A blue dot appeared on the minimap. I spun to face it.

  Crawler Dougan O. Level 11 Boring Ol' Fighter Dwarf

  "Damn, how did a level 1 get down here?" He was a short, stout man with bright red hair and a massive nose, but presumably that was up to the race he'd been transformed into. He had an unreasonably-large hammer in one hand, a shield on the other arm, and a set of black steel football pads for armor.

  "Just kept running, I guess."

  "I saw some sparkling lights outside town and decided to take a look. You out there alone?"

  I suddenly felt nervous, although the lack of any skulls by his name was a good sign. "Yeah."

  "It's a miracle you're not dead. Anything out there, it'll kill you right-quick."

  "I found some stuff, actually." I held up fingers as I named them. "Tentacled chicken-walkers, at least three of those. Five of the snot rocketeers. Only one eye of terrors. Seriously scary stuff out there."

  "How the fuck did you see all that and not die."

  I shrugged. "Ran away."

  "Well, I'm headed back to the safe room. Sorry, don't think we can carry a level-1, but if you hop in my chat, I'll be happy to answer any questions." He held out a fist.

  "Hop in your chat?"

  He lifted the fist a bit higher. "We fist-bump. It adds a contact. Man, you really missed everything, huh?"

  I fist-bumped him, and sure enough, a contacts-list appeared in my interface. When I focused on it, his name was there.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  New achievement! You've killed a mob!

  You're a murderer! He probably had a family!

  Reward: You can now gain experience. Get enough of it, and you might even go up a level.

  New achievement! You've killed a mob a higher level than yourself!

  You're getting the hang of this. Don't let it get to your head.

  Reward: You've received a Bronze Adventurer Box!

  New achievement! You've killed a mob that was ten times your level!

  Have you heard of biting off more than you can chew? Keep this up and you'll look like a snake that tried to swallow an elephant.

  Reward: You've received a Gold Adventurer Box!

  New achievement! Level-Up, Baby!

  You've received enough experience to gain a level. Reward: Leveling up is your job. You don't get rewards for doing your job.

  Level Up! You are now level 3. Three stat points gained.

  New achievement! Double-Up!

  You skipped level two, gaining two levels the first time you gained XP. If you're fighting anything big enough to offer that much XP, you need some help.

  Level Up! You've received a Silver Adventurer Box!

  He twitched in surprise. "Did you just level?"

  "Well how about that. I forgot, I got a bleed on one of those chicken-walkers."

  "Maybe not so level-1 after all. I doubt the others will—"

  Level Up! You are now level 4. Three stat points gained.

  "Huh, I didn't notice a second bleed, but I guess it triggered." I looked back out there. "I suppose that the next few levels won't come nearly so quick."

  "The next few, maybe. But it'll slow down soon." He gestured into town. "Why don't you come back to the safe room and we can chat about things more."

  "Why are people in the safe room instead of out trying to train? Isn't the whole idea to level-up and skill-up as much as you can?"

  "Gotta rest."

  It reminded me of morning training, suddenly. People always said I was lucky to be so naturally athletic, but there was nothing natural about doing a two hour workout before sunrise every day. I was tired, but I was far from exhausted, and I wasn't going to sleep if I wasn't exhausted. I suppose that was why I'd had a slew of notifications about leveling ignore fatigue, as I'd been sleepless for literal days and was somehow still standing.

  Worries about training schedules and my lack of exhaustion had to wait. I had my priorities. "Have you seen Crawler Lucille Stevenson 2?"

  "No."

  "I'm looking for her. If you find her, please tell me. But I think I'm gonna keep training."

  "Look, kid, you're gonna die if you go out there too much. This place is a lot safer during the day."

  "Are the mobs worth less XP when it's safer?"

  He shook his head. "I tried."

  He went into town, and I went out.