Withering

Kirk fought Ranmaru, and Ranmaru died!

Ranmaru's eyes were wide open; he couldn't believe it even as he died! How could there be such a fool as Kirk, who would let that incredibly sharp, deep blue katana pass through his intestines just to close the distance in a fight! He used self-harm to force himself into close combat!

So, even though Ranmaru had the stronger combat power, he was the one who died!

Because Kirk didn't fear death, he lived! Ranmaru feared death, so he died first!

Have you not seen that in battles of close quarters, the brave always win, but it's not necessarily the strong who win!

Kirk had once again fallen into a [Near Death] state. The attack power of that incredibly sharp, deep blue weapon was estimated to be over 30 points. It heavily wounded Kirk, coupled with the [Bleed] and [Weakness] status from his ruptured intestines and stomach. The bizarrely designed blood vessel caused severe blood loss from the wound. Kirk was on his last legs.

He had no more medicine.

Was it a mutual kill?

At this moment, Mori opened his eyes. He still had the last piece of [Delicious Toast] Kirk had given him in his mouth, which Kirk had used to save his life. He hadn't swallowed it.

Mori saw Ranmaru on the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief. He smiled at Kirk. Kirk saw the satisfied look in his eyes and smiled back.

This was a smile between men, a smile between brothers, a smile between master and disciple.

Mori shakily stood up and walked to Kirk, who couldn't move. Without a word, he shoved the [Delicious Toast] into Kirk's mouth!

Kirk was shocked and desperately tried to spit out the bread, but Mori fiercely pried open his jaw and slapped the back of Kirk's head. Kirk was startled and gulped the toast down in one go!

Immediately, his injuries stopped worsening, and his health began to recover bit by bit!

"No! No!!! No!!!" Kirk struggled desperately, tears in his eyes, wanting to spit out the toast in despair.

If he ate this toast, Mori would die.

Mori slumped down again, fumbling for the cigarette pack in his chest. He shakily pulled out a cigarette but couldn't light it no matter how hard he tried.

Kirk scrambled over, tears streaming down his face, and lit it for him.

Mori took a drag and fixed his gaze on Kirk. "I told you, you would be the death of me."

Kirk wept. Mori painstakingly removed the blade from his right hand and threw it to Kirk. "Take it, believe in it, and remember not to yield to that bitch God!"

Kirk nodded, wanting to say something more. But Mori's eyes began to fade, his light blue pupils blurring like the setting sun...

"No!" Kirk howled like a wounded wolf, shaking Mori's shoulder desperately. "Mori, look at me! You'll be fine, you know! Look at me..."

Mori quietly closed his eyes, the burning cigarette tip scattering in the wind...

Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.

Kirk's tears poured out like a flood. If only he had been a little stronger, if only he had been a little earlier, if only he had had more medicine...

Mori had died for him!

At this moment, that cold voice echoed in Kirk's mind: "I sense it. A mortal warrior has fallen. His soul is rising, preparing to journey to Helheim..."

Valkyrie. Brunhilde!

Kirk went mad and shouted, "I demand that you accept this Warrior's Soul! I demand that you forever keep this Warrior's Soul in your soul-receiving life-box!"

Brunhilde's voice hesitated. "But this soul is too weak. Although he possessed fearless courage, he lacked soul strength. He is not worth it at all..."

"Bullshit! Horseshit! I don't care about the cost! I want to stop his soul from going to hell! Do you understand, woman! I'll pay any price!" Kirk roared, cursing the Valkyrie.

The Valkyrie paused, surprisingly not becoming enraged as Kirk had offended her last time. "Very well. I need 10,000 survival points. Then you will chant the requiem on the soul stone, and this mortal's soul will gain eternal life, nourished by Odin's divine power. Hurry! His soul is about to dissipate..."

Kirk wiped his tears and read loudly from the inscription on the soul stone: "Humble mortal, you will never know the supreme greatness of the God Race..."

After reciting it, Kirk seemed to see the face of a burly white man, unshaven, with an ugly smile, and a sneer that blended cynicism and world-weariness. He nodded slightly at Kirk and disappeared into the divine stone.

"How is it? Was it successful?" Kirk steadied himself.

