Lucian and Annabelle travelled back through the city, watching as it became more and more lifeless as they approached the jungle’s edge - until eventually the streets were completely empty of people.

  They approached the detachment of guards they had met before and Lucian called out to them with a wave, “Hello!”

  A few guards turned to face them, they looked on edge. Lucian’s gaze quickly fell onto the corpse of one of those flying monsters that looked like it crashed into the ground not far from the group, “Sorry to startle you.” Lucian smiled.

  “What are you doing here?” One guard asked, his eyes occasionally darting upwards as if expecting another monster attack - then back to Lucian.

  “We’re headed back into the jungle, ideally.” Lucian said and Annabelle nodded happily. “I know you’re establishing a perimeter and all that, and that you’re probably not allowed to let us past, but I do think it would be best for everyone if we went.”

  “Is that a threat?” Another guard asked nervously. They had seen Lucian leave the jungle, unharmed. They saw his casual demeanor. Something about the way he acted made them nervous - the same kind of nervousness one might experience standing in a room with a predator. The fact that they all carried weapons didn’t fully suppress the feeling of hidden danger.

  Lucian laughed, “No! Of course not, don’t be silly.” He shook his head, “No, I just want to go back into the jungle and keep getting rid of monsters - it means less that you have to deal with.”

  “I…” The guard blinked. Another cut him off, stepping forward with a hand raised to shake Lucian’s, “Apologies. We’re all on edge. A group of those birds came and took two of our guys - we only managed to down one.”

  Lucian nodded and shook the man’s hand, “Sorry for your losses. The police near the hospital experienced something similar. The monster seemed strangely resistant to mundane weapons like firearms.”

  The soldier nodded, “We noticed.” He looked back to his group, “Let me talk with the captain.” He said, turning and walking back. After a brief debate he returned with his superior officer.

  The captain had dark brown hair and an experienced bearing, “Normally, I wouldn’t allow this. But, extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures - and my gut tells me you have what it takes.” He gestured past him, “You are clear to enter the perimeter - and I’ll inform my fellows of this fact in case you run into them. May I have your name?”

  “Lucian Caldwell.” Lucian said with a smile, “I suppose we will be on our way then.” He nodded to the captain before walking past him. Annabelle nodded to him as well, waving as she followed Lucian.

  The guardsmen watched the pair walk past them and disappear into the treeline. One glanced at the captain, “What the hell was that?”

  The captain shook his head, “I have no idea.” He muttered as he gazed at the treeline, “No idea at all.”

  Lucian hummed as he walked, and Annabelle glanced at him, “They did seem really on edge.” She said idly.

  “It wasn’t just situational nervousness.” Lucian said after a pause, “They were fixated on us.” He muttered, then shook his head, “Not like it really matters right now.” Annabelle nodded in affirmation.

  They pushed further into the jungle, and ended up cutting towards the river Lucian had originally walked along.

  “I’m always taken by how beautiful it is here.” Annabelle smiled at the water, watching several small fish dart past.

  “It is.” Lucian smiled and looked up at the trees far ahead, and the giant one that loomed in above them in the distance.

  Annabelle looked at him and followed his gaze, “Do you think it's a dungeon?” She asked after a moment.

  “That would be the cliche thing, wouldn’t it?” He laughed, “I think I’d like it to be one. At least, I want there to be something good there.”

  She nodded and giggled, “Wouldn’t it be funny if we got there and it was just a normal giant tree?”

  Lucian chuckled, “Nothing normal about a giant tree.”

  “You know what I mean!” She rolled her eyes playfully at him.

  “Yeah.” He smirked at her.

  They looked at each other for a moment and then laughed for a bit before continuing along the river. Lucian suddenly stopped, his ears twitching slightly.

  “Move!” Lucian shouted, his hand shot out and he grabbed Annabelle by the arm, pulling her backwards as a blade of wind shot past her, slicing into the trees on the other side of the river, “Sorry.” He said as he let go, dropping the bag he was carrying and activating [Manifest Weapon]. As the blade formed, a large mantis-like creature emerged from the trees. It looked much more dangerous than the last one he fought. Its chitin was a dull red color, and covered in dull armored spikes. It was at least half again as tall as the last one Lucian had fought, “Great…”

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  Annabelle blinked a few times as Lucian began to approach the monster, her eyes briefly flicked to the side looking across the river to a tree that had been sliced in half. She focused her attention back on the monster as Lucian pushed off the ground. She raised her hand, “[Witch’s Hex]!” She chanted, and watched an eerie purple glow briefly engulf the mantis and she felt her skill take root.

