Chapter 29 - Bottles and Blades

"Hey, Trev!" Mari called out excitedly. "We were just heading to the bar on the opposite corner of the market. Care to join us for a drink once you're ready?"

Trev's face lit up with a smile.

"Sure! Let me check with Elena, but I'd love to come."

"Great! See you there," Emilee chimed in, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.

Trev, who hadn't had a drink since the start of the apocalypse, was a self-admitted alcoholic. The prospect of indulging in a drink after such a long time heightened his excitement. Skipping down the hallway, Trev reached his room and swiftly closed the door behind him, eagerly anticipating the evening ahead.

As he entered the room, Elena emerged from the bathroom. Trev had to double-take because the first time he didn't believe it—she was completely naked. Trev quickly averted his gaze, having caught a side view of her nudity. Her body was stunning, with her magnificent large plump shapely breasts that bounced perfectly, splendid pink nipples and flawless skin. She was in perfect form. If she hadn't been an assassin, her looks could have propelled her to great heights.

"I used to have a lot more scars, but the third noise a few days ago healed them all," Elena commented nonchalantly, her voice carrying an air of ease.

"That's good to hear," replied Trev, his nervousness palpable.

"I told you last time, I was only covering up for your sake, but because you watched me getting dressed yesterday, I assumed you wouldn't mind," replied Elena.

Without looking at her he could feel her smirking at his nervousness.

"Sorry about that," replied Trev, feeling like a child being caught peeping on an adult getting changed.

"Don't be so nervous, I've told you I don't mind, you can turn around," she replied, almost annoyed he wasn't looking at her.

Had she waited for him to return before coming out of the bathroom? Was this a purposeful ploy or mere coincidence? Trev turned around slowly, trepidation filling his heart. Elena was sitting on the bed still half naked. She had her panties on but had not finished getting dressed, casually drying her hair with a towel, her boobs on display for Trev to see. Even though Trev had turned around, he still struggled to look directly at her.

"I like your new outfit," she smiled, attempting to break the tension.

"You too," he replied instinctively, his immediate response causing him to inwardly facepalm.

"Thank you," Elena laughed, before getting up and donning her bodysuit, concealing her captivating figure once more.

She had evidently decided that she had teased him enough for the day.

"Uh, Emilee and Mari are at the bar. Would you like to join them for a drink while I take a shower?" Trev asked nervously.

"It's okay, I'll wait for you," she replied, playfully diving back onto the bed.

"Alright, I won't be long," Trev responded, walking into the bathroom.

~~~~

By the time Trevor and Elena arrived at the bar, Emilee and Mari had been enjoying their drinks for over half an hour.

"Sorry we took so long, Trev took ages in the shower," giggled Elena.

Emilee wasn't sure why Elena found this so funny, but it made Trevor very nervous.

"No problem!" Smiled Emilee innocently.

Trevor and Elena headed to the bar, returning with some unusual drinks. Emilee wasn't much of a drinker normally, mostly because she didn't have time or people to drink with. But because Mari had wanted to drink, and Emilee wanted to spend time with Mari, it made sense for her to drink too. She couldn't quite discern the nature of their relationship yet. While they had cuddled together in bed the past few nights, their connection hadn't progressed further. Perhaps Emilee had always been attracted to women, and that's why she never found solace in men. Uncertainty lingered, but her interest in Mari grew stronger with each passing hour.

After Elena shared the story of her new helmet, the conversation veered towards the distribution of item points and where they had invested them so far. Emilee remained hesitant to spend her points, as she was notoriously bad with her own life decisions.

"I don't know what to do with my item points," Emilee sighed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I think you should put all your points into the ice ring to enhance its killing power," Elena chuckled, displaying her characteristic bloodlust.

Eager to lend support, Trevor chimed in, "Do what feels right to you."

While their responses were typical of Elena and Trevor, Emilee yearned for more guidance. She craved direction.

"What do you think will benefit you the most?" Mari inquired, her words carrying a genuine desire to help.

Emilee pondered the question briefly, realising she hadn't given it much thought. The dark step ring served her adequately for now, but she foresaw the need for added defence in the future. On the other hand, having her ice ball ring deliver one-hit kills would be a significant advantage. Perhaps investing in it would be wise.

"If my ice ball could be a one-hit kill," she finally replied, voicing the result of her contemplation.

"Well, try putting two points into it and see how much it improves," Mari suggested, her words aligning perfectly with Emilee's desires.

"Okay!" Emilee beamed, elated by the response she had hoped for, especially from Mari.

"I tried putting more than two points into my blade, but it wouldn't let me," lamented Elena.

"Did it give you a reason why?" asked Trevor.

"Something about needing items to craft better tiers," replied Elena.

"I unlocked crafting abilities at level five," smiled Mari, revealing the next pinnacle system.

"Oh, so that's what level five unlocks," Trevor exclaimed, his curiosity piqued. "We need to reach level five tomorrow!"

Emilee again felt silly, because unlike the others, she had little experience with computer games. Crafting to her had always meant arts and crafts, but she assumed it held a different meaning in this context.

"What do you mean by crafting?" inquired Emilee.

"From what I've gathered so far, the system allows you to make or 'craft' almost anything using item drops from monsters. It seems there's no limit. There's schematics for a god damn spaceship if you can get the right item drops," Mari explained, her amazement evident.

"So, what are some everyday uses for it?" probed Emilee, eager to understand the practical applications.

It appears you can craft just about anything you can think of. Cooking, fishing, alchemy, engineering, jewellery—you name it, there's likely a recipe for it," Mari elaborated.

Emilee found herself stunned, marvelling at the existence of such a comprehensive system accessible to everyone. It represented a significant step toward equality, a concept she strongly advocated. This system, if accessible to all, offered a pathway where hard work could unlock boundless possibilities, transcending backgrounds and education levels. Amidst the horrors of the game, this particular aspect stood out as a beacon of hope and progress.