The riverbank finally grew quiet, the screams of birds fading into the distance. Blood still clung to the grass and stones, the water carrying streaks of red downstream. Owen stood with his hands on his knees, breathing slowly, forcing his heart to calm. He looked around, then nodded once. "Okay. Since we are clear for now, I will use the points and do a ten pull."
Blair wiped gore from her arms and laughed. "About damn time. Hope we get lucky, boss, because my fists are getting a bit tired."
Owen closed his eyes and focused. The system interface bloomed in front of him, translucent and cold. Numbers ticked down as he confirmed the draw. "Ten pulls. No expectations. If we get trash, we deal with it. If we get something good, we stay alive longer."
Blair leaned over his shoulder. "That is the spirit. Let's pray for this shit."
The screen flashed. Items began to appear one by one, hovering in the air before solidifying. Owen read them aloud, his voice steady but tense. "Two star bike. Off road type, reinforced frame." He paused. "That is… actually useful."
Blair whistled. "Hell yeah. Beats walking till we die."
Owen continued. "Three star food ration pack and one star bread. High calorie preserved meals. Enough for several days if rationed properly." Another icon formed. "Two star electrolyte drink. Long term hydration support."
Blair groaned. "No fireworks yet."
Owen frowned as more items appeared. "Three star halberd. Reinforced steel shaft, weighted blade, increased armor penetration." He looked up at Blair. "That is definitely for you."
Her grin widened. "Now we are talking."
The next pull shimmered. "Three star strength serum. Permanent 0.5x strength enhancement." Another followed. "Three star endurance serum. Same tier." Owen exhaled. "And… two star medical kit, one star flashlight, one star tool pouch."
The screen faded. Silence hung between them for a second.
Blair stared, then threw her head back and yelled, "Unlucky as hell!"
Owen barked out a laugh despite himself. "Yeah. No four stars, no miracles. Still… at least we got a vehicle and a real weapon. That changes things."
Blair crossed her arms. "I was hoping for something stupidly broken, but fine. We work with this." She eyed the serums. "You using those?"
Owen shook his head slowly. "Not yet. I need to think. Giving it to you makes you even deadlier, but if something hits me, I fold. Giving it to me keeps me alive longer. I do not want to rush that decision."
Blair studied him, then nodded. "Smart. I like that you think before shoving needles into your veins."
Owen pulled the halberd from storage. The weapon was heavy, long, and wickedly sharp. He handed it to her carefully. "Here. Try it."
Blair caught it with one hand, spinning it experimentally. The blade hummed through the air. "Oh, this feels right. Balance is good. Reach is perfect. You just upgraded my killing potential by a lot."
Owen forced a smile. "That was the idea."
Next, he summoned the bike. It materialized on the sandy ground with a low mechanical thump. Thick tires, reinforced suspension, and a simple but sturdy frame. Owen ran a hand along it. "Ground here is solid enough. We can ride along the river, faster and safer."
Blair immediately swung a leg over it. "I am driving."
Owen blinked. "What. No. I should drive. I am the one with the system."
She revved the engine. "And I am the one who can react fast enough if something jumps us and strong enough for this kind of terrain. Get on, boss."
He hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But I am not happy about this."
She laughed loudly. "You will survive the humiliation."
Owen climbed on and ended up seated at in front of her, stiff and awkward. Heat rushed to his face. "This is… not ideal."
Blair leaned close, her voice teasing. "Relax, boss. I will keep my hands professional."
Owen muttered. "I am already ashamed enough."
The bike lurched forward, tires gripping the sand as they sped along the riverbank. Wind whipped past them, carrying the scent of water and blood. Owen held on, scanning the terrain. Rocks, reeds, shadows. "Do not get reckless. Speed is good, but control matters more."
Blair laughed. "You sound like an instructor."
"I am serious," Owen replied. "If something hits us at speed, we are dead... well I am and you'll probably just be fine."
She eased off slightly. "See. I listen."
They rode for several minutes before the ground ahead shifted. A creature burst from the sand, a mangled thing with too many legs and a mouth full of grinding teeth. Blair swerved sharply, then slammed the brakes. She dismounted in one fluid motion, halberd already swinging.
The blade cleaved through chitin and flesh. Black blood sprayed across her armor. The creature screeched as she drove the halberd down, pinning it to the ground. She twisted, ripping the blade free, then stomped its head until it collapsed into pulp.
Owen swallowed. "Efficient."
"Professional," Blair corrected, wiping gore from the blade. "Get back on."
They rode again. Another beast lunged from behind a rock, this one reptilian, jaws snapping. Blair did not stop. She leaned out, halberd flashing. The blade tore the creature open from throat to belly. Organs spilled onto the sand as the bike sped past.
Owen clenched his teeth. "I am noting that the halberd works very well."
"Told you," Blair replied. "Best pull we got."
They continued, encountering more threats. A burrowing insect that she skewered clean through. A scavenger beast that she decapitated mid charge. Blood stained the path behind them, the river carrying it away.
After a while, Blair slowed. "We should stop soon."
Owen nodded. "Agreed. We are stronger than before, but not invincible."
She parked near a bend where the grass grew thicker. Owen dismounted carefully, stretching his stiff legs. He avoided her eyes, cheeks still warm.
Blair smirked. "You will get over it."
"I know," he said quietly. "For now, I will bear the shame."
She laughed and rested the halberd on her shoulder. "Good. Because tomorrow, we hunt properly."
The river flowed beside them, calm and red tinted. Owen looked at the bike, the weapon, the supplies. Not lucky, but not dead. He nodded to himself.