As James cradled the coin in his palm, its cold metal surface sent a slight chill up his arm. In the dim glow of the cavern, he examined the intricate design—a sword crossed with a battle axe etched into the coin's face. He sighed, wishing for the umpteenth time that he had his own status screen to identify such treasures. Glancing back at his still-unconscious friend, James felt a mix of worry and relief. Joey's breathing was steady now, and the wound on his side had miraculously healed.

Making his way back to Joey, James gripped his trusty pitchfork—now more of a comfort than a weapon. As he approached, the coin in his hand brushed against the wooden handle. A sudden warmth pulsed through the pitchfork, startling him.

"What the—?" James muttered. The pitchfork began to glow softly, the light intensifying with each passing second. Before he could react, a brilliant flash enveloped him, the cavern walls reflecting the dazzling illumination. He shielded his eyes, momentarily blinded.

Joey stirred, mumbling something about cheese. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the unexpected brightness. Disoriented, he sat up abruptly. "JAMES?" he called out, panic edging his voice.

"Yeah, I'm okay!" James shouted over the hum that filled the air. "But something is happening to the pitchfork!"

As the light subsided, James blinked, his vision slowly adjusting. He looked down to see that his old pitchfork had transformed. No longer was it the slightly bent, worn tool he knew so well. Instead, he held a sleek, lethal weapon—a trident. The wooden handle was now smooth and sturdy iron, the metal prongs thicker and sharpened to deadly points. It resembled a three-headed spear, elegant yet intimidating.

"Joey, look at this!" James exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavern. Excitement surged within him as he hurried over to his friend. "Something happened to the pitchfork!"

Joey rubbed his eyes, still groggy from sleep. When he saw the transformed weapon, his expression shifted from confusion to a sullen glare. "Yeah, you stole my Weapon Upgrade Token..." he muttered.

James blinked, taken aback. "Your what?"

"That's what the status says it's called, at least," Joey replied, his tone edged with annoyance.

He recited the message that had appeared before him:

---

{Congratulations from your efforts you are rewarded}

{One Weapon Upgrade Token (Ashen)}

- _Allows one to upgrade a weapon of its respective class up to the token tier._

---

"From the salamander, I got a weapon upgrade, and you stole it," Joey continued, crossing his arms.

"How was I supposed to know what it was?" James retorted, a mix of defensiveness and confusion. "You took a skill and passed out! I was alone for hours!"

Joey's eyes widened as he remembered. "Oh yeah! I did get a skill!" His irritation faded, replaced by excitement. "Listen to this!"

He shared his new ability with enthusiasm:

---

{Passive Skill}

- Tough Skin (Ashen)

- Your skin becomes coarse and rough, increasing durability and enhancing defense.

---

"I'm at full health now!" Joey declared, flexing his arms proudly. "Plus, I got 15 EXP from that fight. I'm going to be Level 2 in no time, and then I can kick your butt!"

James couldn't help but grin at his friend's renewed energy. "Hey, just you wait till I get my status! Then we'll see who's kicking who!"

They both laughed, the tension between them dissolving. Joey stood up, dusting off his clothes. "Deal! But let me see that trident, though."

"What did you call it?" James asked, holding out the weapon.

"A trident. My dad took me fishing once, and the captain had one just like this," Joey explained. He reached out to grab it, but the moment his fingers wrapped around the shaft, the trident's weight seemed to multiply exponentially.

"Whoa!" Joey yelped as the weapon yanked him downward. He stumbled and fell, the trident slamming into the ground beside him with a resounding thud.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Joey flexed his sore fingers, wincing. "That thing weighs a million pounds! How are you holding it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," James replied, genuinely perplexed. "It's lighter than the pitchfork was!"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say," Joey grumbled, eyeing the trident warily.

Muttering under his breath about a stolen token, Joey settled back onto the ground, his earlier excitement dampened. The cavern's damp chill seemed more pronounced now, and the shadows loomed larger.

"James, I'm getting really hungry," Joey said after a moment, his stomach growling audibly. "Can we eat the salamander?"

James grimaced at the thought. "I don't think there's anything left, man. It all went into either you or the token."

"Yeah, probably wouldn't have eaten it anyways..." Joey sighed.

"Hey, we're near the stream where we saw those glowing fish," James suggested, a spark of hope in his eyes. "I could try using the trident to get some!"

"Yeah, let's do that," Joey agreed, perking up slightly. "Surely fish are going to be good."

As they made their way toward the stream, they tried to bolster their spirits with bravado.

"After taking down that salamander, we could easily handle at least two more!" James boasted, twirling the trident confidently.

