The walk home was cold but relaxing. Alex walked alone on the deserted streets, feeling a sense of serenity wash over him. He had just left his new party and the crisp night air was refreshing against his skin. He took a deep breath in, relishing the coolness of the air as it filled his lungs. He noticed as he walked that the brushes of wind did not feel as harsh as they should be. In fact, overall, he was feeling great after he rested from the fight. He was full of energy.

As he walked, he began to feel an electric energy building within him. It started in his toes, tingling and spreading throughout his entire body. Alex felt a sense of invigoration, a sudden burst of life within him that made him feel alive in a way he hadn't in a long time.

He picked up his pace, starting to walk faster, then breaking into a jog. His legs moved effortlessly, propelling him forward with each stride. It was as though his body had been waiting for this moment, this opportunity to move and stretch and run free.

Remarkably, Alex felt no aches, pains, fatigue, or exhaustion. He knew that he should have been feeling some soreness from the day's activities, but the Tower had spared him from such discomfort. Instead, he felt a surge of strength and power coursing through his veins. He was in control, and harmoniously connected with his body and environment.

With each step, he felt more and more alive, more in tune with the world around him. He moved through the darkened streets, feeling as though he was running through the very heart of the city. The world was his, and he was free to move through it as he pleased. As he continued to run, he felt his thoughts and worries slipping away, replaced by a sense of focus and clarity. The rhythm of his steps became his meditation, his anchor in the darkness.

Alex pushed the concerns of the Tower to the recesses of his mind. Today, he had slain wolves outside the Tower and embarked on his ascent toward the highest pinnacle within his reach. Challenges were inevitable, but he had accepted them as part and parcel of entering the Tower. Monsters and other trials could be conquered in due course; all he had to do was persevere and bide his time.

Alex continued to run toward his apartment. His pace increased from a jog to a proper run. His breath came in quick, shallow gasps, but he felt no discomfort or strain. Instead, he felt a sense of exhilaration. The motions of running felt effortless, as though his body was made to move like this.

When he reached his apartment he felt most of the excess adrenaline and energy had left his body. Ambling up the steps quickly he made his way to his door. When stepped through he started removing his stuff to shower. It was about then that he realized that he held a connection to the Tower in a sense. Alex was able to focus on it and his starter knives appeared in his hands. If he focused he knew he could summon his entire kit as well. For now, however, he wished them away and they returned to the invisible inventory.

Alex felt his exhaustion grow as he neared his bed after showering. As soon as he was under the covers, he was quick to fall asleep.

Alex was woken up by the blaring of his alarm clock. During the eventful past 24 hours, he had never considered pausing it. He unplugged it from the wall. He sighed and rolled out of the bed. Alex checked the window and saw the sun rising slowly. He started moving around his apartment preparing for the day.

When he was ready, he summoned his gear and went out the door. He checked the time as he entered the Tower and, in a blink, he was on the other side. Early in the morning city hall was packed with people walking around. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea to enter the Tower early to get a head start on things.

A few governments had announced programs to research the Tower and find out more about the Tower but for now, more people were in the Tower for fun and the novelty of it. Some people, Alex included, hoped that it could become an opportunity for wealth and more. Alex had to remind himself that it was also a place of danger currently and that that fact would likely never change.

Alex walked down the streets and followed the paths toward the front of the general store. There he found Rich and Kai waiting out front.

“Good, you are here. The shop owner kicked us out because we weren’t buying anything. He said we were crowding up his shop,” said Rich.

Kai chuckled, "Well, I guess we can't blame him. We were taking up a lot of space in there."

Alex nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you probably should have bought some supplies while you were there. Maybe he will let you back in and get whatever we need otherwise we'll have to stop at another store on our way out of town."

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“We shouldn’t need anything extra for today at least,” said Rich. “I was able to go over the map that Taylor for us yesterday. There is a pretty large river that we missed a few miles from where we were hunting yesterday. According to the seller of the map, we should find some large but less dangerous herbivores around there. We can hunt them for food and XP. There is also a chance that hunting monsters grace our presence as well. Nothing should be above level five so we should be good on that front. “

“How public is this information?” asked Kai. “We were lucky not to have anyone else hunting for wolves in the area but…”

“The information can be bought by anyone and figured out using the map. There are probably a few other ways of obtaining the information and I hope there aren’t many ways. We will go there and scout it out at least. It is early in the day and hopefully no one else is there currently. As usual, we will have to be careful and watch for signs of life animal or otherwise.”

