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Jhon approached the items with the same calm as always, his gaze assessing each one. Loli's voice was absent, which Jhon interpreted as a sign that she would let him process his victory.
The five items dropped by the wolf were:
A small, dark brown leather bag that appeared to be well made. It was about the size of a hand.
A glass vial filled with a translucent, shimmering liquid that resembled water but glowed with a subtle inner light.
A silver metal medallion, embossed with a wolf, attached to a thin chain.
A fist-sized piece of red meat that looked fresh, giving off a slightly metallic, but edible smell.
And, to Jhon's surprise, a book bound in worn leather, with an illegible title in a language he didn't recognize, but with a wolf's paw symbol on the cover.
Jhon grabbed the leather pouch first. Opening it, he found a few gold coins, about ten of them, glistening inside. Money.
"You have 10 gold coins! Do you want to multiply it by 50 or upgrade it?" Loli's voice spoke up.
Jhon thought about multiplying the gold. "Multiply it by 50."
In the blink of an eye, the ten coins became 500 gold coins.
Then he picked up the vial. As he held it, the HUD screen instantly updated:
Light Healing Potion (Consumable)
Effect: Restores 20 HP.
Description: A mystical liquid that speeds recovery from minor injuries.
"A Light Healing Potion! Do you want to multiply it by 50 or enhance it?" Loli asked.
"Multiply by 50," Jhon replied.
The 50 light healing potions materialized. Jhon put them away, assimilating their usefulness. The wolf medallion seemed merely a cosmetic item, but he kept it too, with no option to multiply or upgrade it. The meat was a welcome addition.
"Wolf Meat (1 unit). Do you want to multiply it by 50 or upgrade it?" Loli asked.
"Multiply by 50," John thought, and 50 pieces of wolf meat appeared.
Finally, he picked up the book. As he touched the cover, Loli's voice finally returned, this time with a tone of barely contained excitement.
"Wow, Jhon! You found a skill book! That's rare, especially from such a common enemy! Want to learn? Just think 'yes'!"
Jhon thought "yes." The book glowed brightly, and then, in a flash of light, it disintegrated, its pages flying like butterflies before being absorbed by Jhon. A strange sensation, almost like an electric shock, ran through his mind, and information began to solidify.
The HUD screen has expanded, showing a new section on your character sheet:
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Special Abilities / Magic
Predatory Sense (Passive Ability):
Description: Enhances the user's senses, allowing them to detect hostile creatures within a 50-meter radius. Functions as a biological radar, highlighting the aura of living beings. (Automatically activated)
Wolf's Bite (Active Skill):
Cost: 5 HP
Damage: Deals 15 bleed damage to a target. (Lasts 3 turns, 5 damage per turn)
Description: A ferocious bite imbued with the savagery of a wolf. (Requirement: Be in melee combat. Cooldown: 1 minute)
"Amazing, Jhon! Predatory Sense is a super useful passive skill! And Wolf Bite... well, let's just say it's a good start for your combat skills!" Loli celebrated. "Now you have a radar for the night creatures!"
Jhon absorbed the new information. The RPG skills were real. Predatory Sense would be invaluable for avoiding ambushes, especially at night. Wolf Bite would provide an additional attack in combat, even if it cost some of his health. It was a start.
He turned to the blue box. Without the guardian, he opened it without hesitation. Inside were only three items, but they were clearly of higher quality than those in the wooden boxes.
The first was a one-liter bottle of mineral water, with its label intact. The second item was a can of corned beef, with a label that looked new and shiny, unlike the unlabeled cans I had encountered. And the third item was a semi-automatic pistol of an unknown caliber, but it appeared to be in good condition, with a round of ammunition next to it.
"Mineral Water (1L). Do you want to multiply it by 50 or enhance it?" Loli asked.
"Multiply by 50," Jhon thought. 50 more bottles of water.
"Canned Beef (1 can). Do you want to multiply it by 50 or upgrade?" Loli continued.
"Multiply by 50," John replied. He already had 50 cans.
"Semi-Automatic Pistol (1). Do you want to multiply it by 50 or upgrade it?" Loli asked, with a tone of anticipation.
Jhon hesitated for a second. Multiplying 50 pistols would be useful for perhaps trading with other players, if he encountered them. But upgrading a pistol... he remembered the movies he'd seen. A Desert Eagle.
"Improve," Jhon thought clearly.
An intense light enveloped the pistol. Its shape began to change, the metal reconfiguring itself. The sound of gears and internal mechanisms echoed softly. Within seconds, the pistol transformed into an impressive Desert Eagle. It was larger, heavier, its polished metal gleaming with an aura of power. On the barrel, a silencer had materialized. At the bottom, a tactical flashlight, and on the side, a red laser sight. The HUD screen updated with the new description: