After taking some time to settle their nerves and allow Brett to regain some of his mana, the pair resumed their journey north. Both were quietly surprised at how lightly they had come through their skirmish with the goblins, only one injury between them, not counting the cuts and grazes Brett had suffered while clumsily descending the tree.
While Brett meditated, focusing on restoring his energy, Josh replayed the fight over and over in his mind. He analysed every moment, every choice, why he’d targeted certain goblins over others, why he’d moved the way he did but he couldn’t recall any deliberate strategy. It was as if his body had acted entirely on instinct.
Despite the fog of subconscious reactions, Josh felt a quiet satisfaction. He’d come away with only a minor wound, far better than it could have been. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the goblin’s dagger, running his thumb along the mostly blunt edge in disbelief that it had managed to cut him at all. Reflecting on the wounds he’d dealt, Josh no longer felt the nausea he had during their first fight. Something had shifted inside him, he now saw the goblins simply as enemies to be defeated, nothing more.
The mental image of his initial shield bash played repeatedly in Josh’s mind, a strong opening move that, given his size and strength, could prove effective against many foes. He promised himself he would practice it until it became second nature. His swordplay, too, had improved; the devastating slash he’d delivered left him quietly proud. And the stabbing move, managing not to get his blade stuck was a relief, although he knew lifting an enemy by the end of his blade wouldn’t work against bigger, heavier opponents. Hopefully learning how to avoid that mistake altogether would be a lesson waiting somewhere ahead.
Josh idly thumbed the goblin’s dagger as he waited for Brett to recover. His nail caught on the rolled edge of the blade, making a soft clink, clink, clink noise as he flicked it out of boredom, having long finished analysing the fight. But then again, that hadn’t taken more than a few minutes.
“Do you know how hard it is to concentrate with the racket you’re making?” Brett groaned, eyes snapping open.
Josh blinked, confused. “W-what? I’ve been sitting here thinking, I haven’t even moved this time. How could I be making noise?”
Brett sighed, shaking his head. “That constant clinking… like water dripping into a bucket. It was driving me nuts.” He stood up, stretching, then checked his status bar, pleased to see most of his mana had returned. “Anyway, ready to move on?”
Josh sprang to his feet, still feeling the faint sting in his leg from the goblin’s blade. He glanced down at the dagger in his hand, the crudely made, bloodied weapon that had caused him so much trouble and without hesitation slipped it back into his satchel. It felt strange carrying a weapon like that, but maybe it would come in handy one day. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension from the fight.
With that, the pair set off through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves. The air was cooler now, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. Their conversation soon drifted back to the strange new world they found themselves in, the system, the goblins, and what lay ahead. Despite the dangers, there was a flicker of hope between them, a growing sense that maybe, just maybe, they could learn to survive here.
—---
The pair pressed onward, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves and undergrowth. Occasionally, they stumbled upon small groups of goblins, snarling and wielding crude weapons, their eyes burning with primal fury. Each encounter was a fresh test, a battle of wits, skill, and endurance that pushed Josh and Brett to their limits.
Brett took to a hit-and-run strategy, his staff crackling with fiery energy as he launched precise firebolts into the goblin ranks. With every shot, the beasts screeched and staggered, their snarls quickly turning to confusion. He would then dart away with surprising speed, weaving between trees and using the forest to cloak his movements. The goblins, disoriented and enraged, would give chase in disorganized bursts, leaving them vulnerable to Josh’s devastating counterattacks.
Josh, standing steady and resolute, mastered the art of ambush and timing. In one brutal encounter, he slipped between two ancient oaks, narrowing the path and funneling the goblins into a deadly bottleneck. As Brett’s blazing bolts tore through the air, Josh’s sword flashed with lethal precision, striking down the beasts before they could regroup or retaliate. Their synergy deepened, their moves becoming a fluid dance of offense and defence, an unspoken language forged in the heat of combat.
