Alex, the Leaper, couldn’t hide his grin as he felt comfortable having his al inside the outpost...
"Feels good to eat sowhere really safe."
One of the Super Soldiers nodded. "Better than chewing protein bars in the APC."
Well, they couldn’t really cook inside the APC. Although Shane also had other als in his Inventory, they still had to be heated.
Vale chuckled as he also enjoyed his al. Then, he turned to the window to observe the outpost. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was secure. The walls were strong, the supplies like batteries for the Warden Units, and the Barrier was enough. The defensive structures also seed reliable.
At least, for now, it was enough.
Outside, the Warden Units continued their silent patrols, while Asad’s skeletal summons lingered at the edge of the forest...
The outpost was a strange blend of life and death, but it was definitely a decent place to stop over in their journey.
Vale finished his al and stood. "We’ll rest here for a while. Tomorrow, we move closer to Tundra’s territory."
The group nodded, grateful for the pause. For tonight, the advanced outpost was their sanctuary.
As a matter of fact, they wouldn’t even be able to use their APC since there wasn’t a clear road ahead of them. They would have to walk and pass through so hills, adows, and other challenging terrains to arrive quickly. If not, they would take a week in their journey instead.
***
The next morning, Shane didn’t bother with breakfast or even washing up. Instead, he sat quietly in the ss hall and opened his System Stores.
First ca the Weapon Store.
His eyes scanned the listings until he settled on purchasing five compact pistols with boxes of ammunition each. It was lightweight, durable, and easy to conceal.
He would give them all to the Warden Units here since they were only using one rifle each, aside from their blade.
Adding firearms might help them even for a little.
It wasn’t ant for frontline combat, but it was perfect for ergencies or for arming one of their companions if needed. He also purchased a box of specialized rounds for his own revolver, designed to pierce zombie bone armor.
Next was the Nourishnt Store. He picked up packets of seasoning like salt, pepper, and a blend of dried herbs. There are even so tea leaves that were quite expensive.
They were Simple things, but they transford bland rations into als that lifted morale. He also bought a few nutrient bars infused with decent effects that could be useful for long marches when cooking wasn’t possible.
Finally, he checked the Random Store, a place filled with oddities. Among the miscellaneous items, he purchased several Zombie Lures. They were small canisters that released a scent irresistible to the low-tier and mid-tier Zombies, but not too much for high-tier ones and above.
They were dangerous tools, but in the right hands, they could be used to bait enemies into traps or divert a horde away from civilians. He tucked them into his inventory with care.
Once finished, Shane shifted his focus to the Reputation Store. He had already accumulated thousands of points, and it gave him access to rare and unusual items.
[ Reputation Store ]
[ Mark of Resilience: A mystical brand to be etched onto the Survivor’s skin. It permanently increases stamina and grants resistance against fatigue. The design would appear normal at first, but glow when the Survivor pushes beyond their limits.
Price: 25 RP ]
[ Talent Fusion Scroll: A rare scroll that allows two existing talents to rge into a hybrid form. The resulting talent will carry traits of both, creating unique combinations. Can only be used once per Survivor.
Price: 2,500 RP ]
"What the heck?" Shane was shocked as he saw this Scroll!
Skill Fusion was one thing, but Talent Fusion was sothing that had never existed, even from his previous Apocalypses—AI Rebellion and Fairy Realm Invasion.
’What the... I need this one...’ Shane thought as he checked his Reputation Points. Since he had enough, he swiftly made his purchase.
[ 2,500 Reputation Points have been deducted. ]
[ You have obtained Talent Fusion Scroll. The item has been transferred to your Inventory. ]
[ Remaining Reputation Points: 6,835 ]
"Ok... Let’s do that for later..." Shane said as he turned to the other items being sold.
[ Companion Contract Stone: A crystalline stone that binds a beast or a creature to the Survivor. The bonded companion gains loyalty and might obtain a special ability.
Price: 50 RP ]
"This... Companion Contract Stone... huh. A crystal that binds a beast or creature permanently? That’s nothing new but if it really grants loyalty and special abilities, it could change how we handle our Pets..."
He then continued checking the items...
[ Apocalypse Manual, Volu 2: A detailed guide covering mid-tier and high-tier zombies. Includes diagrams, survival tactics, and advanced combat strategies. Reading it might grant Survivor Skill related to detection and counterasures.
Price: 150 RP ]
[ Elixir of Safe Clarity: A potion that sharpens the mind. Grants temporary boosts to perception and decision‑making, and may unlock hidden insights into new objects.
Price: 35 RP ]
[ Ironleaf Pendant: A magical necklace crafted from enchanted foliage. It enhances vitality and grants minor regeneration when worn. The pendant can attract Zombies too.
Price: 75 RP ]
"Ahh... It can attract zombies. That’s a double‑edged blade. Useful for baiting them or drawing them away from others, but dangerous if worn carelessly. I think I can use this to farm Zombies."
Shane studied the list carefully, weighing each option.
’These items... they’re quite new. I guess the System keeps evolving, throwing us better and better items.’
He was certainly happy to see new items being sold. As expected, after the Red Night Event, the items in all stores were no longer repetitive compared to before.
Soon, after spending a few more Reputation Points to obtain so of the items, Shane closed the interface.
Tomorrow, they would leave the safety of the outpost and step into the wild terrain leading toward Tundra’s claid territory.
However, he wanted to fuse his other Talents first!
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