Plundering in the Apocalypse

Shin read the notifications with a slight smile on his face.

'As I thought. The more difficult the fight is the more rewards I get. It was a good choice that I used weapons to attack instead of fists. Even if I can deal with current monsters with just my fists. It will be a problem later on. I should get skilled in different types of weapons and fighting styles. Maybe I can try learning fighting techniques later on. But that's also a concern. Let's not think about it anymore.'

He shook his head and once again glanced at the good haul he got.

*Klink!*

***

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Shin's status:-

[ Name- Shin Wolner ]

[Age - 20]

[ Title - 1st awakened, Maniac ]

[ Level - 13 ]

[-Stats-]

[STR - 72]

[AGI - 90]

[DEX - 60 ]

[Stamina - 55]

[Mana - 50]

[ Bonus stats - 66]

[Special ability - Plunder[Advanced 1]]

[Special Skill - Devourer's Touch]

[Skills - Predator's eyes (D), Extreme speed (E), Appraisal, Pain tolerance(E), Gravity Manipulation(E), Clairvoyance(Locked)]

[Skills Collected - Mana Web(D)]

[Skill Points - 134]

[Items]

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[Devourer's touch:- I will take your everything. Even your blood.

Effects:- Upon activating user can recover health by absorbing the opponent's life force. Alive or dead. The portion of recovered health may depend on the state of the enemy.]

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[Predator's Eyes (D) - Vision of a predator searching for its prey. This skill helps users to gain special vision helping to see red outlines of their enemies nearby without obstruction. Range may depend on the user's focus and skill rank.

-Strong enemies or some skills may cancel the skill effect.

-Extra effect - Can apply for fear status on the prey.

-For more detailed information higher level is required.]

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[Extreme speed (E) - Upon use, The user can increase his speed up to 1.75x times the normal speed. Skill usage time is dependent on stamina. The more stamina user has the longer the skill lasts.]

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[Appraisal - Helps in appearing items, skills, or living beings. Higher the user level more information can be obtained.]

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[Pain Tolerance(E) - Helps the users to negate some amount of pain. During the battle, endurance is increased.]

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[Gravity Manipulation(E):- You can bend the laws of gravity to your will.]

Usage requirement - 'Mana stat'

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[Clairvoyance(Locked) - This Skill is locked.]

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[Mana Web(D) - Users' mana can be converted into webs. These Webs can get as hard as steel with great flexibility. The User can control the length, strength, and usage of these webs.]

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"That's a lot of information. Mana web huh? Seems like a nice skill. I'll learn it later. It seems useful." Shin said with excitement flashing in his eyes. He was surprised to see new options like Items and Skill collection.

After going through them he got some idea about it. Seems like the skills which he hasn't learned and just collected will be shown in the 'Skills Collected' option.

'That's a nice update. It might have become confusing if I collected so many skills in the future.'

"Now let's see this Items option." Shin checked inside the Item option. Soon a new window popped up in front of him.

[Items:-]

-['??? key'.]

-[Monster core(Grade D)]

-[Tarantula's Blood]

'These rewards are nice. Maybe I'll get to know the use of these items later on.' Thought Shin as he checked his body for any possible injuries.

'As expected Devourer's touch skill is awesome. It not only recovered my stamina but also healed my injuries.' Shin smiled but he suddenly thought of something and frowned.

'From what I know Devourer's touch skill devours enemies' blood. Then why did I get Tarantula's blood as an item?'

Shin pondered very deeply but he wasn't able to come to a definite answer.

Snapping him out of his thoughts he remembered something.

'Oh no, Is Alice safe?' Shin anxiously ran in the direction they separated for their respective fights.

'She should be fine. She is strong.'

He halted on his steps as his mind went blank. All his previous thoughts dispersed.

p 'What is this situation?'

Alice was standing in front of the heavily injured Vultican. She was taking her time to kill it slowly. She had a weird grin on her face. The Vultican was terrified.

'Why does it feel like she is enjoying it? Well anyway, it's fine as long as she is safe.' Thought Shin as he slowly made his way towards her.

"Alice, are you done?"

Alice heard a familiar gentle voice from behind and a smile blossomed on her face. A moment before she was having fun killing the monster slowly, but now that Shin is here. There's no need to keep the monster alive and waste their time.

