I blinked groggily as consciousness returned, expecting either the infinite peace of heaven or the unrelenting fires of hell. Instead, I was greeted by Jack's face—his small expression somehow managing to convey disappointment, like I had just flunked a test I never signed up for.

"Jack?" My voice croaked, rough and strained as I tried to sit upright.

Pain lanced through my chest, stopping me in my tracks. Glancing down, I noticed makeshift bandages wrapped around me, stained with blood where the monster’s claws had raked my skin.

I inhaled sharply, only for the room to spin. That’s when I realized something was off. Half of my vision was gone.

Slowly, I reached up, my fingers brushing against rough, jagged skin around my left eye. The truth sank in. My left eye was scarred, and I was blind on that side now.

Sighing I turned to Jack, "Thanks, Jack," I muttered, ready to commend the little guy for his effort, but Jack shook his head, his tiny hand pointing off to the side.

Emma.

She was standing upright for once, wobbling slightly, but her balance wasn’t the surprising part.

The surprising part was when she opened her mouth and spoke.

"You’re finally awake!" she said, her tone equal parts exasperated and dramatic. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep you from dying?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Before I could even process what I’d just heard, Emma’s attitude shifted into something more… Emma-like. She quickly crossed her arms, furrowing her brows as if the whole situation was my fault. "I should’ve just let you die for leaving me in this beggar’s hut."

"...What?" was all I managed to croak.

Emma huffed and launched into a tirade, her words spilling out like a burst dam.

"Do you know how traumatic it was to wake up and find myself in this rundown, dirty shack? I mean, if this is reincarnation, where’s my noble family? My riches? My staff?!" She waved her arms for emphasis, her voice rising to a pitch that made me wince.

Jack gave her a tug on her sleeve to stop her from pacing too far. She sighed dramatically and sat on the floor, folding her legs like she had just lost a debate.

I sighed, rubbing my temple with my good hand. "Emma. Focus. How are you… talking? And what exactly happened while I was out?"

That seemed to snap her out of her tirade. She rolled her eyes, huffing like the spoiled brat I remembered her to be. “Oh, you wouldn’t understand,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “But fine, I’ll explain it to you since you’re clearly too dense to figure it out on your own.”

"Well you see."

I had woken up, groaning as I rubbed my head. “Why does everything smell like dirt?” I muttered, glaring at the rickety ceiling above me.

It took me a moment to remember where I was. The crash. I died. I put my hands to my face seeing my chubby baby hands.

She sighed dramatically. “I swear, if this is some kind of novel situation, I better be a rich girl. I refuse to live like a peasant—”

My complaints were interrupted by a light tapping behind me. Turning, I saw a baby staring at me, his tiny hand patting her back.

“What do you want?” I snapped, only to freeze when the baby pointed toward the loft’s edge.

Confused she followed the baby instructions, but when the baby gestured me to carry him I got mad and complained. "Uagh! You want me to carry you ha I'm not a maid, I'm a dignified elegant and refined woman, I'm not gonna follow orders to some peasant ba..by."

Just when I was about to complained more the baby shot me with the most bloody death glare I have ever seen that almost rivaled Jack... Wait looking closer they do look kinda similar.

After negotiatating with the mini Jack I begrudgingly complied.

Putting him down he crawled motioning for her to follow him to a broken door down to a basement.

“You want me to go down there?” she demanded. “Do you took I would—”

Jack’s glare shut her up. With a groan of protest, she picked him up and carefully climbed down the ladder.

When both of us reached the basement, the scene was worse than she’d expected. A monster’s corpse lay sprawled on the floor.

And there was a boy, barely breathing, his chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven gasps.

I sprang into action. Despite mh complaints, I managed to drag the boy out of the basement and into the living room. Using scraps of fabric I found in the cabin, I dressed the boy's wounds as best as I could.

By the time I was done, the sun was rising, and exhaustion had taken its toll.

"Turns out it was actually you and Jack. After that I took a well deserved break then you woke up."

"And that’s it," she finished, tossing her hair dramatically. "You’re lucky I woke up when I did. Otherwise, you’d be nothing but a side character’s tragic backstory by now."

Despite her tone, there was a glimmer of concern in her eyes, one I rarely saw.

I sighed, my exhaustion returning in full force. "Thanks, Emma."

