"These are fine," Rosana said, flexing her claw blade, the sharp tal glinting under the dying light of the fire. "But I'll need to rely on my rage mode if we get in too deep."
Ty nodded, his eyes on the fire but his mind elsewhere. He had seen Rosana's rage mode only once before, back in the garden before the tournant began. It had been chaotic, powerful—but reckless. It made her a whirlwind of destruction, but it was clear she struggled to control it.
"You know how dangerous that is, Rosana," Ty said, casting her a sideways glance. "That power's not sothing you can easily rein in once it starts."
Rosana let out a frustrated breath, staring at her claws. "I don't want to rely on it. But sotis, it feels like it's either that, or we don't make it out alive. The problem is, I don't know if I'll even be able to stop it next ti."
Kern, who had been sharpening his scimitars, leaned back against a tree and joined the conversation. "That rage thing of yours… dangerous, yeah, but useful too. I've seen you tear through enemies like they were paper with it. I'd say, unleash it if you have to."
Rosana shot him a look. "And what happens when I can't stop? What happens when I start attacking you?"
Kern shrugged, smirking. "Then you'll have to catch first. And I'm fast."
Rosana gave him a glare, but her lips twitched into the faintest smile. "You're an idiot."
Ty shifted, sensing the tension ease slightly. "Have you tried controlling it?" he asked.
She nodded, her expression serious again. "I've been trying. But it's like a flood. Once it starts, it just… takes over."
Ty leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You have another skill, don't you? Visage Eyesight, right? Why don't you try relying on that more instead of the rage mode?"
Rosana hesitated, looking down at her hands. "Yeah, that… I've only used it a few tis. I don't fully understand it. I slam my hands into the ground, and suddenly I can see everything around for about a mile. It's… overwhelming. And it doesn't always work."
Kern's interest piqued. "You can see everything? That could be useful if we're about to walk into an ambush."
"I don't know," Rosana admitted. "It's unpredictable. Sotis it works, sotis it doesn't."
Ty thought for a mont. "We can test it later. Right now, let's focus on what we have for sure."
John, who had been sitting quietly by the fire, piped up. "What about you, Ty? What do you rely on? That darkness inside of you? The one I've seen glimpses of?"
Kern tensed, his gaze flicking toward Ty. "Yeah, I've seen that too. What is that exactly?"
Ty clenched his jaw, not liking the shift in focus. "It's not sothing I rely on. It's sothing I fight to control." His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "We all have sothing to fight."
John nodded slowly. "Fair enough. Just making sure we're all clear on what's happening here."
Rosana shot John a warning glance. "Back off. He's told us what we need to know."
Kern chuckled. "Everyone's got their demons, right?"
Ty didn't respond. The fire crackled between them, casting long shadows that danced across their faces.
The conversation was interrupted by the soft whirring of a drone descending into their camp. Its red eye glowed as it hovered above them, projecting a list of items in the air.
"Credits available: 127,000. Additional sponsor funds for Ty Hockenson: 50,000 credits."
Ty glanced at the list. They had to be smart about their purchases—only what would give them an edge in the fights ahead. "Alright, let's see what we've got."
The group gathered around the holographic display, inspecting the options.
Enhanced Combat Armor: Lightweight, durable, and resistant to both physical and magical attacks. (30,000 credits) Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
Silent Boots: Noise-dampening boots perfect for stealth missions, reducing footstep sound to near zero. (15,000 credits)
Explosive Bolts: Detonates on impact for maximum damage, designed for long-range use. (15,000 credits)
d-Kit Plus: Capable of healing severe injuries quickly with advanced healing properties. (12,000 credits)
High-Energy Rations: Calorie-dense food designed to maintain stamina during extended combat. (5,000 credits for 10 bars)
Fla Trap Set: A set of traps that, when triggered, release a burst of intense fire. (20,000 credits)
Kern pointed at the Enhanced Combat Armor. "That looks good. Might stop from getting sliced up next ti."
Rosana shook her head. "We need the d-Kit Plus more. You'll need healing after you get sliced."
Kern scoffed. "I don't plan on getting sliced at all, thanks."
John crossed his arms. "We should get the fla traps. If we're outnumbered, we can set up defenses and force them into a kill zone."
Ty nodded. "Agreed. Fla traps are non-negotiable. We'll also get the d-kit—if we're going to make it through this, we need to stay on our feet. The armor cos next."
Rosana looked at the silent boots, considering them. "Silent boots could be useful for stealth. If we need to slip past a group."
Kern waved her off. "We're not here to sneak around. We're here to fight."
Ty raised an eyebrow. "Stealth is as much a part of survival as fighting is, Kern."
Rosana looked to Ty. "Let's get the traps, d-kit, and silent boots. We'll need every advantage we can get."
Ty selected the items. The drone beeped in acknowledgnt before dispensing the requested gear. The small black orbs for the fla traps rolled across the ground, their size deceptive.
"Let's test these out before we move," Ty said, picking one up. "We need to know how they work."
The group followed him a short distance away from camp. Ty crouched down, holding the tiny iron speck in his palm before tossing it into the dirt. It landed with a soft thud, expanding outward as spiked tendrils curled from its core. A mont later, a burst of fla shot up from the center, scorching the air above it.
Rosana watched, intrigued. "That's effective. The fire's quick but intense. It'll burn anyone who gets close."
Kern tossed one of the traps farther, watching as it expanded. "Easy to set up too. We could line these around camp while we rest."
John crouched beside another one. "They're small. No one would see them until it's too late."
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