Reidar held his father's gaze. "I want to buy you some skills."

Matthias shook his head. "Reidar—"

"Dad." Reidar's voice was authoritative. "You saved Mom. You fought through a city full of monsters alone. You amputated your foot to survive. Let me do this."

"Your family—"

"Is far away. Mom is here. You're here. And you need help."

Matthias's jaw tightened. His fingers drummed against the crutch. <He's not wrong.>

"What kind of skills?"

"You have healing spells. Plenty of them, from what I can see. What you don't have are allies. Comrades who can watch your back while you work." Reidar leaned forward.

"I have the spriggans."

"They won't always be there," Reidar said. "I'm going to buy you summoning skills. Like mine."

"Summoning skills?"

"I love them. Being surrounded by high-level creatures that can distract enemies and protect me makes me feel safe. That's what I want for you."

Matthias studied his son's face. <He won't take no for an answer.>

"The cost—"

"I have too many Survival Points that I can count. I can afford it."

Silence stretched between them.

"And there's something else," Reidar added. "While I'm here in Creamont, I want you to come hunting with me. We can level you up faster. Get you the resources you need to find a cure."

"Reidar, you need to focus on reaching Martha and Marcus."

"I know. But I'm here now, and I won't leave until I make sure you are safe. Let me help you before I go."

Matthias's expression softened. His shoulders sagged. "You're as stubborn as your mother."

"I learned from the best."

The older man sighed. "Fine. We'll hunt together while you're here. But only if you promise to leave when you're ready. Don't let my presence keep you from your family."

"Deal."

Matthias gestured toward the door. "The vendor is on the top floor of the skyscraper. You can't miss it."

"Top floor?"

"The guy chose the highest floor in the settlement. Probably for visibility."

Reidar stood. "I'll be back soon."

"Take your time. I'll stay with your mother."

Reidar looked at Judy one last time. Her peaceful face. Her silver hair spread across the pillow. He wanted to believe she could hear them. He wanted to believe that somewhere inside her; she was aware of their presence.

He turned and left the medical ward.

…

…

…

The skyscraper dominated Creamont's skyline. The lower floors showed damage from the apocalypse, with broken windows, and scorched walls, but they were far less damaged than the other buildings. This was especially true at the upper levels, which remained relatively intact.

Spriggan guards stood at attention near the entrance. They nodded as he passed. Word had spread about his arrival. It was hard to miss someone on Level 260.

The elevator for the upper floors, of course, didn't work. But Reidar now had enough strength to get there without too much trouble.

Many stairs later, he found what had clearly been an executive suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the city below. The furniture had been cleared away, replaced by organized displays of weapons, armor, and equipment.

<This one looks like a real shop.> It was different from Morv'axil or Keth'moran, who only showed their goods through the system's interface. This dude put a lot on display just for the sake of making the place look like a proper shop.

At the center stood the vendor.

Reidar recognized the race. Kytinn. This was the same race as the guy who had given him the shepherd's quest. The alien towered over him.

Four compound eyes tracked Reidar's approach.

"Welcome, Survivor." The words conveyed warmth. Professionalism. Genuine interest: "I am Zix'thara'koth, but you can call me Zix."

Reidar stopped several feet away. "I'm Reidar Miller."

"I know who you are." The mandibles clicked in amusement. "News travels fast for us merchants. You impressed the Aegis Phalanx. It's not something anyone can claim, especially if that someone is newly awakened."

"Thank you."

"What brings you to my establishment?"

"I need summoning skills. I am looking for summoning skills specifically for my father. He's at level one hundred. I want something that will keep him safe."

Zix's smaller arms gestured. The holographic interface expanded, filling the space between them with skill descriptions. Text scrolled past in organized columns.

"Summoning skills sell fast. Nothing beats having backup you can call on when things go south." The alien's voice took on a sharper edge; it was all business now. "So what's your budget?"

"35,121,687 Survival Points. Maybe more if I need it."

"35.121.687???!!! " He paused. "Let me show you options suitable for a level one hundred survivors."

The display reorganized. Skills appeared and vanished as Zix filtered the results. Finally, five options remained floating in the air.

—[«SHOP»]—

« Summon Steel Sentinel Squad »—Tier 10

Conjures five heavily armored warriors equipped with tower shields and reinforced plating. These disciplined soldiers excel at holding defensive positions and creating protective formations around their summoner.

