"Madam, one of the men accidentally cut himself while collecting the zombie's nails."
Nicole whispered this into Daphne's ear after they got into the car.
Daphne raised her eyebrows and snapped, "Where did he get hurt? They can't even handle a simple task like that?"
"His arm. We're awaiting your instructions."
"Then what are you waiting for? Before the virus spreads any further, make sure—"
Before Daphne could finish, Novak's voice cut in, "No need, have them continue collecting some zombie blood. Bring the wounded with them."
Both women were momentarily stunned.
Novak had already entered the car, opened a snakeskin bag, and began inspecting the neatly collected zombie nails. He nodded approvingly.
Trusting Novak completely, Daphne gave Nicole a nod and then followed him into the car. She had a question ready, but Novak ignored her, already absorbed in studying a blueprint for crafting something from the zombie claws.
Daphne, always pragmatic, understood that the mysterious man in front of her had his own methods, so she refrained from pressing him. Instead, she watched Novak closely, curiosity shining in her eyes.
Suddenly, as if out of thin air, a piece of parchment appeared—just like the strange copper coin she'd seen earlier that day. Then, in an instant, Daphne's eyes widened in disbelief.
Right before her, the parchment transformed into a dark gray light, enveloping all the zombie nails inside the snakeskin bag. Moments later, both the parchment and the nails vanished, replaced by that eerie black glow.
For about ten seconds, the dimly lit car revealed something extraordinary—something Daphne had never seen before.
A glove.
It was entirely gray-black, its texture appearing not as leather, but almost as though it was made of bone. But the most unsettling feature was on the back: three pitch-black claws, sharp and jutting out horizontally, each over twenty centimeters long, glinting with a metallic sheen.
The lethal sharpness was undeniable—those claws could slice through any solid object with ease.
It was a slight pity that there was only one glove, designed for the right hand, not a pair. But it was more than enough.
Novak inspected the glove, its bone-like structure reminiscent of scales from some cold-blooded creature, and nodded, clearly satisfied.
——
[Zombie Claw]
[Weapon—Glove (Grade E)]
[Description: These claws, soaked in zombie venom and blood, possess unimaginable tearing strength and an eerie blood-sucking ability.]
[Agility +10, Strength +8]
[Draining Claw: Every time it injures an enemy, the claw absorbs their blood, restoring the user's stamina and speeding up healing.]
[Ghost Claw: When activated, increases Agility by 10% (at least +10 points) and boosts attack speed by 20%.]
[Requirements: Agility > 25, Evolution Level > 1]
[Note: You can see it. Believe in yourself. You are the son of destiny, the master of the future world, the ruler of the apocalypse. You are... the ultimate player in the doomsday!]
——
This is it! The real deal!
Though Novak had anticipated it, he couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction.
E-level equipment that not only offered basic stat boosts but came with two powerful abilities—one passive and one active!
The passive ability, in particular, was priceless. With the power to absorb blood, it would significantly enhance his endurance in long battles.
Even if someone offered him a higher-grade D-level or C-level piece of equipment, Novak wouldn't trade it for this. Why? Because even if those higher-grade items had better stats, they would likely have more demanding usage requirements.
Given his current level, Novak wouldn't even be able to equip them.
But this "Zombie Claw," with its relatively low level requirement, had effects so powerful it felt like something beyond this world!
Only a fool would trade such a high-value early game item for equipment they couldn't even use yet.
Besides, in this particular situation, no one could compete with Novak anyway.
As he slipped the glove onto his hand, Daphne watched in astonishment. The claws, seemingly made of bone fragments, wrapped themselves around Novak's palm as if they were alive.
With just a thought, the three sharp claws retracted into his hand, leaving only a simple black and gray glove on his right hand. At a glance, it looked completely ordinary.
Nothing unusual.
But the moment Novak focused his mind, the sharp zombie claws could instantly extend once more, ready to end anyone's life in a heartbeat.
Pleased with the glove's capabilities, Novak turned to Daphne.
"You recorded everything just now, didn't you?"
"Ah? I'll have them delete it immediately!"
"No, send me a copy later."
Daphne paused, surprised by his request, but she didn't dare challenge Novak's decision. She nodded in agreement.
Novak smiled to himself, already planning to upload the video to his private 001 group. He wanted the future rulers, the strong men of the next era, and those with early awakenings to witness his power—the power of the White Emperor.
It would leave an indelible impression on the powerful figures of the future.
The vehicle sped along the mainland of De M-anila, and before long, they reached the Ocean Blue Villa district.
Upon arrival at the villa, Novak noticed that Dane had already fallen asleep. The living room lights were still on as Novak sat with Daphne. Nicole entered soon after, dragging a purple-faced figure behind her.
"Madam, Aaron is on the verge of death!"