Leo leaned against the massive stone altar in the Coastal Forest Temple, the flickering firelight illuminating his tired, resolute face. He had secured the base, crafted essential gear, and had just reached Level 3. The time for subtle progression was over; the island was about to force its hand.
Lara was feeding Reyes the hot, savory rabbit broth—their first proper meal—and the survivor was finally stirring, though still too weak to speak. The air in the temple was thick with the scent of pine smoke and damp earth, a stark contrast to the clean, clinical interface that was currently dominating Leo's sight.
[Host Level Up! Level 3 Reached!]
[New Attribute Points Available: 3]
Leo needed to prepare for the inevitable attack on the temple. He knew from the game's plot that a massive Solarii assault, led by a particularly brutal enemy, was imminent. He needed to be able to survive the melee, as Lara couldn't hold the line alone.
Current Stats:
* Strength: 7
* Dexterity: 8
* Stamina: 8
* Mind: 6
He decided on a defensive build, focusing on the weakest link in his current arsenal: close-quarters combat.
[Attribute Allocation Log]
* +2 Points to Strength. Rationale: Maximizing melee damage and the effectiveness of the Pry Axe. Strength also increases carrying capacity, allowing him to carry more resources.
* New Strength: 9
* +1 Point to Stamina. Rationale: Pushing his endurance higher for sustained fighting against multiple enemies. At Stamina 9, he could endure more damage and recover faster from being stunned.
* New Stamina: 9
The boost was potent. His shoulders felt wider, his grip on the Pry Axe felt less taxing, and a wave of almost unsettling vitality coursed through him. He was becoming genuinely physically imposing.
[Attribute Allocation Complete!]
[New Base Stats: Strength 9, Dexterity 8, Stamina 9, Mind 6]
[Skill Points Available: 1]
Leo focused on the Skill Tree. He had taken Steady Hand in the HUNTER tree, but now he needed to invest in the BRAWLER tree—a necessity given the impending melee.
[Skill Point Allocated to BRAWLER Tree!]
* Melee Finisher: (Grants a high-damage follow-up strike after a successful parry/dodge.) Rationale: This directly rewards his high Dexterity and gives his newly boosted Strength a critical multiplier. It converts defense into offense.
The moment the skill was acquired, a complex sequence of combat movements—parries, dodges, and brutal counter-swings—flashed through his mind. He wasn't just stronger; he knew how to fight close-up.
"Leo," Lara's voice cut through his focus, her eyes wide, staring toward the main entrance. "The fire... it's attracting things. I hear voices. Too many voices."
Leo was already moving, grabbing the Pry Axe. His Mind (6), combined with his Stamina (9), allowed him to analyze the threat with cold clarity, even under pressure. The time for theory was over.
"They're here," Leo confirmed, his voice low and steady. "The fire didn't attract them, Lara. They were tracking us, and this place was their target all along."
He moved to the main entrance, where the thorny brush he'd chopped had created a narrow, defensible path. He handed Lara the Rusted Pipe.
"You take the pipe. Keep moving. Don't let them pin you down. I'll cover the entrance with the axe. If they break through, use the bow." He slid the Recurve Bow off his shoulder.
"Wait, you're better with the bow! Why are you taking the axe?" Lara protested, her own climbing axe already clutched in her hand.
"Because the axe has better penetration against armor, and I can swing it harder now," Leo stated, his Strength (9) giving him confidence. "And because I need you alive to aim."
He didn't wait for her argument. He positioned himself behind a crumbling pillar, the axe held low.
A harsh, rhythmic chant began outside, a guttural sound that raised the hair on Leo's arms. Then, the first Solarii appeared—a brutal-looking man in a thick fur coat, armed with a sickle.
The cultist spotted Leo and roared, charging through the narrow opening.
Leo knew this enemy: Solarii Thug (Melee). Weak to dodge counters.
He waited until the last possible second. The sickle swung wide, aiming for his head. Leo ducked, channeling his high Dexterity (8) into a quick, lateral dodge. The cultist's momentum carried him past.
Target Stunned! Melee Finisher Activated!
Leo brought the Pry Axe around in a brutal, sweeping arc, using the spiked end to hook into the cultist's back and yank him off balance. As the cultist stumbled, Leo put every ounce of his Strength (9) into a devastating, downward chop that ended the fight instantly.
THWACK!
The first attacker fell dead without a sound.
"One down!" Leo yelled, already pulling the axe free and turning to the next target.
Two more rushed the entrance, one armed with a shield made of scrap metal and the other with a flaming brand.
"Lara, the shield!" Leo barked.
Lara, who had been struggling with the initial paralysis of combat, reacted instantly. She threw the rusted pipe like a javelin. It spun end over end, striking the shield-bearing Solarii right in the exposed face. The man staggered back, his shield momentarily forgotten.
Leo didn't hesitate. He rushed the exposed shield-bearer, bypassing the flaming brand wielder. He slammed the Pry Axe's handle into the cultist's gut, then, using the axe's hook, ripped the shield away and tossed it aside. A quick, brutal strike with the axe finished the job.
But the fire-brand Solarii was already on him. The cultist lunged, swinging the burning stick.
Leo's Dexterity saved him again, allowing him to lean away just as the fire licked at his face. He felt the heat, the smell of burning cloth, but he wasn't hit.
He brought the axe up defensively, engaging in a desperate, grinding struggle against the brand. The fire made the attack unpredictable, and the cultist was fighting with maniacal strength.
He looked over his shoulder. More silhouettes were visible in the entrance. The ambush was escalating.
Leo pushed back hard, shouting, "Lara! Now!"
Lara, having retrieved the pipe, rushed the fire-wielder's flank. The cultist spun to meet her, exposing his back to Leo.
Leo let out a roar, dropping the axe and lunging forward with a full-body tackle, driven by his high Stamina (9). He slammed the cultist into the stone pillar, cracking the wood and sending the fire-brand skittering across the floor. He delivered a series of rapid, bone-jarring strikes with his bare fists, utilizing his sheer Strength (9) until the man went limp.
He scrambled backward, retrieving the axe, breathing heavily.
[Host: Leo]
[Enemy Defeated: Solarii Thug (Melee)] - +100 EXP
[Enemy Defeated: Solarii Shield (Melee)] - +100 EXP
[Enemy Defeated: Solarii Fire (Melee)] - +100 EXP
[Sub-Mission Unlocked!]
[Objective: Temple Defense (Phase 1)]
Defeat 5 Melee Solarii (3/5)
Reward: 400 EXP, Schematic Unlock: Fire Arrows.
Three enemies down. Three hundred EXP. But his head was ringing, his heart was a frantic drum, and his body was screaming for rest. His survival skills were working, but this was a war of attrition.
Lara was standing over the latest fallen cultist, her chest heaving, her eyes wide with adrenaline. "There are more, Leo! They're coming down the cliff path. We can't hold this!"
"We don't have to!" Leo gasped, adrenaline masking his pain. "We just have to slow them down. Get Reyes and the bow! We retreat to the upper level—the sanctuary!"
He knew this was the start of the final push in this area. They had to get to higher ground, or they would be swarmed and eliminated. The BRAWLER skills had saved his life, but only the HUNTER skills could get them out of this alive.
Chapter End.