[Three Hours Later In’nali Chambers.]

[“Magnificent Serpent ” Defeated. EXP +50. Current EXP 100/2000. [Useless Man Coins] X3 Acquired.]

[Sim Owens: Congratulations you’ve reached [Level 12].]

“At least we moved further in the dungeon,” Caspar yawned.

Caleb looked bored watching the three leveling as he gawked at Ava reading her large book catching his attention.

“Ava, why aren’t you training?” Caleb asked.

“Infectious Sanctum!” Ava spouted.

[Ava Marie. [Level 30.]]

Without looking she pointed her finger at the walking zombie and summoned a dark flame in her hand. She waved it around in the air until it hit him square in the chest causing it to explode. Her eyes locked on Caleb’s.

“Oh,” He said.

“We have another leveler for once! I am amazed Kavan allowed Sim into the guild!” Caspar shouted.

“Don’t underestimate Sim,” Ava smiled.

Sim felt a need as he got used to blocking the enemies and killing them with his grassy tentacles. It wasn't long before he became skilled enough that his tentacles were now capable of holding a human sized object in place.

With time, he gained enough confidence and control to not only block and defend his own life but also kill the monsters surrounding him. He quickly learned a number of skills he could learn if he kept practicing with them.

“Why do you have so much confidence in him?” Caspar asked.

“Do you really want to know?” Ava smiled.

He could feel an ominous aura around her, but refused to acknowledge it. She could be dangerous with just one wrong move.

“Ava, maybe I should be asking who you are?” Caspar thought.

“I am nothing,” She grinned.

Caspar felt something mysterious about her . Like an invisible force drawing him closer. His eyes narrowed in concentration trying to figure out what was wrong. She seemed to sense his curiosity about her. She looked straight at him with piercing blue eyes which were so cold they made you shiver. Her pink hair cascaded down her back in a silky waterfall.

[“Rainbow Rat ” Defeated. EXP +50. Current EXP 100/2000. [Useless Man Coins] X4 Acquired.]

[Sim Owens: Congratulations you’ve reached [Level 13].]

Covered in monster blood he stood as his hands shook as a feeling came over him he hadn’t felt in a very long time. It wasn’t sadness, but pure joy. Sim didn’t know what to think of this sudden surge of happiness and pride. After having killed his way through multiple rooms of the dungeon in a row, he knew how lucky he had been to be granted this privilege.

“Sim, you need to calm down,” Ava suggested.

The rooty tendril shot up from the ground nearly catching her as Sim planted on his feet in awe. He noticed that there was a slight change in the atmosphere around them, like he suddenly sensed magic flowing freely in the air. He heard whispers, whispering voices that whispered sweet words into his ear. Their voices were so soft that it sounded like a whisper of the wind.

“Maybe it is time to go home to rest?” Roman thought.

Roman and Lily stopped to watch Ava stand behind Sim concerned about how he was acting.

“What’s wrong?” Roman wondered.

His question caught Sim’s attention. It snapped him back to reality. Looking over, he saw the expressions on everyone’s faces. The three of them looked worried. They had never seen him act like this before; almost like a kid caught doing something wrong. It worried them that whatever was happening was affecting him this greatly. Sim sighed as he walked past everyone, leaving without saying anything.

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“I am staying,” Sim smiled.

“But what if you are hurt and were not here to help?” Ava asked.

“Looks like you got a handle on it,” Caleb grinned.

Ava turned angrily to Caleb and Caspar before sighing. There wasn’t much she could say to dissuade him. They walked away as Roman and Lily turned to Ava with questioning looks on their faces.

“See ya guys!” Sim laughed.

“Make it back safe man!” Caspar cackled.

Roman and Lily watched as Ava gawked at Sim and proceeded to the next door of the dungeon leaving the three alone to continue fighting. They both stared at Ava as she turned around and walked away.

“You know, don't you?” Ava questioned.

“I know who Sim is,” Roman stated.

She could see the two souls residing inside of Isla’s body , which were flickering with a dull green light. She raised an eyebrow curiously as she looked over at Isla who continued to concentrate on Ava.

“My creation always was confused who I was,” Ava laughed.

“This isn’t Sim’s world…from the looks of it you are also a stranger to this world,” Roman thought.

“How long has this girl shared this body, Roman?” Ava asked.

“Long enough, but that doesn’t matter in this world,” Lily noted.

“She would have become an NPC…” Roman stated.

Ava paused for a moment as she gazed up at the ceiling in silent contemplation.

“No, we need to stay strong,” she said to herself.

Lily smiled as she placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Are you ready for battle?” Lily asked.

Her eyes lit up as they both gave her a thumbs up, eager to get going.

