The trio trudged deeper into the dense, humid forest. Towering trees loomed overhead, their branches forming a near-impenetrable canopy that shrouded the ground in dim green light. The underbrush was thick, with twisted roots and thorny vines that snagged their boots and cloaks. Zach led the way, his sword drawn, its blade smeared with dried blood from earlier battles. Ivory followed close behind, his massive war hammer resting on his shoulder, while Ivonah guarded the rear with her bow drawn, the arrow notched and ready to release its explosive payload.

A distant roar broke the silence, and the group froze. Shadows shifted ahead as a massive, scaled beast lumbered into view.

It resembled a boar but had jagged tusks and a hide that shimmered like metal. Zach didn’t hesitate, charging forward with a yell as his sword arced toward the creature’s flank. Sparks flew as the blade glanced off its armor-like skin. Ivonah’s bowstring twanged, and an arrow streaked through the air, striking the beast’s side. The resulting explosion staggered the creature, eliciting a deafening bellow. It turned, its glowing eyes locking onto Ivonah.

I need serious power.

Zach hung back, his heart pounding as he pressed his hands together, his palms tingling with heat. A viscous, green liquid began to seep from his fingertips, its acrid scent sharp in his nostrils.

It was made out of mushrooms and caterpillars he had absorbed back in the forest near the village where he had spent the night.

Shielded by the chaos, he quickly smeared the concoction onto his blade. He tightened his grip on the hilt, eyes narrowing.

Ivory charged in with a roar, his war hammer swinging in a deadly arc. The weapon connected with the beast’s hind leg, sending a crack through the air as bone shattered. The creature stumbled but didn’t fall, its massive head swinging toward Ivory.

Zach saw his chance and darted forward, sliding under the beast’s bulk. His poisoned blade slashed at its softer underbelly, leaving a sizzling wound. The creature howled, its movements becoming erratic.

“Fall back!” Zach shouted, slamming his blade into the creature’s exposed neck. Blood sprayed, and the beast collapsed with a final wheeze. Zach scrambled out from under it, panting.

“You're fast... Like insanely fast,” Ivonah said, lowering her bow and wiping sweat from her brow.

Zach thanked her but said nothing more. He was already on edge, his eyes flickering to every shadow as though expecting it to lunge at them. Ivory broke the tension by speaking up.

“How much farther do you think?” he asked, his voice deep and resonant, cutting through the stillness of the forest.

“Not sure,” Zach replied. “But the beasts are getting bigger. Stronger. We’re heading in the right direction.”

They didn’t have to wait long for the next encounter. A massive, bear-like creature with spiked fur burst through the underbrush, its roar reverberating like thunder. The group sprang into action, instinctively spreading out to flank the creature.

Zach remained at the edges of the group, his body tense, waiting for the right moment. He didn’t draw attention to himself, focusing instead on the chemical reactions happening quietly within him. His hands were steady as he began to subtly manipulate the ingredients already stored within his body.

The first phase was easy—Zach inhaled a quiet breath, drawing the compounds from the stinging nettles and crushed ants.

His body went to work, separating and refining the irritants. A faint, almost imperceptible glow flickered beneath his skin, but no one saw it. His fingers twitched, and then, with a barely audible exhale, he expelled the irritant mist into the air.

The creature’s roar faltered as it began to paw at its face, its eyes watering and its movements becoming erratic. The irritants from the mist clouded its vision and made its skin itch intensely, but Zach’s expression never wavered. He stayed low, just another figure in the chaos of the battle.

Ivory swung his war hammer, each strike landing with bone-crushing force. Ivonah fired arrow after arrow, each one striking deep into the beast’s thick hide. The creature barely seemed to notice, its attention fixed solely on its attackers, but the mist Zach had unleashed was disorienting it, clouding its senses.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Zach felt the pressure of the battle building, and he quickly moved to the next step. His body began producing the neurotoxin mixture, derived from the mushrooms and caterpillar toxins he had consumed earlier. It formed deep within his chest, the mild toxin thickening and becoming viscous. He expelled the paste with a controlled breath, coating the blade of his sword. The substance was almost invisible, a perfect disguise for a weapon.

He closed in on the creature, watching its every move as it swiped its claws at Ivory. In the split second of its distraction, Zach dashed forward, narrowly avoiding the creature’s claws. His sword thrust upward into the beast’s softer underbelly. The neurotoxin was instantly delivered into its flesh, and the beast staggered, its steps slowing as the toxin began to take effect.

