The trio had dragged themselves out of the Forge, their steps heavy with frustration and fatigue. Marshmallow, the Goat Horse, and Eldrin were silent, but their faces said it all. That mission? A total bust.

Turns out, more time had passed than they'd anticipated. The trio had managed to blow an entire day, with the sun now kissing the horizon goodbye, diving into the metallic dunes of the Gear Savannah.

"Guys, we need a spot to crash for the night," Marshmallow muttered, shaking off the dust and disappointment.

Eldrin, with a look that screamed 'old sage', nodded. "Night here's unforgiving. Let's find a cozy corner among these wrecks." The Goat Horse, on the other hand, had already started scouting the surroundings. Finding a shelter that could fend off the chilly night and unwelcome locals was no small feat.

So, the hunt for a hideout began. As night fell, the Gear Savannah transformed, turning into a land where metal debris cast eerie shadows and the sounds of mechanical creatures mingled with the darkness and the whistling of the wind.

"Over here, check this out," Eldrin whispered, pointing to a sheltered spot among the carcasses of ancient machinery. The group approached cautiously, scanning the area to ensure it didn't conceal any dangers or unwelcome inhabitants.

The Goat Horse, sniffing the air with its nose high, murmured, "Seems quiet." Marshmallow, with a nod, pointed to a particularly sheltered corner where the metal structures formed a kind of natural barrier against the wind and prying eyes.

In no time, they had set up camp. Marshmallow used a couple of matches he'd still kept from the initial survival kit to light a fire, while the Goat Horse and Eldrin had gone off to gather dry branches and pieces of wood nearby for fuel. Even though this was the Gear Savannah, pockets of biological nature did exist, albeit sparsely.

In the shadow of the night enveloping the Gear Savannah, the small flame just lit by the trio began to fend off the surrounding darkness. As Eldrin and the Goat Horse were finishing up the last touches to make their nighttime camp as comfortable as possible, a figure emerged at the edge of the firelight.

"Who's there?" The Goat Horse stiffened instinctively, ears perked up. Eldrin too had paused, assessing the situation with scrutinizing eyes.

The figure took a step forward. The silhouette, shrouded in darkness, could easily belong to a foe, a Novgovian in search of prey. But Marshmallow knew that if it were a Novgovian, the system would have somehow alerted them. However, this figure had a peculiar detail. Its silhouette wasn't that of a human, but something more… expansive.

"Stay sharp," Marshmallow whispered, rising and signaling his companions to hang back. He approached the figure cautiously, but the closer he got, the more he sensed something perilous before him. And the closer he got, the more three tails became visible in the darkness.

What in the world, a tailed demon?

There, in the uncertain flicker of the flames, he saw a disarmingly wide smile as the figure revealed itself in the firelight.

"Dam?" Marshmallow exclaimed, surprise lending a genuine emotion to his words. It was indeed Ok Damage, the first and only player he'd spoken to before the start of The Survivor Game. His short stature was the same, clad in typical medieval attire. However, three distinct tails moved behind him with an almost natural grace. What in the world did that mean?

The tension melted away almost instantly as Dam stepped closer to the fire, lighting up his face with a friendly smile. "Surprise," he said simply as if their meeting was the most natural occurrence in that desolate place.

The Goat Horse and Eldrin, reassured by Marshmallow's reaction, approached more relaxed. "A friend. His name's Ok Damage, but you can call him Dam," Marshmallow explained. "What brings you here?" he asked.

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"What brings YOU here, Marsh? Or rather, should I say you guys? I was just wandering around and found this spot to spend the night. Guess we had the same idea," Dam replied, nonchalantly settling down by the fire and inviting Marshmallow and his companions to join. "See you've made some friends," he continued, nodding approvingly at the two NPCs. "I'm Dam, a B Rank in The Survivor Game. Nice to meet you."

Eldrin, intrigued, nodded with a smile. "Eldrin, the engineer," he introduced himself, while the Goat Horse just gave a simple nod, still a bit wary of this sudden new ally.

"Ah, an engineer! Interesting," Dam commented, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. Then, turning to the Goat Horse, he added, "And you?"

