In the aftermath of the intense battle, as the group caught their breath and surveyed the ashes of the defeated zombies, Selene, who had finished tending to Ray's wound, looked around with sharp eyes and caught something glinting amidst the remains. She reached down and retrieved a silver necklace adorned with intricate engravings of skulls and bones.

"Hey, look what I found," she exclaimed, holding up the necklace for all to see.

Curiosity piqued, the group gathered around as Selene handed the relic to Ray. He examined it closely, noticing the subtle but eerie aura it emitted. Intrigued, Ray decided to use his Eye of Appraisal skill to gain more information about the necklace.

As he focused his spirit energy on the relic, its description appeared before him:

Zombiebane Relic (Silver)

Rank: Silver

Description: This silver necklace is adorned with intricate engravings of skulls and bones. It emits a faint but eerie aura.

Grants +20 Health.

Grants +2 Strength.

1.Special Ability: Zombie Reversal - Can cure zombification if worn for at least five minutes, but only if the wearer has not yet turned into a zombie.

2.Special Ability-???????

Selene, upon hearing what ray said, was quick to react, urging everyone, "Quick, check your status screens. See if there's anything called 'zombification' listed there."

With a sense of urgency, they all accessed their status screens and began searching for any indications of zombification.

As the group hastily checked their status screens for any signs of zombification, they discovered that three among them had been infected. Ray was among the unfortunate ones, with a timer on his status screen ticking down the minutes until zombification. Beside him, Sarah's timer was also counting down, and the third person to be infected was Nir, the injured student they had saved.

Ray's timer: 05:15 (5 minutes and 15 seconds remaining)

Sarah's timer: 11:30 (11 minutes and 30 seconds remaining)

Nir's timer: 16:15 (16 minutes and 15 seconds remaining)

With the timers ticking down and the group at an impasse, Ray, who had the shortest time remaining, decided to take the initiative. He carefully picked up the Zombiebane Relic and, without hesitation, put it around his neck. The eerie aura of the necklace enveloped him as he secured it in place.

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Ray's timer: 05:01 (5 minutes and 1 seconds remaining)

The group watched anxiously, hoping that the relic would indeed reverse the effects of zombification when worn for the required time.

Jack, always the pragmatic one, suggested, "While we're waiting, maybe there are other useful items lying around here. Quick, everyone, look around. We can't afford to miss anything that might help us."

Ray was about to join the search for any additional items that might be lying around, but as he attempted to get up, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. His stamina had been drained to rock bottom from the previous battles and the use of his newfound bone control ability.

Selene, noticing Ray's fatigue, approached him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "We've got this, Ray," she reassured him. "Rest for a moment. The necklace should work."

Five minutes were almost up, and the countdown on Ray's status screen continued relentlessly:

Ray's timer: 00:03

As the seconds ticked away, Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that if the necklace didn't work, he would inevitably turn into a zombie, a fate he was determined to avoid at all costs.

Ray's timer: 00:02

With a sinking feeling, Ray made a quick, desperate decision. He raised his uninjured hand and pointed it toward his own head, his mind filled with a grim thought: "I'll take matters into my own hands if the necklace doesn't work. I'd rather end it myself than become a zombie."

Ray's timer: 00:01

Suddenly, a loud ding echoed in Ray's mind, cutting through the tension in the air. A system message appeared before him:

System Message:

Zombification reversed.

Relief washed over Ray as he realized that the Zombiebane Relic had worked its mysterious power. He wouldn't have to resort to desperate measures, and he had been saved from the grim fate of zombification.

Ray looked up at Selene and the rest of the group, a grateful smile on his face. The necklace had proven its worth, and for now, they could breathe a sigh of relief.

With the immediate crisis averted and a sense of relief washing over the group, there was a palpable feeling of gratitude that Ray hadn't succumbed to zombification. Sarah, quick to act, was the next to put on the silver necklace, a look of determination on her face.

Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming luck that the necklace had worked for him. He knew that things could have taken a much darker turn if it hadn't. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his attention to the others to see what they had found amid the remnants of the defeated zombies.

As the group scoured the remains of the defeated zombies, their efforts were rewarded with a pair of small health potions that lay amidst the chaos. These potions were identical to the one they had previously used to treat Nir's injuries. The group understood the value of these healing elixirs, especially in the heat of battle.

In addition to the health potions, their search yielded two rare skill books, an unexpected treasure amid the debris. The skill books bore the mark of uncommonness, with intricate engravings and a faint shimmer of magic.

Skill Book 1: Fire mine (Rare)

Description: Fire Mine is a potent elemental skill enabling the user to craft a concealed explosive trap infused with intense flames. The user must prepare for one minute, meticulously channeling 50 mana to create the trap. Once set, the Fire Mine can be triggered remotely or by proximity, resulting in a devastating explosion of fire within a designated area measuring three meters by three.

limit 2 time a day

Skill Book 2: Vampiric Ancilla (Rare)

Description: This skill book details the Vampiric Ancilla transformation, a rare vampiric ability. Upon mastering this skill, the user can transform into a vampiric entity, gaining access to blood-based abilities. In this form, the user can create Vampire Spawn and Vampire Fledglings, enhancing their health, mana, strength, and agility. Vampire Spawn and Vampire Fledglings gain +50 Health, +50 Mana, +10 Strength, and +10 Agility each. This transformation can offer strategic advantages in combat and utility in various situations.

As another distant roar echoed through the air, the group quickly gathered the items they had found—the two small health potions and the two rare skill books—into their bags. With the relic necklace safely secured around Sarah neck, they knew they had valuable assets in their possession.

Jack took the wheel of the mini-van once more, and as the engine rumbled to life, they began their journey to a safer location. Ray, exhausted from the recent ordeal, found solace in the back of the van. The gentle swaying of the vehicle and the hum of the engine soon lulled him into a much-needed sleep.