Each battle forged them stronger. Brett’s aim sharpened; his firebolts burned with increasing ferocity and unerring accuracy, finding chinks in armour and felling enemies with ruthless efficiency. Josh’s swordplay evolved into something fierce and controlled, each strike delivered with brutal intent but careful enough to avoid the mistakes of earlier fights. His blade no longer got caught in flesh and bone; his footwork no longer left him exposed. The bruises and scratches they collected were mere badges of progress, reminders of their growing resilience.
As sweat dripped and their breathing quickened beneath the thick canopy, the forest echoed with the sounds of battle, clashing steel, guttural snarls, the crackle of flame. But with each victory, their confidence swelled. They were no longer just two lost souls fighting to survive; they were becoming hunters, warriors shaped by a merciless world.
Then, just as Josh’s sword slid free from the chest of the last fallen goblin, silence fell once more.
A new message blinked insistently on their HUDs a sharp reminder that, despite their triumphs, the journey ahead was far from over.
[Congratulations. Your party has killed 3x Level 1 Goblin and 2x Level 2 Goblin.]
[You have levelled up, reaching Level 2!]
Josh and Brett exchanged wide, genuine grins, the thrill of accomplishment washing over them. They hadn’t grown bored of the fight, far from it but the reality of progression in this strange world was beginning to sink in. Levelling up wasn’t just a distant promise; it was happening here, right now.
“This… this is actually happening,” Josh breathed, half to himself. “We’re really levelling up. I wonder when new abilities will unlock?”
Brett shrugged, not knowing the answer, his attention being drawn to his stats still. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, as if acknowledging the beginning of something far greater than either of them could yet imagine. Josh went back to looking at his stats and his free points.
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SP Available - 5
HP - 140
MP - 100
Str - 14
Dex - 12
Con - 14
Int - 10
Wis - 10
Josh furrowed his brow, eyes flickering over the glowing numbers on his HUD as he tried to make sense of the changes. “Brett, last time I put four points into Strength and Constitution, and two into Dexterity. But this time, I only have five skill points? That seems… low.” There was a hint of unease in his voice, like the stakes just got higher.
Brett glanced up briefly, then back at his own stats screen, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, I’ve got five too. Remember, the system mentioned those extra ten points we got before were an apology for bringing us here against our will or whatever. So maybe five points per level is the standard. That would mean the system’s giving us a bit of a boost to start with, like some kind of head start over the average adventurer.”
Neither of them said a word for a moment, the soft glow of their HUDs illuminating their focused faces. It was a strange feeling, realizing they had some kind of advantage but not fully understanding how long it would last or what it really meant.
Josh shifted slightly, considering the numbers carefully. “So basically, we’ve got this cushion for now, but we’re going to have to be smart with how we spend points going forward. I guess that makes sense for the ‘hero’ part of all this, it wants to give us a boost early on, but after that, it’s up to us.”
Brett nodded slowly, tapping his fingers against his chin. “Yeah, and honestly, right now, the way you go about this is working well. You’re strong and tough when you charge in, but you still need the agility to avoid getting overwhelmed. If you reduce Dexterity, you might lose some of that edge. Maybe keep Dexterity where it is, or even shift one point from Constitution or Strength to Dexterity, it might help you move quicker or react faster in fights.”
Josh absorbed the suggestion, his mind weighing the balance between raw power and nimbleness, realizing the choices he made now could shape how well he survived what was to come.
Josh nodded his head in agreement. “Sounds like a plan.” He quickly allocated two points into Constitution, two into Dexterity, and one into Strength. He half-expected his muscles to visibly swell or for some physical change to take shape, but his shirt remained stubbornly still. Letting out a small huff of frustration, he turned to Brett. “So, what are you thinking for your level-up?”
“Well, last time I just threw five points into Wisdom and Intelligence,” Brett replied thoughtfully. “But now I’m thinking I should add some points into Constitution too. Neither of us has taken any major hits so far, but who knows what’s coming? Extra endurance might be a good safety net.”
