Chapter 180: B-Grade Core
Kai sat up straighter as Mei closed the door behind her.
The faint scent of soap lingered in the air. She was definitely clean compared to the smoke and oil that had clung to them all day.
Mei didn’t waste time. "Kai... those cores you found. What are they for?"
’Ohhh... So you’re for that?’
Kai immediately composed himself before he replied.
"Just like that C-Grade Cores you absorbed to break through Level 5, they’re the same items. But this time, only Survivors at Level 30 can use them. If you reach that level, I’ll share them with you. Until then, they’re useless and dangerous to anyone else."
Someone might try absorbing them without a sufficient level, so he decided to store it in his limited Inventory Slots.
Mei nodded slowly as she already guessed this far. Still, hearing Kai’s confirmation made her happy.
"So they’re not just for you. You’d let me use them too?"
Kai gave a faint smile. "Of course. We survive together. If you reach Level 30, I’ll make sure you have what you need."
She hesitated, then shifted the topic.
"What about Atom? Could I use its abilities to explore ruins?"
"Mhmm?" Kai paused at the sudden change of topic.
Mei also noticed this and quickly explained.
"As you know, before I saw you and your shelter, I traveled a lot. I found several shelters... some were decent, but one of them..." Her voice hardened as she recalled it....
"One was run by a nasty Survivor. His talent allowed him to produce clean water, so he controlled everything. People had no choice but to obey him."
Kai was stunned to hear this and nodded.
It was no wonder Mei was concerned about it. Back on Earth, she would always take care of her officemates, old or new, in her own way. It was quite normal for her to feel this...
"I understand your concern. But Atom may not be able to handle long expeditions right now. Its battery isn’t infinite. I can’t see its exact energy level, but I know combat drains it heavily. And since I prohibited Atom from absorbing anything from the Impulse, its reserves are lower than usual."
Mei frowned. "So it’s weaker now."
Kai nodded. "Yes. Still, once Atom completes its special recharge, I’ll join you. We’ll explore together. I don’t plan to stay stuck in one shelter forever."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You want to leave Freedom Shelter?"
Kai shook his head. "Not abandon it. Think of it like this... I want a home... a place to return to. That’s why I’ll reinforce Freedom and Haven‑45 first. But eventually, I’ll explore the larger human city marked on the map. That’s where the real answers are."
Mei studied him for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "You always think ahead. That’s why people follow you."
Kai chuckled softly. "And that’s why I need people like you beside me."
The silence stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Mei moved closer, sitting on the edge of his bed.
Her damp hair brushed his shoulder, and Kai felt the warmth of her presence.
"You should rest," she whispered.
Kai met her gaze, and for a moment, none of them spoke.
The tension of the day, the relief of survival, and the unspoken bond between them hung in the air.
Slowly, they leaned closer.
The night passed quietly...
***
When morning came, the weather seemed to be a lot better
Kai stirred awake, and soon, his mind was already shifting back to plans and requirements he must complete...
At this time, Mei was already gone, but the faint scent of her still lingered in the room.
Outside, Mei stepped into the corridor, her hair tied back, as she planned to go straight to the mess hall...
At this time, however, Claire, carrying a basket of supplies, stopped mid‑step. Her eyes widened as she saw Mei leaving Kai’s room.
Mei froze for a moment, then offered a small nod. "Morning."
Claire then smiled at her but said nothing.
She simply watched as Mei walked away... Soon, her figure disappeared down the hall.
***
At this time, Kai sat alone in his room.
He wasn’t in a hurry to go out since the shelter was not in danger, and he could just get food anytime he wanted.
First, he confirmed that his Spirit Points had already recovered... It was a good thing since it affects his body to some degree as well.
With that in mind, he opened his inventory and pulled out the metallic briefcase.
The faint glow of twenty crystalline cores was beautiful.
"Time to test it."
He then reached in, carefully selecting one of the cores.
Its surface was cool to the touch, unlike the C-Grade Core that was quite warm.
For now. He closed the briefcase and stored it back into his inventory, leaving only the single core in his hand.
The moment he pressed it against his chest, the system responded and confirmed the absorption process!
The process didn’t take that long, and he soon received a familiar message. This time, it truly was a lot better than a C-grade!
[ Energy Core absorption complete. ]
[ Health Points +20 ]
[ Spirit Points +5 ]
[ Physique Rating has slightly improved. ]
[ Proficiency of all Gene Skills has slightly increased. ]
[ You have received Skill Points +1 ]
Kai’s eyes widened as the surge of energy coursed through him. The 20 Health Points and 5 Spirit Points weren’t something he could ignore.
Furthermore, even if his Physique was already Grade C, he could still feel any slight improvement because of his Keen Sense.
He flexed his hand, feeling the subtle increase in resilience, and gently nodded.
"Pretty neat for a single core..." Kai muttered.
Nonetheless, what truly caught his attention was the notification at the end.
"A Skill Point..." Kai muttered with a green. "That’s exactly what I needed."
He knew very well how difficult it was to get Skill Points.
Since B-Grades could give him one, he had to abuse this for sure.
However, as he was about to continue absorbing more, he heard the sound of vehicles’ engines rumbling outside the shelter!