LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 4: The Quist
The night air, a welcome contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the convenience store, filled May's lungs. She glanced back over her shoulder, her heart pounding in her chest. The thugs were still inside, their silhouettes illuminated by the store's bright fluorescent lights, their faces obscured by shadows, their forms menacing and imposing.
She had to get out of there, she had to put as much distance as possible between herself and those thugs. The three figures, shrouded in shadows, were oblivious to her arrival, their attention fixed on the trembling old man at the counter. The scene felt like a still frame from a horror movie, frozen in time, waiting for the inevitable eruption of violence.
May moved with a newfound confidence, a quiet determination that surprised even herself. Her heart pounded a rapid beat, a rhythm of fear and resolve. She knew she wasn't prepared for this, she didn't know how to fight, but the system had given her a purpose. It had given her a reason to be more than just a nobody.
She glanced at the holographic screen, the countdown timer ticking away with a cold, relentless precision. The system's message, stark and unyielding, flashed before her:
[ "Time Remaining: 30 Minutes." ]
[ " Protect the Target. " ]
[ " Failure Penalty: Status Degradation." ]
Status Degradation? What did that mean? The chilling thought sent a jolt of adrenaline through her veins. She wasn't sure what that meant, but she knew it was something terrible, something she didn't want to experience.
[ "Additional: "Quist Failure will result in the death of your dearest kin." ]
The last part of the message punched her in the gut. Her brother. ? Kin..? She really don't know.. But, She couldn't let that person die. Not after all this time.
May felt a sudden surge of defiance, a fierce determination to defy the odds, to defy the system, to defy her own fears.
She took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the heavy, stale air of the convenience store. She reached out, her hand hovering over the holographic screen, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt the system's presence, a cold, calculating force that was both terrifying and exhilarating. She had to act. She had to make a choice.
She stared at the figures in the shadows, their forms taking shape in the flickering light. The man at the counter, his face pale and his eyes filled with fear, seemed frozen in time, a victim caught in the crosshairs of a terrifying game.
The largest of the three thugs, a hulking brute with a shaved head and a menacing scowl, stepped forward. He held a baseball bat, the wood gleaming under the fluorescent lights. He raised it high, ready to strike. The man at the counter cowered, his eyes wide with terror.
That was her cue.
And then, May saw it. A flicker of energy, a blue spark that seemed to emanate from her own hand. It was a strange, unexpected surge of power, a sensation she had never felt before, and yet, it felt strangely familiar, like a forgotten memory awakening in her mind.
The holographic screen shifted, the system's message replacing the countdown timer:
[ "Quist Activated. Energy Transfer Initiated." ]
She felt the energy flow through her, coursing through her veins, filling her with a strange, exhilarating sense of power. It was a rush, an adrenaline surge, a feeling of invincibility, and it pushed away the fear, the despair, the feelings that had weighed her down for so long.
The system's message shifted again, displaying the new options.
- ["Quist Options Available: "] -
["Option 1: Enhanced Strength." ]
["Option 2: Enhanced Speed."]
["Option 3: Enhanced Agility." ]
["Option 4: Enhanced Endurance."]
["Option 5: Enhanced Perception."]
For a moment, she felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, but then her gaze fell on Option 5. Enhanced Perception.
She needed to know what she was dealing with. She needed to understand the situation. She needed to know what she was up against.
With a surge of adrenaline, she made her choice.
[ "Quist Option Selected: Enhanced Perception. " ]
May felt a rush of energy, a wave of clarity that flooded her senses. The world sharpened around her, the air thickening with a strange energy. Her senses heightened, her awareness expanded, the world seemed to slow down around her, the details of the scene becoming vivid and sharp.
She saw the man at the counter, his face pale with fear. She could see the fear in his eyes, the trembling in his hands, the desperation that was etched onto his face.
And she saw the three men, their faces obscured by their masks, but their movements revealing their intentions. They were experienced, brutal, and they were hungry.
But they were also predictable.
With enhanced perception, May saw the world as a series of interconnected movements, a ballet of violence unfolding before her. The hulking brute, his eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory hunger, was about to swing the baseball bat with a powerful, sweeping motion, aimed directly at the elderly man's head.
May reacted instinctively, a flurry of motion that surprised even herself. She lunged forward, a blur of movement, her body propelled by a newfound strength.
She snatched a stack of glossy magazines from the nearby rack, the paper crinkling under her grasp, and hurled them at the thug, the magazines flying through the air like feathered missiles.
