For the next two days, the boys decided that they were going to be smart. Well, James decided that they would be smart. Joey, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to go out and explore, itching for adventure. His energy was boundless, like an excited pup eager to chase after every new smell. But that impulse was stymied when James reminded him of their blunder with the salamander dropping on them, the memory still fresh in Joey's mind. After two days of what Joey dramatically called "gruelling torture," but what James simply referred to as "planning and practice," they finally felt ready. Their training was filled with drills, exercises, and movement practice, refining their respective skills and polishing their combat synergy, as they sought to overcome the harsh lessons they had learned the hard way.

"I want more loot, James. I NEED more donuts," Joey lamented, his eyes widening with an overdone pout that drew a chuckle from James. Truthfully, James agreed with him. They had been practicing in the same dull area for two days straight, with nothing but the occasional fish swimming out of the stream to break the monotony. James tried to keep things focused, pushing them through practice routines, but even he was growing weary of the repetitive drills. It was time well spent, though; they had established a better sense of cohesion as a partnership. Basic callouts like "Duck," "Behind you," or Joey's favorite, "James, if you don't move, I'm going to kill you!" punctuated their practice. It was rudimentary, to say the least, but effective, and James understood that they were, after all, just kids. A few days of practice was hardly enough to forge a veteran duo, but it was a start. James kept reminding himself that what they needed more than advanced tactics was to develop their instincts and trust in each other.

"You know, if we keep doing this, we're going to end up like those old men you hear about in town," Joey complained, stretching his arms out in an exaggerated motion, "All stiff and sore, like I was made out of wood."

James laughed. "Yeah, but at least we'll be the strongest old men anyone's ever seen." The two shared a moment of laughter, their spirits lifted even in the dim surroundings of the cave.

The effort paid off, even in tangible ways. James had gained a few stat points through sheer effort, feeling his muscles respond more fluidly, and Joey had made similar progress, though it was clear that their rapid gains were beginning to taper off. Their bodies seemed to be hitting their natural limits—for now. James noticed that as their stamina grew, they could extend their training sessions just a little longer each time, and each time they did, they pushed themselves a bit closer to exhaustion. It was a slow grind, but that slow grind was the bedrock of real progress.

"Alright, I think it's time we go and tackle some salamanders," James said, an excited glint in his eyes. "You full up on your resources?"

"Oh, absolutely. I've been ready for ages." Joey bounced on the balls of his feet, the energy practically pouring off him. His grin widened, the gleam of adventure returning to his eyes. "Don't forget, though—this next loot drop is mine!"

"Yes, yes, I know," James sighed, a bemused smile tugging at his lips. "But if it's a donut, it's yours by default, right?"

"Exactly! You do get it!" Joey declared with mock seriousness, his eyes narrowing as if in a deep, solemn pact.

"Well then," James said, shaking his head, "let's finish off the last crumbs. We could use every stat boost we can get. Never know what we might face."

Joey, however, looked around the cave in embarrassment. He scuffed the floor with his foot and looked anywhere but James. "Uh, James... I think... I think a rat got in here or something. The crumbs are gone."

James stared at the pile of loot—the flail, the spoon, the second wedding dress Joey wasn't wearing—and then at the empty spot where the donut crumbs used to be. His gaze slowly turned back to Joey, who took an unconscious step back, clearly worried about James' reaction.

"JOEY!" James shouted, his frustration boiling over as he swung at Joey in a fit. Joey braced, his {Bronze Skin} skill activating automatically, his body turning solid beneath James' fists, like punching a particularly flexible tree trunk. James' knuckles felt the familiar resistance that reminded him of why he always hesitated to go full-force against Joey's skin when it was activated.

"Heyy! It wasn't me, I swear!" Joey protested, shielding himself with his arms, his voice muffled under his laughter as he ducked from James' half-hearted blows.

James stopped his mock assault, eyeing Joey suspiciously. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, man! I really didn't eat them. I wanted to, sure, but I know how important they were. I swear, James!" Joey pleaded, looking earnestly into James' eyes, his tone unusually sincere.

James sighed, his frustration ebbing away. "Alright, alright. I believe you." He paused, looking around their makeshift camp. "It's this rift... It's starting to mess with me, you know? Something might've gotten in and eaten them. I don't know what, but... man, I just want to get out of here."

Joey's expression fell, the weight of their situation settling back onto his shoulders. They were tired—not just physically, but mentally, too. The cave's constant dampness, the cold, the isolation... it was starting to grind them down. James could see Joey's exhaustion in the way his shoulders slumped, and he could feel it in himself—his bones felt heavy, as if each movement took more effort than it should. The lack of fighting anything these past two days had given them time to think—to remember home and all the comforts they missed. The warm fire in the living room, the smell of fresh bread from the kitchens, the warmth of their beds. Joey looked at James, determination flashing across his face. "Let's go fight, James. Only way we're getting out of here, right?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

James glanced at the empty spot where the crumbs had been. Honestly, there wasn't much they could do about a lot of things—but maybe moving forward, fighting something, would help them regain some of the control they felt they'd lost. Maybe they could even find something to eat. One could hope.

"Yeah," James said, a grin spreading across his face, feeling his energy rise again at the thought of action. "Let's go. I want to see how strong my new Power Thrust really is."

Joey, rolling up the sleeves of his worn wedding dress, put his fists together and, with the most serious face he could muster, said, "It's clobbering time!"

James burst out laughing, the absurdity of the situation hitting him all over again. Joey, in a dirty and torn wedding dress, flexing his muscles and quoting an old comic book. The sight was just too much. James doubled over, wheezing as laughter racked his body. It felt good to laugh, to let go of the stress that had built up inside him.

