Second Coming Of A Villain

Chapter 6: System's Function

Edited By: Bruce Williams

Chapter 6

Finally steadying himself, Mo Fan let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting to the shattered windows of the skyscraper. As he looked down at the city, what he saw sharply contrasted with the memories he’d inherited. The bustling metropolis was no more; charred cars lay abandoned and destroyed along the roads, their metal twisted, with smoke and flames clawing at the sky from multiple points. Most buildings lay in ruins, their frames barely recognizable, and the air was thick with swirling, yellowish particles, stinging his eyes and burning his lungs. Breathing in this poisoned atmosphere felt like swallowing ash.

Mo Fan’s eyes narrowed, a hint of wonder beneath his usually steely gaze. He hadn’t anticipated that these so-called nuclear bombs would ravage the city to such an extent. The destruction was absolute, a haunting picture of human ambition laid to waste. And now, the undead_ zombies had risen, turning this world of mortals into a hellscape, a strange mingling of supernatural and the unforgiving finality of human weaponry.

“Pity I detonated the orb of greed,” he muttered, his voice edged with regret, “That power would’ve been useful here, a way to grow stronger in this chaotic world.” He allowed himself a fleeting sigh, a rare expression of vulnerability before he straightened, his gaze hardening. “Since I’m here, in this borrowed body, perhaps I should take on the name of its former owner. He had a family—a wife, a child. Maybe I’ll do right by him if I ever come across them. But first, I need to get out of this ruin.”

As he spoke to himself, a hint of conflict flickered within him, even if his face betrayed nothing. Mo Fan had always been ruthless; he’d cut down countless lives to achieve his past ambitions. It had shaped him into a man who wore his cold bloodedness like armor, and yet, here he was, considering honoring the man whose life he’d taken over. It wasn’t pure sentimentality—Mo Fan was no hypocrite. He owed no debt, but he understood the weight of obligation. Perhaps it was a sense of twisted honor, or maybe a mere acknowledgement of borrowed time.

He had a code, after all. He helped those who helped him, destroyed those who tried to destroy him, and saved those who stood by him when darkness closed in. He could easily choose to disappear from this place, leave the remnants of the Maverick family to their own fate. Given the scale of destruction and the zombies rampaging through the city, it was unlikely anyone would even remember the original man whose body he now inhabited.

But as he replayed fragments of the man’s memories, he felt a vague, nagging pull. If their paths crossed, he would help them. And then, when his obligation was met, he’d vanish from their lives as quickly as he’d entered—like a shadow in a city of ashes.

Achooo!

Mo Fan, now adopting the name Maverick, sneezed sharply, rubbing his nose with his elbow. The yellowish particles floating thickly in the air felt invasive, subtly affecting him at a cellular level. His skin prickled with an uncomfortable heat, an eerie sensation of being slowly baked from the inside out. An itching irritation lingered, clawing beneath his skin like an infection trying to dig its way in.

Recalling the strange notification he’d received from the so-called “system,” Maverick moved swiftly. He ducked into one of the building’s dilapidated restrooms, his eyes scanning for anything useful. He spotted a still-functioning tap, a rare relief in the chaos. Wasting no time, he grabbed a frayed towel from a cabinet, soaked it in the cold water, and wrapped it tightly around his face. Breathing through the damp cloth, he felt the relief wash over him as the suffocating haze became more manageable. Although the particles still clung to the air, seeping into his lungs, the makeshift mask reduced their impact, allowing him to draw in deeper breaths without the choking sting.

Finally, Maverick allowed himself a moment to steady his nerves. His mind sharpened as his breathing evened out, though an insistent ding in his brain quickly drew his attention. Recognizing it as the system’s presence, he closed his eyes, focusing inward, and summoned it to the forefront of his mind.

••••

Name: Maverick Slade

Nickname: The Stormbringer

Class: Special Operations Agent (Counter-Terrorism Expert)

Attributes:

- Strength: 18 (+4)

- Agility: 20 (+5)

- Endurance: 16 (+3)

- Intelligence: 12 (+1)

- Perception: 14 (+2)

- Charisma: 10 (+0)

- Vitality: 10 (+0)

Skills:

- Marksmanship: +5

- Tactical Combat: +4

- Surveillance: +3

- Hand-to-Hand Combat: +10 (Krav Maga)

- Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE): +8

- CQB (Close Quarters Battle): +5

Abilities:

- "Tactical Training" (Passive): +10% damage when in CQB situations.

- "Operational Focus" (Active): +20% accuracy for 5 seconds (Cooldown: 30 seconds).

- "Counter-Terrorism Expert" (Passive): +10% resistance to explosive damage.

Special Operations Skills:

- "Sniper's Eye" (Active): Deals 200 damage to a single target from 500 meters (Cooldown: 60 seconds).

- "Flash Bang" (Active): Disorients enemies within 10 meters, reducing accuracy by 50% for 10 seconds (Cooldown: 90 seconds).

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System Notifications:

[Warning: Hazardous Environmental Conditions Detected, due to the nuclear explosion, radiation in the environment has increased to a extremely high level!]

Breathing-Related Challenges:

1. Radioactive Particles: Dangerous airborne particles inhaled may cause severe internal radiation exposure.

2. Toxic Gases: High risk of exposure to chlorine, phosgene, or hydrogen cyanide, released by chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

3. Airborne Contaminants: Elevated levels of fallout particles, heavy metals, and airborne pollutants.

4. Oxygen Deficiency: Reduced oxygen levels likely due to nuclear winter conditions hindering photosynthesis.

5. Respiratory Issues: Increased likelihood of respiratory diseases and infections due to compromised air quality.

Protective Measures Recommended:

1. Use Gas Masks or Respirators: Essential for filtering radioactive particles and toxic gases.

2. Secure an Oxygen Supply System: Obtain a reliable source of clean oxygen for safe breathing.

3. Implement Air Purification Systems: Vital to remove airborne contaminants and pollutants.

4. Seek Sealed Environments: Take shelter in bunkers, sealed buildings, or other fortified locations.

5. Improvised Protection: Use thick, water-soaked cloths tied around your nose and mouth for basic filtration.

NEW NOTIFICATIONS!!!

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Alert: Unidentified Energy Detected. 0.6%

> Source: Recent zombies terminated

Type: Unrecognized energy resembling performance enhancers

Analysis: Can boost the host's stats quickly if reaches 0.10% or more.

A new notification pops up, adjusting to it's databases.

Option Available: Energy absorption detected—potential for immediate stat boosts.

> Select stat to boost:

Strength: Moderate

Agility: Slight

Vitality: Low

The system, uncertain but adaptable, displays a final line:

> Warning: Unable to classify energy origin. Continue with caution.