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Chapter 24: Stories and Shadows
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1. Questions Over the Fire
The fire flickered softly, casting light on the crumbling ruins. Ethan leaned against the wall, his bandaged arm resting on his lap as he stared into the flames. Across from him, Lila sharpened her dagger with slow, deliberate strokes, her wary eyes flicking toward the stranger. Alex sat nearby, his spear balanced across his knees.
"All right, Ethan," Alex said, breaking the silence. "Now that you're stable, let's talk. Who are you, and what do you know about this world?"
Ethan sighed, adjusting his position. "My name's Ethan. I'm a Hunter, as your system probably told you. Been surviving out here for weeks—maybe longer. Time's hard to track when you're constantly running for your life."
"And before that?" Lila pressed, her tone sharp.
Ethan's expression darkened. "Before that? I was just a guy. Living a normal life on Earth. Then one day, I wake up here with this system in my head and monsters trying to kill me. Sound familiar?"
Alex and Lila exchanged a glance. "Same as us," Alex said quietly.
"So you're like us," Lila said, narrowing her eyes. "But I thought we were the only ones."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What gave you that idea?"
"We haven't seen anyone else," Alex explained. "Just ruins, monsters, and the system. If there were other people, we figured we'd have run into them by now."
Ethan chuckled bitterly. "Not unless you've been looking in the wrong places—or you're dead before you can meet anyone."
"You're saying there are others?" Lila asked, her skepticism plain.
Ethan nodded. "Not many. I've run into a few people—some trying to survive, some trying to level up. Most don't last long. This world doesn't give second chances."
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2. The Attack Begins
Before Ethan could elaborate further, a low hum filled the air. It was faint at first, barely audible over the crackle of the fire, but it grew louder with each passing second.
"What is that?" Lila asked, standing and gripping her dagger.
Ethan's face paled. "Hivestalkers."
Sentinel, standing silently at the edge of the camp, shifted abruptly, its glowing eyes locking onto the darkness.
"They're coming," Alex said, rising to his feet.
"How many?" Lila asked.
Ethan shook his head grimly. "If you can hear them, it's not just one."
The hum grew into a low, resonant vibration, accompanied by the scrape of claws on stone. Moments later, two large Hivestalkers emerged from the shadows, their twisted forms glowing faintly as the Parasite Cores embedded in their chests pulsed with energy.
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3. The Fight for Survival
"Sentinel, intercept!" Alex commanded, gripping his spear.
The armored skeleton moved instantly, clashing with the first Hivestalker in a flurry of strikes. Its rusted sword scraped against the creature's bony exoskeleton, sparks flying as it drove the beast back.
The second Hivestalker darted toward Lila, its glowing core pulsing with malevolent energy. Lila dodged its initial lunge, her dagger flashing as she slashed at its legs.
"They're faster than I thought!" Lila called, circling the beast.
"Focus on the cores!" Alex shouted, thrusting his spear at the first Hivestalker. The weapon struck true, cracking the surface of the core and causing the creature to convulse violently.
The second Hivestalker charged toward Ethan, who was too injured to defend himself. "No, you don't!" Alex yelled, sprinting forward and driving his spear into its side.
The creature screeched, its core flickering dangerously as cracks began to spread across its surface.
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4. Turning the Tide
Sentinel delivered a powerful strike to the first Hivestalker, shattering its core with a single, precise blow. The creature collapsed instantly, its body disintegrating into ash.
The second Hivestalker, now glowing brighter as its core overloaded, turned its attention back to Alex.
"It's going to detonate!" Lila shouted.
"Sentinel, now!" Alex commanded.
The armored skeleton stepped forward, delivering a decisive strike that pierced the creature's core. The orb shattered with a burst of light, and the Hivestalker crumpled, its body disintegrating like the first.
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5. The Level-Up
As the last Hivestalker fell, the camp grew silent once more. Alex leaned on his spear, catching his breath. A familiar system notification appeared in the corner of his vision, accompanied by a soft chime.
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Level Up!
Level 5 → Level 6
Attribute Points to Allocate: 5
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"Another level," Alex murmured, his mind racing.
"You're getting faster at this," Lila said, wiping her blade on the grass.
"It's not just luck," Alex replied. "Every fight pushes us to grow stronger—or die. I need to keep up."
He opened the system interface, reviewing his current stats:
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Current Attributes:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 16
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Alex spoke aloud, reasoning through his choices. "Strength and Dexterity are good for now. I'm not fighting hand-to-hand often enough to focus on those. Constitution could use a boost—being able to take more hits saved my life today. Two points there."
He allocated the points, then continued. "Intelligence and Wisdom are still the most important. More mana, stronger spells, faster regen. I'll split the rest—two to Intelligence, one to Wisdom."
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Updated Attributes:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 17
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As the system confirmed the allocation, Alex felt a familiar surge of energy coursing through him.
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6. New Resolve
Alex knelt beside the fallen Hivestalkers, prying the intact cores from their chests. The orbs pulsed faintly, their surfaces glowing softly in the firelight.
"These things are dangerous," Lila said, watching him. "We barely got through that fight."
"And yet they're also our best chance at survival," Alex replied, placing the cores in his satchel. "If we can figure out how to use them safely, they could give us an edge."
Ethan shook his head. "Just don't get too comfortable with them. The more you rely on cores, the more you risk losing control."
Alex glanced at Sentinel, its glowing eyes unwavering. "Then I'll make sure we stay in control."
As the group settled in for the night, Sentinel stood watch at the edge of the camp, its armored frame gleaming faintly in the firelight. The faint hum of the salvaged cores echoed softly from Alex's satchel, a reminder of the power—and the danger—that lay ahead.