Chapter 102:A place he doesn’t want to go.
Chapter 102: 102:A place he doesn’t want to go.
The queue at the checkpoint exit moved slowly. That was to be expected. Every vehicle leaving the Checkpoint had to undergo a structural inspection before being allowed back into the outer zones.
Mechanics moved from one vehicle to another, checking suspension, tires, steering assemblies, and fuel lines. Contractors waited patiently, some chatting through open windows while others simply watched the reconstruction crews continue repairing the checkpoint behind them.
Silver rested one arm on the steering wheel as the engine idled quietly. Ahead of them, only four vehicles remained before the inspection gate.
Beside him, Ravenna leaned against the passenger-side door, absentmindedly watching workers replace sections of the shattered eastern wall.
"They’re fast."
Silver nodded.
"They probably rebuild checkpoints all the time."
"I wish that weren’t normal."
"So do I."
For several moments, they simply watched the organized chaos outside. Engineers directed cranes, supply trucks unloaded prefabricated wall sections and medical vehicles departed toward neighboring checkpoints.
Despite the destruction, nobody looked defeated, everyone simply worked. Silver found something reassuring about that.
A comfortable silence settled between them. Without thinking, Silver reached into the small storage compartment beside his seat.
[POLLER TRICK ACTIVATED]
A single rose appeared in his hand, perfectly fresh and deep red. Its petals still carried tiny droplets of morning dew.
Ravenna looked over.
"...Again?"
Silver smiled awkwardly.
"I had one left."
"You make it sound like you’re handing me spare ammunition."
"It technically came out of storage."
She laughed.
"I know."
He held the flower out toward her.
"For the road."
Ravenna accepted it carefully, almost as though it were fragile crystal. She turned it slowly between her fingers.
"...I still don’t understand how you do this."
"It’s a secret I’ll take to the grave. A chef never reveals his secrets."
She smiled.
"Fair enough."
Instead of placing it in her bag, she tucked it gently behind her ear.
"...How does it look?"
Silver looked for perhaps a second longer than necessary.
"Like the most beautiful woman in the world... It suits you."
Her cheeks colored faintly.
"Thank you."
She turned back toward the windshield before he could notice. Unfortunately for her, he already had.
[Affection Target Detected.]
{Target: Ravenna
Affection Value: 31 → 34
Reason: Positive emotional reinforcement.
Reward Distribution Pending}
Silver blinked once. Right on cue, it came again.
[Combat Evaluation Complete.]
{Analyzing previous engagement...
Evaluation Complete.}
A familiar translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
[Reward Condition Fulfilled.]
{Condition: Effective battlefield communication under life-threatening circumstances.
Participants maintained verbal coordination while under pressure.
Result: Increased survival probability by 37.6%.
Reward Granted.
[Shared Skill Acquired]
Linked Awareness Lv1
Classification: Synchronization Skill
Description:
Two registered allies gradually develop instinctive awareness of each other’s movements during combat.
Effects:
• Slightly improves reaction timing when fighting together.
• Reduces accidental interference.
• Increases elemental synchronization efficiency.
• Growth dependent on joint combat experience.}
Silver’s eyes widened slightly.
’A shared skill...’
That, was genuinely useful. It solved exactly the weakness they had identified over breakfast.
The notifications continued.
[Reward Condition Fulfilled.]
Condition: Civilian rescue during an emergency event.
Evaluation: Successful.
Reward Granted:
Mental Resistance: +2
Current Value: 6
Silver silently nodded, that makes sense. His mental resistance had been painfully low, considering how often Space abilities exhausted his mind, every point mattered.
Another notification appeared.
[Skill Usage Threshold Reached.]
{Skill: Spatial Sense Lv1
Usage Frequency: Sufficient.
Battlefield Adaptation: Confirmed.
Comprehension: Increased.
[Spatial Sense]
Level Up
Lv1 → Lv2
New Effects:
• Detection radius increased.
• Improved spatial distortion recognition.
• Enhanced tracking of concealed movement.
• Reduced Soul Energy consumption by 8%.)
Silver couldn’t hide the small smile that appeared, which alone would make future hunts much safer.
The system continued without pause.
[Utility Skill Reward Granted.]
{Skill Acquired:
Field Maintenance Lv1
Classification: Utility
Description: Basic maintenance of contractor equipment.
Allows efficient repair of:
• Vehicles
• Firearms
• Camping equipment
• Survival tools
Efficiency increases with proficiency.}
Silver immediately approved. It was very practical, exactly the sort of skill he would have purchased himself.
The final reward appeared.