"Of course," she said, flashing a smug grin. Then she leaned closer, tilting her head. "But seriously, what the hell happened to your face, you look like an edgy teenager who wanted a scar so badly to look cool?"

I groaned, already regretting waking up.

Turning to Jack to find an excuse, who still wore that look of profound disappointment, I raised an eyebrow. For a toddler, the amount of silent judgment he could radiate was staggering. It was like being scolded by a stern grandfather trapped in a child’s body.

“Wait a minute,” I said, the gears in my still-tired brain slowly turning. I pointed at Emma. “You said you only started talking when you woke up—when you gained consciousness, right?”

Emma nodded, her arms crossed. “Yeah, so?”

“So…” I turned back to Jack. “You gained consciousness too, but you still can’t speak.”

Emma’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. “Wait, you’re right!” she said loudly that wasn't complaining about something. “Jack literally woke up, and he’s fully aware of everything, but he hasn’t said a single word! Why can’t he talk?”

We both turned to Jack, now treating him like a scientific anomaly. He stared back at us, his little face unchanging, though somehow managing to exude even more disappointment.

It hit me like a punch to the gut.

“Oh,” I said, the answer finally clicking.

“Oh,” Emma echoed, as we both shared a collective moment of enlightenment.

Jack blinked at us, his unimpressed expression sharpening.

“It’s because he looks the youngest,” I said, trying not to laugh.

Emma snorted, though she tried to hide it. “Oh, that makes so much sense. His body’s too little, so he can’t talk yet. But wow, does he make up for it with that face. He’s got, like, permanent dad mode going on.”

Jack crossed his tiny arms, his expression somehow deepening into peak disappointment. If he could talk, I was sure he’d deliver the most scathing lecture of our lives.

“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” I said, waving him off. “We’re terrible. Thanks for your input, kid.”

Jack didn’t move, his judging eyes boring into my soul.

“Man, this is going to be a long reincarnation,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.

I winced as I tried to push myself upright, but a sharp pain shot through my chest, reminding me of the still-healing wound beneath the makeshift bandages. I gritted my teeth, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He couldn’t afford to be weak now—not when his friends needed him.

Jack, ever the silent observer, noticed immediately. The little guy crawled over with surprising speed, tugging at my arm. His small hands weren’t strong, but there was a surprising force behind the way he tried to pull me back down to the ground.

“Jack,” I said, my voice strained. “I need to check on the others—”

Jack’s glare was enough to silence me. For someone who couldn’t talk, he sure had mastered the art of saying sit down, idiot with just a look. He tugged at my arm again, this time gesturing toward Emma, who was watching the whole scene with her hands on her hips.

“What?” Emma said, noticing the attention shift to her. “Don’t look at me like I’m going to help him. He’s the one who decided to play hero with a rusty knife against a monster.”

Jack gestured to me again, then pointed at Emma, his tiny face expectant.

“What does he want?” I asked, already too exhausted to deal with Jack’s silent demands.

Emma rolled her eyes. “I think he’s saying I should handle it because you’re in no shape to do anything, genius.”

Jack nodded, his face still set in its usual judgmental glare.

I sighed, leaning back against the wall and admitting, if only to myself, that Jack was right. My body was screaming at me to stop moving. “Fine,” I muttered, gesturing weakly. “Go check on the others, Emma. Make sure no one else is awake and wandering off or...doing something stupid.”

Emma looked like she wanted to argue, but Jack’s unyielding gaze and my half-dead state seemed to convince her. She huffed. “Fine, but only because I’m the only one here who knows how to multitask.”

She turned on her heel and marched toward the loft where the others were, muttering something under her breath about how much effort it took to keep us all alive. Jack stayed by my side, his expression softening slightly as if to say, Good job, you didn’t die. Now stay still.

I let out a shaky breath, leaning my head back closing my remaining eye and let out a deep sigh, finally allowing myself to relax. My body was still battered and bruised, but the stillness of the moment gave me a chance to collect my thoughts. As I felt my consciousness slip into something deeper—an inner space he hadn't known existed until now.

It was like being immersed in a dream, but clearer, more vivid. Around him stretched an expansive forest, each tree almost glowing faintly with an otherworldly hue. In the distance, I spotted a small structure at the center of it all. He stepped closer, curious.

When he reached it, he stopped in his tracks.

