Fai needed to hear Johnson's reasoning. And since Johnson didn't seem to be planning an attack anytime soon, Fai cautiously lowered his guard a little, though he still remained alert and prepared for any sudden movement .
"I didn't just come here for this assessment " Johnson began, his voice taking on a more soft tone. "I came here for a new start. I want to have a new beginning, make new friends and new memories. And who knows, maybe a girlfriend,"
he mumbled the last part, a slight flush creeping onto his cheeks, this little awkwardness momentarily broke through his seriousness.
"The thing is, I feel it, you're a good person, and I genuinely want us to be friends. But that wount work if you're disqualified in the second stage. Like, what are the odds of a human beating five mutants? I'm not good at math, but I'm sure it's very slim. I just don't want you to lose this stage, Fai. Believe me."
Johnson said, his voice earnest and heartfelt. He had laid all his cards on the table, expressing his deepest motivations and his genuine concern for Fai's success.
If this didn't work, he truly didn't know what else he could possibly say.
Listening to everything Johnson had to say, Fai began to give it some serious thought.
Johnson had a valid point: the odds of a human beating a mutant were, in reality, practically zero.
Mutants possessed not only their unique abilities but also strength far beyond that of a human.
Their speed, agility, and every sensory perception were superior, significantly higher than those of a human, making it such that a direct confrontation between the two a guaranteed loss for the human.
The biological advantages were undeniable, a stark reality in this world.
However, there was one crucial detail that Johnson was unaware of: Fai wasn't exactly a human, okay not anymore .
Although he physically resembled one, Fai was certain of it, if his DNA were ever tested, it would not align with that of a typical human, not that he knew what a Fairy DNA looked like .
This hidden truth could maybe increase his chances against Mutants.
But Johnson's concerns, while valid for a human, were less directly applicable to Fai himself.
But what was Fai supposed to do now? He wasn't sure.
A part of him, a cautious and hopeful part, felt like he should trust Johnson, perhaps give him a chance.
After all, Johnson's offer was incredibly generous, almost too good to refuse from a practical standpoint.
Yet, another, more dominant part of him vividly remembered all the pain and torment he had endured after trusting someone during his high school years.
Those memories were a bitter poison, making the idea of trusting anyone again a terrifying prospect.
'Hmm, what do I do?' Fai mused inwardly, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts.
'Can I trust him? Well, it's not like he's lying about the mutant disadvantage, but what if he is lieing about his intentions?'
Fai had to think carefully; he wasn't ready to make a decision he would deeply regret, not again.
The weight of past mistakes pressed down on him, urging caution.
"Fine," Fai finally stated, his voice firm, a decision made after a long internal debate.
"You can work with me, but after we get the golden coins, you are to leave, just like you said."
His voice carried an unyielding resolve, a clear boundary established from the outset.
He had considered all angles. While it was true that Johnson could potentially betray him, Fai was confident that Johnson wouldn't kill him, given the explicit rules of the assessment.
Furthermore, Fai had a contingency plan: after Johnson helped him acquire the required number of golden coins, Fai would immediately store them within his personal storage system .
That way, even if Johnson were to go back on his word and attempt to seize the coins, he wouldn't be able to access them, ensuring Fai could still make it to the finish line with his hard-won treasures.
It was a calculated risk, mitigated by his own foresight.
"Ha ha! YES!" Johnson exclaimed, his joy palpable, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I knew actions spoke louder!" he continued, absolutely thrilled that Fai had accepted his unconventional deal.
"Trust me, buddy, you are not going to regret this!" He declared, making his way toward Fai, a sense of camaraderie already forming.
'And he's going to help me complete this quest,' Fai thought, a small, inward smile gracing his lips.
And with that Fai and johnson had begun their journey to complete the second stage of the assessment.
After the imposing bald man had finished speaking, after he had meticulously outlined the rules for this second stage of the assessment, he departed the general hall, leaving the students .
It was in that moment, amidst the chaos, that Fai received a notification from his personal system.
It had assigned him a quest. However, due to the immediate and perilous nature of his surroundings, surrounded by other predatory students, he hadn't been able to properly examine its contents.
The urgency of self-preservation had overridden any curiosity.
But now, after Johnson had pulled him out of that dangerous initial confrontation , had reached an arrangement, Fai felt a renewed sense of security.
Currently, Fai was sitting, having informed Johnson that he needed a moment to rest.
The lingering effects of Johnson's mutant ability still caused a pervasive dizziness, a persistent nausea that made it difficult to focus.
Johnson, understanding the discomfort, nodded in acknowledgement. He could vividly recall his own first experience with his mutant ability.
The profound dizziness, the unsettling internal sensations, all sorts of uncomfortable feelings that had almost made him abandon using his powers altogether.
However, through relentless practice and constant use, he had gradually accustomed himself to the sensation, transforming that debilitating side effect into a manageable discomfort.
'The poor guy,' Johnson thought, observing Fai,
'I'm sure he won't even want a free ride. Just look at him staring into nothing , it's like he's lost some screws.'
Johnson, in his own way, felt a surge of sympathy for Fai's predicament.
He recognized the disorientation that came with such a powerful, yet initially jarring, ability.
Fai, however, wasn't merely staring into space.
He had realized that only him could see the system screen that materialised in front of him.
He was intently focused on the screen that had materialized before him, his personal system, which had indeed assigned him a crucial quest.
[ QUEST ]
[ YOU ARE NOW IN STAGE TWO OF THE ASSESSMENT, AND YOU ARE BEING PREYED UPON BY EVERYONE FOR YOUR GOLDEN COIN. ]
[ PROVE TO THEM THE STRENGTH OF A FAIRY: OBTAIN AS MUCH GOLDEN COIN AS YOU CAN! ]
[ REWARD ]
[ 1 COIN = 50 EXP ]
[ EACH OPPONENT DEFEATED = 50 EXP ]
[ REWARDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE QUEST STATUS IS COMPLETE. ]
[ NUMBER OF COINS OBTAINED ]
[ 1 ]
[ NUMBER OF OPPONENTS DEFEATED ]
[ 0 ]
[ NUMBER OF ACCUMULATED EXP ]
[ 50 EXP ]
[ QUEST STATUS: ONGOING ]
Fai meticulously read the quest details displayed on the screen. It was an exciting and challenging quest .
The primary objective of the quest was to acquire the golden coins that had been distributed to students upon them successful completing of the first stage.
The quest explicitly stated two primary methods for acquisition: either by defeating opponents in combat or by convincing them to willingly hand over their coins.
While the latter idea seemed highly unlikely given the cutthroat nature of the assessment, it still offered a theoretical alternative to direct confrontation.
Now that he had Johnson by his side, and with the mutually beneficial deal they had struck, Fai had a clear path to obtaining a minimum of ten golden coins.
This alone would translate into a substantial 500 experience points (EXP) for his system, all without the immediate need for him to engage in any direct combat.
It was an incredibly advantageous position, a strategic alliance that maximized his potential gains.
With this quest now clearly defined, Fai was determined to give his utmost besr to get more EXP, whether by acquiring even more golden coins beyond the agreed-upon ten or by actively seeking out and defeating opponents.
Both methods offered a significant opportunity to earn additional EXP, thereby increasing his chances of not only passing this stage but also advancing to the next level within his personal system.