The faces of the girls contort in terror as the creatures of ooze and bone run towards the park, their faces frozen in stark horror and acceptance of death, unable to scream or even reprimand him for whistling loudly and attracting those beasts to them. However, he knows about the game and its properties.
The creatures enter the area of the crystal, running frenzied as wet gurgling sounds leave their slimy throats. They immediately burn up after a second of stepping inside the crystal's area, becoming naught but sparkling dust, their bone, and ooze-like existence reduced the moment they approached the area.
However, it does not deter others of their kin from rushing the crystal, frenzied ghouls like they are, unable to think or perceive the danger of the crystal. To which Sin sighs, looking at his teacher and classmates, now companions. "System, their sheet please."
[NAME: Nae Rim
CLASS: IMMORTAL (LOCKED)
PLAYSTYLE: IMMORTAL CULTIVATOR (LOCKED)
GENDER: FEMALE
COMPATIBILITY: 30
AFFECTION: 15/100 - ACQUAINTANCE
DARKNESS: 50/100 - AVERAGE
TRAUMAS: NONE
STATUS:
STR: 22
SPD: 18
DEF: 26
FER: 20
VIR: 0
STA: 30 - 90/90
SPI: 10
TRAITS: HEADSTRONG
SKILLS: GOOD COOK, STUBBORN, BLOODLINE]
A suitable growth to her defense, stamina, and the unlocking of the spirit stat. Not that bad. Yet her darkness is almost halfway done to get a trauma. Sin clicks his tongue, dropping the weapons aside for a moment.
They need to be recomforted and snapped back from their stupor, while the crystal stands, they are safe and sound for a week, after that it is fair game for the monsters to ambush them.
[NAME: Kim Ji-Yeon
CLASS: IMMORTAL (LOCKED)
PLAYSTYLE: IMMORTAL CULTIVATOR (LOCKED)
GENDER: FEMALE
COMPATIBILITY: 10
AFFECTION: 5/100 - ATTRACTED
DARKNESS: 70/100 - AVERAGE
TRAUMAS: CACOPHOBIA, TRYPOPHOBIA
STATUS:
STR: 18
SPD: 40
DEF: 14
FER: 15
STA: 15 - 45/45
SPI: 10
TRAITS: BROWN NOSER
SKILLS: ANNOYING, CONSUMMATE LIAR]
For a moment hair escapes his lungs as the monsters are drawn to the metaphorical flames and destroyed by the crystal's presence. She didn't get any boost to defense or stamina, rather just her speed that is twice of an average human… her phobias are also problematic, more so when facing Izanami.
Her darkness is almost at a breaking point too. Because of cacophobia and trypophobia triggering around. He can't catch a break. "You two! Snap out of it! They are getting destroyed by the crystal's presence, see!"
Despite a want to scream, Sin bites back the urge to scream at them, it won't make any good for their state right now. Rather, pointing at the creatures getting blasted by the aura of the crystal, protecting them.
Avoiding the black-green ooze monsters from getting closer, even their bulk bones and combat-enhanced form not withstand the presence of the crystal. Unsurprisingly, the first one to regain some measure of composure is Nae.
Her face is still astounded by the events unfolding before her eyes, she slaps her face feeling the hot red burning sensation of her palm on her cheeks. "This… is real, you are not joking."
With her composure, more or less regained, Sin gets closer to them, hands up to show no signs of threat, weapons dropped for good measure, as if he hadn't a lot more in the bags… "Nae, since you are the first to get back from a stupor, help the teacher get back on her feet, I have some business with those undead, and I need to go for a few minutes, and scout for survivors around the park."
Nae looks at him, eyes unfocused and dazed, trying to cope with the crumbling buildings and monsters becoming undone by the crystal. With a deep breath, Sin cuts their distance short, his own heart beating fast. He needs someone sane, and with their composure intact to guard the supplies.
Lest he can't go and open the area, and clean it from threats, the lure can only be so effective until the dead stray away from the park area, or just go after another target, they are too dumb to be fooled for long.
His hands fall on her shoulders, holding them with some degree of strength, for human standards, not his, to show urgency and danger. Their eyes met, dark eyes staring back into green eyes, their reflection on each other's vision.
"Please, Nae. I need your help. I can't go without you or the teacher back to your feet… please, hear my words, I need your help." Without the need to see Ji-Yeon, he knows her face is still scared and terrified, staring at her surroundings with suspicion and fear.
The ooze creatures lessen in their number, as the buildings stop shaking, the first phase of the storm ending. Deep in his heart, Sin knows he needs to capitalize on this, hunt the weaker monsters prepare to face down the bigger ones, and organize any survivor near them.
But he also knows the supplies will be needed to be protected, not from monsters but from other people who may come and see the luggage undefended, just two women in a daze around them, easy prey to steal from.
Nae's cheeks flush in a shade of red, before walking away a step or two. "S-Sin, this is reality, isn't it? This is happening." With a painful nod, he agrees, letting go of her shoulders. She gulps, looking at the now "calm" place.
"What… the luggage… you knew this was going to happen, this crystal… its properties. It makes sense…" Her breath sharpens, as she looks to the teacher, who now paints hard, holding her chest, the tab has been updated.
[NAME: Kim Ji-Yeon
DARKNESS: 50/100 - AVERAGE]
[NAME: Nae Rim
DARKNESS: 40/100 - AVERAGE]
Both of them had a sharp drop in their darkness. "Kind of, I had a general idea. I… can't speak much now, there are other people in need of saving, but I can't leave this place without knowing it is in god hands."
