'Village'
After crossing several treacherous slopes, they discovered a village nestled beside a frozen river. The settlement bore witness to its inhabitants' hardships—houses constructed from mud bricks with sparse tree branches scattered across the roofs to ward off the relentless snow.
Vio quickly scaled a high rock outcropping, watching intently as the soldier approached the village. Upon reaching its perimeter, the soldier abandoned his ice cart.
A remarkable transformation overtook the soldier who had been gasping for breath, sweat streaming down his face. Now he strode forward with unmistakable pride and authority radiating from every step.
The moment the villagers spotted him, they hurried to gather around the cart, working together to guide it toward their storage area.
Each villager bowed their head respectfully to the soldier, who appeared completely indifferent to their deference. He walked directly into one of the houses, one that looked marginally better maintained than the others.
'Is this some kind of hierarchy?'
What puzzled Vio was the aura the villagers projected. He sensed no danger from them whatsoever, as if they were far too weak to pose any threat.
Scanning the village layout, Vio noted the presence of windmills and livestock stables, but something else captured his attention entirely.
'No young men?'
The houses featured large windows that offered clear views of the interiors. Both inside and outside, Vio could only observe elderly people, children, and women. The complete absence of young men or physically capable adults struck him as deeply suspicious.
Soon, another element drew his focus—a towering pillar standing prominently in the village center. No matter how carefully Vio examined it, the structure appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary pillar, save for the mysterious symbols carved into its surface.
The sun reached its zenith, and wispy mist began forming, though it remained thin for now.
'So the mist dissipates after the Furious Night ends and begins reforming as the sun prepares to set.'
While Vio analyzed the area and compiled its characteristics, a cascade of system messages materialized before him.
[Evaluation completed: 303%.]
'He doesn't seem to be coming back out. In that case...'
He descended from the rock and mimicked the soldier's approach to entering the village. The result proved identical.
The villagers bowed their heads, placing their hands over their hearts without questioning his presence. Moments later, they returned to their daily tasks as if he had never existed.
'No, this isn't a class system—it's something else.'
Once Vio reached the central pillar, he glanced around and confirmed no one was paying him any attention. He quickly leaped upward, grasping the pillar and scaling it with practiced ease. Reaching the summit took barely a minute.
' Incredibly tall'
Balancing precariously on the pinnacle with just the edge of his foot, Vio surveyed the surrounding landscape. He observed slopes and ridges stretching endlessly into the distance, appearing almost like a mirage.
'Damn it. How am I supposed to escape this mountain?'
As he pondered his predicament, a sudden gust of wind swirled around him, accompanied by an odd buzzing sensation in his mind.
['Eye' has been unlocked.]
[The map has been updated.]
[Evaluation completed: 403%.]
Unlocking the 'Eye' had provided a substantial 100% boost, leaving Vio wondering exactly how many such 'Eyes' lay hidden throughout the mountain.
After reviewing the newly updated map, he climbed down, releasing a deep breath when his feet touched solid ground. Without hesitation, he headed directly for the house the soldier had entered earlier.
"Who's there?" the soldier demanded, sitting up in bed at the sound of the door opening. The instant his eyes met Vio's, his head exploded.
Vio wanted to recharge CyborgHeart, but causing such a disturbance would likely alert the villagers.
[1 point has been obtained.]
Vio exited the room and stood in the main living area. The house consisted of several cramped rooms containing little more than floor mats, a simple table, and a few basic beds.
'Chests.'
Four treasure chests materialized beside his feet.
[Evaluation: 3%.]
'Let's see what I get...'
His thoughts shattered as footsteps crept toward the door—slow, deliberate.
Pressed himself against the wall beside the door, fists ready. One step inside, and the intruder would die.
"Knock, knock."
Instead of barging in like the soldier or himself had done, the person knocked politely.
'Is it a villager?'
Slowly, Vio cracked open the door, prepared for any surprises.
Through the narrow opening, he spotted a woman. He identified her gender from her body frame, though her entire head was completely concealed by a garment that covered everything.
Either the villagers maintained highly conservative customs, or the entire world of 'Alam' followed strict social traditions. Vio didn't particularly care either way.
The woman held a tray containing some food.
