https://i.imgur.com/GNuLhrY.png [https://i.imgur.com/GNuLhrY.png]

Asher examined the helmet intently. From Sarah's explanation, her skill bestowed stats based on various aspects, like the item's type, design, and other factors. Unlike randomly generated enhancements, her ability tailored the best fit for the item in question. Asher pondered if the skill also considered the intended wearer of the helmet. Did it recognize that the guardian would be the one making use of the helmet? Did it realize that it lacked intelligence or self-awareness? And hence granted it an increase in emotional intelligence? Was the intent to grant it a deeper connection to its surroundings? 'The more I learn about her skill, the more question i have and the more fascinating it becomes.' Asher thought to himself.

The emotional intelligence stat seemed a perfect match for the helmet. Although the guardian couldn't speak, Asher wondered if it could communicate using the LED facial expressions the helmet offered. Eager to find out, he fitted the guardian with the helmet. To his astonishment, the LED lights illuminated, revealing a unique face. The eyes appeared as X's, and the mouth had an eerie design, resembling fangs jutting out in all directions -|-|-|-|-.

Sarah beamed, "That's one way to light up a room!"

Liam joked, "Guess he's all set for Halloween."

Curious to see if his guardian's status window reflected the new facial design from the helmet, Asher quickly opened the guardian's character window to check for any changes. As anticipated, his guardian's appearance adjusted to complement the newly donned helmet.

https://i.imgur.com/dDdll8h.png [https://i.imgur.com/dDdll8h.png]

Asher pondered, 'Whenever it puts on a new helmet, the design probably updates in the character status window. Hold on, I'm not in my pajamas anymore. I should check my own status.' With that thought, he swiftly accessed his character window.

https://i.imgur.com/ahihhDD.png [https://i.imgur.com/ahihhDD.png]

Upon opening his character window, Asher noticed the detailed graphics of his new sportswear outfit, replacing the image of the old, tattered pajamas he was previously wearing. The interface showed a side profile figure of himself. As he had expected, his own character window had also been updated to fit his changed cloth. He smiled, slightly amused at the level of detail the game-like system provided.

Sarah, noticing Asher's focus on the window, asked, "Anything interesting?"

"Just admiring the new look," Asher replied with a smirk.

Asher glanced back at his guardian, curious about the extent of its newfound emotional intelligence. "Hey buddy, can you speak?"

In response, the guardian's visor shifted patterns. What was once an [X_X] expression transformed into a simple [NO].

Asher's eyes widened with a mix of amusement and surprise. "Really? So you can understand us now?" The visor responded with a bright [YES].

Sarah laughed, pointing at the helmet. "That's so cool! Can you express happiness?"

The guardian's visor shifted to a pattern resembling a smiley face [^_^], much to the trio's delight.

Liam, always one to prod further, asked, "Can you tell us if you're angry?"

A grumpy facial pattern emerged [>_<], making the group chuckle.

Asher, trying to test the limits of this new interaction, inquired, "Do you remember the dragon from before?"

Instead of a yes or no, the guardian's visor showed a neutral, straight-line mouth [-_-] , indicating uncertainty or perhaps indifference.

Asher pondered, "It seems he doesn't recall anything before wearing the helmet."

Sarah then suggested, "Try asking it something it can only answer with a yes or no, to see its range."

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"Alright," Asher nodded, "Can you attack on command?"

[YES] the visor gleamed.

"Interesting," Asher mused, looking at his guardian with newfound appreciation. "While our communication might be limited, it's definitely a start."

Liam agreed. "For sure. It's going to be handy having someone—or something—that can respond, even if it's just with yes, no, or an emoticon."

"I'm enjoying this new feature; it adds a fun twist. Anyway, ready to head to the police station?"

Exiting the thrift shop, the streets were eerily quiet like usual. Their footsteps echoed in the stillness. 'Seems like where still inside of the dragon's territory' Asher mused.

The route to the police station, which was once a straightforward path, had become a maze of debris and ruined architecture. Collapsed buildings, overturned vehicles, and the remnants of what once was a bustling city now acted as barriers, forcing them to find alternate routes.

