Chapter 86: Jumping Off a Building

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Jumping Off a Building

This was a very reasonable and fair trade.

But compared to the deals Seraphina had made before...

For the first time, she realized this person was one of the top thirty survivors in this Zone.

’From a certain perspective, this is a good thing. If all of humanity were only focused on satisfying their immediate cravings, we would have been doomed long ago.’

Seraphina Sinclair sighed and took her blueprints out from the Silver Moon Earrings.

For F-level blueprints, she had a Simple Water Filter Blueprint, a Simple Composting Device Blueprint, a Black Fog Crystal Energy Storage Lamp Blueprint, and a Furnace Blueprint.

These four blueprints...

Seraphina stared at the Sheepskin Scroll in her hand, thought for a moment, and chose the Black Fog Crystal Energy Storage Lamp Blueprint.

Seraphina knew that giving away this blueprint meant she would lose her monopoly in a certain area.

Water and nutrient liquid were indispensable resources in this world, and the furnace held the key to everything that required metal!

In comparison, the Black Fog Crystal Energy Storage Lamp wasn’t as essential; it was merely a labor-saving device.

To a pragmatic person, this lamp wasn’t even worth as much as a single meal.

Seraphina shook her head, gathered her wandering thoughts, and sent the blueprint’s detailed information to the other party.

[Frostleaf]: Done! This is the one! With this, I won’t have to crank a daylight lamp every day! But for a master like you to be willing to trade this... don’t tell me your other blueprints are even more valuable?

Seraphina: "..."

’Some things are better left unsaid.’

[Frostleaf]: Seriously, you don’t happen to have a blueprint for growing food, do you? I’ve noticed you’re pretty fixated on regular seeds.

Seraphina: "..."

’And some things are better left unasked.’

She silently made a copy of the blueprint and put the duplicate up for trade. The other party followed suit.

The trade was complete.

Seraphina looked at the brand-new Sheepskin Scroll before her and sighed. She didn’t like dealing with people who were too clever; it was mentally exhausting.

Being unable to gain an advantage was one thing, but the main issue was having to guard against them taking advantage of *her*.

Seraphina sighed and inspected the details of the blueprint.

[Simple Metal Processing Device Diagram]

[Learning Requirement: Intelligence ≥ 8]

[Materials Required: Metal Fragments x10, cloth x10, Blood Moon Crystal x1]

[Effect: Creates a multi-functional device that can process Metal Bars into various metal products, including but not limited to wire, metal nails, simple tools, and other basic components!]

’It needs a Blood Moon Crystal?’

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. She took what she needed from her Silver Moon Earrings, gathered all the materials, and crafted the device.

The metal processing device slowly took shape before her.

It was a dark, coarse metal box, its surface covered with rivets and unpolished edges.

She lifted the lid to reveal three molding heads gleaming coldly between the gears. A lever on the side was wrapped in non-slip burlap.

’This looks like a serious piece of equipment.’

The flames in the furnace suddenly died down. Seraphina stood up, craned her neck to look inside, and saw a copper-yellow Metal Bar. She didn’t need to guess; it had to be a copper Metal Bar.

Seraphina tentatively reached out to touch it. She expected it to be scorching hot, but surprisingly, the Metal Bar was cool to the touch, with no residual heat at all.

She raised an eyebrow, grabbed the copper Metal Bar, and pulled it out.

The metal processing device was ready, so Seraphina decided to give it a try.

After placing the copper Metal Bar inside, Seraphina selected the desired output. ’This time... let’s make copper wire.’

After she made her selection, the Blood Moon Crystal on the back of the device suddenly lit up, scarlet veins spreading across its surface like blood vessels.

The gears engaged, rolling and drawing the copper Metal Bar into wire. The extruded strands automatically coiled together.

In the end, Seraphina had three coils of copper wire.

’The yield is pretty high.’

Seraphina put away the finished product and glanced at the time.

The third wave of Black Fog was about to surge in.

’After this is over, I’ll reach the special zone.’

For some reason, Seraphina felt a strange sense of nervousness. She took a deep breath, but when that didn’t help, she activated [Water Stopping].

The effect of [Water Stopping] was like a Calming Incantation from a cultivation novel; Seraphina’s mind instantly grew tranquil.

She stood up, stretched a little, then gripped her dagger and made a few practice swings through the air.

’There probably won’t be another E-level monster today.’

’If another E-level monster shows up now, that’ll make three for today!’

’Three of them!’

Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment, then shook her head with a sense of resignation.

The Black Fog arrived right on schedule.

Seraphina stood in the corner, staring at the fog as it poured in.

Things rarely go as planned in life. Perhaps Seraphina had used up all her luck elsewhere, because this time, it seemed to have run out.

Amid the churning Black Fog, a hunched silhouette slowly emerged.

The monster looked like it had been forcibly pieced together from several corpses.

Three slender human arms protruded grotesquely from its spine, their fingertips sprouting dagger-like Bone Spikes. Its head hung low, and where its eyes should have been, there were only two festering, charred-black holes rimmed with dried scabs of blood.

’So it’s blind?’

Seraphina frowned and used Insight on the monster.

[Rotten Weapon (E-level)]

[Description: An Aberration formed from the mutation and fusion of multiple Rotting Corpses in the Black Fog. After losing its five senses, it evolved an incredibly powerful body! However, having lost its sight and hearing, it will often mistake a door for prey hiding behind it. It will then push the door open and leap to its death!]

[Weaknesses: 1. Fragile Joints: The connection point between the mutated arms and the torso is poorly defended. 2. Lacks sight and hearing, making it vulnerable to sneak attacks. Otherwise, it is a perfect weapon!]

’A perfect weapon, huh?’

’Wait... could this be the thing that pushed open my little wooden door and jumped off last time?’

Seraphina had originally planned to test out her enhanced dagger, but after reading the description, she decided it was better not to disturb the creature.

’It should open the door and jump on its own...’

’...right?’

Seraphina wasn’t sure what the creature would do, but staying put was undoubtedly her best option.

The Rotten Weapon turned slowly within the room, its hunched body rigid. The Bone Spikes on its three mutated arms scraped against the floor, producing a grating, high-pitched screech.

Seraphina remained perfectly still, silently observing the creature’s every move.

With what could almost be described as a gentle touch, it lightly hooked the wooden door of the mobile cabin. Then, with a force completely different from that initial touch, it violently ripped the door open!

The Black Fog swirled even thicker, but Seraphina could see everything with perfect clarity.

The monster’s twisted limbs suddenly began to convulse, as if it believed it had found its prey. The three arms, as though pulled by invisible strings, scrambled to grab the doorframe, each one fighting to be the first as they forcefully squeezed the creature’s body outside.

And then...

Seraphina held her breath until the terrifying monster leaped out.

It was over.

The Black Fog receded just as quickly.

[You have arrived at the Special Zone!]