"What? You said that's what your dad always said before a battle!" Joey said, clearly confused by James' laughter. He stood there, holding the pose, looking genuinely concerned that he had done something wrong.

Still chuckling, James nodded. "Yeah, he did. You're doing great, Joey." He wiped his eyes, his laughter slowly fading, leaving a warm smile on his face.

Grabbing his trident, James quickly glanced at his status to see his gains over the past two days:

Seeing the points he had gained in Dexterity and Agility, and the level up on his skills, James was feeling optimistic. If he had to guess, he'd say he was about twice as strong as when he had first entered the rift. And yet, his skills and experience—the knowledge he had gained about battle and survival—were worth infinitely more.

He remembered the first time they had encountered a salamander, the fear that had coursed through him, the desperate flailing with his trident, and how uncoordinated and clumsy he had felt. Now, he felt focused, sharp, like his body was in tune with his weapon and his instincts. He looked at Joey, seeing the changes in his friend as well—the boy who had once hesitated before every strike now moved with confidence, his {Bronze Skin} shimmering as he prepared himself for the challenges ahead.

"Okay, let’s go!" James said, nodding to Joey, who was now stubbornly trying to pick his nose through his {Bronze Skin}, a look of utter concentration on his face.

"Regular formation?" Joey asked, and James felt a flicker of pride at the question. They had practiced this, over and over, until Joey had it down perfectly.

"Yeah, you in front, with me five paces back, ready to strike at anything that might drop on us," James confirmed. "Hey Joey..."

"Yeah?"

"Fate be with you," James said, his voice carrying the traditional blessing of their homeland. It was something his father had said to him countless times, and it felt right to say it now, before they stepped back into the fray.

Joey grinned back, his teeth flashing white in the dim cave. "And also with you," he replied, echoing the familiar phrase, his tone matching James' perfectly.

There was nothing more to say. They set off, leaving the flail, the spoon, and the spare wedding dress behind. They’d be back, after all. James adjusted the rusty Helmet of Confusion on his head, no longer feeling as ridiculous with Joey in a wedding dress by his side. The helmet felt like a part of him now, a symbol of how far they had come.

With trident at the ready and Joey keeping his eyes peeled, they moved towards the stream. The cave was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft drip of water and their footsteps echoing against the stone. It wasn’t long before Joey broke the silence, pointing at the clear water. "Think we could take one of those crabs?"

James peered into the water, seeing what he thought were mounds at the bottom. "I don't think so," James replied, shaking his head. "Let's stick with the salamanders for now." He didn’t want to find out how strong those pincers were the hard way, especially not without knowing their level or abilities. It was better to stick to what they knew.

They walked along the stream, scanning their surroundings. The cave walls seemed to press in on them, the weight of the earth above a constant reminder of the oppressiveness of the Rift. James could feel the tension building, the anticipation of battle making his palms sweat. It was James who spotted the salamander first. "Up to the right, in the rocks!" he called. Joey's eyes locked onto it, and in an instant, the creature leapt, breaking its mediocre camouflage. It landed squarely on Joey’s chest, its weight barely causing him to stagger anymore. Joey roared, grabbing the creature and slamming it to the ground at James’ feet.

Focusing on his skill, James activated {Power Thrust}, driving his trident into the salamander's side. The three prongs pierced its flesh cleanly, and the creature floundered briefly before going limp. James yanked his trident free with some difficulty—the weapon was lodged in deep, but Joey helped, using his foot to steady the salamander's body.

"Well, that was easier than I expected, considering how our first fight here ended," Joey said with a smirk, wiping his hands on his dress.

"Yeah, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves," James replied, cautious. "These are just the starting monsters, I’m sure. And look, it’s only level two." He glanced at Joey, who nodded, his expression serious.

A notification appeared before James, confirming the kill:

{Level Two Dark Salamander Defeated - Kill}

{16 EXP Awarded}

{Congratulations! From your efforts, you are rewarded}

{One Amber Ring of Minor Lightning Resistance (Ashen)}

"True, but I can’t help but feel a lot stronger. I’ve even grown a couple of inches in here," Joey said, beaming. "Did you see that catch, James? Right in mid-air!"

James laughed. "More like it threw itself at you."

"Hey, potato is a potato, as my dad always says." Joey stuck his tongue out, throwing his veil over his head in a mock pout. James had to admit, he was impressed with how well the wedding dress was holding up, though he worried that, at the rate their clothes were deteriorating, he might be putting on the second dress soon.

The salamander dissipated, its essence fading and flowing into James and Joey. A soft clink echoed as the amber ring fell onto the rocks. James picked it up, momentarily considering joking about proposing to Joey. But he knew that rings weren’t exchanged in weddings here, and the joke might fall flat. Instead, he inspected the ring briefly.

{One Amber Ring of Minor Lightning Resistance (Ashen)}

* Use Identify for more information

"Really wish I had the Identify skill," James muttered. He could tell it would be a must-have for adventurers—knowing the properties of loot was essential. He explained the ring to Joey and slipped it onto his finger. His eclectic assortment of gear was beginning to come together—though, admittedly, he still looked ridiculous. At least he wasn't in a wedding dress.

"Alright," James said, glancing towards the stream. "We’re at nearly full resources again. Let’s keep moving. I want to see where those fish are going."

With renewed determination, they followed the stream, the faint hope of finding something—food, loot, or a way out—pushing them forward. One step at a time, they were getting stronger.