One of the magazines, a discarded copy of a celebrity gossip magazine, struck the thug squarely in the face, knocking the baseball bat from his grasp. The thug stumbled backward, his hand clutching his face in pain, his menacing expression morphing into one of shock and bewilderment.
May, fueled by adrenaline and a primal instinct to protect the man, snatched a bag of chips from a nearby shelf and launched it with surprising accuracy at the thug's legs, tripping him up and sending him sprawling to the floor.
The other two thugs, surprised by May's sudden attack, lunged forward, their eyes narrowed with anger. One of them, a wiry man with a sharp, predatory look, drew a knife, the blade glinting menacingly under the florescent lights. The other, a stocky man with a shaved head and a thick, imposing build, charged at her, his fists clenched tight.
May felt her enhanced perception fading, but she was already moving, her instincts taking over. She grabbed a large box of cereal from the shelf, using it as a makeshift shield to block the wiry thug's knife attack. She felt the sting of the blade as it tore through the cardboard, the sound of the ripping cardboard a harsh counterpoint to the silent fury of the thugs. She used the momentum of the attack to spin away, her legs moving with a newfound speed and agility.
She saw the stocky thug, his face contorted with rage, and saw the flash of metal as he lunged forward, his fist aimed at her face.
The system's voice echoed in her mind, a cold, robotic tone.
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Speed." ]
The world seemed to slow down as the thug's fist approached. May felt a surge of adrenaline, a wave of energy that propelled her forward. She dodged the punch, her body a blur of motion, leaving the thug flailing in the air.
The store became a battlefield, a blur of motion and sound. May, fueled by a primal instinct to protect, fought back, her movements guided by the system's enhanced perception. She used every object within reach as a weapon, her movements fluid and unpredictable. She used a shopping cart as a shield, knocking the wiry thug off balance. She used a display of canned goods as a barrier, creating a wall of metal against the stocky thug's assault.
The system, a digital voice in her head, continued to guide her, offering new options:
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Strength." ]
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Agility." ]
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Endurance." ]
May, her body now a vessel of amplified power, fought with a ferocity that surprised even herself. Her movements were fluid and unpredictable, her attacks powerful and precise.
The cashier, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief, watched in stunned silence as May fought back against the three thugs. He had never seen her before, had never expected this kind of bravery from this quiet, unassuming girl.
May, fueled by a mix of adrenaline, fear, and a newfound determination, saw the opportunity. The stocky thug, his face twisted in rage, was lunging forward, his arms outstretched, his fists clenched tight.
She saw the moment of vulnerability, the split second when the thug's body shifted its weight, his focus momentarily diverted.
She struck. With a burst of speed, she lunged forward, her body a blur of motion. She slammed her fist into the thug's stomach, a sudden, powerful blow that sent the thug stumbling back, his eyes widening in pain.
The other two thugs, momentarily distracted by May's assault, turned to face her. Their faces were contorted with rage, their eyes burning with a primal hatred.
But May was already moving. She was a whirlwind of motion, a blur of power, a force of nature that had been unleashed.
She dodged their attacks, her body weaving through their fists, her feet moving with a speed and agility she didn't know she possessed.
The store was a chaotic blur of motion, a symphony of crashing shelves, shattering glass, and the echoing clang of metal objects. The smell of popcorn and hot dogs mingled with the sharp scent of fear and adrenaline.
May felt the power coursing through her veins, a surge of energy that seemed to defy the laws of physics. She was faster, stronger, more agile than she had ever been. She felt the rush of blood in her ears, the pounding of her heart a rhythmic counterpoint to the chaos around her.
The system's voice, a digital whisper in her mind, continued to guide her.
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Agility." ]
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Strength." ]
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Endurance." ]
May, her body a vessel of amplified power, fought with a ferocity that surprised even herself. Her movements were fluid and unpredictable, her attacks powerful and precise. She used the environment to her advantage, dodging behind aisles, leaping over displays, and using the clutter of the store as a shield.
The scene was a dizzying ballet of violence, a desperate struggle for survival. May, a nobody just moments ago, was now a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy, a defender against the darkness.
She felt the system's power fading, the energy draining from her body, but she was too focused on the task at hand. She had to protect the elderly man, she had to complete the Quist, and she had to survive.
With a final burst of adrenaline, May charged forward, her fist aimed at the wiry thug's jaw. The force of the blow sent the thug stumbling backward, his eyes wide with disbelief. He crashed into a display of canned goods, sending a cascade of metal onto the floor.
