Anna staggered, overwhelmed by the flow of information that went through her brain in a few seconds.
"Anna..." Shane said while steadying her...
"Are you alright?" He asked as holds her shoulders.
Anna blinked a few times as if to confirm where she was before nodding at Shane...
"I'm fine... You're right. I really learned Alchemy Mastery and Elixir Brewmaster Skills. It feels incredible, I feel as if I've learned it for about a decade."
After this matter was settled, Shane allowed Anna to explore her new skills and left the place.
Shane settled into the quiet nook outside the manor. Soon, the digital glow of the Survivor Store illuminated his face.
He finally browsed through the new listings of the Store.
[ Reinforced Barricade (Rare): A sturdy barricade reinforced with steel rods and carbon fiber mesh. It can be deployed quickly to fortify any entrance or window, providing a robust defense against the undead hordes.
Price: 30 Zombie Cores
Quantity: 3/3 ]
[ Healing Salve (Common): A jar of thick, green paste made from a blend of medicinal herbs and zombie marrow. When applied to wounds, it accelerates healing and reduces the risk of infection.
Price: 5 Zombie Cores
Quantity: 10/10 ]
[ Night Vision Goggles (Uncommon): These goggles use advanced optics to amplify low light, turning night into day. Ideal for scouting missions or night watches, they ensure you're never caught off guard in the dark.
Price: 15 Zombie Cores
Quantity: 5/5 ]
[ Zombie Lure (Common):
Description: A small, throwable device that emits a sound frequency and scent that's irresistible to zombies. Use it to distract and divert zombie swarms away from your location.
Price: 3 Zombie Cores
However, the price was simply too high!
He wasn't sure if he could kill a thousand zombies within seven days to obtain this amulet!
"We can't just stay here..." Shane muttered as he knew that he had to explore other areas if he wanted to gather this many Zombie Cores. He couldn't wait for the Zombie Wave to arrive since that would be too late!
Although there wasn't any specific information about the boost that he would receive in his stats, he didn't mind it at all! Since it was an Epic item, he wouldn't be surprised if he got an increase of about 50 points or even more!
Nonetheless, Shane had to build a team that would follow him outside the shelter. With the Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, Barriers, and others that were protecting the estate, he was confident enough that even if a Giant Zombie somehow attacked this place, they would still stand victorious even without his presence.
'It's time to use my Recruitment Stones...' Shane muttered.
Shane stood in the clearing, the weight of the pouch in his hand grounding him to the moment.
The pouch was obviously from the Administrator, whom he had just recently met.
The five stones within the pouch pulsed with a deep red glow, like the heartbeat of the forest itself. With a deep breath, Shane released the clasp and poured the stones onto the palm of his hand.
They were warm, almost hot, and they vibrated with unknown energy that Shane could feel resonating through his bones.
[ Elf Recruitment Stone. ]
[ Hint: The Elf Recruitment Stone is a single-use item that a Survivor can trigger in order to recruit a loyal Elf. They could be warrior, craftsman, mage, or ranger ]
[ Do you want to activate the Elf Recruitment Stone? ]
He closed his eyes and focused, feeling the connection between the stones and the energy it was emitting before he answered.
"Yes..."
As he triggered them simultaneously, a profound silence enveloped the clearing. The air shimmered, and the ground beneath him thrummed with energy.
Crack... Crack... Crack...
The recruitment was completely different from what he knew. It wasn't the Gray Fog at all!
Instead, a massive oak tree at the edge of the clearing appeared from the ground and began to twist and groan, its largest branch unfurling like the hand of a giant.
Leaves rustled and the branch split open, revealing a portal aglow with ethereal light.
From within the luminous fissure, five figures stepped forth—one after the other, their boots making no sound upon the fallen leaves!