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Her words were lighthearted, but they held truth. Mr. Winters still performed admirably—not just in battle, but also in the more private aspects of their married life, as he had hinted earlier.

He still had the energy and passion of a young stallion, wild and eager. But beyond that, he had always been her shield, the one who stood in front of danger without hesitation.

Now, the roles had shifted just a little. Mrs. Winters had grown stronger—more capable, more fearless. For once, she wasn't the helpless woman waiting to be saved. She had the power to fight, to stand her ground, and to protect the man who had always protected her.

Stepping into the battlefield had become more than just survival—it was her chance to reinvent herself. Out here, in the thick of danger and chaos, she had found her strength. And as long as she had breath in her body, she would be a pillar beside her beloved husband.

'This feels amazing!' Mrs. Winters thought as she strode forward with confidence, her vines lashing out like extensions of her will. She didn't even need to lift a finger—just precise control over her spiritual energy to keep them moving.

Unlike earlier, when she had to envelop the entire truck with her thorny vines—an effort that demanded an enormous amount of spiritual energy—this was far more manageable.

With only six vines under her command now, she could sustain them easily, striking down zombies one after another with fluid grace and deadly efficiency.

Even the old Patriarch refused to be left behind.

Thankfully, Kisha had given him a special crossbow—not an ordinary one, of course.

Like Keith's, it possessed extraordinary features.

He didn't need to manually reload it, as each arrow had an automatic retrieval mechanism that brought it back to the chamber after just three seconds, making it perfect for someone his age.

But the Patriarch wasn't as frail as he used to be. Ever since taking the 'Immortal Pill,' he looked and felt at least ten years younger. His chronic ailments had vanished, and he no longer needed his cane.

Now more agile and steady-handed, he had no trouble hitting one zombie after another with precise shots. His aim was true, his hands didn't tremble, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

With every bullseye—a clean shot to a zombie's head—the Patriarch burst into hearty laughter. The crossbow was not only powerful, but easy to use, requiring little effort. For him, it was like a game, and he was enjoying every moment of it.

"Buddy, look at this! This crossbow is incredible! My granddaughter-in-law is truly amazing for getting her hands on such a marvelous item!" the Patriarch exclaimed excitedly, tugging on Grandpa Alden's sleeve like an overgrown child showing off a new toy.

Grandpa Aldens, who was hacking down a nearby zombie while standing back-to-back with the Patriarch to guard the middle line, shot him a sidelong glance.

He was doing his best to protect his wife from the encroaching undead—but who would've thought the old Patriarch would come barreling into the front lines just to gush about his new weapon?

Grandpa Alden's expression soured slightly as he glanced at the high-tech crossbow gleaming in the Patriarch's hands. The envy was real. But then he remembered—he too had been gifted something special: an exceptionally crafted machete from his own granddaughter.

With a faint, proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Grandpa Alden tightened his grip on the machete.

'Fine then,' he thought. 'Let's see which of us gets the higher zombie count today.'

...

[Advanced Mechanical Crossbow]

[Description: Forged by a 9th-tier advanced civilization, this mechanical crossbow is the epitome of sleek engineering and combat efficiency.

Crafted with lightweight yet highly durable materials, it remains reliable even in the heat of prolonged battles.

Its standout feature is the Automatic Retrieval system, which recalls fired arrows back to the chamber after each shot, eliminating the need to carry or recover ammunition.

Equipped with a tactical scope embedded with advanced targeting systems, it excels in silent takedowns and long-range precision. While it may not penetrate heavy armor, it makes up for it with deadly accuracy—especially when exploiting an enemy's weak points.

Grade: LegendaryType: Weapon

Attributes:

Strength +15

Stamina +15

Effects:

*Automatic Retrieval: Arrows return automatically to the chamber after being fired, allowing for infinite reuse.

*Consecutive Shots: Enables rapid-fire capability without manual reloading.

*Critical Hit: 20% chance to deal a critical strike.

*Precision Calibration: Enhances user focus and aim by 60%, greatly improving accuracy at long range.]

...

[Azarkan's Great Machete]

[Description: This mighty machete once belonged to Azarkan, a legendary warrior renowned for his ferocity on the battlefield. Armed with this very blade, he fought tooth and nail against an endless horde of ogres, slaying over a hundred and earning the fearsome title of Ogre Slayer.

Forged in the sacred fires of his tribe and passed down to only the most elite warriors, the machete was more than a weapon—it was a symbol of honor, courage, and unmatched strength. Though lost during the catastrophic Great War that shattered his homeland, the weapon lives on through legend.

Grade: LegendaryType: Weapon

Attributes:

Strength +25

Agility +15

Stamina +25

Effects:

*Berserk: Unleashes a surge of primal energy, doubling the user's Strength for 10 minutes. During this time, the user can rival even a chief ogre in raw power. However, this berserker state clouds rational thought, making the user unpredictable.

*Pierce: Grants a 25% increased chance to penetrate enemy armor on impact.

*Ignore: 30% chance to bypass enemy defenses entirely, increasing the chance for a devastating critical hit.]

...

The two old men found themselves silently competing, each trying to rack up more kills.

Grandpa Aldens, even without activating the berserk mode of his legendary machete, had an advantage.

Thanks to his awakened abilities, he could enhance his strength, agility, and defense at will—perfectly suited for the chaos of battle.

His awakened abilities allowed him to channel spiritual energy to boost whichever attribute he needed. Whether it was strengthening his strikes, increasing his speed, or fortifying his defense, he had total control over it.

There was no time limit on these enhancements, either. As long as he continued to channel his spiritual energy, he could maintain the enhancements. And when he no longer needed them, he could simply cut off the flow of energy.

When surrounded by more than three zombies, Grandpa Aldens would activate his 'Strength Enhancement', allowing him to cleave through them with a single swipe of his machete. The blade sliced through their necks with ease, as if cutting through butter.

When he needed to reposition quickly, he would channel his spiritual energy to 'Speed Enhancement', doubling his agility and making him as nimble as a monkey, darting through the battlefield with unparalleled precision.

In moments when he was cornered by a horde, Grandpa Aldens would activate his Defense Enhancement, transforming his body into a hardened, hulking mass. His muscles would bulge, and his skin would become nearly impervious, making him a tank on the battlefield.

Currently, his abilities stood at Strength Enhancement Level 1, Speed Enhancement Level 0, and Defense Enhancement Level 0.

However, with his 'Talent: Amplification', he could increase the effects of his enhancements even further.

What once doubled his strength, speed, or defense, could now be amplified another twofold, making him an even more formidable force.