CHAPTER 31: NEW SKILLS

Luna and Emelia shared a glance, silently steeling themselves for what was to come. They knew that their lives were about to be rewritten, their memories rewritten. But they held on to the hope that they would emerge stronger, ready to face a world forever changed.

Elena activated the Neutrolizer once again, its soft blue glow enveloping the room. She carefully aimed the device at Luna and Emelia's foreheads, initiating the memory alteration process. As the hum of the device filled the air, Luna closed her eyes, surrendering to the inevitable.

At that moment, a flood of emotions washed over Luna—fear, confusion, loss, but also a glimmer of hope. She clung to that hope, hoping that it would guide her through the darkness that awaited.

Minutes later, Elena deactivated the Neutrolizer, signaling the completion of the memory erasure. Luna and Emelia went into a deep sleep.

Arlo and Elena left the room and went to the guard-post. In the room, Arlo suggested to Elena, "You must be tired, you should go and have a bath in your mansion in our Space Realm. I will teleport you there, stay with your father at night and come here in the morning."

Elena complained, "I am your wife. I will stay here with you. And I don't want to discuss in this matter."

Arlo sighed, realizing that Elena's determination was unyielding. He knew better than to argue with her when she had made up her mind. With a gentle smile, he decided, "Alright, my love. We will do as you wish. You deserve some time to freshen up."

He reached out and gently caressed her cheek, his touch filled with affection. "I'll teleport you to your mansion, and you can take your time to relax and cleanse yourself. Meanwhile, I'll stay here and ensure their safety. Once you're ready, you can take my place, and I'll finally have a chance to clean up as well."

Elena nodded, appreciating Arlo's understanding. She leaned in and kissed him softly on his cheek. "Thank you, Arlo. I'll make it quick and join you as soon as possible."

Arlo activated his teleportation ability, enveloping Elena in a shimmering light. In an instant, she vanished from the room and appeared in her Mansion in his Space Realm, leaving Arlo alone in the guard's room.

Arlo waited for her return while scrolling through the items in the shop. After scrolling through it, he found a very useful skill named "Fighting Master". If the user learns it, then he is able to master all the fighting techniques which have been built till now.

[Skill - Combat Master]

[User can master all the fighting skills that have been built till today. He will become highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, utilizing various martial arts techniques to take down zombies efficiently. They can disarm opponents, perform devastating strikes, and defend themselves effectively.]

[Cost - 32500 Contribution points]

"This is a bit expensive but I still need to buy this to increase my strength."

Arlo communicated with Aisha from his wrist device and asked her, "Aisha, do you know anything about this skill?"

Aisha smiled from the hologram and said, "Master, this skill is very suitable for you but it will take two days for you to learn this."

Arlo inquire more about it, "How can I learn this skill?"

"Master, if you want to know more about this, then you need to visit the Training center. I will explain everything to you there."

Before he could reply to her, Elena came back from her mansion and said, "You should go now, I will wait for you."

Arlo's breath caught in his throat as Elena reentered the room. The sight of her took his breath away once again, as if he was seeing her for the first time. Her radiant beauty, combined with her unwavering strength, left him momentarily stunned.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Arlo crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides. He pulled Elena into a tight embrace, his heart pounding with a mix of love and admiration. "Elena, you are the most beautiful and courageous woman I have ever known. Your presence fills my life with joy and purpose."

Elena, though touched by his words, gently untangled herself from his embrace. She looked at him with a teasing smile and said, "Save those sweet words for later, Arlo. Right now, we have important matters to attend to."

Arlo chuckled, realizing that Elena was right. They needed to focus on the task at hand and ensure Luna's safety. He nodded in agreement. "You're right, my love. We have work to do. But let's not forget to cherish these moments together as well."

With that, Arlo teleported himself to his mansion, eager to freshen up and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. He immersed himself in a soothing bath, allowing the warm water to wash away the fatigue of the day. As he changed into a set of black clothes, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation for the future.

After teleporting back to the guard room, Arlo found Elena standing near the window and peeking outside from there. Arlo grinned and used this opportunity to hug her from behind. When Elena sensed that someone had hugged her from behind, she used her elbow to attack her but Arlo blocked it easily and said, "My love, relax, it's me."

Elena relaxed herself when she heard Arlo's voice from behind. Arlo chuckled as he easily deflected Elena's attack, his grip around her waist tightening. "Oh, my fiery wife, you are always ready to defend yourself. But fear not, it's only me, your dashing husband."

Elena couldn't help but smile, feeling his warmth against her back. She leaned into his embrace, savoring the closeness they shared. "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that, Arlo. You know I'm always prepared for anything."

Arlo nuzzled his nose against her ear, his voice low and teasing. "And that's one of the things I love about you, my fierce warrior.

Elena turned around within his embrace, her hands resting on his chest as she looked up at him and asked in a low voice, "Why do you always try to find an opportunity to hug me?"

Arlo chuckled and said with playful confidence. "Didn't I promise to make you fall in love with me? It's only fair that I have to put my best efforts to make advances on you. And let's be honest, deep down, you've always enjoyed it when I embrace you."

