Soon, Aric and Su Jing arrived at an inn. A grim establishment, it was more fortress than refuge, its walls adorned with metallic spikes and barred windows. It stood like a sentinel in the wasteland, daring any to enter. An air of dread and unwelcomeness hung heavy as if everyone considered one another as their enemy.
Ignoring the suspicious glances thrown their way, Su Jing and Aric approached the innkeeper, a grizzled man with an eye patch who seemed to be sizing them up as potential threats or customers.
"Good evening," Su Jing said with a smile. "We would like a room for the night, please."
The innkeeper narrowed his one good eye at them, his hand hovering over the hilt of a nearby dagger. "And what brings you two to this part of town?" he asked gruffly.
"We're just passing through," Aric said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "We've been traveling for days and needed a place to rest."
The innkeeper grunted in response, still eyeing them suspiciously. "You're not from around here," he said, more as a statement than a question.
Su Jing nodded. "No, we're not. We're just travelers looking for a safe place to stay."
"Well, fine. Whatever. Just know that if you create any trouble, death will be a luxury for the two of you. Now if you would please transfer the plasma energy in advance"
Su Jing booked a room and transferred the payment without any further debate, then hurriedly took Aric and went into their temporary sanctuary.
"Something's different about you," Su Jing said as she studied Aric, her piercing blue eyes narrowing. "What happened at the pharmacy?"
"You remember the injection that I took??" Aric asked
"Yeah, the perception-enhancing injection. What about it?"
"Turns out, that this perception-enhancing injection heightened my perception and visualization of mana."
"That injection?" Su Jing asked, skepticism lining her voice. "How did it happen? And do you think that it might harm you?"
Aric sighed, running a hand through his raven-black hair. "I think it somehow allows me to sense magical energy more keenly," he explained, barely able to contain the excitement in his words. "I've always struggled with my control and manipulation of mana, but this... this could change everything."
"Did you test this out?" Su Jing asked again.
"Watch this"
Without another word, Aric closed his eyes and focused on the mana in the room. He could feel it pulsating around him, like a living, breathing entity.
He reached out with his mind, gathering the mana at his fingertips. A moment later, he opened his eyes, and the room was filled with a thick cloud of smoke.
Su Jing coughed, her eyes watering as she waved a hand in front of her face. "What the hell, Aric? You could've warned me!"
"Sorry," Aric said, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
"This is the same smoke cloud that I used previously, but this time, it's much more efficient. I was able to better utilize the mana in the environment rather than just using my own mana," Aric explained as he dissipated the smoke cloud
Su Jing's eyes widened in amazement. "This is incredible,"
"I think that if we are able to earn enough energy and buy a lot of these injections, I can increase my powers by a lot," Aric commented, his excitement clearly showing.
After all, maybe this was the key to his strength. He would finally be able to show those kids back in his own world what his true potential really was.
"But is it safe? How do you know it won't harm you in the long run?" Su Jing asked
"I don't," Aric admitted, his emerald eyes flickered with slight uncertainty, before regaining its focus. "But I'm willing to take the risk if it means becoming more powerful..."
"Power comes at a price," Su Jing warned, her voice tinged with concern. "I have seen many people who got consumed in the pursuit of it. Just be careful not to lose yourself in as well."
"Well, but we have to try! Do you know how we could earn a lot of plasma energy? We have to get more injections" Aric said solemnly,
His mind was already racing with thoughts of how he might harness this newfound discovery and put it to use in his future endeavors.
Su Jing's eyes furrowed. Clearly, Aric did not pay any heed to her previous warning. But she still continued
"If we can find some medicinal herbs, or hunt a big beast, then the shopkeepers could give us a lot of Plasma energy for it"
"Herbs? As in medicinal herbs? Where can we find these medicinal herbs?" Aric asked
"It's difficult to say," Su Jing replied, her expression thoughtful. "But I believe there should be a small forest nearby that might have what we're looking for. The forest is said to be home to many herbs that are highly sought after by herbalists."
