Natalie watched as the Scorpion Chira shrieked until Brian, who was also a Poison Specialist like Ash, vaulted onto its back and struck with his Neurotoxin Dagger…
"That thing should die already, right?" Brian muttered, hoping that the Chira would lt from within.
Indeed, as the battle continued, the Chira weakened every second and soon died after getting too much injury.
Now, there were only three remaining Chira…
They charged together, aiming to overwhelm Natalie's team…
However, the Priests saw through their plan and didn't flinch. The two of them slamd their staff into the ground, and a Holy Shield appeared!
It wasn't just a defensive skill, as it was followed by a golden shockwave that sent the abominations back.
"Natalie! Now!" The priest said.
Of course, Natalie was already moving.
Her Pathfinder Talent allowed her to fully understand the battlefield. It helped her highlight the enemy's weak points, trajectories, and kill zones.
The Shark Chira was the first to recover and attack again.
Natalie decided to allow it to get closer, and at the last second, she sidestepped, driving her Plasma Saber, one they looted from the enemies, through its jaw and into its brain.
The blade's superheated edge seared its flesh as it cut, leaving the beast twitching at her feet.
Then, she baited the other two and led them to a certain area…
"Hale!" She called out to the sculptor...
"On it…"
The sculptor was already kneeling, he had been using Living Clay talent already and was molding a into a replica of the Sanctum's steel door.
Just like that, the clay suddenly turned into thick steel and was dropped on the group of Chiras!
Boom!
Hale couldn't help but smile after seeing the thick tal door on top of the Chiras.
'That'll do it…'
When he had first awakened with this talent, he actually felt useless.
However, as he slowly got stronger and leveled up continuously, his sculptures started giving so special effects. After that, he could start giving so 'life' to his creations for a short duration.
Finally, after reaching level 50, his creations could now adapt or transform his creation to what they were ant to be.
Just like his thick tal door, it was previously a clay and was simply transford. Unfortunately, there was a limit to that, he could only do it if the thing he was copying was within his range…
Nonetheless, as soon as the Chiras had been crushed by his creation, the others started finishing them off.
"Status?" Natalie asked as she saw them stopping their attacks.
"I got the notification. It's dead."
" too… Can I loot one of them? I'm curious."
"I'm unlucky… Go ahead."
"Do it quickly…" Natalie said as she turned toward the inner chamber, where panicked shouts and scrambling footsteps echoed.
"Then let's finish this."
The remaining Eclipse Followers were not warriors.
Most of them were wearing lab coats, and so other figures who were scrambling over tables filled with abominable research.
There were also vials of zombie blood, surgical tools crusted with live specins squirming in cages.
It was such a horrible sight.
One cultist—a man with a third eye tattooed on his forehead—raised a shaking hand.
"Y-You don't understand! We're saving humanity by—"
Natalie's n didn't listen as their gauntlets silenced him permanently.
"Burn it," Natalie ordered after taking most of the valuable items inside... "All of it."
Soone was already planting Incendiary Bombs on every surface. Hale then sculpted a Stone Golem to carry out the caged test subjects.
Unsurprisingly, they were survivors, not monsters. Although they looked really bad at this mont, they knew that these cultists were trying to create new humans to live with the new residents of this world, the Zombies…
They were trying to find a harmonious relationship with these undead, and it may sound honorable, but it was such a disgusting thod that it sacrificed nurous innocent lives for the sake of their mission.
Soon, they had taken almost everything, and the fla started to spread.
At this ti, Natalie was already holding a bunch of papers about a project started by the cultists.
"Project Human Rising."
Then, as soon as they got out of the branch, they eliminated all the strugglers and t up with Ash and Darius…
As soon as the research facility was destroyed completely, a familiar blue light appeared in front of Natalie and her team.
Then, they heard the System's chanical voice…
[ CONGRATULATIONS! ]
[ You and your team have successfully eradicated an Eclipse Follower stronghold! ]
[ Achievent: Purge the Fanatics unlocked!]
[ Rewards Distributed!]
Just like that, they saw various notifications appearing in front of them.
[ Team Reward:
Golden Treasure Chest x5
Zombie Cores x500
Power Cores x30
Research Papers: Eclipse Cult Experintation ( Contains classified data on undead hybridization ) ]
The individual rewards, on the other hand, differed for each mber.
