Apocalypse: Unlimited Power Items

Ethan had been watching intently from his position on the hillside, observing the chaos in the valley below. When Lynn unleashed her power, freezing the massive mutated lizard, he couldn't help but be impressed. The fact that she could immobilize such a fierce creature was no small feat.

But Ethan had already noticed something more urgent, and he had been ready to act long before the situation escalated.

With a quick glance at the lizard's open maw, Ethan drew his Thunderstrike Bow and, without hesitation, released a charged shot.

He had now mastered drawing the bow three-quarters of the way. The power he could unleash was far beyond anything he'd ever tested, and this shot was no exception.

The purple arrow shot through the air with blistering speed, unerring in its aim. It struck the lizard square in the throat, plunging deep into its body.

Thud!

The impact was immediate. Blood erupted from the creature's mouth as the arrow sliced clean through its tough skin, tearing through its neck with terrifying force.

The lizard let out a guttural scream, its eyes wide with shock before it collapsed, dead before it hit the ground. Its massive body crumpled, its struggle over.

"Phew... that was close," Ethan murmured to himself, relieved. "If I hadn't hit that shot, Lynn might've been a goner."

A chime echoed in his mind.

"Mutated Lizard killed. Kill rewards have been stored in your inventory."

This notification was different from the usual. Ethan could sense the prize was far more significant than just another set of random drops. He decided not to inspect it yet—he didn't want to risk revealing himself. Swiftly, he stored the Thunderstrike Bow, leapt down the hill, and headed back to his home.

His mind was sharp. He had no connections here—no allies or backing. Revealing himself now, especially with his growing powers, could be a mistake. As much as he trusted Lynn, the world was about to change drastically, and it was better to stay cautious.

Back at the valley, Lynn, who had just been moments away from certain death, was now staring at the dead mutated lizard in disbelief. She blinked, her mind trying to process what had just happened.

"How did the lizard die?" she thought, looking around at the chaos. "Who killed it?"

Her gaze shifted to the Stone Man, Ferris, who was standing near the lizard's body, still catching his breath.

"Ferris?" she called out, puzzled.

"Don't look at me," Ferris replied with a tired smile, shaking his head. "I have no idea. I was holding it off when it just... collapsed. It's like someone else took it down."

One of the gunmen, who had been watching the situation unfold, spoke up. "I saw it. A purple light shot from outside the valley, and the next thing I knew, the lizard's throat was destroyed. One arrow. That's all it took."

Lynn's pulse quickened. "So, there's someone else here?" she wondered aloud. Her instincts kicked in—if someone had been watching and intervened, their intentions could be anything. But from the way the shot was fired, it didn't seem like an enemy.

She shook her head, trying to calm herself. "If they meant us harm, they could've waited longer."

Ferris, ever the strategist, raised his voice. "To the person who helped, thank you. If you're willing, please show yourself. We'd like to thank you properly."

But the valley remained eerily silent.

Ferris waited for a response but was met with nothing. After a few more moments, he gave up and, with Lynn, approached the lizard's head.

Ferris transformed once more, his body turning to stone as he reached into the beast's mouth. He probed carefully, his hand feeling around the lizard's throat. When he pulled it back, his fingers were slick with blood, and the damage was evident—the throat was completely destroyed, as if it had been shredded by an unstoppable force.

Lynn observed carefully, her sharp eyes narrowing. She could tell that even if the arrow hadn't hit the throat directly, the creature's defensive layers had been breached from the inside out.

"This wasn't just brute force," she thought. "Whoever did this... their power is extraordinary."

Her mind raced. This kind of raw strength didn't come from just any talent. This was something far beyond ordinary capabilities, especially given that she and Ferris had just barely managed to defeat it with their combined efforts.

"I didn't expect to see something so powerful this early," Lynn muttered to herself, considering the possibility that the world was changing faster than they could comprehend.

"I wonder if we can find this person. They'd be an invaluable ally," Ferris commented, his voice laced with curiosity. "If we bring them into our family, we'll be unstoppable."

Lynn nodded but remained cautious. "If they don't want to reveal themselves, finding them won't be easy."

Later that evening, Ethan had returned to his place, his heart still pounding with the adrenaline of the battle.

As he sat down and opened his inventory, a grin spread across his face.

"Good call not rushing in," he thought, scanning the contents of his loot. The rewards for killing the mutated lizard were far more significant than anything he had gotten from smaller creatures. He had to admit, the thrill of hunting these mutated beasts was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

One thing was clear now—he was ready for whatever the world had in store.