"I've brought food for the honored one," she said, her tone respectfully seeking permission to enter. Vio allowed her inside to avoid raising suspicion, especially since he sensed no danger from her or the small figure behind her.
As she entered, a child darted in behind her.
Vio realized he had left the treasure chests visible on the ground, but it seemed neither visitor could see them.
The woman carefully placed the tray on the table while the little girl stood beaming at Vio with an impossibly wide smile.
The child's cheerful expression was so exaggeratedly bright that Vio found it difficult to maintain his cold demeanor.
"What are you doing, child?" the woman said, grasping the girl's hand. "My apologies, honored one. Will you be spending the night here?"
It seemed like a genuine question, so Vio nodded. The woman nodded in return, and the little girl adorably mimicked them both. After they departed, Vio secured the door.
'Hmm, it wasn't fear, nor was it respect. What was that emotion, then?'
He wished he could have seen the woman's expression to understand her behavior better.
'And what about the child?'
He had felt an unusual energy emanating from her and had almost smiled in response, which only confused him further.
Pushing these concerns aside, excitement grew as he focused on the treasure chests.
'Open.'
['Treasure Detector' obtained.]
[20,000 XP obtained.]
[Treasure Detector]
A compass whose needle vibrates more intensely as the hero approaches treasure. The closer you are, the more it vibrates.
Once the treasure is discovered, the item disappears.
The device resembled an antique wristwatch, gleaming brilliantly in Vio's hand.
'Good, but I need something to help me escape this place.'
He sighed and commanded the next chest to open.
[Blueprint of 'Laser Sword' obtained.]
[100,000 XP obtained.]
[Laser Sword]
A sword constructed from energy.
Energy type required: Any energy type.
+20 Damage
Durability: 100
EP Cost: 3 per minute
Resources needed for crafting: 30 Plastic, 14 Metal, 3 Steel.
'System, can I power it with electrical energy?'
[That's exactly what 'any energy type' means.]
Ignoring the system's sarcastic tone, Vio smiled and searched for the sword's value in the system store.
'2 Million'
When it came to finances, Vio invariably transformed into a miser. Whether buying or selling, he made certain to extract every bit of value from every coin he spent.
'2 million coins or a sword with 20 Damage?'
The decision wasn't easy, but after careful consideration, he made a choice.
[2 million coins obtained.]
Currently, his most powerful assets are two abilities:
Knockout Mastery – Level 3
Increases Damage by 3% when the hero uses punch-type attacks.
[Skull Crusher]
It seems the hero has developed a fascination with crushing skulls. As a result, any attack, regardless of type, will have its Damage increased by 40% if it strikes an enemy's head.
Both skills gave his punches immense destructive power, which would be completely wasted if he suddenly switched to sword combat, not to mention the continuous energy cost.
'Alright, let's move on to the next one. Open.'
['Debuff' obtained.]
'What? A debuff? Isn't that supposed to be negative? Why would you give me something harmful?'
Wound Curse – Temporary
Increases the pain inflicted by attacks by 50% for 4 hours.
[30,000 XP obtained.]
[The hero can apply the 'Debuff' to enemies.]
'Ooooh.'
Vio felt relieved when he realized the debuff wasn't intended for him. As he studied its description, he couldn't help but pity whoever would end up on the receiving end.
While it might only be a psychological effect, mental strain during combat could often prove more critical than physical injuries.
'Alright, the final one. Open.'
The chest opened to reveal a mysterious black key. Vio held it carefully, waiting for the system to explain its purpose. But... nothing happened.
[1,000 XP obtained.]
'Hello? System, are you going to explain this?'
[No.]
'No? What do you mean, no? Why not?'
[Items from the system come with explanations. External items are not integrated.]
[To evaluate external items, please obtain 'The Unseen Eye That Sees All.']
'Oh, come on. You and your complications.'
Vio stored the key in inventory and opened the store. With money in hand, it was time to go shopping.
Suddenly, a foolish grin spread across his face. The mention of shopping brought up a vivid memory of Sarah, her endearingly clumsy smile etched permanently in his mind. A sharp pang of tightness gripped his chest. He might never see her again.