Liam and Asher, using their knowledge of the area, navigated the best they could based on the available paths provided to them. But the changes to the landscape made it challenging. "Every familiar landmark is either gone or drastically altered. We'll need to be creative in navigating through this," he remarked, frustration evident in his voice.

Time seemed to stretch on, and what should have been a 20-minute journey morphed into hours. However, their determination never wavered. They were grateful for the absence of monsters during their journey. However, all good things eventually come to an end. About an hour after leaving the station, it appeared they had encountered their first adversary outside the dragon's influence.

Awoo!

"Wha- What is that?!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Everyone, stick together! We're not alone out here!" Asher warned.

"There!" Liam pointed urgently.

The group came to an abrupt halt, their eyes locking onto the creature before them. It resembled a wolf, but this was no ordinary earthly creature. Its back, unlike those of a typical wolf, emerged vertically, resembling sharp blades ready to slice through anything in their path. The air grew tense as the three of them took in the sight, mentally preparing for what might come next.

https://i.imgur.com/GSq92bP.png [https://i.imgur.com/GSq92bP.png]

The wolf's eyes flared with fury. With a growl that resonated in within the area, it lunged forward, the blades on its back gleaming with deadly intent.

Liam, always prepared, pulled out his handgun from his holster. Asher, meanwhile, gestured to his guardian, who instantly placed himself Infront of the trio, his shield at the ready.

The wolf, not deterred by their defenses, lunged. Mid-leap, it curled its body, becoming a spinning wheel of blades. It soared through the air, aiming to crash into them with deadly force.

Liam fired off several shots. The bullets found their mark, but the creature's large blades deflected most of them. Only one shot seemed to cause it some level of damage, eliciting a pained yelp as it struck near the beast's shoulder.

Asher and his guardian stood firm, the guardian's shield absorbing the brunt of the wolf's attack. The shield flickered under the immense pressure but held its form. Asher then signaled the guardian to counter-attack. The guardian charged forward, using the spikes of its shield as a battering ram, aiming for the wolf's midsection.

Sarah, her eyes darting around, looked for a way to assist. She spotted a large rock and, using all her strength, threw it towards the wolf. While it didn't do much damage, it served as a distraction, allowing Liam to reposition and aim for a more vulnerable spot.

The wolf, now on the defensive, swung its body, the blades aiming to slice anything in its path. Asher narrowly dodged a swipe, while his guardian deflected another with its shield. Liam, using the brief moment of distraction, aimed and fired directly at one of the wolf's eyes.

With a wrenching howl, the creature staggered back, blinded on one side. Asher, seizing the opportunity, directed his guardian to pin the creature down. Momentarily incapacitating the wolf.

Liam swaggered up cautiously, gun aimed at the beast's head. "Hasta la vista, baby." he quipped with a smirk.

The wolf, sensing danger from Liam's movements, tensed and bared its massive fangs, growling deeply. Sarah couldn't help but chuckle at Liam's attempt at humor despite the dire situation. "Really, Liam? Pop culture references now?"

Liam just winked, keeping his focus on the creature. "I mean, if not now, then when?"

The helmet on the guardian's head showcased a display of crossed-out eyes [X_X] – an obvious signal that it was time to end things.

Liam swiftly aimed and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the wolf's head, bringing it down instantly.

You have participated in the elimination of 'Bladeback Howler'. Experience point earned have been divided by the amount of participants(3). You have earned 10 EXP! EXP (20/600)

With the wolf now lifeless on the ground, the trio took a moment to catch their breath.

"That was... unexpected," Sarah panted, her eyes darting around the environment, expecting another threat to emerge.

The guardian's visor shifted to a pattern resembling a smiley face [^_^]. Asher chuckled, "Seems like someone enjoyed the action."

Asher approached the fallen creature, studying its unique blade-like features with a mix of fascination and horror. "It looks like we're not safe from monsters anymore. We have to be on high alert. There's no telling how many are lurking out there."

Liam nodded and added, "Let's keep moving. The sooner we get to the police station, the sooner we can figure out our next move."

As the trio resumed their journey, the remains of the city around them served as a grim reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.