Emergency lights flickered weakly inside the passage, casting long, uneven shadows. It wasn't completely dark, but the illumination barely extended beyond a few meters. Outside the passage, however, the situation was far grimmer. The high-rise was entwined with massive root tendrils that coiled around the building like serpents. Thick, dark leaves sealed off the windows on multiple floors, preventing any sunlight from reaching inside. Civilization had long since collapsed; power lines were dead, and the building had been without electricity for decades. Even the emergency lights were practically useless, offering only faint guidance.
Raleigh peered into the passage. It was an abyss of pitch-black darkness. Every step he took revealed nothing; he could not even make out whether the floor was intact or littered with debris.
This won't do…
It's too dark. I have no night vision, and even if there aren't any elite mutants down there, getting surrounded by a group of smaller ones would be disastrous.
He crouched and scanned the doorway, analyzing the potential risks. Luring the Mutants out into a fight in the passage might seem effective, but the sound of clashing metal would echo through the building. Dozens of floors' worth of mutants could be drawn to the noise, rushing in all at once. That would be a death trap.
For most newcomers, surviving this trial would be simple: repel the first monster and hold out on the rooftop for twenty-four hours. But Raleigh was different. To him, this trial wasn't merely about surviving,it was an opportunity to farm materials, gain modules, and strengthen his Mech Armor. But in this high-rise, one false move could alert countless enemies. He needed a strategy that allowed him to control the number of opponents he faced at once.
He surveyed the passageway's metal doors and thick frames. An idea formed.
The walls and doors of the emergency passage were made of thick steel, several dozen centimeters in width. Even explosives might struggle to break them. Mutants, no matter how fierce, were ultimately flesh and blood. Even the massive mutant he had seen earlier would have difficulty maneuvering through such an obstacle.
Perfect.
If he could return to the rooftop, lure the smaller mutants upward, and guard the passage entrance, he could control the flow of enemies. Only one or two would confront him at a time. The large mutant? Its size made it incapable of squeezing through the doorway, leaving him free to farm smaller foes in relative safety.
The plan was solid. He retraced his steps to the rooftop, every movement careful, conserving strength and avoiding unnecessary noise. Once there, he didn't immediately begin making sounds to lure enemies. Farming required careful preparation and maximum advantage.
He approached the crashed helicopter, scanning the debris. Bending down, he hugged the broken tail rotor, using every ounce of his strength.
"Hah!"
This helicopter model was massive. A single section of the tail rotor weighed two or three tons. The Zero-Type Exoskeleton struggled to its limit, but he managed to drag it to the passage entrance. Carefully positioning it, he blocked most of the doorway while leaving a narrow gap.
Elementary mutants were small and crawled on all fours. Even a partial blockade could funnel them, forcing them to emerge one by one.
Still, Raleigh wasn't satisfied. Returning to the helicopter, he gathered scattered parts, dragging and stacking them at the passage entrance one by one. Soon, the once-spacious doorway was reduced to only one or two narrow gaps.
Now it's just right.
Raleigh wiped sweat from his brow. Pushing the Type Zero Exoskeleton to its limits had cost him armor durability; it had dropped from ten to six points. But the risk was necessary.
Next, he needed to test his setup. He picked up his iron rod, palms slick with sweat, and gritted his teeth. Could these obstacles withstand the mutants' force? Could he handle what might come next?
No perfect plans exist. I have to take risks if I want to grow stronger.
He took a deep breath, swung the rod, and struck the tail rotor with a resounding clang!
The sound reverberated through the steel passageway, bouncing downwards like a flare in the darkness. For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, a chorus of shrieks erupted from the depths of the building.
Elementary Mutants emerged from the shadows, gray-skinned, with purple veins pulsating along their bodies. Crawling on all fours, they surged up the emergency passage like water through a narrow channel, funneled by Raleigh's metal barricade.
The first mutant poked its head through the gap, only to see a figure in silver-black exoskeleton armor raising an iron rod.
"Is the cafeteria open for meals? Congratulations, you're the first!" Raleigh muttered under his helmet.
The rod came down in a smooth, precise arc, smashing the mutant's head instantly. The following two mutants poked their heads through simultaneously.
"Don't rush. One at a time. Everyone gets a share," Raleigh quipped to himself.
Another stab, smash! Two more mutants fell in seconds, like fish on a chopping board. Abyssal Aura surged into the Abyssal Mark on his palm. Notifications appeared:
[Killed an Elementary Mutant, obtained item: Spirit Blood Living Root.]
[Quality: Common]
[Type: Item]
[Effect: When applied to armor above fifty percent integrity, restores two points of armor value.]
[Description: A living root nourished by spirit blood; it still pulses with life.]
Earlier, dragging the rotor had reduced his armor by four points. Seeing the item's effect, Raleigh didn't hesitate. He activated it, and purple tendrils erupted from his palm, burrowing into every crack of the Type Zero Exoskeleton. The cracks healed almost instantly. With his armor partially restored, his confidence grew.
He resumed farming. Each mutant he killed poured Abyssal Aura into his Abyssal Mark. About every four streams, an item or material appeared.
The Mecha Module he coveted, however, was stubbornly absent. He continued, undeterred, and finally, the eighth notification brought the reward he sought:
[Killed an elementary mutant, obtained module: Root-Sprout Enhancement.]
[Tier: Zero]
[Rarity: Common]
[Type: Upper Limb Module, Lower Limb Module.]
[Effect One: When loaded as an Upper Limb Module, increases Strength by 2 and Defense by 1.]
[Effect Two: When loaded as a Lower Limb Module, increases Agility by 2 and Strength by 1.]
[Description: Root tendrils have replaced flesh and blood; sap flows within the body.]
Raleigh's eyes shone under the helmet. His careful preparation, calculated risks, and methodical execution had paid off. One module secured,his first tangible enhancement toward a stronger Mech.
He allowed himself a rare, private smile. This is only the beginning.
The rooftop was quiet again, but Raleigh's mind was alive with calculations. How many more modules could he obtain? Which mutants would yield the best rewards? Each decision from now on would affect his survival,and his growth,in the Abyssal trial.
With a steadying breath, he gripped his iron rod, checked the barricade once more, and prepared for the next wave. The hunt had truly begun.