Chapter 35: The Relentless Dance of Blood and Bullets

[New passive skill acquired: Aavarkadh's Skins (Passive)!]

[Aavarkadh's Skins (Passive): Enhances defense over time. Defense increases by 3% per minute while in battle, forming an impenetrable shield against all threats.]

[New passive skill acquired: Ballistic Calculations (Passive)!]

[Ballistic Calculations (Passive):Provides a 10% damage bonus against enemies at extreme distances, compensating for projectile drop and wind resistance.]

…

Inside the dimly lit basement, repeated tremors reverberated through the cramped 4x4 space, causing the very foundations to shudder. 

Surprisingly, the sturdy firearm racks held steadfast, firmly supporting the weight of the guns mounted upon them. 

Dust particles danced in the air, settling on the lifeless corpse of the Vampardvarsk, which had become a macabre canvas for specks of dirt amidst the continuous vibrations. 

The iron security shutters clattered loudly, their metallic clang echoing throughout the room, accompanied by eerie growls and horrifying screams that emanated from the unseen depths behind them. 

However, Jin remained unaffected, his eyes ablaze with an inner fire.

Two transparent screens hovered in Jin's view, glowing like golden orbs, as if blessed by the sun itself. Even in his usually composed state of mind, he struggled to contain the surge of excitement that threatened to overflow.

"G-Great!" His countenance quivered, and his lips trembled as he spoke with a stutter. "This passive skill will compensate for the weaknesses of my Bloodrhist skill!" he added, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and anticipation.

No longer regarding passive skills as useless, Jin summoned another transparent game panel that displayed the details of the newfound ability he had mentioned. The words flickered before his eyes, mesmerizing him with their potential.

[Bloodthirst (Passive): When the character sustains damage, their bloodlust can drive them to become more aggressive, enhancing their attack power while reducing their defense by 25%.]

His eyes darted back and forth at a dizzying speed, oscillating between the description of Bloodthirst and his recently acquired Aavarkadh's Skins skill. 

He couldn't help but gulp audibly, his breath catching in his throat, as a shiver ran down his spine.

"With this combination, I won't have to worry about my defense," Jin murmured, the initial excitement gradually subsiding as calmness settled over his mind, warming the surging blood coursing through his veins.

Yet, he couldn't ignore the fact that he had inadvertently offended the group of tenants. Jin knew, based on his limited knowledge, that his future would be fraught with trouble, given the terrifying backgrounds associated with those tenants.

Despite the opportunity to fight or increase his chances of survival, Jin's long-held desire to break free from the clutches of those in power failed to ignite. 

However, refocusing his thoughts, Jin prepared to take action, only to be struck by a searing wave of pain that felt as though his brain was being shattered repeatedly.

"Ugh," he groaned, his face reddening, and green veins pulsating on his temples. After a few agonizing moments, the sensation subsided, leaving him breathless. 

Simultaneously, a faint white light enveloped his body. Jin, who had closed his eyes in response to the immense pain, suddenly opened them, revealing slitted tiger-like pupils. 

He sensed that something had changed within him.

Uncertain of the extent of the transformation, Jin carefully scanned his body, finding no visible signs of hardened skin or mutations like the deceased creature before him. 

"This is the third time I've acquired a passive skill, yet I still can't bear the pain," he muttered wryly, his complexion pale.

As he observed his unchanged physical appearance, Jin concluded that the true effects of the skill might only manifest during battle. 

Shifting his gaze to the remaining firearms rack, his attention settled on the empty slot where the M4 should have been. 

Two other firearms caught his eye: a compact submachine gun and an old-fashioned shotgun known as the blunderbuss.

"The Mini Uzi and the legendary Blunderbuss," he murmured, his eyes momentarily fixed on these two firearms before eventually returning to his trusty Mossberg shotgun. 

A profound silence enveloped him as he calculated his plan. After a brief moment, a gleam of determination flashed in his eyes as he swiftly turned around, snatching the antique shotgun from its resting place in his hands.

"I guess it's time to clean up." Approaching the crimson button, he exerted a slight burst of strength, prying open the lower portion of the iron security shutters. 

The struggle was evident as the gears strained against the weight of the Vampardvarsk bodies, their rotation accompanied by a grating sound that attracted the attention of the Blood Slaves once again.

The gap gradually widened, eventually reaching up to his waist before becoming stuck due to the head of the Vampardvarsk still lodged in the center of the shutter hole. Simultaneously, another game screen flashed before his eyes.

[Skill: Gunslinger Activated!]

