CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 10: I NEED TO—POWER UP!

The Command Wing’s northern corridor stretched before Jin was empty and echoed. He’d found this quiet corner by accident—a small alcove near a sealed blast door marked with faded warnings in multiple languages. Through the thick metal, he could hear them: the Crawlers. A distant scraping claws and inhuman breathing that never quite stopped.

Jin sat cross-legged on the cold floor, back against the wall, eyes closed. The modified baton rested across his lap, In eleven hours, he’d be out there with them. Bait for nightmares.

"Asha," he said quietly, "show me my status."

his HUD flickered to life.

[PHOENIX CORE STATUS - SUBJECT: JIN TSURUGI]

Level: 6

EXP: 120 / 1000

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CORE ATTRIBUTES:

STR (Strength): 24.77

Governs melee damage, lifting capacity, strike momentum

DEX (Dexterity): 6.22

Influences precision, hand-eye coordination, tool handling

AGI (Agility): 15.50

Determines movement speed, dodge timing, evasion

END (Endurance): 14.00

Affects stamina recovery, fatigue resistance, HP pool

RES (Resilience): 13.80

Resistance to toxins, environmental damage, status effects

PER (Perception): 17.60

Enhances awareness, threat detection, weak point targeting

HEALTH & CONDITION:

HP: 160 / 160 (Fully recovered)

Stamina: 160 / 160 (Well-rested)

Status Effects: None

Recovery Rate:Enhanced (Nanite-assisted healing)

ACTIVE SKILLS:

Sword Mastery (Lv. 1) (NEWLY UNLOCKED)*

- +10% melee accuracy with bladed weapons

- +10% parry/counter timing window

- -15% stamina consumption for sword techniques

- TsurugI Blade Synergy: Unlocked via Tsurugi bloodline

TsurugI Sword Mastery: (SPECIAL BLOODLINE SKILL)

- Muscle memory from Tsurugi family training

- Advanced kata and traditional techniques

Melee Weapon Mastery (Lv. 5 - 58.4%)*

- Enhanced accuracy and combo potential

- +5% critical hit chance with melee weapons

Combat Art: Desperate Strike (Active)

- High-damage finisher when HP is critical

- 1-minute cooldown

Instinct Surge (Active Lv. 2)

30% STR, AGI, PER for 10 seconds

- 5-minute cooldown

- Enhanced HUD predictive targeting

PASSIVE SKILLS:

Night Vision (Lv. 1)

- 75% improved low-light visibility

- Minor energy drain when active

Stealth (Lv. 1)

- Reduced noise and heat signature

- Enhanced evasion in shadows

Tsundere Radar (Lv. 1)

- Interprets contradictory social cues

Basic First Aid (Lv. 3 - 63%)

- Faster wound treatment

- Usable mid-combat

Athletics - Basic Strength Feats (Lv. 2 - 30.0%)

- Above-average lifting/breaking actions

Mutated Fauna Combat Basics (Lv. 1 - 70.1%)

- Pattern recognition vs. Crawlers

- Weak point identification

Predator Instinct (Lv. 1 - 56.0%

- Detects concealed threats and ambush patterns

- Time dilation during critical moments

Accidental Harem Magnet (Max Lv. 5)

- +25% chance of "ecchi scenarios"

- +15% affinity gain during physical contact

- Harem Synergy Pulse: +5% all affinities (24hr cooldown)

EQUIPMENT:

Primary Weapon: Modified Vault Baton (Overcharged - Single Use)

Armor: Phoenix Corps Tactical Uniform (Environmental protection), Reinforced Tactical Vest (Blunt, Slash and Shock Protection)

COMPANION AFFINITIES:

Seraphina Valerius: 54/100 (Leadership Synergy)

Clara Vance: 66/100 (Technical Support Bond)*

Rosalie Thorne: 47/100 (Combat Coordination)

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Phoenix Protocol (Genetic)

- Enhanced healing (2.3x normal rate)

- Resurrection Sub-routine *(72hr cooldown)*

- Nanite-assisted recovery

Neural Link: Asha

- Tactical AI support and analysis

- Vault system access

- Real-time combat assistance

Tsurugi Bloodline

- Genetic combat instincts

- Enhanced weapon compatibility

- Corporate access privileges

Asha’s Evaluation: "Based on the current analysis, there is a likelihood of about 68.3% that you may end up as a meal for one of the Crawlers. However, there’s a silver lining to this news—the percentage has actually improved since yesterday, when the probability stood at a higher 74.6%! So, while the odds are still a bit daunting, it’s encouraging to see that you’ve made some progress."

Jin took a close look at the numbers, searching for some reassurance in their blunt reality. "My Sword Mastery is at zero."