"I'm the Goat Horse." He replied curtly, crossing his arms and turning his head away. Dam chose not to press further, understanding he might have reservations about a newcomer. However, he decided to do something to make himself likable. Dam stood up and took a step back.

"Alright guys, Marsh knows me but you don't. Before the Survivor Game started, Marsh and I met in the initial hall. I know he's the Jolly Rank and I'm on your side. I'm a friend," Dam said, then paused, noticing everyone staring at that peculiar feature that distinguished him. "Yeah, I know you're looking at these. As a B Rank, my power is quite... unique."

And without any warning, the three tails that characterized him came to life as if they had minds of their own. One stretched out, reaching for a distant branch, gently grabbing it, and bringing it over to fuel the fire. Another tail thinned out and coiled around a water bottle, lifting it and offering it to Marshmallow. The third tail moved through the air, almost to show off its agility and precision.

"I call them 'Tricoda'," Dam said, as his tails completed their tasks and settled back. "These tentacle-like tails can grab, move, and even attack. I'm pretty versatile in battle, as you might imagine."

Eldrin and the Goat Horse watched in amazement. The demonstration was brief but enough to make them realize the power and usefulness of Dam's ability. The Goat Horse, finally convinced, relaxed his stance and smiled. "Dam, you're our ace in the hole," he said, which made Dam feel a bit embarrassed.

"Dam, I think you just upped the game. Welcome to the team!" Marshmallow exclaimed.

***

Later, when the fire dwindled to embers and silence enveloped the camp, Marshmallow gestured with a nod for Dam to follow him. They moved away from their companions, finding a more secluded spot where they could talk undisturbed.

"It's been a while, Dam," Marshmallow began, settling down on a fallen log. "I gotta say, I'm surprised to find you here, but also relieved."

Dam crouched beside him, his three tails resting quietly on the ground. "I'm relieved too, Marsh. When I heard you were the Jolly Rank... Well, I wasn't sure what to expect."

The distant fire barely illuminated their faces, casting dancing shadows around them. "How's it going?" Marshmallow asked and curiosity tinged with concern in his voice.

Dam sighed, his eyes fixed on the distant flames. "It's tough, you know that better than anyone. This game... it's harder than I imagined, even as a B Rank. And Novgovia... they're crushing us, Marshmallow."

Marshmallow was taken aback by those words, enough to be left speechless. Then he collected himself. "What the hell does that mean? Is it that bad?"

Dam nodded. "Yeah, it's bad. The opposing Jolly Rank, some guy named BloodLust, is something else. The Novgovians have outsmarted us, Marsh. You were left on your own, they played hardball and teamed up from the start, putting BloodLust in a position of advantage. They're all serving the Jolly Rank, it's like he's the boss, and if the Novgovians find a high-level Wyolander, they don't kill him, they knock him out and bring him to BloodLust. At that point, BloodLust himself deals with him and absorbs his powers."

Those words weighed heavily on Marshmallow's heart. The situation was already tense, but now it seemed unbearably heavy. "And you?" he asked, turning his gaze to Dam. "You know this because you've encountered him, I assume."

Dam gave a weak smile. "Yes, exactly. I've already met him. He and his group found me once. As far as I know, BloodLust has already killed an A Rank and two B Ranks. I had an ally, a B Rank. He had the power of flight but was captured by the Novgovians. Somehow, I managed to escape, but I lost a comrade in the process." Then, Dam looked Marshmallow straight in the eyes. "Marsh, we need you! At this rate, Bloodlust will kill us all!"

Marshmallow hesitated, then shook his head. "How can I? I haven't managed to take out a single Novgovian. Not one. And you're telling me the opposing Jolly Rank has already acquired at least three Unique Skills? It's only been a few days since The Survivor Game started, and I'm already falling behind."

Dam placed a hand on Marshmallow's shoulder, then fixed him with a serious look. "Listen, Marsh. No matter how tough it is, you're not alone. All the Wyolanders are with you, myself included. We need to band together, to work as a team. I... I offer you my full support. Whatever happens, I'm with you."

Those sincere words, full of determination, warmed Marshmallow's heart like the fire they had left behind. "Thanks, Dam. That means a lot to me. And I'm with you, no matter what."