In the dead of night, they crept through the dense forest, eyes peeled for mutated bears and wolves. Rich led the way, his keen senses attuned to the slightest movement. Eric stayed close behind, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Taylor and Kai watched from behind while Alex stayed at the back. They had traveled further than they had before. They wanted to make sure they could find higher-level monsters and avoid the low-level creatures that stalked around the village for lower-level climbers to fight over.
This hunt would serve two purposes. It would of course help boost their level further when they left the village, but it was a reliable source of loot. Other than the few people already in the cities or on the second floor it was hard to gather higher-level resources for crafting. Rarer resources meant higher prices demanded. Alex and the others hoped that with an influx of money, they could pay for not only their passage to the cities, but new items only found there as well.
As they ventured deeper into the darkness, they heard the guttural growls of their monstrous quarry. The group tensed, prepared for the onslaught. Suddenly, a mutated bear charged from the underbrush, its massive, twisted form barreling toward them. Rich stepped forward, raising his shield and sword to meet the beast head-on. He deflected the powerful swipe of the bear's claw, while Eric darted in, slashing at the creature's flank.
Taylor's hands danced gracefully, summoning vines to entangle the bear's legs, slowing its movements. Kai followed up with a searing jet of water, scalding the creature's flesh and causing it to roar in pain. Alex, hidden in the shadows, observed the scene, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As the bear stumbled, Alex saw his opportunity. He sprang from his hiding spot, dagger in hand, and plunged the blade into the beast's neck. The bear let out a final, agonized cry before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
The group barely had time to catch their breath when they heard the howls of mutated wolves closing in. The sounds of the bear and ensuing fighting had called other creatures from their sleep. They formed a defensive circle, backs to one another, as the snarling creatures emerged from the darkness. The wolves were a grotesque sight, their bodies twisted and elongated, teeth razor-sharp. Their growls were guttural and harsh.
Eric's sword flashed as he fended off the snapping jaws of a wolf, nimbly avoiding its lunges. Rich stood firm, using his shield to bash an attacking wolf, and following up with a powerful swing of his sword. Taylor's fingers wove intricate patterns in the air, commanding vines to rise and bind the wolves, while Kai unleashed more scorching jets of water, scalding the creatures, and keeping them at bay.
Alex, ever vigilant, scanned the battlefield for an opening. He spotted a wolf that had broken free from Taylor's vines and was preparing to pounce on Eric. Without hesitation, Alex lunged forward, his dagger slicing through the air and burying itself in the wolf's side. The creature yelped in pain and fell to the ground, its lifeblood spilling onto the forest floor. Kai continued to blind the wolves. Kai, seeing an opening, unleashed a jet of scalding water at the bear's face. The water hissed and steamed as it made contact, scalding the creature's flesh and blinding it temporarily.
The fight raged on, with each member of the group showcasing their unique skills and prowess. Rich's raw strength and determination held the line, while Eric's agility and swordsmanship kept the wolves at bay. Taylor's mastery of nature allowed her to control the battlefield, and Kai's scalding water attacks weakened their foes. Taylor raised her hands, and vines erupted from the ground, wrapping themselves around the bear's legs, immobilizing it. The vines tightened, constricting the creature, as Taylor channeled her power through them. She raised barriers and funneled the wolves to more optimal locations.
Amidst the chaos, Alex danced like a shadow, striking with deadly precision. He weaved through the fray, his dagger finding the weak spots of each mutated creature. He had grown to know their weaknesses quite well. He wasn’t as fast or as strong as Rich or Eric, but he had found his niche in the team without his magic aiding him.
In the back of his mind, he still wished he could use magic and he had hoped that reaching level 10 could have let him. As the battle raged on, a subtle sense of frustration and disappointment gnawed at Alex. He couldn't help but feel inadequate, knowing that his inability to harness magic was a glaring weakness. His comrades wielded their powers effortlessly, their spells crackling and bursting with energy, while he was left to rely on his physical prowess and cunning alone. The disparity between them weighed heavily on his heart, sowing seeds of self-doubt and insecurity.
Alex's eyes darted around the battlefield, taking in the spectacle of Kai's water and Taylor’s plants. He yearned for the rush of magic coursing through his veins, the satisfaction of bending the elements to his will. But each failed attempt to cast a spell only served to remind him of his limitations. The sting of failure stung deep, leaving him feeling hollow and vulnerable.
As the team continued to cut through the hordes of mutated creatures, Alex found himself falling further and further behind. The exhaustion of keeping up without the aid of magic was taking its toll, his muscles aching and his breath coming in ragged gasps. He gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, determined not to be a burden on his friends.
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Despite his setbacks, there was a stubborn resilience within Alex that refused to be extinguished. He had come too far to give up now, and he knew that he had to find a way to overcome his limitations. The thought of letting his team down was unbearable, and it drove him to seek out new strategies to compensate for his lack of magical abilities.
