Leo instantly felt his whole body shudder as if he was being electrocuted, muscles locking as sparks raced down his arms and legs. He hit the ground hard, unable to move. It was intense, but not painful.

  That was not like anything he had experienced before. His other skills hadn’t disabled him like that. For lack of a better word, he would describe the feeling as electric. Was it possibly due to the nature of the skill? No way to know for certain until his next skill.

  His eyes unscrambled as he finally was able to look at the skill notifications.

  You have unlocked the Lightning Essence skill: Voltaic Reflex (Common)

  Voltaic Reflex (Common)

  Your nerves and instincts are laced with latent lightning, your thoughts become motion. The spark will show you the way.

  Grants increased danger sense and reflexes.

  Scales with Agility

  Cooldown: None

  Not what I was expecting. Almost disappointing. Leo thought. The dream of shooting lightning bolts was fading by the second.

  What he did know was that while it didn’t sound very flashy, the usefulness of it was undeniable. An idea instantly came to mind on how to test it.

  “Mind helping me with my new skill?” Leo asked casually, still flat on his back.

  Ashley’s face was one of shock and fear. “Are you kidding?” she asked as she glared at him. “You looked like you were having a seizure!”

  “I’m fine. My new skill is based on increasing my reflexes by using lightning—I think. I basically just got electrocuted,” he said nonchalantly.

  She gave him a flat look but didn’t voice it. Instead she just accepted it with a sigh, pulling him to his feet.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I’m going to turn around and you’re going to throw something at me, preferably something that could actually hurt me.”

  “Are you serious?” Her voice didn’t hold concern, more intrigue laced with uncertainty. Leo nodded.

  Ashley smirked as she gestured for him to turn around.

  His back now turned, he closed his eyes in focus, trying to see if he could anticipate an attack coming from behind.

  “You ready?” Ashley asked.

  “It’s pointless if I know when it’s coming!” he replied with a chuckle.

  “Oh, true…Sorry!”

  Leo focused again, awaiting the attack from Ashley. It came suddenly—a jolt shooting through his body and mind, urging him to lean left. He wasn't quite used to the sensation and hesitated. The hesitation caused whatever Ashley threw at him to graze his arm slightly, the item clunking onto the ground.

  “I guess you almost dodged, not much of a skill. A lightning punch would have been better.” He could feel the smirk like it was setting off his reflexes. Arguing would just lead to more teasing, so he ignored it… even if she had a point.

  “It was weird. Like my instincts were telling me to dodge left. But I wasn’t used to it so I kinda resisted the feeling. At least now I sort of get how it works. Thanks. I'm gonna use the other crystal now.”

  “You mean I don’t get to throw more things at you? I gathered all this stuff!” She gestured down at a pile of broken glass, metal chunks and other strangely sharp looking objects.

  Closing his eyes, he turned back around. “Fine. Go ahead.”

  She gave a small maniacal chuckle.

  For the next ten minutes Ashley bombarded him with random items. At first he wasn’t dodging completely, but after a while he got used to it, dodging everything. Well, until she threw a table at him in frustration.

  That one he didn’t manage to dodge in time.

  She apologised, cheeks red with embarrassment—and barely hiding a laugh—as Leo crawled out from the ridiculously large desk.

  “I wasn’t expecting you to throw something like that!” Leo complained, “Also, how high is your strength? Have you been putting all your points in it? Maybe you should be the one punching.”

  “Oh please, don't be a baby, it was just a desk. I’ll stick to healing and shielding, thank you.”

  “Can I use the other crystal now?” Leo asked impatiently.

  Ashley nodded. “Sure. But if it’s another skill that requires you to dodge or take hits, I’ll need to gather more things.”

  Leo just gave her a side eye as he pulled out the other crystal and activated it. There was a heavy feeling in his body as he staggered onto one knee. His breath hitched slightly like the floor was pulling everything in him towards it before it suddenly faded. A notification appeared.

  You have unlocked the Earth Essence Skill: Stoneskin (Common)

  Stoneskin (Common)

  Your body passively reinforces itself with the resilience of stone. Skin, muscle and bone subtly harden, reducing the impact of physical blows and minor environmental hazards. The effect is always active, offering a small but constant increase to physical durability.

  Scales with Toughness

  Cooldown: None

  Damn.

  He glanced towards Ashley, who was picking up her thrown items—just in case.

  “Alright, my new skill is a defensive one..” Leo said, while Ashley held up an object, about to throw it. “But it doesn’t need to be tested! Put down the weapons.”

