Ray and Erith dashed through the trees, chasing down what looked like a gigantic wolf until closer inspection. Metal plates covered its sleek mechanical body, and a black ichor poured from several wounds. A streak of flames weaved through the trees, striking the creature on the left side and throwing it off balance. It could not correct itself and plowed straight into a tree at full speed. The bark gave way, and the creature continued to run, but the impact had slowed it just enough. Erith cleaved down her sword, glowing with blue fire. Before the beast knew what happened, its head fell from its body. Ray caught up a few moments later.

  He placed his hands on his knees, panting heavily. “I'm surprised you could keep up with that thing.”

  “Well, my stamina is at E rank and I can constantly run it through my legs without issue.”

  “That would be nice. After passing the 6th threshold, I'm quickly approaching E rank stamina, but I don’t think I should take the evolution immediately.”

  “Good idea. Even if it would boost your power, that would not mean a lot if you're back to only being able to shoot five arrows in a fight again.”

  Ray nodded. He had put a lot of thought into what to do when his stamina got to E grade and had finally decided. He was saving every point he could and planned to distribute as many of them as possible into the stat after the rank-up. From what he had learned, this was a common strategy.

  A person was most vulnerable directly after ranking up their mana or stamina, as even though the stat would become much more powerful, it would limit them immensely in the short run. That's where the strategy he planned to use came in. It would relieve much of the pressure the rank-up would put on a person and provide a much more significant power boost than just doing the rank-up.

  The sound of a branch snapping pulled Ray from his thought. He surveyed the nearby trees, stepping closer to Erith. Several forms, all clad in black cloaks and white masks, emerged from the trees with weapons drawn. Ray prepared for a fight when someone in the group surrounding them spoke.

  “Ray?”

  Ray recognized the voice, but it took a few moments for him to pinpoint where he had heard it before. His Eyes widened. “Chio?”

  One of the cloaked figures stepped forward, removing their hood and mask. Ray stared for a long moment, surprised at the sight before him.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Another figure holding a spear in their right hand came through the trees while silence still hung.

  “What’s going on-” a woman's voice came from the figure, her voice caught as she saw Ray and Erith.

  Her spear fell to the ground, and she suddenly burst into movement, rushing at the pair. They tried to raise their weapons, but it was useless as the figure deflected every attack and caught Erith, wrapping her in her arms.

  “You're alive,” she said between sobs.

  “Mom?” Erith said, looking up at the figure.

  She nodded, pulling off her mask.

  “What happened?” Erith asked with a gasp.

  Her mother's left eye was shut, and a scar ran through it from her forehead to her chin.

  “I'll tell you later. I'm so happy you're okay.”

  Ray smiled at the scene and walked closer to Chio. “What happened while we were gone?”

  “A lot. It might be best to start with the fact that we are no longer a part of the Ashrend clan.”

  “I could have guessed based on the reception.” He gestured to the group that had long since lowered their weapons. “We already ran into Ren, and that did not go as well.”

  Chio’s eyes went wide. “I'm surprised you are still alive. With how fast he was gaming levels and… slaughtering members of the other clans.”

  “Well, I'm sure he got a taste of his own medicine,” Ray said.

  He explained what had happened during their fight. He described how they had almost beaten Ren, only for that monster to appear.

  Chio listened intently, only muttering one word when Ray was finished. “Good.”

  Ray nodded. “So, what happened to the clan?”

  Chio told him about the fight between Draven and the elder, what he had been forced to do by that man, and the resulting war after his victory.

  “It took a while, but we ended up forming this group with others that had fled the clan.”

  “That sound, like it was awful.”

  “It was. It looks like the others are done catching up. We should return to our camp so you can meet the others.”

  “Others?”

  “Yeah, we are around 200 strong, mainly comprising those displaced during this conflict. I would also like you to meet my wife, Nevala.”

  “You're married?”

  Chio sighed, reminiscing. “It all happened quite fast, but there is no one else I would want to spend my life with.”

  Ray shot a glance back toward Erith.

  Chio’s eyebrows rose. “Are you two?”

  Ray sighed. “Only dating, but I know the feeling you were describing.”

  “Ray, I have seen more people die in the last two months than in my entire life. Don’t wait until it's too late.”

  Ray nodded, resolve boiling in his chest. “I won’t.”

  The group talked for a while longer before Ray and Erith were introduced to the members of their leveling party. When the sun was halfway through the sky, they went to where the group had set up a base camp.

  Several tents housed bandaged people with all manner of injury.

  “The bastard Draven not only starts this miserable conflict, but imprisons or kills anyone who can make healing salves or potions,” Vaelora said through clenched teeth.

  Ray tapped his chin in thought. “Wait here for a second.” He opened a gateway to an alchemy shop in the city and stepped through.

  Several minutes later, he emerged again and poured a pile of different potions from his bag.

  300 followers - Special Bonus chapter - Voting ends Thursday - ?????????? 100%

  100 favorites - Bonus chapter

  ????????? 79%