It was the cabin. Or rather, a miniature version of it, nestled within this inner world. Its details were perfect, down to the cracked windows and the faint signs of wear on the wooden walls. I felt a strange connection to it, as though it represented more than just the shelter they'd found.

“Wait,” I muttered, my voice echoing in this strange space. “If this is reincarnation... shouldn’t we have powers or something?”

The thought struck me hard, and pieces of the last few days began to fall into place. My mind flashed back to the fight with the monster in the basement—the glowing red circle on its face. I hadn't thought much of it at the time, focused solely on survival, but now it seemed significant.

“Detecting weaknesses,” I murmured to myself. “That’s what it was.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The realization clicked. That wasn’t just a lucky observation during the fight; it was an ability, his ability. But if that was true, what else could he do?

Experimenting, I let himself relax further, focusing on the world around me within this strange inner space. A new sensation washed over me—my awareness expanding outward. The forest seemed to breathe as his senses stretched beyond it, encompassing a vast area.

He gasped.

“I can see everything,” I whispered. In my mind’s eye, I saw the surroundings of the real world: the layout of the forest, the positions of his friends in the cabin, the faint trails of animals moving through the trees, and even a few distant shadows that made his skin crawl. It wasn’t a vision in the traditional sense—it was like a mental map, a perfect awareness of everything within a kilometer radius.

“This… this is insane,” I said, trying to process it all. “If I can do this, then… what about the others? Do they have abilities too?”

His heart raced at the thought. If this was reincarnation, and if they’d been granted powers, then their survival here might not be as hopeless as it had seemed.

Opening my eye, I returned to the real world, my vision sharper and his resolve firmer. He glanced at Jack, who was still sitting by him, that perpetual look of disapproval on his tiny face.

“I think I just figured something out,” I muttered to myself. The edges of my lips curve a faint grin crossed my face despite the pain.

Jack tilted his head at me, his tiny face scrunching up in confusion. His silent stare practically screamed, What now?

Before I could even try to explain, Emma came stomping back into the room. Well, as much as someone her size could stomp. Behind her were the rest of the gang—Noah, Mera, Star, and Cael—all crawling or awkwardly dragging themselves across the floor like little gremlins. The sight was somehow both hilarious and depressing.

Emma looked me over, crossing her arms with an air of entitlement she had no right to have in this situation. “What’s so interesting, Si Xin? You look like you’ve just discovered the secret to the universe or something.”

I sighed. Of course, she’d want to know. Not like I could keep it to myself anyway.

“Okay, listen up,” I said, sitting up straighter despite the throbbing in my chest. “I think I’ve figured something out about this whole reincarnation thing.”

Her eyes immediately lit up, and she leaned in closer, clearly intrigued. “Go on.”

I glanced at Jack, who was still staring at me, and then back at Emma. “When I fought that monster, I noticed something strange—a glowing red circle on its face. At first, I thought it was just me hallucinating from the adrenaline, but I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s some kind of ability. I can detect weak points or something.”

Emma’s jaw dropped, and before I could continue, she interrupted. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me we get powers in this reincarnation thing? Like, actual superpowers?”

I nodded, trying to keep her grounded. “It seems like it. At least, I have something. I don’t know about the rest of you yet, but it’s possible—”

Emma clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained excitement. “Oh, this is amazing! I hope I get something fabulous. Like the ability to turn anything I touch into gold or diamonds. No, wait! Maybe I can control people’s minds. Or teleport straight to a five-star hotel!”

I rolled my eyes, already regretting saying anything. “Emma, we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with barely enough food to survive. Maybe wish for something a little more useful?”

She ignored me entirely, lost in her fantasy of luxury and excess. “Oh, imagine if I could summon designer clothes! Or better yet, a private jet! This reincarnation thing might actually be worth it.”

“Great,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “Meanwhile, I’ll just be over here trying to not die.”

Jack, still sitting beside me, gave me a sidelong glance. His expression, as always, perfectly conveyed his thoughts: You brought this on yourself.

I sighed again, watching as Emma prattled on about her dream powers, the rest of the gang crawling around aimlessly, and Jack looking like he wanted to find a new group to reincarnate with.

This was going to be a long day.

The sun hung directly above, casting its light through the broken window. I could tell it was noon. We were gathered around the table—or at least as close to "gathered" as a bunch of toddlers and I could manage—eating berries and apples. Emma, as expected, found a way to complain even while eating.

