Leo limped his way back to camp with the help of Bjorn and Ron. His foot had grown back, but his fatigue was at an all time high. The mood was sombre, but not unpleasant as they chatted and compared finds of their expeditions out into the city.

Cecelia was pleased to hear about the bottles but said there wasn’t much need for them at the moment. No one in the camp had learned how to make potions, or the profession that went with it.

“An oversight.” She had said. Apparently regretting her decision to not at least push someone with an interest into the craft of potion making. It was too late now. Until they found new people, they would be without an alchemist. Even then, those that joined might have already gained a different profession.

By the time they had gotten back, the sun was far into the afternoon. Leo had been in that bank longer than he thought.

After a quick questioning about the notifications Ellie had gotten, Leo found out that he’d gained those notifications when they’d approached the doors, not when it had actually happened.

Strange as it was, Leo figured there must have been some kind of range limit to his and Ellie’s separation and gaining joint experience. It wasn’t something they were likely to test and experiment with anyway. The little dragon was tucked away in his soul-space currently, resting soundly.

They reached the camp, passing Jonah and Maddie guarding the street. Upon seeing the group approach, the two quickly ran out to meet them.

“Any attacks while we were gone?” Cecelia immediately demanded.

“No, ma’am.” Maddie answered, body straight. “There is something though.”

The group just stood while silence lingered.

“Well? What is it?” Cecelia questioned in annoyance.

“Hector. He… accepted a bunch of people into the camp. They claim to be from Gareth’s group.”

Cecelia frowned. Then sighed. “Fine. Bjorn, Ron, come with me. Can the rest of you take Leo to get some rest?”

Bjorn and Ron helped Leo rest against the side of a building before taking off with Cecelia as they swiftly moved into the camp.

“I think I can walk the rest of the way,” Leo said, attempting to stand upright by himself.

“Oh no. We can’t let you do that,” Ashley said. Her tone was the one she used for teasing that instantly made Leo’s blood run cold.

She started walking towards him, her face morphing into a devious smile. “Just relax. I’ve got you now, sweetie.”

“Please,” he begged. “I promise I can do it.”

Lena and Amy were just standing there, confused at the situation. Until they saw what Ashley had planned. Then they were trying—and failing—to hold in their laughter.

“This is so embarrassing,” Leo muttered as they walked across camp.

“Why? You were injured so we’re taking you to get some rest,” Ashley said casually.

“Did you have to do it like this?!” Leo complained from his position. Which was currently in Ashley’s arms. Held like a princess being carried out of her tower.

Lena stifled a giggle. “She’s right. You need to rest.”

“There’s no point in arguing, is there?” Leo asked in defeat.

“Nope!” All three of them sounded out in unison. Followed by howling laughter that echoed throughout the camp.

~

The trio that had run off with Maddie to find Hector were entering the building that was holding the group from Gareth’s camp. Cecelia strode in with purpose, head swiveling until she found her target.

“Hector!” Her voice cut across the room, not angry but not a question.

The older man hastily jogged over. “Cecelia. Glad to see you are all okay. Did you find Leo?”

“Yes. He’s alive and well, thank you,” she said amicably before her tone shifted. “I’ve been told there has been an admittance while I was absent. Care to explain?”

Hector sucked in a breath, shrinking back a little under the pressure.

“Ease up a bit Cecelia,” Bjorn said, calmly placing a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s hear what he has to say before you scare him to death.”

Cecelia nodded, taking a breath. “Yes. Sorry, Hector. Please, do tell me what happened.”

Hector seemed to relax a little, taking a moment. “Follow me, It’ll be easier to explain further inside.”

He led them to an inner room where there were at least thirty people all crowded inside. Nolan’s group were outside it, just chatting to some individuals inside, or each other.

Hector explained as they approached. “Around thirty people showed up this morning just after you departed. Apparently, Gareth, Ruby and a few others completely abandoned them once the dome shield came down. The plan was supposed to be a joining of forces between us and them, but when time came to move, they left without them. Only now have they managed to make their way here.”

“I see,” Cecelia mused, deep in thought.

Gareth and herself had made an agreement to join forces and explore the inner city, but he’d been a no-show. It was assumed that something had happened, causing delays. But apparently there was a different reason. One she was struggling to fully understand. Speaking with one of the members of his camp was her next move to fill in the much needed gaps.

