Ray and Mike stepped out of the White Claw guildhall, the steel-and-crystal structure gleaming under Zyra's dim sun. The goblin hunt's success—fifty vicious creatures and a rune-etched shaman down—had earned them 300 daalers, boosting Ray's funds (Currencies: 1465 Daalers). But Mike's questions about his shadow and bone magic still lingered, a reminder to keep his secrets tight. One down, two to go, Ray thought, gripping his Anansi-core short sword (0.5 attack boost, illusion resistance). Those ghouls are next, and they won't go easy.
Ray's HUD
Level: 13 (EXP: 20/2500)
Stats (Max 100):
Strength: 15 (Enhanced by Orc Mutagen, +1 from Level 13)
Endurance: 15 (Enhanced by Lizardman Mutagen, +1 from Level 13)
Speed: 13 (+1 from Level 13)
Agility: 15 (Enhanced by Dark Elf Mutagen, +1 from Level 13)
HP: 180/180
Mana: 180/180
Magic (Level 13, Mana Costs):
Elemental:
Fire: Flames (10), Fireball (20)
Water: Drip (10), Torrent (20)
Lightning: Spark (10), Bolt (20)
Ice: Frost Touch (10), Frost Nova (20)
Earth: Pebble Toss (10), Quake (20)
Wind: Gust (10), Tempest (20)
Universal:
Healing: Minor Mend (10), Major Mend (20)
Spatial: Short Blink (10), Long Blink (20, detectable by high spatial users)
Mutagen-Derived:
Shadow (Dark Elf): Shadow Cloak (10), Shadow Veil (20)
Enhancement (Orc): Muscle Boost (10), Power Surge (20)
Bone (Lizardman): Bone Spike (10), Bone Spear (20)
Beast (Nagual): Rat Agility (10, clawed limbs, +2 Agility), Boar Strength (10, tusked muscle, +2 Strength), Gorilla Resilience (10, gorilla arms, +2 Endurance), Lion Ferocity (10, clawed hands, +2 Attack), Tiger Stealth (10, striped skin, +2 Stealth), Bear Endurance (10, furred torso, +2 HP), Whale Vitality (10, gills and fins, underwater breathing, no combat)
Skills (Level/Uses to Next Level):
Hacking: Level 2 (1/4 uses toward Level 3)
Engineering: Level 2 (2/3 uses toward Level 3)
Swordplay: Level 6 (5/7 uses toward Level 7)
Markmanship: Level 6 (1/7 uses toward Level 7)
Forging: Level 3 (0/5 uses toward Level 4)
Stealth: Level 5 (0/6 uses toward Level 6)
Alchemy: Level 4 (3/5 uses toward Level 5)
Inventory (Dimension Pocket):
Crafting Materials:
Rat Pelts (x830), Rat Blood (x828), Rat Claws (x170)
Boar Hide (x1)
Anansi Silk (x46), Trickster Venom (x48)
Sonic Essence (x0), Mana-disruptive Residue (x15)
Copper Wiring, Rubber Grips, Silicone Components, Bone Fragments, Basic Alloys
Orc Tusks (x8)
Mana Crystals (x10), Vitae Roots (x5), Essence Vials (x3)
Goblin Claws (x50), Shaman Runes (x3, corrosive magic)
Cores:
Lesser Anansi Cores (x4)
Lesser Gremmeling Cores (x6)
Low-tier Goblin Cores (x10, some damaged)
Shaman Core (mid-tier, corrosive magic affinity)
Weapons and Gear:
Impundulu-core Light Armor Chestpiece (0.2 Defense Boost, Lightning Resistance, weakened by shaman)
Impundulu-core Boots (0.2 Agility Boost)
Impundulu-core Gauntlets (0.2 Strength Boost)
Impundulu-core Crossbow (0.4 Attack Boost, Lightning Affinity)
Impundulu-core Bow (0.3 Attack Boost, Precision Enhancement)
Anansi-core Short Sword (0.5 Attack Boost, Illusion Resistance)
Bow, Arrows (x40), Crossbow Bolts (x40), Shuriken
Tools and Misc:
Portable Alchemy Set
Empty Canisters (x3), Meshes (x2)
Truck Keys
Silver Dust, Sea Salt
Ward Tech Mana Sensor (Torin's Gift)
Encrypted Data Crystal
Currencies: 1465 Daalers, 200 Quetzals, 200 Draks, Lumen 200, Durin 300
"We need supplies for the ghoul hunt," Ray said, leading Mike through Zyra's bustling market district. The air was thick with the scent of scorched metal and exotic spices. At a vendor's stall piled with alchemical goods, Ray used his HUD to transfer 200 daalers (Currencies: 1465 to 1265 Daalers) for empty canisters (x5), meshes (x5), gas canisters (x3), acid vials (x5), oil flasks (x5), sulfur powder (x3), and bone dust (x3). At a butcher's stall, he paid 50 daalers (Currencies: 1265 to 1215 Daalers) for a sack of raw meat, its bloody scent perfect for luring ghouls. Bait's cheaper than bombs—let's keep this lean, he thought.
