"Where can we find the minions?" I didn't think that Zarod would have such a thing. This would make the game harder to accomplish than it already is.
"I can detect some of them in Dark Street near the hotel." First can see the mission objectives of the game on his screen. He discusses everything with me in detail and asks for my opinion regarding it.
"For now, our first mission is to kill all of his minions. Zarod has minions, that's why he can murder his victims stealthily without any trace, witnesses, and even the police can't capture him."
So, that's the purpose of his minions. That'll be a tough one. Just when I thought we could charge Zarod, his minions interfere with the major mission.
"How can we fight them?" I'm starting to get anxious about this. After all, I am not used to fighting in real life. I don't even play video games.
"There are weapons in your inventory. I'll select one of them and be in charge of your motion for combat fighting." I sighed. "Don't worry, they're just a bunch of small fry." First reassured me that he will do his best in maneuvering my weapon and movements.
I have turned off our communication to save time. I peeked out the window, and it was still a bit snowy, so I put on a jacket, bonnet, scarf, and gloves. My wound is getting a good recovery since it was just minor. It healed more quickly than expected but there was still a trace of scratches. I took my room's key card and left the hotel. I told First that we will talk later when I go to the Dark Street he mentioned. I insisted on moving on my own until we find the Dark Street then First can freely control me if there's an attempt at an enemy attack. He agreed as long as I'm good with it.
There are people outside walking, strolling their pets, and driving their cars. Everything seems normal. I can ask someone where Dark Street is. I was still walking around and looking for signage of what the streets are called, but I couldn't find one.
"Young lady, are you asking where that street is?" an old man approached and asked me. He is carrying an old basket and he wears dirty clothes.
"Ah, yes. I am kind of lost in here," I chuckled. "Why do the streets here not have signages?" I asked him since I pondered why I see no single street labels here.
"There was an incident here. Several houses and properties were damaged." That's why some of the lots here are empty, rugged, and unused. "What street are you looking for?"
"The Dark Street"
"Come, I'll lead you." I felt sorry for the old man, so I helped him walk because he was limping. I carried his basket, which was quite heavy. I looked around. When the old man said that there was an incident, it didn't seem to be obvious at first glance because there are few establishments and houses with several people living in them. I thought they might have fixed and renovated their properties before the signages.
"Here we are."
Absorbed by my thoughts, it wasn't long enough, and we reached the destination. We are now in the so-called Dark Street. I got weirded out when my hair stood on end. The aura here is a bit eerie compared to the previous streets we've passed. There are no people except the two of us.
This must be called Dark Street for a reason.
"Thank you for guiding me here," I gave him the basket I carried.
"Bwahahaha!"
I was surprised by the old man's laughter. It took him for a while before he stopped. I feel awkward and shy. He grabbed his basket when he stared at me. A stern pair of brown eyes are currently staring at me that stoned me. Wait, those eyes with that kind of stare, I've seen that before…That laugh… Zarod? No, Zarod's eyes in his real form have bright red eyes. But why do I get the same Zarod vibe as this old man?
I was even more surprised by his transformation. He got taller and looks younger aged 16-18 years old. His eyes became pure black staring deadly at me. He is now has a body of an ordinary young man. I think his eyes are the only part that didn't change. My eyes widened when I saw that there were two... four... They became six! Six of them came out from his back. They all look alike, a total of six clones. They are dressed in a black cloak. I immediately bit my lower lip once.
"First!" I shrieked into thin air as the seven monsters surrounded me with their deadly stare.
Is this really the Dark Street? Or did the old man lure me here? This is quite an isolated area.
"Second, be calm as much as you can. We are now facing them." Thank goodness, First is here with me.
"Them?" I pondered. Who are 'them'?
"The minions"
"Eh?!" the old man that turned himself into a younger version and cloned himself into six are Zarod's minions? There are seven of them. First and I was the only two. "What now?" I admit that I've no idea in my mind right now. This is so sudden!
"Try asking them what they want."
I inhaled and exhaled to compose myself. "Y-You are Zarod's henchmen, right?" I boldly questioned them.
"We are! And we're here to kill you!" a fiendish, strange voice came out to one of them who spoke.
"I am activating your weapon... Okay, grenade, pistol, bow, and arrow, or a sword?"
I thought for a moment as the seven gradually approached me and planned to corner me. I also backed away while sweating from the cold.
"I don't know anything about that. Anything will work."
I knelt quickly to pick up the metal scrap beside my feet after I stepped backward to near myself in a trash bin. I swayed it up and down, left and right to the seven minions, but they weren't threatened even for a bit. They just grinned and stared at me sharply.
"I think the pistol will suit you-"
"Hurry up, First!"
One minion started attacking me with his fist targeting my face. I dodged it… No, First made me dodge it. I sighed with relief because he can successfully control being in the middle of a battle.
"There's a problem. I can't click the pistol as your weapon. I already tried others still can't."
What is the meaning of this?! The minion continued beating me up but First is good at keeping me out from those punches.
"There's a dialogue box. It says, 'solve the riddle first to activate the weapon that the system has chosen for the player'." First is confused as well.
"What riddle? Tell me," I requested. "Ah!"
I was staggered at the speed of events. Another minion attacked me, so I closed my eyes, but I saw myself using my two hands to block the two clone's fists.
"First?" I called him for a follow-up about the riddle he mentioned. For now, we can fight some of them with pure combat, but we will be needing weapons to outdo all of them.
"Because of the stupid system thing, I'll control you by combating without using any weapons for a while. While they're attacking you, I'll control your movements and solve the riddle."
The two clones backed away because I pushed them—of course, it was First.
Wait, he's controlling me, and he'll solve the riddle at the same time? Will be able to fight seven of them even without a weapon. Moreover, First will have a hard time controlling me as he solves the riddle. As I observe myself, I feel like I am doing some sort of mixed martial arts with an empty hand. The two of them continue to attack while the remaining five remained standing on the side. We're already having a hard time defeating the two what more if the seven will attack simultaneously? First and I continue to cast defense to counter their attacks.