"Ugh, these berries are so sour. Did you even check if they were the good kind, Si Xin? And honestly, I still can't believe we're eating next to that." She jabbed her finger toward the skeleton slouched in the chair.

I glanced over, surprised it was still intact after the chaos of last night’s monster attack. You’d think the cabin would have taken more damage or at least displaced the thing. But no, there it sat, mocking me with its eerie permanence.

“It’s not like I can ask it to leave,” I said dryly, biting into an apple. “Unless you’d like to volunteer to bury it, Emma.”

She scrunched her nose in disgust. “I’m not touching that thing! It’s probably cursed or something. Who knows what kind of bad juju it has?”

I rolled my eyes, brushing her dramatics aside. The rest of the gang was busy munching away, thankfully not chiming in with their own commentary. Noah had a berry-smeared face, Cael and Star were attempting to share a single apple (poorly), and Jack... well, Jack was just staring at me again, as if silently judging my life choices.

Once the meal was done and the remnants were tossed outside, I decided it was time to address the next pressing issue: food.

“Alright, listen up.” I turned to Emma, who was busy wiping her hands on her already filthy clothes. “I need to go out and find more supplies—food, water, anything useful. You’re going to stay here and guard the place.”

Emma blinked at me, then pointed to herself. “Me? Guard this place? Against what? Another monster?”

“Exactly,” I said, standing up. “I don’t know what else is out there, but after last night, I can’t risk leaving this place completely undefended.”

Her expression twisted into something between indignation and disbelief. “You expect me—a lady—to fend off monsters while you go wandering around playing scavenger?”

“Yes,” I said plainly, grabbing the rusted knife from the table. “You’re the only one besides me who’s... semi-functional right now. The others are still figuring out how to crawl without face-planting every five seconds. That leaves you.”

Emma pouted, crossing her arms. “This is ridiculous. I don’t even have a weapon!”

I tossed the rusted knife onto the table in front of her. “You have this.”

She stared at it like I’d handed her a live snake. “This thing is more tetanus than weapon! What am I supposed to do with it? Scare them away with rust?”

“Then figure it out,” I said firmly. “If you really want to survive, you’ll find a way. Besides, I’ll be back before dark. Just keep the others safe.”

She groaned dramatically but didn’t argue further. I took that as a win.

Before heading out, I did another quick headcount—one, two, three, four, five babies—then gave Jack a reassuring pat on the head.

“Be good,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else, as I stepped out of the cabin and into the woods.

After wandering aimlessly for a good while, I stopped in my tracks, letting out a long sigh. Why am I even doing this the hard way? I thought to myself, smacking my forehead in frustration. I had the perfect tool to scout the area without having to waste time blindly searching.

Spotting a relatively clear patch of ground, I sat down cross-legged, adjusting my posture into something resembling a lotus position. The weight of exhaustion hung heavy on my shoulders, but I pushed it aside and focused inward.

Closing my eyes, I felt myself slip into my inner world. That strange yet familiar sensation of detachment washed over me, as if I was floating in a sea of nothingness. It didn’t take long before the surroundings of my mental landscape came into focus—the miniature forest with its centerpiece: the tiny replica of the cabin.

I mentally willed myself to zoom out, and the view expanded rapidly, the forest stretching out beneath me like an unfurling map. Trees, rivers, and uneven terrain became visible, and soon, I could see the broader layout of the area. I scanned for anything that looked even remotely promising—a clearing, a grove, or maybe even a fruit tree.

After focusing on a particular area that seemed promising, I zoomed in. The details sharpened. It was a small patch of land with several trees laden with what looked like fruit. Apples? Maybe pears? Either way, it looked like a potential food source.

Encouraged, I decided to search for water next. I zoomed out again, letting the view shift as I traced the path of the river I’d found earlier. Following its flow, I saw what appeared to be a wider, deeper section—a small pool that might be better suited for collecting water.

Finally, I swept through the area around the cabin, looking for anything that could spell trouble. The remnants of last night’s monster attack weighed heavily on my mind. Better safe than sorry.

Sure enough, there was movement—a faint, almost imperceptible rustling deeper in the forest. I focused in on it, and my breath caught. Something was out there, prowling. Its form was indistinct, but the way it moved sent a chill down my spine. It wasn’t close to the cabin yet, but it was close enough to put me on edge.

