The scream of a bull-spider rang as its body burned in bright orange flame. Calrin and Zach did their part well, holding the creature enough for five minutes. But Zach doubted a single fireball was adequate to kill it off.

He bolted towards the bull-spider, baring the sharp edge of his sword. His speed was beyond his usual as within seconds he was there right in front of the heedless bull-spider. The sword in his hand found those hairy limbs, and with boosted strength behind the blade, Zach cut the limbs one by one in quick succession.

The bull-spider didn’t see it coming. Pain from being burned led its instinct astray, and before it could react, its underbelly dropped straight to the ground as there were no longer limbs to prop its body high in the air. The sudden realization of it not being able to move made it panic as it struggled to move its limbless body. But the only thing moving was its head and the subtle jerks of its body.

Zach didn’t gloat. The state of this bull-spider was all due to the effort of the three-person team, and at the back of his mind, he doubted he could fight a bull-spider all alone. Rather than taking the time to savor the moment of seeing his prey in despair, Zach made quick work of this immobile bull-spider. He knew too well that a cornered beast would be harder to handle as it was better to end it right there and now. His sharp blade ran straight through the bull-spider neck, and its head dropped.

Messages blasted across his vision, announcing the reward of his victory.

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

Three levels over a single battle was a luxury and a well-deserved one at that. All of them had a risk of dying with Calrin and Zach taking those fatal hits, while the one who hid was spared from the bone-shattering pain. Zach groaned as his ass dropped to the ground. His hand hovered over his chest as he had no doubt his ribs were broken by that single swing of a spider leg.

But another announcement caught his interest. It was different from the usual leveling notice as this one felt more gratifying that the levels.

[A fight against the strongest. Your team had succeeded in killing an enemy that out-leveled you. You lots are the first to achieve this, and the stars smile upon your achievement.]

[You have received a title.]

[The First of the Underdogs.]

Zach had earned a title, and he stared at it for a while before prompting for an explanation of the new reward.

[Title: The First of the Underdogs; 10% increase in stats when battling against higher-level opponents. All stats +1.]

It was worth it. That effect would never be a hindrance for someone that would make killing a living, and the word ‘First’ itself told him that he might be the only one to have it. But perhaps his teammates would have it also considering it was all a team effort, besides him taking the last blow of course. Deep down, he did want it for himself.

“Whoa,” Mathias exclaimed. Seeing the headless bull-spider that was still burning by his own fire. Then his gaze landed on Zach, who was on the ground. The beat-up state Zach was in made Mathias light on his feet. He handed his hand to the one who sat. “Did it hurt?” there was not the slightest care in that tone of his, but the message was there.

Zach kept his silence, and just grabbed Mathias’s hand as the latter pulled him up to his feet.

“You really did a number to it,” Mathias said. Looking back at the burning dead bull-spider. “And have you read those new texts?”

“What?” Zach feigned ignorant. Hoping it wasn’t about the title. You could call him petty, but having an advantage over others in this new world was the best way to ensure survival.

“It says here about a title and a pretty lackluster one at that,” Mathias said. His words were like a splash of water right on Zach’s face. At least it confirmed to him that a team effort rewarded the whole team and not an individual. But it clearly didn’t make him happy knowing that.

“I reckon it should be more grandiose in its naming, befitting for a title, right?” Mathias asked. Oblivious to what Zach was feeling.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Huh,” Zach sighed, clearly not wanting to answer that. “Have you checked on Calrin? He got hit pretty bad even with two shields.”

“Ah, yes,” Mathias said. The look on his face showed he didn’t think much of Calrin. Both made their way to Calrin while Zach reprimanded the Solksjaer, emphasizing the need to take care of teammates, especially the ones at the front line. By the time they arrived, Calrin was smiling, leaning on a tree trunk. He didn’t even wave his hand, a sign he might be injured pretty bad.

“That’s what I said, Gardwin, the lad here is pretty strong and could take a beating,” Mathias said.

“How is it, Cal? Is it bad?” Zach asked. Kneeling on one knee by Calrin’s side, eying the knight lad from top to bottom.

“I’m fine, milord,” Calrin’s voice a bit hoarse. “Just need a little bit of rest.”

“Have you distributed your new points?” Zach asked.

“After the words came, I did as you suggested, milord, and I think the healing had started to kick in,” Calrin said, groaning a bit.

Zach questioned a bit more, and after confirming Calrin’s health points were stable, he decided they would return.

