[Bronze-tier weapon acquired: Red Iron Sword. +25 Attack Power.]
[Bronze-tier armor acquired: Healing Gloves. Restores 15 HP when touching an injured body. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]
[Acquired Bread ×10.]
[Acquired 500ml Water ×10.]
A flash of joy flickered in Calvin's eyes.
Weapons and supplies!
At the same time, a trace of ruthlessness crossed his gaze.
"Archer savage, huh? If it weren't for you, I might not have gotten such a powerful weapon. But… since you've been chasing me for so long, maybe it's time to turn the tables."
Calvin muttered coldly.
He sensed Charlotte drawing closer to his position.
If she ended up eaten by the savage because he fell into this pit, Calvin wouldn't forgive himself.
He quickly stored everything in his inventory, then began to climb.
The pit was over three meters high and steep, but there were footholds.
...
Back in university, Calvin used to work out regularly and had a solid physique.
Minute by minute, he climbed with all his might. Finally, after over ten minutes, he made it to the top.
The pit was relatively narrow, just over two meters in diameter.
That's likely why the archer savage hadn't noticed him earlier.
Just then, the longbow-wielding savage appeared not far ahead,
locking eyes on Calvin with burning rage.
It had been searching frantically nearby, unable to find Calvin,
and now that it saw him, it looked like it was about to explode with fury.
Gnashing its teeth, it cursed in some strange language while waving its longbow threateningly.
"Hmph! Courting death."
Calvin drew the Red Iron Sword and swung it directly at the savage.
The savage dodged and quickly pulled an arrow from its back, aiming at Calvin's back.
In the next instant, the arrow pierced into Calvin's body!
[Player Calvin has been injured by an arrow. -10 HP.]
"Only 60 HP left…"
Calvin growled in both pain and anger.
He thrust the blade into the savage's belly.
Once.
Twice.
Three times!
Calvin's base attack was 12. With the Red Iron Sword, it reached 37.
The savage's defense was 10, three strikes dealt a total of 81 damage!
[Swordsmanship EXP +1]
[Swordsmanship EXP +1]
[Swordsmanship EXP +1]
As three notifications chimed,
"Roar!!"
The savage bellowed furiously and swung its tree-trunk-thick arm, smashing Calvin backward.
He was flung through the air, crashing hard onto the ground.
But the savage wasn't done.
Like a crazed beast, it pounced on Calvin, launching a relentless barrage of heavy blows.
Each punch sent waves of intense pain through him, his HP plummeting rapidly.
Clenching his sword tightly, Calvin endured the agony and fought back with all he had.
He slashed fiercely.
The blade hissed through the air and landed squarely on the savage's neck.
Blood spurted violently. The savage's HP dropped to just 32.
Calvin followed up with two more strikes.
In an instant, he chopped its head clean off.
Blood sprayed everywhere, covering Calvin's face and clothes.
Panting heavily, he looked down at the savage's corpse.
In front of him, Charlotte stood gasping for breath, wide-eyed with shock.
Her delicate face was frozen in disbelief. She had just witnessed Calvin behead a savage in three swift blows.
But the shock quickly turned into joy.
She ran over and threw her arms around his battered, blood-streaked body.
Calvin was caked in dirt, his own and the savage's blood mixed across his clothes.
Yet Charlotte didn't care. In fact, she hugged him even tighter.
"Calvin, you scared me to death... I really thought you were going to die…"
Calvin noticed her bare, pale feet covered in cuts and blood.
He realized she had run all the way from the beach to find him with barefoot.
They must've been torn up long ago.
His heart trembled slightly.
Looking at Charlotte's worried expression,
he said calmly but firmly,
"Charlotte, didn't I tell you? Just stay over there and chop trees."
"If I couldn't beat the savage, if I hadn't found the chest and drawn this Red Iron Sword, we'd both be dead."
"I'm not afraid…"
"You'd be captured, used, and eaten. Do you understand?"
His words made Charlotte lower her head.
She didn't understand why, despite caring so deeply for Calvin, he still scolded her.
Her mood sank.
She had sprinted all the way from the beach.
Usually, she'd be exhausted after 200 meters—yet she had run several kilometers without stopping.
"I'm not afraid... If I die, so be it. I just couldn't leave you.
When we met the Blue Wolf, you protected me. I hid behind you.
Now you got hurt going out alone for supplies…
I won't accept that. I refuse to accept that!"
Charlotte looked at Calvin with unwavering determination.
"Forget it. Do what you want."
Calvin knew her feelings were genuine.
His heart warmed.
He handed her a pair of gloves.
"What's this?"
"Healing Gloves. Found them in the chest. I'm too injured to move. Use them to heal me."
Calvin sat on the ground, panting.
It was definitely not safe here.
Humans are social creatures.
So are savages.
If they stayed too long, more might show up.
"O-Okay!"
Charlotte obediently put on the gloves, learning how to use them.
She knelt behind Calvin and lifted his shirt.
The ghastly arrow wound made her heart ache.
"Calvin…"
She gently pressed the wound with her gloved right hand.
Soft green light glowed from her palm.