She raised her hand to tuck the hair behind her ear, her clear voice smiling, "You really don't have to worry about me, I'll just stay here."
Ren sighed. It seemed her mindset hadn't changed yet.
"Yukino, you're too naive. I covet your body; how could I let you die?"
"Do you remember the prompt before entering the game space?"
"Prompt?" Yukino's heart skipped a beat when she heard him say he coveted her body, but she still frowned in thought. Even with careful thought, she couldn't recall everything.
Ren didn't expect her to remember clearly, so he took the initiative to explain. "The game space prompted that this is the first game."
"So, will there be a second time, a third time?"
"Based on my guess, since it's a game, it must be designed to make players stronger. Surviving is basic, and performance points will likely earn rewards."
"If there really is a second game, do you think you can pass it safely without becoming stronger?"
These words made Yukino fall into deep thought. Thinking carefully, what he said made sense. Her first reaction was to want to act with Ren. But then she suddenly realized: she was too weak and couldn't do anything. She might even drag Ren down. Clenching her silver teeth, the strong-willed Yukino felt unwilling. She wanted to thank Ren for saving her life, but she couldn't do anything! If it came to that moment… perhaps she could only offer herself…
Ren, on his side, was pondering, stroking his chin. It would be great if Yukino could have a way to kill zombies from a distance. But the guns in the game store required doomsday points. And a novice might not even know how to use a handgun.
Suddenly, he thought of the people in the Chat Group. His eyes lit up, and he opened the group chat.
Ren: "@March 7th, Little March, are you there?"
March 7th: "I am here! Do you need anything from me?"
Ren: "Are you still at Black Tower Space Station?"
March 7th: "Yes, the Star Dome Train is still docked here."
Ren: "I want you to help me get a weapon from Ms. Herta or Asta."
March 7th: "Hmm, any specific requirements for the weapon? I can't afford anything too powerful."
Ren: "The requirements should be simple: small, like a handgun, long-range attack, plenty of energy, and capable of blowing up a human head with a normal shot."
Saeko Busujima: "Is Ren-kun going to use it to fight zombies?"
Ren: "That's right."
Exusiai: "What do zombies look like?"
Ren: "Like this [Image]."
Exusiai: "Ugh, how disgusting."
Saeko Busujima: "Very similar to what's in movies."
March 7th: "Eww, disgusting. Your request doesn't sound too difficult. Let me go ask if there's such a weapon."
*****
A moment later, March 7th replied.
March 7th: "Got it! Asta gave it to me; she said it's a small toy, a handgun powerful enough to blow up a head, and it can be recharged super fast with solar energy."
March 7th: "I'll send it to you right now."
[Ding! March 7th has sent Ren a private red packet!]
[Ding! Ren has claimed it!]
Ren: "Thanks, Little March."
[Ding! Ren has sent March 7th a private red packet!]
Ren also sent March 7th a red packet with 500 doomsday points. Consider it payment for her weapon.
*****
"Eh!"
Yukino's eyes widened. A blue gun-shaped object suddenly appeared in Ren's hand. It definitely wasn't a handgun bought from a mall.
"Try this, it's a new weapon." Following March 7th's original words, Ren explained it to her. "A solar-powered, rapid-charging energy gun!"
A strong sense of sci-fi came rushing forth.
*****
He moved the cabinet aside. He opened the dormitory door. Zombies had already gathered at the entrance. Since it was already daytime, these zombies became quiet and sluggish again.
"Try shooting." Ren took her hand and aimed the gun at a zombie's body.
"..."
The warmth of Ren's hand pressed against her hand, and his breath brushed against her neck. Just looking at his expectant and clear gaze, she couldn't say anything. Relaxing, she exhaled. She gripped the handgun tightly and pulled the trigger. A blue energy bullet hit the zombie squarely in the chest.
Bang! The zombie's body exploded directly!
"This... this is amazing!" Yukino was stunned. This gun was incredibly powerful, like a close-range shotgun. The most outrageous thing was that there was no recoil whatsoever!
"Very good, now you can clear out the zombies with me." Ren took her hand and started moving forward.
Yukino felt the warmth in her hand and instinctively gripped it a little tighter. "Thank you for helping me so much. If you need anything, please tell me, and I will repay you."
Ren looked back with a smile: "I lust for your body."
"..."
Yukino didn't answer. She just followed him forward, blushing, but her mind seemed to be thinking about something.
*****
For the rest of the day, Ren cleared the path in front using Five Thunder Rectification - Northern Azure Pool. Yukino followed closely behind, using the energy gun in her hand to clear out the excess zombies.
Moreover, Ren's Vector Manipulation also came in handy. The Vector Manipulation that upgraded to LV2 in Doomsday Chat Group was not based on Academy City's level standards. In Academy City, the span of ability levels was too large. For example, LV1 Low-Level Psychics and LV2 Esper were almost useless. LV3 Strong Psychics still had some use. LV4 Great Psychics had already begun to surpass LV3 by a lot. The cross-server power of LV5 Psychics, however, was still understandable.
The levels in Doomsday Chat Group for the same S-rank ability Original Stone Vector Manipulation: At level 2, it was already effective. If he had to give it a comparative setting himself, it should be a LV2.5 Mid-Level Psychic, between LV2 Low-Level Psychic and LV3 Strong Psychic.
With the application of his new ability, plus Yukino's energy gun, the clearing speed was incredibly fast.