Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Base Manager Trait
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, considering the value of points, I should be able to snag something like this.
That said, the shop didn't have a ton of skills or traits on offer.
Starting with the skills, there were about four of them.
[Sky Slash (1/1)]
[Price: 5 Points]
[Slam your greatsword down hard to cleave the enemy with devastating force. Damage scales with the greatsword's weight.]
[Greatsword Exclusive: Cannot be used without a greatsword.]
[Requires Combat Specialist trait.]
[Lunge Punch (0/1)]
[Price: 4 Points]
[Thrust your fist straight out at high speed to strike the enemy. Damage scales with the user's Strength stat.]
[Requires Combat Specialist trait.]
[Stealth (0/1)]
[Price: 2 Points]
[Hide your presence to reduce the chance of detection. Chance decreases further in dark shadows.]
[Mental Management (1/1)]
[Price: 3 Points]
[Reduces stress from sudden incidents, helping Awakeners maintain composure.]
Two combat skills and two survival ones, huh?
Anyway, the combat skills are locked behind combat-type traits—no access unless you've got one. The way it specifies "combat-type trait" instead of just "Combat Specialist" suggests there are other combat traits out there besides that one.
And those numbers next to the skill names look like stock quantities. Lunge Punch is at zero, which means that gang boss I killed earlier must've bought the shop's only copy. No wonder it felt like a letdown—he shelled out points for it, only for his fist to shatter on impact. Can't blame the guy for looking shocked.
Sky Slash requires a greatsword, so he'd have needed to buy one too, which is probably why he went for Lunge Punch instead.
Right now, with my Technician trait, I can't use any combat skills anyway.
Not that it matters. All that fancy description, and it's just a powered-up version of swinging your weapon or throwing a punch. I don't need them—I've got enough raw power to handle zombies without this stuff.
The other two are Stealth and Mental Management...
Neither of which I need either.
Stealth? I've already got Shadow Veil from Black Magician, which is way better. If I don't want to be seen, I just melt into the shadows. No need for this basic version.
Mental Management's the same. After everything I've been through in that other world, my head's rock-solid. No risk of cracking under pressure. Plus, even if I had it, it'd be useless and just waste points.
These might be lifesavers for others, but nothing here clicks for me.
Next up: traits. Fingers crossed there's something useful here.
The first two that catch my eye? Immediate pass.
[Runner (1/1)]
[Price: 2 Points]
[Ability to flee from enemies or zombies faster and safer.]
[Breeder (1/1)]
[Price: 2 Points]
[Ability to raise and manage livestock.]
[Requires Farmer trait.]
Buying these probably unlocks new skills like the initial trait pick. But Runner? It's literally for running away instead of fighting—how do you earn coins like that? Maybe good for picking off stragglers, but who knows. Totally useless either way.
Breeder's a no-go since I don't meet the prereqs, and I have zero interest anyway.
Come on, give me something decent.
[Berserker (1/1)]
[Price: 7 Points]
[Ability to dive into combat without regard for your physical condition, focused solely on slaughtering enemies.]
[Grants immunity to zombie infection during combat.]
[Requires Combat Specialist trait.]
This one looks promising. Step into battle, and no worries about getting bitten and turning. Berserker fits—sounds like it'd let you rampage wildly across the battlefield.
Too bad I can't equip it.
[Blacksmith (1/1)]
[Price: 3 Points]
[Ability to craft metal weapons.]
[Requires Weapon Crafter trait.]
One thing I'm noticing touring this shop: whoever designed the Awakener system doesn't want all-rounders. Why else impose all these restrictions?
The combat skills and traits I just saw are all gated behind Combat Specialist. That means anyone who didn't pick it early on is basically barred from combat.
Combat Specialist lives up to its name—the system's built for pure fighters.
Flip that around: Combat Specialists focus solely on battle and can't produce essentials. That's for support traits like Technician or Farmer.
In other words, Combat Specialists protect the others from zombies or outsiders. Technicians and Farmers produce food and goods. Weapon Crafters help fighters perform better. Medical Specialists heal the wounded.
No all-in-one protagonists here who solo zombies, craft gear, farm food, build comfy setups, and heal on top.
...But I'm the exception. I can fight, craft, and even heal a bit (inefficiently, but it works). Compared to others, I'm handling multiple roles.
And I deserve this cheat status.
I was supposed to be born rich, living worry-free off daddy's money, delegating all the work while chilling.
But no, this damn zombie apocalypse hits, forcing me into this grind. Cut me some slack, right?
Early on, they treated me as an irregular—magic kills didn't count. But soon they started, which feels like acknowledgment of my bullshit luck.
Man, how'd my life end up like this... Is that why my Luck's 1?
Calling me unlucky?
Five traits total. One left.
What the... Huh?
[Base Manager (1/1)]
[Price: 10 Points]
[Ability to manage a specific location as your base.]
[Requires Technician trait.]
Oh, finally—one I can actually use.
Base Manager... Lets me manage a base, huh.
Does that mean I can upgrade my place? "Manage" is vague—hard to gauge its value.
But 10 points? Priciest here. That's 2,000 coins worth.
Wonder if it's worth it. Probably not priced that high for nothing.
Nothing else I can buy anyway. Might as well grab it—could be insanely good.
I've got 9 points, so short one. Converted 200 coins to get it, then bought Base Manager.
A small orb appeared in my hand. Gotta be the trait.
As I pondered how to equip it, a new system window popped up.
[Equip Base Manager trait?]
[Yes] or [No]
Yes, obviously.
The orb vanished from my hand. Checking my status to confirm:
- Equipment Crafting Lv 4
- Equipment Repair Lv 2
- Base Designation
- Base Reinforcement Lv 1
Bonus Points: 0
Current Coins: 13 Coins
Yep, trait equipped properly. And it came with new skills.
[Base Designation]
[Designate a desired building as your base.]
[After designation, it can be changed to another building after 30 days.]
[Base Reinforcement Lv 1]
[Install barricades to prevent zombies or intruders from entering.]
[Use 10 coins to repair broken barricades.]
Base Designation does exactly what it says. Base Reinforcement sets up barricades... Not urgent, but leveling it might unlock cool stuff. Especially after dropping 10 points—better be worth it or I'm pissed.
Oh, can I swap additional traits once equipped? If something better shows up, I'd want to switch.
Ask the shopkeeper?
"Hey, got a question. Can you swap additional traits after equipping one?"
"Equipped traits cannot be changed directly, but they can be overwritten by other non-basic traits."
So I can overwrite with better ones later. The old one gets replaced, though.
Traits aren't something to slap on lightly then. Equip a decent one, miss out on god-tier later? Regret city. Best to grind levels for more slots, but that's easier said than done—zombie requirements ramp up fast.
"One more thing: Do different shops sell different stuff, skills, traits?"
"No. All sell the same items. Stock quantities are not shared."
Was gonna check other shops if inventories differed, but no need. Coins and points spent—time to head out.
Gotta farm more coins anyway.
Exiting was as simple as entering. Hit Yes on the prompt, and bam—back outside.
"Oh, he's out!"
The folks waiting behind lit up, figuring it was their turn now.
One of the loudmouths from earlier lunged past me toward the entrance. I grabbed his arm and shoved him back.
"Ugh! What the hell? Why're you blocking the way?"
His voice dripped fear—probably from watching me kill that guy earlier. I held out my hand.
"Want in? Pay up. 20 coins per head."
"W-what? Why?"
"I'm the shop owner. Entry fee! Pay the entry fee!"