There are too many goods there. It will be more than a disaster if someone steals or destroys them. "Can you keep it safe? There are wooden spears in the bag there, hold one, and don't let people steal or destroy it. It has supplies essential for survival, food, water, equipment…"
Nae grimaces and frowns. Opening and closing her mouth multiple times as she did so as if thoughts kept emerging and vanishing from her head.
"I… okay. This place is safe… right? You are going to face these monsters, on your lonesome… I. Okay, I will keep it safe, but you are going to explain yourself when you return."
She shows a contrarian expression, a dislike towards this situation, and himself.
[NAE RIM'S AFFECTION GOES DOWN BY 5 POINTS]
It cannot be helped. "Alright, I can work under those terms, now… take care of the teacher too, two heads think better than one, and one more spear added to the defense of this place. You can do it, I trust you."
While half of those words are empty, he has no choice but to entrust the supplies to her. She nods and goes to take one of the wooden spears, before trying to reassure their teacher.
As for himself, he takes up the slack. Getting cleaver and spear back in hand, Sin goes for one of the hiking backpacks, putting it, and taking four more spears, and three cleavers, hanging them out on the backpack.
In a rush, he exits from the crystal's safe zone, actively going beyond its borders. Instead of beating faster, his heart beats slow down to a crawl, a chilling sensation permeating his skin as his eyes hyper-focus on the task at hand.
[BATTLE MODE SKILL ACTIVATES!
BATTLE MODE: A SWITCH TO A MENTALITY AND STANCE OPTIMIZED FOR COMBAT AND SLAUGHTER, SYNERGIES POWERFULLY WELL WITH OTHER SKILLS]
A stone-cold focus washes over Sin, his body suddenly relaxing, but staying alert and active despite it relaxing, as if entering a half-sleep half-awaken state, the doubts in his shoulder gone for a single moment, replaced by a feeling of purpose and strength.
Pupils straightening to become like those of reptiles.
Spinning the cleaver, he smiles. In the edge of his vision, a group of two undead didn't go to the crystal's zone. His first prey. The entire plan was turned into a funeral, mournful for the ending of all life as they know it at the hands of Izanami, and they are running on a timer too.
So, it is only fair to discharge those feelings, the feelings of unfairness and anger at the world's ends on those undead. "Crack up the volume, you pitiful creatures! This is a funeral!" At the exclamation of his words, the undead take up notice. However, the spear is thrown at one of their heads, unceremoniously piercing it, while the other rushes, opening its mouth as goo and slurry of rotten fluids fall out of its mouth.
Instead of retreating, he advances against the dead. A single powerful swing of the cleaver went through its sturdy neck, a small clash between two hard materials, sparks drowned by the goo of its neck. However, Sin's strength soon proves to be superior, cutting through the neck and dropping the skull covered in rot on the ground.
[FEATURE UNLOCKED: LVL UP!
YOU CAN NOW LEVEL UP!
AS AN IMMORTAL CULTIVATOR, YOU CAN ONLY LEVEL UP BY ACQUIRING ESSENCES. SPIRIT, NATURAL, OR IDEOLOGICAL ESSENCES ARE THE ONES AVAILABLE IN THE TUTORIAL.
YOU CAN NOT DISTRIBUTE POINTS UNTIL YOU REACH A "BREAKTHROUGH"
HWANG SIN LVL: 1 (0/100)
FEATURE UNLOCKED! MISSIONS!
SIDE SCENERY MISSION:
"CRACKING UP THE SOUND FOR THE FUNERAL OF THE LIVING DEAD"
OBJECTIVE:
• SLAY 50 UNDEAD (2/50)
• COLLECT THE REWARDS OF 25 UNDEAD (0/25)
• SAVE UP TO 10 HUMANS (0/10)
REWARDS:
• BONE CRUSHER MAULER (GAUNTLET WEAPON)
• 25 SPIRIT ESSENCE
• 25 EXP
• UNIT ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
MAIN SCENERY MISSION:
"100 SOULS TO SURVIVE"
OBJECTIVE:
•SAVE: 100 HUMANS
REWARD:
• ???
• SURVIVAL]
His smile turns into a grin, as a pleasant cold sensation runs down his spine. The missions are unlocked. Looking at the dead, something jumps out of their mouths, a small floating blue orb.
Using the tip of his feet, he kicks the orb up and catches it with his free hand, absorbing it the moment it touches his skin.
[SPIRIT ESSENCE ABSORBED. FIRST BREAKTHROUGH: 1/50
UNDEAD REWARDS: 1/25]
If anything, he would want a Nature Essence rather than a Spiritual one, but those things are anything but natural or thinking, at least the small ones. Instead of kneeling to check the oozing body, Sin ignores it to kick the other orb and catch it in the air, absorbing the Spiritual essence as well.
[2/50
2/25]
It will take quite an amount of time to get those things done. If he gets luck in the foes' selection and typings, it may be done before he realizes it. As long as not one of the bulky ones appears, it will go smoothly.
"System, goo zombies sheet."
[ACTION LOCKED! KILL 100 GOO ZOMBIES TO UNLOCK THEIR SHEET!]
An annoying pop-up. As it seems, his previous bestiary of FERALR didn't carry over. "I think those goo zombies' weaknesses are only decapitation and attacks direct to where their brain should be. Smashing their skull too."
Sin sighs, looking at the makeshift spear. It has been broken after hitting the monster's head, unusable. A glance at the cleaver also reveals its blade starting to chip too, because neck bones are strong, of goo zombies even more.
The cleaver can only cut one neck or two before giving away. Even with the ones on the backpack, killing those things will be too extensive with normal human tools. This means that completing that side quest as fast as possible for a weapon is the best course of action.
Streamlining the killing time and effectiveness is vital, and will save more tools for normal people. "Here I come, abominations."