Leo was caught off guard when Maijessie suddenly whispered to him.
She fought the urge to look away, speaking low and firm.
"Brother, when you all first arrived, I noticed it right away. That Rogue girl—she's not simple. Her footwork… it's too precise, too rhythmic. That's Assassin-level training. And… I think she knows us. Or maybe, she knows me."
"Maijessie, your gift has grown stronger?"
"Yes. On my seventh birthday, it changed a lot. I can clearly sense my surroundings now. And my danger sense—it's sharper than ever."
Seventh birthday. The day everything happened. Leo remembered her ability had once been vague—able to sense anything but never precise. Now it was focused, tuned toward environment and threat. Was it her trauma that rewired it, reshaping her gift to what she needed most?
A pang of guilt stabbed him. He placed his gauntleted hand on her helm, pulling her close, hugging her tight. His face twisted with self-blame.
Maijessie stiffened like she'd been shocked, her whole body trembling, cheeks flushed red, resisting instinctively.
Leo quickly let go, patting his shield with a grin.
"Doesn't matter anymore. Your brother's a Paladin now—protector of comrades. I'll guard you. Nothing will ever harm you again."
She flushed deeper at his dramatic tone, then shyly nodded.
"Come on, brother. Let's buy some supplies, test our powers… and then fulfill our promise."
That sobered him. Exploration couldn't be careless. He willed open his character sheet.
Name: Leo
Class: Paladin
Level: 1
Strength: 48 (25)
Dexterity: 42 (20)
Vitality: 50 (25)
Energy: 25 (15)
Life: 130 (55)
Stamina: 114 (89)
Mana: 30 (15)
Attack: 3–21 melee, 16–36 thrown (with Strength bonus)
Defense: 209 (with Dex bonus)
Skill Points: 0
His jaw tightened—insane stats for level one, leagues above the original Paladin template. But then he noticed the bottom.
Resistances—all negative.
Fire: –40
Cold: –40
Lightning: –40
Poison: –40
The Nightmare penalty.
"Maijessie, share your sheet with me. I need to confirm something."
She obeyed.
Name: Maijessie
Class: Assassin
Level: 1
Strength: 20 (20)
Dexterity: 20 (20)
Vitality: 20 (20)
Energy: 49 (25)
Life: 50 (50)
Stamina: 95 (95)
Mana: 67 (25)
Attack: 1–6 melee, 7–18 thrown
Defense: 61
Skill Points: 0
Resistances:
Fire: –40
Cold: –40
Lightning: –40
Poison: –40
Exactly. The world had dropped them straight into Nightmare. No wonder the rewards were so generous. And if memory served, Blood Moor on Nightmare had level 36 monsters.
"See, Maijessie? Our resistances are crushed. Hell's power is bleeding through."
She nodded, unsure. "My Strength, Dex, and Vitality are average. Only my Energy is high. I should focus there."
"Perfect. Assassins excel with traps and shadow arts—huge damage, strong control, summon decoys. And safe. You'll stay behind me, laying traps." Leo felt smug—classic coward's build, easy and effective.
"Brother… how do you know so much about Assassin skills?"
His face froze. Too much. He couldn't reveal his knowledge came from another life.
"Ha! You've got a gift from the heavens, right? Well, mine's knowledge." He tapped his temple. "More knowledge than you can imagine."
She blinked, then nodded quietly. She knew there was more to it, but if he wouldn't tell, she wouldn't push.
He sighed in relief.
"As for me, it's simple. I wear the heaviest armor, take the hardest hits. Either the monsters kill me first, or you kill them first. Now let's stock up."
They went shopping:
• 60 minor healing potions – 1,800 gold
• 30 minor mana potions – 1,800 gold
• 10 stamina potions – 250 gold
• 5 Town Portal scrolls – 500 gold
• 10 Identify scrolls – 800 gold
Total: 5,150 gold.
At the smithy:
• 4 bundles of Javelins – 960 each
• 4 bundles of Throwing Spears – 240 each
Another 4,800 gone.
By noon their stomachs growled. First day together again—Leo splurged at the tavern: one mug of ale, plenty of food. Fifty silver spent, leaving 49.5 gold. He sighed. So much for ten thousand.
Outside, the sky stayed gray. Cold air reeked of blood. The Blood Moor stretched endless, barren save for thorny brush. Even the soil felt wrong—dry but spongy, like rotting flesh.
For an hour they crept, Leo alert, moving with the care of a Rogue rather than a Paladin.
From across a thicket came guttural cries—Fallen, the Rakanishu tongue. Leo crouched, parting branches.
A squat red demon, ponytail trailing, horns jutting, clutching a rusty blade and cracked shield. A single Fallen. Finally, one alone.
He'd passed on earlier groups of two or three. The app had warned him.
\[Beep beep. Fallen detected. Level 36. Extremely dangerous. Recommended: evade.]
Monstrous HP bar. Dangerous level. Numbers always stacked against him. But one alone? He couldn't waste it.
He quietly dropped his bundled tent as a barricade, then retreated to Maijessie.
"I'll lure it. Stay back. I'll soften it with javelins. Wait for my signal. Don't move too soon, or it'll bolt."
He positioned himself ten meters out. Drew a breath. This was it.
"Hey! Your grandpa's over here!"
The thicket shook. Leo hurled a javelin. It struck chest, barely scratching.
The Fallen hesitated, cautious alone. Leo launched three more, two hitting, one veering off.
Maybe his weak damage emboldened it. It charged, only to find the tent blocking its path. Forced to circle, it gave Leo more chances to pepper it.
Step by step it advanced, parrying javelins with knife and shield. Not as fast as feared. With five stamina potions in reserve, Leo knew he could always run.
As it closed in, he bellowed: "Now! Attack!"
From the flank, Maijessie's spear flew, grazing it. Seeing a second human, the Fallen panicked, turned to flee—straight into the tent, stumbling headlong. It hit the ground hard.
Opportunity. They both rained javelins. Shafts studded its back until it looked like a hedgehog. It shrieked, then collapsed, scattering gold.
Warmth surged into their veins. The bliss of leveling filled them. No penalties for killing above their weight—one Fallen alone pushed them to level two.
Leo felt the chains loosen again. If each level peeled away more of mortality's limits, would the cap grant him ascension? Immortality?
He scooped the gold—120 coins. A fat haul, maybe because of the level gap.
\[Beep beep. Level up detected. Large Backpack unlocked. Inventory space +40.]
He flipped through his inventory—pages had appeared. A growing stash. No more fear of running out of room.
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