Outrun – Cyberpunk LitRPG

Chapter 78

Chapter 78I stared at the interface window for a long time as I half-consciously walked towards the original base camp of the Leper-Khans and my awaiting bike. The interface was a welcome distraction from, well, what just happened.

What all would happen during this Interface Extension? If it was a requirement to directly give over the box, then maybe it would expand my connection to the Eidolons. That was… worrying. It's not like I could stop leveling even if I wanted to anyway. And the only way I knew how to get rid of the interface was… not quite an option. I rather preferred being alive.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good distraction. I had to shift my attention away as I tossed the matter to the back of my mind. It was all stuff that would have to wait for this Interface Expansion once I got a skill to level twelve… 

My feet paused at the edge of the camp, a chill moving down my spine as I felt the familiar ickiness of the creature’s malice. It’s crazy how much things could change with just a simple shift in perspective. I rubbed a hand against my elbow in an attempt to calm myself. It didn’t work.

I cautiously moved through the destroyed camp, understanding what each and every blood stain meant putting an entirely different feel over the place. This was literally a ghost town. I stared at one bright spot of red reflecting a rogue beam of moonlight as my feet slowed their march.

I almost became one… that thought was sickening, nauseatingly writhing in my gut. That was the closest I’ve ever been to death. Just one wrong move and it would’ve been over—no second chances. Not even the interface could’ve changed that. If they had the ability to resurrect, Nathan, or whatever his name was, wouldn’t have stayed dead. King of death, hah.

Forcing myself to keep moving, I looked about the camp as I worked my way through it to my bike. The Leper-Khans were basically wiped out. Especially considering how many stains were here. I don’t even an eighth of them escaped alive. Sure, there were a few left, but there was no way they could regain what they once had. That- that unseen entity wiped them out almost in totality.

Which meant loot… honestly, I just wanted to return home and not even grab anything. It felt weird… I  want to steal. There’s a first time for everything, I guess. 

I huffed a sigh as I lightly kicked aside a cracked jewelry box. Still, I would beat myself up later over not taking anything, so I went through the camp, remembering the areas I had already

I desperately wanted to return to my apartment and just sleep. Just relax. Before then though, I need to finish this gig up. I cued it up on the map and headed for the Jagged Clover. I gave a polite nod the the tiny-handed bartender and worked my way back to the booth.

Athena Alexandria was by herself this time as I entered, disassembling a rifle. Shen Kang maybe? Don’’t see too many of those out here… probably some old-world paranoia about their products and the fact Sentinel and Raijin dominated the market in most of the FSA, if I had to guess.

I held out the sat phone as I walked up to her. “Here. Done as promised.”

”’Course….” She grabbed the phone and looked at me from head to toe. “You look like you’ve been through hell… still, you did a fine job. Nothing you can do about the Leper-Khans being such big fuck ups. I had high hopes for that group too… I’ll call you again if I need to.”

I gave her a half-hearted salute as the Rayn entered my account and headed for the door. 

「Tracking - 6>7」

「Perception - 5>6」

As I left, I had my PA pull my account information up into my vision. All of that work… for two thousand and some levels… was it worth it? Was this really a win for me? 

No. My gut instinct said no. This was not a win. Sure I got out alive with loot, but this didn’t feel like a win in the slightest. If anything, it showed my weaknesses and fragility outside of a very small set of circumstances. I had been entirely helpless as that creature stalked about, muttering harassments to me. I needed to get stronger. To be better. 

But that would all cost money… the best I could do now is polish my current skills and wait for another good-paying gig to pop up.