[Yomi Protocol: Pinching daalers already, kid? Smart—those alchemical toys ain't cheap. Got a plan to burn those ghouls without breaking the bank, mastermind?]
Ray whispered, "Fire runes and poison, Yomi. Ghouls crisp up easy; the alghoul's tougher, but we'll manage without wasting vials." They climbed into the truck, Mike driving back to the depot through the wasteland's scarred terrain.
At the depot, Ray headed to his workshop, setting up his Portable Alchemy Set. Mike watched, leaning against a rusted crate. "You're a damn chemist, Ray. What's the play here?"
"Ghouls are rotting scavengers—fire's their weakness," Ray said, grinding mana crystals. "The alghoul's got a necrotic aura, resists fire more, but poison'll soften it up. We save the fancy stuff for when we need it." He crafted:
HP Restoration Potions (x3): Mixed vitae roots (x3), essence vials (x2), and rat blood (x3) (Alchemy: 4/5 uses toward Level 5, Vitae Roots: x5 to x2, Essence Vials: x3 to x1, Rat Blood: x828 to x825).
Mana Restoration Potions (x3): Combined mana crystals (x3), essence vials (x1), and silver dust (x1) (Alchemy: 5/5 uses, Level 5, +10 EXP, Mana Crystals: x10 to x7, Essence Vials: x1 to x0, Silver Dust consumed).
Ghoul Poison (x4 doses): Blended acid vials (x2), Trickster Venom (x2), and bone dust (x2) for a toxin effective against ghouls, less so against alghouls (Acid Vials: x5 to x3, Trickster Venom: x48 to x46, Bone Dust: x3 to x1).
Inflammable Liquid (x3 vials): Mixed oil flasks (x3) and sulfur powder (x2) for a flammable coating (Oil Flasks: x5 to x2, Sulfur Powder: x3 to x1).
Flashbangs (x3): Combined gas canisters (x2), Mana-disruptive Residue (x2), and meshes (x2) for stunning blasts, requiring caution to avoid self-damage (Gas Canisters: x3 to x1, Mana-disruptive Residue: x15 to x13, Meshes: x5 to x3).
"Got poison for our blades and bolts," Ray said, stowing the inflammable liquid and flashbangs. "We'll stick to runes and bait—save the expensive stuff for a real pinch." Mike nodded, gripping his core-forged short sword. "Smart. Let's burn those undead bastards."
Ray hit the shower, the core-powered water washing away the day's dust. Mike's question from the ruins echoed: Not standard human magic. He checked his HUD, stats and skills glowing in his mind's eye. Am I still human, Yomi? he thought, unease creeping in. These mutagens—Dark Elf, Lizardman, Orc, Nagual—they're changing me.
[Yomi Protocol: Human? Sure, kid, but augmented. You're a walking arsenal of mutant tricks—shadows, bones, beast claws. Ain't nobody in Zyra pulling that combo. Mike's sniffing, but you're still you… mostly. Keep it locked down, mastermind.]