[A temporary 10% increase in firearm accuracy and reload speed has been applied for 20 seconds!]

[Any critical hits dealt during the skill's duration will deal an additional 50% damage!]

As "Gunslinger" activated, Jin's shotgun underwent a remarkable transformation. The weapon emanated a vibrant, fiery aura, while its ammunition took on a distinct red hue.

"GRRR!" Just as Jin anticipated encountering a human adversary, their pallid skin, sharpened nails, and predatory gaze, instead, a colossal Flying Golden Wing fox bat emerged before him.

A smirk curled on Jin's lips as his gaze locked with the formidable Flying Golden Wing fox bat. With a sense of déjà vu, he swiftly pulled the trigger, unleashing a deafening gunshot.

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 5 Vampiric Bat!]

With one enemy slain, another swiftly took its place, fueling Jin's sinister smile as splatters of crimson blood decorated his face.

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 5 Vampiric Bat!]

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 5 Vampiric Bat!]

[You h...]

...

After approximately one hour, the stockpile of shotgun shells in the basement was completely depleted, leaving Jin no choice but to abandon the shotgun.

"Thank you for your service," Jin commented, his eyes shifting to the reliable Mossberg shotgun and the aged Blunderbuss nestled in the corner of the basement. 

One had been the very first firearm that had saved him and altered his fate dramatically; without it, he would have perished long ago. As for the latter...

"Essentially, a one-night-stand shotgun," he chuckled, his gaze then turning toward the subterranean corridor that led to the surface. The silvery moonlight illuminated another fresh wave of Blood Slaves gathered there.

"GRR!" Despite having slain nearly all of the Level 5 Vampiric Bats, there were still over a hundred Blood Slaves left to be vanquished. 

But true to their limited intelligence, they only became alert when their strongest kin fell effortlessly before Jin's might.

"There are too many of them," Jin frowned. The chaos he had caused and the sheer number of Blood Slaves had undoubtedly drawn the attention of almost every nearby blood slave in proximity to his old apartment. 

It wouldn't be long before other survivors, if any remained, took notice.

"That would be troublesome," he muttered, casting a glance back at the lone remaining firearm hanging on the wall—a different type of ammunition waiting to be utilized.

But Jin wasn't certain if the ammunition he had left would be enough to eliminate the remaining Blood Slaves. "Ah, forget that. Let's just kill them first and think later," he muttered, determination burning in his eyes.

Taking a slight step backward, he reached for the mini Uzi, its metal surface glowing with intense heat, akin to molten magma. 

As he squeezed the trigger, the remaining Level 5 Vampiric Bats, positioned behind the Blood Slaves, suddenly advanced, unfurling their massive wings that obscured the view of the approaching enemies.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Surprisingly, the 9mm ammunition proved insufficient to fully pierce the thick fur and membrane-like wings of these colossal Flying Golden Wing fox bats. 

Blood spurted from the small bullet wounds, but these creatures seemed unfazed, almost mocking Jin as if they had finally found a countermeasure against this modern human weaponry.

"GRR!" The mini Uzi emitted a clicking sound, indicating the need for a magazine refill. Simultaneously, the protective wings of the bats retracted, allowing the Blood Slaves to charge toward Jin.

"Well, this is getting a little tiresome," Jin remarked, a smile playing on his lips. Instead of succumbing to panic and fear, he swiftly pressed the red button, causing the iron security shutters to roll down and seal the gap that had reached shoulder level.

The reason he had been able to dispatch most of the blood-sucking creatures without expending too much effort in dodging was precisely because of this gap. 

While he used the shotgun, they foolishly entered one by one in a line.

Just as Jin believed the security shutters were about to close completely, granting him a momentary respite to reload, the severed head of a Vampardvarsk startled him, causing him to take a couple of steps back.

"Finally using their brains, huh?" Jin narrowed his eyes as he observed the severed head being slowly pulled out. He had anticipated this, and in the meantime, his swift hands had reloaded the mini Uzi. 

However, what followed took him by surprise.

CLATTER

CLATTER

As the entire body of the Vampardvarsk was pulled out, the cunning Flying Golden Wing fox bats utilized their bodies to widen the gap, rendering the iron security shutter useless.

"Smart," Jin praised, acknowledging their clever tactic. He had already predicted this outcome and didn't bother disturbing them, considering this one as valuable research material to determine their capabilities.

But what unfolded next completely defied his calculations. The Level 5 vampiric bats and Blood Slaves began performing a gruesome act, one that promised immense suffering for their victims.