Leo pulled out the charm he'd tossed into his pack earlier and carefully identified it.
Small Charm of the Sun.
+5 light radius.
+5% attack rating.
Required Level: 12.
The charm gleamed in pale ice-blue, clearer than any magic item he'd seen. A line of text shimmered beneath: *"Left behind by one who vowed to bring light into the world."*
In the game, base vision radius was 13, cap 18. This little charm maxed it out. He clenched his fist, then placed it reverently in the first slot of his inventory.
As if the heavens acknowledged his mood, two zombies appeared. Rage churned in his chest. He hurled a volley of javelins, one spear punching through a skull, another jamming down a throat.
The first zombie staggered up close. He swapped to Tooth and drove forward, shield crashing. Crushing Blow, Open Wounds, Knockback, Stun—all triggered at once. The monster's chest collapsed, skull pinned by his spear.
He followed with a Sacrifice strike, the axe tearing into its neck. Another Crushing Blow, another gush of blood. The head twisted halfway around before collapsing. He and Maijessie cut down the second zombie in seconds.
Loot clinked to the dirt—a metal belt, stronger than his current, and over four hundred gold. He strapped the new one on, passed the old to his sister.
Soon after, a Fallen crept toward the noise. Leo grinned, eager to test his strength. But before he could reach it, Maijessie's javelins hammered down. The creature panicked and fled. Leo caught it with a shield bash, pinned it underfoot, and hacked until it bled out.
Once a mini-boss, now little more than fodder. Their progress was dizzying. Both siblings hit level 7. Leo learned Cold Resist, the aura knowledge rushing into his mind.
Cold Resist: aura, +52% cold resist within 10.6 yards. Hidden effect: each 2 skill levels raise resist cap by 1%.
Not trusting luck, he meant to cover every element. Maijessie saved her point for later.
By noon they were hungry. Bread and jerky tasted like ash. The last of their firewood was gone, so they gnawed in silence, washing it down with swigs of ale.
Leo grimaced. This wouldn't do. Training farther out meant they couldn't rely on camp food. They needed someone who could cook. But no proud adventurer would stoop to be a cook. Maybe a mercenary Rogue. If mercenaries here were anything like the game, then once they cleared Blood Raven, he could hire one. The thought cheered him enough to choke down the meal.
Later, they ran into a yellow-tinged boss zombie. *Fanatic Zombie. Level 38.* Faster than the others, almost Fallen speed.
Leo held the line, bashing it back with shield and stun while Maijessie hammered with Mind Blast. Step by step, knockback after knockback, until it finally collapsed.
A dagger dropped. Its sheen made his breath catch. He ripped open a scroll.
Gull. Dagger.
Damage: 2–19.
+1–15 damage.
100% chance extra magic find.
–5 mana.
Fast attack speed.
He frowned. Fragile, short reach. Still, he handed it to his sister. Even a bad unique was still a unique. Her cheeks flushed with pride.
By nightfall they'd reached level 8. Leo banked his point, Maijessie had a set of new gloves, shoes, and a shield. They portaled back to camp.
The air buzzed with optimism. Survivors bragged of victories. Some glowed with golden equipment—but no one yet with orange. Leo smirked quietly. Reinhardt, do you see? Humanity doesn't wait for saviors. Hope shines on its own.
At Charsi's forge, repairs cost another 2000 gold. Then at Akara's, Leo bought sixty mana potions—3240 gone in a flash. Their coin situation worsened each day. Repairs and mana drained them faster than monsters paid out. He'd have to think of ways to earn more.
Still, his mood was light. He planned a heavy meal, strong ale. Then he smelled it—meat roasting, rich and irresistible.
He followed the scent. A thin girl knelt before her tent, turning a rabbit over the fire. She wore plain leathers, weak gear, but smiled warmly when she noticed him staring.
Leo studied her carefully. Weak frame, low strength. Yet her composure never wavered. That, he thought, was rarer than any stat. With leveling, even the frail could grow strong. But a steady mind—that was priceless.
Maijessie saw his look and whispered slyly, "Brother, she is amazing. I've never smelled anything so good. Let's go say hello."
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