Chapter: 23 A Good Day Of Hunting

Once the musket was ready, she attached the Inferior Cursed Bayonet with the muzzle ring, turning her weapon into a makeshift musket-bayonet combo. It wasn't the most elegant solution, but it would hopefully increase her damage output.

[Bayonet Mounted Musket

Description: A poorly made Bayonet mounted on a poorly made Flintlock Musket, both created by Renko Ivanov. The weapons, being a set, complement each other's damage.

Range Damage: 17.5 

Melee Damage: 14

Range: 2m - 50m

Reload: Manual(15CP), Autoload(25CP)

Stat Requirement: Strength(7), Dexterity(7)]

'That's nice.'

The Curse Spirit of Mourning continued its mournful whistles, seemingly unaware of Renko's presence. Taking advantage of the distraction, Renko carefully moved into a better position, aiming to strike at the cursed spirit's weak spot again.

*BANG*

[Weak Spot Located]

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 17.5 + 2.625(15%) + 7(40%) + 8.75(50%)]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -34.875 HP]

[HP: 115.125/150]

The Curse spirit had healed completely, meaning she was back to square one. Still hiding behind the concrete structure, Renko continued with her plan,

'Autoload.'

[-25 CP]

5*[Basic Stealth: +2 EXP]

It took five seconds for it to autoload and just as the monster seemed to be settling down a bit, she fired again.

*BANG*

[Weak Spot Located]

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 17.5 + 2.625(15%) + 7(40%) + 8.75(50%)]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -34.875 HP]

[HP: 80.25/150]

Now the monster seemed thoroughly pissed, it opened its large maw and let out a roar quite unlike its low whistles earlier.

[Warning]

[Elite Cursed Spirit: Cursed Spirit of Mourning Is Using A Sound-Based Attack]

[HP -0.5/Per Sec]

5*[HP -0.5]

[-25 CP]

*BANG*

[Weak Spot Located]

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 17.5 + 2.625(15%) + 7(40%) + 8.75(50%)]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -34.875 HP]

[HP: 45.375/150]

The Curse Spirit of Mourning recoiled from the impact, its eerie cries intensifying. However, this time, Renko didn't hesitate. Instead of looking for another spot to hide, she lunged forward.

[HP -0.5]

[HP -1]

[HP -1.5]

[HP -2]

[HP -2.5]

[HP -3]

[HP -3.5]

[HP -4]

It took her seven seconds to cover that 30-meter distance between herself and the creature, could have been much faster but the weapon weighed nearly 7 kilograms, during which its sound attack's damage magnified. But she managed to plunge the bayonet into the creature's rotten face.

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 14 + 1.4(10%) + 7(50%)]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -22.4 HP]

[HP: 22.975/150]

Renko swiftly pulled back, and without waiting for it to retaliate, plunged the blade back into its head again.

*Stab*

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 14 + 2.1(10%) + 7(50%)]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -28.7 HP]

[HP: 0.575/150]

'One last hit should do it!'

Or not.

*Stomp*

This time she smashed her foot down on its face to withdraw the bayonet and the monster died. 

[Curse Spirit of Mourning: -5 HP]

[HP: O/150]

Renko let out a triumphant exhale as the Curse Spirit of Mourning dissipated into a dark mist.

[Congratulations!]

[Curse Spirit of Mourning (Elite): Exorcised]

[+200 EXP]

[Dropped Items:

- $100 or ¥12,000

- 1*Mourning Meat

- 4*Meat Fang

- Skill Book: Sound Curse: Uta Satsujin(Song of Murder)]

[Firearms Mastery: +15 EXP]

[Marksmanship: +30 EXP]

[Knife Mastery: +10 EXP]

[Innate Technique: Malevolent Arsenal(1): +50]

[Basic Stealth(1): 70/100

Description: The very basic skill of masking one's presence.

- Noise Suppression: 10%

- Odor Suppression: 10%

- Reduced Presence: 10%]

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 6/10(-3)]

[Inferior Cursed Bayonet

Durability: 0/5(-2)

+1 Junk: Broken Bayonet]

Renko took a moment to assess the rewards, the skill book she had acquired was, "Sound Curse: Uta Satsujin (Song of Murder)," and it piqued her interest quite a bit. 

[Sound Curse: Uta Satsujin (Skill Book)

Description: A curse that utilizes sound waves to cause harm to the target.

- Range: 10m

- CP Cost: 20

- Damage: 5/Per Sec

Stat Requirement: Spirituality (20), Wisdom(20)]

'Hmm, interesting. I'll have to try it later.'

Once she had high enough stats to meet the requirements.

With her CP half depleted, her ears bleeding out, the musket worn out, and the bayonet scrapped, she had to proceed cautiously. 

'Gotta replenish CP and the weapons.'

She found a relatively secluded spot within the columbarium and began to create a new bayonet.

'Malevolent Arsenal: Create Inferior Cursed Bayonet'

[-30 CP]

[HP: 182/200]

[CP: 21/100]

Renko focused her energy on creating a new bayonet. Her cursed energy concentrated in her palms and she caught it by the handle before it hit the floor.

[Inferior Cursed Bayonet

Durability: 5/5]

'Nice? At least good enough for now.'

She sighed, placing the bayonet in her inventory.

'Now, I gotta stuff my face with sweets, huh?'

