Oliver exploded to his feet. Since when could he move so fast? The intruders wanted to kill Hunter. It sounded like he had pissed them off in another world, and they meant to seek revenge.

The snake man hissed and came closer. “Some of these NPCs freak me out. Look at the one with the mask. He looks like he’s broken the fourth wall and understands what we said.”

Had Oliver given something away? He controlled his expression. What had they meant by a fourth wall? Oh, it made sense from a Player’s perspective. NPCs must be programmed to ignore information from outside their storyline.

Zaisy lifted into the air but couldn’t fly as well after the growth. "I don’t think they’re friendly.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes, casually resting a hand on the hilt of his bone sword. "I think they want a fight."

Before Oliver could respond, a translucent screen materialized before his eyes. It showed new information: Level 1 Star Mage. Below the text, an image of a swordstaff appeared—a staff with an entire sword blade on one end etched with geometric designs. He reached out but didn’t remember wanting to do so. The swordstaff materialized in his grasp, solid and real. The weight was familiar and balanced, and he spun it to catch it again in a firm grip.

The display flickered, and an error message caused the window to scroll. At least he assumed it was an error because it was all red. The symbols turned green. A new class appeared beneath his Star Mage status: Weapons Master Level 20.

The reaper was wrong. It wasn’t he who had gone haywire but the game.

Confusion mingled with a surge of adrenaline. Two classes? What’s happening to me?

The intruders exchanged a glance before advancing.

The mouse man drew a wedge-shaped mallet. “He has tricks. But he’s small, can’t be too powerful.”

It was true. Oliver stood no taller than their midriff.

The snake-headed man circled to the side, eyes never leaving Oliver. "I want that little weapon. Look at its construction, like it came from a high fantasy world."

The other nodded. “And look at him. He’s got no other creature mixed in his genes. Maybe the Universal Constructor fucked up.”

Zaisy stepped back, wings quivering. "I don’t know what they’re saying, but it can’t be good."

Oliver was confident he was right. NPCs couldn’t understand information outside their world. He could sit Zaisy down and explain where he came from, but she wouldn’t understand. However, as was Hunter and all the other NPCs, she was conscious. At least, it must be so if he himself could think and feel.

Hunter drew the bone sword, but it wasn’t much more than a dagger. "I think the world’s out to get you, Oliver. It’s one danger after another."

Oliver felt a strange sensation welling up inside him. No, it was confidence. He’d never felt confident before, especially not like this. His grip tightened on the swordstaff, and his stance widened.

"Let’s take out the fantasy man," the snake-face hissed.

Without another word, the assailants lunged. The mouse-face darted forward with surprising speed, blade aimed at Oliver's chest.

Time turned syrupy.

Oliver sidestepped, his movements coming naturally. He parried the attack with the black wooden shaft and used it to sweep his opponent.

Mouse-face slammed into the ground, air leaving his lungs and struggling to reenter.

The snake-headed man struck next, his motions serpentine and unpredictable. He lashed out with fangs, and with a slinky neck, the bite could reach further than expected.

Oliver met each attack with precision. He was hardly trying and wasn’t winded. He’d played sports here and there with friends and knew he’d typically be huffing and puffing, but he was so relaxed, his body flowing like water, he could hold his breath and do this.

Zaisy watched with big eyes. "How is he doing that?" she whispered.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "He’s full of surprises."

The intruders fought fiercely, their desperation evident. Despite their efforts, Oliver remained a step ahead.

Mouse-face howled when the swordstaff severed his arm.

Snake-face snarled, launching into a frenzied assault, fangs snapping everywhere.

Oliver anticipated each move, countered, and struck. He knocked the attacker off balance, the tip of his blade hovering at the snake man's throat.

Breathing heavily, the snake-man glared up at him. "Something’s wrong with you, NPC."

That’s almost precisely what Oliver’s mother had said before applying the iron. Something’s wrong with you.

Oliver hesitated. Could he kill? The centipede lacked any humanity, at least on the outside, but they spoke and had human body parts.

The intenseness in his opponent's eyes wavered, revealing a flicker of fear.

Oliver lowered the point of his weapon. "Leave now, and don't come back."

The two acted submissive, but then fangs struck. The mouse man shot forward to tackle Oliver, but the swordstaff drew deep red gashes.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

A moment later, the two beasts lay in pools of blood. Dead.

As the silence settled, Oliver felt the adrenaline ebb. He looked down at the weapon in his hands, the runes dimly aglow, and wiped the blood from its edge. "I didn’t want to kill them."

Zaisy approached cautiously. "That was... incredible. I've never seen anyone move like that."

Hunter folded his arms. "You've been holding out on us. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"I didn't," Oliver said, his brow furrowed. "It was like someone else took over."

Zaisy's expression shifted to one of concern. "That’s weird." She kneeled beside their bodies. "They fought so hard, even when they were losing. It's sad."

Oliver sighed, a heaviness settling in his chest. "They will live again."

Hunter placed a hand on his shoulder. "I didn’t know you were religious. Anyway, we better stoke the fire. We have eating to do."

Oliver felt bile at the back of his throat. "That’s crazy."

They’d eaten the centipede. What’s the difference? It wasn’t exactly cannibalism being part animal. Yet this was the law of the land. This world demanded the strong consume the weak. It was less of a meal and more of an absorption of power.

By the time they’d finished, their stomachs threatened to explode. Their heads now protruded from the grass. They stood so tall they could see Tree City in the distance, rising in relief against the twilight.

When morning light filtered through the weeds above the shoulder-high grass, the dampness of morning dew carried the scent of greenery as the trio continued their journey. Oliver used the swordstaff as a walking stick. The runes along its length glinted in the light of a pink sky.

