Chapter 10: Bismark Bounty 3

Etherian abilities are incredible in a way that they can use the ether that appeared in the world to conjure weaves that creates an effect. A combination of these weaves could produce a ball of fire or an arrow made of lightning.

Etherian-humans are mutated, humans. The difference was that normal humans needed to nurture their bodies while Etherian-Humans are far durable than normal humans.

They also have ether skin that allows them to resist elements and protect themselves from physical and mental attacks.  Ether skin is the third skin that they naturally possess, a dim glow that covers their skin, and this allows them to manifest their etherian abilities without burning their skin or electrifying their bodies.

On Jakob's past life, five years after the arrival of many who possessed etherian abilities that the Wetlands Campaign started. It also gave birth to the conflict that gave way for bounty hunters to kill dangerous Etherians.

Those who have 'Demon' and 'Valkyrie' titles are dangerous Etherians. They are on another level compared to the superhuman Etherians who possessed the abilities.

To compete with Etherians, one needs to have enough power to break through their third skin. Jakob grew up fighting Etherians, and they have weaknesses as well.

Etherians are mentally and physically capable. However, they are susceptible to poison and toxic agents. Etherians can survive and resist poison. One case Jakob remembered was an Etherian adapting to the poison, instead of killing the Etherian, the Etherian endured, and grew resistant to the poison.

Jakob knew poison well, considering that he survived until the end of the world. To fight Etherians, one must never engage them while they are capable of manifesting their abilities. Not to mention that their 'ether-skin' could allow them to project an outer shell. The stronger the Etherian is, the harder their ether-skin are. Their abilities can kill any fool who doesn't know how to fight one.

Jakob lived long enough to know which are the right tools to kill an etherian. Angry didn't mean he was going to charge an etherian without procuring the right tools for the job. Anti-etherian materials aren't going to appear until later, and knowing how they would eventually become sparse, Jakob thought to himself that he might as well use his materials to create those devices.

Still, on Haven's workstation, Jakob took an empty .50 bullet with microprocessors with steering vanes that could alter the trajectory of the bullet mid-flight. He made four .50 bullets for different effects.

The bullets are incendiary, explosive, flash, and gas. He also bought a  gas respirator just in case he needed to fire the poisoned gas bullet within a short distance.

Jakob arranged the knockout and poisoned gas he bought from underground sellers that he remembered. He didn't have the cred, but the credits spoke for him.

After mixing the knockout and poisoned gas, he made sure that the .50 bullet wouldn't produce an implosion. Jakob admitted that he was no mechanic, and his knowledge came from a time where things were desperate, and none wanted to waste resources on testing. Either the bullet worked or not.

On the workstation was a cutter sword envenomed with poison. A canister filled with the same poison, and on the side was a modified grappler stake that could support a ton of weight.

Jakob also wore a mediumweight exosuit with plated body armor and equipped with an exoskeleton that allows him to carry his equipment with ease.

The Karnifex could carry the weight of his equipment. He only intended the Karnifex for a way to escape pursuit, knowing that his target has a security detail.

Armed to the teeth, Jakob looked at the credit balance of his account and shook his head. The rest of the credits were sent to Dona in case he wouldn't make it.

As Jakob pondered on his routine path, he heard the door behind him open. Turning around, he saw Helga amble inside the workstation room, eyeing his appearance.

"You are serious about this," Helga said. "Facing an Etherian like that with a level three security detail, do you think you'll be able to get close?"

"He'll be attending a weapon's show, that alone makes people think that he's safe from someone just because he's in an event. People tend to assume that a weapon show has enough security detail when the truth is that they are too busy guarding the weapons they are showing, and the event alone is a deterrent for anyone."

"But not you?"

Jakob nodded. Helga leaned on the workstation, staring at the 3D map that Jakob deployed, and at the four .50 bullets, he laid on the table.

"If you succeed, you'll go straight to one of our tops. We can even give you some benefits, Jakob."

"We can talk about benefits if I ever succeed in killing him."

"True, none have killed an etherian before, and they are the most promising individuals that support the back of our government. Most of the Outriders rely on their strength to scout lost territories, and they have brought prestige."

"Miss Helga," Jakob adjusted the scope of the rifle loaned to him, "do you think that they are good people?"

"They are human."

"They are indeed human in the end, and it doesn't matter if someone does it first or not. I am just taking the first shot."

"Hmm," Helga leaned on the wall, raising her breasts. "I hope you succeed, Jakob Recker.  It would be a shame if you were all talk."

Jakob didn't reply. He sorted the items on the table, inserted it into his webbing, and slung the rifle to his back. Helga followed Jakob to the garage. He started the engine of the Karnifex. Checked on the fuel, adjust the steering vanes, and radioed for Helga to stand back.

Knocking on the cockpit of the Karnifex, Helga gave Jakob a thumbs-up before taking a step on the side of the garage. Nodding at Helga, Jakob pushed the steering wheel, started the boosters of the Karnifex, and launched straight to the airspace of Aured.