  “Booo!” Ashley jeered but relented. Instead she started playing around with her storage ring. Leo took this time to properly examine the skill.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  As far as Earth based skills go, this one was really solid…

  I bet Bjorn would get that joke. Leo chuckled to himself, drawing Ashley’s attention for a brief moment. Leo’s face went blank and unreadable as he continued his introspection.

  Toughness was Leo’s most unfavoured stat. He just didn’t like the idea of building a tanky character. Even after almost being crushed by a giant bear-wolf behemoth. So seeing a skill scale with Toughness… yeah, mixed emotions.

  He knew he should invest in Toughness—close range fighting practically demanded it—but he still hated the idea.

  He may have decision paralysis when it came to skills and class direction but what he didn’t do was regret his decision once chosen. If he died from himself having not enough Toughness then he should have had enough Agility to dodge.

  The skill started spreading up his skin and over his body. Surprising him at the delay compared to the lightning skill.

  It gradually felt tougher, stronger and sturdier. His skin felt tight for a moment before relaxing again as he adjusted. He didn’t feel any heavier—a massive relief. He would hate to become a giant stone man that couldn’t move quickly. Not that he was calling that kind of class bad per say, it just wasn’t his thing.

  A notification lit up his vision, alarming both himself and Ashley.

  Dungeon will shut down in 1 hour

  Please exit or you will be forcibly removed

  It looked like the dungeon was done with them. Fine by him. Everyone back at the camp still being alive mattered far more.

  Leo and Ashley had long refilled their resources to full and equipped their new armour. It was time to leave this dungeon and hopefully return back to base with everyone still alive.

  ~

  Jasper had spent the last day being grilled, insulted, ignored, or threatened.

  It only got worse after the 24 hour lock-in for the dungeon had expired. Because Leo and Ashley hadn’t emerged and were being presumed dead.

  They blamed him.

  Some wished to kick him out of their group and leave him to fend for himself. Mostly Cecelia, with Bjorn defending him enough to at least stop him from being outright removed.

  He was thankful for that. Even he knew that kicking him out would be extreme, but more importantly, now that Leo was gone, he could start to gain the respect he desired.

  Ron continued to watch him like a hawk, never once letting him be alone with anyone in the group. He was beginning to hate the silent archer with the same feelings he had felt towards Leo.

  The bubbling hatred burst from his insides, sharp and sudden. The urge to hurt, to end someone, flashed through him so vividly it made his stomach twist.

  That wasn’t normal.

  He pushed the thought away just as quickly. They should all burn in this hellhole. Wretched humans.

  Why do I hate them so much?

  His stomach was in flux as the rapidly changing emotions barrelled through him. He didn’t remember always feeling this way.

  Something pressed down on the thought before he could truly follow it.

  “Because they deserve it, Jasper,” the voice murmured. “And because you hate being small.”

  Jasper flinched.

  “You should be leading them,” the voice added, almost lazily.

  Jasper sucked in a breath as the feelings stabilised into anger. The voice was right. He should be in charge. He had what it took—this past day had shown as much. He’d killed the ants with barely any issue.

  Admittedly, he was starting to see the appeal of killing these ants, slowly losing bits of his hesitation with every encounter. Things were so much better without those two constantly interfering.

  Even Bjorn had complimented a kill he’d made before realising what he’d said, but the words stuck with Jasper like a badge of acceptance.

  And that scared him more than the ants had.

  But just as things were finally going his way thanks to the Voice.

  His world came crashing down.

  One could only imagine the shock Jasper was feeling as he saw Leo and Ashley walking casually up to the house, wearing different clothes and giving off a more intense feeling than before. Identifying them out of habit, his mouth hung loosely open.

  Human - Level 12

  Human - Level 11

  Jasper could have collapsed in shock at what he was seeing. How were they at such a high level?!

  It had only been a day! Was that dungeon some kind of leveling paradise? They even had new armour!

  His options were now limited as his brain tried to develop a survival strategy. Could he beg for forgiveness? Run away?

  He was the first to see them coming after all. He could run before anyone else saw them and then he would be okay. Outside was dangerous but there was no choice. Instead of following through on his escape plan he just froze as they approached.

  His eyes met Leo’s, and where he expected anger and fury he saw disinterest. Jasper was immediately enraged once again, but it didn’t erase the fear.

  How dare he treat him in such a way.

  Leo was beneath him. In every way.

  That’s what the voice said.

