Chapter 4: Gearing Up for Survival
Renji paced his room restlessly, his mind racing with everything that had happened so far. The fact that he managed to avoid total humiliation during the duel was a small victory, but he knew it wouldn't last. The hero was just getting started, and the game's plot would soon start rolling at full speed.
"Alright, next step," Renji muttered, cracking his knuckles. "If I'm going to survive, I need to start gathering resources."
He dug through his desk drawer and retrieved the parchment where he had scribbled down important locations. Among them was an abandoned warehouse near the slums, rumored to contain a forgotten relic in the game.
"Time to pay it a visit."
Under the cover of night, Renji slipped out of the mansion. Dressed in a dark cloak, he navigated the city streets with ease, relying on his memories of the game's map. The capital bustled even after sunset, but he avoided crowded areas, sticking to narrow alleys.
When he finally arrived at the warehouse, he found it exactly as he remembered—dusty, abandoned, and ominous. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
"If the game's lore is correct, there should be a hidden compartment here..." he muttered, running his fingers along the walls.
After a few tense moments of searching, he found a loose brick. Pressing it revealed a small, secret chamber hidden behind a false wall. Inside, an ornate chest gleamed under the dim light.
"Yes! My first loot!" Renji grinned, opening the chest to reveal a pair of enchanted daggers. Their blades pulsed with a faint blue glow.
[Acquired: Twin Fangs of the Shadow]
"Nice," he whispered, testing their weight. "These should give me an edge."
Suddenly, a rustling sound from behind made him freeze. He turned sharply to see a shadowy figure creeping toward him.
"A thief? Or worse?" Renji braced himself.
Before he could react, the figure lunged, and he barely dodged in time. Clutching his new weapons, he fought back instinctively, utilizing techniques from the training manual he had found earlier. With swift, calculated strikes, he managed to subdue his attacker.
Panting, he knelt down and pulled off the assailant's hood, revealing a familiar face—Zara Blackthorn, the infamous thief and one of the protagonist's future allies.
"Great," Renji groaned. "Of course, it's you."
Zara smirked despite her predicament. "Well, well... didn't expect to see you here, noble boy."
Renji sighed. "Looks like our paths were meant to cross."
By the time he returned to the mansion, dawn was already breaking. Exhausted yet satisfied with his progress, Renji collapsed onto his bed, clutching the enchanted daggers tightly.
"One step closer to survival," he muttered before drifting off to sleep.