While Farrah and Alfie were exploring the options that the Gene Trader could give, Kai walked toward Claire, who had just exited her armored car.
She adjusted her gloves and gave him a nod.
"Are those two new recruits?" she asked with a mysterious smile on her face.
"Yes," Kai replied. "They’re from Earth as well. They have strong close‑combat talents. Good frontliners."
Claire smiled, hearing this.
"That’s great news."
They certainly need so vanguards against the A.I. Soldiers, so she couldn’t help but appraise them from a distance.
"We’ll need more like them," she added.
Kai nodded and changed the topic. "So, are you planning to buy sothing again from the Trader? Make sure you’re not going to level down..."
He knew that she lacked Survivor dals or Energy Cores. That ans that her transactions must be through Experience Points only.
Claire couldn’t hide this from Kai and nodded. "Yes."
"You see... I rember he’s selling a perfu for three hundred experience points. I’m not going to level down yet anyway. I really want that."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Perfu?"
Claire smirked.
"Don’t laugh. Think about it... most of these areas reek. Rotting corpses, stagnant water, sweat from people who haven’t had proper baths in weeks... even with clean water, body odor is everywhere." She then paused for a mont, confirming that Kai understood her.
’I can’t stop others from slling bad, but I can at least fight against it for myself.’ She said in her mind.
"Ahem... So a little perfu on my mask, my handkerchief, even my gloves... it makes a difference. It keeps sane when I’m surrounded by the stench."
She shook her head, almost embarrassed. "The first ti I saw it, I thought it was frivolous. Who cares about slling nice when you’re fighting for survival? But after spending more ti out here, I realized it’s not just for luxury... I can keep my senses sharp and not gag every ti soone walks past, that’s worth the experience points."
Kai was stunned for a mont as he didn’t really expect such an answer.
However, that certainly made sense.
He then chuckled with understanding. "Haha... You’re right. Too bad we don’t have deodorant within the Gift Packs. I could’ve solved the problem if not for that."
Claire wryly smiled as she changed the topic.
"Are you planning to farm for Experience Points? We already sharpened our hatchets and prepared the revolvers. You’re helping us, right?"
Kai smiled knowingly. He had already thought of the sa plan.
"Let’s do that after your trade. Go ahead."
Claire nodded and followed Farrah and Alfie into the dilapidated mausoleum.
***
Soon, the three erged again, clutching their newly acquired items...
Now that the trades were complete, Kai gathered Farrah and Alfie near the armored car.
"Listen carefully. What we’re about to do isn’t simple. The Gene Trader’s territory is rigged with traps. When Survivors not from Earth step inside, it triggers waves of Mutants. Claire and I plan to use this to farm Experience Points."
Farrah blinked.
She finally understood Kai’s earlier words.
"Farm...? You an deliberately summon them?"
Kai nodded. "Exactly. They’ll co in numbers, from hidden places you wouldn’t expect. Underground tunnels, broken buildings, even crypts. They don’t appear out of thin air, but still quite mysterious. This will be your first ti, but stay sharp. Mutants can be annoying.
Alfie tightened his grip on his revolver and nodded. "We’re ready. Just tell us where to stand."
Kai’s lips curved faintly. He appreciated their resolve.
"Good. Stick close to Atom. He’ll cover you if things get overwhelming."
Atom, the Sentinel, stood silently nearby...
"Right..." Farrah and Alfie’s eyes lit up as soon as they recalled Atom!
The machine’s presence was reassuring now that they were on the sa side!
For the next thirty minutes, the teams prepared.
Claire’s Assault Squad checked their weapons, making simple traps to control the advance, like putting wooden pikes, digging pitfalls, tying ropes that could trip, and other simple but useful tricks.
Farrah and Alfie adjusted their new camouflage suits from Kai. Then, they also tested the balance of their hatchets and revolvers. Kai oversaw everything and was satisfied with their preparations.
Finally, Claire raised her hand.
"Alright. Everyone’s ready... Trigger the traps."
One of her n stepped cautiously into the mausoleum’s threshold. The mont his foot crossed the boundary, the atmosphere changed.
A low rumble echoed beneath the cetery, followed by the sound of stone cracking and tal grinding.
Then, chaos erupted.
Dozens of Mutants surged forth, clawing their way out of hidden tunnels and collapsing crypts. So burst from beneath broken pavent, others from shattered mausoleums.
They were everywhere!
Farrah gasped, instinctively raising her revolver. "So many!"
"Focus! They’re coming from every direction. Hold the line!" Kai reminded.
Claire’s team imdiately took the lead. They had fought Mutants before, and their experience showed.
Thanks to those battles, they had already adapted to the creatures’ speed and learned their attack patterns.
Soon, hatchets were swung, revolvers were fired, and smoke grenades detonated to shroud the battlefield!
The thick haze blinded the Mutants, forcing them to stumble into the traps the team had prepared.
Wooden pikes, hidden in the ground and angled for maximum impact, impaled several of the creatures as they charged recklessly forward!
Furthermore, the pitfalls and the ropes also slowed them down for an easier kill!
Just like that, the Mutants shrieked as their bodies collapsed under the coordinated assault!
Farrah and Alfie fought side by side, adrenaline surging through them.
"These things... are they even supposed to exist in the A.I. Apocalypse?!" Alfie shouted, firing his revolver and dropping a charging Mutant
"They should be in Zombie Outbreak or the Parasitic Evolution Apocalypse!" Farrah also complained...
However, it didn’t take that long before they changed their minds.
"So many experience points!" The two shouted in unison, forcing Kai to laugh.
They finally realized this was a blessing in disguise.
The only concern now was how long they could keep abusing this strange setting of mutant traps!
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