[ Individual Reward:
Instant Experience Potion x2
Wooden Treasure Chest x1
10 Reputation Points ]
Natalie's lips curled into a rare, genuine smile as she dismissed the notifications.
Around her, the team erupted into cheers—Darius let out a laugh and even the usually stoic Sato gave an approving nod.
"I got 5 Reputation Points aside from an Instant Experience Potion."
"What? You got bonus Rep Points? I only have one Double Experience Potion. No other reward!"
"Huh? Isn't that better?!"
"That's true! You got the best reward, Ash! I'd rather have Double Experience Potion. The Zombie Wave is coming. You'll level up fast with that."
"Let's trade. I got three Instant Experience Potions. Let have the Double Exp, please!"
"Tsk… I only got a Wooden Treasure Chest and one Stamina Potion."
"Still, I think it's a good thing that no one died in this mission. If it is a difficult mission, we will probably get more reward.
"Right, let's be content with what we have."
The others couldn't help but feel helpless after realizing that the others' rewards were a lot better.
Nonetheless, it was also true that the mission was a lot easier compared to raiding Zombie Lord Territories.
They were already quite lucky to have such rewards in the first place.
"Alright… Let's prepare to go back… It's already late." Natalie said as she reminded everyone before they could further discuss their rewards...
"We obtained an important research paper… I had a quick look and we may not have any use for it but we can sell it for a high price… We will be sharing the profit once it's sold." She said to everyone.
"But what about the Golden Treasure Chest? Can we open at least one of them before leaving?" Darius suddenly suggested, and it was imdiately agreed upon by the rest of the team.
Natalie sighed and looked around her surroundings. She then used her Pathfinder and confird that there weren't any Zombies or enemies lurking around watching them.
With that in consideration, she agreed.
"Alright…"
She then turned to Hale, who was probably the luckiest in their team.
Hale was the one who had gotten a Talent Expansion Scroll, a Random Skill Scroll, and other incredible items in various Treasure Chests.
After knowing that, everyone agreed to let him do it…
"Go ahead," she said. "Do the honors." Natalie said as she pulled out one of the Golden Treasure Chests.
"Haha… Of course! Trust … We will be getting sothing good!"
Hale then placed his hands on the chest.
The lock clicked open on its own, and a radiant glow spilled out, illuminating their faces.
[ You have opened a Golden Treasure Chest. ]
[ You have received an Assassin Cloak x1 ]
[ You have received a Blueprint: Shuffler Rifle x1 ]
[ You have received a Power Cores x15 ]
[ You have received a Beginner Skill Scroll x5 ]
[ You have received an Advanced Skill Scroll x2 ]
[ You have received a Skill Fusion Talisman x2 ]
[ All items have been transferred to your Inventory. ]
"Whoa~" Hale was surprised as he started sharing the loot to everyone...
"That's a hell of a payday." Darius muttered.
The Blueprint was definitely a good find and could be sold for a high price if they couldn't create it.
Furthermore, the Skill Scrolls were very important to them since it was sothing they could rarely find…
Lastly, the Skill Fusion Talisman was definitely sothing they wanted to obtain. Raiding this base was worth the risk!
After storing the items, Natalie looked at her team.
"Listen up," she said… "Tonight, we will feast. Properly."
A ripple of excitent passed through them.
Needless to say, they were expecting luxury food from Natalie.
"I've been saving rations for a special occasion," she continued. "Beef steaks. Butter… Fresh bread. Chocolate. Even whiskey from Springriver Manor!"
Ash's eyes widened. "You're joking."
"Do I look like I joke?" Natalie arched a brow. "We've earned this…"
Everyone cheered as soon as they heard this. After all, any drinks made from the Springriver Manor would not disappoint.
They knew that a Survivor or Recruit who had Talent related to Alcohol Brewing was based there. The man's creations couldn't be compared to the beers, whiskey, wines, and other products they could get from different sellers.
Unfortunately, because of the huge market, it was extrely hard to purchase them even with the help of the Marketplace.
"What are we waiting for! Let's head back!" Darius exclaid as he was already excited for the feast.
User Comments
0 comments from readers