  So what if he was a higher level? A dagger to his throat would kill him just the same.

  He told himself he would do so.

  The certainty felt thin, like a lie repeated too often.

  “Ho? They made it out alive? Interesting.”

  Jasper stiffened. The voice slid back into his thoughts as if it had never left, smooth and amused.

  “Who are you?” Jasper demanded internally. “Are you my conscience?”

  “Pff,” the voice scoffed. “As if I’d be something so small. I merely watch… and encourage.”

  Jasper swallowed. “Then what do you want from me?”

  “What you already want,” the voice replied softly. “You feel it, don’t you? That heat in your chest. That disgust. That need to see them burn.”

  Jasper’s jaw clenched. The hatred surged again, sharper this time, no longer his alone.

  “You made me push her,” he shot back. “You turned everyone against me.”

  The voice laughed, low and pleased. “Did I? Or did I simply remind you how good it felt to stop being so weak?”

  The words struck deeper than Jasper wanted to admit. The memory surfaced unbidden—his hand, the shove, the moment of weightless silence.

  For a terrifying instant, he couldn’t tell where the voice ended and his own thoughts began.

  Then it faded, leaving only a lingering echo of amusement.

  At that moment, Leo and Ashley reached the doors. Others began to notice their return.

  Jasper’s breath caught. It was too late to run now.

  He could only hope the voice would guide him again…

  …or at least not abandon him.

  ~

  Leo had noticed Jasper, expecting himself to feel some kind of rage and anger upon seeing him. But instead after identifying him he felt nothing.

  Human - level 5

  Leo believed with such a level gap it would be hard for Jasper to do anything, to either himself or Ashley. Especially with Leo’s new enhanced danger sense and durability.

  He was yet to test out the durability—much to Ashley’s chagrin—but it would hopefully be better than his skin was before.

  Sure, he still didn’t like Jasper since he had tried to kill Ashley, but after going through that dungeon and fighting the monsters that lay within, Jasper as a current enemy just felt insignificant.

  Glancing Ashley’s way, it seemed that she didn’t feel the same. Her eyes shone with anger and hate. Leo would no doubt back her up if things turned bad. If she wanted to kill him though he’d stop her… maybe.

  “They’re alive!” He heard from inside the base they called home, Amy came running out and met Ashley as they both hugged. Leo didn’t know the two were so close already. Amy also embraced Leo.

  Hugs were nice.

  Soon after, the rest of the group, bar Jasper, had come out to welcome them back. Bjorn grasped Leo in a firm hug. His knightly armour felt cool to Leo’s now exposed arms as he returned the hug with fervor.

  “Great job on making it back, kid, we thought we’d never see you both again,” he said, eyes beginning to moisten.

  Leo didn’t know what to say, he wasn’t all that great with people being emotional on his behalf.

  “Thanks guys. Is everyone okay? Nothing happened right?”

  “Typical of you, kid,” Bjorn laughed. “Looking out for others instead of yourself first. Everyone is fine, we managed to kill a bunch of ants and get some levels. Although clearly nothing like what you experienced in there…” He paused. “Christ! Level 12?! You’ll both have to tell us all about it.”

  A sigh of relief flooded his body. He was glad to hear that everyone was safe, happy to hear they had leveled up some too. He still had five levels over the highest level of the bunch but he was glad to see they had improved.

  Cecelia approached next.

  “You seem to have gotten a lot stronger. Must have been quite an adventure in there,” she said, smiling, but it didn’t quite feel right.

  “It was definitely something,” he replied to both of them. “Should we go inside and talk about it?”

  After all the greetings and hugs, they made to move inside. Just before they did, Ron stepped out and raised a fist for a bump.

  “Good to see you.”

  The words alarmed everyone present, more shocked at this than Ashley and Leo’s miraculous return. Leo just smiled and bumped his fist.

  “Now, now, Ronald, don't go talking their ears off,” Cecelia joked, keeping the mood light.

  He made a “Hmph” noise and made to leave.

  Ashley intercepted him before he did so and asked, “Do I get a fist bump? Or maybe a hug?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  Ron rolled his eyes and held out his arms, Ashley looked delighted and gave him a big hug.

  Leo thought of how nice a moment this was. He had only met these people a few days ago but they already felt so close. Already he knew how deeply hurt he’d be if anything was to happen to any of them.

  Apart from maybe Jasper.

  “Come on in, we’re all too curious to wait,” Bjorn grabbed the pair and led them inside.

  They had a lot to talk about.