Status
HP: 23/28
MP: 08/12
SP: 20/28
Level 05 (365/600)
STRENGTH: 22
P. Attack: 23 + 12
VITALITY: 02
P. Defense: 3 + 12
AGILITY: 02
Movement Speed: 6 meters per second
INTELLIGENCE: 4
M. Attack: 5
DEXTERITY: 3
M. Defense: 5
LUCK: 5
Range: 6 meters
Free Points: 00
Spiritual Coins: 158
Social Status
Level 03 (50/350)
Karma: 00
Intimidation: 02
Charisma: 05
Persuasion: 05
Insight: 05
Perception: 05
Presence: 03
Allies: 25
Enemies: 01
Skill List
Magic: Fireball Lv 01,
Physical: Bash Lv 01, Dash Lv 01,
Passive:
Production:
"As expected, my social status leveled up thanks to my 'allies,'" Bruce nodded to himself. "That being said. I still didn't notice any difference. Regardless, the next quest is a bit troublesome… but I need its reward."
Bruce was someone who always lived on neutrality, so he couldn't care less about making friends or enemies. However, he would lose a lot by making too many enemies. Still, he also would waste a lot of time if the only method of making allies was by helping people.
"Whatever," Bruce shrugged. "It is time to hunt."
----- -----
When morning came, Diane, Chris, and Lucius greeted each other with tired expressions. Only four hours had passed since the last time they saw Bruce. Still, even though they had no reason to feel worried about the security of the place, they stayed awake the whole night at the entrance of the hotel, hoping the ambush any monster that might come to attack them. Diane and Chris decided to do that in order to gain the trust of the survivors who arrived at the hotel first, and Lucius did the same because he was the only one among his group who wasn't exhausted. His patients needed rest, so he had to do that.
"I can't believe we weren't attacked a single time," Lucius said, surprised.
"You mentioned that Bruce fought some big wolves, right?" Chris asked. "Maybe Bruce stayed around this place in order to hunt them."
"That sure looks like something he would do," Diane nodded. "He always looks like he is having the time of his life while fighting those monsters."
"Now that I think about it, some of us should have slept while the others guarded the entrance," Lucius said while rubbing his eyes. "We won't be able to do much along the day this tired."
"Hahaha," Chris laughed weakly. "That is something we will have to consider from now on. In any case, you should rest a little bit, Lucius. You are wounded due to that crash. Besides, we won't have any other choice but to rely on you from now on. Although we know about the existence of potions, we don't know how to obtain them frequently. Besides, even if we can use magic, we still can get sick, and who knows if potions can cure diseases."
"As a man of science, I'm more worried about the possibility of those miracle potions causing some diseases," Lucius said. "That being said, last night, I saw those magic potions in action… I heard Bruce's shoulders cracking when a wolf attacked him, but after drinking one potion, he was completely fine."
In moments like those, it was important to forge bonds with others. Even more so when a group's survival relies on every member's strength. Although they hesitated in talking with each other at the beginning, that sense of distance disappeared between the three. The nice atmosphere was interrupted when they heard some heavy footsteps coming from outside the hotel. The sound of something metallic touching the floor was continuous, but that only worked to wreck their nerves. Lucius didn't have utilized Fireball until now, but he was ready to use it just like Diane and Chris. However, all of them changed their mind when a weird humanoid figure covered in blood and pieces of metal showed itself… it was Bruce.
"Bruce?" Chris frowned. "What happened to you?"
Bruce was in serious need of a shower. Some of the monster's blood on his body had dried and, at some point, got mixed up with dirt. One couldn't even see his sneakers anymore. He was wearing a pair of iron boots, and his hands also had some red gloves… no, the gloves were brown, but they could see red because of the blood. However, what made them frown wasn't his new pieces of equipment but his weird movements… Bruce was walking like a robot that seriously needed to have its gears oiled.
"I think I was cursed by some monster," Bruce said and then forced himself to sit down with much difficulty. Well, it is not a problem… this should disappear eventually."
That answer picked Lucius' interest. Although curses weren't something one would consider scientifically, he decided to study their effects on the human body. Instead of relying on something unknown like potions, Lucius decided to study and then come up with a way to heal it. However, after checking Bruce's body and asking some questions, Julius confirmed one thing, Bruce wasn't cursed.
"This isn't a curse…" Lucius frowned. "You are just suffering from muscular pains. That is what happens to those who move too much without stretching their bodies… or when they are terribly out of shape. Just rest for a couple of hours, and then you will feel better again."
"After taking a good shower…" Diane frowned while covering her nostrils. "Eww, you really do need a shower."
Bruce didn't want to believe that he was just tired, but given that he really wanted to sleep, he decided to believe in Lucius' words. Besides, it felt like that was the most logical explanation that he had only faced wolves until now.
The water was as cold as it could be given that the hotel was without power, but weirdly enough, Bruce only felt refreshed while feeling it wash away all the dirt and fatigue. He made a lot of progress in the last hours, but Bruce decided to sleep before confirming everything and deciding his next steps.