“I have been here a month I am level 10 just like the others and soon will be level 11. I am keeping pace with them for now. My blade chips faster but I can get by with the damage I am dealing. I will find a solution to my mage path when I have enough money and I will get a teacher for magic just like Kai and Taylor did. It has helped them so much with their magic and I need that.”
Alex checked his current status.
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He had broken past level 11 without even realizing it, his focus entirely consumed by the heat of battle. The Tower seemed to withhold notifications of any changes until the individual was out of harm's way or concentrating on them. Moreover, he hadn't noticed much difference since there were minimal changes to his physique from level to level. It was only during the first five levels and slightly beyond that his body underwent significant transformations. Subsequent changes primarily revolved around enhancing his perception and cognitive abilities. These improvements enabled him to refine his dagger-wielding skills, although their impact gradually waned.
Before entering the Tower, Alex's body was fairly ordinary, with modest muscle mass and a layer of fat. Now, however, his muscles had developed precisely where he needed them most. His legs had become more muscular due to extensive hiking and swift movements, while his forearms had thickened to better grip his weapon. In essence, he resembled an almost flawless archetype of a rogue. Even if his true calling was meant to be a mage.
Eric, on the other hand, had evolved similarly to Alex. He had developed the muscles necessary to wield a sword for extended periods while also gaining the underlying strength provided by the Tower's magical properties, an attribute that Alex lacked. Rich, however, had undergone the most dramatic transformation of all. Embracing the quintessential barbarian warrior persona, he had let his beard grow out and now towered over everyone else. With pride, he brandished his sword and shield, his bulging muscles prominently displayed beneath a sleeveless tunic.
The changes to Taylor and Kai were similar to him and fit their needs as mages. They were quicker on their feet and had grown more tactical minds. They had of course shed some of the weaker aspects of their bodies and had turned into fine-looking specimens of the human body. They could now compete on all levels with the peak of humans pre-Tower.
On a subconscious level, Alex had realized that on Earth he could recognize those hailing from the Tower and those who had chosen to remain on Earth as a mundane human. The people who had entered the Tower came out of it like a diamond, rough in the beginning but polished to a shine. They had also gained some external aura as they fought more and grew in experience while in the Tower. Even the crafters had a look that Alex couldn’t put words to but identify.
Alex resumed his focus on fighting the mutated wolves. His eyesight was clear enough and enhanced to see well in the moon-lit forest. He was motivated by the change in level and the challenge of the wolves. They were heartier and higher level than themselves and in turn, gave more XP than usual. The wolves were also fiercer and fought back harder. The nighttime was usually a time of peace for the wolves. A time for them to rest or hunt unsuspecting prey but they were encroaching on that.
Alex's dagger plunged into the wolf's flesh with a sickening squelch, but instead of sinking deep, it snapped in half. He gritted his teeth, yanking the broken blade out while taking a step back. He was familiar with this by now, ever since he first faced the Tower's creatures. If he hadn’t brought a second weapon back then against the wolves he would have died before stepping foot in the Tower. With practiced ease, he grabbed his replacement dagger from his belt and switched it out.
Frustration and anger bubbled up inside him as he faced the snarling pack of wolves. He had been so confident in his weapons, but they were failing him now. With a growl, he charged forward, his remaining dagger flashing in the dim light of the forest. The wolves circled him, their eyes locked on their prey. Alex twisted and dodged, his movements fluid and practiced as he tried to avoid their snapping jaws. Kai helped from the side and pushed the wolves away from him when he needed them gone. Waves of water rushed over them and knocked them off their feet. Once they fell Alex jumped on them and stabbed his fresh dagger into their hides.
The wolves were a persistent threat, but Alex and his team were getting better at handling them. Over the past month and countless hours, they had built better strategies and were more cohesive as a team. Part of that strategy was separating out the wolves or other monsters they fought so that no one person could be ganged up on and overtaken. Rich and Taylor were key to those steps.
Rich with his shield kept the wolves occupied without taking damage while Taylor diverted wolves and separated them with her barriers. With the pack nearly decimated, they turned their focus to the last few remaining wolves. Alex and Eric stabbed a wolf from either side while keeping it at bay. And as they fought, Alex felt a surge of confidence. They had come so far since their first encounter with the Tower's creatures, and he could feel himself growing stronger with every passing day.
Alex checked his level after slaying one of the few remaining wolves.
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It was slow growing but consistent. They put down the last of the mutated wolves. After a few minutes of rest, they returned to work. They each chose a wolf and tore it apart. At this point, it was a well-practiced skill of skinning and harvesting. The materials that were needed were bagged and stored as they moved on from monster to monster. Wolf to bear until it was done. Alex heaved one of the bags onto his shoulders feeling it’s weight resting on his back. He kept adjusting it for a little longer before settling on what felt most comfortable. And with that, they started their hike back to civilization.