Su Han placed the Starter Kit box in front of him and started furiously punching it.
*Tinkle!* The box's surface shattered, revealing a small wooden chest.
He eagerly opened the chest. Inside the gridded space, two items lay waiting:
* A Quest Book.
* A Crafting Table.
*"This is the Starter Kit?"* he muttered under his breath.
He pulled out the Quest Book and flipped open the first page.
**[Preface]**
**[First Disaster – Evolution Virus.]**
**[They are far more dangerous than imagined. Choose your path forward, strive to complete quests, and grow stronger.]**
*Looks pretty useless.* He flipped to the next page.
**[Main Quest: Gain Power]**
**[Objective: Eliminate 10 Viral Organisms]**
**[Reward: Profession Module]**
*Oh! A profession?*
*Shame it's not a Firearms Module…*
*Then again… makes sense. Guns would make zombies trivial…*
*Hmm… Maybe hit up a police station later?* Su Han resolved to check a police station for Earth firearms when possible.
He stashed the Quest Book back in his inventory and pulled out the wooden crafting table, placing it on the floor.
*Thump!* A waist-high wooden table appeared. Details materialized in his vision:
**[Wooden Random Synthesis Table]**
**[Place two or more items to synthesize. Outcome probability is random, constrained by item rarity, shape, and function. 0.1% chance for crafted item enhancement (Material Upgrade, Durability Boost, Special Effect, etc.)]**
*Joy short-lived…*
*Thought I'd be the only one with a workbench… but it's just a randomizer…*
*"Guess the Creator really banned proper crafting tables… Alright, let's test this random synth. Need a wooden sword first."*
He retrieved planks and sticks, arranging them in the Synthesis Table in the familiar sword pattern.
*Ding~*
The materials flashed twice and vanished. In their place lay a leather whip and a square wooden top.
Su Han stared, dumbfounded, before uttering a confused, "Huh?"
*Random synth is one thing… but a spinning top? Seriously?*
He picked up the top. Aside from a pointed tip, it looked identical to a wood block.
*Total inventory waste!* He hurled the top aside in disgust and grabbed the whip.
This wasn't a simple string top whip. It was a cruel-looking implement, its lash made of three tightly braided leather strips – a genuine torture whip.
*Wood in… leather out? Material upgrade?* He quickly checked its stats.
**[Torture Whip]**
**[Quality: Tier 1 - Common]**
**[Attack: 5]**
**[Durability: 300]**
**[Weapon Skill: Intimidate (Costs one month of lifespan. Applies 0.5s Root to targets with 'Masochism' or 'Slave' buffs.)]**
*Something's off… Seriously off!*
Scratching his head, he placed another stick and plank into the Synthesis Table.
*Ding~*
A wooden mallet (stick + block) appeared. He hefted it. *Heavier than a plank. Too slow for zombies.* Discarded.
*Ding~* **[Wooden Ladder]**
*Ding~* **[Wooden Dragonfly Toy]**
*Ding~* **[Wooden Meat Smoking Rack]**
...
*Ding~* **[Red-Cutting Peach Wood Sword]**
*"Hmm? Finally something useful!"* He dismissed the other junk and grabbed the sword.
**[Red-Cutting Peach Wood Sword]**
**[Quality: Tier 2 - Fine]**
**[Attack: 6]**
**[Durability: 200]**
**[Weapon Skill: Red Cut (Costs one month of lifespan. Unleashes a horizontal slash. If it hits a target with 'Undead' or 'Ghost' buffs, triggers an additional 'Red Cut' effect inside the target.)]**
*"OH!!!! Now THAT'S useful!"*
Excitement surged through Su Han. He gripped the Peach Wood Sword tightly and rushed to the shelter's edge. Holding the sword horizontally, he focused on the zombie horde below.
**[Level 1 Viral Organism]**
**[HP: 20]**
**[Attack: 4]**
**[Defense: 0]**
**[Strength: 4]**
**[Move Speed: 1.5]**
**[Attack Speed: 1]**
*20 HP… Manageable.* Su Han nodded to himself, activated the skill, and swung.
*"Red Cut!"*
*Whoosh!* A three-block-wide wave of crimson energy slashed horizontally... hitting the air three blocks *below* the zombies.
*Too short!* Frustrated, Su Han quickly built a 3x3 platform extending downwards. He activated Red Cut again.
*Crack!* The crimson wave tore through the zombies clustered below the new platform. The impact knocked them back half a block, leaving deep, bloody gashes across their torsos.
**"ROARRR!"** They roared in agony but quickly regrouped, jumping and clawing at the platform.
Suddenly, smaller crimson slashes (*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*) erupted *from within* the gashes on the struck zombies, lashing out at the horde around them.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Zombies caught in the secondary slashes saw their HP plummet to 8.
Su Han grinned, satisfied. He turned to Xiao Ling, waving her over. "Xiao Ling! Grab that whip! Time to clean up!"
"Eh...? O-Okay..." She picked up the floating whip and cautiously approached the edge. Seeing the horrific zombies up close again sent a tremor through her. She glanced at Su Han beside her – his Peach Wood Sword flashing rapidly, his blocky face showing not fear, but a hint of exhilaration.
Summoning courage, Xiao Ling lashed out.
*Snap!* The whip cracked, striking a zombie square on its split head. The force knocked it back from the pack, eliciting a pained howl. The successful hit bolstered her confidence. Her fear lessened, replaced by determination as she started wielding the whip with rhythmic *snaps*.
After five minutes of coordinated effort, the last zombie fell. Glowing green EXP orbs sprayed from its corpse.
Su Han placed blocks down to ground level and jumped off.
*Thud!* As his feet touched earth, the EXP orbs swirled towards him. The EXP bar at the bottom of his vision jumped. When the last orb was absorbed, both he and Xiao Ling leveled up from 0 to 2.
*Shared EXP, huh?*
His gaze shifted to the loot floating above the corpses. Mostly useless blocks, with a smaller portion of basic materials. Su Han started sifting through it.
*Three Coal? Take!*
*Leather Chestplate? Equip!*
*A Melon? Nice!*
*Flint and Steel? Perfect!*
"Decent haul. After finishing the quest, we'll head into the city," he called over his shoulder to Xiao Ling. No reply. He turned to find her still perched precariously on the two-block-high platform, turning in place, her large silver eyes wide with panic.
*Afraid of two blocks?!* Su Han facepalmed internally.
He walked under her and spread his arms. Xiao Ling looked down at him, took a deep breath, clutching her skirt, and jumped.
Su Han caught her soft waist firmly, but the impact knocked him off balance.
*Thump!* They landed in a heap.
"A-Ah... S-Sorry... Sorry..." She scrambled off his chest, helping him up.
Su Han rubbed his chestplate, waving dismissively with his other hand. "Don't worry about it. Let's go finish that quest."