Ren sat upon a large hill looking over the location of his recent hunt. He had been working with a team for the last week, trying to boost their levels for the fight to come with the clan elder, but progress had been slow. Since they moved, prey had become scarce and nothing gave enough xp to level quickly. He had wiped out an entire pack of dear today on his own and did not even gain a level. He examined his accrued status, and noting the meager advancement spat in disgust.

Status

Name: Ren Elborn

Leval: 17

Ascension: 0

Class: Headsman (rare)

Mana: 290/250

Stamina: 900/900

Stats

Strength E: 39

Endurance 90

Dexterity 48

Intelligence 29

Wisdom 29

Available Points: 0

Multipliers

Strength 2

Endurance 2

Dexterity 1

Intelligence 1

Wisdom 1

Skills

Axe Proficiency, Reckless Swing, Off with Their Heads, Rage

Titles

[First threshold], [Low-Grade Stats Collector], [Advanced Incarnate], [Underdog]

A period of almost two weeks had transpired following the meeting of the family leaders, and he had only gained five levels. He shook his head, a grimace twisting his features as a wave of disgust washed over him. With only two weeks remaining until his father's plan was set into motion, drastic and desperate measures would be necessary to meet his expectations. He rose to his feet and made his way down the hill to meet back up with the small hunting party that he had been leading the past few days. Chio and a young woman named Nevala, an archer mostly included for her tracking skills, made up the hunting party. While approaching the other two, who were busy gathering their belongings to take with them, Ren couldn't help but feel impressed by the significant progress Chio had made after their shared ordeal during the trials. He had considerably bulked up not as big a Ren but still a sizable gain. The great sword that hung from his hip now looked at home with him, no longer giving the sense of someone wielding a weapon that was too large for them.

“Let's get moving,” Ren said.

“Sounds good to me,” Choi agreed, placing his bag on his back.

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“Next location?” Nevala asked.

“No, we are going to find some better prey. This trash is not nearly enough.” Ren replied.

The other two both nodded, knowing better than to try arguing with him. Ren led them further away from the clan's new outpost and deeper into the forest.

“Isn't this the direction that the horde was moving towards?” Nevala asked.

Chio startled and looked around frantically as his face paled.

“You're right! What are you thinking, Ren?”

“We will not reach the level we need to before the assault at this pace. You of all people should know what those things are worth, Chio, seeing as it was the only way that you reached level 10 in time.” Ren said with a grunt.

“Why are you so obsessed with reaching level 30 before the battle? Do you think that will be enough power to stand toe to toe with people two times your level?”

Ren spun to face the smaller man with a primal growl.

“Shut your mouth before I shut it for you.”

Chio smeared back at Ren. He was no longer the frail boy who would fall in line just because someone bigger than him told him to.

“Make me.”

Ren threateningly placed his hand on the head of his axe, which was belted at his waist.

“Say that again. I dare you.” He said with a snarl.

Chio was about to speak again, hand on the hilt of his great sword, when Nevala interrupted him.

“All right, that's enough out of you too,” Nevala said, stepping in between the pair. She turned to Chio before speaking again.

“Chio, as much as I don’t want to face those things either, Ren may have a point here. Our families are planning to take this fight whether we are we reach a high level and you better believe all the loyalist families will come to the elder's aid. We are going to need all the strength we can get to hold back the rift raft from interfering with the fight and our leveling speed has been abysmal the past few days. This may be our best chance to get back on track.”

Chio deflated with a sigh. He could not argue with her logic and he didn’t want to. His fondness for Nevala had grown, and he cherished the time they'd spent together these past few weeks. He lost himself in thought for a few moments, dreaming about the day he would finally work up the courage to ask her out.

“So, what do you think?” She asked while Chio was staring off into the distance.

He startled at the words.

“Oh, yes, we can continue for now, but the moment we see a group of over two of those things, we need to run.”

“Fine, be me. You good with that big guy?”

Ren grunted before responding.

“If you are too cowardly to fight more than two of them, then go ahead and run away, but I'm going to make sure that I get the levels I need.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you had faced those things before,” Choi muttered under his breath.

Ren had already turned and started walking again, leaving just Nevala to hear his comment.

“Are they really that dangerous?” She asked in a hushed tone.

“More than you would believe. I only faced one of those things and I could barely scratch it. The only reason that I am still here talking to you is that I got lucky. I was able to slip my sword into a gap in its armor and finish it off because it was distracted by slicing apart a member of my hunting party.”

Nevala gulped.

“If that's true, I think I will join you in running if there are more than two.”

“Good choice. We should probably catch up before that brute throws a fit again.”

Chio said, looking in the direction that Ren had gone.