Ray exhaled, water streaming down his face. "Mostly's enough," he whispered. "Just gotta keep Mike from digging deeper." He toweled off, ready for the hunt.
They loaded the truck with the raw meat bait and drove through the wasteland's jagged trails to a derelict graveyard, its tombstones cracked under a sickly moon. The mission: take down two ghouls and their necrotic alghoul leader, its aura decaying flesh and metal. Night's their time, Ray thought. We'll use it against 'em.
Under cover of darkness, Ray activated Shadow Cloak (10 Mana, Mana: 170/180), slipping through the graveyard to set the trap. He placed the raw meat in a clearing, its bloody scent heavy in the air, and etched fire runes (10 Mana each, x3, Mana: 140/180) around it, invisible and primed to detonate. He coated his arrows (x10), bolts (x10), and Anansi-core sword with ghoul poison (Ghoul Poison: x4 to x2, Arrows: x40 to x30, Crossbow Bolts: x40 to x30). Mike applied poison to his core-forged short sword and crossbow bolts (Ghoul Poison: x2 to x0).
They crouched behind a mausoleum, waiting for nightfall's chill to draw the ghouls. Runes and poison'll do the job, Ray thought. No need to burn through our stock. His Mana Sensor pinged—three signatures, two weaker, one pulsing with necrotic energy. Showtime.
The ghouls emerged, rotting scavengers with claw-tipped limbs, sniffing the bait. The alghoul followed, its hulking frame shrouded in a decaying aura, eyes glowing red. Ray triggered the fire runes (Mana: 140/180), explosions engulfing the ghouls in flames. The two lesser ghouls shrieked, their flesh charring instantly (EXP: 40 each, 80 total), but the alghoul roared, its resistance holding against the blaze.
Ray used Shadow Veil (20 Mana, Mana: 120/180) to flank, slashing the alghoul with his poisoned Anansi-core sword (Swordplay: 6/7 uses, EXP: 30). Mike fired poisoned bolts from his basic crossbow, striking the alghoul's vitals (EXP: 20). The alghoul's aura grazed Ray's armor, further eroding it (-0.1 Defense Boost, now 0.1, HP: 175/180). Ray countered with Bone Spear (20 Mana, Mana: 100/180), piercing its flank (EXP: 30, Swordplay: 7/7 uses, Level 7, +10 EXP).
Mike unleashed Fireball (20 Mana), the blast scorching the alghoul's hide (EXP: 20). Ray loosed a poisoned arrow, the toxin weakening it further (Markmanship: 2/7 uses, EXP: 20, Arrows: x30 to x29). The alghoul lunged, claws raking Mike's shoulder (Mike HP reduced). Ray used Rat Agility (10 Mana, Mana: 90/180) to dodge its aura, landing a final poisoned arrow (Markmanship: 3/7 uses, EXP: 20, Arrows: x29 to x28). Mike's poisoned bolt finished it, the alghoul collapsing in a heap (EXP: 50).
The graveyard fell silent (total EXP: 240, Ray: 260/2500 EXP, Mike: Level 11). Ray's auto-loot collected ghoul claws (x6), ghoul cores (x2, low-tier), ghoul blood (x4), ghoul ichor (x2), alghoul core (mid-tier, necrotic affinity), alghoul saliva (x1), and 150 daalers. He used Minor Mend (10 Mana, Mana: 80/180) to heal himself (HP: 180/180) and Mike. Runes and poison did the trick—saved the good stuff, he thought.
Mike grinned, wiping ichor from his blade. "Hell of a fight, brother. Those runes cooked 'em good."
Ray nodded, the weight of their success settling in. "One more to go—Rakshasa's next. Let's get back to the depot." They climbed into the truck, the engine rumbling as they drove through the wasteland, their squad's bond forged in fire and poison.
