An eerie silence blanketed this part of the forest, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant howl of a scavenging animal.
Amidst the towering trees, a once bustling factory now stood as a haunting monument to humanity's downfall. Its walls scorched and cracked, windows shattered and doors torn from their hinges. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of gunpowder and blood because of the cleaning done recently, of the zombies and mutated animals by the survivors of this place; the military.
The location was under vigilant watch, with guards stationed at every conceivable entrance and vantage point.
Echos of multiple sound echoed in the factory due to various works going on to make it a safer place to stay.
Suddenly, a group of people came into sight of the police. However, tension didn't rise in the air since they identified captain Laila.
Walking inside after handing over the corpse, Laila and her group arrived before a room that was still fine. Laila then said, "Felix, you can go now. We will tell you about your contribution after we have reported it to the general."
The rooms allocated to them were previously used by workers, but after the military took over; the official took over it, shifting the workers to somewhere else.
"Yes, big sis", he said as he entered his room.
The others then moved towards each of their room and entered it. Only Laila appeared before a door. Opening it, she saw a staircase leading down to the underground facility. She entered it to report what she saw.
Meanwhile, back in the room, Felix was currently holding the bright and smooth, golden bead and looking at the notification before his eyes.
[You have gotten a sealed item. Would you like to open it?]
"A sealed item?"
"Is it something bad?!"
He thought confused and cautious because of it being a sealed item. However, since it was his spoil he agreed.
"Yes"
As soon as he said that, the bead began to glow and gradually the glow covered his entire body.
"What?!"
"What's going on?!", he let out a shocked cry. He didn't know what was going on and what to do. He wanted to call out to his big sis.
However, the bead didn't let him. It swiftly covered his body, unexpectedly making him unconscious.
Then a notification flashed before his eyes.
[Inheriting the Eyes of Truth....]
...
At the camp,
Elena and Aisha were with their family enjoying lunch with each of them talking about how their life was smooth and they needed to work hard to keep it that way.
However, Elena had different thoughts. Looking at them all, their faces full of smile, she hoped that she coule keep it like this.
However, she wasn't able to continue her thoughts as suddenly the ground began to tremble.
*Tremble*
*Tremble*
"What's happening?!"
"W-What?"
"An earthquake.", shouted Grandpa Stefen. He continued, "Hold on to the table."
Everyone had to hold the table in panic to save themselves from the fall, unable to keep their balance. However, some still did, including Elena's mother and some maids.
The quack lasted for a while as they all looked around with varying expressions.
Elena's expression was particularly dreadful as she thought in apprehension,' Is... the disaster already here? But it's a month earlier?'
'Why would they come earlier?!', she thought prepalexed since ever since she gained her memories everthing was happening earlier than they did before. Their unexpected early arrival invoked fear in her.
'Will they kill everyone like they did before?!'
'Will I be lonely again?'
Elena thought back to that event that happened right after the third months of the apocalypse.
Initially, humans were easily winning for the first three months, reclaiming and establishing various strongholds, refuge and sanctuary, killing all the threats because of the class skills they got.
However!
However, calamity fell on them near the end of the third month. Earthquake began to assault various regions on earth. In the beginning, it resulted in extreme panic as everyone thought of the worst.
However, even after some days, nothing happened, so everyone just ignored it. Though, we didn't know until later that it was actually a warning.
The earthquake continued for a total of ten days, with everyone ignoring it except some, and on the first day of the forth month, hell was let loose.
That was the second major setback humans faced after the zombie outbreak. Millions died in this surprise attack, including her parents, and the only thing she was able to do was hide and pray that they would leave her alone.
'How would we survive?!', she thought with extreme fear.
She felt anxious and worried. But a voice brought her back to reality.
"Young miss, young miss.", called out Aisha with extreme worry. Seeing Aisha's face, Elena's fears gradually began to subside.
'Right! This time it will be different. This time I know what's going to happen and I have put my all preparing for it.', Elena thought as determination shined in her eyes.
'Yes, I should hurry to get that treasure too. It should to be extremely helpful.'
....
In the dungeon,
Bittu was currently in a meditative state with his body glowing, pulsating with each passing second. He was deeply emerged in this state. Suddenly, he let out a pained cry, "Ahh" as he spit out a mouthful of blood while broke his focus.
"Damn, why does it happen every time I do it?", I thought as I cleaned the blood near my mouth.
Since earlier, referencing to the information gleaned from the ancient scroll, I began to visualize the intricate patterns of mana circuits, tracing their pathways through my body with my mind's eye. It was a meticulous process, requiring focus and concentration, but with each passing moment, I could feel the circuits taking shape, like threads of light weaving through the darkness.
Slowly but surely, I forged the connections that would allow me to channel mana with greater efficiency and control. It was a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, as I made my mana circuits such that it replicated my blood vessels around my body.
Bittu gritted his teeth, his mind focused intently on the intricate patterns of mana circuits he was visualizing. With each attempt to replicate the nerves in his right hand, waves of agony shot through his body, threatening to break his concentration. Despite the pain, he pressed on, determined to master his abilities.
However, whenever I replicate a part in my right hand like my fingers or my palm, I spit out blood as pain course through my body.
"Why does it keep happening?!", I thought, quite annoyed. At first I was a bit fearful but since my skill, danger intuition didn't warn me, I kept on going forward. Right now, I have completed replicating the nerves in my right arm.
I once again closed my eyes and began replicating my left arm. This was, however, a bit more difficult for me since I was more sensitive to pain in this part of my body.
"Ahhhh"
"Aaarrrggghhh"
"Cough.... Cough.... "
"Aarrgghh"
"Aahhhhhh"
Sweat beaded on Bittu's forehead as he continued to channel mana through his body, his muscles trembling with exertion. With each replication, he felt a surge of power coursing through him, mingled with the sharp sting of pain.
He had to rest for several hours before he could continue.
.....
After what felt like an eternity, he had finally finished replicating his left hand nerves.
After that, he did the same with both his legs.
However, as he proceeded in replicating the nerves in his stomach, he froze, breath catching in his throat. His eyes widened in shock as he beheld what lay before him near his stomach.