"Yes, brother. Let's do that," Norel said, immediately agreeing to my counterproposal to his brother's plan to deal with the mist brewer grimmons, Drunkey. Even Vivian seemed hesitant about sharing her cypher card information, so she turned to Nadron and asked, "What do you think?"
"I'll be honest. Normally, I would agree with Crayon's plan. But our current situation is ideal for me to demonstrate my prowess to the military recruiter and also amass points. So, if you trust me, I would still prefer to go with my plan," Nadron said, honestly stating his position, just as he promised.
His honesty convinced Vivian, and she rejected my proposal. After hearing his brother's reasoning, Norel also voted against me. Just like that, I lost the opportunity to learn two new cypher cards. I guess I'll have to settle for Nadron's.
[Grimlock Nadron Napes's Grim ID saved in your Grim Web community.]
[Grimlock Nadron Napes has shared their Cypher Card Info with you]
[ —Cypher Card Info Trade—
Name: Nadron Napes
Race: Human
Gender: Male (♂)
Age: (Censored)
Health: Healthy
Gioncore: High-grade (Censored)
Grim Deck: Awakened (Censored)
Grim Cypher: Solo Soldier
You are a soldier with greater stamina and health with prowess capable of fighting multiple enemies alone.
i) Solo Sword: While fighting multiple enemies alone, your damage and attack speed will temporarily increase by 5% per enemy, up to a cap of 300%. If you are wielding a sword, this cap increases to 500%.
ii) Solo Shield: While fighting multiple enemies alone, your defense and evasion will temporarily increase by 5% per enemy, up to a cap of 300%. If you are wielding a shield, this cap increases to 500%.
iii) Solo Survivor: With each enemy killed, the Grimlock's overall recovery rate increases by 5%, cap at 500%. The Solo Sword and Shield's cap also increases by 5%, and the duration of the boost extends by 20 seconds.
iv) Solo Survey: While fighting multiple enemies alone, the location and health of all living enemies in your vicinity will be revealed to you.
Note:
i) If anyone assists you in the fight, all boosts granted by the Grim Cypher are immediately lost.
ii) The Grimlock retains its accumulated boost for ten minutes after slaughtering its targets plus the boost from Solo Survivor.]
[— Fateless —
You have discovered Grim Cypher < Sole Soldier > and recorded it in the Fate Index.]
"How are you not already recruited by an organization?" I asked Nadron, scanning through his cypher card. It practically labeled him a one-man army, but his gioncore was only high grade. Hearing me, Vivian's interest sparked. "Now I'm intrigued."
"Not too late to go with my plan," I said, but Vivian only shook her head. Meanwhile, Norel slurred, "Guys… I think I'm drunk."
"Already? The mist isn't even that thick yet," Vivian said, realizing Norel was a lightweight.
"Can I trust him with you guys?" Nadron asked, seeing his brother already drunk just from inhaling and coming into contact with the Drunkey's mist he was concerned about him. At this rate, his blood alcohol level would rise dangerously fast. He had to act now. Looking at Vivian, he added, "Can you make a durable sword and shield using your petrification gion tattoo and hair-manipulation-based Grim Cypher?"
"Shouldn't be a problem," Vivian replied. She activated her Grim Cypher, extending and controlling her hair, weaving it into a shield like a rattan frame. Then, using her petrification gion tattoo, she hardened it into stone, creating a shield sturdy enough to wield.
She then shaped another mass of hair into a blade and petrified it as well, forming a crude but durable and blunt sword before handing both over.
Nadron swung the sword and raised the shield, testing their balance and weight. After a brief moment to get a feel for them, he ran into the mist, saying, "I'll be right back."
As I watched the thickening fog around us, alert, Vivian asked, "What do you think? Will he succeed?"
"Honestly, I don't know. His Grim Cypher is capable, but I don't know him well enough to say he can wield it efficiently. Time will tell," I replied. At the same time, I used Aceso's Breath on Norel, boosting his body's recovery in the hope it would help his body manage the rising alcohol levels in the mist.
Soon, we began to hear the Drunkeys—screams and guttural howls echoing through the mist. Nadron had begun his solo play. Anticipating that the enraged Drunkeys might turn on us, I warned Vivian, "If one comes at us, don't attack—just defend."
The only reason Nadron could fight effectively in the dense mist, which limited our vision, was his Grim Cypher's Solo Survey ability. It revealed the location and health of every enemy around him. If even one Drunkey broke away and attacked us, forcing us to intervene—he would lose the benefits of his grim cypher and be overwhelmed by the rest. Especially with his vision limited he would be almost helpless.
"What about restraining it?" Vivian asked, spotting a shadow moving through the mist around us.
"No—just defend," I said quickly.
"Alright," she agreed. She had no issue following that approach as her mastery of the petrification gion tattoo allowed her to encase herself in a biological stone as hard as diamond and as strong as tungsten.
Vivian watched as a figure prowled through the mist, drawing closer with measured steps, as if it knew it had been spotted and was proceeding with caution. She activated her gion tattoo and waited. But just as the creature—a green-furred ape with twin tusks—emerged from the fog, a stone sword pierced its chest from behind.
Nadron tossed the Drunkey's corpse aside and stepped out of the mist, walking toward us. "That's the last of them. We can leave the mist now without worrying about an ambush," he said. "Thanks for taking care of my brother."
Then, glancing at Vivian, he added, "This sword and shield you made from your petrified hair aren't bad—lightweight and durable. You should consider selling them."
"Yes, I'm preparing for a card crafting license. I'm still far from being a card crafter—there's a lot to study, and it'll take time," Vivian said, eyeing the receding mist. Following her gaze, Nadron asked, "Have you given any thought to teaming up? We could all earn a lot of points that way."