Josh grinned. “I don’t know… nothing’s really fazed you yet, well, except that rock, and even that barely left a bruise. Maybe you should stack more mana for now. You focus on damage output while I keep taking the hits. When we level up more, you can shore up your defence.”
Brett considered this for a moment. “This is trickier than the games, isn’t it? But they say a good defence is a strong offense.” He smiled, the thought of wielding more powerful spells lighting a fire inside him. “Alright, three points into Intelligence, two into Wisdom.” He spent his points and watched his base mana rise to 170 MP, a surge of energy humming beneath his skin.
They nodded at each other, satisfied with their choices. Gathering up the goblins’ loot, more small coins, battered weapons, and ears, they set off again, hope rising with every step. After miles of travel, they longed to reach their destination and discover what awaited beyond the trees.
—-
Another hour of travel passed, and the pair soon encountered a larger group of seven goblins this time. It was the perfect opportunity to test their improved stats in combat. Brett felt the surge of power in his mind as his heightened Intelligence translated into stronger, faster spells. His firebolts scorched the goblins with deadly precision, cutting their numbers down more quickly than before.
Josh, too, noticed the difference. His strikes moved quicker, landed heavier, the added strength and resilience making him a formidable force. Confidence swelled within him as he overpowered foes with greater ease, even when outnumbered. Yet that confidence brought recklessness; he found himself taking greater risks, resulting in more cuts and bruises. Thankfully, his increased Constitution and the protective edge granted by his Tough skill softened the blows, keeping his wounds manageable.
They carried on moving, and finally, at last, signs of life began to emerge. Footprints appeared more frequently, but these weren’t the small, clawed tracks of goblins. Instead, the impressions belonged to shoes or hooves shod with metal. Trees along their path showed clear evidence of recent cutting, and the earth bore marks from heavy loads dragged across it, likely pulled by draft animals. Brett speculated this might be a logging operation, though neither could be certain.
A little further on, the faint scent of smoke curled through the air, mingling with the sounds of human activity. Voices echoed on the breeze, punctuated by distant shouts and the clang of a bell.
Finally, the forest opened up, revealing a promising sight: a sturdy wall of roughly hewn timber, stretching solid and tall. It was a town, an outpost of safety. Relief flooded through them as they realized they were nearing shelter, the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. Just another half mile to go, and they would be free from the dangers of the wilderness, for now at least.
They stepped cautiously into the clearing, immediately struck by the sight of a wide ring of freshly cut tree stumps, hewn as close to the earth as possible. Around the town, the undergrowth had been cleared away, leaving an open expanse where the sun’s golden light spilled freely, revealing every detail of the landscape. The deliberate clearing created a natural fortress, a wide circle of safety where any approaching danger could be seen from miles away.
As they drew closer to the towering wooden wall, their eyes caught the warm glow of the setting sun reflecting off the rough-hewn timber. To the east, a sturdy gate stood open, welcoming travellers from the winding dirt road that disappeared beyond the horizon. With a shared glance, Josh and Brett adjusted their path, eager to pass through the gate rather than circle the imposing barrier.
Near the entrance, a handful of townsfolk gathered, some carrying weapons, standing alert but calm as they examined the possessions of those entering. The scene felt strangely peaceful, a far cry from the hostile wilds they’d just escaped. Josh’s fingers tightened around the small coins they had collected, a quiet comfort in the face of uncertainty.
For the first time in what felt like forever, hope blossomed. Civilization was close at hand. Safety. Shelter. Perhaps even answers. They had made it.
—--
Joshua Watson
Age - 22
Level - 2
Class - Warrior
SP Available - 0
HP - 160
MP - 100
Str - 16
Dex - 13
Con - 16
Int - 10
Wis - 10
Brett Simpson
Age - 22
Level - 2
Class - Mage
SP Available - 0
HP - 100
MP - 170
Str - 10
Dex - 10
Con - 10
Int - 18
Wis - 17
Every follow lights a torch in the algorithmic abyss.
Without them, this story fades into the void.
Don’t let it go dark.
