[What can I do for you, Mr. Brighton?]
"Tell me how to get stronger so I can save this city and eventually the world," I said as I clenched my fists.
[How about I explain on the way?]
Before I could react, a massive branch hit me in the back with a body crushing force that shot me out of the hole in the wall into the open air at breakneck speeds.
I tumbled through the air, spinning and then dropping. This guy was a lunatic; there was no doubt about it. I crashed into the pavement, bouncing and hitting a parked car, and then the pavement again.
I groaned but easily pushed myself back up from the ground as my body healed the cuts I received. I actually felt better after that, and the fresh sun on my face felt great.
[That's because the ultraviolet rays are the secret to your power, but not your only source. There are many advantages to the Evergrowth System, but the strongest for you will be your adaptive growth. The more you get hurt, the stronger you will become. This is why your body looks better after being slapped two miles!]
"Dan! Is that you?! Please help my father!" Anya's voice called from behind me in a frantic voice, and I turned to the Bookstore.
Anya was in the entrance with tears in her blue eyes, her white hair streaming down and out of her white parka. I rushed over to her, but she looked frantic, but that was when I saw the foot sticking out from behind the counter.
I didn't ask; I just pushed Anya gently out of the way and rushed into the shop.
Mr. Holdt was lying in a pool of his own blood, but he was still breathing. Suddenly, Darius coughed and rolled to his side as he spat out blood with a deep groan.
"Boy. You are early, but I think it's too late for me. I want you to talk care of, cough cough, my girl. Promise me that!" Darius rasped at me, but I already was moving his hand from the leaking blood wound.
"Just be quiet. Anya would never forgive you if you died, you idiot!"
[External repairs activated.]
Green light emitted from my hand, and the blood stopped pumping out of the wound as it closed.
"What are you doing to dad?!" As I finished, Anya asked from behind me, and Darius looked up at me, stunned.
"What did you just do to me?! I don't feel any pain! I actually feel better than I did before!" Darius explained, and I nodded as I stood back up, offering my hand to help him up.
Anya rushed around me and hugged her father, who wrapped his arms around her. The two stayed like that for a moment longer, but then both looked at me with scared looks.
"I am sure that you all have many questions, but I just don't have the time. If this happened to you at a bookstore, then it would be worse deeper in the city. Go to my apartment, and I will meet you there but be careful! The world became a dangerous place overnight, more so than even in human history. There is a massive tree where my apartment was; enter it, and follow the tree's directions," I explained, and the two just looked at me dumbfounded.
"Are you going to get Katie and Melody?" Anya asked me, and I nodded.
"Yeah, there is also a girl named Amy at the tree, so she will show you around," I said, and suddenly Anya broke from her father and wrapped her arms around me, and my nose was filled with the sweet scent of her hair.
"You two seem pretty close?" Darius asked, giving me a look, and I stiffened.
Darius didn't know that I was bonking his daughter yet, but it looked like there was no point in denying it. I was about to say something, but then Anya surprised me.
"Dan and I are seeing each other, but he doesn't have time to talk about that right now, right, Dan?!" Amy said, turning back to give me a look that said I should leave her to this mess, and I nodded.
"Yes, I have people to save and such! I will talk more at the house!" I said and booked it out of the shop.
That was not really how I wanted to tell my boss about his daughter, but it was the end of the world. If there was a choice, I would have never brought it up.
Since Anya was supposed to be leaving, I thought we were just a fling. There was no point in getting worked up over it, and I did just save his life, so he should give me a bit of a break.
[Very nice! See?! This is the kind of stuff that I am talking about! Go collect more plant types and your harem! Looks like you are starting to take this seriously now! Exciting!]
"Just throw me again. Katie is the closest, and I have to help everyone in the best way that I can, but I need you to tell me what to do, or at least guide me!" I growled, and I heard laughter in my head.
[Sure, you need to scan living organisms, and from there, you will be able to mentally instruct them. Once you gain enough, you will have a growth spurt, and your range and control will increase, along with your resistance and strength. My System is all about rewarding you for showing me new discoveries that I might find interesting. I will also reward you if you create amazing things like the tree living area. Knowledge shall be your reward.]
That was an interesting deal, and I required the info, but I needed more than just a one-sided bribe that should be offered for free! I turned to look at the tree closest to me and walked over, pressing my hand to the trunk.
I sent my thoughts from it to the other trees on the way to my place. I asked them to protect Darius and Anya, but I would have to ask who attacked them later.
I next told the tree to throw me fifteen blocks, and the tree did as I asked, but in a way, that was better. The tree wrapped around my waist and then hurled me into the air like a javelin.