The Primer jerked backwards, causing the dumpster to fall down.
He crawled on the ground in a panic. The Terror approached him slowly, its tongue lolled out like a snake.
Carter roundhouse kicked the Terror on the ground, causing it to roll a few times.
His ears twitched and he turned his head toward the noise.
'That... a Primer.'
Carter could recognize him. It was one of the few Primer that didn't treat him badly back in Cyber Runner.
The twisted Terror got back on four legs and rushed at Carter.
The white swordsman unsheathed the Prisoner and slashed the Terror in one motion, decapitating it.
The head of the Terror rolled on the ground.
<+10 Prime Coin>
[Synchronization +0.5%]
[Synchronization]: 45%
The Primer got up quickly and ran away. But the Terror was faster. The hair of the female Terror grew longer and grabbed at the Primer's right foot.
The hair broke his shin in two. The Primer screamed at the top of his lungs and fell down to the ground.
His entire body trembled in fear as the woman got on top of him. Its long tongue wrapped around his throat and squeezed.
"Help... Me..." The Primer begged God. And he had answered.
Carter sliced the Terror from the top, splitting it in two.
<+10 Prime Coin>
[Synchronization +0.5%]
[Synchronization]: 45.5%
The tongue eased up and released the Primer. The two halves of the body fell to either side.
The Primer saw his savior. A swordsman in a white robe that was surprisingly handsome.
The Skin System had a taste for its skin. All of its skin had a certain beauty to it. The human form of the Eldritch Knight looked like a dream. Not the fake baby boy type of dream. But a man of commitment, sheer force of will, and strength.
Carter reached his hand out.
The Primer hesitated. But he grabbed Carter's hand and was pulled up.
The swordsman tilted his head and looked at the Cyber Core on his arm.
"You're from Cyber Runner, right?"
The Primer's lips trembled, "How did you know?"
"I have met many of you before. Most died. A lucky few escaped and continued to be slaves."
Carter sheathed his sword. He squatted down and turned the female Terror into a skin shard.
[+1 Minor Terror Skin Shard (Awaken)]
Then he returned to where the twisted Terror was and also harvested it.
[+1 Minor Terror Skin Shard (Awaken)]
The Primer followed him, "I... I am Quill. Can I follow you? I won't be a nuisance! I can do a lot of things."
Carter turned toward Quill. Now he had to decide what kind of character the Eldritch Knight was.
From what he understood, there was another way to raise Skin Synchronization. The way of becoming the character.
Carter asked himself, 'What would the personality of an Eldritch Knight be? Stoic? Cold? Indifferent? Ruthless?
No. I don't like that type of character. There is no point in playing with a piece of wood. This man belongs to a long lineage with the only goal of killing terror. He is both calm and dangerous. He is ruthless to terrors and gentle to humans. He has true nobility.'
The white swordsmanship scanned Quill from top to bottom. His finger tapped in a rhythm on the handle of the Prisoner.
Quill gulped and didn't say anything.
"My name is Zeneros Blackburn. Son of Macaris Blackburn. The heir of the blade, the Prisoner. I vowed to protect the innocent, strike down evil, and vanquish the deceptor.
Tell me, Quill of Cyber Runner. How could I trust you, slave? When you still have that thing on you?"
Carter finished his speech and pointed the tip of the scabbard at the Cyber Core on Quill's arm.
Quill instinctively covered it. But he let go.
"I…" The Primer shook his head, "I'm sorry, Zeneros. I don't know what I'm thinking. You're right."
Quill turned his back and walked away. His head lowered as he lost the only hope he had to survive.
"Wait." He stopped as Carter spoke. "You can join me with one condition."
Quill turned back. A bright smile hung on his face, "Yes, Zeneros?"
"Call me Zen. I have a friend here. He is a tricky bastard to locate but he's here. If you can find him and convince him to remove your Cyber Core. You can join me."
"What is his name, Zen? What does he look like?"
"He is the Ghost and he has no name."
Carter described the faceless man to Quill before leaving. He wanted to make use of Quill.
Quill had a good heart and Carter wanted to recruit him. But Carter didn't intend to make it too easy. The harder you work to get something, the more you appreciate it. So he gave Quill a little challenge.
Carter disappeared into the night, leaving Quill behind.
The Primer rubbed his chin in deep thought, "A faceless man?"
[Synchronization +5.3%]
[Synchronization]: 50.8%
'Heh. My interpretation was correct. The Skin System has rewarded me with Synchronization!'
The white swordsman found a secluded place to hide from unseen eyes. He checked his Shards Storage again.
[Total Skin Shards]:
- 12 Minor Terror Skin Shards (Awaken)
- 7 Medium Terror Skin Shards (Awaken)
- 3 Major Terror Skin Shards (Awaken)
- 2 Minor Cyber Slave Skin Shard (Mortal)
'I have enough Minor Terror Skin Shards to make another Terror skin. I wonder if I get a different one?'
Carter fused 10 Minor Terror Skin Shards again.
[-10 Minor Terror Skin Shards (Awaken)]
[Fusion in process…]
The red hammer moved once more. It hammered ten skin shards into a new skin.
[Terror Bat acquired]
[Terror Bat]
[Rank]: Awaken
[Star Level]: 1
[Ability]: Terror Form (Awaken); Sonar Echolocation (Awaken).
- Terror Form (Awaken): Living beings are naturally afraid of you. You can transform into a shadow and crawl through tiniest cracks. You will die if you touch sunlight.
- Sonar Echolocation (Awaken): You can make a map of the surrounding area in your head via sound.
[Skill]: Level 1 Perception (Awaken); Level 1 Flight (Awaken), Level 1 Lifesteal (Awaken)
[Item]: None
'A new one?'
Carter looked around to make sure no one could see him. Then he switched his skin.
[TERROR BAT EQUIPPED]