Technically, it had only been a day since he'd last seen her, yet he already missed her desperately.
He exhaled slowly, refocusing on his account balance to lift his spirits.
3,000,000 coins.
He navigated to the weapons section, searching for something that had caught his attention earlier when he'd been frustrated by the astronomical prices.
'Found you.'
[Gauntlets of Fury]
Black metallic gauntlets equipped with energy conduits.
+20 Damage
Durability: 500
Energy Required: Any energy type
EP Cost: 1 per minute when using energy.
Resources required for crafting: 10 Plastic, 30 Metal, 2 Steel
Price: 1,500,000 coins.
A fist-type weapon that would allow him to fully utilize his existing skills. It didn't require a specific energy type or even energy at all, making it incredibly versatile in various situations. Most importantly for Vio's practical nature, it was cost-effective, a perfect choice for his fighting style.
'Buy.'
His system coin balance dropped significantly, but Vio decided not to look at the remaining amount, focusing instead on the brilliant glow materializing before him.
A blueprint appeared, which he grasped in his hands.
'Craft.'
His resources also took a substantial hit, but again, Vio chose to ignore the loss. Two sleek black metallic gauntlets formed before him.
Without hesitation, Vio equipped them, feeling a cold sensation envelop his fingers and wrists. They extended up to his elbows, with thin tubes running along the surface that he recognized as energy conduits.
A satisfied smile crossed his face as he imagined how much more devastating his punches would become. The thought of enemies' heads exploding under these gauntlets made him shiver with dark excitement.
'What am I even thinking? Damn.'
Shaking off the violent thoughts, he stored the gauntlets in the inventory screen.
'Wait.'
An idea struck him. He raised his fists and thrust them into the inventory screen, watching as it absorbed his arms. When he pulled them back, the gauntlets were perfectly fitted on his hands.
'Now this is what I call badass.'
As he indulged in his newfound power, time passed steadily, and the sun began its descent toward the horizon. The sound of howling winds rose ominously, marking the beginning of another Furious Night.
[Temperature drop detected.]
For a brief moment, Vio shivered as he recalled the horrors of the previous night, but quickly regained control of his body.
'Come on, Vio. You're a cyborg now. It's embarrassing to shiver, even to yourself.'
Glanced out the window and observed the pillar he had climbed earlier, which glowed, forming a protective barrier that enveloped the entire village.
[Temperature rise detected.]
The system message felt like a drop of water on a parched tongue.
His earlier suspicions had been correct. After witnessing the villagers' condition and considering the vast map he needed to traverse, he was certain the Furious Night would eventually catch him in the open.
Vio had been right to assume the village was the key to survival.
[Evaluation completed: 31%.]
Snow fell against the barrier, unable to penetrate its protection. The same held for the wind. Yet the barrier didn't obscure the terrifying scene unfolding outside.
Massive rocks and ancient trees froze instantly upon contact with the supernatural cold. Before long, the mist thickened dramatically, and the village seemed completely isolated from the rest of the world.
'Looks like I'm spending the night here. Wait, do cyborgs even need sleep?'
While his mind entertained trivial questions, his enhanced senses detected something unusual. He turned toward the door.
'Am I imagining things, or is something happening?'
As he questioned himself, his acute hearing confirmed his suspicions.
"BOOM!"
A massive explosion shook the ground beneath his feet.
'What's going on?'
[Mission: 'Protect Zeer Village']
Type: Protection
Requirements: Threat to the village.
Restrictions: None.
Description:
A hero is called a hero because they do heroic deeds. When the opportunity arises, be a hero.
Objective:
Protect the villagers of Zeer Village.
Rewards:
40 XP
8 Plastic
16 Metal
4 Steel
4 point
Special Bonus:
Every soul is precious, but some souls are more valuable than others.
If the hero can save the most valuable soul, he will be blessed.
Penalty for Failure: Minor Punishment: A hero's shame.
"Zeer Village," Vio muttered under his breath.
[The name 'Zeer Village' has been discovered.]
[Evaluation completed: 40%.]
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
A series of devastating explosions forced him to rush outside. His eyes widened in shock at the apocalyptic sight.
Purple flames engulfed multiple houses, casting an otherworldly glow across the village.