“That’s alright, try again,” Martin said, never breaking eye contact with the monster.

Dug’s hand shook as he fired again and missed. Two more shots hit the ground, but the third one caught the Warped on its flank, leaving behind a scorched patch of flesh. The monster roared and charged. Nori raised her arm; a dart formed on her mounted launcher and shot forward. It hit the Warped and collapsed its lungs into a smoking cavity.

Martin patted her shoulder and looked down at the flustered Technician. “Not bad, Dug. We’ll work on your aim. Catty, you’re up next.”

One of the women, a double-barrel shotgun strapped to her back, approached the dead creature. After the light show had ended, the woman returned with a smug smile. “Sharpshooter, level three.”

“Excellent,” Martin said, throwing her a Zapper.

They waited almost half an hour before a third Warped came to investigate the noise. This time, it was a level two creature. Martin let Catty shoot at it and she fired several times. Each shot hit the monster at a sensitive point until the fourth one finally brought it down.

“Good job,” Martin said approvingly. “Juarez, you’re up.”

A small Latino man approached the slain monster and absorbed its tech, becoming a level one Machinator and duly receiving his own Zapper.

They stood there for hours, luring in the Warped and killing them one after the other. The strongest were two level four monsters, but Martin effortlessly killed them with his superior weapon.

Nori noticed that the shelter’s leader seemed to know which of his men were ‘combat material’, as everyone he called to claim a higher level Warped received a combat-related Path. The others who held more artisan-typed Paths were all level one. It might not have been the most efficient method. Martin already knew it was possible to share Tec with everyone in the party, but he was intentionally segregating his people, letting them claim a separate kill.

Nori approved. Martin was a competent leader and knew exactly what he was doing, investing more in those who could fight. After all, at this stage, brawn was more important than brain. Once survival became less of a pressing concern, they could put their sights on rebuilding their society.

It took them longer to attract the Warped than she’d expected. Normally, the monsters were everywhere. Nevertheless, it was a much more cheerful and confident party of people that returned to the shelter three hours later. Three more guards received combat-related Paths, and Mage, true to his name, received a somewhat ostentatious sounding Path called: Infernalist.

“Good job, everyone,” Nori said, nodding at the people as she saw them through the heavy gate.

“You’re not coming in?” Dug frowned as he looked at the sky. “It’s going to be dark soon.”