“Can’t we just wait for him to recover?” Mathias asked. He wasn’t going to lend a shoulder to Calrin as Zach told him to do.

“We can’t,” Zach replied. “The fire is spreading, and unless we get out now, we’ll be in the same situation as before.”

One thing was for sure, Zach’s group had a knack for getting caught by their own doing.

“Fine then,” Mathias relented. As he gave aid to Calrin, Zach returned back to the headless bull-spider. The flame was gone, leaving a burnt carcass. Zach picked up his sword and cut a part of its flesh. Despite the outside being as black as charcoal, the inside was still as raw and pink as it could get.

Then he noticed in between the burnt fur and the pink flesh. It was hard but malleable. He brushed the soot away and discovered the thing underneath. “Is this chitin?” he asked himself. Chitin, the exoskeleton of insects as well as arachnids. From the way he saw it, the blend between mammal and arachnid was quite complex. Nonetheless, this bull-spider meat would be a good ingredient for him to test out his arcane cooking.

He divided his new points between Strength, Agility, and Perception. Half of it was for Strength, while the other two were shared evenly. He cut himself a few times, stacking the ‘pain’ bonus, further enhancing his Strength and Agility. Easing him carrying the dead bull-spider on his shoulder. By the time he met up with the other two, Mathias and Calrin had their eyes popped open upon his arrival.

Before he could say what was wrong, he realized the feat he had done. Carrying a bull-spider bigger than a farmland ox on his shoulder like it was a sack of flour was a mind-numbing feat.

“You can do this also if you put more points to Strength,” he said nonchalantly.

“Did I make a mistake,” Calrin said in a low tone. The sight of Zach displaying his incredible strength made him worried over his forgone points, and his worry did not slip by Zach’s ears.

“Haven’t you done what I told?” Zach asked. His hand rested over Calrin’s shoulder.

“Apologies, milord. My fear of death led my mind astray. I only gave a meager amount to Strength, unlike what you ordered,” Calrin said.

“Relax,” Zach said. “Just put more after you gain another level.” He gave a strong pat and led their way back.

“Then for safety's sake, should I give a bit of attention to Strength then?” even the Casanova was tempted to give Strength a chance after seeing the real-life evidence of Zach’s strength.

“Whatever you like, Mathias. Do whatever you like,” Zach said. For the rest of the journey back, Mathias kept pestering him over what he should do with his points, and after much debate, Zach gave the suggestion of placing a point to Strength in an interval of three level-ups.

Their journey back felt short, and their arrival drew astonished eyes. Zach carried the bull-spider like it was nothing and the one who ran straight at him, stopped and stared like a gawking tourist. It was the sole healer, Tobias with his jaw hanging. For safety purposes, the healer was stationed at the Safe Zone, in case returning parties needed a heal for the injured.

“Can you step aside, my shoulders are getting sore here,” Zach said. Snapping Tobias out of his daze.

“Oh, yes, yes,” Tobias hurriedly gave way, and Zach threw the bull-spider on the ground. For a second, he felt like the ground quaked a bit.

Tobias was quick on his feet. Closing the distance to the burnt carcass as his inquisitive eyes gazed at this unique-looking creature. “It looks like a bovine but these stumps where it should be its legs are rather weirdly placed,” Tobias said. “What kind of creature is this Lord Zachary?” the Highbrow didn’t even turn to Zach as his eyes were glued at the dead bull-spider.

“I can tell you, but can you do me a favor?” Zach asked. Prompting the Highbrow to face Zach with a beaming smile.

“Whatever you need, my lord,” Tobias said.

“Can you help heal my friend over there? He took quite a lot of damage from this bull-spider,” Zach said. The name was not missed by the intellectual.

“A bull-spider? You mean this creature had eight legs like an arachnid?” Again, Tobias had his eyes back on the bull-spider.

Zach clapped his hands a few times, pulling back Tobias’ attention. “Heal first, Mr.Tobias, heal first,” Zach said.

The quest for knowledge brought Tobias to be quick in his healing. By the time Calrin was back to full health, Tobias saw Zach carrying a lump of meat on his shoulder. He had heard the experience of Calrin getting beaten up by the bull-spider and his interest was now at its peak, the rest of his information lay on Zach. He rushed to Zach’s side.

“Pardon me for disturbing you, my lord, but is this a bad time to listen to your adventure?” Tobias asked.

Zach gave a little grin. “Follow me. I think you’re going to like this more than a dead bull-spider,” Zach said. Heading towards the kitchen as those words of his only sprung the curiosity of a Highbrow to a higher degree.