Noid ran back to the coffee shop, his skin flushed as if he had a fever, and inside, it felt like a barrel of kerosene was on fire. His vision became chaotic and blurry, and his entire head was throbbing with pain.
Most drugs that instantly increase a user's strength to a certain level affect not only the body but also the nervous system, regardless of whether the effect is good or bad.
Reinforcement drugs either reinforce both the body and the nervous system, making it easier for the user to control, and this type is relatively rare and has almost no side effects. The second type only reinforces the body, which then puts a great deal of pressure on the brain and nerves.
Among these, the Potent Elixir - Berserk was considered relatively mild, with the only side effects being blurry vision and a headache.
He fumbled his way to the shop door, and just as he was about to open it, a figure appeared behind him.
"So it was you? It seems my guess was not wrong."
"Huh?"
On the way back, the after-effects of the potent elixir had subsided somewhat, so he had regained his ability to observe his surroundings. Noid was horrified. In his senses, there should have been no one here.
It was Sasha. She looked at Noid with a serious expression. To her, his caution was just child's play.
"Sasha, I..."
He didn't know how to explain this to her. The suit and the secretive behavior. But before he could explain, Sasha had turned into a blur. A direct chop "cut his signal." Before Noid could fall, she had already helped him away. She conveniently closed the coffee shop door.
...
Noid woke up, the after-effects of the potent elixir completely gone. He was looking at an unfamiliar but also very familiar ceiling. Then he looked around. This was indeed the room Sasha had brought him to two years ago, marking the first time they met.
The A.T.A Armor had been stripped off and thrown on a chair, and he was only in his regular clothes. The paralysis staff and paralysis gun were also there. He sighed. The armor, which could withstand damage up to a value of 1.5, was nothing to Sasha. It was no wonder she was a reformer with a value of 1.7 in her normal state.
Sasha opened the door and walked in. Noid unconsciously shrank back, silent, like a child caught doing something secretly by a parent.
"Breakfast?"
"Yes."
She went into the kitchen to cook, and the delicious smell of food wafted out. Noid gradually relaxed. How should he say it? He was a little lucky that it was Sasha who discovered him and not someone else.
A hearty breakfast was served. He was surprised that Sasha's cooking ability was so good. The taste was even better than the food he made.
He ate voraciously. After yesterday's fight, Noid felt extremely hungry and ate with great enthusiasm. During the meal, he timidly asked Sasha, "So... how long have you known?"
"About what? The masked vigilante helping the righteous at night, or the fact that your body is getting stronger?"
All the reasons Noid had come up with in his head instantly collapsed. He hung his head dejectedly, not realizing his concealment had failed so miserably.
"A few days ago, rumors began to spread about a person in black who hunted down the doom cult every night. From this news, of course, I didn't suspect you at all. But by coincidence, I felt a huge difference between your body before and now."
"Can reformers see through things?" Noid was speechless. Could she even see through the changes in his body?
"No, but I can feel the density of your muscles, the blood flow, and your heartbeat. These are enough. Last night was just to confirm it."
Sasha put down her bowl and looked at Noid seriously.
"Noid, I won't reveal this secret. But I'm going to ask you one question, and you absolutely... absolutely must answer honestly."
"Why... are you doing this? Noid, you know? If you didn't have that armor, you wouldn't have enough lives to die!"
Sasha's voice was no longer just serious; it was filled with anger. The atmosphere instantly froze.
"You... could die!"
Noid, for some reason, became calm. He smiled.
"But someone is calling for help."
"They are enveloped in darkness, covered in death, and infected with fear. They want to resist, but there is only despair. I want to save those people, to tell them that hope has never faded."
Noid's face was nostalgic, and a diary appeared in his hand.
"This child taught me that you don't have to be perfect to be someone else's hope. I want to be like you, Sasha. To become hope for others."
He caressed the drawing on the back cover and the words left there. Sasha was silent, then she let out a sigh.
"Fine, I won't say a word about any of your secrets."
"You're lucky we know each other. Otherwise, there would have already been an arrest warrant for suspicion of collusion with the doom cult."
"The doom cult has these tricks? Does that mean they also have reformers?"
The tension from earlier had disappeared. Sasha naturally resumed her breakfast. She also explained to Noid what the doom cult's reformed fanatics were. Since he was determined to take down the doom cult, she could only provide him with all the help she could.
According to Sasha, the doom cult's reformers were actually just a bunch of insane fanatics who tortured themselves. They implanted doom body parts into their bodies, and even replaced their original organs with doom organs. There were many more steps, but they were too disgusting for her to describe. All he needed to know was that the result was a bunch of creatures that were neither human nor doom.
Although these reformed fanatics were far inferior to reformers, and most reformed fanatics were not even as strong as normal dooms, their strength was still extremely terrifying to ordinary people.
However, most or all of their sanity was eroded by the pain of the reform. This led to a situation where most reformed fanatics only knew how to kill by instinct. When fighting them, Noid should use guerrilla tactics or long-range weapons as the best option, and avoid direct confrontation.
"Follow me. Remember to bring your armor."
"But where are we going?"
"Just come."
Noid followed Sasha out of the building and into the military district, into a spacious armored room.
"Where is this?"
"This is a training area. Noid, since you want to get involved in this vortex, you must have enough strength to protect yourself."
Sasha had changed into a tight-fitting combat suit. She stretched her hands and faced Noid. He was now wearing the A.T.A Armor, but he had taken off the helmet.
"Attack me. With all your strength."
"Okay! Be careful, Sasha."
Noid only remembered that much. After he said that, he charged forward with a fierce aura to attack. And then... there was no "and then."
"Get up."
Sasha bent down and slapped Noid's face. He shook his head and woke up, his voice stiff.
"How long... was I out?!"
"10 seconds."
"Can... can you lighten your blows a little?"
The two continued to spar. Sasha had now controlled the force of her attacks, not so strong that she would knock him unconscious, but not so weak that he wouldn't feel any pain.
"Left leg."
"Ouch... wait!!"
"Right shoulder."
"Wait, I didn't see that clearly!!!"
"Right calf, left heel, right elbow, left armpit, left hip..."
Even though he was told the attack positions beforehand, Noid couldn't block a single blow. Sasha was too fast and flexible, and her blows hurt! Fighting her, he felt like it wasn't a 1-on-1 fight, but ten Sashas ganging up on him alone. His fate was to flail his limbs for a while before hitting the floor.
"Well, it's pretty serious."
"Noid, you have almost no fighting skills, and no combat experience, whether it's against one opponent or many."
His eyes looked blankly at the ceiling, feeling that all his previous declarations were now slapping him in the face.
Even so, Noid still got up. This was not enough to make him give up.
Seeing the fighting spirit burning in his eyes, Sasha decided to train him from the most basic things.