Zach stepped back quickly, blending in with the fray. His hands tingled as he quickly prepared his next move. His body drew on the sap and powdered fungi. He expelled the sticky resin with a subtle motion, the thick substance forming in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he cast it toward the beast's side, where it clung to its fur.

When Ivonah's arrow hit it and exploded, the resin quickly caught on fire. The fire spread across the creature’s spiked hide, and it howled in pain, thrashing violently.

Ivory and Ivonah redoubled their efforts. Ivory’s hammer came down with brutal force, Ivonah's arrows finding their mark, each one embedding deep into the creature’s hide. Zach remained at the edges, his movements barely noticeable as he continued to support the group from the shadows.

The beast was weakening, its movements slow and erratic. It attempted to swipe at Ivonah but missed, its body wracked by pain and confusion. In the chaos, Zach seized the moment. He moved with precision, his sword flashing as he struck again, delivering a final blow to its side.

With a deep, rumbling groan, the beast collapsed to the ground, twitching before finally going still.

Ivory wiped sweat from his brow, breathing heavily. He glanced at the fallen creature with wide eyes. "Wow…" he muttered, still trying to catch his breath.

As they caught their breath, a notification flashed across Zach's vision:

[Experience gained]

[Level up! You are now Level 13.]

[New Skill Unlocked: Quantum Entanglement]

[Skill Description: Create a link between objects or beings, no matter how far apart they are. Once entangled, changes to one will instantly affect the other.]

His body instantly felt more powerful. He blinked at the words, a mix of excitement and apprehension stirring within him.

His fingers itched to test it, but there was no time. Another rustling sound reached their ears, louder this time, and everyone tensed.

Out of the foliage stepped two figures. The first was a tall man with fiery red hair, his spear crackling with faint arcs of electricity. Beside him stood a tall woman with jet-black hair, her own spear similarly charged with energy.

“Impressive work,” the red-haired man said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of power. “You handled that beast well.”

Zach immediately stepped forward, his sword raised defensively. “Who are you?” he demanded.

The woman held up a hand, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. “We don't want to fight,” she said. “If we wanted trouble, you’d already know it.”

“Doesn’t answer the question,” Zach snapped, not lowering his blade.

The man chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m Calder, and this is Reina.”

Ivory’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

Reina tilted her head slightly. “To give you a warning. The beasts to the west are far worse than anything you’ve faced so far. If you value your lives, you’ll avoid that direction.”

Zach studied them closely, noting the relaxed way they held their spears despite their charged appearance. He felt an uneasy tension in the air as if the two were gauging them just as much as they were being gauged.

“Why warn us?” Ivonah asked, her bow still trained on them.

“Consider it… professional courtesy,” Calder replied.

Reina basically cut through the bullshit. "We recently saw someone get ripped into two by one of these beasts. It wasn’t supposed to happen. This is a military test, right? People aren't supposed to be dying."

Zach's expression darkened, confusion flickering across his face. "Wait, what? Are you sure? These things shouldn’t kill us—it’s just a simulation. I mean, it feels like they're going to kill us. But... I thought deaths would be accidental or caused by other test takers, not by the actual obstacles."

He was taking it seriously, as if it were life or death since it felt like that. But at the very back of his head, he thought it wasn't really.

Calder, overhearing their exchange, shrugged nonchalantly but with an edge of concern. "We’re not sure what’s going on either. Maybe the beasts malfunctioned, or maybe someone tampered with them. Whatever the reason, these things are killing people out here."

Ivonah muttered under her breath before asking. "That’s insane. Why would they let this happen?"

Reina crossed her arms, her gaze drifting toward the darkened forest. "We don’t have the full picture, but it doesn’t matter why right now. What matters is that these beasts are lethal, and if you’re not careful, you’ll end up just like that poor soul."

Zach nodded, his expression grim. "Thanks for the warning. We’ll keep our guard up."

The two disappeared back into the forest as silently as they had appeared. The group stood frozen for a moment before Zach finally lowered his weapon.

“Let’s rest here for the night,” he said, his voice heavy. “We’re all exhausted.”

They found a small clearing and settled down. Ivory lit a small fire while Ivonah sharpened her arrows, carefully inspecting the explosive tips. Zach sat apart from them, staring into the flames.