'Everett' turned away from the desk as soon as the receptionist handed him his keys and made his way toward the elevator. The soft chime of the elevator's arrival echoed in the lobby as he pressed the button and stepped inside. The doors closed behind him with a gentle thud, and the elevator hummed quietly as it ascended.
On the second floor, he found his room easily. The corridor was quiet, the carpet muffling his footsteps as he walked. He paused in front of room 207, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it with a soft click. Pushing the door open, he entered a modestly furnished room. A bed with a neatly made coverlet, a small writing desk, and a wooden wardrobe filled the space. A window overlooked the quiet street below, its curtains partially drawn.
He yawned a bit and tossed his duffel bag onto the bed, the contents inside jingling as it landed. He first glanced at the clock to confirm the time, then walked over to the mirror on the wall, scrutinizing his features.
What stared back at him, in his opinion, was a ruggedly man with a face that can at most be generously described as unremarkable. His high forehead, marked by a widow's peak, was dominated by a pair of weirdly lively, brown eyes. The overall impression was one of ordinariness, a man who blended seamlessly into the background.
Seems there are no issues with the skin mask for now.
The so called 'Everett' was actually Rion in disguise. Two days ago when the Four Horsemen had dropped him off, he had made his way to a secret black market warehouse. This hidden location was one he had strategically chosen to store essential items in case of emergencies.
The warehouse contained money, essential materials, tools and the membership pass to the Mercenary Legion. But most importantly, it housed a skin mask. This was not an ordinary disguise; it were expertly crafted, designed to withstand close scrutiny and last for extended periods. He had prepared it, knowing that one day his true identity might become a liability.
This decision proved wise because, on his way from the Western District to the Northern District, he learned that the beast from earlier had been taken care of. Unfortunately, the local enforcement agencies weren't celebrating; they were busy hunting down the people who had "heroically evacuated" during the chaos—him included.
Apparently, there was even a substantial reward for turning in information about the escapees. For a brief, dangerously stupid moment, he actually considered turning himself in. But then he remembered how bad prison food was and decided against it.
Jokes aside, this face shouldn't have any problems fitting in.
This persona he had crafted for Everett was that of an ex-soldier with an engineering background, a man with a past steeped in conflict and a present marked by a search for purpose and employment. He reasoned that this kind of backstory would be perfect for blending into the Mercenary Legion.
Apart from escaping the heat on him, the main reason he had adopted a new identity and come to Northern district was because the nearest Mercenary Legion division was here.
Since it was less rigid and more chaotic, it offered a unique opportunity for someone like 'Everett', with his fabricated history of military service and recent hard times, to fit right in. Compared to the many factions of the Black Lotus Syndicate, the Legion operated in a gray area, a blend of legitimate contracts and under-the-table deals.
An ex-soldier looking for work wouldn't raise too many questions in a place where strength and skill were valued above all else.
More importantly, it was one of the quickest ways to secure a steady stream of income. Joining the Mercenary Legion would provide access to various contracts, ranging from simple escort missions to high-risk, high-reward operations. With his new identity, he could take on jobs that matched his skill set, gather information, and gradually building up his reputation and resources.
After taking a quick shower to wash off the grime accumulated during the day, he laid on the bed and began mentally mapping his goals moving forward.
The most important thing was still to raise his own combat ability. If anything, the events of the past week had reinforced his belief that everything in this world, or any world for that matter, boiled down to strength. The incident at Cobra's went considerably smoothly because he was arguably the stronger party, whereas he had to flee from the facility because he was the weaker party. It was as simple as that.
And now, he was delving into the mercenary world, where the rule of the strong was highly practiced. A single mistake was all it took for all of it to end so he had to be very careful.
When it came to enhancing his combat abilities, there were several avenues to explore. First and foremost, he believed that bolstering his defensive capabilities was critical. During the battle at Cobra's, he had realized that, no matter how superior his gunfighting skills were, he was still only human—far too slow to outrun a bullet. Now that he was transitioning to solo operations, defense became even more essential for his survival. Shielding himself from danger would be a top priority.
In the same vein, he reasoned that it would be a better option to adopt long range offense as his main mode of combat. He had always excelled in positioning and possessed exceptional mental fortitude. His training and skillset also enhanced his field of view as well as an increase in his effective shooting range.
In all honesty, he considered this approach as a stop gap solution at best. His current mix of technique and knowledge meant he would theoretically be effective at range, but he had neither the talent nor the enthusiasm for the mode of combat.
He more preferred mid-range and close-quarters combat, where his instincts and reflexes could shine. There was something visceral about engaging getting up close and personal and whacking the shit out of a fool.
Still, practicality demanded adaptation. In fact, now that he thought about it, sniping was probably the best method to complement his Resonance for now.
After all, the essence of sniping lay in delivering a single, decisive shot from range. Even though they also had to bear risks upon entering the battlefield, they usually weren't priority targets.
By maintaining a healthy distance from whatever enemy he'd be facing at all times, it would be easier for him to disengage and retreat from a losing battle in good order.
Therefore, all he had to do was create a high-quality magnetic rifle, and enhance it with his ability. As he had verified with the creation of his magnetic handguns, their performance straightforwardly scaled with their material composition.
Magnetic and electromagnetic weapons mainly dealt damage by flinging a solid projectile at a target as fast as possible. The level of damage the weapon inflicted in normal situations was dependent on the mass of the projectile and the energy spent in propelling it forward.
