I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal
Chapter 96: Sophia in Danger (6)

Chapter 96: Sophia in Danger (6)

The commissioner was stunned. He had never encountered anyone like this boy. "I know who you’ve made an enemy of," Adam continued. "And I know they won’t let you get to me so easily."

The commissioner stared at him a mixture of fear and admiration in his eyes. This boy is dangerous, he thought. The families aren’t wasting their money on him. If I weren’t under orders I’d finish the job myself right here right now.

"Don’t worry," Adam said a small cruel smile playing on his lips. "Your time will come. In the future I’ll come for you too. I’ll grant you your wish."

The police commissioner was completely floored. He stared at the spot where Adam had been standing his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Did he hear my thoughts? he wondered a cold chill running down his spine. The boy’s calm confidence his utter lack of fear it was completely unnatural. He had never encountered anyone like him.

Adam turned and walked towards the door his movements fluid and unhurried. He was done here.

"Wait," the commissioner called out his voice a little shaky now. "There are two things I need to tell you. It’s important."

Adam paused with his hand on the doorknob.

He did not turn around. "I’m not interested," he said his voice flat and dismissive. He stepped out into the corridor and closed the door firmly behind him leaving the powerful police commissioner alone in the silent sterile room.

A wave of pure rage washed over the commissioner. He slammed his fist down on the small bedside table making the plastic water pitcher jump.

My hands are tied! he thought his frustration boiling over into a silent scream. If they weren’t I’d kill you so slowly and painfully you’d regret the day you were ever born.

He was a man used to being in control a man used to being feared. And this boy this child had just dismissed him as if he were nothing.

Adam did not spare another thought for the fuming police commissioner. His mind was focused on one thing and one thing only. Sophia.

He ran from the hospital. He did not bother with stealth. He moved through the city streets at a speed that blurred the world around him a phantom moving through the afternoon crowds. People gasped and pointed but he was gone before they could even register what they had seen.

He reached her neighborhood the familiar street with the small convenience store on the corner. It was Sophia family’s store. He saw her mother July inside working behind the counter arranging items on a shelf.

He pushed open the door the small bell above it announcing his arrival. July looked up at the sound a tired smile on her face. The smile vanished when she saw who it was. Her eyes widened with surprise and a hint of fear.

"Adam?" she said her voice a shocked whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"Is Sophia home?" Adam asked his voice urgent and direct cutting through any pleasantries.

July seemed taken aback by his tone. She glanced nervously towards the back of the store towards the stairs that led up to their small apartment. "No," she said shaking her head. "Neither Sophia nor Anastasia are home. They’re still at school I think."

The words hit Adam like a punch to the gut. They must have taken her from school. He had been too late. The realization was a cold sharp blade twisting in his heart.

He turned and ran out of the store without another word. He ignored July’s calls her confused questions echoing behind him. He had to find her.

He had to save her. And he would tear the entire city apart to do it. He would kill anyone and everyone who stood in his way. The hunt was on.

July watched Adam run out of the store a worried frown on her face. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was getting late. Sophia and Anastasia should have been home from school by now. A small seed of unease began to sprout in her heart.

Adam was already gone a blur of motion disappearing down the street. He was so focused on Sophia that he had missed a crucial detail in what her mother had said. Anastasia was not home either.

It was six o’clock in the evening. The sun was beginning to set casting long shadows across the city. Adam had only one option left. He had to find them.

He was running through the crowded streets when the familiar blue system window appeared before him. It was the same one he had ignored in the hospital room when the commissioner had walked in.

[Congratulations Host.]

[You have eliminated 140 high-level trained mercenaries.]

[You can take their skills stat points or equipment.]

The message was followed by a dizzying array of 140 new system windows each one representing a life he had taken a choice to be made.

He took a deep breath his mind racing. He did not have time to go through each one individually. He had to make a quick decision.

Okay he thought a clear command to the system. I’ll take one hundred stat points twenty pieces of equipment and twenty skill sets.

The 140 windows vanished instantly replaced by a single new one.

[Congratulations Host.]

[200+ stat points are being added to your individual status bar.]

[You are also acquiring many new skills.]

He felt a surge of power course through him a familiar warmth that spread through his entire body. He opened his inventory and saw a plethora of new weapons. Automatic rifles shotguns grenades a veritable arsenal at his disposal.

But one item in particular caught his eye. It was a special coupon. He tapped on it curious to see what it was.

Adam focused his mind and called upon the system. The familiar blue window materialized in the air before him.

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[STATUS BAR]

Name: Adam

Core Ability: Return by Death

STATS:

Strength: 465

Note: Your physical power now far exceeds the limits of a normal human. You can shatter concrete with a single blow.

Agility: 490

Note: Your speed is superhuman. To the naked eye you are a blur capable of outrunning vehicles and dodging projectiles.

Stamina: 450

Note: Your endurance is immense. You can fight for extended periods without fatigue.

Perception: 380

Note: Your senses are highly attuned allowing you to perceive threats and details beyond normal human capability.

SKILLS:

[PASSIVE] Iron Skin: Your skin has been hardened to a superhuman degree capable of deflecting small-arms fire and bladed weapons. It is reaching its saturation point against high-caliber rounds.

[PASSIVE] Hand-to-Hand Combat: You possess the ingrained combat knowledge of a seasoned street fighter.

[PASSIVE] Investigation: Your deductive reasoning and observational skills are enhanced allowing you to notice details and connections others would miss.

**[ACQUIRED SKILL SETS (20)]: ** (Processing... Please select from list to view details)

INVENTORY:

Handgun (x3)

Combat Knife (x2)

Automatic Rifle (x10)

Ammunition (Various)

[NEW] Special Coupon (x1)

[NEW] Assorted Equipment (x20)

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The system window shimmered before him a beacon of blue light in the darkening evening.

[Because Host has single-handedly eliminated over 100 people a special coupon is being awarded.]

[This is a special skill that Host can cast on any target. The target can be anywhere in the world. Host will be able to easily track the target and see their position.]

Adam read the description his mind latching onto the words. A tracking skill. It was exactly what he needed. It was a lifeline in the storm of his despair. He did not hesitate. He tapped on the coupon with a focused thought.

A new window instantly appeared. [Congratulations. Host has received the ’Track’ skill.]

He saw a small notification next to the skill name: [0/5]. He understood immediately. He could track up to five targets simultaneously. For now he only needed one.

He pictured Sophia’s face in his mind her smile her worried eyes. He focused all his intent on her. He had to find her. He had to get to her before it was too late.

He ran. His newly enhanced stats propelled him through the city streets at a blistering pace. The world became a blur of color and light. He reached the familiar desolate street where the old abandoned factory stood a monument to his previous failure.

He checked his watch. The digital display read 6:10 PM. In the last loop he had arrived here at 7:15 PM. He was over an hour earlier this time. He had a small but significant advantage. He had time to plan to strategize.

He observed the factory from the shadows of a nearby building. There were men outside just like before. They stood guard their postures relaxed but alert. He studied them closely.

This time they were not armed with automatic rifles. They had handguns tucked into their belts. And he noticed another crucial detail. Their pistols did not have silencers.

This changed everything. A direct assault was no longer an option. A single gunshot would alert everyone inside the factory. He could not afford to make a scene. He could not afford to get caught. Not with Sophia’s life hanging in the balance.

He continued to watch them. He noticed something else. Each of the men had a walkie-talkie clipped to their chest. They were communicating with each other their voices a low murmur that he could not quite make out from this distance.

An idea sparked in his mind a new plan a new strategy. He would not just attack them head-on. He would be smarter this time. He would use their own communication system against them.