Kael’s group fought tirelessly, hunting down the fiercest creatures the jungle had to offer. Each kill brought them closer to their goal, and the camp's atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the last of them neared the critical threshold of level 25.

Finally, the moment arrived. Together, Kael and his group triggered the evolution that would propel them to the next stage.

When the teleportation finished, they found themselves standing in a lush, alien landscape. A dense forest teeming with bioluminescent flora and towering trees whose canopies stretched high above, almost touching the sky. The air was thick with moisture, and the sounds of unseen creatures echoed in the distance. The vibrant colors and otherworldly atmosphere reminded them of the jungle they had just left, but this place felt even more alive, more dangerous.

Kael took a deep breath, feeling the power of the evolution coursing through his veins. They had made it. They had survived the second stage. But there was no time to rest. The dangers that lay ahead would be greater than anything they had faced before.

Kael addressed his people; his mind was already focused on their next move. "We need to establish a base of operations quickly," he said. "We’ll need shelter, defenses, and a place to plan our next steps."

With that, he entered the system shop looking for a base. Kael navigated through the options with practiced ease, his eyes scanning the list until he found what he was looking for: a fortress, fully equipped with defenses, living quarters, and everything they would need to establish a stronghold in this new stage.

With a final tap, Kael confirmed the purchase. But before the fortress could materialize, they had to make space. The towering trees that surrounded them were too dense, their massive roots snaking through the earth in intricate patterns.

"We'll need to clear the area," Kael said, his voice steady. "Cut down these trees and make room for the fortress."

The group sprang into action, their weapons flashing as they hacked away at the thick trunks. The trees groaned and creaked as they fell, shaking the ground beneath their feet. It was hard, grueling work, but eventually, they cleared enough space for the fortress to be placed.

Kael stood back as the ground beneath them trembled, and with a low rumble, the fortress began to materialize. Massive stone walls rose up from the earth, and the fortress's towering gates swung open, inviting them inside.

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As the group moved into their new stronghold, Kael couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. They had come a long way from the frightened survivors they had once been. Now, they were stronger, smarter, and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

Inside the fortress, the group quickly set to work, securing the perimeter and exploring their new home. The walls were lined with powerful enchantments, and the armory was stocked with weapons and armor far superior to anything they had used before. This fortress would be their sanctuary, their base of operations as they prepared for whatever the third stage would throw at them.

But even as they settled in, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The vibrant forest outside was full of life, but it also hid countless dangers. The enemies they would face here would be smarter, more cunning, and far more powerful than anything they had encountered before.

As night fell, Kael stood on the walls of the fortress, looking out into the bioluminescent jungle that surrounded them. The sky was an inky black, devoid of stars, and the air was thick with an unsettling silence. He knew that this was only the beginning. The third stage would test them in ways they couldn’t even imagine.

<--

Finally, the last of his men reached level 25, and the moment they had all been waiting for arrived. The air around them seemed to thrum with energy, and Thorwald could feel the evolution taking hold, enhancing their bodies, sharpening their senses. It was a quiet, almost primal transformation, one that left them all standing a little taller, a little stronger.

Thorwald took a moment to assess his men. They had been through hell together, and now they were ready for whatever came next. But there was no time to revel in their newfound power. They had a mission, and every second counted.

"We move out now," Thorwald ordered, his voice cutting through the thick jungle air. "Our goal is to find Steven's camp. He’s somewhere in this forest, and we need to link up with him."

The group set off immediately, moving as a single, cohesive unit through the dense underbrush. The jungle around them was alive with strange sounds and shifting shadows, but Thorwald's men were focused and protected the craftsman in the middle of them. They had trained for this, and the challenges of the third stage, though formidable, were not enough to deter them.

Thorwald led the way, his eyes scanning the path ahead with a predator's focus. His thoughts were on Steven. He wasn’t just an ally to be rescued. Thorwald saw in him a potential partner, someone whose strength and cunning could complement his own. If they could find Steven, they could join forces and create a formidable alliance, one that would make them unstoppable in their pursuit of Thalion and Kael.

As they moved deeper into the alien forest, the environment grew more treacherous. The glowing plants cast eerie, shifting light across their path, and the trees seemed to close in around them. But Thorwald's men followed him without hesitation, their trust in him unwavering.

They send their scouts on the top of the trees to scout for a tower or something that could lead them to Steven. If Steven was so keen on uniting as many humans, he could buy the camp in the system shop, which left Thorwald with more credits for himself.

Finally, after hours of trekking through the dense jungle, they caught sight of something in the distance. A faint glow, different from the natural bioluminescence of the plants. It was the telltale sign of a camp, and Thorwald's heart quickened.

"Stay alert," he warned his men as they approached the camp cautiously. "We don’t know what we’ll find, but we’re not taking any chances."

As they drew closer, the shapes of tents and makeshift structures became visible, and Thorwald knew they had found what they were looking for. Steven's camp was ahead, and with it, the chance to form the alliance that would change everything.

Thorwald stepped forward, his men fanning out behind him, ready for anything.