This was why electromagnetic weapons would always be superior to their magnetic counterpart. Classic electromagnetic weapons were geared towards channeling as much energy as they could handle to propel a compact round at great velocities. Such projectiles were easily able to collapse weaker obstructions in a single hit and punch straight through meters of stronger obstacles!
Unfortunately, he still hadn't cracked the code to building stable electromagnetic weapons. He had to settle for building an inferior magnetic rifle for now.
Although he had yet to build one, he could leverage his experience from developing the magnetic handguns to undertake this new project.
However, while sniping would become his primary combat method, it was also crucial to maintain strong close-quarters combat skills. His magnetic handguns and gloves which he planned to fabricate once more at the earliest opportunity were well-suited for this role for now.
Another important criteria to note was mobility. The terrain would not always be conducive for long range attacks so he needed to have a way to move quickly and efficiently. He had thought long and hard about it and decided on boots that integrated magnetic field generators. Upon activation, they would create temporary magnetic fields to propel him over short distances.
This system, in conjuction with mobility enhancing techniques like [Dash], would be especially useful for navigating difficult terrain or making quick escapes. By integrating magnetic propulsion with the magnetic adhesion feature already present in the gloves, he could theoretically achieve vertical movement, enabling him to quickly scale walls or reach higher vantage points for sniping.
If he could get access to the necessary materials, he also planned to incorporate stealth technology into his mobility system. By using sound-dampening materials and adaptive camouflage, he could move silently and remain undetected, even in reasonably close quarters, crucial for both setting up ambushes and avoiding detection.
Coupled with his existing skills in positioning, these enhancements would make him a ghost on the battlefield, striking from the shadows in hostile environments and disappearing before the enemy could react.
To further augment his physical abilities, he envisioned a lightweight, modular exoskeleton, called the Exoframe, a type of combat suit. This Exoframe could provide an extra boost to his movements without sacrificing flexibility or stealth. It would incorporate servomotors at key joints, allowing for rapid acceleration and quick direction changes, essential for evading enemy fire and repositioning swiftly.
And with improvement, it would come to integrate a lot of advanced technology, including that of his magnetic gloves and boots. Unfortunately, the blueprint was still a work in progress, far from completion.
He also had to invest time in rigorous physical training to improve his natural speed, agility, and endurance as this would provide a solid foundation for any technological enhancements he chose to implement. Physical conditioning was not only crucial for immediate combat readiness but also for maximizing the effectiveness of the advanced gear he intended to use.
In addition to physical training, he needed to advance his knowledge on the current technological advancements and dedicate time to his cultivation practice.
Cultivating his origin energy and mastering more advanced origin techniques were essential steps toward achieving higher levels of power and combat proficiency. Each new origin technique learned would have to be meticulously integrated into his fighting style, ensuring he could seamlessly employ these techniques in battle.
This made him anticipate his future breakthrough to the Mid-stage of the 1st-tier. The effectiveness of his [Energy Training Technique III] surpassed the previous technique he used, bringing him closer to the limits of the Early-stage.
An advancement in stage would not only bolster his physical capabilities but also deepen his connection to his Resonance ability, allowing for more sophisticated and potent applications in both offense and defense
By combining rigorous physical training, advanced technological enhancements, and dedicated cultivation practice, he would be building a comprehensive approach that not only improved his immediate combat readiness but also positioned him for continual growth and advancement.
Ah.. So much to do, and so little time.. One at a time I guess...
After finalizing his thoughts, Rion meticulously penned down the list of materials he would need to procure for his ambitious projects. As he tallied up the costs, he couldn't help but wince at the hefty sum staring back at him from the page. The total amount required to acquire all the necessary items hovered around another 400,000 kila, and that didn't even begin to account for potential inflation due to the scarcity of certain components! It was enough to make his wallet whimper in anticipation of the impending hit.
You know you're in deep when even the calculator starts sweating.....
All the money he had left was about 40 thousand kila, which was barely a drop in the ocean compared to what he needed. He sighed, placing the notepad on the desk. Money was always an issue, and he had to prioritize and strategize.
Rion decided to focus on acquiring the most critical items first and leave the rest for later. The money he had left should be more than enough to the handguns, gloves and other essential items. He would have to take on several high-paying contracts to gather the necessary funds.
Alternatively, he could seek out bounties on dangerous individuals, using his combat skills to earn the extra cash he sorely needed.
«Yawn!»
As he lay on the bed, reviewing his plans for the future, exhaustion began to take its toll. He had intended to do a short energy training session tonight, but the stress of the past few days was catching up with him. Ever since that day at Cobra's, he hadn't had a chance to rest properly. The urgency to pack up and flee the Western District had left him running on adrenaline and sheer willpower.
Now, the cumulative fatigue was hitting him all at once. His body felt heavy, his muscles ached, and his mind, despite its whirlwind of thoughts, was clouded with weariness. The room's quiet stillness only amplified his drowsiness.
Despite his determination to push through, his body's demand for rest was insistent. Gradually, the mental resistance weakened, and he found himself drifting into sleep. His breathing slowed, and the lines of tension in his face softened. Since he was in a relatively safe space, he allowed himself to succumb to the deep, restful slumber his body desperately needed for the first time in days.