Chapter 30: New Spirit

Back in their room, the group laid on their beds, feeling the fatigue from the day weigh down on their bodies. The earlier events had taken a toll, both physically and mentally. The room was dimly lit, the wooden walls and simple bunk beds giving it a sparse, almost prison-like atmosphere. They had spent the last few hours in silence, recovering from the adrenaline-fueled moments earlier. Someone had delivered food to their room—a small portion of meat and vegetables—but none of them felt particularly hungry. Niko chewed thoughtfully, pondering the strange properties of this world.

The food barely seemed necessary. Their hunger came in waves, much slower than on Earth, and it made Niko wonder about other aspects of this world. Would they age the same way as they did on Earth? It was a disturbing thought, one that lingered in his mind. Was aging even a factor here, or would their bodies remain in some ageless state? Time would tell, but answers wouldn’t come easily.

The day's events were still replaying in their minds—violent, chaotic, and raw. The monsters they fought, the blood they spilled, and the constant looming danger had left its mark. For most of them, it was their first real taste of how ruthless this new world could be. It was a lot to digest, especially now that they had time to reflect.

Niko lay on his bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling, heart still unsettled. He felt torn between exhilaration and dread. What had come over him? His actions earlier were bold, reckless even. Yet something about this world, so reminiscent of the novels he’d read, made him confident. Or perhaps it was the hidden power he now held—the ability to command spirits. It was hard to tell.

“You guys leveled up! Check your stats and everything,” Ivanic’s voice cut through the silence, reminding them of the victories they had earned today. He sat up on his bed, looking at the others with a hint of anticipation. For him, the stronger his team became, the better chance they all had of surviving.

“That’s right!” Niko thought, the realization sparking energy back into him. The memory of leveling up brought a rush of excitement. He had been so wrapped up in the intensity of the battle, he’d nearly forgotten the rewards that came with it.

“Now, listen,” Ivanic continued, "you’ve got two skill points to spend. These points can be placed into any attribute, so make your choices carefully. In this world, your decisions can mean the difference between life and death.”

Niko opened his status screen, his fingers brushing over the glowing interface. It felt surreal, like something out of a game, but this was no longer a fantasy. It was reality. He looked at the attributes carefully, noting the small plus signs next to each one and the number two indicating his available points. It was just like the games he used to play back on Earth. He had seen this setup before, and that familiarity gave him a sense of control.

“I need to be smart about this,” he thought to himself. “I shouldn’t focus on strength or constitution—those don’t suit my path.” Niko was determined to follow the path of a summoner, or something close to it. Intelligence and mana would be his priority. He needed better control over his spirits. Right now, handling three was already taxing. What would happen when he had five? Ten?

His mind raced through the possibilities, weighing the benefits. More intelligence might mean better control. More mana could mean stronger spirits or the ability to summon more of them. He couldn’t afford to spread his points too thin.

“Intelligence and Mana it is,” he decided, confidently pressing the plus signs.

As soon as the points were allocated, Niko felt a change. His mind became clearer, sharper. There was a subtle shift in his thoughts, like a fog lifting. The increase in mana was equally noticeable—he felt an internal reservoir of energy expand, making him feel more powerful than before. This could work, he thought, already anticipating what the future might hold.

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“This is amazing,” Candreva’s voice boomed from the other side of the room, flexing his muscular arms. “I can feel it. I’ve become even more manly!” His enthusiasm was boundless, and his confidence radiated off him like heat from the sun.

Ivanic, however, brought them back to reality. “Don’t get too cocky,” he said, his tone more serious. “We’ve barely scratched the surface. The people out there, the powerful ones—they’re on a completely different level. We’re still the weakest in the bunch. We’ve got a long way to go.”

The gravity of Ivanic’s words settled over the room. They weren’t heroes yet. This wasn’t some grand adventure where they could level up quickly and breeze through challenges. This was survival, and they were at the bottom of the food chain.

Zheng’s voice broke the silence, “Niko, let’s see that new spirit of yours. Summon it.”

Niko nodded. He had been eager to test the Roughback Boar King, the beast he had claimed earlier. With a flick of his mind, he summoned the spirit.

The boar appeared in the center of the room, its ghostly form shimmering slightly. It was identical to the massive beast they had fought earlier, only smaller—about waist-high. The boar stood still, its eyes unfocused, as if it were in a different plane of existence. An eerie presence radiated from it, though no one seemed bothered by the tension in the air.

A proud smile spread across Niko’s face as he examined its stats:

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[Name]: Roughback Boar King

Rank: F-

Potential: F

[Status]

Strength: 5

Constitution: 4

Agility: 1

Intelligence: 0

Mana: 0

Mana Power: 0/0

Spirit Power: 0/100

[Skills]

Powerful Tusks

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“An F-rank!” Niko grinned. He could hardly believe it. An F-rank spirit this early on? It was a game-changer. This spirit was leagues above the unranked ones he had controlled before. Even though the boar king was still weak in the grand scheme of things, it was a powerful ally at this stage.

Candreva, peering at the spirit, looked confused. “I can almost see through it. It’s like it’s there but... not.”

Ivanic stepped closer, rubbing his chin. “Does it follow every command?”

Niko nodded. “Yes. Though it’s more than just following orders. It’s like... I control every aspect of it. My will is its command.”

A thought lingered in the back of Niko’s mind. What if the spirit had higher intelligence? Would it eventually start thinking for itself? Would it one day act independently?

With the Roughback Boar King now under his control, Niko was confident. He had three spirits: the Steampunk Bee, the Giant Mantis, and now the Boar King. An army of spirits. The thought made his blood race with excitement.

Zheng, still marveling at the boar, spoke up. “We’re gonna go far with this team, Niko. I can feel it. What do you think, Ivanic?”

Ivanic, ever the realist, gave a cautious nod. “We have potential, but potential means nothing if we get complacent.”

The excitement in the room didn’t die down until Candreva, ever eager for more action, suggested, “Let’s go to the mountains next. These boars are getting too easy!”

Ivanic’s face darkened, shaking his head firmly. “Don’t even think about it. The mountains are dangerous. One is home to a powerful entity, and the other is a complete mystery. Anyone who goes there... never comes back.”

The weight of Ivanic’s warning sent a chill through the room. Candreva, who usually brushed off danger, looked momentarily shaken.

Niko sighed, his pragmatic side surfacing. “It’s about kill speed. We can wipe out these boars quickly, rack up experience, and stay safe. Chasing stronger monsters is too risky. We’d waste time, and if something goes wrong, we might not survive.”

Zheng and Ivanic both nodded in agreement, while Candreva seemed to reluctantly accept the logic.

Then Niko turned to Ivanic, curiosity gnawing at him. “This powerful entity... what do you know about it? What’s its skill?”