Price: 92,000 SP

Requirements: Level 100

Summon Details

Summons: 5x Steel Sentinel (Caster Level).

Spell Type: Sustained Summon

Mana Cost: 2,684 per creature (Upkeep)

Duration: Until dismissed or destroyed

Cooldown: None

Creature Abilities

Shield Wall Formation: Sentinels lock shields to create a fortified barrier.

Reinforced Plating: 60% reduction in physical damage

Steady Recovery: Gradually repair armor damage when not in active combat

Defensive Stance: Cannot be pushed back or disrupted

Counter Strike: Return attacks after successful blocks

Note: Upon reaching 100% proficiency, this skill can be upgraded to the next Tier, further enhancing its power and effects.

« Summon War Hound Pack »—Tier 10

Summons a pack of forty-five battle-trained hounds bred for combat. These aggressive canines coordinate attacks with pack intelligence and overwhelm enemies through sheer numbers and relentless aggression.

Price: 92,000 SP

Requirements: Level 100

Summon Details

Summons: 45 x War Hound (Caster Level -10)

Spell Type: Batch Summon

Mana Cost: 2,684 (Fixed)

Duration: 28 minutes

Cooldown: 38 minutes

Creature Abilities

Pack Coordination: Each additional hound increases damage by 8%.

Savage Bite: Bleeding wounds that stack over time

Alpha Leadership: The pack leader directs tactical movements.

Intimidating Growl: Causes hesitation in weaker enemies

Tireless Pursuit: Enhanced stamina for extended chases

Note: Upon reaching 100% proficiency, this skill can be upgraded to the next Tier, further enhancing its power and effects.

« Summon Stone Juggernaut »—Tier 10

Creates a massive construct of reinforced stone and metal plating. This singular war machine serves as a mobile fortress, capable of absorbing tremendous punishment while dealing devastating blows.

Price: 92,000 SP

Requirements: Level 100

Summon Details

Summons: 1 x Stone Juggernaut (Caster Level +100)

Spell Type: Sustained Summon

Mana Cost: 2,684 per creature (Upkeep)

Duration: Until dismissed or destroyed

Cooldown: None

Creature Abilities

Crushing Blow: Heavy strikes that shatter armor and bone

Layered Stone Armor: High resistance to all damage types

Siege Power: Effective against fortifications and structures

Self-Repair: Slowly regenerates damaged sections

Impact Tremor: Ground-shaking attacks affect nearby enemies.

Note: Upon reaching 100% proficiency, this skill can be upgraded to the next Tier, further enhancing its power and effects.

« Summon Field Medic Cadre »—Tier 10

Conjures sixty small, agile sprites trained in battlefield medicine. These dedicated healers move through combat zones, treating injuries and removing harmful effects from allies.

Price: 92,000 SP

Requirements: Level 100

Summon Details

Summons: 60 x Field Medic Sprite (Caster Level -20)

Spell Type: Sustained Summon

Mana Cost: 2,684 per creature (Upkeep)

Duration: Until dismissed or destroyed

Cooldown: None

Creature Abilities

Combat Healing: Continuous medical treatment to nearby allies

Antidote Application: Removes poisons and diseases

Emergency Revival: Sprite spends itself to stabilize dying ally

Triage Protocol: Prioritizes most critically wounded targets

Protective Shield: Creates minor barriers around injured allies

Note: Upon reaching 100% proficiency, this skill can be upgraded to the next Tier, further enhancing its power and effects.

« Summon Shadow Operative Team »—Tier 10

Summon fifteen trained infiltrators skilled in stealth and precision strikes. These tactical specialists excel at eliminating priority targets and disrupting enemy formations.

Price: 92,000 SP

Requirements: Level 100

Summon Details

Summons: 15 x Shadow Operative (Caster Level)

Spell Type: Batch Summon

Mana Cost: 2,684 (Fixed)

Duration: 28 minutes

Cooldown: 38 minutes

Creature Abilities

Stealth Movement: Reduced visibility in shadows and darkness

Precision Strike: Critical hits deal significantly increased damage.

Poison Coating: Attacks apply damaging toxins.

Flanking Maneuver: Bonus damage when attacking from behind

Rapid Repositioning: Quick movement between targets

Note: Upon reaching 100% proficiency, this skill can be upgraded to the next Tier, further enhancing its power and effects.

—[«END»]—

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