"Indeed, mastering swords feels rather challenging when your previous experience involves merely flailing about with pipes. Yet, necessity tends to sharpen one’s skills rather rapidly."

He got up slowly and made his way to the middle of the cramped space. The hallway opened up just enough for some basic movements. Not perfect, but it would work.

"I need to—" he started, but his voice faded as he slipped into a basic stance. It was wild how much his body seemed to remember without him thinking. Almost like magic, his feet found their spot, and his weight shifted smoothly. His muscles just knew what to do, letting him get into the stance without even trying.

Jin began practicing some basic forms, using the baton as a makeshift sword. Each move felt awkward, like trying to paint with a brick. Still, he kept going, breathing steadily and focusing on the fundamentals that his body seemed to remember.

Take a deep breath as he lifts the baton with ease, filling his lungs with focus. Then, he swings it with purpose while slowly exhaling. Keep the center of gravity low and his spine straight. This mix of breathing, movement, and posture is key to being fluid and confident.

[Skill Progress: Melee Weapon Mastery +0.3%]

Then, he heard a sound coming from the blast door—way too close for comfort. Jin felt a wave of panic. They were right there, just inches away, with only metal in between.

Asha observed the spectacle. "The Crawlers aren’t getting past that door. They’d require either some hefty cutting implements or a nice little explosive to make an entrance."

"Yeah, I know," Jin said, but he couldn’t help stepping back from the door. His hands were a little shaky as he tried to concentrate on what he’d learned.

Facing reality was tough for him; it was overwhelming. He felt this deep fear inside, but it wasn’t about dying—he had dealt with that before. What really stressed him out was the thought of letting the girls down. They relied on him, and he didn’t want to be weak.

He couldn’t help but worry that he wasn’t fast, strong, or tough enough. Every doubt he had only made things worse, drowning out his focus and making the pressure feel unbearable. Instead of using his fear to motivate him, it threatened to hold him back, leaving him unsure if he truly belonged with them.

[Skill Progress: Stealth +0.8%]

The sudden alarm surprised him. He hadn’t intended to be stealthy, but somehow he was gliding along more quietly and effortlessly than usual. It seemed that fear was revealing things to him that courage never could.

Jin closed his eyes and let his instincts take over, crafted over years of practice. As the baton twirled through the air, it wasn’t just about skill—it had its own unique style. Each move flowed effortlessly into the next.

In his mind, he envisioned the Crawlers surrounding him. He imagined himself skillfully navigating through them, the baton striking at their joints and weaknesses, turning their own momentum into his advantage.

[Skill Progress: Predator Instinct +1.2%]

He suddenly realized, "The Crawlers feel fear just like we do." Beneath their hunger and rage, they used to be people, facing the same dread of death and loneliness that we all do. They’re not just mindless monsters.

"Just so you remember," Asha pointed out with a hint of seriousness in her voice, "engaging in deep philosophical discussions isn’t going to deter them from feasting on your face."

"Good point," Jin said, thinking it over. "But I think if I really get to know them better, it’ll help me predict what they’ll do next. The more I understand how they think, the easier it’ll be to see their next moves."

He pushed through his training, sweat dripping off his forehead. Each sweat drop showed his dedication, and with every practice, he solidified his determination to be their protector, ready for whatever came next.

Asha remarked, ’Your alignment with the combat protocols has increased by 7% in the past ten minutes. If you keep this up, you might actually survive long enough to meet a heroic end, rather than, well, a more ignoble one.’

[Skill Progress: Sword Mastery +0.1%]

Before he knew it, time had slipped away. The sound of the Crawlers faded into the background. It was just him, lost in his own groove, breathing profusely.

After a long silence, Asha broke the stillness. "It’s been an hour," she remarked, eyeing the clock. "I’m sure the girls are starting to wonder where you’ve vanished."

"Let’s go," he said, fastening the baton to his hip. "We’ve got things to do."

As he walked, he pushed off the wall and meandered down a side corridor, feeling instinctively drawn to an uncharted area. His footsteps echoed in the empty hall until he discovered what he was after—a small alcove for training that the Vault’s original occupants must have used. Dust-laden equipment adorned the walls, including a rack filled with training tools.

His gaze landed on a plain wooden staff, roughly the size of a sword. It wasn’t a perfect match, but it was close enough. He lifted it, gauging its weight in his hands.

"A stick. How wonderfully primitive," Asha remarked. "Are you planning to take down the Crawlers with splinters?"

"I should probably practice a bit more since I’ve got some extra time," he said while glancing at the timer on his HUD, which read 9 hours and 37 minutes.

Jin walked to the middle of the room. The wooden staff felt a bit weird in his hands—too light and kind of rough. But when he got into a basic stance, he felt something inside him start to wake up. His feet moved almost on their own, finding the perfect spacing. He adjusted his grip to match the balance of the staff.