Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode

Even though all of her Stats had been maxed out, Sonya still felt a bit difficult when killing those Wendigos.

They can move so fast and Sonya only uses a bow bound with duck tape. So when the Wendigos approached her, Sonya had to work extra hard to shoot her arrows.

Moreover, they were now inside the building which was a cramped place. For Sonya who wields a bow, a place like this doesn't benefit her at all.

Clyde of course realized how much she was struggling. He also realized that forcing Sonya to fight in such a place and condition was unreasonable.

So Clyde springs into action and slashes at the Wendigos. There weren't many of them so with Clyde's help, it would only take them a few minutes to clear the Wendigo in this place.

"How many have we killed?" Sonya asked breathlessly.

"About 20," Clyde answered.

Asqa who hasn't done anything since earlier feels bad. She just silently watched the two of them struggle.

"Let's go," Clyde said.

Sonya and Asqa followed him.

"Those monsters are really fast. I don't think I can fight them indoors," Sonya said with a troubled look on her face.

"Yeah, we won't be fighting any more monsters until you guys get new Skills," Clyde said.

Hearing this, Sonya and Asqa feel relieved. Sonya is sure that she can get a new Skill that will be useful against the enemies.

Asqa is also happy because she can finally choose a Skill that can make her more useful in a battle.

Soon, they arrived at the subway station Clyde said. They headed downstairs with Clyde leading the way.

As he had expected, in this subway there were also Wendigos ready to attack them. Their claws flashed in front of them as they attacked simultaneously with incredible speed.

But Clyde, who was also prepared for their surprise, slashed the Elderglass Sword with a speed that surpassed them.

*SRAATTT!*

*SRAATTT!*

*SRAATTT!*

...

Pale blood splattered all over the walls and floor. The bodies of the Wendigos were scattered on the subway floor in a state of being torn into several pieces.

Asqa swallowed her saliva. All of this has supposed to be something she was used to. But seeing the limbs and heads detached from the body and rolled in front of her eyes still made her nauseous.

But the effect is not as big as before so Asqa can still hold it well.

"This is it," Clyde said when he arrived in front of the Skill Purchasing Machine that was shaped like an ordinary vending machine.

Sonya and Asqa immediately rushed to the front of the machine and saw the Skills list on the screen.

"We have a lot of Coins so no need to worry about spending it on a good Skill," Sonya said while looking at Asqa.

Asqa nodded in agreement.

Clyde who was watching them from behind said. "Don't be so wasteful to spend your Coins. We don't know if those Coins will still be useful later."

Sonya sighed as she realized that and saw the many good Skills on the machine.

"Yeah, I know," Sonya said.

After pondering for a while, Sonya finally made her choice. She put her hand on the Coins case and selected the Skill inside her head. Not long after, a silvery tube came out from the bottom.

[ "Skill 'Ranger's Trap' purchased. 5,000 coins used." ]

"Your turn, Asqa." Sonya took the canister and walked backward.

Now it's Asqa's turn to choose Skill. She didn't need a long time because she had already made her choice while staring at the screen earlier.

Asqa immediately put her hand on her and immediately chose Skill. She used her Coins to choose two Skills. Soon two silvery tubes came out.

[ "Skill 'Attack Up' purchased. 3,000 coins used." ]

[ "Skill 'Dome of Protection' purchased. 6,000 coins used." ]

"You bought two?" Clyde asked.

Asqa nodded. "Yes. I chose Skills that will be useful even if they are quite expensive."

Clyde just nodded. "Alright."

After that, the two of them opened the tube to get their new Skills.

Light came out of the tube and entered the bodies of the two of them. As a sign that they have succeeded in getting the new Skills.

"Are you done?" Clyde asked.

"Yeah, I'm satisfied with this Skill," Sonya said.

"Me too," Asqa nodded in satisfaction. "You didn't buy one?"

"No. I already bought Skills earlier," Clyde answered.

Actually, Clyde saw that there were some interesting Skills. But he had a hunch that he would use his Coins for something else later. So, he refrained.

"Hey, why don't we just destroy this machine and take everything?" Sonya asked while looking at the tempting Skills list.

"We're not supposed to do that. If we do, we might not be given the chance to buy Skills again," Clyde replied. "And, are you sure that after we destroy that machine, all the Skills that are in there can still be used?"

Hearing Clyde's words, Sonya fell silent. This Purchasing Machine Skill must have been made according to certain rules.

Whoever set this apocalypse in motion wouldn't be that stupid.

So, if they attempted to attack the machine to take the Skills inside it by force, they would suffer a consequence that would only leave regret.

Sonya immediately threw away that dumb idea.

After they finished buying Skills, they then went to complete tonight's Quest. In just a few minutes the Quest was completed.

Because they split up, their search area became wider. In the end, they were able to kill the Wendigo much faster.

This night passed more quietly than before. They didn't see any disturbance from anyone who previously messed with this apocalypse setting.

"Everything went easier. It worries me," Sonya said.

They were currently on their way back to the motel. The night was silent and gloomy.

The clouds that brought heavy rain this afternoon are still up there and seem to be waiting to drop rain again sometime in the future.

"It seems that the beings who were referring to the setting of this apocalypse have left," Clyde said.

Sonya gave Clyde a suspicious look. "Do you know anything about this apocalypse?"

Clyde still didn't know if he should tell them what he knew. But, after he silently thought about it for a while, he decided to say a few things to them.

His heart which was once cold and hard started to feel a little softened because he already felt what it was like to have people fighting together around him.

"I met some of the creatures that are behind this apocalypse," Clyde said.

His words, of course, shocked Asqa and Sonya. They stared at Clyde with their eyes wide open and their footsteps suddenly stopped.

"W-What are you saying?" Sonya asked.

"I met with some of them and got some information."

Asqa and Sonya stared at him in silence for a few moments. They didn't know what to say. Which thing should they ask first? So they can only be silent with a confused faces.

Seeing their reactions, Clyde took the initiative.

"I'll tell you what I know as I go along."

Since they looked like they didn't know where to start, Clyde would start his explanation. Of course, he would only say the things he wanted to say.

Clyde tells what this apocalypse is all about. And said the names of some of the beings he met.

Clyde certainly wouldn't say anything about what he got from them, and how he got it all.

"So, we are currently being selected for something?" Sonya asked. Her forehead still showed creases which shows that she was still confused.

"Yes. That's what I know," said Clyde.

"Then actually... what's waiting for us after this Selection Stage?" Asqa asked with a gloomy face.

"I still don't know about that," Clyde replied.

Sonya and Asqa thought for a few minutes. They walked in silence with their heads filled with anxiety.

"Hey, Clyde." Sonya suddenly turned to Clyde.

"What?" Clyde asked.

"Are you planning to leave us someday?"

The question came out unexpectedly. Clyde didn't know how to answer that.

Asqa looked at him with hopeful eyes. She bit her lip slowly. Her expression seemed to say that she didn't want Clyde to leave them.

Clyde, who previously had thoughts of leaving them, was silent. Now, there was some feeling in his heart that said he should stay with them.

Is this an effect because Clyde suddenly feels the feeling of having a companion after living in solitude for so long? Is this feeling real?

Clyde didn't know the answer to his own question.

"It's not for me to decide about that. You know that we are just little creatures being toyed with in the middle of this apocalypse," Clyde said. He could only think of such an answer for now.

"So, you're saying we don't have the power to decide anything?" Sonya said.

Clyde nodded. Then said. "We can only hold on as hard as we can to survive."

~~~