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Carl stared at the translucent system market window hovering in front of him, the faint glow tinting his face blue in the dim torchlight. The bone bars of their cage cast jagged shadows across the stone floor like ribs of some long-dead beast, and every flicker of torchlight outside the tunnel was a reminder—time was running out.
The goblins wouldn't stay asleep forever.
His fingers hovered over the interface, flipping through menus, options swimming past like a fever dream. Weapons. Abilities. Consumables. He needed to make every credit count. The others were counting on him—even if they didn't know it yet.
He paused on an old enemy: Sub-Space Inventory (F-Rank).
5,000 SC.
Carl snorted quietly. "Still too rich for my broke ass."
[Sub-Space Inventory – F-Rank]
Capacity: 15 Slots | Tier Limit: E-Rank or Lower
Bonus: Waterproof, bloodproof, sarcasm-resistant (maybe)
Price: 5,000 System Credits
Tempting. Teasing. Completely unaffordable.
"Guess I'll keep shoving gear down my pants for now," Carl muttered.
He scrolled past it and found something more realistic: a glowing icon labeled Reflex Mastery… a new item he hadn't noticed before.
Passive Ability: "Reflex Mastery" (D-Rank)
It sounded interesting—like something that might give him the edge in a fight.
[Reflex Mastery]
• Passive Ability – D-Rank
• Increases reaction speed and physical agility
• Bonus: Enhances awareness of immediate threats, sharpens response time in combat
Price: 1,600 System Credits
The price wasn't cheap, but it wasn't out of his reach either. Carl hesitated, the weight of his decision sinking deeper with each passing second. Reflexes… that could make all the difference in a fight, especially against goblins and whatever else might be lurking down here. But the cost was steep. That was almost all of his credits, leaving little room for other useful items.
He exhaled slowly, making the decision.
"Alright. Reflex Mastery. Let's do it."
He tapped the item and confirmed the purchase. A sharp ding filled his mind as the system granted him the ability.
[Reflex Mastery – D-Rank has been successfully acquired.]
Carl flexed his fingers. A strange tingling sensation ran through his limbs, as if his body was primed, waiting for action. He could feel the difference already—faster, sharper. It wasn't a huge shift, but it was enough to make him feel more capable, like he could actually dodge a blow or land a strike more effectively. That could be the difference between life and death in the next few minutes.
Carl rolled his shoulders, trying not to grin. "Okay. Cool."
He wasn't done.
Next, Carl moved on to the Healing Salve.
[Healing Salve]
• Fast application. Accelerates healing rate. Reduces pain.
Price: 100 SC each
He added two to his cart without a second thought. Pain reduction? Yeah, I might need that later.
Now he was down to about 900 credits. He still needed a weapon. His spear had been stolen, and though his fists were decent enough, they wouldn't be enough against goblins or any other creatures that might come for him in this warren.
Carl browsed through the weapon options, settling on the Throwing Daggers.
[Throwing Daggers]
• Compact. Balanced. Sharp enough for goblin faces.
Price: 30 SC
He added three daggers to his cart, not bothering to think twice.
[Throwing Daggers (x3) Acquired]
Three sleek blades materialized in a shimmer of light, tucked neatly into his belt. Light. Sharp. Easy to hide.
Carl opened his palm and whispered, "Nice to meet you."
Three daggers weren't much, but it was better than nothing. They could give him a little reach, at least. The price was so low it felt almost like a joke.
That left him with a few credits left over, but no real need for anything else for the moment.
Just as Carl was about to close the system interface and begin formulating his escape plan, the system chimed in again.
[Oh, and by the way, you can upgrade your abilities too, if you didn't know.]
Carl blinked. "Wait. What?"
[Yeah. Market upgrades. Not just EXP-based. C'mon, catch up.]
His brow furrowed. "You holding out on me again?"
*[Me? Never. You just didn't ask.]
He scrolled fast. Improvised Weaponry—it had carried him this far. If it could hit harder or smarter…
[Improvised Weaponry – E-Rank Upgrade]
Improves damage and efficiency with makeshift or unconventional weapons
Price: 500 SC
Carl didn't even hesitate. "Upgrade it."
A faint vibration traveled down his arms. His gaze darted to the nearest bone shard leaning against the cage wall. Suddenly, it looked… more useful. Like his brain had unlocked a blueprint for brutality. He could see how to wield it better—how to twist, angle, and break with purpose.
[Improvised Weaponry – E-Rank Acquired]
His balance shifted. He felt dangerous.
310 credits left. Not enough for much else, but enough for another salve later if needed. He closed the interface with a slow exhale.
Time to act.
He glanced at the others in the cage. Gil massaged his ankle. Tina dabbed sweat from her brother's forehead. Mason sat with his arms around his knees, watching the tunnel. Ayla met Carl's gaze, still cute but with an additional unreadable sharpness.
"You ready for this?" he asked, voice low.
She didn't flinch. "Are you?"
Carl allowed himself the faintest smirk. "We move on my mark. No shouting, no running unless I say. Keep close. Watch the dark. I'll handle the first kill."
Gil looked up. "You've done this kind of thing before?"
Carl didn't answer directly. Just picked up a long bone shard, tested its weight in one hand, and said, "Let's just say… I've learned fast."
He turned toward the tunnel entrance, where torchlight flickered and goblin voices echoed faintly from down the warren.
In the silence, his heart pounded once—then settled into rhythm.
He had the edge now. And he was going to use it.
Because ready or not…
They were breaking out tonight.
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TO BE CONTINUED…