Fed and rested, the post-disaster exhaustion faded slightly.
I looked at the pristine control room. Accomplished? Yes. But seeing [Diesel: 35%] and [Turret Ammo: 40%] on the screen, anxiety grew back like weeds.
This base was great, but it was a money pit.
Ding!
The familiar electronic voice rang again. This time, bringing a new icon.
[System Upgrade Complete.] [Trading Module: Store System (Basic) Online.] [Note: Host and Pet can use "System Energy" or "Crystal Cores" to exchange for supplies, gear, and skills.]
"Store?"
My eyes lit up. Ignoring the soreness in my body, I sat up straight. "Shadow, look! The cheat code finally arrived!"
Shadow lounged on the chair, scratching his ear. "See if they sell steak."
I clicked the gold shopping cart icon with my mind.
Whoosh!
A dazzling virtual interface unfolded. Rows of items, categorized. It was blinding.
First thing I saw was [Hot Recommendations]:
[Nano Combat Suit (Light)]
Effect: Bulletproof, stab-proof, temp control, auto-repair.
Price: 500 Energy / 50 D-Rank Cores.
[High-Frequency Particle Blade]
Effect: Vibration cutting. Slices iron like mud. Ignores defense below D-Rank.
Price: 800 Energy.
[Gene Repair Serum (Medium)]
Effect: Regrow limbs, major stat boost, cure internal injuries.
Price: 300 Energy.
I drooled reading the descriptions.
Nano Suit! If I had that, my arms wouldn't be bruised and my magazines wouldn't be shredded. Particle Blade! I would have sliced that giant zombie like tofu!
"Buy! Must buy!"
I rubbed my hands excitedly. Looked at my balance in the corner.
[Current Balance: 150 Energy] (Total from quests and kills)
Bucket of ice water dumped on my head.
"..."
Silence.
That 150 included the 100 "ticket fare" to go home. Which meant I had... 50 disposable points.
What can 50 points buy?
I scrolled to the bottom. [Basic Supplies].
[Compressed Biscuits (Box)]: 1 Energy.
[Purified Water (Ton)]: 2 Energy.
[5.56mm Ammo (Box)]: 10 Energy.
[Basic Skill Book: Firearms Intro]: 50 Energy.
"This is robbery!"
I wailed. "I risked my life killing dozens of zombies, almost died, and I can't even afford a decent gun? Just some cookies?"
Shadow leaned in, scanned the screen, and scoffed.
"Broke ass."
"You buy it then!" I snapped.
"I'm a dog. I have no money." Shadow said self-righteously. "Also, check the Skill Section."
I clicked [Skills].
Despair deepened.
[Thunder Strike (Active)]: Instant burst of Lightning damage. Price: 1000 Energy.
[Steel Body (Passive)]: +50% Physical Defense. Price: 800 Energy.
[Danger Sense (Passive)]: Predict danger 3 seconds in advance. Price: 1500 Energy.
Every skill was a lifesaver. Every price was suffocating.
I stared at [Danger Sense]. If I had that, the cannibal ambush wouldn't have been so messy.
"Money... Energy..."
I slumped in the chair. Powerless.
I thought capturing the base made me a boss. Turns out, in front of the System Store, I was still a pauper.
Two paths:
Spend 100 Energy, go home now. I have injuries and some scrap gold. When I come back, still poor. Still can't buy the god-tier gear.
Stay. Earn more.
"Shadow."
I turned to my Host. "Any 'valuable' targets nearby?"
Shadow's ears twitched. A glint in his golden pupils. He was waiting for this.
"Yes."
He hopped down, walked to the electronic map, and tapped a red dot near the shelter.
It was a commercial alley we passed on the way here.
"Remember when we arrived? I told you to be quiet and walk around that street?"
I recalled. Nodded. "Yeah. You said the smell was wrong. Big guy."
"Correct." Shadow licked his lips, exposing white fangs. "That big guy is still there. Wandering that area. Guarding something, or maybe waiting to evolve."
"What Rank?" My stomach tightened.
"C-Rank."
Shadow's voice was calm, but it hit like thunder. "And a nasty one. Its aura is ten times stronger than that door-blocking trash from earlier."
C-Rank!
The giant zombie was E+. It almost killed me. What is C-Rank?
"Scared?" Shadow looked at me provocatively. "Inside its head is at least one C-Rank Crystal Core. System exchange rate... one C-Rank Core is worth 500 Energy."
500 Points!
My breathing got heavy.
500, plus what I have... I could buy the Particle Blade! Or the Nano Suit!
With that gear, I'd truly be safe here.
"Also," Shadow tempted, "it seems close to a 'breakthrough'. If we kill it mid-evolution, the reward might double."
"Let's do it!"
I slapped my thigh and stood up.
Die for wealth. Better than going home a loser. Let's gamble big!
"You're the Host. You call it." I gripped the Tang Dao. Blade was a bit dull, but my spirit was high. "You control it, I chop it."
"Good."
Shadow nodded, satisfied. "That's my Battle Pet."
He turned to the door. Steps light and firm.
"Gear up. We're going hunting."
I watched him. Looked at the coveted items in the Store one last time.
Wait for me. Once I kill that C-Rank, I'm buying you all!
I checked my gear. Magazine armor was trash, so I taped new books on. Sharpened the Tang Dao—not razor sharp, but enough to kill.
Drank the last drop of water.
"Let's go!"
Shelter door opened slowly.
Man and dog stepped back into the grey wasteland.
This time, not to run. To hunt.