  It sliced downwards at Lucian with one of its forelimbs and he brought his sword up and the two blades collided with a clang, “Its chitin is like metal!” Lucian growled, twisting out of the way and launching himself away from the mantis as it struck at him again.

  “[Poison Bolt]!” Annabelle launched a dart of green light past Lucian as he moved out of the way. The skill impacted the mantis’ chest and the light faded into its body. Its head snapped towards Annabelle and it clicked its mandibles.

  “Don’t you dare!” Lucian swung down at its side with [Penetrating Strike] and [Slash], cutting a large divot into its armored abdomen. The monster spun around and hissed loudly, striking at Lucian in a blur of motion. He stook a [Quickstep] backwards, dashing out of its reach as cleaved through the air where he had stood a second before.

  “[Tanglethorns]!” Annabelle gestured upwards, and vines sprang from the ground under the mantis at her command, surging upwards and wrapping around two of its legs. It broke free after a few seconds, but that gave Annabelle enough time to use another skill, “[Poison Bolt]!” She fired off another bolt which struck the mantis in the side of its head.

  The mantis lets out a shrill cry as it breaks free, charging at Annabelle.

  Lucian takes in a deep breath and brings his sword to the side, launching himself forward with another [Quickstep]. His heel hits the ground in front of the mantis as he intercepts its charge and he pushes off the ground again, jumping upwards. His blade’s edge shines with a dangerous light as he swings it at the mantis’ neck with every ounce of strength he can muster - invoking both [Penetrating Strike] and [Slash] again.

  His blade cuts into its neck with a satisfying crunch, digging through chitin and flesh - but not passing all the way through. Lucian’s pupils dilate as the mantis keep charging, faltering but continuing towards Annabelle. “Die already!” He shouts, pivoting over its head and onto its back, letting go of his sword and grabbing its neck with both hands. His sword vanishes as he lets it go, and he groans, straining against the mantis body.

  Annabelle fires off another spell but her voice is muffled in Lucian’s ears. All his focus is on the mantis - on pulling as hard as he can. He tugs to the side, steering the mantis to the left - it crashes onto the ground beside Annabelle, skidding forward in the ground.

  He jerks again, and the mantis’ neck makes a tearing sound and an uncomfortable crunch. Its body twitches and trashes, knocking Lucian off its back.

  Lucian lands on his feet and jumps back beside Annabelle, panting. He fell to his knees, hands covered in the monster’s blood. He takes a few breaths, trying to steady himself as the monster falls dead, its twitching slowing down. Lucian wasn’t strong enough to tear through its chitin with his bare hands, but something inside its neck had broken.

  He felt the familiar feeling of energy swelling inside his chest as he leveled up, and took a moment to acknowledge the skill levels he had gained during the fight.

  “Are you okay?” Lucian felt Annabelle put her hand on his shoulder.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just out of breath.” He laughed, “That was… Something.”

  “You could call it something, yeah.” She ruffled his hair, “You, what, almost pulled its head off?”

  “No… I wasn’t strong enough for that. I think I broke its neck or something.” He looked up at the sky, “I just had to steer it away from you.”

  “Thanks for that. Not sure I’d survive that thing getting its appendages on me. Fairly sure I wouldn’t, actually!” She said cheerfully.

  Lucian sighed and looked at her, “Thank you.” She nodded and offered her hand, helping Lucian up.

  “Shall we go?” She asked.

  “Yeah, let me distribute my free points first.” Lucian responded. “I really should round my stats out more, especially if I have another person here with me…” He thought to himself, “Maybe leaning into a slightly more rounded style wouldn’t be that bad.”

  He put 3 points into Constitution bringing it up to 32, 2 points into Endurance bringing it up to a round 30, and the last point he put into Agility bringing it up to 56. This brought his maximum Spirit up to 82.

  “Alright, away we go.” He smiled at Annabelle, “By the way, did you level up?”

  “Yep! 3 times, actually. I am now level 14!” She said proudly.

  “Good for you.” He smiled, looking at the corpse of the red mantis, “Potentially bad for everyone, since that thing seemed to give more experience than the dungeon boss we killed - which means it's just as, or more, dangerous. Certainly felt like it.”

  She nodded, “I suppose so! I came much closer to dying that time!” She winked.

  Lucian laughed and the two of them continued heading deeper into the jungle, slowly getting closer to their goal.