Chapter 144: The Family Massacre

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Family Massacre

Braised Rabbit Head?

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze slowly moved to another dish.

Spicy Diced Rabbit?

Finally, her gaze landed on the thick soup in the center. A few noticeable goji berries and red dates floated on the surface.

Is this... Yam and Goji Berry Rabbit Stew?!

Seraphina Sinclair fell silent for a full three seconds, and the air seemed to freeze.

She took a deep breath, glanced at the Sunflower, which was swaying contentedly to the aroma of the food, completely oblivious to this massacre. Then, she turned back sharply and muttered to herself, "Poor rabbit."

With that, Seraphina Sinclair picked up her chopsticks. She carefully lifted a tender, tempting piece of spicy diced rabbit and, after a moment’s hesitation, popped it into her mouth.

The next moment, her eyes widened slightly.

’Delicious!’

The meat was firm and springy. The savory, spicy flavor hit her taste buds just right; the numbing sensation of the Sichuan peppercorns and the fragrance of the chili peppers melded together perfectly, stirring her appetite.

"Poor rabbit..." she murmured again, this time with a completely different, appreciative tone. Then, without any hesitation, her chopsticks moved toward the rather ferocious-looking braised rabbit head.

In the regional channel, RookSolosGruel’s fight seemed to have reached a lull. The chat spam slowed down.

Seraphina Sinclair gnawed on the rabbit head, scrolling with great interest through the log of the previous "battle."

I have to admit, reading RookSolosGruel’s curses was the perfect accompaniment to her meal.

She ate with focus and satisfaction, temporarily pushing everything about The Black Mist World to the back of her mind.

At this moment, food was the only thing that mattered.

After devouring the entire rabbit feast, Seraphina Sinclair let out a contented sigh. ’So satisfying.’

The black mist swirled outside the mobile cabin. Night had fallen once more in The Black Mist World.

Seraphina Sinclair stood up, paced around a few times, and then casually opened the D-level Supply Box.

[Acquired: Skill Book "Basic Knife Skill" x1 (D-level), Gray Long Blade of Mist x1 (D-level)!]

’What’s this?’

’A Skill Book?!’

Seraphina Sinclair was instantly thrilled. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the items from the box.

She immediately picked up the faintly glowing book. The cover showed the simple, powerful silhouette of someone in a knife-wielding stance.

’This is one of those Skill Books... the kind that gives you instant mastery once you learn it, right?’

Seraphina Sinclair was still in disbelief, so excited that she could barely hold the book steady. She carefully stroked the cover a few times before trying to open it with trembling fingers.

[Prerequisites not met. Cannot be learned!]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head.

Her lips twitched into a sneer.

’Right. This godforsaken place is full of rules. How could I expect to get anything without putting in the effort?’

’Especially something with such a huge impact on my future...’

As she thought this, Seraphina Sinclair stared at the Skill Book and used Insight.

[Skill Book: Basic Knife Skill (D-level)]

[Description: A Skill Book recording the fundamental techniques and power mechanics of systematic, close-quarters knife fighting. Grants mastery of this Skill upon learning! To learn the art, one must first strengthen the body!]

[Learning Requirements: Strength ≥ 29, Constitution ≥ 29, Speed ≥ 29!]

’Higher than twenty-nine?’

’No wonder. Right now, not even my highest attribute reaches that number, let alone all three.’

Seraphina Sinclair stared at the Skill Book for a moment longer before reluctantly stuffing it into her earring.

’If only there were no attribute point restrictions.’

Seraphina Sinclair sighed and shifted her gaze to the long blade.

It was completely different from the one she was currently holding.

The Refined Long Saber she was currently using was just as its Description stated: plain and simple, even a little battered. The blade still bore faint scratches from her previous fights.

This new long blade, however, had a matte, gray-black finish, as if it were forged from solidified mist.

The blade’s lines were fluid and cold. It was slightly longer and straighter than the Refined Long Saber.

Faint patterns like swirling mist were engraved near the Blade Guard.

Just lying there on the floor, it exuded a sharp, dangerous aura. The difference in quality was obvious at a glance.

"A fine weapon."

Seraphina Sinclair sighed in appreciation and picked up the new blade.

It felt solid in her hand, with an excellent grip. It was leagues better than the crappy blade Water Dragon Roar had given her!

She gave it a couple of casual swings, and the sound of it slicing through the air was sharp and clear.

’Let’s see how many attribute points it adds! Insight!’

[Gray Long Blade of Mist (D-level)]

[Description: A long blade forged from solidified black mist. The blade has a deep, matte, gray-black finish, with dark, cloud-like patterns faintly visible within. The hilt is wrapped in dense, dark fibers that fit the hand perfectly, providing a cold, firm grip. Sharp and resilient! When wielded, it automatically triggers the Fog Concealment state, slightly boosting the user’s concealment within the black mist and adding six points to Strength!]

’Six points of Strength! And it has a Fog Concealment effect!’

’A perfect replacement for my old blade.’

’And on top of that, a Basic Knife Skill book...’

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath. ’Becoming the God of Blade is just a matter of time!’

God of Blade or not, time slipped by. As nine o’clock drew near, the system issued another prompt.

[The hour of nine approaches. Everyone, please open your doors! Feel free to relax and enjoy the magnificent spectacle!]

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath, pushing down the excitement from her new treasured blade and Skill Book, and opened the wooden door of her mobile cabin.

Outside the door, it was no longer that oppressive, deathly silent darkness.

The deep black mist seemed to have been swept aside by some invisible force. It had become thin and translucent, as if draped in a veil of soft light.

’Like this... I should be able to see clearly now, right?’

As she thought this, Seraphina Sinclair opened her panel to check the time. Five minutes until nine.

The regional channel was a chaotic mess of arguments. In the end, a "system conspiracy theory" seemed to be winning out.

"Five minutes left! Let’s go! Open your doors and see the jellyfish!"

"What are you ’let’s go’-ing about? Poster above, did a monster eat your brain? Open the door at night? You believe whatever the system tells you? It’s obviously a trap!"

"I agree! If someone’s being nice for no reason, they’re up to no good. When has the system ever been kind enough to tell us to go sightseeing? It’s probably just worried we’re not dying fast enough, so it’s setting up a group activity to wipe us all out in one fell swoop!"

"That announcement went out to the whole region, and I got it too! The big shot Blacktiger Ford triggered this hidden event by killing a D-level monster, you get it? The big shots eat the meat, we drink the soup and watch the show. Why would the system bother tricking a scrub like you?"

"But... what if it’s a trick to get us to open our doors, and then monsters rush in? Aren’t we not supposed to go out at night?"

"Exactly! I was planning to go out and look, but the system’s reminder suddenly made me chicken out. All this talk of ’enjoying a spectacle’ and ’wondrous sights’... it just sounds like a trick to lure us out to our deaths! It’s night, it’s dangerous out there!"

"Cowards can stay in their rooms. I, for one, don’t believe the system would do something like that. The brave get to enjoy the view first!"