The intimate moment was over, its fleeting warmth replaced by the focused, driving necessity of preparation. Leo and Lara knelt by the fire, their makeshift base camp quiet and efficient. They had a shelter, a fire, and the most critical components for survival, but they needed to upgrade their destructive capabilities to face the professional threat of Trinity.
Leo spread out the loot taken from the various Solarii and the fallen Gunner. His Mind (10), now maxed for this tier, instantly sorted the junk into essential crafting categories.
"We need to make these grenades quickly," Leo stated, handing Lara the Tier 2 Explosives schematic (Improvised Grenade). "Trinity is using fragmentation rounds; we need something to break their armor and disrupt their formations."
Lara, reviewing the schematic, quickly located the necessary components: Scrap Metal (for fragmentation casing), Gunpowder (a small amount salvaged from the pistol ammo), and a Fuse Material (a length of treated rope and sap).
Leo's expertise was the blueprint, but Lara's instincts for material science were vital.
"The scrap metal is too soft for a clean explosion," Lara noted, tapping a piece of rusted metal. "We need something dense and irregular for shrapnel. I saw some heavy bolts and iron clamps in the back of this cavern—likely Solarii leftovers."
Leo nodded in agreement. Optimal Material Upgrade detected.
They worked side-by-side, their partnership seamless. Lara ground the small amount of gunpowder and mixed it with dry sap to stabilize the compound, creating a basic explosive charge. Leo, utilizing his enhanced Strength (11), crushed and pounded the sharp, dense iron bolts into jagged, irregular fragments, carefully packing them into a heavy, salvaged tin can—the casing.
He then fused the charge with a length of sap-treated rope, creating a wick that would burn just long enough.
System Notification!
[Crafting Complete: Improvised Grenade (3 Units)]
Quality: High (Blast Radius: Medium, Penetration: High)
[Sub-Mission: Craft Improvised Explosives (Complete!)]
Reward: 1,000 EXP
The rush of 1,000 EXP was massive, a clear reward for completing a complex, Tier 2 crafting objective.
[Host Level Up! Level 10 Reached!]
[New Attribute Points Available: 3]
[Tier 3 Skill Tree Unlocked: SABOTEUR]
Focus: Explosives, Traps, Advanced Environmental Manipulation.
The Level 10 benchmark was a seismic shift. Leo had officially entered the mid-game, unlocking the highly strategic SABOTEUR tree.
He quickly allocated his final three points from this level, choosing to invest in the strategic power of his Mind to enhance his newly unlocked capabilities.
[Attribute Allocation Log]
* +3 Points to Mind. Rationale: Maximizing strategic thinking and resource efficiency for the complex Tier 3 skills.
* New Mind: 13
[Attribute Allocation Complete! New Base Stats: Strength 11, Dexterity 17, Stamina 12, Mind 13]
[Skill Points Available: 1]
Leo had reached a new plateau. He was a perfect hybrid: the Hunter/Brawler in his physical stats, and the ultimate Strategist/Saboteur in his mental stats.
He turned to the SABOTEUR skill tree, ready to spend his hard-earned point.
[Skill Point Allocated to SABOTEUR Tree!]
* Blast Radius Optimization: (Increases the effective radius of all crafted explosives by 15% and guarantees material retention upon explosion.) Rationale: Maximizes the effectiveness of the Grenades they just created, making them capable of destroying Trinity armor.
While Leo was processing his sudden power spike, Lara turned her attention to the weapons. She had carefully collected the spare parts and magazines from the two 9mm Pistols they had taken.
"The pistols are good, Leo, but the recoil is high for controlled bursts," Lara said, her eyes focused on a piece of heavy rope and some scavenged bolts. "They need stabilizing."
"A compensator?" Leo asked, instantly recognizing the need for the upgrade.
"Something like it," Lara replied. "A crude recoil dampener. With your Mind for the alignment, and my Dexterity for the rigging, we can make this work."
Leo watched with fascination as Lara worked. Using the rope, bolts, and the precise angles he calculated, she fashioned rough, yet functional, stabilizing grips and weight dampeners on the pistols.
System Notification!
[Crafting Complete: Dual Stabilized 9mm Pistols (Tier 2)]
Quality: Excellent (Recoil Reduction: 30%, Accuracy: High)
Lara handed one back to him. The pistol felt heavier, more balanced, and impossibly stable. The partnership was now imprinted on their primary weapons.
"We're ready," Lara said, her eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. "We have firepower, explosives, and the knowledge of this cave system. Where does the next tunnel lead, Leo?"
Leo looked at the twisting passage ahead. His Mind (13) immediately highlighted the optimal path.
"It leads down," Leo stated, rising to his feet, the pistols secured at his waist, the grenades heavy in his pouch. "Down, into the heart of the Mountain Temple. It's an ancient fortress, full of traps and secrets. It's also where Trinity is setting up their main base of operations, trying to contain the Oni."
He took a step toward the darkness, the faint, primal roar of the Oni now audible again in the distance—a clear signal that their moment of peace was truly over.
"The next fight isn't about running away, Lara. It's about fighting to secure the Mountain Temple. We hit their command center, we cripple their operation, and we force them to deal with the Oni on their own turf."
Leo looked at Lara, the firelight catching the grim resolve in his eyes. "Ready for war, partner?"
Lara smiled, a dark, fierce expression that promised violence. She drew her pistol and nocked an arrow into her Partner Bow. "I was born ready, Leo. Lead the way."