Page 36
Dawn was falling, bringing with it intermittent silence between the waves of monsters and the biting cold that now dominated the arid landscape. Jhon continued his private massacre inside the bus, the smell of gunpowder and blood permeating the cabin air despite the ventilation system. The piles of Nightstalkers (Rank G), Gray Beasts (Rank G), and Mutant Crows (Rank G) bodies formed a grotesque barrier around the vehicle. He had used most of his .50 Caliber Pistol Ammo (Common) and was already on his second clip of .45 Caliber Pistol Ammo (Common) for the G-Rank targets.
Loli, her voice wavering between admiration and exasperation, continued to give warnings. "John, the radar is showing a rapid approach from the east! Another large creature, but this time, it's coming alone and very fast! It's an Agile Runner (Rank D)! They are incredibly fast and can deliver blows that appear blurry. Their armor is weaker than the Minotaur's, but their agility makes up for it!"
Jhon swapped his .45 magazine for one of the last ones with Enhanced Pistol Ammo (.50 Caliber) (Rare). The Nimble Runner was a ghostly vision in the darkness, a lean, gray blur running on all fours, with glowing eyes and sharp teeth. He looked like a vicious cross between a wolf and a cheetah.
The creature attempted to flank the bus, moving quickly along the side. John swung the Enhanced Desert Eagle to match its movement.
BANG!
The first Enhanced .50 caliber round struck the Nimble Runner in the hind leg. The creature screeched, its speed slowing dramatically. John didn't give it time to recover.
BANG! BANG!
Two consecutive shots. One struck the Nimble Runner's torso, and the other exploded in his head. The creature, with a final shudder, fell limp to the ground, its slender, massive body slamming into the frozen earth.
"Another one, Jhon! A D-Rank! Impressive! You're carnage personified! My old master would have hidden in a hole and prayed that the monster would pass by. You, on the other hand, go out to hunt them!" Loli exclaimed.
Jhon didn't answer. He knew the danger wasn't just in what was coming, but in what he was becoming. Fatigue was beginning to weigh heavily on his eyes, but adrenaline and the need to survive kept him vigilant.
He opened the hatch and cautiously climbed down to collect the drops. The cold early morning air was biting.
"Check the drops, Jhon! An Agile Runner (Rank D) might have something interesting!", Loli encouraged.
Nimble Runner Hide x1 (Uncommon): A thin, yet extremely flexible and tear-resistant hide. Can be used to create lightweight clothing or flexible armor.
Nimble Runner Claws x 4 (Uncommon): Long, curved claws, razor sharp. Can be forged into knives or used as arrowheads.
Medium Creature Meat x 8 (Common): Lean cuts of meat, ideal for consumption.
Assault Rifle Ammo (5.56 Caliber) x 20 (Common): Standard ammunition for assault rifles, a new type for Jhon.
Level 1 Insignia (Gearbox) x 1 (Rare): A first-tier upgrade insignia for the vehicle's gear system.
"John! Rifle ammo! And a Change Badge! Great find! 5.56 ammo won't fit in the Desert Eagle, you'll need a rifle to use it, but it's great for medium and long-range combat. And the Change Badge! What are you going to do, John? Upgrade or multiply?" Loli asked, this time not questioning the previous choices, but rather presenting the clear options.
Jhon pondered. Two Exchange Badges. He needed 10 Level 1 to max out the part. He already had the Level 2 (Exchange) Badge from the previous find.
"I'll upgrade the Nimble Runner's Claws to make a pair of light daggers," Jhon thought. "And the Level 1 (Over) Badge, I'll use it to upgrade the bus. The other Level 1 (Over) Badge that happened to drop with it, I'll multiply by 50. And the rifle ammo, I'll multiply by 50."
"Excellent, Jhon! Two pairs of light daggers will be great for quick attacks! And you'll finally start using those Level 1 Badges for what they're really for: upgrading the bus! And the multiplied rifle ammo will be a valuable asset when you find a rifle. You're learning, author of the book!" Loli said, with a tone of relief and approval.
A bright light enveloped the claws, turning them into sharp blades.
Nimble Runner's Light Daggers x 2 (Uncommon): Two short, extremely light daggers forged from the claws of a Nimble Runner. Ideal for quick, stealthy, and multiple attacks. Causes moderate bleeding on organic targets.
The Level 1 (Exchange) Badge he had chosen for the bus disappeared in a flash, and a message appeared on the HUD:
Level 1 (Gearbox) x 1 (Rare) badge applied to the bus's gear system. Progress: 1/10.
The other Level 1 Badge (Exchange), in turn, shone and multiplied.
Level 1 Gearbox Insignia x50 (Rare): A large quantity of first-tier upgrade Insignias for your vehicle's gear system. Enough to max out your gear and still have some left over.
The 20 assault rifle rounds multiplied in a silent burst of energy.
Assault Rifle Ammo (5.56 Caliber) x 1000 (Common): A large amount of standard ammunition for assault rifles, useful for future armaments.
"John! You now have 51 Gear Badges! Your gear will be at max speed in no time! And a thousand rifle rounds! Fantastic! You're making great progress!" Loli exclaimed excitedly.
Jhon returned to the bus, his eyes heavy, but satisfied with the results of the morning.
Page 37
Dawn finally began to break the darkness of the night, tinting the arid horizon with shades of dark blue and gray. The biting cold persisted, but the promise of a new warm day was already palpable, the temperature already hovering around 12 degrees Celsius. Jhon, exhausted, continued his vigil, the soft hum of the bus engine his only constant companion. The piles of bodies around the vehicle were a silent testament to the night's carnage, a reminder of how unforgiving this world had become.