The stocky thug, his face twisted in pain, lunged at May, his eyes burning with rage. He swung his fist towards her head, but May was ready. She ducked, her body a blur of motion, and then she struck. A powerful, precise kick to the thug's knee brought him down, a scream of pain escaping his lips.
With the two thugs neutralized, May turned to face the hulking brute who had started the attack. He was now on his feet, his eyes narrowed with anger, his hand reaching for the baseball bat that had fallen to the ground.
The system's voice echoed in her mind.
[ "Quist Option Available: Enhanced Perception." ]
With a surge of adrenaline, May activated the system's enhanced perception, her senses sharpening, her awareness expanding. The world seemed to slow down around her, her senses heightened.
She saw the brute's movement, the way his body shifted, the way his hand reached for the baseball bat. She saw the moment of vulnerability, the split second before he could launch his attack.
She didn't hesitate.
May lunged forward, her body a blur of motion. Her fist slammed into the brute's face, a powerful blow that sent him crashing to the ground. His eyes rolled back, and he lay still.
May stood over him, her chest heaving, her body trembling with exhaustion. The system's timer ticked down to 10 seconds. The air was thick with the smell of fear and adrenaline, the silence broken only by the faint buzzing of the fluorescent lights.
She was alive. She had won.
And then, the system deactivated, the holographic screen dissolving into a swirl of digital static.
["System notification: Target has successfully evaded the threat."]
["Time remaining: 5 seconds ."]
["Quist objective: Target protection complete."]
["System will now deactivate."]
The holographic display, a constant reminder of the approaching deadline, suddenly dimmed, the crimson digits of the timer vanishing. The system was deactivating. Her enhanced abilities was fading. The world around her slowed, the sounds of the night losing their amplified intensity, her movements returning to their normal, human limitations.
The system's cold, calculating voice was gone, replaced by the familiar, comforting hum of the store's refrigerator.
The man at the counter, his face still pale with fear, watched as May walked towards him, her movements sluggish, her body heavy with exhaustion.
The air was thick with the scent of fear and adrenaline. The silence was almost deafening.
The man's eyes, filled with a mix of gratitude and confusion, met hers.
"You... you saved me," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Thank you."
She smiled, a weak, tired smile that seemed to fade as quickly as it appeared.
May collapsed onto a nearby chair, her body trembling with exhaustion. The power that had surged through her veins was gone, leaving her drained and weak.
The system had deactivated, and with it, the enhanced abilities that had been her only weapon. She felt her body weaken, her muscles aching, her senses dulling. The adrenaline rush that had fueled her was fading, leaving behind a wave of fatigue that threatened to overwhelm her.
Her gaze fell on the holographic screen, now nothing more than a shimmering echo of the system's power.
She was back to normal.
Except, she wasn't. Something had shifted, something had changed. Her perception of the world was different, her senses were sharper. There was a new awareness in her, a heightened sense of her surroundings. She was no longer the timid, introverted girl who hid in the shadows.
The system, its holographic screen flickering back into existence, confirmed her suspicions.
And again...
The system, its holographic screen flickering back into existence, confirmed her suspicions.
["Quist Complete. System Deactivating."]
["Reward: Enhanced Strength and Agility."]
["Additional: Temporary Increase in Sensitivity. "]
The system's voice echoed in her head, a comforting reassurance, a reminder of the power that now flowed within her.
She felt the rush of warmth, a surge of energy that coursed through her veins. The world seemed brighter, her senses more acute.
She felt different.
The sound of a siren, growing louder in the distance, reached her ears. It was a distant sound, a sound of hope, a sound that signaled the arrival of help.
She saw the man at the counter, his face filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude, heading towards the phone. He was calling the police.
But May knew she couldn't stay. She couldn't be caught.
The adrenaline was fading, and her enhanced abilities were waning. She had to get out of there.
She stumbled to her feet, her legs shaky, her body aching. She knew she wasn't herself anymore. The experience had changed her, had opened her eyes to a world she had never known existed.
The siren's wail echoed in her ears, a growing symphony of hope.
She walked, her body heavy with exhaustion, her senses alert, her heart pounding in her chest.
The system's voice whispered in her mind.
["Quist Rewards will persist for 24 hours."]
["System Standing By."]
The world, once a blur of fear and despair, now seemed filled with possibilities.
May wasn't the same anymore. She was different. She was stronger. And she was ready for whatever came next.
And she was going to keep fighting.