He focused intently on the translucent screen hovering before him. "Level 1 Star Mage," he read aloud, not worrying about his companions. “Available spells are Starlight Beam, Cosmic Shield, and Astral Lance. But I don’t know how to select them.”

Zaisy could no longer fly, but she could leap into bushes and back down with the aid of her wings. "I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it sounds mystic. I’ve heard of plant masters who can make things grow. Are you tinkering with magic?"

"Yes, I am. But it’s a little different. I’m no plant master or wherever you’re thinking of. I’m just trying to understand my class.”

"Messing with magic you don't understand? Sounds risky," Hunter said.

Oliver selected Starlight Beam when he used two fingers to touch it. A tingling sensation coursed through him. "I'll start with something simple and see what happens."

He aimed his open hand at a distant rock, concentrating and channeling the wild energies spiraling within him. The runes along the blade ignited, and a liquid light beam struck and shattered the rock. Shrapnel shot upward, and pebbles rained down.

Zaisy clapped her hands together. "Impressive."

"Let’s see what this does," Oliver said. He selected Astral Lance. He focused on a spot far ahead, and hot energy erupted from his hand.

A burst of light engulfed the area, knocking them backward. Oliver tumbled. Dazed, he sat up to see Zaisy sprawled on the ground, frantically patting out cinders. He snapped out of it and ran over to her. "Are you okay?"

She winced but managed a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, It’s not bad."

A mixture of guilt and fear washed over him. "I'm so sorry."

She placed a gentle hand on his. "It's alright."

Hunter dusted himself off, his expression stern. "This is why meddling with powers you don't understand is a bad idea. I never liked plant masters."

Oliver stood up. "I have to learn somehow. But maybe I should do it alone.”

Zaisy stepped between them. "Let's not fight. He’s not doing anything alone."

Oliver took a deep breath. "I’ll be very careful from now on."

When they began to leave, they discovered why the Astral Lance had exploded in their faces. Not far away, a giant lizard lady lay smoking on the ground.

Hunter bent over her. “She’s a chameleon. You might have just saved our lives, Oliver. I still think using your magic around others is dangerous, but luck is on your side.”

Zaisy cried, “I can’t eat another bite.”

Moving close, Hunter stared her in the eye. “We chose to help Oliver, and he’s aiming for the top.” He pointed upward. “We eat, and we grow.”

She responded in a small voice. “Alright.”

Oliver poked the lizard. “It’s already cooked.”

After the meal, the grass forest only reached its knees, and the perspective of the land appeared more normal than ever. However, they would never enter Tree City again and had to fashion new clothing.

The terrain began to change, the ground sloping upward. The grass gave way to rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation.

As they crested a shoulder of land, a sudden gust of wind swept their hair upward. The ground terminated at their feet, revealing a sheer cliff that dropped into a vast valley below.

Oliver staggered back."Whoa. I almost walked off the edge."

Zaisy hovered crazily over the side, her wings beating. "It’s amazing."

The world tilted for Oliver. “Get back.” He crouched at the rim.

The valley stretched like an ocean of green and gold, dotted with strange rock formations and a silver thread of a river. Down there, specks moved. And, to the north, a giant lumbered.

Hunter approached. Unless you knew him, he’d think he was unimpressed, but the slight widening of the eyes betrayed his awe. "I've never been this far. I haven’t so much as heard a story from these parts.”

Zaisy retreated from danger. "So what do we do now?"

Oliver considered their options. "We need to find a way down. Maybe there's a path along the cliff."

They cautiously followed the cliff's edge. The wind tugged at their clothes. The rocky terrain was treacherous, loose stones shifting underfoot. At one point, the ground crumbled beneath Hunter, and he grabbed onto a protruding root to save himself.

"Careful!" Zaisy said, reaching out to help.

He chuckled nervously. "Thanks. Guess I'm not used to these longer legs yet."

Structures built into the cliffside appeared far underfoot. A network of dwellings carved into the stone was connected by carved steps or rope bridges and ladders.

"Another city," Oliver observed. "They are at least our size or larger."

Zaisy strode down the path ahead of them. "I want to meet them."

Hunter scratched his chin. What was once a shadow was now a beard. "They might be hostile."

"Only one way to find out," Oliver said, chasing Zaisy.

A few broad places along the path allowed Oliver to walk and peruse the character details. He was still level one in his first class and twenty in the other. Perhaps he had to use spells to get experience as a Star Mage. He closed the screen. Why did he care anyway? If the meaning of life is that it’s just a game, why play? Especially since he wasn’t supposed to have goals or ambitions.

They balanced along an eroded section no more than a foot wide and took a break to settle their nerves.

Cliff-dwellers emerged, moving over the terrain as if it were flat ground. Their appearances varied, but most had goat-like features. Oliver hated goat eyes, the way the pupil were squashed. One had bright yellow feathers and hopped on bird legs.

A goat with girthy horns stepped forward, eyes dull, and face all angles. "We saw you clumsily climbing down to us. What brings you to the East Rim?"

Oliver, against his better judgment, neared the goat. "We’re looking for a way down." Again, he felt short as the bipedal goat toward over him.

The goat studied them thoughtfully. "This is the only way unless you go far north or south, but very few pass through our city."

"Can we?" Hunter interjected.

"Wanting down isn’t a satisfactory answer."

A shadow passed over them. Three vulture-like monsters circled overhead. Oliver pointed. “The best answer right now is we don’t want our eyes pecked out by those creatures.”

“That will do for now.”