A clinking sound resounded throughout the cave. A short-sword had dropped onto the cave floor.

“I'm calling dibs on this one, guys. I just got knife raped in the back for this thing.” The other guy in the group says before picking up the short-sword.

“Hey! I need a weapon too!” The young lady says, finding it unfair.

“You'll get the next one.” The man says, not entirely happy with the situation himself. His back felt like it was on fire.

“Let's move on. And let's hurry. The exit can't be far.” The older lady says before jogging forwards.

The others followed suit.

Darren suddenly sensed something. It was probably another one of those creatures.

“Hey. Sword boy. There’s one up ahead for you.” Darren calls out as he slows to a stop.

“What? Why don’t you take it. And this lady has a gun.” The other school kid says with some reluctance.

“The lady has two bullets left, and I only have a dagger. Also, you’ll get a surprise when you kill it.” Darren says, implying a reward for his efforts.

The other guy raises an eyebrow. “Surprise?” He asks, a little confused. Suddenly he recalls his words about the RPG and his eyes light up. “Experience points?” He asks with some excitement.

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Darren nods. “Experience points.” He confirms.

“What are you guys talking about?” the young lady asks, feeling a little left out.

The other guy lets out a chuckle. “Awesome. Sit back and relax, comrades. This one is mine.” He says as he walks forward.

Darren follows close as a precaution. If this guy somehow died, Darren would try to finish the job.

The insect-like creature scurries forward and immediately pounces after getting close to the kid.

The kid doesn’t hesitate and slashes out with his sword at the general direction of the beast. The wide swing caught the creature in the air and dug deeply into its body before sending it crashing to the ground. The kid immediately rushes forward and stabs the sword down into the creature’s head, ending its life.

The kid suddenly looks up as if he heard a voice before letting out a big grin.

“Leveling system. Awesome.” He says with a giddy expression as he lets out a chuckle.

Darren smiles. This world could be more fun than I thought it was. He thinks to himself.

“Leveling system? What are you guys talking about? Hey, tell me!” The young lady says. She felt like she was missing out and she wanted in to whatever it was.

“If you kill one if these insect guys, it unlocks a leveling system. After that, I assume we’ll be able to level up and get stronger with enough experience points.” Darren explains.

“Are you fucking serious? You mean, we can be like superheroes or something?” The young lady asks with wide eyes.

“I guess.” Darren says with a laugh.

Shock was still on the young lady’s face. She looks to the guy who had just killed the creature and she furrows her brows. “Hey, kid. Lend me the sword. The next one’s mine.” She says as she gestures for him to hand it over.

The guy looks a little reluctant but he hands over the sword. “You have to give it back afterwards.” He says, a little unhappy.

“Relax. Once I get one, you can have this back.” She says nonchalantly as she holds the sword with a smile.

The atmosphere had lightened up. With the expectation of a reward, it was suddenly like they weren’t in a life and death situation anymore. Instead of a tribulation it became a challenge. It was something you could win at.

It wasn’t long before the young lady got her first kill, causing a smile to bloom on her face. She took a hit to the arm but she was able to shrug it off. For strength… For power… A little blood was nothing…

“Hurry it up.” The older lady calls out with some impatience. “If we don’t get out of here soon, you kids are going to bleed to death.” She says with some worry.

The group continued to walk forward and the older lady was forced to fire her remaining shots, getting two more kills. Darren and the young lady also got a few more. Unfortunately the lady wouldn’t hand back the sword and the guy didn't want to fight with a dagger, so the kid was forced seethe in his displeasure without any experience points. No weapons had managed to drop but they did get several copper coins which they left with the older lady, as they probably would have died without her.

Eventually they reached a glowing white barrier, and without hesitation, they all stepped through.