Avyck3721

ch 31

The day of the final wave arrives.

Jared’s group is more prepared this time. The last battle–if you could call it that–did wonders for their confidence. Before the last raid the mood was quiet and tense. Today? There is an electricity in the air. People are speaking casually, stances relaxed.

Maddux, who was pale and trembling mess before the last fight, now leans casually on his spear, deep in conversation with Alex about flanking maneuvers. His eyes are bright, animated—...

ch 30

Later that night, I stretch out on one of the wooden benches near my new fire in front of the cabin Jared built. I soak in the warmth letting it sink into my skin. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of burning wood and fresh pine. The quiet hum of conversation drifts from nearby cabins.

Mischief is nowhere to be seen.

I’m not worried. He has a habit of exploring on his own when things are quiet.

It’s sometimes nice actually. Our new friends still aren’t quite used to...

ch 29

With the seventh day winding down, everyone gathers near the clearing where the first raid appeared. Mischief, Nick, Alex, Elise, and I stand alongside two archers and another fighter carrying a spear.

The group shuffles about in hushed conversation. I can sense there is an uneasy tension in the air. Shifting glances towards where the portal should be appearing, weapons held tight in clammy hands.

Two months ago, we were just normal people, living mundane lives. Now we’re standi...

ch 28

The next hour was spent testing my barrier spell in every way we could think of—attacks with skills, attacks without skills. Casting while holding Tranquility, then without it, then with Tranquility in dimensional storage, and even with it several feet away.

Time flew by as we ran test after test, trying to figure out just how much I could trust my spell. The best part? The mana cost was so low that I could keep casting it one at a time, easily replenishing my MP between each attempt....

ch 27

The sun peeks over the eastern mountains, fiery light gilding the clouds. The morning air is crisp, but the cold barely registers as my stats continue to grow.

Dew-drenched grass glitters in the clearing, catching the early light. It feels like the world is waking up, shaking off the night’s chill.

At some point while naming Tranquility, I pulled the sword free from its scabbard. Its blade rests peacefully in my outstretched hands, light blue metal gleaming softly. The hilt feel...

ch 26

A minute later Jared, Alex, Nick, Elise and Myself are all gathered around my little fire with Mischief dozing in the background. We all kind of just wait for someone to start the conversation. Finally Jared speaks.

Jared finally breaks the silence. “Okay. This is… strange.”

He glances at Elise, then Nick. “This isn’t just random. There’s gotta be a reason.”

Alex shrugs. “Man, I don’t see the issue. So we weren’t dropped in the same spot—big deal.” 2025-02-26 23:17:10 +0000 UTC View Post

ch 25

Later, Mischief and I sort through the loot from the raid. Since the trial not a single monster has dropped a shard of any kind. Instead, we collected their crude weapons, armor, and a surprising number of dimensional bags filled with bronze coins and worthless trinkets.

It’s hard not to be a little annoyed with all the dimensional bags. Why did I get one as a reward in the first dungeon if every single monster that raided our territory had one? Couldn’t I have gotten something more...

ch 24

Layton swung his sword, taking the head off the last raider.

[Congratulations! You have defeated the first of three raids. The next raid will commence in one week.]

[Level up! Layton has allocated his +5 bonus points to Agility. Bonus stats assigned to Agility and Intelligence.]

[Hidden Objective Complete: No one in your party took any damage. Reward – 500 universal bronze coins.]

“Well, what did you think of t...

ch 23

Back at camp, the waiting begins. There’s nothing to do but kill time until the raid. I plan to do more scouting to see if I can find any monsters lurking around.

I wasn’t convinced every threat was confined to dungeons just yet. For now, I start practicing the new sword forms in the clearing while Mischief lounges in the sun.

Even with all the knowledge burned into my mind, my sword forms are clumsy and awkward. But the slow, deliberate movements are grounding, and before I k...

ch 22

For the next three days, I keep my mind occupied.

Richard’s death lingers at the edges of my thoughts, no matter how much I try to shove it away. Each morning, it’s there. Each night, it waits. But as the days pass, the weight of it dulls—fading bit by bit like an old wound.

Mischief and I dedicate nearly every waking hour to scouring the mountains for the final dungeon. The terrain is breathtaking, a vast expanse of jagged peaks and sun-dappled valleys, but the search itsel...

ch 21

Blood sprayed across the dirt. The fight was basically over.

From the tower, Richard exhaled. Not relief. Not exactly. The rush of battle still pounded in his veins. His fingers trembled, his heartbeat thundered.

The others were frozen, staring at Matt’s body.

Typical.

Even dead. They still looked to Matt. With eerie calm, Richard notched another arrow—and put it through the final raider’s eye.

A notification blinked across his vision. You have completed th...

ch 20

The next few days blurred together. The seven fighters pushed themselves hard, clearing the remaining dungeons with brutal efficiency. Their teamwork was still rough, full of frayed edges, but it was improving.

