The sun had barely risen, and I was already on the hunt. Aubrey had decided it was time for me to continue taking on low-level SCAVs and Riftspawn—only this time, Aubrey would only observe. She would still be somewhere around, so it wasn't completely going solo. That was still reassuring.
My Interface scanned the area, searching for any threats that might be lurking in the shadows.
"What have we got here?" I muttered, noticing a pair of Riftspawn a short distance away.
Name Riftspawn ELS-2 Type Eldritch Threat Level Moderate Health 110
They didn't seem too dangerous, but there was something... off about them. Instead of the usual snarling, feral appearance, these creatures had an almost ethereal quality to them. Their bodies seemed to shimmer and shift, as if they were made of light.
"Guess I'll find out if they're as tough as they look." I took a deep breath and prepared my SMG. I had to do this on my own. No guidance, no backup. Just me and my wits. I checked my ammo: two magazines left from yesterday, plus another two I got from looting.
I approached the Riftspawn cautiously, using the rubble-strewn streets as cover. When I was close enough, I opened fire, the staccato bursts of my SMG echoing through the nearly empty city. The Riftspawn reacted instantly, their shimmering forms twisting and bending to avoid the hail of bullets.
"What the hell?" I muttered, watching in disbelief as the creatures seemed to phase in and out of existence. It was like trying to hit a ghost.
I quickly realized that my bullets were doing nothing against these strange Riftspawn. I'd have to try something else. I focused my Umbrakinesis, summoning a Shadow Blast and launching it at the nearest creature. To my surprise, it connected, sending the Riftspawn hurtling backward.
Mana 218⇩ /230
Attack Hit. You deal 52 Umbral Damage.
"Alright," I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "Let's see how you like this!"
I turned my attention to the second Riftspawn, launching another Shadow Blast at it. But this one was ready for me, its body flickering like a mirage as it dodged my attack. It moved with an unnatural speed, closing the distance between us in the blink of an eye.
"Shit!" I cursed, stumbling backward as the creature lunged at me. I managed to avoid its snapping jaws, but I knew I couldn't keep this up for long. These Riftspawn were unlike anything I'd faced before, and I was running out of tricks.
Desperate, I summoned a Shadow Wall, hoping to buy myself some time to think.
Mana 208⇩ /230
The Riftspawn slammed into the barrier, its claws scratching futilely at the inky darkness. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
"Alright, Connor," I whispered to myself. "You can do this. Just gotta get creative."
Mana 200⇩ /230
As the Shadow Wall dissipated, I launched myself into the air with a Shadow Launch, soaring over the head of the confused Riftspawn. As I landed behind it, I engulfed it with my Shadow Blast before it could react.
Mana 188⇩ /230
Attack Hit. Critical Hit. You deal 104 Umbral Damage.
The Riftspawn let out a pained shriek, collapsing in a heap of shimmering light. I took a moment to catch my breath.
You gained 200 Experience Points
"One down," I panted. "One to go."
I turned my attention to the remaining Riftspawn, my determination renewed.
The remaining Riftspawn glared at me, its body shifting and flickering like a broken hologram. It snarled, its eyes filled with a burning hatred that sent a chill down my spine.
The creature lunged at me, its ethereal form twisting and bending as it moved. I dodged to the side, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. I could feel the air crackle with energy as it passed, the Riftspawn's otherworldly presence leaving me uneasy.
"Alright, ugly," I muttered, backing away from the creature. "Let's see if you can handle this."
Mana 181⇩ /230
I focused my Umbrakinesis, summoning a Shadow Spike Trap beneath my feet. It didn't seem to notice, its attention was fixed solely on me. I grinned. This was going to be good.
As the Riftspawn charged at me, I waited until the last possible moment before using a Shadow Launch to propel myself into the air and followed it up by channeling a Shadow Grasp at the trapped shadow.
Mana 173⇩ /230 Mana 168⇩ /230
The creature barreled straight into the trap, its otherworldly form impaled by the shadowy spikes.