Alex nodded in agreement with Rich's plan. "Alright, let's head towards the river when the others are here.”

They only had to wait a few more minutes for Taylor and Eric to arrive. They had already gathered all the supplies they needed for a full-day excursion. With their stuff on their backs, they started hiking toward the river.

The five of them set off towards the river, following the map that Taylor had obtained. As they walked, they kept a lookout for any signs of danger or life. They didn't encounter any other hunters or monsters on their way to the river, which was a relief. When they arrived at the river, they found a good spot to set up camp and began to scout the area.

The river snaked through the landscape like a silver ribbon, its waters sparkling in the sunlight. The sound of rushing water filled the air, providing a soothing backdrop to the bustling of the wildlife around it. Tall trees lined the banks of the river, their lush green leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The trees were mostly deciduous, with leaves that turned golden and amber in the autumn months. Some of the trees were so old that their bark had become gnarled and twisted as if telling stories of times gone by.

As they followed the river, they could hear the gurgling and splashing of water, as well as the chatter of birds and other animals. The rocks that dotted the riverbed were mostly smooth and round, worn down by the constant flow of water over time. Some were large enough for the friends to sit on, providing a perfect vantage point to watch the river flow by.

The river was fed by small tributaries that wound their way through the surrounding forests. These tributaries were surrounded by lush vegetation, with thick underbrush. The river itself was fairly wide, with a slow-moving current that made it easy to wade through. The water was cool and refreshing, providing a welcome relief from the heat of the day.

The forest around the river was thick and dense, with a canopy of leaves that filtered the sunlight, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor. The ground was covered in a layer of thick, springy moss that was cool and damp to the touch. Along the banks of the river, there were clusters of wildflowers that added a splash of color to the otherwise green landscape.

As they walked along the river, they could hear the distant roar of a waterfall. They followed the sound and soon came to a rocky outcropping that overlooked a wide cascade of water. The waterfall was an impressive sight, with water cascading down the rocks in a shimmering curtain.

The area around the waterfall was rocky and rugged, with jagged cliffs that rose to form a natural amphitheater. A copse of trees surrounded the area enclosing the natural landscape. In the distance, the friends could see the silhouette of a mountain range. The mountains were shrouded in a haze, with peaks that rose into the clouds. The mountains seemed to stretch endlessly, their peaks piercing the sky like fingers reaching for the heavens.

It was to their benefit held wildlife around it. Drinking from the stream and grassing in the grass were several deer. Each was only level 1 or 2 and had sets of large antlers on their head. As soon as the deer spotted them they started to run. This started a game of chase as Taylor and Kai used their magic to slow the animals down so that they could be captured and killed.

Taylor’s magic was best in this regard while they were in the thick of the forests. Her vine spell was the most beneficial. As she had improved on her control she could encircle a larger area. As the deer slowed down they were able to kill them off easier. The deer bucked with their antlers and kicked but it didn’t protect them for long against magic and swords.

The pair of them got the most XP from their kills as everyone else including Alex took turns finishing off the deer. There was a kind of wicked ease to it. The deer were much weaker than them, so the influx of XP was less with their higher level. Though the XP amount wasn’t much it was easy work and gave Alex time to work on his dagger skill. From the three deer kills he performed he was able to get a better feel for the right place to stab the beast. He even tried using his magic with his dagger on one of the deer, but it continued to struggle with no outward sign of the magic doing anything.

He checked his current status.

Level: 2 (49%)

It wasn’t great but it was progress. “We need to find where the monsters around this area are,” said Alex. “That was nice for free XP but it was free and almost not worth the effort. We need to be fighting things at our level or higher. Is there anywhere on your map that suggested we go next?”

“You don’t need to worry,” said Rich. “We will find them soon. The smell of blood will attract monsters like vultures. And because we can’t easily process the meat without bringing it to someone in the village these leftovers will have to be left here for the most part. For now, let’s remove the antlers and we can pack them in bags. They will each sell for a small sum.”

The five of them started harvesting the parts they needed. Alex had his knife in hand and sawed and cut it into different pieces until they could be put in his bag. He was starting on his second deer when he heard the sound of grass and twigs crunching under foot. He turned and saw another climber group approaching.