Watson and I remain motionless, I put my hand on the handle of my revolver. If the specter attacks, I will at least shoot it three times before I die.
When the specter passes right in front of the building where we are, we hold our breath. A few minutes later, the specter moves away, but doom is heading toward the place where the battle is taking place.
As my fear increased, I could sense that this specter is far stronger than a three-skull monster. If it had noticed us, we would have died.
After making sure there was nothing dangerous in the vicinity, I ask Watson to stand guard while I lie down to sleep.
••••
"Come on, today we have to hunt at least three 3-skull monsters," I tell Watson as we run through the rubble so as not to waste any time.
As I was curious about the aftermath of the night's battle, we approached a 3-skull monster in the area.
When we reach a place full of rubble, I see a poisonous zombie sweating a greenish, foul-smelling liquid.
When the zombie looks at us.
Bang!
A bullet blows its head off.
[You have killed a 3-skull monster: +0.46]
[Kill 10 3-skull monsters (3/10): +5 to all attributes]
I approach the grotesque body, open its chest, and extract its core.
Cut!
Cut!
[You have killed a 2-skull monster: +0.14]
[You have killed a 2-skull monster: +0.15]
My dagger breaks after decapitating two long-armed zombies. It had lasted quite a while; it was a quality weapon.
"It's going to be dirty work," I think as I cover my fists in fear and begin to smash the heads of the approaching zombies with my fists.
...
Watson approached and placed the cores we had obtained in his backpack, after I had killed the poisonous zombie's putrid minions.
We left the scene covered with mangled bodies and a few minutes later cautiously approached the battle zone.
-See if you can find a weapon in good condition.
The view around us is astonishingly gruesome.
There are severed corpses everywhere. All the corpses in the area have had their four limbs and heads cut off.
Among the severed corpses, there are some that are missing eyes and noses, and have had their skin partially torn off. Among the scattered limbs, there are some that are missing fingers.
The reason is obvious. In front of me is the severed corpse of a smiling man, who for some reason is wearing an elegant black suit.
A few meters away is a head twice the size of a human head. The head is pure skin, with no eyes, eye sockets, or nasal cavities. The Smiler's head has only a large mouth that stretches from corner to corner. Inside the Smiler's mouth is a row of pointed, sharp teeth covered in red slime.
-Friend, it seems they've taken away your smile. -I said humorously, since the Smiler's expression isn't exactly a smile.
-Dan! -I hear Watson call, and I approach him.
He found some limbs covered by black gloves with steel spikes on the knuckles.
-Looks like they'll withstand a few more blows. -I said as I removed the gloves from the limbs.
I put on the gloves and took a dagger out of Watson's backpack.
-Look. It's our lucky day. -I say as I nervously cover the dagger to open the Smiler's chest, but where the core should be, there is only dust.
-When a specter kills, it absorbs the mysterious energy of its victims. That's one of the ways they become strong. The other is by constantly absorbing mysterious energy. -Watson explains.
-Yes, it seems we can't be that lucky. -I said, moving away from the Smiler's body and continuing to observe the surroundings. This time, the rest of the weapons in the place were destroyed, as it seemed the aspirants did not give up without a fight.
A few hours later, we were walking around the area and hunted down an evolved Killer Zombie Dog, which gave us a core with three skulls, but I used up one of my bullets in the process.
"I think it's been a productive day financially," I think to myself as I listen to the fighting in the distance, coming from two different directions.
We ran for several minutes and were able to return to the building with the rolling door. We lifted it slightly and went inside.
While stretching, I ask the system how many fear points I got.
[Fear points available: 8.29]
[Recommendation: if the host raises one more of their qualities above forty points, they will unlock the Terror Shop]
"System, show me my attributes," I thought to myself.
Dan Helsing (Level 3) (Hunter)
Attributes:
Health: 18.3/20
Stamina: 23.5/31.1
Fear: 28.7/56.41
Intelligence: 12.7
Strength: 35.45
Agility: 46.52
Skills:
1. Tracking.
2. Stealth (blocked).
3. Fast Arms.
4. Poison Resistance (low level)
[Fear Points Available: 8.29]
After seeing my qualities, I didn't hesitate.
"System, place five points in strength."
[Strength: increased from 35.45 to 40.45]
[The host has reached level 4]
[The host has unlocked: Shop of Terror]
[Welcome to the Shop of Terror]
[Food pill (nourishes the body for 24 hours): (price: 1 fear point)]
[Health pill (helps recover from minor injuries): (price: 1 fear point)]
[Fear regeneration pill (1-minute effect): (price: 5 fear points)]
[Bone key (permanent skill unlock): (price: 20 fear points)]
"Wow, these pills are grotesque. No wonder it's called the Shop of Terror. Sell me a health pill." After mentally requesting the health pill, a fat larva appears in the palm of my left hand, writhing incessantly.
-Watson! Eat this. You'd better not throw it away. I'll notice when I wake up. -After handing him the pill, I lie down on the floor and rest my head on my backpack.
••••
I wake up, feeling my body warm and someone hugging me.
-Damn it, Watson... -I exclaim angrily, trying to push away the weight on top of me.
But I feel the power of someone's fear, which prevents me from moving easily.