Second Genesis

’Technician?’

The listing was slotted under what the tutorial called "non-combat specialists." The overall sub-category was listed as "Paths," and it seemed it was there to try and introduce candidates and players to various methods of succeeding during the Genesis Games.

It seemed that not everyone had to become some field general or warlord.

Grey quickly read over the introduction, and his expression only became uglier and uglier as he did so.

The problem wasn’t entirely being a technician itself. Honestly, the introduction sounded a lot like being a mechanic, and he had always loved working on cars.

The problem was that this wasn’t a Mustang or some old beat-up Ferrari—it was alien technology that was intertwined with biology. Grey’s understanding of biology started and ended at knowing he had to wrap his little junior up if he wanted to avoid the chance of it falling off. How the hell was he supposed to do any of this?

’Dammit, dammit, dammit.’

He cursed furiously.

Grey was in a rush, and the agitation was only making his fuse shorter. He took deep breaths before he finally managed to soothe his heart just a bit.

A technician, according to this thing, was a crafter of sorts. But they were focused on the integration of technology with its users.

For whatever reason, the introduction spoke of it like it was an entry-level position, as though becoming a technician was just putting your foot in the door toward a path that led to something much larger.

However, it didn’t mention what this "much larger" "something" was.

All it gave was a vague introduction, and then it tagged a map of a city. It pinned down what looked like three locations one could go to in the city to learn how to be a technician, but the problem was that these places didn’t open up until you were acknowledged by the city first.

And in order to be acknowledged by the city, you needed to first complete your registration.

Somehow, Grey needed to do all that while hoping the producers of this death game didn’t randomly decide to target him again. But could he even register?

Grey had registered before. The process was much longer than just opening the safe room door, and even that had nearly burnt him to a crisp.

But that had been with May’s Nexis Suit. If what he had learned about these suits was true, then it probably wouldn’t work with Ray’s.

However, how could he stupidly put himself in a situation where he would end up being public enemy number one again?

Grey was about to start cursing again when he stopped himself, gritting his teeth hard.

’Stop bitching. Let’s go.’

He still didn’t know what he was going to do, but he knew that it would start with being faster.

If he could get first place in his finish timer, then maybe the reward might give him what he needed.

Grey was about to leave when one last thing caught his attention.

Rare Instances.

Curiosity got the best of him, and he clicked through and saw a list of things that could count. It also explained how Rare Instances were among the matters that interested the audience the most, and triggering them was the best way to grow a fanbase, interest, and maybe even earn sponsors later on.

Grey shook his head. He wasn’t going to be a dancing monkey for these people. If he wasn’t pissing them off, he was doing something wrong.

However, before he closed it down, he saw one other thing.

Genesis Instances.

’Not listed amongst the inventory...? wait, how could something the hosts didn’t put into the game appear?’

Compared to Rare Instances, Genesis Instances were like steroids for your popularity. In fact, those with Genesis Instances were more likely to survive because the Producers would bend the rules to keep them alive for as long as possible.

Grey felt like there was a big matter here that he didn’t understand. Were the Genesis Games not artificially created by the people running it?

Unfortunately, there was no answer here.

After finding what he needed, Grey didn’t waste any more time on the tutorial. He had learned his lesson already and didn’t trust a single damn thing these people said. It was also why he didn’t bother reading the rules.

Who cared about rules when they just broke them whenever they felt like it anyway?

His best chance was to adapt—and adapt faster than anyone else.

And piss off a few people.

Both figuratively and literally.

...

Grey left the tutorial.

"Hello. Please have a seat. I now have to introduce you to the safe room shop—"

Grey ignored the barkeep and directly left. When his vision cleared from the teleportation, he heard a familiar chittering and swung Ray’s long sword on instinct.

Two heads flew, the slice so clean the leaking of their blood was delayed for at least a second or two.

Bending down, Grey snagged their daggers and stuffed them into the line of his boxers. Since he could throw with more accuracy now thanks to the Mental Enhancement, he might as well take advantage.

Speed was the name of the game.

Grey burst into an all-out sprint, his hair and his floral suit whipping in the wind.

Planting a foot, he rounded a corner hard as he pulled a knife from his waist. A jolt ran through his arm and up his body, a separate spike of pain coming from his burnt arm in response, but he grit through it.

’I can’t throw it from this far out.’

Grey somehow innately knew that if he did, it would veer off course and he would fail. The dagger wasn’t balanced enough.

But by the time he finished his thoughts... he could.

Chi.

The dagger rocketed out of his palm, spinning end over end just as a goblin turned to face him.

It didn’t get a chance to react before it had a hilt sticking out of its eye socket.

Grey swept by its companions, taking its head off with his long sword and sprinting right by.