Zach leaned back against the coarse bark of a tree, his chest heaving with exertion. His muscles ached, but the euphoric surge of energy coursing through him made it all bearable. It had been so long since he’d leveled up that he’d almost forgotten the rush it brought. Strength, clarity, and confidence surged through his veins, making the world feel a little sharper, a little slower.

Nearby, Ivonah and Ivory rested as well. Ivonah sat cross-legged, absently staring at her bow, while Ivory leaned against a massive tree trunk, his arms folded across his chest as he caught his breath.

They were all amazed by their weapons' capabilities, but that was all. There were no signs of the thrill or growth Zach was experiencing.

Zach frowned, letting the thought linger. If leveling up felt this good and neither of them showed any sign of it… did that mean they didn’t experience it at all?

“Didn’t expect that bear to take that long,” Ivory grunted, breaking the silence. His deep voice rumbled through the clearing like distant thunder. “That thing was a tank.”

Ivonah smirked. “You mean, _we’re_ tired because you just stood there trading blows with it like some kind of gladiator?”

“Someone had to keep it distracted.”

“Still,” Ivonah said, holding up her bow. “Can’t say I’m not impressed with this thing. Exploding arrows? Whoever made this was a genius.” She ran her fingers along the bowstring, a hint of admiration in her voice. “I can’t believe how precise they are, too. That bear didn’t stand a chance once I realized what this mother fucker could do.”

Ivory chuckled, hefting his massive war hammer. “And this beauty? Shockwaves. One swing and it’s like an earthquake. I could feel its ribs breaking with every hit.” He patted the hammer affectionately. “Definitely worth lugging this thing around.”

Zach smiled faintly and held up his sword, the blade faintly crackling with residual energy. “Short-range energy arcs. It’s like having a second weapon. I would never have thought there would be weapons to let me do something as cool as that.” He gave it a quick swing, and a faint arc of energy zipped through the air, striking a nearby bush and leaving a scorch mark. “It’s efficient. I’ll give it that.”

Zach’s faint smile lingered for a moment as he swung the sword experimentally again, watching the residual energy dissipate. He glanced at Ivory and Ivonah, who were both still admiring their weapons, and felt a pang of doubt creep in.

“Feel anything?” Zach asked suddenly, trying to sound casual.

Ivonah raised a brow. “Like what? Bruises? Because yeah, I’m feeling plenty of those.”

“Same,” Ivory added.

“Not what I meant.” Zach waved them off. “Forget it.”

Ivonah frowned, leaning forward. “Hold up. You don’t just ask something cryptic like that and then drop it. What did you mean?”

“Yeah,” Ivory added, crossing his arms. “You’ve been acting weird ever since we stopped. Spill it.”

Zach hesitated, his gaze shifting between them. “It’s nothing,” he said, forcing a casual shrug. “Just… wondering if you guys felt anything unusual after the fight.”

“Unusual how?” Ivonah pressed, narrowing her eyes.

“Forget it,” Zach said again, shaking his head. “Not important.”

They exchanged puzzled looks but didn’t push further. Zach felt a pang of guilt but shoved it aside. If the experience wasn’t shared, it meant all the rewards were his alone, even when they worked together. A win-win.

And mainly it confirmed the theory of the system he had. It wasn't a common thing in this world.

---

After a short rest, they moved deeper into the forest. The air was thick with the smell of damp moss and the faint metallic tang of blood from their earlier fight. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in broken patches, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor.

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Zach noticed the wildlife first. Birds the size of goats perched on high branches, their talons sharp enough to slice through bark. One swooped low, and Ivonah ducked, cursing as it passed close enough to ruffle her hair.

“Someone tell me that’s not normal,” Zach muttered, glaring at the creature as it disappeared into the trees.

“It’s normal here,” Ivory said, his hand resting on the haft of his massive axe. “Which is why we’re moving fast.”

They pressed on, but the strangeness only grew. A herd of creatures grazed in a small clearing ahead. At first glance, they looked like goats—until Zach saw the jagged, spiraling horns that sprouted all over their bodies, twisting unnaturally. Their glowing eyes and synchronized movements made his skin crawl.

“Why do they have horns _everywhere_?” Ivonah asked, disgust lacing her voice.