It let out a blood-curdling scream, thrashing wildly as it tried to free itself. I didn't waste any time, launching a Shadow Blast directly at it while it was immobilized. The force of the blast sent the Riftspawn careening into a nearby wall, its body shattering into a thousand fragments of shimmering light.
Mana 156⇩ /230
You gained 200 Experience Points
I landed with a thud, my legs shaking from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I had done it. I had faced these strange Riftspawn and emerged victorious.
"Phew," I panted, wiping the sweat from my brow. "That was... intense."
I took a moment to catch my breath. Damn, those were annoying. If I had a different power that didn't have any offensive use, I probably would have been done for. Bless RNG, I guess. Still, I knew I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not even for a moment. There were probably more creatures like that roaming around.
As I continued my hunt, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my abilities. I was growing stronger, and more confident in my powers. But I also knew that there were far more dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows, and I couldn't afford to get cocky.
----------------------------------------
As I made my way deeper into the ruined city, my Interface detected a powerful energy signature nearby. A SCAV, by the looks of it, but this one was different. It was armed, heavily so, and its challenge level was far higher than anything I had faced before.
Name Scavenger SRB-2A Type Machine Threat Level Challenging Health 150
"Alright," I muttered, steeling myself for the confrontation to come. "Let's see what you've got."
I approached the SCAV's location cautiously, my SMG at the ready. I knew I was in for a tough fight, but I was determined to prove myself. I had come this far, and I wasn't going to back down now.
The heavily armed SCAV loomed in the distance, its metal frame gleaming menacingly in the fading sunlight. It was like nothing I had ever seen before – an amalgamation of twisted metal and advanced weaponry, the result of some twisted experiment gone horribly wrong.
I crouched behind the remains of a shattered concrete wall and surveyed my foe. This was going to be one hell of a fight, and I knew I had to be smart about it. Rushing in blindly would only get me killed.
"Okay, think, Connor," I whispered to myself, my fingers drumming nervously on the grip of my SMG. "How do I take this thing down?"
As I watched the SCAV, I noticed a pattern in its movements. It seemed to be following a set patrol route, its sensors sweeping the area for any signs of movement. If I could figure out its path, I might be able to find a weakness, a blind spot I could exploit.
I studied the SCAV's movements, committing its patrol route to memory. It was slow and methodical, but it left little room for error. I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to get the drop on it.
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I waited until the SCAV had its back turned before making my move, darting from cover to cover as I closed the distance between us. My heart was in my throat, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I moved. One wrong move, one misstep, and it would all be over.
As I reached the SCAV's blind spot, I paused, taking a moment to catch my breath. I knew I had only one shot at this, and I couldn't afford to miss. I raised my SMG, taking careful aim at the exposed wiring on the back of the SCAV's head.
I held my breath, my finger tightening on the trigger. In the split second before I fired, the SCAV suddenly pivoted, its sensors locking onto my position. I cursed under my breath as I realized I had been spotted.
"Damn it," I hissed, squeezing the trigger and unleashing a hail of bullets at the SCAV. It was a desperate move, but I had no other choice.
Attack Hit. You deal 38 damage (36 Kinetic, 2 Electromagnetic)
The SCAV staggered under the onslaught, its metal frame sparking and smoking as my bullets found their mark. But it wasn't enough – the SCAV retaliated, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that forced me to dive for cover.
I rolled behind a crumbling pillar, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I tried to regroup. The SCAV was relentless, its weapons tearing through the air just inches from my head. I knew I couldn't stay here, not with the SCAV bearing down on me like this.
I glanced around, searching for any possible escape routes. There – a narrow alleyway, barely wide enough for the SCAV to fit through. It was a long shot, but it was my only hope.
Taking a deep breath, I gripped my SMG tightly and prepared to make a run for it. I knew the alleyway was my best chance at survival, but getting there wouldn't be easy. With the SCAV's attention locked onto me, every step would be a deadly dance.
