Chapter 32: The Descent into Chaos

A day passed, and Niko’s group found themselves walking toward a large, box-shaped building within the settlement. The wooden structure had a sign hanging over its entrance, carved simply with the word “Equipment.” They had finally amassed enough contribution points after trading in their resources, and now they were ready to gear up.

As they stepped inside, the scent of aged wood filled the air. The room was lined with equipment hanging on walls and placed on stands—armor, weapons, and accessories, all gleaming in the dim light. Niko recognized a few of the items; some were drops from the monsters they had faced. Others looked to be of better quality, likely taken from more formidable foes.

A woman stood at the back of the room behind a small counter. “Welcome,” she greeted them, her voice polite but tinged with the cold authority of someone used to dealing with strangers. “Feel free to look around. If there’s anything you like, I can exchange it for you. But remember, this store is funded and protected by the Protectors. I hope none of you will do anything… unpleasant.”

Niko inwardly grimaced at the veiled threat but kept his face neutral, nodding politely. Beside him, Candreva’s brows furrowed in visible irritation, his chest puffing out in his typical exaggerated display of manliness. Before he could speak, Zheng grabbed his arm and gave a firm shake of his head, silently telling him to let it go.

The message was clear: stealing from this store would mean invoking the wrath of the Protectors, and no one in their right mind would risk that.

The group dispersed, each heading in their own direction to browse the shelves. Niko had earned eleven contribution points, each represented by a strange, small coin with an emblem carved into it. He examined the shop’s inventory, his [Celestial Probe] skill activating as he glanced over the various items. The analysis was far superior to the basic [Analyze] skill every player had access to. It gave him deeper insights, allowing him to uncover hidden traits within the gear.

Niko’s eyes were drawn to two rings on display. One was larger and bulkier, while the other was slim and coiled like a serpent. Size and appearance didn’t matter to him, though. What was more important were their effects.

First, he probed the larger ring.

[Item: Big Silver Ring]

Rank: None

Description: A big silver ring made out of the tooth of a Silver-Toothed Rat. The ring covers half of a whole finger, giving that finger better protection.

Additional Information: None

Niko inwardly sighed. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t impress him either. He turned his attention to the smaller, more intricately designed ring and used [Celestial Probe] once again.

[Item: Little Snake Spine Ring]

Rank: None

Description: A ring made out of the spine of the Flexible Little Snake.

Additional Information: 5% chance to increase the magic power of a magical skill by 25% during combat. After five activations, the ring will break.

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Niko’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. This is the one. The smaller ring was clearly superior, despite its fragile nature. He picked it up, then continued searching for more useful items, carefully analyzing each one.

By the time he finished, he had gathered three items that suited his playstyle: a plain gray robe that increased casting speed during combat, the little snake spine ring, and a small wand that shared a similar effect with the robe. However, after speaking with the woman at the counter, Niko discovered that his selection would cost him more than he expected.

“The robe will cost five contribution points, and both the ring and the wand will cost four each,” the woman said in a tone that was all business.

Niko’s brow furrowed in frustration, but after a moment’s hesitation, he removed the wand from his selection. The robe and the ring had the same effect, and he didn’t need redundancy. “Fine,” he muttered, handing over his contribution points. He pocketed the robe and slipped the ring onto his finger before stepping aside to let the others make their purchases.

Ivanic, always practical, exchanged his points for a small dagger and a trio of javelins with a backrest. Zheng opted for fine boots and a leather helmet, while Candreva chose leather gloves and bracers.

As they exited the building, a strange feeling washed over them. The streets, usually bustling with activity and the occasional patrol of Protectors, were eerily quiet. The absence of the Protectors, normally ever-present, made the air feel tense, as if the city were holding its breath.

“Where is everyone?” Niko muttered under his breath, scanning the empty streets.

The group didn’t linger, deciding it was best to head back to the forest they had been hunting in for the past week. But as they approached the gate, they were met with a scene of chaos. Bloodied people staggered through the gate, shouting and cursing, while others fought frantically against a tide of beasts. The air smelled of blood and desperation.

“What the hell is going on?” a man screamed, clutching the bloody stump where his arm had once been.

“Kill these beasts!” a woman bellowed, swinging a weapon with ferocity at the boars surrounding her.

Niko’s group stared in stunned confusion at the chaos unfolding before them. Beyond the gate, the field was filled with humans battling an overwhelming number of boars—at least thirty, maybe more. Something wasn’t right. There were too many, and they were far more aggressive than usual.

Zheng glanced at his companions, his voice tense. “Guys, this doesn’t look good.”

Ivanic, ever the cautious one, nodded grimly. “It looks very bad. I’ve never seen this many boars in one place. The humans are holding them off for now, but…” He pointed further down, where the line of humans was beginning to break. The boars were pushing forward, and the defenders couldn’t hold them back much longer. “They won’t last.”

Candreva scratched his chest absentmindedly, his brows furrowed in confusion. “Where are the Protectors?”

The answer was obvious—unspoken, but clear. The Protectors had abandoned the lower ranks. They had retreated up the mountain, leaving the settlement to fend for itself. They had fled, leaving their fellow humans to be slaughtered.

Niko and his group were no longer shocked by such violence. Life was cheap now, and making intelligent decisions was key to a long life.

“We need to get out of here before we’re caught in this,” Ivanic said, his voice low but urgent. The group nodded in agreement. They weren’t equipped to face this many beasts, not yet.

With that silent understanding, they began to slip away, sticking to the shadows and avoiding any direct confrontation. They weren’t the only ones fleeing. Other groups had the same idea—survival at all costs. In this world, there was no room for heroism.

As they moved, the sounds of battle faded behind them. The further they got from the chaos, the more Niko’s heart pounded in his chest. Was this the end for them? He could feel the weight of the world pressing down on him, the uncertainty of their survival looming over them like a dark cloud.

But there was no time for fear. They had to keep moving.