Ray's Updated HUD
Level: 13 (EXP: 260/2500)
Stats (Max 100):
Strength: 15 (Enhanced by Orc Mutagen)
Endurance: 15 (Enhanced by Lizardman Mutagen)
Speed: 13
Agility: 15 (Enhanced by Dark Elf Mutagen)
HP: 180/180
Mana: 180/180
Magic (Level 13, Mana Costs):
Elemental:
Fire: Flames (10), Fireball (20)
Water: Drip (10), Torrent (20)
Lightning: Spark (10), Bolt (20)
Ice: Frost Touch (10), Frost Nova (20)
Earth: Pebble Toss (10), Quake (20)
Wind: Gust (10), Tempest (20)
Universal:
Healing: Minor Mend (10), Major Mend (20)
Spatial: Short Blink (10), Long Blink (20, detectable by high spatial users)
Mutagen-Derived:
Shadow (Dark Elf): Shadow Cloak (10), Shadow Veil (20)
Enhancement (Orc): Muscle Boost (10), Power Surge (20)
Bone (Lizardman): Bone Spike (10), Bone Spear (20)
Beast (Nagual): Rat Agility (10, clawed limbs, +2 Agility), Boar Strength (10, tusked muscle, +2 Strength), Gorilla Resilience (10, gorilla arms, +2 Endurance), Lion Ferocity (10, clawed hands, +2 Attack), Tiger Stealth (10, striped skin, +2 Stealth), Bear Endurance (10, furred torso, +2 HP), Whale Vitality (10, gills and fins, underwater breathing, no combat)
Skills (Level/Uses to Next Level):
Hacking: Level 2 (1/4 uses toward Level 3)
Engineering: Level 2 (2/3 uses toward Level 3)
Swordplay: Level 7 (0/8 uses toward Level 8)
Markmanship: Level 6 (3/7 uses toward Level 7)
Forging: Level 3 (0/5 uses toward Level 4)
Stealth: Level 5 (1/6 uses toward Level 6)
Alchemy: Level 5 (0/6 uses toward Level 6)
Inventory (Dimension Pocket):
Crafting Materials:
Rat Pelts (x830), Rat Blood (x825), Rat Claws (x170)
Boar Hide (x1)
Anansi Silk (x46), Trickster Venom (x46)
Sonic Essence (x0), Mana-disruptive Residue (x13)
Copper Wiring, Rubber Grips, Silicone Components, Bone Fragments, Basic Alloys
Orc Tusks (x8)
Mana Crystals (x7), Vitae Roots (x2), Essence Vials (x0)
Goblin Claws (x50), Shaman Runes (x3, corrosive magic)
Ghoul Claws (x6), Ghoul Blood (x4), Ghoul Ichor (x2), Alghoul Saliva (x1)
Empty Canisters (x5), Meshes (x3), Gas Canisters (x1), Acid Vials (x3), Oil Flasks (x2), Sulfur Powder (x1), Bone Dust (x1)
Cores:
Lesser Anansi Cores (x4)
Lesser Gremmeling Cores (x6)
Low-tier Goblin Cores (x10, some damaged)
Shaman Core (mid-tier, corrosive magic affinity)
Ghoul Cores (x2, low-tier)
Alghoul Core (mid-tier, necrotic affinity)
Weapons and Gear:
Impundulu-core Light Armor Chestpiece (0.1 Defense Boost, Lightning Resistance, weakened by shaman and alghoul)
Impundulu-core Boots (0.2 Agility Boost)
Impundulu-core Gauntlets (0.2 Strength Boost)
Impundulu-core Crossbow (0.4 Attack Boost, Lightning Affinity)
Impundulu-core Bow (0.3 Attack Boost, Precision Enhancement)
Anansi-core Short Sword (0.5 Attack Boost, Illusion Resistance)
Bow, Arrows (x28), Crossbow Bolts (x30), Shuriken
Tools and Misc:
Portable Alchemy Set
Inflammable Liquid (x3)
Flashbangs (x3)
HP Restoration Potions (x3)
Mana Restoration Potions (x3)
Truck Keys
Sea Salt
Ward Tech Mana Sensor (Torin's Gift)
Encrypted Data Crystal
Raw Meat (x1, partially used)
Currencies: 1415 Daalers (+150 from mission, -200 for alchemical supplies, -50 for raw meat), 200 Quetzals, 200 Draks, Lumen 200, Durin 300