She didn't think much and hastily gave the finishing blow to the monster who looked like was begging her all this time.

"Yep, all done here. Where are we going next?" Alice asked Shin with a smile.

"Let's first meet up with others." Shin used his predator's eyes skill and looked around before turning to her and continuing.

"It seems we have cleared most of the monsters here. Mom and the others are coming this way."

Alice had a complicated expression on her face. Was she happy that her inlaws were arriving or disappointed now that they can't spend more time alone?

She didn't show her despondent face and just smiled and nodded to him.

They were like her family after all. She can't complain. If it was anyone else she wouldn't have endured it. She is only patient with the people she is close with and Shin's parents are nice.

Soon four figures arrived at their spot. They were walking normally and didn't look much in hurry.

Alfred was looking at Shin and Alice with a big smile plastered on his face. They had seen everything.

They were rushing to help Shin and Alice thinking they might be in trouble because the monsters were headed their way. They were worried. But it seems their worries were needless.

While running they saw Shin and Alice fighting with monsters from a little far away.

Reina was about to jump in and help them deal with it. She was anxious. What can you expect from a mom? But Alfred stopped her.

Reina was furious at him. How could he be so heartless to leave his children like that? Alfred's face turned ugly as he retorted that they don't need their help. It is not that he is heartless.

It's for their benefit. If Alfred and Reina get involved now their children will not grow on their own and will always seek shelter. That is not a good mindset. If any problem arises he will intervene.

But from the way, he was seeing things. Shin can defeat that spider monster easily. Rather he was holding back for some reason. If he used his bare hands. The monster would have died long ago.

As for Alice. That didn't even look like a fight.

Hearing Alfred's words Reina focused on Alice's direction. What she saw stunned her.

'No way...' Thought Reina.

Alice was slowly cutting the monster and torturing it. She summoned her servants and pinned down the monster. That's when she started poking holes in its body with her scythe.

She summoned a black purple ball of energy and threw it at the monster's wings. Suddenly a loud sound echoed and the Vultican's left wind blasted off.

Alice was laughing hysterically as he blasted the soul bomb.

Reina looked at Alice and her actions with a complicated face. She didn't know Alice was like this. She never got to see this side of Alice.

'Why? Just Why?'

'Ughh.'

'Why didn't you tell me you like explosions too?' Reina thought as she felt saddened and excited at the same time.

Reina was so happy. That Alice and she have something in common. Reina was a huge fan of explosions. Too bad she couldn't explode anything previously. Cause of so many rules.

But now that the world it changed some explosions are not a problem right?

Reina jumped at Alice as soon as she saw her. Alice on the other hand got flustered but soon calmed down.

Alfred asked Shin curiously.

"Good job. But why didn't you use bare hands instead of a sword? You could have dealt with it easily. I know your sword skills are lacking. Umm. Rather you don't know anything. So it's obvious. But why not fists?"

"I am thinking of getting more combat experience Dad. If I couldn't defeat it even after trying those skills. I would have resorted to punches." Shin replied calmly.

Alfred crossed his hands and nodded.

"That good thought process." Alfred smiled at Shin and complimented him.

Shin was happy hearing Alfred's words. But his next words made him frown.

"Now tell me the real reason," Alfred asked with a knowing smile.

'How dare you try to fool me. Bullshit. I am your Dad. There's no way you would have thought of all that.'

Shin was embarrassed. His father caught onto him.

"That monster was disgusting. Rather too gross compared to others and you know." He was trying to come up with an excuse.

"You have already seen many disgusting things yesterday," Alfred replied calmly.

Shin gritted his teeth and said

"I don't like spiders. They are gross and it was a giant spider too. So I didn't want to touch it. But" he was hesitating to continue.

"But you ended up touching it." Alfred completed his words.

"Yeah. Well, I guess monster spiders don't count hahaha." Shin said with a silly laugh.

Alfred ignored him and said

"Let's get going everyone. There are not many monsters left here."

Others turned their attention to Alfred's words. They were ignorant of Alfred's and Shin's recent talk.

So they just nodded at his words. Soon everyone made their way out of the park. While finishing the left-out monsters.

But they didn't know someone was seeing them from afar hiding in the shadows. The shadow flickered a second after they left.