I snapped back to reality, my eyes flying open. The sunlight filtering through the trees felt glaringly bright after the dimness of my inner world.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, standing up and brushing the dirt off my pants. “I’ve got a plan now.”

I mentally marked the locations I’d seen—the potential fruit grove, the water source, and the prowling... thing. My inner world was proving to be a lifesaver. Now I just had to hope I could collect what we needed and get back to the cabin before anything went wrong.

Which is easier said than done, I thought bitterly as I made my way toward the grove I'd spotted earlier. My left side felt like an endless void of uncertainty, the absence of vision a constant reminder of the monster encounter. My chest still ached too—while the injury was closed, it was far from fully healed. Every step and every stretch sent a dull, stinging pain rippling through me.

Hours passed—or maybe it just felt like hours—before I finally reached the grove. This time, the selection of fruits was better: a mix of apples, pears, and what looked like some kind of plum. Fewer berries, thankfully. As much as they were better than nothing, I’d grown tired of their tartness.

I began carefully gathering the fruits, keeping my good eye on my surroundings. My thoughts drifted to the others—Emma, Jack, and the rest. They were depending on me to keep them fed and safe. If nothing else, that thought kept me moving, despite my injuries and exhaustion.

Just as I finished filling my makeshift basket, a sound reached my ears. A faint rustling, too close for comfort, came from a bush behind me. My body froze, dread washing over me like ice water.

The rustling grew louder, the leaves shaking violently now. My grip tightened on the basket, and I slowly turned my head, preparing for the worst. Was it the monster? Did it track me here?

The bush parted, and out came... a snake.

Not a monstrous, hulking beast of a snake. No, just an ordinary, normal-sized snake, slithering lazily into view. Its scaled body shimmered faintly in the sunlight as it regarded me for a moment.

My heart, which had been pounding in anticipation of something horrific, began to settle. I exhaled shakily, relieved and annoyed all at once.

The snake flicked its tongue, then turned away, disappearing into the underbrush as if I wasn’t worth its time.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, the tension in my muscles finally easing. "Just what I needed—more surprises."

I gave the bush a wary look, then straightened up. No point in sticking around any longer than necessary. My basket was full, and I didn’t feel like testing my luck again. It was time to head back to the cabin.

As I made my way back to the cabin, my arms heavy with the makeshift sack of fruits and berries, I heard something strange—muffled noises coming from inside. At first, it sounded like faint screaming, low and guttural, just enough to set my nerves on edge.

Quickening my pace, I pushed the cabin door open and stepped inside.

What greeted me was Emma, standing in the middle of the room, waving her arms dramatically as she loudly complained. Her voice had hit such a high pitch that it almost did sound like screaming.

“What’s going on now?” I asked, exasperated, setting the basket down on the table.

Emma spun around to face me, her expression a mix of frustration and exaggerated indignation. “Si Xin! My powers are necromancy! NECROMANCY!” she shrieked.

My eyes shifted to the spot where the skeleton used to be. The chair was empty.

It took me a moment to process what I was seeing: the skeleton, previously a silent reminder of the cabin’s former occupant, was now standing. Upright. Its bony hands hung limply by its sides, but the hollow sockets of its skull seemed to stare directly at me.

I blinked. “What... what did you do?”

Emma threw her hands up, exasperated. “I didn’t mean to do anything! I was just practicing! You know, imagining my power being something glamorous—like summoning servants or something! And then this happened!” She pointed dramatically at the skeleton.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “So your power is... Raising the dead,” I muttered, my voice laced with disbelief and just a hint of resignation.

“It’s not fair!” Emma whined. “Why couldn’t I get something elegant, like fire magic? Or, or... summoning knights or angels or something cool!”

Ignoring her theatrics for the moment, I turned to check on Jack. He was sitting on the table, his tiny arms crossed, his face twisted in what could only be described as visible annoyance. He shot me a look that said, Fix this.

With a tired sigh, I placed the sack of fruits and berries next to him on the table. “Well, at least lunch is ready,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Emma huffed. “How can you think about food at a time like this? I just accidentally raised the dead!”

I glanced at the skeleton, still standing there awkwardly. “Looks like you’re going to have to figure out how to un-raise it,” I said dryly, pulling out an apple for myself.

