“What the hell was that?!” Corporal Jenser’s voice cut through the battlefield, disbelief and shock plain in his tone. The artifact potion had worked wonders on him, healing not just his wounds but wiping away his exhaustion entirely. He looked like a man reborn, ready to fight as though the battle had just begun.
“Later!” Kaiden said, urgency dripping from his words. “Let’s end this!”
Jenser snapped out of his stupor, nodding sharply as he tightened his grip on his sword. They didn’t have a second to waste. Kaiden’s buff was ticking down, and their Caster had just called out that her mana was gone. It was down to him and Jenser now.
Across from them, Drev stood alone, his face twisting with fury as the realization of his disadvantage dawned on him. “Bastards!” he roared, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Kaiden. With a guttural scream, he charged. His movements were wild and erratic, his strength amplified by what Kaiden could only guess was some kind of berserker ability.
Kaiden braced himself as Drev closed the distance in a flash. Their swords collided with a thunderous clang, the impact sending vibrations up Kaiden’s arms. He gritted his teeth and dug his heels in, refusing to budge. To the bandit leader’s surprise, Kaiden held his ground.
Drev’s eyes widened, his confidence faltering for the first time. He clearly hadn’t expected Kaiden to match his strength, even with the berserker buff raging through his veins. Kaiden’s artifact-enhanced stats were stronger, leveling the playing field, though Kaiden could feel the strain. Drev was still more skilled, and relentless in his assault.
I’m not sure if I’d be able to beat him if I were alone, Kaiden thought. Luckily, he wasn’t alone and didn’t need to wait long for Jenser to find an opening.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kaiden spotted Jenser. The corporal had moved into position and struck with precision, driving his blade into Drev’s side. The bandit leader howled in pain, stumbling back as the combined assault bore down on him.
“HOW?!” Drev screamed, his voice cracking as panic began to seep into his movements. No doubt he was frustrated that he didn’t just bulldoze Kaiden after activating his berserking skill. Kaiden’s boost was simply stronger. The bandit leader swung wildly, his attacks becoming less coordinated and more desperate.
Kaiden and Jenser didn’t let up. Kaiden’s blade found gaps in the bandit’s armor, striking again and again. Jenser mirrored his ferocity, each blow chipping away at Drev’s strength and resolve. The once-dominant bandit leader was now on the defensive, his movements slowing down as he lost more and more blood.
Kaiden felt his buff fading, the surge of power leaving his limbs heavier and slower. He stumbled back a few steps, planting his sword in the ground to steady himself.
But it didn’t matter.
Drev was already finished.
The bandit leader dropped to his knees, blood dripping from his wounds as his sword clattered to the dirt. His face twisted with rage and disbelief, his lips moving as if to curse them one last time.
“This is for the fallen,” Jenser growled, stepping forward. He activated his thrust ability again, driving his blade cleanly through Drev’s chest.
The bandit leader’s eyes widened in one final moment of shock before they went blank. Blood spilled from his mouth as he toppled forward, lifeless.
It was over.
Kaiden sank to the ground, leaning against his sword for support as he caught his breath. He wasn’t aching or injured, just slightly winded from the exertion. Around him, the battlefield fell silent, save for the ragged breaths of the survivors.
They had won, but Kaiden couldn’t shake the weight of the cost.
"Nice work, Private," Corporal Jenser said, clapping Kaiden on the shoulder. "You saved the day. Let's gather our wounded and tend to the dead, then you and I need to talk."
"Yes, Corporal," Kaiden replied, surveying the aftermath. He could already feel Jenser’s curiosity about the potion he’d used during the fight. As he moved to heal the injured, Kaiden began crafting the explanation he would give when the time came.
The first person he found still breathing received a cast of Healing Touch, and a notification flashed in his vision indicating the ability had leveled up. He dismissed it immediately, deciding to check the details later. There was no time to waste as he continued moving from one survivor to the next, healing who he could. Even Corporal Jenser received another dose of Healing Touch. Kaiden wasn’t sure if healing buffs could stack or how they interacted with each other, but he figured it was better to err on the side of caution.
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Out of their original group of eleven, only six remained alive. Two were in critical condition, clinging to life by a thread. Kaiden’s heart sank when he realized the stocky man who had stood watch with him didn’t make it. The heaviness in his chest was almost unbearable. He hadn’t known these people for long, but they were his comrades-in-arms, and their deaths felt so needless.
