It was rare for Burnham high street to have commotions during the day. After all, most of the visitors were just there to enjoy some yummy food. A big percentage consisted of families who would visit the place unaware of what it really was… or at least turned a blind eye to the street's alternative business during the night.
However, today was a little different. Outside one of the most popular establishments, the Kraken, a crowd had formed consisting of visitors, curious passers-by, as well as nearby guards. They seemed to be guarding the front entrance, while the customers who had just had their meals interrupted explained the situation inside.
Nini had asked to take a break, and given that there was barely anything happening, even less so with the commotion nearby, the shop allowed it. There was news that was starting to spread through the whole street. Some shops were even closing as the guards continued to flood towards one place. She ran down in her Chinese dress and could see the crowd outside the Kraken.
‘I can’t believe it. They really went into that place? Are they just trying to get themselves killed? They barely made it out yesterday, so I thought that they would have learned their lesson, but they really went in there.’ It wasn’t hard to guess who was inside, especially since she had recognised Austin earlier.
He, as well as Gary, had left quite an impression on her, yet she couldn’t help but feel like it was impossible to do anything with so few people. Even if they had just been the first group, all of them seemed young, giving her the impression that they were all just delinquent teenagers who were playing with fire.
Still, she joined the crowd, who were all waiting for something to happen, curious who would come out… and in what state.
——
In the main office, Gary had just successfully placed a Forced Bond on Olivia, and he had his eyes clearly set on the target. The only problem was she wasn’t on her own. Around her were twenty-two of her goons, all who had knives on them.
“Screw all of you!”
[Skill activated Controlled Transformation]
[Strength 18 (+6)]
Gary's hands started to change in front of their very eyes. He didn't just go halfway with his arms but all the way. His hand changed to claws and visible fur could be seen on the outside of them. Seeing this, some guards were cautious and stepped back a bit.
“He’s an Altered! Be careful!”
“Another gang has an Altered in Slough? When did that happen? Did the Grey Elephants finally manage to gather enough to pay for the operation to have someone against Kirk?”
Seeing this, Olivia smiled.
“Now I see why you’re so confident in yourself, but do you think I would be worried about something like that?” Olivia reached for something underneath her office table, and the next moment, she had some type of whip in her hands.
[New Quest received]
[Into the Pincers’ den]
[You have entered the Pincers den, and you are trapped]
[Survive!]
[Quest reward: ???]
‘Are you joking, system? You should be saying that to her!’
Gary charged forward and swiped towards the man closest to him. He moved back slightly and his nails cut the adult’s chest, causing them to bleed. Still, the Werewolf was quite surprised that the gang member was somewhat able to avoid him.
With another one coming towards him, Gary went to swipe him as well, but before his claws were about to reach the man’s chest, the whip quickly lashed out and wrapped onto his arm. It immediately pulled him down, and the knife went right into his side.
[-8 HP]
[84/100 HP]
Gary tried to move his hand, but the whip stayed firmly on him. He didn’t understand how it hadn't snapped and how a woman like Olivia could have enough strength to contend with him. Since one method didn’t work, he tried to claw the whip with his free hand… to no avail.
‘That's clearly no ordinary whip.’
Using Controlled Transformation on his legs, Gary kicked the next man with a knife away, but the weapon of the first one was still left in his body. With one of his hands occupied, the teenager decided to use his legs instead. As soon as the next goon came within range, he was ready to kick him, but before he could the whip was undone and lashed around his leg, stopping him.
The man with the knife successfully stabbed him right through his calf.
[-7 HP]
[77/100 HP]
‘Damn it, that whip is ruining my fighting flow! I can’t allow them to keep hurting me like this!’
Gary continued, as he tried to ignore the whip, he punched one of the members in the face, and before he could claw at another the whip stopped him again. The men soon came in and managed to stab him in his chest this time.
The pain was immense and blood was dripping from Gary’s body.
[-10 HP]
[67/100 HP]
“Haha, you seem to have only recently become an Altered. I bet you thought that becoming one would make you some ‘King of the world’, but you’re just a frog in a well! You think I wouldn’t have prepared something for the likes of you?
“We might be smaller than the big-time gangs, but we are still one of the wealthiest gangs in Slough. This little whip cost me a small fortune at the auction, but it’s perfect to deal with things like you.” Olivia explained, as she now started to go on a rampage with the whip.
Gary had only knocked out around four of the men and there were still plenty more, but they stood to the side as they let Olivia’s whip do its work. It snapped, each time striking at a fast speed, and ripped across the Werewolf’s chest.
[-4 HP]
The whip was even faster than what he was used to, and he had attempted to grab it but failed as it only cut his hand.
[-3 HP]
Repeated lashes started to come out one after another, and stepping forward, trying to bear through the pain, was all that Gary could do.
[-4 HP]
[-5 HP]
‘Why… why the hell do people like her get away with this crap?! Where the fuck is the police?! Where were they when Stacy died!’ Gary wondered, in the middle of baring through this pain. Why was it up to him to deal with this mess?
A pool of blood was forming underneath the high schooler's feet as his Health dropped lower and lower from the slashes. The lashes soon stopped and the next second, all the men who had been patiently waiting charged forward in all directions with their knives forward and stabbed Gary directly.
[-8 HP]
[-5 HP]
[-10 HP]
[-6 HP]
[-8 HP]
[-4 HP]
…
Gary had been stabbed from multiple directions in multiple areas, and blood was pouring out from each of his wounds. It was hard to imagine how he was still standing as blood filled his mouth.
“Ah, it's such a shame. Here I thought an Altered would have put up more of a fight. You should have waited a couple of years before trying to challenge us. The men in here aren’t like your regular guards that you fought on your way up here. Of course, the most skilled are here to protect me.
“Back in the day they were all the best fighters from their respective schools and now after joining a gang and participating in fight after fight, well you know the rest. Too bad, you never stood a chance.”
Gary thought during the fight that the men seemed more skilled. His speed usually would have been enough, it had certainly been the case for those below. However, at least this meant that he wouldn’t have to worry about Kai and the others.
Olivia smiled in satisfaction, as she walked forward towards the injured ‘Altered’. She looked at the silly mask on his face, and all the other men soon pulled their knives out, leaving Gary standing there.
“Let’s see what's under that mask.” Olivia took it off, revealing Gary's face, his bright green hair, as well as his glowing yellow eyes underneath.
“It's a shame you were born a boy. If you had been a girl, I might have even considered sparing you.” Olivia patted the side of his face.
What she didn’t expect, though, was for Gary to look up and smile. Seeing this, Olivia leapt back, dropping the mask, aware that something was wrong.
[1/100 HP]
[Last Stand is activated (43 seconds remaining)]
Seeing all the knives come towards him, Gary hadn’t hesitated using his newly acquired skill.
[140/300 Energy]
‘I guess they hurt me so fast that my body didn’t even have time to use my energy for Emergency healing, especially with the knives still inside me, but it left me with plenty.’
“Looks like picking it over the other two was the right choice after all.” Gary muttered to himself, his eyes still on the woman, while the smile never left his face.
[Skill activated Full Transformation]
[-20 Energy]
[Transformation has begun]
Gary's body started to change, and within seconds he had assumed his full-fledged Werewolf form. The edges of his clothes still ripped a little as they couldn’t handle the complete change.
“Kill him!” Olivia shouted, as she tried to lash her whip out, and it hit Gary's body, causing him to bleed.
[-5 HP]
[1/100 HP]
[Last stand is still active (39 seconds remaining)]
Alas, it had done nothing.