Cecelia confidently strolled into the room, passing Nolan’s group without a word. “Which one of you is in charge?”

Her words hung in the air as all eyes landed on a middle-aged gentleman with brown hair and a rugged, calm exterior. He stepped forward before speaking.

“Hello. My name is Gus. I helped lead everyone here.”

Cecelia identified him as he spoke.

Human - Level 23

Higher than I expected. Cecelia thought.

“I’ve been told Gareth abandoned your camp. Could you explain why?”

Gus’ expression took on a scaly one. “The red-headed psycho announced that she would be taking Gareth, and three others out into the city to “kill stuff.” Gareth followed her like a lost puppy and didn’t even consider us. The three others were the top fighters. No one else was allowed to go. She even threatened any who wanted to follow.”

Could have guessed that Ruby had something to do with it.

“Ruby always was a live wire. I was unsure why Gareth put up with her attitude so much. This explains why they never showed when the shield came down,” Cecelia said, as much to herself as to anyone.

Cecelia paused then addressed the group as a whole. “What is it you want to do here?”

Gus spoke first. “I’m looking to survive and help these people do the same. None of us are battle junkies like Gareth and Ruby. I’ve fought a lot, and will keep doing so to survive, but not to the point of obsession. We just want a place to hunker down and ride this tutorial out. Nowhere safer than here right now.”

Cecelia almost smiled but held it back. “I am willing to accept you into this camp. But be warned, we were attacked by a horde of antlings last night all coming from the inner city. They averaged level thirty.”

Murmurs and worried looks were passed among the crowd. Her words weren’t meant to scare people off, she just didn’t want them thinking that this was a safe haven they could relax in for the last few weeks.

“Yet you guys are all still here,” Gus added. “That’s enough to know that it’s safer than not being here.”

This time she smiled. “Then I welcome you.” Her hand reached out to shake the man’s and he shook it.

“Thank you,” he said warmly. “If there is anything we can do to help then please let us know.”

“There are always needs here. Hector will take down your information about whether you want to fight and raise your level or raise your profession. We do not condone lazily sitting around waiting for the end. This is a constant fight for survival where every person can help in some way.”

“I understand, we didn’t expect anything less.”

~

Leo was gently placed on the stone bed in the room he called his own. Ashley and her cronies had cackled the entire way through the camp, unable—or unwilling—to see Leo’s point of view on the matter.

He smiled to himself. This could help his look among the camp. Ever since he’d released his storm during his talks with Cecelia before the Tower, everyone had looked at him with fear, avoiding him whenever possible. Being carried princess-style through a camp by a young woman would surely not make people find him even stranger.

The ladies had left him immediately after dropping him off. Leo thought about sleeping, but he was still wired. His mind was processing the bank and what he’d done wrong. Several times Leo had been only one, or a few hits away from dying, all because he’d rushed into pushing some ominous doors open and ignoring the sense of danger they had given him.

Since conquering the Tower, Leo had felt at the top of his game. He’d expected to be able to fight anything the inner city threw his way. Use the skills he’d gained and advantages that pushed his stats higher than his group to just overwhelm the enemy.

This was the first time he was so sorely outmatched without a single way to fight back.

The guardian was something designed to be beatable, he knew that.

Designed?

The reality of the system had still not sunken into him yet. Leo was still, in some way, considering this from a gaming point of view. The feeling shook him. Partly due to his subconscious being so stupid.

The system wasn’t a gaming master creating challenges and trials for him to overcome one by one. It was more than that.

The system had created this tutorial, but from what? And why?

There were gods, multiversal factions, and Iskarion only knows what else out there. This tiny tutorial was just a miniscule dot in comparison. The existential crisis had completely shattered his way of thinking.

He knew what he had to do now. Or at least, how to begin doing it.

Take things bit by bit and slow down. Examine his surroundings and situation. Consider things created by other humans or races, instead of by a video game system. If he’d done so at the bank, he’d have realised that there was a reason the doors were so tightly shut. Not just “Oh, this must be a trial of strength again.”

Sleep took him shortly after his mental reformations and he didn’t awake until the middle of the night.

Leo was awoken by someone he didn’t know the name of—one of the crafters. The young woman looked terrified but determined.

“What’s going on?” he asked, still groggy.

