Lucas stood quietly in the clearing, letting the last traces of warmth from the spirit fruit settle into his body.
Power still lingered beneath his skin—subtle, but undeniable.
He rolled his shoulders, flexed his fingers, then exhaled slowly.
Everything felt… tighter. More responsive.
More his.
"This fruit…" he murmured, glancing down at his hands, "definitely wasn't ordinary."
The earlier exhaustion from battle had already faded. Even the lingering discomfort from the environment—the blood, the decay—felt muted now.
His body wasn't just stronger.
It was adapting.
Riley's gaze shifted back to the small, withering tree beside the fallen serpent.
The fruit was gone.
But something told him…
That didn't mean it was empty.
"Insight."
A faint shimmer passed through his vision.
[Name]: Violet Spirit Tree
[Status]: Withering after fruiting; trace plant essence remains
Lucas lips curved slightly.
"Of course."
Nothing in this place was simple.
And nothing useful should be wasted.
He stepped forward and pressed his palm against the brittle trunk.
"Plunder."
The response was immediate.
The tree trembled—then disintegrated into fine ash, collapsing inward as if its very structure had been stripped away.
A single drop of emerald liquid hovered in the air before settling into Lucas's palm.
It glowed faintly.
Fresh. Alive.
[Success: Plant Essence acquired]
Lucas didn't hesitate.
He consumed it in one motion.
A cool sensation spread through his body—different from before.
Less explosive.
More stabilizing.
[Endurance +1]
Lucas nodded slowly.
"Small gains still count."
In this world, even the smallest edge mattered.
He opened his panel again, eyes scanning quickly.
[Name]: Lucas Reign
[Level]: 1 (80 / 100)
[Strength]: 12
[Agility]: 15
[Endurance]: 18
[Energy]: 30
[Combat Rating]: ★★
Lucas exhaled, satisfied.
"Getting close."
His endurance had climbed steadily, and he could feel the difference. His breathing was smoother. His recovery faster.
Even his tolerance for pain seemed… dulled.
Not gone.
Just easier to ignore.
He turned to leave—
Then stopped.
His foot slid slightly against the ground.
"…?"
Lucas looked down.
Mud.
Disturbed.
But not randomly.
There were clear drag marks—deep grooves cutting through the soil, glistening faintly under the light.
He crouched immediately.
Touched it.
Brought his fingers closer—
Smelled.
"…Snake mucus."
Fresh.
Very fresh.
His eyes sharpened.
"These tracks…"
They were chaotic.
Violent.
Vegetation along the path had been crushed, small trees knocked aside, brush flattened completely.
This wasn't normal movement.
This was forceful.
Desperate.
"…Chasing something?" he muttered.
"Or being chased?"
Either way—
It meant activity.
And activity meant opportunity.
Lucas rose slowly, already moving.
He tracked the trail with ease.
His enhanced senses made it almost effortless—
The scent.
The disturbed terrain.
Even the faint vibrations left behind.
Everything pointed forward.
After roughly fifteen minutes, the silence broke.
Clashing sounds.
Shouting.
Strain.
Combat.
Lucas slowed immediately, lowering his profile as he approached.
He parted the brush just enough to see—
And froze.
Seven people.
Coordinated.
Organized.
Efficient.
They had surrounded a massive Poison Ring Snake—
Even larger than the one Lucas had just killed.
Its scales gleamed with a metallic sheen.
Its movements were controlled.
Dangerous.
"An elite variant…" Lucas murmured under his breath.
The team formation was clear:
Three frontliners holding position
Two ranged attackers applying pressure
One support maintaining stability
One leader coordinating everything
A proper unit.
Not the scattered chaos he had seen earlier.
"Shield up! Hold it there!" the leader barked.
"Focus the weak point—don't scatter your attacks!"
Steel clashed against scales—
But barely left a mark.
"It's too tough!" one of the frontliners shouted.
"Keep pressure! It's already injured!"
An arrow shot forward—
Striking the snake's eye.
It shrieked violently.
Its tail whipped out—
Sending one of the defenders flying.
The formation broke.
"Pull him back!"
"Healer—now!"
Too slow.
The snake lunged.
Fangs descending—
Lucas eyes narrowed.
Opportunity.
Clean.
Perfect.
He moved without thinking.
"Agility Boost."
"Strength Surge."
His body exploded forward.
A blur.
A ghost slipping into the battlefield.
Before anyone could react—
His blades struck.
Target: the exposed wound.
Slash—!
The already damaged scales shattered completely.
Blood erupted.
The snake recoiled violently.
"Who—?!"
No answer.
Lucas was already moving.
He pivoted and retreated instantly.
"Just passing through," he called lightly. "Don't mind me."
Controlled Chaos,
The snake screamed—
Then locked onto him.
It shifted instantly.
It chased.
Exactly as Lucas intended.
He didn't run blindly.
He guided it.
Leading it across uneven terrain.
Through narrow gaps.
Forcing it to twist. Strain. Overextend.
Behind them—
The team recovered.
"Now! Push it!"
They surged forward again.
With the pressure split—
The snake faltered.
Minutes later—
It collapsed.
Dead.
A glow entered Lucas body.
[Assist: Elite Poison Ring Snake defeated]
[EXP gained: 40]
Then—
A second notification.
[Level Up → Level 2]
[All attributes +1]
Lucas exhaled slowly as energy surged through him again.
"…Nice."
The team's leader approached cautiously, offering a respectful nod.
"Appreciate the assist," he said. "That could've gone badly."
Lucas shrugged lightly.
"well I guess the Timing worked out."
"You're strong," the man continued. "Join us. We're heading east—heard there's something valuable out there."
Lucas paused.
Considered it.
Then shook his head.
"I work better alone."
That was the truth.
Too many secrets.
Too much risk.
"Fair enough," the leader said. "Stay alive out there."
While they spoke, Lucas had already acted.
A casual touch to the corpse—
"Plunder."
[Strength +1]
Clean.
Silent.
Efficient.
Exactly how he liked it.
By nightfall, Lucas had pushed even further.
More hunts.
More scraps.
More growth.
When darkness finally settled, he found shelter in a narrow cave carved into a rocky slope.
Safe.
Defensible.
He sat near the entrance, chewing slowly on dry rations as he opened his panel one final time.
[Name]: Lucas Reign
[Level]: 3
His lips curved slightly.
"Level three already…"
Progress.
Real progress.
Outside, the sky stretched wide and endless, scattered with unfamiliar stars.
Lucas leaned back against the stone wall, eyes fixed upward.
This world—
This battlefield—
Was brutal.
Unforgiving.
But not impossible.
Not for him.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Yeah."
"This might actually work."
Tomorrow—
He would go deeper.