I lay on the cold ground, staring up at the stars, unable to sleep. The faint sounds of the Con settlement drifted on the night wind—wooden doors creaking, muffled conversations, the occasional bark of a dog. But I barely noticed. My mind was stuck on one thing.
462 points.
That’s how much Sid would have.
The number kept echoing in my head, like I was trying to solve a problem too big for my brain to handle. A Level 73 would’ve earned 6 points per level after the first. That was 462 points to spend. Even if Sid spread them evenly across his five main stats, that would mean 92 points in each one.
92.
I couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like to have that much power. To be that strong, that fast, that unshakable. Even if he focused more on some stats than others, I could see it now—how his attacks hit harder, his stamina never seemed to fail, how he always moved like he was two steps ahead of everyone else. Sid wasn’t just good. He was beyond anything I could hope to reach anytime soon.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my head to the side to glance at my own stats. I mentally called up the System, and the familiar transparent screen flickered into view, floating in the darkness just above me.
Attributes:
* Strength: 10
* Dexterity: 10
* Intelligence: 6
* Endurance: 10
* Charisma: 6
* Unassigned Points: 0
46 points. That’s all I had earned so far. Less than a tenth of what Sid had. I stared at the numbers, my chest tightening.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to compare myself to him. He had years—decades—of experience, while I’d only just started this journey. But it was hard not to. Sitting there, staring at those stats, I felt small.
I ran my fingers through the dirt beneath me, grounding myself as best I could. “46 points,” I muttered under my breath.
It wasn’t much. But it was mine.
Sid had told me not to get too caught up in the numbers, and I was starting to understand why. Stats were important, but they weren’t everything. I had survived the ambush with the bandits not because I was stronger than them, but because I’d used my head. I’d outsmarted the Alpha wolf not because I had the best stats, but because I’d kept fighting, even when I was terrified.
The stats would come. The levels would come. But the real battle was surviving long enough to get there.
I looked back up at the stars, letting out another slow breath. “One step at a time,” I whispered to myself.
The numbers faded from view, but the determination they left behind stayed with me. One day, I’d reach Sid’s level. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year. But I would get there. And when I did, I’d make sure every point I earned meant something.
The cold night was shattered by the sharp sound of a horn—a deep, resonating blast that echoed through the trees and sent a chill down my spine. I sat up instantly, my hand already reaching for the bronze sword at my side. The fire we’d gathered around earlier was nothing but embers now, casting faint red light over the camp, but the noise had stirred the whole group.
Sid was already on his feet, his sword drawn, his sharp eyes scanning the treeline that surrounded us. Around him, the other guild members were scrambling—Branna hefted her axe, Jory flipped his daggers into his hands, Ryn crouched low with his crossbow already loaded, and Aedric and Lira stood back to back, their weapons ready.
“What was that?” I asked, my voice low but tense.
Sid didn’t look at me, his eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the camp. “Trouble.”
Another sound followed—a faint rustle of movement from the treeline, too coordinated to be animals. The glow of the fire was too dim to see far, but the trees seemed alive with shifting shadows, the sense of being watched growing stronger with every passing second.
“Everyone, hold your positions,” Sid ordered, his voice sharp and steady. “They’re out there, but they haven’t made their move yet.”
I tightened my grip on my sword, the cold bronze feeling heavier than usual in my hand. The others fanned out around the camp, forming a loose perimeter, their movements careful and deliberate.
Branna, standing to my left, let out a low growl. “Whoever they are, they’ve got discipline. Holding the treeline, staying out of sight. This isn’t some random pack of bandits.”
“No,” Sid agreed. “This is something else.”
Aedric tilted his head, listening. “They’re testing us. Seeing how we react.”
“Then let’s not give them the satisfaction,” Lira muttered, her spear shifting slightly in her grip.
The open area we were camped in felt suddenly vast, exposed. The treeline loomed around us like a wall, the dark shapes of the trees hiding whatever was out there. It was too dark to tell how many of them there were—or even what they were.
And that’s what scared me the most.
“What do you want to do?” Branna asked Sid, her tone calm despite the tension in the air.
Sid’s eyes flicked toward the treeline again, his expression hard. “We wait. Let them come to us.”
“And if they don’t?” Ryn asked, his crossbow steady but his voice tight.
Sid glanced at him, his smirk faint and humorless. “Then we’ll bring the fight to them. But not until we know what we’re dealing with.”
I swallowed hard, shifting my stance as I tried to focus on the sounds of the forest. My heart was pounding in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn’t help anyone.
The camp fell into a tense silence, the only sounds the faint crackle of the dying fire and the rustle of leaves in the wind. Then, suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air—a quick, piercing sound that seemed to come from all directions at once.
