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Chapter 14: Hunter of the Hivemind
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The Conduit collapsed in a grotesque heap, its pulsing mass fading into lifeless decay. The infected guarding it dropped like puppets with their strings cut, their bodies crumpling to the floor. The hum of the creature's dark energy dissipated, leaving only silence in its wake.
Kaito caught his breath, glancing at the lifeless creature. A bright notification flashed in his vision.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE: BOSS DEFEATED]
Mission: Eliminate the Conduit - Completed
Reward: 5,000 Experience Points, Title: Hunter of the Hivemind, Skill Unlock: Conduit's Insight
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Before he could process the rewards, another message appeared, urgent and glowing.
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[TITLE ACQUIRED: Hunter of the Hivemind]
Effect: Increases damage against higher-level infected by 10%. Gain heightened awareness of infected within a 50-meter radius.
[SKILL UNLOCKED: Conduit's Insight]
Skill Effect: Enhances perception and tactical awareness, revealing weak points of infected and indicating their proximity.
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A surge of power coursed through Kaito, the new abilities settling into his body. He could feel the lingering presence of infected in the area, hiding in shadows, but none were close enough to pose an immediate threat.
Turning to his team, Kaito saw Ryo wiping sweat from his brow, still catching his breath. "That thing was tougher than I thought," he said with a grin.
Ayumi, cleaning blood off her knife, nodded. "Without the Conduit, their coordination's gone. This buys us some time."
"We need to move fast," Kaito said, his tone shifting. "New mission."
A red notification blinked in his vision.
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[SPECIAL QUEST: Expand Territory]
Mission: Use your new abilities to secure the surrounding area and establish a safe zone. Eliminate 30 infected within the perimeter to ensure the zone's stability.
Reward: 3,000 Experience Points, Territory Marker, Title: Protector of the Lost
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Kaito quickly briefed his team. "We secure the area, clear out infected, and set up a safe zone. If we don't, we're just leaving our backs exposed."
Ryo cracked his knuckles. "Thirty infected? Easy. Let's finish this."
Hana, though clearly exhausted, nodded. "If this gives us a place to regroup, I'm in."
The team wasted no time. They moved out, clearing the area around the Conduit's former lair. Kaito activated his Conduit's Insight skill, marking the infected with a faint glow. Each target's weak point appeared clearly in his vision, allowing them to work swiftly and efficiently.
The battle was intense, but the fight flowed with practiced ease. Kaito's skill boosted their combat prowess, and with every infected they took down, their teamwork grew sharper. They didn't stop, not until they'd cleared the last cluster of infected.
Finally, a new notification appeared.
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[MISSION COMPLETED: Expand Territory]
Reward: 3,000 Experience Points, Territory Marker, Title: Protector of the Lost
[TITLE ACQUIRED: Protector of the Lost]
Effect: Nearby survivors gain a sense of calm, reducing fear and enhancing morale. Slightly boosts health regeneration for all allies within the protected area.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Territory Marker]
Description: Establishes a safe zone, preventing infected from entering within a 100-meter radius. Must be placed in a secure location.
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Kaito surveyed the perimeter, the area now cleared of infected. He showed the team the Territory Marker—a small, humming device that radiated a soft energy.
"This is our next step," Kaito said, holding it up. "We need to place this somewhere secure, and we'll have a safe zone."
They found a building nearby, structurally sound and easy to defend. With quick, coordinated efforts, they reinforced the entrance, boarded up windows, and cleared debris. At the center of the building, Kaito placed the Territory Marker.
As soon as he did, the air seemed to shift, a faint barrier spreading out from the device. Kaito felt its power, a comforting, protective presence surrounding them.
"It's working," Ayumi said, her voice softer than usual.
Kaito smiled, a rare moment of peace settling over him. "This is just the beginning. We've got a base now. A place to fall back to."
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Reflection and Resolve
That night, the team gathered in the newly secured safe zone. Outside, the infected roamed, but they dared not approach the barrier. Inside, it was quiet. For the first time in a long while, Kaito allowed himself to relax.
He opened his Status screen, reviewing the changes. The rewards from their battles weren't just numbers and titles—they represented something more. Hope.
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[STATUS: Kaito]
Level: 12
Strength: 23
Agility: 26
Perception: 28
Endurance: 22
Intelligence: 21
Luck: 19
Titles: First Slayer, Infiltrator, Pathfinder, Hunter of the Hivemind, Protector of the Lost
Skills: Tracker's Instinct, Basic Combat Proficiency, Leadership I, Conduit's Insight
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The weight of his responsibility was there, but so was his resolve. With this base, they had a real chance at survival. They weren't just surviving anymore—they were starting to fight back.
Ayumi sat beside him, her gaze steady. "I thought this fight might break us," she said. "But now, I think we might actually have a shot."
"We do," Kaito replied, his voice firm. "And we're not stopping here."
The infected would keep coming. But with each step, Kaito was certain—they were getting closer to taking their city back.