The Iron Raptors circled, wings clanging like steel shutters. Kael's heart pounded, but Mira's grin steadied him. She crouched beside him, blade ready, whispering, "They're fast but dumb. Aim for the neck—soft spot. I'll draw 'em."
Before Kael could nod, she vaulted the boulder, shouting, "Come on, you scrap heaps!" Two raptors dove, beaks slashing. Mira rolled, her blade slicing one's wing. It screeched, sparking feathers scattering.
Kael focused on the third, hovering above him. Its eyes locked on, mechanical, cold. He summoned his status: Agility 10, Stamina 28/30. Enough to move. He darted left as the raptor struck, beak gouging stone. Kael lunged, driving his obsidian dagger into its neck. Critical Hit! 10 Damage. The bird thrashed, pinning his arm. Pain flared—HP: 45/50.
"Twist it!" Mira yelled, wrestling her own raptor. Kael gritted his teeth, twisting the dagger. The raptor spasmed, then collapsed, dissolving into light. +30 XP | Level 1: 80/100 XP flashed, plus 1 Iron Feather, 2 Copper Shards.
Mira finished hers, panting, blood streaking her arm. "Not bad, newbie. You bleed, though." She nodded at his scraped arm.
"Worth it," Kael said, catching his breath. The System pinged:
Combat Skill Unlocked: Dagger Mastery (Level 1)
+5% Damage with Daggers
"Skills now?" Kael muttered, flexing his hand. The dagger felt lighter, like it belonged there.
Mira smirked. "System rewards survivors. Come on—Outpost's close." She led the way, limping slightly but waving off his concern. The ruins thinned, revealing a glow ahead: a ramshackle settlement of tents and metal shacks, ringed by a spiked wall. Torches flickered, and shadowy figures patrolled.
"That's it?" Kael asked, relief mixing with unease. It looked more like a war camp than a safe haven.
"Home sweet slum," Mira said. "Stick with me till you get the lay. Scavengers like us don't get warm welcomes."
They approached the gate, where a guard in dented armor eyed them. "Names and levels," he grunted.
"Mira, Level 4. He's Kael, Level 1," she said, nudging him.
The guard's gaze lingered on Kael's dagger, then his face. "New blood. Don't cause trouble." He waved them through.
Inside, the Outpost buzzed—vendors hawking glowing trinkets, Players bartering pelts, a blacksmith hammering red-hot metal. Kael's arrow pointed to a dome-like structure pulsing with blue light: the Nexus.
"There," Mira said. "Scan your status. Might clear up that perk glitch."
Kael nodded, but a new ping stopped him:
Alert: Iron Soul Resonating. Nexus Scan Required.
Warning: Unstable Signature Detected.
His stomach twisted. Glitch or not, Iron Soul was more than a perk—and it was waking up. As he followed Mira toward the Nexus, a figure watched from the shadows, their own System flashing: Target Acquired: Kael Vance.