Chapter 19: Firearms Proficiency LV1

Under the moonlight, Lin Yi carried Alice on his back, weaving nimbly through the outstretched hands of the zombie horde like Batman.

His movements were swift and agile; every leap and dodge appeared effortless.

The surrounding infected roared in pursuit, yet they could never manage to touch him.

At that moment, the group on the first floor of the apartment also heard the gunshots from Kota Hirano.

Upon learning that Lin Yi had gone out to save the little girl, Saeko Busujima picked up her white camphor wood sword, preparing to go out and support him.

She was wearing only a naked apron, as her school uniform was tumbling in the washing machine. There weren't many clothes in the apartment, so Saeko could only use this outfit to cover herself for the time being.

Just as Saeko was about to head out, Lin Yi's figure suddenly appeared in everyone's sight.

Carrying Alice on his back, he easily leaped over the perimeter wall and ran toward the apartment.

Seeing this, Saeko quickly jumped down from the second floor and arrived at the apartment's iron gate.

She brandished her white camphor wood sword, clearing away the infected gathered at the entrance one by one.

Her movements were clean and decisive, every strike landing accurately on the vital points of the infected.

Under Saeko's cover, Lin Yi successfully jumped down from the wall with Alice on his back.

He took a breath and forcefully threw an alarm clock onto a street several hundred meters away.

As the alarm rang, the surrounding infected gradually retreated, drawn away by the sound.

Lin Yi took the opportunity to slam the iron gate shut, gesturing for Alice to follow closely behind Saeko into the house.

[System Prompt: Side Quest 'Kota Hirano's Request' has been completed]

[Reward Issued: Contractor has obtained Firearms Proficiency LV1, automatically stored in Personal Space.]

Hearing the system prompt, Lin Yi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After entering the room, Lin Yi waved his hand, a hint of fatigue visible on his face.

He truly needed a good rest; although his movement through the zombie horde looked easy and relaxed, it had actually consumed an immense amount of physical strength.

Holding Alice, Saeko Busujima exuded an aura of a *Yamato Nadeshiko*, making people feel warm and secure.

She said softly to Lin Yi, "Go rest quickly. If you're hungry, come find me in my room later; I'll go to the kitchen to cook for you."

Lin Yi nodded. He took off his blood-stained clothes and threw them into the laundry basket.

Then, he walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and let the hot water wash over his weary body.

Feeling the warmth of the water, Lin Yi couldn't help but let out a satisfied hum.

He lay quietly in the bathtub, feeling the comfort and relaxation brought by the hot water.

However, his mind was not entirely immersed in this tranquility; the mission reward was still stored in his Personal Space.

With a thought, Lin Yi retrieved the mission reward from his Personal Space—Firearms Proficiency LV1.

A piece of parchment appeared in his hand, covered in ancient characters and patterns, emitting a mysterious aura.

[Firearms Proficiency]

Origin: Derived from numerous worlds involving firearms combat

Level: Proficiency

Category: Skill-based Ability (Skill levels are divided into: Basic, Proficiency, Expertise, Master, etc. The higher the level, the higher the growth potential and practicality.)

Effect: Upon use, the user immediately masters Firearms Proficiency Lv.1, gaining fundamental principles of firearm usage, shooting techniques, and maintenance knowledge, reaching the Proficiency level.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yi used the Firearms Proficiency scroll.

As the scroll was used, a powerful stream of information surged into his mind, as if a door to the world of firearms had been opened.

[You have used the Firearms Proficiency Scroll, transferring knowledge...]

In the bathtub, Lin Yi closed his eyes, allowing the knowledge to flow through his brain.

Pistols, rifles, sniper rifles... the construction, usage methods, and shooting techniques of various firearms were presented one by one in his consciousness.

He could even feel the influence of different wind speeds on bullet trajectories, and how to adjust his breathing and posture while shooting.

Two minutes seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Lin Yi opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with an unprecedented light.

He felt as if he had become one with firearms, his understanding of them reaching a whole new height.

"It's truly magical; it feels as if I've actually used guns for a long time," Lin Yi muttered to himself, an expression of disbelief on his face.

He recalled the gun cabinet he and Kota Hirano had pried open earlier; looking at those firearms now, his perspective had completely changed.

Opening his skill list, Lin Yi saw that "Firearms Proficiency" was prominently listed.

If an NTW-20 anti-materiel sniper rifle were placed before him right now, Lin Yi believed he would not only be able to use it skillfully but could even disassemble and reassemble it.

[Firearms Proficiency: LV.1 (Passive)]

Skill Effect: Increases the attack power of firearm-type weapons by 10% (achieved through precise strikes on weak points and optimized ballistic prediction, rather than a direct increase in the firearm's base lethality), while significantly enhancing proficiency with various firearms, allowing the holder to excel in shooting speed, accuracy, and handling various combat scenarios.

For Lin Yi, the attack power increase provided by the Firearms Proficiency skill was a good bonus, but more critical was the profound knowledge and superb skill it bestowed upon him regarding firearms.

An amateur using a firearm might simply pull the trigger, but Lin Yi could now flexibly choose firearms, adjust shooting parameters, and even perform rapid reloads and troubleshooting based on different situations.

At the same time, he could quickly master and maximize the performance of different models and functions of firearms.

Lin Yi rose from the bathtub, dried himself off, and changed into the clean bathrobe Saeko had prepared for him.

Takashi Komuro and Kota Hirano were currently comforting Alice in the first-floor lobby; the second floor was empty.

He walked over to the NTW-20 anti-materiel sniper rifle, a sense of familiarity welling up in his heart.

With a light shake of his hands, the sniper rifle instantly turned into a pile of parts.

Lin Yi's eyes revealed focus and confidence. He skillfully assembled the parts, and before long, the NTW-20 anti-materiel sniper rifle was successfully reassembled.

After a careful inspection, Lin Yi found that the parts of this sniper rifle were very well-maintained, with no issues whatsoever.

This made him feel appreciative of Kaori Nanari's usual attitude toward firearm maintenance.

Lin Yi walked to the windowsill and steadily mounted the sniper rifle.

Through the scope, Lin Yi could clearly see the intense battle taking place on the bridge.

The police were not only using firearms but also deploying incendiary bombs and bulldozers in an attempt to hold the defensive line.

The infected launched continuous attacks, turning the bridge into a war of attrition.

Lin Yi shook his head; he understood that it was only a matter of time before this defensive line was breached. He had to leave this place as soon as possible tomorrow.

The night passed quietly, and Lin Yi lay in bed and had a good sleep.

(End of Chapter)