“They’re moving!” Branna barked, her axe snapping up into a ready position.
The shadows in the treeline shifted, and I caught the faintest glimpse of movement—figures darting between the trees, too quick and too far to make out.
“What the hell are they waiting for?” Jory muttered, his daggers glinting faintly in the firelight.
“Us to screw up,” Sid replied, his tone cold.
Then, without warning, an arrow whistled through the air, striking the ground just a few feet from Ryn. He didn’t flinch, his crossbow snapping up toward the source of the shot.
“Archers,” he said grimly.
“Everyone, shields up if you’ve got them!” Sid barked.
Lira raised her round shield, her body crouched low behind it, while Aedric shifted to stand in front of Ryn, his massive longsword held defensively. The rest of us had no shields, so we ducked low, trying to make ourselves smaller targets.
More arrows followed, peppering the open ground around us. They weren’t aiming to hit—they were testing us, keeping us on edge.
“They’re not charging,” I said, glancing at Sid. “Why aren’t they charging?”
“Because they don’t have to,” Sid said, his jaw tight. “They’ve got the advantage. They can stay in the treeline and pick us off if we’re not careful.”
Another whistle sounded, and this time it was followed by a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down my spine.
Branna’s grip on her axe tightened. “That’s not human.”
The growls multiplied, echoing through the trees, low and menacing. I couldn’t see what was making the sound, but it was getting closer.
“They’re sending something in,” Sid muttered, his eyes narrowing.
I focused on the treeline, willing the System to activate. For a moment, nothing happened—just the same shifting shadows. But then, a shape emerged from the darkness, low to the ground and moving fast.
I focused harder, and the System flickered into view.
Name: Corrupted Stalker
Level: 7
“Corrupted Stalker!” I shouted. “Level 7!”
The creature broke from the trees, its body low and sleek, almost feline but with a grotesque, twisted form. Its dark, matted fur seemed to shimmer faintly in the firelight, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto us as it moved.
Behind it, more shapes began to emerge—two, three, four of the creatures, all moving with the same predatory grace.
“They’re testing our line,” Sid said, stepping forward with his sword raised. “Don’t let them through!”
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The first Stalker lunged, its claws outstretched as it went straight for Sid. He sidestepped the attack with practiced ease, his blade flashing as he brought it down on the creature’s neck. It hit the ground with a gurgling snarl, its body twitching before going still.
The second Stalker came at me, its glowing eyes narrowing as it darted forward. My heart leapt into my throat, but I gripped my sword tightly, stepping into its path.
It feinted left, then lunged right, its claws swiping toward my legs. I barely managed to dodge, my sword swinging in a wide arc and catching it in the side. It yelped, blood spraying as it staggered, but it didn’t go down.
“Keep moving!” Sid shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Branna’s axe cleaved through one of the Stalkers with brutal efficiency, while Ryn fired a bolt into another that was circling the camp. Jory moved like a shadow, his daggers flashing as he darted between the creatures, striking and retreating before they could land a hit.
But for every Stalker we killed, another seemed to emerge from the treeline.
“They’re wearing us down,” Aedric said, his voice strained as he drove his longsword into the chest of a lunging Stalker.
“We need to push them back,” Lira added, her spear darting out to stab another that had gotten too close.
Sid glanced at the tree line, his eyes narrowing. “Not yet. Hold the line!”
The growls grew louder, the shadows shifting as more figures moved in the trees. Whatever was out there, this was just the beginning. And until we knew what we were up against, all we could do was hold on and fight.
The Stalkers kept coming, their glowing eyes cutting through the darkness like faint lanterns. They darted in and out of the treeline, testing our defenses, but they never fully committed to an attack. It was like they were waiting for something—or someone.
I swung at another one, my blade catching its flank and drawing blood. The creature let out a snarl, but before it could recover, Branna’s axe came down on its neck, severing its head in one brutal blow.
"That’s three for me," she growled, wiping blood from her face. "Try to keep up, Sigvard."
I didn’t have time to respond. Another Stalker lunged at me, and I barely managed to duck in time, its claws grazing the air where my head had been.
"Focus!" Sid barked, cutting down another Stalker with a quick, decisive slash. "They’re probing us. Testing our line. We can’t let them break through!"
Behind us, Ryn fired another bolt, the sharp twang of his crossbow cutting through the chaos. "That’s six down," he said, his voice calm but strained. "But there’s more coming."
"I see them!" Jory called out, his daggers flashing as he darted between two Stalkers. He slashed at one, forcing it back, then spun and drove his blade into the other’s throat.
Aedric and Lira held the center of the line, their movements precise and coordinated. Aedric’s massive longsword cleaved through one Stalker after another, while Lira’s spear darted in and out like a snake, her shield deflecting claws and teeth.