Renko pulled out a few pieces of Snickers and Kit-Kats and began to munch on them.

-2*[Snickers Bar]

2*[HP +20]

2*[CP +10]

-4*[Kit Kat]

4*[HP +15]

4*[CP +15]

As she enjoyed her snacks, Renko considered her next move. The nest still held sub-bosses and a boss she would need to face but first, there were still nineteen more elites to face before she could even try facing the big ones.

[09:30]

'Alright, gotta be smart about this. Can't afford to waste resources.'

Renko cautiously moved out of the columbarium, her senses on high alert. She decided to take advantage of her Basic Stealth skill to minimize her presence and avoid unnecessary confrontations.

As she navigated through the maze of graves, Renko spotted another cluster of elite curse spirits. They seemed to be scattered, each engaged in their own mournful activities. This presented an opportunity for Renko to pick them off one by one.

Mostly the Fly-heads, these semi-fourth grade curse spirits were busy hovering above individual graves.

'Starting with that one over there.'

She grinned maliciously while singling out a Fly-head hovering away from its pack.

[Fly Head: Lv.5]

[HP: 20/20]

[CP: 10/10]

Renko crouched behind a tombstone, musket loaded and ready, observing the creature's movements.

'Should be manageable.'

Renko took a deep breath, aimed in on the creature, and prepared to fire.

'Fire'

*BANG*

[Critical Hit!]

[Damage: 15 + 2.25(15%) + 6(40%)]

[Fly Head: -23.25 HP]

[Fly-Head: Exorcised]

[+10 EXP]

[Dropped Items:

- $5 or ¥600

- 2*Fly-head Wings]

[Firearms Mastery: +5 EXP]

[Marksmanship: +10 EXP]

[Innate Technique: Malevolent Arsenal(1): +5]

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 5/10(-1)]

Renko grinned as she exorcised the Fly Head with a well-aimed shot. The remaining elite curse spirits, unaware of her presence, continued their mournful activities. She moved behind a different tombstone and took a minute to reload her musket.

"Hehehehehehehehe."

'One down, plenty more to go.'

Renko continued her stealthy approach, picking off the scattered elite curse spirits one by one.

[BANG] - Another Fly Head down.

[BANG] - Yet another.

As she moved through the graveyard, Renko couldn't help but appreciate the effectiveness of her strategy. The Basic Stealth skill allowed her to pick them off one by one without alerting others.

[BANG]

[BANG]

[BANG]

[Warning!]

[The Durability Of The Item 'Inferior Cursed Flintlock Pistol' Has Hit 0 Points]

[Item Is No Longer Usable.]

'Malevolent Arsenal: Create Inferior Cursed Flintlock Pistol'

[CP -80]

[CP: 20/100]

She continued to use the musket to take down Fly Heads, slowly improving her marksmanship and firearm mastery.

[MIDNIGHT]

By now, she was out of ammunition and had taken down roughly more than half the Fly Heads in the cemetery, 

26*[Critical Hit!]

26*[Damage: 15 + 2.25(15%) + 6(40%)]

26*[Fly Head: -23.25 HP]

[26*Fly-Head: Exorcised]

[+260 EXP]

[Level: 4]

[Experience: 205/400]

[Free Stat Points: +5]

[Dropped Items:

- $130 or ¥15,600

- 52*Fly-head Wings]

[Firearms Mastery: +130 EXP]

[Firearms Mastery(2): 138/200]

[Marksmanship: +260 EXP]

[Marksmanship(5): 420/500]

[Innate Technique: Malevolent Arsenal(1): +130]

[Innate Technique: Malevolent Arsenal(1): 290/1000]

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 0/10(-5)]

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 0/10(-10)]

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 0/10(-10)]

[3*Trash: Broken Flintlock Musket] 

[Inferior Cursed Musket

Durability: 9/10(-1)]

[Inventory Update]

[Weapons:

1*Inferior Cursed Musket (9/10) 

6*Junk: Broken Flintlock Pistol 

1*Flesh-Cleaver (14/15) - Grade Four Cursed Tool 

6*Junk: Broken Flintlock Musket 

3*Junk: Broken Bayonet 

1*Inferior Cursed Bayonet

5*Box Cutter (5/5): Makeshift Weapon]

[Protective Gear:

2*Disposable Latex Glove Boxes (100) 

4*Thick Knee Pads

2*Safety Goggles]

[Consumables:

90*Snicker Bars(-18) 

25*Kit Kat (-4)

115*Red Bull Cans (-5 Cans) 

10*Pocky Chocolate Stick Boxes

10*LOTTE Choco Pie Boxes 

12*Baum Roll 

4*Bread Roll (Pack of 5) 

3*Sweet Potato Buns (Pack of 6) - 3*¥1,200: ¥3,600

2*Incense Sticks 

2*Ritual Candles (Jasmin, Rose, Lavender, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus)

45*Mevius Mode 3 (-5)]

[Tools:

1*Flashlight

2*Lighter

2*Whetstone]

[Other Supplies:

1*Rope (5 meters)

76*Fly-head Wings

1*Mourning Meat

4*Meat Fang

1*Undead Curse Spirit Flesh

Skill Book: Sound Curse: Uta Satsujin(Song of Murder)]

[Bank: $3,490,200 + $330]

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Note: I just realized that I can write the content and stuff the system notifications at the very end of the chapters. So don't worry, no more system overload in chapters.

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