"Where can we find the minions?" Second 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," he replied.
First can see the mission objectives of the game on his screen. He discusses everything with her in detail and asks for her 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 she thought they could charge Zarod, his minions interfered with the major mission.
"How can we fight them?" She's starting to get anxious about this. After all, she is not used to fighting in real life. She doesn'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."
She sighed.
"Don't worry, they're just a bunch of small fries," he reassures her that he would do his best in maneuvering her weapon and movements.
She has turned off their communication to save time. She peeked out the window, and it was still a bit snowy, so she put on a jacket, bonnet, scarf, and gloves. Her 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. She took her room's key card and left the hotel. She told First that they will talk later when she goes to the Dark Street he mentioned. She insisted on moving on her own until they find Dark Street, then First can freely control her if there's an attempt at an enemy attack. He agreed as long as she's good with it.
There are people outside walking, strolling their pets, and driving their cars. Everything seems normal. She can ask someone where Dark Street is. She was still walking around and looking for signage of what the streets are called, but she couldn't find any.
"Young lady, are you asking where that street is?" an old man approached and talked to her. He is carrying an old basket, and he wears dirty clothes.
"Ah, yes. I am kind of lost in here," she tittered. "Why do the streets here not have signage?" she asked him since she pondered why she saw 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."
She felt sorry for the old man, so she helped him walk because he was limping. She carried his basket, which was quite heavy. She looked around. When the old man confirmed 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. She thought they might have fixed and renovated their properties before the signage.
"Here we are."
Absorbed by her thoughts, it wasn't long enough, and they reached the destination. They are now in the so-called Dark Street. She got weirded out when her hair stood on end. The aura here is a bit eerie compared to the previous streets they've passed. There are no people except the two of them.
This must be called Dark Street for a reason.
"Thank you for guiding me here," She gave him the basket she carried.
"Bwahahaha!"
Second staggered by the old man's laughter. It took him a while before he stopped. She feels awkward and shy. He took his basket when he stared at her. A stern pair of brown eyes is currently staring at her, which stoned her. Wait, those eyes with that kind of stare, she's seen that before…That laugh…
Zarod?
No, Zarod's eyes in his real form are bright red eyes. But why do I get the same Zarod vibe as this old man?
She's more stupefied by his transformation. He got taller and looks younger, aged 16-18 years old. His eyes became those of an ordinary young man. She thinks his eyes are the only part that didn't change.
Her eyes widened when she 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. She abruptly bit her lower lip once.
"First!" she shrieked into thin air as the seven monsters surrounded her 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 her.
"Them?" she pondered.
Who are 'them'?
"The minions"
"Eh?!"
The old man who turned himself into a younger version and cloned himself into six, are they Zarod's minions? There are seven of them. First, and she was only two.
"What now?" She admits that she has no idea in her mind right now. This is so sudden!
"Try asking them what they want."
Second inhaled and exhaled to compose herself. "Y-You are Zarod's henchmen, right?" She 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, arrow, or a sword?"
She thought for a moment as the seven gradually approached her and planned to corner her. She also backed away while sweating from the cold.
"I don't know anything about that. Anything will work."
She knelt quickly to pick up the metal scrap beside her feet after she stepped backward to near herself in a trash bin. She 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 her sharply.
"I think the pistol will suit you-"
"Hurry up, First!"
One minion started attacking her with his fist, targeting her face. She dodged it… No, First made her dodge it. She sighed with relief because he could 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, but still can't."
What is the meaning of this?! The minion continued beating her up, but First is good at keeping her out of 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," She requested. "Ah!"
She staggered at the speed of events. Another minion attacked her, so she closed her eyes, but she saw herself using her two hands to block the two clones' fists.
"First?" She called him for a follow-up about the riddle he mentioned. For now, they can fight some of them with pure combat, but they will need 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 she pushed them—of course, it was First.
Wait, he's controlling her, 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 her as he solves the riddle. As she observes herself, she feels like she is doing some sort of mixed martial arts with an empty hand. The two of them continue to attack while the remaining five remain standing on the side. They're already having a hard time defeating the two; what more if the seven will attack simultaneously? She and First continue to cast defense to counter their attacks.