The city was a death trap.
So Luis and Zyx ran.
Not with glory. Not with guns blazing. Just with the quiet desperation of people who knew the difference between bravery and suicide.
They headed for the forest—where the monsters were weaker, the Hosts were fewer, and the grind was real.
The Forest of Low-Level Horrors
Moonlight barely trickled through the thick canopy. Luis stepped carefully, eyes darting, wrench clenched in his sweaty grip. The forest breathed—every rustle a possible threat.
Rustfang Hares (Lv. 1–2): Rabbit-sized nightmares with iron-spiked teeth.
Bramble Crawlers (Lv. 3): Parasitic spider-crabs that fired paralytic thorns.
Shade Stalkers (Lv. 4–5): Feral shadows that moved like wolves and bled black mist.
"Remember," Zyx whispered, hovering just above the moss, "you're not here to fight fair. You're here to farm."
Luis's first swing went wide. The hare hissed and launched at his leg.
CRACK.
His second swing landed square between its eyes. The little monster collapsed, and a wisp of black vapor—tinged faintly blue—rose from the corpse.
+5 Soul Essence | +10 EXP
Luis flinched as the energy curled into his palm. It was warm. Unsettling. And oddly satisfying.
Zyx floated above the corpse, unimpressed. "A heroic start. Truly."
The Soul Grind
Four hours. Three brushes with death. One wrench chipped from overuse. Luis's hoodie was soaked through, torn in two places. A Bramble Crawler's thorn was still embedded in his thigh.
By dawn, the forest floor was littered with twitching limbs and smoking shadows.
He'd killed:
22 Rustfang Hares — 5 Souls each
7 Bramble Crawlers — 15 Souls each
3 Shade Stalkers — 25 Souls each
[TOTAL SOUL ESSENCE: 300]
Luis dropped against a moss-covered rock and ripped the thorn from his leg with a hiss. "Okay," he muttered, teeth clenched. "I need a real weapon."
The Crafting Revelation
Hours later, back in the apartment, Luis called up Divine Blueprint. The HUD shimmered like liquid metal, pulling options into view.
[AVAILABLE CRAFTS]
Scrap Hammer – 2000 Soul Essence
+10% swing speed
+5% movement
2% chance to stun
Rustplate Vest – 2500 Souls
Light armor, basic resistances
Crude Healing Salve – 1500 Souls
Regenerates minor injuries over time
Luis stared at the hammer. His muscles ached. His hands were still raw. But something about it—basic as it was—felt right.
"That's it," he said quietly. "That's what I need."
Zyx floated behind him, peering over his shoulder with mock awe. "Wow. A 2% chance to stun. Truly the Excalibur of trash weapons."
Luis turned. "It's better than this stupid wrench. And the speed boost means I can actually dodge next time."
Zyx shrugged. "Sure. But unless you plan to nap in that forest for a week, you're gonna need to kill, what… forty more Shade Stalkers?"
Luis groaned. "There's gotta be a faster way."
Zyx's grin was slow and sharp. "There is. But you won't like it."
Before Luis could ask, something shrieked outside. A distant, too-close roar echoed through the night like glass being crushed.
And then the feed updated:
[SURVIVING HOSTS: 995,712]
Luis didn't know what Zyx's "faster way" was.
But whatever it was?
He had a sinking feeling it would make the wrench look comforting.