It was a stark reminder that this world wasn’t a safe haven. Danger could strike anywhere, not just in the dungeons.
Kaiden glanced at the lifeless bodies of the bandits he had killed. He didn’t weep for them. Their deaths were necessary for his survival, and he felt no regret. But that lack of regret unnerved him. How could he feel so at peace with taking lives? Was it something about this world? Was everyone here so accustomed to death?
He couldn’t deny that Mindforge was at work in the background, helping to calm his emotions and focus his thoughts. It didn’t change how he processed the events, but it allowed him to stay in control, preventing him from succumbing to grief or panic. This was his world now, where death was an undeniable reality—but if he wanted to survive without losing himself, he had to grow stronger.
Not long after the battle, Kaiden and the remaining Dungeoneers had done everything they could to regroup. The wagons were prepared for departure, the bodies of their fallen comrades carefully and solemnly placed in the bandit wagon. After a brief discussion, it was decided they would bring both wagons with them. The corpses of the bandits were left behind, stripped of their armor and weapons, all of which would be turned over to the military.
Corporal Jenser had already mentally sent a detailed report of the skirmish, his expression grim as he recounted the losses and events. He informed the group of their new plan: they would stop at a nearby town two days away to hand over the dead to the army outpost stationed there. This would hopefully be done before decomposition set in, ensuring their comrades received proper military rites. Additionally, they would be assigned an escort to bolster their diminished numbers for the remainder of their journey to the capital.
One of the survivors volunteered to drive the bandit wagon, its mismatched design an odd contrast to their military vehicle. It trailed behind as the group resumed their journey, the wheels creaking in the silence. Among the somber mood, Kaiden found himself staring at the horizon, the landscape shifting as the wagon moved, but his mind was elsewhere. In the quiet, he finally took the opportunity to check his notifications:
Healing Touch increased to Level 2. Healing effect has increased.
Kaiden’s brow furrowed. The improvement was... underwhelming. While the ability’s effect was stronger now, the notification didn’t offer anything new or exciting. He had been hoping for something more substantial like a bonus to his attributes. It was a common class after all, so that was probably expected. And, unfortunately, it seemed like stat boosts for ability levels were only given to innate abilities. Abilities from classes didn’t get stat boosts, instead the stat boosts were gained from the class level. He brought up his full Status:
Kaiden Hayward
Age: 26
Class: Health Weaver (Common) Level 1 +50 Mana and +5% Mana Regeneration
Skills / Abilities
Regeneration: Level 2 (Passive) +20 Constitution and +10 Dexterity
Mindforge: Level 2 (Passive) +50 Mana and +10 Mana Regeneration
Arcane Vision: Level 2 (Active) +15 Mana Regeneration and +10% Mana Regeneration
Healing Touch: Level 1
Cure Poison: Level 1
Attributes
Strength: 30 {15%}
Dexterity: 40 {15%}
Constitution: 110 {45%}
Mana: 800 / 800 {15%}
Mana Regeneration: 30 {15%}
When he looked at his status page, he usually just wanted to see what his attributes were at and usually hid the bonuses he got from his innate abilities. He preferred to keep it simple and only a portion of his attributes came from abilities anyway.
His thoughts then drifted to Cure Poison, the other class ability he hadn’t had many chances to use. He knew his class would level up as soon as it reached Level 2, but at this rate, it felt like that might take forever. He sighed, knowing his chances to practice it were slim outside of dungeon diving. Still, regular dungeon runs should give him more opportunities to level up his abilities—if he lived long enough to reach that point.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the caravan stopped for the night. Camp was set up quickly, everyone moving with an efficiency brought about by their grim circumstances. The dead lay heavy in their hearts, and exhaustion was etched into every face.
Corporal Jenser addressed the group as they finished setting up. “With fewer of us now, everyone will need to stand watch alone. Shifts will rotate as usual, but be vigilant. We can’t afford any more surprises.” He then read out the names in order of shift.
The announcement was met with weary nods, and soon the camp settled into a strained quiet as the others sought what rest they could. Kaiden was assigned the first watch, his nerves still frayed from the day’s events. The cool night air did little to calm his restless mind as he stood at the edge of the camp, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.
His solitude was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Turning, he saw Corporal Jenser approaching, his face illuminated faintly by the light of the campfire.
The corporal stopped a few paces away, his voice low but firm. “Now,” he said, “what was that potion you gave me?”