Chapter 142: Blank Cores
Zorvax and Ophelia stood silently for a moment, each pondering over the list of abilities. Zorvax finally broke the silence with a measured tone. "Honestly, none of these abilities really align with our combat style," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Ophelia nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring Zorvax’s sentiment. "I was thinking the same," she said. "They seem somewhat limited for our purposes."
Zorvax’s gaze drifted back to the list, his mind still working through the possibilities. "Sword Master, Flame Sword, Wind Spear... they’re too specialized. And Stone Hand, while interesting, isn’t versatile enough for our needs," he elaborated, his voice reflecting his analytical approach.
Ophelia, following Zorvax’s train of thought, added, "And Sharpshooter, although somewhat useful, doesn’t offer the breadth of enhancement we typically look for." Her tone was thoughtful, indicating her understanding of their strategic needs.
Zorvax stood in contemplation, his gaze fixated on the system’s interface. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his brows knitting together as he pondered aloud. "The Ascendant core is akin to a power source, much like the beast core," he began, speaking more to himself than to Ophelia. "But beyond using the beast core for summoning and the Ascendant core for abilities, what additional utility might they hold?"
Ophelia, standing a few steps away, observed Zorvax with keen interest. Her eyes were focused on him, and she leaned in slightly, not wanting to miss any part of the system’s response. Her expression was one of curiosity, mixed with a hint of anticipation.
The system remained silent for a moment, as if considering Zorvax’s inquiry, before responding. Zorvax’s eyes remained glued to the interface, waiting.
Ophelia, noticing the brief pause, tilted her head, her gaze still fixed on Zorvax. "Anything?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur.
"Just a moment," Zorvax replied, holding up a hand. His eyes narrowed as he read the system’s response, deciphering the information being presented. Finally, the system displayed its answer.
---
[The power contained within can be converted into zombie points.]
[Once the power is exchanged, the core will transform into a blank core.]
---
Zorvax, with a look of keen interest, studied the system’s response. He nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the new information. "Fascinating, we can transform the core’s power directly into Zombie Points," he mused aloud, a note of satisfaction coloring his voice. His posture relaxed slightly, reflecting his comfort with the strategic advantage this presented.
Ophelia, who had been closely following the conversation, chimed in with her perspective. "That does seem quite advantageous," she remarked, her expression one of clear agreement. Her eyes showed her understanding of the potential benefits, and she nodded in approval, appreciating the system’s capabilities.
Zorvax, his mind already racing with possibilities, made a decision. "Let’s go ahead with the conversion then," he instructed, addressing the system with confidence. He was already thinking about how best to utilize the extra Zombie Points they would acquire.
Ophelia watched as Zorvax interacted with the system, her expression a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The system responded to Zorvax’s command swiftly, processing his request with efficiency. A digital display appeared, showing the conversion rates for the cores.
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[Tier 3 Core: 1,000 Zombie Points]
[Tier 2 Core: 100 Zombie Points]
---
Zorvax carefully reviewed the conversion rates displayed by the system, his eyes moving slowly across the screen as he took in the information. After a moment, he gave a slight nod, a subtle gesture indicating his agreement with the values presented.
"This seems quite fair," he remarked, his voice carrying a tone of approval. He paused thoughtfully, considering the additional Zombie Points they would gain on top of those already earned from defeating the owners of those cores.
As he contemplated, a look of satisfaction crossed Zorvax’s face, his lips curling into a faint smile. The prospect of acquiring more resources was clearly pleasing to him. "With these extra points," he mused, "we can further strengthen our position."
The system, responding to Zorvax’s unspoken query about the pricing, provided a detailed explanation. The screen displayed additional information, clarifying the reasoning behind the set values.
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[The price is set based on the ability provided by the core, excluding training experience.]
---
Zorvax nodded thoughtfully, his features relaxing into an expression of clear understanding. "I see, so that’s the logic behind it," he said, his voice carrying an undertone of realization. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting his deep contemplation of the system’s pricing mechanism.
Ophelia, observing Zorvax’s reaction, mirrored his nod. Her eyes showed a spark of comprehension as she processed the information. "It’s a logical approach by the system," she remarked, her voice echoing her grasp of the situation. Her stance was relaxed, yet her attention remained fixed on Zorvax, ready for further discussion.
Shifting his focus, Zorvax then addressed a more immediate concern. "Ophelia, have you dealt with the remains of the Ascendants?" he asked, turning slightly to face her, his eyes searching hers for confirmation.
Ophelia responded promptly, her posture firm and her gaze direct. "Yes, I’ve taken care of it. The wolf zombies are disposing of the bodies as we speak," she replied, her voice exuding confidence and efficiency. She stood straight, her shoulders squared, indicating her sense of responsibility and action.
"Excellent," Zorvax responded, his face softening with a hint of approval. He surveyed their surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the forest landscape. "Now, we should move on. It’s time to find a strategic spot to establish our base," he stated, his tone decisive and forward-thinking.
Ophelia nodded, her expression turning resolute as she prepared to follow Zorvax’s lead. "A base will be crucial for our operations. I agree, let’s find the right location," she concurred, her voice firm and resolute.
The two then set off, walking side by side with determined strides. As they moved deeper into the forest, their conversation flowed seamlessly, discussing potential locations for their base, considering factors like strategic advantage and resources.
The forest around them seemed to watch in silence, its tranquil and undisturbed environment contrasting the focused energy of Zorvax and Ophelia as they planned their next steps in this world ruled by Ascendants.