He checked the clock on his HUD: 6:30 AM. The night hunt was coming to an end. His eyes scanned the 300-meter radar, which now showed only a few scattered red dots, remnants of the horde he had faced.
"John, you're exhausted. You need to rest," Loli said, her voice softer than usual, betraying concern. "The night was brutal, but you were incredible. The carnage you left behind is something I never expected to see. My former master would have given in to the chaos. You, on the other hand, mastered it."
Jhon felt the weight of fatigue in his bones. His muscles ached, and his eyes burned. But his mind was still on, processing the night's events and his next steps. He had to seize every moment of peace this world allowed.
He opened the Local Group Chat, the night's messages still updating.
[04:00] User 'RainhaDaEstrada': "I managed to escape the mine, but barely. That Terrestrial Abyssal (Rank B) is hellish. If anyone has rifle ammo, I'll buy it. I need to replenish my arsenal."
[04:30] User 'MestreFerroviário': "I'm safe, but the Rank S creature... I can't describe it. It's pure terror. Do not approach the abandoned power plant sector. I repeat: DO NOT APPROACH!"
[05:00] User 'CurandeiraDaNoite': "I managed to stabilize the patient. I thank whoever sent the supplies. Dehydration is a serious problem."
[06:00] User 'CaçadorNoturno': "The horde in the dead forest began to disperse with the daylight. Many newcomers did not survive. The sun is a friend, but the night... the night is the true predator."
[06:15] User 'ExploradorCorajoso': "Silver box signal 50km south, near the canyon. But it's guarded by a Stone Gargoyle (Rank C). Anyone interested in a team effort?"
Jhon read the last message. A Silver box. He hadn't found one of those yet. "Loli, what are Silver boxes?" Jhon asked, curiosity overcoming fatigue.
"Silver Boxes, Jhon, are rarer than Green Boxes, but less so than Purple Boxes," Loli explained, her voice returning to its informative tone. "They contain high-quality items, with a good chance of being Rare or Epic, and a considerable chance of a badge. They're usually guarded by C- or B-Rank monsters. The Stone Gargoyle (C-Rank) is a formidable foe. Its skin is like stone, highly resistant to blunt damage, and it can fly and attack with sharp claws. It would need piercing or something that deals massive damage."
Jhon absorbed the information. The Silver Box was a target to be considered in the future, but for now, sleep was his priority. He parked the bus in a relatively safe spot, away from the piles of bodies, and deactivated the radar, conserving energy. The sun was already beginning to illuminate the interior of the vehicle, and the outside temperature began its daily climb.
He lay down on his sleeping bag, the Enhanced Desert Eagle and the Minotaur Katanas within reach. The exhaustion was overwhelming. Jhon's last thought before falling asleep was of the Level 1 Badges. He needed them. Every day, he became stronger, more adaptable, more lethal. And the bus, his mobile fortress, was on its way to becoming unstoppable.
Ammunition and Resource Calculation:
Improved Pistol Ammo (.50 Caliber) Spent: 6 bullets (on Mutant Minotaur) + 3 bullets (on Winged Shadow) = 9 bullets.
Common Pistol Ammo (.50 Caliber) Spent: Estimated 50 bullets for the G-Rank multiples, as each shot killed and there were many of them.
Common Pistol Ammunition (Caliber .45) Spent: Estimated 50 bullets, since Jhon alternated magazines and used the .45 as well.
Total Initial Ammo: 23296 bullets (from the previous section).
Ammo Spent in This Section: 9 (Improved .50) + 50 (Common .50) + 50 (Common .45) + 3 (Nimble Runner - 1 Improved .50, 2 Improved .50) = 112 bullets.
Assault Rifle (5.56 Caliber) (Common) ammo added: 1000 (multiplied by 20).
Final Ammo:
Improved Pistol Ammo (.50 Caliber): $400 - 9 = 391 bullets.
Common Pistol Ammunition (Caliber .50): $1994 - 50 = 1944 bullets.
Pistol Ammunition (Caliber .45) Common: $10000 - 50 = 9950 bullets.
Assault Rifle Ammunition (5.56 Caliber) Common: 1000 bullets.
Total Ammo: $391 + 1944 + 9950 + 1000 = 13285 bullets.
300 Liter Plastic Fuel Cans:
Starting Gallons: 2700 gallons.
Gallons Purchased from Supply Box (Multiplied): 0 gallons.
Current Total: 2700 gallons (consumption unchanged).
New Items Acquired in this section (all stored in inventory/bus):
Nimble Runner Skin (Uncommon): x 1
Nimble Runner's Claws (Uncommon): x 4 (Transformed into Nimble Runner's Light Daggers)
Nimble Runner's Light Daggers (Uncommon): x 2 (Transformed from Nimble Runner's Claws)
Medium Creature Meat (Common): x 8
Assault Rifle Ammo (5.56 Caliber) (Common): x 1000 (Multiplied by 20)
Level 1 Badge (Exchange) (Rare): x 50 (Multiplied by 1, plus the one used on the bus)
Car Parts (Badges):
Engine - Insignia (Level 1 Maximum): Yes
Armor - Insignia (Level 1 Max): Yes
Wheels - Insignia (Level 1): Missing 10
Exchange - Badge (Level 1): Progress: 1/10 (Used 1, but still need 9 to reach the Max Level of Level 1. Jhon has 50 Level 1 (Exchange) Badges in stock now).
Glass - Badge (Level 1): 10 left
Body - Badge (Level 1): 10 to go
Fuel Tank - Insignia (Level 1): 10 Missing
Interior - Insignia (Level 1): 10 to go
Lighthouse - Badge (Level 1): 10 to go
Total Missing Level 1 Badges: 69