“There are ants coming. Cecelia asked me to see if you were ready to fight.”

Leo was out the door before she could take another breath.

His body felt amazing—entirely healed by the crystal. Even his new foot was working just fine, although unfortunately one realisation hadn’t struck him until now as he was running along.

He only had one boot on.

Leo quickly checked his storage ring, hoping it had been placed in there when he’d lost his foot… Nothing.

Shit.

He’d sorely miss the boots’ dash, not to mention the stats and comfort. Leo replaced the one boot he was still wearing with his starter boots. It was like putting on old shoes he’d worn through years ago after being in the most perfect fitting boots imaginable. Utter dismay.

I’ll need to ask Lena if she can make me some, soon as I’m done killing some ants.

Leo arrived on the street entrance towards the inner city. It was fresh with corpses. Not many, but enough to require more than one group.

“Cece, where do you need me?” he asked quickly.

“Leo. Good. Hold the line with us here. We need to relieve some people for some sleep. They’re low on stamina.”

“No worries,” Leo said. “Are we expecting more? I thought the nights were meant to be safe.”

“It appears after the dome came down that the rules have changed. None of the lesser variants come for us, although they still roam during the day. Only the new variants come for us.”

“Another wave approaching.” Ron’s voice carried from above, his tone flat.

“Ready the line!” Cecelia shouted, and all the fighters that had gathered formed a steady line facing the street.

“Want me to take care of it?” Leo asked. “I’m antsy for a fight.”

Cecelia rolled her eyes while he heard Bjorn burst with laughter that quickly faded after a punch from Ashley.

“Have you learned nothing from your trip to the bank? I was hoping you’d be less reckless.”

“Oh I am.” Leo's smile turned predatory. “I was thinking my once-a-day trick would work. Give you guys a breather for this wave.”

“Very well.” She turned to face the group. “Take a breather everyone, but be on guard in-case of Leo related incidents.”

“Rude,” Leo muttered but stepped forward, making some room for himself.

The antlings came crawling around the corner, some on walls but mostly on the street. There were eleven ants in total, manic and fast. They varied in size and running pattern. He spotted armoured, normal, and more he’d never seen before.

Leo’s mind centered as he gently tugged on the storm within his core. Combining the brief trickle of power he could tap into with the power Iskarion gifted him in his pact. Leo raised his hands. Power began channelling down his arms, past his wrists and into his palms.

The storm was coming. It built until the ants were in range. Leo’s calm facade cracked under the pressure that mounted within him.

Invisible power shot out of him like a cannon. A pulse of slicing wind radiated out in a circle, encapsulating all of the approaching enemies as it gathered them inward. Lightning joined the wind in a surging cacophony of devastation, ripping up the ground as it subsequently tore through the antlings.

The creatures were ravaged.

Shrieks of agony and fury were dwarfed by the booming roar of the winds. Soon, the wind settled. The lightning faded. Silence descended upon the bloody street.

Leo’s form collapsed onto one knee, heavy breaths following.

What the hell? It’s getting even harder to use.

Notifications started streaming in.

You have slain: Antling - Level 31

Experience Gained

+62 Store Credits

You have slain: Antling - Level 30

Experience Gained

+60 Store Credits

…

A total of nine notifications came in within a matter of moments. The remaining two antlings were the armoured variety, barely hanging on but still alive.

“Ron! Mind finishing those two? I hate their reflecting skill,” Leo called out to the hidden archer above, trying to hide his period of weakness he was feeling.

Several arrows descended like small roaring comets, singeing right through the gaps in the carapace and putting the antlings down for good.

You have slain: Antling - Level 32

Experience Gained

+44 Store Credits

You have slain: Antling - Level 33

Experience Gained

+47 Store Credits

Your Elemental Adept Class has reached level 32

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Anchored Progression:
+1 All stats, +2 Free Points

Ellie has reached Level 28

Stat points distributed

+3 Free points

Ellie’s gains from race:

+5 Free Points

“Thanks mate!” Leo called, turning around to a somewhat stunned crowd.

“Glad to have you back, kid!” Bjorn shouted, the tense atmosphere diminishing with the spirit in his words.

Leo walked up to the man and gave him a fist bump. Bjorn really knew how to break tension.

“Enough gawking,” Cecelia ordered. “Collect what’s left of those antlings, the night could still have more to come.”