X-core
[SYSTEM ALERT—WEAPON EQUIPPED]
[ACTIVATING SKILL: G-E-APPRAISAL]
>> Equipment Slot: PRIMARY
>> New Item: RUSTED METAL PIPE
[Analyzing Object...]
— WEAPON GRADE —
Rarity: F -
Rank: F -
— WEAPON STATS —
Type: MELEE—BLUNT
Length: 86.2 cm
Weight: 3.4 kg
Material: Industrial Alloy (Corroded)
Base Damage: 12–17 (Blunt Trauma)
Critical Chance: 6%
Attack Speed: Moderate
Reach: Short-Mid (1.2m effective)
Impact Force: High (can stagger small targets)
— DURABILITY —
Condition: Moderate
Durability Remaining: 72%
[Warning: Likely to fracture under high force/pressure/stress]
— STATUS EFFECTS —
• Moderate Bleed Chance: 0% (blunt)
• Stagger Modifier: +18%
• Noise Generation: HIGH (+5% survivability)
— PASSIVE SKILL UNLOCKED —
[ Echo Strike ]
► Repeated hits within a 5-second window amplify trauma by +15% per hit (stack up to 3x).
► The final strike in the chain has a 20% chance to disrupt enemy neural balance (minor stun).
[NOTE: Skill functions only during Adrenaline Rush.]
— COMPATIBILITY —
Recommended Strength: 4+
Recommended Reflex Index: 2.0 or higher
[System Match: 87%—Compatible]
>> Weapon Registered
>> Auto-Linking to Muscle Memory... 20% available download…
[Downloaded]
>> Assigning to Neural Quick-Slot [2]
[Metal Pipe Equipped]
[Wield Responsibly—Last Known Owner Did Not Survive]
[Main Objective]
[ Survive ]
And suddenly a few fragments of his memories of using a blunt weapon rushed back into his mind….
How he should move,
Attack patterns
Technique is everything…
"Let's do this!" Zero leaped towards the apes; the adrenaline in his veins pulsed from his heart to every cell in his body.
The apes launched an attack at him all at once and remembered the previous notification.
These creatures are vulnerable to noise.
He noticed the broken metal door and struck it with the metal pipe.
*CLUNK!*
Loud echoes filled the room, and apes closed their ears in pain.
Zero took this opportunity to attack them; he swung the metal pipe sharply without leaving much room for a blind spot.
Within a few seconds, Zero took down 5 apes.
Hearing the loud noise, more apes surrounded him.
Zero used most of his breaths and now was panting.
While not knowing how much time has passed being in a life capsule.
His body was still getting his flexibility and movements back together.
*SCREECH!*
The apes screeched and made some gap between them and Zero.
"Now what? I still have life left…" Zero looked around and tried to find something…
And he found it, a fire extinguisher.
He struck the fire extinguisher, and cold carbon dioxide spread everywhere.
He ran to an air vent and cranked it open. He leaped inside and began crawling.
Then he got another system notification.
[SYSTEM ALERT—WEAPON DURABILITY HAS DROPPED TO 0%]
[WEAPON IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FURTHER USE]
He crawled and stuck the metal pipe in the vent as a blockade.
He crawled inside.
He was catching his breath, and even without a heart, he could remember the feeling of running out of breath.
Soon he reached another vent and jumped out.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[AREA DISCOVERED - WORKSHOP]
[MINOR OBJECTIVE—FIND THE X-CORE GRADE 9]
"What is this x-core?" Zero mumbled.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[ X-CORE PROVIDES ENERGY TO THE SIRIUS SYSTEM CORE ]
"So in short, get core and get stronger?" Zero raised his brows.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[ YES ]
Zero started looking around, flipping every box and opening every crate, but he couldn't find the core. Then he heard something in the mess of the workshop.
"What was that?" He turned his head and found a small ape holding a small, glowing, marble-like object.
[SYSTEM ALERT ]
[ X-CORE FOUND ]
[ RETRIEVE X-CORE BEFORE ALPHA ]
"FUCK!" Zero jumped at the ape, and the ape made a run for it.
The ape was smaller than normal apes, thus more agile.
In a blink it disappeared from Zero's sight.
"Where did it go?" Zero chased it, and he was intercepted by more apes.
But before chasing a small ape, Zero picked up another metal pipe, shorter than before but more durable.
He fought the apes and was able to defeat 10 of them in total.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
[ HOSTILE SIGNATURES ELIMINATED: 10/10 ]
[ACTIVE SKILL UNLOCKED: CRITICAL THRUST]
[ Cooldown: 45 sec | Energy Cost: 12% ]
>> A high-speed thrust targeting weak points.
+65% damage, +40% armor pierce.
>> Guaranteed critical hit if the enemy is staggered or unaware.
>> Staggers most enemies on hit (1.2s).
((Bonus: +25% damage if used after Echo Strike.
Risk: A missed strike leaves you briefly exposed.
Best with spears or piercing weapons.))
[Skill Ready—Designed to end fights quickly.]
"Just the thing I needed—ACTIVE SKILL: CRITICAL THRUST!"
The skill activated, and a strong thrust pushed back the swarm of apes; those in front took direct damage, and those behind got knocked out by the shockwave.
"Now where is that little ape?"
Zero ran and ran and tried to find the core…
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
[ ALPHA ACQUIRED THE X-CORE ]
[ SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: <1%]
[ESCAPE NOW TO ENSURE SURVIVAL!!]