Chapter 276: The More, The Better

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: The More, The Better

Seraphina Sinclair even felt the urge to grab her blade and immediately put her newfound insights to the test.

But time waits for no one.

She suppressed the urge and immediately picked up the second Skill Book, *Basic Concealment*.

The same stream of light flashed by:

[Skill Learned: Basic Concealment (D-level)]

The sensation was identical to the last time, only now, knowledge of Blade Skill was replaced with techniques for Concealment.

’Success!’

With both skills learned, they wouldn’t vanish even after the one-hour Constitution bonus wore off.

Seraphina Sinclair let out a long sigh, the tension in her chest finally easing. A profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment welled up within her.

She could feel it with absolute clarity: she was a world apart from who she used to be!

She had wanted to open the other Supply Boxes, but the pudding had wasted too much of her time. The second wave of black fog had already begun to seep in without a sound.

Unlike before, this time Seraphina Sinclair stood her ground.

Following the techniques from Basic Concealment, she regulated her breathing and suppressed her aura, silently watching as the black fog washed over her ankles like a tide, gradually engulfing the small house.

Unlike the oppressive feeling she had passively endured before, this time, she felt as if she had become part of the black fog itself. The ever-present sense of Erosion seemed to have diminished slightly.

’Did Basic Concealment kick in?’

’Or did the boost in my Intelligence make my Perception sharper and clearer?’

Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t be sure, but this change put her mind at ease.

Through the Single Lens, she could clearly see the monster that had entered with the fog. The moment she got a clear look, Seraphina Sinclair’s breath hitched.

That slight disturbance caused the effect of her Concealment to plummet. The monster that had entered the cabin happened to be extremely sensitive to the aura of its prey, and in an instant, its countless eyes locked onto her!

Her mindset, however, was completely different from the last time. Seraphina Sinclair even had the presence of mind to sigh inwardly.

’This thing is practically an old friend.’

’An old friend who once left me psychologically scarred, that is.’

The Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend!

It was still the same ghastly white, twisted bone, shaped like a deformed antler. Beneath it, a large mass of dark-red and blackened flesh writhed endlessly, dozens of lifeless eyeballs embedded within it, all of which were now focused squarely on her.

Before Seraphina Sinclair could grumble any further, the Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend lunged, bringing with it a thick, foul wind.

Its lifeless eyes suddenly blazed with greed and hunger as the pale bone structure shot straight for her face!

Seraphina Sinclair’s pupils constricted, but she didn’t move an inch.

Only at the last possible moment did she jerk to the side. The movement was minuscule, yet it was just enough to let the bony point scrape past her neck!

This was the true gift of Basic Knife Skill: a completely new grasp of distance and timing.

At this moment, Seraphina Sinclair truly understood the gap between a Martial Arts Master and a regular person!

It wasn’t just about mastering the moves, but more importantly... mastering the timing!

As she sidestepped, her breathing pattern shifted, and her aura rapidly converged and faded.

The Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend’s strike hit nothing. A flicker of confusion passed through its innumerable eyes, as if wondering why its locked-on prey had suddenly become indistinct.

And losing focus in a fight is a cardinal sin!

’Even if this thing is a bona fide monster, I’m still going to teach it a lesson.’

Seizing the opportunity, Seraphina Sinclair flicked her wrist, her long blade now in hand.

She didn’t opt for a wide, sweeping slash. Instead, she put her core into it, twisting her wrist for a direct thrust!

The Blade became a silver thread, piercing with unerring accuracy into the eyeball closest to her.

SQUELCH!

A murky, yellowish fluid splattered out.

The Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend flew into a rage, its pale bone-horn swinging wildly with a shriek that tore through the air.

The flesh on its body writhed violently as more eyeballs pushed their way out, staring intently in the direction where Seraphina Sinclair might be.

For the first time, Seraphina Sinclair felt something akin to pity for her enemy. She watched its death throes from a position of power, much like how she herself had once repeatedly emerged from the bathroom, desperately fighting for the slimmest chance of survival.

With their roles reversed, Seraphina Sinclair had a sudden realization:

Great power didn’t just bring more confidence; it brought an almost ruthless sense of composure.

She watched the Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend’s death throes with cold detachment, and when it exposed an opening, she effortlessly plunged her long blade into it.

The monster was practically pinned to the stone floor. After a few residual twitches, its corpse dissolved into motes of light, leaving only a puddle of viscous slime behind.

Seraphina Sinclair withdrew her blade. As she stood up, hilt held tight, a sense of unreality washed over her.

’Wasn’t that a D-level monster?’

Not long ago, when she fought the D-level Rotting White Bone, she had been no match for it. She could only scramble to evade, ultimately relying on a D-level rune to win.

Yet now, facing the clearly much stronger Hundred-Eyed Rotfiend, she had won with such ease.

At this moment, Seraphina Sinclair finally understood:

The increase in attribute points and the acquisition of skills weren’t a simple case of addition; they resulted in a qualitative leap.

It was the difference between a child with a wooden stick and an adult with a sharpened blade.

She flicked non-existent filth from the tip of her blade, gave it an expert flourish, and stored it back in her earring.

The movements were fluid and natural, as if practiced a thousand times over.

Basic Knife Skill didn’t just provide techniques; it instilled a bone-deep muscle memory. It was no exaggeration to say that Seraphina Sinclair was now a Bladesman with immense talent who had honed her Blade Skill for decades.

This realization made her heart race, and her gaze fell involuntarily upon the remaining Supply Boxes in her Silver Moon Earrings.

’If I could just get another Skill Book...’

"Hehe." Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t help but chuckle foolishly. The formidable aura she had just now, blade in hand, completely dissipated. She was once again a survivor, giddy with anticipation for her rewards.

Rubbing her hands together, she eagerly focused her attention on the first box.

’If I’m going to open them, I might as well start with the best!’

The two D-level Supply Boxes were lined up side-by-side. Seraphina Sinclair raised her hand and opened them both at once!

A notification popped up immediately:

[Congratulations! You have obtained: Camouflage Training Suit Set (D-level), Camouflage Tactical Boots (D-level)!]

Seraphina Sinclair paused. She subconsciously frowned, but her expression quickly smoothed over.

’They’re D-level clothes, at least. They have to be different from the other clothes I’ve gotten!’

’I can’t be prejudiced.’

’When it comes to clothes, the more the merrier, right?’

Having convinced herself, she turned to check the notification for the other box.

[Congratulations! You have obtained: Night Eagle Stand-up Collar Windbreaker (D-level), Multi-functional Tactical Pants (D-level)!]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

She stared at the notification and the two garments that had appeared in the box, speechless for a long moment.

All in all, she now wished she could go back in time and give two hard slaps to the version of herself who had just said "the more the merrier."

’Look what my big mouth did. "The more the merrier," huh? Now it’s really all clothes!’

’With clothes that repair themselves, one spare set is more than enough.’