After what felt like an eternity, faint rays of sunlight began piercing through the thick haze of smoke. The veil of destruction that had loomed over us for hours was finally lifting, though the cacophony of chaos still echoed in the distance. Sporadic gunfire rattled the air, accompanied by the spine-chilling screams of survivors and the unsettling crash of rubble collapsing onto the cracked pavement. There had been no rest for me. Every noise kept me sharp, every crash reinforcing my vigilance. I had sworn to stand watch, and I kept my word.
During those long hours, I combed through the system, learning all I could. My inventory proved to be the most intriguing and useful feature by far, even though it was pretty empty. Still, it allowed me to store any item in a separate dimension where time didn't flow. I could stash a piece of meat and return days later to find it fresh, ready to eat.
Next came testing my skills, which posed a bit of a challenge. Regeneration was the easiest to experiment with since it was the only skill I could use without consuming mana. But with no injuries to test it on, and a lingering hesitation to cut myself, I turned my attention to my active skills: Quick Step, Cross-Slash, and Aim Throw.
I started with Quick Step. According to its description, it allowed me to move a short distance in any direction at high speed. To activate it, I had to either think or say 'quick step' while envisioning the direction I wanted to go. The movement was instantaneous and almost soundless. The range, about 10 meters, felt modest but promising.
As I practiced, I discovered that by adjusting the mana output, I could decrease the distance traveled while increasing my speed. At first, controlling the change in speed was tricky, resulting in either a small jump or a burst of speed. But after some practice, I could move at high speeds over short distances without leaving a blur behind.
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[Congratulations you have created the skill: 'Burst step.']
Burst step (C): Level 1 [Instantly move a short distance in any direction.] Cooldown: 5 seconds. MP: 3.
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Suppressing the urge to jump for joy when the skill was created, I couldn't help but marvel at how useful it would be. A skill that made me faster and almost undetectable? It was a game-changer.
I also tested Aim Throw and Cross-Slash. They worked exactly as described, though, unlike Burst Step, I couldn't alter their effects. Still, the whole experience felt surreal, thrilling even, though tempered by the apocalyptic chaos around me.
As dawn finally broke, I reviewed my stats, skills, and inventory. Hannah remained undisturbed, still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that seemed out of place in such a shattered world. I envied her peaceful slumber but knew better than to wake her. She needed the rest.
With a weary groan, I stood, feeling the stiffness in my joints as I stretched my aching limbs. Another day was beginning, though it no longer felt like one. Time had dulled into a blur of survival and routine. Bending down, I wrapped my fingers around the weathered handle of the axe resting beside me. Its grip was familiar now, the cold steel almost comforting beneath my palm.
I hefted the axe, surprised again by its lightness for something so large. As I swung it slowly through the air, letting the weight shift naturally in my grasp, my mind wandered. 'Weapon status'
A notification blinked to life before my eyes.
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[Goblin's Iron Axe (D-rank)]
Type: Weapon (Axe)
Durability: 50/70
Special effect: Hack - Increases base damage by 10%.
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"Huh, it even has a special effect... that must mean it's rare, right?" I murmured, inspecting the details that hovered in front of me like a digital overlay. For a D-rank weapon, it wasn't half bad. The durability was decent, and its lightweight design made it easier to swing with precision. I gave it a few practice swings, feeling the axe cut through the air with a satisfying swish. It wasn't a legendary weapon, but in this new world, it would serve its purpose.
My thoughts were interrupted by Hannah's murmurs as she got up. "Good, you're awake, I was going to wake up soon." I turned to see Hannah stirring, her eyes still foggy with sleep as she rubbed them. She blinked, confused by the sight of the axe in my hand. I smiled softly, trying to ease her worries. "It's time to get moving," I said, injecting a sense of urgency into my voice.
Hannah's gaze locked onto the weapon, her brow furrowed in uncertainty. She looked at it as though trying to piece together how I'd come to possess it. I could see her skepticism in the way her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Well, we need to protect ourselves, don't we?" I said, swinging the axe lazily at my side. "It's better than my bare hands, at least."
Hannah's eyes flickered to the ground, avoiding mine. She was still quiet, a silence that seemed to press down heavier than the axe itself. She bent down, retrieving the bag our mother had given to us before everything went to hell. I watched her, my heart heavy, realizing how much had changed between us in such a short span of time.
"Hannah," I began, my voice gentle, but firm. I needed her to understand. "There's something I need to tell you." She paused but didn't lift her head.
"I have awakened as a hunter." I could feel the weight of my words hanging in the air between us, heavy with truth and uncertainty. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's real. I have... abilities now. Power. I can protect us—both of us."
She still didn't speak. Her silence felt like an accusation, though I knew it wasn't. She was afraid. Hell, who wouldn't be? We weren't supposed to be here—fighting monsters and scavenging for a safe space to sleep. Yet here we were, and I had to show her I could keep us safe.
"Anyway, I went through Mom's bag. I was thinking... instead of carrying it around, how about I store it in my inventory? It'll be safer there and won't weigh us down."
"Just shut up."
Her voice was soft, but the hurt behind it hit me like a punch. I blinked, caught off guard by her reaction. I stared at her, speechless, as she glared at me.
"You think it's a game, don't you? You think this is some sort of joke?"
My heart sank. "No, I didn't mean it like that," I stammered, fighting to keep my tone even, to keep the frustration from bubbling up. "I was just trying to—"
"To what?" she interrupted, her voice rising like a tidal wave about to crash. "To make me feel better? Because if that's what you were going for, it's not working. It's not fucking working!"
"Hannah, I understand you're upset," I said, trying to reel the situation back in, but my words felt fragile like they could shatter at any moment. "But we need to keep our voices down. This place isn't safe, and we can't afford to—"
"Stop!" she snapped, her face twisted in a mix of pain and fury. "Just stop. I can't... I can't do this right now. I can't deal with you, with any of this. Just leave me alone."
My patience frayed at the edges. "Hannah, I get it, but keep your voice down—"
"Fuck you!" she screamed, her voice echoing into the dark void around us.
*KEKEKE*
The sound cut through the tension like a blade. An eerie, guttural laughter filled the air, and suddenly the weight of her anger was nothing compared to the cold dread that gripped my chest. I froze, and so did she.
I barely whispered the word, "Goblins."
Her anger vanished, replaced by a wide-eyed fear. "W-what did you say?" she stammered, her voice barely audible now.
"They're coming," I said, my blood running cold as the unmistakable rustling of leaves and the shuffling of small, twisted bodies began to echo around us.
-
[Quest: Survive the goblin's ambush.]
[Objectives: Slay all 5 goblins.]
[Reward: 100 XP, 1x D-rank skill]
[Failure to complete: Death, capture, or enslavement by goblins.]