The time was already ticking, and Zeth didn't want to waste a second. Though this time he had a few better things at his disposal: a vintage torch which ran on gasoline, a knife, and a lighter.
Zeth hesitantly held the torch, and the annoying notification appeared before him again.
[Conditions unfulfilled. Let go of all material...]
'This dumb clunker,' Zeth suppressed his anger. This was a reality he had foreseen, but that didn't make the problem disappear. He tried to put the torch or knife in his inventory, but somehow he couldn't.
He hesitated for a good second. If Zeth held even a wood stick, his powers would disappear and leave him vulnerable. But if he didn't take the lantern or the torch, he would be walking around in pitch darkness.
The only strategy was to carry the torch and use the goblin tooth necklace at the same time. If attacked, he would need to throw both of them to activate the job conditions. Inspecting the vintage torch further, he found it was made of thick brass.
The back part had a small tank with little fuel and a pump attached next to a wooden handle. In front was a metallic net that connected to a brass pipe placed before a reflector. In essence, the device resembled a pressure lantern, but with a concave reflector and glass lid to cast a narrow beam.
Zeth pumped the tank and lit the tip with the lighter.
Slowly, as he pumped, the flames grew hotter, and the metallic net lit up brightly. It grew bright enough to surpass most modern-day flashlights. Zeth closed the front lid and locked the attached lever. He couldn't help but be fascinated by the technology he hadn't seen before.
Closing the cabin door behind him and leaving the lantern, he walked out toward the familiar fields. Perhaps it was the torch or the wind, but the fog didn't feel as dense as before. Soon, the wooden booth and the old well became visible.
The booth contained two gallons of gasoline. This was what he needed to fill the small tank of the torch. Zeth had no idea how long this much fuel would last, but he had figured out that the torch needed to be pumped every few minutes to keep glowing bright.
After filling the fuel tank to the brim, Zeth closed it and headed straight toward the farm. The air slowly grew heavy, and he saw the familiar structures before him again.
The wooden crosses with humans tied by vines and clay pots covering their heads, while drops of blood escaped their bodies and soaked into the wood itself.
Looking at the same wooden board hanging on the rusty iron wire, he couldn't help but grimace. Not letting his guard drop, Zeth jumped inside the fence, closely inspecting each scarecrow, positioned about two meters apart.
Zeth walked through the scarecrows until he reached the familiar location in the middle of the farm. And his eyes lit up.
'My saber...'
Zeth ran toward the direction where a single scarecrow was missing. The ground beneath was dented and cracked, and red bloodstains had turned black and were still visible.
Picking up the saber, Zeth noticed the weapon had been melted in half. Even then, it was still sharp and heavy, and its range was better than the knife's. But he didn't get the chance to mourn over his weapon as a faint shaking was felt beneath his legs, and Zeth knew what was coming.
Quickly, he placed the saber in his inventory and set the torch on the stick of one scarecrow. A familiar notification appeared before his eyes as he prepared for battle.
[Conditions met...]
Zeth stood, eyes closed and breath held. Suddenly, his senses screamed danger. As the ground behind him opened, Zeth jumped to the side to dodge a claw.
His eyes met the hungry predator, the Ground Dweller, and once again, the system notification completely blocked his vision.
---
Species: Ground Dweller
Rank: Mutated
Description: The unholy rat which had cheated on her husband and gave birth to a...
---
"Fuck off!" Zeth waved the screen away from his face, and his pupils shrank. The creature was already before him, its claws threatening to slash his body in half. But before the creature could attack, black smoke emitted from Zeths mouth as he blew at the creature's face.
[Skill 'Reaper's Breath' used]
The Dweller screeched in pain, rolling on the ground. Zeth dodged the attack and closed in, summoning the broken saber and goblin tooth necklace together as he slashed the creature in half.
'Now that's how we do it.'
Zeth's smile widened. This was the combat strategy he had made. Heavenly Body's strength could be matched with the goblin tooth necklace, but its speed and durability were different. With Heavenly Body, though, Zeth couldn't use a single weapon, making it impossible to kill his opponent.
"Schrreeeeechhhh!!"
Another scream sounded behind him as a Dweller rolled out of the ground, its body covered in spikes and eyes red with rage. The creature wrapped around itself, turning into a ball, and rolled towards Zeth at instant speed.
---
Species: Ground Dweller
Rank: Mutated
Description: The Dweller who had sinned with the rat's wife...
---
Zeth let go of his weapon and necklace. The creature was ready to shred his chest when Zeth jumped high into the air, dodging the attack. His strategy was straightforward: use Heavenly Body and its abilities to render the opponent useless, then use his weapon and necklace to deliver a final blow.
Not hitting its enemy, the creature turned again, looking for Zeth. But it was too late. Zeth exhaled, and the black smoke gathered in his hand, forming an orb. Like a stone, Zeth threw the weightless orb and hit the creature's face.
The Ground Dweller screeched one last time in pain before its head was severed from its body.
"Come on, ugly bastards, is that all you got?" Zeth yelled, but there was no response. Not even a vibration in the distance. Perhaps this was the end of the wave.
Still standing alert for a second, and after noticing nothing had happened, Zeth picked up the torch and walked around the farm. Not daring to touch any of the scarecrows, he just kept looking for any missing scarecrow, and not very far from him, there was one.
"So I am supposed to run and not look back, yeah?"