rek’s fingers brushed over both swords before he pushed them aside with a small frown.
The first, a bone-forged blade, radiated faint traces of necrotic essence. This was clearly the sword dropped by the Stage-1 zombie Felicity had defeated, a trophy she had bled to earn.
Item Type: [Sword]
Item Na: [Poison Fang— A Stage-1 weapon, forged from the mutated femur of a Type Two zombie. This blade passively exudes a paralytic toxin. Every successful strike inflicts a slow-acting poison. Able to pierce and sever defenses of enemies up to Level 40.]
rek’s eyes narrowed as he turned to the second weapon. Sleeker. Blood-stained. A fang-shaped curved blade that whispered danger.
Item Type: [Dagger]
Item Na: Blood Fang— A Stage-1 rarity dagger forged with the crystallized blood of a Crimson Bat. Wounds inflicted by this blade bleed continuously until the victim bleeds out or is healed. Only blade-class Job holders may equip.
"Figures," rek muttered. "Of course it had to be the one from my own kill that has a job restriction."
It annoyed him. The bone sword from Felicity’s fight had no such barrier. Yet his reward ca with strings attached. It made sense from a system standpoint, sure—but that didn’t an he wouldn’t grumble a bit.
Shaking off the annoyance, he moved on and picked up the torch.
Simple. Wooden. Runes etched along its surface. The kind of thing people would overlook. But the mont he fed a little essence into it, the runes pulsed faintly.
Item Type: [Torch]
Item Na: Everburn— Unclassified rarity torch that stores essence to remain lit for 24 hours once fully charged.
[Skill – Warding Fla: When waved, summons a 2-ter tall circular wall of fire within a 100-ter radius. Harmless to allies. Scorching and blinding to enemies.]
rek blinked. He hadn’t expected sothing so tactically valuable from a dieval stick wrapped in runed cloth.
’A defense-type treasure,’ he thought. ’Perfect for protecting the people and blocking waves... not really for .’
Telekinesis could still counter it easily. And Felicity could blink past the flas. He didn’t know about the rest of the group yet. Still, it was sothing to hold onto. If nothing else, it was a safeguard.
Next, he reached for the scroll and unraveled it.
[You have discovered a skill: Bronze Arms— An active Stage-1 rarity skill that temporarily fortifies the user’s arms in enchanted bronze. Repels small and mid-caliber projectiles. Doubles arm strength while active.]
rek gave a soft scoff. The image of that thug from the Howling Moon Gang resurfaced in his mind< the one who’d used gold to coat his arms. Bronze Arms wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t his style.
Finally, he turned his attention to the crossbow. Now this felt like sothing forged to kill.
It glead red like a forge ember, its limbs lined with glowing runes. Sleek. Modernized. Compact.
Item Type: [Crossbow]
Item Na: Blazing Inferno— Stage-1 rarity. Fires bolts capable of inflicting 3rd-degree burns and piercing through the armor of level 50 existences.
[Skill – Rain of Fire: Once per day, a single bolt multiplies into ten fiery projectiles, striking as one to amplify total damage. All bolts revert into one upon hitting the target.]
rek tapped the trigger housing thoughtfully.
A true killing tool.
He looked back at the table, eyes drifting over the leftover items. All had their strengths.
"I’ll take the crossbow," rek said, lifting Blazing Inferno with both hands. The weapon felt solid, balanced like a predator in waiting.
Without a word, Felicity reached out and claid Blood Fang, her eyes glinting faintly at the deadly elegance of the curved blade. Nero took the remaining sword, Poison Fang and, without hesitation, walked over and pressed it into her hands.
rek leaned against the wall, arms crossed, one brow raised as he watched "lover boy" try to win her over. Nero didn’t miss a beat. Always attentive. Always supportive. A smart man, rek had to admit.
’Knows his strengths. And he’s using them well,’ rek thought, clicking his tongue.
"The torch," Professor David said, drawing the room’s attention, "should remain with the group. It’ll serve everyone in tis of danger."
He then turned to rek and held up the final scroll, the one that held the Bronze Arms skill. "As for this, I believe it suits Fred."
rek squinted slightly, locking eyes with the professor. "What about you?"
A soft chuckle escaped David’s lips. "I’ve lost an arm, rek. It’s better I take the Chaos Skill. At least I can still be useful to the group."
rek pushed off the wall, standing straight. The others in the room went still.
"What?!" Felicity exclaid, voice filled with alarm and disbelief.
"There might be a skill out there that can restore your arm!" she added quickly, her voice rising, desperate.
"There might be," Professor David agreed, nodding gently. "But this is my choice. If I can replicate the Bronze Arms skill or even the crossbow, we improve our chances dramatically. Think about it."
He swept his gaze across the room. "We’re stranded in a dead place with a cursed forest on our doorstep. The food truck is gone. We’re running on fus. No food. No clean water. No shelter. And no light for the night."
He turned his eyes back to rek. "If there’s another Blazing Inferno, we can defend the base. Then you can go out with your knights, Tevin, and even Fred to scavenge. The group needs options, not hope alone."
rek’s voice dropped, low and strained. "Old man... You won’t be able to walk."
"I’m sixty, rek," David said quietly. "I’ve already lived through wars, disease, heartbreak... Maybe it’s ti I gave my legs to give these kids a future."
He smiled faintly, gesturing to the scroll. "Just make sure you get a good wheelchair."
The scroll in his hand pulsed, once, before releasing a flash of deep violet light that illuminated the entire room.
"No!" rek’s voice roared out, but he was too late. He didn’t even know the professor had laid his hand on the scroll while he was speaking with them.
The light faded.
Nero lunged forward, catching the professor as he slumped. He gently sat him on the edge of the bed, easing him against the headboard as the elder man’s breath grew shaky.
Everyone stood frozen. Felicity’s hand clutched her blade tighter. Yuki’s ghastly eyes didn’t even flicker.
And rek... stood silently, jaw tight, as he stared at the man who just sacrificed mobility for everyone else’s survival.
"Argh!"
A piercing scream split the night, sharp and sudden. The unmistakable sound of shattering glass rang out, followed imdiately by more panicked cries.
rek rushed to the window, his heart pounding as his hand shoved the curtain aside. His golden eyes narrowed sharply.
At the third house, just beside theirs, chaos had erupted.
Dozens of mosquitoes, each one the size of a fist, sward through broken windows like a living storm, their wings buzzing with a sound that scraped against the nerves. Outside, students flailed and scread, so slapping wildly at their arms and necks as crimson spots blood where the pests had struck.
One girl tripped near the window, clutching her throat, eyes wide in silent horror as six of these creatures latched onto her body, sucking her dry in seconds!
"This isn’t good," rek growled, stepping back from the window. He turned toward the others. "We need to move. Now."
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