"They’re circling us," Aedric said, his deep voice steady despite the chaos. "Trying to wear us down."
"We can’t hold like this forever," Lira added, her spear stabbing into another Stalker’s chest.
Sid gritted his teeth, his sword flashing as he cut through yet another Stalker. "We don’t have to hold forever. We just need to outlast their nerve."
I wasn’t sure about that. The Stalkers were relentless, and I was already feeling the strain. My arms ached, my breath came in short gasps, and the cold air burned in my lungs. But I couldn’t stop. Not now.
Then, something changed.
The growls from the treeline grew deeper, louder, almost like a rumble of thunder. The Stalkers that were circling us suddenly stopped, their glowing eyes turning toward the darkness beyond the trees.
"What the hell is that?" Branna muttered, her grip tightening on her axe.
Sid’s eyes narrowed, his posture shifting slightly as he readied himself. "Something bigger," he said grimly.
For a moment, everything was still. The Stalkers didn’t move. We didn’t move. The only sound was the faint crackle of the dying fire and the distant howl of the wind.
Then, the treeline exploded.
A massive figure burst from the shadows, its form silhouetted against the faint moonlight. It was bigger than any of the Stalkers—easily the size of a horse, with thick, matted fur that seemed to shimmer unnaturally. Its glowing red eyes locked onto us, and it let out a deafening roar that sent a shiver down my spine.
I focused on it, willing the System to activate.
Name: Corrupted Beastlord
Level: 14
"Beastlord," I said, my voice shaking. "Level 14!"
Sid’s expression hardened. "That’s their leader."
The Beastlord stalked toward us, its massive paws crushing the snow beneath it. The Stalkers fell back, moving to flank it like an organized hunting pack.
"Stay together!" Sid shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. "Do not break formation!"
The Beastlord lunged, faster than something that size had any right to be. It went straight for Sid, its massive claws swiping at him with deadly precision. Sid sidestepped the attack, his sword flashing as he struck back, but the blade only grazed its thick hide.
"Ryn!" Sid barked. "Take the shot!"
Ryn raised his crossbow, aiming for the Beastlord’s head. He fired, the bolt flying true—but the Beastlord twisted at the last second, the bolt glancing off its shoulder.
"It’s too fast," Ryn muttered, already reloading.
Branna charged in next, her axe raised high. She brought it down with all her strength, aiming for the Beastlord’s neck, but the creature turned and caught the blade with its claws. With a flick of its massive paw, it sent her stumbling back, her axe torn from her hands.
"Branna, fall back!" Sid shouted, stepping in to cover her.
The Beastlord roared again, its red eyes blazing as it lunged at us.
"Sigvard!" Sid called out. "Get behind it! Now!"
I hesitated for a split second, my heart pounding in my chest. But then I moved, circling wide as the others engaged the Beastlord head-on.
Aedric and Lira moved together, their weapons striking in tandem. Aedric’s longsword slammed into the Beastlord’s side, while Lira’s spear darted toward its exposed flank. But the creature was too fast—it twisted away, its claws slashing at them in retaliation.
I found my opening.
With a shout, I charged forward, my bronze short sword aimed for the Beastlord’s hind leg. The blade struck true, sinking deep into its flesh. The creature let out a furious snarl, whipping around to face me, but Sid was already there.
He struck hard, his blade flashing as he drove it into the Beastlord’s side. The creature roared in pain, its movements becoming more erratic.
"We’ve got it on the ropes!" Jory shouted, his daggers flashing as he darted in and out, striking at the Beastlord’s exposed flank.
But the fight was far from over. The Beastlord reared up on its hind legs, its claws slashing through the air, forcing all of us to step back.
"Keep pushing!" Sid shouted; his voice steady despite the chaos. "Don’t let it recover!"
The battle raged on, the Beastlord’s roars echoing through the night. And even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me, I knew one thing for certain: we couldn’t afford to lose.
The battle raged on through the freezing night, our breaths fogging in the icy air as the relentless clash of weapons and claws echoed through the forest. The faint embers of our fire had long since died, leaving us with nothing but the faint moonlight and the growing light of dawn to see by.
We fought in shifts, our health and stamina drained to their limits. Those not fighting would duck back behind the wagons, gulping down water, gnawing on scraps of bread or jerky, or simply trying to catch their breath while they let their stamina recover. No one dared close their eyes for even a second. Not one of us had the luxury of sleep.
Ryn had taken to methodically firing bolts from his crossbow, falling back to reload, and then stepping up again, his movements precise despite the exhaustion in his face. Branna’s axe had chipped from overuse, but she didn’t stop swinging it. Aedric and Lira fought like a machine, their coordinated strikes and blocks keeping the Stalkers at bay, even as sweat mixed with blood on their faces.
