Strengthening and Arrival

Xiahou looked at his energy points: 1,308. Then he looked at the dazzling array of goods.

I should set a price range first. Let's make it 1,300 or less and see what's available.

A huge number of items vanished instantly. After searching for a while, Xiahou found the two items most useful to him at the moment.

Basic Combat Skills: 1,250 energy points

Instantly learn a variety of basic combat skills, including the use of various weapons.

Basic Enhancement Potion: 1,250 energy points

Slightly enhances all of the user's physical attributes, bringing them to two or three times those of a normal person.

These were the two things he could currently afford that suited him best. After giving it some thought, Xiahou decided to buy Basic Combat Skills.

As an ordinary person who didn't know how to fight, what good would a stronger body do him?

He wasn't Hulk! Hulk could turn someone into a smear with a casual slap. If Xiahou had that kind of power, he wouldn't have to agonize over the choice.

That was how it was when you were starting out: you had to grind away bit by bit. If only I had FLiNG! I could just change all my stats and become Homelander.

He had seen the Flame Dragon Emperor Armor and all kinds of rule-based items in the shop. It even had various bloodlines and items from the Primordial World.

Then I could get the Pangu Bloodline and a Pangu Axe. Even if OAA came, I'd chop him down!

As his thoughts wandered, he began drooling without realizing it.

The other three watched him quietly, exchanging all kinds of looks. Could this guy be crazy? Just now he looked like his father had died, and now he was suddenly getting carried away and drooling. They all knew better than to disturb him, though, and started checking their equipment instead.

After Xiahou clicked purchase, another chip appeared in his inventory. Without hesitation, he used it. Instantly, a torrent of information even greater than before flooded into his mind. He became dazed, and a trickle of blood ran from his nose.

Abigail, who had been keeping an eye on him, immediately noticed something was wrong. She reached out and patted his face, asking with concern, "Xiahou! What's wrong? Why did your nose suddenly start bleeding?"

Xiahou was still dazed and didn't respond to her at all.

When Abigail got no response, she grew even more anxious. She leaned halfway across and began examining him carefully, all the while calling out, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Can you hear me?"

Hannibal and Little Black both turned to see what was happening. Little Black even pulled the car over and leaned in to help check on him.

It took about a minute for Xiahou to recover from the barrage of information. He looked at the three people surrounding him with a puzzled expression.

He pushed Little Black, who was feeling around on his body, away and asked them, "What are you three doing? Why are you all crowding around me? And Little Black, why are you touching me? I'm not gay!"

Little Black turned away with a dark expression and started driving again.

Abigail asked directly, "What happened to you just now? Your nose suddenly started bleeding, and you didn't respond when I called you."

Xiahou touched his nose. His fingers met something wet, and when he raised his hand to look, it was covered in blood. He realized they had been concerned about him.

Wiping the blood from under his nose with his hand, Xiahou said, "I'm fine. I just bought something. There was a bit too much information, so it was probably my body's automatic reaction!"

Abigail handed him a tissue and asked, "Use this! Bought something? What do you mean?"

Xiahou took it, balled it up into two wads, and stuffed them into his nostrils. In a nasal voice, he answered, "I mean I bought something! I bought an item from the game shop! Forget it. Even if I told you NPCs, you wouldn't understand!"

Abigail and the others wanted to shove a gun into his mouth and ask him, How do you know we won't understand if you don't tell us?

Hannibal continued curiously, "Then what did you just buy? Can you tell me? I'm really curious. Come on, tell me, okay?"

Xiahou had no intention of hiding it and answered directly, "I bought Basic Combat Skills. I didn't know how to fight before, okay? But now I feel strong as hell! I know how to use everything, too!"

He took out the Blue Rose, intending to spin it in his hand using the memories he had just acquired. But with a clatter, the revolver fell at his feet. An awkward atmosphere began to spread through the car.

Xiahou: "Say, would you believe me if I said my hand slipped?"

The three of them: "→_→"

Xiahou: "_(:3 "∠)_"

Meanwhile, he complained inwardly, So it only gave me the techniques and the knowledge, and I still have to practice them myself? Does it have to be this unreliable? I was going to show off! Now I can't even show my face~~~

Hannibal stroked the pistol in his hand and changed the subject. "Dex, how much longer?"

Little Black, Dex, replied, "We're almost there. Get ready. We'll go in through the underground garage. How long will you need before you come out?"

Abigail thought for a moment, then said, "We don't know how long it'll take yet. Once you drop us off, wait for us by the road. We'll play it by ear!"

Xiahou started complaining again. "Speaking of which, why don't you use walkie-talkies or phones with earpieces to communicate? And what year is it now?"

The three fell silent. Yeah, why didn't we use walkie-talkies?

Abigail answered awkwardly, "We didn't think of it before. We'll get some for next time. It's 2004 now. Why?"

Xiahou could see how awkward everyone was and figured it had to be the screenwriter's fault. He then answered, "I just didn't know what year it was, so I asked to establish the timeline."

Abigail asked, puzzled, "Timeline? What do you mean?"

Xiahou said, "Didn't I tell you before? This is a game! And it's part of the Marvel Universe. Blade is only one part of it. If I don't establish the timeline, how will I know what happens next? Why are you looking at me like that? Didn't I say that before?"

All three said in unison, "No, you didn't!"

"Forget it, then. I'll tell you when we have time. By the way, aren't we here?" Xiahou pointed at the FBI building ahead as he spoke.

The three had no choice but to set their questions aside. Little Black drove slowly into the underground garage. After stopping by a stairwell, he said to the others, "I'll wait for you on the street outside. Once you come out, I'll come straight over to pick you up." With that, he drove away.

Abigail went on, "I'll hack the surveillance room first. Hannibal, you go rescue Blade. Xiahou will come with me, and once we're done sabotaging things, we'll come straight to you!"

Hannibal simply said, "Okay," and left.

Xiahou was just about to complain when Abigail grabbed him and pulled him away in another direction.