Pause System: Harem In The Apocalypse

[Quest Complete]

[You have killed a Kessho]

[You have gained 120 XP]

[Quest rewards received:]

[+100 XP]

[+2 Stat points.]

[Level 6

XP Required to Level up: 280/1200

HP: 35/35

Strength: 38

Agility: 39

Stamina: 35

Sense: 27

Points available to distribute: 19]

"Can I look now?" Ria asked nervously.

Gray grabbed the bloodied corpse and threw it to the side, before crouching down before his rifle.

"Yeah." He replied coldly.

His hands were trembling slightly, but he had gotten much more use to it in comparison to before.

Ria turned around and watched as he lifted up, the sniper rifle.

It's design was interesting.

The sniper's design was strange, the design was that of a dragon's, the nuzzle being it's mouth and the rest of it's scaly body moving all the way down to the sniper rifle's heel.

It's scope on the other hand was somewhat strange, it felt like it didn't belong the sniper, it was glowing on top of that, only reassuring the fact that it felt off.

"Put this in your storage." Said Gray.

The moment he did so, he received a notification.

[You have acquired the artifact: Omniscient Optic.]

At that instant, the glowing optic dethatched itself from the Sniper, before moulding it's shape as it levitated towards Gray.

[Artifact is compatible.]

[You have the option to merge.]

[Would you like to merge with the artifact?]

"Brother, what's that?" Ria asked, surprised. "It's not going to blow up is it?" She asked worriedly, grabbing his hand just in case.

Gray shook his head and watched it levitate, he stretched his arm out towards it.

"Change shapes... To goggles." He said.

The floating glowing piece of equipment this as instructed and changed shapes into goggles.

The reason he had done so was to confirm something, now it was confirmed.

'So I don't need to merge with it, but merging with it will be a way to synchronise it with me... Is this an option only available to the system?'

Unexpectedly, the system replied.

[Due to a lack of information, I am unable to answer that question.]

[However- Merging with the artifact will allow the user to become one with the Artifact.]

[This will allow the user to harness more power from the Artifact while also using it in a more effective manner.]

"Is there a limit to the number of Artifacts I can merge with?" Gray questioned.

[There is no limit.]

[However, merging with an Artifact may lower compatibility for others.]

[User cannot merge with Artifact unless there is compatibility.]

[Equally, The user may unmerge with an Artifact if the conditions are met.]

"Gray... Who are you talking to?" Ria asked, even more frightened now.

From her perspective it looked like he was talking to the floating glowing object ahead of him.

"Don't worry, It'll be fine." He said with a smile.

"Merge." He suddenly said.

[Confirmed.]

[Artifact Merging.]

The artifact propelled itself at him like some sort of magnet, before slowly entering his forehead.

"B-Brother?!"

Ria watched filled with worry and surprise as the Artifact completely entered Gray's forehead.

[Artifact Synchronising]

[Omniscient Optic adapting to best suited form.]

Gray's eyes opened wide, a bright glow came from them as he cocked his head back.

His body began to tremble as the glow began to subside, Ria watched not knowing what to do.

The worry in her face had become more visible as she squeezed his hand tightly.

The glow flashed once more, lighting up the entire room in a green light.

Gray's head felt as if it were going to burst, he wanted to yell out in pain, but at the same time he didn't want to worry his sister anymore.

So he grit his teeth and held it in, shutting his eyes as he did so.

[Merge Complete.]

[Omniscient Optic Eye Form: Level 1]

The glow slowly faded, Gray's pants filled the room as he fell into Ria's arms.

With his eyes still shut, he tried to align his thoughts only to have them interrupted by another notification which followed after.

[Skill: Fast-Forward Is extremely compatible with the Artifact.]

[Skill and Artifact are resonating.]

*Thump* *Thump*

[Skill: Fast-Forward merging with Omniscient Optic Eye Form.]

[New Artifact Skill has been created.]

[Skill created: Future Sight: Level 1.]

Gray's eyes slowly opened. He winced, his vision was still blurry and adjusting, but he could just barely see the new tab opened in front of him.

[Artifact: Omniscient Optic Eye Form: Level 1]

[Artifact Skills]

[Zoom In and Zoom Out: Level 1.]

[X-ray: Level 1.]

[Future Sight: Level 1.]

Effect: Allows user to see up to three seconds into the future.

Created through the merging of the Artifact with Fast-Forward.

Gray took in another deep breath before chuckling.

"Maybe stealing this thing was a good idea after all..." He muttered, before slowly raising his head up to look at his sister.

Her watery eyes stared right at him in a frown.

"Sorry, did I worry you?" He asked with a smile.

"Of course you did! You idiot..." She muttered as she rubbed the tears off her eyes. Her cheeks blushed from the embarrassment.

Gray chucked and apologised once more.

"Your eye... *Sniffle* What's going on with it?" She asked as she stared at it.

There was a bit of steam coming off of his right eye. His left had it's usual yellow glow but the right...

It was glowing in a silver colour.

Upon hearing this, Gray smiled at her and said. "Different coloured eyes, I'm just like you now."

"H-How?" She asked, completely shocked.

Gray watched her reaction with an amused expression

Ria's cheeks grew even redder after realising that he was enjoying her reaction...

She looked away so that he wouldn't see.

"Idiot..." She muttered, unable to hold back a smile.

Ria grabbed the Rifle and threw it inside of her storage.

Gray went through the man's loot and didn't seem to find anything of importance, not even bullets only something which resembled a communication device.

A speaker with two buttons

[021, why haven't you made any moves?]

To their surprise, a voice suddenly came out of the device.

The two listened closely without making a sound.

[021?]

[021, Come in?]

The voice on the other end was muffled and unrecognisable.

But it was definitely a voice.

- Preview

The light in Gray's eyes grew dimmer, the air around him colder and a dark chilling aura was released as he narrowed his right silver eye narrowed slightly.

"Leave... I'm done trying to seek out peace... If you don't turn back now... Then It won't just be your army.... I'll personally go to your world and kill all of you."