And Sid… Sid was everywhere.
It didn’t matter if he was bleeding or if his breath came in sharp, ragged gasps. He didn’t stop. His blade flashed in the dim light like a beacon, cutting through Stalkers, parrying the Beastlord’s strikes, barking orders that kept us alive. He wasn’t just fighting—he was holding us together, the unshakable foundation of our group.
I wiped blood—some mine, some not—from my face as I ducked back behind the line, my legs trembling. My health bar had ticked dangerously low during that last exchange, and my stamina bar wasn’t much better. I collapsed against the wagon, clutching my bronze short sword in my lap.
My health bar slowly ticked upward thanks to passive regeneration, but it wasn’t fast enough. I grabbed one of the few healing potions we had left, yanked the cork out with my teeth, and downed it in one go. The sharp, bitter taste made me gag, but the warm, tingling sensation that followed as my wounds closed and my health bar jumped up was worth it.
"You good, kid?" Branna asked as she stomped past, her axe swinging down to cleave a charging Stalker in two.
"Good enough," I muttered, forcing myself to stand. My muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Not now.
The Beastlord roared again, its guttural howl shaking the very ground beneath our feet. It reared up, swiping at Sid with claws the size of daggers, but he ducked under the blow and slashed at its exposed chest. The blade left a deep gash, and the corrupted beast staggered back, its glowing red eyes blazing with fury.
"This thing doesn’t know when to quit," Jory panted, his daggers slick with blood as he darted back into the fray.
"It’s not going to," Sid snapped, sidestepping another swipe from the Beastlord. "Not until we put it down."
"Then let’s end this!" Lira shouted, her spear thrusting forward to pierce one of the Beastlord’s legs.
It stumbled, letting out another ear-splitting roar, but it didn’t fall.
"Sigvard!" Sid called, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get in there! Now’s your chance!"
My legs felt like lead, my arms like they were made of stone, but I didn’t hesitate. I surged forward, weaving between the snapping jaws of a nearby Stalker as I charged the Beastlord.
It turned toward me, its massive frame looming like a shadow of death. Its glowing eyes locked onto me, and for a moment, I thought it might kill me outright.
But I didn’t stop.
I slid under its outstretched claws, the snow and dirt scraping against my back, and drove my sword upward into its exposed gut. The blade sank deep, the corrupted flesh twisting around the metal as blood—black and thick—gushed over my hands.
The Beastlord roared, its massive body convulsing as it tried to throw me off.
"NOW!" Sid shouted, his blade flashing as he struck at its throat.
The others joined in—Branna’s axe slammed into its hind leg, Jory’s daggers found its side, and Lira’s spear drove into its neck. The Beastlord staggered, its roars fading into a low, guttural growl.
Finally, with one last, desperate strike, Sid drove his sword into its heart.
The Beastlord let out a choked snarl, its glowing eyes flickering as its massive body collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash. The remaining Stalkers froze in place, their glowing eyes wide with confusion and fear.
Then, as if the strings holding them had been cut, they turned and fled, disappearing into the tree line as the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon.
The forest fell silent.
I collapsed to my knees, my sword falling from my hand as I gasped for breath. The others were just as battered—Branna leaned on her axe like it was the only thing holding her up, Jory sat in the snow clutching his ribs, and Lira and Aedric stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces pale but determined.
Sid, covered in blood and breathing hard, stood over the Beastlord’s corpse. His sword hung limply at his side, and for a moment, he just stared at the fallen creature, his expression unreadable.
"Is it over?" Ryn asked from the back, his crossbow still raised.
"It’s over," Sid said, his voice low and steady.
I stared at the Beastlord’s body, my chest heaving. The System flickered in the corner of my vision, and a faint chime rang in my ears.
"Congratulations! Quest Complete!"
+1200 XP
You have leveled up! You are now Level 4!
+6 Stat Points
I blinked, the message fading as quickly as it had appeared. I didn’t even have the energy to be excited.
"Everyone still alive?" Sid asked, his voice breaking the silence.
A tired chorus of grunts and murmurs followed, each of us too drained to do much more.
"Good," Sid said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Because I’m not dragging any of your sorry asses back to the Con."
Branna let out a hoarse laugh. "You’ll have to drag yourself first, Sid."
He chuckled, shaking his head as he turned toward me. "You alright, Sigvard?"
I nodded weakly, still trying to catch my breath. "Yeah. Just… tired."
"Good," he said again, clapping me on the shoulder. "You earned it. All of you did."
The sun was fully up now, its golden light spilling over the bloodied snow and the ruined camp. The battle had been long, brutal, and exhausting. But we’d won.
And for now, that was enough.