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Jhon's fight against the night horde was a macabre dance of death and precision. The Desert Eagle's silencer emitted only a soft "puff" with each shot, a stark contrast to the sound of monstrous bodies disintegrating and the stench of burning flesh and sulfur that festered in the air. The red auras in his Predatory Sense diminished by the second, turning into dark mists as the monsters fell.
A pack of Shadow Wolves, more agile and smaller than the Thorny Ones, attempted to flank Jhon. They moved in sync, their red eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. Jhon, however, was a master of multi-target combat. He spun, the Desert Eagle tracing a deadly arc. A shot struck the pack leader, exploding his head in a mass of dark viscera. The other Shadow Wolves hesitated, self-preservation overcoming their hunger.
"John! They're backing off! You scared them!" Loli exclaimed, a hint of triumph in her voice.
Taking advantage of the Shadow Wolves' hesitation, Jhon activated his Wolf Bite ability again. He lunged at one of the remaining wolves, delivering a swift, precise blow to its flank, leaving the creature staggering and bleeding internally. Before it could recover, Jhon fired two more shots, one to the chest and the other to the head, disintegrating it.
Meanwhile, a Giant Earthworm, a bizarre creature with a mouth full of rings of teeth and a segmented, slime-covered body, emerged from the ground, attempting to engulf Jhon. The smell of damp earth and decay was overwhelming. Jhon didn't have time to use the Desert Eagle. He dove to the side, avoiding its jaws, and delivered a powerful kick to the worm's slimy body. The creature writhed, and Jhon, with one swift movement, leaped over it, thrusting his hand into one of its segmented openings and tearing something out. The worm let out a high-pitched screech and retreated, disappearing back into the earth.
"What did you catch, Jhon?", Loli asked curiously.
Jhon opened his palm. Within it pulsed a Glowing Bio-Core, a small, gelatinous orb emitting a faint green light. "Loot item," he murmured emotionlessly.
The fighting continued for several more minutes. John moved like a shadow, the Desert Eagle an extension of his will. The creatures, once so confident in their numerical superiority and savagery, were now in a panic, their red auras scattered and diminishing. Many fled into the darkness, preferring survival to total annihilation.
Finally, the battlefield fell silent. The crackling flames of the gasoline trap, which Jhon hadn't even needed to use, were the only sound, a silent testament to the carnage. The smell of sulfur and burning flesh hung in the air, a vivid reminder of the bloody night. Jhon looked around, his icy eyes sweeping the dark ash-covered asphalt and the bushes where the monsters had perished. The bus, though crumpled, was still a fortress.
With the immediate threat eliminated, Jhon approached the spots where the monsters had disintegrated, each leaving behind a small mound of glowing items. The gathering was about to begin.
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Dusk was rapidly fading, giving way to total darkness. The flickering light from the flames of the gasoline trap, which Jhon planned to use later if the situation worsened, cast dancing, ghostly shadows across the hills, transforming the landscape into a private inferno. The air, once frigid, now carried the intense heat of the fire, mixed with the acrid smell of smoke, burning flesh, and gasoline. The agonized howls of the creatures caught in the flames gradually faded until they ceased, replaced only by the incessant crackling and popping of the fire.
Jhon stood with his back to the bus, a relentless fighting machine. He had become an extension of the Desert Eagle, his movements fluid, every shot accurate. Dozens of creatures lay disintegrated around him, their red Predatory Sense auras fading like ghosts in the wind. The horde had been severely thinned, and the few remaining monsters seemed to hesitate, their primal instincts overriding their fury, alerting them to the lethal danger Jhon posed.
"Impressive, John! You cleared the area!" Loli's voice boomed, her admiration palpable. "Your tactic was flawless! The creatures disintegrated upon death, leaving their items in their place. Let's check your fortune!"
Jhon nodded mentally. He walked calmly along the asphalt, collecting the items floating where the monsters had disintegrated. His icy eyes swept the area, searching for any gleam, any sign of something left behind.
The HUD screen has updated, showing a new tab: "Bloody Night Collected Items".
Bloody Night Collected Items:
Thick Raging Beast Hide (Rare) x 5: A tough, dark hide with a rough, almost scale-like texture. Perfect for vehicle or armor armor. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Night Predator Eyes (Common) x 20: Glowing yellow eyes that seem to contain a light of their own. Useful for night vision or items that require illumination. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Monster Meat (Edible) x 50: Dark, fibrous meat with a strong smell, but edible. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Sharp Claws (Uncommon) x 15: Long, sharp claws made of organic metal. Great for melee weapons or melee enhancements. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Essence of Rage (Rare) x 3: A small, pulsating crystal emitting a red energy. Can be used to enhance combat abilities or create Rage potions. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Car Part (Armor - Insignia) x 25: A metal panel with a shield design. Parts to strengthen the vehicle's armor. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Pistol Ammunition (Various Caliber) x 30: A mix of cartridges, from 9mm to larger calibers. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
Glowing Bio Core (Rare) x 1: A small, gelatinous orb that emits a faint green light. Can be used to enhance abilities, craft special items, or sell for a high price. (Can be upgraded or multiplied)
"A fortune in items, John! Your night hunt was successful!" Loli exclaimed, clearly excited. "Skin for armor, eyes for vision, claws for combat, essence for skills, and more car parts! And ammunition! The Bio Core is a rare find! What would you like to do with them? Multiply or enhance?"
Jhon considered his priorities. The bus's armor was essential. He needed more vehicle parts for future upgrades, and ammunition was always welcome. The Biological Core seemed valuable for upgrades.
"Thick Raging Beast Hide: Enhance," he decided. The hides glowed, and the description changed to: Adaptive Raging Beast Hide (Epic) x 5: An extremely durable hide, capable of adapting to varying temperatures and environments. Ideal for armoring high-end vehicles.
"Eyes of a Night Predator: multiply by 50," John continued. The 20 eyes turned into 1000 eyes.
"Monster Meat: multiply by 50," John thought. The 50 pieces became 2,500 pieces.
"Sharp Claws: multiply by 50," John said mentally. The 15 claws became 750 claws.
"Essence of Fury: Enhance," Jhon thought. The small crystal glowed brightly, and the description changed to: Pure Essence of Fury (Legendary) x 3: A crystal that emits a vibrant, intense red energy. When used, it grants a massive increase in strength and speed for a short period. Can be used to unlock elite combat skills.
"Car Part (Armor): multiply by 50," Jhon concluded. The 25 parts multiplied into 1250 car parts.
"Pistol Ammo: multiply by 50," he added, and the 30 bullets became 1500 bullets of varying calibers.
"Shining Bio-Core: Enhance," Jhon decided. The gelatinous orb pulsed more intensely, and the description changed to: Stellar Bio-Core (Legendary) x 1: An orb that emits an intense, constant light, containing extraordinary life energy. It can be used to drastically enhance existing abilities, create mystical artifacts of great power, or sell for astronomical amounts at high-level trading posts.
Loli let out a sigh of admiration. "Wow! What business acumen, Jhon! You're amassing a fortune! And the Pure Fury Essence and the Stellar Bio-Core... that's a rarity! Congratulations!"
Jhon organized the new items in the bus's vast cargo hold. He now had supplies that would last a long time, and a massive supply of car parts, which meant he could upgrade almost every part of the bus, turning it into a veritable fortress. He knew the 10 car parts per upgrade would be easily met with this amount.