"Yes, this man has become your first Warrior's Soul. By Odin's will, it can defy the laws of time and space and live forever in the soul summoning stone. In the future, you can summon him to fight for you at the cost of 10,000 survival points each time. Unfortunately, his strength rating is only C+, a mere mortal."

"Shut up! Don't you dare judge him again! You're not qualified to say that about a soul that died heroically!" Kirk yelled through his tears.

"However, in my long life, I have guided countless heroes, but this is the first time I have seen a Warrior's Soul die for another. He is a true warrior..." Valkyrie. Brunhilde's voice held a hint of sadness.

He thought of their first meeting in The Space, of Mori's roars, of all the things Mori had taught him...

If it weren't for Mori, he, an otaku, would never have had the courage to come this far. Now, Mori was gone, and he had to rely on himself.

Kirk wiped away his tears and picked up the dagger Mori had given him before he died. Mori, to escape, had sawed off his own right hand long ago and attached this blade.

Looking down, Kirk examined Mori's remains carefully.

Mori's Severed Hand Blade (Approved by Plot Character Mori)

[Nature]: [Melee Weapon]

[Rank]: [Light Green, Growable] (If not approved by Mori himself, it is Black Iron rank. The following parentheses will not be repeated for unapproved data.)

[Category]: [Long Dagger] / [Wrist Blade] / [Bayonet]

[Equipment]: Either wrist.

[Description]: Mori was a retired US special forces soldier, an expert with military daggers in the army. After receiving ample resources from Governor Philip, he chose a "Pentagon Elite Defense Blade" produced by SOG Specialty Knives. After being crafted by skilled artisans, it was successfully forged. He decided to use this Severed Hand Blade to stab the hearts of Rick and T-Dog, who had abandoned him.

[Specifications]: Total length 24.5 cm, blade length 12.5 cm, blade thickness

0.4 cm, blade width 2.5 cm, weight 2467 grams.

[Material] aus-6a Special Steel

[Damage]: Melee Damage 20-35 (Original: 15-20)

[Weapon Effect 1]: [Sharpness] Passive Effect. The special soldier's blade is incredibly sharp, ignoring 10% of the opponent's physical defense.

[Weapon Effect 2]: [Blood Groove] Passive Effect. The unique blood groove design gives a 20% chance (Original: 10%) of inflicting Bleed status each time a contractor is stabbed, reducing HP by 5/sec (Original: 3/sec) for 4 seconds (Original: 2 sec). (Approved Effect Below) When stabbing a plot character that can bleed, it deducts 1% of their total HP per second for 2 seconds. The Bleed effect caused by this weapon cannot stack, but it can stack with Bleed effects caused by other weapons or skills.

[Weapon Effect 3]: [Maim] [Plot Character Approved Exclusive] Passive Effect. Mori is skilled in special forces close-quarters combat. When forging this wrist blade, he incorporated his unique understanding of melee combat. When stabbing an opponent's limbs, groin, or other areas, it is considered a vital hit, doubling the attack damage! Stabbing the head requires the opponent to pass a death save with a Stamina penalty of -3; failure results in instant death. After cumulative damage to these areas exceeds 20% of their total HP, limb incapacitation and Bleed status are guaranteed. (Under normal circumstances, incapacitation requires exceeding 30% of total HP, attacking limbs is not considered a vital hit, stabbing the head requires passing a death save with Stamina and Toughness without penalty.)

[Weapon Effect 4]: [Tough Guy] [Plot Character Approved Exclusive] Passive Effect. Mori is a badass tough guy. After gaining his approval, when you need to pass a willpower check against negative statuses like [Fear] or [Paralysis], his hysterical roar will echo in your mind: "Idiot kid, I'm gonna kick your ass!" Energized by the scolding, you will pass the willpower check with a +10 bonus to Willpower.

[Description]: This is a weapon for men; the weak are unworthy of it. Use it to harvest more lives, and it will grow strong like a little pig.

Without a doubt, this powerful weapon will become Kirk's main weapon in the future. His [Basic Small Blade Mastery] and [Basic Melee Combat] skills can further enhance the power of this pale green weapon.

Kirk equipped this weapon and stood up. The pale green wrist blade gleamed in the sunlight with an almost blinding radiance!

He now had only one desire: Mori, just you watch, I'll kill the evil Governor and all his lackeys!

No one can stop me!

See first release without GG at

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