"Nothing's going to stop us from becoming the most powerful adventurers ever," Joey added, though his voice wavered slightly. Despite their words, both boys felt the weight of their earlier ordeal pressing upon them.

"At least they glow, so they'll be easy to catch!" James remarked as the soft sound of running water reached their ears.

"Well, let's see it," Joey challenged. "I watched the captain catch four fish in one toss. Can you beat that?"

"Oh yeah? Watch this!" James replied with a grin.

They reached the stream, its waters shimmering with ethereal light as luminescent fish darted beneath the surface. James positioned himself at the edge, eyes narrowing as he focused on the flickering shapes.

Taking a deep breath, he thrust the trident into the water. But as he did, an unexpected force jerked the weapon sharply to the right. "Ahhh!" James shouted as his legs moved unprompted, pulling him off balance. He tumbled into the cold stream with a splash, the startled fish scattering in all directions.

Joey erupted into laughter, doubling over as he wiped a tear from his eye. "Haha! I can't believe that just happened! You stumbled in there like Mr. Smith stumbles leaving the hall after a party!"

James emerged from the water, dripping and scowling. "Glad you're entertained," he muttered, shivering as the chill seeped into his bones.

Still chuckling, Joey extended a hand to help him out. "I know it's heavy, but you fell in there like a sack of potatoes!"

As James climbed back onto the bank, a sudden SNAP echoed from behind him in the water. He whipped around, heart pounding, but saw only ripples spreading across the surface.

Joey's laughter ceased abruptly. His face paled as he stared at the stream. "James," he whispered, his voice tense. "I think we should go back to our alcove. There's a giant creature in the stream."

James didn't need convincing. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he recalled the mysterious force that had pulled the trident. "Agreed. Let's go."

They hurried back along the path, the cavern seeming more ominous with each step. Shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and every distant sound set their nerves on edge.

Back in the relative safety of their small alcove, James sank to the ground, rubbing his still-sore arm. "I think I'm going to sleep," he said, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. "Can you watch and make sure no more creatures come and get us, Joey?"

"Yeah, I can do that," Joey replied, settling himself near the entrance. "I got some sleep when I got my new skill, so I'm feeling good. But if anything comes even remotely near us, I'm waking you because I can't use the trident."

"Oh, that reminds me," James said, perking up slightly. "Can you see anything about the trident with your status?"

"Let me see," Joey agreed. He reached out to touch the weapon, but as soon as his fingers made contact, he was yanked downward again. "Ugh!" he groaned as he hit the ground.

James couldn't help but chuckle. "Not so funny when you fall now, is it?"

"Very funny," Joey grumbled. "Just get it off my fingers, please!"

James lifted the trident effortlessly, setting it aside. "Sorry about that."

Joey shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "Here, let me touch it while you have it in hand." He carefully placed a fingertip on the shaft, ensuring James had a firm grip.

Closing his eyes, Joey focused on his status screen.

---

- Trident of Homing (Ashen)

- Requires {Trident Proficiency} to use.

- Unlock {Identify} to see more.

---

"That's all it gives me," Joey reported, opening his eyes.

"Huh. I guess the 'homing' was what sent me off balance there," James mused.

"Suuuure, whatever you say," Joey teased, rolling his eyes.

James gave him a playful shove. "I wonder why I can use it but you can't. I've never used a trident before. Maybe you need 'Trident Proficiency' just to pick it up?"

"I don't know," Joey admitted. "All I know is the next upgrade loot we get is all mine."

"Alright, that's fair," James agreed with a grin. "I'm resting my eyes. Wake me if anything comes."

"Sleep tight," Joey said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Don't let the salamanders bite."

James smirked as he lay down. "Not funny, man. What if they did?"

"Then I'd wake you up, of course," Joey replied, settling into his spot.

As James closed his eyes, the weariness washed over him. The adrenaline of the day had worn off, leaving a heavy exhaustion in its wake. Despite the fear and uncertainty, he felt a sense of accomplishment. They had faced danger and come out stronger.

"Goodnight, Joey," he murmured.

"Goodnight, James," Joey echoed softly.

The cavern fell into a hushed silence, broken only by the distant drip of water and the soft rustling of unseen creatures. Joey kept vigilant watch, his gaze sweeping over the shadows that danced along the walls. The glow of the luminescent moss cast an otherworldly light, and he couldn't shake the feeling of being in a place that existed outside of time.

He glanced over at his sleeping friend, a mix of gratitude and determination welling up within him. "I'll keep us safe," he whispered into the darkness.

As the hours passed, Joey's thoughts drifted. The weight of their situation settled heavily on his young shoulders, but he refused to let fear overtake him. eventually the steady lull and the adrenaline lead to weary eyes and Joey gave into the allure of sleep.