[A Lv. 4 human has been defeated]
[+10 EXP]
[120/200 EXP]
[Bonus for fighting with your soul linked partner]
[+100 EXP]
[220/200 EXP]
[You are now level 12]
[You have gained +2 free stat points]
Erin got up from Earl and saw the experience points she got. Even though she didn't get the EXP from defeating the burningsnake, what she got instead was more than suitable. Besides, she'll get more EXP after they arrive to the red zone.
Yanking the paleneedle from Earl's unconscious body, Erin saw Layla and Peter running over. Earlier, Layla was able to carve out the crystal from the burningsnake thanks to Peter making her a mud knife, and had the crystal on her body.
Meanwhile Quinn had slowly managed to arrive with the others, with Fex by his side. Quinn didn't look too great, and the same could be said for Layla and Peter.
"Good, all 4 of you defeated their team. Lets continue heading out," Erin commanded.
However, instead of getting unanimous praise for vaguely complimenting her team, she got a crowd of complaints instead. The entire team had basically talked all over each other, making it impossible to listen to a single one, which made Erin frown. The only one who didn't complain was Fex.
"Hold on, stop it. One at a time!" Erin yelled to cut through the noise, then pointed at Layla, "You go first."
"Erin, my bow broke. I can't fight without a bow, and half of us are injured," Layla then gestured to the large cut on her arm, Quinn's broken shoulder, and Peter holding his head where he was smacked.
"We'll just use the first aid kit on Quinn, and go," Erin snapped.
"You're just going to let me stay injured after all I've done for you?" Layla replied, a hint of betrayal in her voice. She had bled for her roommate, helped her out when she needed it most, and now wasn't getting anything in return.
"I— that's not what I meant."
"Then what are you saying?!" Layla shot back.
"What she's saying is that we have to go back," Quinn finished Erin's words for her, "As much 'fun' it is to risk our lives for some crystals, I don't want any of us to die."
"I knew this was going to happen… This is why I didn't want to go," Peter whispered.
Even though Peter knew Jerry could heal them, he opted not to tell the others in case Erin was going to force him to heal them, thereby making it so they had to go to the red zone.
Erin growled at the incompetence of her team. They were on their second day, and the only crystal they had to show for it was just a singular intermediate tier one. At this rate, they were going to be in dead last.
"We HAVE to go," Erin demanded then walked ahead of their group.
Layla ran ahead to Erin, and grabbed her arm, trying to stop her from abandoning them.
"Hey! You can't just go run off to your death!" Layla objected, then harshly whispered, "Look, I'm sure you can do this by yourself, but you still need to hold that."
Erin knew what exactly Layla was implying. She looked down at Layla's hand on her, then shook it off. However, despite being free, she did not continue to run off.
"Lets head back, and worry about this later. Its not worth it to risk our lives to get first place," Layla continued to reason, "We can get more beast crystals another day when we're all healed."
Erin clenched her fists, and stared off in the direction of where the other teams had went. All of them were gone from her vision, way past the horizon line. Even if they were to make it to the red zone, the other teams would've gotten all of the beasts there already.
"…Fine."
Everyone else let out a sigh of relief. Before they left, Layla picked up her arrow, and they all headed back to the shelter.
—
Amy's eyes blinked once, twice, before they were no longer glossed over. She looked around, and had seen that she had actually lost the fight against Erin's team. Actually, her entire team lost.
"What?!" She yelled in disbelief, then got up from her knees, "Jerry? Where's—?!"
"…I'm here…" A meek short boy said, coming out of hiding.
"Go and help the others, I can't believe it, but we lost!" Amy cried.
Jerry nodded, and went over to help heal Earl, while Amy went over to help Pierogi. Using her flame whip, she had melted away the ice around their legs, and Earl soon unearthed the rocks surrounding Garret.
Once they were back to normal, everyone gathered together. Jerry was tending to everyone's injuries, but the tensions were high, and Amy got up in Earl's face.
"What was that!? You said that they should've been easy, and we get our asses handed back to us!" Amy complained, then smacked her face and groaned, "Ugh, I can't believe it, I got beaten by some stupid level 1 student… He HAD to have cheated!"
"Yeah, we teamed up with you guys because you promised us riches," Pierogi huffed, jabbing their finger in Earl's direction, "The only thing we got were—"
Earl then grabbed Pierogi's arm and twisted it into an awkward position, causing a sickening cracking sound.
"ACK—!" They yelped, which caused Garret to instinctively want to jump to his friend's defense.
"Now, now, what did I say about questioning my leadership. Don't worry guys, we'll get back at them," Earl said in such a casual tone despite Pierogi's arm, "And remember, I only let you guys join me because I saw potential in you. Without me, you would have no chance at any form of backing. No future."
Jerry quickly ran over to heal them, and Pierogi wanted to retaliate, but they knew it was true.
Pierogi came from an original family, one that could use the doppelganger ability. They were meant to inherit the leadership position, as they were an only child. However, after their parents found out that they couldn't raise their MC beyond that of a level 3, all of the support and backing they once had before suddenly went away. Instead, said support went to their undeserving cousin who, in Pierogi's eyes, never suffered ONCE for his position.
Amy and Garret had similar backgrounds. Not quite from original families, but they had been treated as weak by the world for so long that they were willing to do anything to stop it. It was why the three of them had become friends, and why Earl was interested in using them.
By dangling Duke's support to them, Earl could pretty much get them to do whatever he wanted.
Garret didn't like it, but he was willing to turn a blind eye given that he would've never gotten a level 4 strength ability book, nor his gauntlets if it wasn't for Earl. This was only temporary, a stepping stone for getting up higher in the world.
"Don't you dare touch Pierogi like that again," Garret threatened.
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of it," Earl replied, "I don't take pleasure in hurting my teammates you know."
"Look, I'll still be willing to work with you, JUST to get back at them," Amy snarled recalling the memory her being beaten so easily, causing her to clench her fists so tightly they turned pale. She sniffled, then looked away to not show the others she had tears in her eyes, "I WONT let myself get beaten by a level 1 again."
"Now that's the spirit!" Earl cheerfully replied.