Chapter 4: CH-4. Upgrade, Add Points, and Counterattack
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The number of attribute points gained each time you level up is exactly 10.
And Jason is only 60 villain points away from reaching level two.
Jason's mind raced as he quickly formulated a plan.
Lying on the floor, he gripped his M4A1 and pressed his ear against the ground, listening carefully to the footsteps outside the door.
The footsteps grew louder and closer.
Squeak~
The sound of someone pushing open the glass door to the ice cream shop reached his ears.
Now's the time!
Jason leaned out, aimed at the mobster outside the door, and pulled the trigger. The M4A1 in his hands unleashed a hail of deadly bullets.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of gunshots erupted, and hot brass bullet casings scattered around him.
The gangster pushing the door was instantly riddled with bullets, falling back as the glass shattered.
Jason kept his finger on the trigger, maintaining suppressive fire.
The mobsters outside were caught off guard, swearing and diving for cover.
Taking advantage of this brief window, Jason swiftly accessed the system interface.
[Ding! You damaged someone's property and gained 10 villain points. Current progress: 950/1000]
[Ding! You killed two mobsters and gained 200 villain points. Current progress: 1150/1000]
[Ding! Congratulations on reaching level 2. You earned 10 attribute points. Current progress: 150/2000]
Jason allocated his attribute points to Agility and Intelligence.
[Strength: 33]
[Agility: 32 → 35]
[Endurance: 30]
[Intelligence: 28 → 35]
A sudden sensation washed over him, like a sharp sting of mustard, numbing his scalp.
After a moment, the discomfort faded, leaving his mind sharper and clearer than before.
'So this is what increased intelligence feels like?' Jason thought, skeptical.
Suddenly, his limbs jerked and twitched uncontrollably, as though he'd been shocked. But in a few moments, the feeling subsided, and he felt more agile.
With his stats boosted, Jason reopened the system store and purchased [Firearms Proficiency Level 5].
[Ding! Purchase successful. Remaining points: 3]
[Firearms Proficiency: 4 → 5]
It felt as though someone had pried his mind open and stuffed it with knowledge about firearms—skills and muscle memory ingrained as if he'd practiced for years.
It was uncomfortable, like trying to cram too much into a small suitcase, but it passed quickly.
With the skills absorbed, his body adjusted as if soaking up the knowledge like a sponge.
[Host: Jason Walter]
[Level: 2 (150/2000)]
[Strength: 33]
[Agility: 35]
[Endurance: 30]
[Intelligence: 35]
[Remaining Attribute Points: 0]
[Reputation: 13]
[Points: 3]
[Abilities: Combat Proficiency (Level 4), Driving Proficiency (Level 3), Firearms Proficiency (Level 5), Cold Weapon Proficiency (Level 2)]
Jason adjusted his grip on the M4A1, feeling a newfound proficiency with firearms, "Your move, you sons of bitches."
After a brief rest, Jason's injuries had mostly healed thanks to the system's "mustard therapy" and "shock therapy."
"Jason, surrender! You're strong, but there are over twenty of us. Unless a miracle happens, you won't escape!" Shouted Vladimir from outside.
Jason scoffed, "Are you sure you have twenty left? And you might not believe it, but I think God is actually on my side."
In the previous encounter, Vladimir had already lost nine men. Including the two brothers, only fifteen gunmen remained.
Jason's taunt only enraged Anatoly, "Screw you! Forget capturing him alive, just kill him!"
Furious at losing so many men, Vladimir nodded in agreement, "Do it!"
With a wicked grin, Anatoly pulled an RPG from his pack, "Surprise, motherfcker!"
Boom!
The RPG ignited with a trail of flames, hurtling toward the ice cream shop.
Sensing danger, Jason smashed through a window on the opposite side, tumbling out just as the RPG struck.
A fiery explosion shook the ground, turning the shop into a blazing inferno.
"Crazy idiots." Jason muttered, feeling the heat above him. If he'd hesitated for even a second, he'd have been toast.
As he glanced around the empty mall, he smirked, "This is my home turf now."
Anatoly, pleased with himself, tossed aside the RPG, "We can go in and scrape up whatever's left of Jason's body."
But Vladimir, more cautious, waved a gangster forward, "Check it out. Report back."
Half a minute later, the mobster emerged, shaking his head.
"Dammit!" Anatoly swore, seething with anger, "That bastard should be dead!"
"Relax." Vladimir said calmly, "He's hurt. He won't get far."
He motioned to the others, "You two, enter the mall from different entrances. If you see Jason, shoot on sight."
"Got it!"
The gangsters nodded and split into pairs, entering the mall from various points.
"Brother, I'm going in, too." Said Anatoly, grabbing an automatic rifle.
"Be careful." Vladimir warned, "Jason's injured, but he's no ordinary opponent."
Anatoly nodded, leading another gangster through the main entrance.
---
Jason knew this mall like the back of his hand. He'd often come here to admire the local beauties, and over time, he'd become familiar with every corner.
This familiarity was the reason he hadn't taken the opportunity to escape; he intended to use the mall's layout to his advantage and launch a counterattack.
On the second floor, in an Italian restaurant, Jason sat by the window, helping himself to lamb chops and pasta left by previous customers. From here, he had a perfect view of the ground floor—an ideal spot for an ambush.
As he ate, two gangsters came into view, guns drawn and moving cautiously, backs to each other.
Jason grinned, raised his M4A1, and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The first gangster dropped instantly, blood pooling around him.
"Shit!" The second gangster panicked, looking frantically for the shooter, but he saw nothing.
Jason aimed and fired again, taking him down with another three shots.
[Ding! You killed two mobsters and gained 200 villain points. Current progress: 350/2000]
The sound of gunfire had given away Jason's position, and the remaining mobsters charged up to the second floor.
Jason hastily finished his pasta and dashed to his second ambush point.
At the emergency exit, only the dim glow of an exit sign illuminated the passage.
Jason quietly ascended to the third floor, leaning against the stairwell wall as he waited for his prey.
Footsteps echoed in the stairwell. Judging by the sound, there were four men.
They must have realized that splitting up was a mistake; now, they were moving in a group for safety.
The men approached the second-floor emergency exit, one even flashing a light up the stairwell.
Satisfied, they prepared to open the door to the second floor.
Jason moved silently down to their level.