Chapter 4: E-Rank Knife!
The cool, slightly metallic weight of the Vibro-Knife against his hip was a small comfort in the unnerving silence that followed the retreat of Jaxon's terrified former teammates. Daniel remained concealed within a thicket of pulsating, fan-shaped flora, catching his breath and taking stock. He now possessed an enhanced E-grade vest offering decent protection, a D-grade skill providing a crucial close-range defensive option, and a slight boost to his Strength. And now, a weapon. An F-grade weapon. Better than his bare fists, certainly, but still woefully inadequate against creatures like the Razorclaw Stalker.
He glanced down at the knife. Could he enhance it, just like the vest? The potential to wield E-grade offense and defense, even this early, was incredibly appealing. It would dramatically increase his survivability and his ability to actually hunt, not just scavenge. Checking his interface, he confirmed he had 2 Assimilation Charges remaining. Worth the investment.
Focusing his intent on the Vibro-Knife clipped to his belt, visualizing its metallic structure, the vibrating edge, the simple power cell in the hilt, he initiated the process.
Again, the effect was subtle. A faint shimmer, almost like moonlight on steel, briefly coated the blade before vanishing. His interface chimed with the confirmation.
[Soul Assimilation successful on F-Grade Initiate's Vibro-Knife.]
[Item Enhanced: Initiate's Vibro-Knife upgraded to E-Grade.]
[New Stats: Attack +50. Vibration frequency optimized, minor increase in cutting efficiency.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (1/5 Remaining).]
Daniel drew the knife. It felt subtly different in his hand, perhaps a slight shift in balance, or maybe just his perception. The low hum from the blade seemed stronger, more resonant. An Attack rating of +50, combined with his base Strength (now 11.1), gave him respectable offensive capability for a Level 0 aspirant.