Death by Over-Enhancement

[Enhancing a Bronze-level body requires Bronze-level crystals.]

"So, Black Iron crystals are useless to me except for replenishing a moderate amount of stamina?"

[Yes, host!]

"D*mn..."

Hearing the system's response, Bruce felt like he wanted to cough up blood.

He had painstakingly collected crystals for a day and a half. Yet, he had only consumed three of them from start to finish, and now they were telling him they were useless??

Well!

Actually, he couldn't blame anyone else.

Because in the early days of the apocalypse, the natural evolutionary limits for everyone were about the same.

A small number were between the Initial and Intermediate levels.

The majority were at the Black Iron Intermediate level.

As for Bruce, with his awakened talent that could almost rival the protagonist's, he was undoubtedly approaching Black Iron High Rank.

After reaching the high rank, he would need to use Black Iron crystals for enhancement.

Bruce had received a +10 to all attributes from Cynthia, so he hit a bottleneck after using only a few Black Iron crystals.

"Alright, if they can't be used, then so be it! Elbert, Ignacio!"

Reaching this conclusion, Bruce couldn't be bothered to dwell on it any longer. If he couldn't use them, he could give them to his subordinates to use.

"Young Master Bruce!"

"Boss, what's up?"

Bruce tossed two crystals from the cash register: "Here, each of you take one to replenish your stamina."

Both of them had their bodies enhanced and could use attributeless crystals.

Upon hearing Bruce's words, they reacted quickly, catching the crystals Bruce tossed to them.

Ignacio was first stunned, then ecstatic.

No one else had used these crystals except Bruce so far.

But judging from the effects Bruce experienced after consuming it, and the level of importance attached to it, it was definitely a good thing!

Seeing the Black Iron crystals in his hand, Elbert was a bit puzzled: "Young Master Bruce, didn't you mention focusing on cultivation before? Why now...?"

"I don't have much use for these crystals anymore. From now on, crystals of this level will be for you guys."Bruce was straightforward and didn't conceal anything.

Indeed, Ignacio's betrayal rate was a bit high.

However, this 60% betrayal rate simply indicated that he was easily swayed by others' provocations or tempted by benefits.

It wouldn't lead to thoughts of attacking Bruce unless it reached 90%.

At most, he might engage in some scheming behind the scenes.

So, Bruce wasn't particularly worried about him.

Moreover, in previous battles, he had observed Ignacio's situation.

Even after his transformation, his strength and speed wouldn't match Bruce's current abilities.

At most, his defense would be stronger.

With Bruce wielding the formidable Andúril sword that could cut through iron like mud, was he afraid of Ignacio's defense?

"Is that so? Thanks, Young Master Bruce."

"Well then, thanks, boss!"

Hearing Bruce's words, Elbert didn't hesitate any longer.

Ignacio had a wide smile on his face and eagerly popped the crystal into his mouth.

As the crystal entered their stomachs, the warm sensation of replenishing stamina and strengthening their bodies made both of them blissful.

"Wow, is eating this thing so enjoyable?"

"It feels so comfortable."

"Boss... what about me? Don't I get one?"

Seeing Elbert and Ignacio enjoying their crystals and looking content afterward, Finnegan felt envious.

He was the most tired one here, wasn't he?

Why did they all have one, and he didn't?

Didn't the boss still have one in his hand?

"If you're not afraid of death by over-enhancement, then go ahead and eat it!"

Bruce said, handing out the crystal to Finnegan...

After awakening his Hawk Eye, Finnegan's mental strength was slightly stronger than an ordinary person's.

There was no change in his other three attributes.

According to the information obtained from the Villain's Eye!

Awakeners who only awakened a single attribute were generally referred to as non-combat awakeners.

Such awakeners, apart from their single attribute, had physical qualities similar to ordinary people.

They could only become stronger through some training.It's impossible to enhance using crystal nuclei.

In other words, Finnegan is just an ordinary person with slightly better vision.

The mortality rate of consuming this crystal nucleus is as high as 50%.

As for whether Cynthia is non-combat oriented?

Obviously not!

Because she can enhance with crystal nuclei, and it's only the early days of the apocalypse.

Can you guarantee that her profession won't awaken some kind of holy light technique later??

"Explode... explode and die??"

Just as Finnegan was about to reach for the crystal nucleus, he heard Bruce's words.

His hand froze in mid-air, and his smile stiffened on his face.

"No, it can't be?"

"Wanna try??"

Bruce couldn't be bothered to waste words, he gestured for the other to come forward again.

But would Finnegan dare to take it?

Clearly not.

Unless it's a matter of life and death.

Otherwise, even if this thing had only a 10% mortality rate, he wouldn't gamble with his own life.

So, Finnegan retracted his hand.

His mood became unusually depressed.

"Well, boss, I'm useless!"

"Actually, you're not that useless!" Bruce said casually. "Go to the door and look into the distance, maybe you'll have an unexpected surprise."

"Look into the distance??"

Finnegan was first stunned, then quickly came to the door of the cake shop and looked into the distance through the glass door.

At first, there wasn't much to see, but after a moment...

As the scenery at the end of the street became clearer and clearer, Finnegan's eyes widened.

"What the hell, how can I see so clearly?? This is unscientific...."

At the end of the street Finnegan could see, there was a noodle shop.

Under the noodle shop's sign, there was a line of text, and the door was also made of glass.

Previously, at this distance, he couldn't even see the words on those signs clearly.

Now, let alone words, even if there were a few bloody handprints on the glass door, he could see them clearly."This is your ability!"

Bruce spoke directly, "From now on, reconnaissance tasks for our team will be entrusted to you."

"Haha, no problem, boss, count on me!" Finnegan assured, patting his chest, then thought of something else, "But boss, how did you know my ability was this?"

"Is it strange?" Bruce retorted with a question.

"Uh..."

Hearing Bruce's words, Finnegan came to his senses and said embarrassedly, "Not strange."

Bruce had precognitive abilities, so nothing was surprising to him.

And there were already too many unexplainable things in this world.

Just like Ignacio yesterday.

How could he be at the hotel with the boss while being at school?

How the hell do you explain that?

So Finnegan, who understood this point, stopped doubting!

"Next, you guys cover me, and leave the monsters to me as much as possible!"

Bruce didn't have time to deal with him, he took out the Andúril sword from his storage ring.

Weapons were different from people.

Andúril sword could be upgraded in quality just by absorbing energy.

But people needed to break through their physical limits through battles or black iron essence to advance.

Bruce wanted to break through bronze rank, but didn't want to waste time finding black iron essence.

So he could only break through by high-intensity combat.

At the hotel, Bruce was busy breaking through his physical limits.

In the school's convenience store, Jesse was recuperating under the careful care of 'Poisonous Lady Debby'.

And in the rented house three kilometers north, Duane, carrying a backpack of living supplies, was also constantly getting stronger.

He found a handy steel bar at a construction site next to the rented house.

Plunging the steel bar into the head of a high-level zombie.

The zombie fell to the ground with a sound, hit in the brain.

This zombie was already a Black Iron High Rank.

Black Iron High Rank zombies had running speeds similar to ordinary humans.

And they also had the rudiments of various evolutionary paths.