“Let’s kick some ass!” Ava shouted.

They followed through the doors that Sim went into noticing how dark it was . Despite this, their vision did not deteriorate at all despite how hard they tried to make their eyes adjust to the darkness. It was as though everything was completely clear and sharp, without any shadows obscuring the surroundings. Even as Ava activated her [Flare Vision], she did not stumble around blind.

They saw the monster spawns in the room, but no Sim.

“Where the hell is Sim?!” Lily growled.

As they slowly explored every nook and cranny, the two of them grew more and more frustrated that they could not find him.

“I assume he went further,” Roman thought out loud.

The sounds of fighting in the distance could be heard echoing across the walls and floors. As they neared the source of the sound, a tall stone statue was set against the wall surrounded by many other stone statues, which held various weapons with glowing purple energy flowing from the tips of each weapon.

“Rise!” Sim yelled.

“Source Identify!” Ava whispered.

[Sim Owens. [Level 15.] ]

Ava stopped Roman and Lily from going further , but they ignored her and continued to walk forward. The two monsters stood facing off against one another. Both creatures wore red armor with golden accents and the same symbol of a skull on both of their chests. The symbol resembled the crest of the Oasis clan. The two monsters roared and charged towards each other.

“He leveled up twice during the time we talked?” Ava thought.

A shrill laughter hung in the air as Sim grunted trying to hold his stance as he defended himself. His whole arm was engulfed by nature's root entangled with his whole arm pulled back from the person trying to capture Sim.

Ava watched with wide eyes as Sim struggled to defend himself against the person attempting to capture him. She knew she had to intervene, but she couldn't risk alerting the enemy. Thinking quickly, she whispered a command to her Owl assistant, Heath.

"Heath, analyze the surrounding environment and find a way to assist Sim without being noticed," Ava whispered urgently.

Heath, processing the request, I quickly scanned the area, analyzing every detail. It detected a cluster of hanging vines intertwined with glowing flowers, hovering just above the ground. With a burst of inspiration, Heath formulated a plan.

“Don’t move okay guys?” She whispered.

“What do you have planned?” Lily asked.

As Sim grunted, desperately trying to hold his stance, the shrill laughter still echoing in the air, Heath activated its abilities. The vines and flowers in the vicinity responded to its command, swaying and reaching out towards the struggling Sim and the person who sought to capture him.

With precise control, Heath could direct nature's roots to slither across the floor, remaining hidden from view. Silently and swiftly, they wrapped around the captor's legs, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. Sim took advantage of the distraction, his arm still entangled by the roots, and managed to break free.

“Heath!” Sim shouted.

“At your service Master Sim!” Heath smiled.

The person ran off quickly disappearing into the maze sim sighed heavily trying to recover as he tried to regain his balance after getting slammed against the floor.

“She was also a nature rune user, but she was way better than I am,” Sim gulped.

“I insist you come with us Master Sim!” Heath demanded.

He couldn’t deny the truth in his words; if it weren’t for their help then he may not have gotten to level ten at all.

“I will be fine here on my own!” Sim shouted.

“Hmmm…Oasis Clan…” Lily thought.

“Aren’t they literally made of Nature Rune users?” Roman replied.

Sim looked even more annoyed now as he stood up and wiped the dirt off his black clothes and face. He rubbed the back of his neck and glared at the ground not wanting to look them in the eye again because he was embarrassed, afraid of letting his guard down again. The two looked at him suspiciously.

“Lily, can you give me more information on this Oasis Clan,” Ava asked.

His face was turning red as she took interest in what he had written as Lily nodded and took a moment to gather information on the Oasis Clan. She accessed her database and began relaying the details to Ava.

"The Oasis Clan is a renowned group of nature rune users in the realm of Gaia. They have a deep connection with nature and possess powerful abilities related to plants, animals, and the elements. Known for their harmonious relationship with the environment, they are often sought after for their wisdom and healing capabilities." She explained.

As Lily continued to provide information, Sim's face grew even redder. He was both flattered and embarrassed that Ava was taking an interest in his writing. Sim tried to hide his blush by turning away slightly, but Ava couldn't help but notice.

Ava chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't be shy, Sim. Your writing shows a lot of potential. It's fascinating to see your imagination at work."

Sim's embarrassment turned into a mixture of surprise and gratitude. He hesitantly looked up at Ava, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. "Thank you, Ava. I appreciate your kind words."

Ava smiled warmly, her encouragement evident. "You're welcome, Sim. Remember, we're all here to support each other. Let's see what else we can uncover about the Oasis Clan together."

Sim nodded, feeling a newfound sense of belonging. With Ava and the others by his side, he was determined to continue honing his skills and embracing his abilities as a nature rune user.