"Then let's go there!" Aric exclaimed eagerly
Su Jing shrugged, "I'm not an expert in herbs, so we might end up picking junk. Afterall, it is very difficult to identify valuable herbs from normal grass, at least for the untrained eyes. It will be useless for you and me"
"So what should we do?" Aric asked
"I think it would be better if hunt a few beasts."
Beasts? Aric thought. But wouldn't that be more dangerous?
"Beasts are always roaming in groups in the wasteland, but if we can isolate one, it would be easier to hunt. And we can sell the meat, fur, and other parts for a good price." Su Jing continued
A single beast could be worth more than three bags full of herbs
For example, a Razorhorn was an ox-like beast that had sharp horns on its head, four powerful and muscular legs, razor-sharp claws, and its thick hide was impervious to most weapons. The various parts of this beast such as skin, horns, etc. were always in great demand as they could be used for crafting weapons, and the meat was also very nutritious
"Alright, let's hunt some wild beasts then," Su Jing decided, her piercing blue eyes reflecting determination.
"I may not know much about herbs, but I do know how to handle a bow and arrow. If we find a big beast that's alone, I could take it down easily. We can sell the parts for a lot of plasma energy."
"Great!" Aric enthusiastically replied, eager to contribute to the cause. "I'll come with you and help out. My enhanced senses might be useful in tracking them down."
"Absolutely not." Su Jing's voice was firm, brooking no argument. "You're still inexperienced in this wasteland, and these beasts are far more dangerous than the bandits we fought earlier. I've survived countless encounters with them; trust me when I say it's better if you stay here."
Aric hesitated, his earlier excitement dampened by Su Jing's insistence on going alone. He worried for her safety but knew she had far more experience navigating the treacherous terrain of the wasteland.
"Alright, I understand," he finally conceded, reluctantly agreeing to stay behind. "But please, be careful out there, Su Jing."
"Of course, I will return safely" Su Jing assured him, a hint of a smile gracing her lips as she appreciated his concern. Gathering her weapons and supplies, she stepped out of the inn and into the desolate landscape beyond.
No sooner had Su Jing left the Havenbrook settlement, than she suddenly had a bad premotion.
But before she could take any further action, she found herself ambushed by a group of bandits, a couple of faces matching the bandits Su Jing and Aric had fought earlier. Concealed among the debris and ruins, they launched their assault with brutal precision, sending a hailstorm of projectiles hurtling toward her.
"Damn them," Su Jing hissed under her breath, swiftly dodging the incoming barrage as she unsheathed her weapon. She recognized them immediately: those blood-thirsty marauders who had sought revenge after their initial defeat.
In the midst of the skirmish, the leader of the bandit group emerged from his hiding place, a wicked grin plastered across his scarred face as he brandished a cruelly-curved blade. "You thought you could get away so easily?" he taunted, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
"How did you lot recover so quickly?" Su Jing growled
"Are you talking about your weak numbing poison? Did you really think that sort of pathetic poison could do anything to us?" The leader laughed
"Arrgh, Bring it on!" Su Jing roared as she charged towards the bandit leader, her own weapon glinting dangerously in the dim light. She was a skilled fighter, her every move calculated and precise, but the sheer number of her assailants threatened to overwhelm her.
The battle went on for quite a while as Su Jing fought for her life against the relentless onslaught of the bandits.
Her body trembled from the exertion, sweat and grime mingling with the crimson stains that marked her numerous wounds.
In the end, however, even Su Jing's formidable skills were not enough to overcome the ruthless aggression of the bandit group. Exhausted and battered, she finally crumpled to the ground, her weapon slipping from her grasp as the world around her began to fade into darkness.
With triumphant sneers, the victorious bandits bound her wrists and hoisted her over their shoulders, carrying her away to an unknown fate....