Chapter 23: A New Face
1. The Plains Adventure
The afternoon sun bore down as Alex, Lila, and the armored skeleton—now affectionately dubbed "Sentinel"—moved cautiously through the rocky grasslands. The area was quieter than they liked, the air heavy with a sense of tension that kept their weapons drawn and their senses sharp.
"We've been out here for hours," Lila grumbled, wiping sweat from her brow. "If we don't find something soon, I'm heading back."
"Patience," Alex replied, scanning the horizon. "The camp's stable, but we need more supplies. If we don't keep pushing further out, we're just waiting for starvation or something worse."
"And how far do we push before we get eaten?"
"Long enough to find something useful," Alex shot back, though his grip on his spear tightened.
Sentinel marched ahead, its glowing eyes scanning the terrain. Though silent, its presence was a comfort to Alex. The skeleton had become an invaluable asset—one he knew he couldn't afford to lose.
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2. Finding Ethan
Their cautious advance eventually brought them to a cluster of jagged rocks and shallow craters. The ground was scorched, the air carrying a faint acrid smell.
"What happened here?" Lila asked, crouching beside a crater.
Alex frowned, running his hand over the blackened earth. "Some kind of fight, maybe? Or an explosion?"
"Either way, I don't like it," Lila muttered, her hand on her dagger.
Sentinel suddenly stopped, its glowing eyes fixed on something in the distance. Alex raised a hand, signaling Lila to stay quiet.
A low, pained groan drifted toward them from a nearby crater.
"Someone's alive," Alex whispered, stepping forward.
The groan grew louder as they approached. Peering over the edge of the crater, Alex spotted a man lying amid the debris. His auburn hair was matted with dirt and sweat, his leather armor torn and bloodied.
"Help..." the man croaked weakly.
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3. The Hunter
Alex crouched beside the man, keeping his spear ready. "Are you hurt?"
The man grimaced, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ambushed... couldn't... stop them."
Lila knelt on the other side, her expression wary. "And who exactly ambushed you?"
"Beasts... scaled... fast..."
Alex activated Inspect, focusing on the stranger.
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Inspect Activated:
Name: Ethan
Class: Hunter
Level: 6
Status: Injured (Severe)
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"He's a Hunter," Alex said, glancing at Lila. "Level six. He's tough, but he won't make it out of here like this."
"Great," Lila said sarcastically. "And what are we supposed to do about that?"
"We help him," Alex said firmly.
Before they could move him, a guttural roar echoed across the plains.
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4. The Ambush
Three scaled beasts emerged from the rocks, their reptilian bodies bristling with spines and their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger.
"They don't look friendly," Lila muttered, drawing her dagger.
"Sentinel, take the lead!" Alex commanded.
The armored skeleton stepped forward, intercepting the first creature with its rusted sword. The clash of metal and claws rang out as the skeleton parried the beast's attack, holding the line.
Alex lunged at the second creature, his spear finding its shoulder. The beast snarled, swiping at him with a clawed hand, but Alex ducked just in time.
Lila circled behind the third beast, her movements swift and deliberate. Her dagger struck true, sinking into the creature's exposed neck.
The battle was fierce, but Sentinel's presence turned the tide. The skeleton absorbed the brunt of the attacks, its armor deflecting claws and teeth as Alex and Lila finished the remaining creatures.
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5. Back to Camp
By the time they reached the camp, the sun was sinking low. Ethan leaned heavily on Alex, his breathing labored but steady. Lila carried a small satchel filled with salvaged claws and scales from the fallen beasts.
They helped Ethan settle against a crumbling wall, his pale face relaxing slightly as he leaned back.
"You're lucky we found you," Alex said. "What were you doing out there?"
"Tracking ruins," Ethan replied weakly. "Thought I'd find supplies. Didn't expect to get jumped."
Alex exchanged a glance with Lila. "Ruins might be worth investigating once he's stable."
"For now," Lila said, sitting beside the fire, "we need to talk about something important."
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6. The Level-Up Decision
After the fight, Alex felt the familiar rush of energy that signaled a level-up. As his system prompted him to allocate his points, he opened the screen to review his choices.
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Level Up!
Level 3 → Level 5
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"Leveling up again," Alex said, staring at the screen.
Lila glanced over. "What's the plan? More mana?"
"Not just mana," Alex replied. "I need to be balanced. Every fight is draining—I can't afford to be a glass cannon."
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Attribute Points to Allocate: 10
Current Stats:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 14
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Alex thought for a moment, then spoke his reasoning aloud.
"Strength isn't a priority—I'm not a melee fighter. But I need to be able to hold my own if I have to. Two points to Strength."
The system chimed as he allocated the points.
"Dexterity is fine where it is. Constitution needs a boost, though. I need to last longer in fights. Three points to Constitution."
Another chime followed.
"And now for the important part," Alex continued. "Intelligence and Wisdom. Intelligence boosts my magic's power and mana pool, while Wisdom improves my regeneration and skill efficiency. I'll split the rest—three to Intelligence, two to Wisdom."
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Updated Stats:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 16
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Alex closed the screen, satisfied with his choices.
"You're putting a lot into magic," Lila observed.
Alex nodded. "Magic is what gives us an edge. But I can't just rely on it—I have to be able to survive when things go wrong."
"Fair enough," Lila said, leaning back. "Just don't forget the rest of us while you're out there leveling up."
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7. Sentinel's New Role
As the fire crackled softly, Lila glanced at Sentinel, its glowing eyes scanning the camp.
"Now that it's got a name, what's next for it?" she asked.
Alex smiled faintly. "Sentinel's more than just a summon now. It's part of the team. And as long as I keep getting stronger, so will it."
Lila nodded slowly. "Well, I still think it's creepy. But I'll admit—it's earned its place."
Ethan stirred beside them, his voice faint. "It saved us back there. Whatever you're doing, keep it up."
Alex glanced at Sentinel, his resolve hardening. "I plan to."
As the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Alex stared into the flames, his mind racing with plans for the future. With new strength coursing through him and new allies by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.