Eli paced restlessly around the boundary of his territory, stealing occasional glances at the unconscious woman. Her breathing had evened out, but she remained motionless. The interface's warnings still echoed in his mind.
"Aid the Fallen: Stabilize the injured transmigrant and discover her origins."
Despite her condition, he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that helping her might put him in even more danger. But the promise of rewards—territory expansion and additional resources—was too valuable to ignore.
He stopped pacing and returned to her side. "Alright," he muttered, crouching down. "Time to figure out who you are."
The interface flickered, offering an option he hadn't noticed before.
...
Inspect Entity: New Transmigrant
Name: Zara Mirea
Origin: Earth
Status: Stabilized (Critical Condition)
Bloodcore Progression: 3%
Traits: ??
...
"Zara, huh?" Eli said softly. Her features were more visible now that the dirt and grime were less stark against her pale skin. She looked young—mid-20s maybe—but the deep gash on her leg and the exhausted lines around her eyes spoke of hardship.
Eli frowned. "3% progression? How'd you even make it out there with so little?"
As if in response to his question, her eyes fluttered open, and she groaned.
"Hey," Eli said, leaning closer. "You're safe—for now. Can you talk?"
Her gaze locked on him, wild and unfocused at first. Slowly, recognition seemed to dawn. "Where…?"
"You're in my territory," he explained. "I found you just outside the boundary. What happened?"
She struggled to sit up, wincing as her hand moved to her bandaged leg. "I... I was being hunted," she said, her voice hoarse. "Those things... I couldn't fight them. My barrier shattered, and I ran until... until I couldn't anymore."
Eli sat back, his mind racing. Another barrier? Another territory?
"You had a territory of your own?" he asked, his tone urgent.
She nodded weakly. "Not much of one. Barely got it set up before they attacked." Her eyes darted around the area. "This is yours?"
"For now," Eli replied. "It's not much, but it's holding up."
She let out a weak laugh. "Better than what I had. Guess I owe you."
...
Quest Progression Update: Aid the Fallen
Objective Completed: Stabilize the injured transmigrant.
Objective Unlocked: Discover her origins and strengthen your trust with each other.
...
"I wouldn't celebrate yet," Eli muttered. "This world doesn't exactly give free lunches. And I don't even know if I can trust you."
Her eyes hardened at that, and she pushed herself up with surprising determination. "Look, if I wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn't have collapsed at your doorstep."
Eli raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
...
Side Quest: Collaborative Growth
Optional Objective: Test the potential for cooperative combat and resource sharing.
Reward: Unlock Shared Territory Feature.
...
The interface's suggestion hung in the air between them. Cooperative combat? Shared territory? Eli wasn't sure if he wanted to rely on someone else, especially in a world where survival often felt like a zero-sum game.
Still, Zara's experience—and her apparent resilience—might be the edge he needed.
"Alright," Eli said after a long silence. "If we're going to make this work, we need to figure out what you bring to the table."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Your Bloodcore. Everyone has unique traits, right? I need to know what yours is—and how it can help us survive."
Zara hesitated, her expression guarded. "And if it can't help you?"
Eli shrugged. "Then we figure something else out. But I'm not going to waste time if you're dead weight."
She flinched at the bluntness but nodded. "Fine. Let me see what I've got."
...
Bloodcore Analysis: Zara Mirea
Trait: Echo Weaver
Description: Temporarily mirrors an ally's abilities, gaining a weaker version of their strengths.
Cooldown: 12 hours
...
Eli read the description and frowned. "So, you're a support type."
"Looks like it," Zara said, her tone defensive. "Not much good on my own, but with someone stronger…"
The implication was clear, and Eli didn't like how much responsibility it placed on him. Still, the potential for synergy was obvious.
"Alright," he said. "We'll test it. But first, we need to fix my defenses. I don't want another ambush while we're experimenting."
...
Zara agreed to help gather resources, though her weakened state limited her effectiveness. Eli pointed out the Basic Resource Generator and explained its function.
"You've already got an edge," she said, impressed. "I didn't even know how to set one of those up."
"Doesn't mean much if I can't protect it," Eli replied.
Together, they reviewed the Territory Construction Options again. With Zara's assistance, Eli decided to craft both a Spike Barricade and a Blood Snare, using the Blood Essence rewards and resources generated so far.
...
Territory Upgrades Deployed:
Spike Barricade: Basic defenses established.
Blood Snare: Set at territory boundary.
...
The upgrades gave Eli a small sense of security, though he knew they wouldn't hold against stronger enemies.
Once the territory was stable, Eli turned back to Zara.
"Time to see what that Echo Weaver thing can do," he said.
Zara stood, still favoring her injured leg but clearly eager to prove herself. "How do we test it?"
Eli thought for a moment, then gestured toward the edge of the boundary. "We draw something out—something weak enough for me to handle. Then you mirror me and help take it down."
