"Unranked ability user defeated. Reward: 50 EXP. First time defeating an ability user. Reward: instant level up. Player's current level: 4. A new skill has been unlocked: adrenaline rush. This can be used to temporarily boost the player's speed and strength by 50%, while draining the stamina. Once the adrenaline period is over, the player will be significantly weakened, so use sparingly. Increase your stamina to increase the duration of effect. One free stat point is available."
There was a momentary silence as everyone stared at Lenny. Finally, after taking in everything the system had said, he moved, placing the hilt of the blade in his pocket and picking up the strange looking hammer that had broken his arm so severely. It was heavy and cracked.
"Scanning… rock mole hammer detected. Tier: scavenger. Effect: when activated, the hammer will ignore a portion of protection from spirit essence. Durability: 15 of 100. Warning, this weapon will only last one or two more blows. Repair cost: 1 scavenger tier spirit core."
Even if he had had a spare core, he would not have used his ability so freely in front of this many people. Lenny, realising that he had long since become the centre of attention, looked over at the other gang members. They ran away as soon as he looked their way.
Harry sat up. "Thanks," he said, one of his eyes swollen shut.
"I was about to say the same thing." Lenny was under no illusions. He wouldn't have defeated the leader of the youths if it wasn't for his little trick with the earth mound. Harry might not have had much spirit essence, but there was some strength in the application of techniques that the factions possessed and passed down that he would not benefit from.
"Where'd you find the spirit weapon?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I just stumbled it across it." He paused, realising he had not really answered the question. "I actually found it in the trash one day."
That statement was almost true.
"How did you activate the core? I didn't know you had an ability."
"I didn't, it must have just been a residual effect."
Such things existed, but they were usually quite weak. Certainly in a weapon of this calibre anyway. The only ones who could fully activate a spirit weapon were hunters. Not even everyone who had an ability knew how.
Harry gave him a strange look, but didn't say anything. He looked battered but surprisingly calm. "Come, I think the others need our help." His face was turning purple as the bruises came out. Lenny slipped the hammer in the back of his trousers and walked over to the group. He thought Harry might want some help, but he brushed him off when offered a shoulder to lean on.
Michael helped Rose stand up. She would be able to heal the group later, but for now she was drained.
"I think we should get rid of the body," said Harry.
The others looked at him and wondered who their new companion really was.
"You don't understand," he said. "There's two likely scenarios: first, those kids decide to keep their mouths shut, but eventually the body will be found. It appears he was murdered by an ability, whatever, these things happen from time to time, and the government stays out of it, but that doesn't mean no one's keeping score. But this time, no one owns up to it, so tensions rise, next thing you know we've got a local faction war. More than likely, people get caught in the crossfire."
"What's scenario two?" asked Michael.
"Second option, the police find out and we all get brought in for questioning. With no faction to back us, we're indentured."
"So what do you suggest?" said Lenny.
"Is there a river nearby? A lake?"
Everyone looked around at each other.
"There's no rivers around here," said Lenny. "But there's some large drains not too far from here that lead to the old sewerage plant. We could hide the body underneath. I'm not saying it wouldn't be washed out eventually, but it could at least buy us some time."
"What if we just came clean," said Rose, looking a little more with it, sobered by the conversation. "It was self-defence after all. He would've killed you."
"That would be a death sentence for Lenny. Maybe me too."
"Why?" she asked.
"Simple: police talk… it wouldn't be long till whoever this rat belongs to found out and took revenge. An eye for an eye."
"Hey, I wasn't part of this," said Michael. "Why should I get involved?"
"Lenny saved you from being mugged," said Rose. "Probably saved Harry's life, too."
"Sure, and I'm grateful, but not getting murdered grateful. As far as I'm concerned, Lenny was the one who decided to kill the guy."
"The gang might take out anyone who was involved," said Harry, "just to prove a point. I don't know anything about the shadow ability, might be powerful, might not. Could be part of some shitty faction no one cares about. Point is, we can't take the risk. But if the problem disappears, there's no problem."
Harry walked over to the body and grabbed the legs. Everyone looked at him. "You gonna help, or what?" he said.
Michael and Lenny sprang into action, grabbing an arm a piece. Rose went to help, but Harry stopped her. "No, you heal Lenny, then save your strength. You might need to heal us all later if we don't wanna seem suspicious."
She nodded, considering if she would have enough strength to do so, then proceeded to heal Lenny's arm. It significantly boosted the healing process, resetting the arm, but the bone was still fractured. It would take several sessions to fully heal, but he had use of it again, as long as he didn't exert himself too heavily, he could move as normal.
At that moment, footsteps were heard. Everybody froze and they dropped the limbs they were holding. As the footsteps grew closer, they spotted who it was…
"Eva?" said Michael.
"What happened?" she said.
They all looked at one another. Lenny scratched the back of his head.