Elena couldn't help but blush at Arlo's playful manner. She playfully patted his chest, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, is that so? Well, I suppose you're not entirely wrong. Your hugs do have a way of making me feel safe and loved."

Arlo grinned, savoring this moment between them. "I'm glad to hear that, my love. I'll make sure to keep them coming.

They stood in each other's arms for a while, enjoying the comfort of their embrace. But eventually, they reluctantly pulled away, knowing they had important matters to attend to.

Arlo cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "There's something I wanted to discuss with you, Elena. While you were away, I came across a skill in the shop that caught my attention. It's called 'Combat Master'."

Elena raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Combat Master? What does it do?"

Arlo explained, "This skill allows the user to learn all the combat skills ever created."

Elena nodded, considering the potential benefits of such a skill. "That sounds intrusting. What about the cost?"

Arlo checked his wrist device and replied, "It costs 32,000 Contribution points. It's not cheap, but I believe it would greatly enhance my capabilities in battle."

Elena pondered for a moment before smiling. "I trust your judgment, Arlo. If you think it's worth it, then I'm on it. Let's get the 'Combat Master' skill for both of us."

Arlo grinned, pleased with Elena's agreement. "Thanks, my love. I suggest you select a skill for yourself too. You can learn about them from the shop option on your wrist device."

Following Arlo's instructions, Elena activated the shop interface on her wrist. With a swipe of her finger, she began browsing through the screen, searching for a skill that would suit her needs.

Elena's eyes scanned the shop interface, her curiosity piqued by the array of Weapons and Skills available. She read through descriptions, weighed the potential benefits.

"Zombie Hunter's Instinct."

[Zombie Hunter's Instinct: This skill enhances the character's senses, allowing them to detect the presence of nearby zombies more accurately. It gives them an intuitive understanding of zombie behavior, making them highly adept at tracking, ambushing, and avoiding encounters.]

​[Cost - 28000 Contribution points]

"Stealthy Shadow Walker"

[Stealthy Shadow Walker: With this skill, the character becomes a master of stealth, capable of moving silently and remaining undetected by both zombies and hostile human factions. They can blend seamlessly into their environment, making them an expert in reconnaissance, infiltration, and surprise attacks.]

[Cost - 22000 Contrribution points]

​"Sharpshooter's Precision"

[Sharpshooter's Precision: This skill enhances the character's accuracy and precision with firearms. They can make highly accurate shots even under intense pressure, taking down zombies with ease. Additionally, this skill includes an improved understanding of ballistics, enabling the character to make effective long-range shots and conserve ammunition.]

[Cost - 16850 Contribution points]

"Tactician's Strategy"

[Tactician's Strategy: This skill allows the character to analyze complex situations and develop effective strategies against zombies and other hostile forces. They possess a keen tactical mind, capable of coordinating and leading a group, setting up defensive positions, and exploiting weaknesses in the enemy's defenses.]

[Cost - 11500 Contribution points]

"Demolition Expert"

[Demolition Expert: This skill allows the character to handle explosives effectively. They can set up traps, breach fortified areas, and create distractions using explosive devices.]

[Cost - 5600 Contribution points]

​"Marksman"

[The Marksman's skill represents exceptional precision and accuracy with ranged weapons. A master of the Marksman skill possesses the ability to consistently hit targets with deadly accuracy, whether it's with a bow, rifle, or any other long-range weapon. They excel in calculating trajectories, accounting for external factors, and maintaining focus under pressure. With their sharp eyes and steady hands, they are formidable foes and valuable assets in any combat situation that requires long-range engagement.]

​[Cost - 37000 Contribution points]

And finally she settled on a skill called 'Marksmen.' Intrusted by the prospect of enhancing her accuracy and precision in ranged combat, Elena felt it was a skill that would increase her abilities well.

With a nod, Elena confirmed her selection. She turned to Arlo, who was watching her with a proud smile.

"I chose 'Marksmen'," Elena announced, her voice filled with anticipation. "I believe it will greatly enhance my proficiency in long-range combat. But it's a bit, expensive skill."

Arlo's smile widened, impressed by Elena's choice. "That's an excellent skill, my love. Your precision and accuracy will undoubtedly reach new heights. You can easily shoot anything at close range due to your body enhancements, but now you will become proficient at long range too. We will become a formidable team then."

Elena stepped closer to Arlo, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Indeed, we do. With our new skills, we'll be even stronger together. But I must confess, Arlo, we'll need more contribution points to purchase my skill."

Arlo's gaze turned thoughtful, considering their options. "You're right, Elena. We need to gather more contribution points. We can acquire them on our way back to James. There are so many zombies outside and by saving them we will get more points."

Elena nodded in agreement. "Let's make that our priority, then. We'll collect enough contribution points to get the 'Marksmen' skill for me."

Arlo placed a reassuring hand on Elena's shoulder, his voice filled with conviction. "I promise you, Elena, we'll gather the necessary points. We won't let anything stand in our way."

Elena smiled, grateful for Arlo's unwavering support. "Thank you, Arlo. I know we can do this together."