Her eyes widened. "You're insane. What if something stronger shows up?"
Eli smirked. "Then we run like hell."
...
The tension in the air thickened as Eli and Zara approached the flickering edge of his territory. The newly installed Spike Barricades cast jagged shadows on the blood-soaked ground, and the faint hum of the Blood Snare pulsed nearby, ready to activate.
"You really think this is a good idea?" Zara asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
"Nope," Eli replied, gripping his makeshift rock blade. "But I need to know if we can work together. And if your Echo Weaver ability is any good, this is the time to find out."
Zara frowned but didn't argue further. She clutched a jagged branch she'd scavenged earlier, her knuckles white.
The interface pinged as they crossed the threshold of the boundary.
...
Encounter Alert: Wildlife Lurking Nearby
Detected Threats: Bloodclaw Raptors (x2)
Recommendation: Use environmental traps for an advantage.
...
Eli groaned. "Great. Raptors. Because tiny dinosaur nightmares are just what we needed."
Zara paled. "They're fast, right? And pack hunters?"
"Yep," Eli said, scanning the dense underbrush. "But they're also predictable if you know how to bait them." He pointed to a cluster of crimson vines hanging overhead. "Those thorns are toxic. If we can lead them there…"
The sound of rustling leaves cut him off. Two lean, scaly figures emerged from the shadows, their crimson claws gleaming under the dim light. Bloodclaw Raptors, about the size of wolves, hissed in unison, their sharp teeth bared.
"Showtime," Eli muttered, stepping forward.
The raptors moved with terrifying speed, darting in opposite directions to flank their prey. Eli forced himself to stay calm, letting instinct guide his movements.
"Stick close," he called to Zara, circling back toward the hanging vines. "And use Echo Weaver—now!"
Zara hesitated, then closed her eyes and activated her ability.
...
Echo Weaver Activated
Target: Eli Ashford
Mirroring: Basic Reflex Enhancement
...
A faint crimson glow surrounded her as her movements suddenly mirrored Eli's fluidity. She dodged a raptor's snapping jaws with surprising agility, though her inexperience was clear in her clumsy follow-through.
The first raptor lunged at Eli, its claws raking the air where his chest had been. He sidestepped, slashing at its leg with his rock blade. The creature shrieked in pain, staggering into the cluster of toxic vines.
The vines snapped like living tendrils, wrapping around the raptor and injecting venom through razor-sharp thorns. Within seconds, the creature convulsed and collapsed, its body dissolving into red particles.
...
Hostile Defeated: Bloodclaw Raptor
Bloodcore Progression: +5%
Blood Essence Acquired: x1
...
"Nice!" Eli shouted, adrenaline surging.
The second raptor, enraged by its companion's death, turned its focus on Zara. She froze, fear flashing across her face as the creature charged.
"Move!" Eli barked, sprinting toward her.
Zara stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding the raptor's claws. Eli slid in front of her, raising his blade just in time to block the creature's next attack.
"Stay behind me!" he growled, shoving the raptor back with all his strength.
The creature hissed, preparing for another strike, but its movements were slower now—hesitant. Eli grinned, realizing the Blood Snare had activated. Crimson tendrils shot up from the ground, wrapping around the raptor's legs and immobilizing it.
"Finish it!" Eli shouted, tossing his blade to Zara.
She caught it awkwardly, her hands trembling. For a moment, she hesitated, staring into the raptor's glowing red eyes.
"Do it!" Eli urged. "It's you or it!"
With a scream of desperation, Zara drove the blade into the raptor's neck. The creature thrashed once before dissolving into particles.
...
Hostile Defeated: Bloodclaw Raptor
Bloodcore Progression: +5%
Blood Essence Acquired: x1
...
Zara dropped the blade, falling to her knees. Her breathing was ragged, and her hands shook violently.
Eli placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did it," he said softly.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of relief and disbelief. "I… I killed it."
"Welcome to the Crimson Expanse," Eli said, offering a grim smile.
As they returned to the center of the territory, the interface displayed a series of notifications.
...
Quest Update: Collaborative Growth
Objective Completed: Cooperative combat successfully tested.
Reward Unlocked: Shared Territory Feature
...
Territory Feature Unlocked: Shared Control
Zara Mirea is now a co-resident of your territory.
Benefits:
Resource Sharing Enabled
Cooperative Defense Bonus
...
Eli's mind raced as he processed the updates. Zara wasn't just a temporary ally anymore—she was now an integral part of his territory. Whether he liked it or not, their fates were intertwined.
"You're stuck with me now," Zara said, her voice weak but laced with dry humor.
Eli chuckled. "Lucky me."
Despite his exhaustion, he felt a flicker of hope. Together, they might just stand a chance against the horrors of this world.
But as the crimson glow of the Bloodspring reflected in their weary faces, Eli knew one thing for certain their fight was far from over.