The blessing of the divine core pulsed in Arjun's veins — raw strength and endurance swelling inside him like a living fire.
The system timer glowed faintly in the corner of his vision:
Temporary Buff Active: +10 Strength, +10 Endurance – Duration: 2:00:00
Arjun turned to Varun with a grim nod.
"We split up. Two hours. Solo grind. Max XP. Meet back here."
Varun's eyes sparkled with determination — sharper, faster, almost glowing with a faint ethereal light.
He nodded back, checking his makeshift spear and the pipe bombs rigged around his belt.
Arjun slipped into the shadows of the shattered mall with the quiet confidence of a predator.
Ahead, a snarling pack of Tier 1.5 Ravagers prowled, unaware of the predator closing in.
His Pulse Mark skill activated instinctively — time slowed, his senses sharpened.
He fired two shotgun blasts with lethal precision. Skulls shattered under the explosive impact.
A charging Ravager barreled toward him — Arjun met it with a brutal knee to the ribs, followed by a swift elbow strike to the temple.
He moved with fluid brutality, each blow honed by years of training and now empowered by his divine blessing.
Outside, Varun slipped through the ruins with a dancer's grace.
He placed glowing pipe bombs and tripwire traps fashioned from scavenged scraps.
A pack of four Ravagers approached the crumbling food court.
Varun hurled a shimmering pipe bomb.
Boom!
Ethereal flames roared into life, engulfing two creatures in spectral fire that burned and disoriented.
Varun struck swiftly with his spear, exploiting the chaos.
A second trap triggered, sending another Ravager crashing into a fiery explosion.
His crafted arsenal felt alive — a dangerous fusion of scavenged craft and mystical energy granted by the system.
Two hours passed in a blur of brutal combat.
The system timer faded.
Buffs vanished.
Arjun and Varun regrouped outside the mall's shattered entrance, breathing heavily but alive.
System NotificationLevel Up Achieved!
Arjun: Level 5Varun: Level 3
Stat Allocation Panel Appears
Arjun's Allocation:
– Strength +2 (14)– Endurance +2 (14)– Awareness +1 (10)– Passive Skill Point: Quick Reload +5% speed
Varun's Allocation:
– Agility +3 (14)– Willpower +1 (10)– Instinct +1 (11)– Passive Skill Point: Mystic Infusion +10% burn effect
Arjun clapped Varun's shoulder, a rare smile breaking through the grimness.
"We're getting stronger. The nightmare won't wait."
Varun's eyes glowed faintly.
"This is just the beginning."
Outside, the world remained broken, wild, and unforgiving.
But two warriors, forged in fire and faith, were rising.