[Emotion-Based Evaluation Complete.]
Condition Detected: Mutual Trust Development.
Evaluation: Rare.
Reward Granted.
Item: Soul Harmonization Crystal
Grade: Rare
Description:
May be used by two willing contractors.
Temporarily increases synchronization during joint beast core absorption or Beast integration. Compatible with Shared Skills.
[Item Stored.]
Silver’s expression became thoughtful.
’That... We’ll definitely use it later’
The screens disappeared and only one remained.
[Quest Generated.]
{Story Progression Detected.
Known Future Event Identified.
Probability Analysis Complete.
Quest: Gamble Against Fate
Description:
Memory indicates that an opportunity exists along the route toward Delta Sanctuary Four.
Timeline discrepancy:
Current arrival estimated earlier than original event.
Outcome cannot be predicted.
Objective: Locate the abandoned Transit Research Station before other contractors.
Failure Condition: Opportunity permanently lost.
Reward: ???
Penalty: None.
Quest Accepted Automatically.}
Silver leaned back slowly. The research station... he remembered it now. His mind had been trying to bury it but the system decided to dig it up.
In the novel, Dillain had found something valuable there during his journey, simply because he’d arrived first. But that wasn’t what made him hesitate.
That was also the place where Ravenna had ultimately lost her life. Silver knew this was the real world but hearing the name still scared him more than he wanted to admit.
The uncertainty of the reason for her death may as well lie in that place, or he might just be completely out of his element and freaking out for nothing.
Silver frowned slightly his hand tightening around the steering wheel.
’If we’re ahead of schedule, there’s no guarantee it’ll still be there’
This was a gamble he was willing to take even without the quest getting involved.
"Silver?"
Ravenna’s voice pulled him back.
"Hm?"
"You’ve been staring into space, are you okay?"
He smiled inwardly at the irony.
"I’m just thinking."
"About?"
"Our route."
She nodded.
"Me too."
"I think we should explore a little whenever we pass abandoned facilities or just anything. We might be able to stumble upon something, just like the fire wolf."
She tilted her head.
"Any particular reason?"
"I’ve got a feeling."
She looked at him for several seconds then simply nodded.
"...You’ve had good feelings so far, I’ll trust this one too."
Silver glanced toward her. Since they had a few more minutes before inspection, he quietly opened her status.
[TARGET STATUS]
Name: Ravenna Arkland.
Affection: 34
Current Rank: Rank 1
Title: None
Soul Capacity: 19
Soul Stability: Excellent
Integrated Beast:
Fire Wolf
Element: Fire
Synchronization: 41%
[Attributes]
Strength: 18
Agility: 21
Endurance: 17
Soul Synchronization: 32
Perception: 18
Mental Resistance: 7
Silver smiled faintly, she was growing quickly as well. Her synchronization had already improved considerably since integrating the Fire Wolf. She would only become stronger as time went by.
Finally, Silver opened his own status.
[HOST STATUS]
Name: Silver Ruddington
Current Rank: Rank 1
Title: Reliable Companion
[Soul]
Soul Capacity: Limit Removed
Soul Stability: Stable
[Beast Tattoos]
Current Tattoos: 2
Maximum Capacity: Unlimited
Potential Growth: Unrestricted
[Attributes]
Strength: 25
Agility: 19
Endurance: 15
Soul Synchronization: 30
Perception: 27
Mental Resistance: 6
[Skills]
• Phantom Draw Lv3
• Spatial Sense Lv2
• Short-Step Lv1
• Space Slash Lv1
• Beginner Swordsmanship
• Beginner Firearm Proficiency
• Poller Trick
• Primal Strength Lv1
• Iron Bones Lv1
• Fire Resistance Passive Lv1
• Advanced Field Cooking Lv1
• Field Maintenance Lv1
• Linked Awareness Lv1 (Shared)
[Incomplete Skills]
• Advanced Swordsmanship Fragment (4/5)
[Rare Items]
• Void Tempering Fruit
• Soul Harmonization Crystal
[System Functions]
• Affection Detection
• Beginner Shop Access
• Quest Function
• Target Synchronization
• Limited Storage (5 Slots)
[Current Resources]
Affection Points: 1173
Silver closed the screen just as a mechanic walked toward their car with a clipboard. He knocked twice on the driver’s window before smiling.
"Inspection complete, you two are cleared for departure."
Silver thanked him, shifted the vehicle into gear, and slowly rolled toward the checkpoint gate. Beyond it, the long road to Delta Sanctuary Four stretched into the morning sunlight.
Neither he nor Ravenna knew exactly what awaited them there.