The dungeons themselves no longer felt like death sentences—but that didn’t make them easy.

They had expected answers about their families. About how to navigate this world, survive, thrive. But as each dungeon fell, all they found were more monsters, more loot, more le...

ch 19

Richard had been at a campground, gearing up for a weekend hunting trip, when the induction hit.

Originally, he'd planned for a quiet, solitary excursion—his girlfriend’s alternative plans had already annoyed him—but nothing could have prepared him for this.

The sky had split open. The Voice had spoken. And suddenly, Richard wasn’t just a weekend hunter anymore.

He was something more. The induction scared Richard, at least at first. Then—excitement.

Because w...

ch 18

Finding the next dungeon was no picnic.

I had spent days searching. No signs, no clues. Just trees, dirt, and a growing sense that I was wasting my time.

Then, just as I was about to give up—my status screen flickered.

I stopped. Focused. There, between a cluster of trees, something shimmered. I blinked. Once. Twice. If not for my status screen, I would have walked right past.

It was hard not to feel annoyed with the lack of a map. It seemed like an obvious feature i...

ch 17

Mischief lay curled beneath tangled roots, ribs pressing sharp against his skin. Hunger gnawed at his insides—a dull, familiar ache. His mother was gone. Food was scarce. His limbs, weaker by the day. When the sky darkened and the forest went silent, he thought, at last, he had starved to death.

His animal mind struggled to grasp what was happening—until a mysterious voice spoke in words he somehow understood, promising that the world would be different now. If he survived and grew,...

ch 16

When I got back, Mischief was wide awake, calmly licking his paws like nothing had changed. The fire was gone—just smoldering embers fading in the predawn air.

He didn’t even glance up as I stepped into the clearing.

“Do all your animal friends try to eat me, or am I just special?” I asked, shaking my head as the memory of the wolves replayed in my mind.

Mischief paused mid-lick, ears twitching. Then he tilted his head, cat-like confusion in its purest form.

�...

ch 15

Chaos spawn pile onto my body, their claws raking deep, tiny fangs tearing flesh in an endless, writhing mass. The weight crushes my ribs, suffocating me. Screams rip from my throat.

Mom, Dad—please!

But no one comes.

The bodies shift, dragging me down. Claws hook into my arms, tiny jaws clamp onto my legs. I thrash, kick, but it’s useless. The swarm is endless. A tide of snapping jaws, of slithering limbs. It’s in my ears, my throat—wet, smothering. I try to scream,...

ch 14

LAYTON
HUMAN - Rank F
Humans are well-rounded and adaptable. Receives +5 free points per level.

CLASS

• Healer (Level 12) –

  • Each core stat +1 per level; choose +5 Wis or Int, the other gets +2.

• Fighter (Level 1) –

  • Each core stat +1 per level; choose +5 Str or Agi, the other gets +2.

STATS

• HP: 66/66

• MP: 71/71

• Constitution: 46

• Stre...

  2025-02-26 23:08:12 +0000 UTC View Post

ch 13

You have completed Wave 5, Stage 2 Boss Variant.
Rewards:
- Stone of Choice, spirit weapon.

At first, I expect a system window—the usual crisp, artificial glow. Instead, the words crawl into my vision, jagged and raw, like they’ve been carved straight into my skull with a dull knife.

A Personal Message

Layton,
Many have found great rewards by charging headfirst into the unknown. Sometimes, though, wisdom lies in temperance. Which will you choose?

ch 12

My stats are getting out of hand.

Two hours of sleep, and I feel like I’ve had a full eight. My club feels like a toy in my hands.
And my agility? I haven’t even pushed it yet. I feel invincible.

Let’s hope this wave gives me a reason to.

Stage 2 – Wave 5 Boss Variant Has Begun.

At the far end of the clearing, something shimmers. For the first time, I actually see how the monsters spawn.

A ripple in the air. A distortion, bending reality like heat on p...

ch 11

I let out a shaky breath and glance at the flattened, bloodstained grass.

I should process this. The numbers. The sheer scale of it.

But if I start, I might not stop. So instead, I turn to humor.

It always worked before.

“Well, Mischief, I’m basically dead on my feet,” I mumble, forcing a smirk. “I need a nap before the next stage. You’re not going to eat me in my sleep, right?”

Mischief’s ears flick sharply.

For a second, I swear he ...

ch 10

BONGGG.

Wave 2 of 5 complete.
Participants will receive rewards based on contribution.
Contribution calculated.
Rewards – Small Storage Chest of Dimensional Holding. One Minor Mana Potion.

POP.

A wooden chest and a small vial materialize in front of me.

I kneel down, inspecting them.

Small Dimensional Holding Chest – A storage unit that utilizes dimensional magic. Can hold 100 stackable items.
Mana Potion – Restores 10 MP.