Emma groaned loudly, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Ugh, this reincarnation thing is so not what I signed up for!”

seated near the table, her arms crossed as she stared daggers at the reanimated skeleton that remained eerily still in the corner.

I cleared my throat to get her attention. “Emma, I need to talk to you about something.”

Her eyes flicked to me, still annoyed but curious. “What now, Si Xin?”

I hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the basement door. “That thing in the basement... the monster from last night. Do you think you could—”

Her expression turned horrified before I could even finish. “Are you serious? You want me to raise that thing?”

“Listen,” I said, raising a hand to stop her impending tirade. “We’re in a strange, dangerous world. We don’t know what else is out there, and we’re completely out of our depth. If your power lets you control it, even temporarily, that could give us some kind of edge.”

Emma shook her head furiously. “No way! That thing’s huge! What if it goes rogue or something? I can barely handle this skeleton, and it’s literally just standing there doing nothing!” She gestured wildly toward her undead “creation.”

I knelt down to meet her gaze, trying to sound as calm and rational as possible. “Emma, I wouldn’t ask you to do this if it wasn’t important. We need every advantage we can get. I’ll be there the whole time, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll handle it.”

“You’ll handle it?” she repeated incredulously. “With what? Your kitchen knife? The one that’s so dull it couldn’t cut a soft vegetable?”

I ignored the jab, instead glancing over at Jack, who was quietly observing the conversation from his perch on the table. “Jack, back me up here.”

Jack gave Emma a look, raising one small hand to point toward the basement door as if to say, He’s got a point.

Emma groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. “Fine! But if that thing eats me, I’m haunting you for the rest of eternity!”

“Noted,” I said, getting to my feet.

After giving the gang strict instructions which for obvious reason they didn't listen to stay put, Emma and I cautiously approached the broken basement door.

“Ready?” I asked, hand on the door.

“No,” she muttered, gripping the bucket tightly.

“Good enough,” I said, opening the door.

The scent of blood and decay hit us immediately, a stark reminder of last night’s fight. The monster’s body lay crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, its grotesque form illuminated by faint beams of afternoon sunlight streaming through cracks in the cabin walls.

Emma took one look at the creature and turned pale. “This is such a bad idea.”

“Just focus,” I said, descending the stairs carefully. “You don’t have to do anything fancy. Just see if it works.”

Emma followed reluctantly, her steps hesitant. She stopped a few feet away from the body, staring at it as if it might leap up and attack her at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, she extended her hands toward the creature and closed her eyes. The air around her seemed to shift, growing heavy and cold.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faint wisps of dark energy began to swirl around her fingers, flowing toward the monster like smoke.

The creature’s body twitched.

Emma yelped, nearly dropping the bucket. “It moved!”

“Keep going,” I urged, though my heart was pounding.

With a look of sheer determination, Emma redoubled her efforts. The dark energy coiled around the monster’s form, seeping into its wounds. Slowly, it began to rise, its movements jerky and unnatural.

When it finally stood, it loomed over us, its glowing red eyes fixed on Emma.

She stared up at it, wide-eyed. “Now what?”

“Try giving it a command,” I suggested, keeping a safe distance.

Emma hesitated, then said tentatively, “Uh... sit?”

The monster let out a low growl, but to our surprise, it obeyed, lowering itself to the ground in a crouch.

Emma turned to me, her expression a mix of disbelief and triumph. “I did it.”

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. “Yeah, you did. Let’s just hope you can keep it under control.”

As Emma kept her concentration on the newly risen monster, I couldn’t shake the nagging thought that I’d overlooked something important in the basement. The last time I was down here, I was too focused on barricading the door and later fighting for my life to really take a good look around.

With the faint light filtering through the cracks, I started scanning the basement. The walls were made of rough stone, damp in places, and the floor was uneven dirt. The stale air carried the faint smell of rot, mixed with the metallic tang of old tools left to rust.

In one corner, I spotted a collection of tools: a hammer, a rusted saw, and an axe that looked like it had been through hell and back. The axe caught my attention. While it wasn’t in pristine condition, the blade still seemed sharp enough to be useful if I put in a bit of elbow grease.

I picked it up, testing its weight. It felt solid in my hands despite its wear and tear. “Better than a dull knife,” I muttered to myself, holding it up to examine the edge.

