Chapter 32 - Calamity

A day goes by and Niko's group were in the settlement walking towards a big box-shaped building. The building was wooden made and in front of it was a sign that read "Equipment". Niko's group had already exchanged their resources for contribution. Everyone in the group had about the same amount of contribution too, which was quite convenient.

As they enter the building they are welcomed to a fully wooden room, where there are many types of equipment on the wall. They recognized some of these as well, as they do drop from some of the monsters in the local area, and many people wear them.

"Welcome! Please feel free to look around, and if there is anything to your liking I am here to exchange it for you. We are a store funded and protected by the protectors themselves, so I hope you guys do not do anything unpleasant." A lady spoke in the back of the room behind a small wooden stand.

Although Niko was annoyed at what the woman had just said, he simply smiled and looked around. The others were the same, except for Candreva who furrowed his brows and was ready to say something before Zhang nudged his arm.

After seeing so many items just randomly on display as soon as they walked in, they understood, why not a single person stole from this place. Stealing would be encountering the wrath of the protectors and no one would want such a thing.

The four scattered and looked around at their own pace. Niko had eleven contribution points, which were identifiable by strange small coins with an emblem carved on it. Niko was very intrigued as he was surprised by how civilized this place truly was, at least in public.

As Niko looked around he began using [Celestial Probe] to learn about the items he was interested in. To his surprise, although some items might be the same visually, some might be more helpful than others based on specific stats, not to mention the fact that they might hold secrets within and he could clearly see with his skill.

Although any normal person could use the [Analyze] skill that the world started them with, [Celestial Probe] Was simply much better, and at moments like this, it was crucial.

There were two rings that caught his eyes. One was much bigger than the other, but Niko could care less for the appearance or size and instead, he wanted to know about what these two items had a difference.

First he used [Celestial Probe] on the bigger ring, which came up with its stats.

[Item: Big Silver Ring]

Rank: None

Description: A big silver ring made out of the tooth of Silver Toothed Rats. The ring covered half of a whole finger, giving that finger better protection.

[Additional Information]

None

Niko inwardly shook his head and identified the other thinned ring.

[Item: Little Snake Spine Ring]

Rank: None

Description: A ring made out of the spine of the Flexible Little Snake.

[Additional Information]

%5 chance to increase the magic power of a magical skill by 25% during combat. After it has increased the magic power of a skill five times, the spine ring will break.

Out of the two rings, the smaller ring shaped like a small spine was much better. Picking it up Niko continued looking.

Time went on and Niko found three items that suited his liking. A plain grey robe that allowed his casting speed to increase during combat was another one of his choices. Although it was just a chance of happening, it was good enough. A small wand that possessed the same ability as the robe, and lastly the little ring.

Niko waited for the others to be done with their selection giving some pointers to them here and there as to which equipment to choose. After they all had selected their items they walked towards the lady to exchange their contribution points for the items. Niko was first, showing the lady the items he intended to exchange.

Checking the items the lady spoke, "The robe will cost five contribution while the ring and the wand will cost four each."

Niko was taken back as his brows furrowed, "Uh… Fine."

Niko put away the wand as the robe already processed the same ability. After paying his contribution points he took the robe and placed the ring on his finger. Niko stepped aside and allowed the others to exchange their contribution points as well.

Ivanic exchanged his contribution points for a small dagger, as well as three javelins with a backrest. Zheng got himself fine boots and a leather helmet, whilst Candreva got himself leather gloves and bracers.

After exchanging, they left the building and were welcomed to the outside once more. As they left they felt strange. The streets were awfully empty, and the protectors who would occasionally always be on patrol were not here.

Niko and his group decide to leave towards the same forest they have been in the past week. As they were leaving the gate, they once again noticed that there was not a single protector on the gate. Instead, there was chaos. People were bloodied, and cursing everywhere. Although it was chaotic, it wasn't chaotic to the point where it was out of control. People were all over the place and based on the situation, that bit of control that remained might disappear at any second.

"What the fuck is going on?!" A man with a severed armed screamed as he fell down clutching his arm.

"Kill these beasts!" A woman screamed as she swung.

Nikos's group looked at this scene with confusion. As they walked out of the gate, they realized what was going on.

There were many people fighting against an equal amount of boars all around. There might have been over thirty boars fighting many other humans. Things weren't right, and they understood this was clearly abnormal.

Zheng looks over to his companions and says, "Guys this doesn't look good!"

Niko nods, and Ivanic says, "It looks very bad. I have never seen this much boar monsters at once in my life. Right now the humans are holding off the boars but…" Ivanic points further down, where some humans could no longer hold on, and the number of boars was increasing rapidly. "The defense will crumble very soon."

"Where are the protectors?" Candreva asked, scratching his chest.

His question was unanswered, as they knew where the protectors had gone. They moved further up the mountain so that they didn't have to face this calamity. Those savages left their own kind to be feasted upon by pigs!

The scene was brutal, and thankfully the quartet had gotten used to such a scene at this point. Through the mind, they all had agreed that they needed to flee, or they would be feasted upon too. Unsurprisingly they weren't the only ones with such thought, as those who were initially fighting began to make their own moves and flee.

"Let's go!" Ivanic spoke, as all of them began to act. Fleeing to the side and going around any conflict. There were many more boars approaching, and Niko began to question if this is where his road ends.