Chapter 74: The shadow
Next, Leo turned his attention to the four Rare Cards.
The first card was:
Rare Card – Mental Resistance (Passive Skill)
A passive skill that strengthens the mind against external influence. It grants moderate resistance against illusions, fear, intimidation, killing intent, and minor mental interference, though sufficiently powerful attacks can still overcome it.
Description: "A steady mind is the first step toward survival."
After reading it, Leo couldn’t help but compare it to the Epic Mental Immunity skill.
It was clearly a weaker version.
While useful, the difference between the two was like the gap between a sturdy shield and an impenetrable fortress.
He soon shifted his attention to the second card.
Rare Card – Mental Power +1
Description: Permanently increases the user’s Mental Power by 1.
Leo’s eyes brightened.
This was the first Mental Power enhancement card he had ever obtained.
Without any hesitation, he activated it.
The card dissolved into specks of blue light that flowed into his body.
A cool sensation spread through his mind, soothing his consciousness.
Moments later, Leo felt as though a veil covering his thoughts had been lifted.
His concentration became sharper.
His perception grew clearer.
Even his vision seemed slightly more focused than before.
It wasn’t a dramatic transformation, but the improvement was unmistakable.
Satisfied, Leo picked up the third card.
It was a weapon.
Rare Card – Moonsteel Shortsword
A shortsword forged from Moonsteel, a rare alloy renowned for its incredible edge retention and resilience. Its razor-sharp blade is capable of cutting through most conventional armor with ease.
Description: "The moon’s edge never dulls."
Leo nodded in satisfaction.
A reliable shortsword would greatly complement his current arsenal.
Finally, he picked up the last Rare Card.
Unlike the others, it wasn’t a weapon or a skill.
Instead, it depicted a small crystal vial filled with silvery liquid that shimmered like moonlight.
Rare Card – Moon Dew Nectar
A drop of nectar gathered beneath a full moon, treasured by scholars and mages alike.
Effect: Refreshes the mind, restores mental energy, and slightly increases Mental Power.
Description: "Even the brightest stars shine because the night embraces them."
Leo examined the card for a moment before putting it aside.
Although the description sounded impressive, he wasn’t entirely sure how valuable it truly was.
For now, he’d wait until the system completed its upgrade before deciding whether to use it.
Finally, Leo picked up his Origin Card and checked his updated status.
Name: Leo Blackwood
Level: 10 (0%)
Age: 23
Physique: 27
Agility: 22
Constitution: 29
Strength: 24
Mental Power: 9
Skills:
Marksmanship Lv.3 (Common)
Crowbar Smash Lv.3 (Common)
Cheap Tricks Lv.3 (Uncommon)
Parkour Lv.2 (Common)
Mental Immunity Lv.1 (Epic)
Undying Regeneration Lv.1 (Epic)
Leo stared at the status screen in surprise.
His attributes had increased far more than he had expected.
He couldn’t remember obtaining enough Attribute Cards to justify such a drastic improvement.
It seemed something else had strengthened his body.
Unfortunately, with the system still upgrading, there was no way to find the answer.
He could only wait until it finished before asking about it.
Shifting his attention to the Skills section, Leo’s gaze stopped on one particular entry.
Cheap Tricks – Lv.3 (Uncommon).
A look of realization crossed his face.
"So my doubt was right after all..."
The mystery surrounding the deaths of the two alien elders finally became clear.
During the battle, Cheap Tricks had quietly leveled up without him noticing, this can only happen if the skill was used .
After checking everything one last time, Leo put the Origin Card away.
He had already slept earlier, so he wasn’t feeling tired in the slightest.
Reaching into his storage, he took out the book, How to Train Your Body.
Soon, he became completely engrossed in its contents, quietly studying while waiting for the system to complete its upgrade.
An awkward silence settled around the campfire after Leo walked away.
Linda glanced at the bowl of food in her hands, hesitating because of her earlier clash with Grandpa Jiro. She stood frozen, unsure if she should hand it to him herself. Rex was nowhere to be found, having slipped away into the shadows, likely terrified of catching another flying wrench.
Noticing Linda’s distress, Nina stepped in. She gently took the bowl from her hands and passed it to the old man.
"Here, Grandpa."
Grandpa Jiro’s face softened with a warm smile.
"Thank you."
He took the bowl, sat down, and began asking the group about their run-in with Bear. Atlas joined them, taking a seat as Linda scooped a generous portion onto his plate. Nearby, little Lily rubbed her eyes, unable to stop yawning. Linda noticed her daughter’s tiredness, spread a mat on the ground, and gently tucked the little girl in for a nap.
As the story wrapped up, Grandpa Jiro fell silent. His eyes drifted toward Leo’s truck, a newfound respect taking root in his heart. It took a rare kind of courage to stand up to someone backed by both a powerful clan and the military.
Before long, the plates were empty.
Just then ,
Woooooo...!
A deafening siren pierced the night air, echoing across the entire camp. High above, bright emergency flares shot up from multiple spots in Rendell City, lighting up the dark sky.
The mood shifted instantly.
Panic rippled through the survivors. People scrambled to gather their things, while others stared anxiously toward the city line. Danny and Linda stiffened, fear written all over their faces.
Seeing their terror, Grandpa Jiro spoke up, his voice steady and calm.
"Don’t panic."
"It’s nothing unusual."
"The aliens are attacking again."
"The military will deal with it."
He offered a faint smile.
"You’ve already seen this happen before, haven’t you?"
His words worked, and the couple felt their racing hearts slow down. Grandpa Jiro turned his attention to Nina.
"I’m going to check on the children."
"I’ll bring them here just in case."
"Stay alert."
Nina gave a serious nod.
"I understand."
With that, the old man hurried off into the darkness.
Through it all, Atlas kept eating as if the sirens were just background music. Nina watched his carefree attitude and felt a pang of worry.
"Big Brother Atlas..."
"Be careful."
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Atlas paused and nodded. He flexed his bulging biceps, flashing a confident grin.
"Don’t worry!"
"You know how strong I am."
"I’ll protect everyone."
Nina managed a small smile and nodded back. Even so, the knots in her stomach wouldn’t loosen. Around them, the rest of the survivors began bunching together in small groups, bracing for the worst.
Then...
A dark shadow suddenly shot out of the darkness.
Its target,
The sleeping Lily.
Nina’s pupils contracted.
"No!"
Her cry caused Danny and Linda to instinctively turn around.
The moment they saw the black shadow descending toward their daughter...
Their faces turned deathly pale.
Just as the creature was about to reach Lily,
Whoosh!
A sickle attached to a long steel chain tore through the air with terrifying speed.
It appeared directly above Lily, intercepting the shadow before it could descend.