As soon as the SCAV paused its attack, I made my move, sprinting across the open ground towards the alley. Bullets kicked up dust and debris at my heels, the cacophony of gunfire deafening in my ears.
The alleyway was so close, but then a bullet grazed my shoulder, tearing through flesh and muscle.
You've taken 31 Kinetic damage
Health 170⇩ /235
I stumbled, gritting my teeth against the pain, but somehow managed to keep moving. I could feel blood trickling down my arm, soaking into my clothes, but I couldn't afford to stop.
I dove into the alley just as the SCAV continued to fire, the bullets impacting the brick wall behind me, showering me with chips of mortar and dust. The alley was a claustrophobic maze of debris and trash, the crumbling walls on either side threatening to collapse at any moment.
I could hear the SCAV's heavy footsteps approaching, its sensors scanning the narrow space as it hunted me. I had to act fast, to find a way to turn the tables on my pursuer.
My eyes scanned the alley, searching for anything I could use to my advantage. That's when I spotted it – a stack of rusted metal pipes, precariously balanced against one of the walls. If I could bring them down, I might be able to trap the SCAV, or at least slow it down.
Mana 152⇩ /230
Using my Shadow Manipulation, I reached out to the pipes, silently praying that they would hold up under the strain. The shadows twisted and contorted, wrapping around the metal as I exerted my will.
The pipes groaned and creaked, but they held. With a final surge of effort, I pulled them free, sending them crashing down onto the SCAV just as it entered the alley.
The SCAV made some mechanical shrieking noises, its weapons flailing wildly as it struggled to free itself from the tangled mess of pipes. I took advantage of its momentary vulnerability, unloading the last of my SMG's ammo into the SCAV's exposed sensors.
Attack Hit. You deal 39 damage (37 Kinetic, 2 Electromagnetic) Attack Hit. You deal 38 damage (36 Kinetic, 2 Electromagnetic) Attack Hit. You deal 39 damage (37 Kinetic, 2 Electromagnetic)
The SCAV shuddered, a shower of sparks erupting from its damaged systems as it finally went silent. The alley was filled with the acrid smell of burning electronics and the heavy scent of blood.
You gained 300 Experience Points
I leaned against the wall, my legs shaking with exhaustion and pain. My injured shoulder throbbed with every beat of my heart. But despite the pain, I couldn't help but feel a grim sense of satisfaction.
"Alright, now time to loot."
After a few minutes of searching the SCAV, I had nothing to show for it; Its weapon was embedded into its chassis and it didn't have the right kind of ammo for my SMG—it was more like a damn killbot than a scavenger. "Well, shit. No luck today."
As I left the alleyway I spotted another heavily armed SCAV lurking inside an empty boutique shop across the street. It stepped out of the building, shattering what remained of the store's display window. The cold, calculating gaze it fixed upon me—its shoulder-mounted blaster swiveling around to fire my way.
Name Scavenger SRB-2C Type Machine Threat Level Challenging Health 160
I sighed, reloading a new magazine and chambering a round. "Fuck...Bad luck today."
----------------------------------------
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and charged headlong at the new SCAV. I opened fire with my SMG, the bullets ricocheting off its armored frame with little effect. The SCAV returned fire, its weapons spewing a hailstorm of bullets and energy blasts that tore through the air around me.
I dove for behind an upturned van, narrowly avoiding the deadly onslaught. The SCAV's weapons reduced the crumbling walls around me to rubble, sending clouds of dust and debris billowing into the air.
"No time for subtlety," I muttered, gritting my teeth. "Gotta hit this thing hard and fast."
I summoned a Shadow Wall to shield myself from the SCAV's relentless assault, the barrier of darkness absorbing the worst of the damage. I could feel the strain on my powers, but I couldn't afford to falter now.
Using the Shadow Wall as cover, I launched myself into the air with a Shadow Launch. As I soared above the SCAV, I unleashed a torrent of bullets from my SMG, missing most of my shots but the ones that hit plinked off its armor.