Behind the tools, a few wooden crates were stacked haphazardly. Curiosity got the better of me, and I pried one open with the claw end of the hammer. Inside, I found old, dried-out supplies—ropes that might still be usable, a few glass jars with cloudy contents, and what looked like a tattered leather journal.

The journal was brittle, its cover cracked and its pages yellowed with age. I flipped it open carefully, but most of the text was too faded to read. A few sketches, however, were still visible—drawings of strange symbols, what looked like the cabin, and a few rough diagrams of traps. One page in particular caught my eye: a detailed illustration of the monster Emma had just raised. Beneath it were faintly legible notes.

Closing it for now I tucked the journal under my arm, deciding to study it later.

Turning back to Emma, I found her glaring at me. “Are you done rummaging around?” she asked, still holding her focus on the monster.

“Almost,” I said, grabbing the hammer and axe before heading back to her.

As I reached her, I couldn’t help but glance at the risen creature. It was crouched obediently, its grotesque form still unsettling even without its life-threatening hostility. “You think you can keep it like this?” I asked.

Emma shrugged, her tone annoyed. “I don’t know. It’s not exactly like I got a tutorial for this power.”

“Well, keep it steady for now. I might’ve found something useful.” I patted the journal under my arm. “Let’s head back upstairs. This place gives me the creeps.”

Emma gave the monster a hesitant command to follow, and to my relief, it obeyed. As we climbed the stairs, the faint creak of the wood beneath our feet reminded me that this cabin had seen better days.

Once back in the main room, I spread the tools and the journal out on the table. Jack crawled closer, inspecting the axe with a thoughtful look. Emma finally let out a sigh of relief, releasing her hold on the monster. It stood in the corner, motionless but still unsettling to look at.

“Okay,” I said, addressing the group. “We’ve got some tools, some clues, and a lot of work to do if we’re going to survive out here. Let’s get to it.”

Taking out the journal, I opened it and flipped carefully through the pages. Most were faded or illegible, but one sketch caught my attention immediately—it looked eerily similar to the monster in the basement. I glanced between the drawing and the corpse Emma had raised, comparing the details. The sharp claws, hulking frame, elongated snout, and lack of a tail all matched perfectly.

The text beneath the sketch was just barely readable. The word "Calamityhound" was scrawled in bold, jagged letters, followed by what I assumed was a description. I read aloud under my breath:

“Calamityhound... second to appear during the first stage of an Insurgence...”

I paused, frowning. What the hell is an Insurgence? My grip on the journal tightened as I kept reading.

“This creature serves primarily as a recon unit, designed to track and report targets to larger forces. Its enhanced sense of smell and persistence make it a formidable hunter.”

I couldn’t help the twitch in my only good eye. A recon unit? This hulking, oversized monstrosity was a recon unit? How does that make any sense? It’s the size of a damn car! Who designed this nightmare and thought, Yeah, this is perfect for reconnaissance!

I glanced at the raised Calamityhound again, its lifeless gaze fixed straight ahead, and I felt a chill run down my spine. If this was a scout, then what the hell were the main units like?

I snapped the journal shut and exhaled sharply. “We’re in deep,” I muttered.

Emma, overhearing me, tilted her head. “What did you find out?”

I hesitated for a moment, weighing how much to say. “This thing,” I said, pointing at the raised monster, “is called a Calamityhound. And apparently, it’s just a scout for something called an Insurgence.”

Emma frowned. “Insurgence? That doesn’t sound good. Like... at all.”

“No kidding,” I muttered, rubbing my temple. “If this thing was tracking us, then there might be more of them. Or worse.”

Jack, sitting on the table, tapped the journal and gave me a pointed look. I sighed and set it down so everyone could see. “There might be more useful information in here, but I can barely read most of it. We’re going to need to figure out what this Insurgence is and how to avoid being a part of it... or becoming casualties of it.”

Emma stared at the Calamityhound, her expression shifting from annoyance to something more serious. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I raised this thing, huh?”

“For now,” I said cautiously. “But let’s hope you can keep it under control. If it decides to turn on us...”

Emma scoffed. “Please. I’ve got this. Just focus on figuring out how to keep us alive.”

With that, I tucked the journal under my arm again. I needed more time to decipher it, and we needed a real plan. Whatever this Insurgence was, it felt like it was only the beginning of something much bigger.