Ivory grunted. “Doesn’t matter. We need to get through.”

“Yeah, but we don’t have to like it,” Zach said, pulling his dagger free.

The moment they stepped closer, the herd turned in unison, their glowing eyes locking onto the group. One of the creatures let out a high-pitched screech before charging, and the rest followed in a stampede.

---

The battle was chaos.

Zach sidestepped the first goat and drove his sword into its throat, blood spraying across the forest floor. Another came at him immediately, its horns aimed for his chest. He ducked and slashed its legs, sending it crashing to the ground.

“On your left!” Ivonah called out, her arrows flashing as she sliced through two of the creatures in quick succession.

Zach turned just in time to block another attack, the force of the impact nearly knocking him off balance.

Ivory, meanwhile, was a one-man wrecking crew. His war hammer cleaved through the goats in wide arcs, each swing sending bodies flying. “Keep moving! Don’t let them box you in!”

The battle dragged on, but the group fought fiercely. Ivonah’s exploding arrows sent groups of goats tumbling with each precise shot, while Zach’s energy arcs carved paths through the chaotic melee. Ivory’s shockwave-producing hammer continued to wreak havoc, creating craters in the forest floor with each powerful swing.

One by one, the herd was reduced to scattered survivors, their glowing eyes dimming as they fell.

By the end, Zach could barely lift his sword, but a surge of exhilaration coursed through him. The familiar rush of leveling up hit him once, twice, and then a third time before the last goat fell. He grinned despite his exhaustion, knowing he had reached level 10.

They finally managed to break free from the herd’s range, their heavy breaths cutting through the forest’s eerie silence.

Zach wiped sweat from his brow and leaned on a tree, his sword still crackling faintly. Ivory and Ivonah slowed their pace, scanning the area for any more threats.

“Let’s catch our breath here,” Ivory suggested, resting his war hammer against a rock.

“Agreed,” Ivonah said, lowering her bow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen something that relentless before.”

Zach nodded, his muscles aching from the frantic fight. He was just about to sit down when a sharp whistle pierced the air. An arrow thunked into a tree behind him, narrowly missing his head.

“What the hell?” he yelled, spinning around.

The man had been crouched low behind a bush, his crossbow raised and loaded. He froze as Zach’s shout drew attention to him, his sly grin fading into a grimace of frustration. His clothes were dirty and worn, and his movements were careful, almost predatory, as he adjusted his aim and fired another shot, this one aimed at Ivonah. She ducked just in time.

“Who the hell is this guy?” Ivonah snapped, slashing through another goat before turning her attention to the stranger.

“Doesn’t matter,” Ivory growled. “Take him down!”

Zach didn’t wait for instructions. He sprinted toward the man, dodging another arrow as it whizzed past. The stranger cursed and tried to reload, but Zach was faster. He slammed into him, pinning him against a tree.

“Bad move,” Zach hissed, pressing his sword to the man’s throat. “Care to explain what you were thinking?”

The man’s eyes darted around, panic flashing across his face. “I—I was hunting nearby! Thought you were beasts at first!”

“Hunting?” Zach’s voice was low and dangerous. “With a crossbow aimed right at us? Try again.” He shoved the man harder against the tree, his blade pressing closer to his neck.

The man gulped, sweat beading on his brow. “Alright, alright! I thought… maybe you were dangerous. Figured it was better to… uh, take the first shot.”

“Better to attack first? Still sounds like a lie.”

The man’s composure broke, his voice trembling. “Fine! Fine! I thought I could take you out while you were distracted, okay? Grab whatever loot you had and run.”

“Are you not concerned about the race... Nevermind. Got any friends lurking nearby?”

The man shook his head frantically. “No! No, it’s just me! I swear!”

Ivory and Ivonah approached, their weapons still drawn.

“What’s the plan here?” Ivory asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Zach considered for a moment before stepping back. “We let him go. He’s not worth the trouble.”

The man stumbled away, clutching his crossbow tightly. “Thanks! You won’t see me again, I swear!” He disappeared into the trees, his footsteps fading quickly.

Ivonah expression was unreadable. “Letting him go? Why.”

“What was I supposed to do?” Zach said. "Breaking his leg so he can no longer compete? There are dangerous beasts around here. I want to win, not be responsible for other people's deaths.”