A morning like all morning since the System took over. Shower and Food… I began my trek to the World Tree planning area…

  I avoided the Kobolds for now. Planting the tree came first; hunting could wait.

  My plan was simple enough. Fight Kobolds to gain experience and, if possible, locate and identify the Level 9 Kobold.

  I needed 461 XP to reach the next level. A Level 8 Kobold granted 130 XP, which meant—if my math was correct—I needed to kill four Level 8 Kobolds to level up. But focusing only on Level 8s didn’t feel like a good idea. If I did that, I would eventually be forced to face two completely unknown enemies at the next stage.

  Better to prepare, so I decided to hunt one Level 8 Kobold first and then try to locate a Level 9. If I found one, I could test it and see whether I stood a chance against it.

  If the fight went badly, I would retreat and practice against it in the simulation. Then, tomorrow, I could finish the job properly.

  With my plan settled, I picked up my pace. I wanted to get this done and move on with the day.

  I made good time, and before long the dome came into view.

  As I approached it, a question nagged at me. How fast would the seed grow? And more importantly—how exactly would growing a World Tree benefit Earth?

  Don’t get me wrong. I love trees. A lot, but I also like understanding how things work.

  I shook my head and just decided to go with the flow… Maybe I would understand later or maybe not…

  I stepped through the dome, and a System Notification popped up.

  The instructions were incredibly detailed—almost idiot-proof. I suspected the System had written them so that even someone who had never put their hands in dirt before could successfully plant the seed.

  The actual planting didn’t take long. When I picked up the watering can, I noticed it was already full. I didn’t have to wait for it to fill again, and something else caught my attention.

  It never overflowed.

  Once the can was full, the dripping simply stopped.

  With the seed planted, the rest of the day was mine to hunt Kobolds.

  Just to be safe, I set an alarm to remind myself about the watering schedule. I was fairly sure I wouldn’t forget, but it didn’t hurt to make certain.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  When I checked my Mini Map, I noticed something odd. There were a lot of Kobolds nearby—far more than usual. Somehow, I hadn’t noticed them when I arrived.

  Most were low level, but one Level 8 stood out near the edge of my map.

  That seemed like a good place to start.

  The Level 8 Kobold wasn’t hard to find. It was patrolling slowly down the street, its heavy halberd resting across one shoulder as if the weapon weighed nothing.

  I stopped behind the corner of a building and watched it for a moment.

  Big. Calm. Alert. Good. That meant predictable.

  I stepped out just enough for it to see me. Its head snapped toward me instantly. Yellow eyes locked onto mine and the halberd slid off its shoulder into a ready position.

  No roar. No charge. Just that same steady march toward me.

  “Alright,” I muttered.

  Mana gathered in my staff. Mana Slash.

  The blue arc flew toward it. The kobold twisted its body and the strike clipped its side instead of hitting cleanly. Not perfect—but good enough.

  A dark gash opened across its ribs. The creature immediately increased speed. Too fast.

  I triggered Fleetstep, my body surging backward as the kobold swung its halberd in a brutal horizontal arc. The blade cut through the space where my chest had been a moment earlier.

  Wind rushed past my face. Close.

  I planted my staff and lashed out again. Arc Lash.

  Lightning snapped forward, striking the kobold squarely in the chest. The jolt staggered it for half a step—just enough. Mana Slash.

  This time the strike landed clean across its shoulder. The kobold snarled and lunged forward, halberd thrusting toward my torso.

  I twisted aside, the blade tearing through the air inches from my ribs. The reach of that weapon was still the biggest problem.

  Distance. Keep distance. Another Arc Lash cracked against its body, slowing it just enough for me to reposition.

  Now it was hurt. Badly hurt, but still dangerous.

  I raised the staff again and released the final strike. Mana Slash.

  The arc cut across its chest and the kobold collapsed forward onto the pavement, the halberd clattering loudly beside it.

  For a few seconds I just stood there, breathing slowly.

  The loot was decent.

  When I checked my Mini Map again, I noticed a Level 9 Kobold not too far away. I moved closer carefully, keeping to the sides of buildings and broken cars.

  I was glad I had.

  This Kobold had wings.

  It stood taller than the others, its frame lean but powerful, the wings folded tightly against its back like dark, leathery cloaks. Even at a distance it looked… wrong.

  Dangerous.

  I quickly used Identify.

  The information appeared in front of me, and suddenly I understood exactly why it looked so frightening.

  I wisely decided to not face this flying monster just yet. I will kill one more Kobold 8 and the next day, after I learned how to fight this monster, go after it.

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  first Royal Road chapter of each pair. The second one won’t have pictures. If you want to see all the art together (or earlier), it’s on Patreon with the combined chapters!