard of a secret facility. I can see through your bullshit.
You'll be the first to be damned if anything ever happens to that girl!
"Let's go, Alley. It's cold out here," he followed the leader while the two other guards trailed behind suspiciously.
"Really?" Alley said, casting a side-eye. "The greatest lie I've ever heard. How did the blockhead even get to believe those weak excuses?"
"Easy. I have a earned his trust right from the airfield where I was sold. Plus, he acknowledges my strength even though I haven't done anything yet. He must have also seen the badass way I escaped earlier, so he respects me. Well, sort of."
"I see. He's handsome, but he's really a blockhead."
And the system says I have total control over my mana slaves? She's questioning the hell out of my ass!
"Hey, Alley," he whispered, still in hushed tones. "Do you think these guard have special abilities? They look quite ordinary to be doing this kind of dangerous work."
"Most must have abilities," replied Alley. "If not active ones, then passive."
The system's interface flickered before his eyes with a single, silent notification, more like a warning:
[3 Special Mana Sources Detected: All Tier 4.]