The SCAV emitted a high-pitched whine, its weapons swiveling to track me through the air. I twisted and spun, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage. The air around me was thick with the acrid smell of burning metal and ozone as energy blasts tore through the ruins.
As I landed, the SCAV closed the distance between us, its massive frame shaking the ground with each thunderous step. It swung a massive, clawed arm at me, the blow catching me off guard and sending me sprawling.
You've taken 45 Kinetic damage
Health 125⇩ /235
Pain flared through my body as I hit the ground, my vision swimming. I could feel the warm, sticky wetness of blood seeping from my wounds, but I forced myself to my feet, gritting my teeth against the pain.
"Is that all you got?" I taunted, spitting blood onto the shattered concrete. "You're gonna have to do better than that."
The SCAV roared in response, its weapons whirring to life once more. It was clear that it wouldn't be satisfied until it had torn me limb from limb. But I was far from finished.
As the SCAV charged at me, I focused my Umbrakinesis, summoning a Shadow Spike Trap in its path. The creature's armored foot slammed down onto the trap, the shadowy spikes piercing its armor and sinking deep into its metal flesh.
The SCAV's mechanical parts groaned and sizzled as it barreled through the spikes, its weapons unleashing a torrent of fire that threatened to consume everything in its path. I could feel the heat on my face, the scorching flames licking at my skin as I desperately tried to avoid the SCAV's wrath.
It seemed to abandon all pretense of strategy, its focus solely on annihilating me. Its weapons fired wildly, carving a path of destruction through the already-devastated cityscape. Windows shattered, sending glass raining down like deadly hail, while chunks of concrete and steel were ripped from the surrounding structures.
"Okay, time for a new plan," I muttered to myself. I could barely hear my own thoughts over the cacophony of the battle.
I summoned the last of my strength and used Shadow Launch to hurl a nearby hunk of debris at the SCAV. The makeshift projectile slammed into its armored head, momentarily disorienting it.
Seizing the opportunity, I sprinted towards the robot, my SMG blazing. The barrage of bullets chipped away at the SCAV's armor, exposing the delicate circuitry beneath. I could see sparks flying as my rounds found their marks, but I knew I needed to do more damage to take it down for good.
As I closed the distance, the SCAV recovered from its stupor and swung its massive arm at me once more. This time, I was ready. I used Shadow Launch to propel myself upwards, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow.
In mid-air, I activated Shadow Grasp, tendrils of darkness snaking out from the shadows at my feet. The tendrils wrapped around the SCAV's arms, immobilizing it as I landed on its back.
"This is it. Now or never."
I drew my combat baton and began to batter the SCAV's exposed circuitry, desperately trying to cause as much damage as possible before it could break free from my Shadow Grasp. Sparks flew, and I could feel the heat from the damaged electronics as I continued my assault.
The SCAV thrashed wildly in an attempt to dislodge me. It felt like riding a bucking bronco, but I clung on for dear life, knowing that losing my grip would mean certain death.
Finally, with one last, desperate swing of my baton, I struck a vital component, and the SCAV's systems began to fail. The behemoth shuddered violently before collapsing to the ground, its weapons falling silent.
You gained 350 Experience Points
I rolled off the lifeless husk of the SCAV, my body aching and battered. I could feel the warm, sticky wetness of blood seeping from numerous cuts and bruises, but I was alive. Somehow, I'd survived.
As I lay on the shattered concrete, my breath ragged and my limbs trembling with exhaustion, I couldn't help but let out a weak, delirious laugh.
"I did it," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "I actually did it."
I checked for loot, expecting to find nothing like last time. It had a cloak stashed in one of its compartments.
Name Cloak of the Wasteland Wanderer Grade Epic Stat Bonus +5 AGI, +3 PER Modifiers +8 bonus to Stealth, +4 bonus to Evasion Effects Grants the ability to become invisible for up to 1 minute (cooldown: 10 minutes)
What was the grade progression again? Uncommon, rare, epic…
“Oh…maybe today’s a lucky day after all.”